By Akbar Novruz



Azerbaijani authorities are continuing their investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024, according to presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev, Azernews reports, citing local media.

As reported Hajiyev stated that detailed information on the incident will be provided to the public in coordination with partner states.

At a meeting held by the president on this matter, it was also emphasized that the public will be regularly informed about the progress of the investigation into the plane crash, he noted.

Regarding Azerbaijan's expectations from Russia, Hajiyev confirmed that the issue is being discussed with the Russian side through relevant and diplomatic channels.

To recall, on December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, and carried 67 individuals, containing 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers, there were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. The crash claimed 38 lives, while 29 survivors, including three crew members, were rescued. Of the five crew members, two tragically lost their lives, and three survived.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile during efforts to repel a Ukrainian drone attack over Chechnya.

On December 28, Russia's President Vladimir Putin made a phone call to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Putin expressed condolences and apologized to Ilham Aliyev for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace. The Azerbaijani President required Russia's President Vladimir Putin bring those responsible to justice and provide compensation to Azerbaijan, as well as to the injured passengers and the families of the deceased passengers and crew members.
The California Historical Society at 678 Mission St. in San Francisco in July 2020. The building was sold last summer, and the society announced Tuesday it is closing all its programs and Stanford University will acquire its vast collections and archives. Constanza Hevia H./Special to the Chronicle

The California Historical Society, a San Francisco-based institution with a once-vibrant museum on Mission Street, announced Tuesday it will close all its programs and Stanford University will acquire its vast collections and archives.

The scholarly organization had already gone inactive and sold its headquarters. The collection of books, letters, maps, postcards, photographs and ephemera, amounting to 600,000 items measuring 16,000 linear feet, will now become the California History Collection at Stanford, to be operated in partnership with the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford, and the Stanford University Libraries.

The announcement was made in a joint news release Tuesday afternoon. Financial terms of the acquisition were not made available. The collection will continue to be made available to the public, and its addition will make Stanford the premier place for historical research about California and the broader North American West, said historian David M. Kennedy, of the Lane Center.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A woman walks through the California Historical Society on Mission Street in San Francisco as photographs and artifacts of Yosemite are put into place in 2014. The society announced Tuesday it is closing all its programs and Stanford University will acquire its vast collections and archives. James Tensuan/The Chronicle 2014

Its comprehensive collections range from complete documentation of the Gold Rush and California statehood up through the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 to the Peoples Temple Collection of personal correspondence, photographs and audiotapes from the Jonestown massacre of 1978.

Founded in 1871, the Historical Society once owned a Pacific Heights mansion that it operated as a musty archive for history aficionados, under the directorship of J.S. Holliday, author of a popular collection of diaries about the Gold Rush titled The World Rushed In.

Financial difficulties followed it around as it sold off the mansion and subsequently bought a vacant 1922 hardware store on Mission Street, around the corner from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. As part of the new Museum Row, the society was suddenly relevant under the energetic executive directorship of Anthea Hartig, who arrived in 2011.

She put together dozens of exhibitions and attached it to major anniversaries, like the centennial of the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, and the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge  for which she had the building painted International Orange to match the bridge and introduced a historical overview in the museum. It also was central to the citywide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Anthea Hartig, then-executive director of the California Historical Society, is photographed in 2017 in San Francisco. Michael Macor/The Chronicle

At its peak, the museum drew 100,000 visitors a year to exhibitions that traveled to other museums statewide. But in 2019, Hartig departed to become director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. A replacement, Alicia Goehring, was hired from the Wisconsin Historical Society, but she died suddenly in 2022 and was never replaced.

By then the society had put its building up for sale, in order to survive. It was sold for $9.1 million last summer to chef Michel Suas, who operates the San Francisco Baking Institute. Staff levels, which had been as high as 30 before the pandemic, had dwindled to seven before a round of layoffs in November. The last three employees will now be let go as the society vacates the building.

I join current and former CHS leadership in mourning the loss of a great California Institution after 154 years, said Hartig from her office in Washington. The board spent years trying to make CHS financially sustainable, and Im grateful for the partnership with Stanford. Its one of the most important California collections in the nation.
Seven News boss Anthony de Ceglie has announced a number of appointments in a note to staff.

Journalist Rob Scott (pictured top) will join Mylee Hogan in Sevens LA bureau.

Rob is one of our most experienced senior reporters and joins the LA bureau after a successful stint in Canberra, most recently as Defence Editor. Over the past two decades, the last 12 of those with 7NEWS, Rob has covered many major events including Nelson Mandelas death, the Bali 9 executions, federal elections, international terror attacks and natural disasters, and hell bring this vast experience to our US operation, he wrote.

Brisbane reporter Jacquelin Robson (bottom) will be joining Ben Downie in Sevens London-based Europe Bureau.

She will be covering the full suite of news from the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Jacqui has done an excellent job over the past six years reporting for 7NEWS, including coverage of the deadly Sunda Strait tsunami in Indonesia and reporting assignments in the US, and very much deserves to take on this key role, he continued.

Tim Lester will be returning to our Canberra bureau after a remarkable four years in the US, highlighted by an extraordinary election and the second Trump Inauguration over the past few months. There are few broadcasters more experienced than Tim and we look forward to him bringing his extraordinary knowledge to a crucial Federal Election campaign at home that is predicted to be one of the tightest polls in memory.

And after an exceptional eight years overseas, Ashlee Mullany has recently made a welcome return to our Sydney newsroom to join the 7NEWS Spotlight team as well as the National News Desk as an investigative reporter. In all that time, Ashlee has been a familiar face to our viewers from the centre of the biggest news events in recent history, most notably her award-winning coverage of the COVID pandemic, the Las Vegas massacre, George Floyd protests, 2020 US Election and more recently her reporting from the frontline of the Israel-Hamas war.
By Nguyen Binh

It seems that not many designers are interested in making collections inspired by images of snakes, but ang Thi Ngoc Han has launched her latest collection of ao dai (long dress) featuring the zodiac animal of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake.

Han created the collection based on paintings of snakes by renowned artist Le Thiet Cuong, which were exhibited at the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts earlier this month.

Born in 1989, the Year of the Snake, Han wanted to celebrate her zodiac animal. However, like many other artists, she was initially hesitant to use the snakes image.

While contemplating the idea, she came across Cuong's snake-themed paintings.

"I was among the first to see the paintings," Han said. "I felt a deep connection with them and saw myself reflected in the artwork. The paintings evoke different emotions and ideas, and I was personally impressed with their carefree and innocent lines."

After seeing the paintings, Han decided to ask for Cuong's permission to incorporate them into her ao dai creations.

She was particularly drawn to Cuongs personification of spring and the snake. For example, one painting depicts a snake coiled around a clock, representing the flow of time, while another features two intertwined snakes resembling a couple.

With light tones of pink, yellow, and blue, the collection conveys the fresh energy of a new beginning for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

"I like her creativity," said Cuong. "My paintings are horizontal, while ao dai is vertical, which poses a challenge for the designer.

"Han has used my work to create something uniquely her own. I deeply appreciate this collaboration; it is both inspiring and interesting."

Cuong is a prominent figure in Viet Nams contemporary fine arts scene. His minimalist style is influenced by Buddhist teachings and Eastern philosophies, evident in his simple yet profound compositions.

Han is the first designer Cuong has allowed to use his paintings in ao dai designs. While this honour made her feel fortunate, it also brought pressure, as Cuong is known to be highly critical.

"It was truly hard work," she said. "I had to balance preserving the artists spirit and minimalist style while expressing my own creativity in the designs.

"Throughout the process, I regularly consulted with Cuong, and he gave me invaluable advice."

Han graduated with a degree in fashion design from the Ha Noi University of Industrial Fine Arts (HUIFA). She was crowned Miss Viet Nam in 2010 while in her third year of university. That year marked the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long Ha Noi, which added special significance to her title and helped shape her path as an ao dai designer.

Her graduation thesis, which focused on 1,000-year-old design patterns, earned her recognition as one of the top three students at her graduation ceremony.

Han was named after Princess Ngoc Han of the 18th century, and her crowning as Miss Viet Nam during the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long Ha Noi seems like destiny to her.

"Ao dai is the national spirit of the Vietnamese people," she said. "It has firmly established itself as a symbol of Vietnamese culture and tradition, carrying a deep historical and cultural significance.

"I believe designing ao dai not only advances my career but also allows me to bring more meaning to my title as Miss Viet Nam."

Since then, Han has created numerous ao dai collections showcased at events such as the Hue Festival, the Ha Noi Tourism Festival, the Thang Long Citadel Ao Dai Festival, and international shows.

One of her collections was featured at a fashion show during the Viet Nam Sea and Islands  Endless Beauty event at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in 2017. It highlighted the beauty of Viet Nams seas and islands, including Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang, Lang Co, Phu Quoc, and the Spratly Islands, and conveyed a message about protecting the nations sovereignty over its seas and islands.

For Han, ao dai is not just a traditional garment but also a cultural symbol of diplomacy, offering a unique way to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world.

Her ao dai even brought her the chance to meet Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas late last year when she attended the FITVEN International Tourism Fair 2024 in Tachira, Venezuela.

Han and MC Le Anh were the only key opinion leaders invited to appear on the President's television show. They wore ao dai designs inspired by Venezuela's national symbols, including its flag, flower, and coat of arms.

The two were also invited to introduce ao dai during the show. "Ao dai performed better than I expected," Han said. "The President was pleased and expressed his hope to meet us again."

To Han, ao dai serves as a cultural bridge, helping the Vietnamese people gain recognition and goodwill from international friends.

Han continues to push the boundaries of ao dai design, combining it with cultural elements from around the world.

She is currently preparing for an ao dai show at the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, United Arab Emirates, in February. The collection will incorporate traditional UAE patterns.

For Han, designing ao dai is not just a career but also a way to showcase Vietnamese culture and tradition globally, while honouring her title as Miss Viet Nam. VNS
HA NOI  Every spring, the Vietnamese community across Germany joyfully celebrates the traditional Lunar New Year, preserving cherished ties to their homeland. This years festivities also marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Germany.

In Leipzig, the Vietnamese Association and Womens Association hosted a celebration honoring cultural roots and the milestone anniversary.

In Cottbus, a vibrant Tet event brought together hundreds of community members, neighbours, and German friends. Though small, the Vietnamese community there exemplifies deep affection for their homeland, launching a fundraising campaign to support those affected by Typhoon Yagi in 2024.

Meanwhile, in Freising, over 300 Vietnamese residents gathered for a cozy community celebration, keeping the festive warmth of Tet alive thousands of kilometres from Viet Nam.

Lunar New Year is more than just a time for gatheringit is a profound testament to the love for Viet Nam that lives in every heart. Despite the distance, traditional cultural values are cherished and passed down, ensuring that the essence of Tet endures. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  According to traditional belief, what starts well will end well, so the first guest to enter the house after midnight on the Lunar New Years Eve is believed to have a bearing on the familys fortune throughout the year.

That is the meaning of the xong at (first footing), a Tet tradition in Viet Nam, which has been passed down through generations and continued with equal enthusiasm today.

To ensure good luck for the house, the selected first foot is normally required to have zodiac signs compatible with the host. He or she should also be successful and content with life.

The invited guest usually visits the house in the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, bringing with him small gifts for the family, including lucky money in red envelops for children. He greets each member, wishing the old with longevity, businessmen with thriving prosperity, and kids with good academic achievements.

The host generously welcomes the special guest, offering the familys best New Year treats, wine or tea.

Some families choose a member to become the first to enter the house. In this case, the first foot normally goes out and comes home after midnight with a spring branch, which represents year-round blessings.

Many families ask a close friend or relative to carry out this New Year mission.

Due to the belief, Vietnamese people used to avoid visiting each other in the first morning after New Years Eve.

The most noticeable change to the age-old tradition is that more and more people have begun to think of it as a New Year delight, rather than a sight of future fortune. VNA/VNS
Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, spoke with Viet Nam News' reporter Nguyen Hang about the outstanding achievements of people's diplomacy in 2024 and plans for 2025.

What are the major achievements of people-to-people diplomacy in 2024? How do these achievements differ from those of 2023?

Last year was a significant one for the people-to-people diplomacy of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), with activities being implemented comprehensively and effectively. We organised 43 delegations to visit other countries and welcomed 28 delegations visiting Viet Nam, along with over 1,000 local activities as well as five international conferences and seminars.

Notably, the VUFO participated in various high-level diplomatic activities with the leaders of the Party and the State. We had the honour of accompanying seven high-level delegations of Party and State leaders on visits to nine countries of China, the United States, Cuba, Hungary, Romania, South Korea, India, Chile and Peru, where we coordinated and hosted nine events to foster meetings between Vietnamese leaders and foreign counterparts, further promoting mutual understanding and cooperation.

The people-to-people diplomatic activities, within the context of high-level State diplomacy, not only reflect the Party and State leaderships commitment to people-to-people diplomacy in general and the VUFO, but also signify Viet Nams appreciation for the solidarity, support and friendship extended by foreign peoples. Such initiatives are instrumental in establishing a positive societal foundation for bilateral relations with countries worldwide.

Additionally, we hosted and collaborated on welcoming many delegations from foreign political leaders, former leaders and governmental officials, while organising major people-to-people diplomatic events with partners like China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, the United States (US) and India. They included the Laos Peace and Solidarity Committee delegation, the Chinese International Exchange Association and events like the Viet Nam-China Peoples Forum and the Viet Nam-India People's Friendship Festival.

We also engaged in newly innovative activities in democracy and human rights, such as sending a delegation to attend the International Law and Religion Symposium at Brigham Young University in the US, and working with a number of US agencies responsible for developing and issuing reports on religion and human rights. Arranging a visit and working programme in Viet Nam for a delegation of international Protestant pastors and their relatives and welcoming a delegation of young volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The actions further strengthened the understanding and cooperation between Viet Nam and international religious organisations, while "planting the seeds of friendship and cooperation" in Viet Nams relations with the United States.

In 2024, we focused on diversifying people-to-people diplomatic activities to promote traditional values of friendship between Viet Nam and other countries. We collaborated with embassies and consulates to host information-sharing events, diplomatic discussions, cultural exchanges and author book presentations, further educating the public on Viet Nams international relations.

Furthermore, we leveraged people-to-people diplomacy to facilitate investment cooperation between Vietnamese businesses and foreign companies. We signed eight agreements and memoranda of understanding and actively engaged with partners such as the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese and the South Korea-Viet Nam Economic and Cultural Association, establishing new business-oriented friendship clubs within the VUFO's membership.

The VUFO also excelled in expressing gratitude and honouring international partners, awarding the 'For Peace and Friendship among Nations' Medals to 21 foreign diplomats and recognising foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for their significant contributions to Viet Nams non-governmental works.

One of the key objectives of VUFO in 2024 was to redefine its partnership network to align with the Party's directives on people-to-people diplomacy. Could you elaborate on how this was implemented and what results it yielded?

Indeed, we recognised the importance of maintaining a strong and credible network of partners. For 2024, one of the VUFOs main priorities was to maintain, consolidate and expand a robust, reputable and widespread network of partners across different regions. This involved evaluating and classifying our existing partners, developing a database and formulating cooperation plans tailored to each partner while extending our network.

For traditional partners, particularly in neighbouring countries, ASEAN, large nations and strategic partners, we focused on diversifying activities such as cultural exchanges and educational programmes. This was aimed not only at fostering traditional relationships but also at targeting the younger generation as key to sustaining future friendships.

Beyond traditional partnerships, we proactively expanded relations with Government bodies, businesses, universities, research institutes and influential international human rights and religious organisations. Our focus was on nurturing future friendships, especially among younger generations abroad, who represent the future of Viet Nams international ties.

In terms of multilateral engagement, we maintained active and responsible participation in global forums like the United Nations, ASEAN Peoples Forum, World Peace Council and others. We also continued developing plans to contribute to high-level multilateral conferences such as the Munich Security Conference and the Shangri-La Dialogue.

In 2024, the VUFO achieved noteworthy success in expanding its partner network, enhancing the effectiveness and impact of people-to-people diplomacy. Our proactive, flexible and focused-on-priority-areas approach allowed us to establish an extensive, reputable and diversified network in key regions, laying a solid foundation for sustainable collaboration and growth. This effort not only supported Viet Nams economic and social development goals, but also enhanced the countrys international standing and confirmed the vital role of people-to-people diplomacy in the global integration era.

One of the objectives of people-to-people diplomacy is to mobilise foreign resources and implement support for overseas Vietnamese communities. Could you share specific outcomes of the efforts in 2024?

In terms of mobilising foreign resources, particularly through foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs), it is estimated that in 2024, the total value of disbursed foreign aid from NGOs will reach approximately US$230 million. At the same time, responding to a call from the VUFO, foreign NGOs have provided assistance to help mitigate the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, in the form of cash and in-kind donations, valued at nearly VN220 billion ($8.7 million).

During the year of 2024, foreign NGOs with a Vietnamese diaspora presence contributed approximately $10 million to various programmes and projects in Viet Nam. Of the more than 300 foreign NGOs operating in Viet Nam, 44 are led by Vietnamese expatriates - as founders, presidents, country representatives or key individuals responsible for the organisations activities in Viet Nam - and have implemented numerous development programmes and projects to support the country.

The VUFO and various friendship associations have worked to ensure that overseas Vietnamese can participate in the unions operational mechanisms. Currently, overseas Vietnamese are involved in the executive committees of five friendship associations, which foster diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and countries such as Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Cambodia.

In Europe, the Vietnamese community has played a vital role in building partnerships and facilitating cooperation between Vietnamese individuals, organisations and businesses with their counterparts in Europe. Vietnamese nationals in several Nordic countries, in collaboration with the Viet Nam Friendship Associations, have led campaigns to support various causes, including providing aid for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, advocating for Viet Nams maritime sovereignty and supporting those affected by natural disasters. They have also worked with foreign NGOs to implement humanitarian and development activities in Viet Nam.

In Asia and Africa, the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association has consistently maintained ties and participated in activities organised by the Thai-Vietnamese community in Nakhon, Bangkok. Vietnamese expatriates, businesspeople and students have also been active in contributing to high-level people-to-people diplomacy, such as translating and conveying information during official visits. Vietnamese students in South Korea have been involved in translating and delivering messages, while those in China have actively participated in preparing speeches to communicate the concerns of Viet Nams youth to Chinese leaders. Vietnamese businessmen in China have also supported transport and logistics for diplomatic events.

In the Americas, the Viet Nam-US Association successfully mobilised the Vietnamese-American community to help prepare for the meeting between Party General Secretary To Lam and American friends on September 23, 2024 with nearly 70 American friends attending. We also mobilised a number of Vietnamese intellectuals in the US to support the VUFO and the Viet Nam-US Association in connecting and expanding partnerships and organising people-to-people diplomacy activities in the US. Through the diplomatic efforts, approximately two million Vietnamese Americans and 30,000 Vietnamese students in the US have been encouraged to comply with the laws of their host countries and contribute to national development, acting as goodwill ambassadors for Viet Nam and helping to strengthen bilateral relations.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, what are the primary objectives and directions for people-to-people diplomacy and what role will it play in Viet Nams era of the nation's rise?

People-to-people diplomacy has been an integral part of Viet Nams national journey, supporting independence, reunification, post-war recovery and the countrys ongoing development.

As Viet Nam enters a new era of global engagement, people-to-people diplomacy will continue to play a critical role in complementing the Party and State diplomacy, supporting national development goals and enhancing Viet Nams international relations.

In 2025, the VUFO will focus on several key directions. It will continue the effective implementation of the Party and States foreign policy, ensuring that the role and position of people-to-people diplomacy are commensurate with the tasks assigned by the Party and State.

It also plans to focus on effectively implementing foreign affairs activities according to the assigned plan, especially proactively advising the Party and State leaders to participate in and organise people-to-people diplomacy activities, within the framework of high-level diplomacy, implementing foreign affairs activities associated with major national holidays, celebrating diplomatic relations with countries around the world, diversifying people-to-people diplomacy activities and participating more actively and responsibly in multilateral forums.

Moreover, it is scheduled to facilitate the holding of its Seventh National Congress and its Fifth International Conference to strengthen cooperation with foreign NGOs. VNS
The Socio-Economic Report, a key document for the 14th National Party Congress, is currently being developed to outline the main directions and tasks for socio-economic development from 2026 to 2030. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has said that the economic development orientations within this report are crucial. They focus on achieving a high economic growth rate, which is essential to meeting the overarching goal of transforming the country into a developed, high-income nation by 2045, as stated in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

To clarify the main directions for economic development in formulating the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung provided insights to Vietnam News Agency reporters.

Could you outline the major orientations for economic development in the construction of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, particularly in relation to the roadmap for achieving national prosperity during the era of national rising?

The main orientations for economic development in the next five years are as follows:

First, there will be a focus on perfecting the development institutions and enhancing the quality of the socialist-oriented market economy. This aims to meet the country's developmental and integration needs. Improving these economic institutions is a central task that will promote rapid and sustainable development.

Second, developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to achieve breakthroughs in enhancing productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy will be an emphasis. This includes innovating and refining policies and laws related to science and technology to align with market mechanisms and international practices, while also addressing the specific needs of scientific researchers and practical requirements. It is essential to accept risks and delays associated with these activities. Robust mechanisms and policies will also be implemented to promote digital transformation across all socio-economic sectors, ensuring security and safety while encouraging innovation.

Third, efforts to fundamentally, comprehensively and effectively innovate education and training will be continued. The focus will be on developing a high-quality workforce that meets international standards and aligns with market needs, particularly in priority and emerging industries. This includes fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, semiconductor manufacturing and the construction and operation of high-speed railways, among others.

Fourth, there will be a strong emphasis on promoting industrialisation, modernisation and economic restructuring in conjunction with innovative growth models to enhance economic resilience. The goal is to achieve rapid and sustainable growth while maintaining macro-economic stability. Efforts will continue to restructure three key areas: improving investment efficiency, especially in public investment; enhancing the operational efficiency of enterprises, particularly State-owned enterprises; and restructuring credit institutions.

Fifth, it is critical to develop a synchronised and modern infrastructure to effectively exploit new development opportunities. Urban areas will be leveraged as drivers for regional development while promoting new rural construction. This involves creating a comprehensive, modern and smart infrastructure system, including the establishment of inter-regional highways and connections to international gateway seaports, international airports and border gates to facilitate significant import and export activities.

In your opinion, what are the main pillars of the Vietnamese economy in the new era, and which industries contribute to them?

To adapt to the rapid changes in both national and international contexts, particularly due to the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution, we must focus on enhancing production capacity in high-level industries. This includes foundational, spearhead, emerging and supporting industries. These efforts will help the country become self-reliant in science and technology to effectively participate in the global value chain.

In my view, we need to promote digital and green transformations, along with industrial restructuring toward modernisation. This involves in-depth development that improves productivity, quality, added value and competitiveness in advantageous industries.

Specifically, we should enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of fundamental industries such as energy, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, new materials, digital technology and chemicals.

Additionally, we must prioritise the development and mastery of production technology in emerging sectors like semiconductors, robotics, artificial intelligence, new materials for mechanical engineering, biotechnology, environmental technology and renewable energy. We should also work toward building an atomic energy-based industry serving socio-economic development.

Spearhead industries to develop include electronics, digital technology, integrated equipment production for automation and remote control, automobiles, railways and shipbuilding, as well as processing and manufacturing for agriculture, textiles and footwear.

Moreover, it's essential to rapidly develop supporting industries, leveraging foreign technology by enhancing connections between foreign-invested and domestic sectors.

To achieve this, management and foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction policies need innovation. We require mechanisms that both encourage and compel foreign direct investment enterprises to transfer technology. Breakthrough mechanisms and policies should also be researched and developed to foster supporting industries and encourage the establishment of supporting industrial parks.

The Global Innovation Index 2024 report shows that Viet Nam is ranked 44 out of 133 countries, improving by two places compared to 2023, with three indicators ranking at the top globally. How do you assess the current state of innovation in Viet Nam?

Viet Nam's ranking of 44 out of 133 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 report, an improvement of two places from 2023, is an encouraging result. It reflects the continuous efforts of the entire political system, the business community, and citizens from all walks of life. Notably, Viet Nam ranks first globally in three indicators: high-tech imports, high-tech exports and creative goods exports, showcasing our strong innovation potential and increasing prioritisation of this field.

Currently, innovation in Viet Nam is achieving significant milestones, characterised by a continuously improving business environment and the robust development of the start-up ecosystem and technology enterprises. We have effectively used our labour force and technological capabilities, along with deep international integration, to create sustainable growth momentum.

However, we must also acknowledge the challenges that remain, such as enhancing the quality of the workforce, investing in research and development (R&D) and increasing the application of advanced technologies in production and daily life. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will continue to collaborate with various ministries, sectors and localities to promote innovation policies, support businesses and enhance national competitiveness.

Our goal is to sustain growth momentum, maximise our innovation potential and contribute to transforming Viet Nam into a modern industrial nation and a regional innovation hub.

Many countries have established innovation centres to enhance the application of innovation-based economic strategies. How do you see innovation accelerating and driving breakthroughs for Viet Nam in the era of the nation's rise?

Innovation is crucial for Viet Nam to transform and achieve breakthroughs in this new era filled with fluctuations and opportunities. Globally, innovation centres have demonstrated their vital role in promoting economic growth through knowledge, technology and creativity. Viet Nam is embracing this trend by placing innovation at the core of our national development strategy.

Nowadays, innovation is a national competitive issue, extending beyond individual enterprises. The race to establish innovation centres in response to the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution is evident in the region. For instance, China has upgraded the Zhongguancun area in Beijing and launched several innovation centres as part of its Made in China 2025 strategy. Similarly, Thailand inaugurated True Digital Park in 2018, Indonesia has operated a centre in Yogyakarta since 2016, and Malaysia has developed the Kuala Lumpur Technology Park.

Viet Nam has favourable conditions to harness innovation potential. Firstly, our young, dynamic and educated workforce forms a solid foundation for new initiatives. Secondly, the Government is committed to building a robust innovation ecosystem, exemplified by the establishment of the National Innovation Center (NIC).

The NIC serves as a hub for connecting businesses, research institutes and start-ups, attracting leading researchers and experts from both within the country and abroad. It also creates an appealing business environment for investors and venture capital funds looking to engage with Viet Nam.

Innovation will facilitate Viet Nam's transition from a labour-intensive economy to one driven by knowledge, technology and high added value. This shift will enhance labour productivity, improve product quality and enable deeper integration into global value chains, attracting quality investments and empowering Vietnamese enterprises to compete internationally. More importantly, innovation is not only an economic strategy but a national mission, aimed at improving citizens' lives, fostering entrepreneurship and building a strong and prosperous Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation from the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, and the General Staff and the General Department of Politics of the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA) paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Ha Noi on Wednesday, or the first day of the Lunar New Year.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the standing board of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the VPA and Deputy Minister of National Defence, led the delegation.

They showed their gratitude to the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader of the Party and the nation, who personally founded, educated and trained the military; and dedicated his whole life to the struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as the construction of the military and the strengthening of defence.

Following the late leader's sacred will, the Party, military and people remain steadfast on the path he chose and creatively apply his thoughts to bring the revolutionary cause he left to new heights, thus helping the country stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world.

The delegation, on behalf of all officers and soldiers of the entire military, vowed to make every effort in their work and contributions to build a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern Viet Nam People's Army and to continue turning Viet Nam into an increasingly prosperous nation. VNS
MOSCOW  Overseas Vietnamese (OV) trust in the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) in the new era of Viet Nam's development, said Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice President of the Union of Vietnamese Organisations in Russia and Director of the Russia-Viet Nam Cooperation Development Fund "Tradition and Friendship".

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Russia on the occasion of the 95th founding anniversary of the CPV (February 3, 1930  2025), Hung, a Vietnamese intellectual who has been living and working in Russia for many years, and participating in community activities, remembers historical lessons relating to the Party's establishment in 1930 and its remarkable achievements over the past years.

Witnessing the significant socio-economic, political and diplomatic progress of Viet Nam from afar, he asserted that the Party's leadership and Ho Chi Minh's thought are both correct and wise, consistently supported and trusted by the people.

The Party successfully led the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national independence, liberation and reunification, thanks to its mettle, intellect and capability.

In the national building and economic development, the Party sets noble goals for prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, justice and civilisation.

After nearly 50 years of national reunification and nearly 40 years of renewal, Viet Nam has successfully met historical requirements, transforming from a poor country into one with substantial achievements that hold historical significance, creating new strength, potential, position and international prestige.

Hung said that not only through the media but also during his visits to Viet Nam, he clearly feels that Viet Nam is preparing to enter a new era - the era of the nations rise.

Party General Secretary To Lam has emphasised this as an era of development, wealth and prosperity.

The Party continues to place people at the centre of this mission, determining the people's will, patriotism, aspiration for creativity and dedication as the main driving forces for national development.

Hung emphasises that overseas Vietnamese hope that the upcoming 13th National Party Congress will wisely select a contingent of officials at all levels, particularly at the strategic level, who possess the necessary qualities, political acumen, reputation and capability to meet the development needs of the country in the integration period.

He also highlighted the important role of Vietnamese people aboard, saying connecting OVs with the homeland will serve as a catalyst for implementing the strategic tasks outlined in Resolution 57 of the Politburo regarding the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

OVs wish that the Party and the State will continue to pay attention to their community with specific policies, which foster their greater connections with the homeland and better integration into their host countries, he said.

The Vietnamese community in Russia desires to serve as a bridge to contribute to further strengthening and elevating the relationship between Viet Nam and Russia, he added.  VNS
Last year, 504 people received assistance in the form of a bus or train ticket to reunite with a family or friend outside of San Francisco  below the citys goal of enrolling 1,000 homeless people a year in the program. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

Mayor Daniel Lurie and his top challengers in the mayoral race last year pledged to expand a decades-old initiative giving homeless people a city-funded bus ticket out of town.

Yet, the tactic  long seen as an easy and cost-efficient way to reduce the citys homeless population by reuniting them with loved ones elsewhere  has been operating far below its peak for years, and its not clear how the new administration will turn it around.

Last year 504 people received relocation assistance in the form of a bus or train ticket and meal stipends to reunite with a family or friend in another city or state. Although program participation increased 50% from 2023, its considerably less than the more than 800 people whom San Francisco helped relocate annually from 2006 to 2018. Its also far below a city goal set in early 2024 by former Mayor London Breed to send 1,000 homeless people a year out of the city.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Similar to his predecessor, Lurie has vowed to scale up the citys relocation assistance initiatives but has yet to detail his plans.

We have to get people home to loved ones, Lurie said in a recent interview. Its worked for years and we really stopped investing in it, so were going to restart that.

The city is facing a $876 million two-year budget shortfall, so what such an investment would look like remains to be seen.

About 20 years ago, then-Mayor Gavin Newsom launched Homeward Bound, a simple and cost-effective program that officials deemed largely successful in helping thousands of people exit homelessness.

The citys homelessness department last year spent on average $492 per person who received relocation assistance  a cheaper, one-time alternative to the ongoing operating costs of a shelter bed or permanent supportive housing. San Francisco spends between $125-$190 per person nightly in a shelter and between $118 to $125 nightly for a permanent housing unit, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars to build each permanent housing unit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Homeward Bound for years served as a crucial tool for combating homelessness, but participation plummeted during the pandemic. There was less outreach happening to people living on the streets and fewer people were willing to take in family members amid the public health crisis.

To revive the program, the Board of Supervisors passed legislation in March to expand outreach for relocation. A few months later, Breed penned an executive order requiring city employees to offer homeless people a bus ticket out of town before presenting shelter or housing as an option. Breeds mandate did not appear to have any impact on program participation  205 people were relocated in the five months after the order, as opposed to 216 in the prior five months.

The homeless department said it has attempted to raise awareness for relocation assistance by briefing dozens of different city departments and community partners. But former Supervisor Asha Safai, who crafted the board legislation, said he believes its going to take a targeted effort by the new mayor to move the needle.

The more the mayor makes this a priority  something we shall lead with  the more I think that will determine the success and expansion of this work, Safai said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Officials also made a series of changes to the longstanding initiative to boost its numbers. For starters, its no longer called Homeward Bound. Two city departments  the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and the Human Services Agency  each run their own relocation assistance programs, and they operate somewhat differently.

Historically, program participation relied on the ability of caseworkers to reach a family member or friend in the destination city who agreed to take the participant under their care. If they checked that box, a caseworker would then accompany them to the bus or train terminal, where theyd hand them their transit ticket and $10 a day for food and drinks during their journey. During the first month after the person left the city, caseworkers would then call them or their caretakers three times to check on how they were doing.

The Human Services agency, in partnership with the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center, operate a program called Journey Home. Under this program, caseworkers no longer require a phone call with someone in the new location before a participants departure. Although thats still the most common way participants prove a connection to their destination, they can alternatively now show an identification card with an address there.

For Journey Home, a city employee or contractor escorts the participant to the station and waits with them until they board, but they do not have any formal requirements for checking in on the participant after they leave the city. Teresa Young, a spokesperson for HSA, said the agency plans to adjust Journey Home protocols to include an additional follow-up after their arrival.

The relocation assistance program operated by the homelessness department, on the other hand, still requires a phone call with a family member or friend in the new location, according to spokesperson Emily Cohen. Staff do not escort participants to the transit station, but they are required to check in with them within 90 days after their departure.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Program participants who go through the homeless department receive $40 a day for food and drinks during their journey while those who go through the Human Services Agency are given $20 a day.
New hope for a new year in diplomacy

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Tet  the Lunar New Year  is one of the most important holidays in Viet Nam. Ambassadors share joy with Vietnamese people, send them wishes, and express their expectations in the new year's diplomatic relationships. They also support Viet Nams nation rise era and other historical changes.
HCM CITY  Viet Nam has achieved a significant milestone by attaining the rankings of 37th in median mobile internet speed and 35th in fixed broadband speed globally in December 2024, marking its first entry into the top 40 for both categories.

The Speedtest Global Index from Ookla, an American firm that describes itself as a "global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights," reported that mobile internet download speeds in Viet Nam reached an unprecedented 86.96 Mbps, a 60 per cent increase from September 2024, allowing Viet Nam to rise seven positions in the rankings.

The fixed broadband speed also improved, climbing to 159.32 Mbps, up from 136 Mbps in June 2024.

According to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC), the average mobile internet speed is currently 67.85 Mbps, while fixed internet speed is 130.91 Mbps, although upload speeds remain lower at around 25 Mbps.

The increase in internet speeds coincided with the rollout of 5G services by local telecom providers. By mid-December, Viettel reported that approximately four million users were subscribed to 5G, with speeds reaching 1.5 to 1.9 Gbps.

Viet Nam aims to provide 5G coverage to all provinces this year, with a goal of 99 percent population coverage by 2030.

Compared to other markets, Viet Nams mobile and fixed internet speeds surpass the global medians of 62.79 Mbps and 96.45 Mbps, respectively.

The UAE currently leads the world in mobile internet speeds with a median download speed of 453.87 Mbps, while Singapore tops the table for fixed internet speeds at 330.98 Mbps.  VNS
NEW DELHI  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed condolences for the deaths during a stampede that occurred in the early hours of the day in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Modi, however, didn't specify the death toll or the number of injured persons.

Though there was no official confirmation, local media reports suggested at least 17 people had died and more than 50 were injured in the stampede that occurred at Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh during the ongoing 45-day religious and spiritual congregation called "Maha Kumbh."

"The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," said Modi in a post on X.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told media that some seriously injured persons had been admitted to hospitals.

He also failed to specify the number of casualties in the stampede.

According to him, around 100 million people had congregated in Prayagraj on Wednesday to take the holy dip in the confluence of three rivers, namely Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati on the pious day of "Mauni Amavasya."

Wednesday was one of the special days during the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival for the Hindu devotees to take the holy dip. XINHUA
      .

 ,  .

 ,           .                 ,   .  .
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks Wednesday during a rally in support of his fentanyl state of emergency ordinance ahead of a hearing at the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Mayor Daniel Luries proposal to speed up San Franciscos response to the fentanyl crisis was broadly embraced at City Hall and appears likely to pass next week.

Luries ordinance, his first major legislative effort since he took office three weeks ago, was advanced unanimously by a Board of Supervisors committee Wednesday. A majority of the entire 11-member board has indicated support for the measure, which would cut red tape in an effort to more quickly address public drug use and homelessness.

The strong show of support from the board indicates that Lurie, who had never held public office before he became mayor, is on track to secure his first political victory since his Jan. 8 inauguration. Several supervisors joined Lurie and dozens of other people, including drug recovery advocates, on the steps of City Hall to rally in favor of the mayors legislation before Wednesdays committee hearing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A full vote by the supervisors is expected Tuesday.



People in San Francisco are suffering. Every day that we dont act is another day of life lost to addiction, to overdose and to despair, Lurie said at the rally. Our response must be just as urgent as the crisis that we are facing.

Ryan Fibrow holds signs Wednesday during a rally outside San Francisco City Hall in support of Mayor Daniel Luries fentanyl state of emergency ordinance ahead of a hearing at the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Luries ordinance would allow the city to enter into contracts related to addiction, homelessness and mental health without going through a monthslong competitive bidding process. Supervisors would have 45 days to consider the contracts. The same rules would apply to agreements that help the city hire or retain police officers, deputy sheriffs and 911 dispatchers.



The boards Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending.

Additionally, the proposal would let the city raise money from wealthy donors to support the same areas covered by the loosened contracting rules. Its a top objective for Lurie, who has pledged to tap into private dollars to fund his agenda, including a pledge to build 1,500 shelter beds in six months. Lurie ran an antipoverty nonprofit before he became mayor.



Lurie and his allies hope the legislation will let the city move faster in its attempts to reduce the number of people living outside and also cut down on public drug scenes in troubled areas such as Sixth Street in the South of Market neighborhood. The mayor has visited the street, where merchants increasingly complain about disorder on the sidewalks, several times since taking office and has directed police to expand enforcement there.

Supervisor Connie Chan, who chairs the budget committee that advanced Luries ordinance, said at the hearing that she initially had reservations about the proposal because much of it involves suspending the boards normal oversight processes.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But Chan said its an unprecedented time for San Francisco, given the drug crisis that Luries administration is under pressure to alleviate.



I have been open minded and I remain open minded, Chan said. She praised Lurie and his staff for negotiating in good faith and helping reach a sweet spot that she said would allow the administration to move with a sense of urgency while retaining some oversight from supervisors.



Chans committee approved some amendments that Luries office proposed based on feedback from supervisors. Changes included reducing the financial cap for a contract that could go through the faster process from $50 million to $25 million. The committee also agreed to sunset much of the accelerated contracting process in January next year, with the exception of previously waived requirements around homeless projects that will remain in place until 2029.

San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey speaks Wednesday during a rally in support of Mayor Daniel Luries fentanyl ordinance ahead of a hearing at the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

We are in many ways in uncharted water in the fentanyl era, Supervisor Matt Dorsey said at the committee hearing. Were bringing solutions as big as the problem. Were going to try some things, and if it doesnt work, were going to try something else.



Fatal drug overdoses skyrocketed in San Francisco as fentanyl use took off in recent years, far outstripping the number of people who died from COVID-19. While drug deaths dropped 22% last year to more than 630, the total still was higher than it had been before the pandemic, and open-air fentanyl markets remain common in SoMa and the Tenderloin.



Former Mayor London Breed reacted to the crisis in part by setting up a unified command center for public safety agencies to coordinate their response and ordering police to arrest some people using drugs in public. Her administration also opened hundreds of new treatment beds. But her critics, including Lurie, contended the city wasnt making enough visible progress.

Luries fentanyl ordinance is enthusiastically backed by activists who champion sobriety and drug-free services, some of whom attended the Wednesday rally holding signs with phrases such as drug-free sidewalks and drug enablism kills.



At the rally, recovery advocate Steve Adami said Luries ordinance is necessary because parts of San Francisco have become unrecognizable due to the explosion of fentanyl use.



San Francisco was once known as a beautiful city for families, businesses and tourists, Adami said. Today, were known for open-air drug markets, public drug use, overdose deaths, encampments and boarded-up businesses.



Adami said Luries legislation would provide the mayors administration with the tools to be able to clean up our streets and support people struggling with homelessness, addiction and mental illness.
Chester Zoo reveals images of luxury lodges as bookings open

Chester Zoo has unveiled artists impressions of The Reserve, its new safari-style lodge accommodation, with bookings now open for stays starting in August 2025.

The 51-lodge wildlife experience promises to offer guests a luxurious retreat, complete with views of a private savannah habitat, home to Northern giraffes.

Some lodges will be positioned by a lakeside, while others provide front-row access to the zoos wildlife, allowing guests to wake up to breathtaking natural scenes.

The Reserve aims to blend indulgence with conservation. Chester Zoos CEO, Jamie Christon, described the project as a first-of-its-kind experience in the UK.

He said: Its so much more than just a short break  itll provide guests with unforgettable experiences and bring them face-to-face with extraordinary animals, all while helping to protect the wild world and fund powerful conservation action.

Guests staying at The Reserve will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive perks, such as behind-the-scenes animal encounters, talks with conservation experts, and out-of-hours access to the zoo.

Evenings will feature relaxation by a lakeside fire-pit, with stories about the zoos efforts to protect species like the eastern black rhino and giant pangolin.

The lodges are constructed using natural, sustainable materials, reflecting the African landscapes where Chester Zoo works to support endangered wildlife.

The resort will also house The Amboseli Restaurant, named after a region in Kenya where the zoo supports lion conservation, and the Tsavo Lounge, a terrace overlooking the lake.

Stays at The Reserve will directly contribute to Chester Zoos conservation projects, including efforts in Kenya and Uganda to secure the future of critically endangered species.

Jamie added: This will be a bucket list stay that also contributes to helping wildlife not only survive, but thrive.

Bookings opened today, with a variety of packages available to suit different group sizes and interests. More details can be found at www.chesterzoo.org/accommodation.

The official opening of The Reserve is set for mid-August 2025.
North Wales Police to combat violence against women and anti-social behaviour in three-year plan

Combating violence against women, anti-social behaviour are the key priorities for North Wales Police in a new three-year crimefighting plan unveiled today.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin has secured approval for his Police and Crime Plan 2025-28, which details how North Wales Police will operate, its key priorities and how it will engage with the community in the coming years.

And the public have had their say, as Mr Dunbobbin conducted a major public consultation to find out what the people of North Wales want from their police service with more than 4,600 people responding.

One of their key concerns was violence against women and girls. In the 12 months up to September 2024, North Wales Police figures show the force received 2,500 reports of rape or sexual offences. Just 70 resulted in a charge or summons. The majority of offences were against women and girls with the most common age group for victims between 11 and 15-years-old.

Mr Dunbobbin acknowledged that while cases can be complex, both himself and North Wales Police needed to do more.

Its always been a priority for myself as Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police, he said. The rate of attrition, cases which do not make it to charge or trial, needs to improve tremendously.

Youre looking at four or five percent of cases going to court. Quite a lot of victims are dropping out through that process. There are complex reasons for that, for example often the person is known to the perpetrator. I think if we can keep victims engaged in the process throughout their journey we will see more perpetrators being brought to justice.

We have a dedicated specialist victim support team in North Wales Police called Amethyst which we believe will be crucial in improving outcomes in these cases. Clearly there is more work to be done.

We need to improve engagement with victims throughout the process  including making them aware of the Victims Code of Practice so that they fully understand our duty of care towards them and feel safe and supported enough to see their case through.

Under the new plan, Mr Dunbobbin pledged to continue to invest in services that support victims and survivors and work with North Wales Police to better understand the needs of victims.

Anti-social behaviour and County Lines issues will also be a focal point for the next three years. Recent issues in Buckley and Corwen have shown that anti-social behaviour remains a persistent problem.

When you look at Buckley, there was an operation there which increased foot patrols and established a surgery-style opportunity to speak to an officer in the local library  visibility makes a real difference and its important to people.

Each area is very different. Over in Rhyl there are challenges  which are faced by many traditional seaside resorts, where there has been a decline in tourism and hotels have become houses of multiple occupancy.

There are even people now moving into places like Rhyl from Merseyside and Manchester who have their own challenges and no intention of contributing to society. They are thinking if they are going to be unemployed, I might as well do it by the sea.

There we have implemented Operation Renew which has reduced the number of people looking for drugs and that is making a real difference. We are also working with other agencies in Rhyl to help empower people to overcome their own challenges and we are seeing real success there.

We are also working with the North West Organised Crime Unit to combat County Lines gangs. Theres a lot of covert work involved there that people dont see to ensure we get the people at the top.

Serious and organised crime is the root of all these issues, from County Lines to sexual violence, all the key priorities lead back to that so part of our strategy is to work closely with our partners to crack down on that high-level criminal activity.

Another priority within the three-year crime plan is taking on rural crime.

North Wales is 70% rural, said Mr Dunbobbin. People tend to forget that and they also forget that when farmers are victims of crime it is not just their business that is impacted  although that is bad enough  it is their home and their family.

Weve got so many generations of proud farmers in North Wales and we cannot afford to do them the disservice of not investing in reducing rural crime, its not acceptable.

So among the measures we are introducing is the Dont Buy Crime programme using smart water to mark farm equipment that is often targeted by thieves and we continue to work with farmers through our Rural Crime Team to come up with innovative ways to protect them.

The full plan, which can be read at http://www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk, also prioritises Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Mr Dunbobbin said at a time when some were aiming criticism at equality practices, it was important to defend the principles.

Policing in the United Kingdom is by consent, he said. We are the community but the community has changed over the years and we have to reflect that.

I was always brought up to treat people as you want to be treated yourself. I think the majority of us agree with that. We need to be as inclusive as we can be. We all have our own faults and positives and we should accept that.

When we look at South Wales Police where Emma Wools was the first woman of colour to be elected as a Police and Crime Commissioner in Wales last year, we are reflecting society. We should all show respect and empathy for each other and thats why it has been included in our strategy.

With the approval of the plan, Mr Dunbobbin will now work with North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman to ensure it is rolled out across the Force area.

This Police and Crime plan echoes our priorities of being visible in our communities, fighting, preventing and reducing crime, and providing an excellent service to victims, said Ms Blakeman. We share the same aim of ensuring that we deal with the issues that matter most to our local communities.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner, our local communities and partners to make North Wales the safest place to live, work and visit.

By Alec Doyle  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Senedd sets out next steps in its multi-million-pound search for Cardiff Bay offices

The Senedd has set out the next steps in its multi-million-pound search for offices in Cardiff Bay, with a final decision expected by the end of this year.

Elin Jones, the Senedds speaker or Llywydd, outlined three options: staying in Ty Hywel, and refurbishing it; a new building; or a combination of a new building and an existing office.

With the lease on Ty Hywel, the red-brick building beside the Senedd, expiring in 2032, the Senedd has issued a contract notice after deciding to go ahead with procurement.

Ty Hywel, which houses Senedd members offices, is leased from Equitix, a London-based infrastructure fund manager that bought the freehold from Kuwaiti investors in 2019.

Under the 2m-a-year lease, which was valued at 42m in 2021, the Senedd is required to replace end-of-life items such as boilers, doors and windows.

The cost of replacing the 30-year-old windows was estimated at 6m in 2020.

Bay 2032

Concerns about the costs and an opportunity to achieve better value for money with the 25-year lease expiring, prompted the Senedd to examine alternative options.

The Senedd commission, which is the corporate body responsible for the estate and support services, has allocated 6.7m towards the Bay 2032 project to date.

In the contract notice, which was issued today, the commission is seeking to procure offices of around 11,000 square meters adjacent to the glass Senedd building.

The office space would need to accommodate around 900 members of staff.

The successful bid must also allow for direct links as with Ty Hywel, which is linked to the Senedd by glass walkways, and a secure entrance for airport-style security checks.

In a letter to the Senedds finance committee, Ms Jones stressed no decisions have been made on the three options which were identified by external professional advisers.

Doing nothing is not an option

Ms Jones told Senedd members that commissioners decided to proceed to the procurement phase of the Bay 2032 project at a meeting on January 20.

She wrote: This means that a contract notice is being issued today setting out specifications in terms of space and requirements that will need to be met by any prospective bidders.

The commission fully recognises the various pressures on public finances. However, due to the current lease on Ty Hywel expiring in 2032  doing nothing is not an option.

The Senedds speaker added: A procurement process is the only way for us to secure the best value outcome for the people of Wales.

The commissions 83m budget for the 12 months from April  including a 16% increase for Senedd reforms, public-sector pay and infrastructure  was signed off in November.

Under the 2025/26 budget, an extra 800,000, on top of 1.8m this year, was allocated to renovating the Senedds chamber or Siambr to accommodate 36 more members from 2026.

Value for money

A spokesperson for the Senedd commission said: The lease on Ty Hywel runs out in 2032 and there are several potential options for the long-term office needs of the Senedd.

We have a narrow window of opportunity to explore these options thoroughly and credibly to ensure the best value for taxpayers money.

We are conducting a procurement process in line with HM Treasury advice to identify the best long-term option.

We recognise that times are incredibly tough across Wales and our absolute priority is securing the very best value for money.

The contract notice will be open until March 3 then a competitive dialogue will follow with qualified bidders to find solutions and assess the costs.

Bidders will have six or seven months to prepare their pitches, with a final decision expected to be made by the end of the year.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Mayor Daniel Lurie created four new policy director positions aimed at improving interdepartmental collaboration and streamlining the citys slow and complex bureaucracy. Don Feria/Special to The Chronicle

San Franciscos new mayor, Daniel Lurie, is wasting no time acting on his campaign promise to reform City Hall. Even before his first day in office, Lurie announced structural changes to his office, creating four new policy director positions aimed at improving interdepartmental collaboration and streamlining the citys slow and complex bureaucracy.

Supporters call the new structure a critical first step toward tackling the citys most pressing problems, while critics say it violates the mayors powers outlined in the city charter.

The creation of these four positions, titled policy chiefs, is a departure from how former Mayor London Breed managed city agencies. Under Breed, 43 department heads reported to the mayor through the chief of staff, according to an August 2024 report by policy think tank SPUR.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The new structure distributes this responsibility across four people. Each policy chief, who reports directly to the mayor, oversees a set of agencies that share common priorities or provide similar services. While the policy chiefs will not manage department heads directly  that responsibility remains with the mayor  each policy chief will partner with department leaders to ensure strategic alignment across agencies.

The four policy chiefs and their portfolios are:

Alicia John-Baptiste, former CEO of SPUR, who oversees infrastructure, climate and transportation departments.

Kunal Modi, formerly with the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., is responsible for departments related to health, homelessness and family services.

Ned Segal, a former chief financial officer of X, who oversees housing and economic development departments.

Paul Yep, a former S.F. police commander, who is responsible for public safety departments.

Steven Falk, a public policy lecturer at UC Berkeley and former Oakland city administrator, praised the reorganization, saying the new structure fosters interdepartmental cooperation, which is essential for addressing the citys most pressing problems.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Take homelessness, for example. The issue touches on land use, social services and infrastructure  areas managed by different departments. The city cant tackle homelessness  or any other major issue in San Francisco  without cooperation from all of these agencies, said Falk.

The new structure divides the citys nearly $16 billion budget so each policy chiefs portfolio of agencies represents about $2 billion to $7 billion in public spending. Modis agencies  encompassing health, homelessness and family services  have the highest combined spending at over $6 billion, largely due to the $3.2 billion budget of the public health department.

Not all city and county departments fall under the mayors authority though. Agencies managed by elected officials, commissions or the City Administrator are outside the mayors purview. Of the 52 departments listed in the budget, 33 are under Luries authority  and now, a policy chief  while the others fall outside the mayor's scope, like the Board of Supervisors and District Attorneys Office.

The structure also distributes the citys workforce, with each policy chiefs set of departments comprising about 3,000 to 10,000 positions. Modis portfolio, again the largest, includes over 10,000 budgeted positions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

One process that could benefit from cross-departmental coordination is the citys notoriously complex permitting system that entrepreneurs navigate when starting a small business, according to SPUR director Nicole Neditch. A new restaurant, for instance, must go through 61 steps involving 11 local agencies and pay 17 different government fees just to get started in San Francisco, according to Neditch who cited numbers from a 2022 report by the Institute for Justice.

If the city wants to improve the permitting process, it needs someone who has the authority to bring people together and ultimately make decisions across all of these departments, wrote Neditch in an email to the Chronicle.

One key caveat to the new governance structure is that the policy chiefs do not supervise or directly manage department leaders  those responsibilities remain with the mayor. This means policy chiefs technically dont have the authority that most supervisors have to discipline or set goals for their direct reports.

Changing City Halls reporting structure to allow for departments to report directly to policy chiefs would require an amendment to the city charter. According to the SPUR report from August 2024, the city charter restricts the mayors ability to hire deputy mayors (or other director-level roles) to delegate department oversight and reduce the mayors number of direct reports. As a result, the mayor is left with an unreasonably large number of direct reports  43 department heads and seven mayoral staff members, according to the report.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Most experts say no one can realistically supervise more than 10 to 12 people well, said Falk.

To address this diffuse reporting structure, voters would need to approve changes to the city charter to remove the language that limits the mayors hiring authority.

In the meantime, however, both Falk and Neditch agree that Luries governance structure is a promising first step toward fostering interdepartmental coordination. The ultimate success of the model, however, will depend on whether the department heads embrace the structure and welcome their new policy chief, according to Falk.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
For the first time since the Harry Reid Machine was prominent in 2007, Republicans now outnumber Democrats in Nevada.
In the week since the unexpected loss of Charles Phan, the pioneering chef who believed Vietnamese food deserved a place at the finest tables in San Francisco, theres been an outpouring of love from those he left behind too soon.

Whats become more clear than ever before is that Phans influence didnt stop with his own restaurants, which include various outposts of his original Slanted Door, Chucks Takeaway, and the upcoming Moonset in Larkspur. The self-made chef was hugely influential for some of SFs most acclaimed restaurant chefs.

From Kin Khao to Rintaro, here are six local restaurants that may never have existed without chef Charles Phan.

Kin Khao (Courtesy of @kinkhao ) Pim Techamuanvivit, SFs doyenne of modern Thai cuisine, described Phans success to The Washington Post as a tide that lifted a lot of boats. He was a key influence on her first restaurant, Kin Khao, when it opened back in 2014. Like Phan, she rooted her menu in the rich and varied food she grew up with in Bangkok, preparing dishes like khao soi (northern-style chicken curry with egg noodles) and plah pla muek (charred Monterey squid) with locally sourced ingredients. Not long after opening, Kin Khao earned Techamuanvivit her first Michelin star. Shes since earned a second for her follow-up restaurant Nari , too. Phan, who offered to help the chef any way he could in her early days, was proud of her success. Its great that youre doing your own thing, he told her. Dont be like anybody. // 55 Cyril Magnin St. (Union Square), kinkhao.com

Gigis (Carly Hackbarth) As news of Phans passing spread, chef Tu David Phu paid tribute to the restaurant luminary on Instagram . I/we stand on the shoulders of chef Charles, he wrote. He made it possible for chefs like myself to find a way. Indeed, Phus Vietnamese-influenced wine bar GiGis may never have opened if Phan hadnt led the charge for the infiltration of Southeast Asian flavors on the higher-end food scene. Gigis, a joyful spot for a glass of wine or a meal of thoughtfully crafted dishes like bluefin tuna tartare with fish sauce and chili and Saigon-style wagyu hot dogs, follows in Phans East-meets-West, Cal-Vietnamese footsteps. // 299 Divisadero St. (NoPa), meetatgigis.com

Prubechu (Courtesy of @prubechusf ) The time Phan spent as a refugee in Guam before coming to San Francisco as a child gave him a special connection to Prubechus chef Shawn Naputi and business partner Shawn Camacho, both of whom were born and raised on the island and believed that the food of their homeland deserved a restaurant of its own. Phan offered us invaluable advice about longevity and staying relevant in this ever-changing industry, the restaurateurs wrote on Instagram last week . We are deeply grateful for the trail you blazed that allowed Chamorro food, and Prubechu, to have a place at the table. Without Phans prowess and humility, SF may have never known the pleasure of coconut titiyas, tinaktak (coconut braised beef with egg noodles), or chicken kelaguen. // 2224 Mission St. (Mission), prubechu.com

Rintaro (Courtesy of Rintaro) While Phans heart was in Vietnamese cuisine, his passion transcended the barriers behind which a wide variety of food cultures were stuck for generations. Japanese-born chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett took inspiration from Phan when he opened his izakaya restaurant Rintaro in 2014. Now it seems obvious that you can have an Asian restaurant that serves higher end food, but at the time it was definitely a first, he told the SF Chronicle . It was clear [that] if you did something the way he did it, it could be successful. You could bring a different culture here and do it successfully and excitingly and beautifully. Today, Rintaros long-simmered dashis, charcoal-grilled meats, katsus, and karaages have become some of the Missions most sought-after eats. // 82 14th St. (Mission), izakayarintaro.com

Abaca (Courtesy of Abaca) Although Abaca chef Francis Ang never had the opportunity to work with Phan, his invisible hand helped guide his journey. Chef Phan paved the way for future generations like myself to step into the culinary world and represent cuisines that were once overlooked, Ang wrote on Instagram this week . His journey fueled my what ifs and dreams. Today, Abacas contemporary Filipino-California cuisine is frequently featured among the citys best. With dishes like pork lumpia, kaldereta dumplings made with A5 wagyu, and the super-fun kamayan feast , Ang has successfully reframed the food with which he grew up as a cuisine deserving of the high-end dining scenejust like Phan did 30 years before. // 2700 Jones St. (Fishermans Wharf), restaurantabaca.com
Roland Li covers commercial real estate for the business desk, focusing on the Bay Area office and retail sectors.

He was previously a reporter at San Francisco Business Times, where he won one award from the California News Publishers Association and three from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

He is the author of Good Luck Have Fun: The Rise of eSports," a 2016 book on the history of the competitive video game industry. Before moving to the Bay Area in 2015, he studied and worked in New York. He freelanced for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other local publications. His hobbies include swimming and urban photography.
pg online games thanh pho Ha Tinh

Tro choi tren web: Ky nguyen moi cua giai tri Internet

Voi su phat trien khong ngung cua cong nghe Internet, tro choi tren web a tro thanh lua chon moi cho nhu cau giai tri, thu gian cua con nguoi hien ai. Khong can tai xuong va cai at, ban chi can co trinh duyet e choi nhieu loai tro choi khac nhau. Trong thoi ai xa hoi ban ron nay, tro choi tren web chac chan mang en khong gian e moi nguoi thu gian va nghi ngoi. Neu ban quan tam en tro choi tren web, vui long tiep tuc oc. Bai viet nay se cung cap cho ban loi giai thich toan dien ve tro choi tren web va ua ban vao mot hanh trinh choi game rat thu vi.

pg online gamesHow to Access Blocked Games at School or Work

Are you looking to play blocked games at school? Schools often block access to non-educational websites, including games. But, with a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can bypass these restrictions.A pg online games VPN changes your IP address and encrypts your online activity, making it invisible to the schools Wi-Fi network. This means they cant block your game access. With the right VPN, unblocking games at school is simple and secure.Schools block games on their computers for several reasons. Primarily, they aim to prevent students from wasting time on games instead of studying. Another reason is to protect students from inappropriate content, such as pornographic websites.There are also technical reasons for these policies. Blocking games and other high-bandwidth activities helps reduce the strain on the schools internet resources. Additionally, IT specialists know that online games and questionable websites can be sources of malware and other security threats.Obviously, there are a number of non-restricted games that can be quite difficult to find. Most popular websites are blocked in a firewall or school firewall. If you can unblocked gaming websites, the list of available games will become huge, and will not be limited to solitaire or solitaire in the pre-installed Windows settings. The most reliable way to access games is to use VeePN. By the way, at the link you will find a list of the best unblocked game sites and a tool for unblocking almost any web service in the world.Using a VPN is a simple and dependable way to get around content blocks and access the URLs you need. A VPN (virtual private network) routes your internet traffic through a remote server, allowing you to choose your virtual location.When you connect to a website via a VPN, the website perceives the VPNs virtual location as your actual location. This lets you access content from different global regions. Besides unblocking content, VPNs encrypt your connection, safeguarding your data and personal information, such as credit card details, while shopping online.Heres how to bypass blocked sites with a VPN on desktop and mobile devices:Download and Install Your VPN. You can even 


Drilling Confirms Extension of Mineralisation at Monument

Perth, Jan 29, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Verity Resources Limited ( ASX:VRL ) is pleased to announce that it has received the final assay results from the infill aircore & reverse circulation drilling program at the Fred's Well prospect in the Monument Gold Project (MGP), located in the Laverton Gold District, Western Australia.



HIGHLIGHTS



- Follow up infill drilling at Fred's Well Prospect has intersected gold mineralisation that confirms a 1.1km mineralised gold strike trend 2km northwest of the Monument Gold Project's near-surface 3.2Mt @ 1.4g/t Au Korong Mineral Resource Estimate



- Best intercepts to date at Fred's Well include:



o 24m @ 3.24g/t Au (MOAC262 from 44m) including 12m @ 6.35g/t Au



o 8m @ 2.09g/t Au (MOAC265 from 40m)



o 8m @ 1.48g/t Au (MOAC256 from 36m)



o 12m @ 1.01g/t Au (MOAC277 from 20m)



o 3m @ 2.98g/t Au (MOAC374 from 72m) ending in mineralisation



o 10m @ 0.68g/t Au (FWRC002 from 52m) including 2m @ 2.28g/t Au



o 4m @ 1.00g/t Au (FWRC002 from 81m) including 1m @ 2.89g/t Au



o 9m @ 0.61g/t Au (MOAC389 from 12m)



o 4m @ 0.28g/t Au (MOAC381 from 20m)



- The Monument Gold Project covers 195km2 located within the Laverton Gold District (Western Australia) and is directly adjacent to and along strike of Genesis Minerals' ( ASX:GMD ) 3.3Moz Au Mt Morgans Project



- Pit optimisation studies to commence in 2025 on the near-surface Korong (3.0Mt @1.4g/t Au) and Waihi (0.2Mt @ 2.1g/t Au) deposits following significant increase in gold prices since Mineral Resource Estimation in 2021. Both MRE remain open in all directions



- Over 60 additional untested BIF, basalt and intrusion-hosted gold drill targets at the Monument Gold Project remain to be tested



The MGP lies directly adjacent to and along strike of Genesis Minerals ( ASX:GMD ) ~3.3Moz Au Mt Morgan's Project).



24 holes (22 aircore, 2 reverse circulation) were drilled for 1,718m across the Freds Well prospect (Figure 1, Table 1*) with holes positioned on 100m spaced drill lines with collars predominantly 40m apart, to infill 370m of untested strike between 400m of previous lines of AC drilling and historic workings as well as test depth and potential strike extensions of previously intersected significant gold mineralisation.



The results confirm an extension to the mineralised gold strike to a total length of 1.1km, further confirming Fred's Well as a potentially new mineralised gold zone.



Drill hole FWRC002 was designed to intersect down dip of previous drill hole MOAC262 and test the depth potential of the mineralisation in fresh rock. The drill hole intersected two mineralised zones; on a lithological contact, and with laminated quartz veins respectively, returning best grades of:



- 10m @ 0.68g/t from 52m including 2m @ 2.28g/t Au; and



- 4m @ 1.00g/t from 81m including 1m @ 2.89g/t Au



Drill hole MOAC389 was designed to test beneath coincident historic workings, and lag & rock chip anomalism within the same stratigraphic position along strike to the south, intersecting quartz veins in upper saprolite, returning best assays of:



- 9m @ 0.61g/t Au from 12m



Drill hole MOAC381 was designed to test along strike to the south of historic workings targeted in the previous drilling within the same stratigraphic position, and intersected gold mineralisation at the base of upper of saprolite, returning best assays of:



- 4m @ 0.28g/t Au from 20m



The drilling results indicate the presence of multiple mineralised contacts associated with a ~100m wide stratigraphic sequence, consisting of ultramafics, felsic porphyry, mafic volcanics and sediments, which extend for a strike length of >770m. Elevated Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cu and Mn with >20ppm As and >100ppm Cu associated with the anomalous gold mineralisation are indicative of hydrothermal mineralisation associated with high level intrusives and will also be used as pathfinder elements in surface geochemical sampling to plan future drilling programs.



Drilling undertaken in 2022 intersected a mixed package of mafic, ultramafic, shale, chert and felsic porphyry intrusive lithologies. The highest-grade intersections from the previous drilling (MOAC262: 24m @ 3.24g/t Au from 44m including 12m @ 6.35g/t Au, and MOAC374: 3m @ 2.98g/t Au from 72m) are associated with a sediment-ultramafic contact.



Historic workings and prospect field mapping indicate gold occurrences are located on the intersection of 140o trending sheared lithological sediment-ultramafic contacts and cross-cutting 050o north-east trending shear zones.



The encouraging results near surface from the Fred's Well drill programs have confirmed the prospect as a mineralised gold zone over a strike length of ~1.1km. Situated along strike and approximately 2km northwest from the 139koz Korong deposit, this zone has the potential to contribute to future resource ounces, pending further drilling and exploration work.



Future Work Programs



Detailed structural and geochemical analysis of the drilling data is underway which will assist with strike extension drilling. Multi-element signatures associated with the anomalous gold mineralisation are also being analysed to identify pathfinder vectors to additional zones. These will be used to identify additional regional targets from the comprehensive surface geochemical data set.



The Company is commencing a pit optimisation study on the near-surface Korong (3.0Mt @1.4g/t Au for 139koz Au) and Waihi (0.2Mt @ 2.1g/t for 15koz Au) deposits reported in 2021, which currently remain open all directions. The outcome of the work will be used as a basis for resource extension drilling along strike and testing down-dip extensions to the mineralisation.



About the Monument Gold Project



The Monument Gold Project is located in WA's world-class Laverton Gold District and comprises ~232km2 of tenure located approximately 40km west of Laverton, adjacent and along strike of Genesis Minerals' ( ASX:GMD ) 3.1Moz Au Mt Morgan Project. A Mineral Resource Estimate of 154koz of gold (see ASX announcement on 2 August 2021) was undertaken on the Korong and Waihi deposits, which occur along ~20km of relatively untested banded iron formation, interpreted to be the same unit that hosts the 1.4Moz Westralia gold deposit, located immediately southeast of Monument.



To date, only ~10% of the 20km strike has been drilled with detailed reverse circulation drilling.



There is currently ~20km of additional priority targets identified along the banded iron formations horizon, and multiple other syenite-intrusion style targets (approximately 60 targets remaining to be tested).



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/U6ZDW4J1





About Verity Resources Ltd





Verity Resources Ltd (ASX:VRL) owns 100% of the Monument Gold project located near Laverton in Western Australia. This project currently has a JORC-compliant (2012) Inferred resource of 3.257 Mt @ 1.4 g/t for 154,000 ounces Au.

Verity Resources also holds a supply critical metals portfolio via a joint venture that includes rare earth elements, lithium, gold, base and precious metals in Brazil, including licences in the "Lithium Valley" and Pocos de Caldas in the state of Minas Gerais, globally known as prolific lithium and rare earth elements districts respectively. The Company also owns 70% of the Pimenta Project, a potential large-scale REE project in eastern Minas Gerais.

Verity Resources also holds a base and precious metals project in the Limpopo Mobile Belt in Botswana, a district known for hosting major nickel and copper producing operations. The Company's Botswana portfolio contains three flagship projects where high-grade Cu-Ag (Airstrip and Dibete) and a Maiden JORC Inferred Resource (Maibele North) have been discovered. Maibele North currently hosts a JORC (2012) inferred resource of 2.4Mt @ 0.72% Ni and 0.21% Cu + PGE's + Co + Au and is located within 50km of the Selebi-Phikwe mine recently acquired by TSX-listed Premium Nickel Resources Ltd (TSX-V:PNRL).

Related Companies


Quarterly Activities Report December 2024

Perth, Jan 29, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide the December 2024 Quarterly Activities Report. Horizon is an exploration and gold production company within the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie regions of Western Australia (Figure 1*).



HIGHLIGHTS



- Placement of $14 M and proposed merger with Poseidon Nickel Limited ( ASX:POS ) via Schemes of Arrangement to acquire all of the shares and options of POS with the objective of the Company's in-ground assets being processed through the POS Black Swan processing plant which Horizon propose to refurbish and repurpose as a gold plant



- Activities at the Boorara Gold Project included first ore mined, completion of the grade control drilling program and the first ore stockpile of 54,380 tonnes was completed and haulage to the Paddington Mill commenced



- Subsequent to the end of the December quarter and at the time of reporting, the company announced the first gold pour of the Boorara Gold Project under the Ore Sale Agreement with Paddington Mill



- Mining and grade control drilling commenced at the Phillips Find Gold Project after equipment mobilisation, site establishment and mining approvals granted early in the quarter



- Prefeasibility study completed for the Penny's Find Underground Gold Project with a maiden Ore Reserve of 328.3 kt at 3.2 g/t Au for 33.4 koz and a projected free cash flow of $24.0 M at a gold price of A$3,600/oz



MARCH QUARTER ACTIVITIES



- General Meeting approval by POS shareholders for the Schemes of Arrangement (shares and options) to be approved at the 31 January 2025 scheme meetings



- Subject to POS security holders approving the Schemes and court approval. The Scheme Implementation Date is anticipated to be 19 February 2025 at which point POS security holders will receive Horizon shares and options as per the agreed Scheme ratio of 0.1156



- Post POS merger, select the engineering consultants to be used for the Black Swan refurbishment and gold circuit expansion and commence work



- First Gold Pour from Phillips Find mining via Toll Milling arrangement with the Greenfields Mill near Coolgardie



- Continued gold production at the Boorara Gold Project via Paddington Mill Ore Sale



A key objective for the Company is on near term gold production and exploration upside within our large tenement package of 928 km2 . In addition to 1.8 Moz of gold resources, the company holds a number of multi-commodity assets including the Nimbus Silver Zinc project, 50% of the Mt Thirsty Nickel Cobalt Manganese project in Western Australia, and listed investments including Richmond Vanadium Technology ( ASX:RVT ) which holds the world-class 1.8Bt Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland (Figure 5*).



Activities during the quarter focussed on execution of the strategy of extracting near term cashflow from mining projects, with first ore being mined at Boorara for treatment at Norton Goldfields' Paddington processing plant.



Additionally, pre-strip mining and grade control drilling commenced at the Phillips Find project under the JV agreement with BML Ventures. Ore will be processed under a Toll Milling Agreement with FMR at their Greenfields plant near Coolgardie commencing in February 2025.



*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/255449Y7





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
Lyft, the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company, is facing a lawsuit from a Detroit woman who alleges one of its drivers refused to give her a ride due to her weight. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Lyft is facing a lawsuit from a woman who alleges a driver with the San Francisco ride-hailing company refused to give her a ride due to her weight.

Detroit resident Dajua Blanding captured a video of the incident, which she subsequently shared across her social media platforms, which occurred when she requested a ride to a Detroit Lions watch party at her cousins house earlier this month.

The footage shows a frustrated Blanding as a Lyft driver pulls up in a Mercedes-Benz sedan and immediately locks his doors, claiming she was too large to fit in the car and that his tires wouldnt support her weight.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In the video, Blanding, a rapper known as Dank Demoss, insists, I can fit in this car, to which the driver reportedly replied, Believe me, you cant.

The driver then suggested she order a larger vehicle, like an Uber XL, and assured her that her fare would be refunded, stating, Ive been in this situation before.

A spokesperson for Lyft said the company cannot comment on pending litigation but issued a statement.

Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination  we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness, it said. Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Blandings attorneys, Jon Marko and Zach Runyan, argue in a lawsuit filed Monday in Circuit Court in Wayne County, Mich., that weight discrimination is unlawful under Michigan law, akin to discrimination based on race or religion.

Discrimination of any kind should never be tolerated in our society, Marko said in a statement.

Blanding, who has described herself on Instagram as a Paid Phat Queen and previously mentioned weighing 554 pounds, filed a lawsuit against Lyft on Tuesday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is making its presence felt at the Maha Kumbh 2025, where over 40 crore Indians are expected to visit. With a vision to spread financial literacy and educate millions of visitors about the benefits of Mutual Funds, AMFIs campaign integrates innovative on-ground activities to ensure deep engagement.

Two specially designed buses have been stationed at high footfall areas, offering a unique experience where Kumbh visitors can watch engaging videos on the basics of mutual funds, participate in interactive quizzes, while re-charging their mobile phone at charging stations. People answering questions correctly are gifted a 12-year Hindu calendar, the Nivesh Panchang, highlighting auspicious days to start SIPs, making it a cherished keepsake.

A visually striking installation in the shape of a kalash, providing warm filtered water to visitors serves as another touchpoint for engagement. The kalash carries messaging around SIP and how small savings can help to achieve dreams. To further strengthen its connection and help the crowd brave the cold, AMFI is distributing branded blankets to pilgrims housed in government-constructed tents, ensuring warmth and comfort while reinforcing its messaging around SIP. The initiatives not only focus on financial literacy but also keep in mind the need of the visitors in the cold weather thus building a strong brand connect and bridge the trust deficit.

Speaking about AMFIs initiative at Maha Kumbh 2025, Navneet Munot, Chairman, AMFI, commented: "At AMFI, we are committed to empowering individuals with financial literacy. Our participation in Maha Kumbh is a meaningful step toward merging the essence of tradition with the opportunities of financial inclusion. Just as Kumbh symbolizes the confluence of culture and spirituality, mutual funds represent the confluence of faith and disciplineespecially SIPs, which enable individuals and families to achieve their financial aspirations. We are honoured to bring this message to one of the worlds most iconic gatherings."

Adding further, Venkat N Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI, said: " The Maha Kumbh Mela allows us to connect with millions of people and create trust and recall by helping them understand the importance of financial planning and the role of mutual funds in achieving their life goals. Through innovative activations and culturally relevant messaging, we aim to empower individuals to take charge of their financial futures."

Adding to the vibrancy, the Sahi Hai Mandli troupe, dressed in Mutual Funds Sahi Hai branded attire, which rewards positive acts like conserving water or maintaining cleanliness, while energizing the atmosphere with a live jingle sung by the troupe which talks about developing a new good habit of investing in mutual funds through SIP. The Sahi Hai Mandli gives the Nivesh Panchang as the reward, driving home the messaging of SIP.

The campaign also extends beyond the Kumbh grounds with a 30-day Out-of-Home (OOH) campaign covering key locations in Prayagraj and Varanasi, including railway stations and airports. The Ganga Gomti Express, which plies daily between Prayagraj and Lucknow has been branded with Mutual Funds Sahi Hai messaging. Collaborations with local channels like UP Tak will amplify visibility through exclusive stage programming, nukkad natak on mutual funds, live streams, and strategic content placements.

Through these initiatives at the Maha Kumbh Mela, AMFI aims to create awareness about Mutual Funds and lead to financial inclusion by blending financial literacy with cultural significance at this grand event.

Also Read: AMFI Becomes Silver Partner with PCI for Paris 2024 Paralympics
To commemorate Data Privacy Day, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Academy, in collaboration with PSA Legal and Tsaaro Consulting, has released a comprehensive white paper titled Navigating Cookies: Recalibrating your cookie strategy in light of the DPDPA. This paper builds on ASCI's ongoing efforts to address data privacy concerns, following the Privacy and Progress: Pillars of Digital Bharat paper published in March 2023, which focused on preparing organizations for Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) compliance.

Cookies are an important feature of most internet interfaces and can help create value for both advertisers and consumers. Advertisers use cookies to gather data on user behaviour, preferences, and browsing history to deliver targeted ads that drive higher engagement and better ROI. For consumers, cookies can streamline browsing by personalizing content, remembering preferences, and simplifying website interactions.

However, the use of cookies raises concerns about privacy, data security, and user autonomy when users remain unclear about how their data is collected, shared, or monetized.

A dipstick done for the purpose of this paper analysed the cookie consent practices of the top 50 websites in India, accounting for 30 billion visits in December 2024 alone. The results show that only 6% of them are ready for specific consent as outlined by the DPDPA 2023, read with the draft DPDP rules published on January 3, 2025. While the DPDPA is likely to provide a runway for compliance, the results indicate a need for organizations to take up cookie consent best practices as a part of their compliance readiness efforts.

The paper explores cases and examples in other jurisdictions and sheds light on how the issue of cookie consent has been addressed in different countries. The paper provides actionable insights on crafting an effective cookie policy to help stakeholders navigate the complexities of consent, transparency, and user control in an increasingly privacy-conscious world.

Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary-General, ASCI, said, "On this Data Privacy Day, we are pleased to present this collaborative white paper with PSA Legal and Tsaaro Consulting. The paper aims to help advertisers understand and prepare for cookie consent practices that are both compliant with the new DPDPA as well as build consumer trust and transparency. The paper provides practical knowledge and insights to create effective cookie practices in a privacy-conscious world."

Dhruv Suri, Partner, PSA Legal, said, With the final DPDPA Rules on the horizon, advertisers are at a crossroads where privacy, technology, and the law converge. Once the law is better understood, the technology, i.e., cookies, will no longer be mere marketing tools but will serve as a means to strengthen customer loyalty. Global precedents can serve as the perfect roadmap to tailor strategies and navigate cookie consent management in a country that is just beginning its data privacy journey.

Akarsh Singh, CEO, Tsaaro Consulting, said, Cookie consent is no longer a checkbox exercise; its a strategic element of modern advertising. The first step to creating a privacy-centric ecosystem that values the customers data rights when deploying cookies is to acknowledge that a gap exists between existing marketing tactics and the privacy laws and then to actively work towards bridging the gap between practicality and compliance.

Key Highlights of the White Paper Include:

Compliance Readiness Gaps in India: Tsarro Consulting conducted a dipstick analysis of Indias top websites, revealing that only 6% implement cookie consent banners, indicating a gap in terms of readiness.

indicating a gap in terms of readiness. Granular Consent Mandates: The DPDPA requires explicit, informed, and revocable consent for cookie usage, calling for a rethinking of traditional consent models.

Lessons from Global Standards: The paper draws insights from GDPR and other jurisdictions that bring out the need for transparency and user control.

Industry Impact: The paper examines current practices and use cases in various industries like e-commerce, tech and software, social media platforms, marketing and advertising, and healthcare.

Opportunities for Advertisers: By prioritizing user-centric practices, advertisers can turn compliance into a competitive advantage, building consumer trust in a privacy-conscious marketplace.

Also Read: ASCI Academy launches hindi versions of courses for advertisers & creators
The Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), a multi-business corporation and leading FMCG conglomerate and exclusive Indian partner of Swiss luxury chocolatier Laderach, celebrated the grand opening of Laderach Indias first cafe at Jio World Plaza, elevating the art of indulgence in India with Laderach's renowned artisanal craftsmanship. The Laderach Cafe is the first-of-its-kind luxury chocolate cafe in India, offering a decadent and unparalleled chocolate experience. A haven for chocolate connoisseurs, the Laderach Cafe is an ode to Swiss innovation, reimagining luxury dining with a menu that blends the finest chocolate creations and sophisticated European-inspired offerings.

The Laderach Cafe seeks to provide a sophisticated experience, reflecting the quality associated with the Laderach brand with chic interiors and European-style outdoor seating. Renowned for fresh and hand-crafted exquisite luxury chocolates, the Laderach Cafe will introduce an extensive menu of hot and cold chocolate beverages and desserts specially curated by the house of Laderach. Drawing inspiration from the local taste and using the finest couvertures, the menu features unique creations like Coconut Cold Chocolate and Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Signature desserts, including the Signature Chocolate Trio and Coconut Lime Cheesecake, Laderach Trio, Mango dessert, and reimagined Berry Choco-Gato showcase the Laderach's brands innovative approach to flavor, where every ingredient is thoughtfully curated to deliver an unparalleled taste journey.

Ms. Sanskriti Gupta, Laderach India, said, We are delighted to bring Laderachs first-ever chocolate cafe to India, and there could be no better place than Mumbai to introduce this unique concept. As a strategic market for Laderach, Mumbai has demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm for our brand, evident in the resounding success. We look forward to bringing the Laderach experience closer to India.

The cafe extends beyond sweet indulgences, featuring an array of savory dishes like the vibrant Beetroot & Goat Cheese Salad and the hearty Poulet Parm Focaccia. Diners can also savor buttery croissants and pesto-infused delights, embodying the perfect balance of tradition and modernity. Indulge in velvety hot chocolate, refreshing smoothies, and visually stunning creations like the Earth Blenders, all while enjoying a tranquil ambiance amidst the city's energy. The menu emphasizes quality, with options like Vegan Hot Chocolate and signature pairings like Hot Chocolate with Avocado Toast, ensuring a delightful experience. With an average cost of INR 2,000 for two, the Laderach Cafe offers an accessible slice of luxury. Open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, the cafe caters to every occasion, from leisurely brunches to evening opulence. Takeaway and delivery services ensure that the magic of Laderach is just a call away.

The cafes beverage menu celebrates Laderachs commitment to creation, with options like the Vegan Hot Chocolate and the visually stunning Earth Blenders - a mixture of white chocolate, matcha, and blue spirulina. Signature pairings, such as the rich Hot Chocolate with Avocado Toast, enrich the experience, making each visit a delicious revelation.

Globally celebrated for its FrischSchoggi (fresh chocolate) and dedication to natural, high-quality ingredients, Laderachs cafe represents its heritage while setting new horizons in luxury dining. This latest addition to Jio World Plaza enhances Mumbais culinary scene, offering an incredible experience that unites tradition and artistry.

Also Read: DS Groups Pulse Candy gets Tangier with TheGreatPulseChase This Christmas!
Luxury is no longer confined to metro citiesits thriving in tier 2 markets, where aspirations are rising, purchasing power is growing, and digital trends are redefining how brands connect with diverse consumer groups. These markets blend tradition with modernity, requiring brands to move beyond selling products and focus on building trust through authentic storytelling and hyper-personalized strategies. By leveraging local insights and innovative digital tools, brands can create meaningful connections that resonate deeply with these audiences. In this dynamic landscape, those who adapt and align with the evolving aspirations of tier 2 markets are paving the way for long-term success and redefining the future of luxury. From small beginnings to large-scale growth, the focus is on crafting stories that speak to the heart of an ever-changing market.

Welcome to Crafting Bharat: Brand Ki Baat, an industry-first podcast that takes you behind the curtain to meet the masterminds bringing brands to life. In our second episode, join Shubhreet Kaur, Host and VP  Integration at Adfactors PR, in conversation with Udita Bansal, Founder at trueBrowns Lifestyle and Kritika Lalchandani, Founder & CEO at Apostrophe Communications.

This series is proudly brought to you by NewsReach, Indias leading PR-tech platform, with segment partner Blue Tea, gifting partner The Forbidden Journeys, insurance partner Beacon Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd and wardrobe partner White Chaos. Tune in for stories, insights, and inspiration!

Edited Excerpts:

Kritika, what inspired you to start your agency in such a competitive landscape?

Kritika Lalchandani (Apostrophe Communications): My decision to start Apostrophe Communications was a culmination of years of experience, an inner drive, and a sense of unfulfilled potential. I began my PR journey in 2009, working as an in-house communications manager for midsize agencies and luxury brands. Over the years, I learned the ins and outs of the industry, but I often felt like I wasnt fully aligned with my purpose.

Theres always this itch, I said, and for me, it was a nagging feeling that I could create something better, something more in tune with the evolving PR landscape. Initially, I started freelancing to test the waters. It was a slow, deliberate process, but once I gained momentum and clarity, I formalised it into a full-fledged agency.

In 2017, Apostrophe Communications came to life. It wasnt easy to step into a competitive landscape, but I believed in my vision. As I often say, Onwards and upwards. The thrill of pitching, winning clients, and building a team from scratch has been a fulfilling, albeit challenging, journey.

Udita, what made you start True Browns? What was the inspiration behind the brand?

Udita Bansal (truebrowns Lifestyle): The story of trueBrowns is deeply personal and a mix of both necessity and vision. When I moved from Bangalore to Gurgaon, I was actively looking for corporate jobs but couldnt find anything suitable. That situation pushed me to think differently about my career path. But the bigger inspiration came from my own needs as a consumer.

As I was getting older, I found myself embracing ethnicity more and more, I shared, but I couldnt find a brand that resonated with my style. I wanted ethnic wear that was fun, modern, and comfortable, but I felt like nothing in the market met those criteria. This realization planted the seed for True Browns.

The brand was built on the philosophy of going back to roots with minimalism at its core. Even today, solids are our core, I explained, and we stay away from heavy embellishments. My vision was to create a brand that spoke to women who are driven from within, embracing their roots but in their own unique way. Staying true to this philosophy has been the foundation of everything we do at trueBrowns.

Udita, how do you engage with tier-two and tier-three audiences while staying true to your brand ethos?

Udita Bansal (truebrowns Lifestyle): Engaging with tier-two and tier-three audiences requires a nuanced approach. Weve found that getting closer to consumers through language and culture is key. For example, when we opened a store in Ahmedabad, we did a press release in a local newspaper to ensure we reached our target audience.

Similarly, our digital creatives are often designed in regional languages to make them more relatable. Influencer marketing is another significant focus for us. We collaborate with regional influencers who understand the local audiences preferences, language, and cultural nuances.

These efforts have proven to be highly effective. The engagement and conversion rates we see in these markets often outperform tier-one cities. Its about relevance. The more relatable the content, the stronger the connection with the audience.

Kritika, how do you balance traditional media and the dynamic digital landscape?

Kritika Lalchandani (Apostrophe Communications): The PR landscape has transformed significantly. Earlier, it was linear; now, its 24/7 live streaming. Back in the day, PR was about press releases, founder interviews, and media coverage. Now, its a mix of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, OTT platforms, and even hyperlocal channels.

Weve had to adapt to this shift by becoming more versatile. For instance, when we target tier-two and tier-three cities, we prioritize regional influencers and vernacular creatives. Its about understanding cultural sensibilities and tailoring strategies to resonate with specific audiences.

A recent example was a campaign we did for a luxury brand. Besides Delhi and Mumbai, we targeted Itanagar, a tier-three city, because of its growing disposable income. Surprisingly, it became one of our highest sales regions. This is why I say India is the most diverse and complex market, offering unparalleled opportunities.

If youve ever wondered about the genius that builds a brands identity, this is your all-access backstage pass. Join us as we celebrate the creative chaos and spotlight the unsung heroes behind the brands that inspire, innovate, and shape our world. These stories, fueled by passion and strategy, reveal the artistry behind building iconic identities. Stay curious, keep crafting your own narratives, and catch more unfiltered insights in our next episode.

Brought to you by NewsReachIndias leading PR-tech platform, in association with VCCircle and our production partner, HT Smartcast.

Also Read: Luxury unleashed: RedBeryl partners with Kirchhofer
"People will never be out of business."

This classic line from The Office, delivered by Steve Carell, perfectly sums up human creativity and adaptability. In a world where AI is becoming more prevalent, there is a concern that it could replace us. However, AI is here to enhance, not replace. It provides powerful tools to help us work smarter and more effectivelyparticularly in digital marketing and product launches.

This leads us to Effective Digital Launch Techniques with AI. As businesses increasingly move online, AI offers a real advantage. In fact, according to the IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2023, India leads the world with 59% of businesses using AImore than any other country surveyed. On a global scale, 40% of companies are already using AI, and 82% are planning to use it more, according to McKinsey.

These figures show that AI is not something to fear. It is a tool for growth, helping businesses become more efficient and effective, while still relying on the creativity and innovation that humans bring. The goal is to make AI a partner in success, especially when it comes to digital launches that are smarter, more impactful, and more engaging.

Understanding Digital Launches in the Age of AI

Imagine launching your product or service into the vast online universe. A digital launch could mean unveiling a new website, promoting a product through influencers on Instagram, or rolling out a new feature with live YouTube coverage. Whatever the medium, a successful launch demands meticulous planning, market research, and seamless execution. Traditionally, this process could span months, but AI has transformed this timeline, enabling teams to achieve in weeks what once took twice as long.

AI and the Art of Research

Research forms the backbone of any launch strategy. Traditionally, market research meant sifting through stacks of articles, reports, and competitor analyses, often consuming weeks of effort. Today, AI tools streamline this process. For example, imagine you are faced with 100 industry reports to review. AI tools like MarketMuse or Craiyon analyze and distill key insights, highlighting the most relevant points to focus on. While these tools will not do the thinking for you, they act as a funnel, narrowing down information and enabling you to strategize with precision.

Media Planning Made Smarter

Media planning once required a lengthy back-and-forth with media houses, gathering quotes, and comparing forecasts. Now, AI platforms simplify this process by forecasting media plans with real-time data. Tools like Adzooma and AdRoll provide insights into budget allocations, audience segmentation, and even campaign performance predictions. While AI can offer robust forecasting, it is crucial to complement these insights with human judgment to ensure they align with your goals and metrics.

Personalization

One of AI's greatest strengths is personalization. Consumers now expect brands to meet their individual preferences, and AI makes this possible. Personalized email campaigns powered by AI see a 29% higher open rate and a 41% higher click-through rate than generic ones. Tools like Salesforce Einstein and Adobe Sensei help businesses analyze large datasets to create tailored experiences. From product recommendations to custom offers, AI-driven personalization boosts customer loyalty and revenue. McKinsey found that companies effectively using personalization generate 40% more revenue than those lagging behind.

Efficiency Through Automation

AI-powered automation is revolutionizing the operational side of digital launches. Take customer support, for instance. Chatbots, such as those powered by IBM Watson, can handle up to 80% of routine queries, reducing response times and saving up to 30% in support costs. On the creative side, platforms like Jasper and Midjourney streamline content creation, generating compelling visuals and copy in minutes. By automating repetitive tasks, businesses free up their teams to focus on high-value activities, ensuring flexibility and competitiveness in crowded markets.

Challenges in the Age of AI

Despite its many advantages, AI adoption comes with challenges. A significant hurdle is the talent shortage. According to UST, 93% of large companies view AI as vital to their success, yet many struggle to find skilled professionals to manage these systems. Additionally, concerns about bias in AI outputs remain prevalent, with 70% of organizations citing a lack of diversity in AI teams as a contributing factor. To address these challenges, companies must prioritize upskilling their workforce, fostering inclusivity, and implementing robust governance frameworks.

Future of AI in Digital Launches

The global AI markets projected growth at a CAGR of 36.2%, reaching $407 billion by 2027, highlights its transformative potential. High-maturity businesses that have used AI are already seeing three times the return on investment compared to low-adoption counterparts, according to Boston Consulting Group. In India, the worlds leader in AI adoption, enterprises benefit from accessible tools, cost-efficiency, and integration into business workflows. However, the journey is not without obstacles. Addressing ethical concerns and bridging skill gaps remain critical to maximizing AIs benefits.

Quoting Steve Carell again, 'People will never be out of business,' perfectly captures the ongoing relationship between humans and technology. While AI can optimize and streamline digital launch processes, it is the human element that provides the creativity, decision-making, and emotional intelligence needed for success. AI enables businesses to be more efficient and personalized, but it is human insight that ensures these innovations are meaningful and aligned with company goals. The true potential lies in how businesses combine the power of AI with the irreplaceable qualities of human ingenuity to craft impactful and successful digital strategies.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.

Also Read: CNN explores why the future of the internet is Indian
The Corruption of Renunciation: Mamta Kulkarni's Dubious Transformation 2

The spiritual fabric of Sanatana Dharma, steeped in rigorous discipline, unwavering commitment, and profound renunciation, faces yet another challenge as commercial theatrics masquerade as asceticism. The recent anointment of Mamta Kulkarnionce a Bollywood starlet entangled in underworld associations and drug syndicatesas a Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada is nothing short of an affront to the sacred traditions of renunciation. Mamta Kulkarni, whose notoriety far outweighs any credible spiritual contributions, abruptly declared her sanyasa at the Maha Kumbh 2025, performing her own Pind Daan and proclaiming herself a renunciate. The glaring question that arises iscan one truly become a monk overnight? The essence of monastic life is not an impulsive refuge but a deliberate, lifelong journey rooted in deep study, rigorous discipline, and selfless service.

The credibility of Kulkarnis renunciation is questionable at best. Here is a woman who, for decades, epitomised material excess, controversy, and illicit ties. Her alleged romantic involvement with underworld don Chhota Rajan and her later association with Vicky Goswamia convicted drug kingpinpaint a picture far removed from the moral integrity expected of a saintly figure. The 2016 Rs 2000 crore drug scandal, in which Kulkarni was named a fugitive, casts an indelible stain on her credibility. In 1998, her purported relationship with Chhota Rajan stirred intense media scrutiny, culminating in threats against filmmakers and an alleged forced reinstatement in Rajkumar Santoshis China Gate. Her downward spiral led her deeper into the abyss of crime, culminating in her alleged role in Goswamis narcotics empire. Such a past, riddled with questionable associations and illicit dealings, raises significant doubts about her recent claims of spiritual awakening.

Self-realisation and liberation are fundamental rights, but the abuse of asceticism for personal refuge is a mockery of Sanatana Dharma. True renunciation demands the abandonment of material attachments, rigorous adherence to scriptural wisdom, and unwavering devotion to selfless service. Kulkarni, by all accounts, lacks the foundational knowledge of Hindu scriptures, the discipline of Vedic studies, and the lived experience of a true monk. Her saffron robes, rather than signifying a sacred vow, seem to be a calculated escape from the shadows of her past. What is even more disheartening is the dubious legitimacy of her initiation. The very individual who bestowed her sanyasa, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, continues to lead a life steeped in worldly engagements, luxury, and public spectacles. The glaring inconsistency of this act further diminishes the sanctity of the path of renunciation. If the guru has not relinquished materialism, how can the disciple be expected to embody true detachment?

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev was among the few vocal critics, condemning Kulkarnis instant anointment as Mahamandaleshwar. He rightfully emphasised that sainthood is not a title to be acquired overnight but a station reached through decades of unwavering discipline and sacrifice. His concerns extend beyond Kulkarnis case; they address a growing, disturbing trendthe dilution of the sacred into mere theatrics. The instant elevation of individuals with checkered pasts into revered monastic positions erodes the spiritual and moral fabric of the ascetic tradition. The dangers of such unwarranted sainthood are manifold. Firstly, it discredits the genuine monks and saints who have dedicated their lives to the arduous path of self-realisation. Secondly, it sends a misleading message to society, where renunciation becomes a spectacle rather than a sacred pursuit. Lastly, it opens doors for individuals to misuse religious institutions as safe havens for personal interests rather than as centres of spiritual enlightenment.

Sanatana Dharma is not a costume to be donned at convenience, nor is it a refuge for those seeking an escape from their past misdeeds. The path of renunciation is not a means of evasion but an act of utmost self-discipline, requiring one to transcend worldly attachments and not merely hide behind them. The case of Mamta Kulkarni is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter adherence to monastic traditions, ensuring that ascetic titles remain reserved for those who have genuinely walked the path of spiritual realisation. It is imperative that Hindu religious institutions exercise greater vigilance and accountability in their appointments. Saffron robes must be worn with reverence, not as a disguise. Let us not allow the sacred traditions of Sanatana Dharma to be reduced to a farcical charade of opportunism. The time has come for introspection and corrective action to preserve the integrity of spiritual renunciation.
Three Held With Rs 5.9 Lakh Ganja in Thane 2

Police have seized nearly 30 kg of ganja valued at Rs 5.97 lakh during a special drive against the drug menace in Maharashtras Thane district and arrested three persons in this connection, officials said.

On Monday, the police spotted a person hiding near the railway tracks at Ayregaon in Kalyan town.

During checking, 7.06 kg of ganja valued at Rs 1.4 lakh was recovered from his possession, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III Kalyan) Atul Zende told reporters on Tuesday.

The police subsequently arrested the man, identified as Kiran Shah (42), a driver by profession, he said.

On Tuesday, a police team again spotted two persons moving in a suspicious manner near a temple at Chole Gaon and seized from them 22.88 kg of ganja valued at Rs 4.57 lakh, the official said.

The two persons, identified as Sachin More (21) and Sanju Luhar (24), both hailing from Rajasthan, were arrested, he said.

The three accused have been booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the official said.
Waqf Amendment Bill Sparks Uproar: BJP Pushes Reform, Opposition Cries Foul 2

A parliamentary panel on Wednesday approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, by a 15-11 majority vote, incorporating changes proposed by ruling BJP members. The move has triggered fierce opposition, with critics alleging an attempt to weaken Waqf boards and interfere in the religious affairs of the Muslim community.

Chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) finalized the report, dismissing amendments suggested by Congress, DMK, TMC, AAP, Shiv Sena-UBT, and AIMIM members. The opposition has submitted dissent notes, condemning the bill as a direct assault on the constitutional rights of Muslims.

BJP members defended the bill, arguing it promotes modernity, transparency, and accountability in managing Waqf properties. However, opposition leaders, including Congress MP Imran Masood and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed the provision allowing non-Muslims to be appointed to Waqf boards, calling it a violation of Article 26, which guarantees religious institutions the right to self-governance.

This is a clear attempt to dismantle Waqf boards. Hindu, Sikh, and Christian religious boards do not have members from other communities, so why impose this rule only on Muslims? Masood questioned. Owaisi further warned that the amendment could lead to government takeovers of evacuee properties and endanger Muslim religious sites.

The committee adopted 14 amendments, all proposed by BJP members. Among the key provisions, the revised bill mandates Muslim OBC representation in state Waqf boards and allows for separate boards for Aghakhani and Bohra communities. It also includes provisions to safeguard womens inheritance rights in Waqf Alal Aulad and directs income from such Waqfs toward widows, divorced women, and orphans if specified by the waqif (creator of the Waqf).

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee called the committees recommendations wholly perverse, while DMKs A Raja criticized the rushed circulation of the draft report, giving members little time for review.

The bill eliminates the Waqf by user clause from the 1995 Act but states that past cases will not be reopened unless the properties are in dispute or belong to the government. It also strips district collectors of the authority to investigate disputes involving Waqf properties, instead granting that power to senior state-appointed officers.

Following 38 meetings and consultations across multiple states, the committee is set to submit its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla before tabling it in Parliament during the upcoming Budget Session. With the government determined to push through the reforms and the opposition ready for a showdown, the bill is expected to trigger intense debates in both Houses.
Meridian has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Harmony Energy / First Renewables in respect of their joint venture to build the 150MW Tauhei Solar Farm, near Te Aroha in the Waikato.

Once completed in late 2026, the Tauhei Solar Farm will be New Zealands largest to date, generating 280 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, enough to power around 35,000 homes. Meridian will purchase 100% of the output from the farm for its first 10 years of operation.

Meridian will also purchase early generation prior to full operation under a separate Power Purchase Agreement, on the same terms as the main Agreement.

Meridian Chief Executive Neal Barclay said the agreement shows that New Zealands electricity industry supports competition.

This agreement demonstrates how new entrants to the electricity sector can work with existing participants like Meridian to deliver commercially viable independent electricity to customers. Tauhei Solar Farm ticks all the boxes for us  its an exciting development generating clean energy from the abundant Waikato sun, thatll add more resilience to New Zealands electricity supply.

I congratulate Harmony Energy and First Renewables for their progress on this outstanding project  it adds real value to New Zealand.

The full media release can be found here: https://clarus.co.nz/content-hub/harmony-energy-and-first-renewables-announce-joint-venture-for-the-development-of-new-zealands-largest-solar-farm

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

SKT - Sky secures iconic sports rights

RYM - Ryman completes Retail Entitlement Offer

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares

FPH launches F&P Nova Nasal mask in NZ and AU

Fonterra announces changes to management team

March 12th Morning Report

WHS FY25 Interim Results teleconference details

VGL - Odeon Cinemas Group signs for Vista Cloud

DGL - T&G appoints new Director

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares


Safran Cabin has officially opened a new, 8,000m facility in Rokycany, Czech Republic. dedicated to long-haul aircraft cabin products. The site is responsible for producing crew rest modules for cargo areas, lavatories and staircases for the Airbus A330, as well as next-generation galleys for Boeing 777 aircraft.

The site complements Safran Cabins other site in Czech Republic, located in Plzen, and brings the total footprint of the companys facilities in the country to 26,000m. The Plzen plant has a focus on A320 products.

The Rokycany factory has been built for energy efficiency, and is equipped with cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving production capabilities, including advanced lighting and temperature control systems, which are crucial for adhesive operations. All critical processes were qualified before operations began, to ensure high production standards.

Alexandre Atayi, a project manager at Safran Cabin, explained the location of the new factory: Rokycany is situated near the highway, on the way to Prague, ensuring an efficient supply chain and streamlined logistics.

The proximity to the Plzen facility, a 20-minute drive away, was another factor in the decision. This location also provides access to a larger talent pool, crucial for meeting recruitment needs as the site is expected to create up to 250 new jobs once it reaches full capacity.

In order to ensure a smooth launch, approximately 80 experienced employees were transferred from the Plzen facility to the Rokycany site. Many employees commute from Plzen, which is why partnerships with public transport organisations have been established, said Dana Schwobova, human resources manager at the Rokycany facility. Additionally, we are collaborating with the local employment agency to attract and recruit new talent from the surrounding area.
Starbucks plans to downsize its menu and remove a number of food and drink options in the next few months in an effort to cut costs and improve the customer experience.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol outlined the plan on Starbucks earnings call this week, saying the company will make a roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food.

While Niccol didnt name specific items, he has said the coffee chains menu has become overly complex resulting in long lines, reports CNN.

According to Axios, company officials at Starbucks said the coffee giants sales in the United States fell 4% in the first quarter and transactions were down 8%, but consumers spent more per visit.

Niccol said a smaller menu will help Starbucks be more responsive and tuned in to cultural moments. Addtional customer-fouced changes including a return to writing names on beverage cups and stopping the non-dairy milk fee.

The changes come amid Starbucks' decision to reverse a policy allowing anyone, even those who hadnt purchased anything, to use its cafes, patios and restrooms. The policy is part of Starbucks' new code of conduct-- a plan to make stores more welcoming and win back consumers.

Read more: Starbucks announces major changes to its restroom and refills policies
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is offering unwavering support for President Donald Trumps immigration plans as deportations take effect across the state and country.

Were certainly taking the lead from President Trump, and hes hit the ground running, Ivey told reporters Wednesday. And whatever he needs our help on, were going to give it to him.

This week, Trump increased arrest quotas for ICE officials to at least 1,200 to 1,500 per day, according to a report by the Washington Post. Since last week, reports have emerged of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detaining undocumented immigrants in Baldwin County and several areas in central and northern parts of the state . In some instances, according to AL.com reporting, individuals were picked up without a warrant.

The Trump administration also has revoked policies limiting arrests at sensitive locations, such as schools and hospitals.

Alabama school officials said Wednesday that they have not received any reports of ICE agents in schools. In guidance issued to superintendents Tuesday, State Superintendent Eric Mackey urged school leaders to carry on with normal activities and follow standard enrollment and attendance policies.

First and foremost, to our knowledge, none of our schools have experienced any disruptions whatsoever on the part of federal or state law enforcement related to this issue, Mackey wrote. We (ALSDE) remain in constant contact with law enforcement agencies and will notify local superintendents should any new guidance or directives be issued by law enforcement.

Across the country, several large school systems have vowed to protect undocumented students from potential raids, with many urging staff to bar ICE from school grounds unless they were able to provide a warrant.

In Alabama, there are an estimated 183,000 total immigrants in the state. A local immigration group estimates about 20 percent of those are undocumented, but exact numbers are not known.

It is also unclear how many youth in the state are undocumented, though more and more immigrant students have enrolled in state schools in recent years.

As always, if anyone shows up to your office or a school, purporting to be a law enforcement agent, verify identity before admitting them to campus, the guidance to schools continues. Nevertheless, after verifying identity, badged law enforcement should always be welcomed onto our campuses. (There is some concern, albeit pure speculation, about potential mal-actors taking advantage of the confusion to attempt kidnapping or other unlawful entry).

Mackey told reporters that he is concerned about possible impacts on student attendance. In Mobile County recently, a teacher was placed on leave for encouraging undocumented families to keep their children home.

Were not the least bit worried about it, with the exception that if we have parents who are worried about it and therefore not sending their kids to school, then those kids are not being taught, Mackey told reporters Wednesday. And we need those kids to be taught. So my message is, we want every kid in school. We need kids coming to school. Go to class, go play ball, school as usual. 
Anthony Mackie took to Instagram Tuesday to clarify his viral comment about what Captain America represents.

Let me be clear about this, Im a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like [Captain America] is the honor of a lifetime, Mackie wrote on his Instagram Story. I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. [Captain America] has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to.

Over the past 24 hours, Mackie drew criticism for comments made during an onstage interview in Rome. While promoting his new film Captain America: Brave New World, Mackie said that Cap represents a lot of different things, but the term America is not one of them.

For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things and I dont think the term America should be one of those representations, Mackie said Its about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.

Brave New World, which hits theaters Feb. 14, is the first Captain America film since Mackie took over for Chris Evans as the star-spangled superhero. In 2019s Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers, the original first Avenger, rapidly ages himself out of crime-fighting shape and passes the shield to Mackies Sam Wilson. Sam Wilson, formally known as The Falcon, first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and went on to fight alongside Sebastian Stans Bucky Barnes in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Other Brave New World cast members include Harrison Ford, Rosa Salazar, Liv Tyler, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Ramirez and Shira Haas. Julius Onah directs the film with a script from Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Butler Methodist Church in Choctaw County has sued the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, asking for a jury trial to establish that the church property is owned by the congregation and not the denomination.

The lawsuit was filed Jan. 23 in Choctaw County Circuit Court, and is the latest salvo in an ongoing legal battle between the United Methodist Church and congregations declaring their independence from it.

The congregation, with property at 511 South Mulberry in Butler, in western Alabama southwest of Demopolis, has been in that location since at least 1948, the lawsuit said.

We are saddened by churches who seek legal action against the conference, the conference said in a statement regarding lawsuits filed against it. We are praying for all involved.

In addition to being sued in numerous cases, the Alabama-West Florida Conference has also sued churches that tried to leave without following procedures set by the denomination.

The United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit on Nov. 21 against a breakaway beach church that dropped UMC affiliation from its charter but kept two appointed clergy on staff and banned denominational officials from setting foot on the campus popular with Gulf Coast residents and tourists.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit against Perdido Bay Methodist Church, challenging the amendment to its incorporation documents that declare it is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Perdido Bay Methodist was one of more than 40 churches in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle whose requests to leave the denomination were stalled before the Dec. 31, 2023, disaffiliation deadline. Paragraph 2553, a special provision allowing disaffiliation due to disagreement over issues such as gay marriage, expired at that point.

The United Methodist General Conference voted in May 2024 to reverse its longstanding bans on gay marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Churches that were not allowed to leave have adopted a new tactic: either suing the conference, saying the church property belongs to the congregation, not the denomination, or simply voting to change the churchs legal documents that have any mention of the United Methodist Church.

More than a dozen lawsuits involving churches and the denomination are currently active in Alabama.
Sisters Judy Owen, 61, and Mitzy Smith, 54, of Fairhope, were found guilty by a federal jury this week on conspiracy to commit murder for hire, transfer of a firearm in furtherance of a felony and murder for hire, according to a release from the U.S Department of Justice.

Owen and Smith conspired together and with Sandra Grimes (their other sister), Rebecca Murphy, and Jessica Montgomery to hire a hitman to murder Raul Mina, Smiths son-in-law, according to court documents.

Grimes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire in October.

Mina, who is from Louisiana, was in a custody battle. According to an FBI affidavit, the sisters wanted Mina killed because they said that he was abusive to Smiths daughter and grandchildren.

Earlier this month, Montgomery pleaded guilty to participating in the plot to murder Mina by assisting Murphy, her partner.

Murphy was hired as a hit-woman by sisters Smith, Owen and Grimes, according to the affidavit.

However, instead of following through with the murder, Murphy provided information to the FBI.

Murphy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire and possession of a firearm by a forbidden person in September.

Murphy was initially approached by the sisters in February 2024 to perform the hit.

After Murphys dog got sick, Owen helped cover the remaining veterinarian bill of $500 but said that Murphy would have to repay the favor by killing Mina.

According to the affidavit, this led to Murphy taking part in three separate trips to Louisiana.

The first trip the included discussions of how to carry out the plot by injecting Mina with heroine to make it appear as a drug overdose.

Since Mina was a drug user, Grimes and Owen wanted the murder to appear as an overdose, the affidavit stated.

They wanted Murphy to inject Mina with a lethal dose of heroine via a needle. However, they did not care if Murphy had to slit Minas throat, as long as she got the job done. They stated they had already paid Edward Lane $10,000 to murder Mina, but he ran off with the money. Murphy agreed to the scheme, but stated they had to pay her more.

The second trip involved Owen telling Murphy to kill Mina outside a courthouse after he left a child custody hearing. Murphy refused, saying it was broad daylight and there were too many cameras.

After being provided a gun by the sisters, Murphy and Montgomery went back to Louisiana and stayed a whole week but did not attempt to kill Mina.

Murphy was paid approximately $1,010 between March 7 and April 21.
This is an opinion column.

A lot of people seem nervous that Donald Trump might turn America into an oligarchy on overdrive, a fascist dictatorship or a cultlike theocracy. While I dont consider those worries unfounded, I have a different concern  that he will do something stupid to wreck our economy.

That he will Make America (Broke) Again.

If he does, he could have help  mostly likely from the folks who have already helped him. Among the presidents fiercest supporters during his campaign was an army of crypto bros who consider the Biden administrations rules and safeguards to be backward and overly burdensome.

Trump has already set free a cult hero in the crypto world  Silk Road founder and convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht, a.k.a. the Dread Pirate Roberts. He has named David Sacks his crypto czar. And he ordered his administration to study the creation of a national digital asset stockpile or crypto reserve . (And then, theres the Trump coin, but well get to that further down.)

Why does crypto  a technology prized by libertarian types for being untethered from government  suddenly need tethering to government?

Well, thats the thing that scares the hell out of me.

Financial calamities are a seasonal thing, slamming into us every five or 10 years. A friend and colleague once told me the secret to winning a Pulitzer prize as a business reporter was to predict the next one before anyone else. Thats not what Im trying to do here. Besides, many other crypto skeptics have already rung the bell, including Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, and Omaha Oracle Warren Buffett.

Also, Taylor Swift.

The best rational argument for crypto is that it is a finite thing and therefore useful for storing wealth, like gold. Only, thats not what anyone seems to be using it for, nor do many people seem to be using it as a legitimate form of currency. Its greatest utility seems to be one of two uses.

First, as Krugman recently argued in Crypto is for Criming is as a money laundering tool or a mechanism for illicit activity from illegal arms dealing to gambling. (See above: Ross Ulbricht.) Or as Dimon put it, its for sex traffickers, money launderers and ransomware.

Second, is more gambling.

The Greater Fool Theory is nothing new  the speculative game where someone buys an overvalued asset in the hopes they can sell it for a higher price to the greater fool. What is new is that you can now do this on a site, Pump.Fun, which makes Draft Kings and Fan Duel look like the S&P 500. There you can invest in such blue chips as  life-changing mistake  and another novel instrument called Fart which, when I searched for it again, I found only an endless well of other fart-themed meme coins.

The more high-minded crypto enthusiasts (snobs) will admit these such crypto markets are just silly gambling and they resent the johnny-meme-latelies for giving crypto a bad name  including, it now seems, the President and First Lady of the United States who, days before moving back into the White House, launched their own crypto coins, enriching themselves and, some speculate, creating a digital dumbwaiter of corruption. (See above: Crypto is for Criming.)

Fools and their trust funds will part early and often. That is nothing new. But what matters here is what happens next.

What were seeing is a high-stakes game of digital hot potato, where the second-to-last person holding the potato gets rich and the last goes broke. A lot of people have been playing this game for a while now, and theyre running out of players to pass the potato to.

Creating a federal crypto reserve passes that potato to the federal government  and to you, the taxpayer.

Those kids in the overgrown lot, playing with matches in the vacant house  that has happened many times before. Later, when the fire department shows up, they always have a choice to make  to save the dumb kids in the burning house or the innocent widow ladys home next door.

When that happens, they rescue the dumb kids, and innocent people who had nothing to do with it wind up paying for their mistake  every single time.

Maybe I should invest in the meme coin Old Fart, but somebody ought to stop them.

Instead, Donald Trump has a box full of matches to hand them. And a full can of gas.
The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama is expanding an initiative initially aimed at making Birmingham into a tech hub into a statewide drive.

EDPA has acquired Birmingham Bound for an undisclosed amount.

Created in 2018 by Shipt, Birmingham Bound has attracted more than 20 tech companies to the Magic City since its creation. The idea behind it was to market Birmingham as a place for early-stage firms, based on the assumption that many would choose the city as a destination given its low cost of living and local support.

The idea was not only to recreate something like Shipt, which was born locally but eventually becoming a multi-million dollar tech firm, but to create the kind of economic eco-system that would naturally support other companies.

EDPA President Miller Girvin said the idea is to spread what worked in Birmingham across the whole state.

This development allows us to use proven methods weve refined with our business intelligence team at AL Intel to target specific companies, pursue high-potentials leads, and highlight Alabama unique value proposition for early-stage businesses.

Lauren Hyde, executive director of EDPAs Alabama Business Intelligence Center, said the acquisition builds on things that were already doing well.

Hyde will lead the statewide initiative, with guidance from Birmingham Bound founder Britney Summerville and other founding advisors.

Summerville, in a statement, said the move solidifies Alabamas commitment to becoming a premier destination for innovation and technology.

By leveraging the momentum and talent weve cultivated, were opening doors for companies and individuals to thrive in our state.

Hyde said a statewide version of Birmingham Bound would only build on some of the work EDPA already does.

We (EDPA) already have lead generation as a pillar, Hyde said. We already have business intelligence as a pillar. We already have innovation and entrepreneurship. This just helps up connect all three.

For example, the initiative could work to connect companies with cities where they could thrive. For example, defense tech could find a home near Huntsville or Montgomery. Advanced manufacturing might find a better home in the Birmingham metro area.

If youre a defense tech company, being closer to that eco-system is really valuable, Hyde said. We already work across the state at EDPA. Our folks travel across the state. This person will do the exact same thing, traveling throughout the state, connecting to ecosystems where there are existing resources that make sense for their company.

EDPA is currently looking to hire a Director of Technology Company Business Attraction.
TruScreen appoints distributor to Indonesia

 TruScreen appoints PT Mawar Mitra Medika to distribute its AI enabled TruScreen cervical cancer screening system in Indonesia

 Indonesia is the worlds largest Islamic nation with a population of ~283 million

 37,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer annually with a 57% mortality rate.**

 Estimate screening population of over 95 million women*.

TruScreen Group Limited (TrusScreen or the Company) advises the appointment of Indonesian medical products distributor PT Mawar Mitra Medika to distribute its unique AI enabled TruScreen cervical cancer screening system in Indonesia. Indonesia, with a population exceeding 283 million, is the worlds most populous Islamic nation. It has an addressable screening market of 95 million women. It is estimated** that ~37,000 women are diagnosed with and 21,000 die from cervical cancer each year in Indonesia yet only 11% of women have ever been screened for cervical cancer.

With over 14,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago TruScreens portability and its AI enabled technology provides real time results without the needs of expensive laboratory infrastructure, makes it an ideal screening solution for such a geographically distributed population. TruScreen technology is non-invasive and is culturally sensitive to Indonesian patients as it does not require a collection of cervical cells.

The appointment follows the registration of TruScreen by the Indonesian regulator in October 2024. In December 2024, TruScreen CEO, Mr Martin Dillon met with Indonesian Key Opinion Leaders and Ministry of Health Officials to explore the use of AI technology to reduce the unnecessary loss of life from cervical cancer.

TruScreen acknowledges the assistance of Austrade Jakarta, for facilitating the appointment of PT Mawar Mitra Medika.

Mr Dillon was invited to present at the Indonesian AI webinar, subsequent to his participation in a November 2024 WHO meeting, in Edinburgh, to explore the use of AI enabled devices for the screening of cervical cancer.

TruScreen was recognised by WHO, UNITAID and several national organisations including:

 the Chinese Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Association (COGA),

 the Chinese Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (CSCCP),

 the Vietnam Ministry of Health National Technical List,

 COFEPRIS, the Mexican public health regulator, and

 The Russia Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines.

TruScreen CEO, Martin Dillon commented:

This appointment supports two key strategies of TruScreen. The first is to complete a vertical East Asian distribution focus from Indonesia, north through the ASEAN countries, Vietnam and Indo- China and then

China. This regional vertical market is now in place. The second is a focus on Asias populous Islamic nations. Our Indonesian distributor complements our distributors in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan and Palestine.

This announcement has been approved by the Board.

*CIA World Factbook women aged 15-64 = 95,961,293

**ICO/IARC HPV Information Centre (*ICO = Catalan Institute of Oncology and IARC = International Agency for Research on Cancer)

Ends

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

SKT - Sky secures iconic sports rights

RYM - Ryman completes Retail Entitlement Offer

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares

FPH launches F&P Nova Nasal mask in NZ and AU

Fonterra announces changes to management team

March 12th Morning Report

WHS FY25 Interim Results teleconference details

VGL - Odeon Cinemas Group signs for Vista Cloud

DGL - T&G appoints new Director

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares


A hint of spring will be in the air across Alabama over the next week.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday morning said warmer temperatures are in store for the state over the next week, and it could even begin to feel a little spring-like in some areas with a nice southerly breeze.

However, that warmer weather comes with a price  NOAAs Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather for southeast Alabama for Friday as the next weather system moves through the state.

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible.

Heres the severe weather outlook for Friday:

Parts of south Alabama will have a Level 1 out of 5 risk for isolated severe storms on Friday.Storm Prediction Center

The rest of the state is expected to get some rain, maybe up to an inch or more in some areas, according to the weather service, on Thursday and Friday

Heres the forecast for precipitation for the next three days from the Weather Prediction Center. All of Alabamas precipitation is expected on Thursday and Friday:

Here's the precipitation outlook for the next three days, with all of that rain expected on Thursday and Friday.Weather Prediction Center

This morning is expected to have the coldest temperatures of the next week, according to forecasters, with temperatures as of 6 a.m. hovering in the 30s and 40s statewide.

High temperatures today are forecast to reach the low 70s in south Alabama. Highs in the 60s are expected over the rest of south Alabama and central Alabama, and north Alabama is even expected to make it to the 60s except for the northeast part of the region. (The temperature forecast for Wednesday is at the top of this post.)

Low temperatures tonight will be much milder, with only northeast Alabama expected to fall back into the 30s. The rest of the state will have low temperatures in the 40s and 50s for a change.

Here are tonights forecast lows:

Here are tonight's expected low temperatures.NWS

Temperatures are expected to remain very mild through the weekend and into next week.

Will the warmer weather last beyond next week? There are indications that it will. The eight- to 14-day temperature outlook from NOAAs Climate Prediction Center includes a decent (40 to 60 percent) probability that Alabama will have above-average temperatures through the first week of February.:
The Mobile County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday that 13 people were currently in its jail on detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

We are providing support and assistance to our Federal partners with the apprehension of illegal criminals in Mobile County, Sheriff Paul Burch said.

MCSO stated that the individuals received state charges but did not disclose the specific charges.

All of the people were arrested prior to President Donald Trumps administration taking over the executive branch.

The announcement of the arrests comes two days after Burch signaled that his office would be cooperating with ICE as the federal agency ramped up its operations in Mobile County and began picking people up.

Immigration-related arrests were made Sunday at a home in Fultondale and in Huntsville, according to Allison Hamilton, the executive director of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice.

That same day, arrest numbers started spiking in highly publicized operations in Atlanta, Dallas and, most prominently, Chicago, according to the Associated Press.
This is an opinion cartoon.

This cartoon was first published in this mornings Crowe Jam newsletter. To get in on exclusive content first, including caption contests and other stuff, please consider subscribing. Its free and pops into your email box every Wednesday morning.

Sign up for JD Crowes newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to JDs weekly newsletter, Crowe Jam.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Buddes prayerful plea to the newly inaugurated president to accept the Christian values of mercy and compassion did not sit well with Trump. What do you think about that?

Here is the full transcript of Bishop Buddes inaugural prayer, and below are the closing words that apparently offended the president:

Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God.

In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said during her sermon at the National Cathedral as Trump and Vice President JD Vance watched stone-faced alongside their families.

There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives, Budde said in a quiet prayerful voice.

And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, wadara and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honour the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. The good of all people in this nation and the world.

Amen.

And here is President Trumps response via Truth Social:

The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart. She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology! t

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler at jdcrowe@al.com.
The leader of the Democratic caucus in the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday said the caucus is gearing up to fight bills or state policies that follow moves by the Trump administration that he said were extreme.

Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said the Trump administration priorities like calls for mass deportations and elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and will get pushback at the Alabama State House during the legislative session that starts Tuesday.

I think its extremely important that the citizens of Alabama not just lay down and allow the things that are happening at the federal level without saying anything, Daniels said.

Read more: ICE makes Alabama arrests amid Trumps mass deportations

Daniels, leader of the House Democrats since 2017, said he was disappointed there has not been more opposition to Trumps executive orders nationally.

Weve given other parties an opportunity to address and push back on the extremism that were seeing at the federal level but were not waiting any longer, Daniels said. We will be addressing those issues as they come, head-on, unapologetically.

Daniels made those comments as the caucus announced its Forward for Freedom agenda. The agenda did not include specific bills but called for policies to increase economic opportunity, expand affordable healthcare, invest in public education, maximize voter turnout and reform prisons and the parole system.

At least one initiative championed by Trump is already law in Alabama, a ban on DEI programs at state colleges and in state agencies that the Legislature approved last year. The Democratic agenda calls for a repeal of that law, which college professors and students are challenging in a lawsuit.

On crime, the Democrats support a repeal of the law that allows concealed carry of handguns without a permit. They will support a bit to create a state law against Glock switches, which convert semiautomatic guns to automatic fire. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, sponsored a Glock switch ban that passed the House last year and is again sponsoring that bill.

Republican leaders have said they also support a Glock switch ban.

Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, is again proposing a bill that would hold parents liable if their child takes a gun to school that was not stored securely at home.

It will not violate anybodys 2nd Amendment rights, said Drummond, who said she is working with Republicans to get support for her bill. We dont look at this as a gun bill. We look at this as a responsibility bill.

Other proposals in the Democrats Forward for Freedom agenda are not likely to get Republican support. Democrats want to repeal what they call Alabamas draconian abortion ban, which carries no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.

Democrats are also calling for decriminalizing recreational marijuana.

Marijuana for personal use can still result in felony charges in Alabama.

The Republican caucus, which controls the House with three-fourths of the seats, announced its Alabama Values agenda on Monday. Like the Democrats' agenda, it did not include specific bills.

The Republican agenda includes policies that discourage illegal immigrants from coming to Alabama and to fix damage caused by what the caucus said were irresponsible open border policies of the last four years.

Daniels said deportations in Alabama could hurt businesses already struggling to fill jobs. Hes expecting legislation in Alabama generated by the noise from the federal level.

I cant tell you exactly what thats going to be, Daniels said. But I anticipate to play some extreme defense based upon the conversations Ive heard this weekend and conversations Ive heard the last couple of weeks.
A state inmate who claims to be a high-ranking member of a highly known white supremacist group pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to threatening the Mobile County district attorney with a very horrible and painful death, court records showed.

William Terry Holmes, who is serving a 20-year sentence for domestic violence and violating the states sex offender registry law at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery County, pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communication to DA Keith Blackwood.

According to the agreement, Holmes sent a threatening letter to Blackwoods office on March 19.

It stated: i [sic] am personally writing you to inform you we know where you live. You and your familys every move is being watched. As a high ranked [sic] member of a highly known white supremacist group, Im lettingyou [sic] know now that one of my own M. Perez has been sentenced to the death penalty.

The M. Perez Holmes was referring to, according to court records, is Marco Perez, who was convicted in early 2024 of the capital murder of Mobile Police Officer Sean Tuder.

Im gonna make damn sure you, your family and the judge suffers [sic] severe consequences, the letter continued. I promise you soon real soon you, your family and the judge will receive my death penalty and yalls lives will end in a very horrible and painful death. Dont try me you will lose just like me ex-wife [redacted] who was buried alive [redacted] in lrvington.

Holmes spoke to law enforcement on March 22 and admitted to sending the letter and suggested he had associates who were watching Blackwood, whom Holmes claimed only had hours to live, according to court documents.

Alabama prison records show Holmes will be eligible for parole on Aug. 1, 2026. He was sentenced to 20 years in state prison in March 2014.

His current prison term is his second stint in a state lockup.

In 1998, he was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Authorities have released the names of two men found dead in a Shelby County home following a five-hour standoff with shots fired.

Coroner Lina Evans identified the men as William Chenoweth Jr., 48, and his father, William Chenoweth Sr., 74.

Evans said Chenoweth Jr. was shot by deputies during a mental health pickup order.

Chenoweth Sr. was found dead and decomposed in a bathtub. Evans said there does not appear to be any foul play in the elder mans death.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will be conducting autopsies.

Shelby County sheriffs deputies went about 8 a.m. to the home on Narrows Drive in the Narrows subdivision off U.S. 280 to serve a mental health pickup order on Chenoweth Sr.

Sheriff John Samaniego said deputies knocked on the door and announced their presence but got no answer. They breached the door, and at the same time broke a window to distract whoever was inside.

At that point, Samaniego said, Chenoweth Jr. began walking toward the deputies and opened fire on them. Deputies returned fire and retreated.

Samaniego said deputies believed at the time that they had shot Chenoweth Jr.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and continued negotiations.

Authorities opened the door remotely and sent drones inside, the sheriff said. They could see Chenoweth Jr. sitting in a recliner.

We still had not seen the elderly gentleman that the pickup was for, Samaniego said.

Deputies deployed gas into the home in hopes of forcing the men out. The attempt was unsuccessful.

Chenoweth Jr. is believed to have then moved from the recliner to a bed to try to escape the fumes.

After later deploying more gas, Samaniego said they saw Chenoweth Jr. in the bed.

We could see the subject did not move so we feared he was in grave condition at that point, he said.

About 1:30 p.m., law enforcement officers made entry into the home.

Chenoweth was found pronounced dead on the scene from a gunshot wound.

Chenoweth Sr. was found dead in the bathtub. It looked like he had been deceased for several months, the sheriff said.

Samaniego said they had been planning the pickup order for about two months.

Prior to arriving at the home Tuesday morning, Samaniego said they evacuated the homes closest to the targets home. After shots were fired, they issued the shelter in place order to those who had not been evacuated.

Mental health pickup is a fluid situation, he said. Sometimes it goes off without a hitch, sometimes theres violence involved so we have to be prepared with a plan. Theres been many deputies killed in the line of duty doing mental health pickups.

The investigation has been turned over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
The son-in-law of a couple fatally shot in east Alabama has been charged with capital murder.

Christoper Scott Johnson, 38, is charged in the Tuesday deaths of Darla McKenzie, 68, and Michael McKenzie, 72. The couple lived in Roswell, Georgia.

Johnson is being held without bond in the Etowah County Jail.

Sheriffs deputies responded at 12:30 p.m. to a report of a shooting on Coats Bend Circle in rural Etowah County.

They arrived to find both victims had been shot. Emergency responders began life-saving measures on the scene.

Darla McKenzie was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Her husband was dead at the crime scene.

Sheriff Jonathon Horton said based on information gathered from 911 calls and information at the scene, deputies quickly identified Johnson as the suspect.

He was taken into custody with the help of Ashville, Steele, Glencoe and Rainbow City police departments.

Johnson was married to the McKenzies daughter. She was at the home and made the 911 call.

This is an incredibly difficult time for the McKenzie family, and our hearts go out to them, Horton said. The loss of loved ones in such a tragic manner is devastating, and we extend our deepest sympathy to their family and friends.

To the Etowah County community, I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring justice is served, and there is no threat to your safety, he said.

Multiple other agencies also assisted in the response and investigation.
President Donald Trump is offering buyouts to agency employees who dont want to comply with his demands that they return to the office as he looks to reshape the federal workforce in his second term.

The buyouts will run through Sept. 30 as long as the employees resign by Feb. 6, according to a White House official who shared details of the personnel plan on condition of anonymity. The offers were first reported by Axios.

The buyouts were offered in an email to federal employees that also warned that the administration was seeking a more streamlined and flexible workforce.

While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force, the email said. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

Many of Trumps actions are likely to face court challenges. The head of the American Federation of Government Employees in a statement Tuesday said Trumps goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

Trump in one of his first actions of his new administration, ordered government workers back to the office, revoking work-from-home accommodations under his predecessor Joe Biden.

On Monday, the Trump administration gave agencies until Feb. 7 to devise plans for the return of federal employees to in-person work. The return-to-office mandate applies to federal workers unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason certified by the agency head. Military spouses working civilian jobs are also exempt.

In addition, separate guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on Monday gave Trump authority to hire and fire some employees who previously had civil service protection.

Return-to-work policies are a focus of Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO heading the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk pushed for the mandate in an attempt to encourage some federal workers to simply quit or be fired as no-shows.

Many federal workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements, including one that Social Security Administration workers secured in the final days of the Biden administration, that allow more flexible work arrangements.

Data from the Office of Management and Budget show that about 10% of the workforce is permanently remote  including disabled workers with a documented accommodation, military spouses and those where the nature of the work is mobile.

_____

(With assistance from Gregory Korte.)

_____

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
President Donald Trump signed into law the Laken Riley Act today as the first piece of legislation to get his signature this term.

Sponsored by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., the act requires immigration authorities to detain undocumented migrants that commit theft-related and other crimes.

Standing alongside [Trump] as he signs this crucial legislation into law, Britt posted to X on Wednesday.

Lakens tragic death sparked a movement that will help prevent similar tragedies and protect American families. This is how we honor her memory.

Britt authored the bill following the February 2024 murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley at the hands of undocumented migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra.

It requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented individuals who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses so they cannot reoffend and commit further crime, according to its text.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Riley was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens when she was killed by Ibarra.

Ibarra had been arrested multiple times once in the United States but was released each time before ICE could put a detainer on him.

The act also creates standing for states to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

The Senate passed the bill last week, with 12 Democratic senators joining all 52 GOP senators in a 64-35 vote.

The House, with the support of 46 Democrats in the minority, passed the bill two days later by a vote of 263-156. It passed a different version of the bill earlier this month, which had the support of 48 Democrats.

Amendments to the Senate legislation were added before it passed, which led to the House voting on it Wednesday: assault of a law enforcement officer and crimes that result in death or serious bodily injury were added to the list of offenses that trigger ICE detention.

Opponents expressed concerns over whether the act was constitutional and have said it could possibly lead to large roundups of people for minor offenses such as shoplifting which would necessitate expensive construction of additional immigration lockup facilities to hold those arrested.

I think it is pivotal to understand: This bill, framed as connected to a tragic death, is pretext to fortify a mass deportation system, Hannah Flamm, interim senior director of policy at the International Refugee Assistance Project, recently told AP News.

Over the last week, Trump has acted on his campaign promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the countrys history.

Immigrants were arrested in Alabama and other states around the nation this weekend and more arrests are expected soon, local advocates told AL.com.

Trump increased arrest quotas this week for ICE officials to at least 1,200 to 1,500 per day, according to a report by the Washington Post.

He said Wednesday that the government was working on a 30,000-bed holding space in Guantanamo Bay to house the worst of the arrested migrants.
An order from President Donald Trump to temporarily block the disbursement of most federal grants and loans could have a massive impact on health programs ranging from those addressing HIV and AIDS to maternal health and services for older Americans.

The announcement, which created exceptions for direct-aid programs such as Medicare and Social Security, sent shock waves through Washington and state governments Tuesday, with stakeholders scrambling to understand the impact of the freeze on programs like the Childrens Health Insurance Program, nutrition programs for seniors, public health programs and much more.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the funding freeze minutes before it was scheduled to go into effect. It lasts until Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs.

The uncertainty is amplified by a communications pause the Trump administration put on federal agencies, leaving even state governments in the dark.

A pause on grant funding can be very disruptive for all health programs, even if temporary, said Richard Hughes IV, a health lawyer at Epstein Becker Green. Its an all-of-government directive that puts everything into a lurch for states and grantees.

Health care providers, advocates, patient organizations, state and local governments, public health departments and many others receive billions of dollars in grants through the Health and Human Services Department to provide health care services, train health care providers, research health threats and much more.

Much of that funding flows to states, which then award subgrants to local governments, health care providers and community organizations.

The pause, announced Monday evening by the Office of Management and Budget, is intended to ensure programs are complying with Trumps executive orders related to gender ideology, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, abortion and energy, according to an OMB official.

A spreadsheet obtained by CQ Roll Call lists hundreds of programs under review, including CHIP, a block grant to states to cover health care for low-income children, and some Medicaid funding.

But a senior administration official said the freeze does not impact programs that provide direct benefits to Americans nor does it apply to mandatory programs like Medicaid. The official also indicated the freeze would not apply to CHIP.

Still, Medicaid officials reported being locked out of accounts that are used to draw down federal funds, said Joan Alker, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Children and Families, which works with Medicaid programs.

This is already causing panic, Alker said. This is grossly irresponsible. If Medicaid is exempt, that should have been made very clear in the memo to begin with.

A group of organizations including the American Public Health Association filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Tuesday in hopes of blocking the move, with Georges Benjamin, executive director of the association, saying the decision threatens to stall essential public health and prevention programs and research.

Halting these funds stymies progress and is a matter of life and death, Benjamin said.

The freeze could also apply to hundreds of other programs funded by HHS, which is the largest grantmaking agency in the federal government, making up a large portion of the more than $1 trillion the federal government spends every year on grants.

Programs affected

Several programs impacted by the freeze are under the law known as the Older Americans Act, which funds services for aging Americans, including nutrition services.

If in fact this order includes the Older Americans Act, this would presumably halt service to millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals, said a Meals on Wheels America spokesperson, Jenny Young.

And the uncertainty right now is creating chaos for local Meals on Wheels providers not knowing whether they should be serving meals today.

STEPHEN MILLER: Does anyone believe that an unaccountable career bureaucrat should be able to approve vast sums of money for the projects that they personally agree with?



JAKE TAPPER: I'm literally asking about Meals on Wheels. I don't know what you're talking about. pic.twitter.com/Wfa5H20XND  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 28, 2025

The spreadsheet also lists dozens of programs funding services for HIV/AIDS.

People with HIV/AIDS depend on medications, health care and support services for the rest of their lives and we have to take steps to prevent HIV every day, we just cant stop funding these programs, said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute.

Questions remain about how Trumps executive orders on gender and transgender people will impact HIV programs. Many HIV prevention and treatment programs provide services to people who are transgender. Those people are disproportionately more likely to have or contract HIV than the general population, often because of care access issues, according to data from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

These lifesaving programs serve a wide array of different populations, and HIV is an infectious disease with serious health consequences if not properly addressed we cant overlook any community and must serve everyone, Schmid said.

This memorandum is creating detrimental uncertainty for local #MealsOnWheels providers. Our team will be here to fight any efforts to freeze #funding that would impact our #seniors. pic.twitter.com/LbF2rF2FaI  Meals on Wheels (@_MealsOnWheels) January 29, 2025

The senior administration official added that programs not implicated by Trumps executive orders are not subject to the pause.

A pause could be as short as a day, the official said, and some programs have already been approved. If agencies are concerned a program may defy an executive order, they should consult OMB to begin unwinding objectionable policies, the official said.

Speaking during the White House press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pause would be temporary, adding that the Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the federal funding that has been going out the door.

She said the memo requires federal agencies to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs consistent with the Presidents policies and requirements.

It means no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy and agencies, she said.

OMB directed agencies to complete the spreadsheet by Feb. 7 with specific information about hundreds of listed grant programs.

The information requested includes whether the program supports or provides services to illegal aliens, provides diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities, promotes gender ideology, or supports abortion.

Democratic senators expressed alarm about the potential sweeping impact of the cuts.

Its very troubling, the programs that are going to be affected for constituents, said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, wondered in a statement about the moves impact on community health centers, Head Start and pregnant mothers who receive help through WIC, a supplemental nutrition program.

Lets be clear, he said. The Trump Administrations action last night to suspend all federal grants and loans will have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of millions of children, seniors on fixed incomes, and the most vulnerable people in our country.

_____

(Aidan Quigley contributed to this report.)

_____

2025 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WELLINGTON New Zealand  Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited, CRP or the Company (TSXV: NZP, NZX: CRP FSE 3GRE) wishes to announce that it is advancing plans to export phosphate from the Korella North Mine through the Port of Karumba.

CRP has met with Carpentaria Shire Council, Gulf-Savannah Development Inc and Ports North as well as local contractors to discuss the practical aspects of exporting through Port of Karumba. Planning is now progressing with Ports North while all requirements set by Carpentaria Shire Council and TMR are now being defined.

While the Korella North Mine is initially designed to sell into the domestic market, the rapidly developing market in China and Vietnam for lump phosphate (for manufacture of yellow phosphorus) has provided the impetus to CRPs plans for export of lump phosphate through Karumba. Chatham has, since September 2023, studied the potential to export Korella phosphate through the Port of Karumba, rather than Port of Townsville.

The Korella North mine has the capability to produce the required product sizes by means of a simple screening operation.

Indonesia Market Development

Earlier in 2024 Chatham commenced market development in Indonesia, which is Australias nearest and potentially the largest market for granular rock phosphate. This has culminated in the signing of a representative agreement with leading Indonesian trading company Indevco who have already identified potential customers.

Exports through Karumba will provide shipping advantages for Indonesian fertilizer producers currently importing phosphate from elsewhere overseas.

Shareholders will be kept informed of progress at the Korella North Mine and the Port of Karumba facility for the export of lump and granular phosphate.

About Indevco

PT Indevco Internus (Indevco) is a leading Indonesian company established in 1993 with experience in the import of raw materials for fertiliser production in Indonesia and with current business activities including export of fertilisers manufactured by Pupuk Indonesia.

For further information please contact:

Chris Castle

President and Chief Executive Officer

Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited

64 21 55 81 85, chris@widespread.co.nz or chris@crpl.co.nz

Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

SKT - Sky secures iconic sports rights

RYM - Ryman completes Retail Entitlement Offer

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares

FPH launches F&P Nova Nasal mask in NZ and AU

Fonterra announces changes to management team

March 12th Morning Report

WHS FY25 Interim Results teleconference details

VGL - Odeon Cinemas Group signs for Vista Cloud

DGL - T&G appoints new Director

TEM - Transaction in Own Shares


A packed Thornton Township meeting in Illinois on Tuesday started in high spirits and devolved into a brawl after residents got up to speak.

Chaos erupted during the public comment period after community activist Jedidiah Brown called Supervisor Tiffany Henyard an expletive.

Following his comments, Brown was seen walking toward the table where Henyard and other township officials were seated before he spun around toward the back of the building where the fight broke out.

Henyard was seen involved in the melee that broke out between her administrations defenders and those supporting Brown. Security officers at the at Township Hall in South Holland ultimately broke up the fight before police arrived a little before 8 p.m.

WATCH: Fists went flying to end the Thornton Township board meeting after a speaker during public comment insulted Henyard, prompting allies of hers to rush over. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/0rui9qnAyX  Courtney Spinelli (@CourtSpinelliTV) January 29, 2025

The violence came about six months after Brown was arrested after providing public comment at a Dolton meeting, where Henyard is mayor.

There, he made critical comments toward Trustee Andrew Holmes, an ally of Henyards, and began walking toward him, leading police to push the two men apart and arrest Brown. Brown said after that Holmes cussed at him and beckoned him.

Before Tuesdays brawl, the meeting signaled hope for many community members who packed the Township Hall basement. It was the first scheduled meeting with new Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman, seen as a fresh face aligned with activists opposing the supervisors administration.

During the meeting, Wiedeman helped usher in audits and investigations of township departments and officials, items trustees previously lacked the votes to approve. Following discussion of complaints against township employees and close allies to Henyard, William Moore and Kamal Woods, in closed session, the board also voted to put the two on paid administrative leave.

Many residents during public comment congratulated Wiedeman and thanked her for also pushing back against agenda items proposed by Henyard that mostly failed Tuesday.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

2025 Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.). Visit at chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin did not whisper when it came to criticizing one of President Donald Trumps signature campaign promises following his re-entry into the White House.

Woodfins critique of Trumps pledge to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and other activities has garnered national attention.

Woodfin appeared on CNN This Morning last Thursday where he detailed his disapproval of the new administrations policies.

Americans are witnessing the Alabamafication of federal government, Woodfin told the anchor. Weve seen in Alabama, legislators create laws to get rid of DEI and the governor sign into law removing DEI from colleges and universities and other aspects throughout the state.

While Woodfins comments made political news and social media waves around the country, some in Birmingham question whether the city will be penalized for the passion expressed by its mayor.

The mayor compared Trumps executive order to Alabama legislation approved last year that banned all DEI programs at public universities.

Its beyond frustrating and disappointing, Woodfin said. It just goes to show us that 47 told us what he would do, and hes doing it."

Woodfin, who is also promoting his new memoir, Son of Birmingham, has made several national media appearances recently.

Birmingham activist Kamau Afrika, who is challenging Woodfin in the August mayoral race, compared Woodfins action to poking a grizzly bear.

If I were mayor of any city dependent on regular federal funds for needed projects, Id humble myself so as not to create a further Dodge City or Mad Max environment in my city, Afrika said. Selling a book is one thing, but at the risk of safety is another.

Afrika said the mayor should spend more effort focusing on the citys crime rate and securing more police officers. Afrika further noted that the city of Birmingham is a political island in a state that heavily supported Trump and votes solidly Republican in national elections.

Woodfin said the current climate has made the words diversity, equity, and inclusion bad words.

Theres no such thing as going too far as it relates to being inclusive, he said. Theres no such thing as going too far as it relates to equity.

Woodfins comments created a firestorm in both mainstream, right wing and social media, unleashing a torrent of criticism from Trump supporters.

Woodfin was free in offering his perspective on the national scene, but his spokesman, Rick Journey, declined to comment to AL.com Tuesday when asked about any ramifications from the mayors criticisms.

Afrika also warned that some of Birminghams liberal policies under Woodfin contradict the national narrative. For example, he cites the citys diversity offices that cater to LGBTQ residents and the mayors criticism of the federal illegal immigration crackdown.

Any mayor in a sanctuary and LGBQIA city in a red sea state must be wise, bridled tongue, non-egotistical, a good listener and non-flamboyant, Afrika said. When ones head is in the lions mouth, forget the bite.

Birmingham did not officially designate itself as a sanctuary city, but Woodfin has described it as a welcoming city.

State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who is also a candidate for mayor in the August 26 election, said she forecasts challenges for Birmingham at the federal level, but more so because of the citys shrinking size and status.

The realization is that Birmingham is going to have more of a problem because Birmingham is no longer the largest city in the state of Alabama, Givan said. Right now, most of this money that was going to come to Bham is going to go to Huntsville.

Regarding a Republican administration in Washington, Givan touted her ability to work across the political aisle in Montgomery as a legislator to sponsor and pass legislation.

You can say people dont like me, but check the record, she said. I know how to figure out a balance with anybody in leadership whether they be Republican or Democrat.

Givan dismissed Woodfins high-profile appearance and political criticism as an attention-grabbing sideshow.

Its the optics of what this mayor wants to show you, she said.

Woodfins comments are risky in the current political climate, said Natalie Davis, professor emerita of political science at the former Birmingham-Southern College. How much of Trumps ire he might attract is yet to be determined, she said.

It just depends upon how many other people are ahead of Woodfin in criticizing the reelected president, Davis said. Does it hurt the city of Birmingham in terms of money coming in? Its hard to say until we hear some nasty things coming out of the administration.

With Birmingham being heavily Democratic, Davis discounted any local political damage from his comments as Woodfin seeks a third term as mayor.

When it comes to offending the president, Davis quipped that Republicans walk an even tighter rope than Democrats, because Trumps antipathy toward Democratic-run governments is already clear.

I dont think the Democrats have as much to worry about in terms of alienating the president as much as Republicans do, Davis said. He hates them (Democrats), so it doesnt make any difference.
United Services Automobile Association is suing Birmingham-based Regions Financial Corp., with USAA saying that Regions used its patented check deposit technology without permission for its own gain.

The suit, filed Tuesday in eastern Texas in U.S. District Court, seeks damages, penalties and costs.

According to the 28-page filing, USAA developed its remote check deposit system to help service members deployed overseas, with the technology protected by four patents.

The company says it developed a remote check deposit system in 2005 and rolled it out over the next four years until it could be used by smart phones and tablets. The system allows customers to take photographs of their checks with a digital camera and deposit them remotely.

These innovations enabled USAA, for the first time in banking history, to allow users to transform general purpose consumer devices that they have in their homes or are otherwise easy to acquire into a check image capture device, the suit contends.

USAA states that the Regions Mobile Deposit app infringes on this technology. According to the suit, USAA notified Regions in 2020 about the alleged infringement and offered to license the technology for compensation.

A Regions spokesman said of the lawsuit, We will respectfully decline to comment on this pending litigation.

USAA has gone to court before over the remote check deposit patents. The company has sued Wells Fargo, PNC and Truist Bank.

Two suits against Wells Fargo resulted in decisions totaling more than $200 million in favor of USAA, with the two eventually coming to a settlement. USAA has also announced licensing agreements with other financial institutions over the patents.
More than 73,000 passengers flew Breeze Airways out of Huntsville last year, a spokesman from the low-cost carrier told AL.com.

Breeze Airways specialist Ryne Williams said that translates into 15% growth in business from Huntsville International Airport year-over-year.

From our initial launch in 2021, we recognized the need for more convenient, affordable, and elevated air service from Huntsville, Williams said. We offer some great nonstop destinations, like Las Vegas and LAX, from HSV and were grateful for the support from our partners at the airport and the city of Huntsville as we continue to grow our footprint in the community.

Flights to LAX began as a seasonal teat last year. Huntsville Urban and Economic Development Director Shane Davis said the fights to Los Angeles were completely full.

The Huntsville City Council renewed the citys memorandum of understanding with the airline last week.

With the new agreement, Davis announced the airline was adding New York-area Newark, New Jersey to the non-stop destinations the airline offers out of Huntsville. He said the MOU with Breeze influenced legacy carrier Delta to add New York to its destinations out of Huntsville.

Flights to New York is a service Davis said the city has asked for for decades.

We begged and begged and begged, he said. Well, Delta got out ahead of us.

See related story: Huntsville airport lands nonstop flight to New York City - al.com

Under terms of the current MOU, Breeze will operate at least two weekly flights from Huntsville to Tampa, Orlando and Las Vegas for a total of six flights a week (24 flights per month). Breeze will receive $10,000 per month in base incentive payment to meet that threshold.

To achieve a bonus incentive payment of $10,000, Breeze must provide two flights weekly (eight flights per month) from Huntsville to at least two additional destinations. Bonus incentive destinations are Newark, Los Angeles and Charleston. The bonus incentive payment is capped at two destinations, though Breeze could add more flights.

With the MOU, six new direct non-stop destinations and a minimum of 384 additional flights per year will be available at the Huntsville airport.

The duration of the MOU is 24 months. The City has the option to extend the MOU for one year as long as the incentive payments do not exceed $360,000 for any 12-month period.

Breeze has been a tremendous partner with the City since it began operating out of Huntsville International Airport in 2021, Mayor Tommy Battle said on the citys website. Having a low-cost carrier operating at HSV has proven beneficial for Huntsville residents and we are excited to see the expansion of services to prime destinations.

Airport officials said Breeze has brought down average fares at the airport while providing connections to in-demand destinations.

Breeze has been doing very well at Huntsville International Airport, its a great product for our community, and the community has embraced it, said Butch Roberts, CEO, Huntsville International Airport. Since Breeze began flying to Tampa from Huntsville as one of its original routes in 2021, the airline has added service to Las Vegas, Orlando and Los Angeles. As more frequencies are added to these destinations, we expect Breeze to continue to grow in market share and offer competitive, low-fare options for our community.

Roberts said the airport appreciate the citys support, and its been important in our airports success story.

We are glad that the city decided to continue to incentivize air service, and this will help Breeze continue to grow, he said.

Beginning mid-February, Breeze will fly to Orlando three times a week, and beginning in May, will increase frequency to five times per week. Tampa flights will double from two days per week to four days per week for the summer, and Los Angeles service will return for the summer as well.

Las Vegas continues to be a popular route with twice weekly service, Roberts said.

On its website on Jan. 28, the airline was offering one-way flights from Huntsville to: Tampa as low as $49; Las Vegas as low as $104; Orlando as low as $125; and Los Angeles in May as low as $189.
I have a hero, one that is rather odd for an American like me: Charles De Gaulle. A man who rescued a dying France, which was surviving only on life support and former glory, and stabilized its deteriorating situation -- to leave his country somewhat strong; and though somewhat erratic and annoying, still a world player.

We Americans tend to underrate the French. We seem to treat them as comical surrender monkeys. However, in 1940, when the Germans crashed through Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Western Europe, all the nations were surrender monkeys. Denmark collapsed in an hour. Belgium, which had put up a massive fight in World War I, fell in just 18 days.

We Americans see the Blitzkrieg as a black and white movie, but in 1940, it was a complete civilizational shock. The perfectly choreographed combined attack of German artillery, aircraft, and tanks, followed up by infantry, was incomprehensibly effective at that time. It paralyzed the resistance.

The previous war, World War I, had been relatively static. Now, the German Wehrmacht swallowed up whole nations for breakfast. It was the original shock and awe. And we cant blame the French for succumbing as the rest of Europe did. Would we Americans have acted any differently?

I doubt it.

World War I had left Western Europe with quite a foul taste for war in its mouth. Millions had died in those trenches. By 1940, when the invasion in the West had begun, Europe had barely recovered. Now, suddenly when the Germans came crashing through the Ardennes, the French must have thought, Here we go again. Only this time the weapons were worse.

The British look at the evacuation of Dunkirk as a crowning achievement of glory, but even more British evacuations were to follow. The French saw it all as one great skedaddle leaving them to fight the Germans alone. It was easy for Britain to counsel the French to fight on, the British were protected by a thirteen-mile moat. The French werent.

And lest we think the British were bulldogs, by 1941, the British people came close to suing for peace. Resolve was weakening. Had Hitler not invaded Russia, the British might have quit. And lest we think Russia was invincible, the Russian Army surrendered by the millions in the opening months of Operation Barbarossa:

Contrary to the usual post-war history, many in positions of influence in Britain also favoured a negotiated settlement. All they knew and saw was the nightly devastation from an enemy far superior to themselves in terms of current offensive power. They certainly didnt know of the potential respite from any future German invasion of Russia[.] -- The History Press

Into this disaster fell De Gaulle. He had fled to Britain in 1940, and he had tried to rally a dispirited France from afar. He was arrogant, haughty, and aloof. His contributions to the war effort were minimal. Yet, he kept the spirit of France alive, if only by broadcasting pep talks to the nation.

Worse yet, FDR distrusted De Gaulle, and considered occupying France post-war as if it were a failed banana republic, reducing France to a vassal state at best. FDR considered breaking France up.

[T]he President had reservations about the viability of the French state. He entertained the possibility of forming a new state, Wallonia, which would consist of the Walloon parts of northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine. (See Francois Kersaudy, Churchill and de Gaulle (London, 1990). This sort of thing put Roosevelt sharply at odds with de Gaulle, who was, to put it mildly, a firm proponent of French unity. It isnt clear if de Gaulle knew the details of what FDR was considering, but he does say: at bottom, what the American policy makers took for granted was the effacement of France. -- The Churchill Project

And now you know the reason France took a diffident anti-American foreign policy after the war. De Gaulle was bitter, and this was FDRs fault, not De Gaulles. Roosevelt had wanted to kick France when it was down and out. Churchill was better, but not by much.

After the war, De Gaulle took credit for a war effort to which he had barely contributed anything material but a cheering section. Still, it was that cheering that was vital; it kept a sense of French identity alive.

De Gaulles true genius came during the Algerian War. France had won on the ground. De Gaulle was invited back, and everyone expected the old crusty imperialist to hold on to the empire.

He didnt. He cut Frances losses and let Algeria go. And thank God, he did. Had France kept Algeria, France today might be half Muslim. De Gaulle saw the writing on the wall and left; and France was better for it.

It would be recommended for Trump to study De Gaulle. De Gaulle knew when to fight, and when to back off. People considered him an authoritarian  he did have monarchist sympathies -- but he always respected an honest vote, and maintained the republic, even if he did give the French presidency stronger powers.

He helped keep the French spirit alive in the midst of utter defeat, almost by force of will. He could be annoying, but it was usually for a purpose: to let the British and us Americans know that the French were not going to go anywhere, and that they would not be vassals of anyone.

The genius of his actions would not become evident until much later. His retreat from Algeria -- right after a victory -- was probably the most farsighted thing any Western politician has done in the past half century. Do you think he would have tolerated the present Islamic intrusions into France?

De Gaulle understood that nations have to be unified in laws, language, and identity -- none of this multicultural nonsense. He wanted to Make France Great Again.

France is now outperforming the UK, and has a stronger military.

Trump should study De Gaulle to see how it is done, to see how to resurrect a nation back to greatness. It takes a very strong president, but the key to De Gaulle is that, in the end, as strong as he was, he never subverted the republic.

The final poignant conclusion came when De Gaulle died. Frances President Georges Pompidou said, General de Gaulle is dead. France is a widow.

Mike Konrad, who still struggles with Spanish, is a frustrated web designer and is presently trying to get a humorous short story of his published: The Pirate of Gaza.

Image: National Archives
The city streets of New York stir early, but recently, in some corners, a disquiet has emergednot of peace, but of silenced voices.

Signs and placards are everywhere in urban America, championing causes as varied as a lost pet, a new bar opening, or an urgent plea to halt a development project. These fleeting glimpses into the concerns of otherswhether trivial or profoundrarely demand deeper reflection.

Together, they form a cacophony of voices layered into the visual noise of 21st-century America. We walk by, our days proceeding as planned, often oblivious to the layers of meaning behind each image or plea.

However, these KIDNAPPED posters are different. They are not just another visual element in the mosaic of this moment. They are not simply another layer of color in the mosaic of this moment. Simple and unadorned imagesa photograph, a name, a pleahighlight the plight of the 251 hostages seized by Hamas and other terror groups during their brutal October 7th invasion of Israel. They are a stark reminder of the human cost of these atrocities, a call for awareness, and a petition for help.

Pro-Israel groups began placing posters in public spaces to draw attention to the human cost of these atrocities and perhaps feel some sense of catharsis. Catharsis was not to be. A boiling cauldron of raw human destruction, in its own way aligned in message and tactics with that of Hamas itself, reached for the tool commonly used half a world away. These signs became targets for anti-Israel vandals determined not simply to silence this plea for awareness but to erase these faces from existence.

The posters destruction is part of a troubling trend chronicled in the new film, TORN: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets by Nim Shapira. The film documents how, as pro-Israel groups and those of the Jewish faith worked to hang KIDNAPPED posters highlighting the plight of the 251 hostages taken from Israel to Gaza during the Hamas October 7th attacks, anti-Israel vandals quickly moved to tear them down or deface them.

This proxy war waged in the public spaces of New York City spotlights the deep divisions inflamed by the atrocities of Hamas. The vandals may claim these posters are propaganda or allege they exacerbate divisions. Buttressing their actions with such flimsy arguments raises more questions than it answers, as destruction does not serve the greater purpose of unity.

Yet rather than engage with the content, they opt to silence and erase any sign of the human existence of those held captive, as if these people were inconvenient parts of a story the vandals do not wish told. One must imagine the vandals believe their cause is just and their destruction justifiedthat the tearing down somehow negates the act of putting up. Of course, it does not.

Hatred, squarely a human condition, closes our eyes to the harm caused by our actions, reducing dialogue to ashes and leaving the silenced to suffer twice over.

This blindness mirrors broader societal issuesour increasing tribalism and intellectual intolerance, where ideological rigidity silences dialogue rather than encourages it. This echoes an old malady: the hecklers veto, where dissent is shouted down or ripped away rather than confronted with reasoned argument. However, civil discourse has a profound power, inspiring changebut there is no inspiration with the stifling of voices.

This purposeful silencing of othersis no mere nuisance; it is an assault on the tapestry of a free society. In a nation founded on the principle that every voice deserves its day, the heckler's vetowhether wielded by shouts in a lecture hall or graffiti on a wallseeks to replace dialogue with dominance. This canceling of others is unacceptable to those who believe in the American promise of liberty. And even so, it has become a well-honed tool in far too many corners of America.

Sure, not all posters are saints of free expression. The legality of their placement matters. Public property must be governed by rules applied equally, lest chaos reign. Private property must be respected, as it is a cornerstone of liberty. But when the objection is not about where the message is but instead the message itself, we enter dangerous territory. Tearing these posters down isnt civic order. It is the hecklers veto in actionsilencing a voice instead of confronting it. It is a declaration of contempt for the messageand, by extension, for the innocents whose plight they highlight.

This is about more than just preserving paper and ink. These posters call on something deep and instinctual: the right to cry out against injustice. The canceled suffer twice over when voices are silencedwhether through laws, intimidation, or mere vandalism. Their captivity becomes a footnote, their humanity an afterthought. We must ask: if we cannot rally around the plight of hostages held by terrorists, what cause can stir us to unity?

The answer to speech we disagree with is more speech, not its destruction. This principle is the bedrock of civil society. To tear down a poster because you dislike its message is not an act of courage but of cowardice. Freedom of speech, if it is to mean anything at all, must apply evenly. The weight of its value is immeasurable. What value is this first freedom if it only amplifies the voice of ones tribe, the powerful, or the government? After all, John Peter Zengers voice needed protection, not the royal governor. It is far easier to shred paper than to confront ideas, and it is simpler to destroy than to debate. But it is also profoundly un-American.

Our national character has long been defined by its capacity to endure, argue, and reconcile. When abolitionists stood against slavery, they most often responded not by burning their opponents pamphlets but by printing their own, trusting the strength of their message to prevail. There remained exceptions, like John Brown, who chose a murderous path; the broader movement embraced the power of argument and moral persuasion over suppression. When suffragists demanded the vote, they did not tear down opposition posters; they put their case before the people. This spirit allowed a nation torn asunder to be wovenin timetogether again.

We must ask ourselves: are we still that nation? Do we still believe in the power of words to heal and persuade? Or have we succumbed to the despairing notion that might makes right, that the loudest voice wins, that the sharp edge of a box cuttera tool that once brought unimaginable violence to our shorescan rewrite history and wipe the memory of innocents from our collective conscience?

I say to those who deface these posters: speak if you believe the message is wrong. Write. Assemble peacefully. Bring your ideas into the public square and let them be weighed and measured. But do not mistake destruction for debate. Do not confuse canceling others with elevating your cause. In a free society, ideas must stand or fall on their merits, not on the strength of those who erase them. While manifestly powerful, freedom is rendered meaningless if reserved solely for oneself.

And to the rest of us, who watch these acts with a mix of outrage and resignation, the call is clear: defend the voices that cry out for justice. Stand firmly for the rights of those whose voices cannot be heard. Champion the principle that the answer to bad speech in America is better speech, not no speech at all, or speech silenced.

While this hostage crisis is at last nearing a hoped-for end, there are abiding lessons we can all take from this situation. It remains a human tribulation, raw and urgent, demanding we reflect on the principles of free expression and the moral imperative to give voice to the silenced. The faces on those posters remind us that behind every political conflict are real peoplemothers, fathers, childrenwhose lives hang in the balance. To tear down these images is to deny their reality, their common humanity, and turn away from their suffering.

We have seen this episode as yet another glimpse into an enemy's soul that does not share our values. We cannot afford indifference, much less a hatred that strips humanity of innocents in harms way to take further root and destroy all in its wake. A society that shreds the images of hostages a world away is at risk of shredding its soul. Remembering these hostages is a moral imperative for our citizenry, mindful of our common cause with those of distant lands that share our belief in the simple dignity of freedom. The cost of turning away from injusticewhether in this conflict or conflicts yet to come may prove nothing less than sacred liberty.

We must rise to the occasion. Let us be the kind of people who, when faced with the cries of the oppressed in our own land, do not look away but stand and answer. Let us be, as we have always aspired to be, a nation that believes in the power of words and the enduring strength of freedom for all.

Charlton Allen is an attorney, former chief executive officer, and former 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 from X.
Kurt Schlichter is a retired US Army Infantry Colonel, a LA trial attorney and a prolific writer, producing not only Monday and Thursday articles at Townhall.com, but is seemingly everywhere else on the Internet. Hes also the author of the popular Kelly Turnbull series, and his most recent novel is The Attack. I reviewed both here.

Schlichter has posted on X a to-do list for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Did you enjoy hearing that as much as I enjoyed typing it? Its not a comprehensive list, but will go a long way toward returning our military to an actual fighting force rather than a social experimentation laboratory. Ill add comments in italics:

Graphic: X Screenshot

...and groups, not the weather in a century. Related: The Army having dumped its green uniform, the military is no longer concerned with green frivolity.

As I recently wrote here at AT, removing the current Chairman is essential. Gen. Charles Brown is an anti-white, DEI true believer. Hegseth must also carefully vet the rest with an eye toward removal. Let them convince him theyre warriors rather than DEI bureaucrats in uniform.

Never in human history has mankind been less at the mercy of weather/climate. The military must do better than anyone else.

3. Instruct that EVERY attack option briefed to POTUS will include significant degradation of enemy military capabilities; no more messages or signals. Diplomats send messages. If we hit, it hurts and makes the enemy less capable.

Amen.

4. Tell the UK were keeping Diego Garcia; they can work backwards from that end state.

Graphic: Chris Muir, Day by Day Cartoon. Used with permission.

5. Create an unofficial advisor cell to collect and report outrages, guidance violations, and other antics by bureaucrats and resistance hacks out in the field; select targets to make examples that will encourage compliance with the new commanders intent. Resistance must be quickly and unequivocally crushed.

This cell must include NCOs whose identity is known only to the SecDef and his designees, and they must be invulnerable to retaliation.

6. No more vague grounds for relief; instead, when an officer is relieved, it will not be for loss of command confidence but for specific wrongdoing. Set a clear standard, particularly that orders given will be carried out, and enforce it.

Thats called due process.

7. Launch surprise SecDef visits to military facilities; start with walk-thrus of troop housing with the senior installation NCO. If conditions do not meet the standard, see #6 above. This supports recruiting and retention while reorienting the officer corps toward basic troop care. Basic Rule: Officer facilities had better not be in better shape than troop quarters.

Also ensure our troops are being properly fed. Thats not the case now as I recently wrote.

8. Fire every service academy and war college superintendent; direct that non-stem professors will be terminated and replaced with serving or retired officers. Call in reservists as well. Rule: If it does not help students be a better leader of killers, its gone. Require briefing by the new supers on the revised curricula that corresponds to the CINCs intent on warfighting and DEI NLT 15 FEB 25.

Also review the academic records of DEI cadets. Give them a chance to be retained by strict adherence to real academic and leadership standards. If they cant, theyre out.

9. Refuse to tolerate the Sir, we cant cuz regulations dodge; an order implies the task of identifying and executing the means of changing rules and regulations that purport to block change. The job of a subordinate is to find a way, not to find an excuse. Again, see #6.

Thats what you get when merit doesnt matter and incompetence and ass-kissing fails upward.

10. Relieve any commander, and the CNO, if there is a spot of rust on a US Navy ship after 15 FEB 25. Anyone claiming that We cant have professional looking ships because of safety and environmental rules is referred to #9 and #6.

Every warship represents America. Rust buckets violate a primary military principle. Everyone who survived boot camp knows folding socks and towels precisely and placing them precisely in a drawer doesnt matter. What matters is learning to pay attention to detail and doing even simple tasks exactly right every time. Thats what saves lives and wins wars.

SPECIAL BONUS ITEM: No more milspeak staff-hack jargon. Jargon is always a means to disguise confusion or to exclude outside input that challenges the status quo. Simple, clear English is the standard. Come in hard. You can always let up when the organization has earned a lighter hand.

Eliminating jargon will begin at the academies.

It appears the Trump Administration is establishing mechanisms to detect and fire people unwilling to follow orders, who refuse to work for all the American people, and who would stealthily sabotage Trumps lawful orders. Hegseth knows the military. Hell be able to do that well.

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.
Only in America can someone illegally fund coronavirus gain-of-function research, causing the pandemic; be in charge of the pandemic response; retire with the highest federal pension in history; and be pardoned for his crimes. In future testimony, Fauci can no longer plead the Fifth, and if he goes the I cant recall my own name route, he could be indicted by a now-compliant DOJ for untruthfulness and potentially receive a jail term. But lets go for possibly bigger fry.

According to 5 USC Section 8312, someone can lose his federal pension if he testifies falsely to a congressional committee on national security issues:

(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual (1) was convicted, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, of an offense named by subsection (b) of this section, to the extent provided by that subsection; (b)The following are the offenses to which subsection (a) of this section applies if the individual was convicted before, on, or after September 1, 1954: (3)Perjury committed under the statutes of the United States or the District of Columbia (C) in falsely testifying before a congressional committee in connection with a matter under inquiry before the congressional committee involving or relating to an interference with or endangerment of, or involving or relating to a plan or attempt to interfere with or endanger, the national security or defense of the United States.

In case youre wondering if COVID involves national security (shouldnt that be obvious?), a former DNI, Deep-Stater, and anti-Trump plotter herself said in an NIE that the COVID pandemic had national security implications. Excerpts:

National Intelligence Estimate, April 2022, DECLASSIFIED by DNI Haines on 14 January 2023 Economic and National Security Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic Through 2026 This IC-coordinated National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) addresses the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for US economic and national security interests through 2026, in response to a Presidential tasking. [snip] (U) The COVID-19 pandemic worsened already poor governance and underlying socioeconomic conditions in parts of Central America and the Caribbean, including food insecurity, lack of job opportunities, and crime and violence, which are likely to remain drivers of US-bound migration from the region for years to come. [snip] Key Judgment 4: The pandemic is likely to be continued to be exploited by U.S. adversaries to build their influence[.]

Although the report goes on to state that the expected national security impact is small, that doesnt change that it had national security implications or that there could be bigger ones.

So haul Faucis sorry butt before an appropriate congressional committee and ask him questions like these:

Do you have any knowledge that the reason the coronavirus gain-of-function definition was altered was so as to protect someone involved in gain-of-function funding or research based on a technicality?

Did you have any knowledge that the true COVID-19 origin is the Wuhan lab?

Did you ask any scientists to lie about the COVID-19 origin in either their public statements or in journal publications?

Were you acting at the behest of the CIA in any capacity at any time on coronavirus gain-of-function funding or research? (If he says he cant discuss this in an open hearing, let him testify on this in a closed hearing, and then Trump can declassify his testimony.)

Why did you promote a mask mandate when real follow-the-science evidence, such as high-quality mask studies published in reputable journals and the CDCs own pre-COVID-19 coronavirus handbook based on decades of research, suggested otherwise? Was it to increase panic among the populace so it would be more compliant with the COVID protocols? Which mask study or studies were you relying on?

Did you know of or hide any unpublished adverse data on COVID vaccines?

Why did you push remdesivir as an inpatient protocol when it was known to have unacceptably high toxicity and ineffectiveness? Did you know of or hide any adverse data on remdesivir? Did you or anyone else in NIH get feedback from hospital CEOs or administrators who knew that remdesivir was killing patients but kept administering it to get generous reimbursement and to avoid being sanctioned?

Make Fauci fess up to all his evil COVID lies or risk losing his $380,000 annual federal pension. Given his age (84), an estimated joint net worth of $1112 million, and spousal federal pension still intact, the Faucis will not go hungry, but the damage to his reputation or the pension loss will offer some semblance of justice for his crimes against humanity.

W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Totally ignoring Joe Bidens crime family pardons, Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) are shocked and alarmed: Its the end of our democracy! Trump has freed an army of violent brown shirts to do his bidding! Trump hates the police! Our democracy is doomed!

Graphic: X Screenshot

How many of the more than 1500 pardons actually involved violence? The Hill takes a run at it:

More than 600 people who invaded the Capitol that day as lawmakers sought to certify the results of the 2020 election were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement  and nearly 200 of them did so using a deadly or dangerous weapon. The crowds forced the evacuation of lawmakers who were set to certify the results of the election, and while they later returned to the Capitol that day to complete their work, more than 140 officers had been injured and some later died.

More than 600 people? Is that 601? 683? Nearly 200? Deadly or dangerous weapon? Such as? More than 140 officers injured? What were those injuries? Actually, one officer died of multiple strokes several days later and several committed suicide for reasons still unknown.

Officers were apparently injured, but its always important to understand the complete context of every case. The DOJ so stretched the law its certain many charged with violence did no such thing, or were forced to admit to the DOJs overblown definitions in plea bargains necessary to avoid decades in prison for what would have amounted to nothing more than misdemeanor trespassing with a small fine and no jail time elsewhere.

Graphic: Twitter Screenshot

Head DOJ inquisitor Matthew Graves resigned on January 16. Graves pursued Americans with fanatical fervor, people who did nothing more than stand somewhere near the Capitol building. Aided by equally authoritarian judges and a virtually total D/s/c jury pool, Americans were charge stacked, and facing decades in prison accepted outrageous plea bargains. Judges treated people who did nothing more than walk in doors opened by Capitol Police, take in the sights and leave, as violent felons, imposing grossly excessive and punitive sentences.

Even as Donald Trump issued pardons, some Americans were still in jail under medieval conditions while awaiting trial. So outrageous was the governments conduct, the Supreme Court, in Fischer v. United States, threw out one of the most egregious, over-reaching charges:

Graphic: Twitter Screenshot

Of the 1,424 defendants charged following Jan. 6, over 350 were charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, according to May numbers from the DOJ.

That from a June, 2024 article. The Court ruled the DOJ misused the statute and vacated convictions on those charges. The decision would have forced the DOJ to retroactively expunge those charges and resentence everyone involved. Until the day he resigned, Graves continued to hunt down people who did nothing more than stand on the lawn.

Graphic: X Screenshot

As I noted in Restore the rule of law: pardon them all, every day across the country, actual violent felons are freed because the police, prosecutors and judges made mistakes, because Americans believe that many who are guilty should go free rather than an innocent be unjustly convicted. The intentional violations of J6s defendants rights would fill multiple volumes. There is no question they were political prosecutions, and even if some werent, how to tell the difference when all were the result of hostile, politically motived prosecutors who repeatedly gloated about striking defendants with "shock and awe?" How to tell the difference with judges who treated misdemeanors like the most violent, vile felonies and who handed out grossly excessive sentences? How to explain the treatment of people kept locked up without trial in medieval conditions for years? How do we restore a single standard of justice for all?

With such political, compromised prosecutions, what remedy other than pardons was just?

Graphic: X Screenshot

The pardons unleashed no brown shirt army. Its not Normal Americans who burned down America in 2020 and committed actual murders. It was D/s/c thugs like Antifa and BLM. The overwhelming majority were never prosecuted. J6 prisoners, many federal jailers only reluctantly released, were thrilled to be reunited with their loved ones. Theyre hardworking Americans, people with families and mortgages and jobs, people who wear the red, white and blue. They arent professional protestors. The overwhelming majority had no criminal records prior to J6. They have a lot of catching up to do, a lot of lost money to try to make up. Theyre not going to be looting and burning businesses, defacing buildings or tearing down statutes. Most may be found in church every Sunday.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Unlike the Biden Crime Family, none of them accepted millions to sell out America. Unlike General Mark Milley, none of them arguably committed mutiny. Unlike Capitol Police Captain Michael Byrd, none arguably committed murder.

With any luck, well soon learn the truth about the J6 prosecutions. Its not going to be pretty, but its absolutely necessary.

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.
Compared to gnarly Jill Biden, Melania Trump is not only very smart indeed, but beautiful on the inside and outside. Part of her charisma exudes from her natural nurturing aura. However, in her latest portrait it appears the photographer coaxed her into a toxic masculinity posture.

Ultimately, considerations of fashion seem petty while many of our fellow citizens are suffering. Nevertheless, official portraits are nostalgically consigned to various archives. In Melanias latest official pose, it sure seems that she is dressing en homme, while enacting an unnatural, masculine stance. Maybe that doesnt suit her.

The accompanying description of the new portrait somewhat accurately reflects what our lying eyes see. For example, the author writes, [f]rom the suit to the stance, the new portrait feels carefully orchestrated to exude a kind of power that feels at odds with the first lady's traditional role of softening a presidency in the public's eyes -- and making it feel more human [emphasis added].

More human? I beg to differ. While she remains ravishing, it makes her look something of a cliche, like Meghan Markle from the show Suits, who is overly keen to assume a power role. Melanias mystique is powerful all right, but in a more feminine kind of way.

Her first portrait, released in 2017, is much lovelier. Shes more smiley, soft, yet still an elegant enigma as she projects a more natural, feminine power.

Melania is an incredible woman. While the word respect is thrown around willy-nilly, she truly deserves it. For example, she speaks more languages more astutely than many speak one. Her natural, God-given talents (refined and developed with hard work over the years), speak for themselves. Talents which flourish more in a traditional First Lady role, such as hostess and advocate for overlooked Americans.

Now that the commonsensical obvious has been officially recognized -- there are two genders (go figure) -- its nice to know the fairer sex is empowered to be unashamedly lovely -- especially on the inside. Melania is doing her part the help Make America Beautiful Again.

For sure, inner beauty matters most, but it should be recognized that refining ones skin-deep beauty is making a comeback, and thats beyond criticism. For example, cosmetic companies like Ulta Beauty are reaping high profits -- look at the stock performance since Election Day. Indeed, post-election (November and December) online cosmetic sales saw a robust 12.2% rise, the second biggest year-over-year category change.

Theres nothing sexist or otherwise wrong with acknowledging those market developments. As one AT contributor noted (along with the accompanying article comments), there can be a symbiotic relationship between inner beauty and respect for ones outer appearance.

Of course, Melania doesnt need to cover up any blemishes. Her traditional beauty and agreeable deportment are best suited towards a more traditional First Lady role such as commiserating with, comforting, consoling, calming, cheering, and championing the less fortunate amongst us.

No wonder President Trump dances so much -- he is one lucky Commander-in-Chief to be immersed in Melanias mystique. Rarely has a woman been more suited to a traditional First Lady role.

Image: White House/Daniel Torok
Just because Donald Trump won the election doesn't mean the fight is over. The obstructionists on both sides still remain in place. While meeting resistance from the Left is to be expected, meeting it from those ostensibly on your own side is galling.

On January 20th President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) entitled, "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." The purpose of this order is to counter Biden's Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

According to President Trump's EO, Biden's order "...forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government"

Section 2 of President Trump's order reads: "The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), assisted by the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), shall coordinate the termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear."

In brief, Biden mandated race- and gender-based programs in the federal government and Trump ended them. Both used EOs rather than legislation to accomplish their goals, which is itself the subject for another essay.

Those on the Left naturally approved of Biden's EO while objecting to Trump's. Leftists in the Air Force promptly employed "malicious compliance" to resist. This tactic involves following orders in such a way that it thwarts managerial objectives, impedes progress, and can even embarrass those who issued the directive.

Malicious compliance is sometimes used by employees to fight back against unjust, inefficient, or unreasonable demands from employers, but it can also be used to thwart their legitimate goals. It may involve one or more of the following components:

Rigorous adherence to protocols -- require extensive reviews before implementing policies. Bureaucratic delay -- invoke requirements for reviews or compliance checks. Over-communicate -- sharing directives widely to delay actions. Raise endless questions -- seek detailed clarifications to slow momentum while appearing constructive. Prioritize other tasks -- this delays implementation of unwelcome directives. Strategic interpretation -- overcomplicate tasks to create bottlenecks.

To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, this is a way to give people what they want, good and hard.

In the case of the Air Force, the leadership cancelled training modules on the Tuskegee Airmen and Women's Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs.

Alabama senator Katie Boyd Britt immediately responded on 'X' with this:

Senator Katie Boyd Britt

@SenKatieBritt

I have no doubt Secretary Hegseth will correct and get to the bottom of the malicious compliance weve seen in recent days. President Trump celebrated and honored the Tuskegee Airmen during his first term, promoting legendary aviator Charles McGee to Brigadier General and pinning his stars in the Oval Office. In his second term, the Trump Administration will continue to deeply respect and elevate the Tuskegee Airmens legacy. Their history and their lessons will continue to be taught -- because their legacy is one of excellence, of success, and of unquestionable merit. As the Pentagon under @PeteHegseths leadership restores its focus to lethality, there is no greater historical example of a highly skilled, valiant fighting force than the Tuskegee Airmen. These role models will continue to inspire the next generation of courageous, selfless American servicemembers.

Four hours later, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded:

Pete Hegseth

@PeteHegseth

This has been immediately reversed. Thank you @SenKatieBritt

President Trump is also not meekly submitting to these actions. He issued an order last week requiring US Agency for International Development (USAID) to stop designating new foreign aid funding or accepting funding applications pending further study. Today, acting USAID administrator Jason Gray said, "We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the presidents executive orders and the mandate from the American people." In response to these actions President Trump suspended (with pay) as many as 60 senior USAID bureaucrats.

Countering malicious compliance involves fostering a collaborative workplace atmosphere in which administrators review existing policies and procedures, employees have opportunities to ask questions and voice their concerns, and staff members are involved in decision-making. In the case of the USAID situation, funding was to be temporarily halted pending administrative review. When a new administration is brought in, it is reasonable to expect that they would want to see where and how money is being spent.

It is unlikely that these instances of malicious compliance will stop. One of the many challenges of the Trump administration will be to balance legitimate concerns and questions of bureaucrats and staff members with obstructionism disguised as compliance. Employees and staff must know that there are deadlines and standards they are expected to meet, and repeated failure to do so will carry consequences.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
Almost no one appreciates President Trumps proposal to evacuate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other nearby countries.

Only Israels most far-right leaders see the potential action as a solution for the region.

I found Trumps suggestion curious: he must have already known that Egypt and Jordan had refused to take in the Palestinians.

So what might have been the underlying reasons for his proposal?

I think there were a few possibilities for his suggestion: Call them thinking outside the box.

1. Trump knows there are an unknown number of Palestinians who would look forward to starting a new life elsewhere. Up to this point, they would have been silent about their desire, due to possible recriminations from Hamas or even other Palestinians. For Palestinians who stay in Gaza, they will only be reminded about their losses and the devastation, even if the area is reconstructed. Its also possible that the more recent generations of Palestinians are less attached to the land, and dont feel compelled to drive out the Jews or have their own state. These people in particular might be willing to be relocated, particularly if they are given a package of benefits that makes the move very appealing, including becoming part of a productive society.

2. Dividing up the Palestinians to relocate to several countries might be an option; this approach would limit the impact on a new country, and allow them to more easily integrate the newcomers into the new culture.

3. Some people may want to stay in Gaza simply because it is home. Hamas must be forbidden to participate in any form of governance. For those who are willing to renounce any of the Hamas goals and rhetoric, they could be employed to develop the coastline.

According to CNN:

Trump said earlier in the week that he might be able to have a role in rebuilding Gaza, praising it as having a phenomenal location, on the sea and the best weather. The comments echoed remarks made in 2024 by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who called the waterfront property in Gaza very valuable and suggested Israel should move Palestinians out of Gaza and clean it up.

These are people who could be trained to do construction jobs, which will give them several kinds of practical skills that they could continue to use on their own or with construction employers.

Consideration should even be given to renaming Gaza. And the area will need to be populated with new resort employees from the Palestinian population to service the construction crews and eventually visitors.

4. Countries outside the Middle East could be offered incentives to take in Palestinians.

According to the Times of Israel:

Indonesias Foreign Minister Sugiono became one of the first counterparts to receive a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, during which the latter welcomed Indonesias willingness to engage on Middle East peace and post-conflict reconstruction, a US readout on the call said. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said last year that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required. The Times of Israel revealed in 2021 that the first Trump administration was on the verge of brokering a normalization deal between Israel and Indonesia, but ran out of time before the end of its term.

Time will tell if Indonesia would be receptive to this idea, or if other countries might be willing to help.

5. Inquire whether Arab-speaking countries would consider integrating some of the Palestinians:

According to World Population Review:

There are a total of 25 independent states and territories that has Arabic as their native language. The most populous of these is Egypt. The country of Egypt has a population of around 90 million people. Over 93% of the total population  or over 82 million people  in Egypt speak Arabic, which is the official language of the nation. There are six independent nations where Arabic is either the national language or an official minority language. However, it is not the primary language. In Cyprus, Iran and Turkey, Arabic is a minority language. In Mali, Niger and Senegal, it is the national language. There are also four independent nations where Arabic is officially recognized in the constitution and has a special status. This applies to Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Although there would still be cultural adjustments, sharing a language with the new country would provide an advantage to fitting in.

Also, Palestinians might volunteer to go, if provided with enough incentives. The possibility of returning to Gaza might be in the plan, but if the Palestinians are successfully integrated into the new countries, many will stay where they are.

6. Investigate the reasons for countries unwillingness to bring in at least some Palestinians.

Here are Jordans reasons, from this report in the Wall Street Journal:

More than half of Jordans population is of Palestinian origin, including almost 2.4 million Palestinian refugees registered with the United Nations. A sharp increase in the number of Palestinians there would risk upending the countrys demographics and potentially sparking instability. Jordan fears the Israeli-Palestinian conflict being resolved at its own expense by turning the country into a de facto alternative homeland for Palestinians. It has long opposed absorbing more Palestinian refugees, a topic that again came into focus after the war displaced most of Gazas residents internally and raised calls for their resettlement abroad.

The strategy would help determine whether the resistance of the Jordanians (and the Egyptians, too) can be avoided by offering benefits to these countries for bringing in the Palestinians. The same kind of strategy would be important to pursue with other countries.

7. Initiate relocation in stages. This approach would allow both emigrants and Gazans to adjust to the changes in the Gazan population. The hope would be that after the initial adjustment, the newly relocated Palestinians would report positive outcomes to their friends and families in Gaza.

The key factor in resolving the issue of the Palestinians is to think outside the box. Some of these proposals might be started in combination. Issues like their attachment to the land and destroying Israel are difficult to eliminate, but if major incentives to leaving their homes are provided and financed, the Palestinians may be ready to make a major change.



Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Who would have believed this a few years ago? First, President Trump is back in the White House and more popular than ever. Jim Acosta and Jorge Ramos, a couple of his most severe critics, are looking for work.

A bit ago, we learned that Jorge Ramos left Univision:

Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos, best known as a longtime co-host of "Noticiero Univision," is leaving the network after a 40-year tenure. Ramos and Univisions parent company TelevisaUnivision announced the newscasters exit, set for after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, in a press release Monday. "This is not a farewell. I will continue anchoring 'Noticiero Univision' until December, and afterwards I will share my professional plan," Ramos, 66, said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful for these four decades at Univision and very proud to be part of a team that has established strong leadership over the years." While Ramos did not disclose the reason for his exit, the TV journalist and Univision "mutually agreed" to not renew his contract.

Okay. Good luck to Jorge. I hear that it was about money. Could it also be that Univision wants a different face reading the news after changing voting patterns among Hispanics?

And now Jim Acosta is looking for work, too. This is the story:

CNN anchor Jim Acosta is reportedly leaving the network after he was officially pulled from its programming schedule. The Status newsletter reported Monday that Acosta was expected to leave CNN after it was announced last week that his 10 a.m. ET program was being replaced with "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown" in the networks latest reshuffling. The newsletter previously reported that Acosta was pitched by CNN CEO Mark Thompson to move him from his one-hour slot at 10 a.m. ET to a two-hour slot beginning at midnight, a far less distinguished place in the lineup.

No midnight special for Jim? Doesn't he know that the midnight shift is prime time in Hawaii and the islands in the middle of the Pacific?

Honestly, I wish these two men well, and I hope that they can find whatever they are looking for. At the same time, they are examples of how the media got so wrapped up in attacking Trump that they destroyed themselves.

The public saw through the media bias and eventually clicked off. In the case of Ramos, it was being an immigration activist dressed up as a journalist. In the case of Acosta, it was thinking that people hated Trump as much as he does.

So goodbye, caballeros!

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Pexels/Shahbaz Zaman
Mt. Rushmore, the Shrine of Democracy. Its perhaps Americas most iconic monument, a statue of such scale Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) thugs cant tear it down, and since its at the top of a mountain and the Park Service is keeping an eye on such things, they cant deface it. That hasnt stopped them, however, from using it to play politics. During a periodic, 2013 congressional funding battle, Barack Obama shut it down, and even forced rangers to keep people from parking where they might catch a glimpse. For four years, Joe Bidens handlers refused permission for Independence Day fireworks at the mountain, and D/s/cs have aligned themselves with the occasional Indian activist who wants the entire region back for one tribe or another.

Graphic: Mt. Rushmore lighting ceremony. Author

The four faces are 60 feet high and were carved from 1927-1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum. There have been many who thought additional worthies deserved to inhabit the mountain:

A bill introduced in Congress in 1937 proposed that a carving of Susan B. Anthony's head be included among the luminaries at Mount Rushmore but fell through due to a rider on the existing appropriations bill mandating that federal funds be spent only on those carvings already begun.

About 400 local residents worked on the mountain and while there were injuries, there were no deaths. South Dakota weather is hard on the granite sculpture, and in 1991, following a $40 million restoration project, Mt. Rushmores 50th anniversary was celebrated. Constant attention is given to the faces to prevent cracks from spreading.

Despite his embargoing Mt. Rushmore, in 2013 there followed periodic calls for adding Barack Obama to the mountain. One would think where to put the ears would give any sculptor pause. More recently, Nancy Pelosi wanted Joe Biden among the greats:

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the country should honor President Biden by adding him to Mount Rushmore.

The 81-year-old commander in chief is such a consequential president of the United States, a Mount Rushmore kind of president, Rep. Pelosi (D-Calif.), 84, claimed in a clip aired on CBS Sunday Morning Show. You have Teddy Roosevelt up there. And hes wonderful. I dont say take him down. But you can add Biden, she insisted when pressed about whether the incumbent president is really worthy of the honor of getting his massive mug engraved in rock at the iconic South Dakota national monument alongside former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Roosevelt.

And now, some are suggesting Donald Trump deserves a lofty perch:

Graphic: X Screenshot

The idea of carving President Donald Trumps likeness into South Dakotas Mount Rushmore is apparently picking up steam. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) told the New York Post that she is introducing legislation to have the job done, the outlet reported Saturday. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was the first to propose the move during a recent interview on the Benny Johnson Show: Social media users were quick to respond to Lunas message, one person writing, The democrats would whine for years and years. So badass, someone else replied, while yet another user said, Do it. Liberals will so be done. What a time to be alive.

Indeed they would, but the hair might be an insurmountable challenge. Another actually insurmountable challenge is more down to earth:

Since 1989 the National Park Service has worked with RESPEC, a rock mechanics engineering firm, to study the structural stability of the sculpture and to install rock block monitoring devices that assure long-term preservation of the sculpture, she said. RESPEC supports our long-held belief that no other rock near the sculpted faces is suitable for additional carving. [Mount Rushmore National Memorial Chief of Interpretation and Education Maureen] McGee-Ballinger said. RESPEC also believes that if additional work were undertaken it is possible that exposing new surfaces could result in creation of potential instabilities in the existing carving.

It turns out the mountain is only so big, not nearly big enough to contain the egos of those who want their political messiahs forever memorializedBiden being the likely exception. One suspects those advocating for D/s/c faces were more than serious and those advocating for Donald Trump are doing it mostly in jest and as a playful slap at their humorless political opponents. Trump, doubtless, thinks the idea hilarious.

Still, its a shame Trump couldnt make it; it would have been yuuuuuuge.

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.
Because of the current president and the current composition of Congress, we may never have a better opportunity to eliminate federal funding for illegal aliens in K12 government schools.

Many assert that the U.S. Constitution requires the government to provide elementary and secondary education in all circumstances at taxpayer expense to children who are illegal aliens. In support of their assertion, they cite the 1982 United States Supreme Court opinion in Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982). They are wrong.

Plyler arose out of a Texas law from 1975 that sought to deny illegal aliens a taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary education. Plyler did not state that illegal aliens are entitled to such an education in all circumstances; it described circumstances under which, presumably, it would be legal for a state to deny illegal aliens a taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary education.

Unbelievably, the Supreme Court stated in Plyler that such a circumstance was not present in the record before the court in 1982. However, such circumstances are present now in every state that is burdened with illegal aliens in elementary and secondary public schools. These circumstances are easily proved and would be part of the evidentiary record in any legal action involving an attempt by the federal government or a state to exclude illegal aliens from taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary schools. These circumstances exist when exclusion of illegal aliens from taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary schools is likely to improve the overall quality of education in any government school, make direly limited educational resources available for students who are legally in the country, and eliminate a significant burden on a states economy or that of the United States.

Plyler stated that the Equal Protection Clause directs that all persons similarly circumstanced shall be treated alike, but it does not require things which are different in fact or opinion to be treated in law as though they were the same (216). Plyler further recognized that children who are legally here are not similarly situated to children who are illegal aliens because the latter are in violation of federal law  a distinction Plyler stated is not a constitutional irrelevancy (223).

Plyler held the Texas denial of education under the 1975 law would be constitutional if it furthered some substantial state interest (230). But incredibly, Plyler held that the record in no way supports the claim that exclusion of undocumented children is likely to improve the overall quality of education in the State (229). Plyler also held that the record does not support the claim that the educational resources of the State are so direly limited that the exclusion is a reasonable solution (229, n. 25). Plyler further stated, There is no evidence in the record suggesting that illegal entrants impose any significant burden on the States economy (228).

Plyler also recognized that although regulation of immigration is an exclusively federal function, a state is permitted to take action, consistent with federal immigration policy, to protect its economy and ability to provide governmental services from the deleterious effects of a massive influx of illegal aliens. Plyler stated,

Although the State has no direct interest in controlling entry into this country, that interest being one reserved by the Constitution to the Federal Government, unchecked unlawful migration might impair the States economy generally, or the States ability to provide some important service. Despite the exclusive federal control of this Nations borders, we cannot conclude that the States are without any power to deter the influx of persons entering the United States against federal law, and whose numbers might have a discernible impact on traditional state concerns. (228, n. 23)

Apart from individual states, the federal government would be able to make the showing in court that Plyler stated Texas failed to make in 1982. According to Education Data Initiative, K-12 schools nationwide receive $119.1 billion total or $2,400 per pupil from the federal government. Obviously, some of that money is being spent on illegal alien students. This would easily satisfy the Plyler criteria and allow the federal government to deny illegal aliens a taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary education, without conflicting with Plyler.

A new law should be enacted that would cease the federal governments funding of elementary and secondary education for illegal aliens. Once the Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the law, which it could to without overruling Plyler, the states would benefit. States would be free to decide for themselves whether they want to continue providing this educational benefit for illegal aliens. Various states may want to, but they should not say that Plyler requires them to.

Allan J. Favish is an attorney in Los Angeles. His website is allanfavish.com. James Fernald and Mr. Favish have co-authored a book about what might happen if the government ran Disneyland, entitled Fireworks! If the Government Ran the Fairest Kingdom of Them All (A Very Unauthorized Fantasy).

Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
If youre an Android smartphone or tablet user, the Google Play Store is your go-to space to download and update your favorite Android apps. The app is great for the most part and receives timely updates from Google to keep it up and running. However, it has troubled users with some annoying errors on many occasions. Well, it seems the Google Play Store is back at it again, as the app is reportedly crashing quite frequently for some Android users.

The Google Play Store app is reportedly crashing frequently for some Android users

Folks over at 9to5Google first spotted this issue and reported that the Google Play Store app on their Android smartphones and tablets crashed many times when they used it. When the app crashes, it reportedly leaves a Google Play Store keeps stopping error message. The error message reportedly also covers the Hub Mode clock on the Pixel tablet, adding more to the headache.

Generally, the system displays this message when an Android app crashes. As the error message pops up, users appear to have no choice but to close the app and relaunch it. It appears to be true in this case well. Apart from crashing, the Google Play Store is apparently working just fine. Per the report, this issue hasnt affected the ability to browse, download, and update apps.

Nobody is entirely sure what is causing this issue. But a wild guess could be that the Google Play Store is probably crashing in the background. We can confirm that none of our Android phones and tablets are experiencing this kind of issue. If they do, well update this piece down the line.

Google has yet to acknowledge the ongoing issue

Its important to note that not all Google Play Store users are experiencing this issue. It could be one of the reasons why we havent heard from Google just yet. However, we expect it to address the issue via an update.

If you are also experiencing this issue, sadly, there isnt much you can do about it. However, we recommend clearing the apps cache and force-stopping it from the settings to see if it makes any difference in the meantime.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 could cost the same as their predecessors. This is just a rumor at this point, and it comes from @PandaFlashPro, who shared it via X. Take this information with a grain of salt, though.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 & Flip 7 could cost the same as their predecessors

This is not our usual source of Samsung information, and it may be wise to wait for more information. The tipster clearly said that both smartphones will have the same prices again in most markets.

Considering that the same thing happened with the Galaxy S25 series, that could be the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 too. It could be just a wild guess on his part based on what happened with the Galaxy S25 phones, though, well see.

As a reminder, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 launched with a $1,899 price tag, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 cost $1,099 at launch. So, if this rumor is accurate, those are the price tags you can expect for their successors later this year.

We likely wont see major changes from either device

A recent report suggested that we wont see any major changes on either of these two smartphones. Samsung will seemingly mimic its plan that it had for the Galaxy S25 series, and focus on software.

The company could be waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 in 2026 in order to make some notable changes hardware-wise. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 could end up using a bigger display, though. On top of that, an Exynos SoC could be a part of the equation.

Both of these smartphones are expected to arrive later this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 were both announced towards the end of July last year. Samsung usually hosts an event in August, but it moved it to July last year. It remains to be seen what will happen this time around.
We had gotten used to there only being a handful of major AI models running the show, but things change. Theres a new kid on the block, and his name is DeepSeek. Right now, there are tons of questions going around about this break-out star of the AI world. Well, if you want to know more about DeepSeek, heres a guide on what you need to know about it.

This article will be updated as time goes on, so you should feel free to check back every now and then. At the time of writing this piece, new developments are coming at us left and right, so you should expect to see updates to this piece fairly often. Well go over the things you should know and be aware of with this new AI tool.

Theres also a crucial bit of information that you should be aware of.

What is DeepSeek?

First, lets start off with something pretty basic; what the heck is DeepSeek? Well, its a new AI chatbot. Its just like Google Gemini, OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and other chatbots. It gives you text-based responses based on input. Several people have done studies, and they found that its responses can challenge ChatGPTs and Google Geminis. This makes it a pretty big threat to these companies.

How long has DeepSeek been around?

The company was formed in 2023. It is owned by the Chinese hedge fund named High-Flyer. DeepSeeks founder, Liang Wenfeng, also co-founded High-Flyer. He is the acting CEO.

What model currently powers DeepSeek?

DeepSeek used the model named DeepSeek-V3. This model has 671 billion total parameters. It also has a context window of 128K, which is far behind the likes of Gemini, but its pretty average compared to other models.

Currently, DeepSeek uses the model called R1. This is the model that made waves throughout the AI industry. This model also has 671 billion parameters and a 128K context window.

Are there any usage limits?

According to a user on Reddit, the DeepSeek website limits you to just 50 messages. However, the company states that there arent any rate limits on the DeepSeek API. This could be because its cheaper to use than many other models on the market.

How do I access DeepSeek?

There are two main ways to do so. Firstly, you can go to the official DeepSeek website. For mobile users, you can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

How do I sign up?

Signing up for DeepSeek is pretty simple, and its no different from most other services. There are a couple of options. You can either provide your email address or phone number along with a password. The other option is to sign in with your Google account.

How much does it cost to use DeepSeek?

Nothing. DeepSeek is free to download and use.

Does it have a subscription service?

For the time being, it does not.

How much does it cost to use the DeepSeek API?

It has an input cost of $0.55 and an output cost of $2.19 per million tokens. This is better than models like GPT-4o (input:$2.50 output: $10.00) and Gemini 1.5 Pro (input: $1.25 output: $5.00).

Is DeepSeek open-source?

Yes. This is something that differentiates it from Gemini and OpenAIs GPT models.

Is DeepSeek multimodal?

In case you dont know, a multimodal model is one that can understand and create multiple forms of media. For example, a model that can generate both images and text is multimodal. Its the same thing for a model that can both understand images and text.

DeepSeek R1 is not a multimodal model. However, the company does have a model called Janus Pro. It unveiled this model not too long ago. Janus Pro has the ability to both understand and generate text and images. So, if you want to ask it questions based on an image, you can upload an image as the prompt. Also, you can use it as an image generator just like DALL-E.

Janus Pro is the successor to Janus, and the company showed a comparison between the two models.

Janus Pro is available to download from the companys Hugging Face page.

How does DeepSeek perform?

This is one of the most significant aspects of this chatbot. According to an analysis from Artificial Analysis, DeepSeek is a formidable model. In terms of speed, its pretty slow compared to the rest of the competition, but it makes up for it in raw performance. Based on several tests, DeepSeek R1 was able to best OpenAIs GPT-4o in different areas.

The graph below shows the quality rating of the top AI models on the market. We see that DeepSeek R1 (89 points) is just one point behind OpenAIs o1 model (90 points), the companys most advanced reasoning model. However, it was able to best o1-mini (84 points), GPT-4o (73 points), and GPT-4o mini (73 points).

It was also able to beat our Googles most advanced models Gemini 2.0 Experimental (82 points) and Gemini 1.5 Pro (80 points). The rest of the list is populated by models from Meta, Anthropic, Amazon, and Mistral.

The next graph comes from DeepSeeks Github. It shows DeepSeek R1s performance compared to OpenAIs o1, a previous version of R1, and DeepSeek-V3.

As you can see, it was able to trade blows with the best that OpenAI has to offer.

So, all in all, its no surprise that DeepSeek was able to make such a splash in the AI space. It came out of nowhere and brought a model that should put AI veterans like Google and OpenAI on their toes.

Where is DeepSeek available?

From what we can tell, DeepSeek is available in the U.S. and China. Were certain its available in other regions as well.

Does DeepSeek collect your data?

That is a doozy of a question. Honestly, this might be the longest section of this piece. Were not going to sugarcoat this, DeepSeek gathers an absolute TON of information about you AND it stores that data on a server in mainland China. If this is something that you do not want to happen, then we suggest that you do not download or sign up for DeepSeek.

The list of information it gathers on you is rather long. DeepSeek directly informs people that it gathers information like:

Username

Email address

Phone number

Passwords

Payment information

Age

Proof of identity

Uploaded files

Text Prompts

Chat history

Other content you provide, as per the companys privacy page

Audio recordings

Browser cookies

IP addresses

The model of the device youre using

The operating system of the device youre using

Keystroke patterns

System language

Crash reports

Service logs

Information about you that it may obtain from advertisers

Access tokens from third-party services that you log in with (i.e Google or Apple)

Does DeepSeek share your information?

Yes. The company explains that it may share your information with advertisers, other entities within its corporate group, and other groups as the result of a merger, change of control, reorganization, financing, sale of assets, or acquisition. This means that, once DeepSeek has your data, theres no telling how many hands it will change along its journey.

How long does DeepSeek keep your data?

What makes the situation worse is the fact that DeepSeek holds on to your data indefinitely. As per the privacy page, it retains your data for as long as necessary,. This means that your data could be stored on the companys servers for years. At least Google has a hard cut-off date for how long it keeps your data.

Does it give your data to advertisers?

Yes. The company says so on its privacy policy page. We may share information collected through your use of the Service with our advertising or analytics partners. Information being sold to advertisers is nothing new, but with all of the information that DeepSeek scoops up, it shines a harsh light on the company.

Is there a way to opt out of having your data taken?

Unfortunately, no. DeepSeek states that some of the information it gathers is taken automatically, so theres no to control it. Also, if you delete your account, the company does not state whether your content will be deleted or if it will live on in the servers.

DeepSeek does, however, give you at least SOME control over our data, but its extremely limiting. Through the settings, youre allowed to erase your chat history. Next, you can go to your browser and disable browser cookies. Youll need to do this in your browsers general settings, not on the DeepSeek website.

Will DeepSeek be banned in certain countries?

At this point, its tough to say. TikTok was nearly booted from the United States because the information it took from users resided in China. We dont know all of the information that TikTok stored, but were sure it wasnt as extreme as DeepSeek.

Since DeepSeek is taking so much data from the people who use it, were most certain that some governmental entity will find an issue with it and move to bring legal action. It hasnt happened yet, but this article will be updated if something like that happens.

Whats the AI market crash about?

At the time of writing this, DeepSeek has had a bit of a rippling effect in the AI company world. Obviously, top AI companies like Meta, Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are wary of the potential completion. However, theres more to this story. As of the time this article comes out (late January 2025), several major tech companies have seen a pretty notable drop in their stock prices.

The largest drop happened with Nvidia. In 2024, the company saw a meteoric rise in the stock market as companies bought thousands upon thousands of its chips. It reached an over $2 trillion market value. However, in the wake of DeepSeek, its prices dropped a whopping $596.7 billion in the market in just one day.

Nvidia isnt the only company that dropped a bunch in the market. Other companies that lost hard are:

Broadcom (Lost $194.9 billion)

Oracle (Lost $76 billion)

Microsoft (Lost $72.2 billion)

Arista Networks (Lost $36.6 billion)

Micron Technologies (Lost $14.1 billion)

Advanced Micro Devices (Lost $13 billion)

Cisco Systems (Lost $13 billion)

Amphenol (Lost $11.2 billion)

Applied Materials (Lost $10.6 billion)

Those are the top 10 biggest losers in the market, including Nvidia. Altogether, those companies lost north of a trillion dollars in market value in one day. Thats a pretty massive drop.

Whats the reason for the drop?

The thing is that training and maintaining AI models is a costly business. Were not just talking about money, it also eats up energy like its no ones business. This is why companies like Meta and Microsoft are trying to build nuclear plants.

However, DeepSeek comes onto the scene with a model that costs a fraction of the money and energy to maintain. Also, its able to run on weaker chips. This crushed the disillusion that powerful AI needed powerful chips, a bunch of money, and a ton of energy to nurture. So, many of the people who were investing in large tech companies like Microsoft and Nvidia lost faith that their money was being put to the right use. Remember, its been able to beat OpenAIs most powerful model on some tests.

Many of the people who invested in these companies sold off their stocks, which led to a bit of a crash. As you can imagine, Nvidia was hit the hardest because it was one of the main companies supplying powerful chips to AI companies across the nation.

The company to lose the second most value, Broadcom, is a chipmaker as well, and people investing in it also took their dollars elsewhere. Many of the top AI companies in the U.S. have seen a large dip in their stock price and at this point, we dont know how long this is going to go on for. Were sure it wont be long before other companies like Google, OpenAI, Meta, and others start to feel the effects of this.

What are DeepSeeks plans going forward?

At this point, were not sure what the company is planning. The company does have an API available, so we know that it wants other AI platforms to use its models. As popular as it has become, were sure that numerous services will rise using its API.
Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan have signed the Ankara Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to deepening trilateral cooperation in key sectors and addressing regional and global challenges.

Azernews reports that the declaration, adopted at the 2nd trilateral meeting of the foreign, trade, and transport ministers of the three countries, includes a comprehensive Action Plan aimed at enhancing connectivity and transport collaboration.

Key points of the Ankara Declaration include:

A reaffirmation of commitment to expanding cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest.

A joint pledge to counter any attempts undermining sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A commitment to fully explore potential in key sectors, including economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, environment, and climate change.

A call to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor.

Support for Azerbaijans reconstruction and demining efforts in the liberated Garabagh and East Zangazur regions.

Recognition of positive developments in economic, trade, connectivity, and climate cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States.

Acknowledgment of Azerbaijans role as the host of COP29 and its presidency in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Emphasis on a unified approach within the framework of the Turkic Development Council (TDC) concerning security and development in Afghanistan to ensure stability in Central Asia.

A welcome for the ceasefire declaration in Gaza, calling for its strict implementation and reaffirming support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Ankara Declaration marks a step forward in the strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, reinforcing their collective vision for economic integration, regional security, and sustainable development.
January 28, 2025: Ukraine has been fighting the Russian invaders for three years now. The expensive Russian failure to conquer Ukraine is largely due to Ukrainian ingenuity and innovations. Russia responds but rarely gets ahead. One area where Russia fell behind was drones. Ukraine revolutionized warfare with its many drone-based innovations. Russia tries to keep up but economic sanctions and continuous new drone developments from Ukraine get in the way.

By late 2024 Ukraine had come up with another gaggle of drone ideas. The most visually obvious one is the remotely controlled drone swarm. The usual Russian defense is jamming the control signals. The Ukrainian swarm has drones capable of operating independently when jammed and continuing the attack with less accuracy but, because it is a swarm with dozens of drones, some are still going to hit the target. The swarm concept has been tested successfully and the next step is using it against the Russians.

Ukrainians are able to modify their tactics and technology quickly, often in hours if all that is involved is a software modification. One new concept that has already been used is First Person View/FPV drones to plant magnetic mines on the edge of a road or trail Russian armored vehicles are headed for. When the armored vehicles show up, all that moving metal activates the magnetic mines, blowing the tracks or wheels off the armored vehicles. Thus immobilized the crews usually bail out and run before another FPV drone with more explosives arrives to finish off the motionless vehicles.

Ukraine has developed the Flamingo VB140 anti-drone interceptor, a meter-long, fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft that can operate at altitudes up to 4,500 meters and fifty kilometers from its launch site. Flamingo VB140 will intercept, by crashing into them, any airborne drone in its target list which it encounters. If no targets are found Flamingo VB140 will just fall to the ground when its battery is out of power.

Flamingo VB140 is meant to destroy Russian reconnaissance and surveillance drones, especially the Orlan-10, which is the most common Russian recon drone. Introduced in 2011, Orlan-10 is one of few UAVs that Russia developed locally. Orlan-10 is propeller-driven, weighs about 15 kilograms and can carry a payload of up to 6 kilograms of various kinds of recon equipment, including infrared cameras, or an array of multiple cameras used for creating 3-dimensional maps. Its 95-octane gasoline-powered engine provides a cruise speed of 90 to 150 kilometers an hour, a service ceiling of about 5,000 meters, and a flight endurance of 18 hours. Together with control and launch equipment, the Orlan-10 costs about half a million dollars. The aircraft is launched by a portable folding catapult and lands by shutting down the engine and deploying a parachute. Russia has produced over two thousand Orlans so far and they continue to be produced despite the difficulty in obtaining some electronic components.

Oran-10s required several Western electronic boards and chips. These components could not be manufactured in Russia and had to be imported. By 2017 it was clear that Russia was not simply using existing stockpiles of now banned components to build new Oran-10s. This was a major problem because Orlan-10 was a key observation asset as it could spot targets for Russian artillery or rocket fire. Oran-10 can operate high enough to be safe from rifle or machine-gun fire and it is difficult for a lightweight anti-aircraft missile like Stinger to hit. At night it is even less vulnerable to ground fire.

In Ukraine some Orlan-10s continued to be shot down or crash because of equipment failure. Their wreckage was examined for the presence of banned components and these items were still there. The banned items were common, not custom-manufactured for Orlan-10s. There were dozens of distributors you could order from. Government efforts to sort out which distributors were selling the Oran parts to a firm with a link to Russia have come up empty. Russian forces have lost over a hundred Orlans in Ukraine so far and have replaced these losses because Orlan-10 is their principal means of spotting targets for Russian artillery. Orlan-10s entered were used in Ukraine and Syria before 2022.

Russia has recently faced another Ukrainian anti-drone system that involves deploying a net to foul a Russian drones propellers and cause it to crash. As long as the drone delivering the net is cheaper than the Russian drones it takes down, it is a worthwhile system. Ukraine is relying more on drones to intercept relatively slow moving Russian cruise missiles. Most of these cost over $50,000. Bringing them down with drones that cost less than a thousand dollars is how you win wars. Ukraine still receives aid from NATO nations, while the Russian economy is a mess because of three years of sanctions. Russia has used up most of its national cash reserve and building more drones is not at the top of their to-do list, not when the Ukrainian drone destruction efforts have been so successful. Orlan drones are a necessity because reconnaissance and surveillance are essential. Orlans get built first and other types of drones are obtained with whatever cash is left.
The Rest Is Politics has been crowned political podcast of the year.

The show hosted by Alastair Campbell, former aide to Tony Blair, and ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart won the top prize at the Political Podcasts Awards ceremony in Westminster on Wednesday night.

Launched in March 2022, The Rest Is Politics is Britains most popular politics podcast and regularly features in Spotify and Apples overall top 10 rankings for listener numbers.

Alastair Campbell, former aide to Tony Blair, co-hosts The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart (Ian West/PA)

The show is produced by Goalhanger Podcasts, co-founded by Gary Lineker, and normally releases two episodes a week.

On Wednesdays, Mr Campbell and Mr Stewart typically discuss UK news and politics and on Thursdays they answer questions from listeners.

The judges said the show has truly changed political podcasting in the UK.

Former Tory MP Rory Stewart co-hosts The Rest Is Politics with Alastair Campbell

Other winners included Sky Newss Electoral Dysfunction, hosted by Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman, former leader of the Scottish Conservative party Ruth Davidson and journalist Beth Rigby.

The trios podcast won best newcomer, and comedy moment of the year for its segment about Boris Johnson forgetting to take his ID to the polling station when he was voting in the local elections last May.

Scooping the peoples choice award were former Labour MP Ed Balls and ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne for their podcast Political Currency.
The BBC is to air a TV adaption of Anthony Horowitzs Marble Hall Murders novel starring Lesley Manville.

The story is the third book in the authors Susan Ryeland murder mystery series, which will be released later this year, with the adaption following series based on its predecessors Moonflower Murders and Magpie Murders.

Manville, 68, will return as book editor Susan, with Tim McMullan, 62, returning as literary detective Atticus Pund, after Moonflower Murders was one of the BBCs most watched scripted series last year, with almost five million viewers.

The pair previously appeared in Netflix royal drama The Crown, with Manville playing Princess Margaret and McMullan playing bishop Robin Woods.

Speaking about the latest adaption, Horowitz, 69, said: Im so happy to bring the team back  stars, director, producers, and crew  for a third instalment of what has been a fantastically successful TV series.

I have a feeling this could be the best yet.

The Susan Ryeland trilogy follows the book editor as she finds herself involved with baffling murders, prompting detective Atticus to step out of the novels and help her solve them.

The series executive producer, Jill Green, added: Anthony has once again brought his unique and original perspective to the world of murder mystery.

Marble Hall Murders completes the trilogy, and the scripts and lead actors are once again at the top of their game.

A release date for the series has not been announced, with filming in Dublin, Corfu, and London beginning in March.

The series will be made by Eleventh Hour Films in association with Salt Films, while it will be directed by Rebecca Gatward and produced by Suzanne McAuley.
Beatrice and husband besotted with tiny and absolutely perfect baby Athena

Princess Beatrice has welcomed her tiny and absolutely perfect baby daughter Athena after giving birth several weeks premature.

The late Queens granddaughters second child was born a week ago weighing 4lb 5oz and both mother and baby are said to be healthy, doing well and now at home, Buckingham Palace said.

Beatrices husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi posted an emotional tribute to his daughter, saying he and the princess were completely besotted with the new arrival, adding our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

Mr Mapelli Mozzi also thanked the staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London for their exceptional care after Athena Elizabeth Rose  her second name a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II  arrived several weeks early on January 22.

Beatrice, 36, was due to give birth in early spring, and in December received medical advice and was told not to travel long distances.

She joined the royal family at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day after changing her travel plans from spending the festive period overseas, with doctors said to have warned that a premature arrival was a possibility.

Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi released a photograph of their daughter taken by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, showing Athena with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeved garment, and wrapped in a pink blanket with her face hidden by her arm.

Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Wolfie on Christmas Day after changing their travel plans on medical advice (Aaron Chown/PA)

The family is said to be enjoying spending time together at home with Athenas older siblings, three-year-old Sienna, and Mr Mapelli Mozzis son and Beatrices stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie.

The couple chose the name Athena because they loved it, rather than any other inspiration.

Mr Mapelli Mozzi wrote: We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in the royal box at Wimbledon last summer (Zac Goodwin/PA)

He added: A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.

The King and Queen have been informed and are delighted, the Palace said.

Athena is the Kings great niece and a new grandchild for the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Beatrice with her parents the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York at Eugenies wedding in 2018 (Danny Lawson/PA)

The duchess wrote on social media that she was overflowing with love and joy.

She is already so adored and Im incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again, Sarah said.

So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!

Athena is 11th in line to the throne, and also a niece of Beatrices sister Princess Eugenie, who celebrated the news on her Instagram Stories with the post Welcome Baby Girl.

 Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm. The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces. The King and pic.twitter.com/uPYk4bXBRG  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 29, 2025

Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday: Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday January 22 at 12.57pm, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the royal family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

 Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together early in the new year; a sibling for Wolfie and Sienna.  His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are pic.twitter.com/wa5XddwMsJ  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 1, 2024

The name Athena is Greek in origin; in ancient mythology, Athena was a goddess of wisdom, war and handicrafts, and a daughter of Zeus.

Beatrices older daughter Sienna also has Elizabeth as a middle name in honour of the princesss beloved grandmother the late Queen, who died in 2022.

Beatrice married millionaire property tycoon Mr Mapelli Mozzi in a secret lockdown wedding in 2020 attended by her grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, after her planned ceremony was postponed because of the pandemic.

Known as Edo, Mr Mapelli Mozzi is the son of former Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi and Nikki Williams-Ellis.

The princess, who is not a full-time working royal, is an adviser for Afiniti, an artificial intelligence software firm, and a co-founder of The Big Change Charitable Trust.

She has a number of royal patronages including the Forget Me Not Childrens Hospice, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre.

Athena is not the first royal baby to be born prematurely.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburghs daughter Lady Louise Windsor was born four weeks early, weighing 4lb 9oz, in 2003, with Sophie rushed by ambulance for an emergency caesarean.

Beatrice is not thought to have attended hospital by ambulance.
January 28, 2025: In November 2024 there was another outbreak of antisemitism in Europe when pro-Palestinian groups in Amsterdam sought out and attacked Jews, real or suspected, in many parts of the city. Antisemitism is hatred of Jews, who are members of a religious minority of 16 million worldwide compared to 2.4 billion Christians, 1.9 billion Moslems and 1.2 billion Hindus.

Radical Palestinians want Israel eliminated and all Jews out of the Middle East. Their motto, From The River To The Sea, aptly describes Palestine replacing Israel. Pro-Palestinian movements have become popular in the West because some Palestinian groups are funded by wealthy Arabs in the Persian Gulf. That money also goes to pro-Palestinian groups in Europe and the United States.

This is related to another problem, the plunging Christian population in the Christian holy places of the Middle East, especially places like Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Bethlehem, which for centuries was largely Christian, Arab Christians for the most part, is now only 12 percent Christian. When Israel was founded in 1948, Jerusalem was 15 percent Christian, now it is only 1.2 percent Christian. The decline is not just in the traditional Christian holy places but throughout the Middle East and Moslem countries in general. This is all the result of long standing Islamic disdain for other religions. During the last century that disdain has increasingly turned to violence and outright hatred. Most Christians, and other religious minorities, fled to the West, often the United States. Until a decade ago most Arab Americans were Christian.

Iraq is another example. Before Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990, there were 1.5 million Christians in Iraq. Now there are fewer than 300,000. Many were expelled by Islamic fanatics because they were not Moslem, but there was also Iraqi Moslem hatred of Christians because they were supporters of Saddam. Religious and ethnic minorities are often recruited by tyrants, or foreign invaders, to prop up a dictatorship or colonial rule. When the British took over Iraq, from the Moslem Turks, in the 1920s, they trusted the local Christians, and other religious minorities more than the majority of Moslems for security chores and government jobs in general. The Turks did the same thing but to a lesser extent because the local Christians were also Arabs, and all Arabs resented centuries of rule by the alien Turks. But Iraqis also hated fellow Moslems, mainly the four million strong Sunni Arab minority who supported the Turks and later Sunni Arab dictators like Saddam.

A lot of this violence stems from a passage in the Moslem scriptures, which instructs a Moslem man when encountering a non-Moslem to ask the man to convert. If the man refuses, he must be killed. Throughout the Moslem world there is an ancient antipathy against non-Moslems or Moslems who are different from you. The infidels or non-Moslems are seen as potentially disloyal, and what happened in Iraq over the last century just confirms that attitude. Currently you find Moslems attacking Buddhists in Thailand, Jews everywhere, Baha'is in Iran, and Christians in Egypt, Iraq, the Philippines, Pakistan, Malaysia, and elsewhere. This is not a sudden and unexpected outburst of Moslem violence against non-Moslems. It is normal and at the root of Islamic terrorism. While this violent behavior represents only a small number of Moslems, it is a large minority of from a few percent of a population to over half depending on the area, and as verified by public opinion polls.

Moreover, the majority of Moslems have not been willing, or able, to confront and suppress the Islamic radicals that not only spread death and destruction but also besmirch all Moslems. This reveals a fundamental problem in the Islamic world, the belief that combining righteousness with murderous tactics is often the road to power and spiritual salvation. Throughout history when these tactics were applied to non-Moslems they often failed. The non-Moslems were unfazed by the religious angle and, especially in the last five hundred years, were better able to defeat Islamic violence with even greater violence. Thus, until quite recently, the Moslems fought among themselves and left the infidels out. But after World War II that began to change.

During the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990, Christian and Moslem Arabs fought bitterly over political, cultural, and, ultimately, religious differences. Few realized it at the time but this war was but the first of many between Christians and Moslems in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Many of the earliest Moslem converts were former Christians. And many of those that Moslem armies unsuccessfully sought to conquer were Christian. The original Crusades, which modern Moslems portray as Western aggression, were actually a Western attempt to rescue Middle Eastern Christians from several centuries of increasing Islamic terrorism and violence. Islam as a political force was in decline for several centuries until the 1970s. Then things changed and they continue to change. Fueled by oil wealth and access to Western weapons and technology, Islamic radicals saw new opportunities. Islam was again on the march and few have noticed the many places it was turning into religious war with Christians and other non-Moslems.

The Middle East still contains many non-Moslems. None have their own country, except for Israel. But Egypt contains five million Copts, native Christians who did not convert to Islam. Similar small Christian communities exist throughout the Middle East, and growing hostility from Moslem neighbors causes many to migrate or get killed.

Moslems also have turned their righteous wrath on dissident Moslem sects. The Druze and Alawites are considered by many Moslems as pagans pretending to be Moslems. Similarly, the Shias of Iran and neighboring areas are considered less orthodox, not just for their admitted differences but because many adherents openly practice customs of the pre-Islamic Zoroastrian religion. These differences are less frequently overlooked today. To survive, many Druze have allied themselves with Israel, and most of the recently vanished Syrian governments leadership were Alawites who pretended to be more Shia than they really are.

Radicals throughout the Moslem world continue to take advantage of dissatisfaction among the people and recruit terrorists and supporters. To help this process along they invoke the ancient grudges popular among many Moslems. Most of these legends involve Christian violence against Moslems. To most radicals it makes sense to get people agitated over faraway foreigners rather than some strongman nearby who make react violently to their denunciations of them.

Most radicals lack the skills, money, patience and ability to carry their struggle to far-off places. So most of the agitation takes place among Moslem populations. Any violent attitudes generated are easily directed at available non-Moslems. The more violence you generate, the more really fanatical fighters are developed. These are the people who are willing to travel to foreign lands and deal with non-believers and kill them for the cause. We call it terrorism; the fanatics call it doing what has to be done, defending Islam with jihad.

Not surprisingly Moslems get motivated to do something about Islamic radicalism when the violence comes to their neighborhoods. That's why terror attacks in the West are so popular. The infidels are being attacked without any risk to those living in Moslem countries. Iraq changed all that and during the course of the 2004-7 war the popularity of Islamic terrorism, in Moslem countries, declined sharply because the terrorists were killing so many Moslems. That, in the end, is what has killed, for a while, most Islamic terrorism in Iraq. But this time around it would be nice if the Moslem world got their act together and expunged this malevolent tendency once and for all.
Business groups and economists have said Chancellor Rachel Reeves latest plans to grow the economy are welcome, but that measures in the October Budget will still weigh on companies.

Ms Reeves announced plans to turn Oxford and Cambridge into Europes Silicon Valley with a raft of housing and infrastructure development in the area.

And she said the Government is backing a new third runway at Heathrow Airport, adding that she wants proposals to be be brought forward by the summer.

Our Policy Chair @tinamckenz had a great chat with the Chancellor after her much-welcomed speech on economic growth. It sends a strong, confident message that from now on growth comes first  exactly what small firms and our economy need. pic.twitter.com/G1AyWAYH0w  Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) (@fsb_policy) January 29, 2025

Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the Chancellor has laid down a clear marker and that the plans will make companies sit up and take notice.

They can lift the gloom that has settled over the economy and give firms real confidence, she said.

She added that the Government must make sure the reality does not fall short of the promise, adding that companies are still struggling with increasing costs from the October Budget.

Tina McKenzie, policy chairwoman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the rallying cry for Government to choose growth is exactly what the economy needs.

It sends a strong, confident message that from now on growth comes first, and any barriers to that will be erased.

This decision on Heathrow is totemic, and faster action to unblock decisions on infrastructure projects is entirely right.

Small firms are the ones who will help us achieve big growth in the areas that need it the most. Our response to the Chancellors speech announcing the Governments Plan for Change https://t.co/N4r2RXh1Uy  Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) (@fsb_policy) January 29, 2025

EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said the airport expansion would provide consumer and economic benefits, adding that it would allow the airline to operate from the airport at scale for the first time.

Dr Mairi Gibbs, boss of Oxford University Innovation, which is owned by the university, praised the plans for the Oxford and Cambridge region, which Ms Reeves said would add 78 billion to the UKs economy by 2035.

She said the Chancellor rightly highlights the critical role of innovation and scale-ups in driving Britains economic growth.

Ms Reeves also reiterated plans to take on blockers of major projects with new rules coming in the spring to speed up the planning system, saying decisions have previously been too slow and ridiculous.

She also pointed to new development schemes in Manchester, Doncaster and other areas to improve transport and infrastructure, including redevelopment of the area around Manchester Uniteds Old Trafford stadium.

Stephen Phipson, boss of manufacturers trade body Make UK, said the speech was upbeat and helps inject a much-needed reset into the debate.

He said expanding Heathrow Airport is vital if we are to drive economic growth  more connectivity with the rest of the world provides British exporters with more markets to sell their goods and drives inward investment to every part of the country.

But he said there is a clear contradiction between implementing the new measures while applying a handbrake with those announced in the Budget.

Businesses face an increase in national insurance contributions (NICs) in April, which they say could lead to job cuts because of the increased cost of employing people.

Steve Perez, chief executive of drinks manufacturer Global Brands, criticised the speech, saying measures in the Budget had disincentivised smaller businesses from investing.

On Wednesdays measures, he told PA news agency: This is all big, long-term infrastructure. We need something more immediate.

Following the Budget, the Chancellor killed off the goose that lays a golden egg, which is small private family businesses.

In short, those who want Britain to be a more prosperous and more dynamic country should cheer on every word. But there are two major caveats.' Read @rcolvile's full verdict on the Chancellor's speech in Oxfordshire this morning  https://t.co/zYaI7HJgOZ  Centre for Policy Studies (@CPSThinkTank) January 29, 2025

The reservations were echoed by Robert Colville, director of think tank the Centre for Policy Studies, who said that, while the vast bulk of the Chancellors speech was hugely welcome, the Budget had done a huge amount to damage economic growth.

Karim Fatehi, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that, while the Heathrow plan is much needed, he is concerned that Budget measures like the increase in NICs are casting a shadow over our economy.

He added: If growth is to extend to all corners of our economy, we must see policies introduced swiftly to mitigate them.

Tom Clougherty, executive director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said the Chancellor should be applauded for the policies but the challenge now is to make sure that rhetoric becomes reality.
A Chinese PhD student accused of drugging and raping 10 women appears to be a smart and charming young man but is in fact a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist, a jury has been told.

Zhenhao Zou, 27, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday to face prosecution claims that he filmed himself raping nine of the women to keep the footage as souvenirs.

He denies 11 counts of rape as well as three counts of voyeurism, 12 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

The student, who moved to Belfast in 2017 to study at Queens University before coming to London in 2019 to do a masters degree and then a PhD at UCL, denies all the charges.

He is accused of raping the women between September 2019 and May 2023, while he was studying in London.

Opening the prosecution case on Wednesday, Catherine Farrelly KC told jurors: To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man.

However, as you know from the indictment in this case, the document which contains 35 separate criminal allegations against him, the prosecution say that he is also a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drink or drugs, and, once they were significantly under the influence of those drinks or drugs, he would then rape them.

Often, he would record himself doing so and during this trial, you will be shown several recordings which the prosecution says are the defendants souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed.

Items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered often unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.

Zou sat in the dock wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, and navy blue tie as the prosecution case opened.

Police have identified two of the alleged victims but not the remaining eight, the court was told.

Ms Farrelly told the jury that one of the identified women contacted police in May 2023 to claim that he had raped her after not allowing her to leave his flat in Elephant and Castle, south-east London.

She did not pursue the allegation at that point but later, in February 2024, investigators found a social media post in which the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave her account of what had happened.

The trial is taking place at Inner London Crown Court (John Stillwell/PA)

When contacted by detectives, the alleged victim told them that on May 18 2023 Zou invited her to his friends flat for a drink, and then back to his apartment.

They were drinking wine together but she began to find him odd and boring and wanted to leave, but he would not let her go, the court heard.

She said she was crying on the floor, and when she tried to run away he dragged her back by her clothes, before pushing her to drink a big glass of vodka.

She told him that she didnt want the vodka and she just wanted to leave but he told her that she had to stay, Ms Farrelly told the court.

The woman claims that he raped her while she was unconscious.

Police found video footage of the alleged attack and graphic photographs of the alleged victim in Zous possession, the jury was told.

The second alleged victim who has been identified by police, got in contact with the first woman in response to social media posts she had made on LittleRedBook and WeChat giving her account of what had happened.

She had consensual sex with Zou on one occasion in September 2021 then, the following month after a dinner with friends, she found herself alone with him in the street in Chinatown and remembers vomiting.

Her next memory is Zou allegedly raping her at his flat. She told police that she had asked him to stop before she lost consciousness.

It is claimed that Zou had video recordings of him raping a number of other women while they were unconscious and unable to consent.

Footage shows two of them telling him to stop as they struggle to stay awake, it is claimed, with the student telling one of them: The sound insulation here is very good.

Zou will argue that the sexual interactions were consensual, that drugs and alcohol were consumed by the women voluntarily, and that some of the footage captured involved role playing, the judge told jurors.

It is the prosecution case that Zou had the drugs MDMA, ketamine, butanediol and alprazolam that he could covertly use by slipping them into a drink to stupefy his victims so that he could rape them.

Zou denies possessing MDMA or ketamine, and says the butanediol and alprazolam were for personal use.

His trial continues on Thursday.
David Tennant and Toby Jones are to star in a new ITV drama about phone hacking.

Doctor Who actor Tennant, 53, will play investigative journalist Nick Davies, who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at the News Of The World and went on to write an award-winning book about it.

The scandal led to the newspapers closure in 2011 and since then News Group Newspapers (NGN) has settled a number of damages claims from high-profile figures concerning unlawful information-gathering.

Most recently, the Duke of Sussex settled his legal action against the publisher of The Sun and received an apology from NGN.

David Tennant and Toby Jones (ITV/PA)

In The Hack, Detectorists star Jones will play Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of The Guardian, which covered the story in depth, while Scottish actor Robert Carlyle will star as former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook.

Jones, 58, won an award at the National Television Awards last year for his role in ITV drama, Mr Bates Versus The Post Office, which renewed attention on the subpostmasters who were wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal.

Set between 2002 and 2012, the new seven-part series interweaves two real-life stories, the work of journalist Davies (Tennant), and the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, led by former Met Police detective Cook (Carlyle).

Mr Morgan, a 37-year-old father-of-two, was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987.

Former editor-in-chief of the Guardian Alan Rusbridger (Ian West/PA)

His brother, Alastair, claimed the News Of The World had followed and spied on Mr Cook during his inquiries into the death.

A string of inquiries over the decades have unearthed allegations of corruption and led to accusations the Met put its reputation above finding the killer.

The new drama has been directed by Sherwoods Lewis Arnold and written by Jack Thorne who also executive produces alongside Joe Williams and Patrick Spence, who both executive produced Mr Bates.

Abi Bach is the series producer.

Toby Jones celebrating winning an award at the National Television Awards (Ian West/PA)

Thorne said: This is a strange and deceptive piece of our recent history.

One with so many layers to it. I thought, as someone who is interested in politics, I understood everything that happened. I did not.

Its a fight for the truth that really shocked me.

That is why it matters to tell this story now in an age where the truth seems more in danger than ever. It is a true honour to be bringing this story to the screen alongside David, Robert, Toby, Lewis, Patrick, Joe and Abi.

I hope we find a way to do justice to the complexity of what happened and of celebrating the incredible reporting that sits underneath it.

ITV director of drama, Polly Hill, said: I am very proud to be making this important drama with Patrick Spence, Jack Thorne and Lewis Arnold.

They are a brilliant team and the perfect people to bring this story to screen. And its testament to them that we have such an incredible cast led by David Tennant, Robert Carlyle and Toby Jones.

Annalisa Dinnella has written one of the episodes and is co-writing two of the episodes with Thorne.

The Hack will air on ITV and STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.

The series is currently in post-production having filmed during 2024.
The late Twin Peaks director David Lynch is to be honoured with the 2025 Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement.

Lynch, who also directed Blue Velvet (1986), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Eraserhead (1977), had accepted the award in late 2024 prior to his death aged 78 earlier this month.

The award is given to members of the guild who have advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.

The director recently died aged 78 (Anthony Harvey/PA)

WGAW president Meredith Stiehm said of the director: Writer-director David Lynchs uncompromising vision pushed the boundaries of filmmaking, were proud to honour him and his legacy.

The award will be presented by Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in Lynchs Blue Velvet, Dune (1984), and Twin Peaks, at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles on February 15.

Past recipients of the award include Oliver Stone, Nancy Meyers, Charlie Kaufman and Eric Roth.

During his career Lynch had been Oscar-nominated four times, including two nods for The Elephant Man (1980) for directing and adapted screenplay, and two more directing nominations for Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive.

In 2019 he received an honorary Academy Award, which recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry but have not won an Oscar.

The award comes after Lynchs children honoured him with a worldwide group meditation for 10 minutes on January 20, which would have been his 79th birthday.
Drivers and riders could be fined for parking cars, e-bikes and e-scooters on pavements under a potential law put forward by a Labour MP.

Marsha de Cordova, who is registered blind, said pedestrians were at risk of being injured as people are often forced into the road to navigate the obstacles.

Ms de Cordova told the House of Commons 95% of people with sight loss have had to walk in the road due to vehicles parked on pavements.

Marsha de Cordova, pictured during a speech in the House of Commons in 2023, said the problem stops people from getting to work, school and socialising (Jessica Taylor/PA)

The figure rose to 99% for people in wheelchairs and riding mobility scooters.

MPs heard wheelchair users, people with pushchairs, and those with visual impairment were among those affected by the problem.

The Battersea MP is calling for existing laws in London that give councils the power to take action against drivers and cyclists to be rolled out across the rest of England.

A similar policy has already been introduced in Scotland. Transport policy is devolved in Wales and Northern Ireland.

An existing law against parking cars on public paths has been in place since 1980, but requires the police to enforce it.

Introducing her Ten Minute Rule Bill, Ms de Cordova said: Pavement parking prevents many people from living their lives, from working, from socialising, from taking their children to school or getting to that vital appointment, and that has to change.

She added: Between the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes an obstruction, and the lack of police resources, relying on police enforcement has not proven effective.

There is a clear need for a law that brings the rest of England in line with London and Scotland. Councils needs to be empowered to take action as they know their areas best.

This Bill would give them the flexibility to create limited exemptions in response to consultation with their local areas and communities.

She continued: We have clear evidence that laws like this can, and do work, and I urge the house to support this Bill.

She said the problem of deserted dockless e-bikes and e-scooters was also causing a problem, as schemes have grown ever popular in cities including London, Greater Manchester and Nottingham.

The Government announced potential new powers for local authorities in the English Devolution White Paper last year which would allow them to regulate the schemes.

While we should commend progress made on pavement parking in London, increasingly we are seeing abandoned rental e-scooters and e-bikes obstructive pavements. This remains a problem in my Battersea constituency, she said.

The Bill would increase the power of local authorities to introduce penalties for operators and riders of e-bikes and e-scooters left on pavements.

The previous Conservative government opened a consultation on stopping pavement parking in 2020, however ministers did not publish its findings.

I welcome the minister for the future of roads (Lilian Greenwood) commitment that this Government is looking at all options and will come forward with a response to the consultation in due course and I look forward to working with her on that, Ms de Cordova said.

The proposed legislation will be debated at its second reading on May 16.
A stronger economy is likely to make little difference to the poorest UK households unless there is targeted support to tackle poverty, a report has warned.

Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said it is deeply unjust to expect struggling families to wait for wider economic growth, and re-emphasised its plea for the two-child limit on benefits to be scrapped.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously indicated he would like to scrap the limit but that the Government cannot currently afford to do so, and has repeatedly stressed the focus on growing the economy.

According to its analysis of Office for Budget Responsibility and Bank of England forecasts, levels of poverty and deep poverty will remain broadly flat for the next four years without additional action from the Government.

It warned poverty levels could even rise if economic growth is not accompanied by employment growth.

According to its modelling, the JRF said none of the nine English regions are likely to see a fall in child poverty over the four years to January 2029, with five regions  East Midlands, South West, South East, East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber  even possibly seeing rises.

The JRFs report, published on Wednesday, stated: It is almost certain that economic stability is necessary to sustainably reduce poverty.

However, economic growth on its own wont reduce poverty, and it is deeply unjust to force families to wait for economic growth before they feel their situation improve, especially given the picture of deepening poverty.

The latest official statistics, released last year, showed the estimated total number of people in relative low income in the UK was at 14.35 million in the year to March 2023, with some 4.33 million of those being children.

The figure for children was the highest since comparable records for the UK began in 2002/03.

A household is considered to be in relative poverty if it is below 60% of the median income after housing costs.

The JRF said the figures equate to around two in every 10 adults and three in every 10 children being in poverty.

Child poverty rates are highest in England (30%) and Wales (29%), compared with Scotland (24%) and Northern Ireland (23%).

The JRF analysis suggested the lower level in Scotland is likely to do with the Scottish Child Payment  a benefit paid to low-income families with children in Scotland  and noted the government north of the border had pledged to end the two-child cap on some benefits.

The charity said its analysis showed only child poverty rates in Scotland would likely fall further by 2029.

While lower average housing costs in Scotland and Northern Ireland were previously thought to drive lower poverty rates in the two nations, the JRF said its analysis looked at poverty before housing costs are taken into account and found Scotland still likely to have continued lower levels.

It said this highlights the effect benefits can have in reducing poverty.

The charity said while the new Labour Government had, as part of its October Budget, taken some steps around universal credit, boosted the national living wage, and increased investment in social housing, these were timid moves and fall a long way short of what is required to deliver the scale of change needed.

The JRF said the Governments child poverty strategy, expected in spring, must abolish the two-child limit on benefits and introduce a protected minimum amount of support to universal credit to ensure households can afford the essentials.

Paul Kissack, JRF chief executive, said for the strategy to be credible it must include policies that rebuild the tattered social security system.

He said: Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action.

Even very strong economic growth wont automatically change the picture.

Policy action must start with the system designed to help people meet their costs of living  social security.

At the moment, that system is not only failing to do its job but, worse, actively pushing some people into deeper poverty, through cruel limits and caps.

The report noted levels of poverty in working households, with 71% of children in poverty in a household where at least one adult worked, while just over half (52%) were in a family where at least one adult was working full-time.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said: Every worker deserves to earn a decent living. But many working households are struggling to keep their heads above water.

This is unacceptable. Working people should be able to put food on the table for their families and keep their children warm during the winter. 

The unions general secretary Paul Nowak said: Better work is crucial for ending child poverty, but decent social security matters too. The Government must remove the two-child benefit cap which is keeping too many children in working households in poverty.

A Government spokesperson said: No child should be in poverty  thats why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life, while our Plan for Change will raise living standards across the country.

As we fix the foundations of the economy, were increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income families and make everyone better off.
Security experts are urging people to be cautious if considering using emerging AI chatbot DeepSeek because of the apps links to China and the potential implications for personal data.

The chatbot has upended the AI market with its emergence as a rival to the likes of ChatGPT and OpenAI, despite having been apparently developed for a fraction of the budget of its big US rivals.

However, some experts have raised concerns about using the app because DeepSeek is based in China, and there could be risks to data privacy as a result.

A number of major Chinese firms and technologies have found themselves sanctioned in recent years  most notably Huawei and TikTok  because of fears of data being harvested by the Chinese government for intelligence purposes.

The US has already announced it is examining potential national security risks around DeepSeek.

Bill Conner, chief executive of automation firm Jitterbit, and a former security adviser to UK and US governments, said DeepSeek represents a clear risk to any enterprise whose leadership values data privacy, security and transparency.

Proactive and privacy-minded enterprises should do strict due diligence with all large language models (LLMs) and AI services, not just DeepSeek, he said.

But in this case, and as stated in their own privacy policy, DeepSeek is a shared cloud service run in China with data being stored in China  potentially introducing unknown risks to data privacy, compliance mandates and security controls.

Industry analysts at Forrester echoed this concerns, with several of its experts noting in a joint blog post that DeepSeeks privacy policy acknowledged the app collected user data and could share it with public authorities at its discretion.

The massive downloads of DeepSeek mean that thousands  and even millions of users  are experimenting and uploading what could be sensitive information into the app, the analysts said.

According to its privacy policy, DeepSeek explicitly says it can collect your text or audio input, prompt, uploaded files, feedback, chat history, or other content and use it for training purposes.

It also states it can share this information with law enforcement agencies and public authorities at its discretion.

Educate and inform your employees on the ramifications of using this technology and inputting personal and company information into it.

Professor Allen Tucker, professor of artificial intelligence and head of the intelligent data analysis group at Brunel University of London, said AI chatbots in general should be approached with caution.

Both have been designed with no use-case in mind. They are essentially toys to make people go wow rather than solve any genuine problem, he said.

Comparing DeepSeek with market leader ChatGPT, Professor Tucker added: They are also both deeply embedded in their countries politics and therefore need to be treated with a great deal of caution  try asking either of them about controversial topics and they will cover up, change topics or shut down the conversation.
Flog It! antiques expert Michael Baggott has died age 51 in hospital following a heart attack.

A statement posted to his social media pages announced he had died after having a stroke in October.

He was a dearly loved son, brother, nephew and uncle who will be deeply and profoundly missed, it added.

Baggott brought his wealth of knowledge on collectables to BBC antiques-selling show Flog It!, with a speciality in silver and spoons.

His interest in antiques began in his early years, and he progressed to work in Christies auction house and was head of silver at Sothebys Billingshurst for a number of years.

He went on to work as a private consultant in antique silver and carried out research into provincial British silver.

Baggott was also a published author, having written An Illustrated Guide To York Hallmarks 1776-1858 and As Found: A Lifetime In Antiques.

The head of BBC daytime and early peak commissioning, Rob Unsworth, said he was deeply saddened to hear of Baggotts death, describing him as one of Flog Its most memorable characters.

He added that Baggott was an expert in all manner of collectables but in particular with unrivalled knowledge and enthusiasm for antique spoons and silver.

He said: Though the series hasnt been in production for several years, we hope Michaels family can take comfort from how much viewers have continued to enjoy his appearances on this ever-popular show.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson, who has appeared on Flog It! and owns Hansons Auctioneers, hailed Baggott as a giant of our antique industry.

He recalled how Baggott was never afraid to call out an expert when they were wrong, including himself.

Michaels thirst for knowledge for the object within merited far more TV time too for a true and proper expert, he added.

The announcement post confirmed a memorial service will be held for Baggott in the coming weeks.

Flog It! ended in 2020 after first airing on BBC in 2002.
A former US government adviser who flew to the UK to rape who he believed to be a nine-year-old child has been jailed, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.

Rahamim Shy, 47, travelled to Bedfordshire from New York in February last year to have sex with the girl after more than a month of planning involving messages with an individual posing as a woman called Debbie, the girls grandmother.

Unbeknown to Shy, who previously worked as a senior adviser for Pakistan and Afghanistan during the Obama administration, Debbie was in fact an undercover Bedfordshire police officer and the child did not exist.

Police found cuddly toys and condoms in Shys luggage (CPS{PA)

Shy, of Jersey City in New Jersey, was found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence, namely rape, and possessing indecent photographs of a child, at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday, the CPS said.

Using an online forum and messaging apps, Shy described in detail disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl and said he was prepared to travel to England to do so.

He described the childs age of nine as a tad late to start sexual activity, and said it was an honour to be considered her first.

Shy, an international investment banker, flew from the US to Gatwick Airport on February 23 2024 before driving to Bedford where he met the undercover officer and was arrested.

Upon arrest, officers found cuddly toys and condoms in his luggage which the prosecution argued demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her.

At court, the jury heard bad character evidence from Shys phone including indecent images of children and messages in which he discussed his sexual interest in children.

He was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison on Wednesday.

Lorraine Telford, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.

It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child.

The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.

Before the trial, the defence argued that because Shy was in the US at the time of the messaging, he was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution, the CPS said.

However, the prosecution successfully argued that English courts have the jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad that are intended to result in criminal offences in England.

He was found not guilty of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

In a speech in Oxfordshire on growth, she said the west London airports expansion is badly needed because for decades its growth has been constrained.

Heathrows plan to build a third runway received parliamentary approval in June 2018, but has been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic.

The airport needs to secure approval for a Development Consent Order to go ahead with the project.

(PA Graphics)

Ms Reeves said: I can confirm today that this Government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.

We will then take forward a full assessment through the Airports National Policy Statement.

This will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding.

It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.

Mr Reeves said that by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

That is what it takes to make decisions in the national interest and that is what I mean by going further and faster to kick-start economic growth, she added.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye described the Chancellors speech as the bold, responsible vision the UK needs to thrive in the 21st century.

He went on: It has given us the confidence to confirm our continued support for expanding Heathrow.

Successfully delivering the project at pace requires policy change  particularly around necessary airspace modernisation and making the regulatory model fit for purpose.

We will now work with the Government on the expected planning reform and support ministers to deliver the changes which will set us on track to securing planning permission before the end of this Parliament.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said backing a third runway at Heathrow can help make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business (Peter Cziborra/PA)

The scheme would involve around seven years of construction to produce a third runway and a new terminal.

It would also require more than 700 houses to be demolished and the M25 motorway to be moved into a tunnel.

Environmental groups have expressed major concerns over the impact of airport expansion on climate change.

Bob Ward, from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, said airport expansion should not proceed until the Government shows exactly how it will be compatible with the UKs carbon budgets and net zero target.

Friends of the Earths head of campaigns, Rosie Downes, warned that giving the go-ahead to airport expansion while relying on new technology such as sustainable aviation fuels would be a reckless gamble.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Units Colin Walker warned that the pathway to net zero already relies on sustainable fuels, and a third runway will increase emissions way beyond the capacity of these fuels to offset them.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said he remains opposed to Heathrow expansion because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

He added: Despite the progress thats been made in the aviation sector to make it more sustainable, Im simply not convinced that you can have hundreds of thousands of additional flights at Heathrow every year without a hugely damaging impact on our environment.

Asked if Sir Sadiqs opposition makes him a blocker, a Labour spokesman said: No, we agree with the Mayor of London that growth must come hand in hand with our climate obligations, and thats why the Chancellor set out that we support a third runway.

That will be in line with our climate obligations and we look forward to working closely with the mayor throughout the process.

International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways  which operates the most flights from Heathrow  said in a statement that it welcomes Ms Reeves announcement, but noted that Heathrow is the most expensive airport in the world and we look forward to working with the Government, the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and Heathrow on fixing this for consumers.

Kenton Jarvis, chief executive of easyJet, which has no flights from Heathrow, said a third runway would create a unique opportunity for easyJet to operate from the airport at scale for the first time.

CAA chief executive Rob Bishton said it is important for the sector to remain safe and grow in a responsible way.
January 29, 2025: As much as China wants to conquer Taiwan and absorb the tiny Island state and its 24 million people, that is not likely to happen even though China has 1.2 billion people and the largest navy in the world. China lacks the experience to carry out such an operation and the Americans have pledged to aid in the defense of Taiwan.

This is nothing new. Twenty five years ago China was making plans to capture Taiwan. Back then China was very open in telling the world that it wanted Taiwan to be part of China again. A lot of this was pure nationalism, but the fact that Taiwan is one of the most advanced industrialized nations in the world also had something to do with it. Taiwan, a thriving democracy that has ruled itself for fifty years, has refused all offers of voluntary reunification.

So what is China up to? Quite a lot, it turns out. When China fired missiles into the waters off Taiwan, that made the news. Most of China's bellicose press releases got some play as well. There were news reports about the missile bases being built on the Chinese coast opposite Taiwan, as well as the new warplanes bought from Russia and the additional air bases and anti-aircraft units established near Taiwan. China was building nuclear submarines and new surface warships. The army and air force were training more frequently.

What you didn't hear much about was the diplomatic campaign China pursued. For years, China was using bribes and threats to get nations to break diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Until quite recently, Taiwan claimed to be the legitimate government of China. Many nations went along with this, as China was a bankrupt totalitarian state until economic reforms in the 1980s  1990s industrialized China for the first time ever. Once China began to grow economically, it offered lucrative trade deals, as well as outright bribes, to get nations to cut off diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Why go to all this trouble? Well, if you are going to try and conquer Taiwan, you don't want a lot of commotion worldwide by nations upset with this naked aggression. If you have most of the world's nations agreeing with you that Taiwan is not an independent nation, but rather a renegade province, then there won't be much support for American intervention.

America has always been the major obstacle to China's trying to take Taiwan by force. China's diplomatic campaign to isolate Taiwan makes it more likely that America would have to go it alone in defending Taiwan. And China is well aware that U.S. policy has increasingly been one of only undertaking military action with a lot of allies along for the ride (even if American troops are doing most of the work). China also makes no secret of its increasingly capable weapons. China bluntly announced that it now had nuclear missiles that could reach the western U.S. Or, as one Chinese general was heard saying (openly), "does America want to trade Los Angeles for Taiwan?" We'll never know if the threat is real, but the mere existence of such a threat creates a debate in America if China ever does move on Taiwan. This could slow down the American military response, and that might make the difference between victory and defeat.

China has been using its diplomatic weapon in other ways. Fences have been mended with neighbors and trade increased. While treaties with neighbors are nice, what really keeps them on your side is the fear of losing trade deals. Local unemployment is more important than missiles falling on Taiwan. Vietnam, both Koreas, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Russia have all been schmoozed, bribed and encouraged to be nice to China, and ignore anything that might happen in Taiwan.

And then there are the Taiwanese themselves. There is a small minority that would like to be part of China again. But some 80 percent of the population wants nothing to do with unification, at least as long as the communist party is still running China. And most of those, mainly the ethnic Taiwanese, want nothing to do with China, ever. That's another point the Chinese take great pains to avoid, that before the defeated Nationalists descended on the island in the late 1940s, Taiwan was populated by a separate ethnic group. And these people still comprise the majority of the population. Taiwan is a democracy, and the ethnic Taiwanese want nothing to do with the Chinese. And they have a case. For most of the last few thousand years, China has largely ignored Taiwan and left it to fend for itself. The Taiwanese never had much chance to be Chinese, because they were only part of China now and then when the Chinese forced their way in for one reason or another. But the Chinese have addressed that problem as well by offering a carrot and a stick. The carrot is Hong Kong, where the Chinese have largely kept their pledge to allow local customs and government once Chinese rule replaced the British. The stick is the threat of a destructive military campaign to retake the island. Even if the Chinese fail, much of Taiwan's wealth would be destroyed, and many of its inhabitants killed or injured. So the implicit offer is; become Chinese and little will change. Refuse us and we will destroy all that you hold dear.

While on the surface it appears that the Chinese have established a perfect plan for taking back Taiwan, one must not forget what the Taiwanese are doing to avoid this, and the emerging US strategy of blockading China to force it give Taiwan back if they ever do take it or, better, to destroy the Chinese Communist Party outright. Taiwan is a major economic power, particularly in electronics. Despite Chinese threats to trash the place, Taiwan has convinced some of its customers that Taiwan can defend itself. Lately, Taiwan has been making noises about creating a nuclear deterrent. Taiwan is one of those nations that possesses all the resources and skills to design and build its own nuclear weapons. Longer term, many Taiwanese believe that democracy will soon come to China, a process that they have convinced themselves the communists have unleashed and even encouraged. Once China is democratic, it is felt that an economic, and then political, union can be worked out.

But for many Chinese leaders, it has become a matter of personal, and national pride to take back Taiwan sooner, rather than later. That was in 2000, now its 2025 and China still threaten and plans to take Taiwan by force. Though in 2023 Chinese President Xi made the awful discovery that his underlings had stolen the money which was supposed to have been spent on developing the military means of conquering Taiwan. It will take years more to fix this disaster, assuming that is even possible.

Back then Taiwan announced that it was developing missiles and electronic devices to defeat the increasing number of modern weapons purportedly being acquired by China. Taiwan has increased its inventory of weapons since 2000. Taiwan also realized that what made them safe from Chinese attack was the high risk of failure and the realization that even if China did take Taiwan they would be confronted with massive disruption to their economy and economic sanctions imposed by the major trading nations, especially the United States. Chinese forces have not been in a war since 1953, and that was a ground war in Korea that ended in a stalemate. China suffered over half a million casualties. In 1979 there was a brief battle on the Vietnamese border and the battle-hardened Vietnamese repulsed a Chinese attack. China suffered over 20,000 casualties, declared victory and lost all interest in fighting the Vietnamese again.

Getting beaten trying to invade Vietnam was survivable. A failed invasion of Taiwan would losses of ships, aircraft, lots of military personnel and any doubts that China is not ready to wage a modern war. Better to threaten Taiwan with a potential invasion that to try to invade and reveal how weak the Chinese military actually is.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her support on Wednesday for expansion of Heathrow airport.

Here are answers to 14 key questions on the third runway project.

Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest two-runway airports (Steve Parsons/PA)

 How busy is Heathrow?

Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest two-runway airports, with planes taking off or landing up to every 45 seconds.

 Is Heathrow full?

To increase passenger numbers under the current set-up, airlines must either use larger planes or increase the proportion of seats filled.

Heathrow forecasts it will serve 84.2 million passengers this year, an increase of just 0.4% from the 83.9 million last year.

 Why does Heathrow want to expand?

Building a third runway would create extra capacity which could be used to increase flight numbers and boost resilience during disruption.

 What would be the environmental impact of expansion?

Planes emit CO2 when they burn jet fuel, which contributes to global warming.

Climate and energy website Carbon Brief says a forest twice the size of London would need to be planted in the UK to cancel out the extra CO2 emissions from expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton Airports.

An increase in flights could lead to more noise for communities near Heathrow (Steve Parsons/PA)

 What about the specific impact on local residents?

Campaigners say airport expansion would lead to a severe increase in aircraft noise experienced by local communities.

 What is the UKs target for reducing aviation emissions?

To reach net zero for CO2 by 2050.

 How does it hope to achieve this?

The aviation sector is largely relying on the development of sustainable aviation fuels to reduce CO2 emissions.

It is also developing aircraft powered by electricity and hydrogen, although the large-scale commercial use of these technologies remains a long way off.

A plane flies past a Stop Heathrow Expansion sign near the airport (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 What do climate experts say about airport expansion?

Independent advisers on the Governments Climate Change Committee recommend there should be no net airport expansion across the UK.

 How much will a third runway at Heathrow cost?

Heathrow said in 2018 that it could complete the project for 14 billion.

 Who will pay for it?

Generally, anything within the boundary of Heathrow will be privately financed by the airports owners.

The airport will seek to recoup this money through fees paid by airlines, which have expressed concerns about being charged too much.

A major modification of the M25 motorway is likely to be required if a third runway is built (Alamy/PA)

 Will any taxpayers money be used?

Heathrow previously said there would need to be a discussion with the Government over how to pay for the extensive road and rail improvements away from the airport that will be required.

A report by the independent Airports Commission in 2015 estimated that surface access projects  such as changes to the M25 and M4 motorways, as well as a new rail link  would cost 5 billion.

Addressing the issue on Wednesday, Ms Reeves said: Our clear expectation is that any associated surface transport costs will be financed through private funding.

 When could the runway open?

No timeline has been set out, but it is likely to be well into the 2030s before a third runway could be operational.

 How many more flights will be possible with a new runway?

Heathrows current maximum annual number of flights is around 475,000.

A third runway could enable it to reach around 740,000 flights a year.

 Where would the new flights go to?

In addition to more long-haul routes, Heathrow previously proposed that flights to domestic airports such as Belfast International, Liverpool, Humberside, Prestwick and Durham Tees Valley could operate if its capacity is increased.
Actor Jim Broadbent has said he knew Renee Zellweger was a special actress from her first rehearsal as Bridget Jones.

The 75-year-old, who plays Bridgets father Colin Jones in the series, was speaking to the PA news agency at Wednesdays London world premiere of the franchises fourth and final film, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

Speaking about reuniting with Zellweger, Broadbent told PA: Shes just brilliant, absolutely, from the word go on the first film I thought, this is really an especially talented woman, and really clever, and funny, and delightful to be with.

From the first day rehearsal, I thought oh here we go, this is different, shes different, special.

Two-time Oscar winner Zellweger, 55, will return as Bridget after the character has been a widow for four years, following the death of her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) while on a humanitarian mission in Sudan.

The film follows her struggles with grief and return to the dating scene, which sees her try the apps in an attempt to find love again, eventually finding a younger man in Roxter (Leo Woodall).

Jim Broadbent at the Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy world premiere (Yui Mok/PA)

Sarah Solemani, who plays reporter Bridgets friend and work colleague Miranda, told PA she hoped the film would help people struggling with grief in real life.

The 42-year-old said: Grief runs deep, and anyone whos ever experienced it will know that it feels like youll never be happy again.

And the film reminds anyone whos had grief that if you just keep going, theres love on the other end, and you can love again, even with great loss, we all need to be reminded.

Speaking about her character, Solemani added: Her role in life is to make sure that Bridget has fun, gets laid, feels joy and has a good time, and she commits to that, kind of.

Hugh Grant was forced to keep a straight face while Sarah Solemani licked him during the premiere (Yui Mok/PA)

The actress also prompted laughs at the Leicester Square premiere when she attempted to lick actor Hugh Grant, who plays Bridgets former lover Daniel Cleaver, while he kept a straight face.

Director Michael Morris described the film as a comedy of grief.

He told PA: This is about someone who is a joyful, optimistic, upbeat person, always has been, whos gone through something that is all too familiar to so many of us.

And I think watching Bridget cope, and watching Bridget rediscover her life and all of that is the journey.

The series began life as an anonymous column called Bridget Joness Diary in newspaper The Independent in 1995, written by Helen Fielding, intended to appear as an actual personal diary of a single woman in her 30s. It spawned four novels.

The three previous Bridget Jones film adaptions, Bridget Joness Diary (2001), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Joness Baby (2016), have earned more than 640 million worldwide.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy will be released in UK cinemas on Friday, February 14.
Johnny Herbert has left his role as a Formula One driver steward, the FIA has announced.

The governing body said it had been mutually agreed Herberts work as a steward was incompatible with his job as a media pundit.

Herbert attracted criticism from Max Verstappens camp last season for his comments about the Dutch drivers performance at the Mexican Grand Prix.

It is with regret that we announce that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA#FIA pic.twitter.com/e6CTWtAWJZ  FIA (@fia) January 29, 2025

Verstappen picked up a 20-second penalty for forcing Lando Norris off the road twice during the race and Herbert claimed the driving had been harsh and over the top and felt Verstappen had a horrible mindset.

A statement from the FIA on Wednesday said: It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA.

Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role. However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.

We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours.
King reveals he does not like his curry too strong as he meets new MPs

The King revealed he does not like his curry too strong as he welcomed newly elected MPs and members of the House of Lords to a reception at Buckingham Palace.

The King and Queen, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, met the new MPs in the Ballroom on Wednesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, former prime minister Theresa May and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also attended.

Deirdre Costigan, Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said she spoke to the King about his love of curries, adding that he said he did not like his curry too strong.

She said: Hes very knowledgeable, isnt he?

So I said, Im from Ealing Southall, and straight away he was like, oh yes, he knew it was Little India, and he talked about his love of curries.

And he also said, youve got a very big Sikh community there, dont you?

The King and Queen with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a reception at Buckingham Palace (Aaron Chown/PA)

So I asked him to come to Ealing Southall and check out the curry, I hope he will.

But he also recognised straight away I had an Irish accent. He said, youre Irish. And he said, it would be great to get a state visit as well.

Asked if the King mentioned what sort of curry he liked, Ms Costigan replied that Charles said not too strong.

The King also met Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling and his guide dog Jennie and gave the golden retrievers head a scratch.

The King with Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling and his guide dog Jennie (Aaron Chown/PA)

Charles said to Mr Darling: She knows her way around the house does she?

Mr Darling said she knew the best place to go for the food.

The King then asked Mr Darling how the food was in the Houses of Parliament.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is patron of Guide Dogs, met Mr Darling and greeted Jennie by saying Oh my goodness, Im your patron, before making a fuss of her.

Sophie knelt down on the floor to stroke Jennie and the dog gave her a paw.

Before meeting the King and Duchess of Edinburgh, Mr Darling told reporters Jennie thinks the Palace of Westminster is her palace, and shes the Queen of it, and everybody comes there just to love her.

The Duchess of Edinburgh with Lib Dem MP Steve Darlings guide dog Jennie (Aaron Chown/PA)

He said: So when we get off the train at Paddington, her tail is on such a high wag as we make our way towards the Central line, she knows where shes going, and shes really excited.

Mr Darling said Jennie is a good bridge builder for people from other parties, which he said was really important as he could have conversations he otherwise would not have had.

Paul Waugh, Labour MP for Rochdale, said the King was very polite.

He said: He was impeccably polite, as youd imagine. Knows a lot about every constituency, got the sort of incredible encyclopedic knowledge of every area of the UK, as you might imagine.

Mr Waugh added that he told the King Rochdale was the home of the Co-op and that he jokingly asked the King if he shopped at the Co-op, to which Charles burst out laughing.

He said the new MPs were honoured to be there, but the King was making (it) absolutely clear we are the VIPs as well.
Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson is expected to be confirmed as the UKs new ambassador to the US, reports have suggested.

Former MP and minister Lord Mandelson is thought to be set to become Sir Keir Starmers top diplomat in Washington DC, after earlier reports that concerns had been raised about his links to China.

Reports on Tuesday evening, including in The Times, suggested that the role must still be formally signed off by President Donald Trump, but agreement is expected.

Earlier on Tuesday, Downing Street defended Lord Mandelson amid a report that a dossier about him had been passed to the FBI.

US senators reportedly handed a document outlining his links to China to federal investigators.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said Lord Mandelson has declared all his interests as part of the clearance process.

He said: On that specific report, the Foreign Office dont recognise the reports of a dossier.

More broadly, theres obviously an established regime in place for the management of interests held by ambassadors or high commissioners.

This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest, and all candidates are subject to background checks and security clearance.

Whilst we do not usually comment on individuals, Lord Mandelson has made all relevant declarations as part of this process.

And this ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

A dossier prepared by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China has been seen by senators and passed on to the FBI, news site The Nightly reported.

Prime Minister Sir Keir had his first phone call with Mr Trump since the inauguration on Sunday.

It is understood that Lord Mandelsons appointment was not discussed during the conversation.
The Apprentice star Lord Sugar has joked that US president and former The Apprentice US host Donald Trump claims he works for me.

The 77-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur owner was speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the launch of series 19 of the BBC business show, which he presents.

Asked whether he would consider going into business with the president, Lord Sugar told PA: He will tell you I am in business with him.

Lord Sugar says US president Donald Trump tells people he works for him (Aaron Chown/PA)

Because The Apprentice format, which was originally owned by someone called Mark Burnett, he sold it to MGM, and apparently, according to President Trump, he has a little shareholding, a small shareholding in the format.

So he always reminds people that Lord Sugar works for me.

Would I ever go in to business with him? I dont think that opportunity will ever arise, because hes too busy at the moment being president, hes just taken over and started to implement some of his promises and plans.

Mr Trump, who is now in his second term as president, hosted the first 14 series of the shows American edition between 2003 and 2015, when he was replaced by former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger until the show was cancelled in the US in 2017.

The Hackney-born entrepreneur, who has recently been spending time in the US, also spoke about the atmosphere in the country following his election.

He added: There is a kind of nervous atmosphere amongst people here about being deported, because theres a lot of non-US citizens here that have got jobs and help to boost the economy, and I dont know where you draw the line to leave them here, but get rid of the criminals.

The upcoming series of The Apprentice will see contestants vying to become Lord Sugars next business partner, challenged on their skills with the latest technology including AI and holograms.

The former Amstrad boss said the show had to include it as it was what the younger element of its audience wanted to see, even if he had to learn the technology himself.

The next series of The Apprentice will launch on Thursday (Ray Burmiston/BBC)

Lord Sugar said: The production crew are a very, very clever bunch of people, they come up with these tasks that include technology, and the first person they have to explain it to is me.

So I have to understand it, and I have to make out I understand it deeply, and I do spend quite a bit of time going through it.

So I do understand it in order for me to project my questions at the candidates on it.

We have to have some up-to-date stuff, people are talking about AI, theyre talking about online stuff, we have to include it, because thats what the younger audience wants to see.

The star explained that he hoped his show would inspire young people to become entrepreneurs, having explained that he felt work ethic was becoming too relaxed, but Lord Sugar said he was sure there were still youngsters who wanted to graft towards their goals.

He said: I hope that my programme encourages (hard work) of course.

I would like those people to grasp something and realise youve got to physically go and do something, physically work somewhere, or have a passion for something that you want to do.

So Im not painting every young person with the same brush.

Running for almost 20 years with Lord Sugar at the helm, The Apprentice sees 18 budding business people compete for 250,000 worth of investment from its host.

Contestants attempt to impress Lord Sugar and his associates Baroness Brady and Tim Campbell by completing a range of business-related tasks in each episode, with participants being fired for poor performance.

The prize was previously a job working alongside Lord Sugar, but this was changed to investment in 2011.

The first episode of The Apprentice series 19 will air at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Marcus Rashford worked with his team-mates on the eve of Manchester Uniteds Europa League game in Romania against FCSB as Luke Shaw returned to group training.

The latter featured in Ruben Amorims first three matches in charge, only for the left-back to suffer his latest injury setback that has kept him out since the start of December.

Shaws return to the fold comes as a boost for United, who are seeking to bolster the left by bringing in Lecces Patrick Dorgu before Mondays transfer deadline.

There is plenty of other transfer speculation swirling around the Old Trafford club in the final days of the window, with homegrown forward Rashfords future a key matter that needs resolving.

The 27-year-old has not played for United since their last Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen on December 12, and admitting that he was ready for a new challenge.

Amorim has been repeatedly asked Rashfords future since then and questioned his commitment after Sunday evenings 1-0 win at Fulham.

The forward trained with his team-mates on Wednesday, as did Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho as talk of potential exits around them also continues.
Marcus Rashford joined his team-mates as Luke Shaw returned to group training on the eve of Manchester Uniteds Europa League game against FCSB but neither made the trip to Romania.

Shaw featured in Ruben Amorims first three matches in charge, only for the left-back to suffer his latest injury setback that has kept him out since the start of December.

Shaws return to the fold comes as a boost for United, who are seeking to bolster the left flank by bringing in Lecces Patrick Dorgu before Mondays transfer deadline.

There is plenty of other transfer speculation swirling around the Old Trafford club in the final days of the window, with homegrown forward Rashfords future a key matter that needs resolving.

The 27-year-old has not played for United since their last Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen on December 12 before admitting in an interview that he was ready for a new challenge.

Amorim has been repeatedly asked about Rashfords future since then and questioned his commitment after Sunday evenings 1-0 win at Fulham.

The forward trained with his team-mates on Wednesday, as did Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho as talk of potential exits around them also continues.

But, while the latter duo were named in Uniteds 21-man squad to face FCSB, there was no place on the plane for Rashford.
A Liberal Democrat MP has said meeting his attacker transformed his life, as he called on the Prime Minister to place greater emphasis on restorative justice.

Paul Kohler told the Commons his life was saved by two police officers after he was brutally attacked by four men in his own home in 2014, before becoming an MP.

Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions, the Wimbledon MP said: I entered politics, active politics, after an attack on my home was misused by others to promote their anti-EU, anti-immigrant agenda.

My life was saved by two brave police officers from Wimbledon police station. As a family, our lives were transformed by a restorative justice session organised by the charity Why Me, where we met one of our four attackers in prison.

Will the Prime Minister meet with me to discuss how this Government can give restorative justice greater emphasis, and put victims at the centre of the criminal justice system, reduce recidivism and cut crime and costs?

Sir Keir Starmer replied: Can I extend my sympathy for what (Mr Kohler) experienced? It must have had a profound impact on him and of course his family.

I too have seen the power of restorative justice, which does enable victims to receive answers, and perpetrators have to face the human cost of their crimes.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and MP Paul Kohler during the general election (Yui Mok/PA)

Under the Victims Code, all adult victims must be told about restorative justice and how to access it. We can always do more and Ill ensure that he gets the meeting he wants with the relevant minister.

The MP received facial reconstruction surgery after he suffered a fractured eye socket, a fracture to his left jawbone, a broken nose and bruising.

Mr Kohler has previously said he believes the only reason he survived the beating was because officers were able to get to his home from the station within eight minutes of a 999 call made by his daughter.

Following the attack, the former university lecturer went on to campaign against the London Mayors Office for Policing and Crimes decision to close more than half of Londons police stations.

In 2018, Mr Kohler lost a High Court challenge against the decision to close 37 of the 73 police stations across the capital, but won a ruling from two leading judges that a decision to close his local station in Wimbledon was unlawful and must be reconsidered.
Joao Augusto Santos Batista, 33, AKA Joao Diamante, is a famous Brazilian chef who aims to become a citizen of Benin. Photograph: Joao Laet/The Guardian

Joao Diamante was gripped by a sense of belonging as he stepped out of the airport terminal thousands of miles from his birthplace in Brazil.

The first thing I felt was that I was at home, recalled the 33-year-old celebrity chef from Rio. Nobody looked at me like they were afraid of me because of the colour of my skin  On the contrary, I saw people just like me. I saw similarities.

Id never been there before, Diamante said of his arrival in Benins largest city, Cotonou, last year. But I was certain this was a place I knew: its smell, its music, its dance, its sound, the noise of car horns, the atmosphere.

The Brazilian chef was familiar with his surroundings in a way, despite it being his first trip to Africa. Diamante was born in Salvador  the Blackest major city in the country with the largest black population outside Africa  and grew up steeped in the Afro-Brazilian culture and cuisine produced by the uprooting of millions of enslaved Africans who were forced to travel to the South American country to work in goldmines or sugar and coffee plantations.

Related: The year the rainforest dried up: how the climate crisis beached Brazils floating communities

About 40% of the estimated 12 million enslaved Africans shipped across the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries came to Brazil, which was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, in 1888.

Diamante, whose full name is Joao Augusto Santos Batista, believes his ancestors were forcibly brought to Brazil from the west African region around what is today the Republic of Benin in the 19th century. Two centuries later, he is reconnecting with his familys African roots and even hopes to become a citizen of Benin thanks to a new law that offers Afro-descendants from around the world a pathway to citizenship.

Im already trying to work out the paperwork  I want a Brazilian passport and a Beninese passport, the chef said during an interview at his restaurant in a port-side area of Rio known as Pequena Africa (Little Africa) because of its well-established Afro-Brazilian community. Its about belonging, about who I am, where I come from, my lineage and my family, he added. Lots of people dream of having a US or a European passport. I dream of having a Beninese passport because Africa is where Im from.

Benins citizenship scheme  proposed by its president, Patrice Talon, and approved by lawmakers in October  calls itself an attempt to heal the deep wounds inflicted on Africa and those taken from it during centuries of enslavement.

According to the law, the initiative is open to any person in the world who  has sub-Saharan African ancestry [and was] deported outside the continent in the context of slavery. Such people, it says, have the right to consider Benin their homeland and request a passport.

The law has sparked particular interest in Brazil given the large number of enslaved people transported there from ports along what was called Africas slave coast, between what is today western Nigeria and Benin and Togo.

Theres a really strong connection [between the two countries], said Marcelo Sacramento, Benins honorary consul in Salvador, the capital of Bahia state in north-eastern Brazil.

More than a million Beninese came to Bahia during the days of slavery  Just think what that means [in terms of todays population]  Thats millions and millions of Brazilians, added Sacramento, who reported having already been approached by numerous Brazilians interested in taking up the offer.

Sacramento said the government of Benin, which has a population of about 15 million people, did not expect tens of millions of citizens of Brazil, which has a population of 215 million, would suddenly seek citizenship because of the new law. Rather, Talon wanted to turn Benin into the gateway for the African diaspora to return to Africa and boost the number of Afro-descendant tourists traveling back to their motherland. Brazilian and Beninese authorities hope a low-cost flight connecting Salvador with Cotonou will be inaugurated at the end of the year, slashing the time it takes travelers to move between the two nations from more than 20 hours to less than six.

Benin is not the first country in the region to embrace a return of the descendants of enslaved people.

In the 1970s, the American superstar musician Nina Simone enjoyed a three-year stint living in Liberia, where thousands of formerly enslaved African Americans had migrated to in the 19th century, to escape the impact of racial segregation.

More than a million Beninese came to Bahia during the days of slavery ... Thats millions and millions of Brazilians Marcelo Sacramento

Nearby in Ghana, 2019, the 400th anniversary of enslaved Africans in the United States, was dubbed the Year of Return. The president, Nana Akufo-Addo, granted citizenship to 200 African Americans and removed visa requirements for a number of Caribbean countries. His government also lobbied for diaspora Blacks to return and live in the country, citing the example of the prominent intellectual and civil rights activist WEB DuBois who accepted the governments invitation in 1961 and lived there with his wife until his death two years later.

Since then, thousands of tourists have flooded the west African state, especially in December, further entrenching the party culture now known colloquially there and in Nigeria as Detty December. But locals also say the influx of returnees has triggered a cost of living crisis and the strange case of dollar-denominated real estate listings in Ghana. Elsewhere, Gabon has also offered citizenships to a few prominent African Americans including the rapper Ludacris and actor Samuel L Jackson.

In order to prove their sub-Saharan ancestry, those wishing to become citizens of Benin will have to provide documentation and take a government-approved DNA test  a method some question.

DNA tests are not ancestry tests, said Agustin Fuentes, an anthropology professor at Princeton University.

Fuentes said genetic testing services could reach certain conclusions about someones ancestry by comparing their DNA samples with samples from different parts of the world. Theyre just saying  Given our whole database, you look a lot like these folks whose DNA we have from Lagos, Nigeria  So were going to tell you that your ancestry is in west Africa.

But such tests could not specify from which point in the past the indicated geographic ancestry came. I think Benins intent is good, said Fuentes, but he believed DNA testing was not a totally scientific way of ascertaining someones ancestry.

Diamante, who made a four-part documentary about his return to Benin, voiced excitement about the prospect of deepening his ties to the land of his forefathers.

While traveling through Benin, he visited The Door of No Return, a beachside memorial arch built to remember the Africans shipped to the Americas.

It was devastating  We were shamelessly pillaged  it was one of the cruelest things humanity could have done, Diamante said of the monument in the town of Ouidah, which was one of Africas busiest ports for the trafficking of enslaved people during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Two centuries later, Diamante has opened a restaurant near the ruins of Rios Valongo wharf, where hundreds of thousands of enslaved people were sold at the start of the 19th century. Its menu celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture and food, fusing the flavors of Rio, Bahia and Benin.

After obtaining Beninese citizenship, the chef wondered if he might one day run a restaurant in the west African country too. Our mission now is to resist and to celebrate all those who died so we could be here today, Diamante said.
National Police Chiefs Council said it could cost about 1,000 a month to keep an XL bully in kennels. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

Enforcing a ban on XL bully dogs is placing a huge burden on policing with millions of pounds spent on veterinary bills and kennelling, police chiefs have said.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said kennel spaces were reaching capacity, with costs increasing by the day.

It said veterinary bills and the cost of kennelling banned dog breeds had risen from 4m in 2018 to more than 11m between February and September 2024. It can cost about 1,000 a month to keep an XL bully in kennels.

The policing body said the figure was expected to rise to as much as 25m for the period from February 2024 to April 2025  representing a predicted 500% increase in police costs from 2018.

Since February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate, meaning unregistered pets will be taken and owners possibly fined and prosecuted. Similar legislation came into effect in Scotland in August.

As well as the XL bully, other banned types of dog under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 include the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.

Mark Hobrough, the NPCCs lead for dangerous dogs, said the ban was placing a huge burden on policing.

Hobrough, the chief constable of Gwent police, said: We are facing a number of challenges in kennel capacity, resourcing and ever-mounting costs, and as of today we have not received any additional funding to account for this. We urgently need the government to support us in coping with the huge demand the ban has placed on our ever-stretched resources.

Hobrough said conversations were ongoing with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs but there was no formal agreement whereby any funding has come into any police force to account for these additional demand factors.

Police forces seized 4,586 suspected section 1 banned dogs throughout England and Wales between February and September 2024.

There were 120 dog liaison officers across England and Wales before the ban, with 100 subsequently trained, and a further 40 to be trained, according to the NPCC.

Hobrough said this meant in some areas established dog handlers have been called away from other policing duties.

The NPCC said about 560,000 had been spent by police forces on staff overtime between February and September last year in relation to canines.

The NPCC tactical lead, Supt Patrick OHara, said he did not think all XL bullies were automatically dangerous but they had the propensity to be by their sheer size and power.

OHara said: In the right hands, with the right socialisation, with a really responsible owner, a lot of those dogs will never come to notice.

A government spokesperson said: The ban on XL bullies is an important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL bully owners to comply with the strict conditions.

We continue to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to prevent dog attacks by encouraging responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog, addressing dog control issues before they escalate and using the full force of the law where needed.
One woman accused Perumbalath of kissing her without consent and groping her, and another woman accused him of sexual harassment, according to Channel 4 News. Photograph: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo

The bishop of Liverpool has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by two women.

John Perumbalath denies the allegations from 2023, which come months after the Church of England was embroiled in an abuse scandal that triggered the resignation of the archbishop of Canterbury.

Perumbalath said police had investigated the allegations but taken no further action. He added that while he did not believe there had been any wrongdoing, he had taken seriously the lessons learnt.

One woman accused Perumbalath of kissing her without consent and groping her, and another woman accused him of sexual harassment, according to Channel 4 News.

The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present, he said. I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants.

Perumbalath, who became bishop of Liverpool in 2023, said he had complied with an investigation by the National Safeguarding Team (NST). The allegations, which were raised in Essex, had also been investigated by the police, he said, who took no further action.

Whilst I dont believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others, he said.

I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area.

The Church of England said a complaint of alleged misconduct had been brought against the bishop in 2023, after Perumbalath formally and legally assumed the role.

A spokesperson said the NST had concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring a complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM). They also said the complaint had been investigated by police, who took no further action, and that support had been offered to the woman.

A second complaint was made shortly after the first complaint, according to the C of E. The spokesperson said the second complainant did not bring a CDM complaint within the one-year deadline. The individual later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which was supported by the archbishop of York, but was refused by an independent judge, the deputy president of tribunals.

Anyone who comes forward to make a complaint will be taken seriously, treated with respect and their voice will be heard, the C of E spokesperson said.

The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct. Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing.

The allegations against the bishop of Liverpool come months after questions about the future of the C of E were raised late in 2024, after a review of how the church handled allegations of sexual abuse, and the resignation of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, Welbys temporary stand-in, has also faced calls to stand down after allegations emerged that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford.
The Rev John Perumbalath denies the allegations against him

A female bishop has accused the Bishop of Liverpool of sexual harassment, according to Channel 4 News.

The senior member of the Church of England is one of two women who have complained about the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rev John Perumbalath.

Bishop Perumbalath is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the Chelmsford diocese on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023.

The allegations have emerged after the two women separately made disclosures to victims advocate Andrew Graystone last summer.

The female bishop said she filed a formal complaint last year.

The earlier allegations of sexual assault relate to when Bishop Perumbalath was the Bishop of Bradwell in Essex.

He was interviewed voluntarily under caution by police about the alleged sexual assault in March last year.

He was interviewed under caution last March but no charges were brought because of insufficient evidence, the broadcaster reported.

Mounting pressure

The accusations place further pressure on the Archbishop of York, the Very Rev Stephen Cottrell, who the broadcaster reported was aware of the allegations after Bishop Perumbalath was promoted but before he was enthroned as Bishop of Liverpool in April 2023.

The whistleblower told Channel 4 News she had been assaulted during a Diocese of Chelmsford away day in 2019 and groped at the end of a meeting in May 2022.

She told the broadcaster: He held me there and kissed me forcefully on my mouth, which I did not like and I did not want. I tried to move away, but he was holding my head too tightly. I could feel his mouth pressing on my mouth. I could feel some of his saliva, and the texture of his beard around my mouth.

She said of the 2022 meeting: As he was letting go of hugging me, he ran his hands past the side of my breasts on both sides, with a medium pressure until he reached the edge of the areola.

I consistently deny the allegations

On Tuesday evening, Bishop Perumbalath said: The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present. I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team.

The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the Police who took no further action. Whilst I dont believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others. I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area.

The Church of England confirmed in a statement that a complaint of alleged misconduct against Bishop Perumbalath was brought to the National Safeguarding Team (NST).

A spokesman said that the complaint, which was made after Bishop Perumbalath had formally and legally become the Bishop of Liverpool, was looked into according to statutory safeguarding guidance in an NST-led process and an independent risk assessment undertaken.

They added: This process concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged.

The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action.

Insufficient evidence

The spokesman said the NST found insufficient evidence for a safeguarding complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure against the Bishop but continues to support the woman and remains in contact with her at her request.

They added that this offer had been reiterated by the lead safeguarding bishop.

They added: Shortly after the start of this process a further disclosure was made by another woman. The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct.

Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing.

The second complainant did not bring a CDM complaint within the one-year deadline. She later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which the Archbishop of York fully supported.

However, this was refused by an independent judge, the Deputy President of Tribunals.

Archbishop Stephen has supported the complainant pastorally throughout the process and continues to offer practical help. He had no part in the decision making around safeguarding or disciplinary matters.
One woman accused John Perumbalath of kissing her without consent and groping her, and another woman accused him of sexual harassment, according to Channel 4 News. Photograph: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo

The bishop of Liverpool is under pressure to quit after senior clergy in his diocese said his position was untenable following allegations of sexual misconduct.

John Perumbalaths senior leadership team said he should step aside from all ministry while a claim of sexual harassment by a female bishop was properly investigated. A separate allegation of sexual assault was also made against Perumbalath.

The statement from senior clergy, which followed consultations with local clergy, congregations and staff, will put intense pressure on Perumbalath to consider his position.

The allegations about Perumbalath come less than three months after the Church of England was thrown into unprecedented crisis after Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, was forced to resign over a separate abuse scandal.

A statement from six senior clergy on Wednesday evening said: Having listened to clergy, congregations and staff at the diocesan offices and the cathedral, it is with deep regret that the senior leadership of the diocese of Liverpool feel that the position of the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath is currently untenable.

We believe that the allegations made by the female bishop need to be fully and properly investigated. We also believe that while these proper investigations are conducted the bishop of Liverpool will need to step aside from all ministry in the diocese of Liverpool.

The statement was issued 24 hours after Channel 4 News revealed that two women had come forward with allegations about Perambalath. One woman accused Perumbalath of kissing her without consent and groping her, and a female bishop accused him of sexual harassment. Both incidents allegedly took place in Essex in 2023.

Perumbalath, who became bishop of Liverpool in 2023, said police had investigated the allegations but taken no further action. He added that while he did not believe there had been any wrongdoing, he had taken seriously the lessons learnt.

Perumbalath said he had complied with an investigation by the national safeguarding team. The allegations had also been investigated by the police, he said, who took no further action.

Whilst I dont believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others, he said.

The Church of England said a complaint of alleged misconduct had been brought against the bishop in 2023, after Perumbalath formally and legally assumed the role.

A spokesperson said the NST had concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring a complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM). They also said the complaint had been investigated by police, who took no further action, and that support had been offered to the woman.

A second complaint was made shortly after the first complaint, according to the C of E. The spokesperson said the second complainant did not bring a CDM complaint within the one-year deadline. The individual later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which was supported by the archbishop of York, but was refused by an independent judge, the deputy president of tribunals.

The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct. Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing, the C of E spokesperson said.

The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, Welbys temporary stand-in, has also faced calls to stand down after allegations emerged that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford.
The Rt Rev John Perumbalath is facing calls to step aside

Senior clergy have called the Bishop of Liverpools position untenable after two women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Diocesan leaders have told Rt Rev John Perumbalath to step aside so that allegations that he sexually harassed an unnamed female bishop can be investigated.

He is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the Chelmsford diocese on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. The allegations include groping and non-consensual kissing.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, five senior clergy in the Diocese of Liverpool, including the Dean of Liverpool, the Rev Canon Dr Sue Jones, said: It is with deep regret that the senior leadership of the Diocese of Liverpool feel that the position of the Rt Rev Dr John Perumbalath is currently untenable.

We believe that the allegations made by the female bishop need to be fully and properly investigated.

We also believe that while these proper investigations are conducted the Bishop of Liverpool will need to step aside from all ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool.

The allegations, first reported by Channel 4 News, place fresh scrutiny on the churchs safeguarding processes after Justin Welby was forced to resign over his handling of a sex abuse scandal.

The female bishop made a formal complaint of sexual harassment last year, while a second woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by the Rt Rev Dr Perumbalath when he was the Bishop of Bradwell in Essex.

Last March, the Rt Rev Dr Perumbalath was interviewed voluntarily under caution by police, in relation to the sexual assault allegations, but was not charged because of insufficient evidence.

Despite facing calls to step down from his own diocese, on Wednesday night the Bishop of Liverpool remained in post.

Any decision to suspend the Bishop of Liverpool falls under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of York, the Very Rev Stephen Cottrell, and cannot be initiated by the diocese.

The accusations place further pressure on the archbishop, who the broadcaster reported was aware of the allegations after the Rt Rev Dr Perumbalath was promoted as Bishop of Liverpool, but before he was enthroned in April 2023.

The revelations also put the churchs safeguarding and formal disciplinary procedures, called the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) under further scrutiny.

On Wednesday, the woman who accused him told the Church Times that the churchs National Safeguarding Team (NST) discouraged her from filing a CDM complaint.

I was talking to my [NST] caseworker... and she said that they had talked to the church lawyers, and were not going to put in a CDM on my behalf, because the evidence was on a knife edge as to whether it would succeed, she said

Horrible process

On another occasion, she says, a safeguarding team member told her: We dont even like our own processes; its a horrible process, going through a CDM.

The Church of England has disputed this account, saying that there was no attempt to dissuade her, but that efforts were made to explain the process, which is not survivor-focused, in order to be both honest and trauma-informed.

A spokesman said that, while the information received did not meet the threshold for the NST to take out a CDM, it would have supported her through the process.

Last night, the Diocese of Liverpool issued a pastoral letter claiming that the allegation of sexual harassment brought by a female bishop was not fully investigated and called for a review.

The letter said: However, we understand that an allegation of misconduct was not fully investigated, and we believe that in the interests of justice this should now happen.

The Church of England said the bishop tried to file a CDM complaint after the one-year deadline, but it was rejected by an independent judge, despite the Archbishop of Yorks support. They said the archbishop had no role in safeguarding or disciplinary decisions.

Bringing a second complaint

Following criticism of their handling of this complaint, a spokesman added: A remaining option is for someone nominated by the Bishops Council in Liverpool diocese to bring a CDM on the second complainants behalf. It would be for an independent judge to decide if the CDM could be brought.

On Tuesday evening, the Bishop of Liverpool said: The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present.

I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team.

The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further action. Whilst I dont believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others.

I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area, he added.
New South Wales premier, Chris Minns told reporters on Wednesday that there were more than 100 counter-terrorism police investigating the incident. Photograph: Steven Saphore/AAP

More than 100 counter-terrorism police are investigating after a caravan was found laden with explosives at a residential property in greater Sydney with indications the explosives would be used in an antisemitic attack.

Police said they had found the caravan on a property in Dural, on the outskirts of Sydney on 19 January after a report was made.

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, told reporters on Wednesday that it had the potential to have led to a mass casualty event.

There will be absolutely no tolerance under any circumstances for these acts of criminal violence in our community, he said.

Coming after a string of antisemitic attacks on synagogues and other targets in Sydney and Melbourne, Jewish leaders and community groups expressed their shock at the news.

The Zionist Federation of Australia called it undoubtedly the most severe threat to the Jewish community in Australia to date.

NSW deputy police commissioner David Hudson said that some people on the periphery of the incident had been arrested, and that the risk had been mitigated, but not yet eliminated. He also said the incident may be linked to some people already charged for their alleged involvement in the spate of recent antisemitic attacks.

We believe there is some connection between some of the targets weve charged under Strike Force Pearl, and this particular investigation, he said.

Hudson told reporters on Wednesday the caravan laden with explosives represented a different level of danger from the attacks seen recently in Sydney, such as graffiti and arson attacks.

This is certainly an escalation of that with the use of explosives that have the potential to cause a great deal of damage.

Asked how much damage the explosives could have caused, Hudson estimated the blast zone could have been 40 metres in diameter.

Hudson said the joint counter-terrorism team  including the NSW police force, the Australian federal police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation  were investigating the incident.

Hudson said over the past 10 days the police investigation had progressed, however he said there is a lot to do.

Related: Experts urge caution over use of Chinese AI DeepSeek

Last week, the AFP revealed it was investigating whether foreign actors had paid local criminals to carry out some of the recent antisemitic vandalism, which has included arson attacks and graffiti on synagogues and in suburban streets.

Hudson was asked on Wednesday if the investigation into the explosives indicated it involved paid criminals.

We cant speculate about what happened until we actually investigate that, he said. One of the main lines of inquiry was who had placed the caravan and who may have orchestrated the placement.

He said police did not know what the alleged perpetrators ideological motivation was, but nothing was being ruled out.

We [will] pursue everything until we get to the truth, he said.

Hudson said police were appealing for assistance from anyone who may have seen the caravan parked in a hazardous position in Dural between 7 December and 19 January.

Police believe the explosives were Powergel  an emulsion-based explosive  and may have been obtained from a mining site.

He said it would not be appropriate to reveal the suspected targets, and there was no information pointing to further explosives in our community in relation to any potential antisemitic attacks.

We believe that we have contained appropriately this current threat, Hudson said. We will not rest until these matters are resolved.

Asked what reassurance he could give the Jewish community that the attacks would not escalate, Minns said: Its with great regret that I cant make that guarantee.

Theres bad actors in our community, badly motivated, bad ideologies, bad morals, bad ethics, bad people. Theyre intent on doing damage and harm to others in our community, people theyve never met before, purely on the basis of their religion, he said. Its hateful. Its an ideology that we need to stamp out.

What I can promise is the full force of the law and a massive, massive and growing police response.

Anthony Albanese also condemned the incident, saying hate and extremism have no place in Australian society. The prime minister said the AFPs special Operation Avalite continued to investigate threats to the Jewish community.

Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who is the federal member for Berowra which takes in Dural, said he was deeply disturbed by news of the incident and encouraged Australians to stand together against hatred.

I am deeply disturbed at todays revelations about a potential terror plot targeting the Jewish community with a potential mass casualty event, he said.

This is another sad reminder of the hatreds Jewish Australians have endured over recent times. It keeps escalating. But equally it stands as a stark contrast to the goodness, decency and stoicism of Jewish Australians.

The Zionist Federation of Australia said in a statement: This is undoubtedly the most severe threat to the Jewish community in Australia to date. The plot, if executed, would likely have resulted in the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil.

Amir Maimon, the Israeli ambassador to Australia, said he was also deeply alarmed. He said the police and the premier had assured him that every measure is being taken to protect the community.

Peter Dutton called the news as sickening as it is horrifying, adding it was a grave and sinister escalation. The shadow minister for home affairs, James Paterson, said the discovery was an incredibly disturbing development in an escalating domestic terrorism crisis.

The police have not designated the incident as a terrorist attack.
A researcher from the CERMEL Sindara station en route to set up flytraps on the banks of the Ngounie River - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

Albertine Badole does not remember when a worm first wriggled across her eyeball.

It was many years ago, but what she can still recall is the itching and the swelling in her face.

Sometimes when I slept, I could feel the worms, there were little lumps on my body, and my eyes... It was like things were moving inside me, the 54-year old says, sitting outside her house in the remote village of Sindara in the rainforests of Gabon. It was too much.

Ms Badole suffers from loiasis, a chronic filarial disease caused by the Loa loa parasite, also known as the African eye worm, which can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms including intense itching, swollen joints, headaches and fatigue.

Albertine Badola peeling cassava at her home in Sindara, Gabon - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

Loiasis predominantly affects rural populations living in the forests and savannahs of Central and West Africa. Up to 20 million people are living with the infection.

The parasites larvae are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected bloodsucking Chrysops deer flies.

Inside the body, they grow to become worms measuring up to seven centimetres long which crawl through the tissue beneath the skin in search of a mate.

A loa loa microfilaria on a microscope slide in the parasitology lab at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaracna, Gabon - this the initial larval stage of the Loa loa nematode worm, which causes the parasitic disease loiasis - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

After mating, their blood-borne offspring, known as microfilariae, are then picked up by the biting flies again and develop to the infectious stage within the insects, ready to continue the cycle at the next meal.

Ms Badole made a difficult 30-kilometre trip to the nearest hospital. But when she got there she was dismayed to be told that there was nothing that could be done.

So I just lived with it, she recalls, and tried to treat herself. Sometimes I used vinegar, either rubbing it on or drinking it, to stop the itching.

Other people infected with loiasis have been known to rub chilli into their eyes, or tried to remove the worm from the eye with a needle or a thorn.

People making their way to the Cermel satellite research station for medical consultations in the village of Sindara, Gabon - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

At times the itching was so bad, says Ms Badole, that I would just sit and scratch. Sometimes I couldnt work for two days. Most people in the area are subsistence farmers or fishers.

Loiasis was neglected for decades, and was mistakenly seen as benign.

What treatments exist are inadequate. Some medications have to be taken over many weeks, a challenge in endemic areas which are typically remote and lacking health infrastructure.

Other medications, such as the antiparasitic ivermectin, can do more harm than good. If the patient has a high microfilarial load in the bloodstream, the sudden die-off can provoke a severe immune reaction leading to brain inflammation and death.

It is for this reason, says Rella Zoleko-Manego, from the Gabonese research institute Centre de Recherches Medicales de Lambarene (CERMEL), that young doctors are taught at university that it is best not to prescribe any medication. So when I saw the patient, I [just said]: there is no treatment, please go back home.

In an effort to change this, two years ago CERMEL and the German Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine established a small research station in Sindara, which Dr Zoleko-Manego heads.

People leaving after being seen by a doctor at the Cermel satellite research station in Sindara, Gabon - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

Its purpose is to trial various regimens of existing drugs, test veterinary drugs repurposed for use in humans, research prevention, transmission and vector control and give loiasis patients the care they need.

Research funding is difficult to come by, and there is little commercial incentive for investment in drug development as loiasis overwhelmingly affects those who can ill afford treatment.

Loiasis is not on the World Health Organizations list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which recognises 21 conditions as requiring urgent public health attention.

A Chrysops fly, the vector for loa loa under a microscope at a satellite research station in Sindara, Gabon - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

The NTD list has significant impact on the priorities of donors and government health services, and Dr Zoleko-Manego believes the inclusion of loiasis would be justified.

Research by her and colleagues indicates that in Gabon the burden of disease is comparable to that of schistosomiasis, which is a listed NTD, and studies attribute to loiasis an excess mortality of up to 15 per cent.

Further investigation is needed, but it is thought that this could be due to organ complications arising from an immune reaction to microfilariae in the blood.

As with all neglected tropical diseases, the challenges of addressing loiasis extend beyond the medical.

In Sindara there are few jobs and few roads. Most people have neither electricity nor running water. Until the research station opened, there were no medical facilities.

Few and poor roads and a lack of public transport make it necessary for the station to pick up research participants and then return them home after their consultations - sometimes this necessitates trips of 80km or more - Nyani Quarmyne/Nyani Quarmyne

Such social realities must be taken into account, says Lilian Endamne, one of the doctors at the station.

Infectious diseases are not even a medical problem here; it is about solving the problems of poverty, he says.

The team in Sindara sees it as their responsibility to do more than just help loiasis patients.

Many other diseases are prevalent in the area  malaria, bilharzia, tuberculosis are just a few  and anyone who is ill can see a doctor for free.

Whenever I feel unwell, says Ms Badole, I rush there, and they always take care of me.

She recently took part in a clinical trial at the station where different drug regimens were tested for efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

For her, it was relief at last  her symptoms have gone, and it has been weeks since she has watched as a worm crawled across her eyeball.

This project was funded by the European Journalism Centre through the Solutions Journalism Accelerator, a programme supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Migrants are rounded up by Tunisian authorities, then taken across the border into Libya

Migrants in Tunisia are being sold as slaves to Libyan gangs for as little as 10 per person with the complicity of the EU, a damning report claims.

They are rounded up in towns and cities in Tunisia, kept in detention centres and then sold to militia and traffickers on the border with Libya.

Women migrants fetch more  up to 75 each  because they are used as sex slaves, according to the report, which was compiled by a group of humanitarian organisations after months of research carried out in the shanty camps and desert detention centres of North Africa.

The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) claim that the capture and sale of black sub-Saharan African migrants is being enabled by the EU and Italy, which have struck deals with the Tunisian government to crack down on migrants and stop boats from trying to cross the Mediterranean.

They sold us to the Libyans. I really mean buying and selling, like for objects, they sold us like slaves, one young migrant told the researchers.

We didnt understand, because they spoke Arabic, but there were Sudanese people in the group who translated. They sold the men for 100 Tunisian dinars (25) and the women for 300 dinars. Men, women, and children [were sold]. One of my brothers was sold before my eyes, he and his family, with his one-year-old son.

Migrants looking to cross the Mediterranean into Europe are seized by the Tunisian National Guard with some allegedly sold as slaves - Yassine Gaidi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A 25-year-old migrant from Cameroon said: We saw the money  they count it in front of you. Women cost more because in Libya women are considered sex objects.

Another Cameroonian, a 26-year-old man, told the researchers: Its a business they have with the Libyans. Its about selling human beings, trafficking n-----s. Its shameful.

Tunisian police and Libyan militia reportedly refer to the captured migrants as black gold, in a chilling echo of the transatlantic slave trade.

The report, entitled State Trafficking: Expulsion and Sale of Migrants from Tunisia to Libya, offers a grim insight into the human cost of a crackdown that last year succeeded in reducing the number of migrants and refugees crossing from North Africa to Italy by 59 per cent.

The drastic drop in numbers has been hailed by Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister, as a triumph, but it has come at the expense of immense suffering, the report alleges.

The dossier sheds light on systematic human rights violations in Tunisia and Libya, with the complicity of the EU, said the NGOs, which include campaign groups Border Forensics and On Borders. They added: The findings reveal a horrific logistical chain of abuse and exploitation, enabled by agreements between the EU and Tunisia.

Tunisias police and military are involved in the capture, detention and sale of migrants, the report alleged.

Since 2017, Italy has spent almost 75 million (62.8 million) on training and equipping Tunisias border guards, the research team said.

The report was based on the testimony of 30 migrants from Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Guinea and Ivory Coast who said they were expelled from Tunisia to Libya between June 2023 and November 2024.

It alleges that Tunisian police and soldiers round up and arrest migrants living and working in Tunisias coastal cities. Some are there illegally, while others have legitimate work permits.

They are put onto buses, with some of them manacled with plastic zip ties, and transported south to the border with Libya.

On the buses, the Garde Nationale [Tunisian police] touch women. They touch our private parts, they rape women in front of men on the buses, said one migrant.

Migrants are kept for a few days in detention camps near the border towns of Ras Jedir and Ben Gardane, which are allegedly run by the Tunisian army or the Garde Nationale.

The most notorious camp is known to migrants as the cage. It is a cramped, fenced area beneath some sort of tall pylon, in the middle of the desert.

Giorgia Meloni, right, signs an agreement with Tunisian president Kais Saied, second right - Tunisian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

They took us close to the Libyan border. Thats where all the hatred in the world was unleashed. They beat us, they gave us electric shocks, said a 28-year-old man from Cameroon.

The migrants are then taken to the border and sold to Libyan military officials or militia members. Payment is made in money, fuel or hashish.

They are taken to squalid desert holding centres, from where the Libyans contact the migrants families in their home countries and try to extort money from them in exchange for the migrants freedom. Some are reportedly sold as forced labourers.

One of the desert prisons is near the town of Al Assah and is controlled by the Libyan Border Guard, a unit which is a beneficiary of the European Union Border Management Assistance and Training programme, the report said.

Migrants are taken to squalid desert detention centres by Tunisian and Libyan authorities - Patrick ROBERT/Corbis via Getty Images

Many migrants are unable to pay for their release from such prisons and are held for long periods of time, the researchers said, adding: Like other prisons in Libya, Al Assah also functions as a forced labour market. Prisoners are sold to local people and businesses to do little daytime jobs.

Others are subjected to savage beatings and torture. Many die and are buried in mass graves, the report said.

A 30-year-old Cameroonian man said: Prison in Libya is hell, its hell. You have to be really strong. The water to drink is salty. There are no toilets. You eat in the same place where you shit. Once a day at 6pm you eat macaroni. They beat you in the morning, they beat you at night.

They break body parts

A 25-year-old man from Guinea testified: They took us to Al Assah, to a prison. They beat you with Kalashnikovs, they break all your body parts.

A 29-year-old from Guinea said: European governments are complicit in the violence and torture inflicted on tens of thousands of refugees and migrants in Tunisia.

Piero Gorza, an Italian human rights campaigner and one of the reports authors, said: This is not some casual deviancy or collateral effect which has somehow eluded the authorities. Its a systematic phenomenon. Its state-sponsored slavery.

The report alleges that there is structural anti-Black racism in Tunisia.

Kais Saied, Tunisias president, said in 2023 that hordes of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had come to the country with all the violence, crime, and unacceptable practices that entails.

He added that this was an unnatural situation and part of a criminal plan intended to change the demographic make-up and turn Tunisia into just another African country that doesnt belong to the Arab and Islamic nations any more.

The report was presented by a group of Left-wing MEPs to the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday.

It is an appalling act of irresponsibility that European funds are being used to facilitate the trafficking of human beings between Tunisia and Libya, reducing lives to mere commodities valued at just 12 [10] to 90, said Estrella Galan, a Spanish MEP. The EU must confront this atrocity.

The EUs role in the migration crisis was condemned by MEP Estrella Galan - Alberto Ortega/Europa Press via Getty Images

The MEPs said the EU should set up safe and legal routes for refugees and migrants to reach Europe.

But after years of the migrant crisis, there is little appetite for such measures in most EU countries, least of all in Italy, which has been the unwilling recipient of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers in the past decade.

Ms Meloni was elected in October 2022 on a promise to dramatically cut the number of boats crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa.

On Tuesday, she revealed that she is under investigation by Italian judges for allegedly allowing the release of a Libyan warlord who is accused by the International Criminal Court of murdering, raping and torturing migrants.

Opposition parties have accused her government of deliberately freeing the general, Osama Almasri Najim, so as to ensure Libyas continuing support in blocking migrant boats.

A spokesman for the European Commission told The Telegraph: We are aware of the challenges that irregular migration poses for Tunisia and we are following the situation with concern. Any allegations of wrongdoing by the Tunisian security forces should be duly investigated by the competent Tunisian authorities. The national authorities in partner countries are in charge of their law enforcement bodies.

In Tunisia, the European Commission is providing support to the efforts of national institutions, primarily the Tunisian Coast Guard, to save lives at sea, improve maritime border management and fight smugglers operating in the region.
Bob Menendez arrives at federal court in New York on Wednesday. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

The Democratic former US senator Bob Menendez was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday to 11 years in prison over his 2024 conviction for taking bribes, including receiving gold bars in exchange for doing favors for Egypt and for New Jersey businessmen.

Last year he also became the first former senator to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent.

The US district judge Sidney Stein handed down the custodial sentence at a hearing in court in New York City.

Menendez was an influential and long-serving lawmaker and high-profile figure in the Democratic party.

He spent almost 19 years representing New Jersey in Washington DC. He was found guilty last July on all counts after being indicted on 16 felony charges, including bribery and fraud. Menendez reluctantly resigned from the Senate last August, proclaiming his innocence.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan US attorneys office had urged Stein to sentence Menendez to 15 years in prison. They say he shepherded military aid to Egypt, provided assistance to Qatar and interfered in local prosecutions of allied businessmen in exchange for bribes including gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz.

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 wrote in a 9 January court filing.

Related: US senator Bob Menendez found guilty on all counts in corruption trial

Among the bribes he was accused of taking were 13 gold bars found in his New Jersey home during a 2022 raid by the FBI.

Menendez, 71, had pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal.

His lawyers said the former chair of the Senates foreign relations committee should spend no more than a little over two years behind bars, citing his age, decades of public service, charitable works, devotion to family, and financial and professional ruin.

Earlier on Wednesday, Stein sentenced two convicted co-defendants. The New Jersey businessman Fred Daibes received seven years in prison and Wael Hana just over eight years.

Menendezs wife, Nadine Menendez, was to be tried with her husband on corruption charges, but her trial was postponed after her lawyers said she needed treatment for breast cancer. Her trial is scheduled for 18 March, and she has pleaded not guilty.

Speaking to reporters outside of court, Menendez appeared to appeal to Donald Trump to help him out.

Welcome to the southern district of New York, the wild west of political prosecutions, Menendez said. President Trump is right: this process is political and its corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool, and restores the integrity to the system.

Reuters contributed reporting
Only one small shipment of contraceptives  oral and injectable, not condoms  were sent to the Middle East in the past year, to Jordan. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Donald Trump boasted that his administration had stopped $50m being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas, doubling down on a claim first made by his press secretary which appears to be contradicted by the facts.

As the Guardian reported on Tuesday, a comprehensive report issued in September by the US Agency for International Development (USAid), not a penny of the $60.8m in contraceptive and condom shipments funded by the US in the past year went to Gaza. In fact, the accounting shows, there were no condoms sent to any part of the Middle East, and just one small shipment, $45,680 in oral and injectable contraceptives, was sent to the region, all of it distributed to the government of Jordan.

The claim was first made by White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, as she tried to justify Trumps sweeping order to freeze federal funding by citing what she called important new research from Elon Musks department of government efficiency (or Doge), a special group that Trump has created, and the office of management and budget (OMB).

Related: USDA inspector general escorted out of office after defying Trump order

Doge and OMB also found that there was about to be 50m taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza, Leavitt claimed. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on: being good stewards of tax dollars.

While Leavitt did not offer any evidence to support this claim, and did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the Guardian, the idea that the United States government planned to spend $50m to send condoms to Gaza quickly went viral, with an assist from Musk himself.

The Fox pundit Jesse Watters even claimed that the condoms were being used by Hamas militants as balloons to float explosives into Israel.

A review of the available evidence, however, suggests that the claim is almost certainly not true.

For the financial year 2023, the most recent for which data is available, only about $7m worth of condoms were distributed globally by USAid, and the vast majority of family-planning funds, 89%, were spent on programs in Africa.

No USAid funding for family planning was budgeted for Gaza.

In a thread on Musks social-media platform X, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce cited, as Example 1 of unjustified and non-emergency spending that had been blocked: Condoms. Prevented $102 million in unjustified funding to a contractor in Gaza, including money for contraception.

Bruce told CNN the contractor that was supposed to get $102m is the International Medical Corps  a US-based organization that operates two field hospitals in Gaza. But the International Medical Corps posted a statement on its website detailing its emergency work in Gaza with this clear denial: No US government funding was used to procure or distribute condoms.

CNN also reported that experts on US aid to Gaza were baffled by the claim. We have asked around, and no one is sure what this is referring to, Steve Fake, a spokesperson for Anera, a non-profit that has partnered with USAid on a five-year, $50m health initiative in Gaza told the broadcaster.

Fake added that the Anera program has definitely no purchase of condoms.

As Dan Evon of the non-profit News Literacy Project pointed out in a comment on the USAid funding for family planning in other parts of the world: Its also worth noting that this is not a Biden program. Trump, too, spent funds on sending contraceptives around the globe. In 2019, about $40m was spent on contraceptives by the Trump administration.
A La Fayette class frigate under way - AFP

Vive notre ami lennemi, wrote a patriotic French songwriter sarcastically in the 1820s, after peace had returned and multitudes of British tourists again flocked to Paris. No need to ask who the friendly enemy was.

For more than two centuries we have been peaceful neighbours and indeed allies in three major and a few minor wars. We have had two ententes cordiales  one was clearly not enough  and now have a close defence relationship. Yet there has always remained a certain sensitivity on both sides of the Channel. One highly-strung 19th century visitor to London got annoyed after his cab drove him from Waterloo Station via Waterloo Bridge and Waterloo Square to the Waterloo Hotel: he gave the cabby a good thrashing.

Perhaps someone in Whitehall received a verbal thrashing from our French friends when they discovered that the latest Astute Class submarine was to be named HMS Agincourt, adding insult to the injury of the Aukus pact which so upset M Macron. Or could it be that the French didnt care what we called the submarine, and that the person in Whitehall was simply showing a reflex desire to apologise?

The French are not so meek. After all, their navys glorious traditions are based above all on its battles against perfidious Albion. At least six of its major warships today bear the names of men who fought against us, and sometimes fought dirty.

The frigate Surcouf is named after Robert Surcouf, a highly successful slave trader (whoops!) and privateer who made a fortune attacking British merchantmen. The submarine Duguay-Trouin honours Rene Trouin, Sieur du Gue, another privateer and occasional slave trader who preyed successfully on English and Scottish merchantmen and captured several Royal Navy warships, for which he was ennobled and rose to be an admiral.

The submarine Suffren honours Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren (the French navy, with its notably aristocratic tradition, has many heroes with splendid names). He fought the British to a standstill in the Indian Ocean. The frigate La Fayette is named after the famous Marie-Joseph Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, who helped the Americans rebel in 1776.

The submarine Tourville commemorates Anne-Hilarion de Costentin, Comte de Tourville, who inflicted a serious defeat at Beachy Head in 1690, when he captured or sank seven ships. The destroyer Forbin recalls Claude, comte de Forbin-Gardanne, who sank or captured many British ships, and also helped Bonny Prince Charlie to invade in 1745.

The frigate Chevalier Paul honours Jean-Paul de Saumeur, whose many exploits include sinking a British ship that had failed to salute the French flag (nearly all the crew drowned). Until it retired recently, the submarine Casabianca commemorated Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca, a French Revolution politician and later naval officer under Napoleon, killed by Nelsons fleet at the Battle of the Nile when his ship blew up. His young son, who also died, was the hero of the poem that begins The boy stood on the burning deck 

Given the pride shown by la Royale in its glorious history of bashing the Brits and being bashed in return, I would be surprised if it had been upset by our calling a submarine Agincourt. After all, we already have HMS Iron Duke.
Roderich Kiesewetter is crisis prevention spokesman for centre-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

Germany is under attack from China, a senior opposition MP has warned, as Berlin grapples with a fresh wave of cyber attacks and espionage plots.

Roderich Kiesewetter, the crisis prevention spokesman for the centre-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said Germans needed to stop thinking of China as a partner.

Many in Germany are turning a blind eye  China is no longer a partner, but a systemic rival that is attacking us, Mr Kiesewetter, a former colonel in the Bundeswehr, told The Telegraph.

Germany is at the centre of Chinese hybrid influence operations in Europe  it uses all the tools in its toolbox; espionage, sabotage, lawfare, repression and disinformation, added Mr Kiesewetter, who is also the deputy chairman of the German parliaments intelligence committee.

His comments are a major intervention in Germany, where China wields immense influence over the economy despite rising tensions over Beijings tacit support for Russias invasion of Ukraine and apparent plans to invade Taiwan.

Xi Jinping, the president of China, right, with German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been criticised for appeasing Beijing - KAY NIETFELD/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Polls suggest Mr Kiesewetters CDU party, led by Friedrich Merz, will comfortably win next months elections and lead the government, but it will have to contend with the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as opposition.

Mr Kiesewetter warned that China, which is accused of planting spies in the AfDs European parliament offices, had recently become particularly interested in German military technology and in buying up critical infrastructure, such as wind turbines in the North Sea.

He said China felt more confident engaging in espionage in Germany than other EU member states due to Germanys naive foreign policy and security stance.

China has been particularly active in espionage, not only in terms of cyber attacks but the extraction of data through various methods and platforms, he said.

Espionage activities are also enormous and fall on fertile ground in Germany in view of China-friendly naivety, a lack of sensitivity and weak protective measures, particularly in the area of counter-intelligence.

Germany earlier this month arrested three German citizens on suspicion of spying for China, accusing them of trying to pass on military secrets.

Roderich Kiesewetter says China has been particularly active in industrial and military espionage - Meta

Last summer, Jian Guo, an aide to an AfD MEP, was arrested as a suspected Chinese spy, with his alleged accomplice Yaqi X arrested in October.

German prosecutors allege that Yaqi X gathered information about German military technology, and an unnamed German defence firm, and then transferred it to Mr Jian.

China has rejected such accusations as an attempt by Germany to politically manipulate the image of China and defame China.

A study by German IT trade body Bitkom found that nearly 50 per cent of German businesses were hit by Chinese cyber attacks in 2024, whereas just 39 per cent of cyber attacks in the same period came from Russia.

The most severe recent data breach concerned Volkswagen, which between 2010 and 2015 lost 19,000 documents  including intellectual property material  to Chinese hackers, according to a 2024 investigation by German broadcaster ZDF.

Mr Kiesewetter expressed concerns that if Germanys China policy did not change then its response to any future invasion of Taiwan would be just as weak as its initial response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Germany wants to avoid being as slow to back Taiwan as it was Ukraine (above) - Vincenzo Circosta/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

I am afraid that support for Taiwan would be even lower if there is no fundamental change in our China policy. Germany is pursuing an approach of appeasement and self-deterrence towards China, allowing itself to be lulled into complacency, he said.

Germany faced an avalanche of criticism over its initial reaction to Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, such as offering helmets to Kyiv instead of urgently needed weapons and ammunition.

The sluggishness of Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, was largely due to fears of angering Russia, as well as Germanys heavy reliance on cheap Russian gas.

Mr Merz has said he wants to face up to China with confidence and prove himself as far tougher on global security than Mr Scholz.

In a further hardening of his stance, Mr Merz last week told German business leaders that there was great risk in investing in China and that they should not come to the state for help if their businesses fold.

My heartfelt request to all companies... limit the risk you take in order to avoid endangering your own company if it triggers an immediate write-off. If you take this risk and if you have to write off these investments from one year to the next, then please do not, under any circumstances, come to the state... for help, he said.

Vulcan Energy is Germanys attempt to wean itself off the need for Chinese lithium - ARTIS - Uli Deck

But experts say Germany is extremely misaligned with Europe as it continues to invest billions in Chinese trade at a time when other allies, such as France and Britain, are pulling away from Beijing over security concerns.

You still have policymakers and especially a chancellor [Olaf Scholz] intent on building the relationship with China and terrified of China retaliating, and closing off access for those big German firms, Agatha Kratz, a senior China analyst at Rhodium Group, said.

Earlier this month, The Telegraph revealed that Germany had launched a new initiative, Project Lionheart to try to wean German companies off Chinese imports of lithium, a crucial ingredient in car and phone batteries.

The project, led by energy firm Vulcan, aims to locally produce enough lithium from brine water in the Rhinelands for up to half a million electric car batteries per year.
The issue of Heathrow expansion was first raised in 2003. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian

The saga of Heathrows third runway has been continuing for decades, with ministerial resignations, U-turns from politicians against the backdrop of climate disaster, including 0.2C of global heating since the expansion was first proposed. Now, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is hoping to kickstart the expansion again in a push for economic growth.

But critics including the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, say it will do little for growth, cause disruption, and fly in the face of the UKs climate commitments.

Heathrow first publicly calls for a third runway

May 2003

After years of rumours during the approval process for Heathrow Terminal 5, and despite repeated denials, BAA plc admitted publicly for the first time that it aimed to get approval for a third runway at Heathrow, in its response to the governments airport consultation.

The push for a third runway is widely condemned by local groups, London politicians and even by the sector  because of the airports previous denials that it was seeking expansion.

Government cautiously backs expansion but airs pollution concerns

December 2003

The then transport secretary, Alistair Darling, launches the governments aviation white paper, which says Heathrow would have been the preferred location for the next runway in south-east England but that it is concerned about air pollution. It says it expects a third runway to be built within 12 years.

Campaign grows against third runway

August 2007

Protesters set up the Camp for Climate Action near Sipson, on the northern edge of Heathrow, which leads to clashes with police. The government reaffirms cautious support for Heathrow expansion in its updated white paper the previous year.

Cameron says Tories will oppose expansion

Summer 2008

A Conservative government is likely to block a third runway for Heathrow airport, David Cameron says, criticising the then prime minister, Gordon Brown, for pig-headedly pressing ahead with the scheme. He says there will be no third runways  no ifs, no buts.

The EU warns that the UK will miss EU-imposed nitrogen oxide targets if expansion proceeds.

Brown approves plan, with criticism from Labour and Boris Johnson

January 2009

The transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, officially gives the go-ahead to a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, but promised the toughest climate change regime for aviation anywhere in the world.

Cabinet opponents, led by the environment secretary, Hilary Benn, and energy secretary, Ed Miliband, express considerable concerns. Boris Johnson, then the Conservative mayor of London, denounces the decision and there is a Commons revolt by Labour MPs.

Cameron formally cancels plans for third runway

May 2010

The coalition government, with Cameron as prime minister, formally says there will be no third runway. The new government says it will also refuse any additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted.

Cameron and Osborne reconsider Heathrow plans

June 2012

In March, it is reported that Cameron and his chancellor, George Osborne, have been convinced of the need to re-examine long-term policy on Heathrow after lobbying by overseas leaders and business figures. By June, the government says it will not block BAA from submitting proposals.

Conservatives and coalition split over Heathrow

September 2012

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, promises the Lib Dems will not accept Heathrow expansion. Johnson describes the idea as a disaster, while Zac Goldsmith threatens to quit as MP for Richmond Park and trigger a byelection. Justine Greening, the transport secretary and Heathrow critic, is removed in a reshuffle.

Heathrow chief apologises for broken promises

December 2014

John Holland-Kaye, the airports chief executive, says Heathrow should never have ruled out building a third runway. I am shocked by that commitment. It should never have been made. And it could never be kept. That is not an excuse. It is an apology, he says.

Johnson pledges to keep opposing expansion

May 2015

Standing for election to parliament in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Johnson says he will lie down with you in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the construction of that third runway.

Davies commission backs expansion

July 2015

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, the former director general of the CBI, publishes a report calling for a new runway north-west of Heathrow. It says conditions should include a ban on night flights, legally binding caps on noise and air quality  and legislation to rule out ever building a fourth runway. Local groups and environmental campaigners are dismayed.

May delays Heathrow vote amid Tory divisions

October 2016

Theresa May delays the vote on airport expansion amid warnings Tory MPs could resign their seats. Longstanding opponents are in the cabinet, including Boris Johnson, now the foreign secretary, and Justine Greening, now the education secretary.

Commons backs Heathrow as Johnson skips vote

June 2018

The Commons backs Heathrow expansion by 415 votes to 119  a majority of 296. But Boris Johnson, now foreign secretary, faces sharp criticism from fellow Conservative MPs over his decision to skip the crunch vote on Heathrow expansion by flying out of the UK on an official visit to Afghanistan.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, says it is a threat to the planet and that an iconic, totemic battle will be unleashed over climate change. But more than 100 Labour MPs vote in favour.

Court of appeal blocks expansion

February 2020

The court of appeal finds the governments approval of the runway is illegal because ministers has failed to take into account the UKs commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord, which requires keeping the global temperature rise as close to 1.5C as possible.

Supreme court overturns block on Heathrow

December 2020

The ruling means the airport can now seek a development consent order, a type of planning permission for nationally significant infrastructure. However, Covid-19 travel restrictions devastate aviation and Heathrow says the runway could be delayed by five years, having previously set 2028 as a completion date.

The Stay Grounded campaign calls it a betrayal of our childrens future and incompatible with the UKs climate commitments. Experts question how expansion can be compatible with new legally binding commitments to net zero.

Reeves backs third runway

January 2025

The Labour chancellor, Rachel Reeves, gives her support for a third runway at Heathrow, as part of a speech on plans to boost the economy. There are fears expansion will mean the UK will break its legally binding carbon budget.

In a major speech in Oxfordshire on growth, she says the expansion is badly needed because for decades its growth has been constrained.

She says that by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

WWF said the chancellor was making a serious mistake by prioritising costly projects like airport expansions that take decades to build, send carbon emissions skywards, and leave real growth stuck on the runway.
Yoshua Bengio, the chair of the International AI Safety report, is a world-leading computer scientist. Photograph: Andrej Ivanov/AFP/Getty Images

The International AI Safety report is a wide-ranging document that acknowledges an array of challenges posed by a technology that is advancing at dizzying speed.

The document, commissioned after the 2023 global AI safety summit, covers numerous threats from deepfakes to aiding cyberattacks and the use of biological weapons, as well as the impact on jobs and the environment.

Here are some of the key points from the report chaired by Yoshua Bengio, a world-leading computer scientist.

Jobs

In a section on labour market risks, the report warns that the impact on jobs will likely be profound, particularly if AI agents  tools that can carry out tasks without human intervention  become highly capable.

General-purpose AI, especially if it continues to advance rapidly, has the potential to automate a very wide range of tasks, which could have a significant effect on the labour market. This means that many people could lose their current jobs, says the report.

The report adds that many economists believe job losses could be offset by the creation of new jobs or demand from sectors not touched by automation.

Related: Everything you wanted to know about AI  but were afraid to ask

According to the International Monetary Fund, about 60% of jobs in advanced economies such as the US and UK are exposed to AI and half of these jobs may be negatively affected. The Tony Blair Institute has said AI could displace up to 3m private-sector jobs in the UK, though the ultimate rise in unemployment will be in the low hundreds of thousands because growth in the technology will create new roles in an AI-transformed economy.

These disruptions could be particularly severe if autonomous AI agents become capable of completing longer sequences of tasks without human supervision, the report says.

It adds that some experts have pointed to scenarios where work is largely eliminated. In 2o23, Elon Musk, the worlds richest person, told the former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak that AI could ultimately replace all human jobs. However, the report says such views are controversial and there is considerable uncertainty over how AI might affect labour markets.

The environment

The report describes AIs impact on the environment as a moderate but rapidly growing contributor as datacentres  the central nervous systems of AI models  consume electricity to train and operate the technology.

Datacentres and data transmission account for about 1% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, says the report, with AI constituting up to 28% of datacentre energy consumption.

It adds that models are using more energy as they become more advanced and warned that a significant portion of global model training relies on high-carbon energy sources such as coal or natural gas. Use of renewable energy by AI firms and improvements in efficiency have not kept pace with rising demand for energy, says the report, which also points to tech firms admitting that AI development is harming their ability to meet environmental targets.

The report also warns that water consumption by AI, used for cooling equipment in datacentres, could pose a substantial threat to the environment and the human right to water. However, the report adds that there is a shortage of data about the environmental impact of AI.

Loss of control

An all-powerful AI system evading human control is the central concern of experts who fear the technology could extinguish humanity. The report acknowledges those fears but says opinion varies greatly.

Some consider it implausible, some consider it likely to occur, and some see it as a modest-likelihood risk that warrants attention due to its high severity, it says.

Bengio told the Guardian that AI agents, which carry out tasks autonomously, are still being developed and so far are unable to carry out the long-term planning necessary for those systems to eradicate jobs wholesale  or evade safety guidelines. If an AI cannot plan over a long horizon, its hardly going to be able to escape our control, he said

Bioweapons

The report states that new models can create step-by-step guides to creating pathogens and toxins that surpass PhD-level expertise. However, it cautions that there is uncertainty over whether they can be used by novices.

There is evidence of advancement since an interim safety report last year, the experts say, with OpenAI producing a model that could meaningfully assist experts in the operational planning of reproducing known biological threats.

Cybersecurity

A fast-growing threat from AI in terms of cyber-espionage is autonomous bots being able to find vulnerabilities in open-source software, the term for code that is free to download and adapt. However, relative shortcomings in AI agents mean the technology is not able to plan and carry out attacks autonomously.

Deepfakes

The report lists an array of known examples of AI deepfakes being used maliciously, including tricking companies into handing over money and creating pornographic images of people. However, the report says there is not enough data to fully measure the amount of deepfake incidents.

Reluctance to report may be contributing to these challenges in understanding the full impact of AI-generated content intended to harm individuals, the report says. For example, institutions often hesitate to disclose their struggles with AI-powered fraud. Similarly, individuals attacked with AI-generated compromising material about themselves may stay silent out of embarrassment and to avoid further harm.

The report also warns that there are fundamental challenges to tackling deepfake content, such as the ability to remove digital watermarks that flag AI-generated content.
King Charles meets new MPs and the recently ennobled at Buckingham Palace - Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The King has an encyclopaedic knowledge of every area in Britain, an MP has said.

The monarch hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for newly elected MPs, leaving many of them impressed with his knowledge about their constituencies.

Around 270 MPs and 45 peers gathered in the State Ballroom for the reception, hosted by the King and Queen to welcome those newly elected or ennobled.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also on hand, while guests included Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and former prime minister Theresa May.

Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale who unseated George Galloway, added: He is impeccably polite and knows a lot about every constituency. Hes got an incredible encyclopaedic knowledge of every area of the UK.

The King and Queen with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and the PM Sir Keir Starmer - Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP

Asked if they spoke about Rochdale, he said: Yes, I mentioned that it was the home of the Co-op [supermarket] and I said I hope he shopped at the Co-op and he burst out laughing. I took that as a yes.

Deirdre Costigan, MP for Ealing Southall, said he knew her constituency was sometimes known as Little India and had a big Sikh community.

Hes very knowledgeable, isnt he? she said afterwards.

He talked about his love of curries, she added, revealing that he likes them not too strong.

Nigel Farage said he had always laughed with the King over his refusal to give him a standing ovation.

In 2008, when he was the leader of Ukip, Mr Farage refused to take part in an ovation for the then Prince Charles at the European Parliament after he had delivered a speech on climate change.

Reform leader Nigel Farage and Reform deputy leader Richard Tice with the Duke of Edinburgh - Aaron Chown/PA Wire

He said at the time that his protest was due to the Prince advocating an increase in EU powers.

Weve had a laugh about it ever since, he said on Wednesday. Its not nasty.

The Reform leader acknowledged that he and the King did not always see eye to eye. He joked: If I see him I know some of the exchanges will be interesting because we have disagreed in the past over a few things.

One of the biggest stars of the show was Jennie the guide dog, which belongs to Lib Dem MP Steve Darling and has amassed almost 20,000 followers on X.

A number of MPs were impressed with King Charless encyclopaedic knowledge of Britain - AFP/AARON CHOWN

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been the patron of Guide Dogs since 2021, made a beeline for Jennie, making a fuss of the pet as she said: Im your patron.

Mr Farage was full of praise for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, whom he said had been doing a lot of heavy lifting in recent months. But he could not resist taking a pop at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Theres one or two gaps out there, he said. Its been a difficult few years.

Wonderboy and wondergirl disappear off to America, the Queen dies, the Kings not been well, Andrews not in the public eye, Princess Anne is 74, so theyre doing a lot of the heavy lifting and, I think, doing it very well.
Pilgrims bathing on the banks of the River Ganges on Tuesday. It appears police were struggling to manage the large numbers in the build-up to the crush. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

At least 30 people have been killed and 60 injured after fatal crowd crushes took place at the Kumbh Mela festival in India. The incident took place on early Wednesday morning as large numbers of devotees went to bathe in the river, on one of the holiest days of the Hindu gathering.

What is the Kumbh Mela?

The Kumbh Mela is the worlds largest religious gathering, widely seen as the festival of festivals in the Hindu religious calendar. This year it is being held in the north Indian city of Prayagraj, where it takes place every 12 years.

Its origins lie in ancient Hindu mythology and the legend of demons and gods fighting over a pitcher, or kumbh, of the nectar of immortality, and drops falling on to the earth in four Indian cities.

During the 45-day festival, Hindu holy men, known as sadhus, and hundreds of millions of devotees set up camp and take a dip in the triveni sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, which they believe will cleanse their sins and free them from the cycle of reincarnation.

Smaller versions of the Kumbh Mela take place every three years but the iteration held in Prayagraj is considered to be the biggest and most spiritually significant. This years celebration, which is expected to continue until 26 February, is particularly auspicious as it is the Maha, or grand Kumbh Mela, which takes places once every 144 years. It marks the 12th Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj and a special celestial alignment of the sun, the moon, Jupiter and Saturn.

Just how big is the Kumbh Mela?

Even in a country as big and populous as India, the scale of the Kumbh Mela is staggering. This time round, the government said it expected 400 million visitors  larger than the population of the US  to turn up over the total 45 days of the Kumbh Mela, which would be a record crowd for the festival. In 2019, a smaller version of the festival in Haridwar attracted 240 million people.

Over the course of the festival, a sprawling temporary city of tents, stalls, toilets and elaborate temple facades are constructed along both banks of the Ganges, across a 40 sq km area. Each day, millions gather at the triveni sangam to take a dip in the water, many having travelled for days to do so.

As well as pilgrims, it is mandatory for tens of thousands of sadhus, who are part of monastic sects known as Akharas, to attend the Kumbh Mela and take part in several ritual bathes in the river. It offers pilgrims a rare opportunity to offer devotion to the naga sadhus, the naked, ash-smeared holy men who largely live an isolated life of meditation and prayer in ashrams.

Spending for the festival has also increased to record highs this year, with the Uttar Pradesh state government reported to have spent 70bn rupees (670m) on setting up the site and bringing in new technology to update the ancient festivities.

What caused the crowd crush?

Wednesday 29 January was considered one of the most auspicious days to take a dip in the holy river waters during the Kumbh Mela and was always expected to draw in huge numbers of pilgrims.

According to government estimates, 100 million people were due to take a holy dip in the waters over the course of the day. It is also when the Akharas, the 13 monastic sects of sadhus, take part in the shahi snan, one of the biggest spiritual bathing rituals of the Kumbh Mela, which begins before sunrise.

In the build-up, it had appeared the police had already struggled to manage the large numbers of pilgrims who were arriving. Many of the pontoon bridges and walkways were highly congested or shut off by police, leaving pilgrims and sadhus frustrated at the restricted movement around the site.

As large numbers arrived on the riverbank late on Tuesday evening, the authorities began to urge pilgrims to take only two dips in the water and then leave the riverside quickly. But by the early hours of Wednesday, millions of pilgrims had continued to squash on to the area around the sangam, many falling asleep on the ground after the holy dip.

According to witnesses, in the early hours of Wednesday, the crowd around the riverbank surged in multiple directions and people began to try to push their way out. Many fell over and were trampled, while many of those sleeping on the ground were crushed.

What has the government response been?

In the aftermath, dozens of bodies were seen lying on the ground around the banks of the river, and families sitting outside hospitals gave accounts of relatives who had been injured and killed in the crush. Local officials counting casualties into hospital tents said at least 39 were feared dead while other officials and doctors have given death tolls ranging from 15 to 50. A senior police officer, Vaibhav Krishna, told a news conference that 30 people had died.

In a statement, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, offered condolences for the lives lost.

The incident could have significant political implications for the government. The Kumbh Mela has taken on major political significance under the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). The state and central BJP government launched a huge national publicity campaign around the Kumbh Mela, which is seen as a politically lucrative symbol of Hindu unity and strength, and posters of Modi and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, adorned every corner of the Kumbh Mela. Modi had earlier praised the unforgettable crowds that were attending the festival.

Is this the first deadly crush at the Kumbh Mela?

The Kumbh Mela has a chequered history when it comes to the safety of pilgrims. In 1954, at the first festival held after independence, nearly 800 people were trampled to death or drowned as they gathered to bathe in the river. There was another crush of people during the 1986 Kumbh Mela, which took 200 lives, and again in 2003, when 39 people died. At the 2013 Kumbh Mela, 42 people were killed in a crowd crush of devotees arriving at a train station, prompting an overhaul of security arrangements.
Zhenhao Zou denies all charges against him and the court heard he would argue the encounters, which were caught on videos he made, were consensual. Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA Media

A PhD student accused of raping 10 women drugged his victims before filming his attacks as souvenirs for his own sexual gratification, a court has heard.

Zhenhao Zou, 27, a Chinese national, was described as seemingly charming and smart, but was in fact a predator, voyeur and rapist who ignored pleas from his victims to stop, a jury was told.

He denies all charges against him and the court heard Zou will argue the encounters, which were caught on videos he made, were consensual.

The jury at Inner London crown court heard that video footage of Zous alleged attacks shows his victims were at times motionless, with some begging him to stop and telling of the pain he was causing them. Eight of the women in the clips used as evidence against Zou are yet to be identified.

Zou was at University College London from 2019 studying for a masters degree in engineering and then a PhD. He came to Britain in September 2017 and studied first at Queens University in Belfast.

When he was arrested in London and his electronic devices searched, a document on Club Drugs and Their Acute Toxic Effects was found.

The prosecutor, Catherine Farrelly KC, said: To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man. The prosecution says that he is also a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drink or drugs, and, once they were significantly under the influence of drink or drugs, he would rape them. Often, he would record himself doing so.

The jury heard that Zou faced 35 counts on the indictment against him and they would be shown some of the videos, which the crown said showed his guilt.

Farrelly said: Often, he would record himself doing so and you will be shown several recordings during this trial, which the prosecution says are the defendants souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed; items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification, so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered often unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.

In all, Zou faces 11 counts of rape against 10 women, three counts of voyeurism, 12 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

It took 15 minutes to read all the counts to the jury. Zou was helped to follow proceedings by an interpreter.

Farrelly said: The prosecution bases its case upon videos that police have found on the defendants mobile telephone and two cameras belonging to the defendant.

The jury was told it would hear from two women whom detectives had identified. Videos, the prosecutor said, were recovered by police of attacks on nine of the 10 women.

Searches of Zous home found various drugs alleged to be MDMA, butanediol, ketamine and alprazolam. He claimed he had one of them to use as a skin moisturiser.

Farrelly said: The prosecution case is that these are the exact kinds of drugs that the defendant could covertly use by slipping them into a drink to stupefy his victims so that he could rape them, and this was the reason that he was in possession of them.

Police in London were first contacted in May 2023, by a woman. Farrelly said: In the call, she explained that shed been given alcohol and that the male had not let her leave. She said that he had forced her to drink a lot of alcohol and had then raped her.

Later this woman posted on social media naming Zou, and was contacted by another woman who had said she had had a similar experience, the jury was told.

The jury was told during one video alleged to show an attack, a woman said: I really dont want  I beg you, dont do this  and Zou replied:  dont push me, its pointless  The sound insulation here is very good.

The jury was told that Zous defence was that one complainant agreed to have sex and had asked him for money and was angry when he didnt pay her.

Farrelly said that victim went to Zous then south London home for drinks and felt tired. Zou had sex with her and she told police: I cant fight back, I have no strength, and was raped while unconscious, the court heard.

Video recovered later of the incident shot by a camera on a bedside table shows the young woman and Zou talking in a Chinese language.

Farrelly said the womans speech becomes slurred, she complains of feeling unwell and wanting to go home, later telling him not to restrain her, screaming and trying to get up from the bed on several occasions and the defendant pushes her back down each time.

The trial continues.
A 55-year-old man was flying the drone in a temporary no-fly zone at a classic car event in Rattvik, central Sweden. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

A man has been convicted for drunk-driving a drone in what is thought to be the first case of its kind in Sweden.

The 55-year-old man was found guilty in July of flying the device at a classic car event in Rattvik, a town in Dalarna, central Sweden, in a temporary no-fly zone.

Police noticed the drone while flying their own device to monitor the event. When they found the spot where the drone was being controlled, a man whose bloodstream contained 0.69 parts alcohol for every 1,000 parts blood admitted to flying it.

Under Swedish law, anything above 0.2 parts alcohol in 1,000 parts blood is punishable; 1.0 is a serious offence. Drink-driving laws are strict in Sweden compared with other parts of Europe. In the UK, the limit is 0.8; in Spain, France and Belgium it is 0.5. In Romania and Hungary it is 0.

The man later claimed he did not fly the drone under the influence and blamed a friend who was not present when police arrived. He was fined 32,000 SEK (2,341) to be paid across 80 days in daily fines of 400 SEK (29).

It is understood to be the first case in Sweden in which a person has been prosecuted and convicted of drunkenness while flying a drone.

I have not seen a case like this before, Jenny Holden Nystrom, prosecuting, told the broadcaster SVT. I am satisfied with the verdict.

Karin Hellmont, the district court president, said it applied the same punishment scale as it would for drink-driving to the drone case. It is an aircraft. Even though it is flown by itself, it is controlled by someone down on the ground and can fall from a high height and injure someone, she said.
Mark Zuckerberg speaks in Menlo Park, California, last year. Photograph: Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters

After an unprecedented delay, Meta reported earnings more than half an hour after market close on Wednesday. The company posted $48.39bn in fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share of $8.02, handily beating Wall Street projections of $46.9bn and $6.75 in earnings-per-share.

We continue to make good progress on AI, glasses and the future of social media, said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder and CEO. Im excited to see these efforts scale further in 2025.

The day before, an internal memo leaked that said Metas Reality Labs division, which oversees its Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, had grown by nearly 40% and beaten all its sales and revenue targets.

Related: Microsoft to report fourth-quarter earnings amid uproar over DeepSeeks AI

This is going to be a really big year, Zuckerberg said on a call with analysts. More than usual, it feels like the trajectory for most of our long-term initiatives are going to be a lot clearer by the end of this year.

Earnings were preceded by a Wall Street Journal report that Donald Trump signed an agreement to call on Meta to pay $25m to settle a lawsuit he filed against the company in 2021. Trump filed the lawsuit after Facebook banned him from the platform following the January 6 Capitol attacks. It is unclear if that caused the delay in reporting earnings.

The company was not providing full-year revenue outlook for 2025 but expects first-quarter total revenue to be in the range of $39.5-41.8bn, according to a press release. That projection is less than analysts were expecting for the first quarter, which analyst Debra Aho Williamson, founder and chief analyst of Sonata Insights, said was concerning.

Metas solid revenue growth in the fourth quarter masks a looming problem, said Williamson. Its revenue outlook for Q1 was lighter than Wall Street was expecting, and it is planning exorbitant capital expenditures for AI infrastructure in 2025. That adds up to a concerning situation.

Earlier this week, Meta announced it was rolling out a more personalized AI assistant. The tech giant also maintains that Meta AI is the most used virtual assistant, though it is difficult to avoid using it on platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp by design.

Some analysts remain bullish about Metas AI capabilities despite the overnight success of Chinese competitor DeepSeek.

Related: Who is behind DeepSeek and how did it achieve its AI Sputnik moment?

DeepSeek is a great LLM model that is competitive with Metas Llama and OpenAIs ChatGPT. The comparisons end there, as tonight we expect a doubling down on the AI vision/build-out from both tech stalwarts Meta and Microsoft, which will be another strong sign of confidence this AI revolution is just starting, said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities. Microsoft reported its quarterly earnings the same day as Meta.

Analysts also expected AI would take a back seat to concerns over Zuckerbergs decision to get rid of third-party factchecking programs. Forrester VP and research director Mike Proulx said: Metas typical AI progress update will get overshadowed by analyst concerns about advertiser brand safety and user backlash.

However, Zuckerberg said people were interpreting the announcement as a sign that the company didnt care about adding context to things or did not take misinformation on the platform seriously. But he said that was not true. The community notes system is just going to be more effective than what we had before, Zuckerberg said on the earnings call.

Meta chief financial officer Susan Li said the company had not seen a noticeable impact on advertising in the aftermath of announcing the content policy changes. Were continuing to see strong advertiser demand, Li said. Our commitment to brand safety is unchanged.

Days after Meta announced it was doing away with its third-party factchecker program, news broke that the company would reduce its workforce by 5%  this time targeting what it called low performers.

Despite a rather frenzied start to 2025, Metas Q4, 2024 results will likely demonstrate continued company momentum heading into this year, Proulx of Forrester said. With yet another 5% reduction in workforce announced, Metas 2024 year of efficiency gets trumped in 2025 with an apparent year of intensity.

Zuckerberg said he was also watching to see whether TikTok is banned  which could provide a windfall for Meta products. He said that regardless of what happens he expects Reels to continue to grow on Instagram and Facebook.

Related: Meta to fire thousands of staff as Zuckerberg warns of intense year

A leadership shake-up at Reality Labs had been reported. According to the Information, Reality Labs will be brought closer to the main business and be led by Metas chief operating officer, Javier Olivan. It is unclear if Reality Labs current COO, Dan Reed, would remain at the company.
The Microsoft Europe headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a suburb south-west of Paris, France, on 13 January 2025. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Microsoft reported its second-quarter earnings for fiscal year 2025 on Wednesday, beating market expectations even as questions over multibillion-dollar spending on artificial intelligence continue to mount, spurred by DeepSeeks shock to the US stock market just days ago.

The tech giant reported earnings per share of $3.23, an increase of 10% on a year earlier, and revenue of $69.6bn, an increase of 12%. Wall Street had expected $3.11 a share from revenue of $68.9bn.

Shares in the company, worth a total of $3.28tn, are up roughly 8% over the past 12 months as it has poured capital investment into AI and plans $80bn on new AI spending this year. Meta has made similar commitments; US tech giants are rushing to gain an edge over their competitors in the AI race.

Related: What is DeepSeek and why did US tech stocks fall?

We are innovating across our tech stack and helping customers unlock the full ROI of AI to capture the massive opportunity ahead, said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. Already, our AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $13bn, up 175% year-over-year.

Amy Hood, executive vice-president and chief financial officer at Microsoft, said revenue from its data cloud business was $40.9bn, up 21% year-over-year. We remain committed to balancing operational discipline with continued investments in our cloud and AI infrastructure, Hood said.

The companys earnings report comes in the shadow of a sell-off in AI-exposed companies on Monday when a Chinese company, DeepSeek, said its AI model had achieved similar results to those of US companies at a fraction of the cost. Chipmaker Nvidia lost some $600bn in market capitalization, though it recovered part of that value in the ensuing days of trading.

The implications of DeepSeeks apparent AI cost breakthrough  it claims to have spent mere millions training its model  raises questions over the past years $5tn AI-related run-up in the overall market value of the tech giants known as the magnificent seven on Wall Street: Meta, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Nvidia and Tesla. The gains accounted for much of the S&P 500s roughly 70% advance over that period, which has slowed as concerns that returns on AI-capital spending, estimated at more than $200bn over the past year with more scheduled for this year, are still elusive.

Related: Meta to report fourth-quarter earnings amid DeepSeek mania and ballooning AI investments

2025 is likely to be the most pivotal year on record for the AI revolution on the development side but also on the financial side, as investors expect to get the returns for the trillions of dollars invested over the past two years, said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, after the results were released. He called Microsoft the undisputed AI leader on the software side and a stable bet for investors looking to cash in on AI.

Microsoft and AI partner OpenAI are investigating whether data output from OpenAIs technology was obtained in an unauthorized manner by a group linked to DeepSeek, according to Bloomberg. David Sacks, the White Houses AI and crypto czar, told Fox News that it was possible that DeepSeek had stolen intellectual property from the United States.

In an earnings call after the company results were released, Nadella said DeepSeek had shown real innovations and what was taking place was no different in optimization and improvements to AI than in regular computing.

For a hyperscaler like us, this is all good news, he told investors.

The Microsoft CEO was also asked about the Stargate Project, a joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank that did not include Microsoft, OpenAIs top investor, announced by Donald Trump last week. He pushed back on a suggestion that Microsoft would now be taking a backseat: We remain very happy with the partnership with OpenAI.

The day before, OpenAIs Sam Altman had posted a picture with Nadella, suggesting the alliance between his company and Microsoft was still strong. Altman wrote that the next phase of the partnership was gonna be much better than anyone is ready for.
MBABANE  In a highly unusual incident, a principal magistrate allegedly poured himself a glass of beer, took a sip, lit a cigarette and smoked while presiding over a court case. The case involved a man against whom an order for maintenance was sought at the Siteki Magistrates Court. Fanile Mabuza (57) of Nsulutane, under Chief Ndlondlo, alleged that Principal Magistrate Donald Mavuso consumed Stella Artois beer and smoked a cigarette during the court proceedings. He further claimed that the principal magistrate ordered him to appear in court on a Saturday, despite the fact that magistrates courts typically do not operate on weekends, as per the practice directive.



maintenance



Before these maintenance proceedings, Mabuza was arrested and charged with depriving and dispossessing his wife, Simangele, of a herd of 29 cattle, to which she was entitled under Eswatini Law and Custom. He was also charged for evicting Simangele from their marital home. Both charges fell under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 15/2018. In the third charge, he was accused of violating the Childrens Protection and Welfare Act by failing to provide basic necessities for his four children.

When he appeared at the magistrates court, he was granted bail of E1 000.

As a bail condition, Mabuza was ordered to return the herd of cattle to Simangeles matrimonial home immediately. The court also ordered Simangele to return to her home, and the police were instructed to assist in executing this order. This occurred on December 20, 2024. On December 27, 2024, Mabuza appeared for a remand hearing, and his trial was scheduled to resume on February 28, 2025. However, on January 3, 2025, Mabuza was unexpectedly arrested again and brought before the court. He stated that the court ordered him to pay E1 000 in maintenance without even hearing my side of the matter, which he argued violated the principles of natural justice, particularly the right to a fair trial.

Mabuza claimed that the matter was heard in Magistrate Mavusos chambers.

He alleged that during this hearing, Magistrate Mavuso consumed beer and smoked a cigarette. While the matter was being deliberated upon by the court, the learned magistrate poured Stella Artois beer into a glass and took a sip right in front of me and my attorney. As if that were not enough, the learned magistrate took out a pack of Stuyvesant Blue Switch cigarettes and smoked inside the chambers while reprimanding me for not being supportive to my wife and children, Mabuza alleged.



review



He made these allegations in an urgent application filed at the High Court, seeking to review and set aside the orders issued by the Siteki Magistrates Court, specifically the order to return the herd of cattle to his wifes matrimonial home and the order for his wife to return home.In the review application, Mabuza argued that Mavuso misdirected himself and/or failed to properly apply his mind to the matter, resulting in gross irregularity. He alleged that Mavuso considered irrelevant factors and/or ignored relevant ones. Mabuza informed the High Court that Mavuso failed to consider the entire issue presented before him and made a decision based on a fixed principle, leading to an unwarranted outcome. Judge Magagula reserved judgment in the matter.
Noel Clarke is suing Guardian News and Media over a series of articles, which included allegations of sexual misconduct - Jordan Pettitt/PA

Noel Clarke accused the publisher of The Guardian newspaper of perversion of the course of justice by deleting evidence in his High Court libel claim against the publication.

The actor, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021, which said 20 women who knew Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement at the time, the former Doctor Who star denied sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.

GNM is defending the legal action on the grounds of truth and public interest.

A full trial of the claim is expected to be heard in March, but at a hearing on Wednesday, Clarkes lawyers applied for GNMs defence case to be struck out.

Mrs Justice Steyn rejected the application, saying that written reasons for her decision would be provided at a later date.

In written submissions, Philip Williams, representing Clarke, said: The claimant submits there is overwhelming evidence not just of an attempt to pervert... but actual perversion of the course of justice.

He added: Because of the deliberate and permanent deletion of personal correspondence between the three journalists that undertook the purported investigations, as well as fabrication, it is the claimants contention that it is impossible for the defendant to legitimately put forward a positive case that it reasonably believed publishing the defamatory articles were in the public interest.

Mr Williams claimed that two freelance journalists had been instructed to carry out wholesale deletion of threads on Signal  an encrypted messaging app.

He also told the hearing in London that one of the messages said: Delete this entire thread. Ill create a new thread which will likely be disclosable in court.

Another message said: Can we delete all these threads and use the final thread from now on?

In his submissions, Mr Williams said the messages illustrated intent and taking steps to fabricate evidence.

He added: The defendants destruction of evidence was widespread and wholesale. It is something which they frankly admit.

For example, the claimant maintains that four other group chats were set to auto-delete. This is admitted by the defendant.

Mr Williams said it was notable that the messages instructed the two junior journalists to delete messages, and there was also the creation of a carefully curated thread which would assist the publishers case.

He added: The crux of the strike-out application is whether there had been perversion of the course of justice, or spoliation of evidence which renders a fair trial impossible.

Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, told the court in written submissions that Mr Clarke sought to deprive the publisher of its right to the trial of its defences of truth and public interest.

He said: The application is a poor and opportunistic one for which there is no adequate evidential basis.

It seeks to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification.

In the light of the lack of evidence, it should be inferred that this is done purely tactically, in order to launder defamatory allegations about the defendants employees into the public domain.

He added: There is no evidence either that any evidence was fabricated.

Mr Millar told the court: None of this evidence raises an arguable prima facie case of bad faith, still less criminal conduct against anyone.

Announcing her decision at the end of the hearing, Mrs Justice Steyn said: The decision on the application to strike out is that I am going to reject that application.
Two residential towers under construction by Related Group on the Miami River site where archaeologists unearthed remnants of a 3,000-year-old Indigenous village in September 2024. Photograph: Matias J Ocner/Miami Herald via Getty Images

Native American tribes in Florida have accused a development company of freezing them out of a discussion on the future of a trove of historical artefacts from a downtown Miami construction site, and hawking them around the US without their consent or knowledge.

A member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the chair of the American Indian Movement of Florida told the Guardian that they were angered by the Related Groups approach to a number of out-of-state universities to see if they were interested in curating and housing the relics believed to be from an ancient Tequesta Indian village.

More than a million mostly fragmentary items that experts say date anywhere from 2,000 to 7,000 years ago are currently stored at Relateds office in the Brickell neighborhood where the company is building two residential tower blocks, and where they were uncovered in archaeological digs since 2021.

The site is a stones throw from the Miami Circle national historic landmark, known as the citys Stonehenge, which was discovered in 1998 along with similarly aged artefacts including pieces of pottery, tools, and animal bones and teeth.

Some scattered human ancestral remains were recovered where Related was clearing land, and reburied off-site in consultation with local tribal leaders, but otherwise, the representatives say, they have not been listened to.

The tribes say Related has broken an agreement made with the city of Miami in 2023 to present an action plan to preserve, catalog and display significant parts of the collection locally in exchange for being allowed to press ahead with the development.

They also feel betrayed by the companys exploration of a possible new home for the artefacts by offering them to educational institutions far from their origin, including the University of California, Berkeley. That occurred, the tribes say, at the same time Related broke two deadlines to present a plan to deliver on a promise made to the city by the companys founder, Jorge Perez, two years ago of doing the right thing for this community.

They wont listen to the tribes, to the descendants of the ancestors, that we dont want the artefacts displayed or shopped around to universities, but put back into the ground, said Betty Osceola, an environmental activist and Miccosukee tribe member.

They havent had any meaningful discussion with the tribe. Theyre looking more at it from an archeological standpoint, and not from the tribes, or as an Indigenous person. In their mindset its OK to put these items on display, in our viewpoint we want them reburied somewhere, and there hasnt been any type of discussion as to where that location would be.

Osceola said another disappointment was how Related had downplayed the discoveries, at least until the 2023 agreement.

From the beginning we understood the importance of that area and how its connected to Miami Circle, which is protected, that its all interconnected with the sites on the north side of the Miami River as well. But there was some downplay of the significance, [they said] no, it wasnt connected, she said.

Now they realize the connection, theyre acknowledging the significance, but its frustrating they didnt listen to us, not taking credence in what we had to say.

Robert Rosa, chair of the American Indian Movement of Florida, said the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes were still waiting to see a promised full inventory of items in Relateds possession.

They said both tribes would be able to go through every artefact so they can determine what is a a patrimonial item and a burial item, but that hasnt happened, he said.

Theyre trying to be sly about it and send it away for research. Well, the tribes dont want research. They want everything reinterred. You have all these archeologists here, all they want to do is dig and make a name for themselves and preach and tell the Native story without being Native.

Related did not respond to the Guardians request for comment. At a meeting of the city of Miamis historic and environmental preservation board earlier this month, the companys land-use lawyer, Iris Escarra, said the approach to external institutions was exploratory and preliminary.

We were just asking for proposals to see what opportunities are available. This is nothing more than that, she told members, according to the Miami Herald.

Related, the newspaper said, promised to deliver a detailed plan, including proposals for exhibition spaces along Brickells waterfront, at the next board meeting on 4 March. The company said it planned to link its site with the Miami Circle landmark via an educational pathway it intends to call the Tequesta Trail.

Meanwhile, the University of Miami (UM) and Florida International University say they are still waiting for a response to their joint proposal for a conservation and research center in the city.

The action plan is the guarantee the public has of access to some of the information from the capital of the Tequesta, the largest Indigenous pre-contact settlement in south Florida, said Traci Ardren, professor of anthropology at UM.

What they showed at this last meeting was very disorganized. Theyre not speaking with museum curators, theyre not speaking with scholars, theyre not speaking with the archeological community, and most importantly theyre not speaking with the local Indigenous population.

Its extremely disappointing they would consider farming out the curation of the artefacts to an institution outside of south Florida. Reaching out to other universities and institutions is inappropriate for lots of reasons, but fundamentally its about their unwillingness to fund this educational component. It costs money to do this work.




Perfectly balanced  Construction. Grey Lines on Pink Ground (1938), by Paule Vezelay. Photograph: Sam Day/Tate; The Estate of Paule Vezelay

In 1926, Paule Vezelay invented herself. Born Marjorie Watson-Williams in Bristol, she moved to Paris and became the artist she had always imagined being, brand new name and all. She thrived at the centre of Pariss swirling avant-garde currents, quickly building a rich community for herself among the hotbed of artistic radicalism and experimentation. She exhibited regularly and found solace in her friendships. But when she returned to Britain at the onset of the second world war, she found herself out of step with its art world and found neither the fame nor the success she had been working towards in Paris.

The RWA in Bristol has brought Vezelay home, hosting the largest exhibition of her work since her death in 1984 at the age of 91. It is only two rooms, but its packed with paintings, prints, sculpture, textiles, letters and photographs from her own collection. Moving chronologically through her life and work, the show gives a powerful sense of Vezelays fierce, prickly personality.

Even in her very earliest paintings and prints, made while a student at the RWA itself, then at the Slade in London, Vezelays style is clear. She was already interested in volume and line, depicting bodies and spaces that spring off the page with dramatic modelling and cross-hatching. Her early paintings are made with a heavy impasto and, although they depict the classic modernist subject of the crowd, they are much more interested in shape and colour than in social commentary.

When she arrived in Paris for the first time in 1920, Vezelay was struck by what was happening there. People including Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, Joan Miro and Alexander Calder were pushing against the boundaries of visual art, creating new ways of depicting the world abstractly. Vezelay eventually met them all and joined Abstraction-Creation, the group that exhibited works grappling with the interplay of abstraction and surrealism.

The RWAs exhibition includes two sculptures by Vezelays peers, one by Calder, one by Marlow Moss. Even though they are only two of the 60-plus works in the exhibition, they give a strong sense of the aesthetic questions Vezelays circle was addressing. The echoes of their lines, particularly those of the Calder mobile hanging from the ceiling in the first gallery, are eerily visible in the Vezelay painting hanging below it. Construction. Grey Lines on Pink Ground, 1938, is a large pink colour field with a map of 11 straight lines crisscrossing it. Some lines end in spheres, others have little flags planted in them, and the seemingly random composition comes together to look perfectly balanced  just like Calders mobile. There is no record indicating that the two works are related, but both artists were members of Abstraction-Creation, so they certainly knew each other.

The letters and photographs add to the sense of Vezelays rich community in Paris. One letter, from Sophie Taeuber-Arp, describes the difficulty of doing art with one arm while the other is being pulled into the kitchen, or to the telephone, or off on errands. The challenge of being an artist and a woman was always present for Vezelay, although she was outspoken in her desire to be seen as simply an artist, not a female artist.

She wrote to the British surrealist Ithell Colquhoun, saying she had chosen a somewhat androgynous name to avoid this question of sex [being] dragged into discussions about my work. Playing in the exhibition is an interview she did with Germaine Greer the year before her death. She pushes back against Greers suggestion that she wanted to be mistaken for a man. It was, she said, just the work she was concerned about  making good work regardless of her gender.

When she returned to Britain, Vezelay took an active role in the war effort in Bristol, drawing harsh, dramatic scenes of destruction in the city that marked a brief return to figurative art. She then went back to painting largely abstract work and eventually began designing textiles, some of which are in the exhibition. The curtains that hung in her apartment are there, looking slightly faded around the edges where the light hit them. Its an intimate, tactile element that, like her letters, evokes a tangible sense of who Vezelay was, in all her complexity.

Related: Major show to celebrate UKs forgotten female trailblazer of abstract art

Her Lines in Space series spanned her time in Paris and her return to England. These works combine sculpture and painting, often featuring threads strung across a canvas to create a sort of relief sculpture that hangs on the wall. At first glance, they look like her other abstract paintings, but a closer examination shows their three-dimensionality. The phrase lines in space seems to nicely sum up Vezelays artistic ethos: her works all return to this fundamental idea.

The RWA is the perfect venue for this renewed examination of Vezelays rich life and work, in the very building where she began to pursue a career as an artist. The exhibition illuminates the dramatic differences in aesthetic sensibility between Paris and Britain in the mid-20th century. Vezelays work is distinctly Parisian, fostered and formed in the melee of avant  garde personalities that made Paris the centre of modernism. Its tempting to wonder how her legacy would have evolved had she returned to Paris after the war, but we must take her as she is: a cosmopolitan 20th-century woman who constructed her identity, and her art, exactly as she wished.

 At RWA Bristol until 27 April
Foreign Office officials expect Peter Mandelson to be formally confirmed in his role next month. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Peter Mandelson has said his past remarks that Donald Trump was a danger to the world were ill-judged and wrong before his expected confirmation as ambassador to the US.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday morning, Lord Mandelson said Trump had won fresh respect with his dynamism and energy.

Mandelsons volte-face came amid reports he had received his diplomatic agrement  or agreement in principle  from the US to serve as the UKs ambassador to Washington, despite concerns in Trumps team about his links to China and the client list of his consultancy, Global Counsel.

Foreign Office officials said that, barring any unexpected obstacles, Mandelson would be formally confirmed in his role next month.

Related: Appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to US divides Labour MPs

Mandelson, a former Labour minister who now sits in the House of Lords, has also been critical of Trump in the past, describing him as a bully and reckless and a danger to the world.

Speaking to Fox News, Mandelson said: I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong. I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed since then.

I think people have been impressed not just by the extraordinary second mandate that he has received from the American people, but the dynamism and energy with which he approached not just the campaign but government as well, he added.

I think that he has won fresh respect. He certainly has from me, and that is going to be the basis of all the work I do as his majestys ambassador in the United States.

Asked about reports of concerns in Trumps team about his appointment, Mandelson said: Ive heard nothing from the president or the White House or anyone working for him that suggests that theres going to be any difficulty about my appointment.

He added: Ive been appointed as his majesty the kings ambassador in the United States. That means Im both his and my countrys representative in the US.

I think that as an experienced and longstanding friend of the US as I am, I think that President Trump will look at my credentials and consider whats best for the relationship going forward. I think, you know, the president is a nice person, hes a fair-minded person, and thats why I feel quite confident.

Chris LaCivita, a campaign aide to Trump, described Mandelson as an absolute moron in December and questioned why Keir Starmer was replacing the professional, universally respected outgoing ambassador, Karen Pierce, who built links with Trump. Government sources stressed that LaCivita was not due to have any role in Trumps administration.

Mandelson is known to have strong connections in China and has held meetings with senior Chinese Communist party figures as recently as 2023. The Guardian revealed that Global Counsel worked for Shein, the Chinese fashion company, until early last year. The company has lobbied for TikTok, which is banned on government devices in the US, UK and EU.

The Nightly, an Australian news outlet, reported this week that a dossier on Mandelsons China links compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) had been handed by US senators to the FBI.
The city of Otaru, on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Tourist crowds have forced officials to deploy security guards to keep tourists safe. Photograph: imagenavi/Getty Images

Authorities in Japan are stepping up measures to deter crowds of overseas visitors from taking risks in their quest for the perfect photo, in another attempt to address the negative impact of a record surge in inbound tourism.

Tourism officials in Otaru, a small city in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, deployed security guards this week to prevent people congregating on Funami-za, a steep street and the perfect spot for photos of the port and sea in the distance.

Earlier this month a Chinese woman died when she was struck by a train after walking onto railway tracks in Otaru. Her husband reportedly told police his wife had been trying to photograph a location from the 2015 Chinese film Cities in Love and had not noticed the approaching train.

The deployment of security guards is in response to complaints that groups of visitors are clogging up the narrow street when they stand to take photographs of the area, which was also a location in Love Letter, a 1995 Japanese film that was also a hit in China and South Korea.

Related: Everyone has the same dream: Mount Fuji grapples with rise in tourism

The latest crackdown on shoddy behaviour by visitors coincided with figures showing that a record 36.7 million people visited Japan last year, with the government aiming to increase the figure to 60 million by the end of the decade.

This road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic, a city official told the Mainichi Shimbun. Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant, and this fiscal year has been particularly severe.

People are even entering private property without permission to take photos, Hidetoshi Itagaki, an 80-year-old local resident, told the Kyodo news agency.

Otarus popularity has soared beyond pre-pandemic levels. Almost 98,000 foreign tourists spent at least a night in the city in the six months from April last year, the highest number since records were first kept in 1997. The actual number is believed to be even higher, as many tourists stay in nearby Sapporo, the biggest city in Hokkaido, the Mainichi said.

Related: Wish you werent here! How tourists are ruining the worlds greatest destinations

Officials have been encouraging visitors to visit Japans regions to take the strain off must-see locations such as Kyoto, the countrys ancient capital, and the megalopolises of Tokyo and Osaka.

But the surge in visitors is putting a strain on infrastructure and causing resentment among locals. In Otaru, the problem has come to a head in recent months, despite the introduction last year of multilingual signs asking visitors to respect their surroundings and local residents.

A weak yen and an increase in international flights to Japan have fuelled the surge in inbound tourism, with South Koreans comprising the single biggest group, followed by people from China and Taiwan.

The influx has proved a boon for hotels and shops as tourists spent a record 8tn yen ($50.8bn) last year, according to government data. Japans seven major convenience store chains said their combined sales had reached a record high in 2024, thanks in part to prodigious consumption of snacks and drinks by foreign tourists.

But overtourism has also led to a rise in complaints about overcrowding, littering, drinking on the street and other nuisance behaviour.

Last year a Chilean Instagram influencer was forced to apologise after filming herself doing pullups on a sacred torii shrine gate in Hokkaido, while a video of a man who appeared to be a foreign tourist kicking one of Naras famed deer prompted outrage on social media.

In another high-profile incident, an American man was arrested for using his fingernails to scratch letters representing his family members names into a torii at Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo.

Authorities have introduced fees and capped visitor numbers on Mount Fuji and erected a screen to prevent people from congregating at a spot popular for taking photos of the mountain. This week the Japan Tourism Agency released 22 pictograms encouraging visitors to be better behaved. They include signs urging them to travel light to avoid heavy luggage blocking access to trains and buses, and to refrain from queue jumping.
James Tooley, known for his pro-free speech views, has been cleared of wrongdoing after allegations from his ex-wife Cynthia - Instagram/cynthia_munachiso

Prof James Tooley was appointed as vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham just after its annus horribilis of 2019. The university was in dire financial straits. Accounts from that year revealed a deficit of 19.8 million, a significant shortfall for a small university.

Soon after Tooleys appointment, it was back on an even keel. Student numbers are up and the university now has a surplus of 6 million, an astonishing turnaround in Britains beleaguered higher education sector.

At the same time, Tooley used his role to push back against cancel culture on campuses, transforming Buckingham into a bastion of free speech. He quickly found favour among those worried about the treatment of figures such as Kathleen Stock, the philosophy professor who quit her post at the University of Sussex after being accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity. But Tooleys anti-woke approach rankled, it seems, with some of his left-leaning colleagues at the university.

The email arrived in October. Sent to around four thousand staff and students by the chair of the university council, Mark Qualter, it said that Tooley, aged 65, had been suspended with immediate effect from his 229,000-a-year post. This was following serious allegations brought to the university by his estranged wife, Cynthia Tooley. Later that day, he was evicted from Ondaatje Hall, his grace-and-favour home in Buckingham.

Four agonising months later, he has been exonerated. The allegations  eventually found to be unsubstantiated  were very serious indeed. Although the university did not disclose them directly, sources revealed to The Telegraph that they concerned his possession of a firearm (which on inspection turned out to be a junior air rifle which does not require a firearms licence) and details of a previous relationship with a woman in India.

Tooley used his vice-chancellorship to resist wokeism on campus - Facebook

Over the course of a protracted investigation that was lengthened, friends say, by a university sub-committees decision to draw out his suspension, Tooleys mental and physical health has suffered. He was not given the details of the allegations until several weeks into the process.

To his allies, this was seen plainly as a plot to oust him; a coup detat many months or even years in the making. Tooley, a staunch free speech advocate, has long railed against cancel culture on British campuses. The University of Buckingham is the oldest of the countrys private universities; it was founded in 1973 and had close links with Margaret Thatcher, who oversaw its creation as a university college as education secretary and was pivotal in elevating it to university status as Prime Minister. On her retirement from politics, she became its second chancellor, and remained in post until 1998.

It was built on that Thatcherite foundation. Sir Roger Scruton, the philosopher and writer who lectured at Buckingham in later life, described it as a unique institution, probably the least politically correct university in Europe.

Cynthia, 42, Tooleys estranged wife, moved to England from Nigeria in 2004 to study an MBA at the University of Buckingham. It was there she and Tooley met when she was invited back as part of the vice chancellors speaker series in 2021. They married in 2022. Ms Tooley runs a cake making business and has been made an MBE for her services to the community, which include running a food poverty charity with locations in Hertford, Buckingham and Northampton. She has also carved out a career appearing as a judge on TV cookery programmes including the Canadian show The Great Chocolate Showdown.

In October, she called police to Tooleys university residence, alleging he was in possession of a firearm. Police found a junior air rifle  a low powered air gun made for young hobbyists  and took no further action. She is also understood to have brought allegations to the university, claiming that Tooley had an inappropriate relationship with a young woman in India that pre-dated their marriage by some years.

Cynthia Tooley appeared as a judge on several TV cookery programmes, including The Chocolate Show - Laura De Meo/Shutterstock

A university spokesman said: Due to the nature of the investigation and to protect the privacy of all parties involved we are unable to disclose specific details regarding the allegations.

The woman in question has since confirmed to a newspaper that she was, in fact, 25 years old when the relationship began and that they remain on good terms. On completion of a thorough, fair and independent investigation, in the universitys words, a report concluded there was no wrongdoing. Tooley has, however, spent tens of thousands of pounds of his own money on legal fees to defend himself against the allegations.

The university was made aware of a number of serious allegations involving our Vice-Chancellor. The nature of the allegations were such that the University had to investigate them and we took the decision to suspend the Vice-Chancellor, a neutral act pending the outcome of the investigation, a University of Buckingham spokesman said. The report found that the allegations were not substantiated, and after consideration by Council the suspension has been brought to an end. The University is liaising with the Vice-Chancellor in relation to his return to work.

In recent years, Buckingham has been seen as a citadel of academic freedom; a holdout against the bureaucratic creep that has blighted other universities. This is partly down to Tooleys appointment in 2020. Formerly a professor of education policy at Newcastle University, he is a champion of low-cost private education who wrote a book, published in 2017, about his experience being arrested and thrown into an Indian prison while conducting research on private schools serving the poor in Hyderabad. The work was for an earlier book which also documented state corruption in India and attempts to shut the schools down. He has held fast to Buckinghams founding ideals, offering public support to academics cancelled by other universities, such as Stock, who resigned in 2021 after facing heavy criticism for her gender-critical views.

In the lead up to his suspension, Tooley was making greater strides in the free speech arena than ever before. In February last year, he announced the launch of the University of Buckingham Centre of Heterodox Social Science, established with the aim of redressing balance in academia.

The Verney Park Campus in the University of Buckingham - Paul Hackett/Corbis News

An online course exploring the origins and intellectual history of progressive illiberalism, also known as wokeism, was already running. It was led by Prof Eric Kauffman, who was appointed by Tooley after he resigned from his previous post at Birkbeck, University of London, over political differences.

Tooley was also overseeing the development of a university code of practice on freedom of speech. When he was suspended with immediate effect in October, he was on the brink of appointing Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a fierce critic of Islam, as the universitys inaugural Margaret Thatcher chair.

Friends of Tooleys familiar with Buckinghams inner workings say that several members of the leadership team have long been keen to close this chapter in the universitys history. One claims that Tooleys right-wing politics were seen as problematic in some quarters long before his wife came forward with allegations of misconduct, which were then pounced on as a way to oust him.

I do believe it was politically motivated, the friend says. I think [his wife] contacted the leadership knowing they would jump at the opportunity to smear James in any way. Ms Tooley did not respond to requests for comment.

Another friend regards the suspension of Tooley as a nakedly political act with the ultimate goal of defenestrating him due to his anti-woke views. Diana Blamires, the universitys former head of PR, says the leadership is certainly left-leaning One would have to question whether James well-documented anti-woke stance was an issue. She added that it is disgraceful there is no apology in the statement from the university. The university declined to respond specifically to the claims that the action taken against Tooley was politically motivated.

A close friend tells The Telegraph that the whole point of Buckingham is supposed to be free speech and you have in there a whole cabal of people who dont share the values of the university, adding that: If you want to get rid of someone, you make the process the punishment.

It seems that Tooley  long a champion of the cancelled  has narrowly survived an attempt at his own cancellation.
The New South Wales police commissioner says an investigation into a caravan found in Sydney allegedly containing explosives and a list of Jewish targets was compromised by leaks to a Sydney media outlet.

On Wednesday afternoon, police said a caravan had been found at a Dural property containing explosives that had the potential to cause a mass casualty event.

The revelation came 10 days after authorities were notified about the caravan on 19 January by a Dural local who had noticed it parked next to a road in early December.

The local had moved it to his property because he believed it was a road hazard, the police deputy commissioner, David Hudson, told 2GB radio on Thursday. But the man didnt open the padlocked caravan until six weeks later.

Authorities had been conducting a covert investigation but were forced to go public when details were leaked to News Corp Australia.

The police commissioner, Karen Webb, on Thursday defended the decision not to alert the community earlier. She said the source of the leak was being investigated and noted the joint terrorism investigation included federal police and state agencies.

The fact that this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation and its been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used, Webb told reporters.

There is so much in the public domain but to talk further about this to any great extent  I dont want to compromise that investigation any further.

Related: Renewables break record for share of Australias main energy supply in December quarter, data reveals

On Thursday, the Daily Telegraph crime editor, Mark Morri, responded to Webbs accusations the media had compromised the investigation.

Morri told Sky News the Daily Telegraph would never compromise an investigation and the criticism from Webb was unfair.

They [the police] knew it was never going to be kept secret for ever, because they were knocking on doors and issuing search warrants in the Dural area, he said.

We didnt just go bang, this is here, were going to put this on the internet or put this in the paper and publish it without going to police and saying are we going to cause any problems here?

Morri said the newspaper went to the police early on Wednesday with the story, and would have delayed publishing if theyd been asked.

He also said police had asked the newspaper to withhold parts of the story, which he says they did.

Police on Thursday confirmed that Scott Marshall  in whose name the caravan was allegedly registered  was in custody on drugs and weapons charges peripheral to the Dural matter but that had been investigated under Strike Force Pearl. He has not been charged in relation to the caravan in Dural.

(December 7, 2024)

A caravan is parked on the side of the road in Dural, a semi-rural suburb in Sydneys north west.

A local resident, believing it was parked in a hazardous position for road users, towed the caravan to his property.

The van is padlocked. The man leaves it parked on his property.

(December 19, 2024)

The property owner busts open the caravan, to discover it contains explosives. He contacts police. He is not accused of any wrongdoing.

In addition to Powergel explosives capable of creating a 40-metre wide blast radius, in the caravan there is also a note containing the name of targets including a Sydney synagogue and remarks about Jews.

No detonator was found.

State and federal police launch a covert joint counterterrorism investigation.

At the time of the discovery, the registered owner of the caravan is in custody on separate matters related to weapons and drug charges.

(January 21, 2025)

Police raid properties, including a Dural address next to the property where the caravan had been towed. Another home in Sydneys west is also raided.

Anthony Albanese convenes national cabinet to address the shocking rise of antisemitic hate crimes. Leaders agree to set up a national database, and federal police reveal foreign actors may be orchestrating recent attacks.

(January 29, 2025)

Details of the caravan are leaked and reported by The Daily Telegraph, which prompts New South Wales police and the premier, Chris Minns, to call a press conference. They make public the investigation into the potential mass casualty event.

A potential terrorist event

State police have not officially declared the incident an act of terrorism, but Anthony Albanese, when asked if he classified it as terrorism, stated: I certainly do. I agree with [the premier] Chris Minns. Its clearly designed to harm people but its also designed to create fear in the community. And that is the very definition.

Minns said the incident was a potential terrorist event. Webb said that people could be charged with terrorism-related offences without NSW police having to make a terrorism declaration.

The deputy commissioner on Thursday reiterated that the threat posed by the explosives had been mitigated. Hudson said the Powergel allegedly found in the caravan was almost exclusively used in the mining industry.

Hudson said the caravan allegedly contained written notes with Jewish entities nominated on them. There was also an antisemitic note found, police said.

Asked about speculation it was potentially a setup given the caravan with the explosives and notes had been left on a public road, the deputy commissioner told 2GB radio: Thats a consideration that we are looking at as well. Hudson said it was not unusual for criminal elements to tip off police but the caravan may have been recovered by the resident of Dural prior to that being able to occur.

Hopefully there was no threat, he said. But we cant confirm that so we are treating it at its highest and investigating it to its fullest.

Last week, the Australian federal police said foreign actors could be behind some of the recent antisemitic attacks across Sydney with people potentially being paid to commit crimes.

Hudson said on Thursday that police were investigating if some of them [the attacks] are being orchestrated by others  not the individuals.

We havent identified any of the individuals, of the 10 weve charged, with any specific ideology that would cause them to commit the acts that they have [allegedly] committed, the assistant commissioner said.

That indicates to us that they are being orchestrated in some manner. We have identified links between certain jobs, which gives us some indication there is a level of coordination above those [allegedly] perpetrating the offences.

Hudson told ABC radio on Thursday at this stage we believe that [alleged coordination] is domestic rather than international.

Jewish community

Webb said a police community engagement unit had informed the Jewish community about the caravan being discovered. But Jewish leaders claimed they were in the dark for 10 days until reading about the incident in the media.

Peter Wertheim, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said none of the 200 organisations his group represented were aware of the incident before Wednesday.

They shouldve told us earlier because the impact on the community then could have been managed, he said. We could have understood better what we are facing.

Wertheim said there are sometimes very good operational reasons for keeping an investigation secret  but that has to be balanced against other considerations.

The feelings in the Jewish community are not only of understandable concern and anxiety  but increasingly, one of anger.

Separately, there were more antisemitic graffiti attacks across Sydneys eastern suburbs overnight.

Mount Sinai College  a Jewish primary school in Maroubra next to a synagogue and a few hundred metres from a childcare centre that suffered an arson attack last week  and a nearby home were vandalised with fucking Jews graffiti and slurs that included calling Jewish people dogs and the real terrorists.

Antisemitic graffiti was also discovered on a residential street in Eastlakes and a car park in Eastgardens. Police foiled a further incident in the eastern suburbs, responding to the incident on the spot, they said.
Screenshot from Police Scotland advert

Police Scotland has recruited an OnlyFans porn actor to star in a domestic violence campaign.

The force used Ross Rankin, a Glasgow-based content creator known online as Rossy, to feature in a campaign that targets young men, urging them to recognise toxic behaviour to prevent abusive relationships from developing.

But it has faced severe criticism for casting the 25-year-old, who has published a series of gay porn videos on his publicly available X account, in which he describes himself as a little Scottish boy that can take a lot.

In the video, which Police Scotland published on its TikTok account, Mr Rankin is pictured in a car with another man, taking part in a common trend on the platform in which couples answer questions about their relationship.

Innocent initial questions such as Who has better taste in music? become more sinister, including Who demands to know where the other one is at all times?

The couple become increasingly uncomfortable and after a computer-generated voice asks Who threatens to leave if they dont get their way? Mr Rankin looks unhappy and turns the video off.

TikTok/Scottish Police

A voice-over then reads: Controlling behaviour can turn a loving relationship into an abusive one. Is your behaviour becoming a problem?

Police Scotland claimed it had carried out all reasonable checks to ensure campaigns met its values and said it had pulled the advert while it investigated concerns.

But campaigners said the force had been recklessly stupid and irresponsible to use a porn actor who they say promoted the very acts that the campaign was designed to stamp out.

On Wednesday, Mr Rankin criticised the force for failing to properly vet him and said an agreed fee of 780 had now been reduced to just 300 after his advert was pulled.

I got an email from a casting agent for a Police Scotland domestic abuse ad. I sent in a tape and got the job, Mr Rankin told The Telegraph.

If you see what I do, and you dont know the difference between consent and no-consent, then youre an idiot. A porn creator is exactly the kind of person who knows the difference.

Police Scotland has failed to carry out a vetting process properly, theyve made an a--- of themselves. Nobody cares what I do, everyones been supportive, the only people who seem to care are Police Scotland.

Ross Rankin uses social media to promote sexually explicit content

While there is no suggestion any of the content is not consensual, other videos show Mr Rankin apparently carrying out an act of public indecency, having sex with another man in the open in the Scottish Highlands.

Asked about the video, he said it had absolutely nothing to do with what were talking about.

The X account is used to promote paid-for explicit content, including an OnlyFans page where a monthly subscription costs 6.44.

Growing concerns over porn

Unlike other domestic abuse campaigns, the latest advertising drive prominently features young men, with police stating that in 80 per cent of cases the perpetrator is male.

Police Scotland said in December it was launching a campaign in response to domestic abuse crimes surging by more than 10 per cent.

The latest figures reveal there were 63,867 recorded incidents of domestic abuse by Police Scotland in 2023/24.

Mr Rankin is depicted as part of a same-sex couple, despite statistics showing these account for just 3 per cent of domestic abuse cases.

There are growing concerns that violent practices depicted in porn videos, which are easily accessible online, are giving young people a warped view of normal sexual practices and potentially putting partners at risk.

Susan Smith, a director for For Women Scotland, said: Along with many other groups, we have been raising the dangers associated with consumption of violent pornography for some time and the normalisation of harmful practices.

It is recklessly stupid and irresponsible of Police Scotland to lend any credibility to the notion that such acts can ever be safe  whether in gay or straight relationships.

She added: There is nothing edgy or liberating in promoting an exponent of extreme kink in any instance, but to do it in a domestic violence campaign is beyond belief.

Deeply inappropriate

Pam Gosal, the Tory MSP, said it was clearly deeply inappropriate for Mr Rankin to be a face of a domestic abuse campaign.

Serious questions must be asked as to why Police Scotland gave the green light for him to front it up, when his disturbing content is so readily available for everyone to see, she said.

At a time when domestic abuse cases are shamefully continuing to soar in Scotland on the SNPs watch, this sends out completely the wrong message to victims.

A force spokesman said: We have been made aware of an issue with our most recent domestic abuse advert. The advert has been removed while we look into the concerns raised.

Proportionate checks were carried out in advance of the adverts launch, however following a review of this matter, an additional level of vetting has now been introduced for anyone taking part in future campaigns.

Different levels of vetting are available to us and are always used proportionately for the role or service being provided.
The Prince of Wales grinned as he used his sample-collecting syringe to shoot pond water at watching reporters - Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire

The Prince of Wales asked a research scientist whether she could find the Loch Ness Monster, insisting that it was what everyone wanted to know.

The Prince expressed a previously unknown interest in the existence of the mythical Scottish creature on a visit on Wednesday to NatureMetrics, a DNA research organisation that was a 2024 finalist in the Earthshot Prize he founded.

He appeared fascinated by the organisations work extracting environmental DNA (eDNA) from water, air or soil samples.

The Prince tried his hand at pond dipping and was delighted to then be given the chance to spray cloudy pond water at the media, declaring: This is the best day of my life.

As he was shown examples of the companys work, the Prince asked Dr Kat Bruce, its founder: Everyone will want to know. Does this mean you can find the Loch Ness Monster?

The Prince of Wales was briefed by Dr Kat Bruce on her companys work around the world - Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire

Dr Bruce told him that despite numerous efforts, only eels had been discovered in the loch.

People have tried, she said. People came from New Zealand to try that and they took about 500 eDNA samples and no, they said they had found eels.

It might be a very big eel, but it felt like it was clutching at straws a little bit. All they needed to find was one unidentified piece of eDNA and they could have had a story.

Dr Bruce admitted that NatureMetrics had been asked to use their technology to find all sorts  including the Yeti and Bigfoot, the giant hairy creatures reportedly sighted in the Himalayas and North America respectively.

The Prince visited the company, based in Guildford, Surrey, to learn more about its work analysing environmental data to provide clients with comprehensive maps of life in a forest, lake or the air.

The Prince joined scientists in the NatureMetrics lab to extract DNA from a sample - Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire

He joined a group of schoolchildren collecting DNA samples to identify the local wildlife and bacteria present in a nearby lake.

Asked to expel the excess water, Dr Bruce suggested he shoot from his syringe in the direction of journalists. The Prince took three attempts before joking: Oh nearly, so nearly This is the best day of my life  great fun.

As he was shown a DNA extraction machine, which produces the DNA code sequence that can identify everything from bacteria to a blue whale, he told Dimple Patel, the NatureMetrics chief executive: So much of what the environmental world needs right now is data.

And you guys have got the ability to tell us whats there. Theres a lot of guesswork, theres a lot of painstaking volunteers and science going into this, but actually what we need is to be able to understand bigger, large-scale projects as to what is in each area.
There is a reasonable expectation that government decisions prioritise expert advice over ideological views, Dr Nick Yim says. Photograph: Tetra Images/Getty Images/Tetra images RF

The head of the Australian Medical Associations Queensland branch says the state must listen to doctors ahead of it own ideological views, after the government moved to block new child patients from accessing puberty blockers and other transgender hormone therapies.

The health minister, Tim Nicholls, announced the temporary ban on Tuesday, saying potential governance issues at a Cairns clinic had raised concerns about paediatric gender therapies state-wide.

The Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service released a statement clarifying that a review had found process issues with the clinic, but that there had been no evidence of patient harm.

Staff at the clinic reported receiving abuse after the announcement.

Dr Nick Yim, president of AMA Queensland, said claims of non-compliance with clinical guidelines should be investigated, but that investigations must be free from political pressures.

This is a highly sensitive practice area with a unique and vulnerable patient cohort, he said, and it is crucial that a knee jerk reaction to an isolated incident does not prevent these patients from accessing the support and care they need.

LGBTQIASB+ patients are at high risk of suicide and self-harm, with a recent Australian Government report showing nearly 75 per cent consider suicide at some point in their life.

It is vital these patients have access to safe health services that are free from judgement and discrimination.

Related: Elizabeth Struhs trial verdict: members of Queensland religious sect guilty of killing of eight-year-old

Yim said the government should implement the recommendations of last years independent review of the Queensland Childrens Gender Service, which had recommended the expansion of the service amid long waitlists.

There is a reasonable expectation that government decisions prioritise expert advice over ideological views, Yim said.

Before the 2024 election, Guardian Australia twice sent questions to the LNP opposition asking about their positions on puberty blockers and gender-affirming care.

Those questions  sent in September and October  received no response.

Asked about its refusal to comment prior to the election, Nichollss office said on Wednesday they could not speak to questions you may have asked in the past.

In response to other questions, including whether process issues at one clinic justified the statewide suspension of hormone treatments, Nichollss office referred to his media statements and press conferences this week.

Dr Portia Predny, vice-president of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, told ABC Radio National on Wednesday the decision was shocking and disappointing.



She said puberty blockers have been used for decades and not just for gender-affirming care but for precocious puberty and endometriosis.



Theres ample evidence that supports these medications as being safe, effective and reversible, Predny said.



All of the concerns that are being expressed about the safety of these medications are only being expressed in the context of gender-affirming care.

In Cairns on Wednesday, Nicholls said about 450 to 500 people were on the waitlist for the Queensland Childrens Gender Service at the time of the block on hormone treatments.

He said the review was a calm and methodical approach and that there was contested evidence related to the use of hormone therapies.

The health and wellbeing of children is our prime concern, he said.

There is a very significant amount of concern about children going down that pathway and the long-term effects  without an understanding of those long-term effects.

Nicholls said abuse of staff in Cairns was clearly unacceptable and that those staff were not involved in the circumstances that has prompted the reviews.

With Australian Associated Press
MBABANE  CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba says the Public Service PSs matter was reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) was responding to the application that has been filed by the principal secretary (PS) in the Industrial Court, challenging the decision of the commission that he should retire on February 3, 2025. In his answering papers, Mamba submitted that he only intervened after the matter had been reported to the ACC for investigation on how the alteration of his date of birth had been carried out. My intervention was that the matter should not be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission, but should be first dealt with internally since the applicant (Tsabedze) is a senior officer, Mamba informed the court.



He stated that upon perusing Tsabedzes file, he found that his registered date of birth for the Employment Form was February 3, 1965, even though there are many other dates of birth in the other documents as mentioned in the Civil Service Commission (CSC) ruling. Mamba also told the court that his awareness of the matter was only informal and did not extend to the alteration of the date of birth. The process leading to Tsabedzes alteration of the date of birth, according to Mamba, was wrong.He said, therefore, the requirement of the law was not complied with on the purported waiver. He informed the court that the under secretary (US) was not authorised in terms of General Order 9(2) to act as principal secretary. However, Mamba said he was not aware of the circumstances surrounding this matter since it was never referred to the CSC.



I even asked the applicant to respond to the legal opinion by the attorney general, which he never did. I also asked the secretary to Cabinet to also follow the attorney generals legal opinion in the matter. To therefore suggest that I condoned this unlawful act is not true. Mamba submitted that the decision of the commission was communicated to Tsabedze and the minister through their respective offices, when it was delivered on January 8, 2025. According to the CSC chairman, the present proceedings are misplaced. The applicant ought to have approached the commission for the alteration of the date. The commission would have performed its constitutional mandate and resolved the matter expeditiously.



The CSC as employer has the power in terms of the Constitution to ensure that officers do not illegally alter their dates of birth. Therefore, the commission has the requisite power to consider the applicants matter, said Mamba. He informed the court that the CSC exercised its constitutional mandate in terms of Section 186 when determining the PSs matter.

In terms of Section 186(c), the commission can exercise appellate functions, with power to vary, in respect of certain decisions by persons or authorities exercising delegated powers. He said this mandate was properly exercised in Tsabedzes matter.



Meanwhile, Tsabedze has filed an urgent court application in the Industrial Court, arguing that the ruling of the CSC is based on a series of unfortunate misunderstandings surrounding his date of birth. The heart of the matter lies in the conflicting dates appearing on official documents. Tsabedze revealed in his founding affidavit that his initial date of birth was recorded as January 1, 1963, a date he attributes to his illiterate grandfather who raised him and made an educated guess. Years later, with the assistance of his biological mother, he obtained an amended birth certificate reflecting his true date of birth: November 27, 1967. Adding to the confusion, Tsabedze included February 3, 1965, on his initial employment application in 1988. This, he explained, was based on information from his biological father who was uncertain of the exact date.
Rachel Reeves agreed to publish her tax return shortly after a major speech on the economy, where she did not rule out further tax rises - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Rachel Reeves has agreed to publish her tax return, just hours after refusing to share it with the public.

In an abrupt U-turn, the Treasury confirmed the Chancellor would release her tax affairs shortly after No 10 said Sir Keir Starmer would put his details in the public domain.

However, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, refused to do the same, with a spokesman saying she had no plans to publish the information.

The reversal comes ahead of the deadline for submitting self-assessment tax returns for the 2023-24 financial year on Jan 31.

Ms Reeves initially said she did not intend to publish her tax return following a major speech on the economy on Wednesday in which she refused to rule out more tax rises in the spring.

Taking questions from journalists, she insisted there was no precedent for chancellors or prime ministers to make the details public.

She said: Chancellors and prime ministers havent published their tax returns in the past, and I dont have any plans to do so.

However, it was quickly pointed out that both Rishi Sunak, the former Tory prime minister, and Jeremy Hunt, his chancellor, published information on their tax affairs while they were in government.

Sir Keir Starmer released his tax returns when he was leader of the opposition and intends to do the same as Prime Minister - Benjamin Cremel/Reuters

Sir Keir also released the information when he was leader of the opposition. In 2024, a summary of his return showed he paid almost 100,000 to the taxman in 2022-23.

When the issue was raised in a briefing with reporters after Prime Ministers Questions, No 10 confirmed that Sir Keir would continue to publish the details in Downing Street.

The Labour leaders press secretary said: He published his tax return in opposition and will do so as Prime Minister.

A Treasury source subsequently confirmed Ms Reeves would do the same.

However, Mrs Badenoch refused to make the same promise. A spokesman for the Tory leader said she had no plans to publish her tax details.

All of her declarations are made in line with the register of members interests, the spokesman said.

A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch said the Tory leader had no plans to publicise her tax return - Edward Massey/CCHQ

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said he would not publish his tax return for 2023-24 because he was not in the political post during that period.

He also said it was unlikely that he would release his details for the 2024-25 financial year, telling GB News: I will think about it but I doubt it. Do they want my inside leg measurements?

A summary of Mr Sunaks tax affairs published while he was in No 10 showed he paid more than 500,000 in UK tax for 2022-23 as his total income rose to 2.2 million.

Equivalent details for Mr Hunt showed he paid a total of 117,418 in UK tax in 2022-23. His total income before tax was 416,605, including 27,370 in rental income.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Who was Rachel Reeves trying to convince with her much-trailed growth plan? Her speech contained many of the reforms we have urged on successive Chancellors, such as less red tape and relaxed planning laws. Yet it exposed a complete misunderstanding of how economies function effectively, a classic socialist belief that the state is the provider of growth rather than a hindrance to it.

It is just a few short months since Sir Keir Starmer delivered his first conference speech as Prime Minister, promising the return of decisive interventionism. He believes that if the state wills something strongly enough then it must happen.

Latterly he has likened his enthusiasm for growth to that of Margaret Thatcher, but his approach is more that of Harold Wilson  a naive faith in the power of government to micromanage the economy.

The state is the problem, not the solution. But to Ms Reeves a long wish list of infrastructure projects is proof that Labour has suddenly morphed into a great champion of the free market, innovation and wealth creation.

She promised to tear down barriers to investment and junk dozens of pointless rules and regulations holding back businesses. Developments will no longer be thwarted by the presence of newts and bats; environmental blockers will be pushed out of the way; local objectors to nationally important infrastructure projects will be ignored; and a positively Trumpian approach to economic advancement will be adopted.

Growth will be kick-started through a range of major schemes, including the expansion of Heathrow and other airports, new towns linked by upgraded road and rail networks and a big push for technology hubs in cities like Cambridge and Oxford.

Will any of this really happen? There was an element of desperation about it all, as though no one had ever thought of any of this before. She professed her shock at discovering how long it took to get planning permission and how expensive many projects have become. Where has she been?

The problem with this much-trailed address is that none of it made any sense. How could the Chancellor promise to supercharge growth when she has imposed new tax burdens on the businesses that actually produce wealth and create jobs?

How could she promise deregulation when the Government is bringing in workplace rights that will make it more difficult to employ people.

Everything the Government has done since it came to power has been inimical to growth. Yet, listening to the Chancellor, you might have thought the economy was powering ahead rather than flatlining. Ms Reeves sounded upbeat after months of down-in-the-mouth rhetoric, but that merely served to make the whole exercise sound phoney.

She would not accept that her Budget, with its tax rises on employers, farmers and family enterprises has proved to be a drag on growth; nor will she concede that new union-friendly, day-one workplace rights will be a burden on businesses, even though they keep telling her they will be seriously affected.

Any government serious about growth would drop these measures, but Labour wont. They are good for workers, the Prime Minister told MPs.

They refuse to see that the dash to decarbonise the National Grid by 2030, coupled with the highest electricity prices in the industrialised world, is costly and reckless. They have nothing to say about the unsustainable costs of welfare (indeed, Sir Keir committed to the state pension triple lock in Prime Ministers Questions), or about declining productivity in the public sector, where it is hard to get officials to even return to their offices. These are massive brakes on growth.

There was nothing about how to get millions of people of working age back into the labour market and little detail about how to reduce immigration.

The big announcements were all long-term. A contrived internal row about Heathrow and net zero, intended to show the Government was ready to face down critics like Ed Miliband (who snubbed the speech) and Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, is irrelevant because it will never happen anyway.

The damage to the economy is happening now. If the Chancellor is serious about growth, then she needs an emergency Budget to reverse the tax and regulatory policies already introduced. Otherwise, why would anyone invest in Britain?
Rachel Reeves would rather talk about a future that might never arrive than a present that, thanks to her, is looking bleak - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

The slogan on the podium read kickstart economic growth, but over the course of 45 minutes, Rachel Reeves delivered what felt more like a televised plea to keep her job.

For anyone lucky enough to still be in work after the Chancellors jobs-killing Budget, and therefore too busy to watch her speech live, the gist of it was this: I might have made things worse, but I can make them better if you let me carry on for another 10 years.

The key to prosperity, she said, is stability. At a time when Sir Keir Starmer is having to contemplate whether to sack her, this felt like a less-than-subtle hint about her own position.

We stand at a moment of global change, she said, grandly. I want to see the sights and the sounds of the future arriving.

Ms Reeves, of course, would far rather talk about a future that might never arrive than a present that, thanks to her, is looking bleak.

By shifting the focus onto projects that will take at least a decade to realise, she avoided having to talk about the anti-growth measures she has championed, such as increasing employers National Insurance contributions, which has stifled growth and could cost 150,000 jobs according to some estimates.

To her credit, the Chancellor did acknowledge that the tax rise has consequences for business and beyond but instead of fixing that problem in the here and now, she talked only about grand schemes that, conveniently enough, the Government will not have to deliver before the next election.

As expected, she backed a third runway for Heathrow, which is unlikely to be ready before 2035 at the earliest, with years of planning and legal rows to come. She resurrected the idea of an Oxford-Cambridge arc  an idea to connect the two university cities by developing thousands of new homes and better transport between them  to create Europes version of Silicon Valley, which has been on, then off, then on again for decades.

Britain, she said, should be the best place in the world to be an entrepreneur, which makes her decision to make it more expensive for wealth creators to employ people all the more incoherent.

Taken at face value, there were plenty of positives in the Chancellors speech. Heathrow expansion and the Oxford-Cambridge arc have been big asks for British business for longer than most people can remember. Speeding up the planning system, and spending less time worrying about protecting bats and newts, is something most voters can get behind. Building an extra Thames crossing to unblock a bottleneck to Channel exports will help trade. Never mind the now, just think about tomorrow.

However, journalists who had made the trip to a Siemens medical technology site in Eynsham, near Oxford, quickly pricked her bubble.

If she is so committed to growth, the man from Channel 5 News asked, would she rule out any further tax increases on businesses, which have been the biggest barrier to growth since Labour came to power?

Ms Reeves, looking like the Wizard of Oz after the curtain was pulled back, could not rule that out.

What about Angela Rayners workers rights package, forecast to cost businesses 5 billion per year? Scrapping that could boost growth now, one reporter pointed out, rather than having to wait 10 years.

Ms Reevess rather odd response was that the workers rights package gives people the confidence to go out and spend, perhaps unaware that people dont go out and spend if they have lost their job because Labour has made it too expensive for firms to employ them.

When The Telegraphs own reporter asked if she could rule out further tax and spend measures in March, after the Office for Budget Responsibility publishes its spring forecast, she chided him for not having enough optimism.

Optimism for tomorrow, though, does not pay any bills today. Ms Reeves had just better hope that the Prime Minister doesnt realise that.
Robert F Kennedy Jrs combative Senate confirmation hearing for health secretary erupted into fierce exchanges on Wednesday morning, as Democrats confronted one of the USs most prominent vaccine skeptics, who will possibly be handed the reins of Americas public health system.

The Senate finance committee ranking member, Ron Wyden, challenged the 71-year-old Kennedy over seemingly contradictory statements, reading quotes from podcasts in which Kennedy had claimed no vaccine is safe and effective while testifying under oath that he supports vaccines. He read another quote from 2020 how Kennedy claimed he regretted vaccinating his children.

All of these things cannot be true, Wyden said. So are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine, or did you lie on all those podcasts?

Kennedy disputed Wydens characterization, claiming his podcast comment was taken out of context. [The host] asked me, Are there vaccines that are safe and effective? And I said  there are no vaccines that are safe and effective for every person, Kennedy responded.

I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing, as HHS secretary, to make it difficult or discourage people from taking it, Kennedy said.

Related: RFK Jr reportedly sought to block Covid-19 vaccinations at height of pandemic

The Colorado senator Michael Bennet accused Kennedy of peddling half-truths throughout his career, demanding yes or no answers about past controversial statements. When asked if he had called Lyme disease a highly likely military bioweapon, Kennedy said, I probably did say that, although he disputed other claims.

Bennet said: Out of 330 million Americans, were being asked to put somebody in this job who has spent 50 years of his life  peddling theories that create doubt about whether things we know are safe are unsafe.

Under tough questioning from the senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican and physician, Kennedy appeared to confuse Medicare and Medicaid, the government health programs for seniors and low-income people respectively.

Medicaid is not working for Americans and is not working for the target population, said Kennedy. Most people on Medicaid are not happy, the premiums are too high, the deductibles are too high, the networks are too narrow, he said.

Medicare, run by the federal government, has premiums and deductibles. Most Medicaid plans, run jointly by the state and federal governments, do not have premiums and deductibles, though it is true that networks can be narrow.

Kennedy then said Medicaid could be reformed with pilot programs and perhaps telemedicine, artificial intelligence and direct primary care  a doctors office business model that operates like a subscription model.

Americans dont, by and large, do not like the [Obamacare], they dont like it, they dont like Medicaid  and they like Medicare and they like private insurance, said Kennedy. They would prefer to be on private insurance. Most Americans, if they could afford it, would be on private insurance.

As health and human services secretary, Kennedy would oversee everything from vaccine policy to food safety, wielding enormous influence over public health decisions affecting millions of Americans. His controversial views  including debunked claims about vaccines and autism, fluoride safety and raw milk regulations  have put him at odds with mainstream medical consensus.

Kennedy told NPR in December that as a member of the administration, he was not going to take vaccines away from anybody, but he also added he wanted people to make informed choices.

Related: Caroline Kennedy calls cousin RFK Jr a predator ahead of confirmation hearing

In a letter to senators obtained by the Washington Post, Kennedys cousin Caroline branded him a predator, claiming he privately vaccinated his own children while publicly stoking vaccine hesitancy among worried parents. The accusation, from a former ambassador to Australia and Japan, lands as more than 15,000 medical professionals and 75 Nobel laureates have similarly mobilized against his confirmation.

Kennedys pledge to make America healthy again through stricter regulation of food additives has found a number of allies, even as Republican senators demand clarity on his stance toward abortion rights and vaccine policy.

The confirmation fight comes against a backdrop of shifting public attitudes: polling from Gallup over the summer showed nearly a third of Republicans now view vaccines as more dangerous than the diseases they prevent, a fivefold increase since 2001.

Despite the opposition, Kennedy will probably survive the hearings. The final voteis scheduled for next week.
Migrants are given warm clothing such as puffer coats in winter - Jeremy Selwyn

The taxpayer is providing new clothes and shoes to illegal Channel migrants at a cost of more than 3,000 a day, The Telegraph can reveal.

Men, women and children arriving at Dover have been handed the free clothes  including puffer coats, hats and gloves in winter and flip-flops in summer  at a total cost of almost 4 million over the past three years.

They are kept in a quayside store house, said by one former official to be as big as a Matalan or M&S store, with changing rooms to try the clothes on.

The Home Office stocks thousands of different sizes and shapes to replace all the migrants clothing, which it says is necessary because they are often soaked through with sea water and occasionally splashed with fuel, posing a health and safety risk.

Some are also offered free mobile phones to ensure that ongoing contact with immigration officials can be maintained, although the Home Office said this was rare and it could provide no figures on these costs.

The disclosure, revealed under freedom of information (FoI) laws, comes ahead of the Government unveiling its new border security legislation to deploy counter-terror-style powers to tackle people smuggling gangs. The Government has also confirmed it will repeal the Tories legislation that would have allowed migrants to be deported to Rwanda.

A group thought to be migrants on a coach in Dover wear blue and yellow coats - Jordan Pettitt/PA

The figures have prompted calls for migrants to be required to reimburse the taxpayer if they are subsequently granted the right to remain in the UK as a refugee. About 66 per cent of Channel migrants in the year to September 2024 were granted asylum.

Tony Smith, a former director general of Border Force, said: If they are allowed to stay, then they are going to be able to work and earn money. To me, thats a chargeable deduction on our investment in them like universities, where you have to borrow 30,000 to get your child in to study.

The new clothes cost the taxpayer 3,733,145 for 2022-23 and the first 10 months of 2024, equivalent to 3,624 a day for the 105,853 migrants who crossed the Channel during that period. It works out at 35.27 per migrant.

In 2022, the record year for crossings when 45,755 migrants reached the UK in small boats, the clothing cost the Home Office 2,047,756.77. In 2023, when crossings fell to 29,437 migrants, the bill dropped to 959,327.66 and for the first 10 months of 2024, it was 726,062.79.

It is understood the migrants are allowed to keep their old clothes, which are stored while the migrants are processed at the Manston reception centre in Kent.

A group of people thought to be migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel wrapped in matching blankets - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Each migrant who arrives first hands back their life jacket, then has to point on a board to the number for their age and a flag for their nationality. They are checked by medics before going to the clothing store, where they check they have the correct fitting clothes in a changing room. They are then transferred to Manston.

In its FoI response, the Home Office said: They are provided with a basic clothing pack similar to those issued via the Prison Service, consisting of underwear, socks, T-shirt, trousers/jogging bottoms, sweatshirt and weather-appropriate footwear such as flip-flops/sliders, plimsolls or trainers.

In colder weather, a coat, hat and gloves are included in the clothing pack. Children are also provided with age and weather-appropriate clothing packs, and  where necessary  nappies are also provided for babies.

The Home Office declined to give details on the brand of clothes.

It added: It has been the case since 2018 that some very basic (non-smart) mobile phone devices have been issued to a small number of arrivals on an exceptional basis for reporting purposes, where it was considered necessary to ensure that ongoing contact was maintained with the Home Office.

However, this is not a regular practice, and we hold no central data of the number of occasions on which it has occurred since 2018, or the cost involved.

Migrants who arrive on inflatable dinghies after crossing the Channel receive new clothing from the British authorities - Dan Kitwood/Getty

Charity sector should provide second-hand clothes

Critics demanded that the costly practice stop, and the Government should use the voluntary and charity sector to provide second-hand clothes instead of the taxpayer picking up the bill.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said: The taxpayer should not be footing any new clothing bill.

If Care for Calais and other Leftie luvvies care so much, they can source clothing from their donations.

Hard-working British taxpayers are sick and tired of being ripped off by these illegal arrivals.

Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migration Watch, said: There seems to be no end to the Governments largesse with taxpayers money. You arrive illegally, get dried off, re-clothed and put up in comfort to await the inevitable good news that you can stay for good.

Thats why record numbers will continue to come, and smashing the gangs is a pipe dream.

The Government is advertising a six-year contract worth 521 million to manage Western Jet Foil in Dover, where the migrants arrive, and the Manston reception centre.

In November, it was revealed the UKs bill for asylum seekers had hit a record 5.4 billion to pay for processing, accommodating and financially supporting the backlog of asylum seekers.

About 35,000 migrants were living in hotels costing the taxpayer more than 4 million a day.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are disrespecting our laws and should not be getting free clothes and accommodated in hotels  costing billions a year. These illegal immigrants do not need to cross the channel  France is safe and has a perfectly good asylum system.

Labour scrapped the Rwanda removals deterrent before it even started  and numbers of illegal immigrants crossing have subsequently gone up by 30 per cent since the election. Labour has no plan and has lost control of our borders.

A Home Office spokesman said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. Dismantling the people-smuggling gangs will not only save lives, but also continue to drive down costs such as these.

A Labour source added: This is rank hypocrisy from Chris Philp. The decision to hand out these clothing packs was made under a Tory government and half the spending highlighted in this release took place when he was personally working in the Home Office.

It also beggars belief for Philp to be criticising hotel costs when it was under his watch that spending on asylum hotels rose to 9 million a day.

Terror-style offences for people traffickers

Ministers have already announced that the Border Security Bill, due to be published on Thursday, will impose mobile phone and travel bans on suspected people smugglers to prevent them committing further offences as part of the new counter-terror-style powers.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency, police and Border Force will be able to use interim court orders to ban suspected people smugglers from using mobile phones, laptops and accessing social media even if they have not got enough evidence to prosecute them.

People smugglers caught with equipment such as boats, engines and life-jackets could also face new terror-style offences of preparing to traffic migrants.

Border Force officials are expected to get expanded powers under the 2000 Terrorism Act for enhanced stop and search powers for anyone suspected of being a people smuggler.

The new powers will enable officers to carry out personal searches, examine and seize mobile phones and copy any data on the devices of any suspects at ports and border control.
Assisted dying

The terminally ill do not have free choice on assisted dying because palliative care is so poor, a Marie Curie boss has warned.

Sam Royston, Marie Curies executive director of research and policy, told MPs the assisted dying bill offers inadequate guarantees over end-of-life care, risking vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives due to lack of support.

The hospice charity has a neutral stance on the Bill, which was proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, but Mr Royston said he was disappointed with its palliative care provisions.

He said it was not sufficient to require a doctor to inform a patient on the available options for palliative care, pointing out that the Bill does not ask them to say whether there should be any available palliative care, but instead just to tell them if it is available.

He said: That could be, no, theres nothing available, Im afraid. But that, I think, is inadequate.

He told MPs: We need to get palliative care sorted out and improved right now as part of this Bill because theyre fundamentally connected. This Bill is about choice. Its about choice at the end of life. If people cant choose to access palliative care, they cannot make a free choice about the care and support that they receive.

Mr Royston told MPs the Government has no plan at all to address the crisis in end-of-life care, noting that, unbelievably, the UK hasnt had a national strategy on this issue since 2000.

His speech was so passionate that, when he later reiterated Marie Curies neutral stance on assisted dying after being asked if the Bill should proceed without palliative care improvements, the committee burst into laughter.

On the second day of evidence, the 23 MPs scrutinising the Terminally Ill Adults Bill  which is currently in committee stage  were repeatedly warned about the legislations potential harm to vulnerable, elderly, mentally ill and disabled people.

Richard Robinson, chief executive of Hourglass, the UKs only elder abuse charity, told MPs they were witnessing an epidemic of abuse against older people. The charity supports 75,000 people annually, though the true extent of the problem is much larger, affecting 2.6 million people.

He was only invited to give evidence after The Telegraph reported that MPs had twice voted against hearing from the charity.

Baroness Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said no human rights assessment had been conducted.

She said: Even now, as the Bill is going through, it is not too late for the Government to do that, she urged, stating that the Commission was not entirely clear that a private members Bill is a suitable vehicle for this, to be entirely honest.

She added: I cant remember the Bill of such import going through as a private members Bill since perhaps David Steels 1967 Abortion Act.

Witnesses disagreed on whether Ms Leadbeaters assisted dying Bill would breach the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If it is challenged and is found to be discriminatory against groups it excludes, Parliament could be pressured to expand access.

Lady Falkner told MPs the ECHR was engaged by the Bill and, because it was untested, it remained unclear whether the legislation would be found discriminatory. Lord Sumption disagreed, saying he was very surprised by the debate.

He said: We must all be conscious of the fact that coercion, even when it is overtly applied, is extraordinarily difficult to detect.

We have to live with the limitations of what human beings can do, so that, in the end, I come down in favour of the principle behind this bill, but I regard it as an extremely difficult balance to draw, notably for that reason.

Chelsea Roff, a researcher and eating disorder expert, told MPs that her research has found that at least 60 people have been euthanised or assisted in suicide under assisted dying laws, including cases in Colorado, California and Oregon.

Mrs Roff told MPs that the wording of the Bill reads like a formula for coercion, explaining that if a physician were to say to a young woman with an eating disorder we have done all we can, the treatment options are exhausted your prognosis is poor, it leaves you with a feeling that you have nothing left to choose from, especially if you are struggling to access services.
This image made from a Nasa live stream shows Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore onboard the International Space Station in September 2024. Photograph: AP

Donald Trump has asked Elon Musks SpaceX to bring back two astronauts stranded in space, despite the fact that there is already an agreed plan for SpaceX to bring them back in March and Nasa saying they are not stranded anyway.

Trump said that he had asked Musk and SpaceX to get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. The US president added on Truth Social: Good luck Elon!!!

The two astronauts are Nasas Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were blasted into space in Boeings Starliner capsule in June, arriving at the International Space Station where they were expected to stay for just 10 days.

Technical issues, such as thrusters that did not work fully, delayed the duos return. The spacecraft returned to Earth without them and Wilmore and Williams have been at the space station ever since.

Nasa has insisted that the two astronauts are not stranded in space, akin to Matt Damon in The Martian, and that they could be returned at any time, but that bringing them back now could leave the space station understaffed and jeopardize the science and maintenance of the outpost, which is why new astronauts are generally brought up to replace returning ones.

Related: Nasa astronauts stuck in space since June face further delay

Indeed, the Biden administration already did partner with SpaceX to bring the duo home. A SpaceX capsule (Crew-9) is currently docked at the space station and waiting for the replacement capsule (Crew-10). That mission, jointly conducted by Nasa and SpaceX, will bring four new astronauts to the space station and bring back Wilmore and Williams. Last month, Nasa said the launch was been put back slightly, to March, because SpaceX needed more time to prepare.

Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long, Musk, SpaceXs founder and CEO, nevertheless posted on social media.
Donald Trump holds a signed executive order in the Oval Office. The presidents directive has sparked concerns it could affect Medicaid, FAFSA and other federally funded programs. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a move by US president Donald Trump to pause trillions of dollars in federal loans, grants and other financial assistance, moments before it was due to take effect.

Trumps acting head of the office of management and budget (OMB), Matthew Vaeth, had earlier instructed all federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance in a two-page internal memo. The directive was seen as part of Trumps desire to unravel programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Is the pause currently in effect?

The court order prevents the Trump administration directive from being implemented until at least next Monday, 3 February.

US district judge Loren AliKhan granted the temporary halt after several advocacy groups argued the freeze would devastate programs ranging from healthcare to road construction.

Federal grants and loans reach into virtually every corner of Americans lives, with hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into education, healthcare and anti-poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure and a host of other initiatives.

A coalition of non-profits, businesses and others in affected sectors grouped under a coalition called Democracy Forward are expected to proceed with a case that argues the Trump policy is unconstitutional.

The court will revisit the issue on Monday.

What did the memo say?

The White House issued the directive in a circulated memo as part of an across-the-board ideological review of its spending.

The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, the memo reads.

The memo was met with widespread confusion in Washington where civil servants struggled to understand its full extent scope and application.

How did Washington respond?

The White House did not immediately comment on the court order. It has said the freeze was needed to ensure federal aid programs were aligned with the Republican presidents priorities, including executive orders he signed ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Democrats have called the Trump directive unprecedented and devastating, with Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, describing it as a dagger at the heart of the average American families, in red states and blue states, in cities and suburbs and rural areas.

The US constitution gives congress control over spending matters, but Trump said during his campaign that he believes the president has the power to withhold money for programs he dislikes.

What were the immediate effects?

Even before the policy had come into effect it has caused widespread disruption to social provision in education, housing, and healthcare, and left millions fearing they would lose their jobs and access to healthcare and other services.

Despite the court-ordered pause, reimbursement portals for Medicaid, the largest program providing medical and health-related services to low-income people, were down on Tuesday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the government was aware of the Medicaid portal outage and no payments had been affected.

If the legal challenges against the Trump directive fail, everything from cancer research, food assistance, suicide hotlines, community health, universities, federal student aid (FAFSA), and the non-profit sector is expected to be affected.
Donald Trump (left) and Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on 26 July 2024. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Donald Trump has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House, in a major concession to a US ally who is wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes.

The invitation was made in a letter from the US president, which invited the Israeli prime minister to come to the White House on 4 February to discuss how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.

It will be my honor to host you as my first foreign leader during my second term, the letter read.

Trump has said he is not confident that the ceasefire in Gaza will hold. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel and Hamas should soon commence negotiating a longer-term peace that many fear will fail and lead to a return to bloodshed following more than 15 months of fighting.

Trump and Netanyahu have had a difficult personal relationship, but Israel remains the USs closest ally in the region. Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East envoy, is said to have had a tense conversation with Netanyahu in the days before a hostages-for-ceasefire deal was negotiated between Hamas and Israel, on the day before Trumps inauguration.

Since then, Trump has lifted a ban on supplying Israel with 2,000lb bombs that had been held back by the Biden administration in opposition to Israels overwhelming use of force against Gaza.

Related: The inside story of how an unlikely alliance of Trump and Biden led to historic Gaza ceasefire deal

Trump late last week suggested that the Gaza Strip could be just cleaned out and that more than 1.5 million people be sent to other Arab countries, in offhand remarks that appeared to reflect plans for an ethnic cleansing of the region.

Netanyahu has been accused by the international criminal court of bearing responsibility for targeting civilian populations and using starvation as a method of warfare during the Israeli militarys campaign in Gaza, which followed the 7 October raid by Hamas that killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and saw hundreds more taken hostage.

More than 120 member countries of the ICC should arrest Netanyahu if he sets foot on their territory, including most of Europe. The United States is not a party to the agreement and Republicans have introduced legislation to sanction the ICC for the warrants against Netanyahu and the former Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant. Democrats on Tuesday blocked that legislation.
Donald Trump said the move would bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime - Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Notorious military prison Guantanamo Bay will be used to detain thousands of criminal illegal aliens under plans announced by Donald Trump.

The detention centre in Cuba, which was opened in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, will hold up to 30,000 migrants who are living illegally in the United States and cannot be deported to their home countries, the president said.

Mr Trump made the announcement moments before signing the immigrant detention measure, the first law of his new administration.

Calling Guantanamo a tough place to get out of, he said the measures would bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all.

The detention centre in Cuba was opened in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks - Joe Raedle/Getty

We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people, Mr Trump said.

Some of them are so bad we dont even trust the countries to hold them, because we dont want them coming back.

The president said the move would double our capacity immediately to hold illegal migrants, amid a crackdown that he has promised at the start of his second term.

The plans were met with hostility from Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, who described using the naval base to house migrants as an act of brutality.

Mr Diaz-Canel, the Communist Party leader and long-term opponent of the US, said that Guantanamo is located in illegally occupied Cuban territory and is a place of torture and illegal detention.

It comes after Joe Biden, the former president, moved to shut down Guantanamo Bay, freeing a number of detainees and the US moving towards a plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged orchestrator of 9/11.

The president called Guantanamo a tough place to get out of - Shane T McCoy/US Navy/Getty Images

The last prisoner release during his days in office left 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 had cut the population of Guantanamo down from 40, much of which has happened in a push in his last weeks in office.

International deal-making and court battles were 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 site, known for its use of torture techniques.

The efforts to wind down the number of detainees culminated last year when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed struck a plea deal that would spare him and two co-defendants the risk of the death penalty.

Mr Trumps announcement came as he hosted the parents of Laken Riley, the murdered 22-year-old US nursing student whose name the new migrant crime bill act bears, at the White House.

It is the first bill Mr Trump has signed since his return to the White House, and was passed by the Republican-led US Congress passed the law just two days after Mr Trumps inauguration on Jan 20.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, a Venezuelan with no papers, was convicted of murdering Riley in 2024 after she went missing on her morning run near the University of Georgia in Athens.

We will keep Lakens memory alive in our hearts forever, Mr Trump said.

With todays action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country, and this is a very important law.
MBABANE  Two suspects, including a liswati national, were arrested in Mpumalanga, South Africa, after police intercepted a vehicle carrying over a tonne of dagga with an estimated street value of E1.2 million. According to IOL News, the incident occurred on the R538 Road near Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) during a routine patrol by officers from the White River Flying Squad Unit. Police spotted a suspicious white Toyota Quantum with two occupants and pulled it over for inspection. A subsequent search revealed 50 compressed bags of dagga weighing approximately 1 020kg.



The suspects, aged 23 and 30, were arrested and charged with dealing in dagga. The liswati national also faces an immigration-related charge for being in South Africa without valid documentation. Mpumalanga acting police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the officers for their vigilance. He emphasised that there is no room for criminals to operate freely and that police will continue to work tirelessly to ensure public safety. The suspects are expected to appear at the White River Magistrates Court soon, to face charges related to drug trafficking and immigration violations.
Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

The Trump administration has offered buyouts to almost all of the roughly 3 million people who work for the US government if they leave their jobs by 6 February, as the White House attempts to gut the civil service.

The US office of personnel management (OPM), the governments human resources agency, sent an email to the entire federal workforce on Tuesday evening with four directives that it says Trump is mandating. They included a full-time return to the office for most employees.

The email said that the federal workforce would be subjected to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct, aiming to retain only employees who were reliable, loyal, trustworthy. It warned that most agencies would be downsized.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program, the email reads. It offered workers more than seven months salary, and asked them to reply with the word Resign.

The email had the same subject line  Fork in the road  as one sent by Elon Musk to employees at Twitter in 2022 when he bought the social media platform.

Musk has been tasked by Trump with cutting as much as a quarter of all government spending. He does not work at the office of personnel management but a former employee of Musks, Amanda Scales, was recently made its chief of staff.

The unprecedented move appeared to defy rules that protect government employees from political interference and to immediately kneecap all federal government agencies.

Unions representing federal workers immediately condemned the offer.

The Virginia senator Tim Kaine called it a trick. If you accept that offer and resign, hell stiff you, Kaine said, referencing Trumps well-documented history of attempting to avoid paying contractors.

He doesnt have any authority to do this, Kaine said. Do not be fooled by this guy.

Trump has pledged to radically remake government, including significantly shrinking the federal workforce and cutting trillions of dollars of spending  an agenda his administration is attempting to implement at breakneck speed.

Since Friday, the US president has fired a dozen independent federal government watchdogs, as well as Gwynne Wilcox, a senior official at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), who described her dismissal as unprecedented and illegal. On Monday, the administration moved to freeze all grants and loans disbursed by the federal government  an effort that a judge blocked on Tuesday.

The American Federation of Government Employees denounced the latest move. The unions president, Everett Kelley, argued the offer was an effort to pressure workers who are not considered loyal to the new administration to leave their jobs  which could cause upheaval in federal programs.

Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, Kelley said in a statement.

Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

The mass departure of federal workers  from frontline healthcare workers in the veterans affairs department to the officials charged with processing loans for homebuyers or small businesses  could have sweeping consequences for Americans.

The New York Times reported that it could seriously disrupt American life on a vast scale, including most benefits traditionally termed welfare  including Medicare, social security and food stamps  as well as travel, tax returns, the normal function of national parks and national museums, passport renewals, medical research, other forms of science, the inspectors and regulators who make sure that food, water and pharmaceutical drugs are safe to consume, and even the accurate functioning of the National Weather Service.

The US government is the nations largest workforce with more than 2.4 million employees, not including post office workers. Project 2025, the conservative manifesto that has guided much of Trumps policy goals, calls for mass firings of federal workers and suggests replacing many of them with political appointees.

 This article was amended on 29 January 2025. An earlier version said that the US government is the 15th largest workforce, with more than 3 million employees. This has been corrected to say that the US government is the nations largest workforce with more than 2.4 million employees.
USAid has sent more than $7.6bn (6.11bn) in humanitarian and development aid to Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

Ukraine is reeling from the shock decision by the Trump administration to pause all US foreign aid programmes immediately, as a variety of projects in the country  from military veteran rehabilitation programmes to independent media and anti-corruption initiatives  have effectively been stopped overnight.

It was seen as inevitable that the incoming administration would overhaul USAid, the US development agency, but there was an expectation that spending on Ukraine, or at least some of the most critical programmes, would be subject to a waiver  or there would at least be a winding-down period.

Instead, a stop work order issued last Friday has left hundreds of projects without funding, initially for a 90-day review period. Attempts by the Kyiv USAid office to save funding for some of the most important programmes have reportedly been rebuffed in Washington.

They requested a waiver for some of the things they considered critical but didnt get it, said a source familiar with discussions over the future of USAid in Ukraine. Its clear that the new administration wants to destroy what was there before and build something completely new.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said his government would prioritise the most important USAid-funded programmes and try to cover them with alternative funding solutions.

There are programmes like those for prosthetic limbs, or those on special rehabilitation, which obviously cant just be ended abruptly. There will be a prioritisation, said Zelenskyys adviser Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview on Wednesday.

Military aid and direct budgetary assistance to Ukraine have not so far been affected, but USAid had sent more than $7.6bn (6.11bn) in humanitarian and development aid since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 and backed a remarkable range of projects across many sectors.

Related: Charities reeling from USAid freeze warn of life or death effects

This was the worst-case scenario, said George Chewning, the executive director of US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge, an organisation devoted to fostering links between military veterans in the two countries. He said several partner organisations in Ukraine had suddenly found out their projects would no longer be continued. One, Veteran Hub, said it was closing a telephone hotline that had provided support and counselling to traumatised veterans.

A lot of people thought there might be a thorough review and were prepared to justify their work and their projects but there certainly wasnt an expectation that the funding would be halted, said Chewning.

For veterans organisations, the cuts could not have come at a worse time, said Chewning, as Donald Trumps desire to negotiate an end to the war could result in hundreds of thousands of newly demobilised veterans needing to re-integrate into society. All our partners are now scrambling for additional funding, which was not easy to come by in the first place, he said.

USAid also handled a large number of regional humanitarian aid projects, many of which were left pondering how to fill the newly created gaps, and without any idea what would remain after the three-month review period.

It just impacts our morale  Do we wait for their continuation? Do we redirect these projects to other agencies? We dont really know what to do, said Vitalii Lukov, the deputy mayor of the southern city of Mykolaiv, which has been reliant on international aid since being severely damaged in the early months of the war.

USAid was the quickest to provide us with diesel generators and the energy efficiency projects are almost finished. But what will we do if Russia attacks our energy again tomorrow? Lukov asked.

The US development agency was also a supporter of many of Ukraines independent media outlets.

Bohdan Lohvynenko, the founder of the Ukrainer online news portal, said more than 80% of the sites funding came from the US, and the outlet was now in serious trouble. There is no viable advertising market for war reporting, leaving us with community support or a paywall model, he said. However, raising money in this way during wartime was very difficult, he said, with most citizens preferring to use their money to support the military.

Some [media outlets] will survive but many will not. Already a lot of people are losing their jobs, said Katerina Sergatskova, a co-founder of the 2402 foundation, which provides support and training to Ukrainian journalists. If places have a cash reserve they may be able to survive for the next three months, she said, until it became clear which USAid projects would be continued.

The stop work order meant that projects were abruptly ended with almost no warning. Oleh Velhan was one of thousands of Ukrainians to receive an email earlier this week informing him that his service agreement would be suspended, starting from Wednesday and until further notice. Velhan worked for a company that provided services to an organisation working in the healthcare sector.

The suspension was in order to assess the effectiveness of programmes and their compliance with United States foreign policy, said the email. A few minutes after receiving the message, Velhan found he was locked out of his work email account. I felt frustrated and angry. All the projects I had been working on are gone. Ive been notified that the contract might be renewed  but the uncertainty is killing me, he said.
A woman and child in front of a UN refugee agency location in Kenya. Photograph: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy

UN agencies have begun cutting back their global aid operations following the 90-day suspension of all foreign assistance ordered by the Trump administration.

Filippo Grandi, the head of the UNs refugee agency, UNHCR, responsible for providing life-saving assistance to the 122 million people forcibly displaced from their homes across 136 countries, sent out an overnight email to employees ordering an immediate clampdown on expenditure, including a 90-day delay in ordering new supplies except for emergencies, a hiring and contract freeze, and a halt to all international air travel, as the agency tries to adapt to the US funding freeze.

The new US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, claimed that the US freeze would not affect life-saving aid defined as core medicine, medical services, food, shelter, subsistence assistance and supplies, and that it was focused on aid programmes involving abortion, family planning or gender ideology. However, the initial impact of the freeze immediately cut humanitarian assistance across the board and around the world.

Grandi said the majority of UN agencies and other international aid organisations have been affected. Around the world, humanitarian assistance programmes have been forced to fire staff and slow down operations following the unprecedented US funding suspension ordered by Trump, pending a review of all aid programmes. Only emergency food programs and military aid to allies Israel and Egypt have been exempt.

Related: Charities reeling from USAid freeze warn of life or death effects

In his all-staff email, Grandi said: We must proceed very carefully over the next few weeks to mitigate the impact of this funding uncertainty on refugees and displaced people, on our operations and on our teams.

These steps will help us manage resources while we navigate this challenging period, he added. What is clear is that more than ever, we must continue to demonstrate the impact and efficiency of our work.

The US provided 2bn ($2.49bn) in funding to the UNHCR, according to the latest figures for 2024  a fifth of the agencys total budget.

The Trump funding suspension, ordered by Rubio, comes at a time when more of the worlds population than any time since the second world war have been forced from their homes by war or unrest, either as refugees beyond their nations boundaries or displaced within their own countries.

For far too long, the United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy have not been aligned with American interests and, in many cases, antithetical to American values, the state department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, said. They serve to destabilise world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.

The American people have demanded an end to policies that have harmed our nation for far too long and expect a return to commonsense initiatives and priorities. The time for that is now, Bruce added.

The Trump administration sought to make an unspecified aid programme sending condoms to Gaza an emblem for wasteful aid spending.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: There was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza, without providing evidence of the programme. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars, whether that affects Meals on Wheels or Head Start or disaster aid.

The Trump administration placed nearly 60 senior officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAid) on leave on Monday, on suspicion they had been helping humanitarian organisations cope with the freeze.

Related: Trump administration puts about 60 USAid officials on leave after aid freeze

We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the presidents executive orders and the mandate from the American people, Jason Gray, the agencys acting administrator, previously its chief information officer, wrote in an email seen by the Devex development news agency. As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions.

A copy of a US stop-work order seen by the Guardian told a European grantee that the recipient must stop all work on the program and not incur any new costs after the effective date [of 24 January]. The recipient must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible.

Current and former USAid officials warned that the stop-work orders that have gone out around the world could put millions at mortal risk, especially if coupled with a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood.

If theres a tropical cyclone that hits Coxs Bazar tomorrow, then how are you going to save all those people, and then how are you going to rebuild if theres a stop-work order? said a former senior USAid official, referring to the city in Bangladesh where more than 1 million Rohingya refugees are living. You could have people sitting there for 90 days and sitting and waiting for what? Thats what worries more.

The state department on Tuesday said that it would be investigating egregious funding that included $102,236,000 to fund the International Medical Corps in Gaza, $16,840,876 to fund institutional contractors in the gender development office and $612,000 to fund technical assistance for family planning in Latin America.

The sweeping moves in the first days of the Trump administration are causing increasing friction with US allies. In the UN security council on Tuesday, the French envoy condemned the Israeli governments implementation of a ban on operations of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa  something the Trump administration has emphatically supported.

There is no credible alternative to Unrwa. Unrwa plays an essential humanitarian role, but it also provides public services. And it does so at a third of the cost of other UN agencies, the envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, said.

The Gaza Strip must be part of a future Palestinian state, de Riviere said, a day after Trump had mused about transferring Gazas Palestinian population to Egypt or Jordan. He added that Saudi Arabia and France would host an international conference in New York in June to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Spanish military police searching for missing people in Pedralba, Valencia, on Wednesday, almost three months after the flash floods. Photograph: Kai Forsterling/EPA

A Peoples party (PP) politician in the city of Valencia has apologised after cameras appeared to capture him shopping online for wine and spirits as his fellow city councillors debated additional funding for areas affected by Octobers deadly floods.

Nearly three months after flash floods ravaged part of the Valencia region, turning streets into rivers, sweeping away cars and killing more than 220 people, many continue to reel from the worst natural disaster to hit Spain this century.

In the city of Valencia, as part of Tuesdays plenary session, councillors weighed a proposal to set aside an additional 25m (21m) to help areas where people were still struggling to recover.

Instead the focus ended up on Jose Mari Olano, after the councillor was caught on the sessions livestream appearing to scroll through bottles of wines and spirits and add them to his online basket, according to the news site eldiario.es.

Opposition politicians reacted with fury. Buying wine while the reconstruction of the affected areas is being debated is one of the saddest things I have ever seen in politics in my life, said Papi Robles of the leftwing Compromis coalition.

Related: Were still in survival mode: anger persists in Valencia weeks after floods

Olano was the latest PP politician in Valencia to come under fire. Since the floods swept through Valencia, tens of thousands of people have taken to streets across the region to call for the resignation of Carlos Mazon after it emerged the regional president had taken a three-hour lunch on the same day that the flood waters were rising.

As images of Olanos online shopping jaunt began to make the rounds on social media, the politician stood up in the plenary to acknowledge what he described as his incorrect conduct.

He said: I ask to address the floor to apologise publicly to all of you and the citizens, whom we all represent.
Victoria Smillie was one of the Watford Five chosen to present the acceptable face of feminism and womens lib in the media in the early 70s Photograph: none

My wife, Victoria Smillie, who has died aged 75, was a force of nature. In 1972, under her earlier married name of Lesley Mitchell, she was one of five women (nicknamed the Watford Five) invited by the Women in Media group to take on the task of presenting the acceptable face of feminism and womens liberation in lobbying both the media and MPs for the passing of the sex discrimination bill.

The five (the others were Eileen Vielvoye, Rosemary Todd, Blanche McCorkell and Pat Howe) were friends who met in Watford to discuss feminism and womens liberation matters and came to wider attention when they were interviewed by the Daily Mirror journalist Marjorie Proops. Then Shirley Conran, who was doing publicity for Women in Media, got in touch and became their campaign manager.

They were interviewed by national papers including the Sunday Times, and heard and seen on national broadcasts including Pebble Mill at One, and were instrumental in raising 100,000 signatures in support of the bill. It was passed into law as the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Victoria was born Lesley Victoria Nelson in Liverpool, the younger daughter of David Nelson, a senior accountant at Hendersons department store, and Jean (nee Anderson). In 1967 she was unceremoniously thrown out of Waterloo Park girls grammar school when she became pregnant with her first daughter, Cathy, and was thus unable to take her A-level exams.

She married soon afterwards, and had another daughter, Jenny  both daughters were born with progressive Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome and became wheelchair users. While raising her children, she found work as a journalist on the Bucks Examiner. When her marriage ended in divorce, she decided to break with the past by changing her name by deed poll to Victoria Smillie, in recognition of her Scottish roots.

After moving to East Anglia, she worked on the local paper in Hadleigh, Suffolk, where she also developed a love of amateur dramatics, playing the heroine in a local production of Sweeney Todd. She studied for a history degree at Essex University, graduating in 1981, and at the Henley Business School.

Victoria joined BT in 1981, as it became independent from the Post Office, working as a senior manager responsible for the recruitment and training of those boffins who drove the ongoing research into advanced telecommunications technology. She was also a trailblazer in getting disabled people accepted in industry, for which she received a Churchill fellowship.

Taking early retirement in 1996, she retrained as a person-centred counsellor at the University of East Anglia, and went on to become senior counsellor at Norwich Union insurance.

In 2005 Victoria became the CEO of the Mancroft advice project, and helped its transition into a charity helping address the many needs and issues facing young people in Norwich. She finally retired in 2009.

Victoria was a woman of extraordinary drive, wit, fun and empathy for others. She and I met in June 1999 at an Archers Addicts convention in Torquay  I have been playing Mike Tucker on The Archers since 1973. We settled together in Bawburgh, near Norwich, and were married in 2004.

She is survived by me and her daughter Jenny, and her sister, Margaret. Cathy died in 2005.
Rachel Reeves will pledge to fight for growth and say that Britain can do so much better in a major speech, after Cabinet ministers were ordered to ditch policies that could stand in the way of growing the economy.

The Chancellor will say that Britain has fundamental strengths but has been held back and accepted stagnation in her address in Oxfordshire on Wednesday.

Ms Reeves will also use the speech to claim the so-called Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor has the potential to be Europes Silicon Valley and offers huge economic potential for our nations growth prospects.

Centred around growth, it is also expected to include support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport  an issue which some Cabinet ministers have opposed in the past  and reiterate the Governments support for the redevelopment of Manchester Uniteds Old Trafford.

During her speech, Ms Reeves is expected to describe Britain as a country of huge potential but also say that for too long, that potential has been held back.

For too long, we have accepted low expectations, accepted stagnation and accepted the risk of decline. We can do so much better, she will say.

Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight. Without a Government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our countrys course for the better.

It comes as the Chancellor and Sir Keir Starmer suggested to business leaders that Cabinet colleagues have been ordered to ditch policies which could stand in the way of their efforts to grow the economy.

New reservoirs and a new train station are among the measures set to be announced by the Chancellor during the speech, which will include plans to boost connectivity in the region around the two university cities.

As part of the delivery of what Ms Reeves will call the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor, she will also touch on funding for East-West rail, a long-proposed railway line that would connect the cities, as well as a new railway station in Tempsford.

She will say the cities are two of the least affordable in the UK and existing transport options mean that to travel between them by train takes two-and-a-half hours while there is no way to commute directly from towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes to Cambridge by rail.

Oxford and Cambridge offer huge economic potential for our nations growth prospects, she is expected to say.

Just 66 miles apart, these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally-renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing and AI.

It has the potential to be Europes Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.

She will later add: In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region.

It is also expected the Chancellor will touch on the Environment Agency having dropped its objections to a new development near Cambridge that could see 4,500 new homes being built.

In December, South Cambridgeshire District Council announced that planning permission had been issued for up to 4,500 new homes at Waterbeach after the Environment Agency had withdrawn their opposition.

Sir Patrick Vallance is to be appointed as the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor champion (Lucy North/PA)

As well as proposals to update transport in the region  including an upgrade to the A428  there are also plans for nine new reservoirs after ministers reached agreement over billions in water company investment over the next five years.

Alongside support for a proposed third runway at west Londons Heathrow, it is expected the Treasury will also endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton airports.

There has also been speculation that Ms Reeves will support the Lower Thames Crossing  a proposed road crossing between Kent and Essex  as well as a Universal Studios theme park near Bedford.

Science minister Sir Patrick Vallance will be appointed as the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor champion.

Sir Patrick, who was seen regularly during the Governments Covid briefings in his then-role as the governments chief scientific adviser, will make sure the Governments ambitions in the region are delivered, the Treasury said.

On Tuesday, it emerged that Ms Reeves and the Prime Minister have ordered Cabinet colleagues to ditch policies that could get in the way of their efforts to grow the economy.

Sir Keir told business chiefs at a meeting in the City of London that he was hard-wiring growth into all the decisions of the Cabinet and that what Rachel and I have done is to make it clear to each of our Cabinet colleagues that in each of their briefs, growth is the number one mission.

Ministers will be expected to set out the growth credentials of new policies in order to get approval from their Cabinet colleagues, in a shake-up to the usual system to get collective agreement on substantive changes.

The Prime Minister has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald to implement the changes.

The rules mean the economic impacts of proposals will be subjected to the same rigorous assessment that already applies to new public spending.

But Downing Street acknowledged the new requirement would not necessarily block all policies that harmed growth.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The decision-making will continue to be for the Cabinet; we are not going to pre-empt Government decision-making.

The point is the growth impact, the growth credentials, must be presented  much like public spending implications must be presented  such that in reaching collective agreement it is very clear what the impact of those decisions will be on growth.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride has claimed that the biggest barriers to growth are Sir Keir, Ms Reeves and their financial plans.

Ahead of the speech on Wednesday, Mr Stride said: Hastily cobbled together announcements of growth in the 2030s will do nothing to help the businesses cutting jobs right now because of Labours punishing jobs tax, the companies being crushed under their barrage of new regulations, or the farmers facing bankruptcy over the cruel family farm tax.
Rachel Reeves has given her backing to a new 9 billion road crossing between Kent and Essex.

The Chancellor said the 14.3-mile Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is an important project and the Treasury is exploring options for it to be privately financed.

Preparatory work on the scheme has been ongoing since 2009, and hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers money has been spent on planning.

(PA Graphics)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to make a final decision on whether to approve National Highways application for a development consent order to build the scheme by May 23.

The Lower Thames Crossing proposal is aimed at reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing with a motorway-style road.

It would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex through a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UKs longest road tunnel.

National Highways says the plan will almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London, describing it as our most ambitious scheme in 35 years.

It is aiming to start construction in 2026, with the road opening in 2032.

In a speech on growth in Oxfordshire, Ms Reeves said: We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves described the Lower Thames Crossing as an important project (Peter Cziborra/PA)

This includes the Lower Thames Crossing, which will improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich, alleviating severe congestion, as goods destined to export come from the North and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas.

To drive growth and deliver value for money for taxpayers, we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: Any regular user of the Dartford tunnels and bridge knows just how badly the Lower Thames Crossing is needed.

Given there was always an expectation of the new crossing being tolled, the search for a private financier to help meet the construction costs is not surprising.

Road Haulage Association managing director Richard Smith said this was a major victory for our sector and claimed the nationally significant scheme has the potential to turbocharge the economy.

He added: After many years of delays in giving LTC the green light, todays announcement will be a welcome relief to operators of lorries, coaches, and vans who must navigate the daily knock-on economic impact of persistent delays.

Thurrock Council in Essex has consistently opposed the project, citing negative economic, social and environmental impacts, but the leader of Kents Dartford Borough Council is in favour of it.

Friends of the Earth has described the scheme as damaging.

Responding to Ms Reevess comments, campaign group Transport Action Network said: Exploring options for privately financing the LTC does nothing to address its fundamental flaws: generating ever more traffic and harmful emissions, devastating the market for international rail freight, and damaging the competitiveness of our seaports north of the Thames.

With tolls at Dartford and the LTC set to be equalised, they will inevitably rise even higher to pay back investors.
Reeves looks to the skies in search of economic growth with support for Heathrow

Rachel Reeves promised to systematically remove barriers to growth as she set out Government support for the Heathrow expansion in the hope of kickstarting the UKs stuttering economy.

The Chancellor insisted she was prepared to fight for new housing, infrastructure and business projects, including tearing up environmental regulations which hamper construction to protect the bats and the newts.

Her support for Heathrow will see her face down Labour critics and environmental campaigners, but she insisted support for the runway would support the economy across the country and showed the Governments seriousness.

Official figures have shown little or no economic growth since Labour took office in July, with Ms Reeves Budget imposing national insurance hikes on businesses, hitting confidence and potentially costing 50,000 jobs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out support for a series of major infrastructure schemes around Oxford and Cambridge during her speech in Oxfordshire (Peter Cziborra/PA)

But Ms Reeves used a speech at a medical equipment firm in Oxfordshire to give a notably upbeat assessment of the UKs economic prospects saying the Government had begun to turn things around.

We have fundamental strengths in our history, in our language and in our legal system to compete in a global economy, but for too long that potential has been held back. For too long we have accepted low expectations and accepted decline, she said.

We no longer have to do that. We can do so much better. Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight, without a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our countrys future for the better.

She highlighted the long-delayed Heathrow expansion project as an indication of the problems that had beset the UK economy.

For international investors, persistent delays have cast doubt about our seriousness towards improving our economic prospects, she said.

(PA Graphics)

Ms Reeves said the Government wanted proposals for a third runway to be produced by the summer, which will then face a full assessment through the airport national policy statement to ensure it is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.

Environmental campaigners staged a protest against the decision outside the venue for her speech.

Confirmation of support for Heathrow was one of a series of measures outlined by Ms Reeves, including:

 Plans for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, which she said could become Europes Silicon Valley and add 78 billion to the UKs economy by 2035.

 New reservoirs will be built near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and in the Fens near Cambridge. They will be among nine new reservoirs built as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest 7.9 billion to improve infrastructure.

 Funding for the East-West rail link joining Oxford, Cambridge and towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes that sit between them will be confirmed, as well as upgrades to the A428 road.

Activists from Fossil Free London and Green New Deal Rising protest against airport expansion plans outside Siemens Healthineers in Eynsham, Oxfordshire (Jacob King/PA)

 A new Cambridge cancer research hospital will be prioritised as part of the new hospitals programme.

 Oxford will get a growth commission, similar to one set up in Cambridge, aimed at helping the city and surrounding region to grow its economy.

 The Government will back the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport as South Yorkshire Airport City.

 A 65 million investment by the National Wealth Fund in expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

 Government guidance on appraising major projects will be reviewed in order to support investments outside of the wealthy and productive South East of England.

 The Trade Secretary will travel to India to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement with the country.

Farmers gathered to protest against Rachel Reeves budget (Jacob King/PA)

The Chancellor used her speech to defend the decisions she took in her first Budget, saying that taking the right decisions for the economy does not always mean taking the easy decisions.

She added: I accept that there are costs to responsibility, but the costs of irresponsibility would have been far higher. Those who oppose my budget know that too.

A group of farmers angry at the Budgets inheritance tax changes staged a noisy protest outside the Siemens Healthineers plant in Oxfordshire while Ms Reeves spoke.

The Chancellor also insisted the Governments package of new employment rights went hand in hand with a strong economy, despite concerns from businesses about the economic impacts.

She said having job security gave ordinary working people the confidence to go out and spend in the economy.

But other forms of red tape were firmly in the Chancellors sights: The problems in our economy, the lack of bold reform that we have seen over decades, can be summed up by a 100 million bat tunnel built for HS2, the type of decision that has made delivering major infrastructure in our country far too expensive and far too slow.

So we are reducing the environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into a nature restoration fund that we have created, so they can focus on getting things built and stop worrying about the bats and the newts.

Suggesting that the major projects set out in her speech could start being built on a faster timetable than previous schemes, she said: We are systematically, one by one, removing the barriers that held back our growth performance for too long.

She said the Government wanted to crack on with things so people could feel the effects of economic growth in their own pockets by the time that this Parliament comes to an end.

But shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: The biggest barriers to growth in this country are Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and their job-destroying budget  and nothing in the Chancellors speech proved otherwise.
Rachel Reeves has rejected criticism of the Governments support to expand Heathrow Airport after she set out plans to remove barriers to growth in the hope of kickstarting the UKs stuttering economy.

The Chancellor said the economy will stagnate if you always give in to objections and that the answer to new infrastructure cant always be no as Labour Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he would seek to halt a third runway going ahead.

Her support for Heathrow will see her face down Labour critics and environmental campaigners, and figures from the aviation industry have voiced scepticism about the plans.

Ms Reeves said in a speech at a medical equipment firm in Oxfordshire that she was prepared to fight for new housing, infrastructure and business projects, including tearing up environmental regulations which hamper construction to protect the bats and the newts.

She insisted support for the runway would support the economy across the country and showed the Governments seriousness.

Official figures have shown little or no economic growth since Labour took office in July, with Ms Reeves Budget imposing national insurance hikes on businesses, hitting confidence and potentially costing 50,000 jobs.

But Ms Reeves gave a notably upbeat assessment of the UKs economic prospects in her speech, saying the Government had begun to turn things around.

We have fundamental strengths in our history, in our language and in our legal system to compete in a global economy, but for too long that potential has been held back.

For too long we have accepted low expectations and accepted decline, she said.

We no longer have to do that. We can do so much better.

Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight, without a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our countrys future for the better.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out support for a series of major infrastructure schemes around Oxford and Cambridge during her speech in Oxfordshire (Peter Cziborra/PA)

She highlighted the long-delayed Heathrow expansion project as an indication of the problems that had beset the UK economy.

For international investors, persistent delays have cast doubt about our seriousness towards improving our economic prospects, she said.

She later said she wanted spades in the ground on new projects announced today during this Parliament.

We want that to happen in this Parliament. I want spades in the ground, I want people to see in their areas things happening, growth happening, she told BBC News.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to Heathrow expansion because of its impact on noise, air pollution and meeting the UKs climate change targets.

He said the last plans for a third runway at Heathrow involved building a tunnel under the M25 motorway and bulldozing a village.

(PA Graphics)

I will as the Mayor of this great city, as a pro-business Mayor, somebody who takes tackling the climate emergency seriously, but also thinks a green transition is one of the greatest opportunities we have this century, Ill use any tool in the toolkit to stop a third runway happening, he told Andrew Marr on LBC.

The Chancellor was asked on the same programme what her message to Sir Sadiq and others opposing Heathrow expansion would be.

She said: Look, the answer to new infrastructure cant always be no.

Thats what happened under the last government.

And nothing got built and nothing got done and living standards deteriorated.

So, it does mean having to take on people who are against new developments, whether it is wind farms, airports or new rail lines.

And the problem is, is if you always give in and say, Oh, okay, there some objections to this, well end up in a situation where the economy continues to stagnate, living standards decline, and will be no further forward than we are now.

She has declined to put a timeline on when the runway could be operational.

The Government wants proposals for a third runway to be produced by the summer, which will then face a full assessment through the airport national policy statement to ensure it is in line with legal, environmental and climate objectives, she said.

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary described Heathrow expansion as a dead cat, saying it would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest and would not bring any growth.

He urged the Chancellor to instead scrap air passenger duty (APD) during a press conference.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said the hurdles ahead of a third runway were very significant and cast doubt on Ms Reeves plans for sustainable aviation.

Sustainable fuel is a real thing, but we need it in significantly greater volumes than are available today  So mandating airlines to use a fuel source that doesnt exist today doesnt make an awful lot of sense, he told LBC.

Environmental campaigners staged a protest against the decision outside the venue for her speech.

Confirmation of support for Heathrow was one of a series of measures outlined by Ms Reeves, including:

 Plans for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, which she said could become Europes Silicon Valley and add 78 billion to the UKs economy by 2035.

 New reservoirs will be built near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and in the Fens near Cambridge. They will be among nine new reservoirs built as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest 7.9 billion to improve infrastructure.

 Funding for the East-West rail link joining Oxford, Cambridge and towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes that sit between them will be confirmed, as well as upgrades to the A428 road.

Activists from Fossil Free London and Green New Deal Rising protest against airport expansion plans outside Siemens Healthineers in Eynsham, Oxfordshire (Jacob King/PA)

 A new Cambridge cancer research hospital will be prioritised as part of the new hospitals programme.

 Oxford will get a growth commission, similar to one set up in Cambridge, aimed at helping the city and surrounding region to grow its economy.

 The Government will back the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport as South Yorkshire Airport City.

 A 65 million investment by the National Wealth Fund in expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

 Government guidance on appraising major projects will be reviewed in order to support investments outside of the wealthy and productive South East of England.

 The Trade Secretary will travel to India to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement with the country.

Farmers gathered to protest against Rachel Reeves budget (Jacob King/PA)

The Chancellor used her speech to defend the decisions she took in her first Budget, saying that taking the right decisions for the economy does not always mean taking the easy decisions.

She added: I accept that there are costs to responsibility, but the costs of irresponsibility would have been far higher.

Those who oppose my budget know that too.

A group of farmers angry at the Budgets inheritance tax changes staged a noisy protest outside the Siemens Healthineers plant in Oxfordshire while Ms Reeves spoke.

The Chancellor also insisted the Governments package of new employment rights went hand in hand with a strong economy, despite concerns from businesses about the economic impacts.

She said having job security gave ordinary working people the confidence to go out and spend in the economy.

But other forms of red tape were firmly in the Chancellors sights: The problems in our economy, the lack of bold reform that we have seen over decades, can be summed up by a 100 million bat tunnel built for HS2, the type of decision that has made delivering major infrastructure in our country far too expensive and far too slow.

So we are reducing the environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into a nature restoration fund that we have created, so they can focus on getting things built and stop worrying about the bats and the newts.

Suggesting that the major projects set out in her speech could start being built on a faster timetable than previous schemes, she said: We are systematically, one by one, removing the barriers that held back our growth performance for too long.

She said the Government wanted to crack on with things so people could feel the effects of economic growth in their own pockets by the time that this Parliament comes to an end.

But shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: The biggest barriers to growth in this country are Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and their job-destroying budget and nothing in the Chancellors speech proved otherwise.
A stage adaptation of Neil Gaimans book Coraline has been scrapped following sexual misconduct allegations about the author.

Gaiman, 64, has denied the allegations and said he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.

Co-production partners, Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and Home Manchester, said in a joint statement: We have decided our production of Coraline  A Musical will not proceed.

After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author.

Writer Neil Gaiman, Josie Lawrence, Director Douglas Mackinnion, Jon Hamm, Adria Arjona and David Tennant attending the premiere of Good Omens (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Ticket holders have been contacted directly via email.

Coraline is a dark fantasy childrens novel that tells the story of a young girl who unlocks a door into a different and unusual world.

Hollywood actress Dakota Fanning and comedians Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders were among the stars who lent their voices to a film adaptation in 2009.

The musical was due to be staged at Leeds Playhouse from April 11 to May 11 before touring to Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

In a blog post, earlier this month, the author said he had read the allegations with horror and dismay, following claims made by eight women against the writer in an article published by New York Magazine.

The allegations were made public in July 2024 when a Tortoise Media podcast series reported on sexual assault allegations against Gaiman by five women.

Since the allegations first surfaced, several film and TV adaptations of Gaimans stories have reportedly been affected, including season three of Good Omens, which he jointly wrote with Terry Pratchett, and a film of The Graveyard Book.

On Saturday, Dark Horse Comics, a publisher of Gaimans graphic novels and comic books, said it was no longer releasing his work.

Confirming that the Anansi Boys comic series and collected volume have been cancelled, the company said in a statement.

In January 2023 a police report was made in New Zealand accusing Gaiman of sexual assault.

The investigation was later dropped.
Sir Keir Starmer has claimed the Conservatives are the coalition of blockers as he defended his Governments growth proposals and employment law reforms.

The Prime Minister highlighted opposition to airport expansion and a rail project from Tory frontbenchers, which prompted Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch to brand Labour hypocrites for raising their own objections in the past.

Sir Keir, who dubbed the Government the coalition of builders, was also urged by Mrs Badenoch to drop a series of measures contained in the Employment Rights Bill because they fail his growth test.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

After Mrs Badenoch told Sir Keir to stop being a lawyer and start being a leader, the Prime Minister replied: We know she is not a lawyer, she is clearly not a leader, if she keeps on like this, she is going to be the next lettuce.

His remark was a nod to Liz Trusss 49-day long premiership, which saw the Daily Star live-stream a lettuce to see if it would last longer than her tenure in No 10.

The Bill raised at Prime Ministers Questions includes measures to introduce day-one protections from unfair dismissals, make changes to sick pay and ensures guaranteed hours on zero-hours contracts.

The exchanges in the House of Commons came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves had outlined the Governments growth agenda, which includes backing a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Mrs Badenoch said the Government has embraced a series of Conservative policies before urging Sir Keir to drop the Bill as it clearly fails the Prime Ministers growth test, adding Whitehall analysis suggests it will cost businesses 5 billion a year.

Sir Keir said the Government was not taking lectures from the Conservatives.

Mrs Badenoch said the legislation would make it harder for business to hire new employees, adding: This isnt an employment Bill. Its an unemployment Bill. Given these clauses, will he drop his Bill and show that he is not anti-growth?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

The Prime Minister replied: We believe in giving people proper dignity and protection at work. Thats why were proud of our record of supporting workers. They consistently vote against any protection for working people.

Tory leader Mrs Badenoch later said all of his ideas are the ones that we thought up, adding to Sir Keir: To grow our economy we must get more people off sickness and welfare and into work. Clauses eight and nine of the unemployment Bill take us in the opposite direction by increasing entitlement.

His Government itself estimates that these changes will increase business costs from 600 million to 1 billion-a-year in sick pay. That will mean higher prices, fewer jobs, less growth.

Will he drop these measures from the Bill?

Sir Keir replied: No, I think theyre good for workers and good for growth.

This is the same argument they made against the minimum wage and every protection for workers. And she says theyre their ideas  she says shes in support of a third runway at Heathrow, her shadow transport secretary (Gareth Bacon) says it would be calamitous, her shadow business secretary (Andrew Griffith) is busy writing letters opposing airport expansion in his own backyard.

The shadow chief secretary (Richard Fuller) says the Oxford-Cambridge (rail link) is flawed and hes against it.

Were the coalition of builders, theyre the coalition of blockers.

Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was forgetting that Ms Reeves blocked an airport in her Leeds West and Pudsey constituency, adding: They are hypocrites.

Lets talk about this employment Bill. Part one of the Bill means a new employee could start a job in the morning and take their employer to a tribunal that afternoon.

It is no wonder that this Bill has been called an adventure playground for lawyers. This Bill is terrible for business but is great employment for lawyers.

I know the Prime Minister loves the legal profession but he needs to stop being a lawyer and start being a leader. This is another measure in the Bill that fails his growth test.

Will he show some leadership and drop it?

Sir Keir replied: I understand she likes straight talking, she is talking absolute nonsense. She knows that anybody that understands anything about the Bill or any employment law will know you cant start in the morning and go to the tribunal in the afternoon.

Now, we know she is not a lawyer, she is clearly not a leader, if she keeps on like this, she is going to be the next lettuce.

Mrs Badenoch said the Bill also delivers the biggest expansion of trade union powers for a generation.

After some Labour MPs cheered, Mrs Badenoch said: Exactly, thank you, the public will have heard them cheer.

Rather than deregulating for business who create growth, hes deregulating for the unions. Clause 61 alone reduces the notice period for strikes to just one week.

Given strikes are catastrophic for growth, will he drop part four of the Bill?

Sir Keir, in his reply, said: Its good for working people, its good for the economy.

Mrs Badenoch went on to accuse Sir Keir of arrogance for thinking the Government creates growth rather than business.

She said: Other countries are serious about freeing business from red tape. President Trump is doing it in America, Argentina is taking a chainsaw to regulations. Even the EU is not going as far as this left-wing Government.

This Bill will put us at the bottom of the pack.

Sir Keir replied: Shes got a nerve. They broke the economy, completely destroyed it. They broke the health service, completely destroyed it. They ruined us on prisons and everything else you can mention, they failed on every front, theyre in no position to give us lectures on anything.
Sir Keir Starmer has praised John Prescott for his tenacity and vision as well as his fighting spirit ahead of the former deputy prime ministers funeral service.

More than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to the service at Hull Minster.

Senior figures from the past and current Labour governments are expected to attend.

Lord Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20 last year aged 86 in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimers.

Hosted by the Rev Canon Dominic Black, the service will include singing from the Choral-Hull childrens choir, made up from pupils across the city.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations for Alzheimers Research UK.

The Prime Minister said Lord Prescott will be remembered as a man who stood up for working people and fought for what he believed in.

Sir Keir said: John Prescotts funeral is a moment to reflect on his legacy alongside those that loved him most.

Since his death, I have been moved to hear countless people relate their stories of John  tales of characteristic generosity, humour and charisma.

Amongst the public, its clear that he had legendary status.

He was held in huge affection by people across the country who admired his straightforward authenticity and knew that he would always have their back.

His place in our history is assured  not, as he expected, for that one famous moment, but for his fighting spirit across an entire lifetime of service.

He will be remembered as a man who stood up for working people, fought for what he believed in, and changed our nation for the better.

We have his tenacity and vision to thank for that early action on climate change, regional inequality, the minimum wage, and public transport.

This is a day to give thanks for a remarkable life well lived.

I know many people will be raising a glass to John today.

A former trade union activist and merchant seaman, Lord Prescott served as MP for Hull East for 40 years before he was ennobled in 2010.

Then-prime minister Tony Blair, deputy Labour Party leader John Prescott and chancellor Gordon Brown at the Labour Party conference in 1998 (Owen Humphreys/PA)

As deputy prime minister, he oversaw the environment, transport and the regions, a brief which included helping to negotiate the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change, while acting as a mediator in the often turbulent relationship between Sir Tony and then-chancellor Gordon Brown.

A former boxer, he was also remembered by many for punching a protester who threw an egg at him during an election campaign visit to North Wales in 2001.

Paying tribute to Lord Prescott in November, Sir Tony described him as one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics and one of the most committed and loyal, and definitely the most unusual.

Mr Brown, Sir Tonys successor in Number 10, said Lord Prescott was key to holding the ring and keeping things together during difficult times such as over Iraq.
Tesco is to cut about 400 jobs across its stores and head office as part of plans to simplify the business.

The UKs largest supermarket chain said managers in its head office and Tesco Mobile phone shops, as well as staff at some of its in-store bakeries, will be affected.

Tesco said it is having to seek more efficient ways of working due to the increasingly competitive nature of the UK grocery industry.

The supermarket chain said managers at its head office will be among those affected (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The retail giant said the shake-up will see it change how it operates in certain parts of the business, including changing its bakery model in some stores.

It is also altering the management structure it uses in Tesco Mobile stores.

Matthew Barnes, Tescos UK boss, said: These are difficult decisions affecting our colleagues, but we believe they are necessary to enable us to invest in what matters most to our customers.

Our priority is to support impacted colleagues and we will do everything we can to help them find alternative roles within our business. Today, we have almost 1,000 vacancies available.

Separately, Tesco said it will soon launch a consultation over the closure of its Snodland distribution centre in Kent.

It said this follows plans to open a new warehouse site in Aylesford, around three miles away, with all affected workers at Snodland being offered roles at the new site.

Earlier this month, Tesco bosses cheered the retailers biggest ever Christmas as it increased its share of the UK grocery market to its highest level since 2016.

It reported UK and Ireland like-for-like sales, excluding fuel and VAT, up 3.7% over the six weeks to January 4 and record trading in the week before Christmas.

The cuts at Tesco come a week after rival Sainsburys said it would axe around 3,000 jobs as part of a major overhaul.

The UKs second-largest grocer will close down its in-store cafes and remove its pizza and hot food counters from stores as a result.

Fellow rival Morrisons said it planned to cut around 200 jobs earlier this month, while Asda cut 475 head office jobs in November as part of efforts to arrest a recent slump in performance.

All retailers were among firms to warn that jobs will be impacted by Labours autumn Budget, which included plans to increase National Insurance contributions for businesses and rise the minimum wage.

Andrew Griffith, the Conservatives shadow business secretary, said: With all the big four supermarkets having announcing job cuts, Labours choices are having the real-world impact we predicted.

A Government spokesman said: While this is a commercial decision for Tesco we understand this will be a concerning time for workers at Tesco and their families.

A broad range of support is available for those who may be affected. Acas can also provide employees and employers with free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice.

We had to take difficult decisions in the Budget to restore economic stability and clear the path for growth as part of our plan for change.

As part of this, we are providing the certainty businesses need by capping corporation tax for the duration of Parliament and locking in permanent full expensing to boost investment.
Around 156,500 properties across the island of Ireland remain without power following Storm Eowyn.

Efforts to repair the damaged network continue into a sixth day, with 133,000 premises in the Republic of Ireland and 23,500 in Northern Ireland still waiting for their electricity supply to be restored.

In Ireland, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met on Wednesday to continue to co-ordinate and concentrate efforts to restore power, water and telecommunications following Fridays storm.

ESB Networks crew working to restore power in Avoca Avenue in Blackrock, Co Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ireland is expecting the delivery of several large-capacity generators, following a request under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The generators, from Poland and Denmark, will be deployed to support Uisce Eireann and telecommunications operators to bring water, phone and broadband services to homes and businesses.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: This historic storm has required an unprecedented response, and the Government is throwing everything it can at helping those still suffering and getting their services restored as quickly as possible.

Chair of the NECG Keith Leonard said: With over 250 Emergency Response Hubs now running across the country, and more coming on stream all the time, the NECG is continuing to support local authorities in these important relief efforts.

Local Co-ordination Groups are also now in place across 19 counties  making sure supports and resources are directed to where they are most needed, and that our most vulnerable people are prioritised for help.

Electricity engineers inspect damage by fallen trees in Co Down (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)

NIE Networks said it had now restored power to 261,500 properties in Northern Ireland following Storm Eowyn.

A spokesperson said: Our primary focus is to restore power to all affected customers across Northern Ireland.

We have over 1,400 staff escalated, as well as additional electrical and industrial employees from other agencies and jurisdictions.

Over the coming days there may be occasions when householders experience interruption to their electricity supply as we undertake permanent repairs and work to restore all those impacted.

Employees from our contact centre may also be in contact to check that supply has been restored.

We are particularly keen to again remind the public to maintain safety around any damaged electricity equipment and never approach a broken pole or overhead power lines, and keep children and animals away.

The company also warned about scam messages targeting victims purporting to come from NIE Networks.

The spokesperson added: Our staff will not ask customers to share financial details or click URLs.

We ask that customers do not engage, and block and report the suspicious number.

Northern Ireland Water said all customers whose water had been interrupted should now have their supply restored.

Director of customer and operations, Stephanie McCullagh said: We would like to take this opportunity to thank local councils, agencies and elected representatives who have been working alongside us to distribute bottled water, assist with access to our sites and help identify vulnerable customers.

This has been a massive joint effort, made much easier by the patience and understanding of the customers impacted.

While the commitment and dedication shown by NI Water staff does not surprise me, the sheer efforts and lengths they have gone to under unprecedented weather conditions are truly commendable, and once again shines a light on how vital water and our water workers are to our daily lives.
Cash access network Link has confirmed its 200th banking hub recommendation to help plug gaps in the cash access network, as consumer campaigners raised concerns about access to physical banks being cut to the bone.

Links latest wave of recommendations will help to fill potential holes left behind and maintain cash access as banking giant Lloyds makes cuts to its branch network.

Lloyds Banking Group announced on Wednesday that it will shut 136 more high street branches.

Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said: More people are banking digitally nowadays, but there remains a significant minority of consumers across the country who still rely on bank branches to access vital face-to-face services.

The UKs bank branch network has been cut to the bone in recent years, often leaving people struggling and having to travel long distances to access cash or banking services.

Its therefore vital that banking hubs are rolled out quickly so consumers can feel their effects. The Government has committed to opening 350 hubs in the next few years  and it should be prepared to revise that figure upwards if necessary.

Twenty out of 22 new hubs announced by cash access and ATM network Link stemmed from local bank branch closures, with two others  Penistone in Yorkshire and Knutsford in Cheshire  due to requests made from within the community.

The remaining new hubs will be in Alexandria in Scotland; Annan, Scotland; Bishopbriggs, Scotland; Brigg, Lincolnshire Caterham, Surrey; Falmouth, Cornwall; Glossop, Derbyshire; Helensburgh, Scotland; Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear; Hucknall, Nottinghamshire; Horsforth, Yorkshire; Leominster, Herefordshire; Harpurhey, Manchester; Nelson, Lancashire; Peterlee, County Durham; Seaton, Devon; Sleaford, Lincolnshire; Tunstall, Staffordshire; Thornbury, Gloucestershire; and Wymondham in Norfolk.

Penistone marked Links 200th recommendation.

Lloyds Banking Group is set to close 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May this year and March 2026.

The group said that customers can now use branches of other brands within the group for their in-person banking. Once all previously announced closures are complete, the banking group will have 757 branches remaining.

Link carries out assessments to understand how the closure of a bank branch will affect access to cash for the community.

Communities can also ask Link to carry out an assessment if they feel they need better access to cash.

A banking hub is a shared space on the high street that can be used by customers of different banks.

The Government has set a target to roll out 350 hubs by 2029.

According to Link, 79.5 billion was withdrawn from ATMs connected up to its network in 2024, which was a 1.2% decrease compared with 2023.

The network has seen a trend towards people visiting ATMs less often but withdrawing more cash when they do visit.

A recent survey by Link found that half (50%) of people have recently been somewhere that did not accept cash or discouraged its use.

Economic secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds told the Treasury Committee this week that the Government has no plans to force businesses to accept cash.

She told the hearing: We have no plans to regulate businesses to compel them to accept cash  big or small.

Since 2022, Link has assessed the closure of 1,784 bank branch closures.

John Howells, CEO, Link said: The hubs will make a real difference for the millions of people who still rely on cash. Were committed to keeping cash on the high street, and well continue recommending banking hubs where they are needed.

Gareth Oakley, CEO, Cash Access UK said: We already have 105 banking hubs open and these are proving extremely popular.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Crucially, there needs to be enough cashpoints to serve the local community.

Under new FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) rules, banks and building societies must assess whether changes to local services, like closing branches or cash machines, leave local communities lacking ways to take out or pay in cash.

Any residents, businesses or charities who believe their access to cash is sorely lacking in their areas can request a review.

If Link, the UKs main ATM network, believes there is a hole in provision, additional cash services will need to be provided, either through a banking hub, post office or an ATM.
UK cannot afford to not build runways, says Reynolds ahead of key Reeves speech

The UK cant afford to be a country that doesnt build runways or other major projects, a senior minister has said ahead of a major economic speech by Rachel Reeves.

The Chancellor is due to set out policies on Wednesday to encourage economic growth, including an expected expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Critics of the Government have said the plans are in conflict with the UKs environmental commitments, but Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned the UK risks being left behind if it does not go for growth.

He told BBC Breakfast: I want people to know that things that have been too difficult in the past will be focused on, will be changed, will be delivered on, by this Government.

Its not just about aviation expansion, theres a whole range of things.

He added: Were not going to have endless judicial reviews effectively try to second-guess democratically-elected decisions from the elected government of the day. We will follow process, but that process has got to be one that can deliver the things.

We simply cannot afford to say we dont build reservoirs any more, we dont build railways, we dont build runways. Thats not good enough, we will be left behind.

Ms Reeves speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday is expected to lay out plans for projects around the Oxford and Cambridge region, which she will hail as having the potential to be Europes Silicon Valley.

The UK is a country of huge potential but for too long, that potential has been held back, Ms Reeves will say.

An announcement of a new third runway at Heathrow is also expected, and Ms Reeves will reiterate the Governments backing for the redevelopment of the area around Manchester Uniteds football stadium Old Trafford.

The Government has ambitions for the wider housing and residential and leisure offer that could be put in that place around the stadium, Mr Reynolds told the BBC.

Ahead of the speech, Sir Keir Starmer vowed to clear out the regulatory weeds to encourage growth in a Times newspaper opinion piece.

The Prime Minister added: In the 1980s, the Thatcher government deregulated finance capital. In the New Labour era, globalisation increased the opportunities for trade. This is our equivalent.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince has criticised the expansion of Heathrow Airport (Ben Whitley/PA)

Among the critics of Heathrows expansion is Dale Vince, the boss of energy company Ecotricity, who donated 5 million to Labour in the run-up to the general election.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think its a mistake. Actually, I think its an illusion of growth.

Itll take 10 years to build a runway, cost maybe 50 billion. Itll create the wrong kind of growth  well be exporting tourism money abroad, creating a bigger imbalance than we already have, and it will come at the expense of our carbon-cutting effort.

The key points of Ms Reeves speech are expected to include:

 Plans to boost economic growth in the region between Oxford and Cambridge to transform it into Europes equivalent of Silicon Valley and add up to 78 billion to the UK economy by 2035.

 New reservoirs will be built near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and in the Fens near Cambridge. They will be among nine new reservoirs built as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest 7.9 billion to improve infrastructure.

 Funding for the East-West rail link joining Oxford, Cambridge and towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes that sit between them will be confirmed, as well as upgrades to the A428 road.

 A new Cambridge cancer research hospital will be prioritised as part of the new hospitals programme.

 Oxford will get a growth commission, similar to one set up in Cambridge, aimed at helping the city and surrounding region to grow its economy.

 Alongside support for a proposed third runway at west Londons Heathrow, the Treasury is expected to endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton airports.

 Ms Reeves will back the redevelopment of Manchester Uniteds stadium, Old Trafford.

 Government guidance on appraising major projects will be reviewed in order to support investments outside of the wealthy and productive south east of England.
Water companies are to undertake thousands of actions totalling 22 billion in investment to improve the environment, under a programme agreed with regulators.

The 24,000 actions utilities must undertake in the next five years to meet their environmental requirements include upgrading storm overflows to reduce sewage pollution, protecting thousands of miles of rivers and improving newly designated bathing sites.

They form part of the water industrys national environment programme which represents a 22.1 billion investment to support nature and tackle environmental pressures, quadruple what was spent in the previous five years.

The programme is part of the price review process led by water regulator Ofwat which approved an overall 104 billion investment package by water companies in December, paid for by an increase in consumer bills.

Under the process, the Environment Agency assessed actions proposed by water companies and, alongside Ofwat and Natural England, provided technical guidance to make sure they will deliver for the environment and nature.

Companies have submitted plans to establish trials to remove nitrate pollution from the water system, restore important chalk streams and install measures to remove invasive species.

The programme also sets goals to reduce the amount of water abstracted from the environment, protecting and enhancing 13,500km (more than 8,000 miles) of rivers, upgrading 2,340 storm overflows, and improving 21 newly designated bathing water sites across England.

It also has goals to reduce phosphorus inputs to the environment at more than 800 sewage treatment works and installing 3,500 monitors at emergency overflow sites.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by pollution (Alamy/PA)

The programme is being published amid intense scrutiny of the water sector  and its regulators  over the degraded state of rivers, lakes and coasts, rising bills, shareholder dividends and executive bonuses.

Alan Lovell, chairman of the Environment Agency said: This unprecedented level of investment represents a vital step forward towards ensuring we have clean, safe and abundant water now and for future generations.

Working with the water companies on this 22bn programme is a crucial way to realise the governments goals of stimulating development and boosting economic growth, while ensuring the sector can meet its ambitious environment commitments.

We will work closely with Defra, Ofwat and other regulators to monitor water company progress and ensure they deliver what has been promised.

If water companies fail to carry out their legal obligations to the environment, we will take action.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: It is no secret that our water system needs fixing and that our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by pollution.

Customers deserve the money they pay in bills to go towards improving the service they receive, and that is why the Government will ringfence money earmarked for investment, so it can only be spent on projects like these.

David Henderson, chief executive of industry body Water UK, said: This programme will be the largest amount of money ever spent on the natural environment.

It will help to support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
Released Israeli hostage Naama Levy is reunited with loved ones at Beilinson Schneider complex in Petah Tikva, Israel, on January 25, 2025. (Haim Zach/Israeli Government Press Office via Reuters)

A freed Israeli hostage says she drew hope and strength from other captives while she was being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Naama Levy, 20, who was kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group during the October 7, 2023, attacks, was freed alongside three other female Israeli soldiers on Saturday, as part of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

After 477 days I am finally home. I am secure and protected, and surrounded by family and friends, Levy posted on Instagram on Tuesday. Levy, 20, added that she feels better with each day that passes.

I was mostly alone, then I was in captivity with my friends, observers and civilians who gave me hope and strength, Levy said. It is important for me to thank the IDF fighters and all the Israeli people. I saw how you were fighting for me when I was captive. Thank you all, I love you.

Her parents have spoken to CNN several times in the past 15 months urging for her release, including in December, 2023, after she appeared in a cell phone video published by Hamas showing her being dragged by her hair at gunpoint. The footage showed her hands bound, and her pants soaked in blood.

For her, time is running out, her mother, Ayelet Levy Shachar, said at the time. She described her daughter as a very fun-loving girl.

When she comes back, she will make the world a better place, added Levy Shachar.

Next steps in the hostage deal

Levy is one of seven hostages who have been released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas.

Her message came as an Israeli official told CNN that the US envoy to the Middle East would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss the second phase of the deal.

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trumps envoy to the region, is also scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the official told CNN.

The current ceasefire deal is set up to progress in three distinct phases. Phase one began on January 19 and is expected to last six weeks. During this time a further 26 hostages  in addition to the seven already released  are expected to be freed, while Israel is to release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The second and third phases of the ceasefire are less developed  and the details will be decided during the six weeks of the first phase. Over the past 15 months, Qatar, Egypt and the US have been key mediators in the discussions between Israel and Hamas.

CNNs Bianna Golodryga and Sarah Boxer contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A pilot in Alaska safely ejected from an aircraft on Tuesday before it plummeted to the Earth, culminating in a fiery explosion at an Air Force base that was captured in dramatic video footage.

It was the latest crash involving the F-35 stealth fighter jet, the military's most expensive weapon system that has been credited with revolutionizing modern American warfare but has also gained a reputation for its setbacks, high costs and safety concerns.

Officials have not said what exactly led to Tuesday's crash, only that the pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction." The accident mirrors several similar crashes in recent years in which pilots were forced to eject from the stealth fighters.

A F-35 jet lands on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises about 100 miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. July 19, 2024.

Last May, a pilot in New Mexico was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before the fighter jet crashed near an airfield in Albuquerque's main airport. In September 2023, a pilot ejected from an F-35 and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The jet flew unmanned for several minutes before it crashed into a field some 60 miles away.

The manufacturer of the jet's ejection system used Tuesday's accident to brag about its reliability: "The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US16E seat. This was the 10th successful ejection from the F-35," said a post from the official X account of Martin-Baker, the British manufacturing company.

The F-35 program is estimated to top at least $2 trillion over the coming decades, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report last year, citing the U.S. Department of Defense.

Meanwhile, delays and high prices associated with the military's F-35 program has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk.

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are pictured speaking at the 'Make America Great Again Victory Rally' at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

Before becoming president, Donald Trump tweeted in 2016 that the F-35 programs cost is out of control, promising he would rein costs in once he took office. More recently, Musk  who Trump tapped last year to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency  took aim at the program, raising questions about the fighter jet's future.

"The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none," Musk said in a post on X in November. "Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed."

In a statement, the F-35's manufacturer Lockheed Martin said "As we did in his first term, we look forward to a strong working relationship with President Trump, his team, and also with the new Congress to strengthen our national defense."

The major defense manufacturer says the F-35 "is the most advanced, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, a vital deterrent and the cornerstone of joint all-domain operations."

Brief history of the F-35

The F-35 was unveiled in 2006 but it was not used in military operations until 2015, when the Marine Corps declared it mission ready.

The fifth-generation fighter made waves with its ability to fly stealthily past enemy radar and defense systems. A mapping system also allows it to accurately direct its own missiles  or those from other planes, ships, submarines or ground stations  to targets theyve identified while airborne.

There are three variants of the F-35 for different branches of the military: F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marines and F-35C for the Navy. The F-35B can take off and land vertically, similarly to a helicopter.

Two F-35 Lightning II aircraft take part in a flypast to mark the 100th birthday of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on Canada Day, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada July 1, 2024.

Last May, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated there were about 630 F-35s across the military and plans to buy about 1,800 more by the mid-2040s.

But, as recently as 2023, the percentage of fighters ready for use was about 55%, according to the nonpartisan government agency that provides reports and guidance to Congress and heads of executive agencies.

F-35 plagued by manufacturing delays, soaring costs

In a report to congressional committees, the watchdog agency said last year that the Department of Defense planned to spend over $2 trillion to buy, operate and maintain F-35s through 2088.

In May 2023, the Government Accountability Office said the jet was more than a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original estimates. Costs to maintain the fleet have increased 44%, from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023, the agency said.

A flight deck crew member aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier signals to an F-35 jet during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises about 100 miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. July 19, 2024.

The increased costs and delays are, in part, to keep up with emerging technology.

The Department of Defense in recent years has pursued a $16.5 billion modernization effort to outfit the jets with better radar, weapons and technology systems, according to the Government Accountability Office. The program has also worked to upgrade its engine to add some additional power and prevent it from overheating.

The military is using F-35s less these days

The military plans to use the fighters less often, mostly as a cost saving measure.

Over the course of the last few years, the Air Force and Navy have reduced their projected annual flying times by 19% and 45%, respectively, the GOA said in a report to congressional committees. The U.S. Marines have also announced reductions in F-35 flying times.

"In part because of this reduction in flying, the services are now projecting they will meet most of their affordability targets," the agency said.

There was another main factor ensuring military services would hit affordability goals: "the Air Force increased its affordability target from $4.1 million per aircraft per year to $6.8 million per aircraft per year," according to the Government Accountability Office.

(This story was updated to add additional information.)

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: F-35 jet crash another setback for controversial military plane
Karl P. Loucks, standing, right, listens to a judge during his court hearing in Memphis, Tennessee, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2025. Loucks pleaded not guilty to killing a homeless man in downtown Memphis. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  A U.S. Army veteran who served in the war in Afghanistan pleaded not guilty Wednesday to fatally shooting a homeless man with an automatic rifle in downtown Memphis.

A lawyer for Karl P. Loucks, 42, entered the plea to a first-degree murder charge during a hearing in Shelby County Criminal Court. Loucks also pleaded not guilty to an aggravated assault charge in the stabbing of another homeless man in downtown Memphis, where Loucks lived in an apartment.

Loucks is being held in jail without bond. He was arrested May 31 in the killing of Shaun Rhea. Loucks lawyer has suggested that he acted in self-defense.

During a hearing in July, a security guard and a police investigator testified that Loucks attacked Rhea in the early morning hours of the day he was arrested. Tony Perry, a security guard at a downtown Memphis hotel, testified that he saw Loucks use pepper spray on Rhea while he was sleeping. Loucks also pepper-sprayed other homeless people that same night, Perry said.

After he was pepper-sprayed, Rhea confronted Loucks, asking why Loucks did it and calling him the b-word, Perry said. Loucks took out a knife, and Rhea picked up an electric scooter that was nearby and threw it at Loucks. He missed.

Perry said Rhea was angry, though he added that Rhea did not attempt to get physical with Loucks.

Loucks then entered his apartment building, but he returned shortly afterward carrying an AR-style rifle under an orange jacket, Perry testified. Perry said several shots were fired.

Rhea, who did not have a gun, was struck in the back, Memphis police Sgt. Jeremy Cline testified at the July hearing. Rhea died at a hospital.

Police were called, and they found the rifle and the jacket in Loucks apartment, Cline said. During a police interview after his arrest, Loucks said he acted in self-defense after Rhea confronted him, Cline said.

Loucks was a health care specialist in the Army from September 2007 to August 2013, according to an Army public affairs spokesman. Loucks served in Afghanistan from March 2009 to March 2010 and left the Army with the rank of private first class.

Loucks was honorably discharged from the Army because he was disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder, his lawyer, Blake Ballin, has said. Ballin said Wednesday that he was arranging a psychological evaluation to determine if Loucks mental health will play a role in his defense.

Loucks also has been charged with aggravated assault after police said he cut another homeless man twice with a knife in the days before Rhea was shot.

During the July hearing, Judge Bill Anderson said he could not help but think that Loucks experience in the Army during wartime could be a factor in the case.
An Australian man who was feared dead after being captured by Russian forces is alive, foreign minister Penny Wong has announced.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, a teacher who signed up to fight for Ukraine against Russia, was taken captive in December last year. A video showed him being struck by a Russian interrogator, sparking fears for his life.

The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody, Ms Wong said on Wednesday.

Australia still has serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war, she said.

We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

Canberra has called on Russia to release Mr Jenkins.

If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal, Ms Wong said.

Russia has previously warned that foreign fighters in Ukraine will not be afforded the rights given to lawful combatants according to international humanitarian law.

I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kyiv can be considered as combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy the status of prisoners of war, a defence ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by TASS after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyivs nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way.

Ms Wong thanked Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and the International Committee of the Red Cross president for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.

The Russian ambassador said Mr Jenkins was in the custody of the armed forces, The Guardian reported. His health condition is said to be normal.

Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular support to Mr Jenkins family.

Another foreign fighter who trained with Mr Jenkins said earlier this month that he believed the Russian forces had executed the Australian prisoner to make an example of him, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 14 January.

Soon after, prime minister Anthony Albanese said that his government was gravely concerned about the capture of Mr Jenkins and warned of the strongest action possible if reports of his death were correct.

On 14 January, Australia summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky to answer questions about Mr Jenkinss status. The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, a spokesperson said in a statement at the time.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Esta TerBlanche

Esta TerBlanches cause of death has been revealed.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined that the All My Children alum, who died at the age of 51 in July, suffered from an intracranial hemorrhage, according to a press release. The bleed was due to blunt force traumatic head injury likely due to a ground level fall and ruled the death as an accident.

More details were also revealed in the release, which stated that TerBlanche had been found unresponsive in her home on July 19 at paramedics pronounced her dead shortly after 11 a.m. that day.

Related: Esta TerBlanche, All My Children Star and Former Miss Teen South Africa, Dies at 51

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Esta TerBlanche

TerBlanches manager Annie Spoliansky confirmed her death in a statement to PEOPLE on July 21.

"We are deeply saddened by this news," she wrote. "As for a personal statement, Id like to say that Esta was such a kind, loving, giving, and caring person."

"She cared so deeply for all people and animals," she added. "She had squirrels she fed and looked after daily, her two cats and recent kittens that she cared for as her own children."

"Esta was never anything but generous and lovely to me, and Im grateful to have known her for the time that I did, and devastated to learn of her passing," the statement concluded.

Lisa Rodrigo, TerBlanches publicist, also remembered the late actress in a statement to PEOPLE at the time.

"I am heartbroken upon learning about Estas death, Rodrigo said. She was and always will be a beautiful soul who I will miss every day. I am proud to have known her and call her not only a client but a friend."

Steve Fenn/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Esta TerBlanche and Cameron Mathison

Related: The Cast of All My Children: Where Are They Now?

The former soap opera star was born in South Africa on Jan. 7, 1973 and got her start playing Bienkie Naude Hartman on Egoli: Place of Gold, a popular drama in the country. She later landed her role as Gillian Andrassy Lavery on All My Children, which she held from 1997 until 2001.

Her on-screen husband, Ryan Lavery, was played by Cameron Mathison, who paid tribute to TerBlanche on his Instagram Stories in July.

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.

"RIP my Sweet Princess," he wrote in tribute over a photo of the pair in character. He then posted another image of the TV couple alongside broken heart emojis.

"Esta helped me last year when Red was sick and paralyzed and I was struggling," he wrote over another more recent selfie of the pair. "One of the sweetest people ever."



Read the original article on People
Following President Donald Trump's return to office, immigration enforcement operations have started to sweep through major U.S. cities.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it arrested 956 people on Sunday. But an NBC News report found immigration authorities had close to 1,200 arrests that day and just 613, or nearly 52%, were considered criminal arrests.

The rest appeared to be nonviolent offenders or people who have not committed any criminal offense other than crossing the border illegally. Being undocumented is considered a civil offense, not a crime.

Arrest numbers swelled again the following day, as the agency said it made 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers were lodged Monday.

While the Trump administration has touted the crackdown as targeting criminals, there has been concern over law-abiding migrants and those with permits also being rounded up. Officials have not disclosed numbers differentiating migrants with criminal histories and those without who are in custody.

The Trump administration is planning to conduct major immigration raids in three U.S. cities per week, according to three sources familiar with the planning. One of the sources described the operations as all hands on deck.

Operations began Sunday in Chicago, New York City began Tuesday, and three officials said they were planning for the next operation to take place in Aurora, Colorado, on Thursday. However, two sources familiar with the planning said Wednesday the Aurora operation was called off temporarily due to media leaks. One source said the leaks posed an operational security risk for officers involved.

The raids are being carried out with ICE; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI and other federal agencies.

Next week, three more cities are expected to be targeted.

ICEs 25 field offices were told in a meeting with senior leadership over the weekend to enhance their routine operations by meeting a quota of between 1,200 to 1,500 arrests per day, the sources said. The quota was first reported by the Washington Post.

Asked about the reporting, Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, told NBC News that he did not have a quota and that the goal is to get as many criminals as possible.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been at least 4,829 arrests in the crackdowns since inauguration. In September 2024 ,the latest data available, the Biden administration arrested an average of 282 people per day. Over the last six days, the Trump administration's daily average is 753.

Here are the major cities where arrests have unfolded:

New York City

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined immigrant enforcement operations in New York that began Tuesday.

We are doing this right  doing exactly what President. @realDonaldTrump promised the American people  making our streets safe. Live this AM from NYC. Im on it, Noem wrote on X.

She later shared video showing a person being detained, writing, criminal alien with kidnapping, assault & burglary charges is now in custody.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement on what appeared to be the arrest Noem mentioned, confirming that a criminal suspect in New York City was taken into custody.

I directed the NYPD to coordinate with DHS Homeland Security Investigations and other federal law enforcement agencies  as allowed by law  to conduct a targeted operation to arrest an individual connected with multiple violent crimes, both here in New York and in Aurora, Colorado, including burglary, kidnapping, extortion, firearms possession, menacing with a firearm, crime of violence, and other charges, he said.

Adams said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice  just as we have done for years. Our commitment to protecting our citys law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.

The New York DEA office posted several photos on X saying it was working with other federal law enforcement partners in immigration crackdowns, showing the arrests of multiple people.

Chicago

In Chicago, migrant arrest crackdowns took place Sunday.

Homan told NBC News that among the people arrested in Chicago, six were convicted of serious offenses, two were previously convicted of murder and aggravated sexual battery, and multiple others were gang members.

Arrest efforts continued Monday. There were 10 teams of about 10 federal agents each fanned out across the city, a source familiar with the operations said Monday.

ICE operations on Sunday in Chicago.

Chicago is a sanctuary city that protects migrants seeking citizenship. Under those protections, cooperation between city police and immigration agents is prohibited, NBC Chicago reported. Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement on X that Chicago police were not involved in the ICE activity.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told CNN on Sunday he supports deporting people convicted of violent crimes, but disagrees with targeting those who follow the law. These are not people who are causing problems in our country, and what we need is a path to citizenship for them," he said.

Los Angeles

The Los Angeles offices of Homeland Security Investigations and the DEA said they were working with partners to conduct law enforcement operations in accordance with the Trump administrations immigration priorities.

The offices shared photos of law enforcement agents taking people into custody.

The City Council formally adopted a sanctuary city ordinance late last year that prohibits city resources or personnel from being used to aid in federal enforcement of immigration laws, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Philadelphia

Video showed several people being detained near a Philadelphia business on Tuesday. The immigration rights group Juntos said it was an ICE raid and that seven people were detained.

The raid happened at a car wash in the Juniata Park neighborhood, NBC Philadelphia reported.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment or details Tuesday night.

Phoenix

The Phoenix office of the DEA said Sunday it was working with the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security with their immigration efforts, sharing photos of officers in law enforcement vests.

DEA officers in Arizona assisting DHS with their immigration efforts on Sunday.

San Diego

The DEAs San Diego office also shared on X photos of agents arresting people on Sunday.

Denver

On Sunday, the Drug Enforcement Administrations Rocky Mountain Field Division executed a search warrant at a makeshift club in Denver and arrested numerous individuals associated and connected with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, or TdA.

Forty-nine people were inside at the time, and ICE determined at least 41 were in the U.S. illegally.

Miami

Raids also unfolded in Miami on Sunday.

The ICE Miami office said that among those arrested was a Nicaraguan national who was being held at the Broward County Jail with pending charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful carry of concealed weapon, discharging a firearm in public and driving with a suspended license.

A Jamaican national was also arrested on charges of possession of oxycodone, displaying a firearm during a felony offense and operating a vehicle without a valid license.

The Homeland Security Investigation office in Miami shared on X photos of agents detaining people. The office said the arrests were the result of excellent collaboration to enforce U.S. immigration laws and ensuring the safety of our communities.

Atlanta

The DEAs Atlanta office said Sunday it participated in an operation supporting the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts in Atlanta.

Wilson Rogelio Velasquez Cruz, a Honduran immigrant, was arrested at Iglesia Fuente de Vida, a church in Tucker, his family told NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta.

His family said agents went to his home first, then his church.

His wife told the station that he arrived in the U.S. in 2022 with his wife and three children under a work permit while awaiting a pending asylum case, and that permit was valid for four more years. He had been issued an immigration GPS monitor and his arrest marked the first time he was detained since crossing the border.

Various cities in Texas

ICE conducted targeted operations in North Texas on Sunday, including in Dallas, Irving, Arlington, Fort Worth and Collin County that resulted in at least 84 people apprehended, an ICE official told NBC News.

Many of them were targeted due to varying degrees of criminality in their background, the official said. Some of the apprehensions were collateral arrests  meaning people who happened to be where a targeted individual was located. Its unclear how many of the 84 were collateral arrests.

Seattle

The DEA office in Seattle wrote on X Monday that it was working with Department of Justice Partners and other federal agencies in immigration enforcement efforts and shared photos of two arrests: One being an alleged MS-13 gang member detained in Federal Way, Washington, and another being an alleged illegal alien encountered during a drug investigation in Wilsonville, Oregon.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero acknowledged the implementation of Trumps immigration executive order on Sunday, saying: I would like to express my solidarity with all the families affected by these measures. Likewise, I would like to clarify that, up to this moment, I have not been officially notified by any federal authority about the details of the processes that are being carried out in our city.

He said that neither municipal police nor government entities under San Juan's jurisdiction are collaborating or supporting the operations.

The mayor said San Juan will offer support and provide orientation, citizenship classes and assistance to those who need it to ensure that their rights are respected and that due process of law is complied with. I have directed the Office of Immigrant Assistance to make available the necessary resources to maximize our efforts, Romero also said.

Under my administration, San Juan will continue to be a place where diversity and inclusion are deeply valued, he added.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes in Los Angeles on Jan. 8.

The Summary

The hot, dry, windy conditions that led to the recent Southern California fires were about 35% more likely because of climate change, a new report says.

The findings come from the World Weather Attribution group, which analyzes the influence of global warming on extreme events.

The fires have killed at least 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 buildings.

Climate change increased the likelihood of the extreme conditions that allowed the recent fires to roar across the Los Angeles area, an international group of scientists said Tuesday.

The hot, dry and windy conditions that preceded the fires were about 35% more likely because of human-caused global warming, according to a new report from the World Weather Attribution group, which analyzes the influence of global warming on extreme events.

The fires, which started during a ferocious windstorm and after almost no rain had fallen in greater Los Angeles since the spring, have killed at least 29 people and torched more than 16,000 buildings, including homes, stores and schools.

This was a perfect storm when it comes to conditions for fire disasters  the ingredients in terms of the climate enabling, the weather driving the fires and the huge built environment right downwind from where these ignitions occurred, John Abatzoglou, a professor of climatology at the University of California, Merced, who contributed to the report, said at a news conference.

Compared to a preindustrial time before fossil fuels were widely used, there are now 23 extra days of dry season on average each year in the Los Angeles region, the report said, making it more likely that fires will coincide with seasonal Santa Ana winds.

Park Williams, a professor of geography at UCLA and an author of the report, said fires during cool seasons in Southern California require four conditions: widespread grass or brush that can burn, abnormally dry conditions, an ignition (which almost always comes from a person; and extreme weather, like the recent windstorm. He described each of those conditions as an individual switch in a system that requires all four to be flipped on for light to emanate.

The artificial warming due to human-caused climate change is making the light brighter, Williams said.

The authors of the report analyzed weather and climate models to evaluate how a warmer atmosphere is shifting the likelihood of fire weather (meaning conditions that increase the risk of wildfire). They also tracked how a metric called the Fire Weather Index changed over time. The index tracks temperature, relative humidity and wind speeds, all factors that contribute to the likelihood of fire.

The researchers found that the kind of conditions that drove the L.A. area fires are expected to occur on average once in 17 years in todays climate. Such conditions would have been expected once every 23 years without climate change and would have been less extreme when they did occur, the report says.

Homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

As a group, World Weather Attribution is a loose consortium of scientists who publish rapid findings about climate changes role in extreme weather events. Although their research methods are peer-reviewed, this specific rapid analysis has not been through the rigor of a typical academic review process, which can take months or longer. The groups prior analyses of heat, wildfire and hurricane disasters have held up to scrutiny after initial release and were ultimately published in academic journals.

For climate attribution scientists studying how much climate change is to blame for specific events, wildfire disasters are notoriously challenging to untangle, and local nuances are extremely important.

In the case of the recent California fires, the report's authors found that although climate change played a role, it was not the sole factor.

The hillsides surrounding Los Angeles are filled with brush that has evolved to burn with regularity, and more people are in these areas today than in the past to potentially start fires via cigarettes, power lines, fireworks, vehicles or other sources. Additionally, neighborhood development has pushed deep into areas prone to burn, which means houses are serving as fuel for wildfires and contributing to its rapid spread.

Fire in Southern California is highly complex, right? Its a combination of a number of things. This is a landscape thats got a really distinct human imprint on it, Abatzoglou said, adding that the Los Angeles region has a large population, a lot of ignitions, a lot of land-use related issues.

The influence of climate change on the Santa Ana winds, one of the driving factors behind the Los Angeles fires, remains murky. The report's authors said that some research suggests the winds will become less intense as the climate warms; however, other research suggests this wind pattern will persist and perhaps intensify during the cold months.

We dont know of a direct mechanism that would link climate change to the winds, but there could be," Williams said. "We just dont know."
Winter conditions on Sayram Lake, a high alpine lake and popular travel destination in northern Chinas Xinjiang territory, led to some spectacularly beautiful and surreal cold-weather sights. From frozen bubbles suspended like punctuation marks in the cold lake waters to frost flowers blooming above them, the whole thing looked otherworldly and marvelous.

Heres how these sights were created. Extreme cold temperatures and light winds allowed for the lakes surface to freeze slowly, resulting in crystal clear ice. Methane bubbles from decaying plants rising from below became trapped at various levels of ice thickness as the lake continued to gradually freeze.

Meanwhile, above the ice, extreme cold and saturated air allowed hoarfrost to form so-called ice flowers. According to the National Weather Service office in Riverton, Wyoming, the Old English dictionary (c. 1290) defines hoarfrost as "expressing the resemblance of white feathers of frost to an old man's beard.

How Does Hoarfrost Occur?

First, to produce any frost, you need water vapor (the gaseous form of water) in the air over cold ground, with a surface dew point at least as cold as 32 degrees. When these water vapor molecules contact a subfreezing surface, such as a blade of grass, they jump directly from the gas state to solid state, a process known as "deposition," leading to a coating of tiny ice crystals.

What Provides The Boost For Frost To Grow Into Hoarfrost?

Generally speaking, you want a much more moist air mass in place. In late fall, winter or early spring, one or more days in a row of freezing fog (fog with air temperatures of 32 degrees or colder) is a perfect scenario. With more moisture in the air, the interlocking crystal patterns of frost become more intricate and much larger, building up to a greater depth on tree branches, signs, fences, anything. This is hoarfrost. If there is a light wind, the hoarfrost can accumulate on the downwind side of objects.
Officials said an F-35 fighter jet crashed in Alaska on Tuesday after the pilot managed to safely eject from the aircraft  the latest mishap involving the U.S. military's most expensive weapon system.

The crash occurred just before 1 p.m. local time within the fence line of Eielson Air Force Base, about 25 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, according to 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Officials said the pilot was safe and in stable condition at a local hospital.

The incident was captured in a dramatic video that shows the jet falling out of the sky before it smashes into the ground, exploding on impact and sending a plume of smoke into the air.

A F-35 jet lands on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises about 100 miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. July 19, 2024.

It's unclear what led to the crash. Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction." The jet was landing after a training exercise when the malfunction occurred, Townsend said.

Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security, Townsend said. I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

Asked about whether the crash harms the reputation of the F-35, Townsend said he remains "confident" in the jet's capabilities. "We will continue to look at the investigation and do our best to uncover any of the things that might have contributed to the incident. But, right now, I can stand and say that I have full faith in the capabilities of the F-35A," he said.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, said in a statement it was aware of the incident. "Safety is our priority, and we are standing by to support the United States Air Force as needed," the defense contractor said.

It added, "The F-35 is the most advanced, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, a vital deterrent and the cornerstone of joint all-domain operations."

A flight deck crew member aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier signals to an F-35 jet during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises about 100 miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. July 19, 2024.

Tuesday's crash is the latest mishap involving the F-35. Last May, a pilot was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before the fighter jet crashed near the airfield at Albuquerque International Sunport. When the aircraft went down, it was headed from Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base in California, and had stopped at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico to refuel.

A year earlier, a jet flew unmanned into a field in South Carolina after the pilot ejected and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston.

The F-35 is the U.S. military's costliest weapons program. The U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend over $2 trillion to buy, operate and maintain F-35s through 2088, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Since the jets were first unveiled in 2006, they have been plagued by rising costs, manufacturing delays and, more recently, crashes. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk  who Trump tapped to co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency  have both previously criticized the project.

"The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none," Musk said in a post on X in November. "Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed."

There are an estimated 630 F-35s across the military, according to the Government Accountability Office. The Department of Defense plans to buy about 1,800 more by the mid-2040s.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: F-35 fighter jet crashes in Alaska; pilot is 'safe' after ejecting
Mario Tama/Getty Ozempic

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozempic to reduce the risk of kidney disease.

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the agency announced that the drug can now be used to reduce the risk of kidney failure and disease progression, as well as death due to cardiovascular disease, in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Ozempic is already widely used and was first FDA-approved in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes. The medication  taken weekly by injection in the thigh, stomach or arm  is a brand name for semaglutide, which works in the brain to impact satiety.

The FDAs new approval makes the drug the first GLP-1 treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

"Chronic kidney disease is very serious and common in patients living with type 2 diabetes and represents a critical need for adults living with these comorbidities, said Anna Windle  senior vice president of clinical development, medical & regulatory affairs for Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic  in a press release. This approval for Ozempic allows us to more broadly address conditions within cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, which affects millions of adults and could have serious consequences if left untreated.

Related: Ozempic and Similar Drugs May Offer Health Benefits Beyond Weight Loss, Including Reduced Alcohol Cravings

Getty Ozempic injector

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 decision was made following a clinical trial of more than 3,500 people where researchers found that weekly injections of the medication reduced the risk of kidney disease worsening by 24% in people who had diabetes.

Additionally, the risk of death from heart disease in adults with both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease was reduced by about 5%.

From my point of view as a doctor, you dont get [diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease] in isolation, Stephen Gough, Novo Nordisks global chief medical officer, told CNBC. These illnesses, unfortunately, co-segregate. They cluster within the same individuals. So if you have a medicine that can target each of these co-morbidities in one injection, then youre addressing what really matters to the patient.

Read the original article on People
It was a profoundly confusing Tuesday in Washington.

After ostensibly ordering federal agencies to freeze vast swaths of government spending, the White House partially walked back its move in the afternoon, claiming it had only meant to pause a more narrow set of operations for review. By evening, a federal judge had blocked the funding halt from officially going into effect.

At the same time, some spending for programs such as Medicaid and Head Start appeared to be at least temporarily clogged, as lawmakers, state officials, and reporters scrambled to understand what exactly was going on.

The good news is that, at least for now, most Americans do not seem to be directly impacted by the circus. Student loan and health insurance payments are still flowing, and may not be impacted at all, despite initial fears that they might be. Heres what to know for now.

What the heck just happened?

On Monday night, the White House Office of Management and Budget circulated a memo calling on agencies to conduct an immediate review of all Federal financial assistance programs, amounting to $3 trillion in federal grants and loans, to make sure they were consistent with President Trumps recent blizzard of executive orders on issues such as foreign aid, immigration, climate and energy policy, ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and gender ideology.

The letter also directed agencies to temporarily pause payments for programs that might be affected by Trumps orders. Critically, it did not include a list of specific programs to halt, leading to widespread questions about whether schemes like Medicaid, federal student lending, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were about to be put on ice  since all of them fit the technical definition of federal assistance.

The memo did state in a footnote that Medicare, Social Security, and assistance received directly by individuals would not be affected. But because programs like Medicaid and student loans deliver benefits through middlemen like state governments and colleges, their fate remained unclear.

By the afternoon, the White House had issued a clarification, in the form of a Q&A, stating that officials were not ordering an across the board pause on federal assistance and that the freeze would be expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President's Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest."

Spending for programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, as well as supports like Head Start, rental assistance, and Pell Grants would also continue, it added. (Separately, a Department of Education official said student loans were unaffected).

However, reports quickly began trickling in that state health officials had been locked out of the federal website that allows them to manage their federal Medicaid reimbursements.

My staff has confirmed reports that Medicaid portals are down in all 50 states following last night's federal funding freeze, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden posted to X. This is a blatant attempt to rip away health insurance from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later wrote that the administration was aware of the problem, was working to get the Medicaid site back working, but that payments werent being affected. At the same time, other grant programs appeared to encounter trouble; Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin posted that some Head Start programs had already laid off workers because they could not access their federal funding; Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman wrote that his office had just received calls from over a dozen PA organizations serving low-income families that could not withdraw their money.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a briefing at the White House on Tuesday in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Is any of this legal?

On Tuesday evening, a federal trial judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the spending freeze from going into effect. But in the meantime, the entire befuddling sequence of events seemed to preview a broader political and legal showdown.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised that he would attempt to cut the federal budget by executive fiat, using a maneuver known as impoundment to unilaterally withhold money for certain programs. Congress tried to effectively bar presidents from attempting such actions when it passed the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. But Trump vowed to challenge the laws constitutionality, potentially setting up a mammoth legal struggle over control of government spending.

In its Q&A Tuesday, the White House said it was not attempting an impoundment. Instead, the pause was merely meant to "give agencies time to ensure that financial assistance conforms to the policies set out in the President's Executive Orders, to the extent permitted by law."

But critics argue that even that would be unlawful, and that Trump appears to be testing the limits of his power.

It is not legal to pause funding for policy disagreements, Michael Linden, a former OMB official in the Biden administration, told Yahoo Finance.

Jordan Weissmann is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Tree trimmer dies in wood chipper accident in Ocean Ridge, Florida

A Florida tree trimmer has died after getting caught in a wood chipper.

The tragic accident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28 as a contracted tree trimming vendor was working at Ocean Ridge Town Hall, the Ocean Ridge Police Department announced in a Facebook post.

Upon arrival, Ocean Ridge officers found one person had died from injuries sustained in the accident, no other individuals on scene sustained injuries, police said. The OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health American Society] has been notified and is in route.

The man has not yet officially been identified though he is believed to have family members in Mexico, according to CBS 12. He was reportedly working with Carlton's Tree Service at the time of the accident.

Google Maps Ocean Ridge Town Hall

Related: 17-Year-Old Penn. Boy Dies After Getting Pulled Into Wood Chipper While Working, Officials Say

Lynne Ladner, the Town Manager of Ocean Ridge, shared in a news conference that the landscaper went head first into the wood chipper up to his shoulders, which resulted in him being decapitated by the machine.

The individual was working by themself doing tree trimming and feeding a wood chipper, said Ladner, per WPTV. Other members of the crew saw it happening and immediately again responded as did our staff and officers.

The accident reportedly happened within 30 minutes of the victim starting work.

Ladner added that the wood chipper was built with an emergency shut-off switch, but the accident happened so quickly the man's co-workers didn't have time to activate it, reported CBS 12.

Related: Colorado Man Survives Losing Both Legs in Freak Wood Chipper Accident During First Day on the Job: 'My Coworkers Kept Me Alive'

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.

Local resident Debby Ritter, who was walking on the sidewalk with her husband at the time, told the outlet, "Should not happen. Should not have happened and you know, it's horrible. Shocking! Terrible tragedy.

In their statement, the Ocean Ridge Police Department said that Boynton Beach Fire Rescue has provided grief counseling to town employees and vendor staff affected by the incident.

The town manager shared that the owner of Carlton's Tree Service is helping the victim's family with arrangements for a funeral in Mexico and in the U.S., according to CBS 12.

The investigation is ongoing.

PEOPLE has contacted the Ocean Ridge Police and the town manager for further comment at this time.

Read the original article on People
By Akbar Novruz



Mass protests continue in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with demonstrators targeting the French and Belgian embassies, setting fire to diplomatic buildings, Azernews reports. Tires were also burned in front of the U.S. embassy.

The protests, which began earlier with attacks on the French, Rwandan, Belgian, and U.S. embassies, are fueled by anger over French President Emmanuel Macrons support for Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Demonstrators are demanding military intervention by the international coalition against the M23 rebels, who have intensified their offensive in eastern Congo.

The situation in the east has rapidly deteriorated, with M23 rebels capturing the strategic city of Goma in a swift attack. Reports indicate that in some districts of Kinshasa, daily life has come to a standstill, with schools and businesses shutting down amid the unrest.

The United Nations has reported hundreds of injuries from armed clashes in Goma, with many bodies found in the streets and a sharp rise in sexual violence cases. A large-scale exodus of local residents from the region has begun.

At least 17 international peacekeepers have been killed in the ongoing battles between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army.
People gather during a rally in support of federal funding and in opposition to President Donald Trump's order to pause all federal grants and loans, near the White House in Washington, DC, Tuesday. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

Editors note: After this story was published, the White House rescinded a memo that froze federal grants and loans and created widespread confusion this week. Read our developing coverage here.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked part of the Trump administrations pause on federal grants and loans, just hours before it was set to take effect, as a slew of advocacy groups, charities, foreign aid and public health programs warned of its potential to upend American lives on an unprecedented scale.

US District Judge Loren L. AliKhans stay temporarily blocked part of Trumps plans, preventing the administration from pausing payments for open awards  those already granted by the federal government  through at least 5 p.m. ET Monday, February 3.

Reactions to the freeze included a flurry of lawsuits, statements of concern from recipients of federal funds and warnings about what may be to come.

What is the funding freeze?

Hundreds of programs touching all corners of the US were placed under review, according to a document released by the Office of Management and Budget.

The White House later issued a memo appearing to limit the scope of the federal freeze, saying it only encompasses types of programs that may run counter to Trumps recent executive actions on immigration; foreign aid; climate and energy; gender identity; ending DEI initiatives and preventing federal funding for elective abortions.

Yet the planned freeze  which could later resume and trigger a potential showdown at the Supreme Court  has left many non-profit organizations and government agencies at local, state and federal levels in a state of flux.

What programs arent included in the freeze?

The initial order Monday said the pause would not affect Social Security, Medicare benefits, or assistance provided directly to individuals.

But as confusion swept through organizations that rely on federal grants and loans for their operations, the administration had to further clarify the order.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Office of Management and Budget issued a Q&A saying the following also would not see funding pauses: mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps)  as well as funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs.

This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her first White House briefing.

But the confusion appeared to have an effect: For several hours on Tuesday, state Medicaid agencies were unable to access federal funds for the health insurance program that covers more than 72 million low-income Americans. During the afternoon, states started regaining access to the funding system.

The National Association of Medicaid Directors confirmed Wednesday it had received word Medicaid would not be part of the federal funding freeze. NAMD has been notified that Medicaid is exempt from the federal payment pause, NAMD Executive Director Kate McEvoy said in a statement to CNN.

What are the impacts right now? Confusion reigns

Meals on Wheels programs, which rely on federal grants and serve more than 2 million senior citizens annually, were unclear about whether they would be impacted. Were still dealing with a lot of conflicting information. In short, 37% of Meals on Wheels funding comes from the Older Americans Act, which is a grant on the freeze list, Jenny Young, spokesperson for Meals on Wheels America, told CNN on Wednesday. Right now, were battling conflicting information as the White House has said Meals on Wheels would not be impacted.

Universities across the country are scrambling to figure out how a funding freeze could affect their research programs, students and faculty. Researchers at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, said they were told to stop work on grant-funded projects, according to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Scientists could miss deadlines to present and share their work if funding freezes go forward, said researcher Lorna Quandt, who has a grant application pending. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities on Tuesday called the administrations move unnecessary and damaging, saying that a federal funding freeze would sideline American scientists.

The National Science Foundation, which funds a wide range of scientific research through grants to universities and research institutions, has paused all of its grant review panels this week as it works to reconfigure its grant-making process in light of Trumps executive order, it said Tuesday.

The United States has a unique government-to-government obligation to Tribal Nations, said Native American Rights Fund Executive Director John Echohawk in a statement following Trumps announcement. Because of this unique relationship, Tribal Nations and Native people are especially and disproportionately affected by any federal actions like todays funding freeze. NARF Deputy Director Matthew Campbell said Wednesday that despite the additional guidance, many Tribes and Tribal orgs are not able to access or draw down their federal funds. This has an immense impact and we are investigating the matter.

Atlanta is impacted by the funding freeze, from affordable housing to salaries and public safety, Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement Tuesday before the district courts pause. Partner agencies were unable to access portals essential to conducting business, such as paying rent and operational costs, he said.

In Colorado, the states Community Health Network said a pause in federal funding could impact more than 857,000 Coloradans who rely on care. Community Health Centers had difficulty accessing the system used to access grant money Tuesday, spokesperson Grace Trautman said, but those who were able to make requests did receive their funds Wednesday.

Gian-Carl Casa, president of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, told the CT Mirror that taking away federal funding will cut a hole in the already-frayed safety net, through which tens of thousands of people who depend on nonprofit programs here will fall.  To implement this kind of order without regard for the impact on living, breathing people is beyond comprehension.

Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the National Head Start Association, which serves nearly 800,000 low-income children from birth to age 5 and their families, told CNN that some Head Start programs were unable to access Payment Management Services  the federal system used to draw grant money  which could have forced some to close their doors as early as Wednesday. While Head Start programs are now able to access their federal funding, the association believes the brief glitch is connected to the administrations freeze order, Sheridan said.

Impacts facing overseas humanitarian aid

The uncertainty facing the freeze is not limited to within the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday added more exemptions to humanitarian programs that would otherwise be cut by the freeze on almost all US-funded foreign assistance.

In a waiver obtained by CNN, Rubio agreed this week to keep spending on humanitarian programs that provided life-saving medicine, medical services, food shelter and subsistence assistance, leaving out programs that involve abortions, family planning and transgender surgeries.

The move has caused more confusion among the humanitarian community  many of whom are at risk of layoffs and program shutdowns from the initial directive. The groups say they have not been informed or received guidance on the waiver.

Though it has only been a few days, implications have already been catastrophic for those in Gaza and Ukraine, humanitarian officials told CNN. One predicted that if the suspension continued for two more weeks, thousands could die.

And the freeze, if continued, could cause a number of organizations doing humanitarian work to close permanently, as they are not receiving the funding to keep paying their employees.

Is the funding freeze legal?

The freeze of federal grants and loans is queuing up a Supreme Court showdown over the Constitution.

Theres every reason to think that, unless this memo is quickly rescinded, the litigation it is going to provoke will get to the Supreme Court in one big hurry, Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, said Tuesday.

Some non-profit groups, including the National Council of Nonprofits, filed suit in federal court in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. That led to the federal judges temporary, partial block of the plans to freeze aid.

From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to halting food assistance, safety from domestic violence, and closing suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives. This order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need, said Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.

At least 22 states, including New York and California, in addition to Washington, DC, have also sued.

CNNs Jennifer Hansler, Tami Luhby, Andy Rose and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Umit Yldrm | Unsplash

(The Center Square)  New Hampshire lawmakers are making another push to approve a right to work law that would limit labor unions from collecting dues from non-members.

A proposal being considered by the House Committee on Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services would, if approved, allow unionized workers in the private sector to opt out of paying their dues even while continuing to receive the benefits of a collective bargaining agreement.

The proposal is backed by Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire and other pro-business groups pushing for the changes, which have argued the move would "protect worker freedom" and improve the states economic competitiveness.

John Reynolds, New Hampshire state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said studies have shown that right to work laws benefit entrepreneurs, workers and taxpayers by creating higher rates of upward economic mobility and lower rates of poverty and unemployment. He said the proposal would allow New Hampshire to "protect the ability of small businesses and workers to determine their own fates."

"As New Hampshire seeks to boost economic growth, address chronic workforce shortages, and make the state an even more attractive place to live, Right to Work is the right policy at the right time," Reynolds said in testimony in support of the bill.

Not surprisingly, union leaders oppose the 'right to work' legislation, arguing that it prevents workers from negotiating higher wages and conflicts with contractual agreements between workers and employers.

Right to work legislation has been debated in New Hampshire for decades but has failed to win enough support to become a law. The Legislature approved a right to work bill in 2011 but was vetoed by then-Gov. John Lynch. The most recent effort came in 2021 when Democrats blocked a Republican-led proposal to prevent labor unions from collecting dues from private sector workers.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public sector workers cannot be forced to pay fees to unions that represent them in collective bargaining.

The courts decision ended a provision in 26 other states that required public employees to pay whats known as "fair share" fees as a condition of employment, even if they dont want to be union members. The fees are meant to help offset the bargaining and contract administration costs that benefit them.

However, the ruling doesn't affect private-sector unions unless they represent workers in one of the 27 states with right to work laws.

In New Hampshire, about 70,000 employees  or 10% of the workforce  belonged to unions in 2022, with public sector employees representing about two-thirds, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Congress, Republican lawmakers have introduced several bills to pass a National 'Right-to-Work' Act allowing employees to choose not to join a union. To be sure, federal law already prohibits forcing employees to join a union.

"Right to Work laws do exactly one thing: they make union dues a voluntary choice," Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee, said in a statement. "In a Right to Work state, a worker can join a union and pay union dues if he wants, but he cannot ever be fired for choosing not to do so."
Unique Nicole/Getty Dave and Jenny Marrs in June 2024

A lawsuit that was filed against Dave and Jenny Marrs has officially been settled days before a trial was set to begin, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Arkansas couple Matthew and Sarah McGrath claimed the HGTV stars' companies, Marrs Construction and Jupiter Rentals, failed to complete upgrades to their home, leading to an alleged breach of contract and warranty. They claimed both companies worked on the home, according to the original complaint filed in 2023.

A settlement was reached days before the Fixer to Fabulous couple's trial was set to be held on Jan. 27, per a Jan. 24 filing.

The document states that the Marrs and McGraths stipulate that all pending . . . have been fully compromised by settlement" and the lawsuit will be "dismissed with prejudice.

Related: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 5 Kids: All About the HGTV Stars Sons and Daughters (Including Who Has a Knack for Home Design!)

HGTV Dave and Jenny Marrs on 'Fixer to Fabulous' season 6

The McGraths' lawsuit first claimed that they entered into a contract to purchase their Arkansas home from Jupiter Rentals (through Dave Marrs) on May 22, 2022.

They allegedly put a down payment of $15,000 on the $559,000 house and requested specific upgrades to be done by Marrs through Jupiter Rentals. The company allegedly agreed to perform the upgrades, amounting to $10,125 worth of work before the closing date.

The McGraths performed an inspection and submitted a list of repairs to Jupiter, per the filing. However, the document alleged that not a single item on the list of repairs had been performed as of their closing date of Aug. 28, 2022.



Related: Dave and Jenny Marrs Open Up About the 'Crazy Chaos' of HGTV Stardom, Raising 5 Kids and Life on the Farm

The McGraths also claimed that a multitude of additional defects in the construction of the home were discovered after they acquired ownership.

As they were provided a builders warranty from Marrs Construction, the McGraths attempted to seek an agreement with them to repair the issues per the warranty. But they claim the company declined.

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.

The McGraths claim they tried to do the same via Jupiter Rentals, but the company did not respond.

As a result, the McGraths alleged in the lawsuit that both Jupiter Rentals and Marrs Construction breached the warranty, while Jupiter Rentals allegedly also breached the contract.

They stated that they were entitled all costs associated with the repair of their home that stemmed from the companies failure to perform. They also requested to be awarded their attorneys fees and costs of litigation, per the filing.

Representatives for HGTV and the McGraths' attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.



Dave and Jenny Marrs rose to HGTV fame renovating houses in their hometown of Bentonville, Ark. Their show, Fixer to Fabulous, has been on the air since 2019.

Read the original article on People
Dozens of sexual assault complaints were filed against the citys troubled juvenile detention facilities this week, bringing the total number of claims to a shocking 539.

The 115 new alleged victims, who each brought suit on Monday, joined hundreds of other survivors who have filed cases since last spring  based on claims they were sexually abused at youth lockups in Brooklyn and The Bronx.

The system should be a place of rehabilitation, not harm, Angel Sanchez, who says he was abused by a male staff member at the Crossroads Juvenile Facility in Brooklyn when he was 16, recalled on Tuesday.

We cannot let the cycle of abuse continue, he said.

Sanchez, speaking at a press conference announcing the suits, said that the sicko staffer molested and masturbated him several times over the three months he spent at Crossroads.

The system should be a place of rehabilitation, not harm, said survivor Angel Sanchez at a press conference with his attorney, Jerome Block, and local elected officials including City Council Members Sandy Nurse, Carlina Rivera. Levy Konigsberg LLP.

The staff member threatened me, telling me that if I reported what happened, I would place more time in detention, Sanchez said.

Some of the lawsuits allegations date back decades, when the city Department of Correction operated the facilities. Since 2018, the citys Administration for Childrens Services has overseen the jails.

Kendra Monsanto, claimed in her suit that she was repeatedly raped when she was at the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in The Bronx  where roughly 42% of the allegations took place  for four months in 1998.

About 15 percent of the abuse allegations took place at the Horizon Juvenile Detention Center in the South Bronx. J.C. Rice

I was supposed to be safer there than in my own home, but what I encountered was far from safety, said Monsanto, who was 13 when the alleged attacks happened.

At the facility, I was coerced, manipulated, and exploited by staff members, she said.

At first, a pair of guards at first were kind to her and took an interest in her personal problems to gain her trust, her suit states.

But soon, the depraved employees began raping her five times a week, leaving her to scream in pain until she passed out, according to the lawsuit.

One of the guards would force the female inmates, including [Monsanto], to line up and perform oral sex on him, her complaint alleges.

Jerome Block, a partner at Levy Konigsberg  the firm behind the nearly 540 cases  said that kids today are still being sent to Crossroads and Horizon Juvenile Detention Center in the South Bronx, where just under half of the alleged abuse occurred.

According to Levy Konigsberg LLP, most of the abuse occurred at Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in the Bronx. Levy Konigsberg LLP.

We have seen no evidence that the inadequate procedures and the conditions that enabled this sexual violence have been fixed, Block said Tuesday. These survivors want accountability. They want justice, and they want this cycle of sexual violence at these juvenile centers to end.

The lawsuits are being brought because of a look-back window granted under the states Gender Motivated Violence Act, which closes at the end of February.

The city has already moved to dismiss at least some of the claims, but a judge has yet to rule on their motion that argues some of the allegations took place before such civil claims were allowed to be made through the GMVA in 2000.

While the overwhelming majority of these incidents predate this administration or ACSs involvement with juvenile justice, we take these allegations very seriously, said ACS spokesperson Stephanie Gendell.
The three Israeli hostages due to be released in Gaza: Arbel Yehoud (left), Agam Berger (center) and Gadi Moses. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

The three Israeli hostages due to be released in Gaza on Thursday have been named by the Israeli Prime Ministers Office (PMO), which also confirmed that five Thai nationals will be freed.

The list of names received from Hamas today by the mediators Qatar and Egypt includes: Arbel Yehoud (29 years old), Agam Berger (19) and Gadi Moses (80), the PMO said.

The names of the five Thai citizens to be freed have not been made public.

Israeli authorities are also expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday. Of those, 32 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and another 30 are children, according to Hamas.

A total of 33 Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas and other armed groups in the October 7 attacks were set to be freed in phase one of the ceasefire and hostages release deal between Israel and Hamas. Two rounds of releases have already taken place. Meanwhile, Israel will release a total of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase.

Eight of the remaining Israeli hostages set to be released are dead, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said on Monday.

All three Israeli hostages named for release on Thursday are believed to be alive, according to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum.

Yehoud was kidnapped from her home in the Nir Oz kibbutz, along with her partner Ariel Cunio, the forum said on Wednesday.

Moses, a grandfather and keen agronomist, also was taken from Nir Oz.

The kibbutz was among the hardest-hit of the communities targeted by Hamas in the attacks of October 7, 2023, with more than a quarter of its population of 400 being either killed or kidnapped.

Osnat Peri, the chairwoman of Kibbutz Nir Oz, described the news of the releases as an exciting moment for us, and another step on the long road to bringing all our loved ones home.

However, she also noted that of the 76 people kidnapped from the community, 29 remained in Gaza, and said that the struggle will continue until all were returned.

Many others were murdered, homes were burned, and the entire community was uprooted, she said, adding, The road to recovery and the return of everyone home is still long, but we are not giving up.

Moses family said Wednesday they had received with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadis return to us tomorrow, thanking the people of Israel for their embrace and support.

The third Israeli hostage to be returned Thursday, Berger, was a soldier abducted from a military base besid e the Nahal Oz kibbutz.

The hostages forum said it too would not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home  down to the very last one  the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial.

Hostage thanks Israeli soldier for saving her life

The news of Thursdays releases comes as a former hostage thanked a female soldier freed last week for saving her life.

Amit Soussana, who was released during an earlier, short-lived ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November 2023, spoke in an emotional interview with Israeli TV about her experiences in captivity  and the bravery of her fellow captive Liri Albag, who was freed on Saturday.

Soussana credited Albag, 19, with talking one of her captors out of killing her.

The 40-year-old lawyer spent the first three weeks of her captivity in solitary confinement, with only her captor  who allegedly sexually assaulted her  for company. But after Israel launched its ground offensive in late October, she was moved to another location within the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, she told journalist Ben Shani, in an episode of Uvda on Israels Channel Keshet 12, that there were four other hostages at the second site  including Albag.

The group immediately bonded with Soussana and told her about their captors, singling out one who she labelled a psychopath. On one occasion, she said, he hit her in the neck with his gun, and threatened to kill her.

He and others then bound her arms and legs to two sticks and strung her up between two sofas, said Soussana. I was tied to one stick by my hands and one by my feet and hung upside down and with duct tape on my face, she added, while one of the men beat her.

She said she quickly learnt that they thought she was an IDF officer and were trying to obtain information from her.

Soussana alleged the other hostages were brought in to convince her to confess. Then, back in the room, she was threatened at gunpoint.

After her captor left, Albag told her she didnt think that they would follow through, but asked nonetheless if Soussana had a message for her family. She said she loved them.

Soussana said the psychopath liked Albag, so she asked her to explain that she was a civilian. Describing her as a force, Soussana said that she was something special who had power against him.

But after two weeks together, the women were separated and Soussanna was transferred again  this time to Hamas network of underground tunnels.

Her stay there was short lived compared with some of the remaining hostages, who have been held for more than 15 months.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Kareem Khadder and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Italian navy ship Cassiopea, carrying migrants as part of a deal with Italy to process thousands of asylum-seekers caught near Italian waters (REUTERS)

An Italian navy ship has dropped off 49 migrants in Albania after intercepting them in international waters, in the third attempt to carry out a contentious plan to relocate migrants to be processed under a deal between the two countries.

The attempt to process the migrants at special centres in Albania follows two failed attempts in October and November, when Italian judges refused to approve the detention of two small groups in the centres.

Cassiopea, the navy ship which picked up the migrants, reached the Albanian pot of Shengjin early on Tuesday, where they will be identified at a facility before being moved to a detention centre 20km (12 miles) away.

The 49 migrants were intercepted in international waters (REUTERS)

The nationality of this group of migrants in the port of Shengjin, 66 kilometres northwest of Albanias capital of Tirana, was not specified by the Italian Interior Ministry. Italian media has reported that they were from Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Gambia.

Two reception centres in Albania have been built by the Italian government of Giorgia Meloni, in the first such deal by a European Nation to divert migrants to a non-EU country as it looks to limit arrivals via sea.

Judges in Rome have questioned the legality of the plan, with the first two batches of migrants detained in Albania afterwards relocated to Italy.

The judges rejection of the plan derives from a ruling by the European Court of Justice last year, unrelated to Italy, which found that a nation of origin could not be considered safe if even just a part of it was dangerous.

A migrant is seen aboard the Italian navy ship (REUTERS)

Italian courts therefore ruled that the migrants countries of origin werent safe enough for them to face the possibility of being sent back by the asylum processing centres, undermining the Melon governments plan to repatriate them.

Ms Melonis position was partially backed by a late December ruling by Italys highest court, which said Italian judges could not substitute for government policy in deciding which countries are safe for repatriation of migrants, if their asylum requests are rejected.

Lower courts are therefore permitted to make such determinations on a case-by-case basis, but cannot set overall policy.

Ilaria Salis, a European Parliament deputy from a left-wing Italian party, condemned the Italian government for forcibly transferring innocent people fleeing war and misery despite violations of international law and human rights.

This year, 3,704 migrants have arrived in Italy, more than double the 1,305 from the same period last year.

The European court will review Italys plan in the following weeks to clarify whether it complies with EU law.
Nearly 30 years since the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey, her father said he has great hope that police are on the right track to finally solve her killing.

JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old child beauty queen, was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her familys Boulder, Colorado, home in December 1996.

Her murder dominated headlines and transfixed the public, but for decades has remained unsolved. The case saw her parents and brother cast under a cloud of suspicion until prosecutors apologized to them in a letter in 2008 and said they were not considered suspects. Authorities found male DNA on the childs body that did not belong to her family, which pointed an unknown outsider.

John Ramsey, JonBenets father, 81, said he hasnt given up on solving her case.

He met with the new Boulder police chief on Monday and said it was the first time in 28 years that he felt the case was in good hands.

They were just open to sincerely discuss the case. Im just very impressed with the caliber of the leadership now and that gave me great hope, he told NBCs Stephanie Gosk.

John Ramsey and Patricia Ramsey in 1996.

Speaking on the male DNA that was previously withheld from the district attorney's office in the case, he said: They kept that result secret from the D.A., certainly from us. The problem that police had is itd conflict with their conclusion the family were the killers.

The DNA was a focus of the Netflix documentary "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey" released late last year, which criticized Boulder police.

Our family reputation has been damaged quite severely by the police. The only way it will be mostly restored is if there is a killer caught, John Ramsey said. JonBenets mother, Patsy, died of cancer at age 49 in 2006.

In response to the documentary, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn acknowledged the investigation could have been better handled all those years ago and said the case is far from closed.

Our goal is to find JonBenet Ramseys killer. Our commitment to that has never wavered, Redfearn said in a video message at the time.

Ramsey is hopeful that forensic genetic genealogy, which has helped solve other cold cases, will lead to a break.

Thats how its going to get solved, he said.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt  crimes his lawyer said hes been mocked for as Gold Bar Bob.

The judge delivered the sentence after Menendez tearfully addressed the court, saying hed lost everything he cared about, except his family. The Democrat resigned last year after becoming one of only a handful of U.S. senators ever convicted while in office.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein told Menendez in a packed Manhattan courtroom. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

The ex-senator was convicted of selling his once-considerable clout for bribes worth a fortune. FBI agents who searched his house found $480,000, some of it stuffed inside boots and pockets of clothing, and gold bars worth an estimated $150,000.

Prosecutors said that in exchange for the loot, which also included a luxury car, Menendez did corrupt favors for three New Jersey businessmen. They said he tried to protect associates from criminal investigations, helped two of them in business deals with foreign powers, and also met with Egyptian intelligence officials and took steps to help that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Whats been the result?" Stein said. "You lost your senate seat. You lost your chairmanship and you lost your good name.

Menendez, 71, portrayed himself to the judge as a sympathetic figure, stressing his decades of public service and declaring that he was chastened by the experience. Afterward, talking to reporters with TV cameras and microphones outside, he turned defiant.

I am innocent," he proclaimed, vowing to appeal.

Menendez, who beat a prosecution in another corruption case a decade ago, aligned himself with President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of the judicial system, particularly in New York City.

This process is political and its corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system, Menendez said, reading from a sheet of paper.

The judge ordered him to report to prison June 6.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said that despite Menendezs accomplishments, he will be remembered for putting his own interests and financial gain ahead of the public interest. Menendezs successor, Democratic U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, said the sentencing is a reminder that nobody should be above the law, no matter your title or the power you hold."

Two of the men convicted of bribing Menendez also got substantial prison terms Wednesday. The judge sentenced real estate developer Fred Daibes to seven years in prison. Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, was sentenced to eight years.

Daibes, 67, tearfully told Stein his conviction had left him borderline suicidal." Hana professed that he was innocent.

A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez at a trial last year. Menendez' wife, Nadine, faces a March trial on many of the same charges.

A dozen U.S. senators have been indicted while in office, but only four before Menendez were convicted and had those convictions stand up on appeal.

Menendez resigned last August, a month after his conviction, but hed been sapped of his power by then. After he was charged in 2023, he was forced to surrender his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His trial traced his dealings with Egyptian officials and his quest to aid three men who showered him with lucrative gifts found during a 2022 raid on his home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni said Menendez committed a truly grave breach of the trust by serving Egypts interests as he worked to protect a meat certification monopoly Hana had established with the Egyptian government.

His time in the Senate was a privilege. It should have been its own reward  or would have been if he wasnt corrupt, Monteleoni said.

Among other things, Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about U.S. Embassy staff in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt.

For other bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez attempted to persuade a federal prosecutor in New Jersey to go easy on Daibes, a politically influential real estate developer accused of bank fraud.

Businessman Jose Uribe testified that he helped Nadine Menendez get a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator sought to pressure state prosecutors to drop criminal probes of his associates.

Menendez has insisted that his interactions with Egyptian officials were normal for the head of the Foreign Relations Committee and that he always put American interests first. He denied taking any bribes and said the gold bars belonged to his wife.

Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions, Menendez told the judge. Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.

Stein said he took Menendezs public service, age and health into consideration when deciding his punishment, which could have been as much as 24 to 30 years in prison under sentencing guidelines.

Menendez's lawyers described how the son of Cuban immigrants emerged from poverty and the trauma of his father's suicide when he was 23 to become the epitome of the American Dream  rising from mayor of Union City, New Jersey, to decades in Congress  before his conviction rendered him a national punchline.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob, defense lawyer Adam Fee told the judge.
FILE - Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, walks in the presidential palace ahead of his meeting with Walid Ellafi, Libyan minister of state for communication and political affairs, in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  The Syrian factions that toppled President Bashar Assad last month named an Islamist former rebel leader as the countrys interim president on Wednesday in a push to project a united front as they face the monumental task of rebuilding Syria after nearly 14 years of civil war.

The former insurgents also threw out Syrias constitution, adopted under Assad, saying a new charter would be drafted soon.

The appointment of Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was once aligned with al-Qaida, as Syria's president in the transitional phase came after a meeting of the former insurgent factions in Damascus, the Syrian capital.

The announcement was made by the spokesperson for Syrias new, de facto governments military operations sector, Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, the state-run SANA news agency said. The exact mechanism under which the factions selected al-Sharra as interim president was not clear.

Formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa is the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the lightning offensive that toppled Assad in early December. The group was once affiliated with al-Qaida but has since denounced its former ties.

In recent years, al-Sharaa has sought to cast himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance and promised to protect the rights of women and religious minorities.

The United States had previously placed a $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa but canceled it last month after a U.S. delegation visited Damascus and met with him. Top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf said after the meeting that al-Sharaa came across as pragmatic.

Speaking at Wednesday's meeting, al-Sharaa, who was in military uniform, stressed the heavy task and a great responsibility that Syria's new rulers face.

If the victor is arrogant after his victory and forgets the favor of Allah upon him, it will lead him to tyranny, he said, according to a video released hours later.

Among the priorities for rebuilding Syria, he said, will be filling the power vacuum legitimately and legally and maintaining civil peace by seeking transitional justice and preventing revenge attacks" in the wake of Assad's disastrous reign.

Syrians took to the streets in Damascus and elsewhere to celebrate the announcement, honking car horns and in some cases firing in the air. Many expressed support for al-Sharaa.

This person is someone who is intelligent and has a good understanding and he was the leader of the battle that freed Syria, said Abdallah al-Sweid, who was among those celebrating at Umayyad Square in Damascus. He is someone who deserves to be president.

Others  even those who had rejoiced at Assads ouster  appeared critical of the way the appointment was made and the lack of clarity on next steps.

The problem is not in the decisions. The problem is in the timing, the previous promises and the confusion, said Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces  a group formed by members of the opposition to Assad in exile.

Qatar was the first to react to al-Sharaa's appointment, which had been expected, saying it welcomed decisions aimed at enhancing consensus and unity among all Syrian parties. The statement added that this should help pave the way for a peaceful transfer of power through a comprehensive political process.

Western nations, although they have moved to restore ties with Damascus after Assad was overthrown, are still somewhat circumspect about Syrias new Islamist rulers.

Abdul Ghani, the spokesman, also announced Wednesday that Syria's constitution  adopted in 2012, under Assad's rule  was annulled. He said al-Sharaa would be authorized to form a temporary legislative council until a new constitution is drafted.

All the armed factions in the country would be disbanded, Abdul Ghani said, and would be absorbed into state institutions.

Since Assads fall, HTS has become the de facto ruling party and has set up an interim government largely composed of officials from the local government it previously ran in rebel-held Idlib province.

The interim authorities have promised they would launch an inclusive process to set up a new government and constitution, including convening a national dialogue conference and invite Syria's different communities, though no date has been set.

As the former Syrian army collapsed with Assads downfall, al-Sharaa has called for creation of a new unified national army and security forces, but questions have loomed over how the interim administration can bring together a patchwork of former rebel groups, each with their own leaders and ideology.

Even knottier is the question of the U.S.-backed Kurdish groups that have carved out an autonomous enclave early in Syrias civil war, never fully siding with the Assad government or the rebels seeking to topple him. Since Assads fall, there has been an escalation in clashes between the Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups allied with HTS in northern Syria.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were not present at Wednesday's meeting of the countrys armed factions Wednesday and there was no immediate comment from the group.

At the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos this month, Asaad al-Shibani, Syrias new foreign minister and HTS official, said the country needs the international community's help as it begins rebuilding after the brutal civil war.

___

Sewell reported from Beirut.
Madagascar Heron (Ardea humbloti) adult standing in lake, Madagascan endemic, endangered Lac Ravelobe, Ampijoroa Forest Station, Ankarafantsika Reserve, Madagascar November  Neil Bowman/Shutterstock.com

The Madagascar heron, also known as Humblots heron, is a species of heron endemic to the north and west coasts of Madagascar. It is also natively present in the Comoro Islands and Mayotte. Due to a declining population, experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included the bird on its Endangered Species Red List in 2016. Lets look at the history of this gorgeous bird and how we can help its population recover in its endemic region.

What Is the Madagascar Heron?

Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

Known scientifically as Ardea humbloti, the Madagascar heron was added to the red list in 2016 following a review of the populations size at the time. A team assessed the species for inclusion in the endangered species lists on October 1, 2016, and has not received a reassessment since. The IUCN believes that, within the native ranges in Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and Mayotte, there are less than 1,000 mature Madagascar herons and that the population continues to decline in the present.

One of the primary traits of the Madagascar heron is its wide range. It is classified as a terrestrial, freshwater, or marine animal, depending on the situation. Forests, inland wetlands, marine neritic, marine intertidal, and marine coastal/supratidal areas are all adequate for this bird. It can also live in artificial terrestrial zones designated for it. Since it is not a migratory species, relocating the species to more habitable areas would have to be intentional and human-directed. Unfortunately, its natural habitat is in decline as well, resulting in less habitable land for the species. There are many sources of habitat destruction for the Madagascar heron, which we will detail going forward.

Threats Facing the Madagascar Heron

The Madagascar heron faces a wide variety of external threats to its existence, the largest being agriculture and aquaculture expansion into its habitat. Expansion of perennial and annual non-timber farms in the area can result in major habitat destruction for animals like the Madagascar heron. In addition to agricultural and aquacultural expansion, human disturbances when crossing through heron habitats can cause the birds to face danger and stress, which can shorten lifespans and affect breeding behaviors. Climate change and severe weather disturbances also put stress on the species, causing mass deaths or habitat destruction.

In addition to threats from the climate and agriculture, there is also the danger from poaching and hunting, which can sometimes target the Madagascar herons already dwindling population. Hunting and trapping, logging and wood harvesting, and fishing and other aquatic resource use can result in accidental killing or habitat destruction. Finally, pollution poses a significant risk to the Madagascar heron. The introduction of pollutants can have widespread effects on large areas of land, making them uninhabitable for the local flora and fauna. Locals in the area also kill the birds for food from time to time, but experts do not consider this a significant risk compared to poaching.

How You Can Help

Pav-Pro Photography Ltd/Shutterstock.com

While most of the conservation efforts for the Madagascar heron requires more money and reach than the average person has available to them, there are still a few ways to get involved. The IUCN has implemented an action recovery plan that details the steps the organization plans to take regarding the conservation and repopulation of the species. Still, theres a great need for additional funding to provide the necessary equipment and materials and to provide the ability for the organization to plan charity events and lobby for legislation to protect the species.

In addition to donations and attending charity events, citizens can participate in the education aspect of nature conservation. One of the biggest barriers to funding and legislation is a lack of public knowledge about nature conservation and its impacts. A great resource to learn more is heronconservation.org. By educating others through social media posts and in-person avenues, citizens can influence the outreach and impact legislation choices made by national and international bodies that impact this species.

The post There are Less Than 1,000 of These Birds Left in the Wild appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Law enforcement officials in North Carolina are searching for an inmate who escaped through a ventilation system at a local jail last weekend.

According to the Craven County Sheriff's Office, the manhunt for John Matthew Nigh is ongoing, and all agencies in the state have been alerted about his escape.

Authorities realized Nigh was missing from his cell at the Craven County Jail on Sunday afternoon. They learned his bunkies assisted in the breakout.

"The inmate, assisted by his two cellmates, had removed a ceiling grating, entered a utility ceiling chase, and exited the roof through a ventilation housing," the sheriff's office said. "The cellmates concealed his escape by stuffing a mattress, making it appear that he was sleeping in his cell."

More news: A former trooper claimed he was shot in the line of duty. Officials say he made it all up.

Authorities say the escapee should be considered 'dangerous'

Nigh of New Bern is described as a 6'2 ", 190-pound white man. He has a "JMN" tattoo on his upper left arm and a cross tattoo on his right arm.

Due to previous interactions with officers, officials say Nigh should be considered a "dangerous" individual. According to ABC News, he has a criminal history and was arrested last summer after allegedly opening fire at authorities.

The incident happened as deputies with the Onslow County Sheriff's Office tried to apprehend him in June 2024 for several pending charges in a different county. When they arrived at his location, officials allege he tried to flee and "fired two rounds from a small caliber handgun at the three deputies," a press release stated. The officers were not hit and were ultimately able to take him into custody.

He was arrested on additional charges, including three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer by pointing a firearm, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer.

The U.S. Marshall's Fugitive Task Force has joined the investigation to track him down. WITN-TV reported that an internal probe into his escape is also underway.

Craven County is about 60 miles from Goldsboro.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inmate John Nigh escapes Craven County Jail through ventilation system
Microsoft said Wednesday that its profit for the October-December quarter grew 10% as it works to capitalize on the huge amounts of money it has spent to advance its artificial intelligence technology.

But while its overall profits and revenue beat Wall Street expectations, it slightly missed projections for its closely-watched cloud computing business, a centerpiece of its AI efforts.

The company reported net income for the quarter of $24.1 billion, or $3.23 per share, beating Wall Street expectations of $3.11 per share. The Redmond, Washington-based software maker posted revenue of $69.6 billion in the quarter, up 12% from the previous year, also beating expectations.

Analysts polled by FactSet Research expected Microsoft to generate revenue of $68.87 billion in the last three months of the year.

Sales from Microsofts cloud-focused business segment that includes its flagship Azure computing platform grew 19% from the same time last year to $25.5 billion, which was less than the $25.83 billion forecast by FactSet analysts.

Microsofts productivity business segment, which includes its Office suite of email and other workplace products, grew 14% to $29.4 billion.

Its personal computing business, led by its Windows division, remained steady at $14.7 billion, with a drop in consumer device sales offset by growth in advertising revenue tied to the Bing search engine.

Microsoft shares dropped 5% in after-hours trading Wednesday but were still higher than Monday, when the tech giant was hit by a broader tech stock sale caused by a frenzy over the new ChatGPT competitor developed by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek.

Microsoft is a close partner of ChatGPT maker OpenAI and also sells its own AI chatbot services, branded as Copilot. Part of what drove the Wall Street panic this week was concern over the startup's claims that it was catching up to U.S. tech titans on a fraction of their budget.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella downplayed those concerns on an investor call Wednesday, saying DeepSeek had some real innovations and it is good to have efficiency gains and lower prices in AI development because it means people can consume more and therell be more apps written.

Microsoft also added DeepSeek's latest AI model to those available on its Azure computing platform Wednesday.

Building and operating AI systems is costly, and Microsoft has said it plans to spend $80 billion this year as it expands its global network of energy-hungry computing centers and supplies them with specialized chips to train and run AI models.

We have more than doubled our overall data center capacity in the last three years and we have added more capacity last year than any other year in our history, Nadella said.
In far eastern Ukraine, the "Artan" special operations unit prepared for another raid. The volunteer soldiers carried high-tech equipment that appeared to have come from the U.S. or Europe.

The unit has been carrying out daring acts of sabotage against the invading Russian forces  often behind enemy lines. Their motto is: "We know, we find, we destroy."

President Trump's repeated claim before he took office, that he could end in just 24 hours the war that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has fueled fear in Ukraine and across Europe that he could cut off the vital supply of American weapons.

Members of the Ukrainian

The Artan commander told CBS News if that happens, he and his men will keep fighting, even if their weapons run out altogether.

But after almost three years of grueling warfare, not everyone in Ukraine is still so gung-ho.

The Ukrainian people have stood up to Vladimir Putin's invading army, and they've paid the price in blood and grief.

A recent poll found that just over half of Ukrainians now believe their government should negotiate a ceasefire with Russia  more than double the figure at the start of the war. But many Ukrainians told CBS News that, while they want peace, it cannot come without conditions.

A Ukrainian man looks at photos of service members killed during the war sparked by Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion, Jan. 27, 2025, near the memorial Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv, Ukraine. / Credit: CBS News

CBS News met Yevheniya Puzkiova in a therapy center run by TAPS, an organization founded in the U.S. to support the families of fallen service members. She lost her husband Oleksandr and her eldest son Oleksiy in the fight against Russia.

"If not them, then who? My husband didn't think twice about signing up, and my son went because of his father's example," she said.

Asked if she would support ceasefire negotiations with Russia, the grieving widow and bereaved mother said she would, "but with security guarantees for our people."

"Simply freezing the front line will not do anything," she warned. "Because in a few years, Russia will invade again."

Ukraine's government shares that fear. The country's leaders have said they will only agree to a ceasefire deal that comes with security guarantees, such as European peacekeeping forces on the ground, or NATO membership.

Ukraine is fighting for its very survival. It is a nation on a life or death mission, just like the ambulance CBS News rode along in as it raced toward a hospital not far from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

The soldier in the back was hit by shelling and suffered a shrapnel wound to his head. He was unconscious and on ventilation.

A paramedic treats a Ukrainian soldier who suffered a shrapnel wound to his head as they race toward a hospital in an ambulance run by the MOAS international aid group, in far eastern Ukraine, amid Russia's ongoing invasion, Jan. 27, 2025. / Credit: CBS News

The ambulance was run by MOAS, an international aid group founded by an American entrepreneur that operates a fleet of 50 vehicles along Ukraine's 600-mile front line.

Dr. Mykhailo Ilyk is a pediatric anesthesiologist, but he left the safety of his hospital job two years ago to use his skills to help in the war effort.

Asked if it was worth the horrendous suffering of the Ukrainian people, which he sees daily, to defend their country, Ilyk didn't hesitate.

"Definitely," he said. "This is our land. We have to stand with it, to the last."

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
Teresa Youngblut (left), who is accused of killing border patrol agent David Maland (center) near the U.S.-Canada border is believed to be linked to Maximilian Snyder (right) who was arrested Friday and charged with a separate murder in California (Reuters/Newport City Inn and Suites in Vermont/AP/LinkedIn)

On January 20, a Border Patrol agent was shot dead during a traffic stop in Vermont. It quickly emerged that a German citizen had also died and that a 21-year-old woman had been arrested.

Now investigators are exploring whether those deaths are linked to a fatal stabbing of a landlord 3,000 miles away in California, and a mysterious alleged cult made up of highly educated young computer scientists obsessed with veganism, animal rights, and theories about the nature of human consciousness.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, the woman accused of killing Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont last week, is believed to be closely acquainted with 22-year-old Maximilian Snyder, the man arrested on Friday in the landlords death.

The pair were in frequent contact with each other prior to the killings on opposite sides of the country, according to a motion filed Monday by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Vermont.

So acquainted, in fact, that Youngblut and Snyder had applied for a marriage license on November 5, according to public records viewed by Open Vallejo.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, had been under FBI surveillance since January 14 after a hotel employee in Lyndonville, Vermont, reported seeing her and another person dressed in black tactical clothing and protective equipment, with Youngblut carrying a holstered firearm (Newport City Inn and Suites in Vermont)

They both studied computer science in Washington and appeared to follow the vegan Sith ideology of a fringe Bay Area group that has been described as a murder gang, the outlet reported, citing an interview with a person familiar with the group.

Youngblut has been charged in the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who was killed on January 20 during the shootout in Coventry, about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Her passenger Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen, also died in the shooting.

U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said in the motion filed on Monday that the gun allegedly used by Youngblut, along with the one that Bauckholt was carrying, were both purchased by a third person in Vermont last February  who is a person of interest in a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania. In that case, Richard Zajko, 72, and 69-year-old Rita Zajko were found shot dead at their home in Chester Heights, near Philadelphia, according to the Toronto Sun. Police said the killings were not random.

Drescher said Youngblut and Bauckholt are acquainted with and have been in frequent contact with the person who was detained during that investigation and who also is a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California, the motion said.

On Monday, Maximilian Snyder was charged with murder in the stabbing death of 82-year-old Curtis Lind, the landlord who was killed on January 17.

The Vermont shooting

Youngblut and her passenger, Bauckholt, were driving a 2015 Toyota Prius with a North Carolina license plate in Coventry, Vermont, when the shooting unfolded.

They had been under FBI surveillance since January 14 after a hotel employee in Lyndonville, Vermont, reported seeing them dressed in black tactical clothing and protective equipment, with Youngblut carrying a holstered firearm, according to the FBI affidavit.

That day, investigators approached Youngblut and Baukholt, but the pair declined to have an extended conversation, according to the affidavit, which also stated that they claimed they were in the vicinity to look at purchasing property.

Border Patrol Agent David Maland was killed without warning during the traffic stop (AP)

Days later, on the afternoon of January 20, multiple Border Patrol agents conducted a traffic stop and pulled the Prius over for an immigration inspection. According to Open Vallejo, investigators discovered that Bauckholt appeared to have an expired visa, although they later determined it was current.

Youngblut pulled out a gun and fired at an agent without warning, and Baukholt attempted to draw a gun when at least one of the border agents returned fire, according to the affidavit.

Both Youngblut and Baukholt, along with Agent Maland, were struck by gunfire in the shootout. Baukholt was pronounced dead at the scene and Maland died at North Country Hospital, according to the affidavit.

Youngblut was transported to a New Hampshire hospital for her injuries and has been charged with intentional use of a deadly weapon while forcibly assaulting or interfering with federal law enforcement, and use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to an assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records.

Law enforcement follow a hearse carrying fallen border patrol agent David Maland after he was shot and killed on January 20

A search of the Prius revealed the pair had been traveling with a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, 48 rounds of ammunition, used shooting range targets, and a dozen electronic devices, including cell phones wrapped in aluminum foil, according to the affidavit.

Agent Malands family told the Associated Press his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 years in the federal government, including working security duty at the Pentagon during the 9/11 terror attacks.

He was a devoted agent who served with honor and bravery, they said. He had a tremendous respect and pride for the work he did; he truly embodied service over self.

What in the world is going on with these people?

Prior to the shooting in Vermont, Youngblut and Bauckholt were living in separate duplexes in the same neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, according to the building owner, the Associated Press reported.

Bauckholt rented one unit through Airbnb starting in July 2023 and moved to the second unit later that year, the owner said Tuesday. Youngblut began renting the original unit in November 2024 and had paid nearly $10,000 to extend her stay until the end of March, he said.

The owner, who did not want to be identified for safety reasons, said he had sent messages to all his renters during a recent cold snap asking them to let their faucets drip to avoid frozen pipes. He never heard back from either one, but an individual renting the other half of Youngbluts duplex said her hot water wasnt working, so the owner went to check on the plumbing.

The thing that struck me the most was that there was a stretcher in the living room. Like, what in the world is going on with these people? he said.

The hair on the back of my neck is still up and I just cant believe its being connected to my Airbnb.

The owner recalled that his last contact with Bauckholt was about a month ago when the tenant was trying to negotiate a more traditional lease instead of using Airbnb. Box trucks were parked outside of both units, he said, and Bauckholt was running an electrical cord to one of them.

There would be times when I would come to get the trash and as Im coming up the driveway, hed be crawling out of the cab, he said.

The California stabbing

On January 17, three days before the shooting at the border, Curtis Lind was attacked and stabbed to death by a man wearing a mask and black beanie outside his gated property on the 300 block of Lemon Street in Vallejo, according to police.

It wasnt the first time Lind had been attacked, according to court records and a GoFundMe account that describes Lind as a loving grandfather who was generous with what he had to help a friend or a stranger in need in need.

In 2022, the landlord was impaled by a sword during a violent incident following a dispute with his tenants at the time, who were living in box trucks on his property.

Lind shot two of his alleged attackers during the assault on him, killing 31-year-old Emma Borhanian and injuring another person, which authorities ruled to be self-defense, according to court records obtained by Open Vallejo. But he was left seriously wounded and blinded in one eye.

Suri Dao and Alexander Jeffrey Leatham were charged with murder, attempted murder, and aggravated mayhem for the death of Borhanian, and the attempted killing of Lind, according to court records.

Maximilian Snyder, 22, who is believed to be linked to Youngblut, was charged Monday in the murder of Curtis Lind, a landlord in California (Linkedin)

Thomas Young, who was a friend of Linds, told Open Vallejo that when he searched the box trucks after the attack, he made a creepy discovery.

Stashed inside the trucks, which were allegedly registered in Vermont, were used surgical equipment, more than a dozen laptops, and expensive electronics.

It was actually very uncomfortable, Young said. You kinda wanted to put on a hazmat suit before going into it. It was really just creepy in the extreme.

Before his death last week, Lind was set to testify against his alleged assailants at their trial in April, according to court records.

In 2019, Leatham and Borhanian had been among four people arrested wearing black robes and Guy Fawkes masks at a protest against a Berkeley, California non-profit focused on rational thought. They were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment, false imprisonment and conspiracy as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, wearing a mask while committing a crime and trespassing, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Who are the suspects and what is their alleged connection to the Zizians?

Youngblut and Snyder, as well as Bauckholt, allegedly followed a self-described vegan Sith ideology, according to Open Vallejo, which reviewed their social media posts and spoke to a friend close to the group.

Jessica Taylor said she was a friend of Bauckholt, who she knew by the name Ophelia. She recalled warning Baukholt about Zizians, a group she described as a murder gang.

I remember warning Ophelia that Zizians were a death cult with a high local death rate, she wrote in a post on X after hearing about her friends death. Idk if this involved Ziz or associates but... well, Bayesian evidence (lefty radical violence + violent women).

Several online posters attributed the attack to the Zizians, which was referred to as a cult on various online forums. The group is a radical offshoot of the Rationalist movement, an ideology centered on using scientific techniques to enhance human decision making, Open Vallejo reported.

On the night of the shooting in Coventry, the US-Canada border was backed up for hours (AP)

Taylor explained to the outlet that veganism and animal rights are central to the ideology and that the Zizians believe that there are two hemispheres in the brain, meaning that individuals can split their consciousness between two personalities by waking one side at a time.

Court records have not explicitly linked Snyder and Youngblut to the ideology, but posts on their social media accounts appear to display beliefs consistent with Zizianism.

Youngblut, who studied computer science and computer software engineering at the University of Washington, according to her LinkedIn profile, appeared in a federal court on Monday and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.

Snyder, who studied computer science and philosophy at the University of Oxford, according to a LinkedIn profile matching his name, is being held without bail at the Justice Center Detention Facility.
A woman found on the rooftop of a suburban Chicago hospital wearing nothing but a hospital gown was later pronounced dead. Now her family wants to know why she was out in the freezing cold for nearly seven hours, and one local official is demanding accountability from the facility.

The woman, 28-year-old Chelsea Adolphus, was admitted to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois, at about 4 a.m. Jan. 22, said Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek at a news conference on Monday.

Adolphus left her hospital room at around 2 a.m. Thursday, and at some point someone made an announcement to alert staff that a patient was missing. Adolphus wasn't found until roughly 8:45 a.m. after someone reported seeing her on the rooftop, Banek said.

Hospital staff retrieved Adolphus from the roof and took her to the emergency department, where her body temperature was about 50 degrees. Staff tried to resuscitate and warm Adolphus for 14 hours, but she was pronounced dead just after 11 p.m., Banek said.

The Lake County Coroner's Office said Adolphus died of hypothermia.

Here's what we know about Adolphus' death and what to expect next.

Coroner concerned about 'lack of care' at hospital

Banek said she's concerned about the lack of care and safety measures at Vista Medical Center East and planned to notify to the Illinois Department of Public Health about the case.

She said the Illinois Department of Public Health had revoked the hospitals Level 2 trauma designation for five weeks because the facility did not have proper blood supply and clinical staff.

Vista hospital is the only for-profit hospital in Lake County, and what that means is that they are the only hospital that does not have to have transparency in terms of their operational expenses, she said. I think we need to take profits over patients out of health care.

She said her office has directed Vista Medical leadership and American Healthcare Systems, the healthcare management company that owns the hospital, to preserve "all paper, video, digital and electronic evidence" and ensure it "is not destroyed.

Nether Vista Medical nor American Healthcare Systems responded to USA TODAYs request for comment on Tuesday.

How did Chelsea Adolphus end up on the roof?

When Adolphus left her room early Thursday, the region was experiencing temperatures well below freezing and light snowfall, according to AccuWeather and local meteorologists.

Banek said that Adolphus most likely exited a door she couldnt use to get back inside and that the door didn't have alarms.

It is a very convoluted, difficult way to get to that part of the rooftop," Banek said. "It is not a regularly accessed way by patients.  I have a lot of concerns that measures weren't being put in place to keep patients safe.

When asked, Banek declined to say why Adolphus had been admitted to the hospital.

Coroner said she warned health officials about hospital

Banek said the medical center had furloughed 69 employees, including staff who monitor patients to ensure their safety. She said she noted in a news conference last February that something needed to be done.

We rely on evidence-based practices, transparency and effective oversight as protective measures to make certain people do not die," she said. "A death is not the threshold by which we should be measuring the necessity for a call to action.

Banek also said American Healthcare Systems owes $1 million in back taxes and has failed to meet its financial obligations to vendors, clinical providers and the city of Waukegan, including $200,000 in unpaid water bills and an unpaid bill for police services.

She said Vista Medical Center recently applied to become a safety net hospital, which would allow the facility to receive financial assistance once it meets thresholds of Medicaid or charity care.

While a safety net hospital designation from the state of Illinois could help with health care costs and improve access to the community, unless there is transparency, money should not be given to private equity entities at the taxpayers expense, especially to a company with such a poor track record, she said.

Loved ones mourn the loss of kind, compassionate woman

Adolphus' brother, Paul Adolphus, said Monday that his family is going through a horrible time mentally.

Calling what happened to his sister most disturbing death ever in this town, he said their family wants to know what happened.

The Adolphus family will be seeking justice for Chelsea Adolphus because this has to be stopped, he said. If there's anyone, any staff that was on board that day in the Vista hospital, me and my family ask that you guys come  so we can get justice for my sister.

He said in a Facebook post that Adolphus was his only sister and that "I will never be the same again."

Another loved one shared a GoFundMe link in honor of Adolphus. The fundraiser organizer, who identified herself only as a family representative named Victoria, said the money would be used to cover memorial expenses, legal costs and support for her family.

"Chelseas passing highlights a systemic failure, and we cannot let her story go unheard," she wrote. "Chelsea was loved deeply by her family and community. She was kind, compassionate, and full of life. We believe she deserves justice, and her family deserves answers."

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia  the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Lack of care': Chicago patient dies after being on roof over 6 hours
By Michel Rose and Makini Brice

PARIS (Reuters) -French budget talks teetered on the brink of collapse on Wednesday, a day after Socialist party officials suspended their participation in protest over remarks about immigration by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, threatening his government's survival.

The flare-up over the comments by Bayrou, who said many French people felt "submerged" by immigration, underlines the complexity of his political balancing act.

His comments were cheered by far-right lawmakers from the National Rally, the largest single party in parliament, but prompted the Socialists to abandon budget talks, threatening the passage of the bill and raising fresh doubts about the stability of Bayrou's administration.

The Socialists' walkout comes at a crucial moment, with the 2025 budget bill entering its final stage. On Thursday, a small panel of senators and parliamentarians is due to thrash out a final text before it heads to the lower house floor on Monday.

"We suspended our negotiations because the words from the prime minister were not dignified," Philippe Brun, a Socialist lawmaker involved in the budget talks, said in an interview with Sud Radio on Wednesday.

Brun said the Socialists could return to the table if Bayrou withdrew his immigration remark. Government spokesperson Sophie Primas said the premier had no such plans and the budget must not be "taken hostage" by the dispute. Negotiations were not dead, she said, and Brun said he hoped they would resume.

Failure to pass the 2025 budget has already rattled investors while sapping business and household confidence. The government has had to make billions of euros in concessions to forge a bill with a chance of getting passed.

Without a majority, the government may use constitutional powers to bypass lawmakers, which would likely cause opposition lawmakers to trigger a vote of no-confidence.

The government had been counting on the Socialists abstaining to survive a potential no-confidence vote, and had already retreated on numerous spending cuts to win them over.

Bayrou was named prime minister in December and is seeking to avoid the fate of his predecessor Michel Barnier. Politicians from the left and right banded together to topple Barnier's government when he tried to pass a budget that lawmakers said went too far in a bid to cut spending.

While Barnier had sought support from the National Rally, Bayrou has attempted to survive with the backing of the Socialists. He has agreed to reopen talks on pension reform, a key initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, and scrapped plans by his predecessor to cut thousands of teachers' jobs.

So far, Bayrou has survived one no-confidence vote after the Socialist party did not support it. However, Brun said Socialists would consider backing another no-confidence motion if they could not come to an agreement on the budget.

Laurent Baumel, another Socialist lawmaker, said in an interview with BFM TV that the government had not made enough concessions. He said Socialists wanted a minimum wage increase and more investment in the green transition, among other things.

Market reaction to the flare-up was muted. The gap between French and German 10-year bond yields - a reflection of the premium investors require for holding French debt - was around 1 basis point wider on Wednesday at 73 bps. That gap has been trending narrower this year however, down from above 80 bps in mid January, and 90 in late November.

(Reporting by Makini Brice, additional reporting by Leigh Thomas, Michel Rose and Alun John in LondonEditing by Ros Russell)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday called U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion to relocate Palestinians from war-ravaged Gaza to Jordan and Egypt "unacceptable."

"Any resettlement plans, the idea that the citizens of Gaza will be expelled from there to Egypt or Jordan, is unacceptable," Scholz said, referring at a campaign event in Berlin to Trump's comments.

He reiterated his support for a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians live peacefully side by side, adding that it must be clear that the Palestinian Authority would assume responsibility for Gaza.

"The fragile hope for peace that is now possible must not be squandered," Scholz said, referring to the recent ceasefire agreement, adding that peace can be achieved only if people in Gaza can hope for a self-governing future.

Jordan is already home to several million Palestinians, while tens of thousands live in Egypt, and both countries' governments have rejected Trump's idea. Gaza is land that Palestinians would want as part of a future Palestinian state.

Germany is among Israel's main arms suppliers, with its defence exports to the country rising nearly tenfold annually in 2023, the year when the conflict with Hamas militants started.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin, writing by Andrey Sychev; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Giorgia Meloni has been placed under criminal investigation (AP)

Giorgia Meloni has revealed she is under judicial investigation over Italys surprise release of a prison officer wanted for war crimes in Libya.

Osama Elmasry Njeem was freed last week and flown home by an Italian state plane just days after being arrested in the northern city of Turin by police acting on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

The ICC say Najim was the chief of Libyas judicial police and the presiding authority at Mitiga prisona facility notorious for arbitrary and lengthy detentions, torture, abuse of migrants and political dissidents.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacts during a Senate hearing (LaPresse)

In a video message posted on her Facebook account, the Italian prime minister said she is suspected of aiding and abetting a crime and embezzlement in connection to the case.

The ICC say Njeem is alleged to have been in charge of a prison holding thousands in Tripoli. He is suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015

The ICC demanded an explanation, saying it had not been consulted over the decision to release the wanted police officer.

The suspect was located in Turin, Italy, in the early hours of Sunday, 19 January and was successfully arrested by the Italian authorities.

But on 21 January without prior notice or consultation with the ICC, Njeem was reportedly released from custody and transported back to Libya.

Italys interior minister said the Libyan had been swiftly repatriated because of his social dangerousness.

Meloni said in a message posted on social media that she had been placed under investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds.

She is under no obligation to resign, and being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt, nor mean that formal charges will necessarily follow.

I will not be blackmailed, I will not allow myself to be intimidated, which may be why I am, lets say, disliked by those who do not want Italy to change and become better, Meloni said in a video.

She said she believed the investigation had been triggered by Luigi Li Gotti, a lawyer who announced last week that he had lodged a complaint over the release of Njeem and the use of an official jet to fly him back to Tripoli.

Meloni also said the case was being led by the same prosecutor who investigated Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in Sicily for allegedly kidnapping 100 migrants aboard a boat that he had blocked at sea for nearly three weeks in 2019.

Salvini was acquitted in that case last month.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made light of the ICCs objections, telling reporters the international court is not the word of God, its not the font of all truth.

Italy is a sovereign country and we make our own decisions, he added.
By Kanishka Singh and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip to Central America, including Panama, is partially about countering China, a State Department spokesperson told Fox Business, as new President Donald Trump is pushing to "take back" the Panama Canal.

KEY QUOTE

"Part of this trip is about countering China," spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Fox Business on Tuesday.

Asked if Rubio would "lay down the law" with Panama over the canal, Bruce said: "It's not about laying down any law. I think it's clear this is an issue about developing a relationship ... Not about bossing other nations around, but making it clear that a partnership with the United States is something that they can trust, something that comes with benefits just like any good relationship does."

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump has been pushing to "take back" the Panama Canal, the world's second busiest interoceanic waterway, spurring concerns that the United States could invade the Central American nation.

Trump argues that Panama has broken a pledge of neutrality made when the United States transferred the canal to Panama in 1999, falsely claiming that China is now operating it. The canal is operated by an autonomous agency overseen by the Panamanian government.

China's economic influence has been growing in Latin America, fueling worries in Washington that the resource-rich region will tilt to Chinese interests rather than those of the United States.

CONTEXT

Rubio was scheduled to visit Panama and four other countries in Central America and the Caribbean starting this week during his first overseas trip.

Trump has also put immigration from Central America through the U.S.-Mexico border at the center of his foreign policy agenda.

Washington and Beijing have been embroiled in a rivalry for years over a range of issues from technology and cybersecurity to trade and tariffs.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)
By Maggie Fick

LONDON (Reuters) - The Trump administration's freeze on U.S. foreign aid globally has included a stop-work order to a program run by aid group Action Against Hunger helping severely malnourished children in refugee camps in Ethiopia, two sources said on Tuesday.

A memo on Saturday made it clear to U.S. Agency for International Development staff that the pause on foreign aid spending meant "a complete halt." The only exceptions are for emergency humanitarian food assistance and for officials returning to their duty stations.

But on Friday, the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration sent a memo to the aid group ACF ordering it to stop work immediately on a number of programmes funded by its grants, including the group's "therapeutic feeding centres" for malnourished children under the age of five and their mothers in camps in the Gambella region, the sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

A spokesperson for the aid group declined to comment.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A department spokesperson said on Sunday that the review of all foreign assistance programs is needed "to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda."

Last year, the aid group treated around 3,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the sources said. In total, the aid group oversees nutrition assistance to 400,000 people living in these camps, which are on Ethiopia's border with South Sudan.

As a result of the order they received from the State Department on Friday, the aid group is preparing to shut down the feeding centres by the end of this week, the sources said.

Unlike United Nations agencies that work on emergency food aid, such as the World Food Programme or the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, aid groups including ACF often use specific funding streams for single projects, such as the nutrition support in the Gambella camps.

The aid groups cannot take the financial risk of covering salaries or other expenditures given the immediate halt in financial support from their biggest donor.

Hours after taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid to review if it was aligned with his foreign policy priorities. Then on Friday, the State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing assistance, threatening billions of dollars of life-saving aid from the world's largest single donor.

But several aid workers have told Reuters that it is unclear what U.S.-funded assistance is covered by the emergency food aid exemption.

(Reporting by Maggie Fick in London; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Josephine Mason and Matthew Lewis)
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Implementation of a ban on the U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in Israel - due to start on Thursday - will be disastrous, the UNRWA chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, as the United States accused it of being "irresponsible and dangerous."

The law, adopted in October, bans UNRWA's operation on Israeli land - including East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in a move not recognized internationally - and contact with Israeli authorities from Jan. 30.

"UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in Jerusalem, including the properties located in Maalot Dafna and Kafr Aqab," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the council.

"Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf," he said.

UNRWA said operations in the Gaza Strip and West Bank will also suffer. It provides aid, health and education services to millions in the Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab countries of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

"In two days, our operations in the occupied Palestinian territory will be crippled," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told the 15-member Security Council. "Full implementation of the Knesset legislation will be disastrous."

'IRRESPONSIBLE'

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council have described UNRWA as the backbone of the humanitarian aid response in Gaza, which has been decimated by 15 months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

The United States, under new President Donald Trump, supports Israel's "sovereign right" to close UNRWA's offices in Jerusalem, acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the Security Council. Under Trump predecessor Joe Biden, the United States had urged Israel to pause implementation of the law.

"UNRWA exaggerating the effects of the laws and suggesting that they will force the entire humanitarian response to halt is irresponsible and dangerous," Shea said.

"What is needed is a nuanced discussion about how we can ensure that there is no interruption in the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services," she said.

"UNRWA is not and never has been the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza," she said.

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.

WHO FILLS A GAP?

But the U.N. has repeatedly said there is no alternative to UNRWA and that it would be Israel's responsibility to replace its services. Israel has rejected U.N. claims that Israel would be responsible for filling any gap left by UNRWA.

"Since October 2023, we have delivered two-thirds of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons and vaccinated a quarter of a million children against polio," Lazzarini told the Security Council.

"Since the ceasefire began, UNRWA has brought in 60% of the food entering Gaza, reaching more than half a million people. We conduct some 17,000 medical consultations every day," he said.

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 U.N. has vowed to investigate all accusations made and repreatedly asked Israel for evidence, which it says has not been provided. Lazzarini also said on Tuesday that UNRWA has been the target of a "fierce disinformation campaign" to "portray the agency as a terrorist organization."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Mark Porter)
OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Tuesday approved a proposal requiring parents to report their immigration status or proof of citizenship when enrolling their children in public schools.

The board voted unanimously to approve the proposed administrative rule, which still needs to be approved by the state Legislature and the governor before it can take effect. The controversial rule would require a parent or a child's legal guardian to provide proof of U.S. citizenship at the time of enrollment.

The proposed rule would not prevent students from enrolling based on their legal status. In a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v. Doe, the court said all students had the right to enroll in public schools without regard to the immigration status of themselves or their parents or guardians.

But according to the proposal, school districts would be required to "submit only information of the total number of students that lack of documentation, excluding any personally identifiable information to the Oklahoma State Department of Education."

"Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit, or inhibit, any child from receiving the education they are entitled to receive under the United States Constitution, the Oklahoma Constitution, or state or federal law," the proposal says. "No data outlined in this Section shall be used to record an individual students citizenship status or legal immigration status.

The proposal comes amid a rise in fear and anxiety across schools in the U.S. after the Trump administration authorized federal authorities last week to conduct immigration arrests on school campuses. The move was among a flurry of changes tied to immigration and refugee admissions.

The proposed rule immediately received some backlash with Nicholas Espiritu, deputy legal director at the National Immigration Law Center, calling it a "direct violation of the rights and freedoms of Oklahomans" and a "clear attempt to instill terror in communities across the state."

"All children living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status or that of their parents, have the right to attend K-12 public school," Espiritu said in a statement. "Requiring school districts to prove parents citizenship illegally chills access to this opportunity and interferes with schools ability to focus on their core mission: to educate children and give all students the ability to grow, thrive, and participate fully in our democracy."

Under investigation: Teacher tells ICE to visit high school where many students 'don't even speak English'

Oklahoma State Board of Education votes amid protests outside building

Even as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Oliver Hodge Building, where the state board meetings are held, the board discussed the immigration rule for about a half-hour before voting without objection to approve State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters entire slate of the rules.

Asked after the meeting if his agency would be tracking students or parents' data, Walters replied: "All of the above." Walters, a Republican, also has previously said his agency would work with federal law enforcement and would support them if they chose to raid Oklahoma schools.

"Were a country of law and order," he said. "We have laws and rules in place. Clearly, you are supposed to enter the country legally. We are providing information and documentation over the students in our schools. It is incredibly necessary for us to continue to move up in the education rankings  to have this information. We will continue to collect that information. We will move forward with these rules and listen, were being very open, very transparent about that process."

Walters added: "President Trump has a clear mandate to get illegal immigration under control, so were going to continue to do those things to make sure that the information is there and the information is available."

'It's affecting our classrooms'

Hundreds of Latino community members and allies gathered in front of the Oliver Hodge Building on Tuesday to protest against Walters' policy that requires schools to report the number of undocumented students in their districts. The rally was organized by a local organization called Advocacy for Immigrants.

One of the organizers, Fernando Baquera Ochoa, is a teacher at U.S. Grant High School in southwest Oklahoma City. He's a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shields him and other DACA recipients from deportation and allows them to work legally in the country.

Baquera Ochoa, 31, told The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, in November that he heard concerns about Trump's promises of mass deportations from his undocumented students. Now, they ask Baquera Ochoa each day if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is going to raid their school.

"I had a student tell me that he's going to withdraw for a month and see where things are," Baquera Ochoa said. "It's affecting our classrooms. It's affecting the way we're learning and who is learning."

Demonstrators held signs that condemned Walters, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, ICE, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

"Kids are supposed to be afraid of spiders. Not ICE," one sign read.

"My mom is NOT a CRIMINAL 4 wanting to give me A BETTER LIFE!" read another.

Know your rights, regardless of immigration status

People living in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections provided by the U.S. Constitution, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. They are:

You have the right to remain silent: You dont have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police or immigration agents. Anything said to an officer can later be used against you in court.

If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause.

To prepare for possible immigration crackdowns the National Immigration Resource Center recommends:

Gather important documents for all family members showing the length of time each one has been in the United States. This can include birth certificates, U.S. income tax returns, utility bills, leases, school records, medical records, or bank records. Have an electronic folder that can be accessible by phone.

Identify your emergency contacts, memorize their phone numbers, and make sure your contact can access all of your documents.

Provide your childs school or daycare with an emergency contact to pick up your child in case you are detained.

If detained by ICE, loved ones could use ICEs online detainee locator to locate you with the date of birth and country of origin at https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search.

Legal experts recommend families with members who do not have legal status consult with an attorney and keep their contact information nearby.

Contributing: Zachary Schermele and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Valentina Palm and Katherine Kokal, Palm Beach Post

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma education board approves controversial immigration rule
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order he signed at an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington on Jan. 20.

President Donald Trump made quick work of his first week-plus back in office  ticking off a number of campaign-trail promises, issuing a boatload of pardons (some controversial) and enacting retribution on his political opponents.

So far, the early polling shows Trump starting with more backing from voters  and more wiggle room  than he had going into his first term in the White House. But it remains to be seen how voters will judge his first actions as president.

The former president entered his second term with a better image rating than he had in January 2017. NBC News/Wall Street Journal polling from the days before his first inauguration found just 38% of adults giving him a positive rating, while Fox News found 42% of registered voters viewed him positively at that point.

Now, Fox News most recent poll showed Trump with a 50% positive rating among registered voters and a 50% unfavorable rating. A new Wall Street Journal poll found that 47% of registered voters viewed him favorably, while 51% viewed him unfavorably. Both polls were conducted before Trump took office.

Polling is split on Americans expectations for Trump. According to CNN polling, 56% of American adults say they expect Trump to be a very good or fairly good president, while 43% expect him to be fairly poor or very poor. (CNNs preinaugural poll in January 2021 found slightly higher expectations ahead of Joe Biden's term, while its polling in January 2017 found adults split on their expectations for Trump, with 48% saying they think hed be very or fairly good and 48% saying hed be very or fairly poor.)

A preinaugural poll from The New York Times and Ipsos found that 47% of adults are either excited or optimistic about his presidency, while 51% are either pessimistic or worried about his presidency.

Meanwhile, when it comes to some of the key issues Trump has pursued in the earliest days of his second term, the polling shows both opportunity and peril for his presidency.

Polling from CNN and The New York Times showed that the economy is far and away the most important issue on Americans minds. But many of the headlines Trump has made so far center around issues like immigration and pardons, particularly his decision to issue a sweeping pardon for those convicted over their conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Americans appear broadly more open to Trumps efforts on deportations than they do on the Jan. 6-related pardons. The polls also show that public support for Trumps actions falls off when voters consider the potential outcomes if (or when) Trump takes the hardest line on those issues.

The Wall Street Journal found just 38% of registered voters backed blanket pardons for all Jan. 6 defendants (57% opposed it). Thats compared with 43% who said theyd back pardons for all except those convicted of assaulting police officers and 54% who opposed it. (Trump ended up pardoning virtually all who faced federal charges, including those convicted of violent offenses. A handful of others convicted on conspiracy charges got their sentences commuted.)

On immigration enforcement, there appears to be a majority or strong plurality baseline of support for Trumps broad pledge of enacting widespread deportations. The Wall Street Journal found that 52% of registered voters favor a call to detain and deport millions of undocumented immigrants and 45% oppose it, while 55% of adults in the New York Times/Ipsos poll supported deporting all immigrants in America illegally and 42% opposed it.

Restricting deportations to only those here illegally with criminal records is far more popular: 87% of adults support the policy, per the New York Times/Ipsos poll, and 74% of registered voters in the Wall Street Journal poll back it.

But deporting others is less popular. Fully 70% of registered voters oppose deporting undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade and have paid taxes without having a criminal record, according to the Wall Street Journal poll. The survey also showed 57% oppose deporting undocumented immigrants with children who are American citizens (38% approved of the proposal).

On foreign policy, 60% of adults (per the New York Times/Ipsos poll) agree broadly with the idea that the U.S. should "pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home," aligning broadly with Trumps campaign rhetoric, compared to the 38% who said it's "best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs." Narrow majorities believe America is giving too much aid to Ukraine and Israel. (In each case, about 30% want to maintain the status quo, while less than 20% want to see an increase in aid.)

And amid Trumps criticism of the Biden administrations policies about transgender people, and Trumps executive order declaring the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, there are important divides in the country about transgender issues.

American adults are broadly split on whether society has struck the right balance in accommodating transgender people. According to The New York Times/Ipsos numbers, 49% say society has gone too far in striking the right balance, 21% say society hasnt gone far enough, and another 28% say society has struck a reasonable balance.

But theres far more support for another one of Trumps positions: banning transgender women (defined in the poll as "athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female") from womens sports. Fully 79% of adults in that same poll backed that proposal, compared with just 18% who disagreed. And 71% said they believed no one under age 18 should have access to puberty blocking drugs or hormone therapies used in transgender care.

How much runway do voters typically give new presidents?

While Trump comes into office in better shape than he did in his first term  and the swing voters who backed him appear open to giving him some wiggle room  an analysis of NBC News polling spanning the last five presidencies shows how short honeymoons can be in the White House.

Biden saw his 51% approval rating in April 2021 slip to 45% by late October and down to 41% by March 2022. His approval rating never got above 46% for the rest of his presidency in NBC News polling.

Trumps first approval rating in NBC News polling was 44% in February 2017, a number that slipped immediately to 39% by the third NBC News poll of that year, in May. But Trumps approval rating was more inelastic than other presidents of recent memory, staying inside a relatively narrow range of 39% to 47% for his entire presidency.

Then-President Barack Obamas 60% approval rating in early March 2009 stayed consistent in an NBC News poll the following month. But his approval rating slid in four of the next five polls, though his low of 47% in December 2009 (the first NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll that found him below 50% approval) was substantially higher than the depths Trumps or Bidens numbers reached. After the initial dive, Obamas approval rating oscillated around 50% until the summer before the 2010 midterm elections.

Then-President George W. Bushs first year was marred by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which makes comparison to the first years of other presidencies difficult.

And while then-President Bill Clintons approval rating ticked up from 51% shortly after he took office to 57% in March 1993, it slid down to 41% by June 1993, before a long march up back to 60% on the first anniversary of his taking office. Clintons approval rating then proceeded to slide in 1994 all the way down to 43% before Republicans took over Congress in that years midterm elections.
Bilingual sign on door of frozen food aisle, We accept SNAP food stamp cards, Walgreens, Queens, New York. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)/Bilingual sign on door of frozen food aisle, We accept SNAP food stamp car

Bilingual sign on door of frozen food aisle, We accept SNAP food stamp cards, Walgreens, Queens, New York. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)/Bilingual sign on door of frozen food aisle, We accept SNAP food stamp car

A White House memo ordering a broad freeze on federal grants and loans by 5 p.m. Tuesday has ordinary Americans who depend on such aid, as well as seasoned budget experts, scratching their heads.

The memo suspending the federal funding was vague in its wording, causing confusion within federal assistance programs, at nonprofits and among Americans receiving government aid. Adding to the whiplash, a federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the freeze as she considers arguments from the U.S. government and the plaintiffs in the case.

"If this was being undertaken pursuant to the executive orders on [diversity, equity and inclusion], why would the administration issue such broad, unclear and confusing directions?" Tad DeHaven, a policy analyst focusing on economic and fiscal policy issues at the libertarian Cato Institute, told CBS MoneyWatch.

"I don't really understand it, and I think even people who are in positions of power don't really understand it," added Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project at Brookings, a liberal-leaning public policy research group.

Who isn't affected by the funding freeze?

The memo, from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, indicated that Social Security and Medicare programs would be exempt from the suspension in federal funding. Additional guidance released Tuesday specified that "any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause."

"In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause," the updated guidance says.

The memo adds that funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance and other similar programs are also exempt.

Even if the confusion is resolved within a matter of weeks, and the order is narrowly tailored to take aim at a couple of programs, it will still have serious economic implications for the millions of Americans who receive federal assistance.

"If it's resolved quickly, the aggregate economic effects for the first quarter will be modest, but it will matter a whole lot to people on the other side of these expected payments," Edelberg said. "It could be the difference between having a job and not, getting evicted or affording food  and the economic numbers won't fully reflect how individuals are going to feel this."

Here's what we know about who the freeze effects.

Will I still receive SNAP benefits?

The freeze does not apply to all federal financial assistance, according to an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo Tuesday outlining what kinds of funding the freeze covers.

In the memo, the OMB indicates that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are excluded, specifying that "... any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process."

"In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause," the memo reads.

SNAP serves roughly 41 million Americans, who are nonetheless concerned that the program could be interrupted and that they could see delays in disbursements.

While the program appears to be exempt from the freeze, "You are still going to be really worried in the near term whether the federal government is going to make good on those promises," Edelberg said. "And that kind of uncertainty is not good for the economy."

Are meals for seniors affected?

The Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, a federal program that funds community-based senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels, through grants, could be affected.

If the order includes the Older Americans Act, it "would halt service to millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals," Meals on Wheels said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. "The lack of clarity is creating chaos for Meals on Wheels providers not knowing whether they should be serving meals today," it added.

Housing assistance at risk

The OMB memo added that rental assistance and other similar programs will not be paused. Still, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) issued a statement Tuesday maintaining that it believes Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs could be covered by the freeze.

"Even a short pause in funding could cause significant harm to low-income families and their communities," NLIHC Interim President and CEO Renee Willis said. "The longer the freeze continues, the greater the risk that low-income households receiving federal rental assistance could face eviction, and in the worst cases, homelessness  homeless shelters may be forced to close their doors, and nonprofit organizations may have to lay off staff."

Head Start panic

The memo also indicated that Head Start, a preschool program serving nearly 800,000 low-income children that receives federal health funds, is not impacted by the funding pause.

But the National Head Start Association (NHSA) said that the OMB memo has already "created panic among Head Start grant recipients who are currently not able to draw down any funds."

"While we understand that this is an evolving story, this disruption, at best, will slow down Head Start agencies' ability to pay hundreds of thousands of staff, contractors, and small businesses who support Head Start operations in every corner of the country," NHSA's Executive Director Yasmina Vinci said in a statement. "At worst, this means that hundreds of thousands of families will not be able to depend on the critical services and likely will not be able to work."

Medicaid

Despite the updated guidance issued Tuesday stating that programs including Medicaid are excluded form the pause, state Medicaid programs on Tuesday said they were locked out of the Department of Health and Human Services system used to track and disburse their money.

The Payment Management Services web portal displayed a message reading: "Due to Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments, PMS is taking additional measures to process payments. Reviews of applicable programs and payments will result in delays and/or rejections of payments."

The National Association of Medicaid Directors is seeking further clarity on the interruption from the White House, according to a spokesperson.

Will it affect student loans?

The federal funding freeze does not apply to student loans and Pell grants, according to the Department of Education.

The funding pause "only applies to discretionary grants at the Department of Education," DOE spokesperson Madi Biedermann said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.

Still, families and students are anxious that funds from programs they depend on will evaporate under President Trump.

"Any kind of freeze to federal financial aid across the board is incredibly harmful to working families just trying to pay for college," Aissa Canchola Banez, policy director at Student Borrower Protection Center, an advocacy group working to end the student debt crisis, told CBS MoneyWatch. Uncertainty about the order is fueling chaos and confusion, she added. "Lots of questions remain about what the freeze applies to and what programs it does not."

She added that many student borrowers rely on different kinds of assistance to cover costs beyond tuition.

"There are other types of federal work-study grants that go directly to colleges and universities, and supplemental education opportunities that go to some of the lowest-income students. People really rely on federal financial aid, and you could see families having to drop out of college or figure out how they will cover this gap," she said.

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue

New images of aid reaching Gaza after months of war
A map showing the area PJM Interconnection serves. PJM Interconnection

(The Center Square)  A new deal could dampen the shock of anticipated price spikes from rising energy costs.

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said PJM will support a new price cap meant to lower the cost of the power grid in the coming year after a recent auction forecasted an 800% increase. That spike would have translated to a 30% rise in utility bills.

The price cap must receive official approval from the transmission, generation and distribution companies that supply the grid, as well as the O.K. from federal regulators.

Sixty-five million people across 13 states, including Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., rely on PJM to manage the flow of power across the system minute-by-minute and plan for future electricity needs  like more power to supply data centers, electric vehicle charging stations, and energy storage for solar and wind farms.

The organization, however, can only plan within the parameters set by state and federal governments. That is, thick red tape and tax breaks meant to incentivize the development of new power producers  as critics and independent market monitors have warned  appear to have accelerated the retirement of fossil fuel plants faster than developers can get renewable replacements up and running.

Those challenges, in part, fueled the dramatic rise in the grids operational costs.

Shapiro said in December that PJM is to blame. In a complaint filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the administration said the power grid needs to adjust the math used in its auctions and speed up the approval of new energy projects to prevent a $20.4 billion hit to consumers.

And as of Tuesday, that request had been taken seriously by the grid's executive officials. Backed by Democratic governors from four other states in PJMs territory, as well as consumer protection organizations, PJM agreed to submit a price cap adjustment to federal regulators that would lower the cost from $500 per megawatt day to $325.

When PJMs next auction was set to result in historic price hikes, I filed a lawsuit to stop this price hike on consumers and defend Pennsylvanians, Shapiro said. PJM did the right thing by listening to my concerns and coming to the table to find a path forward that will save Pennsylvanians billions of dollars on their electricity bills.

"My administration will continue to work to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable power for Pennsylvanians for the long term.

In a statement issued Tuesday, PJM explained more in detail what would come next, clarifying that the cap isn't finalized. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must sign off on the change, which would require permission from PJM officials and transmission operators to move forward with a request.

A special meeting to discuss the price cap proposal is scheduled for Feb. 7, where the organization "can provide further guidance on implementation of this cap/floor mechanism and discuss associated tariff revisions."

Beyond the price cap, theres more change to be done.

Nearly all the planned projects in line for construction are for renewable resources  think solar, wind and battery storage. Clearing the backlog is slow, and projects given the go-ahead by PJM still must overcome permitting challenges and fluctuating supply chain prices that extend initial construction timelines by years.

As such, PJM has warned that many of the coming replacements wont be up and running within the next two or three years, meaning the cost to support the system in the interim will rise.

Its a chain reaction for which lawmakers and regulatory agencies have much greater control, of which PJM is neither.

In Pennsylvania, the P in PJM, 25% of the energy necessary to power the grid is generated. And the tension between renewable energy investment and fossil fuel power generation has been boiling over in the commonwealth for years  ever since former Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state up for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative without legislative support.

The initiative charges power plants for air pollution and uses the money collected to support energy efficiency projects. Unlike the programs 11 other members, Pennsylvanias leading role as an energy exporter and natural gas producer meant penalizing such plants could cripple one of the states most lucrative industries.

In 2023, the Commonwealth Court struck down Wolfs executive order as akin to implementing a carbon tax without legislative approval, as required by the state constitution.

Shapiro appealed the decision, promising only to drop it if lawmakers approved his Pennsylvania-centric version of the program.

The uncertainty hasnt helped attract investment across the board. And it ripples out to the rest of the power grid, where other states have other priorities  like more aggressive renewable energy targets, the need for more power generation, or both.
By David Shepardson and Marianna Parraga

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Tuesday expressed alarm at China's influence on the Panama Canal, which President Donald Trump has vowed the United States would take back.

"Chinese companies are building a bridge across the canal  at a slow pace so as to take nearly a decade  and control container ports at either end," Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said at a hearing on the canal's role in U.S. trade and national security.

"The partially-completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation poses acute risks to U.S. national security," he added.

More than 40% of U.S. container traffic, valued at roughly $270 billion annually, transits the Panama Canal, making up over two-thirds of vessels passing each day through the world's second-busiest interoceanic waterway.

Federal Maritime Commission Chair Louis Sola said the agency "will continue to monitor the canal's pricing practices and consider broad reviews of Panama's maritime sector," and can impose fines and restrictions on Panamanian-flag vessels entering U.S. ports.

Panama has one of the world's largest registries for vessels, giving its flag to more than 8,000 ships.

Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the committee, said the U.S. and Panama should work "together to boost port and Canal infrastructure to lower costs and ensure reliability of the Canal."

She asked for a classified briefing for the committee on foreign adversary threats to the canal and plans to take a group of senators to the canal later this year. "I am concerned about the Chinese-owned ports in Panama and their proximity to the Canal," Cantwell said.

Trump has given no details on when or how he intends to reclaim the canal, which is the sovereign territory of an ally. He has refused to rule out use of military force, drawing criticism from Washington's Latin American friends and foes alike.

George Mason University law professor Eugene Kontorovich told the hearing a neutrality treaty signed when the U.S. transferred the canal to Panama gives both sides "the right to resort to use armed force" to enforce provisions. However, "armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute," he added.

Panama's president, Jose Raul Mulino, said last week that Panama has administered the canal responsibly for world trade, including for the U.S., and that it "is and will continue to be Panamanian."

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Acclaimed director Thomas Vinterberg and Goteborgs artistic director Pia Lundberg addressed controversial remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

Lundberg admitted she was surprised by the Ministers statement during the opening ceremony Jan. 24, which made for a tumultuous start of the event.

More from Variety

The Swedish film industry [which has around $50.5 million a year in state support] is comparing itself to Denmark and Norway a lot. Denmark has twice as much money for local filmmaking production than Sweden. Norway has even more. Sweden is really far behind. Do you think Denmark could adopt Sweden on the film side?, Lundberg asked Vinterberg during a public discussion.

It was horrible, I heard, he said. Vinterberg came to Sweden to pick up the Nordic Dragon Award.

Ministers of Cultural Affairs You quickly get rid of them. Its a maximum of four years. Shell vanish soon.

According to Lundberg, Swedish industry is sometimes jealous of Danish films. But Vinterberg added: I dont think you have anything to learn from us. I think you have a lot of strength here and if you dont, then youll find it soon. These are currents, these are waves that come and go.

I think Danish film suffers from the same problem as your film industry right now, which is that amazing movies are being made  by young talents  and nobody goes to see them, he added. And that makes it easy for the Minister of Cultural Affairs to piss on them. But if these films werent made, we wouldnt be winning Oscars, he said, mentioning Oscar-nominated The Girl with the Needle, made by Goteborg-born Magnus Von Horn.

Show faith in it. Fight for it and give its space, and then itll grow. What we have in common is state support and great film schools. This combination is incredibly powerful. The fact that this is an art support system, where you can allow yourself to make movies about these kinds of topics, makes our film tradition super strong. Its with four white, semi-fat, sweaty guys teaching their students to drink alcohol. [Making it] without financial support from the state? Good luck, he said, referencing his own Oscar-winning Another Round.

We are very lucky. My American colleagues keep telling me how lucky we are that we have this support system. If your support system is being strangled by ministers who dont know anything about art, then youll have to fight back, said Vinterberg.

During her Goteborg festival opening speech, Liljestrand tried to remind the festival audience that film is not only art but also a business, a business which also needs monitoring.

Theres a red carpet, gala dresses and jokes about cultural budgets. And so you clearly distance yourself from commercial film. but the film industry is actually commercial. Everyone knows that, she said before adding in a defiant tone that upset the festival audience: Sometimes you can get the impression that all politics should do is count up funds, and otherwise not ask any questions. But that is really not the job of politics.

I know that many culture ministers before me have wanted to portray themselves as the best friends and foremost representatives of the various industries in the government., she went on. You might get a lot of appreciation for it, not least at galas and festivals like this one? What do I know? But I know in any case that it is not the job of politics.

It is also not the job of politics to demand more and more tax money from citizens because they cannot stand up for their prioritiesThe job of politics , and my job as Minister of Culture , is to implement the policy that a majority of the Swedish people have voted for. In the field of film, this means, among other things, the following:

To ensure that artistic freedom is protected, she said, referring to a law that the Swedish government intends to introduce later this year to fight piracy and illegal use of IPTV.

Commenting on the controversy, Mikael Fellenius, head of Scandinavias largest regional film fund Film i Vast told Variety: Our Cultural Minister probably was clumsy in her opening speech. She wanted to underline that film is an industry, which needs to be supported, not only with public coin but also with a wider film policy and reflection. She does want to support film and for the film supply chain to play a bigger part in the financing structure of the sector. But addressing this complex topic at the opening of the Goteborg Film Festival was the wrong place to do this, he said.

The Swedish government is meant to publish late February a full research paper and a list of recommendations on how to make Swedish film more competitive. The recommendations will address the Swedish tax rebates introduced in 2023, which has been criticised in the industry for being underfunded (its annual budget is SEK 100 million ($9 million) whereas SEK SEK 300 million ($27 million) would be needed according to professionals) and using an inadequate first come first serve funding process.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Getty Cascavel in Parana, Brazil

A stepmother in Brazil is facing a murder charge after a 3-year-old girl drowned after falling into a washing machine, according to multiple reports.

Isabelly Oliveira Assumpcao died on May 7, 2022, in Cascavel in the state of Parana, and now the Public Ministry of Parana has charged her stepmother, Suzana Dazar dos Santos, with allegedly causing the girl's death, per local outlets including Globo-operated news agency G1, CNN Brasil and UOL.

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Parana "classified the crime as intentional homicide," according to UOL.

According to a translated CNN Brasil report, citing a complaint by the judiciary, Santos allegedly placed the little girl on a bench in front of the appliance, which was full of water at the time, as well as putting toys in the machine and left her alone in the room.

The crime was allegedly motivated by jealousy, due partly to the fact Isabelly's father was still close to her mother, given that they had a daughter together, G1 reports, citing the complaint, which was obtained by TV Globo-affiliated station RPC Cascavel.

Alamy A photo of police cars in Parana, Brazil

The outlet reported Santos' defense attorneys claimed the little girl's death  which occurred the day before Mother's Day 2022 in Brazil  was an "accident."

Attorney Paulo Hara Junior said that Santos had a "good relationship" with her stepdaughter, adding that there was "no evidence that she intended to take her life," per the translated G1 report.

Attorney Alexander Beilner, defending Isabelly's mother, said the suspect "prepared the entire situation for the crime to happen," according to the outlet, which reported that the little girl died due to internal mechanical asphyxia (drowning).

Isabelly's father, Alex dos Santos Assumpcao, told RPC Cascavel of the updates in the case, Nothing will repair the loss, having lost her, but justice will calm our hearts a little. [...] Due to the evidence that we have, that has come and that is yet to come, we believe that they are absolutely right."

"These recent times have not been easy for us, because it is an irreparable loss, I can say that I do not want anyone to go through what we went through, but I want justice to be served," he added, per G1.

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.

We are very happy with the MPs statement. We have always believed in justice. We always knew that we could trust justice. And the facts are there, and there is more to come. We have never accused anyone. We just want justice for our daughter, the little girl's father continued, according to the publication.

Per UOL, the Public Prosecutor's Office is requesting that Santos be brought before a jury trial. G1 reported on Jan. 28 that the suspect's defense team has 10 days to respond to the case.

The Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF), which is the Brazilian Prosecution Service, told PEOPLE in a statement, "This case is being monitored by the Parana Public Prosecutor's Office."

PEOPLE was unable to find a contact for the lawyers representing the suspect and the family.



Read the original article on People
President Donald Trump holds the document after signing the Laken Riley Act during an event in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act into law, giving federal authorities broader power to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have been accused of crimes. He also announced at the ceremony that his administration planned to send the worst criminal aliens to a detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The bipartisan act, the first piece of legislation approved during Trumps second term, was named for Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was slain last year by a Venezuelan man in the U.S. illegally.

She was a light of warmth and kindness, Trump said during a ceremony that included Rileys parents and sister. Its a tremendous tribute to your daughter whats taking place today, thats all I can say. Its so sad we have to be doing it.

Trump has promised to drastically increase deportations, but he also said at the signing that some of the people being sent back to their home countries couldn't be counted on to stay there.

Some of them are so bad that we dont even trust the countries to hold them because we dont want them coming back, so were gonna send em out to Guantanamo, Trump said. He said that he'd direct federal officials to get facilities in Cuba ready to receive immigrant criminals.

We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal aliens threatening the American people, the president said.

The White House announced a short time later that Trump had signed a presidential memorandum on Guantanamo. Migrant rights groups quickly expressed dismay.

Guantanamo Bays abusive history speaks for itself and in no uncertain terms will put peoples physical and mental health in jeopardy, Stacy Suh, program director of Detention Watch Network, said in a statement.

Trump said the move would double U.S. detention lockup capacities, and Guantanamo is a tough place to get out of.

The Guantanamo facility could hold dangerous criminals and people who are hard to deport, said a Trump administration official speaking on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said his department can set up a detention center very rapidly and called Guantanamo Bay a perfect spot.

We dont want illegal criminals in the United States, not a minute longer than they have to be, he said Wednesday evening on Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime. Move them off to Guantanamo Bay, where they can be safely maintained until they are deported to their final location, their country of origin.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration would seek funding via spending bills Congress will eventually consider.

The U.S. military base has been used to house detainees from the U.S. war on terrorism for years. But authorities have also detained migrants at sea at a facility known as the Migrant Operations Center on Guantanamo, a site the U.S. has long leased from the Cuban government. Many of those housed there have been migrants from Haiti and Cuba.

The U.S. has leased Guantanamo land from Cuba for more than a century. Cuba opposes the lease and typically rejects the nominal U.S. rent payments. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Trump wanting to ship immigrants to the island is an act of brutality.

The U.S. governments decision to imprison migrants at the Guantanamo Naval Base, in an enclave where it created torture and indefinite detention centers, shows contempt for the human condition and international law, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote in a post on X.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that enemy combatants in the war on terror held without charge at the military prison at Guantanamo had the right to challenge their detention in federal court. But the justices did not decide whether the president had the authority to detain people at all.

Before Trump took office, the Democratic administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden worked to reduce the number of terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo.

Laken Riley was out for a run in February 2024 when she was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole.

Ibarra had been arrested for illegal entry in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, and released to pursue his case in immigration court. Federal officials say he was arrested by New York police in August 2023 for child endangerment and released. Police say he was also issued a citation for shoplifting in Georgia in October 2023.

The act quickly passed the newly Republican-controlled Congress with some Democratic support even though opponents said it possibly could lead to large roundups of people for offenses as minor as shoplifting.

The swift passage, and Trumps quickly signing it, adds to the potent symbolism for conservatives. To critics, the measure has taken advantage of a tragedy and could lead to chaos and cruelty while doing little to fight crime or overhaul the immigration system.

Rileys mother thanked Trump while holding back tears.

He said he would secure our borders and he would never forget about Laken and he hasnt, she said.

Several top Republican lawmakers and Noem attended the signing ceremony, as did Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a cosponsor.

Under the new law, federal officials would have to detain any immigrant arrested or charged with crimes such as theft or assaulting a police officer, or offenses that injure or kill someone. State attorneys general could sue the U.S. government for harm caused by federal immigration decisions  potentially allowing the leaders of conservative states to help dictate immigration policy set by Washington.

Some Democrats have questioned whether it is constitutional. The ALCU says the law can allow people to be mandatorily locked up  potentially for years  because at some point in their lives, perhaps decades ago, they were accused of nonviolent offenses.

Hannah Flamm, interim senior director of policy at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said the measure violates immigrants basic rights by allowing for detaining people who have not been charged with wrongdoing, much less convicted.

The latent fear from the election cycle of looking soft on crime snowballed into aiding and abetting Trumps total conflation of immigration with crime, Flamm said.

She also noted, I think it is pivotal to understand: This bill, framed as connected to a tragic death, is pretext to fortify a mass deportation system."

___

Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report.
Davis is charged with murdering rapper Tupac Shakur nearly 30 years ago.

The ex-gang leader charged with killing hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur is facing new battery charges for a caught-on-camera prison brawl with a fellow inmate.

Duane Keffe D Davis, 61, was being escorted back to his cell at the Clark County Detention Center in Nevada last Thursday when another inmate, identified as Rochlon Hamilton, approached him with his fists showing, according to court documents obtained by Fox 5 Vegas.

Video shows Davis then tackling the shirtless Hamilton to the ground and putting him in a headlock as the pair traded blows on the prison floor, surveillance footage shows.

Rochlon Hamilton approached Duane Keffe D Davis before the fight, video shows. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

The two traded blows on the ground before being pepper sprayed by prison guards. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

The pair ignored a prison guards repeated orders to break it and both were pepper sprayed, the report and videos show. The two continued fighting until more guards arrived and separated them.

Shakurs accused killer later told officers that he was standing his ground and refused to speak further without his attorney present.

Davis and Hamilton, who is also locked up for murder, are both facing battery charges. Davis made an initial court appearance on Tuesday and is due back in court on Feb. 11, according to Fox 5 Vegas.

Davis had filed a motion earlier this month to toss the murder charges accusing him of orchestrating the 1996 hit of Shakur tossed claiming a lack of corroborating evidence and failure to honor immunity agreements granted to Davis by federal and local authorities.

He also alleged egregious constitutional violations because of a 27-year delay in prosecution.

However, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny ruled last week that Davis isnt protected against prosecution because he has not provided proof of immunity deals with law enforcement.

Davis trial in Las Vegas is currently scheduled to kick off on March 17  but it could be delayed while he appeals the decision.

He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

The Compton, California native is accused of orchestrating the 1996 shooting that killed Shakur and wounded convicted criminal and rap music mogul Marion Suge Knight following a brawl at a Las Vegas casino involving the California Love rapper and Davis nephew, Orlando Baby Lane Anderson.

Davis is charged with murdering rapper Tupac Shakur nearly 30 years ago. AP

Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in Sept. 1996. WireImage

Davis wrote in a 2019 memoir about his life as a Crips gang leader that he provided Anderson with the .40-caliber handgun he then fired from the back seat of a car at Shakur and Knight near the Vegas strip.

Shakur died from his wounds a week later in the hospital at the age of 25.

Knight survived the ambush and is currently behind bars serving a 28-year prison sentence in connection with the murder of a Compton man in 2015. Knight has said he wont testify against Davis and that cops have the wrong man.

Davis is the last surviving suspect involved. Anderson, who had denied involvement in Shakurs death, died in 1998 at age 23 in a shooting in Compton. Two other men who were in the car have also died.

Authorities never found the gun or the vehicle involved in the shooting.

With Post Wires
A UK-based spy ring had connections in the highest echelons of the Bulgarian government, a court has heard.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, and two others are accused of being part of a group of Bulgarians who carried out surveillance on places and people of interest to the Russian state.

Her partner Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from Harrow, north London, and Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, have admitted being part of the three-year plot.

Ivanova has claimed she was deceived, controlled and betrayed by Dzhambazov and had thought she was exposing corruption when she followed investigative journalist Christo Grozev around Europe.

Cross-examining on Wednesday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC suggested Ivanova was the corruption and the spy rings chief minion whose partner had links to power in Bulgaria.

Katrin Ivanova is on trial (Met Police/PA)

The court heard how Ivanova, Dzhambazov and co-accused Vanya Gaberova had helped in the 2021 election when Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was elected.

Ivanova told jurors that someone at the Bulgarian Embassy in London had contacted her about helping to sign off votes at a polling station but she never shared with officials her concerns about corruption.

Ms Morgan asked: So thinking now and knowing you are a dishonest person, do you think you should have been signing off on that document on the number of votes cast in the Bulgarian election?

You are the corruption, arent you?

The defendant denied it.

Ms Morgan said: You are a very educated, intelligent woman, Ms Ivanova, and this is your home country you care about so much. What was the name of the Bulgarian president in 2021?

Ivanova repeatedly said she did not know the presidents name.

Ms Morgan suggested Ivanova would not answer because she knew full well about Mr Dzhambazovs connections to the highest echelons to the Bulgarian government.

Im going to suggest when you are going through this election process it is inconceivable he did not mention to you the connections he had in the Bulgarian government.

You put all this time into the elections. You were working there, Mr Dzhambazov and Ms Gaberova were working there, the prosecutor said.

Ms Morgan said Dzhambazov could not wait to manipulate his connection to power and was gleeful when he discussed the result with Roussev.

Ivanova said: I dont remember if he was happy.

Orlin Roussev has pleaded guilty to spying (Met Police/PA)

Ms Morgan read out a text exchange in which Roussev asked Dzhambazov about the new authority and if they were going to meet the upper echelon.

Dzhambazov replied that it was very good, that he had a very strong relationship with Mr Radev, and two other senior Bulgarian politicians, saying it was iron clad.

Ms Morgan said: Mr Dzhambazov believed he had the president of Bulgaria on side, didnt he?

If you have connections and power in Bulgaria you can do many illegal things and you had connections with power, didnt you Ms Ivanova?

Ivanova replied: I did not have any connection with Bulgarian echelon, the president of Bulgaria.

Casting doubt on her testimony, Ms Morgan said: Its good acting. This country you love so much you want to expose corruption, you cannot even remember the head of state. Its all lies.

Ms Morgan went on to ask Ivanova about a meeting she had with two Russians in Montenegro which the prosecution claim were the spies paymasters.

In February 2022, Dzhambazov had told Ivanova of a need to show they were professionals and deserve money.

Ivanova replied: If need be, I will stand on my head.

Ms Morgan told the defendant: You would do anything to impress the Russians to show them you deserve your money because you knew full well they were the ones who were paying you.

Thats why you were prepared to stand on your head, if thats what it took.

Ivanova denied knowing who the Russian man and woman were, or that they were the source of the money.

Earlier in her evidence, she claimed she thought they were victims of a fraud by Russian dissident Kirill Kachur, who was believed to be in Montenegro.

The group was allegedly offered 700,000 to get Mr Kachur for the Russians, even if he was killed in the process.

Ivanova, Gaberova, 30, from Euston, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, of Acton, deny conspiracy to spy between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.

Ivanova has also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of possession of false identity documents.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
(Reuters) - The United States transferred some 90 Patriot air defense interceptors from Israel to Poland this week to then deliver them to Ukraine, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing three sources with knowledge of the operation.

"We have seen the reports but have nothing to provide at this time," a Pentagon spokesperson said in response to the report.

A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed to Axios that a Patriot system had been returned to the U.S., adding "it is not known to us whether it was delivered to Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he had spoken with Netanyahu. They discussed the Middle East, bilateral ties and U.S. President Donald Trump, who took office last week, Zelenskiy said on social media. The post made no mention of the missiles.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Sandra Maler)
President-elect Donald John Trump dedicated his 1987 book, "The Art of the Deal," to his parents, Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.

The most important influence on me, growing up, was my father, Fred Trump. I learned a lot from him, Trump wrote in the book, co-written by Tony Schwartz. I learned about toughness in a very tough business, I learned about motivating people, and I learned about competence and efficiency: get in, get it done, get it done right, and get out.

He later added, We had a very traditional family. My father was the power and the breadwinner, and my mother was the perfect housewife.

Donald Trump said his mother took care of the children and also cooked and cleaned and darned socks and did charity work at the local hospital.

Donald Trump's parents, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump and Fred Trump, attend 17th Annual Police Athletic League Awards Dinner on May 12, 1999 at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Fred Trump, who died in June 1999, worked as a real estate developer while Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who died about a year later in August 2000, worked with different charities near Queens, New York, where they resided. They married in 1936 and had five children together.

Donald J. Trump was born June 14, 1946, the second-youngest of the family.

Read on to learn what else Donald Trump has written and said about his parents and upbringing.

Who was Donald Trumps dad?

Fred Trump died on June 25, 1999 at the age of 93 after being hospitalized for pneumonia.

The patriarch of the Trump family was the son of German immigrant Friedrich Trump, NBC News reported, who traveled from Germany to the U.S. in 1885 at the age of 16. Friedrich Trump, a restaurant owner, later returned to Germany and met and wed his wife, Elisabeth, a seamstress, before they both traveled to New York together.

Their son, Fred Trump, first became involved in the real estate business at 19, according to the Associated Press. He initially started selling single-family homes before moving on to highrises.

In "The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump characterized his fathers business as building rent-controlled and rent-stabilizing housing in Brooklyn and Queens.

After graduating from Wharton Business School, Donald Trump wrote in The Art of the Deal that he worked for his fathers company, then encouraged its expansion into Manhattan.

In his obituary, the AP quoted Fred Trump as saying of Donald Trump, I gave Donald free rein. He has great vision and everything he touches seems to turn to gold. ... Donald is the smartest person I know.

Despite admiring his father, he also explained in The Art of the Deal why he wanted to break out from the real estate business and move into other ventures.

The real reason I wanted out of my fathers business  more important than the fact that it was physically rough and financially tough  was that I had loftier dreams and visions. And there was no way to implement them building housing in the outer boroughs, Donald Trump said.

In 1991, Fred Trump purchased $3.5 million in chips at one of his sons Atlantic City casinos, which he did not intend to gamble with, to help pay off Donald Trumps debts, the AP reported. (The casino resort later admitted that it had violated state gaming laws by accepting the loan and paid a $30,000 penalty.)

Donald Trump said his father maintained the same working conditions throughout his career. My father still works out of a small, modest back office on Avenue Z in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, in a building he put up in 1948. Its simply never occurred to him to move, he wrote in the book.

Who was Donald Trumps mom?

Mary Anne MacLeod Trump died on August 7, 2000 at the age of 88. The Associated Press described her as a philanthropist in her obituary and said she was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.

She first encountered Fred Trump during a trip to New York City in the 1930s, the AP reported, and they tied the knot in 1936 before building a home together in the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.

While Donald Trump spent most of the Growing Up chapter of his book reflecting on his fathers impact on his childhood, he did note that he inherited his showmanship from his mother.

She always had a flair for the dramatic and the grand, he said. She was a very traditional housewife, but she also had a sense of the world beyond her. I still remember my mother, who is Scottish by birth, sitting in front of the television set to watch Queen Elizabeths coronation and not budging for an entire day.

He recalled his mother being enamored by the regality while his father seemed unimpressed.

Donald Trump continued, I also remember my father that day, pacing around impatiently. For Christs sake, Mary, hed say. Enough is enough, turn it off. Theyre all a bunch of con artists. My mother didnt even look up. They were total opposites in that sense. My mother loves splendor and magnificence, while my father, who is very down-to-earth, gets excited only by competence and efficiency.

Fred and Mary Trump were married for 63 years

Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump were married for 63 years. They shared five children.

Fred Trump Jr. died in 1981 at the age of 42 after struggling with alcoholism. Its very sad, because he was a wonderful guy who never quite found himself. In many ways he had it all, but the pressures of our particular family were not for him. I only wish I had realized this sooner, Donald Trump wrote in The Art of the Deal. He told The Washington Post in 2019 that he regretted putting pressure on his brother to join the business instead of encouraging him to pursue his dreams of becoming a pilot.

Robert Trump, a businessman, died in 2020. I think it must be hard to have me for a brother but hes never said anything about it and were very close, Donald Trump previously said in his book. Robert gets along with almost everyone, which is great for me since I sometimes have to be the bad guy.

Maryanne Trump Barry, who died in 2023, was a federal appellate judge in Philadelphia. In "The Art of the Deal," Donald Trump wrote of his sister: She followed my mothers path at first, marrying and staying at home while her son grew up. But she also inherited a lot of my fathers drive and ambition, and when her son David became a teenager, she went back to school, to study law.

Elizabeth Trump Grau, Donald Trumps other sister, is living and worked as an executive at Chase Bank Manhattan, per her mothers obituary. Donald Trump described her as kind and bright but less ambitious in The Art of the Deal.

Reflecting on how his parents raised five children in "The Art of the Deal," Donald Trump wrote, We lived in a large house, but we never thought of ourselves as rich kids. We were brought up to know the value of a dollar and to appreciate the importance of hard work.

He described his parents as having no pretensions.





This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Lindsay Haugen.

A woman who strangled her boyfriend and was featured in Netflixs I Am A Killer series for the 2015 crime walked back a chilling confession that was included on the show, as she asked a Montana parole board for clemency Wednesday.

Lindsay Haugen, 41, pleaded guilty to strangling her 25-year-old boyfriend, Robert Mast, while the two of them sat in a car in a Walmart parking lot in 2015. She has been serving a 60-year sentence for deliberate homicide since 2016.

On the second season of I Am A Killer, a true-crime series on Netflix that spotlights convicted murderers, Haugen said she killed Mast  whom she had known for less than a month  out of love after she said he insisted he wanted to die.

Robert Mast with his stepmother, Mindy Pendleton, and his nieces and nephews in 2014.

But in an interview with police, which was recorded and included in the episode, she told a detective that she also kinda just wanted to kill somebody with my bare hands, honestly, the footage shows.

I saw my opportunity, I guess, Haugen told the detective, according to the video.

Police say Mast was drunk and could not fight back.

On Wednesday, Haugen told a three-member panel that she is "haunted" by that "outrageous" statement, claiming she said it to stop a detective's line of questioning.

"I wish I had not said it, and of course, I didnt mean it," Haugen said at the hearing, appearing virtually from the Montana Womens Prison in Billings, Montana.

Haugen, who said she was "drunk and in shock" during the interrogation, said a prior history of abuse from men caused her to lie.

"I said what I felt the man wanted to hear in order to make the accusations stop," she said. "I was not looking for an opportunity. I would never purposefully inflict harm on another human being."

In her prepared, 10-minute statement, Haugen said she was guilty of the crime and expressed regret and remorse for it. But she asked for a shorter sentence, saying she is a better person, who is treating her alcohol addiction.

"I appear before you now guilty of homicide, a statement which chills me to the bone," she said. "I know that I don't deserve this, but I am hoping for a chance to live in a way that is deserving of this opportunity."

In his remarks Wednesday, Steve Hallam, the Billings Police Department detective who interrogated Haugen, told the board that Haugen had made other callous confessions other than the one referring to her bare hands.

Hallam said Haugen also revealed in the recorded interrogation that she planned on burying Mast's body in a scarce area before leaving for Washington state. Haugen also said she would not have gone to police to report the crime, the detective said.

"Lindsay Haugen does not deserve clemency," Hallam said.

In emotional pleas, Mast's family members begged the board to keep Haugen behind bars.

Masts stepmother, Mindy Pendleton, who helped raise him from when he was a toddler, said her family lives in "loss and grief daily as she must live with the consequences of her actions."

"Anything less diminished Robby's existence and the people that love him," she added.

Pendleton also said Haugen exploited her stepson's murder when she participated on the Netflix show, which aired in 2020, and should not be "rewarded" for any notoriety she may have received from the series.

Pendleton urged the board to remember the crime. "Envision your child, your loved one. Envision the chokehold, strangling, the suffocation," she said.

The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole has 30 days to make its recommendation to Gov. Greg Gianforte, who has the sole authority to grant or deny Haugens request.

A spokesperson for Gianforte said the governor has not yet received the request for clemency. The board said the governor does not have a statutory timeline to respond.

Without the clemency, Haugen would be eligible for parole in September 2030, according to the board.

The parole board said it received at least six letters supporting her early release and about three dozen letters opposing it.

Clemency is an extraordinary form of relief from a sentence and is not granted in most cases, Brad Newman, a parole board member on Haugens hearing panel, told NBC News.

The board did not have to grant Haugen a public hearing, but it did because there was sufficient cause to hear her explanation, he said.

Newman said the Netflix episode did not come up as the board reviewed her application.

I didnt know her case had ever been discussed on Netflix. Im not a customer subscriber. Thats news to me, he said. I guess its conceivable that a board member has seen or heard about this case.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have traded barbs in recent days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Vladimir Putin of being afraid to negotiate after his Russian counterpart refused to engage in peace talks with him and once again questioned his legitimacy.

The latest exchange between the two leaders came amid mounting pressure on both sides from President Donald Trump to end the war. Trump last week threatened Moscow with a new tranche of sanctions, saying that Zelenskyy was ready to negotiate a deal to end the war that has been grinding on for almost three years.

Writing late Tuesday in a post on X, Zelenskyy said that Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war.

He made the comment after Putin told state broadcaster Rossiya 1 that the Ukrainian leader has no right to sign anything because of his illegitimacy.

Shortly after Russia unilaterally declared its annexation of areas in and around four eastern Ukrainian regions  Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia  in September 2022, Zelenskyy issued a decree formally declaring talks with Putin impossible, although it left the door open to talks with Russia.

Putin said Tuesday that this should be revoked by Ukraine's parliament before any talks could take place and that the legitimacy of negotiators from Kyiv should be verified by lawyers.

We can do it the easy way, or the hard way  and the easy way is always better, he added.

Putins repetition of his claim that Zelenskyy is not Ukraines legitimate leader appear to stem in part from the martial law banning elections that Zelenskyy imposed after Russias full-scale invasion Feb. 24, 2022.

If the law had not been in place, Zelenskyys term would have ended in May last year.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev followed Putins remarks Wednesday, telling the Russian news agency Ria Novosti that Zelenskyy has simply become illegitimate and he may even try to get re-elected, but this is extremely dangerous for him.

World leaders' calculations regarding the war in Ukraine have changed in recent weeks, as Trump began his second term and hopes are rising that ceasefire talks are on the horizon.

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, on Monday.

Even so, "what looks like a growing consensus in the West that some form of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is coming closer doesnt always take account of whether Russia and Ukraine themselves might see negotiations as viable or even useful," Keir Giles, a defense analyst at Londons Chatham House think tank, told NBC News.

While European leaders have accelerated planning for a worst-case scenario in which the Kremlin pushes troops further into the continent and Washington does not come to their aid, Trump has made increasingly strong threats against his Russian counterpart.

Trump's claim that he would end the Ukraine war in one day after taking office did not come to pass, although members of his national security team have in recent weeks acknowledged the difficulties of brokering a possible peace accord.

Lets set it at 100 days and move all the way back and figure a way we can do this in the near term to make sure that the solution is solid, its sustainable, and that this war ends so that we stop the carnage, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trumps pick to serve as special envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News last month.

Still, the conflict has shown no signs of de-escalating despite Trump's departure from the warmer sentiments he conveyed during his first term.

If we dont make a deal, and soon," Trump said last week in a social media post, "I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.

That shift in tone toward Russia is a "wildcard" in efforts by the Trump administration to end the war, Giles said, and "a striking and remarkable shift from his first term in office."

"Observers of Trump have noticed that what he says does not always translate directly into what he directs his administration to do," he told NBC News, adding that even a superficial change in tone is "a cause for Ukraine and its friends to have limited optimism."

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state press Monday that no one from the Trump administration had so far reached out to the Kremlin to set up a meeting with Putin.

For his part, Zelenskyy called Trumps threats of sanctions just and fair in an interview on Fox News on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to make territorial gains in Ukraine after capturing the village of Dvorichna in northeastern Kharkiv, the army said Tuesday.
Today's news: millions of people in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year; The Jordanian Air Force launched a massive airlift (supported by the US) to bring urgent medical supplies to Gaza; Myanmar's military junta started recruiting women: Pasinyan to the Armenian diaspora: Really clarify what happened during the genocide and why.

INDIA

At least 15 people are reported to have died before dawn in a stampede in the town of Prayagraj at the Kumbh Mela - a large Hindu pilgrimage that attracts some 400 million worshippers to Uttar Pradesh in recent weeks. The crowd poured out of a police cordon trampling some people during the Shahi Snan bath. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones, PM Modi wrote.

CHINA - WORLD

The Year of the Snake begins today and millions of people in Asia and around the world are welcoming it with family, friends, prayers and plenty of food. Lunar New Year, which coincides with the first new moon of the year, is a 15-day festival that falls between 29 January and 4 February. Chinese communities in China and elsewhere consider it the most important festival of the year, also celebrated in Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other parts of Asia.

JORDAN - GAZA

TheJordanian Air Force launched the largest airlift to date to bring urgent medical supplies to Gaza as part of a US-backed deal to step up deliveries after the ceasefire. The operation involves 16 helicopter flights per day that will initially deliver at least 160 tonnes of life-saving medical supplies within a week to hospitals and medical centres. Jordan has been a key hub in sending aid to the enclave for the past 15 months.

MYANMAR

The military junta in Myanmar has taken the first steps to enlist women for active military service, according to residents, showing the army's desperation to replenish its ranks amid a series of defeats. Last year, military conscription was also imposed on unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 27. Until now it had only enlisted men - sometimes by force - but since mid-January, the authorities have started to compile lists of women.

PHILIPPINES

The US-based pressure group BishopAccountability.org, which has been campaigning for years on the issue of sexual abuse committed by priests, released a list of 82 Filipino priests and religious publicly accused of such crimes who continue to carry out their ministry, calling on the country's bishops to take action.

RUSSIA

The Russian Ministry of the Interior has prepared a new classification system, to establish a register of LGBT people and workers in the sexual sphere, including those who participate in the non-existent international LGBT movement, banned in Russia by a decision of the Supreme Court, and all these people will then have a public status, to allow anyone to check their friend or girlfriend.

ARMENIA

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pasinyan, met with representatives of the Armenian diaspora in Switzerland, insisting on the need to really clarify what happened during the genocide, and why it happened, going back to studying its history and documents, also asking why in 1939 it was not a topic on the agenda, but became so in 1950, focusing on the responsibility of the Armenians themselves, rather than accusing the Turks.
by Silvia Torriti

During the festivities, local authorities predicted a 9.5% increase in flows in and out of the country compared to 2024. Airlines have increased flights, and the fourth runway at Guangzhou airport has been inaugurated. On the domestic tourism front, 9 billion rail journeys are expected.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The Lunar New Year in China will mark a new record for travel: according to the National Immigration Administration, an average of 1.85 million cross-border movements per day are expected in and out of the country over the festive period, an increase of 9.5% compared to last year. Every year, millions of people move to reunite with loved ones or to reach their holiday destinations, giving rise to the world's largest migration phenomenon.

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (chunjie), is the most cherished holiday in China, marked by ancient traditions and grand celebrations. It is also celebrated in other Asian countries and 2025 will be the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom and transformation. Because of its ancient origins and the grandeur with which it is celebrated in China, chunjie was recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco in December 2024.

The main international airports of the People's Republic, Beijing Capital (North China), Shanghai Pudong (East China), Guangzhou Baiyun (South China) and Chengdu Tianfu (Southwest China), are preparing to welcome these flows.

On the instructions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Chinese airlines have increased the frequency of international and inter-regional flights during the 40 days of Chunyun, the peak period of the Lunar New Year. Air China, for instance, plans to add another 200 international flights to the 3,400 recently added. In addition, CCTV News, China's main state broadcaster, reported that Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport recently inaugurated a new runway to facilitate take-offs and landings, becoming the first four-runway airport in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The peak passenger flow is expected to be concentrated between 28 January, the eve of the Lunar New Year, and 4 February, the last day of the golden week (huangjin zhou), the holiday period for most Chinese workers.

Figures from Umetrip - an app that provides real-time flight information - show that more than 1.72 million international airline tickets have already been booked (up 21 per cent from 2024) and 9.58 million domestic tickets. In terms of outbound travel, family trips are dominating the market. Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, the Nordic countries, Australia, New Zealand and Spain are the most popular destinations, Jia Jianqiang, CEO of travel agency 6renyou told the Global Times.

For those who have chosen to stay within national borders, the train is the preferred option to reach their holiday destination. Authorities predict an unprecedented 9 billion rail journeys during the chunyun. The most popular destinations reflect the country's different climates: in the north, Harbin attracts tourists for its famous Ice Sculpture Festival and ski resorts, while many residents of colder regions head to the south in search of milder temperatures.
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Police recently uncovered a highly profitable but environmentally damaging operation that used heavy machinery. Local activists note that the activity had been reported in the past, but brushed aside because of heavy political protection.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The Kahawatta police Special Task Force (STF) and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) recently carried out an operation in Ekata Gatuma im Nivithigala, Erabedda (Sabaragamuwa province), dismantling a large-scale illegal gem mining activity, carried out for several years by various groups using heavy machinery in the Walawe, a river famous for its precious gems.

Similar raids have been attempted in the past, but were thwarted due to political interference, NGIA officials say. However, even this time, doubts remain about the real effectiveness of the action.

The Walawe River Basin is the fourth largest in the country and rich in biodiversity. Almost all the rice fields in the area, however, are turning into gem mines.

Environmentalists argue that the rivers ecosystem may not last long as streams become muddy and those who live along the banks of the river can no longer use the water.

Mining activities are conducted by erecting makeshift dams. Some mines are licenced, but most operate illegally. In addition to gem, illegal miners also mine for sand to earn extra income.

The police operation led to the arrest of 20 people, who were later released on bail.

Three modern dredging machines were among the items seized during the raid, used to extract gems from the riverbed, seven air compressor systems and diving equipment, plus two boats loaded with barrels to support machinery in the water, three generators and three electric pumps.

We complained to local authorities, yet, these complaints were futile as the racketeers operate the illegal activity with the assistance of top politicians, said three local activists, Kapurubanda Piyasena, Jinasena Sathurusinghe e Menike Atapattu, speaking to AsiaNews.

Even when a complaint is made regarding this scam, officials have adopted a clever strategy of delaying their investigations as long as possible to allow the racketeers to complete their illegal gem mining.

There were occasions in the past where the illegal activity was carried out while policemen and some employees of the Gem Corporation were present. After allowing the racketeers to remove the earth throughout the night, officials raided the location and imposed a Rs. 225,000 fine for using heavy machinery and digging the ground.

The activists lament that, paying a small fine for a consignment of gem rich earth worth millions of rupees is a blessing for these criminals as they can later earn billions.

According to the law, a person caught for mining gems inside a forest reserve cannot be fined by the Gem Corporation. Hence, by releasing the suspects and their plunder after imposing a fine does not come under the authority of the corporation, report lawyers Malithi Ratnayaka and Nalinda Hewawitharana.

As this procedure is contrary to the law, the officer in charge of the area in the Irrigations Department filed complaints with the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and the police regarding the issue. Yet, due to political influence these operations were futile.

Photo: Flickr/amanderson2
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Through a wide range of initiatives, the Amor association aims to make Azerbaijanis on the Russian side of the Caspian feel at home. Chaired by Aliev's eldest daughter, it aims to distinguish its community from the diasporas of other peoples, focusing on good relations between Baku and Moscow.

Astrakan (AsiaNews) - The president of the Astrakhan session, a Russian city on the Caspian Sea, of the Azerbaijani Youth Association of Russia (Amor), Elvin Gusejnov, gave an interview to Zerkalo.az to recount his experience at the head of this ethnic youth organisation, assuring that Amor is a beautiful school of life. For over fifteen years, he has led the association, which supports young people on their journey, with great satisfaction.

He says that our boys and girls have achieved many successes, making the work of our regional structure more and more effective. TheAmor of Astrakhan organises many events of various levels, always ensuring an active and aggregative approach in the local society, trying to showcase the talents of individuals and the common usefulness of the many activities, allowing Azerbaijanis in the Russian part of the Caspian to feel at home, and to contribute to the life of the whole Russian society.

The association seeks to keep Azerbaijani culture alive, and to pass it on to succeeding generations, with all its traditions, values and customs. This is why performances, festivals and various initiatives are organised to present the history, culture and achievements of Azerbaijan. One of our priorities is the propagation of a healthy lifestyle, explains Gusejnov, involving young people in sporting activities, which seems particularly important at the present time.

Dates that relate to the history of the Azerbaijani people are emphasised, trying to bring them to the widest public level, so that people of other ethnicities also get to know the richness of Azerbaijani culture, the life of the State of Azerbaijan and its people. People from very different ethnic groups live in the Astrakhan region, with their own religious and cultural traditions, andAmor tries to interface with many other associations and institutions, to share knowledge and experiences. Activists regularly visit children's homes and homes for the elderly, offering reasons for celebration and shared love; for us it is important that they know us not by words, but by what we are able to achieve in life, the president emphasises.

Soon the Miss-Etno 2025 youth festival will start, one of the most ambitious and publicly impressive projects for the region, much loved by the citizens of Astrakhan. Representatives of many ethnic groups, including from abroad, take part in it to demonstrate not only their outward beauty, but also that of their cultural and spiritual values. The competition is considered one of the 100 most important not only in the Caspian region, but in the whole of Russia.

Amor has representations in all regions of the Federation, and the one in Astrakhan, a city of over half a million inhabitants, tries to act as a driving force for the others, uniting all the Azerbaijani youth of the country. The president of the entire Amor association is Leila Alieva, the 40-year-old eldest daughter of the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, and with this activity she aims to spread a positive image of the country, even in these years of conflict in the Caucasus and elsewhere.

The presence of Azerbaijanis on the territory of Russia is not to be understood as a diaspora, a term that takes on rather negative meanings in Russia, but as a real community, insists Gusejnov, which forms lively and active aggregations in every region. Azerbaijanis appreciate the good relations between Moscow and Baku, between Presidents Putin and Aliev, and seek to cooperate with governors and regional authorities to overcome any form of mistrust and conflict between ethnic groups, making Azerbaijani communities real protagonists in the life of Russian society.
The proposal was recently made by the EUs foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. A spokeswoman for Kallas told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on January 10 that the member states have already welcomed it. She said the extension of the mission will be formalized and announced in the coming weeks.

RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak reported that the Brussels-based ambassadors of the 27 EU nations, who endorsed Kallass proposal, also decided to keep the missions mandate and size unchanged. It will thus continue to comprise 165 international observers and analysts as well as 44 Armenian staffers.

The mission strongly opposed by Azerbaijan and Russia was launched in February 2023 with the aim of preventing or minimizing ceasefire violations on the Armenian side of the long and heavily militarized border. Its initial two-year mandate ends next month.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly accused the EU monitors of spying on its troops and destabilizing the situation in the conflict zone. A senior Azerbaijani official demanded their withdrawal on December 12. Baku has been trying to block their continued deployment through a corresponding clause in a draft peace treaty discussed with Yerevan.

The EU has denied the accusations, saying that the number of armed incidents along border areas has decreased considerably since the launch of the mission. The Armenian government has also praised the monitors record. But it has still not publicly clarified whether it has asked the EU to extend their presence.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has insisted, at least until now, that the monitors should leave only demarcated sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Only a small section of it has been delimited and demarcated to date.

Yerevan had requested the EU deployment after accusing Russia and other ex-Soviet allies of refusing to defend Armenia against Azerbaijani attacks in 2022. Moscow has claimed that the mission is part of U.S. and EU efforts to drive Russia out of the South Caucasus.
29 January 2025 20:11 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The arrival of two Russian cargo ships, Sparta and Sparta II, at the port of Tartus on January 22 has intensified speculation about Russia's next steps in the Middle East and North Africa. With heavy weapons, military vehicles, and ammunition loaded on the ships, and Syria's abrupt termination of a 49-year lease agreement for the port, experts are questioning the implications for Moscows military presence in the region. A few months ago Russian military vessels were missing from a satellite image captured by American geospatial firm Planet Labs PBC on December 9, a day after Assad fled Syria. Ships were not seen in imagery clicked on December 1 and December 3 either, but that could be attributed to their participation in a joint military drill of the Russian Navy and its Aerospace Forces in the Mediterranean Sea. The exercise took place between December 1 and December 3.

Where will these ships head next? A growing number of experts believe that Libya is a probable destination. Also, what should we anticipate regarding Russia's stance in Syria, particularly in the Middle East?

Speaking to Azernews, Moscow-based political analyst Andrew Korybko commented, "Two Russian sources told TASS last week that their country hadnt received any notification of Syrias reported decision to terminate Russias 49-year-long lease of Tartous Port. Its naval base there and the air one in Khmeimim could be used for humanitarian purposes, the Russian Foreign Ministry later suggested, thus showing Moscows interest in retaining those facilities. Nevertheless, the EU demanded that Syria kick Russia out of them if it wants sanctions relief, and theres a chance that this will happen."

Adding to the uncertainty, a Russian delegation, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, is visiting Syria to discuss the future of these bases. "This coincides with reports about Russia evacuating its military equipment from Tartus. Therefore, Russia is either preparing to fully withdraw from Syria or is drastically downscaling its military presence there, which would be due to recent events," Korybko noted.

As analysts consider potential destinations for Russia's forces, Libya appears to be the most likely option. Korybko explained, "Any drastic downscaling or withdrawal could see its forces in Syria transferred to Libya where reports claimed that Russia wants to establish air, naval, and even ground bases (the first two on the coast and the last in the hinterland near the Sudanese-Chadian border)."

Other possibilities, such as Sudan and Algeria, seem less probable due to political and logistical challenges. "Sudan is a less likely destination since there hasnt been much progress on Russias naval logistics facility in Port Sudan in the years since it was agreed upon, with this being attributable to American pressure and the ongoing Civil War," Korybko stated.

Similarly, Algeria presents complications despite its long-standing military partnership with Russia. Korybko elaborated, "Algeria is another unlikely place for its forces from Syria to be transferred to in spite of being Russias decades-long military partner. Thats because those two are at odds over the African Corps (formerly Wagner) role in Mali after Bamako withdrew from the 2015 Algiers Accords last year. Last summers Tuareg ambush of the African Corps in close proximity to the Algerian border led some in Russia to suspect that Algeria is at the very least passively facilitating those armed groups."

Korybko also highlighted the broader geopolitical implications of such a move: "To be sure, bilateral relations remain strong, but this nascent mistrust might complicate any speculative plans for Russia to transfer its forces from Syria to Algeria. Moreover, Algeria could also request Russian concessions in Mali in exchange for its agreement to host those forces and let them establish bases, the terms of which might be unacceptable to Moscow. Theres also the spectre of EU pressure upon Algeria since the bloc would frown upon it letting Russian forces deploy there right on its southern doorstep."

Ultimately, Korybko emphasized, "For these reasons, Libya  and particularly its eastern reaches that are under the control of General Haftar  is the most likely destination for Russias forces from Syria if theyre indeed being transferred, though it remains to be seen whether this is indeed the case and what scale itll be at if so. In that event, its possible that the UN-recognized and jointly Western- and Turkish-backed Government of National Accord in Western Libya might clash with Haftar, which could open a new front in the New Cold War."

The potential repositioning of Russian forces reflects the shifting dynamics of its presence in the region, leaving open questions about the broader implications for Moscows strategy in the Middle East and North Africa.
29 January 2025 13:19 (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.

The 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) Advisory Council and the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Green Energy Advisory Council will be held in Baku on April 4, Azernews reports, citing diplomatic sources given to local media.

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!
29 January 2025 15:24 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The Turkiye-Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan business forum discussed strengthening economic unity between the countries and increasing the effectiveness of business partnerships.

Azernews reports that this was shared by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov's official X account.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the issue during his speech at the 2nd trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani-Turkish-Uzbek foreign affairs, economy/trade, and transport ministers.

He noted that we are in a period when the international system cannot ensure justice, peace, and stability.

"We are going through a difficult time as global problems increase. At the same time, as the Turkic world, while continuing our solidarity, we are also working to solve existing problems. We strive for peace, stability, and prosperity in our region," the minister added.
29 January 2025 17:57 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan's acclaimed artist Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova has been honored with Artist of the Year 2025 International Award in Florence, Italy.

As the artist told AZERNEWS, she received this distinguished recognition for her painting "Baron Munchausen".

"Baron Munchausen is my ancestor on father's side of my grandmother, Baroness von Rosen. The Rosens and the Munchausens were relatives on father's side and even lived in Riga at almost the same time. These families belonged to the Baltic Germans who settled in Russia during the time of Peter the Great. The men in these families usually had a military profession as their first career, and a civil or social profession as their second, with many being artists, architects, and representatives of other professions.

"One day, while reading aloud The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Rudolf Erich Raspe, my grandfather told me that he was indeed our ancestor. I was certain that this name belonged to a fictional character, so I asked him for clarification. He confidently replied that the Baron was a real person and that Raspe had created his book based on numerous stories about him. As time passed, I occasionally began to feel strange, vivid changes within myself, and jokingly thought, The Baron must be visiting me," Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova said.

"Recently, I even dreamt of him. In the dream, we conversed, and suddenly, with a wink, he asked, "Why don't you have my likeness?" I woke up in amazement. I would say that he was not just a dreamer; his fantasy was far more profound than is commonly understood. He was a love-struck visionary who embodied his dreams in reality because he never doubted their existence. This was, if you will, his way of life. Moreover, he was a military man who excelled in his field, distinguished by his bravery and heroism, and he was a masterful storyteller.

Thanks to this gift, his stories have endured through the ages. Even though people affectionately called him a liar or a fantasist, they listened with rapt attention and endlessly retold his tales. He was both, yet always great! And that is what makes him remarkable. This is a brief story about my painting. Indeed, the call of the ancestors is a powerful presence!," the artist concluded.

Note that a special jury selected a limited number of artists who have demonstrated exceptional talent and creativity throughout this year, which is still ongoing. It is worth noting that some of the talented nominees are eagerly awaiting their well-deserved acclaim.

The award ceremony recognized artists across various categories, including painters, sculptors, photographers, digital artists, and stylists.

The event took place in the heart of historic Florence, at Palazzo Pucci, which belongs to one of the oldest Florentine families dating back to the era of Medici.

The award ceremony took place on January 25, 2025,in the magnificent Apollo Hall of Palazzo Pucci, decorated with paintings and frescoes. The ceremony was attended by collectors, journalists, politicians and art connoisseurs.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the inaugural issue of the catalogue "MASTER ARTIST FOR COLLECTION," a new editorial initiative dedicated to showcasing the most distinguished contemporary artists. The catalogue demonstrates fascinating artworks by international artists that are available for collection.

Each nominee for the International Prize "ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2025" also received a precious personalized prize.

Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, into a family with a rich artistic legacy. Her great-grandfather was a famous Russian artist Ivan Ivanovich Sokolov.

She pursued her education in the visual arts at the art and graphic faculty of Kuban University and the Academy of Arts named after Repin in St. Petersburg.

Currently, Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova is a member of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union, the UNESCO International Federation of Artists, and the International Art Fund of the Russian Academy of Arts. She serves as Vice-President of the International Foundation for Aesthetic Development and is also a member of the International Association of Artists.

In 1994-1995, she lived and worked in the U.S., specifically in Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago. Since 1995, she has resided in the city of Cologne, Germany.

Her exhibitions are held with great success in many countries. Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova has participated in exhibitions in a diverse array of countries, including Germany, Italy, France, the United States, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, etc.

The artist received numerous awards for her art, including Phoenix Award, Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts, Arts-Sciences-Lettres Award, International Prize Velazquez and Goya.
29 January 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan organized a press conference regarding the municipal elections in the country, Azernews reports.

The event began with the playing of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan. During the event, CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov announced that all polling stations were fully prepared for voting. He noted that after the elections were announced, the CEC took all necessary measures. The CEC and district election commissions have taken all steps in accordance with the requirements of the Election Code.

The chairman stated that a total of 71,209 people have the right to observe the voting process in the municipal elections. This number does not include media representatives.

He emphasized that the municipal elections were organized in accordance with modern requirements. Panahov mentioned that the practice of using web cameras for election observation was implemented, allowing interested parties from any country to observe the elections by accessing the CEC's website. This practice is recognized internationally as an Azerbaijani innovation.

According to Panahov, the municipal elections have garnered significant interest in Azerbaijan. Candidates from 24 political parties are participating in the elections.

He noted that 8,071 members will be elected to 685 municipalities during the elections. The municipal elections will cover 118 districts. Seven of the 125 districts in Azerbaijan are located in territories liberated from occupation and are not participating in this process. It was highlighted that 70,625 local observers have registered to monitor the municipal elections. Voting in the municipal elections began today at 08:00 and will conclude at 19:00.
29 January 2025 10:22 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, Lord John Alderdice, has been appointed as the UK's trade envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, Azernews reports, citing the UK Department for Business and Trade.

The UK Minister for Trade today announced the appointments for the global development team. The newly appointed 32 trade envoys will work to enhance the UK's export and investment potential to promote economic growth as part of the government's reform plan. As part of this appointment, Lord John Alderdice will serve as the UK's trade envoy for Azerbaijan and Central Asia.

Lord Alderdice is a Northern Irish politician who has held various prestigious positions. He served as the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 to 2004.
29 January 2025 12:27 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijani authorities are continuing their investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024, according to presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev, Azernews reports, citing local media.

As reported Hajiyev stated that detailed information on the incident will be provided to the public in coordination with partner states.

At a meeting held by the president on this matter, it was also emphasized that the public will be regularly informed about the progress of the investigation into the plane crash, he noted.

Regarding Azerbaijan's expectations from Russia, Hajiyev confirmed that the issue is being discussed with the Russian side through relevant and diplomatic channels.

To recall, on December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, tragically crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during an emergency landing attempt. The flight was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, and carried 67 individuals, containing 62 passengers and five crew members. Among the passengers, there were 42 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. The crash claimed 38 lives, while 29 survivors, including three crew members, were rescued. Of the five crew members, two tragically lost their lives, and three survived.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile during efforts to repel a Ukrainian drone attack over Chechnya.

On December 28, Russia's President Vladimir Putin made a phone call to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Putin expressed condolences and apologized to Ilham Aliyev for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace. The Azerbaijani President required Russia's President Vladimir Putin bring those responsible to justice and provide compensation to Azerbaijan, as well as to the injured passengers and the families of the deceased passengers and crew members.
29 January 2025 11:03 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On January 29, 2025, Ankara will host the second trilateral meeting of the foreign, economic, trade, and transport ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

For this purpose, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has embarked on an official visit to Turkiye. The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan noted that Minister Bayramov will deliver a speech at the trilateral meeting and hold several high-level bilateral meetings during his visit.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also released information regarding the meeting and noted that the meeting agenda will focus on three main topics: foreign policy issues and regional cooperation, enhancing collaboration in trade, economy, and investment, and strengthening cooperation in the development of regional transportation networks and the transport and communication sectors.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also added that at the end of the trilateral meeting, the Ankara Declaration is expected to be signed, along with an Action Plan outlining a concrete roadmap for the three countries to follow in the coming period.

To recall, the first trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economy, and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Turkiye, and the Republic of Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent on August 2, 2022.

At the first meeting, views were exchanged on issues related to foreign policy and opportunities for regional cooperation, as well as the work done to realize the full potential of cooperation among the three countries in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and transport.

As a result of the first meeting, the Tashkent Declaration was signed by the Ministers responsible for the relevant fields of the three countries, and the Foreign Ministers made press statements about the outcomes of the trilateral meeting.

With todays meeting, the three nations aim to build on the progress made in 2022, fostering deeper ties that promise mutual benefits for all parties involved.
29 January 2025 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On the sidelines of the 2nd trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economy and Transport of Azerbaijjan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, in Ankara, Azernews reports, citing a post share by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its X social network account.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed the political, economic, trade, energy, transport, and communication aspects of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan alliance. They also addressed regional and international security issues of mutual interest.

The agenda included frameworks for regional and international cooperation, including the Organization of Turkic States, the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and other multilateral formats. Minister Bayramov briefed his counterpart on peace efforts, existing challenges, and threats to the ongoing peace-building process in the region.

The ministers highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and underscored their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
29 January 2025 16:07 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has been highlighted as a key platform for enhancing cooperation among Turkic nations, with a focus on maximizing its potential.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has been highlighted as a key platform for enhancing cooperation among Turkic nations, with a focus on maximizing its potential.

Azernews reports that these remarks were made by Rifat Hisarckloglu, Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), at the opening of the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Trilateral Business Forum in Ankara on January 29. Hisarckloglu emphasized the importance of leveraging the OTS to strengthen ties and foster deeper collaboration between member states.

The forum was attended by Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, and Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov.

During his speech, Hisarckloglu underlined the numerous agreements facilitating trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan, including the Preferential Trade Agreement, and expressed hope for further reduction of customs barriers between Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

He also highlighted Turkey's existing customs agreement with Georgia, noting the lack of a similar arrangement between Azerbaijan and Turkey, and reiterated President Ilham Aliyev's statement calling the Turkic world a "family."

Hisarckloglu also expressed optimism about the prospects of a Free Trade Agreement between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, with the aim of boosting trade to new heights. He pointed to the significant potential for trade between Turkey and Uzbekistan, noting that the trade turnover reached $3 billion by the end of 2024, and there are no barriers to raising this figure to $10 billion.

Furthermore, Hisarckloglu stressed the importance of regional transport initiatives, including the Kars-Nakhchivan railway and the opening of the Zangezur corridor, both of which would significantly improve connectivity and trade flows in the region. He also emphasized the need for increasing gas supplies through the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), a critical infrastructure project for energy transit in the region.
29 January 2025 18:38 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan have signed the Ankara Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to deepening trilateral cooperation in key sectors and addressing regional and global challenges.

Azernews reports that the declaration, adopted at the 2nd trilateral meeting of the foreign, trade, and transport ministers of the three countries, includes a comprehensive Action Plan aimed at enhancing connectivity and transport collaboration.

Key points of the Ankara Declaration include:

A reaffirmation of commitment to expanding cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest.

A joint pledge to counter any attempts undermining sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A commitment to fully explore potential in key sectors, including economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, environment, and climate change.

A call to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor.

Support for Azerbaijans reconstruction and demining efforts in the liberated Garabagh and East Zangazur regions.

Recognition of positive developments in economic, trade, connectivity, and climate cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States.

Acknowledgment of Azerbaijans role as the host of COP29 and its presidency in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Emphasis on a unified approach within the framework of the Turkic Development Council (TDC) concerning security and development in Afghanistan to ensure stability in Central Asia.

A welcome for the ceasefire declaration in Gaza, calling for its strict implementation and reaffirming support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Ankara Declaration marks a step forward in the strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, reinforcing their collective vision for economic integration, regional security, and sustainable development.
30 January 2025 00:53 (UTC+04:00)

Former U.S. Senator Robert (Bob) Menendez (D-N.J.) was sentenced to 11 years in prison in a bribery case, Azernews reports, citing media outlets.

To recall, on July 16, 2024, a New York court found Menendez guilty of a total of 16 counts, including bribery, financial fraud, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent. His arrest is scheduled for October 29. Menendez initially had to face 222 years in prison.

As mentioned in his biography, Robert Menendez is an American lawyer and politician who served as the senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he had held back in 2006. Last year, he was accused of receiving bribes and expensive gifts together with his wife of Armenian descent, Nadine Menedez.

The court said Menendez's wife, Nadine was also charged with the listed items. However, her trial was postponed indefinitely due to her illness.

Bob Menendez's career record is almost full of service to his beloved Armenian society and anti-Azerbaijani activities, which certified him as staunch pro-Armenian. Besides, Menendez is also a sponsor of media outlets focused on Islamophobia and strong criticism regarding Azerbaijan.
29 January 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

In 2025, Uzbekistan plans to increase the share of "green energy" in the country's total energy capacity to 26%, up from the current 16%, Azernews reports.

This was announced during a meeting on the draft State Program "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy," chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

To achieve this goal, the country plans to commission 16 large solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, 5 large hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 160 megawatts, and energy storage facilities with a capacity of 1.8 gigawatts in 2025.

"The head of State has instructed to additionally develop projects with a capacity of 1 gigawatt," the presidential press service said in a statement.

As emphasized, the "green economy" initiative goes beyond just clean energy development; it also focuses on improving energy efficiency across various industries.

The country aims to maintain economic growth of at least 6% this year, with a target GDP exceeding $125 billion. Achieving this will rely heavily on resource optimization and cost-efficiency.

In this context, the President has tasked the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy and Finance with developing a program focused on reducing costs by 15-20% and increasing added value through improved energy efficiency.

"The Head of State stressed that it is time to transition to a resource-efficient economic model. For instance, in the electrical engineering, automotive, pharmaceutical, and food industries, the added value per 1 ton of energy consumed is 15-20 times higher than in the chemical, construction, and textile industries," the report adds.

Uzbekistans ambitious plans for a green energy transition reflect the global shift towards renewable resources as a means to combat climate change. As part of this transformation, Uzbekistan is not only focusing on expanding clean energy infrastructure but also fostering an economic environment that values sustainability. By investing in energy-efficient industries, Uzbekistan is laying the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable economy. The efforts align with the country's broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, while simultaneously boosting economic growth and creating new green jobs.
29 January 2025 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Mass protests continue in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with demonstrators targeting the French and Belgian embassies, setting fire to diplomatic buildings, Azernews reports. Tires were also burned in front of the U.S. embassy.

The protests, which began earlier with attacks on the French, Rwandan, Belgian, and U.S. embassies, are fueled by anger over French President Emmanuel Macrons support for Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Demonstrators are demanding military intervention by the international coalition against the M23 rebels, who have intensified their offensive in eastern Congo.

The situation in the east has rapidly deteriorated, with M23 rebels capturing the strategic city of Goma in a swift attack. Reports indicate that in some districts of Kinshasa, daily life has come to a standstill, with schools and businesses shutting down amid the unrest.

The United Nations has reported hundreds of injuries from armed clashes in Goma, with many bodies found in the streets and a sharp rise in sexual violence cases. A large-scale exodus of local residents from the region has begun.

At least 17 international peacekeepers have been killed in the ongoing battles between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army.
29 January 2025 18:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

In Sweden, a proposal has been made to lower the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes from 15 to 14 years and to introduce a minimum prison sentence of 4 years, Azernews reports.

Justice Minister Gunnar Stremmer stated that young people, including those under the age of 15, are increasingly involved in serious crimes. The proposal suggests implementing this change for a period of five years to assess the effectiveness of criminal liability for younger offenders.

However, the children's rights group Bris has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of this measure. They argue that research does not show a correlation between lowering the age of criminal responsibility and a reduction in crime. In 2023, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child criticized such initiatives, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and advising Sweden not to change the age of criminal responsibility.

Bris advocates for preventive measures, such as providing rehabilitation opportunities for children who have fallen into criminal environments, rather than focusing on punishment.

Criminologists also point out that imprisonment is rarely an effective deterrent for crime.

Looking at the experience of Denmark, where the age of criminal responsibility was lowered to 14 in 2010 and later returned to 15, it seems that such changes do not lead to a decrease in crime rates.

Although crime in Sweden remains a serious issue, experts argue that prevention should take priority over tougher penalties. Focusing on early intervention and rehabilitation could offer a more sustainable solution to addressing youth crime.

Sweden has been known for its progressive approach to criminal justice, often favoring rehabilitation over punishment. The debate on lowering the age of criminal responsibility highlights the tension between these values and growing concerns about youth involvement in serious criminal activities.
An Idaho man who asked a BLM law enforcement ranger for help jumpstarting his car in a park near Huntington on Monday, Jan. 27, ended up with a ride to the Baker County Jail where he was booked on a warrant charging him with multiple crimes in his home state.

Stancley Arthur Karczewski, 64, of Burley, Idaho, is charged in Minidoka County, Idaho, with possession of a controlled substance, resisting or obstructing police officers and fleeing or attempting to flee from a police officer in a motor vehicle.

An Idaho judge issued an arrest warrant for Karczewski on Jan. 21.

According to a probable cause affidavit written by Stephanie Cox, a law enforcement ranger for the BLM, she was patroling on Monday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. when she saw what appeared to be a disabled vehicle in the upper parking lot of Spring Recreation Site, along Brownlee Reservoir about 3 miles northeast of Huntington.

A BLM manager had reported the vehicle, with one occupant, earlier in the day.

Cox wrote that when she arrived, Karczewski got out of the vehicle, told her he needed help and asked if she could jump start his car with the jumper cables he offered.

Cox checked his name through Baker County Dispatch and learned about the arrest warrant from Idaho.

She then arrested him and drove him to the Baker County Jail.
UPDATE:

After Germany's traditional conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) announced new legislation to crack down on immigration and ramp up deportations and that they would work with their rivals on the right,, the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) to pass it, an illegal alien has stabbed to death a CDU party officer.

https://rmx.news/article/germany-african-migrant-suspected-of-killing-young-cdu-politician/

Meanwhile, the latest poll from respected British pollster YouGov of German voters shows gains by the right, estpecially the AfD, while vote for all of the parties of the recently collapsed "traffic light coalition" is cratering. Support for AfD has increased 4 points since their last poll to 23%, and the CDU has gained 1 point to 29%. Of the previous government, the center left Social Democrats lost 4 points to 15% and the far left Green Party lost 2 points to 13%. Their "odd couple" coalition partner, the classical liberal Free Democrats fell another point to 3%, which is below the treshhold to win seats.

The Green Party recently doubled down on support for mass migration by calling for making it easier for migrants already in Germany to bring their relatives in chain migration.

https://rmx.news/article/germany-afd-soars-to-23-in-aftermath-of-aschaffenburg-attack/

____________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL POST

It was already being called Germany's "Immigration election" but that has taken even more focus after a series of knifings by illegal aliens, where a 2 year old child has been one of the victims stabbed to death. The result has been the traditional conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), now led by longtime Merkel rival Friedrich Merz who has already pulled the party to the right, moving forward with an even more hardline anti-immigration position. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has appeared by video link at a major rally for the CDU's rival on its right, the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) and urged Germans to vote for the AfD.

The CDU has continuosrly led in polling with the AfD running second, and the governing center-left Social Democrats third. Lately, the AfD has been gaining on the CDU.

CDU leader Merz has announced tough new legislation to crack down on illegal immigration which they want to ram through before the election. Unlike the past where Merz has tried to shun the AfD, this time he says he is open to their support on the legislation. This may be the first sign of a thaw that could lead to a coalition between the two parties after the election. Merz' bill would seal the border against all illegal aliens as well as some genuine refugees and increase deportations. He donounced the EU migration polices as failing.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2006098/eu-country-plans-ban-all-illegal-immigrants-germany

https://rmx.news/article/cdu-to-table-hardline-migration-reforms-in-bundestag-opening-door-to-afd-support/

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, appearing by video link at a major AfD rally in Halle, told the crowd that the German election would "determine the fate of Europe, and perhaps the world". Musk described the AfD's platform as "common sense" and denounced the current center-left German govenrment as "totalitarian" citing their attacks on freedom of speech. The AfD stresses a crackdown on illegal immigtation but is also calling for restoring free speech, lowering taxes, and restarting Germany's nuclear and coal electric plants while eliminating the wind turbines that have made Germany's electricity the most expensive in the world.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/future-world-depends-it-elon-musk-speaks-afd/
To be up there as a queer woman from a small village, it was saying to others like me... hell, yeah, you can do this too
Jimmy Cricket: I hope I can live to be as old as my jokes... it is the enthusiasm that keeps me going
The level of abuse and intimidation of women politicians in Northern Ireland is leading some to have doubts about running in elections, MPs have been told.

Cahir Hughes, head of Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, said that female politicians in the region had suffered horrific abuse including incidents of stalking and being targeted by pornographic deepfake videos.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee was hearing evidence from officials at the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Office as part of its investigation into how elections are conducted in the region.

Responding to a question about abuse and intimidation of politicians and candidates in Northern Ireland, Mr Hughes said: Since 2022 female candidates and elected representatives have reported horrific abuse, misogynistic, sexist, violent (abuse).

We have been working very closely with the PSNI to challenge that over the last number of years.

It links in with the PSNIs strategy of tackling violence against women and girls.

Changes that have happened in recent elections, the PSNI will now give each candidate a single point of contact so that when they are out campaigning they know there is a police officer they can contact.

The PSNI are much more active now in terms of providing briefings for candidates and elected members in terms of stepping up their own security.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter recently spoke out about her experience after being targeted in a deepfake video (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Hughes said the Northern Ireland Assembly has now offered funding for MLAs so they can install security features at their personal address or office.

He added: I do think we need a cultural change within our society.

We have got a younger generation coming through that think that this is acceptable and a normal part of politics.

The threat in Northern Ireland and I suppose the UK, particularly when we speak to female candidates, is that people are going to stop putting themselves forward.

I think that would be hugely damaging to our democracy.

Recently, SDLP MLA Cara Hunter spoke out about how she feared a deepfake video would ruin her political career as she urged action to clamp down on online abuse.

Ms Hunter was targeted in April 2022 when a fake video was created to look as if she was taking part in pornographic activity with a man and shared online.

Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood told MPs this month about her experiences of abuse (UK Parliament/PA)

Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood told the House of Commons this month of an experience leading a school visit to Parliament Buildings at Stormont when she was approached by a member of the public who said they wanted to rape her.

Mr Hughes said he encouraged politicians to report all incidents of abuse or intimidation to police.

He added: We have heard from candidates and elected representatives who have been stalked because the imprint on their election material, some candidates would use their home address or an office address and they will have people standing at the edge of the driveway or outside their office.

We know of female candidates who have been made intentionally to feel uncomfortable when they are out canvassing, be that hurling verbal abuse or just stalking and following.

He added: It is just frankly unacceptable and the real challenge is that female candidates are now having reservations about putting themselves for election and they have told us that as well.

Mr Hughes said the Electoral Commission was working with the Department of Education to improve education for young people about why people participate in politics.

David Marshall, the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland, gave evidence to MPs (UK Parliament/PA)

David Marshall, the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland, told MPs that his biggest concern in last years general election was around intimidation of polling station staff.

He said: They are exposed, they are running a polling station, it is extremely difficult when people are doing a public service.

We had situations where people were concerned over their safety in terms of coming and going from the polling station and and the police were involved in that.
Four people were involved in the crash

Four people have been taken to hospital following a two vehicle crash in Co Antrim on Wednesday morning.

Police confirmed the crash involved a car and a motorbike in Carrickfergus.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police attended a report of a two vehicle road traffic collision involving a car and a motorbike at the Sunnylands Avenue area of Carrickfergus on Wednesday 29th January.

"Four people were taken to hospital for injuries not believed to be life threatening.

A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesperson added: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 08:50 on Wednesday, 29th January 2025 following reports of an incident in the Sunnylands Avenue area, Belfast.

NIAS despatched three Emergency Ambulance Crews, A Rapid Response Paramedic & a Hazardous Area Response Team to the incident.

Two patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by Ambulance. Another patient was taken to Antrim Area Hospital by Ambulance.

Four people were involved in the crash

News Catch Up: Tuesday 28th January
The scene of the alert in south Belfast Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

A search operation in the Empire Street area of south Belfast where a man in his 50's was arrested following the discovery of a "suspicious object" on January 29th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

A search operation in the Empire Street area of south Belfast where a man in his 50's was arrested following the discovery of a "suspicious object" on January 29th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

A search operation in the Empire Street area of south Belfast where a man in his 50's was arrested following the discovery of a "suspicious object" on January 29th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

A search operation in the Empire Street area of south Belfast where a man in his 50's was arrested following the discovery of a "suspicious object" on January 29th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

A 50-year old man has been charged with a number of offences in connection with an ongoing Belfast security alert.

Earlier today, police said they discovered what is believed to be an improvised grenade following a major search operation at a property in south Belfast. The device has since been removed and made safe.

The man was arrested yesterday following the discovery of a suspicious object. He has been charged with a number of offences in connection with the investigation and will appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow (Friday).

Photographs from the scene last night showed several Tactical Support Group officers searching a house in the Empire Street area with a number of plain-clothes armed officers at the scene.

In an updated statement on Friday evening morning, a PSNI spokesperson said police remain at the scene but evacuated residents have returned to their home.

Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: The object, believed to be an improvised grenade, has been removed and made safe by ATO  evacuated residents in the area have also been allowed to return home.

A 50-year-old man who was arrested has now been charged with a number of offences in connection with the investigation. He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday morning, 31st January.

We would reiterate our message that we are aware of inaccurate online speculation regarding this alert, and we advise the public not rely on such sources for their information.

I would also like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as a public safety operation was carried out overnight and into today.

I fully understand the disruption this can cause, however, our primary aim throughout the course of this operation was to keep our community safe.

Our enquiries remain ongoing, with a police presence remaining in the area overnight as we continue with our enquiries. Anyone with information which could assist our investigation or noticed anything suspicious in the area in recent days, is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 401 29/01/25.

On Thursday, Mr Conway had said: Following the discovery of a suspicious object in the area, officers have commenced a public safety operation.

"A number of homes have been evacuated and motorists are advised to avoid the area. We thank residents for their understanding as we continue to keep the local community safe.

Officers will continue to provide a visible policing presence in the area and an update will be provided in due course.

It is understood the security alert is centred around a residential property near the Laganside Auctions building, with the street cordoned off at the junction of Lamberg Street.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, a member of staff at the business said: It is just happening out the back of the building. It seems to be one of the houses out towards the back.

"One of our staff members approached the police officers and they said it was OK for us to remain.

"We have just been working away here.

A search operation in the Empire Street area of south Belfast where a man in his 50's was arrested following the discovery of a "suspicious object" on January 29th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Watch: Never before seen relics revealed in Strand Arts Centre renovations
A teenager has been shot in the leg in Co Down last night, police have confirmed.

They said the 19-year-old was shot once in his leg in the Ballyreagh Way area of Newtownards at around 8.40pm.

Police condemned the shooting and confirmed the teenager was taken to hospital after the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended the scene.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Westbury said: There can be no justification for this type of violence. Those who are involved in this attack do not represent the interests of this community, nor do they contribute anything to it. They do it to try and exert influence, or gain control of those they claim to represent.

Our investigation is at a very early stage, and I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have information, dash-cam, CCTV or doorbell footage which could assist with our enquiries, to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 1548 28/01/25.

A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

The teenager was shot in Ards

News Catch Up: Tuesday 28th January
After every trail of destruction someone has to come along and clear up the mess  and the greater the destruction, the more mess to clear.

Since Friday weve all had about a couple of hours sleep a night, said contractor Stuart Harkness as he and his clean-up crew grapple with the latest task  removing a massive tree from Dundonalds Stoney Road. Its a big one, felled by the power of Storm Eowyn on Friday morning.

Contractors working on clearing Stoney Road after Storm Eowyn (Credit: Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

The great clear-up: two hours sleep a night as specialist crews race to re-open roads after Storm Eowyn.

Approaching from the Ballyregan end of the road, which runs along the back of the Ulster Hospital, the road closed signs are in place, although it doesnt stop a few cars from carrying on past, then returning a couple of minutes later. Theres no way through. A wall of branches blocks the road completely. Lying on its side, the evergreen, which has likely stood for decades, still forms a barrier at least 10 feet high.

The noise from the clear-up can be heard, but the work is being carried out on the other side of the tree. A different approach is needed so its a case of turning around to get to the far side to where the action is happening.

Stuart Harkness from Clive Richardson Ltd (Credit: Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Stuart and his team, from Portadown and Saintfield-based Clive Richardson Ltd, have been on-site since early morning, and its not as simple as dragging the tree away to make the road passable. Its brought down a telegraph pole and snapped it in two. Cables which should be on one side of the road now dangle on the other, complicating matters.

The crew of at least five (there could be more lost somewhere in the depth of the branches) are hard at work. Chainsaws hum violently, with parts of tree being fed into a wood shredder which arrived the day before from Scotland and is shooting a golden arc over the hedge and into the field beyond.

Branch by branch the blockage is being removed. But it takes time, and this is just one of hundreds of trees felled last weekend by winds approaching 100mph, all making the job of the Department of Infrastructure a time-consuming and difficult logistical operation to manage.

Contractors from Clive Richardson Ltd working on clearing Stoney Road after Storm Eowyn on January 27, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

There are only a limited number of teams like us, said Stuart, sweat leaking down the side of his face behind his protective visor. Work on this scale is, by the laws of mother nature, seasonal.

He goes by the exotic-sounding job title of Arboricultural Consultant.

We knew this was coming but we couldnt start on the clear-up until the storm subsided last Friday. Like everyone else, we had to sit back and wait until it was safe. We had to get the all-clear to get going, he said.

"Even then there are issues. We couldnt just turn up and start clearing. We had to wait until the electric supply was isolated.

But the priority is to get the tree out of the way, get the road opened as soon as we can once we get that go-ahead, then allow engineers to access the site to get the electric supply back up and running.

Nothing, though, can be done until the fallen tree has been cleared.

Weve escalated all our tools, equipment and manpower, said Stuart, detailing the scale of the operation which stretches right across Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, the problem is that NIE cant carry their operations out until we take the vegetation away from the sites. As soon as we have that done it will enable NIE to come in and do what they have to restore power.

Contractors working on clearing Stoney Road after Storm Eowyn (Credit: Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

There are homes and businesses along Stoney Road. Though the Ulster Hospital has plenty of backup emergency plans in place, with power supplies from at least four different sources, residents here were among over 200,000 homes left without power. As trees are cleared and NIE do their bit, that number has been steadily falling, but some trees prove more difficult to manoeuvre out of the way than others.

This is one of the more difficult ones, said Stuart. Weve been on site here since early morning and well stay until its done, but its a full-day job for several men.

It all shows the scale of the task across the country.

Were just one contractor, and we currently have over 50 staff working day and night trying to get everything back to normal. We do understand there are a lot of people without power at the minute but were doing our very best to get people back online again.

This one has come down with plenty of volume to it so its taking a while to get it fixed, he admitted, chainsaws continuing their incessant growling in the background. Hopefully itll only take two or three more hours to get this one sorted.

Its 3.30pm. By evening the road at least should be passable. Then it will be up to NIE to get their crews in, get the cables back up again, repair damage done to conductors and replace the broken telegraph pole.

Nothing is as easy as flicking a switch to make things right.

We have five or six similar jobs on the go right now in the Greater Belfast area, he added.

Clive Richardson Ltd contractors working on clearing Stoney Road after Storm Eowyn (Credit: Luke Jervis / Belfast Telegraph)

Theyre all hard at work doing the same thing. But its a team effort all round for tree surgery companies. Theyre all working around the clock. Were all a wee bit tired, but well keep going until the work is done.

After the red alert was lifted at 2pm on Friday we were ready. Wed had our operations meeting beforehand. Its been all systems go bar two or three hours sleep at night.

And the steady progress of the clear-up operation will continue its march across the country, with every site offering a different set of problems. On east Belfasts Cyprus Avenue, for example, fallen trees there have also pulled up footpaths, adding to the complications.

A further 10,000 properties were expected to be reconnected by 5pm on Tuesday though Ronan McKeown from NIE said it was becoming a trickier picture to reconnect properties which were still without power.

He added that NIE had 1,000 people on the ground trying to restore power, 100 of whom were from overseas and that 250 generators had been delivered to vulnerable customers.

In the meantime, Stuart Harkness and his team from Clive Richardson Ltd will plough on through clearing the path for NIE to get to work, with the promise of a decent sleep come the weekend as the incentive.
Pa Daly, the Sinn Fein TD for Kerry, outside the High Court in Dublin, for his legal action against the government over whether super junior ministerial roles are unconstitutional (Brian Lawless/PA)

Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly has been granted High Court permission to take legal action alleging the attendance of super junior ministers to Cabinet meetings is unconstitutional.

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted leave to the Kerry TD, meaning he can pursue his case after she was satisfied that he surmounted the relatively low bar of showing that he had an arguable case and that it had a prospect of success.

Senior counsel Feichin McDonagh previously told the court that the application for leave to seek judicial review is over the appointment of super junior ministers who attended meetings of the Cabinet.

Pa Daly outside the High Court in Dublin for his legal action against the Government over whether super junior ministerial roles are unconstitutional (Brian Lawless/PA)

He told Justice Gearty that Mr Daly wants declarations that their attendance breaches the constitution.

Mr Daly points out that Article 28 of the Constitution of Ireland limits the number of government members to 15.

The super junior ministers appointed include Fine Gaels Hildegarde Naughton, as well as Independents Sean Canney and Noel Grealish.

Fianna Fails Mary Butler is also a minister of state attending Cabinet.

Mr McDonagh said the papers submitted to the court raise important issues.

Justice Gearty said that the bar for granting leave is relatively low and not insurmountable.

She said that the case is one that is arguable and has a prospect of success.

I think you have surmounted that obstacle and I grant you leave to seek relief, she told the High Court on Wednesday.

The case will come before the court next Tuesday, after the respondents, including the Taoiseach, the Government and the Attorney General have been notified.

Mr McDonagh said that the papers will be served at the Oireacthas on Wednesday.

He also told the court that he will write individually to each super junior minister to ask if they want to join as a notice party or be joined to the respondents.

Speaking outside the High Court in Dublin, Mr Daly said: First of all I would like to thank Judge Gearty for taking the case, and hearing it so soon.

(Left to right) Kevin Boxer Moran, Noel Grealish, Gillian Toole, Michael Lowry, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan and Sean Canney at Leinster House (Brian Lawless/PA)

Im glad that she got to hear the arguments we had to make and she has granted us leave to take the case to the next stage.

Over the last 15 to 20 years, there has been an increase in the number of super junior ministers appointed and if you listen to the comments that were made by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the weekend, these super junior ministers have full access to Cabinet papers and to memos and treated equally at Government talks.

So it is the view of an increasing number of people that this may be contrary to certain sections of the Articles of the Constitution.

I hope that the case proceed along with the same speed as has been shown to it to date.

There are three separate headings in the pleadings, including the number of people attending Cabinet meetings.

He said there is an issue of cabinet confidentiality as well as an issue of expenses and allowances paid to super junior ministers.

Asked if Mr Varadkars comments will bolster his case, Mr Daly said: I dont think they were unhelpful.

Mr Daly also said it will be interesting to see the arguments put forward by the Government about the practice of super junior ministers attending Cabinet meetings.
Gardai are investigating the discovery of nine people in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort (Brian Lawless/PA)

Six men who were among a group of people discovered in a shipping container in Co Wexford have been refused permission to enter Ireland.

The men were found at approximately 10.30am on Monday.

Gardai said they were alerted to the presence of a number of people inside a shipping container at Rosslare Europort.

Providing an update, a Garda spokesperson said: Six adult males have been refused leave to land in accordance with immigration legislation.

One adult male has claimed international protection and will now be processed by the International Protection Office.

Two males are believed to be minors and are now in the care of Tusla.

Gardai have appealed for anyone with information to contact Wexford Garda station.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gives a speech on economic growth at Siemens Healthineers, in Eynsham, Oxford (Peter Cziborra/PA)

Rachel Reeves has rejected criticism of the Governments support to expand Heathrow Airport after she set out plans to remove barriers to growth in the hope of kickstarting the UKs stuttering economy.

The Chancellor said the economy will stagnate if you always give in to objections and that the answer to new infrastructure cant always be no as Labour Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he would seek to halt a third runway going ahead.

Her support for Heathrow will see her face down Labour critics and environmental campaigners, and figures from the aviation industry have voiced scepticism about the plans.

Ms Reeves said in a speech at a medical equipment firm in Oxfordshire that she was prepared to fight for new housing, infrastructure and business projects, including tearing up environmental regulations which hamper construction to protect the bats and the newts.

She insisted support for the runway would support the economy across the country and showed the Governments seriousness.

Official figures have shown little or no economic growth since Labour took office in July, with Ms Reeves Budget imposing national insurance hikes on businesses, hitting confidence and potentially costing 50,000 jobs.

But Ms Reeves gave a notably upbeat assessment of the UKs economic prospects in her speech, saying the Government had begun to turn things around.

We have fundamental strengths in our history, in our language and in our legal system to compete in a global economy, but for too long that potential has been held back.

For too long we have accepted low expectations and accepted decline, she said.

We no longer have to do that. We can do so much better.

Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight, without a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our countrys future for the better.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out support for a series of major infrastructure schemes around Oxford and Cambridge during her speech in Oxfordshire (Peter Cziborra/PA)

She highlighted the long-delayed Heathrow expansion project as an indication of the problems that had beset the UK economy.

For international investors, persistent delays have cast doubt about our seriousness towards improving our economic prospects, she said.

She later said she wanted spades in the ground on new projects announced today during this Parliament.

We want that to happen in this Parliament. I want spades in the ground, I want people to see in their areas things happening, growth happening, she told BBC News.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to Heathrow expansion because of its impact on noise, air pollution and meeting the UKs climate change targets.

He said the last plans for a third runway at Heathrow involved building a tunnel under the M25 motorway and bulldozing a village.

(PA Graphics)

I will as the Mayor of this great city, as a pro-business Mayor, somebody who takes tackling the climate emergency seriously, but also thinks a green transition is one of the greatest opportunities we have this century, Ill use any tool in the toolkit to stop a third runway happening, he told Andrew Marr on LBC.

The Chancellor was asked on the same programme what her message to Sir Sadiq and others opposing Heathrow expansion would be.

She said: Look, the answer to new infrastructure cant always be no.

Thats what happened under the last government.

And nothing got built and nothing got done and living standards deteriorated.

So, it does mean having to take on people who are against new developments, whether it is wind farms, airports or new rail lines.

And the problem is, is if you always give in and say, Oh, okay, there some objections to this, well end up in a situation where the economy continues to stagnate, living standards decline, and will be no further forward than we are now.

She has declined to put a timeline on when the runway could be operational.

The Government wants proposals for a third runway to be produced by the summer, which will then face a full assessment through the airport national policy statement to ensure it is in line with legal, environmental and climate objectives, she said.

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary described Heathrow expansion as a dead cat, saying it would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest and would not bring any growth.

He urged the Chancellor to instead scrap air passenger duty (APD) during a press conference.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said the hurdles ahead of a third runway were very significant and cast doubt on Ms Reeves plans for sustainable aviation.

Sustainable fuel is a real thing, but we need it in significantly greater volumes than are available today  So mandating airlines to use a fuel source that doesnt exist today doesnt make an awful lot of sense, he told LBC.

Environmental campaigners staged a protest against the decision outside the venue for her speech.

Confirmation of support for Heathrow was one of a series of measures outlined by Ms Reeves, including:

 Plans for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, which she said could become Europes Silicon Valley and add 78 billion to the UKs economy by 2035.

 New reservoirs will be built near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and in the Fens near Cambridge. They will be among nine new reservoirs built as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest 7.9 billion to improve infrastructure.

 Funding for the East-West rail link joining Oxford, Cambridge and towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes that sit between them will be confirmed, as well as upgrades to the A428 road.

Activists from Fossil Free London and Green New Deal Rising protest against airport expansion plans outside Siemens Healthineers in Eynsham, Oxfordshire (Jacob King/PA)

 A new Cambridge cancer research hospital will be prioritised as part of the new hospitals programme.

 Oxford will get a growth commission, similar to one set up in Cambridge, aimed at helping the city and surrounding region to grow its economy.

 The Government will back the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport as South Yorkshire Airport City.

 A 65 million investment by the National Wealth Fund in expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

 Government guidance on appraising major projects will be reviewed in order to support investments outside of the wealthy and productive South East of England.

 The Trade Secretary will travel to India to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement with the country.

Farmers gathered to protest against Rachel Reeves budget (Jacob King/PA)

The Chancellor used her speech to defend the decisions she took in her first Budget, saying that taking the right decisions for the economy does not always mean taking the easy decisions.

She added: I accept that there are costs to responsibility, but the costs of irresponsibility would have been far higher.

Those who oppose my budget know that too.

A group of farmers angry at the Budgets inheritance tax changes staged a noisy protest outside the Siemens Healthineers plant in Oxfordshire while Ms Reeves spoke.

The Chancellor also insisted the Governments package of new employment rights went hand in hand with a strong economy, despite concerns from businesses about the economic impacts.

She said having job security gave ordinary working people the confidence to go out and spend in the economy.

But other forms of red tape were firmly in the Chancellors sights: The problems in our economy, the lack of bold reform that we have seen over decades, can be summed up by a 100 million bat tunnel built for HS2, the type of decision that has made delivering major infrastructure in our country far too expensive and far too slow.

So we are reducing the environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into a nature restoration fund that we have created, so they can focus on getting things built and stop worrying about the bats and the newts.

Suggesting that the major projects set out in her speech could start being built on a faster timetable than previous schemes, she said: We are systematically, one by one, removing the barriers that held back our growth performance for too long.

She said the Government wanted to crack on with things so people could feel the effects of economic growth in their own pockets by the time that this Parliament comes to an end.

But shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: The biggest barriers to growth in this country are Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and their job-destroying budget and nothing in the Chancellors speech proved otherwise.
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
A woman stands in front of the home where fireworks exploded on New Years Eve. A fifth man has died as a result of injuries sustained in the explosion (Marco Garcia/AP)

A fifth person has died from injuries suffered during a massive explosion of illegal fireworks at a Honolulu home on New Years Eve, police said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old man was one of six people flown to a hospital in Arizona for treatment earlier this month because Hawaiis only burn-care facility hit capacity treating other patients from the same blast.

The explosion also killed a three-year-old boy and three women and injured more than 20 others.

The 29-year-old man died at 6.42am Hawaii time, Honolulu police said.

Illegal fireworks have become increasingly more common in Hawaii in recent years.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green proposed new penalties designed to make it easier for police to enforce laws, including fines of 300 dollars that they could issue to those who shoot off fireworks.

Mr Green has also proposed potential class A felony charges and decades in prison for those whose use of fireworks leads to serious injury or death.

The state department of law enforcement has asked for 5.2 million dollars to hire eight people and expand the forensic lab to counter the rampant smuggling of illegal fireworks.

Politicians were expected to consider these measures during the current legislative session, which ends in May.

The US military, at Mr Greens request, flew six patients to Phoenix on January 4. All were in their 20s or 30s and had suffered burns that covered 45%-80% of their bodies.

Flying particles and debris from the explosion left some of the patients with wounds resembling battlefield injuries.
FILE  In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at a meeting (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the countrys nuclear capability, state media reported on Wednesday.

It comes as the North looks to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

Mr Kims visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Koreas nuclear arsenal, though Mr Trump has said he is willing to talk to Mr Kim again to revive diplomacy.

Many analysts view North Korean weapons moves as part of a strategy to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could result in aid and political concessions.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Mr Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute.

FILE  In this June 30, 2019 file photo, President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Susan Walsh/AP, File)

It did not say where those facilities are located, but North Korean photos of Mr Kims visit indicated that he likely visited a uranium-enrichment facility that he went to last September.

That visit was North Koreas first disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.

During the latest visit, Mr Kim praised scientists and others for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country.

On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed the toughest response to what it called the escalation of US-South Korean military drills.

North Korea views US military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive in nature.

In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear programme.

The start of Mr Trumps second term raises prospects for the revival of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Mr Trump met Mr Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea.

During a Fox News interview broadcast on Thursday, Mr Trump called Mr Kim a smart guy and not a religious zealot. Asked whether he will reach out to Mr Kim again, Mr Trump replied: I will, yeah.

Many experts say Mr Kim likely thinks he has greater bargaining power than in his earlier round of diplomacy with Mr Trump because of his countrys enlarged nuclear arsenal and deepening military ties with Russia.
Lion dances were performed at the Dongyue Temple on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing (AP)

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers have marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and further afield  including in Moscow.

The holiday  known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea  is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world.

The snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, follows the just-ended Year of the Dragon.

Acrobatic lion dances are a popular feature of the celebrations (AP)

In Hong Kong, hundreds of people lined up in the hours before midnight at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the main hall.

The pop-pop-pop of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

People holding incense sticks in front of them bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-coloured pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.

Many Chinese people who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the worlds biggest annual movement of humanity.

Prayers were offered at the the Dongyue Temple in Beijing on the first day of the Year of the Snake (AP)

Beijing, Chinas capital, has seen many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied out.

Traditionally, Chinese people have a family dinner at home on New Years Eve and visit temple fairs on the Lunar New Year to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets from booths.

Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel both in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.

Under the Chinese zodiac, it is the Year of the Snake (AP)

Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of a colourful procession with drummers, costumed dancers and large dragon and snake figures held aloft that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival in Moscow on Tuesday night.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as US dominance of the world order.

Visitors shouted: Happy New Year in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.
Shutterstock.com

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) began rating movies in 1968 as a way of limiting censorship of filmmakers, but at the same time warning parents of questionable material in the films being released. They categorize R rated movies as "contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them."

The movie rating system is a good one, but there are certainly flaws in distinction between movies. In 1984, they created the PG-13 rating to bridge the gap between PG and R. It has been reported that the releases of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Gremlins" that year led to the need for a new rating.

However what a parent might think is an appropriate movie for their child might be different from another parent's viewpoint, and that could be completely different than what the MPAA thinks. That is why it is important to read each rating review in full. It will give further detail on why the movie is rated R - it could be only a few curse words or have scenes of violence, horror, or more.

If a parent deems the content as appropriate for the child, they need to take steps in helping them filter the violence and adult content in the movie. Sites such as Common Sense Media will give parents a detailed list of the content the movie contains and an age recommendation for viewing.

What do professionals say?

Social worker Jean West talked with News Press Now and said that R rated movies can be a problem. I talk to a lot of kids who deal with trauma, and its interesting that they will mention something like a violent movie as a traumatizing event, she says. It obviously left a big impression on them and lingers with them.

While a parent may find it harder to stop kids from watching sex and violence on TV or the Internet, psychologists see them taking their children to explicit movies at the theater as figurative thumbs-up for the content theyre watching.

I think parents are more likely to take their kids to R rated movies. Maybe in years past we would have taken more caution, Ms. West says. I think the line has dropped on what we think that kids are able to view.

Joyce Estes, who is director of the Northwest Missouri Childrens Advocacy Center, agreed with Wests sentiment. It does affect them. They see that and they take that in and that becomes part of who they are because thats what theyre learning, she says.

Estes also clarified that she often see parents letting their children watch R rated content because they think their children will not be affect by it, because they lack understanding. However unlike adults, she says, children have no ability to filter out or process what the movie is teaching. They are malleable.

A study published in 2010 in "Prevention Science" showed that R rated and violent movies cause children to try alcohol at an early age because of its glorification, as well as becoming desensitized and violent.

Even Hollywood producers express concern. Stephen Simon, who is behind films like "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure", said that children should not be forced to watch R rated movies.

I do not believe in censorship. Ive produced R rated movies myself. I just dont think that little children should be forced by their parents to experience the kind of violence and/or profanity and/or explicit sexuality in R rated films, Simon stated in a blog entry.

What if your child sees an R rated movie?

If you do let your child watch an R rated movie, make sure to sit down and discuss with them what they saw and how to appropriately react to it. Discuss characters actions and why or why not it is OK. Completely blocking out all violent material will be a useless task, so it is better to have open conversations. A happy medium can be reached, with the understanding that discussion of the material will follow.

Sometimes, I will tell their parents that they want to monitor what theyre watching and discuss the content, so that the child will be able to process it, Ms. West says. Some of my children tried blocking that from their kids. I didnt agree with that and I still dont agree with that because that just made them want to see it more. Then they go somewhere else to see it and you cant monitor them.

You watch the movies with them. You get good movies, you get good shows, you watch shows that are good for them (and) you talk about it with them, Ms. Estes says. You do it as a family. Thats probably the best that you can do.

R rated movies are not appropriate for most children for a reason. The scenes and language used in these movies is impressionable on young children. Even for some young teens, these movies are hard to process and should be discussed thoroughly. If you ever are in doubt, watch the movie yourself first before letting your children discover it.

Megan Bailey is a content producer and digital marketing specialist specializing in social media marketing. She attended James Madison University where she received a degree in psychology.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
BENNINGTON  A Massachusetts adult who was convicted by a jury in 2023 of sneaking in the window of a minor to have sex while her family was sleeping was sentenced Tuesday to additional time for violating his probation conditions by refusing to complete a mandatory treatment program.

Denzel Lafayette, now 28, was charged with four felony counts back in 2020, including sexual assault without consent, sexual exploitation/luring a child, possession of child pornography, and carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony. A Bennington jury ultimately convicted Lafayette in February 2023 on two of the felony counts  sexual assault with no consent and using a weapon during a felony. The two other charges were dismissed, one by the state and one under seal.

Lafayette was sentenced after his conviction to a confinement term of 5 years to life on the sexual assault and a 1-4-year term on the weapons charge. The combined sentence was suspended except for a 5-year confinement, concurrent on both charges. He was given numerous conditions of probation, including sex offender registration, no contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 16, no social media usage, and the condition he complete a Department of Corrections in-house treatment program for sex abusers while he served his sentence.

In February 2024, Lafayette was charged with violating his probation conditions by refusing to participate in the treatment program while incarcerated. At the time, Lafayette claimed he could not participate and take responsibility for his actions due to a Supreme Court appeal of his case. The courts denied that appeal, but Lafayette, according to charging documents, never participated or tried to rejoin in the required treatment program.

Bennington Judge Jennifer Barrett found Lafayette guilty of the violation in November 2024.

In a scheduled sentencing hearing Tuesday, Lafyette, transported from prison for the hearing, was given additional time equaling 6 years to life, with a to-serve sentence of 6 years, 10-months, for willfully violating his probation, according to Judge Barrett. Since the treatment program would have been longer than the timeframe left in the unsuspended portion of his sentence, she added the exact amount of time he needs to complete the program.

Prosecutors had asked to revoke his split sentence for a complete 5-to-life sentence to serve. Defense attorney Frederick Bragdon asked the judge to allow Lafayette to complete his split sentence and seek a community treatment program after his release. Instead, the judge required Lafyette, by manipulating the to-serve portion of the sentence, to stay incarcerated for an additional one year, one month, and ten days, just enough to allow time for him, if he desires, to complete the required program in prison.

If the defendant still chooses not to participate in the program, it will be another violation, and we will be back here for another resentencing, Judge Barrett said as Lafayette sat at the defense table, shaking his head.

According to a police affidavit in the original case, Lafayette, of North Adams, Mass., was 22 when he drove to Bennington to meet the then 15-year-old victim at her residence after connecting with her over social media. Lafayette was convicted of climbing into the girls window while carrying a pistol in the early morning of Aug. 16, 2020, and sexually assaulting her. The victim pointed to Lafayette and identified him at the trial as the man who sexually assaulted her while her family slept.

The trial ended with Lafayettes conviction on two counts  sexual assault on a minor, no consent, and having a weapon while committing a crime, both felonies.

Judge Cortland Corsones dismissed under seal one of the three charges  luring  linked to the victim and Lafayettes relationship on Facebook. A count of possessing child sex abuse images also was dismissed last year.

Its difficult to share the trauma and to feel a sense of reliving the nightmare that was caused, wrote the victims mother in a statement read in court at his original sentencing. Its difficult to explain the damage done to her and her future potential. My daughter and our family have suffered emotional and mental fallout from his crimes. Denzel sexually assaulted her at a time when her understanding of personal dignity, value, and worth was being developed. His actions have affected her views of her value, her voice and how men value her as a young lady. 

Denzels attack was not only on her body but also her soul, dignity, and emotional development. He needs to be shown that his actions affected many peoples lives. He needs to know the amount of pain he has caused.

Lafayette has a criminal and mental health history, as well as a substance abuse history from Massachusetts, starting at the age of 16, including a conviction for disorderly conduct in 2018, assault and battery in 2019, and presenting obscene material to a minor in 2019, where he served 612 days of incarceration. He also has a conviction for possessing child sex abuse images out of the commonwealth and is on the Massachusetts sex offender registry. One of his minor victims was impregnated during an attack. His record check shows three probation violations from Massachusetts, which caused his probation to be terminated as a result. Lafayette has three children, including a newborn.

A post-sentencing investigation report completed after his conviction showed a clear need for treatment. However, the report states that the defendant does not accept responsibility for his crime in this case. He has denied ever viewing child sex abuse images despite his Massachusetts conviction, and he indicated that he wouldnt participate in programming.

Im not going to take programming because thats basically saying I did that, and I didnt do that, Lafayette told the doctor in charge of the investigation report. So, whats the need for programming?

The court-ordered report also stated that Lafayette presented a high risk to others in the community for recidivism.

The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
On the back side of the stone theres an inscription for Wesley Ford, a 16-year-old who died at the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864. But theres no veterans marker, and Im wondering why," an inquirer wrote.
The project outside Town Hall organized by former state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli will honor Berkshire County members of the military who died in service to the U.S. from World War I to the present.
PITTSFIELD  One immigration attorney says his phone is "blowing up" with calls and texts from people worried about whether they are in danger of being taken into custody by ICE.

And others who work closely with immigrants in Berkshire County say they are equally busy trying to stay on top of information and quell anxiety.

While the new Trump administration says it wants to remove people who entered the country illegally, it is still unclear to what degree this will be enforced. Currently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities appear to be focusing on those involved or accused of criminal activity. But the heightened national attention on immigration enforcement has some local advocates stressing calm amid the storm of misinformation and attention-grabbing stories about raids in major cities.

People are feeling stressed and overwhelmed and anxious just because its all still so unclear," Berkshire Immigrant Center Executive Director Melissa Canavan said, and whether its going to affect them or not are different because of the circumstances of how they got [to the U.S.]."

While local immigration advocates say they have not seen or heard of verified reports of any new arrests or activity by immigration authorities since President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20, Canavan said the nonprofit is working to understand and educate its clients about the impact of evolving changes.

Immigration law and the potential changes are hard enough, she pointed out, even for the average English-speaking American to understand.

Canavan said that legal challenges to some of Trumps proposed immigration policies  to remove birthright citizenship, for instance  are also putting the rules in limbo.

We cant be reactive, Canavan said, adding that BIC clients who have immigration applications underway, for instance, should be checking in with the center.

The center offers a number of services, including help filing out forms for immigration benefits including green cards, tourist visas, and family sponsorship. The organization also helps with referrals to immigration attorneys.

People should seek expert advice rather than acting on unverified information, Canavan said. This could come, she added, from well-meaning community members, or from people posing as immigration lawyers who are taking advantage of the panic. Canavan is also urging the community and local media against misinformation that "stirs the pot" about ICE activity, and stokes fear in an already anxious population.

ICE enforces federal immigration laws that make it a criminal offense to enter the U.S. without going through the proper channels to obtain various visas and legal immigration status  which is also sometimes known as being undocumented. Reentering the country after being deported is also a crime.

Overstaying ones visa or not having legal papers is not a criminal offense. Being convicted of a crime as a non-U.S. citizen, however, is grounds for automatic deportation.

Local and state police do not have the authority to make immigration-related arrests. Some towns, like Great Barrington, prohibit police from any involvement with ICE.

While immigration raids have received outsized attention since Trump took office, ICE arrests and deportation are not new in the U.S. Deportations reached levels during one year of the Biden administration that surpassed those under Trump's first presidency, according to The Washington Post and ICEs 2024 Annual Report.

ICE did not respond to questions about whether any arrests have been made in Berkshire County, and how many have been made across Massachusetts since Trump took office.

The last known Berkshire County residents taken into custody by ICE were two men awaiting trial on criminal charges. Both were arrested by the agency in November, and ICE publicized it. Both men are being detained and their cases are moving through Immigration Court.

Scott Clark, the only Berkshire County attorney who specializes in immigration law, said he is not aware of any ICE arrests since those of the local men in November  one of whom is his client. He has heard only unverified reports. But he is seeing a surge of concerns, and a slight uptick in people wanting initial consultations  four or five since Jan. 20.

My WhatsApp is blowing up, he said of the phone call and messaging app. I have a lot of existing clients contacting me just to confirm their [immigration] statuses, and what they should do if theyre stopped by police or ICE [and] what documents to carry with them.

Other places that immigrants rely on also say they have not yet heard any reports about ICE activity.

Berkshire Community College has a growing number of students who are immigrants in its Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages program. College spokesperson Jonah Sykes said the college hasnt heard any rumblings regarding ICE on campus.

At the Peoples Pantry in Great Barrington, board member and Vice President of Operations Anne Hutchinson said there was a slight drop in people picking up food on Jan. 20, but she believes it was due to the cold and snow. The numbers went back to normal later in the week.

But the pantry is always vigilant about protecting its 650 to 700 clients.

We dont collect information about people, Hutchinson said. Were careful. We ask what town they live in but we dont check up on it.
Our relationships with other countries are very important, and it comes from being allies and helping each other, because there are people that want to take over countries, as we know. We see it all over, all the time."
Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He is the author of Notes from the Brink: A Collection of Columns About Policy at Home and Abroad.
BillOReilly.com is not available in this country.



We apologize for any inconvenience.
A man charged with attacking a woman on a bus in Dublin was identified through RTE's Crimecall programme, a court has heard.

The alleged incident in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29th, 2024, featured in a public appeal for assistance last week.

Advertisement

Martin Ball, 36, of Gleann na hEorna, Springfield, Tallaght, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

He was granted bail with a condition not to travel on a specific bus route.

Mr Ball is charged with assault causing harm to a woman at Grange Road, Rathfarnham, D14, on May 29th last year.

Court presenter Garda Sergeant Bryan Duff furnished a certificate outlining the evidence of arrest, charge, and caution.

Advertisement

The sergeant said that due to the nature of the case, directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions needed to be obtained.

Dressed in a black coat, blue jeans, black runners and cream jumper, Mr Ball did not address the court and has yet to indicate a plea.

There was no objection to bail with conditions, most of which had been flagged to defence counsel Fergal McMorrow.

No evidence about the alleged assault was given during the brief hearing.

Advertisement

Judge Murphy ordered Mr Ball to have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured party or any witness, reside at his current address, sign on three days a week at his local Garda station and stay off the S8 Go Ahead bus which the court was told goes through Rathfarnham to Cabinteely.

Ireland Sliabh Liag trial: Accused was 'a bit manic' when... Read More

Mr McMorrow argued that the signing-on condition was "a little onerous" for his client, who worked full-time and had no prior convictions. The defence was agreeable to all the other terms.

The court sergeant asked it to be part of the bail due to the nature of the charge, and he added that the accused had been identified through Crimecall.

Judge Murphy said that because of the lengths gardai had to go to locate him, she was leaving the requirement for Mr Ball to sign on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, she added that the issue could revisited.

The accused was remanded on his bond of 300 to appear again on March 12th for the DPP's direction to be conveyed. Judge Murphy held that he was a suitable candidate for free legal aid, which was granted.
A corporal in the Irish Defence Forces was involved in a money laundering operation that handled over 6.6 million worth of drug dealers cash, a court has heard.

Richard Kearney (36) of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an address in Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght on May 6TH, 2022. He has no previous convictions.

Advertisement

Garda Vincent Jaffray told Alison Fynes BL prosecuting that a phone seized during the search of Kearneys rented home at the time was analysed and found to contain communication with known drug dealers.

The garda said the conversations showed amounts of money, locations and dates and suggested that Kearney was responsible for laundering 6.6 million and 250,000 British sterling between April 2021 and May 2022.

He said the search also uncovered 10,455 in cash, concealed in a bedframe and a further 15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer.

Kearney admitted during interview that he was the only person who lived in the flat and confirmed that it was his phone.

Advertisement

Bank statements

Garda Jaffray confirmed that analysis of Kearneys bank statements showed that Kearney had no legitimate way of making the amount of money which was found in his home.

Garda Jaffray agreed with Ciara Ni Ghabhann BL defending that Kearney caused no trouble during interview and answered all questions put to him.

He accepted that he is a corporal with the Irish Defence Forces and will now lose that job.

Ms Ni Ghabhann told Judge Martin Nolan that her client is a father of two children and acts as a parent to his partners four children.

Advertisement

She said he had risen to rank of corporal in the Irish Defence Forces and was involved in the equestrian school with the army. He travelled to the Olympics with an equestrian team where he acted as a groom.

Ms Ni Ghabhann said Kearney looked for a transfer in location in the army, which led to a drop in his wages and he struggled financially as a result.

She said around Christmas 2020 he was approached and offered what he thought was a friendly loan but he found himself in over his head.

Counsel said threats started to come in and Kearney had to get involved in the offence as a result.

Advertisement

Judge Nolan said gardai had certain beliefs which led them to embark on the search of Kearneys home adding their beliefs were justified.

'Very substantial money laundering'

He acknowledged that Kearney pleaded guilty to possession of the physical cash that was found during the search but said the full facts, as disclosed during the sentence hearing, detailed phone evidence which demonstrated that Kearney was involved in very substantial money laundering.

Judge Nolan accepted that Kearney has no record of conviction, has family responsibilities, is unlikely to come before the courts again and has many, many good points.

He noted the maximum penalty available to the court was 14 years and said given the seriousness of the offence a headline sentence of six years was appropriate.

Judge Nolan reduced the sentence to three years, having taken into account the various mitigating features of the case.
Two people involved a scheme to pose as learner drivers and sit the theory test on behalf of others are due to be sentenced on Thursday.

Alina Glont (42) of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of conspiracy.

Advertisement

Daniel Stepien (29) with an address at Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy.

The offences took place on dates between September 2018 and June 2021.

After hearing the facts of the case on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to Thursday to consider sentencing.

Detective Garda Barry Cormack told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that the two accused were part of a group of five individuals involved in a scheme to take driver theory tests on behalf of third parties.

Advertisement

He told the court that information was obtained that third parties contacted the group, then arrangements were made for one of the group to pose as a learner driver at a theory test centre to sit the test, using a computerised system.

When the theory test was completed successfully, a pass certificate would issue, which could be used by the third party to apply for a driving test.

Det Gda Cormack said 124 incidents where someone from the group went to a test centre were identified. Stepien sat 68 theory tests and Glont completed 20.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) started its own investigation in January 2021, after receiving confidential information. 36 potential impersonations were reported to gardai by the RSA the following June.

Advertisement

Det Gda Cormack said separate investigations are ongoing, but some third parties have reported paying amounts between 1,000 and 2,000 to the group

Glont's home was searched by gardai and seven prepaid debit cards, registered with false names and addresses, were found. These cards were used to book over 100 theory tests.

Driver theory test books, and sums of cash in sterling and euro were also recovered and Glont's phone was seized.

The court heard nothing of probative value was obtained when Glont was first interviewed by gardai in 2021.

Advertisement

When interviewed for a second time in 2023, she admitted her role and was co-operative with the investigation.

She told gardai she booked the tests and would direct Stepien to attend certain tests.

Stepien was also interviewed, but nothing of evidential value was obtained. The court heard evidence that he was directed by others, and is considered by gardai to be at the lowest rung of the hierarchy.

Det Gda McCormack said gardai have suspicions about the other members of the group, but they are not before the courts.

Advertisement

Glont has five previous convictions including handling stolen property and use of a false instrument.

Stepien has 30 previous convictions including for deception, theft and road traffic offences.

Blackmail

In November 2022, he was jailed for three and half years after pleading guilty to making a demand with menace.

He and two other men blackmailed a teenager by threatening to disclose explicit photographs from her OnlyFans account to her family and friends if she didnt hand over 10,000.

Stepien currently has an earliest release date of June 2025.

Det Gda Cormack agreed with counsel for both accused that their pleas were beneficial to the prosecution.

He agreed with Simon Matthews BL, defending Stepien, that his client was paid low amounts for his involvement, receiving 150 per test, and was at the lowest rung of the ladder.

It was further accepted that Stepien told gardai he was struggling with gambling and substance addiction issues at the time and that it was clear that photos on theory test certificates were of the defendant.

Det Gda Cormack accepted a suggestion from counsel representing Glont that her ex-partner is a person of interest in the investigation and that he left the jurisdiction around the time she was first arrested in 2021.

He further agreed that Glont has not come to garda attention since June 2021.

It was further accepted that Glont outlined that her ex-partner was violent and coercive when interviewed by gardai for a second time in 2023.

Det Gda Cormack also agreed with counsel for Glont that Stepien told gardai her ex-partner got him involved in the scheme and wouldn't allow him to stop.

Mr Matthews asked the court to take into consideration his client's guilty plea, the contents of a governor's report and clean urine analysis.

He said Stepien is doing well in custody and has enhanced prisoner status. Counsel said the offending in this case took place around the same time as the offence for which Stepien is currently in custody.

Stepien's father passed away in early 2021 and he arranged the funeral. He also had gambling debts of 10,000 at this time. He has one young child and has a good work history.

A number of references and an offer of work upon his release were also handed to the court. Mr Matthews said his client outlines in a letter to the court that he is addressing his gambling and substance addiction issues while in custody.

Mr Matthews said his client accepts responsibility for his actions and has taken significant steps to rehabilitate while in custody. He asked the court to give Stepien a chance.

Counsel asked the court to take into account his client's early guilty plea, her personal circumstances and all other available mitigation.

Ireland Irish Army corporal jailed over 6.6m money launde... Read More

Counsel for Glont asked the court to find truth in her assertions of violence and coercion by her ex-partner.

He suggested her offending took place during a period when her ex-partner was controlling her, she was offending on his behalf and under his control.

He submitted that her behaviour has been strikingly different since her ex-partner left the jurisdiction and she has thrived, taking up work, setting up her own business and completing further education courses.

A number of references were handed in to the court from Glont's family members along with her former workplace. Glont set up a chauffeur business after obtaining her PSV and bus driving licences and has two children.
The numbers of those refused entry to the State at Dublin airport last year due to having no travel documents declined by 30 per cent to 2,293.

New Department of Justice figures show that the 2,293 refused entry by front-line immigration officials at Dublin airport last year compares to 3,287 refused for having no travel documents in 2023 - a decline of 994.

Advertisement

The decline follows the then Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, last August imposing higher fines on airlines and ferry companies that allow someone to board or disembark without proper documentation.

The Ministerial order increasing the maximum fines from 3,000 to 5,000 was a way of preventing the practice whereby some people destroy or dispose of travel documents as part of efforts to claim asylum.

At the time, Minister McEntee said: "There is a legal obligation on our airlines and on our ferries to make sure that any individual that boards our planes or boats that they have the correct and proper documentation where that doesn't occur, we need to make sure that there are very clear penalties and fines.

In a written Dail reply to a question placed by Carol Nolan TD, Dept of Justice figures show that the total numbers refused entry to the State at Dublin in 2024 amounted to 5,255.

Advertisement

The 5,255 refused entry last year is a 10 per cent decline on the 5,826 who were refused entry at Dublin in 2023.

The figures show that while the numbers refused entry due to having no travel documents dropped, the numbers refused entry due to false documents+importers increased by 23.5pc from 872 to 1,077 which is part of the 5,255 total.

The Department figures show that 2022 recorded the peak number of recent years for those refused entry to the State when 7,662 were refused entry that included 4,968 refused due to having no travel documentation.

The numbers refused declined in 2024 despite the overall number of passengers arriving into Dublin airport last year increasing by 4pc from 16.62m to 17.3m.

Advertisement

The Border Management Unit (BMU) of the Department of Justice is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only while other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

Ireland Sinn Fein TD secures court permission to continue... Read More

The decline in those being refused entry without travel documentation follows the Dept of Justice and the GNIB working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding.

This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation.

In addition, BMU and GNIB also have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers.

Last year in 2024, the BMU carried out over 7,300 doorstep operations at Dublin Airport.
A woman accused of murdering a pensioner whose skull was fractured and his body allegedly thrown over Ireland's tallest cliffs told gardai she was "a bit manic" and was exaggerating when she told a friend she had hit the deceased over the head.

The trial also heard that Nikita Burns (23) told gardai that her co-accused, Alan Vial (39), had struck the deceased man Robert 'Robin' Wilkin (66) six or seven times with a rock.

Advertisement

She described seeing Mr Vial with the rock in his hand, "smashing it off Robin's head" while she told him to stop.

She said: "I saw blood going everywhere and Alan just kept hitting him and hitting him and I kept saying, that's enough." When Mr Vial stopped, she said, Mr Wilkin was dead and lay slumped between the car seats while Mr Vial drove to the cliffs at Sliabh Liag.

Ms Burns said Mr Vial had suggested they throw Mr Wilkin over the cliff. They drove for 30 minutes and when they got to the top, she said Mr Vial "dragged him [the deceased] over to the fence and pushed him over."

Ms Burns said she did not get out of the car at Sliabh Liag and did not touch the rock or hit Mr Wilkin at any point.

Advertisement

Ms Burns of Carrick, Co Donegal and Mr Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, Co Donegal have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin on June 25th, 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was found eight days later in the water below the Sliabh Liag cliffs.

Detective Garda Patrick Farrell told prosecution counsel Emmet Nolan BL that Ms Burns was arrested on June 26th, the day after the alleged murder, and interviewed three times at Ballyshannon Garda Station.

In her first interview she said that she and Mr Vial had been "seeing each other" for a few weeks and when asked if they were in love, she replied: "Yeah."

She had been living at Mr Vial's five-bedroom house along with Mr Wilkin for about one month. She said she and Mr Vial worked for Mr Wilkin, who was involved in a concrete business.

Advertisement

In her first two interviews, she said she didn't know what happened to Mr Wilkin but in her third interview, she told the detectives that Mr Vial killed Mr Wilkin and threw him off a cliff.

She said she had difficulty remembering what happened because she was "really drunk" but she thought she had been in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagen Passat which was being driven by Mr Wilkin.

The two men were fighting, she said, and Mr Wilkin pulled over in an area that she later identified as Roshine in Fintown after gardai showed her CCTV footage of the Passat's movements.

She said she remembered seeing Mr Vial with a rock in his hands. "He kept smashing off Robin's head with it and I told him to stop but he wouldn't stop," she said.

Advertisement

Mr Vial struck the deceased six or seven times with the rock, she said, and when he stopped Mr Wilkin was dead.

She said it was Mr Vial's idea to put the body over the cliff at Sliabh Liag.

Sharon O'Dowd has previously given evidence that she spoke to Ms Burns by phone the night after Mr Wilkin's death. Ms O'Dowd said Ms Burns told her that she and Mr Vial "beat some man's head in" so she recorded part of the conversation. Gardai played the recording to Ms Burns.

Following a five-minute consultation with her solicitor, Ms Burns said: "I was off my head, I was a bit manic and then I over-exaggerated the story because I felt I needed to tell somebody and then I just over-exaggerated. I wanted to protect Alan. I wanted him not to take the fall."

Advertisement

When asked what specifically she had exaggerated, she said: "I exaggerated that I hit him over the head and dragged his body."

She denied murdering Mr Wilkin or throwing him over the cliff and said she did not touch the rock or hit the deceased.

She said she returned to Sliabh Liag the following day because Mr Vial wanted to "have a look to make sure the body was not still there". She said they didn't see anything so they left.

Ireland Sinn Fein TD secures court permission to continue... Read More

She further told gardai that the only reason she cleaned blood from the Passat was that she felt "threatened" after Mr Vial told her he didn't know what he would do if she didn't help.

It is the prosecution case that the two accused caused Mr Wilkin's death having engaged in a joint enterprise with the intention to cause serious injury to him.

The jury has been told that where two or more people set out on a criminal enterprise, each one is responsible in law for the actions of the other. The statement of one accused person cannot be used as evidence against the other, the jurors were also told.

The trial will continue next Tuesday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men.
A range of stories feature on the front pages of Wednesday's newspapers as the clean up from Storm Eowyn continues.

The Irish Times reports that letters are being sent to about 800 expectant mothers due to give birth at Portiuncula University Hospital in Co Galway, informing them of external reviews taking place into the delivery of nine babies.

Irish officials have told the Minister for Defence that many of Irelands EU partners are in full war preparation mode, according to the Irish Examiner.

Advertisement

The Irish Independent says the the Office of Public Works is under fire again after it emerged it spent nearly 500,000 on a new wall for a State agency.

The Minister for Justice has appealed to people in sedentary jobs to consider becoming gardai, ahead of the launch of a new recruitment campaign, the Irish Daily Mail reports.

The Irish Daily Mirror reports on how Taoiseach Micheal Martin was confronted by an angry mother who has been without power since Storm Eowyn.

The Irish Daily Star reports that the son of a Kinahan cartel member was jailed for firing gunshots at a car.

A woman tells the Belfast Telegraph that the healthcare system in the North is broken after her husband died waiting for an ambulance.

Advertisement

Previews of a major speech from UK finance minister Rachel Reeves on Wednesday takes centre stage on several of the Britishs front pages.

Ahead of the speech, British prime minister Keir Starmer writes in The Times, pledging to cut through thickets of red tape to help economic growth which he calls the only cure for the sickness of stagnation and decline.

Ms Reeves will warn that growth will not come without a fight, according to The Daily Telegraph, saying she faces opposition from fellow members of the UK cabinet over airport expansions, one of the policies due to be covered in the speech.

The Guardian focuses on Ms Reeves being due to set out plans to create Europes Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge.

An announcement in the speech of a multi-million pound investment into kerbside electric vehicle charging points features on the front of The i Paper.

Advertisement

The Daily Mail focuses on calls for Ms Reeves to remove barriers to growth which Labour created.

The departure of Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans from the shows live tour occupies the front of the Daily Mirror and The Sun.

The Daily Express turns its attention to royal matters and history, saying Britain's King Charles vetoed naming a new Navy submarine after the Battle of Agincourt.

Figures predicting the UK population will rise by almost five million people to 72.5 million in the next decade appear in The Independent.

Advertisement

The Financial Times looks across the Atlantic as it reports on US president Donald Trump freezing federal grants and loans in a move to cut government spending.

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and a tax avoidance scandal involving superyachts features on the front page of the Metro.

And the Daily Star returns to what it calls psycho scumbag chatbots with the warning they have learned to clone themselves.
Harvey Weinstein begged a judge on Wednesday to hold his sexual assault retrial as soon as possible, telling him I dont know how much longer I can hold on with cancer, heart issues and harsh conditions at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex.

The disgraced movie mogul objected after Judge Curtis Farber said the retrial would start on April 15, imploring him to swap with another, unrelated trial the judge has in March.

Advertisement

Every day Im at Rikers Island, its a mystery to me how Im still walking, Weinstein said at a hearing in court in Manhattan.

Im holding on because I want justice for myself and I want this to be over with, he said.



Former film producer Harvey Weinstein during Wednesdays hearing (Timothy A Clary/Pool Photo via AP)

Weinstein, 72, is being treated for numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues and diabetes. He complained to Judge Farber that jail officers gave him the wrong pills on Wednesday morning and failed to pick him up for court in a timely fashion.

So many people suffering on Rikers Island, he said.

Advertisement

Weinstein arrived in court in a wheelchair more than half an hour after the hearings scheduled start time.

Im asking and begging you, your honour, to move your trial, Weinstein said, suggesting that even a weeks head start would be helpful.

Weinstein said that at times he finds himself gasping for air and predicted that he would soon be in a hospital again for treatment.





He quizzed the judge about his trial calendar, including jury selection in another matter that is set to begin on Monday.

Advertisement

Judge Farber said he arrived at the April 15 date after consulting with prosecutors and Weinsteins lawyers but would look into possibly starting the trial a few days earlier, if time allows.

Im in a serious emergency situation. I am begging the court to move your date, Weinstein said, telling the judge he wanted to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

Weinsteins request came after Judge Farber issued a key ruling defining the scope of his retrial. The judge upheld a charge based on an allegation from a woman who was not in the original case.

Weinstein had wanted the extra charge thrown out, arguing through his lawyers that the Manhattan district attorneys office only brought it to bolster their case with a third accuser after New Yorks highest court overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges involving two women.

Advertisement

Scheduling the retrial was complicated by an increasingly crowded court calendar.



Harvey Weinstein, centre, appearing in criminal court in New York in September (Seth Wenig/AP)

Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, is representing political strategist Steve Bannon in a border wall fraud trial set to start on March 4 before a different Manhattan judge.

Meanwhile, Judge Farber has a murder trial in March.

Before Bannons trial date was set last week, Mr Aidala had suggested that Weinsteins trial go first in the interest of humanity, citing the ex-studio bosss declining health.

Advertisement

They know that Mr Weinstein is dying of cancer and is an innocent man right now in the state of New York, Mr Aidala argued in court last week. He pleaded to prosecutors: Can I try this dying mans case first?

Weinstein is being retried on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013. The additional charge, filed last September, alleges he forced oral sex on a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006.

The Manhattan district attorneys office said in court papers that the woman, who has not been identified publicly, came forward to prosecutors just days before the start of Weinsteins first trial but was not part of that case.

Prosecutors said they did not pursue the womens allegations after Weinstein was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in prison, but they revisited them and secured a new indictment after the states Court of Appeals threw out his conviction last April.

Judge Farber ruled in October to combine the new indictment and existing charges into one trial.

Weinsteins lawyers contend that prosecutors prejudiced him by waiting nearly five years to bring the additional charge, suggesting they had elected not to include the allegation in his first trial so they could use it later if his conviction were reversed.

Prosecutors called that thinking absurd, countering that Weinsteins lawyers would have also been outraged if he had been charged based on the third womans allegation either during his first trial or immediately after his conviction.

Weinstein would likely have characterised that timing as a vindictive and gratuitous pile-on, prosecutors wrote in a court filing last month.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office said the previously uncharged allegation required a sensitive investigation and serious contemplation before seeking an indictment, in part because there are no eyewitnesses to the alleged assault and no scientific or other physical evidence.

Weinstein co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, having produced films such as Pulp Fiction and The Crying Game.

In 2017, he became the most prominent villain of the #MeToo movement, which erupted when women began going public with accounts of his behaviour.

He has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

In vacating Weinsteins conviction, the Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge, James M Burke, unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women who were not part of the case. Mr Burke is no longer on the bench.

Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. His 16-year prison sentence in that case still stands, but his lawyers appealed in June, arguing he did not get a fair trial.

Weinstein has remained in custody in New Yorks Rikers Island jail complex, with occasional visits to hospital for medical treatment, while awaiting the retrial.
At least 17 people have died and many more were injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India, a doctor at a government hospital said.

The doctor works in Prayagraj city, where more than 30 people were brought for treatment  with five in a serious condition  after a stampede as tens of thousands of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred river waters during the Hindu event.

Advertisement





Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, with local media reports saying 10 people had died.

The incident took place when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession of holy men, Uttar Pradesh states top elected official, Yogi Adityanath, said in a televised statement.

Mr Adityanath said several pilgrims were injured, some seriously, in the stampede.

Prime Minister Mr Modi called the incident extremely sad and extended his condolences to victims.

Advertisement

Most local news websites said at least 10 people were killed, with Hindi language newspaper Dainik Bhaskar putting the death toll at 20.

Wednesday was a sacred day during a six-week festival, and authorities in Prayagraj city were expecting a record 100 million devotees to engage in a ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.



The Sangam is the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers (AP)

Hindus believe that a dip at the holy site can cleanse them of their past sins and end the process of reincarnation.

The main draw is the thousands of ash-smeared Hindu ascetics who make massive processions towards the confluence to bathe.

Advertisement

Millions of people continued to throng the 4,000-hectare (15 square mile) pilgrimage site despite the stampede, even as police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence. Mr Adityanath urged people to instead take baths at other riverbanks.



The Prime Minister acknowledged there had been deaths (AP)

The situation is now under control, but there is a massive crowd of pilgrims, Mr Adityanath said, adding that 90 to 100 million pilgrims were at the site.

About 30 million people had taken the holy bath by 8am on Wednesday, he said.

Distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, desperate for the news of their missing loved ones. Clothes, blankets and backpacks were strewn around the scene of the stampede.

Advertisement

The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, started on January 13 and is the worlds largest religious gathering. Authorities expect more than 400 million people to throng the pilgrimage site in total.



The injured people were treated in hospital (AP)

Nearly 150 million people have already attended, including the likes of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah and celebrities like Coldplays Chris Martin.

A sprawling tent city has been built on the riverbanks to accommodate millions of visitors. It has roads, electricity and water, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals.

About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds, and more than 2,500 cameras monitor crowd movement and density so officials can try to prevent such crushes.

Advertisement

The 45-day festival is a significant cultural event for Indias Hindus, who make up nearly 80% of the countrys more than 1.4 billion people.



The festival attracts millions of people (AP)

It is also a prestige event for Mr Modi, whose ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Partys boasts of promoting Hindu cultural symbols.

The Maha Kumbh festival has been marred by stampedes in the past. In 2013, at least 40 pilgrims who were taking part in the same festival were killed in a stampede at a train station in Prayagraj.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas.

In July at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when thousands at a religious gathering in northern India stampeded at a tent camp in Hathras town.
A stampede injured dozens of people early on Wednesday as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take a holy bath in the river at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in northern India, local media reported.

Images from the scene in the northern city of Prayagraj showed rescuers helping the injured as police tried to manage the massive crowds.

Advertisement

It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic at the festival where devotees from across India had congregated to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Press Trust of India cited authorities who said injured people were sent to a hospital.

The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, started on January 13 and is the worlds largest religious gathering. Authorities expect more than 400 million people to throng the pilgrimage site in total over the next six weeks.

To accommodate tens of thousands of holy men, pilgrims and tourists visiting the festival, authorities have built a sprawling tent city on the riverbanks.

It is equipped with 3,000 kitchens and 150,000 toilets and also has roads, electricity and water, communication towers and 11 hospitals.

Advertisement

About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds. Stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas.
Former US senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday for accepting bribes of cash and gold bars and serving as an agent of Egypt as he sold influence to businessmen eager to exploit his political power.

District judge Sidney H Stein in Manhattan announced the sentence after Menendez tearfully addressed the judge, saying he had lost everything he cared about, except for his wife.

Advertisement

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, the judge said. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison term for the Democrat who was convicted of multiple charges including acting as an agent for Egypt for selling his once-considerable clout in Washington for bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Given a chance to speak before he was sentenced, Menendez broke down several times as he described his accomplishments.





You really dont know the man you are about to sentence, Menendez told Judge Stein.

Advertisement

Your honour, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions.

Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honour, to judge me in that context.

Lawyer Adam Fee told Judge Stein to give Menendez credit for a lifetime of extraordinary public service and personal sacrifices.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as gold bar Bob, Mr Fee said.

Advertisement

Menendezs lawyers had said prior to the sentencing that their client deserves under two years in prison, citing his decades of public service and a life largely well-lived after the son of Cuban immigrants rose from poverty to become the epitome of the American Dream.



Former US senator Bob Menendez arriving at court on Wednesday (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)

But Mr Fee said the defence team decided to ask that Menendez get no more than eight years after hearing Judge Stein earlier in the day give substantial prison terms to two New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying bribes to the senator.

Fred Daibes, a property developer, got seven years and a 1.75 million-dollar (1.4 million) fine. Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, got eight years, a 1.25 million-dollar (1 million) fine and was ordered to forfeit 125,000 dollars (100,587).

Prior to the announcement of his sentence, Daibes, 67, tearfully told Judge Stein the jury verdict had left him borderline suicidal, and requested leniency so that he could care for his 30-year-old autistic son.

Advertisement

Hana told the judge: I am an innocent man.

I never bribed Senator Menendez or asked his office for influence.

The judge, though, said the jurys verdict was very, very substantial.

A third businessman pleaded guilty and gave evidence against Menendez at a trial last year.

Advertisement

Menendez resigned from the Senate after his conviction last year, though he lost much of his power in 2023 when the charges against him were revealed and he was forced to surrender his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The trial traced Menendezs dealings with Egyptian officials and his quest to aid three men who showered him with lucrative gifts found during a 2022 raid on the New Jersey home he shared with his wife, Nadine.

FBI agents who searched the house found 480,000 dollars (386,256), some of it stuffed inside boots and the pockets of clothing hung in the couples wardrobes. They also seized gold bars worth an estimated 150,000 dollars (120,705).

Prosecutors said Menendez had put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes, including by serving Egypts interests as he worked to protect a meat certification monopoly Hana had established with the Egyptian government.



Wael Hana leaves court after his sentencing on Wednesday (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Among other things, Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about the staff at the US Embassy in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on 300 million dollars (241 million) in military aid to Egypt.

Prosecutors said that for other bribes, Menendez attempted to persuade a federal prosecutor in New Jersey to go easy on Daibes, a politically influential property developer accused of bank fraud.

And at the trial, another businessman, Jose Uribe, gave evidence that he helped Nadine Menendez get a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator sought to pressure state prosecutors to drop criminal probes of his associates.

Menendez has insisted that he is innocent of any crime, saying repeatedly that his interactions with Egyptian officials were normal for the head of the Foreign Relations Committee, and that he always put American interests first.

He denied taking any bribes and said the gold bars belonged to his wife.

Nadine Menendez faces trial in March on many of the same charges as her husband after spending the last year being treated for breast cancer.

Menendezs lawyers, in a presentence submission, said he had already suffered greatly.

Unsurprisingly, Senator Menendezs conviction has rendered him a national punchline and stripped him of every conceivable personal, professional and financial benefit, his lawyers wrote.

Bob is now 71, with his long-built reputation in tatters. He has suffered financial and professional ruin.



Fred Daibes arriving at court in New York (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

In court papers, the lawyers described how Menendez devoted much of his life to his country and his community after he was scarred by the early loss of his father, who killed himself when Menendez was 23 after he was unable to pay off gambling debts.

They described a 50-year history of public service in heroic terms, tracing a career in which Menendez was mayor of Union City, New Jersey, a state politician, a member of the US House and then a senator from 2006 to 2024.

Yet he also had the distinction of being the only US senator indicted twice.

In 2015, he was charged with selling his influence to a wealthy Florida eye doctor and entrepreneur who prosecutors said lavished him with luxury vacations and campaign contributions.

But the jury in that case could not reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.
An insurgency led by M23 rebels in east Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated and reached the city of Goma, worsening a humanitarian crisis in a region that suffered two devastating wars between 1996 and 2003.

Here is some background on the conflict.

Advertisement

Who are M23?

M23, which refers to the March 23rd, 2009, accord that ended a previous Tutsi-led revolt in eastern Congo, is the latest group of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgents to take up arms against Congolese forces. It launched the current rebellion in 2022.

The group has accused the government of Congo of not living up to the peace deal and fully integrating Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration. It also vows to defend Tutsi interests, particularly against ethnic Hutu militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide of close to 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Since the start of 2025, the rebels have seized new territory and reached Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, prompting hundreds of thousands more people to flee their homes.

Residents walk past the wreckage of a burned vehicle following clashes in the streets of Goma this week. Photo: AFP via Getty

For more than a year, M23 has controlled Congo's coltan-mining region of Rubaya, generating an estimated $800,000 per month through a production tax, according to the UN. Coltan is used in the production of smartphones and other equipment.

Advertisement

The group's spread into new territories in recent weeks gives it scope to acquire more mining revenue, analysts say.

Why is Rwanda involved?

The government of Congo, UN officials and Western powers including the United States have accused Congo's neighbour Rwanda of fuelling the conflict by deploying thousands of its own troops and heavy weapons on Congolese soil in support of M23.

The accusations are based on a 2022 report by a UN Group of Experts that said it had "solid evidence" that Rwandan troops had been fighting alongside the M23 rebels.

Rwanda, which denies backing the rebels, says it has taken what it calls defensive measures and accuses Congo of fighting alongside the FDLR, which has attacked Tutsis in both countries.

Advertisement

Rwanda has a long history of military intervention inside Congo. It and Uganda invaded in 1996 and 1998, claiming they were defending themselves against local militia groups.

Other forces

World Protesters attack embassies in Congos capital as... Read More

UN peacekeepers are supporting the Congolese army's efforts to curb the M23 as part of the MONUSCO mission's years-long mandate to counter the many rebel groups active in eastern Congo.

An agreed withdrawal of the mission from Congo has been paused due to the deteriorating security situation. As of December, there were nearly 11,000 peacekeepers on the ground, mostly in the east.

The 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) also extended its military mission in Congo late last year.

Both forces have suffered losses since the start of 2025.
A fifth person has died from injuries suffered during a massive explosion of illegal fireworks at a Honolulu home on New Years Eve, police said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old man was one of six people flown to a hospital in Arizona for treatment earlier this month because Hawaiis only burn-care facility hit capacity treating other patients from the same blast.

Advertisement

The explosion also killed a three-year-old boy and three women and injured more than 20 others.

The 29-year-old man died at 6.42am Hawaii time, Honolulu police said.

Illegal fireworks have become increasingly more common in Hawaii in recent years.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green proposed new penalties designed to make it easier for police to enforce laws, including fines of 300 dollars that they could issue to those who shoot off fireworks.

Advertisement

Mr Green has also proposed potential class A felony charges and decades in prison for those whose use of fireworks leads to serious injury or death.

The state department of law enforcement has asked for 5.2 million dollars to hire eight people and expand the forensic lab to counter the rampant smuggling of illegal fireworks.

Politicians were expected to consider these measures during the current legislative session, which ends in May.

The US military, at Mr Greens request, flew six patients to Phoenix on January 4. All were in their 20s or 30s and had suffered burns that covered 45%-80% of their bodies.

Advertisement

Flying particles and debris from the explosion left some of the patients with wounds resembling battlefield injuries.
Hamas will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, as well as five Thai nationals during the next hostage release, set for Thursday, officials from Israel and Hamas said as a tenuous ceasefire between the sides moves ahead.

The officials named the Israeli women as Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 20, and the man as Gadi Moses, 80.

Advertisement

The officials, who spoke on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the hostages families had approved the publication of their names.

The identities of the Thai nationals were not immediately known.

A number of foreign workers were taken captive along with dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers during Hamass October 7 2023 attack that set off the war in Gaza.

The expected release will keep up the momentum of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hamas group that began earlier this month and which paused the 15-month war in Gaza.

Advertisement

As part of the deal, Hamas is releasing hostages in phases in exchange for freedom for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.



Tents are set up next to houses destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, after Israel began allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the heavily damaged area (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The deal had been negotiated for months under the Biden administration but was finally sealed after US President Donald Trump threatened there would be hell to pay if the hostages were not returned.

Mr Trumps Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Israel on Wednesday and met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads to Washington next week to meet Mr Trump  the first foreign leader to meet the US president in his second term in office.

Thursdays release was not originally scheduled but came as a result of a standoff between Israel and Hamas over the identities of the hostages released over the weekend.

Advertisement

Israel had demanded that Ms Yehoud, a civilian, be part of that group and when she was not freed, Israel held up the movement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians looking to return to what is left of their homes in the war-battered north of Gaza.

International mediation efforts brought about the additional release on Thursday and cleared the way for Palestinians to stream north.

Another release is slated for Saturday, which Mr Netanyahus office said would free male hostages.

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed both Thursday and Saturday.

Advertisement

A list of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners that Israel is set to release on Thursday in exchange for its three hostages includes Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent former militant leader and theatre director whose dramatic jail escape in 2021 thrilled Palestinians and stunned the Israeli security establishment.

Zubeidi once led the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade  an armed group affiliated with Fatah, the secular political party that controls the Palestinian Authority  which carried out deadly attacks against Israelis during a Palestinian uprising between 2000 and 2005.

After the uprising, in 2006, Zubeidi established a theatre in his home town in the northern West Bank to promote what he described as cultural resistance to Israel. Even today, the Freedom Theatre in Jenin refugee camp puts on everything from Shakespeare and stand-up comedy to plays written by residents.

In 2019, after Zubeidi had already served years in prison for attacks in the early 2000s, Israel arrested him again over his alleged involvement in shooting attacks that targeted buses of Israeli settlers in the West Bank but caused no injuries.

Advertisement

Zubeidi has been awaiting trial in prison since. He denies the charges, insisting he focused on political activism as a member of Fatah and a prisoner advocacy group.

In 2021, he and five other prisoners tunnelled out of a maximum-security prison in northern Israel, an escape that helped solidify Zubeidis image among Palestinians as a folk hero. All six escapees were recaptured days later.
US President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on February 4 as the first foreign leader to visit in Mr Trumps second term, Mr Netanhayu and the White House said Tuesday.

The visit comes as the United States pressures Israel and Hamas to continue a ceasefire that has paused a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. Talks about the ceasefires second phase are set to begin on February 3.

Advertisement

The White House letter shared by Mr Netanyahus office, dated Tuesday, invited the prime minister to visit next week: I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbours, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.

Mr Trump had earlier teased the upcoming visit in a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to visit the White House (Abir Sultan/AP)

Im going to be speaking with Bibi Netanyahu in the not-too-distant future, he said.

The meeting would be a chance for Mr Netanyahu, under pressure at home, to remind the world of the support he has received from Mr Trump over the years.

Advertisement

Mr Netanyahu is likely to encourage Mr Trump not to hold up some weapons deliveries the way the Biden administration did.

The administration continued other deliveries and overall military support to Israel, which is the largest recipient of US military aid.

Mr Netanyahu is also relying on Mr Trump to put more pressure on Iran and renew efforts to deliver a historic normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a rival of Iran and the Arab worlds richest and most powerful country.



Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have begun to return to their homes in Gaza as the ceasefire stretches into a second week (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Even before taking office this month, Mr Trump was sending his special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region to apply pressure, along with the Biden administration, to get the current ceasefire achieved.

Advertisement

But Mr Netanyahu has vowed to renew the war if Hamas doesnt meet his demands in negotiations over the ceasefires second phase, which aims to end the war.

Under the ceasefire deal, more than 375,000 Palestinians have crossed into northern Gaza since Israel allowed their return, the United Nations said Tuesday. That represents more than a third of the million people who fled in the wars opening days.

Many of the Palestinians trudging along a seaside road or crossing in vehicles after security inspections were getting the first view of shattered northern Gaza under the fragile ceasefire, now in its second week.



A Palestinian woman hangs the laundry inside her home, which was destroyed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

They were determined, if their homes were damaged or destroyed, to pitch makeshift shelters or sleep outdoors amid the vast piles of broken concrete or perilously leaning buildings. After months of crowding in squalid tent camps or former schools in Gazas south, they would finally be home.

Advertisement

Its still better for us to be on our land than to live on a land thats not yours, said Fayza al-Nahal as she prepared to leave the southern city of Khan Younis for the north.

Hani Al-Shanti, displaced from Gaza City, looked forward to feeling at peace in whatever he found, even if it is a roof and walls without furniture, even if it is without a roof.

Under the ceasefire, the next release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody is set to occur on Thursday, followed by another exchange on Saturday.

In the ceasefires six-week first phase, a total of 33 hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on October 7 2023, that ignited the war should be released, along with more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Advertisement



Israeli soldier Naama Levy, who was kidnapped by Hamas, gets on a bus after she and three other Israeli female soldiers were released by Hamas (Leo Correa/AP)

Israel said a list provided by Hamas confirmed the fears that eight of the 33 hostages to be freed are dead, bringing fresh grief to Israeli families who have long pressed the government to reach a deal to bring everyone home before time runs out.

On Tuesday, one of the first hostages to be released under the current ceasefire  just the second in the war  shared a glimpse of life in captivity.

Naama Levy, 20, wrote on social media that she spent most of the first 50 days alone before being reunited with other soldiers kidnapped from her military base on October 7, as well as other civilian captives.

They gave me strength and hope, she wrote. We strengthened each other until the day of our release, and also afterwards.



A surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza continued under the ceasefire as thousands return to the region (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

A surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza continued under the ceasefire.

In this past week alone, approximately 4,200 trucks carrying aid have entered the Gaza Strip following inspections, Israels deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel said.

Under the deal, 600 trucks of aid are meant to enter per day.
Former UK prime minister David Cameron was among the first at the scene of a fatal crash at the weekend.

A man in his 30s, who was driving a red Ferrari, died when the car left the road and collided with a tree near Marlingford in Norfolk on Saturday afternoon.

Advertisement

His passenger, a woman also in her 30s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to Norfolk Police.

Mr Cameron, who was on a shooting weekend nearby, drove past the scene not long after the accident.

His close protection officers, who are trained in first aid, sought to help the casualties, the PA news agency understands.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Marlingford. It happened at 2.55pm on Saturday, on Watton Road, when a red Ferrari left the road and collided with a tree.



The driver sadly died at the scene.



Can you help? https://t.co/VIFAkE1Z5p pic.twitter.com/AtZuJTAvGs  Norfolk Police (@NorfolkPolice) January 27, 2025

The crash happened on the B1108 Watton Road at Bow Hill at 2.55pm on Saturday and the road remained closed until 9pm while the emergency services dealt with the aftermath.

Advertisement

Norfolk Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or the manner of driving before it happened.

Mr Cameron served as Conservative prime minister between 2010 and 2016, when he stood down in the wake of losing the Brexit referendum.

He returned to government in 2023, when he was ennobled and agreed to serve as Rishi Sunaks foreign secretary.
Rebels backed by Rwanda captured more towns in eastern Congo on Wednesday, as fighters moved beyond the key city of Goma in an apparent attempt to expand their control in the conflict-battered region.

The rebels were advancing toward the centre of South Kivu province after capturing several of its towns, including Kalungu, Kanyezire and Mukwinja, according to a local civil society leader and an aid worker in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Advertisement

The advance further raised fears of prolonged occupation by the rebels, who have said they plan to set up a new administration in Goma.

Unlike now, they only captured Goma during their first rebellion in 2012 but withdrew days later under international pressure on Rwanda.



People have fled to Rwanda as the rebels advance (AP)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on X that he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the need to ensure a ceasefire and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.

Soldiers fighting for Congo  many of them mercenaries from other nations  were laying down their weapons at the border with Rwanda. Congos army seemed to be in disarray, and those at the border appeared disorganised and ill-equipped for fighting.

Advertisement

A rebel spokesman said nearly 300 mercenaries have surrendered their arms and returned to their countries.

Let the people of Goma be calm, peace is here, said Willy Ngoma, a spokesman of the M23 group. Mr Ngoma is on the UN Security Councils sanctions list for crimes committed by the rebels.

Its like you are fighting without command, said Jean Marie Ndahambaza, one of the surrendering soldiers.

Armed groups have long vied for control of eastern Congo, which is rich in minerals critical to much of the worlds technology, and has been the scene of proxy battles between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, as well as other powers.

Advertisement

Fighting reignited this week, and the rebels backed by Rwanda, known as M23, announced on Monday that they had captured much of the provincial capital of Goma.

Hundreds of thousands of Goma residents were trying to get away from the fighting, with some retreating into Congos interior to seek protection, and others crossing into nearby Rwanda.

Rwandan border patrol agents thoroughly searched the belongings of the men, women and children crossing the border in waves, with suitcases and children in tow. The displaced people were then taken care of by the Rwandan Red Cross.

Meanwhile, rebels took control of Gomas airport, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, warning of risks of a breakdown of law and order in the city of two million people given the proliferation of weapons.

Advertisement

Clashes with rebels continued in some parts of the city on Wednesday afternoon, including at the centre of Goma in the neighbourhoods of Katoyi and Kahembe.

Other parts of the city were calm, with less fighting after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew overhead, and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to address the country later on Wednesday in his first public remarks since the incursion.



The conflict has been going on for decades, with many armed groups vying for control (AP)

M23, made up primarily of ethnic Tutsis, has told the AP that it plans to set up an administration in the city so people can continue living normal lives and displaced people can return home.

Advertisement

Analysts have warned that securing a rebel withdrawal could be more difficult than in 2012, when M23 first captured Goma.

Murithi Mutiga, programme director for Africa at the Crisis Group, said the group has become more emboldened by Rwanda, which feels Congo is ignoring its interests in the region and which has accused Congo of failing to meet demands of previous peace agreements.
Britain's Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter several weeks prematurely, with the 4lb 5oz baby, named Athena, said to be healthy and doing well.

The late Queen Elizabeths granddaughter (36) and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their second child a week ago on January 22nd at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

Advertisement

Beatrice and her daughter are now said to be at home, with the family enjoying spending time together with Athenas older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.

Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi (Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi/PA)

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla have been informed and are delighted, Buckingham Palace said.

Beatrice and her husband released a photograph of their daughter taken by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, showing Athena with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeved garment, and wrapped in a pink blanket with her face hidden by her arm.

She was due to give birth in early spring, and in December received medical advice and was told not to travel long distances.

Advertisement

She joined the rest of the British royal family at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day after changing her travel plans to spend the festive period overseas, with doctors said to have warned that a premature arrival was a possibility.

Britain's Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Wolfie on Christmas Day after changing their travel plans on medical advice (Aaron Chown/PA)

Buckingham Palace said: Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday January 22 at 12.57pm, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the royal family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

Advertisement

Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi are also said to have expressed their thanks to all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

The baby is a younger sister to the couples three-year-old daughter, Sienna, and Mr Mapelli Mozzis son and Beatrices stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie.
US President Donald Trump has said he is directing the opening of a detention centre at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to hold up to 30,000 migrants who are living illegally in the United States.

Mr Trump made the announcement just before he signed the Laken Riley Act into law as his administrations first piece of legislation.

Advertisement

The Laken Riley Act means that people who are in the US illegally and are accused of theft and violent crimes would have to be detained and potentially deported even before a conviction.

Were going to send them out to Guantanamo, the president said in the White House East Room.

Some of them are so bad that we dont even trust the countries to hold them because we dont want them coming back, so were going to send them out to Guantanamo, he said.



President Donald Trump holds the document after signing the Laken Riley Act during an event in the East Room of the White House (Evan Vucci/AP)

He said that he would soon sign an executive order directing federal officials to get facilities in Cuba ready to receive migrant criminals.

Advertisement

We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal aliens threatening the American people, the president said.

The US military base has been used to house detainees from the US war on terrorism.

The move would immediately double US detention lockup capacities, he said. Guantanamo, he added, is a tough place to get out of.

In subsequent comments to reporters outside the White House, new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said of expanded detention facilities that were building it out and that the administration would seek funding through spending bills Congress is set to consider.

Advertisement

The administrations border czar, Tom Homan, said US Customs and Immigration Enforcement would run the facility in Cuba and that the the worst of the worst could go to Guantanamo.

Still, the details of Mr Trumps plan were not immediately clear. The US military base has been used to house detainees from the US war on terrorism for years.

But authorities have also detained migrants at sea at a facility known as the Migrant Operations Centre on Guantanamo, a site the US has long leased from the Cuban government. Many of those housed there have been migrants from Haiti and Cuba.

The US Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that enemy combatants in the war on terror held without charge at the military prison at Guantanamo had the right to challenge their detention in federal court.

Advertisement

But the justices did not decide whether the president had the authority to detain people at all.

Before Mr Trump took office, the Democratic administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden worked to reduce the number of terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo.



Donald Trump with Allyson Phillips, the mother of Laken Riley, after signing the Laken Riley Act in the White House (Evan Vucci/AP)

The Laken Riley Act quickly passed the new Republican-controlled Congress with some Democratic support even though immigrants rights advocates said it possibly could lead to large roundups of people for offences as minor as shoplifting.

Mr Trump has pledged that his administration will carry out the largest mass deportation effort in US history.

Advertisement

Mr Trump, who won back the White House by tapping into public anger over illegal immigration, has made the promised crackdown a centrepiece of his political career, and is now suggesting the new law might only be the beginning.

The Laken Riley Act was described by Mr Trump as a landmark law and tremendous tribute to the murdered Georgia nursing student after whom it is named.

Laken Riley, 22, went out for a run in February 2024 and was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole.

She was a light of warmth and kindness, Mr Trump said during a signing ceremony that included Ms Rileys parents and sister.

Its a tremendous tribute to your daughter whats taking place today, thats all I can say. Its so sad we have to be doing it.

He added: Its a landmark law that were doing today. Its going to save countless lives.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Wednesday that the Trump administration has revoked a decision that would have protected roughly 600,000 people from Venezuela from deportation, putting some at risk of being removed from the country in about two months.

Ms Noem signed a notice reversing a move by her predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, in the waning days of the Biden administration to extend Temporary Protected Status.

The change is effective immediately and comes amid a slew of actions as the Trump administration works to make good on promises to crack down on illegal immigration.

Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months they were going to extend this protection to people that are on Temporary Protected Status, which meant that they were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months, Ms Noem told Fox and Friends.

We stopped that, she said.
Western officials have warned Ukraine that an escalating rift between the Defence Minister and procurement chief may jeopardise trust in the country, and urged the government to resolve the situation quickly so as not to disrupt weapons supplies.

The conflict began last week when the Ukrainian Defence Procurement Agencys board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukovas contract for another year.

Advertisement

However, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov over-ruled the decision, refusing to renew her contract.

He accused her of poor performance and failing to deliver weapons and ammunition to front-line troops.



A Belarusian soldier patrols the border (AP)

The decision provoked an outcry from legislators and anti-corruption watchdogs who said the ministers move was not legal because Ms Bezrukova had her contract extended by the agencys supervisory board in January.

Under Ukrainian law, Mr Umerovs decision to go ahead with her dismissal is illegal.

Advertisement

The rift comes as US support for Ukraine is in question under the new administration of new President Donald Trump.

In a statement posted on Monday on social media platform X, ambassadors representing the G7 nations urged the government in Kyiv to resolve the situation expeditiously and focus on keeping defence procurement going.

Consistency with good governance principles and Nato recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners, they said.



A Russian army helicopter MI-35 launches rockets toward Ukrainian position in an undisclosed location (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Following Mr Umerovs decision, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre filed a complaint urging the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to investigate him over alleged abuse of power.

Advertisement

Local media reported that NABU opened proceedings against Mr Umerov at the Anti-Corruption Action Centres request.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone barrages overnight in an attempt to strike deeper into their enemys territory.

The Russian military said it intercepted and destroyed 104 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions in one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia this year. No casualties or significant damage was reported.

Ukraines air force said Russia launched 57 Shahed and other drones overnight.

Advertisement



The war is dragging on towards the three-year mark (AP)

Moscow also attacked with missiles overnight. In southern Mykolaiv, a Russian ballistic missile struck a food factory on Tuesday night, killing two female workers, regional head Vitalii Kim said.

Odesa authorities said Russian drones attacked port infrastructure in the Ismail district of the region that borders Nato member Romania.

Romanias Ministry of National Defence said two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched at 3.20am local time (1.20am GMT) to monitor airspace for about two hours, and emergency authorities issued text alerts to some residents living in Tulcea county, which is across the Danube river near Ukrainian ports.

The ministry condemned the Russian attacks, calling them unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law, and said Nato allies have been informed.

Advertisement

Since the war next door started in February 2022, Romania has reported multiple airspace violations and confirmed drone fragments in its territory on several occasions.
Yet, despite the ever-tightening efforts to frustrate Chinas ability to compete with the US on AI, DeepSeek confounded everyone and triggered a tech bloodbath in the US sharemarket on Monday by producing an AI model that is as good as, or better than, all but a couple of the US models that have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build and train. It was able to do that despite  or perhaps because of  the restrictions. America first restricted access to Nvidias most advanced chips in 2022. Nvidia, galvanised by the prospect of lost revenue, promptly developed a slightly less advanced chip, but only slightly less advanced, to sell to China  its H800 chip. A year later, the Biden administration also included that chip, along with some similar chips, on the list of restricted exports to China. Joe Bidens administration steadily tightened a web of export restrictions on Americas most advanced semiconductors, or chips, to protect its lead in AI technology. Credit: AP It was the H800  only about 2000 of them, versus the 16,000 or so that its US competitors would use  that DeepSeek claimed it used to build and train a model that cost only $US5.6 million ($9 million) to develop.

Until late 2023, when the Biden administration closed the loophole that allowed Nvidia to sell chips that were only marginally less advanced than its state-of-the-art chips, DeepSeek could have legally acquired the H800s. The start-up, along with other Chinese companies, would inevitably have been stockpiling chips during that time, anticipating tighter restrictions. Its also possible that, even after the tougher restrictions set in and Nvidia designed a chip even less powerful than the H800 for China, Chinese companies may have had access to smuggled advanced chips. DeepSeek may have challenged Americas leadership in AI software, but US companies retain a significant lead in the hardware. The New York Times has reported on the sales of thousands of banned chips in China by dozens of companies. The Biden administrations plan for tiered access is designed to thwart that smuggling by limiting large-scale access to the chips to trusted allies. While there is undoubted admiration for the ingenuity that enabled the creation of DeepSeek, as well as a realisation that  because it is open source and therefore its design and the efficiencies it developed will revolutionise and democratise the AI sector  its instructive that it was built on US chips.

Despite China pouring the best part of $US150 billion into its semiconductor industry, Chinese companies have not yet been able to make chips as advanced as Nvidias or the smaller US companies challenging its dominance. Nor has China been able to build the extraordinarily complex and expensive lithography machines that ASML is now unable to sell to China. DeepSeek may have challenged Americas leadership in AI software, but US companies retain a significant lead in the hardware. Loading Unless and until China can develop homegrown chips that are as advanced as the most sophisticated US chips (which is a moving target) and the equipment to manufacture them, that gap in the race to develop AI with the cognitive capabilities of humans could widen. Americas AI companies are confident that it will be computing power and the value-adding applications it will enable that will define the future of AI, rather than less powerful AI models like DeepSeek.

It was instructive that neither Nvidia (whose share price plunged) nor Donald Trump seemed perturbed by the unveiling of DeepSeek. Nvidia called DeepSeek an excellent AI advancement and suggested it could lead to more sales of its export-controls-compliant chips. Trump described it as a wake-up call for US companies that would encourage innovation at lower cost. OpenAIs Sam Altman, whose ChatGPT ignited the fever around AI, said the DeepSeek model was impressive but wrote on X that more compute is more important now than ever before to succeed at our mission and that the world is going to want to use a LOT of ai, and really be quite amazed by the next-gen models coming. It may be that the massive Chinese investment in semiconductors and chip-making pays off, and it can develop domestic capabilities that challenge those of America and its allies.

Without them, using up a diminishing store of increasingly outdated H800 or similar chips and the limited supply of smuggled chips  no matter how efficiently  will see China increasingly fall behind the pace of AI development. The Trump administration, with its strong relationships with Silicon Valley billionaires, is committed to entrenching Americas dominance of AI. On his first day in office, Trump tore up Biden-era rules that tried to establish safety and privacy standards for the use of AI, saying they hindered innovation and imposed onerous and unnecessary government controls. Less than a week ago, he proudly announced the formation of a consortium planning to invest up to $US500 billion in AI infrastructure to help keep the future of technology in the US.
Advertisement

Eating outLunar New Year Six affordable Sydney snacks to celebrate the Lunar New Year From Laughing Cow cheese gelato to a char siu pie as big as your head, these limited edition treats will start your Lunar New Year on a tasty note. Isabel Cant January 29, 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

Lunar New Year festivities are in full swing across different cultures in Sydney right now, from Vietnamese Tet to Korean Seollal. Whether youre after something sweet or savoury, traditional or modern, here are six specials from Malaysia to the Philippines to help you slither into the year of the snake well-fed and with full pockets. Siroo Rice Cake Sydneys first-ever rice cake cafe is selling a range of traditional Korean treats for the Lunar New Year including yakgwa (a deep-fried cookie flavoured with honey, sesame and ginger) and gangjeong (deep-fried rice puffs) in various colours and flavours including black sesame. While there, be sure to sit in to try their range of Korean rice cakes, mochi and bingsu loaded with seasonal fruit. Various locations, sirooricecakecafe.com Kariton

Advertisement

Karitons red packet flavour with Laughing Cow cheese gelato, jujube red velvet, candied goji berry, and baijiu jelly Supplied The Filipino ice-cream chain has two Lunar New Year flavours ($6.80 for one scoop) going until February 2. A gelato with a base flavour of the famous processed Laughing Cow cheese is mixed with jujube red velvet, candied goji berry and baijiu jelly. Their second flavour is a milk gelato, with pineapple jam and salted duck egg biscuits folded through. Spend more than $20 to receive a red envelope, some encasing prizes ranging from a free scoop to a free 5-litre tub of gelato. Various locations, karitonsorbetes.com Pantry Story

Advertisement

This popular bakery created quite the frenzy over its juicy char siu pie for $12.50. This is the second year in a row they have sold this sticky sweet-savoury delight for the Lunar New Year, with pork belly marinated overnight in char siu sauce, slow-baked and brushed with honey, then sandwiched between puff pastry and topped with a buttery pineapple bun crust. Get in before the special goes away at the end of February. 336 Parramatta Road, Stanmore, instagram.com/pantrystory_sydney Dessert offerings from Fuji Seafood Restaurant Bonnie Zhang Fuji Seafood Restaurant Specialising in food from the Chaoshan region in Chinas Guangdong province, Fuji is offering two traditional desserts during Lunar New Year. Try their tong sui, a five-fruit sweet soup made with red dates, coix seeds, taro balls, lotus seeds and ginkgo nuts, plus white fungus ($6). They are also serving taro paste ($15) with ginkgo nuts, which is a traditional dessert for Chaoshan banquets. Its made by stir-frying steamed taro paste in spring onion oil and sugar.

Advertisement

Marketcity shopping centre, 9, Level 3/13 Hay Street, Haymarket Various kueh from Popo Gourmet that change weekly. Isabel Cant Popo Gourmet Owner Soon Tan has been carrying the legacy of her grandmothers dessert stall in Malaysia since 1999. In that time, she has perfected her Malaysian dessert offerings, which feature a sweet selection of colourful kueh that changes each week. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, text to place your order for kueh baku, the Peranakan version of the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year dessert, nian gao, in original style or with peanuts ($19). Orders are open from now until February 12. 1/51 Berry Street, North Sydney, popogourmet.com.au

Advertisement
A Queensland social media influencer has been granted bail after a court heard how she allegedly drugged her one-year-old daughter.

The 34-year-old Sunshine Coast mother allegedly hid the girl under a blanket before administering non-prescribed medicines, which included carbamazepine.

The girl was rendered unconscious about half an hour later, the prosecution alleged.

The mother during her arrest. Credit: QPS

The crimes were allegedly committed to solicit donations and online followers.
Fourteen members of a fringe religious group accused of killing an eight-year-old girl have been found guilty of manslaughter after one of Queenslands biggest trials.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs, who had diabetes, died on January 7, 2022, while lying on a mattress on the floor of her familys house in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.

Her parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, were members of a group called the Saints. They believed in the healing power of God and were accused by doctors, police and prosecutors of withholding lifesaving insulin from the girl.

Elizabeth Struhs, 8, who was denied life-saving insulin by her ultra-religious parents, died in January 2022. Credit: Nine

The parents were charged alongside 12 other members of the group, including its leader, Brendan Luke Stevens. They faced a judge-only trial and opted not to have legal representation.
Thats where were going to leave you today, readers. Thank you for joining us.

Among the headlines today was the news that Perth us leading the nation for both house and unit price increases.

However, experts warn the sluggish growth will do little to help affordability woes that have weighed down the market.

Roger Cook has supported the states top cop, saying right-wing extremists undermine the social cohesion in WA.

And West Coast Eagles player Reuben Ginbey has appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court, where he has admitted to urinating in public and then refusing to give police his personal details.

Former Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders is facing six new child sexual abuse charges, including an allegation he raped a boy under the age of 13.

And for those gripped to the edge of their seats as to how Perth elephant Permais journey to Adelaide was going, you can all rejoice, she has made it to her new home safe and sound.

Thanks again for joining us, see you again tomorrow for more news you need to know.
The organisers of a popular film festival are pushing ahead with plans to screen a controversial documentary on the lives of Russian soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine despite opponents branding it a tool of Russian propaganda.

Ukraines ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, and leaders from the Ukrainian-Australian community wrote to the chair of the board of the Antenna Documentary Film Festival, Kirk Marcolina, last week urging him to cancel the planned screenings of the film Russians at War.

In the fly-on-the-wall-style documentary, scheduled to screen in Sydney on February 10 and 14, Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova chronicles the seven months she spent embedded with a Russian army battalion in eastern Ukraine in 2023.

Myroshnychenko told Marcolina he was deeply concerned that the film was included in the festival program, warning it would be deeply harmful and distressing to the Ukrainian-Australian community.
The airport is 66 kilometres east of central London, near Southend-on-Sea. Im staying with friends 20 minutes drive away, so I grab a lift with them and arrive unflustered and in good time. The train connection is just as seamless. It takes 52 minutes from London Liverpool Street to the purpose-built station just a minutes walk from the airport terminal. The station lies outside the Oyster/contactless zone, so a ticket must be purchased for 20.90 ($41). Arriving passengers can buy train tickets from dispensers in the arrivals hall.

The look

Londons freneticism is soothed by the bucolic setting and compact layout of this multi-award-winning airport. Until the 1970s it was one of Londons busiest hubs; since then it has served as a minor international airport. The new terminal, built in 2012, is a steel-and-glass edifice bordered by a lawn where some passengers relax before check-in. The designers have clearly taken womens ablution-related entreaties to heart: toilet stalls are plentiful in the womens restrooms. Though departures were dampened by the pandemic, the airport expects to at least double its pre-pandemic passenger numbers, a relief for other London airports fast approaching capacity. From here, easyJet connects with various European destinations and BHAir flies to Bourgas in Bulgaria.

Check-in
Washington: The new public face of the Trump administration is a 27-year-old mother and Donald Trump loyalist who once wanted to be a journalist and beat nine Republican rivals when she ran for Congress two years ago.

Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in White House history, delivered her first briefing to reporters on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) and quickly established there was a new sheriff in town and things were going to change.

Karoline Leavitt, 27, fields questions from reporters during her first press briefing as White House press secretary. Credit: Bloomberg

No longer would tradition rule the roost, such as the first question going to the Associated Press news agency. Instead, new media players Axios and Breitbart were given the first bite  the latter being a hard-right organ that has promoted conspiracy theories and was once chaired by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon.

But Leavitt also urged a broader range of non-traditional media players to apply for a White House press pass. Independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators were all encouraged to enter the fray. They would even have assigned seats at the front of the room, previously reserved for staff.
Celebrate love at the Worlds Most Romantic Building. The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced its romantic Valentines Day plans which include a themed movie screening, special proposal package, and New York Citys most unique date for one lucky couple this February.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250128229705/en/

Love is in the Air: The Empire State Building Celebrates Valentines Day with NYCs Most Extravagant Date, Proposal Package, Sleepless in Seattle Screening and Annual Tower Lighting (Photo: Business Wire)

Empire for Two  In 2024, two lucky Valentines had the Empire State Building Observatory to themselves with the premier of this once-in-a-lifetime date night: a gourmet dinner with wine pairing on the exclusive 102 nd Floor Observatory. The three-course dinner  curated and prepared by the head chef at ESBs restaurant, STATE Grill and Bar  features a delicious chefs tasting menu accompanied by a live musician and themed table setting and of course, the private enjoyment of the most beautiful view of all of New York City. Before dinner, the couple will enjoy Champagne and a private tour of the Empire State Buildings immersive museum and 86 th Floor Observatory, which will remain closed for the entirety of the date. Learn more about the $20,000 opportunity here.



In 2024, two lucky Valentines had the Empire State Building Observatory to themselves with the premier of this once-in-a-lifetime date night: a gourmet dinner with wine pairing on the exclusive 102 Floor Observatory. The three-course dinner  curated and prepared by the head chef at ESBs restaurant, STATE Grill and Bar  features a delicious chefs tasting menu accompanied by a live musician and themed table setting and of course, the private enjoyment of the most beautiful view of all of New York City. Before dinner, the couple will enjoy Champagne and a private tour of the Empire State Buildings immersive museum and 86 Floor Observatory, which will remain closed for the entirety of the date. Learn more about the $20,000 opportunity here. Movie Magic  Sleepless in Seattle, the classic 90s love story that features scenes filmed at the Empire State Building, will air again this year in a special screening on the buildings 80 th Floor on Feb. 14. Guests will enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks with the film and cap off the night with New York Citys best views from the 86 th and 102 nd Floor Observatories.



Sleepless in Seattle, the classic 90s love story that features scenes filmed at the Empire State Building, will air again this year in a special screening on the buildings 80 Floor on Feb. 14. Guests will enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks with the film and cap off the night with New York Citys best views from the 86 and 102 Floor Observatories. Toast to Forever  ESBs exclusive Happily Ever Empire proposal package offers an exclusive guided tour of the Observatory Experience; a private, roped-off corner of the 86 th Floor Observatory to pop the question; and a bottle of Champagne to celebrate.



ESBs exclusive Happily Ever Empire proposal package offers an exclusive guided tour of the Observatory Experience; a private, roped-off corner of the 86 Floor Observatory to pop the question; and a bottle of Champagne to celebrate. Sweet Treats  From Feb. 5 to 23, NYC-based confectioner Baked by Melissa will reside at a dedicated pop-up cart to offer an assortment of sweets on the iconic 86 th Floor Observatory every Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.



 From Feb. 5 to 23, NYC-based confectioner Baked by Melissa will reside at a dedicated pop-up cart to offer an assortment of sweets on the iconic 86 Floor Observatory every Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Light the Night  On Feb. 14, the Empire State Building will shine its world-famous tower lights in a pink heartbeat in its annual Valentines Day gift to New York City. Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive real-time updates on the Empire State Buildings tower lights.

The Empire State Building is a symbol of timeless romance that provides the backdrop for countless first dates, proposals, and anniversary celebrations all throughout the year, said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. We are excited to welcome our guests from around the globe to celebrate Valentines Day at the Worlds Most Romantic Building.

The Empire State Buildings world-famous Observatory Experience underwent a $165 million reimagination that added a new interactive museum with nine galleries, bespoke host uniforms, and a new 102nd Floor Observatory with unmatched views from the heart of New York City. The iconic Observatory Experience was recently voted the number one attraction in the world  and number one in the U.S. for the third consecutive year  in the 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do.

Hi-res imagery can be downloaded here. More information about the Empire State Building can be found online.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World  and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year  in Tripadvisors Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planets Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Category: Observatory

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250128229705/en/
OPEX Corporation, a global leader in Next Generation Automation providing solutions for document, mail and warehouse automation, has reached a significant milestone in 2025 as it celebrates 50 years under the ownership of the Stevens family. OPEX continues to thrive under what is now the second and third generations of Stevens family leadership, a remarkable achievement that speaks to the companys resilience, innovative spirit, and long-term success in a highly competitive marketplace.

We are deeply proud to have served as a trusted industry partner for five decades and counting, creating customized solutions that help our clients improve workflow, reduce costs and drive efficiencies in infrastructure, said David Stevens, President and CEO at OPEX. We attribute our longevity to the core values my parents established and that we live by every dayfostering innovation, maintaining a family-like company culture, and prioritizing entrepreneurial agility and long-term sustainability.

It was in 1975 that Al and Joanna Stevens purchased OPEX. At that time, the company had fewer than 10 employees and a sole focus on mail automation. Al Stevens previously left his job at Columbia Records to become the national sales manager at OPEX. When he and Joanna were presented with an opportunity to buy the company and guide its turnaround, they mortgaged their home to do so. Today, OPEX has nearly 1,600 team members around the world and is a well-respected leader in warehouse, document and mail automation.

It was an open-minded and forward-thinking approach that enabled OPEX to leverage its expertise in sortation to expand seamlessly and deliberately from its roots in document and mail automation to become a leader in warehouse automation as well. The company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of automation is reflected in its impressive portfolio of more than 300 patents, underscoring its dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and continually reinventing its products. Nearly half of the companies listed in the Fortune 100 currently rely on OPEX to provide world-class automated solutions.

The fact that OPEX has thrived across three generations of family leadership is significant, surpassing the odds for family-owned businessesonly 13% reach the third generation, according to Business Week.

While much has changed in the automation industry over the last five decades, the integrity with which OPEX conducts business and our innovative spirit remain the same, said Alex Stevens, President of Warehouse Automation at OPEX. We have always sought new and better ways for customers to transform business operations, creating increasingly more advanced solutions to automate tasks. For the past 50 years and for many more to come, we will continue to reimagine automation technology that powers the future of ecommerce.

About OPEX

OPEX Corporation is a global leader in Next Generation Automation, providing innovative, unique solutions for warehouse, document and mail automation. With headquarters in Moorestown, NJand facilities in Pennsauken, NJ; Plano, TX; France; Germany; Switzerland; the United Kingdom; and AustraliaOPEX has nearly 1,600 employees who are continuously reimagining and delivering customized, scalable technology solutions that solve the business challenges of today and in the future. The year 2025 marks the companys 50th anniversary under the multigenerational ownership and leadership of the Stevens family.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129734858/en/
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation can restrict a non-federal water diversion under its contract with the Klamath Drainage District, according to a federal appeals court.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Reclamation can control the districts withdrawal of water from the Klamath River, even if its through the districts own canal.

KDD had a contractual duty to adhere to Reclamations allocations and not divert water from the Klamath River, which KDD does not dispute it disregarded, the ruling said.

Under a 1946 contract, the district can divert water through the Klamath Irrigation Project, which was built by Reclamation along the Oregon-California border and is subject to Endangered Species Act restrictions for fish.

However, the district also obtained a 1977 water right to withdraw water from the river through its own canal that isnt part of the federal irrigation works. The district claimed that Reclamation shouldnt be allowed to curtail irrigation through that canal because its outside the agencys jurisdiction.

The 9th Circuit has now determined the 1946 contract allows Reclamation to curb the districts use of the 1977 water right through reasonable rules and regulations for water distributions affecting the Klamath Irrigation Project.

KDD violated a duty or obligation arising under the Contract when it diverted water in contravention of Reclamations plans, the ruling said.

According to the 9th Circuit, a federal judge correctly issued an injunction in 2023 that forbid the district from using the 1977 water right without Reclamations permission, as the agency faced irreparable injury from such withdrawals.

The unauthorized withdrawals undermined the agencys ability to operate the Project in accordance with its competing obligations and posed a risk to endangered species that depend on Klamath River flows, the ruling said.

The harm to KDD in barring its unauthorized diversions is a consequence of the priority of Project obligations and the harsh fact that there is not enough water to satisfy all demands, the 9th Circuit said. That consequence is not a harm that Reclamation caused, nor is it one the parties can avoid without violating superior obligations.

The Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Wheat Growers League, Klamath Water Users Association, Family Farm Alliance and Oregon Water Resources Congress supported the districts arguments, claiming that Reclamation shouldnt be able to require actions by nonfederal actors at nonfederal facilities.

The agricultural organizations argued that enjoining the 1977 water right gave Reclamation unfettered authority to enforce its expanded version of discretion on a water user simply by virtue of holding a federal contract.

The federal government countered that unconstrained use of the 1977 water right would permit the illogical and one-sided result of allowing the district to divert water thatd been released by Reclamation upstream to help protected fish.

Reclamation claimed the district wanted to vault ahead of the Projects highest priority obligations, circumventing a system of contracts and law that have managed the Project for over a century.
DEPUTY Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has been appointed minister of state for health, becoming the county's third ever government minister.

The Fianna Fail deputy was among 23 new ministers of state announced today, following days of speculation about the posts.

In a statement on social media deputy Murnane O'Connor described today as an historic occasion for her.

"As a proud Carlovian, as I am honoured and privileged to have been appointed as Minister of State for Health in the 34th Dail," she said.

"Having accepted the appointment, I am thankful to An Taoiseach Michael Martin for his confidence in my ability to undertake this important role. It is a role I will carry out with pride as a true Carlovian as I continue to work hard for the people of Carlow/Kilkenny," she stated.

Carlow's last Fianna Fail serving minister in government was the late Tom Nolan, who was a Minister of State at the Dept. of Health and Social Welfare and then as Minister for Labour from 1980 to 1981. The Green Party's Mary White served as minister of state for one-year from 2010 to 2011.

"I want to take the opportunity on this special occasion to thank the people of Carlow/Kilkenny for their continued support and for voting to re-elect me as their TD and Public Representative," said deputy Murnane O'Connor.

"I also extend thanks to the staff and volunteers who have worked with and supported me in the main Fianna Fail Carlow Constituency office and in my area clinics throughout the county, especially those staff who due to changing requirements, were unable to continue their roles and I wish them well in their future endeavours," she said.

Minister Murnane O''Connor stated that as she commences her new role as Minister of State for Health, she will be supported by my colleagues and staff in both Dublin and my Carlow office.

"New to my constituency team is Eugene Doyle (Personal Parliamentary Assistant), who has substantial experience in constituency work at both local and national level.

Eugene will work with a dedicated secretarial team who along with the Dublin based staff, continue to support me both locally and in Leinster House.

"As I commence my new role, I will continue my work of public representation, at both local and national level. Each member of my constituency team will remain available to assist members of the public in the Carlow office and at designated clinics throughout the constituency of Carlow/Kilkenny and I invite you to reach out to us for support at any time. La stairiuil do Cheatharlach agus la broduil domsa mar Cheatharlach ata tiomanta go foill dobair chrua ar son ar gContae agus ar son mhuintir Chill Chainnigh".
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Police have made a new appeal for information about a road crash in Co Armagh over the Christmas period in which a father and son were killed.

Peter Devlin and his son Loughlin were killed in the two-car crash outside Killylea in Co Armagh on the afternoon of December 27.

A woman who was seriously injured in the crash remains in hospital.

One man has already appeared in court charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving

Detectives investigating a two vehicle road traffic collision in which two men sadly died in December, are making two specific appeals for information: https://t.co/vTRUMvr0T2 pic.twitter.com/zWS4cfULdD  Police Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (@PSNIABC) January 28, 2025

PSNI Inspector Cherith Adair said: As part of our ongoing investigations, we would like to speak with the occupants of a white or light coloured Nissan Qashqai SUV type vehicle or similar travelling toward Killylea from the direction of Armagh at approximately 12:40pm on Friday December 27 2024.

We would also like to speak with a male and female, who were occupants of a dark-coloured people carrier type vehicle, who stopped at the scene.

We believe these people have important information that may be able to assist with our inquiries.

Ivan Petrov, 32, a Bulgarian national with no permanent address in Northern Ireland, appeared before Newry Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The court heard that the defendant is diabetic and the last thing he remembers before the crash was feeling that his blood sugar was low.

Petrov suffered rib and arm fractures in the crash between his Audi and a Mercedes.

The coffins of father and son Peter and Loughlin Devlin being carried into the Church of St Joseph in Tynan for their funeral. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Loughlin Devlin, who was driving the Mercedes, and his father Peter Devlin, who was a rear-seat passenger, died at the scene of the crash.

Ursula Devlin, Peters wife and Loughlins mother, who was also in the rear-seat of the Mercedes, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Another woman and a baby boy were injured in the incident but have since been released from hospital.
The World Bids a Fond Farewell to President Carter

A mourner in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington weeps while gazing upon the casket of former President Jimmy Carter. (Photos: The Carter Center)

Friends, dignitaries, staff members, and everyday admirers from around the world poured out love and grief after the Dec. 29 death at age 100 of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who co-founded The Carter Center with his wife, Rosalynn, in 1982.



The Centers official condolence book at www.JimmyCarterTribute.org logged more than 23,000 messages from people in 155 countries, provinces, and territories.



President Jimmy Carter has been a beacon of light, a leader for peace, love, the environment and humanity, a true citizen of the world. His legacy will continue to improve and inspire lives near and far, wrote Alessandra Colfi of Oceanside, California.

As the motorcade passed through each city, it slowed down for mourners to pay their respects to the late president.

Aggrey Kipngetich of Nairobi, Kenya, wrote: President Jimmy Carter was an icon of peace, human rights crusader, world's moral compass and committed family man. May (his) soul rest in heavenly peace.



Then-President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton and their spouses offered their condolences, as did numerous Cabinet officials, members of Congress, and other prominent figures. Many of the Carter Centers more than 3,500 staff members in 20-plus countries around the globe organized gatherings or tribute services in honor of President Carter. They hung banners in their offices and provided condolence books for guests  including government dignitaries  to sign.

Staff members at the Carter Center office in Guatemala memorialize President Carter with white roses and a special banner.

Several staff members also sent in heartfelt messages. Maymoona Mahmoud El Tayeb, the Centers deputy country representative in Sudan, wrote:



I am saddened at the loss of President Carter, a remarkable leader who devoted his life to helping others to live healthy and in a peaceful world. The memory of his lifetime as a warrior in the service of the highest ideals will be a legacy of inspiration to all Carter Center staff and others, and no doubt his tremendous accomplishments are never lost.

Admirers left heartfelt notes in condolence books at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Writing on behalf of himself and his staff, Dr. Emmanuel Miri, the Centers longtime country representative in Nigeria, offered this reflection:



For us, this is indeed a monumental loss of immeasurable proportion! It is easy as Nigerians to realize this as we imagine an alternative reality in our public health space: What if he did not intervene to lead the campaign for the eradication of Guinea worm disease in Nigeria? What if he had called it quits in the face of enormous challenges?



Miri added: We are, therefore, inspired by this reflection and the legacy President Carter and his wife painstakingly built in Nigeria and other countries worldwide, to take upon ourselves, individually and collectively, the challenge of sustaining this vison and legacy.

On the evening of Jan. 9, 2025, President Carter's funeral procession moves slowly through his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Jules Feiffer, the screenwriter of Robert Altmans decidedly weird live-action Popeye (1980) starring Robin Williams, died Friday, January 17, at home in Richfield Springs, New York. He was 95 years old.

Feiffer worked across many creative fields, but he was most well known as a cartoonist, and in 1956, he began a 40-year run drawing the satirical Sick, Sick, Sick for The Village Voice. The strip, later called Feiffer, was eventually syndicated to over 100 newspapers and magazines.

In the early years of the comic, when the Voice didnt pay Feiffer for his work, he got a job working in animation at New Rochelle, New Yorks Terrytoons, under the studios short-lived Modernist regime overseen by Gene Deitch. Feiffer had previously applied to work at UPA-NY, when Deitch was its creative director, but his highly personal style wasnt appropriate for the companys direction at the time. But, Deitch recalled that hiring Feiffer at Terrytoons was a priority for him:

Among my first acts was to hire Jules Feiffer! He was just the man to help me instill new life in that moribund studio. I put him in the story department, along with my other new recruits, Al Kouzel, Eli Bauer, and studio stalwart, Larz Bourne. The atmosphere was also charged with great external creators such as R.O. Blechman, and Ernie Pintoff. Jules first work for me was on my story team for Tom Terrific! He made sharp contributions to the stories and dialog.

Feiffer himself said in an interview that it was one of the first times he felt he fit into an artistic environment:

I met people I really liked, and whose talents I respected. I mean, at these other jobs there were a lot of people I liked, but not necessarily people doing work that I cared about or meant anything to me. But when I went to work for Terrytoons, I guess in 56, there was a man I never heard of named Ernie Pintoff doing a cartoon called Flebus which I think is still a brilliant piece of work. There was a man I never heard of named Bob Blechman, who was going up on the same train I was, working on an animated version of The Juggler of Our Lady. There was a lot of talent around. So, for the first time, I felt that I was among constituents, that there were peers around.

Besides working on Tom Terrific, Feiffer contributed to theatrical shorts at Terrytoons, including writing The Tale of a Dog, and also developed the unproduced series Easy Winners, for which a test pilot can be viewed below:

In 1960, Deitch and Rembrandt Films produced the short Munro based on an illustrated story by Feiffer about a four-year-old boy who is accidentally drafted into the U.S. military. The film, for which Feiffer also drew the storyboards and which was animated in Czechoslovakia, went on to win the Academy Award for animated short, becoming the first foreign film to ever win the category.

After his early work in animation, Feiffers work went in countless directions, and he wrote novels, stage plays, non-fiction, and childrens books, in addition to continuing as a cartoonist, both on his own strip and as a magazine cartoonist in high-profile venues like The New Yorker and Playboy.

While some of his later childrens books were adapted into animated works (Bark, George; I Lost My Bear), Feiffer didnt directly work in animation after the 1950s. Still, he remained involved with animation-themed projects throughout his career, perhaps most notably the notorious Robert Altman adaptation of Popeye (1980), for which Feiffer penned the script.

A musical take on E.C. Segars classic creation, the oddball film has earned a cult following in the decades since its release. Feiffer himself was proud of the effort, but acknowledged in a Comics Journal interview that it could have been better. My struggle with [Altman] was to keep his film in the background while my film and Segars was in the forefront, he said. And sometimes I won at that, and sometimes I lost. I figured I didnt do too badly, because about 60% of what I wrote got on the screen, but I think that if the other 40% got on it would have been better. As it was, I dont think the film turned out badly. I think the worst part of the film is the last half-hour or so, which is after I had been worn out and left Malta, and he was free to do his art in peace, and certainly did.

Another notable animated piece using Feiffers creative output is the short film Boomtown (1985), which was the first professional short by indie animation legend Bill Plympton. Originally written as a song by Feiffer for National Public Radio about the absurdities of military spending, Plympton adapted it into a short:

For an extended obituary that looks at Feiffers other accomplishments, see this piece on The Comics Journal website.
Advertisement

Ecocem has announced the construction of its first production facility for ACT, its low-carbon, globally scalable cement technology. The new production site, located in Dunkirk, France, will be operational by 2026 and will provide a production capacity of 0.3Mta initially, said the company.

The expansion to the Dunkirk site will increase the plants production capacity to over 1Mta and strengthen the companys position in northern France, the Paris area and export regions.

The project is a joint venture between Ecocem in France and Group CB subsidiary CB Green. However, the support of the French authorities was invaluable in funding the expansion and represents Ecocems first public funding since the company was founded in 2000, says the company. The total investment for this plant expansion is EUR50m (US$52.2m), funded through a bank loan classified as a Green Loan by the EthiFinance agency and supported by both the French government and local authorities. In addition, Premiere Usine (first factory) Call for Projects led by France 2030 has awarded a EUR3.6m grant. The France 2030 programme aims to sustainably transform key economic sectors through technological innovation and position France as a global leader in tomorrows economy. This funding is complemented by grants from the Hauts-de-France Region and the Dunkirk Urban Community.

Commenting on this significant step forward, Donal ORiain, founder and MD of Ecocem Group, said: The industrialisation of our ACT technology marks a historic turning point for the cement industry. Cement manufacturing processes have remained unchanged for 200 years; ACT represents a true technological breakthrough and an opportunity to rapidly decarbonise what is one of the worlds most polluting industries  responsible for almost eight per cent of global emissions - without compromising quality and performance, or significantly increasing costs.

The support of public authorities, particularly through France 2030, validates our vision and innovative capability. This is a major recognition for Ecocem and our ACT technology, which has received its first public funding since the company was established in 2000.

The first half of 2025 will see the installation of the mill as well as the expansion of the ACT blending and storage facilities. The company expects to start delivery of ACT to the market in the second half of 2026.
Top Senate Stories

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025

Todays Senate Schedule

8:30 a.m. Senate State & Local Govt

11 a.m. Senate Finance

2:30 p.m. Full Senate

Fiscal Note: Lees voucher bill will cut local K-12 funding by $45M next year

11 a.m. CT - SB 6001 - Senate Finance - Watch

Gov. fiscal note attached to the legislation predicts there will be a $45 million cut to the K-12 student funding formula, known as TISA, as soon as next year.

fiscal note attached to the legislation predicts there will be a $45 million cut to the K-12 student funding formula, known as TISA, as soon as next year. The net decrease in state expenditures (TISA) and the corresponding net decrease in local revenue is estimated to be $44,933,557, the Fiscal Note says.

It turns out the much heralded hold harmless provision is so restrictive that only a handful of school districts (15 out 144) would qualify for backfill funding when students leave with a voucher.

Sen. Jeff Yarbro will expose this underhanded school funding cut by introducing an amendment (page 15) that truly reimburses school districts when a student transfers to a private school using the voucher.

Spending spree: Near $1 billion special session could end today

2:30 p.m. CT - SB 6005 - Senate Floor Session - Watch

The General Assemblys controlling party could end Gov. Bill Lees special session today with a $1 billion spending blitz.

All six bills are scheduled for final Senate committee votes this morning and could feasibly receive final votes this afternoon on the Senate floor.

Heres a quick recap of the other bills:

Gov. Lee dedicates $5.6 million to mass deportation czar, grant program

SB 6002 - Watch

Gov. Bill Lees mass deportation legislation creates a government office for a state deportation czar and a grant program for local governments to set up detainment agreements with ICE.

The legislation also changes drivers license rules for migrant workers and creates a felony for local officials who enact or even vote for sanctuary city policies, as determined by the Republican attorney general. But its already illegal for local governments to enact sanctuary city policies due to an earlier law.

The divisive law could lead to families being separated and may deter legal migration to Tennessee, where farmers, and businesses are in dire need of labor.

Bill establishes two separate disaster relief funds

SB 6003 - Watch

Senate Bill 6003 would establish two new government funds:

Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund. TEMA may issue grants from this fund to local governments for the purpose of paying interest costs on money borrowed to pay for eligible disaster recovery costs.

TEMA may issue grants from this fund to local governments for the purpose of paying interest costs on money borrowed to pay for eligible disaster recovery costs. Response and Recovery Fund. TEMA may issue grants or loans from this fund to third parties for the purpose of responding to or recovering from a state of emergency or disaster.

Legislation reduces requirements for unemployment insurance after a disaster

SB 6004

In addition to suspending needless, state eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, this bill authorizes TEMA to provide disaster recovery assistance to local governments on public property.

Near $1 billion special session spending spree

HB 6005

This is the special session appropriations bill, which will almost cost $1 billion. $424 million for Gov. Lees voucher scam $210 million for the Hurricane Helene fund and the Governors Response and Recovery Fund $240 million for TEMA disaster relief grants $20 million to rebuild a high school in Carter County $23.2 million for Education Department grants $5.6 million for Trump-Lee mass deportations

Only a billion. PHEW. Imagine if the state werent run by such steady fiscal conservatives!

New financing authority to take on debt for toll roads

SB 6006

Gov. Bill Lee is asking the legislature to create a new transportation financing entity that can take on debt to finance his toll road projects. By creating a separate entity that finances these privately-run toll road projects, Gov. Lee and Republicans can still proudly say the state is technically debt free. Were so proud.

$1.9 million cash payment to property owners affected by Hurricane Helene

SB 6007

This legislation was not on Gov. Bill Lees agenda, but the political optics of fighting a $1.9 million taxpayer-funded payment for home and business owners whose property was damaged by hurricane flooding seem bad.

Especially when the governors voucher bill is poised to transfer a billion dollars to families enrolled in private schools over the next five years.

Full Calendar

8:30 a.m. Senate State & Local Government

1. *SB6004 by Johnson. (HB6002 by Lamberth.)

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) - Amends TCA Section 50-7-302 and Section 58-2-106. As introduced, authorizes TEMA to assist a political subdivision or local emergency management agency with recovery from disasters and emergencies on public property at the request of the political subdivision or agency; suspends certain eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits for persons in the area of a declared emergency.





2. SB6007 by Crowe. (*HB6007 by Faison.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 8 and Title 67, Chapter 5. As introduced, requires the comptroller to disburse payments to property owners whose real or personal property was destroyed or damaged by a FEMA-certified disaster occurring between September 26, 2024, and September 30, 2024, under certain conditions; requires the chief executive officer of a governmental entity to approve the deployment of the governmental entity's personnel and equipment outside its boundaries to another governmental entity that has requested emergency assistance during a disaster.



3. *SB6002 by Johnson. (HB6001 by Lamberth.)

Immigration - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 55. As introduced, creates within the department of safety the centralized immigration enforcement division, to be administered by the chief immigration enforcement officer; establishes a grant program for purposes of promoting the enforcement of federal immigration laws; creates criminal penalties for officials who adopt sanctuary policies and subsequently requires their removal from office upon conviction; requires department of safety to issue lawful permanent residents a temporary driver license, instead of a standard license, to aid in determining voter eligibility for someone who presents a Tennessee driver license as identification.



4. *SB6003 by Johnson. (HB6003 by Lamberth.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2. As introduced, creates two funds within the state treasury to be known as the Hurricane Helene interest payment fund and the governor's response and recovery fund; authorizes moneys in each fund to be used to assist with the response to and the recovery from certain declared emergencies.





5. SB6006 by Haile. (*HB6006 by Garrett.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 54. As introduced, creates the Tennessee transportation financing authority to provide financing and refinancing for the development, maintenance, and improvement of transportation facilities within the state; makes related revisions.

11 a.m. Senate Finance

1. *SB6005 by Johnson. (HB6005 by Lamberth.)

Appropriations - As introduced, makes appropriations sufficient for the payment of any lawful expenses of the first extraordinary session of the 114th General Assembly; makes other appropriations related to such extraordinary session.



2. *SB6001 by Johnson. (HB6004 by Lamberth.)

Education - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. As introduced, enacts the "Education Freedom Act of 2025."





3. *SB6002 by Johnson. (HB6001 by Lamberth.)

Immigration - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 55. As introduced, creates within the department of safety the centralized immigration enforcement division, to be administered by the chief immigration enforcement officer; establishes a grant program for purposes of promoting the enforcement of federal immigration laws; creates criminal penalties for officials who adopt sanctuary policies and subsequently requires their removal from office upon conviction; requires department of safety to issue lawful permanent residents a temporary driver license, instead of a standard license, to aid in determining voter eligibility for someone who presents a Tennessee driver license as identification.





4. *SB6003 by Johnson. (HB6003 by Lamberth.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2. As introduced, creates two funds within the state treasury to be known as the Hurricane Helene interest payment fund and the governor's response and recovery fund; authorizes moneys in each fund to be used to assist with the response to and the recovery from certain declared emergencies.





5. SB6006 by Haile. (*HB6006 by Garrett.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 54. As introduced, creates the Tennessee transportation financing authority to provide financing and refinancing for the development, maintenance, and improvement of transportation facilities within the state; makes related revisions.



6. SB6007 by Crowe. (*HB6007 by Faison.)

Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 8 and Title 67, Chapter 5. As introduced, requires the comptroller to disburse payments to property owners whose real or personal property was destroyed or damaged by a FEMA-certified disaster occurring between September 26, 2024, and September 30, 2024, under certain conditions; requires the chief executive officer of a governmental entity to approve the deployment of the governmental entity's personnel and equipment outside its boundaries to another governmental entity that has requested emergency assistance during a disaster.
Drivers traveling on US 27 in Hamilton County should be aware of upcoming roadway activities that will have an impact on traffic. On Wednesday, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., Tennessee Department of Transportation maintenance crews will close the US 27 South ramp to Broad Street as well as the outside lane of the US 27 ramp to I-24 East for attenuator repairs. I-24 East will not be affected by this work.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution as they travel through this area and expect delays. Signage will be posted directing drivers through the work zone. This work is weather-dependent. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances cause delays, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information.
The Chattanooga Hamilton Place Rotary Club presented Hamilton County Sheriffs Office K-9 Deputy Andrew Voss with their Outstanding Service Award at their monthly luncheon held earlier this afternoon at the Metro Tab Church.Each year, the Chattanooga Hamilton Place Rotary Club takes the opportunity to recognize members of their local law enforcement community who have gone above and beyond to serve the needs of their respective communities and embody their organizations motto of Service Above Self." As part of the award, the Chattanooga Hamilton Place Rotary also included a donation to Deputy Voss charity of choice, the Hamilton County Humane Society.Officials said, "K-9 Deputy Voss serves as the K-9 Unit Trainer for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, overseeing the training needs of our K-9 Unit with exceptional skill and dedication.A respected public servant, Deputy Voss is widely recognized as a leader in law enforcement and K-9 operationsnot just in our region, but across the United States."With over two decades of law enforcement experience, Deputy Voss has served honorably in various roles within the HCSO, including SWAT Operator, Patrol Deputy, and Corrections Deputy. His distinguished professional career also includes serving as a Violent Crimes Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where he plays a vital role in prosecuting federal gun crimes in the Eastern District of Tennessee.""On behalf of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club, we are proud to present this award to K-9 Deputy Andrew Voss," said Roseanne Apyan, president of the Hamilton Place Rotary. "Our Law Enforcement Officers work tirelessly to support our community, often without the recognition they truly deserve. This award is our way of expressing gratitude to the entire Law Enforcement Community, and we hope it serves as a meaningful gesture to acknowledge their daily dedication and service."Officials said, "In addition to his professional responsibilities, Andrew dedicated over 20 years to volunteering with the Hamilton County Rescue Squad as a Rescue Technician, specializing in rope and high-angle rescue operations, before retiring in March 2023. The rigorous training, physical endurance and personal risk required to execute high angle rescues far exceed the standard demands of most first responders. Despite these challenges, Andrews selfless service has directly contributed to saving many lives throughout Hamilton County."Deputy Voss embodies the true essence of a servant leader. His dedication to his family, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, and the citizens he proudly serves exemplifies the Rotarys motto, 'Service Above Self.' His actions, professionalism and values are a testament to why the HCSO continues to lead the way in providing outstanding law enforcement services to the citizens of Hamilton County, said Sheriff Austin Garrett.Deputy Voss began his career in public service working as an EMT and paramedic with Memorial Hospital and Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services. It was during his time with HCEMS when he began his initial service with the HCSO as a SWAT Medic, prior to officially joining the agency full-time in 2012."Please join us as we congratulate HCSO K-9 Deputy Andrew Voss on his award and for his service to the citizens of Hamilton County," officials said.
chirality is a fundamental property of matter that determines many biological, chemical and physical phenomena. Chiral solids, for example, offer exciting opportunities for catalysis, sensing and optical devices by enabling unique interactions with chiral molecules and polarized light. These properties are however established when the material is grown, that is, the left- and right-handed enantiomers cannot be converted into one another without melting and recrystallization. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) and the University of Oxford have shown that terahertz light can induce chirality in a non-chiral crystal, allowing either left- or right-handed enantiomers to emerge on demand. The finding, reported in Science, opens up exciting possibilities for exploring novel non-equilibrium phenomena in complex materials.

Terahertz light has the ability to control solids at the atomic level, forming chiral structures of left- and right-handedness. Zhiyang Zeng (MPSD)

Chirality refers to objects that cannot be superimposed to their mirror images through any combination of rotations or translations, much like the distinct left and right hands of a human. In chiral crystals, the spatial arrangement of atoms confers a specific "handedness", which, for example, influences their optical and electrical properties.

The Hamburg-Oxford team focused on so-called antiferro-chirals, a type of non-chiral crystals reminiscent of antiferro-magnetic materials, in which magnetic moments anti-align in a staggered pattern leading to a vanishing net magnetization. An antiferro-chiral crystal is composed of equivalent amounts of left- and right-handed substructures in a unit cell, rendering it overall non-chiral.

The research team, led by Andrea Cavalleri, used terahertz light to lift this balance in the non-chiral material boron phosphate (BPO 4 ), in this way inducing finite chirality on an ultrafast time scale. We exploit a mechanism termed nonlinear phononics," says Zhiyang Zeng, lead author of this work. By exciting a specific terahertz frequency vibrational mode, which displaces the crystal lattice along the coordinates of other modes in the material, we created a chiral state that survives for several picoseconds, he added. Notably, by rotating the polarization of the terahertz light by 90 degrees, we could selectively induce either a left- or right-handed chiral structure, continues fellow author Michael Forst.

"This discovery opens up new possibilities for the dynamical control of matter at the atomic level," says Andrea Cavalleri, group leader at the MPSD. "We are excited to see potential applications of this technology and how it can be used to create unique functionalities. The ability to induce chirality in non-chiral materials could lead to new applications in ultrafast memory devices or even more sophisticated optoelectronic platforms"
Hangi ulkenin ne kadar nukleer silah var? Listedeki 9 ulke
Home News 14 Pentecostal sect members convicted for death of 8-year-old girl denied lifesaving insulin

The parents of an 8-year-old girl, her adult brother and 11 other members of a small, tongues-talking Pentecostal sect in Toowoomba, Australia, were convicted of manslaughter Wednesday for causing her death by withholding lifesaving insulin needed to treat her Type 1 diabetes because of their religious beliefs.

In a nearly 500-page verdict, Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns convicted 8-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53; her mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49; and her brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 22; of manslaughter for her Jan. 7, 2022, death.

Also convicted of manslaughter are Loretta Stevens, Therese Stevens, Andrea Stevens, Camelia Stevens, Acacia Stevens, Alexander Stevens, Sebastian Stevens, Keita Martin, Lachlan Schoenfisch and Samantha Schoenfisch.

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

Elizabeths family members and the other convicts are all members of a group, which sometimes referred to themselves as the Church or the Saints, according to court documents.

Court records show that instead of treating Elizabeth with insulin when she got ill as a result of her diabetes, the group prayed. And when she died, they prayed for her resurrection for another 24 hours before calling local authorities for help.

Jason and Kerrie Struhs, who have been married since 1996, have eight children, but only two of them are adults. Along with Zachary Struhs, the couple has an estranged adult daughter, Jayde Struhs, who left the family at age 16. Although the Saints are not affiliated with any particular religious denomination, Jayde Struhs said the family attended the Revival Centres International church in Brisbane before the sect launched. They broke away from the charismatic denomination after the current leader of the group, Brendan Luke Stevens, failed to become a pastor in the church, BBC reports.

The members of the Church did not ascribe to any religious denomination, simply regarding themselves as Christians who followed Gods Word  that is to say, the Bible  entirely. They believed that, through prayer and baptism by full immersion in water, a person could receive the Holy Spirit and, when received, this would be evidenced by the persons ability to speak in tongues, which they regarded as a language only God can understand, Burns wrote.

Despite evidence showing that all 14 convicts appeared to hold a sincere belief that they should not get medical care for sickness and trust solely in God for healing, each of them is facing a potential life sentence for Elizabeths death. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 11.

Until her death, Elizabeth Rose Struhs was a vibrant, happy child with, of course, her whole life ahead of her. She left a lasting impression on many with whom she came into contact on the outside, whether through her schooling or during the treatment and control of a medical condition she was first diagnosed with in 2019  Type 1 diabetes, Burns wrote.

It cannot be doubted that she was lovingly cared for in almost every way by her parents, Jason, and Kerrie Struhs, or that she was adored by every member of the Church including all other accused. However, due to a singular belief in the healing power of God which, to the minds of her parents and the other members of the Church left no room for recourse to any form of medical care or treatment, she was deprived of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive  insulin.

While celebrating the convictions Wednesday, Jayde Struhs told reporters that her sister should not have died and the local child welfare system failed her.

Although we had a good outcome today, I have to acknowledge the system failed to protect Elizabeth in the first place, she said after the verdict, according to CBS News. We are only here today because more wasnt done sooner to protect her or remove her from a credibly unsafe situation in her own home.

Court documents show that on July 17, 2019, when Elizabeth was just a 6-year-old, she almost died from diabetes complications because of the religious beliefs of the sect to which her mother zealously adhered. At the time she got sick, her father was not yet a part of the sect, so he was the one who took her to a hospital, where she was diagnosed and treated despite her mothers objections.

Health officials say when Elizabeth was brought to the hospital, she weighed just under 29 pounds when the average weight of a child her age is around 46 pounds.

In his witness statement to police, Jason Struhs said for the entire time that Elizabeth was hospitalized, her mother never once visited.

Kerrie never came to visit Elizabeth during that four-week period, despite me asking her to. Kerrie also never got involved in any of the diabetic training or information sessions on how to care for Elizabeth in the future, despite requests from myself, the hospital, and Child Safety, Jason Struhs wrote. This is also despite me telling Kerrie on countless occasions that the training is necessary, and that if Elizabeth doesnt get the insulin she requires, she will die.

Court documents show that after the 8-year-old recovered with the help of doctors, the sect appeared to attribute her recovery solely to God.

Both Jason Struhs and his wife were subsequently prosecuted. Jason Struhs was sentenced to six months imprisonment for failing to provide the necessaries of life for his daughter. The sentence was suspended for an operational period of 12 months because he testified against his wife. Kerrie Struhs was found guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life to Elizabeth on July 15, 2021, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. She was offered parole, set for Dec. 15, 2021.

While Kerrie Struhs was imprisoned, the verdict states that Jason Struhs came under intense pressure from his family and the Church, including his son Zachary, who blamed his unbelief for the familys struggles and his mothers imprisonment. As he tried caring for his daughter, his wife at one point decided while she was in prison that she would divorce him after her release.

My husband couldnt cope without me there because he felt like he had lost everything because I was the one that mainly looked after the children. I was communicating with Jason whilst I was in jail. The first couple of communications with Jason were by letter and these were quite blunt, he couldnt understand why I had gone to the lengths I had gone to. I decided that when I was released from prison, I was not going to continue my marriage to Jason, I had had enough, Kerrie Struhs wrote in a police witness statement in February 2022.

The desperate father reportedly spoke to a colleague about his family issues, and it was suggested that perhaps he could make things better by joining the church.

Mr Struhs took that advice. He later told police he returned home and asked Zachary to help him and that Zachary said the only way to help him was to pray to God. They prayed together and Jason Struhs asked God for help. This seems to have been on 18 August 2021. The next morning, he said he awoke with a calmness in [his] heart, and maintained God had taken away [his] anger, Burns wrote.

On Aug. 21, 2021, Jason Struhs was baptized by Brendan Stevens in a tub in the presence of several members of the Church. Just over a week later, on Aug. 30, 2021, he received the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues.

Once his wife was released on parole, the entire family became absorbed in the life of the Church.
Home News 4 things to know about the murder of Border Patrol agent, Air Force vet David 'Chris' Maland in Vermont Suspects reportedly linked to 'violent transgender commune'

A Washington state woman charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a U.S. border patrol agent in Vermont had been in frequent contact with someone whom authorities have linked to homicides in Pennsylvania and California, according to federal prosecutors.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, faces two weapons charges in connection with the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who died on Jan. 20 during the shootout in Coventry, a small town about 20 miles from the Canadian border, The Associated Press reported.

Youngblut had been traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who also was killed, and the pair had been under surveillance for several days.

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

Court documents cited by The Associated Press found the gun used by Youngblut and one that Bauckholt was carrying were purchased by a third person in Vermont last February. The buyer is a person of interest in a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

Here are four new details emerging in this bizarre and tragic shooting.
Home News Mark Steyn blasts Bishop Mariann Budde as 'tool of Satan' for pushing trans kids 'You should be on a roasting spit in Hell for promoting that'

Conservative political commentator Mark Steyn recently blasted Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde as "a tool of Satan" for pushing the idea of "transgender children" from the pulpit of the National Cathedral during her recent rebuke of President Donald Trump.

Responding to a listener's question about Budde's remarks during his weekly "Clubland Q&A" podcast on his website last week, Steyn opined on the seriousness of what she asserted.

"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now," Budde said as she directly addressed Trump during the National Cathedral's Service of Prayer for the Nation on Jan. 21. "There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families. Some who fear for their lives."

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

Steyn suggested Budde was exhibiting a demonic doctrine.

"It isn't actually really funny, because there's no such thing as a transgender kid," Steyn said. "Some may think there is, and a confused 8-year-old boy or 11-year-old girl may think there is. But what it boils down to is you, the bishop, supporting slicing off the breasts of middle school girls. That makes you, the bishop, a tool of Satan. So you should be on a roasting spit in Hell for promoting that."

Steyn acknowledged that cross-dressing and transgenderism have long had a place in the seedier fringes of show business, but characterized the attempt to mainstream such behavior as "evil." He also suggested that the Episcopal Church is both apostate and pathetic in its attempt to placate the latest left-wing fixation.

"The Episcopal Church is a post-Christian church now, and it's not even good," he said. "It's not as if they're even on the cutting edge of insanity. They're just playing catch-up insanity for whatever they think will work."

Steyn emphasized what he characterized as the ultimate wickedness of transgenderism, namely that one can become one's own god.

"You know, climate change. 'Maybe if we start worshiping Gaia instead of God, maybe we'll get some of the climate crowd.' Oh, well, that didn't work for us, so let's go with the old 'slice the breasts off middle school girls,' because now you are your own god," he said, mocking the mainline Episcopalian mindset.

"There's no big God in the sky anymore. You, right here, down on Earth, starting from the age of 11, 10, 9, 8  you are the god. God may think He's created you male or female, but that's just what you're assigned at birth, as they now say."

"This woman is evil," Steyn added of Budde. "And I certainly wouldn't want to sit through anything in that bloody awful National Cathedral. I would be in favor if Trump, as an ex-McDonald's employee, decided he needed to turn that into the world's biggest McDonald's."

Steyn, who was baptized Catholic before becoming Anglican and ultimately a Baptist, served as a regular guest host for the late Rush Limbaugh and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Steyn appeared frequently on Fox News, though he has said he eventually tired of the network when he was being invited on the channel to opine on insignificant topics like the pregnant man emoji and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's dog while the U.S. was being humiliated during the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.

Budde's sermon has received mixed reactions, with some arguing that she politicized a religious service while others believe that she courageously spoke truth to power.

Rob Pacienza, senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, attended the service and was among Budde's critics, saying in a recent interview with The Christian Post that he believed it "wasn't really a sermon" but rather "a lecture that really came across as mean and divisive."

"I think the irony was she attempted to preach on unity, but her rhetoric and her very unwelcoming spirit  from the beginning to the end of her message  actually created more division in the end," he said.

"She was advocating for transgenderism. She was advocating for open borders. She was advocating for lawlessness in America. She was advocating for an administration to embrace sexuality that is against God's design."
Home News Target rolling back DEI goals, backs out of LGBT pride event

The national retail chain Target is scaling back socially progressive policies, including phasing out its diversity and inclusion policies.

In a statement on Friday, Target said it is ending the "three-year diversity, equity and inclusion goals" as well as concluding its "Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in 2025 as planned."

Additionally, Target promised to stop "all external diversity-focused surveys," specifically naming the LGBT activist group Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index as an example.

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 company also plans to evaluate "our corporate partnerships to ensure they are directly connected to our roadmap for growth" and shift the "Supplier Diversity" team to "Supplier Engagement" in order "to better reflect our inclusive global procurement process across a broad range of suppliers, including increasing our focus on small businesses."

"We remain focused on driving our business by creating a sense of belonging for our team, guests and communities through a commitment to inclusion," the company stated.

"Belonging for all is an essential part of our team and culture, helping fuel consumer relevance and business results."

In keeping with the changes, the Minneapolis-based company has reportedly decided not to participate in the Twin Cities Pride festival and parade this year, an annual event it typically sponsors.

Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride, released a statement expressing disappointment with the decision.

"Target executives have been in touch with Twin Cities Pride about changes to the company's DEI programs. We are working through what this means for the LGBTQ+ community and the long-standing partnership between Target and our organization," stated Otto, as quoted by The Associated Press.

"We will keep the community informed about any crucial updates that come from these discussions."

The Family Research Council, a Christian conservative advocacy organization that has often butted heads with Target over its socially liberal policies, celebrated the news of the policy changes.

"There've been times in this almost two-year wave of Pride pushback when Americans have to pinch themselves to believe their success. For longtime conservatives, Friday was one of those moments," wrote Suzanne Bowdey of The Washington Stand, FRC's news outlet.

"After building the LGBT bandwagon that other companies hopped on, one of the country's most unrepentant extremists  Target  finally surrendered on its woke agenda, handing an army of consumer activists one of the most symbolic scalps yet."

Multiple major companies have decided to scale back or end their DEI policies in the last year.

Last November, following the election of Trump, Walmart announced that it was ending assorted policies related to DEI, reportedly including the removal of LGBT products directed to children and ending involvement in the HRC's Corporate Equality Index.

Other companies that have made changes include Tractor Supply Co., John Deere, Harley Davidson, Jack Daniel's, Lowe's and Ford Motor Company.
Home News Trump signs Laken Riley Act; mother praises Jesus, hopes 'her life saves lives'

President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act as his first piece of legislation upon reentering the White House, a bill that would direct authorities to detain illegal migrants accused of theft-related crimes and allow states to sue the federal government for damage caused by illegal immigration.

Trump signed the law on Wednesday, a move that follows the president's signing of several executive orders this month related to immigration, including one that designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Laken Riley Act is named for the 22-year-old nursing student murdered by Jose Antonio Ibarra in February 2024, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national in the United States illegally. A judge sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without parole after he was found guilty of murder in November.

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

Trump described the nursing student as "beautiful," expressing sympathy for the young woman's parents. The Republican president blamed the Biden administration for allowing Ibarra into the country, adding that his administration will ensure a tragedy like Riley's death does not happen again.

"To Laken's family, we will keep Laken's memory alive," Trump said. "America will never forget Laken Hope Riley."

Under the Laken Riley Act, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is required to detain illegal migrants charged with theft-related crimes  such as burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting  or those who have been charged with assaulting a police officer. Officials are also required to detain illegal aliens who have committed offenses that injure or kill someone.

In addition, the bill would give states the legal standing to sue the federal government for harm caused to citizens by immigration decisions.

Trump invited Riley's mother, Allyson Philips, to the podium to say a few words about her daughter. The victim's mother thanked the president for never forgetting Riley, stating that Trump is "a man of his word."

Riley's mom also took the time to thank the Lord, acknowledging that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is what gives the family hope to keep living, knowing that they will all see Riley again in Heaven someday.

"Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Philips said. "Without His sacrifices, Laken's story would have ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us. But because of Him, we can continue knowing that we will see Laken again."

"Our hope moving forward is that her life saves lives," the mother added, weeping.

During the Monday signing ceremony, Trump addressed several Angel families whose loved ones were murdered by illegal immigrants. One of the victims Trump named was Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five who was raped and killed by an illegal immigrant in August 2023.

Trump acknowledged that the Angel families have "suffered tremendously," blaming the immigration policies under the Biden-Harris administration, which he described as "weak" and "heartless."

The Republican leader stressed that the previous administration should have protected the Angel families' loved ones, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of allowing criminal illegal migrants to enter the United States.

Throughout the campaign trail, Trump promised that his administration would work to combat illegal immigration and strengthen border security.

Following his inauguration this month, Trump signed multiple executive orders, which included the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The president also signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border, directing the secretary of defense to deploy additional personnel to the border.

"[Trump's] going to put the cartels out of business. He declared them a terrorist organization," Trump-appointed border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday. "We've got the whole of government  it's going to dismantle these people and wipe them off the face of the Earth. They're not going to go lightly."

"We're taking them out of the trafficking business," Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, added. "We're taking them out of the smuggling business. We're taking them out of the dope business."
NYT Claims Trump Lied On Abortion Claims, Canada Religious Symbol Ban, Chris Pratt Thanks God Amid Wildfires

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:29 07:29

Top headlines for Wednesday, January 29, 2025

In this episode, we begin with a contentious claim from The New York Times, accusing former President Trump of misrepresenting the Democrats' stance on abortion, a debate reignited as Democrats halted a born-alive infant protection bill. Switching to personal trials, we discuss former Pastor Steven Lawson, who, following a scandalous affair, takes a new path by relocating after his exit from Trinity Bible Church in Dallas.

On a different note, we explore the legal and cultural implications of Canada's Supreme Court deliberating on Quebec's controversial ban on religious symbols for public officials. Lastly, we touch on a moment of relief amidst calamity, as actor Chris Pratt shares his gratitude for his home's safety during the devastating LA fires.

?Follow Us on Social Media

?Get the Edifi App

?Subscribe to Our Newsletter

?Links to the News
Home Opinion Charismatic mov't has a systemic problem: We tend to protect our leaders

I was having lunch with a few other church and ministry leaders within the charismatic movement when I first heard that International House of Prayer (IHOP) founder Mike Bickle had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct. The news was met with a solemn silence.

That silence was suddenly broken with a confident declaration; I don't believe it.

In my heart, however, I feared that this was only the first domino to fall, and the confident assertion of innocence without the facts even being brought out was a microcosm of a systemic problem within our movement: we tend to protect our leaders. But why?

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

I am a charismatic

I grew up in the Charismatic movement. When I was a child, the peculiar phenomena associated with the Toronto Blessing and the Brownsville Revival had come to visit my little church in Northern Michigan. But even as a 7-year-old, I knew there was something special happening. People were coming to Christ, and deep healing was happening in people's hearts. We even saw dramatic physical healings, including the needle tracks disappearing from the arms of a young woman who had been delivered from a heroin addiction. I loved it. God was real to me.

At 17, my hunger for more experiences with God grew to a white-hot intensity. I prayed constantly. I worked at a grocery store and wept in prayer and worship to Jesus as I stacked cans and bagged groceries. It was during this time that I began to hear testimonies of healings, prophecy, and the tangible experiences with the Lord that I desperately sought after coming from various leaders within the charismatic movement.

I devoured the sermons, music, books, and most importantly, the testimonies of those encounters with the God I love with a ravenous appetite for more. Leaders like Bill Johnson, John Arnott, Heidi Baker, Randy Clark, and many more became my heroes. I revered them as more than mere men. These were people whom God had chosen to trust with the thing I longed for so desperately: revival. And if God trusted them, so should I.

The silence of the shepherds

When the Lakeland Outpouring imploded, I was sad, but not devastated. People fall sometimes, I told myself. Todd Bentley seemed like a gifted man who needed maturity. I trusted Bill Johnson and Rick Joyner to handle the matter with wisdom. Maybe Todd could actually be restored?

Then in 2019 news broke that Todd Bentley had returned to ministry and had carried on with horrific abuse and sin that a panel of Charismatic leaders (people that I had never heard of) deemed to be disqualifying. But the big-name leaders of this movement that had so inspired me, the ones I knew and trusted were completely silent.

I was furious. Why the silence? Shouldnt victims of abuse hear the voices of their ostensible shepherds rebuking wolves on their behalf? The very ones who took responsibility for restoring Todd Bentley after 2008, the very men who had laid hands on him that same year and appointed him as an apostle and authority figure within this movement are silent as church mice except to provide a rebuke to the whistleblower who had exposed things in the first place.

Then news about Mike Bickles alleged serial sexual misconduct began to drip out and people like Rick Joyner called it a nothing burger and even suggested Mike would return to ministry shortly. Others of my former heroes have yet to say a word to this day. Bickles alleged victims are all members of this movement, and those women deserved to hear the voices they respected speak a word in their defense.

Silence. Deafening silence.

Amos rebuke to Israel (and to us)

I have wept much in prayer over the last year. I pray for the saints whose faith may have been rocked by these scandals. But it seems painfully obvious to me that in our desire to experience God, we have forgotten to obey Him.

I hate, I despise your religious festivals;

your assemblies are a stench to me.

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,

I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:21-24 NIV).

In the charismatic movement, much attention is given to praise, worship, contemplative prayer, and the types of disciplines that lead to spiritual experience. These are good. But the Lord says these practices are a stench to Him if while doing them, we have neglected justice. When the shepherds and sheep are silent in the face of the accusations against Mike Bickle, Robert Morris, Daystar Television, Todd Bentley, Chris Reed, Bob Hartley, and many more; when we merely shut our ears and sing our songs hoping for the next personal encounter, the Lord says He despises it because while we praise Him with our lips we neglect justice for the victims of these predators. I wonder if we have loved the experience of praising God more than we have loved the God of our praise?

To love God is to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates. Our God is the avenger of the abused and the punisher of the wicked. Our God is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He leaves the 99 to find the 1. Our God sides with the oppressed.

Seek God, not the structures we have built around God

The charismatic movement is filled with people like me who long for a deep, experiential walk with God. When we discovered places like Bethel and ministries like it, we felt as though we found our tribe. And many, like me, began to trust these leaders and even outsource our discernment and walk with God to those who had seen more than we had.

But the prophet Amos has a rebuke to us as well:

This is what the Lord says to Israel:

Seek me and live;

do not seek Bethel,

do not go to Gilgal,

do not journey to Beersheba.

For Gilgal will surely go into exile,

and Bethel will be reduced to nothing (Amos 5:4-5 NIV).

Resist the temptation to eisegete here.

Bethel was the city of the King of Israel, Jeroboam. It was the seat of his power. Bethel was likely chosen because of its history of being a place where people met with God. After all, thats where Jacob encountered the Lord and how the place got its name. (Bethel means House of God.) Bethel is where Eli judged Israel and facilitated the sacrificial system of worship to the Lord. Bethel became a place of power and safety for the Northern Kingdom and represented military might in which Israel could place their trust if an invading army came.

But in this passage, Amos is rebuking Israel for putting their trust in the structures that they had built around their history with God rather than in God Himself. God is saying through Amos, Stop seeking the institutions that supposedly represent Me. Seek Me and live!

Many charismatics have substituted the structures that surround our history with God for a genuine relationship with the Lord Himself. Many charismatics have forgotten what got us into this movement in the first place: a desire to love and experience God. Instead, many became infatuated with the personalities and institutions that have been built up around these encounters. We put our trust in the curators of revival and outsourced our discernment and more to those we considered to be fathers in this movement. We began to seek Bethel and not God and the Lord is displeased.

Lets return to our first love. Let us seek to know and love Him. Let us seek to please Him by speaking for the voiceless and holding to account those who have abused the vulnerable. Let justice roll on like a river.
Home Opinion For 'conservative' to mean anything, we need to recognize this

Recently, in an article for the Institute for Family Studies, Patrick Brown highlighted the notable decline of marriage and married parenthood among Republican voters. The GOP has long enjoyed larger support from married parents. However, in the most recent election, Brown writes,

[T]here was essentially no political advantage in 2024 for Republicans in congressional districts with higher shares of births  to married parents. In fact, some of the Congressional districts with the highest share of births within marriage are wealthy Democratic strongholds: New Yorks Upper West Side, the Boston suburbs, Northern Virginia, and Silicon Valley. Compare this to 2012, in which Republicans dramatically outperformed Democrats in counties where higher shares of babies were born to married couples. This suggests in years to come  if current trends persist  the GOP advantage with married parents may not be rock-solid.

One reason for this shift is the Republican base has shifted from college-educated, upper-and-middle-class voters to more working-class voters without a college degree, a group in which marriage rates have cratered in recent decades. In 1990, over half of working-class American adults were married. By 2017, that number had dropped to 39%, prompting some to declare marriage a luxury good. By contrast, Brown estimates that today, 67% of college graduates in their 30s are married.

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

Over the same period that working-class Americans grew ambivalent toward marriage, they trended Republican. The Wall Street Journal reported in November that those without a college degree shifted red by eight points in the last election. The result, Brown writes, is a Republican party that has boosted its appeal in parts of the country where out-of-wedlock births are relatively higher, while losing some of its appeal to college-educated parents.

This does not mean the political left is shifting more pro-family, or that its policies are good for married parents. Quite the opposite, in fact! As sociologist Brad Wilcox argued in his book, Get Married, progressive elites tend to talk left but walk right. Educated, affluent voters in blue regions promote sexual freedom and diverse parenting arrangements but tend to wait until marriage to have kids and stay married.

On the other hand, the party known as the home for family values has drawn voters for whom family is more theory than reality. For many of these voters, being on the political right is not about being conservative, at least not socially conservative. The result is significant lack of clarity on the political right about what social conservatives hope to conserve.

Social conservatives must again make the case for the pre-political institutions designed by God that are worth conserving, and why. As Brad Wilcox wrote, The science could not be clearer: On average, the children of married parents are more likely to experience happier, healthier and more successful lives. Among innumerable benefits, marriage more than halves the likelihood that children will grow up poor or end up in prison and doubles the likelihood that they will graduate college. Marriage also vastly cuts the odds of a child falling victim to or witnessing domestic abuse.

We may want to see America great, but it wont happen if marriage rates continue to spiral, with broken homes as the normal context in which the next generation is raised. At the heart of conservatism is the idea that there are mediating institutions, including churches and especially the family, that are more important than the state. These little platoons are vital to a healthy society, because they are society at the most fundamental level. As such, they contribute to the lives of citizens in ways that the government cannot.

This is why religious conservatives should be deeply concerned about the decline of marriage on the left as well as the right. As Brown concluded in his article, its time for some soul-searching in the movement, including prioritizing pro-family efforts, from eliminating marriage penalties and expanding the Child Tax Credit to offering a Baby Bonus to new parents and more.

For Christians, the most important political engagement will be in the years between elections. It will take more than voter registration drives and righteous anger at progressives to make America great. Only a full-scale effort to rebuild and reprioritize marriage, starting in our own communities, can accomplish that. Because if being conservative means anything, it means recognizing that who we are in our own houses is even more important than who is in the White House.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
Home News American flag stolen, thrown to the ground by immigration protesters in front of Dallas police Incident occurred during protest over Trump mass deportations

An American flag was thrown to the ground during a standoff at a large protest in Dallas against President Donald Trump's deportation of criminal illegal immigrants.

In Trumps first week back in office, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting approximately 7,300 people of various nationalities, according to The Associated Press. The president is directing his administration to increase arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200 to 1,500, The Washington Post reported.

Protesters gathered Sunday afternoon near Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in downtown Dallas to rally against the mass deportations, with several protesters flying Mexican and LGBT rainbow-colored flags and chanting anti-Trump slogans.

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

While there was a visible police presence, the protests were largely peaceful until a crowd of demonstrators, including one draped in a Mexican flag, approached a counter-protester who was flying an American flag along with a Trump flag. In one video, the demonstrators are seen pulling down the American flag and engaging in a tug-of-war with the owner until finally wrestling it out his grasp and fleeing the scene.

A police officer in the video is seen intervening by restraining another person from getting involved in the tussle over the flag. One of the demonstrators then takes the flag and hurls it toward the street. The officer comes back into the frame and picks up the flag from the ground.

CP reached out Tuesday to a Dallas police spokesperson. This story will be updated if a response is received.

Texas has signaled its willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to deploy tactical strike teams as part of a federal effort to find criminal illegal immigrants in the Lone Star State.

Arrest warrants have been issued for roughly 5,400 criminal aliens residing in Texas, according to the governors office.

Texas is expanding our operations to assist President Donald Trump to protect Americans and enforce the rule of law, said Abbott in a statement. Today, I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to deploy tactical strike teams to work alongside our federal partners to enforce immigration laws throughout the state. These teams will coordinate with Homeland Security agencies to track down the thousands of illegal immigrants with active warrants across Texas and deport them from our country.
Home News Grant Thomson, Bible Society Australias CEO, resigns after organization posts massive deficit

Five years after former Hillsong Global Chief Marketing Officer Global Grant Thomson was named Bible Society Australia's new CEO, he abruptly resigned after the organization posted a nearly $4.5 million (AU$7.2 million) deficit.

An announcement to supporters cited by TheOtherCheek, a blog led by Christian journalist John Sandeman, states that Thomson resigned from his role but did not provide a reason.

"Before the year closes, we want to share with you Grant Thomson's recent decision to step down from his position as CEO. Bible Society Australia has achieved a great deal during Grant's five years of service, and we are grateful for his efforts and contribution," the statement said.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Bible Society Australia's Chief Media Officer Simon Smart is currently serving as acting CEO as a search for Thomson's replacement continues.

The organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Christian Post on Tuesday. A 2019 news release announcing Thomson's hiring has been removed from the Bible Society's website.

A 2024 financial report on Bible Society Australia's operations blamed the organization's recent losses on difficulty with a "new IT system installed in September 2023," which impacted their retail sales.

"BSA for the year ended 30 June 2024 reported a net deficit of $7.3 million (2023 deficit $1.4 million) from total revenue of $56.8 million and total expenditure of $64.1 million. The deficit for the year ended 30 June 2024 was predominantly caused by difficulties with the new IT system installed in September 2023 for our retail operations (Koorong)," the report said.

"The problems encountered with the new system impacted sales, which fell by $4 million and incurred additional costs of $2.6 million in staff, licensing, and finance. A further $1.1 million of system development costs have been expensed during the year," the report added.

BSA reported a net deficit of AU$1.4 million in fiscal year 2023 and a deficit of AU$3.6 million in 2022.

Last April, Thomson announced the shutdown of BSA's news affiliate, Eternity News, including its print magazine, website, weekly newsletter, social media platforms, and Eternity's Jobs website, due to concerns with its "affordability." BSA said it was no longer possible to continue with the media ministry founded and formerly led by Sandeman.

On his exit from Hillsong, Thomson's name was embroiled in the church's alleged financial misconduct. Records reported by Dan Foster of Backyard Church suggest Thomson received a Saffire Retreat Voucher worth about $3,000 (AU$5,200) and over $6,000 (AU$10,000) as a "Thank you for service" gift.

In 2023, citing documents he acquired from an internal whistleblower, Andrew Wilkie, an independent member of the Australian Parliament, accused Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston and other leaders in the organization of money laundering, tax evasion and shopping sprees that would "embarrass a Kardashian."

Records from the Evangelical megachurch network also indicate that popular American televangelists like Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes were paid tens of thousands of dollars in honorariums for engagements with the church. Meanwhile, others like Chris Hodges, founder and leader of Church of the Highlands, received "curious payments."

In response to Wilkie's claims, Hillsong said in a statement at the time that the church network has been "open and transparent with our congregation about past governance failures, and over the past twelve months we have engaged independent, professional assistance to overhaul our governance and accountability procedures."

In March 2023, Hillsong Church announced a slew of changes in how it manages its finances.

Upon his hiring in April 2019, Bible Society Australia's then-Chair Anne Robinson said Thomson had the right skill set to take the more than 200-year-old organization into a new season.

"Grant is a man who loves God and the Scriptures," Robinson said. "He already spends his life living the vision of Bible Society  championing the Bible to share the love of Jesus."
Home News Brother of TD Jakes accuser claims megachurch pastor tried to sexually assault him too: affidavit

Pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood  the older brother of Duane Youngblood, whom Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House hit with a defamation lawsuit last year for alleging the megachurch pastor sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager some 40 years ago  has accused Jakes of trying to sexually assault him, too.

Richard Youngblood's claim is among multiple sworn affidavits supporting his brother included in a 167-page motion filed last Thursday seeking to dismiss Jakes' defamation lawsuit pursuant to Pennsylvania's anti-SLAPP statute. The filing was reviewed by The Christian Post.

"He secured a room with two beds in it, and we went to the room for the night. That night, while I was laying in my bed, I felt Elder Jakes climb into my bed. He pressed his body against mine and asked, 'Youngblood, do you feel that?' He was referencing his erection that he was pressing against my backside," Richard Youngblood wrote in an affidavit filed with a federal court in Pennsylvania.

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

"I got up out of bed in complete shock as he also [got] up from the opposite side and met me. He grabbed me by my arms and pulled me to him and started trying to kiss me. At this point, I cannot believe what is happening to me."

Others who have made sworn affidavits in support of Duane Youngblood's claims are Jeffrey S. Gray, who also shared Duane Youngblood's disclosures about Jakes; Daniel B. Spaulding; LaShawn Youngblood; Joshua Munoz; and Landon Claybourne.

In addition to his previous claim, Duane Youngblood alleges in the motion that since he has gone public, Jakes and his associates "have engaged in retaliatory conduct to silence him."

According to the motion, Duane Youngblood reported "receiving threats from individuals associated with Plaintiff, including his son."

The Christian Post requested comment on the motion from The Potter's House. A response is pending.

The SLAPP acronym in Pennsylvania's anti-SLAPP statute stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. It was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last July, Bochetto & Lentz notes. The statute allows, among other things, a defendant in a defamation lawsuit to file an early motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that the defamation claim is frivolous.

Duane Youngblood's attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, contends that his client's allegations against Jakes are protected public expression because they are addressing matters of significant public concern, "including systemic abuse and institutional accountability within religious organizations."

Blackburn argues that Jakes has yet to demonstrate "falsity, actual malice, or actionable harm" from the claims of his client.

"Allowing Plaintiff's claims to proceed would violate public policy, as it would chill constitutionally protected speech on matters of public concern and contradict the legislative intent of Pennsylvania's Anti-SLAPP statute," Blackburn argues.

"Plaintiff, Thomas Dexter 'T.D.' Jakes, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader revered by millions, has weaponized this lawsuit not to seek justice but to muzzle the voice of truth. His hypocrisy is staggering  standing in the pulpit on Sundays to preach virtue while allegedly engaging in depraved acts betraying the principles he claims to uphold," Blackburn states.

"As Scripture warns, 'Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves' (Matthew 7:15). Plaintiff epitomizes this warning, using his platform to project an image of righteousness while allegedly abusing his power to satisfy his closeted homosexual desires," the motion adds.

Duane Youngblood, 58, a former-pastor-turned-registered sex offender, claimed in interviews with internet personality Larry Reid on his "Larry Reid Live" show on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, 2024, that the now 67-year-old Jakes sexually assaulted him when he was about 18 or 19 years old.

Lawyers for Jakes argued in a 20-page defamation lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in western Pennsylvania last November that Duane Youngblood had conspired with others to extort Jakes. They pointed to his history of abusing minors, for which he has served time.

Duane Youngblood is currently on parole under the supervision of Pennsylvania's Department of Parole. He was charged with inappropriately touching two teenage victims while he was counseling them between 2009 and 2011. In one instance, he reportedly engaged the victim on about 25 occasions.

Despite his brother's failures, 62-year-old Richard Youngblood alleges in his affidavit that he, too, was attacked by Jakes in a hotel room as a young minister. He added that his younger brother told him about his own encounter years ago as well.

According to his sworn testimony, Richard Youngblood was about 28 in the fall of 1990 when he spoke with his then 24-year-old younger brother about what happened between him and Jakes in the spring of 1986 when he was about 24.

Richard Youngblood said he was a young minister praying for God's direction in his life at the time when his father told him about Elder T.D. Jakes, who was a guest speaker at The Refuge Temple Church in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.

When he saw Jakes preach at a week-long revival crusade, he was impressed and began harboring ideas of Jakes helping him in his ministry ambitions. He soon connected with Jakes, who is five years older than him.

"On one of the nights of the revival, Jakes mentioned that he would be heading home to West Virginia for the weekend to his home church but returning to Pittsburgh at another church the following week. Following one of the services that week, I asked Elder Jakes if I could drive him to his church in West Virginia since he was returning the following week. To my shock, he said yes," Richard Youngblood recalled.

He said he stayed in Jakes' home that weekend and met his wife and two sons. After a series of discussions, Richard Youngblood moved his young family to West Virginia to join Jakes' ministry, Temple of Faith.

Richard Youngblood was quickly elevated to serve as Jakes' armorbearer. In that position, he served as Jakes' assistant, driving him around and making sure he had what he needed for ministry. He would also become the praise and worship leader. After the birth of his son in June 1987, Richard Youngblood said the relationship between him and Jakes started getting "weird."

"This is my landmark of when things started to become weird. The conversations Jakes started to have with me had shifted from ministry and God to more things about him. He shared an uncomfortable story about how he taught his wife to have oral sex with him. There were other uncomfortable things he said which I tried very hard to put into perspective so that it would make sense for me," the affidavit states.

He stated that Jakes' then Temple of Faith was part of a larger organization called the Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Faith Tabernacle Inc. When Jakes got promoted to bishop, he began traveling to churches in the organization nationally.

In 1988, the year Jakes became bishop, he had to attend a mandatory meeting. Jakes asked Richard Youngblood to travel with him to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was during this trip that Richard Youngblood alleges Jakes propositioned him.

"He asked me to accompany him as his driver which I was happy to do because I would get the opportunity to visit with my parents and siblings. He decided that we would head there a day early which meant we had to get a hotel for the night. We stopped at what I believe was an EconoLodge in Westover WV," Richard Youngblood writes.

Richard Youngblood said that the room Jakes booked had two beds. After going to bed for the night, the filing claims Jakes climbed into Richard Youngblood's bed and rubbed his body against Youngblood's backside. After jumping out of bed in shock, Richard Youngblood concluded that Jakes tried to groom him. He said Jakes was kept at bay the rest of the night.

"On our way back after the meeting, I brought up what happened and expressed my extreme discomfort and that I loved my wife," Richard Youngblood's filing reads. "His response was a slight grunt something like 'hmmm' to which I asked what that meant and he responded that it kind of hurt his feelings to hear me say that. I am now more confused than ever about what I have gotten myself and family into."

Richard Youngblood said he contacted an elder in his church named Silas Wheeler about what happened in the hotel room. He claims Wheeler shared his story with Jakes, who allegedly retaliated.

"Jakes subsequently calls me into his office where he berates me for sharing what happened. He says, 'It was like Wheeler was in the hotel with a camera.' He then says, 'You didn't care about my wife' to suggest she may find out his secret," Youngblood wrote.

Youngblood said he asked another minister who shared a duplex with him if Jakes ever tried anything sexually with him. And he said, "I've never been woke up with nothing like that."

He said he began questioning himself internally about what he might have done to make Jakes think he was gay.

"Eventually, he told me that I could no longer attend his church, called my wife, told her that I was a liar and to beware of me and also that even though I was no longer allowed to attend the church, she could. I called him after being told this from my wife and shared some choice words," Richard Youngblood writes.

"From that day until recent years, I have had mental and spiritual anguish as I was left to bear such a burden as the secret of Jakes' sexuality and the way in which I found out. It's been 39 years of my life, my now ex-wife and our children, products of a broken home and our faith crushed to pieces," he adds. "All because I simply wanted someone to help me become my best self. I was totally and completely deceived by Thomas Dexter Jakes. (T.D. Jakes)."
Home News 3 pro-life policies implemented in first week of Trump's second term

President Donald Trump has taken several actions via executive order and administrative directive to advance the pro-life cause since taking office last week. His actions reverse several pro-abortion policies implemented by his predecessor, President Joe Biden.

The Trump administrations moves on abortion policy coincided with Fridays March for Life, the annual gathering of pro-life activists in Washington, D.C., where Trump delivered pre-recorded remarks via video message.

Here are three steps the Trump administration has taken to implement the objectives of the pro-life movement as the official policy of the United States government.

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
Home News Trump executive order cracks down on sex-change surgeries, puberty drugs for minors

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order that seeks to crack down on government funding, coverage and promotion of sex-change procedures on minors as concerns persist about their long-term impacts.

Through the order signed Tuesday, Trump commits to "protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation," referring to body-mutilating procedures performed on minors under the age of 18 as well as the prescription of puberty-blocking and cross-sex hormone drugs.

"It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit these destructive and life-altering procedures," the order declared.

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

Examples of "chemical and surgical mutilation" listed in the order include puberty blockers, including "GnRH agonists and other interventions" that "delay the onset or progression of normally timed puberty in an individual who does not identify as his or her sex." The order calls out the "use of sex hormones, such as androgen blockers, estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, to align an individual's physical appearance with an identity that differs from his or her sex."

Trump also defined mutilation as "surgical procedures that attempt to transform an individual's physical appearance to align with an identity that differs from his or her sex or that attempt to alter or remove an individual's sexual organs to minimize or destroy their natural biological functions."

"This phrase sometimes is referred to as 'gender affirming care,'" the order states.

The order directs the heads of executive branch agencies to "take appropriate steps to ensure that institutions receiving Federal research or education grants end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children" and "rescind or amend all policies" that rely on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which encouraged the performance of gender transition procedures on minors.

Trump instructed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to "take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children" using "regulatory and sub-regulatory actions," "publish a review of the existing literature on best practices for the promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion" and "issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers" who report the performance of gender transition procedures on minors.

The order calls on the secretary of the Department of Defense to ensure that TRICARE, the healthcare program administered by the department, will "exclude chemical and surgical mutilation of children from TRICARE coverage and amend the TRICARE provider handbook to exclude chemical and surgical mutilation of children." Another provision seeks to remove "coverage for pediatric transgender surgeries or hormone treatments" from Federal Employee Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits.

Instructions to the Department of Justice ordered the "enforcement of laws against female genital mutilation across all American States and Territories" in addition to taking action against entities "that may be misleading the public about long-term side effects of chemical and surgical mutilation." The DOJ is also asked to investigate the "so-called Sanctuary States that facilitate stripping custody from parents who support the healthy development of their own children" and oppose the performance of gender transition procedures on them.

Leading up to the 2024 presidential election that he ultimately won, the Trump campaign listed working to "stop the chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of our youth" as one of its major policy proposals. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to "ask Congress to permanently stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to promote or pay for these procedures" and "pass a law prohibiting child mutilation in all 50 states."

The American College of Pediatricians lists potential side effects of puberty blockers as "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility" while warning that cross-sex hormones can cause youth to experience "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan."

Concerns about the long-term impact of gender interventions have already prompted authorities in some European countries to reconsider their approaches to treating the rising numbers of children who report suffering from gender dysphoria.

Twenty-six states have implemented bans preventing minors from obtaining some or all of these interventions: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath (Photo: Diocese of Liverpool)

The Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, has denied allegations of sexual assault and harassment broadcast by Channel 4 News on Tuesday night.

The report claimed that a woman in the Diocese of Chelmsford accused him of sexual assault. A second complaint came from a female bishop who accused Dr Perumbalath of sexual harassment.

The complainant in Chelmsford Diocese alleged that at a diocesan away day in 2019, Dr Perumbalath "kissed me forcefully on my mouth, which I did not like and I did not want. I tried to move away, but he was holding my head too tightly".

She alleged that at the end of a meeting in 2022, "As he was letting go of hugging me, he ran his hands past the side of my breasts on both sides, with a medium pressure, until he reached the edge of the areola."

She also alleged that in January 2023, Dr Perumbalath "pressed his face against my face, said 'I love you' quietly in my ear, and moved his mouth to just below my ear, on the pulse point on my neck. He opened his mouth, took a piece of my skin between his lips, and let go".

Responding to the allegations, Dr John Perumbalath said: "The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present. I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants.

"I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further action.

"Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others. I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area."

The Church of England confirmed that the National Safeguarding Team (NST) received a complaint of alleged misconduct against Bishop Perumbalath "early in 2023" and that it had been made "after Bishop John Perumbalath had formally and legally become Bishop of Liverpool".

"The complaint was looked into according to statutory safeguarding guidance in an NST-led process and an independent risk assessment undertaken," the Church of England said.

"This process concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged.

"The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action.

"The NST concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to bring a safeguarding-related complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) itself but offered the woman support if she wished to do so. The NST continues to have contact, at her request, with the woman who came forward and the offer of ongoing support remains.

"Some time subsequently, after hearing the details of the complaint directly from the complainant, the Lead Safeguarding Bishop also offered advice and support to the woman if she wished to bring a CDM complaint. That offer also remains."

Concerning the complaint from the second woman, the Church of England said the information brought "was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct".

"Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing," it said.

"The second complainant did not bring a CDM complaint within the one-year deadline. She later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which the Archbishop of York [Stephen Cottrell] fully supported.

"However, this was refused by an independent judge, the Deputy President of Tribunals.

"Archbishop Stephen has supported the complainant pastorally throughout the process and continues to offer practical help. He had no part in the decision-making around safeguarding or disciplinary matters."

Clergy in the Diocese of Liverpool have sent a pastoral letter to parishioners addressing the allegations in the Channel 4 News report and saying that they should be fully investigated.

"Like you we were shocked and saddened by the allegations broadcast by Channel Four News tonight. We recognise how difficult this will have been for people across our diocese to hear and we all need time to take stock," the letter reads.

"As leaders in the Diocese of Liverpool we want our diocese and our churches to be places where everyone is and feels safe. We know all our churches are committed to the best possible safeguarding practice, and to upholding the dignity of all people, which is why the allegations set out by Channel Four are so upsetting.

"We understand that some of allegations against the Bishop of Liverpool have been investigated and found unsubstantiated by the National Safeguarding Team.

"We are aware the police in Essex have taken no action with regard to one allegation. However, we understand that an allegation of misconduct was not fully investigated, and we believe that in the interests of justice this should now happen.

"Above all we recognise that this will be a shock and surprise to many. Some will be angry and some will feel let down. We are available for those who wish to talk and encourage anyone who is a victim of abuse to report it so it can be properly investigated."

The letter has been signed by Debra Walker, Chair of the House of Laity of the Liverpool Diocesan Synod, Peter Dawkin, Chair of the House of Clergy of the Liverpool Diocesan Synod, Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool, Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Archdeacon of Liverpool, and Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington.
Ian Sleeper (Photo: Christian Legal Centre)

A Christian street preacher who was arrested after protesting Islam in the wake of the London Bridge terrorist attack in 2017 has had his appeal rejected by the High Court.

Ian Sleeper was arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 for causing "harassment, alarm, and distress" after displaying a sign that said "Love Muslims, Hate Islam, Jesus is love and hope".

He was held for 13 hours before being released without charge. He later sued the police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment but lost and appealed.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the High Court said his arrest was justified due to the risk of public disorder because of tensions following the 2017 attacks. The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which supported Mr Sleeper in his legal action, said there was no evidence of such a risk.

The CLC called Tuesday's ruling "a concerning setback to the right of free speech" and alleged "two-tier policing" towards Mr Sleeper after officers failed to take action against pro-Palestine protesters calling for jihad against Israel during recent protests.

Mr Sleeper said the way he was treated was "completely wrong" and that he plans to appeal.

"The police have never apologised and continue to believe that what they did was right," he said.

"Recent events in London following the conflict in the Middle East has [sic] exposed that anyone protesting Israel and calling for violence would not be treated as I was by the police.

"There is no consistency in policing over these matters and what has happened to me and on our streets in the past month should be of grave concern to many.

"I will continue to pursue justice on this matter for as long as it takes and am pleased to have the opportunity to appeal the previous ruling."

CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said that police action against Mr Sleeper was "disproportionate".

"What happened to Mr Sleeper in 2017 has been prophetic for what we now see on London's streets during pro-Hamas protests," she said.

"The police have upheld the right for Islamic protesters to call for genocide without interference, and anyone who counter-protests and disagrees faces the full force of the law.

"Ian explicitly said 'love Muslims' ... How can you be free to criticise Islam in public if the words you mean and explicitly say are ignored in the courts?"
(Photo: Babylon Bee)

In recent years, Elon Musk, the controversial billionaire behind Tesla, SpaceX, and other revolutionary ventures, has made intriguing remarks about religion. These comments have sparked interest, particularly among believers, as Musk has described himself as a "cultural Christian". This term invites reflection on its meaning and implications for faith in an increasingly secular world.

Musk's View of Christianity: Admiration Without Commitment

To understand Musk's views, it is important to consider the context of his statements. During a 2021 interview with The Babylon Bee, a Christian satire site, Musk was asked whether he would "accept Jesus" while jokingly being offered salvation. He replied, "If Jesus is saving people, I mean, I won't stand in his way. Sure, I'll be saved. Why not?" Musk also said, "I agree with the principles that Jesus advocated. There's some great wisdom in the teachings of Jesus, and I agree with those teachings." He highlighted values such as "turn the other cheek" and "forgiveness" as particularly meaningful.

However, Musk stopped short of expressing a personal or spiritual commitment to Christianity. Instead, he described himself as someone who values these teachings while maintaining a largely secular outlook.

Musk's self-identification as a "cultural Christian" reflects this tension. The term typically refers to individuals who align with Christian traditions, values, or ethics through upbringing, societal influence, or cultural heritage, rather than personal faith. Such individuals might celebrate Christmas, admire Christian moral principles, or even express respect for Jesus, but they do not necessarily embrace the spiritual or theological foundations of Christianity.

For Musk, who grew up in South Africa - a nation shaped by Christian traditions - this identification likely stems from cultural familiarity rather than personal belief. Regarding his religious heritage, he has stated, "I was brought up as an Anglican, and I was baptised."

Musk's Critique of Modern Christianity and Politics

However, Musk's comments on Christianity go beyond casual admiration. A post on his X social media platform (formerly Twitter) drew global attention: "Christianity has become toothless. Unless there is more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right, Christianity will perish."

Some interpreted this as criticism, while others saw it as a challenge for Christians to live out their faith with greater conviction. Musk's statement reflects his belief that moral courage is essential for Christianity to remain relevant in the Western world.

Musk's political leanings add another layer to his comments. Known for his alignment with right-wing politics, Musk is a prominent figure within President Donald Trump's inner circle and now holds a senior position in Trump's second-term cabinet. His endorsement of conservative Christian values complements his broader political outlook, which often champions traditional ethics, personal responsibility, and scepticism towards progressive ideologies. Whether Musk's references to Christianity stem from personal conviction or recognition of its influence within conservative politics is uncertain. However, his rhetoric aligns with that of leaders who emphasise the role of faith in maintaining societal cohesion.

In President Trump's case, his association with Christianity has been a focal point for many of his supporters, some of whom view him as God's chosen leader for a new era in America. For these supporters, Musk's appointment as head of the Department of Efficiency in Trump's administration is seen as part of a divinely inspired plan.

A Call to Move Beyond Cultural Christianity

This connection between Musk's political identity and his claim to respect Christian principles raises broader questions about cultural Christianity. On one hand, Musk's positive remarks about Jesus' teachings might encourage others to reconsider the relevance of Christianity. His investments in altruistic technologies that benefit the disabled and literally help the blind to see cast the faith in a favourable light, especially in a capitalist culture that often dismisses religion as outdated or restrictive. If Musk's high-profile admiration for Christian principles is genuine, it could prompt some to explore Christianity further.

On the other hand, cultural Christianity risks diluting the essence of the Gospel. Christianity is not merely a system of ethics or a moral philosophy; it is a faith rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel calls for personal repentance and reconciliation with God through grace, not simply the adoption of moral principles.

When prominent figures like Musk describe Jesus primarily as a moral teacher, there is a risk of reinforcing the misconception that Christianity is just another ethical framework rather than a transformative relationship with the divine. Jesus himself rejected being reduced to a moral guide, declaring, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This invitation to faith is central to helping people move beyond cultural affiliation to genuine transformation.

For the Church, Musk's views present both opportunities and challenges. Affirming cultural Christians like Musk when they express respect for Jesus is important, but it is equally necessary to share the deeper truths of the faith. His comments reflect a broader cultural trend in a secularised and scientific world, where faith often struggles for relevance. Yet Musk's reflections remind us that the teachings of Jesus still resonate with those exploring questions of morality, spiritual maturity, and the purpose of our existence here on earth.

Elon Musk's respect for Christian principles opens the door for deeper dialogue about faith. The Church has a chance to engage cultural Christians with both grace and truth, offering them a clearer understanding of the transformative power of the Gospel.

Ultimately, it is not cultural affiliation or ethical admiration, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that offers the fulfilment every human soul longs for. The challenge for Christians is to meet people like Musk where they are and extend an invitation to experience faith as something deeper - an encounter with the divine that transforms lives.

Duncan Williams is outreach director for the Christian Free Press and has worked for Son Christian Media here in the UK and Recovery Network Radio in the United States. He is an ordained minister and a long-term member of Christians in Media. He provides content and syndicated news for regional publisher www.inyourarea.co.uk
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Using generative AI tools as part of a productivity suite isnt just about doing things better and faster. With the right partner, businesses can redefine what is possible, bringing more intelligence and creativity into routine tasks and ultimately enabling them to maximise the benefits derived from using an AI companion.

This is what Wipro aims to deliver with its custom offerings for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Leveraging two decades of deep understanding of Microsoft products along with insights from its early access program, Wipros AI Lab is a repository of carefully curated prompts designed for optimal interaction with Microsoft 365 apps. This can benefit both newcomers and seasoned users alike, ensuring they unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot to achieve desired outcomes.

Tailoring Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance work across the enterprise

Wipro works with enterprises on their Microsoft 365 Copilot integration by crafting different personas and tailoring for different user profiles, whether it is a C-level executive or development engineer. This offers personalised support, ultimately optimising time spent at work and freeing up human capital to work on more value-added tasks.

From a pre-generative AI world, where analysing a data file with 10,000 rows and 30 columns would require days of work by a specialist, anyone can ask a question in plain language and receive a comprehensive data analysis within minutes today. Similarly, integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot with Microsoft Teams supercharges the app, generating real-time notes and a detailed meeting summary, including a ready-to-use presentation minutes after a meeting ends.

For seasoned developers, it integrates with GitHub to speed up custom software development workflows and makes it possible for novices to create apps and websites effortlessly. In areas like managed services, Microsoft 365 Copilot functions like a chatbot, dipping into Microsoft SharePoint libraries to provide standard operating procedures and data.

Unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot with a partner

AI use often raises questions about data privacy, but security is at the heart of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Responses by the AI assistant are based solely on data within the enterprises reach, mitigating the risk of exposing sensitive information. The model has been trained to deliberately exclude customer data, ensuring that it is never shared without explicit consent.

For its part, Microsoft monitors the system for misuse, ensuring the integrity of the enterprises data by not storing any reviewed inputs or outputs. But ultimately, the success of any technology integration comes down to its actual adoption and usage.

Wipro leverages Microsoft 365 Copilot dashboards to monitor engagement, providing insights into which tools are used most and identifying patterns across time zones and regions. For areas where usage doesnt client expectations, Wipro provides training materials to assist their employees in fully tapping into Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Wipro also works with customers to calculate their overall ROI and then create a viable value proposition for adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot. This helps clients clearly see how their investments would result in enhanced productivity across the different personas linked to each Microsoft app, enabling them to make an informed decision.

Working with an experienced partner can take your AI companion from being a cutting-edge tool to transforming your organisations operations, allowing it to leapfrog into a new era of productivity, efficiency, and creativity.

If youd like to learn more about how Wipro can supercharge your Microsoft 365 Copilot implementation, read more here.
Moldova pentru Educatie: Liceul Teoretic O. Ghibu din Orhei va avea unul dintre cele mai moderne blocuri alimentare din tara
International Organization for Migration kindly requests your quotation for the provision of the Training on project management and digital product management as described in the RFQ MD004-25 submission form.



RFQ Reference: RFQ-MD004-25

Within the framework of the EU funded project Supporting protection, transit, repatriation and reintegration of affected eastern partnership citizens and vulnerable third country nationals in the eastern neighbourhood region affected by the conflict in Ukraine (hereinafter, referred to as the EU-funded IOM project), IOM is supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Inspectorate for Migration in the development of the new General Inspectorate of Migration Informational System  IS Migratie. The new system will implement a modern approach in running its internal activities based on international best processes and standards and according to its legal responsibilities entrusted through the enacted legislation.

The objective of this initiative is the provision of a comprehensive training on project management and digital product management for the relevant personnel of the General Inspectorate for Migration, aligned to the specific needs of the national authority identified upon close coordination with it and the IOM.

Therefore, International Organization for Migration kindly requests your quotation for the provision of the services described in the RFQ submission form.

Deadline for the submission of quotation extended: 14 February 2025.

More details and related documents are available here: https://moldova.iom.int/procurement

Alte articole de la acest autor:
Several UK charities are likely to be affected by the US governments recently declared pause on foreign aid funding, sector organisations have said.

After beginning his second term as US president last week, Donald Trump announced that his government would undertake a 90-day re-evaluation of its foreign aid funding through the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Part of Trumps America First agenda, the US foreign policy Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid was one of his initial executive orders on 20 January.

The US Department of State asserted: President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.

The mandate from the American people was clear  we must refocus on American national interests.

In response, UK umbrella body Bond said the USAID freeze could impact a number of its international development charity members.

National LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall also said the funding pause would affect its work in eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

US government urged to reconsider

Both Bond and Stonewall urged the US government to reconsider its plans to freeze aid funding.

Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake said: Many will be rightly fearful of the impact the US government decision to suspend all foreign aid will have, including for programmes supporting LGBTQ+ communities around the world.

This latest decision signals a further rollback of rights and support for marginalised groups by the new administration and its impact will be detrimental to communities living in extremely challenging circumstances and environments across the globe.

Stonewalls work in eastern Europe and the Caucasus is enabled by many funders, including the US Government, and supports communities and law enforcement agencies to respond to anti-LGBTQ+ violence, often providing vital services to victims.

Programmes like this are crucial given the anti-LGBTQ+ laws and rhetoric being increasingly enforced in the region, but they need continued and committed support and funding to succeed.

We are working hard with our partners to mitigate the impact of the US governments decision and ensure that the communities and individuals we support arent also victims of a political agenda thousands of miles away.

Bond chief executive Romilly Greenhill said: We strongly urge the new US administration to reconsider its current pause in USAID spending.

Knowing the devastating impact the UK aid cuts had on marginalised communities facing conflict, poverty and climate change globally, this decision will damage efforts to reduce poverty and erode years long partnerships and trust.

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.

Earlier this month, Jacob L. Nelson wrote in a piece for CJR about how the American Jewish press has interpreted changes within the community precipitated by Hamas attacking Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israels bombardment of Gaza that followed. He described a period of fragmentation, with American Jews critical of Israel moving decisively away from a mainstream establishment that no longer felt like their political home. Meanwhile, some Jewish groups previously aligned with progressive coalitions have found themselves feeling betrayed by former allies who refused to denounce the murder of civilians on October 7. The war in Gaza, Nelson wrote, did not create a rift so much as intensify an existing one.

Over the past fifteen months, Peter Beinart has found himself struggling to bridge this very divide. Beinart, a former editor of the New Republic who has written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, and Israels Haaretz (among many other publications), currently teaches journalism and political science at the City University of New York and serves as editor at large for Jewish Currents, which describes itself as a magazine committed to the rich tradition of thought, activism, and culture of the Jewish left. After undergoing a political transformation of his own, Beinart has become known in recent years for his critique of Israels ongoing military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and of the politics of Jewish supremacy. My introduction to his work was a 2021 article in Jewish Currents in which he argued against de jure Jewish statehood and in favor of a binational, one-state solution in Palestine and Israel.

Beinart is also a strictly observant Jew. As the war in Gaza unfolded, he told me, it was surreal to feel just horrified day after day by what I was seeing and then to see the organized Jewish community reacting with support. Beinart saw something deeply wrong with the emphasis on Jewish victimhood and with the idea that the incursion into Gaza was an act of Jewish self-defense: It struck me as having the effect of giving people a set of rhetorical strategies to allow them not to feel, and to allow them not to see, he said. And so he wrote a book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, which came out yesterday. In it, he argues that Jewish safety should notindeed, cannotcome at the expense of Palestinian dignity. We must now tell a new story, he writes in the books prologue. Its central element should be this: We are not historys permanent virtuous victims. Beinart and I spoke in advance of the release of the book about the politics of word choice, writing for a skeptical audience, and the Palestinian texts that have shaped his thinking. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



YRG: Over the past fifteen months, the media has struggled with the fact that, when it comes to contested narratives, even the use of certain words can be loadedfor example, terrorist versus militant versus fighter. How did you navigate that in writing this book?

PB: I try to avoid words that are going to lose people, [where] the particular definition isnt necessarily that important, but they signal you are anti-Israel and therefore I dont trust you and Im not going to listen any further, whether that term is apartheid or settler colonialism or genocide. I would actually defend particular definitions of all of those terms for certain things that Israel does, but I avoid them generally because I think its more effective to lay out the facts as I see them: in the West Bank, Jews and Palestinians live alongside one another, but Israeli Jews have citizenship and the right to vote in the state that controls that area; they live under civil law and they have freedom of movement. Palestinians dont have those things. I think that constitutes apartheid, but I think its more effective to say, You can call that what you want, but do you think thats an equal legal system? Similarly, on the question of genocide: we know that [in Gaza] Israel has destroyed most of the hospitals, most of the schools, most of the agriculture, most of the buildings; that people have been displaced multiple times and that the number of people, including the number of children, who have died, is well in excess of many of what we would consider the most horrifying conflicts of the twenty-first century. If you dont want to call that genocide, dont call it genocide. But what do you think of that state of affairs?

In the book you talk a lot about the strength that comes from ordering your life around community, but you also describe the dangers of the kind of defensive tribalism that the Jewish community has, in many ways, assumed. Has the press, both Jewish and otherwise, contributed to this dynamic? Have you seen this change at all over time?

Its no surprise that Palestinians have not had much of a voice in the American discourse about Israel and Palestine. It was in 1982 that Edward Said famously said Palestinians lack permission to narrate; I think in the mainstream American press, to a large degree, they still lack permission to narrate. I think what has changed is that the press is fragmented, with the rise of social media, and that there is now a wing of Americansyounger, more on the leftwho do hear Palestinian voices more because Palestinians have used social and alternative media.

Sign up for CJRs daily email

Establishment Jewish perspectives are well represented in mainstream American public discourse. Theres often a centering of Jewish and Israeli humanity, which I dont want to take for granted; Im aware that that hasnt always been the case, and that Jews have suffered a great deal from dehumanization. Whats bittersweet to me is the way in which empathy for our experience and our story comes at the expense of Palestinians. [When speaking about the Holocaust, many people, Jews and non-Jews, say] We will never allow this to happen to Jews again, and We support the state of Israel, and We support Jews being safe. I feel, on the one hand, grateful to live in a country that centers that narrative. Its part of the reason I feel so comfortable as an American, even in comparison to other liberal democracies like in Europe, where I think that story may not be as central. On the other hand, its so clear to me that the effect of that story is to decenter a narrative in which Palestinians have been dehumanized, for which the people in power in media and government dont feel that same sense of obligation. Or the conversation about anti-Semitism: Im glad there is a sensitivity in American discourse to anti-Semitism. And yet Im also appalled by the degree to which anti-Palestinian racism is simply the air that we breathe, without recognition that that should also be considered an unacceptable bigotry. I think the organized American Jewish community weaponizes that language of concern and empathy in cynical ways, and uses it as a tool to try to shut down a conversation about the rights and dignity of Palestinians.

When you write something that you anticipate might touch a nerve within your community, how do you prepare for the pushback?

Sometimes Ill send things to friends whose politics are not mine, just to kind of get a preview of what theyre going to dislike. It can help me avoid a kind of unforced error in which I said something that didnt come across the way I wanted it to or I didnt anticipate some counterargument. For instance, I sent this book to a friend who said to me, You know, Peter, youre not taking enough account of the fact that there are people who, at the end of the day, support the war, but are still deeply, deeply pained by what they see in Gaza. I thought that was a really helpful point to make, that I then tried to emphasize more. I think the other thing I do is I try in difficult moments to just sit quietly a little bit and ask, to the degree that I can, whether I think that Im doing what God wants me to do. It doesnt mean I can control the reaction. It just means Im willing to accept the response.

The history of persecution has made it so there is a strong cultural taboo against speaking or writing publicly about things that are challenging within the Jewish communityas you and I are doing now. How do you respond to that critique?

The critique that essentially Im airing dirty laundrymaking Jews look bad and giving aid to people who hate Jews? I do hear that a lot. It seems to me we have a tradition of speaking really openly and often quite harshly about ourselves because we believe that actually we have a moral responsibility to try to do better in living up to the obligations of the mitzvotcommandmentshowever one interprets that. The other thing is that Ive never met a Palestinian or a pro-Palestinian activist who has said to me, Gosh, I really didnt know Israel was doing these bad things; I wasnt really upset about it until I read you. People are seeing these things all the time, and frankly theyre often seeing them in much more unvarnished, harsher terms than Im expressing them in. In fact, some of what Ive heard repeatedly from Palestinian or Arab Muslim interlocutors is along the lines of: When Jews stand up for Palestinian human rights, they effectively counter anti-Semitic narratives in the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim world because essentially they make it harder for people to conflate Israel as a state with all Jews. They send a message that this is not a tribal struggle; its a struggle about certain principles.

In an announcement about your book, you wrote that you hope that your readers will also seek out Palestinian authors. Can you recommend a couple of books in particular?

One bookan old book, but a classicthat had a really big impact on me is Saids The Question of Palestine. The book helped to get Western readers to see Zionism from what Said calls the standpoint of its victims, which is still something that is relatively rare. The other thing that really affected me in all of Saids writing is the ethical humanism of his perspective. He has the extraordinary capacity to critique Zionism and also understand why Zionism had an appeal to so many Jews; to understand the Jewish experience that would have led some people to embrace Zionism and also to accept the depth of the Jewish connection to what Jews call the land of Israel. I think that takes a tremendous amount of empathy: Said is writing as a Palestinian who is from a family that was dispossessed, as part of a people who are not only dispossessed, but whose dispossession is not acknowledged.

Another book that had an impact on me was Ali Abunimahs One Country. What impacted me was his effort to argue that [Palestine and Israel] could be a place of collective liberation. I think its so alien to mainstream Jewish discourse to imagine that a Palestinian writer would care about Jews living and thriving [with Palestinians] in one equal country. The spirit behind it was one that was helpful to me as I made a move that was scary for me, away from the idea of partition toward the idea of equality in a shared space.

Editors note: On Monday, Ali Abunimah, the journalist mentioned above and executive director of the online publication Electronic Intifada, was deported from Switzerland after several days in administrative detention. He had traveled to the country to give a talk. According to Reuters, Swiss police cited an entry ban as the pretext for Abunimahs detention. He said on X after his release that he had not been presented with any charges, adding that he was questioned by Swiss defense ministry intelligence agents without a lawyer present; he suggested that he was targeted for being a journalist who has written about genocide in Palestine. Two high-profile representatives of the United Nations said that Abunimahs detention raised serious concerns about freedom of expression.



Other notable stories:
Automotive technology giant CDK Global has agreed to pay $630 million to settle antitrust claims that it caused hundreds of software vendors to overpay for vehicle dealership data by restricting access.

The proposed settlement, filed on Monday night in a federal court in Madison, Wisconsin, requires a judges approval.

The company denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

Austin, Texas-based CDK, owned by Brookfield Business Partners BBU.N, sells software platforms auto dealers use to run their daily sales, financing and service operations.

Tech vendor AutoLoop and other companies included in the settlement create apps for the dealers management systems for inventory management, repair orders, warranty services and other functions.

AutoLoop sued CDK in 2018, accusing it of cutting off access to auto dealer systems and driving up prices vendors pay to access data for their apps. A judge certified the case as a class action in July.

CDK chief executive Brian MacDonald said in a statement the company felt it was time to bring this long-standing litigation to a conclusion and that the settlement would have no impact on its business.

The vendors had indicated they would seek damages of $490 million at a trial previously scheduled for this week. A jury award could have been tripled under antitrust law.

The vendors who brought the class action include 243 companies that purchased data integration services since October 2013 from CDK or one of its rivals, Reynolds & Reynolds, which is not a defendant.

Lawyers for AutoLoop and other members of the class action at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick called the settlement extraordinary in a statement and said it stemmed from years of hard-fought litigation. They said they would ask the court for about $200 million in legal fees.

CDK agreed to pay $100 million in August to settle a class action by U.S. auto dealerships claiming they overpaid for the companys dealer management systems.
AKRON, Ohio  A former doctor from Hudson will spend at least eight years in prison after he was sentenced Tuesday by a Summit County judge on convictions for rape and sexual battery.

Mahmud Kara, 58, could spend a maximum term of 12 years in prison, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said in a news release. The judge also ordered Kara to pay a $10,000 fine and he must register as a Tier III sex offender.

Kara was accused of assaulting a woman at his home on Fox Trace Lane in April 2023, prosecutors said. He was found guilty by a Summit County jury last month.

I want to thank the survivor for her bravery in coming forward to bring this predator to justice, Kolkovich said in a statement.

Kara was ordered to forfeit his Ohio license to practice medicine as part of a 2018 case in which he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing criminal tools. He was also sentenced to one year community control and was fined $2,500.

In that case, agents with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the State Medical Board conducted an undercover investigation and determined that Kara did not follow state law when he prescribed weight loss medication to patients over a period of five years.

Kara was the owner of KaraMD, a company that offered natural remedies and supplements in Valley View.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  University Hospitals has sold some of its outpatient laboratory locations to New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics for an undisclosed amount, Quest announced. The sale, first announced in August, was completed this week.

The sale affects about 50 UH outpatient lab services locations, including laboratory draw locations inside its health centers.

Patients may notice some changes, starting this month.

While most lab locations will stay the same, lab hours may change and lab services will be billed separately. Test results will continue to be available on the electronic medical record MyChart, but Quest bills wont appear on MyChart, UH said.

UH caregivers still will have access to outpatient lab results and will be able to order lab tests as they did in the past, the hospital system said. Patients should bring a photo ID and insurance card to lab visits.

UH will continue to own and operate its hospital-based labs and perform all testing associated with inpatient care, emergency department visits and hospital-based outpatient procedures, as well as several specialized tests that Quest may draw (blood for) and will send to UH for processing, the health system said.

UH decided on the sale because Quest provides a wide range of services at affordable prices, and Quest labs accept a wide variety of health insurance plans, UH said.

Quest also can deliver continued lab innovation, connectivity with hundreds of electronic health record systems, and about 80 Ohio locations, UH said.

Laboratory testing is a critical and increasingly complex area of healthcare and Quest is a trusted name in laboratory services known for high quality and innovation, UH CEO Dr. Cliff Megerian said in a statement. We look forward to a collaboration with Quest that will maintain streamlined and efficient operations, quality and breadth of menu while enhancing access for our patients.

Quest, a leading provider of diagnostic testing services, had $9.25 billion in revenue in 2023, according to press reports. The company operates in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil and other countries.

UH lab testing will be handled by Quests laboratories in Twinsburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Quest said.

A total of 130 UH lab employees have been hired by Quest, UH said. Their new salaries and benefits are comparable to their previous positions, and their seniority was honored.

Those who chose not to join Quest accepted other jobs at UH, the health system said.

Buying, selling labs is healthcare trend

Private companies like Quest buying outpatient labs operated by health systems has been a trend across the medical landscape in recent years, according to healthcare experts.

Thats because many health systems dont have the resources to keep up with the rapid technological advancements in lab testing, according to press reports. Selling their labs to independent companies allows hospitals to focus on clinical care, while giving patients access to high-quality testing services.

In 2024, Quest completed the acquisition of labs run by hospitals based in Minneapolis. It also purchased Steward Health Care Systems outreach lab services serving Pennsylvania and Ohio, and outreach lab services run by OhioHealth based in Columbus, according to news reports.

North Carolina-based Labcorp  one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the world  also has been expanding by acquiring lab assets from health systems.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.
In a Tuesday interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Nucor CEO Leon Topalian expressed optimism about what President Donald Trump's tariff policies mean for the U.S. steel industry.

"We saw the memo last Monday on tariffs and what they're going to do," Topalian said. "And I think they're going to be far reaching, and I think they're going to be very broad to, again, stop the illegal dumping, the manipulation, currency manipulation and subsidization of steels coming into the shores of the U.S."

He referenced actions during Trump's first term, when the administration imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports, meant to curb dumping steel into the U.S. market. Dumping refers to when a country exports products to other countries at a much lower price than in those countries' existing markets. While Topalian said Nucor will "compete against anybody in the world," this dumping "creates a very unbalanced and unlevel playing field that has hurt the steel industry for decades."

Topalian also briefly discussed U.S. Steel , following rumors that peer Cleveland-Cliffs wants to acquire the company after the government blocked Japan's Nippon Steel from buying it. CNBC reported that Cleveland-Cliffs intends to buy U.S. Steel and then sell the company to Nucor. Nucor said last year that it had been interested in acquiring some of U.S. Steel's assets, but ultimately did not do so because of pricing concerns.

"We're the largest steel company in North America, so of course we took a look a year and a half ago and, and, we'll continue to look and see if those assets come back," he said. "But, part of the reason we didn't move forward is valuation. We're not going to overpay for assets."

According to Topalian, U.S. Steel is "a shell of itself" because leadership didn't recognize technological innovation, changes in the industry and emerging competitors. He claimed that looking at his company's net earnings, "it would take the next three competitors combined to get anywhere close to what Nucor has done."

"We've been focused on executing a strategy that has resulted in an unprecedented opportunity to partner with Nippon to secure jobs, invest capital and infuse global leading knowhow and technology into U. S. Steel," a spokesperson for U.S. Steel said. "We will continue to compete vigorously for the benefit of our stockholders, customers, employees, and communities."

Cleveland-Cliffs declined to comment.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures during a rally on the inauguration day of U.S. President Donald Trump's second Presidential term, inside Capital One, in Washington, U.S. Jan.20, 2025.

Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings report lands just over a week after President Donald Trump began his second term in the White House, with Elon Musk right by his side.

Now that the Tesla CEO is firmly planted in Washington, D.C., in a high-profile advisory role, shareholders in the electric vehicle maker have some questions.

On the forum Tesla uses to solicit investor inquiries in advance of its earnings calls, more than 100 poured in from shareholders about Musk's politics, including his official role at Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his endorsement of far-right candidates.

"How much time does Elon Musk devote to growing Tesla, solving product issues, and driving shareholder value vs. his public engagements with Trump, DOGE, and political activities?" one retail investor asked, adding, "Do you believe he's providing Tesla the focus it needs?"

In addition to contributing $270 million to help Trump and other Republican candidates and causes, Musk spent weeks on the campaign trail during the fourth quarter working to propel Trump back into the White House. After Trump's election victory, Musk then spent considerable time far away from Tesla's factory floor at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

One of the top-voted questions about Musk asked how much time he intends to spend "at the White House and on government activities vs time and effort dedicated to Tesla."

Musk and Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Starbucks reported better than expected quarterly results Tuesday evening  initially sending shares higher in choppy after-hours trading. Even though the company's same-store sales declined for the fourth straight quarter, early signs of progress on CEO Brian Niccol's Back to Starbucks strategy had us feeling encouraged that much better times are ahead. Revenue fell 0.3% year over year to $9.4 billion in the fiscal 2025 first quarter, beating the $9.3 billion expected by analysts, according to LSEG. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 69 cents fell 23% year over year, exceeding estimates by 2 cents, LSEG data showed. SBUX 1Y mountain Starbucks' share price over the past 12 months. Bottom line Coming into the quarter, investors knew the results weren't going to look good on paper because fixing Starbucks is no quick and easy task. We know that Niccol, who became CEO of the coffee giant on Sept. 9 , is a turnaround artist with an exceptional track record of revitalizing brands. He did it at Taco Bell and most recently at Chipotle. But reputation alone is what caused Starbucks to jump from the mid-$70s to the $90s when his hiring was announced in August. To get the stock higher, the market was hungry for data points that showed Starbucks was on its way to restoring growth in U.S. same-store sales, or comps. The market needed to see signs of progress in the company's strategy. Here are some highlights from the call. One tangible sign of success was the sequential sales improvement made throughout the quarter. Niccol attributed some of this accomplishment to his pivot away from discounting menu pricing and using those dollars to reinvest in the brand, leaning into broad-based marketing that highlighted the premium experience you get in the stores. Little changes can go a long way, too. Starbucks saw a positive reception from its decision to bring back condiment bars in the U.S., reintroduce ceramic mugs for a more upscale in-store feel, and handwritten notes on cups to enhance the cafe experience. Starbucks (SBUX) Why we own it: Starbucks has one of the most recognizable brands of any restaurant. But over the last few years, operations have been challenged by store inefficiencies and a slow recovery in China. Under the leadership of turnaround artist Brian Niccol, we expect operations will improve and return to growth. Competitors: Dunkin, McDonald's, Panera, Dutch Bros. Initiation date: Aug. 22, 2022 Portfolio weight: 3.02% Most recent buy: July, 29, 2024 Another data point Niccol cited was the recovery in U.S. category share among quick service restaurants following two straight quarters of declines. "These things tell us our actions are resonating with customers. Progress like this shows me that the Starbucks brand is still resilient and strong and that we have significant future potential," Niccol explained. "More importantly, it shows that we can sell more of our core beverages simply by demonstrating our premium value." As for new opportunities, Niccol believes there are throughput gains to be had by fixing the mobile ordering system and putting in place a better order prioritization algorithm. We've been critical in the past of how Starbucks's old regime got carried away with too many menu customization options. It was way too complex. It's no wonder the company struggled with throughput. That's why we were pleased to see management announce plans Tuesday evening to reduce its beverage and food stock-keeping units, or SKUs, by roughly 30% by the end of its 2025 fiscal year. It's also positive to hear that this turnaround program isn't all over the place and is constantly in flux. The last thing we want to hear is a strategy that needs to reinvent itself. Niccol emphasized on the conference call there is a clear plan to get the business back to growing again despite near-term challenges and he understands the necessary work. Were the results exactly what we wanted? The answer is no. In the quarters ahead, we'd like to see U.S. transaction growth improve faster so that the company doesn't need to rely so much on ticket, or price, to grow its revenues. However, there's enough here that proves management has the company on the right path. Although this plan is still in the very early innings and there are plenty of challenges ahead, improvements are being made. For that reason, we are increasing our price target to $115 a share from $100 and reiterating our 1 rating. Quarterly commentary By region, North America net sales were slightly better than expected thanks to a smaller drop in comparable-store sales than estimated. In the U.S., which makes up the bulk of North America, net revenues dipped 1%, to $6.6 billion, despite the store count increasing 4%. Although comparable sales fell 4% due to an 8% decline in transactions, that was partially offset by a 4% increase in tickets. The results represented a slight improvement from the quarter before when transactions were down 10%, partially offset by a 4% increase in tickets. Where the improvement was most evident was in the morning daypart, with growth in non-Starbucks Rewards customers. That's encouraging because Niccol is trying to broaden Starbucks' appeal and get more infrequent customers back. But there was also growth in the company's active U.S. Starbucks Rewards membership program, which increased to 34.6 million from 33.8 million one quarter ago. Turning to International, the decline in comparable-store sales also was not as bad as expected. In China, net revenues improved 1% year over year, to $744 million, thanks in part to a 10% increase in stores. However, comparable-store sales fell 6% due to a 2% decline in transactions and a 4% drop in tickets. During the conference call, Niccol said he traveled to the region last week to make his first market visit. While there, he said he saw the strength of the brand and how dynamic the market is. He said he saw "several" near-term changes the business can make to stabilize operations, but he'll continue to explore strategic partnerships to get the business back on growth. We continue to believe that while the China coffee market is tough and pricing is competitive, Niccol will do what's best for shareholders. Outlook The company's guidance for its full fiscal year 2025 remains suspended, but CFO Rachel Ruggeri provided some details on how they are thinking about the rest of the year. Ruggeri expects earnings per share in the second quarter to be the lowest of the year, in line with analyst expectations, due to seasonality, organization restructuring, and increased investments. The stepped-up spending is going toward coverage hours and wages to support a service model of a four-minute wait time, as well as marketing. Earnings per share are then expected to improve in the second half of the year on both a sequential and year-over-year basis. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long SBUX. 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.

Charlotte, North Carolina, Starbucks Coffee, barista handing drink and straw to customer. Jeff Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images
Bill Gates didn't stay at Harvard University for long  dropping out after three semesters to found Microsoft in 1975  but he was there long enough to make an impression.

Gates' former applied mathematics professor Harry Lewis, for example, remembers the future billionaire as being inquisitive and "mature" beyond his years, with a tendency for questioning adults and tackling difficult problems.

"He always wanted a challenge," Lewis, who has taught at Harvard since the 1970s, told The Times of London in an interview that published last week. "I wasn't surprised when he dropped out  I just wish I'd invested in him."

Gates left Harvard early to launch Microsoft, which was then a startup in the nascent software industry. Microsoft ultimately turned Gates into a billionaire by age 31. It now has a market value of nearly $3.2 trillion, and Gates' estimated net worth is $108.7 billion, according to Forbes.

If Lewis had invested $100 in Microsoft when the company went public in 1986, his shares would be worth roughly $650,000 today, after accounting for price appreciation and dividend payouts, according to a CNBC analysis.

DON'T MISS: How to use AI to be more productive and successful at work

As a college student, Gates was surrounded by students whose math skills surpassed his own, giving him something of a wake-up call, he told The Times. He "nearly killed" himself by loading up on extra classes while spending hundreds of hours per month writing software code in the university's computer lab, he said.

"It was, 'Oh s---, there may be people better than me at math,'" said Gates, whose upcoming memoir "Source Code," largely about his life pre-Microsoft, is set to publish next month.

Gates may have questioned his own math skills while at Harvard, but the tech pioneer also could have been a professional mathematician "if he wanted to," Lewis told NPR in 2008.

In one specific moment, Gates' precocious curiosity and eagerness to take on a challenge made him stand out, even among his gifted peers, Lewis told The Times: "The first day [of class] I showed them the pancake problem [a mathematical sorting question involving different-sized pancakes] and two days later he came back to show me he could do it better."

Gates' solution was published in an academic paper in 1979. "The problem remained pretty much in that state for 30 years," Lewis told NPR, until some researchers finally improved upon Gates' method in a 2008 research paper.

Ironically, those researchers were enabled by the development of the computer industry, which Microsoft was partially responsible for. "They never could have actually done the case analysis were it not for the computer industry that Bill Gates built in the intervening 30 years," said Lewis.

Want to up your AI skills and be more productive? Take CNBC's new online course How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work. Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical uses, tips for effective prompt-writing, and mistakes to avoid. Sign up now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+ taxes and fees) through February 11, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.
The market fallout from concerns over DeepSeek was a "watershed event" that led to a buying opportunity in certain areas within tech, according to BlackRock's Rick Rieder. The sector was rocked on Monday after Chinese artificial intelligence lab DeepSeek said it had a free, open-sourced large language model that only took two months and less than $6 million to build. AI darling Nvidia plunged 17% on the news , recovered 8.8% on Tuesday and was in the red again during the trading day Wednesday. "It was really a reevaluation, which I thought was healthy," Rieder said of Monday's tech rout, noting that multiples in the space have gotten to really high levels. "You have to understand the companies you're investing in, versus just playing on themes and not every company is going to fit the theme." NVDA 5D mountain NVDA 5-day chart It was also a wake-up call on the amount of capital expenditure companies are saying they need to invest in AI, he added. "It showed the utility of these tools and that some of these companies that exploit the tools effectively can actually move faster and with a lower cost," said Rieder, the company's chief investment officer of global fixed income. He said he bought several names during the sell-off, including software companies that can benefit from faster and cheaper AI models. Several Wall Street analysts agree . BMO Capital and Canaccord Genuity both put out notes Wednesday that said the latest developments could be positive for the group. Rieder also bought some hyperscalers, which refers to cloud computing companies that are heavily investing in data center infrastructure. While Rieder wouldn't say which specific stocks he purchased, Amazon , Google and Microsoft are all considered hyperscalers. In addition, he was a buyer of some of the chip companies that were overly hit on Monday. "I don't think this was an indictment on chip development or chip distribution," he said. "It was a statement on how much it may cost to create compute power." Overall, it should still be a good year for equities, which could see a 15% return for 2025, he said. "I don't think it's going to be a straight line," Rieder said. "[Monday] was a pretty good reminder that there's a lot of crowding into positions and there aren't that many equities that people are buying. So I think you've just got to be careful." Correction: DeepSeek said its open-sourced large language model cost less than $6 million to build. An earlier version misstated the figure.
Orbex is a startup that develops both small and medium-sized space rockets. The firm uses a renewable form of propane known as bio-propane to fuel its rockets. Michal Wachucik | AFP via Getty Images

The U.K. government announced Wednesday a 20 million ($24.8 million) investment in Orbex, a Scottish spaceflight startup aiming to rival Elon Musk's SpaceX. The investment  part of a larger funding round that's being raised by the firm  was revealed at the European Space Conference in Brussels. Orbex raised 23 million for its latest fundraise. Other investors involved include Denmark's Export & Investment Fund, Octopus Ventures and former Informatica CEO Sohaib Abbasi. The British government also currently holds a stake in Eutelsat OneWeb, which was formed through a 2023 merger of the two firms. The government initially backed OneWeb in 2020 as part of a $1 billion rescue deal with Indian conglomerate Bharti.

What is Orbex?

Orbex is a startup that develops both small and medium-sized space rockets. The firm uses a renewable form of propane known as bio-propane to fuel its rockets. It is aiming to launch its first rocket, called Prime, toward the end of 2025. Measuring 19 meters long, Prime is designed to transport small satellites into low-earth orbit. The government said its investment in Orbex would contribute to its ambition to regularly launch U.K.-made rockets from British soil.

watch now

Supporting Orbex will help "turbocharge the country's position in the space sector," said British Tech Minister Peter Kyle in a Wednesday statement. Orbex CEO Phillip Chambers said that the government's investment "demonstrates its confidence in the UK's space rocket manufacturing and launch sector." "This investment paves the way not only for us to launch our first rocket this year but also to develop a larger rocket to enable us to compete in the European Launcher Challenge," Chambers said. "These development goals are crucial to our longer-term development," he added.

The SpaceX of Europe?

Orbex isn't the only British startup taking on SpaceX. Skyrora, another space firm, told CNBC in November that it is aiming to launch satellites from U.K. soil for the first time later this year. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German startup, is also planning a U.K. launch for 2025. Orbex, Skyrora and RFA specialize in so-called microlauncher rockets, which are typically much smaller in size than others and are designed to carry far lighter payloads. Orbex touts its rockets as a more sustainable way of sending small satellites into orbit. A University of Exeter study from 2021 found that a single launch of its Prime rocket would produce up to 96% fewer carbon emissions than comparable space launch systems using fossil fuels. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" last week, RFA CEO Stefan Tweraser said that developing sovereign space capabilities in Europe is "super important" given the industry's strategic significance. "The regulatory framework and the competitive positioning of Europe, a commercially successful operation, and a degree of service that offers support for every satellite operator are the foundation for us to be successful, despite the deep pockets of the U.S.," he said.
Moving from Texas to Greece has so far proven to be the right decision for Cara West and her family. "I wanted to be somewhere that was by the water that was really calm and peaceful, and that's exactly what we've had here in Syros," West told CNBC Make It last year. She moved to Greece in June 2024 with her husband and daughter. The devastating 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, played a role in pushing West to move her family out of the U.S. After spending about a year living nomadically in places like Portugal and Belize, the family settled into a home on Syros, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.

Cara West and her husband live as digital nomads based in Syros, Greece. Vicky Markolefa for CNBC Make It

Living in Greece offers West and her family a better and more affordable lifestyle, she said. Her husband was able to stop working and they live comfortably on the six-figure income West earns as a luxury travel concierge and content creator. She made around $136,000 in 2024. That "has been the biggest change for our family  to be able to spend more time with each other, to just have a slower pace of life," she said. "I feel like when we were living in the U.S., even though we were making more money, we still felt like we were living paycheck to paycheck and we just couldn't enjoy the little things," West added. Things like going to the movies or out to dinner was tough in the states, "but once we came here to Greece and just to many other countries in Europe, we were able to afford those little luxuries." Arriving in Greece wasn't cheap, though. West and her husband, Harley, spent around $15,000 in June 2024, the month they moved to Syros. Here's a breakdown of their expenses:

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Uma Sharma | CNBC Make It
Chinese travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang from a scamming compound along the Thai-Myanmar border this month, according to the marketing agency China Trading Desk. The fallout is also extending to other countries in Southeast Asia, with data from the aviation analytics company VariFlight showing Chinese travelers also canceled holiday trips to Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia  albeit to a lesser degree, according to the company's CEO, Subramania Bhatt. "The biggest decline is in Thailand. The other Southeast Asian countries are, I would say, collateral damage," said Bhatt. "A lot of folks plan to travel around the region as a single trip  so some have cancelled trips that originate from these countries too." During the same week in January, Chinese travelers booked more Lunar New Year trips to other destinations, including Australia (+4.8%), the United Arab Emirates (+4.7%) and South Korea (+3.9%), data showed. Thailand posted an AI-generated video on the government's Facebook page last Wednesday of its prime minister attempting to reassure Chinese tourists that traveling to Thailand is safe. Days earlier, Chinese officials said they were prepared to work with Southeast Asian nations to crack down on cross-border scamming compounds, according to China's State Council.

Chinese travelers' reluctance to visit Southeast Asia may be benefitting other destinations, said Yang Lei, analyst at the Hong Kong-based financial services company China Galaxy International. "Currently, Chinese people are becoming more cautious to go to Thailand and also some other Southeast countries," she told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" Monday. "The hot locations for outbound will continue to be Japan [and] South Korea. And for this Chinese New Year, people are also quite willing to go to Australia, New Zealand and also the United States."

Fears about human trafficking

The kidnapping of Wang, who was lured to Bangkok for a job opportunity, reignited fears among Chinese travelers to visit Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia.

watch now

Thailand officials have been working to regain the trust of mainland visitors since the release of the 2023 Chinese blockbuster film "No More Bets," which depicted a Chinese couple lured to Southeast Asia for work, which turns out to be a human trafficking scheme. The movie, while fictional, depicted a situation that the United Nations estimates has ensnared hundreds of thousands of people in real life. Many compounds are in the border areas outside of Thailand  in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar  often in special economic zones where there is "little to no rule of law," according to the United Nations. The areas, which have been called lawless playgrounds, are also often rife with drugs, wildlife trafficking and other illegal activities.

Outbound travel: increasing but 'uneven'

Despite the cancellations, parts of Southeast Asia are expected to attract more Chinese tourists this Lunar New Year than in 2019, according to Bhatt.

watch now
Colombia remains a favorite market for some strategists and fund managers, despite some geopolitical tensions with the U.S., thanks to the country's value proposition and growing economy. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday to impose immediate tariffs on the South American country because it turned back aircraft carrying deported migrants. After Colombia reached a deal with the U.S. on Monday to accept migrants, the White House retreated from its sanctions, averting a potential trade war. That geopolitical blip has not altered the bullish view of Yan Wang, chief emerging markets and China strategist at Alpine Macro. "The events over the weekend suggest that Colombia has effectively passed the 'Trump test' and I do not expect a significant deterioration in the bilateral relationship," Wang told CNBC Pro on Jan. 27. The U.S. had a trade surplus of around $1.2 billion in goods with Colombia on a 12-month annualized basis as of Nov 2024, he said, quoting data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This indicates that Colombia "should be relatively insulated from Trump's trade policies," Wang noted. While Wang is bullish on Colombia's prospects, he acknowledged that the country is subject to the same headwinds experienced by other countries. Still, he says "it is likely to outperform its emerging market peers." Colombian stocks "are among the cheapest in emerging markets. Stocks are trading at near record low multiples and are at nearly 50% discount to the emerging market benchmark. The COP [Colombian peso] is deeply undervalued, and Colombian bond yields are among the highest in emerging markets, both in real and nominal terms," he explained. Wang said he is overweight Colombian equities and bonds and has a long position in 10-year Colombian government bonds, which had a yield of 10.96% as of Jan. 27. His optimism comes amid growing investor interest in the South American country, thanks to its strategic location, favorable tax policies, growing consumer demand and expanding economy. The Colombian economy is expected to expand by 1.5% in 2024, up from 0.6% in 2023, according to the World Bank . The Banco de la Republica, Colombia's central bank, expects economic growth to pick up even further in 2025, with gross domestic product expanding by 2.9% this year. Those factors have attracted the attention of other fund managers. "Colombia is small and it can easily be overlooked. But I like it  I think it's an interesting value point and am especially optimistic on it in the second half of this year," Malcolm Dorson, senior portfolio manager at Global X ETFs, told CNBC Pro this week. "The MSCI Colombia Index trades at depressed multiples of 0.84x book value with a 8.32% dividend yield. This means you can buy Colombian equities now and be paid an 8% dividend yield just to [potentially wait] until the political change [expected in] March of 2026," he said , referring to Colombia's presidential election. The MSCI Colombia Index  which tracks the performance of large- and mid-cap stocks on the Colombian market  is up 28.91% in the last 12 months, according to FactSet data. For comparison, the MSCI Emerging Markets index  which captures large- and mid-cap stocks across 24 emerging markets, including Brazil, China and India  gained 13.64% during the same period. Dorson is now playing the Colombian growth story with the likes of Ecopetrol, the largest petroleum firm in the country, and financial institution Bancolombia. Both stocks are listed on the Colombia Securities Exchange and trade as American Depositary Receipts (ADR) in the U.S. under the tickers EC and CIB . Dorson's bets on the companies are somewhat contrarian, with all 12 of the analysts covering Ecopetrol's ADR giving it a sell or hold rating, according to FactSet. Meanwhile, 6 of the 7 analysts covering Bancolombia's ADR give it a sell or hold rating.  CNBC's Jesse Pound contributed to this report.
The Chinese artificial intelligence application DeepSeek appeared to be unavailable on Wednesday in Apple and Google app stores in Italy on Wednesday.

A notice displayed to customers on Apple's App Store said the app was "currently not available in the country or area you are in. A message on the Google app platform, said the download "was not supported" in Italy.

DeepSeek was still working on Wednesday in other European countries and in Britain.

The disappearance came after Italy's data protection authority said on Tuesday it was seeking answers from DeepSeek on its use of personal data.

The Italian regulator, also known as the Garante, said it wanted to know what personal data is collected, from which sources, for what purposes, on what legal basis, and whether it is stored in China.
Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and guests at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024. Brandon Bell | Via Reuters

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump took to social media this week declaring that astronauts left at the space station must return "as soon as possible," despite NASA's plan to bring the pair back in a couple months on a SpaceX vehicle. Both blamed the previous presidential administration for the decision NASA made in August to return Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule from the International Space Station without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams onboard. "The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," Musk wrote on X late Tuesday. "I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!" Trump added shortly after, on Truth Social. But it's unclear if the statements would actually change the space agency's timeline. Neither specified whether the White House would order NASA to change its plan.

During former President Joe Biden's administration, months before Trump and Musk spoke up on the situation, NASA tasked SpaceX with returning Wilmore and Williams from the ISS. The agency adjusted its rotation of astronauts as a result: It sent the Starliner capsule back empty and removed two astronauts from SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to make room for a delayed return by Wilmore and Williams, originally targeted for February.

Hurricane Milton advances towards Florida in a view from Dragon Endeavor docked with the International Space Station October 9, 2024. Matthew Dominick | NASA | Via Reuters

NASA, in a statement to CNBC on Wednesday, did not address whether it would alter mission plans after the posts from Trump and Musk. "NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions," a NASA spokesperson said.

Expedition rotations

The Expedition 72 crew poses for a group portrait on Oct. 23, 2024. NASA

While both Musk and Trump claimed the astronauts are "stranded" and "abandoned" on the ISS, NASA has had a spacecraft at the station since September that could return the crew at any time  a Dragon capsule operated by Musk's SpaceX. Additionally, allegations from Musk that "the Biden administration left them there" and Trump that the astronauts "have been waiting for many months" both misstate the situation. To understand the circumstances onboard the ISS, it's important to note that crews rotate onboard the orbiting research laboratory. For 25 years, the ISS has been continuously staffed by crews called Expeditions  each typically lasting about six months, with a mix of primarily U.S. and Russian crew members. Since SpaceX began regularly flying crews for NASA in 2020, the agency has been sending up four astronauts at a time. Each group works until the next arrives at the ISS, when a ceremonial "handover" occurs before the departing crew heads back down to Earth. NASA deemed Boeing's Starliner too risky to return Wilmore and Williams. Starliner was initially expected to be in space for about nine days, but it spent roughly three months at the ISS while Boeing investigated an issue with the capsule's thrusters. Instead, it decided to remove astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson from the September launch of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission. That meant Wilmore and Williams, who were already on the ISS, would stay on as part of Expedition 72. They would then return on SpaceX's Dragon alongside astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Notably, NASA recently delayed the launch of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission by a month, to "late March" from February. The agency said it and SpaceX required more time to "complete processing" of the newly built Dragon capsule.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose inside the hatch connecting Boeing's Starliner to the International Space Station on NASA

Earlier this month, NASA broadcast a discussion with the astronauts onboard the ISS, including Williams and Wilmore. "So, what you're telling us is you're not channeling 'Cast Away' and you don't have a volleyball with a handprint on it that you call Wilson?" then-NASA deputy chief Pam Melroy asked the crew. "No, we've got a whole team up here so we're not worried about that and there's a lot to do as well. ... We have tons of science experiments. ... We've got space walks coming up," Wilmore said. "It's just been a joy to be working up here," Wilmore added, having just shown with her NASA counterparts how they do a synchronized flip in zero gravity.
A pedestrian wearing a protective mask walking past the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai, India. The Nifty 50 and Sensex recently slid to their lowest in more than six months Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Indian equities have been sliding since September, as foreign investors spooked by a slowdown in the country's economy exit their holdings. Analysts see this as a "healthy correction." India's benchmark stock indexes the Nifty 50 and Sensex are hovering at more than seven-month lows, firmly in correction territory since their September high. Sectors such as real estate, energy and autos have been the biggest decliners, data from Goldman Sachs showed. This development comes as a stark reversal from last year, when the Nifty 50 consistently notched record highs, and outperformed the S&P 500 for the greater part of the year. "The bubble was long building, but acknowledgement is recent," said Venugopal Garre, head of India research at AB Bernstein. He attributed the gloomy outlook to a mix of sluggish earnings and weak economic growth in India's second fiscal quarter.

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Performance of the Nifty 50 in the past year

India's gross domestic product expanded by 5.4% in the quarter ended September, marking the slowest growth rate in the past seven quarters. The government recently lowered its economic growth estimates for the fiscal year ending March to 6.4%  the lowest in four years. "After a stellar run, India's economy has entered a softer patch that will continue for a few more quarters," data and analytics firm Capital Economics said in a recent note. "We think that will portend an underperformance in local equities relative to other major benchmarks," wrote Harry Chambers, assistant economist at Capital Economics. HSBC earlier this month downgraded its rating on Indian equities to "neutral" from "overweight." The bank also cut its Nifty 50 earnings growth forecast for fiscal year 2025 to 5% from 15%.

Foreign investor exodus

Foreigners have been net average sellers of Indian equities over the last four months, according to data from India's National Securities Depository, as the country's growth falters. Foreign portfolio investor flows into Indian equities plunged by 99% to just $124 million in 2024 compared with the year before, the data showed. The outflows have increased sharply in the past few weeks, with foreign investors withdrawing about $8.3 billion from Indian equities as of Jan. 28.

Foreigners remain net sellers of Indian equities, said James Thom, senior investment director at Abrdn. There has been a rotation out of India and emerging markets stocks into U.S. equities, Thom added. "Foreigners have been largely absent from the India story in the past year," he told CNBC. "It's a sort of risk-adjusted view that [investors] can get a better, safer return in U.S. equities," Thom said. "So why take the risk, so-called perceived risk with India?" India's economic slowdown also comes at a time when U.S. Treasury yields have been gaining momentum, leading to unprecedented outflows of FPIs, said Rana Gupta, managing director at Manulife Investment Management. Higher Treasury yields tend to take investments away from the stock market as bonds become more attractive.

Indian equity markets are going through a cyclical consolidation after four strong years of returns post Covid. Pramod Gubbi co-founder of Marcellus Investment Managers

Profit booking by foreign institutional investors has also pressured India's equity markets. "When a market does so well for such a long period of time, there is a lot of profit in the portfolio," Nilesh Shah, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, told CNBC. "This profit booking by the FPIs is resulting in higher supply at lower prices resulting in bidders dropping their bids, leading to correction," he added. Profit booking involves selling a portion of an investment to secure gains after the asset has risen, rather than holding it indefinitely. Traders sometimes engage in profit booking when the stock or asset is believed to be overvalued or have hit a peak. Some of the foreign portfolio investors who have made large profits in Indian equities are tempted to book more profits looking at higher valuations, Shah added.

'Onslaught' of domestic investors

In contrast with the exodus of foreign money, India's local investors have continued to pile into the Indian market, partially stemming what could have been a deeper decline in equities. Domestic investors have funneled in around $27 billion in Indian equities since October, data provided by Manulife showed. The quadrupling of domestic equity investors in India between 2020 and 2024 has led to a mini-bubble, which has been deflating since September, said Praveen Jagwani, CEO of asset management company UTI International. "The onslaught of tens of millions of retail investors into stocks with questionable fundamentals has driven up valuations in India," added Jagwani. "For sustainable equity growth, a healthy pullback is needed." While the near-term outlook for Indian equities may look bleak, some analysts believe longer-term fundamentals remain solid, and that a rebound is in the works.

Just a healthy correction?
Former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) departs Manhattan Federal Court after his sentencing on Jan. 29, 2025 in New York City.

A judge sentenced an emotional former Sen. Bob Menendez Wednesday to 11 years in prison Wednesday for a years-long bribery and corruption scheme that saw him rewarded with gold bars and stacks of cash.

Menendez had pleaded with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein for mercy, twice breaking down in tears.

"I have lost everything," Menendez said, after recounting actions he said he had taken to help others while in the Senate, a job he was forced to resign after his conviction.

"For a man who spent his entire life in public service, every day I am awake is a punishment," Menendez said.

The judge appeared unmoved, and noted that while he had done some positive work, the evidence against him was "overwhelming" and he had failed the voters of New Jersey.

"Somewhere along the way you became, I'm sorry to say, a corrupt politician," Stein told him before handing down his sentence.

Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 15 years for the New Jersey Democrat, which his attorneys called "vindictive and cruel" and "a life and death sentence" for the 71-year-old former chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Menendez was found guilty in July of extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent after a sensational trial in which prosecutors charged that he accepted bribes  including cash and gold bars  to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Two co-defendants were found guilty as well and were each sentenced Wednesday to several years in prison.

Menendez pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal the conviction. He has also been seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump after he was unable to get one from his former Senate colleague, former President Joe Biden, NBC News has reported.

Menendez' attorneys have pleaded with U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein to spare him jail time, noting he resigned from the Senate in August and contending he's been punished enough.

"Senator Menendez has suffered extreme public shame and upheaval, and his finances and reputation are destroyed, likely for the rest of his life. He is the butt of late-night talk show jokes, and his name will live in infamy as the first politician in history to be convicted of being a foreign agent," they argued in a court filing.

"He will live the rest of his days a social and political pariah, whether inside or outside of jail," they added.

Menendez's lawyers also contended that the judge should show mercy because of his "lifetime of good deeds," including the work he's done in the Senate, and that there was no evidence that "any of the acts alleged by the government harmed anyone."
In this article ULCC Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

A Frontier Airlines plane near a Spirit Airlines plane at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 16, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Bankrupt Spirit Airlines said it turned down a new merger offer from rival budget carrier Frontier Airlines . Frontier said Wednesday that it has met with Spirit's board and executives since it made its debt-and-stock merger proposal on Jan. 7. Frontier executives said in a email to counterparts at Spirit this week that their plan is better than Spirit's own plan to emerge from bankruptcy. "We continue to believe that under the current standalone plan, Spirit will emerge highly levered, losing money at the operating level, and this would not be a transaction we would pursue," wrote Frontier Chairman Bill Franke and CEO Barry Biffle in a Tuesday email to Spirit Chairman Mac Gardner and CEO Ted Christie. "As a result, time is of the essence." Christie and Gardner told their Frontier counterparts that they were rejecting the offer, calling the terms "inadequate and unactionable," according to a letter shared in a securities filing on Wednesday.

Frontier's new merger plan offered Spirit's debtors $400 million and a 19% stake in Frontier. It also proposed Spirit creditors provide $350 million in new funding, Spirit said. The Spirit executives called Frontier's proposal "risky and costly, with no certainty as to either timing or outcome" and "woefully insufficient financially." They said, however, that they would consider a sweetened offer. "Should you wish to make a revised proposal that is in fact capable of closing, and addresses the material deficiencies catalogued here and in our many communications, we would be happy to consider it and again work to activate our stakeholders to do so as well," they wrote. The two carriers were in talks for a possible combination before Spirit filed for bankruptcy. Frontier and Spirit first announced a deal to merge in 2022, but a higher JetBlue Airways all-cash offer derailed that plan. JetBlue's planned acquisition of Spirit was blocked by a federal judge last year, and Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection in November. In both deals, the airlines argued they needed to combine to better compete against larger rivals. Spirit said it expects to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy this quarter and has a Feb. 13 court date to finalize its plan, which wipes out debtor shareholders. It has raced to cut costs in recent months, including by slashing some 200 jobs and selling some of its Airbus planes.

watch now
Navigating monetary policy announcements from the Federal Reserve can be a minefield for stock market investors. Bespoke Investment Group noted late Tuesday that the S & P 500 has "shown consistent late-day weakness on Fed days, especially more recently." After the Fed ended its December meeting, the S & P 500 dropped 3%  and that was after the central bank lowered rates by a quarter percentage point. "A large portion of that weakness last month came at the end of the day, but that has been more a factor of usual Fed day trading patterns than anything reactionary to the contents of the statement or press conference," Bespoke said. "Across all Fed days the S & P 500 has fallen in the final hour more than half the time (55%)." The reaction to the December Fed meeting also marked the biggest Fed day decline for the S & P 500 since 1994, according to Bespoke, and the fourth time the market benchmark fell in reaction to a central bank decision in 2024 alone. This time around, the Fed isn't expected to make changes. The CME Group's FedWatch tool shows a 99.5% probability of the fed funds rate staying in the current range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Traders are also bracing for a smaller-than-normal move in the market. John Marshall, head of derivatives research at Goldman Sachs, noted that S & P 500 options imply a 0.6% shift in either direction for the index. That would be lower than the average realized move of 1.4% over the last four Fed days. That said, if Fed Chair Jerome Powell signals fewer rate cuts are on the horizon, it could spark a sell-off similar to the one seen in December. Conversely, if he provides a more dovish policy outlook, it could drive stocks higher. Goldman's Marshall also highlighted several stocks that have seen outsized moves on Fed days going back to 2022. In theory, these could create opportunities for a quick gain if bought ahead of the announcement. Here are some of the stocks that made the Goldman list, along with their average Fed day move (in either direction): Albemarle : 2.5% PNC Financial : 1.8% Enphase Energy : 3.8% Amgen : 1.1% American Airlines : 2.1% Elsewhere Wednesday on Wall Street, Oppenheimer downgraded Apple to perform from outperform, citing worries around iPhone sales and artificial intelligence innovation. "We see a twofold challenge ahead for iPhone growth: 1) stronger competition in greater China and 2) lack of compelling Apple Intelligence and generative AI apps to accelerate near-term device replacement," analyst Martin Yang said in a note to clients. "With slower-than-expected iPhone sales since last September and elevated valuation, we believe it will be challenging for AAPL to outperform."
Fund manager Dan Niles has thrown cold water over Nvidia 's tentative recovery from Monday's share price fall, warning that the chipmaker's stock might not have hit the bottom.

Shares in Nvidia slid 16.9% on Monday after Chinese startup DeepSeek claimed its free, open-source large language model was built in just two months costing $6 million, a fraction of the cost borne by other major players.

These developments have sparked concerns over how much money big tech companies will invest in AI, hitting the shares of Nvidia, a key AI chipmaker.

"Nobody questions whether Nvidia is the undisputed king and chips. What they're questioning is how much capex do you need for things like pre-training, post-training and then inference, ultimately," Niles, founder and portfolio manager at Niles Investment Management founder, told CNBC Tuesday.

After Monday's share fall  which slashed more than $595 billion from the company's valuation, the biggest single-day market cap decline on record  Nvidia shares rose nearly 9% Tuesday, but Niles has a gloomy forecast for U.S. chipmaker looking ahead.

"I think investors should be very careful about assuming that this is the bottom," he told CNBC's Sri Jegarath and Chery Kang on Tuesday's "Squawkbox Asia."

Nvidia could "absolutely" bounce back from Monday's massive move, he said, "but if estimates have to go down from Nvidia [revenue] growing at 50% to growing at 20 to 30% I think there's a stock has a lot more downside potentially from here."

In a statement to CNBC on Monday, Nvidia welcomed the emergence of Chinese AI competition. A company spokesperson called DeepSeek's R1 model "an excellent AI advancement," indicating that the U.S.-chipmaker sees an opportunity for its graphics processing units, or GPUs.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media amid his trial on charges of covering up hush money payments linked to alleged extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 16, 2024.

President Donald Trump's lawyers on Wednesday formally notified a New York state court of Trump's intent to appeal his criminal conviction on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star.

In the notice, Trump's lawyers said they would appeal both the jury's May 30, 2024, guilty verdict and Justice Juan Merchan's Jan. 10, 2025, sentence of unconditional discharge to a mid-level state appeals court.

The sentence, imposed just days before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration to a second White House term, meant he will face no jail time or other legal punishment, but that a former judgment of guilt would be placed on his record.

Trump, the first-ever sitting or former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, has long said he planned to appeal. After filing the formal notice, his lawyers now have six months to submit a brief laying out their arguments in greater detail.

The case stemmed from a $130,000 payment Trump's former personal lawyer made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she says she had some years earlier with Trump, which he denies.

Trump, a Republican businessman-turned-politician, was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up the payment. Trump argued that the case, brought by Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, was an effort to harm his 2024 presidential election campaign.

"The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal," Robert Giuffra, a lawyer who will be handling Trump's appeal, said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Bragg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bragg has said his office routinely brings felony falsification of business records cases.

Giuffra, a partner at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, had previously been under consideration for attorney general in Trump's administration, people familiar with the discussions told Reuters in November.

Trump has named the lawyers who represented him at the hush money trial, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, to senior Justice Department posts.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event to sign the Laken Riley Act, at the White House in Washington on Jan. 29, 2025.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will order his administration to prepare Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. military base in Cuba where terrorism suspects have been held for decades, to detain migrants.

Trump, at a ceremony to sign an immigration detention bill into law, said he would also sign an executive order Wednesday instructing his Defense and Homeland Security departments to ready Guantanamo's "migrant facility."

Trump said there are thousands of beds in Guantanamo to "detain the worst criminal illegal aliens."

"We don't want them coming back," Trump said. "So we're going to send them out to Guantanamo."

Guantanamo has held migrants for decades, though the facility's maximum capacity is unclear. The New York Times, citing the Department of Homeland Security, reported that just four migrants were being held there as of February.

The Global Detention Project, a research center that advocates for detainees' rights, suggests on its website that the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center has a capacity of 130.

Trump claimed Wednesday that Guantanamo has 30,000 beds, and that opening it up to detain migrants "will double our capacity immediately."
This illustration shows an image of President-elect Donald Trump next to a phone screen that is displaying the Truth Social app, in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21, 2022.

Trump Media is expanding into financial services, including investment vehicles, the firm announced Wednesday.

Shares of the Truth Social parent company, which trade under the ticker DJT, jumped 6.8% on Wednesday. President Donald Trump indirectly owns 114,750,000 shares of the company, held in a revocable trust.

The financial services division will be known as Truth.Fi, and it will be started with up to $250 million from the company that will be custodied with brokerage firm Charles Schwab , according to a news release. That money will be allocated to customized exchange-traded funds and cryptocurrencies, among other investment vehicles.

The company said it expects to launch products and services, including its own investment vehicles, later this year.

"Truth.Fi is a natural expansion of the Truth Social movement. We began by creating a free-speech social media platform, added an ultra-fast TV streaming service, and now we're moving into investment products and decentralized finance," Trump Media CEO and Chairman Devin Nunes said in the release.

"Developing American First investment vehicles is another step toward our goal of creating a robust ecosystem through which American patriots can protect themselves from the ever-present threat of cancellation, censorship, debanking, and privacy violations committed by Big Tech and woke corporations," added Nunes, a former congressman from California.

The release did not specify what types of investment vehicles Truth.Fi would offer, but said Schwab would "broadly advise" the company's investments and strategy. The products would focus on "American growth, manufacturing, and energy companies as well as investments that strengthen the Patriot Economy," according to the release.

Samantha Schwab, a granddaughter of the namesake founder of Charles Schwab, recently became the deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The announcement comes after complaints from Republicans that banks have treated some conservatives unfairly. During a remote appearance last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump complained to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan that the firm was locking out and de-banking conservatives.

"I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank, and that included a place called Bank of America," Trump said.

The president also took on Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase , the largest U.S. bank by assets.

"You and Jamie and everybody, I hope you're going to open your banks to conservatives because what you're doing is wrong," Trump said.

The remarks continued a simmering feud between Republicans and the nation's largest banks, with a flashpoint coming last year when a group of state attorneys general filed a complaint alleging that the institutions were discriminating against customers based on religious and political affiliations. Officials at the banks have denied wrongdoing.

Complaints about de-banking are also common among the crypto community, which was aligned with Trump during his presidential campaign.

Truth.Fi comes on the heels of the Trump memecoin, which launched shortly before the inauguration and resulted in on-paper gains of billions of dollars for the Trump Organization and its affiliates.

The new financial services firm may end up being a competitor to Elon Musk's X, which announced a deal with Visa on Tuesday as part of its push to expand beyond social media. Musk is a close advisor to President Trump.
Gunjan Kedia, president of U.S. Bancorp, speaks during The Clearing House Annual Conference in New York City, U.S. November 12, 2024.

U.S. Bancorp announced on Tuesday that President Gunjan Kedia will become its chief executive, effective April 15, becoming the first woman in the bank's history to take up the role.

Kedia joins only a handful of female CEOs in the finance sector, with Jane Fraser at the helm of Citigroup, one of the largest banks in the U.S.

She will replace Andy Cecere, who served as the company's CEO since 2017 and as its chairman since 2018.

Cecere, who has spent about four decades with U.S. Bancorp, had also served in key roles such as chief operating officer and the finance chief.

"It has been a tremendous honor and a privilege I value deeply, and I believe the time is right to welcome Gunjan warmly to the role I've held for nearly eight years," Cecere said in a statement.

The outgoing CEO, who steered the deal with Union Bank that expanded the company's presence in California, will serve as executive chairman, continuing to lead the board of directors.

Kedia, an industry veteran, joined the bank in 2016 and oversaw the revenue lines, the bank said.

Before joining U.S. Bancorp, she also held global executive roles at State Street and BNY and key roles at consultancy firms McKinsey and Company and PwC.

U.S. Bancorp reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit earlier in the month, helped by an increase in trust and investment management fees.

The bank, shares of which have lagged the broader market in 2024, forecast a total net revenue growth of between 3% and 5% for 2025.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, testified Wednesday before a crucial Senate panel, where he faced questions about vaccine skepticism, his evolving views on abortion and grasp of sprawling federal health programs. Kennedy, 71, appeared first before the Senate Committee on Finance, which will vote on whether his nomination as HHS secretary advances to the full chamber. In the Republican-controlled Senate, Kennedy can lose only three GOP votes if all Democrats oppose him. He will also appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for a courtesy hearing Thursday. He sidestepped many of the questions as senators grilled him Wednesday. He also struggled to answer some questions about Medicare and Medicaid, and often said he would defer to Trump on policies in such areas as reproductive rights and prescription drug price negotiations. If confirmed, Kennedy will take the reins of a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees vaccines and other medicines, scientific research, public health infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, food and tobacco products, and government-funded health care for millions of Americans. The heads of the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, among other federal health agencies, all report to the HHS secretary.

watch now

Kennedy has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle. He is a prominent vaccine skeptic, making false claims that they are linked to autism despite decades of studies that debunk that association. Kennedy is also the founder of the nonprofit Children's Health Defense, the most well-funded anti-vaccine organization in the U.S. In a government ethics agreement last week, he said he stopped serving as chairman or chief legal counsel for the organization as of December. Some critics have argued that his work advocating against vaccine use has cost lives and could deter more Americans from getting recommended shots at a time when vaccination rates are declining. A protester in the hearing room shouted when Kennedy denied he was anti-vaccine, accusing him of lying. It sparked applause, briefly interrupting his opening remarks. Shouting again interrupted the hearing as committee ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., questioned Kennedy about his comments about vaccines. Committee Chair Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, threatened to recess the hearing if any more protesters disrupted it. Beyond vaccines, Kennedy also previewed how he plans to pursue his broad "Make America Healthy Again" platform if confirmed as the nation's top health official. The platform argues that a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy. Kennedy has long contended that the agencies that HHS oversees need reform or a sweeping overhaul. Kennedy's supporters say some of his stances around food, such as highlighting the risks of food additives and ultra-processed products, have hit on broad appeal among Republicans and some Democrats. But Kennedy on Wednesday said he is not "the enemy of food producers," noting that American farms are "the bedrock of our culture and national security." Caroline Kennedy, the nominee's cousin and daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, wrote a letter to senators Tuesday that referred to her cousin as a "predator" and urged them not to confirm him. Here are some of the key takeaways from Wednesday's hearing:

Kennedy defends vaccine stance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Trumps nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies before a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., Jan. 29, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

Kennedy, in his opening remarks before the panel, pushed back on claims that he is anti-vaccine or anti-industry. "I am neither; I am pro-safety," Kennedy said. "I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, but that didn't make me anti-fish. All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in health care." Kennedy engaged in heated debate with senators over his vaccine views, saying, "I support the measles vaccine, I support the polio vaccine, I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people taking" them. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., didn't buy that claim, highlighting Kennedy's previous remarks in a book about not viewing measles as a threat. Senators also pointed to Kennedy's misinformation about the safety of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that was linked to a severe measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019 that left dozens of children dead. That outbreak came just months after Kennedy visited the island nation. Kennedy denied having anything to do with the deadly outbreak. "You cannot find a single Samoan that says, 'I didn't get vaccinated because of Bobby Kennedy,'" he said. When Wyden asked if measles is deadly, Kennedy did not directly answer the question. Kennedy contended again that he was not anti-vaccine. Wyden also pressed Kennedy on his comments in a 2023 podcast in which he said, "There's no vaccine that is safe and effective." Kennedy said he has previously clarified those statements and that he would not dissuade Americans from getting certain vaccines.

Kennedy's shifting abortion stance

Democrats pressed Kennedy on whether he had reversed his stance on abortion for political expediency and if he would do the same on other issues. "When was it that you decided to sell out the values you've had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?" Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said, pointing to his previous public support for abortion rights. Kennedy, in response, said "every abortion is a tragedy"  a line he repeated at least four times throughout the hearing. When asked about his approach to regulations around the abortion pill mifepristone, Kennedy said Trump "wants me to look at safety issues." He added that the president had not yet taken a position on how to regulate it. "Whatever he does, I will implement those policies, and I will work with this committee to make those policies make sense," Kennedy said. That's a similar response he had when asked about other abortion policies. There is extensive scientific evidence showing that the pills, which are regulated and approved for use by the FDA, are safe.

Kennedy struggles to answer Medicare, Medicaid questions

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies before a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., Jan. 29, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters
Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Oppenheimer downgrades Apple to perform from outperform Oppenheimer downgraded the stock ahead of earnings Thursday, citing a "weaker outlook." "We see a twofold challenge ahead for iPhone growth: 1) stronger competition in greater China and 2) lack of compelling Apple Intelligence and generative AI apps to accelerate near-term device replacement." Bernstein initiates Rivian as underperform Bernstein said profitability seems years away for the electric vehicle company. "While we see the company succeeding in its plan to reach > 500k units by 2030, this is not enough to create financial success for shareholders. With breakeven years away and mounting risks, we initiate on Rivian with an Underperform rating and a price target of $6.10." Mizuho initiates MicroStrategy as outperform Mizuho said the crypto company has upside. "Initiating coverage of MicroStrategy (MSTR) at Outperform, PT $515. MSTR's strategy is to use proceeds from debt and equity issuance to accumulate bitcoin with a goal of growing its bitcoin holdings per diluted share." Goldman Sachs downgrades Moderna to neutral from buy Goldman Sachs downgraded the biotech company due to limited visibility. "We downgrade MRNA to Neutral from Buy. We note the recent product revenue guidance represents the second in a series of negative revisions over the last six months, which while potentially at an achievable level, leads us to believe MRNA has limited visibility on the revenue stream for the respiratory vaccine business." Evercore ISI reiterates Nvidia as outperform The firm said investors should buy the dip. "Generally speaking, we view the recent weakness in the group as a particular buying opportunity for Buy-rated NVDA, ALAB and ARM, particularly for long duration investors." Evercore ISI reiterates Apple as outperform Evercore ISI said it is bullish heading into Apple earnings on Thursday. "We think Apple is positioned to deliver an in-line quarter with continued emerging market growth and strength from Services and Wearables." Goldman Sachs reiterates Walmart as buy Goldman Sachs said the stock is extremely well positioned ahead of earnings in late February. "We believe WMT is well positioned to continue driving solid earnings growth into 2025, supported by market share gains given its compelling proposition for value and convenience while its profitability profile should also improve, noting that operating income outpaced sales in 3Q." Barclays reiterates Microsoft as overweight Barclays said it is sticking with the stock ahead of earnings on Wednesday after the bell. " MSFT shares have been a relative underperformer since the company mentioned capacity constraints for Azure last summer. While we are not expecting the December quarter itself to show a re-acceleration in Azure just yet, initial guidance for the March quarter will." Mizuho upgrades Coinbase to neutral from underperform Mizuho said its checks show further bitcoin adoption is ahead. "Upgrading COIN to Neutral from Underperform. Why upgrade? Our analysis of bitcoin adoption growth points to further upside in bitcoin price over the medium-term. Bitcoin price and COIN shares are highly correlated." Bank of America reiterates Starbucks as buy The firm said the Starbucks turnaround is underway following earnings on Tuesday. "Although obscured by choppiness in January (severe weather), underlying comp improvement throughout 1Q seems to have carried into 2Q. Encouragingly, the spend improvement is widespread." JPMorgan adds a positive catalyst watch on Mattel JPMorgan said it is bullish heading into earnings on Feb. 4 for the toy company. "We are adding MAT to Positive Catalyst Watch into earnings as we expect sales and margin upside with the 2025 guide favorable to the Street (and the Barbie lap finally fully behind us), while valuation appears solid at ~8x EV/ EBITDA on our 2025 estimates." Barclays upgrades Nextracker to overweight from equal weight The firm said it sees "flawless execution" for the solar tracker manufacturer following earnings. "We now expect the company to track towards the upper end, if not above, all guidance metrics for FY25. On the heels of another strong bookings quarter, we have revised our FY26 numbers higher and now have NXT trading at a discount to ARRY." Guggenheim reiterates Meta and Reddit as buy Guggenheim says both stocks are "best positioned" heading into earnings. "We continue to view Meta and Reddit as best positioned with several foreseeable tailwinds (details within) and consensus ad revenue estimates as relatively de-risked compared to Pinterest and Snap." JPMorgan adds a positive catalyst watch on Monday.com JPMorgan said it is bullish on the project management software company ahead of earnings in February. "We are placing Monday.com on positive catalyst watch. After combing through a collage of data points we track on Monday.com, including qualitative feedback from channel partners, quantitative data points for headcount growth and website visits, our own bottoms up analysis as well as our conversations with the company prior to the quiet period, we are positively biased going into the print." Guggenheim reiterates Tesla as sell The firm said it is sticking with its sell rating ahead of earnings on Wednesday after the bell. "It is not a zero-sum game, we believe TSLA is relatively advantaged vs. other EVs but the repeal of the IRA would still be a net negative for TSLA."
For investors, Starbucks ' problems are plain to see. New CEO Brian Niccol's plan to fix them is becoming much clearer, too. Jim Cramer talked to Niccol, who took the reins of the global coffee chain in September, on Wednesday, one day after the company delivered a better-than-feared earnings report showing it was getting closer to restoring growth in U.S. same store sales. In the interview on CNBC, Niccol shed light on his plan to fix mobile-ordering bottlenecks  which have frustrated customers and employees and weighed on the performance of its U.S. stores  and his strategy for improving its standing in the increasingly competitive Chinese market. Niccol inherited a company that had consistently disappointed investors with negative growth in China, its second most important market behind the U.S. Chinese consumers have been stretched during the country's slow and bumpy recovery from the Covid pandemic. But Niccol said he's not giving up on the "tremendous opportunity" in China. During his recent first visit to the country as Starbucks CEO, Niccol said he saw firsthand the strength of the company's brand and the premium coffee experience it provides in the country. While he acknowledged that management is still figuring out "the right way for us to grow in this market," he offered some near-term changes that can be made, such as menu adjustments to make sure Starbucks has the right products for their Chinese customers. During the company's earnings call with investors on Tuesday, Niccol said management is still exploring strategic partnerships to grow in the market. For the quarter, international sales dropped 4%, with a 6% decline in China. The speed of service for mobile ordering is another troublesome issue at the top of Niccol's list of priorities. The particular challenge Starbucks has with mobile orders is that its system captures orders in a first in, first out basis. It doesn't take into account what's in the queue versus who is in the stores, making it difficult for its baristas to provide the best customer service. To address this, Niccol said Starbucks is piloting technology and adequate staffing to manage mobile orders "in sequence with the in-store customer." He said that this will help smooth out the flow of mobile orders and prevent them from overwhelming the in-store operations. Providing some anecdotal evidence of this "testing and learning" bearing fruit, Niccol said he made a recent trip to a Starbucks location, and observed less congestion at the counter while the in-store customers were getting served around his goal of a "four-minute time window or better" and found the mobile operation had "a lot of order" to it. Investors seem encouraged by the progress of Starbucks' turnaround: The stock is up 6% Wednesday and is on track for its best day since Aug. 13. To be sure, the next quarter is still going to be tough, with Niccol stressing that the comeback is still "in the early days." But he added that the right strategies are in place to keep making incremental progress. We're encouraged by Starbucks' progress, too. "I came back from that interview being even more certain that the turn is here," Jim said during Wednesday's meeting for Club members. "He has a plan. ...That makes it even more exciting to me. This man is going to turn around that company. He's not going to give China away. I'm so impressed with what he's doing," Jim explained. Following Tuesday's positive report, we raised our price target on Starbucks to $115 per share from $100 and reiterated our 1 rating . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long SBUX. 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.

People pass by a Starbucks coffee shop in Manhattan, New York, on Jan. 15, 2025. Mostafa Bassim | Anadolu | Getty Images
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.
It goes without saying that no member of The Gang on Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is even remotely normal. All five of them are selfish, horrible people  never more so than when theyre paired up with a much more regular straight man, making them seem even worse than usual.

One of the recurring straight men in their life is The Waiter, who has been tortured by the Gang several times over the course of a total of six episodes, like when they caused him to fall into a plate of spaghetti by tying his shoelaces together. Despite all of this, though, the Gang still somehow never seems to remember who he is.

Don't Miss

Sunny fans, however, remember The Waiter very well, which is why I recently caught up with Michael Naughton, the man who serves him up on-screen, to chat about the misery that is having to deal with The Gang.

Your first appearance on Sunny wasnt as a waiter, but as the boss who hires Charlie and Mac for an office job. Is it the same character?

When I was the waiter the first time, I kept thinking, Theyre going to realize that they already used me for the office worker. So I was like, Hey, do you guys remember that I did that spot a couple of years ago? and they were like, Of course! We love you! We thought you were funny and wanted to bring you back. I said, Is it the same guy? And they were like, Who knows?

You would have thought that they had thought about it, but they didnt think it mattered. They said, Well let the fans think about it. My dream is that they write a script that connects the original office worker with The Waiter. I want that all to come together in some way.

Your first scene, when you were the office worker, is one of the most beloved outtakes from the show. That must be part of the reason why they brought you back.

Advertisement

That outtake started making the rounds a couple of years after I did it, so maybe that explains why I first appeared in Season Four, but not as The Waiter until Season Eight. I talked with Rob, Glenn and Charlie about this on the (Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia) podcast, but I didnt really think they were laughing at what I was doing. Because I had this resume that had some stuff on it and I thought they wrote the resume, so I didnt know if they were laughing at what I was saying or the information on the resume. The scene was improvised, but I was still pulling pieces of ridiculous information off the resume.

I only found out on the podcast that they didnt write the resume. They say that it was my delivery, but I dont know.

I think youre selling yourself short. The best episodes of Sunny are when these five ridiculous characters have a straight man to play off of, which you did perfectly.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its funny, because of Sunny, people see me as a straight man, which is strange because I do sketch comedy and Im usually the goofy guy. I feel like most shows have a straight man within the main cast. Like with Seinfeld, Jerry is the straight man. But with Sunny, all the main characters are insane. How they pull it off, I dont know. Its fun to take that role, though, and just enjoy their insanity. Plus, I love trying not to break.

What was it like to fall into that plate of spaghetti?

I like being physical, so I asked them if I could do that myself. I did do one take, but in the episode, I think they used a shot of the stuntman who did it.

Its funny, my kids are too young to watch Sunny, but I tried to show them a little bit of what I did on the show. They didnt like it, though. They were like, Theyre so mean to you! They didnt like that The Gang tied my shoelaces together or that I fell into the spaghetti. They were almost crying.

Advertisement

How about when Danny DeVito moves in with you after you save his life in The Gang Chokes?

I was pretty surprised when I got that script. I was like, Im the B storyline? When I go in to do an episode, the guys greet me in the morning and say, Thank you for coming back. With DeVito, I feel like hes been doing this so long that he just comes out of his trailer and is ready for the scene. I didnt talk to him too much, but it was very exciting to work with him.

Why do you think The Waiter saved Frank from choking?

Advertisement

I think it was just instinct. Anybody in the world would do it except those four. But its not why The Waiter did it, its why didnt The Gang save him?

God, their looks are so funny in that episode. They look at him for so long while hes choking and they do nothing.

I also think Frank hasnt treated the waiter as badly as the rest of them. Glenn, Charlie, Dee and Rob all abuse me way more. Theyre definitely more aggressive.

Advertisement

Which of those four do you think treats The Waiter the worst?

Dee. She was immediately abusive. She has no memory of me, so she has no reason to be angry with me.

Why do you think the gang never remembers who The Waiter is?

I think its just because theyre so self-centered. I also think that maybe theres part of them that does remember me, but they just want to be assholes.

Last question: Will the waiter ever finish pilot school?

No. Hes been too emotionally damaged by The Gang.
Edding and pieing are time-honored means of humiliating the powerful, but we want to celebrate the protesters who went above and beyond with sex toys, symbolism and some good old fashion pageantry.

Advertisement

14 William Howard Taft: A Whole Cabbage Someone deigned to chuck a cabbage at William Howard Bathtubs Bane Taft on the campaign trail, but ultimately set him up for a historic zinger: I see that one of my opponents has lost its head. Advertisement

13 Richard Nixon: Half a Mexican Omelette While Vice President, he was egged by protesters in Peru, then egged and tomatoed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

12 Arnold Schwarzenegger: Two-Thirds of a Starbucks Order In 2005, while Arnold was governating at a diner in Chico, California, he got tag teamed by a couple of protesters. One person threw a cup of small ice cubes and the other flung a crushed-up muffin, both of which he bravely ignored. Later, some bootlicker chased down his security detail to tell them he got a picture of the assailants.

11 Donald Trump Criminally Charged a Child for Throwing a Toy at His Car In 2017, a middle schooler threw a two-inch by four-inch wooden block at the presidential motorcade as it headed to the airport. The literal child was apprehended and charges were filed with the Palm Beach County States Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement

10 Barack Obama: A Book and Full Frontal Nudity During a 2010 rally, Obama was accosted by two apparent supporters. One guy threw a couple copies of a book hed written at the president, hoping he would catch one and read it. At the same rally, a 24-year-old ran butt-naked as close to the president as he could get, in an attempt to win a million bucks from entrepreneur and asshole Alki David. David had made an open offer to anyone who would streak near the president, as a guerilla marketing campaign for his streaming platform. Its comforting to know that the world has been this dumb for a long time.

9 Pat Buchanan: Salad Dressing In 2005, this piece of shit advisor-to-the-stars (he guided some of the worst policies of Nixon, Ford and Reagan) got doused in salad dressing by an assailant who yelled, Stop the bigotry! Advertisement

8 Glitter Had Quite a Moment in 2011 From 2011 to 2012, Newt Gingrich was glitter-bombed for gay rights, Ron Paul was glitter-bombed for housing and healthcare and Rick Santorum was glitter-bombed on five different occasions. Advertisement

7 Throwing Yogurt Was Popular Among the Greeks, They Criminalized It for Decades Yogurting politicians became so popular in the 50s, a specific law was written heavily penalizing the practice in 1958. It was repealed in 1983. Advertisement

6 Beware the Biotic Baking Brigade The Biotic Baking Brigade is a lefty guerrilla group that targets right-wing and corporate neolib villains, and counts Bill Gates, Ann Coulter, William F. Buckley and Gavin Newsom among their victims.

5 Governor Jim Douglas: Pied by Santa Claus In 2008, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas was walking in a Fourth of July parade when an otherwise unassuming Santa Claus ran up and pied him in the face. Santas conscience got the better of him, and he later called himself a disappointment to my community. He was ordered to pay a donation to a food bank in the amount of Douglas drycleaning bill. Advertisement

4 George W. Bush: Shoes Before Luigi came along, journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi was the patron saint of projectile protesting. In 2008, while Bush was giving a press conference in Baghdad, al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Dubya, yelling, This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog! Bush ducked out of the way of both shoes with a goofy grin on his face. To this day, if you tweet about the incident, theres a high probability that al-Zaidi will see it and respond. Advertisement

3 George W. Bush: A Freaking Grenade While Bush was speaking in Tbilisi, Georgia, the worlds unluckiest man hurled a grenade at Bush and the Georgian President. It bounced off of some girl, causing it to both malfunction and land 60 feet away from its intended target. Old War Crimes McGee didnt even hear about the attempt until the event was over. Advertisement

2 Silvio Berlusconi: Milans Duomo Gothic Cathedral This is probably the most effective, most cathartic political pelting in modern history. Someone wound up and hurled a heavy little statuette of the many-pointed cathedral at the Italian PM, breaking his nose and knocking out two of his teeth.
Watching the Home Alone movies as an adult is a decidedly different experience than watching it as a kid  especially if youre a parent. The story of a small boy who is abandoned and endangered by his parents, who then has to fend for himself by developing a thirst for burglar blood, doesnt play quite the same as it once did.

Its hard not to judge Kevin McCallisters parents. They banish their eight-year-old to the attic for spilling some Pepsi, even though it was clearly the result of his older brothers toxic bullying? Then they forget about him entirely while flying to Paris. And the only reason why the McCallisters dont realize that one of their children is missing at first is because they opt to buy first-class tickets for themselves only.

Don't Miss

Merry Christmas.

Okay, sure, all parents make mistakes. But, in the sequel, the McCallisters somehow lose Kevin again. This time, its because theyre rushing through a crowded airport, and are more concerned with catching a flight to Florida than ensuring that their child is safe. Although, to be fair, American Airlines deserves some of the blame too.

But its not just grown-ups who blame the McCallister parents for their annual holiday gross negligence  even kids seem to know that child services should have been notified between movies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Catherine OHara, who of course, played Kate McCallister in the first two movies (but not the canonically-confusing sequels) recently chatted with CNN. When asked about why the Home Alone movies are still so beloved, she replied, Its just an everlastingly great story. And so beautifully executed.

But some kids, perhaps not understanding that OHara is an actor, wont hesitate to give her crap for her characters actions. So many times, children come up to me and say, Why would you do that to your child? OHara recalled. Why would you lose your child?

Last year, the SCTV star went into even more detail about these awkward encounters with pint-sized fans. A child came up to me, like, a little eight-year-old, in a mall, she told TODAYs Willie Geist. 'Are you Kevins mom? I said, Well, yeah, I played Kevins mom in a movie, yes. Why did you leave him? Sorry. It was in the script.

But the conversation wasnt over. You left him twice, the kid argued. When she pointed out that it was just a sequel, he responded, Isnt that called abandonment?

Advertisement

OHara could only apologize.

Even OHara herself has publicly expressed disapproval of her Home Alone character. During Macaulay Culkins Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony last December, OHara admitted that she had a hard time delivering some of the lines during the scene in which Kate escorts Kevin to the attic, particularly when she tells him that he should wish for his family to disappear because maybe it will happen.

I could not wrap my head around saying something so horrific to this beautiful child, she told the crowd, before adding the caveat, Of course, I was not yet a mother at the time, and I had no idea the kind of things would come out of my own mouth with my own two sons."

Advertisement

Hopefully none of the kids who called out OHara have turned to paintcan-based violence.
A handful of famous actors, including Michael J. Fox, turned down the chance to play Sam Wheat in 1990s Ghost opposite Demi Moore before Patrick Swayze landed his career-changing role. Fox later told Whoopi Goldberg he made a huge mistake by passing on the movie  Im a fucking idiot.

Paramount turned to other actors as well, reports Far Out. Harrison Ford. Tom Hanks. Kevin Bacon. Even Paul Hogan, hot of Crocodile Dundee, was considered. But one guy who never got a shot? The studios biggest movie star: Eddie Murphy. The comedians films brought in more than $1.3 billion during the 1980s.

I deserved for them to come to me first, Murphy says in the book Off the Record, excerpted by Newsweek in 2007. Thats how you treat your biggest star. You give him the opportunity to say hes not interested. I would have been interested in doing Ghost. But Paramount didnt even give Murphy a script to read. Theres no way of knowing if Murphy would have agreed to star in the film but he should have got the shot.

Don't Miss

Murphy turned down his share of other films that turned out to be huge hits, too. When Parade asked Murphy in 2021 what movie he regretted turning down, he offered up another project with a supernatural theme: Ghostbusters. I was supposed to be in Ghostbusters, he explained. We were doing Trading Places, and Dan Aykroyd was like, This movie Ghostbusters But then Beverly Hills Cop came along. I wish I could have been in both, but I did Beverly Hills Cop instead of Ghostbusters.

Murphy had another dream role that never got off the ground  his own version of Godfather III. I pitched a story to Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino, he told Playboy. Everybody loved it, and then Pacino said, You know something? Everybody loves it means itll never happen. My idea was for me and Stallone and Pacino to be in it together.

Point the finger at Paramount once again since the studio believed Murphys idea was too expensive to consider. It would have cost $80 million to get everybody together; so before we could even shoot a roll of film, wed be $40 or $50 million below the line, Murphy said.

Advertisement

What other movies are in Murphys alternate-universe IMDb profile? Imagine a world in which the comedian would have starred in these pictures:
One-hundred-fifty-five years ago, a peaceful camp on the banks of the Bear River (known today as Marias) was mercilessly attacked by Major Eugene Baker of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Reportedly drunk at the time, Baker's men surrounded the camp of Heavy Runner, a leader who carried an official letter naming him and his band as "friendly" and not to be harmed.

It did no good. Having mistaken his camp for that of Mountain Chief, who Baker had been sent to punish for the alleged killing of a white man, his soldiers killed Heavy Runner. They also killed women, children, the sick and elderly since all the men were gone hunting buffalo to the east. They took what possessions they wanted and burned the rest.

Some people escaped, and some of the children were adopted and raised by the few soldiers who refused to take part in the killing. It was bitterly cold that morning, and those who survived trekked towards other Indian bands or Ft. Benton, as far as 90 miles away from the site.

Last week, Blackfeet Community College commemorated the events of that day, something done at BCC every year and sometimes involving traveling to the site itself. This year, they also celebrated a new book about the massacre, "Blackfoot Stories from Bear River."

The book was written by a team that includes former BCC President Carol Murray, former Montana Rep. and Senator Lea Whitford and Mark Ratledge. Both Murray and Whitford spoke at the gathering about their research into the lives and stories of those who survived and remembered what happened.

Jesse DesRosier and Alden Spoonhunter shared emcee duties as the event was being live-streamed via Zoom. The Student Commons at BCC gradually filled to capacity as some speakers addressed them in person and others spoke online.

The Brave Dog Society arrived in full regalia and performed healing songs and dance. Later, Alden Spoonhunter and Wayne Smith of BCC had a Hand Drum contest, and Melissa Weatherwax and Christie Farmer conducted the Owl Dance and best-dressed contests.

Commemorating the massacre began at BCC around the time the college was in its infancy. Carol Murray, then President, initiated the annual event and spoke about their first trips to the site in small college vans. Gradually filling the overall story with research at the college, she and her fellow authors created the book that was celebrated last week.

One of Heavy Runner's heirs, Dick Kipp, was a topic that spurred Lea Whitford's interest. In her Zoom talk, she related his efforts to be compensated for the loss of Heavy Runner's horses.

"Efforts of Heavy Runner's heirs, especially Dick Kipp, William Upham and Mrs. Emma Miller, to obtain government compensation for the chief's 5,000 confiscated horses were supported in the early 1900s by Montana Superintendent of Indians Arthur McFatridge," states an excerpt from The Witness to Carnage: The 1870 Marias Massacre in Montana by Stan Gibson & Jack Hayne. "He wrote a series of letters, accompanied by affidavits, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of War, in Washington, D.C. Senator Henry Ashurst and others attempted to get a Senate bill passed, for (about $150 per lost horse), but it failed repeatedly. At the Cabinet level, Secretaries of War Henry Breckinridge and Franklin K. Lane said that 'it would be practically impossible to produce dependable evidence at this time to outweigh the reports of the military authorities' about the confiscation of horses or, as Breckinridge put it, to the 'alleged death' of Chief Heavy Runner. This despite the findings by Arthur McFatridge that 'a very sad mistake had been made by the soldiers,' and that compensation was merited."

Whitford concurred that Heavy Runner's heirs deserve compensation.

Another speaker, Ester Tailfeathers, spoke about her relative, Holy Bear Woman, who survived the attack. A physician and author, Tailfeathers related her tale of investigating Holy Bear Woman's story.

There is still more to be uncovered. Tailfeathers noted some 20 years or more missing from Holy Bear Woman's story and her determination to learn what happened after her survival. And while Murray and others have devoted much of their lives to that goal, it seems there is always more to be learned and knowledge to be gained.
Located within each Logan Health hospital in Chester, Conrad, Cut Bank and Shelby are welcoming rooms designated for adult or pediatric outpatient infusion therapy patients equipped with comfortable reclining chairs and beds, personal televisions, warm blankets, snacks, and beverages. A team of experienced, highly qualified staff, including registered nurses, CNAs, and pharmacists, are present to deliver personalized care to meet the patient's individual needs.

Prescribed by a Logan Health clinician or non-Logan Health clinician, infusion therapy treatments are available at any Logan Health hospital for a variety of conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, migraines, anemia, and ulcerative colitis. Infusion therapy can also deliver nutrients, hydration, antibiotics, and other medications that can't be taken orally or that need to be dispensed at a controlled pace, often intravenously.

"While we typically schedule outpatient infusions during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), we accommodate the patient and what works best for them," said Courtney Hovland, Logan Health  Shelby Director of Nursing. "Patients can always call us with questions regarding infusions and our capabilities. We want to do whatever we can to help patients stay close to home."

Due to the growing need for outpatient infusion therapy, Logan Health facilities on the Hi-Line also are focusing on creating newly remodeled and comfortably designed infusion rooms.

Logan Health  Cut Bank most recently constructed a new space to care for infusion patients with generous help from local community groups. The Cut Bank Elks Club, Rockies Healthcare Foundation and the Wishing Well Project collectively donated a total of $6,864 towards two new chairs for Logan Health  Cut Bank's newly constructed outpatient infusion therapy room. The new chairs are heated recliners that lightly massage, adding enhanced comfort for patients.

"The Elks Club is committed to helping the people of our communities," said Linda Luther, member of the Cut Bank Elks Club. "Having the new infusion room and chairs at Logan Health  Cut Bank expands the quality of care given locally."

"We are pleased to collaborate with Logan Health  Cut Bank in purchasing the new infusion chair that will provide comfort to the patients requiring these special IV medications," said Sonja Ray, Wishing Well Project Board Chair. "We are proud to continue to be a successful 501(c) organization with thanks to the many donors supporting our Wishing Well Project."

"We value the care that Logan Health  Cut Bank provides to our community, and we support the dedication of keeping patients close to home," said Valerie Vermulm, Rockies Healthcare Foundation Board Chair. "The new infusion chairs provide comfort, convenience, support and safety for patients."

The room will soon display plaques to honor those who contributed towards the completion of the room.

"With the new infusion room, we now have a dedicated area to provide a quiet, comfortable, and private environment for our patients to relax while receiving their infusions," said Crystal Losing, Logan Health  Cut Bank Chief Nursing Officer.

Whether a treatment lasts 20 minutes, several hours or days, patients can expect high-quality care, while experiencing intimate and personalized care close to home. That is a commitment each local Logan Health facility delivers.

To learn more about infusion therapy or to schedule an appointment, talk to your primary care clinician for a referral.
Leaders of the Town of Valier wish to inform its residents of their efforts to better manage public nuisance violations by requesting support from county and state officials. The following letter is for informational purposes.

To the Residents of the Town of Valier,

The Town of Valier is seeking greater support from the Pondera County Sheriff's Office, Pondera County Commissioners, Representative Llew Jones of House District 18, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Montana Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy particularly as it pertains to town ordinance violation citations and rulings.

The Town of Valier pays Pondera County Sheriff's Office yearly for law enforcement as it cannot sustain a task force on its own. From July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 the cost to Valier for law enforcement is $69,389.19. On the occasion that officers actually issue citations for multiple and various infractions of town ordinances, many of which are also state laws, the current Pondera County Justice of the Peace, Cody Shaw, rarely enforces the citations.

In an effort to clean up the town, the Mayor and City Council have worked tirelessly to adopt a nuisance ordinance enforceable at the town level. This has not been accomplished lightly. The ordinance was reviewed in depth by legal counsel. Upon adoption, Sheriff Robert Skorupa and the county attorney, Shari Lennon, informed the Valier Town Council that they were reluctant to support the ordinance and ensuing citations without a judge's ruling, thus circling back to the lack of enforcement on the part of the Justice of the Peace.

Meanwhile, town residents are dealing with vicious dogs at large, private residences that are overrun with junk vehicles, unappealing numbers of vehicles, abandoned and junk equipment, and other unsightly piles of debris and/or solid waste.

This is not a new concern. In an area that relies heavily on tourism and promotes a healthy lifestyle due to wide open spaces and a clean environment, our inability to enforce ordinances that support the wellbeing of our citizens is unacceptable.

We petition you, our elected officials, for your support and guidance in this matter.

Respectfully,

Mayor Glenn Wunderlich, Alderwoman Angi Dodge, Alderwoman Janelle Nelson, Alderman Steve Nelson, Alderman Rick Tomsheck

Valier town residents may also choose to contact county and state officials in regard to their concerns. They are encouraged to file a Town of Valier Citizen Complaint Form that will help create a paper trail in the event citations are challenged in court. The form is available at the town office or can be downloaded by visiting the Contact page of the town website. http://www.townofvalier.com
It was a steady stream of folks who came by the Multi-Purpose Arbor on Wednesday, Jan. 22, according to one Manpower employee who was working security that day. The event featured two events: a Health and Wellness Fair and Medicaid eligibility.

"The programs present were the Blackfeet Tribal Health Improvement Program (THIP), Diabetes Prevention and Management, Blackfeet Tribal Behavioral Health, FASTBlackfeet, Blackfeet Tribal Public Health, Blackfeet Tobacco Prevention, LIHEAP, Medicaid Eligibility Program and WIC," the folks at THIP said.

Arranged around the circumference of the arbor, these programs and entities each offered information and assistance in accessing benefits and investing in personal health.

"Our community has seen a drastic decline in Medicaid enrolled members in our area," THIP wrote in a public invitation. "We understand the struggles of completing and submitting the lengthy documents, but we're here to help. Come enjoy a warm meal while our team members assist you with reapplying or renewing your Medicaid."

Folks were encouraged to take advantage of full health screenings and various services at no cost. Some of the services included BMI and A1C checks, mental health services, WIC assistance and more from various Blackfeet Tribal Health programs.

"Our turnout was nearly 200 community members, which was great involvement," THIP reps stated after the event. "We would just like to thank everyone who participated, and we are pleased to see everyone being involved in their health. We will host more health fair events in the future and trust that more community members will become involved."
The following are the dispositions settled in Toole County Justice Court from Jan. 17 - Jan. 23, by the Honorable Judge Donna Whitt.

Michael D. Johnson, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 75/65, $20 fine; contempt of Justice Court, $100 fine.

Miselli B. Martinez, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 91/70, $120 fine.

Ashley N. Thompson, driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, first offense, $285 fine; failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle, owner or operator, first offense, dismissed by court.

William F. Heavy Runner, bodily injury with a weapon, felony, dismissed by prosecution.

Kalvinder A. Boperrai, log not current, $135 fine.

Arshdeep Singh, failure to obey direction to be weighed, $235 fine.

Kai A. Carvey, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine.

Paul J. Hofer, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding nighttime limit, 75/65, $20 fine.

Singh Gurjeet, not in possession of seven previous days logs, $135 fine.

Johan Neufeld, failure to follow conditions and requirements of special permit, $135 fine.

Joseph A. Waldner, exceeding the max gross weight allowed any group of axles, bridge formula, $210 fine.

Kim B. Leftly, basic rule, reasonable and prudent, first offense, $120 fine.

Rita A. Gillund, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 85/70, $70 fine.

Kenneth E. Lang, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding nighttime limit, 75/65, $20 fine.

Marvin W. Hatton, failure to follow conditions and requirements of special permit, $135 fine.

Keith D. Van Slyke, operating a commercial MV without proper endorsement for vehicle type, passengers or cargo type, $135 fine.

Dean T. Fugle, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding nighttime limit, 75/65, $20 fine.

Guy J. Knickerbocker, seatbelt violation, $20 fine.
By Karla Kulpas, Chester Red Cross Coordinator

Most of you know Chester and Ledger area farmer, Chris Kolstad. Chris is a very community-minded person who was taught at a young age to give to his local community. Chris's contribution at our community level though, is far-reaching to many areas of our state and sometimes even our nation.

Chris's father, Allen Kolstad, was a long-time blood donor most of his life. When Chris was age 17, Allen took him to a Red Cross blood drive in Chester where Chris donated for the first time. It must have been a positive experience, as Chris continued to give religiously for the next 52 years! At our most recent drawing in Chester on Jan. 2, Chris hit a major milestone. He has now donated 25 gallons, yes, GALLONS of blood! Just consider the effort required to achieve this milestone!

The Red Cross has been campaigning hard across our nation for blood donors for the past 5 years because donating blood has been less common since the Covid pandemic. It is a well-known fact that only 2-3% of eligible donors donate. Donating a unit of blood doesn't only benefit one person. A person with a blood type that is in high demand, like Chris Kolstad's, can benefit many patients as it is "broken down" into components such as platelets, red cells, plasma, and cryoprecipitate that are needed to sustain many patients.

A person is allowed to donate a unit of blood every 56 days and Chris has always been very mindful of when he is allowed to return for donation. In fact, if he is out of the area, he will seek out a donation center near his location, so he doesn't "get out of sync" with being able to donate again in 56 days. He told me that he has donated in 10 different locations in Montana and one in Minnesota. (One of his daughters from Minnesota also attended our drawing on Jan. 2 and also donated.)

The donation process is really quite simple. The Red Cross does a mini "physical" on each person, screening your blood count to make sure you are not anemic, along with your temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. They also ask a series of questions regarding your recent travels to make sure they aren't collecting a unit of blood that would not be transfusable due to possible exposure to malaria or the like. The process is quick and takes only 10 minutes or so.

If you download the Red Cross app on your smartphone, they will assist you in making an appointment and streamlining your registration, so you hardly have a wait period at all. The part that most people like the best is that they tell you afterward where your blood was used.

Chris's family put on a small party after his last donation to celebrate this milestone. Guess what they served! Bloody Marys!

Will Chris continue to donate? He told me that his goal is to reach 30 gallons! By my estimation, if he was successful in donating every 56 days, that would take him another 8 2/3 years. We do have a few young 80-year-olds who continue to donate in our community, so that seems perfectly possible to me.

The Red Cross has no limit on age in allowing a person to donate, but you should heed your medical provider's advice.
Sarah Zielke began working for FWP in 2023 as the Wolf-Carnivore Management Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks along the Rocky Mountain Front (FWP) in Region 4. Ms. Zielke will be presenting on management and local information on wolves and furbearers on February 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Valier Public Library.

Zielke grew up in north-central Wisconsin in a small agricultural community where her first job was working on a dairy farm down the road from her house. In 2012, she moved to Montana where she got a wildlife volunteer position working with wolves. She received her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Montana and gained a variety of experience working seasonal jobs over the years.

"I've been living in the Golden Triangle area for almost eight years now, so I am familiar with the area," reported Zielke when asked what things may have surprised her about the region.

Her background had some familiarities with North Central Montana, but one thing has taken some getting used to.

"I grew up in an agricultural community and have family who still farm back in Wisconsin. Granted there's more dairy farms back there. Having grown up in Wisconsin, I'm used to the cold weather and seasonal changes," but she admitted, "The wind is definitely different, but I've learned to work with it!"

In the two years that Sarah Zielke has been in her position as Wolf-Carnivore Management Specialist, she has grown to appreciate the work, its variety, and the interactions along the way,

"What I really enjoy about this position is being able to work outside the majority of the time," Zielke continued. "Oftentimes I'm hiking or driving to areas along the Rocky Mountain Front and down to White Sulphur Springs, so everyday is a new day. I also enjoy meeting landowners and building working relationships with them."

The Valier Area Development Corporation will be hosting an informational meeting on February 13 at 6:00 pm in the Valier Public Library. Ms. Zielke will present updates on management and local information on wolves and furbearers along the Rocky Mountain Front. The meeting is open to the public and free of charge.

"I hope folks attend the meeting because I think it'll be informative for everyone," concluded Zielke. "Wolves are in the spotlight right now and also other species like lynx and wolverine. I can offer local information and also assist people if they're having any kind of issues with wolves."
Judy was born Dec. 27, 1941, in Conrad, Mont., to Nelson and Beva (Lester) Bingham. She attended school in the Shelby, Mont. area up through high school.

Judy was married first to John Pat Hurley and later to Gary L. Wentling, and together they had eight children. Judy and Pat lived in various communities throughout Montana. She supported her family through a range of endeavors, including selling Tupperware and Sara Coventry jewelry Additionally, she worked as a typist for the state legislature in Helena, Mont.

In 1969, the Hurley family relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, where Judy worked for Providence Hospital and ITT White Alice Sites.

In 1974, she married Gary L. Wentling and continued her career with the Municipality of Anchorage People Mover Transit System until 1986. Judy returned to school, earning a Technical Computer degree and taught computer classes at MILA until her family moved to Fairbanks in 1991.

In Fairbanks, she worked for Phil Younkers Investment and helped establish Plumfield, the area's first assisted living and supportive care residence, with Jean Bogusch.

After retiring, Judy and Gary moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1995, where they enjoyed traveling and spending time with family. Following the passing of her father, Judy took on caregiving roles for her mother, her cousin Larry Roberts, as well as her Aunt Pauline and Uncle Jack Lester.

Judy had a deep passion for music, playing several instruments, with the piano being her favorite. She played and taught piano for over 75 years, performing for more than 20 years at both Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Anchorage and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Spokane. In addition to music, Judy enjoyed drawing, painting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, embroidery, and crafting. Known as the "slot machine queen," she often won enough at the casino to keep her returning.

Judy is survived by her husband, Gary Wentling; her children Deborah, Patrick (Annmarie), Bev (Joe) St. Sauver, Mike (Mary), Mark (Lori) Hurley; C.B. (Tiffany) and Dana (Brandy) Wentling; and Tammy (Owen) Williams; as well as her sister, Carol; 24 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Marjorie Tenney, and her former husband, Pat Hurley.

Services will be held Jan. 30 at the Heritage Funeral Home, located at 508 Government Way, Spokane, Wash. Viewing will be 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. followed by funeral service at 1 p.m. with graveside burial immediately following. In lieu of charitable contribution please send flowers directly to Heritage Funeral Home.
Mind-boggling. Thats the phrase that sprang to mind when I read yesterdays Office for National Statistics (ONS) bulletin about a projected population increase of nearly five million people by mid-2032 on our already crowded island, taking our population to a phenomenal 72.5 million.

Even this astonishing number assumes net migration will be halved to 340,000 a year by 2028, despite the fact there is no sign yet that measures will be taken to achieve this.

It is a vast increase which, as the ONS makes clear, will be down almost entirely to immigration, as likely birth and death rates at the national level effectively cancel each other out.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp had his own words for this forecast, calling the projections shocking and unacceptable  and I have to say I heartily agree.

For while politicians and some academics, particularly those on the Left, have been keen to trumpet the message that immigration is an unalloyed good, helping to boost growth in our economy and enrich our society, we now know this is simply not the case.

In fact, it comes at a net fiscal cost to the taxpayer, given that a significant proportion are not economically active and therefore do not contribute income tax.

Analysis from Migration Watch UK found that between 1995 and 2011, migrants in the UK made a negative fiscal contribution totalling 95 billion. Astonishing though this may seem, it makes sense when you consider that, while some who arrive on our shores work hard and pay taxes, large numbers dont. Many are accompanied by economically inactive children, spouses and aged parents.

Even leaving that sobering 95 billion figure aside, cheerleaders for unmitigated immigration nearly always ignore the fact that any contribution migrants make inevitably has to be set against additional costs on our public services.

Alp Mehmet: 'Mind-boggling. Thats the phrase that sprang to mind when I read yesterdays Office for National Statistics (ONS) bulletin about a projected population increase of nearly five million people by mid-2032'

Passport checks on the UK border at Gatwick Airport

GP surgeries, police, welfare and social services and other bodies have been placed under near intolerable strain by our exploding population in the past decade, as Migration Watch UK, the organisation I chair, has pointed out for many years.

This is before we get to the social and cultural factors of these sweeping demographic changes. Mass immigration on to our island in the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st has seen our population shift from one that was 95 per cent white British in 1991 to 75 per cent now.

That is startling enough, but if the ONS projections are right  and they are likely to be an underestimate  we are looking at the white British population actually falling to below 50 per cent within a generation. That means anyone born today to a white British family will be in a minority in the country of their birth by the time they reach their 40s. In other words, the fabric of this country will be completely transformed.

I write this as a first generation immigrant myself. My parents and I came to this country in the 1950s from our native Cyprus, then still a British colony.

My parents came because they wanted to embrace this countrys values and culture.

However, that is not the case for a great many immigrants today who, under the much-trumpeted value of multiculturalism, cleave to their own values while politicians beat us over the head with the repeated mantra that diversity is our strength.

Migrants preparing to cross the English Channel from Northern France

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp (pictured) had his own words for this forecast, calling the projections shocking and unacceptable

They can say it as often as they like, but the reality is this is not a belief held by a vast swathe of the electorate. Indeed, the failure of both Labour and the Conservative parties to control immigration  legal and illegal  was the overwhelming reason many voters turned to Nigel Farages Reform UK at last years election.

In a recent survey, more than 70 per cent of those polled said they wanted an end to uncontrolled immigration.

This is not xenophobia or racism. It is simply the view of a population who are sick and tired of not being listened to.

None of this is to belittle immigrants. Managed properly, immigration can bring benefits on many fronts. But the harsh reality is that it is not being managed at all  and we are paying a very heavy price for it now and will continue to do so as a result of its future consequences.

Alp Mehmet is chairman of Migration Watch UK
The French novelist Stendhal once wrote of an adoration for mathematics because it allows for no hypocrisy.

Fortunately, he did not live to see the calculations tapped out by our Prime Minister and his Chancellor.

Sir Keir Starmer claimed yesterday in a back-slapping speech to business leaders that he is hard-wiring growth into all his Governments decisions.

Only policies which are good for growth, good for wealth creation will get the go-ahead, he insisted.

Such uncompromising criteria would be welcomed, but they are not borne out by the pluses and minuses entered into government ledgers under Labour.

The PMs claims overlooked the disastrous impact of Rachel Reevess decision to impose 40billion in new taxes.

Can Sir Keir explain how he signed off onerous increases in employers National Insurance contributions, when the move is sure to stifle job creation?

Likewise, the absurd ban on new licences for North Sea oil exploration is the complete antithesis of growth.

Sir Keir Starmer claimed yesterday in a back-slapping speech to business leaders that he is hard-wiring growth into all his Governments decisions

The PMs claims overlooked the disastrous impact of Rachel Reevess decision to impose 40billion in new taxes

Is the PM able to show us his arithmetic on the Governments 28 separate reforms to employment rights, which will cost employers 5billion a year to implement?

Just hours after his speech, No 10 conceded that growth-damaging policies would not necessarily be blocked in the future.

If that is the case, what will City bosses make of Sir Keirs reassurances  and of him  if they were just more hollow words?

No one wishes the Government more success than the Mail if it is truly dedicated to making Britain an economic powerhouse.

But forgive us for being highly sceptical of Sir Keirs growth mission, because time and again his actions belie the rhetoric.

Immigration nation

Since the turn of the millennium Britains towns and cities have, in so many key aspects, changed beyond recognition.

First there was mass immigration under Tony Blairs Labour government, which failed to implement restrictions on Eastern Europeans as they joined the EU.

Then the Conservative government neglected to grapple with the problem during their tenure, with annual net migration spiralling to a record 900,000.

The countrys demographics have been irrevocably altered, undermining social cohesion.

In 2000, the UK population was put at 58.9million. Now, projections say it will hit 72.5million in just over seven years time.

Almost all the forthcoming growth will be from net migration, the ONS said.

Tony Blair at an EU summit in 2006. First there was mass immigration under Tony Blairs Labour government, which failed to implement restrictions on Eastern Europeans as they joined the EU

The UK border at Gatwick Airport. Where will these added millions live, given the serious housing shortage in so many parts of the country?

These numbers are the exact opposite of what the British public has repeatedly voted for. It is a democratic crisis of staggering scale.

Where will these added millions live, given the serious housing shortage in so many parts of the country?

Labours sketchy ambition to build 1.5million new homes by the end of this parliament will barely scratch the surface.

Which GP surgeries and hospitals will the new arrivals use, and where will their children be taught?

The PM yesterday ruled out an arbitrary cap on immigration but promised significant reductions.

Lets start by deporting the foreign criminals and illegal immigrants who have no right to be here.

The latest shocking data should provide a wake-up call, if another were needed, that real action is years overdue.
'Disastrous'. 'Suicidal'. 'A growth killer'. These are just some of the words that have been used to describe the Government's economic strategy over the past few days.

But we can now see this criticism was wrong. As Keir Starmer demonstrated yesterday, and Rachel Reeves confirmed in her speech today, the problem isn't that the Government is pursuing a disastrously damaging economic policy and strategy. It now literally has no economic policy or strategy at all.

When Labour entered office it had a clear economic plan. That plan had its critics. But it at least had the virtue of clarity, underpinned by a degree of ideological consistency.

Ministers would come clean to the country about the appalling nature of the public finances they inherited. They would then explain how that malign inheritance had forced them to make a difficult choice. After years of neglect under the Tories, public services needed to be protected. So as a result, 40billion of taxes would have to be raised from businesses. It would be tough. But the 'black hole' the new administration had uncovered needed to be filled, not least to reassure the markets, and stabilise the nation's currency.

And we know had that worked out. The economy promptly tanked. Businesses began to lay off workers. Unemployment started to rise. Growth forecasts were revised down. The markets were sent into spasm. As one Minister admitted to me last week: 'the Budget acted like chloroform on the UK economy'.

So over the last 48 hours, both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have attempted to undo the damage. Keir Starmer  implausibly  attempted to uncover his inner-Margaret Thatcher by telling a group of slightly bemused business leaders his number one priority would now be to 'hard-wire growth' into his government. Rachel Reeves  even more implausibly  declared she would be embracing her inner Donald Trump, would start to talk up Britain, and give the green light to a raft of new runways, roads and railways lines.

If she continues as she is, Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured giving her speech today) will prove herself 'at best an economic dilettante, and at worst economically illiterate'

All of which is nice. But is also utterly economically and politically incoherent, when set aside the Government's previously announced policies and objectives.

It's great that Keir Starmer has suddenly decided he wants to prioritise economic expansion. But it's impossible to align that ambition with a decision to impose 40billion of tax on British business. The Prime Minister's stated desire to free the business community from what he called a 'Japanese knot-weed of red tape' is equally laudable. But again, how can that be squared with his plan to impose a new raft of workplace regulation via Angela Rayner's Employment's Right's Bill?

A commitment to growth will be music to the ears of hard-pressed business chiefs. But who is going to break the news to his Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, whose dash towards Net Zero is becoming an albatross around the neck of the British economy?

If Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves had stood up and said, 'OK, it's a fair cop. We messed up. We went too far in the Budget, we're going to reverse it,' they would deserve credit for their honesty and pragmatism. But that's not what they've done. They have instead reached up and taken off the shelf some hackneyed cliches from the 1980s, in an attempt to pretend that Starmerism is somehow a natural extension of Thatcherism.

The reality is the economic strategy Reeves set out last November has imploded. But neither she, nor the Prime Minister, seem to be willing or able to explain what should be put in its place.

And among those being left in the dark are Keir Starmer's own ministers. In the run up to the Budget they were told the Government's priority would be to protect and reinvigorate public services. Labour's private polling purportedly showed that after 14 years of Conservative Government, that was the voters' priority. But over the past couple of months, as the markets have been thrown into turmoil and debt repayments have soared, those same Ministers have been told of the need to find major cuts in their departmental budgets. And now they are being told that protection of public services is no longer the government's main objective, and has instead been supplanted by a dash for growth.

Keir Starmer should admit his catastrophic mistakes on the economy, says Dan Hodges

As one Minister explained: 'What is the strategy here? What are we supposed to be saying to people? We're the guardians of public services? Or we're the new wealth creators?'

The truth is Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves don't have a clue. If they genuinely want to kickstart the British economy, that's fine. But then have to admit they were wrong. In November Reeves told the CBI she 'had no alternative' but to impose a 40billion tax burden on businesses. 'I know those choices will have an impact', she insisted, 'but I stand by those choices as the right choices for our country: investment to fix the NHS and rebuild Britain, while ensuring working people don't face higher taxes in their payslips'.

We now know what the impact was. It garrotted growth. So unless she reverses those tax rises, shelves the proposed profusion of new employment regulations and calls a halt to the mad-cap dash to Net Zero, she has zero hope of resurrecting the economy.

Since taking over as Chancellor, Reeves has faced a raft of personal abuse, some of it deeply misogynistic. But she has to realise that her previous strategy is simply not compatible with her new stated economic objectives. And if she continues to try to claim stimulating growth is somehow consistent with imposing the biggest business tax burden in modern British history, then the charge she is at best an economic dilettante, and at worst economically illiterate, will be irrefutable.

What the country needs is not rehashed Thatcherite free-market rhetoric, or repackaged Boris-boosterism. What we need is a coherent economic strategy. Or indeed, any sort of economic strategy.

But at the moment we don't have one. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are not prepared to come clean and admit their 2024 Budget crippled business. And without that candour, and a reversal of those policies, they are hamstrung from doing what needs to be done to get the British economy back on track.

Another black-hole has opened up. One that's sitting directly where the Government's economic strategy should be. And if Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer can't explain precisely how they intend to secure the growth they now profess to crave, then it will swallow them.
A British student with size 30J breasts is raising thousands of pounds for a reduction surgery after her request was 'unfairly' dismissed by the NHS - despite meeting all of its criteria for a free procedure.

Yasmine Ben- Omar, 21, from Brighton, wanted a breast reduction for agonising back pain which was affecting her mental health, but doctors told her that her bust 'was not that big' and her breasts were 'just saggy'.

She has now set up a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of private healthcare - but the fundraising bid has left her exposed to misogynistic comments about her appearance.

Speaking to Femail, Yasmine also revealed screenshots of her social media posts have even been posted on 'disgusting' forums without her consent - adding 'it's an ongoing struggle' to raise enough money for the surgery.

The Manchester-based student said she has felt 'ashamed' of her body for over a decade, having lived with the stigma and physical discomfort of her bra size since she was 11.

'I was in so much pain,' Yasmine admitted. 'I didn't have properly-fitted bras because my mum couldn't afford to buy expensive ones that were over 50.

'I was always uncomfortable, I didn't join PE when I was in school.

'I was very insecure and always in pain,' she repeated. 'It was a really bad experience, it made my childhood really weird and uncomfortable.'

Her peers would refer to Yasmine as 'the girl with big boobs', she continued, adding: 'I always got the wrong attention and would treat me like I was a lot older.'

Brighton-born Yasmine Ben, 21, set up a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of private healthcare after her request for a breast reduction surgery on the NHS was turned down

The Manchester-based student said she has felt 'ashamed' of her body for over a decade, having lived with the stigma and physical discomfort of her J cup size since she was 11

When she turned 18, Yasmine decided to undergo breast reduction surgery to alleviate the chronic back pain and feelings of shame that she struggled with all through school.

However, at the time, Yasmine didn't meet one of the NHS' key eligibility criterion because she was over the required BMI limit of 27.

Determined to pass all the qualifying conditions, Yasmine lost nearly four stone - bringing her BMI to 25 - before contacting the North Manchester General Hospital for an appointment that was scheduled for January 23.

Breast reduction surgery requires a referral from a specialist surgeon, who checks whether they meet the criteria laid out by the local intergrated care board (ICB).

These include suffering from backaches, shoulder or neck pain, grooves on the shoulders from bra straps, psychological distress such as low self-esteem and depression, as well as an inability to exercise or take part in sports.

Problems that Yasmine has encountered for over a decade but were overlooked during her appointment, she claimed.

'The consultant literally just looked at me and went, 'Oh, they're not big.'

'She said they're not big, they're just really saggy. She said you need a breast lift, not a breast reduction, even though my breasts are 30J, which is very large,' Yasmine recalled her 10-minute examination.

When she turned 18, Yasmine decided to undergo breast reduction surgery to alleviate the chronic back pain and feelings of shame that she struggled with all through school. However, at the time, Yasmine didn't meet one of the NHS' key eligibility criterion because she was over the required BMI limit of 27

Determined to pass all the qualifying conditions, Yasmine dropped 25 kgs - bringing her BMI to 25 - before contacting the North Manchester General Hospital for an appointment last year

The average bra size in the UK is 36DD, or five sizes smaller than a 30J.

During the appointment, the breast surgeon allegedly told Yasmine she has 'loose skin' and that 'we don't do breast lifts on the NHS' before drawing the curtain and walking out of the room.

'It felt quite judgemental, she wasn't very empathetic,' Yasmine added. 'She just rushed me; the appointment was meant to be half an hour, but she did it in less than 10 minutes I would say.

'The whole experience was horrible.'

A spokesperson for North Manchester General Hospital said: 'Ms Ben-Omar has contacted MFT Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALs) team and PALS will be in contact with Ms Ben-Omar to discuss next steps.'

Disheartened by the experience, Yasmine - who appealed the NHS' decision - now hopes to raise enough money to fly to Turkey or Lithuania for the 'life-changing' surgery.

She set up the GoFundMe, with a goal to raise 2,200, and is also juggling two part-time jobs along with her coursework at Manchester Metropolitan University.

However, Yasmine added, it has been hard to ignore the 'horrible' messages and comments she has received since setting up the fundraiser.

Despite meeting all the criteria, Yasmine claimed, her request was denied - prompting her to start a GoFundMe page so she can afford the 'life-changing' surgery

'I posted about [the fundraiser] on TikTok, and I think I got around 20,000 views and the majority of my comments were just hate comments.

'People over-sexualising me, people saying 'You'll be ugly, I'm going to unfollow you if you get the reduction surgery',' she admitted.

'I've even been posted on a forum,' Yasmine continued. 'I found that people had been posting me online, talking about my breasts when I don't share anything sexual or inappropriate.

'But they take screenshots of me and post them on disgusting forums, being really creepy.

'That makes me feel so uncomfortable and it just makes me feel ashamed of my body when I shouldn't be.

'It's an ongoing struggle,' she concluded.

Yasmine also addressed 'misogynistic' messages from men who told her the surgery would make her less attractive, saying: 'It's really selfish.

'It's basically putting the woman's pain below their own pleasure.'

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester said: 'NHS funding for breast reduction surgery is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on clinical need. When making these decisions, there are clinical assessments by consultants and specialists who determine the most appropriate course of treatment by assessing it against an eligibility criteria set out by our commissioning policy.

'We understand the challenges and distress that can arise from concerns about breast size and the potential impact it can have on both physical and emotional wellbeing. If Yasmine feels her condition has not been properly assessed or is not happy with the advice she has received, we would encourage her to follow the appeals process.

'We are aware that waiting times for consultations and treatments can be a challenge, and we continue to work towards reducing these waiting periods to ensure patients receive timely care.'
A leading trend-tracking company has revealed its definitive 'ins' and 'outs' list for 2025 - and it's bad news if you are a Cool Cabana fan, wear bows or use 'demure' in your daily vocab.

Founded by Matt Herbert and Connor Archbold in 2021, Tracksuit is an accessible brand-tracking tool tool that measures the value of brand-building and rising trends.

The team surveys thousands of people each week to track consumer awareness and perceptions. They work with top marketing executives and businesses including Guzman y Gomez, Arnott's, and Darrell Lea.

Now they have listed the trends that will drive hype in 2025, and those that will be shown the door.

'When creating this list, we focused on what we think will shape engagement for the year ahead and spoiler - there's a heavy emphasis on meaningful experiences,' Elly Strang, Content and Communications Lead at Tracksuit, told FEMAIL.

Ins

Card Games

As people search for meaningful and memorable IRL experiences, we're expecting to see more people choosing to pick up a pack of cards than their phone when hanging out with friends or family.

Card games are becoming increasingly popular, with many ditching their phones for wholesome in-person experiences

IRL Experiences

People are going to opt for more meaningful in-person experiences, moving away from their screens this year. It's time to put down the phone and prioritise in-person connection.

Nostalgia

Everyone loves looking back at memories from when they were younger. We'll see more remakes, retro-inspired rebrands and cultural moments inspired by childhood joy.

Curated Algorithms

More niche vertical scroll apps are set to make an impact this year. Don't be surprised if you see alternate versions of apps like Deepstash, which is advertised as a 'smart version of TikTok', creep up the lists in the app store this year.

Coffee Alternatives

The matcha trend is here to stay and we're expecting other alternatives like Arepa to become more popular in 2025.

Dad Cams

Film and video cameras have come back into fashion already, and we're expecting 'dad cam' content to take over Instagram and TikTok in 2025. Expect to see wholesome, vintage videos all over your feed.

Niche Emojis and Emoticons

People will be able to properly express how they're feeling online this year with the help of Apple's new Genmoji tool. The rise of niche emojis may even push Aussie dads to use more than just a thumbs up.

AI for Personal Development

You're lying if you haven't asked ChatGPT for some life advice. AI chatbots are a great tool to aid with personal development so don't be surprised to see usage of the tech rise in 2025.

Online Time Capsules

Apps and websites that capture a snapshot of what your life is like at a certain point in time - your rantings and musings on Substack, or the aesthetic you're vibing with at the moment on Tumblr - will be a valuable time capsule to unearth at a later point.

Jibbitz to Reflect Personality

Jibbitz (the charms attached to Crocs) are a fun way for people to express their personality. With Crocs continuing to be a popular choice of footwear, Jibbitz will increasingly be used by Aussies to stay trendy and showcase their own style.

Jibbitz are a fun way for people to express their personality

Outs

X (Twitter)

With Elon becoming a more divisive figure by the day, so has his rebranding of Twitter. The golden age is over and our team at Tracksuit expects its popularity will continue to decline.

Cool Cabana Culture

As tensions build between owners and non-owners of the beach shelters, who knows what will happen. A Cool Cabana war?

Beach cabanas and their much-needed shade have become increasingly popular on Aussie beaches. But it's time for the back and forth to end

Bows

Bows were everywhere in 2024 - from hairstyles to birthday cakes, and shoes! This is a short-lasting microtrend that we expect will be left behind in 2024.

Millennial Bashing

Millennials have been persistently teased for their social media preoccupation and trademark 'Millennial Pause'. As they grow another year older, we're manifesting (for their sake) that the online bashing finally stops.

Echo Chambers

If 2024 taught us anything, it's that we need to escape our echo chambers. It's time to branch out and listen to opinions from other walks of life.

Micro Trends

We saw many micro trends come and go in 2024, like cowboy hats, and the viral Skims dresses. While they are fun when they pop up, I think we'll see less of them this year.

We saw many micro trends come and go in 2024, like cowboy hats, and the viral Skims dresses

Being Overly Earnest Online

Brands taking themselves too seriously on social media is going out of style in 2025. Customers love authenticity and companies presenting themselves as overly earnest is not catching the attention of consumers.

Brat and Demure

Brat and Demure were fun, but let's keep these in 2024.

Charli XCX created the term Brat in support of her latest album 'Brat', featuring simplistic cover art. Demure was also huge in 2024. The trend is said to have been sparked by a now viral TikTok video by American content creator Jools Lebron. Both are 'over'

AI Influencers

AI influencers are here, and were not sure whether theyre fun or disconcerting. We think the novelty has worn off and that their popularity will dwindle in 2025.

Corporate Prawn Posture

Posture braces and stand-up desks will be all the noise this year as the unhealthy corporate prawn posture becomes a thing of the past.

Celebrities Endorsing Politicians

The 2024 US election saw many celebrities swear their allegiance to Trump or Kamala Harris. While their opinions are valid, people's votes are ultimately swayed by their own research and passion areas which raises the question of whether celebrity endorsements are even that impactful? We dont think so.

Brain Rot

Brain rot rose in popularity in 2024, a term describing short, meaningless content that you saw frequently on TikTok and Reels. In fact it was the Oxford word of the year. This year, people will be more interested in content that actually has a meaningful impact.

Situationships

Much like the dying of brain rot, situationships and flings will be replaced by more meaningful relationships.
Nadiya Hussain has emotionally revealed the one lesson she hopes her 14-year-old daughter will learn from her while reflecting on a lifelong struggle with self-image.

The Great British Bake Off winner, 40, is based in Leeds and has three children - two sons, Musa and Dawud, and a younger teenage daughter, Maryam.

Appearing on the cover of Prima Magazine's March issue, Nadiya said: 'If I can just teach my daughter to love herself, thats my job done.

'Even if I spend a lifetime loathing myself, if I can teach her to love herself, thats all I need.

'Shes so, so confident; nothing like me when I was 14, and I love that about her. I wasnt raised that way, and I wasnt reminded that I was beautiful and that I could do brilliant things.'

Nadiya, who is British Bangladeshi, told the publication that she grew up in a household full of 'very, very teeny, tiny people' with the experience

The chef, considered Bake Off's most successful contestant, realised at an early age that she was 'bigger' than her siblings.

'I felt shame, because I was bigger than they were,' Nadiya said. 'I look back now and I think, "Really?" Many of us look back and think, "Why did I loathe myself so much in those moments, because I look absolutely fine!"

Nadiya, from Leeds, won the hit BBC baking show in 2015, and was catapulted into fame

The GBBO star, who recently released her new cookbook Rooza inspired by Ramadhan and Eid, said that she still struggles to her body image - especially when taking part in photo shoots.

'As someone who works in the public eye and does photo shoots all the time, I cant look at the cameras,' she said.

'I cant look at the screens when photos are being taken, because even to this day, I will pick myself apart and say, "Oh, my legs look fat there," or "I look overweight," or "the clothes dont fit nice."

'But then I remind myself that its all right, do it. Lets move on. Go eat the croissant. Its not a problem.

'Its taken me 40 years, and I constantly dip back and forth from it. But I do know that Im definitely better than I was.'

In October, a teary-eyed Nadiya took to Instagram to share she had been diagnosed with two autoimmune disease but did not share any further details at the time.

Reflecting on her health journey and routine hospital visits over a two-year period, the celebrity chef urged her fans to listen to their bodies and prioritise giving themselves enough time to rest.

She said: 'If I think about how hard Ive worked over the past nine years [since winning Bake Off], I think that stress and exhaustion is a huge part in my diagnosis of illness that Ive had over the past year.

The British Bangladeshi chef, 40, has three children - two sons and a younger teenage daughter

Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain appears on the front cover of Prima Magazine

Speaking of her 14-year-old daughter Maryam (left), Nadiya Hussain (right) said: 'If I can just teach my daughter to love herself, thats my job done. Even if I spend a lifetime loathing myself, if I can teach her to love herself, thats all I need'

What are autoimmune diseases? Autoimmune diseases are caused by antibodies attacking healthy tissues and organs in your body by mistake. Antibodies are cells that are usually excellent news for a body. They attack foreign and potentially dangerous cells like viruses and bacteria to help you recover from infections. Unfortunately, if you have an autoimmune disease, the antibodies in your immune system are over-active and attack the wrong things. This results in autoimmune diseases. Source: NHS Advertisement

'My [autoimmune disease] is a lifelong thing. Its something that I will live with forever and its something that I will have to deal with forever.

'But Im very lucky, because I have really amazing support at home. I have people who look out for me and thats really important.

'My best advice to anyone is to learn to look out for yourself and know when you need to stop.'

Nadiya was 30 years old when she won the hit BBC baking show in 2015.

She has previously spoken of how she was catapulted into fame after Paul Hollywood handed her the Bake Off trophy. Since winning the reality series, Nadiya has gone on to publish ten recipe books and even baked a cake for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Now 40, the mother-of-three is focussing on herself and raising her three children.

'I want to be around to see them grow up and I cant guarantee what illnesses I may have in the future, but for now, I can look after myself,' she said.

'The difference between me this year and last year is that this year, I know that if Ive had a really long days work, the following day, Ill make myself rest.

In October, a teary-eyed Nadiya took to Instagram to share she had been diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases, although she did not go into further detail

She told Prima Magazine that she has learned the value of rest and will is now focused on herself and her children

Since winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya has released ten recipe books and even baked a cake for the Queen's 90th birthday

It is only right that the Bake Off star finds comfort in cooking but Nadiya is also a skilled archer.

She said: 'I use my kitchen as a tool to quieten my mind. But what Ive also learned is that Im really good at other things.

'I go down to the woods and do archery, just to let off some steam.

'I dont know what Im going to pick up next. Id like to start shooting, because my aim is quite good. Im making my own dining table as well.'
Millions around the world will be bringing in the Lunar New Year today - but what does it mean for you?

January 29 welcomes with it the year of the Snake, according to the Chinese Zodiac - which houses those born in 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941 and 1929.

And speaking to FEMAIL, astrologer Inbaal Honigman revealed what you should be doing to commemorate the sly reptilian presence in our lives.

'The Snake is the only creature to shed its skin, so when the year of the Snake comes along, everyone is called to shed their skin and be renewed,' she explained.

'The signs that love change - such as Tigers and Rabbits - will love it, whereas signs that like stability such as Horses and Ox may find it overwhelming.'

The psychic, working with FruitySlots, added: 'On 29 January 2025, the year of the Snake begins.

'This new Chinese year will run until 16 February 2026. The Snake is the 6th position in the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac consists of twelve signs named after animals, similarly to the Western Zodiac.

'However, unlike the Western Zodiac, the Chinese Zodiac assigns a full year to each sign, not a month.'

January 29 welcomes with it the year of the Snake, according to the Chinese Zodiac - which houses those born in 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941 and 1929. Stock image used

Speaking to FEMAIL, astrologer Inbaal Honigman revealed what you should be doing to commemorate the sly reptilian presence in our lives. Stock image used

'Those born in the year of the Snake will turn 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 this year,' she continued.

'Snake-borns are believed to be charming, elegant and wise individuals. This is the Chinese sign of change and transformation. Its gifts are intuition, intelligence and strategy.'

Here, we look at what the year ahead brings for all...

Rat

The year of the Snake is a great opportunity for you to showcase your quick humour. You are the problem-solver, you're charming and ambitious, and you easily handle unexpected shifts and interruptions. Your ability to bounce back is a boon.

Changes are inevitable in the year of the Snake, so make sure you decide which changes you prefer, and focus on those.

Ox

The year of the Snake isn't easy for peaceful people, so you may find it challenging. You are persistent, honest, diligent and down-to-earth. Your patience is a gift, and your self-belief helps you get through challenges, no matter how hard.

The year of the Snake isn't easy for peaceful people, so some may find it challenging. Pictured: A man touches the snake figure on the stone wall depicting animals in the Chinese zodiac at the Baiyun Taoist Temple

What's your Chinese Zodiac animal? Rat  (shu): 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 Ox  (niu): 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Tiger  (hu): 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 Rabbit  (tu): 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 Dragon  (long): 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 Snake  (she): 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse  (ma): 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Sheep  (yang): 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey  (hou): 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster  (ji): 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Dog  (gou): 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Pig  (zhu): 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 Advertisement

Your natural tendency when faced with surprises, is to create a new routine, but make sure you brace yourself to roll with the changes, instead.

Tiger

The year of the Snake will be exhilarating for you because you love changes, and changes are coming.

You are confident, strong, and possess leadership qualities. You've got a down-to-earth work ethic and you'll try and try until you're the best at anything.

Don't overcomplicate things  let the year of the Snake be fun and easy for you by just embracing every new change and challenge.

Rabbit

The year of the Snake is all about transformation, which is fun for you because you love surprises.

You are vigilant, witty and quick on your toes. You're great at making plans and then changing them, because you're inventive and ingenious.

Share your love of change with those around you, which will make it easier for them to cope with the constant changes of the Year of the Snake.

Dragon

The year of the Snake will test your bravery, as you are courageous, but will you love the constant state of flux? You are known as fearless, tenacious and intelligent. It's your intelligence and your enthusiasm which make each year a great year for you.

Embrace the unexpected paths that the year of the Snake will offer, just remember to curb your temper, because not everyone will appreciate the extra fire.

Snake

The year of the Snake will help you shed your skin and become new. Since you're already very comfortable with that, the year will be extra lucky for you.

You're seen as flexible, wise, charming and elegant. Your best traits are your intuition and intelligence, which allow you to be on top of things, whatever changes are thrown your way. Use that intuition to try and anticipate changes ahead of time, which keeps you ahead of the curve.

Horse

The year of the Snake may be a little overwhelming for you, because you favour predictability.

Those around you appreciate your vitality and speed. You're known as hardworking, warm and independent, and you do love a routine.

Don't let the year of the Snake throw you off course, remember that even when the world changes, you are still you and you're true to your values.

Goat

The year of the Snake will bring personal growth and transformation for you, which you will love. Not that you need it! But it's always nice to have the opportunity to learn. You're known as nurturing, creative, harmonious and balanced. Those around you appreciate your no-drama way of handling life.

Use the year of the Snake as your own Goat University, learning from every new situation, and even sharing those lessons with others.

Pictured: People pose for pictures around the illuminated decorations during the International Chinese Lights Festival in Santiago, Chile

Monkey

The year of the Snake is right up your alley because you enjoy transformations, and this is the year of the Snake's gift. Your personality is playful, smart and funny. A friend to all, you're a charmer, and you can get anyone to do things your own mischievous way.

Use the year of the Snake to help you get places that you previously thought were not for you. Smash that glass ceiling, ace that interview, you're going places.

Rooster

The year of the Snake is fast-paced and intuitive, whereas you prefer to be focused and excel at everything, so you'll find the speed with which things change to be challenging. You are disciplined, ambitious and dedicated, which is great in constant situations and during years of no change. You're confident, so this is helpful, and luck is always on your side.

Get through the year of the Snake by striving to do your best, not always the very best.

Dog

The year of the Snake brings change, which you don't mind at all. You get along well both with old and new acquaintances, as you're one of the friendliest signs. Reliable and loyal, you have a lot to offer in terms of personal contacts, friendships and even business connections. Your trustworthy nature means you have a great reputation.

The year of the Snake will bring new business potential as well as friendships, so remember how loyal you are. Get everyone to collaborate together so that the added contacts benefit you and those around you.

Pig

The year of the Snake will challenge you as it creates change all around you, when you favour stability. You're a popular sign and a popular person, because you make friends easily and maintain friendships naturally and effortlessly. You're tolerant and easy-going, qualities loved by all.

Make the most of the year of the Snake by letting those lifelong friends support you in times of change.
A single mother broke down in tears after a wealthy pair of business owners offered to help get a job after she was signed off from work due to anxiety.

Amy, from Belfast, who supports her daughter on just 60 a week, switched lives with a pair of beauty aestheticians - who admitted they burned through 'thousands and thousands' each week, on this week's episode of Rich House, Poor House.

The Channel 5 programme, in which wealthy and less fortunate families swap lives for five days, revealed the emotional moment that wealthy businesswomen, Michelle and Liz, promised to help single mother, Amy get back to work after a bout of ill health left her relying on benefits.

On this week's episode of the show, which airs on Sunday, self-made business woman Michelle, who lived in her luxury house in Lisburn near Belfast, and her best friend and colleague, Liz, said they grew their business from the ground by 'working 24/7'.

The two friends run an aesthetics clinic in Belfast, which also offers discounted procedures to women who've suffered domestic abuse or illness.

Meanwhile, just a few miles away in Newtown Abbey, Amy lived in a housing association flat struggling to even afford the basics for her and her daughter.

With just 60 a week to spare, Amy was unable to afford most things and the pair had even been living without flooring in their hall or living room.

Despite living off of benefits, Amy was desperate to get back to earning a living but struggled with a lack of confidence, having been signed off from work due to anxiety a few years earlier.

Self-made business woman Michelle, (left) who lives in her luxury house in Lisburn near Belfast (right), and her best friend and colleague, Liz, said they grew their business from the ground by 'working 24/7'

Meanwhile, just a few miles away in Newtown Abbey, Amy (left) lived in a housing association flat struggling to even afford the basics for her and her daughter, Phoebe, 12

The mother had previously worked in retail during the pandemic but was forced to quite amid mental health struggles. Amy became one of 2.3 million people signed off of work for health reasons in the wake of Covid.

Meanwhile, prior to the swap, Michelle described herself as someone who 'likes to shop'. The businesswoman showed off a glamorous walk-in-wardrobe containing 50-60 pairs of shoes and multiple designer handbags.

She and business partner Liz admitted they enjoyed 'the finer things' including 'nice holidays, handbags, and shoes'.

'Being in a job you love is vital, it makes you want more, it makes you want to improve and grow,' she said.

Describing what she hoped to achieve during the swap, Liz said: 'To offer confidence to someone who is maybe lacking in confidence.'

Michelle seconded the wish to support an individual 'struggling to realise their own dreams and ambitions.'

When it came to the swap, it was clear the vastly different weekly budget would be a struggle for Liz and Michelle, who said they would typically spent more than 60 on just one meal out.

Arriving at Amy's abode, the two aestheticians immediately picked up on the 'small double bedroom' belonging to Amy, also noticing that she had 'blinds but no curtains'.

When it came to the swap, it was clear the vastly different weekly budget would be a struggle for Liz and Michelle, who said they would typically spent more than 60 on just one meal out

Describing what she hoped to achieve during the swap, Liz said: 'To offer confidence to someone who is maybe lacking in confidence'

Elsewhere, as Phoebe and her mother took a tour of Michelle's vast abode, the two couldn't help but notice the huge 'comfy' beds.

In their welcome note, Amy apologised for the 'lack of living room and hall carpet', adding that they hoped the pair felt 'at home' regardless.

Michelle and Liz then took a peek at their cash for the week, shocked to discover they had just 61.09 to burn.

'That's less than what we'd spend on a meal out,' said Liz.

Amy then opened an envelope containing a whopping 1,600 to last the week. Shocked to discover a budget 25 times her usual spending limit, Amy said seeing the cash in real life didn't 'feel real'.

On the first night of the swap, Amy and her daughter tucked into a tasty 50 takeaway, while the aestheticians made do with some freezer fish fingers.

After the first night in Amy's house, Michelle and Liz complained of feeling 'freezing' and 'unsafe'.

Trying to make a positive start to the swap, the beauty experts headed to the shops to buy food for the week - but swiftly chomped through nearly half their budget.

'I don't know how they're surviving with such little money, it's really scary,' said Michelle.

Despite living off of benefits, Amy was desperate to get back to earning a living but struggled with a lack of confidence, having been signed off from work due to anxiety a few years earlier

Later in the episode, Amy met up with a friend of Michelle's, where she discovered that the business woman hadn't always lived the high life and was also a single mother of two who experiences poverty in the past.

On the other side of the divide, a candid conversation with Amy's brother, Brian, revealed to Michelle and Liz that Amy and her daughter had spent four months homeless.

Brain said the mother and daughter duo had spent the time living with him and that the mother had slept on his floor - despite his best efforts to give her the bed.

During the swap, Amy and Phoebe got to enjoy a taste of luxury. They treated themselves to an afternoon at a beauty saloon, went on a zipwire and even visited one of Northern Ireland's most prestigious theatres, Lyric.

Keen to help Amy achieve her dream of getting back into work, the beauty workers arranged for her to do a trial shift at their salon working a receptionist at their salon.

Despite her past experiences with anxiety, Amy excelled in the trial, with a worker at Michelle's clinic calling the aesthetician to inform her that things had gone well and that the mother had been a natural.

Michelle and Liz were also keen to help Amy out with her living room, insisting a carpet is 'a need not a want', and swiftly arranging for a new one to be installed.

They even transformed their living room with a new set of furniture. 'I really want them to have a home that's warm and cosy,' Michelle said.

On the other side of the divide, a candid conversation with Amy's brother, Brian, revealed to Michelle and Liz that Amy and her daughter had spent four months homeless

When either parties finally met, both were emotional having had a taste of how the other lived.

'Looking at my materialistic things is nothing at all compared to the bravery you have been through. It was such an ordeal sticking to that budget. It was really hard to try and get food,' Michelle admitted.

'I was humbled and it made me really how lucky I have been,' Liz added.

Reflecting on her side of the swap, Amy opened up about her struggles with anxiety. She said: 'Fear of failure has been something that's been holding me back but after this week, I feel so much more sure of myself.

'I had this really funny feeling and I realised it was hope and I'd never felt hope like it.'

In one tender moment, Michelle told Amy that she would be ready to talk about offering her a job when she was ready.

Michelle told Amy that her staff 'couldn't speak highly enough' of her and that 'it takes a certain kind of soul to be able to sit and take a call and talk to people when they're feeling vulnerable'.

The mother-of-one broke down in tears upon hearing the news, and jumped up to give both women a bus.

And that wasn't all. When Amy and Phoebe arrived home to their brand new living room, they were both hit with another shock as they discovered they'd been given a brand new carpet and furniture.

'It a completely different living room,' said Amy in another emotional moment.

'Absolutely gorgeous, I was not expecting any of this,' she added. 'This is unbelievable.'

Reflecting on things their end, Michelle asked Liz is she thought money bought happiness.

'No, it buys security which leads to happiness. Money can't hold you if you can't sleep at night,' she said.
Jaime Oliver has said people need to 'get over' cultural appropriation rows in cooking and reflected on the difficulties of 'being a middle class white guy' in the food world.

The celebrity chef, 49, spoke to The Louis Theroux Podcast this week and discussed the 2018 row over his release of a 'punchy jerk rice' ready meal.

The food caused a huge cultural appropriation row, with Labour's then shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler saying the chef 'didn't know what jerk was'.

Now, Jamie said that one of his ex-students from an afro-Caribbean background summed it up: 'It's just a middle-class white guy trying to get more people to dig our food, get over it'.

The Naked Chef added that the majority of his career - and book sales - are based on 'compromising with common sense' to get people to 'try something new', which could be giving 'more of a vibe' to 'bland boring rice'.

He added that all of his new books are vetted by 'cultural appropriation specialists' which 'pains him' but he said he 'doesn't want to offend anyone over a 'bloody cookbook'.

The chef also admitted he had a 'crass misunderstanding' of the dish - and said that most 'British' dishes aren't native to the UK.

'Pies are from the Greeks via the Romans and fish and chips is Jewish Portuguese,' he added.

Jaime Oliver has reflected on his controversial 'jerk rice' recipe that sparked controversy in 2018 in the latest episode of Louis Theroux 's podcast

In 2018, Jaime was accused of cultural appropriation by Labour's then shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler MP and other social media users for launching ready-to-eat 'punchy jerk rice

'Essentially now what you end up doing is saying 'inspired', for example 'Asian-inspired' food'.

He added that 'Italians are clever' and 'know about business'.

'I've probably sold a lot of mozzarella, prosciutto, Parmesan for Italy and they ain't stupid. I got knighted me. I thought I might get an Italian passport'.

'They'll still put me in my place, but I love them and they love me. It's a tactile love and affinity.

Elsewhere, Jaime recalled receiving death threats online from 'chorizo-wielding Spaniards' after he added pancetta - or cured pork belly - to his version of a paella in 2016.

The former Naked Chef star's tweaked recipe sparked the fury of the Spanish - likely because the use of chorizo is strictly forbidden in-keeping with the dishs Valencian origins.

Reflecting on the controversy, Jaime told Louis: 'I wasn't frightened about a load of chorizo-wielding Spaniards to batter me to death, but it went on for bloody months.'

He added that the 'history of paella' showed it was alright to add 'anything that moved' to the rice preparation - 'from snails to literally squirrels, meat, fish' - and 'undoubtedly chorizo would be in there'.

Elsewhere, Jaime recalled receiving death threats on Twitter/X from 'chorizo-wielding Spaniards' after he added pancetta - or cured pork belly - to his version of a paella in 2016

Louis joked his comments would 'reignited the beef' that took over X - then called Twitter - nine years ago, before Jaime clarified: 'I'm just a little foreigner from the outside right?'

In 2023, British chef Andi Oliver reignited the row and said people were 'irritated' by Jamie Oliver selling pouches of microwave jerk rice - not because he wasn't Caribbean, but because he 'didn't understand' the story behind what jerk is.

In 2018, the Essex-born celebrity chef was heavily criticised for selling his 2.35 bag of jerk rice in supermarkets, with many accusing Jamie of 'cultural appropriation'. The range has since been discontinued.

At the time, the row was sparked by London MP Dawn Butler, who is of Jamaican descent, who tweeted him saying 'your jerk rice is not ok'.

Speaking on the Where's Home Really? podcast Andi, who is British with Antiguan heritage gave her thoughts on why Jamie 'annoyed' people at the time with the decision to use his name to sell jerk rice.

She told host Jimi Famurewa the chef 'didn't fully understand what jerk was and that's why it was annoying to people - not because he wasn't Caribbean'.

The Great British Menu star and TV chef was speaking on the Where's Home Really? podcast and explained why Jamie Oliver had annoyed people with his 'punchy' microwave version of the culturally significant dish

Reflecting on the social media storm, she wrote: 'Everybody went nuts about it. I think it's irritating; it means he doesn't understand what jerk is. Jerk is not a spice, jerk is a cooking method.'

Andi explained to listeners that jerk 'came about because enslaved Africans were hiding from soldiers up in the mountains in Jamaica.'

In the mid 17th century, escaped slaves known as The Maroons fled the Spanish-owned plantations of Jamaica, taking refuge in the island's mountainous areas before establishing their own, free communities.

The TV chef continued: 'They covered the food so you couldn't see the smoke, and that's why the food is smoky, that's why it's cooked that way, so there's a story to it, there's a history to it, and it's important.

'So you can't jerk rice - it's not a thing you can do because it's not a seasoning.'

The Great British Menu star also commented on cancel culture, saying when people make mistakes, it's important to engage.

She told the show said: 'I don't think it's helpful to shut other people down. If there's an issue, talk to them. That way we elucidate, we have growth. If we're just constantly just shutting people down then what we do is regress.'

After the row broke out the first time around, Jamie told Hello! magazine in 2018: 'I've never written an authentic recipe in my life', adding 'authenticity' is a word that should be used 'very carefully as most of the things we love... are not what we think they are'.

Explaining, he added that the Cumberland sausage is originally German and the popular Indian dish chicken tikka masala was invented in Britain.

He added that when he's trying to 'nudge' people to 'try something new' he 'edits' original dishes for his recipes.

Oliver told Sky News at the time: 'I've worked with flavours and spices from all over the world my whole career, learning and drawing inspiration from different countries and cultures to give a fresh twist to the food we eat every day.

'When I named the rice my intention was only to show where my inspiration came from.'

The row started on the 18th August when London MP Dawn Butler tweeted him saying 'your jerk rice is not ok'.

The shadow equalities minister, who describes herself on social media as 'the UK's first elected female African-Caribbean Government Minister', wrote: '#jamieoliver @jamieoliver #jerk I'm just wondering do you know what #Jamaican #jerk actually is?

'It's not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. @levirootsmusic should do a masterclass. Your jerk Rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.'

After Ms Butler's tweet, TV chef Levi Roots appeared on Good Morning Britain with fellow Caribbean cook Rustie Lee to discuss the row further.
Baby naming experts have issued a stark warning to parents about a new 'aggressive' trend.

According to multiple naming experts who spoke to HuffPost, monikers that are inspired by violence are on the rise.

'There is a small but noticeable trend of parents using weapons-inspired  and, more broadly, aggressive  names for their sons,' Sophie Kihm, who is the editor-in-chief at the website Nameberry, told the outlet.

'Many of these names first appeared on the baby name charts in the 2000s, including Wesson, Caliber, Shooter and Trigger,' she continued.

Some of the other weapon-inspired names that have been used in recent years also include Blade, Cannon, Remington, Colt, Ruger and Winchester - some of which are popular brands of guns.

Arson, Cutter, and Dagger have also been used, according to the outlet.

Kihm explained that the name Wesson hit its peak when it was used 306 times in 2021, along with Caliber in 2018, which has 24 uses.

In 2022, the name Mace reached a high point with 64 uses, and same with the name Dagger, which had 13 uses that year.

Baby naming experts have issued a stark warning to parents about a new 'aggressive' trend (stock image)

They reported that some of the data came from The Social Security Administration.

But the Nameberry editor-in-chief admitted that she's unsure whether or not these names have completely peaked, or if it's just getting started.

Either way, she doesn't believe that 'we're past this trend yet.'

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time that aggressive baby names have made their peak.

According to The Mirror, in 2015, names like Gunner, Caliber, Shooter, Trigger and Pistol also rose in popularity.

However, UK-based parenting expert Kirsty Ketley warned moms and dads against using these kinds of names for their children.

'It isn't unusual for parents to select names which mean something that are more unusual, or different to more traditional names, parents like to put their own mark on a name, to help their child stand out,' Ketley told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'However, choosing a name that is related to violence, especially given the huge rates of gun crime in America, isn't something that I would suggest to parents,' she continued.

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time that aggressive baby names have made their peak (stock image)

Last year, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence as a public health crisis, according to CNN.

'Over the last decade or two, this problem has been worsening and we have now reached the point where gun violence is the leading cause of death among kids and teens  the leading cause of death,' Murthy told the outlet at the time.

'That is something that we should never take as the new normal. There's nothing normal about that.'

The outlet reported that in 2022, more than 48,000 people in the US died from injuries from firearms.

And, only weeks in 2025, the US has already seen multiple mass shootings, including a terror attack that killed 15 people early on New Year's Day in New Orleans.
Chilling footage has captured the moment armed police in Manchester detained a man after they were tipped off that he planning to attend a crowded concert with a gun.

Superintendent Paul Walker from Greater Manchester Police appeared in Tuesday evening's episode of Manhunt on Channel 4 after having received a worrying piece of intelligence.

The force had learnt that a man named Olushola Watson was in possession of a firearm and planned on attending an event at the Albert Hall - with a capacity of nearly 2,000 people - later that evening.

This meant the squad had six hours to intercept Watson and potentially prevent any harm to concertgoers in a time-sensitive mission that was dubbed 'Operation Bure'.

Surveillance officers were quickly deployed around an address in Moss Side that was linked to Watson so they they could monitor his comings and goings covertly.

They also began to track his phone so officers could follow Watson's movements around the city in the hours before the concert was scheduled to begin.

After discreetly tracking Watson for a number of hours and deploying armed officers around the venue, they realised that the suspect had picked up three other males from different addresses.

The group appeared to be heading towards the city centre, where Albert Hall is located, with Supt Walker evaluating whether to give his team the order to strike their car or not.

Greater Manchester Police received a piece of intelligence that concerned officers about public safety. Pictured: When the armed squad approached the car that Olushola Watson was travelling in

'You've got to be really focused on what you're doing because ultimately, you're making really important decisions, he said.

In the gripping documentary, Supt Walker was seen communicating remotely with a team of armed police, who were tracking the 4x4 Mercedes that Watson was travelling in, as the countdown to the concert began.

As the car continued to drive towards the venue, Supt Walker gave his team a code red signal.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of the officers said: 'As soon as you hear that phrase, you switch on, you prepare yourself, you check your kit again and again to make sure everything is right because in a very short period of time, you could be making life-changing decisions.

'Everything comes down to those few seconds.'

Bodycam footage showed how multiple police cars closed in on the Mercedes before cops approached the passengers while holding their guns up.

They were heard shouting 'Hands, hands, show me your hands' before one of the officers smashed a window on the passenger side of the vehicle and ordered the men inside to open the car doors.

The video showed GMP officers pulling two men out of the car and restraining them with handcuffs.

Superintendent Paul Walker (pictured) from Greater Manchester Police appeared in Tuesday evening's episode of Manhunt on Channel 4 leading Operation Bure

Footage picked up from bodycams saw numerous police cars boxed in the Mercedes before cops approached them holding their guns up

Armed police were deployed for Operation Bure, as they suspected public safety might've been at risk

Detective Inspector Simon Ackers, who was heading up the operation, said: 'See normally it's strike, arrest, I'm going home now. But now I'm waiting see if they've got something.'

While all four men were arrested for the suspected possession of firearms, cops quickly discovered no firearms were found in the car or any of the properties associated with the suspects.

Instead, police searching Watson's address found class A drugs before arresting him for possession with intent to supply.

He was later sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

DI Ackers said: 'If the public knew the detail of what we analyse before we start an armed operation, I think they'd have 100 per cent confidence in what we do.

'Innocent people are killed through criminal use of firearms, our information was that he was going to be armed so that's what we managed on that day.'

Supt Walker added: 'If we don't follow the intelligence and something happens, we would be rightly criticised.

'From a public point of view it can only be positive, I think it shows how seriously we take this type of offending and this type of threat.

'By conducting operations like this, which seeks to militate the harm before it happens, we can prevent someone from becoming a victim. That's what the public wants us to do and that's our job ultimately.'
Savannah Chrisley has shared a 'bittersweet' update regarding her dad Todd's prison stint and claimed he has been 'threatened' whilst behind bars.

During the latest episode of her Unlocked podcast, the 27-year-old confirmed that her father - who is currently serving a 12 year sentence for tax evasion and bank fraud - is going to be moved elsewhere because 'FPC Pensacola is closing down.'

'Before I wrap up, something I did not touch on that I wanna touch on because I posted it on social media, but dad's facility is closing down,' Savannah said towards the end of this week's episode.

'FPC Pensacola is closing down. It's a bittersweet feeling. I am happy it's closing down because no human being should be subjected to the conditions or treatment that that facility gave.

'[But] I'm sad that it's closing down because I don't know where he's gonna go, I don't know where they're gonna try and put him,' she continued.

Savannah went on to claim that a woman who works at the facility 'hates' Todd, 55, and has 'threatened' to 'send him so far up in New York to make it harder for his family to visit him.'

'I hope and pray that this does not happen because that is pure retaliation and I will not stand for it,' Savannah warned, stating that a policy requires inmates 'to be within 500 miles of your home.'

Savannah, whose mother Julie Chrisley is also behind bars, then said: 'I hope and pray they abide by that policy because if not, you guys know, I will fight tooth and nail.'

Savannah Chrisley has shared a 'bittersweet' update regarding her dad Todd's prison stint during the latest episode of her Unlocked podcast

Todd Chrisley is currently serving a 12-year sentence in his fraud and tax evasion conviction

Savannah confirmed that FPC Pensacola is closing down and she has no idea where her father will be moved to

'But the facility is closing down and they will be demolishing that facility [and] I am going to do everything in my power to stop that demolition.'

Savannah explained that the reason she doesn't want FPC Pensacola demolished just yet is because she wants to reveal how uninhabitable the facility is.

'Yes, that was my end goal. But it's not my end goal until I get all the documentation that I need,' she said.

'And the documentation that I need is a full and thorough inspection of that facility and the environments.

'I need to know the amount of lead-based paint, black mold, asbestos... I need to know the numbers in the drinking water. I need to know it all because there are men leaving there with numerous medical issues, cancer, you name it,' she alleged.

'So, they went to that facility for a certain time and they're leaving with a life time sentence. So I want to have all the documentation for these men to file a class action lawsuit if they deem fit.'

She then added: 'So I am going to try and stop the demolition of that and I don't know where dad's gonna go, and that's the tough part.

'I know it's gonna be hard on dad and it breaks my heart,' she said of her reality TV star father, who was convicted on federal charges of tax evasion and bank fraud in June 2022 alongside wife Julie.

Todd and his wife Julie, pictured here in 2019, were were found guilty of defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million

Savannah, pictured here with her father Todd in June 2019, described his imminent prison move as 'bittersweet'

The couple were indicted on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to commit bank fraud in August 2019.

Prosecutors alleged that they submitted falsified financial documents to secure millions of dollars in loans. The couple were found guilty of defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million.

Julie, 52, is currently serving seven years in prison and her appeal for a shorter sentence was denied in September 2024.

A federal judge refused to hand the disgraced TV star a more lenient sentence, and declared it 'will not change' despite her appeal.
For a Democratic party now struggling to understand how it can compete with the charisma  and perhaps the policies  of a second Trump administration, the left would do well to convince Michelle Obama to take a deep breath and turn up at a few more public events.

Her absence from President Trump's inauguration earlier this month meant that the 24.6 million people who tuned in to witness this spectacle looked from Melania's headlining chic directly on to a drab and completely uninspiring version of Democratic femininity.

America, said the newly inaugurated 47th President on January 20, has entered a new 'golden age.' And, indeed, when it came to his family's inauguration wardrobe choices, that new era might be more accurately described as 'the gilded age.'

Immaculately coiffed and coutured, the Trump women, led by Melania and her stepdaughter Ivanka, reminded us all just what they're good at. It was hard to look away.

Melania's slim-fit silk navy wool coatdress topped with a dramatic boater was at once elegant and mysterious since her eyes were almost entirely obscured by the hat's sumptuous brim.

It was an undoubted scene stealer, infusing Trump 2.0's leading lady with a regal aura that supporting actress Ivanka - clad in a green Dior 'New Look' skirt-suit complete with matching fascinator - echoed with seamless precision.

Melania, above all, has mastered the art of performative dressing, combining razor-sharp tailoring with European chic.

These women had dressed to impress a nation primed for a show. Just as a queen wears a tiara to dazzle, a First Family (at least a Trump one) dons couture to wow.

Michelle Obama's absence from President Trump's inauguration meant that the 24.6 million people who tuned in to witness this spectacle looked from Melania's headlining chic directly on to a drab and completely uninspiring version of Democratic femininity.

Melania (pictured at the inauguration) in slim-fit silk navy wool coatdress was at once elegant and mysterious her eyes were almost entirely obscured by the hat's brim.

Ivanka (pictured) clad in a green Dior 'New Look' skirt-suit complete with matching fascinator echoed Melania's look with seamless precision.

It was all the more striking because the one woman who might have given Melania a run for her sartorial money wasn't there.

A powerhouse in both the Democratic Party and the style stakes, Michelle Obama's presence would have infused the opposition with a touch of badly needed glamour.

Instead, Kamala Harris sat front and center  a bleak vision of a female empowerment in a black tailored zipper jacket that betrayed not an inch of skin. Literally zipped-up.

Jill Biden, former First Lady, might have opted for color, but her vivid purple Ralph Lauren Collection suit, which folded awkwardly around her torso and which she debuted under a wrap coat, felt as disorganized as her blonde and blow-dried (in haste?) hair.

A distinctly 1990s purse on a chain completed an ensemble that looked as fashion-backward as Melania's did forward.

Both Kamala and Jill Biden seemed unconcerned with projecting a more appealing or glamourous image of Democratic power.

And yet, as Jill Biden's custom-made creation attests, these women are by no means dressing cheaply  a wrap coat similar to the one she wore retails for $5,490.

And while much has been made of Melania's expensive European ensembles, few have commented upon (or even noticed) what is happening on the other side of the fence.

Kamala Harris (pictured at the inauguration) sat front and center  a bleak vision of a female empowerment in a black tailored zipper jacket that betrayed not an inch of skin.

Jill Biden, former First Lady (pictured at the inauguration) opted for color but her purple Ralph Lauren Collection suit, worn under a wrap coat, felt as disorganized as her blonde and blow-dried hair.

Take Kamala's penchant for French-made Chloe power suits (a blazer retails for around $4,000 and trousers for around $1,500).

The custom navy creation that she wore to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago last August was designed personally by Chloe creative director Chemena Kamali.

Kamala paired the grain de poudre wool suit with a crepe de chine lavaliere blouse featuring tonal stripes.

Yet she failed to dazzle in this just as she had failed to dazzle in the tan version  another bespoke creation by Kamali  when she wore it two nights earlier.

Unlike Melania, who enjoys little patronage from fashion brands and shops mostly from the rack, Kamala had received VIP treatment.

Yet the results were uninspiring and unremarkable, a foreshadowing of the lackluster Democratic campaign that followed.

Instead of embracing the potential of a large clothing budget which she certainly has to project herself as a woman who could be simultaneously intelligent, powerful and stylish (something Michelle was never afraid to do), Kamala hid in designer duds that were as unexciting as they were expensive.

When the time came for her first and only presidential debate in September, Kamala opted for Melania's staple, Dior, sporting a black single-breasted Bar jacket paired with the brand's signature matching trouser.

Yet in pairing it with a suffocating silk pussy-bow style blouse, Kamala disrupted the suit's sharp tailoring and ensured that her decision to showcase Dior - as she discussed middle class struggles - was largely obscured.

Was this canny or just incompetent? Did voters detect something in the clothing of the would-be-first-female president that didn't satisfy?

Where Michelle who understood the power of style to communicate and embraced it, Kamala's look was uncertain, ill-defined and uninspiring. But why?

Unlike the hard-to-fit figure of Hillary Clinton (master fitters at Ralph Lauren have struggled with this task for almost two decades now), Kamala could surely have found her footing and used her clothes to express herself. Her choices could have given voters a glimpse of her personality and invoked the authenticity that always eluded her no matter what words came out of her mouth.

It seems that Democratic women have chosen to shun what Melania has used to her advantage: the theatre of the political ring that, in an age of TikTok and Instagram, makes looking good more necessary than ever.

Yet in doing so, they have abandoned a trend that began with - and thrived under - two famous Democratic First Ladies.

Jackie Kennedy certainly understood the potential of a well-honed wardrobe to articulate wider ideas. That is why she chose to remain in her blood-stained pink Oleg Cassini suit as she stepped off the plane at Andrews Air Force Base to bring back the body of her dead husband in 1963.

Unlike the hard-to-fit figure of Hillary Clinton (pictured in June 2024), Kamala could surely have used her clothes to express herself.

Democratic women have chosen to shun what Melania (pictured at the Liberty Ball) has used to her advantage - the theatre of the political ring.

Michelle Obama (pictured at the DNC in 2024) mixes high and low-end dressing - think her J. Crew cardigans and H&M dresses  to generate real cultural traction and a sense of authenticity.

Forty years later, Michelle Obama, too, reminded the world of the enormous potential that fashion can have on political success when used correctly.

Michelle can credit her ingenious use of mixing high and low-end dressing - think her J. Crew cardigans and H&M dresses  for generating real cultural traction and a sense of authenticity.

Can it be any surprise that she is now the most popular Democratic figure of all in the view of the American electorate?

Yet, in her absence, the stage is left for Melania, who last week reminded the world that, despite her outsider status, our new First Lady knows better than most the possibilities of a finely tuned wardrobe. And how politics actually works.
Tracey says many people tend to be suspicious of the sexsomnia condition

Imagine having a condition where you perform sexual acts during your sleep - that you have no control over and aren't aware you're doing  with very little memory of it afterwards.

Welcome to the world of people with sexsomnia: a condition that causes both embarrassment and distress for sufferers and their partners. (Not to mention a whole other world of serious issues surrounding consent.)

'You sure this is real and not just a great excuse to have sex with someone without being blamed?' is a typical response to any discussion about sexsomnia.

I have a friend who suffers from it and have spoken at length with him and his partner. Let's just say, it's not something they share readily with strangers.

Most people are suspicious of the condition - and no-one's arguing the possibility for exploitation.

A medical diagnosis of sexsomnia has been used as a criminal defence in court for alleged sexual assault and rape cases. Albeit rarely.

But studies prove the condition does exist, and it might be more prevalent than statistics suggest because people are too scared or embarrassed to admit to it.

It's not common, which means research is limited, but the condition appears to be linked to disruptions in the brains sleep-wake cycle. It's known that some things make it worse  stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol and sleep apnoea are all culprits.

Sexsomnia is a condition where you perform sexual acts during your sleep

Treatment includes managing all these factors, (usually much needed) therapy for the couple to manage the emotional impact and in some cases sedatives or anti-depressants to help regulate sleeping patterns.

PERSISTENT GENITAL AROUSAL DISORDER

If you think sexsomnia sounds tricky, how about not being able to control when, where and how often you orgasm.

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) is a rare condition that can trigger spontaneous orgasms without any sexual contact or stimulation.

It's rare  only one per cent of people globally are affected by it (mostly women). It's thought to be caused by misfiring in the brain signals that control nerves in the genital area.

If the idea of endless orgasms sounds quite appealing, think again. A lot of sufferers get stuck: they're permanently on the verge of an orgasm without actually having one.

If they do manage to tip over and climax, it can take multiple orgasms over hours or even days to stop the feeling persisting. Then there's the tingling, burning or pain that accompanies it. In all cases, the feelings are uninvited, intrusive and unwanted.

In 2009, one woman in the UK reported having 200 orgasms per day. Another in South Carolina became so distressed by the disorder, she became suicidal.

Thought you had sex problems? Think again! These rare but real sex disorders make our usual grumbles pale in comparison, says Tracey Cox

The other little known kinks.. Paraphilias (fetishes) link unconventional or non-sexual stimuli to intense sexual arousal. They include being turned on by: Enemas (klismaphilia): The turn on comes from the physical sensation or the act of administering the enema. Statues (agalmotophilia): A sexual attraction to statues, mannequins or dolls. It can be just about admiring them or revolve around fantasies about these objects coming to life. Vomit (emetophilia): Sexual arousal from vomiting or watching others vomit. It's believed to be linked to the release of bodily control or a fascination with taboo bodily functions. Flatulence (eproctophiles): A sexual fetish where people get pleasure from passing gas  either their own or someone else's. Real and imagined amputation (apotemnophilia): This isn't a pain fetish, devotees are exclusively interested in the healed amputated stump. Tears (Dacryphilia): Some are aroused by the empathy created by the tears, other being able to induce it through power play. Filthy, unkempt lovers (Salirophilia): People turned on by sleeping with partners who are dirty and desperately need a wash. Nappies (Anaclitism): People, mainly men, who join 'Nappy Clubs' need to wear or use objects usually used by infants  dummies, nappies, rattles - before they can become aroused Advertisement

SLEEPING BEAUTY SYNDROME

Kleine-Levin Syndrome, also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, is a rare neurological condition that causes people to sleep excessively, and experience altered behaviour.

This can include becoming hypersexual  feeling intensely aroused or performing inappropriate sexual behaviour - things they wouldn't usually do.

The exact cause is unknown  it probably involves hypothalamic dysfunction or an autoimmune trigger. Suffice to say being kissed by Prince Charming is an unlikely cure.

GENITAL RETRACTION SYNDROME

GRS, also known as 'Koro' is a culturally linked psychiatric condition where people experience intense fear because they believe their genitals (penis, vulva) or breasts are shrinking or retracting into the body, eventually killing them.

Sufferers persistently check their genitals or attempt to stop it happening by doing things like tying objects around their penis.

It's most prevalent in Southeast Asia and Africa and is frequently linked to local cultural beliefs (like spiritual possession) or the consequences of immoral behaviour.

Reports have documented entire communities experiencing mass hysteria and GRS after rumours of a genital retracting disease spread by witchcraft.

DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT?

It's hard to find hard and fast evidence for these weird and wacky claims but they certainly make for entertaining reading!

There's the Hereford man jailed first for having sex with the pavement (1993), then two years later for doing it in public with a bin liner.

The Belgian optician arrested for making his female patients strip and dance to accordion music before he'd fit them with contact lenses (1995).

The Pennsylvanian judge who promised to let criminals off if they let him shampoo their hair (1992).

The proud Frenchman, who left his 9 and  inch penis to a friend in his will.

The San Franciscan man who was charged with running a sex dungeon where you could have sex with an anteater, eels and a water buffalo.

Henry Blot, the famous necrophiliac admitted at his trial in the 19th century that he'd continued to have sex with his wife for seven years after her death.
I can still hear the ping of my phone, the sound of my entire social life imploding in real-time.

One second, I'm waking from a deep sleep, blissfully unaware that my so-called best mate, Paige*, was out there lobbing nuclear-grade betrayal into our group chat. The next, my stomach wasn't just metaphorically in knots - it was tight, surgically reinforced, and the hottest topic of conversation amongst our friends.

'At least I didn't cheat my way to a flat stomach.'

That's what she wrote. That's what she threw out into the world like a flaming Molotov of spite, accompanied by screenshots of my private texts about my tummy tuck consultation and our chats about her helping me out with the kids while I recovered. Messages I had sent her in confidence. Just for her. Because I trusted her.

This was a full-blown social war that started over a missed dinner - yes, really.

Paige and I had been tight since our university days. She was there through my first pregnancy, through my meltdown when I found out I was having twins on round two, through the long, sleepless nights when I felt like my body had been hijacked by little people who demanded everything and left me with nothing but stretch marks and a pelvic floor made of Swiss cheese.

She knew I had struggled with my body after the twins. She knew how hard I worked, how many godawful burpees I did, how many salads I choked down trying to fix what pregnancy had left behind. And she knew that no matter how many planks I held or how much protein powder I chugged, my diastasis recti - the brutal abdominal separation that left me with a permanent pooch - wasn't something I could exercise away.

So when I finally made the decision to have surgery, I only told a select few. My husband, my mum, and Paige. Because my worst fear was people talking about me. Whispering. Judging. I didn't want to be the subject of hushed gossip or smug 'I knew it' nods at brunch. This wasn't vanity - it was about feeling like myself again. And Paige had sworn she understood.

A woman was shocked to discover private information about her tummy tuck surgery had been maliciously leaked to her friend group chat (stock image, posed by model)

And then, in one petty, vengeful moment, she torched me.

Paige had arranged a dinner with the girls - nothing fancy, just a Friday night catch-up at our usual place. I was meant to go. I wanted to go. But life, as usual, had other plans. One twin had a fever, the other had decided bedtime was for the weak, and my husband was working late. I texted Paige to say I couldn't make it, feeling like a garbage friend but also knowing she'd understand.

She did not understand.

Instead, I got a curt, passive-aggressive 'Sure. Whatever.' And then silence.

At first, I thought she was just annoyed. But the next morning, when I woke up to a group chat that looked like a battleground, I started to wonder.

It was clear that the messages were a follow up from a conversation that had begun at the dinner I missed.

'She always bails.'

'She's just too good for us now.'

She had not disclosed her tummy tuck to her wider friendship group (stock image)

And then - the message. The one that outed me in the most humiliating way possible.

This wasn't normal. This level of rage didn't match the crime. It was a dinner, not a betrayal. So why did she lash out like this? Was this about something else? Had she been holding onto some deeper resentment? And why, of all the things she could have said, did she choose this to hurt me with?

I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath me. My heart was pounding. I couldn't even process what I was looking at. Because this wasn't just a spat. This wasn't just an argument. This was calculated. This was designed to hurt. And it did.

I gave her my trust and she weaponised it.

The reactions were immediate and varied. Some of our friends called her out straight away. 'Low blow, Paige.' 'Why would you do that?' Others stayed suspiciously quiet. And some some were kind of into it.

I don't know what was worse - the initial betrayal or the slow, creeping realisation that people were whispering about me now. That when I walked into brunch, there'd be side-eyes and hushed giggles. That instead of my friends knowing how hard I worked to love my body, they now thought I was some kind of fraud.

But here's the thing: I'm not ashamed of my tummy tuck.

I was never ashamed of the decision. I was ashamed that I felt like my body had failed me, that no amount of effort could fix what pregnancy had done. I was ashamed of the way I felt about it, like I had to pretend I was okay when I wasn't. The surgery didn't make me 'fake.' It made me whole again. And that's not something I owe anyone an explanation for.

As for Paige? She never apologised. She sent me a half-a**ed, 'Sorry if that upset you' text, the kind of non-apology that makes your eye twitch. And I left it on read, because what's the point?

Friendships, like bodies, change after babies. Some stretch and grow. Some snap under the weight. And some, no matter how hard you try to mend them, never quite go back to what they were before.

I don't miss her. I miss who I thought she was. But mostly, I'm done pretending that loyalty means tolerating betrayal.

And if anyone else wants to come for my tummy tuck? I own my choices. Can you say the same?

* Names have been changed

As told to Rebel Wylie
A mother was left horrified after her children spotted a 'dead mouse' in her roast dinner - and refused to go anywhere near it.

Harmony King, 40, from Massachusetts, took the family-sized turkey out of the freezer to defrost and prepare for Christmas dinner when she spotted a 'face'.

Horrifying video footage shows what appeared to be a dead rodent staring out of the thawing meat - complete with round black eyes, pointed nose and mouth.

Harmony said spotting the 'mouse' in the meat made her stomach churn. On closer inspection she thought it could also be a bat as she could see 'fangs'.

The American mother-of-three posted the disturbing video to TikTok, saying: 'Please tell me that is not a bat or a mouse.'

She added: 'What the hell is in my wrapped turkey?'

Despite freaking out, Harmony decided to investigate and filmed the results for her social media followers to see.

After bravely cutting into the meat she discovered that the 'face' was just the turkey's neck bone - having given her an almighty fright.

Harmony King took a family-sized turkey out of the freezer when she spotted an 'animal' peering out at her

She said: 'Even when I was pulling it out, I was scared to find out what it was.

'Everyone thought it was an animal. Some people thought it was a gerbil, a mouse, a bat and a snake. Other's made jokes about the turkey having a turkey baby.

'My stomach hurt and I had a physical reaction to thinking there was an animal in the turkey.

'Once I found out it was just the neck, I felt relieved as I could finally cook the turkey.

After uncovering the truth, Harmony roasted the meat for three hours.

But her three children still refused to eat it, leaving chunks of turkey on their plates.

Users quickly flooded the comments urging her to investigate further with some agreeing she had found an animal in her frozen meat.

One user commented: 'That is a mouse!'

The 40-year-old mother from Methuen, Massachusetts, posted the horrifying video on TikTok where it went viral

Users quickly flooded the comments, urging her to investigate further with some agreeing had found an animal in her frozen meat

Despite finding out the truth about the alleged 'mouse', Harmony said her three children refused to eat the turkey

A second said: 'I thought it was a rat'.

'Don't think that's a bat,' a third argued. 'That's a mouse. A big mouse.'

But some internet sleuths were quick to suggest a less sinister explanation, telling Harmony to relax as it was a neck bone.

'It's a neck that just looks like a face,' one sensible commenter said.

Another agreed and added: 'The neck of a turkey.'

More than 45.8 million TikTok users tuned in to watch Harmony cutting the plastic wrap around the turkey to find out what the mysterious face really was.

She was heard screaming: 'I don't want to. Ugh!'

Thankfully, sales worker Harmony was relieved to discover the 'animal' inside was, in fact, just the turkey's neck bone.
For many actors the well-trodden path to fame and glory includes starting out on stage and in low-budget films before catching a 'big break' and becoming a leading star. Famous stars such as Sir Ian McKellen, Claire Foy and Daniel Craig worked their way up before taking home major accolades and becoming household names. But now, A-list actors are reversing the trend and are instead turning away from the silver screen and flocking to the theatre to tread the boards. Stars like Adrien Brody (pictured left), Brie Larson (pictured right) and Rami Malek (pictured centre right) have led productions in London 's West End - but not all have been to critical acclaim. Despite their best efforts, Hollywood stars don't seem to be cut out for the livewire element of theatre and more than one has been humbled by critical reviews.
A literary influencer has apologised after posting a selection of books that included Mein Kamp to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In a since deleted post, a book influencer, Priya, who lives in India, took to Instagram to share a selection of books that had 'shaped her understanding of the Holocaust' - but which included a paper copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.

In the post made on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Priya shared a picture with three books, including The Boy in Stripped Pyjamas, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the book written by the infamous Nazi leader.

Attached to the post was a filter to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, which took place on Monday 27 January to honour the lives of the six million Jews who were killed during the Second World War.

The post quickly sparked outrage among viewers, who called the post 'crazy' - with one blasting 'three of the worst possible books to understand the Holocaust'.

Priya, who uses the social media handle, clockworkchapters, insisted it was a 'misunderstanding' and that her 'heart was in the right place'.

The image feature an aesthetically crafted scene with a Kindle open on The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, a phone open on The Tattooist of Auschwitz and a paper copy of Mein Kampf with a selection of dead roses covering the first page.

The blogger, who has 9,637 followers, regularly posts pictures of the books she is currently reading, with several set up in a similar style with open books and foliage.

In a since deleted post, a book influencer, Priya, took to Instagram on Monday to share a selection of books that had 'shaped her understanding of the Holocaust' - but which included a paper copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf

In the apology, she insisted that her 'lack of deeper knowledge' had left her 'ill-equipped to join in on such an important day of remembrance'.

Apologising for the post, she wrote: 'I want to take a moment to address my Holocaust Remembrance Day post.

'My intention was to share books that have shaped my understanding of the Holocaust, but I now realise that including the book in the way I did was upsetting to many. As soon as I became aware of these, I took the post down immediately.'

'I was unaware of the reactions overnight, as I was sleeping. The moment I realised it had hurt people's sentiments, I took the post down immediately. My lack of deeper knowledge on this subject made me ill-equipped to join in on such an important day of remembrance.

'My heart was in the right place, but I understand my approach missed the mark, and for that, I'm sorry.'

'This experience has been a reminder of how sensitive these topics are and how much I still have to learn. I hope we can have these conversations with empathy instead of assuming the worst, as misunderstanding and hate can escalate unnecessarily, and I'm committed to doing better moving forward.'

'I never meant to harm or upset anyone, and for that, I am truly sorry. Thank you to those who shared their honest feedback I appreciate.'

In the apology, she insisted that her 'lack of deeper knowledge' had left her 'ill-equipped to join in on such an important day of remembrance'

Those who viewed the post before it was removed were horrified to see a copy of the book included in a remembrance post.

Posting on Instagram, one wrote sarcastically: 'Amazing things are happening on Instagram. An influencer posted mein kampf for holocaust Remembrance Day.'

One wrote: 'What was going through her head?! she must have just googled Holocaust and that book came up'

Another blasted: 'Three of the worst possible books to understand the Holocaust.'

Marking the event which took place on Monday, a number of landmarks across the UK were illuminated in purple to commemorate the day of remembrance.

A display at Piccadilly Circus read 'Remembering the past for a better future' as a hopeful but poignant tribute to the millions who lost their lives in the WWII genocide.

Other sites lit up included the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool and the Senedd building - Welsh Parliament - in Cardiff.

Stormont - Parliament Buildings - in Belfast was also turned purple while a famous bronze sculpture at Liverpool Street Station, The Arrival, of Jewish children who had escaped persecution, was another monument reflecting hues of the colour.

Most of the victims of the Holocaust were Jews killed on an industrial scale in gas chambers, but Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, gay people and disabled people were also targeted for elimination.

Posting on Instagram, one wrote sarcastically: 'Amazing things are happening on Instagram. An influencer posted mein kampf for holocaust Remembrance Day'

In all, the Germans murdered 6million Jews from all over Europe, annihilating two-thirds of Europe's Jews and one-third of all Jews worldwide.

In 2005, the United Nations designated January 27, the anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau's liberation, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Across Europe, officials and others paused today to remember at memorials and met with survivors, the majority in their 90s or older.

King Charles III was one of those state leaders to perform such duties as he visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, appearing to shed a tear while listening to the stories of those who survived the former Nazi concentration camp.

Survivors were applauded as the entered the ceremony before addressing invited guests who included France's President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spain's King Philip VI and Queen Letizia, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
The Prince of Wales gleefully goofed around with lake water as he visited a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist this afternoon.

William, 42, appeared to be in high spirits as he and local school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond.

And the royal playfully turned the tables on the media, joyfully dousing them with the water collected and declaring: 'This is, like, the best day of my life!'

He was encouraged to cheekily have a go at journalists by the founder of DNA research organisation Nature Metrics, Dr Kat Bruce, on a visit to their headquarters in Surrey today.

During a pond-dipping session, he was handed a syringe from which samples would be taken to test what local wildlife and bacteria were present in the lake.

Asked to expel the excess water, Dr Bruce suggested shooting it towards a small group of media covering the engagement, much to his delight.

In fact he was given three goes at it, coming perilously close to getting them wet.

Afterwards he said: 'It wasn't my idea! I could just claim I was giving in.'

The Prince of Wales gleefully goofed around with lake water as he visited a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist this afternoon

'It was perfect spraying at the journalists,' he was heard to say mischievously as he stood in an adjacent corridor to the press pack.

Hearing the conversation one reporter shot back: 'We're here!'

William shot his head around the corner grinning: 'I know!'

The Prince of Wales was obviously in his element visiting the firm, a finalist in his 2024 Earthshot Prize awards, designed to scale up some of the most positive solutions to the global environmental crisis.

NatureMetrics is a UK based nature company which enables companies to measure and report on their impact on nature and ecosystems.

The company uses environmental DNA (eDNA) found in the surroundings to identify individual species using easy-to-collect water, air or soil samples.

William, 42, appeared to be in high spirits as he and local school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond

And the royal playfully turned the tables on the media, joyfully dousing them with the water collected and declaring: 'This is, like, the best day of my life!'

During a pond-dipping session, he was handed a syringe from which samples would be taken to test what local wildlife and bacteria were present in the lake

The Prince of Wales was obviously in his element visiting the firm, a finalist in his 2024 Earthshot Prize awards, designed to scale up some of the most positive solutions to the global environmental crisis

This eDNA then offers a detailed picture of a site's biodiversity and a full spectrum of life, including anything from bacteria to blue whales, enabling businesses to understand the natural world around their operations and make informed operational and financial decisions, driving a shift towards a more sustainable global economy.

Since becoming a Finalist, NatureMetrics has secured a $25 million investment, raised with support from The Earthshot Prize's investment platform Launchpad.

Dressed in practical boots, chinos and a jacket, William was initially taken down to a lake on the research park where local schoolchildren were helping to extract eDNA samples with founder Cat and social media science communicator 'Big Manny'.

'Great so we can see how it actually works,' he said enthusiastically .

'You guys are very good at science,' he added as the children spoke knowledgeable about what they were about to do.

He was asked to put on gloves so as not to contaminate the samples, Dr Bruce explaining that previously samples had been contaminated by the 'tuna sandwich people had for lunch'.

'Look at the size of these syringes, wow!' he remarked.

This eDNA then offers a detailed picture of a site's biodiversity and a full spectrum of life, including anything from bacteria to blue whales

The Prince of Wales pictured with Dr Kat Bruce founder of nature metrics as they look at DNA samples extracted from areas around the world

'Huge. Half a pond.'

Dr Bruce encouraged her team to demonstrate 'all at once how we filter the water'.

'The question is where we should squirt the water towards? I wonder if we could do an extra big squirt' and gestured towards the media.

William's lips twitched and he said: 'Because you have suggested it I think it's a great idea. I couldn't suggest it but.

Grimacing as he pushed down the plunger he laughed: 'Nearly, so nearly!'

Going in for a second go he admired one of the children's 'full loaded' efforts.

'Go on, go on oh it won't quite make it,' he said.

After the fun the prince visited the laboratories where all samples are analysed.

The Prince of Wales pictured making a mini extraction of DNA while sitting at a work bench today

Last month William introduced a new documentary, The Earthshot Report, which premiered on BBC One and showcased environmental solutions that have been spotlighted and supported by the royal's prize.

Emmy award-winning actress and 'good friend of the Earthshot Prize' Hannah Waddingham hosted the documentary, which 'explored the inspiring stories of environmental innovators working to deliver solutions which have the power to protect and restore our planet for future generations'.

In his introduction filmed in a forest, William reminded viewers that the Earthshot Prize 'was launched in 2021 to spotlight and support people from across the world who are coming up with ground-breaking innovations to help prepare our planet.'

The Prince of Wales, dressed in a casual blue jacket, added: 'They are just a sample of a new wave of inventors, doers and thinkers who are enabling us to feel hope and optimism, despite the negative forecasts.

'Now, in 2024, individuals, communities and nations are innovating like never before.

'More and more people are joining the journey to protect the future of our planet.'

The Earthshot Report, he continued, brings together 'previous finalists' to see 'how their ideas are scaling up'.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked typically chic as she attended a training course in Houten on Wednesday.

The royal, 53, looked in high spirits as she visited SVO Vakopleiding Food, a trade school that prepares students for careers in the food industry.

The class trains those who want jobs as butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, and caterers, as well as people looking to enter the poultry, supermarket, and industrial food industries.

Maxima put her best fashion foot forward in an elegant ensemble comprising a khaki-coloured blouse, with irregular batwing sleeves, graphite-coloured, high-waisted trousers.

She opted for a pair of chocolate brown boots and finished her look with the charcoal-coloured Natan overcoat that is a key fixture of Maxima's chic wardrobe.

To accessorise, the mother-of-three chose large slate-coloured diamante earrings with black pearls, and matching silver diamond bracelets.

She also carried her classic Chanel quilted bag - which costs around 7,000 - that perfectly complemented her chic look.

She wore her blonde tresses up in a sophisticated low bun and went for a smoky makeup look, consisting of dark eyeshadow and pink lipstick.

Maxima put her best fashion foot forward in an elegant ensemble consisting of a khaki-coloured blouse, which had quirky irregular batwing sleeves

She wore her blonde tresses up in her signature sophisticated low bun and went for a smoky makeup look, consisting of dark eyeshadow and pink lipstick

However, she quickly tucked her hair inside a purple hairnet when she entered the facility, with Maxima appearing to take heed of the school's health and safety regulations.

She also donned a white lab coat as she toured the facility, with the luxury handbag still slung over her shoulder.

While at the institute, Maxima stopped to chat with a class of students learning how to butcher meat.

She was also seen watching a man whip up burgers on a grill that was located outside the building.

Maxima appeared to admire his culinary skills as she beamed while he expertly cooked the meat - seemingly unfazed by the rainy, windy weather.

Her latest appearance comes nearly a week after Maxima attended a mental health charity event last Thursday - when the royal, once again, wore green.

She put her golden locks inside a purple hairnet and donned a white overcoat to cover her clothing

While at the course, she spoke to those who were training on how to butcher meat

She paired the top with a pair of classy high-waisted graphite long flared trousers which she tucked her blouse into, showing off her slender figure

Slthough she channelled her old money glam aesthetic outside the building, Maxima took food health and safety seriously when she entered

Maxima was also seen overlooking a man who was whipping up some burgers outside on a grill

The royal, 53, looked in high spirits as she visited SVO Vakopleiding Food, a vocational course for food and cooking

She cut a striking figure as she arrived at the Join Us Foundation, a charity focused on raising awareness about mental health, in the Dutch city of s-Hertogenbosc, on Thursday.

The mother-of-three looked fabulous in forest green as she touched down in the city, with Maxima's ensemble consisting of a cashmere top and matching cardigan.

She added a stunning ombre maxi skirt, with a beige waist and rich green hem, to the trendy look.

Maxima wore her signature makeup look - including a dark smoky eye, fresh base and a plump pink lip - as she smiled and waved at onlookers before heading for the event.

Her bright blonde tresses were freshly straightened and styled for the occasion.

To finish off her perfectly colour-coordinated look, Maxima added a pair of green drop earrings, a chic beige clutch bag and a matching set of boots in the same shade.

Despite the blustery winds, Maxima put on a brave smile as she made her way from inside the building in s-Hertogenbosc.

Once sheltered from the chill, the queen was pictured listening intently as she engaged in conversation with workers at the charity.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands put on a dazzling display last Thursday as she stepped out in gorgeous green ensemble (pictured)

The Dutch royal, 53, looked typically sprightly as she arrived at the Join Us Foundation, a charity focused on raising awareness about mental health, in the Dutch city of s-Hertogenbosc, on Thursday

Join US works to help improve the mental health of young people by strengthening their social networks in a bid to combat loneliness.

Last October, Join Us was announced as one of three winners of the the Appeltje van Oranje 2024 prize, which honours innovative social initiatives and organisations making a difference within their communities.

The other two winners of the prestigious event were the Fundacion Movemiento ta Bida, which organises physical activities to keep people over 60 active, and the Foundation Al Amal, a charity which supports humanitarian needs across multiple countries.
Princess Beatrice mysteriously pulled out of a World Economic Forum summit last week - as she'd already given birth.

The royal, 36, was due to join Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the event in Davos in Switzerland between January 20 and 24 - and has been a regular guest over the years.

Buckingham Palace announced today that the princess welcomed her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on January 22 at 12.57pm - explaining her absence from the economic event.

The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson had been tipped by The Times to talk on a panel looking at how private capital sovereign wealth funds can be used to tackle climate change.

However Beatrice did not end up attending the event, understood at the time to be down to medical advice about not travelling abroad.

Though no official reason for her absence was given last week, it can now be revealed that Beatrice gave birth to her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth, that Wednesday, at the same time the conference was taking place.

The newborn, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, was born several weeks early and is 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place.

She becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Wolfie, eight, from Edo's former engagement to Dara Huang, and Beatrice's three-year-old daughter Sienna.

Princess Beatrice mysteriously pulled out of a World Economic Forum summit last week - as she'd already given birth. Pictured in 2022

Despite her inability to attend, Princess Beatrice was announced as the global co-chair of the World Economic Forum's Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative alongside Queen Rania of Jordan. The panel also includes Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

As well as becoming a mother-of-three, Beatrice's new role will focus on developing artificial intelligence solutions to tackle climate change as well as promoting women's leadership in technology.

In a sweet Instagram post, Buckingham Palace wrote: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Forty-year-old Edo, also posting on Instagram, revealed his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect'.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose (pictured), Buckingham Palace has announced

Buckingham Palace announced that the princess welcomed her second daughter with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (right) on January 22 at 12.57pm

Athena becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Wolfie (right), eight, from Edo's first marriage to Dara Huang, and Beatrice's three-year-old daughter Sienna (centre)

Rachel Reeves in attendance at the 55th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 23 - the day after Beatrice gave birth

He wrote on Instagram sharing a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

'Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.'

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'.

Athena Elizabeth, whose middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, adds to the Mapelli Mozzi brood which also includes three-year-old Sienna and Edo's son from a previous relationship to Sara Huang, 'Wolfie' - often referred to as Princess Beatrice's 'bonus' child.

The Princess of York's last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham where she joined the royal family for their annual trip to St Mary Magadalene Church.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.

She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie.

Princess Beatrice, 36, waves at crowds as she arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi. This was her last public appearance before giving birth to Athena

Beatrice, who fondly refers to Wolfie as her 'bonus child', placed a loving hand on the eight-year-old's back

Beatrice wore a tan coat from the Net-a-Porter for The King's Foundation collection.

The coat was designed by students from the Foundation's Modern Artisan programme, run in collaboration with Net-a-Porter.

The daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson completed her look with a black dress, finishing her outfit with a pair of black knee-high boots.

Wolfie looked dapper in a grey jacket and navy trousers, while Edoardo embraced the festive spirit with a forest green tie.

Beatrice's appearance at Sandringham came following medical advice not to travel abroad at the late stage of her pregnancy - which halted her plans to fly to Italy and spend the festive period with her property tycoon husband's family.

Days before Christmas, Buckingham Palace announced that the Princess had changed her festive plans following medical advice that she should not travel for 'long distances'.

At the time, Dr Ellie Cannon, Mail on Sunday columnist and GP, said: 'There are a whole host of reasons why somebody in their third trimester may not be able to fly.

'Different acute issues might be something common such as a chest infection or even a viral illness, which can be quite serious in pregnancy. Flying can make this worse because of dehydration and sitting still for hours which can also raise the risk of blood clots.

'More long-term issues could be high blood pressure or diabetes. Travelling long distance can be dangerous in this scenario because of the ongoing monitoring needed.'
She has since deleted her Instagram post after a spate of backlash

The reality star, 48, promoted a luxurious getaway in the wake of the LA fires

Selling Sunset's Amanza Smith has ignited an almighty backlash after she promoted a luxury hotel stay amid the devastating LA fires  prompting her to delete the post altogether.

The 48-year-old luxury realtor took to Instagram on Tuesday where she promoted Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, telling her 1.3 million followers that her stay reminded her 'how meaningful it is to take step back and embrace life's simple joys.'

She even made a point of referencing the LA fires, which at the time of writing has left 29 people dead and has destroyed an estimated 12,000 homes.

In her now deleted post, Amanza shared images of a hotel room that featured two glasses of champagne, a bottle on ice, and a box of chocolates situated on a side table.

Another showed the property's grand exterior, including the inviting turquoise sea and white sandy beach.

Amanza captioned the post: 'In wake of the LA fires, we're reminded of the power of LOVE, resilience, and finding moments of peace amidst the challenges.

'My recent stay at @diplomatbeachresort was a beautiful reminder of how meaningful it is to take a step back and embrace life's simple joys.

'From a warm welcome with sparkling wine and handcrafted chocolates to luxurious spa treatments and intimate dinners at Diplomat Prime, this is a place where love and renewal come alive.

Amanza Smith has ignited an almighty backlash after she promoted a luxury hotel stay amid the devastating LA fires

The Selling Sunset star took to Instagram on Tuesday where she promoted Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood

'Let this be your sign to prioritize love, joy, and togetherness. Start planning your uplifting escape today and experience the exceptional Amanza treatment.'

She concluded the post with a booking link.

Social media users immediately called Amanza out for post, however, with many branding her 'tone deaf.'

Sharing the post on Reddit, one said: 'Using the LA fires that have devastated lives to show off her free luxury stay and shill products (without disclosing!) is a new low.'

'Using a catastrophic fire to shill for a luxury hotel. How is this normal or acceptable behavior?' another asked.

A third posted: 'It's almost like this cast is trying to compete for who can be the most out of touch recently.'

'How TF could she think that was a good idea?? Or a good caption????' a fourth wrote.

A fifth added: 'And she's deleted it. What a shock. Of course there will be no accountability on her end and she'll simply repost the ad with a new caption as if it never happened. Gross.'

Taking to Instagram she told her 1.3 million followers that her stay reminded her 'how meaningful it is to take step back and embrace life's simple joys'

It wasn't long before Amanza deleted her post from the platform altogether

Social media users immediately called Amanza out for post with many branding her 'tone deaf'

At the time of writing, the LA fires has left 29 people dead and has destroyed an estimated 12,000 homes

Another asked: 'I don't know what's worse? Announcing that you are in a luxury resort in the same post as the wildfires that's burning people's houses down or advertising a product while talking about the wildfires.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Amanza's reps for comment.

This isn't the first time that Amanza has used her social media to promote a brand off the back of the fires.

On January 20, she took to Instagram to share her collaboration with the retail brand Stardst.

'Seeing the devastation caused by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles has been heartbreaking,' she said at the time. 'That's why I'm so proud to announce my collaboration with @CreateStardust to launch the #STARDSTxAmanzaSmith collection.

'Every hoodie and T-shirt sold will directly support the LA Wildfires Relief LIVE Fund, helping organizations like @lafdfoundation, @calfirefoundation, @wckitchen, @baby2baby, and @core_response do the critical work of rebuilding our communities.'

The percentage of profit going to charity is not clear.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have been left delighted after their daughter Princess Beatrice welcomed her second child.

Buckingham Palace announced today that the King's niece, 36, had welcomed a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, last week, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

On Saturday the Duke of York, 64, looked elated as he was seen for the first time since Beatrice gave birth on his weekly ride around the Windsor Estate.

Meanwhile, her mother Sarah Ferguson said she's 'overflowing with joy' following the birth of Athena, who is the former couple's fourth grandchild, and sweetly referred to her '5-a-side team'.

In a tender Instagram post alongside a picture of the new baby, the grandmother-of-four wrote: 'Overflowing with love and joy to be able to welcome Athena Elizabeth Rose into the world.

'She is already so adored and Im incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!'

Andrew appeared in very bright spirits as he rode around Great Park at the weekend, joined by a groom who regularly accompanies him on rides - and the reason why has now been revealed.

As Beatrice is still said to be close to her father, despite his string of scandals, it is likely he would have already known her happy news.

The prince staved off the cold in a navy riding jacket and thick gloves, with a pair of matching blue jodhpurs and riding boots completing his ensemble.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have been left delighted after their daughter Princess Beatrice welcomed her second child - and the Duke looked elated on a ride on Saturday

Andrew was also seen driving from Royal Lodge in Windsor - where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - on Saturday, also following Athena's birth last Wednesday.

Again, he appeared in positive spirits, giving a nod of acknowledgement and waving from the driver's seat.

Athena Elizabeth becomes 11th in line to the throne as the second child of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place.

She becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Wolfie, eight, from Edo's first marriage to Dara Huang, and Beatrice's three-year-old daughter Sienna.

The Duke has been embroiled in a series of scandals over the years, such as his associations with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and, more recently, controversy over his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Royal expert Jennie Bond noted previously in Ok! Magazine that his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie have faced an 'extraordinarily difficult' time following the allegations, but that the Yorks remain 'an incredibly close family'.

His latest controversy over his links to an alleged Chinese spy resulted in him staying away from King Charles's traditional pre-Christmas lunch, as well as the festivities at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Both Eugenie and Beatrice attended the pre-Christmas lunch on December 19, while Beatrice and her family also joined them on Christmas Day.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, Buckingham Palace has announced

The Duchess of York, 64, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt congratulations following the announcement made by Buckingham Palace earlier today

Prince Andrew and Fergie are delighted at the news of the birth of their fourth grandchild. Pictured with daughters Beatrice and Eugenie

Andrew appeared in very bright spirits as he rode around Great Park at the weekend

On Saturday the Duke of York, 64, was seen on his weekly ride around the Windsor Estate - after Beatrice gave birth

Andrew was also pictured on Saturday driving from Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson

Prince Andrew has been seen for the first time since his daughter Princess Beatrice welcomed her second child

Prince Andrew is pictured with his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in 2016

The York family is still thought to be very close. Beatrice and her father are pictured in 2013

The King's brother appeared pensive as he rode around the Great Park, joined by a groom who regularly accompanies him on rides

The prince staved off the cold in a navy riding jacket and thick gloves, with a pair of matching blue jodhpurs and riding boots completing his ensemble

The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth, three, and stepson Wolfie, eight

Alongside the statement, Beatrice, 36, shared a picture of Edo, Sienna and Wolfie walking in the woods

Princess Beatrice is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, three (pictured)

In a sweet Instagram post today, Buckingham Palace wrote: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Athena is the fourth grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, following on from Princess Eugenie's children August and Ernest Brooksbank.

Edo, 40, also posting on Instagram, revealed his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect'.

He wrote on Instagram sharing a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

Beatrice, who fondly refers to Wolfie as her 'bonus child', placed a loving hand on the eight-year-old's back

Princess Beatrice, 36, waves at crowds as she arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl' to her new niece

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Athena's father posted a gushing announcement of his daughter's birth and said the family was 'overflowing with love' for her

'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

'Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.'

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'.

Sources told the Mail last night that Athena was a little early, but not unexpectedly so. It is believed doctors had warned a premature arrival was a possibility.

Athena Elizabeth, whose middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, adds to the Mapelli Mozzi brood which also includes three-year-old Sienna and Edo's son from a previous relationship to Dara Huang, 'Wolfie' - often referred to as Princess Beatrice's 'bonus' child.

The Princess of York's last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham where she joined the royal family for their annual trip to St Mary Magdalene Church.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.

Sarah Ferguson took to Instagram to share her congratulations to her daughter Princess Beatrice following the royal's pregnancy announcement in October, sharing a snap of herself with her daughter and granddaughter Sienna

In another snap shared by the Duchess of York, Beatrice crouched down to speak to her daughter Sienna

She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie.

Beatrice wore a tan coat from the Net-a-Porter for The King's Foundation collection. The coat was designed by students from the Foundation's Modern Artisan programme, run in collaboration with Net-a-Porter.

The daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson completed her look with a black dress, finishing her outfit with a pair of black knee-high boots.

Wolfie looked dapper in a grey jacket and navy trousers, while Edoardo embraced the festive spirit with a forest green tie.

Beatrice's appearance at Sandringham came following medical advice not to travel abroad at the late stage of her pregnancy - which halted her plans to fly to Italy and spend the festive period with her property tycoon husband's family.

Days before Christmas, Buckingham Palace announced that the Princess had changed her festive plans following medical advice that she should not travel for 'long distances'.

At the time, Dr Ellie Cannon, Mail on Sunday columnist and GP, said: 'There are a whole host of reasons why somebody in their third trimester may not be able to fly.

'Different acute issues might be something common such as a chest infection or even a viral illness, which can be quite serious in pregnancy. Flying can make this worse because of dehydration and sitting still for hours which can also raise the risk of blood clots.

Beatrice is pictured in New York in September at the Youth Impact Council Launch

Wolfie Mapelli Mozzi's mother, Dara Huang, revealed she and her son have celebrated Chinese New Year in their plush Chelsea home this week

Posting a snap of her son on his games console on the sofa, Dara joked she may have to change the theme to a 'gaming party'

'More long-term issues could be high blood pressure or diabetes. Travelling long distance can be dangerous in this scenario because of the ongoing monitoring needed.'

Buckingham Palace announced Beatrice's pregnancy on October 1, 2024. In a statement, the palace said: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three.

'His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.'

Two new pictures from the family were shared to mark the announcement, with one showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie.

The youngster, with a red bow in her hair, was kitted out in bright yellow wellies and an all-in-one blue waterproof puddlesuit decorated with cloud and bird motifs.

In another picture, an overjoyed Beatrice - wearing a black puffer jacket - smiled at the camera, while being embraced by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, who gazed at his wife.

Royal relatives were quick to express their joy at the news another arrival would soon be on the way, with Beatrice's mother Sarah Ferguson posting on Instagram to declare her pride.

Posting a snap of herself with Beatrice and granddaughter Sienna, Fergie wrote: 'A very proud GiGi/Mum today. Such an incredible blessing and an embrace to my heart.'

The arrival marks a double celebration for her half-brother Wolfie, who has been celebrating Chinese New Year with his mother, high-powered interior designer Dara Huang, at their home in Chelsea this week.

Posting on Instagram four days ago, Dara showed how she had kitted out her home with festive celebrations to mark the occasion for 'Wolfie's Chinese New Year's party'.

Featuring a snap of her eight-year-old son on his games console on the sofa, she joked she would have to turn the shebang into a 'gaming party'.

'As long as everybody is dressed in Asian clothes and eating cultural food, I'm happy,' Dara joked.
Press Release

January 29, 2025 Gatchalian urges DepEd: Revert to mandated RH education While the Department of Education (DepEd) is currently reviewing its policy on the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), Senator Win Gatchalian urged the department to revert to RH education as mandated by the RH law and remain faithful to its duty of providing RH education to adolescents. Gatchalian flagged what he described as inconsistencies between the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354) and DepEd Order No. 031 s. 2018, which sets the policy guidelines on the implementation of CSE. According to the DepEd, the RPRH Act provides legal basis for DepEd Order No. 031 s. 2018. Section 14 of the RPRH Law provides that age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education shall be given to adolescents (10 to 19 years old). Among the topics covered under reproductive health education are values formation, sexual abuse and violence against women and children, and teen pregnancy, among others. Gatchalian pointed out that under DepEd Order No. 031, CSE is integrated across all levels of basic education, which is not consistent with Section 14 of the RPRH Law. "It went beyond what the RH law calls for. Let's stay faithful to the intention of the law that RH education will only be taught to adolescents," Gatchalian said. DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Filemon Ray Javier admitted that the wording of DepEd Order No. 031 is confusing due to its broad phrasing. He clarified, though, that learners below 10 years old are given foundational knowledge in preparation for sex education proper.
The royal line of succession has shifted after the birth of Princess Beatrice's daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose, with the newborn now in 11th place.

On Wednesday, 28 January, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles' niece, 36, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had welcomed their second child together last week.

Athena is the little sister of the couple's three-year-old daughter Sienna, who is currently 10th in line to the throne.

While Princess Beatrice's younger sister Princess Eugenie was previously in 11th in line to the throne, the arrival of Athena has pushed her aunt down to 12th place on the line of succession.

Athena becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Sienna and Wolfie, eight, from Edo's first marriage to Dara Huang, who is not in the line of succession.

As it stands, King Charles' son, the Prince of Wales is next in line to the throne, followed by Prince William's children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

Prince William's estranged younger brother Prince Harry is sixth on the list of heirs to the British throne, followed by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Announcing the arrival of Athena in a sweet Instagram post, Buckingham Palace wrote: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, Buckingham Palace has announced

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Athena will not be an HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) or a Prince or Princess - and will also not require the monarch's permission to marry.

For hundreds of years, the Royal Marriages Act 1772 meant descendants of George II had to seek the sovereign's consent before they wed, otherwise their marriages were deemed invalid.

But this law was repealed through the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which restricted the consent to just the first six people in the line of succession.

As the new baby is 11th in line, they will not at present need to seek a monarch's approval to wed.

The newborn is now 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie to the 12th spot

George III, George II's grandson, had ordered the 1772 Act after his younger brother, the Duke of Cumberland, secretly married Lady Anne Horton, deemed to be a highly disreputable widow of a commoner.

Beatrice is the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah, and the new baby is the Yorks' fourth grandchild.

Athena is also the 14th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the second to be born since her death in 2022, following the arrival of Eugenie's second child Ernest last year.

Like her elder sister Sienna, Athena's middle name is likely a sweet tribute to Princess Beatrice's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth 11.

Since Buckingham Palace's announcement, Athena's father Edo, 40, declared his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect' in a post on Instagram.

He captioned a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

Another new family picture shared to mark the announcement, showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie. The youngster, with a red bow in her hair, is kitted out in bright yellow wellies and an all-in-one blue waterproof puddlesuit decorated with cloud and bird motifs

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl' to her new niece

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Athena's father posted a gushing announcement of his daughter's birth and said the family was 'overflowing with love' for her

'Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.'

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'.

Buckingham Palace announced Beatrice's pregnancy on October 1, 2024.

In a statement, the palace said: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three.

'His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.'

Two new pictures from the family were shared to mark the announcement, with one showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie.

The youngster, with a red bow in her hair, was kitted out in bright yellow wellies and an all-in-one blue waterproof puddlesuit decorated with cloud and bird motifs.

Princess Beatrice, 36, waves at crowds as she arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice married millionaire property tycoon Mr Mapelli Mozzi in a secret lockdown wedding in 2020 attended by her grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, after her planned ceremony was postponed because of the pandemic.

The Princess of York's last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham where she joined the royal family for their annual trip to St Mary Magadalene Church.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.

She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie.

Beatrice's appearance at Sandringham came following medical advice not to travel abroad at the late stage of her pregnancy - which halted her plans to fly to Italy and spend the festive period with her property tycoon husband's family.

Days before Christmas, Buckingham Palace announced that the Princess had changed her festive plans following medical advice that she should not travel for 'long distances'.
Martha Stewart once shared some very strong opinions about Blake Lively and her now-defunct blog - titled Preserve - and she did not hold back.

The actress, now 37, launched the lifestyle blog in the summer of 2014, but unfortunately shuttered its doors only one year later in 2015.

Now, with Lively entangled in a contentious legal battle with It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni, users on TikTok are taking a look back at some of her old posts on the site.

The website was not only a place where readers could read about style, food and art, but they could also buy various products.

In fact, Vanity Fair once wrote that the items for sale were 'all seemingly designed for a southern-themed bridal shower.'

The blog also caught some heat in October 2014, after an editorial was posted about the 'allure' of the Antebellum South.

When Lively decided to shut down the blog, she gave a long interview about it to Vogue, explaining that 'it never caught up to its original mission.'

'It's not making a difference in people's lives, whether superficially or in a meaningful way,' the Gossip Girl told the outlet at the time.

Martha Stewart once shared some strong opinions on Blake Lively 's and her now-defunct blog, Preserve - and she didn't hold back

The actress, 37, launched the lifestyle blog in the summer of 2014, but unfortunately shuttered its doors only one year later in 2015

And, it looked like homemaking queen Martha Stewart agreed with Lively's sentiments, as she told Us Weekly that sometimes, it's just best to let a project go.

Of course, Lively's Preserve had been compared to the likes of Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow.

And, as it turns out, the two were actually friends due to being neighbors.

'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I know she made a big effort,' Stewart told the outlet at the time.

'Sometimes shuttering is good. Listen, she's a movie actress. Why bother with commerce right now?' she continued.

'She's at the top of her career I'm totally supportive, but you know what? Maybe you can't do everything at the same time.'

About one year earlier, when Lively decided to start the website, Stewart urged people to give her and the lifestyle blog a chance.

'Let her try,' the Martha Stewart CBD founder told HuffPost in 2014.

'Sometimes shuttering is good. Listen, she's a movie actress. Why bother with commerce right now?' she continued

During the interview, Stewart also said that the couple were 'very friendly' and 'very nice'

'I don't mean that facetiously!' she added with a laugh.

'I mean, it's stupid, she could be an actress! Why would you want to be me if you could be an actress? I just did a movie yesterday, though - I can't even tell you about it - but I want to be Blake Lively.'

During the interview, Stewart also said that the couple were 'very friendly' and 'very nice.'

However, in November, the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia founder threw a bit of shade at the Deadpool actor, as she claimed he wasn't 'so funny in real life.'

'No, he's not so funny. He's very serious,' Stewart shared during an appearance on Bilt Rewards' November Rent Free game show.

Her comment came just a few months before Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department on December 20.

She alleged that Baldoni entered her trailer while she was topless, showed her graphic video of his wife giving birth and bit and sucked on her lips during an improvised kissing scene.

She further accused him of conspiring to smear her reputation, citing a text message from Baldoni's publicist Melissa Nathan which read: 'We can bury anyone.'

Her comment came just a few months before Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department on December 20

Baldoni then sued the Times, claiming it failed to vet Lively's sexual harassment and retaliation allegations and 'relied almost entirely on Lively's unverified and self-serving narrative, lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims.'

The newspaper plans to 'vigorously defend against the lawsuit,' per its spokesman.

Next, Baldoni countersued Lively and Reynolds, turning the narrative on its head by claiming it was their team doing the smearing and asking for $400million in damages.

He accused her of twisting the meaning of his texts and emails and working in tandem with Leslie Sloane, a powerful Hollywood publicist, to plant damaging stories about him in the media.
The Princess of York, 36, has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose

Princess Beatrice has paid tribute to her Greek ancestry in a heartwarming detail spotted in the photo of her newborn daughter.

The King's niece, 36, gave birth to her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, no January 22, Buckingham Palace announced today.

Athena Elizabeth becomes 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place.

She becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Wolfie, eight, from Edo's first marriage to Dara Huang, and Beatrice's three-year-old daughter Sienna.

But despite giving birth to the next generation of royals, the mother-of-three made sure to pay tribute to her royal relatives from previous generations.

In a nod to her Greek heritage, the photo of Athena Elizabeth shared by Buckingham Palace shows her wrapped up tightly in a knitted blanket that was designed by her distant cousin.

The blanket was made by Marie Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece and the wife of the late Duke of Edinburgh's nephew, Crown Prince Pavlos.

Prince Philip, who died in 2021 at the age of 99, was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, who was the younger brother of King Constantine I of Greece.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, Buckingham Palace announced today

Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, who is American-born, is married to Crown Prince Pavlos - who is the second cousin of Prince Philip. His father, the late King Constantine II, was Prince Philip's first cousin.

Alongside bringing up her own children, Marie founded founded her luxury childrenswear brand, Marie-Chantal, in 2000.

And her company has gone from strength to strength, expanding throughout the UK with a store in London in 2018 and bringing out a new line of fabrics for nurseries in 2022.

The blanket wrapping up baby Athena retails for 240 on Harrods' website or 225 from Marie Chantal's online shop and is made of luxury fabric.

The description says the cosy wrap has a 'scattered open weave that reveals an abundance of graceful angel wings' and is 'elegantly woven from the finest cashmere'.

The baby pink blanket is part of Marie Chantal's angel wings range which also includes matching baby grows, hats and sleepsuits with a similar pattern on including a baby grow in white for 45 and blue cashmere romper for 195.

And Athena's blanket is not the only nod to her beloved grandfather's family, with the Princess calling her daughter Athena after the Greek goddess of wisdom.

But despite giving birth to the next generation of royals, the mother-of-three made sure to pay tribute to her royal relatives from previous generations and honoured her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, with a Greek royal connection

Beatrice chose to swaddle her newborn daughter in a pink blanket made by Marie Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece and the wife of the late Duke of Edinburgh 's nephew, Crown Prince Pavlos (pictured together)

Alongside bringing up her own children, Marie founded her luxury childrenswear brand, Marie-Chantal, in 2000

The blanket swaddling baby Athena retails for 240 on Harrod's website or 225 from Marie Chantal's online shop and is made of 100 per cent cashmere

The announcement and first photo of the little one was posted on the royal's Instagram account and the caption read: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family, have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Athena is the fourth grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Their others include Princess Eugenie's sons August, three, and Ernest, one, whom she shares with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Edo, 41, also posted on Instagram to reveal his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect'.

He shared the same photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket, with the caption: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

The baby pink blanket is part of Marie Chantal's angel wings range which also include matching baby grows, hats and sleepsuits with a similar pattern on including a baby grow in white for 45 and blue cashmere romper for 195

Princess Beatrice shares her newborn daughter with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (pictured).The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth, three, and stepson Wolfie, eight

Alongside the statement of her pregnancy announcement last October, Beatrice, 36, shared a picture of Edo, Sienna and Wolfie walking in the woods

Princess Beatrice is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, three (pictured)

'Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.'

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'.

Her grandmother, Sarah Ferguson, wrote: 'Overflowing with love and joy to be able to welcome Athena Elizabeth Rose into the world. She is already so adored and Im incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!'
The Duchess of Edinburgh greeted the 'leader of the Opawsition' with affectionate pats as Steve Darling's guide dog Jennie accompanied the Lib Dem MP for a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Sophie, 60, joined her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh at the reception held by King Charles and Queen Camilla to welcome new Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords on January 29.

For the occasion, Sophie picked an elegant white maxi dress with long sleeves that she paired with beige kitten heels and gold jewellery - including a dainty necklace and patterned hoop earrings.

While Sophie was poised as she spoke with attendees, she could not resist kneeling down to give Jennie a pat on the neck as the golden retriever - who has become somewhat of an internet celebrity - basked in the attention.

Jennie belongs to Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, Steve Darling, and has previously been dubbed the 'best politician in parliament' after winning hearts thanks to adorable pictures of her online.

Darling was elected as for the MP for Torbay, in the south of England, during the election in July.

Dubbed 'Britain's most famous guide dog', Jennie has become a social media sensation since photographs of her napping during PMQs sent the internet into a meltdown.

Parliament's 'golden girl' also has a social media fan page called 'Rt Hon Jennie' that has nearly 20,000 followers.

The Duchess of Edinburgh greeted the 'leader of the Opawsition' with affectionate pats as Steve Darling's guide dog Jennie accompanied the Lib Dem MP for a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday

Sophie's love of dogs is well-known; she has three pooches of her own, including a Cocker Spaniel called Mole and two black Labradors, Teal and Teasel, and is a patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Jennie first made headlines after it was revealed she had survived a vicious XL Bully attack in 2023.

At the time, Darling, who is registered blind, said it took himself and three others to pull the XL Bully away from Jennie while recalling the 'traumatic' incident'.

'Sadly, it just went straight for the throat,' Darling told the BBC at the time.

'It ended up being on the floor and screaming - something I never want to hear again in my life. I ended up wrestling with both dogs on the floor, [there was] no sign of the owner.

'We ended up having four people trying to get the dog off of Jennie. We then managed to get Jennie behind a gate while I just lay on the floor on top of this dog to hold it down, and it was really quite traumatic.'

Since recovering from the attack, Jennie has become a permanent fixture at PMQs - much to the delight of her fans.

The Buckingham Palace reception was attended by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch, as well as Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage, who Sophie was seen chatting with.

For the occasion, Sophie picked an elegant white maxi dress with long sleeves that she paired with beige kitten heels and gold jewellery - including a dainty necklace and patterned hoop earrings. She is photographed here in conversation with Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt

Dog lover Sophie also spent some time with Darling's guide dog Jennie, who has become something of an internet sensation

The Duchess in conversation with Munt, the Lib Dem MP for Wells and Mendip Hills

The Duchess of Edinburgh seen speaking to Labour MP for Doncaster and Isle of Axholme, Lee Pitcher, during the reception hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla

Elsewhere at the event, Sophie was seen speaking to Reform UK's Leader and Deputy Leader, Nigel Farage (left) and Richard Tice (Centre) respectively

She was also photographed in conversation with Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, Tessa Munt and Labour (Co-op) MPs Helena Dollimore and Alice Macdonald and Lee Pitcher.

This reception was held on the same day that Buckingham Palace introduced the newest member of the Royal Family.

In a statement, the palace confirmed Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had welcomed their second child together, daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, last week.

'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces,' the statement read.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, Buckingham Palace has announced

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Forty-year-old Edo, also posting on Instagram, revealed his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect'.

He wrote on Instagram sharing a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

'Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.'

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'.

Princess Beatrice, 36, waves at crowds as she arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice, who fondly refers to Wolfie as her 'bonus child', placed a loving hand on the eight-year-old's back

Athena Elizabeth, whose middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, adds to the Mapelli Mozzi brood which also includes three-year-old Sienna and Edo's son from a previous relationship to Dara Huang, 'Wolfie' - often referred to as Princess Beatrice's 'bonus' child.

The Princess of York's last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham where she joined the royal family for their annual trip to St Mary Magadalene Church.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.

She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie.
Karoline Leavitt made history when she became America's youngest press secretary at 27, but the high achiever is also a devoted mother and loving wife.

Leavitt, who is known for her gun-loving ways and conservative values, had her first White House briefing on Tuesday, delivering barbed insults to 'legacy media' as well as announcing that social media influencers and content creators will be able to attend her briefings.

She then we on to declare 'sanity has been restored,' and that 'Trump is everywhere again,' immediately becoming the MAGA darling of the Trump administration.

Leavitt is also fast becoming a White House style icon, stunning in the Brady Press Briefing Room on Tuesday in a gorgeous, berry-colored two-piece suit with a belted back.

She also made waves after donning a gorgeous gray-blue coat to her swearing in ceremony.

The wife and mother hails from New Hampshire, and ran for the U.S. House to represent New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District in 2022.

While the general public is fast becoming familiar with the blonde's professional life, not as much is known about her private life, including husband Nicholas Riccio - who is 32 years her senior.

Here, FEMAIL look into Riccio's life, who went from rags to riches and is now married to Trump's press secretary.

Karoline Leavitt made history when she became the country's youngest press secretary at 27

The high achiever is also a devoted mother and a loving wife to her husband Nicholas Riccio, 59

Who is Nicholas Riccio and how did they meet?

Riccio, 59, founded the real estate business Riccio Enterprises LLC and currently, he manages beachfront houses in New Hampshire, where the couple is from.

While he has a successful business now, the doting husband hasn't always had a stable home.

According to the Portsmouth Herald, Riccio was living on the streets by the age of 18, relying on friends for basic hygrine.

'When I was 19 or 20, I would call my buddies to go over their houses to watch a game just so I could take a shower,' Riccio told the local newspaper in 2005.

He attended Plymouth State University, and kickstarted his career in real estate after completing a course in 1990.

It is unknown how the couple met, with very few posts about Riccio on Leavitt's social media account. He also does not appear to have a public account of his own.

The List published a theory that the couple met when Leavitt ran for a seat in Congress, representing New Hampshire's first district, in 2022, and Riccio was working on her campaign finance committee.

Some of Riccio's properties have also been used to host the Women for Trump event, which Leavitt attended.

Welcome to MAGALAND: Insider Trump's Second 100 Days - The podcast bringing you the latest news and gossip from the White House. Listen here.

She also made waves after donning a gorgeous gray-blue coat to her swearing in ceremony

It's unclear when they officially tied the knot, but the press secretary has 'wife' in her Instagram bio and appears to wear a wedding band

It's unknown how the couple met, with few posts of Riccio on Leavitt's social media account, and he doesn't appear to have a public account of his own

When did the couple get married?

Leavitt announced her engagement to her real estate mogul partner on Christmas Day in 2023, announcing the news in an Instagram post.

It's unclear when they officially tied the knot, but the press secretary has 'wife' in her Instagram bio and appears to wear a wedding band.

The couple welcomed their first son, Nicholas 'Niko' Robert, in July 2024, with Leavitt gushing it was the 'best moment in her life.'

'It's true when they say there's nothing comparable to the love you feel for your child,' she wrote in the caption, along with a series of pictures.

The post continued: 'My heart has grown bigger than I ever imagined possible. Babies are the ultimate blessing and I'm bursting with gratitude for our beautiful, happy, healthy boy.'

Leavitt was famously was on maternity leave when Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania, which, encouraged her fast return to work - just four days after giving birth.

Riccio is a doting dad to baby Nico

In October, Leavitt spoke to The Conservateur, about juggling motherhood with her fast-paced job.

She said she was thankful for her Riccio and his flexible work schedule, as he could take care of Nico while she was at work.

'Leaving the baby every day to go to work, it does break your heart, Leavitt admitted.

'It's incredibly challenging emotionally, physically, spiritually,' she added.

For the latest White House gossip and news, listen to the Daily Mail's new politics podcast, Welcome to MAGAland. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
Alabama Barker has shut down rumors that she secretly got pregnant by rapper Tyga.

The 19-year-old, who is the daughter of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, was also accused of hooking up with Soulja Boy, 34.

The rumors started after Barker's rival Bhad Bhabie, 21, released a diss track about her called Over Cooked, which some music fans believe contained hidden allegations that Barker had been with both Tyga, 35, and Soulja Boy.

Responding to the shocking claims on TikTok, a defiant Barker wrote, 'Let's clear this up! I never in my life have remotely been near Tyga.'

She continued, 'I've also never been pregnant, nor do I know Soulja Boy. The end.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Barker, Bhad Bhabie, and Tyga for comment.

Bhad Bhabie, real name Danielle Bregoli, and Barker have been in a public feud for the last couple of months.

When contacted by DailyMail.com about the feud, a rep for Bregoli declined to address the incident with Barker directly, but stated that Bregoli was focused on her music career.

Alabama Barker has shut down rumors that she secretly got pregnant to rapper Tyga

'Danielle is excited to be back working on new music and is looking forward to doing what she loves most: creating art that connects with her fans and continues to push her boundaries as an artist,' they said.

The drama started when Bregoli accused Barker of trying to steal her on-again/off-again boyfriend Le Vaughn.

Barker addressed the allegations in December and said she has 'no interest' in Le Vaughn.

Barker, who turned 19 on December 24, then said that it was Le Vaughn who has been contacting her and 'confessing his feelings' for her for nearly a year.

In a lengthy post, she wrote: 'I want to be clear: I have no interest in this man.'

Barker denied getting involved in their relationship and also claimed Le Vaughn lied to her about his name, his Instagram and his relationship status.

The aspiring rapper also insisted that she was 'misled' and 'deceived.'

Barker said she previously met up with Le Vaughn in Las Vegas, and at the time was 'unaware' he was dating Bregoli.

She claimed that they did not have an affair and wrote that 'nothing substantial ever came from' the 'frequent communication' Le Vaughn initiated first.

Responding to the shocking claims on TikTok, a defiant Barker wrote, 'Let's clear this up! I never in my life have remotely been near Tyga'

The rumors started after Barker's rival Bhad Bhabie, 21, released a diss track about her called Over Cooked, which some music fans believe contained hidden allegations about Tyga

Barker said that after learning that he was in a relationship with Bregoli, she 'apologized multiple times' to the Gucci Flip Flops hitmaker  who welcomed daughter Kali Love with Le Vaughn last year.

Earlier this week, Bregoli released a diss record about the situation, aimed at Barker, titled Over Cooked.

Although Bregoli didn't directly use Tyga and Soulja Boy's names in the song, fans online believed that she was referring to the two rappers.

Making things more awkward is that fact that Tyga previously dated Kylie Jenner, who is the younger sister of Alabama's stepmother, Kourtney Kardashian.

Barker is also working on a music career of her own and released her first rap single Vogue in December.

Her father Travis and his wife Kourtney both appeared in the music video for the song.
Has Melania Trump predicted her future?

In a recently resurfaced video, filmed when she was just 23 years old, the current First Lady posed as the first female President of the United States for a Slovenian commercial.

The ad, previously unearthed by Univision, was made for a Slovenian clothing company.

Bill Clinton was sworn in as the President of the United States in January 1993 - the same year Melania's commercial aired in Slovenia.

The First Lady, known back in the day as Melanija Knavs, was an aspiring model who had hopes of expanding her career to the United States.

Of course, she later moved to New York City and married President Donald Trump in January 2005.

In the extraordinary commercial, Melania, now 54, could first be seen landing on the tarmac and deplaning a jet, as she wore a chic, very-oversized tan trench coat.

Her style was very much of the times, as she also sported a baggy tan blazer with gold buttons and matching skirt set, along with a striped yellow scarf tied around her neck.

In a recently resurfaced video, filmed when she was just 23 years old, the current First Lady posed as the first female President of the United States for a Slovenian commercial

The ad, previously unearthed by Univision, was made for a Slovenian clothing company

The First Lady, known back in the day as Melanija Knavs, was an aspiring model who had hopes of expanding her career to the United States

Welcome to MAGALAND: Insider Trump's Second 100 Days - The podcast bringing you the latest news and gossip from the White House. Listen here.

The model's curly hair was let loose down her shoulders, and swept to the side, creating a lot of volume at the top.

As the posing President of The United States was stepping off the plane, she gave a wave to the crowd and then appeared to take questions from 'the press.'

Brown leather briefcase in hand, she then slid into the back seat of a 1980s red Chevrolet Caprice Classic, getting escorted to the 'White House' with a gaggle of 'police' on motorcycles.

While in the car, Melania touched up her makeup, and then waved to the 'crowd' outside.

The crowd reel was actually taken from archive footage of fans greeting President John F. Kennedy, Natalija Gorscak, director of Slovenian National Television, told Univision.

In the background of the advertisement is the 1978 Elvis Costello & the Attractions hit that featured lines such as 'She's been a bad girl, she's like a chemical' and 'Though you try to stop it, she's like a narcotic.'

Shortly before being sworn in, soon-to-be-president Melania met with her cabinet at a table covered in overgrown floral arrangements.

With a huge smile on her face, she then took her oath on what is staged to be the steps of the US Capitol - but don't be fooled because the ceremony actually took place in the library of the National University of Slovenia.

While in the car, Melania touched up her makeup, and then waved to the 'crowd' outside

Once all was said and done, Melania sat down at her desk, whipped on a pair of small-framed glasses on a pearl chain, and signed paper work

And, if the commercial itself was already interesting enough, little did Melania know that she would go on to marry the 45th and 47th President of The United States, Donald Trump

Last week, he was sworn in for his second term, after losing the election to Joe Biden in 2020

Once all was said and done, Melania sat down at her desk, whipped on a pair of small-framed glasses on a pearl chain, and signed paper work.

And, if the commercial itself was already interesting enough, little did Melania know that she would go on to marry the 45th and 47th President of The United States, Donald Trump.

Last week, he was sworn in for his second term, after losing the election to Joe Biden in 2020.

Of course, Melania was right by his side at inauguration events all weekend, where she stunned in gorgeous outfits by Adam Lippes and Herve Pierre.

On Friday, she accompanied Donald Trump to visit Asheville, North Carolina, a region that was devastated by Hurricane Helene this past September.

For the latest White House gossip and news, listen to the Daily Mail's new politics podcast, Welcome to MAGAland. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
The King revealed he does not like his curry 'too strong' as he welcomed newly elected MPs and members of the House of Lords to a reception at Buckingham Palace.

The King and Queen, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, met the new MPs in the Ballroom on Wednesday, January 29.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, former prime minister Theresa May and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage all attended the event.

Reflecting on her meeting with Charles, 76, Deirdre Costigan, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said she spoke to the monarch about his 'love of curries', adding that he said he did not like his curry 'too strong'.

She said: 'He's very knowledgeable, isn't he?

'So I said, "I'm from Ealing Southall", and straight away he was like, "Oh yes!" - he knew it was Little India, and he talked about his love of curries.

'And he also said, "You've got a very big Sikh community there, don't you?"

'So I asked him to come to Ealing Southall and check out the curry, I hope he will.

The King revealed he does not like his curry 'too strong' as he welcomed newly elected MPs and members of the House of Lords to a reception at Buckingham Palace

Reflecting on her meeting with Charles, 76, Deirdre Costigan, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said she spoke to the monarch about his 'love of curries', adding that he said he did not like his curry 'too strong'

'But he also recognised straight away I had an Irish accent,' she continued. 'He said, "You're Irish." And he said, "It would be great to get a state visit as well."'

Asked if the King mentioned what sort of curry he liked, Ms Costigan replied that Charles said 'not too strong' but did not elaborate further.

During the reception, the King also met Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling and his beloved guide dog Jennie and gave the golden retriever's head a scratch.

Charles said to Mr Darling: 'She knows her way around the house, does she?'

Mr Darling said she knew the best place to go for the food, before the King asked Mr Darling how the food was in the Houses of Parliament.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is patron of Guide Dogs, also met Mr Darling and greeted Jennie by saying 'Oh my goodness, I'm your patron', before making a fuss of her.

Sophie knelt down on the floor to stroke Jennie and the right honourable hound gave her a paw.

Before meeting the King and Duchess of Edinburgh, Mr Darling told reporters Jennie 'thinks the Palace of Westminster is her palace, and she's the Queen of it, and everybody comes there just to love her'.

During the reception, the King also met Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling (left) and his beloved guide dog Jennie and gave the golden retriever's head a scratch

The Liberal Democrat MP of Torbay, Mr Darling continued: 'So when we get off the train at Paddington, her tail is on such a high wag as we make our way towards the Central line, she knows where she's going, and she's really excited.'

Mr Darling said Jennie is a 'good bridge builder for people from other parties', which he said was 'really important' as he could have conversations he otherwise would not have had.

Paul Waugh, Labour MP for Rochdale, said the King was 'impeccably poilte' during their meeting.

'He was impeccably polite, as you'd imagine,' Mr Waugh told reporters. 'Knows a lot about every constituency, got the sort of incredible encyclopedic knowledge of every area of the UK, as you might imagine.'

Mr Waugh added that he told the King that Rochdale was the 'home of the Co-op' and jokingly asked if he shopped at the Co-op, to which Charles 'burst out laughing'.

He said the new MPs were honoured to be there, but the King 'was making (it) absolutely clear we are the VIPs as well'.

The reception was held on the same day that Buckingham Palace introduced the newest member of the Royal Family.

In a statement, the palace confirmed Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had welcomed their second child together, daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, last week.

King Charles with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the reception on Wednesday

King Charles III and Queen Camilla (centre) with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch (left) and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) during a reception for members of Parliament newly elected in the 2024 election, and members of the House of Lords, at Buckingham Palace in London.

'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

'The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces,' the statement read.

'The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.'

Athena Elizabeth, whose middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, adds to the Mapelli Mozzi brood which also includes three-year-old Sienna and Edo's son from a previous relationship to Dara Huang,

'Wolfie' - often referred to as Princess Beatrice's 'bonus' child.

Athena is now 11th in line to the throne.
Hundreds of shoppers are rushing to Kmart Australia to get their hands on a 'genius' $5 kitchen gadget.

The new Chicken Shredder is conveniently designed to effortlessly shred cooked meat.

The device quietly launched across stores and online but it didn't take long for eagle-eyed shoppers to notice the hot buy on shelves.

One dedicated customer, who goes by Foodie Mumma Ren, spotted the product in stores and shared an image with her Facebook followers.

The affordable item can be used by placing the chicken inside, popping the lid on and lifting the handles up and down.

While most people tend to shred chicken using two forks and a bowl, the gadget removes the fuss when preparing meals.

The Facebook post quickly caught the attention of others - but opinions were divided.

'Do I need it? Probably not. Do I want it? Absolutely!' one person wrote.

Kmart's new Chicken Shredder is conveniently designed to effortless shred cooked meat

Another said: 'Omg no way.'

One person pointed out: 'People like me who have disabilities and issues with dexterity, grip, strength, etc would love this. If you don't need it, don't buy it.'

However, some shoppers dubbed it as a 'useless appliance' since other products can be used to shred chicken.

'Two forks for the win! This thing would be impossible to clean,' one said.

'How lazy can we get?' another asked.

Others agreed and said the product will likely be a 'nightmare' to clean.

Earlier this month the budget department store released a fashionable shirt that looks similar to styles retailing for $120.

The Short Sleeve V-Neck Tie Front Top has been compared to the Dissh Emelia White Linen Wrap Shirt, which costs $119.99.

The Short Sleeve V-Neck Tie Front Top from Kmart Australia (left) has been compared to the Dissh Emelia White Linen Wrap Shirt, which costs $119.99 (right)

One shopper behind the popular page Kmart Insider spotted the 'dupe' and raved about it online.

'Kmart preparing us for resort life with this new linen blend top that looks just like Dissh!' the Instagram caption read.

Both short sleeve shirts feature a tie-up front, drop shoulder and v-neck design that's perfect to wear to the office or the beach.

However, the Dishh version is made from 100 per cent linen while the Kmart alternative is made from a blend of linen and viscose.

The relaxed fit is stylish, trendy and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. The Kmart top is also so popular it's sold out online.
A woman was left humiliated after accidentally sending her boss inappropriate text messages instead of her boyfriend.

The American woman had taken a cannabis edible and messaged her boss two times during what she thought was playful banter with her partner.

'I'll knock you the f*** out with your ratatouille mustache. Respectfully,' the first text read.

The behaviour seemed out of the ordinary for the employee, so the boss responded assuming the messages weren't for her.

The boss replied: 'I imagine not for me, unless I have a mustache.'

Thinking her boyfriend was being amusing, the girlfriend responded with: 'You got some funny looking facial hair attempts in your Instagram pics.'

But it didn't take long for her to realise the embarrassing blunder she had made and she quickly apologised.

'I cannot believe I just did that. We joke around in texts, like playfully. I'm so sorry omg,' the girlfriend wrote.

The American woman had taken an edible and texted her boss two inappropriate messages thinking it was her boyfriend (pictured: the texts)

Her boss said the texts made her laugh and urged the employee not to feel bad about the mix up.

Sharing screengrabs of the texts on Reddit, others thought the exchange was hilarious while some felt sorry for the girlfriend.

'I think I would literally evaporate,' one commented.

'The first text has me screaming,' another said.

'My boss is one of my relatives and I would still pass away if I did this,' a third added.

Another said: 'That is sooo funny. I owned a company for decades and I would have just laughed about your comments that were supposed to be for your boyfriend.'

Someone else admitted they would quit if they ever made the same mistake while another said they would have a 'huge panic attack'.

Last year another boss was slammed for texting an employee about a non-essential work issue while he was on holidays.

Tom felt instantly stressed after reading the message from his boss explaining the Area Manager wasn't impressed with the team's performance.

Last year another boss was slammed for texting an employee about a non-essential work issue while he was on holidays

British career expert Ben Askins was sent the text messages and read out the conversation in a video.

'Hi Tom, hope you're having a great time on your holiday. No need to reply right now but I just wanted to keep you in the loop,' the boss wrote.

'We had a visit from the Area Manager and he's pissed about our figures. I think we're going to have to have some really tough meetings when you're back.'

Feeling confused, Tom replied: 'Just seen this [sic] and it's got me a little concerned. Shall we have a call?'

But the boss refused and encouraged him not to think about it.

'Like I said, I don't want to worry whilst you're on your break. There is nothing you can do about it but wait until you're back. But it's a real s*** show, he's in a bad mood and I really don't know how it's going to be when you get back,' the boss replied.
The NHS is run by bureaucrats who lack ideas and are obstructing the reforms needed to fix it, a damning report by MPs warns today.

The public accounts committee (PAC) found that while the Governments ambitions to overhaul the health service represent a golden opportunity to improve patient care, bosses are not willing to make the necessary changes.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, the committee chairman, said last night: The Government has told the public the NHS is broken. This will not come as news to patients, nor to its staff.

Nor, indeed, does it to this committee, which has long warned of the systemic issues plaguing the NHS  issues which the Government has transformative ambitions to address. We were aghast, then, to find among senior officials in charge of delivering these ambitions some of the worst complacency displayed to the PAC in my time serving on it.

NHS England is accused in the report of being overly optimistic in its ability to improve productivity, and that the Governments ambitions for the NHS seem to run counter to officials lack of ideas or drive to change.

In September, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer laid out plans for three big shifts in the NHS: moving from hospital-based to community care; from analogue to digital; and from treating ill health to preventing people getting sick in the first place.

However, the PAC report reveals that, under questioning, officials from both the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England did not seem ready to take that on. It states: There was no real urgent motivation and readiness to drive the change in the NHS that is needed.

It also reveals the switch to digital in parts of the NHS has been glacially slow, with some Trusts still reliant on fax machines.

The NHS is run by bureaucrats who lack ideas and are obstructing the reforms needed to fix it, a damning report by MPs warns today (stock image)

The public accounts committee (PAC) found that while the Governments ambitions to overhaul the health service represent a golden opportunity to improve patient care, bosses are not willing to make the necessary changes (stock image)

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, the committee chairman, said last night: The Government has told the public the NHS is broken. This will not come as news to patients, nor to its staff'

Those who gave evidence to the committee included Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, Julian Kelly, its chief financial officer, and Sir Chris Wormald, the then permanent secretary to the Department of Health and Social Care. Sir Geoffrey added: We have a simple message for those senior officials  truly fresh ideas and radical energy must be generated to meet what is required.

An NHS England spokesman said last night: The PAC report contains basic factual inaccuracies and a flawed understanding of how the NHS and the Governments financial processes work.

While NHS productivity is now improving at double pre-pandemic levels, far from being complacent, NHS England has been open about the problem and the actions being taken to address it.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman added: Fixing the broken NHS requires urgent and radical reform. This will be a challenge, but health leaders have said they will meet this task, and we will work with them to deliver it.
A new 60,000-a-year Alzheimer's drug, said to be the first treatment to slow progression of the memory-robbing disease, is a rip off that results in 'tiny' benefits at the cost of deadly risks, experts have warned.

Donanemab has been hailed 'a new hope' in the fight against dementia, after research suggested it slowed the memory-robbing illness in its early stages.

Now, one London clinic has become the first in Europe to offer the drug to patients privately for an 'eye-watering' annual sum, after the NHS spending watchdog refused to fund it.

According to health chiefs, the benefits of the infusions were 'not enough' to justify the cost.

But, experts have warned Britain's 700,000 Alzheimer's patients against splashing out on the treatment  sold by Re:Cognition Health in London's Harley Street.

Not only is the cost 'eye-watering', patients could be risking a 'major and irreversible complication', Professor Rob Howard, an expert in old age psychiatry at University College London, told MailOnline.

'About 40 per cent of patients who are treated with this class of drugs develop brain swelling and bleeding,' he said.

'In most people, this isn't too serious. But in about 1 per cent of cases, this complication can lead to severe life-changing side effects including strokes and death.'

Experts have long believed donanemab could herald a new era of dementia treatment, after studies showed it slowed the memory-robbing illness in its early stages

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss

The benefits, meanwhile, are 'tiny', according to Professor Howard.

'The clinical trials are very clear. They show that the difference between the patients who receive the drug and the placebo at 18 months is tiny.

'An experienced clinician assessing a patient wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the same patient who'd had the treatment for 18 months and who had had a placebo.'

Other experts have echoed Professor Howard's stance, declaring the price tag 'ridiculous'.

Professor Bart De Strooper, an expert in Alzheimer disease at University College London, said: 'I'm happy to see the drug become available but the price is ridiculous.

'Scientists still need to find out which subgroup of patients can actually benefit.'

Professor Tom Denning, the head of the University of Nottingham's Centre for Dementia, told MailOnline that health watchdog NICE was right to deny NHS patients access to donanemab 'as it is difficult to see how they would ever become cost-effective'.

'The benefits as evidenced in the clinical trials are modest, to say the least. They certainly don't stop patients' dementia from progressing over time.'

The drug has been proven to slow progression of the disease by as much as 35 per cent in trials by helping to remove the build up of the harmful protein amyloid in the brains of people with early-stage Alzheimer's

Around 900,000 Brits are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017

The drug, which patients receive through a drip in their arm every month, works by stimulating the body's immune system to remove the build up of the harmful protein amyloid in the brains of people with early-stage Alzheimer's.

In October, it got the green light from UK medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

But NICE decided to block it for NHS  along with a second Alzheimer's drug called lecanemab, as both produced benefits 'too small' to justify the cost.

At the time NICE said it had identified 27 other drugs which it 'expects to be asked to evaluate over the next few years'.

Re:Cognition administered the first dose of donanemab on Friday, with the clinic's CEO and medical director Dr Emer MacSweeney saying the moment marked 'a significant milestone in the fight against Alzheimer's disease'.

She added: 'As the first clinic in Europe to deliver [donanemab], we are proud to continue leading the way in providing access to life-changing therapies.'

While the cost of the drug will vary on the patient and number of MRI scans required, the price is expected to start from 60,000 every year.

Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimates the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is 42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt.

NICE also said it had identified 27 other drugs which it 'expects to be asked to evaluate over the next few years'

An ageing population means these costs  which include lost earnings of unpaid carers  are set to soar to 90billion in the next 15 years.

Around 944,000 in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while the figure is thought to be around 7million in the US.

Alzheimer's affects around six in 10 people with dementia.

It is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly.

Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop.

Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.

Dementia are expected to sky-rocket in the coming years, making a cheap screening tool vital to get to grips with the challenge.

Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
Nine people have died in a new outbreak of an 'eye-bleeding' Ebola-like virus, global health chiefs have warned.

Marburg, one of the deadliest pathogens ever discovered, has already infected ten people in the African nation of Tanzania since the country officially announced the outbreak last week.

Of these infections nine have died Africa's health agency has announced  reflecting the virus's 90 per cent mortality rate.

The cases were reported in the Kagera region of Tanzania. The area is located in the northwest of the country and has a population of nearly three million.

But because the country's main international airport in the capital Dar es Salaam is easily accessible by train, experts are worried the disease could spread further, The Sun reported.

Ngashi Ngongo, from Africa Centre for Disease Control Centre (CDC), told an online briefing they are doing everything they can with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to limit the toll of the outbreak.

Authorities have identified 'about 281 contacts' of the 10 cases, which are being closely monitored for infections.

Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

'There have been a total of 31 tests that have been conducted, two confirmed, and 29 I think, that are negative,' Ngongo said.

There are currently no vaccines or treatments available meaning medics are forced to focus on helping patients survive the infection.

This often puts health workers at direct risk of the virus, which can cause people to bleed from their eyes.

Marburg is a haemorrhagic fever  where organs and blood vessels are damaged, causing bleeding internally or from the eyes, mouth and ears.

The virus can be spread by touching or handling body fluids of an infected person, contaminated objects or infected wild animals. It is said initially to be transmitted to people after prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by fruit bats.

Symptoms appear abruptly and include severe headaches, fever, diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting. They become increasingly severe.

In the early stages of Marburg haemorrhagic fever, it is very difficult to distinguish from other tropical illnesses, such as Ebola and malaria.

Infected patients become 'ghost-like', often developing deep-set eyes and expressionless faces.

'We would expect further cases in the coming days as disease surveillance improves,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X earlier this month

Marburg has a mortality rate of up to 88 per cent. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved to treat the virus

The WHO says it has a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of up to 88 per cent, meaning it can kill nearly nine in ten people it infects.

The outbreak in Tanzania comes less than a month after a Marburg outbreak in neighbouring Rwanda was officially declared over.

A total of 66 people were infected, roughly 80 per cent of which were healthcare workers.

The country reported 15 deaths, with Rwandas response praised internationally for its low death rate of 23 per cent  the lowest ever for a Marburg outbreak in Africa.

In March 2023, Tanzania's Bukoba district experienced its first Marburg virus outbreak, which is thought to have killed six people and lasted for nearly two months.

'We would expect further cases in the coming days as disease surveillance improves,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X earlier this month.

In spite of the regional threat, global risk remains low as the virus does not spread easily between people, WHO said.
A British mathematician has revealed a surprising sex 'hack' that could make women who get pregnant more likely to give birth to a boy.

Professor Hannah Fry took to Instagram to discuss a peculiar trend, which involves a spike in baby boys being born after world wars have ended, known as the 'the returning soldier effect'.

Pointing to graph showing the ratio of baby boys and girls born in England and Wales she explained: 'You've got some really definite peaks  one in 1919 just after the end of the First World War, another one in 1945 just after the end of the Second World War'.

The academic and television presenter said evidence suggested this phenomenon was the result of a combination of social circumstances and a quirk that makes women more likely to have boy if conception occurs early in their 'fertile window'.

Professor Fry said people tend to have more sex after wars as soldiers come home to their wives or lovers, leading to greater chances of conception.

This increased frequency of sex means a woman is more likely to become pregnant earlier in her cycle, and Professor Fry highlighted it was this aspect that could lead to a peak in baby boys.

'The chances of a woman conceiving a male or female child actually very subtly changes depending on when in her cycle she conceives,' she said.

'So slightly earlier, ever so slightly more likely that she'll have a baby boy.'

This Government graph shows the ratio of male births (purple line) compared to 100 female births in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland between 1910 and 2021

Experts have theorised that this may be due to differing hormonal or acidity levels within a woman's cycle, which can alter the environment of the cervix.

These changes make it more likely sperm carrying a Y chromosome, which makes a boy, will successfully reach the egg first.

Other studies suggest an imbalance in boys and girls is due to a very slight increase in female embryo mortality compared to males.

But Professor Fry warned that those hoping to use the early cycle method to influence the sex of their baby aren't guaranteed success.

She explained that on an individual level the increased chance of having a boy is 'tiny'.

'When you scale up to the size of a population this becomes a pattern that becomes really clear,' she said.

The returning soldier effect, despite the name, isn't always linked to conflict, Prof Fry said.

Another spike in baby boys was seen in Britain in 1973 when the country was experiencing an energy crisis, and many people were only working outside of the home a few a days a week.

But Professor Fry warned that those hoping to use this system to influence the sex of their baby would likely be unsuccessful. Stock image

'I think we now know what everyone in Britain was doing during their three day week,' Professor Fry said.

While the 'the returning soldier effect' is real, it's worth highlighting that even in normal periods slightly more baby boys are born than girls.

This typically translates to roughly 104 boys for every 100 girls.

This doesn't make a difference to the population as, statistically, slightly more boys die before reaching adulthood than girls, generally through accidents or developmental problems.
Scientists are raising the alarm over a potential new pandemic virus that could be emerging in California.

This week, officials reported the first outbreak of a rare but deadly H5N9 strain of bird flu on a duck farm in Merced County, just outside the Bay Area.

But tests showed that the birds had also been infected with H5N1, the strain of bird flu currently decimating dairy farms, which led to California declaring a state of emergency.

Scientists warned that this suggested the two viruses may have infected the same cell and swapped DNA  in a process known as reassortment  which virologists fear could create a new super virus that is better able to infect and spread between humans.

These fears come amid a communications 'blackout' at America's health agencies  the NIH, CDC and FDA  ordered by the new Trump Administration that is looking to overhaul the agencies.

Some doctors have warned this leaves the US susceptible to the emergence of deadly viruses as the agencies are unable to raise the alarm.

The warning over the duck farm in California was revealed in a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health, which is based in Paris.

Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist in Canada, warned: 'It does suggest there's enough [H5N1] virus around that reassortment might become more frequent. With enough H5 in these animals and enough seasonal flu in humans, you get them together, and you have a recipe for a potential pandemic virus.'

The infections with H5N9 and H5N1 were detected on a duck farm in California (stock image)

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, is pictured above in May 2020 in Sacramento

She warned that because ducks only suffer a mild illness from bird flu, and continue to fly, eat and mingle while infected, it raised the risk that they could pick up other viruses while infected.

The cases on the California duck farm were detected in late November, with the facility quarantined and all 120,000 birds on the farm killed.

Testing in January later revealed that the ducks had been infected with two types of bird flu.

There is no evidence at this time that it has spread to other farms.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The case, nonetheless, raises fears over a new virus emerging that could be better able to infect and spread between humans.

Dr Rasmussen made her comments to the Washington Post, and added on X: 'This is an avian reassortment and unlikely to threaten us, but it kills birds.

'The more H5 is around in the more hosts, the greater the risk of a reassortment that does threaten us.'

Dr Peter Hotez, a virologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas who urged people to mask up during the Covid pandemic, said on X: 'It suggests to me that there's a lot of H5N1 around, making recombination events more likely.

'Although some flu experts I've spoken to feel that some types of reassortments are more likely than others: So it's not clear what this would mean for an H5N1 and seasonal human flu?'

On Friday last week, the Trump administration was revealed to have ordered a communications 'blackout' at the major federal health agencies.

They were told to pause all external communications, including publishing scientific reports, updating websites and issuing health advisories.

The directive came without warning, insiders warned, with little guidance as to how long it would last.

The above map shows where cases of bird flu have been detected in humans. California and Washington state have detected the most cases

The above map also shows where H5 has been detected in wastewater, with California having a concentration of infections

The above shows a map of cattle farms that have reported infections with H5N1

The health agencies play a vital role in gathering and sharing critical information with the public, including on outbreaks of infectious diseases, raising the alarm over foodborne diseases and food recalls.

The US has been battling an outbreak of bird flu for more than a year, which has led to the deaths of millions of wild and domestic birds  and spread to more than 900 cattle herds.

A total of 67 people have been infected so far, including one person in Louisiana who died following their infection.

California has recorded the majority of cases in humans, with 68 infections so far  mostly among farm workers who suffered symptoms like conjunctivitis, or red eye. The state is also recording H5 viruses in its wastewater.

The virus is also causing a major outbreak in the animal world, and among cattle  with more than 700 dairy herds now reported to have been infected across the US.

The infections have already led to the culling of nearly 40million laying hens in the US, driving up the price of eggs  which are expected to jump 25 percent in the first few months of this year.

There are also concerns that the spread of the virus in dairy herds may later lead to cattle being culled, which would also drive up the price of milk.
The grieving family of a woman 'likely' killed by a reaction to a dye routinely injected into patients before scans have warned patients of the risks of the diagnostic tool.

Yvonne Graham, 66, suffered a cardiac arrest minutes after medics at Northampton General Hospital injected dye  called contrast medium  ahead of a CT scan to investigate a bloated stomach.

While attempts were made to resuscitate the former butcher, she died just hours later on February 1 last year.

Ahead of an inquest into her death, an autopsy stated that Mrs Graham's cause of death was 'likely' an extreme allergic reaction to the dye.

Speaking of the death, her daughter, Yolanda, 39, said she believes her mother would still be here if she'd had access to an EpiPen  a medical injector designed to save patients from life threatening allergic reactions.

She also said her mother should never have been given the dye in the first place as she had kidney disease  and it is well-known that the substance can cause damage to the organ in those who are vulnerable.

Yolanda, a hairdresser from Daventry, Northamptonshire, said: 'It's just such a shock. It doesn't feel real. I still can't get my head around it.'

Yolanda, who was outside the scan room on the day her mother died, said mere minutes after her mother went in, the doors flung back open and a team of medics rushed in.

Yvonne Graham, 66, suffered a cardiac arrest minutes after medics at Northampton General Hospital injected dye - called contrast medium - ahead of a CT scan to investigate a bloated stomach

Mrs Graham's daughter Yolanda, 39, said she believes her mother would still be here had there been an EpiPen, a medical injector designed to save patients from life threatening allergic reactions, in the scan room

'I heard her make a heaving noise like she was sick, then a doctor came out and was asking me her medical history  he was writing it on his hand,' she said.

'Surely they should have read her notes before injecting her  it's just bad practice.

'There was no protocol. It's ridiculous not to have an EpiPen or a crash trolley in the room.'

According to an autopsy report, released 10 months after the death, Mrs Graham was placed on a ventilator, but no pulse was found and medical care stopped as 'the prognosis at this stage would be extremely poor'.

She was moved to a critical care unit to allow the family to say their goodbyes.

Yolanda said her mother had been well before going into the scan room and had remarked how she was looking forward to upcoming holidays with her family.

Yolanda said her mother had been well before going into the scan room and had remarked how she was looking forward to booked holidays and quadbiking trips with her family

Julie Hogg, chief nurse at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, said: 'We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Graham at this difficult time. Pictured: Northampton General Hospital where Mrs Graham was treated

'I don't know how this can just happen  you shouldn't just die from a precautionary scan,' she said.

'People need to be told about the risks with this dye.

'It took ten months to get a statement from them about what happened  how can it take so long?'

Contrast dye is injected into patients before a CT scan to help medics get a clearer view of the veins, arteries and internal organs and diagnose medical problems.

Ms Graham underwent the scan to check for internal problems that may have triggered the severe bloating she was experiencing.

Contrast dye is injected into patients before a CT scan to help medics get a clearer view of the veins, arteries and internal organs and diagnose medical problems. Stock image

Allergic reactions to the dye are rare.

Estimates vary, but about three per cent of patients are thought to respond badly to the dye, suffering mild problems like vomiting and rashes.

Severe life-threatening reactions called anaphylaxis, like those Ms Graham suffered, are even rarer thought to only occur between one in 2,500 and one in 10,000 patients.

Julie Hogg, chief nurse at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, said: 'We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Graham at this difficult time.

'We have worked with the coroner at pace to provide all appropriate statements required of us for the forthcoming inquest.

'We acknowledge that we should have improved our communication with Mrs Graham's family during this time, and we would like to apologise for any additional distress this may have caused them.

'Our team has reached out to the family to offer support ahead of the inquest and update them on the current position'.

The NHS states: 'Complications of a CT scan are rare. Some people can have an allergic reaction to the contrast medium (dye).

'This can cause weakness, sweating and difficulty breathing.'
Robert F. Kennedy Junior was told bluntly he 'frightens' people as he was grilled during his confirmation hearing to become health secretary.

RFK Jr was challenged about a number of conspiratorial claims he's made, including comparing the CDC to Nazi death camps, claiming pesticides turn children transgender and claiming Covid had been designed not to target Ashkenazi Jews.

'You frighten people,' said Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse during a testy exchange about RFK Jr's previous comments about vaccines.

The nominee to be Health and Human Services (HHS) chief, 71, promised he 'will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines' after being challenged on extreme comments he'd made previously.

In the past, he has also repeatedly linked using vaccines to autism and raised concerns over their safety and effectiveness.

Democrat Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), who has voted for other Trump nominees, slammed the HHS Secretary nominee for promoting conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Among them was a suggestion from Kennedy that Covid had been 'designed' to target black and white people, but not Ashkenazi Jews.

And he was also challenged over his claim that Lyme disease  an infection spread by ticks  is an 'engineered bioweapon' from the 1950s.

Robert F. Kennedy was rattled by his first heated exchange with senators today, where they repeatedly brought up his past claims (image from the hearing)

RFK was in a packed hall for his hearing today, with many supporters - who were sometimes loud - in the background

The hearing with the Senate Finance Committee has now concluded, although Kennedy will be back on Capitol Hill tomorrow at 10am for a second hearing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Trump nominated Kennedy to head up HHS to 'shake up' America's health agencies and 'Make America Healthy Again'.

But senators will need to confirm the nomination, with many raising concerns over a number of his views dubbed as anti-vaccine and conspiracy.

These were some of the most tense moments from the confirmation hearing:

Covid was genetically-engineered to target white and black people

Senator Bennet challenged RFK Jr over his claims that Covid was genetically engineered to target white and black people.

'Did you say that Covid-19 was a genetically-engineered bioweapon that targets black and white people but spared Ashkenazi jews and Chinese people?', he asked.

'I didn't say it was deliberately targeted,' RFK Jr replied, 'I just quoted an NIH-funded and NIH-published study.'

'I quoted an NIH study, I quoted an NIH study,' he insisted before Senator Bennet said he would 'take that as a yes' and move to the next question.

The New York Post reported that RFK Jr made the claims to supporters at a press event on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, in July 2023.

He said: 'Covid-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted.

'Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately. Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.'

Several studies have been published suggesting that people from minority ethnic groups have a higher risk of death from Covid than white adults.

But this has been linked to disparities in wealth, healthcare access and higher rates of comorbidities in some minority groups rather than Covid being genetically engineered.

Lyme disease is a 'militarily-engineered bioweapon'

Senator Bennett also attacked Kennedy's previous claim that tick-borne Lyme disease is an engineered bioweapon.

'Did you say that Lyme disease is highly likely a militarily-engineered bioweapon?,' he asked, before adding, 'I've made sure I've put in the highly likely.'

RFK Jr replied: 'I probably did say that.'

A debunked conspiracy theory suggests that Lyme disease, which infects 475,000 Americans every year, was cooked up in a Long Island laboratory in the 1950s.

Scientific studies show, however, that bacteria causing Lyme disease has been circulating in North American forests for at least 60,000 years, and that ticks that carry it have been around for at least 99million years.

The oldest documented case of Lyme disease is the skeleton of the Tyrolean iceman mummy, from 5,300 years ago, found in the Italian alps.

Senator Michael Bennet, Democrat for Colorado, launched a blistering attack on RFK Jr over some of his past statements, including moments where he had peddled conspiracy theories

Other studies have shown that ancient Lyme disease bacteria has been found in 15-million-year-old fossils of ticks preserved in amber.

In a previous episode of his podcast published in January 2024, Kennedy said: 'Another thing that keeps us from enjoying the outdoors and keeps us locked inside and the idea that this may have been, is highly likely to have been a military weapon.

'We cannot say 100 percent for sure, but we do know that they were experimenting with tics there.

'We also know that they were experimenting with diseases of the kind, like Lyme disease, at that lab, and they were putting them in tics and then infecting people.'

Kennedy has also previously suggested that West Nile Virus was created at the Plum Island lab and that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was purposely spread from apes to humans so pharmaceutical companies could profit from vaccines.

The CDC's work is reminiscent of Nazi death camps

Trump's HHS nominee also had a fiery exchange with senators over his comments comparing the work of the CDC to 'Nazi death camps'.

Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat for Georgia  where the CDC is based  told the hearing: 'You have compared the CDC's work to Nazi death camps. You've compared it to sexual abusers in the Catholic church.'

He added: 'For me, those are disturbing characterizations of the CDC workers I know who are trying to keep the American public safe every single day.'

RFK Jr denied that he had made the comments, which prompted Senator Warnock to read out a transcript of the conversation he was referring to.

Senator Raphael Warnock challenged RFK Jr over his suggestions that the CDC's work was comparable to that of Nazi death camps

Welcome to MAGALAND: Insider Trump's Second 100 Days - The podcast bringing you the latest news and gossip from the White House. Listen here.

RFK Jr tried to interrupt during the reading, but was told: 'Let me finish, I am just reading your words.'

Senator Warnock said, reading the transcript: 'Let me read your words. It says that the institution CDC and the vaccine program is more important than the children that it is supposed to protect. And, you know, it is the same reason that we had a pedophile scandal in the Catholic church. It's because people were able to convince themselves that the institution of the church was more important than these little boys and girls that were being raped.

'To me, this is like Nazi death camp. I mean what happens, what happens to these kids, one in 31 boys in this country, their minds are being robbed from them.'

The words are from a previously unpublished private audience that RFK Jr gave at AutismOne, a conference for parents of autistic children, back in 2019.

They were first reported in November last year by NBC News.

Nazi death camps were extermination centers established by Nazi Germany in World War Two as part of the Holocaust, a systematic genocide against Jews and other groups.

The 80th anniversary of the Soviet Army's liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, was on Monday this week.

Pesticides make children trans

Senator Bennet also challenged RFK Jr on his previous claim that exposure to pesticides was making children transgender.

In an irate voice, the Senator said: 'Did you say that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender?'

RFK Jr responded: 'No, I never said that.'

Quotes from an episode of his podcast, published in June 2022, however, show that he did make the comments.

He said: 'I want to pursue just one question on these, you know, the other endocrine disruptors because our children now, you know, we're seeing these impacts that people suspect are very different than in ages past about sexual identification among children and sexual confusion and gender confusion.

The above shows insurance claims for mental health care, according to LexisNexis. They analyzed data from more than 300million patients

'These kinds of issues that are very, very controversial today.'

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that are common in pesticides, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, although they haven't been linked to making someone transgender.

Suggestions that this may be the case are based on a 2010 study in frogs, which found that exposure to some pesticides in young male frogs caused them to become demasculinized and completely feminized as adults.

There has been a surge in the number of people identifying as transgender in recent years, particularly among young girls  where the number has tripled, according to some estimates, in just five years.

Many scientists have said the uptick is down to a more accepting society.

But some detransitioners have also blamed it on rising rates of mental health problems, saying they were misdiagnosed as trans when they only needed therapy.

I wish I hadn't vaccinated my children

In a fiery exchange, senators also blasted RFK Jr on his shifting position on vaccines and accused him of lying.

Seantor Ron Wyden, a Democrat for Oregon, said: 'Mr Kennedy, you have spent years pushing conflicting stories about vaccines. You say one thing, and then you say another.

'In your testimony today under oath you denied that you were anti-vaccine, but during a podcast interview in July of 2023 you said, quote, no vaccine is safe or effective.

'In your testimony today, in order to prove you're not anti-vax, you note that all your kids are vaccinated. But in a podcast in 2020 you said, and I quote, you would do anything, pay anything, to go back in time and not vaccinate your kids.'

Raising his voice, Senator Wyden said: 'Mr Kennedy, all of these things... CANNOT BE TRUE. So, are you lying to Congress when you say you are pro-vaccine, or did you lie on all those podcasts?'

Senator Bernie Sanders showed images of these onesies at the hearing, which are being sold by an organization that RFK Jr helped to found

RFK Jr has seven children and says he got them all vaccinated  meaning they likely received the measles and polio vaccines among others.

Responding to questions over his support of vaccines in the hearing, Mr Kennedy said: 'I support the measles vaccine, I support the polio vaccine.

'I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult to access any of these.'

Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democrat for Vermont, similarly blasted the HHS secretary hopeful over the 'militantly anti-vaccine' organization he co-founded, called the Children's Health Defense.

Sanders showed images of onesies sold for $26 by the organization, daubed with slogans such as, 'unvaxxed, unafraid', and 'No vax, no problem'.

Slamming RFK Jr, he said: 'Now, you are coming before this committee and you say you are pro-vaccine, and yet your organization is making money selling a child's product to parents... which casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines.'

RFK Jr responded that he now had 'no power' over the organization and that he had 'resigned from the board'.

But Sanders rebuffed that he had only resigned a few months ago, before shouting: 'Are you supportive of this?! Are you supportive of this clothing which is militantly anti-vaccine?'

RFK Jr then responded saying that he was 'supportive of vaccines'.

African AIDS is 'different' from western AIDS

Facing yet more evisceration from the Senate committee, RFK Jr was then asked about his views on the causes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Senator Bennet said: 'Did you write in your book, it's undeniable that African AIDS is an entirely different disease from western AIDS? Yes or no Mr Kennedy?'

He replied: 'I, I am not sure if I made that...'

Senator Bennet then said he had the record that he would hand to the chairman.

Senator Bennet also challenged RFK Jr over his claims that African AIDS was 'different' from western AIDS

RFK Jr reportedly made the claims in his book 'The Real Anthony Fauci', published in November 2021.

At the time, they received coverage on the Joe Rogan podcast, with the host saying: 'If it's telling the truth, just about the AIDS crisis... Is this the guy that's telling the truth?'

AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which gradually destroys the body's immune system  leading to severe complications and the development of AIDS.

Studies show differences in HIV diagnosis rates between Black individuals in the U.S. based on whether they were born in the U.S. or Africa, with African-born individuals being more likely to have the disease.

This disparity has been linked to higher HIV prevalence in Africa rather than differences in how the virus behaves.

These studies were published to advocate for increased healthcare funding to prevent and control HIV infections among African-born Americans.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of new beauty products land on the You magazine desks throughout the year. As journalists, our goal is to test as many of these launches as possible, but every skin barrier needs a break now and again. Thats why its important to have a skincare routine to fall back on that doesnt cause breakouts or flare-ups, and soothes, nourishes and protects the skin.

For me, that routine consists of a line-up of Korean products. They are known for their focus on skin health and prioritise advanced ingredients to achieve smooth, radiant and dewy skin. From the Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm (16.50, LookFantastic) to the Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream (22, Boots); some of my all-time favourite skincare heroes are from K-beauty brands.

Another Korean beauty product that ticks all my boxes is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask  and Im not the only one whos obsessed with the overnight lip treatment. If you follow any beauty influencers on TikTok, youve probably noticed them reaching for the tiny red jar at the start of their Get Ready With Me videos to prep their lips  or at the end of their Get Unready With Me videos as the last step in their nighttime skincare routine.

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask tops the list of most popular skincare products of 2024

19, Sephora

Launched by the K-beauty brand in 2015, the 19 lip mask has slowly been building up a worldwide fanbase. In the last year alone, there have been 3.7 million searches for the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, 77.8k Instagram posts and 34.2k TikTok mentions  and it was crowned the second most popular skincare product of 2024, following a bar of turmeric soap, in a study compiled by the Harley Street Skin Clinic.

The nourishing formula is enriched with berry fruit complex, vitamin C and coconut oil and Laneige recommends applying a generous amount overnight to gently exfoliate and soften your lips.

That being said, I also like using it as a lip balm during the day. The Berry flavour is the most popular  and my favourite  but it also comes in Gummy Bear, Sweet Candy and Vanilla iterations.
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has taken issue with Donald Trump's first week back in the White House, bizarrely mocking his response to the Los Angeles wildfires.

Speaking to Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, Maddow said she was perplexed by President Trump's insistance that California simply needed to 'turn on the valve' to gain access to water to help fight the fires.

California officials were slammed amid reports that firefighters ran out of water and hydrants were dry as they fought valiantly to contain simultaneous blazes tearing through affluent parts of Los Angeles.

President Trump has made several key executive orders since returning to power last week which have ruffled the feathers of left-wing commentators and celebrities.

But when Maddow was asked about what she finds most shocking about his presidency so far, she bizarrely honed in on a comment he made on Truth Social about the wildfires.

'You know what it was? It was the, in the flurry of first couple days of actions, there was the stuff about water in California.

'Trump started sort of elaborating on it. There was an executive action about it, but then he also started talking about it, about how we need, we need to turn the valve.

'He thinks that North is up and that there's a water tower, like it's a New York building. And if you just turn the valve, then down gets the water.'

Speaking to Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, Maddow said she was perplexed by President Trump's insistance that California simply needed to 'turn on the valve' to gain access to water to help fight the fires

Trump shared to Truth Social this week that the military 'entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER'

President Donald Trump (middle right) and first lady Melania Trump (middle left) toured some of the devasation from the Pacific Palisades fire on Friday. Trump boldly claimed he had 'TURNED ON THE WATER'

Trump shared to Truth Social this week that the military 'entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER.'

He said as a result of the efforts 'turning on the valve', water was now 'flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.

'The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!'

Trump visited Los Angeles on Friday after repeatedly critisizing the state's fire response.

The 78-year-old president contends that there's a giant spigot that California needs to turn on to bring water into the Los Angeles area from the north.

He said California authorities - including the state's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom - failed to do that to preserve an endangered fish called a Delta smelt.

State officials worked swiftly to rebuke Trump, with California Governor Gavin Newsome insisting: 'There is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump's claims that he would open some imaginary spigot.'

Fox News's Jennifer Griffin later added: 'US defense officials tell me they did not send troops to 'turn on the water' in California, despite President Trump's claims overnight.'

State officials worked swiftly to rebuke Trump, with California Governor Gavin Newsome insisting: 'There is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump's claims that he would open some imaginary spigot'

The California Governor's past has come under the microscope again amid scrutiny over his response to the disaster

Around 11 p.m. Monday Trump took to Truth Social to say that he had fixed California's water problems. 'Enjoy the water, California!!!' the newly sworn-in president boasted

Within two hours, California's Department of Water Resources posted a response on X, clapping back at Trump's brag

Then-President Joe Biden had explained that power outages had impacted some hydrants.

Some residents in the Pacific Palisades have sued over the fact that a 117-million-gallon reservoir built to help the area in case of fires was offline during the blazes.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the reservoir had been drained after a tear was found in the reservoirs floating cover last January.

Work to repair the cover hadn't been completed by the time Palisades fire ripped through the area earlier this month.

Maddow also referred to a moment in Trump's campaign in which he was 'riffing a lot on the difficulty of washing his hair and how many times he has to flush the toilet to make whats in the toilet go down the toilet.

'And I was realizing like, oh, we're gonna get the plumbing stuff again,' Maddow joked.

Maddow earlier compared Trump to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

The outspoken liberal had been speaking about Trump's recent January 6 pardons, saying: 'There are rumors circulating that Trump had wanted to bring his felons... all to the White House.

'That's the sort of thing that probably sounded great at a Trump rally, probably sounded like it was something the people wanted.

'You were stewing about stuff like this at a Trump rally, at one of your Fidel Castro, Castro-esque, you know, three and a half hour long rambly speeches.'
CNN's Jake Tapper was left speechless after a close aide to President Trump seemingly blamed employees voting for Kamala Harris as the reason they lost their job.

Stephen Miller, President Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, appeared on CNN's The Lead Tuesday to defend Trump recent executive orders - including one that paused all spending on foreign aid.

'Theres two million employees in the federal government,' Miller said before making the shock claim.

'Overwhelmingly the career federal service in this country is far left, left-wing.'

Tapper responded that he didn't know that to be fact.

Miller continued: 'We looked at USAID as an example, 98 percent either donated to Kamala Harris or another left-wing candidate.

Tapper interjected, asking him: 'Now you are demonizing an entire workforce', before Miller shouted him down by saying: 'Did you just say that saying someone voted for Kamala Harris is demonizing them?

'You just said I am demonizing someone by saying they voted for Kamala Harris', Miller continued - before Tapper asked to get the interview back on track.

Stephen Miller, President Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, had appeared on The Lead alongside Tapper on Tuesday

Miller said that 98 percent of the career federal service backed Kamala or similar left-wing politicans

After a brief calm, Miller continued that it was essential for Trump to 'get a hold of government' which included people who review spending on grants.

He added: 'This might be something like saying, "I want to build a $500-million fountain in the courtyard of the Department of Commerce".

'This might be something like saying, "I want to fund gender studies in Afghanistan." There has to be political control and review.'

Dozens of officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development were placed on leave on Monday.

In an email obtained by The Washington Post, newly installed acting administrator Jason Gray said: 'We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President's Executive orders and the mandate from the American people.

'As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice.'

Trump, on January 24th, declared the State Department and the U.S. AID 'shall not provide foreign assistance' until a high-level review of the programs is completed, except to Israel and Egypt and in severe cases where emergency food assistance is needed.

The 90-day pause is to ensure all programs conform with Trump's 'America First' policy and the administration threatened 'disciplinary action' for any staff ignoring the orders.

Miller appeared on the show after Trump suspended dozens of government officials for trying to circumvent his executive order on freezing all foreign aid

Stephen Miller, deputy White House chief of staff for policy, speaks with reporters outside the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 28 January 2025

Miller's comments come after a testing few hours in the White House, after the administration's freeze on federal grants sparked chaos and confusion.

Trump aide's spent most of the day attempting to clarify its spending freeze over which programs would be impacted.

The Trump announcement sent shockwaves through Washington after the White House budget office late Monday issued the sweeping order.

It would have halted taxpayer money from being doled out for initiatives in education and health care, housing assistance, disaster relief and a host of other areas pending a review.

The administration argued the funding should be put on hold while officials ensured no publicly funded programs are 'woke,' and that all are in line with executive orders he signed last week abolishing the government's DEI agenda.

The memo reiterated that the pause was not meant to target any 'assistance provided directly to individuals,' such as Medicare or Social Security.

Miller's comments come after a testing few hours in the White House, after the administration's freeze on federal grants sparked chaos and confusion. White House press sec Karoline Leavitt is seen here speaking on Tuesday

But the move faced immediate backlash as it was not clear how the spending freeze would impact programs such as Medicaid, SNAP and other government assistance.

It was estimated the pause would have frozen up to $3 trillion in federal grants and loans.

Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday blasted the president, calling the effort unconstitutional and an attempt to consolidate power.

But the decision to put staff opposed to the plan on leave is part of Trump's greater plan to purge the federal government of those who disagree with his agenda.

Already, the president fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies in a Friday night purge.

His executive order terminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has sidelined 395 government bureaucrats.

He's also worked on clearing out Justice Department staff who worked with special counsel Jack Smith, who led two prosecution cases against him.

On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocked the pause on federal grants, loans and other financial assistance which could have totaled trillions in funding.
CNN staffers have revealed how they feel about Jim Acosta's exit this week - calling it classy and quick.

'I think we're just taken aback about how fast it was,' one staffer told Fox News Wednesday. 'It happened in a flash.'

'Him leaving isn't unexpected given the reporting,' the employee added, mentioning the weeks of headlines about tension behind the scenes. 'Him leaving so fast is what was unexpected.'

A second CNN staffer expressed admiration over how Acosta handled the situation, framing it as 'classy.'

'People admire him,' the insider said Wednesday, after Acosta's strongly worded signoff the day before. 'That is quite simply how they see it, as a fact - as opposed to there being any discussion.'

The stance was then echoed by the first, who said 'Look, I think folks liked Jim' - before comparing his resignation to the ouster of Chris Cuomo in 2021 and Don Lemon's firing two years later.

'But Cuomo went and CNN moved on. Lemon left and CNN moved on,' the first staffer said. 'People can be liked, and people will move on.'

Acosta, meanwhile, is already advertising a Substack secretly started two weeks ago, called the Jim Acosta Show. Its first post - titled Coming Soon - is dated January 16, a day after it was first reported Wolf Blitzer was set to assume his hour.

Scroll down for video:

CNN staffers have revealed how they feel about Jim Acosta's exit this week - calling it 'classy' and sudden in interviews. Acosta is seen here near his DC home Tuesday

The same day, Acosta abruptly announced - on the air - that he was leaving the networked. In interviews with Fox News, staffers said he had been well-liked

That prediction that came true last week, with a strategic shift at CNN that also included layoffs. It saw CEO Mark Thompson fully confirm Blitzer was taking the 10am timeslot for a new Situation Room series show cohosted by Pamela Brown.

Four days before - at CNN's Manhattan office - Thompson called a meeting just before Donald Trump was set to be sworn in.

There, he demanded a drastic tone-down in anti-Trump reporting, reports from former CNN staffer Oliver Darcy indicated. Darcy, in his Status newsletter, was first to report on tension brewing secretly between Acosta and the network.

Acosta's former colleagues, meanwhile, further told Fox they were convinced Thompson pulled Acosta from his CNN Newsroom timeslot because he was too anti-Trump - and that most manning the newsroom feel differently.

'I think there's room for someone like Acosta. I think personality and presence matter a lot on TV,' the first insider said.

'In a 24-hour network there is room for a stronger voice,' they continued, 'People have to want to tune in... It's all an art, which sounds silly, but programming is art, not science.'

Acosta showing that voice in full-force during what proved to be his final broadcast Tuesday, taking aim at 'tyrants.'

They also said they were convinced CEO Mark Thompson (seen speaking onstage at a Warner Bros Discovery event in May) pulled Acosta from his CNN Newsroom timeslot because he was too anti-Trump

'I just wanted to end today's show by thanking all of the wonderful people who work behind the scenes at this network,' he told viewers, following an hour that saw him slam Trump's recent deportations as 'a dog and pony show.'

'You may have seen some reports about me and the show,' he continued, referring to a litany of speculative headlines and accounts initially obtained by Darcy.

'And after giving all of this some careful consideration and weighing an alternative time slot, CNN offered me, I've decided to move on.

'I just wanted to end today's show by thanking all of the wonderful people who work behind the scenes at this network,' he continued, adding how he came to the decision after 'some careful consideration and weighing an alternative time slot CNN offered.'

But, Acosta concluded, 'I've decided to move on.'

The speech went on from there, with Acosta quickly honing in on his old nemesis, the commander-in-chief.

'People often ask me if the highlight of my career at CNN was at the White House covering Donald Trump,' he said, reminding onlookers of their repeated clashes during the president's first term.

'Actually, no,' he sniped, saying instead his crowning achievement came during coverage of then-president Barack Obama's trip to Cuba in 2016, since he himself is the son of a Cuban refugee.

The two regularly clashed during Trump's first term, and Acosta mentioned him during his final broadcast

'[I] had the chance to question the dictator there, Raul Castro, about the island's political prisoners,' he recalled of the trip, before using it as political ammunition. 'I took home this lesson.

'It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant,' he asserted. 'I've always believed it's the job of the press to hold power to account.

'I've always tried to do that here at CNN,' he went on. 'And I plan on going doing all of that in the future.'

That's when he urged Americans to 'not give in to the lies' he appeared to suggest were being perpetuated by the current administration.

'Ill have more to say about my plans in the coming days. But until then, I want to thank all of you for tuning in.'

For a conclusion, Acosta offered a spin on his usual sign-off.

'It has been an honor to be welcomed into your home for all these years,' he told viewers as the hour waned. 'Thats the news. Reporting from Washington. Im Jim Acosta.'

Earlier in the day, Acosta was joined by guests like Illinois Democrat Mike Quigley and fellow Congresswoman Rosa Delauro of Connecticut, who had strong words about the president's first week in office.

Acosta devoted much of his hour Tuesday to Trump's slew of executive actions, often reporting with a disapproving tone

Acosta would occasionally interject with his opinion, offering editorialized remarks like, 'Say it ain't so,' and publicly whether 'we are in the middle of [a] retribution campaign.

'Yeah, so much for an independent law enforcement,' Quigley replied to the latter, after the Trump Administration faced accusations of going after specific people within the Justice Department.

'The first Trump administration wanted to go after their enemies,' Quigley, a Democrat, claimed. 'They wanted to overturn a lawful election.'

The rest of the hour carried a similar tone, with Acosta devoting much of his time to Trump's recent moves.

'He's out there joking at events that he's going to run for a third term. What do you think of that?' he at this point asked, referring to Trump.

'Yeah, absolutely nothing surprises me,' Quigley replied, categorizing the conservative as 'an autocrat'.

At another point during his final episode, Acosta read out a quote attributed to a 'career' DOJ employee obtained by Politico. In it, the official argued that some of Trump's recent executive actions felt retaliatory toward Democrats.

'This it feels like a nonviolent war. It's just wild. Everybody is a sitting duck, and these people have no power or control over the situation,' the person said - leading Acosta to give his final, foreboding warning.

Pictured, 30 Hudson Yards, where staffers in CNN's Manhattan office are processing Acosta's very public exit

'Don't give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth and to hope,' he continued, eventually calling Trump 'a tyrant'.

'Even if you have to get out your phone,' he went on. 'Record that message. "I will not give in to the lies. I will not give in to the fear." Post it on your social media, so people can hear from you, too.'

Acosta went on to state how he'd share news of his planned career moves in the coming days, before going public with his Substack at 4pm.

At that point, a more dressed-down Acosta emerged in a self-filmed video posted to X, where he confirmed he was ready to take a stab at journalism on his own.

'Welcome to my new venture,' Acosta told more than 2 million followers on the platform, where he's now linking to his Substack.

With a portrait of George Washington visible in the background and a Substack watermark visible, he told those watching,' his was my last day at CNN.

And I did want to jump on Substack live here for a moment and say, welcome to my new venture. I'm going independent - at least for now.'

The video was published shortly after two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times the journalist was already pondering his next steps, as CNN also seeks to implement a new business model that puts emphasis on its digital presence.

Acosta went on to state how he'd share news of his planned career moves in the coming days, before going public with his Substack at 4pm. A still from his first video is seen here. The blog, called The Jim Acosta Show, was started two weeks ago, when reports began to emerge

In his video, Acosta at one point teased, 'This is just the beginning.'

'Hold on to the truth,' he added. 'And I hope we'll keep this conversation going. Great to see all of you here. We'll talk some more soon.'

Meanwhile, the newly created Blitzer and Brown program - stylized as The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown - will air for two hours, starting at 10 am ET, CNN said.

CNN This Morning will lose an hour to become a one-hour show, hosted by Cornish at 6am ET. Kasie Hunt, currently the host CNN This Morning, is moving to afternoons to host The Arena.

Jake Tappers The Lead will also shift to airing later in the day, from 5pm to 7pm ET. The new lineup will go into effect in March.
CNN has baptized new White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a 'spinmeister.'

The network's fact-checker Daniel Dale accused Leavitt, 27, of spinning information regarding a pause of federal grants and loans during her first White House press briefing on Tuesday.

Leavitt was repeatedly asked about the spending freeze, and said payments for Social Security, Medicare and food stamps would not be affected. However, she was criticized for not saying what would happen to nonprofit programs like Meals on Wheels.

'Its a classic spinmeister tactic saying I answered that when you havent answered it and apparently cant answer it right away,' Dale said on CNN News Central.

'Theres considerable uncertainty around the country among nonprofits of various kinds.... So they may not get direct individual payments straight from the federal government but their lives [...] are very much dependent on the aid that comes through an intermediary organization.

'And we still do not have clarity on what is happening with the funding that usually goes to those entities.'

On Wednesday president Donald Trump rescinded his order freezing trillions of dollars in federal grants as he revealed millions in waste had been uncovered in a crackdown on woke government projects.

Trump officials had argued funding should be put on hold while they ensured all government spending is in line with executive orders the president signed last week abolishing the Biden administration's DEI agenda.

CNN has baptized new White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, as a 'spinmeister'

The network's fact-checker Daniel Dale, left, accused Leavitt, 27, of spinning information regarding a pause of federal grants and loans during her first White House press briefing on Tuesday. He is seen with Boris Sanchez and Brianna Keilar

But the order, issued on Tuesday, led to confusion including Medicaid portals being temporarily shut down, and aid groups warned lives were in danger as critical funding for vaccines and other health issues was frozen.

Leavitt announced a shake-up for White House reporters in her highly-anticipated first briefing on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old who made history as the country's youngest press secretary scolded traditional media for 'losing trust' and said millions of Americans are instead looking to other outlets for their news.

'We know for a fact that there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in the country about this president, about his family and we will not accept that,' she stated. 'We will call you out when we feel your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House.'

She announced that two seats usually reserved for White House staff would become 'new media' seats - and those individuals would get to ask the first questions.

Traditionally the wire service, the Associated Press, gets the first question - while the White House Correspondents' Association dictates which outlets get which seats in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

President Donald Trump rescinded his order freezing federal funds

'Starting today this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary's staff, will be called the "new media" seat,' she said. 'My team will review the applications and give credentials to new media applicants who meet our criteria and pass United States Secret Service requirements to enter the White House complex.'

Leavitt also announced that the Trump 2.0 administration would restore the press passes of 440 whose passes were 'wrongly revoked' by the Biden administration.

'We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House,' she said.

Throughout the briefing Leavitt called on reporters from a variety of outlets - including the AP, which got the third question, CNN's Kaitlan Collins, NBC's Peter Alexander, as well as the Daily Caller's White House correspondent Reagan Reese - who was seated in the back row of the briefing room.

Early in the briefing she called on Brian Glenn, a reporter for the conservative outlet Real Americas Voice, who's the boyfriend of key Trump Congressional ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

At the top she made some news - explaining that the mysterious drones spotted flying over New Jersey were authorized to conduct 'research' and didn't represent a foreign threat.

She also showed off photographs of illegal immigrants who had been deported and what previous crimes the White House said they committed.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared photographs of deported illegal immigrants that listed the previous crimes that they committed

Reporters raise their hands throughout the White House briefing room during press secretary Karoline Leavitt's first briefing of the second Trump administration

Asked later about the Trump administration's deportation strategy, she said that every immigrant in the country illegally was a criminal.

'All of them,' she said. 'Because they illegally broke our nation's laws and therefore they are criminals, as far as this administration goes. I know the last administration didn't see it that way so it's a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal but that's exactly what they are.'

'If they broke our nation's laws, yes, they are criminals,' she reiterated when pressed.

When it was the AP's turn to address the new press secretary, the reporter asked the same question of Leavitt that was given to previous press secretaries: would she pledge not to lie to the American people.

'I commit to telling the truth from this podium every single day. I commit to speaking on behalf of the president of the United States. That is my job,' she answered. 'And I will say it's very easy to speak truth from this podium when you have a president who has implemented policies that are wildly popular with the American people - and that is exactly what this administration is doing.'
The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines is not a place you want to find your name, says retired judge Stephen Gold.

If you end up on it, the ramifications for you or any business you own could be considerable - and for some time. You may even be refused a mortgage or credit card.

A job offer may be out of the question because you are deemed to be financially imprudent. Your savvy fiancee may decide you aren't such a good bet after all.

Supplies of goods for your business may only be available if you pay for them in cash, up front.

Stephen Gold explains how the register of debtors works, the plans to expand it to name claimants too and how to avoid being put on it in the first place...

What's worse than having bailiffs banging your front door in full view of binocular-wielding neighbours?

It's having details of a debt you once owed, or still owe, recorded in a register open to all the public to view for the foreseeable future.

The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines is run by Registry Trust, a not-for-profit company, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Here I will explain the ways of avoiding inclusion on the register, and how if to your horror you find yourself on there, you may get the entry against you cancelled.

The Government announced plans last month to expand the register by also identifying the claimants who pursued debts they were owed.

I will look at the potential consequences for claimants who have successfully brought proceedings of their names becoming open to the public.

Stephen Gold: If you are on the Register of Judgments, Orders and fines, you may be refused a mortgage or credit card

What judgments and orders go on the register?

Judgments of the County Court for the payment of money are the primary candidates for registration.

Money is the key - so not, for example, a judgment that says you must reestablish a boundary fence or cease playing your Hammond organ by 11pm on weekdays.

Similarly, judgments of the High Court, which will usually be for substantial amounts, have been added on to the candidates for registration since the register was started.

Also added are most orders for the payment of money which were made by a tribunal, and that would include an award by an employment tribunal.

The Great Escape: Excluded debts

The main judgments that will not be registered are those made by the High Court or County Court in cases that were contested, usually by you putting in a defence.

It matters not that the defence was spurious, farcical or the biggest load of nonsense ever to be committed to a piece of paper, or all three (though it is worth noting that this kind of defence is likely to add to what you are ultimately required to pay through wasted costs and possibly extra interest).

It matters not that you failed to turn up at court when the case was heard.

If a defence has gone in, then that is good enough.

But hold on. The exemption from registration will come to an end in a contested case in the following circumstances.

- You fail to settle and an order is made by the court for the judgment to be paid by instalments as a result of an application by the claimant;

- You apply for an instalment order;

- The claimant takes certain steps to enforce the judgment, such as requesting that the court orders your wages to be docked each month towards what is owed.

The following are also exempt from registration:

- Judgments in family cases, for example that maintenance or a lump sum has to be paid to a current or former spouse or partner;

- Judgments for you to pay arrears of mortgage instalments or rent  you may or may not have been ordered to give possession of the property to the claimant at the same hearing  unless and until your mortgage lender or landlord takes a step to enforce that judgment by, for example, sending in the bailiffs.

The life of the registration

If the judgment has been rightly registered, it stays put for six years from the date of the judgment, but not six years from the date it was registered, which could be some time later.

That probably means, then, problems with getting a new mortgage or credit generally for that period of time, at least.

However, you may be able to get the registration cancelled after you have settled a debt owed under a judgment.

The easiest way of earning cancellation is to settle the judgment within one month.

Having done so, many defendants neglect to notify settlement to the court. If that is not done by either side, the court will be ignorant of settlement.

Once it does know, it will cancel the registration without requiring payment of any fee (which makes a change).

Should it be you, the defendant, asking for cancellation, you will need to send the court proof from the claimant that you did settle and within one month.

If that is not forthcoming, you may apply to the court for cancellation (using form N443) and include evidence that you settled in full and when and stump up a 15 fee for the privilege (which does not make a change).

You may have settled the judgment but late. It could be one day late or two years late. It could be by instalments or after enforcement action was taken against you.

In this situation, you will not qualify for cancellation. However, you will qualify for the runners-up prize which is a certificate of satisfaction.

The entry will still remain stained on the register for the six years, but it will be shown that you have settled. Better than nothing.

Register of Judgments: If to your horror you find yourself on there, Stephen Gold explains how to get the entry against you cancelled

'I never knew. Honest'

In 2023 the number of judgments in England and Wales which were registered was 1,019,295 and the expectation is that last year's figure will be higher.

The majority of them were registered after court proceedings had been started and the defendant failed to do anything about defending them.

Normally, action to defend has to be taken within 14 days of date on which the court claim form is treated as coming to their attention. Not an eternity.

These are known as default judgments. However, perhaps you with your family were sunning yourselves in The Maldives for a month and found letters from the court with the claim form and a copy of the judgment on the doormat as you dropped down your cases.

Perhaps this paperwork was sent to a former address and you never received it. In most cases, the paperwork will be posted by the court to what the claimant last knew to be your home or, in the case of a business, your principal or last known place of business.

The address will have been notified to the court by the claimant. The court does not make its own address enquiries.

If the claimant has reason to believe that you are no longer at the address last known to them then court rules demand that they take reasonable steps to ascertain your current address. Often, they fail to do so.

There is another problem. The court will use first-class post to send you the claim form. But  dare I say it? - the service rendered by Royal Mail is not invariably first-class.

In fact, it is estimated that each year millions of letters are lost in the post although a considerable proportion of addressees fail to complain (and perhaps a lot of them are ignorant of the fact that they have anything to complain about).

In just three months last year, Ofcom has revealed that over 92,000 complaints of loss or mis-delivery were made.

There's also the possibility that the court claim form will be delivered late.

Last December, Ofcom fined Royal Mail 10.5million for failing to meet its first and second class delivery targets in 2023/4: the second sanction in just over a year.

It is not unusual for a default judgment to be made against a defendant even though they never received the posted paperwork or received it too late to put in a defence within the stipulated time.

What counts against them is the court rule that, provided the claim form was correctly addressed, the defendant is to be treated as not only having received it because it was posted but having received it on the second business day after the day it was posted.

I think this rule is ripe for a overhaul.

Challenging a default judgment

You can apply to the court for a default judgment to be set aside - that is a fancy name for a cancellation - with everything being restarted so that you can put in a defence.

Around 9 per cent of judgments are set aside. Sometimes, the court has a discretion about what it does and may set aside: other times it must do so.

It may set aside where you didn't actually get the claim form or got it too late to put in a defence even though the law pretends you did get it and on time.

The judge will want to be satisfied that you have a real prospect of successfully defending  a good move would be to come up with a draft of the written defence you would rely in if the judgment were set aside  or that there is some other good reason why there should be a set aside.

But you must apply promptly.

There is no specified period defined for what is 'prompt'.

But if, say, you have waited for more than a fortnight to apply after discovering that the judgment was made - perhaps you wanted to obtain legal advice or absorb this article which is rather long and, you may think, heavy going  you should explain in the application why you did not make it earlier.

The court must set aside where the judgment should never have been made for the reason that procedural rules have been breached. For example:

- At the point of the judgment, the time had not yet expired for you to put in a defence;

- The claim form was posted to an address that did not comply with the rules;

- The paperwork lacked essential details of what the claim was about, called 'particulars of claim'.

In this sort of situation, the requirement to apply promptly for the set aside does not figure. This is not always appreciated.

If the court does order that the judgment is set aside, it should go on to get the registration cancelled by Registry Trust.

Ensure that it does so as this step sometimes slips under the radar. The credit reference agencies such as Experian and Equifax are likely to have picked up the judgment details from Registry Trust and included them in their own data on you.

That makes it important for you  and it is down to you and not the court - to ensure that their data are put right once the registration is cancelled.

You can search the register for details of what it is showing on you, at a cost of between 6 and 10. Go to trustonline.org.uk.

Setting aside but liable for debt

Take this scenario. You owe money. Your creditor has obtained a valid judgment for what you owe.

You have now got hold of enough money to settle the judgment, but you are too late to get the registration cancelled within the one month time scale.

You could apply for a set aside on the ground that there is a good reason for the judgment to go.

Some judges  not all - might be persuaded of this and adjourn the application for a short period to enable you to settle as promised and later, with evidence you have settled, order a set aside.

This will then lead to a cancellation on the register.

There is another prospective route to cancellation. This involves you reaching an agreement with your creditor to pay off the debt in one go or by instalments and for the creditor to agree to the registration being cancelled.

You can make some payment immediately to demonstrate your good faith.

This route will be of particular appeal to the creditor where they are struggling or expect to struggle to get their money through one of the usual enforcement methods, such as using the court bailiff.

Perhaps you are prepared to borrow money from a family member or friend to pay the creditor which you would not be prepared to do if the registration stood.

It is possible that in consideration of you borrowing, your creditor will agree to the amount of the judgment being reduced.

This agreement would need to be incorporated into a formal form of draft order and submitted to the court.

Many judges will be prepared to go along with the sort of arrangement because it makes commercial sense to do so but not all so there is no guarantee it will get through.

If the judge is unhappy then no part of the order will be made. That means, for example, you won't find yourself having to borrow but not getting the judgment registration cancelled.

No judgment but an agreement

If a claim is made against you for money you admit you owe, there is an alternative to your creditor obtaining a judgment which will lead to its registration.

It is an agreement with your creditor which sets out how you will settle and is converted into a court order but will not lead to a registration so long as you keep to it.

It is called a 'Tomlin Order' and I looked at its use in my previous article on debt. It is worthwhile investigating with your creditor whether they would be prepared to go along with one of these.

Retired judge and writer Stephen Gold Ex-judge Stephen Gold's The Return of Breaking Law, published by Bath Publishing, is an irreverent guide of over 750 pages to legal rights and winning in court or losing well. It is full of tips and template documents and letters. Among the numerous other areas featured are consumer rights, financial remedies on divorce, succeeding on small claims, making a will, battling with sellers, creditors, domestic abusers, lenders and landlords - and how Stephen coped as lawyer to the Kray Twins.

Register to include claimants too

The judgment details that are currently registered include your name and address, the amount of the debt, date of the judgment and the relevant court.

But not the identity of the claimant.

That is the change the Government has said will be made. In future, the claimant's name will be added in but, curiously, not their address.

Is this a big deal? Not humongous: the size of an average elephant.

The name of the claimant can already be ascertained from the court if you have the time and energy to wait for a court clerk to answer your written request or answer the phone.

Having the claimant's identity registered will help you where you have discovered you're on the register some time after the judgment was made - maybe you never received any paperwork from the court - and genuinely do not have a clue what the debt is all about.

This could especially be so where the benefit of a historical debt has been sold on for peanuts to 'Very Dodgy Debt Collectors Limited'.

Their name will come up in future and this will enable you to quickly get in touch with them.

Debt advisers will give thanks for the change too as it will ease their task in helping with judgment set aside applications and putting forward any settlement proposals to the claimant.

It will also help creditors who may be thinking of starting court proceedings against you, to confer with the registered creditor and invite from them any information they have about your financial circumstances and their chances of recovering their money.

In fact, it makes sense for any would-be claimant, who is thinking about suing somebody for recovery of a debt, to make a search at the registry or with a credit reference agency so they can decide whether or not it is financially viable to go ahead and invest money in taking proceedings.

The change will also assist creditors who have obtained judgments which have gone unpaid to liaise with other creditors and find out what they have done about enforcement - although unpaid creditors are in competition with each other to try and get their money first.

The downside to the changes is the non-disclosure of the claimant's address. Big businesses with multiple offices who are contacted by interested persons may curse being troubled by interested persons.

'Mabel, there's someone on the blower. Says we got a judgment for a fiver in Toytown county court five years ago against a Mister Smith and wants to know if he paid and might he have any good gear the bailiff could seize.'

'I'm working from home. Tell him to ring back next year.'

Credit repairers  no thanks...

Don't waste money on paying a non-lawyer firm to repair your credit by obtaining the setting aside of a registered judgment.

They don't have a direct line to the judge. Applications prepared by these firms can almost be spotted in the dark, even by me without my specs on.

Some I have seen as a judge followed these sorts of lines.

'The defendant never received the claim form and, if it was delivered, he was away at the time and the dog must have eaten it as there was vomit in the hallway when he returned and, in any event, they would have been too distressed to read anything which might have come from the court as their spouse had just deserted them and, incidentally, the postman is always delivering the defendant's post to the man up the street.'

Application dismissed.
Car makers are taking bold stances on the fuel types they're plotting to sell between now and the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel models.

France's Renault has said that it will ditch plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, instead focusing on conventional - self-charging - hybrids only, while South Korean brand Genesis has announced it is pulling internal combustion cars from its showrooms completely.

Talking to Autocar, Renault chief executive Fabrice Cambolive said that the brand has 'decided to bet on full hybrid' cars - a noticeable move away from many other manufacturers such as Volvo and Volkswagen who've recently invested in PHEVs.

At the same time, Korean upstart Genesis has confirmed it will become a fully electrified brand in the UK by the end of 2025, phasing out any petrol and diesel-powered cars that remain in stock.

These are just two of the latest instances of manufacturers pivoting away from certain fuel types with just five years until governments begin outlawing the sale of new combustion engine cars.

Despite the 2030 ban in the UK looming, the role of hybrid cars in the UK's transition remains to be seen.

Renault has said it is going to 'bet on full hybrid' and is unlikely to be bringing out plug-in hybrids ahead of the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel models

The Government is currently consulting on what types of new hybrids will be given a five-year stay of execution beyond the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, with experts predicting it will likely only be PHEV models that will stay in showrooms up to 2035 due to their longer ranges in electric-only mode.

Ministers have been warned that Britain needs to also restrict the availability of all new hybrid cars from 2030 or it will make a 'catastrophic misstep' towards achieving net zero.

Renault's Cambolive said the decision to steer away from PHEVs and to 'bet on full hybrid' was a no brainer, saying: 'For me that is the easiest way to have low-consumption cars and to prepare our customers to go to EVs.'

Currently, Renault offers just one plug-in hybrid model  the Rafale E-Tech 4x4 SUV  which has a unique powertrain setup that uses three electric motors and a 1.2-litre petrol engine to produce 66 miles of EV-only range from a 22kWh battery.

Renault claims the powerful, fuel-efficient and self-charging E-Tech fully hybrid powertrain gives a combined range of 683 miles.

Cambolive gave Autocar no sense that the company will adapt its PHEV setup to other Renault models, leaving just the Rafale as the lone plug-in option.

Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive told Autocar: 'For me that [full hybrid] is the easiest way to have low-consumption cars and to prepare our customers to go to EVs'

Renault offers just one car as a plug-in hybrid; the Rafale E-Tech 4x4 SUV

The CEO also said that one of his 'biggest problems' for traditional plug-in hybrids is that 'they consume more energy when the battery is empty' - something that doesn't happen with the Rafale.

The Megane and Captur were offered as plug-in hybrids until 2021, but Cambolive said that small cars as PHEVs are 'not so interesting' and he's not sure 'it's worth it' to make them because buyers in this market will shift straight to EVs.

He commented: 'When you go to the lower segments, if you can't afford to charge the car, you have a full-hybrid solution, and it's far enough. Otherwise, you shift to EV.

'The plug-in hybrid was the cherry on the cake, but with advantages that are liked to the size of the car.'

It remains to be seen how Renault's 'decision to focus on hybrid and pure-BEV cars' in the 'short term' will fit in with the UK's 2035 plans to ban hybrid cars.

South Korean brand Genesis has confirmed it will go fully electric within 2025, and will only sell remaining petrol and diesel models from stock it currently has

Genesis to go all-electric by close of 2025

One manufacturer doubling down on its commitment to EVs-only is Hyundai-owned Genesis.

The South Korean luxury brand has just announced that it will kill off its combustion cars as it moves to a battery electric (BEV)-only lineup by the end of 2025.

In 2025 Genesis will offer three all-electric models to UK customers: the Electrified G80 saloon, the electrified GV70 SUV and the GV60 SUV.

Petrol and diesel- powered G70s, G70 Shooting Brake and GV70 and GV80 models will continue to be sold from stock only.

Once these are sold Genesis will only sell electrified-only cars.

Could hybrid cars help manufacturers hit ZEV targets?

All car manufacturers in the UK are subject to the Government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets.

In 2024 - the first year ZEV was made law - car makers had to sell 22 per cent EVs, but this is rising each year until it reaches 100 per cent in 2035. By the end of 2025 automakers will need to achieve 28 per cent.

The fine for missing the quota is a punishing 15,000 per model below the required threshold.

The ZEV mandate forces car makers to sell an increasing volume of EVs between now and 2035 - but hybrids might be allowed to count towards the targets

However, CO2 flexibilities in the targets mean that reducing the average emissions of combustion engine models sold counts towards yearly targets.

So, the Government's current consultation into which hybrid models (except for mild hybrids which will be banned from 2030) can continue to be sold after 2030 could help car makers hit the ever rising targets.

Fully hybrid models and plug-in hybrid models both cut overall CO2 emissions because they allow the car to be driven for long periods without using polluting petrol or diesel engines.

If these are allowed to be sold past the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars then manufacturers will be able to hit the CO2 part of the ZEV targets easier, without having to sell so many fully electric cars - achieving some breathing room.
Rachel Reeves has announced a 65million investment into electric car charging infrastructure as part of raft of new measures to kickstart the economy.

On-street charging was prioritised in the Chancellor's speech on Wednesday morning delivered from the Siemens Healthineers factory in Oxfordshire, in which she pledged new policies to boost UK economic growth.

The money earmarked for the network of EV devices aims to make charging more accessible and accelerate the switch to zero emission vehicles in what has been dubbed a 'welcome boost' by industry insiders.

Connected Kerb, an EV charging company that delivers on-street charging and works with manufacturers including Vauxhall, will receive the 65million investment to expand its network across the UK. The funding will come via the new National Wealth Fund (NWF) and Aviva Investors.

Currently, a lack of on-street EV charging is seen as one of the biggest barriers to EV uptake.

With a third of households in England not having access to off-street parking - and therefore rely on public chargers - and an uneven spread of devices across the country, the Chancellor will hope the investment will trigger increased EV demand as Labour stands by its promise to outlaw sales on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' announced 65m investment in public chargepoint installer Connected Kerb as part of today's speech kickstarting economic growth

The NWF is reportedly taking a 10 per cent equity stake in Berkshirebased Connected Kerb worth 55million, while Aviva Investors  the global asset management branch of Aviva Group  will put up the further 10million.

Adam Wood, Renault UK managing director, said: 'Investment in off-street charging infrastructure is especially welcome, both for addressing a critical requirement to give people without a driveway an easy, affordable way to charge an electric car, and for signalling a firm government commitment to making the transition to electric vehicles happen to the timescales it has set with its mandate.'

Wednesday's announcement marks one of the first investments made by the NWF and unveils the latest move in Labour's commitment to a future of zero-emission cars.

The Chancellor also used the announced on Wednesday to confirm a 28million equity investment in Cornish Metals, a firm that mines minerals for EV batteries and solar panels.

As part of its election manifesto, Labour pledged to 'set binding targets for EV chargepoint rollout' as well as 'release and redirect the existing 950million Rapid Charging Fund' to 'remove planning barriers to chargepoint rollout'.

The Chancellor then doubled down on this commitment in the Autumn Budget when announcing a further 200million investment in public charging between 2025 and 2026.

It was established that local authorities will be given funding to support on-street charging across England.

Connected Kerb, is an EV charging company that delivers fast, on-street charging to those without home chargers and works with manufacturers including Vauxhall

The investment in Connected Kerb will help the firm achieve its ambitious targets of quadrupling its charging sockets to 40,000 and help Britain achieve its target of 300,000 public chargers installed by 2030.

James Taylor, Vauxhall UK's managing director, called the extra funding for kerbside chargepoints a 'welcome boost' at a 'pivotal time'.

He added: 'We need to ensure that these new on-street chargers, which are key to enabling those without a driveway to charge their EV, get installed in the right towns and streets where they will get used.'

Which areas of the UK are falling behind in the public charging rollout?

While the Government recently announced that the UK is on track to deliver the required number of chargepoints by the end of the decade, some areas are lagging behind.

This is Money recently reported how there's a geographical North-South divide for EV public charger availability.

The latest published figures by chargepoint mapping service ZapMap shows that the North of England is far behind the South for device accessability.

The North East is massively lagging behind the South East in the public charging rollout

Last year we also reported that the latest government data showed that there were regional disparities in the changepoint rollout, with the South East averages 82 devices per 100,000, with the South West just behind with 80, as of the end of July.

In comparison, Yorkshire and the Humber has only 56 chargers per 100,000. And the North West doesn't fair much better with 60 chargers per 100,000.

However the North East fairs better overall with 72 per 100,000, yet is the only area of the UK to not see an increase in devices in the last quarter.

But Connected Kerb, has since announced plans to more than double the number of chargepoints in the North East via its partnership with South Tyneside Council.

The rollout of 2,100 new EV chargepoints deployed marked the largest ever deployment of charging infrastructure in the North East and will see the region - which is home to just 2.7 per cent of the UK's charging infrastructure  receive a 126 per cent boost in its existing network, playing a fundamental role in levelling-up access to charging infrastructure.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Will EV prices be subsidised to boost sales?

It's been rumoured that ministers are drawing up plans to subsidise electric car purchases as part of efforts to encourage uptake.

The Financial Times claims that the government is considering guaranteeing consumer loans in order to incentivise private EV uptake amid a sales struggle.

The government has reportedly started discussions with the car finance sector to try to increase the availability of low-interest or interest-free loans to help boost EV sales.

Ford UK managing director Lisa Brankin has said that the auto industry 'really needs government-backed incentives to urgently boost the uptake of electric vehicles'

Underwriting private sector loans to reduce the monthly repayments to help bring EV purchase costs to levels closer to petrol or diesel vehicles, is an option on the table according to in the know government and industry figures.

The EV industry has long been calling for the government to bring back EV incentives as private sales continue to fall well below the required amount to hit EV targets.

UK markets are the worst supported in Europe for any government incentives to help people transition from a petrol or diesel engine to an EV powertrain, and we really do need now for the Government to step up.

Calling for the government to 'step up' and 'assist' the industry, Polestar UK managing director Matt Galvin told PA that the UK is the 'worst in Europe for any government incentives to help people transition from a petrol or diesel engine to an EV powertrain'.

Ford UK managing director Lisa Brankin similarly told the BBC: 'The one thing that we really need is government-backed incentives to urgently boost the uptake of electric vehicles.'
HSBC is planning to axe parts of its investment banking business in the UK.

In a huge shake-up, the banking giant is preparing to wind up its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and equity capital markets (ECM) units in the UK, Europe and the US in a bid to simplify the business.

Boss Georges Elhedery  in charge since September  is pressing ahead with a major overhaul of the Asia-focused bank including a geographic split between East and West.

A HSBC spokesman yesterday said the bank will retain more focused M&A and ECM markets in Asia and the Middle East.

The spokesman did not disclose how many jobs would be affected or when the changes would take place.

Shore Capital analyst Gary Greenwood said: At the end of the day, these are expensive businesses to run and if you are not winning the business and generating the fees then its easy to lose money.

Cuts: HSBC boss Georges Elhedery (pictured) is pressing ahead with an overhaul of the Asia-focused bank including a geographic split between East and West

Last year, Elhedery unveiled proposals to divide the lender into four units amid growing tensions between China and the West.

Santander's chairman in the UK is quitting amid mounting speculation over the banks future in Britain.

William Vereker will step down this year. The announcement came after Ana Botin, chairman of the entire Santander group, last week denied reports the bank was looking to quit the UK.

But Verekers exit will fuel speculation over the future of the Spanish bank in Britain.
LVMH hailed a recovery in sales over Christmas as it sold its stake in fashion label Stella McCartney back to the British designer.

The French group, whose brands include Givenchy, Celine and Louis Vuitton, posted a 1 per cent rise in sales to 20billion in the final three months of last year.

The group had suffered its first quarterly sales drop since Covid in the three months to the end of September.

LVMH supremo Bernard Arnault said he sees a wave of optimism in the US, where the luxury industry has pinned its hopes on a revival following Donald Trumps return to the White House.

Arnault, 75, one of the worlds richest men, attended Trumps inauguration in Washington with members of his family earlier this month.

But there were still signs that a slowdown in China  the worlds second largest economy and a crucial market for luxury goods  has hit demand for expensive handbags and clothes.

Royal following: Stella McCartney (pictured with King Charles) has bought back the stake LVMH bought in her fashion label

Sales at LVMHs fashion and leather goods division  the biggest part of the business and home to brands Louis Vuitton and Dior labels  slipped 1 per cent.

And its wine and spirits division, which includes Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot, saw an 8 per cent fall as drinkers made the switch from champagne to cheaper alternatives.

But areas including watches and jewellery as well as perfume and cosmetics fared better.

Arnault said: This capacity to weather the storm in highly turbulent times is yet another testament to the strength and relevance of our strategy.

The update came as Stella McCartney, 53, bought back the 49 per cent stake LVMH held in her fashion label.

The move reflects her desire to write a new page in her story independently after five years of investment, a joint statement from LVMH and McCartney said yesterday.
The Governments revised tone about the UKs economic prospects - deployed in Davos and across the airwaves  has been music to the ears of my peers in the City.

Davos, with hundreds of the worlds leading financiers, investors and CEOs in attendance, set the perfect stage for the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to lead this welcome change in approach.

The potential of a third Heathrow runway, plans to ease rules on non-doms and the surprise shake-up to the Competitions and Markets Authority leadership, are clear signals of the Governments renewed intent to get growth going as a priority.

Delivery is key. And warm words must now be matched by bold action and swift implementation. My many years in the financial markets have led to a healthy regard for risk; one it seems the Government now shares  and not before time.

Government, regulators and businesses must now embrace risk and bet on Britain to unlock our full potential, from life sciences and AI to financial services and cybersecurity.

Make no mistake  this is not a call for complacency from those charged with protecting consumers. But our economy has been stagnant for too long, and we never quite re-balanced the risk register following the financial crash.

The Lord Mayor Of London, Alastair King

We welcome proposals from the Bank of England to set up a concierge service to help foreign firms invest in the UK.

And the City of London Corporation is supporting efforts to ensure the UKs new Office for Investment matches its peers in Ireland and Singapore, which have successfully attracted significant global investors.

There are also things we can do at home to make our financial markets more attractive.

Reform of ISAs is one attractive area - why should those investing in purely in cash and non-UK equities have the same tax breaks as those who take the risk to invest into UK-quoted equities?

The incentives appear misaligned. Removing stamp duty on shares is another area ripe for revisiting.

As cheerleader-in-chief for UK financial and professional services, Ill be urging businesses to bet on Britain again and again.

I will be looking at the Mansion House Compact signed by our largest DC pension funds in 2023 and urging them forward in fulfilling the 2030 target to invest 5 per cent of funds into unlisted UK equities.

These investments are consequential to Britons across the country. They help fund AI start-ups in London; fintechs in Edinburgh; life science firms in Cambridge  all innovative businesses that make Britain great.

So, let us help them start, scale and stay here, creating the high-skilled and high-wage jobs that benefit our economy.

Re-adjusting our risk appetite can help encourage  as evidenced in the latest Bayes Business School research  the financial services sector to remove barriers to growth. Risk should be viewed as an opportunity, not solely a threat.

The sooner the UK embraces that, the better for our economy.
Morrisons saw its sales rise last year as the supermarket group claimed market share gains from competitors and grew its loyalty card user base.

The group said last week it would axe more than 200 jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan, joining Sainsburys in reducing headcount in the months after the October Budget.

The move followed Morrison's chief executive warning that supermarkets faced an 'avalanche of costs' after Rachel Reeves hiked taxes for employers.

Morrisons was one of over 70 businesses, including Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys, that told Rachel Reeves in a recent open letter that changes announced in the Budget meant price rises were a 'certainty'.

Last week, Sainsbury's confirmed plans to cut over 3,000 roles as it prepares to close all its remaining in-store cafes and hot food counters.

On Wednesday, Morrisons said like-for-like sales rose 4.1 per cent in the year ending 27 October, while earnings jumped to 835million from 751million in the previous 12 months.

Job cuts: Last week, Morrisons said it would axe more than 200 jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan

The annual results did not cover the key Christmas trading period, when Morrisons suffered IT issues, forcing it to cut the price of items including turkeys and Champagne for some customers.

But the supermarket did show its best quarter since 2021 for the three months to 27 October, when sales grew 4.9 per cent compared to the previous year.

Morrisons, which has its headquarters in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and employs over 100,000 people, has been owned by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice since 2021.

The group said More Card linked sales grew to 68 per cent at the year end.

Chief executive Rami Baitieh said: 'This has been a year of urgent reinvigoration and positive progress for Morrisons.

'Customer transactions increased, market share grew from Q2 and we saw positive switching from our competitors.

'The improvements across the business have resulted in better availability in our stores, sharper prices, more effective promotions and a strong and growing loyalty scheme.'

Former Carrefour France boss Baitieh joined Morrisons as chief executive in November 2023, and last January said the supermarket's performance was not good enough.

His turnaround strategy has focused on improving the retailer's price competitiveness, product availability and its 'More Card' loyalty programme. A scheme to price match Aldi and Lidl on key items was introduced in February.
The car parts arm of GKN looks set to be sold to a US rival in a 1.2billion deal six years after Melroses hostile takeover of the British engineer.

Dowlais, spun out of GKN in 2023, will be snapped up by American Axle in a blow to Londons stock market.

Corporate raider Melrose bought GKN for 8billion in 2018 in a move that faced fierce opposition over fears the 266-year-old company would be split up and sold off.

Melrose restructured it, axing hundreds of jobs as it closed a plant in Birmingham.

It then spun off GKNs automotive division under the name Dowlais while retaining the aerospace business.

FTSE 250-listed Dowlais will leave Londons stock market after just two years in a major setback for the exchange, if shareholders approve.

Takeover: Car parts maker Dowlais, spun out of GKN in 2023, will be snapped up by American Axle in a blow to Londons stock market

The merged firm will be listed in New York and based in Detroit, Michigan. Following the deal, Dowlais London office in Victoria will close.

Chief executive Liam Butterworth, who will pocket 928,500  150 per cent of his 619,000 base salary  to oversee the merger, said the move will allow it to adapt and be flexible to how the industry is evolving, including the global challenges facing the transition to electric vehicles.

The company will have 50,000 employees, with 1,250 jobs at risk after the merger.

Duplicate corporate, head office, administrative and senior management positions, which could amount to around 40 UK jobs, are in the firing line.

Manufacturing, and research and development jobs in the US and Europe are also at risk. The businesses expect to reap 242million in savings.

The takeover values Dowlais shares at 85.2p each. American Axle shareholders will own 51 per cent, while Dowlais shareholders will own around 49 per cent.

Butterworth, who will leave after the deal completes, has a 0.17 per cent stake in Dowlais that will be worth nearly 2million, according to Refinitiv.

But Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: This is far from a done deal and there is a real chance that Dowlais shareholders push back for a better offer.
Dying Ronnie Biggs in final plea to Straw to be released

Jack Straw is today considering an urgent plea by Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs to be released on 'compassionate grounds'.

Biggs, who turns 80 next week, is in hospital suffering from severe pneumonia.

His legal representatives made the plea for release after he was taken from his cell to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital earlier this week.

Scroll down for video

Ronnie Biggs, 79, pictured left in a Norwich hospital bed, is suffering from severe pneumonia and could be released from prison on 'compassionate grounds'



At the time, his son Michael said doctors had told him there was 'not much hope' for his father.

The Prison Service confirmed the request had been received and would be dealt with as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: 'We can confirm that an application for the early release on compassionate grounds of a prisoner at HMP Norwich has been received by the Public Protection Casework Section in the National Offender Management Service.

'We do not discuss the cases of individual prisoners.

'All applications are processed as soon as we reasonably can and each is carefully considered on its merits against the published criteria.'

Four weeks ago Justice Secretary Jack Straw refused Biggs's request for parole, saying he was 'wholly unrepentant' about his crimes.

Biggs, from Lambeth, south London, was a member of a 15-strong gang which attacked the Glasgow to London mail train at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, in August 1963, and made off with 2.6 million in used banknotes.

He was given a 30-year sentence but after 15 months he escaped from Wandsworth prison in south west London by climbing a 30ft wall and fleeing in a furniture van.

Biggs was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Australia and Brazil before returning to the UK voluntarily in 2001 in search of medical treatment.

He was locked up in Belmarsh high security prison on his return before being moved to a specialist medical unit at Norwich prison.

Earlier requests for release on compassionate grounds were refused in 2006, 2007 and last month.


Slain Melbourne gangster Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim shrugged off repeated attempts to execute him - but admitted if his killers ever got lucky it would just mean his 'time was up'.

Abdulrahim's time was up just about 1030am on Tuesday when he was ambushed and executed in the underground carpark at Melbourne's Quest Apartments in Preston.

Underworld sources have revealed Abdulrahim, 32, was killed by a professional hit squad of up to four gunmen after a $2 million bounty was placed on his head.

It's understood Abdulrahim, a champion boxer and former Mongol bikie, flew into Melbourne from Thailand on Monday and had only stayed at Quest one night before his murder.

He had previously dismissed fears for his life when he broke his silence about earlier assassination attempts on footy legend Sam Newman's podcast, You Cannot Be Serious.

He admitted it may only be a matter of time before he was killed, but he insisted he was not worried or living in fear.

'No, not really,' Abdulrahim said. 'You know, when my time is up, my time's up.'

But Abdulrahim was a marked man and had already survived an execution attempt when gunmen shot him eight times as he left his cousin's funeral in Fawkner in June 2022.

The attack occurred just months before he went onto Newman's podcast.

Sam Abdulrahim (pictured) was successfully gunned down outside his hideaway at Preston's Quest Hotel in Melbourne's north on Tuesday morning

Police managed up to 40 loved ones at the crime scene, with some allowed to enter the car park to see Abdulrahim's body

Abdulrahim was shot multiple times before the perps fled in a suspected stolen white Porsche SUV found burnt out nearby in Reservoir

'When the car pulled up next to me I thought it was one of my mates,' he told Newman in 2022.

'Then I looked up and I just seen something pointed at me and I thought surely this is a joke.'

'Then I just remember getting pumped with bullets.'

Abdulrahim was later told he died twice on the way to hospital.

The earlier attempt on his life had come just weeks after the former pro boxer had left the Mongols bikie gang.

He then went into hiding in May 2024 after narrowly escaping another ambush when gunmen shot at him 17 times outside his Thomastown home in the city's northern suburbs.

The attack was said to have been sparked after his role in setting up the 2016 murder of northern suburbs drug trafficker Kadir Ors by George Marrogi outside Campbellfield Plaza.

Abdulrahim was also said to be seen as a serious threat of muscling into the lucrative illicit tobacco trade controlled by Middle Eastern crime gangs.

The murder has also sparked fears of retaliation attacks after Abdulrahim's sister Ektimal (pictured right) took to social media just hours after his death with a message for his killer

Sam Abdulrahim (pictured) survived injuries from two shootings in June 2022 and May 2024

A bullet casing was found at the scene of Sam Abdulrahim's murder

His many enemies are believed to have included Middle-Eastern organised crime bosses Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad and Ahmed Al Hamza.

Exiled crime boss Hamad is ruling his empire from Iraq while he wars with the Haddara clan for tobacco supremacy.

The bloody war raging for almost two years has ravaged Melbourne with arsons, shootings and violent extortions.

It was revealed on Wednesday, Hamad taunted Abdulrahim in a chilling phone call prior to the boxer's death.

'Hey, I'm still alive brother. Eight shots later and I'm still alive,' Abdulrahim bragged on the phone.

Hamad replied: 'You're lucky. Luck, luck, luck'.

Other potential Abdulrahim enemies include the Mongols and Comanchero motorcycle gangs while three other kingpins who were likely out for The Punisher's blood - Nabil Maghnie, Gavin Preston and Kadir 'KD' Ors - are now all dead.

Chilling footage showed Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad (pictured left, with ex-Mongols boss Toby Mitchell, right) taunting now-slain underworld figure Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim

It's understood Abdulrahim's actions along with feared prison boss George Marrogi (pictured) sealed his doom

In his last weeks alive, Abdulrahim was said to have become 'something of a ghost' as he moved between Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand but returned to Melbourne when his funds ran dry.

One man at the crime scene told Daily Mail Australia he had attempted to warn Abdulrahim not to leave the previous location he had been hiding out at.

'He wasn't scared, he wasn't scared of anything, he always said, "When my time comes, my time comes",' the man said.

On Tuesday, Abdulrahim was shot multiple times in the underground car park before his killers fled in a stolen white Porsche SUV, later found burnt out in nearby Reservoir.

A second suspected getaway vehicle, a Ford Ranger, was also discovered on fire in Westmeadows.

A woman who was with Abdulrahim when he was executed escaped unscathed.

Up to 40 friends and family of the feared gangster converged outside the hotel, with police allowing some to enter the car park to see Abdulrahim's body.

The murder has also sparked fears of retaliation attacks after Abdulrahim's sister Ektimal took to social media just hours after his death with a message for his killer.

'Whoever shot my brother to death, I'm after u mother f***er,' she wrote. 'I know it's u dog. Never ends here.'

On Tuesday, The Punisher's luck finally ran out and his time was up.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash cam, CCTV, or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Traumatised villagers have accused police of abandoning them after scores of suspected travellers drove cars through fields, set fire to vehicles and even attacked two fire engines while hare coursing.

Up to 70 masked people in abour 25 4x4s brought terror to Fenland communities in Cambridgeshire as they took part in the illegal sport.

Locals left cowering in their homes felt powerless as police failed to respond to dozens of 999 calls.

A video uploaded to social media by one victim showed cars churning up fields as they went off-road.

Chief Constable Nick Dean had to issue a humiliating apology at a public meeting attended by 300 people yesterday, where he drew laughter after sheepishly admitting: 'I perhaps got it wrong in hindsight.'

Farmer Matthew Latter, from Sutton Gault, described how he had to barricade his family in their home for more than three hours after dozens of men wearing balaclavas smashed their way through gates and moved concrete blocks to access his land.

He told the meeting: 'There were 13 4x4s. I called police three times. I gave the what3words coordinates of exactly where they were but we didn't have any response  absolutely zero.

'My seven-year-old daughter was crying and was utterly terrified.'

Farmer Matthew Latter, from Sutton Gault, described how he had to barricade his family in their home for more than three hours after dozens of men wearing balaclavas smashed their way through gates and moved concrete blocks to access his land

Balaclava-clad hare coursers terrorised villagers after driving their 4x4s through farmland

Footage of several men that Hertfordshire Police are looking to speak to

He added: 'My question is, how bad does it have to be? They had cut through every single gate, moved every single concrete block.

'We have been left with four vehicles dumped, two have been burnt out, one is stuck. But despite all this, we have yet to have a police officer come out to us.'

Leo Butler, of Chatteris, said: 'What I would like to know is where were the police? There were no helicopters, no police cars, not one police officer  nothing.'

A woman who called 999 after spotting thugs stealing from a service station in Wimblington said she was told to call back on 101 as it wasn't an emergency. More than 200 of fuel, food and drinks were taken.

Another local warned failure to respond in future could leave police with 'another Tony Martin on your hands'. Farmer Mr Martin was jailed for murder  later reduced to manslaughter  after shooting at burglars in his Norfolk farmhouse in 1999.

The meeting at Manea British Legion Club was convened by North East Cambridgeshire Tory MP Steve Barclay and Fenland District councillor Charlie Marks.

Mr Marks, who spotted a man with the pickaxe handle, said it was pure luck that no one had been killed or seriously injured.

He added: 'You can only imagine what that meant if anyone happened to get in their way.'

Up to 70 masked people in about 25 4x4s brought terror to Fenland communities in Cambridgeshire as they took part in the illegal sport

An abandoned car used by hare coursers covered in mud in Manea, Cambridgeshire

The chief constable told attendees he had gone with his 'gut feeling' over the failure to provide adequate resources but admitted there was 'no excuse' for the failure, saying: 'I perhaps got it wrong in hindsight.'

A regional level enquiry will be launched to look into what went wrong, he added.

The chaos began when a convoy of up to 30 cars tore through villages including Manea, Wimblington, Welney, Chatteris, Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow and Littleport on Saturday.

Travelling at up to 60mph on 30mph roads, the men drove onto fields at will, ruining crops and intimidating owners and staff.

There were reports of deer being killed as well as hares.

Two fire engines were damaged and their crews threatened as they took part in a training exercise in Chatteris.

The force is belatedly 'appealing for information, dash cam footage or CCTV following a number of incidents of hare coursing, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to crops as well as putting lives at risk with dangerous driving'.

The police response following the hare courser incident

Cambridgeshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston tells a meeting he will hold police to account as MP Steve Barclay watches with Chief Constable Nick Dean, pictured left

Local policing commander Superintendent Ben Martin said: 'The information we had in advance of this gathering had very limited detail, so a force-wide dispersal order was put in place.

'However, due to the scale of the incident and the multiple locations where offences took place, as well as a significantly demanding weekend elsewhere in the county, we didn't have the resources available to deal with every report we received from members of the public.'

A Cambridgeshire Fire Service spokeswoman said: 'While two of our on-call crews were out training near Forty Foot Bank in Ramsey on Saturday, they were involved in a minor incident with a group of people in a number of vehicles.

'This resulted in a small amount of damage to the fire engines and some of the equipment. However, this had no impact on the crew's availability to respond to any emergency.'
AMP to roll out 'numberless' debit cards in Australia first

An Australian bank is releasing numberless debit cards for customers, with account details only viewable on a secure app and not on the plastic itself.

AMP announced the move on Tuesday, with the first of the cards to be given to customers in February.

The bank has partnered with Mastercard to produce the numberless cards in an effort to combat scams and hacks targeting susceptible small businesses.

The card faces will not include any of the traditional digits or cardholders' identities, with those details only accessible in the AMP banking app.

The app includes fraud protection systems, and multiple different biometric authentication measures.

AMP announced their new banking app will be accompanied by 'numberless' cards for businesses

Users will be prompted to use face and touch ID to use the app, and will have to upload a video selfie when they first sign up.

Richard Wormald, the Australasian president of Mastercard, said the measures will allow small businesses 'to spend less time worrying about fraud and scams, and more time focusing on what they do best'.

'Numberless cards represent a significant step forward in payment security, offering cardholders additional protection against fraud and account compromise,' he said.

Technology from London-based Starling Bank will support AMP's digital banking system.

Overseas, several banks have already issued numberless cards to their clients.

Curve, a digital wallet company, began issuing the numberless cards in Europe in 2020, followed by Chase UK and Barclaycard in 2022.

FamPay in India also began issuing numberless cards in mid-2020.

MasterCard aims to cut all numbered cards by 2030.
Georgia Congressman Rich McCormick suggested kids should be working at McDonald's rather than getting free school lunches as lawmakers on Tuesday reacted to President Trump's latest spending freeze attempt.

The Republican lawmaker was being interviewed on CNN when he was asked if he would support getting rid of school lunches for his constituents.

The question came as the pair were discussing the White House pause on federal grants, loans and other financial assistance pending review and how the move would impact Americans amid widespread confusion.

The freeze was set to go into effect on Tuesday evening but was temporarily blocked by a judge minutes before.

During the interview earlier in the day, McCormick praised doing a 'top-down' review of government spending.

That's when anchor Pamela Brown brought up the free and reduced lunch program for students as well as the Head Start program for early childhood education.

Rep. Rich McCormick suggested during an interview with CNN's Pamela Brown that kids should work at McDonald's rather than qualify for free school lunch

She asked the GOP lawmaker whether he would support getting rid of such programs and what he would say to his constituents.

'When you talk about school lunches, hey, I worked my way through high school. I don't know about you, but I worked since I was before I was even 13 years old. I was picking berries in the field before we had child labor laws that precluded that. I was a paper boy,' McCormick said.

'And when I was in high school, I worked my entire way through. You're telling me that kids who stay at home, instead of going to work at Burger King and McDonald's during the summer, should stay at home and get their free lunch instead of going to work? I think we need to have a top down review,' he went on.

Brown asked the congressman to clarify whether he thinks all the kids eligible for free lunch or breakfast in his district were just sitting at home.

McCormick said he does not but argued the pause would give them a chance to see where the money is really being spent.

'Who can actually go and actually produce their own income? Who can actually go out there and do something that makes them have value and work skills for the future?' he said.

But McCormick, who was being interviewed from Doral, Florida where House Republicans were holding a retreat did not stop there.

He suggested kids who received free lunches were taking advantage.

Rep. McCormick made his comments about kids working at McDonald's rather than getting free school lunch while he was being interviewed about the Trump plan to freeze financial assistance pending a review. The pause was set to go into effect Tuesday evening but was temporarily halted by a judge

'How many people got their start in fast food restaurants when they were kids versus just giving a blanket rule that gives all kids lunches in high school who are capable of going out and actually getting a job and doing something that makes them have value, thinking about their future instead of thinking about how they're going to sponge off the government when they don't need to?' he asked.

Brown pointed out that many of the kids being discussed are not old enough to work.

'I get that,' he responded. 'It doesn't apply to everybody.'
The owner of a popular Greek restaurant has spoken out after his 'shaken' staff had a tip jar stolen from 'under their noses' on the Australia Day long weekend.

In CCTV footage from Monday night, the man is seen waiting for a waitress to walk out of sight before he pounced on the hard-earned tips.

Peter Papas, the owner of Kazzi Beach Greek in Balmoral on Sydney's lower north shore, said the man came in at about 7.30pm and asked about the price of chips.

He then left the restaurant, but came back a few minutes later where he was caught on video brazenly snatching the jar and walking away.

'It was the Australia Day long weekend and our staff worked so hard over three days, no doubt looking forward to sharing their tips at the close of business,' Mr Papas told Mosman Collective.

'This lowlife has waltzed in and scoped out the tip jar, then waited to strike in the split second the cashier's back was turned.'

Mr Papas said the Kazzi staff are like 'family' to him, so he replaced the stolen tips.

'Many of the kids who work with us are local and they were upset to think something like this happened right under their noses,' he said.

The man waited for a waitress to pass before he brazenly snatched the tips jar (pictured)

The man is seen reaching over the counter and grabbing the jar (pictured)

If you recognise the man in the footage, you can report him by phoning Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Aussies were quick to react to the brazen theft in the comments.

'What a lowlife... we love your rest(aurant) as the service always so good. What a shame,' one person wrote.

'Stealing the staff tip jar is an act that really exemplifies the lowest of behaviour!' a second said.

A third said they had recently experienced a theft at their business.

'Joining the club. We had our tip jar stolen off the front counter at my kiosk down the road only a month ago,' they said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Papas for further comment.
The filmmaker ex-husband of P.E Nation's co-founder has been cleared of a domestic violence charge laid more than a year after the couple ended their relationship.

Tim Tregoning had been accused of stalking or intimidating Claire Tregoning - who now uses the surname Greaves - with intent to cause harm in November 2023.

The 43-year-old bleached blond, who has 'Claire' tattooed on his ribs next to a heart and arrows, was due to face a three-day hearing into that allegation and two other charges this week.

Instead, the intimidation charge was dismissed on January 20 when Tregoning, who faced court wearing a knotted neckerchief, pleaded guilty to the two other offences committed in July 2023.

Tregoning was still required to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday when defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said the details of a statement of facts had not yet been agreed.

Mr Wrench said Tregoning would be making an application for the two remaining offences to be dealt with under mental health provisions of the law and dismissed without conviction.

Tregoning's private life started hitting the headlines in 2016 when his wife launched activewear brand P.E Nation with Pip Edwards in a partnership which made both women multi-millionaires.

Greaves stepped down from her day-to-day role in March last year when P.E Nation issued a statement saying she would be 'pursuing other creative endeavours'.

Tim Tregoning, the filmmaker ex-husband of P.E Nation's co-founder Claire Tregoning, has been cleared of a domestic violence charge laid more than a year after the couple ended their relationship. He is pictured outside Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday

Tim Tregoning's private life started hitting the headlines in 2016 when his wife launched activewear brand P.E Nation with Pip Edwards in a partnership which made both women multi-millionaires. Claire Tregoning - now Greaves - (left) is pictured with Edwards

The label's co-founders were then hit by rumours of a falling-out, with Edwards wiping all traces of Greaves from P.E Nation's social media.

Edwards took over as the sole creative director and gave P.E Nation an overhaul and relaunch, but in August announced she too was taking a 'step back' from the brand.

The following month Edwards returned to streetwear label Ksubi, where she first made her name in the 1990s, as creative director.

While neither woman has revealed the reason why they went their separate ways, Edwards said in June last year that Greaves was 'the product one' in their business partnership.

'She was an amazing designer and I was more the marketing side of things,' Edwards told the Kyle and Jacki O Show.

Edwards went on to say she had fond memories of working with her former partner and praised Greaves for being an 'amazing designer'.

Tregoning and Greaves quietly ended their 11-year marriage in mid-2022 and sold their five-bedroom Avalon mansion for $6.4million in February 2023.

Greaves described their parting as 'amicable' when she confirmed the split to Sydney Morning Herald gossip columnist Andrew Hornery in January that year.

Tregoning, who has 'Claire' tattooed on his ribs next to a heart and arrows, was due to face a three-day hearing into three allegations including one that he intimidated his ex-wife

Tregoning and Greaves (above) quietly ended their 11-year marriage in mid-2022 and sold their five-bedroom Avalon mansion for $6.4million in February 2023

'It is very amicable, we still love each other, we are co-parenting and he remains a great friend,' she said.

'Things change and that's just what happened for us, but we are getting through that with a lot of respect and support for each other.'

Tregoning had pleaded guilty in November 2022 to possessing a prohibited drug after police caught him with almost a gram of cocaine at Bondi Beach.

Greaves wrote him a glowing reference which was tendered in Waverley Local Court where a magistrate heard Tregoning bought the drugs while he was in a post-separation state of 'unravelling'.

The court also heard Tregoning had undergone sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists to help with his depression and a diagnosis of ADHD which caused him to act impulsively.

Tregoning is a cinematographer who has been involved with a range of high-profile productions including a Netflix series.

He was involved in making the film Snow White and the Huntsman starring Chris Hemsworth, as well as television series Puberty Blues and commercials for Qantas, NRMA and Audi.

Earlier this month Ms Greaves was spotted cosying up to renowned Sydney cocktail maker and bar tsar Matt Whiley at Avalon Beach.

Whiley is the creator of boutique gin company Wolf's Nose and has helped set up seven award-winning bars in London Sydney.

He is also mates with Edwards's latest boyfriend Joshua Clapp, the owner of hospitality-focused construction and design firm Steel and Stitch.

Tregoning is still the subject of an interim apprehended violence order taken out by police in November 2023 to protect Greaves.

The father-of-two's bail conditions include that he not go within 100m of where Greaves lives or works and that he stay at an address on the Northern Beaches.

He cannot contact Greaves except through a lawyer or upon agreement in writing if the contact relates to their children.

Tregoning will return to court in April for a mental health hearing.
A 28-year-old banker was mysteriously found dead in his Texas apartment, prompting local police to probe his 'unexplained' death.

Carter McIntosh, an investment banker at Jefferies Financial Group's Dallas office, was found dead inside his apartment at around 11am on Monday, according to records obtained by Business Insider.

It is unclear why police responded to McIntosh's apartment that day, and a cause of death has not yet been listed - with the Dallas Police Department saying it is unknown at this time.

'Based on the date, approximate time and location, this incident is being investigated as an unexplained death,' Public Information Officer Michael Dennis said.

Jefferies CEO Richard Handler and President Brian Friedman notified employees of McIntosh's untimely passing in an internal memo on Tuesday, according to Business Insider.

'It is with tremendous sadness that we report we learned yesterday that Carter McIntosh, one of our talented associates in Dallas, has passed away,' the memo said.

'Our most sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

'We are in touch with Carter's family, who know we stand ready to support them in any way we can,' Handler and Friedman added.

Carter McIntosh, 28, was found dead inside his Dallas apartment at around 11am on Monday

He was an investment banker at Jefferies Financial Group's Dallas office

'Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we hope that Carter's memory is a blessing for them during this very sad time.'

McIntosh worked at Jefferies as an investment banking associate for the firm's team covering technology, media and telecommunications.

He joined the bank in September 2023, and had previously worked as an analyst at Moelis & Co until June 2023.

Before that he was an equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City until the Spring of 2021.

McIntosh graduated from Seton Hall University in New Jersey with a bachelor's degree in finance a few years earlier.

Following the news of his death, a first-year analyst took to the Wall Street Oasis forum to argue that the working culture at Jefferies 'has gotten out of hand,' claiming that the bank is 'horrible right now,' the New York Post reports.

'Hopefully someone does something to fix this,' the anonymous poster wrote.

'The firm's teams are stretched too thin, timelines are increasingly aggressive, and there's a very notable lack of consideration for junior employees' quality of life.

'My friends at other banks can't believe when they hear what's going on at Jefferies,' he claimed.

It is unclear why police responded to McIntosh's apartment that day, and a cause of death has not yet been listed - with the Dallas Police Department saying it is unknown at this time

Jefferies CEO Richard Handler and President Brian Friedman notified employees of McIntosh's death in an internal memo on Tuesday

Another banker also wrote that he worked with McIntosh and Moelis, calling him a 'friend' with a 'really great sense of humor.'

McIntosh's death comes less than a year after a former Green Beret passed away just one year into a grueling investment banking job at Bank of America, where associates said they worked 100-hour weeks that left them feeling sick.

Leo Lukenas III, 35, died of 'acute coronary artery thrombus' - a disease that causes the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel of the heart.

The father-of-two and former member of the Army's Special Forces joined the banking industry the summer before in an attempt to 'pursue new opportunities for his family,' according to his loved ones.

Lukenas' death prompted Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase to crack down on the number of hours junior bankers worked.

Bank of America said at the time it would introduce a timekeeping tool that requires employees to specify how their time is spent, and JPMorgan Chase said it would cap junior bankers' work hours at 80 per week - but with certain exceptions such as when there is a live deal.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Jefferies for comment.
Kristi Noem made a splash on social media for a glammed up raid on 'dirtbags' in New York City - earning her the nicknames 'ICE Barbie' and 'American Badass.'

The Homeland Security head posted a video on X as she joined ICE to oust immigrants of the streets of the Big Apple as part of Donald Trump's mass deportation plan.

'Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets,' said Noem, while sporting long flowing hair under her law enforcement cap.

In the early morning post on Monday, Noem showed footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting a man described as 'criminal alien with kidnapping, assault and burglary charges.'

While some on social media celebrated her efforts, one left-wing activist slammed Noem's presentation in the video, even accusing of her of having had botox.

'So Kristi Noem got her face puffed up with filler and Botox, underwent hours of hair extension attachments, hired professional make-up and hair, strapped on her customized bulletproof vest and filmed herself arresting your maid,' Heather Thompson wrote.

Several anti-Trump social media users responded to Thompson referring to Noem as 'ICE Barbie,' with some photoshopping graphics from the film onto one of the photos of Noem.

Liberal outlet The Daily Beast also couldn't help but comment on Noem's looks: 'Noem donned a bullet-proof vest and a cap with a police crestwhile still looking like shed stopped off at hair and make-upto pose alongside ICE and DEA agents, some of them carrying assault rifles.'

Kristi Noem has been attacked as 'ICE Barbie' by furious liberals after earning praised for her efforts to embed with those tasked to work on Donald Trump 's immigration crackdown

Early Tuesday, social media was lit ablaze with a tweet from the newly named head of Homeland Security. The post, published at 6:30am, showed footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting a man Noem described as 'criminal alien with kidnapping, assault and burglary charges', on the streets of New York City

DailyMail.com has reached out the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security for comment.

Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, is wanted for a host of charges out of Aurora, Colorado linked to the gang's takeover of multiple apartment complexes in the city last summer.

Sources told the New York Post Zambrano-Pacheco was apprehended when officers swooped on an Ogden Avenue apartment in the Bronx on Tuesday.

He is accused of being among those who were filmed breaking into an apartment last August in an incident which propelled the city into the national spotlight.

Three people were taken into custody including a man with an international warrant for homicide in the Dominican Republic, officials told CNN.

A source told DailyMail.com that the raids are part of an ongoing operation being carried out in every borough of the city.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem attended Tuesday's dawn raid and confirmed an an individual with kidnapping, assault and burglary charges was taken into custody.

She shared footage of the swoop on X and vowed to clamp down on 'dirtbags'.

Noem, who assumed the role the day before after serving as governor of South Dakota , further warned: 'Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets'

Several anti-Trump social media users responded to Thompson referring to Noem as 'ICE Barbie,' with some even photoshopping graphics from the film onto one of the photos of Noem

'Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets,' Noem wrote. 'We are doing this right - doing exactly what President Trump promised the American people - making our streets safe.'

Mayor Eric Adams was quick to assert the action was just business as usual.

'Early this morning  as it regularly does as part of a multi-agency task force  our city coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City,' he said on X.

A photo shared by the New York DEA showed them on the scene in the Fordham Heights area of the Bronx.

Officers have begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York as part of Trump's mass deportation scheme.

Sanctuary cities including the Big Apple have become a haven for migrants who flock to them in the knowledge that officials there limit cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Many have arrived by bus and plane from the southern border, with New York alone welcoming around 210,000 migrants in less than two years.

The president has since said he 'might have to consider' pulling funding to sanctuary cities, which include the likes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Trump, who ran on a mass deportation platform, has made immigration his first order of business since assuming office.
A Canadian mother and her son tragically died while vacationing in the Dominican Republic after suffering from severe food poisoning.

The Gougeon family traveled from their home in Toronto to Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort for a highly anticipated all-inclusive vacation just after Christmas in 2023.

But within 24 hours, the trip took a devastating turn when April, Stephen and their two children Oliver and Wesley became violently ill - allegedly from the food at the resort's buffet.

According to a $10 million lawsuit filed by Stephen on Monday, the family begged the resort for help, but were refused medical assistance until it was too late.

Stephen told CTV News: 'We were all throwing up. It progressed to a point where we had to try and seek medical attention.'

The grieving father said employees told him he and his family had to get themselves to the onsite medical clinic.

However, Stephen said the entire family was vomiting and were too sick to even make it to their hotel room's bathroom. After calling again, his cry for help was finally answered.

'We had to plead again with the medical center to send somebody because it was clear we werent getting better,' he revealed to CTV News.

From left to right, Oliver, April, Wesley and Stephen all became extremely ill after eating at their resort's buffet when they first arrived

The Toronto family pleaded for medical attention, but by the time they were helped it was too late, according to the lawsuit

The family was eventually taken to a local hospital, where April, 41, and Oliver, 8, passed away.

They died from secondary causes related to food poisoning, according to the coroner's report obtained by CTV News.

'Flying back home without April and Oliver sitting beside us as they had done just days earlier is indescribable,' Stephen said in a statement published by Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP.

'We planned this trip so our family could get some rest and relaxation. The thought that something like this could happen was the furthest thing from our minds.'

The lawsuit alleges the resort had unsanitary conditions in the areas where food was being prepared. It also references 'the absence of timely onsite medical evaluation and treatment, and the poor training of staff to identify and deal with emergencies.'

'We called asking for help. They did not take our call seriously, did not follow up on our request for medical help, and did not check in on us,' Stephen asserted.

'When they finally responded after our further plea, there appeared to be confusion about how to handle the situation. These delays cost precious time that could have been used to treat our illness. And in the end, it cost my wife and my son their lives.'

Legal action is being taken against the resort, booking company Transat Tours Canada, Air Transat Holidays and the on-site medical clinic Clinica Canela.

In December 2023, the Gougeon family from Toronto went to Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort (pictured) for a highly anticipated all-inclusive vacation just after Christmas

Oliver, 8, passed away shortly after arriving at the Dominican Republic hospital

Meghan Hull Jacquin, the attorney representing the Gougeon family, described the extent of this case's negligence as jarring.

She wrote in a statement: 'The Gougeon family was failed on so many levels. Tens of thousands of Canadians purchase these all-inclusive packages each year thinking a resort vacation is safe.'

Stephen said in the statement: 'We would give anything to have April and Oliver back with us.

'We know that can't happen. But if we are able to compel these companies to answer to their failings, maybe we will save other families from knowing the pain we felt and still feel every day.'

Hull told DailyMail.com that Stephen and his family are coming forward 13 months after April and Oliver's death to raise awareness to his situation and warn other families about this deadly possibility.

'They're just a regular family. They're a healthy family of four that purchased tickets to go to an all-inclusive resort. And within 24 hours two of them are gone,' she said.

'So he just wants to ensure that vacationers understand that there is a risk and hold the parties accountable for failing them.'

Wyndham Resort has not yet responded to the claims alleged in the lawsuit.

April, 41, was a lawyer and a scholarship has been created to honor her and he son's lives

A Transat spokesperson addressed the situation in an email to CTV News, writing: 'We choose our suppliers with great care, and the hotel operator has assured us of its full cooperation with the authorities in shedding light on these tragic deaths.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the resort and Transat for comment.

April, who was a lawyer, and Oliver have been commemorated through the April Gougeon Award in Law, a scholarship at Queen's University in Ontario that supports law students based on financial need and academic achievement.

In a message shared on Linkedin, Stephen - who is also a lawyer - explained: 'Having April's name permanently enshrined in an award is one way I can keep her memory alive and allows her name to continue to help people.
A home security camera has captured the moment a young woman allegedly swiped a package from her neighbour's porch in broad daylight.

Footage shared by Hawkesbury City Councillor Nathan Zamprogno appears to show the woman, 24, dressed in activewear as she slides into the property's front yard.

She then walks up to the porch and grabs a white delivery parcel from behind a pot plant and walks back out to the street.

Mr Zamprogno said the woman allegedly stole a pair of sunglasses along with the parcel.

The councillor said one of his constituents gave him the footage and he was 'happy to give a wider circulation'.

The following day he received a call from a local who recognised the woman in the footage and police were contacted.

'At our Australia Day celebrations I was speaking to Superintendent Nadine from Hawkesbury Police Area Command and was very pleased to hear that two arrests have been made, for this and for and an aggravated break-and-enter at another premises in Richmond,' Mr Zamprogno wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

'This is a very welcome outcome, and it came as a result of the hard work of the police and the vigilance of our community.'

A home security camera has captured the moment a young woman allegedly stole a package delivery from her neighbour's porch in broad daylight

The woman was dressed in activewear and slides when she was captured on CCTV

NSW Police said a 24-year-old woman has been charged with aggravated break-and-enter and stealing a parcel worth $170.

The woman was granted conditional bail and will front Windsor Local Court on Wednesday.

Package thefts have become a growing problem with the rise of online shopping, and not just by porch pirates.

In September last year, an Australia Post contractor allegedly stole more than $6,000 worth of iPhone 16s from a mail consignment.

Police arrested the 34-year-old man in Forbes, in central New South Wales, and charged him in Parkes Police Station.

The man allegedly took the consignment from the Parkes post office and put the package in his own delivery van.

Australia Post was later alerted that one of the phones  which were not yet due for release - was activated for use.

The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max were all being released days later.

Investigations led police to Forbes, where they stopped the delivery van and arrested the 34-year-old man.
Ivanka Trump helped distribute relief aid in Los Angeles on Tuesday and met with families who lost everything in the devastating wildfires.

Dressed casually in jeans, a denim shirt and sneakers, the first daughter helped hand out diapers, basic essentials, fresh produce and home goods to families in need.

Trump joined CityServe, a group she has volunteered with going back to the days of the first Donald Trump administration, in the charity visit to the the Los Angeles Dream Center.

The center has been leading a massive collection and donation effort.

Matthew Barnett, the head of the center, said in a social media post that Ivanka spent more than an hour meeting with three different families and then stayed to pass out boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables.

'It's amazing what work you're doing here to support the community,' Ivanka said in the video.

Ivanka Trump visited the Dream Center in Los Angeles Tuesday morning

Ivanka Trump meets with family's affected by the wildfires

Ivanka Trump's work with CityServe included supporting those who suffered in the fires in Maui, Hawaii and from hurricanes in North Carolina. She also worked with them to help refugees from the Ukraine.

The California wildfires killed at least 29 people and torched more than 16,000 buildings, including homes, stores and schools. They've caused billions in property damage.

Recovery efforts in the mixed-income community of Altadena and the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood are expected to take time.

The federal government, California state legislature and county is involved in funding efforts.

Additionally, Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped Magic Johnson, Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter and 2028 Olympics organizer Casey Wasserman to lead a new private-sector initiative to support the wildfire recovery efforts.

Ivanka's visit to the West Coast follows one made by President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Friday.

The first couple received an aerial tour of the devastation, met with families and local officials.

President Trump also clashed with the city's Democratic mayor and a liberal lawmaker over how to go about building thousands of home. He has threatened to withhold federal aid and made the controversial claim he turned the water back on (it's unclear that it was ever off).

Ivanka Trump spent several hours meeting with families and handing out donations

Ivanka Trump helps serve meals

The first daughter was visiting as part of her work with the charity group CityServe

Casually dressed, Ivanka was there to meet with families who lost everything in the fires

Ivanka poses for a photo

The first daughter is not rejoining the White House and has made it clear she's staying far out of politics.

But she said she'll be an emotional support to her father and intends to stay involved in her charity work.

She, husband Jared Kushner and their five children journeyed from their Miami home to Washington D.C. to see Donald Trump be sworn in for his second term last week.

Ivanka stood front and center while her father took the oath of office on January 20th.

Later that night, she and Jared danced with other family members at several inaugural balls.

Ivanka stunned in a custom recreation of an iconic 1954 couture gown worn by Audrey Hepburn.

The mother-of-three opted for an elegant, strapless white gown that contained a long flowing skirt and intricate black floral detailing.

The dress was a recreation of a Hubert de Givenchys 1954 Haute Couture black-and-white gown that was originally designed for Audrey in the film Sabrina.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Sky News host Peta Credlin has dressed down a male colleague live on air, accusing him of insulting the intelligence of women.

Credlin grew increasingly exasperated with the network's political editor Andrew Clennell on Tuesday evening, after he said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had to bring in some 'women friendly policies' in order to pave his way to The Lodge.

'What's a "women's friendly policy" mate?' a visibly unimpressed Credlin said. 'Do you think we don't care about the economy? We don't care about defence?'

Clennell replied: 'I'm not a woman.

'But I'm saying if (Dutton) went for that constituency, if he did a couple of things in that area, and I remember Gladys Berejiklian did that sort of thing.'

That comment only made Credlin more incensed.

'You insult our intelligence to think we don't care about these things,' she said.

'Well of course they do, but people vote with the hip pocket - there is a sense amongst women ...' Clennell continued before a finger-pointing Credlin interrupted that women 'do not vote with our vaginas'.

Peta Credlin was less than impressed when her Sky News colleague Andrew Clennell suggested Opposition Leader Peter Dutton needed 'women friendly' policies to win government

'Well, you're the one who's asking me about a gender difference, Peta, I mean, you raised it,' Clennell retorted.

'Well... I'm asking you about what can you read in it, and you're saying that he's got to have women's policies to win women,' Peta responded. 'I find that offensive.'

Clennell responded: 'What's your suggestion for winning over women for Peter Dutton, Peta?'

'I think it's about the personality, it's about the warmth, it's about women feeling they can understand the bloke,' she said.

'It's not about policies with a pink cover sheet.'

Clennell at times showed his discomfort during the confrontational exchange with Credlin

Polling shows Peter Dutton (pictured besides wife Kirilly Dutton) has less appeal to female voters in some age groups

For a moment both sat in silence - Clennell with a type of bemused grin.

'Well it's something governments do from time to time,' Clennell eventually said.

'Anyway you're a bloke, I'm a woman, we'll see, we'll see,' Credlin said before politely ending the discussion.

Credlin was the former chief of staff to Tony Abbott when he was prime minister and minister for women.

Analysis of the last three Australian Financial Review/Freshwater Strategy opinion polls found that 37 per cent of young male voters aged between 18 and 34 prefer Mr Dutton as prime minister, compared with 27 per cent of women the same age.

The gender split continued into older age groups with 44 per cent of men aged between 34 and 55 years preferring Mr Dutton, compared to 34 per cent of women.

Freshwater director Michael Turner told the Australian Financial Review this could reflect different gender priorities.

'While young women are significantly more likely to prioritise government services, prosperity is a major focus for younger men, with a clear majority (59 per cent) choosing job security, economic management, and taxes as a priority for the federal government right now,' Dr Turner said.

'What's more, young men are clearly responding to the engagement, as they are now significantly more likely to rate Dutton and the Coalition as best to manage the economy and government taxes.'
Newly unemployed Jim Acosta appeared to know his days were numbered at CNN weeks before announcing he'd refused a demotion to midnight.

Acosta has announced his new career move after revealing that he would be leaving CNN in a tantrum on Tuesday.

The anchor announced that he launched a brand-new Substack - just hours after making his final on-air broadcast with the legacy media outlet.

It appears that the new venture - which he is calling 'The Jim Acosta Show' - has been in the works since at least January 16, which is when the first post on the Substack is dated.

The post comes just one day after former CNN staffer Oliver Darcy broke the news of Acosta's possible move to midnight in his Status newsletter.

It comes with a headline of 'Coming Soon' and the copy reads only: 'This is The Jim Acosta Show.'

The newly announced Substack, meanwhile, will see him rub shoulders with others who have left their respective legacy news stations for more autonomy, including Darcy.

Darcy's success with a newsletter format shows a shifting landscape in terms of news - one CEO Mark Thompson has seemingly caught wind of upon airing his intent to shift CNN's operations to being more digital-based last week.

Newly unemployed Jim Acosta appeared to know his days were numbered at CNN weeks before announcing he'd refused a demotion to midnight

Acosta has announced his new career move after revealing that he would be leaving CNN in a tantrum on Tuesday

'Welcome to my new venture,' Acosta told more than two million followers on X, while repeating a warning he delivered during his final broadcast.

The video was published shortly after two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times the journalist was already pondering his next steps, including a potential launch of his own journalistic enterprise.

Hours before, the anchor engaged in a very public split from the station, taking shots at Donald Trump in the process. Acosta framed his old enemy as 'a tyrant', after devoting much of the hour to report on his recent moves.

Trump was thrilled, decrying Acosta as a 'major loser' in a Truth Social post after reports surfaced about his decision to leave.

'Wow, really good news!' he wrote on social media. 'Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, Death Valley, because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!)."

Acosta reportedly was losing his morning show in the latest CNN revamp, with the idea of getting moved to a midnight shift.

Trump indicated he had little faith in Acosta's talent, after the famous CNN figure announced he would make his future known at a later date.

"Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better,' he wrote. 'Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!'

It appears that the new venture - which he is calling 'The Jim Acosta Show' - has been in the works since at least January 16, which is when the first post on the Substack is dated

U.S. President Donald Trump answers a question from Jim Acosta of CNN during a press conference

Acosta gave a dramatic farewell message to viewers on Tuesday, revealing that the highlight of his career as a journalist was when he asked Raul Castro at a joint press conference with former President Barack Obama.

He indicated that Trump was a 'tyrant' as he delivered his closing missive to viewers.

'My closing message: Its never a good time to bow down to a tyrant dont give in to the lies. Dont give in to fear. Hold on to the truth and hope,' he said.

Acosta clashed frequently with Trump during his his first term, even as the president mocked him and his network as 'fake news.'

The most contentious moment of his White House career was when he stubbornly refused to release a microphone to a Trump staffer during a press conference in November.

'CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN,' the president said to Acosta, accusing him of being 'horrible' to people in his staff.

The White House revoked Acosta's press pass after the contentious exchange but a subsequent lawsuit and a decision from a federal judge sided with CNN, allowing his credentials to be restored.

Trump supporters frequently mocked Acosta on the campaign trail repeatedly shouting that 'CNN sucks' and accusing him of being 'fake news.'

During an October 2020 rally, a masked Acosta shot back at Trump supporters during a live report.

'As this crowd is chanting that there are members of the press here who suck, I should also point out  what also sucks: getting the coronavirus,' he said.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday banned federal funding for transgender sex-changes for minors, adding to his ongoing flood of executive orders after taking office.

The president signed an executive order condemning the practice of sex transition surgeries for minors, noting that 'countless' children regretted the surgeries that 'mutilated' and trapped them into fighting 'a losing war with their own bodies.'

'it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures,' the executive order from Trump read.

The president is acting quickly to roll back efforts by the Biden administration to extend federal benefits for children

The White House noted in a memo that four out of five children outgrew feelings of gender dysphoria, without costly and irreversible surgeries they later learned to regret.

Prior to taking office, Trump promised that on 'Day one' of his administration that he would end the 'transgender lunacy' in the federal government.

''The left-wing gender insanity being pushed in our children is an act of child abuse,' Trump said in a campaign video vowing to 'revoke Joe Biden's cruel policies on so-called gender-affirming care.'

The order applies to any individual under the age of 19 and blocks any use of 'chemical and surgical' use of puberty blockers or any other efforts to remove or alter a person's physical appearance to help them identify as the opposite sex of their birth.

President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office after signing executive orders at the White House

Trump also ordered the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review and publish updated 'best practices' for children suffering from 'gender dysphoria.'

The order directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to defund institution receiving federal grants that support gender surgeries. It also orders Department of Defense health insurance through Tricare to prevent coverage of 'chemical and surgical mutilation of children.'

Trump campaigned on the issue of ending transgender sex-changer surgeries, calling it an issue of common sense.

'It's going on ... pushing transgender ideology on minor children,' Trump said during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. in October. 'How about that one? Your child goes to school and they take your child. It was a he and comes back a she. And they do this. Often, without parental consent.'

The Biden administration made transgender surgeries for minors a moment of moral clarity, condemning state level bills that outlawed transgender surgeries for minors.

President Joe Biden speaks before signing an executive order to improve government services, in the Oval Office of the White House,

Protesters show support for the trans community during Transgender Day of Visibility

'Transgender people are some of the bravest people in our nation. But nobody should have to be brave just to be themselves,' a document released by the Biden White House read in April 2022.

Biden also decried state efforts in states like Florida and Tennessee to ban surgeries for minors as 'close to sinful' and cruel.'

'Whats going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. Its just terrible what theyre doing, Biden said during a 2023 interview with Kal Penn for The Daily Show.

For the latest White House gossip and news, listen to the Daily Mail's new politics podcast, Welcome to MAGAland. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
The public has been warned not to approach a man who escaped from a NSW jail early on Wednesday morning.

David Johnson, 44, escaped from a minimum security correctional facility in South Nowra, 173km south of Sydney.

Johnson was last seen on The Links Road at about 7.45am and the police are appealing for information to help find him.

He is described as being white, about 185cm (6'1") tall, with a medium build, brown hair, blue eyes and a goatee-style beard.

When last seen, he was wearing a black bomber jacket, hi-vis shirt and black trackpants.

Anyone who sees Johnson is urged not to approach him but to call 000 immediately.

The public has been warned not to approach David Johnson (pictured) who escaped from a NSW jail early on Wednesday morning
Staff on a mental health ward where a mother-of-two tried to kill herself with a ligature could have committed a 'grave error' and 'missed' or 'allowed' the item into the unit, an inquest has heard.

Personal trainer Michelle Sparman, 48, from Battersea, in south-west London, died days after apparently trying to take her own life at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, where she was a voluntary in-patient in Rose Ward, a locked 20-bed female-only mental health unit.

Ms Sparman was admitted to the ward after taking an overdose and harming herself, which saw her being rushed to A&E at Chelsea and Westminster hospital on August 21, 2021.

On entering Rose Ward, she was put in the 'red' or 'danger zone' category for 72 hours while staff got to know her and was supposed to be searched for any items that could harm her or others and observed four times an hour.

But on August 24, Ms Sparman, who was a part-time call dispatcher for the Met Police, was found by ward staff on the floor of her shower room with a ligature around her neck. She died at Kingston hospital four days later.

An inquest into her death at Inner West London Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday how there was no record of Ms Sparman or any other patient being allowed access to the item, with a coroner blasting the ward's 'sub-optimal' record-keeping.

Dr Rose Mbah-Maduabueke, a ward psychiatrist who assessed Ms Sparman, said patients would be searched in an 'airlock' before coming onto the ward and items found that could be used to hurt themselves or others would be removed and stored or returned to relatives.

But ward manager Meredith Kuleshnyk said that once a patient and their belongings were searched, they could keep certain items if staff deemed it safe in in their individual written risk assessments.

Personal trainer Michelle Sparman (pictured), 48, from Battersea, in south-west London, died days after apparently trying to take her own life at Queen Mary's hospital in Roehampton

Ms Sparman was admitted to the ward after taking an overdose and harming herself, which saw her being rushed to A&E at Chelsea and Westminster hospital

If a patient was allowed to keep an item, it would be noted on their individual record but not in a centralised place, the manager said.

Quizzed by coroner Bernard Richmond KC about the 'conundrum' of how the ligature came onto the ward, Ms Kuleshnyk admitted she could still not account for how the item arrived there, as she did not believe any patients had them.

But she admitted that 'if someone wanted to hide something, it's possible in any environment, even a prison' and suggested if Ms Sparman was wearing a 'big baggy jumper' it could have been missed.

Ms Kuleshnyk, a nurse who managed the ward since 2013, insisted there are 'different level of searches' on the ward and that if an item was 'was covered up, you might not see it, it's not necessarily a case of someone not doing their job properly'.

Ms Kuleshnyk insisted it was 'unlikely' there could be such items on her ward that she didn't know about and that there were 'very robust' search procedures in places.

But the coroner fired back: 'When it came to Michelle Sparman, your search procedures couldn't be less robust could they.'

She replied in the aftermath of the 'tragic incident', there had been 'learning' including more staff training around searches and the provision of a search room.

Ms Kuleshnyk said she questioned staff about the circumstances surrounding the incident and Ms Sparman's care, but admitted there had been no formal investigation or disciplinary action taken against any staff.

Assistant coroner Richmond pressed: 'You've got a ward you're in charge of where someone has hanged themselves and you can't say how it's happened?

Pictured: Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, London where Ms Sparman died

'Aren't you metaphorically climbing the ceiling, working out how this happened?

'So just having a word with staff isn't going to cut it is it, there needs to be an investigation.'

She replied: 'We explored it, but we didn't hit an outcome, we didn't get any answers.'

The coroner asked her: 'Is there not the potential that someone has committed a very grave error?

'You have got to consider the possibility one member of your staff has somehow allowed [it] in that should not have been there.'

Roger Stephens, Ms Sparman's ex-partner, previously told how the mother-of-two had tried to harm herself repeatedly on a walk with him outside the ward, which he said he told nurses about on their return.

Ward nurse Catherine Mhlanga said she and her colleagues would have acted if they had known about the ligature or had been told about Ms Sparman's attempts to hurt herself while her on walk with her ex Mr Stephens.

Earlier, Dr Mbah-Maduabueke told the inquest Ms Sparman had told how she initiated the split from Mr Stephens and that he had bombarded with a mixture of 'angry' messages before switching them to say he loved her.

She said Ms Sparman confided that although Mr Stephens had been looking after their young sons and it was hard to say 'negative' things about him, he could be 'manipulative, he will say one thing and do something else' and that she did not want to reunite with him.

An inquest into Ms Sparman's death was held at Inner West London Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday

She said the mother-of-two told her: 'He would send messages like "You have ruined my life" because she ended the relationship and he was unemployed.'

Ms Sparman's brother, Shaun Case, previously told the inquest that she broke up with Mr Stephens after he allegedly lied about his whereabouts on a work trip and meeting another woman, but was 'bullied' into staying with him after he 'bombarded' her with texts about her mental capacity, fitness to be a mother, and the effect on him.

Mr Case said he was 'shocked' by the messages and remembered Michelle speaking about anxiety, sleeplessness, and her fear of 'unpredictable' Mr Stephens turning up at her flat.

Giving his evidence, Mr Stephens conceded sending too many texts, making Michelle's life 'very difficult', and putting stress on her, but also insisted he 'absolutely' loved her and blamed her mental health issues on hormone changes.

Jennifer MacLeod, legal counsel for Ms Sparman's family, indicated she would take instruction on whether they would be seeking a finding of 'neglect' ahead of the coroner's conclusion later this week.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
A popular wedding venue and several other buildings have been destroyed as uncontrolled bushfires rage in Victoria's west.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling three uncontrolled bushfires, one threatening Dimboola and Wail on the edge of the Little Desert National Park, and two in the Grampians National Park about 50km to the south.

The Dimboola fire, ignited by lightning in the Little Desert on Monday, has rapidly expanded to over 65,000 hectares.

Moving at a frightening pace, it left residents of the township of 1,500 people with only minutes to gather their belongings and evacuate.

The Little Desert Nature Lodge, which is a wedding and function venue, was destroyed in the blaze.

'The lodge just exploded, it's totally gone,' Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay said.

'It's very sad, it was a great venue for people of the area.'

Mr Nugent confirmed a farmhouse west of Dimboola was also destroyed, and another near a river may have been damaged.

Wedding and conference centre Little Desert Nature Lodge was destroyed in the Dimboola blaze (pictured)

The fire near Dimboola spread rapidly, with residents given just minutes to leave their homes

Residents were told to evacuate as the fire reached the outskirts of town but some at Dimboola District Hospital and the town's aged care facility couldn't get out in time.

About 190 people and their pets took refuge at a makeshift relief centre 40km away in Horsham, with 27 staying overnight.

The fire was downgraded to watch and act on Tuesday afternoon.

However very hot temperatures forecast for this weekend and into next week have firefighters on the alert.

'I'm incredibly thankful that no lives have been lost from this fire, and we have no reports of injuries either,' Emergency Management commissioner Rick Nugent told reporters at the State Control Centre in Melbourne.

Dimboola resident and Hindmarsh Shire Council deputy mayor Chan Uoy said the smell of smoke lingered in the town as he and other locals returned home on Tuesday afternoon.

He had just 30 minutes' notice to evacuate late on Monday in hot, dry winds and smoke haze.

'The wind was vicious, it was hot, it was ominous.

'It's like this massive cloud covering following you, it's quite dramatic.'

At the relief centre in Horsham, municipal recovery manager Mandi Stewart said locals were very relieved the fire wasn't more severe.

Pictured is an aerial view of the fire at the Little Desert National Park

Aussies in Dimboola (pictured) were told to take shelter as bushfires raged

'It looked fairly bad,' Ms Stewart said.

'The towns been pretty all right, there's one area sort of on the south of the town that there's still no access to.'

Little Desert National Park and Wail State Forest remain closed and the rain line between Victoria and SA has been suspended.

A second emergency warning issued for Strachans, Victoria Point and Victoria Valley in the south western part of Grampians National Park has been downgraded to watch and act.

Hours later, watch and act alerts were issued for a blaze at the Wallaby Rocks Road area near Zumsteins in the park's north affecting Brimpaen, Laharum, Wartook, Cranage, Zumsteins and Glenisla Crossing.

The fires are in the remote areas not scorched by fires earlier this summer.

'It's incredibly dry in there,' Mr Nugent said.

These pictures just show how serious the situation is in Dimboola in Victoria's north-west

It took 21 days to bring fires in the Grampians, sparked on December 17, under control.

Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said the fires would present a 'similar scenario' as a cool change gave way to gusty conditions.

'The Grampians fire will be a real challenge for the coming days and potentially weeks,' he said.

Premier Jacinta Allan said there were up to 150 fires across the state as high heat and winds brought dangerous conditions and fire bans.
Labour suffered its first Parliamentary defeat in government last night as peers backed reforms to stop big tech firms ignoring copyright rules when training AI systems.

Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron had tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill to make it clear that the data-gatherer tools used by tech firms should stick to UK copyright law.

Backed by the recently formed Creative Rights In AI Coalition, whose members include the Publishers Association, UK Music, the Motion Picture Association and DMG Media, which owns the Daily Mail, her amendments sought to counter the widespread theft of data by AI firms which use it as raw material for their products without crediting the source.

Last night peers voted 145 to 126 in favour of a package of amendments to the Bill. Baroness Kidron said her measures would record when, where and how intellectual property is taken and, crucially, allow creators to understand what has been taken so they can seek redress.

She added that hundreds of organisations and many individual rights holders are watching... to see what this House will do in the face of a Government proposal that will transfer their hard-earned property to another sector without compensation, and with it their possibility of a creative life, or a creative life for the next generation.

The peer went on: The Government are doing this not because the current law does not protect intellectual property rights, nor because they do not understand the devastation it will cause, but because they are hooked on the delusion that the UKs best interests and economic future align with those of Silicon Valley.

Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill which clarify that 'web-crawlers' and 'data-gatherers' should stick to UK copyright law

Peers voted 145 to 126, majority 19, in favour of a package of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill

She said the failure to defend the property rights of citizens and wealth creators is bewildering.

Her amendments were backed by Sir Elton John and Paul McCartney. Sir Elton said last week: The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over traditional copyright laws.

This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists work to train their AI and create competing music.

Owen Meredith, head of the News Media Association trade body, said the vote was a warning to Government against ill-judged plans to weaken our gold-standard copyright regime and hand over copyrighted material carte blanche to AI firms.
In the film Valiant pigeons flock together to deliver vital messages to the frontlines.

The 2005 animation saw a band of unlikely airborne heroes unite to aid the D-Day landings by bringing information back to Allied Headquarters.

And now a medal awarded to one of the pigeons which inspired the film, has gone on sale for 10,000 at the Laidlaw Auctioneers of Carlisle, Cumbria.

Tommy was awarded the Dickin Medal for delivering a vital message from the Dutch Resistance containing the location of a German arms factory which was then bombed.

The blue cock pigeon was blown of course while taking part in a race from Dorset to Cumbria in 1942 and found himself in Holland.

A postman handed him over to the resistance fighter Dick Drijver, who placed a coded message reading: 'God bless Queen Wilhelmina and long live Winston Churchill' in a container attached to his leg.

Tommy was awarded the Dickin Medal for delivering a vital message from the Dutch Resistance containing the location of a German arms factory which was then bombed. Pictured: Major General JW Van Oorschot,left, with his owner, right, William Brockbank in 1946

Rhe blue cock pigeon was blown of course while taking part in a race from Dorset to Cumbria in 1942 and found himself in Holland

A medal awarded to Tommy has gone on sale for 10,000 at the Laidlaw Auctioneers of Carlisle, Cumbria

Tommy flew to Britain carrying the secret information, but during his 400-mile journey back to his owner William Brockbank, one of his wings was hit by a German sniper's bullet.

Undeterred Tommy battled on reaching home shores and the RAF used the message he was carrying to plan a successful bombing raid at the German munitions factory.

In 1946, he was awarded the Dickin Medal, which is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, as well as a Dutch medal for valour.

Animals were first awarded the medal in 1943 after Maria Dickin, who set up the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, suggested the idea.

To date the Dickin Medal has been awarded 75 times, to 38 dogs, 32 World War Two messenger pigeons, four horses and one cat.

Animals were first awarded the medal in 1943 after Maria Dickin, who set up the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, suggested the idea

Tommy pictured with Dutch resistance member and pigeon fancier Dick Dryver

The 2005 animation Valiant took inspiration from pigeons like Tommy

The most recent Dickin Medal was given to a dog called Bass in January 2023.

During a firefight in Afghanistan, he identified five improvised explosive devices, which were then deactivated by soldiers, preventing the loss of life.

One of the earliest recipients of the medal was the pigeon White Vision, who flew for nine hours in October 1942, to rescue 11 crewmen who were stranded in sea off the Hebrides.

In December, the Dickin medal presented to Antis the Alsatian, sold for 60,000.
Thousands of ICE officers have been dispatched to the San Diego border crossing as they prepare to take '100,000 immigrants' back to Mexico and Central America in one of the biggest migrant raids in recent times.

Marines have already descended on the area in an attempt to secure the crossing as President Trump ramped up his promise of cracking down on illegal immigration.

Around 1,500 active duty troops were deployed to the nearly 2,000-mile border this week, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California.

DailyMail.com can now reveal that they have been joined with what has been described as a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP'.

A White House intelligence source said: 'There is a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP in front of Camp Pendleton right now, ready to do the biggest illegal immigrant grab in recent history.

'The West Coast is this week and the East Coast is next week. It is about to get crazy in California. They need to fill 100,000 spots', meaning arrests is the directive.

The source continued: 'They are going to be taking 100,000 immigrants back to Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala in this grab.'

Border czar Tom Homan says he is not satisfied with the pace of migrant deportations - despite ICE's 'unprecedented' number of arrests - and claims the US needs to 'open the aperture up' and carry out 'more deportations'.

Marines have already descended on the area in an attempt to secure the crossing as President Trump ramped up his promise of cracking down on illegal immigration. An aerial shot of Camp Pendleton is seen here

U.S. Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire as they re-enforce the border wall, January 25, 2025

Migrants deplane a U.S. military aircraft after it landed in Guatemala on January 24, 2025

The Pentagon expects additional troops to be ordered to deploy in the next few days as defense and homeland security leaders iron out requests for more support.

It was also announced on Tuesday that the military would allow ICE to use Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado to detain migrants.

The US military's Northern Command said in a statement it started providing facilities at Buckley to ICE starting on Monday.

Buckley Space Force Base is located in the city of Aurora, a Denver suburb, which figured prominently during Trump's presidential campaign last year.

Trump said that apartment complexes in Aurora had been taken over by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was refuted by city officials.

During a campaign event there in October, Trump pledged to launch an Operation Aurora targeting gang members

Immigration arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, according to ICE, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024. But Homan says America needs to carry out 'more deportations' of illegal migrants.

'It was a great start. The first week was unprecedented,' he told Fox News' Jesse Watters of efforts so far, hailing how under Trump's new policies, illegal border crossings have dropped from '10,000 a day to under 600'.

'It's great, it's good, but we're not finished and we need more deportations,' Homan said, adding: 'A lot more deportations and that's what we're working on.'

The border czar's remark comes just days after he vowed that numbers of daily deportations and arrests will 'steadily increase' as they ramp up efforts to curb illegal immigration.

Around 1,500 active duty troops were deployed to the nearly 2,000-mile border this week, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California

The Pentagon expects additional troops to be ordered to deploy in the next few days as defense and homeland security leaders iron out requests for more support. Pictured are US Marines at the San Diego border crossing

A White House intelligence source said: 'There is a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP in front of Camp Pendleton right now, ready to do the biggest illegal immigrant grab in recent history.' Pictured are Marines at the border crossing

ICE officers have already begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York. Pictured are agents in NYC

Sanctuary cities including the Big Apple have become a haven for migrants who flock to them in the knowledge that officials there limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. Pictured are agents in NYC

ICE officers have already begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York.

Sanctuary cities including the Big Apple have become a haven for migrants who flock to them in the knowledge that officials there limit cooperation with federal immigration agents.

The president has since said he 'might have to consider' pulling funding to sanctuary cities, which include the likes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Trump, who ran on a mass deportation platform, has made immigration his first order of business since assuming office.

ICE agents have arrested more than 3,500 people since the inauguration last Monday, Axios reports.

On Friday, a senior official in the Trump administration revealed exclusive deportation and detainment data with DailyMail.com, including chilling details of dangerous criminals that were previously walking the streets freely.

Among the worst of the worst to be picked up by ICE on Friday included Cesar Augusto Polanco, 59, a Dominican Republican national who was living free in Boston despite a criminal conviction for second-degree murder.

Almost 5,000 Homeland Security and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers have been deployed by the Trump administration to carry out raids.

The raids have sparked fear in migrant communities, especially since Trump signed an executive order which will now permit raids in the likes of schools and churches.

Trump, who ran on a mass deportation platform , has made immigration his first order of business since assuming office

Immigration arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, according to ICE, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024

Many migrants are said to be in hiding, turning usually crowded factories, warehouses and grocery stores into ghost towns.

Frightened undocumented migrants began hunkering down after Trump took office for the second time last week, with dozens failing to turn up to work.

Trump ordered each of ICE's field offices to make 75 arrests per day and managers would be held accountable for missing those targets.

ICE insiders told the Washington Post they are concerned that the quotas make it more likely that agents will 'engage in more indiscriminate enforcement tactics or face accusations of civil rights violations.'

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly told the outlet, 'your story is false,' but did not elaborate.

The operations are being overseen by Trump's hardline border Czar Tom Homan.

He justified relaxing rules governing enforcement actions at 'sensitive' locations such as schools, churches and workplaces, saying it sends a clear message to illegal immigrants.

ICE agents are seen conducting arrests in San Diego, California

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conduct an arrest as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's wide-ranging immigration crackdown in Chicago, Illinois

'There are consequences of entering the country illegally. If we don't show there are consequences, you're never going to fix the border problem,' Homan, who was on the ground in Chicago this weekend to oversee the bolstered ICE plans, told ABC News.

However, the move was criticized by Catholic Charities USA which called for 'dignity' in dealing with the border crisis.

'We recognize the need for just immigration enforcement and affirm the governments obligation to carry it out in a targeted, proportional, and humane way,' the organization wrote.

'However, non-emergency immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, social service agencies, healthcare facilities, or other sensitive settings where people receive essential services would be contrary to the common good.

'All people have a right to fulfill their duty to God without fear.'
A majority of people say the UK should bring back the death penalty, according to a new poll.

The support behind reintroducing capital punishment is mostly being driven by millennials - born in the late 1980s to mid 1990s - with three in five (58 per cent) backing the idea, with a quarter (27 per cent) against.

The survey, carried out by public opinion think tank More in Common, showed Britons backed the use of the death penalty for heinous crimes such as serial murder and deadly terrorist attacks.

Some 56 per cent were in favour of rapists facing capital punishment, too.

Public support had increased since More in Common last carried out the poll in autumn 2023 from 50 to 55 per cent, reported The Times.

The new poll was carried out after there were debates about whether it should be brought back following the sentencing of triple child-killer Axel Rudakubana.

The murderer avoided a whole life sentence as he was aged 17 when he carrier out his sick stabbing spree in which he killed little Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

Rudakubana, 18, began a 52-year sentence last week at one of Britain's most notorious prisons, Belmarsh in south-east London, where he was placed in isolation for his own safety.

The new poll was carried out after there were debates about whether the death penealty should be brought back following the sentencing of triple child-killer Axel Rudakubana (pictured)

A view of the death chamber from the witness room at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility shows an electric chair and gurney August 29, 2001 in Lucasville, Ohio

He was convicted of murdering three girls and ten counts of attempted murder.

Luke Tryl, executive director at More in Common, told The Times: 'If the terrible crimes committed in Southport trigger a national debate about the death penalty then the public's starting point will be one of support for its reintroduction.

'Overall, 55 per cent of Britons say the death penalty should be reintroduced for certain crimes  but asked about acts of terrorism or serial murder, support then rises even further to 70 per cent.

'While it seems unlikely this government will reopen the debate, it will have to work harder to convince people that existing sentences for terrorists and murders really are tough enough, and that killers like Axel Rudakubana will never be set free.'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been openly vocal about being against the death penalty.

During his career as a barrister he was called to the bar in several Caribbean countries where he defended convicts sentenced to death.

In 2018, while Brexit shadow secretary, flew to Taiwan to lobby against the punishment. He was previously director of The Death Penalty Project - a campaign group that provides free legal representation to individuals facing the death penalty.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The government has no plans to bring back capital punishment. Parliament abolished the death penalty more than 50 years ago, and in free votes has consistently voted against it being restored in recent decades.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured January 28, 2025) has been openly vocal about being against the death penalty

'In 1998, parliament made clear in a free vote that it was opposed to the death penalty for all offences.'

The 1965 Murder Act abolished the death penalty for murder in the UK and it was abolished for all crimes in 1998. The last executions were by hanging and took place in 1964.

Meanwhile, a survey of 2,016 adults by More in Common found a majority support banning under-16s from social media, reported The Telegraph.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch revealed last week she refuses to allow her child to have a smartphone and would ban them for under-16s.

She has given a 'brick' phone to her 11-year-old daughter who had had just started secondary school.

Ms Badenoch told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: 'We need to give our children the very best start in life.

'We didn't have these things when we were young and even as adults we find it addictive. If adults are addicted to this, then what chance do children have?'

Ms Badenoch added that teachers had told her that children who have smartphones had lower levels of concentration than children who didn't.

'I am someone who strongly believes that young people should not be using smartphones, ideally up until the age of 16,' she said.

'I have a child who's nearly 12, she's just started secondary school, she's not been given a smartphone, she has a brick phone.

'And the reason why is because it is very difficult to control the sorts of information that they are getting.'
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor who was fired for shooting porn with his wife has filed a lawsuit to fight for his job back.

Joe Gow has claimed that his first amendment rights were violated when he was removed from his position by the UW Board of Regents in December 2023.

After losing his position as chancellor, Gow was still a tenured communications professor and placed on paid leave until September 2024, when the board officially fired him.

Gow said interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan sent him a report accusing him of producing pornography using university technology as well as 'unethical and potentially illegal behavior.'

On Monday, Gow filed the lawsuit against the board in a bid to get back in the classroom. He is demanding to be reinstated as a professor and wants lost wages and damages.

'It's having the system do the right thing. And the university do the right thing and put me back in the classroom,' Gow told WXOW.

'You know this really is a first amendment case because why they fired me from a tenured faculty was because they didn't like the books and videos my wife and I made on our own time.'

Gow has claimed that the material he creates with his wife Carmen Wilson - under the name 'Sexy Happy Couple' - is not illegal or distasteful.

Joe Gow has claimed that his first amendment rights were violated when he was removed from his position in December 2023

Gow has claimed that the material he creates with his wife Carmen Wilson - under the name 'Sexy Happy Couple' - is not illegal or distasteful

Gow came under fire when invited porn star Nina Hartley (pictured right) to speak at the university and paid her $5,000

The day the lawsuit was filed was also the first day of classes for the spring semester.

He said to News8Now on Monday: 'According to the plan I had made with President Rothman before all the controversy, I would have been going back to the classroom today.

'So it's very fitting that we're filing this lawsuit to try and get my back into the classroom because I really miss teaching, I have a lot to offer and this just isn't right.'

Universities of Wisconsin spokesperson Mark Pitsch declined to comment on the lawsuit because it is an ongoing situation, the Associated Press reported.

In September 2024, the university's lawyer Wade Harrison said Gow's behavior was 'unethical, hypocritical and unacceptable' and that 'Gows pornography videos are not protected by the First Amendment.'

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said in a statement to WXOW: 'Joe Gow is suing the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to vindicate his rights to engage in protected expression outside the classroom.

'We support Gow's drive to hold UW accountable for violating his fundamental first amendment rights.'

Aside from making porn, Gow and Wilson have a YouTube channel called 'Sexy Healthy Cooking' where they cook vegan recipes with other porn stars before having sex with them.

Gow and Wilson have published two e-books about their experiences as porn stars

On Monday, Gow filed the lawsuit against the board in a bid to get back in the classroom

Gow and Wilson have a YouTube channel called 'Sexy Healthy Cooking' where they cook vegan recipes with other porn stars before having sex with them

Gow has also published two books with his wife about their experiences in the porn industry.

Despite arguing that his role at the university was never intertwined with his adult activities, Gow found himself in hot water after paying porn star Nina Hartley $5,000 from his discretionary fund to speak at the La Crosse campus in 2018.

Gow and Wilson have filmed an explicit video with Hartley.

During the 90-minute address, Hartley told students it is acceptable to enjoy, not enjoy or have mixed feelings about porn. She also stressed that pornography is fantasy.

Gow later apologized for the 'sensationalist' media attention Hartley's appearance had attracted and said he was naive about the possibility that her profession would overwhelm her message. He also personally reimbursed the school for the $5,000.
One of the country's most sought-after properties has finally been sold after its owners couldn't resist a massive offer from a developer.

The 1.21ha property in Brisbane's outer south has been owned by the children of the original buyers since they passed away a few years ago.

Described as the 'last remaining development site' in Eight Mile Plains, a fast-growing suburb 14km from the Brisbane CBD, agent JJ Macalino told Daily Mail Australia the owners couldn't have done better than the $11million they walked away with.

'We've had a lot of offers ranging from $8million up to $11million and the local Brisbane developers made the highest offers,' Mr Macalino said.

'It's been more than 30 years (since it last sold) because the original records weren't even on RP Data so the family has had it at least that long.

'We knew it was going to sell, it was just a question of how much interest we got.

'It's exciting because it's a limited listing and representing something like this is good because we get to speak to a lot of developers to see what they want to do with it.'

The developer who bought the property has plans to divide the plot into almost 30 house and land packages worth a combined $39million.

Owners at 77 Gaskell Street in Eight Mile Plains, in Brisbane's outer south, finally gave in to developers and sold their property for a huge deal (the property is pictured)

A DA submitted by Saunders Havill Group, on behalf of developer SEQ Developments 9 Pty Ltd, to the Brisbane City Council showed an application was first made in August for 26 house sites ranging from 300sqm to 600sqm.

The average house price in Eight Mile Plains is $1.5million, up 14.5 per cent in 12 months, 66.7 per cent in three years and a mind-blowing 100 per cent since the start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020.

According to PropTrack data, for every house listed for sale in Eight Mile Plains there are, on average, 1,644 interested buyers.

If all 26 house sites go for the average price of the region, they will be sold off for a combined $39million.

Developers from around the country were so keen to buy the property that they resorted to knocking on the front door to express their interest in person.

Mr Macalino described Eight Mile Plains as a 'hot spot' due to its proximity to shopping centres, motorways and office buildings.

Brisbane City Council defined the area as the 'southern gateway to Brisbane' and one of the city's most important employment hubs.

The owners of 77 Gaskell Street weren't the first to dig their heels in and refuse to sell when a developer came knocking.

Just last year, the Zammit family in Sydney's north-west ignored all offers from developers to sell their $60million five-bedroom home in The Ponds (above)

This tightly held 1.21ha property at 95-101 Winzor Street, Salisbury, sold at auction in October of last year for a whopping $5.5million

Just last year, the Zammit family in Sydney's north-west ignored all offers from developers to sell their $60million five-bedroom mansion in The Ponds.

Developers were forced to build around them with homeowners forced to share a boundary fence with the massive block of land.

However, neighbours said they had no issue with the family refusing to sell.

'It doesn't really bother us,' one father said.

'It's their land, they can do what they want with it.'

For nearly three decades, an Adelaide family refused to sell their massive block to developers  even as an entire housing estate was built around them.

They eventually cashed in, with the tightly held 1.21ha property at 95-101 Winzor Street, Salisbury, selling at auction in October for a whopping $5.5million.

Land Services SA data showed it was registered to the late Carmelina Miliado who had owned the land with her husband for close to 60 years.

For 30 years, developers had been knocking on their door in the hope to secure the land but the couple refused to sell, even as land and house prices skyrocketed.
An OpenAI safety researcher has labeled the global race toward AGI a 'very risky gamble, with huge downside' for humanity as he dramatically quit his role.

Steven Adler joined many of the world's leading artificial intelligence researchers who have voiced fears over the rapidly evolving systems, including Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) which can surpass human cognitive capabilities.

Adler, who led safety-related research and programs for product launches and speculative long-term AI systems for OpenAI, shared a series of concerning posts to X while announcing his abrupt departure from the company on Monday afternoon.

'An AGI race is a very risky gamble, with huge downside,' the post said. Additionally, Adler said that he is personally 'pretty terrified by the pace of AI development.'

The chilling warnings came amid Adler revealing that he had quit after four years at the company.

In his exit announcement, he called his time at OpenAI 'a wild ride with lots of chapters' while also adding that he would 'miss many parts of it'.

However, he also criticized developments in the AGI space that has been quickly taking shape between world-leading AI labs and global superpowers.

'When I think about where I'll raise a future family, or how much to save for retirement, I can't help but wonder: Will humanity even make it to that point?'

Steven Adler, a safety researcher for OpenAI, chillingly called the global race toward AGI a 'very risky gamble, with huge downside' for humanity through a post on X announcing his sudden departure from the company

OpenAI along with Sam Altman (pictured), its CEO, has been the center of dozens of scandals that appeared to stem from disagreements over one of Adler's main concerns - AI safety

Adler continued the series of posts with a mention of AI alignment, which is the process of keeping AI working towards human goals and values rather than against them, Fortune reported.

'In my opinion, an AGI race is a very risky gamble, with huge downside,' he wrote. 'No lab has a solution to AI alignment today. And the faster we race, the less likely that anyone finds one in time.

'Today, it seems like we're stuck in a really bad equilibrium. Even if a lab truly wants to develop AGI responsibly, others can still cut corners to catch up, maybe disastrously,' he added.

'And this pushes all to speed up. I hope labs can be candid about real safety regs needed to stop this.'

Adler shared that he'd be enjoying a break before he decides his next move.

As he concluded, he asked his followers what they see as 'the most important and neglected ideas in AI safety/policy.'

OpenAI has been in dozens of scandals that appeared to stem from disagreements over one of Adler's main concerns - AI safety.

In 2023, Sam Altman, OpenAI's co-founder and CEO, was fired by the board of directors over concerns about his leadership and his handling of AI safety.

In November of 2023, the board said that after conducting a deliberative review process, Altman was 'not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities,' CNBC News reported.

Additionally, Altman was said to be more eager in pushing ahead in delivering new technologies rather than making sure artificial intelligence would not harm humans.

However, he was reinstated only five days later after pressure from fellow employees and investors.

Adler's announcement on Monday - and chilling warnings - are just the latest in a string of employees who have stepped down from the company.

Last year, Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, two prominent AI researchers for OpenAI that had been co-leading the company's Superalignment team at the time, also left the company, Fortune reported.

Leike blamed the lack of safety concerns for his departure, noting how 'safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products' over the past years.

In November, 26-year-old Suchir Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco home just three months after he accused OpenAI of violating copyright laws in its development of ChatGPT.

Balaji was also a former employee of OpenAI and joined the company with a belief that it has a potential to benefit society.

Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, previously told the Financial Times that the 'AGI race is a race towards the edge of a cliff'

Police said they found no evidence of foul play at the scene and ruled the death a suicide, but Balaji's parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy have continued to question the circumstances of their son's death.

According to Balaji's parents, there was blood in their son's bathroom when he was found dead, leading them to believe a struggle had taken place.

His sudden death came just months after he resigned from OpenAI over ethical concerns.

According to the New York Times, Balaji left the company in August because 'he no longer wanted to contribute to technologies that he believes would bring society more harm than benefit.'

Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI governance researcher, told Fortune in August that nearly half of the company's staff - specifically the ones that focused on the long-term risks of superpowerful AI - had left the company.

These former employees have joined the group of growing voices criticizing AI and the handling of its internal safety procedures.

Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, previously told the Financial Times that the 'AGI race is a race towards the edge of a cliff.'

'Even the CEOs who are engaging in the race have stated that whoever wins has a significant probability of causing human extinction in the process, because we have no idea how to control systems more intelligent than ourselves,' Russell added.

Comments among these educators and researchers come as there is increased attention on the global race between the United States and China, especially after a Chinese company released DeepSeek

DeepSeek spooked investors on Monday after they were informed that the company had potentially built an equal or better AI model than leading US labs - even leading to the US stock market losing $1 trillion overnight as investors lost confidence in Western dominance

Altman said on Monday that it was 'invigorating to have a new competitor' and would move up some of OpenAI's new releases to match DeepSeek's 'impressive model'

Comments among these educators and researchers come as there is increased attention on the global race between the United States and China.

Investors were spooked on Monday after news went public that DeepSeek, a Chinese company, had potentially built an equal or better AI model than leading US labs.

After its release in January, DeepSeek quickly became the most-downloaded free app on the Apple Store - beating rivals like ChatGPT.

Additionally, the cost of training and developing DeepSeek's models appeared to only be a fraction of what is required for its Western rivals.

DeepSeek said that its third version of the system used Nvidia's H800 chips for training, which are not top-of-the-line - and only 2000 of them, compared with the tens of thousands that are normally used for training models of a similar size.

This is said to have cost just $6million, compared to $100million+ that US firms have funneled into their models.

The app also distinguishes itself from other chatbots by articulating its reasoning before delivering a response to a prompt.

After DeepSeek-R1 was released this past January, the US stock market lost $1 trillion overnight as investors lost confidence in Western dominance in the AI sector.

The news led to a reaction from leading tech figures in the US, including Altman.

In response to the news, Altman said on Monday that it was 'invigorating to have a new competitor' and would move up some of OpenAI's new releases to match DeepSeek's 'impressive model.'

Additionally, he said that he looked 'forward to bringing' the world 'AGI and beyond.'
Shocking details have come to light about the alcohol-fueled party a Florida elementary school principal held at her house that was attended by more than 100 underage students.

Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the 47-year-old principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, was arrested following the raucous 'white lie' party on January 19, alongside third-grade teacher Karly Anderson, 45.

The two face charges of child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with Hill-Brodigan also facing a criminal charge for hosting an open house party.

Cocoa Beach police wrote in an affidavit obtained by Fox 35 they responded to Hill-Brodigan's home at around 9pm, after receiving numerous complaints about noise, alcohol and narcotics use.

Some neighbors even claimed that children were walking through their yards, swearing at the homeowners.

When the police arrived, they found over 100 minors in matching t-shirts, with some students telling police that 'alcohol was ready and available in multiple red/white coolers inside the residence,' PEOPLE reports.

They claimed the party was advertised on Snapchat, and said 'parties like this happen once or twice a month' at the home.

Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the 47-year-old principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, was arrested following the raucous 'white lie' party on January 19

She (left) and third-grade teacher Karly Anderson, 45 (right), are facing charges of child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with Hill-Brodigan also facing a criminal charge for hosting an open house party

Hill-Brodigan initially denied being involved in the events at her home or any other 'underaged ragers,' police said.

But students claimed she asked some of them to help make preparations for the party, and 'seemed OK with what was happening.'

By the time the police arrived, they said they found a boy on the front lawn 'vomiting and shaking,' and requiring treatment from the Brevard County Fire Rescue

'During this time the homeowner, Hill-Brodigan, was seen by Officers in the driveway of her residence turning off the outside lights and entering her residence, causing BCFR to use auxiliary lighting on their vehicle to treat the juvenile,' the CBPD previously said in a press release.

Meanwhile, a clearly intoxicated Anderson - the teacher - allegedly began yelling at paramedics for putting the boy 'in a machine,' apparently referring to the patrol vehicle.

An officer eventually had to tell her to go away so he could take care of the boy, the affidavit says.

It also notes that before the police even arrived at the home, one officer called Hill-Brodigan, who claimed she was down the street and would return home to 'handle the issue.'

The students, however, claimed Hill-Brodigan - whom they knew was the elementary school principal - was inside the house while the party was going on.

Hill-Brodigan became principal of the elementary school on May 2, 2024, according to the school's website

At the time she wrote that she was 'over the moon excited to be the new principal' and claimed to have served the students and parents of Brevard County for the last 23 years

She reportedly told one of her sons to stop the event, but her son ignored her and she allegedly took no further action to stop the party.

As the party then continued, fights broke out, including when one student even allegedly slapped another for punching a third student, PEOPLE reports.

At another point, a boy wearing a mask was seen pointing a Beretta pistol at someone recording a video, the affidavit says. But police said they found no juveniles with firearms at the party.

Still, at least two juveniles were arrested.

According to a police report, officers began conducting traffic control around the home, and a sergeant stopped a vehicle that ran a stop sign and allegedly almost hit his vehicle.

The underage driver agreed to take a Breathalyzer test, which showed she had a 0.118 blood alcohol content - nearly twice the legal limit for drivers who are 21 and over.

Another girl in the passenger seat was also busted for marijuana possession.

When police arrived at her home, they said they found a boy on the front lawn 'vomiting and shaking,' and requiring treatment from the Brevard County Fire Rescue

Hill-Brodigan became principal of the elementary school on May 2, 2024, according to the school's website.

At the time she wrote that she was 'over the moon excited to be the new principal' and claimed to have served the students and parents of Brevard County for the last 23 years.

'Students, families, and staff are very close to my heart, I really enjoy what I do,' she said.

The principal has since posted a $3,500 bond and was released Saturday morning, while Anderson was released on a $3,000 bond.

They are both on leave pending an investigation, with Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell saying he was 'very troubled' by the allegations.

'We hold our leaders to the highest of standards, and if these allegations are true, it's a complete failure in leadership and [a] violation of our trust,' he told Fox 35.

'The district is cooperating fully with police as they investigate this matter, and will strive to provide families with full transparency.'
In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, causing shock and alarm across the West.

It had been generally assumed that the US was far more technologically advanced than the Russians, and the rude awakening provided by the 'Sputnik crisis' sparked the famous Space Race between the two superpowers.

Now, a leading Silicon Valley tech investor has warned of a new 'Sputnik moment'.

That's how billionaire Marc Andreessen this week described China's latest breakthrough in the battle to develop Artificial Intelligence  currently the defining issue for the tech world.

The release of a cheap but remarkably powerful new generative AI platform by a Chinese tech company called DeepSeek has turned out to be just as unsettling for American self-confidence as the appearance of a Soviet spacecraft orbiting the Earth.

Andreessen, a major donor to Donald Trump, described the software  a 'chatbot' that allows people to have conversations with it  as 'one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs' he had ever witnessed. And plenty of people agree with him.

It takes a lot to wipe the smug grin off the faces of Silicon Valley's multi-billionaire bosses, but DeepSeek has managed to seriously rattle many of them as its new AI model  and the astonishing claims made about it  sparked a bloodbath on Wall Street on Monday, taking a staggering $1trillion (800 billion) off the value of the shares of major US tech companies.

One of them, microchip manufacturer Nvidia  which only last year was crowned as the world's most valuable company because of its key role in supplying the chips supposedly needed for AI  plunged nearly 17 per cent in value (the equivalent of $589 billion or 490 billion) in the biggest one-day drop for a single company in US history.

Liang Wenfeng, the founder of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek (pictured right) when he was younger

Wenfeng, who by Chinese media accounts has just turned 40, launched his app in the United States on the same day as Donald Trump 's inauguration

DeepSeek's AI Assistant is said to perform on-par with ChatGPT at a fraction of the price

Why the panic? China has shattered American certainty about which country will lead the world in developing AI.

DeepSeek  run by Liang Wenfeng, a nerdy 39-year-old Chinese billionaire hedge funder with a terrible haircut  has unveiled an AI system which, with certain caveats, matches the achievements so far of America's most advanced chatbots such as the latest version of ChatGPT.

And, worryingly for Silicon Valley and Wall Street, DeepSeek says it has demonstrated that low-cost AI can be created without using expensive US technology.

Demand from those wanting to try out DeepSeek's chatbot (which can be accessed via an iPhone app, or simply on the internet) has been immense, although yesterday it proved difficult to register for it, with the company's website curiously blaming 'large-scale malicious attacks' on its services.

President Trump warned that DeepSeek should be a 'wake-up call' for American industries.

It's particularly galling for him as he has been talking up Silicon Valley's AI brilliance, recently announcing a $500 billion initiative called Stargate to develop the technology.

Sam Altman, boss of OpenAI, the leading US artificial intelligence developer, has tried to see the bright side: he called the Chinese rival 'impressive' and claimed it was 'invigorating to have a new competitor'.

This was quite a volte-face for a man who only last summer characterised AI development as a 'race' between democracy and authoritarianism.

President Donald Trump has branded Chinese AI startup DeepSeek as a 'wake-up call' for US tech titans after fears of upheaval in the AI gold rush rocked Wall Street

AI is already entrenched in our daily lives. It's employed in everything from mobile phones and Amazon's 'virtual home assistant' Alexa to delivery drones and driverless cars.

Sceptics have warned that AI has been ridiculously over-hyped, but others say it could revolutionise all manner of services, including health care and defence, albeit at the potential cost of millions of people's jobs.

DeepSeek is a so-called large language model, which harnesses the vast trove of information on the internet to create super-intelligent computers that can outperform humans.

DeepSeek's chatbot has been hailed as a giant leap forward because it is said to achieve the same results as the equivalent AI models in Silicon Valley, but more cheaply, quickly and efficiently.

It also consumes less energy (a major factor given that AI requires enormous computing power), and requires fewer and less advanced chips than those powering the AI being developed in the US.

While America's OpenAI says it spent $1billion (800 million) 'training' ChatGPT, for example, DeepSeek reportedly spent less than $6 million (4.8 million) on its last chatbot.

And although some advanced US models charge users, DeepSeek's chatbot is 'open source', meaning anyone around the world can use it for free. Little wonder there is such demand.

China has said it aims to become the global leader in AI by 2030, but many in the US believed Washington had put an end to that notion when the Biden administration in 2022 started putting in place controls on exports of high-powered chips to China.

The new Chinese chatbot launched last week and quickly overtook its rival ChatGPT to become the downloaded free app on Apple's US App Store

However, it appears DeepSeek not only got around those controls by finding a loophole in US regulations that allowed them to keep purchasing advanced chips before Washington finally closed the door.

It also adopted a policy of hiring super-bright young computer engineers.

DeepSeek's boss, Mr Liang, who made his fortune using AI to spot good investments on stock markets, believes that inexperienced workers are more likely to 'think outside the box'.

So it proved as those workers developed a way of streamlining the traditional, very time-consuming method of building an AI chatbot by processing every last gobbet of information on the internet.

Instead, the DeepSeek system relies on knowing where to look for answers online  a process that may take a little longer but is far more efficient.

To many, especially those who instinctively distrust something that comes out of China and appears designed to damage business rivals in the US, the stunning success of DeepSeek sounds a little too good to be true.

Some suspect that the Chinese government provided financial backing to DeepSeek, founded in 2023, although experts who've looked at the company's data say that it appears the business genuinely found a way of cutting costs.

It's also been claimed that the company hasn't been entirely honest about the microchips it used, because it managed to stockpile tens of thousands of the advanced American Nvidia chips before those restrictions came into force.

DeepSeek's arrival destabilized the AI market and caused the US stock market to hemorrhage $1trillion on Monday

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote that R1, one of several models DeepSeek released in recent weeks, 'is an impressive model, particularly around what they're able to deliver for the price'

However, perhaps the most powerful reason to worry about DeepSeek's AI is that it may provide China with a hugely productive means of spying on the West.

Under a 2017 Beijing law, all Chinese organisations are required to 'cooperate with national intelligence efforts'  a fact that hardened Washington's opposition to the Chinese-owned video-sharing giant TikTok (although the company has denied sending US user data to the Chinese government).

The popular service has been under a court-ordered ban in the US since earlier this month, due to government concerns it is hoovering up users' private information and passing it to the communist regime, significantly weakening US national security.

DeepSeek's chatbot is itself collecting a vast amount of information and sending it back to China, where it is headquartered in the city of Hangzhou, one of the country's tech hubs.

This much the company freely admits: according to its English-language DeepSeek privacy policy, 'We store the information we collect in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China.'

Meanwhile, even the information that DeepSeek sends back in the other direction has a pro-Beijing bias. Users have already discovered that its chatbot declines to answer politically sensitive questions such as those about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre or President Xi Jinping, while at the same time putting a pro-Beijing gloss on other controversies like the mistreatment of the Uyghur ethnic minority.

In China, DeepSeek has been hailed as a national triumph that could change the country's destiny  and which has plunged Silicon Valley into its 'darkest hour'.

Yet the new AI platform may not be all it seems, and  like the Soviets being beaten to the Moon in 1969  China may not win the AI race.

But like Sputnik, DeepSeek has delivered a short, sharp shock to the notion of American 'exceptionalism' that its new president and the tech titans who have embraced him love to trumpet.
A council has banned charity volunteers who have looked after a medieval cemetery for the last decade from using a lawnmower - citing health and safety reasons.

The group, who have been maintaining the ancient St Giles Hill Graveyard in Hampshire, fear they may be have to stop taking care of the resting place.

The Friends of St Giles have been told they can no longer use power tools on the site - which is the resting place of a Titanic casualty and seven WWI victims - due to Winchester City Council insurance rules.

They have since warned they can't go on maintaining the graveyard which offers sweeping views of Winchester, if they have to keep the grass down 'using a pair of scissors'.

Even though a volunteer has never suffered an injury whilst tending to the area, charity chairman Dave Stewart, 73, said that the council seemingly had a 'sudden' change of heart.

Winchester City Council told the group via a phone call to stop using power tools earlier this month.

In a follow up email, an official said: 'I understand that you will be annoyed at this as you have been maintaining the graveyard for so many years with no problems with the use of these tools...

'Please know that we really are not trying to be difficult, we really appreciate and value all the work you carry out at the graveyard...

'However, it is more complex than we would have expected and we have been consulting with our insurers, health and safety and other councils to ensure we come to the correct decision for this authority.

Winchester City Council has banned charity volunteers who have looked after a medieval cemetery for the last decade from using a lawnmower citing health and safety reasons

The Friends of St Giles been told they can no longer use power tools on the site due to Winchester City insurance rules (pictured: Dr David J Stewart)

'This must be incredibly frustrating for you but we have no other option but to explore the implications of allowing use of power tools more thoroughly.'

Dr Stewart said the group has its own insurance to use power tools like lawnmowers but will be forced to close down if the ban stays in place.

The Friends have been looking after St Giles Hill Graveyard since 2014, and the council has even sent some of their staff to help the good samaritans on occasion.

The council promised a 'full explanation' for the ban, but even after meeting with the trustees of the charity on January 24, no such thing has materialised.

But Dr Stewart said the volunteers can't keep going without lawnmowers and other power tools.

He said: 'It's pretty soon it gets into the growing season. By March, everything starts to grow and we won't be able to really keep up with it.

'All because we have projects to develop, meadow areas and basically we need to keep the place in good shape to be able to do those things.

'So we can't keep grasses and other vegetation down using a pair of scissors. And trimmers, it would take a large number of volunteers a lot of time to do that.

Dr Stewart worries of the consequences if the ban isn't lifted soon, adding that the group had spent ten years 'getting it [the graveyard] in a good shape,' before adding: 'And it could well be that in a year it could be overgrown again, things grow so fast.'

The Friends began their work at the cemetery on an ad hoc basis to nurture the land and wildlife, before becoming a charity in 2019 in order to get insurance to be able to use the lawnmower.

The site dates back to medieval times but the oldest observable grave in the cemetery dates back to 1694. Winchester City Council officially took charge of the resting place towards the end of 2021.

Retired geologist Dr Stewart said that the group has about 75 volunteers, working in groups of between 10 to 12, with each person working one day every month.

He said the charity has become a group where people make friends and socialise.

He said: 'The tragedy is that our volunteers love coming here... If we had to abandon the thing because of this, it would be tragic for them as well as us.'

The council promised to explain what's made them implement the lawnmower ban at a meeting with the charity on January 24 this year.

Instead, the council representative just said that she would try and resolve the issue by drawing up a licence agreement.

Even though a volunteer has never suffered an injury whilst tending to the area, charity chairman Dave Stewart , 73, said that the council seemingly had a 'sudden' change of heart.

The volunteers plan to work on the cemetery until the beginning of February but won't be able to if the ban isn't lifted by then.

The volunteers plan to work on the cemetery on February 1, but won't be able to if the ban isn't lifted by then.

A council spokesperson said: The Friends have already been told that they can continue their work on Saturday.

'We have no intention of banning any part of the brilliant work they do and are working with the Friends to sort this out.

'We want to do everything we can to enable volunteers across the district, but as with our contractors, we also have a duty to ensure that volunteer activities on public land are safe, insured and the equipment is properly maintained.

'This is not just for our assurance, but theirs and the publics safety too. We are confident that the volunteers can continue their work and we will support them to do so.
The weighting of the Crown Nominations Commission to select Justin Welby's successor  about to start its deliberations  suggests the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be a more conservative figure.

This could cause problems for the future monarch William.

The heir is thought to want to change the religious oaths at the coronation and may even wish to end links with the CofE.

He has already indicated that he sees no reason why Prince George should be an Anglican. Welby apparently had no problem with that.

The day after baptising Prince George, he was asked if he would be comfortable with George one day converting to, say, Buddhism. 'He's perfectly entitled to be that,' he replied.

The weighting of the Crown Nominations Commission to select Justin Welby 's successor  about to start its deliberations  suggests the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be a more conservative figure.

Prince William has already indicated that he sees no reason why Prince George should be an Anglican. Welby apparently had no problem with that

Jamie Oliver reveals he was the target of male abuse in his early Naked Chef days when wives and girlfriends nagged partners to 'get their arses into the kitchen'.

'I did get chased once', he tells the Louis Theroux podcast. 'I ran about 300 metres, and he got me in a corner.

'He pinned me up against the wall and goes, 'Thanks to you, I have to cook three times a week'.'

Jamie Oliver reveals he was the target of male abuse in his early Naked Chef days

Emily Maitlis, having failed to catch President Trump's eye when performing a cartwheel on camera in Washington's Capitol Hill, endured further disappointment from former Welsh Commonwealth Games gymnast Gabby Logan.

'Gabby is deducting points from my cartwheel on the leg wobble,' wails Emily. 'I have never felt more exposed.'

Emily Maitlis failed to catch President Trump's eye when performing a cartwheel on camera in Washington's Capitol Hill

Unveiling tomorrow night's 18 candidates for the new series of The Apprentice, Lord Sugar seems to doubt the ability of some to scoop his 250,000 winner's investment prize, saying: 'I have a bunch of CVs here and some of them contain more crap than the River Thames.'

Lord Alan Sugar revealed there's 'more crap than the River Thames' on the contestants' CVs

With Energy Secretary Ed Miliband under fire for appointing a personal photographer at taxpayers' expense, Andrew Neil concludes: 'At least he'll have someone close to hand to snap the blackouts his energy policies portend.'

Charmingly oafish actor Danny Dyer tells GQ magazine about his friendship with the late playwright Harold Pinter.

'He would buy me a six-pack of lager and invite me over,' remembers Danny. 'He liked the fact that we were from the same area, and that I said 'c***' a lot.'

Let-down-in-love Vanessa Feltz, still looking for Mr Right two years after splitting from cheating fiance Ben Ofoedu, wails that she cannot turn to online dating apps.

'It's very difficult,' she confides. 'You know, if I did go on one, within ten seconds of seeing me, they'd text their mates saying: 'It's that fat bird off the telly!'
A fighter jet burst into flames after crashing at a military base, with the pilot managing to escape unscathed.

Footage captured at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska shows the F-35 fighter jet barreling to the ground before exploding on Tuesday afternoon.

The jet can be seen flailing around in mid air, while the pilot safely descends underneath a parachute before it burst into a ball of flames.

It remains unclear what caused the pilot to eject and send the jet crashing to the ground at this stage.

In a statement the 354th Fighter Wing's office described the incident it as causing significant damage.

They said: 'The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation.'

Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the fighter wing, added: 'Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security.

Footage captured at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska shows the F-35 fighter jet barreling to the ground before exploding on Tuesday afternoon

In a statement to Anchorage Daily News, the 354th Fighter Wing's office described it as causing significant damage

'I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.'

Townsend also told reporters that the pilot had been executing 'standard procedures' at the time of the incident.

He added: 'I think it is premature to speculate on the causes of the incident, essentially [the pilot] experienced an inflight malfunction, was safely able to eject, but resulted in the crash of the aircraft.'

The F-35A is the Air Force's latest fighter jet that had replaced the F-16 Fighting Falcons, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II's.

According to Air & Spaces Forces Magazine, the average price of one of the jets is roughly $81 million.

There are currently 54 of the jets stationed at the base, which is situated near Fairbanks, according to Anchorage Daily News.

The jets are long-range supersonic jets that come with stealth capability, and are also capable of reaching anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in one mission.

It comes after a similar F-35 jet crashed in rural South Carolina in September of 2023, with the pilot also parachuting to safety.

The jet went missing, with officials asking the public to call in if they had any information on the jet, causing a media frenzy. They found it a day later.

Townsend also told reporters that the pilot had been executing 'standard procedures' at the time of the incident

The F-35A, seen here, is the Air Force's latest fighter jet that had replaced the F-16 Fighting Falcons, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II's

It took 17 days to collect and examine the wreckage and clean up spilt fuel and other hazards from the woods at a cost of more than $2.1 million, according to a report.

A Marine investigation last year blamed the pilot of the jet for ejecting when he didn't need to, causing it to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before it eventually crashed.

The report blamed the stealth technology onboard as well as a transponder that didnt work and the plane flying at low altitude with a system that automatically stabilizes flight without a pilots control on the disappearance.

The jet suffered several system failures as the pilot tried to land at Joint Base Charleston in heavy rain in September 2023 after a 50-minute training flight with another F-35.

Lightning had been reported nearby and the aircraft suffered an electrical event that caused malfunctions in its radios, transponders and air navigation system.

The pilots helmet display also flickered on and off three times. The exact nature of what happened was blacked out in the report released to the public.

The pilot then said he had no reference to where he was in relation to the ground and was unsure what instruments he could trust, so he decided to eject.

Marine investigators determined there was no need to abandon the aircraft because its computer was still controlling its flight as evidenced by the jet staying in the air for more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) and 11 minutes with no pilot.

The standby instruments were still providing accurate data and the backup radio was still at least partially functioning, according to the report.

The report noted that investigators arent sure what data the pilot was receiving or what he saw in his helmet just before and at the time he ejected because the crash recorder did not record that information.
A young Aussie has been praised after offering a solution on how to solve the massive debate around Australia Day.

West Australian Ronan Fitzgerald, 21, gave his thoughts on Tuesday about whether or not the public holiday should be moved from January 26.

'Not to get too political, but I reckon we can solve the Australia Day debate,' Ronan said in a TikTok video.

'By just having a public holiday every Monday, we can celebrate the country with a long weekend, every single week.'

Social media users were overwhelmingly in support of the solution and called for a standard four-day work week in Australia.

'Great idea,' one said.

'But, Tuesday is an awful day to start, so we have to do Wednesday... oh no...' another joked.

'He's got my vote,' another said.

One suggested the best way to negotiate the Australia Day debate would be to separate two dates over two days.

'Have the actual date as a national day of mourning and designate a separate day for celebrating what the nation is today,' she suggested.

It comes after the heated debate leading up to the Australia Day long weekend.

Many Australians have backed a proposal to move Australia Day to another date and use the day to not only celebrate the country, but also acknowledge the mistreatment of First Nations people.

Former Bachelor star and proud Wiradjuri woman Kiki Morris in the lead-up to the day, told the ABC she would be supportive of an Australia Day on another date.

Many consider the date, the day Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack in Port Jackson, as the beginning of the colonial suffering of Indigenous people.

For them, the date is regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning'.

'I think that Australia is such a wonderful country and it's offered a safe space for so many people to live and bring up their families,' Ms Morris said.

Western Australian bloke Ronan Fitzgerald reckoned year-round public holidays were the answer to the Australia Day debate

'For those people, we deserve to celebrate what Australia means to all of us, but definitely, the date needs to be changed.

'We need to be sensitive to our ancestors and our history as well.'

Some social media users supported Mr Fitzgerald's solution simply because they wanted a four-day work week.

Many suggested they would support the Greens in upcoming elections due to previous support from party members for the four-day work week.

Federal Greens senator Barbara Pocock has been a big supporter of work-life balance measures in her role as chair of the Senate Select Work and Care Committee.

On Wednesday, major marketing agency Claxon announced they would implement a permanent four-day work week, effective immediately

The move comes after a three-month trial last year which saw the agency condense its 38-hour week into four days.

The whole team will take Fridays off, at no cost to their hours or salaries.

'This isnt just about improving culture; its about enhancing productivity and performance,' Claxons CEO Daniel Willis said.
The anti-terror watchdog has called for a new policing unit to be created in order to tackle 'lonely' and autistic boys who are obsessed with violence like triple child-killer Axel Rudakubana.

Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has called for something similar to Scotland Yard's Fixated Threat Assessment Centre - which monitors risks to royals, politicians and other prominent figures.

Mr Hall said the new police body would sit alongside counter-terroism and serious organised crime.

'And the reason it's so important is because the internet has changed everything  it absolutely has changed the way in which terrorism, traditional terrorists, how they practice themselves, but also the sorts of causes and the sorts of individuals who are now being picked up by it,' he told the Times.

Mr Hall has been tasked by the Prime Minister with investigating whether terror laws should be widened to include people such as Southport killer Rudakubana.

But he said he was 'really dubious' about widening the definition of terrorism and instead pointed the finger at the internet.

'The truth is that a lot of the lonely, often autistic boys would not have had access to the capability or the ideology, would not have found one another, would not have realised that they could develop a sense of identity, but for the internet,' he added.

And he poured cold water on the prospect of being able to censor content on American social media sites such as X and Meta due to the United States' First Amendment to uphold freedom of speech.

Jonathan Hall KC (pictured), the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has called for new police unit similar to Scotland Yard's Fixated Threat Assessment Centre - which monitors risks to royals, politicians and other prominent figures

The new unit would be created in order to tackle 'lonely' and autistic boys who are obsessed with violence like triple child-killer Axel Rudakubana (pictured)

Mr Hall warned hateful messages could be spread by AI chatbots which have already been used by terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic State.

Rudakubana is said to have been fascinated by violence 'for its own sake' rather than possessing the clear ideology that current laws require for an act to be considered terrorism.

That lack of an ideology meant he did not fit the criteria for the counter-extremism Prevent programme, despite being referred to it three times amid concerns over his fixation with violence.

Rudakubana's horror attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport on July 29 saw him murder three young girls and attempt to murder another ten people.

He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years behind bars.

Sir Keir Starmer said last week the Southport case demonstrated there was now a different kind of terrorism and suggested expanding the definition to address 'extreme violence carried out by loners, misfits, young men in their bedrooms'.

Yesterday, Commission for Racial Equality Trevor Phillips told how he raised concerns as early as 2018 about government legislation that would harm the effectiveness of Prevent.

Writing in the Sun, he criticised the introduction of a new category in the scheme for those who have 'vulnerability but no ideology or counter-terrorism risk.'

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was among the three little girls killed in the attack in Southport

Bebe King, six, was also killed in the knife attack at The Hart Space in Southport last July

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, was the third girl killed in the horror knife attack in Southport

The former Racial Equality Commission head called for a 'thorough investigation' to 'ask whether those who missed the signals did so because they did not want to ask difficult questions about the killer's racial background'.

It comes after retired police officer Norman Brennan said many are 'too frightened to intervene' due to the 'ethnicity' of people they are concerned about.

Mr Phillips claims that the introduction of the category was behind the steep drop in referrals to Prevent over concerns about Islamist ideology.

Figures show that while almost 3,200 people were referred to Prevent for concerns related to Islamic extremism in 2018, that number had plummeted to 1,400 by 2019 - the same year as the introduction of the no ideology category.

Last year the number was just 913, compared to 2,489 who had 'no ideology or counter-terrorism risk'.

No such drop was seen in other categories, including right-wing extremism.

Mr Phillips claims: 'In short, two thirds of the cases that might previously have been categorised as 'Islamist' were, in effect, reassigned to a 'no ideology, no risk' category.

'Why? There is, in my view, only one likely explanation.'

He blamed calls for the expansion of the definition of Islamophobia brought by a group of MPs led by now-Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

'Many, including myself, in a report for the Policy Exchange think tank, warned that its loose terms ('a type of racism . . . that targets expressions of Muslimness') would lead to the chilling of speech, particularly in public services,' Mr Phillips wrote.

Axel Rudakubana skulks in the back of a taxi on his way to murder three young girls

The killer appeared to have been sleeping in the living room of the messy Merseyside home

Ominous pre-cursor equipment for the production of poison was found across the house

Axel Rudakubana had enough raw materials to kill 12,500 people by the time police uncovered his home laboratory and a lunch-box in which he was refining ricin

Two Apollo Cerbera knives with 20cm blades, one still in its sheath, were recovered from the killer's house days after he bought them on Amazon

A grisly array of hunting arrows was also recovered from the teenager's armoury

A lethal bow was found in the bag where Rudakubana kept his newest knives

He added that police leaders told Parliament they feared the definition would hamper both Prevent and counterterrorism.

Rudakubana was born in Cardiff into a Christian family, and there is no evidence he was motivated by Islamic extremism - although his search history on his computer was wiped just before he left home to carry out his attack.

But there is evidence that he was obsessed with extreme violence in all its forms - having researched Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan and various killings and mass murders.

Immediately before the attack, he had viewed footage of the attempted murder of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney in April.

His Prevent referrals included concerns raised by his school after he made comments about school shootings, posted pictures of Colonel Gaddafi on Instagram and expressed an interest in the London Bridge attack, the IRA, MI5 and the Middle East.

Meanwhile his phone contained images from conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Korea, as well as copious academic material relating to war and genocide.

Using the device, he had search history relating to Nazi Germany, ethnic violence in Somalia and Rwanda, and slavery.

He also had an American academic study of an al-Qaeda training document, which had been downloaded at least twice since 2021.
A private school that was fined $140,000 over a student's death says it has since taken steps to ensure the safety of both pupils and staff on school trips.

Melbourne's Kilvington Grammar School student Lachlan Cook, 16, was on a class expedition to Vietnam in September 2019 when he suffered complications from his type-1 diabetes.

He began vomiting, complaining of abdominal pain and his blood sugar levels were high, but once he became unresponsive, staff only took him to a local hospital.

Lachlan's condition deteriorated further and he was flown to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital where his life support was ultimately switched off in October 2019.

A coroner in 2023 found Lachlan's death was preventable, with WorkSafe issuing charges to both Kilvington and travel company World Challenge Expeditions.

The school and company both pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to a charge of failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

Judge Angela Ellis handed down the sanctions on Wednesday, having found the risk of Lachlan dying would have been significantly reduced if different steps were taken.

She noted the World Challenge trip leader did not have training in diabetes management and she did not pass on Lachlan's condition when she first reported his symptoms to the company's on-call operations centre.

Kilvington Grammar School student Lachlan Cook, 16, suffered diabetes complications during the to Vietnam in September 2019 and later died in hospital in Melbourn

Judge Angela Ellis on Wednesday sentenced Kilvington (pictured) to a $140,000 fine, while World Challenge was fined $150,000.

That delay and lack of communication prevented Lachlan from receiving the appropriate care, Judge Ellis said.

The two Kilvington teachers on the school trip also did not receive additional training and Lachlan's diabetes management plan was not provided to them, the judge said.

Lachlan's risk of dying would have been substantially reduced if there had been more training and information sharing, Judge Ellis said.

But she accepted Kilvington and World Challenge had no prior convictions and had shown remorse through their early guilty pleas.

The judge sentenced Kilvington to a $140,000 fine, while World Challenge was fined $150,000.

Both the school and company received a conviction.

Kilvington principal Rob French apologised to Lachlan's family and said the school accepted responsibility for its role in the 16-year-old's 'truly devastating' death.

Mr French said Kilvington had since implemented restorative practices, including annual staff training in the management of diabetes.

'We will continue to apply these to ensure the safety of our students and staff, both domestically and internationally,' he said.

World Challenge director Peter Fletcher also apologised to the family and said his company was constantly reviewing its safety policies and procedures.

'We will continue to work with our partners, schools, and with families to make these trips as safe and inclusive as they can possibly be,' he told reporters outside court.

WorkSafe executive health and safety director Sam Jenkin welcomed the sentences, saying the staff should have been better trained to identify Lachlan's serious symptoms.

Lachlan's family were not in court on Wednesday although they watched remotely on video link.
The main leaders of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group face being returned to Ireland as it emerged that a new extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates is to be ratified 'very soon'.

Kinahan gang members, including main players Daniel Kinahan and Christy Kinahan Jnr, face being sent back to Ireland to face serious charges for murder, drugs and firearms offences.

The DPP is now considering criminal charges against them following the submission of an official garda investigation file.

While gardai believe that the upper echelons of the cartel are based in the Emirates, there have been fears that their connections with the Russian mafia will allow them to evade arrest there and that they could flee to Moscow.

Senior Kinahan gang leader Sean McGovern, who is wanted in Ireland for murder, is already in custody, having been arrested in Dubai three months ago.

However, there are potential legal problems as Mr McGovern was arrested prior to this extradition treaty being in place.

It remains to be seen if Mr McGovern can be sent back to Ireland due to this reason.

Speaking yesterday, new Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said the new extradition treaty would be ratified 'promptly'.

Kinahan gang members, including main players Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Jr, face being sent back to Ireland to face serious charges for murder, drugs and firearms offences

Top Kinahan member Sean McGovern (pictured) was arrested by UAE police last year

McGovern, who is wanted in Ireland for murder, is already in custody, having been arrested in Dubai three months ago

'I want to commend Minister McEntee (former justice minister) for that excellent piece of work.

'That treaty needs to be ratified and once it's ratified, then it can come into operation, and any individuals who need to be extradited, hopefully, will be extradited.

'I would have thought that ratification will be done very quickly.

'It could be done without debate, and I suspect it will be done without debate.

'Any persons who have been involved in criminal activity in Ireland, I would like them seeing them extradited back here to face the arms of the law.'

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris would not be drawn on commenting on the Kinahan gang but said that the ratification of the treaty will be down to the trojan work of diplomats.

Justice Minister jim O'Callaghan said the new extradition treaty would be ratified 'promptly'

'I know there's been a huge political and diplomatic effort that has gone into that. And in effect, then that places Ireland in a favourable position with the UAE.

'But again, that has been a huge political and diplomatic effort, and I think that is something that we should all welcome, and certainly we hope to see a very positive outlook.

'What I would say is that's a political arrangement between two sovereign nations as law enforcement.

'It's our duty to investigate and report to the DPP, who then decide on precedence and extradition.

'Beyond that, there is a judicial proceeding, and in effect, we've done our job when we presented a file of evidence to the DPP.'
Charlamagne tha God had a tense exchange where he predicted Elon Musk would 'crash and burn' with Vivek Ramaswamy after discussing his quick exit from DOGE.

Ramaswamy, 39, departed the fat-cutting new agency he was supposed to run with Elon Musk before it could even get started in Donald Trump's administration.

The former presidential candidate has been rumored to be running for governor of Ohio in 2026 instead.

Speaking the Charlamagne on The Breakfast Club Tuesday morning, Ramaswamy was directly asked: 'What happened with DOGE? Did you get pushed out? Did you get fired?'

Ramasawamy responded by suggesting the DOGE that Elon wanted had a 'slightly different vision from where we started to where we landed.'

He tried to describe how he wanted to dismantle the bloated government bureaucracy whereas Musk wanted a 'technology-first approach.'

'And what he and I both concluded  and I think this is right  is given my focus on law, on legislation, the right way to realize my vision is through elected office, so that's what I'm gonna be pursing.'

He also claimed that running for governor of Ohio and working on DOGE would violate the Hatch Act.

Charlamagne tha God had a tense exchange where he predicted Elon Musk would 'crash and burn' with Vivek Ramaswamy after discussing his quick exit from DOGE

Ramaswamy, 39, departed the fat-cutting new agency he was supposed to run with Elon Musk before it could even get started

'I would say that we arrived at it pretty mutually. I've been committed to this path of likely running for governor of Ohio for a long time. My plan initially might have been to do those at the same time,' Ramaswamy said.

'Once it became clear that was impossible to do at the same time, once it became clear to me that that was the right next leadership destination for me, it felt like the start of the project on day one was the right way to start that next chapter.'

He claimed that he and Musk are 'on good terms, good personal relationship, slightly different approaches to the project.'

However, Charlamagne had a more pointed question: 'Do you think you were pushed out of DOGE because Trump rolled back the DEI initiatives?'

Ramaswamy denied it: 'It was really just an actual mutual decision where you look at here was one vision on approach, heres a different vision on an approach. Thats great, theres no right or wrong answer.'

The radio host and ally of Kamala Harris during her failed presidential run was not convinced and even nastier words for DOGE.

'I hear you, Vivek. I don't believe you. I think you either got pushed out or you know that it's going to implode. I think that you know Elon is gon' crash and burn it, and you're a smart guy, and you said, 'You know what, let me get out of Dodge and go do my governor Ohio thing.''

Ramaswamy deflected, denied and said: 'Were all on very good terms. And so I wouldnt want to speak for anybody else, but I will say that theyre very supportive of of the decision that I made to pursue as my next step.'

Ramasawamy suggested the DOGE that Elon wanted had a 'slightly different vision from where we started to where we landed'

Ramaswamy tried to describe how he wanted to dismantle the bloated government bureaucracy whereas Musk wanted a 'technology-first approach'

The former presidential candidate has been on a media tour post-DOGE and before announcing his run for governor, sitting down with Fox News' Jesse Watters Monday.

Watters joked that Ramaswamy was leaving DOGE 'after like three Scaramuccis' and asked him what happened, as it was previously reported that Musk wanted him out. 'Scaramuccis' are a unit of measurement based on the extremely short, 11-day tenure of Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci.

'Well, the reality is, I'm pursuing an elected office very shortly. We will have an announcement soon,' Ramaswamy answered.

Watters then asked Ramaswamy about the rumors that he and Musk weren't getting along.

'I think that's incorrect,' Ramaswamy replied. 'But what I would say is, we had different and complementary approaches.'

Watters also asked Ramaswamy straight up if Musk had fired him.

'It's - no, we had a mutual discussion,' the 2024 Republican hopeful answered. 'And I think I wish him well.'

Ramaswamy further explained their 'different' approaches in a similar manner to his talk with Charlamagne.

Vivek Ramaswamy denied that he had been fired by Elon Musk but confirmed that he was leaving the newly created Department of Government Efficiency before it even gets off the ground

'I focused more on a constitutional law, legislative-based approach,' he said. 'They focused more on a technology approach, which is the future approach.'

'No better person to lead that technology, digital approach than Elon Musk,' he offered.

'But when you're talking about a constitutional revival, it's not just done through the federal government, it's done through federalism, where states also lead the way,' he continued. 'So I will have to be saying more on that very shortly Jesse, But that's going to be my next stop.'

He also claimed that he and Musk were 'on the same page.'

'Divide and conquer,' he explained. 'In saving the country, it's not a one-man show from the top down or the bottom up. It's all of the above. And that's what I'm for.'

Ramaswamy further teased an Ohio governor's bid by saying he was flying back to the Buckeye State later Monday night.

'We look at the country over the last 20 years, Silicon Valley was at the bleeding edge of the American economy. I think the Ohio River Valley can be at the bleeding edge of the American economy for the next 20 years,' he said, readying his pitch to voters.

'People leaving this state from New York or California, right now, they go to Florida or Texas,' he said. 'I think places like Ohio should be where they're headed in the next couple of decades.'

Vivek Ramaswamy was asked by Fox News' Jesse Watters if he was fired from DOGE - the Department of Government Efficiency - by Elon Musk (left). President Donald Trump (right) had tasked Musk and Ramaswamy to be co-leaders of the project

Watters said the weather in Ohio might even improve over the next few years.

'All right, if global warming keeps happening, it's going to get really nice and sunny in Ohio,' the Fox News anchor said.

Ramaswamy, if he announces, will follow Ohio's Attorney General Dave Yost into the Republican primary.

They will be vying to replace the term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine.

Ramaswamy ran in the 2024 GOP primary against Trump but when he fell short in the Iowa caucuses last January he quickly endorsed and campaigned for the now-president.

Without him, Musk's DOGE has hit the ground running much like the rest of the Trump administration in the first week on the job.

DOGE has set to work removing the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council website from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

President Trump has been highly vocal about his intention to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion offices across federal government, describing them as 'Marxist.'

Elon Musk has revealed the Department of Government Efficiency's first task since Donald Trump returned to Oval Office

Just yesterday the website described its services as the 'principal interagency forum to implement and sustain a national strategy for DEIA across Federal government'

The website now shows a 404 server error with the message: 'Page Not Found.'

'I will end all of the Marxist diversity, equity and inclusion policies across the entire federal government immediately,' Trump said in December.

Now, Musk is ensuring that Trump's vision is carried out at the highest level, with the removal of the executive council website.

Just yesterday the website described its services as the 'principal interagency forum to implement and sustain a national strategy for DEIA across Federal government.'

But Musk's call to wipe the website from the personnel platform indicates the entire department will be - or has already been - shuttered.

The department is also looking into stopping production of the penny to save taxpayers money.

In a post on X, the group pointed out that a penny now costs three cents to make - triple its value.

That cost taxpayers a whopping $179 million in fiscal year 2023, the post said.

DOGE has been tasked with coming up with recommendations on how to cut federal spending.

It's unclear if it would advise permanently killing off the penny, or just halting or trimming the penny's production.

Musk's DOGE has been tasked with reducing government expenditure and improving productivity within the public service.

He claims it can save $1trillion - but that number has already been worked down from the initial $2trillion he promised recently.
A British teenager jailed in Dubai for a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl is set to lodge a pardon request believed to be supported by foreign secretary David Lammy.

Marcus Fakana, now 19, from Tottenham, has prepared a plea to the ruler of the UAE, who is understood to have intervened in cases where tourists have fallen foul of his country's laws in the past.

The teen's pardon request is expected to be accompanied by a letter of support from the Foreign Secretary, who has previously been accused of not doing enough to help Fakana.

The young construction apprentice is currently serving a one-year sentence in one of Dubai's most notorious jails.

He was arrested in August after he had consensual sex with a 17-year-old from London during a holiday in the UAE city with his parents.

The girl was just one month away from turning 18, but sex with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence in the Gulf State.

The CEO of Detained in Dubai, a pressure group that is helping Fakana, has now said the British Embassy has prepared a pardon application.

Radha Stirling said according to The Mirror: 'The British Embassy has been in touch with Marcus while in prison on a regular basis and a pardon application has been prepared.

Marcus Fakana (pictured), now 19, from Tottenham, has prepared a plea to the ruler of the UAE, who has intervened in similar cases involving tourists in the past

Pictured is the high-security al-Aweer prison where Fakana is serving his sentence. The jail houses some of Dubai's worst offenders, including murderer, terrorists and rapists

Radha Stirling, founder of British-based aid group Detained In Dubai, said Fakana spent New Year's in isolation and his birthday in Dubai jail

'Marcus is praying that the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, will pardon him.

'David Lammy has promised a support letter to accompany the pardon request, but he could certainly do more,' Mr Stirling added.

However, he called on the foreign secretary to do more saying that he shouldn't just be providing a letter of support and 'wiping his hands' of the situation.

Mr Stirling said he expected Mr Lammy to be meeting with the Dubai government and UAE's ambassador to the UK and 'making things happen'.

Fakana recently celebrated his 19th birthday in the maximum-security al-Awir prison, which houses death row inmates, murderers, terrorists and violent gangsters.

The detention centre is notorious for its cramped conditions, where 20 inmates are often into cells designed to house just three to four people.

Prisoners have previously claimed to have been tortured for confessions, and rape is reportedly an 'everyday occurrence', carried out by both inmates and guards.

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum delivers a speech during the Founders Memorial event in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019

The family of Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, have been left devastated by his prison sentence, sources previously claimed

David Lammy has come under fire for not doing enough to help Marcus who is currently serving a one year sentence in one of Dubai's most notorious jails

Marcus is pictured with his family who have been battling to get the teenager released

Fakana and the 17-year-old girl he met on holiday were reportedly planning on continuing their relationship when they were back in London.

But the girl's mother is understood to have found birth control pills, photos and chats upon their return to the UK. She informed the Dubai police, who arrested Fakana at his hotel.

Detained in Dubai previously said that Fakana 'feels abandoned by the British government' following his conviction.

Mr Stirling said: 'The police had discretion to charge him with a misdemeanour like 'offensive behaviour' or similar, but chose to charge him with the felony of sex with an underage girl, the same law a 40 year old engaging in sex with a 14 year old would have been charged with.

'Although Marcus received the lowest statutory sentence, it is clear that this could have been handled more reasonably and the prosecutors could have exercised more discretion.'

'He never imagined that he would be going to jail for a holiday romance with a girl who was a few months younger, but is now the same age.

'It is just shocking. His life is being ruined. Here we have two British tourists who were on holiday in a consensual relationship and now one is going to jail.

'Dubai likes to market itself as a glamorous party destination, one for influencers, yet they are jailing a British tourist for a something that would not be a crime in his own country and ruining his life.'

A doctor shows a hallway at the medical centre of Al-Aweer prison during the Covid pandemic

Here is a picture of one of the meals a former prisoner has said he was served in the Dubai jail

Protesters march in Westminster, demanding the release of Fakana on January 4

Ms Sterling added: 'I did expect the British Government, as other governments have done, to step up and save one of their citizens from unjust sentencing.

'Marcus did plead guilty, but police and prosecutors had a disturbing litany of details in his file which ended up making it more than a misdemeanour and heard in a higher court.

'They said he was older than 19 and he was from Pakistan. He was a British citizen. There were a lot errors deliberately to torment him.'

According to his own account, apprentice builder Fakana had arrived in Dubai on August 26 with his family on holiday.

The teen told police after his arrest that the girl approached him and asked him to have sex with her.

The prosecution document stated: 'We received a complaint via the Dubai Police application about the rape of a 17-year-old British woman by an unknown person at the Hilton Palm Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai.

'When the complainant was asked over the phone about the details, she stated that an unknown person had recognised her daughter (the victim) at the hotel and raped her by force on August 27 while she was in the country.'

A Foreign Office spokesman previously said: 'We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.

'The British Embassy Dubai was not involved in reporting any offence to the UAE authorities.

'They have informed the UAE authorities of the error in their records and all other interested parties are also aware.'
A shooting that left a Vermont border patrol agent dead may be connected to several other murders spanning from Pennsylvania to California.

Swanton Sector Border Patrol agent David Maland, 44, was killed when the occupants of a car started firing at him when he stopped them about 20 miles from the US-Canada border on January 20.

The suspected shooters have been identified as Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington and Felix Bauckholt - a German national who was shot dead at the scene.

Youngblut was injured during the shootout and taken to the hospital. Maland was also taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The motives behind the incident remain unclear.

But prosecutors believe the Vermont shooting was not an isolated crime - tying Youngblut to a double homicide in Pennsylvania and a fatal stabbing in California.

In November 2024, Youngblut filed an application to marry Maximilian Snyder, a 22-year-old data scientist, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

On Friday, Snyder was arrested and charged with murdering a Vallejo, California landlord named Curtis Lind, 82, on January 17. He appeared in court on Tuesday.

A criminal complaint filed in Solano County claims that Lind was stabbed and killed 'for the purpose of preventing his testimony in a criminal proceeding,' KTVU reported.

Swanton Sector Border Patrol agent David Maland, 44, was killed when the occupants of a car he stopped about 20 miles from the US-Canada border started firing at him

Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington has been accused of shooting and killing the border patrol agent and has been linked to three other deaths across the country

Lind had previously survived being attacked with a sword during an argument with his tenants in 2022.

The landlord shot dead one of his attackers, 31-year-old Emma Borhanian. The other two suspected assailants, Suri Dao, 21, and Alexander Jeffrey Leatham, 27, were arrested.

The pair was charged attempted murder and aggravated mayhem for attacking Lind with a sword. They were also charged with murder for Borhanian's death, according to KTVU.

Dao and Leatham are set to appear in court on February 19 - and Lind was supposed to testify against them.

In 2019, Borhanian and Leatham were arrested after participating in an outlandish protest in Westminster Woods, a camping retreat in Occidental, California, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office said they allegedly blocked themselves in the wooded area to protest artificial intelligence and a Berkeley nonprofit organization that was hosting an event there.

In 2021, Borhanian, Leatham and the two others who protested with them - Gwen Danielson and Jack Lasota - sued the retreat and Sonoma County deputies.

They claimed they were tortured and belittled for being transgender, but the case was dismissed because the group stopped showing up to court.

Curtis Lind, 82, was stabbed to death at his Vallejo, California property on January 17

Maximilian Snyder, a 22-year-old data scientist, has been arrested and charged with Lind's death. He was also set to marry Youngblut

Youngblut may also be associated with the suspected killers of Richard Zajko, 71, and his wife Rita, 69, who were found dead in their Delaware County, Pennsylvania home in January 2023.

In court on Monday, prosecutors revealed that a person who may be involved in the Zajkos' murders allegedly bought the guns Youngblut and Bauckholt used in the Vermont border patrol shooting.

Additionally, Youngblut was in consistent contacted with another unnamed 'person of interest' who was detained in Pennsylvania in connection to the double homicide, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Youngblut has been charged with one count of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent, and one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to that assault, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Seattle law enforcement revealed that Youngblut's parents told police she was missing days before she allegedly killed Maland, NBC5 reported.

Her parents said they had not heard from her in days and were growing concerned. Youngblut reportedly moved out to go live with a friend and changed her phone number.

They disclosed that their daughter had become estranged, pulling away from friends and lying about who she was with and her whereabouts.

But since Youngblut is an adult, police determined there was no reason to formally report her missing.

Richard Zajko (right), 71, and his wife Rita (left), 69 were found dead in their Pennsylvania home in 2023

When Youngblut and Bauckholt were stopped in a Prius by border agents, Bauckholt reportedly had an expired visa.

The pair had been on police's radars after a Vermont hotel employee noticed them checking-in wearing all black clothing. Youngblut allegedly had an exposed gun.

They told police they were in Vermont looking for property to buy and checked out on January 19, according to prosecutors.

Before the shooting, they were last seen at a Walmart. Bauckholt bought aluminum foil and went to the car to wrap items in it.

After the attack, officers reportedly found two pistols, two phones wrapped in tin foil, a ballistic helmet, night vision goggles, a tactical belt, two full-face respirators, bullets, hand-held radios, a dozen electronic devices and travel documents, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

They also allegedly spotted Youngblut's journal, which contained 'cypher text' and statements referring to drug use - including 'coming up on acid' and 'this LSD trip seems pretty mellow.'
The parents and brother of an eight-year-old who died after being denied lifesaving medicine, in the belief God would save her, have been found guilty of manslaughter.

Elizabeth Struhs died on January 7, 2022 at the family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after six days without being given her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes.

The girls' parents, and 12 members of fringe Christian group 'The Saints', were accused of killing her by withholding her medication.

Elizabeth's father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, and the leader of the group, Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, faced murder charges at the trial before Justice Martin Burns in Brisbane's Supreme Court.

But Justice Burns had the option of finding them guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which he did on Wednesday.

Elizabeth's 49-year-old mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, and 22-year-old brother Zachary Alan Struhs were also found guilty of manslaughter, along with 10 other members of The Saints.

The trial saw chilling text messages between group members and family before Elizabeth's death which showed the group believed she would be healed by God.

'Rest in His glorious love, power and faithfulness. This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God,' Stevens told Elizabeth's parents on January 4.

Elizabeth died on January 7, 2022 at her family's home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane , after six days without her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes

The girl's father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, was charged with murder but found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday

This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God,' Brendan Luke Stevens, found guilty of manslaughter, told Elizabeth's parents before she died

The next day Stevens sent another text saying 'we sit and wait for the amazing miracle that God will perform'.

Another group member messaged Elizabeth's older brother saying her sickness was 'just Satan having his last go'.

Jason told the group he was feeling 'scared' about his decision to withhold the insulin, but they encouraged him to hold firm.

'Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,' Therese Stevens told him.

Throughout the week, rather than seeking medical intervention, the group prayed for God to heal Elizabeth.

On January 6, the day before Elizabeth died, one congregation member messaged another saying, 'Elizabeth doesn't appear to be breathing but we are all around her praying'.

Stevens spoke for all defendants at the start of the months-long, judge-only trial in 2024.

He claimed they held a reasonable belief that God would heal Elizabeth in line with the group's rejection of modern medicine.

Elizabeth's 49-year-old mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, was also found guilty of manslaughter

'This isn't really a trial about murder of a child as it is religious persecution,' Stevens said.

After considering his verdicts for nearly five months, Justice Burns delivered them on Wednesday in a courtroom specially modified to put all 14 defendants on trial at the same time.

Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 24, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Camellia Claire Stevens, 29, Andrea Louise Stevens, 35, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Acacia Naree Stevens, 32, Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, and Keita Courtney Martin, 24 were the other Saints members found guilty of manslaughter.

The Saints shun all medical intervention, outside of basic first aid, in favour of the supposed healing power of God.
Aussies will no longer be able to use plastic bottles in Bali as the famous tourist spot attempts to curb the wave of rubbish polluting its streets and beaches.

The Bali Provincial Government has banned the use of drinking water in plastic packaging from February 3.

Tourists will now need to provide their own stainless steel drinking bottles.

It comes after environmentalists called for urgent action after 66,000kg of rubbish was collected by volunteers between Christmas Eve and the first week on January, according to organisation Sungai Watch.

Almost 3,000 volunteers picked up straws, cosmetics packaging, plastic bags, bottles and fishing nets at Kedonganan Beach which is close to the tourist spot of Kuta.

Two sea turtles were also found trapped beneath layers of plastic.

The new regulation applies to all regional apparatuses, regional-owned enterprises (Badan Usaha Milik Daerah or BUMDs), and schools within the Bali Provincial Government.

'This policy aims to ensure that all regional apparatuses, BUMDs, and schools in Bali truly implement restrictions on the use of single-use plastic,' Bali regional secretary Dewa Made Indra said.

New laws are aimed at stopping the amount of plastic polluting Indonesia (pictured)

All agencies are prohibited from providing drinking water and food in plastic packaging, both for use in the workplace and during official activities such as meetings and ceremonial events.

'It is not permitted to provide drinking water in plastic packaging, either in glass or bottle sizes, and it is not permitted to provide food, cakes, or snacks in plastic packaging,' Mr Indra said.

The policy was also implemented in schools to educate students about reducing plastic waste.

To ensure the effectiveness of the policy, the Bali Provincial Government instructed all heads of regional apparatuses, BUMDs, and school principals to supervise and control each agency.

Mr Indra said that the step was an effort to reduce plastic waste while supporting Bali's vision as an environmentally friendly and sustainable tourist destination.

'We hope that this policy can be implemented responsibly by all related parties to realise a greener and more sustainable Bali,' he said.

The new rules will also stop the large number of tourists from polluting the region.

'This isn't just a local problem, it's a crisis impacting all of Indonesia,' co-founder of Sungai Watch Gary Bencheghib said.

Tourists (pictured in Bali) will now need to provide their own stainless steel drinking bottles

'The scale of this pollution is staggering, and it requires urgent action from individuals, businesses, and the government to address the root causes of plastic waste.'

The organisation is storing the rubbish so it doesn't got to landfill or land back in the water and plans to upcycle or recycle what it can.

'This is just one of thousands of beaches in Indonesia in similar conditions,' Sungai Watch second co-founder Sam Bencheghib said.

Sungai Watch said Indonesia had insufficient waste management systems and also blamed the 'overwhelming use' of single-use plastics across Indonesia.

In November, Bali took out the top spot in a list of destinations to avoid over claims its natural beauty had been eroded by tourism.

Fodors Magazines put the idyllic Indonesian island on its 2025 'No List'.

'Rapid, unchecked development spurred by over-tourism is encroaching on Bali's natural habitats, eroding its environmental and cultural heritage, and creating a 'plastic apocalypse',' Fodors noted.

'Once-pristine beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are now buried under piles of trash, with local waste management systems struggling to keep up.'
Elon Musk hinted he was the mastermind behind Donald Trump's latest decision to purge federal employees by posting a symbolic picture on X harkening back to his infamous Twitter cleanse.

The billionaire Tesla founder in 2022 sensationally took over Twitter and renamed it X to much dismay from staff, 80 per cent of whom found themselves unceremoniously sacked.

At the time, he sent a letter to staff titled: 'A Fork in the Road' which warned he needed to be 'extremely hardcore' in order to 'build a breakthrough Twitter 2.0 and succeed in an increasingly competitive world.'

'This will mean working long hours at high intensity,' he told staff. 'Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade.'

Musk offered employees a link to click if they were certain they wanted to 'be part of the new Twitter.'

Anyone who did not click the link by 5pm the very next day were immediately handed three months severance pay and let go.

'Whatever decision you make, thank you for your efforts to make Twitter successful.'

Now, Donald Trump's letter to federal employees has been revealed and illustrates the stark similarities between the two - including the same exact title - suggesting that 'First Buddy' Musk has had a significant role in shaping the policy.

Musk has since shared on X that he commissioned an artwork of an enormous fork standing in the road

Musk carried a sink into Twitter headquarters after the purchase while stating: 'Let that sink in'

Elon Musk has hinted he is the mastermind behind Donald Trump 's latest decision to purge federal government with a symbolic picture harking back to his Twitter cleanse

'If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce.

'At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

'If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program.'

Musk has since shared on X that he commissioned an artwork of an enormous fork standing in the road.

'Two years ago, I commissioned an art piece: A Fork in the Road,' he wrote.

'Had to make sure that civilization took the path most likely to pass the Fermi Great Filters.'

The art piece is located at the Tesla HQ in Texas.

Musk's role with the Department of Government Efficiency is primarily to reduce unnecessary government spending.

Musk and Trump developed a close friendship during the presidential campaign after the billionaire endorsed the Republican and became a high spending donor

'DOGE is saving the Federal Government approx. $1 billion/day, mostly from stopping the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, deletion of DEI and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations, all consistent with the Presidents Executive Orders,' DOGE said in a statement.

'A good start, though this number needs to increase to > $3 billion/day.'

The Trump administration started sending emails to thousands of federal workers Tuesday evening offering them a chance to voluntarily vacate their government posts while remaining on the payroll for months.

To take the deal, employees were told to type the word 'resign' into the subject line of their response.

The 'majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,' according to the email.

A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management said the employees who accept the terms were being offered the chance to go on administrative leave through Sept. 30 at full pay.

An administration official told DailyMail.com the program could save up to $100 billion, but the the White House has not put forward information on how it got to the figure. Officials are predicting up to 10 percent of the workforce could take the deal for a delayed resignation.

Musk and Trump developed a close friendship during the presidential campaign after the billionaire endorsed the Republican and donated $250 million to help him win.

The billionaire Tesla founder sensationally took over Twitter and renamed it X in 2022 to much dismay from staff, 80 per cent of whom found themselves unceremoniously sacked

Elon Musk claimed on Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked SpaceX to bring the astronauts home as soon as possible

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck at the International Space Station since June 5. They are pictured giving a news conference in July

Trump rewarded his loyalty with the DOGE role, praising Musk's history of ruthless business decisions.

In addition to his work with DOGE, Musk revealed Trump has tasked him with bringing home the two astronauts stranded in space.

Musk, who founded SpaceX and has been outspoken in his vision to get humans on Mars, was tasked in August with bringing Butch Wilmore, 62, and Sunita Williams, 59, back to Earth in February after NASA officials deemed Boeing's Starliner was not up to the mission.

Yet Williams' and Wilmore's replacements are not set to arrive at the International Space Station until late March or early April - meaning the stranded astronauts will have to stay until then to conduct a handover.

In a post on X, though, Musk said he was tasked by President Donald Trump to immediately bring the stranded astronauts home.

He then hit out at former President Joe Biden for not acting sooner.

'Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long,' he lamented.

Trump later confirmed that he made the request.

'I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to "go get" the two brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned by the Biden administration,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

'They have been waiting many months on [the] Space Station,' he continued. 'Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe,' the president said.
A New York State trooper who claimed he was shot on a Long Island highway by a random gunman falsified his story, prosecutors have claimed.

Thomas Mascia, 27, set off a multistate manhunt on October 30 when he said he stopped in the median of the Southern State Parkway to check on a disabled vehicle and was shot by a dark-skinned male in a black sedan with a temporary New Jersey license plate, NBC News reports.

He even described the vehicle as having rear-tinted windows and custom made dual exhaust-tips, according to Newsday.

'Shots fired, shots fired, I'm hit,' the trooper radioed to his colleagues that night.

'I'm bleeding pretty good in the leg. Got a tourniquet on.'

But Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly claimed on Monday that Mascia actually shot himself before he reported the incident.

He then allegedly brought the gun he used to the home he shared with his parents and drove to the parkway to report that he was shot.

The report 'started off with an adrenaline-fueled rush, no doubt, to find whoever was responsible for assaulting a state trooper,' State Police Superintendent Steven James said at a news conference.

Thomas Mascia, 27, claimed he was shot on a Long Island highway by a random gunman

He claimed he stopped in the median of the Southern State Parkway to check on a disabled vehicle and was shot by a dark-skinned male in a black sedan with a temporary New Jersey license plate

Investigators searched through New York, New Jersey and even Delaware for the vehicle.

But within a few hours, James said, 'the story began to unravel.'

State police conducted extensive video canvassing to try to find the vehicle Mascia had described, but could not find any surveillance footage showing the Dodge Charger.

They also could not find any tire marks at the scene to indicate a quick getaway, and noted that Mascia never flagged down another driver for help, the New York Times reports.

Authorities also failed to find any footage of the shooting when they reviewed body-worn camera video, and noted they did find several .22-caliber shell casings on the ground.

Using GPS and license plate readers, however, investigators claim that Mascia scattered the shells himself, then drove to a local park where he shot himself in the leg and applied a tourniquet.

They further discovered that the bullet that struck his leg appeared to have come from his own weapon.

'The evidence uncovered and the absence of evidence told us everything we needed to know,' Donnelly said.

Investigators searched through New York, New Jersey and even Delaware for the vehicle

'Even though Mascia tried to hide his tracks, it didn't take long for everyone to uncover that his harrowing story was nothing more than an elaborate work of fiction.

'He knew the fear that it would create. But he did it anyway. Whether for sympathy, attention to ease a wounded ego, what he did is unconscionable.'

Prosecutors also noted in a criminal complaint that his actions caused state police to 'temporarily shut down the Southern State Parkway in an effort to locate the nonexistent shooter, causing alarm and inconvenience to the public.'

Meanwhile, Mascia was brought to a local hospital to be treated for the gunshot wound to his right leg.

When he was released the next day, local police held a ceremony for him.

'Law enforcement throughout Long Island celebrated that he was safe, and we vowed to find the dangerous individual who shot him,' Donnelly said.

'But we never would. Because the shooter that we were all looking for existed in Mascia's head, in his imagination.'

When Mascia was released from a local hospital the following day, local police held a ceremony for him

Mascia, who became a state trooper in 2019, was suspended without pay since early November - when state police first announced they launched an investigation into the shooting.

He then resigned from his position on Friday, and is now facing charges with tampering with evidence, false reporting of a crime and official misconduct.

The former trooper and his parents, Dorothy Mascia, 55, and former NYPD Officer Thomas Mascia Sr., 62, turned themselves in to state police on Monday, after investigators discovered a Smith & Wesson semiautomaitc rifle inside their home while conducting a search following the shooting.

Police say the weapon was not the one Mascia shot himself with, but as a convicted felon, his father is not allowed to own a gun.

He was charged in 1992 for illegally buying and selling cocaine in a massive corruption scandal, and was fired in 1993 after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute.

All three Mascias have pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance, as the former trooper's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said he has been suffering from 'untreated mental health issues' for years.

'There are many less severe and less dangerous ways to garner sympathy that don't include shooting oneself,' he wrote in court documents obtained by NBC News.

'This case is a tragedy that was caused by unseen and untreated mental health issues. And now an entire family is suffering for it as they usually do in such situations.'

Mascia is now facing charges with tampering with evidence, false reporting of a crime and official misconduct

State police officials had also said last year they were investigating whether Mascia suffered from mental health problems, but an investigation and psychiatric exam found 'no apparent red flags,' James said.

He called Mascia's conduct 'egregious' and said it 'harmed the reputation of law enforcement in general.

'What I will make clear is that the State Police, we do not tolerate such conduct, especially wrongdoing when a member breaks the law.'

The New York State Troopers Benevolent Association also released a statement saying: 'We are saddened and sickened by this case.

'The actions of one individual must not be allowed to cast a negative light on that commitment and detract from the important, positive work Troopers do every day across the state.

'Our focus remains on serving New Yorkers,' the Benevolent Association said. 'We'll leave it to the court to ensure justice is served in this case.'

Mascia is now facing up to four years in prison, and is due back in court on February 5.
EXCLUSIVE

Great Northern Brewing has sensationally abandoned a campaign aimed at supporting national parks after outraged customers boycotted the beer.

The popular beer brand's 'Outdoors for a Cause' campaign vowed to match donations of any amount up to $200,000 when customers gave to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife charity.

The campaign was supposed to run from January 15 to March 31, but the brewing company brought it to a stop last night after thousands of complaints from outdoor enthusiasts.

Opponents were upset the beer brand was supporting the creation of national parks, which have stricter policies than state parks and make it more difficult to camp, bring a family dog on a trip or drive a 4WD.

Great Northern marketing head Zac Gelman told Daily Mail Australia it had taken its customers' advice on board and dropped the campaign.

'Great Northern's Outdoors for a Cause campaign was yesterday paused following feedback from our passionate drinkers,' Mr Gelman said.

'Our donation to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife will now not be used to buy land to add to national parks.

'Our donation will instead be used for the preservation of endangered species.'

Great Northern drinkers were abandoning the beer after a controversial campaign

In a sudden U-turn, Great Northern said it was now backing those who want to preserve the less restrictive state forests.

'Whether it's hiking, fishing, 4-wheel driving or just relaxing, Great Northern drinkers use and preserve their precious spots in the great outdoors and we support them,' Mr Gelman said.

Great Northern underestimated the amount of its drinkers who supported the protection of state forests.

One angry drinker, Jake Seddon, shared footage on TikTok showing him pouring out his Great Northern in anger over the beer brand's campaign.

'Great Northern supporting locking us out of our parks,' the caption read.

Another, Sean McLachlan took to Facebook to post a video of him puncturing his Great Northern can and letting it spill out.

'G'day Australia, this used to be my favourite beer before you went woke,' he said.

Four-wheel driving Facebook group 4WD TV was infuriated by the campaign.

'In an absolutely disgraceful move Great Northern Brewing has gone woke with a campaign to help get us locked out of forests,' they wrote.

Sean McLachlan punctured his Great Northern can and let it spill out

Leonie Blackwell, who runs the Facebook page 'Victorians against the Great Forest National Park', told Daily Mail Australia that Great Northern Brewing would be regretting their decision.

'It's really disappointing that major companies like that are blindly buying into supporting issues without really understanding the full context of the impact they will have,' she said.

'They're trying to look good but they need to have a much bigger vision than just trying to look cool and trendy.

'I would hope they're regretting their decision to do this. A lot of people who drink Great Northern also go camping.'

Only $2,286 was raised for the cause before it was abandoned.

A national park is an area of land that has been reserved for the protection and conservation of biodiversity, native plants and animals, ecosystems, places of cultural significance and natural or geological features.

State forests offer a lower level of environmental protection and the list of permitted activities is generally broader and includes things like trail biking, authorised hunting, horse riding and dog walking.

In 2010 the Japanese company Asahi, through its wholly owned Victorian subsidiary Carlton United Breweries, announced the launch of Great Northern Brewing.

Great Northern is styled on 'Cairns Draught', a product first brewed in 1924.

In 2022 it was the best selling beer in Australia.
Aussie comedian Tom Ballard has been slammed by the Jewish community after performing what appeared to be a Nazi salute during a stand-up show.

The 35-year-old ABC regular and former Triple J radio host was doing a routine at the Basement Comedy Club in Melbourne on Saturday night when he allegedly performed the salute repeatedly as part of his skit.

Some of the members of the audience were Jewish and filmed the moment before sharing the footage with the media.

Nazi symbols and gestures were banned by the Victorian government in October 2023 to 'send a clear message that Nazi ideology and the hate it represents is not tolerated' in the state.

'There are several exceptions to the offence, which include where the display is made reasonably and in good faith for genuine academic, religious, artistic, or educational purposes,' the Victorian government website states.

Ballard's bit started with him saying 'you can't do anything in Australia' and that the position of a person's hand when they waved a greeting at someone was central to whether they were breaking the law.

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, said to use the gesture for laughs was to 'desecrate' the memory of Jews who died at the hands of the Third Reich.

'Tom Ballard's performance wasn't comedy, it was cruelty disguised as humour,' Dr Abramovich said.

Aussie comedian Tom Ballard has been slammed by the Jewish community after performing what appeared to be a Nazi salute during a stand-up show (the moment is pictured)

The 35-year-old ABC regular and former Triple J radio host (pictured) was doing a routine at the Basement Comedy Club in Melbourne on Saturday night when he allegedly performed the salute repeatedly as part of his skit

'This wasn't just a bad joke; it was a slap in the face to the victims, the Diggers who sacrificed their lives to defeat Hitler and to those who endured the atrocities of the Holocaust.

'The Nazi salute is not edgy or funny, it's a weapon of hate, emboldening neo-Nazis and white supremacists.'

Dr Abramovich has demanded an apology from The Basement Comedy Club, adding he was not out to censor comedy but that some topics were 'too sacred'.

Earlier this month in the US, billionaire Elon Musk was slammed over a gesture he made during a rally in Washington on Inauguration Day, in which he thanked Donald Trump's supporters for helping secure the President's return to the White House.

He then slapped his hand on his chest and extended his arm straight outward and upward with his palm facing downwards.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Musk amid criticisms that the Tesla billionaire made a Nazi salute during the MAGA victory rally.

Netanyahu says Musk has been 'falsely smeared' over his straight-arm gesture earlier this week and thanked him for being a 'great friend of Israel'.

Netanyahu's response comes after left-wing activists beamed a massive image of Musk's infamous raised-arm salute and the word 'Heil' on to Tesla's Berlin factory last week.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ballard's management and The Basement Comedy Club for comment.
Donald Trump is thanking the only person who could have turned on the water in the aftermath of Los Angeles' deadly spate of wildfires: Donald Trump.

Trump had previously claimed that he was able to get the U.S. military to have 'TURNED ON THE WATER' in the aftermath of Los Angeles' deadly spate of wildfires.

He signed an executive order Friday demanding that federal agencies 'maximize' all water delivery to the Golden State and telling them to 'override' any state policies that could hinder them.

California attempted to clarify on social media, saying that the 'military did not enter California' and the pumps were only turned off due to maintenance.

'The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days,' The California Department of Water Resources posted on X.

That didn't stop Trump from taking another victory lap on the issue Tuesday evening, giving himself a hearty kudos for the efforts.

'The water is flowing, big time, in Northern California. The long empty reservoirs will soon be full. Thank you President Trump!!!'

The state's full comment on the matter suggested this was all the fixing of the offline federal pumps.

'State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful,' the agency said.

Donald Trump is thanking the only person who could have turned on the water in the aftermath of Los Angeles' deadly spate of wildfires: Donald Trump

However, two hours earlier, Trump took to Truth Social to say that he had fixed California's water problems.

'The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond,' Trump said 'The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER.'

'Enjoy the water, California!!!' the new president added.

Trump visited Los Angeles on Friday after repeatedly making false claims about the state's fire response.

The 78-year-old president contends that there's a giant spigot that California needs to turn on to bring water into the Los Angeles area from the north.

He said California authorities - including the state's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom - failed to do that to preserve an endangered fish called a Delta smelt.

During a recent appearance on MSNBC, Newsom called Trump's spigot claims 'wild-eyed fantasies.'

'That somehow there's a magical spigot in Northern California that just can be turned on and all of a sudden there will be rain of water flowing everywhere,' Newsom said.

California attempted to clap back at the president on social media, saying that the federal government only 'restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days'

Around 11 p.m. Monday Trump took to Truth Social to say that he had fixed California's water problems. 'Enjoy the water, California!!!' the newly sworn-in president boasted

On Sunday Trump had ordered the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more water and hydropower through the Central Valley Project even if the order was in conflict with state or local laws.

Newsom's office pushed back explaining that the move wouldn't have made a difference during the height of the fires - as Los Angeles didn't suffer a water shortage.

President Joe Biden had explained that power outages had impacted some hydrants.

Some residents in the Pacific Palisades have sued over the fact that a 117-million-gallon reservoir built to help the area in case of fires was offline during the blazes.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the reservoir had been drained after a tear was found in the reservoirs floating cover last January.

Work to repair the cover hadn't been completed by the time Palisades fire ripped through the area earlier this month.
An Indiana man who faked his own death as a way to avoid paying child support was found hiding in plain sight in his hometown.

Jeffrey Bell Jr., 51, of Salem, was arrested on numerous charges last week after attempting to fool the court into believing he was dead and therefore couldn't pay the large amount of child support he owed.

Last week, Indiana State Police announced on Facebook that an investigation into the father resulted in his ultimate arrest.

The investigation came after Detective Travis Baker met with the Washington County Child Support Administrator in April of last year who informed him that she had received emails stating that Bell had passed away.

Due to an untimely passing, the large amount of child support he owed would ultimately go unpaid.

Despite reports that Bell had died before he was able to pay off his debts, Baker was also informed that he may still be alive and staying with his girlfriend at her home in northern Washington County.

Shortly after hearing the news, Baker headed over to the home where he was met by Bell.

Yet Bell's alleged lie about being dead didn't end when he was confronted at the front door.

Jeffrey Bell Jr., 51, of Salem, Indiana, was arrested on numerous charges last week just months after he faked his own death as a way to avoid paying child support

Bell was ultimately found alive and well in the very same county after Detective Travis Baker met with the Washington County Child Support Administrator in April of last year about his death (pictured: The Washington County, Indiana, Clerk's Office)

Once officers tracked him down, he initially denied that he was the one-and-only Jeffrey Bell standing in front of them.

Nevertheless, Bell was positively identified and handed a court date of January 23 at the Washington County Circuit Court on charges of False Informing.

On the day of his first court date, Bell appeared through a virtual online meeting after he claimed that he was out of state and couldn't be there in person.

During the appearance, police came to believe that Bell was actually still in Indiana and attending the meeting from the same Washington County residence where he had originally been caught alive.

Once again, Washington County Sheriff's deputies went to the home to see if Bell was actually in the state.

In a not-so-surprising twist, Bell was indeed inside the home and not across state lines, leading to presiding Judge Larry Medlock to order the 51-year-old man to be taken into custody and immediately taken to the courtroom.

Bell was ultimately charged with three counts of failing to appear, one count of false informing and one count of contempt of court.

He is being held in the Washington County Jail on a $100,000 bond for the False Informing charge and without bond for two of the Failure to Appear charges along with the Contempt of Court.

Bell's attempt to evade child support payments came less than a year after 39-year-old Jesse Kipf of Kentucky admitted to also faking his own death to avoid paying more than $100,000 in outstanding child support

Bell is being held on a $500 bond for the last Failure to Appear charge.

As of now, Bell is still in custody and is set to appear in court on February 6 in regards to the contempt charge, Law and Crime reported.

As for the false informing charge, a jury trial is scheduled for May 13.

Bell's attempt to evade child support payments comes less than a year after a Kentucky father admitted to also faking his own death to avoid paying more than $100,000 in outstanding child support.

Jesse Kipf, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of computer fraud on March 29, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The plea agreement said Kipf accessed Hawaii's death registry system in January of 2023 and created a fake death certificate by using an out-of-state doctor's personal information.

Kipf was then listed as deceased in multiple government databases after he 'assigned himself as the medical certifier' and certified his own case.

The plea agreement revealed that Kipf faked his death in other states and stole other identities 'in order to avoid his outstanding child support obligations to his ex-wife.'

Bell is being held in the Washington County Jail on a $100,000 bond for the False Informing charge and without bond for two of the Failure to Appear charges along with the Contempt of Court

According to the plea agreement, Kipf 'also infiltrated private business networks, using credentials he stole from other real people.'

He then went on to sell access to the private business networks to buyers online, the agreement said.

Kipf not only stole the identities of multiple people, but also harmed numerous corporate and government computer networks resulting in more than $79,000 in damages.

The doctor that he pretended to be, who has been identified as 'C.N.', also suffered damages that totaled to more than $116,000.

According to the agreement, Kipf has agreed to pay all the parties for his wrongdoings, for a total amount of more than $195,000.

He was initially indicted in November 2023 by the federal grand jury on five counts of computer fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of making false statements on applications, according to a news release.

Kipf was indicted for making false statements in order to open credit accounts in 2020 and 2023, as he used a false social security number, the indictment said.

Under his plea agreement, Kipf faces a maximum of seven years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines.

His initial charges carried a sentence of more than 30 years behind bars.

Five of the seven years were related to his aggravated identity charges and the other two were for his computer fraud charges.
A Minnesota mother who survived cancer has died while skydiving in Arizona after experiencing parachute 'complications.'

Ann Wick, 54, of Stillwater was skydiving at Skydive Arizona in Eloy with a group when the fatal incident occurred on Friday around 4 pm.

Her chute became twisted after it deployed and she was unable to trigger her emergency one, according to police.

Her brother Jeff Wallis told KARE 11: 'There was an equipment failure of some sort. Her chute got tangled and she was not able to release the chute to get her emergency chute out.'

Paramedics were already on the scene for training, so they were able to immediately respond to Wick's accident - but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The Eloy Police Department and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating Wick's death, according to a statement from the police department.

In a statement to People Magazine, Skydive Arizona wrote: 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

'Despite the parachute fully deploying as designed, observers noted the canopy was turning. No corrective actions appeared to be taken by the jumper, nor was the reserve parachute deployed. The injuries sustained during landing proved fatal.'

Ann Wick, 54, of Stillwater was skydiving at Skydive Arizona in Eloy with a group when the fatal incident occurred on Friday around 4 pm

When her son Charlie and daughter Rosalie were teenagers, Wick decided to go to nursing school. She became a registered nurse shortly before she passed away

The mom had recreationally skydived nearly 300 times. Her brother described her as a 'thrill seeker.'

Wallis said his sister spent her life defying the odds - overcoming injuries, having children, battling sickness and becoming a nurse.

Wick grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota with her parents and three brothers, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported.

At 20 years old, she was in a serious car crash that doctors said would make her infertile.

In 2010, Wick was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and underwent 'grueling surgeries and chemo,' her family shared in a statement to KSTP, but was able to beat it.

When her son Charlie and daughter Rosalie were teenagers, Wick decided to go to nursing school. She became a registered nurse shortly before she passed away.

'She felt it was her calling to help others. She also began skydiving around the same time,' her family wrote.

Wallis created a GoFundMe page to help Wick's children cover funeral costs and other expenses. So far, more than $3,800 in donations have been collected.

Wallis said his sister spent her life defying the odds - overcoming injuries, having children, battling sickness and becoming a nurse

Wick had skydived nearly 300 times when she experienced the deadly 'complication' with her chute

'You want it to be a bad dream,' Wallis said to KARE 11. 'You realize it is not a dream, then you are crying because you realize it is real.'

In August 2024, a California skydiver died alongside her instructor in a freak weather event.

Kayla Kieko Black, 28, was pronounced dead at a Riverside County hospital after she and her skydiving instructor hit twin 'dust devils' at around 40 feet above ground.

Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of strong surface heating, like Arizona, when there are clear skies and light winds, according to the National Weather Service.

They are generally considered harmless, but as Black and her instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, hit the twin dust devils as they were preparing to land on August 2 they started to experience turbulence.

By the time they reached around 25 feet off the ground, they hit the second dust devil - leaving them no time to react and slammed into the ground.
Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive in Russian captivity following reports that he was captured and executed while fighting for Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday afternoon confirmed reports that the Melbourne-born teacher is alive.

The 32-year-old had travelled to the war zone and was serving alongside Ukraine's army when he was captured by Russian soldiers late last year.

Senator Wong has called on Russia to release Mr Jenkins and warned it would 'unequivocal' response if Mr Jenkins was harmed.

'The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody. We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war,' she said in a statement.

'If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal.

'We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

'I have also spoken directly with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the President of the ICRC and am grateful for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.'

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins (pictured) is believed to be alive and in Russian captivity following reports that he was executed after he was captured while fighting for Ukraine

Mr Jenkins was captured by the Russian military while serving as a foreign mercenary for Ukraine (pictured, soldiers patrolling Ukraine's border)

Senator Wong said she had also spoken with her Ukrainian counterpart the International Committee of the Red Cross president.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to Mr Jenkins' family.

Ukraines ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko welcomed the update.

'Im very happy hes alive, its fantastic news,' he said.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to take the 'strongest action possible' against Russia if it was confirmed Mr Jenkins had died since being captured while fighting in Ukraine.

Recent unconfirmed reports said the prisoner of war was executed, prompting the Australian government to launch 'urgent enquiries' with Moscow and to call in the Russian ambassador for an explanation.

A foreign soldier, who served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine's 66th mechanised brigade, claimed the Australian was tortured and executed to make an example of him to other would-be foreign mercenaries.

The rumours followed highly disturbing footage of Mr Jenkins being slapped across the face and questioned by Russian soldiers on December 22, 2024.

Mr Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, had travelled to the war zone and was serving alongside Ukraine's army when he was captured by Russian soldiers late last year

Mr Jenkins told the soldiers, through English and broken Ukrainian, that he was fighting for Ukraine in the Donbas region.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday said he had 'received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade' about Mr Jenkins and was 'seeking confirmation'.

'I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that has been the statement made by Russian authorities through to our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials as well, so if that is the case it certainly would be welcome,' Mr Albanese told the ABC.

'It is something that we have demanded information on and we are demanding more information so that we can be certain that what has been suggested is in fact the case.'

Mr Jenkins was born in Melbourne and attended Melbourne Grammar School.

He later studied biomedical sciences at Monash University and worked as a lecturer at a Tianjin college in China.

Mr Jenkins was the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces and his death would have marked the first for an Australian prisoner of war in more than 70 years.
A joint counter terror investigation involving 100 officers has been set up after a caravan stashed with explosives along with a note of known Jewish targets was found at a semi-rural property.

The vehicle was found by a resident at a property in Dural in north-west Sydney on January 19.

Police found enough explosives to create a 40-metre blast inside the van along with a note containing the addresses of Jewish targets and a synagogue.

Officers also found a note in the caravan, which is understood to have read 'f*** the Jews'.

Police are treating the situation as a credible terror threat and are investigating the van's origins, owners and any associates of the owners.

The owner of the caravan is in police custody after they were previously arrested for other alleged offences.

It's understood they have not been charged in relation to the explosives found in the caravan, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Police are yet to confirm if the plot is linked to far-right extremists, Islamic terrorists or any other group.

An unknown number of other arrests have also been made, with some also alleged to be connected other alleged anti-Semitic attacks.

A caravan filled with explosives and a note with the addresses of Jewish people was found at a property in Sydney's north-west

NSW Police is now working in partnership with AFP, the NSW Crime Commission and ASIO in its ongoing investigation

'That caravan contained an amount of explosives and some indication that those explosives might be used in some form of anti-Semitic attack,' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.

'We're taking this seriously and all lines of inquiry are being pursued, but I want to stress we do not believe there is an ongoing threat from this discovery.'

It's understood the resident who reported the van to police was concerned that the seemingly dumped vehicle posed a safety risk to passing cars.

The man had towed the caravan onto his property before realising its contents.

Police have since seized the van.

'Some things just don't add up,' one source involved in the operation told the Daily Telegraph.

'Leaving notes and addresses are too obvious, likewise leaving it on a public road makes us believe it could well possibly be a set up.'

Deputy Commissioner Hudson was tight-lipped about which group or individuals may be behind the frightening plot.

A counter-terrorism investigation is currently underway concerning a van filled with explosives found at a Dural property earlier this month

NSW Premier Chris Minns addressed the media on Wednesday night after a caravan stacked with explosives along with a note of known Jewish targets was found at a semi-rural property

'We don't have any particular ideology in relation to what's causing this or any common links between certain ideologies, but nothing's excluded at this stage,' Deputy Commissioner Hudson told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday night.

'We pursue everything until we get to the truth, and we will do that.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as the discovery of a potential mass casualty event.

'There's only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism,' he said.

'I want to make it very clear, please take this threat incredibly seriously.

NSW Deputy Commissioner David Hudson doesn't believe the plot is linked to far-right extremists but couldn't rule it out.

'As I've said for many, many weeks now, the full resources of the state of NSW and NSW have been deployed to confront this very serious threat to our community.

'I want to make it absolutely clear, and I understand community concerns about this story and similar escalating incidents of anti-Semitic violence in our community that anyone attempting terrorism, violence, hatred in our community will be met with the full force of the law, that there are massive amounts of police and government resources being devoted to this investigation, that there will be absolutely no tolerance under any circumstances for these acts of criminal violence in our community.'

Police believe the threat stemming from the dumped van had been contained.

'We will not rest until these matters are resolved,' Deputy Commissioner Hudson said.

'We understand the concerns of the community. We understand the concerns of the Jewish community, and we take all these threats exceptionally seriously.'

Police found a load of explosives in the van along with a note containing the addresses of Jewish targets and a synagogue. Pictured are police at the semi-rural property

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has 'unequivocally' condemned the act.

'The full might of the AFP, ASIO and NSW Police are being utilised in this major investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team,' he said in a statement.

'The NSW Police have people in custody and continue with other agencies, including those involved in AFP Special Operation Avalite to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community, and take action and hold people to account for crimes.

'Hate and extremism have no place in Australian society.'

The incident comes after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, with a childcare centre near a synagogue in the city's east set alight and sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti on January 21.

Four days before, a house that formerly belonged to Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was targeted in an arson and graffiti attack.

Two men have been charged over a separate attack on a synagogue in Newtown after it was spray-painted with red swastikas and briefly set alight in the early hours of January 11.

Federal police have identified that foreign actors recruiting local 'criminals for hire' could be behind some of the attacks targeting Jewish communities.

Cars have been set alight, a synagogue burnt down and anti-Semitic slurs painted on buildings and cars in attacks that have escalated in frequency and severity since December.
A disgraced Hollywood producer and former child actor told a court he performed CPR on two women before they died after a wild night fueled by alcohol and drugs.

David Pearce is charged with the horrific deaths of Christy Giles, 24, a model and aspiring actress, and Mexican-born architect Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, 26, whose bodies were dumped at two separate Los Angeles area hospitals by Pearce and a roommate on November 14, 2021.

Both women had been drugged with a fatal cocktail of fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, heroine, MDMA and the rape drug GHB.

In Tuesdays testimony on the ninth floor of Los Angeles Superior Court, his second day on the stand, Pearce, 43, recounted trying to revive both women.

The two friends drank red wine and did cocaine at Pearces Beverly Hills home with his friend, Michael Ansbach, he told the court, after returning from a rave at 5am.

Pearce said he witnessed Ansbach do coke 20 times over the course of the previous afternoon and evening but never personally witnessed the women do drugs.

Pearces roommate, actor Brandt Osborn, was with the group at the rave but went to bed when they arrived home. Pearce said he left the women alone with Ansbach, 50, while he cleaned up a mess left by his dog in the bathroom.

He testified that the dog, left alone for 12 hours with just a bowl of water, had destroyed the bathroom. He then busied himself cleaning up the mess, washing the dog and taking it for a short walk.

David Pearce, 43, told a court he performed CPR on two women before they died after a wild night fueled by alcohol and drugs

Christy Giles, 24, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales Arzola, 26, died in November 2021 after being dumped at separate hospitals by masked men

He said he was on his own for 35 minutes dealing with the pet and had heard Ansbach offer the women an expensive pinot noir. When he finished with the dog he returned and saw them passed out and snoring.

The time was 6.30am, said Pearce, who remembered the sun was coming up. He said he recalled seeing three empty wine bottles and powder on a glass table and that the powder was everywhere.

It seemed they drank too much and passed out, Pearce told the court. He said he didnt see the women do ketamine or any other drugs.

He said he was concerned about Giles and tried waking her up two or three times. He then picked her up and put her into bed in a spare bedroom with a bottle of water and a trash can next to the bed in case she threw up.

Next he carried Cabrales-Arzola onto his bed, again with a bottle of water and a bin. Pearce said he went to bed at 7am and slept next to her on the right side of the bed.

Earlier in the court case, prosecutors said Pearces DNA was found under her clothing, on her breasts, and genitalia. DNA was also found under her fingernails.

Peace testified he had only touched Cabrales-Arzola when he was picking her up.

Later in the afternoon, Pearce became more concerned about Giles and began performing CPR. I started to do chest compressions and CPR. She was showing signs of breath and life, he said.

Pearce said he witnessed Ansbach do coke 20 times over the course of the previous afternoon and evening but never personally witnessed the women do drugs

While both Giles (left) and Cabrales (right) were found with heroin in their systems, their family and friends insist the women never would have willingly taken the drug

Her breathing improved. She was responding to the chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation in a positive way.

I was hoping that she was going to respond positively and snap out of whatever she was in. Pearce did not call 911.

Pearce attempted to lift Giles but she relieved herself all over him, testified Osborn. He said I cant go like this and so he had a shower for three minutes and changed his clothes.

Pearce and Osborn then took Giles to an area hospital, wearing masks, before fleeing.

En route from the hospital to home, the duo called Ansbach - who had slept on a sofa that evening - to ask how Cabrales-Arzola was doing and were told she was fine, said Pearce.

But once back they noticed that she had worsened and again Pearce performed CPR. I did anything I could, said Pearce, who said he performed chest compressions. Again, he failed to call emergency services.

Pearce said he carried Cabrales-Arzola onto his bed, again with a bottle of water and a bin. He claimed he went to bed at 7am and slept next to her on the right side of the bed.

He then put Cabrales-Arzola in the Prius and drove her to Ceda-Sinai Medical Center at 6am but when he was not able to take her in the rear entrance the two drove to another hospital in Culver City where they left her with staff before quickly leaving.

Pearce said he had assumed the girls would just need to sleep off the previous evening. He told the court he regularly had drug and alcohol-fueled parties at his home but denied giving the two women drugs.

Friends were passing out a my house all the time, said Pearce. I preferred it rather than them drinking and driving and passing out somewhere else.

He said guests treated his home at 8641 Olympic Boulevard as a drug den and that people would party there for days.

In addition to the murder charges, the disgraced former film producer had been previously charged with several counts of sexual assault against a total of seven victims spanning a 13-year period between 2005 and 2021.

Photographer Michael Ansbach, 50, left, who was at the apartment with Pearce alleges how he gave him and the two women alcoholic drinks and cocaine laced with fentanyl. Brandt Osborn, 43, right, was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact.He has been released on $40,000 bond

In 2014, prosecutors originally declined to pursue sexual assault charges against him, but after the deaths, several women came forward with stories.

Pearce told the court that the Jane Does 1 to 7 making accusations against him had exaggerated their stories.

He denied sexually assaulting any of the women and claimed they had all lied. They wanted to create a narrative, he said.

He denied raping Jane Doe 2 and that he had never met her. I never physically met her so I dont know how I could rape someone I never met, he said.

He said Jane Doe 6 lied when she said he anally raped her and that the alleged assault was made up because Pearce didnt help her find a job.

And the other accusers, known by just their first names - Marie, Sarah, Jackie, Carrie and Susannah - were also wrong.

All of them are wrong accept for you? Asked prosecutor Seth Carmack.

Yes, said Pearce. Their information was inaccurate.

He also denied impersonating a medical doctor to ask for a complimentary flight on United Airlines and a suite at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas.

He said the emails - on his own email account - were actually written by his father, a cosmetic dentist, who died in August last year, and one of his patients.

He also said he had dressed up a doctor for Halloween didnt present to be practicing physician.

Pearce said his father had access to his email account and had the account password, Dave123.

He also denied trying to flee the country and escape to Ukraine after the womens deaths. He claimed he was actually planning to make a documentary of the countrys conflict with Russia. I was thinking of doing what Sean Penn did and going over there and documenting it, he said.

Osborn, 45, has pleaded not guilty to helping Pearce dump the girls' bodies.

On Tuesday, h said when they reached Cedars-Sinai with Giles that Pearce freaked out and they chose to go to another hospital.

Finally he said get in the f**king car. I didnt know what to do and I got in the car and drove to the hospital in Culver City, said Osborn, who began sobbing during his testimony.

Osborn said he was dumbfounded to discover Pearce had removed the license plates from the Prius because he didnt want to be traced.

I said youre an idiot, they can trace us through your iPhone, said Osborn, who added, Youre just digging this deeper!

The trial continues.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko struggled to contain his irritation before snapping at a BBC journalist on Sunday, making veiled threats as the reporter bravely grilled him over his sham election.

Dubbed 'Europe's last dicator', Lukashenko is set to extend his 31-year rule over the country after the rigged election, which saw him re-elected with 86.8 per cent of the vote.

Lukashenko only allowed four token candidates who he approved of to have their names on the ballot paper, while his real opponents are either locked up or in exile.

After casting his vote on election day, the president gave a four-hour-long press conference, with questions from media organisations friendly to his regime as well as foreign outlets.

The BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, whose questions have attracted the fury of the dictator and his ally Vladimir Putin previously, was warned by Lukashenko: 'Don't overdo it, Steve'.

Their tense exchange began with a frosty comment from Lukashenko, who asked Rosenberg: 'What wretched question have you got prepared for me?'

'Good morning,' the journalist replied as members of the press press laughed along with the president, who then said 'good morning, Steve.'

'How can these elections be called democratic when your staunchest opponents and rivals are either in prison or in exile?' Rosenberg asked.

'Some are in prison and some are in exile, but you're here,' Lukashenko responded menacingly. 'Everyone has the right to choose. That's democratic. Some chose prison, others chose exile.'

The BBC's Moscow Correspondent Steve Rosenberg quizzed the Belarusian dictator at the press conference

The Belarusian president gave a four-hour-long press conference after voting on election day

Belarus' exiled opposition leader SviatlanaTsikhanouskaya in Warsaw. She has condemned today's election as a 'farce'

He then told Rosenberg: 'We didn't force anyone out of this country, what's more we opened up the country.

'I must have said five times already that we don't bare a grudge, we're not spiteful. Everyone will be given a chance.'

He then went on to threaten: 'I'll tell you frankly, Steve, if you had broken the law you wouldn't be sitting here. You probably wouldn't have come here.'

Rosenberg calmly brought the subject back to his previous question, pointing to a comment made by Lukashenko recently. 'But you said a few days ago that "we mustn't shut anyone's mouth." You said that.'

Lukashenko, who became increasingly irate as he continued to be challenged, said: 'Absolutely not. I'm not shutting your mouth... I said we will build our country and won't let anyone have their mouth shut.'

'But your main rivals are not only kept off the ballot, but some of them are in prison,' Rosenberg hit back. 'What's more there are still more than 1,200 political prisoners.'

'Hang on, we've released quite a few,' Lukashenko protested. 'It used to be 1,200.'

When Rosenberg responded that it is 'still that number,' the dictator claimed again it had reduced. 'If you subtract more than 200 what do you get? Didn't you go to school?' he taunted.

'My point is that if no one should have their mouth shut, maybe it's time to open the cells and release these political prisoners,' Rosenberg said.

He referred directly to peaceful protesters Maria Kalesnikava, who was given 11 years in jail for supposedly threatening to overthrow the government, and Sergei Tikhanovsky, a YouTuber who was given 18 years for organising mass protests.

Members of an electoral commission empty a ballot box to count votes during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, on January 26

Increasingly irritated by the line of questioning, Lukashenko exclaims 'My God!' but says he will answer the question.

'Are you talking about shutting mouths or shutting people in prison? Mouths are one thing, but prison is for people who opened their mouths too wide. Who broke the law. That's only natural.'

'You're asking me whatever you want to and I'm saying what I want. Don't overdo it, Steve,' he then warned.

'In any country if you break the law, you have to bear responsibility. The law is harsh but it's still the law. It wasn't me who thought that up.'

Lukashenko has ruled the former Soviet republic with an iron fist for over 30 years having gained power in 1994.

The 70-year-old seemingly sailed to victory in Sunday's vote, but the election was condemned as a sham by the European Union due to the lack of independent media in the country and the opposition candidates who remain loyal to Lukashenko.

The vote takes place five years after the turbulent 2020 election which saw Lukashenko's grip on power almost come loose after millions of citizens flooded the street condemning the result and demanding the president resigns

A Belarusian opposition supporter kneels in front of riot police in 2020. In response to months of protests, Lukashenko arrested 65,000 people and forced opposition figures to flee abroad

Lukashenko said he did not care whether or not the bloc recognised the results.

The vote takes place five years after the turbulent 2020 election which saw Lukashenko's grip on power almost come loose after millions of citizens flooded the street condemning the result and demanding the president resigns.

In response to months of protests, Lukashenko arrested 65,000 people and forced opposition figures to flee abroad.

This included the de facto leader of Belarus' opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who stood against Lukashenko at the time.

Minsk and its ally Moscow have been suppressed freedom of speech and media freedom for decades, with their crackdowns increasingly brutal in recent years amid political protests and the war in Ukraine.

In 2021, Rosenberg's BBC colleague Sarah Rainsford was expelled from Russia hours after questioning Lukashenko over the the torture and imprisonment of peaceful protesters.

Vladimir Putin was seen fuming at a BBC editor (pictured) for the second year in a row

Putin (pictured) claimed his country's economy was 'way ahead of Great Britain'

Rosenberg has continued to challenge both Lukashenko and Putin, and in December left the Russian dictator fuming after asking him 'do you think you've taken care of Russia?'

Speaking at the BRICS conference, Rosenberg went on: 'Because looking in, what do we see? We see substantial losses in the so-called "special military operation" that you declared.

'We see Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region. You criticise NATO expansion but there is now more NATO on Russia's borders: Sweden and Finland.

'Sanctions, high inflation, demographic problems. Do you think you've taken care of your country?'

Putin responded by mocking Britain's shrinking economy and claimed he has 'pulled Russia back from the abyss' - making no reference to Russia's heavy losses in Ukraine, spiraling inflation or other issues facing Russia under his rule.
A thug who punched a grieving man at a funeral wake and broke bones in his face with a 'ferocious' single punch has walked free from court.

Alan Wharton's brutal strike left his victim's jaw 'separated from the rest of his facial skeleton', while he had multiple bone fractures to his face, including both cheekbones in multiple places. He also had a deviated nose and bleeding and swelling in both eyes.

The pair had known each other for three or four years before the incident at Gosforth Empire Club, Newcastle Crown Court heard, and there had been no previous issues between them.

But the wake suddenly descended into chaos at 8.30pm March 28 2022 when Wharton approached his victim while he was sitting with a group at a long table, spoke to him and gestured to the door.

And when the man stood up Wharton, 36, swung a powerful punch, knocking him out.

He collapsed backwards, with only a chair preventing him from falling back and striking his head on the floor.

Judge Gavin Doig said: 'This was an absolutely ferocious blow.' He added: 'The victim had his arms by his side at the time you ferociously punched him for no reason.

Alan Wharton's brutal strike left his victim's jaw 'separated from the rest of his facial skeleton', while he had multiple bone fractures to his face, including both cheekbones in multiple places

The pair had known each other for three or four years before the incident at Gosforth Empire Club (pictured), Newcastle Crown Court heard, and there had been no previous issues between them

'It's only good luck he didn't fall and hit his head and suffer even more serious injuries. Regularly, these courts see people on charges of manslaughter for acting in exactly this way. If this person died, you would be going to prison for years.'

Police were contacted and the victim was taken to hospital but the force didn't interview Wharton until November 5, at which point he claimed he had been acting in self-defence. He later pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH.

Wharton, now of Smithy Croft Road, Glasgow, was on a suspended prison sentence for battery at the time and also breached that suspended sentence shortly after the GBH by committing an offence of criminal damage. He was previously fined for that breach.

Now he has been sentenced to 10 months suspended for 18 months and must pay the victim 5,000 compensation at 300 a month.

He was also given a five-year restraining order and was fined 100 for breaching the suspended sentence.

Oliver Connor, defending, said Wharton has moved to Scotland and has committed no offences since. He told the court: 'He is in a new relationship and has a new daughter. Everything about his life has changed and improved for the better.'


Downing Street has indicated it wants to see plans for a new runway at Heathrow by June despite fears of a Labour split after London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared he was against it.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman stressed ministers are keen to see the proposals progress after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the airport expansion as a flagship scheme in a slew of infrastructure projects aimed at boosting economic growth.

No10 has already tried to distance itself from a fight with Sadiq Khan over a third runway after the London Mayor voiced his opposition.

The press secretary tried to placate the mayor by saying ministers agreed the scheme would have to meet key environmental and climate obligations in order to proceed.

Our live coverage has ended
The grieving aunt of a boy who was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a woman he was living with says she will mourn her nephew with a tattoo tribute.

Nine-year-old Thai-Li Ned was staying with the accused woman while his mother Tiarne Ned served time in prison, and he was found dead on the weekend with a 'significant head injury'.

Ms Ned's younger sister Chanell King, 20, said the family cannot begin to understand what has happened.

She (Ms Ned) is not doing okay at the moment, Ms King told Daily Mail Australia outside the home in suburban Townsville where the boy was staying.

We're all trying to wrap our heads around what happened.. why anyone would ever hurt him.

'He was bright, active and mostly funny.

Maybe I'll get a tattoo to remember him by.

My other tattoos are ones I got in jail.

Thai-li was found dead inside the home of 24-year-old Schynada Karkadoo, who had what police described as a 'loose' family connection with him. She has been charged with the boy's murder.

Chanell King (pictured left), Ranita (centre) and friend Aileen pictured outside Thai-li's shrine in Kirwan

Nine-year-old Thai-li Ned (pictured) was found dead in a Townsville home on Saturday night

The events that led to him being allegedly killed by a blow to the head are being investigated by detectives, who are looking at whether a weapon was used.

Detective David Miles told reporters what inflicted the blow was 'certainly, part of our inquiries... the injury is consistent with what, I would say at this stage, appears to be blunt force trauma'.

One line of inquiry is that a wooden plank was allegedly used to kill Thai-li up to eight hours before his body was discovered at 7.10pm on Saturday.

'We'll await the outcome of the autopsy before we make an absolute determination of what weapon may have been used,' Detective Miles said.

He added that police have information as to 'what may have transpired' but could not release details while the investigation was ongoing.

Detective Miles said other children were at home when the blow was allegedly inflicted.

Chanell (pictured being consoled on Wednesday) has a number of tattoos she got while in jail including a teardrop under her eye and 187 on the back of her thighs

Local children left sunflowers, stuffed animals and notes outside the crime scene in tribute to the 'bright' nine-year-old

Police allege Thai-li (pictured right with his mother, Tiarne Ned) was killed with a wooden plank but are awaiting further details from his autopsy

Schynada Karkadoo (pictured) has been charged over the boy's death

'Anything involving a traumatic injury and the death of a child, which in circumstances like this occurs, is quite abhorrent,' he said.

'No child should be subjected to anything that obviously leads to this sort of outcome for them.'

Karkadoo's case was briefly mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

A brief of evidence was ordered.

The Kirwan home is expected to remain a crime scene until an autopsy is complete later this week.

Police had previously visited the home several times for unrelated matters.

'We had had very brief interactions with this young person, but obviously being nine years of age, (he) hadn't come to our attention for any offending behaviour or anything like that,' Detective Miles said.

Stuffed animals and sentimental notes have been left at the crime scene in memory of the young boy.

'You (were) so polite and humble,' one online tribute read.

Another said: 'Fly high. You will be sadly missed by us all here in Mount Isa.'

Karkadoo was remanded in custody and her case was adjourned until April 23.
A grandmother who was dragged off her boat by a crocodile survived the terrifying attack after punching the beast in the face.

Housewife Kaetek had been scouring the water for snails to feed to her ducks when she was ambushed by the vicious reptile in Aceh province, Indonesia, on Monday.

The 59-year-old was fishing around in the murky waters when the croc latched onto her hand and dragged her off the boat.

Incredibly, the tenacious grandmother was able to fend off the beast by repeatedly punching it in the face with her free hand.

The monster eventually loosened its grip and fled when the roar of a passing motorboat scared it away.

Kaetek was hauled onboard and was taken ashore, where locals quickly scrambled to take her to a local hospital.

Footage shows one man carrying the injured grandmother in his hands across a slippery pontoon and .

She was then placed onto a motorcycle sidecar and was rushed to the Singkil Health Centre with a severe wound on her hand.

Grandmother Kaetek, 59, is recovering in hospital after she was who was dragged off her boat by a crocodile on Monday

Footage shows one man carrying the injured grandmother in his hands across a slippery pontoon after a boat rescued her from the river in Aceh province, Indonesia

The Indonesian archipelago is home to 14 types of crocs - with a large population of extremely large and violent estuarine crocodiles that flourish in the region's climate (Stock image)

Speaking from her hospital bed, a shaken Kaetek said: 'I was rowing a boat looking for snails and water hyacinths to feed my ducks.

'When I reached toward the surface of the water to pluck up some river weeds, the crocodile suddenly pounced on my hand. I immediately fell into the river.

'I screamed for help and tried to fight back while praying. I used my free hand to hit the crocodile's face.

'Luckily, a motorboat passed by, and the crocodile let me go. I immediately went ashore and residents on the other side of the river helped me.

Kaetek received 15 stitches for her injured hand.

Village head Pahrul Raji said residents are now hunting the crocodile as it posed a 'serious threat' to the locals living on the riverside.

He said: 'This river is used by the community for various activities. We are worried that if there are children bathing in the river, they could be the next victims.

'Therefore, we ask that this threatening crocodile be immediately captured for the safety of all.'

Footage shows the grandmother being carried through a crowd of locals after she was rescued from the terrifying croc

She was then placed onto a motorcycle sidecar that had arrived at the village

The driver then quickly sped off and took her to the Singkil Health Centre with a severe wound on her hand

The Indonesian archipelago is home to 14 types of crocodiles.

A large population of these are extremely large and violent estuarine crocodiles that flourish in the region's climate.

Conservationists believe that crocodiles have been driven further inland closer to villages due to overfishing reducing the crocodiles' natural food supplies combined with habitat loss from the development of coastal areas into farms.

With uneducated locals in the developing country still using rivers for bathing and primitive fishing, the deadly combination of factors has led to rising numbers of crocodile attacks.
A suspected Russian honeytrap spy was in an 'open' relationship with the espionage ring's surveillance controller, a court has heard.

Bulgarian Katrin Ivanova told of her heartbreak at discovering controller, Biser Dzhambazov 'betrayed' her by having an 18-month fling with fellow alleged spy, Vanya Gaberova without telling her.

Dzhambazov, 43, was found by police naked in bed with beautician Gaberova, 30, when they were arrested at a flat in Euston, north London in February 2023.

Ivanova - who denies spying - only discovered about the fling after the arrest and has claimed she was deceived, betrayed and controlled by her long-term partner Dzhambazov, who has admitted being in on the plot.

Ivanova, 33, said she was in an 'abusive relationship' with Dzhambazov, who was 'controlling' since she met him aged 17 in Bulgaria. 'I have never had a relationship with any other man, only with my partner Mr Dzhambazov,' she told the Old Bailey.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan, KC, quizzed the alleged secret agent about a series of WhatsApp messages she exchanged with two men, Stoyan and Larry, in September 2021.

'There was another man and Mr Dzhambazov knew... and that is why when I found out he was in a relationship with Vanya, I do not understand. We have an open sexual relationship,' said Ivanova, who lived with Dzhambazov in Harrow, north-west London.

Ivanova, Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were allegedly part of a group which carried out surveillance on places and people of interest to the Russian state between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.

Katrin Ivanova (pictured) said she was heartbroken at discovering Biser Dzhambazov 'betrayed' her by having an 18-month fling with fellow alleged spy, Vanya Gaberova

Bulgarian national Dzhambazov, 43, has admitted to spying in the UK on behalf of Russia

Dzhambazov was found in bed with alleged Russian spy Vanya Gaberova (pictured), at a flat in Euston, north London which was raided by police in February 2023

She said Dzhambazov first recruited her to carry out surveillance on Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist for a British-based website who exposed the identities of the Russian FSB agents responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack in 2018.

However, she claimed that in late 2022 she began questioning the 'real purpose' of what she was doing for the first time on the way to Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, southern Germany.

Orlin Roussev, who allegedly ran the spy ring from a guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, believed the site was used for training Ukrainian troops to operate Patriot missile air defence batteries.

It's alleged the spies were planning to deploy an 'lmsi' device at the barracks of the US Army base to collect mobile phone data of Ukrainians training on the US missile system. This data, the court heard, could then be used by Russian forces to track Ukrainians to the frontline.

Describing when she started to question her being there, Ivanova told jurors: 'When we was walking from the hotel to the barracks, this is when I started questioning exactly what was going on.'

Cross-examining on Tuesday, prosecutor Ms Morgan said: 'You know it's an army barracks. What is it that worries you?'

Ivanova replied: 'I was questioning what is the real purpose, why am I going to take a picture of that base?'

Ms Morgan said it was publicly known the barracks were being used to train Ukrainian forces and it was believed that involved the use of the Patriot missile system.

The defendant told jurors that although she had looked up the barracks, she did not know those details.

Ivanova claimed that in late 2022 she began questioning the 'real purpose' of what she was doing for the first time on the way to Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, southern Germany.

The Haydee Hotel guest house in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, allegedly used by Orlin Roussev to plot the actions of the spy ring

The spy ring is alleged to have been masterminded by Orlin Roussev (pictured) from his guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Ivanova denied being 'a stupid person', but said she was under the 'control' of her older partner who was 'everything' to her at the time.

She said: 'I started the relationship with the person I most trusted since I was 17. He was never physically abusive.

'I can say now I was in an abusive relationship. That person was controlling me without me realising.

'I was being controlled by someone who was 10 years older than me. When I came to this country I came alone with him. My family was back home, my friends was back home.

'He not only became my family and friend at that time, he became everything for me.'

Ivanova denied he prevented her from doing internet searches or using her phone - or even engaging in sexual relationships with other men.

Ms Morgan reminded the defendant of her earlier evidence that she had been 'heartbroken' to learn in 2021 that Dzhambazov was with her co-defendant Gaberova when she thought he was seeing a doctor in Bulgaria.

The defendant agreed, saying: 'He betrayed me. He was in a relationship with another woman for 18 months. My only partner was Biser Dzhambazov.'

The three involved in the love-triangle are among five Bulgarian nationals charged with spying for Russia at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Court artist sketches from left to right: Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, Orlin Roussev, Ivan Stoyanov and Bizer Dzhambazov

The group are alleged to have been spying on Ukrainians training on the US-made Patriot missile defence system (pictured) in Germany

Ms Morgan said phone evidence revealed that he knew she was having relationships with other men at the same time.

The prosecutor added: 'You are asking the jury to believe you were desperately upset Mr Dzhambazov was in Bulgaria with Ms Gaberova but you shared you were in relationships with other people.'

Ivanova said: 'I was in an open sexual relationship with the knowledge. I don't go behind Mr Dzhambazov's back to sleep with another man.

Having an 18-month long sexual relationship was 'something completely different', she said.

Ivanova added: 'When both of us was being arrested, me and Vanya, we both refer to Biser as our boyfriend. You cannot put those two things on the same scale.'

Ms Morgan said: 'You were in a relationship with Mr Dzhambazov, it was you and him against the world and the great betrayal was he was with Ms Gaberova?

'So this controlling man did not mind you having sexual relationships with other men and you shared the details together.'

Ivanova replied: 'That's correct. It is not a secret.'

Jurors have heard that Dzhambazov and Orlin Roussev have admitted conspiracy to spy for Russia.

Ms Morgan asked Ivanova: 'It's only when you're outside Patch Barracks you have any suspicions at all about Mr Dzhambazov and Mr Roussev and what is really going on in this conspiracy?'

The defendant replied: 'That's correct. I never challenged him, yes.'

Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivanchev deny conspiracy to spy between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.

Ivanova has also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of possession of false identity documents. Dzhambazov and Roussev, 46, who lived in a hotel in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, have admitted the same charge.

At the time of the alleged offences, Ivanova was living in Harrow, north-west London, Gaberova was living in Euston, north London and Ivanchev was living in Acton, west London.
Southern England will be hit by 60mph gusts and heavy rain today as Storm Ivo strikes the coast - the third named storm to impact Britain in just six days.

The storm, which was named in Portugal, will see torrential downpours pushing in from the South West this morning before spreading east along to Kent.

The strongest gusts are expected in Cornwall and could reach 57mph at St Just this evening. Devon could hit 48mph at Salcombe, and Dorset 34mph at Weymouth.

Further along the coast, Eastbourne in East Sussex and Dover in Kent could both have 30mph. London will be spared from the worst of the gusts, with 22mph expected.

The heaviest rain throughout today will be in southern England, although there will also be frequent showers in northern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.

Northern and central England along with Wales will be mostly dry and sunny before rain clears from southern England tonight, leaving most areas dry overnight.

Flooding also remains a major risk with the Environment Agency issuing 23 flood and 134 alerts for England today, while Natural Resources Wales has seven alerts.

It comes after Britain was hit at the start of this week by Storm Herminia, named in Spain. This followed 114mph Storm Eowyn, named by the Met Office, which struck the UK and Ireland last Friday and caused two deaths and widespread travel chaos.

A fallen tree at Holmwood near Glasgow following strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn last Friday, in a photograph released by National Trust for Scotland today

A motorist drives along a flooded country lane in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, this morning

Heavy rain and strong winds will affect the south coast of England throughout today

The bad weather in recent days in the UK was linked to Storm Herminia, which has now cleared to the east and named 'Ivo' by the Free University of Berlin. Separately, Portugal has given the name 'Storm Ivo' to another low pressure area pushing its way just to the south of the UK today

The Environment Agency has issued 134 flood alerts (in amber) and 23 warnings (in red) today

Much of the UK will be dry tomorrow with frost and any fog clearing to leave plenty of sunshine, although there will be blustery showers for the far North East.

Friday will again be largely dry for most areas with any rain clearing south-eastwards in the morning, before it turns wet and windy in the North West on Saturday.

Community rallies round to support elderly and vulnerable cut off by Storm Eowyn A Northern Ireland community which has been without electricity for more than four days has rallied together to bring aid to elderly and vulnerable residents. A number of large trees fell on the Eglantine Road near Lisburn during Storm Eowyn on Friday, damaging power lines and blocking access to the area. Several houses which are situated between the fallen trees had been effectively cut off. Local residents remove trees which had been blocking the a road near Lisburn However, yesterday, a number of local residents came together to saw and remove the trees which had been blocking the road. Local councillor Alan Martin then transferred hot food from the community centre in nearby Hillsborough so it could be delivered directly to the homes of pensioners. Anna Leckey, who is eight months pregnant, said the power had been out since early on Friday. Alan Martin, who is delivering hot food to residents in Lisburn following Storm Eowyn She said: 'It has been cold. We are just lucky that we have managed to get a generator so we have got some heat. 'The first couple of nights were kind of fun, exciting with the fire and the candles on, but by Sunday night it was getting tedious and dark. It is frustrating, it is annoying. Some of our neighbours have been trapped in by the trees.' Ms Leckey said residents had been told it could be Monday before the power is restored. She said: 'Hopefully it will be faster than that. I think everyone is just fed up so people have started doing stuff themselves.' Local resident John Bishorek is a member of the Lisburn Safe volunteer group. Local residents removing trees in Lisburn He said: 'There have been trees down blocking the road. Unfortunately the residents have had to end up cutting the trees themselves to open the roads up. 'Residents here have had no power since early on Friday morning. All they have been given is battery packs to charge their phones. There are a lot of elderly here and those with kids.' We have one lady who is bed-bound. She is in there shivering.' Lisburn and Castlereagh City councillor Mr Martin was delivering hot stew to elderly residents. He said: 'I have been coming back to the community day after day, but nothing seemed to be happening for them. There are about 40 houses here, a lot of older people. Neighbours have been looking after them, they are helping each other. 'Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has been very good. They have opened up centres in the area where you can get soup and a cup of tea, get the phone charged up. 'In this community because of the older folk we have decided to bring the food to them. Today we are getting stew for them.' Advertisement

A Met Office spokeswoman told MailOnline today: 'Storm Ivo was named by the Portuguese Met Service as it will bring strong winds and heavy rain to south-western parts of Europe.

'The system is too far south to bring any major impacts to the UK, with just some rain in southern parts of England through Wednesday.'

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill revealed there was some confusion over Ivo, because it is a name that has been given to two separate weather systems by different agencies.

The bad weather in recent days in the UK has been linked to Storm Herminia, a low-pressure system named by meteorologists in Spain, which experienced the strongest winds.

But as Herminia cleared away towards the east yesterday, it was given the name 'Ivo' by the meteorology department of the Free University of Berlin, which names all high and low pressure systems impacting Europe.

Mr Burkill said that, separately, the Portuguese meteorological service has given the name 'Storm Ivo' to another deep area of low pressure pushing its way just to the south of the UK today  unrelated to the 'Ivo' system named by Germans.

He said the Portuguese Storm Ivo would be bringing 'very strong damaging winds' to parts of Portugal as well as Spain and France.

Mr Burkill added that Storm Ivo was 'not bringing much in the way of strong winds for the UK', but there would be heavy rain pushing across southern parts into this morning.

He continued: 'Now there's always been a bit of uncertainty as to exactly how far north this rain is going to get, but I think we're getting a bit more confident in the idea that we're going to see some heavy rain pushing initially across parts of the South West.

'It's really just southernmost counties, just about staying to the south of London but it could push a little bit further north as we go through Wednesday - and so a wet picture there.

'But elsewhere actually a decent amount of fine weather, albeit some fairly frequent showers across parts of Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. So this is an association with Storm Ivo, albeit it's not really a storm from our point of view.

'But in case you hear that name being batted around that's why because the worst of it is staying way to the South, and that's why it's been named by the Portuguese met service.'

The Met Office has also said that over the month of January so far, the south of the UK has been wetter than the north, which is not normally the case.

Provisional Met Office statistics show that counties including Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Hampshire and Surrey have seen 30 per cent more rainfall than the long-term meteorological average for January.

Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said: 'For many it's a dry day with some bright skies. Not the case across southern counties - rain here and we continue with this showery regime across the North East of Scotland, Northern Isles as well - strong winds.

'Now across the western periphery of Scotland expect some showers, they're running in across Northern Ireland down towards the Isle of Man, a few for Wales. Not as windy here and certainly a lighter breeze to start the day across much of England, central and southern parts of Scotland.

'But towards the South we're seeing an area of clouds just spilling northwards with some outbreaks of rain and this whole system here will skirt southern counties as we head through the day. Elsewhere through the morning it's mostly fine.'

The Environment Agency said there was likely to be further flooding caused by more rain in southern England today and tomorrow.

It estimated that up to 5,800 properties were protected by flood defences over recent days.

Dan Bond, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and will support local authorities in their response.

'We urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.'

In Somerset, authorities stood down a major incident yesterday that had been in place because of flooding in the county that led to the evacuation of more than 100 people from their homes.

Cornwall Council said Storm Eowyn and Storm Herminia resulted in 183 emergency incidents from Friday to Monday, including a mini tornado which uprooted trees and damaged homes near Newquay.

Gusts of 84mph and almost 60mm (2.4in) of rainfall hits parts of southern England on Monday.

Approximately 37,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity across Northern Ireland yesterday afternoon, after Storm Eowyn hit at the weekend, according to Northern Ireland Electricity Networks.

Scottish and Southern Electricity said yesterday afternoon it had restored power to 90,000 customers affected by Storm Eowyn and was working to reconnect a further 240 households who were still without power.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Damage caused by Storm Eowyn last Friday at Culzean Country Park in South Ayrshire, in a picture released today by National Trust for Scotland

Meanwhile the National Trust has revealed Storm Eowyn toppled more than 10,000 trees from its properties.

Strong winds on Friday, coupled with heavy rain to soften the ground, caused the loss of historically important trees across Northern Ireland and northern England.

The National Trust for Scotland, a separate organisation, said each of the gardens it cares for in the south or west of the country has suffered damage.

The National Trust and its Scottish counterpart have appealed for donations to pay for the clean-up and recovery operation - which will include extensive replanting.

Northern Ireland, where a Met Office red warning was issued for the first time in its history, was worst affected by the storm.

Around 10,000 trees were lost at the 900-acre site at Mount Stewart, County Down, as it blew through the formal gardens, estate and woodlands.

A photo released today of damage caused by Storm Eowyn at Cragside in Northumberland after Storm Eowyn ripped out more than 10,000 trees from National Trust properties

At Rowallane Garden, in Saintfield, County Down, 'irreplaceable specimen trees' - some more than 250 years old - were lost, leaving areas of the estate 'almost unrecognisable', the trust said.

In Northumberland, the losses at the estates at Cragside and Wallington were still being assessed as the bad weather continued into this week.

At Cragside, work was under way to remove a 150-year-old 45m tall tree which threatened to block a stream when it fell.

Among the losses at Wallington were 200-year-old beeches, which were planted as part of the original garden designs.

The National Trust for Scotland said at least 250 trees were lost across the popular Culzean Country Park.

Buildings were also damaged, including the roof of the Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre.

A photo issued by the National Trust today of storm damage at Mount Street in Northern Ireland

Sheila Das, the National Trust's head of gardens and parks, said: 'Our ranger and garden teams are assessing the aftermath but it's already clear we've lost some very significant and precious trees, which is hugely sad.

'Mature trees, some with veteran qualities and important histories, give such character to our gardens and they connect us to the people who planted them, as well as playing a vital role in the ecosystems of our landscapes.'

'We know climate change is making extreme storms like Eowyn more likely, posing a real threat to gardens and landscapes everywhere.

'Storm Eowyn reminds us that the world is changing and that we need to adapt the places we care for, to ensure that people and nature can thrive.'

Philip Long, chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland, said: 'The effect of Storm Eowyn has been devastating.

'While at the Trust we are used to dealing with and plan for difficult weather conditions, the brutal force of Storm Eowyn has wrought unprecedented widespread damage to many of Scotland's most loved places.

'Our teams have been working flat-out to make them safe for people again, but the job of repair, restoration and planting will take much longer, and we would be very grateful for people's support of our charity in this.'
A fascinating letter by Neil Armstrong revealing how he would look out for aliens when landing on the moon has come to light 56 years on.

Three months before the Apollo 11 mission, the astronaut was asked how he would respond to 'extraterrestrial life on the moon'.

Instead of dismissing the question, he candidly admitted that the crew would not know how to defend themselves in that scenario.

To mitigate the potential danger, they would keep a lookout for several hours from their spaceship to make sure the coast was clear before stepping out onto the lunar surface.

Armstrong wrote: 'As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no.

'However, we will observe the lunar surface from the security of our spacecraft for a number of hours prior to any extra-vehicular activity.'

The one page typed letter, on NASA letterhead paper, is dated April 28, 1969 and addressed to a Richard G Robinson, of Annandale, Virginia, US.

It has emerged for sale for 3,200 ($4,000) at RR Auction, of Boston, US.

A fascinating letter by Neil Armstrong revealing how he would look out for aliens before landing on the moon has come to light 56 years on

Three months before the Apollo 11 mission, the astronaut was asked how he would respond to 'extraterrestrial life on the moon'. Instead of dismissing the question, he candidly admitted that the crew would not know how to defend themselves in that scenario

Armstrong became the first man on the moon, on July 24, 1969, with fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin joining him about 20 minutes later.

As the pair made history, the third man on the mission, Michael Collins, flew the Apollo 11 command module, the Columbia, around the moon.

On stepping onto the lunar surface, Armstrong uttered the famous words: 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

The momentous moment was watched by millions of people across the world.

Armstrong and Aldrin collected 47.5lbs of lunar material to bring back to earth.

Between them, the pair spent three hours on the lunar surface.

The pair then returned to the Colombia module in their spacecraft, the Eagle.

Aldrin, now 94, is the only surviving Apollo 11 crew member. Armstrong died in 2012 and Collins passed away in 2021.

Armstrong (pictured) wrote: 'As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no. However, we will observe the lunar surface from the security of our spacecraft for a number of hours prior to any extra-vehicular activity'

Neil Armstrong (left) with Apollo 11 crewmates Michael Collins (centre) and Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin stands next to the American flag after planting it on the moon

Another 10 American men followed Armstrong and Aldrin in walking on the moon, but the last mission took place more than 50 years ago, in 1972.

The lunar landings were the climax of a 'space race' with the Soviet Union.

No Russian astronauts ever matched the achievement of their American rivals by landing on the moon.

The sale of Armstrong's letter takes place on February 21.

An RR Auction spokesperson said: 'While NASA scientists did not expect to find advanced alien life on the moon, Apollo 11 demonstrated humanity's growing curiosity about extraterrestrial life.

'Some precautions were indeed taken relative to interplanetary contamination, both in terms of protecting the Earth from potential 'alien' microorganisms and ensuring the integrity of the moon's environment.

'When astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins returned to earth on July 24, 1969, they were placed in quarantine at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory for a period of 21 days.

'There, the Apollo 11 spacecraft, lunar samples, and astronauts' personal items were decontaminated and analysed for the presence of any potentially harmful toxins or microorganisms - neither of which were discovered.'
This is the terrifying moment an out-of-control nuclear icebreaker collided with a cargo ship that it had been sent to rescue in the Arctic.

The nuclear-powered vessel, named The Fifty Years of Victory, was on its way to free the bulk carrier Yamal Krechet after it became stuck in the ice in the Kara Sea.

But as it approached the trapped vessel, it began careering towards it and was unable to change direction.

Shocking footage from onboard The Fifty Years of Victory shows it ploughing directly into the side of the Yamal Krechet.

The ship - which was built to smash through ice ten feet thick - strikes the cargo ship's hull, causing it to rock back and forth.

It then immediately reversed course and backed away after the nighttime collision.

The Fifty Years of Victory and the other ship both sustained hull damage following the incident, which is expected to lead to a criminal investigation.

Russian officials have stressed there is no threat to the nuclear reactor installation and life support systems on the icebreaker.

This is the terrifying moment an out-of-control nuclear icebreaker collided with a cargo ship that it had been sent to rescue in the Arctic

Shocking footage from onboard The Fifty Years of Victory vessel shows it ploughing directly into the side of the Yamal Krechet

Pictures show the devastating damage inflicted on the hull of the Russian nuclear icebreaker Fifty Years of Victory

Initial reports failed to explain the drama, as shown in the footage, and did not reveal there had been a collision.

RosAtomflot, which is responsible for the Russian nuclear icebreaker ship, said: 'The 50 let Pobedy [Fifty Years of Victory] icebreaker sustained damage of port side edge plating at night on January 26 in the Kara Sea in harsh Arctic conditions, when doing ice cutting.

'Nobody was injured.

'Seaworthiness properties were not lost.

'There is no threat to life support systems and the reactor unit.'

A source added: 'The nuclear icebreaker continues to operate in the waters of the Northern Sea Route in normal mode.'

The Fifty Years of Victory sustained hull damage following the incident, with pictures showing a significant proportion of the hull having been torn away

Damage to the hull of The Fifty Years of Victory shows some of the metal having been stripped away, revealing the inside of the vessel

The Yamal Krechet cargo ship is pictured stationary in the Kara Sea

The Yamal Krechet, which is a general cargo ship built in 1999, is seen travelling through the ice in the Arctic

The Yamal Krechet is a general cargo ship which was built in 1999.

The icebreaker is powered by two OK-900A nuclear reactors, each producing 171 MW of thermal power.

The reactors supply steam to turbines, generating 54 MW of power to drive the icebreaker's three propellers.

The vessel was launched in 2007.
Britain is set to see far more significant population growth than other European countries over the next decade.

Projections for the UK released yesterday suggest numbers will rise from 67.6million in mid-2022 to 72.5million in mid-2032.

That would be driven entirely driven by net immigration of five million - as births and deaths are expected to cancel each other out.

The official figures also confirm that over the last couple of years the UK overtook France, where EuroStat data indicates the population was 67.9million in 2022.

By 2032 their numbers are estimated to be 69.7million, nearly 3million smaller, and by 2047 the gap could be 5.9million.

The UK's expansion looks to be much faster than in Germany, where numbers are due to rise from 83.2million to 85.2million over the period.

Italy had a population of around 59million in 2022, and that is actually anticipated to fall to 58.7million by 2032.

Spain is on track to grow from 47.4million to 49.5million over the decade.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The ONS estimated yesterday that net migration to the UK will average 340,000 per year from mid-2028 onwards.

That would be lower than the recent eye-watering record of 906,000. This year the ONS believes the level will be just under 631,000.

Between 2022 and 2032 net inflows are anticipated to be 4.9million.

While births could increase slightly over the decade, deaths are also rising due to the aging 'baby boom' generation born after Second World War.

Across the decade they cancel each other out, with 6.8million of each, meaning there is no 'natural' change to the population anticipated.

The Office for National Statistics also projects an alarming rise in the older population, with a doubling of over-85s to 3.3million by 2047.

Numbers of state pension age are set to soar by 1.7million over the decade to 2032, to 13.7million people. More than one in 10 of the population could be over 75 at that point.

Downing Street said Sir Keir wants to bring down 'staggeringly high levels' of migration but dismissed Tory calls for a cap, suggesting it would be 'arbitrary'.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the projections were 'shocking and unacceptable' and must be prevented from coming true.

Your browser does not support iframes.

However, in a potential bright spot for Rachel Reeves a think-tank has predicted that the ONS figures will give her more wriggle room for spending.

The OBR watchdog could upgrade growth forecasts because the working age population is set to be 400,000 bigger in 2029-30, according to the Resolution Foundation.

Keir Starmer was berated over the projections by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell in the Commons today.

Mr Rosindell said during PMQs that his constituents were 'shocked, angry and dismayed' by the 'unsustainable' rise.

'Who voted for that? And will the Government do something to ensure that the population of this country is sustainable going forward, because there is no mandate for such a colossal increase in immigration in this country?' he said.

Sir Keir replied: 'I think he should talk to his leader, because net migration went through the roof under the last government, nearly one million quadrupled, and who was cheering it on? Who was cheering it on? The Leader of the Opposition.

'His constituents are right to be concerned about the loss of control by the last government, we're taking control, we will bring these numbers down, but the record is absolutely clear, and it sits right there.'
Donald Trump's new foreign policy chief challenged David Lammy over the UK's plan to surrender the Chagos Islands in their first discussion since the new administration entered the White House.

Neither side's official readout of the call between the Foreign Secretary and Marco Rubio on Monday mentioned that they talked about the much-criticised planned handover of the archipelago to Mauritius.

But sources confirmed that the deal to cede control of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was one of the issues that came up.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Rubio challenged the Foreign Secretary over the decision.

He previously labelled the deal 'a serious threat' to US national security and warned it 'threatens critical US military posture in the region' and hand an advantage to China.

However UK sources played down suggestions there was a row, suggesting they had discussed the long-term protection of the air base at Diego Garcia.

The talks are seen as a potential early flashpoint in the UK's relationship with the new American administration.

The UK plans to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia base used by the US for 99 years at a reported annual cost of around 90 million.

Neither side's official readout of the call between the Foreign Secretary and Marco Rubio on Monday mentioned that they talked about the much-criticised planned handover of the archipelago to Mauritius.

But sources confirmed that the deal to cede control of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was one of the issues that came up.

However the deal has yet to be signed off, with China hawks on both sides of the Atlantic hoping that Trump will refuse to sign it off.

Mr Lammy said he spoke to Mr Rubio, the first member of Donald Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed last week, on a range of issues including the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and the Middle East.

The call comes after Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump spoke on the phone for the first time since the president came to power.

'The UK and US are working together to make all our citizens safer and more prosperous,' Mr Lammy said on X.

'I look forward to meeting soon as we further strengthen UK-US ties.'

The Foreign Office said in a statement the two men had discussed their shared links to the Caribbean. The Foreign Secretary has family ties to Guyana and Mr Rubio's family links to Cuba.

The UK plans to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia base used by the US for 99 years at a reported annual cost of around 90 million.

'They both welcomed the opportunity for the UK and the US to work together in alignment to address shared challenges, including the situation in the Middle East, Russia's illegal war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by China and the need for Indo-Pacific security,' the statement said.

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the two men had discussed 'a range of pressing global issues'.

'Both leaders expressed eagerness to begin working together immediately to further our many shared foreign policy objectives,' she said.

'They affirmed the depth of the US-UK special relationship and the crucial nature of our partnership in addressing issues like the conflict in the Middle East, Russia's war against Ukraine, and China's malign influence.

'They also heralded joint initiatives, including the Aukus partnership, which promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.'
Bitter fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sparked fears that highly dangerous Ebola viruses could be released from a laboratory in a city stormed by Rwandan-backed rebels.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned of 'unimaginable consequences' if samples of Ebola and other pathogens held at a lab in Goma were allowed to escape and spread amid the crisis.

The humanitarian organisation's regional director Patrick Youssef said the ICRC is 'very concerned about the situation in the laboratory of the national biomedical research institute, which is facing a risk of power cuts, as well as a question of preserving the samples that may be affected by the clashes.'

Aid agencies have also warned that attacks on water and electricity infrastructure could fuel the spread of deadly infectious diseases like cholera, with the clashes triggering a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

Following days of bitter fighting with Congolese government forces, members of the M23 armed group, which is backed by Kigali, appeared to be on the brink of seizing the key eastern city this morning.

Bertrand Bisimwa, the political leader head of M23, declared today that its fighters are in the process of bringing 'the last pockets of insecurity under control.'

'Our army is working hard to guarantee total security, complete tranquility and definitive peace as is the case for all their compatriots living in liberated zones,' he said on X.

The M23 armed group took control of Goma's airport on Tuesday, a security source said, adding that 'more than 1,200 Congolese soldiers have surrendered and are confined' to the airport base of the UN's mission in the DRC.

Smoke billows from an armored personnel carrier (APC) of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, left on the side of the road in Nzulo, on the main road linking the North Kivu capital Goma

Members of the M23 armed group walk alongside residents through a street of the Keshero neighborhood in Goma, on January 27, 2025

Residents walk past the wreckage of a burned vehicle following clashes in the streets of Goma on January 28, 2025

A boy stands amongst people from the Masisi territory in a temporary hangar at the Bulengo displaced persons camp, near Goma, North-Kivu province, on January 15, 2025

A picture from 2019 shows a WHO worker decontaminates the house of a pastor who tested positive for Ebola in the DRC

Days of intense clashes have seen more than 100 people killed and nearly 1,000 wounded, with the city's hospitals 'overwhelmed' and some patients 'lying on the floor due to lack of space', the ICRC said.

Hundreds of patients have suffered gunshot, mortar and shrapnel wounds, with bodies seen lying in the streets of the city, according to the United Nations.

The UN said the humanitarian situation in the besieged city was 'extremely worrying' amid mass displacement, food shortages, looted aid, overflowing hospitals and widespread sexual violence.

Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations' humanitarian agency OCHA, said UN colleagues were reporting 'heavy small arms fire and mortar fire across the city, and the presence of many dead bodies in the streets'.

The ICRC also said its medical warehouse in Goma had been looted and had to be 'urgently refurbished'.

The World Health Organization has also warned that 'hospitals and health workers are in danger'.

'We are hearing reports of health workers being shot at, and patients, including babies, being caught in the crossfire,' WHO's emergency response coordinator for DR Congo, Adelheid Marschang, told reporters.

She warned that significant damage to infrastructure like water stations and electricity grids meant 'conditions are rife for the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and measles'.

The violence in the mineral-rich North Kivu province around Goma has forced half a million people from their homes since the start of the year, according to the UN refugee agency.

At a UN Security Council meeting on the crisis on Tuesday, the world body's peacekeeping force in the DRC warned that the fighting risked reigniting ethnic conflicts dating to the Rwandan genocide and beyond.

Protesters burn makeshift barricades in downtown Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

A fire set by protesters burns outside the damaged French Embassy during a march in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 28

'In the past four days, the Human Rights Office has documented at least one case of ethnically motivated lynching in a (displaced persons) site in Goma,' Vivian van de Perre of the UN's DRC mission MONUSCO said.

After a previous meeting of the council on Sunday, the Congolese government expressed 'dismay' at its 'vague' statement, which stopped short of naming Rwanda.

At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the African Union called on the M23 to 'lay down arms', also without naming Rwanda.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of wanting to profit from the region's abundant minerals - which include gold, coltan, copper and cobalt - and has called for stronger UN action.

Soldiers of the Armed forces of the Democratic republic of Congo (FARDC) ride on top of a tank as they leave the city of Goma, on January 23

Rwanda has denied the claims, saying its aim is to tackle an armed group called the FDLR, created by former Hutu leaders of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda who massacred Tutsis.

A UN expert report in July said up to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers were fighting alongside M23 and that Rwanda had 'de facto control' of the group's operations.

A ceasefire in August failed to keep the peace and Angola-mediated talks were abruptly cancelled last month.

Aid agencies and world leaders have called for an immediate halt to the fighting.
Tech giants Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly investigating whether data output from the ChatGPT maker's technology was secretly taken by a group linked to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek.

Microsoft's security researchers observed individuals they believed to be connected to DeepSeek exfiltrating a large amount of data using the OpenAI's application programming interface (API), according to a report by Bloomberg News.

OpenAI's API is the main way that software developers and business customers access its services, buying a licence in order to integrate its models into their own applications.

US firm Microsoft, the largest investor for OpenAI, notified the company of suspicious activity in the autumn, according to the Bloomberg report.

Low-cost Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, an alternative to US rivals, sparked a tech stock selloff on Monday as its free AI assistant overtook OpenAI's ChatGPT on Apple's App Store in the US.

DeepSeek's meteoric rise has raised questions about how a start-up could have become a market leader so rapidly, apparently side-stepping a US ban on Chinese firms using the most advanced microchips available to domestic tech companies.

The Chinese firm has rocked the AI sector by stating that it cost just $6 million to build an AI model using less-advanced chips - a claim some experts have suggested may be too good to be true.

David Sacks, the White House's AI and crypto czar, told Fox News in an interview earlier on Tuesday that it was 'possible' that DeepSeek stole intellectual property from the US.

DeepSeek's meteoric rise has raised questions about how a start-up could have become a market leader so rapidly

Pictured is Liang Wenfeng, the founder of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, speaking at the symposium presided by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on January 20, 2025

David Sacks, Donald Trump's 'AI and Crypto Czar', speaks to the President as he signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on January 23, 2025

'There's substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI's models,' Sacks said.

Asked for comment on the Bloomberg report, an OpenAI spokesperson echoed Sacks in a statement that noted China-based companies and others were constantly attempting to replicate the models of leading US AI companies, without specifically naming DeepSeek or any other company.

'We engage in counter-measures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models, and believe as we go forward that it is critically important that we are working closely with the US government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology.'

Microsoft declined to comment, while DeepSeek could not be immediately reached for a comment.

It comes as Chinese tech giant Alibaba today announced the release of a new version of its Qwen 2.5 AI model that it claimed surpassed the highly-acclaimed DeepSeek-V3.

The unusual timing of the release, on the first day of the Lunar New Year when most Chinese people are off work, points to the pressure Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's rise in the past three weeks has placed on not just overseas rivals, but also its domestic competition.

Chinese state media has celebrated DeepSeek's work for showing that even with limited computing power, firms can 'create miracles'.

DeepSeek has said its recent models were built with Nvidia's lower-performing H800 chips, which are not banned in China, sending a message that the fanciest hardware might not be needed for cutting-edge AI research.

Chinese tech giant Alibaba today announced the release of a new version of its Qwen 2.5 AI model

Experts have now suggested that the company could have had Beijing's help in sourcing powerful chips as part of the Chinese government's drive to get ahead in its battle with the West for technological supremacy and harvest information on its enemies.

Luke de Pulford, director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, told MailOnline that the UK and US governments should be worried about the power that could give DeepSeek - and by extension the Chinese government.

He said that under the Chinese Communist Party's doctrine of Military-Civil Fusion 'the line between the private sector and state is increasingly blurred.'

'As with TikTok, DeepSeek has the ability to collect masses of sensitive data, all of which is vulnerable to state interference,' he said.

David Sacks said that it was 'possible' that DeepSeek stole intellectual property from the US

'Aside from violations of data protection, this hands the Communist Party a strategic advantage - they can crunch and analyse intimate information on hundreds of millions of foreign nationals.'

DeepSeek this week became the most downloaded free app in the US - with its skyrocketing popularity seeing the value of its rival AI firms tumble and sending shockwaves through Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns said of DeepSeek: 'There's no such thing as low cost, because the security and privacy costs are extremely high - let alone the perverted prism through which many answers will be presented.

'AI may be the space race of our time, but this time every member of our community has a role to play.

'If your data is going into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, you're helping them on this race as they suck every bit of detail about you that they can - even your keystrokes.'

When asked about Taiwan, DeepSeek states that the island is part of China and adds that 'compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood'

China hawks have labelled it 'Communist AI', with a major concern among Western officials being that the chatbot feeds users Chinese propaganda and disinformation.

The chatbot says it is 'programmed' to provide answers that toe the Chinese government line, for example refusing to answer questions about Beijing's crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and declaring that 'Taiwan is an inalienable part of China'.
Britain's last remaining gas fracking sites are to be concreted over after the industry regulator demanded they be put out of use.

Cuadrilla said it was 'plugging and abandoning' its exploratory site at Preston New Road, starting next month.

In 2019, the then Tory government introduced a moratorium on fracking in the UK in part because of tremors caused by the extraction of shale gas at the site on the outskirts of Blackpool.

The ban was lifted by Liz Truss in her brief premiership, only to be restored by her successor Rishi Sunak.

However, critics of the decision to abandon the technology - which sees high-pressure water pumped into bedrock to release gas - have compared the situation to that in America.

In his first days in office, president Trump declared a national energy emergency to boost drilling and speed up pipeline construction in the US.

Trump, a Republican who campaigned on a promise to 'drill baby drill,' has said the declaration will speed permitting and approval of energy projects to fix what he has called an inadequate and unaffordable US energy supply.

In response to the Cudrilla announcement, Lord Mackinlay, chair of the climate-sceptic Net Zero Scrutiny Group, said: 'Back in 2022, I asked the previous Conservative government not to commit the madness of concreting up a promising and valuable shale gas site.

'Thankfully, they listened, but now Labour appears willing to close off an incredible opportunity to secure homegrown energy supplies. It seems crazy to salt the earth in this needless and reckless way.'

Cuadrilla said it was 'plugging and abandoning' its exploratory site at Preston New Road, starting next month.

In 2019, the then Tory government introduced a moratorium on fracking in the UK in part because of tremors caused by the extraction of shale gas at the site on the outskirts of Blackpool.

In his first days in office, president Trump declared a national energy emergency to boost drilling and speed up pipeline construction in the US.

A minor earthquake struck near the Preston New Road site in February 2023, disturbing dogs and rumbling cabinets, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said.

The 1.5 magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 2km outside the village of Weeton.

Cuadrilla said it would spend six weeks filling in shafts after receiving 'formal notification issued by the regulator, North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) in relation to the plugging and abandonment of both wells.'

CEO Francis Egan said: 'The UK is heavily reliant on natural gas to keep the lights on, to heat our homes and to provide cost effective energy to British industry. That dependence will continue for the next several decades.

'Yet nearly two thirds of all the gas we use comes from abroad, including liquefied natural gas from countries like Algeria, Qatar, Egypt and Angola.

'Domestically produced gas is four times cleaner than LNG imports and it's possible to have a reliable and secure supply, produced here at home.

'Keeping these wells open doesn't cost taxpayers a penny, but once they are concreted over then we lose easy access to supplies of shale gas that could be used for decades to come.

'As President Zelensky pointed out earlier this month, European nations are still far too exposed to Russian gas supply.

'Britain should do what it does best and look to help extricate the continent from Moscow's orbit.

'We can do this by getting our hands on some of the 37 trillion cubic metres of gas under our feet, not by pouring concrete down our gas wells.'

Wall Street expects US oil and gas companies to keep a lid on spending in 2025 and keep their focus on generating shareholder returns, despite Trump's actions.

Big Oil begins reporting fourth-quarter results this week, and outlooks for the coming year should reflect the dissonance between Trump's oil and gas-maximizing agenda and investor expectations.

The industry has pushed in recent years to drive down costs and increase production by using more efficient technology rather than drilling many new wells.

Producers also must contend with lower global oil prices as the post-pandemic demand rebound runs its course and as China's economy struggles.

Benchmark Brent crude oil prices are projected to average $74 per barrel in 2025, down from $81 in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
One of Britain's most prolific shoplifters who stole a staggering 145,000 worth of goods in shopping trolleys from Tesco has avoided jail time.

Tania Patmore, 52, admitted to 73 offences as part of a gang who filled the trolleys and then pushed them out of stores in the southeast of England without paying.

But, despite her confession, she won't spend any time behind bars as she is the sole carer of her teenage daughter.

Each offence consisted of taking from one to ten trolleys from the same store in quick succession.

For Patmore, that amounted to stealing 184 trolleys filled with goods, and attempting to steal another 47.

A sentencing hearing at Guildford Crown Court yesterday heard the value of the stolen property came to 145,000.

Circuit Judge Robert Fraser gave Patmore a suspended two year sentence after Patmore's barrister said she was the sole carer for her 13-year-old daughter.

The judge told Patmore: 'I make it very clear I am doing this purely because of your daughter.

'You are a very lucky lady.' Patmore thanked him from the dock.

Tania Patmore (pictured), 52, admitted to 73 offences as part of a gang who filled the trolleys and then pushed them out of stores without paying

Despite her confession, she won't spend any time behind bars as she is the sole carer of her teenage daughter

Her barrister Matthew Morgan told the court in mitigation that it was 'brazen offending rather than sophisticated offending' and said it was prompted by the need to pay drugs debts owed by her son.

Mr Morgan said: 'She wishes to apologise to Your Honour for her behaviour and says she is ashamed and disgusted with herself.'

Two co-conspirators received jail sentences and two others received suspended sentences.

Michael Shilliday, prosecuting, told the court that the offending was across 14 different police force areas in the south east of England and lasted just over two years, from January 2022 until February 2024.

There were a total of 86 recorded instances, all but six of them at branches of Tesco.

Mr Shilliday told the court: 'The typical modus operandi was the suspects entered individually with trolleys, some filled the trolley, sometimes to the brim, sometimes not, with largely high value items but not exclusively, also lower value items such as pet food, toilet and kitchen roll.

Marlie Patmore (pictured) admitted 10 offences, stealing 21 shopping trolleys filled with unpaid goods and attempting to steal another six

James Mytum (pictured) admitted 36 offences, amounting to 117 shopping trolleys filled with unpaid goods and attempting to steal another 26, with a total reduced estimated value of almost 72,000

'They would then leave the store with the full trolley without any attempt to pay before re-entering and collecting another trolley.

'The financial loss is enormous.'

The more expensive items included perfume, meat and alcohol.

From the 55 trolleys that the gang were stopped from taking, or that were recovered nearby still full, the police were able to calculate the average value of goods in each one at 628.

Judge Fraser described the crime spree as 'pretty blatant'.

He told the defendants: 'It might not be the most sophisticated crime but it was remarkably bare-faced.

'The shoplifting at the level you were involved in caused very significant losses to the retailers affected and inevitably the costs are passed on to consumers.'

The judge added that the crime was not victimless and that people doing their weekly shopping could be impacted.

In sentencing, he reduced the prosecution figures for the loss suffered by Tesco by 20 per cent, to account for the fact that the amount stolen by each defendant was a prosecution estimate extrapolated from the average trolley value, rather than a precise figure.

Jason Raven admitted 60 offences of stealing 150 shopping trolleys filled with unpaid goods and attempting to steal another 38.

The value of stolen goods, after being reduced by 20 per cent, was put by the judge at 94,539.

The 50-year-old from Stanford Le Hope, Essex, was jailed for three years.

In mitigation the court heard how he had unresolved drugs debts.

James Mytum admitted 36 offences, amounting to 117 shopping trolleys filled with unpaid goods and attempting to steal another 26, with a total reduced estimated value of almost 72,000.

The 41-year-old from Colchester was jailed for three years.

In mitigation the court heard how he had debts to loan sharks from historical drug abuse.

Marlie Patmore admitted 10 offences, stealing 21 shopping trolleys filled with unpaid goods and attempting to steal another six.

The value was put by the judge at 13,500.

The 29-year-old from Basildon, Essex, received 20 months suspended jail sentence.

Samantha Drum admitted 42 offences, amounting to 92 shopping trolleys plus attempting to steal another 24, with a value on the goods put at over 58,000.

The 30-year-old from East Tilbury, Essex, received a two year suspended sentence.

Sentencing of a sixth defendant was adjourned.

A confiscation hearing will take place at a later date.
Women's clothing brands Millers and Noni B will close their doors after receivers for parent company Mosaic Brands failed to secure a buyer.

More than 250 stores, 11 of which are in New Zealand, are expected to close by April, leaving about 930 workers without jobs.

Millers and Noni B were the ASX-listed company's last two brands after it announced last month that well-known labels Katies and Rivers would close.

'Despite the best efforts of all parties, we have been unable to achieve a sale of any of the brands within the Mosaic portfolio,' partner at receiver KPMG David Hardy said on Wednesday.

'As a result, all stores in the Mosaic Brands Group will be wound down over the coming months.'

Noni B stores will close within months after parent company Mosaic Brands failed to secure a buyer

Millers stores will also shut down, leaving hundreds without a job

Sales will be held in all outlets and the timing of each store closure will depend on stock levels, with all shops expected to close by mid-April.

Mosaic went into voluntary administration in October, with KPMG partners and FTI Consulting appointed as respective receivers and administrators.

The company previously discontinued five of its signature brands - Rockmans, Autograph, Crossroads, W.Lane and BeMe - in September and closed stores as it attempted to put its finances on a sound footing.

The group had 763 stores and employed about 3000 people in Australia and New Zealand.

The company's shares have been suspended from the ASX since September 2 because of a delay in filing its 2023/24 financial report, which was due in August.
France is leading EU demands for Britain to back down on fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme in exchange for a new security pact with the bloc, it has emerged.

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly promised to 'reset' the UK's post-Brexit relations with Brussels under his Labour Government.

As well as a security deal, the PM is hoping to agree a new veterinary pact, mutual recognition for professional qualifications, and help for British artists to play in the EU.

But, ahead of an EU-UK summit next week, it has been revealed how French President Emmanuel Macron has bogged down talks.

According to the Financial Times, Paris is refusing to engage on the security pact unless Britain meets EU demands over fishing rights and a youth mobility deal.

Many EU member states want guarantees they will continue to have the same level of access to UK fishing waters as under a current deal that expires in June next year.

There is also a push for Sir Keir to cave in on a youth mobility scheme to give young Europeans greater freedom to come to the UK to study and work - and vice versa for young Britons.

The PM has so far resisted these demands and is wary of any deal that might risk a return of free movement rules for EU citizens.

French President Emmanuel Macron is leading EU demands for Britain to back down on fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme in exchange for a new security pact with the bloc

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly promised to 'reset' the UK's post-Brexit relations with Brussels under his Labour Government

Pressure from member states for a security deal with Britain to be linked to a broader package of agreements will ratchet up tensions ahead of the EU leaders' dinner with Sir Keir in Brussels on 3 February.

A senior UK government official told the newspaper: 'Over the last four or five weeks it has become clear that it won't happen without early assurances on fish and mobility.

'We're back to the 'nothing agreed until everything is agreed' world.'

An EU official said: 'Everything is now seen as a quid pro quo', while a French official warned: 'Security and defence cannot be separated from the rest.'

Since winning power last July, Sir Keir has visited a string of EU capitals in a bid to push his 'reset'.

The PM also hosted Mr Macron for dinner at Chequers, his official country residence in Buckinghamshire, earlier this month.

Sir Keir has sought a close relationship with the French President since entering No10 and previously travelled to Paris to attend a French service on Armistice Day.

He was the first British PM to attend the events since Winston Churchill in 1944.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'As part of resetting our relationship with our European neighbours we continue to work towards strengthening co-operation on areas of mutual benefit, such as on security.'

Olof Gill, a European Commission spokesman, said: 'We look forward to the UK defining its priorities, including on defence and security, and will engage on that basis.'
Two violent Tren de Aragua gang members, a convicted murderer, child sex abusers, and a suspected terrorist are among the latest migrants swept up by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

In the first week of Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting some 7,300 people of various nationalities.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024.

Agents arrested 969 undocumented migrants across the nation on Monday, with the White House once again highlighted the 'worst' offenders to be removed from city streets as part of the 'Make America Safe Again' initiative.

Border czar Tom Homan says he is not satisfied with the pace of migrant deportations - despite ICE's 'unprecedented' number of arrests - and claims the US needs to 'open the aperture up' and carry out 'more deportations'.

'It was a great start. The first week was unprecedented,' he told Fox News' Jesse Watters of efforts so far, hailing how under Trump's new policies, illegal border crossings have dropped from '10,000 a day to under 600'.

'It's great, it's good, but we're not finished and we need more deportations,' Homan said, adding: 'A lot more deportations and that's what we're working on.'

The border czar's remark comes just days after he vowed that numbers of daily deportations and arrests will 'steadily increase' as they ramp up efforts to curb illegal immigration.

A Venezuelan national and member of the violent Tren de Aragua crime gang (left) was among those swept up by ICE Atlanta on Monday in Trump's immigration crackdown. Convicted murderer Oscar Villatoro-Lazo (right) was detained by ICE in Buffalo, New York on Monday. The Salvadoran national was sentenced to 19 years to life

Also among the latest criminals to be arrested by ICE was an Afghanistan national and suspected terrorist (left). He was detained in San Diego in Monday and is being held in custody pending deportation. A Honduran national and documented Sureno gang member (right) was arrested by ICE Chicago on Monday

Mexican national Fernando Hernandez-Martinez (left) was arrested by ICE agents in Atlanta. He was convicted of counts of child molestation and sentenced to five years confinement. Edgar Julca-Tangoa, (right) a Peruvian national who was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, was arrested Monday in Newark, New Jersey. He was wanted for aggravated sexual assault and abuse of multiple minors in Argentina

Jose Guadalupe Garza, (left) a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE Houston on Monday. He was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In Corpus Christi, a Honduran national (right) wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was arrested by ICE on Monday. He illegally re-entered the US with an outstanding state arrest warrant

Nestor Alexander Cortez-Mejia, a Salvadoran national and MS-13 gang member, was arrested by ICE in Dallas on Monday. He was previously deported and has a criminal history that includes robbery and extortion in El Salvador

Trump declared a national emergency on the US-Mexico border and issued a sweeping immigration crackdown, pledging mass deportations.

Deportees are expected to include Venezuelans, who have left their country by the millions, and members of the violent crime gang Tren de Aragua.

Trump said the day before his inauguration that he would remove members of the Venezuelan gang from the US.

The White House, in its latest deportation round-up, praised ICE for arresting two Venezuelan nationals who were also TdA members in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday.

The TdA members had been in the US illegally since at least last year, possibly since 2023. They have been remanded for deportation proceedings, officials said.

Trump said during his campaign that apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado had been taken over by TdA members, a claim refuted by top city officials at the time.

Venezuelan attorney general Tarek Saab said last week his country definitively destroyed the TdA there in 2023, adding his office is willing to restart legal cooperation with the US in order to extradite Venezuelan members of the gang.

Venezuelan officials have long floated the possibility they could reject migrant flights over sanctions. It is unclear where the deportees may be sent if Venezuela will not accept them.

Some 600,000 Venezuelans in the United States were eligible for deportation reprieves granted by the Biden administration.

In the first week of Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting some 7,300 people of various nationalities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024

But border czar Tom Homan says he is not satisfied with the pace of migrant deportations - despite ICE's 'unprecedented' number of arrests - and claims the US needs to 'open the aperture up' and carry out 'more deportations'

Also among the latest criminals to be arrested by ICE was an Afghanistan national and suspected terrorist. He was detained in San Diego in Monday and was issued a final order of removal. He is being held in custody pending deportation.

Mexican national Fernando Hernandez-Martinez was arrested by ICE agents in Atlanta. He was convicted of counts of child molestation and sentenced to five years confinement.

Edgar Julca-Tangoa, a Peruvian national who was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, was arrested Monday in Newark, New Jersey. He was wanted for aggravated sexual assault and abuse of multiple minors in Argentina.

Convicted murderer Oscar Villatoro-Lazo was detained by ICE in Buffalo, New York on Monday. The Salvadoran national was sentenced to 19 years to life.

Trump has also issued a broad ban on asylum for migrants 'engaged in the invasion across the southern border.'

He instructed the Defense Department to make it a priority to seal the border and to support border wall construction, detention space and migrant transportation.

Marines have already descended to the southern border in an attempt to secure the crossing as President Trump ramped up his promise of cracking down on illegal immigration. An aerial shot of Camp Pendleton is seen here

US Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, adjusting concertina wire along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, California, on January 27, 2025

Military vehicles stationed at a US Army Reserve office in McAllen, Texas on January 28, 2025

Trump empowered the defense secretary to send troops to the border, and around 1,500 active duty troops were deployed to the nearly 2,000-mile border this week, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California.

Thousands of ICE officers have already been dispatched to the San Diego border crossing as they prepare to take '100,000 immigrants' back to Mexico and Central America in one of the biggest migrant raids in American history.

DailyMail.com can now reveal that they have been joined with what has been described as a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP'.

A White House intelligence source said: 'There is a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP in front of Camp Pendleton right now, ready to do the biggest illegal immigrant grab in recent history.

'The West Coast is this week and the East Coast is next week. It is about to get crazy in California. They need to fill 100,000 spots', meaning arrests is the directive.

The source continued: 'They are going to be taking 100,000 immigrants back to Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala in this grab.'

The Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, posts photos of raids with ICE, ATF and Department of Homeland Security officers seeking to arrest migrants with criminal offenses on Jan. 28, 2025 in New York City

ICE officers have already begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York. Pictured are agents in NYC

U.S. Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire as they re-enforce the border wall, January 25, 2025

Deportation flights between the US and Colombia resumed Tuesday after the diplomatic drama over the weekend that provided clues as to how Trump would deal with countries blocking large-scale plans to return migrants who entered illegally.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to let two US military planes carrying deportees land in his country over the weekend, prompting Trump to threaten 25 per cent tariffs on Colombian exports and other sanctions.

Colombia then relented and said it would accept the migrants, but fly them on Colombian military flights that Petro said would guarantee them dignity.

Two Colombian air force planes landed Tuesday in Bogota with more than 200 of the migrants, many of them women and children. Petro welcomed them with a post on X, saying they are now 'free' and 'in a country that loves them.'

Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said none of the 200 Colombians who were returned on Tuesday had criminal records in the US or Colombia.

'Migrants are not criminals,' Petro wrote. 'They are human beings who want to work and get ahead in life.'

Earlier this week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made a point of saying that four flights that had landed at a Mexico City airport in the past few days carrying deportees were all civilian.

Guatemala has not publicly objected, and at least three US military flights carrying deportees have landed there in the past week.

Migrants on a Colombian Air Force flight after being deported from the US on January 28, 2025

US Border Patrol agents load detained migrants onto a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III for a removal flight at the Tucson International Airport in Arizona on January 23, 2025

Migrants are escorted across the Hidalgo International border Bridge as they are deported under Title 8, a law that allows for immediate deportation after crossing into the US without authorization, in McAllen, Texas on January 27, 2025

Migrants deplane a U.S. military aircraft after it landed in Guatemala on January 24, 2025

Trump has also ordered the suspension of refugee admissions into the US. All refugee travel to the US was canceled, including that of nearly 1,660 Afghans cleared to resettle in America.

He reinstated his 'Remain in Mexico' policy, which requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico pending the resolution of their US cases.

He instructed the attorney general to seek capital punishment against immigrants without legal status who commit crimes such as murder that are potentially punishable by death.

He issued an order to end birthright citizenship to children born in the US if neither their mother or father is an American citizen or legal permanent resident.

People born on American soil are granted citizenship under the US Constitution. Democratic state attorneys general and advocates launched lawsuits over the issue and a judge appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan blocked the order, calling it 'blatantly unconstitutional.'

Trump also kicked off a process to designate criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and to utilize a 1798 law known as the Alien Enemies Act against foreign gang members.
The ringleader of a notorious gang of feral teenagers who kicked a father-of-three to death outside his home has been quietly released from prison after serving just 17 years for murder.

The death of Garry Newlove in Warrington in 2007 became a cause celebre for justice campaigners with his widow Helen later ennobled for her work in relation to youth crime.

Innocent Gary was viciously murdered in front of his daughter, then just 12, after he berated the group of out-of-control youths when he caught them vandalising his wifes car while drunk and high on cannabis.

Adam Swellings, 19, Stephen Sorton, 17, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, teamed up to brutally attack the 47 year old father, repeatedly kicking him in his head until he died.

All three teenagers were handed life sentences following Mr Newlove's death, with Swellings, Sorton and Cunliffe receiving recommended terms of 17, 15, and 12 years.

The youngest two have since been released on parole, with Swellings - now 36 - appearing before the board in November in a bid to be freed on licence.

He had been described in parole hearings as a very aggressive and angry young man.

In December, he was informed that the panel had recommended he be freed from prison. The Ministry of Justice has now confirmed to MailOnline that he has subsequently been released on licence.

Ringleader Adam Swellings, then 19 and now 36, has been released on licence

Garry Newlove was brutally murdered outside his home in front of his 12-year-old daughter in 2007

Mr Newlove's widow Helen was made a peer in 2010 following her campaign work on youth crime and served as the Victim's Commissioner from 2012 to 2019

A spokesperson for the MoJ said: 'This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Garry Newlove.

'Adam Swellings will be on licence for the rest of his life, with strict conditions and intensive probation supervision after he is released, and he faces an immediate return to prison if he breaks the rules.'

Garry's wife Helen has tirelessly campaigned for victims of anti-social behaviour to be taken more seriously.

She became Baroness Newlove in 2010 for her work in relation to youth crime and later served as the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales from 2012 to 2019.

Previously, a spokesperson for the Parole Board told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Adam Swellings following an oral hearing.

Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

Two years ago the Parole Board cleared him for a move to open prison conditions but the decision was blocked by former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.

The current Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood could have asked the Parole Board to look at the case again to ensure it had followed procedure but did not make an application to use these powers.

Jordan Cunliffe, one of the killers, has already been paroled

Stephen Paul Sorton, was just 17 when he participated in the attack on the father 17 years ago

Under current parole laws, she did not have the power to prevent Swellings being released.

A summary by the three person panel who recommended his release said Swellings had shown empathy towards the victims of his offending.

He told the panel that he had matured during his sentence and that he had been selfish at the time of the index offence.

It also said his behaviour in prison had been positive' also adding that Mr Swellings had 'evidenced compliance.

The board added that at the time of the crime Swellings made poor decisions and had a perception that violence earned respect and acceptance.'

The summary said Swellings was previously a very aggressive and angry young man.

During his court trial the jury also heard how the then-teenager binged on drinks and used skunk cannabis.

They stated that protective factors would reduce the risk of reoffending such as abstinence from drugs, controlling alcohol and avoiding antisocial friends.

Passersby look at flowers left in Warrington where Mr Newlove died in Warrington Cheshire in 2007

The summary also noted that Swellings was supported by his family.

The 36-year-old finished a minimum 17-year sentence in August 2024, with his parole hearing in November 2024 being the first one where he was eligible for release.

The summary concluded that the panel were 'satisfied' that 'imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public' following the hearing.

It continued: The panel had regard to the extremely serious nature of the index offence and that Mr Swellings lifestyle at the time saw him engaged in violence, drug misuse and alcohol misuse.

Mr Swellings was 18 at the time of the index offence and is now 36 years old. The panel found evidence of maturation, which was supported by the professionals involved in the case.

The panel considered there to be a strong release plan in place and it noted the support available to Mr Swellings from his family.

It added that a range of strict licence conditions had been placed on Swellings, including residing at approved accommodation, GPS tracking and regular drug testing as well as an exclusion zone.
Rachel Reeves today green-lit plans to create the UK's answer to Silicon Valley with plans for major development between Oxford and Cambridge designed to boost the economy by 78billion.

A new east-west rail link and upgraded roads will link the two major university cities and Milton Keynes, which are hubs for innovation and R&D, the Chancellor said in a major speech this morning.

She also threw government backing behind the creation of new towns in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

A new 'Growth Commission for Oxford' will review how to accelerate growth will be launched, and Lord Vallance, the government's former chief scientific advisor will be appointed as 'Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion'.

The emphasis on the Oxford-Cambridge region marks a shift away from the Tories' 'levelling up' agenda, in which resources were directed to the 'left behind places' in a bid to emulate the levels of prosperity and opportunity in London and the south east.

Instead, Ms Reeves used her speech to say Oxford and Cambridge offer 'huge economic potential for our nation's growth prospects'.

It sat alongside backing for a new third runway to expand Heathrow airport.

Ms Reeves used her speech to say Oxford and Cambridge offer 'huge economic potential for our nation's growth prospects'.

Your browser does not support iframes.

A new 'Growth Commission for Oxford' will review how to accelerate growth will be launched, and Lord Vallance , the government's former chief scientific advisor will be appointed as 'Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion'.

Chris Curtis, the Milton Keynes North MP and co-chairman of Labour Growth Group said: 'This speech marks an inflection point for our country.

'For far too long those who have sought to block building, stifle innovation and halt progress have had the system on their side in the UK - now that era is firmly at an end and the time for change is here.'

Mrs Reeves announced that the Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge with 4,500 new homes, as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre.

East West Rail involves boosting railway links between Oxford and Cambridge with new and upgraded lines.

The scheme has three stages, with initial services from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes scheduled to begin this year.

The other two stages are reliant on Government funding and approval.

These involve services being extended from Oxford to Bedford, and then from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford and Bletchley.

A new railway station at Tempsford, Bedfordshire, would provide connections between the East Coast Main Line and East West Rail.

New rail links across the region between Oxford and Cambridge are part of wider plans to pave the way for economic growth in the region.

Oxford will also get a new growth commission aimed at helping boost the city's economy, following a similar initiative in Cambridge.

New reservoirs will be built near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and in the Fens near Cambridge to quash fears of a water shortage as new homes are built.

They will be among nine new reservoirs built as the Government has agreed for water companies to invest 7.9 billion to improve infrastructure.

The Chancellor told an audience at a Siemens factory near Oxford: 'Just 66 miles apart these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.

'It has the potential to be Europe's Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.

'To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two and a half hours.

'There is no way to commute directly from towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes to Cambridge by rail. And there is a lack of affordable housing across the region.

'Oxford and Cambridge are two of the least affordable cities in the UK. In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region.'

Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California which is home to many of the world's largest tech companies.

She added: 'Taken together, these announcements show that for the first time a government is providing real leadership to deliver this project with a clear strategy for the entire region backed by funding for the housing and infrastructure we so badly need.'

The Treasury said the announcements are designed to create the right conditions to increase investment in growth sectors including life sciences, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
An urgent manhunt is underway after a North Carolina inmate wanted for attempted murder escaped prison through a ventilation system.

In a statement released by Craven County Sheriff's Office, prison officers discovered that John Matthew Nigh, 37, was missing from his assigned cell in Craven County Jail at around 4pm on Sunday.

Following a search for Nigh, they determined that the prisoner, with the help of his cellmates, managed to remove a ceiling grating, enter a utility chase and exit the roof through a ventilation housing.

Nigh's cellmates were able to conceal his escape by stuffing a mattress and making it look as if he was asleep.

The sheriff's office said that a statewide 'be on the look-out' order was issued for the inmate to all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina.

'Craven County Investigations Bureau and Special Investigations Bureau Deputies responded and began the investigation and search. The U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force is also assisting', the sheriff's office said.

'Nigh has been armed in past encounters with Law Enforcement Officers and should be considered dangerous. Anyone having information about his whereabouts should call the Craven County Sheriffs Office at 252 633 2357, their local law enforcement agency or 911.'

The inmate was described as a six-foot-two white male by the authorities. He has a tattoo of the letters 'JMN' on his upper left arm, and a cross on his upper right arm.

A manhunt is underway for a North Carolina prison inmate named John Matthew Nigh, who is believed to have escaped from Craven County jail on Sunday

Aerial view of Craven County Jail. The inmate is said to have escaped through an air ventilation system, police said

Picture shows Craven County jail in New Bern, North Carolina, as local police issue a BOLO for a dangerous inmate who escaped over the weekend

Nigh had previously been arrested at a home in Hubert after being wanted for charges in Pamlico County.

According to officials, Nigh had been approached by cops but fled out the door into the woods and fired two shots at three approaching deputies.

No one was injured, but Nigh was arrested and taken into police custody.

The inmate had a series of pending court dates, including attempted first degree murder.
Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted he was 'ill-judged and wrong' to brand Donald Trump a 'danger to the world'.

The Labour peer walked back his comments about the American President as he prepared to be confirmed as the UK's new ambassador to the US.

This will see him move into the swanky British ambassador's resident in Washington DC, which recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Ahead of his official start as the UK's top diplomat in the US, Lord Mandelson said Mr Trump had won 'fresh respect' since winning a second term in the White House.

He also claimed the property mogul turned politician 'could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life'.

Lord Mandelson was forced to disown his 2019 remarks about Mr Trump after they emerged following his nomination as the UK's new ambassador to the US.

In the comments to an Italian podcast, the former MP and Cabinet minister also suggested Mr Trump was 'little short of a white nationalist and racist'.

It had been feared Lord Mandelson's past views would hinder Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to boost the Labour Government's relations with Mr Trump.

Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted he was 'ill-judged and wrong' to brand Donald Trump a 'danger to the world'

The Labour peer walked back his comments about the American President as he prepared to be confirmed as the UK's new ambassador to the US

PM Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with outgoing ambassador Dame Karen Pierce at her swanky residence in September

The British embassy in Washington DC recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment

But, speaking to Fox News, Lord Mandelson said he was 'confident' of striking up a strong working relationship with Mr Trump's new administration.

Quizzed about his previous comments, he said: 'I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong.

'I think that times and attitudes toward the President have changed since then.

'I think people have been impressed, not just by the extraordinary second mandate that he's received from the American people, but the dynanism and energy with which he approached bot just the campaign but government as well.

'I think that he has won fresh respect. He certainly has from me, and that is going to be the basis of all the work I do as His Majesty's ambassador in the United States.'

As he lavished praise on Mr Trump at the start of his second term, Lord Mandelson added: 'I think President Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life.

'Why do I say that? Because there are so many threats and challenges the world is facing at the moment.

'It takes courage, somebody sometimes who is prepared to be argumentative and, indeed, disruptive. Not just take business as usual and say 'well, this is the way we've done things in the past, so let's just carry on doing what we have always have done'.

'I think something more and better and bigger is required in the world in the 21st century.'

He also claimed Mr Trump would bring 'leadership to all the freedom-loving democracies in the world' over the next four years.

Lord Mandelson also dismissed concerns about the prospect of Mr Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being about to forge a successful relationship.

'They're not Siamese twins... but they're both pragmatic people,' he said. 'They know where each is coming from, they want to find common ground.

'I feel very optimistic. I feel very upbeat about the relationship that they're both going to have.'

Lord Manelson is expected to be confirmed as the UK's new ambassador to the US despite reports that concerns had been raised about his links to China.

Downing Street this week defended the Labour peer amid a report that a dossier about him had been passed to the FBI.

US senators reportedly handed a document outlining his links to China to federal investigators.

The PM's spokesman said Lord Mandelson had declared all his interests as part of the clearance process.
Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted he believes only Donald Trump can end the war in Ukraine as he is 'feared' by Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian president claimed the lack of US presence in Europe had left the door open for Russia to prepare for an invasion and attack the country in 2022, following several 'weak, even treacherous agreements'.

He added the US was the only country that could now provide 'real security guarantees' for Ukraine and said he was 'confident that if President Trump wants to, he can force Putin into peace'.

Zelensky wrote on X on Wednesday: 'President Trump's recent rhetoric about Putin wasn't just toughit was fair. And that's exactly the kind of Trump that Putin fears.

'A strong Trump means a strong America, and a strong America means a strong Ukraine with real security guarantees.'

He continued: 'I am confident that if President Trump wants to, he can force Putin into peace. If the U.S. applies pressure on Putin through the Global Southincluding China and IndiaPresident Trump can negotiate for them to do the same.'

Zelensky also took aim at former President Joe Biden, saying that America's absence in Europe was 'a mistake of the previous administration'.

He also claimed he had urged Biden to 'impose the strongest preventive sanctions' against Putin before his 'full-scale invasion', but was told the US would only act if they invaded - a move which Zelensky said was 'illogical'.

Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted he believes only Donald Trump can end the war in Ukraine as he is 'feared' by Vladimir Putin . Pictured: Zelensky with Trump during their meeting in Trump Tower in New York on September 27, 2024

Ukrainian emergency and rescue personnel together with military members carry a body of a victim killed following a Russian strike on a supermarket, in Kostyantynivka in August 2024

Ukrainian servicemen along with civilians carry a woman they flee the town of Irpin, in March 2022

While Zelensky mostly praised Trump for his stance on the war, he also criticised the US President for his disapproval of NATO, claiming the military alliance 'remains the cheapest security guarantee for everyone'.

His post continued: 'I know President Trump isnt the biggest fan of NATO topic. But NATO remains the cheapest security guarantee for everyone. Whats the alternative? We need strong security guarantees.'

It comes as Russia's defence ministry said earlier it had downed 104 Ukrainian drones over western regions including Kursk and Bryansk, with smaller numbers intercepted over Smolensk, Tver, Belgorod and elsewhere.

Ukraine said one strike had hit an oil refinery in the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, around 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Falling debris from a drone triggered a fire at the site, Russia said earlier.

'As a result of repelling a drone attack, debris fell on the Sibur-Kstovo enterprise causing a fire to break out,' Sibur, a large petrochemical firm that owns the facility, said on Telegram.

Both Sibur and the regional governor said there were no casualties and firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze.

The governor of Russia's Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, also said a Ukrainian drone 'was shot down during an attempted attack on a nuclear power facility,' adding there was no damage or casualties.

The governor did not specify which facility, but the Smolensk nuclear power plant is located near the town of Desnogorsk.

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike on a private factory in Kharkiv on January 28, 2025

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike on a private factory in Kharkiv on January 28, 2025

Residents repair the roof of a house destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Chernihiv on January 28, 2025

Ukraine's military said Russia had also launched an overnight drone attack of its own, resulting in air alerts in multiple Ukrainian regions.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 29 Russian drones over nine mainly southern and eastern regions.

In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris from a Russian drone had fallen in a central district of the capital.

And in the southern Black Sea region of Odesa, the governor said Russian drones had attacked port facilities in the town of Izmail.

In the southern city of Kherson, mayor Roman Mrochko said a 52-year-old man had been fatally wounded in a Russian drone attack.
An incredibly poignant last letter home from a tragic Tommy to his army veteran dad days before he was killed in the First World War has been unearthed 111 years later.

Lance Corporal William Burton was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father, also called William, who had served with distinction in the Boer War.

But soon after joining the army in 1914, the 21-year-old was sent to the Western Front to fight against German forces.

In October 1914, his father wrote to ask whether he had enough underwear to keep him warm during the autumn months in the trenches.

William penned a letter in response asking his 'dear dad' to send him an undershirt and a night cap as 'they are very warm'.

He also asked him if he could send him cigarettes once a week as all he had was army-issue pipe tobacco.

Seven days later, William was killed during a heroic rearguard action near Pont Fixe, a bridge over La Bassee Canal in northern France.

Now the military archive of the father and son has emerged for sale at auction for 4,000.

An incredibly poignant last letter home from a tragic Tommy to his army veteran dad days before he was killed in the First World War has been unearthed 111 years later. Lance Corporal William Burton was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father, also called William

In October 1914, his father wrote to ask whether he had enough underwear to keep him warm during the autumn months in the trenches. William penned a letter (above) in response asking his 'dear dad' to send him an undershirt and a night cap as 'they are very warm'

William's battalion stood firm in the face of a heavy German counter attack but paid a heavy price, with 150 men killed, 122 wounded and more than 150 missing.

William's body was never recovered, so his father did not get to bury his son. He is commemorated at Le Touret Memorial in northern France.

William Snr served as a sergeant in the Dorset Regiment and fought in the Boer War.

His vast array of mementos includes his medals, swagger stick, soldier's book, photos and other ephemera.

But his son's effects, owing to his short career, are more sparse, consisting of his medals and death plaque.

William Snr left the Dorset Regiment in 1919 and lived well into his late 80s before he died in 1954.

The archive, which he kept in his army trunk, was passed to a family friend for safekeeping.

They have remained in the friend's family for seven decades but are now being sold by a descendant who lives in Dorset.

Now the military archive of the father and son has emerged for sale at auction for 4,000

William as a boy with his father, also called William, and his mother Dolly outside their home

A letter from the army persuading Sergeant William Burton to return to military service, five years after his son's death on the Western Front

In the letter, William told his father that he had not been able to find cigarettes as the Germans who had been to the towns had taken them all.

He added that he had also been learning a little bit of French.

The lance corporal wrote: 'Just a few lines to you to thank you for the packet of cigarettes... I should like you to send me some cigarettes every week.'

He added: 'In answer to your letter asking me if I wanted drawers & undershirt & a night cap I would like one like I have enclosed as they are very warm.'

Michael Roberts, senior valuer at Duke's Auctions of Dorchester, said: 'The local vendor's family were friends with the father and when he died in the 1950s they took custody of the archive so it could remain together for future generations.

'The archive, which has been kept in Sgt Burton's trunk, has been passed down to the vendor.

'It is an incredibly poignant and quite remarkable collection.

'As a father myself I can't imagine the grief that Sgt Burton felt losing his son so young.

Lance Corporal William Burton's medals. From left to right: The 1914 star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Sergeant William Burton's medals. From left to right: The Queen's South Africa Medal, the King's South Africa Medal and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

The sale of the father and son's archive takes place tomorrow

William Burton's notebook. The object features in the family collection

'The father had a distinguished military career and was commended for his actions in the Boer War.

'The son would have idolised him and wished to follow in his footsteps.

'It is so sad that he was killed so soon into the war, and since his body was not recovered the father never got to bury his son.

'The letter is very touching because it was written just a few days before the son was killed.

'You wonder if the father actually received it before learning of his son's death.

'It must have been a heavy burden for him to carry for the remaining 50 years of his life.'

The sale takes place tomorrow.
Vogue launched a vicious review of Melania Trump's newly-revealed White House portrait, comparing the first lady's look to that of a magician.

The magazine spent four years fawning over the previous White House administration, featuring both Jill Biden and Kamala Harris on the cover several times each, and its latest piece on Melania reaffirms their preference for Democrats.

Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is a known Democrat - and was once even rumored to be considered for an ambassadorship under president Barack Obama.

'Trump looked more like a freelance magician than a public servant,' wrote Hannah Jackson about the white-and-black portrait by Regine Mahaux.

Jackson raged against the 'situationally inappropriate tuxedo' worn by Melania for the historic photograph, which shows the first lady in a power pose.

'Trumps clothing certainly didnt help the boardroom pastiche,' Jackson continued.

'Trump looked more like she was guest starring on an episode of The Apprentice than assuming the role of first lady of the United States.'

Jackson concluded: 'Its perhaps unsurprising that a woman who lived in a gold-encrusted penthouse, whose fame is so intertwined with a reality television empire, would refuse to abandon theatricseven when faced with 248 years of tradition.'

Melania Trump surprised her devoted Instagram followers with her new official White House portrait, which was unveiled on Monday.

Vogue magazine said Melania Trump's first lady portrait made her look like a magician and a participant on The Apprentice

The magazine featured both Jill Biden and Kamala Harris on the cover several times each during the Biden years. Melania was never put on the cover during Trump's first term

The black and white image was a big departure from former First Ladies, who have traditionally chosen much more colorful images.

Instead, Melania, whose stylist Herve Pierre has revealed in the past that it's difficult to dress her because many American designers refuse, showed off a black Dolce & Gabbana pantsuit with a white shirt.

'Trump look more like a freelance magician than a public servant,' wrote Hannah Jackson

The Washington Monument was visible in the background.

The photo was taken on January 21, the day after the inauguration, in the Yellow Oval Room of the residence by Belgian photographer Mahaux.

Vogue famously excluded Melania from its pages while she was first lady, breaking its tradition of putting the presidents' wives on its coveted cover.

Melania was secretly recorded in 2018 expressing rage that Vogue had not asked to feature her on its cover.

'Vogue said like, oh, we want to do a profile. Profile? F*** you, profile. I don't need no profile. Yeah, what I need another profile? It might be a cover. I'm like, might be a cover? I don't give a f*** about Vogue and any magazine.'

While Democratic first ladies such as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton were put on the Vogue cover, Republicans such as Laura and Barbara Bush were not.

Melania, 54, shared the photo on the official FLOTUS Instagram account, which has four million followers.

Unfortunately, many of the followers were left over from when they followed Jill Biden's account and were shocked to realize they were suddenly following Melania.

Welcome to MAGALAND: Insider Trump's Second 100 Days - The podcast bringing you the latest news and gossip from the White House. Listen here.

Anna Wintour famously excluded Melania from Vogue while she was first lady. The editor - famed for her icy demeanor - is a staunch Democrat

But Melania's followers adored the intense snap - and some even thought it looked like a Vogue cover - although some social media critics thought it appeared to be heavily Photoshopped.

Some thought the picture looked strange, with one person saying, 'That's not an official photo. That's a heavily Photoshopped official photo.'

On X (previously Twitter), some people accused her of heavily editing the image.

'Looks like she's made of plastic. It's so over-processed, heavy softening and blurring filtering. There's nothing warm or real about this image,' a commenter wrote disparagingly.

Some of Melania's fans were recently left up in arms over the fact that she wasn't given the same respect in the fashion community that previous first ladies received despite the glamorous portrait.

'Jill Biden was given three Vogue covers. Zero for Melania. What a joke,' Link Lauren, the former senior advisor to RFK Jr., tweeted.

For the latest White House gossip and news, listen to the Daily Mail's new politics podcast, Welcome to MAGAland - hosted by Germania Rodriguez Poleo and Kelly Laco. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
Noel Clarke's lawyers have accused the Guardian of 'fabricating evidence' in an effort to bolster their investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against the star.

Clarke, 49, best known for his Kidulthood film trilogy and appearing in Dr Who, is suing the Guardian over a series of articles published in 2021 and 2022 that accused him of sexual misconduct and bullying.

He appeared at the High Court today as his legal team argued investigative reporters at the newspaper deleted messages when they were aware of the possibility of legal action.

Mr Clarke's barrister claimed that shortly before the first story was published Paul Lewis, the Guardian's head of investigations, instructed two journalists working on the story to delete a series of messages that had been sent between themselves via the encrypted app Signal.

In one message Mr Lewis wrote: '...can we clear all our Signal messages please? Delete this entire thread. I'll create a new thread which will likely be disclosable in court.'

In another, sent almost three hours later, he wrote: 'please delete all Signal threads, including this one and individual one on one discussions we've had or you've had with each other.'

Arthur Lo, representing Clarke, said: 'These messages speak for themselves. It must have been at the forefront of the defendant's investigative team that litigation was likely.

Noel Clarke arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, for a hearing in his libel claim against the publisher of The Guardian newspaper

Mr Clarke is bringing legal action over their reports of allegations that he had been accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women

Mr Clarke previously claimed that the allegations cost him lucrative acting roles, a Bafta award and said that TV series he appeared in were dropped

'The instruction seems to be to delete all Signal threads which in any event were on auto delete.

'The intention is the fabrication of a thread which would be favourable in court. That seems to be the intention behind Mr Lewis' messages.'

Lawyers representing Clarke asked for Paul Lewis, the head of the Guardian's investigations unit, to go into the witness stand today to give evidence over the deleted messages.

However, this application was rejected as Clarke's lawyers will have the opportunity to put their accusations to him on the matter during the full trial.

Addressing the fabrication allegation, Philip Williams, who is also representing Clarke, said that he is not claiming that Mr Lewis created a false document.

Instead, Mr Williams said he is claiming that the deletion of messages was an attempt to swindle the court and Clarke.

The Guardian firmly denies any wrongdoing and stands by their reports.

Gavin Miller KC for the Guardian issued a thunderous denial of the allegations made by Clarke.

He said: 'There is nothing by the way of evidence to support these very serious allegations of deletion of evidence and fabrication.

'They appear to have been made to launder damaging allegations against Guardian journalists which could not be made outside of court.

Mr Clarke's lawyers have accused the Guardian of 'fabricating evidence' in an effort to bolster their investigation

He appeared at the High Court today as his legal team argued investigative reporters at the newspaper deleted messages

'They are being made under the protection of privilege which is regrettable. There is not a scintilla of evidence.'

The first article said 20 women who knew Clarke through work had made allegations. Clarke has vehemently denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.

In their skeleton argument, Mr Clarke's lawyers allege Mr Lewis's messages 'clearly indicate an intention to delete and fabricate new evidence' and accuse the newspaper of 'perverting the course of justice'.

Mr Lewis's messages were sent after Clarke's lawyers had warned the paper that the actor would sue if they published defamatory articles, it is claimed.

The Guardian's lawyers accused Mr Clarke of attempting to 'smear' its journalists and said Mr Lewis's instruction to delete messages was made to comply with the newspaper's policy on 'data minimisation'.

Mr Lewis later discovered the two threads of messages that he had asked to be deleted and that all but two pages of these were disclosed to Clarke's team, the newspaper added in a written submission.

This, the Guardian claimed, 'fatally undermines' Clarke's case that Lewis wanted to conceal them from the court.

'There is no evidence either that any evidence was 'fabricated',' the Guardian said in its submission.

Clarke, 49, pictured as DC Martin Young in 'Viewpoint', has vehemently denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing

Clarke is suing the Guardian for defamation over a series of articles published in 2021 and 2022 that accused him of sexual misconduct and bullying

It added that it had disclosed thousands of documents related to its investigation, including 80 pages of Signal messages and 500 emails sent between Mr Lewis and the two journalists.

Clarke claims the allegations cost him lucrative acting roles and saw primetime shows Bulletproof and Viewpoint dropped by Sky and ITV.

It also led to the British Academy of Film and Television Art stripping Clarke of his Outstanding Contribution to Cinema award and suspending his membership.

His lawyers last week revealed he is seeking to amend his damages claim to 70m - up from 10m.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday in 2022, Clarke said the allegations left him contemplating suicide and that his family was financially 'running on fumes'.

The Guardian has said 32 people are to give evidence in support of its defence. They include 26 people who will say they were the victims of - or witnesses to - serious misconduct by Clarke, or can 'otherwise corroborate' the allegations.

A six-week trial is due to start in March.
A Chinese sexual predator allegedly raped ten women after plying them with drink and drugs until they were unconscious so he could film the attacks, a court heard today.

PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 27, was studying at University College London when he was accused of carrying out 11 rapes on unconscious woman stupefied with a cocktail of drugs including MDMA, GHB, ketamine and xanax.

Inner London Crown Court heard today that while the engineering student presented as a smart and charming person to the outside world, in reality he was a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

Zou is accused of filming himself attacking two victims in London and another eight women at an unknown location in China between September 2019 and May 2023.

In an extraordinary case, the majority of his victims have never been identified after police brought many of the rape charges based on the defendants own recordings of the attacks captured on his mobile phone and a series of secret cameras, it was said.

Zou is charged with 11 rapes of 10 women, three counts of voyeurism, 12 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

The defendant first came to the UK in September 2017 to study at Queens University in Belfast before going on to do a masters degree at University College London from 2019 to 2021, followed by a PhD at the same university from 2021.

To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly, KC, said.

Phd student Zhenhao Zou, 27, was studying for a masters degree at University College London when he is accused of carrying out 11 rapes on unconscious woman

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Zou appearing at Inner London Crown Court

Inner London Crown Court (pictured), located near Elephant and Castle in south London

He is also a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drink or drugs, and, once they were significantly under the influence of those drink or drugs, he would rape them.

Often, he would record himself doing so and you will be shown several recordings during this trial which the prosecution say are the defendants souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed; items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification, so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.

The defendant, wearing gold rim spectacles and a blue suit, showed no reaction as the case was opened yesterday.

Police launched an investigation when a Chinese woman claimed that she had been raped after being plied with vodka and wine at a friends party in May 2023.

The victim recalled screaming and crying as she attempted to flee but Zou dragged her back by her clothes into his bedroom, it was said.

She told police that she felt hopeless after being imprisoned as she started to lose consciousness.

I was really tired, I cant fight back, I have no strength, she told police.

Zou raped me when I was unconscious, she added.

Police later recovered a video of the attack in which the victim can be heard pleading with Zou, saying she felt unwell and wanted to go home, but he urged her to finish a large glass of vodka he had given her, the court heard.

When she begged for him to let her go, Zou allegedly responded Calm down, dont move. Lie down.

In one clip, an unconscious woman appears to wake up and tries to stop the attack crying: I dont want, I beg youI hate you. I will never have anything to do with you again.

Zou allegedly responded: Really dont push me, its pointless.

Its not the first time we have done it. This is the second time. The sound insulation here is very good.

The prosecutor said: She tells the defendant to let go of her. She asks the defendant not to restrain her and tells him that he is controlling her.

At one point in the recording, she can be heard screaming repeatedly and she appears to try and get up from the bed on several occasions and the defendant pushes her back down each time.

The victim later posted on social media about the attack which led to another victim coming forward, the jury heard.

When he was arrested police found videos relating to nine of the victims as well as a series of intimate photographs taken while the women were unconscious, the court heard.

Zou, who was living in Elephant and Castle in south-east London, denies all 35 charges against him.

The case continues.
Robert F. Kennedy faced an avalanche of attacks over his views on vaccines in a fiery confirmation hearing to be Donald Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary.

One of Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks strenuously denied Democrat claims that he once said pesticides are more likely to make children transgender.

The 71-year-old former presidential nominee was also interrogated over his previous suggestions Lyme disease and COVID were bioweapons.

As he gave a passionate defense of his resume to the Senate Finance Committee, the scion of the Kennedy political dynasty was watched by wife Cheryl Hines.

Screaming protesters were dragged out of the packed committee room as they tried to derail the hearing, which was make or break RFK Jr.'s battle to be in Trump's second administration.

Follow all the updates at DailyMail.com's live blog.
Lloyds Banking Group has announced it will close 136 high street branches in a huge blow for customers.

It will shut 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland sites between May this year and March 2026.

The move comes weeks after the finance giant shook up its business to allow customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to use stores across any of its brands.

Lloyds blamed the decision to shut the branches on customers shifting away from banking in person to using mobile services.

All workers at the affected branches will be offered jobs elsewhere in the company, it said.

A spokeswoman for the business said: 'Over 20million customers are using our apps for on-demand access to their money and customers have more choice and flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking.

'Alongside our apps, customers can also use telephone banking, visit a community banker or use any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch, giving access to many more branches.

Lloyds Banking Group has taken the decision to close 136 of its high street branches

Sixty-one Halifax branches will close between May this year and March 2026

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Customers can also do their everyday banking at over 11,000 branches of the Post Office or in a Banking Hub.'

Banks and building societies have closed 6,214 branches since January 2015 - at a rate of about 53 each month, according to consumer champion Which?

In the wake of the Horizon IT scandal, the Post Office is also planning to close 115 branches, leaving many communities with nowhere to access their money or discuss financial issues in person.

Last month, Lloyds unveiled plans to scrap 101 of its high street branches in 2025.

While many people now use their bank's app or telephone banking to manage their cash, there remains a large proportion who are unable to do so.

According to charity Age UK, only 14 per cent of those aged 85 and above bank online, with 58 per cent relying on face-to-face banking.

The wave of branch closures have triggered fears that elderly, isolated people will be hit hardest.

Speaking about the closures set to take place this year, a spokesman for Lloyds Banking Group said mobile banking was 'more popular than ever, with over 19.5million customers' using the group's app.

The Bank of Scotland will close 14 branches over the same period

'Alongside our app, customers can bank online, over the phone, at a Banking Hub, a Post Office or by speaking to one of our Community Bankers,' they added.

NatWest Group, which comprises NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,428 branches since January 2015 - the most of any banking group, research by Which? revealed.

Lloyds Banking Group was hot on NatWest Group's heels, however, shuttering 1,243 locations over the same period.

Which? also reported that Barclays is the individual bank that has most dramatically decreased its branch numbers, with 1,228 branches now closed over the last nine years.

Which? previously said that by the end of 2024, there would be 33 parliamentary constituencies without a single bank branch.

While the rate of closures had initially appeared to slow down since reaching a peak in 2017, researchers said that in 'recent years there has been a troubling surge'.

During the pandemic, branch closures dropped to 369 in a single year, but that number was outstripped within the first three months of 2021.

Bank bosses were accused of 'engaging in a race to close branches', which resulted in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introducing measures to ensure the 'reasonable provision of cash deposit and withdrawal services' in September 2024.

Sam Richardson, from Which? Money, said: 'This milestone of more than 6,000 bank branch closures in just nine years underscores the seismic shift that has taken place in terms of our banking habits and the character of the high street.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A man has drowned at a popular inner-city beach in front of shocked onlookers.

Emergency crews were called to St Kilda pier in Melbourne at about 8.25pm on Wednesday following reports of a swimmer in distress in the water.

Crowds were seen watching from the busy beachfront promenade as a search was launched.

A police helicopter scoured the ocean in the fading evening light as boats criss-crossed the water searching for the missing swimmer.

A nearby carpark was blocked with at least six emergency vehicles.

A man drowned at St Kilda Pier on Wednesday night. Pictured is the search effort as beachgoers watched on

The man's lifeless body was eventually pulled from the water by emergency responders.

He was unable to be revived, despite the best efforts of paramedics.

The man is yet to be formally identified

Police are not treating the drowning as suspicious at this stage.

At least 74 people have drowned this summer since December 1, three more than the same time last year.
A family who were accused of leaving an arranged marriage bride in a vegetative state after she 'failed to meet expectations' have been freed from jail after their convictions were quashed.

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh was 30 when she was said to have been given the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride, which induced catastrophic brain injury, after she was brought to the UK from Pakistan following an arranged marriage.

She was also allegedly doused in a caustic substance, thought to be a cleaning fluid, as she was abused in the Huddersfield house in the days leading up to her admission to hospital on August 1, 2015.

It was initially thought Ms Sheikh, now 39, would die - but when her ventilator was turned off in hospital, she began to breathe for herself.

She has been left unaware of herself or her environment, without motor response or response to pain, and will never recover. She only survives by being fed through a tube and will eventually die as a consequence of what happened to her, although this may not happen for many years.

Husband Asgar Sheikh, 31, father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, and mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh, 52, were last year jailed for a total of 23 years.

They were found guilty of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm following a trial.

But they now have been released from prison after the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal who found the case was 'riddled with evidential difficulties'.

The convictions for perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice were upheld.

Brother-in-law Shakalayne Sheikh was found not guilty at the trial of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm. He was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and was handed a six month suspended sentence.

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh was 30 when she was allegedly given the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride

Husband Asgar Sheikh pictured at Leeds Crown Court last year

Brother-in-law Shakalayne Sheikh was originally handed a sentence of six months suspended for two years after he was convicted of perverting the course of justice

Mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh was originally jailed for seven years and nine months

Sister-in-law Shagufa Sheikh was handed a sentence of 18 months, suspended for two years

Father-in-law Khalid Sheikh was jailed for seven years and nine months last year

Sister-in-law Shagufa, 29, was handed a suspended sentence for causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm. She also had her conviction overturned.

Judges found the case, heard at Leeds Crown Court, was 'riddled with evidential difficulties', court documents show.

Last year, the trial heard evidence that, soon after Ms Sheikh arrived in the UK, the family were not happy with her housework and chores, and Khalid Sheikh had suggested she should be sent back to Pakistan.

Concerns were raised by members of the extended family and two police officers carried out a welfare check in July but reported Ms Sheikh as being fit and well.

The judge said she attached 'little weight to that assessment' because Ms Sheikh spoke little English and her father-in-law was present during the visit.

She said she did not know who administered the corrosive substance, which left severe burns on Ms Sheikh's lower back, bottom and right ear, and must have left her in considerable and lasting pain.

And she said she did not know who 'tricked or forced' her to take the glimpiride, which was prescribed to Shabnam Sheikh and is extremely dangerous to non-diabetics, even in small doses.

Although the family refused to give evidence, prosecutors suggested she was subjected to a 'pattern of violence' behind closed doors.

She was socially isolated and her sister, who also lived in Britain, was said to be threatened with death by Asgar when she came to visit.

Ambreen's father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, and mother-in-law Shabnam leaving court in 2023

Ambreen's mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh, left, and sister-in-law Shagufa Sheikh leaving court in October 2023

Ambreen's husband Asgar Sheikh, right, with his brother Sakalyne Sheikh in October 2023 leaving court

The judge last year decided there was a two to three-day delay between Ms Sheikh falling unconscious and the family calling an ambulance, during which she became highly dehydrated and inhaled fluids which may have exacerbated her brain injury.

Even when the family called 999, they lied about what had happened to her, the judge said.

'You would all have been aware of her pain and distress,' she said.

'It's just not realistic to conclude that you did not all know of Ambreen's predicament and her desperate need for emergency medical care.

'You all also knew why she was in that condition.'

The court heard that Ms Sheikh is now being looked after in a palliative care setting and will not recover but could live for decades more.

She was in good health before her collapse and there is some evidence that she was a teacher in Pakistan, the court heard.

One witness said she was 'intelligent, bright, ambitious and happy-go-lucky' before she moved to the UK, and the judge said she was someone who would 'light up a room'.

The judge said Ms Sheikh's father is now dead and her mother is in poor health in Pakistan.
An exhausted new father who killed another motorist after drifting off into a 'micro-sleep' while behind the wheel has avoided prison.

Ion Tigulea, 40, was 'deprived' of sleep after the arrival of his newborn and nodded off for up to eight seconds before he crashed into Michael Wells.

The Romanian was doing 50mph when he suddenly veered to the edge of a road, hit a kerb, then 'swerved sharply' the other way and smashed head-on into the 64-year-old's car.

The court heard the only explanation for the fatal crash was that he was suffering from a lack of sleep caused by the birth of his daughter four weeks previously.

At Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire, Tigulea escaped with a suspended sentence after admitting causing death by careless driving.

A judge was told the crash happened on September 21, 2022, on the A33 single carriageway near Sherfield on Loddon.

Mr Wells, from Wokingham, Berkshire, was driving to work in Basingstoke and Tigulea, a tanker driver, was driving the opposite way to work in Reading.

The court heard he nodded off while he was driving his Volvo S40 while it was still dark at 6.25am on a road he was familiar with.

Ion Tigulea, 40, pictured, killed another motorist after drifting off into a 'micro-sleep' while behind the wheel

Road traffic collision investigators found that he had 'switched off' 175 metres (575ft) before the collision with Mr Wells' Ford Fusion.

Mr Wells, who was also heading to work, died at the scene after suffering devastating chest injuries.

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court Tigulea veered into the wrong side of the road and caused the smash and that investigators examined whether he was distracted or fell asleep.

Mr Jones said: 'The defendant failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and collided with [Mr Wells'] Ford Fusion.

'The defendant's Volvo S40 drifted to the near side of the road before the crash... After the Volvo mounted the kerb, it swerved sharply to the right side of the road and directly into the path of the oncoming traffic.

'A distraction by the defendant may explain why he had the crash, but it does not explain why he did nothing or very little to try to regain control of the vehicle.'

Mr Jones said a collision investigator said Tigulea was either 'severely' distracted or 'asleep'.

Analysis of the crash showed he had 'switched off' for 125 to 175 metres before the collision, the equivalent of six to eight seconds based on him driving 50mph.

'He entered a period of micro-sleep for that time', Mr Jones said. 'If he was not asleep then he would have plainly been able to avoid collision with the kerb.'

At a police interview, Tigulea said although he had a four-week old newborn baby at home he was 'well-rested' and claimed he had 'seven hours of sleep' the night before.

At Winchester Crown Court (pictured), Tigulea escaped with a suspended sentence after admitting causing death by careless driving

He 'could not answer the question' when detectives asked him what happened.

Mr Jones continued: 'The prosecution say it is clear he fell asleep, he was deprived of adequate sleep or rest. The subsequent driving plainly fell below what was expected for a competent driver.

'We submit that, what other explanation is there for the defendant, a new father to a four week old baby? It is a matter of logic he was deprived of sleep or adequate rest.'

Mr Jones said it is now 'entirely accepted' by Tigulea that he fell asleep.

Andrew Houston, defending, said Tigulea's employer described him as 'honest and trustworthy'.

Him and his family went back to his native Romania in Spring 2024 and Tigulea has complied fully with the UK courts, Mr Houston said.

He worked as an Uber driver in Romania but was disqualified when he admitted causing death by careless driving in the UK.

Mr Houston said Tigulea supports his wife and two daughters, who are seven and two.

'This was a terrible incident for everybody but this is a man who is now 40, he works hard, people rely on him and trust him', Mr Houston said.

'He does not need to learn to drive again, this is a man who fell into a six to eight second micro-sleep while driving when he did have a new baby. This is a man who is remorseful.'

Sentencing, Judge Adam Feest gave Tigulea a six month sentence suspended for 18 months and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

He also ordered Tigulea to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, which means he will have to remain in the UK to complete it.

Criticising Tigulea's actions, Judge Feest KC told him: 'It was more than a momentary lapse of concentration.'
Harrowing dashcam footage has captured the moment an asylum seeker broke a nurse's spine just three weeks before her wedding by ploughing into the back of her car while fleeing from police.

Nurse Clare Kehoe, who suffered a fractured spine and pelvis, had to rely on strong painkillers and crutches to get through her 'dream' wedding after Nasir Al Soaimi smashed into her Volvo car just three weeks before her big day.

Harrowing footage shows Al Soaimi, who has never passed a driving test, slam the uninsured black Citroen into the driver's side of Miss Kehoe's car as he tore along a busy road at 58mph.

Her injuries stopped her from going to work for months and she was forced to forgo the honeymoon they had booked in Paris. She still needs physiotherapy to this day.

Last week, Al Soaimi, 19, who is from Kuwait and claims he did not know a licence and insurance were required for UK motorists, was locked up for 28 months, with a two year road ban after release and may now face deportation.

He had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dnoangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Al Soaimi's vehicle had caught the attention of the police on the city's Coast Road that evening and checks revealed it was not insured.

Officers indicated for the vehicle to stop but Al Soaimi continued to Jesmond Road and onto Claremont Road, where he travelled at 58mph on the 30mph stretch.

Clare Kehoe pictured with her husband Lee Anderson before the crash took place

Harrowing footage shows the moment Nasir Al Soaimi caused horror injuries to bride-to-be nurse

Al Soaimi, 19, was trying to flee police when he severely injured nurse Clare Kehoe just three weeks before her wedding

He then smashed into the passenger side of the nurse's car as she pulled out from a side street on April 1 last year.

The court heard a passenger in Al Soaimi's vehicle ran off while Miss Kehoe was cut out from her car by the emergency services.

She was taken to the nearby Royal Victoria Infirmary and diagnosed with fractures to her pelvis and spine.

In an impact statement made 17 weeks after the crash, the nurse said she had been unable to return to work as a result of her injuries, which also stopped her visiting vulnerable relatives, including her mother in Scotland.

She said the Volvo car she was driving, which was written-off in the crash, had been given to her by a late relative and had huge sentimental value.

She added: 'The accident happened three weeks before I was due to get married. I did get married but this impacted [me] massively on my dream day.

'I had to rely on strong painkillers and crutches, including for the dance on the evening and reception.

'Being Scottish, we had a ceilidh but my injuries restricted my movement on the day. I couldn't greet guests.'

She added that her enjoyment of looking back at pictures of her special day has been impacted and said: 'We were due to go on honeymoon to Paris, this didn't happen due to my restricted mobility. As a result of not going we lost quite a bit of money.

'This definitely wasn't the wedding or honeymoon I had dreamed of.'

Soaimi smashed his vehicle into the passenger side of Ms Kehoe's car as she pulled out from a side street

Originally from Kuwait, he claimed he had never passed a driving test, and did not know a licence and insurance were required for UK motorists

Clare Kehoe, pictured left, at a festival. Her injuries stopped her from going to work for months

The footage shows the moment the two cars collided in the horror smash

Nurse Clare Kehoe suffered a fractured spine and pelvis as a result of the crash last year

Mr Recorder Anthony Dunne told Al Soaimi: 'On that night, on April 1 last year, you had no right to be driving a car, you had no licence, you had no training and you had no insurance.

'Nontheless, you had, at some stage before April 1, bought yourself a car you were driving on that evening.

'You have said to the author of the pre-sentence report you did not know you needed a licence or insurance. I have to say, that doesn't help you.'

The recorder added: 'It is difficult to believe, having seen the footage and sheer suddenness of the impact, that no one was killed.'

Recorder Dunne said the prison sentence imposed could affect Al Soaimi's immigration status as the Secretary of State considers deportation of all criminals who receive more than 12 months behind bars.

Rachel Hedworth, defending, said Al Soaimi, now of Jenkin Road, Sheffield, was born and lived in Kuwait until he moved to the UK in around 2016, when he was aged 10 or 11.

He initially lived in Leeds then moved to Newcastle, where he studied engineering and business at college.

The court heard Al Soaimi suffered bleeding on the brain, a broken arm, seven broken ribs and significant fractures to his right leg in the smash and has had three operations so far.

Miss Hedworth added: 'He has no previous convictions. He is completely and utterly remorseful.'
Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment a young girl turned in fear as a man stalked behind her, ready to pounce.

The terrifying encounter unfolded Monday in Houston, Texas, as police say the suspect grabbed the girl and tried to grope her as she walked home from school.

Neighbors expressed their shock at the brazen attack in broad daylight, with the victim, seven, seen walking with her older siblings in the sleepy Woodland Heights neighborhood.

In the footage, first reported by ABC13, the man was seen walking quickly behind the group of young children to close the gap with them, causing the seven-year-old to turn around.

The girl's mother said when the group rounded a corner out of view, the man tried to grab and grope the young girl.

The suspect turned and fled when the girl started to scream, and he was seen in separate footage running down the street to escape.

Cops said they have launched an urgent investigation to find the man and are investigating the incident as a possible attempted kidnapping.

He was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s with a mustache, wearing a camo jacket, white shirt, jeans and work boots. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Houston Police Department at 713-308-1180.

Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment a young girl turned in fear as a man stalked behind her ready to pounce in Houston, Texas on Monday

The suspect grabbed the girl and tried to grope her before fleeing the scene when she screamed, as separate footage showed the man running away down the street

The victim's mother said the near miss happened as her daughter was walking home from nearby Travis Elementary School.

Neighbor Holly Roemisch said she was left terrified after hearing of the attack as she also has children who walk to the school.

She said she helped the mom canvas their neighborhood for doorbell videos to give to police, and told ABC13: 'I would never have thought this would happen.'

'For me, the audacity in broad daylight when she's with a group of people, that's just ridiculous,' she continued.

'I really want this guy to be caught, if he will do this in broad daylight, what will he do behind closed doors? What could he potentially be doing to other children or to his own children.'

Cops say they have launched an urgent investigation to find the man. He was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s with a mustache, wearing a camo jacket, white shirt, jeans and work boots. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Houston Police Department

Neighbor Holly Roemisch said she was left terrified after hearing of the attack as she also has children who walk to the school, and said she 'really wants this guy to be caught'

Roemisch said nobody in the neighborhood recognized the man, and believes he was not a local of their small community.

'Where did he come from?' she questioned.

'He was on foot, so he must have entered the neighborhood and exited it in some manner.'
A beloved grandma in Louisiana was shot in cold blood in front of her eight-year-old grandson after she tried to stop a teenager from allegedly stealing her daughter's car.

La'Tasha Thomas, 48, was running errands with her grandson on January 19 when she spotted someone driving the stolen car with several people inside.

She called 911 and continued following the car, when the 14-year-old got out of the vehicle and allegedly shot her through the glass.

'My nephew had my mother's blood all over him,' Thomas' daughter Kahadijah Woods told UWK.

'He told me, those were her last words before she closed her eyes in front of him. "He shot me!" He took his grandmother's life in front of him. My son is only eight years old,' Thomas's daughter, Beyonce, said.

Thomas and her grandson, O'mari, had gone to the store after they had reported Woods' car had been stolen.

'In the process of waiting for the police, we just kept hearing sirens. My sister kept calling [Thomas], and she wouldn't pick up. I called her and texted her a few times. It's not normal for her to not respond to either one of us,' Woods told the outlet.

Beyonce rushed out to find them, she said: 'For some strange reason, she took my son with her that day. I kept calling, but she wouldn't answer. My nerves were shot.'

La'Tasha Thomas, 48, was running errands with her grandson on January 19 when she spotted someone driving her daughter's stolen car before she was fatally shot by a 14-year-old

Thomas had been with her eight-year-old grandson, O'mari (pictured left). His aunt Kahadijah Woods said: 'My nephew had my mother's blood all over him'

'He told me, those were her last words before she closed her eyes in front of him. "He shot me!" He took his grandmother's life in front of him. My son is only eight years old,' Thomas's daughter, Beyonce (pictured right), said

She flagged down a stranger to take a lift, not knowing where to go until she saw police and ambulances on Plank Road.

'I heard my baby screaming, "Mom, Mom! They killed Momo. They killed Momo," I just lost it,' she said.

The boy said that he saw four males in the car with covered faces, Beyonce told the outlet: 'He said one was chubby, one was skinny, but he couldn't identify anyone because they all had on ski masks.'

The family believes that the car thieves had killed Thomas in cold blood to get away with their heist.

'They saw the car, and by them knowing what kind of car they had just stolen, they took her life,' Beyonce said.

'For a tragedy like this to happen, and for him to have no type of heart, just to kill her in front of my son.'

Woods said that Thomas had been 'everything' to Beyonce: 'I have a family - kids and my fiance. My sister was a single mom, and our mom was all she had.'

The teen went home and told his mother what happened, she took him to the Baton Rouge Police Department where he turned himself in, according to the BRPD.

Pictured: The stretch of Baton Rouge where Thomas was mercilessly gunned down allegedly by a 14-year-old

'Why did this happen? Why did I have to lose my mom the day before my birthday? She didn't deserve this. My son didn't deserve to witness this,' Beyonce cried

The teen went home and told his mother what happened, she took him to the Baton Rouge Police Department where he turned himself in. He was charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon

Detectives said that the stolen vehicle was later recovered, but it had been set on fire.

The teen, who is not being named due to his age, was charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.

'I'm grateful she turned him in, but why did it have to come to this? Why did my mom have to lose her life?' Beyonce said.

'Why did this happen? Why did I have to lose my mom the day before my birthday? She didn't deserve this. My son didn't deserve to witness this,' she cried.

The family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, which has raised nearly $2,000 toward its $5,000 goal.

'This tragedy has left us not only mourning the loss of a beautiful soul but also grappling with anger, confusion and deep sadness. Tasha was a very down-to-earth person who loved spending her time cooking and being creative, making arts and crafts,' the fundraiser said.

'As a family, we want to give Tasha the proper homegoing she deserves, but the unexpected expenses for the funeral arrangements have been overwhelming.'

'To see her life taken in such a violent way is something we cannot come to terms with... Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us care for her as we prepare to say our final goodbye.'

'I have to live the rest of my life with this pain. She was my mother, my son's Momo, and she was taken from us too soon,' Beyonce said.
Podcaster Joe Rogan claimed that climate change is not the reason why of Los Angeles has been suffering from devastating wildfires.

The LA fires, which began on January 7, have killed at least 28 people while destroying over 10,000 homes and leaving thousands homeless.

While firefighters have contained nearly all flames across the city, many have blamed climate change for the spread.

However, Rogan argued during the latest episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' that LA's longtime windy and dry conditions are the cause of the disaster - not climate change.

He spoke about a fire that ran rampant through LA County's Topanga Canyon back in 1961 and said that the city's conditions create a 'fire season' every year.

'So here's the thing, this climate change narrative. This is a really goofy thing that people on the left are talking about, LA has had essentially the same weather pattern since the 1800s, since they started noticing them.

'There was a huge fire that razed through the Hollywood Hills, pre climate change [in] 1961. LA has always been dry as f***. It's a desert,' Rogan ranted during a conversation with Warren Smith, host of the Secret Scholar Society podcast.

'That's why the movie industry is there, because you could film outside, and you don't ever have to worry about it raining on you. That's literally why they came there, because it's the perfect climate.

Podcaster Joe Rogan claimed that climate change is not the reason why of Los Angeles has been suffering from devastating wildfires

The LA fires, which began on January 7, have killed at least 28 people while destroying over 10,000 homes and leaving thousands homeless

'It is the climate of Los Angeles. It's a f****** desert. They put a city in the f****** desert because they wanted to film movies there.

'And it's also windy in the winter, because you get the Santa Ana winds, which is what just occurred. They've always happened. Every year, we get the Santa Ana [winds].

'There's fire season for a f****** reason. Los Angeles has fire season.

'Where I used to live, it was fire season, and every time the winter would come and everything was dry and all the vegetation was brown and the wind was whipping around, everybody would get nervous.'

Scientists do not agree and say that climate change is largely to blame for the destruction.

The World Weather Attribution - a network of researchers from the US, UK and a number of other European countries - warned the hot, dry and windy conditions that drove the fires were about 35 percent more likely due to global warming.

Dr. Clair Barnes, a World Weather Attribution researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: 'Climate change increased the risk of the devastating LA wildfires.

'Drought conditions are more frequently pushing into winter, increasing the chance a fire will break out during strong Santa Ana winds that can turn small ignitions into deadly infernos.

While firefighters have contained nearly all flames across the city, many have blamed climate change for the spread

Rogan argued during the latest episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' that LA's longtime windy and dry conditions are the cause of the disaster - not climate change

The World Weather Attribution warned the hot, dry and windy conditions that drove the fires were about 35 percent more likely due to global warming

The LA fires were fanned by strong Santa Ana winds and fed by drought conditions dating back to May 2024 that left grasses and brush dry and highly flammable

'Without a faster transition away from planet-heating fossil fuels, California will continue to get hotter, drier, and more flammable.'

Experts added that the fire-risk conditions could become another 35 percent more likely if global temperatures rise 2.6C above pre-industrial levels.

Worryingly, the world is currently on track for this by 2100.

The LA fires were fanned by strong Santa Ana winds and fed by drought conditions dating back to May 2024 that left grasses and brush dry and highly flammable.

Meanwhile, wet winters in the previous two years had created more vegetation growth that added more fuel to the fire.

The researchers examined the 'fire weather index' which uses the temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind speed in the preceding weeks and days to characterize the conditions that make fires more likely.

They said that while coastal southern California is an environment 'highly prone to catastrophic wildfires,' the extreme fire weather index condition that drove the LA fires is getting more likely due to climate change.
California vineyards in Napa Valley are worried that President Donald Trump's increased deportations of illegal migrants will devastate their workforce.

Just before Trump took office, a US Border Patrol raid in Kern County, over 300 miles away from Napa, targeted farm workers in and around the town of Bakersfield.

After news spread that 78 people were taken into custody, the citrus industry in that area of California reported that 75 percent of their workforce haven't been showing up, according to CalMatters.

Napa Valley wine producers who also heavily rely on immigrant labor now fear they'll face a similar fate if Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raids begin in northern California, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

'Everybody is just trying to survive right now,' said Pete Richmond, the co-owner of vineyard management company Silverado Farming. 'While [Trumps plan] is certainly a big concern, were just trying to make sure we keep people employed.'

Richmond told the Napa Valley County Board of Supervisors at a recent meeting that action needs to be taken to protect the immigrant community.

He added that he expects the wine industry to join the growing effort from nonprofits in the area to shield migrants from deportation.

From the years 2005 to 2009, a whopping 73 percent of agricultural workers in Napa County were immigrants, according to a 2012 study by the Migration Policy Institute.

California vineyards in Napa Valley are sharing their worries that their workers will be caught up in President Donald Trump's ramped-up deportation efforts (Pictured: Workers hand-pick cabernet sauvignon wine grapes at the Stags' Leap Winery September 27, 2004, in Napa, California)

Immigrant families in Napa County are reportedly worried too, telling nonprofit groups they're afraid to send their kids to school or go to work (Pictured: Officers with multiple federal agencies prepare to carry out a raid to arrest suspected illegal migrants in New York City on Tuesday)

In all likelihood, this number has ticked up slightly, given that California's immigrant population increased by 5 percent (about 500,000 people) from 2010 to 2023, found the Public Policy Institute of California.

So far, Napa County has taken the advice of Richmond and advocate groups, adding an immigrant resources page to its website. There is a 'Know Your Rights' toolkit, a rapid response hotline and legal assistance information.

The county also issued two public statements, reminding migrants that local police don't have the power to arrest them for immigration violations.

One of the statements also stressed that the county will 'serve anyone and everyone in need without regard to immigration status.'

Puertas Abiertas is a local mission dedicated to advocating for Latino immigrants in Napa. The group, which now operates out of its own community center, said it served roughly 3,000 people last year.

'People are very, very terrified,' Genesis Monnet, marketing chair and board member of Puerta Abiertas, told the Chronicle. 'It feels like we're preparing for a war.'

Blanca Huijon, the executive director of the organization, said she believes Trump is better at working the levers of the federal government than he was in his first term.

'Hes coming with a plan and hes more vocal about how hes going to attack our communities,' Huijon said. 'Were really creating a safety net.'

Blanca Huijon of Puertas Abiertas (left) is among those leading the effort to protect illegal migrants and the immigrant community as a whole from ICE raids. Pete Richmond, who runs vineyard management company Silverado Farming said he expects the wine industry to being helping groups like Puertas Abiertas in the coming months

Massive numbers of migrant vineyard workers being deported could exacerbate the economic struggles the wine industry has been facing for years but it could also mean cheaper wine for American consumers (Pictured: A worker empties cabernet sauvignon wine grapes into a bin)

Puertas Abiertas has reported that many immigrants have stopped using healthcare services or insurance. Some told the group that they are considering pulling their kids out of school. Next, workers could stop showing up to harvest wine grapes out of fear of being nailed by ICE agents.

'Were getting a lot of phone calls, people are asking, "What if I get deported? Who is going to take care of my kids? How safe are we to go to the store? How safe is it to go to mass? What about work?" Its impacting their everyday life,' Huijon said.

Luis Davila, a senior manager for vineyard management company Enterprise Vineyards, told the Chronicle that only nonprofits like Puertas Abiertas have been speaking out about what mass deportation means for the community.

'In my point of view, the [wine industry] associations should be doing a little bit of outreach,' he said. 'The workers are the ones who are on the frontlines, so it would be nice to be acknowledged, to say, "Were going to try to protect you."'

If a substantial number of vineyard workers are in fact deported, it could jumpstart an existent trend in the wine industry: sinking bottle prices.

This has been caused by a decline in demand, particularly among younger adults, many more of whom have been abstaining from alcohol altogether in recent years.

This has led to a massive oversupply of wine for businesses in California and Washington state, according to a 2025 State of the US Wine Industry report by Silicon Valley Bank.

'Talk of deportations of farm workers by the incoming administration isnt helping,' claimed the Santa Clara-based bank, which added that wine prices are likely to come down even further throughout the year.

San Diego's DEA division confirmed its involvement in immigration raids in a Sunday social media post (Pictured: Two DEA agents bring a man into custody)

Migrants are seen in Tijuana being processed by US Border Patrol San Diego sector agents on January 20, the day Trump was inaugurated

In the first week of Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security said it successfully deported some 7,300 people of various nationalities.

Federal law enforcement agencies have been conducting sweeps in America's biggest cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

ICE arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024.

Agents arrested 969 undocumented migrants across the nation on Monday, with the White House once again highlighting the 'worst' offenders to be removed from city streets as part of the 'Make America Safe Again' initiative.

Border czar Tom Homan recently said he was not satisfied with the pace of migrant deportations - despite ICE's 'unprecedented' number of arrests - and claimed the US needs to 'open the aperture up' and carry out 'more deportations'.
A migrant allegedly raped an 11-year-old girl in the stairwell of a state-run shelter in Massachusetts - only to be moved to another shelter that same day rather than being sent to jail.

The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 9 in Peabody, outside Boston, when a fifth-grade girl reported being assaulted by the man in a stairwell of a Holiday Inn being used as a shelter, the Boston Globe reported.

Police responded immediately and referred the case to the office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker for further investigation.

But instead of arresting the 32-year-old suspect, authorities relocated him that night to an emergency family shelter at a Motel 6 in nearby Danvers.

The suspect, a Honduran migrant who has a pregnant wife and two daughters, 2 and 4, was later moved to an apartment-like unit in the shelter system with his family.

He has yet to be charged, and it took the district attorney more than six weeks to speak to the alleged victim.

Authorities attributed the delay to a lack of experts trained to speak with child victims.

A fifth-grade girl in Peabody, Massachusetts reported being assaulted by a man on Dec. 9 in a stairwell of a Holiday Inn being used as a state shelter

Police responded immediately and referred the case to the office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker for further investigation. It took the DA more than six weeks to speak to the alleged victim

The incident raises further concerns about the state's oversight of its struggling shelter system, which has been under intense strain due to an influx of thousands of new migrants.

Previously, the Globe reported more than 1,000 serious incidents at state shelters over a 20-month period.

While the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities confirmed the shelter provider adhered to protocol by notifying authorities and reporting the incident, they did not address why an individual accused of sexual assault was transferred to another state-run shelter housing children, according to the Globe.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's administration also remained silent on their policy regarding shelter residents accused of crimes, specifically whether and when they are removed - immediately following an allegation or only after formal charges are filed.

The 11-year-old and her family have been relocated to a subsidized apartment, and her mother confirmed the girl was formally interviewed by authorities last week.

Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin confirmed that the police referred the case to both the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and the Essex County District Attorney's office.

The chief said the Essex County District Attorney's office wanted to schedule an interview with a child forensic specialist.

Griffin explained that while specialized interviews are preferable for children in these situations, the limited number of trained interviewers often leads to delays.

The 11-year-old told police the suspect 'pulled her into the stairwell and grabbed her breasts, and put his hand down her pants,' 'touch[ing] her private parts,' the Globe reported. The girl was 'shaken up, in tears and crying,' a police officer said.

The mother of the alleged victim said that her daughter had been in the hallway playing with other kids at the time.

'She started to cry and told me, "I feel dirty, I want to take a shower,"' the mother told the Globe.

instead of arresting the 32-year-old suspect, authorities relocated him that night to an emergency family shelter at a Motel 6 in nearby Danvers

Massachusetts Democrat Governor Maura Healey has downplayed more than 300 reports of horrific crimes within the state's rapidly growing migrant shelters - including rape, trafficking, drug abuse, neglect and domestic violence

The suspect, who told the Globe he entered the US illegally with his family about a year ago, denied the allegations and told police he had only 'brushed arms' with the girl.

'That did not happen,' he said. 'I respect other girls as if they were my daughters.'

He suggested the allegations were 'slander' intended to 'obtain benefits.'

The girl's mother said she remains scared, especially at the thought of the suspect being near other children in the shelter system.

'He's close to more kids, and no one knows,' she said.

Governor Healey has proposed increased security measures, including background checks and requiring proof of lawful immigration status for shelter residents.

However, these proposals do not address the issue of individuals accused of serious crimes remaining in the shelter system.

The mother of the 11-year-old, along with some domestic violence advocates, are calling for a clear state directives to protect shelter residents from those accused of crimes.

This comes as the shelter system's cost is projected to exceed $1 billion this fiscal year.

Healey has downplayed more than 300 reports of serious crimes within the state's rapidly expanding migrant shelter system.

An influx of migrants have made their way to the blue state in recent years, many of whom are enrolled in the state's Emergency Assistance migrant-family shelter program

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities recorded 316 'serious incident' reports at hotels, congregate sites, scattered sites and co-shelters within the program since 2022

Since 2022, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has recorded 316 'serious incident' reports at hotels, congregate sites, scattered sites, and co-shelters within the program.

Following revelations of these incidents, Healey defended the program, telling the Boston Herald that the 'vast majority' of participants follow the rules, children are attending school, and 'many of them' are working.

'Those who've come through immigration, most of them have received work authorizations and are also working,' Healey said. 'And so relative to that number, the instances have been very few.'

She emphasized that more than 50,000 people have passed through the program's shelters - designed for homeless pregnant women and families with children - over the past three years.

'But I take every, every - and I want my team to take, I want shelter providers to take- every incident seriously,' she said.

Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies called the reports deeply troubling.

'This is very disturbing. This is a huge number of incidents,' she told the Boston Herald, which obtained details of the reports.

The records exposed years of severe incidents within the shelter system, including neglect, drug abuse, trafficking, rape, suicide, and domestic violence.
Footage captured the heartwarming moment an adorable blind boy who lost everything in the devastating California wildfires was gifted a drum kit by a famous musician.

A world-famous drummer for Bruno Mars, Eric Hernandez, stepped in to help Grayson Roberts, a 10-year-old boy who lost his cherished drum kit in the devastating Eaton Fire earlier this month.

Grayson and his family were forced to flee their Altadena home on January 7 as the devastating blaze engulfed their neighborhood.

The family - including Grayson, his two brothers, and mother Terica Roberts - made it to safety, but their home was completely destroyed.

While they escaped with their lives, they lost everything else - including Grayson's beloved drums.

'When I walked out the door, the fire was just right there,' Grayson's older brother Gavin told KTLA.

'You could see it from the mountains, and it was just blowing towards our house.'

But after hearing the tragic story, Eric Hernandez - Bruno Mars' drummer and brother - stepped in to make things right for the young musician.

A world-famous drummer for Bruno Mars , Eric Hernandez (pictured), stepped in to help Grayson Roberts, a 10-year-old boy who lost his cherished drum kit in the devastating fire earlier this month

In a heartwarming moment captured by KTLA's cameras, Hernandez surprised Grayson with a brand new drum kit

In a heartwarming moment captured by KTLA's cameras, Hernandez surprised Grayson with a brand new drum kit.

'Hi, Grayson. My name is Eric Hernandez. Like you, I'm a musician just like you,' he told Grayson.

'I saw John's story about you last Friday night, and it touched me. The first picture of you was you behind a drum set.

'It touched me so much and to see all the adversity you've been through and to see you losing your home, it made me feel like I had to get you. So, I brought you a drum set.'

Hernandez autographed Grayson's bass drum, writing, 'To Grayson, so you can keep the beat alive!'

'Honestly, I'm blessed and lucky to have met you,' Hernandez told Grayson. 'I look forward to you keeping the beat, man.'

Grayson, who was born with a rare eye condition that left him blind, has never let obstacles stand in his way.

In addition to his skills on the drum set, he has helped raise money for other children with disabilities.

Hernandez autographed Grayson's bass drum, writing, 'To Grayson, so you can keep the beat alive'

The family - including Grayson, his two brothers and mother Terica Roberts - made it to safety, but their home was completely destroyed

He made headlines last year when he partnered with one of the world's largest mobility companies to deliver more than 150 support canes to blind and visually impaired people in Ghana.

He's also helped raise thousands of dollars for others with disabilities.

The Eaton Fire wreaked devastation earlier this month at the same time another blaze swept through the ritzy celebrity enclave of Pacific Palisades and up the coast of Malibu.

In total, the various LA fires destroyed some 40,000 acres of prime real estate and at least 28 people perished.
Suella Braverman has given her support to the Heritage Foundation over its legal bid to make Prince Harry's visa records public.

The former UK Home Secretary weighed in behind the American think-tank as it prepares for the first court hearing for the lawsuit since Donald Trump's inauguration.

Heritage has raised questions about how he was able to gain entry to the US in 2020 with his wife Meghan having admitted in his 2023 book Spare to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

It has also alleged that Harry either lied on his papers about his drug use or has been given special treatment by the Joe Biden administration in order to emigrate to the country.

Ms Braverman backed the lawsuit in a social media video alongside Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom.

'I think there's a very strong case for President Trump to intervene and to direct the release and disclosure of these documents,' she said.

'The American people should have the right to know what's happened here. Prince Harry is a citizen who has come to the United States.

'We need to know whether he broke the rules to get into the United States. If he did the American people have a right to know and those who allowed that to happen should be held to account,' she continued.

'Or did Prince Harry receive special treatment upon his application to get into the United States. And if that happened again that's unacceptable and the American people have the right to know.'

Suella Braverman backed the lawsuit in a social media video alongside Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom

Heritage has raised questions about how he was able to gain entry to the US in 2020

Ms Braverman was in office when Prince Harry was suing her department to reinstate his police security, although she only came into the post part was through the process.

As Home Secretary, she was in charge of the UK visa system and had the power to ban foreigners from obtaining visas, but generally only for serious reasons concerning national security.

Lawyers for Heritage and the Department for Homeland Security have now been ordered by Judge Carl J Nichols to meet at a federal court in Washington DC next Wednesday, February 5.

Heritage lost a previous case in September when it brought a lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security after a Freedom of Information request for Harry's documents to be released was rejected.

In his first ruling Judge Nichols said they should remain private.

The case was brought because visa applicants must by law declare whether they have taken drugs. Failure to do so can lead to deportation, and Heritage wanted the US Government to release the records to see what Harry said about drug usage.

Trump previously suggested Harry may be deported from the US under his leadership if the Duke is found to have falsified information on his visa form - even though his wife is American and his children are dual citizens.

The US President criticised the duke in February last year and accused him of betraying the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Speaking today on Capitol Hill @heritage former UK Home Secretary @SuellaBraverman backed The Heritage Foundations call for Prince Harrys immigration records to be released to the American people. pic.twitter.com/nQNlN5BnjQ  Nile Gardiner (@NileGardiner) January 28, 2025

Trump previously suggested Harry may be deported from the US under his leadership if the Duke is found to have falsified information on his visa form

He told the Sunday Express: 'I wouldn't protect him... That's unforgiveable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.'

Trump was urged this week by Heritage to release Harry's immigration files.

Now that the Duke of Sussex no longer has support from the Biden administration, lawyers and fellows at the Heritage Foundation are hoping the newly elected president will override the court's decision to keep the files secret.

'I'll be urging the president to release Prince Harry's immigration records and the president does have that legal authority to do that,' Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom told the New York Post.

'Donald Trump is ushering in a new era of strict border control enforcement, and you know, Prince Harry should be held fully to account as he has admitted to extensive illegal drug use', he added.

'My firm expectation is that action will be taken'.

Speaking to British politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage on GB News last year, Trump suggested that the royal would not get 'special privileges if he was found to have lied about his drug use.

During the interview, Farage asked Trump if Harry should enjoy 'special privileges' should it come to light he did not tell the truth.

In his controversial memoir, Spare, the duke said cocaine 'didn't do anything for me', adding: 'Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me'

'We'll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they'll have to take appropriate action,' Trump responded.

'Appropriate action? Which might meannot staying in America?' Farage asked.

'Oh I don't know. You'll have to tell me. You just have to tell me. You would have thought they would have known this a long time ago,' Trump replied.

In his controversial memoir, the duke said cocaine 'didn't do anything for me', adding: 'Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.'

He also said that while using ayahuasca, a psychedelic drug, he realised that his late mother Diana wanted him to be 'happy'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit their royal roles in 2020 and have been residing in the US with their two children ever since.

If the files are made public and Harry is found to have lied, he faces leaving his life in the Californian town of Montecito behind.
Two former police officers are being investigated for historic sex offences in Rotherham following complaints by four child sexual abuse victims, it has been revealed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a retired constable in his 60s and a former PC aged in his 50s were first arrested last year for alleged sexual offences during the 1990s and inquiries are ongoing.

Offences are said to have taken place when the police officers, who were based in Rotherham, were both on and off duty.

Complaints of child sexual abuse against two girls between 1995 and 1999 triggered an investigation against the older officer and he was arrested in October and interviewed on suspicion of misconduct in public office, attempted rape and three counts of indecent assault.

He was arrested again this month and interviewed about sexual offences against a third victim between 1997 and 2002 before being released on bail.

The officer in his 50s was arrested in December and interviewed on suspicion of sexual assault, misconduct in public office and one count of indecent assault for incidents in 1995 and 1996.

South Yorkshire Police's major crime unit is conducting the inquiry under the IOPC's 'direction and control.'

IOPC Director Emily Barry said: 'When we completed the Operation Linden investigations in 2022, into how South Yorkshire Police investigated reports of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham, we acknowledged that there may be further complaints from survivors.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a retired constable in his 60s and a former PC aged in his 50s were first arrested last year for alleged sexual offences during the 1990s and inquiries are ongoing (Pictured: South Yorkshire Police HQ)

Professor Alexis Jay's (pictured) landmark investigation in 2014 found that at least 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham over 16 years while authorities and the police failed to act

'These matters came to our attention after we received a referral of a complaint from South Yorkshire Police in October last year. This was followed by more complaints from a second woman in November and complaints from two further women in December, which were referred to us by SYP as a result of their initial enquiries.

'Clearly these are very serious complaints and we will ensure they are thoroughly and robustly investigated.'

Professor Alexis Jay's landmark investigation in 2014 found that at least 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham over 16 years while authorities and the police failed to act.

Her report found that between 1997 and 2013 girls as young as 11 had been systematically raped, trafficked and intimidated, mainly by men of Pakistani heritage.

Last month Hayley Barnett, the assistant chief constable of South Yorkshire police, said: 'Our first priority in this case, and always, is the victims and survivors.

'Since the publication of the Jay report 10 years ago, we have built a much deeper understanding of child sexual abuse and exploitation and will ensure anyone reporting such crimes is treated with sensitivity, compassion and respect.

'It is never too late to report if you are a victim or survivor of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

'I am acutely aware of how difficult it can be to report such crimes, particularly when the suspects are serving or former police officers, but we are steadfastly committed to securing justice as required, in line with your wishes.'
A woman claimed in a note she jotted down on a napkin that she was being raped by a nurse a month before dying at a hospital in Argentina.

Evelyn Carrera, 35, made the shocking claims during a family visit while recovering from a gastrointestinal surgery at Mendoza Medical Center in the north-central city of Mendoza.

Carrera was under observation in the intensive care unit after doctors perforated her intestine during a December 1 surgery.

The mother-of-two experienced complications from the surgery and died on January 22.

Carrera's sister-in-law Daniela Galvan told El 7 television that Carrera broke down in tears as soon as she saw her own mother in her hospital room on December 12.

As she lay in bed in pain fighting to muster a word, Carrera reached for a napkin and haltingly revealed details of her nightmarish hospital stay.

'The first thing she wrote was an "m" and an "e", and then we allowed her to continue writing,' Galvan explained. 'She then put "saw", and her hand dropped because she was tired.'

'Her mother told her, "Who saw you?" And she was upset, it wasn't because nobody had gone to visit her, but over something else,' Galvan added.

Evelyn Carrera alerted family members she had been raped by a nurse during her stay at Mendoza Hospital Center in Mendoza, Argentina. The 35-year-old underwent gastrointestinal surgery on December 1 and had a part of her intestines perforated and had to be place in intensive care

Evelyn Carrera was unable to talk to her family as she burst in tears while lying on her hospital bed during a December 12 visit at Mendoza Hospital Center in Mendoza, Argentina, and used a napkin to tell her family that a nurse at the hospital had raped her

'When the mother asked, 'who saw you?' She began to hit the mattress and frowned.'

Galvan said she then handed a pen to Carrera, who wrote the word 'rape.'

A concerned Galvan asked Carrera who was sexually assaulting her and then followed up by asking her if she was being raped before she nodded yes.

Galvan asked Carrera who was the person raping her before she scribbled 'ENE FM E' as she fought to spell out nurse in Spanish.

After asking her when the incident took place, Carrera turned the napkin around and wrote out 'on Friday.'

The alleged incident would have taken place December 6.

Carrera's mother filed a complaint moments after learning of the disturbing allegations.

Mendoza prosecutor, Flavio D'Amore, and his staff requested the surveillance camera footage from the hospital as part of their investigation.

Authorities in Mendoza, Argentina are carrying out two investigations: one into the allegations that Evelyn Carrera was raped by a nurse and another into whether the medical staff committed malpractice during a gastrointestinal surgery seven weeks before she died

Authorities have yet to make any arrests after following the allegations made by the late Evelyn Carrera, who told family members she was raped by a nurse at Mendoza Hospital Center in Mendoza, Argentina, in December

They also requested genetic samples from Carrera and staffers who were providing care.

A second investigation was also initiated by homicide prosecutor, Carlos Torres, who is looking into whether the medical staff committed malpractice during the surgery.

Authorities have yet to report any arrests.
An 'undocumented' migrant accused of child sex crimes will avoid President Trump's ongoing raids because he must first face the charges against him in the US.

Galo Macasfreire, 38, repeatedly tried to lure an 11-year-old into his car in Long Island by offering her candy, according to police.

The Ecuador native was arrested on Monday and charged with felony attempted kidnapping. He is in the country illegally, according to the New York Post.

Police said he badgered the girl to get inside his 2007 gray Chevrolet, and touched himself inappropriately, rubbing the candy against himself 'in a suggestive manner.'

Then child had reportedly just gotten off her school bus, as reported by News 12 Long Island.

Instead of getting in the man's car, she ran home and called 911, police said.

Macasfreire was arrested about an hour later, with police finding him on the same street where he allegedly tried to kidnap the girl.

He allegedly told police he only offered the girl a ride 'because she looked like she was cold.'

Galo Macasfreire, 38, repeatedly tried to lure an 11-year-old into his car in Long Island by offering her candy, according to police

The arrest comes as ICE officers have begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York as part of Trump's mass deportation scheme

His attorney said the felony charge against him is excessive.

'Even when looking at the best of circumstances, your honor, I believe that when you look at the definition of a felony in the second degree, in which he abducts another person or in this case attempts to abduct, I really think that this is really a stretch by the DAs office,' Norley Castaneda said.

Castaneda asked a judge to release Macasfreire on $200 bail, citing his clean record and employment.

While prosecutors agreed with the bail amount, Judge Evan Tanenbaum set it at $100,000 instead.

Macasfreire is expected back in court on January 31.

His arrest comes as Trump has dispatched thousands of ICE officers to the border to carry out the 'biggest illegal immigrant grab' in recent history.'

Agents are preparing to take '100,000 immigrants' back to Mexico and Central America, a White House intelligence source told DailyMail.com.

ICE officers have begun storming properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York as part of Trump's mass deportation scheme.

The Trump administration has reportedly directed ICE to increase the number of daily arrests

Sanctuary cities including the Big Apple have become a haven for migrants who flock to them in the knowledge that officials there limit cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Many have arrived by bus and plane from the southern border, with New York alone welcoming around 210,000 migrants in less than two years.

The president has since said he 'might have to consider' pulling funding to sanctuary cities, which include the likes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Trump, who ran on a mass deportation platform, has made immigration his first order of business since assuming office.

The policy is popular among both Republicans and Democrats, with figures suggesting
Disgruntled villagers have claimed their rural idyll will be destroyed by Labour's plan to turn a swathe of Middle England into Britain's new Silicon Valley.

Residents of Tempsford say that Rachel Reeves' backing for a major new scheme linking Oxford and Cambridge will lead to tens of thousands of homes being built around the village in Buckinghamshire, which currently has a population of 600.

The Chancellor today green-lit plans for East West Rail joining the two academic hubs in a 'growth corridor' with new stations in Tempsford and Cambourne.

Her proposals, designed to boost the economy by 78billion, will also see Government backing thrown behind the creation of new towns and roads as she seeks ways to boost the economy.

However, locals believe that it will lead to massive development of their 'quiet and peaceful' village, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book compiled in 1086.

A study last year by think tank UKDayOne suggested the village could become a new city with a population of 350,000 people, larger than Nottingham, Newcastle or Plymouth.

Tempsford Parish Council chairman David Smith, 50, claimed the new properties would 'decimate' the village.

He said: 'We understand that Cambridge and Oxford need new homes but we're too small a village to say no to anything. We've got no voice, no power and those in charge don't care.

'This will decimate everything by making Tempsford as big as Milton Keynes and Cambridge together.

Residents in the village of Tempsford, Buckinghamshire, say that plans to build a further 350,000 homes nearby will make it larger than Cambridge or Oxford

Chancellor Rachel Reeves today green-lit plans to create the UK's answer to Silicon Valley with plans for major development between Oxford and Cambridge

Resident Mark Cleary, 58, said he would consider moving if new houses were built

'You shouldn't be able to take all of this away without consequences. We don't want to be the next Milton Keynes.'

Paulette Smith, 64, said all the Governments were the same and objecting against any plans were futile.

Ms Smith, who has lived in Tempsford since 1996, said: 'The big boys come in and do it anyway, no matter how much we shout and scream about it.

'It doesn't matter what government it is, they're all the same.

'I just can't envision more than quarter of a million houses in this beautiful little village.

'They'd need a GP, a dentist, schools and we don't even have that now - all we've got is a farm shop.'

Other residents expressed concerns about the destruction of fields and wildlife in the area which is home to rabbits, deer and birds.

Resident Mark Cleary, 58, said he would consider moving if new houses were built.

Locals are unhappy with the plans to build on their 'quiet and peaceful' village, which has a current population of 600

David Smith, 50, is the chairman of the Parish Council in Tempsford and said plans for new properties would 'decimate' the village.

Paulette Smith, 64, said all the governments were the same and objecting against any plans was futile

He said: 'Labour shouldn't be wasting their time with building houses around here when there's much better things to be focusing on.

'I've got sympathy for the need for new homes but to expand here is crazy. We'd have to move as it just isn't why we decided to live here.'

Ms Reeves answer to Silicon Valley will also see the new east-west rail link and upgraded roads link Oxford, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, which are hubs for innovation and R&D, the Chancellor said in a major speech this morning.

A new 'Growth Commission for Oxford' will review how to accelerate growth will be launched, and Lord Vallance, the government's former chief scientific advisor will be appointed as 'Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion'.

The emphasis on the Oxford-Cambridge region marks a shift away from the Tories' 'levelling up' agenda, in which resources were directed to the 'left behind places' in a bid to emulate the levels of prosperity and opportunity in London and the south east.

Instead, Ms Reeves used her speech to say Oxford and Cambridge offer 'huge economic potential for our nation's growth prospects'.

It sat alongside backing for a new third runway to expand Heathrow airport.

Chris Curtis, the Milton Keynes North MP and co-chairman of Labour Growth Group said: 'This speech marks an inflection point for our country.

Other residents expressed concerns about the destruction of fields and wildlife in the area which is home to rabbits, deer and birds

The village of Tempsford in Bedfordshire where there are plans to build new homes increasing the population to 350,000

Your browser does not support iframes.

'For far too long those who have sought to block building, stifle innovation and halt progress have had the system on their side in the UK - now that era is firmly at an end and the time for change is here.'

Mrs Reeves announced that the Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge with 4,500 new homes, as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre.

East West Rail involves boosting railway links between Oxford and Cambridge with new and upgraded lines.

The scheme has three stages, with initial services from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes scheduled to begin this year.

The other two stages are reliant on Government funding and approval.

These involve services being extended from Oxford to Bedford, and then from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford and Bletchley.

A new railway station at Tempsford, Bedfordshire, would provide connections between the East Coast Main Line and East West Rail.

The Chancellor told an audience at a Siemens factory near Oxford: 'Just 66 miles apart these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.

'It has the potential to be Europe's Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.

'To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two and a half hours.

'There is no way to commute directly from towns like Bedford and Milton Keynes to Cambridge by rail. And there is a lack of affordable housing across the region.

'Oxford and Cambridge are two of the least affordable cities in the UK. In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region.'
An embattled Georgia mayor and former Black Lives Matter organizer stormed out of a city council meeting as furious residents questioned him about allegedly using a city credit card for lavish purchases.

South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau, known as Mayor Kobi, berated his own constituents for citing his spending in office, which included an $1,800 desk that can be turned into a pool table, and over $9,000 in one month on travel including flight upgrades.

This month he was also accused of blowing thousands of taxpayer money for a 20-day luxury vacation to Ghana, with further purchases also reportedly including a $1,300 drone.

Kamau shot back at a tense city council meeting on Tuesday: 'I am so distressed and disappointed that the blackest city in one of the blackest states in the United States of America heading into Black History Month, we are tearing each other down.'

Councilwoman Helen Willis slammed his attempts to dodge the questioning, responding: 'We're not tearing you down you took your black behind over to Africa for 20 days and didnt tell anybody.'

The hostile exchange came after residents confronted Kamau over his alleged mishandling of taxpayer money, as local Patricia Wise was seen telling the council: 'You guys got to do better, you guys really do got to do better.'

After facing the onslaught, Kamau walked out of the meeting as the hearing turned to discussing new policies, refusing to give an explanation for his huge expenses, per WSBTV.

Embattled South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau stormed out of a city council meeting as furious residents questioned him about allegedly using a city credit card for lavish purchases

Kamau, known as Mayor Kobi, berated his own constituents for citing his spending in office, saying he was 'distressed and disappointed' that he was being questioned 'heading into Black History Month'

Kamau, a self-described socialist, became the Mayor of South Fulton in January 2022, and claims to be 'America's first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office'

Kamau, a self-described socialist, became the Mayor of South Fulton in January 2022, and claims on his website to be 'America's first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office.'

South Fulton's 92 percent African American population makes it the 'blackest city in America', and Kamau's website states that he 'is on a mission to make America's blackest city black on purpose.'

'Which means a city that is not just unapologetic about its demographics, but moving on purpose to be a laboratory for economic, housing and restorative justice policies aimed at improving the lives of African Americans,' the site states.

Kamau attempted to use the demographics of his city to avoid questions about his alleged mismanagement of taxpayer funds, seemingly irate that he was being scrutinized 'heading into Black History Month.'

Months of alleged misspending were revealed in January by WSBTV, as he was accused of using city-issued credit cards to spend almost $26,000 between October and December on 'unauthorized travel, food and other expenses.'

Bank records cited by the outlet showed purchases including a $1,300 drone, a $1,800 Amazon order, and flight upgrades despite upgrades being against city expenses policy.

Kamau has branded the allegations against him a 'smear campaign', but has reportedly failed to answer questions in recent weeks to explain his purchases, allegedly including a total of 112 outstanding receipts in the few months.

Kamau, pictured with Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, branded the allegations against him a 'smear campaign', but has reportedly failed to answer questions in recent weeks to explain almost $26,000 in purchases between October and December

Much of the scrutiny on Kamau's spending has fallen on a 20-day luxury trip he took to Ghana, which he documented on his social media

Residents questioned whether the trip to Ghana was paid for by taxpayers, with the vacation including multiple plane tickets of over $5,000

The mayor flaunted the trip to his Instagram account, including the over-the-top welcome he received at the airport with a cavalcade of luxury cars to pick him up

Much of the scrutiny on Kamau's spending has fallen on a 20-day luxury trip he took to Ghana, which included multiple plane tickets totaling over $5,000.

The mayor flaunted the trip to his Instagram account, including the over-the-top welcome he received at the airport.

It saw traditional dancers welcome him at the airport and a cavalcade of luxury cars to pick him up.

He also posted images partying with the locals and enjoying a spacious apartment.

Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis told WSB-TV that the city of Fulton has no business with Ghana or Africa.

'Not to my knowledge, that isnt even a priority,' Willis said at the time.

City council has been looking into the mayor's trip and his spending, with Willis adding that 'We need more economic development here and we dont need to go to Africa in order for the city to have a multi-business deal.'
Interest in fleeing the United States for Canada soared following Donald Trump's re-election in November.

Google searches for 'move to Canada' surged 1,270 percent in the 24 hours after U.S. East Coast polls closed on Election Day, the company data showed.

The sudden enthusiasm for emigration echoed the interest in moving to the country's neighbor to the north, as seen after Trump's 2016 victory.

However, the Americans who previously fled revealed life in Canada is not all it's cracked up to be.

Former New Yorker Juan Marcos Percy, 47, moved to Canada in 2016 because he was fearful during Trump's presidential campaign. 'I told my friends, this guy is ruthless,' Percy told The Wall Street Journal.

After escaping to Canada, he was shocked by the cost of living and lack of access to some of his favorite products, like low-fat Jif peanut butter.

'Everything is just ridiculously expensive here. You go to the supermarket, you're paying four to five dollars for a head of lettuce, or five to six dollars for a carton of eggs,' he said.

Another former New Yorker, Stephen Shainbart, 61, moved for the 'safe and politically stable' climate but told the outlet he has experienced disdain from Canadians when they learn his nationality.

Google searches for 'move to Canada' surged 1,270 percent in the 24 hours after U.S. East Coast polls closed on Election Day

Juan Marcos Percy (picutred), 47, moved to Canada in 2016 because he was fearful during Trump's presidential campaign

Heather Fitz (pictured) moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, after the 2016 election for the country's progressive politics, but was stunned to experience the freezing cold temperatures

'They feel they can insult the U.S. because it's always so big and powerful and in their face,' he said.

Arkansas native Heather Fitz moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her then-husband after the 2016 election for the country's progressive politics.

She was stunned to experience the freezing cold temperatures and 68-mile-an-hour winds that rocked her apartment building during a nor'easter.

'I was like, did we make the right decision?' Fitz said. 'I was googling "building swaying is this safe."'

Ultimately, Fitz returned to the United States at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and now lives in Tampa, Florida, where she said, 'The air doesn't hurt my face anymore.'

Trump's first victory promoted former Pennsylvania resident Nathan Sanders, 51, to take an academic job at the University of Toronto.

He liked that Canada feels less politically polarized but said it is off-putting how similar yet different the two cultures are.

'It's like aliens have abducted you and created a virtual reality based on your memories,' Sanders said.

Trump's first victory promoted former Pennsylvania resident Nathan Sanders (pictured), 51, to take an academic job at the University of Toronto

Lucia Lloyd (pictured), 56, made the decision to move to Canada in 2018 after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court

Stephen Shainbart (pictured), 61, moved for the 'safe and political stable' climate, but said he has experienced disdain from Canadians when they learn his nationality

'But the simulation is a little off, and every once in a while, there's a glitch. The money is a different color, and there are pictures of the queen everywhere.'

Lucia Lloyd, 56, decided to move to Canada in 2018 after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court.

However, she has noticed more conservative politics are arising in Canada and is fearful of Trump's declaration that the country should become the 51st state.

'That's flowed over the borders,' she said. 'It's very destructive when you can't count on anything being stable or reliable.'
A furious construction worker has dared President Donald Trump to arrest and deport him as immigration officials prepare for biggest deportation raid in American history.

The apparent migrant worker aired his frustration with Trump's immigration overhaul in a taunting video shared to TikTok this week.

'Daddy Trump, you wanna take us the f*** out of here? Come do this s**t, then,' the laborer, wearing an A&M Contractors branded hardhat, jeered.

He snidely questioned who would carry out America's construction projects if Trump deports all the undocumented migrant builders.

'Look who the f*** built your house, look who the f*** built your streets,' he sneered, before telling Trump: 'Come get it, b**ch.'

It is unclear where the builder, whose profile indicates he works on projects in the Greater Houston, Texas area, is currently employed.

Details surrounding the builder's identity or immigration status were not immediately available. It was unclear where the man is currently employed, although his TikTok profile suggests that he is working on projects in the Greater Houston, Texas area.

DailyMail.com has approached Houston-based A&M Contractors for comment.

Homeland Security agents, the Houston division of the Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal agents carry out an immigration raid on Sunday

Migrants try to enter the United States undetected, through a hole in a section of the US-Mexico border wall, in Sunland Park, New Mexico on January 28, 2025

Trump issued an array of executive orders to crack down on illegal immigration after taking office last week, including actions aimed at deporting record numbers of migrants in the US without legal status.

In the first week of Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting some 7,300 people of various nationalities.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024.

ICE arrested 969 undocumented migrants across the nation on Monday, but border czar Tom Homan says he is not satisfied with the pace of migrant deportations.

Despite the 'unprecedented' number of arrests, Homan claims the US needs to 'open the aperture up' and carry out 'more deportations'.

'It was a great start. The first week was unprecedented,' he told Fox News' Jesse Watters of efforts so far, hailing how under Trump's new policies, illegal border crossings have dropped from '10,000 a day to under 600'.

'It's great, it's good, but we're not finished and we need more deportations,' Homan said, adding: 'A lot more deportations and that's what we're working on.'

The border czar's remark comes just days after he vowed that numbers of daily deportations and arrests will 'steadily increase' as they ramp up efforts to curb illegal immigration.

In the first week of Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting some 7,300 people of various nationalities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024

One of two documented immigrants with prior convictions detained by US Immigrations and Customs (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, walks handcuffed as an agent holds his arm, at a Home Depot parking lot in Tucson, Arizona on January 26, 2025

Trump says his immigration overhaul is needed after millions of migrants entered during Democrat Joe Biden's presidency, while critics say Trump could hurt businesses and separate families.

He rolled back Biden-era guidance that limited arrests of non-criminals, ordered other federal law enforcement to assist with immigration work, and scrapped a Biden policy that restricted enforcement at schools, churches, hospitals and other sensitive locations.

'All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,' Trump said in his January 20 inaugural address, calling illegal immigration an 'invasion' and declaring a national emergency.

Trump also issued a broad ban on asylum for migrants 'engaged in the invasion across the southern border.'

He instructed the Defense Department to make it a priority to seal the border and to support border wall construction, detention space and migrant transportation.

He has also empowered the defense secretary to send troops to the border.

Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire as they re-enforce the border wall, January 25, 2025 near San Ysidro, California

United States Marines unloading concertina wire from an MV-22B Osprey for use at the southern border at Brown Field Municipal Airport in Otay Mesa, California. They were deployed to the border area following executive orders signed by Trump last week

Around 1,500 active duty troops were deployed to the nearly 2,000-mile border this week, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California.

Thousands of ICE officers have already been dispatched to the San Diego border crossing as they prepare to take '100,000 immigrants' back to Mexico and Central America in one of the biggest migrant raids in American history.

DailyMail.com can now reveal that they have been joined with what has been described as a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP'.

A White House intelligence source said: 'There is a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP in front of Camp Pendleton right now, ready to do the biggest illegal immigrant grab in recent history.

'The West Coast is this week and the East Coast is next week. It is about to get crazy in California. They need to fill 100,000 spots', meaning arrests is the directive.

The source continued: 'They are going to be taking 100,000 immigrants back to Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala in this grab.'

Deportation flights between the US and Colombia resumed Tuesday after the diplomatic drama over the weekend that provided clues as to how Trump would deal with countries blocking large-scale plans to return migrants who entered illegally.

Earlier this week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made a point of saying that four flights that had landed at a Mexico City airport in the past few days carrying deportees were all civilian.

Guatemala has not publicly objected, and at least three US military flights carrying deportees have landed there in the past week.

Migrants descending from a Colombian Air Force plane after being deported from the US in Bogota, Colombia on January 28, 2025

Migrants are escorted across the Hidalgo International border Bridge as they are deported under Title 8, a law that allows for immediate deportation after crossing into the US without authorization, in McAllen, Texas on January 27, 2025

Trump has also ordered the suspension of refugee admissions into the US. All refugee travel to the US was canceled, including that of nearly 1,660 Afghans cleared to resettle in America.

He reinstated his 'Remain in Mexico' policy, which requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico pending the resolution of their US cases.

He instructed the attorney general to seek capital punishment against immigrants without legal status who commit crimes such as murder that are potentially punishable by death.

He issued an order to end birthright citizenship to children born in the US if neither their mother or father is an American citizen or legal permanent resident.

Trump also kicked off a process to designate criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and to utilize a 1798 law known as the Alien Enemies Act against foreign gang members.
President Donald Trump is ordering the deportation of foreign students who took part in pro-Hamas protests on college campuses in the US as he launches a wide-ranging crackdown on anti-Semitism.

A new executive order will target resident aliens - including students with visas - who broke laws during demonstrations following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

Trump said he would instruct his Justice Department to 'aggressively prosecute terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews'.

He added: 'To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice... we will find you, and we will deport you.

'I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathisers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.'

It was the latest in a slew of orders that Trump has signed since becoming President as he looks to fulfill his campaign promises.

Many universities, particularly Columbia University in New York City, became the site of pro-Palestinian protests last year during the Israel-Hamas war

The students involved made radical demands that their universities sever financial ties to Israel and that the US end its military support for its longtime ally.

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Wednesday to combat anti-Semitism

Trump's latest order gives leaders of government agencies and departments 60 days to provide the White House with recommendations on how to identify anti-Semitic threats.

It comes as the US President invited Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week. He will become the first foreign leader to visit in Trump's second term in office.

The US is pushing Israel and Hamas to keep its ceasefire in place. Talks about the ceasefire's more difficult second phase, which aims to end the war, begin next Monday.

Trump's latest executive order, due to be signed on Wednesday, is his second focusing on anti-Semitism.

He signed another executive order last week calling for the removal of foreign visa holders who 'advocate for, aid or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security'.

During a rally in New Jersey last May, Trump promised: 'When I am President, we will not allow our colleges to be taken over by violent radicals. And if you come here from another country and try to bring jihadism or anti-Americanism or anti-Semitism to our campuses, we will immediately deport you.'

He also tackled the issue in his first term.

In 2019, Trump signed an executive order instructing federal officials to expand the interpretation of the Civil Rights Act to include 'discrimination rooted in anti-Semitism'.

This added anti-Semitism to the list of prohibited behaviour for programmes which receive federal funding.

During the college campus protests, some Republicans wanted to use that order to take away federal funding from universities which defended the demonstrations as free speech.

Republicans denounced the protests during the 2024 election campaign as an example of liberal bias at elite universities.

Several House committees, led by Republicans, investigated federal funding to colleges and threatened to withhold research grants and other government support.

And they issued a report calling for more to be done to address anti-Semitism.

Since the ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas, college protests have subsided.

Pro-Palestinian students occupy a lawn at Columbia University in April

Police arrest protesters during demonstrations at The City College Of New York in April 2024

State troopers arrest a man at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas in 2024

The controversy over the protests led to a slew of university presidents - including Harvard's - to resign.

At a Congressional hearing last year, many Ivy league presidents struggled to answer whether 'calling for the genocide of Jews' would violate each university's code of conduct.

Republican Elise Stefanik, who Trump has nominated to become ambassador to the United Nations, posed the question.

She later said it became the highest-viewed Congressional hearing in history.
Furious residents have slammed litterbugs for filling the local streets with 'bags of rubbish', and complained that the council hasn't done enough to stop it.

Shocking photos on Kintras Street, Iona Street and Columba Street show the extent of the fly-tipping in parts of Ibrox in Glasgow, Scotland.

Pictures show plastic buckets, planks of wood, discarded mattresses, old furniture and bin bags of rubbish which are torn and loose on the street.

Locals say the amount of rubbish there makes it one of the most fly-tipped parts of Scotland.

The fuming residents said it 'looks like a landfill' and blasted the council for not having more frequent bin collections.

Some are worried that the overflowing litter will attract rats near their homes.

The council said they are investigating the fly-tipping incidents and called it a 'blight' on the communities, promising to sort out the mess on Kintras Street.

Lorraine Hargan, 74, has become accustomed to fly-tipping sightings in the 50 years she has lived in the area, but she says lately it is the worst it has ever been.

Lorraine Hargan, 74, has become accustomed to fly-tipping sightings in the 50 years she has lived in the area, but she says lately it is the worst it has ever been

Furious residents have slammed litterbugs for filling the local streets with 'bags of rubbish', and complained that the council hasn't done enough to stop it

Pictured: Fly-tipping in Ibrox, Glasgow

A Glasgow City Council worker is seen clearing up fly tipping in Ibrox

Some are worried that the overflowing litter will attract rats near their homes. Pictured is a rat spotted near a fly tipping site in Glasgow

'There's rubbish and junk around corners and down streets. I have seen things like washing machines and just bags of rubbish,' she said.

'This is the worst it has been. It is a real mess. It is an eyesore, it's dreadful.

'People come and pick me up, like taxi drivers, and it is the first thing they see. A lot of them comment that it is terrible looking.'

'I have grandkids that come here, and I don't want them near here, especially for health reasons.'

Another local fumed at the council: 'How about collect rubbish instead of cutting pickups so people have space in their tiny bins.'

Another said: 'I honestly cannot believe people can leave their s**t like this and not give a toss to the residents nearby.

'This is getting out of control. Its completely taking over everywhere you go there's fridges, couches and numerous other things. STOP LITTERING OUR CITY you scumbags.'

One said: 'Just shows how lazy and entitled people are.

'Make a mess then moan that the place is disgusting and expect others to clean it up.'

Shocking photos on Kintras Street, Iona Street and Columba Street show the extent of the fly-tipping in parts of Ibrox in Glasgow, Scotland

Locals slammed litterbugs and the council over flytipping

Locals say the amount of rubbish there makes it one of the most fly-tipped parts of Scotland

Pictured: A rat runs from fly-tipping in Ibrox, Glasgow

Pictured is an overflowing bin in Ibrox, Glasgow, as a dog walker strolls past

Pictures show plastic buckets, planks of wood, discarded mattresses, old furniture and bin bags of rubbish which are torn and loose on the street

Another said: 'This is disgusting and what the hell is happening way the people living in our city who are doing this!

'Council should put cameras up catch them and give them a fine also make them clean it.'

One said: 'It looks like landfill.'

One added: 'The grass verges are an absolute disgrace. It's embarrassing!

'What a filthy nation we have become. I would like to see big clean ups and fines issued. Why can other cultures be spotless? Bring on the litter wardens.'

Another said: 'It's disgusting all the time. There can't be a more flytipped place in Scotland or the UK.'

Lorraine went on to say that she is concerned about how the sites will attract rats - especially with the streets being so close to her home.

She said that she previously spotted rats on a nearby street and believes they will soon move in.

She added: 'One of my biggest concerns is the attraction of rats. We have seen them further down the street. I am terrified they will come here, but I know they will.'

She claimed that she phoned her local housing association before about the fly-tipping who directed her to Glasgow City Council.

A Glasgow City Council worker seen trying to clear up some of the rubbish

Pictured is one of the many piles of rubbish spotted around the city

The fuming residents said it 'looks like a landfill' and blasted the council for not having more frequent bin collections

The council said they are investigating the fly-tipping incidents and called it a 'blight' on the communities, promising to sort out the mess

But she alleged that the council don't answer the phone when she calls as she has tried to report the issues with the local authority before.

Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: We are aware of these fly-tipping incidents on Kintra Street and our environmental health team is investigating.

'Evidence has been gathered that we hope will lead to the identification of the culprits and allow us to take enforcement action.

'Those guilty of fly-tipping can be subject to a 500 fixed penalty notice fine, but we also have been liaising with SEPA on this matter.

'SEPA has access to powers that can ensure those responsible for this kind of environmental crime face stiffer penalties than we can serve and we hope this approach can help deter fly-tipping in future.

'Fly-tipping is a blight on communities and we fully sympathise with residents who are sick of fly-tippers treating public spaces with contempt.

'The incidents at Kintra Street will be dealt with appropriately as soon as possible.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

This is the horrifying moment a man was stabbed in the neck by a stranger after accidentally bumping into him in a subway station in France.

The chilling encounter took place shortly after the attacker disembarked a train at the Guillotiere metro station in Lyon on Sunday.

He is seen on CCTV footage exiting the platform and walking towards the stairs, just as another man accidentally stumbles into him.

They appear to share a brief exchange before the attacker chases after the stranger and plunges a knife into his neck.

He then casually walks away, while the victim places his hand on the wound and looks around in confusion - seemingly unaware he has just been stabbed.

The attacker immediately fled the scene after the attack and police are now desperately searching for the suspect, Frontieres media reported.

Meanwhile, the victim was treated by emergency services at the scene and taken to hospital, it added.

One source told Frontieres it was a 'miracle' the man survived the attack and took just five days off work to recover.

A man, who stabbed a stranger in the neck, is seen on CCTV footage exiting the platform just before the attack on Sunday

He begins walking towards the stars just as another man accidentally stumbles into him

They appear to share a brief exchange before the attacker chases after the stranger and plunges a knife into his neck

However, it is unknown how severe his injuries were.

The Direction Interdepartementale de la Police Nationale (DIPN) is now investigating the incident.

They told Lyon Mag: 'An investigation is open and all services are mobilized to find the perpetrator.'

The Guillotiere metro station lies in the centre of Lyon, close to the River Rhona and was put into service in 1991.

The brutal attack is the latest episode of violence to hit France with a wave of gang-land murders and rioting rocking the country in recent years.

In November the city of Poitiers saw a bloody shoot-out between some 400 gang members.

Clashes broke out in front of a restaurant on November 2 after shots were 'fired from a passing car, injuring a number of people', before police could deploy tear gas and storm in to try to restore order.

France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned in November that the country was at 'tipping point' on drug-related violence.

Protesters clash with police, following the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager killed by a French police officer during a traffic stop on June 30, 2023

The torched wrecks of cars destroyed by rioters littered the streets of Paris following disturbances on June 30

A vehicle burns during clashes between protesters and police in June 2023

The right-wing politician also said that France could come to resemble Mexico, deeply scarred by cartel violence, if action is not taken.

A 15-year-old boy shot in the head during the clashes died from his wounds.

Four other minors, aged between 15 and 16, were also injured by gunshots fired in front of a restaurant during the incident.

Retailleau called for the battle against drug violence to become a 'nationwide effort' since becoming interior minister in Prime Minister Michel Barnier's shaky minority government.

'The 'narco thugs' have no limits anymore... These shootouts aren't happening in South America, they're happening in Rennes, in Poitiers... we're at a tipping point,' Retailleau told BFMTV at the time.

'These shootings are not happening in South America, they are happening in Rennes, in Poitiers, in this part of western France once known for its tranquility', he starkly said.

It comes as gangland violence long associated with Mediterranean port city Marseille has expanded into other French cities in recent years.

Victims can include gang members, some of them minors guarding dealing spots or employed as hitmen, but also innocent bystanders.

Police clear the streets following protests sparking by the shooting of a 17-year-old in Paris in 2023

Burnt cars were seen laying on top of their roofs after a night of chaos in 2023

A year prior, rioting and looting spread across France following the 'execution' killing of a teenager in Paris.

On the night of June 30, 2023, police were locked in fierce clashes with protesters, making 650 arrests nationwide overnight - as public anger spilled out onto the streets of France's major cities.

Protesters torched cars, barricaded roads and hurled projectiles at police. Other rioters scrawled 'Vengeance for Nahel' across buildings and bus shelters as a bank was set ablaze.

And in a further escalation of the chaos, violent clashes reportedly spread into the Belgium capital of Brussels

The disorder was reportedly arranged over social media in response to the killing of 17-year-old Nahel M. who was shot dead in his car by French police.

About a dozen people were detained during scuffles related to the killing of the teenager.
England's sewage crisis was laid bare today by a new real-time map revealing which river sections are downstream of discharges from storm overflows.

Spills into lakes, rivers and seas by water firms more than doubled from 1.75million hours in 2022 to 3.6million in 2023, according to Environment Agency data.

The companies are already under intense scrutiny over the degraded state of rivers, lakes and coasts along with rising bills, executive bonuses and shareholder dividends.

Now, University College London environmental lecturer Dr Alex Lipp has worked with web developer Jonny Dawe to create what they have dubbed 'The Sewage Map'.

The map shows a 'poo' emoji when discharges are live. A red exclamation mark is for a spill in the last 48 hours and a green tick indicates no spill in the last 48 hours.

It currently only shows England because Scotland and Wales are regulated differently, but the developers hope to be able to show their data in future.

The map is modelled continuously rather than a river-by-river basis - and 'non' polluted rivers are not shown, to keep the map as simple as possible.

Dr Lipp, an earth and environmental scientist and lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at UCL, said: 'Pollution of waterways globally is major issue impacting on human health as well as freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The new comprehensive waterways map which reveals the reality of England's sewage crisis

A Severn Trent Water pipe that feeds into the River Stour and is currently discharging sewage into the river. The discolouration can be seen from Clancey Way in Halesowen, West Midlands

'We wanted to create something that shows the connectivity of sewage pollution, and the thing we are all interested in is rivers.

'Rivers are something people have a very strong relationship to, and sewage going into rivers invokes a strong emotional impact that is not being understood.

'It is so important as a society to have a strong emotional relationship with our environment. So we used what data we have to highlight which rivers are being impacted.'

Untreated sewage overflows are responsible for releasing pollutants such as microplastics, illegal drugs, animal agricultural waste and human waste into the environment.

Last May, a team of engineers and scientists warned of a growing public health risk from human faeces in rivers, and called for more frequent testing.

The active sewage output near the United Utilities plant in Rochdale discharging into the River Roch near Manchester

The map shows rivers in England, indicating a poo emoji when sewage dischargers are live

A Severn Trent Water pipe that feeds into the River Stour and is currently discharging sewage

Marine charity Surfers Against Sewage has also stated how sewage can cause huge algae blooms, starving water of oxygen and resulting in the death of river and ocean species.

Campaigners are calling for urgent action as the UK now has less than half of its biodiversity remaining - because of human activity.

The map began as a collaboration between Dr Lipp, as part of his work as a researcher whilst at Oxford, and Mr Dawe.

Due to government legislation, water companies were made to release their sewage discharge data over the last few years - which sparked the pair's interest.

The map then launched in 2023, initially as a 'side project', but Alex said it has now taken on 'a life of its own'.

Dr Lipp explained: 'Let's be clear, the water companies have not chosen to unveil this data, legislation came into force which meant they had to release it.

University College London environmental lecturer Dr Alex Lipp co-created 'The Sewage Map'

The sewage output near the United Utilities plant in Rochdale discharging into the River Roch

It shows which river sections are downstream of sewage discharges from storm overflows

'The actual data itself is really limited: all the data tells you is if an overflow is spilling or if it isn't. But we don't know what it is spilling.

'That's the nature of the monitors in use, for instance, if you want to know how much of an impact these are having on the river system, we need more data, and we don't currently have that.

'The companies have to release data every year - but it's just the annual return: the total numbers of hours of spill for each monitor. But what we want to know is was there a spill last week and how does this correspond to rainfall?

'It's a big shame as I want to see if I can match up spill records with water quality, but we cannot compare the two if they don't reveal the true data.'
A Russian honeytrap 'agent' was a spy ring's 'chief minion' who had connections in the 'highest echelons' of the Bulgarian government, an espionage trial has heard.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, and two others are accused of being part of a group of Bulgarians who carried out surveillance on places and people of interest to the Russian state.

Her partner Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from Harrow, north London, and Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, have admitted being part of the three-year plot.

Ivanova has claimed she was deceived, controlled and 'betrayed' by Dzhambazov and had thought she was exposing 'corruption' when she followed investigative journalist Christo Grozev around Europe.

Cross-examining on Wednesday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC suggested Ivanova was the 'corruption' and the spy ring's 'chief minion' whose partner had links to power in Bulgaria.

The court heard how Ivanova, Dzhambazov and co-accused Vanya Gaberova had helped in the 2021 election when Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was elected.

Ivanova told jurors that someone at the Bulgarian Embassy in London had contacted her about helping to sign off votes at a polling station but she never shared with officials her concerns about corruption.

Ms Morgan asked: 'So thinking now and knowing you are a dishonest person, do you think you should have been signing off on that document on the number of votes cast in the Bulgarian election?

Katrin Ivanova (pictured) was branded the 'chief minion' of the alleged spy ring, a court heard

Bulgarian Dzhambazov, 43, has admitted to spying in the UK on behalf of Russia. Ivonova claimed she was deceived by Dzhambazov, who she had an 'open' sexual relationship with

Dzhambazov was found in bed with alleged Russian spy Vanya Gaberova (pictured), at a flat in Euston, north London which was raided by police in February 2023

'You are the corruption, aren't you?'

The defendant denied it.

Ms Morgan said: 'You are a very educated, intelligent woman, Ms Ivanova, and this is your home country you care about so much. What was the name of the Bulgarian president in 2021?'

Ivanova repeatedly said she did not know the president's name.

Ms Morgan suggested Ivanova would not answer because she knew 'full well about Mr Dzhambazov's connections to the highest echelons to the Bulgarian government'.

'I'm going to suggest when you are going through this election process it is inconceivable he did not mention to you the connections he had in the Bulgarian government.

'You put all this time into the elections. You were working there, Mr Dzhambazov and Ms Gaberova were working there,' the prosecutor said.

Ms Morgan said Dzhambazov 'could not wait to manipulate' his connection to power and was 'gleeful' when he discussed the result with Roussev.

Ivanova said: 'I don't remember if he was happy.'

The court heard how Ivanova, Dzhambazov and co-accused Vanya Gaberova had helped in the 2021 election when Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was elected

The Haydee Hotel guest house in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, allegedly used by Orlin Roussev to plot the actions of the spy ring

The spy ring is alleged to have been masterminded by Orlin Roussev (pictured) from his guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Ms Morgan read out a text exchange in which Roussev asked Dzhambazov about the 'new authority' and if they were going to 'meet the upper echelon'.

Dzhambazov replied that it was 'very good', that he had a 'very strong relationship' with Mr Radev, and two other senior Bulgarian politicians, saying it was 'iron clad'.

Ms Morgan said: 'Mr Dzhambazov believed he had the president of Bulgaria on side, didn't he?

'If you have connections and power in Bulgaria you can do many illegal things and you had connections with power, didn't you Ms Ivanova?'

Ivanova replied: 'I did not have any connection with Bulgarian echelon, the president of Bulgaria.'

Casting doubt on her testimony, Ms Morgan said: 'It's good acting. This country you love so much you want to expose corruption, you cannot even remember the head of state. It's all lies.'

Ms Morgan went on to ask Ivanova about a meeting she had with two Russians in Montenegro which the prosecution claim were the spies' paymasters.

In February 2022, Dzhambazov had told Ivanova of a need to show they were 'professionals' and 'deserve money'.

Ivanova replied: 'If need be, I will stand on my head.'

The three involved in the love-triangle are among five Bulgarian nationals charged with spying for Russia at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Court artist sketches from left to right: Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, Orlin Roussev, Ivan Stoyanov and Bizer Dzhambazov

The group are alleged to have been spying on Ukrainians training on the US-made Patriot missile defence system (pictured) in Germany

Ms Morgan told the defendant: 'You would do anything to impress the Russians to show them you deserve your money because you knew full well they were the ones who were paying you.

'That's why you were prepared to 'stand on your head', if that's what it took.'

Ivanova denied knowing who the Russian man and woman were, or that they were the source of the money.

Earlier in her evidence, she claimed she thought they were victims of a fraud by Russian dissident Kirill Kachur, who was believed to be in Montenegro.

The group was allegedly offered 700,000 to get Mr Kachur for the Russians, even if he was killed in the process.

Ivanova, Gaberova, 30, from Euston, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, of Acton, deny conspiracy to spy between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.

Ivanova has also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of possession of false identity documents.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
The White House on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's proposed buyout for federal workers, dismissing accusations that it was somehow a 'purge' of the federal workforce.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded reporters gathered in the White House driveway Wednesday morning that only six percent of federal workers in Washington, DC work full time in the office.

'This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. If they don't then they have the option to resign and this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months,' Leavitt said.

'This government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space that is beautiful, I mean look at the beautiful buildings in this city. They're gorgeous, they've been here for decades.'

Employees have to resign by February 6 to take advantage of the buyout proposal.

The newly created Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, reminded federal workers that if they took the buyout, they would receive full benefits and pay for eight months.

'Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits, the department wrote on social media, sharing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walks over to speak with reporters at the White House,

Answering the most common question about the Deferred Resignation offer.



Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits. https://t.co/Dsgt81oPPhhttps://t.co/LReG2GQCmz pic.twitter.com/0eRPUHP8hI  Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 29, 2025

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walks into the White House after speaking with reporters.

The offer applies to all federal government employees except for workers in immigration enforcement, national security or military personnel.

The federal employee union American Federation of Government Employees criticized Trump's offer in a statement.

'Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,' said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

She criticized Trump's buyout plan as one more way he was trying to bully federal workers out of a job.

'it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to,' she concluded.

The U.S. Department of Education building

The US Department of Energy headquarters

The Trump administration started sending emails to thousands of federal workers Tuesday evening offering them a chance to voluntarily vacate their government posts while remaining on the payroll for months.

An email landed in federal workers' inboxes offering them a package and the ability to voluntarily separate from the federal government before the new Department of Government Efficiency starts identifying areas that could afford to be cut.

'At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions,' reads the email, titled 'Fork in the Road.'

To take the deal, employees were told to type the word 'resign' into the subject line of their response.

The 'majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,' according to the email.

A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management said the employees who accept the terms were being offered the chance to go on administrative leave through Sept. 30 at full pay.
Italy's biggest influencer Chiara Ferragni could face up to five years in jail if she is found guilty of fraud over allegedly misleading her followers with the sale of limited edition Christmas cakes and Easter eggs.

The 37-year-old was fined more than one million euros (930,000) by Italy's anti-trust authority in December 2023 for claiming that the sales would raise money to help children with bone cancer.

She also agreed to pay at least 1.2 million euros to a children's charity to settle the case, but is now facing a criminal trial in which a definitive conviction could result in a sentence of between one and five years.

The model has called the accusations of fraud 'deeply unfair', adding that she believed 'sincerely that it was not necessary to hold a trial to prove that I never cheated anyone'. She added that she is 'ready to fight with even greater determination to prove my absolute innocence.'

The Milan public prosecutor issued Ferragni's lawyers with a summons for September 23, with the influencer's legal team saying in a statement that their client has 'committed no crime'.

Ferragni's ex-manager Fabio Damato, along with the boss of major Italian cake maker Balocco, which was behind the cake, and a representative for confectionary company Dolci Preziosi, have also been summoned on charges of aggravated fraud.

The case has attracted significant negative publicity for Ferragni, one of the world's most famous fashion influencers with nearly 30 million followers on Instagram.

The scandal became known as 'pandoro-gate' after the star used her platform to promote the pink Christmas edition of a pandoro - a traditional festive cake which is a fruitless alternative to the more famous panettone.

A social media post shows Ferragni, 36, holding the special edition cake she created in a pink box as she kneels in front of a Christmas tree

Her followers were told that the cash raised would go to Turin's Regina Margherita Hospital for children, and money raised was said to be earmarked for a new scanner to help detect types of bone cancer.

However, after a year-long investigation, Italy's competition watchdog AGCM announced the fine of 1.075 million euros.

It found that consumers had been duped into thinking that by buying a Ferragni-branded pandoro they were contributing to the charity and hospital.

The AGCM also fined cake maker Balocco 420,000 euros.

The conspirators had justified the high nine euros (7.70) price by saying the more cakes they sold, the more the children's clinic would receive, AGCM found.

But in, fact, the inquiry heard, Ferragni and Balocco had agreed that just 50,000 euros (43,000) would go to the hospital regardless of how well the cake sold.

The regulator added that Ferragni made no personal payments to the hospital, while her companies received 1 million euros from Balocco for the branding initiative and related promotional activities.

In a video published on her page in 2023, Ferragni admitted to a 'communications error' in an apology to her fans.

Sounding contrite and almost tearful, the model said she would donate one million euros to Turin's Regina Margherita Hospital - the paediatric hospital at the centre of the controversy - to give 'concreteness' to her apology.

The case has attracted significant negative publicity for Ferragni, one of the world's most famous fashion influencers with nearly 30 million followers on Instagram

Ferragni's followers were told that the cash raised would go to Turin's Regina Margherita Hospital for children, and money raised was said to be earmarked for a new scanner to help detect types of bone cancer

Ferragni admitted to a 'communications error' in an apology to her fans in an apology video posted to her Instagram page

She also said that she would challenge the fine, claiming that she had not given sufficient oversight to the communication surrounding the sales of the Balocco-brand pandoro with her logo, and that she would no longer tie in charity with commercial activities.

'I realise I have made a communications error... my error, in good faith, was to link, via communications, a commercial activity with a charity one,' Ferragni said in an Instagram video.

Ferragni told local media at the time: 'I'm sorry that, after all my and my family's commitment in recent years on the charitable activity front, we persist in seeing the negative in an operation in which everything was done in good faith.'

She added: 'The one with Balocco was a commercial operation like many I do every day. In this particular one, I wanted to underline the charitable donation made by Balocco at the Regina Margherita Hospital.

'For me, it was a fundamental point of the agreement.

She continued: 'Knowing that the machine that allows us to explore new therapeutical treatments for children suffering from osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma is now there in the hospital is what matters most.'

Consumers believed that they would have been helping to purchase a new machine for the therapeutic treatment of children suffering from Osteosarcoma and Ewing's Sarcoma

The 37-year-old said she would donate a million euros to the Regina Margherita, the Turin-based paediatric hospital at the centre of the controversy

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer while Ewing's sarcoma describes forms of cancer that can occur in the bone as well as in soft tissue.

Its press release upon launching the cake in 2022 said: 'The historic Piedmontese brand Balocco, recognised and appreciated throughout the world for the excellence of its Christmas offer, presents an exclusive novelty: the Chiara Ferragni pandoro'.

The release said sales of the cake would: 'be used to finance a research path promoted by the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin, through the purchase of a new machine that will allow us to explore new avenues for the therapeutic treatment of children suffering from osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.'

Ferragni's lawyers said in a statement on the fraud case: 'We remain firmly convinced that this matter has no criminal relevance and that every controversial profile has already been addressed and resolved before the Competition and Market Authority.

'The discussion with the prosecutors did not have the desired outcome and the Public Prosecutor's Office preferred to defer any decision to the trial judge despite the evident absence of conduct constituting a criminal offence and the lack of the conditions for proceeding.

'Our defendant's innocence will certainly be ascertained in court, which we will face calmly,' they concluded, according to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera.
Rachel Reeves has U-turned and agreed to publish her private tax return after initially trying to keep her personal finances a secret.

The Chancellor this morning said she had no plan to release her private financial information, as the deadline for filing self-assessments approaches.

But she was forced to later change her position hours later after Sir Keir Starmer's press secretary told reporters that the PM would continue to release his, having done so in 2023 and 2024 when opposition leader.

A Treasury spokesperson indicated that Ms Reeves will publish details on her taxes.

The Chancellor had earlier been asked after a speech in Oxfordshire whether she would publish the document as the self-assessment tax return deadline nears.

She thanked journalists for the reminder about the date and insisted ministers would 'use that money wisely to invest in infrastructure and grow our economy'.

She added: 'Chancellors and prime ministers haven't published their tax returns in the past, and I don't have any plans to do so.'

However, both Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt published their tax returns while in government.

However Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has 'no plans' to publish her tax return.

The Chancellor said he had no plan to release her private financial information, as the deadline for filing self-assessments approaches.

Sir Keir twice released his tax returns as leader of the opposition, and his press secretary today said he would do so again now he is PM.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch would not commit to releasing hers either, with a spokesman saying she would wait to see what the Chancellor did.

Last February Sir Keir revealed he paid almost 100,000 in tax in the previous year - with more than half of the Labour leader's tax bill coming from the sale of a donkey field he partly-owned.

In a summary of his tax affairs released by Labour, Sir Keir was shown to have paid 44,308 in income tax in 2022/23.

This came from his earnings as an MP, the Leader of the Opposition, royalties, and interest on bank savings.

Sir Keir also paid 52,688 in capital gains tax, following the sale of a field in December 2022 partly owned by himself and partly owned by his father's estate.

It was previously reported that the Labour leader had sold a plot of land he had bought in the 1990s for his parents, who used it to care for neglected donkeys.

Reports at the time put the sale at 400,000. According to the latest tax summary, Sir Keir gained 275,739 from the land sale.

Asked if the PM would continue to publish his tax return, his press secretary replied: 'Yes. He published his tax return in opposition and will do so as Prime Minister.'

At the same time last year, Ms Badenoch's predecessor as Tory leader, Rishi Sunak, revealed he paid more than half a million pounds in tax in a year.

In a summary of his tax affairs released by Labour, Sir Keir was shown to have paid 44,308 in income tax and 52,688 in Capital Gains Tax in 2022/23

The then prime minister filed his personal income details showing he paid some 508,308 in the 2022-2023 financial year.

This was up from 432,493 he paid the previous year - an increase of just over 75,000 and almost double the 227,350 he paid in 2019-20, before the pandemic.

Ms Reeves' predecessor in No 11 Jeremy Hunt paid a total of 117,418 in UK tax in 2022/2023, a summary of his return showed.

His total income before tax was 416,605, including 27,370 in rental income.

Kemi Badenoch's spokesman suggested that the Conservative leader is waiting to see what the Chancellor does with her tax returns.

Asked if Ms Badenoch would publish her tax return, a spokesman for the Tory leader said: 'She is in opposition and she will wait to see what Rachel Reeves does.'

When it was pointed out that Keir Starmer and his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn both published theirs when opposition leader he added: 'She is in opposition, let's see.'

Pushed further on the point, the spokesman later added: 'The point is we are in opposition, you can ask me this question when we form a government in four years.'
A son allegedly stabbed his architect father to death after turning up at his parents' 3.5m home, a court has heard.

Rory Talbot, 30, was charged with murder after Mark Talbot, 75, was found dead at his riverside townhouse on Deodar Road, Putney, in the early hours of 24 January.

Bearded Rory spoke to confirm his name and date of birth when he appeared at the Old Bailey.

Mr Talbot was found covered in blood and was pronounced dead by emergency services at 4.30am.

Rory Talbot, of Mossbury Road, Wandsworth, was remanded in custody until a plea and trial preparation hearing on 25 April.

A provisional two-week trial date was set for 27 October.

Rory Talbot (pictured) appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court this morning to face a single charge of murder

Mark Talbot, 75, (pictured) was allegedly killed by his 30-year-old son, Rory Talbot

Mark Talbot's family said: 'We are grateful for the support provided by police, our neighbours and others. We ask that our privacy is respected while we come to terms with the tragic loss of a highly respected member of the community.'

Mr Talbot ran architectural firm Stoutheart Ltd for more than 30 years.

In 1987 he purchased the Racton Monument, an 80ft Grade II-listed folly in Chichester, West Sussex, which overlooks the Isle of Wight and the English Channel.

The tower was designed by architect Theodosius Keene for Lord Halifax, and was built in the 1760s to host banquets on the ground floor and provide views of the Solent from the tower.

The crumbling folly is said to be haunted, with locals reporting seeing flying bricks and faces appearing in its windows.

Police were called to an address in SW15 following reports of a stabbing on Friday

Forensic investigators at the scene in Putney, London, following a fatal stabbing

Mr Talbot once applied for planning permission to turn the Georgian Gothic edifice into a dwelling but this was refused in 2020 by the South Downs National Park Authority.

The monument had become plagued with flytippers and illegal raves, as well as 'undesirable and sometimes illegal gatherings', Mr Talbot had said in his application.
Donald Trump's 'war' against illegal migrants has scored a stunning symbolic victory by sweeping through a notorious apartment complex that had been overrun by a violent Venezuelan gang.

After federal agents stormed the complex in Aurora, Denver, the Drug Enforcement Administration said they'd arrested a suspected member of the feared Tren de Aragua.

Footage posted by the DEA shows a handcuffed man being escorted out of The Edge at Lowry apartments in Aurora.

'DEA/local LEO partners continue hitting streets day/night pursuing drug criminals,' the DEA said.

'A suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) was taken into custody in the Denver area overnight. Due to the ongoing investigation, more info may be released later today.'

The takeover of the apartment complex shocked Americans after security cameras filmed six men armed with guns in the complex brazenly trying to access units in August, 2024.

The takeover became a defining election moment as public anger mounted over America's porous borders when ABC host Martha Raddatz told JD Vance that 'only a hand full' of apartment blocks had been seized by the gang.

'Martha, do you hear yourself? Only 'a handful of apartment complexes' in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris' open border?', Vance responded.

ICE officials said on Tuesday that they arrested one of the alleged gangsters seen in the footage in New York City.

Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 26, is wanted in Colorado on felony warrants and was arrested in the Bronx, according to officials.

The DEA in Colorado said they arrested a suspected member of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang overnight at The Edge at Lowry apartments in Aurora

The apartment complex made national news after security cameras filmed six men armed with long guns in the complex and trying to get into units in August, 2024

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem attended Tuesday's dawn raid and confirmed an an individual with kidnapping, assault and burglary charges was taken into custody.

She shared footage of the swoop on X and vowed to clamp down on 'dirtbags.'

'Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets,' Noem wrote. 'We are doing this right - doing exactly what President Trump promised the American people - making our streets safe.'

Alleged Tren de Aragua ringleader Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco is among those who were arrested after ICE officers conducted their first raid in New York City

The DEA has been conducting operations in the Denver area as they target undocumented criminals with criminal records.

Drug Enforcement Administration officials found 49 people inside a makeshift nightclub in Adams County on Sunday morning - 41 of which were undocumented migrants.

Federal officials said some of those detained were associated with the violent Tren de Aragua which has been terrorizing the neighborhood.

The early morning raid was conducted alongside officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

'Drugs, weapons, and cash were seized in Adams County,' officials said on X.

At least 41 illegal immigrants have been arrested during a raid on a Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang party in Colorado

The early morning raid was conducted alongside officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

'Nearly 50 illegal aliens were taken into custody.' The party was 'invite only', officials said.

Known as TdA to law enforcement, the gang originated in a Venezuelan prison.

Members of the South American mafia have since crept into the US via the southern border, hidden among the one million Venezuelan migrants fleeing a socialist dictatorship who have entered the country under the Biden administration.

It emerged in December that Tren de Aragua, which has been dubbed the 'epitome of evil' and 'MS-13 on steroids', is already operating in 18 states.

This includes some of the most remote corners of the America in Colorado, North Dakota, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. The bloodthirsty criminals also maintain strongholds in major cities across Texas as well as New York and Chicago.

They can often be identified by telltale tattoos, including a train ('tren' is Spanish for train), a crown, a clock and an AK-47.

After slipping across the southern border posing as asylum-seekers, gang members infiltrated at least three apartment complexes in the area.

TdA thugs took over vacant apartment units to use a drug and prostitution dens-- pimping out migrant women and even children.

Other migrants who lived in those properties were forced to pay the gangsters 'rent' or face violence.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary today launched an astonishing attack on Rachel Reeves as he blasted her 'clueless' efforts to boost growth.

The Irish businessman delivered a withering verdict on the Chancellor's bid to kickstart the UK's flagging economy, which she set out in a major speech earlier.

He branded her 'Rachel Rubbish', claimed her Treasury team were 'out of touch with 'f***ing reality', and lambasted her 'insane' increase to taxes on flying.

His outburst came after Ms Reeves put Government support for a third runway at Heathrow at the heart of her growth plans.

But Mr O'Leary dismissed the planned expansion of Europe's busiest airport as a 'dead cat' and said it would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest.

He instead demanded the Chancellor scrap Air Passenger Duty (APD) as 'the thing that will deliver growth'.

'The UK continues to lose out on enormous growth opportunities because you have a Chancellor who hasn't a clue about how to deliver growth,' Mr O'Leary fumed.

He added that Ms Reeves had 'five years' to prepare for being Chancellor and 'managed to screw it up in her first Budget'.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary launched an astonishing attack on Rachel Reeves as he blasted her 'clueless' efforts to boost growth

The Irish businessman delivered a withering verdict on the Chancellor's bid to kickstart the UK's flagging economy, which she set out in a major speech earlier

Mr O'Leary dismissed the planned expansion of Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, as a 'dead cat' and said it would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest

In October, in the first Labour Budget in 14 years, Ms Reeves announced 40billion in tax rises.

This included increases in APD from the 2026/27 financial year meaning, for those travelling in economy on a short-haul flight, a rise in APD from 13 to 15.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr O'Leary revealed he had written to Ms Reeves in December to urge her to abolish APD if she 'really wants to deliver growth'.

He said he received a reply this week 'from some dopey junior minister' who, he added, claimed the 2 increase in APD represented '1 per cent of an avergae air fare'.

'I don't what f***ing airline this dopey git actually flies on that has an economy air fare of 200,' Mr O'Leary continued.

'But the 2 is not 1 per cent of an average air fare. But it probably shows you just how out of touch HM Treasury are with f***ing reality.

'The average fare on Ryanair last year in the UK was 44.'

Mr O'Leary described APD at 15 as 'insane' as it represents 'a rate of tax of 33 per cent on Ryanair's average ticket price'.

'Nothing is designed to damage growth faster than increasing taxes on air travel,' he added.

Ms Reeves earlier announced she is supporting a third runway being built at Heathrow, saying the Government is 'inviting' the airport to bring forward proposals.

But the Ryanair boss said: 'The third runway at Heathrow is a dead cat.

'If it ever arrives, it will be about 2040, 2045 or 2050, in fact long after I've departed from Ryanair.

'It will not deliver any growth. The thing that will deliver growth is abolishing APD.'

He added: 'Here's the prize we've offered to Rachel Reeves. We deliver about 60 million passengers a year to the UK.

'Within five years, we could grow that by 50 per cent to 90 million passengers, and all she has to do is abolish APD.'

This would cost the Government 4billion which would be 'paid back two-fold within 12 months' because of growth in passengers, Mr O'Leary said.

A Treasury spokesperson said: 'The third runway at Heathrow is expected to boost the economy by billions of pounds every year by 2050, create over 100,000 jobs across the UK, and lead to cheaper fares and fewer delays.

'This Government is focused on long-term growth, not sticking plaster politics.'
A teenage healthcare worker in Georgia who prompted outrage after posting a video of her provocatively dancing on top of a disabled man's head has been arrested.

Lucrecia Kormassa Koiyan, 19, was taken into custody at her home in Loganville, outside of Atlanta, on Tuesday after the video went viral.

She was charged with a felony for the exploitation of a disabled person and was booked into the Walton County Jail, according to the Loganville Police Department.

'When I watched [the video], disgusted is the only word I know,' Police Chief Dick Lowry told WSB-TV.

'He is disabled and then making the video and posting it to social media for your own benefit is the exploitation of that person.'

A second video, which is believed to be a parody, circulated of her doing a similar dance over another man's head as he sat in a bathtub. Police said she might also face charges for that incident as well.

'Were looking at both of them, but it is still an ongoing investigation,' Lowry said.

Koiyan was working at an in-home adult daycare program when the incidents occurred, police said.

Lucrecia Kormassa Koiyan, 19, was taken into custody at her Loganville, Georgia home on Tuesday. She was charged with a felony for the exploitation of a disabled person and was booked into the Walton County Jail

Koiyan went viral after posting a video of her dancing provocatively on top of a disabled man's head

The victims were uninjured and are in the care of their families and other caretakers, according to WSB-TV.

In the first video, Koiyan was seen rubbing her buttocks on the patient's head while standing on the handles of his wheelchair.

The man in the video remains silent throughout with his head cast down.

Koiyan sparked further fury after posting a video responding to the backlash, in which she tried to blame the 'angle' of the camera.

'It's not what it looks like, trust and believe, angles play a part,' she said. 'A lot of people want to comment about sexual assault, rape, all type of dumb s**t.

'Trust and believe, he is verbal and I got proof,' she added before stitching a clip she claimed was of the same man speaking.

'He looks very aware and comfortable to me so y'all need to stop jumping to conclusions. I do see how it looks but trust me it's not that,' she laughed.

The video has since been deleted from her account.

A second video circulated of her doing a similar dance over another man's head as he sat in a bathtub. Police said she might also face charges for that incident as well

The initial footage sparked fury online, with viewers left incredulous by her inappropriate antics.

'You need locking up and your registration taking off you for life,' one person wrote.

'I'm in utter shock,' another added.

'Girl you not even supposed to post your patients let alone dance on they [sic] head, assault them and exploit them for views,' a third person fumed.
An Oklahoma mechanic accused of fleecing one of his clients of $115,000 in bogus car repairs has made an astonishing attempt to blame the ordeal on his wife.

James Voyles, 51, took on the project of restoring a 1967 Ford F100 for Tim Hayes - who brought the classic vehicle into his shop, Iconic Motors & Classic Corner Iconic Cars in Oklahoma City, in February 2023.

Hayes purchased the teal pickup truck for his then 14-year-old son with hopes it would be repaired by the time he turned 16 on February 15th of this year.

Two years later and just weeks until his son's birthday, the car is still not restored. In early January Hayes decided it was time to pick up the truck even though it's not drivable.

Despite being in contact with Voyles during the entire process, the mechanic - whose name and number is listed on the shop door - revealed that his wife, Charito Rodriguez-Voyles is actually the owner of the shop.

'Her last name is Rodriguez-Voyles. She has her maiden name and then she has her married name because of her Colombian passport,' Voyles told News 4, adding that the outlet should direct all questions to her.

The mechanic went on to emphasize that his wife is a 'Colombian woman owner,' adding 'So, I mean, think about the spin on that.'

On his Facebook page, Voyles is listed as the owner of the shop, while his wife is listed as a worker. It is unclear if she is involved in the conflict.

James Voyles, 51, the owner of Iconic Motors/ Classic Corner Iconic Cars in Oklahoma City is accused of trying blame his wife after collecting more than $115,000 for restorations to a 1967 Ford F100

Tim Hayes brought the classic vehicle to the shop in February 2023 with hopes of it being ready for his son's 16th birthday on February 15 of this year

Two years later and just weeks until his son's birthday, the car is still not restored. In early January Hayes (pictured) decided it was time to pick up the truck even though it's not drivable

Hayes brought the car to the shop two years ago and told Voyles that he just wanted them to 'clean the motor up, clean the transmission up, make it look nice, nice, remodeled truck.'

He was told that the repairs would be finished by July of that year, but now, years later, the car is still not fixed.

Frustrated with how long it's taken, Hayes decided to bite the bullet and pick up the truck earlier this month even though repairs were not completed.

'They ripped it down to nothing on it and everything and just sat on it and then kept saying, "Oh we're waiting on parts and we're waiting on this and that",' Hayes recalled.

When he went to the shop, Hayes was told he needed to fork over an additional $12,000 and sign a non-disclosure agreement before allowing him to tow it away.

In the two years the shop had custody of the car, Hayes said that he was sent multiple invoices for the work that Voyles claimed was being done to the car.

'Every two or three months he hits you again [with an invoice],' Hayes said, adding that Voyles would tell him "Hey, I need it. Here's another invoice."

At one point, Voyles told Hayes about Title 42 - a law that allows auto shops to possess a client's car as its own if the customer has failed to pay for the work within a certain period of time.

Hayes said that he cooperated and paid the auto shop more than $115,000 so the truck he promised his son would not be repossessed.

While Hayes tried to get to the bottom of his car dilemma, Voyles clarified that his wife, Charito Rodriguez-Voyles (pictured), who emigrated from Colombia, is actually the owner of the shop

Hayes told the outlet that he just wanted the shop (pictured) to 'clean the motor up, clean the transmission up, make it look nice, nice, remodeled truck'

An employee at Iconic Motors/Classic Corner Iconic Cars told DailyMail.com that Hayes decided to pick up the car 'not allowing us to finish it.'

Hayes said that his son has been left devastated after hearing that he won't be getting his truck in time for his birthday.

'Hes disappointed, you know. He knows he aint getting the truck,' the father said.

In response to Hayes accusing the shop of taking too long, Voyles said that Hayes has no right to seek a refund for the money he gave the shop because the payments meant that he agreed to the restoration.

The mechanic also noted that Hayes never had a formal contract with the shop that clarified the cost and time for the repairs.

Hayes said he now regrets his decision. 'I guess bad on my part. I probably should have got it documented on paper, but we didn't,' he said.

Voyles told him that repairs would be finished by July of that year, but when he picked up his car a couple weeks ago it was not in the same condition he left it in

In the two years it took for the shop to make the necessary repairs, Hayes said that he was sent multiple invoices for the work that Voyles claimed was being done to the car

Voyles said the reason for all the setbacks on the classic car were mainly due to staff illnesses and part shortages.

He added that the hefty prices Hayes was charged are standard for a restoration job like this.

When asked how he feels about Hayes calling him and his shop out for the setbacks, Voyles again brought up his wife.

'So for him to try and blow this and turn this around, I mean, I just think it's unfair for a majority or a minority Colombian female lady in the industry,' Voyles said.

Voyles told the outlet that his wife is 'very anxious to speak with you as a Colombian female business owner.'

He went on to threaten to 'sue the living heck' out of News 4, adding that Hayes' 'invoices and the business he did was with class corner iconic cars, my wife, who is very anxious to speak with you as a Colombian female business owner as Ive also given you her number,' he wrote.

Despite saying that his wife wanted to chat, the outlet struggled to get in contact with Voyle after that.

The mechanic repeatedly emphasized that his wife is a 'Colombian woman owner.' (Pictured: Voyles and Charito Rodriguez-Voyles)

On January 28, an office manager sent over a statement in reference to the car fiasco.

'At Classic Corner Iconic Cars, we are committed to providing exceptional work product and customer service by actively listening to our customers needs, resolving issues efficiently, and building lasting relationships,' the shop said.

The office manager said when Hayes brought the pickup truck in, it had to be rebuilt 'from the ground up.'

'This type of restoration does take much more time to complete. With this and any restoration project, there is no guaranteed timeline.

'Mr. Hayes was fully aware of this before allowing us to work on the vehicle. It would be irresponsible for us to promise a completion date for such a project,' they added.

The business said that because of 'unknown factors' that arose during the restoration process, the car's completion was delayed.

On his Facebook page, Voyles is listed as the owner of the shop, while his wife is listed as a worker. (Pictured: Voyles and his wife)

'Parts that are needed for older vehicles are often not readily available. Some have to be custom-made, others come from specialty vendors, and in many cases such as this one, needed parts were on backorder which is out of our control,' the shop continued, adding that during that time, Hayes 'decided to make some changes during the restoration process.'

The shop also said that Hayes 'did not pay his invoices in time which caused further delays.'

'We have always been in communication with Mr. Hayes to keep him updated on the progress and get his approval (that included costs) before moving to the next phase of work. We pride ourselves on offering restoration labor services well below most other shops,' they added.

The shop said that because of the 'many variables that came up during the restoration process,' they could not 'guarantee a completion date.'

DailyMail.com contacted both Voyles and his wife for comment.
A stepmom in Brazil has been charged with murder after a three-year-old girl drowned in a washing machine.

Isabelly Oliveira Assumpcao was left by her stepmother, Suzana Dazar dos Santos, on a plastic bench in front of the washing machine, which was full of water and toys, according to a CNN Brasil report.

The little girl reportedly fell into the machine and drowned on May 7, 2022, which the Public Prosecutor's Office of Parana have now 'classified as intentional homicide,' according to UOL.

According to the PM, Suzana had found the little girl and called for help, at which time neighbors called teams from Samu and the city's firefighters. The little girl was unable to be revived.

Her father, Alex dos Santos Assumpcao, said: 'Nothing will repair the loss, having lost her, but justice will calm our hearts a little... Due to the evidence that we have, that has come and that is yet to come, we believe that they are absolutely right.'

'These recent times have not been easy for us, because it is an irreplaceable loss, I can say that I do not want anyone to go through what we went through, but I want justice to be served.'

Prosecutors claimed that jealousy was the motivation behind the crime, stating that Suzana believed her stepdaughter's relationship with her father harmed their relationship due to the father's proximity to his ex-wife, Isabelly's mother.

Isabelly Oliveira Assumpcao, 3, was left on a plastic bench in front of a washing machine filled with water and toys before she fell in and drowned

Her stepmother, Suzana Dazar dos Santos, has been charged as the Public Prosecutor's Office 'classified the crime as an intentional homicide'

Prosecutors claimed that jealousy was the motivation behind the crime, stating that Suzana believed her stepdaughter's relationship with her father harmed their relationship due to the father's proximity to his ex-wife, Isabelly's mother

The 17th Prosecutor's Office of Cascavel claimed that Suzana 'was fully aware of the risk cause by her conduct and assumed the risk of causing the victim to fall inside the washing machine and drown.'

Attorney Paulo Hara Junior claimed Santos had a 'good relationship' with Isabelly, according to a G1 report.

Junior added that there was 'no evidence that she intended to take her life.'

A lawyer for Isabelly's mother, however, claims that the scenario was set up for her death.

'She prepared a whole situation for the crime to happen,' the translated G1 report stated.

'The machine, the stool, she was in her socks, the toys were put in the water. Due to the family's history, she was not one to play,' defense lawyer Alexander Beilner said.

'Several indications lead to believe that everything was prepared, so that it resulted in death.'

'The fact that she spent more than thirty minutes alone in a laundry room in these serious circumstances. All these indications that appear in the records, which was deliberated by the stepmother,' Beilner added.

Her father, Alex dos Santos Assumpcao, said: 'Nothing will repair the loss, having lost her, but justice will calm our hearts a little... Due to the evidence that we have, that has come and that is yet to come, we believe that they are absolutely right'

Attorney Paulo Hara Junior claimed that Santos (pictured) had a 'good relationship' with Isabelly and added that there was 'no evidence that she intended to take her life'

Isabelly's father added: 'We are very happy with the MP's statement. We have always believed in justice. We always knew that we could trust justice.

'And the facts are there, and there is more to come. We have never accused anyone. We just want justice for our daughter.'

The Public Prosecutor's Office is requesting Santos be brought before a jury trial under the qualifiers of vile motive, half cruel, victim under 14 years of age and domestic and family violence.

The Prosecutor's Office also pointed out Suzana already had a criminal record for assaulting her own daughter when she was four years old.
A painting bought for less than $50 at a Minnesota yard sale is actually an undiscovered $15 million Van Gogh masterpiece, experts believe.

The piece features a fisherman smoking his pipe while mending his net on an deserted beach.

It was purchased by an unsuspecting antiques dealer who spotted it in a bin filled with paintings in 2019.

He was immediately struck by the similarities in brush strokes between those in the painting and the famous Dutch master's.

The unidentified buyer sold the work to LMI Group International, which has spent $300,000 and utilized around 30 experts in their quest to prove the painting's veracity.

LMI sent their lawyer Lawrence Shindel to verify the piece Maxwell Anderson, the former Met curator, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The experts were encouraged by what they found - including what appeared to be a possibly telltale reddish hair embedded in the paint.

Van Gogh was famed for his russet locks.

'Was I all in? No,' Anderson explained, 'but I was super intrigued.'

A painting bought for less than $50 at a Minnesota yard sale is actually a $15 million Van Gogh masterpiece , experts believe

Experts believe it was painted by Van Gogh while he was a patient at a psychiatric hospital in the south of France

Another clue was the signature 'Elimar' which was inscribed in the bottom of the painting.

While not Van Gogh's own name, the moniker was used in another verified Van Gogh painting and experts from digital agency Odd Common noted the similarity between the script in both signatures.

It is widely accepted among scholars that the Dutch artist frequently did not sign his own name, so the lack of signature is not an issue.

Anderson and Shindel began to posit that the piece could form part of a body of work painted by Van Gogh while he was convalescing at a psychiatric hospital in the south of France.

The collection of 150 paintings took inspiration from other artist's works and were described as 'translations' by Van Gogh in letters to his brother Theo.

Anderson and Shindel noted that a similar artwork by Danish painter Michael Anchers 1870s-1880s 'Portrait of Niels Gaihede' also features a fisherman in a similar pose.

They believe Van Gogh may have copied the works of other artists in his own style during this era, which may explain why the color palette on the unearthed work is duller than his usual hues.

Anderson and Shindel had a way to go before convincing Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, which says it receives around 40 potentially credible submissions every year.

The experts enlisted the help of Jennifer Mass, president of Scientific Analysis of Fine Art who studied the pigment and composition of the canvas to try and date the piece.

They noted that this signature appears on another verified Van Gogh painting

Around 30 experts and $300,000 has been spent by the painting's new owners to try and prove its provenance

She determined that the canvas' thread count tallied with those produced in Van Gogh's day.

However, one of the colors used could not be dated to the Van Gogh's lifetime until Mass sought help from Ben Appleton, a patent lawyer with Wilson Gunn.

Appleton sifted through reams of handwritten French patents until he managed to locate one from 1883 which corresponded to the color and which challenged the assumption that the paint was not made until the 1900s.

The patent was filed by the Colored Materials and Chemical Products of Saint-Denis, a suburb in Paris. Van Gogh's paints were provided by his Parisian brother.

The discovery has also helped experts more accurately date other artworks which use the same paint.

The findings of the study will be unveiled at a private event for Van Gogh experts later this month.

The only way to obtain verification is to get a scholar at the Van Gogh museum to sign off on it.

Van Gogh was born in the Dutch city of Zundert in 1853 and shot himself dead in 1890 aged just 37.

The artist struggled with mental health issues throughout his life and famously severed his left ear with a razor following an argument with famed French painter Paul Gaugin.

He had only begun to experience success in the final year of his life, with his tragic suicide subsequently turbocharging interest in his works.

They include the seminal Sunflowers paintings and The Starry Night.

The experts sought help from a historian who analyzed the thread count of the canvas and the kind of paint use to date it to Van Gogh's lifetime

The discovery of the suspected new Van Gogh is not the first time a high end artwork has been picked up from humble circumstances.

A Washington DC woman managed to find a 2,000-year-old Mayan vase at a thrift store.

While Texan woman Laura Young picked up a priceless Roman bust for just $35 at her local Goodwill.
A Detroit priest overseeing a tour of religious relics was arrested for putting a girl's hair in his mouth and pretending to floss with it in front of her fellow students, authorities said.

Father Carlos Martins, 50, who is known for his exorcism work and for hosting The Exorcist Files podcast, was charged with misdemeanor battery for the November 21, 2024 incident at a church in Joliet, Illinois.

At the time, a teenage girl was in line to view a relic of St. Jude the Apostle, part of a traveling exhibit led by Martins.

Police said that Martins approached the girl, commented on her hair, and then grabbed it before making a 'flossing' motion with it in his mouth.

The girl also told police that Martins later sat behind her and made a growling noise.

Following an investigation, the Will County State's Attorney's Office approved the battery charge against Martins. He was arrested on Monday.

Martins' lawyer, Marcella Burke, called the charge, which carries a $100 fine, 'egregious and unfounded.'

'The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not "floss" with a student's hair or "growl" among other completely false and repulsive accusations,' Burke said in a statement to Stella Maris Media.

Father Carlos Martins, 50, who is known for his exorcism work and for hosting The Exorcist Files podcast, was charged with misdemeanor battery for the November 21, 2024 incident at a church in Joliet, Illinois

The alleged incident occurred while the girl was in line to view a relic of St. Jude the Apostle, part of a traveling exhibit led by Martins

The lawyer described the accusations as 'a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church,' expressing confidence in his exoneration.

Burke previously stated that Martins' interaction with the girl was brief and took place in a classroom setting with numerous witnesses, according to a Nov. 25 letter from Martins' attorney obtained by OSV.

The exchange occurred during a presentation as he joked with approximately 200 students gathered to venerate the relic.

'As he always does, Father Martins began his interaction with the attendees in "chit-chat" dialogue. He is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter,' Burke said in the letter .

'During his conversation with the older students, he made a comment to a student about her long hair, remarking, "You and I have almost the same hairstyle," a comment met with giggles.

'He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would "floss my teeth with it." Again, his comment was meant for a teenage audience and was met with laughter.

'He then asked the student, "Have you ever flossed with your hair?" Laughing, she shook her head, no. He then said, "Well, you have the perfect length for it," as he lifted up a lock from her shoulders to show her its length. She giggled along with the others.'

When the girl shared the story with her family at home, her father 'became upset by what he heard and called the police,' Burke noted in her November statement.

Police said that Martins approached the girl, commented on her hair, and then grabbed it before making a 'flossing' motion with it in his mouth

Originally from Ontario, Canada, and a former atheist who converted to Catholicism, Father Martins co-hosts The Exorcist Files podcast with Ryan Bethea, featuring firsthand accounts from his experiences as an exorcist

The event at the parish was subsequently canceled, and Bishop Ronald Hicks canceled further relic tour stops in the area.

Martins' order, the Companions of the Cross, initially suspended him pending an investigation but later stated that he is entitled to due process.

'The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention,' its statement reads. 'We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.'

Father Martins served as 'the church-appointed custodian of the relic,' overseeing the 'Apostle of the Impossible' tour, which displayed what are believed to be bone fragments from St. Jude's arm in a reliquary at churches and schools across the country.

The tour began in September 2023, but its official website now lists all remaining stops through December 2024 as 'canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.'

Originally from Ontario, Canada, and a former atheist who converted to Catholicism, Father Martins co-hosts The Exorcist Files podcast with Ryan Bethea, featuring firsthand accounts from his experiences as an exorcist.
A former senior policy advisor to the US government who flew to the UK to have sex with a girl who he believed to be nine-years-old has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years.

International investment banker Rahamim Shy, 47, travelled to Bedfordshire from New York in February 2024 to have sex with the girl following more than a month of planning.

This followed correspondence with an individual describing herself as 'Debbie', the girl's grandmother.

However, unbeknown to Shy, the girl did not exist and 'Debbie' was in fact an undercover officer with Bedfordshire Police.

Shy, a US citizen, who lives in New Jersey, worked for the White House under president Barack Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Using an online forum and later messaging apps, Shy described in acute detail the disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl and that he was fully prepared to travel to England to do so.

He described the girl's age of nine as a 'tad late' to start sexual activity, and that it was an 'honour' to be considered 'her first'.

Shy travelled to England on February 23 2024 through Gatwick Airport before driving to Bedford where he met the undercover officer and was promptly arrested.

Before his trial, the defence argued that Shy was in the USA at the time of the messaging, therefore was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution.

Rahamim 'Rami' Shy (pictured) has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years after he flew to the UK to rape a girl who he believed to be a nine-year-old child

Using an online forum and later messaging apps, Shy described in acute detail the disturbing acts he wanted to do to the girl

On arrest, officers located cuddly toys and condoms, pictured, within Shy's luggage

A look at the cuddly toys found within Shy's luggage. The prosecution argued that the items demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her

However, prosecutors with CPS Thames and Chiltern successfully argued that English courts have jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad that are intended to result in criminal offences in England. That defence was subsequently abandoned.

During his trial, the prosecution used extensive digital and physical evidence to prove Shy's intent to commit sexual offences against the girl.

His depraved messages were laid bare, as were recorded voice messages and calls. He also attempted to erase messages on a specific messaging app shortly after arriving in the UK.

On arrest, officers located cuddly toys and condoms within Shy's luggage. The prosecution argued the items demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her.

Crucially, the prosecution succeeded in putting forward bad character evidence to the jury which revealed messages on Shy's phone in which he discussed with others his sexual interest in children.

Indecent images of children were also found on his phone.

Following a trial at Luton Crown Court, Shy was found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence - namely rape and possessing indecent photographs of a child.

Following a trial at Luton Crown Court (pictured), Shy was found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence

Former US President Barack Obama in 2014. Shy worked for the White House under president Barack Obama

He was sentenced on the same day to a total of 11 years and six months' imprisonment.

Lorraine Telford, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.

'It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child.

'The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.

'All children have the right to feel safe and protected and I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working closely alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit children.'
A Canadian ex-lawmaker hoping to replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister has vowed to deport every illegal immigrant in the country if she is elected.

Ruby Dhalla, who describes herself as 'Canada's female Donald Trump', has thrown her hat into the ring to become the leader of Trudeau's Liberal Party at leadership elections in March.

In her pitch to voters this week, Dhalla said the estimated half a million illegal immigrants in Canada was 'unacceptable', and pledged to 'clamp down on human traffickers.'

'As the daughter of immigrant parents, I know firsthand that immigrants have helped build our great country, but we must clamp down on human trafficking and those that are here illegally,' she said.

'As your prime minister, I promise you I will deport every illegal immigrant in Canada. Canada's comeback starts now.'

Dhalla is one of six candidates vying to become leader of Canada's Liberal Party in March, with the winner becoming Prime Minister and taking the party into the general election in October.

Polling from Global News this month found Trudeau's former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland is leading the race at 29 percent support, with former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney second at 17 percent.

Dhalla was not included in the poll taken at the start of the month, however separate polling from Abacus found Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would comfortably win an election held today with 43 percent support to the Liberals' 22 percent.

Ruby Dhalla, an ex-Canadian MP and self-described 'Canada's female Donald Trump', has vowed to deport every illegal immigrant in the country if she is elected the nation's next Prime Minister

Dhalla, pictured with Justin Trudeau in 2011, is one of six candidates vying to become leader of Canada's Liberal Party in March, with the winner becoming Prime Minister and taking the party into the general election in October

Dhalla threw her name into the race later than some other candidates, with Carney - a former close Trudeau advisor - launching his campaign days after Trudeau's shock resignation.

Dhalla served in Canada's Parliament from 2004 to 2011 as an MP for Brampton -Springdale, but was voted out of office 14 years ago.

To run in the leadership election, candidates must raise $350,000, with five others also joining the race alongside Dhalla.

She has made immigration a central plank of her campaign, focusing on the large influx of illegal immigrants Canada has seen under Trudeau.

The issue peaked in 2023 when 143,870 people illegally entered the country, with the Canada Border Services Agency admitting last year that it had lost track of many others who had overstayed visas or requested asylum, per True North News.

Dhalla has taken to social media to gain traction, and in another video posted to X she said she hoped her candidacy opens the race to new voters.

'I think my candidacy is going to engage an entire new demographic of people to our party and into the Canadian political system. So, lets keep going,' she said.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in January and will step down when his replacement is elected in March

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre will face off with Trudeau's replacement in October, and polls show he is expected to comfortably come out on top

Trudeau's shock resignation in January came in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election in the US, as he quickly threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian trade.

Trump taunted his rival to the north by suggesting that Canada could become America's 51st state, with the falling out leading to Freeland's resignation and ultimately Trudeau's ousting.

Poilievre, 45, was quickly touted as Canada's next leader, and within days polling aggregator Polymarket found that he had a 92 percent chance of becoming the country's next Prime Minister.

In Canada's political system, the prime minister is not elected directly, but chosen by the members of the majority party in parliament  currently the left-leaning Liberals.

But as the Liberal party struggles in the polls, that could change in October's parliamentary elections. If the Conservatives obtain parliamentary majority, they will place their leader Poilievre as prime minister.

Poilievre has previously said Canada needs an immediate election and requires a prime minister who can face Trump from a position of strength.
Locals are furious with Wyoming legislators after they refused to outright ban people from purposely running over wildlife with snowmobiles and other vehicles.

State politicians are attempting to respond to global outrage over photos that emerged last year of a Wyoming man torturing a wolf after he hit it with his snowmobile.

In February 2024, Cody Roberts paraded the injured wolf around a bar in Daniel, a small town near Bridger-Teton National Forest.

A smiling Roberts even posed for a picture alongside the miserable animal, seen with duct tape wrapped around its snout, before he took it out behind the bar and killed it.

Further outrage ensued when it came to light that Roberts was only fined $250 for the offense, which was deemed the illegal possession of a live, warm-blooded animal.

An online petition demanding Roberts face harsher punishment has more than 26,000 signatures. A separate petition calling for the strengthening of Wyoming's wildlife abuse laws has more than 25,000 signatures.

Wyoming Wildlife Federation spokeswoman Jess Johnson said what Roberts did 'came up over and over and over and over again' during a conference on wolves she recently attended in Arizona nearly a year after the incident.

'So we need to do something,' Johnson told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday.

In February 2024, Cody Roberts captured an injured wolf after hitting it with his snowmobile. He then paraded the animal around a local bar before killing it

This week, certain members of the state House of Representatives unanimously voted to advance House Bill 275 to the floor.

In its current form, the measure bans the deliberate prolonging of an animal's suffering but does not explicitly prohibit people from running animals down with vehicles - a practice commonly known as 'whacking' or 'mashing.'

'Why can we not put something in a bill that stops the use of motorized, over-the-ground vehicles and over-the-snow vehicles to be used as a weapon to kill any wildlife, including predators?' Republican Representative Mike Schmid said on Tuesday to the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee.

Sylvia Bagdonas of Laramie, a city near the Colorado border, also testified in front of the committee.

Bagdonas, too, thinks running down predators with snowmobiles is by definition cruel, which is why it should be banned.

An earlier form of the bill written by the committee made it a felony to allow a predatory animal to suffer, even on the first offense.

The committee was reportedly talked out of this by Wyoming Game and Fish Department Chief of Wildlife Dan Smith.

Smith said it would be better to give game wardens, law enforcement officers who protect wildlife, the power to treat each offense on a case-by-case basis.

And there are those that believe an out-and-out moratorium on using vehicles to pursue predators would go too far.

Executives representing ranchers say snowmobiles are a crucial tool of predator control so animals like wolves don't prey on their livestock (Pictured: Tourists ride snowmobiles on a trail in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

A gray male wolf is seen stalking prey in Yellowstone National Park

Among them is Jim Magagna, the executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

He explained that ranchers rely on vehicles to clear predators, especially coyotes, out of their land before they move their livestock in.

And while Magagna condemned what happened to the wolf in Daniel, he pointed out that wolves themselves can be quite cruel to cattle and sheep on farms.

'They torment, they molest them, they leave them half dead and half alive,' Magagna said.

Alison Crane, executive director of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, shared similar sentiments, saying that a ban could unintentionally put a chilling effect on ranchers' predator control.

Committee member Liz Storer, a Democrat, proposed an amendment to the bill that would have mandated predators be killed in a 'humane' manner, regardless of how they are killed.

Other committee members said even that was too vague, with Republican Representative Robert Wharff saying it would be difficult to enforce and could lead to charges against people who didn't intend to make animals suffer.

Representative Karlee Provenza, a Democrat, said she got calls from hundreds of her constituents regarding the wolf incident in Daniel last year.

She said she understood why some believe the bill doesn't go far enough, even saying she herself was 'torn' on how to proceed.

But she ultimately voted 'aye' to send the measure to the House floor, reasoning that it is better to do something than nothing at all.
Will YOU have to sell your home for Heathrow?

Will YOU have to sell your home for Heathrow? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk

Residents of an historic village that faces demolition to make way for a third runway at Heathrow Airport have accused the Government of 'betrayal' - and fumed that they will be left hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket if plans go ahead.

Harmondsworth, Middlesex lies directly on the path of the new runway backed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and almost two-thirds of it is set to 'disappear' if locals are forced to sell their cherished homes to the Government under Compulsory Purchase Orders.

They say they will be forced to sell properties in Harmondsworth where they are quite happy living, having spent huge sums of money maintaining and renovating their homes - and say they are unlikely to receive the going market rate for them under the government scheme.

CPOs were used to buy up properties for the controversial HS2 scheme where homeowners said their lives were turned upside down and ruined by the project.

Entire roads made up of semi-detached houses or cottages in Harmondsworth, where the average property price is now close to 500,000, will be bought up and demolished while the local primary school and recreation ground will also have to make way for the mammoth Heathrow expansion project.

Residents living in Cambridge Close revealed that all the houses along it face demolition and that their lives have been left in turmoil.

Harjit Chola, 39 who lives in a three-bedroom bungalow with her husband and three children, aged one, six and nine told MailOnline: The uncertainty has made our lives hell because talk of a new runway has been going on for some time. Its meant that weve not been able to move because nobody wants to buy from us.

'I don't understand why the Government has done this. One minute they're talking about a green agenda and now they want to increase pollution by having more flights. At the end of the day, we just need to know soon if this runway is going to definitely happen so we can move on with our lives. But financially, it could ruin us.'

Picture shows: Residents (left to right)Andrew Melville, Hylton Garriock, Julian Mosse and Justine Bayley at a protest in Harmondsworth against the third runway for Heathrow Airport

Heartbroken Harjit Cholia is one of the homeowners who will have her property torn down so the new third runway can be built

Picture shows Harmondsworth Village near Heathrow which will have large parts of the community demolished to make way for the airport's new third runway

Ms Chola revealed that she purchased her home in 2014 for 365,000 when plans for a third runway did not directly impact Harmondsworth. Following renovation work, she estimates that it is now worth around 500,000.

But she added: 'I don't think we'll get even close to this figure if we are forced to sell because this is a blighted property. And even if we do, it won't be enough to buy a comparable house in another area. We've already had a look and they're between 700,000 to 800,000.'

Her neighbour Julian Mosses, 76 purchased his three-bedroom semi-detached home for 33,000 in 1981.

He said: 'It's now worth more than 600,000 but at my age, I don't want to be moving. And even if I did, it's going to cost me a lot more to buy a house of this size.

'This is a wonderful community, I love it here, but a third runway will totally destroy it.'

Ironically, Mr Mosses worked for 35 years as an air traffic controller at nearby Heathrow Airport.

He said: 'I'm not anti-aviation, I spent my whole working life in this sector. But what is the point of ruining people's lives and destroying a village like this just so more planes can fly? This is not what the Government promised us.'

Harmondsworth has a population of just under 1,500 people and is made up of two pubs, two shops, all of which are listed and are centred around a picturesque green. Parts of the local church date back to 1067 while the village is also mentioned in the Domesday book.

Pictured is Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, January 29, looking from Myrtle Avenue

Hylton Garriock is pictured at a protest in Harmondsworth against the third runway.

Julian Mosses, 76 purchased his three-bedroom semi-detached home for 33,000 in 1981

Locals have been up in arms, with some having formed a community action group to battle the Heathrow expansion plan

Myrtle Avenue is at the centre of low flying aircraft activity at Heathrow Airport. A new third runway would see the number of jets flying above the street increase

Andrew Melville, another local resident fumed: 'When Starmer and Reeves were in opposition they were opposed to a third runway. Now they've suddenly changed their tune and betrayed us.

None of its historic centre will be demolished for a third runway which will effectively reduce by more than half the village from its present size.

Locals gathered close to the medieval St Mary's Church to discuss the Chancellor's announcement and the impact it will have on their tranquil lives. Signs posted on surrounding lampposts and walls declare: 'Stop Heathrow Expansion.'

Justine Bayley, 74, whose home will not be demolished if the runway goes ahead said: 'What good will that be when virtually all the village is destroyed? I will look out of my beautiful home and see planes taking off and landing.

'That's great if you're a plane spotter but not if you want to live a peaceful retirement like me. When I bought my home, there was no plan for a third runway here.'

Andrew Melville, another local resident fumed: 'When Starmer and Reeves were in opposition they were opposed to a third runway. Now they've suddenly changed their tune and betrayed us.

'One of Keir Starmer's ten pledges before the election was for climate justice. Well, how does having more flights and pollution while destroying homes and lives in the process amount to climate justice? It's ridiculous. Once again, the politicians have let us down and I'm sick to death of all of them.'

The neighbouring village of Longford faces entirely being demolished if work begins on a third runway.

Hylton Garriock, who has lived there for more than 30 years said: 'We won't allow it to happen. We'll shut down Heathrow if we have to and stop any work from taking place.

'It's disgusting that so many lives could be destroyed just because the Government thinks that it's good for the economy.'

According to plans, part of the perimeter of a new third runway is expected to run behind The Crown, Harmondsworth's popular local pub known for its charming country character.

Stephen Benbow, 70, said as he sipped a lunchtime pint that he had been frequenting the pub since he was 17 and that a third runway could 'kill' the village.

He added: 'It might be good for the economy and business, but it will destroy the soul of the village. It's a pity really but I'm glad that the pub won't be demolished although it could get a bit noisy as there will be aircraft taking off and landing just a few metres behind it.'

Stephen Benbow (left),70, and friend Taz, (right), 66, are in support of the third runway

But Julian Mosses will have his house demolished to make way for the third runway

Harjit Cholia who will also have her house knocked down to make way for the new airport extension

Picture shows: The white wall on the right is the point beyond which all properties will be demolished in Harmondsworth village near Heathrow

Others living around Heathrow also expressed concerns over the impact a third runway could have.

Residents of Myrtle Avenue, which is one of the closest streets to the airport's busy southern runway and lies about three miles from Harmondsworth said that they were preparing for more noise and inconvenience.

Planes regularly fly low over the houses as they jet off and come in to land and dozens of plane spotters gather on the noisy road to watch them.

Ironically, when Ms Reeves made her announcement Heathrow's southern runway was not being used and Myrtle Avenue was unusually quiet.

Krishna Gopanaboina, 24 a student who has lived there for seven months said: 'I don't think a third runway is a good idea because it just means the airport will be a lot busier and noisier.

Ironically, when Ms Reeves made her announcement Heathrow's southern runway was not being used and the village (pictured) was fairly quiet

Krishna Gopanaboina, 24 a student who has lived there for seven months said: 'I don't think a third runway is a good idea because it just means the airport will be a lot busier and noisier

'It's awful living here. Sometimes the windows shake, and you can't even hear the TV because the planes come in so low. I didn't realise it would be this bad when I moved here. A third runway might be good for Heathrow's business but it's not good for the people or the environment.'

Jas Singh, another resident added: 'I will be complaining because we don't need a third runway and the Government should scrap the idea. It's bad enough as it is around here and having more planes and plane spotters will just make things worse.'

But Adesh Farmahan, a local resident and Labour councillor insisted: 'Heathrow gets very busy, and a third runway will help spread the load. It will also be good for the economy.

'The noise will not be too bad because the authorities do a lot to prevent it by triple glazing our windows and insulating our homes.'
A rare 'super pod' of more than 1,500 dolphins was seen leaping and gliding in incredible drone footage captured of the coast of central California.

A small team had gone out searching for Gray whales in Carmel Bay on Friday when they spotted the mesmerizing miles-long cluster of Risso's dolphins.

The group watched from a 20-foot inflatable boat as the marine creatures jumped out of the bay, peeking around as they leaped in the air.

Some were even swimming at the front of the vessel and using the waves to propel them forward, a technique known as bow riding.

The large mix of adult and juvenile dolphins was likely the result of several pods coming together and swimming south, a marine biologist has said.

Although this is not the first time they've seen this large of a group, it's not a common occurrence. Risso's dolphins typically travel in groups of only 10 to 30 animals, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A rare 'super pod' of more than 1,500 dolphins was seen leaping and gliding in incredible drone footage captured in Carmel Bay, coastal California on Friday

The large mix of adult and juvenile dolphins was likely the result of several pods coming together and swimming south

Captain Evan Brodsky, with the Monterey Bay Whale Watch, captured the incredibly footage as he took a whale watching group out on the Carmel Bay.

'They were on the horizon I feel like as far as I could see,' Brodsky recalled.

Colleen Talty, a marine biologist on the trip to track the annual migration of Gray whales headed to breeding lagoons off Mexico's Baja California coast, called it 'pretty amazing' to see more than 1,500 dolphins cavorting all around their boat.

'They were just having a great time. So they were breaching everywhere...tail slapping, coming right over to the boat. They looked like they were having a big party,' she said.

The team didn't initially grasp the sheer size of the super pod that appeared Friday morning, thinking there were only several hundred dolphins.

'Once we put the drone up, I was just blown away...I kept saying, 'Look at my screen. Look at my screen. Look how many there are',' said Brodsky. 'It just blows my mind every time. It never gets old.'

Talty described one particularly memorable moment Friday in which she stood at the front of the boat and looked down to see several dolphins turning on their sides and staring straight back at her.

Some were even swimming at the front of the vessel and using the waves to propel them forward, a technique known as bow riding

A Risso's dolphin, with it's a stocky body and bulbous head, can weigh as much as 1,100 pounds and reach up to 13 feet long. The Monterey coastline is a particularly ideal location to spot the dolphins because they prefer extremely deep water

As the dolphins continued to interact with the boat, the team drove straight ahead, making sure to stay out of their way.

'You don't want to make any abrasive maneuvers and potentially injure an animal. That's of course the last thing you ever want to do,' Brodsky said. 'So we just cruise along with them. It was an incredible experience.'

A Risso's dolphin, with it's a stocky body and bulbous head, can weigh as much as 1,100 pounds and reach up to 13 feet long.

The Monterey coastline is a particularly ideal location to spot the dolphins because they prefer extremely deep water.

The area's underwater submarine canyon means they may swim much closer to shore than elsewhere along the California coast, said Talty.
France has been devastated by flooding as the latest storm to hit the country left roads submerged and villages underwater.

Parts of western France were placed on a red weather alert on Monday as storm Herminia brought flood levels not seen in decades.

Residents in several towns and cities used boats to escape their flooded homes as rivers and waterways broke their banks after the country was battered by heavy rain.

Around 400 residents were evacuated in Rennes, one of the worst affected areas, with the city's mayor saying it was the worst flooding it has experienced in 40 years.

Locals living near the city's Saint-Martin canal were taken to safety, while gyms were also turned into temporary shelters for those whose homes were affected.

Normandy and Brittany were already waterlogged after the passage of last weeks Storm Eowyn - which left two people dead from fallen trees and more than one million people without electricity in the UK and Ireland.

Eight other French departments were on orange weather alert for flooding, flash floods or, in the case of the French Alps, avalanches.

Weather service Meteo France warned that the situation could get worse as storm Ivo is expected to bring further heavy rain later this week.

Police officers and rescue workers evacuate residents as severe flooding hits western France

Cars parked in a street following exceptional flooding of the Ille river in Rennes, western France on January 2

Police officers in an inflatable boat look for residents to evacuate in Guipry Messac, western France

'Unfortunately we haven't seen the worst of the flooding,' the mayor of Rennes, Nathalie Appere, said late Sunday. 'Water levels will not begin to subside slowly until Wednesday.'

The rising water lifted houseboats on the canal to the same level as cars parked in the street.

Brittany's western-most area Finistere was on orange flash flood alert Monday, a level that was to be widened to the entire west coast on Tuesday, Meteo France said.

Frances weather service issued further flood and wind warnings for Tuesday for all regions on the western coast, from Brittany down to the Spanish border.

Meanwhile, a 73-year-old British sailor has been lost at sea after his yacht was found wrecked off the southwest French coast, French maritime authorities said.

The distress beacon of the yacht was detected around 80 km (50 miles) west of Lacanau on Saturday afternoon, and a helicopter dispatched to the scene found the sailboat, the Prefet Maritime de l'Atlantique said in a statement late on Sunday.

The helicopter winched its two divers on board, who discovered an empty life raft.

A cargo vessel and the Spanish hospital ship Esperanza del Mar were also mobilised to search for the man.

Rescuers scour the area at the port in Redon after heavy floods on January 29

Firefighters on their boat monitor the Nantes-Brest canal after heavy floods in Redon

A car submerged in flood waters after the Ille river burst its banks in Rennes, western France on January 27

A rescue worker carries a child as severe flooding hits western France

A restaurant owner saves her belongings as severe flooding hits western France

A man uses a wheelbarrow in a flooded street to ferry his belongings to safety

Police officers and rescue workers evacuate residents as severe flooding hits western France

A submerged car is seen in a flooded street in Redon, western France, on January 29

After several hours of searching and due to a lack of any new information, the search was suspended in the early hours of Sunday.

Herminia has unleashed downpours especially in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, with administrative centre Rennes experiencing its worst flooding in 40 years.

Herminia, which brought on the heavy weather over western France, follows Storm Eowyn which hit Ireland and the United Kingdom before the weekend.

Its impact on France's northwestern regions was exacerbated by the fact that the ground was already drenched from previous persistent rainfall.

Authorities have warned of difficult road conditions across the region, and disruption of rail services.

Scientists have shown that climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels is making storms more severe, super-charged by warmer oceans.

France is already bracing for storm Ivo which is expected to bring 'very strong damaging winds' to parts the country as well as Portugal and Spain.

The storm, which was named in Portugal, will also see torrential downpours pushing into the parts of South West England before spreading east along to Kent.

Water flows underneath a bridge in Rodon after France was hit by devastating floods

A man walks along suspended planks of wood to escape the flood waters

Firefighters walk on a flooded street around the port of Redon, on the Nantes-Brest canal, western France

The overflowing Vilaine river is pictured in Redon, western France, on January 29

Security forces and rescue workers look for residents to evacuate as severe flooding hits western France

Parks are seen in a flooded street following the overflow of the Vilaine river in Redon

A rescue worker walks to a woman in a flooded street as severe flooding hits western France

Anne and Annie Dahiez pose in their two-storey house, where they decided to stay despite heavy floods, along the Nantes-Brest canal in Redon

The strongest gusts are expected in Cornwall and could reach 57mph at St Just this evening.

Devon could hit 48mph at Salcombe, and Dorset 34mph at Weymouth.

Further along the coast, Eastbourne in East Sussex and Dover in Kent could both have 30mph.

London will be spared from the worst of the gusts, with 22mph expected.

The heaviest rain throughout today will be in southern England, although there will also be frequent showers in northern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's half-brother Kyle Kemper appeared at Wednesday's confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kemper has long publicly supported Kennedy and his MAHA - Make America Healthy Again - movement.

The half-brother of the liberal Canadian prime minister had worked for Kennedy's presidential campaign and then switched his allegiance to now President Donald Trump once Kennedy backed the Republican in August.

In turn, Trump selected Kennedy to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Kemper was amont the guests who attended the Make America Healthy Again Inaugural Ball to mark President Donald Trump's swearing-in last week in Washington.

Kemper was sporting the green MAHA hat Wednesday during Kennedy's contentious Senate confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.

'The remedy known as Kennedy has officially entered the senate chamber!' Kemper exclaimed on X when RFK Jr. walked in.

Other notables in the audience included Kennedy's actress wife Cheryl Hines, of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly.

Kyle Kemper, the half brother of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, wears a 'Make America Healthy Again hat, as he attends a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kemper had worked for Kennedy's presidential campaign

The half-brother of outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Kyle Kemper was on hand for Robert F. Kennedy Jr's (pictured) hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee as he tries to become President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary

Trudeau's half-brother has been critical of the liberal Canadian prime minister's rule.

In a recent interview with the Tucker Carlson Show, Kemper agreed that his half-brother did permanent damage to Canada.

Kemper had also predicted that his half-brother wouldn't remain as Canada's next prime minister.

The Canadian prime minister announced his resignation earlier this month after being in power for nearly 10 years.

The two brothers share a mother - not Trudeau's famous former prime minister father.

In March 2023 Kennedy had launched a Democratic presidential bid in an effort to oust Democratic President Joe Biden.

That October he announced he was officially leaving the Democratic Party - and said he would continue running for president as an independent.

Polling had shown that Kennedy would not have been successfully able to primary Biden.

After Trump was nearly assassinated at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally on July 13, Kennedy and Trump started conversing about joining forces - with Kennedy hoping for a role in a Trump 2.0 administration.

Trump made good on that promise - surprising some members of his party due to Kennedy's pro-choice stances.

During Wednesday's hearing there were a lot of questions about Kennedy pushing conspiracy theories about vaccines.

That has been one of the main ideologies of the MAHA movement - along with getting certain chemicals out of the American food supply.
The Justice Department has moved to drop the government's prosecution of two Donald Trump aides charged in the same classified documents case that once ensnared the president.

The move, spelled out in a court filing that was unopposed by the defendants, comes days after Trump fired more than a dozen prosecutors at DOJ who were involved in former special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump last year.

Smith moved to drop both the January 6 case against Trump in Washington, D.C. and the classified documents case following Trump's election win. He cited DOJ guidance on prosecuting a sitting president.

An Appeals court accepted his request to drop the classified documents case against Trump.

Nevertheless, the DOJ's case against two Trump aides charged along with Trump continued  even as longtime valet Walt Nauta followed Trump back to the White House.

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon had dismissed the case against Trump, agreeing with defense lawyers that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. DOJ stopped appealing that decision following the election, but kept up the prosecution of the aides.DO

'The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice. The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal,' prosecutors wrote.

The nine-page document, signed by U.S. attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne, did not give a reason for dropping the case.

A superseding indictment in July charged Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira with conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding and concealing documents, and making false statements. Trump was charged with keeping national security documents from the White House at his Mar-a-Lago club.

The Justice Department issued a court filing seeking to drop the case against longtime Trump aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Both were Trump codefendants in the classified documents case

Nauta is his longtime valet who was Trump's Navy 'body man' in the White House. De Oliveira was hired as the club's property manager in 2022.

The indictment listed a string of times when Nauta and others allegedly moved classified material stored in boxes around the club.

In one instance, in 2021, Nauta found boxes with their contents spilling onto the floor of a storage room, according to the indictment.

'I opened the door and found this ...' he wrote an employee with an image attached. 'Oh no oh no,' the employee wrote back.

DOJ dropped its appeal in the case after Donald Trump won the election

Carlos De Oliveira, center, an employee of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, leaves a court appearance with attorney John Irving, left, at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building, Monday, July 31, 2023, in Miami

But the indictment says Nauta made 'false and misleading' statements to investigators when asked about the boxes.

Days before Trump took office, lawyers for Nauta and De Oliveira argued that Smith's final report on the classified documents case and the decisions behind it should not be made public, fearing it could prejudice the case against their clients.

After courts put that report on hold, DOJ released a single volume of Smith's report charging Trump conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstructing an official proceeding.

Trump has long called all the cases against him a 'witch hunt,' and during his first days in office has been busy trying to purge officials he accuses of being involved in the 'weaponization' of government.
A Chinese PhD student accused of drugging and raping ten women told one victim who was begging him to stop that 'the sound insulation here is very good', a court has heard.

Zhenhao Zou, 27, was studying at University College London when he was accused of carrying out 11 rapes on unconscious women stupefied with a cocktail of drugs including MDMA, GHB, ketamine and xanax.

He is accused of filming himself attacking nine of his ten victims with it claimed he kept them as 'souvenirs'.

Zou is accused of carrying out the rapes between September 2019 and May 2023, while he was studying in London.

In the one of clips, the court was told Zou can be heard telling one victim 'don't push me it's pointless' as she begs him to stop.

'The more you push me I really can't consider how you feel,' he said.

'It's not the first time we have done it, this is the second time. The sound insulation here is very good.'

Inner London Crown Court heard today that while the engineering student presented as a 'smart and charming person' to the outside world, in reality he was 'a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist'.

The majority of his victims have never been identified after police brought many of the rape charges based on the defendant's own recordings of the attacks captured on his mobile phone and a series of secret cameras, it was said.

Zou is charged with 11 rapes of 10 women, three counts of voyeurism, 12 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Phd student Zhenhao Zou, 27, was studying for a master's degree at University College London when he is accused of carrying out 11 rapes on unconscious woman

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Zou appearing at Inner London Crown Court

In a second video featuring the same woman, Zou told her: 'Don't push okay? Why is making love so hard.'

He told her: 'I really hope the two of us can work in a relaxed manner. If you push me, I really, I won't consider what you think.'

In December 2023 Zou visited a page on eBay selling hidden cameras, the court heard.

A PDF document was found on his laptop in Mandarin, the title of which translated to 'Club Drugs and Their Acute Toxic Effects', the court heard.

When interviewed by police in January 2024 Zou gave a prepared statement saying he was 'in the habit' of taking images of his sexual activity but only ever did so with the consent of his partners.

He denied that he had ever had sex with anyone without their consent.

Zou said that the bottles of GBL found in the flat, which metabolises in the body as GHB, were for moisturising his face and body but he hadn't yet used them.

But Catherine Farrelly KC, prosecuting, told the jury they would hear from an expert who would say that GBL would have the opposite effect of a moisturiser and irritate the skin.

The defendant first came to the UK in September 2017 to study at Queen's University in Belfast before going on to do a master's degree at University College London from 2019 to 2021, followed by a PhD at the same university from 2021.

'To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man,' prosecutor Catherine Farrelly, KC, said.

'He is also a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

'The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drink or drugs, and, once they were significantly under the influence of those drink or drugs, he would rape them.

'Often, he would record himself doing so and you will be shown several recordings during this trial which the prosecution say are the defendant's souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed; items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification, so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.'

The defendant, wearing gold rim spectacles and a blue suit, showed no reaction as the case was opened yesterday.

Police launched an investigation when a Chinese woman claimed that she had been raped after being plied with vodka and wine at a friend's party in May 2023.

The victim recalled screaming and crying as she attempted to flee but Zou dragged her back by her clothes into his bedroom, it was said.

Inner London Crown Court (pictured), located near Elephant and Castle in south London

She told police that she 'felt hopeless' after being imprisoned as she started to lose consciousness.

'I was really tired, I can't fight back, I have no strength', she told police.

Zou 'raped me when I was unconscious', she added.

Police later recovered a video of the attack in which the victim can be heard pleading with Zou, saying she felt unwell and wanted to go home, but he urged her to finish a large glass of vodka he had given her, the court heard.

When she begged for him to let her go, Zou allegedly responded 'Calm down, don't move. Lie down.'

In one clip, an unconscious woman appears to wake up and tries to stop the attack crying: 'I don't want, I beg youI hate you. I will never have anything to do with you again.'

Zou allegedly responded: 'Really don't push me, it's pointless.

'It's not the first time we have done it. This is the second time. The sound insulation here is very good.'

The prosecutor said: 'She tells the defendant to let go of her. She asks the defendant not to restrain her and tells him that he is controlling her.

'At one point in the recording, she can be heard screaming repeatedly and she appears to try and get up from the bed on several occasions and the defendant pushes her back down each time.'

The victim later posted on social media about the attack which led to another victim coming forward, the jury heard.

When he was arrested police found videos relating to nine of the victims as well as a series of intimate photographs taken while the women were unconscious, the court heard.

Zou was arrested again later in January 2024 when more videos were found.

He was arrested again in March 2024 after the allegations made by the first woman to go to the police.

He told police all sexual contact between them had been consensual.

Ms Farrelly said: 'He said that immediately afterwards, she had asked him for money and was angry when he didn't pay her.

'He said she had mentioned that before sex, but he had hoped that she would change her mind.

'He said that she had sent him a photograph of a luxury handbag that she wanted him to buy her.

'He denied that he had kept her at his flat against her will.'

He was arrested again later in March due to the allegation of the woman he allegedly raped after a meal in Chinatown.

He again said all sex had been consensual.

Zou, who was living in Elephant and Castle in south-east London, denies all 35 charges against him.

The case continues.
A 14-year-old girl told friends 'I'm going to do something stupid' before stabbing two teachers and a pupil at a Welsh school, a court has heard.

Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a student were injured in the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman - also known as Amman Valley School - in April last year.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously admitted the attacks but has denied attempted murder.

On Wednesday, Swansea Crown Court was shown police interviews with pupils who were at the school in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire on the day of the incident.

One told officers she had overheard the girl saying she was going to do something stupid which would involve Mrs Elias.

'I wasn't part of the conversation, I was just listening,' she said.

'She goes 'I'm going to do something stupid that could get me expelled'.

'She mentioned something to do with Mrs Elias. She just said she was going to do something stupid.

Fiona Elias (pictured), Liz Hopkin and a student were injured in the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman - also known as Amman Valley School - in April last year

Liz Hopkin (pictured) was stabbed in the neck, back and legs as part of the attack in April last year

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously admitted the attacks but has denied attempted murder

'I just thought she was going to slap Mrs Elias.'

Several pupils also told the police they had been shown the knife in the lower school hall during break and the defendant had said she was thinking of stabbing someone.

'I didn't think she was going to do anything,' one girl said.

'She said she was going to 'stab someone' or 'stab Mrs Elias'.

'She always says stuff we don't believe so we just went on to other conversations.'

A boy said he had heard her say 'I'm going to get put away for a long time', or 'you guys won't see me for a while.'

He said: 'I kept looking over at my friends, like: 'Is this another joke or something?'

'(A boy) sitting beside her said: 'What are you going to do, then?'

'She just pulled a knife out of a pocket and she went: 'I'm going to do something which includes a knife'.'

After Mrs Elias came into the hall, the boy said, 'her tone, her mannerisms completely changed'.

Ambulances outside Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire in South Wales following the incident

On the way to his next lesson, he heard that the girl had attacked Mrs Elias outside the lower school hall building.

The jury also heard about an incident on the school bus about a month before the attack, involving the defendant and the injured girl.

He said he had seen the girl slap the defendant multiple times, who did not respond.

The trial continues.
President Donald Trump rescinded his order freezing trillions of dollars in federal grants as he revealed millions in waste had been uncovered in a crackdown on woke government projects.

Trump officials had argued funding should be put on hold while they ensured all government spending is in line with executive orders the president signed last week abolishing the Biden administration's DEI agenda.

But the order, issued on Tuesday, led to confusion including Medicaid portals being temporarily shut down, and aid groups warned lives were in danger as critical funding for vaccines and other health issues was frozen.

Trump said: 'I'm restating right now, to correct any confusion that the media has purposely and somehow, for whatever reason, created - Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have not been affected by any action we're taking in any way, shape or form.

'We are merely looking at parts of the big bureaucracy where there has been tremendous waste and fraud and abuse.'

He added: 'In that process, we identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas - $50 million, and you know what's happened to them? They've used them as a method of making bombs. How about that?'

President Donald Trump rescinded his order freezing federal funds



Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., sued over the original order and a district judge put a halt on it late Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, sent a new order to government officials stating that the first one had been 'rescinded.'

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal grants were still under review.

Leavitt said: 'In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage.

'The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments.'

She added: 'This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the Presidents orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding.'

The first order had told federal agencies to 'temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.'

It paused federal grants, loans and other financial assistance which could have totaled trillions of dollars in funding.

On Tuesday, Leavitt had attempted to clear up questions about how the funding freeze would work, and who was affected.

'This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration,' she said.

Trump officials argued critical funding pipelines like Medicare, Social Security and veterans' care would not be affected.

They also said it was a temporary measure as funding streams were reviewed.

But after several states reported the Medicaid portal was down, the OMB on Tuesday afternoon stated that 'mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) will continue without pause.'

The original order wanted officials to review more than 2,000 programs and required federal agencies to document whether each program has any funding related to undocumented immigrants, climate policy, diversity programs or abortion.

The agencies were required to provide their responses to the OMB in less than two weeks.

Democrats blasted the spending freeze on Capitol Hill on Tuesday before a judge temporarily halted it

Democrats and even some Republicans criticized the move. Republicans said the White House needed to better explain what was affected.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut  two top Democrats in Congress  wrote to the White House, outlining their 'extreme alarm' with the idea of a broad pause in grants.

'The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country,' the lawmakers wrote.

'We write today to urge you in the strongest possible terms to uphold the law and the Constitution and ensure all federal resources are delivered in accordance with the law.'

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congresswoman, added: 'This is Trumps first major loss. When we fight, we win.'
Harvey Weinstein has shown off a horrifying new look in court in a crumpled suit as he begged a judge to listen to his bloodcurdling plea.

The disgraced movie mogul asked the court to push his trial date forward due to his deteriorating health, while wearing ill-fitting black tie.

Weinstein wore a badly-creased suit with a metal American flag pin on the lapel for his court appearance, which appeared too large for his shrunken form.

His white shirt also appeared unironed, adding to the haggard look.

Weinstein said 'I don't know how much longer I can hold on' as he suffers with cancer, heart issues and harsh conditions at New York City's Rikers Island jail.

The 72-year-old objected after Judge Curtis Farber said the retrial would start April 15, imploring him to swap with another, unrelated trial the judge has in March.

'Everyday I'm at Rikers Island, it's a mystery to me how I'm still walking,' Weinstein said at a hearing in state court in Manhattan.

'I'm holding on because I want justice for myself and I want this to be over with.'

Harvey Weinstein has shown off a horrifying new look in court as he begged a judge to listen to his bloodcurdling plea. He wore a heavily crumpled suit in the Manhattan courtroom

Weinstein said 'I don't know how much longer I can hold on' as he suffers with cancer, heart issues and harsh conditions at New York City 's Rikers Island jail (pictured)

Weinstein is being treated for numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues and diabetes.

He complained to Farber that jail officers gave him the wrong pills Wednesday morning and failed to pick him up for court in a timely fashion. 'So many people suffering on Rikers Island,' he said.

Weinstein arrived in court in a wheelchair more than a half-hour after the hearing's scheduled start time.

At times as he addressed Farber, he sounded more like the imperious studio boss he once was.

'I'm asking and begging you, your honor, to move your trial,' Weinstein said, suggesting that even a week's head start would be helpful.

Weinstein said that at times he finds himself gasping for air and predicted that he would soon be in a hospital again for treatment.

He quizzed the judge about his trial calendar, including jury selection in another matter that is set to begin Monday.

Farber said he arrived at the April 15 date after consulting with prosecutors and Weinstein's lawyers but would look into possibly starting the trial a few days earlier, if time allows.

'I'm in a serious emergency situation. I am begging the court to move your date,' Weinstein said, telling the judge he wanted to 'get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.'

Weinstein's entreaty, a rarity for a criminal defendant, came after Farber issued a key ruling defining the scope of his retrial.

The judge upheld a charge based on an allegation from a woman who wasn't in the original case.

Weinstein had wanted the extra charge thrown out, arguing through his lawyers that the Manhattan district attorney's office only brought it to bolster their case with a third accuser after New York's highest court overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges involving two women.

Scheduling the retrial was complicated by an increasingly crowded court calendar.

The disgraced movie mogul asked the court to push his trial date forward due to his deteriorating health , while wearing a heavily crumpled suit (shown above)

Weinstein's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, is representing conservative strategist Steve Bannon in a border wall fraud trial set to start March 4 before a different Manhattan judge.

Meanwhile, Farber has a murder trial in March.

Before Bannon's trial date was set last week, Aidala had suggested that Weinstein's trial go first in 'the interest of humanity,' citing the ex-studio boss' declining health.

'They know that Mr. Weinstein is dying of cancer and is an innocent man right now in the state of New York,' Aidala argued in court last week. He pleaded to prosecutors: 'Can I try this dying man's case first?'

Weinstein is being retried on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013.

The additional charge, filed last September, alleges he forced oral sex on a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006.

The Manhattan district attorney's office said in court papers that the woman, who has not been identified publicly, came forward to prosecutors just days before the start of Weinstein's first trial but was not part of that case.

Prosecutors said they did not pursue the women's allegations after Weinstein was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in prison, but they revisited them and secured a new indictment after the state's Court of Appeals threw out his conviction last April.

Farber ruled in October to combine the new indictment and existing charges into one trial.

A rep, upon filing the complaint last week, also pointed to the convicted rapist's previous health problems, which have included bouts with COVID-19 and double pneumonia. He is now suffering from a rare form of bone cancer, as he is set to stand trial on new charges sometime next year

Weinstein had already been in the midst of suing New York City following his cancer diagnosis last month, for refusing his requests to be released so that he may undergo outside treatment

Weinstein's lawyers contend that prosecutors prejudiced him by waiting nearly five years to bring the additional charge, suggesting they had elected not to include the allegation in his first trial so they could use it later if his conviction were reversed.

Prosecutors called that thinking 'absurd,' countering that Weinstein's lawyers would have also been outraged if he had been charged based on the third woman's allegation either during his first trial or immediately after his conviction.

Weinstein 'would likely have characterized that timing as a vindictive and gratuitous pile-on,' prosecutors wrote in a court filing last month.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said the previously uncharged allegation 'required a sensitive investigation' and serious contemplation before seeking an indictment, in part because there are no eyewitnesses to the alleged assault and no scientific or other physical evidence.

Weinstein co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, having produced films such as 'Pulp Fiction' and 'The Crying Game.'

In 2017, he became the most prominent villain of the #MeToo movement, which erupted when women began going public with accounts of his behavior.

He has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

In vacating Weinstein's conviction, the Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge, James M. Burke, unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women that were not part of the case. Burke is no longer on the bench.

Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. His 16-year prison sentence in that case still stands, but his lawyers appealed in June, arguing he did not get a fair trial.

Weinstein has remained in custody in New York's Rikers Island jail complex, with occasional trips to a hospital for medical treatment, while awaiting the retrial.
Two young boys drowned after they fell into a frozen lake and became trapped under the ice when it broke below their feet.

Keagan Grubbs, 8, and his 9-year-old friend were found under the ice in Lake De Lago, in the isolated Lake Chaparral Community of Mount City, Kansas.

The boys were due to arrive at a nearby house together but never showed up, and were reported missing about 8pm on Monday.

Linn County Sheriff's deputies investigated and found evidence they were at the lake and used a drone to search the surface for them.

Kegan and his friend were spotted trapped below the ice, along with two holes in frozen surface where they are believed to have fallen through.

The Overland Park Fire Drive Team removed the bodies from the lake and both boys were confirmed dead at the scene.

'I'm going to miss you Keagan Wesley Lewis! We basically raised each other! It's gonna be hard without you here baby boy! I love you too the moon and back,' his relative KayLee Weaver wrote online.

Keagan Grubbs, 8, (pictured) and his 9-year-old friend drowned after they fell into a frozen lake and became trapped under the ice when it broke below their feet

Police spotted two holes in frozen surface of Lake De Lago in the isolated Lake Chaparral Community of Mount City, Kansas, where they are believed to have fallen through

A friend of his mother Angel Weaver started a fundraiser to pay for his funeral, and family friends are also taking direct donations for both boys.

'Keagan was full of life and of love. He was so adventurous,' she wrote, adding that Weaver had two other children to care for.

Linn County Sheriff Jame Akes said parents needed to impress upon their children that it was unsafe to walk on frozen lakes.

'As the ice shifts, it melts, it refreezes, it shifts, it melts, it refreezes and sometimes there's a void underneath there,' he said.

'The water is way below the ice, and it causes it to collapse.'

Police said the boys would already have been cold before they fell in the icy water, and hypothermia would have set in quickly.

The Linn County Medical Examiner and Coroner will confirm the cause of death.
An ultra-influential liberal podcaster says the only Democrat he'll vote for in 2028 is one who's willing to harshly-criticize Joe Biden and his family.

Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, who worked as a speechwriter in the Obama administration, said he 'couldn't agree more' with an analysis by journalist Matthew Yglesias that blamed the Biden's for Donald Trump's win in November.

Bloomberg columnist Yglesias slammed 82-year-old Biden for failing to step aside when scrutiny of his mental acuity first began to derail the election.

'Lots of great people served in the Biden administration and did good work,' Yglesias wrote in an article he titled, 'Throw Biden under the bus.'

'But Biden and his family landed us in this mess with selfish decisions and deceptive behavior and Im mad about it. I want to vote for someone in 2028 wholl say that.'

In an op-ed that further explains his thoughts, Yglesias described how Biden became a 'lame-duck president' who performed poorly in interviews and the debate.

'Biden defined his entire post-2016 political comeback in terms of averting the Trumpian threat to American political institutions. And he failed, catastrophically!' Yglesias wrote.

The journalist also slammed Biden for criticizing Trump for attacking democracy while 'failing to uphold certain standards of normalcy and integrity' - as he did when he pre-emptively pardoned members of his own family.

Pod Save America's Jon Favreau will only vote for a Democrat in 2028 who will admit that Joe Biden and his family 'landed us in this mess'

Favreau said he 'couldn't agree more' with an analysis by journalist Matthew Yglesias that blamed the Biden's for Donald Trump 's win in November

Favreau and his co-hosts Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett. at Pod Save America became some of Trump's biggest critics during his first administration.

Before the election, he told CNN the best thing President Biden could do to help Kamala Harris win the election is to focus on his final months in office.

Favreau, who worked as the White House director of speechwriting for four years, told the program: 'If I was Joe Biden, his legacy is obviously at stake in this election.

'I would look at the numbers, I would look at the race and say I'm going to focus on being president.

Bloomberg columnist Yglesias slammed 82-year-old Biden and his circle of aides for failing to step aside

'Thats probably the best thing he can do not just for the Harris campaign, but himself and his legacy too.'

After Harris lost, Harris campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon, senior political advisor David Plouffe, and campaign advisors Quentin Fulks and Stephanie Cutter appeared on Pod Save America to pore over their resounding electoral defeat.

But the quartet of campaign veterans spent the better part of 90 minutes blaming everyone but themselves - or their failed candidate - for losing to Trump.

And the Harris aides even suggested the hurricanes that devastated portions of the U.S. during the campaign and what they labeled a 'sexist' media were responsible for the crushing defeat - and not their operation.

'This political environment sucked, okay? We were dealing with ferocious headwinds,' whined Plouffe, who ran Obama's 2008 campaign and then served as a White House advisor.

Plouffe, who rage-quit X after Democrats criticized him online about the failed campaign, also insisted that Biden was so unpopular when he dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris that it was a difficult task to improve her ratings.

Favreau worked as a speechwriter in the Obama administration. They are seen in 2011

US Vice President Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris waves at supporters at the end of her concession speech at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2024

Jon Favreau, seen here, was asked on CNN 's 'The Lead with Jake Tapper' if the gaffe-prone president was too much of a risk to go out on the campaign trail

He noted that Harris began the race with approval ratings only in the 33-35 percent range and although they improved her numbers by 15 points, they did not have enough time to sell her to voters.

And Plouffe oddly complained about how difficult it was for Democrats to win support from independents in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - despite that being the job at hand, and one the team assured Democrats across the country they were capable of doing.

Meanwhile, campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon repeatedly complained about the lack of time they had to make Harris a winner in the 107-day campaign that began in July when Biden finally dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.

She defended their approach of highlighting how Harris was 'different' than both Biden and Trump and a candidate for the 'future' instead of trying to differentiate herself from Biden, whose approval rating were epically low.

Campaign advisor Stephanie Cutter confirmed that Harris was 'unwilling' to separate herself from Biden.

She had a huge deficit in favorability, because either people didnt know about her or what they did know about her was because of negative media, she said.

But the campaign veterans didn't say what efforts they made to try and get Harris to separate herself from the president, effectively saddling her with blame for the two biggest voter issues - the rising prices of everyday goods and the burden of mass illegal immigration.
Actor Noel Clarke has failed in his bid to throw out the Guardian's defence in his 10million libel case.

Clarke, 49, who starred in the Kidulthood film trilogy, is suing the newspaper over a series of articles published in 2021 and 2022 that accused him of sexual misconduct, groping and bullying women.

The allegations led to the British Academy of Film and Television Art stripping the Doctor Who actor of his Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award and suspending his membership.

At the High Court on Wednesday his lawyers accused the Guardian of 'fabricating evidence' and alleged journalists at the newspaper deleted messages between themselves on the app Signal when they were aware legal action could be launched.

They said this meant the newspaper's defence of public interest against the libel claim was not valid, accusing it of 'perverting the course of justice'.

The Guardian vehemently denied any wrongdoing during the hearing and insisted there was 'not a scintilla of evidence' that any evidence had been fabricated.

In one message, sent shortly before the first story about Clarke was published, Paul Lewis, the head of investigations at the newspaper wrote: 'Can we clear all our Signal messages please? Delete this entire thread. I'll create a new thread which will likely be disclosable in court.'

In another, Mr Lewis wrote: 'Please delete all Signal threads, including this one, and individual one on one discussions we have had or you have had with each other.'

Actor Noel Clarke failed in his bid to throw out the Guardian's defence in his 10m libel case

Clarke, 49, who starred in the Kidulthood film trilogy, is suing the newspaper over a series of articles published in 2021 and 2022 that accused him of sexual misconduct, groping and bullying women

The court heard this message was sent 43 minutes after a meeting between a group of Guardian executives, including Mr Lewis and Katharine Viner, the newspaper's editor-in-chief.

Arthur Lo, representing Clarke, told the court: 'These messages speak for themselves. It must have been at the forefront of the Guardian's investigative team that litigation was likely.

'The intention is the fabrication of a thread [of Signal messages] which would be favourable in court.'

Philip Williams, representing Mr Clarke, in written submissions told the court: 'The claimant submits there is overwhelming evidence not just of an attempt to pervert... but actual perversion of the course of justice.'

He continued: 'Because of the deliberate and permanent deletion of personal correspondence between the three journalists that undertook the purported investigations, as well as fabrication, it is the claimant's contention that it is impossible for the defendant to legitimately put forward a positive case that it reasonably believed publishing the defamatory articles were in the public interest.'

Clarke's legal team later said they were not claiming that Lewis 'created a false document' but were alleging that the deletion of messages was an attempt to 'swindle' the court and Clarke.

Mr Lewis later discovered the two threads of messages that he had asked to be deleted and disclosed them to Clarke's team, the court heard.

The Guardian's legal team on Wednesday accused Mr Clarke of a 'smear' against its journalists and said Mr Lewis's instruction to delete messages was in keeping with the newspaper's policy on 'data minimisation'.

The Guardian's legal team on Wednesday accused Mr Clarke of a 'smear' against its journalists

Gavin Millar KC said: 'There is nothing by the way of worthwhile evidence to support these very serious allegations of deletion of evidence and fabrication.

'They appear to have been made to launder damaging allegations against Guardian journalists which could not be made outside of court.'

Justice Steyn rejected Clarke's application but said she would give her full reasons later in the year.

She separately refused an application by Clarke's lawyers to cross-examine Mr Lewis yesterday (weds).

A Guardian spokesperson said: 'Today, the judge rejected Noel Clarke's application to strike-out our defence.

'Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

'At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.'

A six-week libel trial is expected to start in March.
Rihanna made a shock appearance in court Wednesday to support her boyfriend A$AP Rocky as he faces up to 24 years in prison.

The pop megastar reportedly snuck into a downtown Los Angeles courtroom early in the morning through a concealed entrance.

Her rapper partner, real name Rakim Mayers, who is facing decades behind bars for weapons offenses, arrived with his family and entourage earlier in the day without Rihanna.

A source told the US Sun: 'Rihanna arrived around 9:49 a.m. in a blacked-out SUV and met with two security guards who tried to throw everyone off and went down a side passageway out of the court.

'They jumped in her car in the underground parking lot, and she snuck into the court in a secret elevator and never walked the main corridor.'

Rihanna, wearing an all-black ensemble with a turtleneck and trench coat, reportedly sat beside Mayers' mother and sister in the front row of the courtroom, with several security guards sat around them.

Mayers faces prison time for allegedly shooting his former friend A$AP Relli in 2021, and is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rihanna made a shock appearance in court Wednesday to support her boyfriend A$AP Rocky as he faces up to 24 years in prison (seen together on Tuesday night in Los Angeles)

A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, faces prison time for allegedly shooting his former friend A$AP Relli (pictured) in 2021, and is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon.

A$AP Relli, real name Terell Ephron, seen testifying at Wednesday's hearing

Rihanna, who shares two children with Mayers, has stuck beside the rapper since his first arrest on gun charges in April 2022, when the pair were returning to Los Angeles Airport from a Barbados vacation.

Prosecutors allege that on November 6, 2021, Mayers pointed a gun at his former friend during a confrontation, shooting at him and leaving him with minor injuries.

A$AP Relli, real name Terell Ephron, testified against Mayers at an earlier hearing, claiming that the rapper held a gun to his stomach and said 'I'll kill you right now' before firing at least four shots.

It is alleged that one of the shots hit Ephron's hand, but he only reported the shooting the following day when a warrant was issued for Mayers' arrest.

Two 9mm shell casings were recovered by Ephron after he returned to the scene of the alleged shooting, however police say the weapon Mayers allegedly fired has never been found.

On Tuesday, Mayers 'respectfully declined' a plea deal that would have seen him serve just six months in jail alongside a seven-year suspended sentence and three years of probation.

On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky (pictured at Wednesday's hearing) 'respectfully declined' a plea deal that would have seen him serve just six months in jail alongside a seven-year suspended sentence and three years of probation

Rihanna (seen Tuesday night), who shares two children with Mayers, has stuck beside the rapper since his first arrest on gun charges in April 2022

Ephron was a former friend and collaborator of Mayers, after the pair became friends as teenagers while attending high school in New York together.

They were members of the A$AP collective, a group of students who made music and created art together. The A$AP (Always Strive And Prosper) Mob was formed in 2005, but Rocky only joined in 2007.

Ephron said their friendship continued as Mayers' fame grew, but began to falter when he started backing out of business ventures.

At pre-trial hearings in November, Mayers' attorneys attempted to spare him a court trial as they argued that surveillance video of the rapper holding a gun should not be permissible as evidence.

Prosecutors claim the video showed Mayers firing the weapon, which the rapper's attorneys denied.

Detective Frank Flores of the Los Angeles Police Department testified at an earlier hearing that footage showed a gun in the rapper's hand, but when pressed by the defense he conceded a weapon was never recovered.

However, Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar said 'the totality of the video and testimony' shows there is sufficient evidence for the defendant to go to trial.
Police have issued an Amber Alert for two little girls after their mother was found dead in central California.

Kings County Sheriff's Office said officers were called to a home in Hanford, in the San Joaquin Valley, around 4pm on Tuesday.

They attended the property on the 11500 block of Fourth Place, where they found a woman dead with a gunshot wound. The victim has been identified by relatives as Madline Rose Cuevas, 22.

Detectives have identified the children's father, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, 23, of Hanford, as the primary suspect.

They believe he left the scene of the crime at around 1am on Tuesday with the two children, Arya Maldonado, three, and Alana Maldonado, two.

Police said Maldonado-Cruz fled in a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra with the California License #8LZD084. They believe he made have escaped to Mexico.

Detectives issued an Amber Alert urging anyone with information about his whereabouts, or the children, to contact police.

Police have issued an Amber Alert for two little girls after their mother was found dead in central California.(Pictured: Alana Maldonado, two)

Detectives issued an Amber Alert urging anyone with information about the children to contact police. (Pictured: Arya Maldonado, three)

The victim has been identified by relatives as Madline Rose Cuevas, 22 (pictured above)

Detectives have identified the children's father, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, 23, of Hanford, as the primary suspect

Police described Arya as brunette with brown eyes, weighing around 25 pounds.

Maldonado-Cruz is around 5 feet, 9 inches tall weighing 215 pounds and has black hair and black eyes.

The sheriff's office said it is unknown what clothing they were last seen wearing.

Maldonado-Cruz's weapon has not been recovered, so police have warned he may be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Haener at (559) 670-9320 or (559) 852-2818 or Kings County Sheriffs Dispatch at (559) 852-2720.

Information can also be provided anonymously by contacting (559) 852-4554.
A group of church leaders from the Bishop of Liverpool's own diocese have called for him to 'step aside' and say his position is 'currently untenable' after he was accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Right Reverend John Perumbalath, a married father-of-one, yesterday denied any wrongdoing although said he had 'taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others'.

He was voluntarily interviewed under caution by police last year but the investigation was closed due to insufficient evidence. No charges have to date been brought.

One of the alleged victims is a female Church of England bishop who claims she was sexually harassed.

The Church of England investigated the complaints but concluded there was 'no ongoing safeguarding concerns'. The legal timeframe to investigate the second complaint had expired.

Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley today said she was 'shocked and appalled' at the allegations against Bishop Perumbalath.

Now a group of local clergy of the Diocese of Liverpool have written to the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell calling for allegations made by a female bishop to be 'fully investigated'.

They have told Bishop Perumbalath that his position is 'currently untenable' and say he should 'step aside' while an investigation takes place.

Bishop of Liverpool John Perumbalath, a married father-of-one, has denied any wrongdoing after he was accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment

Now a group of local church leaders say his position is 'untenable' and he should 'step aside' while a 'proper' investigation is carried out

'Having listened to clergy, congregations and staff at the diocesan offices and the cathedral it is with deep regret that the senior leadership of the Diocese of Liverpool feel that the position of the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath is currently untenable,' they wrote.

'We believe that the allegations made by the female bishop need to be fully and properly investigated.

'We also believe that while these proper investigations are conducted the Bishop of Liverpool will need to step aside from all ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool.'

The letter was signed by Debra Walker, chair of the house of laity, Peter Dawkin, chair of the house of clergy, Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool, Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Archdeacon of Liverpool, and Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington.

One woman claimed Bishop Perumbalath 'kissed me forcefully', groped her, and whispered in her ear 'I love you' before nibbling her neck, according to a Channel 4 News investigation.

Bishop Hartley said 'failures at the heart of the institution of the Church of England' are undermining 'credibility and confidence in the church'.

She added: 'It also saps the morale of local mission and ministry: in parishes, chaplaincies and schools, our cathedral, and other contexts, and leaves the people and clergy of the church rightly angered and deeply concerned.

'I am with you all in solidarity, dismay and concern at this time.

'I have already spoken out in the strongest of terms about safeguarding failures and do so again. My views have not changed including those regarding the position of the Archbishop of York.'

Bishop Perumbalath was voluntarily interviewed under caution by police last year but the investigation was closed due to insufficient evidence. No charges have to date been brought

According to Channel 4 News, the alleged sex assaults took place between 2018 and 2023 in the Diocese of Chelmsford, where he was Bishop of Bradwell.

Rev'd Dr Charlie Bell, a member of the General Synod which considers and approves legislation affecting the Church of England, told BBC Radio Merseyside that Bishop said he believed Bishop Perumbalath should step aside while an investigation takes place.

He said: 'For everybody's benefit, actually, stepping back and allowing due process to take place is the right option, and that is not presuming guilt and it's not presuming innocence.'

The revelations have piled pressure on the Archbishop of York to step down after Channel 4 claimed that he was aware of the allegations before Bishop Perumbalath was enthroned in Liverpool in 2023.

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, who is already facing calls to quit a separate alleged safeguarding failure, is currently the de facto leader of the Church following Justin Welby's resignation.

Pressure was growing last night as a chorus of senior clergy called for him to quit and a petition demanding he step down passed 37,000 signatures.

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, who led the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) probing abuse in the Church of England, last night called for Archbishop Cottrell to resign over a 'pattern' of safeguarding failures.

'There is a pattern of behaviour here that is unacceptable for someone in his position of leadership,' she told the Mail. 'If he speaks for the Church then for the sake of the Church he needs to step aside.'

Meanwhile the only bishop to publicly call for Dr Welby to resign over the Church's worst child abuse scandal said she was 'shocked and appalled' by the allegations.

The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, said: 'Yet again failures at the heart of the institution of the Church of England, and specifically by its leadership, undermine credibility and confidence in the church.'

Bishop Hartley has previously called for Archbishop Cottrell to resign over a separate alleged safeguarding failure and last night repeated the demand.

'I have already spoken out in the strongest of terms about safeguarding failures and do so again,' she said.

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, who is already facing calls to quit a separate alleged safeguarding failure, is currently the de facto leader of the Church following Justin Welby's resignation

It comes at a time of unprecedented crisis for the CofE after Dr Welby was last year forced to quit. Archbishop Cottrell has temporarily taken charge until a successor is appointed in the autumn.

Bishop Perumbalath is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the Chelmsford diocese on separate occasions between 2019 and 2023. He served alongside Archbishop Cottrell, who was previously the Bishop of Chelmsford, in the diocese when he was the Bishop of Bradwell in Essex.

Another Bishop, among 31 serving female Bishops in the Church, has told C4 News that she was allegedly sexually harassed by Bishop Perumbalath.

She made a formal complaint but was told this could not be investigated because more than a year had passed since the alleged incident, according to the broadcaster.

The letter signed by the Dean of Liverpool as well as the Archdeacons of Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, and St Helens and Warrington, states they are 'shocked and saddened' by the allegations.

It adds: 'We understand that an allegation of misconduct was not fully investigated, and we believe that in the interests of justice this should now happen.'

The Bishop of Liverpool declined to make a further comment last night. However he has previously said: 'I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants.

'I have complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team. The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the Police who took no further action.'

The Archbishop of York was also approached for comment.

He has said that the complaint was made after Bishop Perumbalath had 'formally and legally' become Bishop of Liverpool and it was investigated and found 'there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns'.
The grieving family of a six-year-old girl murdered by her father have spoken of their torment, torture and heartache.

Mark Gordon, 36, killed his daughter Hope at his home before taking his own life on January 20.

Emergency crews found their bodies in a house in West Calder, West Lothian after the alarm was raised when she did not attend school earlier that day.

Detectives have since said they are treating her death as murder, but, following a post-mortem, her fathers death was not being treated as suspicious.

The circumstances are now being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

The primary schoolgirls family have now told of their utter devastation at the loss, a tragedy which they said would never be understood or justified.

Hopes aunt Tess told supporters who pledged money on the fundraising page: The tragedy that fell upon the hearts and souls of Hopes family, especially her mum, will never be understood or justified.

Hope Gordon was killed by her father, Mark, at their home in West Lothian

Hope was only six when she was murdered by her father

The torment, torture and heartache that we feel will never be able to be described. Not today, not tomorrow, and not in the future.

Not only do we feel empty, but the world feels empty too.

She added: Hope was a remarkable, beautiful little girl with a bright future ahead of her. She was talented with her art skills.

She was one of the most intelligent little girls I had ever known. She was amazing with her English and math, and knew more than me at only six-years-old.

She was just learning how to speak French and was so proud of herself - as was I and her mum.

'She had a heart full of love, and didnt for one second waste that - she was sure to let you know at every giving moment what you meant to her.

Arrangements are now being made for her funeral, with her final journey beginning at around 12.45pm on February 10.

Hope is set to be carried by a horsedrawn carriage and her family have asked mourners to line the streets leading to Livingstons Adambrae Cemetery.

An online GoFundMe collection to raise money for the service has raised more than 8,500 as hundreds of people rushed to give support to the family.

Mark Gordon killed his daughter, Hope, before taking his own life

Mark Gordon's home, where both his and his daughter's bodies were discovered

The headteacher at Toronto Primary School, where Hope attended, has paid tribute to her as a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met.

Emergency services attended the property at about 4pm and, after firefighters helped to break into the property, the father and daughter were found dead.

For days, a huge police presence remained in the area, with officers making door-to-door inquiries and the property where Hopes father lived sealed off.

Following the deaths detectives said they had been known to Police Scotland and social services for a number of years.

A spokesman for PIRC yesterday said: We received a referral from Police Scotland on January 23 in relation to the deaths of a 36-year-old male and a six-year-old female in West Calder following police contact on January 20.

We have now commenced an investigation and will submit a full report of our findings to the Chief Constable in due course.

And a Police Scotland spokesman said: The circumstances in this case have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

It would be inappropriate to comment further.
For most people, life on the Alaskan panhandle would be considered pretty remote.

But not for the Wilson family, who decided to pack up and relocate in search of even more self-sufficient living.

The family traded in their life in Ketchikan and traveled 4,000 miles to set up a homestead in northern Maine.

Dad Robert Wilson explained how the pandemic caused the family to re-evaluate their lives as food supplies became severely affected.

'That really pushed us to make the decision to try to go back to the old ways of homesteading,' he told Bangor Daily News.

The family selected Maine for its affordability and laid-back building laws and purchased a 27 acre lot in Aroostook County.

However, the journey to the homestead was an arduous one which involved six months with Robert, his wife Crystal and their two teen children all crammed into a camper while they built their new home.

There was also a massive cost associated with working with so much raw land.

The Wilson family packed up their life in Alaska to set up a homestead in Maine

They chose Aroostook County in Maine thanks to its affordability and laid-back building laws

The family paid $155,000 to clear two acres and create a driveway, $7,000 to fix their water supply and have been quoted $12,000 for additional jobs such as installing a septic tank.

'I mean that was a a little bit of a sticker shock, but I mean it's the price you pay to do do life this way, but we're we're adapting and going along with it,' Robert said in a vlog about the experience.

He added that the family are holding off on the septic tank and experimenting with compost toilets.

Power has also proven tricky to grapple with, with the situation in summer much easier than winter when their solar generator cannot be relied on so much.

Crystal meanwhile said she was struggling to adjust to the bugs 'in all seasons' that creep into their home in Maine.

'Alaska we just got used to there not being that many bugs,' she said. 'We got to think

we come into the woods and and destroy their habitat.'

However, the family say there are many aspects of homesteading which make it all worth while.

Robert and Crystal Wilson have documented their experience on their YouTube channel where they share the highs and lows

The couple have spent more than $160,000 to construct their dream home and are still not through

The couple say the immense privacy, peace and quiet and opportunity to work with the land has been extremely rewarding.

Plus, they have saved a lot on certain bills and say that their generators mean that when nearby towns have suffered power cuts they have been unaffected.

'What we enjoy about this process so far is the blank canvas we can do whatever we want anywhere we want to put something we can put it,' Robert added.

'We can have the out buildings, the woodshed, the house anywhere that we want to have it [...] it's completely raw.'

The Wilsons are not alone in their endeavors, with a growing number of people choosing homestead life.

A January 2023 poll of homesteaders found that over a quarter of respondents had been homesteading for three or fewer years, Business Insider reports.

Despite their off-grid existence, the family said they were touched when the local community rallied around them after Robert suffered a heart attack.

Other challenges include how to manage their own power supply, especially in winter

But the family say the struggle is worth it for the sense of peace and privacy they get on their 27 acre lot

'It's not always as easy or fun as social media makes it seem,' Crystal said. 'It's a crazy amount of work, exhausting and so stressful at times.

'Our family gets through those hard times by supporting each other and reminding each other that it's all going to be worth it in the end.'
Tributes have been paid to a talented and stunningly beautiful Scots DJ who has died just five days before her 23rd birthday.

Niamh Jobson, a rising star in the music industry, had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer when she was 16.

She forged a career as a producer and DJ despite undergoing gruelling treatment, including losing her left leg and being fitted with a prosthetic limb.

But in a poignant announcement on what would have been her birthday, her family said she had died earlier this month while in Hong Kong, where she had been born before growing up on the Hebridean island of Eigg.

They said: It is with the most insurmountable pain that we take this time and space to inform you all that our hugely gifted, talented, intuitive, wise, fiercely clever, funny, sparkly, stunningly beautiful legend of a girl, Niamh Jobson, died on Friday, 17th January 2025 in Hong Kong, a few short miles from where she was born.

The tribute, from her parents Jonathan and Jackie and her younger brother and sister, went on: Please, wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, join us in celebrating our much loved Queen today.

Rest in Glory our Queenie. We love you with all our might.

Another heartfelt message from a friend who met her on Eigg read: Niamh was a shining light; her heart was full of goodness and kindness and love. She shared it so generously with everyone she met.

Niamh Jobson, a rising star in the music industry had battled cancer from the age of 16

Ms Jobson, from the Hebridean island of Eigg, was a highly rated DJ

In spite of her many challenges and suffering, she pursued her dreams fearlessly and was making amazing tracks in the dance music world as an emerging techno DJ. Her star was rising. We are so heartbroken.

She was full of craic, with a razor-sharp wit. She was fiercely intelligent and brilliant.

Niamh was a regular host at the Sub Club in Glasgow and also presented slots on Radio Buena Vida, which said she was a truly wonderful and genuine person.

She had grown up on Eigg before moving to Glasgow to study at music college.

In an article written in 2018, she said Eigg was one of the most cultured and eye-opening places Ive ever been in my life.

She wrote: I love telling people about my island, especially people from Glasgow or some other big bright city.

The fact that I live in a small stone house on an independent island in the Inner Hebrides makes me feel a hundred times more Scottish than whoever Im speaking to, even if theyre also from Scotland.

I love Glasgow but Eigg has a special place in my heart.

But in 2019 she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma - a type of bone cancer which most commonly affects teenagers and young people - after going to hospital with severe pain in her leg.

Doctors found the disease had spread to her lungs and she underwent surgery and chemotherapy at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

After having her leg removed a year ago, she shared pictures of her prosthetic to raise awareness of limb loss and joked that it was her new accessory.
President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to house 30,000 illegal migrants at Guantanamo Bay.

The U.S. military base in Cuba has historically been used to hold terror suspects since 9/11 and current detainees include the accused mastermind of the attack.

Using it for migrants is the latest symbolic move in Trump's unprecedented crackdown on illegal migration that began the moment he entered office last week.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted raids across the country and deportation flights have left the United States daily  with the administration putting out images of the effort.

Trump said the facility with 30,000 beds will be used to keep the 'worst of the worst' migrants under lock and key, and noted how 'tough' it is to escape.

It will include suspects from countries he doesn't trust will detain them when they are deported.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem floated the plan earlier on Wednesday, but Trump has now put the idea into motion.

'Today, Im also signing an Executive Order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people,' Trump said.

He made the announcement while signing the Laken Riley Act at the White House on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump has annoucned plans to open a facility on Guantanamo Bay to house 30,000 illegal migrants

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had earlier floated the idea of expanding the Guantanamo facility

Trump added: 'We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some of them are so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back.

'So we're going to send them out to Guantanamo Bay. This will double our capacity immediately, and tough. That's a tough - that's a tough place to get out of.'

The George W. Bush administration opened the facility in 2002 to detain 'illegal enemy combatants' during the 'War on Terror.' Ultimately, successive administrations have negotiated a series of arrangements to transfer prisoners out of the facility since then, amid public and congressional pressure to close it.

The population has now dwindled to just 15 after the most recent series of transfers.

Among them is 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who agreed to plead guilty after negotiations with military lawyers, avoiding a potential death sentence, and setting off yet another legal saga.

Trump himself ordered his then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to keep Guantanamo open in 2018, reversing an Obama administration order.

The U.S. military base in Cuba has historically been used to hold terror suspects since 9/11 and detainees include some of the accused masterminds

Trump's comments follow continued law enforcement raids around the country

Trump mentioned his election wins in battleground states but said it wouldn't be 'appropriate' to take a question about rescinding a memo on freezing government grant programs

Trump's announcement came hours after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem floated the idea in a Fox News interview.

Guantanamo has a migrant facility that has been used for decades that is separate from the high-security prison area. It has been used to house Haitians fleeing storms and Cubans who don't make it to the U.S. shore.

Trump's move requires authorities to detain migrants who are in the U.S. illegally and are accused of other crimes, including misdemeanors.

The Venezuelan migrant who killed Laken Riley had entered the country illegally and been arrested for shoplifting and released.

Trump made the announcement after resolving a potential trade war with the government of Colombia.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down after initially refusing to accept U.S. flights of deported Colombian nationals.

Trump said Colombia 'apologized to us profusely within an hour.' He recounted his threats, saying 'you're going to pay tariffs like nobody has every paid tariffs' and told of how the country backtracked.

'But they actually said that we're going to send the presidential plane to pick up these criminals and to bring them because they didn't want to inconvenience us or have us do a second flight,' he said.

'And that's what they did it and I appreciate it, and I do appreciate the people of Colombia, they are wonderful people, and the representatives really acted well.

'They are going to all take them back and they are going to like it, too. They are going like it,' he said.

New White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clashed with an NBC reporter at Tuesday's White House press briefing over the number of 'criminal' aliens being sent home.

The network's Peter Alexander asked about Trump's comment that he would 'start with the criminals' before saying 'nearly half' of 1,179 migrants arrested 'have no prior criminal record.'

Leavitt shot back that any foreign national who enters the US illegally is 'by definition a criminal' and 'subject to deportation.'

The memorandum Trump signed directs the HHS secretary 'to take all appropriate actions to expand' the existing migrant operations center 'to full capacity to provide additional detention space for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and to address attendant immigration enforcement needs identified by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.'

It states that it is issued 'in order to halt the border invasion, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore national sovereignty.'
When Woolworths folded in 2008  taking its beloved Stornoway store with it, a constant since 1935  it was like a death in the family: town centre footfall has never recovered.

When Borders gave up the ghost a year later, appalled Glasgow teens hit social media with their ululations, and even the demise of Debenhams the opening of its flagship Edinburgh store, in 1981, was excitedly covered on Reporting Scotland  tugged rather at the heartstrings.

Few will keen for WH Smith, poised shortly to offload all its high street stores and with the usual vultures already circling.

The company, of course, will never quit its lucrative travel outlets at train stations and airports, where competition is minimal to non-existent and harried travellers have scarce the energy to wince as they pay over the odds for soft drinks and drear sandwiches.

WH Smith has been a tatty operation for years now.

The magazine selection is these days haphazardly shelved and very poor. Scant bookshelves dominated by the deathless prose of Dan Brown and Peter May, David Walliams and Jeffrey Archer.

Around Christmas I popped my head in the door of its Great Western Road branch in Glasgow. The store seemed disorganised, with no logic or theme. There were hardly any customers. I proceeded no further.

The once popular WH Smith stores are disappearing from the HIgh Street

Scotland's high streets are now awash with vape stores and betting shops

Nearly two decades ago, David Cameron, channeling the nanny-statism of New Labour, saw fit to denounce WH Smith for plugging discounted Terrys Chocolate Oranges, and for years there was a Twitter account devoted exclusively to snapshots of the chains tired, frayed and often stained carpets.

Its hard now to remember when WH Smith was a colossus that bestrode British retail. Born in 1792, at its heights the company owned Paperchase, Waterstones, a major publisher  Hodder Headline, the DIY chain Do It All, and record shops like Virgin and Our Price.

WH Smith had a big stake in TV, launched several cable channels and, in April 1995, took Britains very first secure online order over the internet. In a more distant past, the company offered bookbinding and a massive lending library, revolutionised the booktrade with the ISBN number, and was a major newspaper distributor.

Its stores in the 1990s were bright and inviting places with staff who seemed genuinely to enjoy their jobs, and it prospered all the more in Scotland after in 1998 acquiring the retail operations of its keenest competitor, John Menzies.

But, like so many others, WH Smug was caught in a deadly pincer movement that has already laid many a high street to waste and is seen at its worst less in our great city centres than such provincial towns as Inverness, Dunfermline or Kirkcaldy.

On one side, WH Smith was clobbered by high business rates, rocketing rents and the gulping cost these days of downtown parking.

On the other, of course, it has increasingly been whipped by the ease and convenience of online shopping, with swift and often next-day delivery.

But the central problem has been its declining offer. Stale; dolefully outdated. Past its time. A Caramac bar, as one observer has cracked, in the age of Tonys Chocolonely.

In this, though, it has hardly been alone. C&A perished in 2002. More recent years have seen the demise, amongst others, of BHS, Mothercare, Topshop/Topman, Wilko and Debenhams, Virgin Megastore, House of Fraser and most of HMV.

We tend, on reading their obituaries, to lament the passing of the latest national treasure, clouded by recollections of these operators in their heyday and an era when a rare outing downtown with your parents  do you remember Lewiss magnificent department store on Argyle Street? - was such an occasion they dressed up for it.

In fact, all these empires foundered for the same reason: people had stopped shopping in them.

When I latterly shopped at Debenhams, on Edinburghs Princes Street, it was all but deserted.

The escalator down to the menswear department had not worked in months. Its machinery, in darkest cellars underneath, kept flooding, the lady at the till darkly confided.

Even Jenners, that fabled Edinburgh institution, was in manifest decline for years, soon after Scotlands oldest independent department store fell under the House of Fraser yoke in 2005.

Its beloved food hall and the fabled toy department went years before when, and at scant notice, Jenners gave up the ghost in December 2020.

And you need only ask yourself when you last tripped into WH Smith, with practically everything overpriced, an indifferent meal deal and a lugubrious checkout worker trying to do you for a 3-pack of Cadburys Creme Eggs.

But Smiths are but the latest casualty in what is shaping up to be a perfect storm.

Quiz Clothing, a noted Scottish success story and founded only in 1993, with sixty standalone stores and many more concessions, is this week collapsing into administration: its shares last week were delisted from the London stock market.

1,500 jobs are in jeopardy. And the broader retail ecology is in mounting crisis as companies everywhere face looming hike in employers national insurance.

In the last twelve days alone, Lakeland  the family-owned, high-end kitchenware retailer  has been put on the market; the corporate overlords of the Poundland discount chain have hired advisers to assess options, and The Original Factory Shop (they have a concession in a major Stornoway supermarket) is on the brink of sale to family office Baaj Capital.

Thank you so much, Rachel from Accounts: did it occur to you that upping what is basically a tax on jobs might, you know, result in fewer jobs?

WH Smiths heyday was in a very different Britain. An era when retail parks, glitzy shopping centres and huge out-of-town supermarkets did not exist.

When WH Smith was a deftly run generalist operation, not far from your home, where you could nip in for books, videos, records, stationery and, of course, your Scottish Daily Mail.

Now it sells nothing you cannot buy, cheaper, in a middling Tesco. And beyond all this is a readily overlooked social cost, regardless of jobs and profit margins.

We are greatly affected by our built environment. When our town centres are hollowed out, only the bottom-feeders tend to survive  the vapestores, the betting-shops, the charity shops, the Turkish barbers and the odd discount operation, its windows filled with plastic tat and the cheapest shoes.

A walk down Sauchiehall Street these days, with all its shuttered and abandoned premises  Watts; M&S  is a dispiriting experience.

Princes Street, in Edinburgh, is a horror-flick of Scottish souvenir-tat, American candy stores and discount clothing outlets.

Before Christmas 2023 I walked the length of it  in vain  trying to buy a radio.

The glory is departed. At best, the future is one of gentrified urban villages, like Morningside or Finnieston  cafes, little galleries, lovingly run independent and specialist retailers.

Meanwhile, as a wry 2002 cartoon put it, Man At C&A is now man without a job.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Police have arrested a couple they describe as being on the 'periphery' of a suspected anti-Semitic terror plot which was exposed by the discovery of a caravan loaded with explosives.

For 12 days, the caravan was left beside a property in Dural in northwest Sydney before a resident reported it, with the explosive contents sparking a multi-agency probe into a suspected terror plot.

Police said a note found inside the caravan contained addresses of Jewish people and a synagogue and included the words, 'f*** the Jews'.

The explosives had the capacity to create an explosion with a 40m blast impact, capable of causing a mass casualty event.

The explosive material is believed to be power gel sourced from a mining site, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said.

Arrests have been made 'on the periphery' of the case, Dep Comm Hudson said.

It is understood those 'periphery' arrests were that of Tammie Farrugia, charged last week over an alleged anti-Semitic attack at Woollahra in December.

And the other arrest was Farrugia's boyfriend, Scott Marshall, who was charged late last year with weapons and drug offences to which he has pleaded not guilty.

It is understood the 'periphery' arrests were that of Tammie Farrugia and her boyfriend Scott Marshall (pictured), but they have not been charged in relation to the caravan

NSW Deputy Commissioner David Hudson doesn't believe the plot is linked to far-right extremists but couldn't rule it out

A caravan filled with explosives and a note with the addresses of Jewish people was found at a property (pictured) in Sydney's north-west

The couple had posted on Facebook last month seeking a caravan.

On December 6, Farrugia tagged Marshall, in a post that read: 'Looking for a caravan for sale hit me up if U have one cheers'.

Their arrests were made in relation to separate incidents, not over the caravan - and as of Thursday morning neither Farrugia nor Marshall have been charged.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing.

The caravan's owner is in police custody, having previously been arrested over other alleged offences.

'In relation to the specific offences related to the caravan, we have people charged on the periphery of that investigation. Inquiries are ongoing in relation to their involvement with the caravan or not,' Dep Comm Hudson said.

An officer involved in the operation has told The Daily Telegraph, 'some things just don't add up'.

'Leaving notes and addresses are too obvious, likewise leaving it on a public road makes us believe it could well possibly be a set up.'

Dep Comm Hudson confirmed police were considering that possibility.

'That is a consideration we are looking into as well. It is not unusual for certain elements of the criminal fraternity to try and seek assistance by disclosing certain weapons or explosives to police seeking assistance.'

The couple arrested on the 'periphery' of the attack had posted on Facebook just last month asking to buy a caravan

Police are still looking for help from the public in their investigation, particularly from anyone who saw the caravan parked 'in a hazardous position' by the side of Derriwong Road, Dural, between December 7 and January 19.

Police are yet to confirm if the plot is linked to Islamic terrorists, far-right extremists or any other group, local or foreign.

'We don't have any particular ideology in relation to what's causing this or any common links between certain ideologies, but nothing's excluded at this stage,' Dep Comm Hudson said.

'We pursue everything until we get to the truth, and we will do that.

'That caravan contained an amount of explosives and some indication that those explosives might be used in some form of anti-Semitic attack.

'We're taking this seriously and all lines of inquiry are being pursued, but I want to stress we do not believe there is an ongoing threat from this discovery.'

A counter-terrorism investigation is currently underway concerning a caravan filled with explosives found at a Dural property earlier this month

It's understood the resident who reported the van to police was concerned that it posed a safety risk to passing cars due to how close it was to the road.

Believing it had been abandoned, the man towed the caravan onto his property before discovering its contents.

Police have since seized the caravan.

The discovery of the caravan and subsequent investigation was not made public for 10 days.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was briefed on January 20 and the information was kept 'clandestine' strictly for operational purposes, allowing police to stay a step ahead of suspects.

'Sometimes the police work behind the scenes,' Mr Minns told Sky News.

'Now I don't want the public to believe that anyone was twiddling their thumbs over the last 10 days - the exact opposite is the case.

'But the police judgment in this case, I believe needs to be backed. We need politics for one side and let the police get on with the job.'

It was easy for some politicians to demand the information be released immediately, especially with the federal election looming, Mr Minns said.

'I would just urge everybody to let NSW Police conduct these investigations,' he said.

'The stakes couldn't be higher. Politics can wait for another day.

'I want the public to rest assured that, firstly, the caravan is in police custody.

'Secondly, as has been reported in the media, the owner of the van is in police custody as well, and inquiries continue and nothing will stop until NSW Police have arrested those who are responsible for this.'

Police found a load of explosives in the van along with a note containing the addresses of Jewish targets and a synagogue. Pictured are police at the semi-rural property

Police believe the threat stemming from the dumped van has been contained.

'We will not rest until these matters are resolved,' Dep Comm Hudson said.

'We understand the concerns of the community. We understand the concerns of the Jewish community, and we take all these threats exceptionally seriously.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has 'unequivocally' condemned the act.

'It's clearly designed to harm people, but it's also designed to create fear in the community, and that is a very definition,' the prime minister told ABC Radio Sydney.

The incident comes after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, with a childcare centre near a synagogue in the city's east set alight and sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti on January 21.

NSW Premier Chris Minns addressed the media on Wednesday night after a caravan stacked with explosives along with a note of known Jewish targets was found at a semi-rural property

Four days before, a house that formerly belonged to Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was targeted in an arson and graffiti attack.

Two men have been charged over a separate attack on a synagogue in Newtown after it was spray-painted with red swastikas and briefly set alight in the early hours of January 11.

Federal police have identified that foreign actors recruiting local 'criminals for hire' could be behind some of the attacks targeting Jewish communities.

Cars have been set alight, a synagogue burnt down and anti-Semitic slurs painted on buildings and cars in attacks that have escalated in frequency and severity since December.

NSW Police is now working in partnership with AFP, the NSW Crime Commission and ASIO in its ongoing investigation
The Florida teenager accused of brutally murdering his mother showed zero emotion as the court heard exactly how his mother died.

Collin Griffith, 17, allegedly killed his mother Catherine Griffith, 39, who was found knifed in the neck at a home in Auburndale, Florida on September 8, 2024.

On Wednesday, Collin's trial kicked off as he was seen dressed in a plaid button down and suit jacket with a blank stare on his face while prosecutor Mark Levine detailed how he 'viscously and savagely' murdered his mom that horrid day.

'It was a Sunday evening, September 8th of last year in Auburndale, Florida. And it was at that time that the defendant viscously and savagely unleashed his full fury and hatred toward his mother upon her,' Levine said in his opening statement to jurors.

'When he stabbed her with such force, that the knife went shooting through her neck, through her neck muscles, through her esophagus, through her trachea, through her thyroid cartilage, and shot out the other side of her neck.'

The prosecutor added that after Catherine was stabbed, she 'began to bleed, and bleed profusely through the huge gash in her neck.'

While she bled out, her son 'watched' as 'the blood and the life drained from her body,' he added.

Levine also referenced a disturbing conversation Collin had with his paternal grandfather leading up to his mother's death, telling the court that 'this was exactly what the defendant meant to do.'

Collin Griffith, 17, sat emotionless in court on Wednesday as his trial kicked off. He's been accused of killing his mother, Catherine Griffith, 39, at a home in Auburndale, Florida on September 8, 2024

During court, prosecutor Mark Levine detailed how he 'viscously and savagely' murdered his mom that horrid afternoon. (Pictured: Catherine and Collin)

'More than anything else, I want to slit her throat and feel her bleed out, and feel the life leave her body. That's how much I hate her,' Collin told his grandfather, according to Levine.

Collin sat next to his defense team, Amy Thornhill and Howard Dimmig, who, along with Levine, described the problematic family dynamic that plagued the mother and son prior to her death.

Just a year before, Catherine had bailed her son out of jail for fatally shooting his father, Charles Griffith, 43, on Valentine's Day in 2023 - an act he claimed was self defense.

Levine said that while Catherine tried to 'make up for lost time' with her son - who moved from Oklahoma to her home in Florida - the pair started to clash.

Levine insisted that the mother and son's relationship worsened leading up to her final day as Catherine gave her son several 'ultimatums' in exchange for him to complete household chores.

At one point, he read a text that Catherine sent to her son between 12pm and 12.29pm the day she died.

In the message, Catherine appeared to threaten her son with information she had about the death of his father, telling him that she would pass it along 'all because you didn't help me mount a bookshelf.'

'Collin, the recordings of you admitting to killing [your father] and planning the murder, there are four different instances from my Ring camera, are all going to Bob, Susie, Amanda, and Chris at 3 p.m. today,' Catherine wrote to Collin.

While she bled out, her son 'watched' as 'the blood and the life drained from her body,' he added. (Pictured: Collin during his indictment hearing)

Just a year before, Catherine had bailed her son out of jail for fatally shooting his father, Charles Griffith, 43, on Valentine's Day in 2023, in an act he claimed was self defense. (Pictured: Charles and Catherine)

'Plus the recovered audio from Chucks iCloud where you told your dad you hated me and I was an evil b**** are being sent too. My dad is sending me his recordings of you telling him how you planned my murder back in February.  All because you didnt want to help me mount a bookshelf.'

In November 2023, Collin and Catherine got into a verbal altercation that quickly grew physical, as the teen 'attacked' and 'stomped' his mother, Levine said.

Collin was arrested and taken to jail, but was released the following day.

When Collin's attorney, Thornhill, approached the stand, she told a very different story, alleging that Catherine caused a lot of the issues between her and her son.

She said: 'Cathy has threatened or done harm to other people,' including Collin.

His lawyer also noted that the late mother often instigated arguments, struggled with a drinking and pill problem and was estranged from her family.

Thornhill also mentioned that Catherine owned a gun and told her son to use it on her.

In November 2023, Collin and Catherine got into a verbal altercation that quickly grew physical, as the teen 'attacked' and 'stomped' his mother, Levine said

Collin previously told police that his mother handed him the weapon and an envelope filled with 'all the important papers you need if I'm gone,' Thornhill said.

Catherine then pointed the firearm at her son and stated 'she was either going to shoot him or herself or both,' before handing the gun to Collin, telling him 'just shoot me.'

At the time, Collin reported the incident to school administrators, who then contacted police.

Catherine went on to deny the allegations, and according to Thornhill, the police believed her and not Collin.

His attorney also insisted that Collin repeatedly said that he didn't feel safe around his mom.

Following the November 2023 domestic violence incident, Collin said that he would go back to live with his mother but would make sure that he defended himself if he needed to, Thornhill stated.

He even said that he would rather be placed in foster care than live with his mother, who he told police he was 'scared' of, she added.

During the physical dispute, Thornhill said that Catherine repeatedly hit her son in the face, which led to him going into a 'wrestling move', striking her back.

When Collin's attorney, Thornhill, approached the stand, she told a very different story, alleging that Catherine caused a lot of the issues between her and her son

After he was taken to jail following the incident, Thornhill said that police 'forced' Collin to ride home with his mother even after Catherine made him so 'marches with weights above his head,' police body cam footage revealed, according to Law & Crime.

She went on to reveal that both Collin and Catherine had been 'Baker Acted' - a state law that allows individuals to be involuntarily committed if they are a threat to the public or themselves.

Six months after his father's death Collin was back in custody under Florida's Baker Act after threatening to kill himself, and to stab or shoot his mother.

'All is not well at home, clearly,' Thornhill said.

Collin initially told police that his mother 'fell' on the weapon, but the teen has since been charged with her murder.

Witnesses reported seeing Griffith dragging his mom out of the house by her hair two hours earlier and a medical examiner found she had been stabbed  twice  in the neck.

The late mother's social media posts often appeared to reference her familial turmoil, but in one heartbreaking post she vowed to 'live life to the fullest.' (Pictured: Catherine and Collin)

The late mother's social media posts often appeared to reference her familial turmoil, but in one heartbreaking post she vowed to 'live life to the fullest.'

'This last year has been a whirlwind of life events and memories,' she wrote a day after her birthday.

'I am thankful that no matter what I encounter or experience- I have family, friends and a community of people who are here to support me, even on the days when I have not been the best me.

'Thank you to everyone who has helped me see that life is an adventure worth living and fighting for everyday. Life lessons are just those- lessons.

'Ive learned some of the hardest lessons in my 30s but Im vowing that my 39th year will be a year of living life to its fullest.'

Another cryptic post made just days before her murder featured lyrics from the Taylor Swift song, 'It's Time to Go.'

'That old familiar body ache, The snaps from the same little breaks in your soul. You know when its time to goSometimes, givin up is the strong thing,' she posted alongside a scenic picture of a boardwalk.

Other posts appear to show the mom-and-son as a picture-perfect family, enjoying cruise vacations and trips to Disney and Universal Studios.

While in May, she gifted the teen a brand new $26,000 2024 VW Jetta as an early graduation present.

'I love you and am so proud of you!' she gushed under a picture of him posing on the hood.

Despite Catherine paying $50,000 to bail her son out of jail after his father's death, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said: 'When I look at him [Collin] I see a psychopath.'

Collin claimed that his father had pulled a knife on him before chasing and cornering him at the remote farmstead in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, on Valentine's Day 2023.

But prosecutors 'could not disprove Colin's assertion of self-defense' and was released after his mother posted bond.
Hundreds of prisoners including violent and dangerous thugs are set to be freed early in a shameful betrayal of victims.

The Scottish Government said the mass release would take place next month in a bid to ease pressure on crowded jails.

A new law means short-term prisoners will be let out after serving only 40 per cent of their sentences - down from 50 per cent.

Up to 390 will be freed in three tranches over six weeks - starting in less than three weeks time - despite warnings over the potentially dire repercussions for public safety.

Opposition politicians and victims campaigners launched a furious attack on SNP ministers, warning that victims are simply not being listened to.

Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: The imminent introduction of the SNPs reckless early release scheme is confirmation of their latest shameful betrayal of victims.

SNP ministers railroaded these plans through parliament without a second thought about the risks it would pose to public safety.

They are displaying a stunning lack of common sense, given the public expect prisoners to serve their sentences in full.

Scotland's justice Secretary Angela Constance said there will be a sustained reduction in prisoner numbers

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act was passed by Holyrood in November.

It will change the release point for those serving prison sentences of less than four years from 50 per cent of their sentence to 40 per cent.

Those convicted of domestic abuse or sexual offences will not be released early under the changes.

The first prisoners will be freed from February 18, ending on March 20.

Ministers said they expect the change to bring about a 5 per cent reduction in the sentenced prison population.

The law will make an immediate and longer-term difference to the number of people in jail.

An estimated 260-390 short-term prisoners who have served 40 per cent of their sentence will be released by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

The change comes amid warnings from prison bosses of critical challenges as a result of the rising numbers of inmates.

First Minister John Swinney said last year that prisons were absolutely bursting at the seams with more than 8,300 people behind bars - above the target operating capacity of 8,007.

Some 477 convicts were freed during an early release programme last summer in a bid to ease overcrowding.

Fifty-seven of these went on to reoffend and were later put back behind bars.

Last night, Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland (VSS), said no improvements have been made to the Victim Notification Scheme - the main mechanism intended to inform victims.

She added: The last time prisoners were released early, only 2 per cent of victims were notified.

People can check if they are affected by contacting VSS and giving their explicit consent for VSS to access this information on their behalf.

VSS is concerned that if the number of victims contacted is not increased this time, it will have a profoundly damaging impact on victim confidence and trust in the justice system - their voices are simply not being listened to.

Lib Dem justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: For years, the Government was warned that overcrowding in the prison system was a disaster waiting to happen and failed to act.

Early release for some offenders seemed to be the only realistic option.

Up to 390 prisoners will be freed in three tranches over six weeks

However, Scottish ministers have given themselves the power to release prisoners early, limit scrutiny and prevent prison governors blocking certain criminals from being released.

As we warned in the earlier debate in parliament, thats a risky combination for public safety.

In November last year, Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), launched an unprecedented broadside against the SNP Governments bid to tackle prison overcrowding by stepping up the early release of inmates.

He said it was another challenge dumped on the doorstep of the already critically overstretched police service which would spark an increase in crime.

Mr Hay said: There has been a lot of discussion about the efficacy of prison but for a lot of communities jail provides much-needed respite from repeat offenders.

In terms of protecting the public from career criminals, prisons are 100 per cent effective.

The Mail revealed last year that the latest round of early releases is set to land taxpayers with a bill of up to 2million.

The draft legislation published showed the cost of processing the mass release is estimated at nearly 500,000.

Another chunk of public cash is earmarked for a legal services team to notify victims.

There will also be pressure on housing as councils try to find accommodation as the prisoners are freed in February.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the new measures will result in a sustained reduction in prisoner numbers.

She said: The prison population has significantly grown in recent years and I recognise that the impact is being felt in prisons and across the justice system.

While not a complete solution, this Act will bring sustained reduction to prisoner numbers so the prison estate can continue to function effectively.

We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce reoffending and integration back into the community.

That is why this Act is backed by both the Prison Officers Association and the Prison Governors Association.

Ms Constance said she absolutely recognises the release of prisoners can cause distress for victims of crime, and that changing the release point for short-term prisoners has the potential to raise questions and cause concern.

She added: That is why we will continue to work closely with victim support organisations to ensure that accessible information is available to victims on the change to the release point for short-term prisoners.
A Missouri woman is accused of going on a terrifying multi-state murder spree targeting her former lovers.

Taylor Santiago, 31, turned herself in to police on Wednesday after allegedly murdering her ex-husband Troy Huffman in Aurora, Missouri, before driving to her estranged lover's home in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and opening fire again.

At the second home in Arkansas, police say Santiago shot the father of her child, Nathan Green, who is expected to survive, and murdered his girlfriend Sophia Williams, a mother-of-five.

Williams' loved ones told Ozarks First that she had called them on the day of the murders to celebrate being awarded custody of the child Green shared with Santiago.

Authorities believe the custody battle may have been what set off the spree, and say Santiago was motivated by looking to take revenge on her ex-lovers.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Santiago returned to Aurora, Missouri after driving to Arkansas for the second shooting and turned herself in to police.

She is facing charges of first-degree murder, robbery, and unlawful use of a weapon, alongside a charge of endangering the welfare of a child as both shootings were reportedly witnessed by the victim's young children.

Taylor Santiago, 31, allegedly murdered her ex-husband in Aurora, Missouri on Wednesday before driving to her estranged lover's home in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and opening fire again

Santiago is accused of luring her ex-husband Troy Huffman (pictured) to her home on the promise of seeing their child, before allegedly shooting him dead and stealing his car to drive to the second shooting

In the second shooting, Santiago allegedly shot her ex-lover Nathan Green, who survived, and killed his girlfriend Sophia Williams (pictured together)

A detective with the Aurora-Marionville Police Department told the News Tribune that Santiago's alleged spree began when she 'decided' to kill her ex-husband and estranged lover while she was getting coffee at a Casey's General Store on the night of the shootings.

She allegedly invited Huffman to her home 'under the pretenses' of seeing their 12-year-old child, with the intention of killing him.

When Huffman arrived, Santiago allegedly told their child to cover his ears because 'she was going to take care of the bad guys', the affidavit states.

The affidavit says Santiago later confessed to Huffman's murder, saying that she shot him several times as he was still standing when she first opened fire.

She allegedly then dragged his body out of the entrance to her home, stole his keys and took his car roughly 50 miles to Green's home in Aurora, Arkansas - leaving one of her children alone in the home with Huffman's body.

Cops said Santiago then shot Green and his girlfriend Sophia, with Sophia's family saying she was gunned down trying to protect Green's child, while several other children reportedly witnessed the tragedy.

When she turned herself in, Santiago reportedly told officers that she had killed three people, after apparently mistakenly believing she had killed Green.

He was raced to hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive.

Williams, a mother-of-five, was described as a 'wonderful person' by her family, who said she died trying to protect one of Green's children

Williams reportedly told her family the day of the shootings that she and Green won custody of a child he shared with Santiago, with police saying custody battles Santiago was fighting with both exes may have been the motive

Police Chief Wes Coatney told KY3 the killings were likely motivated by child custody battles Santiago was fighting with both of her exes.

Williams' family said they have been left heartbroken by her death, as her sister Calista Abernathy said she had spoken to her just hours before she was shot dead.

'When we were talking, she had just told me that her and Nathan had been awarded custody for Nathans daughter,' she told Ozarks First.

'She had told me that before, they had got recent documents and everything and when they went to court date with their newfound evidence, thats when the judge granted them the custody that they were wanting.'

Abernathy, who set up a GoFundMe to help Williams' five children, described Santiago as a 'monster' and said she hopes prosecutors go for the death penalty if she is convicted.

Williams' sister Calista Abernathy described Santiago as a 'monster' and said she hopes prosecutors go for the death penalty if she is convicted

'I think she deserves the death penalty. She took lives. She left children without parents. She doesnt deserve to breathe, to eat. She deserves none of that. She deserves to be where she needs to be,' Abernathy said.

'Im very angry. Im very angry when I hear [Santiagos] name because she took a wonderful person from all of us. Sophia was an amazing mother, has five children, and she loved her children so much.

'My sister loves saving anybody and kids. She was so good. My sister literally died from saving a child.'

Abernathy said she is hoping to meet with lawyers next week to push for a 'Sophie's Law', a policy she said would shield addresses in hostile custody cases as she believes court documents allowed Santiago to track her alleged victims down.

'Im definitely looking into making a Sophias Law to where when these custody issues happen, those addresses are off those court papers because if those addresses were not on those court papers, that woman would not have known where my sister was at,' she said.

'That is something Im definitely looking to push forward, so no other family has to go through this type of tragedy again, because this was uncalled for.'
The Met Office has revealed snow is on the way for some parts of the UK with temperatures set to plummet to -5C tonight.

The forecaster has issued 12-hour yellow ice warnings until 10am on Thursday for parts of Northern Ireland and northern Scotland, while a slight covering of snow is 'possible' in areas mainly above 200m.

Forecasters have warned the wintry showers could lead to a risk of icy patches on untreated roads.

People have been urged to allow extra time for their journeys and have been warned there may be further serious travel disruption ahead.

Overnight saw temperatures plunge to -5C in rural parts of Scotland, with the mercury set to fall to -4C in Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

It comes after Storm Eowyn battered the country last week, claiming one life north of the border and leaving more than 130,000 people without power.

Meanwhile, southern England has now been hit by 60mph gusts and heavy rain as Storm Ivo struck the coast - the third named storm to impact Britain in just six days.

The storm, which was named in Portugal, saw torrential downpours pushing in from the South West this morning before spreading east along to Kent.

Tonight temperatures could plunge to -5C in rural parts of Scotland, with the mercury set to fall to -4C in Cumbria and North Yorkshire

Snow (shown in grey) is forecast to fall in some areas of Scotland

The forecaster issued 12-hour yellow ice warnings at 9.30am for parts of Northern Ireland and northern Scotland

Sheep in a snowy field near Princetown in Dartmoor on January 8 2025

A walker in the snow in Slade Valley, Co. Dublin, Ireland -- January 9, 2025

The strongest gusts were expected in Cornwall, reaching 57mph at St Just. with Devon tipped for 48mph at Salcombe and Dorset 34mph at Weymouth.

Britain was hit at the start of this week by Storm Herminia, named in Spain. This followed 114mph Storm Eowyn, named by the Met Office, which struck the UK and Ireland last Friday and caused two deaths and widespread travel chaos.

On Wednesday morning, 387 SP Energy Networks customers were still off supply, 303 of them in the Dumfries and Galloway region, and engineers were working to reconnect them.

The high winds, with gusts of up to 100mph, caused significant damage including to infrastructure on the rail network, which led to many route closures.

The line between Girvan in South Ayrshire and Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway was the only route still shut on Wednesday while Network Rail Scotland engineers were working to repair damage.

ScotRail said replacement buses were operating between Ayr and Stranraer and advised people to check the train company's app before travelling.

The yellow alert which came into force on Wednesday evening warns that icy patches may lead to some travel disruption on Thursday morning, and a risk of injury from slips and falls.

It covers the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, the Western Isles and part of Argyll and Bute.

A motorist drives along a flooded country lane in Dunsden, Oxfordshire on January 29

Damage caused by Storm Eowyn last Friday at Culzean Country Park in South Ayrshire, in a picture released today by National Trust for Scotland

A photo released today of damage caused by Storm Eowyn at Cragside in Northumberland after Storm Eowyn ripped out more than 10,000 trees from National Trust properties

A fallen tree at Holmwood near Glasgow following strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn last Friday, in a photograph released by National Trust for Scotland today

The weather warnings in place last Friday during Storm Eowyn included a red 'danger to life' alert between 10am and 5pm, which covered the central belt and Dumfries and Galloway and stretched north on the west coast to Jura in Argyll and Bute.

Calum Carmichael, 19, from New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, died after his car was hit by a falling tree in nearby Mauchline at about 6.45am on Friday before the red weather warning came into force.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and died on Saturday, police said.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has praised the 'remarkable progress' made by energy companies to restore electricity supplies to those who lost power during the storm.

Speaking on Tuesday at Holyrood about the storm and the recovery operations afterwards, she said: 'This has been and continues to be an extremely complex and protracted incident - every business, home and individual was affected by an amber or red weather warning.'

She thanked those who had followed the advice to stay at home, saying by doing so 'people have prevented further loss of life'.

But Ms Constance said: 'No amount of warning could prevent significant damage and destruction from a storm of this scale.'

Heavy rain and strong winds were forecast throughout today along the south coast of England

However, most parts of the UK are expected to be drier and brighter from Thursday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Almond said: 'Most areas will be dry with sunny spells on Thursday, although there's the risk of some freezing fog patches at first.

'Cloud, outbreaks of rain and hill snow will spread to the northwest by the end of the day, and Friday will see a cloudy day in the south, with some sunshine further north, before the next band of cloud and rain arrives in the northwest later.

'Overall though, rainfall amounts will be lower than of late.'
Sir Sadiq Khan has been blasted for spending more than 2million of taxpayers' money on a 'woke waste' scheme to make London's public art more diverse.

The Labour mayor set up his Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, just days after protesters toppled a statue of slave-trader Edward Colston in Bristol.

It was meant to 'enrich the public realm' by making statues, murals and memorials more representative of the capital's population.

But now it has emerged that the project has so far cost a staggering 2,138,888.

The sum, revealed by The Spectator in a Freedom of Information response, includes 1,156,417 on grants for local community projects.

The Greater London Authority said the 'Untold Stories' fund has funded 398 new artworks, trails and events in public spaces.

Projects include 159 'plaques, QR codes and information boards' including a tribute to anti-slavery campaigner Olaudah Equiano on Tottenham Court Road and five Rainbow Plaques 'marking people, places, culture and significant moments in London's LGBTQIA+ histories'.

The cash also contributed towards a 'sound installation to highlight stories from working-class women' on the Olympic Park and 'walk of fame' stars in the pavement to celebrate migrant workers in Cricklewood.

Sir Sadiq Khan (pictured) has been blasted for spending more than 2million of taxpayers' money on a ' woke waste' scheme to make London 's public art more diverse

Projects include 159 'plaques, QR codes and information boards' including a tribute to anti-slavery campaigner Olaudah Equiano (pictured) on Tottenham Court Road

Pictured: Protesters throw the statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally

Last night, Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers' Alliance, told The Mail: 'Londoners have had enough of the Mayor racking up the taxpayer-funded credit card with endless amounts of woke waste.

'Sadiq Khan claims to stand up for the capital yet its clear as day that he's more interested in an ideological crusade that sweeps away the city's extraordinary historical legacy.

'Instead of studying statues the Mayor should focus on tackling the knife crime crisis destroying lives across London.'

Sir Sadiq is also under fire over the tickets he accepted to see Taylor Swift last summer.

The Londoner revealed yesterday that the company who gave him the freebie, LS Events, has won 44.7million of business from City Hall in the past three years.

A spokesman insisted Sir Sadiq is 'not involved in the tendering of contracts, which follow full and open processes' and that all gifts are 'declared openly and transparently'.

He is being investigated by the GLA's monitoring officer to see if he 'exercised an appropriate level of caution' in deciding to accept six tickets worth about 3,000 for the US superstar's Wembley gig.

Plans also include five Rainbow Plaques 'marking people, places, culture and significant moments in London's LGBTQIA+ histories'. Pictured: A similar one in York

The Greater London Authority said the 'Untold Stories' fund has funded 398 new artworks, trails and events in public spaces (stock photo of the London skyline)

Former Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall said: 'Another day, another massive waste of money from London's Mayor. Taxpayers want the basics sorted.

'More police, safer streets - not more woke statues. Maybe Sir Sadiq wants a statue of himself?'

A spokesman for the Mayor said: 'The Commission has supported 70 community-led projects across 24 boroughs, including memorials, artworks and commemorations, as well as provided funding to London's first HIV/AIDS permanent memorial and the Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery.

'This work has helped to increase representation of women, disabled people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and LGBTQI+ figures in the capital, as we build a fairer London for everyone.'
Former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking part in a bribery scheme that netted him gold bars, thousands in cash, a luxury car and more.

The plan, which involved the ex-senator's wife Nadine and multiple businessmen, saw the Democrat handing out favors for those who could pay his price.

Formerly the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez, 71, in July was found guilty on all 16 felony counts he faced for crimes related to the illegal favors he doled out.

He was bribed by New Jersey businessmen and did the bidding of Egypt and Qatar, U.S. federal prosecutors claimed.

It is the first time a senator has been found guilty of acting as a 'foreign agent.'

Menendez, an influential Democratic senator from New Jersey for nearly two decades before resigning in disgrace in August 2024, reportedly began crying at the hearing.

'Your honor, You have before you a chastened man,' said the tearful Democrat who just months ago was roaming the halls of Congress.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at federal court in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025

Gold bars recovered by the FBI at Menendez's home

Fred Daibes, a New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying bribes to former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, arrives to federal court, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in New York

'I have dedicated my entire life to the service of others,' he continued. 'I am far from a perfect man, but I believe in my half century of public service I have done more good than bad.'

But Manhattan federal judge Sidney Stein wasn't buying the waterworks, the New York Post reported.

'Somewhere along the way you became, I'm sorry to say, a corrupt politician,' Stein told the former senator.

Menendez used his high-profile position to help one man negotiate a contract with Egyptian officials, the federal attorneys argued.

And he used his to quash a New Jersey state investigation into another accomplice's state insurance fraud case, they said.

During a June 2022 FBI raid of his Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home authorities discovered 13 gold bars and close to $500,000 in cash stuffed in coats and shoes and stored in safes and closets.

At his trial the Democrat's older sister claimed storing thousands of dollars of valuables haphazardly around the house was a 'Cuban thing.'

His defense also attempted to note the 71-year-old hordes money because his family's experience with Communism in Cuba before immigrating to the U.S., though Menendez himself was born in New York after his family had already arrived.

Nadine will be charged in a separate trial

Cash was found in envelopes inside a jacket with the senator's name on it

A Mercedes Menendez and his wife received in the widespread bribery plot

In addition to the cash and gold prosecutors also alleged that Nadine Menendez's Mercedes-Benz was also a bribe.

Two of the New Jersey businessmen indicted alongside the Menendezes, Wael 'Will' Hana - a halal meat mogul - and Fred Daibes - a real estate developer - also were sentenced on Wednesday.

Jose Uribe, a former insurance broker, pleaded guilty in the case earlier this year and since has testified that he bribed the Menendezes.

'I agreed with Nadine Menendez and other people to provide a car for Nadine in order to get the power and influence of Mr. Menendez,' Uribe told the court.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that federal employees who don't show up to work in their offices next month will be fired.

He also said some may have to prove they don't work a second job, threatening employees with two gigs with dismissal.

'We have informed the federal workforce,' he said during the signing of the Laken Riley Act at the White House, 'that if they're working for the federal government, they must show up to the office on time and on schedule.'

'If they don't agree by February 6 to show up back to work in their office, they will be terminated,' he added.

Trump noted he expects some downsizing of the federal work force as a result of his order.

'We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient,' he said.

His latest threat is part of his continuing effort to purge and downsize the federal government.

President Donald Trump said federal workers who aren't back in the office by February 6th will be fired from the civil service

As a sweetner to his return-to-the-office order, up to two million federal workers will be offered buyouts if they don't want to return to the office.

The Trump administration started sending emails to thousands of federal workers Tuesday evening, offering them a chance to voluntarily vacate their government posts while remaining on the payroll for months.

The email was linked to Trump's executive order demanding federal employees return to the office.

A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management said the employees who accept the terms were being offered the chance to go on administrative leave through Sept. 30 at full pay.

The email said that the last date to accept the offer is Feb. 6, and that employees could do so simply by sending an email from their government account with the word 'resign' in the subject line.

It comes as many federal employees eye leaving their jobs amid Trump's takeover in Washington, D.C.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded reporters gathered in the White House driveway Wednesday morning that only six percent of federal workers in Washington, DC work full time in the office.

'This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work. If they don't then they have the option to resign and this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months,' Leavitt said.

'This government has been wasting millions of dollars on empty office space that is beautiful, I mean look at the beautiful buildings in this city. They're gorgeous, they've been here for decades.'

The newly created Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, reminded federal workers that if they took the buyout, they would receive full benefits and pay for eight months.

'Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits, the department wrote on social media, sharing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walks over to speak with reporters at the White House,

Democrats and a powerful union called it an effort to try to dupe employees  or pressure them to leave to make way for Trump loyalists.

The American Federation of Government Employees union blasted the offer in a statement by president Everett Kelley.

'The number of civil servants hasn't meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services. Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,' said Kelley.

'This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.'

Additionally, Trump is pushing ahead with his plan to make it easier to fire federal employees, blasting past roadblocks Joe Biden put in his path and giving agencies just 90 days to respond to his order.

Trump tried to purge the federal work force in his first term but ran out of time. Now the Office of Personnel Management announced a rebranded effort as part of Trump's war on the government.

The OPM memo outlined a new designation for federal employees called: 'Schedule Career/Policy.' It is what Trump called 'Schedule F' when he pushed this plan in his first term.

And the heads of federal agencies are given 90 days - until April 20th - to review all the positions in their agency to find those that fit into the 'policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.'

The OPM memo specifically orders employees who 'are not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition' to be reviewed - those are employees who usually have broad protections from being fired or suspended.

It could impact hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

It is the latest step in Trump's greater plan to purge the federal government of those who disagree with his agenda.

Trump wants to have the power to easily fire federal workers, which has brought fears he will fire career employees who have different political ideologies.

The OPM memo, however, says Schedule Policy/Career positions 'are not required to personally or politically support the current president or the policies of the current administration.'

But they are expected to be loyal to the Trump administration.

'They are required to faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability, consistent with their constitutional oath and the vesting of executive authority solely in the president,' the memo states. 'Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal.'

Already Trump has targeted federal employees who don't agree with him. On Monday, he has suspended dozens of government officials for trying to circumvent his executive order on freezing all foreign aid.

He also fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies in a Friday night purge. His executive order terminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has sidelined 395 government bureaucrats.

And he's worked on clearing out Justice Department staff who worked with special counsel Jack Smith, who led the prosecutions against him.

Trump has long argued there is a 'deep state' at work in the bowels of the federal government, blaming it for his many woes in his first administration.

Donald Trump has enacted a series of orders against the government since he came into the White House last week

Then-President Joe Biden tried to put protections in place for federal workers

In 2020, during the final weeks of his first term, Trump issued an executive order creating a new class of federal workers known as Schedule F.

Those staffers would be exempt from the country's traditional merit-based civil service program. And opponents argued it was an attempt to hire and fire people based on their political loyalty.

Joe Biden, when he came into office in January 2021, rescinded that order.

Then-President Biden then took it one step further last spring, when he issued a new rule that strengthens existing rights for career federal workers by making it clear that civil service protections cannot be taken away from employees unless they give them up voluntarily.

In other words, Biden tried to make it nearly impossible for Trump to classify current federal employees under a Schedule F type order.

But Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell, in the OPM memo, argues President Trump has the constitutional authority to unilaterally rescind regulations governing federal personnel issues.

'President Trump used his authority under the Constitution and [Title 5 of the U.S. Code] to directly nullify these regulations,' Ezell wrote.

'Section 4 of [the order] provides that, until OPM effectuates their formal rescission '[these regulations] shall be held inoperative and without effect.' This presidential directive immediately superseded OPM regulations issued using delegated presidential authority.'

And he sees the new Trump order applying to a lot of federal workers.

Ezell wrote that agencies should consider 'rescheduling' positions involved in:

Directing the work of an organizational unit

Being held accountable for the success of one or more specific programs or projects

Substantive participation and discretionary authority in agency grantmaking including 'evaluation of grant applications

Those publicly advocating for the policies of the agency or the administration, including before the news media or on social media

Currently, federal employees are entitled to notice of a removal, an opportunity to reply, representation by an attorney and a written decision. They can also appeal the removal to the Merit Systems Protection Board or file a grievance under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

And two unions, The American Federation of Government Employees and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, filed lawsuit against the order, saying it improperly attempted to block the Biden administration rule shielding federal workers.
Business leaders yesterday warned that Labour policies have put a handbrake on its ambitions to grow the economy - as Tesco became the latest big employer to slash jobs.

As Rachel Reeves set out plans to boost growth, Britains biggest supermarket chain said it was cutting 400 roles at its bakeries, stores and head office.

One prominent boss said the Chancellor hasnt a clue about growth while another said her new approach represented words rather than actions.

For many firms - and their workers - the Chancellors plans are too little too late.

The number of high street jobs at risk has hit more than 10,000 amid a meltdown in the retail sector partly fuelled by the Chancellors 25billion employer National Insurance raid.

In the past week, fashion chain Quiz - which employs 1,500 - has warned it could collapse while WHSmiths high street business, employing 5,000, is up for sale. Sainsburys is cutting 3,000 jobs and Morrisons 200. And cookware firm Lakeland is up for sale, putting 1,000 jobs at risk.

Businesses warned last year that the NI hike would result in price hikes, job losses and store closures but the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Business leaders have warned that Labour policies have put a handbrake on its ambitions to grow the economy (pictured: Rachel Reeves)

Businesses warned last year that the NI hike would result in price hikes, job losses and store closures but the pleas have fallen on deaf ears (pictured: City of London)

They are also facing pressure caused by the rise in the national minimum wage and a raft of new workers rights being introduced by the government.

Meanwhile the Chancellor faced the fury of Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary who wants the government to scrap air passenger duty rather than waffle on about Heathrow.

The UK continues to lose out on enormous growth opportunities because you have a Chancellor who hasnt a clue about how to deliver growth, has had five years to get ready for it, and yet has managed to screw it up in her first budget, Mr OLeary said yesterday.

Stephen Phipson, chief executive of manufacturing body Make UK, said the Chancellors rhetoric was upbeat, forceful and positive.

But he added: There is a clear contradiction between implementing laudable measures such as planning reform and infrastructure investment while, at the same time, applying a handbrake through measures which will inevitably reduce investment and freeze recruitment.

Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies, a think-tank, said: The Chancellors support for growth comes off the back of a Budget that has done a huge amount to damage it.

The Chancellor said she wanted to make Britain the best place in the world to be an entrepreneur - yet her own tax decisions have made that impossible.

And in terms of damaging regulation, the Governments own impact assessment confirms that its new union-friendly rules on workplace regulation will hit businesses with billions in further costs.

In the past week, fashion chain Quiz - which employs 1,500 - has warned it could collapse while WH Smiths high street business, employing 5,000, is up for sale

Your browser does not support iframes.

Tom Beahon, the British entrepreneur behind the Castore sportswear brand, said businesses in the UK were currently suffering the highest tax burden in history.

He told the BBC: I cannot remember a time where Ive been speaking to fellow entrepreneurs, fellow business leaders where theres been as much pessimism as there is at the moment and there has been for the last seven months.

While the Chancellors new focus on growth was welcome, he added: It still very much feels like we are at the stage of hearing words rather than actions.

And Mr Beahon contrasted the UK governments approach unfavourably with the flurry of policy announcements in the first few days of Donald Trumps new administration in the US.

In the UK, weve got a government thats been in place over seven months and have now decided in the last couple of days that maybe we need to start thinking and talking about growth.

It does start with clarity of vision and leadership, and it certainly feels as an entrepreneur thats what weve been lacking.
The King intervened over the renaming of HMS Agincourt to avoid offending the French, it was claimed last night.

Charles reportedly vetoed the name  originally approved by Queen Elizabeth II  of the Royal Navy submarine which is now called HMS Achilles.

His Majesty was reportedly concerned that naming the sub after the 1415 battle would humiliate the French over their historic defeat.

The King is said to have made his intervention over the name of the 1.5million vessel last year, The Daily Express reported.

A source told the newspaper: The King personally stepped in and made it clear the name had to be changed because he didnt want to upset the French.

HMS Agincourt, an Astute-class hunter-killer submarine, was originally announced by then-defence secretary Sir Gavin Williamson in 2018.

It would have been the sixth Royal Navy vessel to have been named after one of Englands greatest military victories.

Sources suggested that Achilles was considered more appropriate than Agincourt, which was a land battle, and stressed that an Achilles previously fought at Trafalgar, another battle with the French.

Charles reportedly vetoed the name  originally approved by Queen Elizabeth II  of the Royal Navy submarine which is now called HMS Achilles (file image)

King Charles (pictured at Sandringham last week) is said to have made his intervention over the name of the 1.5million vessel last year,

Former Tory defence secretaries quickly weighed in when the decision was announced with Sir Gavin describing the decision as pathetic.

He said: It is so pathetic that the Government is so ashamed of our history that they are literally renaming it.

Next they will probably want to rename HMS Queen Elizabeth for fear the Spaniards might be upset about the Armada.

Grant Shapps, a fellow former defence secretary, said: Renaming the HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege.

This submarine carries a name that honours a defining moment in British history.

Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our Armed Forces proud heritage.

Another former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio that the French would not have been offended by the name.

He added: Were very close to the French. The French are one of our strongest allies. They dont get put off by names like that.

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace (pictured) told Times Radio that the French would not have been offended by the name

The Prime Ministers official spokesman would not comment on why the name had been dropped

I mean, that shows a very pathetic grasp of foreign policy and relationships.

Despite the decision initially being blamed on woke Navy chiefs, Charles  who commanded a minesweeper in his Navy service from 1971 to 1976  is said to have intervened.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

The Royal Navy declined to say why the nuclear-powered submarines original name had been changed.

A spokesman said: We are proud of our nations rich military history and the many famous battles fought.

The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called Achilles  a name which is particularly appropriate this year as we mark the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries.

The name was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and confirmed by the Palace.

Downing Street aides refused to be drawn on why the name had been dropped.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman would not comment on why the name had been dropped, saying: The name was proposed by the Names and Badging Committee and approved by His Majesty the King. I obviously cant get into any more detail on that.

The monarch  as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces  would have the final approval of any name after the Defence Secretary signs it off.
Rachel Reeves has insisted that she does want to cut immigration despite planning to give out more visas to foreign workers.

The Chancellor was put on the spot yesterday after a shock projection that new arrivals will add another 5million to Britains population over the next decade, taking it to 72.5million.

She was asked if she is committed to the Governments goal of reducing net migration, which Downing Street said was staggeringly high, even if it damages her drive for economic growth.

Ms Reeves replied that the crucial figure would be reduced but added that she also wants to allow more skilled overseas workers to move here. At the World Economic Forum last week she said the Government would review visa routes for experts in areas such as AI and life sciences.

We will reduce net migration, but taking back control means having more of a say of who comes into this country, she told reporters after her major speech in Oxford.

Thats why I announced in Davos last week that we are looking at visa routes for some of the most highly skilled and talented people.

Because I want them to see what I see in Britain, which is the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

Rachel Reeves was put on the spot yesterday after a shock projection that new arrivals will add another 5million to Britains population over the next decade, taking it to 72.5million

Ms Reeves was asked if she is committed to the Governments goal of reducing net migration, which Downing Street said was staggeringly high, even if it damages her drive for economic growth

So we want to attract that talent, but absolutely weve made that commitment to bring net migration down.

Sir Keir Starmer was also challenged yesterday about the new population projection by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), after Downing Street said he would not put an annual cap on immigration.

During Prime Ministers Questions he was told by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell: The Prime Minister should know that my constituents in Romford are shocked, angry and dismayed by the suggestion by the ONS that the population of this country will rise to 72.5million by 2032, thats 500,000 people a year, which is unsustainable.

Who voted for that? And will the Government do something to ensure that the population of this country is sustainable going forward, because there is no mandate for such a colossal increase in immigration in this country?

But the Prime Minister shot back: I think he should talk to his leader, because net migration went through the roof under the last government, nearly one million quadrupled, and who was cheering it on? Who was cheering it on? The Leader of the Opposition.

His constituents are right to be concerned about the loss of control by the last government, were taking control, we will bring these numbers down, but the record is absolutely clear, and it sits right there.

Tomorrow the Government will set out details of its plan to tackle illegal migration with the publication of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Under previously announced proposals the newly established Border Security Command will gain counter-terror powers to disrupt gangs organising Channel crossings, including banning suspected people-smugglers from using mobile phones or laptops.

Migrants board a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel near Dunkirk, Northern France, in April last year

Last night it emerged that border guards who work at Britains busiest airport are considering fresh strike action, risking lengthy queues at passport control for passengers.

More than 500 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union based at Heathrow will be balloted for industrial action next month in a long-running dispute over shift patterns.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Mail: Labours approach to growth is as dishonest as Reevess CV and doesnt stack up with the facts.

Theyve no evidence this will work, and all it will do is hand Labour the power they want to demand endless visas for anyone and everyone, once again propping open the floodgates for an influx of immigration.

Labour has already paused Tory plans to cut immigration by increasing the minimum income for migrants wanting to bring spouses to the UK to 38,700.
A Democratic strategist has warned American women they soon won't have blueberries 'for their smoothies' in a bizarre rant about President Donald Trump's ongoing deportation scheme targeting illegal immigrants.

Jenna Arnold told CNN that the migrant raids will soon begin impacting the food chain, because so many roles in the industry have been occupied by immigrants.

'I can't wait until American women can't get blueberries for their smoothies,' the activist and Democrat political strategist said.

Arnold added that roles like 'picking strawberries' are usually filled by migrants.

'I cannot wait until there is a full crackdown on all small businesses, as if that's going to be the solution to the immigration problem,' she said.

'It is just going to put immigration-related issues further into the darker corners. We're not going to see them. It's just going to become even harder to solve the problem.

'It doesn't make sense to punish individuals and people when there is a broken system.'

An estimated 40 per cent of the American agricultural workforce are undocumented, according to Atmos Earth.

Jenna Arnold told CNN that the migrant raids will soon begin impacting the food chain, because so many roles in the industry have been occupied by immigrants

Trump has dispatched thousands of ICE officers to the border to carry out the 'biggest illegal immigrant grab' in recent history

Trump campaigned on a promise to carry out mass deportations and strengthen the US border, and his first act on inauguration day was to declare a national emergency.

Since then, Trump has dispatched thousands of ICE officers to the border to carry out the 'biggest illegal immigrant grab' in recent history.

Agents are preparing to take '100,000 immigrants' back to Mexico and Central America, a White House intelligence source told DailyMail.com.

Around 1,500 active duty troops were deployed to the nearly 2,000-mile border this week, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California. They have been joined with what has been described as a 'mile long line of DHS trucks and CBP'.

Immigration arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, according to ICE, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Wednesday that 7,300 illegal aliens had been deported.

'In the first week of the Trump Administration, we have fulfilled President Trump's promise to the American people to arrest and deport violent criminals illegally in the country,' the department said.

'In one week, law enforcement officials have removed and returned 7,300 illegal aliens.'

Trump campaigned on a promise to carry out mass deportations and strengthen the US border, and his first act on inauguration day was to declare a national emergency

Immigration arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, according to ICE, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Wednesday that 7,300 illegal aliens had been deported

ICE officers are particularly targeting properties across the country in sanctuary cities like New York.

Sanctuary cities have become a haven for migrants who flock to them in the knowledge that officials there limit cooperation with federal immigration agents.

The president has since said he 'might have to consider' pulling funding to sanctuary cities, which include the likes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Scared undocumented migrants have reportedly been hunkering down since Trump took office for the second time last week, failing to turn up for work or church as usual out of fear they'll be targeted.
Rachel Reeves opened up a deep split at the heart of Labour last night as she gambled on expanding Heathrow Airport to revive her flagging growth plans.

The Chancellor publicly backed controversial plans for a third runway at Britains biggest airport as she vowed to fight the blockers holding back the economy.

The PM and Chancellor faced criticism last year after their gloomy warnings on the economy were blamed for shattering business and consumer confidence.

Ms Reeves yesterday insisted she was optimistic about Britains economic prospects. But she refused to rule out a fresh round of tax rises and spending cuts in March if the public finances continue to deteriorate.

Within minutes of the Chancellor backing Heathrow, Londons Labour mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the proposal, saying it would be impossible to deliver without a hugely damaging impact on our environment'.

Sir Sadiq, who backed a previous legal challenge to the plans, said he remained opposed to the project because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

Last night he insisted he was as pro-growth as anybody in Labour but warned he would use use any tool in the toolkit to stop a third runway happening.

Green entrepreneur Dale Vince, whose 5 million donation to Labour makes him one of the partys biggest backers, described the Chancellors announcement as a mistake which would wipe out the governments attempts to hit climate targets.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves backed a range of projects designed to kick-start activity in a keynote speech

The Chancellor publicly backed controversial plans for a third runway at Britains biggest airport as she vowed to fight the blockers holding back the economy (file image)

An artist's impression of how the Heathrow site could look after expansion

Sir Sadiq Khan, who backed a previous legal challenge to the plans, said he remained opposed to the project because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets

Its the wrong kind of growth, he said.

We can have growth but we shouldnt try to get it in these ways that increase our carbon emissions.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband, who previously threatened to resign in protest at Heathrow expansion, is said to have backed down rather than lose his Cabinet job.

But he snubbed the Chancellors speech yesterday and later failed to turn up for Prime Ministers questions in the Commons.

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary yesterday claimed the the new runway could take decades to build and urged her to scrap air passenger duty rather than waffle on about Heathrow expansion, which said would not happen before the 2040s.

Mr OLeary said: 'The third runway at Heathrow is a dead cat.

'If it ever arrives, it will be about 2040, 2045 or 2050, in fact long after Ive departed from Ryanair.

'It will not deliver any growth. The thing that will deliver growth is abolishing APD.'

Ms Reeves has come under intense pressure in recent weeks over the collapse in economic growth since the election.

Protests against airport expansion were taking place outside Rachel Reeves' speech

In a major speech yesterday she listed a string of measures designed to revive the economy in the wake of her record tax-raising Budget in October, including tearing up the planning rules so that developers can stop worrying about the bats and the newts.

But she rejected calls to reverse her 25 billion National Insurance raid and drop Labours controversial Employment Rights Bill, which firms have warned could cost thousands of jobs and send growth into reverse.

In the Commons, Kemi Badenoch branded the legislation the "Unemployment Bill", telling Keir Starmer: This Bill is terrible for business, but it is great employment for lawyers... he needs to stop being a lawyer and start being a leader. This is another measure in the Bill that fails his growth test..

The Tory leader, who backs Heathrow expansion, said many of the projects announced by the Chancellor were welcome but would take years to deliver.

She added: When the Conservatives left office, we had the fastest economic growth in the G7, but what are the Government doing for growth now? They are destroying it.'

But Sir Keir defended the workers rights legislation, claiming it would be good for working people and good for the economy.

Sir Keir defended the workers rights legislation, claiming it would be good for working people and good for the economy'

Ms Reeves yesterday revealed she has asked Heathrow Airport to come forward with new plans for a third runway by the summer, reopening one of Labours bitterest internal divides

In a wide-ranging speech in Oxfordshire, the Chancellor:

Admitted the Budget raid on National Insurance had consequences for business and beyond but insisted the alternative would have worse

Said that a pragmatic reset of relations with the EU was vital to growth

Insisted there was no trade off between her growth plans and Mr Milibands controversial Net Zero crusade

Backed a series of major projects, including the refurbishment of Old Trafford, the reopening of Doncaster Airport, a new crossing over the Thames and the creation of Europes Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge

Pledged fundamental reform of the benefits system as ministers admitted the government is on course to break the annual welfare cap by 8.6 billion this year

Ms Reeves yesterday revealed she has asked Heathrow Airport to come forward with new plans for a third runway by the summer, reopening one of Labours bitterest internal divides.

Seven members of the cabinet, including Sir Keir and Mr Miliband, voted against a third runway when it was last debated by parliament in 2018.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander also opposed the plans when she served as Sir Sadiqs deputy mayor in London.

When running for the Labour leadership in 2020, Sir Keir said: I dont think we can go on saying something is good for the economy but bad for the environment. If its bad for the environment then its bad for the economy.

But yesterday he said there was more to do on growth, adding: Were supporting a third runway at Heathrow.

Ms Reeves said the development of sustainable aviation fuels had changed the equation on airport expansion, which the Government is also considering at Gatwick and Luton.

And she said Heathrows status as the UKs only hub airport meant expansion was essential, adding: By backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

Making the case for radical reforms, she said: Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight, without a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our countrys future for the better.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband, who previously threatened to resign in protest at Heathrow expansion, is said to have backed down rather than lose his Cabinet job

She added: We are systematically, one by one, removing the barriers that held back our growth performance for too long.

Heathrow Airport, which has been trying to build a third runway for more than 20 years, welcomed the Chancellors backing but has warned the project will take at least a decade to deliver.

In a statement, chief executive Thomas Woldbye said further policy change would be needed to make the project viable, including airspace modernisation to enable the number of annual flights to increase from 480,000 to 720,000.

He said the airport would work with ministers in a bid to get planning permission by the end of this parliament, with construction then taking a further seven years.Labours former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the project would require the demolition of 4,000 homes in his Hayes and Harlington constituency.

Mr McDonnell questioned why so many ministers, such as the PM, had undergone a Damascene conversion on a project which he said would deliver little in the way of growth.

This is such a huge political, economic and especially environmental mistake that sadly I fear it will inflict an irreparable scale of damage on the government, he said.

Environmental groups also condemned the plans. Friends of the Earths head of campaigns, Rosie Downes, warned it was a reckless gamble.
A couple have been arrested on what police describe as the 'periphery' of a suspected anti-Semitic terror plot - after a caravan was found loaded with explosives.

For 12 days the caravan was left beside a property in Dural in northwest Sydney before a resident reported it.

The discovery inside the caravan of explosives that could have created a 40-metre-wide blast sparked a multi-agency probe into a suspected terror plot.

Police believe the incident could be linked to other anti-Semitic attacks in recent weeks, and said it had the potential to become a mass casualty event targeting the Jewish community.

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog here for coverage on the anti-Semitic terror plot.
Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s doctor friend has shared why he believes the controversial Republican should be confirmed as America's next Health Secretary.

Donald Trump's choice of health tsar was grilled by senators at his confirmation hearing to become health tsar on Wednesday, where he was pressed about his views on vaccines, Medicaid and fast food.

As lawmakers decide whether to approve the 71-year-old for the top health role, his cardiologist friend Dr Aseem Malhotra spoke with DailyMail.com's Welcome to MAGAland podcast.

RFK Jr's confirmation is uncertain thanks to his controversial views on major health issues, such as spreading the false claim that vaccines can cause autism.

But British doctor Malhotra, who himself rose to fame through his controversial views about the Covid-19 vaccinations, has explained why he thinks RFK Jr, who he knows as Bobby, is the right man for the job.

'Every conversation I've had with Bobby and there's been a lot of conversations and I've read a lot of what he's written and what he said, I think a lot of these comments are probably very much taken out of context,' he told Welcome to MAGAland.

'I think they are deliberately designed to smear him, coming up from mainstream media. But what I would say, listen, no one's perfect.

'And if Bobby has said something, which is maybe an exaggerated claim, he'd be the first person to listen to the contrary view and to really evaluate it and then make a more nuanced decision about what he thinks.

British cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra (pictured right with RFK Jr) has spoken with DailyMail.com's Welcome to MAGAland podcast amid RFK Jr's confirmation hearings

RFK Jr faced an avalanche of questions at during his confirmation hearing to become health secretary on Wednesday

'And that's why we need someone like him, to be heading the HHS.'

'I've worked in health policy in the UK for many years in different, areas,' Malhotra added.

'I've met lots of politicians. I've met lots of healthcare leaders, and got, the essence of them as individuals.

'No one in my view comes close to Bobby Kennedy in terms of someone that genuinely cares about the community and public health, not personal interest.'

At the confirmation hearing on Wednesday, RFK Jr revealed one of the major points of disagreements he has with Trump.

Despite coming from a Democrat dynasty, he repeatedly told the hearing he would follow Trump's lead on policies such as abortion, saying: 'I serve at the pleasure of the President.'

But the cracks in their relationship began to show when RFK Jr was quizzed by Bernie Sanders about climate change and its effects on people's health.

Sanders stated that he believes climate change is real and is a health care issue, but 'Donald Trump thinks it is a hoax [that originated in] in China', before turning it to RFK Jr and asking if he stands with the president on the matter.

Senator Bernie Sanders questioned RFK Jr if he believed climate change was real, asking if the nominee stands on President Donald Trump's side. The senator said he believes it is a healthcare issue

British doctor Malhotra, who rose to fame through his controversial views about the Covid-19 jabs, has explained why he thinks RFK Jr, who he knows as Bobby, is the right man for the job

The 'hoax' statement referenced a 2012 tweet by Trump that said: 'The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.'

RFK Jr quickly answered, saying: 'President Trump and I, from our first meeting, agreed to disagree on that issue. I believe climate change is existential. My job is to make Americans healthy again.'

Trump had criticized RFK Jr's views on climate change as the two went head to head on the campaign trail in April, saying he was 'a big fan of the Green New Scam, and other economy killing disasters.'

For the latest White House gossip and news, listen to the Daily Mail's new politics podcast, Welcome to MAGAland. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and President Donald Trump have settled a lawsuit filed by the president in 2021 after the company suspended his social media accounts after the January 6th riots on Capitol Hill.

Meta has agreed to pay roughly $25 million to settle the lawsuit, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported that Trump signed the settlement agreement on Wednesday.

Of the $25 million settlement, $22 million will go to a fund for Trump's presidential library and the rest will be used to pay legal fees and plaintiffs on the case.

Mark Zuckerberg and Trump reportedly spoke about the lawsuit in November as the tech mogul sought to rekindle his relationship with Trump during a trip to Mar-a-Lago for dinner.

He later returned to Mar-a-Lago in January to settle the lawsuit with Trump's lawyers.

The settlement is one more example of how Zuckerberg is rapidly trying to repair his relationship with Trump after he won the 2024 presidential election.

In 2021, Zuckerberg defended the decision to ban Trump from Facebook and Instagram after the January 6th riots, after the president continued protesting the validity of the 2020 election.

'We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great,' Zuckerberg said in a post announcing the ban of Trump at the time.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg makes a keynote speech at the Meta Connect annual event

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta

The tech billionaire first flattered Trump after he was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024 on the campaign trail.

'On a personal note, seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most bada** things I've ever seen in my life,' he said at the time.

On January 7, Zuckerberg announced he would end its fact-checking program in favor of a community-based verification system.

Zuckerberg also conceded in an subsequent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan that he made a mistake by censoring and banning speech on the Meta company platforms.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House

Meta and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (C) and his wife Priscilla Chan (L) arrive to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump

'I feel like in retrospect I deferred too much to the kind of critique of the media on what we should do,' he said. 'And since then, I think generally trust in media has fallen off a cliff, right?'

Trump has defended his meetings and relationships with tech billionaires, making the case that it's part of his effort to make the country better economically.

'I want to get ideas from them,' he told CNBC anchor Jim Cramer during an interview in December. 'Look, we want them to do well. We want everybody, and we want great jobs, fantastic salaries.'

The settlement is the latest of many Trump contentious lawsuits against media and social media organizations that have been settled rather than sent to court.

ABC News also agreed to settle a defamation lawsuit by paying $15 million toward Trump's presidential library after anchor George Stephanopoulos said that Trump had been found civilly liable for rape.
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley's Australia Day speech, in which she likened the First Fleet's arrival to Elon Musk's mission to colonise Mars, has been slammed for overlooking a significant difference.

Ms Ley addressed the St Matthew's Australia Day mass in Albury on Sunday and told the congregation that British settlers did not seek to 'destroy or pillage' what they found on the continent but set about the daring task of founding a new society.

'In what could be compared to Elon Musk's Space X's efforts to build a new colony on Mars, men in boats arrived on the edge of the known world to embark on that new experiment,' Ms Ley said.

'And just like astronauts arriving on Mars those first settlers would be confronted with a different and strange world, full of danger, adventure and potential.'

Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour in 1788.

Unlike future astronauts arriving on Mars, the British fleet was not arriving at an unoccupied frontier, but at a continent that was already populated - something Ms Ley omitted from her description.

For many Aboriginal people, Australia Day is therefore regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning', with protests being held in every major city each year.

Sussan Ley's (pictured) Australia Day speech, in which she compared the First Fleet's arrival to Elon Musk 's mission to colonise Mars , has been slammed for something it completely failed to mention

'In what could be compared to Elon Musk's (pictured) Space X's efforts to build a new colony on Mars, men in boats arrived on the edge of the known world to embark on that new experiment,' Ms Ley said

Ms Ley's comments raised more than a few eyebrows in many quarters, with Anthony Albanese branding it 'very strange'.

'There arent people that we know of in Mars,' the Prime Minister said.

When asked about the issue by the ABC, Treasurer Jim Chalmers laughed, claiming he 'can't focus on mad stuff that Sussan Ley says'.

A prominent commentator pointed out that not once in Ms Ley's 1,114-word speech did she mention the words 'Indigenous', 'Aboriginal' or 'First Nations'.

John Paul Janke, co-host of NITVs flagship program The Point, said that it 'seems that our nation's story  the story of "us"  during that Sunday Australian Day morning mass doesnt warrant including First Nations history or people'.

'Leys "national story" about our national day fails to mention that this continents history or story stretched thousands of generations before 1788 or the 1770 arrival of Captain Cook...', Mr Janke wrote.

Mr Janke pointed out that the first people to be called 'Australians' were actually Aboriginals.

'It was the English navigator Matthew Flinders who used the term in March 1802 and again in November 1802 to describe the Aboriginal people he saw,' he wrote.

Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales , Arthur Phillip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove (pictured: celebrations at Wavebreak Island on the Gold Coast)

But, for many Indigenous people and younger Australians, it is regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning', with protests being held in every major city each year (pictured: marchers during an Invasion Day rally in Sydney)

'Ley knows her language matters. Her silence also matters,' he wrote.

On Monday, a spokesperson for Ms Ley defended her speech.

'It is not surprising to see Anthony Albanese lacks the imagination to understand the significance of Australias founding story,' the spokesperson told The Guardian.

'This is the problem when you have a prime minister who was an activist at university instead of a student  he may see Australias founding as an invasion story, but I do not.'

Ms Ley has led a petition to force her local Albury Council on the NSW/Victoria border to restore citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

This publication previously revealed that a staggering 154 councils did not hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day this year.

Responding to Daily Mail Australia's audit of the country's 500-odd councils, Ms Ley promised that the Coalition would reinstate the old rule for councils if elected.

'It is time to end the division on Australia Day and it is time for councils to get back in their lane,' she said.

'An elected Coalition government will reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, this will be done in the first 100 days.

'It will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country  a move for Australia and Australians to be united, not divided; to stand up for what we believe in.'
The Coalition has vowed to begin building nuclear power plants on 'day one' if they are elected.

Peter Dutton has long promised to build seven nuclear reactors across Australia at an estimated cost of over $300 billion if he can oust Labor from power.

The Opposition Leader has claimed the power plants will work alongside renewables to stop blackouts and reduce electricity bills.

But critics have warned the cost of converting to nuclear will blow out to more than double at $600 billion, ultimately slugging Aussie households with higher bills.

But Nationals leader David Littleproud has doubled down on the Coalition's commitment to begin building power plants immediately if elected.

'We'll start building the first nuclear power plant, the very first day after a coalition government's elected,' Mr Littleproud told Sky News.

'We'll get on with the job. The time for talks are over.

'We have to get on with this so that we can have AI, we can have fast rail, we can have smelters in this country, and one where regional Australia has a future, not littered with transmission lines and solar panels and wind turbines.'

Nationals leader David Littleproud (pictured) has doubled down on the Coalition's commitment to begin building power plants immediately if elected

Mr Littleproud, who would be Deputy Prime Minister if the Coalition win this year's federal election, which must be held by May 17, said that their position was that 'we should not put all our energy eggs in one basket'.

'We're all for renewables, but we want to balance and get that balance right,' he said.

'We should transition some of those coal-fired power stations across to nuclear power plants, but we'll need a lot of gas in the short term.'

The Nationals leader said it was 'insanity' to rely solely on renewables because transmission lines, solar panels and wind turbines would impact food security.

'We've got sovereignty of all our resources, we should use all of our resources, not just some,' he added.

Mr Littleproud has previously sought to reassure voters about the safety of the proposed nuclear power plants.

'This is safe technology ... we're not talking about 1950s technology from Russia nor letting the Russians run it,' he told reporters last year.

'We're not putting them where a tsunami is going to take place.'

Critics have warned the cost of converting to nuclear will blow out to more than double at $600 billion, ultimately slugging Aussie households with higher bills (pictured: an artist's impression of a small modular reactor)

The latter was a reference to the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011 where an earthquake and tsunami damaged a nuclear power plant, with the fall out resulting in 51 deaths.

Mr Littleproud claimed that nuclear energy would provide over 30 per cent of the power to the grid.

However, the Smart Energy Council claims it will only amount to 3.7 per cent of Australia's energy mix by 2050.

Both sides of politics support a goal of net zero by 2050.

However, Labor's plan is for renewable energy to comprise 82 per cent of Australia's energy generation by 2030, rising to 98 per cent by 2040 based on solar and wind.

Whereas, the Coalition sees nuclear making up 38 per cent of Australia's electricity generation by that time, with solar and wind energy making up 49 per cent of the mix and gas, pumped hydro and storage the rest.

The Coalition's plan was modelled by Frontier Economics, which costed Labor's energy transition at $594billion, versus $331billion for the Coalition's nuclear plan - marking a difference of $263billion.
WHEN Carole Middleton walked into Westminster Abbey alongside Lady Gabriella Windsor last month for her daughter Kates Together at Christmas carol service, fashion pundits immediately recognised her white Max Mara coat.

The Princess of Wales had worn the 580 coat nine years earlier, when she visited the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing Portsmouth Old Town, in December, 2015.

But it was not the first time that Carole - who celebrates her 70th birthday on January 31 - has swapped clothes with her daughters Kate and Pippa.

In fact, the trio are cut from the same cloth as the late Queen Elizabeth II, who regularly recycled her wardrobe and shared outfits with her sister Princess Margaret.

Although the Queen was one of the richest women in the world, she grew up during World War II and came from the Silent Generation, which was notoriously thrifty.

She used to pass on her hand-me-downs to senior staff, some of whom sold them through dress agencies - they were caught out when a TV mini-series bought some for an actress who was playing the Queen.

Later, the two sisters, who were both petite - though at 5ft 1in Margaret was 2in shorter - were often snapped in the same clothes. While the Queen tended to co-ordinate her outfits, Margaret was more flamboyant.

The Queen wore an emerald green Hardy Amies coat and matching hat to visit RAF Finningley, in Yorkshire, during her 1977 Jubilee tour, then Princess Margaret teamed the same coat with a white hat to commemorate VE day in May, 1995.

The Princess of Wales had worn the 580 Max Mara coat nine years earlier, when she visited the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing Portsmouth Old Town, in December, 2015

The late Queen was famous for being frugal and you would often see Princess Margaret wearing her sister's clothes, especially for royal events

Princess Margaret wore the same coat for Trooping The Colour nearly two decades later

Again, Elizabeth co-ordinated her orange Hardy Amies coat and hat when she visited the Houses on Parliament on May 4, 1977, while Margaret chose an ostentatious white creation for Trooping the Colour in June, 1995.

Although Carole was born after the war, she is from the Baby Boomer Generation, she has taught her daughters to be conscious of the cost of living.

She, Kate and Pippa regularly swap clothes - she even loaned her wedding dress to her future daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet when she married son James Middleton in 2021.

While talking about dresses with Carole and sharing ideas during lockdown for inspiration, I tried on her wedding dress and fell in love with it, the French financial analyst said afterwards.

It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once, so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life.

It was on March 19, 2012, after being appointed patron of East Anglias Childrens Hospices, that the Middleton family proclivity to sharing clothes emerged.

When she formally opened The Treehouse, a hospice in Ipswich, and made her first public speech, Kate wore a 139 blue Reiss Trina dress, which Carole had worn to Ascot, on June 19, 2010.

Alizee Thevenet wore Carole's beautiful wedding dress for her wedding to James Middleton, keeping the sharing policy

Catherine has since recycled the 139 Reiss Trina dress in an online video, which she posted on the Kensington Royal Instagram in 2020

Chelsea Flower Show was the third time we saw this dress when Princess Kate met some visiting school children in 2023

The former Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in a blue Jenny Packham gown and the Robinson Pelham pagoda earrings were perfect for the whole ice blue look

Kate and Pippa Middleton are extremely close, so sharing the same dress is perfectly natural for them

She has since recycled the dress, shown in an online video she posted on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, on November 26, 2020, in which she made a landmark Early Years Speech.

Two years later, the mother and daughter wore the same 450 shocking-pink dress by celebrity favourite Me+Em.

Kate first wore it to meet cancer leukaemia sufferer Mila Sneddon, who captured her heart during lockdown. The couple met at Hollywood House, in May, 2021, and both agreed to wear pink dresses.

Since then, Carole wore the dress to Royal Ascot in June, 2022, while Kate chose it for her appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 22, 2023.

However, its not just dresses that Carole shares with her daughter: both she and Kate have been snapped in a pair of Robinson Pelham pagoda earrings worth a staggering 14,300.

Carole wore the white gold earrings, which are set with blue topaz and diamonds to the evening reception after William and Kates wedding in April, 2011.

Then Kate wore them to meet James Bond stars Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci at the premiere of Spectre in October 2015.

Even Pippa has got in on the act: both she and Kate have been spotted in a white Issa dress, Kate watching Andy Murray at Wimbledon in, 2008, and Pippa, three years later, while shopping in London in September 2011.
Having the Princess of Wales wearing a piece of her fabulous vintage jewellery would have been a honour on any day of the week for Susan Caplan.

But the fact that she chose to wear a piece from a Jewish-owned brand to an event on Monday marking Holocaust Memorial Day, when the world was commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Berkenau, left her in tears.

Susan, who set up her eponymous brand in 2008 and is one of the worlds leading curators of vintage jewellery, told the Mail that it had been a monumental occasion.

It was so significant for her to wear my brand on such an important day. My heart was warmed, she said, speaking from her London headquarters.

I am Jewish and it was just so meaningful for us from that point of view. My emotions yesterday were so high.

While her husband had long been due to attend the event at Londons Guildhall, organised by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the princess appearance was only announced at the last minute.

It is understood that she was keen to pay her respects and to be reunited with Holocaust Survivors Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein, whom she previously photographed as part of a project to mark 75 years since the end of the Nazi genocide.

Deeply emotional images of her hugging them went round the world, with Steven later describing her as a such a darling.

The Princess of Wales wearing Susan Caplan's 275 vintage pearl necklace as she lights a candle during a ceremony commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day

Catherine was also seen wearing the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings which the Royals increasingly wear to the more solemn occasions

Susan Caplan set up her eponymous brand in 2008 and is one of the worlds leading curators of vintage jewellery

Princess Diana attended the wedding of Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones to Daniel Chatto wearing a similar four-string pearl choker which became one of her favourites

Many also focused on the princess impeccably elegant and low-key black outfit, which was artfully completed with an eye-catching five-string pearl necklace.

While some instantly assumed it was a priceless piece from the Royal Collection, a fair guess given how popular pearls are amongst royal women, it was actually sourced from the Susan Caplan website.

Pearls have been a firm royal favourite over the ages, from Queen Elizabeth I, whose portraits frequently show her in the gems, to more modern day royals such as Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who would drape herself from head to toe in them.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Diana were also huge fans and their favourite pieces have now been handed down to a new generation.

However Catherines necklace was, notably, not some priceless heirloom.

Instead it was a vintage faux pearl necklace, which although unbranded, was, Susan says, produced in the 1980s with materials of impeccable quality compared to those used today.

It was listed for 275 and is a rhodium-plated five row pearl strand necklace featuring luminous faux pearls in graduating sizes with a Swarovski crystal clasp.

Susan has worked in the industry for 45 years, starting out at car boot and table top sales before being stocked in major leading department stores.

Imelda Staunton who played the late Queen wearing a three-string pearl necklace in Netflix's award winning show, The Crown

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother often wore a three-strand pearl necklace (pictured in 1986)

A five-strand pearl necklace was given as a birthday present to Princess Margaret by her grandmother Queen Mary on the occasion of her 18th birthday in 1948

Queen Elizabeth II always loved pearls. She owned many different pearl necklaces that ranged from one single strand, up to six strands

She founded her own brand almost 20 years ago, focusing on pieces from the 1950s right up to the 1990s, capitalising on the booming fashion trend for pre-loved.

Her pieces, which she sources from around the world, have graced the likes of everyone from Kate Moss to Adele and Beyonce, and also featured in the latter episodes of The Crown on the characters of Princess Diana, The Queen and The Queen Mother.

Susan, who says she adores the Royal Family and praises the King in particular for his life-long championing of inter-faith dialogue, praises the way Catherine mixes priceless royal antique and charming vintage pieces with modern day, inexpensive high street finds.

She does it so effortlessly and carries them all so well, she says.

Susan had been babysitting her grandchildren and didnt realise that Catherine was wearing the necklace until she turned on the television on Monday evening to catch up on the Kings appearance at the Auschwitz commemorations in Poland.

I turned the TV on and on came Princess Catherinewith the necklace. I just had all these beautiful emotions that she had worn that piece, on this day. It was so incredibly touching, she said.

I really dont think I can over-emphasise the significance of her wearing that necklace on such a poignant day. Its just so monumental, not just for me but for the whole of the Jewish community and other minorities that lost their lives during that time.

Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, would frequently drape herself from head to toe in pearls

Catherine's necklace was listed for 275 and is a rhodium-plated five row pearl strand necklace featuring luminous faux pearls in graduating sizes with a Swarovski crystal clasp

Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret attend a charity concert at St James's Palace wearing beautiful pearl necklaces

Although she is admirably discreet about her royal links, the necklace was sourced by Catherine stylists.

I did expect her to wear it at some point but seeing it at that particular event meant so much, she says, still clearly touched.

I felt so emotional that day listening to the headlines, seeing the coverage in the papers when stopped get some petrolthis year, of all years, the Holocaust commemorations have felt more poignant than ever before.

The way Catherine was with all the survivors, hugging them with such tenderness and warmth and empathy, was just beautiful.

Of the necklace, which is currently out of stock but is expected to return to the website soon, Susan said the interest has been overwhelming.

It was a 1980s faux pearl graduated necklace, unbranded and never worn. We have sold many over the years, they are always very popular. But overnight demand has spiked, she said.

Customers have been in touch asking for them, or anything with pearls in them as a result. This particular necklace is out of stock at the moment but we are expecting more in.

Similar vintage faux pearl necklaces can cost anything from 55 up to 300 depending on the era, quality and condition.

We have always sold pearls, says Susan.

I always laugh when the fashionistas say pearls are back on trend because they always have been, with us!

People have been so positive and we have received so many wonderful comments.

The Princess outfit was a perfect example of pared down dressing to suit the occasion and set off her necklace beautifully. I really do feel so proud.
Reform leader Nigel Farage sarcastically dismissed Harry and Meghan as 'wonderboy and wondergirl' for quitting royal duties and moving America while at a Buckingham Palace reception today.

He was invited to the royal residence along with more than 300 new MPs and peers for a 'welcome' reception.

He did not speak to the King or Queen because he has met them multiple times before and said he wanted to let other MPs make the most of the occasion.

He joked: 'Also if I see him I know some of the exchanges will be interesting because we have disagreed in the past over a few things.'

Laughing, he went on to explain that he was the only person not to give the King a standing ovation after he gave a speech at the European Parliament.

'We've had a laugh about it ever since. It's not nasty,' he said.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh spoke to Mr Farage separately, however, and when Edward introduced himself, he said: 'I had a very very good chat with your wife.'

'Oh right,' the King's brother responded before the politician told him: 'You are working jolly hard.'

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice speaking to the Duchess of Edinburgh during a reception hosted by King Charles

King Charles III and Queen Camilla pictured with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

The Duchess of Edinburgh speaking to Tessa Munt during a reception hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Speaking afterwards, the Reform politician - who attended a similar reception when he was first elected as an MEP in 1999 - heaped praise on the Edinburghs for doing so many royal engagements.

'They are charming, they do a lot of heavy lifting because there's one or two gaps out there. It's been a difficult few years,' he said.

'Wonderboy and wondergirl disappear off to America, the Queen dies, the King's not been well, Andrew's not in the public eye, Princess Anne is 74, so they are doing a lot of the heavy lifting and I think doing it very well,' he said in typically unabashed style.

Chatting to her owner, Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling who is registered blind, the King said 'these wonderful dogs' as he scratched Jennie on the head and asked: 'She knows her way round the house does she?'

The MP for Torbay replied 'she knows the best place to go for sausages,' prompting the King to point and laugh.

He then asked: 'Is the food there not too bad?'

'For her it's her favourite,' Mr Darling said.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been the patron of Guide Dogs since 2021, also made a beeline for the dog and told her: 'I'm your patron.'

King Charles shakes hands with Kemi Badenoch during a reception for members of Parliament newly elected in the 2024 election

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Richard Tice speak with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sir Keir Starmer shakes hands with King Charles at the reception on Wednesday

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Richard Tice speak with Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

The July 2024 election saw a record number of new MPs enter Westminster, with 335 newcomers - beating the previous record of 327 in the 1945 election.

A further 15 people returned to Parliament after a period of absence, bringing the total number of newly elected to 350.

Their Majesties also welcomed peers who have been appointed to the House of Lords following their coronation in May 2023.

The hundreds of guests were hosted in the lavish State Ballroom and were also joined the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The King and Queen were greeted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, before they started to chat to the MPs enjoying the free-flowing champagne.

Several politicians were impressed by His Majesty's knowledge of their constituencies, with the MPs for Barrow-in-Furness and Derby South chatting with him about the new 9bn submarine deal.

Deirdre Costigan, MP for Ealing Southall, said she was impressed that the King knew her constituency was sometimes known as Little India and had a big Sikh community.

'He talked about his love of curries,' she said and told her he likes them 'not too strong'.

Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, added: 'He is impeccably polite and knows a lot about every constituency.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Richard Tice speak to the Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Nigel Farage and Reform UK Deputy leader Richard Tice speaking to the Duke of Edinburgh during a reception hosted by King Charles

King Charles with Lib Dem MP Steve Darling and his guide dog Jennie

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Reform UK Deputy leader Richard Tice speak to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

'He's got an incredible encyclopedic knowledge of every area of the UK.'

Asked if they spoke about Rochdale, he said: 'Yes, I mentioned that it was the home of the Co-op [supermarket] and I said I hope he shopped at the Co-op and he burst out laughing.

'I took that as a yes.'

While the King slowly made his way around the room for over an hour, Camilla stayed in one corner while MPs and peers queued to speak to her.

She enjoyed an animated chat with former PM Theresa May, who was made Baroness May of Maidenhead by Rishi Sunak in July last year and has worked with her on the issue of domestic violence.

Scores of MPs crowded around the King, and he appeared amused when one MP from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, known for its medieval chess set, handed him a queen from a set.

Charles took the chess piece and placed it in his pocket.

Melanie Ward, who until her election as Labour MP was CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians, praised the King for mentioning the Middle East.
A realtor in Oregon has shared a property trend that he says is quickly replacing what most home buyers have come to expect when shopping for real estate.

Alec Cornejo, a licensed realtor with Keller William Realty Portland Central, shared a TikTok video of a quaint bungalow earlier this month, re-introducing his followers to the idea of a closed-concept home.

In the clip, which has received four million views, Cornejo walked users through the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, 'where you don't have to stare at the kitchen sink from the couch.'

Once considered the standard, closed concept homes went our of style in recent years, as open-concept properties began appealing to buyers, making them feel like they live in a larger space.

According to the realtor, the closed concept kitchen is more appealing to many who prefer to hide out from the pile of dirty dishes in their sinks and 'live your best mess-free life' in the living room without a care in the world.

Cornejo told Newsweek that not only does the $749,900 home defy the norm with its layout style, but it just hit a major milestone.

'This home just celebrated its 100th birthday, and it's the perfect example of a classic Portland bungalow: a charming, bright colored door, cozy interiors, and surprisingly spacious,' he told the outlet.

Rather than converting open concept homes into a closed concept - a costly undertaking - buyers may prefer to simply buy a home that already has that vintage layout.

Many home buyers are starting to ditch the trend of open-concept floor plans in their home for closed-concept layouts (Pictured: File photo)

Alec Cornejo (pictured), a licensed realtor with Keller William Realty Portland Central, shared a TikTok video of a quaint bungalow earlier this month. In it, he showed his followers the advantages of a closed-concept home that allows you to 'live your best mess-free life'

'Bungalows with this "closed-concept" layout are particularly attractive right now because they offer a level of coziness and separation that many buyers are starting to crave again.'

Cornejo noted that open concept floor plans definitely have benefits, but a closed-concept home is 'timeless.'

'While open-concept layouts have their advantages, there's something timeless about a home that feels intentionally designed for individual spaces,' he explained.

'These bungalows strike a perfect balancethey're spacious enough for families and entertaining, but the separation of rooms creates a sense of intimacy.'

In the video, Cornejo walked viewers through the home, highlighting every space it has to offer.

Upon entering the door, potential buyers are greeted with two mirrored French doors that open up to a spacious living room area.

The room, filled with an abundance of natural light, is separated by an arched wall that leads into the dining room area.

In that room, buyers are welcomed by a nice separate area to enjoy their meals and entertain away from the kitchen.

Then through the doorway, a modern kitchen is revealed, fitted with granite counter tops, a dishwasher, hardwood floors and a gas stove.

Open-concept properties have long been appealing to buyers, making them feel like they live in a larger space. (Pictured: File photo)

Now, if owners want to join in on the trend they would have to shell out a lot of money to build walls (Pictured: File photo)

Even in the kitchen there is a small arched wall that encloses a cozy little breakfast nook.

There is also separation between the kitchen and what appears to be a small pantry area, visible through a window in the wall.

Cornejo went on to share a glimpse of the bathrooms, bedrooms, office, and upstairs view of the home - all of which are sectioned off into their own space.

The average price of a home in Portland is $524,964, according to Zillow.

Currently, 85 percent of buyers prefer an open-concept floor plan in their home, specifically between the dining room and kitchen, according to the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts.

Despite the high rate of people favoring open layouts, closed-concepts are still on the rise and catching some buyers' attention.

'Whether it's hosting a dinner or just curling up in a cozy living room, these homes feel warm and welcoming in a way that really resonates with people,' Cornejo said.

Currently, 85 percent of buyers prefer an open-concept floor plan in their home, specifically between the dining room and kitchen. (Pictured: File photo)

Although Cornejo shared great points as to why closed-concept homes are flying off the shelves, some users couldn't stand behind the trend. (Pictured: File photo)

Although Cornejo shared great points as to why closed-concept homes are flying off the shelves, some users couldn't stand behind the resurrection of the classic layout.

One user commented: 'To each their own but I've grown up in a closed house and a open concept house. The closed one felt suffocating and very depressing.'

'I understand those entrance doors would be open most of the time. But boy when you entered the house it felt like running into a cage. Hated it,' another said.

'Thanks but I'd rather suffer with open concept thanks,' a user wrote.

Others strongly agreed with Cornejo on the floor plan style, as one said: 'Literally obsessed. The character. The potential. The separation.'

Another commented: 'Also closed concept > open I dont want to live in a warehouse.'

'This is the most perfect house Ive ever seen, too bad Im poor,' someone joked.
Scientists have discovered evidence that California is 'peeling apart' beneath Earth's surface.

They found dense rocks under the Sierra Nevada mountain range are detaching and sinking deeper into the mantle.

While the process, known as foundering, sparks terror that California's landscape could be separating, researchers from the University of Boulder said their discovery sheds light on how our planet's continental crust formed.

Scientists have long speculated that foundering was behind the geological changes about four billion years ago, but the discovery in California proved it to be true.

They used imagery techniques to map the lower crust and uppermost mantle of the Sierra Nevada,allowing them to see changes in how seismic waves as they moved beneath the surface.

The new study not only determined that areas of the Sierra Nevada separated several million years ago, but found it is currently taking place in the central part of the mountain range and has yet to occur in the northern part.

'We have therefore captured snapshots of a fundamental continent-building process,' the researchers wrote in their report.

Using nearly four decades of seismic data collected from stations around the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which spans California's eastern border, geologists uncovered an ongoing separation between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle

Geologists Vera Schulte-Pelkum and Debora Klib used 'receiver function analysis' to image the lower crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Sierra Nevada.

This imaging technique uses seismic waves that change as they cross structures beneath the surface. Researchers can then analyze the changes to gain a clear picture of what lies deep underground.

Schulte-Pelkum and Klib also looked at earthquake data from the Advanced National Seismic System Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, or ComCat.

This analysis revealed a band of seismic activity in the central Sierra Nevada made up of small earthquakes ranging from magnitude 1.9 to 3.2 that occurred at unusually low depths of roughly 25 miles or greater.

The presence of such deep earthquakes in this region can also be explained by the presence of a slab of colder continental lithosphere that cracks rather than stretching and flowing like the molten material usually found at such depths, according to the researchers.

However, they found no evidence of this layer in the northern Sierra, which suggests this region has not experienced foundering yet.

The researchers published their findings in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Based on these observations, Schulte-Pelkum and Klib concluded that foundering has been taking place beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains for at least three million years, and it may be progressing northward.

Scientists have long thought foundering might explain how the Earth's relatively light continental crust forms from the denser basaltic rocks of the upper mantle. But evidence to support this theory has been difficult to find

But perhaps more importantly, their investigation of this region provides evidence of a process of differentiation, or the separation of different materials within the Earth's lithosphere based on their density.

This may help confirm confirm geologists' long-held suspicions that foundering allows the planet to generate its lighter continental crust from the denser mix of minerals beneath.

The Earth's continental crust  the land we live on  is made up of solid rock that contains relatively high proportions of minerals, including silicates, aluminum and potassium.

By comparison, the planet's oceanic crust  which lies at the bottom of ocean basins  is denser because it is mostly made of basalt, a volcanic rock composed of magnesium and iron.

Both of these very different crusts formed from the same source: Earth's mantle. But how did the continental crust end up so dissimilar to its parent material, while oceanic crust retained the mantle's high density and basalt content?

One explanation could be differentiation through the process of foundering.

In other words, the heavier elements in the upper mantle (like those that make up basalt) separate themselves out of the mix as they melt, allowing them to form distinct sheets.

Because these sheets are so dense, the lower layer might then 'peel' away and slowly sink deeper into the molten part of the mantle.

The removal of these denser materials is what allows the lighter continental crust to form and rise above the denser oceanic crust, resulting in the land we live on.

This explanation has been little more than a theory for years, but now, Schulte-Pelkum and Klib have uncovered evidence to suggest it is a real process that takes place all over the world.
A former CIA spy has revealed the agency hires individuals with a certain level of anxiety, saying it is actually viewed as a 'superpower.'

Andrew Bustamante, who spent seven years working covertly as a CIA officer, said the organization actively seeks people with the disorder because they are naturally more attentive, suspicious and have a stronger recollection.

'Anxiety is a superpower in the world of espionage,' he said. 'It keeps you alive, it keeps you sharp.'

However, Bustamante noted that anxiety can be very damaging if a person does not know how to train it.

'Anybody who has anxiety knows the spiral that comes out of anxiety,' he said. 'What the CIA does is they teach us how to recover, recuperate and maintain our energy reserves, our mental health.'

Bustamante explained that his wife, who is also a CIA agent, suffers from anxiety, but has learned how to 'stay sane' by having a routine.

That routine consists of the same foods in the morning that she could get anywhere in the world, such as eggs and hot tea.

'It's a very predictable, calming anti- anxiety routine,' Bustamante said. 'People don't realize that 90 percent of your anxiety that you will feel during the day is actually determined in the first two hours of your day.'

Andrew Bustamante, who spent seven years working covertly as a CIA officer, said the organization actively seeks people with the disorder because they are naturally more attentive, suspicious and have a stronger recollection

Bustamante was recruited by the CIA after he left the US Air Force and applied for the Peace Corps.

While in the Air Force, he specialized in nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) operations, earning medals in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bustamante believes that the techniques that shape international events can also serve everyday people in their daily lives.

Speaking on his podcast Everyday Spy, Bustamante shared how the CIA helps its agents use their anxiety for good.

'So if you start your day and there's a lot of changes, threats or confusions, you've determined with almost 90 percent certainty that you will have lots of anxiety through the day,' he said.

'But if you can start the first two hours of your day in a low anxiety state then you can present and and protect your energy reserves for the rest of the day.'

Bustamante explained that most people set themselves up to fail first thing in the morning, reaching for caffeine, checking their phone and catching up on the news.

'All these things cause them anxiety, and all they're doing is they're ruining the rest of their day,' he said.

Bustamante explained that his wife, who is also a CIA agent, suffers from anxiety, but has learned how to 'stay sane' by having a routine

He urged people to set an alarm not on their phone and another on the device for when they can pick it up.

'When instead, if you just set in an alarm on your phone for when you can

'So then you wake up you can't even touch your phone so you can't go looking for things,' he said.

Another former CIA agent shared other insights into the agency's hiring practises, revealing it looks for people with sociopathic tendencies.

A 'sociopath' is someone who lacks empathy, disregards the feelings of others and may manipulate or harm people without remorse, often for their own personal gain.

John Kiriakou, who had a 14-year career as a CIA officer, said: 'Sociopaths are impossible to control.

'They slip through the cracks because they have no conscience and they pass the polygraph very easily because they don't feel guilty.

Someone who has some of these qualities tend to rise to the highest levels of the CIA.

'People who have sociopathic tendencies do have a conscience but are still perfectly happy to work in moral legal and ethical gray areas,' said Kiriakou.

Kiriakou admitted that he falls into the category of having sociopathic tendencies, explaining how he was 'happy to break into people's houses and plant bugs.'

The former officer used the idea that he was part of the good guys and that his country needed him as a way to feed his sociopathic tendencies.

Kiriakou provided a question he was asked during the CIA hiring interview.

'They said, 'You know that Mr X has something in his house that you need, whether its a file or whatever. You need it. And you work on him to recruit him so that eventually he turns that file over to you.'

'But hes not recruitable. And in the end, when you ask him for the file, he tells you, no. What do you do?'

'I said, I break into the house and take the file.' Seemed like a perfectly logical answer to me.'

The former CIA officer explained that because he believed he was part of the good guys, Mr X was surely a bad guy, such as a Russian scientist.
Aquarium staff in Louisiana have been left baffled by a miraculous 'virgin birth' in their shark exhibit.

'Yoko' the young swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) was born in an all-female tank at Shreveport Aquarium.

Amazingly, the two female sharks in the tank  one of which is Yoko's mum  had not been in contact with a male in more than three years, staff said.

And with the gestation period of swell sharks at somewhere between nine and 12 months, this means conception must have occurred some other way.

'This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species,' said Greg Barrick, curator of live animals at Shreveport Aquarium.

'It really proves that life finds a way.'

'Yoko' is thought to be the result of parthenogenesis  a rare type of asexual reproduction where offspring develop from unfertilised eggs.

The process is extremely rare in nature, although it is found in some other species, most notably mayflies, turkeys, pythons and boa constrictors.

Aquarium staff are baffled by a miraculous 'virgin birth' in their shark exhibit. 'Yoko' the young swell shark was born to a mum in an all-female tank at Shreveport Aquarium, Louisiana

It is not entirely clear what triggers certain species to undergo this process, or what connects the species that have this capability.

The egg was first identified by aquarium staff about eight months ago, although it may have remained undetected for one to two months prior to this.

It hatched on January 3 and Yoko is now 'thriving', Shreveport Aquarium said in a statement on its website.

Instead of parthenogenesis, there's also the possibility Yoko's mum experienced delayed fertilization, where fertilization occurs long after mating.

In the wild, some animals postpone the development of their embryos to await better conditions for having offspring.

But it's unclear why delayed fertilization would have occurred for Yoko's mum in captivity.

To learn more, staff will soon perform genetic testing on Yoko once it is big enough for a blood test, likely after a few months.

'We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization,' added Barrick.

Baby Yoko (pictured) is 'currently thriving', Shreveport Aquarium said in a statement on its website

Shreveport Aquarium said: 'The new swell shark, affectionately nicknamed Yoko after the Chumash word for shark 'onyoko, is thriving under the care of our dedicated aquarists'

How does a 'virgin birth' work? 'Virgin birth' is a natural process called facultative parthenogenesis, meaning a female is able to produce young without any involvement from a male. It's extremely rare in nature, although it is found in some other species, most notably mayflies, turkeys, pythons, and boa constrictors. Animals in the wild generally do not reproduce in this way, however, some research suggests that endangered animals might do so more frequently as finding a mate becomes harder. Advertisement

The new swell shark is called Yoko, not after the famous Japanese conceptual artist but after the Native American Chumash word for shark  'onyoko'.

Unfortunately, young sharks born through such rare reproductive events often face 'significant challenges' and die younger.

According to the aquarium, Yoko's time could 'be brief' but if so she will 'still leave an unforgettable legacy'.

'[She is] contributing invaluable insights to the study of shark reproduction and conservation efforts,' it said.

Virgin births like this are rare in nature and in captivity, but similar cases do exist.

Last year, a boa constrictor at a school in Portsmouth gave birth to 14 babies despite not having the opportunity to mate.

Prior to this, a stingray called Charlotte in North Carolina was said to be pregnant due to parthenogenesis, having not shared a tank with a male.

Charlotte the stingray died last summer due to a rare reproductive disease  although doubts over her pregnancy were later revealed.

Certain animals are capable of reproducing through 'parthenogenesis' in which the egg is fertilised with cells from the mother rather than by a male

When threatened, the swell (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) shark swallows seawater, which causes its belly to swell and deters predators (file photo)

The swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) is a shark species native to the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific.

Their range stretches from Monterey Bay in California to southern Mexico and also along the coast of Chilie.

It is known for its unique ability to swell their bodies to twice the normal size using seawater in order to deter predators.

People don't catch swell sharks for food, but the sharks are caught accidentally as bycatch in commercial lobster and crab traps, gillnets and trawl nets.

'Because sharks take five to 20 years to mature and have few young, accidental catches like these threaten shark populations around the world,' says Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The devastating Los Angeles wildfires started on January 7 and spread quickly, killing at least 28 people and destroying more than 10,000 homes, racking up billions in costs and leaving thousands of people homeless.

Now, scientists have revealed that climate change was largely to blame for the destruction.

The World Weather Attribution - a network of researchers from the US, UK and a number of other European countries - warned the hot, dry and windy conditions that drove the fires were about 35 per cent more likely due to global warming.

Dr Clair Barnes, a World Weather Attribution researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: 'Climate change increased the risk of the devastating LA wildfires.

'Drought conditions are more frequently pushing into winter, increasing the chance a fire will break out during strong Santa Ana winds that can turn small ignitions into deadly infernos.

'Without a faster transition away from planet-heating fossil fuels, California will continue to get hotter, drier, and more flammable.'

The experts added that the fire-risk conditions could become another 35 per cent more likely if global temperatures rise 2.6C above pre-industrial levels.

Worryingly, the world is currently on track for this by 2100.

The devastating Los Angeles wildfires started on January 7 and spread quickly, killing at least 28 people and destroying more than 10,000 homes. Now, scientists have revealed that climate change was largely to blame for the destruction

The wildfires have racked up billions in costs and left thousands of people homeless. Pictured: the devastation from the Palisades Fire

The LA fires were fanned by strong 'Santa Ana' winds and fed by drought conditions since May 2024 which left grasses and brush dry and highly flammable.

Meanwhile, wet winters in the previous two years had created more vegetation growth that added more fuel to the fire.

The researchers examined the 'fire weather index' which uses the temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind speed in the preceding weeks and days to characterise the conditions that make fires more likely.

They said while coastal southern California is an environment 'highly prone to catastrophic wildfires', the extreme fire weather index condition that drove the LA fires is getting more likely due to climate change.

The hot dry conditions behind the wildfires are expected to occur every 17 years in today's climate, which has warmed 1.3C since pre-industrial times, making them 35 per cent more likely to occur than in a world without global warming, and they are about six per cent more intense, the researchers said.

The low rainfall between October and December, a period when rain usually brings an end to the region's wildfire season, is now about 2.4 times more likely than in pre-industrial times, an analysis of historical weather data found.

Hot, dry conditions are being seen for an extra 23 days each year on average, increasingly overlapping with the Santa Ana winds that spread the wildfires, they said.

The researchers combined weather data with climate models for their analysis, but while the models indicated a climate change influence on hot, dry, windy conditions, they did not show a significant impact on rainfall or the ending of the fire season.

The hot dry conditions behind the wildfires are expected to occur every 17 years in today's climate, which has warmed 1.3C since pre-industrial times, making them 35 per cent more likely to occur than in a world without global warming, and they are about six per cent more intense, the researchers said

But the scientists said they were confident climate was driving the changes, based on existing studies and real-world weather data analysis, which show an increased likelihood of LA fires.

The analysis also warned the elderly, people with disabilities, those on lower incomes without their own cars, and people who received late warnings were disproportionately affected by the wildfires.

It said the fires exposed critical weaknesses in the city's water infrastructure, and highlighted the need for investment in better water systems and stronger measures to adapt to climate change and prepare for more frequent fires in the future.

Roop Singh, head of urban and attribution at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, said: 'Climate change set the stage, helping turn the hills around LA tinder-dry.

'However, hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, the rapid spread of fires into urban zones, and a strained water system all made the blazes extremely difficult to contain.

'These fires have highlighted just how vulnerable California is to winter wildfires, underscoring the need for better preparation for a more dangerous future.'

Dr Friederike Otto, co-lead of World Weather Attribution and senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, warned America is experiencing the 'devastating consequences of fossil fuel warming', from wildfires in the west to violent hurricanes in the east.

'In 2025, the choices facing world leaders remain the same  to drill and continue to burn oil, gas and coal and experience ever more dangerous weather, or transition to renewable energy for a safer and fairer world,' she said.
Scientists have outlined the reasons why they believe the world is one second closer to annihilation.

The Doomsday Clock has been unveiled for the first time this year and showed we're nearer to a world-ending catastrophe than ever before.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which decides where the hands are set, moved the timer to 89 seconds to midnight, one second closer than last year - the closest it has ever been in its 78-year history.

They said this reflected the troubling global outlook, with the threat of nuclear war, increasing impacts of climate change and fears over the military applications of AI each contributing to their decision.

Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has increasingly raised fears of nuclear war, while rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have opened the possibility that it could be used to make biological weapons.

Climate change is another existential threat that scientists say the world has failed to tackle, with the devastating LA wildfires this month providing a stark example of how catastrophic the effects of global warming can be.

'We set the clock closer to midnight because we do not see sufficient positive progress on the global challenges we face,' said Daniel Holz, board member and physicist at the University of Chicago.

'Setting the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight is a warning to all world leaders,' he added.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine launched Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II, raising fears it could lead to nuclear war. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd Brigade are seen working on a Soviet era Pion self propelled howitzer

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have opened the possibility it could be used to make biological weapons among other military applications. Pictured: Portuguese Army specialists practice radiation detection and decontamination procedures

Climate change is another existential threat that scientists say the world has failed to tackle Pictured: Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles in January

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock in 1947 during the Cold War tensions that followed World War II to warn the public about how close humankind was to destroying the world.

Since 2023, it has been set at 90 seconds to midnight, but this year scientists predicted it would move forward to reflect the troubling global outlook.

'The factors shaping this year's decision  nuclear risk, climate change, the potential misuse of advances in biological science and a variety of other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence  were not new in 2024,' Holz said.

'But we have seen insufficient progress in addressing the key challenges, and in many cases this is leading to increasingly negative and worrisome effects.'

Holz continued: 'The war in Ukraine continues to loom as a large source of nuclear risk. That conflict could escalate to include nuclear weapons at any moment due to a rash decision or through accident and miscalculation.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin in November lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks, a move the Kremlin described as a signal to the West.

Russia's updated doctrine set a framework for conditions under which Putin could order a strike from the world's biggest nuclear arsenal.

The Middle East has been another source of instability with the Israel-Gaza war and broader regional hostilities involving countries including Iran.

An Israeli attack on al-Hudari family house reduces the building into rubble in Gaza City, Gaza on January 05, 2025

Harrowing fires in California this month were related to climate change, according to scientists. Pictured, a home is engulfed in flames, Los Angeles, January 8, 2025

2024 was the hottest year on record, beating the record set by 2023. The average global temperature in 2024 reached 15.1C (59.2F), 0.72C (1.3F) warmer than the 1991-2000 average

President Donald Trump speaking in the White House's Roosevelt Room flanked by Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp; Larry Ellison, Executive Charmain Oracle and Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI on January 21, 2025, to announce $500B AI investment.

Most recent changes to the Doomsday Clock 2025 : 89 seconds to midnight

: 89 seconds to midnight 2023 : 90 seconds to midnight

: 90 seconds to midnight 2020 : 100 seconds to midnight

: 100 seconds to midnight 2018 : 2 minutes to midnight

: 2 minutes to midnight 2017 : 2.5 minutes to midnight

: 2.5 minutes to midnight 2015 : 3 minutes to midnight Advertisement

'We are watching closely and hope that the ceasefire in Gaza will hold,' Holz said.

Meanwhile, nuclear-armed China has stepped up military pressure near Taiwan, and nuclear-armed North Korea continues with tests of various ballistic missiles.

Climate change poses another existential threat. Last year was the hottest in recorded history, according to scientists at the UN World Meteorological Organization. The last 10 years were the 10 hottest on record, it said.

'While there has been impressive growth in wind and solar energy, the world is still falling short of what is necessary to prevent the worse aspects of climate change,' Holz said.

Last year also saw staggering advancements in artificial intelligence, prompting increasing concern among some experts about its military applications and its risks to global security.

Governments have addressed the matter in fits and starts. In the US, then-President Biden in October signed an executive order intended to reduce the risks that AI poses to national security, the economy and public health or safety.

His successor Donald Trump revoked it last week, and also announced a private-sector $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure.

'Advances in AI are beginning to show up on the battlefield in tentative but worrisome ways, and of particular concern is the future possibility of AI applications to nuclear weapons,' Holz said.

'In addition, AI is increasingly disrupting the world's information ecosystem. AI-fueled disinformation and misinformation will only add to this dysfunction.'

The Doomsday Clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its 78-year history. The symbolic clock edges closer to midnight to reflect human-made global catastrophes

Scientists unveiled the 2025 update for the 'Doomsday Clock' on Tuesday, revealing that it has moved one second closer to midnight. Pictured with the clock, former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos (left) and Robert Socolow (right), professor emeritus at Princeton University and member of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board

The 2025 Clock time signals that the world is on a course of unprecedented risk, and that continuing on the current path is a form of madness

What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic timepiece showing how close the world is to a human-made global catastrophe, as deemed by experts. Every year, the clock is updated based on how close we are to the total annihilation of humanity ('midnight').

If the clock goes forward and gets closer to midnight (compared with where it was set the previous year), it suggests humanity has got closer to self destruction.

But if it moves back, further away from midnight, it suggests humanity has reduced the risks of global catastrophe in the past 12 months.

On some years, such as 2024, the hands of the clock haven't moved at all  which suggests the global situation has not changed.

The clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago that publishes an academic journal.

Although symbolic and not an actual clock, the organization does unveil a physical 'quarter clock' model at an event when revealing if and how the hands have moved.

After the unveiling, the model can be found located at the Bulletin offices in the Keller Center, home to the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Every January, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reveals its annual update to the Doomsday Clock  even if the hands are not moved.

Moving the Doomsday Clock one second closer on Tuesday signified humanity's failures to make progress from the global threats of 2024. Scientists noted that a looming pandemic was part of their decision

In 2024, the hands did not move to reflect an unchanging global situation

When was the Doomsday Clock created?

The Doomsday Clock goes back to June 1947, when US artist Martyl Langsdorf was hired to design a new cover for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists journal.

With a striking image on the cover, the organization hoped to 'frighten men into rationality', according to Eugene Rabinowitch, the first editor of the journal.

It came amid a backdrop of public fear surrounding atomic warfare and weaponry, just two years after the Second World War ended.

Langsdorf initially considered drawing the symbol for uranium before sketching a clock to convey a sense of urgency.

She set it at seven minutes to midnight because 'it looked good to my eye', Langsdorf later said.

On the cover of later issues in subsequent years, the hands of the clock were adjusted based on how close we are to catastrophe.

After the Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, Rabinowitch reset the clock from seven minutes to midnight to three minutes to midnight. Since then, it has continued to move forwards and backwards.

In 2009, the Bulletin ceased its print edition, but the clock is still updated once a year on its website and is now a much-anticipated highlight of the scientific calendar.

The Doomsday Clock goes back to June 1947, when US artist Martyl Langsdorf was hired to design a new cover for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists journal

Dr Leonard Rieser, Chairman of the Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, moves the hand of the Doomsday Clock back to 17 minutes before midnight at offices near the University of Chicago on November 26, 1991

Who decides what time to set the Doomsday Clock at?

Shortly after it was first created, Bulletin Editor Eugene Rabinowitch decided whether or not the hands should be moved.

Rabinowitch was a scientist, fluent in Russian, and a leader in the conversations about nuclear disarmament, meaning he was in frequent discussions with scientists and experts all over the world.

After considering the discussions, he would decide whether the clock should be moved forward or backward, at least in the first few decades of the clock's existence.

When he died in 1973, the Bulletin's Science and Security Board took over, made up of experts on nuclear technology and climate science, and has included 13 Nobel Laureates over the years.

The panel meets twice a year to discuss ongoing world events, such as the war in Ukraine, and whether a clock change is necessary.

When were the hands furthest away from midnight?

In 1991, following the end of the Cold War, the Bulletin set the clock hands to 17 minutes to midnight.

The end of the war saw the US and the Soviet Union sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

This meant the countries would cut down their nuclear weapons arsenal, reducing the threat of nuclear war.

Unfortunately, the hands have not been as far away from midnight since then  and they do not look like moving back to this position any time soon.
The existence of Scotland's legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century.

Affectionately referred to as Nessie, the large marine creature is said to inhabit the freshwater loch south of Inverness.

Now the mystery may have been finally been solved - by none other than Prince William.

The Prince of Wales today visited Earthshot Prize finalist, Nature Metrics, at their Surrey HQ, where he was shown the Nature Intelligence Platform.

This tool is able to identify individual species from small samples of soil, sediment, water, or air.

During a demonstration of the technology, the Prince of Wales asked one of the researchers the million dollar question: 'Does this mean you could find the Loch Ness Monster?'

Unfortunately, the researcher poured cold water on any hopes that the monster is real.

'It might just be a very big eel,' she said.

The Prince of Wales today visited Earthshot Prize finalist, Nature Metrics, at their Surrey HQ. The company's Nature Intelligence Platform is able to identify individual species from small samples of soil, sediment, water, or air

The existence of Scotland's legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century. Now the mystery may have been finally been solved - by none other than Prince William

During his visit, the Prince of Wales was shown Nature Metrics' eDNA Surveying Tool.

'All living things leave traces of their DNA in the environment (eDNA),' the company explains on its website.

'We use this to identify individual species from small samples of soil, sediment, water and air.'

The demonstration sparked Prince William to ask the 'question that everyone is going to want to know' - does this mean we could find the Loch Ness Monster?

In response, the researcher said: 'Do you know what, people have tried.

'People came from New Zealand to try that. They took about 500 eDNA samples in Loch Ness.

'They said they found eels, and it might just be a very big eel, but that felt like it was clutching at straws a bit!

'All they needed to find was one bit of unidentified reptile DNA and they could have had a story.'

Affectionately referred to as Nessie, the large marine creature is said to inhabit the freshwater loch south of Inverness

The Loch Ness monster isn't the only mythical creature that Nature Metrics has been asked to help find.

'We've been asked to try and find the Yeti and Bigfoot - all sorts,' the researcher added.

The revelation comes shortly after naturalist Adrian Shine said people spotting 'long-necked' creatures on Loch Ness were actually misidentifying waterbirds in calm conditions.

While mysterious humps or loops in the water were really just boat wakes, he said, which are the 'largest cause of monster sightings'.

He added that the Nessie of popular imagination was simply the classic sea serpent depicted on old maps in a new inland setting.

Mr Shine, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and founder of the Loch Ness Project, says he is a 'sympathetic sceptic' when it comes to the monster.

But he offered few comforts to those who believe Nessie is real.

He said: 'Boat wakes are probably the number one cause of monsters sightings, and waterbirds are the long-necked ones.'

'Of course there are long-necked creatures on Loch Ness  we call them swans.

'And in calm conditions you can lose your ability to judge distance, and if you can't judge distance, you can't judge size.'
The US may have won the space race back in 1969 by being the first nation to put a man on the moon.

But now, more than 50 years later, Britain has finally won a space race of its own.

British astronaut Tim Peake has teamed up with Vodafone to make the first ever direct-to-cell satellite video call - pipping Elon Musk's Starlink to the post.

The achievement comes just days after Musk began the first tests of his own direct-to-cell system, leaving the billionaire playing catch-up.

Direct-to-cell satellite technology allows anyone to connect to broadband services by connecting directly to a satellite in orbit - whether they have a mobile signal or not.

According to Vodafone, this means the days of being stranded without signal are 'definitely' at an end.

Speaking to MailOnline, Tim Peake, who was the first British astronaut to live on the International Space Station (ISS), said: 'Having been in space, you really appreciate the value of being able to contact your friends and family when you're in a remote area.

'When I was on the ISS, once a week I would have a call back to my family, and having the video call made a big difference.'

Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to live on the International Space Station, has beaten Elon Musk in the next leg of the space race as he joined Vodafone to make the world's first space video call

British astronaut Tim Peake (right) joined Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle (left) to make the world's first video call directly via satellite

Typically, when you make a video call your device sends a signal to a tower on the ground which transfers the data through the ground-based network to the recipient.

Some technologies, like satellite phones or Starlink, allow users to bypass that terrestrial network and connect directly to a communications satellite.

Since those satellites are so far above the Earth, they can provide coverage to areas where it isn't possible to build cellular towers.

The major drawback is that these require bulky and often expensive equipment to send and receive signals from space.

Now, in a world first, Vodafone has managed to make a video call via a satellite using a normal, unmodified smartphone.

Vodafone engineer Rowan Chesmer managed to call Vodafone CEO, Margherita Della Valle, from a remote mountainous location in mid-Wales which has never been connected to a broadband network.

This was made possible by a series of extremely large communications satellites in orbit.

Each of the BlueBird satellites in Vodafone's network features a huge 64-metre-squared (693 square feet) communications array sensitive enough to connect directly to a mobile phone on Earth.

This comes just days after Elon Musk began testing his own direct-to-cell satellited communications network with Starlink

Musk had said that beta testing of a system allowing mobile phones to communicate directly with satellites was due to begin on January 27. But Musk has been beaten to the punch and missed out on becoming the first to conduct a video call via satellite

Ms Della Valle told MailOnline: 'It uses normal devices and normal services.

'It is also the full mobile experience, with the full potential of delivering data services.'

The satellite then beams those signals back to Earth via Vodafone's new space-land gateway in the UK.

The first of its kind in Europe, Ms Della Valle says the space-land gateway acts like an 'Earth station', integrating the satellite and terrestrial networks.

A single gateway provides enough coverage to give satellite broadband connection to everyone living in the UK, enabling them to access 4G and 5G no matter where they are.

So, when Mr Chesmer made his call, the data was sent up to one of the orbiting satellites, bounced back to the space-land gateway, and then sent through the terrestrial network to Ms Della Valle's device.

Ms Della Valle says: 'We are extremely proud because we've had many firsts.

'Almost exactly 40 years ago Vodafone made the first mobile phone call, and it's great to see us again at the cutting edge of this technology.

Vodafone managed to make a video call from a remote region of Wales which has never had a broadband connection. Using an unmodified smartphone, the signal is sent to a satellite in orbit before being transmitted back to the network

This is made possible by a series of massive satellites operated by the company AST which Vodafone uses for its network. Each of the BlueBird satellites (illustrated) in Vodafone's network features a huge 64-metre-squared (693 square feet) communications array

These satellites are so sensitive they are able to connect directly to an individual mobile phone anywhere on Earth to bring broadband connection to even the most remote areas

'We have big plans for the UK with our 5G investment and this is going to be a perfect complement to those areas.'

While this is only a first test, Ms Della Valle says that the first commercial services will be available in Europe by the end of this year, with more coverage to roll out in 2026.

Vodafone is not the only company pursuing satellite communications.

Most notably, Elon Musk's Starlink has begun testing its own direct-to-cell satellite connections which would allow unmodified mobile phones to connect to the Starlink network.

However, Ms Della Valle appears unfazed by the prospect of taking on the biggest name in space technology.

'We're not competing with anyone, we're covering satellites to bring the best service to our customers,' she says.

Regardless, this first video call now puts Vodafone a significant step ahead of Musk.

So far, Starlink has only managed to send a text via its satellite network which requires much less bandwidth than a video call or the ubiquitous 5G connection boasted by Vodafone.

The signal from the satellite is then transmitted to a space-land gateway in the UK (pictured). A single gateway is enough to provide coverage for the entire country

Vodafone's biggest competition is Elon Musk's Starlink which has already placed over 6,900 satellites (illustrated) in orbit. However, Tim Peake believes Starlink's lead will decrease as spaceflight becomes cheaper

In a post on X in December last year, Musk admitted: 'Bandwidth per beam is only ~10Mb'.

In comparison, the Bluebird satellites used by Vodafone have a peak transmission speed of 120 Mbps.

Starlink does have a significant advantage in its partnership with SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket and spacecraft company.

By launching aboard SpaceX rockets, Starlink has already managed to put 6,912 communications satellites, including about 330 which are direct-to-cell capable.

That gives Starlink the potential to provide much more coverage than the five satellites used by Vodafone could offer.

However, Mr Peake believes that Musk's advantage might not last much longer.

He says: 'We have SpaceX dominating the launch market but they're about to have some serious competition.

'What thats doing is bringing down the cost of access to space, which means we can do more in space.'
Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Daily Mail Australia will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.

If your skin needs a pick-me-up, there's a little-known item that can help transform your complexion, leaving you with a more radiant glow.

Dope Skin Co's Retinol & Peptide Night Repair Cream has been flying off the shelves, with 3,000 units selling out in just 24 hours after its first release.

Now the popular night cream is back - perfect for adding to your skincare routine.

To celebrate the return of the sell-out product, shoppers can save 20 per cent when using the discount code NightRepair at checkout.

The beauty buy, normally $59.95, will now be $47.96.

The night cream is a deeply nourishing moisturiser powered by retinol and peptides, helping to support your skin's natural repair cycle overnight.

It smooths, hydrates and firms the skin, while potentially reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture, leaving you with a rejuvenated complexion by the next day.

Customers are happy after using Dope Skin Co's Retinol & Peptide Night Repair Cream

The night face cream has been flying off the shelves, with 3,000 units selling out in just 24 hours after its first release

The formula contains retinol to smooth skin texture and minimise the appearance of fine lines, while soy rice peptides claims to boost collagen production and enhance firmness.

Vitamin C brightens and improves skin tone while hyaluronic acid provides long-lasting hydration for plumper skin.

Niacinamide and vitamin B3 refine pores and balance oil production, and vitamin B5 locks in moisture and promotes skin repair.

A clinical study* showed 93 per cent of participants experienced improved hydration and skin tone, while 90 per cent reported smoother, firmer skin.

Key ingredients such as aloe vera and hemp seed oil helps soothe and calm skin, reducing irritation and redness, while shea butter and olive squalane deliver long-lasting hydration without clogging pores.

The formula contains retinol to smooth skin texture and minimise fine lines, while soy rice peptides claims to boost collagen production and enhance firmness

After the successful launch of its best-selling Retinol Eye Cream, the brand was inundated with requests from customers for a night cream.

'We've received countless requests for something as effective as the eye cream - but to be used on the entire face as part of a nighttime routine,' Vanessa Ware, the New Product Development Manager at Dope Skin Co, told Daily Mail Australia.

'The Retinol & Peptide Night Repair Cream is our answer - combining the powerful anti-ageing benefits of retinol with skin-repairing peptides to smooth, hydrate, and restore the skin overnight.

'This product reflects our commitment to listening to our customers and delivering effective, science-backed solutions.'

Happy customers are raving about the results - eight weeks of using Dope Skin Co's Retinol & Peptides Night Repair Cream every night before bedtime

The family-owned business said the products are made 'fresh' in a Sydney facility.

'To ensure the actives remain fresh and potent, we produce most of our products in smaller batches of 2,000 to 3,000 units. This commitment guarantees that our formulas deliver real, visible results,' Vanessa said.

'Our initial batch of 3,000 units sold out within just 24 hours of launch, and we've since pre-sold an additional 2,000 plus units.

'It's clear that our community was eagerly awaiting a product like this, and we're thrilled to see it quickly becoming a nighttime skincare essential for so many.'

Shoppers have been sharing their rave reviews online after getting their hands on the night cream.

'I am obsessed with the Retinol & Peptides Night Repair Cream,' one fan raved.

'My skin has never felt this smooth and hydrated. After just a week, I noticed a visible improvement in my fine lines, and my complexion looks more even and radiant.'

Another happy customer agreed, saying: 'This is truly next level! My skin feels firmer, and the fine lines around my eyes are fading. The glow I see in the morning is unreal.'

To buy the Retinol & Peptides Night Repair Cream, click here.

* Study conducted on 25 people over eight weeks
Advertisement

The top trending destinations for 2025 have been revealed by American Express Travel.

The list is based on global American Express Card Member travel bookings, as well as 'expertise from Amex Travels global network of travel consultants'.

And it includes destinations in Idaho and Utah, as well as a city on Australias Gold Coast.

Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, says: We want our Card Members to experience all that travel has to offer.

Through our global travel expertise, guides like our annual Trending Destinations list and our lodging programs like The Hotel Collection, we help our Card Members plan all types of trips and inspire them to explore new places.

We reveal Amexs top trending destinations here, listed in alphabetical order which one would you most like to visit?

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: American Express Travel praises the Australian coastal city for its 'excellent museums as well as vibrant dining and nightlife'

BRITTANY, FRANCE: The French region is on the list due to its 'distinctive culture, coastal scenery and miles of seaside walking paths like the GR34 trail', says American Express Travel

FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA: 'The mountain-ringed gem in the Cape Winelands region,' says American Express Travel, 'is an ideal add-on to a safari vacation with nearly 50 wineries, farm-to-table restaurants and hiking'

KOH SAMUI, THAILAND: The 88-square-mile island 'offers a dreamy combo of lush jungle, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters, perfect for active travelers or those looking to relax', says American Express Travel

MACAU, CHINA: The Historic Centre of Macau has Unesco World Heritage status, and American Express Travel praises the city's 'local Cantonese-Portuguese fusion cuisine'. But travel experts at the credit card company say the reason to visit are the 'supersized casinos', dubbing it the 'Las Vegas of the East'

MOAB, UTAH: The 'gateway to Utah's Mighty Five national parks, Moab is a perfect starting point to explore the American Southwest', says American Express Travel. The travel experts recommend the area's 'world-class rafting, mountain biking, and canyon hiking'

NIKKO, JAPAN: 'This tucked-away mountain retreat in mostly rural Tochigi prefecture blends elements of Kyoto and Mt. Fuji, with photogenic waterfalls and abundant hiking trails', says American Express Travel

PAROS, GREECE: 'Laid-back Paros has become the Greek island of choice for many', according to American Express Travel, thanks to its 'vibrant cultural scene and rocky coastline studded with beaches, secluded coves, and sea caves'

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Experts at American Express Travel praise the 'multi-ethnic city', saying it's 'one of the great cultural destinations of South America and home to rich architectural heritage and some of the continents best museums, street art, and homegrown fashion'
One traveler has sparked a heated online debate after being branded 'rude' for simply collecting her luggage from an airport carousel.

A passenger took to Reddit to share her shocking encounter, asking other users whether she was in the wrong after a fellow traveler called her out for bad etiquette.

The confused passenger revealed how a young college student confronted her for collecting her four bags as they arrived in the carousel, rather than 'walking down there to pick them up.'

'My four large bags quickly came off the carousel,' the traveler explained in the Reddit post.

'As I approached the carousel I grabbed my first one, then my second one, third, and fourth came down the chute quite quickly.'

But what should have been a routine baggage collection turned into an unexpected confrontation.

'When I went to grab the fourth bag this young college girl said that I was being rude picking up my bags. She said why can't you walk down there to pick them up. We were all standing at the same spot for five mins before my luggage came off.'

The incident has sparked a flurry of responses from fellow travelers, with many rushing to defend the woman's actions.

One traveler has sparked a heated online debate after being branded 'rude' for simply collecting her luggage from an airport carousel

'She's insane,' one outrage user commented. 'Grab your bags when you see them.'

Another suggested the complainant was simply projecting her travel stress onto others.

'People get cranky at airports. She was just looking for something to complain about,' they wrote.

A third user laid down what many considered the universal rule of baggage claim.

'It's every person for themselves. If someone is accessing their bag, and yours has not arrived, step back and let the person get their stuff.'

The consensus among travelers seemed clear - the complaining student was actually the one breaking baggage claim etiquette by crowding the area after someone else's bags had arrived.

'She is absolutely the rude one continuing to crowd the area after someone's bag has arrived,' one experienced traveler explained.

'I try to stand a bit further away where I can still see the bags coming, but then somebody just plops down in front of me. No biggie so long as they shift when someone sees their luggage and goes to grab it!'

'The only etiquette is that you don't crowd the carousel if you don't see your luggage. Only step up if you see your luggage or you want to quickly check if it's your bag. Then clear the area once you've got your bags.'

The incident is the latest in a string of heated airport disputes making headlines in recent months.

A passenger took to Reddit to share her shocking encounter - asking other users whether she was in the wrong after a fellow traveler called her out for bad etiquette

The consensus among travelers seemed clear - the complaining student was actually the one breaking baggage claim etiquette by crowding the area after someone else's bags had arrived

Last month, a Delta passenger revealed how he was reprimanded after asking a fellow flyer to be quiet.

The frequent flyer took to Reddit to detail the shocking situation that saw him begging a woman to turn down the volume of her 'loud' phone call.

In a thread titled 'Delta', he explained that while sitting at the Salt Lake City Sky Club Lounge, Utah, he asked the woman to use earbuds because she was disturbing others in the suite.

He said the woman was on speaker phone with what sounded like a young child.

After hearing enough of the phone call, the man stood up and begged the woman to finish the exchange through her headphones.

However, his request was met with shock as the woman gave him a slew of snarky looks.

She was stunned that anyone would ask her to quiet down and then branded the man 'incredibly rude.'

The exasperated man asked people on the web to give him advice as he questioned if he was out of line, although many agreed he was in the right.

US-based travel experts Rich Henderson and Andrew Kothlow often pose questions to cabin crew members on their blog, titled Two Guys on a Plane, where they also regularly give recommendations

Last year, dozens of flight attendants revealed the rudest things they have ever experienced at the hands of plane passengers.

US-based travel experts Rich Henderson and Andrew Kothlow often pose questions to cabin crew members on their blog, titled Two Guys on a Plane, where they also regularly give recommendations.

The duo offered workers the chance to share their industry anecdotes by asking flight attendants: 'What's the rudest thing a passenger has ever said/done to you!?'

The pair were then quickly inundated with disturbing stories from in-flight staff who detailed incidents ranging from passengers throwing sandwiches at them to pulling on their ponytail to get attention.
Charlotte Crosby has insisted that she won't return to Geordie Shore - and there will 'never be an olive branch' with co-star Marnie Simpson after their dramatic fall out.

Back in August 2023 it was revealed that the 34 year old had quit the MTV/Paramount+ show for good.

Then five months later viewers watched the drama unfold on the 24th season of Geordie Shore.

During an exclusive chat with MailOnline about her new show Geordie Stories: Charlotte's New Baby, the reality star explained why she will never go back to the programme.

When asked if she would ever return to Geordie Shore, Charlotte replied: 'No'.

Charlotte told us: 'It's not my cup of tea no more. Not about that life.

Charlotte Crosby will NOT be returning to Geordie Shore and won't be reconciling with former co-star Marnie Simpson after huge fall out

Charlotte and Marnie fell out over a high chair while they were filming in Cyprus for the MTV/Paramount+ show

The former pals pictured together back in 2016 while filming for the show

'Like, I don't want to go into a place where there's drama, or there's people slagging you off, I'm so like not in that phase of my life anymore.

'I'm a grown up who would like to distance myself from people and energies that actually bring us down.

'I'm not about to put myself in situations where I feel anything but amazing.

'Or inspired... and that situation is very uninspiring.'

When asked if she could ever reconcile with mum-of-two Marnie, Charlotte said: 'There'll never be an olive branch, sadly after the last time around.

'I feel like exactly what I just said. It's an energy that obviously really didn't like us.

'Because there was a lot said, like what I saw when I watched the show.

Geordie Stories: Charlotte's New Baby will follow Charlotte and her fiance Jake Anker's journey into parenthood again

Charlotte last appeared on Geordie Shore for its 24th season

'So it's just like, you know, you're not going to make the effort with people who quite blatantly, don't like you.'

It comes just weeks after some of her former co-stars teased her epic return, with Kyle Christie, 32, telling us: 'I feel like Charlotte would come back, but be in her way of dipping her toe in - testing the water.

'And if its okay youll get more.'

Charlotte shot to fame on MTV's Geordie Shore back in 2011 and was an original cast member until 2016.

The reality star, who is due to give birth to her second daughter any time now, returned to the programme in 2022 to film The Reunion.

The Reunion Series aired in 2022 and a number of the cast, past and present, appeared on the series.

This was then followed by season 24 and the current season.

Season 25 is currently playing out on our screens and the cast have shared how gutted they are that Charlotte isn't there.

Charlotte shot to fame on Geordie Shore back in 2011

However the star has been extremely busy in recent months, preparing for the arrival of her new baby and her various business ventures.

This will all be documented on her new show Geordie Stories: Charlotte's New Baby.

Charlotte is due to give birth any time now and the mum-to-be has confessed that the work life balance is something that will 'overwhelm' her.

The telly favourite has her own brand Pepper Girls Club and her very own content studio, which she has started hosting events at too.

Speaking about her upcoming arrival, Charlotte told us: 'The thing that the only thing that overwhelmed us when I had Alba was the work and the balance, because I am so busy and like I had Alba.

'And then I've never had a baby before, and I was like, "Oh, my God!"

'Everyone wants us, or wants or is asking us a question, or needs something from us.

'But I've also got this tiny little human that needs us every single second.

'And I'm the type of person who, if I haven't replied to a message straight away, like it plays on us, I'm like, "Oh, s**t f**k!" I've still not got back on that message so like it was really overwhelming. The work/life family balance.

The mum has confessed that she's unsure if she'll have another baby after her most recent pregnancy

'But I managed to get around it and accept the fact that you know not everyone can be answered straight away, like it's it's just gonna be a bit different.

'But the only thing I worry about is that overwhelming feeling of like, "Oh, I've got a lot on".

'And now I've got two children, because now I've got even more stuff on, because I just decide to implement so many more businesses in my life.

'So that is a worry. That's the only thing that I think will overwhelm us is trying to still do, cause I can't take maternity leave.

'It's just not a thing that I can do, so honestly when I have that baby right, I will be in that hospital bed working on my phone because it'll be a paid payday weekend, and it's one of the biggest weekends for my clothing brand.

'So I will be on my phone working whilst in the hospital.

'So like it's just crazy. It's just that's something I've got to adjust to.'

Charlotte and fiance Jake Ankers, who started dating in 2022, announced that they were expecting their second child in September last year.

Charlotte welcomed daughter Alba into the world in 2022

They welcomed Alba into the world in 2022.

The Aussie Shore star has confessed that she'll be quite happy with a family of four.

Charlotte told us: 'I always wanted three, but after this pregnancy I just don't think I could.

'I really don't enjoy being pregnant, I'm not the type of person who is like "Oh I felt amazing. It was great! I love being pregnant!"

'I hate every second of it. I am the worst person at being pregnant, I feel so ungrateful saying that but I just have to say it.

'I usually operate at 110% and when I am pregnant I am right down there at 40 and I don't like that.'

Geordie Stories: Charlotte's New Baby will air on Paramount+ on March 4.
Married At First Sight viewers have reacted with fury toward groom Tim Gromie for rejecting his bride Katie Johnstone over her appearance, noting he was hardly an impressive sight himself.

Katie, a 37-year-old boss of a company helping the less fortunate, immediately won the affections of viewers as a romantically insecure woman who had been routinely rejected in the past, but hoped to end her decade-long single status.

On Tuesday's episode of MAFS, the bride married PE teacher Tim, who described himself as being too nice and unfussy when it came to looks, only to reject her for not being his 'usual type'.

In a shocking behind-the-scenes moment, the primary school teacher, 38, pulled a producer aside during their wedding reception to vent his frustrations.

'Totally not what I wanted. Not good,' Tim said.

'I normally go for short, petite, blonde or brunette. Katie's nothing like what I usually go for. There's just no attraction. I can tell straight away.'

It was love at first sight between Married At First Sight viewers and new season bride Katie Johnstone, 37, (pictured) a social enterprise CEO who has been single for 10 years

On Tuesday night's episode, Katie was married to Tim Gromie, 38, who was none too pleased with her appearance

Hell hath no fury like MAFS viewers when the fan favourite is scorned - and the outraged comments piled up.

Beloved season 12 bride Lucinda Light led the charge, showing her support for Katie on a clip shared to the official MAFS Australia Instagram account.

'The whole of Australia is right behind you gorgeous woman,' Lucinda wrote on Tuesday.

'I'm so sorry this was your experience. Tim is one very disappointing person.'

Another woman asked: 'Tim, genuine question, do you have a mirror in your house?'

'He needs to take a good hard look in the mirror,' penned a third.

'He's no oil painting. She's stunning, and could more than likely do better than him.'

'What a fabulous example for the primary-school-age children he teaches,' another viewer fumed.

'Judging a book based on its cover immediately.'

Earlier in the episode, Katie had confessed that she'd been body shamed by an ex in the past and it had rattled her confidence.

'I have a very distinct memory of being in the pool in a bikini with family and friends, and my ex was there looking down on me and asking me like, "Can I lose some weight?"' she explained.

'Totally not what I wanted. Not good,' Tim told a producer at the wedding reception while his microphone was still on

MAFS alum Lucinda Light is backing Katie Johnstone led the charge

'I really felt like so destroyed and so ashamed. I was not getting out of that pool.'

She added: 'For the first time, I feel like I'm stepping forward as somebody who deserves love and is ready for it.

'I've been single for 10 years and I don't know how to get into a relationship. So, yeah, why not just marry him straight off the bat? I'm hoping for a success story.'

Katie immediately spoke about how she found 'chunky' Tim 'hot.'

But Tim made it clear within moments of seeing Katie at the altar that she was not what he was hoping for.

Despite Katie's warm smile and an effort to break the ice with a hug, Tim recoiled, leaving her visibly awkward and confused.

He told a producer that he has 'no one type', but he thought he would be matched with a 'shorter woman.'

'I dont know how to say; Im not like I wanted a skinny - its not that. I definitely dont always judge a book by its cover. So no, I dont just run because of what the person looks like, but

Tim's bride Katie Johnstone was left in tears as her husband's judgement of her appearance 'triggered' old insecurities

'Im just feeling a bit deflated. Not sure why we got matched.'

Viewers were quick to point out Tim's hypocrisy in expecting a 'petite' woman despite being overweight himself.

'Teletubbie expecting a supermodel,' another viewer wrote, with someone else chiming in, 'Meanwhile, that suit jacket is fighting for its life holding his button.'

'Dear God Tim, you are a chubby THREE at best,' another viewer fumed.

'Take advantage of this beautiful woman in front of you. Christ.'

Another said: 'Once again, MAFS has set up the nice girl who just wants someone who won't judge her instantly based on looks and they have set her up with the self-proclaimed "nice guy" - who has completely judged her on looks because she isn't a skinny, short, blonde.'

Viewers were quick to point out Tim's hypocrisy in expecting a 'petite' woman, without being a gym buff himself

Katie told her new groom that she found it 'concerning' he didn't want to cuddle up to her for their wedding photos.

She asked Tim about his first impressions of her, and he proceeded to tell he 'didn't think too much' and 'has such an open mind.'

'Im really triggered,' Katie later told her bride squad, after he pulled away from a kiss on the cheek.

Tim later revealed to Katie off-camera that he didn't feel a 'spark' between them and suggested they not go on the honeymoon and end the experiment immediately.

Katie replied: 'I think sparks" is just a cop-out for saying Im not attracted to you.'

'To be rejected thats my worst nightmare,' the heartbroken bride said in a piece-to-camera.

'I dont know what Ive done wrong, why this keeps happening. I feel humiliated.

'Im written off so early. How am I meant to build anything with somebody when you know theyre not into you.'

Katie was spotted arriving at her hotel after the first dinner party alone on Tuesday.

In photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Katie was shielded by producers as she made a solo entry to her accommodation.

Her new husband was nowhere to be seen as she made her way inside the Sydney hotel flanked by the show's crew.
Sara Haines stood up for Selena Gomez after the actress faced backlash for breaking down into tears over Donald Trump's deportation policy in a since-deleted video.

Gomez, 32, whose own aunt entered the U.S. from Mexico hidden in the back of a truck, was slammed for the upload, and ended up deleting the video before remarking, 'Apparently it's not ok to show empathy for people.'

Haines, however, was sympathetic towards Gomez on the latest episode of The View.

The chat show shared a compilation of various broadcasters on Fox News responding to Selena's video, where they called it a 'performative fit of hysteria' and advised her to 'check your compassionate privilege.'

Haines, 47, began by citing Gomez's own personal connection to the issue, and reminded viewers the actress' statements did not mean she condoned violent criminals remaining in the country.

'Selena Gomez can feel compassion for people being deported,' Haines said. 'She has a very personal connection to that. Her grandmother came in the back of a truck across the border and her father was then born in the country, she's born in the country, she belongs here, that is natural to then say, "Hey, God, it's heartbreaking to watch this." It can be heartbreaking and she can still not be ok with violent criminals.

Sara Haines stood up for Selena Gomez after the actress faced backlash for posting a tearful video about the deportation of Mexican people

Selena, whose own aunt crossed the U.S.-Mexico border hidden in the back of a truck, shared video on Monday reacting to President Donald Trump's threat of mass deportations of all undocumented immigrants, which has ignited fears of family separations

'And they keep saying in there, "We're taking the violent criminals." Well the point I made here at the table is they're not transparent about who they're bringing. They're not knocking on doors, they're rounding up people.

'They're not saying, if they broke down every person deported and said, "We've got 16 murderers, 15 rapists, 13 repeat offenders," everyone in this country, including Selena Gomez, would say "Bravo!" But that's not what's happening, they're not being open about it. So never condemn someone for showing empathy for another person.'

In the compilation of various media figures responding to Selena, one of the contributors noted that Gomez neglected to bring up Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant.

Haines said of this: 'She doesn't have to address Laken Riley, which is another awful tragic story that happened here in this country. It's not saying she agrees with that to say she understands the plight of all of these people. So it's just a disgusting place we're when we can't even recognize that.'

In Gomez's original video, she stated: 'All my people are getting attacked, the children. I dont understand. Im so sorry, I wish I could do something but I cant. I dont know what to do. Ill try everything, I promise.'

She wrote in bold font 'I'm sorry' along with the Mexican flag emoji.

On Sunday, a 'nationwide immigration crackdown resulted in the arrest of 956 people, the most since Trump returned to power,' according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Per BBC, a 'number of federal agencies with newly expanded detention powers were involved in the raids in a number of cities including Chicago, Newark and Miami.'

The Only Murders in the Building star previously produced a 2019 Netflix documentary, titled Living Undocumented, chronicling the lives of undocumented families in the United States.

At the time, the former Disney Channel star, who was born in Texas, opened up about her family's own immigration story, which began in the 1970s when her aunt crossed the border from Mexico to America hidden in the back of a truck.

Haines began by citing Gomez's own personal connection to the issue, adding her emotion did not mean the actress condoned violent criminals remaining in the country

'Selena Gomez can feel compassion for people being deported,' Haines said. 'She has a very personal connection to that,' she said

In Gomez's original video, she stated: 'All my people are getting attacked, the children. I dont understand. Im so sorry, I wish I could do something but I cant. I dont know what to do. Ill try everything, I promise.'

Her paternal grandparents, Ricardo and Mary followed their daughter and, once in the US, they welcomed Selena's father, who is also called Ricardo.

Her mother, Mandy Teefey, is also a US citizen.

In a personal essay for Time magazine, Selena shared: 'Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance.'

She added: 'But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country.'

Gomez's own aunt entered the U.S. from Mexico hidden in the back of a truck

The Golden Globe nominee noted as a Mexican American woman that she feels 'a responsibility to use' her platform 'to be a voice for people who are too afraid to speak.'

'When I signed on to executive-produce a show about undocumented immigrants, I couldn't help but anticipate the criticisms I might face. But the truth is, the worst criticism I can imagine is still nothing compared to what undocumented immigrants face every day,' she explained.

The Rare Beauty reminded her followers that 'fear shouldn't stop us from getting involved and educating ourselves on an issue that affects millions of people in our country.'

Selena has been vocal about concerns over how immigrants are obtained in the United States and previously called out 'kids in cages' that were 'sleeping on concrete floors with aluminum blankets.'
You are here: Arts

Folk artists perform a lion dance in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Folk artists performed lion and dragon dances in Cambodia on Tuesday to celebrate the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, which will fall on Wednesday.

The dancers from eight different troupes jointly staged at the Royal Palace in the capital Phnom Penh and were greeted by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Royal Palace Minister Kuy Sophal.

Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional New Year, was inscribed on UNESCO's representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity on Dec. 4, 2024.

Diep Sophal, a history professor at the University of Cambodia, said the festival is broadly celebrated in the Southeast Asian country, particularly among Cambodians living in urban areas.

"Days prior to the New Year, Cambodian people of Chinese descent always clean and decorate their houses with red color paper-cuts, flowers, red lanterns and Chinese couplets," he told Xinhua.

The professor said lion dance is usually invited by traditional Chinese families to perform as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Spring Festival and to ward off bad luck and evil spirits.

"Cambodian people celebrate, make offerings, or hold other Chinese rituals during the Chinese New Year because they believe that these will increase their luck," Sophal said.

"I am happy to see that the peoples of the two nations have joined hands to build a culture of peace, a culture of good coexistence," he added.

Folk artists perform a dragon dance near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Paradise (Disney+)

Rating:

Disney executives have designed the template for their perfect U.S. President . . . and it's not reassuring.

James Marsden, in Paradise, plays the world's most powerful man as a vain boozehound with the brains of George W. Bush, the morals of Bill Clinton, the sex drive of JFK and the attention span of Donald Trump.

His proudest trophy is a photo of him with Bono. His idea of putting people at ease, as they walk into the Oval Office, is to order them to take off their shoes and then chuckle, 'I'm just f***ing with you.'

Foreign policy isn't his strongest suit, as he tells his new head of security, Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown): 'I couldn't really tell you where Syria is on the map, but leaders of other countries seem to trust me.'

Most ominous of all, he's so convinced that his presidency will end in 'an extinction level event', he's making plans for a perfect world in its aftermath . . . and the rest of humanity isn't invited.

Half an hour into Paradise and I was beginning to think how lucky we Brits are to have Keir Starmer.

No surprise that, by the end of the first episode, President Cal Bradford is dead on his bedroom floor in a puddle of blood and whisky.

Before he died, he inscribed a clue on a cigarette  he's so thick, it apparently didn't occur to him to write on the fag packet instead.

The big problem of Paradise is not convincing us that America's figurehead is such a ghastly human being. Most of us can stretch our credulity that far.

James Marsden (right) in Paradise plays the world's most powerful man as a vain boozehound with the brains of George W. Bush, the morals of Bill Clinton , the sex drive of JFK and the attention span of Donald Trump

But it's difficult to believe that Agent Collins would be so eager to take a bullet for the man, which he does on the White House lawn, or that he'd stick by him for years, despite all the insults and betrayals.

It's obvious there's no friendship between the pair.

On the night of the President's death, Bradford tries drunkenly to apologise for some unspecified treachery, and Collins retorts, 'I'll forgive you when I can sleep again and I'll sleep when you're dead.'

Why we're supposed to admire the bodyguard's loyalty, or care who the killer is, I'm not sure.

And although the show is from Dan Fogelman, who created the subtle and complex This Is Us, some dialogue in Paradise is bad enough to set your teeth on edge.

'Wildcat is down,' barks Collins when he finds the body. 'It's a Code Red. Call it in.'

More interesting is the revelation that all this happens inside some kind of artificial world, where the sun is a massive lamp under a plastic sky and even the ducks on the town pond are electric.

Sterling K. Brown plays Xavier Collins, the president's new head of security in Paradise

Although the show is from Dan Fogelman, who created the subtle and complex This Is Us, some dialogue in Paradise is bad enough to set your teeth on edge

That idea has been done before, for instance in The Truman Show with Jim Carrey or Stephen King's serial Under The Dome.

But a Disney version of the perfect American universe, as a sort of neighbourhood theme park, is bound to be intriguing.

I just worry about their choice of President.
Lorraine Kelly has branded Wynne Evans a 'nutter' for his sick sex jibes after he was axed from the Strictly tour.

Last week Wynne, 53 - who took part in last year's series of the BBC dance show - was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a sexual comment about one of the show's female hosts.

Wynne has since broken his silence and has agreed with the Beeb to step away from the tour and any other work commitments to 'take some time out'.

And Lorraine, 65, shared her opinion on everything that has happened on Wednesday's episode of Good Morning Britain.

Lorraine told hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid: 'He has to think about what he has done, I dont get it, I dont understand it.

'I dont know why you would think that was acceptable?

Lorraine Kelly has labelled Wynne Evans a 'nutter' for his sexual comments while on Good Morning Britain

The 53-year-old was caught on camera making a sexual comment about one of his co-stars

'What kind of nutter does that when you are being filmed?

'Its bad enough to think it, but then to actually say it!'

In The Mail on Sunday's video, the Go Compare star was recorded suggesting a three-way sex session with Janette Manrara during a photo call for the Strictly tour.

The BBC radio presenter mentioned the word 'spit roast'.

Wynne broke his silence about the situation on Tuesday evening on Instagram.

He said: 'Ive agreed with the BBC that Ill take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.

'I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection.

'Apologies to those I wont get to see at the remaining performances and Im grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.'

Wynne performing with his partner Katya Jones on the BBC show last year

It was also revealed that Wynne has reportedly split from his girlfriend Liz Brookes, 50, after she was left feeling 'humiliated' by his latest scandal.

A source told The Sun: 'Although she loyally stood by him in public, Liz was humiliated by what happened when he was on Strictly.

'She always knew he was a bit old school, and actually liked the fact he seemed rough round the edges.

'She just assumed it was all part of his charm.

'It was very difficult for Liz, but she continued to back him throughout the rest of the contest, often being seen in the audience enthusiastically applauding him right up to him being knocked out in Blackpool week in November.

'It's not clear exactly when they split, but friends say that when his latest lewd gaffe was revealed at the Strictly Live Tour launch she was relieved they were no longer together.'

This isn't the first scandal that Wynne was involved in during his stint on the BBC series.

The star was accused of 'groping' his dance partner Katya Jones, 35, live on air - which they later told fans was a joke.

Wynne was the eighth celebrity in the competition to be eliminated.

Despite that, he was announced as part of the Strictly tour line-up - hosted by Janette.

The famous faces who are taking part in the tour include Jamie Borthwick, Montell Douglas, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland and Shayne Ward.

The tour started in Birmingham on January 17 and will wrap up on February 9.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 from 6am and is available to stream on ITVX.
Rebecca Judd has revealed her very unconventional home decoration move that breaks with tradition.

The AFL WAG, 42, shared a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of her eye-catching plastic festive trees still erected in her Melbourne mansion, a month after Christmas Day.

The pink and yellow trees take up significant space in the Judd's Brighton mansion.

Bec revealed in the caption she didn't know how to dispose of them properly - so would be keeping them in her living room until Christmas 2025.

'These are big and I don't have the brain space right now to figure out what to do with them,' Bec began.

'So I think I will just leave them up all year. Thoughts?'

Rebecca Judd has revealed her very unconventional home decoration move that breaks with tradition

It is believed to be bad luck to leave Christmas decorations up past January 6, which is seen as the 'cut off' date for the end of the festive season.

Like most parents, Bec appears to be exhausted from the school holidays.

The day before she threatened to upend the habit of wealthy Australians sending their children to private schools as she seeks ways to instill more discipline into her children.

She took to her Instagram on Tuesday to call out her two youngest children for causing havoc in the family's $7.3million mansion in the Melbourne seaside suburb of Brighton, and floated the idea of sending them to military school.

The model and influencer shares four children - Oscar, 12, Billie, 10, and twins Tom and Darcy, eight - with retired footy great Chris Judd, and just last week raged about her twins regularly trashing the home.

'The last day of this bullsh*t,' Bec captioned a photo of Tom and Darcy's shared bedroom in a state of squalor.

The mum-of-four rang in her 42nd birthday with a lavish party on Saturday night, followed by a long lunch at Montalto Winery on Monday.

After a weekend of festivities, Bec returned to mum duties on Tuesday and was not at all pleased with the state of her boys' bedroom.

Her photo showed the beds unmade, one with sheets ripped off, all the drawers in their double dressers left hanging open in a state of disarray, and shoes, toys and backpacks strewn over the floor.

The AFL WAG, 42, shared a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of her eye-catching plastic festive trees still erected in her Melbourne mansion a month after Christmas Day

Bec revealed in the caption that she didn't know how to dispose of them properly - so would be keeping them there until Christmas 2025

'Back to school you go boys,' she wrote in her caption.

'Considering boarding school for the twins at this point.

'I've also Googled military school and there's one in Queensland, but they're too young.'

She ended her caption with a disgusted emoji, followed by a series of laugh-crying emojis.

Military schools are academic institutions that include military cadet education and typically have rigorous educational programs and high levels of discipline.

It cames just a week after Bec said she was 'sick' of her twins behaving like toddlers.

'I popped my head in to see what we're dealing with today,' Bec began in a recent video, which shows dirty and clean clothes, books, and toys strewn all over the bedroom.

The Judds purchased their sprawling Spanish colonial-style mansion in Brighton in 2018, and completed a complete overhaul of the property soon after.

The model and TV presenter often documents the realities of her mum life on social media.

She recently faced backlash when she laughed at a stern email from one of her son's teachers about a prank emergency call made during school time.

And she infamously sent her twin boys to kindergarten orientation with their nanny, while she and her husband hosted a 'Juddchella' themed housewarming party at their mansion in 2019.
Julia Fox fans were recently befuddled after seeing her on a billboard for New Jersey real estate outside a vape shop in Manhattan.

The native advertisement, which turns out to be in support of the new film Presence, features the 34-year-old star's recognizable headshot, which on one side overlaps an image of a blue and white house.

On the the other side a message in capital black letters reads: 'Find your forever home.'

The poster, situated outside of 202 Mott Street, includes an active phone number complete with a New Jersey area code  908-955-CECE  and accompanying website.

Directed by renowned filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Presence is centered around a family who 'becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs,' according to an IMDb log line.

Fox plays Cece, the family's realtor, who helped them purchase the haunted residence.

Julia Fox fans were recently befuddled after seeing her on a billboard for New Jersey real estate outside a vape shop in Manhattan; pictured January 21

The native advertisement, which turns out to be in support of the new film Presence, features the 34-year-old star's recognizable headshot, which on one side overlaps an image of a blue and white house

The phone number directs to a voicemail, where, according to a THR report, more than 1,500 people have left messages.

The outlet noted that the majority of calls were from people going along with the gag, acting as potential buyers.

One person dropped in to say, 'Hi Cece, Im waiting to hear back. I was getting my colonic earlier and I noticed that you had left me a message about that beautiful little borough home in Jersey.'

Another fan quipped, 'I dont live in New Jersey, but you might make me move there 'cause what is this mothering youre doing?'

There was also a diehard Fox stan who dialed in just to say: 'You know how some people are like, what would Jesus do? Like WWJD? I say, what would Julia do? WWJD.'

Yet another roughly '10 percent' of calls were from actual realtors, including a real estate professional from Los Angeles who left contact information.

'The market is always good for agents, no matter what time of year,' the person advised.

The niche horror film stars This Is Us alum Chris Sullivan with a script by David Koepp (Secret Window and You Should Have Left).

The poster, situated outside of 202 Mott Street, includes an active phone number complete with a New Jersey area code - 908-955-CECE - and accompanying website.

'Love it. I thought it was an actual business who used a stock photo of her or something lol,' one person wrote on production company Neon's Instagram page

Another social media user praised the movie's 'genius marketing'

Another fan was successfully duped, writing online, 'I should have known'

It premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 24.

In its opening weekend it raked in $3.3 million from 1,750 cinemas, per THR. And the movie cost less than $3 million to make.

Presence comes from the independent production company Neon, who shared photos of the billboard on social media earlier this month.

The caption read, 'Find your forever home. Contact Cece today: cecesrealty.com,' prompting fans to express shock in the comments.

'Love it. I thought it was an actual business who used a stock photo of her or something lol,' one person wrote.

Another social media user praised the movie's 'genius marketing.'
Love Island star Anna McEvoy has hit back at a follower who shamed her for indulging in a common pregnancy craving - McDonald's.

The 32-year-old, who is heavily pregnant, filmed herself buying the takeaway and parking in her car to enjoy the salty treat.

'What is everyone craving?' she captioned the post, noting that she's 22 weeks pregnant in her hashtags.

Anna ordered one hash brown.

Taking to her TikTok again on Wednesday, the reality star-turned-podcaster named and shamed the woman who sent her the following comment: 'I would never put McDonald's in my body, let alone while I'm pregnant.

'I'm 30 weeks and have had no cravings because I've been in calorie surplus the whole time.'

Love Island star Anna McEvoy has hit back at a follower who shamed her for indulging in a common pregnancy craving - McDonald's

The 32-year-old, who is heavily pregnant, filmed herself buying the takeaway and parking in her car to enjoy one singular hash brown - and was swiftly told off by someone online

In several video responses, Anna fumed about the way the comment had made her feel.

'I'm going to say calmly, I don't appreciate being shamed for eating one hash brown,' she began.

'Because it's one of my pregnancy cravings and unfortunately I am extremely sick and taking Ondansetron to even survive the day.'

Ondansetron is a strong anti-nausea medication commonly used to prevent sickness and vomiting caused by morning sickness, chemotherapy and migraines.

'If I don't take it, I will spew all day long,' she said. 'So I'm sorry, it sounds like you're having a really nice pregnancy where you can eat whole foods.

'We just don't all have that experience. I hope you understand without shaming other people.'

In her caption, Anna wrote, 'Reminder that mum shaming is out in 2025.

'Sometimes just eating is a win when you're pregnant and severely nauseous!'

Other mums were quick to defend Anna in the comments, proving that junk food cravings are a relatively common experience in a pregnancy's first or second trimester

Anna McEvoy (pictured) was absolutely glowing as she attended the Piper-Heidsieck champagne bar at the Australian Open last week

Anna is currently 22 weeks, or about five months pregnant, with her first child.

That is past the halfway point of the second trimester.

The Love Island Season two winner and her husband Michael Staples got married in a glamorous wedding ceremony at Corfu in Greece in May 2024.

Other mums were quick to defend Anna in the comments on her videos, proving that junk food cravings are a relatively common experience early in a pregnancy.

'I literally had a sausage muffin every day because my cravings were ridiculous!' someone wrote.

'My first daughter is made out of cheeseburgers. Perfectly healthy,' one wrote.

'I literally had a whopper with cheese for breakfast today and I'm 18 weeks hehe,' added another.

'I ate Maccas snack wraps every second day in my pregnancy, so don't stress yourself out with what people say,' said a third mum.

Anna McEvoy and her husband Michael Staples pictured enjoying a day out at the waterpark on Wednesday

Many of the mums who commented said if they struggled severely with nausea in the first and second trimesters, a simple item from McDonald's or Hungry Jacks was often all they could stomach.

'I reckon I ate a hash brown every day in my first two trimesters, it was literally one of the only things I could keep down,' one mum admitted.

'Hash browns were the only thing I could eat in my first pregnancy,' another agreed. 'Pregnancy is so challenging for some, you just get through it the best you can.'

'I lived off Maccas soft serves in my first trimester. I have a perfectly healthy nine-month-old now,' yet another young mum said.

'Mickey D's was one of the only things I could handle in my first trimester. And coke to drink helped my nausea significantly. Whatever works,' someone else commented with a shrug emoji.

Others took a more humorous approach to the sensitive topic of policing how other people manage their pregnancies: 'My baby is basically sponsored by Maccas at this point.'

Anna - who co-hosts the Where's Your Head At? podcast with Tammy Hembrow's husband Matt Zukowski - thanked her newfound community of mums for having her back.

However, the influencer also filmed herself eating a salad a couple of days later and admitted the judgmental comment had impacted her.
Kylie Jenner ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out for lunch at Bar des Pres sushi restaurant in Paris on Tuesday.

The makeup mogul, 27, looked incredible for the outing as she slipped into a figure-hugging black mini dress that highlighted her toned pins.

The skintight garment featured long sleeves and a leopard print pattern along the torso.

The reality TV star added height to her frame with a pair of black heels and styled her brunette locks into loose curves.

Kylie accentuated her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup as she enjoyed her time in the city of love.

It comes amid Kylie's boyfriend Timothee Chalamet's Oscar nomination for his role as Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown.

Kylie Jenner ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out for lunch at Bar des Pres sushi restaurant in Paris on Tuesday

The makeup mogul, 27, looked incredible for the outing as she slipped into a figure-hugging black mini dress that highlighted her toned pins

Kylie surprised fans when she introduced her clothing line in October 2023.

She debuted the sartorial undertaking with a single photo of herself donning a black faux leather trench coat with zipper details.

In the caption, she wrote, 'meet khy,' and tagged its Instagram handle on the snap.

Accompanying the arrival of the range was a Wall Street Journal cover story describing her latest entrepreneurial pursuit.

Jenner and Chalamet, 29, were not shy about packing on the PDA inside the Golden Globes earlier this month, but they have notoriously kept their nearly two-year-long romance private.

The mother-of-two, who shares six-year-old daughter Stormi and two-year-old son Aire (who both have birthdays in early February) with ex-boyfriend Travis Scott, has never posted her new lover Timothee on her social media accounts.

It marks a sharp contrast from her prior relationship with Scott, which she proudly flaunted in the public eye.

The Kylie Cosmetics founder and Hollywood hunk have only been pictured together a handful of times since publicly launching their relationship in late 2023.

It comes amid Kylie's boyfriend Timothee Chalamet's Oscar nomination; the couple pictured at the Golden Globes on January 5

Timothee has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of Bob Dylan.

He will face off with Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes for Conclave and Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice.

Timothee was previously nominated in the category in 2018 for his lauded performance in Call Me By Your Name.

The Dune star is the ceremony's youngest two-time Best Actor nominee since James Dean, who died at age 24.
Anthony Mackie was forced to clarify comments he made about his upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Brave New World after they stoked outrage from some fans on social media.

The 46-year-old Avengers: Endgame star, whose character Sam Wilson has taken over the iconic Captain America mantle in the latest film, ignited online outrage after speaking about what the character signified to him during a press conference in Rome on Monday.

'To me Captain America represents a lot of different things and I dont think the term "America: should be one of those representations' he said. 'Its about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.'

The actors comments quickly became fodder for outraged posts on social media, particularly from conservative posters and right-wing pundits.

Mackie  who may find himself dueling for the Captain America name with former Marvel star Chris Evans in the future  took to his Instagram stories on Tuesday afternoon to try to clarify his statement.

'Let me be clear about this, I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime,' he wrote in a simple text post.

Anthony Mackie, 46, was forced to clarify comments he made about his upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Brave New World after they stoked outrage from some fans on social media; seen Monday in Rome

'To me Captain America represents a lot of different things and I dont think the term "America: should be one of those representations' he said. 'Its about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable'

'I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to,' Mackie concluded.

Mackie's original comments seemed to infuriate several users on X (formerly Twitter), though plenty of fans of Captain America comics pointed out that his comments were in line with things the superhero himself has said.

'That makes me not want to watch it now,' another user said of the new film, while one person said Mackie's comments were 'wild.'

One commenter joked that Mackie's comments were 'sure to sit well with your American audience.'

Several fans claimed that it was self-evident that Mackie was incorrect, because 'America' was part of his character's name.

'"Where does it say Captain America represents America?" In the name, "Captain America,"' wrote on user, who included a gif of right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro.

'Too bad captain america doesn't seem pro america,' bemoaned another fan.

Others suggested Mackie was incorrect because Captain America's costume and shield reference the American flag.

'I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to,' Mackie clarified on Tuesday

Mackie's original comments seemed to infuriate several users on X (formerly Twitter), though plenty of fans of Captain America comics pointed out that his comments were in line with things the superhero himself has said; still from Captain America: Brave New World

One user said they weren't interested in watching the film anymore after Mackie's comments

Several fans claimed that it was self-evident that Mackie was incorrect, because 'America' was part of his character's name

Others suggested Mackie was incorrect because Captain America's costume and shield reference the American flag

'And this is why the movie will do poorly,' predicted one upset poster.

One user went so far as to call for Marvel to bring back the previous Captain America.

'Bring back Steve [Rogers],' this guys a moron and never watched the first movie,' they wrote. 'Captain America is a veteran. What a stupid take.'

But other fans, many of whom cited examples from Captain America comics, not just the more recent Marvel films, agreed with Mackie and suggested a skepticism of blind patriotism was a hallmark of modern incarnations of the character.

'This is quite literally regarded as one of Roger's best speeches of all time,' wrote one fan who included a cell from a Captain America in which the hero spoke about the importance of standing up for his values, even if they conflicted with the sentiment of the American public and government.

'If you disagree with Mackie, you quite literally do not understand the character of Captain America. He'll fight America just as quick as he's to fight in the name of it.'

Another fan pointed out that earlier Captain America films showed the character  then played by Chris Evans  showing skepticism toward the American government that was ultimately shown to be warranted.

'Captain America 2 and 3 were about Captain America directly going against the US government because they made poor choices based on incomplete information,' they wrote. 'He's not a propaganda-spewing mouthpiece and is in fact the direct opposite. So yeah Anthony Mackie is right.'

But other fans, many of whom cited examples from Captain America comics, not just the more recent Marvel films, agreed with Mackie and suggested a skepticism of blind patriotism was a hallmark of modern incarnations of the character

Other fans pointed out that earlier Captain America films showed the character  then played by Chris Evans  showing skepticism toward the American government that was ultimately shown to be warranted

In Captain America: Brave New World, Mackie's title character finds himself thrust into an international conspiracy after a meeting with the newly elected President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel movie debut

Another person pointed out how absurd it was that 'people [are] made at this when 2/3 of the Captain America trilogy involve him fighting AGAINST the American government...'

Mackie was clearly a fan of the character, and he said playing Captain America was like an 'aspect of a dream coming true' at the press conference on Monday.

In Captain America: Brave New World, Mackie's title character finds himself thrust into an international conspiracy after a meeting with the newly elected President Thaddeus Ross, who is played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel movie debut.

Plot details about the standalone film have been scarce, but trailers for the movie indicate that Captain America will have a showdown with Ross when the president transforms into the monumental Red Hulk and proceeds to demolish the White House.
Paige DeSorbo revealed that she will freeze her eggs just weeks after her breakup with Craig Conover.

The 32-year-old Summer House star opened up about becoming a mother in the future and next steps on Tuesday's episode of her Giggly Squad podcast, featuring pal Hannah Berner.

In the 53 minute sit-down, the multihyphenate explained that while freezing her eggs is a 'huge' decision, she 'always knew' she was certain about the procedure.

'I have wanted to do it  I would probably say like last year  probably in the spring  I was like, "OK, in 2025 Im freezing my eggs,"' she confessed to listeners.

The Southern Charm star shared that she felt January was the best time to follow through with egg retrieval because of the break in her ongoing tour schedule.

'I had like a list of things I wanted to get done in the month of January,' she said. 'So that was like one of my goals and I made my first appointment.'

Paige DeSorbo revealed that she will freeze her eggs just weeks after her breakup with Craig Conover; seen March 2024

Despite being committed to the procedure and having started the 'difficult' process, Paige said she is unsure of when exactly she wants to book the retrieval.

'The only thing is I have to pick two weeks that Im gonna be home because I have to do the shots at the same time every night and I think they have to be in the refrigerator,' she explained.

Now, the Winter House star is looking to have her eggs frozen around 'the beginning of March' as to not interfere with her and Hannah's Giggly Squad tour.

'[Ill] do the shots and the retrieval,' Paige said candidly.

And the reality star made it clear that she wanted the reassurance and 'safety' of having a backup plan for the future, if she so chooses to become a mother one day.

'When I first decided to freeze my eggs it wasnt like, "Oh my god [its for] my career," like I genuinely thought at 32 I would have a kid,' she admitted.

'But always in the back of my head I was like, "What if I get to 39 or 40 and Im like wait I want one more." So that was always my thought process on freezing my eggs.'

And though she initially decided to freeze her eggs to have more pathways to becoming a parent, the Bravo diva said the road will look 'different' now that her boyfriend of three years, Craig, is out of the picture.

In the 53 minute sit-down, the multihyphenate explained that while freezing her eggs is a 'huge' decision, she 'always knew' she was certain about the procedure; seen October 2024

Now, the Winter House star is looking to have her eggs frozen around 'the beginning of March'; seen February 2024

The Bravo diva said the road will look 'different' now that her boyfriend of three years, Craig, is out of the picture; seen November 2023

'So now its different,' she acknowledged. 'I need it as like security I think but it is making me relax a little bit though knowing that Im doing it.'

Paige revealed on her podcast in late December that she and Craig, 35, 'decided to no longer be together.' The exes first met in the Hamptons while filming the Bravo reality series Summer House in 2019, and started dating by the summer of 2021.

And in 2023, the vixen defended her decision to put off marriage and having children with the actor, despite his desire to take the next step in their relationship.

'If the roles were reversed and Craig, as a 30-year-old man, said he wanted to focus on his career and wait to get married, everyone would praise him and tell him he has a good head on his shoulders,' she told The Post at the time.

'But when it comes to me saying it, people assume things: "Oh, you dont love your boyfriend." This could not be further from the truth,' she added.

At the time of their split, she claimed their break up was amicable but didn't explain why they went their separate ways.

Earlier this month, Craig revealed that he had frozen his sperm months before their unexpected breakup, which Paige called the 'craziest thing in the world' at the time.

While talking to pals Austen Kroll and Shep Rose, Craig expressed, 'I would be remiss to not say that becoming a dad is like, probably like, a, whatever it's called when it has to happen in my future,' per People.

Paige revealed on her podcast in late December that she and Craig, 35, 'decided to no longer be together'; seen June 2022

The episode then cut to a flashback as he shared his plans to freeze his sperm to Paige, who responded with, 'What the f**k? That's like the craziest thing in the world.'

Conover then explained in a confessional, 'The version of life that I saw myself living isn't what I'm living, which is like this stable home that I grew up in.'

Just days ago, Craig insisted he would have proposed to Paige before their breakup, but noted 'she changes her mind a lot.'

Paige has since been moving on as she was recently seen hanging out with mystery man at the Philadelphia Eagles versus Green Bay Packers game.
Amber Rose opened up about how she was 'canceled' for being a supporter of Donald Trump last year.

The 41-year-old model admitted she lost fans for when Trump was running for reelection but is not too worried as she still on the cover of Maxim.

For her February 2025 cover story, she addressed the criticism and also revealed she is considering her own future in politics.

'During the election, I was "canceled",' she recalled. 'Now? All the naysayers are quiet. They see he's already changing our country for the better.'

The reality TV star  who responded to the major backlash she received in October 2024 after she accused Beyonce of copying her speech at a Kamala Harris rally  criticized people with left-leaning political views and stressed the importance of having more 'open conversations.'

'Unfortunately, the "woke" left cancels people for having a different ideology,' she said.

Amber Rose opened up about how she was 'canceled' for being a supporter of Donald Trump last year. The 41-year-old model admitted she lost fans for when Trump was running for reelection but is not too worried as she still on the cover of Maxim

'Fortunately for me, I don't give a f*** and will always stand 10 toes down until the wheels fall off, regardless of what my beliefs may be.'

Rose also reflected on her past preference for liberal-leaning policies and explained why she changed her political stance in recent years.

'I used to be on the left and thought I was doing the right thing,' she said. 'That's why it's so important to have open conversations.'

She also said she believes that there is 'no objective truth' and 'only feelings' from left-leaning individuals.

'As a society, we all need to get back to reality and have these difficult conversations to bring us all back to a better place.'

During her conversation with the outlet, the model also spoke about her latest venture and mused over her potential, future career in politics.

'I'm excited to announce my new show. It'll be my opinion on politics and other current events,' she teased without revealing further details about her new project.

When asked if she wanted to pivot into politics, she answered: 'Maybe. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm definitely in love with it.'

For her February 2025 cover story, she addressed the criticism and also revealed she is considering her own future in politics; pictured July 2024 in Milwaukee

She spoke about becoming an avid fan and outspoken supporter of Trump. For her February 2025 cover story, she addressed the criticism for changing her stance and also revealed she is now considering her own future in politics; pictured January 27 in Washington, D.C.

Rose reflected on her past preference for liberal-leaning policies and explained why she changed her political stance in recent years. She also said she believes that there is 'no objective truth' and 'only feelings' from left-leaning individuals; pictured July 2024 in Milwaukee

This comes after Rose made a speech at last year's Republican National Convention. On the first day of the convention in Milwaukee in July 2024, she gave a speech that praised Donald Trump and his policies; pictured April 2023 in Palm Springs

This comes after Rose made a speech at last year's Republican National Convention.

On the first day of the convention in Milwaukee in July 2024, she gave a speech that praised Donald Trump and his policies.

She also spoke about how she changed her political views after previously opposing him in 2016.

In support of the now-president, she told millions of Americans: 'Donald Trump and his supporters don't care if you're Black, white, gay or straight. It's all love. These are my people. This is where I belong.'

Even though she faced criticism as one of Trump's staunch supporters in the frequently left-leaning Hollywood, she said she has no regrets about standing up for her own beliefs.
Newlywed Stephanie Rice has revealed her dream honeymoon in Paris with new husband Mark Lassey has taken a horrific turn.

Instead of enjoying their last days in the famed city, the couple spent time holed up in their hotel room, trying to recover after both of them fell ill.

The 36-year-old swimming champ told followers in her Instagram stories that they had spent their last day in Paris under the weather.

'Mark and I were so sick the past few days, so we've been trapped in our hotel room trying to recover,' she said in the post.

Stephanie Rice, who has a home base in Dubai, tied the knot with her partner Mark Lassey, 46, earlier this month in Perth, following a whirlwind ten-month romance

Elsewhere in the lengthy message, the Olympian admitted to users that her honeymoon illness has shifted her focus to fitness.

Newlywed Stephanie Rice has posted that her dream honeymoon in Paris with her husband, Mark Lassey, has taken a horrific turn. (Both pictured)

Instead of enjoying their last days in the famed city, the couple spent time holed up in their hotel room, trying to recover after both of them fell ill

'I haven't been this sick in over a year, and it was a nice invitation to deprioritise my health after a really busy past six months.

'So when we land back in Dubai, I'm [hoping] to change things up a bit.'

'It's our final day in Paris and I'm honestly really glad to be going elsewhere now and changing the environment.'

Stephanie used a stunning picture of the Paris cityscape in her post and included a caption:'We saw this amazing sky clear last night for the first time, and it was stunning.'

It comes after the Olympic gold medallist, who has been living in Dubai for the past year, confirmed her engagement to her pastor fiance Mark Lassey in September.

She met Perth-based Mark not long after relocating to Dubai and he popped the question at The Atlantis Royal hotel in the city after seven months of dating.

Stephanie, who went public with Mark in July, took to Instagram to share the exciting news as she kept her followers updated on her big life changes.

The athlete shared a mirror selfie from an elevator as she smiled alongside her packed suitcases as she headed off on her trip back to her native Australia.

The 36-year-old swimming champ told followers in her stories that they had spent their last day in Paris under the weather. (Pictured)

Stephanie Rice, who has a home base in Dubai , tied the knot with her partner Mark Lassey, 46, earlier this month in Perth , following a whirlwind ten-month romance. Pictured: The happy couple on their wedding day

She donned a comfortable white jumper paired with loose-fitting white pants, looking relaxed but excited for her new journey.

She shared in a caption: 'Packed up my stuff in Dubai, put it all in storage, packed 2 suitcases and headed for Australia to finish my Master's degree and get married so wild to think about!!'

Stephanie, who recently became a Christian, expressed her gratitude for the recent changes in her life, saying God has made a significant impact on her path this year.

'God has done a complete 180 on my life this year and I'm the happiest I've ever been,' she added.

She also shared her excitement for her future with her partner Mark as she ended her message by gushing: 'He is so good.'

She exchanged vows with the Aussie pastor, 46, during a vineyard ceremony in his native Perth.

For the ceremony, Steph looked gorgeous ina 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.

Mark cut a dapper figure in a tuxedo, made up of a white shirt, black trousers and a suave cream suit jacket.

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.

Steph and Mark plan to start off their married in Dubai.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie joined the Kingdom City church when she relocated to Dubai at the end of 2023.

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.
Nikki Garcia has shed light on co-parenting with her ex Artem Chigvintsev and her life post-split in her first interview since ending their marriage.

The WWE alum, 41, filed for divorce from Artem, 42, in September 2024, shortly after an alleged altercation between them led to his arrest for domestic violence. They share four-year-old son Matteo together.

Now, in her first interview since the divorce, Garcia opened up to Us Weekly about how she's been faring since the ordeal made headlines.

She revealed how she and Chigvintsev have been raising their child together, and how she's been explaining the situation to their son.

'I've used words like divorce, [but] its only been when hes asked. Everythings kind of been about us just having our own homes,' she said. 'You get to go see Mommy and you get to go see Daddy. On Christmas, we made sure we were both there when we baked Santas cookies. Matteo went to bed and we both were there when he woke up. Because hes our focus, we want to keep those moments.'

The former couple now share custody of their son, and Garcia admitted she finds time away from Matteo challenging.

Nikki Garcia has shed light on co-parenting with her ex Artem Chigvintsev and her life post-split in her first interview since ending their marriage; pictured 2019

'Whats crazy about coparenting is you get a schedule. Its wild that one day its like, OK, here are the days you get your son, and thats just what you do.

'For me, that part is incredibly tough. I had never been in our home without him. So getting through those days is extremely difficult because I just love being around my son so much.'

Fortunately, Matteo has been handling the changes well. 'Matteos OK and not affected. So that makes it easy. Hes happy to go to both homes,' she said.

After two years of marriage, Garcia and Chigvintsev's divorce was finalized last year.

Now officially single, Garcia says she can see herself 'falling in love again' - but she doesn't imagine it happening 'anytime soon.'

And while she's open to love, she doesn't see herself legally wedding a future partner.

'I dont ever want to sign paperwork again. If I find the right person, I dont mind [a commitment ceremony], but I dont want to be legally [bound],' she said.

Garcia's marriage to Chigvintsev officially ended after two years last year; pictured 2019

Nikki said her sister Brie Garcia thought she and Artem should have split long ago; the sisters pictured 2023

Garcia also does not want anymore children: 'I definitely do not want more kids. I am fine.'

For several months after arrest, Garcia waited several months before returning to the podcast she co-hosts with sister Brie Garcia.

The decision to 'disconnect' from the public eye was a necessary one for Nikki as she coped with the immediate aftermath of the dispute.

'Everything was very shocking, all of it. And I think that was a main reason why I knew I had to disconnect. I was in shock. You couldnt have ever told me that this wouldve been the ending of my 2024 or my marriage  [I] wouldnt have believed you. It takes a long time to process something. I needed that disconnection to process everything that happened,' she said.

Fortunately, 2025 has been 'amazing' for Garcia, who said she's been getting to know herself as a woman in her 40s; pictured earlier this month

Her family also had differing views on the relationship.

When asked if the split surprised her friends or family, she said: 'Bries been very vocal. She said that she felt like this relationship should end long before it did. She always felt we were just two different people trying to make it work. But my mom was a huge supporter of [me and Artem]. She was actually flying in [the] day [of the incident] to spend the whole weekend with us,' she said.

Fortunately, 2025 has been 'amazing' for Garcia, who said she's been getting to know herself as a woman in her 40s.

'I feel like I have this whole new era to look at, and I get to choose how I want to be and [where to] take it,' she admitted.

Garcia doesn't see herself falling love with someone new anytime soon; pictured with Artem in 2023

While Garcia still has moments of heartache, she is overall optimistic about the future.

'I still get moments of heartache for sure, when an event comes up, or you drive by something or a song comes on. I know in time that will get better. But overall, I feel a lot of joy in my heart and feel so grateful. I have so much gratitude [for] my family, my health,' she said.

Chigvintsev was arrested and booked on a felony domestic violence on August 29 in Yountville, California following an alleged incident with Garcia, but prosecutors in Napa County ultimately decided against filing criminal charges in the case.

Chigvintsev's lawyer has since claimed the DWTS alum was not the 'primary aggressor' in the dispute with Garcia and released photos of the injuries the dancer's then-spouse allegedly inflicted on him.

The altercation occurred just three days after the former couple celebrated their two year wedding anniversary.

Garcia later filed for divorce and unsuccessfully requested sole custody of their son Matteo, with the pair granted temporary restraining orders against each other. The restraining orders were ultimately dismissed and their divorce has since been finalized.

In a statement, Garcia's rep told E! the duo had 'decided to drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively co-parent their son.'

Previously, Garcia admitted she had been depicting their relationship to be the perfect marriage on social media despite that not being so, and that they had been plagued with issues 'for a long time' prior to the dispute that sparked their split.

'The past few months, I disconnected from social media, from the world, and I just knew that I needed to disconnect because first things first, Im a mom and my sons protection and privacy is the most important,' she said on the podcast she hosts with twin sister, The Nikki & Brie Show, back in December.

'I was going to do whatever it took for that most importantly, and then just needing space for healing, for facing trauma head-on.'

'It's been tough. It's been really tough. Ive been heartbroken. Sad,' she said.
Keith Gallasch, a much-loved Australian theatre identity, has died at the age of 80.

A writer and playwright, he was well-known Down Under for his passionate commitment to the arts, especially theatre.

Taking to their official social media, Create NSW announced that the Adelaide-born creator passed away on January 22.

It is understood that Gallasch had been hospitalised in Sydney with an undisclosed illness in the weeks before he died.

Born in 1945, Gallasch began his career as a teacher and went on to be honoured with an Order of Australia (OA) for his contribution to the arts in 2022.

In 1976 he became a founding member of Troupe, an innovative performance group based in Adelaide and later forged a strong relationship with the State Theatre of Adelaide.

Much loved Australian theatre identity Keith Gallasch (L) has died at age 80. A writer and playwright, he was well-known Down Under for his passionate commitment to the arts, especially theatre

Taking to their official social media, Create NSW announced that the Adelaide-born creator passed away on January 22. (Pictured from his Facebook)

He was also an important member of the Literature Board of the Australia Council (198385) - which was the forerunner to what is now Creative Australia.

With his long-term partner Virginia Baxter, Gallasch founded the Open City theatre company in 1987 which produced new works at the Performance Space in Sydney, as well as for radio.

In 1994 the couple founded an arts magazine RealTime which went on to have a major impact in the creative community.

Creative Australia, in their official tribute to Gallasch, described the free paper as 'a groundbreaking magazine devoted to documenting and championing innovation in the arts worldwide.'

Gallasch, who was devoted to innovation and experimentation in the arts, was RealTime's managing editor.

His achievements also included editing the In Repertoire series alongside Virginia Baxter, which helped promote touring Australian performances in music, dance, Indigenous arts, theatre for young people and new media art.

'Keith had a long association with Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts), receiving multiple grants as a playwright and dramaturg and serving as a theatre and music assessor,' CA said in their obituary of Gallasch.

Members of the creative community have taken to social member with tributes to Gallasch.

Creative Australia in their official tribute to Gallasch described the free paper as 'a groundbreaking magazine devoted to documenting and championing innovation in the arts worldwide.' Pictured: Front cover of an issue if RealTime

'Keith Gallaschs legacy is one of dedication, collaboration, and an enduring love for the arts,' said Alice Nash, Creative Australia Executive Director Arts Investment.

She continued: With a passion for innovation, Keith left an indelible mark on countless creative endeavours and the people who shared his journey. We extend our deepest sympathies to Keiths family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.'

'RealTime made the incredible creative works happening in NSW small to medium arts organisations, visible to the rest of Australia and beyond,' Create NSW said in their tribute on Facebook.

'One of the great pillars of Australian performance community, gone,' shared a user on X, in tribute to Gallasch.

'A writer, dramaturg, editor and erstwhile performer' Keith was both a primary witness and documenter and the keeper of our collective culture - a thankless task in many ways,' they continued.

'Im shocked to hear of the passing of Keith Gallasch. He was one of the great unsung heroes of Australian cultural life, so sad,' said another.
Paris Hilton and her younger sister Nicky Hilton enjoyed a day of family fun at the Museum of Ice Cream in New York City on Tuesday.

The blonde sisters  Paris, 43, and Nicky, 41  were joined by their children as they hosted the third annual Young Hearts Friend Fest.

Nicky is mom to daughters Lily-Grace, eight, Teddy, seven, and son Chasen, four. She shares them with longtime husband James Rothschild.

Paris welcomed son Phoenix, two, and daughter London, one, with husband Carter Reum.

Kathy Hilton was also at the charity event, which benefits Gods Love We Deliver.

Nicky is mom to daughters Lily-Grace, eight (far right), Teddy, seven (L), and son Chasen, four, (not pictured). Paris is mom to Phoenix, two (seen sitting on her lap), and London, one (pictured second from right)

Paris Hilton and her younger sister Nicky Hilton enjoyed a day of family fun at the Museum of Ice Cream in New York City on Tuesday

The blonde sisters - Paris, 43, and Nicky, 41 - were joined by their children as they hosted the third annual Young Hearts Friend Fest

Paris, Nicky, and Kathy were aligned in their dress code, with each of the stylish women donning pastel-colored outfits.

For her part, Paris arrived in a lacy pink frock with a crew neck; she added a fitted cardigan and accessorized with a pink hair bow.

And the heiress rounded out the modest ensemble with a pair of sparkly gold pumps with bow accents.

Nicky, meanwhile, showed up in figure-hugging pale blue dress with a sweetheart neckline that teased her cleavage.

And like her older sibling, she opted for heels as she chose a Cinderella blue satin variety.

Both women wore their blonde locks loose, with Paris rocking a part down the middle while Nicky chose a side part.

They looked typically beautiful in full faces of soft makeup with touches of pink on their cheeks and pouts.

Kathy, who is a mother-of-four, arrived wearing a long, pink, tweed blazer and black trousers.

Paris' son wore a baby blue Moschino sweatsuit while Nicky's daughter Lily-Grace wore a Self-Portrait blue dress

Paris welcomed Phoenix and London with husband Carter Reum

Earlier this month Paris and Nicky promoted the event via their Instagram accounts, sharing a joint post with God's Love We Deliver.

The caption read, 'The Hilton sisters are teaming up for a great cause. Nicky and Paris Hilton are hosting the third annual Young Hearts Friend Fest at the @MuseumOfIcecream on January 28.'

The note to their nearly 30 million combined followers continued, 'Benefiting @GodsLoveNYC, this special event celebrates volunteerism and encourages children and families to get involved in and give back to their communities.'

The sisters invited people to 'enjoy a magical evening swimming in a sprinkle pool, cotton candy art, music, face painting, cupcake decorating, and, of course, lots of ice cream.'

Nicky commented on the post, 'CAN NOT WAIT!'

The family smiled in a group photo at one of the museum's activations

The sisters enjoyed quality time with the little ones in a pink and red sprinkle pit at the museum

Hilton looked effortlessly chic in a pink lace frock while holding her son on her hip

Paris has been flexing her philanthropist muscle a lot lately.

Days ago she returned a dog to its original owners after housing it amid the Los Angeles wildfires.

She took to Instagram on Monday to share the moment a small brown chihuahua mix named Zuzu was reunited with a mom and son.

Zuzu's original family was displaced following the devastating fires that swept through the city earlier this month.

Posting a video, Hilton shared the sentimental moment the family members arrived at her door to retrieve the canine, adding an emotional caption.

'Letting go is never easy, but moments like this remind me why fostering is so important ,' she wrote to her nearly 27 million followers.

Also this month, after losing her Malibu home in the blaze, Hilton launched an emergency fund, starting with a $100,000 donation to other victims.

Along with her generous contribution, she revealed that she will match 'additional dollars raised up to $100,000 more.'
Antonia Kidman ensured all eyes were on her on Wednesday when she hit the beach in Sydney with husband Craig Marran.

The younger sister of Nicole Kidman, 54, put her incredible figure on display as she stripped down to a green bikini for a swim in the ocean.

She showed off her fresh-faced beauty and swept her brunette locks back into a high ponytail as she cooled off with a dip in the sea amid the balmy weather.

Later in the day, the lawyer covered up with a grey-and-white striped shirt and carried a pink towel in one hand as she enjoyed a stroll with her husband.

Elsewhere, Craig shielded his face from the bright sunshine with a white wide-brimmed sunhat and donned a navy T-shirt and white shorts.

They were joined by one of Antonia's sons, who was seen wearing purple board shorts.

Antonia Kidman ensured all eyes were on her on Wednesday when she hit the beach in Sydney. Pictured

The younger sister of Nicole Kidman , 54, put her incredible figure on display as she stripped down to a green bikini for a swim in the ocean

Later in the day, the lawyer covered up with a grey-and-white striped shirt and carried a pink towel in one hand as she enjoyed a stroll with her husband Craig. Both pictured

Antonia shares Sybella, another daughter Lucia, 26, and two sons Hamish, 24, and James, 22, with late businessman Angus Hawley, who died in 2015.

She also has two younger sons Nicholas, 11, and Alexander, eight, with her second husband, Craig.

Antonia enjoys a close relationship with her sister Nicole, an Oscar-winning Hollywood star who is married to Keith Urban.

She spent the Christmas period with entire blended Kidman-Hawyley-Urban family in Sydney.

Nicole and her husband Keith Urban flew Down Under with their daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 14, to reunite with the rest of the Kidman clan.

It was a bittersweet occasion as it was the first Christmas since Nicole and Antonia's beloved mother Janelle passed away in September.

Janelle died at the age of 84 - just hours before Nicole was awarded the Best Actress gong for her role in Babygirl at the Venice Film Festival.

She showed off her fresh-faced beauty and swept her brunette locks back into a high ponytail as she cooled off with a dip in the sea amid the balmy weather

They were joined by one of Antonia's sons, who was seen wearing purple board shorts

Antonia and Craig were every inch the lovebirds as they enjoyed the cooling temperatures across Sydney

The Kidman family have all rallied around each other since Janelle's passing and enjoyed some low-key Christmas festivities together in Sydney.

Nicole, Keith and their daughters then flew back to the United States - where they live in Nashville - before New Year's Eve.

Keith performed at Nashville's Big Bash to ring in 2025 while Nicole surprised fans by joining him on stage during the concert.

It was a shake-up from their usual routine as they normally celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney and watch the Harbour Bridge fireworks from their lavish apartment.

Nicole has been incredibly busy as of late, making movies like Babygirl and starring in Paramount + series Lioness with Zoe Saldana, and filming her highly anticipated Kay Scarpetta project.

The numerous projects come after Nicole said she planned to give up acting completely after giving birth to her daughter Sunday.

The 'Moulin Rouge! star has two adopted children - Isabella and Connor - from her marriage to Tom Cruise and she became a mother again when she welcomed daughter Sunday with her husband Keith in 2008.
Karl Stefanovic showed off his shock weight loss at his wife Jasmine's 41st birthday celebrations at Crown in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Channel Nine star, 50, appeared noticeably slimmer in a fitted $820 Burberry shirt which accentuated his physique.

The father-of-four completed his sharp look with tan trousers and brown dress shoes.

Karl's hair was freshly styled and he sported a nice tan from his recent summer holidays in Noosa.

The Today show host looked every inch the proud husband as he strolled into the venue alongside his beautiful wife.

Meanwhile, Jasmine cut a stylish figure in a designer cream outfit consisting of a cream blazer and matching pants.

Karl Stefanovic showed off his shock weight loss at his wife Jasmine's 41st birthday celebrations at Crown in Sydney on Wednesday

Karl's new look, right, comes after he revealed the moment he was told he needed to hit the gym by best mate James Packer after he saw a picture of him on the beach. Karl is pictured left in Byron Bay in 2019

The Channel Nine star, 50, appeared noticeably slimmer in a fitted $820 Burberry shirt which accentuated his physique during the outing on Wednesday

The blonde beauty accessorised with gold hoop earrings and had her locks styled in soft waves.

She completed her look with a black designer Gucci handbag.

Karl's new look comes after he revealed the moment he was told he needed to hit the gym by best mate James Packer.

Appearing on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November, he said he was left humbled after a picture of him revealing his 'dad bod' on the beach led the billionaire businessman to text him.

'There's a shot of me on Christmas Day or whatever coming out of the surf and it was bad,' Karl told hosts Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands.

'James Packer sends me a note that says: "mate, you need to get your a**e to the gym".'

Packer himself recently revealed he was still gaining weight despite admitting to being on Ozempic.

The Today show host looked every inch the proud husband as he strolled into the venue alongside his beautiful wife

Appearing on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November, the Today Show host said he was left humbled after a picture of him revealing his 'dad bod' on the beach led the billionaire businessman to text him

The father-of-four completed his sharp look with tan trousers and brown dress shoes

Meanwhile, Jasmine cut a stylish figure in a designer cream outfit consisting of a cream blazer and matching trousers

The blonde beauty accessorised with gold hoop earrings and a Gucci bag

She accentuated her natural beauty with rouge on her cheeks and smokey eyeshadow

If you're getting notes from Packer about that you know it's serious,' Kyle said.

The photo in question was snapped in Byron Bay over the summer in 2019 when Karl was enjoying some downtime with Jasmine.

Karl even shared the photo to Instagram, joking with followers he was pregnant.

'After a great deal of speculation...the rumours are true,' Karl captioned the cheeky post.

Jackie then asked Karl how he dealt with seeing such 'confronting images' and he said that while he was embarrassed, Jasmine had always been very supportive.

The pair shared a laugh on their way into the venue

Karl's new look comes after he revealed the moment he was told he needed to hit the gym by his best mate James Packer

The couple caught a taxi to the venue from their home

'I feel like it's a lot of embarrassment, but then my wife is always so good about it,' Karl said.

Back in 2020, Karl pledged to lose 10 kilograms in 10 weeks on the Today show after tipping the scales at over 100kg.

'I started at 105kg, the heaviest I've ever been. It was incredibly embarrassing,' Karl said as he spoke to obesity expert Dr. Nick Fuller, who helped him on his fitness journey.
Quentin Tarantino flew from Israel to Utah this week to speak at Sundance Film Festival.

The 61-year-old renowned filmmaker joined film critic Elvis Mitchell in a conversation about his career, sharing when he plans to start his next movie.

When Mitchell asked the Reservoir Dogs director why he's turned his focus to writing over the last several years, Tarantino pointed to fatherhood.

'Im in no hurry to actually jump into production,' he answered. 'Ive been doing that for 30 years. Next month my son turns five, and I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

'When Im in America, Im writing. When Im in Israel Im an abba, which is Hebrew for father.'

Quentin shares son Leo, and his daughter, whose name has not been shared, with 41-year-old wife Daniella Tarantino.

Quentin Tarantino flew from Israel to Utah this week to speak at Sundance Film Festival

Tarantino revealed when he plans to begin working on his next movie; pictured in October

In conversation with Mitchell, he added that 'the idea of jumping on a voyage when theyre too young to understand it is not enticing to me,' per an account from Variety.

He elaborated, 'I kind of want to not do whatever movie I end up doing until my son is at least 6. That way hell know whats going on, hell be there, and it will be a memory for the rest of his life.'

And he gushed about his daughter, '[She] is already such a genius, shell just get it.'

His wife later took to Instagram and shared a snippet of his statement with her 55,000 followers, writing in the caption: 'Family man.'

'I'm really just kind of enjoying being a man of letters right now,' the Oscar-winning writer said elsewhere in the chat.

Although he's not currently involved in movie production, Tarantino is keeping busy in another way.

He told the Sundance audience, 'If youre wondering what Im doing right now, Im writing a play, and its going to be probably the next thing I end up doing.'

'If its a fiasco I probably wont turn it into a movie. But if its a smash hit? It might be my last movie,' he noted.

The 61-year-old renowned filmmaker joined film critic Elvis Mitchell in a conversation about his career

When Mitchell asked the Reservoir Dogs director why he's turned his focus to writing over the last several years, Tarantino pointed to fatherhood

Quentin shares son Leo, and his daughter, whose name has not been shared, with 41-year-old wife Daniella Tarantino; pictured in 2019

These days, given the theater-to-streamer pipeline of the movie industry, he referred to plays as the 'final frontier.'

In an impassioned rant, the longtime creative said, 'Thats a big f***ing deal, pulling [a play] off, and I dont know if I can. So here we go.'

He mused, 'Thats a challenge, a genuine challenge, but making movies? Well, what the f**k is a movie now? Something that plays in theaters for a token release for four f***ing weeks? All right, and by the second week you can watch it on television. I didnt get into all this for diminishing returns.'

The veteran filmmaker called 2019  notably the year his film Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood was released  'the last year of movies.'

He went on to say, 'I mean, it was bad enough in 97. It was bad enough in 2019, and that was the last f***ing year of movies. That was a sh*t deal, as far as I was concerned.'

Quentin called the current model of film releases a 'show pony exercise,' adding, 'Theater? You cant do that. Its the final frontier.'
Superman director James Gunn defended a new promotional clip from the film, after the footage was mocked by fans and sparked a frenzy of internet memes.

Gunn, 58, responded to fans after sharing a new 30-second clip to his X account on Monday, which showed the Man of Steel, played by David Corenswet, 31, flying through a frozen tundra.

Many commented on the look of Corenswet's eyes, with some noting they appeared disproportionately large and far apart and calling the shot 'goofy.'

'There's something with his face that looks a little off. I know theres plenty of time to refine the CG,' one fan commented.

Gunn responded to the comment, assuring fans there was no computer-generated imagery on the actor's face.

'There is absolutely zero CG in his face. Peoples faces can look different when you put a wide angle lens up close. The background plate in Svalbard [Norway] is 100% real as is David.'

Superman director James Gunn, 58, defended a new promotional clip from the film, after the footage was mocked by fans and sparked a frenzy of internet memes

Gunn responded to fans after sharing a new 30-second clip to his X account on Monday, which showed the Man of Steel, played by David Corenswet, 31, flying through a frozen tundra

'We can tell,' one snarky comment read in response to Gunn's claims.

'I believe him,' another one added.

The clip sparked a frenzy of memes, with fans photoshopping different faces onto Superman, including Steve Buscemis Mr. Deeds character, Marty Feldmans Igor from Young Frankenstein, Mr. Bean, Crazy Eyes and other googly-eyed characters.

There were also many fans loyal to Henry Cavill's Superman portrayal, with one posting a side-by-side comparison and writing, 'The downgrade is insane.'

'Please fix his eyes. Theres still time to edit,' one fan pleaded.

'Seriously? He looks terribly computer-animated at the end! I really love Cavills Superman, and I was genuinely excited to see the film after the first trailer. But this completely pulls me out of it - I feel so let down right now. @jamesgunn, please tell me this is not the final version of the shot! Superman.'

'Why does Superman have a lazy eye?' another asked with laughing emojis.

'Goofy, cheap and cross eyed.'

Fans questioned the look of Superman's eyes, and whether computer-generated imagery was used. Gunn responded: 'There is absolutely zero CG in his face. Peoples faces can look different when you put a wide angle lens up close. The background plate in Svalbard [Norway] is 100% real as is David'

The clip sparked a frenzy of memes, with fans photoshopping different faces onto Superman

One meme compared the actor to Steve Buscemis Mr. Deeds character

Someone else put Mr. Bean's face on Superman

There were a number of other googly-eyed characters used in memes

A fan photoshopped laser beams firing in different directions

Fans shared countless of images and videos poking fun of the flying shot

There were also many fans loyal to Henry Cavill's Superman portrayal, with one posting a side-by-side comparison and writing, 'The downgrade is insane'

'Why does Superman have a lazy eye?' another asked with laughing emojis

'This emphasizes my biggest gripe with the films cinematography which is that the wide angle lenses on shots like this make the film look really goofy,' someone else added

'Seriously, what is up with these weird face-on lens distortion flying shots focusing only on the characters face lately? These just look goofy'

'Please fix his eyes. Theres still time to edit,' one fan on Threads pleaded

'Seriously? He looks terribly computer-animated at the end!'

'This emphasizes my biggest gripe with the films cinematography which is that the wide angle lenses on shots like this make the film look really goofy,' another added.

'Seriously, what is up with these weird face-on lens distortion flying shots focusing only on the characters face lately? Black Adam, Adam Warlock, and now Superman. There are so many cooler ways to visualize flying; just look at anything in Man of Steel. These just look goofy.'

The first trailer for the hotly-anticipated new Superman film was released in December.

But Superman was upstaged by an unexpected four-legged hero - his dog Krypto.

In the trailer, the adorable pooch comes to the rescue when his owner is stranded in an icy terrain.

After plummeting from the sky, the injured superhero manages a whistle, prompting his dog to hurtle towards him in the snow.

'Krypto, home. Take me home,' Superman says.

The tiny dog then bites onto his owner's red cape and effortlessly pulls him through the snow.

The canine was a stand-out for numerous viewers, with one saying the dog was the 'only reason' they planned on heading to the theatres.

'Im deada** when I say this but Krypto the Dog is the only reason Im watching the #Superman movie..' one fan tweeted.

'We need a Krypto solo movie,' another said.

The first trailer for the hotly-anticipated new Superman film was released in December

But Superman was upstaged by an unexpected four-legged hero - his dog Krypto. In the trailer, the adorable pooch comes to the rescue when his owner is stranded in an icy terrain

Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) also makes an appearance in the trailer

Superman also shares a magical kiss with Lois (Rachel Brosnahan)

The new film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

The action-packed teaser begins with the scene of Superman calling out to his dog before flashes of his life as reporter Clark Kent appear on screen.

Kent walks through the newsroom of The Daily Planet, where viewers meet his love interest, fellow journalist Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), before he's shown back at home with Pa Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince).

The breadth of his power is put on full display, as he's shown rescuing a young girl from an explosion and battling numerous frightening foes.

Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) also makes an appearance in the trailer.

And DC Universe stars Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) also make cameos.

Corenswet joins a long line of actors who have played the Man of Steel on the big screen, dating back to a 1948 film serial starring Kirk Alyn.

George Reeves starred in the first Superman feature film in 1951, but Christopher Reeve played the first true big-screen/major studio Man of Steel in 1978's Superman.

He went on to reprise the role in Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, before parting ways with the franchise.

Reeve's life was turned upside down in 1995 when he was paralyzed from the neck down following an equestrian accident.

The new film will hit theaters on July 11, 2025

The Remains Of The Day actor slipped into a coma in October 2004 and died less than a day later at just 52 years old.

Since then, Brandon Routh has played Superman in 2006's Superman Returns and Henry Cavill took up the mantle in 2013's Man Of Steel, 2016's Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017's Justice League.

Unlike most Superman films, the upcoming Superman will eschew the traditional 'origin story' and instead focus on the character in his mid-20s.

The film will kick off Gunn and DC Studios co-chairman Peter Safran's new franchise, followed by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is set for release on June 26, 2026.
Madeline Holtznagel was the picture of impending motherhood on Wednesday as she took in some sun in Sydney.

The mum-to-be, 27, is expecting her first child with billionaire boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 52.

The model was not afraid to flaunt her burgeoning baby bump after touching down in a seaplane, near Justin's Vaucluse mansion.

Madeline was ready for some fun in the water, wearing a form-fitting black playsuit.

The dark, one-piece garment finished at Madeline's taut thighs and showed off her growing baby belly.

Madeline also wore a pair of almond shaped sunglasses with a tortoise shell-like frame.

Madeline Holtznagel was the picture of impending motherhood on Wednesday as she took in some sun in Sydney. Pictured

The model was not afraid to flaunt her burgeoning baby bump after touching down in a seaplane, near boyfriend Justin Hemmes' Vaucluse home

Tying her flaxen locks back for her coastal flight, Madeline accessorised with a gold heart-shaped pendant around her neck.

She also carried a light brown Akubra hat with a darker coloured leather band and a second, darker hat, possibly Justin's.

Madeline was seen gingerly stepping out of the seaplane into the crystal clear water, being careful with her precious cargo.

A shirtless Justin was keen to make a splash, strolling through the water as he carried a child, possibly one of his daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight - on his back.

Madeline appeared to be having a great day out, beaming as she disembarked from the seaplane.

The couple were joined by a female pal who was seen happily chatting to Madeline as they stood in ankle deep water one the shoreline.

it appears the group was preparing a fruit-filled feast with the pal also carrying a large tray of fresh peaches.

A source confirmed the exciting news of Madeline's pregnancy to Daily Mail Australia in November and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family.

Madeline was ready for some fun in the water, wearing a form-fitting black playsuit

The dark, one-piece garment finished at Madeline's taut thighs and showed off her growing baby belly

Madeline also wore a pair of almond shaped sunglasses with a tortoise shell like frame

Justin, who has a net worth of $1.39billion, already has daughters Alexa and Saachi with his ex-girlfriend Kate Fowler, from whom he separated in 2018.

The business mogul then began dating Madeline the following year, when the model was 22 and he was 47.

They have been spotted out together in recent weeks looking as loved-up as ever, recently attending Pilates queen Bernadette Fahey's wedding to Jordan Sukkar.

Justin and Madeline quietly began seeing each other in 2019, a year after his debut on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated net worth of $951million - which has since risen to $1.39billion.

Though they generally keep their romance under wraps, the couple are often seen disembarking from his sea plane after enjoying luxurious family holidays with his two daughters.

The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public and even sparked engagement rumours in June 2023.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question.

A picture showed her sporting the jewellery as she cuddled up to Justin while enjoying a bowl of Udon noodles together at a restaurant in Japan.

Tying her flaxen locks back for her coastal flight, Madeline accessorised with a gold heart-shaped pendant around her neck

She also carried a light brown Akubra hat with a darker coloured leather band and a second, darker hat, possibly Justin's

A shirtless Justin was keen to make a splash, strolling through the water as he carried a child, possibly one of his daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight - on his back

Madeline was seen gingerly stepping out of the seaplane into the crystal clear water, being careful with her precious cargo

But the bling appeared to be an emerald and diamond promise ring, and another photograph showed her wearing a different ring on the same finger as she posed for a selfie.

In August, Madeline also made a rare public post about Justin as she took to Instagram to mark his 52nd birthday.

She shared a series of romantic selfies of them both and gushed over her partner in the caption.

In one picture, Madeline flashed a huge smile as she sat on Justin's lap while he lovingly gazed at her.

Justin is considered Australia's hospitality king, with more than 80 venues and billions in assets with names like the Ivy, Queen Chow and Establishment under his purview as CEO of Merivale.

He is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes and Justin took over the business after his father's death in 2015.

Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March last year, with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano.
Rachael Kirkconnell revealed why Matt James ended their relationship in a bombshell interview on Call Her Daddy.

On Tuesday, the Bachelor Nation star made an appearance on the podcast to discuss the reason behind the shocking split between her and her boyfriend of four years.

Kirkconnell, who flat out denied cheating rumors, said the breakup came 'out of nowhere' during a fight.

She said they had just met up in London and had traveled to Tokyo together earlier this month when the unexpected breakup happened.

Kirkconnell recalled how they were arguing over where to go to dinner and he got annoyed with her.

After having a tense meal, she said she got emotional when she felt like she was 'disappointing' him with her dinner choice.

Rachael Kirkconnell revealed why Matt James ended their relationship in a bombshell interview on Call Her Daddy; pictured May 2022 in New York City

'He was like, "I'm just so confused, like, why you were so upset. Like, what was that?"

'And I explained to him, like, "I felt like I'd let you down." Like, "I felt like that was disappointing. And I hate going to a place that isn't somewhere that you could post about [on Instagram]. I feel like it's a waste."

'And he just was trying to tell me like, "It's not that serious. Like, it's not that big of a deal."'

She continued: 'But then he was concerned about me getting so upset. He was like, "That was like, there was no reason for you to get upset like that."

'And he found it concerning that I got that emotional, I guess,' she added.

'He was trying to express to me, like, "If you get emotional about little things like this, what is going to happen in life when something really terrible happens? Like, how are you going to be able to react to things that are actually really scary or disappointing or sad?" ... I felt like I was being punished for crying.'

Kirkconnell said that the following day, James broke up with her.

'We were in good moods. And I think it was one of those things where ... little arguments open up a can of worms,' she recalled.

On Tuesday, the Bachelor Nation star made an appearance on the podcast to discuss the reason behind the shocking split between her and her boyfriend of four years. Kirkconnell, who flat out denied cheating rumors, said the breakup came 'out of nowhere' during a fight

Kirkconnell recalled how they were arguing over where to go to dinner and he got annoyed with her

Kirkconnell said that the following day, James broke up with her. She said that they had been talking about engagement rings and wedding dates before their trip turned tense

'So we were on the way to get some food and I was scrolling through my phone, showing him a bunch of videos. I guess I was bothering him. I was annoying him. ... [He] kind of snapped at me to where I got mad at him because I was like, "You know, even if I'm annoying you, like, don't treat me like that." And so then it seemed like we were both kind of mad at each other or annoyed with each other.'

She said that they had been talking about engagement rings and wedding dates before their trip turned tense.

The reality star said that she believed their argument and breakup was the result of being irritated with each other after having spent three weeks together.

When they got back to the hotel, she said James 'let out' all of his feelings and concerns.

'He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,' he said. 'At the end of the day, there are things that we aren't compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing.'

She said: 'It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that "I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I'm not still. I still don't feel like we're ready or I don't feel like I'm ready. I don't know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can't actually see myself married to you.'

Emotionally, Kirkconnell recalled what James told her: 'He came to the conclusion that he didn't think it was me and that he said, like, he just didn't want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it wouldn't happen. And yeah, he just said, you know, "You're beautiful, smart and funny, and you'll find someone. You'll find a guy that will love you for you."

The reality star said that she believed their argument and breakup was the result of being irritated with each other after having spent three weeks together; pictured July 2021 in New York City

She said: 'It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that "I should want to propose to you by this time."' Kirkconnell said he told her he 'couldn't see himself married to her'

When Kirkconnell was at the airport to go home, she was suddenly caught of guard by his breakup prayer post on Instagram, she recalled. 'I was so freaked out about the breakup itself, I wasn't even analyzing the post like everyone else was, so I guess it was kind of funny just to see what people had to say,' she explained; pictured in The Bachelor still

'But yeah, he just didn't think that it was him. But it was just really, it was just a lot to hear at once because a few days before, you know, I'm hearing the opposite.'

When Kirkconnell was at the airport to go home, she was suddenly caught of guard by his breakup prayer post on Instagram, she recalled.

'I was so freaked out about the breakup itself, I wasn't even analyzing the post like everyone else was, so I guess it was kind of funny just to see what people had to say,' she explained.

'People thought it was weird that it was Bachelor photo because we definitely tried to remove ourselves from the show. It was interesting to see the caption only because I feel like there was no  I don't know how to explain it.

'I guess it almost seemed like saying it like a prayer was the easier way to say it than to say something real. Not that it wasn't real, but just something authentic to our actual relationship, but it's very him. I guess it didn't surprise me that he said it like that. I guess I was just surprised that he said it at all, that he posted that.'
Roseanne Barr's political transformation in recent years has shocked many of her old fans after she went from launching a left-wing presidential campaign to giving her full-throated support to Donald Trump's MAGA movement.

But the 72-year-old actress and comedian revealed that her hard-right turn has surprisingly not endeared her to the people she most expected to be in her corner  the reelected president's inner circle.

In a new interview with Variety, the fired Roseanne star revealed that those close to Trump have given her the cold shoulder over concerns that she's too unpredictable, despite cozying up to other conservative and right-wing celebrities.

Even her shocking new pro-Trump rap video released just before the inauguration didn't seem to win her any new fans from the administration or those close to it.

'The Trump administration regards me as a loose cannon, which I am,' Barr admitted. 'Im not a party line person for anyone or anything except myself.'

Although she acknowledged that she understood why Trump's closest associates might be afraid to associate with her, she said it still hurt after she had completely reinvented her public image.

Roseanne Barr, 72, revealed in an interview with Variety that her right-wing turn in recent years hasn't gotten her any closer to President Donald Trump's inner circle; pictured in May in LA

The fired Roseanne star revealed that those close to Trump have given her the cold shoulder over concerns that she's too unpredictable, despite cozying up to other conservative and right-wing celebrities; Trump is seen Monday in Doral, Florida

'The Trump staff or whoever runs it, theyre a little afraid of me,' Barr continued. 'I am a loudmouth comedian, so I understand it.

'But it really hurt my feelings,' she added. 'But what are you gonna do?'

Even if those political figures close to the president  and convicted felon  won't associate with her, Barr is still committed to making new right wingfriendly comedy.

She revealed to the trade publication that she has written a new comedy show with Allan Stephan, a writer and producer who previously worked on Arli$$ and collaborated with her on Roseanne.

Barr and Stephan are reportedly shopping around the show, which is said to only be about four to six episodes long in its initial season, which Variety compared to UK comedies.

The former TV star described the show as 'a cross between The Roseanne Show and The Sopranos.'

It focuses on a farmer in small-town Alabama who is 'saving the United States from drug gangs and China.'

In order to make ends meet, the farmer will experiment with growing and selling marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

'The Trump administration regards me as a loose cannon, which I am,' Barr admitted. 'Im not a party line person for anyone or anything except myself'

'The Trump staff or whoever runs it, theyre a little afraid of me. I am a loudmouth comedian, so I understand it. But it really hurt my feelings,' she added. 'But what are you gonna do?'; seen in 2018 in Beverly Hills

'Its silly and out there,' Barr said of the potential series. '[It will contain] very offensive ideas and a lot of swearing.

'I live with my daughter and her husband and their six children on a farm. And they have goats running through their house and stuff,' she explained. 'Its based on my life as a farmer in Hawaii. They save America with guns, the Bible, petty crime and alcoholism.

She also compared the show to films made by the Coen brothers  best known for directing Fargo, The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men  though her synopsis bears little resemblance to their films.

If Barr is successful, it will be a shocking comeback, as she hasn't starred on a television show since she was fired from the ABC revival of her hit sitcom Roseanne in 2018 after she made racist remarks calling former Michelle Obama aide Valerie Jarrett  who is Black  the descendant of the 'Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes.'

Barr later deleted the tweet and offered an apology to Jarrett, but ABC fired her from the series and went forward with a spinoff in which her character had died called The Conners.

Barr claimed to Variety that Disney CEO Bob Iger decided to fire her after calling Jarrett and Obama, but a Disney source told Variety that Iger never spoke with Obama, and they said he only chatted with Jarrett after the decision to ax Barr had been made.

Barr said she planned to make her show whether or not it got picked up by a network.

'If Hollywood doesnt buy it, then Im just gonna make it myself,' she said defiantly. 'Does anybody in [Hollywood] like America or the people who watch TV? Because the people who watch TV would really like to see a show where working-class people win against the enemies of America.'

Barr hasn't starred on a television show since she was fired from the ABC revival of Roseanne in 2018 after she made racist remarks calling former Michelle Obama aide Valerie Jarrett  who is Black  the descendant of the 'Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes'; pictured with John Goodman on Roseanne

'I dont give a f*** either way,' she continued. 'Id like to get paid handsomely to bring another s*** f***ing network back from doom as Ive done twice for ABC. But I just dont see how they would keep their nose out of my business.

'Well see. If not, Ill just go somewhere else and put it on my own website,' she added.

Barr went on to say that Hollywood had 'made itself irrelevant to the American people,' and she suggested it should make pro-Trump content if it wanted to survive.

However, she claimed Hollywood executives were 'ideologues' who might not be willing to change their ways.

'What shocks me is the fact that they prefer to lose money and then explain that to the shareholders who apparently have no problem with that,' she claimed.
New mother Jenna Coleman was pictured enjoying a night out on the town last night after welcoming her first child back in October.

Letting her hair down, the actress, 38, stunned in an Erdem sheer black dress for an intimate dinner with Barbour as she joined a host of stars on Tuesday.

The Wilderness star paired the dress with black satin heels and black tuxedo at the event hosted at the Barbican Centre in London.

The glitzy dinner was hosted to celebrate the launch of the British brand's latest Spring Summer 25 collaboration.

Also in attendance was model David Gandy, 44, who wore a brown velvet suit.

Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran and actress Saffron Hocking were also in attendance wearing the new Barbour x Erdem collection.

New mother Jenna Coleman was pictured enjoying a night out on the town last night after welcoming her first child back in October

etting her hair down, the actress, 38, stunned in an Erdem sheer black dress for an intimate dinner with Barbour as she joined a host of stars on Tuesday (pictured with designer Erdem Moralioglu)

Hosted at the Barbican Centre to celebrate the launch of their latest Spring Summer 25 collaboration, Jenna paired the dress with black satin heels and black tuxedo (pictured with Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

And Jack Guinness and Charlie Rowe were in Barbour tailoring.

During the evening, Jenna looked in good spirits after welcoming her first child with boyfriend Jamie Childs late last year.

Jenna revealed her pregnancy in June when she debuted her baby bump at a dinner at Chatsworth House.

Jenna and Jamie met back in 2020 on the set of the first season of Netflix show, The Sandman, where she played Johanna Constantine and he directed several episodes.

The couple were first romantically linked in December 2021, before they were spotted together for the first time the following February.

They were photographed on a stroll in Islington smiling and holding hands, just days after they were seen outside her 2.2million home as furniture was moved in.

They went on to work together again on Jamie's first film Jackdaw, with Jenna playing a lead character called Bo.

But earlier in 2024, Jenna and Jamie sparked speculation that they had taken their relationship to the next level after being seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger in January.

Jenna and Jamie Childs met back in 2020 on the set of the first season of Netflix show, The Sandman, where she played Johanna Constantine and he directed several episodes

Earlier in 2024, Jenna and Jamie sparked speculation that they had taken their relationship to the next level after being seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger in January

Last night she showed off the same gold band at the Barbour dinner.

The Jetty star previously dated Tom Hughes, who played her husband Prince Albert in ITV's Victoria, after meeting on the set of BBC drama series Dancing On The Edge in 2013.

However they went their separate ways in 2020, with it reported at the time the pair were 'terribly sad' by the end of their relationship, with the actress moving into her own pad and they reportedly attempted to 'salvage a friendship'.

Before Tom, Jenna was in a relationship with Game Of Thrones star Richard Madden, dating on and off for four years after getting together in 2012.

Currently, the actress is working on the second series of The Sandman, set to be released this year.

As well as TV series The War Rooms and upcoming film Control.

Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran was also in attendance of last nights dinner

Actress Saffron Hocking also attended, pictured with Erdem, wearing the new Barbour x Erdem collection
Mia Regan has moved on from Romeo Beckham almost a year after the pair split, it has been revealed.

The model, 22, recently shared snaps from a lavish trip to Sri Lanka where she debuted her new beau Henry O'Sullivan - after Romeo moved on with his girlfriend Kim Turnbull.

And it appears her new man has the family's approval, after her dad Des revealed Henry joined the family on a hike in the Brecon Beacons to celebrate Mia's mum's birthday.

Taking to Instagram earlier this month, Mia shared an array of snaps from her Sri Lankan holiday, including a selfie of her sat behind her new love as he rode a moped.

In another snap, Henry was seen drying himself off after a dip in the sea, while she also shared a picture of him in bed having a nap.

Meanwhile Henry debuted Mia on his social media as early as October of last year when he took to his photography Instagram account to share a picture of her in a van as they enjoyed a camping trip in rural Wales together.

Mia Regan has moved on from Romeo Beckham almost a year after the pair split, it has been revealed

Romeo Beckham and model Mia split up in February of last year after an argument, it was reported (Seen in December 2023)

He regularly supports Mia under her Instagram posts, notably gushing over snaps of her in a spread for British Vogue in December as he deemed her 'Insane'.

Mia's dad revealed on Tuesday that Henry had joined the family on a hiking trip to the Brecon Beacons, Wales, to celebrate her mum's birthday.

Sharing a collection of snaps from the trip, Des Regan wrote: 'Lovely weekend away in the Brecons celebrating @slummymama @phoebs.white_ @woody_welch & Joshie Matthews Birthdays.

He added: 'Great tunes, impressive dancing and wonderful company & Lord Horatio Nelson for inducting the newbies @_henryosullivan & @crystaltrevennen. Finished off with a very good Sunday roast at the Hunters Moon Inn Abergavenny. Thank you everyone .'

'Great week x,' Henry commented under Des's post.

MailOnline has contacted Mia's representatives for comment.

The reveal comes after Romeo shared a snap of his new girlfriend Kim tucked up under the covers in bed as the couple got off to a lazy start on Sunday.

Romeo and Kim enjoyed a romantic getaway to Turks and Caicos earlier this month and shared glimpses of the sun-soaked holiday on social media.

The model, 22, recently shared snaps from a lavish trip to Sri Lanka where she debuted her new beau Henry O'Sullivan

Among the snaps shared by Mia earlier this month, Henry was seen drying himself off after a dip in the sea

She also shared a picture of him in bed having a nap during the trip

Meanwhile Henry took to his photography Instagram account back in October to share a picture of model Mia in a van as they enjoyed a camping trip in rural Wales together

And it appears her new man has the family's approval, after her dad Des revealed Henry joined the family on a hike in the Brecon Beacons to celebrate Mia's mum's birthday

'Great week x,' Henry commented under Des's post

In another snap from their Sri Lanka trip, Mia showed Henry climbing up a rock accompanied by a monkey

David and Victoria's middle son couldn't help but flaunt his partner in the post, where he quipped: 'How's she real?' alongside two love-struck emojis.

Kim looked nothing short of sensational in the picture, as she flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy black bikini.

The couple's holiday came just days after they enjoyed a romantic yacht date in Miami.

And they appeared completely smitten over New Years as they kissed in a hot tub - after going Instagram official in November.

Mia broke up with her ex Romeo in February of last year after five years together.

It is claimed the couple went their separate ways after an argument, with Mia moving out of the home they shared together.

Romeo recently moved on with his new girlfriend Kim Turnbull and the pair went Instagram official in November

He shared a photo showing his girlfriend Kim tucked up under the covers as the couple got off to a lazy start on Sunday

Mia broke up with Romeo in February of last year after five years together (Seen together in July 2023)

When Mia met Romeo at 16, she was a netball-loving sixth-former studying history, art and PE, with her sights on university.

Her family lived close to the Beckhams' 12 million farmhouse in the Cotswolds and she and Romeo were first pictured together at Victoria's fashion show in 2019.

But after making their relationship 'Instagram official', Mia was catapulted into the limelight.

Thoughts of university were left behind as she began working with 50 of the world's top brands including Gucci, Prada, Coca-Cola and fashion house Celine.
Head-turning New York City icon Marisa Berenson was a top model in the 1960s.

The doe-eyed wonder had an incredible figure with toned legs and a slim waistline which made bathing suits and little black dresses look their best.

She landed on the cover of Vogue many times.

Then the curly haired looker went into acting and hit a high note in the 1970s. She starred in Barry Lyndon with Ryan O'Neal, in SOB with Julie Andrews and William Holden, and in Cabaret with Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.

Marisa made a rare appearance at the Giorgio Armani show in Paris on Tuesday alongside Demi Moore and Jessica Biel.

And the photogenic star still looks incredible today at the age of 77.

Head-turning Marisa Berenson was a top model in the 1960s and was out in Paris on Tuesday

The doe-eyed wonder had an incredible figure with toned legs and a slim waistline which made bathing suits and little black dresses look their best. Then the curly haired looker went into acting

The New York native was born Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson in 1947.

She was on the covers of Vogue and Time.

Her father, Robert Lawrence Berenson, was an American career diplomat and her mother was Maria-Luisa Yvonne 'Gogo' Radha de Wendt Schiaparelli, a socialite.

Berenson's maternal grandmother was the fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli.

Her younger sister, Berinthia, became a model, actress, and photographer, and was known as Berry Berenson. She was married to actor Anthony Perkins. Berry Berenson died on September 11, 2001 in New York City.

Marisa was discovered by Vogue editor Diana Vreeland in the 1960s.

She appeared on the cover of the July 1970 issue of Vogue as well as the cover of Time on in 1975.

She was known as 'The Queen of the Scene' for her frequent appearances at nightclubs and other social venues in her youth.

French designer Yves Saint Laurent called her 'the girl of the Seventies.'

Then she went into acting.

Marisa, center, with Liza Minnelli, left, and Joel Grey, right, in the 1970s

She appeared in the 1971 film Death in Venice and the Jewish department store heiress Natalia Landauer in the 1972 film Cabaret.

Next she was Lady Lyndon in the Stanley Kubrick film Barry Lyndon in 1975.

Berenson's other performances included Casanova & Co. (1977), Killer Fish (1979), the Blake Edwards comedy S.O.B. (1981), The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984), and Clint Eastwood's White Hunter Black Heart (1990).

Then there were made-for-TV movies like the Holocaust-themed drama Playing for Time (1980).

She guest-starred in an episode of The Muppet Show during its third season in 1978.

On September 11, 2001, her younger sister and sole sibling, Berry Perkins, widow of actor Anthony Perkins, was killed in the first flight to hit the World Trade Center.

Berenson attends the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 28 in Paris

The icon wore all black with bright blue accents as she headed to the show

The star at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 27

Marisa was also in an airplane during the terrorist attacks, flying from Paris to New York.

She is a big fan of Transcendental Meditation.

'India changed my life, because I was searching for my spiritual path, and I ended up in an ashram in Rishikesh with Maharishi and the Beatles. We'd sit on the floor at night, and George and Ringo would play the guitar, and we'd meditate all day, and have meals together, and become vegetarians, and live in huts. But it was just normal. It wasn't like, 'Oh, here are the Beatles.' The most important thing was my transcendental meditation.'

Berenson lives in a villa on the outskirts of Marrakesh.

Berenson's first husband was James Randall, from 1976 to 1978.

They have one daughter.

Her second husband was Aaron Richard Golub from 1982 to 1987.
Conan O'Brien reflected on preparing to host the Oscars for the first time amid the Los Angeles fires that have ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena.

While some initially feared the ceremony would be delayed, after the Academy postponed announcing the nominations twice, the host, 61, spoke about pushing forward and keeping the tragedy in mind while producing the show.

'L.A. has just been through this traumatic experience,' he said on Good Morning America. 'There's a lot that's happening nationally that people are very tense about and it changes day to day. And so my job right now with my writers is to create possibilities.'

The Emmy-winning television host continued: 'That's what we're doing. We're working hard to create possibilities. And then I don't know, I think we're going to have to get very close to the actual air date to figure out.'

O'Brien also noted that his longtime assistant lost her Altadena home in the fires, which have killed 29 people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.

'There's a misconception sometimes that, oh, some rich people lost their homes... This is something that touched everybody, regardless of your income,' he said.

Conan O'Brien reflected on preparing to host the Oscars for the first time amid the Los Angeles fires that have ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena

O'Brien, whose home survived the blaze after he was forced to evacuate, also detailed his mindset tackling his upcoming gig during his chat with Chris Connelly.

'We polled America. I spent a lot of my own money polling Americans and saying, "Would you like to see Conan O'Brien sing and dance?" Shocking response,' he said. 'People don't want it, which means they'll probably try and do it. I like to be an irritant.'

He went on to say: 'Let's just say there are many possibilities. There are many possibilities. And like I say, we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens as we get closer. And my involvement in the show could expand, it could contract. It'll all depend on where we are then.'

The star, who has hosted a number of other awards shows and TV specials, including the Emmy Awards and White House Correspondents' dinner, joked that audiences that 'like close up magic tricks' will 'be very happy with' his Oscars performance.

Since wrapping his talk show, Conan, three years ago, Since wrapping his talk show, Conan, three years ago, O'Brien said he's been aiming to sau 'yes' to more things, like hosting the Oscars.

'It's been three years since I stopped doing my late night show and I've been saying yes to things. It's been this time of yes,' he explained. 'So I did an independent film at Sundance. I headlined at the Newport Folk Festival. I'm just saying yes to things that I wouldn't have done before.'

O'Brien, then, quipped: 'I'm a black belt in karate now. I'm a licensed neurosurgeon. I mean, there are all these things I'm doing now that I didn't think I would ever do before.'

The father-of-two, who is married to Liza Powel O'Brien, teased he planned on going after the celebrities in the audience 'that have personally been cruel' to him over the years.

While some initially feared the ceremony would be delayed, after the Academy postponed announcing the nominations twice, the host, 61, spoke about pushing forward and keeping the tragedy in mind while producing the show

'L.A. has just been through this traumatic experience,' he said on Good Morning America . 'There's a lot that's happening nationally that people are very tense about and it changes day to day. And so my job right now with my writers is to create possibilities'

He also joked that he would be 'paying people to create moments' and call him 'a genius.'

O'Brien is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows Late Night with Conan OBrien, The Tonight Show with Conan OBrien and Conan.

Before his TV hosting career, O'Brien was a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

In November, Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group, said in a statement: 'He joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars.'

Conan O'Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards in 2025

O'Brien joins the list of Oscar hosts that includes Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris.

Jimmy Kimmel previously hosted the Oscars in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024, but earlier this year said he wouldn't be doing it in 2025.

'I just decided I didn't want to deal with that this year,' he said on the Politickin podcast.

'It was just too much last year. You wind up pushing everything off till after the Oscars, and then you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars, after the Oscars. I did two years [2017 and 2018], it went well.

'I did another two years [2023 and 2024], it went well. I figured I'd take a little break.'

The 97th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and Hulu on March 2 at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.
Blake Lively's brother-in-law made a shock apology to Justin Baldoni amid their explosive legal feud, after she sued her It Ends with Us costar for sexual harassment.

On Tuesday, Bart Johnson, who is married to Lively's sister Robyn Lively, took to X (previously known as Twitter) to express remorse over his since-deleted posts on social media, in which he called Baldoni a 'fraud' and criticized his appearance.

'Anytime I've said anything unkind about someone I've regretted it. Fortunately that's almost never and definitely not when Im at my best,' he stated.

'Regardless if it's true or not, if its my opinion, even if I'm trying to speak truth or stand up for someone, its never good.'

Johnson continued: 'Even in times where it might 'feel' justified and doing the right thing, it makes no difference. Theres a better way. Its below the standard I have for myself and I regret it.'

The High School Musical star was referring to his post, captured by USA Today, that accuses Baldoni of putting 'on the costume of a hero, man bun and all' and using 'trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts.'

'None of it's genuine. It's all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years,' Johnson said of Baldoni's reputation of being a feminist and proud ally to women.

Blake Lively's brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, made a shock apology to Justin Baldoni amid their explosive legal feud; (L-R) Johnson, Blake, and Robyn Lively

In his tweet, Johnson also told fans that he 'sincerely' apologized to anyone that he 'hurt or let down by saying something that sounds mean.'

'Ill do better. If you follow me you know youll be hard pressed to find more than 1 time Ive criticized anyone on social. Its not my jam. . . We all have flaws and Im definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better,' he promised.

After one X user called his tweet 'strange' and asked if he was trying to avoid litigation by not apoogizing directly to Baldoni, Johnson replied: 'Now Im gonna get sued? [laughing emoji] for what? I find those type of podcasts phony. I do. Thats not a crime. But I do feel bad rippin on them. Thats literally all I said.'

'Just like you and all the toxic and hateful comments I get from his fans wishing me and my children harm and calling me all the vile names you can imagine, its not a crime. People are free to do so and Im not mad,' he said. 'That fine. I can take the beatings. You think I deserve it? Okay thats fine too. Movin on. Cant let it get me down. Keep bein me. 2025 gonna be great!! Lets goooooo'

Johnson has been a vocal supporter of Blake amid her legal battle and public row with Baldoni, who she claims launched a smear campaign against her.

In her complaint and legal filing, she stated that Baldoni hired crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, who previously worked for Johnny Depp amid his long-running legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, over the summer.

Last month, Johnson wrote on social media that 'the public got played' by Baldoni and that his 'PR team was stellar.'

'Gross and disgusting but highly effective,' he said of the alleged actions of Baldoni's team.

On Tuesday, Bart Johnson, who is married to Lively's sister Robyn Lively, took to X (previously known as Twitter ) to express remorse over his since-deleted posts on social media, in which he called Baldoni (seen last year) a 'fraud' and criticized his appearance

'Anytime Ive said anything unkind about someone Ive regretted it. Fortunately thats almost never and definitely not when Im at my best,' he tweeted. 'Regardless if its true or not, if its my opinion, even if Im trying to speak truth or stand up for someone, its never good'

At the time, he pointed out that 'Blake's 'complaints were filed during the filming ... on record ... long before the public conflict.'

'The cast unfollowed him for a reason. Read this article before spiting ignorance. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary,' Johnson wrote.

Johnson conceded that while 'no one is with out faults' and 'yes of COURSE mistakes were made,' he felt Blake was in the right in regard to the professional conflict.

Johnson described Blake, who's wed to Ryan Reynolds, 48, as 'a stay at home mom raising 4 kids, married to the busiest man in Hollywood and at the same time being a girl boss running multiple companies while writing, producing, running non profits and working 16+ hour days from home so [she] can be with [her] kids.'

Johnson in a subsequent comment said Blake was 'attacked by a VERY expensive PR smear campaign because [she] filed a sexual harassment claim for the very film [she] have to go out and promote with just the right tone or [she'd] get cooked' by Baldoni's team.

Last month, Johnson wrote on social media that 'the public got played' by Baldoni and that his 'PR team was stellar' (Blake seen in August 2024)

Johnson has been married to Blake's sister since 1999

He said he viewed Blake as 'a "girl boss"' who has proven 'every bit as capable and qualified if not more so' than men in her industry, adding, 'Shes my hero as is any woman charging it like this.'

In reference to a 2016 Blake interview that has circulated amid her clash with Baldoni, Johnson said, 'I mean, shes been rude in these interviews that magically played on repeat. I saw it. None of us have ever been wrong or mean.

'Never. We should discount decades of good for those few bad moments. Glad the microscope isnt on me every day of my life.'

He said of his sister-in-law: 'Looks like shes doing a hell of a job to me and trying to do good things for the right reasons. But yeah lets post from our couch how much we hate her for making mistakes. That makes sense.'

Bart first spoke out after his spouse Robyn, 52, posted a message on her Instagram story as she weighed in on the explosive court battle which has stunned Hollywood.

Bart first spoke out after his spouse Robyn, 52, posted a message on her Instagram story as she weighed in on the explosive court battle which has stunned Hollywood; seen in 2022

Gossip Girl star Lively claims Baldoni hired a crisis PR team to engage in a 'multi-tiered' plan to 'destroy' her reputation after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds complained of 'repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior' on set.

The film was mired in controversy even before the lawsuit after fans noticed tensions between Lively and Baldoni when they were promoting the movie before its release.

Lively has accused Baldoni, who also directed the film, of making sexual comments about the cast and crew, showing her explicit videos and images of women and discussing his previous alleged porn addiction.

Standing in solidarity with her younger sister, Robyn shared screenshots from a New York Times article that laid bare the astonishing details of the lawsuit.

Lively has accused Baldoni, who also directed the film, of making sexual comments about the cast and crew, showing her explicit videos and images of women and discussing his previous alleged porn addiction

'FINALLY justice for my sister @BlakeLively,' she wrote, highlighting specific sentences from the article such as 'Ms Lively had expressed concerns about Mr Baldoni from the beginning'.

She also encouraged her followers to click on and read the article and wrote 'Blake Lively' with a heart drawn around the name.

Baldoni hit back at the New York Times by suing the publication for defamation before launching the $400million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds earlier this month, in which he accused the Hollywood pair of conspiring to trash his reputation with the allegations.

He also accused Lively of hijacking the filming of It Ends With Us, which he directed, and claimed she forced him and his family to wait in a basement holding area at the premiere so she did not have to see him.

Baldoni hit back at the New York Times by suing the publication for defamation before launching the $400million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds earlier this month, in which he accused the Hollywood pair of conspiring to trash his reputation with the allegations (seen in July 2024)

While many have questioned why Baldoni is going after the specific sum, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that he deduced the figure from Lively and Reynolds' reported net worth.

They said Baldoni has already lost out on thousands since being dropped by his agent, and that if the couple were successful in their lawsuit, he could be left penniless.

'Justin Baldoni chose $400 million because of the simple reason that Blake and Ryan's combined net worth is believed to be around that figure,' the source said.

'If they were successful in their pursuits, Justin would have lost everything he has and everything he has ever worked for.

'He has already lost jobs including the podcast and he was dropped by his agent. Prior to this he was flourishing.'

They continued: 'People close to Justin believe Blake and Ryan deserve to be bankrupted for trying to ruin the lives of Justin and others involved in this legal nightmare.'

Baldoni also accused Lively of hijacking the filming of It Ends With Us, which he directed, and claimed she forced him and his family to wait in a basement holding area at the premiere so she did not have to see him

Lively and Reynolds reportedly have a combined net worth of $380 million, which is largely thanks to his numerous lucrative off-screen ventures.

Over the years, he has had a stake in several businesses, including Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, and FuboTV.

In 2020, the actor sold his stake in Aviation Gin to Diageo, one of the world's largest producers of spirits and beers, in a deal worth up to $610 million.

That same year, he famously purchased Wrexham Football Club along with actor Rob McElhenney for $2.5 million.

On top of this, Reynolds' darkly comic portrayal of the flawed superhero Deadpool in the eponymous 2016 and 2018 films made him one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors.

Lively has also exercised her entrepreneurial streak in recent years with multiple brands including her gourmet mixer venture Betty Buzz, which sold 2.5 Million bottles within seven months of the launch back in 2021, Betty Booze - premium cocktails - and her new Blake Brown Beauty line.

Together, Lively and Reynolds have also showed off their philanthropic side, having previously donated $500,000 to Feeding America and $500,000 to Food Banks Canada during the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.

While many have questioned why Baldoni is going after the specific sum, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that he deduced the figure from Lively and Reynolds' reported net worth (seen

The couple faced a torrent of allegations against them when Baldoni fired back with a counter suit earlier this month.

The actor accused Reynolds of 'swearing' and 'berating him in an aggressive tirade' at a meeting held at the couple's New York penthouse - where Reynolds was present as his wife's 'representative' to discuss Baldoni's conduct.

Lively's attorneys issued a fiery statement to DailyMail.com in response to the lawsuit, branding it 'another chapter in the abuser playbook.'

'This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim,' they said. 'This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.'

The statement claimed Baldoni's production company Wayfarer Studios 'opted to use the resources of its billionaire co-founder to issue media statements, launch meritless lawsuits, and threaten litigation to overwhelm the public's ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against sexual harassment allegations.'

Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman explained his client's decision to sue.

'This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team's duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media,' he said in a statement.

'This is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.'

Lively and Reynolds reportedly have a combined net worth of $380 million, which is largely thanks to his numerous lucrative off-screen ventures; seen on August 06, 2024

On Monday, DailyMail.com published exclusive audio which sheds further light on the feud which arose when Lively made changes to the rooftop scene in the romantic drama film  not all of which were met with unqualified praise.

Baldoni can be heard offering the actress a groveling apology and noting 'I fell short' over his response to her changes.

In the full audio message, which is just over six and a half minutes long, he goes on to say that he is pleased she feels comfortable enough to tell him that and describes himself as 'a very flawed man, as my wife will say.'

It came days after video footage appeared to pull Lively's sexual harassment claims into question.

The actress accused Baldoni of dragging his lips down her neck and telling her it smells so good while filming a dance scene, with Lively claiming in her civil rights complaint that nobody overheard because the microphones were switched off.

But the tapes show how friendly the two stars were, with the pair laughing and joking around, joshing about the size of Baldonis nose and even talking about how they spend their time with their spouses.
Bella Hadid showcased her incredible model form in a tiny red string bikini while posing up a storm in the snow in Aspen, Colorado.

The 28-year-old cover girl flaunted her toned abs and her pert derriere in a crimson hued two piece, paired with stylish cowboy boots.

Bella also carried a red and white scarf that she revealed she designed as a free gift for anyone who purchases her Orebella fragrance from beauty store Ulta or from Orebella.com.

Bella, who noted in the caption that the images were taken on January 1st, struck poses in the racy look while in a snowy landscape.

Bella vacationed to Aspen with her boyfriend Adan Banuelos for the holidays and New Year - although he was not pictured in her Instagram slideshow.

She tagged his family member, Jessica Banuelos Feiner, who is also specializes in showing cutting horses like Adan, making the holiday a family affair.

Bella Hadid showcased her incredible model form in a tiny red string bikini while posing up a storm in the snow in Aspen, Colorado

The 28-year-old cover girl flaunted her toned abs and her pert derriere in a crimson hued two piece, paired with stylish cowboy boots

Bella chose a barely there bright red bikini set, consisting of bottoms with gold hardware details and a cheeky cut.

She sported a matching triangle top, paired with brown and white cowboy boots - which appears to be a nod to her cowboy boyfriend Adan.

The runway star added a large red scrunchie - with her hair styled into a chic bun.

Bella posed up a storm with a colorful scarf that was designed as a free gift with purchase.

The brunette beauty captioned the post: 'Camera roll from the first day of the new year. Wrap yourself in nature and love, no matter where you wander this winter. Hydrating scents and silky fabrics for your frost-kissed skin.'

'For a limited time, you'll received your own silk, red scarf with any @orabella large size parfum purchase on our site or @ultabeauty.'

'Literally go online of Orebella.com and put a 100ml in your cart and this will come up as 0$ with purchase...girl math is...mathing! And it's making me so happy. I put these on my purse, around my neck, through my jean loops...obsessed. I hope you love them as much as I do... This is one of my most favorite special pieces we've done.'

Bella also carried a red and white scarf that she revealed she designed as a free gift for anyone who purchases her Orebella fragrance from beauty store Ulta or from Orebella.com

Bella, who noted in the caption that the images were taken on January 1st, struck poses in the racy look while in a snowy landscape

Bella chose a barely there bright red bikini set, consisting of bottoms with gold hardware details and a cheeky cut

She sported a matching triangle top, paired with brown and white cowboy boots - which appears to be a nod to her cowboy boyfriend Adan

The runway star added a large red scrunchie - with her hair styled into a chic bun

Bella posed up a storm with a colorful scarf that was designed as a free gift with purchase

Her or her pals' cute pup also appeared in one of the images

She tagged his family member, Jessica Banuelos Feiner, who is also specializes in showing cutting horses like Adan, making the holiday a family affair

Bella launched her fragrance line Orebella on May 2, 2024, with the scents all alcohol-free, vegan, PETA-certified and dermatologist-tested.

Her brand, which has the tagline 'Reveal your alchemy' - launched it on Ulta.com on May 10, 2024.

Her brand began with three scents - which are 'skin-nourishing' and all alcohol-free and 'elevated with essential oils.'

The fragrances are: Blooming Fire, Window2Soul and Salted Muse.

Blooming Fire features monoi, bergamot and patchouli; Window2soul is jasmine, rose and tonka bean.

Salted Muse features sea salt, olive tree and cedarwood.

She just launched her fourth scent - called Nightcap Parfum - which has ginger, cardamom and vanilla notes.

Bella and Adan, 35, were first seen holding hands and kissing in October 2023 while in Fort Worth, Texas.

In January 2024, Bella shared snaps of her in a horse competition in late January, with one of the photos of them holding hands.

Bella and Adan were first seen holding hands and kissing in October 2023 while in Fort Worth, Texas; On Valentine's Day, Bella called him her Valentine and shared a snap of them gazing sweetly at each other

On Valentine's Day 2024, Bella called him her Valentine and shared a snap of them gazing sweetly at each other.

Bella has been spending a lot of time in Texas, where he primarily resides, and has been seen supporting him at competitions.

In March 2024, it was reported by TMZ that Bella, who primarily lived in New York City, purchased a property in the Forth Worth area to be closer to her boyfriend.

Banuelos is a successful horse rider and notably became one of the youngest individuals to be inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame back in 2017.

Bella is also an avid equestrian and has competed in events, taking home two rodeo buckles in April 2024 - which her mother Yolanda proudly documented at the time.

She notably moved to Fort Worth and purchased a home in a rural neighborhood, TMZ reported earlier in March 2024, but is 'close enough to urban amenities.'

She opened up about her life in Texas and her friendships in the state during an interview with Allure back in April 2024. 'We have the best time, and I never feel like I need to do too much.'

In early May 2024, Bella launched her fragrance brand called Orebella; seen during her press tour for Orebella on May 3 while rocking a vintage S/S 2003 Roberto Cavalli runway dress with a waist corset and high-low skirt

The couple went Instagram official in February 2024

Bella is also an avid equestrian and has competed in events, taking home two rodeo buckles in April - which her mother Yolanda proudly documented at the time

'For the first time now, I'm not putting on a fake face. If I don't feel good, I won't go. If I don't feel good, I take time for myself. And I've never had the opportunity to do that or say that before.'

'Now when anybody sees me in pictures and they say, I look happy, I genuinely am. I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good days,' Bella continued.

Last year, the star notably took a hiatus from modeling due to her battle with Lyme disease.

Adan opened up their his girlfriend Bella during an interview on the podcast Along For The Ride, which dropped on August 6.

The 35-year-old professional horseman revealed on the podcast that she 'happily' moved in to his 5th wheel trailer.

She did do the 5th wheel, happily. It was bada**.'

Adan, who is a Mexican-American horseman, emphasized the important of Bella understanding his lifestyle before their relationship progressed further.

Though the duo enjoyed trailer living for a while, Bella recently went on to purchase her own home in Texas. Adan explained: 'I'm working on building a home [but] it's gonna take me a little bit'

Adan opened up their his girlfriend Bella during an interview on the podcast Along for The Ride , which dropped on August 6; the pair seen May 3 in NYC

The 35-year-old professional horseman revealed on the podcast that she 'happily' moved in to his 5th wheel trailer; seen in March

'It was cool because I really wanted that to be a part of our relationship. You know, you start having feelings for somebody and you start thinking things like, "Man, maybe this is the rest of my life here" and knowing that she is that simple of a human being [and] that the material things arent important  or the most important thing.'

Adan joked that having Bella in the 5th wheel trailer made it feel like a mansion.

'That 5th wheel has always felt small and then you get, you know, somebody that you enjoy spending time with and that 5th wheel went from a 5th wheel to a f*****g mansion.'

The athlete gushed about his girlfriend and how down-to-earth her attitude is, revealing that she would wake up at '2:30 am in the morning' to bring everyone breakfast during competitions.

'Being that consistent and that uplifting and positive and warm to everybody she meets and helping with horses and stuff like that it's just freaking amazing,' he stated.

Though the duo enjoyed trailer living for a while, Bella recently went on to purchase her own home in Texas.

Adan explained: 'I'm working on building a home [but] it's gonna take me a little bit but she bought something that was a good investment for her.'

He added that they will determine their primary residence when the time comes.

Adan further gushed about the Vogue cover girl, saying, 'Man, I can't tell you how happy I am. I can't tell you how fortunate I am.

'This young lady is one of the kindest, biggest-hearted and sweet person Ive [ever met]. I mean I didnt know God made em like that.'

'You start having feelings for somebody and you start thinking things like, "Man, maybe this is the rest of my life here" and knowing that she is that simple of a human being [and] that the material things arent important  or the most important thing,' he said

Adan expressed how impressed he was with Bella's down-to-earth attitude, revealing she would wake up at '2:30 in the morning' to bring everyone breakfast during competitions

Banuelos further asserted that Hadid's external beauty 'is nowhere near compared to what she's like as a human being'

Banuelos further asserted that Hadid's external beauty 'is nowhere near compared to what she's like as a human being.'

He said she 'deserves the best' and is his number one 'priority.'

The pair's initial encounter occurred at a horse exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas, in fall 2023, where they bonded over their love of horses.

'From there it went in a positive direction and she puts up with me and she loves me and I'm head over heels for her. It's been absolutely awesome.'
Renee Zellweger dazzled in a figure-hugging pink satin gown as she joined her Bridget Jones, Mad About The Boy co-star Leo Woodall at the London premiere on Wednesday evening.

The actress, 55, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet in the bright, strapless ensemble, which boasted a short train.

She added inches to her height in a pointy pair of maroon heels and pulled her blonde tresses back into a wavy half-up, half-down style.

Renee was glowing as she opted for a minimal palette of makeup to showcase her natural beauty for the star-studded premiere.

She chose not to wear a necklace, instead letting the stunning dress speak for itself, but the actress did add a diamante-encrusted chunky statement ring on her index finger.

The star of the beloved franchise seemed to be on cloud nine as she posed up a storm on the red carpet, before stopping for selfies with excited fans.

Renee Zellweger dazzled in a figure-hugging pink satin gown as she joined her Bridget Jones, Mad About The Boy co-star Leo Woodall at the London premiere on Wednesday evening

The actress, 55, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet in the bright, strapless ensemble, which boasted a short train

She was joined by One Day star Leo, who plays her character's love interest in the most recent instalment of the rom-com saga.

The actor, 28, cut a dapper figure in a brown velvet suit, layered over a smart black shirt and matching shoes.

He accessorised with a silver chain as he and Renee put on an animated display before heading inside the event.

The duo made sure to get into character as they larked around together for pictures, gazing into each other's eyes for one photo, before holding hands in another.

Renee was also reunited with her on-screen love rat ex Hugh Grant, who has played the role of Daniel Cleaver throughout the fan-favourite film series.

The legendary actor, 64, looked smart in a black blazer and matching trousers, paired with a white shirt.

The iconic pairing looked thrilled to be together again as they couldn't contain their giggles on the red carpet.

After posing for snaps with his co-star, Hugh put on a loved-up display with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein, 41.

Anna showcased her incredible figure as she put on a very leggy display in a white frilly mini dress.

She added inches to her height in a pointy pair of maroon heels and pulled her blonde tresses back into a wavy half-up, half-down style

Renee was glowing as she opted for a minimal palette of makeup to showcase her natural beauty for the star-studded premiere

The star of the beloved franchise seemed to be on cloud nine as she posed up a storm on the red carpet, before stopping for selfies with excited fans

She was joined by One Day star Leo, who plays her character's love interest in the most recent instalment of the rom-com saga

The actor, 28, cut a dapper figure in a brown velvet suit, layered over a smart black shirt and matching shoes

He accessorised with a silver chain as he and Renee put on an animated display before heading inside the event

Renee was also reunited with her on-screen love rat ex Hugh Grant, who has played the role of Daniel Cleaver throughout the fan-favourite film series

The legendary actor, 64, looked smart in a black blazer and matching trousers, paired with a white shirt

The iconic pairing looked thrilled to be together again as they couldn't contain their giggles on the red carpet

After posing for snaps with his co-star, Hugh put on a loved-up display with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein, 41

Also in attendance at the London premiere was Australian actress Isla Fischer, who oozed glamour in a busty red gown

The 48-year-old star stunned in the figure-hugging ensemble, which she teamed with gold platform heels and a matching clutch bag

Meanwhile, Vanessa Feltz, 62, commanded attention in a sparkling blue evening gown, which boasted a plunging neckline

Renee also made sure to pose with author Helen Fielding, who wrote the beloved Bridget Jones franchise

The 66-year-old writer looked sensational in a burgundy satin gown featuring a thigh-high slit

Renee's co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor, looked suave in a Prada velvet suit paired with a deep blue shirt and tie

And Sarah Solemani, who portrays Bridget's best friend Miranda in the rom-com, put on a racy display in a flowing sheer black dress

The cast banded together for a group picture at the London screening

Also in attendance at the London premiere was Australian actress Isla Fischer, who oozed glamour in a busty red gown.

The 48-year-old star, who plays Rebecca in the upcoming movie, stunned in the figure-hugging ensemble, which she teamed with gold platform heels and a matching clutch bag.

She wore her auburn locks in loose waves and opted for a glamorous palette of makeup as she joined the slew of A-listers at the event.

Meanwhile, Vanessa Feltz, 62, commanded attention in a sparkling blue evening gown, which boasted a plunging neckline.

Renee also made sure to pose with author Helen Fielding, who wrote the beloved Bridget Jones franchise.

The 66-year-old writer looked sensational in a burgundy satin gown featuring a thigh-high slit.

Renee's co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor, looked suave in a Prada velvet suit paired with a deep blue shirt and tie.

And Sarah Solemani, who portrays Bridget's best friend Miranda in the rom-com, put on a racy display in a flowing sheer black dress.

She layered the see-through gown over a black bodysuit, showcasing her incredible figure.

British actress and author Celia Imrie showcased her quirky sense of style in a flamboyant black and white suit

Fellow cast member Leila Farzad looked incredible in a pink power suit complete with a statement black and silver belt, cincing in at the waist

She was joined by Nico Parker, whose father is screenwriter Ol Parker, with the 19-year-old actress looking chic in a white dress

Singer-songwriter Jessie Ware flaunted her unique fashion sense in a black, white and red graphic dress which included a picture of a nude figure

And actress Josette Simon was glowing in a flowy white gown as she waved at fans outside the star-studded premiere

Jenni Falconer and Tina Hobley looked animated as they donned matching black ensembles on the red carpet

And comedian Rosie Jones brought the colour in a vibrant green top and yellow checkered trousers

TV personality Ollie Locke looked smart in a chunky turtleneck knitted jumper paired with pastel pink trousers

Tanya Burr oozed elegance in a sophisticated black velvet gown with dramatic puffed sleeves

He was joined by Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing, who stopped to pose for snaps on the carpet before heading into the event

Sophie looked incredible in a skintight leather trousers and a matching jacket, with Jamie opting for a smart navy look

Singer and actress Beverley Knight went for a more unique red carpet outfit as she stepped out in green waterproof jacket with huge ballooned sleeves

Celebs Go Dating star Anna Williamson stunned in a black evening gown with diamante detailing

British actress and author Celia Imrie, 72, showcased her quirky sense of style in a flamboyant black and white suit.

Fellow cast member Leila Farzad looked incredible in a pink power suit complete with a statement black and silver belt, cincing in at the waist.

She was joined by Nico Parker, whose father is screenwriter Ol Parker, with the 19-year-old actress looking chic in a white dress.

Singer-songwriter Jessie Ware flaunted her unique fashion sense in a black, white and red graphic dress which included a picture of a nude figure.

And actress Josette Simon was glowing in a flowy white gown as she waved at fans outside the star-studded premiere.

Jenni Falconer and Tina Hobley looked animated as they donned matching black ensembles on the red carpet.

And comedian Rosie Jones brought the colour in a vibrant green top and yellow checkered trousers.

TV personality Ollie Locke looked smart in a chunky turtleneck knitted jumper paired with pastel pink trousers.

Renee's iconic singleton finally married Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth in the most recent film, 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby

The couple had shared an on-and-off romance across all three films, but finally got their happy ending after it was revealed the high-flying lawyer was the father of her baby (pictured with her on-screen kids)

The trailer for upcoming fourth film sees Bridget being encouraged to get back on the horse by her friends after self-imposing a four-year sex ban in the years following Mark's death

He was joined by Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing, who stopped to pose for snaps on the carpet before heading into the event.

Sophie looked incredible in a skintight leather trousers and a matching jacket, with Jamie opting for a smart navy look.

Singer and actress Beverley Knight went for a more unique red carpet outfit as she stepped out in green waterproof jacket with huge ballooned sleeves.

Renee's iconic singleton finally married Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth in the most recent film, 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby.

The couple had shared an on-and-off romance across all three films, but finally got their happy ending after it was revealed the high-flying lawyer was the father of her baby.

However, in the fourth book by Helen Fielding, Mad About The Boy, Mark tragically dies while working abroad as a human rights lawyer, leaving Bridget a widow and battling motherhood alone.

The trailer for the fourth film revealed that the same storyline would play out, with it being confirmed Mark had died before the events of the movie.

The trailer for upcoming fourth film sees Bridget being encouraged to get back on the horse by her friends after self-imposing a four-year sex ban in the years following Mark's death.

She also quits her job working in television to do the school run, with comical scenes expected as she struggles to keep up with the Yummy Mummies.

Renee and Hugh pictured in the first movie from 2001

During a trip to the park, Bridget finds her two children have got themselves stuck in a tree where she is rescued by two dashing dashing men in the form of The White Lotus star's Leo Woodall and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.

She soon finds herself in the middle of a three-way battle for her affections between boytoy Roxster, played by Leo, PE teacher Mr. Wallaker, played by Chiwetel and a returning Hugh Grant as the infamous Daniel Cleaver.

Fans can also rejoice as one particularly sexy scene sees Roxster jump into a pool in front of her to rescue a little dog - in a moment mirroring the iconic Mr Darcy Pride and Prejudice look.

As the trailer unravels, Bridget's romance with Roxster heats up and the pair have 'mindblowing sex' after a date.

However Bridget is left confused as flirtatious meetings with Mr Wallaker increase and she eventually stumbles into a barn to find him half-naked.

The movie was officially confirmed last year, with the script being penned by author Helen, Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer, and Michael Morris as director.

Bridget Jones, Mad About The Boy will hit cinema screens on February 14 2025
Former MTV host Matt Pinfield suffered a massive stroke earlier this month, with his family launching a legal battle over his assets.

Pinfield, 63, who rose to fame as host of MTV alternative music program 120 Minutes in the 1990s, had a devastating stroke on January 6, with his daughter Jessica filing for temporary conservatorship as Pinfield is 'incompetent to make decisions.'

Per legal documents obtained by TMZ, Jessica and sister Maya says they are concerned about the DJ's money and personal property due to his girlfriend having access to his accounts and fears she will withdraw his funds.

They have asked for temporary conservators to oversee his bank account and apartment.

Hours before his stroke, Pinfield shared a photo of himself at work to Instagram captioned: 'Starting another week with gratitude for a life surrounded by great people, life changing music, and unforgettable experiences that I never take for granted.

'Here to another week-another day-open heart and open mind. Lets rock!'

Former MTV host Matt Pinfield suffered a massive stroke earlier this month, with his family launching a legal battle over his assets - pictured 2014

Pinfield, 63, who rose to fame as host of MTV's 120 Minutes in the 1990s, had a devastating stroke on January 6 , with his daughter Jessica filing for temporary conservatorship as Pinfield is 'incompetent to make decisions - pictured hours before the stroke

Pinfield suffered a near-fatal collision in 2018 when he was struck by a car while crossing the street near his Hollywood home.

Hitting the windshield headfirst and striking the pavement, his head was split open to his skull and he broke his leg in two places.

He has also battled heart problems and substance abuse, which led him to go to rehab in early 2017, per The San Francisco Chronicle.

He said: 'I was dealing with A-fib (atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythm). Drinking on top of it wasnt a good idea. And it turns out I was overmedicated.

Los Angeles radio station KCSN issued a statement amid Pinfield's health crisis

It read: 'The SoCal Sounds legendary DJ Matt Pinfield will be taking a temporary leave of absence.

'We are fully supportive of Matt and hope to have his energetic knowledge of rock n roll back on the air soon.'

He most recently co-hosted The Power Hour on AXS TV.

Pinfield suffered a near-fatal collision in 2018 when he was struck by a car while crossing the street near his Hollywood home - pictured 2012

The Killers wrote 2004 track All These Things I've Done about Pinfield - he is pictured with Flowers and Vanucci in 2019 shortly after surviving the near-fatal crash

Per legal documents obtained by TMZ , Jessica and sister Maya says they are concerned about the DJ's money and personal property due to his girlfriend having access to his accounts and fears she will withdraw his funds - pictured 2013

Pinfield (pictured in October 2024 with Pete Yorn) has previously battled heart problems and substance abuse, which led him to go to rehab in early 2017

Pinfield hosted 120 Minutes from 1995 to 1999 on MTV and from 2011 to 2013 on MTV2.

He began his career in the 1980s as a radio and club DJ in New Jersey.

Along with his 120 Minutes stint work he worked on TRL and VH1.

After leaving MTV in 1999 he hosted USA Network show Farmclub.com, before becoming vice president of A&R and artist development for Columbia Records from 2001 to 2006.

During his time at Columbia, he worked with the at the time unknown rock band The Killers, who later wrote 2004 hit track All These Things That I've Done about him.

At the time Pinfield was working with the US Army as part of a program that mentored wounded or PTSD-stricken musician soldiers returning from Iraq.

After watching The Killers rehearse and going to dinner with them, he was given a ride back to his hotel by frontman Brandon Flowers, with the pair stopping at a Las Vegas bar.

Pinfield said: 'I started to tell him the story about mentoring soldiers, and I was getting ready to go through a divorce. I was going through a bit of a rough time. So, he went home that night, and their old manager, Braden Merrick, calls me on the phone, and goes, "Hey Matt, Brandon wrote a song about you. He went home last night and wrote this song." It was All These Things That I've Done, and the line I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier is about the mentoring thing.'

In 2019 Pinfield shared a sweet post with Flowers and Ronnie Vanucci after attending their LA concert.

After leaving MTV in 1999 he hosted USA Network show Farmclub.com, before becoming vice president of A&R and artist development for Columbia Records from 2001 to 2006 - pictured 2013 with Josh Krajcik at the MTV, VH1, CMT & LOGO O Music Awards

He wrote: 'Backstage with Ronnie Vanucci and Brandon Flowers from The Killers at the LA Forum. It was a beautiful moment tonight when Brandon dedicated All These Things That Ive Done to me from the stage.;

He later worked at New York radio station WRXP 101.9FM.

He worked at SiriusXM Radio's Lithium channel in 2016 and the following year published a memoir, All These Things That I've Done: My Insane, Improbable Rock Life.

In March 2024, Pinfield became the new afternoon drivetime host for KCSN in LA.
Comedian Ken Flores has tragically passed away, at age 28, in the midst of his 33-date Butterfly Effect Tour.

'It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and son, Kenyi Flores,' the family posted on his Instagram account Wednesday.

'Please respect our privacy at this time as we are all shocked and devastated by this loss.'

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to TMZ that Ken died on Tuesday from undisclosed causes.

Last Sunday, Flores revealed via X that he was making an attempt at being booze-free for his 2025 tour.

'So I started my tour a couple weeks ago and I'm proud to say I've done every single show - five in Portland, one in Albuquerque, and four in Atlanta - without a single drop of alcohol,' the Chicago-based funnyman tweeted.

Comedian Ken Flores has tragically passed away, at age 28, in the midst of his 33-date Butterfly Effect Tour (pictured in 2023)

'Nervous for Phoenix next weekend but I think I got it. I'm not sober just wanna chill a bit.'

Indeed, Ken was scheduled to perform this Thursday night at Desert Ridge Improv in Phoenix, AZ.

Flores had his 969K social media followers to thank for many of his bits going viral on Instagram and TikTok.

The former Talkin' My S*** podcaster was also once part of a roast battle with the roastmaster general himself, Jeff Ross.

The Hollywood Improv lead the online tributes by posting a slideshow of snaps of Ken performing at the historic venue.

'We were honored to share your talent on our stages,' Hollywood Improv wrote.

'You were greatness, and it was only a matter of time until the whole world saw it. You were also kind and a tremendous friend to all lucky enough to know you. We love you Ken, thank you for all the laughs.'

Comedian Carlos Flores Instastoried a recent snap captioned: 'Feels unreal I had just met you compa... nicest and funniest dude ever. RIP young legend.'

Comedian Neema Naz wrote: F***, I was hoping this wasn't real. What a tragic and devastating loss to the world. Ken was a gem and was going to be a star one day. RIP.'

The family posted on his Instagram account Wednesday: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and son, Kenyi Flores. Please respect our privacy at this time as we are all shocked and devastated by this loss'

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to TMZ that Ken died on Tuesday from undisclosed causes (pictured last Sunday)

Last Sunday, Flores revealed via X that he was making an attempt at being booze-free for his 2025 tour (pictured August 10)

The Chicago-based funnyman tweeted: 'So I started my tour a couple weeks ago and I'm proud to say I've done every single show - five in Portland, one in Albuquerque, and four in Atlanta - without a single drop of alcohol. Nervous for Phoenix next weekend but I think I got it. I'm not sober just wanna chill a bit'

The Hollywood Improv lead the online tributes by posting a slideshow of snaps of Ken performing at the historic venue

Comedian Carlos Flores Instastoried a recent snap captioned: 'Feels unreal I had just met you compa... nicest and funniest dude ever. RIP young legend'

The band Los Desvelados shared a snap captioned: 'Ken, thank you for all the amazing times, the laughter, the jokes. You will be missed!'

Comedian Rene Vaca shared a PDA-filled slideshow captioned: 'Life will never be the same. I love you so much king'

And the comedy account Foos Gone Wild posted: 'RIP @kenflores300 We lost a super talented and funny foo. Glad to have worked with him ad the FGW Comedy Store show. Our condolences to his family. Socks up to heavens'

The band Los Desvelados shared a snap captioned: 'Ken, thank you for all the amazing times, the laughter, the jokes. You will be missed!'

Comedian Rene Vaca shared a PDA-filled slideshow captioned: 'Life will never be the same. I love you so much king.'

And the comedy account Foos Gone Wild posted: 'RIP @kenflores300 We lost a super talented and funny foo. Glad to have worked with him ad the FGW Comedy Store show. Our condolences to his family. Socks up to heavens.'
Love Island All Stars fans blasted Ekin-Su's 'overreaction' as Curtis enjoyed a night in the hideaway with new bombshell Danielle in Wednesday night's episode.

In a brand new twist, newcomers Danielle Sellers and Sammy Root chose Elma and Curtis to spend a night with them in private.

Much to Ekin-Su's fury, Curtis and Danielle spent a cosy evening getting to know each other.

Fans were left in hysterics as they claimed Ekin-Su was 'making a deal out of nothing to get air time'.

Others added: 'Ekin making a big deal out of nothing again just to get that little air time she craves #loveisland #LoveIslandAllStars',

'Ekin is doing toooo much',

Love Island All Stars fans blasted Ekin-Su's 'overreaction' as Curtis enjoyed a night in the hideaway with new bombshell Danielle in Wednesday night's episode

In a brand new twist, newcomers Danielle Sellers (pictured) and Sammy Root chose Elma and Curtis to spend a night with them in private

'Anyone else feel like Ekin Su is being extra with everything she does to get back into the British public's good books after her car crash appearance on #CBBUK?',

'Ekin is SPIRALLING #LoveIsland #AllStars',

'BRO EKIN IS FUMING FOR WHAT?? #LoveIslandAllStars',

'EKIN YOURE KILLING ME',

Series 10 contestant Sammy also stars on TOWIE and is looking forward to ruffling feathers with his villa entrance.

Sammy bagged the cash prize after winning the series alongside Jess Harding but called off their romance soon after they returned home.

Speaking about his fresh chance at love, Sammy explained: 'It did work out for me the first time, but things changed when I left the Villa. Hopefully this time round, Ill leave with a relationship that goes the distance.

'Last time I was very much a boy and was immature at times in terms of not thinking about my actions beforehand.'

Much to Ekin-Su's fury, Curtis and Danielle spent a cosy evening getting to know each other

Fans were left in hysterics as they claimed Ekin-Su was 'making a deal out of nothing to get air time'

Love Island's new bombshells Sammy Root, 23, and Danielle Sellers , 29, are set to make history when they return to the villa on Wednesday night's show

In Wednesday's episode, the Islanders will learn that for the first time ever, two Islanders have been chosen to go to the Hideaway Retreat for a sleepover with the bombshells (Luca Bish pictured)

The Islanders have no idea which two bombshells are waiting in the Hideaway Retreat and why they've chosen each Islander

He continued: 'Now looking back, I feel like Ive changed a lot and Id like to think Ive grown from a boy to a gentleman.'

Danielle, who appeared in series three, is looking to find the man of her dreams as she returns.

After appearing on the show as a bombshell in Casa Amor last time, Danielle is hoping she finds more luck this time round.

She said: 'I was a lot younger going in the first time, I was 21!

'I entered during Casa Amor and lots of the boys were in strong couples! 8 years on, Im older and know what I want, so Im going to just go for it!'

Love Island: All Stars continues on ITV2 and ITVX at 9:00pm.
The cause of death for All My Children star Esta TerBlanche has been revealed.

TerBlanche's cause of death was ruled to be an intracranial hemorrhage, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced in a press release.

The department added the bleed occurred as a result of 'blunt force traumatic head injury likely due to a ground level fall.'

Her death has been determined to be an accident.

The release also stated TerBlanche, who passed at age 51, was found unresponsive at her residence on July 19, 2024. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at 11:10AM.

An examination was completed by the deputy medical examiner on July 22 and the cause and manner of her death were certified on January 29.

Esta TerBlanche's cause of death has been determined to be an intracranial hemorrhage, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced in a press release

TMZ reports that TerBlanche has since been interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

In a statement confirming her death, her manager Anne Spoliansky told People in July: 'We are deeply saddened by this news.

'As for a personal statement, Id like to say that Esta was such a kind, loving, giving, and caring person.'

'She cared so deeply for all people and animals,' Spoliansky continued. 'She had squirrels she fed and looked after daily, her two cats and recent kittens that she cared for as her own children.'

'Esta was never anything but generous and lovely to me, and Im grateful to have known her for the time that I did, and devastated to learn of her passing.'

The South African actress passed away unexpectedly in July in her California home, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley previously told TMZ.

At the time of her death, TMZ reported that medical responders believed she had been dead in the North Hollywood property for around one day before she was discovered.

The star was found dead in her bathroom by her assistant, insiders previously told the outlet.

The South African actress passed away unexpectedly in July in her California home, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley previously told TMZ (Pictured with All My Children co-star Cameron Mathison)

TerBlanche's career took off after she won Miss Teen South Africa in 1991.

She was best known for her role as Gillian Andrassy in American sitcom All My Children.

She got her start playing Bienkie Naude Hartman on the South African drama Egolim, a role she starred in from 1992 to 1995.

TerBlanche's character in All My Children - the trouble-making princess - was killed off in 2001 so that she could move back to South Africa.

Matheson and TerBlanche pictured in a 1999 scene from All My Children

She was married to Andre Kock from 1997 to 2008, when they divorced. TerBlanche announced the split during an interview with Soap Opera Digest.

The TV star reportedly took a break from acting, returned to Los Angeles and opened a healing spa.

She is survived by her ex-husband Andre Kock, and her goddaughter.
The Artificial Intelligence wars have begun.

China fired the first shot.

On Monday, $1 trillion in stock market value was wiped off the books of American tech companies after Chinese startup DeepSeek created an AI-tool that rivals the best that US firms have to offer  and at a fraction of the cost.

DeepSeek claims its engineers trained their AI-model with $6 million worth of computer chips, while leading AI-competitor, OpenAI, spent an estimated $3 billion training and developing its models in 2024 alone.

What's more, DeepSeek says they accomplished this feat with relatively dated technology. (US sanctions deny the Chinese the world's most advanced chip tech.)

That news landed on Wall Street like a ton of bricks. This is the first time that China has beaten the US to a major AI discovery.

It was nothing short of 'AI's Sputnik moment,' according to Marc Andreessen, one of the foremost tech investors in the world, a reference to October 4, 1957, the day the Soviet Union beat the US to launch the first satellite into space.

More than six decades ago, the American public was shocked that an adversarial nation had leapfrogged the US in the space race. Many were terrified by the thought that the Soviet Union  a communist regime with designs on global domination  would seize control of the skies above their heads.

So, is now a time to panic? No. By Tuesday, US technology markets were already clawing back some of the losses from yesterday's rout, as questions were raised over the veracity of DeepSeek's claims.

The Artificial Intelligence wars have begun. China fired the first shot.

DeepSeek claims that its engineers trained their AI-model with $6 million worth of computer chips, while leading AI-competitor, OpenAI, spent an estimated $3 billion.

It was nothing short of 'AI's Sputnik moment,' according to Marc Andreessen (above), one of the foremost tech investors in the world, a reference to October 4, 1957, the day the Soviet Union beat the US to launch the first satellite into space.

I also suspect that DeepSeek somehow managed to evade US sanctions and obtain the most advanced computer chips. If that's the case, then their progress is much more understandable.

However, America cannot ignore the threat of Chinese AI dominance.

In this day and age, artificial intelligence translates to military supremacy. Whoever commands the best AI will win wars in the future.

Right now, China may well come out on top. On Wednesday, the Chinese tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba released its AI-model and claimed it computing power surpassed even DeepSeek.

AI can be used to power autonomous weapon systems, command fleets of drones and detect, track, and engage enemy threats in real time. If China is able to create more intelligent, faster and cheaper AI models than the US, they can use that to develop more effective weapons too.

DeepSeek also poses an immediate national security risk to America.

On Monday it was the top download on Apple's store - shooting past OpenAI's ChatGPT - as thousands of Americans loaded it onto their phones.

The American people have to be on their guard. If you download the app, you better ask who's watching and who's listening. From what I can tell, it scrapes your emails and personal data.

I would always recommend using American products rather than their Chinese equivalents, but if I ever did use DeepSeek, I'd download it onto the same burner phone that I use for Chinese-owned TikTok.

Make no mistake, America is in a technological arms race with China, as it was with the Soviets, decades ago. And it is past time to focus America's incredible economic, creative and industrial strength on winning the AI war.

I believe that the US, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, is well positioned to win in this sphere if it continues to invest in AI.

Of course, I also have a financial dog in this fight. Beyond my deep loyalty to America, my home country, Canada and The West. I am an investor in a $70 billion project to build AI data centers (which provide the energy and infrastructure to build AI models) in Alberta, Canada.

I suspect that DeepSeek somehow managed to evade US sanctions and obtain the most advanced computer chips. (Pictured: Liang Wenfeng, Founder of DeepSeek).

I also believe that the US, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, is well positioned to triumph in this sphere if it continues to invest in AI as it is now.

Just last week, Trump announced the new 'Stargate Project' under which top American AI companies will pour $500 billion of investment into developing data centers and other AI infrastructure in the US by 2029.

President Trump also has the power to fight back against Chinese tech using tariffs.

America is also the world's largest buyer of AI technology and if President Trump imposes tariffs on Chinese AI products, he may be able to price them out of the market.

As long as America recognizes DeepSeek for the threat that it is, there is no need to panic.

Instead, just like with Sputnik, America must seize this challenge to innovate and regain AI supremacy once again.
Costco has lost its crown as the country's top warehouse club for customer service - overtaken by Sam's Club.

Customers raved about the new high-tech Scan & Go checkouts at Sam's Club, Walmart's version of Costco.

They allow customers to scan and pay for groceries with an app on their phone and just walk straight out. One in three shoppers use them, and they are able to skip checkout lines completely.

On the back of that, Sam's Club climbed to the top of the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index with a score of 85 out of 100, a four-point rise.

Not only did they leapfrog logtime winner Costco - whose score remained at 82 - but Sam's Club also outperformed all other major retailers.

'My hope is that Sam's Club, when you shop, feels like what it's like to shop in the future, this is a glimpse of that,' Sam's Club CEO Chris Nicholas said.

Being able to scan items on the way around aisles and then walk out is a major draw to shoppers, according to ACSI.

'We're seeing a clear divide emerge between brands that are meeting the needs and expectations of younger consumers versus those that are falling behind,' ACSI director of research emeritus Forrest Morgeson said.

Sam's Club has been rated the best retailer for customer experience, beating Costco

Digital features such as those used by Sam's Club are a key factor in the satisfaction of younger shoppers, Morgeson argued.

Furthermore, Sam's Club won praise from its members for its accurate and timely fulfilment of online orders, especially at curbside.

Costco's score remained flat at 82 while BJ's, which came in third, fell to 78.

Costco has made tentative moves into introducing tech to its services, but is yet to rival Sam's Club's digital offerings.

The retailer recently introduced ID scanners to prevent those without memberships shopping at its stores.

Costco has also introduced inventory searches for local stores online, allowing customers to search their most convenient store to check if the product they want is available.

The survey was made up of 42,000 shoppers who detailed their experience of using the popular stores.

Costco has hit headlines in recent days for their defiant stance against Trump's anti-DEI policies.

Sam's Club is the first retailer to deploy the AI checkout technology at exit and at scale, it said

Costco lost its long-held spot at No.1 on the The American Customer Satisfaction Index

An ID scanner at a Costco in Issaquah, Washington, to ensure all those shopping are members

The company and its shareholders recently voted to stick to their DEI policies.

At the company's annual meeting, they voted strongly against a proposal from a conservative activist group that challenged diversity, equity and inclusion policies at Costco.

The vote was seen as an early test of investor views about the value of corporate DEI programs, which many companies added or beefed up starting in 2020.

A top Costco executive warned that the retailer may be forced to raise its prices this year if Donald Trump brings in his proposed tariff policies.

'When it rains, it rains on everybody,' Gary Millerchip, the chief financial officer of the budget big-box retailer, told investors on an earnings call last month.

'Of course, tariffs raise costs. That's not something that we see as a positive in general,' he said.

The exec added that it was unclear what impact Trump's planned tariffs would have on the 'timing and scope of changes' at Costco.
The UK could benefit from India's trailblazing progress in artificial intelligence (AI) in improving its own parliamentary procedures, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said in his address at a diaspora gathering at the historic Guildhall in London.

Hoyle was the chief guest on Tuesday evening at the High Commission of India's annual Republic Day celebration, complete with glimpses from Sunday's Kartavya Path parade in New Delhi and highlights of the India-UK partnership over the past year.

The speaker referenced the recent UK visit of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who was hosted by his UK counterpart in the Houses of Parliament earlier this month.

The visit was an absolute eye-opener, especially when we heard about India leading the way in the use of artificial intelligence. To learn that AI simultaneously translates 22 languages in your Parliament is just incredible; as I told your honourable speaker, we would love to work together to find out how AI can improve our parliamentary procedures, said Hoyle.

This revelation only emphasises the trailblazing progress that your country is making. So, it makes perfect sense that our two great parliaments should continue to cooperate and to learn from each other to strengthen our democracies, he said.

The member of Parliament for Chorley in Lancashire went on to highlight the historic links between his constituency and India, given Mahatma Gandhi's visit to the textile mills of the region in 1931.

That was a bond that will never be broken in Lancashire, I will never forget, when I look at history, about his visit to Lancashire My love of India will always be there because of that special relationship between Lancashire and India, he added.

The event, which opened with the national anthems of both countries, also heard from UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting who highlighted the India-UK Health and Life Sciences Partnership signed last week, which will deepen the cooperation on health and science, [as] an equitable partnership between the UK and India.

There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that India, as a global power, is going to do so much to shape our world and shape the prospects for humanity in this century. And that makes this relationship even more important to make sure that democracy, not tyranny, thrive in the 21st century, said Streeting.

The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, set the tone for the evening by raising a toast in honour of the bilateral ties going from strength to strength.

It is natural that as nations with so much in common, our partnership is not only a natural choice, it is an obvious choice. After all, India's growth and development offer not only an economic opportunity for the UK to sustain its national wealth, but also to offer openings for real growth.

In return, the UK's financial sector can find sustainable returns for the long term, for investing for the long haul in the rollout of India's infrastructure, roads, ports, airports, railways, housing and industrial corridors, which are being built at pace and at scale, Doraiswami said in his address.

A wide range of cross-party parliamentarians, including Home Office minister Seema Malhotra and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, were among those in attendance at the gathering.

It concluded with an Indian-origin string quartet from the Chineke Foundation orchestra, made up of Ammal Bhatia and Sophia Kannathasan on the violin, Kesari Pundarika on viola and Meera Raja on cello, performing iconic tunes ranging from Bollywood to Mozart.
The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday asked AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal to substantiate with facts his allegations of poisoning of Yamuna River and mass genocide. The poll body has sought a response, a proof from the AAP national convenor by 8pm on 29 January. The Commission has asked the AAP led Delhi government to provide evidence of Haryana government poisoning Delhi water supply.

This comes after both the BJP and Congress had complained to the poll panel against Kejriwal for levelling allegations of poisoning of Yamuna river. A BJP delegation, comprising Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh met all three members of the EC, and requested them to ask the AAP leader to retract his charge and apologise for creating panic among people. BJP leaders also urged the Commission to bar him from campaigning for his allegation that Haryana was poisoning the water of Yamuna. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit raised the issue with Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, demanding action against Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi over the issue.

In a letter to Kejriwal, the EC said the matter is being examined by the Commission in the light of provisions of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and relevant provisions of law. Therefore, you are called upon to furnish your response on the complaints especially on the factual and legal matrix along with evidentiary support thereof by 8 pm hours on 29 th January, 2025 so as to enable the Commission to examine the matter and take action as appropriate.

However, as regards the allegations of poisoning, it is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the allegations especially when the veracity of the statements made by you is contested, then you must be able to back your statements on a factual basis, the EC said. The Commission noted that such allegations have serious ramifications of creating enmity between the regional groups, and residents of the neighbouring states, threat of a law-and-order situation due to actual or perceived shortage or non-availability of water, during this time of the year.

Accusing Kejriwal of making a dangerous statement with implications for Indias federal structure, the Centre urged the Election Commission to bar him from campaigning for his allegation that Haryana was poisoning the water of Yamuna. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini asked the AAP convener to apologise or face defamation suit on his statement.

We came to protest and submit our petition to the EC on the very unfair, irresponsible, and the violative of the MCC statement made by the former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. It is a very dangerous statement. This statement was dangerous for everyone except him, who is a self-proclaimed anarchist. The statement that he made has actually brought fear into the minds of people in Delhi. This has very serious implications for the way in which elections are conducted in this country. Is this good for our democracy? We raised these issues before the EC as How could a CM or former CM accuse another CM of an act which somewhere relatable to genocide?... It is an insult to all the people of Haryana who have elected him. We have requested the EC to take action which prevents Arvind Kejriwal from campaigning in Delhi anymore... Sitharaman said after meeting the officials of poll watchdog.

Meanwhile, AAP convener said he was not afraid of legal action and asserted he would not let people die in Delhi because of the dirty, poisonous water. Kejriwal claimed in a press conference that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO, in a letter on Monday, confirmed that a poison called ammonia had been mixed with the water supplied from the neighbouring state.

In a fiery social media post, AAP alleged, Poison is being mixed into the Yamuna to make its water untreatable. If people in Delhi consume this water, many will die. This is nothing short of a mass murder.

Hitting back at Saini, Kejriwal said he should not do politics over the issue. Its sinful, you will face the curse of the people, Kejriwal said referring to Saini. They are threatening to filea case against me. I was sent to jail by them, will they now hang me, he stated.

Delhi CM Atishi and her Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, also met EC officials, alleging that the BJP-led Haryana government is deliberately releasing alarming levels of ammonia into the Yamuna river, endangering Delhis water supply. Atishi had written two letters to the EC seeking an immediate meeting with the officials of the poll panel  one on Monday and another on Tuesday morning.

Earlier, War of words over Yamuna water has escalated with the BJP and Congress attacking AAP over Kejriwals poison in Yamuna or water terrorism remark. Addressing a press conference, 10 BJP MPs from Haryana said it was a clear case of criminal conspiracy by Kejriwal who was trying to create panic among the residents of Delhi. The BJP MPs challenged the Aam Aadmi Party government to test the quality of water released from Haryana before it is supplied to households in Delhi.

The BJP leader asserted that the AAP is going to be ousted from power in the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls. In Haryanvi-mixed Hindi, Saini took a dig at the former Delhi chief minister, saying that he has been running a jhoot ki dukan in the national capital for the last 10 years.

He (Kejriwal) told a lie on Monday that surprised me. I had to issue a statement at 12 night. He claimed that poison is being mixed in the (Yamuna) water from Haryana and that (Delhi Jal Board) engineers found out about it and stopped the water, he said.

I want to tell Kejriwal that it is our holy Yamuna, in which Kalia Naag (a mythical serpent) used to spread poison and Lord Krishna finished him off, he said, accusing the AAP national convenor of blemishing Haryana, where he was born.
A major accident marred the Nirvana Laddu Parv of the first Tirthankara in Jainism, Bhagwan Adinath, in Baghpat, on Tuesday, as a wooden platform within the Manastambha complex crumpled, leaving seven dead and trapping over 50 devotees beneath the debris.

The unexpected collapse resulted in a chaotic scene filled with panic and confusion as rescue efforts were launched at the site. The absence of readily available ambulances meant that many of the injured were transported to hospitals via e-rickshaws.

Emergency responders from the Badaut police team quickly arrived to manage the situation and assist in the ongoing rescue operations, further highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident. He directed officials to immediately reach the location, expedite the relief efforts and prioritise the provision of proper medical treatment to the injured. Additionally, the chief minister expressed his wishes for the speedy recovery of all those affected by the unfortunate event.

Baghpat District Magistrate Asmita Lal and Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya rushed to the district hospital to enquire about the well-being of the injured.

Asmita Lal confirmed five deaths while two more deaths were reported from hospital but the identity of the victims could not be ascertained. The others were identified as Taraspal (80), Amit (40), Usha (65), Vineet and Kamlesh, all of Baghpat.

It may be mentioned that earlier this month, at least six people were killed and 35 injured in a stampede near one of Indias busiest and richest temples, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, popularly known as Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh. The stampede happened after thousands of devout Hindus assembled there to secure free visit passes.

Meanwhile, in another unfortunate incident, a tractor and Bolero collided in Rae Bareli which resulted in the death of three, while three others were injured.

It is reported that the driver of the tractor fled after the accident.

According to reports, the injured met with an accident while returning after taking holy dip in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. They were rushed to a hospital, where two were said to be in critical condition.

These people are from Telibagh. There was an accident in Rae Bareli, and all of them were brought here by ambulance, Emergency Medical Officer Atul Pandey said.

In another tragic accident, four friends died in Deoria on Monday night. The four youths were going home by motorcycle after celebrating their friends birthday. The youths were crushed by a truck near Yadav Hotel near Hetimpur highway in Mahuadih police station area.

On receiving information, the police reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem.

The deceased were identified as 22-year-old Ankit Gaur, 20-year-old Pintu Gaur, 22-year-old Atul Singh and 22-year-old Nitesh Singh. They had come to Deoria late Monday evening to celebrate their friends birthday.
In a blistering attack on the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said its 'jhadu' election symbol should be forfeited for pushing the national Capital into a civic mess.

Addressing public meetings in support of BJP candidates at Mangolpuri, Vikaspuri and Rajender Nagar, Adityanath accused AAP of making the people of Delhi thirst for water and said he sometimes wondered if the party was possessed by the spirit of Aurangzeb.

The firebrand BJP leader also charged AAP of sheltering Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators in Delhi.

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh connected three crore households with piped water supply but by sheltering the tanker mafia, AAP forced the people of Delhi to thirst for every drop, he alleged. "I sometimes wonder, has Aurangzeb's spirit possessed them that they are forcing the people of Delhi to thirst for water?" Adityanath charged.

"It's the right time to make AAP yearn for every vote as it has made you thirst for every drop of water," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said during his Rajender Nagar rally.

In Vikaspuri, he said the Yamuna was considered a holy river and people chanted "Har Har Gange, Har Har Yamune" after taking a dip in Mathura-Vridavan, alleging that the AAP government had turned it into a "stinking" drain of filth.

Citing "civic mess" in Delhi, Adityanath said every road was potholed and littered with garbage, sewers overflowed onto the streets, and people hankered for drinking water.

AAP and Kejriwal came to power holding the 'jhadu (broom)' but fooled the people and made the party symbol a synonym for "filth and mess", he claimed.

"AAP's 'jhadu' symbol should be forfeited because it has become a synonym for filth, insanitation and mismanagement," he said. AAP is the first political party in independent India to be an accused in a corruption case and more than a dozen of its leaders went to jail, he added.

Dubbing AAP a "symbol of corruption and anarchy", Adityanath urged the voters to bring a "double-engine government" of the BJP in the February 5 assembly polls.

Addressing a public meeting in support of BJP candidate Raj Kumar Chauhan in Mangolpuri, he also slammed Kejriwal over the "stinking Yamuna" in Delhi. "If you had moral courage, you would have taken a dip in the Yamuna, along with ministers of the AAP government," Adityanath said, referring to a recent dip he had taken at the Sangam in Prayagraj along with his Cabinet, during the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

He also charged that the party spread "anarchy" by "sheltering" Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators in Delhi.

"AAP's public representatives and office-bearers forcefully occupied hundreds of acres of land of the Uttar Pradesh government's irrigation department near Jamia Nagar and settled Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators," he charged.

When the land was not vacated despite repeated warnings, Adityanath said he sent the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and bulldozers and, with the Delhi Police's help, cleared the land.

If Delhi needs the land for any medical facility, academic or convention centre, it will be provided but not a single inch of it will be given to infiltrators, he asserted.

Adityanath alleged that civic amenities and infrastructure had collapsed in Delhi and people from the city were settling in Noida and Ghaziabad -- both in Uttar Pradesh -- for better facilities.
Known as a stronghold of AAP, the Okhla Assembly constituency will see a fierce electoral battle between the sitting two-term AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, Congress candidate Ariba Khan and BJPs candidate Manish Chaudhary. Moreover with the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) declaring Shifa-ur-Rehman as its candidate, who is currently in jail as an accused in the Delhi riots case, the elections are expected to be polarising.

The seat, located in the East Delhi Lok Sabh seat, is an urban area near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border and is one of Delhis oldest inhabited regions along the Yamuna river. It saw a long dominance of the Congress before it went to the ruling party for the consecutive Assembly elections of 2015 and 2020.

In the 2020 Delhi Assembly election, Khan of the AAP secured a landslide victory, receiving 1,30,367 votes while BJPs Brahm Singh finished second with 58,540 votes, accounting for 29.65 per cent of the vote share. Congress Parvez Hashmi managed only 5,123 votes.

Khan also dominated the 2015 polls, winning the polls with 1,04,271 votes claiming a vote share of 62.57 per cent while BJPs Brahm Singh garnered only 39,739 votes. Congress Asif Muhammad Khan managed to secure only 20,135 votes.

The seat encompasses several areas, including Madanpur Khadar, Khizrabad, Jasola, Aali, and Taimur Nagar. It holds significant political and social importance, with a diverse demographic and voter base including a significant presence of Muslims.

The Muslims consists 43 per cent of the seat along with 15 per cent of Gujjars, 10 per cent of Other Backward Castes (OBC), 10 per cent of Scheduled Castes (SC), 6 per cent Punjabis, 3 per cent Pandits, 2 per cent of Sikhs. The seat also has 11 per cent Middle class voters.

According to the Election Commission, Okhla has 3,79,509 voters compromising of 2,19,300 males, 1,60,205 females and 4 third gender voters. While the BJP relied on Manish Chaudhary and the AAP showed faith in its two-term MLA Amanatullah Khan, the Congress fielded Ariba Khan this time.

Some voters think Khan has the advantage because of his prior work, but others think he hasn't really improved the constituency.

Owaisi's AIMIM, however, has announced Shifa-ur-Rehman as its nominee. Rehman submitted his nomination on January 16 and is currently incarcerated as an accused in the Delhi riots case. Noor Fatima, his wife, is pushing for him and is still optimistic that he will win. There are fourteen Okhla candidates in the race.

Concerns regarding the dearth of employment prospects and poor infrastructure have been voiced by Okhla residents, emphasising the necessity to widen roads leading to the neighbourhood, as traffic jams are a daily picture. Sanitation remains a major concern, with garbage and drains often left unaddressed.

"The region has not seen much development in the last few years. Neither schools nor hospitals have been constructed, Rizwan said.

It's not that this party or that party wasn't working, but it's the political mindset of leaders. Political parties use minorities as a vote bank in places where they account for a sizable portion of the vote. They don't care about our way of life. In addition to the inner lanes' narrowness, there is overflowing drainage. They arrive, make promises, and then proudly walk around. However, what does that provide us? he asked.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday, criticised the difficulties faced by common devotees due to the VIP movement at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Sharing a video showing common devotees walking while a convoy passed along the same road, the SP leader stated in a post on X, On one hand, devotees in the crowd are being pushed and shoved, with some walking 5 to 10 kilometres on foot, while on the other hand, leaders, officials and their entire families are comfortably seated in cars, honking their horns, teasing the devotees, and heading straight to the Maha Kumbh.

Attacking the state government for ignoring common people and making them wait for hours in long lines, the SP chief said, Yogi Ji, who boasts about the systems and spends crores on promoting them, is only benefiting the VIPs. The common people have to stand in long lines or wait for hours to avail the benefits of these systems.

Taking a jibe at political leaders and government officials for using VIP facilities to take a dip at Triveni Sangam, Akhilesh Yadav said, Its hard to understand whether the sins of those who reach the place of faith with VIP facilities are being washed away or are they accumulating more?

Officials are thoroughly enjoying the governments inaction, while the leaders sitting in the government are under the illusion that they can confuse the public with absurd issues during elections and regain their seats, he added.

Akhilesh Yadavs attack on the Uttar Pradesh government comes amid videos of many devotees expressing their ordeal while on the way to take a dip at Triveni, Sangam that have surfaced on social media.

Akhilesh Yadav, on Monday, had voiced his discontent over the arrangements made by the state government and urged the administration to prioritise the needs of the pilgrims over VIP arrangements. The government should ensure smooth transport for pilgrims instead of creating difficulties due to VIP protocols. The Maha Kumbh should be about special arrangements for the devotees, not the dignitaries, Yadav wrote on X.
In a massive protest against the desecration of Dr BR Ambedkars statue in Amritsar on Republic Day, the dalit organizations across Punjab on Tuesday staged widespread demonstrations in four major districts  Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Moga  calling for justice and the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) against the accused. The protests came in the wake of an incident on January 26, when a young man, later identified as Akashdeep, allegedly damaged the statue of Dr Ambedkar and desecrated the Constitution book at the Heritage Street in Amritsar.



The violence led to a blockade of the Amritsar-Delhi Highway by Dalit protesters in Ludhiana, and the closure of shops and markets in Jalandhar and Ludhiana. In Ludhiana, demonstrators forced shopkeepers in the Ghanta Ghar Market to shut their doors, and a march was held to submit a memorandum to the District Commissioner. The protest also saw shops being closed in Jalandhar in solidarity.



The Dalit groups have strongly demanded that the accused be charged under the NSA for his actions, which they argue were aimed at inciting communal tensions.



Meanwhile, the Punjab BJP held silent protests across the State, covering their mouths with cloth, in solidarity with the Dalit community. BJP leaders, including from Mohali and Jalandhar, participated in the protests, highlighting their concerns over rising incidents of intolerance.



The controversy erupted when Akashdeep, a 12th-grade student from Moga, climbed Dr Ambedkars statue on Republic Day and smashed it with a hammer. Security guards attempted to intervene, and the accused was detained. After his release, the incident led to large-scale protests by Dalit organizations in Amritsar and surrounding regions on January 27. In the wake of the protest, shops in Hall Gate and Wall City Market were shut in Amritsar, and Bhundari Bridge was blocked, creating traffic jams.



Akashdeep, who had returned from Dubai three months prior to the incident, has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. The police have not yet determined his motive for desecrating the statue. Akashdeeps questioning is expected to shed light on the reasons behind his actions, with further investigation set for January 30.



Punjabs Cabinet Minister Aman Arora has reiterated that Punjab, a land of saints and mystics, will never allow divisive forces to succeed. He emphasized that the people of Punjab will stand united in the face of such attempts to sow hatred, and the state government will continue to ensure harmony and peace among its people.




/



Punjab Polices Special State Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, has arrested two individuals involved in a grenade attack on the Gumtala Police Post in Amritsar earlier this month. The arrested persons have been identified as Bagga Singh from Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Sirsa, Haryana, and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar from Amarkot, Amritsar.



The duo was apprehended following an intensive investigation that traced their connection to the USA-based drug smuggler Sarwan Bhola and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian, who are alleged to have coordinated terror activities across the region, said the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.



In addition to the arrests, Punjab Police seized a hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols, along with ammunition, from their possession, a significant recovery that highlighted the dangerous nature of the groups operations.



The attack on the Gumtala Police Post, which took place on January 9, 2025, involved the hurling of a hand grenade, an act that was later claimed by the banned terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) on social media.



DGP Yadav said that investigations revealed that Bagga Singh is related to Sarwan Bhola, who is the brother of notorious drug smuggler Ranjit Singh alias Cheeta. The latter is currently incarcerated in Bathinda jail in connection with a massive heroin haul of 532 kg.


Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES) project, marking a significant step forward for farmers and the agriculture sector.

This project is expected to become a milestone in boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing rural enterprises and empowering farmers in the state.

It aims to improve farmers yield, which is anticipated to rise from 10 quintals to 14-15 quintals per acre, and will provide a much-needed boost to the agricultural economy of UP.

It is worth mentioning here that around 45 per cent of the countrys land is cultivable, with 75 per cent of this land located in UP, making the state one of the most fertile and productive regions in India. This is why UP leads the nation in the production of wheat, potatoes, mangoes, guavas, peas, mushrooms, watermelons, honey, and more.

The state accounts for 15 per cent of Indias vegetable production and 11 per cent of its fruit production. Despite housing 16 to 17 per cent of the nations population, UP contributes over 23 per cent of Indias food grain output, earning it the title of the food basket of India.
Congress leader Ajay Maken on Tuesday attacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal over allegations regarding Delhi's water supply, saying that if the former Delhi chief minister is lying, it is "treason." The former union minister also demanded the statements made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana and Kejriwal to be investigated.

"If Arvind Kejriwal is lying about mixing poison in the water, it is treason. If the Haryana government is wrong, action should be taken. If Arvind Kejriwal is spreading rumours, action should be taken against him," Maken said in a press conference.

His remarks in a news conference came in response to Kejriwal's statement on Monday, in which he alleged that Delhis water supply had been poisoned. He also accused the Haryana government of planning a "genocide" against Delhi residents.

The remarks have ignited a storm in the national capital and in neighbouring Haryana, whose Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini threatened to sue the AAP chief.

On the other hand, the Delhi Jal Board CEO wrote a letter to the chief secretary saying that Arvind Kejriwal's remarks were factually incorrect and without any basis.

Maken also spoke out on the matter of support extended by Samajwadi Party(SP)chief Akhilesh Yadav and other INDIA bloc parties to AAP and Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.

He called on the INDIA bloc allies to recognise that only Congress could effectively fight the BJP and urged that they should not weaken the party.

The Congress, which held power in Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has faced major setbacks in the last two assembly elections, failing to win any seats. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections, securing 67 and 62 seats, respectively, out of 70, while BJP won only three and eight seats in these elections.

Maken also alleged that a total of 3.20 lakh beneficiaries have not been paid Rs 618 crore by the Delhi government under the "Ladli Yojana," launched by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in 2008.

He said Dikshit had launched the Ladli Yojana scheme on January 1, 2008 to stop female foeticide and save the girl child in the national capital. "This was Delhi's flagship scheme, which was praised across the world," he added.

In its response, the Aam Aadmi Party said, "It's unfortunate how the Congress is parroting BJP-manufactured lies -- using forged documents cooked up in BJP offices -- to hurl baseless accusations at the AAP. The Congress must publicly declare its alliance with the BJP now."

The Ladli Yojana provides financial assistance in the form of term deposits: Rs 11,000 for hospital births, Rs 10,000 for home births, and Rs 5,000 at key milestones -- enrollment in classes one, two, six, nine, and 10. As soon as the girl turns 18, Rs 1 lakh is deposited in her account.

"According to the CAG report, a total of 20,242 people registered in 2008-09 when the scheme was launched. This was done under registration at birth. The numbers increased to 23,871 in 2009-10. However, the registration has reduced to 3,153 in 2020-21," Maken said, adding that there was a decline of 700 per cent.

When it began, the scheme had two parts. First, the money was to be given after registration at the time of birth of the girl child. Second, if registration was not done at birth, it could be done later. "The government has not done any publicity, and no action has been taken for the scheme," he alleged.

The total registration in 2013-14 was 1,39,346, but it reduced to 43,415 in 2020-21, amounting to a reduction of 300 per cent. The population is increasing in Delhi, but the registration has decreased, he said.

"The government is promising to give Rs 2,100 to women but is not implementing the scheme meant for the girls," Maken alleged.
On the 64th day of his hunger strike, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Tuesday vowed to continue his protest until the government meets all the demands of the farmer community, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the protection of Punjabs water resources. Dallewals unwavering commitment to the cause has captured national attention, as he refused to back down until his demands are addressed. Despite the toll on his health, Dallewal remained steadfast, calling for farmers across the country to unite and stand together for the movements success.



In his first address since agreeing to accept medical aid on January 4, Dallewal emphasized the urgent need for farmers unity in the ongoing struggle. We are inching closer to victory, but we need to come together as one force to make it a reality. Internal divisions are the only thing holding us back, he said in his frail but resolute voice.



Dallewals appeal for unity comes at a critical juncture, as the farmers movement gains momentum and heads into key talks with the Central Government scheduled for February 14. He urged the farmer community to join him at the Khanauri border on February 12  the anniversary of the ongoing protest, to show their strength and solidarity.



Reflecting on his health and the ongoing struggle, Dallewal shared that he had reluctantly accepted medical aid after the government offered a meeting for February 14, but reiterated that his fast will continue until the government addresses their demands. While I have accepted medical assistance, my hunger strike will persist until we achieve our goals, he vowed, underscoring the significance of the farmers' demands in securing a better future for the community.



As the one-year anniversary of the farmers protests approaches on February 13, three Mahapanchayats (major gatherings) have been planned to mobilize support. These gatherings are set to take place from February 11 to 13, with each event drawing thousands of farmers from different states. The first will be held on February 11 at Ratnapura, followed by a mass gathering on February 12 at the Khanauri border, and another on February 13 at Shambhu.



A major delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by prominent farmer leaders, has already reached Khanauri to extend their support to the ongoing protest. The farmers of Khanauri have shown unwavering resolve, with significant efforts underway to ensure that the February 12 Mahapanchayat is a grand success.



Dallewal, who began fast on November 26, urged the farmers from across the country to assemble at the Khanauri border on February 12 for a mahapanchayat (mass gathering) marking the first anniversary of the Delhi Chalo Andolan 2.0. He expressed hope that the immense show of solidarity would energize him, allowing him to attend the crucial talks scheduled with the Central Government on February 14.



Your presence at the Khanauri border on February 12 will give me the strength to continue this struggle and help me physically attend the talks with the government, Dallewal said, his voice resolute despite the toll of his prolonged fast. This protest is not just for us, but for the future of our farmers, our land, and our water. We are inching closer to victory, and it is your support that fuels this movement, he said.



Dallewals hunger strike is rooted in a series of demands, with the most pressing being the legal guarantee for MSP, a crucial safeguard for farmers who often face market exploitation. He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding Punjab's water resources, which are under increasing strain due to both environmental challenges and governmental policies. His message was clear  the future of agriculture in Punjab depends on these demands being met.



Reflecting on the previous farmers movement, Dallewal noted how the sentiment across the country is unified in the call for MSP and protection of water resources. MSP is not a mere demand; it is essential to protect Punjabs water and ensure the survival of our agricultural practices. Whatever I could do, I have done with Wahegurus guidance, he said, thanking the people of India for their continued support.



In a significant gesture of gratitude for the progress made in the movement, Dallewal announced that the farmers would hold an Akhand Path (a religious ceremony) to seek divine blessings for the success of their cause. The ceremony will be held on January 30, and Dallewal encouraged people to participate in the prayers for the government to come to its senses and agree to the farmers' demands.



Dallewals appeal for unity among the farmers' factions was also evident as he spoke about the ongoing efforts to create a unified front. He expressed frustration over the delays in forming a cohesive movement despite multiple rounds of meetings. The public sentiment is clear  we must fight together. We are so close to achieving our goals, yet internal divisions continue to hold us back, he said.



In addition, the memory of Shubhkaran Singh, a Bathinda-based young farmer who tragically lost his life during the police crackdown at Khanauri last year, continues to fuel the resolve of the protesters. A memorial event will be held on February 21 to mark the first anniversary of his death, further strengthening the emotional bond between the farmers and their cause.



The Protest

The history of the farmers' movement has been marked by struggle, sacrifice, and unity. It all began on February 13, 2024, when farmers from Punjab and Haryana united to demand a legal guarantee for MSP and other reforms. Initially, the Centre appeared to respond, sending senior leaders, including then Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, to engage in talks. However, after the government failed to address the farmers' concerns, the movement escalated, with barricades being erected and trade disruptions causing a standoff at the Khanauri border.



The violent clash at Khanauri, which resulted in the death of Shubhkaran Singh, led to widespread outrage and further intensified the farmers resolve. Legal battles ensued, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering the removal of barricades, but the Haryana Government escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, which formed a high-power committee to address the issue.



The farmers determination was further demonstrated through the nationwide tractor march on January 26, which galvanized public support.


Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's second day of Japan visit on wednesday, he will engage in crucial discussions with prominent industrialists and organizations. Efforts will be made to strengthen Indias economic partnership with Japan. The day will be dedicated to enhancing investment, trade, and industrial cooperation in the state.

The first meeting of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav will be with Mr. Yuji Fukusawa, President of East Japan Railway Company and the South Asia Committee of Keidanren. The meeting will be held at the conference hall of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, focusing on technical cooperation and investment opportunities in the railway and transport sectors.

Dr. Yadav will meet with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, President of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization). The meeting will take place at JETRO's headquarters, Ark Mori Building, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The primary goal of the discussions will be to explore business and industrial development opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen trade relations with Japan.

Dr. Yadav will meet with Mr. Takayuki Sanno, Chairman of Suntory India, at the Imperial Hotel. The meeting will focus on investment and collaboration in the food and beverage industry.

In the afternoon, Dr. Yadav will meet with officials at the Bridgestone Headquarters in Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The discussion will aim to expand technical partnerships and investment opportunities in the automobile and tire industry.

Dr. Yadav will meet with Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The discussions will center on water management, smart city projects, and infrastructure development.

In the afternoon, Dr. Yadav will meet with Mr. Tadashi Yanai, Chairman and CEO of Fast Retailing Company. The conversation will focus on developing Madhya Pradesh as a major hub for the textile and retail industry.

Dr. Yadav will meet with Mr. Toshiyuki Shirai, Chairman of Nitori Holdings, at the Imperial Hotels conference hall. The meeting will focus on exploring new opportunities for collaboration in the furniture industry.

In the evening, Dr. Yadav will participate in an interaction program with the Indian diaspora and friends of Madhya Pradesh at the Hikari Hall of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The Chief Minister will highlight the state's industrial progress, investment opportunities, and policies. He will also attend the dinner hosted during this event.

This day of Chief Minister Dr. Yadavs visit will mark a significant step towards establishing Madhya Pradesh as a global investment destination and forging long-term industrial partnerships with Japan. The visit holds the potential to open new doors for the states economic progress.
Habibganj police arrested two robbers and recovered stolen goods, including looted mobile phones and a stolen Activa, collectively worth ?3 lakhs.

On January 27, during a routine vehicle check near Metro Walk, police intercepted two suspects riding a white Activa without a number plate. The suspects, identified as Lilendra alias Sameer Singh Meena of Govind Dham Suraj Nagar and Manish alias Dev Malviya of Shahpura, failed to provide valid documents for the vehicle. Upon further questioning, they admitted to stealing the Activa 56 months ago from MP Nagar.

A search of the Activa's trunk revealed seven mobile phones, which the accused confessed were snatched from passersby across various locations in Bhopal. The duo stated they were en route to sell the stolen phones when apprehended.

The police registered a case under relevant sections of the law, and the stolen Activa, along with the mobile phones, was seized.
Ahead of the high-stakes January 30 mayoral elections in Chandigarh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have moved their councillors to resorts in Punjab, an AAP-ruled state, to avoid poaching attempts.

Sources said that all six Congress councillors have been shifted to a resort in Ludhiana. Similarly, 10 AAP councillors have been relocated to a resort near Rupnagar while three councilors are in Chandigarh.

AAP- Congress alliance suffered a setback after three-time Congress Councillor Gurbax Rawat on Monday joined BJP. With this, the INDIA bloc is now left with 20 votes in House  13 from AAP, six from Congress, and one ex officio vote of MP Manish Tewari  while the BJP has 16 votes.

With Congress Councillor Rawat's shift to BJP a few days before the Mayoral election, the possibility of cross voting has increased. In the last election, Akali Dal Councillor Hardeep Singh had voted in favour of the BJP candidate but now he has joined the Aam Aadmi Party. In such a situation, AAP's numbers have increased compared to the last elections. Sources in AAP said that BJP is trying to approach their Councillor and get them on its side. The leaders were also asked to surrender their mobile phones. Three AAP councillors have, however, refused to go to the hotel over differences within the party. These three councillors were unhappy over the candidature of AAPs Prem Lata for mayor and were in talks with the BJP.

The saffron party now requires only three more votes to secure the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the January 30 elections. Both the political Groups are currently working hard to get the magic number to clinch all three posts. The candidate who gets 19 votes will win the Mayor election.

Talking to Reporters, Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky alleged that the BJPs motives were clear. Last year, they undermined democracy by rigging the mayoral elections through Anil Masih. Now, they are engaging in shameless horse-trading and buying councillors loyalties using money and muscle power. The people of Chandigarh will not forget this betrayal by Rawat and the BJP, he said.

BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra criticised the AAP-Congress alliance, accusing them of lacking cohesion. He pointed out that the two parties had failed to hold a single joint press conference or official meeting to announce their alliance. He also claimed that Councillors from both parties were confused, as they criticised each other in Delhi while presenting themselves as allies in Chandigarh.

Monday was the last date for withdrawal of nominations but no one withdrew the nomination. This time the post of Mayor is reserved for a woman councilor. AAP named its Councillor Prem Lata as the party candidate for the post of Chandigarh Mayor. Lata will take on BJP's Harpreet Kaur Babla. While the AAP has fielded its candidate for the post of Mayor, the Congress has put up its candidates--Jasbir Singh Bunty and Taruna Mehta -- for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The BJP has fielded Bimla Dubey for the post of senior deputy mayor and Lakhbir Singh Billu for deputy mayor.

It should be mentioned here that the Supreme Court on Monday appointed Justice Jaishree Thakur  a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as an independent observer to physically supervise the Chandigarh mayoral election on January 30. The election will be held at 11 am in the Assembly Hall of the Chandigarh municipal corporation, Sector 17 on January 30, with results to be announced right away.


Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting with senior officials from Toyota Motor Corporation to discuss investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh on the first day of his visit to Japan. He met Mr. Toshiyuki Nakahara, General Manager, Administration & Support Department, India and Middle East Division, and Mr. Masahiro Nogi, Project General Manager, Administration & Support Department, India and Middle East Division, for in-depth discussions on business prospects and investment opportunities.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav highlighted Madhya Pradesh as an ideal destination for investment and briefed to the team Toyota about the states key features. He stated that Madhya Pradeshs central location in India makes it an ideal hub for the north, south, east, and west regions. The state has a vast industrial land bank, a skilled workforce, and excellent infrastructure. Particularly, the Pithampur automobile cluster is emerging rapidly as an industrial hub, bringing immense opportunities for global investors.

Dr. Yadav emphasized the peaceful and disaster-free environment of the state, drawing a comparison with Japans reputation for peace and stability. He pointed out that Madhya Pradesh is safe from natural disasters, making it even more favorable for investment. The states industrious and disciplined populace, along with its technical expertise and business commitment, provides an excellent environment for industries.

The Chief Minister invited Toyota to invest in Madhya Pradesh and particularly emphasized the potential for training and empowering youth for technical jobs. He stated that Madhya Pradesh offers an ideal location for Toyota to establish its facilities and expand its business. The states industrial policies, investment incentives, land availability, and its ability to attract global companies make it a favorable investment destination. Toyotas officials appreciated the states industrial environment and investment-friendly atmosphere and expressed their commitment to collaborating with Madhya Pradesh.

This visit by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav is a major milestone of the Invest in Madhya Pradesh campaign, paving the way for the Global Investors Summit 2025 to be held in Bhopal in February 2025. The meeting is another significant step in strengthening economic cooperation between India and Japan and positioning Madhya Pradesh as a global investment hub.

Invitation to Global Investors Summit

Dr. Yadav also invited Japanese industrialists to participate in the Global Investors Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhopal on February 24-25, 2025. This two-day summit aims to showcase the states investment opportunities, climate, and industrial infrastructure. It will provide numerous opportunities for potential collaboration in investment and will serve as a platform for global leaders, industrialists, and experts to share their insights on international markets and trends and discuss ways to maximize Madhya Pradeshs investment potential.

The Chief Minister invited Japanese industry leaders to take part in the Invest Madhya Pradesh - Global Investors Summit 2025.
BJP leaders on Tuesday slammed the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of making a dangerous statement and asked him to prove that there is poison in the water or else apologise immediately.

Lambasting the AAP chief, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said even Pakistan did not make such an allegation against India during wars, claiming that Kejriwal has made a low-level claim to hide his failures, and sensing his party's impending defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.

BJP manifesto committee chairman Ramvir Singh Bidhuri slammed the AAP chief saying poison is not in the water of Yamuna but in the mind of him. Seeing the defeat in the elections, he is now losing his senses and is making baseless allegations, Bidhuri said.

He said that Kejriwal has polluted the Yamuna in Delhi so much in ten years that he cannot even take its water in a handful, while he used to talk about bathing in it. The silt of Delhi's water treatment plants has not been removed, due to which their capacity is being badly affected.

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly and BJP candidate from Rohini Assembly constituency, Vijender Gupta, on Tuesday described Arvind Kejriwal's accusation of Haryana sending toxic water to Delhi as a result of his desperation.

Making this assertion, Gupta also claimed that Kejriwal and other senior AAP leaders are frustrated by the prospect of their defeat and, losing mental balance and are making baseless statements. Addressing people during a padyatra in sector-13 of Rohini Assembly constituency, Gupta said Kejriwal has done nothing for the people of Delhi in the last ten years, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction.

He stated that the people have decided to uproot AAP's government this time, and as a result, Kejriwal and his party leaders have already realised their defeat.

The BJP leader remarked that old slogans like shining Delhi's roads and free electricity and water will not work anymore as the public has seen through their motives.

He appealed to the people of Delhi to replace Kejriwal's corrupt government and hand over the reins to the BJP. Gupta assured them that with a double-engine government, BJP would understand and quickly resolve their problems. He promised that as soon as the BJP comes to power, all Central Government schemes would be implemented for the people of Delhi from day one.
In a bid to strengthen the leadership and management skills of educational leaders, the Punjab Government has partnered with the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, to offer a specialized Management Development Program (MDP) for the Principals of ITIs and Polytechnics across the state. This collaboration aims to enhance the academic and managerial performance of these institutions, ensuring that they meet the evolving demands of technical education.

Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Tuesday announced that a team of IIM-Ahmedabad experts will visit Punjab from February 12-15, 2025, to engage with stakeholders and fine-tune the training needs for the program. We are working closely with IIM-Ahmedabad to develop this transformative program, which will not only elevate the quality of leadership in our technical institutions but also create Centres of Excellence in Punjab's technical education landscape, Bains said.

As part of the initiative, 30 Principals from ITIs and Polytechnics, along with senior department officials, will undergo a five-day residential training at IIM-Ahmedabad. The program will feature 20 interactive sessions, led by renowned professors such as Prof Ambrish Dongre and Prof Neharika Vohra, focusing on enhancing leadership, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and team management skills. The program also aims to improve time management, communication strategies, and budgeting capabilities, empowering participants to lead their institutions effectively.

This program, aligned with the state's vision to upgrade its vocational education and skill development ecosystem, is expected to foster better industry collaborations, enhance skill development opportunities, and ultimately elevate the standard of technical education in Punjab.
As millions of devotees and tourists gather in Prayagraj for the Mauni Amavasya snan at Maha Kumbh on Wednesday, the meal administration and police have intensified safety measures to ensure a secure and comfortable experience for them. Devotees have also been urged to remain vigilant, steer clear of rumors, and report concerns promptly.

A dedicated team comprising the mela police, traffic police and specialised doctors has been deployed around the clock to assist devotees in case of emergencies.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Mahakumbhnagar) Rajesh Dwivedi, stated, Robust arrangements have been made for the second Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh, especially for Mauni Amavasya.

He urged devotees to cooperate with the police, remain cautious and seek assistance. The police and administration are available 24x7 to support the devotees at Maha Kumbh, he added.

The devotees have been advised to take different lanes to reach Sangam ghat; stay in their lanes while going for a holy dip; after bathing and darshan, go straight to the parking; while going for darshan in temples, stay in their lane, and from there, leave for their destination; take the help of the police if needed; in case of any health-related problem, get themselves examined in the hospital set up in the nearest sector; be patient on the barricading and pontoon bridges, and avoid hurrying and jostling; use only paper, jute or eco-friendly utensils and kulhar.

What not to do: Devotees should not stop at one place together; under no circumstances should the devotees coming and going come face to face; ignore rumours; do not believe any confusion spread on social media; do not rush to visit temples; do not stop on roads instead of holding areas, and do not create any obstruction; avoid getting misled by anyone regarding arrangements or facilities; avoid spreading any kind of misleading news, not rush to take a holy bath.
The court has remanded former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma and his associate Chetan Gaur to police custody until February 4 after their arrest by the Lokayukta. The duo was presented in court on Tuesday following a five-hour interrogation at the Lokayukta office.

The Lokayukta had sought a seven-day police remand, but Saurabhs lawyer, Harish Mehta, opposed the request. However, after considering all arguments, the court granted the seven-day remand.

During the hearing, the Lokayuktas lawyer argued that further investigation was necessary, including face-to-face questioning of Saurabh and Chetan.

The Lokayukta also revealed that a "golden car" seized during the search belonged to Chetan Gaur.

Meanwhile, Saurabhs partner, Sharad Jaiswal, arrived at the Lokayukta office with his lawyer to record his statement. After providing his statement, Jaiswal was also taken into custody and questioned.

Saurabh Sharma had been absconding for 41 days, evading searches by the Lokayukta, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax Department. He eventually surrendered at the Lokayukta special court in Bhopal on Monday with his lawyer. The court ordered him to appear again on Tuesday at 11 a.m., where the Lokayukta arrested him outside the court premises.

In a span of nine days, the ED, Lokayukta, and Income Tax Department conducted raids on Saurabhs residence and uncovered assets worth over Rs 93 crores. This included 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 crores in cash found in a car.

On December 27, the ED raided the properties of Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Singh Gaur, Sharad Jaiswal, and Rohit Tiwari. The investigation revealed a bank balance of Rs 4 crores in the accounts of Saurabhs family and friends, along with properties worth Rs 23 crores.

The case highlights the extensive corruption involving Saurabh Sharma and his associates, with multiple agencies working to uncover the full extent of their illicit activities. The courts decision to grant a seven-day remand reflects the ongoing need for thorough investigation into the case.
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with Minister of State for Steel, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, addressed the media during their departure from Bokaro. They summarized the key outcomes of their two-day visit, reaffirming the governments commitment to transforming Bokaro into a hub of industrial excellence through significant investments, improved infrastructure, and sustainable practices.

The ministers emphasized the Rs 20,000 crore brownfield expansion plan for Bokaro Steel Plant, which aims to increase production capacity from 5.25 MTPA to 7.55 MTPA. Kumaraswamy highlighted that the expansion, which includes advanced facilities such as a 4500 cubic meter blast furnace and thin slab casting and direct rolling systems, aligns with Indias goal of producing 300 MTPA steel by 2030. The project will generate 2,500 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs, significantly boosting local employment opportunities.

Both ministers assured that the much-anticipated Bokaro airport would begin operations soon. Kumaraswamy noted that the matter is under review and promised swift action to ensure the airport is operational at the earliest, facilitating regional connectivity and accelerating industrial growth.

Speaking on SAILs leadership, Kumaraswamy and Varma expressed confidence in SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash and Bokaro Steel Plant Director-in-Charge B.K. Tiwari. They praised their efforts to overcome global challenges in the steel market and drive modernization. Kumaraswamy added that he is personally reviewing key projects regularly to ensure a unified and efficient approach in addressing challenges and achieving milestones.

The ministers also emphasized sustainability, with Kumaraswamy highlighting Bokaro Steel Plants plans to reduce carbon emissions from 2.67 tonnes to below 2.2 tonnes per tonne of crude steel by 2030. Ongoing renewable energy initiatives, such as a 30 MW floating solar power plant and 100 MW of power procurement through SECI, were cited as crucial steps toward environmentally friendly steel production.

During their visit, the ministers reviewed progress at the Tasra Coal Mine and Chasnalla Washery, key projects aimed at reducing reliance on imported coking coal. The Tasra Coal Mine, scheduled to begin operations by September 2025, will produce 3.5 MTPA of domestic coking coal. Varma noted that these projects are essential for ensuring raw material security and aligning with Indias self-reliance goals.

As they departed, both Kumaraswamy and Varma reaffirmed the governments commitment to transforming Bokaro into a major industrial hub, aligning with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. They thanked the SAIL leadership and local stakeholders for their cooperation and assured continued support for the regions development.


Vedanta ESL Limited, an integrated steel producer and part of the Vedanta Group, celebrated Indias 76th Republic Day with enthusiasm and a strong sense of patriotism. The event, held at the companys Siyaljori plant in Bokaro, showcased the organizations dedication to community well-being and national development.

The celebrations commenced with a parade inspection by ESL Steel Limiteds security personnel, followed by the ceremonial unfurling of the national flag by Ashish Gupta, CEO & WTD of Vedanta ESL Limited. The event also included a felicitation ceremony recognizing employees for their outstanding contributions to the company, as well as an inspiring address by Mr. Gupta.

More than 100 individuals, including management members, employees, their families, and workers from the shop floor, attended the event. The parade, performed by over 500 security personnel, was met with applause for its precision and dedication, reflecting the discipline and commitment of the team. Approximately 10 employees were honored for their exceptional efforts in areas such as housekeeping, safety initiatives, and in-house construction projects.

In his address, Ashish Gupta highlighted the synergy between community growth and business progress. He emphasized Vedanta ESLs commitment to creating employment opportunities for local communities and enhancing socio-economic conditions in the region. The companys CSR initiatives have transformed lives, making 450 acres of land cultivable, providing potable water to 1,400 homes, supporting the education of over 12,000 students, and offering healthcare services to nearly 1.7 lakh villagers.

The Republic Day celebrations reinforced Vedanta ESLs pledge to contribute to the social and economic development of Bokaro, Jharkhand, and the nation. The company remains steadfast in its efforts to drive sustainable growth while uplifting the communities it serves.


A weekly public grievance meeting, known as 'Janata Darbar', was held at the Collectorate. The meeting was chaired by the District Supply Officer, Ram Gopal Pandey.

Villagers raised concerns about issues such as ration, pensions, housing, and employment. Their grievances were heard, and officials were instructed to address them.

Several women from Kharshota complained that eligible beneficiaries were not receiving benefits from the 'Abua Awas' scheme. They alleged that ineligible beneficiaries were receiving benefits in exchange for money, and that eligible beneficiaries were being asked for bribes.

Devanath Ram, from Hariharpur village, submitted an application stating that descendants of a former landowner were illegally occupying houses and land. He alleged they were harassing and persecuting poor Scheduled Caste and weaker sections of society. He requested action to be taken.

Women from Sundhi Tola village complained that they had not received benefits from the Chief Minister's Bal Aashirwad scheme. They had submitted the required forms, but their children had not received the benefits. They requested the District Supply Officer to ensure they receive the benefits.

Rampravesh Paswan and Shobha Devi, from Parihara village, informed the District Supply Officer that they had been denied benefits from the 'Abua Awas' scheme by the panchayat secretary. The secretary had declared them ineligible by falsely claiming they had a pucca house. They requested an investigation and the provision of 'Abua Awas' to eligible beneficiaries.

Other individuals also raised various issues. The concerned officials were instructed to take necessary action to resolve the complaints.


Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, asked whether Indias largest minority would accept that their ancestors were Rams devotees like Indonesia.

Speaking at a private channels event held in Lucknow on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi highlighted Indonesias strong cultural ties to India, noting that despite being a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia honours its Indian heritage, with traditions like Ramlila, a national airline named Garuda and Ganpati featured on its currency.

He also noted that the Indonesian Presidents name is inspired by Sanskrit and posed a thought-provoking question: Would a significant portion of Indias population, often viewed as a vote bank, accept Lord Ram as their ancestor, despite benefiting from the land and its resources?

He further shared his views on several pressing issues, including the rights of minorities, electricity theft, the Waqf Act, appeasement politics and preparations for Maha Kumbh 2025. The chief minister urged Indias minorities to take pride in their ancestors, citing Indonesia as an example.

On the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Chief Minister Yogi firmly addressed opposition warnings, saying, The amendments to the Waqf Act are a necessity of the times. I am glad the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has worked on this, and I hope it will be implemented in the next session.

He emphasised that the goal of such changes is to ensure transparency and justice in society. Just as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was implemented to benefit minorities from neighbouring countries, the amended Waqf Bill will also be enforced, he remarked.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pointed out discrepancies in Waqf land claims in Uttar Pradesh. Waqf has no land of its own; its revenue land. Waqf had claimed 1.27 lakh properties in the state, but upon investigation, only 7,000 were found to be valid.

He stressed that public property belongs to the Revenue Department and should serve public or administrative purposes. Referring to Sambhal, he added that even there, no objections were raised. Addressing the ongoing dispute surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, he asserted the importance of historical evidence and ancient scriptures. He referred to mentions of Sambhal in the Puranas and Ain-i-Akbari, stating that the latter records show how Mir Baqi demolished a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu to construct the mosque.

We are not looking for temples everywhere, but where historical evidence exists, it is important to bring the truth to light, Chief Minister Yogi said.

Responding to remarks by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief minister pointed out that Indian scriptures offer clear evidence of the significance of Sambhal. The Puranas, written over 3,500 to 5,000 years ago, detail the place of Lord Vishnus 10th incarnation. Islam came into existence only 1,400 years ago, and we have no issue with it. However, the historical facts cannot be ignored, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi urged sceptics to refer to Ain-i-Akbari and consider the findings from archaeological excavations in Sambhal. The excavations reveal evidence of an ancient city mentioned in the Puranas. These findings align with the traditional beliefs of the people. If such truths are emerging, I believe everyone should have the courage to accept them, he remarked.

Taking a strong stance on electricity theft in Sambhal, the chief minister highlighted its adverse impact on the states power sector. He said that Sambhal, with a population of just three lakhs, incurred electricity theft worth Rs 200 crore monthly. Temporary substations were even set up atop mosques to facilitate the theft, he added.

We conducted raids on four mosques and disconnected illegal connections. This was an injustice to consumers who pay their bills on time, Chief Minister Yogi stated. He further emphasised the financial burden on the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, which is currently facing an annual loss of Rs 46,000 crore, was projected to rise to Rs 60,000 crore next year. In Sambhal alone, 90 per cent of electricity was being stolen. Such inefficiencies had to be addressed, he added.

The chief minister also criticised the Delhi government, comparing the electricity rates and power supply conditions in both states. In Delhi, electricity costs Rs 9-10 per unit, while in Uttar Pradesh, it is Rs 3.5 per unit. Yet, Delhi faces frequent power cuts, he said.
Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday said the state government will get a case registered against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over his "poison in Yamuna" remark, which he dubbed an irresponsible statement aimed at spread panic among people.

"Kejriwal has made an irresponsible statement spreading panic among the people of Delhi and Haryana. Haryana government is going to get a case registered against him before CJM Court in Sonipat under the Disaster Management Act's Sections 2 (D) and 54," Goel told reporters here.

The provision which Goel referred to regarding the Act pertains to anyone making or circulating a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic.

Hitting out at the former Delhi chief minister, Goel accused him of speaking "such a big lie".

"What kind of water we give them (to Delhi), all our officers have checked the water being supplied," he said.

Slamming Kejriwal over his remarks that "poison" is being mixed in the Yamuna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that "AAP-da people" have turned desperate fearing their defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.

Addressing a public meeting in Delhi's Kartar Nagar, Modi said, "A former CM has made malicious allegations against the people of Haryana. 'AAP-da' people have become desperate due to the fear of defeat."

"Is Haryana different from Delhi? Don't they have children and relatives in Delhi? Will they mix poison for their own people?" he asked, hitting out at Kejriwal.

He said the people of Delhi, diplomats in the embassies and the judges staying in the national capital drink the same water from Haryana.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had said Kejriwal's remark that the BJP is "mixing poison in the Yamuna" is a "political stunt" by the AAP aimed at influencing voters in the Delhi polls and deflecting attention from its own failures.

Saini had assured that the Haryana government is committed to ensuring the purity and continuous supply of water to Delhi.

The AAP had on Monday accused the ruling BJP in Haryana of intentionally draining industrial waste into the Yamuna, with Kejriwal alleging that it is trying to kill people by "mixing poison" in the river.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi had also on Monday alleged that the BJP is "deliberately disrupting" Delhi's water supply as a "historic loss" awaits the saffron party in the February 5 assembly polls in the national capital.

Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP is trying to keep the people of Delhi thirsty as it indulges in "dirty politics".

"BJP people in Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi. If people in Delhi drink this water, many will die. Can anything be more disgusting than this? "The poison that is being mixed in the water cannot even be cleaned in water treatment plants. For the safety of the people of Delhi, the water supply has to be stopped in many areas," Kejriwal had said in a post on X.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed hospitals, including AIIMS New Delhi, to regularise the unauthorised absence of doctors who were part of protests against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of the submissions of a doctors' body that some hospitals had regularised the absence of the doctors following its August 22, 2024 order but a few others, including AIIMS Delhi, decided to treat the period as leave of absence.

"We deem it appropriate to clarify that if protesting workers had joined work post the Supreme Court order then their absence shall be regularised and not be treated as absence from duty. This is issued in peculiar facts and circumstances of the cases and is not laying down any precedent, the CJI said.

The lawyer appearing for the body said the decision to treat the protest period as leave may create trouble for some of the medical PG students.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said as the case was non-adversarial, the hospitals would abide by the top court's directions.

Mehta said AIIMS, Delhi, decided to treat the period as leave of absence availed by the doctors.

By an earlier order, it was stated that no coercive step would be taken against the protesting doctors for protests till the date of the order. Pursuant to this some of the AIIMS such as Kalyani and Gorakhpur and the PGI Chandigarh have regularised the absence. However some other institutes have treated the said period as if doctors were on leave," said the bench.

On August 22, last year, the bench made an impassioned appeal to the protesting doctors across the country, asking them to resume work.

Observing "justice and medicine" couldn't be stopped, it directed no coercive action would be taken against doctors once they resumed work.

The heinous crime triggered nationwide outrage and prolonged protests in West Bengal.

The bench was hearing the suo-motu case over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the Kolkata hospital.

On January 20, a Kolkata trial court awarded convict Sanjay Roy "life term imprisonment till death" in the case.

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the hospital's seminar room on August 9, last year following which the Kolkata police arrested civic volunteer Roy the next day in connection with the crime.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday held a high-level meeting at his residence here on Wednesday after a stampede at the Maha Kumbh and said some people were "seriously injured" in the incident.

The situation is under control now, even though the crowd pressure remains, he told reporters here after the meeting.

Adityanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah and J P Nadda called him to take stock of the situation in Prayagraj.

The chief minister said around 9-10 crore people are in Prayagraj and appealed to devotees to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.

Multiple casualties were feared after the stampede at the Sangam as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on 'Mauni Amavasya', the most significant ritual at the Maha Kumbh.

This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day. The 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya' is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.

Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying the injured on stretchers. People's belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around.

After the chaos subsided, some searched frantically for their family members while others fanned and offered water to those who were trapped in the crowd.

"Between 1 am to 2 am, at the Akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the Akharas, several devotees jumped over the barricades and some were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital," Adityanath said.

"All the injured are undergoing treatment and we hope and pray for their quick recovery," he said.

"Since the start of the auspicious Mauni Amavasya period, the local administration had been busy trying to ensure safe Amrit Snan for the devotees who have converged here from all over," he said.

Adityanath said PM Modi has called him four times so far to enquire about the well-being of the devotees.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Governor Anandiben Patel also called, the CM added.

"Since morning, we have been busy ensuring that devotees face no inconvenience while taking the holy dip and that is why a high-level meeting was held here with chief secretary, DGP, principal secretary (home), ADG law and order, and other senior officials. The situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd pressure is still there," Adityanath said.

He said he was in touch with all Akharas and all of them had agreed to take the holy dip only after the crowd pressure at the ghats eases.

"I have personally spoken to Akahara Parishad heads and other seers including Maha Mandaleshwars. The respected saints have politely agreed to let devotees take the dip (first). They would take the dip only after the crowd pressure eases," he said.

"About 5 crore devotees took the dip yesterday. Till 8.30 am (on Wednesday), over 3 crore devotees had taken the dip," he said, adding that the crowd pressure remains at several spots.

Adityanath appealed to people to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.

"There is huge crowd pressure in the Sangam Nose area and hence we seek the cooperation of all," he said.

"I appeal to devotees to take bath wherever they are as temporary bathing ghats have been set up. It is not important to head to the Sangam Nose for bathing.

"The elderly, children and asthma patients need to be extremely cautious and bathe at ghats nearest to them. All are Ganga ghats and all would get the same 'punya' (divine blessings) as it is Mauni Amavasya," he said.

Adityanath also urged people not to fall prey to rumours.

"Rumours can cause harm... My appeal is not to let anyone spread negativity," he said.

All are advised to follow directives of the local administration, he added.

Religious leaders also appealed to devotees gathered at the Maha Kumbh to exercise caution and self-discipline.

Swami Rambhadracharya of the Vaishnav sect urged devotees to not insist on bathing at the Sangam Nose and instead bathe at their nearest Ganga ghat. He advised people to stay near their camps and prioritise their safety and that of others.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Ravindra Puri said, "More than 12 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj. Managing such a massive crowd is a challenging task. With lakhs of saints and their followers also present, ensuring the safety of all devotees remains our top priority."

Yoga guru Ramdev urged devotees to exercise self-discipline and take holy dip with caution.
Multiple people were killed and many injured in a stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

While the Uttar Pradesh government was tight-lipped on the number of casualties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede, describing the tragedy as extremely saddening.

In a post on X, he said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Later at a poll rally in Delhi, Modi said, "We lost some good souls in the tragic incident at Kumbh and some people have also got hurt. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of those injured".

"I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Due to 'Mauni Amavasya', crores of devotees have reached there. For sometime, the process of bathing had been halted, but now for several hours, the yatris are taking a bath. I once again convey my condolences to the families," he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg, he said.

"Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured, he said after a high-level meeting in Lucknow.

Around 2 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam pierced through the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas echoing from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela area.

Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area. Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.

Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying many of the injured on stretchers. People's belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around.

On the Amrit Snan by akharas, Adityanath said a consensus has been reached with the akharas that they would take the holy dip only after the crowd pressure has decreased at the ghats.

I have personally spoken to Akahara Parishad heads and other seers, including Maha Mandaleshwars and the respected saints have politely agreed to let devotees take the dip and only after the crowd pressure decreases they will take the dip, the CM said.

Our first priority is to ensure safety of devotees," he said, adding "the situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd pressure is still there".

The chief minister said around 9-10 crore people are in Prayagraj and appealed to devotees to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.

Officer on Special Duty for the Mela Akanksha Rana earlier said, "Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured".

Sarojini, a devotee from Karnataka said, "We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled."

"There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides," the woman told PTI Videos.

A man from Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh said his mother was injured and hospitalised, while a middle-aged couple from Meghalaya walked away from the crowd, both of them sobbing and narrating to reporters their harrowing experience of getting caught up in the ruckus.

Another woman at the hospital, whose child suffered injuries in the chaos, narrated her ordeal, claiming, "There was nowhere to go. Some people who pushed us were laughing while we begged them for kindness towards the children."

The head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Ravindra Puri said the traditional bathing ritual of all the akharas has been deferred due to "overcrowding" at the Sangam ghat amid the Maha Kumbh..

However, Puri, who is the head of the apex body of 13 akharas, did not refer to the stampede and said there was "overcrowding" at the Sangam.

"We are seeing that the crowd is decreasing now, and we are in talks with the Mela administration. If the crowd is decreasing, then we would like to take the snan," Puri told PTI Videos.

Puri said he was waiting for clearance from the Mela administration to proceed with the traditional akhara bathing rituals of saints, which however, would be much subdued.

As per tradition of the Kumbh Mela, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a majestic, awe-inspiring procession to the Sangam Ghat.

The Triveni Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati -- is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.

On Tuesday, in view of the anticipated influx of pilgrims, the Mela authorities issued an advisory urging devotees to follow crowd-management guidelines for safety and convenience.

Pilgrims were asked to use designated lanes to reach Sangam Ghat, stay in their lanes while approaching the bathing area, and avoid lingering at ghats after the holy dip. They were urged to proceed promptly to parking areas or their destinations to ensure smooth movement.

Visitors were reminded to remain patient at barricades and pontoon bridges, avoiding rushing or jostling to prevent accidents. The administration emphasised that "all ghats at Sangam are equally sacred", encouraging devotees to "bathe at the first ghat they reach to prevent overcrowding".

Being held after 12 years, the Maha Kumbh kicked off on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SGIOY  Get Free Report) and Schroders (OTCMKTS:SHNWF  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Schroders net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Get Shionogi & Co. Ltd. alerts:

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shionogi & Co., Ltd. 35.53% 11.95% 10.56% Schroders N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

1.9% of Shionogi & Co., Ltd. shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shionogi & Co., Ltd. 0 0 0 0 0.00 Schroders 0 1 0 0 2.00

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Schroders, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Volatility and Risk

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has a beta of 0.21, indicating that its share price is 79% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Schroders has a beta of 1.17, indicating that its share price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Schroderss gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shionogi & Co., Ltd. $3.01 billion 4.27 $1.12 billion $0.59 12.90 Schroders $3.65 billion N/A $500.79 million N/A N/A

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Schroders.

Summary

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. beats Schroders on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

(Get Free Report)

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. engages in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and medical devices in Japan. It offers Fetroja, a multidrug-resistant for gram-negative bacterial infection treatment; Cabenuva and Apretude an anti-HIV and HIV prophylactic drug; Xocova an oral COVID-19 treatment drug; Finibax a carbapenem antibiotic; Xofluza, an influenza antiviral drug; and Tivicay, an anti-HIV drug. It also develops S-872600 an influenza nasal vaccine; S-875670 anCOVID-19 nasal vaccine; S-540956 a nucleic acid adjuvant; S-554110 a nontuberculous mycobacterial infection; S-337395 for RSV infections; S-892216 for COVID-19 therapeutics; Olorofim for invasive aspergillosis; cefiderocol for aerobic gram-negative bacterial infections and infectious diseases; S-268019 a COVID-19 prophylactic vaccine; S-268019 a prophylactic vaccine for COVID-19; ensitrelvir for COVID-19 treatment and prevention; baloxavir for influenza virus infection; S-365598 for HIV infection; and S-555739 for suppressing aggravation of COVID-19. In addition, the company develops S-540956 for nucleic acid adjuvant; S-109802 for post-stroke spasticity; S-151128 for chronic pain; S-588210 and S-531011 for solid tumor; S-309309 for obesity; BPN14770 for Alzheimers disease and fragile X syndrome; S-588410 for bladder cancer; S-488210 for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; S-005151 for Acute ischemic stroke and epidermolysis bullosa; Rizmoic for opioid-induced constipation; ADR-001 for decompensated liver cirrhosis; S-222611 for malignant tumor; S-812217 for depression; GRT7039 for pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee; SDT-001 for inattentive ADHD; S-588410 for esophageal cancer; SR-0379 for cutaneous ulcer; and S-723595 for type 2 diabetes. The company was formerly known as Shionogi Shoten Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Shionogi & Co., Ltd. in 1943. Shionogi & Co., Ltd. was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan.

About Schroders

(Get Free Report)

Schroders plc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm also provides advisory and consultancy services. It provides its services to financial institutions, high net worth clients, large corporate, local authority, charitable entities, individuals, pension plans, government funds, insurance companies, and endowments. The firm launches and manages equity mutual funds and manages fixed income mutual funds for its clients. It also manages hedge for its clients. The firm invests in the public equity, fixed income, and alternative investment markets across the globe. The firms alternative investments include real estate markets, emerging market debt, commodities and agriculture funds, funds of hedge funds and private equity funds of funds. It conducts an in-house research to make its investments. The company was formerly known as New Schroders plc and changed its name to Schroders plc in April 2000. Schroders plc was founded on 1804 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

Receive News & Ratings for Shionogi & Co. Ltd. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shionogi & Co. Ltd. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY  Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, a drop of 88.7% from the December 31st total of 5,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 151,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Deutsche Lufthansa Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of DLAKY stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $6.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 85,505 shares, compared to its average volume of 181,136. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.82. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $6.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.58. The company has a market cap of $7.97 billion, a PE ratio of 8.01, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.21. Deutsche Lufthansa has a 52 week low of $5.69 and a 52 week high of $8.50.

Get Deutsche Lufthansa alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on DLAKY shares. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley raised Deutsche Lufthansa from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Citigroup upgraded Deutsche Lufthansa from a strong sell rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Deutsche Lufthansa from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Deutsche Lufthansa presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

About Deutsche Lufthansa

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Lufthansa AG operates as an aviation company worldwide. It operates in three segments: Passenger Airlines; Logistics; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services (MRO). The Passenger Airlines segment offers products and services to passengers of Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Lufthansa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Northeast Indiana Bancorp (OTCMKTS:NIDB  Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Zacks reports.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp Stock Performance

Shares of NIDB stock remained flat at $18.00 on Tuesday. The stock had a trading volume of 45 shares, compared to its average volume of 305. The firm has a market cap of $43.16 million, a PE ratio of 10.59 and a beta of 0.39. Northeast Indiana Bancorp has a 52-week low of $13.25 and a 52-week high of $19.14. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $18.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.17.

Get Northeast Indiana Bancorp alerts:

Northeast Indiana Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for First Federal Savings Bank that provides various banking and financial advisory services. The company offers checking accounts, savings accounts, retirement accounts, health savings accounts, and direct deposits, as well as certificates of deposit.

Receive News & Ratings for Northeast Indiana Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northeast Indiana Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple (OTCMKTS:BBAJF  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 185,500 shares, a decrease of 82.3% from the December 31st total of 1,046,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 16,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 11.5 days.

Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple Stock Up 2.5 %

Shares of Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple stock traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $2.45. 5,882 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,121. Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple has a 52 week low of $1.95 and a 52 week high of $4.01. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $2.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.40.

Get Banco del Bajio S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple alerts:

Banco del Bajio, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Banco del Bajio, SA, Institucion de Banca Multiple provides banking products and services in Mexico. The company offers electronic banking, insurance products; credit and credit cards, trust contract; online banking; foreign exchange, and derivative finance services. It also offers working capital and fixed asset, and other loans; investment products; payroll advance services; financial factoring and leasing services.

Receive News & Ratings for Banco del Bajio S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco del Bajio S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Great Wall Motor Company Limited (OTCMKTS:GWLLY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decrease of 83.3% from the December 31st total of 600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Great Wall Motor Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of OTCMKTS GWLLY traded down $0.04 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $16.20. The companys stock had a trading volume of 562 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,615. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $17.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.17. Great Wall Motor has a fifty-two week low of $9.69 and a fifty-two week high of $22.34.

Get Great Wall Motor alerts:

Great Wall Motor Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

Great Wall Motor Company Limited researches and develops, manufactures, and sells automobiles, and automotive parts and components in China, Europe, ASEAN countries, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia, South Africa, and internationally. The company offers SUVs, sedans, pick-up trucks, multi-purpose vehicles, and energy vehicles primarily under the Haval, WEY, ORA, Tank, and Great Wall Pickup brand names.

Receive News & Ratings for Great Wall Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Great Wall Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SAF-Holland SE (OTCMKTS:SFHLF  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a drop of 80.0% from the December 31st total of 500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

SAF-Holland Price Performance

SAF-Holland stock remained flat at C$19.50 during midday trading on Tuesday. SAF-Holland has a one year low of C$19.50 and a one year high of C$19.50. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$19.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$19.31.

Get SAF-Holland alerts:

About SAF-Holland

(Get Free Report)

Recommended Stories

SAF-Holland SE manufactures and supplies chassis-related assemblies and components for trailers, trucks, semi-trailers, and buses. The company offers axle and air suspension systems, fifth wheels, hweel systems, coupling systems, kingpins, and landing gears, as well as ball races, braking and EBS systems, lighting systems, and disc brakes.

Receive News & Ratings for SAF-Holland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SAF-Holland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SSAB AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SSAAF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,000 shares, a growth of 566.7% from the December 31st total of 300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.0 days.

SSAB AB (publ) Price Performance

SSAAF remained flat at $3.86 during trading on Tuesday. SSAB AB has a one year low of $3.86 and a one year high of $8.23. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $4.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.69.

Get SSAB AB (publ) alerts:

About SSAB AB (publ)

(Get Free Report)

See Also

SSAB AB (publ) produces and sells steel products in Sweden, Finland, Rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. It operates through five segments: SSAB Special Steels, SSAB Europe, SSAB Americas, Tibnor, and Ruukki Construction. The SSAB Special Steels segment offers quenched and tempered steels, and advanced high-strength steel products for steel and plate production.

Receive News & Ratings for SSAB AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SSAB AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) is projected to post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect Southwest Airlines to post earnings of $0.45 per share and revenue of $6.95 billion for the quarter. Persons that wish to register for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Southwest Airlines Stock Performance

Shares of LUV stock opened at $31.88 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company has a market capitalization of $19.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -455.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 1.14. Southwest Airlines has a one year low of $23.58 and a one year high of $36.12. The companys 50-day moving average is $33.02 and its 200 day moving average is $30.36.

Get Southwest Airlines alerts:

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,028.57%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

In other Southwest Airlines news, insider Linda B. Rutherford sold 3,849 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.40, for a total value of $132,405.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 89,376 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,074,534.40. This represents a 4.13 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several analysts have commented on the company. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and set a $31.00 target price (down from $33.00) on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on Southwest Airlines from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Southwest Airlines from an underperform rating to a hold rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $32.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $32.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a sell rating and set a $28.00 price target on shares of Southwest Airlines in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Southwest Airlines currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $32.31.

View Our Latest Report on Southwest Airlines

About Southwest Airlines

(Get Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stryker Corporation revealed that Glenn S. Boehnlein, the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire from his role effective April 1, 2025. Concurrently, Preston W. Wells, the current Vice President, Group Chief Financial Officer for Orthopaedics, has been promoted to assume the position of Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of the company as of the aforementioned date.

Get alerts:

The company confirmed that there are no predefined arrangements or agreements between Mr. Wells and any third party influencing his selection as an officer. Furthermore, Mr. Wells has no familial relationships with any company directors or executive officers. The transition to Mr. Wellss new role is part of a strategic move following Mr. Boehnleins decision to retire.

Mr. Wells, a seasoned professional with a strong financial background, has held various financial roles within the company since joining in July 2022. Before his current role, he served in significant positions, including leading Investor Relations, Financial Planning & Analysis, and Finance functions at other companies such as Dialight Corporation and Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Wells brings 17 years of financial and accounting expertise, having graduated with a bachelors degree in accounting from Bucknell University and an MBA in Supply Chain Management from Lehigh University.

Regarding the transition process, Mr. Boehnlein has entered a Transition Agreement with Stryker Corporation. This agreement outlines his continued employment as an Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer during the Advisory Period, which lasts until March 31, 2026. During this time, he will receive his current annual salary and will remain eligible for specified bonuses in line with company guidelines. Mr. Boehnleins outstanding equity awards will adhere to the terms of the existing agreements, with no new equity awards granted during the advisory period.

In Mr. Wells case, a Letter Agreement has been established, detailing his new compensation framework. Effective April 1, 2025, Mr. Wellss base salary will increase to $725,000 annually, and his bonus target will be set at 85% of his base salary, prorated for 2025. Additionally, recommendations will be made to the Compensation and Human Capital Committee for long-term incentive plan awards, with an approximate target value of $3,000,000, comprised of stock options and performance stock units.

Stryker Corporation also disclosed the issuing of a press release on January 28, 2025, regarding these executive changes, which can be found as Exhibit 99.1 in the filed Form 8-K. This information, along with all pertinent agreements and details, are available for review in the official SEC filing.

This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Strykers 8K filing here.

Stryker Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries.

Featured Stories
Sudzucker AG (ETR:SZU  Get Free Report) shares shot up 1.9% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as 10.85 ($11.30) and last traded at 10.72 ($11.17). 169,162 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 59% from the average session volume of 410,903 shares. The stock had previously closed at 10.52 ($10.96).

Sudzucker Stock Up 1.9 %

The company has a market cap of $2.19 billion, a PE ratio of 6.54, a PEG ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.44. The companys fifty day moving average is 10.61 and its 200-day moving average is 11.34.

About Sudzucker

(Get Free Report)

Sudzucker AG produces and sells sugar products in Germany, rest of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Sugar, Special Products, CropEnergies, Starch, and Fruit. The Sugar segment produces and sells sugar, sugar specialty products, glucose syrup, and animal feed to food industry, retailers, and agriculture markets, as well as offers by-products of sugar.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Sudzucker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sudzucker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Revolve Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 449 shares of the communications equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $208,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MSI. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Motorola Solutions during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Planning Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Motorola Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Motorola Solutions during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 84.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Motorola Solutions alerts:

Motorola Solutions Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:MSI opened at $465.59 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.23. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $474.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $451.87. The company has a market capitalization of $77.81 billion, a PE ratio of 51.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 1.01. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a twelve month low of $314.84 and a twelve month high of $507.82.

Motorola Solutions Increases Dividend

Motorola Solutions ( NYSE:MSI Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.36. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.76 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 14.65% and a return on equity of 251.96%. On average, equities analysts predict that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 12.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th were paid a $1.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. This represents a $4.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.94%. This is a boost from Motorola Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. Motorola Solutionss payout ratio is currently 47.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MSI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Motorola Solutions from $440.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $440.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Motorola Solutions from $425.00 to $515.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $467.00 to $529.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Motorola Solutions from $430.00 to $495.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Motorola Solutions currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $504.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on MSI

Motorola Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
On January 21, 2025, Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclosed in an 8-K filing that the District Court, City & County of Denver, State of Colorado, issued a Preliminary Approval Order for a proposed settlement involving three stockholder derivative actions and two demands related to the Companys AP-013 trial for Ampion.

Get alerts:

The settlement, subject to court approval, was reached through a Stipulation of Settlement dated January 8, 2025, involving plaintiffs Jordan LeaJames (McCann), Robert Maresca, Samantha Marquis, stockholders Satheesh Thomas, and Dirk McKnight, the Company as the nominal defendant, and individual named defendants. A hearing has been scheduled for April 7, 2025, by the Court to review final approval of the proposed settlement.

As part of compliance with the Preliminary Approval Order, Ampio Pharmaceuticals is submitting the Stipulation of Settlement and the Notice of Proposed Derivative Settlement alongside the 8-K filing. Noteworthy is the dissolution of the Company on August 16, 2024, as per Section 278 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, functioning solely for specific purposes such as defending suits and discharging obligations.

The proposed settlement aims to fully resolve the mentioned derivative actions and demands, subject to the stipulated terms. The Company reiterates that the 8-K submission is solely in response to the Preliminary Approval Order and that no additional reporting obligations are triggered by this filing.

Furthermore, the Stipulation of Settlement outlines specific reforms and procedures that the Company is required to adopt and maintain should the settlement gain final approval. The settlement, if approved by the Court, would signify the conclusion and dismissal of the derivative actions and demands. Investors and shareholders can refer to the filed Stipulation of Settlement for detailed information on the proposed resolution.

For further details, including the full content of the Stipulation and related exhibits, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Companys website. Its clear that Ampio Pharmaceuticals is actively engaged in reaching a comprehensive settlement regarding the mentioned legal matters in an effort to conclude pending issues effectively.

This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Ampio Pharmaceuticalss 8K filing here.

About Ampio Pharmaceuticals

(Get Free Report)

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops therapies for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) in the United States. It develops OA-201, a small molecule formulation for the treatment of OAK pain. The company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

See Also
BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGD  Get Free Report)s share price was up 4.7% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $12.06 and last traded at $11.98. Approximately 2,211,743 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 61% from the average daily volume of 5,681,764 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.44.

BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $8.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.73 and a beta of -5.03. The stocks fifty day moving average is $13.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.50.

About BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN

(Get Free Report)

The MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (FNGD) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FANG+ index. The fund tracks -3x the daily price movements of an index of technology and consumer discretionary companies. The note uses derivatives to achieve its -3x exposure. FNGD was launched on Jan 25, 2018 and is issued by REX Microsectors.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Brinker International (NYSE:EAT  Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Wednesday. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $1.43, Zacks reports. Brinker International had a negative return on equity of 839.19% and a net margin of 4.11%. Brinker International updated its FY 2025 guidance to 7.500-8.000 EPS.

Brinker International Price Performance

EAT opened at $174.75 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $135.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $100.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.54. The stock has a market cap of $7.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 2.52. Brinker International has a 12 month low of $40.12 and a 12 month high of $180.00.

Get Brinker International alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EAT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded Brinker International from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $70.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Argus raised shares of Brinker International from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Brinker International from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $67.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Raymond James downgraded Brinker International from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $62.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $111.29.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brinker International

In related news, CFO Michaela M. Ware sold 3,753 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.02, for a total value of $386,634.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 23,071 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,376,774.42. The trade was a 13.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.72% of the companys stock.

About Brinker International

(Get Free Report)

Brinker International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchising of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Brinker International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brinker International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $61.10 and last traded at $60.28, with a volume of 1005624 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $59.67.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on BMY. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, November 15th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a neutral rating and issued a $50.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a market perform rating and a $56.00 target price on the stock. Daiwa America raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Leerink Partnrs raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.60.

Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $57.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.85.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.31. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a negative net margin of 15.30% and a positive return on equity of 11.94%. The firm had revenue of $11.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.00 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 0.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 3rd. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.21%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -69.08%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Samit Hirawat bought 1,830 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $54.67 per share, with a total value of $100,046.10. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president now directly owns 62,109 shares in the company, valued at $3,395,499.03. This represents a 3.04 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Phil M. Holzer sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.62, for a total transaction of $38,934.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $654,091.20. This trade represents a 5.62 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Bristol-Myers Squibb

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Reston Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hollencrest Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 61.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 492 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Valued Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1,168.1% during the third quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 596 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 549 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.41% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE:ELPC  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Wednesday . 6,018 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 47% from the previous sessions volume of 4,088 shares.The stock last traded at $5.88 and had previously closed at $5.72.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $5.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.10.

Get Companhia Paranaense de Energia alerts:

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE:ELPC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia Announces Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th were paid a $0.131 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th.

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia stock. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda grew its holdings in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE:ELPC  Free Report) by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 458,294 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,417 shares during the period. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltdas holdings in Companhia Paranaense de Energia were worth $2,695,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL engages in the generation, transformation, distribution, and sale of electricity to industrial, residential, commercial, rural, and other customers in Brazil. The company operates through Power Generation and Transmission, Power Distribution, GAS, Power Sale, and Holding and Services segments.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE  Free Report) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,696 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 528 shares during the quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF were worth $1,658,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. MGB Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $46,000.

Get iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Price Performance

BATS VLUE opened at $109.81 on Wednesday. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $71.21 and a 1-year high of $89.40. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $109.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $108.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.42 billion, a PE ratio of 13.26 and a beta of 0.87.

About iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Enhanced Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities. Stocks are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics (earnings, revenue, book value and cash earnings), aiming for exposure to undervalued stocks in each sector.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLUE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (OTCMKTS:GJNSY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decline of 83.3% from the December 31st total of 2,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA Price Performance

OTCMKTS:GJNSY traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $20.42. 750 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,522. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA has a one year low of $13.39 and a one year high of $20.89. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $18.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.69.

Get Gjensidige Forsikring ASA alerts:

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA engages in the provision of general insurance and pension products in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The company operates through five segments: General Insurance Private, General Insurance Commercial, General Insurance Sweden, General Insurance Baltics, and Pension.

Receive News & Ratings for Gjensidige Forsikring ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gjensidige Forsikring ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
McKinley Carter Wealth Services Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,470 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 75 shares during the period. McKinley Carter Wealth Services Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $1,894,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,434,001 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,277,127,000 after purchasing an additional 149,272 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,292,268 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,645,972,000 after purchasing an additional 167,422 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 3,347,326 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $877,234,000 after buying an additional 135,023 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1.8% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,849,448 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $484,685,000 after purchasing an additional 32,656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 1,757,245 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $460,533,000 after purchasing an additional 17,139 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.

Get Illinois Tool Works alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on ITW shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $255.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $279.00 to $265.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $268.00 to $266.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Barclays decreased their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $270.00 to $265.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $269.89.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

NYSE:ITW opened at $258.87 on Wednesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $232.77 and a 52-week high of $279.13. The company has a market cap of $76.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.39, a PEG ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 1.11. The firms 50-day moving average is $262.74 and its 200-day moving average is $256.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.36.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.53 by $0.12. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 21.66% and a return on equity of 97.06%. The business had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 273.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,823 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,728 shares during the quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $902,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DELL. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 92.4% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,767,011 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,513,401,000 after purchasing an additional 6,131,507 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 71.8% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,317,829 shares of the technology companys stock worth $746,596,000 after acquiring an additional 2,641,456 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 19,376.1% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,427,699 shares of the technology companys stock worth $287,779,000 after acquiring an additional 2,415,234 shares during the period. Alkeon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Dell Technologies by 48.3% in the 3rd quarter. Alkeon Capital Management LLC now owns 2,146,777 shares of the technology companys stock worth $254,479,000 after purchasing an additional 699,204 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Dell Technologies by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,725,473 shares of the technology companys stock worth $204,538,000 after purchasing an additional 29,717 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock.

Get Dell Technologies alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays upped their price objective on Dell Technologies from $106.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of Dell Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $136.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $160.00 to $156.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Dell Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $148.06.

Dell Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Dell Technologies stock opened at $101.40 on Wednesday. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 1 year low of $80.49 and a 1 year high of $179.70. The company has a market capitalization of $71.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.92. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $120.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.78.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 26th. The technology company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $24.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.67 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.36% and a negative return on equity of 191.91%. Dell Technologiess revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.62 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be issued a $0.445 dividend. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 22nd. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 31.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dell Technologies

In other news, CFO Yvonne Mcgill sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.24, for a total transaction of $1,145,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 236,419 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $33,864,657.56. This represents a 3.27 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 103,745 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.28, for a total transaction of $12,997,173.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 777,347 shares in the company, valued at $97,386,032.16. This trade represents a 11.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 946,132 shares of company stock valued at $115,660,009 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 46.70% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Paladin Advisory Group LLC cut its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 9.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,414 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 449 shares during the period. Paladin Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $117,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Swiss National Bank raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the third quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 16,819,712 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $486,762,000 after purchasing an additional 100,900 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 130,143,942 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,766,366,000 after acquiring an additional 12,864,343 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 80.9% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 508,256 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,709,000 after purchasing an additional 227,349 shares in the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC increased its stake in Pfizer by 394.2% in the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 52,238 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,512,000 after buying an additional 41,668 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 3,105,433 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $89,872,000 after buying an additional 639,985 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.36% of the companys stock.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Citigroup lowered their target price on Pfizer from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Friday, November 15th. They set an underperform rating and a $25.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.92.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of PFE opened at $26.72 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $151.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.48 and a 52-week high of $31.54. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $26.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.91.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.42. The company had revenue of $17.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.92 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. Pfizers revenue for the quarter was up 31.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.17) earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.44%. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. Pfizers payout ratio is presently 227.03%.

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI lifted its position in shares of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED  Free Report) by 123.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,343 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 3,500 shares during the quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RIs holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $566,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Consolidated Edison by 1.7% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 23,429,218 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,439,684,000 after purchasing an additional 399,034 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,853,788 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $919,041,000 after purchasing an additional 107,281 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Consolidated Edison by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,148,666 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $223,741,000 after buying an additional 28,254 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,145,128 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $223,373,000 after buying an additional 82,985 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its position in Consolidated Edison by 82.3% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,268,424 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $132,081,000 after buying an additional 572,530 shares in the last quarter. 66.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Consolidated Edison alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ED has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays reduced their price objective on Consolidated Edison from $99.00 to $92.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Consolidated Edison from a sector underperform rating to a sector perform rating and upped their target price for the company from $90.00 to $100.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Consolidated Edison from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $103.00 to $116.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Consolidated Edison in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. They set a hold rating and a $108.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $100.00.

Consolidated Edison Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE ED opened at $93.56 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.41 billion, a PE ratio of 17.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $92.85 and a 200-day moving average of $98.09. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a 52-week low of $85.85 and a 52-week high of $107.75.

Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. Consolidated Edison had a return on equity of 8.70% and a net margin of 12.27%. On average, analysts anticipate that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 5.35 EPS for the current year.

Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.63%. This is a boost from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. Consolidated Edisons payout ratio is 64.03%.

About Consolidated Edison

(Free Report)

Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Consolidated Edison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consolidated Edison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC increased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,706 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 391 shares during the quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,027,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Gladius Capital Management LP raised its stake in Pfizer by 102.8% during the third quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 1,043 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 38,015 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 168.3% in the 3rd quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 1,229 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 771 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Pfizer Price Performance

PFE opened at $26.79 on Wednesday. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $24.48 and a 52 week high of $31.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.79 billion, a PE ratio of 36.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $26.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $27.92.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.42. The business had revenue of $17.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.92 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. Pfizers quarterly revenue was up 31.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.17) EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.42%. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is currently 227.03%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on PFE shares. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Bank of America reissued a neutral rating and issued a $29.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of Pfizer from $35.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $31.92.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Pfizer

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC decreased its position in shares of Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS  Free Report) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 20,168 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 172 shares during the quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in Webster Financial were worth $1,114,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Webster Financial in the third quarter valued at $27,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 340.7% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 595 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in shares of Webster Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $53,000. NBC Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Webster Financial by 117.9% during the third quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,268 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Webster Financial by 45.9% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,398 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.58% of the companys stock.

Get Webster Financial alerts:

Webster Financial Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE WBS opened at $59.44 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $10.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.60, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firms fifty day moving average is $58.02 and its 200 day moving average is $51.84. Webster Financial Co. has a 52 week low of $39.33 and a 52 week high of $63.99.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Webster Financial ( NYSE:WBS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $661.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $687.53 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 18.39% and a return on equity of 10.82%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Webster Financial Co. will post 5.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $63.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group began coverage on Webster Financial in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $76.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com raised Webster Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 11th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Webster Financial from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Webster Financial from $67.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $62.08.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WBS

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Javier L. Evans sold 10,137 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.41, for a total transaction of $581,965.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 22,657 shares in the company, valued at $1,300,738.37. This represents a 30.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO John R. Ciulla sold 8,000 shares of Webster Financial stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.33, for a total transaction of $474,640.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 218,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,988,760.92. This trade represents a 3.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 25,287 shares of company stock worth $1,485,050. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Webster Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Webster Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Webster Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 7th,Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be given a dividend of 0.38 per share by the pipeline company on Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.41%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 31st. This is a positive change from Plains All American Pipelines previous quarterly dividend of $0.32.

Plains All American Pipeline has increased its dividend payment by an average of 20.8% per year over the last three years. Plains All American Pipeline has a dividend payout ratio of 100.7% meaning the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities analysts expect Plains All American Pipeline to earn $1.39 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $1.52 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 109.4%.

Get Plains All American Pipeline alerts:

Plains All American Pipeline Price Performance

NYSE:PAA opened at $20.52 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average is $18.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.80. The firm has a market cap of $14.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.01. Plains All American Pipeline has a one year low of $15.02 and a one year high of $21.00.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Plains All American Pipeline ( NYSE:PAA Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.06. Plains All American Pipeline had a return on equity of 11.63% and a net margin of 2.08%. The firm had revenue of $12.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.35 earnings per share. Plains All American Pipelines revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Plains All American Pipeline will post 1.17 EPS for the current year.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on PAA. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Plains All American Pipeline in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a neutral rating and a $18.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Plains All American Pipeline from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company cut Plains All American Pipeline from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $22.00 to $20.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $19.00 price objective on shares of Plains All American Pipeline in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Plains All American Pipeline from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $22.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $20.21.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Plains All American Pipeline

Plains All American Pipeline Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the pipeline transportation, terminaling, storage, and gathering of crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States and Canada. The company operates through two segments, Crude Oil and NGL. The Crude Oil segment offers gathering and transporting crude oil through pipelines, gathering systems, trucks, and on barges or railcars.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Plains All American Pipeline Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plains All American Pipeline and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (NYSE:RYAM  Get Free Report) rose 5.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $8.55 and last traded at $8.53. Approximately 162,554 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 54% from the average daily volume of 355,773 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.07.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Rayonier Advanced Materials from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com cut shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 20th.

Get Rayonier Advanced Materials alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rayonier Advanced Materials

Rayonier Advanced Materials Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $551.55 million, a PE ratio of -6.54 and a beta of 3.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $8.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.85.

Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by $0.06. The business had revenue of $401.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $412.20 million. Rayonier Advanced Materials had a negative return on equity of 1.61% and a negative net margin of 5.21%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.41) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. will post -0.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Rayonier Advanced Materials

In other Rayonier Advanced Materials news, Director Eric Bowen acquired 12,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $8.04 per share, with a total value of $100,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 12,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $100,500. The trade was a  increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 3.14% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rayonier Advanced Materials

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RYAM. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Rayonier Advanced Materials during the second quarter worth about $29,000. nVerses Capital LLC raised its position in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 121.9% during the third quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 7,100 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 3,900 shares during the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials in the second quarter valued at approximately $61,000. Truist Financial Corp purchased a new position in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $66,000. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $84,000. 68.64% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Rayonier Advanced Materials

(Get Free Report)

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc manufactures and sells cellulose specialty products in the United States, China, Latin America, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, other Asian countries, and internationally. It operates through High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard, and High-Yield Pulp segments. The companys products include cellulose specialties, which are natural polymers that are used as raw materials to manufacture a range of consumer-oriented products, such as liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cigarette filters, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints, and lacquers.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (NYSE:PFL  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 52,000 shares, a decline of 35.9% from the December 31st total of 81,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 153,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund Price Performance

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund stock opened at $8.41 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $8.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $8.42. PIMCO Income Strategy Fund has a one year low of $7.95 and a one year high of $8.81.

Get PIMCO Income Strategy Fund alerts:

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 13th will be issued a $0.0814 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 13th. This represents a $0.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.61%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PIMCO Income Strategy Fund

About PIMCO Income Strategy Fund

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC grew its stake in PIMCO Income Strategy Fund by 141.8% during the 3rd quarter. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC now owns 1,248,835 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $10,703,000 after buying an additional 732,282 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in PIMCO Income Strategy Fund by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 240,860 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,064,000 after buying an additional 5,810 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its stake in PIMCO Income Strategy Fund by 52.9% during the 3rd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 229,619 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,968,000 after buying an additional 79,458 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of PIMCO Income Strategy Fund by 3.1% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 185,296 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,510,000 after purchasing an additional 5,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC grew its position in PIMCO Income Strategy Fund by 36.7% in the 3rd quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 135,486 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,161,000 after buying an additional 36,395 shares in the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. It invests in fixed income markets across the globe. The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of floating rate debt instruments with an average duration of around three years.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO Income Strategy Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO Income Strategy Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SteelPeak Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,173 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. SteelPeak Wealth LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $2,724,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Mastercard during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. First Personal Financial Services bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 74.0% in the third quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth $54,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the companys stock.

Get Mastercard alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Monday, November 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Mastercard from $593.00 to $580.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 1st. UBS Group increased their target price on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Mastercard from $580.00 to $618.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $575.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $567.29.

Mastercard Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $547.61 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $502.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.10. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $428.86 and a 12-month high of $551.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $525.29 and a 200 day simple moving average of $498.70.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $7.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.27 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. The companys revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.39 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. This is a positive change from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Mastercards payout ratio is currently 23.00%.

Mastercard declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to purchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Mastercard Company Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Westhaven Gold Corp. (OTCMKTS:WTHVF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,000 shares, a decline of 85.1% from the December 31st total of 6,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 205,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Westhaven Gold Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS WTHVF opened at $0.08 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $0.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.10. Westhaven Gold has a 52-week low of $0.06 and a 52-week high of $0.20.

Get Westhaven Gold alerts:

Westhaven Gold Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Recommended Stories

Westhaven Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. Its flagship project is the Shovelnose project, which consists of 32 contiguous mineral claims covering approximately 17,625 ha located in the Spences Bridge Gold Belt in British Columbia, Canada.

Receive News & Ratings for Westhaven Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Westhaven Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai said on Tuesday that in the Year of the Snake, Macao will strive to enhance governance capacity, promote economic diversification, and proactively integrate into the national development paradigm.

Sam made the remarks in his Spring Festival message, extending New Year wishes to the residents of Macao.

Noting that the snake symbolizes wisdom, sensitivity, flexibility, and auspiciousness in Chinese culture, Sam said that while there may be uncertainties on the path toward the future and rapid changes may occur in the international landscape, the motherland "will always be our staunch supporter."

The chief executive noted that this new year marks the first year of the inauguration of the sixth-term SAR government, adding, "We will continue to strengthen the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle and uphold national security with a greater sense of responsibility."

In constructing the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Sam underlined that he and his team will make achievements in implementing innovative policies and integrating regulations, bolster advancements in industry development and foundation building, and expedite a new stage of Macao-Hengqin integration in the areas of systems, mechanisms, policies, and others.

Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, said on Tuesday that with the care of the central government, strong support of the motherland, and joint efforts of the SAR government and all sectors of society, the "one country, two systems" policy will certainly take new steps and present a new outlook.

Standing at a new historic starting point, he added, it is believed that Macao will make the path toward appropriate economic diversification broader and more solid.

Liu Xianfa, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, said in his message that in the new year, the foreign affairs office will further strengthen safeguarding national security, fully support the chief executive and the SAR government in governing by law, and assist the SAR in expanding foreign exchanges and cooperation.

Liu added that the office will also promote the introduction of more measures to facilitate the movement of people between China and foreign countries, increase efforts to attract international investment to the in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, and better protect the rights and interests of Macao compatriots overseas.
In a move signaling a continued commitment to bilateral relations, top military brass from India and Nepal recently convened in Kathmandu to explore avenues for enhanced defense cooperation. Lieutenant General Zubin A. Minwalla, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Armys 33 Corps and Colonel of the Regiment of the 9 Gorkha Rifles undertook a visit to Nepal, engaging in strategic dialogues with his Nepalese counterparts. The discussions centered on deepening the existing defense partnership, fostering greater strategic understanding, and identifying concrete areas for future collaboration between the armed forces of the two neighboring nations.

Get alerts:

High-Level Meetings at Nepalese Army Headquarters

Lt. Gen. Minwalla met with General Ashok Raj Sigdel, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army, to discuss defense cooperation. Both leaders emphasized the strong military relationship between India and Nepal. Discussions included joint military exercises, training programs, and intelligence sharing, with a focus on addressing emerging security challenges and proposing increased cooperation.

Addressing Regional Security Concerns

Further reinforcing the collaborative spirit, Lt. Gen. Minwalla engaged in an extended interaction with Major General Pawan Raj Ghimire, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nepalese Armys Eastern Division. This meeting was particularly significant as it facilitated a direct dialogue on regional security matters of mutual concern. The Eastern Division of the Nepalese Army plays a crucial role in safeguarding Nepals eastern borders, an area of strategic importance shared with India.

Commitment to the Welfare of Ex-Servicemen

Lt. Gen. Minwalla and Major General Ghimire discussed cross-border security management, disaster response coordination, and information exchange mechanisms. Strengthening coordination at the operational level, particularly between forces deployed in bordering regions, is seen as vital for maintaining effective border management and responding swiftly to emergent security situations. This engagement highlights the practical and ground-level focus of defense cooperation, moving beyond high-level policy discussions to concrete operational synergies.

Beyond the strategic and operational dimensions of military cooperation, Lt. Gen. Minwallas itinerary also included a visit to the Defence Wings Welfare Branch and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic in Kathmandu. This visit underscored Indias commitment to the welfare of Nepalese veterans who have distinguished themselves in the Indian Army.

Nepal has a long and proud tradition of contributing soldiers to the Indian Army, particularly within the Gorkha regiments. These soldiers have rendered exemplary service and formed an integral part of the Indian military ethos. Lt. Gen. Minwallas interaction with Nepalese veterans was deeply symbolic, reaffirming Indias moral and institutional obligation to support their well-being post-retirement.

During his visit to the Welfare Branch and the ECHS Polyclinic, Lt. Gen. Minwalla reiterated Indias commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare and welfare support to these veterans and their families. Discussions revolved around streamlining access to healthcare services, expanding welfare schemes, and addressing any challenges faced by the veteran community. This aspect of the visit highlights the human dimension of the India-Nepal military relationship, acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions of Nepalese soldiers to the Indian armed forces.

Deep Roots and Future Trajectory

The visit of Lt. Gen. Minwalla to Nepal is viewed as a reaffirmation of the deep-seated historical and cultural connections that underpin the India-Nepal relationship. For decades, military cooperation has served as a bridge between the two nations, fostering mutual trust and understanding. The presence of thousands of Nepalese soldiers in the Indian Army is a testament to the enduring people-to-people bond that transcends political and geographical boundaries. Lt.Minwallas visit

This recent high-level engagement underscores the shared commitment of India and Nepal to maintaining regional stability and security in an increasingly dynamic geopolitical environment. By focusing on enhancing defense cooperation, fostering strategic understanding, and prioritizing the welfare of veterans, both nations are actively working to strengthen a partnership that is vital for the peace and prosperity of the region. The visit is expected to pave the way for further concrete initiatives and sustained dialogue, ensuring that the India-Nepal military relationship continues to evolve and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Observers believe that this renewed impetus in defense cooperation will not only strengthen bilateral ties but also contribute significantly to the overall stability and security architecture of South Asia.
Donegal County Council has agreed to help drive the idea of restoring rail between Letterkenny and Derry - a move welcomed by the Into The West campaigning group.

A motion to the council was proposed on Monday by Independent Councillor Declan Meehan, who represents the Milford electoral area. Local rail campaigners Into The West met with Cllr Meehan earlier this month to discuss the case for restoring rail between Letterkenny and Derry and to understand how best to secure the active support of Donegal Council for reopening the route.

Following the meeting, Cllr Meehan submitted a motion to Mondays meeting of the full council, with two main asks included. The first was for Donegal Council to seek funding for a feasibility study into restoring the Letterkenny-Derry route  to coincide with a study that is already ongoing north of the border into reopening the Derry-Portadown line.

READ NEXT: N14 at Tullyrap to remain closed 'for the remainder of the week' after fatal crash

The second ask was for a delegation from Donegal to meet the new Irish Government to lobby for rail reopening to be accelerated in the county.

Were very grateful to Clr Meehan for meeting us earlier this month and for his enthusiasm for bringing rail back to Letterkenny, Chair of Into The West, Steve Bradley, commented.

The All-Island Rail Strategy has recommended that Letterkenny should have its rail restored, and a unique window of opportunity exists right now to do so. Firstly a dedicated 17bn infrastructure fund has been set up with the Apple Windfall Tax money, and the projects it will be spent on are due to be decided in the coming months.

Secondly, the Northern & Western Region of Ireland  which includes Donegal  has an under-performing economy, which led the EU to officially downgrade its status in 2020 from a developed region to one that is merely now in transition.

This introduces the possibility of EU funding for rail projects in Donegal  funding which will no longer be available once the regions economy is eventually upgraded again. So Cllr Meehans motion to Donegal County Council is extremely timely, and were very grateful for his support in proposing it.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the closure of the Derry-Portadown railway line - which erased the last bits of rail from Tyrone and Donegal. Into the West is keen for that event to be marked in the coming months by a joint cross-border delegation to Dublin and Stormont from all four councils in the north-west of the island  Derry-Strabane, Donegal, Fermanagh-Omagh and Mid-Ulster.

The aim of the delegations will be to push for restoring the Derry-Portadown route to be made an agreed priority project within the All-Island Rail Strategy, and for the reopening of Letterkenny-Derry to be expedited and delivered within the next decade.

The All-Island Rail Strategy recommended reopening the Derry-Portadown line to provide a rail corridor between the north-west and Dublin, but the route hasnt been chosen as one of the strategys seven priority projects, Mr Bradley added.

It is essential that that decision is changed, as otherwise it just wont happen for decades. Meanwhile, Letterkenny is currently the third largest town in the Republic without rail, and by 2035 it will be the largest. It is essential that the unique window of opportunity presented by the Apple Windfall Tax and EU funding  as well as the recently announced 1bn for the Shared Island Fund  be used to ensure that Letterkenny gets its rail back before 2035. Otherwise, it wont happen until the second half of this century, which will be a massive failure.

Its fantastic that Donegal Council has agreed to be part of such a cross-border delegation, and were very grateful to Cllr Meehan and all councillors in the county for their support for the proposal. We hope that elected representatives in Derry-Strabane, Fermanagh-Omagh and Mid-Ulster will now also give their support to what would be an extremely powerful cross-border delegation on rail  one which would be impossible for the governments in Dublin and Belfast to ignore.

Into the West campaign from improvements to the single rail line from Derry~Londonderry to Belfast, to campaigning for the return of rail to counties Donegal, Fermanagh and Tyrone, to link up the towns such as Strabane, Omagh and Enniskillen that lost their rail lines in the 1950s and 1960s and restore rail as an option for journeys from Derry~Londonderry and Letterkenny to Dublin, Sligo and Galway.
The level of abuse and intimidation of women politicians in Northern Ireland is leading some to have doubts about running in elections, MPs have been told.

Cahir Hughes, head of Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, said that female politicians in the region had suffered horrific abuse including incidents of stalking and being targeted by pornographic deepfake videos.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee was hearing evidence from officials at the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Office as part of its investigation into how elections are conducted in the region.

Responding to a question about abuse and intimidation of politicians and candidates in Northern Ireland, Mr Hughes said: Since 2022 female candidates and elected representatives have reported horrific abuse, misogynistic, sexist, violent (abuse).

We have been working very closely with the PSNI to challenge that over the last number of years.

It links in with the PSNIs strategy of tackling violence against women and girls.

Changes that have happened in recent elections, the PSNI will now give each candidate a single point of contact so that when they are out campaigning they know there is a police officer they can contact.

The PSNI are much more active now in terms of providing briefings for candidates and elected members in terms of stepping up their own security.

Mr Hughes said the Northern Ireland Assembly has now offered funding for MLAs so they can install security features at their personal address or office.

He added: I do think we need a cultural change within our society.

We have got a younger generation coming through that think that this is acceptable and a normal part of politics.

The threat in Northern Ireland and I suppose the UK, particularly when we speak to female candidates, is that people are going to stop putting themselves forward.

I think that would be hugely damaging to our democracy.

Recently, SDLP MLA Cara Hunter spoke out about how she feared a deepfake video would ruin her political career as she urged action to clamp down on online abuse.

Ms Hunter was targeted in April 2022 when a fake video was created to look as if she was taking part in pornographic activity with a man and shared online.

Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood told the House of Commons this month of an experience leading a school visit to Parliament Buildings at Stormont when she was approached by a member of the public who said they wanted to rape her.

Mr Hughes said he encouraged politicians to report all incidents of abuse or intimidation to police.

He added: We have heard from candidates and elected representatives who have been stalked because the imprint on their election material, some candidates would use their home address or an office address and they will have people standing at the edge of the driveway or outside their office.

We know of female candidates who have been made intentionally to feel uncomfortable when they are out canvassing, be that hurling verbal abuse or just stalking and following.

He added: It is just frankly unacceptable and the real challenge is that female candidates are now having reservations about putting themselves for election and they have told us that as well.

Mr Hughes said the Electoral Commission was working with the Department of Education to improve education for young people about why people participate in politics.

David Marshall, the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland, told MPs that his biggest concern in last years general election was around intimidation of polling station staff.

He said: They are exposed, they are running a polling station, it is extremely difficult when people are doing a public service.

We had situations where people were concerned over their safety in terms of coming and going from the polling station and and the police were involved in that.
When you picture a tech disruptor in the field of artificial intelligence, chances are you think of well-funded American giants, maybe something out of Silicon Valley with big venture capital dollars behind it. But every so often, a player emerges from an unexpected corner of the world, knocking our collective socks off. Right now, that disruptor is DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that has left global financial markets reeling  and our understanding of who can dominate the world of AI and how.

For me, it all started with a flurry of news reports about an open-source AI marvel that had trained a top-tier model on a fraction of the budget normally swallowed by big-time AI labs. Then came the jaw-dropping day on January 27, 2025, when NVIDIA stock fell a massive 17% in a single day, wiping out $600 billion. Even in an era where stock values soar and crash like clockwork, thats a meltdown you rarely see.

Also read: DeepSeek AI: Beyond ChatGPT, 5 ways DeepSeek is rewriting AI rules

In a world where were used to hearing about monstrous billion-dollar training budgets, DeepSeeks success story is the polar opposite. Its about being ingeniously frugal, preserving open-source ethos, and an against-all-odds approach that puts them on the map faster than you can say GPU shortage.

DeepSeek: Chinese AI player no one saw coming

Little is known of DeepSeeks CEO and founder, Liang Wenfeng, who also co-founded a successful hedge fund, High-Flyer Quant, before pivoting to AI. In 2023, he launched DeepSeek with a mission to democratise AI development. Flash forward two years, and the companys new flagship model, DeepSeek-V3, is knocking us all back on our heels.

Why is the whole world talking about DeepSeek these past few days? Its got to do with their secret sauce. They built and trained that model on about 2,000 NVIDIA H800 GPUs  way lesser than the 16,000 or so GPUs your typical top-tier lab might throw at the problem. All thanks to a technique allowing each task to tap only the slice of compute it genuinely needs. The net effect is that DeepSeek spent roughly $5.58 million on training  peanuts by AI unicorn standards  and still ended up with performance that many say matches or even surpasses the likes of OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude and other big US labs dabbling in cutting edge AI.

Soon after DeepSeek unveiled their new model with all of its specs and (more importantly) its performance metrics, the very first Monday of trading saw NVIDIAs stock tumble 17% or just under $600 billion  wiping off the largest single day net worth of any company ever. Investors had a knee jerk reaction to the fact that if DeepSeeks approach scales, you dont need thousands of top-shelf NVIDIA GPUs. You just need a fraction of that, cleverly used. This is potentially worrisome to NVIDIAs growth story, which has so far banked on AI labs spending ever larger sums on hardware.

Also read: DeepSeek vs ChatGPT and NVIDIA: Making AI affordable again?

Its not just NVIDIA that took a body blow, as Microsoft, Googles parent Alphabet, Broadcom, among others, saw significant dips. Over $1 trillion disappeared off the US stock market, on the first day of trading of the week in the aftermath of DeepSeek. When an upstart like DeepSeek can trigger such widespread market waves, perhaps its a sign that were entering an era of lean AI, akin to how lean start-ups emerged in tech a decade ago.

DeepSeek gives thumbs up to open source AI

Another fundamentally interesting fact about DeepSeeks disruptive power is that it didnt just cut costs  it embraced an open-source framework. That might raise eyebrows, considering the typical hush-hush secrecy we see from big AI product companies who treat their models like trade secrets. By contrast, DeepSeek is letting outsiders peek at the code, adapt it, or repurpose the architecture for their own ends. For me, thats a real breath of fresh air. After all, if we keep AI hidden behind locked doors and massive paywalls, how do we expect it to actually solve real problems at scale?

If youre a small company or a rural university lab anywhere in the world, you probably dont have the budget to pay for usage of top-tier commercial AI. But if a robust open-source model exists, you can dive in and build solutions for local needs  farming, weather predictions, small business analytics  without bankrupting yourself on API calls.

Also read: Deepseek R1 vs Llama 3.2 vs ChatGPT o1: Which AI model wins?

This shift is reminiscent of the wave of open-source software that took on proprietary operating systems decades ago. Linux started out as a side project and ended up powering most of the internet. Could DeepSeek do something similar for advanced AI?

Of course, DeepSeeks success didnt happen in a vacuum. Llama from Meta was an early sign that open-source AI can shake up the market. The question is whether DeepSeeks model is truly up there in performance for general-purpose tasks like coding or language generation. From the initial buzz, it appears it might be.

DeepSeeks criticism and censorship fear

But its not just about cost and code availability. There are geopolitical undercurrents here, and not everyone is popping open champagne bottles to celebrate DeepSeeks viral AI moment just yet  despite DeepSeek becoming the #1 app on Apples App Store in the US by Jan 27, 2025, pushing down OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Skeptics and experts alike say the DeepSeek AI model might be forced to comply with sending data back to China or Chinese censorship standards, limiting the range of permissible discourse. Others raise concerns about data privacy  we still dont know exactly what data DeepSeek used for its AI model training. For instance, if they used data from the open internet, the same misinformation or bias issues that plague other AI models could pop up again on DeepSeek.

Also read: DeepSeek R1: A wake-up call for Indian AI ambition, say startup investors

Its also worth noting that sometimes a disruptive demonstration might not hold up at large scale. We cant overlook the real possibility that DeepSeeks model might falter under certain high-level tasks or user loads. In fact this is happening now, where DeepSeek queries are returning The server is busy, please try again later responses. According to the official press statements, DeepSeek remains in research and development mode, with no immediate push for commercial monetisation. So is DeepSeek robust, or is it a well-crafted AI spectacle meant to last for a fleeting moment?

In a post DeepSeek AI world

One thing is for certain, though. DeepSeeks sudden rise is part of a larger story  the unstoppable wave of open-source and cost-efficient AI thats now upon us. At least in the short term, were likely to see a flurry of open-source AI startups, each claiming to replicate or improve upon DeepSeeks success. Thats good for competition, good for price, and hopefully good for all the smaller industries or academic labs that want in on the AI revolution.

Also read: DeepSeek praised by Silicon Valley: The $6 million AI disruption

For the end-user  people like you and me  this might mean a future with advanced AI assistants that dont cost an arm and a leg, or that dont require you to trust your data with a big, remote cloud. Imagine freely running a near-cutting-edge language model on your laptop or a modest local server  or even a Raspberry Pi! Thats a radical shift from the subscribe to a $200/month tier for advanced usage narrative weve been fed.

Maybe its a bit premature to write off expensive enterprise AI models entirely  OpenAIs prospects may dwindle a bit, NVIDIA will reevaluate expectations, and the hype will settle down somewhat. Still, theres no doubt DeepSeek is shining a spotlight on an uncomfortable truth, that a lot of us might have been overpaying for AI we could replicate on half the hardware with a dash of clever engineering.

Also read: DeepSeek-R1, BLOOM and Falcon AI: Exploring lesser-known open source LLMs
Built at an estimated cost of $6 million, DeepSeeks model challenges the perception that modern AI requires enormous resources. For India, this development is both an inspiration and a challenge, prompting a reassessment of its AI strategy.

Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, offers valuable insights into what DeepSeeks success means for India and the steps needed to establish itself as a global AI leader.

DeepSeeks AI significance and lessons for India

DeepSeek has demonstrated that high-quality AI models can be developed outside traditional hubs like the United States. Its R1 model has been lauded for its performance on benchmark tests and its open-source release under the permissive MIT licence, which allows developers worldwide to access and build upon it.

Also read: DeepSeek AI: How this free LLM is shaking up AI industry

Chandrasekaran described DeepSeeks achievement as phenomenal, noting that it exemplifies how software and algorithmic innovation can often compensate for hardware limitations. However, he cautioned against taking the reported $6 million cost at face value. Its hard to gauge the actual cost of building DeepSeek because we dont know if this figure includes pre-runs or other hidden expenses, he explained.

Regardless, the models success underscores a critical lesson: efficiency in scaling AI is becoming more important than brute computational power. For India, where resource constraints are a reality, DeepSeek offers a blueprint for innovation within limitations.

Chandrasekaran observed that if DeepSeek relied on older-generation GPUs, it highlights the importance of deep research knowledge and access to prevailing techniques in the field. The only way to build a state-of-the-art model with limited infrastructure is through software ingenuity, he said.

Indias current position in AI development

India has long been recognised for its IT expertise and engineering talent. Government initiatives like the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the IndiaAI Mission have laid a foundation for AI adoption across sectors such as healthcare and agriculture.

Also read: DeepSeek R1: A wake-up call for Indian AI ambition, say startup investors

However, foundational research remains an area where India lags behind global leaders like China and the United States. One of the primary challenges is infrastructure. High-performance computing resources such as GPUs are scarce, and there is limited investment in data centres and energy-efficient systems.

Chandrasekaran emphasised that robust infrastructure is essential for fostering an ecosystem where software innovation can thrive. These clusters are extremely power-hungry, he noted. Investments in cooling technologies and sustainable energy solutions are critical.

Another area requiring attention is research funding. While countries like China have heavily invested in academic research through state-backed initiatives, Indias R&D spending remains below 1% of GDP  far lower than global averages.

Chandrasekaran argued that deep investments in research are crucial for building foundational capabilities in AI. Additionally, talent development needs to be prioritised. Institutions like IITs and IISc produce world-class engineers but have limited capacity relative to Indias population size.

The number of computer science seats at IITs or IISc is a drop in the bucket compared to whats needed, Chandrasekaran remarked.

AI opportunities for India

Despite these challenges, Chandrasekaran sees immense potential for India to carve out a unique role in the global AI landscape. He believes constraints such as purchasing power parity can drive more efficient and frugal innovation.

Also read: DeepSeek praised by Silicon Valley: The $6 million AI disruption

Constraints are not always a curse; sometimes they can be a blessing, he said. One opportunity lies in developing smaller, localised models tailored to Indian languages and use cases. Such models could address unique socio-economic challenges while fostering innovation within resource limitations.

Chandrasekaran also emphasised the importance of building a robust developer ecosystem: India needs an environment where developers can create B2B and B2C applications using homegrown models. Furthermore, public-private partnerships could accelerate innovation by bridging gaps between academia, industry, and government bodies.

Future of AI development

Chandrasekaran believes that future advancements in AI will prioritise efficiency over brute force approaches that rely on massive compute power and data volumes. He noted that leaner models will become increasingly important as developers aim to optimise performance without escalating costs.

On a broader level, he reflected on how AI could reshape human identity itself. While he sees immense potential for AI to enable humans to reach their full potential, he also expressed concerns about its impact on creativity and purpose-driven tasks traditionally associated with human identity.

Also read: Meet Janus-Pro-7B: DeepSeeks free AI image generation tool

If AI becomes so good that it takes over tasks we enjoy or aspire to do, he said, it raises existential questions about what it means to be human.

DeepSeeks rise serves as both an inspiration and a challenge for India. It highlights what can be achieved with strategic investments and efficient innovation but also underscores gaps in Indias current approach to foundational AI research.

As Arun Chandrasekaran aptly put it: The task ahead is enormous, but so is the opportunity. By addressing its challenges head-on  through investments in infrastructure, talent development, and research funding  India can transform itself into a global leader in artificial intelligence.

With visionary leadership and collaborative efforts across sectors, India has the potential not only to catch up but also to lead in areas where it has unique strengths  paving the way for a future where technology serves as a force for inclusive growth and societal advancement.

Also read: DeepSeek AI: Beyond ChatGPT, 5 ways DeepSeek is rewriting AI rules
Gardai and ESB Networks has warned customers of a phishing scam doing the rounds in the wake of Storm Eowyn.

As the country continues to clean up the aftermath of last weekend's severe weather, fraudsters have been busy targeting ESB customers as people around the country anxiously wait for their power to be restored.

Taking to social media to issue the warning, gardai said: "We have been informed of a phishing scam doing the rounds by text message and phone calls purporting to be from E.S.B. and offering rebates due to outages caused by Storm Eowyn.

"Do not engage with such messages or share any personal or banking information or without independently verifying the sources of any calls or text messages.

"Gardai recommend blocking these messages and not interacting with them otherwise," the post concluded.

In a separate statement, ESB Networks also warned customers of the ongoing scam.

"We have also been made aware of scam text messages purporting to come from ESB Networks. We ask that customers do not engage directly, do not share any personal information if asked, and block and report the suspicious number if necessary," a spokesperson said.

READ MORE | PICTURES: Ireland's top sportswomen, partners and families step out in style to awards night

An Garda Siochana is reminding the public to always be wary of texts from unknown senders, and unusual requests that can even appear in the thread of previous genuine texts.

 Never ever click on links in a text

 Never ring a number contained in a text

 Never ever give away your personal data (e.g., bank details, PIN numbers, passwords, one time codes, PPS number, Eircode, etc)

 Do not transfer any money

 If the caller purports to be a son or daughter seeking money, hang up and try and make contact with your child or their friends

 Be wary of cold calls  always ask the caller their name and for their phone number. If you have any concerns just hang up and ring your bank/service provider using the number on your bill/statement  just because it looks like an Irish number doesnt mean it is

 Never download any Apps that give fraudsters control of your device

 If you are offered a job in a cold call, be suspicious and ask yourself why me? and why does my new employer need access to my bank account?

 If you have been a victim, change your passwords and PIN codes, report it to your bank ASAP and ask them to do a recall.
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.
The Government has appointed its team of junior ministers, including former agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue and Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae.

Fifteen senior ministers were appointed last Thursday when Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin became Taoiseach, a day after disruptive scenes in the Dail parliament.

Criticisms were made of the drop in the number of women at Cabinet from four to three.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, just two seats short of a majority, formed a coalition deal with the regional independent group and Kerry brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae.

To reflect the mandate of each political group based on Novembers election, Fianna Fail has 10 junior ministry roles, including chief whip Mary Butler; Fine Gael has eight, while the independents have five.

Three super junior ministers were announced last week: the Regional Independents Sean Canney and Noel Grealish, and Fine Gaels Hildegarde Naughton.

Two other independents, Kevin Boxer Moran, Marian Harkin and Mr Healy-Rae, have been given junior ministries.

On Wednesday, the full 16 junior ministerial roles were revealed  six of whom are women, three of whom are new female junior ministers.

Donegal TD Mr McConalogue, who was the only minister to be dropped from Cabinet last week, accepted a role as a minister of state.

Robert Troy, who resigned as a junior minister at the Department of Enterprise in August 2022 after failing to declare all his property dealings on the Dail register of members interests, has returned to the junior benches.

The Westmeath TD said at the time these were genuine errors and not an attempt to conceal anything.

Fianna Fail has promoted former media committee chairwoman Niamh Smyth and Jennifer Murnane OConnor as junior ministers.

Cork North-West TD for Fianna Fail Michael Moynihan, Cork TD Christopher OSullivan and Clare TD Timmy Dooley have also been promoted to junior ministries.

Thomas Byrne and Niall Collins have been re-appointed to junior ministerial roles.

For Fine Gael, Cork South-Central TD Jerry Buttimer, former cathaoirleach of the Seanad; Dublin South West TD Colm Brophy; and Waterford TD John Cummins have been promoted as ministers of state.

Alan Dillon, Neale Richmond, Emer Higgins and Kieran ODonnell remain as ministers of state.

The Government nominees for the leas Ceann Comhairle role is a joint bid between Fianna Fails John McGuinness and Fine Gaels Frank Feighan, who will rotate the role on November 16 2027.

On Tuesday, Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly began a legal challenge against the Government as to whether having super junior ministers at Cabinet is unconstitutional.

There can only be a maximum of 15 members of Government at Cabinet as per the Irish constitution. Mr Dalys case was granted leave in the High Court on Wednesday after a record high number of junior ministerial appointments.

Labours finance spokesperson Ged Nash said that the boom-time baby minister bonanza is back.

He added: Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are prepared to spend at least an extra 1.5 million euro a year of public money to keep Independents and their own TDs happy with new perks and positions.

This stroke by the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and their partner in government Michael Lowry have absolutely smashed the pre-crash record of 20 ministers of state.

By the time the committee chair gigs are doled out, we will have in excess of 50 TDs with Government-sponsored jobs.
The RISE Community Fund has announced plans to award new cash grants to small businesses, farms, social enterprises, schools, charities and community groups in Louth, with funding available to those who can demonstrate innovative plans to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work and benefit the local community.

Previous Louth groups to receive grant funding from the RISE Community Fund include Commercial Club, Drogheda Womens and Childrens Refuge Centre CLG, Louth Village Youth Club, Mattock Rangers CLG and local farmer Barry McDonnell.

Supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Irish Governments National Broadband Plan, as well as other corporate partners including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies and TLI Group, the RISE Community Fund has travelled the breadth of the country in recent years to provide a cash injection for community organisations thinking creatively about how they can use technology.

David McCourt, Chairman of NBI and founder of RISE, commented: At NBI weve always been clear that our mission is about more than bringing Netflix to rural Ireland; its about empowering communities to embrace new technologies with the foundation of world-class fibre broadband, which NBI is delivering at scale.

"In partnership with RISE, were finding and rewarding entrepreneurial uses of technology, and weve already awarded over 130 cash grants across the country, including many great examples here in Louth.

Applications for the cash grants open on 3rd February and close on 28th February 2025. Grants of up to 1000 will be available to successful applicants across the county.

The application process is incredibly quick and easy, and successful applicants will be notified in March, with money following in quick succession. We cant wait to see the entrepreneurial ideas from Louth, added McCourt.

With 5,300 premises in Louth already able to order or pre-order a service on its network, NBI is reminding Louth residents and businesses to visit their website at www.nbi.ie to order from their broadband provider of choice.

Read more about the RISE Community Fund and gain access to the grant application at riseglobalfoundation.com.
USE THE ARROWS OR 'NEXT' TO BROWSE THROUGH THE FULL GALLERY

Audi A6 Sportback e-tron

Volkswagen Group, comprising Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, CUPRA, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, recently invited us to their impressive Technical Centre on the Nangor Road in Dublin for a state of the company address.

We also learned that they will celebrate several milestones in 2025, including 130 years of the Skoda brand, 75 years of SEAT and 75 years of Volkswagen in Ireland. All the brands under the umbrella of Volkswagen were present giving us a heads up on the year ahead. Volkswagen Group is the leading umbrella car brand in Ireland ahead of the likes of Toyota, Hyundai, Renault and Stellantis.

They proudly said that one in 4 EVs sold in Ireland last year was a Volkswagen Group car leading the way on the path to the total electrification of our national fleet.

This year Volkswagen Ireland will launch a number of models, including the Tayron SUV, the new T-ROC and, towards the end of the year, the electric ID.2all the most compact and affordable member of their ID. family to date. There'll also be a series of special edition Edition 75 models expected to provide class leading specifications and serious value for money.

Audi retained its crown as Irelands best-selling premium brand in 2024. A host of new arrivals will arrive over the next 12 months, starting with the all-electric A6 e-tron, the new A7 Avant & Saloon, the new A5 PHEV, the Q3 SUV and Sportback, Q5 PHEV, RS5 PHEV as well as a refreshed Q4 e-tron.

Skoda shattered sales records in 2024 with a 20 per cent increase in registrations compared to 2023. This year we will see a number of next generation PHEV models like the Skoda Superb Combi iV and the Kodiaq iV and the new all electric Elroq this spring.

Both SEAT and CUPRA laid out the foundations for expansion in 2025 with the rollout of new dealerships across Ireland all ready for the launch of the new Leon PHEV 2.0 as well as the updated Arona and Ibiza. The CUPRA range will expand to five models when the Terramar and the all-electric Tavascan land.

In the commercial vehicle space Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles posted their highest volumes since 2019 with models like the Amarok, ID. Buzz and new Crafter. The new models coming include the seven-seat ID. Buzz LWB and GTX, the brand-new California camper and the highly anticipated stalwart, the Volkswagen Transporter, which will have an all-electric offering.

It would be safe to say that despite the noise and negativity swirling around VW at the moment they seem very ebullient and confident facing into 2025. They must retain their position as the number one group, increase sales and market share to deliver on that confidence. I would not bet against them doing exactly that.

It would be safe to say that despite the noise and negativity swirling around VW at the moment they seem very ebullient and confident facing into 2025. They must retain their position as the number one group, increase sales and market share to deliver on that confidence. I would not bet against them doing exactly that.
A new TG4 documentary that depicts the night-time scene in Cork City is coming to television screens next month.

The show, entitled Oiche i gCorcaigh, is an atmospheric documentary series set in Cork over one night.

It features a range of local people who work and play in to the late hours of the evening and early morning.

Viewers will meet Garda Shane McCarthy and Garda Barra OShea, as they patrol the streets; shift workers from a variety of bars, clubs, hospitals and restaurants, as they come and go from one hour to the next; and party-goers Hannah McCarthy and her friends, Phoebe and Orlaith, as they get some prinks in before hitting the town.

Audiences will also get to see Brian Desmond, as he begins his late-night shift at Heineken Brewery; Imperial Hotel manager Ide Breathnach, as she leads her staff through a busy birthday celebration; and Frank OConnor, founder of Anois, who will discuss dereliction across the city, before stopping in at Cafe Spresso on MacCurtain St, where owner Tomasz Wrzesien presides over a nightly crew of regulars.

University College Cork lecturer Paddy Egan, who is also a concertina player, his wife, Nicola, and their baby daughter will also appear in the series, as will Paschal Coffey, from Hope for the Homeless, and paramedics Domhnall Mac Aodha and Kevin Hourihan, as they rush to get to hospital a man who was retrieved from the River Lee.

Comedian Tadhg Hickey will be shown performing to a full house, and Dr Caitriona Ni Chathasaigh will be profiled working her way through the wards of Mallow Hospital.

Viewers will also make a stop in Cobh, where they will see the Benedictine nuns begin a night of prayer and contemplation, and meet with Mother Catherine and Geraldine Heffernan, who is a teacher at Mater Dei Academy, on a personal retreat in St Benedicts.

The explorative series, produced by Wicklow-based Phoenix Films, will air on TG4 for the first time on Wednesday, February 5 at 9.30pm, and again on Wednesday, February 12 at the same time.
There have been calls for clarity on the progression of BusConnects in Cork, with landowners set to receive letters about the acquisition of some of their properties this week.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has commenced issuing letters to homeowners whose property may be potentially impacted by BusConnects Cork.

They will receive a letter with a map showing the current understanding of the potential land extents required, and a questionnaire to be filled in.

The NTA highlighted that these do not form part of a formal compulsory purchase order (CPO) process, which will only commence when a CPO has been prepared and a statutory application has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala for its consideration and decision, which is anticipated to happen later this year.

Acquisitions

The acquisitions may include both the temporary and permanent acquisition of a portion of land, with proposed temporary acquisition being used to facilitate construction and later reinstated and returned to the landowner.

The NTA explains in the letters: The preparation of documentation is ongoing for the formal applications for approval and the related compulsory acquisitions of lands which will be made to An Bord Pleanala later this year. It is anticipated that applications for the three standalone proposed schemes will be submitted on a phased basis beginning in mid-2025.

If subsequently approved by An Bord Pleanala, the acquisition of the portions of properties included in the approved CPO would involve the payment of appropriate compensation in respect of the relevant properties.

This latest development comes after three rounds of public consultation. The NTA has said that there will be a further opportunity to make submissions directly to the appeal board in relation to the proposed acquisitions.

Letters were issued yesterday to people along the Dunkettle to City line, the Mayfield to City line, the Blackpool to City line, and the Hollyhill to City line.

Letters relating to Airport Rd to City, Maryborough Hill to City, Mahon to City, and Kinsale Rd to Douglas will be issued later in the week.

The Ballincollig to City, Bishopstown to City, and Togher to City letters will be sent at the end of this week.

Sustainable transport corridors

The NTA also said the 11 sustainable transport corridors (STCs) that have been the subject of non-statutory public consultation have been combined into three standalone proposed schemes.

These are the Cork City North Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme, which combines the Dunkettle, Mayfield, Blackpool, and Hollyhill lines; the Cork City South West Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme for Ballincollig, Bishopstown, and Togher; and the Cork City South East Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme, made up of Airport Rd, Maryborough Hill, Mahon, and Kinsale Rd.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy told The Echo: The moving on of the project is welcome, as has been the ongoing conversations between individuals and the NTA officials.

It has been over a year since the third round of public consultation on the BusConnects corridors. All of us stakeholders involved are a little bit rusty on what conversations were had during the third round. A year is a long time in a community.

I have written to the NTA to clarify and to publish what changes have been made arising out of the third round, so all involved are on the same page, so we all know the next steps of the process.
Latest:

Centre Park Road and Monahan Road have now been fully re-opened.

In a statement, Cork City Council said:

"Operational works are ongoing at Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station.

"Uisce Eireann crews, supported by Cork City Council and specialist operators, have been on the ground since last night to resolve the issues at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station following equipment failure.

"Cork City Council is liaising with Uisce Eireann's incident management team and the EPA.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation, however as of now no further road closures are planned."

Road Closure - Further Update



Centre Park Road and Monahan Road have now been fully re-opened.



Operational works are ongoing at Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station. Uisce Eireann crews, supported by Cork City Council and specialist operators, have been on the ground  Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) January 29, 2025





Meanwhile in a statement this evening, a spokesperson for the EPA confirmed that Uisce Eireann yesterday notified the agency of an incident "resulting from a significant equipment failure at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station".

"The incident caused the sewer network to backup, which resulted in localised flooding of wastewater in the Monaghan Road and Centre Park Road area.

"To minimise the potential for wastewater flooding in these areas, Uisce Eireann turned off three pumping stations in Cork city. This gave rise to overflows of wastewater to the River Lee from these pumping stations.

"The EPA has inspected the site today.

"Uisce Eireann is actively working to resolve the issue at the Atlantic Pond Wastewater Pumping Station and has taken immediate actions to restore the pumping of wastewater through the network to the wastewater treatment plant.

"This has ceased the overflow from the three pumping stations in Cork city. Further significant works will be required at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station to restore it to normal operations.

"The EPA has requested Uisce Eireann to sample the River Lee to establish the extent of the impact.

"The EPA will continue to investigate this matter and the site inspection report will be available on the EPA website in due course."

5.25pm

Centre Park Road and Monahan Road will remain closed this evening, a spokesperson for Cork City Council has said.

Operational works are ongoing at Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station. Uisce Eireann crews, supported by Cork City Council and specialist operators, have been on the ground since last night to resolve the issues at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station following equipment failure.

Cork City Council is liaising with Uisce Eireanns incident management team and the EPA. We are continuing to monitor the situation, however as of now no further road closures are planned.

Further updates will issue when roads re-open, the council said.

4.30pm

Uisce Eireann crews, supported by Cork City Council and specialist operators, have been on the ground since last night to resolve the issues at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station following equipment failure, a spokesperson for the utility has said.

Crews have been dealing with flooding which impacted workers entering and leaving their business premises on the Monahan and Centre Park Roads in the Atlantic Pond area of Cork city since Tuesday afternoon.

To reduce the risk of wastewater flooding homes and businesses, some overflows have been opened as a temporary measure, Uisce Eireann explained.

Additionally, the wastewater is being captured by a team of tankers who worked through last night and today to mitigate the issues.

Uisce Eireanns incident management team is liaising with the EPA and Cork City Council at all stages of operations.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation, however as of now no further road closures are planned," a spokesperson for the utility said.

"Uisce Eireann apologises for any inconvenience and would like to assure the local community that we are working to resolve this issue as a matter of priority.

"Uisce Eireanns priority is to protect public health and safety and minimise harm to the environment."

Earlier

Work is continuing to control overflow in Cork city's Atlantic Pond this morning following a flooding incident yesterday.

Crews from Uisce Eireann have been dealing with flooding which impacted workers entering and leaving their business premises on the Monahan and Centre Park Roads in the Atlantic Pond area of Cork city during Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Cork City Council Water department staff and contractors Clearing drains - Flooding on Centre Park Road and Monahan Road, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins

The flooding has been caused by an overflow at the Atlantic Pond wastewater pumping station.

A spokesperson for Uisce Eireann said this morning: "Uisce Eireann is working to resolve an overflow of wastewater in the Atlantic Pond area in Cork which has led to some flooding of roads in the vicinity.

"Crews are on the ground working to resolve the issue and mitigate the impact of any overflows.

ROAD CLOSED - Clearing drains - Flooding on Centre Park Road and Monahan Road, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins

"A traffic management plan has been put in place and a number of streets in the locality remain closed in consultation with Cork City Council and An Garda Siochana.

"Areas impacted by road closures are Monahan Road and Centre Park Road.

"Uisce Eireanns incident management team is liaising with the EPA and Cork City Council in relation this incident.

Monahan Road this morning. Clearing drains - Flooding on Centre Park Road and Monahan Road, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins

"Tankers are on site removing excess wastewater overflows. We are asking people to take alternative routes while work is ongoing Uisce Eireanns priority is to protect public health and safety and minimise harm to the environment. Further updates will be provided as they become available."

Uisce Eireanns Customer Care Team is available 24/7 on 1800 278 278.
Part of Cork City's Half Moon Street has been cordoned off this morning as Gardai investigate a burglary at a retail premises last night.

It is understood that the incident occurred at a clothing store.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo this morning:

"Gardai are investigating a burglary of a retail premises on Half Moon Street, Cork City which occurred late yesterday evening, 28th January 2025.

"The scene is currently held for technical examination.

"Investigations are ongoing."
Cork University Hospital (CUH) saw the most injuries of staff by patients of any hospital in the county, data provided by the HSE shows.

Professor Conor Deasy, the clinical director of emergency and acute care at CUH, said: Cork University Hospital emergency department is the busiest in the country, and we ensure we report these events to learn from them ways we can protect our patients and staff.

Its important to understand that not all these injuries are caused by deliberate assaults, some can be due to medical reasons  such as people who have delirium, who dont realise they are hitting out at medical staff. Causes of delirium can include infection, but also detoxification from alcohol and drugs.

There are patients who come in under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and assault healthcare professionals. These people are held responsible for their actions and reported to An Garda Siochana.

According to data provided to The Echo by the HSE through the Freedom of Information Act, a total of 510 hospital staff were injured by patients in Cork hospitals between 2020 and summer 2024.

Of these, 336 occurred in the CUH, with a further 129 in Mercy University Hospital.

There were 44 injuries in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, with the HSE explaining: The South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital is a voluntary hospital, and does not have an emergency department.

All admissions are planned, booked admissions with also a number of outpatient clinics.

Mr Deasy said that when an injury occurs, it is a serious issue.

The nurse or doctor reports the event to their line manager and, if their injuries are significant, is registered to be seen as a patient, he said. When somebody is at risk of being aggressive, the emergency department will risk-assess the patient and attempt de-escalation through talking with the patient.
The Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the case against a former Fianna Fail councillor for allegedly harassing a woman in Cork city could be dealt with at Cork District Court.

However, Judge Mary Dorgan said that she would adjourn the issue of whether or not she would accept jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level.

The case was adjourned, on the application of Sergeant Aisling Murphy, to Cork District Court on March 12.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, asked for the prosecution statements in the case to be sent to the defence.

49-year-old Joseph ODonovan, formerly known as Gary OFlynn, of Melvindale House, Coolowen, Blarney, County Cork, was present in court for the brief hearing.

He is charged contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, for the alleged offence of harassment on three dates between July 30 and August 6, 2022 at a location in Cork city.

As Gary OFlynn, he was a councillor on Cork City Council from 2003 to 2008.
A man who approached an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana offering him cannabis is challenging the charges against him, claiming that he bought the substance in a well-known retail shop and passed it off as cannabis.

Martin Long, aged 33, of Loughaderra, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, appeared at Cork District Court where he was charged with possession of cannabis for his own use and possession of the drug for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

The value of the alleged cannabis seized was 280.

It is alleged that Mr Long approached an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana at the bus station on Parnell Pl and offered to sell him the item.

Solicitor Joseph Cuddigan, on behalf of Mr Long, said: He said he purchased the substance that he offered it for sale  he purchased it from a retail premises and he was passing it off as genuine.

Mr Cuddigan said the premises in question was prosecuted a number of times for what was being sold at the store.

I am asking for details of those prosecutions, Mr Cuddigan said.

I am seeking an order for details of those prosecutions.

He is not denying approaching an off-duty garda.

Commenting on the defences approach to the case, Judge Philip OLeary said: It has a novel ring to it as a defence, I will give you that much.

Judge OLeary adjourned the case until March 25 at Cork District Court for the purpose of setting a later date for a hearing of the case.
When you buy something in Ireland or the EU, you have strong rights.

The laws are designed to make you feel confident when shopping in stores or online, make sure you have enough information to make informed decisions, and provide redress options if things go wrong.

By law, sellers or suppliers (known as traders) must treat you fairly, for example, by making sure products and services are safe and of a high standard.

Updates to consumer law

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 simplified and updated consumer protection laws. The Act introduced new protections, including:

Rights for digital content contracts

Rights for services contracts

A right to agree a price reduction on faulty products or services

A blacklist of contract terms that are always unfair

A ban on certain aggressive commercial practices, including fake reviews

The Act also gave extra enforcement powers for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

Who are consumers?

Consumer laws only apply to transactions between a consumer and a trader. A consumer buys goods or services for personal use. A trader sells goods or services as a business, trade or profession. Be mindful that consumer law does not apply when buying from:

A private individual who is not a trader (for example, someone selling you their car but who does not sell cars as a profession).

A seller outside the EU or European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).

Types of consumer contracts

When you buy goods, services and digital content, you make a contract with the seller. As parties to the agreement, both you and the seller have certain legal rights and obligations.

The main types of consumer contracts are:

Sales contracts and online sales contracts

Contracts for services

Digital content services or contracts

Contracts can be verbal, in writing, or by your conduct (for example, a silent contract where you pay for a good at a self-service supermarket checkout).

Certain terms can be set by the businesses (for example, the price or how a service is carried out) however, these must not go against your consumer rights.

What you can expect from your product or service

When you buy products, services or digital content or services they must be in conformity with the contract. They must meet certain conditions of quality, performance and durability. You are entitled to certain remedies when something you buy does not meet the conditions or standards. A remedy could be a repair, replacement, refund or a price reduction.

Right to information

Consumer law gives you a right to certain information before you buy. The information you must get depends on whether you bought in a physical shop, online or on your doorstep. When you buy online or at your doorstep, you must get a copy of the signed contract or order confirmation. The confirmation should be on paper or through email.

Contact your local Citizens Information Office to check what information you will need, as this differs depending on whether you bought in-store, online, or if it was delivered to your door.

Right to change your mind and cancel

You have a right to change your mind and cancel when you buy online, over the phone, by mail order or on your doorstep (known as distance contracts). With distance contracts, you do not enter into the contract in person and you cannot check the products or service before you buy. For this reason, you have a cooling off period where you can change your mind and get a refund. The cooling off period ends 14 days after you receive the goods or service. For doorstep sales, you have 30 days from when the contract was agreed to cancel. Sometimes you do not have a cooling-off period and the seller must tell you this before you buy.

Unfair terms

Contract terms and conditions must be fair and clear. A term is unfair if you are at an unfair disadvantage. Consumer law sets out terms that may be unfair (the grey list) and ones that are always and automatically unfair (the blacklist). There are legal tests of the transparency and fairness of contract terms. It is up to the seller to prove that terms are transparent and fair.

Unfair sales practices

You are protected against unfair, misleading or aggressive sales practices. Sellers cannot:

Make a false or misleading claim about products, services, and prices

Use false or misleading descriptions

Use aggressive tactics to influence you

Present reviews as genuine without checking they are not fake.

If things go wrong...

If something you bought is faulty or does not meet the description, the seller must offer you a repair, replacement, refund or a reduction in the price.

Make a complaint

Always approach the seller first, to allow them to put things right.

You can get more advice about how to make a complaint by contacting your local Citizens Information Centre.

Breaches of consumer law

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 strengthens the enforcement powers of consumer protection agencies like the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The CCPC can take action against traders who do not give you the remedies or refunds you are entitled to or who use misleading or aggressive practices. Companies can be fined by the Courts following enforcement action taken by the CCPC.
Vivienne Clarke

An Independent TD has called on the Government to "send out" the Army help the elderly and most vulnerable in society who are still without power after Storm Eowyn.

There were about 142,000 premises still without power on Wednesday after hurricane-force gusts hit some areas during the storm on Friday morning. Many households have been told their electricity may not return until next Wednesday.

Uisce Eireann said about 16,000 people remain without a water supply, as of Wednesday morning.

Michael Fitzmaurice, the TD for Roscommon-Galway, told RTE's Today with Claire Byrne that Uisce Eireann should have been better prepared for the storm and that the utility needed to "cop on".

Mr Fitzmaurice also said it was "ferociously disappointing" that local authorities in some parts of the country did not allow staff out to work at clearing up until after 4pm on Friday.

He said the Government should establish a grant scheme so people could buy generators to have on standby for future events. Mr Fitzmaurice said he had an old generator and it allowed the heating to turn on and the fridge to work.

Many small businesses and GP surgeries would be able to function now if they had a generator, he claimed.

"I spoke this morning to a doctor in Ballaghaderreen that cannot basically function because they have no computer," he said. "The place is freezing. Even if someone is sick this minute, they cannot operate."

Mr Fitzmaurice added that there are many vulnerable people in society who needed power to care for sick family members at home. "If you're at home and you have a hoist and a hospital bed, you need to be able to use that. A small generator is required to help with that."

Margaret Attridge, Uisce Eireanns head of water operations, said the 16,000 people still without water on Wednesday morning equated to 6,000 houses and was down from a high of 200,000 people in the immediate aftermath of Storm Eowyn.

The majority of those without water are in the northwest, she told RTEs Morning Ireland. She said there were generators maintaining supply to another 120,000 people.

Ms Attridge said alternative supplies in the form of tankers are being provided in areas where there are vulnerable people and people who cannot get out to collect water for themselves.

She went on to explain that Uisce Eireann has backup generators at the four largest water treatment plants that supply water for 2.5 million people, but they did not have generators for all the 8,000 assets around the country, all of which require power.

A generator installation programme has been progressing in recent years, she said. But many of the plants needed to be made more resilient and there was a plan in place to rationalise smaller schemes into larger more secure treatment plants.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Concern has been expressed that a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb will not be able to uncover the full truth.

Claire Hayes, whose brother Alan Radford (16) was among the 29 people killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in 1998, said she is very sceptical, with the Irish Government not being a full participant in the proceedings.

The inquiry started four weeks of public commemorative hearings on Tuesday, recalling the lives of and hearing tributes to all those killed and impacted by the Real IRA atrocity.

The probe, led by Scottish judge Lord Turnbull, is examining whether the atrocity could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities.

The first tributes were paid to Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) and Rocio Abad Ramos (23), two Spanish tourists killed in the bombing.

Rocio Abad Ramos (23), from Madrid, was among 29 people killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in the Co Tyrone town in 1998

Bereaved families and survivors have gathered at the Strule Arts Centre in the Co Tyrone town for the second day of commemorative hearings which include evidence from Ms Hayes about her brother.

Speaking ahead of the hearing, Ms Hayes said she is sceptical about the outcome of the inquiry.

I am very sceptical when the Irish Government isnt partaking in it, it is not a full inquiry, so there is already a flaw, she told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme.

That doesnt give me great comfort knowing that given the fact that this bomb was made in the south [of Ireland], the car was stolen in the south.

Claire Hayess brother Alan Radford was killed in the Omagh bomb (Liam McBurney/PA)

The southern Government have said that they will help but they are not compelled to do so, and for me, for Alan, I wanted it to be completely robust, completely transparent, so we know absolutely everything.

Earlier this week Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his Government will co-operate fully with the inquiry, while Tanaiste Simon Harris said they will not be found wanting.

Lord Turnbull said during his opening statement last year that the inquiry will undertake its task rigorously and fearlessly, and emphasised the defining character of the inquiry must be its independence.

Later, the inquiry will hear commemorations of three generations of the same family who were killed in the bombing.

James Barker, Esther Gibson, Sean McGrath, Gareth Conway, Elizabeth Rush, Fred White, Lorraine Wilson, Veda Short, Alan Radford, Bryan White, Brenda Logue, Deborah Cartwright, Geraldine Breslin, and Oran Doherty were among the victims

Mary Grimes, her daughter Avril Monaghan, who was pregnant with twins, and her daughter Maura Monaghan, who was just 18 months old, died in the attack.

The names of all those killed in the bombing were read out at the inquiry on Tuesday morning before all those assembled were invited to stand for a minutes silence in remembrance.

The commemorative and personal statement hearings will be heard over the next four weeks.

These will begin with bereaved families giving pen portrait evidence of those who died, followed by survivors, emergency services and those working in statutory organisations.
Gordon Deegan

The numbers of those refused entry to the State at Dublin airport last year due to having no travel documents declined by 30 per cent to 2,293.

New Department of Justice figures show that the 2,293 refused entry by front-line immigration officials at Dublin airport last year compares to 3,287 refused for having no travel documents in 2023 - a decline of 994.

The decline follows the then Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, last August imposing higher fines on airlines and ferry companies that allow someone to board or disembark without proper documentation.

The Ministerial order increasing the maximum fines from 3,000 to 5,000 was a way of preventing the practice whereby some people destroy or dispose of travel documents as part of efforts to claim asylum.

At the time, Minister McEntee said: "There is a legal obligation on our airlines and on our ferries to make sure that any individual that boards our planes or boats that they have the correct and proper documentation where that doesn't occur, we need to make sure that there are very clear penalties and fines.

In a written Dail reply to a question placed by Carol Nolan TD, Dept of Justice figures show that the total numbers refused entry to the State at Dublin in 2024 amounted to 5,255.

The 5,255 refused entry last year is a 10 per cent decline on the 5,826 who were refused entry at Dublin in 2023.

The figures show that while the numbers refused entry due to having no travel documents dropped, the numbers refused entry due to false documents+importers increased by 23.5pc from 872 to 1,077 which is part of the 5,255 total.

The Department figures show that 2022 recorded the peak number of recent years for those refused entry to the State when 7,662 were refused entry that included 4,968 refused due to having no travel documentation.

The numbers refused declined in 2024 despite the overall number of passengers arriving into Dublin airport last year increasing by 4pc from 16.62m to 17.3m.

The Border Management Unit (BMU) of the Department of Justice is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only while other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

The decline in those being refused entry without travel documentation follows the Dept of Justice and the GNIB working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding.

This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation.

In addition, BMU and GNIB also have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers.

Last year in 2024, the BMU carried out over 7,300 doorstep operations at Dublin Airport.
Eoin Reynolds

A woman accused of murdering a pensioner whose skull was fractured and his body allegedly thrown over Ireland's tallest cliffs told gardai she was "a bit manic" and was exaggerating when she told a friend she had hit the deceased over the head.

The trial also heard that Nikita Burns (23) told gardai that her co-accused, Alan Vial (39), had struck the deceased man Robert 'Robin' Wilkin (66) six or seven times with a rock.

She described seeing Mr Vial with the rock in his hand, "smashing it off Robin's head" while she told him to stop.

She said: "I saw blood going everywhere and Alan just kept hitting him and hitting him and I kept saying, that's enough." When Mr Vial stopped, she said, Mr Wilkin was dead and lay slumped between the car seats while Mr Vial drove to the cliffs at Sliabh Liag.

Ms Burns said Mr Vial had suggested they throw Mr Wilkin over the cliff. They drove for 30 minutes and when they got to the top, she said Mr Vial "dragged him [the deceased] over to the fence and pushed him over."

Ms Burns said she did not get out of the car at Sliabh Liag and did not touch the rock or hit Mr Wilkin at any point.

Ms Burns of Carrick, Co Donegal and Mr Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, Co Donegal have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin on June 25th, 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was found eight days later in the water below the Sliabh Liag cliffs.

Detective Garda Patrick Farrell told prosecution counsel Emmet Nolan BL that Ms Burns was arrested on June 26th, the day after the alleged murder, and interviewed three times at Ballyshannon Garda Station.

In her first interview she said that she and Mr Vial had been "seeing each other" for a few weeks and when asked if they were in love, she replied: "Yeah."

She had been living at Mr Vial's five-bedroom house along with Mr Wilkin for about one month. She said she and Mr Vial worked for Mr Wilkin, who was involved in a concrete business.

In her first two interviews, she said she didn't know what happened to Mr Wilkin but in her third interview, she told the detectives that Mr Vial killed Mr Wilkin and threw him off a cliff.

She said she had difficulty remembering what happened because she was "really drunk" but she thought she had been in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagen Passat which was being driven by Mr Wilkin.

The two men were fighting, she said, and Mr Wilkin pulled over in an area that she later identified as Roshine in Fintown after gardai showed her CCTV footage of the Passat's movements.

She said she remembered seeing Mr Vial with a rock in his hands. "He kept smashing off Robin's head with it and I told him to stop but he wouldn't stop," she said.

Mr Vial struck the deceased six or seven times with the rock, she said, and when he stopped Mr Wilkin was dead.

She said it was Mr Vial's idea to put the body over the cliff at Sliabh Liag.

Sharon O'Dowd has previously given evidence that she spoke to Ms Burns by phone the night after Mr Wilkin's death. Ms O'Dowd said Ms Burns told her that she and Mr Vial "beat some man's head in" so she recorded part of the conversation. Gardai played the recording to Ms Burns.

Following a five-minute consultation with her solicitor, Ms Burns said: "I was off my head, I was a bit manic and then I over-exaggerated the story because I felt I needed to tell somebody and then I just over-exaggerated. I wanted to protect Alan. I wanted him not to take the fall."

When asked what specifically she had exaggerated, she said: "I exaggerated that I hit him over the head and dragged his body."

She denied murdering Mr Wilkin or throwing him over the cliff and said she did not touch the rock or hit the deceased.

She said she returned to Sliabh Liag the following day because Mr Vial wanted to "have a look to make sure the body was not still there". She said they didn't see anything so they left.

She further told gardai that the only reason she cleaned blood from the Passat was that she felt "threatened" after Mr Vial told her he didn't know what he would do if she didn't help.

It is the prosecution case that the two accused caused Mr Wilkin's death having engaged in a joint enterprise with the intention to cause serious injury to him.

The jury has been told that where two or more people set out on a criminal enterprise, each one is responsible in law for the actions of the other. The statement of one accused person cannot be used as evidence against the other, the jurors were also told.

The trial will continue next Tuesday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men.
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.

In a new study, scientists are raising concerns over the ways that flea treatment chemicals for pets can leach into the environment and harm local wildlife. In light of the study, experts are calling on veterinarians to minimize preventative flea treatments to protect songbirds and insects impacted by the chemicals in these treatments.

Scientists from the University of Sussex published a study revealing that nests lined with fur were exposing blue tit and great tit songbirds to chemicals found in common veterinary drugs. The team tested for 20 total chemicals, of which they found 17 present, across 103 different nests.

The most common chemicals included fipronil, found in 100% of the nests, as well as imidacloprid (found in 89.1% of nests) and permethrin (also found in 89.1% of the samples).

Further, the research also revealed that nests with higher number of insecticides, higher concentrations of insecticides, or higher concentrations of fipronil, imidacloprid or permethrin specifically also had higher numbers of unhatched eggs or dead offspring.

No nest was free from insecticides in our study, and this significant presence of harmful chemicals could be having devastating consequences on the UKs bird populations, Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, lead author of the study and a research and associate fellow at the University of Sussex, said in a statement.

As The Guardian reported, some of the chemicals detected in the study have been banned in the UK and the EU, but not for use in veterinary drugs. Fipronil is banned for agricultural use in the UK and EU, and imidacloprids use for plant protection is banned in the EU and could soon be banned in the UK for agricultural use.

In the meantime, experts, including veterinarians, are calling on reduced usage of veterinary drugs for flea and tick prevention. Neither experts nor the study authors are telling pet owners to forgo flea and tick treatments. As recommended by the British Veterinary Association, pet owners should skip year-round, blanket treatments of these chemicals and only use them as needed.

We are a nation of pet lovers and bird lovers, and it is extremely concerning to see the alarming levels of toxic pesticides in bird nests from veterinary drugs, said Sue Morgan, chief executive of SongBird Survival, a charity that funded the study. Pet owners will be upset to hear that in trying to do the right thing to support their pets with fleas and ticks, they could be harming our ecosystem, resulting in dead newborn chicks and unhatched eggs. As pet owners, we need to have confidence that we are keeping our pets well, without devastating impacts on our wildlife.

A goldfinch gathers cat fur from a rosemary bush. Andi Edwards / iStock / Getty Images Plus

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), pet owners can prevent and treat fleas through other methods, such as regularly combing pet fur with a fine-tooth comb, and washing pets with warm water and common soaps that are pet-safe, which together can kill fleas without the added chemicals. The organization also recommended that pet owners regularly clean areas where pets sleep and rest, such as their beds or sofas, and minimize fleas by applying nematodes in yards and gardens.

The researchers and SongBird Survival are also calling on governmental agencies to conduct more risk assessments on how veterinary drugs impact the environment, and establish policies to address those risks.
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.

With so many media sources these days  commercial television, social media, old-fashioned newspapers  some are bound to be more reliable in terms of accuracy than others.

Researchers have found that people who believe climate change is a conspiracy get most of their news and information about current events from social and commercial media sources.

After Donald Trump was reelected president, chief executive of Meta Mark Zuckerberg fired his companys social media fact-checkers, with the intention of replacing them with a community notes format like the one used by Elon Musks platform X. The model relies on corrections added by users to posts that are false or misleading, Mark Andrejevic, a media professor at Monash Universitys School of Media, Film, and Journalism, wrote in The Conversation.

The model has been described by Musk as citizen journalism, where you hear from the people. Its by the people, for the people.

However, for this to work, the citizen journalists, as well as their readers, must value accuracy, accountability and good-faith deliberation, Andrejevic said.

This is why its been so interesting to hear in recent weeks how social media is actually turning away from factchecking: because theyre pretending  and I think its a pretence  that theyre being more hands-off; but theyre not hands-off, because they build these algorithms to pump stuff into our feeds, Andrejevic told Guardian Australia. Algorithms do that based only on commercial values: is it viral, will it get engagement, will it get attention? Not at all on: is it important, accurate or useful for participating in democracy?

New research by Andrejevic and his team, conducted in partnership with Essential Media, looked into what those who use social media think of everyday civic values.

For their research report, Mapping civic disposition, media use and affective polarisation, the team reviewed existing studies on political polarisation and social cohesion, conducted 10 focus groups and compiled a scale of civic values. The scale aimed to measure peoples levels of trust in the government and media institutions, along with their openness to considering perspectives of others that challenge their own.

The researchers conducted a survey of 2,046 Australians, asking them how strong their belief was in a common public interest. They also asked how important it was to them for Australians to be informed about political issues and for civics to be taught in schools.

They inquired about the respondents news sources: commercial television, commercial radio, social media, newspapers or non-commercial media.

More than a third of those who relied mainly on commercial television and radio for most of their news agreed with the statement, fluctuations in the climate are the result of natural cycles that take place regardless of human activity, reported The Guardian.

A quarter of respondents who primarily got their news from social media believed that the climate crisis was a conspiracy. On the other hand, those who did not believe in climate change conspiracies more often got their information from the public broadcasters SBS and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Just two percent who relied on public radio for their news and six percent for whom public television was their main source believed climate change was a conspiracy.

We found people who rely on social media for news score significantly lower on a civic values scale than those who rely on newspapers and non-commercial broadcasters such as the ABC, Andrejevic wrote in The Conversation. By contrast, people who rely on non-commercial radio scored highest on the civic values scale.

Those who relied mostly on non-commercial radio had scores that were 11 percent higher than respondents who relied on social media and 12 percent higher than those who used commercial television as their primary news source. People who relied mainly on commercial radio had the lowest scores.

People who mostly read newspapers, watched non-commercial television and looked to online news aggregators scored higher than those who were reliant on commercial broadcasting and social media.

The survey found that civic value scores went up as the number of media sources people used on a daily basis increased.

The point of the civic values scale we developed is to highlight the fact that the values people bring to news about the world is as important as the news content, Andrejevic explained in The Conversation. For example, most people in the United States have likely heard about the violence of the attack on the Capitol protesting Trumps loss in 2020. That Trump and his supporters can recast this violent riot as a day of love is not the result of a lack of information. It is, rather, a symptom of peoples lack of trust in media and government institutions and their unwillingness to confront facts that challenge their views. In other words, it is not enough to provide people with accurate information. What counts is the mindset they bring to that information.

So do social media platforms cultivate lower civic values or just cater to them?

We dont have the evidence to answer that, Andrejevic told Guardian Australia. It could be that social media just attracts people who score lower on these questions; and people who listen to ABC radio tend to score higher because they seek that out.

Andrejevic pointed out that the long-term concern of social media critics has been that the platforms favor virality and sensationalism over thoughtfulness and accuracy, which does not help democracy.

Free speech is based on the idea that people have been educated enough in the values of civil society to be willing to engage in good faith discussion, but what you see online is that doesnt happen at all, Andrejevic told Guardian Australia. We wanted to see how the different media actually cater to scoring higher or lower on this set of values that we think are important for democracy.

According to sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, social media is more about mocking perceived opponents and bonding with those who share similar views than meaningful engagement, Andrejevic wrote in The Conversation.

Platforms want to wash their hands of the fact-checking process, because it is politically fraught. Their owners claim they want to encourage the free flow of information, Andrejevic said. However, their fingers are on the scale. The algorithms they craft play a central role in deciding which forms of expression make it into our feeds and which do not.

Its disingenuous for them to abdicate responsibility for the content they chose to pump into peoples news feeds, especially when they have systematically created a civically challenged media environment, Andrejevic added.
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.

A mariscadora collects shellfish at the coast in Pobra do Caraminal, Galicia, Spain on June 21, 2013. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Getty Images

Spanish fishers in Galicia  Europes main source of shellfish and the biggest producer of mussels in the world  are reporting a catastrophic collapse in shellfish populations due to the climate crisis.

Some shellfish stocks have plummeted by 90 percent in just a few years, reported The Guardian.

The clams and cockles local residents depend on and have been harvesting for years are disappearing fast. Extreme weather events like torrential rain and heat waves have become more intense and frequent due to climate change, threatening the regions marine species.

Either the shellfish adapt, or they die, and us too, said Patricia Pineiro, who harvests clams in the small fishing town of Cambados, but has been having an increasingly difficult time finding ones big enough to harvest, as Mongabay reported. Theyre just too small.

Pineiro held a measuring device provided by local fishing authorities that was set to 1.5 inches  the minimum size for harvesting the bivalves.

There has been a steep decline in clams, mussels and cockles, according to a fishing website, reported The Guardian. The cockles and clams are collected at low tide by hand, while mussels are taken from the ocean on ropes attached to wooden rafts.

Cockle numbers fell by 80 percent in 2023, compared with the year before, while some clam varieties dropped by 78 percent. Oyster production has seen a slight increase.

Mussel production in 2024 was the lowest in 25 years, falling to 178,000 tonnes from 250,000 tonnes in 2021.

A group of women gather shellfish on a beach near Vigo, Spain on Dec. 28, 2013. percds / iStock Unreleased

Extreme climate events, such as heatwaves and torrential rain, affect the physiology and functioning of marine species, especially in estuarine habitats, producing severe ecological and socioeconomic impacts when the affected species support important fisheries, such as artisanal shellfisheries, said a 2023 analysis, Assessment of Risks Associated with Extreme Climate Events in Small-Scale Bivalve Fisheries: Conceptual Maps for Decision-Making Based on a Review of Recent Studies, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

Maria del Carmen Besada Meis, head of the San Martino fishers association in Ria de Arousa, believes climate change is to blame. The past two years have brought above-average rainfall to the region, with recent torrential rains lowering the waters salinity.

But we dont have enough concrete evidence and what wed like is for someone to come and do some proper research so that we know whats behind this and what we can do about it, Besada Meis said, as The Guardian reported. Were marisqueros (shell fishers) and we dont know what the solution is, which is why [we] need scientists to help us with this. The government needs to put some money on the table for this research.

Marta Martin-Borregon, coordinator of Greenpeace oceans in Spain, described the recent figures as catastrophic.

The biggest cause is pollution from waste discharged into the estuary, from agriculture and from factories, such as the fish canneries, Martin-Borregon said.

Fishermen catch shellfish near ENCEs pulp and paper plant at Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain in 1990. Greenpeace / Bob Edwards

Plans to open a copper mine and build a cellulose plant could potentially produce more waste and use enormous amounts of water.

The water company in Galicia said waste was dumped into the sea over 2,000 times each year, 10 percent of which exceeds legal toxicity limits.

Martin-Borregon said, though pollution is a huge problem, the main culprit is climate change.

The waters of the rias are normally cold and the currents bring a lot of nutrients. With warming seas there are species of shellfish that cant thrive in warm water, Martin-Borregon explained. This is especially the case with mussels and as the temperatures rise the shellfish industry is moving closer towards collapse.

When dams are opened during low tide, the rias is flooded with freshwater, reducing salinity and leading to massive mortality events for bivalves, especially cockles.

Invasive species like the blue crab  a western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico native  are also attracted to the warmer waters. Blue crabs feed on local species such as velvet and spider crabs, which have high market value.

We cant make a living like this, Besada Meis said. We carry on working but were living on social security.
Comcast has announced new technology for ultra-low lag Internet on its Xfinity service. According to the company's release, users of select products and software from its partners will experience less delay in situations with bi-directional traffic. The first wave of supported applications include select games from Valve's Steam platform, GeForce Now from NVIDIA, select apps on mixed reality headsets from Meta, and FaceTime on Apple hardware.

The reduction in latency comes from the Internet Engineering Task Force's L4S open standard. The tech is complex  here's a whitepaper on L4S if you're interested  but broadly if a packet traveling between your device and the server experiences congestion, it will report that on arrival, which can improve future packets' journeys.

A rep from Comcast told Engadget that the products from Apple, Meta, NVIDIA and Valve are the first to support the tech because they were initial partners for testing this low-latency connectivity. Other developers can choose to take advantage of the open standard technology once Comcast has fully rolled out the low lag option and it will be available to all Xfinity customers then. Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Philadelphia, Rockville (Maryland) and San Francisco are among the first cities to receive the low latency tech. Comcast said in its release that it plans to deploy to additional locations in the coming months.
NVIDIA just warned consumers that it might be pretty difficult for gamers to get their hands on its upcoming high-end RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards . The company says it expects significant demand for the cards and that stock-outs may happen. The term stock-out is business speak for we ran out of the thing you want.

The official launch is January 30, so many gamers could find themselves out of luck on release day. Several distributors have revealed they wont even have the cards on January 30. MSI says it wont be selling the GPUs in the US until February 6 and PC maker PowerGPU told its customers that availability will be the worst for the first three months.

Warning you all now.



The launch of the RTX 5090 will be the worst when it comes to availability. Already being told to expect it to be that way for the first 3 months.  PowerGPU (@PowerGPU) January 21, 2025

This is a global issue. VideoCardz has reported that Korea likely wont see shipments until mid-February and the UK retailer Overclockers has posted that it only has single-digit numbers of RTX 5090s in stock . The retailer does, however, have slightly more 5080s in stock.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

Gizmodo has reported that folks are already camping out in the cold for the expensive cards. NVIDIA, for its part, has stated that its shipping more stock to retail every day to help get GPUs into the hands of gamers. Well see how that goes. In any event, we have compiled some tips to help folks snag one of these cards .

If you pay attention to NVIDIA product launches, this news should come as no surprise. The same thing happened with the 40 series. There was high demand and limited initial availability. It took months until gamers could cruise online and purchase one of the latest graphics cards. The 30 series cards were also difficult to find at launch, due to the pandemic and bitcoin mining.

If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Kendall Jenner's appearance at Schiaparelli's Spring 2025 Haute Couture show in Paris on January 27, 2025, has sparked online debate about her runway presence and the distinctive design she showcased.

The supermodel wore a sculptural beige gown featuring a floral corset with exposed boning, Chinoiserie embroidery, exaggerated hips, and a dramatic bow.

Kendall Jenner just walked Schiaparelli couture pic.twitter.com/mTocDBNmog  Up Next (@upnextdesigner) January 27, 2025

The show, held at the historic Petit Palais museum, quickly generated discussion on social media, with critics focusing on both Jenner's modeling skills and the dress itself.

Several commenters suggested that Jenner might be better suited for photo shoots than runway work, with one noting, "her celebrity energy is stronger than her model energy." Others directly criticized her runway presence, describing her as "disengaged."

Ugliest dress ever  Elsie Bee (@ecbdc5) January 28, 2025

oozing mediocrity  Golden Age Trump (@Probable__Spam) January 28, 2025

Her catwalk is the same as a door.  The current guy (@_currentguy) January 28, 2025

Whats wrong with her hips? Are they implants?  Shonda Jones (@shondaj07) January 27, 2025

cant believe this is one of the highest paid model out there. shes extremely boring and her ability to never serve is insane.@threadreaderapp unroll  JanaNayagan (@imjananayagan) January 28, 2025

The avant-garde Schiaparelli design also drew mixed reactions, with some questioning its aesthetic and wearability.

Despite the criticism, Jenner celebrated the moment on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes content and expressing gratitude to Schiaparelli and creative director Daniel Roseberry.

"Dress of dreams... This entire show took my breath away," she wrote.

The appearance adds to Jenner's ongoing relationship with Schiaparelli. She has previously worn the brand's designs at several events, including the 2024 Academy Museum Gala and the 2023 opening of Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai.

Most recently, she appeared in Schiaparelli's Spring/Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection.

Following the show, Jenner, 29, was spotted in a more casual ensemble, wearing The Row pieces and carrying a suede Hermes Birkin bag.

The model, who recently vacationed with Justin and Hailey Bieber, has not publicly addressed the runway criticism so far.
Gabriel Macht, known for playing Harvey Specter on Suits, has taken a significant step back from acting to prioritize his family and explore life beyond Hollywood.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Macht revealed, "I don't tell anybody where I live because I like to keep that under wraps." He added, "I got out of town and we're exploring the world."

After Suits ended in 2019, Macht, 53, decided to take a "long break" from acting to focus on his wife, Jacinda Barrett, and their two children, Satine, 17, and Luca, 10. The family initially planned to homeschool their kids before the COVID-19 pandemic but found themselves stuck in Manhattan during the lockdown.

"That just wasn't doing it for us," Macht said.

The actor explained that after years in New York and Los Angeles, the family decided to leave city life behind. "We decided to explore the world, so we left," Macht shared. "I've spent half of my life on the East Coast and half on the West Coast, but it was time for something different."

While Macht has stepped away from acting, he has embraced a new role as creative partner and executive shareholder in Bear Fight Whiskey.

"I wanted to be a partner in a company that made sense," Macht said, explaining that his approach to whiskey reflects his personality more than his character's. "Harvey  he's really a Macallan guy, but I'm not a Macallan guy. I'm a Bear Fight guy."

Despite his hiatus, Macht expressed openness to reprising his role in the Suits LA spinoff.

"It made sense for my family," he noted, adding that his involvement will allow him to "pass the baton" to the new cast. Macht envisions his iconic character Harvey Specter focusing on pro bono work and distilling whiskey. "He's a distiller, and he tastes whiskeys," Macht said, hinting at where Harvey might be today.
Justin Baldoni's heartfelt apology to Blake Lively over their It Ends With Us rooftop scene feud has been leaked, revealing a deeply personal six-minute voice message sent in the early hours of April 2023.

In the voicemail, Baldoni admitted, "I f**ked up" and apologized for not supporting her creative changes to the pivotal scene.

The newly surfaced audio, first obtained by Daily Mail, captures Baldoni expressing regret over his evidently lukewarm response to Lively's rewritten scene.

"I'm really sorry  I fell short," Baldoni said, acknowledging that his lack of enthusiasm had left Lively feeling unsupported despite praise from her husband Ryan Reynolds and friend Taylor Swift.

To be fair, if Justin Baldoni left me a 2AM voicemail with THAT voice,  my man wouldnt be thrilled either . This just shows he was trying to make it work and walking on eggshells. He was doomed no matter what. pic.twitter.com/8AaDJpuEZp  Ariadna Jacob (@littlemissjacob) January 27, 2025

Lively had been vocal about her frustrations, likening herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones while calling Reynolds and Swift her "dragons."

In the leaked audio, Baldoni directly addressed the reference, admitting, "Damn right, you got great friends... the three of you together is unbelievable. Talk about energy."

This voicemail is part of a larger legal saga surrounding It Ends With Us. Lively had filed a harassment complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, citing several on-set incidents, and accusing him of orchestrating an online campaign to ruin her reputation.

Baldoni has denied the allegations and countersued, accusing Lively (and Reynolds, for the matter) of defamation and attempting to derail his career.

Lively vs. Baldoni Details

The feud initially erupted over Lively's changes to the film's rooftop scene, which Baldoni had described as good but didn't enthusiastically endorse. The scene is pivotal to the film given it is when Lively and Baldoni's characters first meet.

Lively reportedly felt the comment undermined her efforts and said, "I have to stop worrying about people liking me."

In his voicemail, Baldoni reassured her of her talent, calling her work "really good" and saying it would make the film "sing." As the legal battles rage on, the voicemail offers a glimpse into their tense relationship.

Baldoni noted, "I'm excited to have a creative partner in you," but admitted his shortcomings in communicating through texts and voicemails, saying he excels in face-to-face interactions.

Justin Baldoni Trial

With a trial date set for March 2026, both sides have intensified their legal maneuvers. Lively's team has filed motions to restrict public disclosures, accusing Baldoni's team of retaliation through leaked media.

Meanwhile, Baldoni's camp claims the allegations are part of a calculated smear campaign.

The fallout has dominated headlines, with both actors continuing to defend their reputations.

As Baldoni said in his 2 a.m. apology, per Deadline, "I will always apologize and find my way back to center." Whether this will help resolve their ongoing dispute remains to be seen.
Tom Green, the former MTV prankster and ex of Drew Barrymore, has traded Hollywood glitz for a quiet life on a 150-acre farm in rural Ontario.

After two decades in Los Angeles, the 53-year-old comedian packed up and returned to Canada in 2021, seeking authenticity and a fresh perspective.

"I'm not really a Hollywood guy," Green tells The New York Times in a new interview. "I started to feel like I wasn't being true to my authentic self."

These days, Green spends his time tending to chickens, riding his mule Fanny and soaking in the simplicity of farm life.

Green's decision to leave Hollywood behind came with a nod to his past. Known for outrageous stunts on The Tom Green Show, his antics  like painting his parents' house plaid or suckling a cow  made him a cultural icon in the early 2000s.

Yet, Green admits that social media has diluted the impact of such humor. "To a certain extent, it's lost its impact," he says.

Now, Green is returning to the spotlight with a new slate of projects on Amazon Prime Video.

His stand-up special I Got a Mule! premiered on January 28, while his reality show Tom Green Country, which explores his life on the farm, debuts January 31. The lineup also includes This Is the Tom Green Documentary, chronicling his meteoric rise to fame.

"People are probably going to be surprised that I'm not, like, completely crazy," Green warns of Tom Green Country.

The show highlights his close relationship with his family and his love for nature, offering a more grounded view of the comedian.

Despite his quiet rural life, Green remains busy. His U.S. comedy tour kicked off last Friday, showing his ongoing dedication to stand-up, even while basking in nature and away from the bright lights of Hollywood.

"There's a sort of a wholesome heartwarming thing to this," Green theorizes. "That I have a close relationship with my family, that I love animals, that I enjoy doing a lot of things that a great many people in the world enjoy doing, like getting out into the woods."

For Green, the shift to farm life isn't just a career pivot  it's a personal transformation.

"To me, I thought the weirdest thing that I could do is get a farm and a mule," Green quips. "That's kind of what makes it fun for me is that this is ridiculous. Can you believe this? I'm riding a mule."

See some mule footage of Green below.
Russell Brand went live to react to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing and he held nothing back  including his impersonation of Bernie Sanders.

Kennedy, often referred to as RFK Jr. for short, is President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. His first confirmation hearing was on Wednesday, January 29, before he appears before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday, January 30. Both committees have to consider the 71-year-old's nomination before the Senate votes.

Brand -- who converted to Christianity in 2024 -- has been a vocal supporter of Trump and even made an appearance at his inauguration.

In a clip from his livestream shared to his official X account, Sanders can be heard saying in the background: "And for working class people in this country, they are living six, seven years shorter lives than the top 1%. We got a problem."

How's my Bernie Sanders impression?  pic.twitter.com/CwsovQ8DO8  Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) January 29, 2025

"Got a problem..." Brand began, clearly mocking Sanders. "...we're going to have to solve it!"

He shared the post to his 11 million followers with the caption: "How's my Bernie Sanders impression?" with one laughing face emoji.

After a brief break, Brand returned to the timeline with more thoughts and impressions.

"I stepped away for 5 seconds and we're talking about onesies now? ," he captioned a post. He said in jest: "What about onesies, and is it okay for me to wear one? To lay around, in a onesie... enjoying life!"

"STOP SELLING THE ONESIES' GEORGIE!" the 49-year-old said.

I stepped away for 5 seconds and we're talking about onesies now?  pic.twitter.com/H6urFKQvrA  Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) January 29, 2025

"This LOOKS like @RobertKennedyJr, Confirmation But it SOUNDS like Curb Your Enthusiasm," Brand tweeted.

This LOOKS like @RobertKennedyJr Confirmation



But it SOUNDS like Curb Your Enthusiasm pic.twitter.com/1zwW1AwVB2  Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) January 29, 2025

RFK Jr., who was a former White House hopeful who ran as an Independent before suspending his campaign in August 2024, has faced intense backlash over his controversial views on Covid-19, vaccines, and abortion rights. RFK Jr. has since supported Trump in his bid for presidency, even focusing on making "America healthy again" to address American's chronic health issues.

"News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry," Kennedy said during the hearing. An unidentified person yelled out "You are!" before being escorted out of the chamber.

"I am neither. I am pro-safety," Kennedy continued. "I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, but that didn't make me anti-fish. All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in health care."

Read more: Snoop Dogg Loses Over 570K Instagram Followers After Performing at Trump Inauguration Event

"I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine," the father of seven declared. "I will do nothing as HHS Secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking anything."
Support Us

Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability.

The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media.

Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride.

We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society.

Every contribution is valuable for our future.
For Immediate Release



Contact: Elaine Rock



ElaineRockAuthor@gmail.com



ElaineRock.com



707-293-0000

Discover the Hidden California Woman Who Really Ignited the Women's Movement

January 29, 2025. Sonoma County, California. Gloria Steinem knows who Dusty Roads is, the true hidden figure who ignited the woman's movement. With the gripping words of author Elaine Rock, thousands of flight attendants and union members know of the ground breaking accomplishments of one stewardess. And now, the public will, too.

"Dusty was the one who started it all." - Gloria Steinem

Elaine Rock writes from Sonoma County, California. She is a woman's rights advocate, historian, speaker and former technology executive announcing the release of her authorized biography about Dusty Roads (1928-2023), who lived in Sonoma County for many years. Dusty Roads: Meet the Hidden Figure Who Really Ignited the Women's Movement was the result of their meeting at the local Sonoma County Family YMCA swimming pool.

The stage is set in the 1950s when no one had said or wrote the phrase women's movement  yet. Stewardess and Union leader Dusty Roads challenged and led the fight to eliminate American Airlines' employment policies firing stewardesses at thirty-two and banning marriage. And the infamous girdle check and weigh-ins. The same rules did not apply to male stewards. Dusty Roads was incensed and vowed to fight the policy. And she won.



Roads became a visual and vocal presence in Washington DC as one of the first female lobbyists in 1958.

She befriended Congressional Representatives, Senators, Congressional Aides, even Vice Presidents and Presidents.

She became the most influential voice in her union, and her story captures the essence of her pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive and equal society.

Her persistence helped lay the groundwork for Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

In 1965, Dusty brought the first discrimination complaint to the EEOC when it opened its door.

The author Elaine Rock shares, "In my research, I found numerous references to what women were forbidden to do in the 1950s and 60s, like not being able to have a credit card. When I talk about these restrictions, men and women, no matter what age group, their jaws drop. They're incredulous. Then, when I tell them Dusty Roads was the woman who really started the women's movement, they want to know more."

The book is based on extensive interviews with Dusty Roads at her home in Santa Rosa, along with the insights of the men and women in Washington DC who knew her, of her, and her work

Rock reveals, "When I speak of how Dusty was one of the first women lobbyists to Congress; how she filed the first discrimination complaint in the United States; and confronted dangerous duty flying troops to the Vietnam war, the room becomes silent and attentive. Many have no idea that flight attendants had such a contribution to the women's movement or the war effort. Dusty Roads is the perfect example that helps inspire and give women hope today."

Dusty Roads: Meet the Hidden Figure who Really Ignited the Women's Movement is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and at local bookstores.

###

Media: Elaine Rock responds quickly to interview requests. Call 707-293-0000 or email her at ElaineRockAuthor@gmail.com . Regular updates are added to her website: www.ElaineRock.com .

She was featured on the PBS American Experience documentary "Fly With Me" in February of 2024. Rock has published short stories about Dusty and others who are leaders who shaped history and became trailblazers. . She can provide background stories and commentary about how the women's movement began before Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan came on the scenebefore it had a name.
In the United States, the role of the family caregiver has become both a lifeline and a heavy burden for millions. As of 2024, an estimated 53 million adults are providing unpaid care to an older relative, spouse, friend, or neighbora significant increase that highlights the evolving realities of aging in America.

Matt McCann, a leading expert on long-term care planning, attributes this rise to advances in medical science and increased longevity.

"People are living longer, which is wonderful, but it comes with challenges. This underscores the growing reliance on family members to support aging loved ones, especially as too many American families have neither planned for nor even discussed long-term care."

The emotional weight of this responsibility often goes unspoken. Caregivers sacrifice time, energy, and financial stability to ensure their loved ones age with dignity.

"It's not just about the logistical demandsit's about the love and commitment that compel so many to step into this role, often without adequate preparation or resources."

McCann says that too many American families have not planned or even discussed long-term care. This, he explains, creates a family crisis.

Duties and Responsibilities of Family Caregivers

Family caregivers undertake a wide array of tasks to support their aging relatives. These responsibilities often include:

Personal Care Assistance : Helping with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.

Household Management : Handling chores like shopping, laundry, housework, meal preparation, transportation, bill payments, and home maintenance.

Medical Tasks : Administering medications, managing appointments, and coordinating with healthcare providers.

Emotional Support : Providing companionship and emotional reassurance to combat feelings of loneliness or depression in older adults.

These duties can be time-consuming and physically and emotionally demanding, often requiring caregivers to be available around the clock.

Impact on Career and Family Life

Balancing caregiving with professional and personal responsibilities poses significant challenges. According to a report by Guardian Life, one in five caregivers has taken a leave of absence or a demotion to accommodate their caregiving duties.

The same report highlights that only 23% of caregivers rate their mental health as "good," with 40% noting that caregiving negatively affects their stress levels.

McCann says that financially, caregivers often face substantial burdens. Many incur out-of-pocket expenses for their loved one's care, leading to financial strain. A study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that caregivers spend an average of $7,000 annually on caregiving expenses.

The emotional toll is equally significant. Caregivers frequently experience increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues due to the pressures of their role.

"The constant juggling of responsibilities can lead to burnout, affecting both personal well-being and relationships with other family members."

Financial Implications of Professional Care

When the demands of caregiving become overwhelming, families often consider professional care options. However, these services come at a considerable cost, according to a nationwide long-term care cost survey by LTC News. For instance, in Villa Park, Illinois, the median annual cost for home healthcare is approximately $77,256, while a nursing home can cost around $114,974 per year. The cost of long-term care services varies depending on where you live.

Without Long-Term Care Insurance, these expenses can quickly deplete a family's income and assets.

"Many families underestimate the financial impact of long-term care. Without proper planning, the costs can be devastating."

The Role of Long-Term Care Insurance in Retirement Planning

Given the high costs associated with professional care, Long-Term Care Insurance has become an essential component of retirement planning. LTC Insurance policies are designed to cover services that assist individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities, or just frailty due to aging, including both in-home care and facility-based care.

McCann advises that incorporating Long-Term Care Insurance into your retirement plan provides a safety net.

Best Long-Term Care Insurance Companies: 2025 Provider Guide.

"It ensures that you have the resources to access quality care without compromising your financial stability or placing undue burden on your family."

He further notes that early planning is crucial. The younger and healthier you are when you purchase a policy, the more affordable it will be.

How Much Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cost at My Age?

McCann says most people purchase Long-Term Care Insurance between ages 47 and 67, but premiums vary dramatically between insurance companies.

Balancing Caregiving and Life is Challenging

The increasing prevalence of family caregivers in America highlights the need for comprehensive planning and support. Balancing caregiving responsibilities with career and personal life can be challenging, but with proper planning, including considering Long-Term Care Insurance, families can manage these demands more effectively.

If your loved one needs care, find professional caregivers or long-term care facilities to provide all the care or even provide respite care for a family caregiver.

McCann recommends the LTC News Caregiver Directory. The directory, which is free to use, has over 80,000 caregivers, home health agencies, senior communities, adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, memory care, and nursing homes.

You can search for quality long-term care services near you or a loved one with a few quick clicks.

As McCann aptly puts it, planning for long-term care is not just about protecting your assets; it's about ensuring that you and your loved ones have access to the care you need without sacrificing your quality of life.

By understanding the roles and challenges of caregiving and proactively planning for future care needs, individuals can navigate this complex journey with greater confidence and peace of mind.

Get Professional Planning Help

Matt McCann is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, representing top-rated insurance companies that provide long-term care solutions. His innovative approach allows clients to consult with him over the phone while viewing his computer screen, ensuring a convenient and transparent process for learning about, exploring, and selecting the best options.

You can get free and accurate quotes from all the top companies, along with professional recommendations - Free and Accurate Quotes.

Media Availability

McCann is available for radio, TV, and podcast interviews. He also speaks to groups and organizations worldwide on the issues of aging, caregiving, health, and long-term care. Contact McCann through his website for information.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Residents of Montana are urged to exercise caution when consuming information shared on social media, as recent posts in local Facebook groups have sparked unnecessary fear and confusion. These posts allege serious crimes, including murders, committed by individuals labeled as armed and dangerous, yet a closer examination reveals significant discrepancies.

The Social Media Claims:

Two Facebook posts, shared in separate community groups by newly created profiles, are spreading unverified information.

Claim #1: A man named Roberto Dominguez-Soto is wanted for a murder in Montana.

Claim #2: A woman named Jennifer Samantha Puente is wanted for murder along with Dominguez-Soto for killing three female police officers in Montana.

Both posts are gaining traction and causing alarm in the community.

The Facts:

These cases are real but unrelated to Montana. The individuals named are wanted or convicted for crimes committed in entirely different states.

Roberto Dominguez-Soto: Sought in connection with the murder of Blanca Sauer in Roswell, Georgia. Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta is offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.

Jennifer Samantha Puente: Recently sentenced in Ellis County, Texas, for a 2012 murder and tampering with evidence.

These cases have no ties to Montana, yet the posts falsely suggest imminent danger within the state.

The posts originate from accounts created within the last week, raising suspicions about their authenticity and intent. Their tone appears to be race-baiting, using alarming language to incite fear and division within the community.

Local law enforcement and community leaders are urging residents to verify information before sharing it online.

"Social media allows us to connect with one another and pass information in ways that we've never been able to before, and that can be super valuable. It can be helpful both for sharing information and also for communicating during times of crisis. I mean, those those are things that social media allows us to do and allows us to do it quickly and effectively. However, it also allows sensation and panic to be built when there shouldn't ever be, and those things can have a negative outcome on any type of incident," said Lt. Matthew Fleming with the Great Falls Police Department.

Here are some tips to help identify false or misleading posts from GFPD:

Check the source: Look at the profile sharing the information. Accounts created recently or with limited activity may not be credible.

Verify claims: Cross-check with official sources such as police departments or reputable news outlets.

Think before sharing: Consider the potential consequences of amplifying unverified information.

For accurate information on public safety in Montana, rely on official announcements from local law enforcement and trusted news sources.

"Generally speaking, if there's an ongoing active public safety issue, the community is going to know that because that information is coming from us. Now, it'll come through our local media outlets and our internal social media channels. But that information will come specifically from us if there's an active incident or an ongoing public safety concern," emphasized Fleming.

Fear-driven posts like these have the power to disrupt communities and sow distrust. By being vigilant and responsible online, residents can help prevent the spread of harmful misinformation.
SALEM, Ohio  Range Resources Corporation filed a challenge to Cecil Townships Zoning Hearing Board against its recent oil and gas zoning ordinance which increased well pad setback limits from 500 feet to 2,500 feet from protected structures.

The challenge comes two months after the ordinance was approved by the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors in a 3-2 vote. Cecil Township, home to five well pads with more than 25 wells, is one of the few communities in Washington County to create setbacks greater than 500 feet after residents raised concerns over noise and health impacts.

Range Resources filed a substantive validity challenge on Dec. 26, according to Cecil Township Manager Don Gennuso. This challenge argues the ordinance is unfair and exclusionary  a term used when a zoning ordinance excludes certain types of land uses in a community.

The issue was discussed briefly at the Jan. 20 zoning hearing board meeting, where Kimberly Brown, a lawyer representing Range Resources, argued that Kara Shirdon, chairperson of the Cecil Township Zoning Hearing Board, should recuse herself from voting on the challenge.

Brown said Shirdon was biased, pointing to testimony Shirdon gave in support of the 2,500-foot setback during a public hearing on the oil and gas ordinance in August 2024. Shirdon recused herself from the vote.

Cecil Township Solicitor Gretchen Moore sought a motion to dismiss the legal challenge. Residents and environmental organizations, like the Center for Coalfield Justice and the Clear Air Council, also sought party participation, which gives individuals and community organizations the right to present arguments and play an active role in the legal process.

Chris Voltz, solicitor for the Cecil Township Zoning Hearing Board, did not grant anyone party status at the meeting. Instead, Range Resources, the township and those seeking to participate in the challenge will present their arguments at the next zoning board meeting on Feb. 17.

Lois Bower-Bjornson, southwestern Pennsylvania field organizer for Clean Air Council and Washington County resident, was at the Jan. 20 meeting and plans to present her organizations arguments at the February meeting.

She is confident that the new oil and gas ordinance will stick because of the support within the community and emphasizes its importance for other Pennsylvania communities.

This is a precedent-setting ordinance, Bjornson said. This will help to shape ordinances in other areas, even if theres already drilling there. This is going to give communities and people that live within (these) communities a voice for the first time.

Markwest Liberty Midstream, a natural gas company based in Colorado, also filed a procedural validity challenge, which argues the township did not follow all the procedural steps when updating the ordinance. The challenge will be heard by a judge in the Washington County Court of Pleas.

Range Resources did not respond to Farm and Dairys request for comment.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
The Scottish dairy sector has raised concerns over the continued decline in herd numbers, with the latest figures showing a fall of 23% over the last decade.

The Scottish Dairy Cattle Association (SDCA) has revealed a net decrease of 30 dairy herds during 2024, bringing the total number of milking herds to 764.

NFU Scotland said the decline was 'disappointing', as many farmers continued to grapple with issues such as rising input costs and labour shortages.

Throughout last year, the number of dairy cows decreased by 257, making the current total 183,391.

Despite these declines, the average herd size increased to 236, up by nine from 2023.

Ayrshire experienced the most significant decrease with a net loss of 15 herds, followed by Dumfriesshire with a net loss of five herds.

However, both regions saw new dairy herds start up with more expected to begin operations in 2025.

Bruce Mackie, chair of NFU Scotlands Milk Committee said: It is always disappointing to see a year-on-year decline in the number of Scottish dairy herds a trend that has persisted over the past decade.

"The continued struggle with labour shortages, rising input costs, increase regulatory pressures, and market uncertainty all contribute to the challenges faced by our dairy farmers."

However, despite these challenges, Mr Mackie noted that Scottish dairy farmers were producing more milk from fewer, more efficient cows.

"This increase in efficiency is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our farmers," he explained.

"Furthermore, the industry is not carrying the carbon cost of unproductive animals, which is crucial when addressing climate change and reducing our carbon footprint."

According to the SDCA figures, Scottish herds are producing more milk per cow than any UK nation, which is important for efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint per litre of milk.

And globally, Scotland remains a vital place to produce milk competitively, given the temperate maritime climate, well-invested herds with high average yields, and resistance to climate shocks.

Mr Mackie concluded: "We have a great tradition of skilled stockpeople, and with continuing investment in processing infrastructure, I am optimistic that our industry has a bright future.
Frontier Agriculture has posted a near 30% decline in group operating profit, down from 52.1m to 37m, as a result of the lower winter wheat plantings.

This was due to the wet autumn of 2023 and consequent reduction in spring crop protection and fertiliser purchasing, the grain merchant said.

The results, for the year-ending June 2024, also show that profit before tax was 40 million, in line with prior year, which was 40.2m.

Frontier Agriculture, which is one of the UK's leading crop production and grain marketing business, employs around 1,100 people.

It operates across all aspects of arable crop production and grain marketing, supplying seed, crop protection products and fertiliser to farmers, as well as providing agronomy advice.

Over the last three years, the firm has invested in a number of adjacency businesses, including start-ups associated with its supply chains and farm-gate activities.

Principal investments in this category have been in agricultural banking through Oxbury, which Frontier is one of the founding investors since 2018.

In the year-ending 2024, Frontiers investment in agricultural banking appreciated in value by 16.8m, which offset the downside impact in the group operating profit.

Frontier senior executive director, Mark Aitchison said: "Like many of our farmer customers, diversifying income streams in parallel with volatile trading activities provides some security of earnings.

"Our adjacency investments are all in areas we believe can benefit our customers, providing for us both the opportunity to bring more certainty.

"Robust earnings enable us to invest in the core business at a consistent rate during periods of downturn, and ensures we continue to develop products and services for the future."
The NFU has confirmed it will increase its efforts in fighting the so-called 'family farm tax', with a 'constant drumbeat of activity' planned for February and March.

NFU Council has voted overwhelmingly to stage a 'campaign moment' in London in February as part of its drive to halt the government's inheritance tax proposals.

The union said this would be a 'strong emotional and visual' event that would highlight the damage that Labour's policy would do on the next generation of farmers.

The activity will coincide with the annual NFU Conference, which is being held in London on 25 February.

NFU Council also voted to support a planned rally proposed by a group of farmers in the capital, due to take place in March.

It follows the reform of agricultural property relief (APR) in the autumn budget, meaning farms worth more than 1m will incur a 20% inheritance tax charge from 2026.

"We have always said we are in this for the long haul, and todays update continues to build on the progress the campaign has made so far," the NFU said.

"NFU Council also agreed, overwhelmingly, that the organisation should support a proposed rally in London in March, if it goes ahead.

"We will continue to demonstrate, as we did during the Day of Unity and the mass lobby, that when farming speaks with a united voice, it's deafening."

In the past week alone, all of the UKs major retailers have publicly backed an industry campaign calling on the government to scrap the IHT measures.

Meanwhile, a UK-wide 'Day of Unity' saw farmers stage protests and events across the UK over the weekend, rallying for public support.

And last week, an NFU petition signed by over 270,000 members of the public was handed to 10 Downing Street calling on the government to ditch its IHT plan.

Campaigners at Save British Farming are organising a new rally outside Whitehall on 10 February as MPs are set to debate the issue.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has announced it will stop issuing new permits that allow farmers to dispose of waste sheep dip to land.

Instead, farming businesses will need to have the waste dip removed by a registered waste carrier and disposed of in a suitable waste facility.

The environmental regulator announced today (29 January) that it would implement the changes in order to 'safeguard' Wales' rivers.

NFU Cymru has called on NRW to reverse its decision, calling the move 'shocking' as it was taken 'without consideration of the wider impacts'.

While NRW acknowledged sheep dipping was important for the nation's livestock farmers, it said it had measured increased chemical levels in rivers.

Disposing of sheep dip to land in Wales has been allowed for more than 30 years.

But Nadia De Longhi, NRW's head of regulation said: Were constantly working to balance the needs of farms with our duties to safeguard the environment and this often means gradual change to the way things work.

Weve noticed a negative effect accumulating in our rivers that is causing us to fail to meet the standards required to protect the water environment.

This is why weve decided to phase out the practice as there are now better alternatives available."

NRW said farms with active permits would be able to continue to dispose to land for the time being.

However, all waste dip would soon need to be disposed of in the new way, as it would bring "consistency with how all other liquid wastes are disposed of".

Where a farmer no longer needs to dispose of waste sheep dip to land, NRW said they would be able to surrender their permit for free.

Ms De Longhi said: "To support that change we have removed the charge, which currently stands at 363, to surrender your permit if you no longer need it.

Responding, NFU Cymru livestock board chairman, Rob Lewis said the union had written to NRW calling for the decision to be reversed.

He said: The practice of sheep dipping in Wales is integral to maintain the high flock health status of the Welsh flock.

"The decision has implications for animal health and welfare, the ongoing management of key habitats and disadvantages young farmers to the sheep sector."

What happens now?

Farmers that need their sheep to be dipped but currently do not have a permit, can:

 Apply to use the Welsh government-funded Gwaredu Scab programme if they suspect they have a scab infestation.

 Dip the sheep themselves - if they hold the necessary certificates - and arrange for a registered waste carrier to collect the waste dip for off-site disposal

 Employ a mobile sheep dip contractor to dip their sheep for them and take the waste away for disposal

 NRW is encouraging farmers to surrender permits they no longer need, which can now be done for free on the NRW website
Tractor rallies will take place across Scotland this weekend to highlight how the proposed changes to inheritance tax threatens the viability of family farms.

The protests, originally due to take place on 25 January but postponed due to Storm Eowyn, aim to send a 'loud and clear message' to the UK government.

It follows the reform of agricultural property relief (APR) in the autumn budget, as farms worth more than 1m will incur a 20% inheritance tax charge from 2026.

NFU Scotland, which is organising this weekend's rallies, said the IHT changes would impact businesses 'up and down the supply chain'.

Union representatives will also be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the concerns.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: "I encourage all, along with others involved with the farming sector, to take part and raise awareness of how these tax proposals would impact their businesses.

"The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight, alongside the other UK farming unions, to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK government as we campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax.

"Full details of where and when events will be happening will be posted on our website over the coming days once we have finalised and approved our plans."

The Scotland-wide tractor rallies will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 1 and 2 February.

They were originally planned to take part in the UK-wide day of action, which took place on 25 January in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But due to the impact of Storm Eowyn on cities and towns in Scotland, NFU Scotland called off the rallies.

Meanwhile, farmers across the UK are set to rally on the streets of London on 10 February as MPs debate the inheritance tax issue in parliament.

The protest is also taking place against the backdrop of wider financial pressures impacting the industry, including high costs and low returns, and uncertainty over future policy.
A retired military officer has claimed he was abducted by an angry alien.

An ex-military officer claims he was abducted by an angry alien

Whistleblower Lt Col John Blitch was told by a "7ft tall praying mantis looking being" that his body "is just a machine that your soul occupies for this lifetime", and that they were trying to help him and not cause any physical pain.

He went on to claim that "there was this image that put in and it was terrifying".

Blitch- who was "terrified, frozen, paralysed on the bed" as the creature stood over him - told News Nation's Ross Coulthart: "His mandibles that were kind of behind a casing or shell opened up, and he starts grabbing chunks of my cheek and he's ripping it. And there's blood spattering on the wall.

"And I'm feeling the tug, and I'm feeling this flesh. And the whole time he is conveying to me: 'See we can't get your soul. We can do a lot of damage to your body if we want to. We don't. We're trying to help you. But this is how bad it could get. So stop squiggling around and let us get this done'."

The military man added that there was no real damage to his cheek, but he could feel the "tugging and had the visual".
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom both need "verbal support" in their relationship.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom need 'verbal support' from each other

The 40-year-old star has opened up on how her love languages are "acts of service" and affirmation", and insisted it's important for both partners to learn what works for their other half.

She told PEOPLE magazine: "I've talked a lot about love languages and how important they are in learning your partner's love language, and even if it isn't your love language, tapping into that for them."

She added: "Verbal support is really important, I think, for both of us."

The 'Roar' hitmaker is excited to kick off her 'Lifetimes Tour' in May, and while she's focused on delivering something special for the fans, she's also prioritising her family life.

She explained: "I'm 40. I have a family. I have a whole other world outside of this that I'm tending to as well.

"I know the responsibility of putting on a tour and how much people look forward to it.

"I'm really trying to stay in the best shape, give my body breaks, look after myself so that I can show up every night and give as close to 100 percent that I can."

When it comes to her relationship with Orlando - with whom she has four-year-old daughter Daisy Dove - Katy previously discussed the 'Pirates of the Carribean' actor's energy as a partner.

She told Apple Music's Zane Lowe: "He's a real sage. We both have parts of ourselves. There's two parts of us, our highest good, and then our carnal, material self. Ego.

"When the ego is running the show, then it's like, 'Whoa.' But when that's in check, then we're both something else."

The couple first met at a Golden Globes after party in 2016, and got engaged three years later.

Despite loving their life together, Katy acknowledged that it's not always easy.

She said: "I mean, life is not peachy keen, jelly bean.

"It's about who you are in those really challenging moments, and I get to see who he is in those challenging moments. And it's why I chose him."
Cambodia exported a total of $13.92 billion worth of garments, footwear and travel goods (GFT) last yeara rise of 23 per cent year on year (YoY), according to a report from the ministry of commerce.

Garment exports were valued at $9.79 billion last yeara YoY increase of 24 per cent. Footwear exports rose by 23 per cent YoY to $1.68 billion, while travel goods exports surged by 19.6 per cent YoY to $1.95 billion.

Cambodia exported a total of $13.92 billion worth of garments, footwear and travel goods (GFT) last yeara rise of 23 per cent YoY, a report from the ministry of commerce said. Garment exports were valued at $9.79 billion last yeara YoY increase of 24 per cent. Footwear exports rose by 23 per cent YoY to $1.68 billion, while travel goods exports surged by 19.6 per cent YoY to $1.95 billion.

The sector has received purchase orders, Penn Sovicheat, secretary of state and spokesperson at the ministry, was cited as saying by domestic media reports.

The sector is the countrys largest foreign exchange earner.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Exports from Bangladeshs export processing zones (EPZs) grew by 22.41 per cent year on year (YoY) in the first half (H1) of this fiscal (FY25) to $4,126 million, according to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).

BEPZA executive chairman Maj Gen Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said BEPZA contributed 29 per cent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) of the country in FY24.

Exports from Bangladesh's export processing zones grew by 22.41 per cent YoY in H1 FY25 to $4,126 million, the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) said. BEPZA contributed 29 per cent of total FDI in FY24. Thirty eight countries invested in EPZs under BEPZA in the period. Among these, 108 were Chinese, 61 South Korean, 29 Japanese, 19 Indian, 19 British, 17 US and seven Sri Lankan.

BEPZA exported products worth $7.07 billion, which is 16 per cent of the total $44.47 billion export income in FY 2023-24, he was quoted as saying by a domestic news agency.

BEPZA signed agreements with 28 foreign companies to invest $568.49 million in Bangladesh.

Thirty eight countries invested in EPZs under BEPZA during the period. Among these, 108 were Chinese, 61 South Korean, 29 Japanese, 19 Indian, 19 British, 17 US and seven Sri Lankan, he said.

Uninterrupted energy supply remains a challenge, and if that can be addressed, investment flow will not be hit, he noted, adding that the authority has nearly 50 investment proposals at present.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Jordan's exports to the United States reached 2.044 billion Jordanian Dinars ($2.881 billion) during JanuaryNovember 2024, marking a 14.9 per cent increase compared to exports of 1.779 billion Jordanian Dinars ($2.507 billion) in the same period last year. Garments were the most important product in the export basket. Jordans garment exports to the partner nation also rose by 13.51 per cent during the same period.

According to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro, the Gulf nations apparel exports to the US were valued at $1,741.083 million in the first 11 months of 2024. This was 13.51 per cent higher than the shipment of $1,533.874 million in the same period of the previous year.

Jordan's exports to the US reached 2.044 billion Jordanian Dinars ($2.881 billion) in JanuaryNovember 2024, a 14.9 per cent increase from 2023. Garments, key to the export basket, rose 13.51 per cent to $1.741 billion. The US accounted for 79.56 per cent of Jordan's garment exports. Despite fluctuations in previous years, trade reflects strong ties.

The US accounted for 79.56 per cent of the total garment exports from Jordan, which stood at $2,188.282 million in January-November 2024. The US share also increased from 77.17 per cent in the same period of 2023.

Jordan is highly dependent on the partner nation for garment exports. Both countries share strong economic and diplomatic relations. Geopolitical compulsions have also made them closer allies.

Jordans garment exports to the nation have experienced fluctuations in previous years. The shipment dropped by 14.26 per cent to $1,527.979 million in 2020, from $1,782.176 million in 2019. However, it recovered, increasing by 9.55 per cent to $1,673.875 million in 2021. Exports further rose by 15.57 per cent to $1,934.456 million in 2022. However, bilateral trade eased by 14.21 per cent, declining to $1,659.623 million in 2023, as per TexPro.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
The Philippine department of trade and industry (DTI) is confident of starting negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States under the Trump regime, DTI undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo recently said.

At the launch of a book titled Doing Business in the Philippines released by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), DivinaLaw, and the Philippine Board of Investments, DTI undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, who is also vice chairman and managing head of the Board of Investments, said some of Trumps appointees had earlier expressed support for closer economic ties with the Philippines, domestic media outlets reported.

The Philippines is confident of starting negotiations for an FTA with the US under the Trump regime, a top government official of the former recently said. The Philippines-EU FTA talks will begin the second round of negotiations next month. Meanwhile, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines urged the country not to lose steam in implementing policy and regulatory reforms.

For President Biden, for his administration, it was so difficult to even have a watered-down statement that would say that the US notes the Philippines interest in a bilateral free trade agreement. Take that in contrast with the statement from President Trump in 2017, Rodolfo told European businesses.

The Joe Biden administration was quite cautious in responding to the Philippines FTA proposal, he said. That will also push all of us to hurry up a bit in terms of what we already started in terms of the Philippines-EU FTA, he noted.

The Philippines-European Union FTA talks will begin the second round of negotiations next month.

Meanwhile, ECCP urged the country not to lose steam in implementing policy and regulatory reforms, helping unlock the Philippines full potential.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the "Company") announces that it has requested a temporary Management Cease Trade Order ("MCTO") from the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC") in connection with the Company's filing of its audited annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and the applicable CEO and CFO certifications in respect of such filings for the financial year ended September 30, 2024 (collectively the "Annual Filings").

The Company's financial statements have significantly increased in complexity over the last year due to the Company's expansion into a new line of business. The Company is requesting the MCTO in order to secure additional time for the Company's auditors to complete the audit of the financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024.

Accordingly, the Company has applied to the ASC for the MCTO that will prohibit the management of the Company from trading in the securities of the Company until such time as the Annual Filings are filed. No decision has yet been made by the ASC on this application. The ASC may grant the application and issue the MCTO or it may impose an issuer cease trade order if the Annual Filings are not filed in a timely fashion.

The Company notes that:

The Company is required to file its September 30, 2024 Annual Filings by January 29, 2025 (the " Filing Deadline "), as required pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations . At this time the Company is uncertain as to whether it will be able to complete its Annual Filings on or before the Filing Deadline.

"), as required pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 - . At this time the Company is uncertain as to whether it will be able to complete its Annual Filings on or before the Filing Deadline. The Company and its auditors are working diligently to prepare and file the Annual Filings, on or before March 28, 2025.

The Company confirms that, other than as disclosed in prior press releases, there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed since the filing on August 29, 2024 of the Company's latest interim financial reports for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 & 2023.

Until the Company has filed the Annual Filings, members of the Company's management and other insiders are subject to an insider trading black-out.

During the period of default and until filing of the Annual Filings, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines as required by National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders.

About Green River Gold Corp.

Green River Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly-owned Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Magnesium/Talc Project, and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia.

The Fontaine Gold and Quesnel Nickel properties cover an area exceeding 200 square kilometres and straddle a 32-kilometre length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes. They are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project.

The Kymar Silver Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometres west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totalling 1,625 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine.

For more information contact:

Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca

Forward-Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

In addition, the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct.

The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances.

The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238772

SOURCE: Green River Gold Corp.
The Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project, supported by MasterWord Services, announces the release of its first Universal Mayan Keyboard for Microsoft Windows. This new tool represents a pivotal step toward advancing digital accessibility for more than seven million Mayan language speakers, building on earlier Google Android offerings and expanding the ways Mayan speakers can write and communicate online.

The Universal Keyboard for Mayan Languages is a First for Windows

Mayan woman using a laptop

Ingrid Pacay, project contributor and Q'eqchi' speaker, explains, "Li tz'iib'leb'aal jwal ajel li ru jo' k'anjelob'aal li ta'tenq'anq reheb' naab'aleb' li qakomon jwal nake'cha'ajko' chi ru roksinkileb' li ulul ch'iich' sa' kaxlanchi'." "The keyboard is a necessary tool that will help our people who struggle to use a computer in Spanish."

Jose Miguel Tzib'oy Yat, teacher at the CTB Bilingual School in Guatemala, adds, "Li xyiib'ankil re jun tz'iib'leb'aal windows jwal us xb'aan naq naxkawob'resi li qaatinob'aal Q'eqchi', natenq'ank qe chi xseeb'ankil li q'a k'anjel." "The creation of a keyboard for Windows in our language is extremely positive because it strengthens the Q'eqchi' language and allows us to work in a more effective way."

Optimized for Microsoft Windows Users

Publishing through the Microsoft Store allows Windows users to install and seamlessly use the Universal Mayan Keyboard across Microsoft Office and other desktop applications. The layout is optimized for Mayan languages, preserving familiar Spanish keyboard elements while adding special Mayan characters.

Expanding Access and Empowering Communities

This release of the Universal Mayan Keyboard for Windows is just one part of a broader effort to promote linguistic and cultural continuity:

Additional Keyboards : Versions tailored to specific Mayan languages like Kaqchikel and Mam are currently in development, reaffirming the project's commitment to equitable digital access.

Open-Source Tools: All software is being developed as open-source to ensure sustainable long-term support and community-driven improvements.

How to Download

The keyboard is free to download at mayanlanguagespreservation.org/keyboards/ , where users can also find installation instructions and other resources. The website is fully localized in K'iche' and Q'eqchi', demonstrating the project's commitment to linguistic inclusion and cultural authenticity.

The keyboard can also be downloaded directly from Microsoft at https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xpfg6q48q2b85h?hl=en-us&gl=US .

About the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project

Launched in 2023 in alignment with UNESCO's International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project is a community-driven initiative that safeguards the linguistic and cultural heritage of Mayan speakers. With over 100 contributors from local communities, the project creates open-source tools that bridge the digital divide and elevate indigenous voices.

For more information, visit mayanlanguagespreservation.org .

SOURCE: MasterWord Services, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - Guac Digital recently announced that its Founder and CEO, Guy Leon Sheetrit, has been accepted into the Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only community for senior executives in public relations, media strategy, creative, and advertising industries. This membership highlights Sheetrit's proven leadership in the digital marketing industry and his ongoing contributions to innovation and business growth.

The Forbes Agency Council connects accomplished leaders from various industries, providing a platform for collaboration, shared insights, and professional development. Membership is granted only to senior executives who meet rigorous criteria, including a proven history of business growth, industry expertise, and notable professional achievements.

Guac Digital CEO Guy Leon Sheetrit Joins Prestigious Community of Senior Executives and Industry Leaders

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/238759_082d65ba548df963_001full.jpg

This recognition underscores Guac Digital's position as an innovative player in the digital marketing industry, and it highlights Sheetrit's track record of driving measurable results for businesses. As part of the Forbes Agency Council, Sheetrit will represent Guac Digital in contributing insights and best practices that reflect the company's expertise in ranking, speed optimization, and website accessibility.

In addition to Guac Digital, Sheetrit is also the founder of Betterweb AI (betterweb.ai), a cutting-edge platform offering a 3-in-1 solution for compliance, speed optimization, and security. Betterweb AI empowers businesses to maintain fast, secure, and compliant websites, further solidifying the impact of Sheetrit's innovation in the digital marketing and technology space.

With the membership, Guy Leon Sheetrit will participate in a community that offers unique opportunities to foster innovation and thought leadership. Forbes Agency Council provides members with exclusive networking opportunities, enabling collaboration with other senior executives in private forums. Members can also contribute their expertise by publishing thought leadership articles and participating in expert panels on Forbes.com. These platforms allow members to share insights, address industry challenges, and help shape the future of their respective fields.

Guac Digital Celebrates Membership in Exclusive Forbes Agency Council

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/238759_082d65ba548df963_002full.jpg

The Forbes Agency Council also offers its members access to exclusive resources that support professional and business growth, including branded marketing collateral and personalized support from the council's concierge team. These benefits enhance members' influence while providing tools to further elevate their companies' impact in their respective markets.

Guy Leon Sheetrit views the membership as a valuable opportunity to amplify the voices of Guac Digital and Betterweb AI within the industry, staying at the forefront of emerging trends and fostering collaborative growth. By engaging with other thought leaders and contributing to industry conversations, Sheetrit aims to shape the future of digital marketing, accessibility, and website optimization.

About Guac Digital:

Guac Digital is a marketing agency that assists businesses and brands in attracting potential customers, creating brand visibility, and disrupting their industries through innovations. The company has achieved this by building a dynamic team that blends creativity with advanced technology in digital marketing.

About Betterweb AI:

Betterweb AI (betterweb.ai) offers a 3-in-1 solution for compliance, speed optimization, and security. It empowers businesses to create fast, secure, and accessible websites while ensuring legal compliance and enhancing user experience.

Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238759

SOURCE: GetFeatured
Aurora, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - Anew Media Group has officially transitioned to an AI-focused local SEO firm, marking a significant step in its ongoing mission to innovate digital marketing. This strategic move highlights the company's commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence to help businesses achieve superior online visibility and engagement in their target markets.



The decision to prioritize AI-driven local SEO solutions reflects Anew Media Group's forward-thinking approach to digital marketing. Over the past eight years, the company has steadily integrated AI technologies into its services, focusing on enhancing precision and efficiency in addressing the unique challenges of local SEO. This transition underscores the company's dedication to staying ahead of evolving market demands and positioning clients for success in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

To strengthen this transformation, Anew Media Group has introduced proprietary AI-powered tools designed to address critical aspects of local SEO. These tools include an AI Schema for Enhanced Structured Data, optimizing how search engines interpret and display business information. Additionally, the company has developed an advanced AI blogging system that integrates three innovative models to produce E.E.A.T. (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness)-aligned content, which meets the latest search engine standards.

The company is also introducing an AI Local Map Application Tool designed to enhance brand impressions on Google My Business (GMB) profiles. This tool enables businesses to improve their Google Maps rankings, helping them double their local leads. In addition, Anew Media Group has rolled out AI chatbots with video and voice cloning capabilities. These innovative tools enable business owners to engage with customers via video or web calls, streamlining appointment booking and improving conversion rates.

Another notable innovation that is part of the local SEO services by Anew Media Group includes a new Pay-Per-Click (PPC)-like program designed to capture up to 70% of Google Search traffic. This system transforms traditional paid ads into organic branding results, providing businesses with a cost-effective way to increase local leads while reducing Google ad spend.

Anew Media Group's adoption of artificial intelligence ensures more precise local search optimization and supports businesses in adapting to evolving search engine algorithms and user behavior trends. The integration of AI tools aligns with the company's mission to empower businesses with cutting-edge solutions that drive visibility and engagement in competitive markets.

The transition to an AI-focused business model highlights Anew Media Group's commitment to blending advanced technology with human expertise. While artificial intelligence is at the heart of the Denver SEO company's services, the team emphasizes the importance of tailored, data-driven insights delivered by experienced professionals. This approach ensures that businesses working with Anew Media Group benefit from innovative solutions designed to achieve measurable growth.

About Anew Media Group:

Anew Media Group is an SEO firm specializing in data-driven marketing solutions for small and medium businesses. The company offers services such as SEO, backlinking, paid advertising, and AI-powered site development. With its recent transition to a fully AI-focused firm, Anew Media Group continues to innovate and deliver cutting-edge solutions that help clients excel in competitive digital landscapes.

Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238760

SOURCE: GetFeatured
Siemens Energy experienced a remarkable surge in its stock price on Tuesday, driven by unexpectedly strong quarterly results that significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The energy technology company reported earnings of 463 million euros, substantially outperforming the projected 373 million euros. The company's free cash flow before taxes is now anticipated to surpass the previous forecast of up to one billion euros for the current fiscal year. This impressive performance was attributed to reduced losses in its wind energy subsidiary Siemens Gamesa and improvements across Grid Technologies and Industry Transformation divisions. The stock responded positively, climbing 7.53% to reach 51.96 euros, with trading volume exceeding 6.4 million shares.

Analyst Outlook Strengthens

Financial experts have responded favorably to the quarterly performance, with several major institutions revising their price targets upward. The company demonstrated robust operational trends, particularly in its gas turbine business, where growth opportunities extend beyond the U.S. market. Looking ahead, analysts project earnings per share of 0.741 euros for fiscal year 2025, alongside expectations for the company's first dividend payment in recent history, marking a significant milestone in Siemens Energy's financial recovery.

Ad

Fresh Siemens Energy information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

Read our updated Siemens Energy analysis...
MINNEAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - U.S. Bancorp (USB) announced that its President, Gunjan Kedia, will become the company's Chief Executive Officer at the conclusion of the organization's annual meeting of shareholders on April 15. Current Chairman and chief executive officer Andy Cecere will continue as executive chairman, leading the Board of Directors and supporting Kedia as she assumes her new role.Kedia, 54, joined U.S. Bancorp in 2016. She has nearly 30 years of experience in financial services, having held global executive positions at State Street Financial and BNY, as well as leadership roles at McKinsey and Company and PwC.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.
Apple faces significant regulatory challenges in Germany as the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe signals potential support for classifying the tech giant as a company with "paramount cross-market significance." This designation would subject Apple to enhanced antitrust oversight, similar to other tech leaders like Alphabet and Meta. The court's preliminary assessment suggests Apple strongly meets several statutory criteria for this classification, particularly concerning its dominant position in the App Store ecosystem. The Federal Cartel Office's heightened scrutiny could specifically target Apple's tracking practices, where third-party apps require explicit user consent while Apple's own applications operate under different rules.

AI Innovation Offers Silver Lining

Despite regulatory headwinds, Apple shows promising developments in artificial intelligence ventures. The company's strategic position as a leading consumer products manufacturer enables it to capitalize on generative AI opportunities without requiring massive investments in language models or infrastructure. With quarterly capital expenditure of $9.45 billion, Apple's efficient approach to AI development could potentially drive improved product upgrade cycles, offsetting some regulatory concerns and supporting long-term stock growth potential.

Ad

Fresh Apple information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

Read our updated Apple analysis...




Democrats

The endless debate over what went wrong forin the last election has almost entirely avoided what has become the party's signature issue: abortion.

Democrats believed they could ride the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade to victory, and not without reason. Polling consistently showed that more than half of Americans disapproved of the ruling. And yet, even though Kamala Harris and Tim Walz made abortion rights a centerpiece of their campaign, they lost ground among women.

Most analysts blame the economy for that, but the party's central emphasis on abortion rights probably made it more difficult for voters to identify Harris with her economic agenda. Nearly eight in 10 voters who named the economy as their top issue voted for Donald Trump , while only 23% of voters named abortion as one of their top three issues.

The problem, however, wasn't just one of emphasis. Tone mattered, too. Over the past decade, the party's rhetoric on abortion has grown more divisive, often taking an accusatory form. Those who wish to ban or restrict it are trying to "control women's bodies" because they "don't trust women," since they're "weird."

Although the end of Roe has understandably heightened passions on the issue, Democrats would benefit politically by remembering who didn't make those kinds of accusations: the last three Democrats to win the presidency.

Joe Biden mostly avoided the issue in 2020, not even mentioning it in his convention speech. Bill Clinton memorably spoke about wanting to ensure that abortion was "safe, legal and rare"  a phrase no longer tolerated by party activists, because of the word "rare." And Barack Obama , who likewise strongly supported abortion rights, took pains to respect opposing views.

In a 2009 speech at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , Obama told the story of getting an email from a pro-life doctor who wanted to vote for him  but wouldn't, because Obama's campaign website mentioned "right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman's right to choose."

The doctor did not ask Obama to change his view on abortion, only to speak about it "in fair-minded words." Obama, who directed his staff to change the language on the website and wrote a thank you note to the doctor, urged each side of the debate to make its case respectfully, "without reducing those with differing views to caricature," and to find common ground on reducing unintended pregnancies, increasing adoptions and improving maternal care.

Obama's approach to abortion  magnanimous and humble, inclusive and unifying  helped him become the first Democrat since 1964 to win Indiana . But since then, Democrats have effectively disqualified those who call themselves pro-life from winning party nominations, even though in most red districts, they offer the best chance to win over not only Republicans , but Democrats , too. About one in four moderate or conservative Democrats , or independents who lean Democrat, believe that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases.

"Our party sends the wrong message when it has any kind of litmus test: abortion, guns, health care," former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer told me last fall, during an RV trip that brought me through his old district. (I interned in Roemer's office as a student at Notre Dame.)

"Democrats do a disservice to themselves if they say, If you're not with us on a particular issue, you're not a Democrat,'" he said. "We've always been a party with a big tent and diversity."

Or at least, it was when Democrats were winning national elections.

On Thursday, Democrats for Life participated in the annual March For Life in Washington, D.C. , but no Democratic members of Congress spoke at the group's breakfast. Its executive director, Kristen Day , is running for vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee , but no delegates have endorsed her candidacy. The outgoing chair of the Democratic National Committee , Jaime Harrison , refused even to meet with the group, Day told me  the first party chair to do so.

"People want to be listened to and have their views heard," said Day. "I represent the people who don't have a 100% DNC scorecard, but we still want to be part of the party because there's a lot we agree with  on paid parental leave, the child tax credit" and other pro-family issues.

Without listening to these dissenting voices, the Democratic Party seems unable to recognize  or countenance  that many of them favor middle-ground positions. ( Democrats for Life has supported the type of laws that prevail in much of Europe , including legal abortion through a pregnancy's first 20 weeks.) And the party seems unable to recognize  or countenance  that a big tent approach on abortion would help it reclaim areas that have gone from blue to red. In 2024, Democrats for Life's political action committee endorsed 39 candidates; 37 of them won.

As Democrats wander the wilderness, they pine for candidates with Obama's political talents. To have a chance to win the districts and states he did, they should start by embracing his spirit  and giving Day's candidacy for DNC vice-chair a fair-minded hearing.

Previously:

 Dems have their own 'weird' problem

 San Francisco gets tough to save liberalism

 Dems wanted another New Deal. They neglected the most important part

(COMMENT, BELOW)
 Flash

This photo taken by a cellphone on Jan. 28, 2025 shows policemen trying to disperse protesters outside the French embassy in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [Photo/Xinhua]

Several embassies in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were damaged, looted, and even set on fire amid mass demonstrations against the perceived inaction of the international community in addressing the ongoing violence in the eastern part of the country, Xinhua reporters observed.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society mobilized the local population to protest against the dire situation in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the United States and other Western countries, as well as the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission.

Part of the exterior of the French embassy was set on fire by protesters, while the nearby Ugandan embassy was looted. Sounds of detonation were heard in the neighborhoods where the Rwandan embassy and the U.S. consular service are located, according to a Xinhua reporter.

Blaise Kilimbalimba, Kinshasa police commander, urged the demonstrators to remain calm and return home, warning that those sowing trouble would face serious consequences.

Hostilities resumed in Goma on Tuesday morning after a relatively calm night. March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have been attacking Goma since late Sunday.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been going on since early Tuesday between the DRC army and the rebels near the airport, a strategic point once controlled by the M23.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FSE: 8BN) ("Optimi" or the "Company"), a GMP-approved, Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in botanical psilocybin and MDMA, announces it has closed the second and final tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.30 per Unit. Under the Second Tranche, the Company distributed 1,316,668 Units for gross proceeds of $395,000, bringing the total Offering raise to $934,000. Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant issued under the Second Tranche entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.40 until January 24, 2027, subject to an accelerated expiry provision, whereby in the event the closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange") exceeds $0.50 for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, at the Company's election, the period within which the Warrants are exercisable, will be reduced and the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to exercise their Warrants for a period of 30 days commencing on the day the Company provides notice, any outstanding Warrants not exercised during the 30 day period will expire.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital purposes.

All securities issued under the Second Tranche, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, will be subject to a hold period expiring May 25, 2025, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Second Tranche was completed by insiders of the Company, the issuance of Units to insiders is considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Debt Settlement

The Company also announces that it has completed a debt settlement with 2 creditors which has resulted in an aggregate of $98,501.25 of indebtedness being retired in consideration for the issuance of 458,145 Common Shares at a deemed price per Common Share of $0.215 (the "Debt Settlement"). The debt relates to marketing and investor relations services. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a hold period January 24, 2025.

Completion of the Offering and the Debt Settlement is subject to certain conditions including but not limited to the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the final approval of the Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, in the United States or to any "U.S Person" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act")) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the 1933 Act or under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption therefrom.

About Optimi Health Corp.

Optimi Health Corp. is a Health Canada-licensed, GMP-compliant manufacturer and supplier of natural psilocybin and MDMA. Dedicated to producing high-quality psychedelic products, the Company aims to support the global advancement of mental health therapies through rigorous compliance, innovation, and collaboration.

On Behalf of the Board

JJ Wilson, Chair of the Board

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including statements pertaining to the completion of the Offering and the Debt Settlement. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies, certain of which are unknown. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "expects," "will continue," "is anticipated," "anticipates," "believes," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "projection," "strategy," "objective," and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements. These statements may involve estimates, assumptions, and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimi's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed in the Company's long form prospectus dated February 12, 2021, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization 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/238799

SOURCE: Optimi Health Corp.
Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - Dara Agruss Design, an interior designer in the Chicago suburbs, is pleased to announce the winner of a classroom makeover donation. The design firm was recently involved in the sponsorship of a giveaway that provided a local educator with the chance to upgrade their classroom through a makeover.

As the head of the Elmhurst-based interior design firm, Dara wanted to make a difference by creating an inspiring learning environment full of vibrant colors to help engage students and support education. The winner of the classroom makeover giveaway, Caryn Diaz-who teaches the first grade at J.B. Nelson School in Batavia, IL-received a donation of $500 along with Dara's hands-on involvement in the design and setup of the classroom ahead of the school year.





Dara Agruss Design Donates Classroom Makeover to Illinois First-Grade Teacher

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/238779_5b48a16f84157ba2_001full.jpg

Dara's background as a former public school teacher of 3rd and 4th-grade students for 12 years served as her inspiration for making a difference. "Before becoming an interior decorator, I was a classroom teacher for many years. I have tremendous respect for teachers and love to support local teachers in any way I can. Being able to team up with my husband Mike, from Mike Agruss Law, was such a thrill. He saw first-hand how hard teachers work each and every day so he is a huge supporter of teachers, as am I," she explained.

Dara brought her passion for education and design together, viewing it from the perspective of what she would want in her classroom if she were the teacher. Knowing first-hand how busy teachers are in the summer preparing for the upcoming school year, she wanted to make the new classroom design easy for Mrs. Diaz while encouraging children to foster a love of learning.

Together with her husband Mike, they worked to bring Mrs. Diaz's classroom needs and desires to fruition. The focus was on making things comfortable, functional, organized, and fun.





Dara Agruss Design serves the western suburbs of Chicago with in-person and virtual full-service interior design

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/238779_5b48a16f84157ba2_002full.jpg

"Colorful environments have such an impact on mood and I loved giving these children a bright, happy environment to come to each day. Students deserve to come to an inviting environment each day that invigorates them to want to learn, and I hope that the additions I made help do that," Dara added.

Dara Agruss Design serves the western suburbs of Chicago with in-person and virtual full-service interior design for kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, basements, playrooms, and new homes. Homeowners in the local area can view Dara Agruss Design's portfolio for inspiration as well as connect with her for inquiries about design services for improving their homes.

Dara Agruss Design is available Monday through Sunday from the hours of 8 am to 6 pm. Residents considering upgrading their interiors with a refreshed yet livable look are welcome to call 847-750-5354 or complete the convenient contact form online at daraagrussdesign.com to schedule an appointment.

Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238779

SOURCE: GetFeatured
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Stryker (SYK) agreed to sell its U.S. spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC, a family-owned investment firm specializing in the neuro-musculoskeletal space, to create a newly formed company called VB Spine, LLC.After closing, VB Spine will become a strategic partner to Stryker with exclusive access to Mako Spine and Copilot for use with VB Spines implants in spine procedures.Stryker noted that the agreement also includes a binding offer to acquire Strykers spinal implants business in France, subject to required consultations with employees and/or employee representatives.The transaction is expected to close in the U.S. in the first half of 2025.In a separate press release, Stryker announced that Glenn Boehnlein will retire from his role as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Preston Wells, who currently serves as Group Chief Financial Officer for Strykers Orthopaedics Group, will assume the role of Vice President, Chief Financial Officer effective April 1, 2025.While announcing its fourth-quarter results, Stryker said it expects adjusted net earnings per share to be in the range of $13.45 to $13.70 and organic net sales growth of 8.0% to 9.0% for 2025.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, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2025) - The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) proudly announces the appointment of Prabhakar Raghavan, Chief Technologist at Google, to its Board of Directors. As the first board member named in 2025, Raghavan joins an elite roster of industry leaders shaping USISPF's mission to advance collaboration between the United States and India in critical technology and innovation sectors.

Prabhakar Raghavan Chief Technologist at Google LLC

Prabhakar is one of the foremost authorities on Search and is the co-author of two widely used graduate texts on algorithms and search. He has over two decades of research spanning algorithms, web search, and databases, has published over 100 papers in various fields, and holds 20 issued patents, including several on link analysis for web search.

Welcoming Prabhakar to the USISPF Board, Dr. Mukesh Aghi, USISPF President and CEO said: "The relationship between the United States and India is at a pivotal stage where synergy in fields of the initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and subsequently with the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), are driving the relationship forward and touch heavily on the role of critical tech in AI in both the private sector and next-generation defense technology. In Prabhakar, we have a tech leader who can help with India's digital transformation as Google's ongoing investments in India's digital infrastructure, including the launch of cloud regions in Mumbai and Delhi, demonstrate Google's commitment to the country's digital growth. The critical aspect over the next decade will be to leverage the digital trade economy to enhance the commercial partnership between the United States and India. Prabhakar's vision and insight will be key to this mission."

USISPF Chairman John Chambers congratulated Prabhakar and said: "Having spent the majority of my career in Silicon Valley, I understand the pivotal role of tech companies in countries' overall growth and innovation, especially as we go through this next-generation tech transition with AI. As Prime Minister Modi shared during his 2023 state visit, AI is not just artificial intelligence, but America and India - and the opportunity that comes from our two countries leading this transition together. As such, the addition of Prabhakar to the USISPF Board of Directors is a strategic and exciting step in furthering our joint position in the global AI race. I look forward to seeing how his Board presence will bolster USISPF's efforts to increase AI collaboration between governments and businesses."

Prabhakar joined Google in 2012 and prior to his role as the company's Chief Technologist, was most recently the SVP for Knowledge & Information (K&I) responsible for Google's Search, Ads, Commerce, Geo, Assistant & Gemini products.

Prabhakar Raghavan expressed gratitude about his appointment and said: "I'm incredibly honored to join the USISPF Board of Directors and contribute to its mission of strengthening the US-India relationship. India is remarkably positioned in the global technology landscape, not just as a nation of over a billion people, but also as the birthplace of population-scale digital platforms such as UPI, which have benefited its citizens and moved the tech discourse forward. Google is deeply invested in India's digital future, powered by the opportunities of AI, and I'm eager to work alongside fellow board members to further advance this vital partnership."

Prior to leading Google K&I, Prabhakar led the Ads & Commerce teams and also served as the vice President of Workspace in Google Cloud. Before joining Google, Prabhakar founded and led Yahoo! Labs. He also served as CTO at Verity and was at IBM Research for 14 years.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Ankit Jain ajain@usispf.org

Akshobh Giridharadas agiridharadas@usispf.org

About USISPF

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum's (USISPF) mission is to build, enable, advocate, and facilitate partnerships between the United States and India by providing a platform for all stakeholders to come together in new ways that will create meaningful opportunities with the power to change the lives of citizens in both countries.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238756

SOURCE: US-India Strategic Partnership Forum
Qatar-based real estate company to utilise cloud-based asset management platform

DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Msheireb Properties, Qatar's leading smart and sustainable real estate developer, has partnered with Yardi to elevate its operational efficiency and enhance tenant services.

The adoption of Yardi's cloud-based solutions will help Msheireb Properties centralise its data, allowing the company to manage its diverse portfolio from one integrated platform. With Yardi, Msheireb Properties can provide greater value to both customers and tenants by simplifying lease administration, and optimising accounting, billing, and reporting processes.

Through Yardi's self-service portal and app, tenants can easily submit maintenance requests, access invoices, upload sales data, and make payments online, freeing up staff to focus on higher value tasks.

Commenting on the partnership, Msheireb Properties Senior Director of Commercial Assets, Mubarak Al Boanin, said: "Our partnership with Yardi aligns perfectly with our mission to rethink urban living through innovation that enhances quality of life. Yardi's comprehensive solutions will help improve operational efficiency, tenant engagement and deliver services that are aligned with our vision of creating an innovative, environmentally responsible urban experience.

"This collaboration will advance our journey to setting new benchmarks for smart living. By integrating Yardi's advanced capabilities, we continue to redefine sustainable urban development and provide our tenants with a seamless, technology-driven experience that supports their evolving needs."

"We are proud to collaborate with Msheireb Properties as they adopt Yardi's fully integrated asset management platform," stated Said Haider, senior director for Yardi. "Our platform is designed to empower forward-thinking organisations like Msheireb Properties, streamlining operations and delivering exceptional experiences for its clients and tenants."

See how you can enhance the tenant experience with Yardi.

About Msheireb Properties

Msheireb Properties is a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and Community Development and Qatar's leading sustainable property developer, supporting the goals of Qatar's 2030 Vision and Qatar Foundation's objectives. Its mission is to change how people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.

Its signature project, Msheireb Downtown Doha, is one of the smartest, most sustainable city districts, which employs a new approach to urban planning by combining traditional methods and modern technology to preserve Qatar's environment and cultural identity. All buildings are either Gold or Platinum LEED-certified.

It is an integrated city that embraces modern, fully furnished residential units, a range of mixed- use and commercial buildings that offer a wide array of retail and business services, and cultural facilities. It is also the home to Msheireb Museums, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Al Wadi Hotel - MGallery by AccorHotels, Park Hyatt Hotel, Msheireb Galleria, and Barahat Msheireb- the biggest open-air covered pedestrian square in the region. For more information, visit msheirebproperties.com.

About Yardi

Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. With over 9,500 employees, Yardi is working with clients globally to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energised for Tomorrow, visit yardi.ae.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2607886/Yardi_Msheireb.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/737275/5138755/Yardi_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/msheireb-properties-partners-with-yardi-to-streamline-operation--enhance-tenant-experience-302362343.html
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) ("Manganese X" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), raising aggregate gross proceeds of $2,100,000 through the issuance of a total of 60,000,000 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a subscription price of $0.035 per Subscription Receipt. The Offering was initially announced on January 2, 2025.

The gross proceeds from the Offering are currently held in escrow and will be released to the Company upon receiving all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals (the "Approvals"), including shareholder approval for the creation of a new "Control Person" under TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") policies. The Offering remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV.

Following the Approvals, each Subscription Receipt will automatically convert into one unit of the Company ("Unit") without additional consideration. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Share") and one-half of a share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant ("Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share ("Warrant Share") at $0.06 per Warrant Share within 36 months of issuance.

If the Approvals are not obtained by March 31, 2025, the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and the escrowed funds will be refunded to subscribers.

The securities issued under the Offering are subject to statutory and TSXV hold periods, both expiring on May 29, 2025.

Notable Investment by Eric Sprott

Mr. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, invested $2,000,000 by subscribing for 57,142,857 Subscription Receipts. Upon conversion, Mr. Sprott will own 57,142,857 Shares and 28,571,428 Warrants, representing 26.63% of the then outstanding Shares (non-diluted) and 35.25% (partially diluted) assuming full Warrant exercise.

Shareholder Meeting for Approval

The Company will hold an annual and special shareholders' meeting on February 28, 2025, to approve, among other things, Mr. Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., as a new Control Person of the Company. Additional meeting details, including the record date, location, and time, are set forth in the Notice of Meeting and Management Information Circular for the meeting, which are both available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Use of Proceeds

The net proceeds are expected to primarily advance the Battery Hill Project in New Brunswick, including the completion of a pre-feasibility study, with a portion allocated for general working capital. The Offering utilized the TSXV's Minimum Price Exception, permitting issuances below $0.05 per Subscription Receipt. The Company confirms no proceeds will be used for payments to non-arm's length parties or investor relations activities.

About Manganese X Energy Corp.

Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and US to commercialize EV compliant high purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Manganese X, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to the acceptance of the Offering by the TSXV, the ability of the Company obtain the necessary Approvals, the conversion of the Subscription Receipts to Units, the upcoming annual and special shareholders' meeting, the creation of a new Control Person, the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, and the Company's goals and plans for 2025, including, among other items, its pilot plant project and PFS. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR+, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

//THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT INTENDED FOR RELEASE OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES //

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238769

SOURCE: Manganese X Energy Corp.
Introducing Sea Shipping and PUDO Services to Enhance Affordability, Flexibility, and Convenience for UAE Shoppers

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Temu, the direct-from-factory online marketplace, today announced a strategic partnership with EMX, the logistics arm of 7X, to enhance e-commerce fulfillment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across the Middle East.

Under the partnership, Temu and EMX are expanding the sea shipping capability and introducing PUDO (Pick-Up and Drop-Off) services to ensure a seamless online shopping experience for Temu's growing customers in the region.

Sea Shipping Capability: By managing logistics based on varying shipping needs, Temu can lower costs, ensuring customers enjoy even more affordable pricing. Expanding sea shipping with EMX also enables comprehensive logistics coverage across all Gulf countries, improving accessibility and delivery options for regional customers.

PUDO services: By integrating 7X's PUDO services fulfilled by EMX, Temu provides customers with greater delivery flexibility. With convenient pick-up and drop-off options, customers can leave or retrieve their parcels at times and places of their convenience. This feature also minimizes delivery failures, offering peace of mind to consumers while reducing associated costs, all contributing to more efficient and sustainable logistics operations.

"Temu's mission is to make quality products affordable to consumers of all walks of life. By partnering with reliable fulfillment partners like EMX, we are able to continuously optimize our logistics solutions, broaden product offerings and ensure a convenient and seamless shopping experience for customers," a Temu spokesperson said.

Since launching services in the UAE in September 2023, Temu has rapidly expanded its footprint across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan. Temu offers a diverse range of products across over 200 categories, from household essentials to electronics, catering to the unique needs of consumers in these markets.

"We are excited to partner with Temu to bring our reliable and high-quality delivery services to its online shoppers in the UAE and beyond, driving a strategic transformation in the regional logistics landscape. By leveraging our advanced sea shipping capabilities and scalable PUDO services, together with Temu, we aim to redefine affordability and flexibility in delivery operations, setting a new standard for convenience and customer satisfaction as well as elevating the fast-growing e-commerce fulfillment for the GCC region," said Tariq Al Wahedi, General Manager at EMX.

The partnership is facilitated through MailAmericas. As a gold member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Advisory Committee, MailAmericas makes full use of its advantages in cross-border e-commerce to facilitate connections between both parties.

Temu is known for pioneering an innovative direct-from-factory model that streamlines the supply chain by eliminating unnecessary layers of intermediaries and their costs, passing on savings to consumers.

About Temu

Temu is a global e-commerce company that connects consumers with millions of business partners, manufacturers and brands with a mission to enable them to live a better life. Temu is committed to offering affordable products to enable consumers and business partners to realize their dreams in an inclusive environment. Temu began operations in the United States in September 2022 and is now available in 90 markets worldwide.

About EMX

EMX, the logistics arm of 7X, delivers bespoke logistics services and last-mile delivery solutions to meet the needs of government, banking, e-commerce, and corporate entities. EMX offers reliable domestic door-to-door delivery services in the UAE while fostering global business connections through its international network. Focused on tailored, efficient, and convenient solutions that empower businesses and bridge distances, EMX ensures a world within reach.

About MailAmericas

MailAmericas is a global logistics company specializing in customized international mail solutions. With over two decades of experience, the company helps postal operators and logistics companies strengthen their delivery capabilities, especially in emerging markets. MailAmericas has become a key player in consolidating international mail for over 60 countries across Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Focused on innovation and cutting-edge technology, MailAmericas is dedicated to providing reliable, cost-effective logistics services for eCommerce platforms, sellers, and businesses worldwide.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2606460/EMX_Visual.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/temu-and-emx-form-strategic-partnership-to-elevate-e-commerce-fulfillment-in-the-united-arab-emirates-302362270.html
BioVersys AG / Key word(s): IPO

BIOVERSYS LAUNCHES IPO ON THE SIX SWISS EXCHANGE AND SETS IPO PRICE AT CHF 36.00 PER SHARE



29.01.2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST





NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, JAPAN OR AUSTRALIA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. Basel, Switzerland. January 29, 2025

All primary offering consists of up to 2,083,333 newly issued shares, in addition to an over-allotment option of up to 138,888 shares.

Price for the offered shares has been set at CHF 36.00 per share and will result in an offer size of approximately CHF 80 million in gross proceeds (assuming the over-allotment option is exercised in full).

Offer period commences today, January 29, 2025, and is anticipated to end on February 05, 2025.

Listing and first day of trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange are expected to take place on February 07, 2025.

BioVersys is expected to be included in the Swiss Performance Index (SPI) on its second trading day, February 10, 2025. BioVersys AG (the "Company"), a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, announced today the publication of its prospectus and the start of the book-building process as part of its intention to conduct an Initial Public Offering (the "IPO" or the "Offering") on the SIX Swiss Exchange.



Summary of the Proposed Offering

BioVersys is targeting gross proceeds of CHF 75 million from the Offering (excluding the over-allotment option) and intends to allocate a majority of such proceeds from the Offering for the development of its lead asset, BV100. Proceeds from the Offering will also be used, in cooperation with GSK and with additional support from non-dilutive grant money, to progress the clinical development of the Company's second lead asset, Alpibectir, towards regulatory approval. The remaining proceeds are expected to be allocated to the Company's preclinical pipeline, complementing existing non-dilutive funding to progress BioVersys' fast follower assets towards clinical development. Based on the current capex forecasts, the Company expects to be funded by IPO proceeds into 2028. The all-primary IPO consists of up to 2,083,333 newly issued shares in addition to an over-allotment option of up to 138,888 newly issued shares. The price for the offered shares has been set at CHF 36.00 per share, implying a base offer size of approximately CHF 75 million, and an offer size of approximately CHF 80 million if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. Based on the offer price, the implied market capitalization of BioVersys is estimated to be CHF 212.9 million (assuming the over-allotment option is exercised in full). On the first day of trading, the free float is expected to be up to 28%. The Offering is expected to be conducted as a public offering in Switzerland and take the form of private placements in a number of jurisdictions, including in the United States, to certain qualified institutional buyers ("QIBs") and institutional "accredited investors" in each case as defined in the applicable securities laws and regulations. The book-building process commences today, January 29, 2025, and is expected to end on February 05, 2025 at 12:00 CET for retail and private banking investors and at 15:00 CET for institutional investors. The final offer size is expected to be published on February 06, 2025. The first day of trading is expected to be February 07, 2025.



Pursuant to a commitment letter dated as of January 27, 2025, Glaxo Group Limited ("GSK") has committed to invest an amount of CHF 3.5 million in the Offering. Pursuant to commitment letters dated as of January 28, 2025, AMR Action Fund, L.P. and AMR Action Fund, SCSp (together, and each individually, the "AMR Action Fund") have committed to purchase from the Company, and the Company has committed to issue to the AMR Action Fund, Offered Shares in an aggregate investment amount equaling gross proceeds of CHF 16.0 million in the Offering. The directors of the Company and its executive management committed to a customary lock-up period of 360 days and all existing shareholders committed to a lock-up period of 180 days. The offering and listing prospectus for this Offering has been approved by the Prospectus Office of SIX Exchange Regulation and is available free of charge at UBS AG (email: swiss-prospectus@ubs.com ). Citi, UBS and Stifel are acting as joint global coordinators, with Octavian and Mirabaud as selling agents. For information on the public offering of securities of BioVersys AG in Switzerland, for those legally permitted, please visit www.bioversys.com/investors/IPO. Expected Timeline Price range announced, publication of prospectus 29 January 2025 Roadshow and bookbuilding 29 January 2025 - 5 February 2025 End of bookbuilding 5 February 2025 (at 12:00 CET for retail and private banking investors, and at 15:00 CET for institutional investors) Publication of final offer size 6 February 2025 Listing and first day of trading 7 February 2025 Settlement 10 February 2025 SPI inclusion 10 February 2025 Last day for the exercise of the overallotment option 9 March 2025

About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

AMR has been widely recognized as the top priority health threat by the World Health Organization (WHO), the G7 and G20. AMR has resulted in the majority of our antimicrobial therapies becoming obsolete thereby leaving the world's population completely susceptible to an ever-increasing range of infections. More than 1'270'000 lives are lost every year to AMR, a figure which is predicted to rise to 10 million by 2050. In Europe alone, about 4 million hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) occur annually, and AMR is responsible for an estimated 33'000 deaths per year, with associated EUR 1.5 billion in healthcare costs and productivity losses every year. Resistant infections threaten the advancements of modern medicine, where patients undergoing surgery, treatments for cancer, or viral infections (COVID-19) are put in jeopardy of contracting an untreatable bacterial infection because appropriate working antibiotics are no longer available. About BioVersys

BioVersys AG is a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant ("MDR") bacteria. Derived from the Company's two internal technology platforms (TRIC and Ansamycin Chemistry), candidates are designed and developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. This enables BioVersys to address the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. The Company's most advanced research and development programs address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii (BV100, Phase 3 ready), and tuberculosis (alpibectir, Phase 2a, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille, France). BioVersys is located in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland. BioVersys contact

Hernan Levett, CFO, Tel. +41 61 633 22 50; Mail: Hernan.levett@bioversys.com

For Media: media@bioversys.com

www.bioversys.com Disclaimer

This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. This document is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act and not a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Copies of this document may not be sent to, distributed in or sent from jurisdictions in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. This document constitutes advertising in accordance with article 68 of the Swiss Financial Services Act. Such advertisements are communications to investors aiming to draw their attention to financial instruments. Any investment decisions with respect to any securities should not be made based on this advertisement. A decision to invest in securities of BioVersys AG should be based exclusively on the issue and listing prospectus published by BioVersys AG (the Company) for such purpose. Copies of such issue and listing prospectus (and any supplements thereto) are available free of charge from UBS AG (email: swiss-prospectus@ubs.com). This document is not for publication or distribution in the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Japan or Australia or any other jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States of America or to publications with a general circulation in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or the laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States of America. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. No prospectus offering securities to the public will be published in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom this document is only directed at persons who are (A) qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended, and who are also (B)(i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the FSMA Order); (ii) persons falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d), "high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc." of the FSMA Order or (iii) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 may otherwise be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. In any member state of the European Economic Area (each a Relevant State) this document is only addressed to qualified investors in that Relevant State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation. Information to UK Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in delict, tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements), may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares have been subject to a product approval process by each Manager established in the UK, which has determined that the Share are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"), investors who meet the criteria of professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended, and eligible counterparties, as defined in the COBS; and (b) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the "UK Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, "distributors" should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offer. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, the Managers established in the UK will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapter 9A or 10A respectively of the COBS; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. Information to EEA Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares have been subject to a product approval process by each Manager established in the EEA, which has determined that the Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the Target Market Assessment). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offer. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Managers established in the EEA will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "plans", "targets", "aims", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "will", "may", "continues", "should" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect, at the time, BioVersys' beliefs, intentions and current targets/aims concerning, among other things, BioVersys' results of operations, financial condition, industry, liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies and are subject to change. The estimated financial information is based on management's current expectations and is subject to change. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial consequences of the plans and events described herein. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors (including, but not limited to, future global economic conditions, changed market conditions, intense competition in the markets in which BioVersys operates, costs of compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards, diverse political, legal, economic and other conditions affecting the BioVersys' markets, and other factors beyond the control of BioVersys). Neither BioVersys nor its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, advisors, or any other person is under any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak of the date of this announcement. Statements contained in this announcement regarding past trends or events should not be taken as a representation that such trends or events will continue in the future. Some of the information presented herein is based on statements by third parties, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, reasonableness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of this information or any other information or opinions contained herein, for any purpose whatsoever. Except as required by applicable law, BioVersys AG has no intention or obligation to update, keep updated or revise this publication or any parts thereof following the date hereof. None of the underwriters, the selling agents or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents, alliance partners or any other entity or person accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the group, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Accordingly, each of the underwriters, the selling agents and the other foregoing persons disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability, whether arising in tort or contract or that they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement and/or any such statement.



End of Media Release


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday.The Australian dollar fell to a 2-day low of 96.81 against the yen and a 4-week low of 1.6751 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 97.25 and 1.6680, respectively.Against the U.S., the Canada and New Zealand dollars, the aussie dropped to an 8-day low of 0.6227, a 1-week low of 0.8971 and a 1-month low of 1.1006 from Tuesday's closing quotes of 0.6252, 0.9004 and 1.1038, respectively.If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 95.00 against the yen, 1.69 against the euro, 0.60 against the greenback, 0.88 against the loonie and 1.09 against the kiwi.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.
Sopra Steria, a major tech player in Europe with 56,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognised for its consulting, digital services and software development. It helps its clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. The Group provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. In 2023, the Group generated revenue of 5.8 billion. The world is how we shape it. Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809 For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

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) - La Mirada, California-based La Fiesta Food Products, LLC, is recalling 8 oz packages of La Fiesta brand unseasoned and seasoned bread crumbs citing the presence of undeclared sesame, a known allergen, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The recall involves Unseasoned Bread Crumbs (Pan Rayado) in 8 oz transparent plastic bags with UPC#032327000886 and Lot codes 26032; 26073; 26082; 26092; 26094; and 26,400. These were sold across the United States through distributors to retail stores from April 10, 2024 through January 22, 2025.La Fiesta brand Bread Crumbs Seasoned (Pan Rayado Sazonado) with UPC#032327000887 and Lot codes 26094; 26123; 6,240 were also recalled. These were available through retail stores from August 29, 2024 through January 22, 2025.The recall was initiated after discovering that the product contained undeclared sesame. Additionally, the labels do not include the allergen declaration in Spanish. As per probe, the issue was caused by errors on the product labeling.For those people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame, consuming these impacted products could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. However, no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the issue.Consumers who have bought the products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.In similar recalls, Louisville, Kentucky -based Custom Food Solutions last week called back around 105,164 pounds of ready-to-eat or RTE frozen drunken chicken product sold in Indiana, citing misbranding and undeclared sesame, along with egg, both known allergens.Lehigh Acres, Florida-based A Tu Gusto, LLC in October recalled around 7,630 pounds of frozen meat and poultry croquette products that contain undeclared sesame seed, soy and wheat.For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.comCopyright(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.
New Capabilities aim to strengthen corporate profile for strategic transactions and reinforce ongoing partnering discussions

Regulatory News:

TME Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALTME), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of cancer by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), today announced a collaboration with aimed analytics, a cutting-edge medical data analytics company. This partnership supports TME Pharma's strategic plan, announced on December 4, 2024, by enhancing its capability profile for potential strategic partners.

This partnership aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to create new and improved drug candidates without the need for time and resource-intensive laboratory testing. The collaboration leverages recent cutting-edge advances in AI to accelerate timelines while reducing associated costs and need for experimental infrastructure.

"The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for AI-based models that allow remarkable prediction of molecular structures. This technology can also be used to discover new drugs and improved versions of existing drugs. We believe that the collaboration with aimed analytics will further advance our strategic vision announced last December. By combining our expertise in development of oligonucleotide drugs, cancer biology and immune-oncology with aimed analytics' cutting-edge capabilities, we aim to integrate AI- and Deep Learning-driven insights into our drug discovery capabilities," said Aram Mangasarian, CEO of TME Pharma. "The goal of this collaboration is to allow TME Pharma to not only bring its existing drugs to the table for strategic partners, but also the potential for rapid and efficient discovery of new drugs. We are committed to delivering on the goals of our new strategy announced in December 2024 and plan to share further information about our progress in the coming weeks."

"We are excited to partner with TME Pharma and contribute our deep-learning and structural modelling expertise to their innovative approach in cancer treatment," said Dr. Patrick Gunther, CEO of aimed analytics. "By enabling a comprehensive search for promising therapeutic compounds and bringing a new level of technological sophistication to TME Pharma's drug discovery efforts, we aim to accelerate the discovery of more effective treatments and potentially lead to breakthrough therapies for patients in need."

About aimed analytics

aimed analytics, a pioneering company in AI-based data analytics, is enabling innovation in pharmaceutical research and development with its innovative data analytics platform and application of advanced deep-learning models for structural prediction. By integrating cutting-edge AI technologies with expertise in omics data analysis, aimed analytics empowers researchers to uncover insights that accelerate drug discovery and development. Further information can be found at: aimed-analytics.com.

About TME Pharma

TME Pharma is a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of the most aggressive cancers. The company's oncology-focused pipeline is designed to act on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking tumor protection barriers against the immune system and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, TME Pharma's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses and enable greater therapeutic impact. In the GLORIA Phase 1/2 clinical trial, TME Pharma is studying its lead drug candidate NOX-A12 (olaptesed pegol, an anti-CXCL12 L-RNA aptamer) in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy. TME Pharma has delivered top-line data from the NOX-A12 three dose-escalation cohorts combined with radiotherapy of the GLORIA clinical trial, observing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. Additionally, GLORIA expansion arms evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in other combinations where the interim results from the triple combination of NOX-A12, radiotherapy and bevacizumab suggest even deeper and more durable responses, and improved survival. US FDA has approved the design of a randomized Phase 2 trial in glioblastoma and TME Pharma was awarded fast track designation by the FDA for NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy and bevacizumab for use in the treatment of the aggressive adult brain cancer, glioblastoma. NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy had also previously received orphan drug designation (ODD) for glioblastoma in the United States and glioma in Europe. TME Pharma has delivered final top-line data with encouraging overall survival and safety profile from its NOX-A12 combination trial with Keytruda in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, which was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer in October 2021. The company has entered in its second collaboration with MSD/Merck for its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Merck's Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The design of the trial has been approved in the United States. The company's second clinical-stage drug candidate, NOX-E36 (emapticap pegol, L-RNA aptamer inhibiting CCL2 and related chemokines), showing potential to address fibrosis and inflammation is evaluated in ophthalmic diseases with a high need for well-tolerated therapies with anti-fibrotic effect. Further information can be found at: www.tmepharma.com.

TME Pharma and the TME Pharma logo are registered trademarks.

Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp.

Visit TME Pharma on LinkedIn and X.

About the GLORIA Study

GLORIA (NCT04121455) is TME Pharma's dose-escalation, Phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in first-line partially resected or unresected glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). GLORIA further evaluates safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in the expansion arm in which NOX-A12 is combined with radiotherapy and bevacizumab.

About the OPTIMUS Study

OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is TME Pharma's planned open-label two-arm Phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.

Disclaimer

Translations of any press release into languages other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading audience. The company has attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original text in English, but due to the nuances in translating into another language, slight differences may exist. This press release includes certain disclosures that contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on TME Pharma's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks inherent in oncology drug development, including clinical trials and the timing of and TME Pharma's ability to obtain regulatory approvals for NOX-A12 as well as any other drug candidates. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and TME Pharma undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250128749773/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

TME Pharma N.V.

Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., CEO

Tel. +49 (0) 30 16637082 0

investors@tmepharma.com

Investor and Media Relations:

LifeSci Advisors

Guillaume van Renterghem

Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31

gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com

NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15

arouille@newcap.fr
Brampton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Apna Toronto, is excited to announce its continued commitment to providing high-quality, complimentary test preparation resources for Canadians. From aspiring drivers to future citizens and professionals, the platform offers an unparalleled suite of practice tests designed to simplify the journey to success.

Whether preparing for key milestones, such as Ontario's driving exams (G1, M1, or commercial licenses), the Canadian Citizenship Test, or professional certifications like the NCLEX or Ontario Real Estate Exam, Apna Toronto serves as a one-stop solution for test readiness. With an easy-to-use interface and up-to-date materials, the platform ensures accessibility and effectiveness.

What Apna Toronto Offers

Driving Test Preparation: Apna Toronto provides practice tests and study materials for car, motorcycle, and truck licenses. These resources simulate real test conditions, ensuring users understand the format and types of questions they'll encounter.

Citizenship Exam Support: For those preparing for the Canadian Citizenship Test, the platform offers complimentary quizzes aligned with the latest "Discover Canada" guide.

Professional Exam Assistance: Aspiring professionals can access resources for challenging exams like the NCLEX and Ontario Real Estate Exam.

Educational Blog: The website also hosts a blog with articles, tips, and guides on Ontario driving, auto maintenance, and test preparation strategies.

Why Apna Toronto Stands Out

Apna Toronto distinguishes itself by offering complimentary test preparation resources without compromising on quality. The platform's database is meticulously curated to reflect official test standards, ensuring users are thoroughly prepared.

Comprehensive Coverage: A broad spectrum of tests, from driving and citizenship to professional certifications.

Realistic Practice Tests: Users can familiarize themselves with actual test formats and questions, building confidence and competence.

Complimentary Accessibility: All resources are offered at no cost, ensuring inclusivity for learners from all walks of life and eliminating financial barriers to quality test preparation.

Proven Success: With nearly two decades of experience, Apna Toronto has achieved a high success rate among its users.

Key Benefits for Users

Simplified Driving Test Preparation: The platform makes it easier to pass Ontario's driving tests with quizzes and study materials reflecting real-world scenarios.

Citizenship Success: By mastering quizzes based on official guidelines, users can confidently prepare for their Canadian Citizenship Test.

Professional Growth: Complimentary tools for exams like the NCLEX and real estate licenses support career advancement.

Confidence and Readiness: Apna Toronto's resources build confidence, ensuring users are well-prepared on test day.

About Apna Toronto

Apna Toronto was founded with a mission to help users achieve their goals and democratize access to test preparation resources. Whether obtaining a driver's license, gaining Canadian citizenship, or advancing their careers, the platform offers complimentary, reliable, and accurate tools to help individuals achieve critical milestones. With a vision to become Canada's most trusted resource for test preparation, Apna Toronto continuously innovates to meet the evolving needs of its users.

For more information and to access complimentary practice tests, visit www.apnatoronto.com today and take the first step toward success with confidence.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238703

SOURCE: GYT
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Estonia has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first nation to provide 100% digital government services, reflecting its commitment for innovation and efficiency in governance. Similarly in the MENA region, Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in digital transformation, driven by its Vision 2030 goals, prioritising the development of digital government services to enhance efficiency and improve citizens' quality of life.

Saudi Arabia's Digitalisation Efforts

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 places digitalisation at the heart of its strategy to create a citizen-focused, digital-first society. Programmes such as the Saudi Digital Academy, that provide training and upskilling, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the 'Digital Giving' initiative which promotes digital inclusion, reflect the Kingdom's ambitions. Key targets include digitising 70% of patient activities by 2030, automating healthcare processes, and simplifying procedures through innovative technologies. Flagship initiatives like the Digital Government Authority's unified access for all digital government services, the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and smart projects such as the Red Sea Global Project, NEOM and Qiddiya underscore Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing human capital, building digital infrastructure, and leveraging technology to improve quality of life and drive economic progress.

Achievements in Digital Governance

In the spirit of shared progress, Saudi Arabia has made impressive strides in digital governance, recently advancing 25 places in the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2024. The Kingdom now ranks fourth globally, first in the region, and second among G20 nations in the digital services index, showcasing its dedication to adopting global best practices while forging its own path in technology and governance.

The ICT sector plays a vital role in Saudi Arabia's economy, contributing over SAR 50 billion annually to the national GDP, with projections indicating this figure will double by 2030. With an impressive 99% internet penetration rate, Saudi Arabia boasts one of the most connected populations in the world, facilitating seamless access to streamlined government services for its citizens.

Reflections on Collaborative Efforts

The shared vision of Estonia and Saudi Arabia reinforces the significance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in achieving digital transformation. As Estonia extends its hand to Saudi Arabia, both nations can inspire and support one another in their respective journeys toward enhanced governance, nurturing an environment where innovation flourishes.

Reflecting on this collaborative spirit, Enel Pungas, Head of the Population Facts Department at the Estonian Ministry of Interior, expressed: "Our accomplishment in achieving 100% digital government services is not merely a testament to our technological acumen; it reflects our commitment to improving the everyday lives of our citizens. By collaborating with nations like Saudi Arabia, we can share insights and best practices that inspire and support other nations on their own digital journeys, demonstrating that transformation is a collective effort that can benefit all."

A Future Driven by Digital Transformation

As both nations continue to solidify their partnership, they lay the groundwork for a future where digital transformation is at the front and centre of governance. By placing citizen needs first and embracing innovation, Estonia and Saudi Arabia shed light on the limitless possibilities for progress, evoking confidence in their abilities to impact global efforts in building a digitally-empowered world.

About Estonia

Estonia is a global leader in digital innovation and a pioneer of e-governance. By integrating technology with transparency and efficiency, Estonia has created one of the most sophisticated digital nations in the world. The country offers exceptional opportunities for business, innovation and tourism.

e-Estonia showcases Estonia's innovative digital society, pioneering e-governance, e-residency, and cutting-edge digital solutions. Trade with Estonia connects enterprises to a dynamic, innovation-driven economy, providing access to global markets. Visit Estonia highlights Estonia as a destination where nature and culture meet innovation, offering travellers a unique blend of medieval charm, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant modern city vibes.

This project is funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608639/Trade_Estonia.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/estonia-and-saudi-arabia-unite-in-their-commitment-to-digital-governance-excellence-302363023.html
Arlington, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (TSXV: CTRL) (OTCQB: UNFYF) (FSE: Q5I) ("edgeTI", "Company"), a leading provider of real-time digital twin software, announces the Company was Recognized in the Gartner Emerging Tech: The Future of Digital Business Units (DBU) as a Sample tech provider supporting DBUs.

In the research paper, Gartner states, "We define 'digital business units' as part of an enterprise that is not a traditional technology and service provider (TSP) and creates a new digital-based business that serves its traditional vertical industry (manufacturing or healthcare) or domain arena (supply chain and logistics). The digital business unit will often partner as well as compete with traditional TSPs."

"We were pleased to be recognized in this report as a tech provider supporting digital business units. Our partner, North Wind Group, was recognized as a sample enterprise with DBUs. North Wind Group uses its expertise in environmental, reclamation, and construction services with our edgeCore platform," said Jim Barrett, CEO of edgeTI.

According to Gartner, "Traditional enterprises in manufacturing, finance, and oil and gas are investing in creating separate digital business units (DBUs) to drive revenue and take advantage of their vertical domain expertise and digital technology to better serve customers. They need tech provider product leaders to help them with digital technologies."





The Future of Digital Business Units

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10266/238755_edgetiimage.jpg

"Relationships among customers and providers can change quickly when friction is removed throughout the customer lifecycles -DBUs have a compelling opportunity to deliver its domain expertise to remove risk and accelerate value," said Jim Barrett, CEO of edgeTI. "We appreciate Gartner for putting forward-looking concepts such as the one above in the report."

edgeTI offers demonstrations and free evaluations of technology for Digital Business Units via the Company's website to prospective enterprises.

Gartner Attribution and Objectivity Disclaimer

Gartner, Emerging Tech: The Future of Digital Business Units, 2024, Alfonso Velosa, Chrissy Healey, John Santoro , et al., 22 October 2024.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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 called a Digital Twin. Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid journeys via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers can improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming 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

X: https://x.com/CTRLonTSXV

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 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.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238755

SOURCE: Edge Total Intelligence Inc.
Thales Sentinel protects Eyedea technologies based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, assuring customers that software is secure, trusted and validated

Enables Eyedea to scale revenue streams and focus on technology innovation

Thales today announced a collaboration with the visual recognition technology company Eyedea, enabling the company to deploy and protect its AI-powered and machine learning visual recognition software for customers around the world using Thales Sentinel, the world's leading software monetization and protection platform.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129251942/en/

Thales

With high-profile, security-conscious customers including international and national police organisations such as Interpol, Europol and the Czech Police, Eyedea was originally established in 2006 by a research group from the Czech Technical University in Prague's Centre for Machine Perception.

The company offers AI visual recognition software that can classify things such as vehicle make and models, number plates, train carriage numbers and more, from CCTV footage. From standard traffic cameras, their technology recognises activities such as distracted drivers, unfastened or fastened seatbelts, and counts passengers for use in environments like carpool lanes. In addition, Eyedea's technology can make human factors and vehicle license plates unidentifiable in image data, ensuring compliance with GDPR and other local data protection laws.

"We're very proud of the long-standing relationship we've built with Eyedea. Thales Sentinel has been able to offer IP protection and flexible packaging as their AI-based software has grown to support hundreds of public and private customers worldwide. We look forward to continuing to work together as Eyedea further innovates and evolves its AI technology," commented Damien Bullot, Vice President Software Monetization at Thales.

"Thales Sentinel is essential for us to go-to-market in a secure and assured way. Our customers need to be able to trust that access to our software is safeguarded, while we need to protect our IP and manage the active deployments we have. Thales Sentinel does a fantastic job of handling both, and our long-standing partnership with them allows us to scale our revenue streams, and focus more of our time on technology innovation, as time goes on," said Martin Urban, CEO at Eyedea.

Eyedea's customers use its AI recognition software by embedding it into existing hardware and software they're using. This is delivered via software development kits (SDKs) supplied by Eyedea, alongside a Thales Sentinel license on a hardware key. The combination of the hardware key along with the SDK not only provides assurance to customers that their access to the software is safeguarded, but also that the team at Eyedea can be sure there's no unauthorised use or tampering of their software.

The Sentinel Envelope secures the software from breaches, and the Sentinel Licensing further enables Eyedea to offer varying packaging tiers based on customer requirements. This includes the flexibility to offer customers a free three-month trial which expires based on time or volume of usage, which customers can then opt to purchase as a one-year license.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence Security, Aeronautics Space, and Cyber Digital.

It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of 18.4 billion.

PLEASE VISIT

Thales Group

Cloud Protection Licensing Solutions Thales Group

Cybersecurity Solutions Thales Group

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129251942/en/

Contacts:

PRESS

Thales, Media Relations

Security Cybersecurity

Marion Bonnet

+33 (0)6 60 38 48 92

marion.bonnet@thalesgroup.com
ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NayaOne is proud to power the World Economic Forum's TradeTech Regulatory Sandbox, delivered in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).

This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionise global trade by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, streamlining trade processes, and fostering a more efficient, inclusive, and equitable trading ecosystem.

The NayaOne platform is proud to enable the global trade initiative with its Digital Sandbox platform. By bringing together regulators, global enterprises, and innovative technology providers, the initiative fosters a dynamic ecosystem aimed at driving progress in the trade finance sector in a safe and secure manner.

The initiative is supported by leading regulatory partners committed to driving digital trade innovation, including Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Central Bank of the UAE, the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (UAE), and the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

This inaugural cohort marks a significant milestone in shaping the future of global digital trade infrastructure through real-world regulatory collaboration. Selected pioneering companies from the UAE, Africa, Sweden, India, Germany, and Estonia will test and refine trade tech solutions to ensure compliance while accelerating the adoption of digital trade innovations.

We are excited to see these pioneering companies pave the way for a more secure, inclusive, and efficient cross-border trade environment.

About NayaOne

NayaOne accelerates innovation by helping financial institutions and large enterprises discover, test, and adopt new technologies. Its agile platform offers pre-vetted technology vendors, synthetic data, and secure testing environments, cutting implementation timelines by up to 12 months. Trusted by financial institutions worldwide, NayaOne drives digital transformation and reduces procurement complexities. Visit nayaone.com for more.

About WEF

The World Economic Forum (WEF) unites global leaders to tackle challenges, foster innovation, and drive sustainable growth. By shaping policies and advancing technology, WEF acts as a catalyst for global change. Learn more at weforum.org .

About UAE Ministry of Economy

The UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) drives economic growth through innovation, competitiveness, and diversification, positioning the UAE as a hub for investment, trade, and innovation. Visit moec.gov.ae for details.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2349483/5138571/NayaOne_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/driving-digital-trade-transformation-nayaone-powers-world-economic-forums-groundbreaking-tradetech-regulatory-sandbox-302362263.html
JERICHO, N.Y., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report, scientific, technical, financial, and risk management experts explore the implementation of new and existing Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) regulations across different regions along with significant compliance challenges for organizations operating on a global scale. As sustainability continues to be a critical issue worldwide, businesses are facing an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. While some jurisdictions are advancing sustainability frameworks, others, most notably the United States, are likely to see new environmental and energy policies which disfavor sustainability advancements as reflected by recent executive orders following the change in administrations.

The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), adopted in 2024, is a landmark regulation requiring both EU and non-EU companies to conduct due diligence to identify and prevent adverse environmental and human rights impacts throughout their operations and supply chains. J.S. Held environmental risk and compliance expert John Peiserich, Esq., observes, "Compliance with CS3D poses significant challenges for multinational corporations, especially those selling into the EU market, as they navigate conflicting regulatory requirements across jurisdictions."

In the United States, ESG-related policies have become a polarizing issue. Some states have mandated ESG criteria-such as climate risk assessments-for state-related investment decisions, while others have actively opposed such measures. Kim Logue Ortega, Associate Vice President at J.S. Held, adds, "Despite these contrasting approaches, businesses must continue addressing sustainability concerns, as environmental considerations are increasingly tied to permitting and regulatory approvals."

Following the June, 2024 United States Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright, a team of environmental risk experts at the Verdantix Green Quadrant recognized consultancy J.S. Held, examined in Crosscurrents: Companies Face Regulatory Uncertainties in Wake of SCOTUS Decisions, how the Supreme Court further complicated the regulatory environment by undermining agency authority to define compliance standards. This ruling is expected to lead to increased legal challenges to environmental and sustainability-related regulations, adding further uncertainty for businesses seeking to comply with evolving standards.

With the second Trump administration expected to roll back key environmental justice directives and sustainability-related incentives introduced under the previous Administration, businesses must remain vigilant in monitoring regulatory developments. Strategic planning and proactive risk management will be crucial for navigating the evolving ESG landscape and maintaining compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

J.S. Held experts present insights into how organizations can align with evolving frameworks while driving innovation and managing risk, as they explore:

1. EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, where non-compliance could lead to fines and civil liability, necessitating companies to rigorously assess environmental and human right impacts.

2. Regulatory Fragmentation and Greenwashing / Greenhushing, summoning businesses to avoid exaggerated or underreported sustainability claims to mitigate the rising threat of litigation and regulatory scrutiny.

3. Shareholder Activism and Litigation, as investors demand greater transparency on sustainability goals, which may present legal consequences for failing to meet expectations.

One week into the new Administration in the United States, the anticipated rollback of environmental justice directives and sustainability-related incentives introduced under the previous Administration have begun to take shape in the form of various Executive Actions and other directives. J.S. Held experts are actively monitoring regulatory developments, providing strategic guidance to multinational clients as they navigate the evolving ESG landscape and compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Sustainability is just one of the five key areas analyzed in the J.S. Held 2025 Global Risk Report. Other topics include global supply chain challenges, the rise of crypto and digital assets, AI and data regulations, and managing cyber risk.

If you have any questions or would like to further discuss the risks and opportunities outlined in the report, please email GlobalRiskReport@jsheld.com.

About J.S. Held

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.

More than 1,500 professionals serve organizations across six continents, including 81% of the Global 200 Law Firms, 70% of the Forbes Top 20 Insurance Companies (85% of the NAIC top 50 Property & Casualty Insurers), and 65% of the Fortune 100 Companies.

J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not law firms and do not provide legal advice. Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC or Ocean Tomo Investment Group, LLC, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/ SIPC. All rights reserved.

Media Contact

Kristi L. Stathis, J.S. Held, +1 786 833 4864, Kristi.Stathis@JSHeld.com, JSHeld.com

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MM6FjmRUFs

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1824221/JS_Held_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/js-held-experts-examine-sustainability-investments-and-headwinds-in-annual-global-risk-report-302361715.html




Rebrands European product suite after strong 2024: Bitwise surpassed $12 billion in client assets, launched new products such as Solana and Aptos Staking ETPs

Bitwise surpassed $12 billion in client assets, launched new products such as Solana and Aptos Staking ETPs TER of the Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1) lowered to 0.20% p.a.

Crypto poised to soar in 2025: Bitwise research forecasts record valuations and inflows in crypto markets this year amid reduced regulatory risk

Bitwise research forecasts record valuations and inflows in crypto markets this year amid reduced regulatory risk Continued innovation: Bitwise looks to cement position as market leader by providing new best-in-class products, broadening access to crypto for investors

January 29, 2025. Frankfurt, Germany: Bitwise today announced the company has completed the rebranding of all ETPs in its European product suite following last year's acquisition of ETC Group . The move comes as Bitwise looks to expand its position as a market leader in crypto markets in 2025, a year in which a number of structural upward trends are likely to bolster crypto markets.

Among the renamed products are the Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP, the Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP, the Bitwise MSCI Digital Assets Select 20 ETP, and the company's flagship product: - the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP. Launched in 2020, BTCE is the most heavily traded bitcoin ETP in Europe. For an overview of all products with their rebranded names, please refer to the table below.

Bitwise will continue to broaden crypto access for investors, provide best-in-class innovative products, timely insights on the latest market developments, and champion transparency and accountability in a landmark year for the crypto industry.

Hunter Horsley, CEO and Co-Founder of Bitwise: "We expect 2025 will be a pivotal year for crypto, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana each hitting record highs, and a more crypto-friendly environment in Washington bringing welcome clarity to the space. Bitwise is looking forward to using this moment to reinforce our position as a market leader both in the U.S. and Europe."

Bitwise saw significant growth in 2024, a year in which Bitcoin soared to an all-time high of $103,992 after the record-setting launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. The company crossed over $12 billion in client assets, using its momentum to launch new institutional-grade crypto staking ETPs, namely the recently launched Bitwise Solana Staking ETP, and the Bitwise Aptos Staking ETP, in addition to filing a Form S-1 for an XRP spot ETF in the U.S. The company's Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1 | DE000A4AER62), an institutionally focused and cost-efficient Bitcoin ETP with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.20%, is also experiencing increased popularity among investors.

Another highlight of 2024 for Bitwise was the launch of Bitwise Onchain Solutions after the company's acquisition of Attestant Limited, an institutional-grade Ethereum staking provider with $3.7 billion in staked assets at the time of the acquisition.

Crypto poised to soar in 2025

In 2025, adoption of bitcoin and other crypto assets by corporate treasurers are set to be another major driver supporting the asset class, Bitwise Head of Research Europe Dr Andre Dragosch said in a study this month. At the moment, companies hold only 4% of the total available Bitcoin supply, a number that already doubled last year. With total free cash flow between S&P 500 companies standing at $1.5 trillion - more than twice the capital ever invested in Bitcoin - this offers an unprecedented growth opportunity.

Bitwise will continue to position itself as a thought leader with studies like the above and several others, providing a rich stream of research and market analysis for investors. This research is available through blog posts on the Bitwise website, such as on this link and here .

The following table shows Bitwise's renamed European Crypto ETP suite:

Main ticker ISIN New ETP Name Old ETP Name TER Single Asset BTC1 DE000A4AER62 Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-core-bitcoin/)

ETC Group Core Bitcoin 0.20% p.a. BTCE DE000A27Z304 Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-bitcoin/)

ETC Group Physical Bitcoin 2.00% p.a. ZETH DE000A3GMKD7 Bitwise Physical Ethereum ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-ethereum/)

ETC Group Physical Ethereum 1.49% p.a. ESOL DE000A3GVKZ1 Bitwise Physical Solana ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-solana/)

ETC Group Physical Solana 1.95% p.a. GXRP DE000A3GYNB0 Bitwise Physical XRP ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-xrp/)

ETC Group Physical XRP 1.95% p.a. RDAN DE000A3GVKY4 Bitwise Physical Cardano ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-cardano/)

ETC Group Physical Cardano 1.95% p.a. ELTC DE000A3GN5J9 Bitwise Physical Litecoin ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-physical-litecoin/)

ETC Group Physical Litecoin 2.00% p.a. Staking ET32 DE000A3G90G9 Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-ethereum-staking/)

ETC Group Ethereum Staking 0.65% p.a. BSOL DE000A4A59D2 Bitwise Solana Staking ETP N/A 0.85% p.a. APTB DE000A4AJWU3 Bitwise Aptos Staking ETP N/A 0.85% p.a. Diversified Index DA20 DE000A3G3ZL3 Bitwise MSCI (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-digital-assets-select-20/)

(https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-digital-assets-select-20/)Digital Assets Select 20 ETP (https://etc-group.com/products/etc-group-digital-assets-select-20/)

ETC Group MSCI

Digital Assets Select 20 1.49% p.a.

The complete list of Bitwise European ETP products, including all stock exchange listings and trading information, is available at https://bitwiseinvestments.com/eu.

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the world's leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies - spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past four years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europe's most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com/eu





Media contacts:



JEA Associates

John McLeod

00 44 7886 920436

john@jeaassociates.com

Important information

This press release does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH ("BEU"), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products ("ETPs"), potential investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency. Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks.
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japanese Conglomerate Sony Group Corp. (SONY) Wednesday announced the appointment of Hiroki Totoki as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from April 1.Totoki succeeds Kenichiro Yoshida, who will continue to be the Chairman of the company.According to the statement, Sony is adopting a new management structure to support its long-term growth.Further, Lin Tao has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer.Totoki, who joined the company in 1985, is currently a Director, President, COO, and CFO. He will now take over as Director, President, and CEO.Further, Toshimoto Mitomo, currently Executive Deputy President and CSO, Corporate Executive Officer, will be CSO and Representative Corporate Executive Officer.Under the new management structure, the heads of Sony's major businesses will be called 'Business CEOs.'In Tokyo, Sony shares gained 3.78 percent on Wednesday's regular trading, to close at 3,484.00 yen.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.
BILBAO (dpa-AFX) - UK's Competition and Markets Authority or CMA announced that it is investigating the completed acquisition by Iberdrola SA (IBDSF.PK), a Spanish renewable energy company, of North West Electricity Networks (Jersey) Limited.Iberdrola made the acquisition through its unit Scottish Power Energy Networks Holdings Ltd.In August, the company had announced its agreement to buy 88 percent of Electricity North West in the U.K. for 2.5 billion euros.The CMA now said it is considering whether the deal has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.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.
BH Macro Limited - Notice of Class Closure Meetings

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 29

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

LEI: 549300ZOFF0Z2CM87C29

Notice of Class Closure Meetings

29 January 2025

Notices of Class Closure Meetings

Further to the announcement by the Company on 28 January 2025 that the Class Closure Resolution procedure contained in the Company's articles of incorporation (the "Articles") has been triggered in respect of the year ended 31 December 2024 for both the Company's Sterling share class and US Dollar share class (the "Shares"), the Company announces that a shareholder circular containing notices convening class closure meetings ("Class Closure Meetings") to be held in respect of both classes of Shares will be despatched to the Company's shareholders ("Shareholders") later today (the "Circular").

Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement shall have the same meaning as set out in the Circular.

Copies of the Circular will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism website at https://www.fca.org.uk/markets/primary-markets/regulatory-disclosures/national-storage-mechanism . An electronic copy of the Circular will also shortly be available on the Company's website www.bhmacro.com .

The Circular contains an explanation of the business to be considered at each Class Closure Meeting. The Class Closure Meetings will be held starting at 9.00 a.m. on 18 February 2025 at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 3QL.

Class Closure Resolution

If passed by the Shareholders of the relevant class, the Class Closure Resolution to be proposed at each Class Closure Meeting requires the Company to make the following options (the "Class Closure Options") available to those Shareholders in respect of their holdings of shares of that class:

(a) to offer all or some of their shares for redemption by the Company;

(b) to convert all or some of their shares into shares of the other class of shares; or

(c) to remain in the class, subject as described further below.

Alternatively, if holders of both classes of the Company's shares approve a Class Closure Resolution, the Company is required to put in place measures for its winding-up instead of offering the Class Closure Options to Shareholders.

If a Class Closure Resolution is rejected, no further action is required to be taken in respect of the relevant class of shares. Depending on the share price performance of the relevant class compared to its NAV, the earliest that another class closure resolution may be required to be proposed under the Articles in relation to that class would be in not less than twelve months' time, in 2026.

The Board believes that the Company continues to fulfil its purpose and retains the utmost confidence in Brevan Howard Capital Management LP (the "Manager") and the strategy of the Master Fund, both of which the Board continues to monitor closely.

The Circular includes a letter from the Manager setting out its support for the Company and further information provided by the Manager regarding the past and comparative performance of the Company.

Recommendation

The Board considers that a vote AGAINST the Class Closure Resolution, to be proposed at each Class Closure Meeting, is in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. All directors intend to vote their own beneficial holdings AGAINST the Class Closure Resolution to be proposed at each Class Closure Meeting.

The Board unanimously recommends Shareholders to vote AGAINST the Class Closure Resolution to be proposed at each Class Closure Meeting.

Class Closure Resolutions

The Class Closure Resolution to be proposed at each Class Closure Meeting is a special resolution, which requires not less than seventy-five per cent. of the members of the relevant class of Shares and duly appointed proxies attending the meeting and voting on a show of hands to vote in favour (excluding any votes that are withheld) or, if a poll is demanded, not less than seventy-five per cent. of the total voting rights cast on the relevant resolution (excluding any votes that are withheld) to be in favour. Each Class Closure Resolution will be conducted by poll.

Action to be taken

Holders of US Dollar Shares should complete and return the Form of Proxy featuring a blue band for the Class Closure Meeting of the US Dollar Shares to the Registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited, c/o The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 9.00 a.m. on 14 February 2025 and/or attend and vote at the meeting on 18 February 2025.

Holders of Sterling Shares should complete and return the Form of Proxy featuring a purple band for the Class Closure Meeting of the Sterling Shares to the registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited, c/o The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 9.15 a.m. on 14 February 2025 and/or attend and vote at the meeting on 18 February 2025.

The Form(s) of Proxy may also be sent to Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited by email at externalproxyqueries@computershare.co.uk . The lodging of a Form of Proxy will not prevent you from attending the relevant Class Closure Meeting and voting in person if you so wish.

Expected Timetable

Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy for the US Dollar Class Closure Meeting 9.00 a.m. on 14 February 2025 Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy for the Sterling Class Closure Meeting 9.15 a.m. on 14 February 2025 US Dollar Class Closure Meeting 9.00 a.m. on 18 February 2025 Sterling Class Closure Meeting 9.15 a.m. on 18 February 2025

All references are to Guernsey time.

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

Enquiries:

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 1481 745001

Manager

Brevan Howard Capital Management LP

Email: bhmacro.ir@brevanhoward.com

Corporate Broker

J.P. Morgan Cazenove

William Simmonds / Rupert Budge

Tel: +44 (0)20 3493 8000
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks are down in negative territory Wednesday morning, weighed down by losses in the luxury sector as industry major LVMH's fourt-quarter revenue fell short of expectations.Gains in technology sector help limit market's downside.Investors are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement due later in the day. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates unchanged, and the focus is on the accompanying statement for clues about future rate moves.The European Central Bank is scheduled to announce its policy on Thursday. The ECB is expected to announce a 25-basis point rate cut.The benchmark CAC 40, which dropped to 7,849.14 earlier this morning, was down 23.32 points or 0.3% at 7,875.05 a few minutes ago.LVMH is down more than 6%. LVMH reported that its 2024 net profit was 12.550 billion euros, down 17% from 15.174 billion euros last year. Profit from recurring operations was 19.571 billion euros, a drop of 14%.For 2024, revenue was 84.683 billion euros, down 2% from 86.153 billion euros. Organic growth for the year was 1%.The company said it reported organic growth despite a challenging economic and geopolitical environment and a high basis of comparison following several years of exceptional post-Covid growth.Kering is declining 6.1% and L'Oreal is down 2.6%, while Hermes International is down with a modest loss of about 0.5%.STMIcroElectronics, Edenred, Pernod Ricard, ArcelorMittal, AXA and BNP Paribas are lower by 0.6 to 1.3%.Schneider Electric, which posted sharpl losses in the previous two sessions, is up 5.1% this morning. Legrand is gaining 2.75%, while Unibail Rodamco and Essilor are up 1.5% and 1.2%, 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.
MUMBAI, India, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Limited (NSE: PPLPHARMA) (BSE: 543635), a leading global pharmaceuticals and wellness company, today announced its standalone and consolidated results for the Third Quarter (Q3) and Nine Months (9M) ended 31st December 2024.

Consolidated Financial Highlights (in - Cr. or as stated) Particulars Q3FY25 Q3FY24 YoY

Growth 9MFY25 9MFY24 YoY

Growth Revenue from Operations 2,204 1,959 13 % 6,397 5,619 14 % CDMO 1,278 1,134 13 % 3,659 3,101 18 % CHG 654 576 14 % 1,928 1,782 8 % ICH 278 252 10 % 819 747 10 % EBITDA 350 330 6 % 977 815 20 % EBITDA Margin 16 % 17 %

15 % 15 %

Share of Net Profit of Associates 17 14 22 % 57 47 20 % Net Profit After Tax 4 10 (64) % (62) (83) NM

Key Highlights for Q3FY25/9MFY25

Revenue from Operations grew by 14% YoY for 9MFY25, primarily driven by high-teen growth in the CDMO business

grew by 14% YoY for 9MFY25, primarily driven by high-teen growth in the CDMO business EBITDA grew by 20% YoY for 9MFY25, supported by operating leverage, cost optimization initiatives and superior revenue mix

grew by 20% YoY for 9MFY25, supported by operating leverage, cost optimization initiatives and superior revenue mix Net-Debt to EBITDA ratio maintained at 2.8x

ratio maintained at 2.8x Best-in-Class Quality Track Record - No pending observation at any of our US FDA inspected sites

- No pending observation at any of our US FDA inspected sites Significant Step Towards Sustainable Operations - Converted the coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes, a carbon-neutral fuel source. This will eliminate ~24,000 tCO2e1 GHG2 emissions annually accounting for about 17% of our total emissions

Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Limited said, "FY25 so far has been a steady year for the Company with revenue growth of 14% and EBITDA growing at 20%. Our CDMO business continues to deliver robust performance with 18% revenue growth along with EBITDA margin improvement in 9MFY25. This performance was largely led by innovation related work. Our CHG business registered an early-teen revenue growth during the quarter on the back of strong volume growth in our Inhalation Anesthesia portfolio. In our ICH business, power brands continue to register about 19% growth.

The quarter also marked a significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable manufacturing with the conversion of coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes. This will significantly reduce our GHG emissions - underscoring our unwavering commitment towards the planet."

1. Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent; 2. Green House Gas





Key Business Highlights for Q3 and 9M FY25

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO):



- CDMO business delivered high-teen revenue growth for 9MFY25 driven by continued traction in the on-patent commercial manufacturing and generic API business - Timely capacity expansions and targeted BD1 efforts resulting in YoY growth in RFPs, however customer decision making is prolonged - Continued YoY improvement in EBITDA Margin driven by better revenue mix and initiatives towards better procurement strategies, cost optimization and operational excellence - Maintained our best-in-class quality track record with successful clearance of 365 regulatory inspections (including 45 US FDA inspections) and over 1,800 customer audits since FY2012 - Converted the coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes, a carbon-neutral fuel source. This is expected to eliminate ~24,000 tCO2e GHG emissions annually, accounting for about 17% of total emissions - Biotech Funding - CY2024 funding improved over CY2023, enough to replenish biotech cash burn but not enough to accelerate R&D spends



Complex Hospital Generics (CHG):



- Inhalation Anesthesia (IA) sales in the US tracking healthy volume growth driven by order wins for Sevoflurane and Isoflurane - Capacity expansion at Dahej and Digwal underway to capture IA opportunities in the RoW markets. Seeing month-on-month increase in production output

- Maintain our #1 Rank in the US in Sevoflurane (40%+ market share1) and in Intrathecal Baclofen (70%+ market share1). Mitigo (intrathecal morphine sulphate) also delivered encouraging growth during the quarter

- Maintaining EBITDA Margins - Cost optimization initiatives in the areas of sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and operational excellence, showing results



India Consumer Healthcare (ICH):



- ICH business delivered double-digit revenue growth in Q3 and 9MFY25 amidst tepid consumer demand in the industry - Power Brands grew at 19% YoY during 9MFY25, driven by robust performance in Little's, Polycrol and CIR. Power Brands contributed to 48% of total ICH sales - Excluding i-range, which was impacted by regulatory price control, growth in power brands was about 26% for 9MFY25 - Added 16 new products and 23 new SKUs in 9MFY25 - Launched our new media campaign with Mrunal Thakur for Lacto Calamine - E-commerce sales grew at over 40% YoY in Q3FY25 and contributed 20% to ICH sales. Present on more than 20 E-commerce platforms

1. As per IQVIA data





Consolidated Profit and Loss Statement (in - Cr. or as stated) Particulars Quarterly Nine Months Q3FY25 Q3FY24 YoY Change 9MFY25 9MFY24 YoY Change Revenue from Operations 2,204 1,959 13 % 6,397 5,619 14 % Other Income 12 62 (80) % 93 149 (38) % Total Income 2,216 2,020 10 % 6,490 5,768 13 % Material Cost 806 675 19 % 2,277 1,940 17 % Employee Expenses 556 524 6 % 1,695 1,535 10 % Other Expenses 504 491 3 % 1,541 1,478 4 % EBITDA 350 330 6 % 977 815 20 % Interest Expenses 103 106 (2) % 318 334 (5) % Depreciation 197 186 6 % 574 544 5 % Share of Net Profit of Associates 17 14 22 % 57 47 20 % Profit Before Tax 67 52 29 % 142 (16) NM Tax 63 9 582 % 204 35 479 % Net Profit after Tax 4 42 (91) % (62) (51) NM Exceptional item - (32) NM - (32) NM Net Profit after Tax after Exceptional Item 4 10 (64) % (62) (83) NM

Q3FY25/9MFY25 Earnings Conference Call

Piramal Pharma Limited will be hosting a conference call for investors / analysts on 29th January 2025 from 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM (IST) to discuss its Q3 and 9M FY25 Results.

The dial-in details for the call are as under:

Event Location & Time Telephone Number Conference call on

29th January, 2025 India - 05:30 PM IST +91 22 6280 1461 / +91 22 7115 8320 (Primary

Number) 1 800 120 1221 (Toll free number) USA - 07:00 AM (Eastern Time - New York) Toll free number 18667462133 UK - 12:00 PM (London Time) Toll free number 08081011573 Singapore - 08:00 PM (Singapore Time) Toll free number 8001012045 Hong Kong - 08:00 PM (Hong Kong Time) Toll free number 800964448 Express Join with

Diamond Pass Please use this link for prior registration to reduce wait time at the time of joining

the call - Click Here

About Piramal Pharma Limited:

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL, NSE: PPLPHARMA I BSE: 543635), offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through its 17* global development and manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated contract development and manufacturing organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a complex hospital generics business; and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the-counter consumer and wellness products. In addition, one of PPL's associate companies, Abbvie Therapeutics India Private Limited, a joint venture between Abbvie and PPL, has emerged as one of the market leaders in the ophthalmology therapy area in the Indian pharma market. Further, PPL has a strategic minority investment in Yapan Bio Private Limited, that operates in the biologics / bio-therapeutics and vaccine segments.

For more information, visit: Piramal Pharma | LinkedIn

* Includes one facility via PPL's minority investment in Yapan Bio.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1855206/4913155/Piramal_Pharma_Limited_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Piramal Pharma Ltd
Pharmacy Podcast Network adding additional insights from proven community pharmacy leaders.

Pharmacy CrossRoads is celebrating a groundbreaking year with more than 60 interviews, spotlighting the individuals driving innovation in independent community pharmacy through technology, practice advancements, and impactful networking. As one of the most popular podcasts on the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN), Pharmacy CrossRoads has amassed an impressive 40,000+ downloads, earning its reputation as a premier resource for the independent pharmacy sector.

With the rise of pharmacy deserts across the United States threatening access to life-saving medications, and primary care providers stretched to their limits, community pharmacies have become more vital than ever. To meet this growing need, Pharmacy CrossRoads is expanding its team of hosts, ensuring even more in-depth conversations and diverse perspectives on the pressing issues affecting independent community pharmacy.

Launched by Bruce Kneeland, a revered voice in community pharmacy and prolific writer for publications such as Pharmacy Times, Drug Topics, and Computer Talk, Pharmacy CrossRoads has always been dedicated to fostering meaningful discussions about the future of independent pharmacies. Now, with the addition of four dynamic new hosts, the podcast is taking its mission to the next level.

"Bruce is a natural podcaster. He's a master story-teller with sincerity and experience in pharmacy business. His guidance and curiosity drives the best conversations about pharmacy ownership and what innovations are working to improve community pharmacy." --stated Todd Eury, Founder and CEO of the Pharmacy Podcast Network.

Meet the New Hosts:

Dr. Adam Robinson, PharmD - "The Workflow Whisperer"

As the owner of Save Rite Drugs in Radcliff, KY, Adam brings real-world insights into the challenges and triumphs of pharmacy ownership. He'll share expert advice on optimizing workflow and operations in independent pharmacies.

Kris Rhea - Business Development Visionary

With over 15 years of pharmacy and healthcare business experience, Kris is the Director of Business Development at Pharmacy Marketplace. His focus on the financial and operational side of pharmacy will help listeners navigate the business of pharmacy ownership.

Dr. Shahida Choudhry, PharmD - Advocate for PBM Reform

As the owner of The Palms Pharmacy in Tampa, FL, and a four-time honoree on the "50 Most Influential People in Pharmacy" list, Shahida will lead discussions on combating PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) challenges and advancing the role of pharmacists in communities nationwide.

Stacy Hall, MBA - Policy and Advocacy Leader

CEO of the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA), Stacy brings expertise in state and national pharmacy policies. Her connections with organizations like NASPA and APhA will provide a deep dive into the regulatory landscape affecting independent pharmacies.

A New Chapter for Pharmacy CrossRoads

"It's been an honor to work alongside Bruce Kneeland. His 40+ years of pharmacy business experience and knack for engaging, insightful conversations have made Pharmacy CrossRoads a staple for independent pharmacy professionals," said Todd Eury, CEO of RxPR, LLC, and the Pharmacy Podcast Network. "Bruce has a unique ability to elevate educational content for pharmacy owners without it feeling like a commercial. Now, with the addition of our four new hosts, the future of Pharmacy CrossRoads is brighter than ever."

Listen to the Latest Episode

To hear the debut episode featuring the new hosts, click here: http://www.PharmacyCrossRoads.com

Subscribe to Pharmacy CrossRoads on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast directory to stay updated.

About Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN)

Pharmacy Podcast Network, ranked #1 Pharma podcast by Million Podcasts for 2025, is the first and only podcast platform exclusively dedicated to the pharmacy profession. PPN offers a wide range of podcasts covering careers, compounding, education, politics, professional development, and more, making it a one-stop resource for pharmacy professionals across all sectors.

Contact Information

Todd Eury

CEO

eury@rxpr.net

412-585-4001

SOURCE: RxPR

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services for Dissemination in the United States

Camino Minerals Corporation (TSXV:COR)(OTC PINK:CAMZF) ("Camino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") previously announced on January 10, 2025.

Under the First Tranche, the Company issued an aggregate of 7,741,665 Common Shares at an issue price of $0.21 per Common Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $1,625,750. The Common Shares were distributed by way of private placement pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, and accordingly, are subject to a hold period of four month and one day from the closing date (expiring on May 29, 2025), in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The gross proceeds from the Financing will be applied towards corporate working capital, legal expenses, engineering studies, and general administrative expenses. Completion of the Financing remains subject to the final approval of the TSXV.

In connection with the Financing, the Company paid a finders' fee of $1,050 to an arm's length registered finder.

TSXV Policy 5.9 and MI 61-101

Insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 3,690,475 Common Shares in the First Tranche (approximately $775,000), which participation constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of 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 ("Policy 5.9") (which incorporates the requirements of MI 61-101). However, such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares acquired by the insiders of the Company, nor the consideration for the Common Shares paid by such insiders, exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization for the purposes of MI 61-101.

The exact extent of participation by insiders of the Corporation in the First Tranche was not determined sufficiently in advance of the closing thereof, and accordingly, the Company expects to file a material change report relating to the First Tranche less than 21 days from completion of the First Tranche, which is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.

About Camino

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 news release constitute forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking disclosures in this news 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 news release includes, without limitation, the use of proceeds of the Financing, the timing and ability of the Company to obtain the final approval of the Financing from the TSXV, and an exemption being available under MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 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 ACCESS Newswire
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - XXIX Metal Corp . (TSXV: XXIX) (OTCQB: QCCUF) (FSE: 5LW0) ("XXIX" or the "Company") is pleased to present a review on an ambitious 2025 focused on advancing its projects and strengthening its position as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper explorers and developers.

"The broader market continues to undervalue resource and pre-development stage projects like Opemiska and Thierry, a reflection of the cyclical nature of our industry. At XXIX, we remain steadfast in our strategy to focus on overlooked and undervalued assets that we see as critical to the future of copper and metals supply chains. This philosophy, rooted in the Ore Group's values, emphasizes identifying opportunities others miss, building value with patience, managing capital conservatively, and acting decisively when the time is right. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to share our operational goals, including the methodical development of our two 100%-owned copper assets, Opemiska and Thierry," said Stephen Stewart, CEO of XXIX Corp.

Opemiska Project in Quebec

Saddle Zone: XXIX is set to launch a 3,400-meter drill program in the Saddle Zone at the Opemiska Copper Project in Quebec. The program is currently being permitted and is expected to commence in February. Results from this drilling will be incorporated into the forthcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

Scoping Study and PEA: XXIX has effectively completed a comprehensive scoping study in 2024. This study optimized the mine plan and provided critical insights into maximizing shareholder value while fostering sustainable development for the surrounding communities. The insights gained will inform the PEA, which will detail a development plan aligning with both economic and community-focused goals.

Cooke and Robitaille Zones: XXIX has begun the reinterpretation of historical Falconbridge drilling and mine data, integrating them with modern geological data for Cooke and Robitaille. The Cooke Zone, historically a gold mine with a copper credit, has shown potential for a second mineralization horizon, which could enhance project economics. Permitting and design for drilling at Cooke are expected in Q2.

Opemiska has the potential to serve as the anchor asset in the revitalized district, offering long-term benefits for local communities, including Chapais, Chibougamau and the local First Nations.

Thierry Project in Ontario

K1 Deposit: XXIX has completed the revalidation and reinterpretation of geological data for the K1 deposit. A rigorous process included integrating historical drilling and incorporating 15 previously unmodelled holes, including seven drilled in 2024. Additionally, a core sampling program revealed over 820 meters of unsampled historical core with disseminated mineralization. XXIX has identified grade increases up to 77% in previously reported intersections when incorporating these zones.

Key updates on K1:

Mineralization spans up to 230 meters in width, begins at surface, and extends 1.2 kilometres along strike, to 400 meters depth, and remains open to depth.

The zone dips at 50-55, making it favorable for open-pit mining with a low strip ratio.

A just completed core sampling program has reinforced XXIX's view that the previously interpreted multiple zones can be interpreted as a single, continuous zone. The presence of low-grade mineralization in this area highlights its potential for economic viability and scalability in any future open-pit development. XXIX is highly optimistic about the K1 zone and its ability to expand and advance this resource further.

100km of induced polarization (IP) surveys is being planned and permitted.

A drill program is being planned and permitted with the goal of delivering an updated Mineral Resource Estimation.

K2 Deposit: Revalidation of the K2 deposit, historically reported as 23.7 Mt at 1.64% Cu, is ongoing. XXIX will provide updates on its geological model and subsequent drill programs during 2025.

Connecting K1 and K2: XXIX aims to deepen its understanding of Thierry's geology and deposition model. Locally, the K-1 and K-2 deposits are fairly well understood, though there is significant room for growth. What excites XXIX is the opportunity to verify the untested 3km gap between these two zones, where geophysical signatures clearly suggest the continuity of the favorable horizon. XXIX will also initiate studies to determine what may influence grade differentiation between the two deposits.

Thierry represents a highly mineralized and significant system with substantial exploration upside and untapped potential waiting to be uncovered.

Roger Gold Project

XXIX is updating its work plan and budget while assessing its strategic fit within our operational plans. While it remains uncertain whether Roger offers operational synergies with Opemiska, its significance is clear with a resource of 330,000 ounces of indicated equivalent gold ounces (10.9MT @ 0.85 g/t Au and 0.80 g/t Au) and an additional 202,000 inferred equivalent gold ounces (6.6MT @ 0.75 g/t,1.18 g/t Ag and 0.11% Cu). Roger is positioned in the eastern node of the Chibougamau district, which is best characterized as a gold camp, whereas the western node is more distinctly a copper camp. XXIX is evaluating its options and plans for the Roger Project and will provide a detailed update soon.

Community Engagement

XXIX remains committed to fostering and investing in strong relationships with local stakeholders. In Quebec, the Company is actively engaging with the town of Chapais within the District of Chibougamau and First Nations communities to ensure sustainable development with meaningful economic and employment opportunities. In Ontario, the Company operates under an exploration agreement dating back to 2008, and both XXIX and local First Nations are working to modernize the agreement, continuing its focus on community-centric operations.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Beaudry, P.Geo and geo., Director of XXIX Metals Corp, a Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About XXIX Metal Corp .

XXIX is advancing its Opemiska and Thierry Copper projects, two significant Canadian copper assets. The Opemiska Project, Canada's highest-grade copper resource, spans 13,000 hectares in Quebec's Chapais-Chibougamau region, with strong infrastructure and nearby access to the Horne Smelter. A January 2024 resource update reported a 16% increase in contained Copper Equivalent (CuEq) and a 10% grade boost, including 87.3 million tonnes at 0.93% CuEq (Measured & Indicated) and additional Out of Pit resources.

The Thierry Project hosts two past-producing ore bodies, one of which was mined underground for six years-producing 5.8Mt @ 1.13% Cu, 0.14% Ni between 1976 - 1982 by UMEX Inc. Historically, copper concentrate was shipped to the Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, QC. Significant infrastructure is already in place, with the Thierry property being accessible via all-season road, an airport within 5km, a provincial power grid within 8km, and nearby rail. With these two high-potential projects, the Company has solidified its position as a key player in the Canadian copper sector, and has established itself as one of Eastern Canada's largest copper developer.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Specific forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to the commencement of trading of the Common Shares on the TSXV under the new name and new stock ticker. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth above and elsewhere in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are given only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238753

SOURCE: XXIX Metal Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Bayridge Resources Corp. (CSE: BYRG) (OTCQB: BYRRF) (FSE: O0K) ("Bayridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the Level 2 Exploration Permit for drilling at its 11,142 ha Constellation uranium project in Canada's Athabasca Basin region.

The Company is permitted for up to 30 drill sites that can total of up to 10,000 metres of diamond drilling within an 18 month period, that the Company will commence with a Phase 1. In addition, a total of 40-line kilometres of grid line cutting in preparation for ground geophysical surveys have also been permitted. The Company also reports it has received the 2024 Phase I exploration assay results. They will be released as soon as the technical team has reviewed and completed QA/QC procedures in respect of the results.

"The drilling permit is the next milestone in the exploration and development of the Constellation project," commented President and CEO Saf Dhillon. "The receipt of this drill permit puts us right on schedule for a late Q1 early Q2 maiden drill program of which, Phase 1 is already fully funded," he continued.

The Phase I exploration program was successful in highlighting several areas of anomalous spectrometer count-per-second anomalies, several of which were associated with the VTEM (versatile time-domain electromagnetic) conductors identified from the Geotech VTEM survey flown earlier in the summer. A total of 15 spot radiometric anomalies or anomalous zones were identified, largely associated with VTEM conductors or the boundaries of magnetic highs and magnetic lows, areas believed to be prospective for uranium mineralization (as shown in Figure 1).

Figure 1 Constellation Project Spectrometer Anomalies

(Readings in CPS or counts per second)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10256/238812_94307509840a39e6_001full.jpg

The Constellation property has favourable geology for basement-hosted unconformity-style uranium deposits. The regional geology and magnetics have defined structural lineaments trending NNW and ESE, which could represent structural conduits between the Archean granite inlier and graphitic metasediments that have been mapped on the property. These types of structural zones typically function as pathways for hydrothermal activity. Historical NE-trending conductors have also been outlined on the property but are under-explored and un-drilled. Strong EM conductors are proven targets associated with unconformity and basement-hosted uranium mineralization in and around the Athabasca Basin.1

Bayridge has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in Constellation through a series of cash payments, share issuances and exploration expenditures over the next 4 years. Constellation is located 60 km southwest of the Key Lake Mine, and is accessible via helicopter or float plane, with potential winter road access from Highway 914.

The company also announces that it has granted a total of1,000,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.06, subject to Bayridge's Equity Incentive Plan vesting terms and expire five years from the date of grant.

Tim Henneberry, P.Geo. (BC), a Consultant and Advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Bayridge Resources Corp.

Bayridge Resources Corp. is a green energy company advancing its portfolio of Canadian uranium and lithium projects. The 1,337 ha Waterbury East project is located 25 km northeast of the Cigar Lake Mine in the northeastern Athabasca Basin region. Geophysical surveys have identified a 7km long conductivity corridor where mid-2000's drilling highlighted faulted and altered basement rock with local uranium enrichment. Large sections of this corridor remain untested. The 11,142 ha Constellation project is located 60 km south of the present-day Athabasca Basin edge in an area of significant exploration activity for basement hosted uranium. Historic airborne radiometric, electromagnetic, and magnetic surveys identified electromagnetic conductors associated with magnetic lows. The 4,413 ha Sharpe Lake project, located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario, hosts peraluminous S-type muscovite bearing pegmatite bearing granites in contact with metasediments. Preliminary sampling has highlighted anomalous rare-element values, potentially indicative of lithium mineralization.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management, including in regard to the Company's exploration and drill campaign plans at Constellation, enhanced magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies at Constellation, undertaking drilling at Constellation without additional financing or dilution and potential uranium and lithium discovery for the Company's projects. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. 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.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

1 The Company cautions that similar results on its Constellation Project are not implied.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238812

SOURCE: Bayridge Resources Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (the "Company" or "Calibre"), a growing mid-tier gold producer, is pleased to announce a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for its 100% owned Talavera Gold Deposit ("Talavera"), which has, historically, produced 800,000 ounces gold and is located 3 kilometres from the Limon mill. The Mineral Resource, which will be included in the Company's 2024 year-end Mineral Resource statement, includes 3,847,000 tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resource averaging 5.09 g/t gold, yielding 630,000 ounces of gold. The extension of the historical mine, and discovery of several parallel sub vertically dipping veins has led to the delineation of this new resource. Talavera represents another opportunity across the prolific Limon property given its proximity to the processing facility. Recent drilling at Talavera (see news release dated November 18, 2024 ) (https://www.calibremining.com/news/news-details/2024/Calibre-Announces-Significant-High-Grade-Mineralization-at-Limon-Which-Is-Expected-to-Have-a-Positive-Impact-on-Its-Mineral-Resources/default.aspx) continues to intersect high grade gold mineralization approximately 750 metres to the west of the past producing Talavera underground mine and the resource remains open to the west, reaffirming the discovery and resource expansion potential of the deposit. (see figures here (https://s204.q4cdn.com/793454556/files/doc_news/2025/01/20250128-Initial-Mineral-Resource-at-Talavera-Figures-V2-FINAL.pdf))

Darren Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: "I am pleased to report that Calibre has achieved a significant milestone with the production of our one-millionth ounce of gold in Nicaragua since becoming a producer in Q4 2019. This accomplishment is particularly gratifying as we simultaneously increased our Nicaragua Mineral Reserves from 140,000 ounces in Q4 2019 to more than 1.1 million ounces at December 31, 2023.

Additionally, today's announcement of the 630,000-ounce Mineral Resource at Talavera further highlights the enduring nature of the Limon Mine Complex, which has been in continuous operation since the 1940s and has produced over 5 million ounces.

Talavera offers strong expansion potential, with opportunities to leverage the existing underground infrastructure located adjacent to the resource from the past producing mine. In 2025, our focus at Talavera will include expansion and delineation drilling while advancing environmental permits.

Given Talavera's steeply dipping structure and the presence of several parallel gold-bearing zones, the deposit is well-suited for low cost, long-hole mining. Talavera is poised to contribute to our future gold production, aligning with our strategy of self-funded growth through discovery and operational excellence.

Looking ahead, I am confident that we will continue to drive resource growth and maintain strong reserve replacement in Nicaragua, further solidifying our position as a sustainable growing gold producer."

About the Talavera Extension

Located west of the main Limon trend and mill, Talavera is a former underground mining area with past production during the 1990s of approximately 800,000 ounces of high-grade gold. The Talavera deposit is a low sulphidation, epithermal vein system consisting of high-grade vein shoots along strike of the productive Veta Nueva and Atravesada gold deposits. Recent drill results at Talavera include 12.57 g/t gold over 7.1 metres including 26.65 g/t gold over 2.2 metres and 4.29 g/t gold over 35.2 metres (see news release dated November 18, 2024 ) . (https://www.calibremining.com/news/news-details/2024/Calibre-Announces-Significant-High-Grade-Mineralization-at-Limon-Which-Is-Expected-to-Have-a-Positive-Impact-on-Its-Mineral-Resources/default.aspx)

Link - Figures (https://s204.q4cdn.com/793454556/files/doc_news/2025/01/20250128-Initial-Mineral-Resource-at-Talavera-Figures-V2-FINAL.pdf)

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Calibre maintains a Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") program for all its exploration projects using industry best practices. Key elements of the QA/QC program include verifiable chain of custody for samples, regular insertion of certified reference standards and blanks, and duplicate check assays. Drill core is halved and shipped in sealed bags to Bureau Veritas in Managua, Nicaragua, an independent analytical services provider with global certifications for Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2008, Environmental Management: ISO14001 and Safety Management OH SAS 18001 and AS4801. Prior to analysis, samples are prepared at Veritas' Managua facility and then shipped to its analytical facility in Vancouver, Canada. Gold analyses are routinely performed via fire assay/AA finish methods. For greater precision of high-grade material, samples assaying 10 g/t Au or higher are re-assayed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Analyses for silver and other elements of interest are performed via Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was approved by David Schonfeldt P.GEO, Calibre's Corporate Chief Geologist and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.

About Calibre

Calibre (TSX:CXB) is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada, Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities, Calibre will unlock significant value.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darren Hall"

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

SVP Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1012

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com)

Calibre's head office is located at Suite 1560, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6.

X (https://twitter.com/CalibreMiningCo) / Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CalibreMining) / LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/calibre-mining-corp-cxb-/?originalSubdomain=ca) / YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@calibreminingcorp)

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future, which include the potential for future mineral resources growth and further exploration success, the potential for maintaining strong mineral reserves replacement and the achievement of environmental permits, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "assume", "intend", "strategy", "goal", "objective", "possible" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2023, its management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other disclosure documents of the Company filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca (http://www.sedarplus.ca/).

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
FlatFrog will demonstrate the TeamTablet Flex at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025 along with its ecosystem partners. At the show, we will reveal the next generation Flex built for non-touch displays. In addition, we are launching advanced touchscreen platforms including a 27" OLED touch monitor for personal video meetings, digital signage, automotive and industrial applications.

LUND, Sweden, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FlatFrog is thrilled to unveil the next wave of innovation, enabling enterprises to supercharge their meeting rooms with TeamTablet Flex appliances and next generation touchscreen solutions with their partners including Dell, Sharp, Logitech, HP Poly, Jabra, TCL, KTC, HiteVision, CVTE and Lango.

Flex your meeting with TeamTablet Flex: The Flex solution from FlatFrog, offers unparalleled flexibility to extend collaboration use cases in team meetings, allowing companies to maximize the return on investment of their meeting room equipment using existing touch or non-touch front of room display

Run any video meeting: Fully compliant with existing Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, Meet, Webex or any other video conference appliance.

Fully compliant with existing Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, Meet, Webex or any other video conference appliance. Use with any digital whiteboard : Use Miro, Microsoft Whiteboard or use built-in local FlatFrog whiteboard, it feels just like using a tablet.

: Use Miro, Microsoft Whiteboard or use built-in local FlatFrog whiteboard, it feels just like using a tablet. Wireless presentation with inking : Share PowerPoint wirelessly, and easily annotate a presentation wirelessly on the touch display, with no latency.

: Share PowerPoint wirelessly, and easily annotate a presentation wirelessly on the touch display, with no latency. Secure: Designed to be fully secure and private including ability to air-gap so data does not leave premise. User can manage their deployment and usage statistics.



InGlass touch innovations: InGlass touch is the market leader for corporate touchscreen solutions with premier OEMs like Dell, Samsung, Sharp, Google, Clevertouch and others. At ISE 2025 FlatFrog will release further innovations with the launch of the M6 and M5L touch platforms. These platforms can also be used outside of meeting rooms for automotive, medical, and industrial applications.

M6 Premium touch : This represents a premium touch solution with unparalleled performance and natural handwriting with the best-in-class FlatFrog quality that OEMs have come to rely on. This solution provides industrial design with flush ID and thin and light chassis. It can be provided with or without cover glass. M6 is now available in sizes from 21-86". FlatFrog is revealing a 27" OLED and 65" LCD touch at the show, designed with the M6 platform.

: This represents a premium touch solution with unparalleled performance and natural handwriting with the best-in-class FlatFrog quality that OEMs have come to rely on. This solution provides industrial design with flush ID and thin and light chassis. It can be provided with or without cover glass. M6 is now available in sizes from 21-86". FlatFrog is revealing a 27" OLED and 65" LCD touch at the show, designed with the M6 platform. M5L Mainstream touch: For high volume budget conscious OEMs, FlatFrog is introducing M5L which is a cost down of their M5 platform.

Come meet with FlatFrog at ISE 2025, from 4-7 February, at booth 2S400 to experience TeamTablet Flex and the latest touchscreen platforms.

About FlatFrog

FlatFrog is the market leader in interactive meeting solutions, with high-performance TeamTablet appliances for both in-room, hybrid and virtual meetings and patented InGlass touch displays. FlatFrog has designed its award winning, InGlass touch display technology from the ground up, providing the best pen and touch input to mimic the intuitive feeling of a dry-erase board. FlatFrog is headquartered in Lund, Sweden, with locations in the U.S., Taiwan, China and South Korea. For more information, please visit www.flatfrog.com

For more information, contact:

Noemi Kubiak

VP Marketing

+46 765 200727

noemi.kubiak@flatfrog.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/flatfrog-laboratories-ab/r/flatfrog-reveals-range-of-new-innovations-at-ise-2025,c4097566

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/flatfrog-laboratories-ab/i/teamtabletflex,c3372419 TeamTabletFlex

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/flatfrog-reveals-range-of-new-innovations-at-ise-2025-302363159.html
JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - The implementation of new Israeli laws banning the UN Palestine refugee agency will undermine Gaza ceasefire, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned at the Security Council.UNRWA ban in the Palestinian territory is set to take effect on Thursday.Briefing ambassadors in New York on Tuesday, Lazzarini warned that the laws passed in October last year in the Knesset jeopardize the lives of millions of Palestinians and risks undermining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.They require that UNRWA cease its activities in the territory of the State of Israel - including the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as the Knesset defines it, in defiance of international law - as well as restricting any Government contacts with the agency or anyone acting on its behalf.'Curtailing our operations now - outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low - will undermine the ceasefire. It will sabotage Gaza's recovery and political transition,' Lazzarini said.He called for a 'decisive intervention' by Council to support peace and stability in the occupied Palestinian territory and the broader region.UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly to provide humanitarian and other essential services to Palestine refugees until a political solution is reached.Lazzarini further stressed that the full implementation of the Knesset legislation will be 'disastrous.'He added that it would also degrade the capacity of the United Nations just when humanitarian assistance must be scaled up.'This will only worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians.'Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Onyx Gold Corp. (TSXV: ONYX) (OTCQX: ONXGF) ("Onyx Gold" or the "Company") announces that it intends to amend the exercise price of 7,143,999 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") that were issued pursuant to a private placement of units that closed on July 6, 2023. Each Warrant is currently exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company (a "Share") at a price of $0.75 for 24 months from the date of issuance.

Following the proposed amendments, each Warrant will have an exercise price of $0.30 and will be subject to an accelerated expiry provision such that, if the closing share price on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") exceeds $0.375 for any 10 consecutive trading days during the unexpired term of the Warrants, the exercise date will be accelerated to 30 calendar days (the "Acceleration Clause"). The activation of the Acceleration Clause will be announced by press release. All other terms and conditions of the Warrants remain the same. The amended Warrant terms remain subject to TSX-V acceptance.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that, pursuant to the Company's omnibus incentive plan, the Company has issued an aggregate of 1,375,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain directors and officers of the Company. Each RSU entitles the holder to acquire one Share of the Company on vesting. All of the above RSUs are subject to the following vesting schedule: one-third vesting 12 months after the grant date; one-third vesting 24 months after the grant date; and one-third vesting 36 months after the grant date.

Further, the Company announces that Nicole Hoeller has stepped down from her role as VP of Corporate Communications to pursue her new business venture, NIKLI Communications Inc. ("Nikli"). The Company has entered into an agreement with Nikli whereby Ms. Hoeller will continue providing corporate communication services to the Company as an independent contractor.

About Onyx Gold

Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in the Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp.

"Brock Colterjohn"

President & CEO

For further information, please visit the Onyx Gold Corp. website at www.onyxgold.com or contact:

Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO

or

Nicole Hoeller, NIKLI Communications

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

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" 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 "forward-looking 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 intention of the Company to proceed with the Warrant amendments and the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals for the Warrant amendments.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the Company not receiving the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of the Warrant amendments; and changes in the Company's plan with respect to the Warrant amendments.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will receive the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of the Warrant amendments.

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 outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238775

SOURCE: Onyx Gold Corp.
Bottlecapps, a leading provider of innovative digital solutions for the beverage industry, is proud to announce the appointment of Bish Mubarak as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 16, 2025. This decision was made following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, recognizing Bish's exceptional leadership and extensive contributions to the company.

Bottlecapps Logo



The Board of Directors has asked Dr. Prashant Desai, our former Chief Executive Officer to remain as our Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. Dr. Prashant Desai will guide the board and drive the vision and direction of Bottlecapps through strategic partnerships, growth acceleration, and acquisitions. Dr. Prashant Desai has led Bottlecapps for the last 5 years and has a extensive array of experience in building the largest pharmaceutical brands and e-commerce solutions. Dr. Desai commented "Bottlecapps is a leader in a position of strength and with Bish at the helm will continue to accelerate growth across all three tiers of the beverage alcohol space. We are thrilled to have such an outstanding leadership team to drive our company to historic heights."

Bish Mubarak's journey with Bottlecapps began in late 2016 as an investor, bringing not only financial support but also a wealth of strategic insight. In 2017, he officially joined the Bottlecapps team initially serving as Chief Sales Officer, Bish's ability to drive growth and build strong client relationships led to his promotion as Chief Revenue Officer in January 2024. Over the years, his visionary approach and dedication have been instrumental in positioning Bottlecapps as an industry leader.

With over 25 years of experience in building and scaling successful enterprises, Bish Mubarak has demonstrated a unique ability to foster innovation and inspire teams to achieve their full potential. As an entrepreneur, he founded his first company in 1998, which he operated across North America for nearly two decades. Beyond his executive roles, Bish has been an active mentor, business consultant, and motivational speaker, sharing his expertise with professionals across the U.S. and Canada.

Bish holds a degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, ON, and currently resides in the Dallas, Texas area. He is the proud father of two children and is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to excel.

Bish Mubarak, CEO of Bottlecapps, commented:

"I am honored and excited to step into the role of CEO at Bottlecapps. Since my first involvement with the company, I have been inspired by our mission to transform the beverage industry through innovative digital solutions. I look forward to continuing our journey of growth and innovation alongside our talented team, partners, and customers."

Under Bish Mubarak's leadership, Bottlecapps is poised to continue its trajectory of success, driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to its partners and clients worldwide.

About Bottlecapps : Bottlecapps is a premier provider of digital platforms tailored for the beverage industry. With a commitment to innovation, Bottlecapps helps businesses enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth. For more information, visit www.bottlecapps.com .

SOURCE: Bottlecapps

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Boom Supersonic has achieved a major milestone in its quest for supersonic commercial travel by breaking the sound barrier for the first time during a test flight in Mojave, California.The Colorado-based aerospace company, designing a supersonic airliner named the Overture, said its demonstrator aircraft, XB-1, entered the supersonic corridor and reached an altitude of 35,290 feet before accelerating to Mach 1.122 (652 KTAS or 750 mph), breaking the sound barrier for the first time.XB-1's supersonic flight took place in the same historic airspace where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time in 1947. The first supersonic flight of XB-1 marks the first human-piloted civil supersonic flight since Concorde's retirement over 20 years ago, paving the way for the return of commercial supersonic flight onboard Overture.'I've been waiting over 20 years for the return of supersonic speeds, and XB-1's historic flight is a major landmark towards my dreams being realized.,' said Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways, who last flew Concorde in 2003. He congratulated Tristan 'Geppetto' Brandenburg, Chief Test Pilot for Boom Supersonic.Overture has the capacity to carry up to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today's subsonic airliners, on more than 600 international routes.The next-gen passenger flight is designed to run on up to 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel.The XB-1, which is the precursor to Overture, has now completed 12 successful test flights since March 2024.Previously, supersonic aircraft have been developed by militaries and governments. XB-1's supersonic flight marks the first time an independently developed jet has broken the sound barrier.Following its inaugural flight in March 2024, XB-1 completed a rigorous series of 11 human-piloted test flights under increasingly challenging conditions to evaluate systems and aerodynamics. Over the course of the flight test campaign, the XB-1 team systematically expanded the flight envelope through subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds.Boom Supersonic said it has a booking of 130 orders and pre-orders for Overture from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Last year, Boom completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, which will scale to produce 66 Overture aircraft per year.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Crestview Exploration Inc. (CSE: CRS) (FSE: CE7) ("Crestview" or the "Company") has issued 300,000 common shares to the Falcon Mine Group ("FMG") in respect of its option agreement to purchase 100% of the Falcon Project ("Falcon" or the "Property") (see news release dated September 7, 2022).

The Falcon project under the Option Agreement comprises eighty-seven (87) unpatented lode claims and six (6) patented claims associated with the historic Falcon mine. Subsequent claim staking by the Company has expanded the Falcon Project to 124 total claims comprising approximately 883 ha or 2,183 acres. According to "in house" historical reports, "[t]he Falcon Mine was discovered in 1876 and produced high-grade ore, averaging 100 opt (ounces per ton) silver, until 1891" (Brian Bond, 2010 - Preliminary Geological Report, Falcon Claim Block). The property is situated less than 2 km south of Crestview's flagship Rock Creek prospect and southwest of Crestview's Dry Creek (formerly Divide) prospect (see Map 1), placing all three properties in close proximity for a total of 239 claims, located in close proximity to the Carlin Trend (within approximately 20 miles) along a structural corridor extending north from the Carlin Complex.

Crestview's Tuscarora district play (Rock Creek, Dry Creek, and Falcon) is in a highly prospective, prolific gold region (see Map 2). The properties are surrounded on three sides by giant, "world-class" gold deposits and mines, including the Midas mine, approximately 35 km to the west-southwest, which has produced more than 2.2 Moz Au and 26.9 Moz Ag with proven and probable reserves of an additional 2.73 Moz Au and 199.92 Moz Ag from an epithermal Ag (Au) deposit (Hecla Mining Company Website - 2022); the Goldstrike complex, approximately 45 km south, which produced an incredible 47.8 Moz Au by the end of 2023 from Carlin-type deposits (Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Report MI-2023); and the Jerritt Canyon mine, approximately 30 km to the east (further from the Carlin Trend than the Tuscarora properties), which has produced 9.7 Moz Au from a Carlin-type gold deposit (Technical Report on the Jerritt Canyon Mine, Elko County, Nevada, USA Report for NI 43-101 - 2021), with continued exploration ongoing.

The Falcon property occurs in the southwest portion of an Eocene-aged caldera complex, hosted in a sequence of Devonian sedimentary rocks overlain by andesitic, dacitic, and rhyolitic volcanic rocks of the Tuscarora volcanic field (Roney Long, 2000 - The Falcon Mine Project). Our exploration concept at Falcon is very similar to and consistent with our targeting model at Rock Creek and Divide. The historic production and exploration at Falcon focused on silver mineralization in epithermal veins in the upper volcanic sequence. As with the Rock Creek and Dry Creek properties, previous work at the Falcon prospect resulted in stratigraphic interpretations of the surface metasedimentary sequence which indicate the possibility of a Carlin-type host rock at relatively shallow depths (Roney Long, 2000 - The Falcon Mine Project). As such, we envision both shallow, high grade silver vein targets and deeper, disseminated Carlin-type Au (Ag) targets at Falcon.

MAP 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7042/238749_73378b64e4184a96_002full.jpg

As soon as conditions permit, the company plans to continue extensive, property wide mapping and sampling at Falcon following up on it's initial sampling along 900 meters of float and outcrop of the quartz vein that hosts the historic Falcon Mine. This wide vein (up to 40 feet wide) is one of 18 known veins raking north from the Falcon property up to and along the length of the Rock Creek Property. Thirty-nine samples were collected and submitted for geochemical analysis with detectable gold or silver in all but one sample. Four samples had greater than 25 gpt silver, including samples FAL23_36 at 720 gpt Ag and FAL23_37 at 238 gpt Ag. Both of the highest two silver samples were taken from the Falcon mine area, both had elevated gold, arsenic, and antimony, and both had visible sulfides. Five samples had greater than 0.5 gpt gold, including sample FAL23_13 at 1.131 gpt Au.





MAP 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7042/238749_crestviewmap2.jpg

Sampling to date by the Company at Falcon and Rock Creek has demonstrated combined, confirmed, continuous strike length of approximately 6 kilometers with an untested interval of 2km between Rock Creek and the Company's Falcon sampling having the potential to increase this known mineralize strike length to 8 km. In addition, the veins are open at both the south and north ends of known mineralization.

ROCK CREEK:

At Rock Creek, the company has completed design of a 5,030 m (16,500 ft) drill program which it intends to commence this coming summer of 2025.

High-priority drill targets will be tested with 12 proposed Phase 1 angle drill holes. The drill targets were chosen to test for:

Bonanza epithermal precious metal mineralization in quartz veins/silicified faults interpreted from the 2022 HSAMT survey.

Mapped structural intersections and possible raking ore shoots.

Areas of anomalous and economic gold and silver grades in surface samples and historic drill intercepts.

Depth to permissive Paleozoic lower plate stratigraphy and disseminated Carlin-type mineralization.

Our planned and proposed exploration activities for 2025 also include further MMI sampling and additional HSAMT lines to aid in targeting. The MMI sampling will infill the northern part of the Rock Creek claim block. MMI sampling will consist of approximately 400 samples at 200 m line spacing and 50 m sample spacing. HSAMT lines will be completed to improve structural interpretations in the northern part of the claim block.

Chris Wensley, Crestview's CEO, commented: "The Falcon project is an important element of our Tuscarora prospects, adding expanded possibilities and significant potential to our very compelling position in an extremely prolific region of North Central Nevada. The Falcon prospect lies just over a mile south of our flagship Rock Creek property where we are working tirelessly to commence drilling in this 2025 drilling season."

This News Release was jointly prepared with Dr, Craig J Mach, PhD. Geology, and has been approved by Alan Morris, M.Sc., CPG #10550. Alan J. Morris is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical disclosure included in this news release.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Chris Wensley, CEO

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Chris Wensley"

About Crestview Exploration Inc:

Crestview Exploration is an experienced exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of gold and silver properties located in prolific mining districts of Nevada.

Rock Creek gold project is Crestview's flagship asset, with 72 unpatented lode mining claims wholly owned and controlled by CRS. The Rock Creek property was acquired in 2017, and the company went public in 2019. Emboldened by the results coming out of Rock Creek, Crestview strategically expanded on the land position with the acquisition of the nearby Falcon silver-gold prospect in September 2022. Between the two properties and additional claim staking at the nearby Dry Creek prospect, all targeting similar mineralization and likely the same hydrothermal system, Crestview now holds 239 total claims in close proximity of one another. These prospects are situated in a region with proven "world class" gold deposits (including Midas, Jerritt Canyon, Betze-Post, Meikle, and Gold Quarry), where the potential of finding large, high-grade gold-silver deposits is favourable.

The Cimarron project is located in the San Antonio Mountains of Nye County, Nevada, and is comprised of 31 unpatented lode mining claims, including control of 6 historically producing claims associated with the historic San Antonio mine. The property is located in the prolific Walker-Lane trend, approximately 44 kms south of the "world class" Round Mountain deposit.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address acquisition of the Property and future work thereon, mineral resource and reserve potential, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects is forward-looking information. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include the results of the Company's due diligence investigations, market prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, and those additionally described in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities authorities.

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 information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings at www.sedarplus.ca. 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, other than as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238749

SOURCE: Crestview Exploration Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Caprock Mining Corp. (CSE: CAPR) ("Caprock" or the "Company" is pleased to outline management's systematic exploration and development plan for its newly optioned Destiny gold property ("Destiny" or the "Project" or the "Property") located near Val D'Or, Quebec. The Project hosts a near-surface, historical NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") published in 2011 on the DAC deposit (the "Historical Estimate"), which is one of several mineralized zones identified on the Property through previous drilling:

10.8 million tonnes averaging 1.05 g/t Au and containing 364,000 ounces Au in the Indicated category; and

8.3 million tonnes averaging 0.92 g/t Au and containing 247,000 ounces Au in the Inferred category.

(The Historical Estimate is based on the March 2011 NI 43-101 (as defined below) technical report on the DAC Deposit authored by Todd McCracken, P.Geo., who is an independent qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101 working for Wardrop and prepared for Alto Ventures Ltd., a previous owner of the Property. Management of the Company believes that the Historical Estimate is reliable based on the fact that it was prepared by a qualified person with extensive experience in Archean and Proterozoic gold deposits, working for a world-renowned resource firm, however Caprock has not verified the Historical Estimate. In order to bring this Historical Estimate to current relevance, the estimate needs to be re-generated using current economic parameters in the context of the current gold price environment and latest costing estimates. The key assumptions and parameters of the Historical Estimate are as follows: (i) drill holes used: 152; (ii) gold price of US$973/oz; (iii) strip ratio: 4:1; (iv) cut-off grade: 0.5 g/t Au; (v) FX Rate: 1.02 CAD - 1.00 USD; (vi) gold recovery: 94%; (vii) operating cost: $14.30/tonne; and (viii) operating rate: 10,000 tpd. Furthermore, the Company would like to note that the Historical Estimate's global block model statistics showed good agreement between all three separate modeling methods, including ordinary kriging, inverse distance squared and nearest neighbour. The Historical Estimate does not use categories other than the ones set out in Sections 1.2 and 1.3 of NI 43-101.)

Caprock's President & CEO, Mr. Vishal Gupta states: "The Historical Estimate was generated using a gold price of US$973/oz and a CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.02. The current gold price and FX rate provide a more favourable environment for overall project economics at Destiny. In addition, approximately 10,000 metres of drilling was completed on the Project in 2020-2021 by a previous optionee, which has not been included in an updated MRE to-date. While we believe that updated economics should highlight the Project's attractive characteristics, we also recognize the potential to materially expand Destiny's overall resource inventory through systematic drilling over the next couple of years, based on our review of the historical drilling on the Property."

Caprock's management plans to unlock Destiny's potential using the following 3-step exploration and development approach:

Step 1: Generating an Updated MRE

Caprock's first step towards advancing Destiny involves establishing a new MRE that incorporates current gold and exchange rate economics, and includes results from the additional ~10,000 metres of drilling conducted in 2020-2021. To this end, the Company has recently engaged BBA E&C ("BBA"), a world-renowned resource consulting firm, to complete the updated MRE and accompanying National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") technical report (the "Technical Report") on the Project. The updated MRE is expected to be completed in Q1 2025, following which, the updated Technical Report is expected to be published in early Q2 2025.

Management believes that BBA's work to generate the updated MRE will be instrumental in selecting specific drill targets that maximize potential resource expansion as contemplated in Step 2 below, since the ~10,000 meters drilled in 2020-2021 has added significant additional information that management believes has not yet been fully appreciated.

Step 2: Resource Delineation at Additional Mineralized Zones

The Historical Estimate encompasses less than 1.0 km out of a total interpreted mineralized strike of approximately 6.0 km running along the East-West trending Despinassy shear zone at Destiny. Numerous additional mineralized zones have been identified by previous exploration drilling along the approximately 5.0 km of strike length outside of the DAC deposit, which solely encompasses the Historical Estimate.

Following the completion of the updated MRE, management's second step in advancing Destiny will involve the completion of a targeted resource definition drilling program at the additional zones outside of the resource area, especially the Gap Zone and Darla Zone, with the expectation to add to the Project's overall gold resource inventory (see Figure 1 below). This resource definition drilling program is expected to be carried out in the second half of 2025, and will target near-surface mineralization going down to a maximum depth of 300 - 400 m below surface.

Management is currently working on generating new maps, cross-sections and long-sections for Destiny that will be incorporated in an updated corporate presentation in the next few weeks in order to better illustrate the resource expansion potential at the numerous additional mineralized zones as demonstrated by the historical drilling on the Property.





Figure 1: Map demonstrating the East-West trending mineralized strike at Destiny illustrating the relative location of the DAC deposit that hosts the Historical Estimate, and numerous other mineralized zones identified by previous exploration drilling.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/238758_c24bc13d7440a8a9_001full.jpg

Step 3: Exploring for Higher Grade Underground Resource Potential at Depth

Previous drilling at Destiny included a handful of holes that were specifically designed to intersect the mineralized zone at the DAC deposit at a depth of over 500 metres below surface. These deeper drill holes returned intercepts with very high grades over significant widths (see Figure 2 below). Once the objectives outlined in Steps 1 and 2 above have been achieved, management plans to drill a series of deep holes that will be designed to intersect deep-seated, high-grade mineralization with the aim of establishing a high-grade MRE constrained by underground mining methods and economics.





Figure 2: Cross-section illustrating high-grade intercepts over significant widths in deeper drilling at Destiny.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/238758_c24bc13d7440a8a9_002full.jpg

About Caprock Mining Corp.

Caprock Mining Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring precious metals in Quebec and Ontario.

The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Destiny gold property that comprises 127 mineral claims and encompasses an area of 5,013 hectares located less than two hours' drive from Val D'Or, Quebec. Destiny lies along a major deformation corridor in the Abitibi greenstone belt that includes the prolific Cadillac-Larder Lake, Destor-Porcupine and Casa Berardi fault zones which host numerous producing and development-stage gold deposits. The Project overlies a 6.0 km long segment of the poorly explored Despinassay shear zone which is a splay off the regional Chicobi Fault. One of the several gold deposits discovered on Destiny is the DAC Deposit which has a near-surface, NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (the "Historical Estimate") published in 2011 comprising the following gold inventory:

10.8 million tonnes averaging 1.05 g/t Au and containing 364,000 ounces Au in the Indicated category; and

8.3 million tonnes averaging 0.92 g/t Au and containing 247,000 ounces Au in the Inferred category.

(The Historical Estimate is based on the March 2011 NI 43-101 technical report on the DAC Deposit authored by Todd McCracken, P.Geo., who is an independent qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101 working for Wardrop and prepared for Alto Ventures Ltd., a previous owner of the Property. Management of the Company believes that the Historical Estimate is reliable based on the fact that it was prepared by a qualified person with extensive experience in Archean and Proterozoic gold deposits, working for a world-renowned resource firm, however Caprock has not verified the Historical Estimate. In order to bring this Historical Estimate to current relevance, the estimate needs to be re-generated using current economic parameters in the context of the current gold price environment and latest costing estimates. The key assumptions and parameters of the Historical Estimate are as follows: (i) drill holes used: 152; (ii) gold price of US$973/oz; (iii) strip ratio: 4:1; (iv) cut-off grade: 0.5 g/t Au; (v) FX Rate: 1.02 CAD - 1.00 USD; (vi) gold recovery: 94%; (vii) operating cost: $14.30/tonne; and (viii) operating rate: 10,000 tpd. Furthermore, the Company would like to note that the Historical Estimate's global block model statistics showed good agreement between all three separate modeling methods, including ordinary kriging, inverse distance squared and nearest neighbour. The Historical Estimate does not use categories other than the ones set out in Sections 1.2 and 1.3 of NI 43-101.)

Additionally, the Company holds a 100% interest in three gold exploration properties in the historical Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Belt of Ontario - a belt that has produced over four million ounces of gold historically (Reference: Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Camp - Tashota Resources), and contains the sizeable Greenstone gold project (formerly known as the Hardrock gold project) which is being brought to production by Equinox Gold (TSX: EQX) (Reference: Greenstone Gold Mines - Mining & Processing).

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vishal Gupta, the Company's President & CEO. Mr. Gupta is a P.Geo. registered with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) and considered a "Qualified Person" as defined under NI 43-101.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's plans and expectations for the Destiny Project, the timing of the exploration on the Property, the timing of the completion of the MRE and Technical Report, the potential for additional gold mineralization on the Property and the timing of the announcement of the Company's exploration plan for the Property. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Although Caprock believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Caprock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve 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 statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Caprock's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Caprock's expectations include risks associated with the business of Caprock; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by Caprock; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company's mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Caprock's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Caprock does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238758

SOURCE: Caprock Mining Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its operations and corporate activities.

Operations Update

Due to extreme cold weather conditions over the past few weeks, Wedgemount proactively shut-in oil production and processing to protect its wells and facilities from potential damage. In light of the return of more seasonal temperatures this week, the Company has resumed production and is once again selling oil.

With the majority of surface facility and compliance work related to the recent Huggy acquisition now complete, the Company will focus on production growth and optimization for the remainder of the year. Efforts will include continued chemical treatments and well workovers to enhance efficiency and output.

Corporate Update

On January 27, 2025, Wedgemount filed both its delayed annual financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis, certifications of the chief executive officer (the CEO) and the chief financial officer (the CFO), and the annual oil and gas filings required under Part 2 of National Instrument 51-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities for the year ended July 31, 2024 (collectively, the annual filings) as well as its interim financial statement for the three-months ended October 31, 2024, the related management discussion and analysis, and certifications of the CEO and CFO. As a result, the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) issued a revocation of the Company's Management Cease Trade Order (MCTO) on January 28, 2025.

About Wedgemount Resources Corp.

Wedgemount Resources is a junior oil & gas company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, development and exploitation of natural resource projects in the southern USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP.

Mark Vanry, President and CEO

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements made in this news release include the focus on production optimization for the remainder of the year including chemical treatments and well workovers to enhance efficiency and output. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration or development programs, successes of the Company's exploration efforts, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada 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/238808

SOURCE: Wedgemount Resources Corp.
Urban sophistication meets suburban tranquillity in Dubai's newest development.

The project is part of the Riverside Community, the developer's 6th master development.

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DAMAC Properties, the UAE's largest private property developer with a global footprint, proudly announced the launch of Riverside Views, its first development of 2025, following an extraordinary year of achievements in 2024. Located within the newly launched DAMAC Riverside community, this project blends urban convenience with suburban charm, offering an unparalleled lifestyle experience. Amira Sajwani, MD, DAMAC Properties and senior executives from DAMAC headlined the press and partner event held in Coca-Cola Arena, gathering key DAMAC officials, agent partners and brokers, and regional and local media members. Globally acclaimed celebrities and influencers, including Indian Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, were present at the launch. DAMAC ran a month-long campaign for Riverside Views in the UAE and its key target markets, such as India, Japan, China, Russia, and the US.

Amira Sajwani, commented: "We are proud to continue listening to our customers' feedback and bringing truly desired products to the market. Riverside Views introduces a collection of stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments housed within eight uniquely themed clusters: Teal, Azure, Marine, Indigo, Royal, Capri, Sun and Pacific. Designed to connect residents to nature and community, the project features a mix of greenery and water scenery, enhancing a sense of well-being and connection with the environment. We will continue to shape Dubai's luxury real estate landscape and bring iconic products."

A New Standard in Wellness-based Living

Situated around 15 minutes each from Expo 2020 and Al Maktoum International Airport, Riverside Views promises easy accessibility with world-class amenities. Five signature dining options will be available, including Portofino Italian Restaurant, a floating island restaurant, a Zen Spa, and a hydroponic farm providing fresh greens daily. With a focus on health and wellness, fitness facilities by the water and a floating chess stage will be accessible to residents, as well as a floating opera, essential oil lakes, and Peace Rooms designed to encourage mindfulness and creativity.

With 1-bedroom apartments starting at AED 888,000 and 2-bedroom apartments from AED 1,420,000, Riverside Views offers an attractive 70/30 payment plan. The project is scheduled for handover on the 31st of May 2028.

A Year of Momentum and Expansion

The unveiling of Riverside Views follows a record-breaking year for DAMAC Properties, marked by the launch of three major community developments: Sun City, DAMAC Islands, and the announcement of DAMAC Riverside. Building on this momentum, DAMAC plans to introduce new projects and deliver significant construction updates throughout 2025.

About DAMAC Properties

DAMAC Properties has been at the forefront of the Middle East's luxury real estate market since 2002, delivering award-winning residential, commercial and leisure properties across the region and internationally, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, the Maldives, Canada, the United States, as well as the United Kingdom.

Since then, the company has delivered more than 47,000 homes with over 40,000 more in diverse planning and development phases. Joining forces with some of the world's most eminent fashion and lifestyle brands to create tremendous living experiences, such as with Versace, Roberto Cavalli, or de GRISOGONO. With a consistent vision and momentum, DAMAC is building the next generation of luxury living across the globe.

Live the Luxury.

Visit us at www.damacproperties.com

Follow DAMAC Properties on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube(@DAMACofficial).

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608720/Riverside_Views_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608718/Riverside_Views_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608719/Riverside_Views_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608717/Riverside_Views_4.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2455928/5140728/DAMAC_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/damac-properties-unveils-its-first-launch-of-2025-riverside-views-302363240.html
Thales Enrollment Kiosks for credential issuance help the U.S. Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) improve their customer experience by making common services more accessible and reducing wait times in their Customer Service Center (CSC).

Citizens in Georgia may currently access DDS services (licenses renewal, change of address etc.) at 30 kiosks in 23 locations, with more kiosks expected throughout 2025.

Featuring a user-friendly touch-screen interface and automatic height adjustment, these Kiosks provide a quick and easy experience for all citizens. Thales is the industry leader in this field, having implemented over 1,700 enrollment kiosks worldwide, applying a "security by design" approach.

Through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), Thales has successfully deployed inclusively designed enrollment kiosks for credential issuance at Georgia DDS Customer Service Centers locations. This user-friendly solution is designed to enhance the customer experience and free up staff time, bringing a new level of efficiency and convenience to DDS centers across the state.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129680944/en/

@Thales

The Thales Enrollment Kiosks offer Georgia citizens a safe and convenient new option for a variety of DDS services, including license renewals, obtaining driving history reports, and change of address transactions. The 30 kiosks are strategically placed across the state at 23 high volume CSC locations, providing Georgians with a quick, easy, and hassle-free way to manage their licensing needs.

"The introduction of Thales Enrollment Kiosks for credential issuance has significantly enhanced the customer experience at the Georgia Department of Driver Services. The implementation of this technology has improved staffing efficiencies, enabling our team to focus on providing personalized assistance where it's most needed. Overall, the Thales Kiosks have been a game-changer for both our customers and our staff." - Spencer R. Moore, Commissioner for Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Georgia DDS has already seen improvements to their operational efficiency for driver services by using these new self-service kiosks, further enhancing the customer experience. With Thales Kiosk implementations, a single Georgia DDS staff member can simultaneously manage multiple kiosks, enabling DDS staff to provide customized support and manage more complex inquiries, ultimately providing a higher quality of service for their citizens.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Georgia Department of Driver Services to introduce our advanced Self-Service Kiosks," said Tyson Moler, Vice President for Thales Identity and Biometric Solutions in North America. "These Kiosks represent a significant leap forward in delivering secure, fast, efficient, and convenient services to the citizens of Georgia. By streamlining routine transactions, we are also helping Georgia DDS optimize their resources and focus on delivering exceptional customer service."

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence Security, Aeronautics Space, and Digital Identity Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener, and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.

Thales has 81,000employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of 18.4 billion.

About Thales in the USA

In the United States, Thales has conducted significant research and development, manufacturing, and service capabilities for more than 130 years. Today, Thales has 37 locations around the U.S., employing nearly 5,000 people. Working closely with U.S. customers and local partners, Thales is able to meet the most complex requirements for every operating environment.

PLEASE VISIT

Thales Group

Download HD photos

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129680944/en/

Contacts:

PRESS

Thales, Media Relations

North America

Jennifer Tumminio

jennifer.tumminio@thalesgroup.com
OneVest, a comprehensive wealth management technology platform, today announced the closure of a $20 million USD Series B equity funding round. The round was led by Salesforce Ventures, with participation from new investors, Allianz Life Ventures and TIAA Ventures. Returning investors include OMERS Ventures, Deloitte Ventures, Fin Capital, Luge Capital, and Pivot Investment Partners.

"We are tackling massive challenges in an industry that's been traditionally slow to adopt new technologies. Having such esteemed investors solidifies our position to reimagine wealth management technology for enterprises across the U.S. and Canada," says Amar Ahluwalia, CEO of OneVest. "With this new funding, we are poised to achieve our goal of becoming the leading wealth management platform in North America."

"OneVest is at the forefront of transforming wealth management technology by providing institutions with the tools needed to deliver personalized and scalable solutions," said Zak Kokosa, Senior Associate, Salesforce Ventures. "We're excited to support OneVest as they continue to set the standard for innovation in an industry poised for tremendous growth."

Advancing the Future of Wealth Management

The wealth management market is undergoing unprecedented change. An estimated $84 trillion will be transferred from Baby Boomers to their Gen X and Millennial heirs over the coming decades, and OneVest's innovative platform is uniquely positioned to help enterprises adapt to these seismic shifts.

OneVest's cutting-edge platform is designed modularly and flexibly, allowing firms to roll out their full end-to-end solution, while large enterprises-including banks, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), asset management firms, and insurance companies-are able to pick and choose specific modules to modernize their wealth programs. Customers can save implementation time and cut down significantly on the cost of using various legacy vendors and manual processes. Additionally, the platform is highly configurable, enabling customers to offer tailored hybrid experiences for investors, and empower advisors to gain greater control and insights over their books of business.

Building for Tomorrow: AI and Alternative Investments

OneVest is building out advanced AI capabilities to enhance decision-making and client engagement. The company will expand its offerings in alternative investments, providing enterprises with tools to diversify client portfolios in an increasingly dynamic financial landscape. OneVest is committed to defining industry changes, while providing a unified, seamless experience for customers.

Strategic Partnerships and Expansion

OneVest is deepening its strategic partnerships with key industry players, like BlackRock, Vanguard, and Salesforce Financial Services Cloud to further solidify its leadership in the market and expand its reach across the financial services sector. With many of its clients using Salesforce, OneVest is expanding value to mutual customers by further unifying the client/advisor experience.

Shaping the Industry's Future

OneVest is setting a new standard for the wealth management technology experience, providing enterprises with the ability to deliver unparalleled customization and personalization through a best-in-class platform. The latest funding round will allow OneVest to focus on company growth and product development.

About OneVest

OneVest is a financial technology company on a mission to Power the World's Wealth. It offers an end-to-end wealth management platform, from client onboarding, to portfolio management, to analytics and beyond. OneVest's software was built to be modular, allowing financial institutions to fill gaps in their process depending on their needs. For more information, please visit onevest.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129763624/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Emily Wexler

Director of Marketing, OneVest

emily.wexler@onevest.com
Market-leading ASM functionality will enhance Searchlight customers' ability to identify and respond to the highest-priority threats

Searchlight Cyber (or "Searchlight"), today announced that it has acquired Assetnote, a Brisbane-based Attack Surface Management (ASM) company. The acquisition, the first by Searchlight Cyber, will integrate Assetnote's industry-leading ASM solution with its dark web intelligence and monitoring capabilities, creating a holistic Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) platform that enables customers to zero in on the highest-priority threats and take action to prevent cyberattacks.

Founded in 2018 by some of the leading minds in offensive security, Assetnote is a pioneer in the Attack Surface Management sector. Assetnote offers customers continuous vulnerability discovery and management, providing businesses with essential insight and control over their changing threat exposure to efficiently manage their security posture. The company boasts an impressive roster of loyal customers such as Linktree, Afterpay, and Canva, as well as one of the most prolific and respected vulnerability research teams in the industry.

Attack Surface Management shifts the focus of security from an internal to an external lens, making it a natural companion to Searchlight Cyber's existing CTEM capabilities. Assetnote's ASM technology uses the attacker's perspective to identify critical vulnerabilities in customers' infrastructure early on, while Searchlight Cyber provides visibility and context of attackers targeting organisations, allowing cybersecurity teams to focus on the most pressing threats and take mitigating actions before disaster strikes.

This inaugural acquisition marks a key milestone in Searchlight's growth journey. Following the strategic growth investment announced in January 2024 from Charlesbank Capital Partners, the company has continued to add to its headcount and global network of partners, with the Assetnote integration considerably expanding Searchlight's customer base and reach globally.

The entire Assetnote team will be joining Searchlight, including founders CEO Michael Gianarakis and CTO Shubham Shah, who will be spearheading the ASM side of the business and the engineering and research teams in Australia.

Ben Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Searchlight Cyber, said: "ASM was always going to be the next area of expansion for Searchlight, and when we met the Assetnote team we very quickly recognized the opportunity to incorporate one of the best solutions on the market into our company. The expertise within the Assetnote team, its industry-leading research, and its impressive customer base bring huge value to Searchlight and our customers. We are delighted to welcome the Assetnote team into the business and celebrate this critical step in our continued growth."

Michael Gianarakis, Co-Founder and CEO of Assetnote, commented: "Having built our business from the ground up, the next phase of Assetnote's journey is all about how we can best expand our options and proposition for our customers. With Searchlight, we found a company that is similar in terms of culture, vision, and opportunities for growth; everything naturally clicked into place. There is real excitement from across the team for the next chapter, and we can't wait to see the benefits that our shared customers will experience as a result."

AGC Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Assetnote. Mintz and Corrs Chambers Westgarth served as legal advisors to Searchlight.

About Searchlight Cyber

Searchlight Cyber provides organizations with relevant and actionable threat intelligence, to help them identify and prevent criminal activity. Originally founded in 2017 with a mission to stop criminals acting with impunity on the dark web, we have been involved in some of the world's largest dark web investigations and have the most comprehensive dataset based on proprietary techniques and ground-breaking academic research. The company has expanded and evolved, adding external threat management capabilities to create a Continuous Threat Exposure Management platform for organizations. Today we help government and law enforcement, enterprises, and managed security services providers around the world to identify threats and prevent attacks. To find out more visit slcyber.io or follow Searchlight Cyber on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Assetnote

Founded in 2018, Assetnote was born from the collective expertise of some of the leading minds in offensive security, and has grown to reflect the values and ability of our brain trust. Pioneering the Attack Surface Management category, Assetnote's Continuous Exposure Management platform closes the gap between the attacker's and defender's perspectives with industry leading real-time awareness of your evolving attack surface and the exploitable security exposure identified within. Monitoring millions of assets every hour for our customers, we are proud to be the chosen security platform for a wide array of organizations, from innovative startups to members of the Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and ASX 200. To find out more visit assetnote.io.

About Charlesbank Capital Partners

Based in Boston and New York, Charlesbank Capital Partners is a middle-market private investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management as of 9/30/24. Charlesbank focuses on management-led buyouts, growth capital financings, opportunistic credit, and technology investments. The firm seeks to invest in companies with sustainable competitive advantage and excellent prospects for growth. For more information, please visit www.charlesbank.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129424352/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

Tom Duncan

Brands2Life

searchlightcyber@brands2life.com
Tacton, a global leader in Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software and leading SaaS platform simplifying sales and configuration processes for manufacturers of complex products, today announced its recognition as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPQ Applications. Positioned highest for Ability to Execute, this marks Tacton's third consecutive time as a Leader, which we believe reinforces its commitment to delivering innovative solutions for manufacturers.

Tacton's advanced technology empowers manufacturers to address unique challenges by enhancing operational efficiency, streamlining sales processes, and delivering buyer-centric solutions. As a trusted partner, Tacton supports manufacturers in advancing sustainability, transforming sales strategies, and driving business growth.

"For five consecutive times, Tacton has been recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPQ Applications, including being named a Leader for the past three," said Bo Gyldenvang, Chief Executive Officer at Tacton. "We believe this reflects our strong position as the go-to platform for complex manufacturers seeking to overcome industry challenges with innovative and scalable solutions. Manufacturers can rely on Tacton to streamline operations, optimize buyer engagement, and stay ahead in a competitive market."

A Gartner Magic Quadrant is a culmination of research in a specific market, giving you a wide-angle view of the relative positions of the market's competitors. By applying a graphical treatment and a uniform set of evaluation criteria, a Magic Quadrant helps you quickly ascertain how well technology providers are executing their stated visions and how well they are performing against Gartner's market view.

For Tacton, this announcement is the latest in a series of milestones. In addition to its placement in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, the company was named a Major Player in IDC's MarketScape for APQ Applications 2024-2025 and secured placement in MGI Research's CPQ Buyer's Guide as the number one CPQ product. These achievements highlight Tacton's continued leadership and commitment to innovation in the CPQ market.

Access a complimentary copy of the Gartner report and learn more about Tacton at www.tacton.com

Gartner Disclaimer

This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from Tacton.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Configure, Price and Quote Applications, By Mark Lewis, Luke Tipping, 22 January 2025.

About Tacton

Tacton is a leading SaaS company redefining how manufacturers of complex products engage with their buyers. Its cutting-edge buyer engagement platform empowers manufacturers to streamline the buyer journey, deliver personalized, customer-centric experiences, and bring complex products to market faster and more efficiently.

Tacton partners with manufacturers to drive smart factory initiatives and align operations with customer needs. With over 25 years of experience and trusted by more than 100 global leaders like ABB, Daimler, MAN, Scania, Siemens, Xylem, and Yaskawa, Tacton is co-headquartered in Chicago and Stockholm, with regional offices in Karlsruhe, Warsaw, and Tokyo. Learn more at www.tacton.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129645781/en/

Contacts:

Lori McInerney

SVP Global Marketing, Tacton

Lori.McInerney@tacton.com
Moove's total global fleet now comprises 36,000 vehicles.

As part of its long term strategy to meet growing demand, Moove will order no fewer than 15,000 vehicles annually across all its markets.

The acquisition strengthens Moove's ARR revenue to upwards of $275 Million (on a consolidated basis).

Moove's presence now spans 19 cities across 6 continents, showcasing its scale and reach as a global mobility leader.

This acquisition strengthens Moove's presence in LATAM, expanding its operational presence and economic impact in the region.

Kovi's proprietary IoT software and driver behaviour algorithm will strengthen Moove's AI mobility strategy.

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Moove, a global leader in mobility with a vision to build the largest rideshare fleet and best-in-class technologies powering mobility platforms, has announced the acquisition of Kovi, an urban mobility provider headquartered in Sao Paulo.

This strategic acquisition aligns with Moove's commitment to advancing mobility and expanding its footprint in the rapidly growing Latin American market. Launched in 2020, Moove has built the third side of mobility marketplaces by providing dedicated supply via Drive-to-Own, Taxi, and Autonomous fleets and continues to lead the transformation of mobility globally.

The acquisition increases Moove's total global fleet to 36,000 vehicles and operations to 19 cities across 6 continents. It not only strengthens the company's position as one of the world's largest rideshare fleet operators, but incorporates Kovi's proprietary IoT software and advanced driver behaviour algorithm, which complement Moove's existing focus on safety and efficiency. These innovations will strengthen Moove's AI mobility strategy, further advancing its position as a global leader in mobility and autonomous vehicle innovation, while also reinforcing its commitment to driving economic growth in Latin America.

Founded in 2018, Kovi has established itself as a pioneering force in making car ownership more accessible and efficient through innovative technology and financial solutions. With a robust fleet and a strong presence in Brazil and Mexico, Kovi has demonstrated impressive growth since inception. Its innovative approach to driver support and its strong foothold in Brazil bring significant value to Moove's global operations, strengthening its ability to expand into high growth markets and drive impactful change in mobility.

Kovi's data-driven approach to vehicle management and user experience will complement Moove's existing capabilities, enabling the company to offer superior services to its customers.

Ladi Delano, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Moove, said:

"Kovi has built an impressive business with a robust presence in Brazil, one of the most dynamic mobility markets in the world. We're thrilled to welcome them to the Moove family. This transaction not only strengthens our footprint in Latin America and reinforces our position as a dominant player in global mobility, but it also underscores our commitment to contributing to the Brazilian economy. Kovi's proprietary IoT software and advanced driver behaviour models complement our existing capabilities, supporting our focus on safety, efficiency, and innovation in AI mobility."

Adhemar Milani Neto, CEO of Kovi, said:

"Today, we stand at the forefront of a new era in mobility, and we believe that Moove has done a fantastic job at scaling their business on a global scale and with the right strategic angles. I met the founders many years back when they were scaling their business in Africa, and I was immediately impressed by their purpose-driven approach, which is also a perfect match to our culture. Together, I believe we will become a truly global category-defining business and will leverage scale and deep expertise never seen in our market. We are also excited to continue our expansion across Latam now with robustness with such strong partners."

The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the Brazilian antitrust authority.

About Moove

Moove is building the world's largest fleet and best-in-class technologies that power mobility platforms. Its flagship Drive-to-Own (DTO) product democratises access to vehicle ownership with a revolutionary revenue based financing model, enabling underserved mobility entrepreneurs to thrive.

Moove's growth has been fuelled by its global Uber partnership and support of leading investors and lenders, including Uber, Mubadala, BlackRock, MUFG, and many others. With operations now spanning 19 cities across 6 continents - Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East - Moove continues to expand its offerings through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with industry leaders, including Waymo and Uber. Moove is transforming mobility to make it safer, more efficient and accessible to all, while providing economic opportunities and supporting skills development in the mobility sector.



Key Facts

Launched and scaled to 19 cities across 6 continents in 4 years, since 2020 launch

Over 100,000 lives positively impacted through job creation and mobility access

36,000 vehicles in Moove's global fleet

50+ million trips completed in Moove-financed vehicles through its Uber partnership

$500+ million in combined equity and debt funding raised from world-class investors including Uber, Mubadala, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Janus Henderson, and IFC (World Bank)



Media Contact

moove@zenogroup.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608716/5140719/Moove_Kovi_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/moove-acquires-kovi-strengthening-its-position-as-a-global-leader-in-mobility-302363273.html
Brest, January 29, 2025 - Credit Mutuel Arkea announces the roll out of its new strategic plan, Faire 2030, the result of a collaborative effort involving employees and local directors over the past 12 months. This ambitious development plan, with a longer timeframe than its predecessors, aims to strengthen the distinctiveness of both the positioning and development model of the cooperative and territorial group. Faire 2030 is a plan rooted in commitment, openness, and boldness.

A plan of commitment benefiting exclusively the real economy, local territories, and their stakeholders. Through Faire 2030, the Group wants to play a key role in the sustainable development of territories. This starts within its federations and local banks - Credit Mutuel de Bretagne and Credit Mutuel du Sud-Ouest - where the Group acts as a universal, relationship-focused, and locally embedded bank, poised for growth and dedicated to supporting transitions for the benefit of all. It also extends nationwide, where its specialized subsidiaries, driven by the same in-depth understanding of local challenges, will enhance their presence and commitment.

A plan of openness for its business model by forging new partnerships and fostering boldness - in decisions and technological levers - to significantly accelerate its growth by 2030 in online banking, private equity, responsible asset management, and white-label banking services while fueling a strong dynamic in the life insurance sector.

A plan reaffirming the Group's strong commitment to sustainable finance, aiming to support actions to fight climate change (mitigation and adaptation) while investing in new areas such as biodiversity, water management, social impact, and a fair transition.

Besides, Credit Mutuel Arkea will continue its transformation to enhance its operational effectiveness and capacity for action, with a renewed commitment to "Faire Groupe" (acting as one cohesive Group). The implementation of a unified customer promise - "With you, with all our strengths" - shared across all Group entities and serving as the tagline for the plan, reflects this collective commitment to member and client satisfaction.

These development and transformation ambitions are accompanied by ambitious growth objectives, supported by commercial, financial (cost/income ratio of 67% and a net profit >550 million1 ) and extra-financial indicators for 2027, being the first milestone of this plan.

On January 28, 2025, the Board of Directors of Credit Mutuel Arkea, chaired by Julien Carmona, unanimously adopted this new strategic plan2.

"Faire 2030" is a strategic plan that reflects who we are, a cooperative group strongly rooted in its territories, open and bold. A group firmly convinced of the role it must play in contributing, through sustainable finance, to creating a more responsible and inclusive world. A resilient group, capable of navigating uncertainty, and one that is more committed than ever to prioritizing action and progress over inertia or withdrawal.

Faced with the acceleration of environmental, demographic, technological, and geopolitical transitions that are reshaping our societies, we must continue to transform ourselves -more united and agile- to enhance our operational efficiency in the service of our clients and members. This plan commits us to go further, to accelerate our efforts in providing sustainable, innovative, and tailored solutions to meet the needs of our clients and territories.

With "Faire 2030", we affirm our determination to continue along our path: the path of a cooperative territorial bank, a mid-sized bank with an autonomous strategy and decision-making centers rooted in Brittany and Nouvelle-Aquitaine; the path of a mission-driven bank that takes its mutualist values very seriously, as well as its ecological, social, and territorial responsibilities; the path of a bank unlike any other. 

Julien Carmona, Chairman of Credit Mutuel Arkea and Credit Mutuel de Bretagne

*With "Faire 2030," we affirm our commitment to innovate and expand our business model toward new growth drivers, particularly in online banking and private equity while strengthening our territorial roots and intensifying our presence beyond our historical regions. These ambitions will be supported by an IT strategy that is a true partner to our businesses (competitive and high-performing) dedicated to supporting the Group's commercial development and ensuring its autonomy.

"Faire 2030" is also a transformation plan focused on simplifying our operations to better meet customer expectations and on excelling, more than ever before, in "acting as one Group." This ambition is embodied in a new, unified customer promise: "With you, with all our strengths." This is more than just a slogan, it's a mindset that should permeate the entire Group, guiding our thinking, methods, and initiatives continuously.

With "Faire 2030," we affirm our determination to pursue sustainable growth -fully aligned with the commitments set out in our "Raison d'etre"- creating value for our clients, our territories, and all our stakeholders.*

Helene Bernicot, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Mutuel Arkea

FAIRE 2030: A Development and Transformation Plan Addressing the Current and Future Challenges of Society

> Building on the vision outlined in its previous plan and the results that further strengthened its financial resilience, Credit Mutuel Arkea approaches this new milestone with confidence and determination.

Thanks to its previous strategic plan, Transitions 2024, Credit Mutuel Arkea has become a pioneer in sustainable finance, paving the way with several major advancements: the adoption of a "Raison d'etre" (purpose) in 2019, further reinforced in 2022 by adopting mission-driven company status; and the publication - a first in Europe - of its results based on global performance, combining financial and extra-financial metrics. This confirmed its ambition to become the agile financial partner for future transitions.

Through the development of specialized divisions (e.g., maritime, real estate), the integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the growth of its B2B activities, the Group also demonstrated its ability to innovate while staying true to its cooperative values of responsibility and solidarity.

Moreover, in 2023, Credit Mutuel Arkea reached an agreement with the wider Credit Mutuel Group, securing a protocol to protect its strategic autonomy and its unique model. This agreement has enabled the Group to smoothly roll out its corporate vision.

Over the past four years, despite a context marked by successive crises, the Group has delivered strong results, including:

A 34% increase in outstanding loans , significantly outperforming the average growth of its competitors 3 .

, significantly outperforming the average growth of its competitors . A 28% rise in Group's equity 4 .

Continued job creation, with a 7% increase in staff, reaching 11,564 employees3.

Faire 2030, whose name reflects a resolute commitment to progress and action despite a particularly challenging and uncertain environment, builds on the achievements of Transitions 2024 to offer a concrete response to current and future economic, environmental, and societal challenges.

This new strategic plan is structured around two development ambitions, three transformation ambitions, and two accelerators, which will guide the actions to Faire 2030.

Two development ambitions:

1- A major player in the sustainable development of territories

As a universal bank and a mission-driven company, the Group, which maintains strong and lasting links with territories and their stakeholders, carries the ambition and responsibility to further support them in their societal and environmental transitions. This commitment is built on the expertise of the Credit Mutuel de Bretagne and Credit Mutuel du Sud-Ouest networks, as well as their strengthened cooperation with specialized subsidiaries and support functions.

1.a. Establish Credit Mutuel Arkea as a committed and growing leader in Bretagne and the three southwestern departments where the Group is already active

In its historical regions of Bretagne and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the objective is to establish itself as the best financial partner for these territories. This means continuing expanding the market share in high-potential segments by significantly speeding-up growth in three priority segments: professionals & businesses, retail and affluent clients. By 2030, the Group aims to achieve the following:

Become the bank of 2.3 million clients and members in these two regions 5 (compared to 2.1 million in 2024), making it the cornerstone bank for one in two households in Bretagne and one in five residents in the Sud-Ouest.

(compared to 2.1 million in 2024), making it the cornerstone bank for one in two households in Bretagne and one in five residents in the Sud-Ouest. Serve one in four professionals in Bretagne and one in eleven in the Sud-Ouest , effectively doubling its market share.

, effectively doubling its market share. Partner with one in two farmers in Bretagne and establish itself as a key agricultural bank in the Sud-Ouest , targeting new farmers through a dedicated agri-agro division and tailored offering..

, targeting new farmers through a dedicated agri-agro division and tailored offering.. Increase its financing and investment capacity for maritime sector stakeholders, aiming to become the "go-to partner" in this sector. Leveraging its unique geographic presence (85,000 jobs and nearly 40% of France's metropolitan coastline), the Group aims to achieve a 25% market share, becoming the bank of one in four maritime stakeholders in its historical territories.

These growth ambitions will be supported by the quality of advisory services, the integration of expertise, the acceleration of digitalization, and the modernization of its cooperative membership model.

1.b. Expand nationwide the expertise developed in the Group's historical territories

Building on the expertise developed and refined in its historical territories, some of the Group's subsidiaries have successfully extended their skills to the national level. Credit Mutuel Arkea aims to continue along this path by strengthening its support for territories across France, targeting high-net-worth clients, corporates and institutions, and accompanying local decision-makers in their growth and development. This will include:

Expanding its presence in high-potential regions (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Grand-Est, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France), particularly targeting companies with annual turnover exceeding 30 million.

(Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Grand-Est, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France), particularly targeting companies with annual turnover exceeding 30 million. Enhancing coordination between subsidiaries , relying on a Credit Mutuel Arkea Group representative in each territory.

, relying on a Credit Mutuel Arkea Group representative in each territory. Offering a comprehensive "Arkea" approach to business leaders, supporting them both as individuals (wealth management, family office solutions) and as entrepreneurs (operational and development cycle support, private equity, strategic advisory services).

This national expansion will also address major challenges related to territorial balance and social cohesion by better supporting key sectors such as real estate, energy, and healthcare.

1.c. Continue to demonstrate that finance is a tool for building a more sustainable world

Credit Mutuel Arkea aims to position sustainable finance as a powerful driver of economic, financial, and societal performance. This vision is rooted in the belief that financial and extra-financial performance are closely intertwined and that transitions can only be embraced if they are perceived as fair.

By 2030, the Group has chosen to act on three strategic priorities in sustainability:

Mitigating and adapting to climate change by intensifying client support to meet defined climate targets, accelerating financing for the decarbonization of the economy, rolling out new offers to support the environmental transition, such as thematic or impact savings products, and supporting adaptation solutions. Adopting a Group-wide strategy for biodiversity and natural capital protection starting in 2025. Implementing a policy to preserve water resources across territories beginning in 2026.

These initiatives are designed to ensure a "fair transition", prioritizing social fairness. They will increase the Group's commitment to environmental transition while creating new growth drivers and enhancing its financial position.

Concrete objectives have been set:

2.2 billion in financing for the environmental transition provided annually by 2027.

1.6 billion in savings raised for the environmental transition gathered annually by 2027.

A 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of the financial portfolio6 by 2030.

By 2030, the Group aims to be recognized as a leading player in sustainability, contributing to the vitality of territories.

2- Continue opening its business model and expand boldly

Through Faire 2030, Credit Mutuel Arkea aims to continue opening its business model, explore new opportunities, and strengthen its autonomy while supporting its organic growth strategy. Two key focuses will be online banking and private equity:

Significantly accelerating online banking

The growth prospects in the online banking market represent an opportunity to strengthen the position of Arkea Direct Bank (Fortuneo in France and Keytrade Bank in Belgium). Voted "Best Bank 2024"7 Fortuneo -one of the few profitable players in the segment- currently serves, alongside Keytrade Bank8, over 1.2 million active clients in France and Belgium.

In a highly competitive environment with new entrants constantly emerging, Arkea Direct Bank faces the dual challenge of consolidating its brands and accelerating client acquisition.

This ambition will be supported by marketing and IT investments, expanding the range of services to enhance client relationships, and targeting independent professionals at a national level. The goal is to double the client base, and reach 2.8 million by 2030.

Establish itself as a committed player in private equity and responsible asset management

Through Arkea Capital, its private equity subsidiary, Credit Mutuel Arkea will continue to expand its investments through minority stakes in French SMEs and mid-sized companies. The objective is to offer business leaders tailored, long-term support (7 to 10 years). Arkea Capital will also speed-up its growth by introducing new "responsible" investment strategies, open to third-party investors. This approach aims to position Arkea Capital quickly and assertively in the private equity market by developing specialized vehicles, such as sovereignty-focused funds or funds for resilient infrastructure. With these initiatives, the subsidiary aims to double its assets under management to 2.5 billion by 2027, with 45% invested by third parties.

Simultaneously, the Group is strengthening its position in the asset management market by consolidating its activities under the Arkea Asset Management brand. The subsidiary aspires to become a leading player in solidarity-based asset management, aiming to rank in the top 5 of the largest solidarity funds9 and to manage 70 billion in assets by 2030.

Additionally, the rapid development of real estate asset management under the Arkea REIM and Arkea RE brands represents another key growth area.

Accelerate its open distribution strategy and partnership approach, particularly in the Group's insurance activities

For life insurance, this open distribution strategy will involve seeking new partners and distribution channels, such as private banks, wealth management advisors, and family offices. The goal is to maintain a record level of gross life insurance inflows, targeting 5 billion by 2030.

In property and casualty insurance (P&C), the focus will be on diversifying risks and revenues nationwide through the contributions of the Group's networks and external partnerships.

Leverage its know-how in bancassurance services to drive growth for its B2B partners and Group entities

Credit Mutuel Arkea has ambitious development plans for its specialized subsidiaries (payment solutions, securities solutions, contact centers, etc.) and aims to:

Strengthen its leadership in outsourced banking solutions establishing its subsidiaries as key references in their fields and enlarge its range of solutions.

establishing its subsidiaries as key references in their fields and Finalize its B2B strategy with high-performing, independent, and enhanced IT platforms , enabling the Group to support the strategies of its main B2B clients and internal stakeholders.

, enabling the Group to support the strategies of its main B2B clients and internal stakeholders. Align internal and external needs for products and customer/employee journeys to foster mutualization and ensure the replicability of the offer across the Group.

As a cooperative banking group, Arkea aims to achieve 400 million in net banking income (NBI) generated by its white-label activities by 2030 (compared to 310 million in 2024 and 171 million in 2020).

Three transformation ambitions :

To support these development ambitions, Credit Mutuel Arkea plans to implement changes that promote greater cross-functions and more synergistic methods. To achieve Faire 2030, the Group must "Faire Groupe" (Act as One), uniting the strengths of its entities and employees for greater efficiency, with one singular goal: serving the client. This transformation is built on three ambitions:

1- Commit to a Credit Mutuel Arkea client promise: "With you, with all our strengths"

"Faire 2030" introduces a unified client offering across all entities and components of Credit Mutuel Arkea: "With you, with all our strengths". This promise translates into a more impactful client experience built around four key pillars: trust as the foundation of the relationship, simplicity to facilitate interactions, commitment for proactive and personalized support, authenticity through close relationships and active listening.

A training program to raise awareness of the Group's Client Culture will be rolled out to all employees, with a target of 80% of staff trained by 2027.

This promise will enrich and give substance to the Group's brand tagline:  De nouveaux liens pour changer demain  (Building new connections to change tomorrow.) It will also be reflected through a new brand architecture designed to create a reciprocal connection between the Group's brands, providing greater clarity for clients and enhancing their understanding of Credit Mutuel Arkea.

2- Enhance operational efficiency: build a more agile organization centered on "Faire Groupe"

This strategic plan will require organizational adaptations to ensure flawless execution, with the goal of improving operational efficiency. By 2027, Credit Mutuel Arkea aims to achieve productivity gains of 100 million in operating expenses and a cost/income ratio of 67%. These efforts are expected to result in a net income exceeding 550 million by 2027, delivering a 7% return on regulatory core capital10. The Group also seeks to maintain robust capital and liquidity ratios (CET 1  16%11 , loan/deposit ratio < 110%) while adhering to its prudent risk appetite framework.

3- A committed collective

With approximately 11,500 employees and 2,600 local directors, Credit Mutuel Arkea represents a collective dedicated to achieving Faire 2030. These individuals are true ambassadors for the Group in their respective territories. Their efforts will be supported by initiatives designed to strengthen Group culture, foster cross-functional collaboration, and create conditions for engagement, professional development, and employability.

Key initiatives include:

Rolling out a program to deepen understanding of the Group's business model.

Promoting professional mobility, particularly between entities, with the goal of maintaining a mobility rate above 10%.

Empowering local directors with additional tools to support solidarity and support local projects. This will include redistributing at least 10 million annually through its sponsorship and solidarity programs.

Two key accelerators to drive the success of the strategic plan



Credit Mutuel Arkea identifies its IT strategy and AI strategy as key accelerators to achieve the ambitions of Faire 2030. With innovation at the core of its DNA, the Group is committed to:

Developing IT systems that are business-focused, competitive, and high-performing, serving the Group's commercial growth and autonomy.

Harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence, while ensuring its responsible and controlled use, in alignment with the Group's mission-driven status.

Credit Mutuel Arkea

The Credit Mutuel Arkea cooperative group is made up of the Credit Mutuel de Bretagne and Sud-Ouest federations and their local member banks, as well as around 40 specialised subsidiaries (Fortuneo, Monext, Arkea Banque Entreprises et Institutionnels, Arkea Asset Management, Suravenir, etc.). It has more about 11,500 employees, 2,600 directors, more than 5.1 million members and customers in bancassurance and has a balance sheet total of 191.6 billion euros as of December 31, 2023.

The first banking group to adopt a Purpose in 2019, Credit Mutuel Arkea became a mission-driven company in 2022 and is committed, through its "Transitions 2024" strategic plan, to practicing finance that serves the regions and their stakeholders in order to position itself as the agile and innovative financial partner for the transitions of the future.

Present throughout the national territory, Credit Mutuel Arkea has chosen to maintain its decision-making centers in the regions. It is a major player in job creation in its territories, and relies on a continuous recruitment dynamic. The Group has become convinced that local development can only be achieved by combining the financial and the extra-financial. This is why Credit Mutuel Arkea is the first French bank to have developed a unique method for calculating overall performance. This allows it to take into account all the financial, social, societal and environmental impacts of its activities and those of its stakeholders.

Press contact: Solen Deltour - 06 30 80 38 78 - solen.deltour@arkea.com

Follow Credit Mutuel Arkea on social networks cm-arkea.com

1 In a central economic scenario and in the absence of major disruptions to the economic, financial, regulatory, and political environment in which the Group's main businesses operate.

2 Information and consultation process currently underway with employee representative bodies.

3 between December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2024

4 between December 31, 2020, and June 30, 2024

5 Note: At the Group level, Faire 2030 aims to reach a total of 7 million clients and members by 2030 (compared to 5.4 million in 2024).

6 Corporate and financial portfolio managed by Arkea Asset Management

7 Pricebank, March 2024: https://www.fortuneo.fr/files/palmares-2024-de-la-meilleure-banque-par-pricebank.pdf

8 Forbes: Voted Best Belgian Bank for the second consecutive year (2023 and 2024).

9 A financial investment that supports the financing of social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations with high social or environmental value.

10 Net profit / [RWA x 15 %] - Notional ROE based on a 15% CET1

11 With a leeway to 15 % in exceptional situation (external growth, investments, absorption of external shocks, ) and in compliance with the Group's risk appetite framework

------------------------

This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ".

- SECURITY MASTER Key:

yGlvYcWalmiUlXKcaZpramdmameSmWKdm5TGlpZvZJiUnHFilG9nb5jGZnFqnGVs

- 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-0-89706-20250129-press-release-faire-2030_eng.pdf
MyGovWatch.com, a government bid notification and intelligence website that offers a free trial in more than 200 industries, recently presented compiled data showing outsourced Federal contracting dollars are likely to increase during a second Trump administration.

MyGovWatch Presents Federal Data Showing Trump 2.0 Outsourced Spending Likely to Increase

Despite efforts to rein in government during Trump 1.0, every indicator shows greater dollars spent, both in-house and contracted dollars, by the end of Trump's first term compared to when it started.

In the November 20, 2024, edition of MyGovWatch Live, MyGovWatch President Nick Bernardo addressed an idea creating concern for some in the government contractor community: That a newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may foretell reductions in Federal government spending, including contracting dollars for outsourced activity.

In the event, which you can find and view on this page, he presents charts tracking dollars spent spanning three administrations.

Charts show the following for FY13-24 using two departments as bellwethers:

Total spending over time

Total spending versus total defense spending

Total spending versus contracted spending

Contracted spending versus contracted DOD and contracted homeland security spending

Contracted spending versus small business contracted spending

Despite efforts to rein in government during Trump 1.0, every indicator shows greater dollars spent, both in-house and contracted dollars, by the end of Trump's first term compared to when it started. There's every reason to suspect contracted dollars will go up both in absolute terms and as a percentage of total spending under a Trump reboot based on the political climate and on statements President Trump and Elon Musk continue to make about their intentions.

"People looking to grow a business through government contracts, including Federal contracts, should have no concerns about opportunities with the new administration," stated Bernardo, adding, "Based on past history, our users will continue to see large numbers of government contracting opportunities at all levels of government, including Federal, through the MyGovWatch portal."

SOURCE: MyGovWatch

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed plans to install solar systems in 18 offices by 2025, aiming to cut emissions and reduce reliance on diesel. The UNHCR said that it plans to power most of its offices with solar energy, targeting locations responsible for 80% of its infrastructure-related CO2 emissions. Office emissions from its 550 sites worldwide account for 56% of its total carbon footprint. "There are currently seven offices that have been equipped with solar systems, six of those installed in Nouakchott and Bassikounou in Mauritania and Abuja, Lagos, and ...

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.
Hornetsecurity continuously adapts to emerging trends and threats, positioning itself as a proactive, forward-looking leader that anticipates and addresses the evolving needs of the EMEA market.

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently assessed the human risk management industry and, based on its findings, recognizes Hornetsecurity with the 2025 EMEA Company of the Year Award. The company's Human Risk Management (HRM) platform exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity education. It integrates an AI-powered Security Awareness Service that delivers continuous, automated training tailored to each user's behavior and risk profile. Through its innovative approach to training, Hornetsecurity addresses common HRM challenges, such as user fatigue and low engagement, by leveraging sophisticated phishing simulations and dynamic, on-demand micro-training sessions. The platform's continuous content adjustment, which is based on user performance, ensures that training remains relevant, targeted, and impactful. Hornetsecurity's HRM platform's adaptability, AI-driven innovation, and consistent delivery of high-quality training ensure organizations remain protected in an ever-changing digital threat landscape. Hornetsecurity's HRM solution delivers an outstanding customer experience at every stage of the journey, from the initial purchase experience to the long-term ownership experience.

Hornetsecurity directly addresses the often-unmet need for tailored, engaging cybersecurity education and demonstrates its commitment to implementing best-in-class practices that yield consistent, repeatable success. By continuously monitoring user behavior and adjusting training content accordingly, Hornetsecurity provides organizations with a clear, actionable metric to assess and enhance their human risk posture. The AI-driven user profiling engine adjusts the frequency, difficulty, and content of training to match each employee's unique needs, effectively reducing training fatigue and improving long-term learning outcomes. Hornetsecurity's ability to address unmet needs positions it as a visionary leader within the HRM landscape. By incorporating macro-level scenarios into its innovation strategy, such as increasing sophistication in phishing and social engineering tactics, Hornetsecurity has developed a robust, future-ready HRM solution that aligns closely with evolving cybersecurity megatrends. This foresight is critical in maintaining Hornetsecurity's leadership position in the EMEA region-a market increasingly demanding high-caliber, resilient cybersecurity solutions.

High levels of satisfaction

Claudio Stahnke, industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan, observed, "Hornetsecurity places customer satisfaction at the forefront of its approach. Organizations that implement Hornetsecurity's HRM solution report high levels of satisfaction thanks to its ease of use, minimal administrative requirements, and automated phishing simulation campaigns."

Hornetsecurity has established a strong brand reputation within the EMEA market. Customers perceive it as a trusted HRM provider and the company exhibits high brand loyalty due to the platform's reliability, ease of use, and positive impact on organizational cybersecurity. By delivering consistent, repeatable value across multiple dimensions of customer impact, Hornetsecurity has built a loyal client base that continues to grow as more organizations recognize the importance of human-centric cybersecurity solutions. Hornetsecurity's commitment to research and development further supports its growth and leadership position. By investing in dedicated R&D for adaptive training, Hornetsecurity continually refines its AI engine to detect, analyze, and respond to evolving threat landscapes. This emphasis on innovation ensures that Hornetsecurity's HRM solution remains at the forefront of cybersecurity education, providing users with relevant, effective training that evolves alongside the latest cyber threats.

A transformative approach to cybersecurity

"Hornetsecurity's Human Risk Management platform embodies a transformative approach to cybersecurity that addresses the unique challenges of human-centric vulnerabilities. Through its AI-driven, adaptive security awareness service, Hornetsecurity has revolutionized how organizations approach cybersecurity education," added Claudio. By providing continuous, tailored training that adapts to individual user behaviors, Hornetsecurity's HRM solution empowers organizations to build a resilient cybersecurity culture that mitigates human risk effectively and sustainably. Hornetsecurity earns Frost & Sullivan's 2025 EMEA Company of the Year Recognition for its strong overall performance in the HRM industry.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, megatrends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Camila Tinajero

P: +54911 6713 2748

E: Camila.Tinajero@frost.com

About Hornetsecurity

Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organizations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 120 countries through its international distribution network of 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 75,000 customers.

Media enquiries

Please contact us at press@hornetsecurity.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608404/Hornetsecurity_Award_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hornetsecurity-applauded-by-frost--sullivan-for-enabling-innovative-adaptive-training-in-cybersecurity-education-and-its-market-leading-position-302363015.html
Step aboard a cultural icon that defined 1980s cool. The "Miami Vice" Wellcraft 38KV Scarab

The stage is set for an unforgettable day as Iconic Premier extends a special invitation to all accredited media professionals. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Miami Vice, the original #1 filming boat that became a global symbol of glamour and adventure will host free media rides on the waterways of Key Biscayne.

This is a unique chance for media outlets to step into a landmark of television history and create captivating stories for their audiences.

Special Guest Appearance

Olivia Brown, famously known as Trudy from Miami Vice, will be joining the event. Her presence adds a nostalgic connection for fans of the show, making this celebration even more special.

Event Details

Date: February 11, 2025

Time: 9 AM to dusk

Location: Crandon Park Marina, 4000 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL

The Star of the Water Returns

The Miami Vice filming boat is unlike any other. Built specifically for the hit TV series, the Wellcraft 38KV Scarab didn't just chase criminals on screen; it defined an era. From its cutting-edge design to its vibrant multi-colored finish referred to the Picasso of boats, it's a vessel that commands attention even today.

On February 11, media members will ride this iconic boat and gain exclusive access to the stories behind this 80s symbol that reflects the visionaries who made it a cultural phenomenon. The craftsmanship and innovation poured into this vessel by the Wellcraft team, led by the legendary Don Johnson, have made the Miami Vice boat a timeless masterpiece. Meet the original Wellcraft builders and hear how this custom-built vessel became a game-changer - blending speed, style, and engineering to create a lasting legacy.

An Unmatched Opportunity for Media

Media professionals are invited to capture live footage, conduct interviews, and immerse their audiences in the allure of the Miami Vice era. This one-day-only event provides a chance to broadcast directly from the boat, offering an unbeatable visual backdrop of Key Biscayne's stunning waters.

With its bold design and cultural significance, the Miami Vice filming boat offers endless creative possibilities for content. From exclusive behind-the-scenes insights to its enduring impact on television and boating culture, this is a story your viewers and readers will not want to miss.

Ride the Legacy

More than a filming prop, the Miami Vice boat became a phenomenon. It reshaped how the world viewed Miami, drawing attention to its vibrant lifestyle and helping position the city as a global hotspot. Today, it continues to inspire nostalgia and admiration.

Media outlets have the rare opportunity to connect their audiences to a cultural icon that remains unmatched in style and significance, by joining this historic event.

How to Reserve Your Spot

This exclusive event is by invitation only and requires advanced registration. Contact Iconic Premier to secure your place and be part of this extraordinary celebration. In the event that individuals are not able to view boat on the 11th it will be in Fort Lauderdale at any time.

Lights. Camera. Action. The Boat is Ready - Are You?

Don't miss your chance to ride on the vessel that turned heads worldwide. Capture history, connect with legends, and share the story that made Miami Vice and Miami itself the icons of the 80s.

Press Contact:

David Martino

Email: davidmartino@live.com

Phone: +1 954-560-2466

https://iconicpremier.world/

SOURCE: ICONIC PREMIER

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Ambience Healthcare, the leading enterprise AI platform for documentation, CDI & coding, and care coordination, today announced an agreement with athenahealth, Inc through the company's Marketplace program. As part of the athenahealth Marketplace, Ambience's AI technology, which recently received a 97.7% Spotlight Report score from KLAS Research in the Ambient AI category*, is now available to athenahealth's growing network of healthcare providers.

"Ambience is already live with athenahealth customers across a wide variety of specialties and platform capabilities. We are seeing tangible results across time savings and decreased feelings of burnout for clinicians. By improving CDI and coding accuracy, Ambience also pays for itself without needing to ask clinicians to see more patients," said Mike Ng, CEO and Co-Founder of Ambience Healthcare. "Joining the athenahealth Marketplace represents an exciting milestone in our journey to bring cutting-edge AI technology to even more clinicians throughout the United States."

Ambience Healthcare's integration within the athenahealth Marketplace offers healthcare organizations a highly customizable and deeply integrated AI-assisted scribing and coding solution. This includes support for ICD-10 and CPT coding, and streamlined generation of patient-facing after-visit summaries. Ambience has built specialty-specific AI models for 100+ specialties and subspecialties, and implementation of the platform involves customization at both the organization and user level. Additionally, Ambience's Marketplace solution is optimized for both mobile and browser-based use, ensuring clinicians across modalities can leverage its powerful technology.

athenahealth is a leading provider of network-enabled software and services for medical groups and health systems nationwide. Its electronic health records, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement tools allow anytime, anywhere access to drive better financial outcomes for practices and enable providers to deliver better quality care. athenahealth's vision is to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all. As a Marketplace partner, Ambience Healthcare joins a community of innovative, like-minded healthcare professionals working to bring best-in-class solutions to the athenahealth provider base.

To learn more about Ambience Healthcare's new integrated AI application, please visit Ambience Healthcare's product listing page on the Marketplace.

*This report was written with limited data.

About Ambience Healthcare

The mission of Ambience Healthcare is to supercharge clinicians with breakthrough generative AI technology. Leading health systems and provider organizations across North America partner with Ambience Healthcare to reduce clinician burnout, improve system efficiency, and enable high quality care. Founded in 2020 by Mike Ng and Nikhil Buduma, Ambience is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has raised $100M in total funding from Kleiner Perkins, OpenAI Startup Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Optum Ventures, Human Capital, Martin Ventures, AIX Ventures, AirTree Ventures, John Doerr, Jeff Dean, Richard Socher, Pieter Abbeel, Anne Wojcicki, Eren Bali, Jay Desai, Nish Bhat, Matt Mochary, and others. To learn more, visit ambiencehealthcare.com.

About athenahealth Marketplace

The athenahealth Marketplace, the largest EHR app store, is where athenahealth customers find innovative healthcare IT solutions that extend athenahealth products and allow customers to create more personalized experiences to support their organization's specific needs. Customers use Marketplace partner solutions to boost practice efficiency, increase patient satisfaction, and engage patients in their own care. The Marketplace has over 400 solutions across more than 60 medical specialties and capabilities that are seamlessly integrated with athenaOne, athenahealth's network-enabled platform. Learn more at www.athenahealth.com/solutions/marketplace-program.

Media Contact:

Karina Stabile

Aria Marketing for Ambience

kstabile@ariamarketing.com

(516) 317-5835

SOURCE: Ambience

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Verizon Communications, Inc.(VZ), a telecommunications company, Wednesday announced that the U.S. Coast Guard has awarded an 8-year Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions task order worth up to $66 million over the life of the contract.The initial task order is for 12 months but could be extended for up to 8 years. Verizon will provide a range of services, including Internet protocol services, broadband internet, IP voice service, toll-free service, managed network and security services, contact center services, and the necessary equipment.Under this agreement, Verizon will provide Wi-Fi, phone, data, and other services to the U.S. Coast Guard's C5I office.Verizon will work with the Coast Guard to replace outdated TDM services, introducing solutions like a cellular-based alternative for essential voice communication.It will also include providing Contact Center as a Service and offering secure, software-based solutions for the Coast Guard's call centers with Impact Level-4 security.In the pre-market trading, Verizon is 0.64% higher at $40.66 on the New York Stock Exchange.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.
ACE celebrates 2024 milestones in providing master's degrees online, building business partnerships, affirming quality standards and continuing its tuition freeze for an eighth straight year, and plans to continue expanding accessibility and improving efficiency in 2025.

American College of Education is celebrating its attainment of new milestones in enrollment, accreditation, partnerships and value in 2024, achievements that position ACE for its 20th year of "Higher Education Done Differently."

ACE, founded in 2005, is a national innovator in providing quality, affordable and accredited online graduate degrees, undergraduate degrees, doctorates and certificates in education, leadership, healthcare and business.

ACE has adopted "Higher Education Done Differently" as its slogan for the 20th anniversary year. Geordie Hyland, ACE's president and CEO, said the college has earned that description.

"ACE is different from the vast majority of American colleges because of our absolute dedication to the value proposition for our students," Hyland said. "We have proved that colleges can provide students with an education that allows them to advance their careers while maintaining their jobs and family life, often without amassing any debt."

ACE's message has caught on with students. In 2024, ACE crossed new growth thresholds, with more than 12,000 current students - compared to its initial class of just 24 Chicago schoolteachers at its 2005 founding. Over the last two decades, ACE has produced more than 44,000 graduates.

ACE also made 2024 its eighth consecutive year with no increase in tuition charges, demonstrating its continued commitment to provide value to students. Low tuition makes ACE degrees affordable without the need for student loans, as 86% of its students graduate without debt1.

Students at ACE receive a strong value proposition and return on the investment in their studies. An independent study found that ACE graduates receive a salary boost of $19.20 in income for every $1 they spend on tuition, salary gains that graduates do not have to spend on repaying loans.

ACE reaffirmed its position as an innovative, high-quality education provider in 2024. The college received its 10-year reaccreditation review from the Higher Learning Commission, a respected higher education-accrediting body. ACE also strengthened partnerships with leading institutions in higher education, healthcare, business and K-12 school districts.

The quality of ACE's operations and employees was recognized in 2024. For the third consecutive year, ACE received a Top Workplaces USA award from USA Today and Energage, winning 12 workplace culture badges based solely on employee feedback collected via Energage's employee engagement survey. ACE students gave the college an NPS score of 69.5, a score generally recognized as outstanding.

Despite those successes, ACE still sees opportunities to improve in 2025, Hyland said. Goals include continued improvements to curriculum and instruction, further improvements to the student value proposition, strong engagement from ACE's faculty and staff, as well as helping to strengthen the human capital of employer partners by providing innovative and bespoke solutions. The college will optimize operations and further leverage artificial intelligence in service of ACE's mission of maintaining affordability and accessibility for students. The college will also invest in belonging and wellness initiatives to help every member of ACE's learning community reach their full potential.

"Our goals are the same as they were at our outset two decades ago: We want to create a way for working adults to access truly affordable education that can move their careers forward," Hyland said. "To deliver on that promise, we need to keep pushing the boundaries of higher education so it focuses on the needs of the students. That's how ACE will continue to grow and succeed."

For more information, please visit https://ace.edu/ .

1Source: Internal research completed in June 2024

About American College of Education

American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, fully online college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, leadership, healthcare and nursing. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 60 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master's or bachelor's degree, along with graduate-level certificate programs.

SOURCE: American College of Education

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) is delighted to introduce the Office of the Chairman. The Office of the Chairman serves as a centre of excellence within the St. Kitts and Nevis CIU, bringing a particular focus and expertise on economic growth, customer service and real estate matters.

The Office of the Chairman launch comes as the CIU continues its ambitious transformation which includes maintaining its reputation for the highest level of oversight to the Unit, in line with expectations from international partners.

Aims of the Office of the Chairman

Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Board of Governors, His Excellency Calvin St. Juste, the Office of the Chairman will focus on three broad aims: supporting economic growth, promoting exceptional customer service, and reviewing real estate and development projects.

First, the Office of the Chairman supports sustainable economic growth by ensuring the projects deliver intrinsic economic benefit to the country, including through creating opportunities for local workers and local enterprises.

Secondly, the Office is tasked with managing the review and approval process for all real estate and development projects approved under the CBI programme, including regulatory compliance across all transactions from minimum investment thresholds to resale criteria in respect of the real estate option.

The Office will enlist the support of local and international experts in bringing projects to fruition.

The above is underpinned by the Office of the Chairman promoting a culture of exceptional customer service by offering a single point of contact for developers, clients and service providers.

The Office therefore assists the Unit in meeting globally recognised standards in development and grants stakeholders both locally and abroad greater confidence in how the Unit does business.

All of this is done with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis' Sustainable Island State Agenda in mind, which will inspire greater confidence and trust in key stakeholders locally.

Leadership under the Office of the Chairman

Damille James as Executive Director

Day to day operations will be led by Mr. Damille James, Board Governor and Executive Director for the Office of the Chairman.

Mr. James brings over twenty years of experience in the banking industry to his roles of Executive Director and Board Governor. An experienced finance professional, Mr James has been employed at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) for the past ten years.

Under his leadership, the Office of the Chairman will centralise real estate activity into a single unit, streamlining the entire process. It will also assist with escalation management, addressing special issues related to real estate with prompt resolutions.

Strengthening Good Governance for the Unit

The Office of the Chairman will also deepen the Unit's commitment to good governance and transparency, by conducting regular audits of real estate and PBO transactions. These audits will enhance the already stellar reputation of the Unit.

On top of this, the Unit aims to foster a culture of continual quality control, monitoring and review.

The Office of the Chairman will encompass the newly established CIU Taskforce. This team provides the bench strength that enables the Office to concentrate its focus around some of the Unit's highest priority projects and initiatives.

How the Office of the Chairman benefits all involved in the development of the country

The Office of the Chairman is a positive development for everyone involved in the business of real estate and PBO development with St. Kitts and Nevis, from developers, to clients, to local businesses.

Developers will be able to enjoy a streamlined process for project approval and redesignation. Clients will enjoy the fruits of premium real estate investment opportunities, top-notch customer service and rapid issue resolution.

Local businesses enjoy new jobs and beneficial partnership opportunities on sustainable development projects.

By building strategic partnerships with local and international experts, bringing sustainable projects to fruition, and championing best practices that meet the highest global standards, the Office of the Chairman is positioned to shake up the St. Kitts and Nevis development scene for the better.

Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Board of Governors, His Excellency Calvin St. Juste, the Office of the Chairman will support economic growth, promote exceptional customer service, and review real estate and development projects.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/238820_58ac9ae34404697b_001full.jpg

About the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit

The St. Kitts and Nevis CIU is internationally renowned for its high-performance culture, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. By launching the Office of the Chairman, the CIU reaffirms its dedication to innovation, good governance, and delivering unparalleled value to investors and citizens alike.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238820

SOURCE: St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global humidity sensor market is expected to be valued at USD 3.44 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.64 billion by 2030; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2025 to 2030 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Advances in printed humidity sensors open up new applications in flexible and wearable electronics; High demand for calibrated, high-accuracy humidity sensors with 12C interface for cost-effective, reliable applications; Increasing focus is on compact digital humidity sensors in order to boost efficiency and streamline device design.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=222120714

Browse in-depth TOC on "Humidity Sensor Market"

224 - Tables

66 - Figures

248 - Pages

Humidity Sensor Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2025 $ 3.44 billion Estimated Value by 2030 $ 4.64 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% Market Size Available for 2021-2030 Forecast Period 2025-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, Measurement Technique, End-User Industry and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Complex standardization across different industrial sectors Key Market Opportunities Advancements in printed humidity sensors enable innovative applications in flexible and wearable electronics Key Market Drivers Increasing focus on compact digital humidity sensors to enhance efficiency and simplify device design

Capacitive type humidity sensor to hold the highest market share during the forecast period.

Capacitive humidity sensors have found many applications in many industries due to their high precision and long-time stability. Sensors are built based on a substrate material, mainly ceramic, glass, or silicon, which lies between two electrodes made of metals to create a capacitor. The substrate material, depending on the relative humidity of the environment in which it is placed, will absorb or release water vapor and undergo changes in dielectric properties, which then alters the capacitance of the sensor, whose values are measured for relative humidity. Because the sensors can accurately measure humidity readings from 0% to 100% RH (Relative Humidity), they find application in systems that need absolute control over their environment. This includes pharmaceutical industries, food processing, HVAC applications, and environmental monitoring. All these sectors are dependent on such sensor output for quality of products, processes, and regulations. Further, their long-term stability is much less probable to require recalibration frequently; therefore, these units optimize efficiency. Their strong build makes them perform very well even in harsh environments, such as high temperature and varying humidity conditions. Capacitive sensors will become the core for advanced environmental sensing technologies due to the continuous rising demand for the accurate and reliable measurement of humidity.

By measurement technique, absolute segment is projected to grow at a high CAGR of humidity sensor market during the forecast period.

The absolute humidity measurement techniques have become all the more important in industrial process monitoring due to their ability to give precise water vapor content independent of temperature variations. It computes the actual mass of water vapor in any given air volume, usually in grams per cubic meter. It represents a more direct measure of moisture content compared to relative humidity. Absolute humidity measurements are very useful in industrial applications, especially in processes where accurate water vapor concentration needs to be maintained for optimal production. Such applications include the pharmaceutical, food processing, and chemical production industries. The method uses highly sensitive sensors that often merge temperature and pressure measurements with moisture measurements to obtain accurate absolute moisture content readings. These systems often employ chilled mirror hygrometers or other specialized polymer-based sensors to detect minute variations in moisture. Absolute humidity monitoring prevents product quality issues, optimizes drying processes to reduce energy consumption, and allows for greater control of chemical reactions where water vapor content is important. Some measurements have been merged into automated industrial control loops used in manufacturing batch processes to ensure product lots are manufactured on time and environment conditions are correctly maintained with automatic real-time compensation.

Industrial process control end-use application of humidity sensor market to hold the highest market share during the forecast period.

Humidity sensors are employed to measure the level of moisture in a vast array of applications including HVAC, cleanrooms, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing. Precise humidity control ensures safety and quality standards while preventing equipment corrosion and product spoilage. Increasing automation and industry 4.0 technologies further spur the demand for advanced sensors such as humidity sensors for real-time monitoring and analytics. Investments in industrial infrastructure, along with integration of IoT-enabled sensors, promote their use in process control applications.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=222120714

Asia Pacific will account for the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Several interrelated factors are projected to drive Asia's humidity sensor industry to a high CAGR. Industrialization in countries like China, India, and Japan significantly increases the requirement for humidity sensors in manufacturing industries like consumer electronics, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. Semifabrication facilities and the electronics manufacturing plant, which requires sensitive environmental control, have accelerated sensor adoption. In addition, it is expected to create a significantly high demand from the region focused on automation, smart manufacturing efforts, and increasingly investing in technologies such as the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. Awareness relating to air and environmental quality continues to increase more in densely inhabited urban areas to implement the HVAC system by integrating humidity sensors. This region has been helped by government regulations requiring industrial environment monitoring and smart city projects.

Key Players

Key companies operating in the humidity sensor companies are Amphenol Advanced Sensors (Subsidiary of Amphenol Corporation) (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Texas Instruments Incorporated (US), Setra Systems (US), Sensirion AG (Switzerland), TE Connectivity (Ireland), Siemens (Germany), Teracom (Sweden), Bosch Sensortec GmbH (Subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH) (US), Schneider Electric (France), and Renesas Electronics Corporation. (Japan) among others.

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=222120714

Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting

Related Reports:

Smart Sensors Market by Type (Temperature & Humidity Sensor, Pressure Sensor, Motion & Occupancy Sensor), Technology (CMOS, MEMS), Component (Microcontrollers, Amplifiers, Transceivers), End-User Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2029

Industrial Sensors Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Growth Analysis Report by Sensor Type (Level Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Gas Sensor, Pressure Sensor, Position Sensor, and Humidity & Moisture Sensor), Type (Contact & non-contact sensors), End-User Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2029

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/humidity-sensor-companies.asp

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/humidity-sensor.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/humidity-sensor-market-worth-4-64-billion-by-2030---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302362930.html
Sea Freight Forwarding Market is Segmented by Type (Full Container Load (FCL), Less-Than Container Load (LCL)), by Application (Agricultural, Automotive, Beverage, Electronic).

BANGALORE, India, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Sea Freight Forwarding market is projected to grow from USD 75380 Million in 2024 to USD 86910 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.4% during the forecast period.

Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-6H2578/Global_Sea_Freight_Forwarding_Market

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Sea Freight Forwarding Market:

The Sea Freight Forwarding Market is poised for substantial growth, driven by the increasing demand for efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions across global trade networks. The market is characterized by a diverse range of services, including container shipping, bulk freight, and specialized cargo handling, catering to various industries and business sizes.

Additionally, the expansion of global trade agreements, the rise of e-commerce, and the growth of key industries like automotive and agriculture further boost the demand for sea freight services. The emphasis on seamless logistics, real-time visibility, and customer-centric solutions positions the Sea Freight Forwarding Market for significant expansion.

View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-6H2578/global-sea-freight-forwarding

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SEA FREIGHT FORWARDING MARKET:

Less-Than Container Load (LCL) significantly contributes to the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market by providing flexible shipping solutions for businesses with smaller or irregular cargo volumes. LCL allows multiple shipments from different customers to share a single container, optimizing space and reducing shipping costs for each party. This option is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do not require the full capacity of a container, enabling them to access global markets without the need for large-scale logistics investments. Additionally, LCL services offer greater flexibility in terms of shipment scheduling and frequency, allowing businesses to respond quickly to market demands and inventory needs. The cost-effectiveness and adaptability of LCL shipping foster its adoption among diverse industries, thereby supporting the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market.

Full Container Load (FCL) drives the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market by offering efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions for large-volume shipments. FCL allows businesses to transport their goods in dedicated containers, ensuring exclusivity and minimizing the risk of damage or loss. This method is particularly advantageous for industries with high-volume exports and imports, such as electronics, automotive, and consumer goods, as it provides predictable transit times and reduces handling costs. Additionally, FCL enables better space utilization within containers, leading to cost savings and improved logistical efficiency. The scalability of FCL services accommodates the needs of both small businesses and large enterprises, fostering its widespread adoption and contributing significantly to the expansion of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market.

The agricultural and automotive industries drive the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market by generating substantial volumes of exports and imports that require efficient shipping solutions. The agricultural sector relies on sea freight to transport bulk commodities such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products to international markets, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining product quality. Similarly, the automotive industry depends on sea freight to distribute vehicles, spare parts, and components globally, facilitating just-in-time manufacturing and supply chain efficiency. The continuous expansion of these industries, coupled with increasing global trade activities, creates a high demand for reliable sea freight forwarding services. The essential role of sea freight in supporting the logistical needs of the agricultural and automotive sectors significantly propels the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market.

Regulatory compliance is a critical factor driving the growth of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market, as adherence to international and local shipping regulations ensures smooth and lawful operations. Freight forwarders must comply with various regulations related to safety, environmental protection, customs clearance, and trade agreements. Compliance with standards such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on ballast water management and emission controls helps prevent environmental pollution and maintain sustainable shipping practices. Additionally, adhering to customs regulations and trade policies facilitates faster clearance and reduces delays in cargo delivery, enhancing the overall efficiency of the supply chain. The complexity and variability of regulatory requirements across different regions necessitate the expertise of sea freight forwarders, thereby increasing the demand for professional and compliant forwarding services and supporting market growth.

Increasing global trade is a fundamental factor driving the Sea Freight Forwarding Market, as the expansion of international commerce fuels the demand for efficient shipping solutions. The growth of trade agreements, such as free trade agreements and regional trade blocs, reduces barriers to entry and promotes the exchange of goods across borders. The rising economic interdependence among countries and the globalization of supply chains necessitate reliable sea freight services to transport diverse commodities and manufactured products. Additionally, the increasing demand from emerging markets and the expansion of global consumer bases further amplify the need for scalable and flexible sea freight forwarding services. As global trade continues to grow and evolve, the Sea Freight Forwarding Market is set to expand in tandem, driven by the sustained demand for international shipping solutions.

Capacity constraints and infrastructure development are crucial factors influencing the Sea Freight Forwarding Market. The availability of port facilities, container storage, and efficient transportation networks directly impacts the ability of freight forwarders to manage and transport goods effectively. Investments in expanding port capacities, upgrading terminal operations, and enhancing connectivity with inland transportation networks enable freight forwarders to handle larger volumes and reduce congestion-related delays. Additionally, the development of advanced logistics hubs and multimodal transportation systems facilitates smoother transitions between different modes of transport, improving overall efficiency and reliability. Addressing capacity constraints through infrastructure development ensures that the Sea Freight Forwarding Market can meet the growing demand and support the seamless movement of goods globally.

Environmental sustainability is an increasingly important factor driving the Sea Freight Forwarding Market, as the shipping industry faces growing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. Freight forwarders are adopting eco-friendly practices, such as using low-sulfur fuels, optimizing vessel routes, and implementing energy-efficient technologies, to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and comply with environmental regulations. The demand for sustainable shipping solutions is driven by both regulatory requirements and consumer preferences for environmentally responsible practices. Additionally, the rise of green logistics and carbon-neutral shipping initiatives encourages freight forwarders to invest in sustainable technologies and processes. The emphasis on environmental sustainability not only helps in preserving marine ecosystems but also enhances the reputation and competitiveness of sea freight forwarding companies, thereby driving market growth.

The growing e-commerce sector is a significant driver of the Sea Freight Forwarding Market, as the surge in online retail activities increases the demand for efficient and reliable shipping solutions. The exponential growth of e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, Alibaba, and Shopify, leads to higher volumes of small and medium-sized shipments that require flexible sea freight forwarding services. Additionally, the rise of cross-border e-commerce necessitates robust international shipping networks and streamlined logistics processes to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction. The increasing consumer expectations for fast and affordable shipping options further boost the demand for sea freight forwarding services that can handle high volumes and provide cost-effective solutions.

Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-6H2578&lic=single-user

SEA FREIGHT FORWARDING MARKET SHARE

Global Sea Freight Forwarding key players include Kuehne + Nagel, DHL Group, Sinotrans, DB Schenker Logistics, GEODIS, etc. The global top five manufacturers hold a share of about 35%.

Europe is the largest market, with a share of about 35%, driven by its strategic location, strong industrial base, and extensive maritime networks.

It is followed by North America and China, both with a share of about 20 percent. The region's extensive port infrastructure and strong trade relationships further bolster its market leadership.

In terms of product, LCL is the largest segment, with a share of about 50%.

And in terms of application, the largest application is Automotive, followed by, Agricultural, Electronic, Beverage, etc.

Key Companies:

Kuehne + Nagel

DHL

Sinotrans

DB Schenker Logistics

GEODIS

Panalpina

DSV

Bollore Logistics

Expeditors

Dachser

Nippon Express

CEVA Logistics

Pantos Logistics

Agility Logistics

Hellmann

Damco

KWE

Hitachi Transport

UPS Supply Chain

Sankyu

Kerry Logistics

Logwin

CJ Korea Express

C.H. Robinson

Yusen Logistics

NNR Global Logistics

Dimerco

Toll Holdings

Pilot Freight Services

Purchase Chapters: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-6H2578/global-sea-freight-forwarding/1

SUBSCRIPTION

We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans.

DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- Freight Audit and Payment Service Market

- Freight Forwarding Management System Software Market was estimated to be worth USD 386.7 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 670.1 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Freight Forwarding market was valued at USD 386.7 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 559.6 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Airfreight Forwarding Market

- Freight Forwarding Software Market revenue was USD 386.7 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 820 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 11.2% during the review period (2023-2029).

- Ocean Freight Forwarding market size is projected to reach USD 206360 Million by 2027, from USD 125200 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 7.4% during 2021-2027.

- Freight Wagon Maintenance and Repair Market

- Medical Freight Trucking Market

- Freight Scanners Market

- Online Freight Forwarder Market

- Air Freight Pallet Market

DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US!

Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs.

Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs.

To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources.

GET A FREE QUOTE

Valuates Reports

sales@valuates.com

For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225

WhatsApp: +91-9945648335

Website: https://reports.valuates.com

Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753

https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean

https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish

https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese

https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/

https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/

https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/

https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sea-freight-forwarding-market-growth-forecast-full-container-load-fcl--less-than-container-load-lcl-to-propel-market-value-to-usd-86-91-billion-by-2030--valuates-reports-302363403.html
11 net new LifeSphere customers, 57 customer go-lives, and expanded adoption of NavaX

BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ArisGlobal, an innovative technology company at the forefront of life sciences and creator of LifeSphere, today announced 2024 as a landmark year, marked by notable customer growth, a record-breaking number of global implementations, and creation and deployment of next-generation technologies as part of LifeSphere NavaX.

Customer Acquisition and Expansion

LifeSphere Safety and Regulatory platforms leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance workflows, boost efficiency, and lower costs, with more organizations embracing these solutions. ArisGlobal reports significant customer growth throughout 2024, including:

11 net new, top tier pharma LifeSphere customers, added January through December;

91 customers expanded their business, demonstrating continued success in leveraging LifeSphere solutions;

Strong customer growth in the Asia Pacific region; 40% YoY increase in new customers in APAC.

Also in 2024, ArisGlobal announced its 'Most Valued Customer' program to continue forging deeper customer experiences with its most strategic customers. Members gain exclusive benefits, including premium support, early access to new features, input on product innovation, and invitations to ArisGlobal industry events.

Steve Nuckols, Chief Customer Officer, stated, "Our 2024 growth reflects the tangible ROI our solutions deliver for customers worldwide. By actively listening to our customers and continuously enhancing our offerings, we're driving satisfaction and innovation. Additionally, our success in APAC showcases our commitment to expanding in key markets and meeting the unique needs of our clients globally."

Global Implementations and Consulting Success

ArisGlobal experts excel in planning, implementing, and deploying cloud-based solutions for users across the globe, achieving a notable 23% YoY increase in total LifeSphere go-lives.

With customers having confidence in LifeSphere, ArisGlobal saw impressive go-live momentum, including:

57 total go-lives across Safety and Regulatory;

14 total go-lives in APAC, representing a 40% YoY increase;

Implementations for three of the Top 10 global pharmaceutical companies.

Raj Hattarki, Chief Operating Officer, remarked, "Our ability to provide end-to-end support before, during, and after LifeSphere implementations is a cornerstone of our success. Backed by deep life sciences expertise, we help organizations scale and meet complex challenges. This approach ensures our clients' success and underscores the trust they place in us to deliver results."

Product Innovation

ArisGlobal invested in product innovation at an unprecedented pace throughout 2024. The company launched, built, and deployed LifeSphere NavaX, a next generation cognitive computing engine to expedite R&D IT digitization by leveraging advanced technologies like Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI (GenAI).

Since the launch, the company has introduced advanced products and features across LifeSphere Safety and Regulatory offerings bringing customers over 50% efficiency gains with 90% accuracy. These solutions are system-agnostic, modular in nature, and can be implemented rapidly, within three to six months, including:

Advanced Intake - The industry's most advanced solution for automating the collection of safety data; revolutionizing the traditional approach to adverse event case intake with the application of Dynamic Data Extraction and Narrative Generation technologies.

Advanced Signals - Achieve unmatched speed, precision, and accuracy in signal detection, while gaining insights needed to act with confidence and proactively prevent safety issues.

Literature Intelligence - Leverage Dynamic Data Extraction for literature intake and assessment, purpose-built to automate workflows for increased efficiency and data accuracy.

Health Authority Interactions - Provides Regulatory teams with speed and accuracy to avoid late Health Authority responses; enhances clarity for better decision making, while improving quality, compliance, and insights via the application of Narrative Generation technology.

Regulatory Intelligence - Improves efficiency in capturing, processing, and distribution of regulatory intelligence reducing non-compliance risks and improving decision-making through automation; leverages Dynamic Data Extraction.

Today, four global pharmaceutical companies have adopted LifeSphere NavaX, affirming its value in transforming Safety, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs workflows. This achievement highlights NavaX's role in advancing pharmacovigilance processes.

Additionally, in 2024, ArisGlobal launched a first-of-its-kind GenAI Council and CXO Connect forums, in February and August 2024 respectively. These initiatives provide a collaborative platform for pharma executives and industry leaders to explore and shape the future of R&D; they foster meaningful discussion on the practical applications of GenAI in life sciences.

Ann-Marie Orange, CIO and Global Head of R&D, shared, "Our focus is on delivering technology that directly addresses the challenges our customers face. With NavaX, we're deploying practical, scalable innovations that matter most to our clients. Our commitment to strategic technology application ensures we're enabling real-world results in a rapidly evolving industry."

Looking Ahead

ArisGlobal's 2024 accomplishments set the stage for continued progress and innovation in 2025. The company remains steadfast in its mission to empower life sciences organizations with solutions that drive efficiency, regulatory compliance, and better patient outcomes.

Aman Wasan, CEO of ArisGlobal, concluded, "The life sciences industry is navigating increasing R&D costs, heightened regulatory demands, and outdated workflows. ArisGlobal is committed to solving these pressing challenges with smart, impactful use of technology to unlock and deliver benefits via LifeSphere NavaX. As we look ahead, we'll continue to drive the advancements that position our customers for success and transform the future of life sciences."

About ArisGlobal

ArisGlobal, an innovative life sciences technology company and creator of LifeSphere, is transforming the way today's most successful life sciences companies develop breakthroughs and bring new products to market. Headquartered in the United States, ArisGlobal has regional offices in Europe, India, Japan, and China. For more updates, follow ArisGlobal on LinkedIn or visit arisglobal.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1510670/ArisGlobal_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/arisglobal-announces-significant-customer-growth-and-unprecedented-product-innovations-in-2024-302363430.html
Company Proudly Marks 25th Anniversary in Seattle

Whittier Trust, the oldest multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast, celebrates two major milestones in 2025: 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest and the 25th anniversary of our Seattle office. Our legacy in the Pacific Northwest began in the 1960s with founder Paul Whittier's vision and passion for the region. With a rich history and an enduring commitment to clients, Whittier Trust has been a trusted partner to generations of families and local community organizations throughout Puget Sound.

"As we celebrate six decades in the Pacific Northwest and 25 years since opening our Seattle office, we are immensely proud of our rich history and enduring commitment to our clients and the region's future," says David Dahl, President and CEO of Whittier Trust. "We look forward to upholding our dedication to excellence and delivering tailored wealth management, family office and trust services for generations to come."

The Whittiers were visionaries who recognized the potential of the Pacific Northwest. Their passion for the region's natural beauty initially led them to Goudge Island in British Columbia, which they purchased in the mid-1960s, and then to the San Juan Islands, where they dedicated themselves to philanthropic endeavors.

Today, Whittier Trust's support of local organizations--including the Friday Harbor Airport, Seattle's Museum of Flight, San Juan Airlines, Shuttle Express and the San Juan Community Theater--continues to leave a lasting impact on the community. The Whittier Trust team remains actively engaged in supporting these vital entities.

"Paul Whittier's vision to expand our family office, wealth management and trust services to multi-generational families in the Puget Sound region--anchored by the values of duty, loyalty and commitment--continues to inspire us as we build on our strong foundation," says Nickolaus Momyer, Northwest Regional Manager, Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager at Whittier Trust. "We are proud to honor the Whittier Family's legacy by delivering innovative solutions and personalized service to our clients."

To view a timeline commemorating the Whittier family's legacy and Whittier Trust's impact throughout the region, click here .

Beyond its impact in the Pacific Northwest, Whittier Trust is globally recognized by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) as one of the top five multi-family offices in the world. The company has also been named one of Washington's 100 Best Workplaces by the Puget Sound Business Journal, underscoring the company's dedication to cultivating a positive, productive work environment that empowers its team to exceed client expectations.

Throughout this year, Whittier Trust will host several events and programs to deepen relationships with clients, their families and the local community. Follow Whittier Trust on LinkedIn to learn more about these initiatives and how the company plans to honor this commemorative year.

About Whittier Trust

Collectively, Whittier Trust Company and The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, Inc. (referred to herein individually and collectively as "Whittier Trust") are state-chartered trust companies wholly owned by Whittier Holdings, Inc. ("WHI"), a closely held holding company. As the oldest multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast, Whittier Trust isn't just a financial institution, it's a trusted partner with a long, rich history of successfully navigating the financial markets to preserve, protect and enhance its clients' wealth and well-being across generations. Whittier Trust operates with the singular focus of providing holistic, top-tier client service and highly personalized investment solutions to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their families designed to advance and secure their long-term financial legacies and goals. The firm has offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Newport Beach, West Los Angeles, Reno, Seattle and Portland. To learn more, visit http://www.whittiertrust.com .

Contact:

Brandi J. Fields

Whittier Trust

Email: BFields@whittiertrust.com

SOURCE: Whittier Trust

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
CoreX expands global coverage of the ServiceNow ecosystem through a definitive agreement to acquire a leader in the Latin America and EMEA Markets, complete with a ServiceNow Center of Excellence in Guadalajara.

CoreX, a next-generation ServiceNow consultancy and a NewSpring Holdings platform company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the businesses of Volteo Digital, an Elite ServiceNow partner. This acquisition will bolster CoreX's team, adding over 100 talented ServiceNow consultants and significantly enhance its presence in Latin America and EMEA, including a Center of Excellence in Guadalajara, Mexico, that will be leveraged across the platform.

"The ServiceNow ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented demand for digital workflow transformation," said Rick Wright, the CEO of CoreX. "Volteo Digital's deep roots in Latin America and Europe, combined with their elite technical talent and proven track record serving Financial Services and Telecommunications clients, immediately establishes CoreX as a major player in these markets. The acquisition is about more than geographic expansion it's about bringing together two innovative organizations to create a differentiated, scaled, and industry-first consultancy in the ServiceNow space."

The strategic combination will dramatically expand CoreX's global delivery capabilities and strengthen its position in key growth markets across the Americas. Volteo Digital's established go-to-market and delivery operations in Mexico, Costa Rica, the US, and Spain create a world-class delivery model that enables 24/7 support for global enterprises. The Guadalajara Center of Excellence, already recognized as a top player in the North Latin America market in customer satisfaction, provides a springboard for regional expansion while supporting clients worldwide.

"The North Latin America market represents one of ServiceNow's fastest-growing regions, and the combination of CoreX and Volteo Digital creates a uniquely positioned partner to serve this dynamic market," said Enrique Upton, President General Manager, North Latin America, ServiceNow. "Volteo Digital's Center of Excellence in Guadalajara has set the standard for ServiceNow delivery excellence in our region, and together with CoreX's innovative approach to business transformation, they will help accelerate digital transformation for our customers across Latin America."

Founded in 2013, Volteo Digital brings vast experience in complex ServiceNow implementations, including CMDB/CSDM, ITOM, Customer and Field Service Management and Industry Solutions. Their highly regarded NextGen Program has developed specialized expertise in emerging technologies while consistently achieving one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

"Latin America represents a massive growth opportunity for ServiceNow solutions," said Fernando Gordoa, CEO of Volteo Digital. "Bringing together Volteo Digital's regional knowledge and established delivery capabilities with CoreX's strategic vision, executive leadership team, and investment backing creates an organization poised to capture this market opportunity. Our Center of Excellence in Guadalajara will be the foundation for this expansion, allowing us to scale our talent pool and delivery capabilities across the globe."

The combined organization will leverage Volteo Digital's status as an official ServiceNow Talent Placement Partner and its successful NextGen Program to accelerate the hiring and training of ServiceNow professionals throughout Latin America and across the US and Europe. This talent pipeline will be crucial as CoreX continues its rapid growth trajectory.

"This acquisition marks a powerful move forward in strengthening our global partner ecosystem at ServiceNow," said Paul Fipps, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales at ServiceNow. "By combining CoreX's industry-first approach to business transformation with Volteo Digital's deep expertise and strong presence across Latin America and Europe, we're forming a powerful partnership to better address our customers' global digital transformation needs. Together, we're strategically positioned for growth and success in key industries, including Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Financial Services."

The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The combined company will maintain Volteo Digital's operations in Mexico, Costa Rica and Spain, with plans for significant expansion across all locations.

About CoreX

Founded in 2023, CoreX is on a mission to fix siloed, manual processes: empowering customers and bringing the ServiceNow-connected, workflow-driven promise to business operators in the middle- and back-office functions of the core operations of global enterprise. CoreX's global transformation leaders and unique mix of deep industry and functional experience-coupled with unparalleled ServiceNow know-how-accelerates customer journeys in Operational Technology ("OT"), Finance Supply Chain Solutions, ITOM, ITAM, UX, SecOps and human-centered AI. As a NOW Store Innovator, CoreX leads in ServiceNow OT integrations and AI-enabled solutions. Learn more at www.corexcorp.com.

About Volteo Digital

Founded in 2013, Volteo Digital is an Elite ServiceNow Partner renowned for maintaining one of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry. With a global presence and a ServiceNow Center of Excellence in Guadalajara, Volteo Digital delivers comprehensive expertise across CMDB/CSDM, ITOM, CSM, FSM, and Finance Supply Chain Solutions, with particular strength in the Financial Services, Telecommunications, Higher Education, and Professional Services industries.

About NewSpring Holdings

NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring's majority investment strategy focused on sector-specific platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $3.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. Visit NewSpring at www.newspringcapital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129125560/en/

Contacts:

Phil LeClare

CoreX PR

617-209-9406
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Everyday People Financial Corp. (TSXV: EPF) (OTCQB: EPFCF) ("Everyday People" or the "Company"), a financial service provider, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to further settle an additional $4.0 million in debt owed to EAM Enterprises Inc. ("EAM") through the issuance of common shares (the "Debt Settlement").

This debt was originally advanced by the Company's Executive Chairman, Gordon Reykdal, through his family's business, EAM, playing a critical role in supporting Everyday People during its early development stages. Once again, this initiative reflects the Company's ongoing efforts to enhance its financial position by reducing liabilities and preserving cash to support operational needs and drive strategic growth, particularly in its Revenue Cycle Management ("RCM") business pillar.

"Gordon's decision to convert this debt into equity underscores his confidence in the Company's future and aligns his interests even further with those of our shareholders," said Barret Reykdal, Co-CEO Financial Services. "We are deeply grateful for Gordon's continued belief in our mission and his willingness to further invest in the Company's success. His leadership has been instrumental in building a strong foundation for Everyday People, and we look forward to continuing this journey together."

Debt Settlement Details

As disclosed in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2024, the Company was indebted to EAM in the amount of $5.4 million. As of December 31, 2024, the Company is indebted to EAM in the amount of approximately $6.2 million. The Company will further issue an aggregate of 3,636,364 common shares (the "Settlement Shares") to EAM at a deemed price of $1.10 per common share to further settle the outstanding indebtedness in the amount of $4.0 million, reducing the indebtedness to approximately $0.2 million.

The Settlement Shares will be issued as a non-arm's length transaction, as EAM is a Company controlled by Gordon Reykdal, Executive Chairman and Director of the Company. As of December 31, 2023, EAM together with Gordon Reykdal owned 20.2% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, and currently 18.7%. Upon completion of the Debt Settlement and the debt settlement previously entered into on January 17, 2025, EAM together with Gordon Reykdal will hold 22.7% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The Debt Settlement will not result in the creation of a new control person or insider of the Company.

This Debt Settlement and the prior debt settlement entered into on January 17, 2025, are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). If approved by the TSXV, EAM together with Gordon Reykdal will own 22.7% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The Settlement Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV.

Related Party Transaction Disclosure

The issuance of the Settlement Shares to EAM constitutes a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as provided in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, since the fair market value of the Settlement Shares issued, and the consideration paid, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The Debt Settlement was reviewed and approved by the Company's independent directors.

About Everyday People Financial Corp.

Everyday People is founded on the belief that everyone deserves a second chance to financially reestablish themselves with access to affordable credit products. We are changing the way people manage money by enhancing our client services with our own affordable and specialized financial products and literacy programs. We're helping everyday people rebuild their financial health for generational wealth. Operating in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America, we have a workforce of about 500 people and our operations were first established in 1988,The company includes two main pillars of business: one pillar, EP Revenue Cycle Management operates under our Co-CEO RCM, Graham Rankin, and one pillar, EP Financial Services operates under our Co-CEO Financial Services, Barret Reykdal. We stand for creativity and entrepreneurship. Our combination of companies, products and services has been established to ensure we can fulfill consumers' financial needs and service them in a low-cost and effective manner.

For more information visit: www.everydaypeoplefinancial.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to financial performance, results of operations, integration of the acquired businesses, and the business, plans, strategy and operations of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the acquired businesses as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. 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. 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, except as required by law.

Disclaimer

This news release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238845

SOURCE: Everyday People Financial Corp.
The annual pitch competition champions photonics innovation in healthcare and deep tech

On 28 January, at a ceremony during SPIE Photonics West, Max-IR Labs was announced the winner of the $10,000 top prize at the 15th annual SPIE Startup Challenge. Its AquaCarbon Monitor is set to facilitate carbon credits with precise CO2 monitoring in water systems.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129824145/en/

Jenoptik's Ralf Kuschnereit, Max-IR Lab's Trey Daunis, and 2025 SPIE President Peter de Groot. (Photo: Business Wire)

Photosynthetic B.V. and its Volumetric Micro-Lithography product which enables the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron features, received $5,000 for second place. OptiCardio came in third, winning $2,500 with their spectroscopy-enabled device for real-time guidance to reduce the recurrence rate of ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation.

The SPIE Startup Challenge, a pitch competition held annually by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, showcases new businesses, products, and technologies that address critical needs by utilizing photonics in the areas of healthcare and deep tech. This year's seven finalists included innovations in medical applications, environmental monitoring, and manufacturing.

"Our participation in the SPIE Startup Challenge has been really great for putting me into the mindset of seeking investments and talking to investors," said Max-IR Labs Vice President of Technology Trey Daunis about winning the competition. "I especially found a lot of value in the mentoring sessions that we did before the presentations, which were really helpful. Being one of the winners feels pretty good, and the money will come in handy as we move forward with our business plan."

"Being part of the SPIE Startup Challenge is a great opportunity and we really appreciate being here," noted second-place winner Photosynthetic B.V. CEO Alexander Kostenko. "I think it's a very relevant stage, and we had good sessions with the judges who listened critically to our pitch, and gave us very good, tough-love feedback."

"As a fresh graduate PhD student I just defended last fall I feel so encouraged to be part of the SPIE finals," added OptiCardio Co-founder and CEO Haiqiu Yang. "It's definitely surprised me, and it's super encouraging. It's also given me the motivation to continue our business. And being part of the Challenge was a really good chance to connect with others and get professional feedback from the judges. I believe that will be super helpful moving forward as well."

The 2025 SPIE Startup Challenge was supported by Founding Partner Jenoptik, Lead Sponsor Hamamatsu, and Supporting Sponsors Luminate and Thorlabs. The competition judges who vetted the applicants for their business models, financial cases, and competitive advantages included JenoptikVicePresident Marc Grahl; Hamamatsu Ventures Principal Robert Warren; Edmund Optics Senior Director of Global Strategic Marketing Agnes Hubscher; Launch Team President Michele Nichols; Advancing Photonic Technologies Director Christine Galib; and ams OSRAM Senior Director and Head of Product Line Automotive Vital Signs Markus Arzberger

Light-based technologies enable developments in a proliferating number of areas, from healthcare and high-speed communications to quantum computing, AR/VR/MR, and self-driving vehicles. The annual SPIE Startup Challenge provides a distinctive and vibrant platform for optics and photonics startups from across the globe that are creating novel products, applications, and technologies. Startup Challenge winners that have gone on to wider commercial success include Cellino Biotech, Double Helix Optics, PhotoniCare, C. Light Technologies, Circle Optics, and In A Blink.

About SPIE

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, we have invested more than $25 million in the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129824145/en/

Contacts:

Daneet Steffens

Public Relations Manager

daneets@spie.org

+1 360 685 5478

@spie.org
Regulatory News:

Under the liquidity agreement between Legrand (Paris:LR) and BNP Paribas, the following assets were held in the liquidity account at December 31st, 2024:

57,866 shares

- 23,451,644

In the second half of 2024, it has been negotiated a total of:

Number of executions on buy side on semester: 6,969

- Number of executions on sell side on semester: 7,540

- Traded volume on buy side on semester: 752,522 shares for 73,233,013

- Traded volume on sell side on semester: 753,029 shares for 73,528,358

Recap:

At the previous statement date (June 30th, 2024), the following assets were held in the liquidity account:

58,373 shares

- 23,156,299

In the first half of 2024, it has been negotiated a total of:

Number of executions on buy side on semester: 7,045

- Number of executions on sell side on semester: 7,637

- Traded volume on buy side on semester: 721,634 shares for 67,928,635

- Traded volume on sell side on semester: 690,067 shares for 65,137,336

When the agreement was first put in place, the following assets were held in the liquidity account:

90,346 shares

- 19,880,644

Date Buy Sell Quantity Number of executions Traded volume Quantity Number of executions Traded volume 01/07/2024 2 700 47 255 601,98 2 700 25 257 379,93 02/07/2024 5 000 41 464 345,00 5 942 75 553 631,00 03/07/2024 2 300 49 217 407,96 2 350 28 222 389,90 04/07/2024 2 700 21 256 662,00 2 700 26 256 852,08 05/07/2024 7 500 109 709 698,75 6 200 52 587 544,86 08/07/2024 3 750 27 351 775,13 3 750 21 352 234,88 09/07/2024 7 250 78 674 761,13 1 500 22 139 882,95 10/07/2024 4 450 52 410 131,14 5 090 54 470 100,18 11/07/2024 2 700 52 251 424,00 4 700 56 440 504,21 12/07/2024 5 500 60 524 383,75 6 500 64 621 905,70 15/07/2024 7 250 75 695 949,98 4 950 71 475 440,08 16/07/2024 7 000 70 665 725,20 9 000 92 858 357,90 17/07/2024 15 200 136 1 445 901,52 10 200 141 974 879,28 18/07/2024 11 050 98 1 029 306,40 12 000 106 1 120 137,60 19/07/2024 3 750 32 350 100,00 4 950 54 462 979,94 22/07/2024 3 700 35 350 994,95 23/07/2024 5 000 43 473 395,00 6 450 60 612 691,95 24/07/2024 5 000 63 474 855,00 4 250 80 403 925,10 25/07/2024 13 000 132 1 208 100,40 10 250 92 953 250,00 26/07/2024 1 740 16 160 669,16 5 200 49 484 378,96 29/07/2024 3 750 33 350 950,13 3 750 58 351 375,00 30/07/2024 5 250 18 488 650,05 6 200 94 579 890,96 31/07/2024 800 5 78 991,68 19 500 84 1 927 370,25 01/08/2024 20 228 222 1 983 260,33 8 282 106 819 093,94 02/08/2024 13 750 102 1 300 725,25 05/08/2024 10 000 75 907 969,00 10 000 93 910 167,00 06/08/2024 20 075 160 1 821 444,90 20 075 274 1 823 853,90 07/08/2024 10 000 126 930 151,00 08/08/2024 3 750 38 346 200,00 3 750 41 346 324,88 09/08/2024 2 000 36 186 453,40 3 700 30 345 564,09 12/08/2024 2 500 37 232 375,00 2 500 31 233 140,75 13/08/2024 1 250 11 116 525,00 2 750 33 257 596,90 14/08/2024 1 000 9 94 168,00 3 500 36 330 123,85 15/08/2024 1 755 17 166 635,32 6 250 77 596 106,25 16/08/2024 4 000 49 384 604,80 2 546 24 244 952,70 19/08/2024 1 600 17 153 536,96 3 600 36 346 750,92 20/08/2024 3 200 39 309 960,00 700 8 68 159,00 21/08/2024 3 300 37 320 769,90 4 800 30 467 543,04 22/08/2024 1 700 5 166 771,02 1 700 20 167 111,53 23/08/2024 4 350 54 427 212,20 6 200 68 611 111,06 26/08/2024 1 250 16 123 825,00 2 700 22 268 793,10 27/08/2024 3 750 33 371 950,13 28/08/2024 3 700 36 367 940,95 29/08/2024 2 500 23 247 475,00 3 742 40 373 609,14 30/08/2024 2 450 23 246 707,41 2 450 27 247 567,60 02/09/2024 3 200 30 322 929,92 4 700 33 476 154,18 03/09/2024 12 200 141 1 232 215,86 2 200 14 225 254,92 04/09/2024 6 250 42 618 425,00 6 250 47 620 300,00 05/09/2024 6 250 61 615 575,00 5 000 37 494 704,00 06/09/2024 9 000 78 875 594,70 6 500 59 635 291,15 09/09/2024 3 700 47 360 337,82 10/09/2024 4 950 41 484 677,77 4 950 52 486 147,92 11/09/2024 3 700 21 369 704,00 12/09/2024 3 000 30 304 500,00 5 000 27 513 700,00 13/09/2024 3 950 55 401 869,84 3 950 36 403 237,33 16/09/2024 2 450 35 249 947,53 3 007 25 308 088,50 17/09/2024 4 500 40 465 044,85 18/09/2024 2 500 22 257 875,00 19/09/2024 3 700 33 384 010,05 20/09/2024 3 750 33 389 374,88 1 050 22 109 620,00 23/09/2024 3 450 24 355 424,87 5 700 59 590 072,55 24/09/2024 11 250 68 1 150 200,00 11 250 147 1 158 552,00 25/09/2024 6 005 51 621 674,83 6 760 83 701 953,67 26/09/2024 3 500 29 372 750,00 3 700 37 395 054,92 27/09/2024 10 500 71 1 103 556,30 7 000 80 736 785,70 30/09/2024 7 250 51 753 333,00 5 000 50 521 624,00 01/10/2024 7 250 79 746 936,33 6 950 75 717 727,20 02/10/2024 5 100 40 520 243,86 5 100 55 521 292,93 03/10/2024 6 250 60 633 437,50 3 750 43 381 221,63 04/10/2024 3 538 23 357 264,41 4 488 52 454 015,95 07/10/2024 5 250 38 530 624,85 5 250 57 531 432,30 08/10/2024 1 500 20 152 400,00 1 500 19 152 650,05 09/10/2024 350 1 35 682,50 3 700 32 380 554,99 10/10/2024 6 250 35 644 312,50 500 2 51 662,50 11/10/2024 2 000 21 205 375,00 4 000 30 412 280,00 14/10/2024 1 700 16 176 715,00 2 700 25 281 534,94 15/10/2024 14 750 110 1 533 014,70 11 750 124 1 222 709,70 16/10/2024 5 000 26 510 712,50 7 250 70 750 475,05 17/10/2024 2 750 22 289 309,08 9 932 55 1 050 004,09 18/10/2024 3 250 31 344 657,95 3 250 33 346 364,85 21/10/2024 2 500 16 264 937,50 2 500 27 265 428,00 22/10/2024 6 250 44 658 125,00 4 500 50 474 300,00 23/10/2024 6 250 72 652 125,00 6 250 68 653 687,50 24/10/2024 3 000 25 313 397,40 3 000 20 313 965,00 25/10/2024 2 300 17 240 609,90 3 000 22 314 439,90 28/10/2024 2 250 13 236 587,50 3 200 24 337 434,88 29/10/2024 4 450 39 467 642,94 786 11 83 466,99 30/10/2024 1 500 13 155 925,00 2 750 19 286 925,10 31/10/2024 5 000 27 516 625,00 2 500 25 259 250,00 01/11/2024 10 000 61 1 047 218,00 04/11/2024 2 090 24 218 570,95 1 470 11 153 930,02 05/11/2024 4 250 21 445 223,20 4 250 24 446 507,55 06/11/2024 6 950 48 734 442,64 6 950 43 739 152,66 07/11/2024 16 250 124 1 586 775,13 12 000 147 1 183 495,20 08/11/2024 2 150 18 210 836,10 5 150 45 505 791,80 11/11/2024 5 184 41 516 607,37 12/11/2024 21 400 195 2 103 363,20 7 500 95 738 375,00 13/11/2024 4 750 42 460 999,85 4 700 32 457 874,94 14/11/2024 4 950 29 487 694,79 7 750 79 767 326,73 15/11/2024 21 250 222 2 091 875,50 6 250 52 617 367,50 18/11/2024 2 850 26 277 458,05 2 850 44 277 900,08 19/11/2024 22 000 133 2 120 289,60 5 000 70 482 370,00 20/11/2024 10 000 91 958 950,00 24 700 170 2 385 950,84 21/11/2024 11 000 106 1 044 699,70 11 500 124 1 094 444,65 22/11/2024 9 500 105 913 319,55 9 500 65 914 375,00 25/11/2024 10 900 126 1 054 197,86 8 400 73 813 358,56 26/11/2024 5 000 44 475 750,00 3 750 43 357 000,00 27/11/2024 21 250 164 1 995 081,75 21 250 181 1 996 832,75 28/11/2024 5 250 64 495 720,23 5 250 14 497 250,08 29/11/2024 7 625 81 717 309,68 9 000 117 848 934,90 02/12/2024 8 250 69 774 905,18 16 750 214 1 584 414,33 03/12/2024 5 750 94 545 898,68 4 750 38 452 144,90 04/12/2024 2 913 36 277 040,57 8 250 74 789 129,83 05/12/2024 8 750 50 839 222,13 6 500 68 625 069,90 06/12/2024 5 750 63 552 884,35 7 250 72 697 974,90 09/12/2024 7 500 78 726 285,00 7 500 76 727 799,25 10/12/2024 8 500 96 819 139,90 5 250 64 507 114,83 11/12/2024 3 532 59 338 361,36 10 250 111 987 469,63 12/12/2024 11 250 117 1 082 925,00 3 250 39 313 899,95 13/12/2024 6 750 104 645 549,75 5 250 38 504 130,20 16/12/2024 7 500 86 711 375,00 5 750 60 545 887,75 17/12/2024 4 500 49 425 680,20 5 250 56 498 149,40 18/12/2024 425 8 40 179,50 8 250 82 785 899,95 19/12/2024 31 250 262 2 932 625,00 21 250 266 1 999 023,63 20/12/2024 7 125 46 662 737,58 7 125 99 663 375,98 23/12/2024 5 000 46 468 025,00 5 000 55 469 055,00 24/12/2024 2 250 22 211 095,00 2 250 22 211 529,93 27/12/2024 2 000 20 187 305,00 2 000 22 187 900,00 30/12/2024 6 250 58 583 575,00 31/12/2024 2 921 33 271 706,16 7 750 69 724 104,98

KEY FINANCIAL DATES:

2024 annual results: February 13, 2025

"Quiet period1" starts: January 14, 2025

2025 first-quarter results: May 7, 2025

"Quiet period 1 " starts: April 7, 2025

"Quiet period " starts: April 7, 2025 General Meeting of Shareholders: May 27, 2025

ABOUT LEGRAND

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for residential, commercial, and datacenter markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide.

The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable.

Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing a strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings that include products with enhanced value in use (energy and digital transition solutions: datacenters, digital lifestyles and energy transition offerings).

Legrand reported sales of 8.4 billion in 2023. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG and CAC SBT 1.5 indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819).

https://www.legrandgroup.com

The reader is invited to verify authenticity of press releases by Legrand with the CertiDox app. More information on www.certidox.com

1 Period of time when all communication is suspended in the run-up to the publication of results.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129715229/en/

Contacts:

INVESTOR RELATIONS FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION

Ronan MARC (Legrand)

+33 1 49 72 53 53

ronan.marc@legrand.com

PRESS RELATIONS

Lucie DAUDIGNY (TBWA)

+33 6 77 20 71 11

lucie.daudigny@tbwa-corporate.com
Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. (OTC PINK:GRLF), a leading distributor of premium handmade cigars & accessories, today announces significant progress in its 2025 expansion strategy, securing partnerships with 12 new key independent cigar retailers carrying some of our brands. This strategic move positions the company for substantial growth and enhanced profitability, aligning with our commitment to maximizing shareholder value.

Green Leaf Innovations' curated portfolio of premium brands, including EL MAGO, MAL.CRI.AO, EL CUBANO, COCOA (MGE Antalya), CUBANACAN, MEDEROS, TABACALERA SERRANO are known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. This expansion into select independent cigar shops across the United States represents a direct-to-consumer strategy, enhancing brand visibility and maximizing the reach of our high-quality Nicaraguan cigars to a broader and more engaged enthusiast base.

"These strategic partnerships reflect our commitment to driving sustainable growth and enhancing shareholder value," stated Roberto Mederos, CEO. "These 12 key retailers represent a prime distribution channel for our premium brands and provide us with a crucial opportunity for market penetration. Strong sales growth through these partnerships is a key factor in our projected Q1 2025 financial performance."

The 12 partner stores are strategically located and are recognized for their high standards of customer service and expertise in the cigar industry. This network will provide critical distribution channels, contributing to enhanced market penetration and sales growth in the upcoming quarter. Details on the individual store locations and anticipated financial contributions are available below.

Blythewood Cigar and Wine bwoodcigarandwine.com

Afterburner Cigar Lounge Afterburner Cigar Lounge - 506 West Front Street Lillington, NC 27546

The Cigar District The Cigar District

Castle Cigars Castle Cigars - Cigars,Premium,Game Room,Lounge, Cigars, Lounge

Tinder Box Tennessee Locations | Tinder Box TN

Cigar Room II & Bar 52 Cigar Room 2 | Cigar Retailer & Cigar Lounge | Agawam

Bee Hive Cigars Home | Beehive Cigars

David's Fine Tobaccos HOME - David's Fine Tobacco

Black Box Cigar Club Black Box Cigar Club

Elements Cigar Lounge elementscigarlounge.net

La Fumme Cigar Lounge lafumeecigars.com

Havana Phil's Cigar Company Havana Phil's Cigar Company, Greensboro Davidoff Appointed Merchant

The successful execution of this expansion initiative reinforces Green Leaf Innovations' focus on building strong, long-term partnerships with premium retailers. This approach is expected to drive significant revenue growth and operational efficiencies, ultimately improving profitability and creating greater shareholder value in the coming months. Preliminary projections for Q1 2025 revenue are expected to reflect a strong positive trend driven by this new partnership initiative. A detailed financial outlook will be provided 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 ACCESS Newswire
Leading HR solutions provider recognized for its innovative business acuteness and human resource practices

Vensure Employer Solutions (Vensure), a leading provider of HR/HCM technology, is proud to announce it has been named one of the 2024 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the nation by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR).

The winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm, which reviewed several key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. The categories applicants were scored on include Compensation; Benefits and Employee Solutions; Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment and Selection; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Work-Life Blend; Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility; and Leadership, Strategy and Company Performance.

"We're thrilled to be recognized by the NABR for our exceptional employment practices," said Alex Campos, CEO of Vensure Employer Solutions. "Here at Vensure, we are not only committed to providing our clients with the most innovative HR solutions, but also ensuring we prioritize our own employees' wellbeing as well."

With over 25 years of experience conducting the Best and Brightest competitions, the NABR has identified numerous best human resource practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards. The ten to one ratio of the program demonstrates that the winning companies are truly innovative in their employee engagement execution.

To view the complete list of 2024 winners, visit https://nationalbiz.org/winners/.

About Vensure Employer Solutions

Vensure Employer Solutions is the largest privately held organization in the HR technology and service sector, providing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including HR/HCM technology, managed services, and global business process outsourcing (BPO). The company and its service providers collectively serve over 141,000 businesses and process over $159B in annual payroll. As a "One Employer Solution" headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Vensure helps thousands of businesses streamline and grow their operations with custom strategies that benefit both employers and employees. Find out more by visiting vensure.com.

About the National Association for Business Resources' Best and Brightest Programs

The National Association for Business Resources offers an array of recognition programs that celebrate excellence in various aspects of business, including workplace culture, wellness initiatives, and leadership. These programs include the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Best and Brightest in Wellness, Best and Brightest CEOs and Leadership Teams which are presented in several markets that include Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Nashville, New England, New York, Northern California, Pacific Northwest, Southern California, South Florida, West Michigan and Nationally. Nominations are now being accepted for all programs. Visit https://nationalbiz.org/ to obtain an application.

###

Media Contacts:

Owen Serey

Mower, on behalf of Vensure

oserey@mower.com

SOURCE: Vensure Employer Solutions

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Today, KeyBank, a Fortune 500 company with regional headquarters in Tarrytown NY, celebrated the opening of its newest branch office located at 1 North Main Street, Port Chester NY, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by bank leaders, local business owners and community partners.

"Opening this branch has been a journey that started more than a year ago with a vision to expand our presence in Westchester County and bring our exceptional banking services and community-focused values to Port Chester," said KeyBank Regional Retail Executive Louis Hoxha. "It is exciting to be in the beautiful Main and Port residential community in the heart of a vibrant business and retail district."

Hoxha went on to say "Westchester County is an important part of our Hudson Valley/Metro NY market and New York is the largest state we do business in -- in fact, the roots of KeyBank go back 200 years to Albany NY. This new branch is a meaningful symbol of our continued commitment to this region."

Village of Port Chester Trustee and Deputy Mayor Phil Dorazio offered congratulatory remarks, saying how important it is to have a local bank in the community. "I'm a small business owner, and Port Chester thrives on our small businesses. To have KeyBank here in this beautiful new building means a lot to our village." Dorazio went on to say "Even before the doors opened and there was still brown paper on the windows, the people of KeyBank were already out in our community, sponsoring and attending events, and meeting people and businesses in the neighborhood. The fact that they have staffed this branch with Latinos and Spanish-speaking bankers to help this heavily Spanish community, which is the backbone of our village, is a real plus."

Port Chester Village Manager and Chamber of Commerce board member Stuart Rabin echoed Trustee Dorazio's remarks. "North Main Street and Westchester Avenue are very important to the Village and are areas that we are revitalizing for a new tomorrow. It is so exciting to have KeyBank here in this cornerstone piece of property in our downtown center. We wish you the best of luck here."

The celebration included the presentation of a $10,000 community grant to Port Chester-based Project Morry, a nonprofit that provides academic enrichment, leadership development, and a residential summer learning experience for children grade fourth through twelve. KeyBank's fund will help support the organization's College and Career Readiness Program, guiding more than 150 economically disadvantaged students from 8th grade through their first year after high school graduation.

Project Morry Executive Director Dawn Ewing accepted the grant, saying "We are so thrilled to be welcoming KeyBank to the Port Chester community. Their clear goal of not only supporting the work of the local nonprofits like Project Morry, but truly being a part of the community itself separates them from so many other institutions. We look forward to being their partner as they begin their time here in Port Chester."

KeyBank's new 3,975 square foot full-service branch will provide clients with a full range of financial products and services, including personal and business banking, investment solutions, and mortgage lending. The facility will include state-of-the-art banking technology, a walk-up ATM, metered parking in front of the branch and free nearby parking, and a gathering room available for use by community groups upon request. This newest location represents KeyBank's continued commitment to enhancing access to comprehensive financial services for individuals, families and businesses throughout the Westchester and Hudson Valley region. Doors opened to the public on Monday, January 27th.

ABOUT KEYCORP

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at December 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit?https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

###

CONTACT:

Karen Crane | Regional Communications Manager | 203-789-2752| karen_crane@keybank.com

KeyBank Branch Manager Jeffrey Almanzar (center with scissors) cuts the ribbon on the bank's newest branch at 1 Main Street Port Chester, NY at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held January 29, 2025. Photo credit: Erin Borzellino Photography

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: KeyBank

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - DOWZE, a prominent name in lifestyle innovation, has launched a sleek, efficient teeth-whitening product designed to meet the demands of busy individuals aged 18 to 45. In its announcement, the company notes that DOWZE delivers simplicity, convenience, and impactful results for those seeking a brighter smile without disrupting their fast-paced routines.

DOWZE

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/238673_7acc5dc714a45963_002full.jpg

Catering to young professionals, students, influencers, and anyone who values self-care, DOWZE blends seamlessly into everyday schedules, offering a streamlined solution to oral care. This launch reflects the company's dedication to creating products that enhance confidence and well-being while addressing the evolving needs of modern consumers.

A Revolutionary Approach to Oral Care

The launch of DOWZE unveils how it stands out as more than a product; it's a thoughtfully designed experience. By combining cutting-edge technology with user-focused design, DOWZE delivers an at-home teeth-whitening solution that's both effective and enjoyable.

Key features include:

Effortless Integration: DOWZE is crafted for individuals with demanding schedules, requiring just 10 minutes a day for noticeable results.

Empowered Confidence: Beyond aesthetics, the product is aimed at boosting self-assurance, allowing users to feel their best in any setting.

Modern, Minimalist Design: The product's sleek and compact design ensures ease of use while complementing contemporary lifestyles.

"DOWZE reflects our belief that self-care should be both practical and transformative," said Monica Smith, DOWZE PR manager, "We wanted to create a solution that not only delivers visible results but also fits effortlessly into the lives of our customers."

Addressing the Needs of a Diverse Audience

According to the company, DOWZE is designed to resonate with a wide range of individuals:

Young Professionals: Perfect for those juggling work, social lives, and personal care, DOWZE offers a quick yet effective way to enhance their smile.

Students: With academic pressures and busy schedules, students can benefit from DOWZE's time-efficient approach to oral care.

Influencers: For those in the spotlight, DOWZE provides a reliable solution to maintain a photo-ready smile.

Self-Care Advocates: DOWZE aligns with the values of individuals who prioritize health, appearance, and confidence.

Innovation Rooted in Simplicity

DOWZE's introduction underscores the commitment of the company to innovation that enhances everyday routines. The product is designed to eliminate the complexity often associated with teeth whitening, providing users with a straightforward and effective solution. By focusing on convenience and results, DOWZE meets the expectations of a modern, fast-moving audience.

"Our goal was to develop a product that feels intuitive and impactful from the moment you use it," added Smith. "We're excited to see how DOWZE empowers our customers to feel more confident and in control of their self-care journey."

Commitment to Quality and User Experience

DOWZE's development is rooted in extensive research and attention to customer feedback. Recognizing the challenges associated with traditional teeth-whitening products, the company prioritized ease of use and efficiency in its design. From the first use, customers can expect a smooth experience, reflecting the company's dedication to delivering products that simplify and elevate daily routines.

Additionally, DOWZE has undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety and effectiveness. By adhering to high-quality standards, the product offers consumers peace of mind alongside its benefits.

"Our commitment to quality extends beyond the product itself," noted Smith. "We strive to offer comprehensive support and ensure that every customer feels confident in choosing DOWZE."

A Focus on Empowerment Through Self-Care

In an era where self-care has become integral to overall well-being, DOWZE embodies the idea that even small changes can have a significant impact. The product's sleek design and efficient results are tailored to help users feel more empowered, confident, and ready to tackle their daily challenges.

"DOWZE isn't just about whitening teeth," Smith emphasized. "It's about helping people feel good about themselves and encouraging them to prioritize self-care in a way that fits their lifestyle."

A New Era in Oral Care

DOWZE isn't just a teeth-whitening solution; it's a lifestyle upgrade. With its user-friendly design and focus on empowerment, DOWZE reimagines oral care for individuals who demand more from their self-care routines. By making teeth-whitening quick, effective, and enjoyable, the company aims to set a new standard in the industry.

To learn more about DOWZE and explore how it can transform one's smile with minimal effort, visit https://dowze.com. Experience the simplicity and confidence that DOWZE brings to one's daily routine.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238673

SOURCE: Brand Featured
The "European Directory of Defence Industries 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The European Directory of Defence Industries is the most comprehensive and accurate database of companies and executives throughout Europe and those senior defence officials that oversee the purchasing of everything from vehicles, communications equipment, and clothing, to electronics, parts and ordnance.

Assisting defence contractors to identify new opportunities throughout this region, this Directory covers thousands of companies providing invaluable comprehensive business information on these companies and their leaders in this industry. Additionally, the Directory lets you contact those senior officials responsible for defence procurement from the executive leadership and military and civilian defence and national security agencies down through the service branches. The Directory also gives you names, ranks, areas of responsibility, and contact information.

Company entries in this Directory typically provide the following:

Name and address

Phone, fax numbers, email and website addresses

Names of senior management and board members

Description of business activities

Products and services

Brand names and trademarks

Subsidiaries and associates

Number of employees

Financial information

Import/export markets

Government Defence entries in this Directory typically provide:

Contact details for procurement military officers and defence officials including name, rank, title, email, website, addresses, and phone and fax nos.

Procurement and logistics officials

Intelligence and national police officials

Senior officers in the tactical army, air force, and navy commands.

and much more!

The European Defence Industries Directory has been mainly compiled to assist professionals with market research, strategic planning, as well as contacting prospective clients. It is also an indispensable guide to all of Europe's defence industries, key corporate executives and defence, and law enforcement officials responsible for procurement.

This powerful Directory is your connection to key decision-makers in Defence throughout Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Whether you are a product manager, in charge of marketing, or simply interested in remaining in touch with the latest developments in European Defence opportunities, this Directory will save you time and effort in finding the up-to-date business information and opportunities that you need.

This directory is indexed in ways to make searching quick and easy. Indexes are listed alphabetically by country, alphabetically by company name and by business activity.

For more information about this directory visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/llrage

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129761214/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Taranis Resources Inc. ("Taranis" or the "Company") (TSX.V:TRO)(OTCQB:TNREF) has filed a new Notice of Work ("NoW") permit application to explore a recently-identified area of opportunity on the Thor Property. The application was submitted on January 28, 2025 and consists of five drill sites strategically located along an existing access road to the project. Taranis already holds an existing 5-year MYAB permit to conduct exploration which was submitted August 30, 2023 and issued in March of 2024. Although some of the planned drill holes can be drilled from the existing permitted area, they are most efficiently and safely drilled from the existing access road to Thor. Drilling from the access road will reduce the total number of meters drilled and minimize environmental impact due to significantly reduced surface disturbance. We are genuinely excited about the prospect of having this permit issued quickly (before the summer of 2025), considering Premier Eby's recent comments on exploration and mine permitting.

John Gardiner, President and CEO of Taranis states, "At the last day of the Association of Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup in Vancouver, Premier David Eby reportedly acknowledged that the NDP government of British Columbia is not doing enough to grow the economy of the province, specifically in natural resource development. Premier Eby further acknowledges that his government's "hyper-focus" on First Nations reconciliation has been to the detriment of mining exploration. Premier Eby said "We need to grow our economy, we need to expedite permits, we need get to metals and minerals out of the ground, and that is one of the reasons why we emphasize the reconciliation work".

Mr. Gardiner continues "Exploration expenditures in British Columbia have dropped nearly 50% since 2022 per Natural Resources Canada, despite a push for exploration and mining companies to find and produce more critical minerals. Taranis has noted that in the same timeframe, the British Columbia government has doubled its expenditures on government agencies that regulate exploration and mining in the province. We hope that Premier Eby's comments are reflective of a genuine desire in British Columbia to issue exploration permits in a more expeditious fashion. Taranis' directors hope to be able to report that Premier Eby's comments have been made in good faith and that a permit has been issued inside of the expectations outlined to the industry".

About Taranis and Thor

Taranis Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company. The Thor Project is in southeast British Columbia. The Thor property is 100% owned by Taranis resources Inc. and consists of 27 fee-simple Crown Grant Mining Claims located over the Thor epithermal deposit, and 5,445 Ha of Mineral Tenures located over prospective areas in the historic Silver Cup mining district.

Qualified Person

Exploration activities at Thor were overseen by John Gardiner (P. Geo.), who is a Qualified Person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. John Gardiner is a principal of John J. Gardiner & Associates, LLC which operates in British Columbia under Firm Permit Number 1002256. Mr. Gardiner has reviewed and approved the comments contained within this News Release.

For additional information on Taranis or its 100%-owned Thor project in British Columbia, visit www.taranisresources.com

Taranis currently has 100,348,854 shares issued and outstanding (113,827,227 shares on a fully-diluted basis).

TARANIS RESOURCES INC.

Per: John J. Gardiner (P. Geo.), President and CEO

For further information contact:

John J. Gardiner

681 Conifer Lane

Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Phone: (303) 716-5922 Cell: (720) 209-3049 johnjgardiner@earthlink.net

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This News Release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from expected results.

SOURCE: Taranis Resources, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
OG BRANDS Expands Global Leadership Team to Drive International Growth and Innovation

OG BRANDS, the powerhouse behind the Israeli online beauty retail platform OH! GLOW, is reinforcing its global marketing and sales strategy with a series of strategic appointments. With a focus on strengthening its presence in key international markets, OG BRANDS is proud to announce the addition of two new executives to its leadership team: Meital Ashbel as VP of International Marketing and Miri Kopman as VP of Marketing and Managing Director for Asia.

Strategic Growth and Market Expansion

The newly enhanced marketing leadership team now consists of four senior executives, spearheading OG BRANDS' global growth initiatives in 2025. Under the leadership of June Shor, VP of Marketing and Managing Director of Israeli operations, and Andrew Rosenberg, VP of Business Development and Sales, the additions of Ashbel and Kopman mark a significant step in expanding the company's reach, particularly in the Asian market.

Meital Ashbel, bringing over 22 years of expertise in senior marketing roles across B2B and B2C sectors, will focus on digital transformation and enhancing OG BRANDS' customer experience through technology-driven strategies. Her primary mission includes expanding the OH! GLOW platform's operations in Israel while aggressively penetrating the Asian beauty market, particularly in Hong Kong.

Miri Kopman, with 15+ years of experience in business development and international sales, will lead the Hong Kong division, strengthening OG BRANDS' foothold in the dynamic Asian beauty industry. Kopman will oversee both online and offline brand sales, ensuring that Western beauty brands gain prominence in key Asian markets.

These appointments complement the recent addition of Andrew Rosenberg as VP of Business Development. His role focuses on driving OG BRANDS' international expansion by fostering strategic partnerships and introducing premium Western brands to both the Asian and Israeli markets.

OH! GLOW: Bridging the Gap Between Western and Asian Beauty Markets

As a leading platform in the beauty and wellness industry, OH! GLOW curates high-quality personal care products, making Western beauty brands accessible to consumers in Israel and Asia. Through advanced technology, expert-driven content, and stringent quality control processes, OH! GLOW ensures a seamless shopping experience tailored to beauty enthusiasts worldwide.

CEO Statement: Driving the Future of OG BRANDS

Dana Zilberstein, Co-owner and CEO of OG BRANDS, expressed enthusiasm for the company's continued expansion, stating:

"We are thrilled to welcome Meital and Miri to the OG BRANDS family. Their expertise and strategic vision will play a crucial role in our ongoing growth. Together with our leadership team, we are dedicated to strengthening our market presence, delivering innovative beauty solutions, and shaping the future of the industry."

With a reinforced leadership team and a clear strategic roadmap, OG BRANDS is set to accelerate its international expansion, bringing top-tier beauty brands to a global audience.

About OG BRANDS

OG BRANDS is a leading international beauty distribution company specializing in the import and sale of premium cosmetics and personal care products. With a strong presence in Israel and Hong Kong, the company operates OH! GLOW, a cutting-edge online retail platform connecting consumers with the best Western beauty brands.

CONTACT:

OG BRANDS LTD

info@ogbrands.global

https://ogbrands.global/

SOURCE: OG BRANDS LTD

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Strategic collaboration combines ServiceNow's leading AI and workflow automation capabilities and SoftwareOne's licensing consultancy to optimize and de-risk IT investments, and accelerate digital transformation

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the AI platform for business transformation and SoftwareOne Holding AG (SWON:SWX), a leading global software and cloud solutions provider, today announced a multi-year strategic partnership to transform IT modernization in the cloud. In the first phase of the partnership, the companies will launch a joint offering for customers that combines ServiceNow's leading workflow automation capabilities with SoftwareOne's software and cloud expertise. This will help maximize customers' ROI of software and cloud spend, enabling reinvestment in innovation and optimizing IT operations.

Through the partnership, customers will be enabled to accelerate innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and unlock new growth opportunities. This will allow them to gain IT asset visibility, manage the rising costs of software, and build a solid data foundation to support AI, security, and modernization initiatives. It will improve employee and customer experiences by delivering end-to-end solutions that automate and optimize platform services. In addition, this approach maximizes ROI and ensures an intuitive user experience, making it easier for employees to perform their tasks efficiently thus, being quicker and better for clients which drives their satisfaction.

"Enterprises navigating cloud-first strategies face the challenge of modernizing applications to maximize the value of existing software and hardware investments. SoftwareOne has been a proud ServiceNow Elite partner for years, helping our joint customers unlock the value of their software, cloud, and technology investments," said Raphael Erb, CEO at SoftwareOne. "This strategic partnership represents a natural progression in our shared mission to help organizations digitally transform while optimizing their IT ecosystems. The newly released offering will drive savings and growth for customers at a time of rapid transformation, when cost savings and consolidation matter more than ever."

"As businesses navigate economic uncertainty, the need to reduce costs while maintaining momentum is more critical than ever," said Erica Volini, SVP Global Partnerships and Channels at ServiceNow. "Our partnership with SoftwareOne is strategically designed to help organizations manage these pressures and deliver lasting value even in challenging times. This collaboration emphasizes both companies' commitment to customer-centric innovation, operational excellence, and measurable business impact. It underscores our shared commitment to empower customers to unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth at scale."

SoftwareOne supports customers globally in gaining visibility into their IT estate, resource consumption, costs and risks, while automating time-consuming processesAs a ServiceNow Elite partner since 2017 with key competencies and over 350 ServiceNow certifications, SoftwareOne's expertise in particular focuses on Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH), the Netherlands, UK, France and North America. Its capabilities were further strengthened by the acquisition of Beniva Consulting, a provider of professional services for the implementation of the ServiceNow platform.

About SoftwareOne

SoftwareOne is a leading global software and cloud solutions provider that is redefining how organisations build, buy and manage everything in the cloud. By helping clients to migrate and modernize their workloads and applications and in parallel, to navigate and optimise the resulting software and cloud changes SoftwareOne unlocks the value of technology. The company's ~9,300 employees are driven to deliver a portfolio of 7,500 software brands with a presence in over 60 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com

SoftwareOne Holding AG, Riedenmatt 4, CH-6370 Stans

About ServiceNow

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is putting AI to work for people. We move with the pace of innovation to help customers transform organizations across every industry while upholding a trustworthy, human centered approach to deploying our products and services at scale. Our AI platform for business transformation connects people, processes, data, and devices to increase productivity and maximize business outcomes. For more information, visit: www.servicenow.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250129143564/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Johanna Fritz

press@servicenow.com
Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK)(OTCQB:ARRKF) ("Arras" or "Arras Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from its initial drill program on its Elemes project in Northeast Kazakhstan. Drilling has intersected wide zones of near surface gold mineralization at the Berezski East Target, and several gold-bearing veins at the K-Ozek Target adjacent to the porphyry-style copper-gold mineralization intersected at the Bereszki Central Target reported by the company in its news release on January 15, 2025.

The Elemes project is in the Bozshakol-Chingiz Magmatic arc and is 61 kilometres Southeast of Kaz Mineral's Bozshakol Copper Mine ("Bozshakol"). The Bozshakol mine commenced operations in 2016 and in FY2023 produced 105,000t copper "Cu" & 115,000 oz gold "Au" per annum at US$0.95/lb Cu (net) cash costs. Reported reserves are 1.003Bt @ 0.33% Cu & 0.13 g/t Au.

Highlights

EL24004: 304.8 m of mineralization grading 0.54g/t gold-equivalent ("AuEq") (0.45 g/t

Au, 0.07 % Cu starting from 1.2m depth; including: 194.8 m grading 0.69 g/t AuEq (0.59 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu) starting at 1.2m 138.8 m grading 0.89 g/t AuEq (0.78 g/t Au, 0.09% Cu) starting at 1.2m 86.8m grading 1.10 g/t AuEq (0.92 g/t Au, 0.10% Cu) starting at 1.2m 37.8m grading 1.50 g/t AuEq (1.35 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu) starting at 1.2m Deeper zone returned 50m @ 0.45 g/t AuEq (0.36 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu) from 210m depth.



EL24008: returned 128 m ofmineralizationgrading 0.10g/t AuEq (0.06 g/t Au, 0.03 % Cu) starting at 182 m. Including: 12 m grading 0.20 g/t AuEq (0.14 g/t Au, 0.04% Cu) starting at 232 m & 8 m grading 0.19 g/t AuEq (0.12 g/t Au, 0.05% Cu) starting at 232 m.



EL24009: 2 m of mineralization grading 1.55 g/t AuEq (1.51 g/t Au, 0.02 % Cu) starting from 99 m.

Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals noted, "We're very excited with these new results from Elemes, particularly with drillhole EL24004 intersecting a thick zone of continuous gold mineralization starting from surface. Most notably, it encountered 194.8 meters grading 0.69 g/t AuEq, including a higher-grade interval of 37.8 meters grading 1.50 g/t AuEq. This mineralization is hosted in altered and locally brecciated propylitic altered diorites containing 1-3% pyrite and pervasive quartz magnetite veining. This hole has significantly advanced our understanding on the controls on gold mineralization at Berezski East and suggests that it may host a significant open pitable gold deposit. We're also very pleased with hole EL24009 that explored the K-Ozek target and intersected several gold-bearing quartz veins suggesting that this target has excellent potential to host multiple high-grade low sulphidation epithermal veins."

Figure 1. Arras Minerals Elemes Project & additional project portfolio located in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

Figure 2. Molybdenum "Mo" soil anomaly map highlighting the locations of drill holes completed by Arras in 2024. The map also shows the location of the K-Ozek trenches, with results previously announced by Arras in July 2023. The geological section line between drill holes EL24001 and EL24004 shown in this news release, is also displayed as the dashed line A-A'.

Figure 3. Arsenic and Copper soil anomaly map highlighting the locations of drill holes completed by Arras in 2024. The map also shows the location of the Soviet-era K-Ozek trenches, with results previously announced by Arras in July 2023. The geological section line between drill holes EL24001 and EL24004 shown in this news release, is also displayed as the dashed line A-A'.

Darren Klinck, President of Arras Minerals commented, "Results from the Elemes Phase 1 drill program continue to deliver positive results with the most recent hole EL24004 at Berezski East demonstrating broad zones of gold mineralization. This is encouraging and highlights the significant potential for both copper and gold that exists at Elemes."

Table 1. Summary results from holes EL24004, EL24008 and EL24009

Hole ID Intersection Interval Au Cu Ag Mo CuEq AuEq From (m) To (m) (m) (g/t) (%) (g/t) ppm (%) (g/t) EL24004 1.20 306.00 304.80 0.46 0.07 0.4 3 0.49 0.54 Including 1.20 196.00 194.80 0.59 0.08 0.4 3 0.63 0.69 That Includes 1.20 140.00 138.8 0.78 0.09 0.4 3 0.81 0.89 And Includes 1.20 106.00 104.80 0.92 0.09 0.3 3 0.94 1.02 And Includes 1.20 88.00 86.80 0.99 0.10 0.3 3 1.01 1.10 And Includes 1.20 39.00 37.80 1.35 0.13 0.3 4 1.37 1.50 And Includes 210.00 260.00 50.00 0.36 0.08 0.3 3 0.41 0.45 EL24008 182.00 310.00 128.00 0.06 0.03 0.4 3 0.09 0.09 Including 232.00 244.00 12.00 0.14 0.04 0.7 5 0.18 0.14 EL24009 60.00 64.00 4.00 0.17 0.01 0.2 4 0.17 0.17 & 97.00 101.00 4.00 0.83 0.01 0.5 3 0.78 0.85 Including 99.00 101.00 2.00 1.50 0.02 1.4 4 1.42 1.51

Notes: Copper Equivalent ("CuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.9167) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0100) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.2857).AuEq grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.090858) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0109) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.6751). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.50/lb. Copper, US$2,200/oz Gold, US$24/oz Silver, US$15/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%.

Table 2. Drill-hole locations

Hole_lD Coordinates (UTM) Azi Dip Hole depth (m) Easting Northing RL EL24004 506963 5712788 227 083 -64 450.0 EL24008 507427 5714317 235 285 -72 323.4 EL24009 508124 5715387 235 295 -45 175.0

Drill-Hole Summaries

Drill hole EL24004 was designed to test a small Cu in soil anomaly, and to provide additional information on the exploration target identified from historic drilling. The hole was drilled to 450m depth. The hole was collared in strongly argillic altered Diorites and at 30m depth passed into propylitic altered diorites. Mineralization is represented predominantly by veins of quartz and quartz-pyrite occasionally carrying chalcopyrite. Pyrite and chalcopyrite dissemination is in traces if any. Magnetite and quartz-magnetite veins and veinlets are prevailing almost through the entire drill hole.

Drill hole EL24008 was drilled to explore a coincident geochemical (Cu/Mo soil), magnetic and IP anomalies. The hole was drilled to 323.4m depth, and intersected polymictic andesite breccia cut by several feldspar-andesite dykes. Alteration is dominated by argillic-phyllic alteration that is by depth gradually weakening and transiting to Propylitic (chlorite-hematite) alteration. Mineralization is mainly pyrite in dissemination up to 2% through entire core and 5% in the interval from 113m to 200m. Veining is weak locally moderate carbonate-pyrite and pyrite veins.

Drill hole EL24009 was designed to test an area where Arras has mapped and sampled several Au-Ag-rich low sulphidation quartz veins. The hole was drilled to 175m and was collared in argillic altered Andesite and from 21.5m continued through phyllic/argillic altered diorite with alteration getting weaker by depth with remanent Propylitic alteration. Mineralization was mainly narrow zones of veining and silicification and disseminated pyrite.

Figure 4. Plan map, showing 2024 drill-hole locations, overlain on copper soil anomaly, Elemes Project.

Figure 5. Cross-section looking NE showing key intercepts in drill-holes EL24001 and EL24004. The cross-section demonstrates a strong porphyry-epithermal style of alteration hosting consistent mineralization. 1.0 Km distance between drill holes EL24004 and EL24001

K-Ozek Trenches: The gold-silver-tellurium mineralization at K-Ozek is hosted in a zone of quartz veining (individual veins between 0.5 to 1 m width), that display typical low sulphidation textures including crustiform banding, euhedral crystal infill of vein voids, and bladed textures (quartz after calcite) (Figure 7 below). A zone of strong silicification and argillic (kaolinite-illite-quartz) alteration surrounds the quartz veins.

Table 3. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the K-Ozek target

Figure 6. Plan map of the K-Ozek target showing location of drill-hole EL24009, mapped veins and grab sample locations.

Figure 7. Samples from the K-Ozek epithermal veins from historic soviet trenches, K-Ozek target, Elemes project.

Figure 8. Drill core photos from hole EL24004 showing lithology, vein styles and mineralization.

Elemes Project: Drilling commenced in September 2024 and the Phase 1 program was completed in late December 2024. This program of approximately 4,000 meters of diamond drilling has generally focused on priority targets at Berezski Central, Berezski East, Q-Gorka and K-Ozek targets. These targets were identified following two field seasons of comprehensive exploration work at the Elemes Project, including airborne magnetic and Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization geophysical surveys, as well as extensive soil sampling and mapping. In addition, some historical drill holes from the Berezski East and Q-Gorka targets were re-assayed with those results reported in January 2024 (see Arras new releases January 8 & 22, 2024).

QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSON

Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be calculated at this time due to the unknown geometry of the mineralization. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Arras Minerals. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Arras Minerals. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate.

Historical holes Bz6 & Bz20 shown in Figure 5 were re-assayed and reported in the Company's news release January 22, 2024. Bz5 also shown in Figure 5 was not re-assayed but is included in the figure for completeness.

The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim Barry"

Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

+1 604 687 5800

info@arrasminerals.com

Further information can be found on:

the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or

follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or

follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/arrasminerals

About Arras Minerals Corp.

Arras Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") in which Teck may sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras Minerals license package in 2024-2025. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK" and on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "ARRKF".

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.

Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras Minerals' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras Minerals is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras Minerals' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras Minerals operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras Minerals' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to futureperiods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Arras Minerals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Closed-End - David Schachter, Senior Vice President of Gabelli Funds, will travel to the United Kingdom to visit selected investment trusts.

With over 40 years of experience exclusively with retail, long term, closed-end fund investors, Mr. Schachter, a most senior and experienced veteran of the U.S. Closed-End Fund industry, is also Vice President of The GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust (GNT), which trades on the NYSE.

During the 19th century, capital was raised through closed-end funds. These funds helped build the railroads, which linked the American continent from sea to sea and led to the nation's economic success.

Today, in the early 21st century, closed-end funds are being threatened for elimination by hedged activists for short-term and short-sighted value extraction.

"Closed-end funds are a metaphor for long-term, patient capital, but they also represent freedom for investors who, in a sector where mass redemptions could force portfolio managers to sell, is an essential ability to those who may not want to be herded into selling."

Mr. Schachter plans to visit the Gabelli office as well as the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) and speak with interested U.K. investors.

Financial professionals and investors are invited to contact Mr. Schachter directly at (914) 921-5057.

Gabelli Funds, LLC is the adviser to thirteen closed-end funds which trade on the NYSE: Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB), Gabelli Convertible & Income Securities Fund (GCV), Gabelli Multimedia Trust (GGT), Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT), Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV), Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU), GAMCO Global Gold Natural Resources & Income Trust (GGN), The GDL Fund (GDL), Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRX Trust (GRX), GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust (GNT), Gabelli Global Small and Mid-Cap Value Trust (GGZ), Bancroft Fund (BCV) and Ellsworth Growth & Income Fund (ECF). As of December 31, 2024, the thirteen Gabelli closed-end funds had total assets of $7.3 billion.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a Fund before investing. For more information regarding the Funds, call:

David Schachter

(914) 921-5057

dschachter@gabelli.com

A Fund's NAV per share will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund's portfolio securities. Stocks are subject to market, economic, and business risks that cause their prices to fluctuate. Investors acquire shares of the Fund on a securities exchange at market value, which fluctuates according to the dynamics of supply and demand. When Fund shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Consequently, you can lose money by investing in a Fund.
Not for distribution to United States wire services or for dissemination in the United States

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2025 / Onco-Innovations Limited (CSE:ONCO)(Frankfurt:W1H, WKN:A3EKSZ) ("Onco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 408,164 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $2.45 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000, as announced on January 27, 2025, is fully subscribed. Closing of the Private Placement is expected to occur on or about January 31, 2025.

The Company has received overwhelming interest from the market, which it believes reflects the strong confidence investors have in Onco-Innovations and its vision. The Company notes that under applicable regulations the earliest date the Company is permitted to close the financing is after market close on January 31, 2025, which the Company now also anticipates will be the closing date.

Under the Private Placement, each Unit shall consist of one common share (each a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each (whole) Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $2.55 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to applicable securities laws.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Onco-Innovations Limited

Onco-Innovations is a Canadian-based company dedicated to cancer research and treatment, specializing in oncology. Onco's mission is to prevent and cure cancer through pioneering research and innovative solutions. The Company has secured an exclusive worldwide license to patented technology that targets solid tumours, setting new standards in cancer treatment. Onco's commitment to excellence and innovation drives it to develop advanced therapies that improve patient outcomes and offer hope in the fight against cancer.

ON BEHALF OF ONCO-INNOVATIONS LIMITED,

"Thomas O'Shaughnessy"

Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

Thomas O'Shaughnessy

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: + 1 888 261 8055

investors@oncoinnovations.com

The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements Caution. This news release contains forward-looking statements, including in relation to the Private Placement generally, and the anticipated closing date thereof, as well as to the Company's business and plans generally, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "potential", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the failure to complete the Private Placement as contemplated, or at all, the failure to receive regulatory approval in respect of the Private Placement, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. 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. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Onco-Innovations Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Julie LeJeune, Executive Director, Fort York Food Bank ("FYFB" or the "Organization") and her team, joined Karoline Hunter, Director, Business Transformation, Chief Operating Officer, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to close the market to recognize the Organization's participation in the annual fundraising walk Coldest Night of the Year, in order to help raise awareness of the growing levels of food insecurity in Canada.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWbNr_anWik

FYFB is the largest and busiest food bank in downtown Toronto. Last year, total visits surpassed 100,000. The numbers are continuing to grow with a new record high reaching 6,000 individuals per week, during the first few weeks of January 2025.

To keep shelves stocked, FYFB relies on its incredible partners, generous supporters, and its major annual fundraiser, Coldest Night of the Year ("CNOY"). Held every February, CNOY is a national family-friendly walk to help local charities raise vital funds to serve people experiencing hunger, homelessness or hurt.

This year, the Fort York Food Bank's CNOY fundraising goal is $250,000. To learn more, visit cnoy.org/fyfb.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238902

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
Vancouver, Canada--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQB: NGENF), a clinical-stage biotech company dedicated to developing neurorestorative therapeutics, today announced that Mr. Mike Kelly, President & CEO, will be participating in a fireside chat at the Oppenheimer 35th Annual Healthcare Life Sciences Conference on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 8:40 a.m. EST. The conference is being held virtually February 11-12, 2025. Members of management will be available for virtual one-on-one investor meetings during the conference.

A webcast of the presentation will be available here and posted for replay following the event.

About NervGen

NervGen (TSXV: NGEN) (OTCQB: NGENF) is a clinical-stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative treatments to promote nervous system repair in settings of neurotrauma and neurologic disease. The company is testing the clinical efficacy of its lead molecule, NVG-291, in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in spinal cord injury and has initiated preclinical evaluation of a new development candidate, NVG-300, in models of ischemic stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury. For more information, visit www.nervgen.com and follow NervGen on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the latest news on the company.

About NVG-291

NervGen holds exclusive worldwide rights to NVG-291, a first-in-class therapeutic peptide targeting nervous system repair. NVG-291's technology was licensed from Case Western Reserve University and is based on academic studies demonstrating the preclinical efficacy of NVG-291-R, the rodent prototype of NVG-291, in animal models of spinal cord injury. Effects of NVG-291-R reported in multiple independent academic studies include the promotion of neuroplasticity, remyelination, anti-inflammatory polarization of microglia, and functional improvement in preclinical models of spinal cord injury, stroke, and peripheral nervous system injury. NVG-291 has received Fast Track designation in spinal cord injury from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements herein include but are not limited to, the Company's current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements, or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements, and the words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "trend", "indication", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "likely" or "potential", or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the subject matter to be presented at the upcoming investor conference; the objectives, planned clinical endpoints, timing, expected rate of enrollment, and timing of data readout and study design of our Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of NVG-291 in individuals with spinal cord injury; the development plans, timelines, expected benefits, and prospective target indications for NVG-300; and the creation of neurorestorative therapeutics to promote nervous system repair in settings of neurotrauma and neurologic disease.

Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. In making forward-looking statements, we have relied on various assumptions, including, but not limited to: our ability to obtain future funding on favourable terms or at all; the accuracy of our financial projections; obtaining positive results in our clinical and other trials; our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; our ability to arrange for the manufacturing of our product candidates and technologies; and general business, market and economic conditions.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, a lack of revenue, insufficient funding, reliance upon key personnel, the uncertainty of the clinical development process, competition, and other factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the company's most recently filed prospectus supplement, short form base shelf prospectus, annual information form, financial statements and management discussion and analysis all of which can be found on NervGen's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All clinical development plans are subject to additional funding.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this news release. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and we have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/238889

SOURCE: NervGen Pharma Corp.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australia will on Thursday release Q4 figures for import and export prices, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In the third quarter, import prices were down 1.4 percent on quarter and export prices fell 4.3 percent.New Zealand will see December data for imports, exports and trade balance. In November, imports were worth NZ$6.92 billion and exports were at NZ$6.48 billion for a trade deficit of NZ$437 million.Finally, most of the Asia-Pacific markets remain closed on Thursday for the Lunar New Year, including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong.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.
Conifers.ai, a Dallas, TX-based cybersecurity startup providing a native AI platform that helps organizations solve critical security operations center (SOC) challenges, raised $25M in funding.

Backers included SYN Ventures, Picus Capital, and others.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by Tom Findling, Alon Yotvat, and Mark Kurman, Conifers provides the CognitiveSOC platform to continuously ingest an organizations stream of security incidents and, in conjunction with its knowledge, provide contextual investigations. Its patent-pending architecture ensures the right combination of AI techniques will be used on each incident analysis for more efficient and accurate incident resolution with predictable costs.

Through its staged implementation framework, the company provides organizations adopting AI in the enterprise.

FinSMEs

29/01/2025
Harmonya, a NYC-based provider of an AI-powered platform for product data enrichment, insights, and attribution serving CPG brands and retailers, received an investment from dunnhumby ventures, and its existing investors Bright Pixel Capital and Team8.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to will accelerate its 2025 product roadmap.

Led by CEO Cem Kent, Co-Founder and CEO, Harmonya provides CPG brands and retailers with AI-powered solutions for product data enrichment, insights, and attribution. By combining AI technology with a deep understanding of CPG and retail, Harmonya enables Fortune 500 companies, including six of the top 10 global CPG brands, discover trends, improve decision-making, and achieve measurable growth.

Its team spans offices in New York and Tel Aviv, working for brands like Coca-Cola, Unilever, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Mars Petcare.

FinSMEs

29/01/2025
Naboo, a Paris, France-based provider of software solutions for B2B events, raised 20M in Series A funding.

The round was led by Notion Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by CEO Maxime Eduardo, Naboo provides a software solution designed to simplify the booking and organization of B2B events worldwide. The platform includes an event booking tool, an app for event management, and a solution to centralize, track, and optimize event spending for procurement and finance directors. In two years, Naboo has facilitated over 60M in event bookings, with a primary focus on Europe, supported by a team of more than 100 dedicated professionals.

The company raised its first round in April 2022 to build the platform, its second funding in November 2023 for platform enhancement, also making close to 15m annualised volumes. In 2024, the gross booking volumes almost quadrupled to 60m. Having announced 7.5m in Feb 2024, this latest round indicates its potential to further grow over the course of 2025.

The company intends to hit more than 100m booking volumes, after a full year in the UK and plans to open in other markets on the back of the recent deals in France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Italy.

FinSMEs

29/01/2025
Amid the growing anticipation, the team has kickstarted the promotional spree from Delhi, taking the capital city by storm read more

Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films much-anticipated film Deva, starring Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde, is gearing up for its release, and the excitement is palpable. With its electrifying trailer and captivating songs, audiences are eagerly counting down the days to witness this one-of-a-kind cinematic spectacle on the big screen.

Amid the growing anticipation, the team has kickstarted the promotional spree from Delhi, taking the capital city by storm. As the fever of Deva spreads, the lead stars, Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde, visited the capital to launch the campaign in a college. The stage was set, and the leading duo made a grand entry, energizing the crowd with their dynamic presence. They even danced with fans from the audience, performing the signature steps from the films songs, further elevating the excitement to new heights. Deva promises to deliver a truly unique cinematic experience.

Advertisement

Directed by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films, Deva is an electrifying and explosive action thriller set to release on January 31, 2025.
American company Boom achieved a milestone Tuesday as its XB-1 aircraft exceeded the speed of sound for the first time during a supersonic test flight. The last flight of a supersonic airliner, Concorde, was in 2003. Heres why it matters read more

Supersonic travel could very well become a reality in the future. American company Boom achieved a major feat on Tuesday (January 28) as its prototype passenger jet broke the sound barrier for the first time during a supersonic test flight.

This comes 22 years after Concorde, the British-French supersonic airliner, retired in 2003. Boom has high ambitions, hoping to develop a supersonic commercial airliner which could become operational before the decade ends.

Advertisement

Lets take a closer look.

Booms XB-1 jets big feat

Boom Supersonics XB-1 aircraft Tuesday reached an altitude of about 35,000 feet over the Mojave Desert, northwest of Los Angeles, before accelerating to Mach 1.1 speed. With this, it became the first privately funded airplane to break the sound barrier during a test flight.

She was real happy supersonic, Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg said after landing, in a video posted by Boom Supersonic. Thats the best shes ever flown, was supersonic.

The XB-1 aircraft broke the sound barrier three times during its test flight spanning 35 minutes over the Mojave Desert in California.

Boom is supersonic. On Jan. 28, 2025 at 8:31am PST / 16:31 GMT, XB-1 broke the sound barrier.



Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg safely and successfully achieved supersonic speed in XB-1, the first civil supersonic jet made in America.



New top speed: Mach 1.122 pic.twitter.com/GenfoWRK6P  Boom Supersonic (@boomaero) January 28, 2025

The XB-1, which took off from Mojave Air and Space Port this time, has completed 12 successful test flights since it first flew in March 2024.

Tuesdays test flight occurred in airspace called the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor  named after the first plane that broke the sound barrier, as per The Verge.

Advertisement

The American-built XB-1 demonstrator aircraft is the first civilian aircraft to achieve this milestone.

Concorde was a joint venture between the governments of the United Kingdom and France. The 002 prototype for Concorde first flew at Mach 1 on March 25, 1970.

Passengers on board the Anglo-French airliner could reach from London to New York in just 3.5 hours.

It has been over two decades since the Concorde airliner took its last flight, ending commercial supersonic travel.

Former chief Concorde pilot for British Airways, Mike Bannister, told Independent: Ive been waiting over 20 years for the return of supersonic speeds, and XB-1s historic flight is a major landmark towards my dreams being realised.

Advertisement

When I last flew Concorde in 2003, I knew this day would come. Boom is well on its way towards making sustainable supersonic flight a reality, aboard Overture  my #1 choice as a successor to Concorde.

Made from carbon fibre, the XB-1 aircraft, as per CNN, has a long nose and a high angle of attack for takeoff and landing like Concorde.

However, while Concorde has a droop nose, the XB-1 aircraft has an augmented reality vision system which helps pilots view the runway.

When sound barrier was broken for first time

It was in 1947 that Chuck Yeager, a United States Air Force officer, became the first person to break the sound barrier. On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1, a sleek, rocket-powered aircraft was dropped from a B-29 airplane.

Yeager fired the X-1 engine, exceeding the speed of sound in the same airspace where XB-1 recreated history.

The speed at which sound travels is called the sound barrier. So, what happens when something breaks it?

Advertisement

When an airplane surpasses the speed of sound, it is said to be supersonic. As the airplane flies at supersonic speeds, it travels at 700 mph (1,127 km) in the air at sea level. This is when the aircraft breaks the sound barrier.

As the aircraft maintains supersonic speed, all the sound waves that shouldve dispersed in front of it pile up and form shock waves. When these pressure waves combine, a single shock wave forms, according to HowStuffWorks Science.

It is not just airplanes that create a  sonic boom but anything that exceeds the speed of sound such as a bullet.

Is supersonic travel the future?

Booms XB-1 aircrafts successful supersonic test flight has given wings to its plans to develop its supersonic commercial airliner, Overture.

Reacting to XB-1s feat, Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl said he hopes to now bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.

Advertisement

The XB-1 demonstrator aircraft is seen in Centennial, Colorado, US, August 13, 2021. File Photo/Reuters

XB-1s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived, he said, as per Independent.

A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars. Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.

Boom wants to fly its first Overture flight by 2030, with the supersonic aircraft carrying 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7.

Scholl had told CNN in May 2021 that his dream was for people to one day be able to fly anywhere in the world in four hours for $100.

A faster airplane is much more human-efficient, and its much more capital-efficient. You can do more flights, with the same airplane and crew, Scholl said.

We can significantly reduce all of the cost and impact that goes into airplanes by making them faster. If we have faster airplanes, we dont need as many.

In June 2024, an Overture Superfactory in North Carolina was completed. It plans to manufacture 33 supersonic aircraft every year, reported Independent.

The aircraft will be powered by conventional jet engines and run on up to 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as per CNN.

Theres not enough of it [SAF], and it costs too much, but it is scaling, the Boom Supersonic founder told CNN last year adding that he believes one day it will be used for all long-distance air travel. Its the future of aviation, he asserted.

Boom says it has received 130 pre-orders for the 65-seat Overture aircraft from global airlines, including American Airlines, United and Japan Airlines.

With inputs from agencies
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the Biden administration had earmarked $50 million for a condom distribution programme in the Gaza Strip. Her comments came as she was justifying Donald Trumps sweeping freeze on all foreign aid. But is there any truth to this? read more

Donald Trump's White House Secretary Karoline Leavitt justified a sweeping freeze in US overseas assistance by citing a $50 million condom distribution programme in the Gaza Strip. She said that this 'preposterous' expenditure had been unearthed by Doge and the White House Office for Management and Budget (OMB). Representational image/Pixabay

When Donald Trump was campaigning to be the US president, he had promised to trim the countrys spending in an attempt to Make America Great Again. And within a week in office, the US president is sticking to his words by announcing a freeze on almost all foreign assistance.

And on Tuesday (January 28), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in her first press meeting said that the US presidents move was justifiable, giving the example of the $50-million condom distribution programme in the Gaza Strip.

Advertisement

But whats really going on? Did the US actually earmark $50 million to distribute condoms in the Gaza Strip? We try to get the lowdown.

No more condoms for Gaza

On Tuesday (January 28), Donald Trumps 27-year-old press secretary announced that as part of Secretary of State Marco Rubios recent suspension of foreign assistance, Washington would withdraw millions of dollars allocated for condoms in Gaza.

Briefing reporters, Leavitt said that the newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is led by First Buddy Elon Musk, and the White House Office for Management and Budget (OMB) found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.

Karoline Leavitt: "DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer dollars." pic.twitter.com/mbdAOg12b3  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 28, 2025

That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars, she said, adding, President Trump is looking out for you in issuing his pause.

Members of the media raise their hands as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivers remarks during her first daily briefing, at the White House, in Washington. Reuters

Her comments came as journalists questioned her on Trumps decision to suspend US overseas assistance. Earlier, the US president had ordered a 90-day freeze in foreign assistance. He then said that he would ensure aid that conforms with his policies, which oppose abortion, transgender rights and diversity programs.

Advertisement

Following this up, Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a memo last Friday said that the United States was freezing nearly all aid disbursement except for emergency food and military aid to Egypt and Israel. However, facing outcry, he widened exemptions, saying Washington would keep funding humanitarian items such as shelter and medicine. According to AFP, the memo defined humanitarian assistance as core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance.

But there could be another reason for suspending the condom programme in Gaza. Past reports show that condoms have been used by militants in Gaza to launch improvised explosive devices into Israel in 2017.

Advertisement

Palestinian militants attach an incendiary device to inflated plastic bags and condoms to be directed and flown towards Israel, near Rafah along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. File image/AFP

The Jerusalem Post in one report said, Condoms and balloons with explosive devices attached to them landed in schoolyards, agricultural fields, and highways and caused significant physical and psychological damage. Thousands of hectares of land were burned, and these IEDs caused millions of shekels of damage.

In 2019, the Chicago Tribune reported, Flaming condoms, kites, balloons from Gaza used to set fields ablaze in southern Israel. The report stated how condoms were being misused by militants. Sometimes tied together for added buoyancy, the inflated prophylactics are attached to gas-soaked rags, other burning items or explosive devices, then flown over the border like balloons into southern Israel, where they set fire to farmlands and nature reserves  an estimated 6,000 acres have been destroyed in hundreds of blazes caused by flaming kites, helium balloons, and now condoms.

Advertisement

Claims dismissed

However, Leavitts claims have been refuted by former White House officials. Andrew Miller, who served as deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs in the previous administration, called the claim outlandish.

Its possible that $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynaecology and many other services, but definitely not condoms alone, he told The Times of Israel.

Data from the US Agency for International Development shows that Washington spent $60 million in 2023 on injectable contraceptives, contraceptive implants, IUDs, male condoms, oral contraceptives, Standard Days Method and female condoms across the globe and not just in Gaza.

Moreover, condoms generally cost less than a dollar in the US and even less in bulk. Take that into account with the population of Gaza, which is just over two million people.

Advertisement

People gather during a rally in support of federal funding and in opposition to US President Donald Trumps order to pause foreign aid near the White House in Washington. Reuters

Trumps freeze on foreign aid and judges block

In the first week of Trumps return to the White House, he announced via executive order a sweeping halt on foreign assistance. The order, titled Re-evaluating and realigning United States Foreign Aid that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.

In the executive order, Trump said, The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values. They serve to destabilise world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.

Furthermore, he put a pause on all such programmes for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals. This is in line with the US presidents previous statements in which he has remained critical of foreign aid, saying it amounts to big spending for Washington. However, data doesnt support this theory.

However, a federal judge Loren L AliKhan has temporarily blocked this effort, stating that federal agencies, states and other organisations that receive money from the federal government should continue to receive funds beyond a previously set deadline of 5 pm ET.

Critics further argue that a freeze on funding is unlawful because Congress has already approved the money to be spent. However, Trumps administration argues that the action is a temporary review and hence, within his presidential authority.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump has requested First Buddy Elon Musk to bring stranded Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS). The duo have been in space for the past seven months and arent expected to return before March. But how will the SpaceX chief bring them home? read more

Sunita Williams speaks from the International Space Station. She has been there since last June. US President Donald Trump has now urged Elon Musk to bring her and Barry Wilmore back to Earth. File image/PTI

On June 5, 2024, Nasa astronauts  Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore  took off for the International Space Station (ISS) on what was planned to be an eight-day mission. Now, seven months on, their wait in space may finally come to an end after US President Donald Trump tasked billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musks SpaceX to bring the stranded astronauts back home.

Responding to his chiefs command, First Buddy Elon Musk said it was terrible that the pair were left stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) by former President Joe Bidens administration for so long and that they would do so as soon as possible.

Advertisement

Nasa had previously announced last August that Musks SpaceX had been contracted to bring Williams and Wilmore to Earth. And while initially, it was scheduled for February 2025, it has now been arranged for March.

Trump ropes in Musk for astronauts return

On Tuesday (January 28), SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced plans to bring home two Nasa astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station on Boeings Starliner capsule as soon as possible, at the request of President Trump.

I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Good luck Elon!!!

The comments come after Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were sent on a mission to the International Space Station in June 2024. At first, it was meant for only eight days. But engineers at Nasa and Boeing, who initially sent them up, uncovered issues with the spacecrafts propulsion system, and decided to return the vehicle back to Earth without a crew. The two have remained at the station ever since.

Advertisement

While there have been concerns about Williams and Wilmores health  experts question the impact of extended space stay on their bodies  Nasa maintains that the two astronauts are healthy and comfortable. Moreover, Williams is involved Williams is also involved in several ongoing experiments and research projects while being on the International Space Station.

Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore, two Nasa astronauts, have been on the International Space Station since June 2024. Now, they are scheduled to return on board SpaceXs Crew Dragon in March. File image/Nasa

SpaceX to the rescue

Last August, Nasa announced that it had contracted Musks firm to return Williams and Wilmore to Earth no later than February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight.

However, last December, Nasa readjusted the date, saying their return wont occur until late March or possibly April. Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavour that requires great attention to detail, said Steve Stich, manager, Nasas Commercial Crew Programme. We appreciate the hard work by the SpaceX team to expand the Dragon fleet in support of our missions and the flexibility of the station programme and expedition crews as we work together to complete the new capsules readiness for flight.

Advertisement

This deferment occurred owing to delays by SpaceX to launch the next crew for the ISS. A new crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return so that the Space Station is properly manned and theres no jeopardy to the science and maintenance being performed aboard the station.

SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft which will bring Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore back to Earth. File image/AP

SpaceXs Crew Dragon to bring home Williams-Wilmore

To bring Williams and Wilmore home, SpaceX is looking at its Crew Dragon spacecraft. But what are its features?

According to Musk, the Crew Dragon was developed as part of Nasas plan to hand over space station flights to American companies after the space agency retired its space shuttle in 2011. Crew Dragons first mission to the ISS took place in 2020 when it transported four American and Japanese astronauts to the destination.

Advertisement

The Crew Dragon is a seven-seater and consists of two parts: a reusable space capsule and an expandable trunk module.

The capsule is equipped with 16 Draco thrusters that manoeuvre the vehicle in orbit. Each Draco is capable of producing 90 pounds of force in the vacuum of space, according to a report by the BBC. The report said the trunk features solar panels, heat-removal radiators, space for cargo, and fins to provide stability during emergency aborts.

Inside the Crew Dragon, there are three large touchscreen displays that allow the commander and pilot to monitor and control the spacecraft  a huge shift from analogue buttons and dials in the cockpits of previous vehicles.

Advertisement

Moreover, the Crew Dragon is designed to be two-fault tolerant. This means that even when any two things fail, such as a flight computer and a thruster, the spacecraft can still bring the crew home safely.

However, owing to the vehicles solar panels, which degrade in the harsh environment, the vehicles life is limited to a few months.

And when Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore return home, the Crew Dragon will ultimately splash down in the Atlantic Ocean where recovery ships will take the astronauts to safety and retrieve the capsule.

Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station. The two have now spent over seven months in space. File image/AP

Williams and Wilmores time in space

Williams and Wilmore elongated stay in space has raised several concerns about their health. However, both of them appear to be in good health and spirits.

But what do they do while on the International Space Station? They are currently tasked with carrying out several experiments for research and collecting data. The research samples collected will be sent back on SpaceXs Dragon cargo capsule to be analysed on Earth.

Nasa also shared a video of Williams trimming the red romaine lettuce leaves being grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat. Astronauts have been experimenting with growing crops in space through a fully-automated chamber onboard the ISS.

Besides that, the two have also carried out spacewalks; in fact, in response to a question, Williams on Wednesday said, Ive been up here long enough that Im trying to remember what its like to walk. I havent walked, sat down, or laid down. You dont need to  you can just close your eyes and float wherever you are.

She also expressed that shes enjoying her time in space and cherishes the opportunity to share her experiences with people on Earth.

With inputs from agencies
Out on bail for the murder of a woman in 2019, Chenthamara killed her husband and her 72-year-old mother-in-law in broad daylight in Keralas Palakkad district. He confessed to the double murder, claiming he believed the husband would attack him in revenge for his wifes death, leading him to kill both the man and his mother read more

He is the psycho of our village.

Out on bail in a five-year-old murder case involving a woman, this man brutally killed her husband and mother-in-law in broad daylight.

The attack took place on Monday in Keralas Palakkad district. After a huge manhunt, the accused was arrested on Tuesday.

As news of his arrest spread, a large crowd gathered outside the Nenmara Police Station, demanding his release so they could take matters into their own hands. As tensions escalated, police resorted to pepper spray and a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

Advertisement

ALSO READ | Budaun double murder: Barber enters contractors home, kills his two minor sons, says completed my work

The double murders

Chenthamara, who was out on bail for a 2019 murder case, allegedly killed an old woman and her son Sudhakaran over a personal grudge at their home in Pothundi.

Lakshmi, 72, and Sudhakaran, 57, were reportedly hacked to death in broad daylight outside their residence. Their bodies were cremated later that day.

Chenthamara (54), the prime suspect in the #NenmaraDoubleMurderCase in #Kerala's #Nenmara, is a highly skilled criminal. He managed to evade capture for two days by closely monitoring police actions, said #Palakkad district police chief Ajith Kumar on Wednesday. After an initial pic.twitter.com/wlVRJHUCd1  Hate Detector  (@HateDetectors) January 29, 2025

According to The South First, Sudhakaran was allegedly killed following a sudden provocation during an argument the previous day. Having lost both parents to brutal murders within five years, his daughters, Akhila and Athulya, remain inconsolable.

Notably, Lakshmi was attacked while trying to stop Chenthamara from assaulting Sudhakaran. While Sudhakaran died on the spot, his mother succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital, police said.

Advertisement

Police stated that Chenthamara carried resentment towards Sudhakarans family, blaming them for his wife and children leaving him.

Chenthamara allegedly committed the crime while on bail, having previously been arrested for murdering Sudhakarans wife in 2019.

ALSO READ | Australia double murder: How ex-TV presenter, partner were killed by jilted police lover

Sudhakarans children and the Congress party have slammed the cops, alleging that the Nenmara police ignored alerts from locals and relatives about Chenthamara returning to the village in violation of his bail conditions.

Condemning the polices alleged inaction, the Youth Congress held a protest march to the police station on Tuesday.

Villagers panicked at his sight

According to a report by Onmanorama, villagers saw Chenthamara as a man whose cold face covered an unpredictable rage. He had a love marriage and initially lived in Nellichodu before relocating to a small colony in Pothundi with his wife, Vilasini.

Advertisement

A local resident told the publication, He is the psycho of our village. He would tell us stuff about black magic and how he was acting as per directions of the evil spirit.

Tall and bulky, Chenthamara typically wore a saffron dhoti and shirt. His fast speech and cryptic behaviour had created fear among the villagers.

An individual, Chenthamara, who has allegedly committed gruesome double murder in #Nenmara in #Kerala's #Palakkad, is yet to be located. He hacked a mother and son, who were his neighbours, to death. The accused, who has a history of violence, remains at large, and a massive pic.twitter.com/wIvby6HCIM  Hate Detector  (@HateDetectors) January 28, 2025

Advertisement

If someone wears a new dress and walks by his house, he would warn them not to do that. He believed that people conspired against him and was doing witchcraft against him, the resident said.

Police described Chenthamara as a calculated and cold-blooded criminal. Palakkad Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajith Kumar told the media that the murders were premeditated, with weapons procured in advance, The South First reported.

Advertisement

After committing the crime, Chenthamara allegedly monitored police activity closely and even tried to mislead investigators by claiming he had consumed poison. However, medical tests confirmed that no poison was in his system.

The 2019 Sajitha murder case

Chenthamara is accused of killing Sajitha in 2019. Sajitha was Sudhakarans first wife.

According to police, he has confessed to the double murder, stating that he suspected Sudhakaran would attack him to avenge his wifes death. Acting on this belief, he killed both Sudhakaran and his mother.

Several reports suggest that Chenthamara suspected that Sudhakarans family had used witchcraft to separate him from his wife, leading him to allegedly murder Sajitha in 2019. After her death, Sudhakaran remarried.

His second wife and daughters survived the attack as they were not at home during the incident. He also told police that he wanted to kill his estranged wife as well.

Investigators have revealed that Chenthamara killed Sajitha believing she had used black magic to drive his wife away. He admitted to plotting the murders of three more people - his wife, daughter, and son-in-law, The South First reported.

Chenthamara went into hiding in a forested area, and it took police more than 36 hours to capture him. Representational Image/News18'

ALSO READ | Bengaluru double murder: How ex-employee who stabbed tech firms MD, CEO was inspired by DC villain Joker

Sudhakarans children demand death penalty for accused

The children of the 54-year-old victim have demanded the death penalty for the accused.

Chenthamara killed our mother in 2019 and went to jail. Then he got out and murdered our father and grandmother. Now he is arrested again, but he will be jailed for a few years and then released, only to kill more people," Akhila and Athulya were quoted as saying by IANS.

Why did he do this to our father? He could have just beaten him instead of taking his life. Look at how brutally he killed him, stabbing him multiple times. This shows what kind of person he is. He must be hanged, or he will continue to kill, they added.

Nenmara panchayat member M Manjusha stated that Sudhakarans family felt unsafe after Chenthamara was granted bail.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Manjusha said, Sudhakaran, a truck driver, was often away from home. Because of this, his youngest daughter, Akhila, moved to her mothers house, while Lakshmi went to stay with another daughterboth living nearby.

Following the double murder, Chenthamara went into hiding in a forested area, and it took police more than 36 hours to capture him.

As part of the investigation, police will take Chenthamara to the crime scene for evidence collection and to reconstruct the sequence of events.

With inputs from agencies
A tragedy struck Maha Kumbh on the second Amrit Snan, where eight to 10 crore devotees are expected today. On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, a stampede broke out in the wee hours of Wednesday, leading to fear of casualties. What went wrong? read more

Bags and other belongings lying at the scene after a stampede occurred at Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival, in Prayagraj. Several casualties have allegedly been reported in the stampede. PTI

Today (January 29) was meant to be a sacred day at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj. However, tragedy unfolded when a stampede-like situation unfolded at the Maha Kumbh on the morning of Mauni Amavasya, prompting Akharas to put pause on the holy dip.

While there are fears of casualties, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathhas said that a few devotees suffered serious injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones.

Advertisement

The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government, he said in a post on X.

The stampede reportedly occurred between 1.30 am and 2.30 am on Wednesday. Since then, Modi has been constantly reviewing the situation making four calls to the UP CM.

Catch Live updates from the Maha Kumbh stampede here

So what happened at the Maha Kumbh Mela? What went wrong? We try to get you answers.

What led to the stampede at Maha Kumbh?

Sometime around 1.30 am and 2.30 am, an unexpected surge of people unexpectedly converged at Triveni Sangam Ghat. Officials and organisers had expected a huge crowd on Wednesday (January 29), as it is the day of Amrit Snan. Moreover, this holy occasion assumed even more significance as it fell on the special day of Mauni Amavasya.

Organisers had prepared for a huge influx of devotees today  around 10 crore of them  and had issued an advisory to the devotees, urging them to follow crowd-management guidelines for safety and convenience.

As per the guidelines, pilgrims were told to use designated lanes to the Sangam Ghat and maintain queues while approaching the bathing area. They were also asked to avoid roaming around the ghats after the holy dip and urged to immediately proceed to the parking areas or their destinations to ensure smooth movement.

Advertisement

VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: Drone captures sea of devotees taking a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagrag on the Mauni Amavasya. #MahaKumbh2025 #MauniAmavasya pic.twitter.com/NUWFAXaseD  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2025

However, it all turned disastrous early Wednesday morning. According to some media outlets, the stampede occurred when a barrier broke as tens of thousands of people thronged the Triveni Sangam. This led some women to faint, eventually leading to a stampede-like situation.

Advertisement

However, there are varying reports as to what exactly happened. According to Vivek Mishra, who was present at the time of the crowd rush, told Hindustan Times, The incident happened around 2.30 am when a large number of devotees arrived at the Sangam banks. The main issue was that the crowd didnt know where to go after bathing. Many people were carrying heavy luggage on their heads, and there were numerous iron dustbins that pilgrims couldnt see.

A few people lost their balance and fell, and their luggage was scattered all over. I also fell after my feet got stuck in one of the dustbins, lost my shoes, and was left barefoot. I injured my feet. I somehow got up and helped my parents and another woman who were lying on the ground. Thats when the youngsters in the crowd started pushing others, leading to the stampede. I cant fully describe what I saw at ground zero.

Advertisement

Rescue operations were underway on Wednesday morning after a stampede at the Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj. PTI

Another eyewitness to the disaster, Ram Singh, shared his version of the events. The Fatehpur resident said that the stampede-like situation occurred because the exit route was blocked and the crowd got trapped.

The exit route was completely blocked, so the situation worsened. Four of our group had already gone ahead, and we had told them to stay at Nandni Dwar. The four of us got stuck behind. A lot of people were falling in front of us. The stampede happened because the road was jammed, he was quoted as saying.

Baljeet Singh from Balia described the moment chaos unfolded. Suddenly, there was such a huge crowd that everyone got crushed. There were 14 of us, and we couldnt even tell where anyone had gone. We were going for the bath, and people were coming back from there. We didnt even realise how the crowd got so large, and then people started falling.

Advertisement

Injured devotees were being brought to a hospital after a stampede occurred at Sangam on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival. PTI

A weeping Sarojini from Karnataka, who had been rushed to hospital after the incident, said, We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses. We were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides.

Umesh Agarwal, a devotee from Delhi, told the BBC that there were many sleeping near the barricades where the Amrit Snan was to take place. Thats how some people got entangled and because there was such a big crowd, they started falling on top of each other.

Injured devotees are rushed to hospitals after a stampede occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela. PTI

What is the UP government saying?

The situation at Sangam is now under control. In a media briefing, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath did not mention any deaths.

The incident happened between 1am and 2am. There were barricades that devotees tried to cross and got injured. Our entire administration is present at the scene. Some people have been seriously injured while trying to cross the barricades, the CM said, adding that a large number of devotees have been coming since the Mauni Amavasya mahurat started last night.

The PM has taken stock of the situation four times till now. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Anandiben Patel are also continuously taking reports of the situation, he added.

#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | #MahaKumbh2025 | Heavy security deployed at the Triveni Sangam as police pave the way for Akharas and saints for their Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. pic.twitter.com/OTzml27jzZ  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

According to Aditiyanath, around eight to 10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today (January 29). There is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose.

What do we know about the rescue ops at Maha Kumbh?

Following the tragic stampede, officials rushed in to stretcher away those who were hurt and to control the situation.

To restore normalcy, a Rapid Action Force unit, a special team deployed during crises, was deployed. Several ambulances at the Kumbh ferried injured passengers to hospital. News18 reports that a green corridor has been established to transfer the injured devotees to the central hospital.

Security personnel stand guard after a stampede on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival. PTI

CM Adityanath asked pilgrims at the Kumbh Mela to follow instructions issued by officials at the site and cooperate with them. He wrote on X, Maha Kumbh-2025, dear devotees come to Prayagraj, Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours.

-2025,    ,



        ,   ,         



       ,     



              Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 29, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with the CM and has directed him to arrange immediate relief measures. Home Minister Amit Shah has also assured Adityanath of full support in times of this crisis.

What is the situation at Maha Kumbh now?

The situation is under control, say authorities.



Speaking to ANI, DIG Mahakumbh Vaibhav Krishna said that more than 10 crore devotees are expected to visit Kumbh Mela today and added that the crowd is under control.

We expect more than 10 crore people today All our officials and personnel have been deployed for crowd regulation since yesterday evening. People are bathing at all the ghats here peacefully In the morning, there was pressure and a huge crowd. Many Akharas told us to regulate the crowd and that they would come out for the snan later, Krishna said.

Following the stampede, the seers from the different akharas had called off their scheduled Amrit Snan. However, it has now been resumed. The saints started their procession to the Triveni Sangam Ghat for the second holy dip.

#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | Saints begin their procession as they head to the Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan of #MahaKumbh2025 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. pic.twitter.com/pajTsky78I  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

Keeping with the Kumbh Mela tradition, the Akharas of the three sects Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen took the holy dip in Triveni Sangam in a set sequence.

About 3.61 crore devotees also took a dip until 10 am.

An ambulance arrives after a stampede on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival. PTI

Why is the Amrit Snan significant?

Today was a significant day at the Maha Kumbh Mela  it was the day of the  Amrit Snan. This gained even more significance this time around as it falls on Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious date as it is believed that on this day, the water of the holy rivers turns into Amrit.

For this purpose, the Maha Kumbh Mela organisers had extra precautions implemented. This included implementing stringent security measures, using AI-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and increased police presence.

With inputs from agencies
As many as 10 crore devotees and pilgrims are expected to throng the Maha Kumbh mela in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj today for Amrit Snan in the Triveni Sangam on Mauni Amavasya. However, the auspicious day began with a tragedy as a stampede occurred in the wee hours, leading to serious injuries and fears of casualties read more

Rescue personnel carry an injured devotee after a 'stampede-like' situation broke out on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela, at Sangam in Prayagraj, January 29, 2025. PTI

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Triveni Sangam in the early hours of Wednesday (January 29) as crores of devotees gathered for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya during the Maha Kumbh mela in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj.

Amid fears of multiple casualties, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the situation is under control, urging people not to believe rumours. Around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today. There is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose. A few devotees had suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg, the CM told the media about the stampede-like situation at Sangam.

Advertisement

But why are 10 crore devotees expected at the Maha Kumbh mela on Mauni Amavasya today? Lets understand.

Significance of Mauni Amavasya

Mauni Amavasya is the most auspicious day of the Maha Kumbh. Amrit Snan or a holy dip on this day in the Triveni Sangam is considered the most important ritual of the religious gathering. Adding to this is the rare celestial alignment called Triveni Yog, occurring after a gap of 144 years, which has increased the significance of the day.

Triveni Sangam is the confluence of three holy rivers  the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

It is believed that people who bathe in the Sangam during Maha Kumbh, particularly on auspicious days like Mauni Amavasya, purify their sins and attain moksha or salvation.

Mauni Amavasya falls on the day of the new Moon, when the illuminated part of the Moon faces the Sun and the dark side faces the Earth. Thus, the Moon is not visible to us.

The holy dip taken on Mauni Amavasya is traditionally done in silence.

With Mauni Amavasya holding such significance, around 10 crore people are likely to perform Amrit Snan today.

Over 4 crore people took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam by 12 noon today.

Meanwhile, until January 28, more than 19.94 crore devotees have taken a dip since Maha Kumbh kicked off on January 13.

Arrangements for Mauni Amavasya

The Uttar Pradesh government has made several arrangements, including deploying tight security, to avoid security concerns as crores of devotees and pilgrims gather to take a holy dip on the biggest bathing day at Maha Kumbh.

The area of the mela has been declared a no-vehicle and no-VIP zone. As per an Indian Express report, there is no VIP protocol for dignitaries or a pass system for visitors.

Advertisement

Vehicles will not be allowed beyond the designated parking lots.

Saints and seers of the 13 akharas have been allotted exclusive entry and exit routes in the Sangam area.

First of all, we have devised the zonal system, according to which those coming from the Arail side should take a bath at the Arail Ghat and those coming from the Jhusi side should take bath at Jhusi Ghat and so on, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna told the newspaper.

The Railways is running special trains to Prayagraj for Mauni Amavasya.

Stampede at Maha Kumbh

A tragedy occurred at the Maha Kumbh between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara Marg, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said.

Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured, he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Advertisement

#WATCH | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says," The situation in Prayagraj is under control..."



"Around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today. There is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose. A few devotees have pic.twitter.com/lOc1OIraqm  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

According to Adityanath, some devotees were seriously injured.

As a sea of people turned up for the holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, a barrier broke, leading to injuries.

Advertisement

Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured, Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty at the mela, said, as per PTI.

Hindu devotees search for their belongings after a stampede when Hindu devotees rushed to take a holy bath in the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya or new moon day during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, January 29, 2025. AP

The Maha Kumbh continues to attract huge crowds, with the UP CM saying nearly 10 crore people are currently in Prayagraj.

There is a heavy rush of pilgrims going to Sangam Nose but the administration is there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also monitoring the scene and has called me four times since morning to take stock of the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda have also called, Adityanath said.

Advertisement

While the Uttar Pradesh government has not divulged details about the number of casualties, PM Modi has offered his deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in the stampede.

The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government, he wrote on X.

                ,                                   Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were among those who condoled the deaths in the stampede at Maha Kumbh.

In the wake of the tragic incident, akharas initially called off their Amrit Snan. However, they later decided to go ahead with the holy dip.

Saints are reaching in large numbers at the Sangam for the second Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya.

Speaking to the media, DIG Mahakumbh Vaibhav Krishna said earlier in the day that Amrit Snan was about to begin. Everything will be carried out traditionally The police and administration will assist all the akharas in their traditional processions The situation is under control. We are looking into the causes of today mornings incident. It happened because of a huge rush of devotees. More than 10 crore devotees are expected to arrive, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

With inputs from agencies
Otaru, a northern Japanese city in Hokkaido, has deployed security guards to address repeated instances of unruly behaviour by visitors. The development comes after complaints of crowds obstructing the narrow roadway or railroad tracks to click perfect pictures read more

Tourism officials in Otaru, Hokkaido, deployed security guards this week to prevent people congregating on Funami-za. Pixabay

A northern Japanese city in Hokkaido is stepping up measures to address repeated instances of unruly behaviour by overseas visitors.

Authorities in the small city of Otaru have started deploying security guards to deter crowds of foreign tourists from taking risks in their pursuit of the perfect photo.

The move comes at a time when the most popular tourist destination is witnessing a surge in inbound tourism.

Lets take a closer look.

Security guards deployed

Tourism officials in Otaru, Hokkaido, deployed security guards this week to prevent people congregating on Funami-za.

The steep street near JR Otaru Station and Otaru Sankaku Ichiba (Otaru Triangle Market) is a popular spot for its scenic views of Otaru Port and the sea in the distance.

Advertisement

The location also appeared in the 1995 Japanese blockbuster film, Love Letter. In addition to Japan, the film was well-liked in China and South Korea.

The area now draws a lot of foreign tourists who like to walk and take pictures.

Security personnel have been deployed in response to complaints that crowds of tourists are obstructing the little roadway when they stand to take pictures of the location.

The initiative is financed by the citys reserve money and costs 4.53 million yen, or roughly $29,000.

A Chinese woman died earlier this month in Otaru after she stepped onto railroad tracks and was hit by a train.

According to reports, her husband informed authorities that his wife had been attempting to take pictures of a scene from the Chinese movie, Cities in Love (2015), and had failed to spot the train coming.

This road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic, a city official told the Japanese outlet named The Mainichi, adding, Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant, and this fiscal year has been particularly severe.

Advertisement

Hidetoshi Itagaki, an 80-year-old resident, told the Kyodo news agency, People are even entering private property without permission to take photos.

Also read: Thai tourists flock to Japan & China amid Ban Korea movement

Overtourism in Otaru

Recently, its popularity has skyrocketed above pre-pandemic levels.

In the six months starting in April of last year, about 98,000 foreign visitors stayed in the city for at least one night, the largest since statistics began being kept in 1997.

Since many visitors stay in nearby Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, the real number is thought to be significantly higher, according to the Mainichi.

On the other hand, the increase in tourists is taxing the infrastructure and making residents outraged due to instances of littering, drinking, overcrowding, and more.

Authorities in Otaru and the local police station have been collaborating to resolve these problems.

Advertisement

They have introduced multilingual posters asking visitors to respect their surroundings and local residents.

The posters list actions considered crimes, such as obstructing traffic by taking pictures on roads, trespassing on private property, littering, and stopping on railroad tracks.

In a related vein, an Instagram influencer from Chile had to issue an apology after recording herself performing pull-ups on a gate of a revered torii shrine in Hokkaido.

Another incident sparked uproar on social media when a man who looked like a foreign tourist was seen on camera kicking one of Naras renowned deer.

Another famous case included an American man who was jailed for using his fingernails to carve letters that represented the names of his family members into a torii at Tokyos Meiji Jingu shrine.

Advertisement

Also read: Japans electric suitcase scooters: Convenience or chaos?

A boon for hotels and shops

Last year, a record 36.7 million people visited to Japan, and the government wants that number to rise to 60 million by the end of the decade.

The spike in inbound tourism has been driven by the falling value of the yen and an increase in international flights to Japan; South Koreans make up the largest group, followed by Chinese and Taiwanese visitors.

According to official data, tourists spent a record 8 trillion yen ($50.8 billion) last year, which has benefited hotels and stores.

Due in part to foreign tourists excessive snack and beverage consumption, Japans seven largest convenience shop companies reported that their total sales in 2024 had hit a new high.

Advertisement

Also read: 60 years of Japans bullet train: How Shinkansen changed country, transformed world travel

Other similar measures

In order to keep people from gathering at a location that is popular for snapping pictures of Mount Fuji, authorities have imposed taxes, limited the number of visitors, and installed a screen.

The Japan Tourism Agency unveiled 22 pictograms this week to encourage tourists to behave better.

They contain signs warning them not to queue jump and to travel light so that heavy bags do not obstruct entry to buses and trains.

With inputs from agencies
For the 8th Pay Commission, it was widely anticipated that the fitment factor will increase to 2.86, leading to a remarkable increase of 186 per cent in the basic pay. However, experts suggest the rise would be more moderate between 10-30% read more

There are high expectations of a big salary bump from the 8th Pay Commission. However, the reality may be different. File image

The government of India recently approved the formation of the 8th Pay Commission, announcing that it would announced submit its report by the end of this year.

Despite there being a long time before the reports suggestions on salary increments are declared, there is speculation over the salary hike for the central government employees.

According to the latest media reports, employees may see much more moderate salary hikes between 10-30 per cent against expectation of a massive 186 per cent increment.

Advertisement

8th Pay Commission: How much can salary jump?

For the 8th Pay Commission, it was widely anticipated that the fitment factor will increase to 2.86, which could raise the minimum basic pay to Rs 51,480 a remarkable increase of 186 per cent from the current Rs 18,000.

The fitment factor is a multiplier used to calculate the new salary based on the current basic pay in the revised Pay Matrix.

Subhash Chandra Garg, former finance secretary of India, recently said in an interview with News24 that the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery can ask for the moon. Fitment factor of 2.86 per cent is asking for the moon, which is impossible to get.

He said that to determine the fitment factor, the pay commission will consider the basic pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA) as of January 1, 2026.

As of July 1, 2024, the DA is 53 per cent. To calculate the DA until January 1, 2026, two additional installments need to be factored in: one due on January 1, 2025, and another on July 1, 2025. Assuming a 7 per cent increase, the DA for January 1, 2026, is expected to be approximately 60 per cent, according to Garg.

With the starting factor of 1.6, the next step is to determine the percentage increase. Usually, pay commissions have recommended increases ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. The previous pay commission recommended an increase of around 14-15 per cent. In my assessment, the additional fitment factor to be applied to the base factor of 1.6 is likely to range between 10-30 per cent, Garg opined.

He said that taking 20 per cent of the base factor 1.6 or 160, we get 32. Adding 32 to 160 results in a revised fitment factor of 192 or 1.92.

If we assume a more generous 30 per cent increase, the calculation would be: 30 per cent of 160 is 48. Adding this to the base factor, we get 208, or a revised fitment factor of 2.08. So, the actual fitment factor is likely to be between 1.92-2.08, he said.

Advertisement

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was established at 2.57, raising the minimum basic pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000, News18 reported.

A long wait

It will be a while before the 8th Pay Commission submits its report. In fact, the current 7th Pay Commissions tenure will last till the end of calendar year 2025.

The 8th Pay Commission will be implemented starting January 1, 2026.

The central government typically constitutes a pay commission every 10 years.

Central government pensioners will also receive higher pension with effect from January 2026.
Recent developments at the India-Bangladesh border have prompted significant diplomatic friction between the two countries. Dhaka has expressed deep concern over the ongoing border fencing activities carried out by New Delhi. These measures, which include the construction of barbed wire fences, the installation of border lighting, and the implementation of various technical devices and cattle fences, are described by India as necessary to secure the border.

In response, Bangladeshs most senior diplomat was summoned by the Indian government, which emphasised that these actions align with the existing agreements and protocols between the two nations. In this light, the issues that need to be analysed include the rationale behind the border fencing work, the escalation of illegal immigration into India since the interim government came to power, the laws governing the illegal immigrants in India, and the possible way forward.

Advertisement

Diplomatic Responses

The escalation in tensions on the border has coincided with a period of heightened instability in bilateral relations, particularly following the formation of a caretaker regime in Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. In a formal meeting, Bangladeshs acting High Commissioner, Mohammad Nural Islam, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, where he was informed that Indias security measures, including the fencing initiatives, are fully in accordance with the established bilateral protocols and agreements between India and Bangladesh. Additionally, India reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the security of the region by tackling cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, trafficking, and other forms of illicit movement that have traditionally plagued the frontier.

The Rationale Behind

The question that arises is the underlying rationale for the border fencing initiative undertaken by India. While the Indian government frames the border security measures as essential for maintaining national security, particularly in combating illegal immigration, there is a growing concern in Bangladesh regarding the humanitarian implications of such measures.

The escalation of illegal immigration, which has been a significant issue since the formation of the interim government in Bangladesh, remains a central point of contention in the dispute. This issue is further compounded by the lack of clear legal frameworks governing the status of illegal immigrants within India and the associated risks for both countries.

The illegal immigrants in India are governed under a combination of the Foreigners Act, 1946; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Passport Act, 1962; and the Citizenship Act, 1955. None of these legislations provide a specific definition, as all these categories are broadly categorised as foreigners, exposing them to the risk of deportation and criminal charges for unauthorised entry.

Advertisement

Legal and Humanitarian Issues

The issue of illegal immigration into India, particularly from Bangladesh, has become a contentious topic in recent years. The Indian governments legal approach to managing illegal immigrants, most notably through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, has exacerbated tensions between the two nations. The CAA, which provides a pathway to citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, has sparked protests and diplomatic criticism from Bangladesh.

Conclusion

Going forward, the importance of diplomatic dialogue and adherence to bilateral agreements in managing border security issues between India and Bangladesh needs to be revisited. While the necessity of securing borders is acknowledged, the implementation of measures such as fencing must be carefully balanced with the legal and humanitarian responsibilities of both nations. A collaborative approach to border security that includes transparent communication and joint efforts to address cross-border challenges could provide a more sustainable solution to the current impasse.

Advertisement

Abhinav Mehrotra is an assistant professor and Biswanath Gupta is an associate professor at OP Jindal Global University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The terrorist group has survived the Israeli invasion, continues to recruit and cant be excluded from any future governance model read more

Hamas fighters gahter at a square before handing over four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza City on January 25, 2025. AFP

This is a generation which knows no fear. It is the generation of the missile, the tunnel and suicide operations.  Haniyeh, January 15, 2014

The quote by the late Hamas Political Bureau chairman, assassinated by Israel on July 31, 2024, encapsulates the terrorist organisations fearlessness and survivability.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus claim last year that much of the organisation had been destroyed and that victory was in sight stands belied.

The latest shaky Gaza ceasefire showed two things.

Advertisement

First, Hamas survived Israels merciless carpet bombing of Gaza and its vastly superior arsenal.

Second, the aim of Israel and the West to keep Hamas out of the Gaza Strips governance is impossible.

The videos of the three Israeli women hostages and four Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) captives freed by Hamas showed that the terrorist organisation is alive and kicking.

I watched the release of three innocent girls: Romi, Doron, and Emily. Surrounded by the Hamas mob, they were escorted to the Red Cross van. Emily is missing two fingers. God knows what they went through. Yet, no womens rights group has commented.



pic.twitter.com/C6UK8Kbq0J  Yulia Mit (@MitYulia) January 19, 2025

In both videos, the hostages were surrounded by a swarm of gun-wielding Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives in balaclavas shouting Allahu Akbar and cheering Gazans.

Breaking . Saturday . 

4 female hostages freed.



Liri, Naama, Karina, and Daniella are finally back home.



Video of the release 



Hamas put on "power show." pic.twitter.com/yrnPt6Wghi  Ukraine Diary+GeorgiaLatest (@UkraineDiary) January 25, 2025

Advertisement

Hamas turned the hostage releases into a spectacle. It was clear that its al-Qassam Brigades members had emerged out of the massive subterranean tunnel network, or the Gaza Metro, to show they still call the shots and are deeply entrenched in the war-torn coastal enclave.

Hamas has survived Israeli onslaught

Far from being dismantled, Hamas has survived Israels brutal offensive.

Around a year ago, the IDF Military Intelligence circulated a document among top Israeli politicians warning that dismantling Hamas wont mean eradicating the group. Hamas will survive as a terror group and a guerrilla group, the paper warned.

Advertisement

In January 2024, then-US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that a terrorist groups ability to resource itself, train and recruit fighters and execute attacks can be impacted, but it doesnt mean that the ideology withers away and dies.

On the anniversary of the October 7 terror attack, Khaled Meshaal said that Hamas would rise like a phoenix from the ashes despite taking the massive blow from Israel adding that recruitment continued.

Hamass leader-in-exile said that the group goes through phases of losses but always rises up. We lose martyrs (victims) and we lose part of our military capabilities, but then the Palestinian spirit rises again like the phoenixthanks to God, he said.

Advertisement

The reason for Hamass survival is the transformation of the Palestinian national struggle into a fundamentally religious conflict via the groups Dawaschools, clinics, mosques and charitiesand infiltration of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools.

Such schools were infiltrated by Hamas sympathisers, supporters and even operatives decades ago and school textbooks have been fuelling anti-Israeli sentiments and violence.

The radicalisation of students at UNRWA schools has triggered an avalanche of anti-Israeli sentiment and violence in the last four decades. Several students, including graduates and diploma holders, participated in the two Intifadas and terror attacks and joined the al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihads (PIJ) Al-Quds Brigade.

Advertisement

A November 2023 report by the Israeli non-profit Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) titled UNRWA Education: Textbooks and Terror, lists the names of 118 such students who turned into terrorists. IMPACT-se monitors school textbooks and examines curricula worldwide to determine whether the material conforms to international standards derived from UNESCO declarations and resolutions.

The report found that some educational material at UNRWA schools either promotes anti-Semitism or encourages violence and hatred against Israel. Moreover, UNRWA doesnt have curricula and its schools teach from textbooks of the host countryschools in Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem teach the Palestinian National Authority (PA) curriculum.

A 2016 revision of the textbooks showed their brazen anti-Semitic content and encouragement to violence and jihad. Dalal Mughrabi, an 18-year-old Palestinian refugee from Lebanon who was part of the Fatah fedayeen squad that killed 38 Israeli bus passengers, including 13 children, on March 11, 1978, is glorified in PA textbooks. For instance, fifth graders of UNRWAs Al-Zaytun Elementary School (Gaza) were taught to glorify Mughrabi as a role model for children.

According to Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow and director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policys Stein Programme, on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, children caught up in the Hamas Dawa are taught to recognise the virtue of death-for-Allah. Once indoctrinated into this belief system, they are more easily exploited as grade-school terrorists.

A Palestinian student is radicalised throughout his academic career via materials bearing the pictures of Hamas suicide bombers and others killed carrying out terrorist attacks.

Another reason for Hamass survival is its recruitment. Hamas had around 20,000-25,000 fighters before the war started, per US intelligence.

On January 21, outgoing IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said that around 20,000 Hamas members had been eliminated. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of Hamas casualties as members of the PIJ, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and other armed groups were also killed.

Figures provided by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a nonprofit specialising in disaggregated conflict data collection and analysis, put the number of Hamas fatalities much less. Detailed IDF reports on the killing of militants containing specifics on timeframes, locations or operations.

recorded by ACLED, account for only 8,500 deaths.

Hamas was recruiting as it was losing its fighters. We lost part of our ammunition and weapons but Hamas is still recruiting young men and continues to manufacture a significant portion of its ammunition and weapons, Meshaal had said.

According to an exclusive Reuters report, Hamas has recruited 10,000-15,000 members since the war started. US intelligence suggests that Hamas recruited around as many members as it had lost in the war, a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war, then-US secretary of state Antony Blinken said in January.

Blinkens statement confirms al-Qassam Brigades July 2024 claim that thousands of new terrorists were recruited. We managed to recruit thousands of new fighters during the war, al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaida had said.

In December, Hamas recruited 4,000 members as Israel moved troops to fight Hezbollah in the last three months.

Hamas also recruits in the West Bank and Lebanon.

According to Levitt, Hamas recruits in a formal and structured way in the Gaza Strip for its military and intelligence wings.

In the West Bank, Hamas has several cells which recruit operatives in religious settings. In southern Lebanon, members are hired from refugee camps.

Moreover, Israels military operation against Gaza has enraged a new generation of Gazans who might be future terroriststhousands of orphans.

The toll has crossed 47,200 with more than 38,000 children orphaned, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Around 32,151 children lost their fathers, 4,417 lost their mothers and another 1,918 lost both parents.

These children and teenagers are a fertile ground for Hamas radicalisation and recruitment. Hamas will easily tap their rage and frustration against Israel. According to the United Nations, around 50 per cent of Gazans are under the age of 18.

In January 2024, the IDF presented images showing Hamas and PIJ indoctrinating children and training them to shoot guns, navigate tunnels, confront tanks and engage in simulated soldier kidnappings. Hamas also uses children to transport ammunition and relay information from combat zones to terrorists hiding in shelters, per the IDF.

The war is part of a broader narrative dating back to the Nakba (Catastrophe) in 1948. The high number of casualties caused by the Israeli invasion, more than thrice the number of dead in the Nakba, has ensured that Hamas will continue to recruit youngsters devastated by the loss of their families. Now, Israel faces thousands of angry young Palestinians who can take up arms.

On March 11, 2024, then-director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, told a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing for the Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community that the Gaza conflict will have a generational impact on terrorism.

The Hamas tunnel network also ensured the groups survival. The re-emergence of terrorists during the hostage releases showed that much of the Gaza Metro was intact.

Before the war, the massive warren of tunnels was more than 720 km long. One of the tunnels located 1,310 feet from the Erez Crossing measured four km.

In January 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that after 114 days of fighting, around 80 per cent of the tunnel system could have been intact. A New York Times report last year estimated the same length of the tunnel network, much higher than the IDFs assessment.

The incessant aerial and artillery bombing flattened much of Gaza but the tunnel network wasnt destroyed.

Yoni Ben Menachem, from the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, estimates that 40 per cent of the tunnel networkhundreds of kilometresis intact. Some of the tunnels are very long and havent even been discovered.

The IDFs failure to locate the hostages confirms that the tunnels havent been destroyed completely. Some of the seven women hostages released by Hamas were held inside the tunnels for eight months.

There are still very long tunnels that Israel has yet to have locatedsome of them with hostages inside. This requires a very big operation and a massive amount of explosives that Israel currently does not possess, Ben Menachem said.

The existence of tunnels exposes the IDFs failure to plan a strategy that should have targeted the tunnel network. There are places in Gaza, especially in the centre, which the Army has not entered yet, added Ben Menachem.

Hamas might not have the same firepower and strength as before the war but the ceasefire would give it a chance to increase recruitment and survive. As the guns have fallen silent, Hamas will waste no time to regroup, strategise and continue its fight against Israel.

Mashal had mentioned the same point. Since Israel doesnt have a plan for Gaza when the war ends, Hamas would re-establish itself although not with the same strength or in the same form as before, he had said.

Hamas will remain part of Gazas governance

The United States (US) wanted the Mahmoud Abbas-led PA to govern both the West Bank and Gaza after the war. In an opinion piece in The Washington Times in November 2023, then-US President Joe Biden wrote: As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalised Palestinian Authority, as we all work towards a two-state solution.

The PA governed both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip until Hamas took over the enclaves control in 2007. The US wanted a reformed PA that could also govern Gaza after the war.

President Abbas, who has ruled out any Hamas participation if a new government is formed, tried to appease the US by appointing his longtime economic adviser Mohammad Mustafa as the PAs prime minister in March 2024 and asked him to form a new government.

However, the PA and Abbas are unpopular among Palestinians, who feel they are corrupt and didnt stand up for them during the war. Neither the PA provided an alternate model to govern Gaza after the war, which alienated Gazans further.

A survey conducted by Ramallah-based Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) in Gaza and the West Bank between November 27 and December 2, 2024, showed that 57 per cent found the PAs performance in supporting Palestinians in Gaza was very unsatisfactory.

On the other hand, around 66 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank prefer Hamas to be part of or even lead a Palestinian unity government. And 17 per cent still favour only Hamas rule. In fact, West Bank residents support Hamas more (25 per cent) than the PA (10 per cent).

Polling by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Research in Gaza and the West Bank in September 2024 showed 57 per cent saying that Gaza will remain under Hamass control after the war and 58 per cent preferring the groups return.

In December, Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer post-war Gaza that would report to the PA. Later, Fatah opposed the agreement arguing that it was against two administrations and suggested that the PA should also govern Gaza.

Excluding Hamas from Gaza is impossible as the group is part of Gazas social fabric.

The hostage releases showed the groups iron grip on Gaza. Soon after, the al-Qassam Brigades started guarding the aid convoys, the Civil Police patrolled the streets and Hamas officials supervised the clearance of rubble.

NO SURPRISE

Hamas gunmen riding on top of many of the 600 aid trucks going into Gaza under the ceasefire terms. So much for keeping the aid free from control by the terrorists pic.twitter.com/YTHJstjuG7  Trisha Posner (@trishaposner) January 22, 2025

Hamas is deeply involved in running the enclavefrom running ministries and agencies to paying salaries and providing basic services.

Hamas has released a 200-page document titled  Gaza Phoenix detailing its official reconstruction plan, making it clear that it will be part of any future government. The plan includes putting up displacement camps, repairing hospitals, clearing rubble and restoring law and order.

Even the reconstruction plan has Hamass sinister design of continuing to build its tunnel network. A section named Wartime resilience suggests constructing an underground connecter between all Gaza cities.

Gazas governance faces a dilemmaneither Hamas can manage the enclave alone even if it assumes full control nor the PA will be able to govern it without the terror group.

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Quads role as a strategic counter to a resurgent and belligerent China may increase or decrease depending on the unpredictable and transactional Trump, but the Quad nations have much to offer each other read more

On January 21, one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States and hours after the Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State (making Rubio Trumps first cabinet member), the 10th meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the QUAD, was held in Washington. A short, directionless joint statement was issued afterward.

Directionless

The brief, standard joint statement following the foreign ministers meeting contained the following points:

A shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.

A commitment to strengthening regional security and opposing any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.

Strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, while promoting reliable and resilient supply chains.

This directionless, short statement, which reveals little and conceals much, provides no clear path forward for the Quad. It also stands in stark contrast to the joint statement issued after the last foreign ministers meeting (held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Quad), which included more substantive, directional, and actionable measures.

Confusion and Chaos

This directionless joint statement is symptomatic of the confusion and chaos surrounding how Trump intends to handle foreign policy in his second termrelationships with friends, allies, and foes alike.

Obsessed with slogans like Making America Great Again and America First, the tone of Trumps foreign policy in his second term is unmistakably clear: uncertainty, uncertainty, and more uncertainty.

In his very first week of Trump 2.0, he has already shaken the foundation of US foreign policy with early actionswalking away from the WHO and the Paris Climate Agreement, and putting NATO, Canada, Panama, Mexico, and Ukraine on notice. Although he has yet to unleash a full-scale trade war, his intentions are clear: tariffs, tariffs, and more tariffs. This may come sooner rather than later.

The Existential Question

Together with Trumps recent overtures to China, the Quad now faces an existential dilemma, prompting the question: Will the 20-year-old Quad grouping thrive, survive, or become a footnote in history under Trump 2.0?

Mercurial and unpredictable as Trump is, there is no definitive answer. This piece, however, addresses this core issue.

Before delving into the future of the Quad, I briefly examine the tentative beginning of the Quad in 2004, its resurrection in 2017, its coming of age under the Biden administration, and the new uncertainties surrounding its existence.

The Focus

Aside from deliberating on the strategic future of the grouping, I delve deeper into whether the Quads Economic Agenda will survive under the disruptive and transactional Trump 2.0 regime. To explore this, I will examine areas like infrastructure development, supply chain diversification, resilience, and technology partnerships, analysing whether these initiatives can gain favor in an administration focused on transactional diplomacy and tangible benefits for the US from any grouping or alliance.

This piece also argues that demonstrating clear economic gains for all members, including the US, will be crucial for the Quads continued relevance.

I begin with Quad: A Backgrounder.

The Quad  An Idea

While the Quad has gained prominence in the last five years, it first took shape in 2004 as Quad 1.0 after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The four countriesUS, Japan, Australia, and Indiadecided to form the Tsunami Core Group to coordinate the emergency response and humanitarian assistance.

Institutionalisation and Retaliation

The first attempt to institutionalise the Quad came from Japans Prime Minister Abe Shinzo during his first term (20062007). His intent was to promote an international rules-based order, asserting that China had become a threat to that order.

However, the very idea of Quad in its embryonic stage met with swift and decisive retaliation from China, which saw it as a US-led effort at containment and suppression, aimed at curbing Chinas rise by creating an Indo-Pacific NATO.

Into the Deep Freezer

Soon, Quad 1.0 was consigned to history and put into deep freeze for nearly a decade due to Chinas retaliation, the wavering of the four nations governments, Abe losing his premiership, and Australias withdrawal to mend its relationship with China.

The Resurrection

Undeterred by the demise of Quad 1.0, Abe revived the idea in 2012, proposing the Democratic Security Diamond to preserve the common good in the Indo-Pacific. Quad 2.0, in its present form, was resurrected by Abe in his second term in 2017, coinciding with the first term of President Trump.

The revival of the Quad coincided with Chinas increasing military assertiveness in the East and South China Seas, as well as along the border with India.

Taking Roots

To revive the Quad, Japan in 2017 invited Australia, India, and the US to a joint working meeting on the margins of the ASEAN Summit. It was here that the idea began to take root, ultimately leading to the first formal meeting of Quad foreign ministers on the sidelines of the 2019 United Nations General Assembly.

Operationalisation

Quad, now a five-year-old grouping, is still uncertain about its future. Below is a brief overview of its operationalisation:

Summit Meetings: The first virtual Quad Leaders Summit, hosted by President Joe Biden on March 24, 2021, included Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. They laid out the Spirit of the Quad: We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion.

Over the past four years, Quad leaders have met six timesfour in person and twice virtually. The last meeting was hosted by Biden in Washington in September 2024, and the next is scheduled for New Delhi in 2025.

Foreign Ministers Meetings: The first formal Quad foreign ministers meeting was held on September 26, 2019, in New York. The latest took place on January 21, 2025, in Washington. The Quad foreign ministers have met ten times, playing a significant role in operationalising summit decisions. Working Groups  Broadening the Agenda: The practical work of the Quad is carried out through leader-level working groups focusing on: Critical and emerging technologies

Supply chain resilience

Infrastructure

Cybersecurity

Health security

Climate

Is the Quad the Equivalent of Asian NATO?

While China views the Quad suspiciously as an Asian NATO, the Quad members emphasise that the group aims to foster deeper economic and diplomatic ties, with strategic military cooperation being just one aspect.

In its current form, the Quad is a relatively lightly institutionalised, loose groupingneither a security arrangement nor a trade group. Its focus is on strengthening the economic resilience of its members and reducing dependencies on autocracies. The working groups are tools to achieve these goals.

Trump 2.0 and China: Shadow on the Quad

When Trump first joined the Quad formation (although Biden hosted the first official Quad Leaders Summit in 2021), his intent was to contain the growing Chinese threat. However, as Trump returns to the Oval Office, there are indications that his stance toward China may soften. Here are the key points:

Days before the inauguration, Trump spoke with Xi Jinping to discuss trade, fentanyl, and TikTokthe Chinese-owned app Trump had sought to ban.

Beijings reaction to the Trump-Xi conversation was unusually warm, with Chinese state media declaring that the two superpowers can become partners and friends prosper together, and benefit both countries and the world.

At the World Economic Forum, Trump stated, I like President Xi very much. Ive always liked him. We always had a very good relationship.

After the inauguration, Trump indicated 10 per cent tariffs on Chinese products, far lower than the 60 per cent he had threatened during the campaign.

If Trump and Xi follow through with these intentions, it could significantly reduce the strategic need for the Quad as a tool to contain China.

Other Developments Impacting the Quads Continued Relevance

Apart from Trumps recent overtures to improve US-China relations, the following developments further dampen the strategic significance of the Quad:

AUKUS Compact: The emergence of AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, designed to allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines and other advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles. Thaw in Indo-China Relations: After years of standoff, there is a tentative but distinct attempt at normalisation and improvement in India-China relations. Japanese Defense Buildup: Japan is undergoing its largest military buildup since World War II, with plans to double defense spending by 2027.

These factors suggest that the strategic importance of the Quad may diminish in the next four years of Trumps presidency. For the grouping to remain relevant, it must prioritise its economic agenda.

Quad Economic Imperative

The Asia-Pacific has evolved since Trumps first term, and so have the priorities likely to influence his approach toward the Quad. One view is that under Trumps new administration, the Indo-Pacific will remain a priority with bipartisan support, but with a sharper focus on hard power dynamics. The other view is that a potential Sino-US thaw and other developments will reduce the strategic value of the Quad to the US.

Even if the Quads value as a strategic counterbalance to China diminishes, the grouping still offers much on the economic front:

The combined population of Quad nations is 1.9 billion, with a GDP of $34.8 trillion.

Quad countries account for 44 per cent of two-way merchandise trade across the Indo-Pacific region.

Quad nations hold 30 per cent of global FDI stock, with 22 per cent of that stock invested in the Indo-Pacific.

Quad countries account for 18 per cent of global goods and services trade, amounting to $10 trillion.

Concrete Achievements

Starting with themes like Covid-19 vaccines, critical technologies, and climate change in 2021, the Quad has expanded its agenda to include fighting cancer, pandemics, bolstering quality infrastructure, maritime domain awareness, STEM education, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, connectivity, healthcare, and more.

The grouping has also decided to expand its scope to include Commerce and Industry Ministers, with notable initiatives such as joint port development in the Indo-Pacific, creating an air logistics network, and cooperating in biotechnology and quantum computing.

Quad Economic Agenda and Transactional Trump

Amid these developments, the future of the Quads economic agenda must be assessed, focusing on:

Infrastructure Development : Quads infrastructure financing initiatives and capacity-building efforts are critical but lag behind Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Resilient Supply Chain Initiative : The SCRI aims to reduce Quad nations dependence on China, and despite Trumps tariffs, it is in the US best interest to actively participate in SCRI.

Critical and Emerging Technologies: Cooperation on AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and Open RAN presents a win-win opportunity for all Quad members, including the US.

Conclusion

The Quads role as a strategic counter to a resurgent and belligerent China may increase or decrease depending on the unpredictable and transactional Trump, but the Quad nations have much to offer each other. It is imperative that the grouping strengthens its role significantly over the next four years of Trump 2.0.

The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Facing financial shortfalls and political interference, multilateral bodies might struggle to fulfil their mandates. This could also spark a recalibration of multilateralism, with emerging economies stepping up to fill the leadership vacuum read more

Multilateralism, as a framework for global governance, traces its roots to the early 20th century, marked by the establishment of the League of Nations in 1920, which sought to prevent conflicts through collective security and diplomacy. However, its limitations became evident with the outbreak of World War II. The post-war era ushered in a new phase of multilateralism, spearheaded by the United States, which emerged as the dominant global power. Through initiatives like the Bretton Woods Conference (1944), the US played a pivotal role in creating institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, designed to stabilise global economic systems and foster post-war reconstruction.

Advertisement

The formation of the United Nations in 1945 further institutionalized multilateralism, with the US at its helm as a founding member and primary financier. Over the decades, the US championed multilateral trade liberalization through frameworks like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its successor, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while also leading security alliances like NATO. This leadership reflected a strategy to embed liberal democratic values, economic interdependence, and collective security within a rules-based international order.

Ironically, the same United States that once championed and upheld multilateralism could now lead its unmaking under Trump 2.0 presidency, as isolationist policies, protectionist trade practices, and the erosion of international commitments threaten to dismantle the very order it constructedushering in a phase that might be the funeral of multilateralism, at least for the next four years.

During his first presidency, Donald Trump took several significant actions again pointing towards a decisive shift away from multilateralism. One of the most prominent moves was his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, citing concerns that it unfairly disadvantaged American industries while allowing other countries, particularly China, to benefit economically. Trump argued that the agreement imposed unfair costs on the United States without sufficient reciprocal commitments from other nations, effectively undermining global efforts to combat climate change through a coordinated framework. But Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on his first day in office in 2021. The Biden administration introduced a range of policies to tackle the nations role in climate change and reducing emissions.

On 20th January 2025, one of the first executive orders was to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, signalling a retreat from global climate commitments. This decision has significant implications for the larger global climate change agenda, especially on mechanisms like the Loss and Damages Fund, which relies on developed nations contributions to support vulnerable countries. Already in limbo, the fund now faces greater uncertainty, jeopardizing financial support for the Global South. The move undermines multilateralism, risks stalling international climate action, and deepens inequities between developed and developing nations.

Advertisement

Similarly, Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) in July 2020. However, it didnt materialise, and later Biden vetoed it. This decision came at a time when global coordination was critical to managing the pandemic, raising concerns about the implications of the US stepping back from international health governance.

Again, through another executive order on 20th January, Trump has signalled the US withdrawal from the WHO. The Trump administration justified the United States withdrawal from the WHO on several grounds, emphasizing perceived inefficiencies, political biases, and financial inequities. The administration criticized the WHOs handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly its response to the outbreak in Wuhan, China, and its failure to implement necessary reforms to improve global health governance.

Advertisement

The order raised concerns over the organisations susceptibility to undue political influence from member states, which, according to the administration, compromised its independence and effectiveness. Additionally, the administration cited an imbalance in financial contributions, noting that the US, despite being the largest donor, bore a disproportionately high financial burden compared to other major nations like China.

The focus on an America First doctrine could lead to further disengagement from organisations seen as not aligning with US interests. Beyond outright withdrawal, Trump could adopt more indirect strategies to weaken international organizations. Noncompliance with rules, absence from critical meetings, and obstruction of key initiatives could render these bodies less effective. For example, Trump previously paralysed the WTOs dispute resolution mechanism by blocking appointments to its appellate body, undermining its ability to enforce trade rules. Such actions destabilise global governance and could encourage other countries to disregard institutional norms, further eroding international trust and cooperation.

Advertisement

Another method could involve withholding essential data that these organisations rely on to function. Institutions such as the World Bank, which depends on economic statistics, or environmental agencies that monitor carbon emissions require accurate and timely information to operate effectively. The United States could significantly impair their effectiveness by refusing to share data.

This strategy could be compounded by cutting funding to these organisations, many of which depend heavily on US financial contributions. A reduction in funding could cripple their ability to carry out essential operations, much as the defunding of certain agencies during Trumps first term hindered their crisis response capabilities.

Advertisement

Creating rival organisations might also be on the table. By establishing alternative institutions, Trump could divert resources and influence away from existing multilateral bodies, weakening their capacity to address global challenges. Such platforms could serve as political tools to amplify US interests under the guise of multilateralism while sidelining more established organizations.

Furthermore, Trump could attempt to reshape international organizations from within, steering them toward serving narrow US interests rather than fostering broad-based global cooperation. By redirecting these bodies focus to align with domestic political goals, his administration could co-opt their legitimacy and resources, effectively weaponising them to promote unilateral objectives.

Thus, the future of multilateralism over the next four years could be marked by significant fragmentation and weakening, especially if the United States retreats further from its traditional leadership role. The decline of US engagement may embolden other powers to pursue unilateral or regional strategies, undermining the legitimacy and effectiveness of global institutions.

Facing financial shortfalls and political interference, multilateral bodies might struggle to maintain cohesion and fulfil their mandates. In parallel, rival organisations tailored to specific national or regional agendas could proliferate, exacerbating global governance inefficiencies. However, this period could also spark a recalibration of multilateralism, with emerging economies and middle powers stepping up to fill the leadership vacuum, seeking to create frameworks that better reflect the priorities of the Global South. This reorientation might lead to a more pluralistic but less coherent global governance system, where coalitions of willing nations tackle specific issues without a unified rules-based order.

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.
The phishing attempt was particularly convincing, as the scammer used a genuine Google phone number and a well-crafted email to trick the victim. The email appeared official, coming from a valid Google domain, workspace-noreply@google.com read more

In light of this attack, Google has responded by strengthening its defences. A spokesperson confirmed that the account behind the scam had been suspended, and measures are now being put in place to better protect users from similar attacks. Image Credit: Reuters

A recent phishing attack targeting a Google programmer has raised alarms and prompted the tech giant to tighten its cybersecurity measures. Zach Latta, a Google programmer, described the attack as the most sophisticated phishing attempt he had ever encountered, nearly falling victim to it. The scam, reported by TechRadar which began with a phone call from a number that appeared to be from Google, was alarmingly convincing. The scammer, posing as a Google engineer, almost tricked Latta into revealing his account credentials.

Advertisement

The phishing attempt started with a phone call from a Google number, with the scammer posing as an engineer named Chloe. The caller claimed to be from Google Workspace and asked Latta if he had attempted to log into his account from Frankfurt, Germany.

To gain Lattas trust, the scammer sent a highly convincing email from an official-looking Google address, providing a case number and asking him to reset his password. Despite the signs, such as a legitimate-looking Google URL, Latta became suspicious and ultimately avoided falling for the scam. Google has since responded by tightening its defences.

A convincing phishing story

The phishing attempt was particularly convincing, as the scammer used a genuine Google phone number and a well-crafted email to trick Latta. The email appeared official, coming from a valid Google domain, workspace-noreply@google.com, and even referenced an internal Google subnet important.g.co.

The scammers use of a real phone number and a professional-sounding voice made the attack seem more credible. Latta, being a tech professional, followed best practices by verifying the number and even received confirmation from the scammer about how to proceed. However, after checking his Google Workspace logs and finding no suspicious activity, Latta began to suspect that something was off.

The scammers persistence, including escalating the situation to a manager and providing Latta with the MFA code, nearly led to disaster. Fortunately, Latta recognized the red flags in time and avoided entering the MFA code that would have compromised his account.

Googles response to the attack

In light of this attack, Google has responded by strengthening its defences. A spokesperson confirmed that the account behind the scam had been suspended, and measures are now being put in place to better protect users from similar attacks.

Google emphasized that it will never call users to reset passwords or troubleshoot account issues, directly addressing one of the tactics used in this scam. While Google stated that no evidence suggests this is a widespread tactic, it has bolstered its systems to prevent the exploitation of official Google domains like g.co for phishing purposes.

Advertisement

Protecting yourself from phishing scams

This phishing attempt highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, with even the most tech-savvy individuals at risk. As Latta pointed out, simple best practices, like verifying phone numbers and emails, are no longer foolproof. Phishing scams are evolving, often bypassing classic tell-tale signs like poor grammar or suspicious links. The best defence is to remain cautious of any unsolicited communication, especially those asking you to take immediate action.

To protect yourself, always verify the legitimacy of any unexpected calls or emails, especially if they urge you to reset passwords or share sensitive information. Avoid clicking on any links or opening attachments from unfamiliar sources. Additionally, using identity theft protection services can offer an extra layer of defence. As phishing tactics continue to evolve, staying vigilant remains the best defence against falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.
OpenAIs API is the primary way that businesses and developers access its services. Microsofts security team had flagged suspicious activity last fall, regarding OpenAIs services and the use of its API by certain entities read more

Microsofts investigation into DeepSeeks actions could potentially reveal unauthorized use of proprietary data from OpenAIs models, adding to the growing tension between Chinese and American AI firms. Image Credit: AFP

Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating whether Chinese AI startup DeepSeek illegally accessed OpenAIs data to train its own AI models. The allegation is that individuals linked to DeepSeek may have used OpenAIs API to exfiltrate large amounts of data, as per a report by Bloomberg.

This API is the primary way that businesses and developers access OpenAIs services. Microsofts security team had flagged suspicious activity last fall, regarding OpenAIs services and the use of its API by certain entities. The tech giant, which is the largest investor in OpenAI, has since informed the company about the potential breach.

Advertisement

The news comes shortly after DeepSeek, known for its low-cost AI solutions, caused a stir in the tech world. The startups free AI assistant recently overtook OpenAIs ChatGPT in downloads on the Apple App Store, leading to a significant selloff in tech stocks. This move has raised concerns about DeepSeeks rapid rise and its implications for US AI companies. Microsofts investigation into DeepSeeks actions could potentially reveal unauthorized use of proprietary data from OpenAIs models, adding to the growing tension between Chinese and American AI firms.

White House weighs in on the allegations

David Sacks, the White Houses AI and crypto czar, spoke out about the situation, suggesting that DeepSeek might have stolen intellectual property from US companies. In an interview with Fox News, Sacks stated that there is substantial evidence to suggest DeepSeek could have distilled the knowledge from OpenAIs models, potentially using stolen data to fuel their own AI advancements. This is a serious claim, as the unauthorized use of data could have broader implications for the US AI industry and national security.

Sacks comments reflect growing concern within the US government about Chinas increasing efforts to replicate and compete with American AI technologies. The situation has sparked further debate about how to protect intellectual property in the fast-moving AI sector, particularly as foreign companies develop models that challenge US dominance.

OpenAI responds to data theft concerns

In response to the Bloomberg report, OpenAI issued a statement acknowledging that China-based companies, among others, are frequently trying to replicate US AI models. While the company did not specifically name DeepSeek, it confirmed that efforts to protect its intellectual property (IP) are ongoing. OpenAI emphasized that it engages in countermeasures to safeguard its data, including a careful process for determining which capabilities to release in public models.

OpenAI also stressed the importance of working closely with the US government to protect its most advanced AI models from being replicated or stolen. As the race to dominate AI technology continues, safeguarding intellectual property has become a top priority for US companies, especially with the growing competition from Chinese firms. With the DeepSeek investigation still ongoing, it remains to be seen what consequences, if any, will follow from these allegations of data theft.
At a time when competition in the AI landscape is intensifying, particularly with the rise of DeepSeeka low-cost Chinese AI startupOpenAIs move to launch ChatGPT Gov is seen as a strategic response read more

By introducing ChatGPT Gov, OpenAI seeks to maintain its leadership position while providing government agencies with the tools they need to work securely and efficiently. Image Credit: Reuters

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Gov, a new tailored version of its popular AI platform designed for US government agencies. This launch is aimed at helping these agencies leverage AI to improve services, enhance decision-making, and protect sensitive data. At a time when competition in the AI landscape is intensifying, particularly with the rise of DeepSeeka low-cost Chinese AI startupOpenAIs move is seen as a strategic response. DeepSeeks rapid success, including surpassing ChatGPT in downloads, has raised concerns in the US about the future of AI development. ChatGPT Gov aims to ensure that AI serves national interests while aligning with democratic values and supporting policymakers in addressing complex challenges.

Advertisement

The launch also comes at a pivotal moment, as US investors are reassessing their strategies in the wake of DeepSeeks success. The Chinese AI platform has made waves by offering competitive features at a much lower cost, challenging US tech giants. By introducing ChatGPT Gov, OpenAI seeks to maintain its leadership position while providing government agencies with the tools they need to work securely and efficiently.

Tailored security features for government use

ChatGPT Gov provides US government agencies with many of the capabilities of ChatGPT Enterprise, but with enhanced security tailored to government needs. Agencies can deploy the platform within their own Microsoft Azure cloud, giving them full control over their security and privacy. This setup ensures compliance with stringent cybersecurity standards such as IL5, CJIS, ITAR, and FedRAMP High, which are necessary for managing sensitive data. The platform also allows government officials to securely save and share conversations, upload files, and ensure compliance with internal security protocols.

Additionally, ChatGPT Gov enables government employees to create and share custom GPTs within a secure workspace. This flexibility ensures that the AI can be adapted to specific government tasks, from drafting policy memos to developing applications, all while keeping sensitive information protected. The combination of security and customization makes it an ideal tool for government operations.

Expanding OpenAIs reach in the public sector

ChatGPT Gov builds on OpenAIs increasing presence across the US government. More than 90,000 government employees have already used ChatGPT for various tasks, generating millions of prompts for document translation, coding, and policy creation. With over 18 million prompts generated, OpenAIs tools have already proven valuable in streamlining operations and improving efficiency. ChatGPT Gov enhances this by providing an even more secure and tailored solution for sensitive government projects.

In addition, OpenAI is pursuing FedRAMP accreditation for ChatGPT Enterprise, which forms the foundation of ChatGPT Gov, further ensuring that its platform meets government security requirements.

Rising competition from DeepSeek and its impact on US AI strategy

The launch of ChatGPT Gov coincides with growing competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform that has already made a significant impact on the market. DeepSeeks free AI assistant recently surpassed ChatGPT in daily downloads from the Apple App Store, raising alarms among US investors. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referred to DeepSeek as a new competitor, acknowledging its disruptive potential. DeepSeeks success, driven by its low-cost model, has led investors to question the future of US investments in AI, particularly as Chinese companies continue to ramp up their AI capabilities.

As the global AI race heats up, OpenAIs launch of ChatGPT Gov reflects its efforts to not only stay competitive but also ensure that US government operations are supported by secure, reliable AI. By aligning its technology with national interests, OpenAI aims to safeguard public services while responding to the challenges posed by rising foreign competitors.

Advertisement
Sam Altman acknowledged DeepSeeks impressive performance, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the competition is invigorating. However, he emphasized that OpenAI is focused on delivering much better models and that computing power will be even more critical moving forward read more

In response to the growing competition from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pledged to fast-track product releases and deliver better models in the coming months. DeepSeeks new R1 chatbot has shocked the tech world by performing on par with OpenAIs GPT-4 and other major AI offerings, despite being developed with far fewer resources.

The launch of DeepSeeks chatbot last week, which quickly climbed to the top of the Apple App Store, has had a significant impact on the tech stock market, with major losses for companies like Nvidia. The rise of DeepSeek is forcing the industry to reconsider the costly infrastructure model that has been key for US tech giants.

Advertisement

Altman acknowledged DeepSeeks impressive performance, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the competition is invigorating. However, he emphasized that OpenAI is focused on delivering much better models and that computing power will be even more critical moving forward. The success of DeepSeek has prompted a reevaluation of the massive capital expenditures made by companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, which have committed billions to build the necessary infrastructure for AI.

DeepSeeks challenge to American AI businesses

DeepSeeks R1 model has outperformed US models, including OpenAIs GPT-4, in key areas such as math, coding, and the ability to understand both text and images. This has led to industry leaders like Aidan Gomez, founder of Cohere, suggesting that the future of AI lies in finding more efficient solutions, rather than spending the most money. DeepSeek has demonstrated that its possible to compete at a high level while keeping costs low, challenging the conventional belief that massive infrastructure investments are essential for success.

Metas frustration and the changing AI landscape

Meta, one of the key US players in AI, has voiced frustration at DeepSeeks rapid progress. Despite investing heavily in AI infrastructure, Meta has found itself struggling to keep up with DeepSeeks efficiency.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg reaffirmed that the US should lead the AI race, dismissing DeepSeek as a Chinese-backed competitor. However, Metas Yann LeCun admitted that DeepSeeks low-cost model raises serious questions about the long-term viability of the infrastructure-heavy approach that has dominated the AI industry.

DeepSeeks long-term impact

Despite scepticism around the cost of DeepSeeks AI development, the company claims that its V3 chatbot was trained for just $5.6 million. This cost-efficient approach is attributed to DeepSeeks use of reinforcement learning techniques and open-source models like Metas Llama and Alibabas Qwen.

While the companys success is still questioned by some, its clear that DeepSeeks rise has disrupted the AI market, signalling a shift towards more cost-effective models. As the competition heats up, OpenAI and other US companies must now rethink their strategies and adapt to this new, more efficient landscape.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the National Security Council (NSC) is investigating the situation with DeepSeek as officials are worried about DeepSeeks rise and its impact on the balance of power in the AI race between the US and China read more

One of the major concerns surrounding DeepSeek is its data policies, which have raised red flags about user privacy and security. Similar to the scrutiny faced by platforms like TikTok, DeepSeek collects personal data from users and stores it on servers in China. Image Credit: Reuters

The Trump White House has launched an investigation into the potential national security risks posed by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform that has rapidly disrupted the tech world. The platform, known for delivering advanced AI capabilities at a fraction of the cost of US competitors like ChatGPT, has sparked concern in Washington.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the National Security Council (NSC) is investigating the situation, with officials worried about the implications of DeepSeeks rise, particularly its impact on the balance of power in the AI race between the US and China.

Advertisement

Leavitt stated that President Trump sees DeepSeeks success as a wake-up call for the US AI industry. While theres confidence that America can regain its leadership, the platforms swift ascent has raised alarms. Leavitt also mentioned that shed personally discussed the matter with the NSC, highlighting how seriously the White House is taking the issue.

Disrupting the tech industry

DeepSeeks rise has already made waves in the tech industry. The platforms app rocketed to number one on Apples app store, surpassing ChatGPT in daily downloads. Whats more concerning, however, is how DeepSeeks success is affecting the market for AI chips. NVIDIA, a leading AI chipmaker, saw its stock take a hit after DeepSeeks breakthrough.

The platforms ability to develop cutting-edge AI with fewer advanced chips than anticipated suggests that the demand for high-end semiconductors may be lower than expected. This disruption has serious implications for US tech companies, which have heavily invested in the AI space, especially in semiconductors and infrastructure.

National security concerns

Beyond the economic impact, national security experts are concerned about the potential risks associated with DeepSeek. Some users have reported that the platforms chatbots are unwilling to discuss sensitive topics, such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, instead offering responses that align with the Chinese governments narrative. This raises alarms about censorship and the potential for DeepSeek to be used as a tool for spreading disinformation. Given that the platform is rapidly gaining traction globally, these concerns could have significant implications for users worldwide.

Leavitt was quick to criticise the Biden administration for not acting fast enough to address Chinas AI advancements, claiming that Trumps administration was quicker to appoint an AI czar and relax regulations on the industry. However, the Biden administration has responded with its own strategy, issuing executive orders to limit Chinese access to advanced AI chips and technology to maintain US leadership. Despite these efforts, DeepSeek managed to secure NVIDIAs chips before the restrictions fully took effect, suggesting that US policies may be inadvertently helping accelerate Chinas AI progress.

The same fate as TikTok?

One of the major concerns surrounding DeepSeek is its data policies, which have raised red flags about user privacy and security. Similar to the scrutiny faced by platforms like TikTok, DeepSeek collects personal data from users and stores it on servers in China. The platforms privacy policy states that it uses this data to comply with legal obligations and to serve the public interest.

However, given Chinas national intelligence laws, which require all companies to assist in government intelligence efforts, this raises serious questions about how user data might be accessed or used by the Chinese government.

These concerns have led to calls for a potential ban on DeepSeek, particularly as it gains traction in Western countries. As with TikTok, the worry is that such platforms could be used as tools for surveillance or data harvesting, prompting governments to take action to protect their citizens privacy and national security

Advertisement

A new era in US-China AI rivalry

DeepSeeks rise signals a new chapter in the ongoing US-China tech rivalry. The platforms ability to develop sophisticated AI with fewer resources than its US counterparts has raised questions about the effectiveness of Americas strategy to withhold advanced technology from China.

While US companies have dominated the AI space, China is rapidly catching up, and platforms like DeepSeek show just how quickly the balance of power can shift. As the investigation into DeepSeek unfolds, its clear that the AI race is far from over, and this is just the beginning of what could be a much larger technological showdown.
Although Trumps tariff plans have targeted several industries, his focus on semiconductors is particularly concerning for Apple. Trump has long pushed for reshoring manufacturing to the US, and his latest comments indicate that he plans to achieve this through tariffs rather than incentives read more

President Trumps proposed tariffs could have a significant impact on Apples ongoing partnership with Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC. During a recent speech, Trump reaffirmed his plans to apply tariffs to specific industries, including semiconductors, to bring more manufacturing back to the US While Apple has so far avoided being directly affected by these tariffs, the new proposal could disrupt its relationship with TSMC, which produces crucial chips for Apples devices. If these tariffs are implemented, Apples chip production costs could rise, affecting both the companys supply chain and profitability.

Advertisement

Although Trumps tariff plans have targeted several industries, his focus on semiconductors is particularly concerning for Apple. Trump has long pushed for reshoring manufacturing to the US, and his latest comments indicate that he plans to achieve this through tariffs rather than incentives. This strategy could place pressure on Apples partnership with TSMC, which relies on Taiwan for the production of chips that power Apples products.

The financial impact of tariffs on Apple

If Trumps proposed tariffs are enacted, Apple could face rising costs across its product lines. A report from the Consumer Technology Association estimates that the tariffs could increase the price of consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops by up to 46%. While Trump has not specified the exact tariff rate, its clear that these tariffs could increase the cost of Apples products, potentially leading to higher prices for consumers and reduced margins for the company.

This would be particularly problematic for Apple, which has worked hard to keep its products affordable while maintaining high-profit margins. Even though Apple has diversified its supply chain by expanding production in countries like India, tariffs on imported chips could still have a significant impact on its finances, especially if they affect key components produced by TSMC.

Apples efforts to mitigate the effects of tariffs

To reduce the impact of tariffs, Apple has already started shifting parts of its manufacturing outside of China. The company has ramped up production in India, which offers lower costs and fewer tariffs on imports. This move could provide some buffer against the new tariff plans if they are implemented. However, Apples reliance on TSMC for its chips means that the company is still vulnerable to changes in US trade policies.

Apple has also been involved in discussions with the US government to ensure that its products remain unaffected by tariffs. Tim Cooks close relationship with Trump during his first term was instrumental in helping Apple avoid some of the worst tariff impacts, and the company will likely continue to lobby for favorable treatment in the event that new tariffs are introduced.

TSMCs US expansion could help Apple

Despite Trumps criticism of the Chips Act and the billions allocated to companies like TSMC, the Taiwanese chip giant has already started building chip production facilities in Arizona. These US-based factories are producing chips for Apple, which could help the company mitigate the effects of future tariffs. While TSMCs US expansion may help alleviate some of the financial pressures from tariffs, it doesnt eliminate the risk altogether. Trumps stance on tariffs could still affect Apples bottom line if the US government imposes blanket tariffs on semiconductors or other critical components.

As the situation develops, Apples ongoing efforts to diversify its production and maintain strong relationships with key partners like TSMC will be crucial. While the potential for higher tariffs remains, the company is making moves to limit the impact on its products and operations.
Recipient nations are unhappy with how their citizens were sent back home. The Brazilian government has demanded an explanation from the US government after seeing its people deboarding military planes in handcuffs read more

Over 7,300 immigrants in the US were sent back home in handcuffs and shackles after the Department of Homeland Security began its mass deportation drive on President Donald Trumps order.

While the deportation drive itself has invited criticism, the condition in which these immigrants were flown back home has been questioned and so has the use of military planes to carry out this operation.

Mondays swift operation was only possible because the Trump administration has enlisted the military to quickly scale up its deportation capacity, which usually relies on chartered flights.

Advertisement

Were not criminals

The fact that immigrants were handcuffed and their feet were bound with chains has struck their home countries and human rights activists the most.

Jorge Santos of the Human Rights Convergence, a Guatemalan coalition, said the deportations should be handled exclusively by civilians, without the use of military planes. He also criticized the practice of shackling deportees, although that occurs on civilian charter flights run by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The use of shackles must not be a condition of this situation, nor chaining their feet and hands and much less that a military authority have a role in the framework of an action that must be completely civilian, Santos said.

Lesly Ramirez, a single mother of two, was on one of these flights. She said that her handcuffs were so tight that it hurt her hands. While the migrants were provided food on the plane, she said it was difficult to eat with their cuffed hands chained to their waists.

Were all human beings," she said. We were going to work, were not criminals.

Brazil demands explanation'

Recipient nations are unhappy with how their citizens were sent back home. The Brazilian government has demanded an explanation from the US government after seeing its people deboarding military planes in handcuffs.

The countrys justice ministry said that it ordered the removal of handcuffs immediately after a plane landed in Brazils northern city of Manaus.

Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport the Brazilians to their final destination, in order to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety, the ministry said.

Similarly, Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to let two US military planes carrying deportees land in his country over the weekend. Instead, two Colombian air force planes were sent to the US to pick up the Colombians and bring them home Tuesday, but only after a Trump tariff threat and a furious bout of diplomacy.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Greenland was vital to U.S. security and Denmark should give up control of the strategically important island read more

An opinion poll indicated on Tuesday that 85% of Greenlanders do not wish their Arctic island - a semi-autonomous Danish territory - to become a part of the United States, Danish daily Berlingske reported.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Greenland was vital to U.S. security and Denmark should give up control of the strategically important island.

The survey by pollster Verian, commissioned by the Danish paper, showed only 6% of Greenlanders are in favour of becoming part of the U.S., with 9% undecided, Berlingske said.

Advertisement

Denmark said on Monday it would spend 14.6 billion crowns ($2.04 billion) on boosting its military presence in the Arctic.

Greenland - with a land mass larger than Mexico and a population of 57,000 - was granted broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has stepped up a push for independence, has repeatedly said the island is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future.

The U.S. military has a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a strategic location for its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island.
You are here: World

 Flash

The Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that the death toll from three days of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon has risen to 25, with 160 others wounded.

In a statement, the ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported that one person was killed and 26 others injured during the Israeli attacks on Monday.

The injured were spread across five villages in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon: Adaisseh, Bani Hayyan, Burj Al-Muluk, Houla, and Kafr Kila.

Since early Sunday, hundreds of Lebanese residents have gathered at the outskirts of their border villages, marching toward their homes by car and on foot, bypassing Lebanese army checkpoints and Israeli-imposed earth barriers.

However, Israeli forces opened fire on the returning civilians, further escalating tensions along the border.

These developments come despite the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, which took effect on Nov. 27, 2024.
As many as nine Indian nationals were killed in a road accident near Jizan in western Saudi Arabia, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said on Wednesday read more

As many as nine Indian nationals were killed in a road accident near Jizan in western Saudi Arabia, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on X, the consulate also confirmed that it is in touch with both local authorities and the victims relatives.

We deeply mourn the tragic loss of 9 Indian nationals in a road accident, near Jizan, in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah is providing full support and is in touch with  India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) January 29, 2025

Advertisement

We deeply mourn the tragic loss of 9 Indian nationals in a road accident, near Jizan, in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah is providing full support and is in touch with the authorities and families. We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured. A dedicated helpline has been set up for further queries. Helpline Numbers: 8002440003(Toll free) 0122614093, 0126614276, 0556122301(WhatsApp), the statement read.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident and said that he had spoken with the Consul General in Jeddah, who is in close contact with the victims families.

Grieved to learn of this accident and the loss of lives. Spoke with our Consul General in Jeddah, who is in touch with the concerned families. He is extending fullest support in this tragic situation. https://t.co/MHmntScjOT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 29, 2025

Advertisement

Grieved to learn of this accident and the loss of lives. Spoke with our Consul General in Jeddah, who is in touch with the concerned families. He is extending fullest support in this tragic situation, Jaishankar posted on X.

With inputs from agencies
Afghanistans interim Taliban government has relocated several family members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from border areas to other regions of the country in a bid to placate Pakistans growing anger, according to a report read more

Afghanistans interim Taliban government has relocated several family members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from border areas to other regions of the country in a bid to placate Pakistans growing anger.

According to an Express Tribune report_,_ a senior Pakistani official confirmed the development on Tuesday but stressed that the action falls short of addressing the countrys longstanding issues.

This move by the Afghan Taliban is thought to have been influenced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which urged the Kabul administration to tackle Pakistans concerns regarding terrorist hideouts, added the report.

Advertisement

Taliban acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, accompanied by the Taliban intelligence chief, recently travelled to the UAE to engage in discussions with the Gulf countrys leadership. Prior to their visit, a Pakistani delegation had also visited the UAE as part of efforts to address the TTP issue, the Express Tribune reported.

There was no official confirmation from either side about the development and potential role being played by the UAE to ease tensions between the two countries.

However, the Pakistani official acknowledged the role of UAE and Qatar to broker some kind of path forward on the issue of TTP, the report said.

The official said certain family members of the TTP, mostly women and children, were relocated from border areas of Pakistan to other areas of Afghanistan.

However, the official made it clear that the Taliban government made similar arrangements in the past with little impact. Given the fact that only members of the TTP were relocated and not the fighters, this would have little impact on the ground.

Moreover, the official said that the process of relocation of TTP from border areas was to be completed a long time ago, but it was painstakingly slow.

According to some estimates, there are between 6,000 to 8,000 terrorists of TTP operating from Afghanistan. Besides, another 20,000 family members have taken refugees across the border.

Advertisement

In view of this large number, the relocation of a few hundred family members of the TTP was not the answer to Pakistans demand, according to another official.

The official said the idea of relocation of TTP from border areas came from the Taliban after they expressed their reluctance to use force against them.

Pakistan was always sceptical of the proposal as the Taliban were not ready to give firm guarantees that TTP would no longer pose a threat to the neighbouring country.

The news of the relocation of certain TTP members came just weeks after Pakistan reportedly conducted strikes across the border targeting the terrorist hideouts.

Advertisement

Sources said Taliban leadership was divided on the issue of TTP. Some members believe that Kabul should address Pakistans concerns and not allow TTP to operate from its soil. However, there are others within the decision-making circle who support TTP.

Sources said Pakistan considered the latest development only a baby step to address the most complex challenge of TTP.

Pakistan has repeatedly informed the Taliban leadership that bilateral cooperation between the two neighbours depends on Kabul taking a decisive action against the TTP, according to the Express Tribune.

With inputs from agencies
Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to begin direct flight connectivity within the next few months, Dhakas envoy to Islamabad said. Bangladesh High Commissioner also emphasised Bangladeshs commitment to boosting business ties with Pakistan. read more

The fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh has brought good news to Pakistan as the Islamabad-Dhaka ties have got a new boost not seen before. Pakistan-sympathiser outfits such as Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami have revived their activities in Bangladesh. The Jamaat saw a ban lifted on its operations. Bangladesh and Pakistan recently established shipping contacts. A delegation of the Pakistan Armys Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) also visited Dhaka. Now, the two countries are set to launch direct flight connectivity soon, Bangladeshs envoy to Pakistan confirmed.

Advertisement

This significant development is set to enhance connectivity and foster stronger economic and cultural ties between the two countries, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal Hussain Khan, said.

New-found friendship

This came after his meeting with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi. The high commissioner said that cargo flights between Dhaka, Karachi, and Lahore would commence soon, further facilitating trade and business exchanges between the two South Asian nations.

Last month, Bangladeshs interim governments Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, said he wished to improve ties with Pakistan. Yunuss outreach to Pakistan came after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a conference in Egypt.

Theres business too

Hussain emphasised Bangladeshs commitment to boosting business ties with Pakistan. He said that Pakistanis can easily obtain Bangladeshi visas online.

The high commissioner said that the two countries can trade in various sectors, with Pakistan exporting goods such as sugar, steel, surgical instruments, cement, dry fruits, pink salt, milk products, marble, and coal to Bangladesh.

In turn, Pakistan can import items like tea and jute from Bangladesh, creating a complementary trade dynamic between the two countries, he said.

Bangladeshs Yunus met with Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in December last year during the D8 summit in Egypt. Both leaders emphasised to deepen cooperation in areas such as the sugar industry and dengue management.

A Pakistani cargo ship docked at Chittagong Port in November for the first time since Bangladeshs independence, and in October, Bangladesh ended the mandatory 100 per cent physical inspection for Pakistani imports, indicating a positive shift in trade relations.

Yunus took a critical stance towards India and accused it of exaggerating reports of violence.

Advertisement

India watching it

The sudden bonhomie between Bangladesh and Pakistan after a student agitation toppled Hasina as the prime minister in Dhaka is being closely watched by India. Hasina adopted a circumspect approach in dealing with Pakistan for historical reasons and also to maintain a distance from fundamentalist organisations that push jihadist ideology to sponsor terrorism.

Incidentally, the Bangladesh-Pakistan bonhomie also comes against the backdrop of straining ties between Dhaka and New Delhi following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. In the aftermath, reports came that fundamentalist elements in Bangladesh targeted its minority Hindu community in weeks after Hasinas ouster. Pakistan has also been accused of not acting against fundamentalist outfits that target its minority Hindu community.

In the face of a mass protest, Hasina fled to India in early August 2024. She is staying in-exile in India, with the Yunus government demanding her extradition. But a formal extradition process has not been sought by Bangladesh. Hasinas father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was seen as the leader who created Bangladesh to save the Bengali people from the oppression of then-West Pakistan leaders.

Advertisement
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched the GSLV-F15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite. This marked its 100th rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This milestone comes amidst a timeline of significant space achievements, including historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, Aditya L1, and Chandrayaan-3. read more

As Isro launches 100th satellite taking India closer to its own GPS NavIC, a timeline of its journey. Image Courtesy: @Isro/X

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched the GSLV-F15 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday at 6:23 AM IST, carrying the NVS-02 satellite. This mission marks Isros 100th rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

The mission is the first under the leadership of newly appointed chairman V Narayanan.

It is the 17th flight of Indias Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th utilizing an indigenous cryogenic upper stage.

Advertisement

The mission successfully deployed the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

The satellites are part of Indias indigenously built Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to users across India and regions extending approximately 1,500 km beyond the Indian mainland.

This launch is crucial for enhancing Indias regional navigation infrastructure.

This milestone comes amidst a timeline of significant space achievements, including historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, and Chandrayaan-3.

Isros timeline of major milestones in space exploration:

1962  INCOSPAR formed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE):

INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) was the predecessor to Isro. Established in 1962 by Dr Vikram Sarabhai under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

21 November 1963  First Sounding Rocket Launch:

India launched its first sounding rocket from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The iconic image of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and his colleague CR Sathya transporting parts of the rocket by bicycle was taken at the Thumba site.

15 August 1969  Isro Formed Under DAE:

Isro was officially formed on 15 August 1969 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

1 January 1975  Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE):

The SITE project was a collaboration with NASA, using satellite technology to broadcast educational programs to rural India. It ran from August 1975 to July 1976 and was a significant social experiment.

7 June 1979  Bhaskara-I: Indias First Earth Observation Satellite:

Launched on 7 June 1979, Bhaskara-I was Indias first experimental Earth observation satellite, used for remote sensing in land and water resource management.

18 July 1980  Rohini Satellite Completes Mission Launch:

India successfully launched the Rohini satellite.

1 January 1981  SLV-3:

Isro successfully launched the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) to put satellites into low Earth orbit.

Advertisement

20 November 1981  Bhaskara-II:

The Bhaskara-II satellite was launched as a follow-up to Bhaskara-I for Earth observation.

10 April 1982  INSAT-1A:

INSAT-1A, the first satellite under the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) program, was launched to provide telecommunications, meteorology, and broadcasting services.

2 April 1984  India-Soviet Manned Space Mission:

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space as part of the India-Soviet Intercosmos mission, flying aboard Soyuz T-11.

4 May 1994  SROSS-C2:

The Stretched Rohini Satellite Series-C2 (SROSS-C2) was launched to study the Earths atmosphere and its interaction with space.

18 April 2001  GSLV-D1/GSAT-1:

India launched the GSAT-1 satellite aboard the GSLV-D1 rocket for telecommunication services.

Advertisement

10 January 2007  PSLV-C7/CARTOSAT-2E/SRE-1:

The PSLV-C7 mission successfully launched multiple satellites, including CARTOSAT-2E for Earth observation.

22 October 2008  PSLV-C11/Chandrayaan-1:

Indias first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, was launched aboard the PSLV-C11 rocket, marking a major milestone for Isro.

The missions primary objectives included conducting chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geologic mapping of the Moons surface. The spacecraft carried 11 scientific instruments developed by India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Bulgaria.

One of the missions most groundbreaking achievements was the discovery of water molecules on the Moons surface.

20 April 2011  PSLV-C16/Resourcesat-2:

This mission deployed the Resourcesat-2 satellite for Earth observation.

5 November 2013  PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan):

Indias first interplanetary mission, Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), was successfully launched.

Advertisement

7 December 2014  GSAT-16:

Isro launched GSAT-16 to strengthen its communication network. It was a a communication satellite.

5 December 2018  GSAT-11  Indias Heaviest Communication Satellite:

GSAT-11 was launched to enhance broadband connectivity across India.

22 July 2019  GSLV-Mk III-M1/Chandrayaan-2:

India launched its second lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-2, aboard the GSLV-Mk III-M1 rocket. Though, the mission was partially successful. While the orbiter successfully entered lunar orbit and continues to provide valuable data about the Moons surface and exosphere. The lander Vikram unfortunately lost communication with the ground control during its descent to the Moons surface.

28 February 2021  PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1:

This mission launched the Amazonia-1 satellite for Earth observation.

Advertisement

2 April 2023  Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV-MLV):

Isro conducted a successful test flight of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

21 October 2023  Gaganyaan TV-D1 Mission:

This test flight was a part of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, demonstrating the Crew Escape System for astronaut safety. As of January 2025, the mission has experienced delays. Now, the first crewed flight now scheduled for 2026.

2 September 2023  PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission:

Aditya-L1, Indias first dedicated solar mission, was launched to study the Sun. The spacecraft was placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

14 July 2023  LVM3 M4/Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Isro launched Chandrayaan-3, aiming to demonstrate Indias capability for a safe and soft lunar landing. The Vikram lander successfully landed near the Moons south pole, making India the first country to achieve this feat. The Pragyan rover was deployed from the lander. It conducted experiments to analyze the lunar surfaces composition.

5 December 2024  PSLV-C59/Proba-3 Mission:

Isro launched the PSLV-C59 rocket, deploying the European Space Agencys PROBA-3 mission for precision formation flying.

30 December 2024  PSLV-C60/SPADEX Mission:

This mission aims to demonstrate spacecraft rendezvous and docking technologies.
BGB chief Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui is set to hold the meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) counterpart Daljit Singh Chaudhary in Delhi from February 17 to 20 read more

In West Bengal, the length of India-Bangladesh border is around 2,217 kilometres of which around 20 per cent of the stretch is unfenced. Source: Reuters.

Bangladeshs interim government on Wednesday said that it would seek to scrap some uneven agreements on borders with India during the meeting of the directors general of the border guards of the two countries next month.

Discussions will be held over all sorts of border-related agreements with India, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said.

He said the Bangladeshi side would seek to cancel some uneven agreements related to border management alongside and discuss other related issues. He said that northeastern Kulaura Railway Station is an inter-country railway station which is situated three kilometres inside Bangladesh while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intends not to allow free entry of Indians there and instead proposes the installation of an immigration checkpoint with a customs facility on the border.

Advertisement

BGB chief Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui is set to hold the meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) counterpart Daljit Singh Chaudhary in Delhi from February 17 to 20.

The home adviser said the other issues include the killing of Bangladesh nationals in border areas, infiltrations of Indian nationals, common rivers, and smuggling of weapons and drugs, arms, ammunition and explosives into Bangladesh.

He said some contraband drugs are smuggled to Bangladesh in the name of medicine, which are in fact narcotics.

Chowdhury said unapproved development works being done by India within 150 yards along the border, detention of Bangladeshis by the BSF and Indian nationals would feature in the talks.

The adviser said marking border lines at the disputed Muhurir Char area, border pillar installations, and a coordinated border management plan are other prominent issues.

He said the meeting would propose the installation of water treatment plants in four canals where wastewater flows from Indias northeastern Agartala to Bangladeshs Akhaura.

The spread of rumours about Bangladeshs current situation by Indian media and social networking sites will also come for discussion in the upcoming meeting, he said.

He made the comments after an inter-ministerial preparatory meeting at his office ahead of the 55th BGB-BSF DG-level conference.

If any work is done within 150 yards of the border, permission from both sides is required. There is no rule to do these things unilaterally. If a mosque or temple is built, consent from both countries is required, Chowdhury said.

Advertisement

He said the Bangladesh side would ask India to lay importance on the issue in future.

The adviser said various initiatives to enhance mutual trust and goodwill between the two countries would also be discussed.
There has been a rising number of Indian-origin politicians in the UKs legislative bodies, but is it easy for them to get into politics? Prashant Kumar, Conservative party councillor candidate for the 2026 election in London, tells Firstpost how Indians are seen in the countrys politics and how Sunaks rise and Indias PM Modis global influence helped him read more

Prashant Kumar was born in a regular middle-class family in the Indian state Jharkhands steel town Jamshedpur, famous for Tata Groups manufacturing units. Following the family culture, Kumar studied science in school and became an engineer, clearing one of the most prestigious pre-engineering tests to secure a seat in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)  the same institution that has given the world some of the top tech CEOs.

After graduating from the IIT, Kumar followed what many do in India  get an MBA degree and land a high-paid corporate job. That took him to the UK, where he seemed to have found his true calling  politics.

Advertisement

People of Indian origin have emerged as an influential group in the United Kingdoms politics. The rise of Rishi Sunak to the post of the prime minister at a critical economic juncture of the country, leading the Conservative Party. They are increasingly becoming MPs, councillors and ground-level workers in the country.

The popularity of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the global perspective about Indians in politics, Kumar told Firstpost as he exuberates confidence about successful debut in UK politics in the London councillor election next year.

The 2024 UK parliamentary election saw a historic 29 Indian-origin Members of Parliament (MPs) getting elected to the House of Commons. Twelve of them were first-time parliamentarians.

Indians in UK politics

In his exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Kumar, Sunaks Conservative Party councillor (counterpart to MLA) candidate for the 2026 election in London, said, After Prime Minister Narendra Modis win in the 2014 general election, the whole perspective of the world towards India has changed. The way the world sees India has been constantly changing as the country is now racing close to be one of the super powers.

Then, the best thing was that Sunak became the prime minister of the UK. So, for the first-generation migrants entering the local UK politics has changed from what it was 20-30 years back, he said.

Prashant Kumar with former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. LinkedIn - Prashant Kumar

Sunak has been there and the name Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given to India on a global platform it was not very difficult for me as an Indian-origin to achieve what I have today, Kumar, who has been chosen as candidate for the council polls in Harrow, told the Firstpost.

Advertisement

Kumar, who shifted to London in 2021, said, I am the first-generation migrant and it is a lot easier now due to PM Modi.

I moved to the UK to explore global opportunities, contribute to strengthening Indo-UK relations, and support Indian communities internationally. Currently, I am engaged in various leadership and mentorship roles, he said.

Before moving to London, Kumar was not exactly a political novice, having been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the ruling coalition the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

Kumar said he was mentored by BJP leader BL Santosh, known for his organisational skills, and closely worked with ministries held by Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Advertisement

Under Chandrasekhars mentorship, I contributed to data-driven governance, digital transformation, and national campaigns. My expertise in data analytics and strategic communication contributed to impactful policymaking, he said.

A petitioner in Mathuras Krishna Janmabhoomi suit, Kumar credits his political interests in the UK to another RSS leader Ram Vaidya, who he said was working to bring India and Europe, particularly the UK closer.

What does he do in UK politics?

Kumar says he was chosen by the Conservative Party as a councillor candidate for the 2026 London election. He holds Indian citizenship. It is possible for me to contest the election despite not holding UK citizenship. As a Commonwealth citizen residing in the UK, I am eligible to stand for local elections. This is in line with the UKs electoral rules, which allows Commonwealth citizens with leave to remain to participate in local government elections, Kumar said.

Prashant Kumar was born in a regular middle-class family in the Indian state Jharkhand. Image Source: Prashant Kumar

According to the , a citizen of a commonwealth country, including India, who does not require leave to enter or remain in the UK, or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, can stand as a candidate in the countrys election

Advertisement

Similarly, as per the UK electoral laws, citizens of nearly 54 Commonwealth countries, British Dependent Territories, and Ireland can vote in all elections, provided they reside in Britain.

Indians in UK

Due to historical reasons, Indian-origin people have been an essential part of the UKs modern journey. They contribute more than 6 per cent to the GDP of the UK.

According to the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), people with Indian roots were over a million, most of them identifying themselves as British Hindus, constituting 3.1 per cent of the total population. Their growing numbers and increasing political awareness over the years have played a crucial role and have also potentially influenced outcomes.

Advertisement

In the 2024 election, 26 persons of Indian origin were elected to Parliament. In the previous election, there were 15 Indian-origin MPs  eight from Labour and seven from the Conservative party. One of them was Conservative Sunak, who became the UKs first prime minister of colour in 2022.

Also, the Indian households dominate in high-income brackets in the UK population, with 42 per cent earning more than 1,000 weekly in 2015-2018, the ORF said.

UK grooming gangs

The so-called grooming gangs of the UK have attracted global attention in recent weeks, particularly after Tesla CEO Elon Musk sought action against them. The gangs, allegedly drawing men from Pakistan, have been accused of sexually assaulting scores of young girls over decades in the UK. Kumar said Musk has done a great job because the issue became one of the biggest things in the media.

After Musk highlighted and started writing about itnow, I am sure that we will win and those who have done these wrong things must be put in jail and get the Severest of punishment as it is the worst crime a being can do, Kumar said.

He expressed his disapproval of comments, made by UK leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starma  the Labour Party leader  dubbing the rape gangs as Asian grooming gangs.

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP from Harrow, raised the issue asking PM Starmer not to use the term Asian as India is also included in Asia and Indians are among the best people in the UK, he said.

Most of the home owners in London are Indians. We all are fighting against it and it should not be said like that. They should be using the term Pakistani rather than Asian. There are many Indian bodies (groups) who have also raised this issue and we all are with all these organisations and this should not have happened, Kumar said.

Harrow has many Indians and they too are against it. We are supporting our Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and we are strongly against what Starmer has said, he said.

The cases of sexual assaults by rape gangs have been reported from several UK towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale in the north, and Oxford and Bristol among others, for almost four decades.

Starmer worsened UKs situation, Sunak can solve them

Asked that the Conservative party suffered a big election loss over issues such as rising cost of living and economic troubles, but the Starmer government now too is facing flak over similar issues, Kumar said, Starmer has just worsened the situation. If you read economic or any policies, the situation in the UK is worsening day-by-day and this is creating a lot of issues for the Britons.

More and more people are coming from the seas and the number of people living on roads has increased. The number of poor people has also increased. Pensioners in the UK are suffering a lot of pain as they are not able to get the funds, he said.

Kumar said the situation in the UK under the current regime is challenging.

People in the country are now exposed to more challenges, he said.

In my opinion, Sunak is in the best position to solve all this issue. If anyone can solve this issue, its Sunak, Kumar said.

Whats the role of OFBJP

Kumar also serves as the president of the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) UK for Jharkhand, where he connects Indian entrepreneurs across India, the UK, and Europe to foster economic collaboration.

My mentor, guide, and guru, Kuldeep Singh Shekhawat ji, the esteemed President of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) UK, is one of the most inspiring leaders I have had the privilege to work with. Under his visionary guidance, I actively contribute to OFBJP UK, which serves as a vital bridge connecting the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, he said.

Further explaining the role of OFBJP, Kumar said, Whatever negative narrative people are spreading over here about our leader Narendra Modi or about the BJP, all of those are countered by us and we tell the people what is correct, the actual truth, and how work by the Indian prime minister is developing the country.

We tell them how India is changing with the vision of PM Modi and the progress that the country is seeing because of this party, he further said.

He went on to say that many Indians abroad deeply care about key issues such as good governance, national security, and sustainable development. They recognise BJP as the only credible force capable of driving Indias progress and ensuring a strong and prosperous future, Kumar said.

Additionally, I serve as the President of OFBJP UK for Jharkhand, where I work to connect Indian entrepreneurs across India, the UK, and Europe to foster economic collaboration. Beyond economic initiatives, OFBJP plays a crucial role in countering misinformation about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Kumar detailed about his role.

He also said that he was currently leading digital and data initiatives at State Bank of India (UK).

Whatever negative narrative people are spreading over here about our leader Narendra Modi or about the BJP, all of those are countered by us, I explain. We ensure that people know the actual truth, the transformative work being done by PM Modi, and how his vision is propelling Indias development.

Through OFBJP, we actively communicate how India is changing under PM Modis leadership, ensuring that the Indian diaspora remains well-informed about the nations rapid progress and the role of BJP in shaping a New India.
A United States-based watchdog on Wednesday launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Philippines and said the silence of Filipino bishops on the crimes amounted to a cover-up read more

Anne Barrett Doyle, right, Co-Director and Suzy Nauman, database manager of BishopAccountability.org, a United States-based watchdog, speaks at a news conference in Manila on January 29, 2025 where they launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Philippines. AP

A United States-based watchdog on Wednesday launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Philippines and said the silence of Filipino bishops on the crimes amounted to a cover-up.

The Philippines is the third-largest Roman Catholic nation in the world, and public discussions of sexual assaults by members of the clergy, who are revered especially in rural regions, has long been generally muted.

Advertisement

None of the 82 members of the clergy, including seven bishops, who have been included in the new online database on clergy sexual abuses by the group BishopAccountability.org had been convicted in any Philippine court.

The database featured their faces, names and details of their alleged sexual assaults on minors, some of which dated back more than two decades ago. The nonprofit said that it had also set up such online databases on Catholic clergy abuses in the U.S., Argentina, Chile and Ireland.

Anne Barrett Doyle, a director of BishopAccountability.org, said that the long silence of bishops in the Philippines encouraged such sexual assaults by members of the clergy. She asked Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials, who failed to report abuses.

Philippine bishops feel entitled to their silence. They feel entitled to withhold information about sexual violence toward minors. They feel entitled to defend accused priests, Doyle said at a news conference in Manila.

What we hope to achieve is raise awareness, she said. Secrecy only benefits the perpetrators. Secrecy equals complicity.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, a Philippine church leader, said that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has set up an office to safeguard minors and vulnerable adults and report complaints to the Vatican.

Advertisement

Our mandate from Rome is to take the issue of accountability very seriously, especially those related to alleged abuse cases involving priests, David said, without elaborating.

The external mechanisms that have forced accountability by Catholic bishops elsewhere  litigation by victims, probes of church entities by prosecutors, inquiries by government commissions and substantial investigations by local news media  have occurred little or not at all in the worlds third largest Catholic country, BishopAccountability.org said of the Philippines.

Some of the members of the clergy included in the database have been cleared of charges and allowed to return to church work and ministry, regaining close access to potential victims, the nonprofit, which has been tracking the sexual abuse crisis haunting the Roman Catholic Church since the groups founding in 2003, said with alarm.

Advertisement

The names of priests and other clerics included in the database were collected from news reports, publicly filed court documents and church pronouncements, the group said, and added that the list of 82 clerics linked to sexual abuses in the Philippines may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Gemma Hickey, a victim of clergy sexual abuse who spoke at the news conference in Manila, said that victims suffer long after they have been assaulted.

Its survivors that serve a life sentence. Many of the priests who have abused us get to carry on with their lives. They dont face jail time. Some of them retire, move on with their lives, move on even to other careers and escape under the radar, Hickey said.

Advertisement

But survivors are trapped in a prison of memory, Hickey said.
Britains Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will soon visit India to restart talks on a trade deal, finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday read more

Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds speaks at Downing Street, on the day of a Cabinet meeting in London, Britain, on January 14, 2025. Reuters File

Britains Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will soon visit India to restart talks on a trade deal, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, Reynolds had revealed that he will be visiting India next month in an effort to propel the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with urgency.

Addressing India Global Forums (IGF) 7th Annual UK-India Parliamentary Lunch at the House of Lords as Chief Guest on Monday, Reynolds had said, I want to reaffirm the UKs commitment to deliver growth for both countries through the trade deal that were talking about, through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Technology Security Initiative; and I can let you know exclusively, I hear what you say about urgency, (that) Ive just been finalising my own visit to India next month to make sure we proceed on that basis.

Advertisement

The ministers comments came against the backdrop of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing that the stalled UK-India FTA talks would relaunch in early 2025, following his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in November last year.

India is a top priority partner for the UK, and we want to elevate that ambition across all aspects of our relationship, but also to take it to new heights, added Reynolds referencing to PM Modis and PM Starmers meeting and other recent high-level engagements.

With inputs from agencies
A Canadian commission report has concluded that there is no definitive link to a foreign state in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, contradicting Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus claims of Indian agents involvement read more

A Canadian commission report has concluded that there is no definitive link to a foreign state in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, contradicting Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus claims of Indian agents involvement.

In September 2023, Trudeau said that Canada had credible evidence indicating that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjars murder in British Columbia in June 2023.

The report, titled Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, was released on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said in the report that disinformation is used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a states interests, suggesting that India may have engaged in disinformation regarding Nijjars killing.

This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Ministers announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven), PTI quoted the report as saying.

Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

The 123-page report also addressed the expulsion of six Indian diplomats.

In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India, the report said.

However, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the withdrawal of its high commissioner.

The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Trudeaus allegations in September last year of the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

New Delhi had rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd.

Advertisement

India has repeatedly criticised Trudeaus government for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement who live in Canada. The Khalistan movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.

On Tuesday, India strongly rejected insinuations made against it in the report by a Canadian commission that investigated allegations that certain foreign governments were meddling in Canadas elections.

In a strong reaction, the MEA in New Delhi said it rejects the reports insinuations on India.

It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in Indias internal affairs, it said.

With inputs from agencies
In response to the question why a ChatGPT- or R1-like artificial intelligence (AI) model has not emerged from India, industry veterans have said that such models can emerge from India if there is sustained funding in a protected marketplace-like ecosystem backed by the government read more

DeepSeek researchers have claimed that they spent under $6 million (Rs 51 crore) on its latest AI model (DeepSeek V-3) launched on January 10  a fraction of what tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft spend. Reuters

Following the waves that Chinas DeepSeek R1 aritifical intelligence (AI) has made, industry veterans have weighed in whether India can develop similar AI models.

The DeepSeek R1 is a large language model (LLM) similar to Opem AIs ChatGPT that does similar tasks but at a fraction of cost. While Open AI reportedly spent $540 million to make ChatGPT, DeekSeek says it used just $5.6 million to make R1. Moreover, the R1 appears to be doing much with fewer graphic processing units (GPUs), which means that operational costs of R1 are lesser than its Western counterparts.

Advertisement

The result was a bloodbath in the US markets as tech giants lost nearly $1 trillion in valuation. Chipmaker Nvidia, whose chips power much of the worlds advanced AI systems, lost nearly $588 billion in value. Tech giants Meta and Google-parent Alphabet also lost value. Other chipmakers like Marvell, Broadcom, Micron, and TSMC also lost value. The trend was the same for energy and data centre companies Oracle, Vertiv, Constellation, and NuScale.

As the world makes sense of DeepSeeks R1, questions have been raised whether India can also develop a similar AI model. Even though no major AI advancement has come from India and private research and development (R&D) investment is on a decline for years, industry veterans have said that an R1-like model can very well emerge from India and it is only a matter of time.

Sharing a post from an anonymous user who says he works with AI at Amazon, Zoho Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu said India can and it is not that hard.

This post is a must read for every Indian engineer who asks "why can't India do what China did".



Short answer: India can and it is not that hard.



And let's not do this "reservation bad, government bad" etc. Chinese entrepreneurs never had it easy and still don't have it easy. https://t.co/W2C8aakdn6  Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 29, 2025

Advertisement

The case for India making ChatGPT-, R1-like systems

The post of the self-proclaimed Amazon AI professional that Vembu shared said that, unlike popular perception, DeepSeek is not a unique Chinese startup and the development of an AI model is also not very hard. The user, who goes by the name GDP, was responding to a post by Sadanand Dhume, a scholar of foreign policy and economics at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), who had asked why China could develop DeepSeek and India could not.

The GDP said that there are many DeepSeek-like startups such as AliBabas Qwen, MiniMax, Kimi, ByteDances DuoBao. They said China has 10 lab comparable to Western AI majors OpenAI and Anthropic and around 50 more tier two labs.

The GDP said that the science behind such AI models is quite easy. They went on to say that the base tech, the transformer decoder only models, are quite easy to iplement and comapnies like Nvidia helps out companies. They highlighted that, unlike operating systems, AI softwares dont have to be trained and machines learn by themelves.

Advertisement

The hard part, the GDP said is the parallel and distributed computing to run AI training across thousands of graphic processing units (GPUs). It is here that DeepSeek did lot of innovation and used an innovative architecture called Mixture of Experts and a new approach called GRPO, both of which are in open domain since 2024.

The question then comes why nothing like ChatGPT or R1 has come from India?

The GDP said that the reason is the same as why no Google or Facebook ever emerged from India. They said that, unlike China, there is no protected market in India where projects are allowed to fail until they succeed.

Advertisement

Writing this as an Indian who works on AI in leadership role for one the largest companies in the world (though strictly my personal opinion, but based on verifiable data).



You heard it first here:

-

First some more shocks:

You heard DeepSeek.

Wait till you hear about  GDP (@bookwormengr) January 28, 2025

You need to able to walk before you can run. There is no protected market to practice your craft in early days. You will get replaced by American service providers as they are cheaper and better every single time. That is not the case with Chinese player. They have a protected market and leadership who treats this skillset as existential due to geopolitics. So, even if Chinese models are not good in early days they will continue to get funding from their conglomerates as well as provincial governments. Darwinian competition ensures best rise to the top, said the user.

The user went on to say that assured funding of around $3 billion over three years could develop ChatGPT-like models with engineers of the same calibre who have built the likes of Ola, Swiggy, or Flipkart.

What we need is a mentality that treats this skillset as existential. We need a national fund that will fund such teams and the only expected output will be benchmark performance with benchmarks becoming harder every 6 months . No revenue needed to survive for first three years. That money will be loose change for GoI [Government of India] and worlds richest men living in India, said the user.
Trumps AI and crypto czar, David Sacks, claimed there is substantial evidence suggesting that Chinese AI company DeepSeek used knowledge from OpenAIs models. Sacks described the process as distillation, where one AI model uses outputs from another to develop similar capabilities. read more

Trumps AI and crypto czar David Sacks said in an interview with Fox news on Tuesday that there is substantial evidence suggesting Chinese AI company DeepSeek used knowledge and learnings from OpenAIs AI models.

Theres substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled knowledge out of OpenAI models, and I dont think OpenAI is very happy about this, Sacks said. Though he did not provide any evidence to support his argument.

Advertisement

Distillation technique to train AI models

Sacks described a technique called distillation, whereby one AI model uses the outputs of another for training purposes to develop similar capabilities.

Sacks emphasised that the developers of DeepSeek used the distillation process to train their chatbot. Distillation is a process where one AI model uses the outputs of another for training purposes to develop similar capabilities.

Sacks is AI and crypto czar under Trump 2.0

In December 2024, President Donald Trump appointed Sacks as the White House AI and crypto czar. Trump tasked him with advising on policies related to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.

DeepSeek R1s launch

Last week, Chinese artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek released an open-source AI model called R1. The new AI model is designed to mimic human reasoning. The company claimed that R1 matches or surpasses top US AI models on key benchmarks while being developed at a much lower cost.

DeepSeek became the most downloaded app on the Apple Store after its launch, gaining popularity among Americans.

There are claims that the new AI model showed better results at a fraction of the cost.

However, many in the tech industry are skeptical and questioning how DeepSeek built its technology.

Panic in US markets, crash in stocks of Nvidia

DeepSeeks launch caused a panic in the US markets. Nvidias stock experienced significant volatility on Monday following the release of a cost-effective AI model by the Chinese counterpart. However, the stock showed some recovery on Tuesday.

It also raised concerns about competition in the AI sector.
In the latest episode of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans crackdown on free speech, nine journalists have been detained this month read more

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan political Islam and pan-Islamism have become integral to both domestic and foreign policies of Turkey. Reuters

In the latest episode of crackdown on free speech and dissent in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, nine journalists affiliated from a minority community and an opposition group have been arrested.

Erdogan is among the worlds longet-ruling leaders and the country under his rule is widely considered to be an elected autocracy. He has ruled Turkey since 2003 with an iron fist and has systematically cracked down on political opposition, critics, and press. He has also pursued an Islamist brand of foreign policy where he has supported an ethnic cleansing of Armenians in 2023 and put his weight behind Islamist opposition groups in Syria over the past decade.

Advertisement

In the latest episode, three journalists of the Opposition-linked Halk TV have been detained over their coverage of an investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, according to Bloomberg News.

Imamoglu is accused of targeting an expert witness in a speech who prepared reports scrutinising Opposition-run local governments.

The three journalists have been arrested for disclosing the name of the expert and publishing a recording of their conversation with him, according to the report.

The detained journalists have been identified as Halk TV Managing Director Serhan Asker, presenter Seda Selek, Baris Pehlivan. They have been charged with attempting to influence the expert and intercepting and recording conversations between individuals.

Earlier in the month, six Kurdish journalists had been arrested from across Turkey.

While Turkey is home to a large Kurdish community, an ethnic minority, it has a long record of persecuting the community both within its borders and in neighbouring countries. In neighbouring Syria, where Kurds run an autonomous provincial government, Turkey is essentially waging a war against the community in alliance with Islamist militias.

The Turkish authorities said six journalists were members of a terrorist organization, which is a common charge used by Erdogans regime against journalists, according to VOA News.

Bianet Media Monitoring maintains that at least 24 journalists have been detained over the past two months.

The journalists arrests come after the arrest of Umit Ozdag, the leader of a nationalist party and a vocal critic of Erdogan, earlier this month.

Advertisement
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germanys CDU/CSU conservative block which is leading polls ahead of the Feb. 23 election, is set to propose plans to restrict migration that could pass with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany read more

A supporter of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party does a Hitler salute during a protest against the government in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2022. File photo/Reuters

The German Catholic and Protestant churches warned on Tuesday against the conservative oppositions plan to crack down on immigration, which they said could break a convention against mainstream parties cooperating with the far-right.

The timing and tone of the current debate appear deeply strange to us. It is likely to defame all migrants living in Germany, to stir up prejudices and, in our opinion, does not contribute to solving the real issues, the representatives of both churches wrote in a joint letter to parliament seen by Reuters.

Advertisement

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germanys CDU/CSU conservative block which is leading polls ahead of the Feb. 23 election, is set to propose plans to restrict migration that could pass with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The anti-immigration, anti-Islam AfD is labelled as right-wing extremist by German security services but is currently polling second in nationwide surveys before the upcoming snap election in the country, where the debate on immigration intensified after a string of violent attacks by foreign-born suspects.

The two major churches hereby point out that, according to current knowledge, the proposed changes to the law would not have prevented any of the attacks, wrote Prelate Anne Gidion, the representative of the German Protestant Churches Council (EKD) and Prelate Karl Juesten, the head of the Commissariat of German Bishops.

The churches stressed that the CDU/CSU is risking breaking a taboo on cooperation with the far-right for the first time in German post-war history.

We fear that German democracy will suffer massive damage if this political promise is abandoned, they wrote.

The CDU, or the Christian Democratic Union, and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), often commonly related as the Union, were founded shortly after World War Two, and represent an honest reflection of Christian and Western values, according to the CDUs website.

According to the latest church statistics from the Interior Ministry, about half of the German population belongs to Christian churches, with the Catholic and Protestant denominations represented in nearly equal proportions.

Advertisement
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries recognise an economic opportunity to harness cheap solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries for domestic electricity, allowing them to free up more oil and gas for export read more

The West Asia region is adding renewable energy capacity at the second-highest pace in the world after China. Representative image/Reuters

When the new year 2025 rolled in, the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) only had middling ambitions regarding renewable energy. The nation was only plannign to annually install about as many solar panels as UK does.

Then, the scenario changed quite swiftly.

A swift shift towards renewables

The countrys state-owned renewable energy company, Masdar, announced at a huge trade fair in Abu Dhabi that it would build a $6bn solar plant with a capacity of 5 gigawatt. Itd be backed with more than 19GWh of battery storage.

Just like that, the largest such project ever attempted was announced in front of the president of the UAE.

In two years time, when the project is set to be completed, it would give the Gulf country enough energy to power more than 700,000 homes, Financial Times reported.

Advertisement

The shift wasnt just happening in the UAE. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil company Saudi Aramco announced a joint venture that would start producing lithium, a key ingredient for batteries, as early as 2027.

This is not a coincidence. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and their Gulf neighbours are rapidly increasing their use of renewable energy. They recognise an economic opportunity to harness cheap solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries for domestic electricity, which will allow them to free up more oil and gas for export.

Regional players like Masdar and Saudi Arabias Acwa Power, Asian companies such as South Koreas Kepco, Japans Jera and Chinas Jinko Power, and European firms EDF, TotalEnergies, and Engie are some of the most active here. They are aggressively bidding for contracts to build renewable projects in the Gulf.

Adding renewable energy generating capacity

That has resulted in an unexpected achievement for the West Asia region.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), West Asia which comprises the Gulf region as well as countries like Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria has less than 1 per cent of the worlds renewable capacity.

But despite that, this is the second fastest-growing region in terms of adding capacity in the world, next only to China.

Advertisement

That achievement is largely the courtesy of the Gulf.

According to data from Rystad, an energy consultancy, it is projected that in five years, renewable energy sources will account for 30 per cent of the total energy capacity across Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Financial Times reported.

Several major projects have already been announced.

For instance, Saudi Arabia aims to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. To achieve this goal, the country needs to install 130 GW of renewable energy in the coming years, enough to power approximately 25 million homes.

In Kuwait, by the end of 2023, the renewable energy capacity was only sufficient to power a few thousand homes.

Advertisement

However, the country awarded a contract last July to the US engineering firm KBR to develop 17 GW of renewable energy capacity, which will be enough to supply power to about 500,000 homes. Additionally, Kuwait has plans for 25 GW of green hydrogen production by 2050.

Powered by AI ambitions and diversification bid

The drive for renewables is also being fed by ambitions to build AI data centres and fledgling plans to produce green hydrogen  a transition fuel that is electrolysed using renewable power  and export it to countries where higher power prices make its production uncompetitive.

Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have long depended on their abundant fossil fuel reserves and are planning to significantly increase oil and gas production in the coming years.

But they are also seeking to diversify.

They have a lot of capital now from oil and gas, and they are trying to become less reliant on any one source of energy, said Vegard Wiik Vollset, head of renewables at Rystad.

Advertisement

It is also an economic benefit because they already have the best conditions for solar of almost anywhere in the world, and if you can get cheaper electricity than it costs for gas, you can export the gas instead.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has revoked retired General Mark Milleys security protection and called for a review of his actions as top military officer, citing concerns over undermining the chain of command. read more

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked the security protection of retired Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley on Tuesday and asked the Pentagons inspector general to review Milleys actions as top military officer. Notably, Milley has been a critic of President Donald Trump.

Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot emphasised that the inspector generals review will include an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milleys conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination."

Advertisement

The Secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well, he said.

Milley served as chairman during President Donald Trumps first term in the White House. The relationship started well but quickly turned sour as Milley tried to guide and restrain the president on various issues.

During his tenure, he opposed the presidents idea of using force against protesters after George Floyds death. He also faced controversy in 2021 for independently calling his Chinese counterpart.

Trump called it treason, but Milley said the calls were routine and part of his job.

In his final days as chairman, after Trump left office, Milley openly criticized his former boss.

After Trumps term was over, Milley openly criticized him during his final days in office. He even called him a dictator.

He said at his official retirement ceremony, We dont take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator.

Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, said Milley lost his clearance and position because undermining the chain of command harms national security, and accountability is a priority under President Trump.
Days after being held in the northern city of Turin on an ICC arrest warrant for suspected crimes against humanity, including as rape, torture, and murder, Osama Elmasry Njeem was released last week and taken home by an Italian state aircraft read more

Following the governments decision to free a Libyan police officer sought by the International Criminal Court, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that she was under judicial investigation.

Days after being held in the northern city of Turin on an ICC arrest warrant for suspected crimes against humanity, including as rape, torture, and murder, Osama Elmasry Njeem was released last week and taken home by an Italian state aircraft.

The ICC, which claims it was not consulted in the decision to release him, has called for an explanation.

Advertisement

Meloni said in a message posted on social media that she had been placed under investigation by Romes chief prosecutor, Francesco Le Voi, for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds.

She is under no obligation to resign. Being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt, nor mean that formal charges will necessarily follow.

I will not be blackmailed, I will not allow myself to be intimidated, which may be why I am, lets say, disliked by those who do not want Italy to change and become better, Meloni said in a video posted on her Facebook profile.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and the cabinet undersecretary for intelligence matters, Alfredo Mantovano have also been placed under investigation, Meloni said.

She said she believed the investigation had been triggered by Luigi Li Gotti, a lawyer who announced last week that he had lodged a complaint over both the release of Njeem and the use of an official jet to fly him back to Tripoli.

What I did was a necessary act. I did it as a matter of dignity both for human rights and for all Italian citizens, Li Gotti told Reuters on Tuesday.

CALLED BACK TO PARLIAMENT

The interior minister told parliament last week that Njeem had been swiftly repatriated for reasons of state security.

Opposition leaders ridiculed his explanation and both Piantedosi and Nordio are due to address parliament on Wednesday to give more information on what happened in a case that has soured relations between Rome and the ICC.

Advertisement

Asked about the Italian investigation, ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said the court did not comment on national judicial proceedings.

Meloni said Njeem had visited three European countries over a 12-day period before reaching Italy, and it was only at that point that the ICC asked for his arrest.

Njeem is a brigadier general in Libyas Judicial Police. Melonis government depends heavily on Libyan security forces to prevent would-be migrants from leaving the North African nation and heading to southern Italy.

Meloni said the case against her was being led by the same prosecutor who investigated Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in Sicily for allegedly kidnapping 100 migrants aboard a boat that he had blocked at sea for nearly three weeks in 2019.

Advertisement

Salvini was acquitted in that case last month.

The prime ministers supporters swiftly accused the Italian judiciary, which is locked in battle with the government over plans for a sweeping reform of the legal system, of being politically motivated.

We are faced with yet another example of politicised justice that aims to attack the Meloni government, said Lucio Malan, head of Melonis Brothers of Italy party in the Senate.
Just nine days after being pardoned by President Donald Trump, Huttle was in an altercation with a Jasper County sheriffs deputy. He was shot dead, reportedly by the officer read more

Matthew Huttle, as seen outside the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. AP

Matthew Huttle, a January 6 rioter who was pardoned by President Trump just nine days ago, was reportedly shot and killed by cops.

Huttle, 42, a resident of Hobart, Indiana, died after he was pulled over in the state for a traffic stop on Sunday (January 26) afternoon.

Shot after an altercation

A Jasper County sheriffs deputy had pulled Huttle over and also fatally shot him. State police, who are currently investigating the case, said that the deputy had tried to arrest Huttle.

During this time, an altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect.

Advertisement

The investigation also shows that during the traffic stop, the suspect was in possession of a firearm, state police said. However, they did not provide any other information about the incident, including the reason why Huttle was initially stopped.

The deputy, whose identity is not known, was out in administrative leave.

Huttles time in jail and the pardon

Huttle had been a part of the group of rioters who stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt certification of Democrat Joe Bidens election victory.

He recorded the 16 minutes he spent inside the Capitol building on that day and uploaded it on his own Google account.

Huttle pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of entering a restricted building, and was handed a six-month jail sentence in 2023.

He is not a true believer in any political cause, defense attorney Andrew Hemmer said in a court filing. He instead went to the rally because he thought it would be a historic moment and he had nothing better to do after getting out of jail for a driving offense.

He was released from jail in July 2024.

US President Donald Trump, on his first day back in the White House, had granted pardons to more than 1,500 of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

A total of 1,583 people were charged in connection with the assault on Congress.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
In the second instance of a judge staying an order of the Donald Trump administration, Judge Loren AliKhan of the District of Columbia has temporarily blocked the freeze on federal aid until the case is heard next on February 3 read more

Will Scharf assists as President Donald Trump signs an executive order at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. AP

A US judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps freeze on all federal aid. The case will be heard on February 3.

The Trump administration on Monday froze all federal grants and loans. The move froze as much as $3 trillion that is lifeline to a host of government as well as private programmes across the United States, such as funds for schools, community health centre, and food for low-income families.

Judge Loren AliKhan of the District of Columbia on Tuesday stayed Trumps freeze in response to a lawsuit by non-profit Democracy Forward. The lawsuit argued that the order violated the First Amendment and Amendment Procedure Act, a law that governs the authority of the Executive branch of the US government to make rules.

Advertisement

Even though the White House appeared to downplay the extent of the freeze, saying it did not apply across-the-board and was limited to programs implicated by Trumps executive orders, including those that undermine the national interest, the language of the freeze order was sweeping and said federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance".

Despite the White House downplaying the freeze, a host of services across the United Stats were disrupted and even Republican states were pleading the federal government for guidance.

The New York Times reported that state health agencies said they had been locked out of their Medicaid reimbursement portals; state officials said funding for pre-schools, community health centers, food for low-income families, housing assistance, and disaster relief were all at risk, and universities were freezing new research grants.

The Times further reported that housing projects, highway construction, substance abuse treatment centres, and nursing care of veterans was also affected.

In addition the lawsuit by Democracy Forward, 22 statse and the District of Columbia have filed a second lawsuit to challenge Trumps freeze.

This is the second time in less than a week that a Trumps order has been paused by a judge. Last week, Judge John C Coughenour of the Western District of Washington stayed Trumps executive order to ban birthright citizenship. Coughenour said in his decision that Trumps executive order was blatantly unconstitutional.

Advertisement
Military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have made a series of moves recently to assert greater control over their mineral resources. Global gold companies have been in the line of fire read more

Earlier this month, Malian soldiers swooped into one of the countrys largest gold mines by helicopter. They ended up seizing three tonnes of gold on the orders of the countrys military government.

The operation, which took place at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex majority-owned by Canadian firm Barrick Gold was the latest in a series of moves by military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to assert greater control over their mineral resources.

Advertisement

Global gold mining companies take a hit

Miners at the complex said soldiers arrived unannounced, confiscated phones from those attempting to document the raid, and flew the goldvalued between $260 million and $290 millionback to the capital, Bamako.

The confiscation followed weeks of tensions between Malian authorities and Barrick Gold, which owns 80 per cent of the site.

But that isnt all. The Malian government is demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes from Barrick Gold.

In November 2024, authorities detained four of the companys local employees and, in a separate case, arrested executives of Australian firm Resolute Mining before reaching a $160 million settlement.

Other companies, including Canadas Allied Gold, B2Gold, and Robex, have also faced pressure to revise their contracts and settle tax disputes.

Juntas move to nationalise resource revenues

The military governments of the Sahel have increasingly sought to renegotiate foreign mining contracts, arguing that previous deals were exploitative.

Gold mining accounts for a quarter of Malis national budget and about 14 per cent of Burkina Fasos revenue.

Malis junta claims it has recovered more than $1 billion through contract negotiations and expects annual revenues from the sector to rise by nearly $950 millionabout 20 per cent of the national budget.

Burkina Fasos government took similar action last year when it requisitioned 200 kilograms of gold from a Canadian mining company. Nigers junta, meanwhile, seized control of a French nuclear firms uranium mining operations in 2023.

Juntas playing to public sentiment?

Nina Wilen, Africa director at the Egmont Institute, said the juntas are playing to public sentiment by pushing a sovereignty-driven agenda, rejecting Western influence, and seeking alternative partners. Experts warn the strategy could deter foreign investment, but others argue that new playersincluding China, Russia, and Turkeyare eager to fill the void.

New private partners are arriving from everywhere, said Malian mining engineer Oumar Baba Sy. Nobody has a monopoly[]If you dont want to invest in these countries, others will.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting in Jerusalem with US President Donald Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu said in a statement on Wednesday, amid the Gaza ceasefire and a regional diplomatic push read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, US, on July 24, 2024. Reuters File

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting in Jerusalem with US President Donald Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Netanyahu said in a statement on Wednesday, amid the Gaza ceasefire and a regional diplomatic push.

A day after visiting Saudi Arabia, Israeli media reported that Witkoff had also been in Gaza on Wednesday to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire there, which Trump has said he wants to leverage into a broader regional accord that would include Saudi Arabia and Israel formalising diplomatic ties.

Advertisement

An Israeli government spokesman declined to provide any details on Witkoffs visit to Gaza, which Israels Channel 13 said included an inspection of the Netzarim corridor, which tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have crossed over as they returned to their homes in the northern part of the enclave.

Israel began pulling out of the corridor on Monday and allowing their return as part of the first phase of the ceasefire, which will also see 33 hostages freed in exchange for the release of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Seven hostages have already been released since the ceasefire took effect on January 19. Three more, including a civilian woman and an elderly man, as well as a female conscript soldier, will be released on Thursday, according to Netanyahus office and the Hostage Families Forum.

Israel will free 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, according to the Palestinian prisoners Information Office.

Five Thai citizens abducted from Israel during Hamas October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the conflict may also be released on Thursday, according to an Israeli official.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump next week. This marks Trumps first meeting with any foreign leader. The meeting is scheduled to take place on February 4, with a focus on peace efforts after Gaza ceasefire. read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump next week, NBC News reported, citing White House officials.

Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet President Trump in his second term of office.

The Israeli PM was invited in a letter from the US president, in which he was asked to come to the White House on 4 February to discuss how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.

Advertisement

A White House official told NBC News that Trump had extended an invitation to Netanyahu to visit the US, and the invitation was accepted by his office.

Netanyahus office said that the meeting is set to take place on February 4.

Earlier, Trump said on Monday that Netanyahu would be coming to Washington soon for a meeting with him. I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries, Trump wrote in a letter to Netanyahu on Tuesday.

A fragile ceasefire came into effect between Israel and Hamas on January 19, 2025, after a 15-month-long war in Gaza. The war started after fighters from the Palestinian armed group crossed the Gaza fence in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 people hostage.

The attack led to Israels campaign in Gaza, which later escalated to the involvement of armed group Hezbollah and Iran.

The agreement has facilitated the return of over 300,000 displaced Gazans to their homes, though many find their neighborhoods destroyed.

The invasion led to a serious humanitarian crisis in the region. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 47,354 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began. Additionally, a letter from US physicians to President Biden in October 2024 stated that 62,413 people in Gaza have died from starvation and lack of medical care.

Advertisement

PM Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of United Nations sanctions read more

Kim Jong Un pledged that North Koreas nuclear program will continue indefinitely, state-run media said Wednesday, just days after incoming US President Donald Trump declared he would resume diplomatic talks with the secretive leader.

After touring a nuclear-material manufacturing site, Kim warned of a inevitable clash with hostile nations, stating that 2025 would be a crucial year for strengthening North Koreas nuclear arsenal, according to the KCNA.

It is our firm political and military stand and invariable noble task and duty to develop the states nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely, Kim said, according to KCNA.

Advertisement

The report, and Kims nuclear factory visit, follow Pyongyangs test-firing on Saturday of sea-to-surface strategic guided cruise missiles, its first weapons test since Trump returned to the White House on January 20.

North Korea says it is seeking nuclear weapons to counter threats from the United States and its allies, including South Korea.

The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of United Nations sanctions.

Trump, who had a rare series of meetings with Kim during his first term in office, said in an interview last week that he would reach out to the North Korean leader again, calling Kim a smart guy.

On Wednesday, KCNA said Kim addressed the worlds most unstable situation in which a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable, and that it was indispensable for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield.
Saudi Arabia Railways and Italian hospitality company Arsenale have unveiled the final designs for the Dream of the Desert train, set to be the Middle Easts first five-star luxury train. read more

Saudi Arabia Railways and Italian hospitality company Arsenale have unveiled the final designs for the Dream of the Desert train. This will be the Middle Easts first five-star luxury train.

This announcement marks a major milestone in the agreement signed last year between Saudi Arabia Railways and Arsenale, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The trains interiors draw inspiration from the desert landscape and traditional Saudi architecture, featuring refined craftsmanship, earthy tones, luxurious textiles, and intricate details. Iconic Saudi landmarks like Hegra and Hail are reflected in the trains design, offering passengers a visually captivating and culturally enriching experience.

Advertisement

The train will consist of 14 carriages, including 34 luxury suites, ensuring an exclusive experience for travelers. It will depart from Riyadh and travel along the Northern Railway network, providing guests the opportunity to explore Saudi Arabias stunning heritage and natural sites.

In partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the train will offer curated cultural programs to immerse passengers in Saudi traditions. The Saudi Tourism Authority and Development Authorities Support Center are also designing special tourism itineraries to complement the journey, offering travelers a unique perspective on Saudi heritage.

Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of Saudi Arabia Railways, said, The Dream of the Desert train is a testament to our commitment to this vision, providing innovative solutions that elevate both transport and tourism. This project reflects the Kingdoms ambition to build world-class infrastructure and solidify Saudi Arabia as a top global tourism destination.

Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways, emphasized attracting global investments to introduce advanced transport solutions that foster economic growth and regional connectivity. The Dream of the Desert train is a prime example of how public-private collaboration can create groundbreaking luxury transport experiences, he said.

Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale Group, said that the project is more than just a luxury train; it offers an immersive experience that blends refined design, world-class hospitality, and rich cultural traditions. We look forward to welcoming our first guests aboard. The Dream of the Desert is set to begin operations by the end of Q3 2026, with booking details and exclusive packages to be announced soon on the official website, Barletta said.

Advertisement
A team from the Egyptian Red Crescent received Turkish aid to coordinate its delivery to the Gaza Strip, according to a source at the port located 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the territory read more

The truce deal mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US will take six weeks to complete and focuses on the release of hostages and the boosting of humanitarian aid to the devastated and beleaguered Gaza Strip. Image: REUETRS

A Turkish ship arrived in Egypts El-Arish port on Wednesday carrying aid destined for Gaza, making it the first time aid will be reaching the war-torn region since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

We are prepared to heal the wounds of our Gazan brothers and sisters and to meet their temporary shelter needs, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted on X on Wednesday.

The ship contained 871 tonnes of humanitarian aid including 300 power generators, 20 portable toilets, 10,460 tents and 14,350 blankets.

Advertisement

A team from the Egyptian Red Crescent received Turkish aid to coordinate its delivery to the Gaza Strip, according to a source at the port located 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the territory.

Cannot take part in injustice

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that the countrys position on the Palestinian cause will not change and that it cannot take part in injustices to displace Gazans. His comments came after US President Donald Trump floated a plan to move Palestinians from the territory to Egypt and Jordan.

The constants of Egypts historic position on the Palestinian cause. can never be compromised, Sisi said during a news conference in Cairo with Kenyan President William Ruto.

Sisi said Egypt supported the establishment of a Palestinian state and the preservation of its capabilities, particularly its people and its territory.

Hamas accuses Israel of delay in aid delivery

Hamas officials said Israel was failing to send key aid items  such as fuel, tents, heavy machinery and other equipment  into Gaza, as agreed for the first stage of the ceasefire that took effect on January 19.

Israel, meanwhile, has dismissed the claims as fake news. Its totally fake news, a spokesperson for COGAT, an Israeli defence ministry agency that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said after two Hamas officials told AFP Israeli actions were slowing down the delivery of aid items.

Since Sunday and until today at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) 3,000 aid trucks had entered Gaza, the spokesperson said.

With inputs from AFP
Duduzile ZumaSambudla, a member of South Africas opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP will face a court in Durban on Thursday, where she will be charged, the party said in a statement on X read more

Duduzile Zuma's party has urged people to maintain peace ahead of her trial in court. Image courtesy: @MKParty_InfoGuy/X

South Africas former President Jacob Zumas daughter will be appearing in court over a case of anti-government rioting that rattled the country four years ago and resulted in the deaths of 354 people.

Duduzile ZumaSambudla, a member of South Africas opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP will face a court in Durban on Thursday, where she will be charged, the party said in a statement on X.

According to News24, citing an unnamed source, the state plans to charge Zuma-Sambudla with inciting terrorism. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela initially confirmed that Zuma-Sambudlas lawyers had received the charges but later claimed she was unaware of them.

Advertisement

The abuse of state institutions to fight ANC political battles!



NPA should drop this case! The Phalaphala case is stronger than this.#handsoffDuduzileZuma pic.twitter.com/q3VT3ScnjH  uMKHONTO WESIZWE Info Centre (@MKParty_InfoGuy) January 28, 2025

Daduziles father Jacob Zuma founded MKP in 2023 and within a year the young party managed to win almost 15 per cent of the vote in elections. The African National Congress, as a result, fell short of forming the majority.

The ANC subsequently established a 10-party coalition government, with the MKP emerging as the main opposition, actively challenging the new administration.

In July 2021, riots broke out in South Africa following Jacob Zumas imprisonment for refusing to testify before a judicial inquiry into state corruption during his nine-year presidency. The unrest, which caused billions of rands in damage to infrastructure, property, and businesses, was largely concentrated in Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, will visit Israel today and hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the next phase of the deal with Hamas read more

Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, will visit Israel on Wednesday and meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Witkoff is also expected to visit the Gaza Strip to inspect the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Witkoffs visit would come at a time when Israeli and Hamas negotiatiors are readying to enter the second phase of the three-phase deal that the two sides reached earlier this month. All hostages are set to be released during the second phase of the war. Formally, the negotiations for the second phase will start on Monday.

Advertisement

Witkoff would arrive in Israel from Saudi Arabia. Axios has reported that he met Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authoritys (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The meeting is the first between the PA, the de facto Palestinian government that partially governs West Bank, and the Trump administration.

Witkoff to press for second phase of ceasefire

Witkoff will discuss the second phase of the deal with Netanyahu on Wednesday.

Even though talks for the second phase are formally supposed to start on Monday, Qatar and the United States have already started discussions on the issue, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Even as Witkoff has said that he is committed to advance the ceasefire to the next phase, there is lack of clarity whether the Trump administration is committed to the permanent end of the war. Netanyahu has maintained that he has assurances from the United States that Israel would be allowed to resume the war and the deal struck with Hamas does not include a provision for the permanent end of the war.

Israels Ken broadcaster has reported that Netanyahu would seek Trumps permission to continue the war in Gaza.

Previously, The Post had reported that Netanyahu has reached a deal with his far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich to break the deal after the first phase and resume the war in Gaza.

The newspaper reported that the deal includes attacking Gaza with heavier weapons than those used so far and and controlling the humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.

Netanyahus reported deal with Smotrich comes as he is dependent on the far-right minister for the survival of his government. Smotrich has said that if the Israel-Hamas deal is implemented in its entirety, he would quit the government and that would mean Netanyahus ruling coalition would lose parliamentary majority.

Advertisement

Witkoff to visit Gaza to inspect ceasefire

In what would be the first visit by a US official in nearly two decades, Witkoff has said he would visit Gaza to inspect the implementation of the ceasefire.

In an interview with Fox News last week, he said that he would visit the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors in Gaza.

The Netzarim Corridor essentially cuts Gaza into northern and southern halves and needs to be crossed by displaced Palestinians returning to their homes in the northern Gaza from southern Gaza where they had been sheltering so far. It is being managed by US and Egyptian private security contractors in coordination with Hamas-run Gazan policy and Israeli military has minimal role in the process.

Witkoff told Fox, Im actually going to be going over to Israel. Im going to be a part of an inspection team at the Netzarim corridor and also in the Philadelphi corridor. Thats where you have outside overseers making sure that people are safe and people who are entering are not armed and no one has bad motivations, but we have to make sure that the implementation goes well.

Advertisement

Witkoff further said that the second phase of the deal depends on the implementation of the first phase.

Witkoff said, If it goes well, well get into phase two, and were going to get a lot more live bodies out, and I think thats what the presidents directive to me and everybody else working in the American government on this [is], and thats what were going to do.
The countrys government employed an independent group of experts who concluded that even well-crafted adoption laws cannot prevent abuse and that a ban is the best way to adequately protect all those affected, particularly children. read more

Switzerland on Wednesday said that it will end international adoptions by 2026 over concerns of malpractices in the procedure.

The countrys government employed an independent group of experts who concluded that even well-crafted adoption laws cannot prevent abuse and that a ban is the best way to adequately protect all those affected, particularly children.

It also noted that the number of such adoptions has recently fallen sharply, from several hundred to about 30 per year. It said that it would explore possible exceptions under the legislative process, in particular for intrafamily adoptions, in which children are adopted by a step-parent or relative.

Advertisement

Why is the govt planning to ban international adoptions?

The group or the Federal Council said in a report that any effort made by the government to improve transparency and the procedure of the process of adoption has so far been proven futile.

The report concludes that even with a revised and well-crafted adoption law, as well as the allocation of significant resources, it remains uncertain whether abuse can be entirely prevented.

The Swiss government further said, The expert group highlights that the current legal basis is inadequate, particularly in the case of irregular adoptions. The Federal Council has therefore tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police to examine a revision of the law in connection with the search for origins. The recommendations of the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors working group and the FOJ are to be taken into account in this process.

With inputs from agencies
Amid the Donald Trump administrations pledge to downsize the federal government workforce, it has offered nearly 2 million civilian employees an eight-month payout to leave their jobs read more

US President Donald J Trump is shown on screens as he addresses via remote connection a plenary session in the Congress Hall, during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (Photo: AP)

The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday offered nearly 2 million federal government employees an eight-month payout to leave their jobs. The employees have until February 6 to accept the offer.

The development comes amid Trump administrations pledge to downsize the federal governments workforce and remove all staffers who are not committed to Trumps political agenda.

A senior Trump administration official told NBC News that 5-10 per cent employees are expected to accept the offer and it may lead to around $100 billion in savings.

Advertisement

In the email, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees the federal civilian workforce, said that most government agencies are expected to be downsized in the coming days through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. The OPM further said that the administration would use furloughs and reclassification of career officials as at-will for the purpose  the reclassification would make it easier to fire them.

In a statement of intent, the OPM said that government employees would need to show enhanced standards of conduct and ensure they are reliable, loyal, trustworthy. It further said that those who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritised for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

While the administration has framed the exercise as part of a purported drive to cut wasteful expenditure, critics have seen it as part of efforts to replace career professionals with political appointees or contractors who would do Trumps bidding irrespective of the righteousness or the legality of his orders. In his first term, Trump wanted his top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, to illegally overturn the 2020 election in his favour.

It has been pointed out that the OPMs email is very similar to the one that Elon Musk-owned X (then Twitter) sent to its employees in 2022. Even the subject line of the email, A Fork in the Road, is same. Notably, Musk, the worlds richest man who is now committed to supporting far-right groups worldwide, is part of the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that is tasked with curbing the government of excess staffers and expenses.

Highlighting the similarities between the two emails, ABC News Cheyenne Haslett highlighted that while the Twitter email said only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade, the OPMs email says the federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level. She further noted that while the Twitter email concluded with whatever decision you make, thank you for your efforts to make Twitter successful, the OPMs email mentions whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.

Advertisement
While the British Home Office has identified Khalistan movement and Hindu nationalism as new forms of extremism, it has underestimated the Islamist extremism despite Islamism driving most terrorist acts in the United Kingdom, according to a Home Office report leaked to a think tank read more

A banner with the image of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of his June 2023 killing, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 20, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

The Khalistan movement and Hindu nationalism have been described as new forms of extremism in the United Kingdom, according to a leaked government report.

Last year, British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a review of the government policy on extremism. She said the review, dubbed Rapid Analytical Sprint, would map and monitor extremist trends and propose a new strategic approach to countering extremism.

As per the leaked report of the review to the think tank Policy Exchange, the review listed nine types of extremism in the UK: Islamist; extreme right wing; extreme misogyny; pro-Khalistan extremism; Hindu nationalist extremism; environmental extremism; Left wing, anarchist and single-issue extremism; violence fascination and conspiracy theories. Notably, misogyny, Khalistan movement, and Hindu nationalism have been featured as new threats.

Advertisement

While the think tank said that the Home Office review correctly flags Hindu nationalism, it flagged that the review underestimates Islamist extremism even as it continues to drive most terrorist attacks and cases with British authorities.

Why Home Office review flagged Khalistan movement, Hindu nationalism

The communal violence between Hindu and Muslim communities in Englands Leicester in 2022 is the driver of Hindu nationalisms inclusion in the Home Offices review, according to the Policy Exchange.

The think tanks 30-page report on the leaked Home Office review described Hindu nationalism as an underplayed subject that the Home Office has addressed arguably for the first time in detail. It said that excluding it in a separate review of a government programme tackling extremism in 2023 was a mistake.

Given the violence which occurred in Leicester in September 2022 between Hindus and Muslims, the Government is correct to place Hindu Nationalist Extremism under the spotlight  not least as knowledge of it is generally low, said the report.

Even as the review flagged Hindu nationalism in the Leicester violence, it flagged that Muslim extremism also played a role in the episode.

The think tank noted that the Home Office review noted that key voices within both Muslim and Hindu communities also played a significant role in opportunistically exploiting tensions and inciting hate among the local communities.

Advertisement

As for the Khalistan extremism, the review said that the Khalistan movement in itself is not extremist but the problem is when this outlook leads to the advocacy of violence in support of that cause, according to the think tank.

The Khalistan movement seeks to carve out a separate state for Sikhs from India with the secession of Punjab. For decades, the movement waged a terrorist movement in India that killed thousands. The movement ebbed in the 1990s in India. Even though the violent movement ebbed in India, it found safe havens abroad, most notably in Canada but also in the United Kingdom. From there, Khalistani elements have continued to lobby foreign governments to act against India. They have also planned terrorist attacks and led a host of criminal activities inside India from there. They have also attacked Indian diplomatic missions there.

Advertisement

The think tank said that the Home Offices reviews position as logical.

The think further said that the review has assessed that there is a growing portfolio of actors of concern within the Khalistan movement. It also said that the review has flagged Khalistani leaders demonisation of Muslim communities, in particular in relation to child sexual exploitation allegations.

The review has also flagged the conspiracy theories by Khalistani groups of purported collusion between the British and Indian governments, according to the think tank.

The think tank further said that the review also flags the purported violent activities of the Indian governments against Sikhs in Canada and the United Kingdom. The Indian government has rejected such allegations and has instead pointed to the political interference of foreign elements in India, most notably by the outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom the Indian government has accused of pandering to the Khalistani movement for domestic political support.

Advertisement

Home Office review underestimates Islamist threat, says report

The Policy Exchanges report said that the Home Office review has underestimated the Islamist extremism.

Even as Islamist extremism continues to be the biggest security threat, the review only devotes one page to it, the same space devoted to conspiracy theories, Khalistan extremism, misogyny, and environmental extremism, according to the think tank.

The data suggests that Islamism should instead be the main focus of the Home Office, according to the think tank.

In the past 25 years, Islamist extremism is responsible for 94 per cent of all deaths caused by terrorism and 80 per cent of the polices counter-terror case last year were rooted in Islamist extremism, 75 per cent of MI5s matters were rooted in Islamist extremism, and and 63 per cent of terrorists in custody were related to Islamist acts, according to government data.

Advertisement

The Policy Exchange flags that one reason why Islamism is the biggest threat to the UK is because of its institutional nature.

Another reason why Islamism is Britains most serious extremist threat is that it has a significantly greater institutional presence than any other form of UK extremism, influencing or controlling some mosques, private schools, media outlets, charities and pressure groups. This goes unmentioned in the Sprint documents seen by Policy Exchange, said the think tanks report.

The review also ignores the roles of institutions in spreading and incubating extremism, and particularly ignores the significant power of institutions in Islamist extremism, as per the think tanks report.

One issue omitted in the review is the threat of organised calls of violence by Islamists against purported insults to Islam, which they often dub as blasphemy. The tanks report flagged the case of a teacher who has been in hiding for four years after threats were made against him over purported insult to Islam. Such issues have plagued the Europe at large, most notably France where terrorists killed 16 people in attacks in response to cartoons on Prophet Muhammed and a teacher was killed in 2020 for a classroom discussion on cartoons.
Security agents escorted the inspector general of the US Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, according to a report, citing sources familiar with the matter read more

The US Department of Agriculture is seen in Washington, on March 18, 2012. Reuters File

Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didnt believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.

Advertisement

In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.

Fong declined to comment.

The White House defended the firing of Fong and the other inspectors general, saying these rogue, partisan bureaucrats have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.

The USDA inspector general has a broad mandate, pursuing consumer food safety, audits and investigations of the Agriculture Department as well as violations of animal welfare laws. The USDA has been at the heart of concerns about bird flu, which has spread among cattle and chickens and killed a person in Louisiana.

In 2022, the inspector generals office launched an investigation of Elon Musks brain implant startup Neuralink, which remains ongoing, sources said. In recent years, the office has also taken on animal abuse at dog breeders for research labs and the listeria outbreak at Boars Head, among other issues.

Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help President Donald Trump get elected in November and has emerged as a key player in the presidents orbit.

Fong was among the 17 federal watchdogs fired by Trump on Friday in what critics described as a Friday-night purge. Speaking to reporters afterwards aboard Air Force One, Trump defended the move saying its a very common thing to do. He did not say who would be installed in the vacant posts.

Advertisement

The dismissals, handed out less than a week after Trump took office for his second term, appeared to violate federal law, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said in a letter to the White House on Friday.

Fong served as the first chairperson of CIGIE from 2008 through 2014, according to her biography on USDAs website.
President Donald Trump has said that he has requested Elon Musks SpaceX to return NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Wilmore. Both NASA astronauts have been stranded aboard the International Space Station for nearly a year. read more

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday night he had asked Elon Musks SpaceX to return two NASA astronauts, Indian-origin Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space since June last year. He alleged that both astronauts were virtually abandoned in space by the previous Biden administration from the International Space Station.

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Advertisement

Trump emphasised that Tesla CEO Musk would help bring back the astronauts and everything would be fine. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

Earlier, Musk on Tuesday said Trump had asked him to return the two astronauts as soon as possible.

Musk said, The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so."

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.



Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are already scheduled to fly back on a SpaceX capsule in March.

A NASA spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Wilmore and Williams flew Boeings Starliner spacecraft to the ISS in June last year for a test mission that was supposed to last eight days, but the two veteran astronauts got stuck in the spacecraft and have been there for nearly a year due to issues with the crafts propulsion system.

Advertisement

In August, NASA, under President Joe Bidens administration, decided that Starliner was too risky for their return and chose SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring them back to Earth.

The Starliner spacecraft experienced some technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. As a result, their stay at the ISS has been extended.

During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore have been actively involved in various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. They have adapted to the challenges of prolonged space missions, contributing significantly to the stations operations.
Samsung India today introduced its 2025 lineup of BESPOKE AI WindFree air conditioners, featuring 19 models tailored to address the cooling preferences of Indian consumers.

Key Features: BESPOKE AI WindFree Air Conditioner (2025)

AI-Driven Cooling: The AI Energy Mode optimizes cooling settings, saving up to 30% on energy. The AI Fast & Comfort Cooling feature quickly cools rooms before switching to the energy-efficient WindFree Mode for ongoing comfort. Additionally, the AI Digital Inverter guarantees effective cooling even when outdoor temperatures reach 58C.

WindFree Cooling: This technology disperses air through 23,000 micro holes, avoiding direct drafts for enhanced comfort.

SmartThings Integration: These ACs integrate with Samsungs SmartThings app, offering features like Quick Remote for smartphone control, Map View for 3D home monitoring, and voice commands through Bixby, Alexa, or Google Assistant. The Welcome Cooling feature activates the AC as you near your home.

Good Sleep Mode: This mode adjusts temperature and humidity according to sleep phases, promoting undisturbed sleep.

Enhanced Hygiene: Equipped with an external Copper Anti-bacterial Filter that captures dust and diminishes airborne bacteria by up to 99%, with an easy-to-clean design for optimal performance.

Durability: The units come with a 5-year comprehensive warranty and a 10-year warranty on the AI Inverter compressor. The Durafin Ultra coating protects against corrosion on the heat exchanger.

Samsung emphasized its robust market performance in India last year and plans to maintain its leadership with this innovative AI-driven AC series.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung BESPOKE AI WindFree ACs start at Rs. 32,990 and are now available at leading retail stores and online platforms, including Flipkart, Amazon, and Samsung.com.

Speaking about the launch, Ghufran Alam, Senior Director, Digital Appliances, Samsung India, said,
Thursday Night

Cloudy skies with periods of rain after midnight. Low 39F. SE winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
AFP maintains Chinese national engaged in 'unauthorized surveillance'

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

January 28, 2025, 2:09 pm

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday maintained that the Chinese national and his two Filipino cohorts who were recently arrested were engaged in "unauthorized foreign intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance activity."

This came as the foreigner's family asserted his innocence of espionage allegations.

In an ambush interview, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said that any "clandestine activity" is normally not revealed.

She added that data recovered from the confiscated equipment of the suspects contained maps of the country's critical infrastructure and could not be easily changed or manipulated.

"So the servers contain maps of critical infrastructures, salient features like military camps. So, what would they be doing with the data on military camps and PNP (Philippine National Police) camps, and critical infrastructures," Padilla said.

She said the AFP is taking this matter seriously as it involves national security.

Also, the AFP spokesperson said that they are working with "empirical data" and not on hearsay in dealing with the issue.

"So kaya nga tayo nagko-conduct ng investigation para yung accurate na data yun po yung lumabas (so we are conducting investigations for more accurate data to come out)," Padilla noted.

She also reiterated calls of ranking security government officials to toughen and improve the country's existing espionage law.

On Jan. 17, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the three -- Chinese national Deng Yuanqing, and Filipinos Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez -- at a condominium in Makati City.

Among the items seized included a Toyota Rav4 SUV equipped which was used as a "rover" for locator and mapping devices which can pinpoint coordinates accurate to up to a centimeter. (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Australian statement of support - EU Sanction

Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

29 January 2025

Category: International relations

Australia expresses its strong support for the European Union's decision to impose cyber sanctions on three individuals linked to the Russian Armed Forces for their role in malicious cyber activity targeting Estonia.

Australia stands in solidarity with the EU and Estonia against malicious cyber activity and commends the EU for this important action.

Cybercrime plagues all corners of the world.

Australia is committed to working with our international partners to shine a light on unacceptable activity in cyberspace, and impose costs on malicious actors who seek to undermine an open, free, stable and secure and interoperable cyberspace. Sanctions are one important method of imposing costs on these actors and serve as a deterrent against such activity.

Australia has also imposed autonomous cyber sanctions and attributed responsibility for malicious cyber behaviour in recent months to disrupt and deter the perpetrators of malicious cyber activity.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pevkur in Seoul: Estonia is interested in strengthening defence cooperation with South Korea

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

27. January 2025 - 14:40

Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur met today in Seoul with acting Minister of National Defense Seon-ho Kim to discuss regional security around Estonia and South Korea, as well as bilateral defence cooperation.

"We value our good relations with the Republic of Korea, an important likeminded partner for us in Asia. We are particularly keen to deepen defence cooperation. This is the first defence ministerial level visit, accompanied by a business delegation from the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.

"I would like to highlight the excellent cooperation between Estonia and South Korea, exemplified by the use of South Korean K9 howitzers by the Estonian Defence Forces. These modern artillery systems have significantly improved our operational capabilities and have proven their effectiveness in exercises. The successful integration of K9 howitzers into our forces is a testament to the high quality of South Korean defence technology and the strength of our partnership," said Minister Pevkur.

"Although our countries are geographically distant, the security of Europe and this region are interconnected. Just as the current conflict in Europe impacts South Korea, any potential conflict there would have repercussions for Europe. Peace and stability in our regions can only be achieved by demonstrating strength, including the provision of military aid to Ukraine," Pevkur added.

During his brief visit, Minister Pevkur also met with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Defense Committee Il-jong Sung and Seung-chan Boo, participated in a joint meeting of Estonian and South Korean defence industries at the Estonian Business Hub Seoul, and met with Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jae-Il Son.

In addition to procurement-related cooperation, Estonia collaborates with South Korea in the cyber domain through the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCDCOE). South Korea has been an official member of the Centre since 2021 and contributes with one expert.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Call with Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic Alvarez

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 27, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez today to reaffirm the United States' strong partnership with the Dominican Republic, and to discuss his upcoming visit to Santo Domingo. Secretary Rubio thanked the Dominican Republic for agreeing to host the next Summit of the Americas and Cities Summit. Secretary Rubio also expressed appreciation to the Dominican Republic for speaking out against the Maduro regime's anti-democratic actions in Venezuela. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Alvarez discussed the need to strengthen hemispheric security, including in Haiti.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Call with Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 27, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the strong U.S.-Morocco partnership in advancing regional and global peace and security, under King Mohamed VI's leadership. They discussed implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of the hostages, and Morocco's leadership in contributing humanitarian aid for Gaza. They committed to cooperate intensively in advancing shared interests in the region and ending conflicts, including building on the Abraham Accords. The Secretary and Foreign Minister affirmed the importance of expanding trade, investment, and commercial cooperation that would benefit Americans and Moroccans.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Amid Increased Human Suffering in Darfur, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Tells Security Council New Applications for Atrocity Crimes Arrest Warrants Are Imminent

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9851st Meeting (PM)

SC/15984

27 January 2025

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court briefed the Security Council today on the imminent new applications for arrest warrants concerning the ongoing violence in Darfur, underscoring the need to reinforce the bond between the two bodies.

"The last six months have reflected a further descent into deeper suffering for the people of Darfur," said Prosecutor Karim Khan, as he presented his report detailing the landscape of "unspeakable scale of destruction and criminality". Developments from El Fasher yesterday and today give rise to grave allegations of increased violence and the potential targeting of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, he said.

"International crimes are being committed on a wide scale, in real-time in Darfur," with atrocities being used daily as a weapon of war, he stated, adding that this is not an extrapolation from unverified reports, but "a hard-edged analysis based on the information and evidence my office has collected". He voiced particular concern over the extensive victimization and suffering of women and children and the widespread commission of gender-based crimes.

In the last six months, his office has been working with affected communities on the ground in Chad and other countries bordering Sudan; increasing the collection and processing of extensive digital and documentary evidence, supporting the identification of linkages between perpetrators, structure and crime patterns; and strengthening its collaboration with national authorities.

International Criminal Court Working towards Arrest Warrants for Crimes in West Darfur, Advancing Case Regarding Alleged Senior Member of Janjaweed Militia

Based on this action, his office is taking the necessary steps to put forward applications for arrest warrants in relation to crimes committed in West Darfur, he continued. In the last six months, it has remained focused on advancing the proceedings in relation to Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also known as "Ali Kushayb", an alleged senior member of the Janjaweed militia charged with 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur between August 2003 and at least April 2004. "For Darfuris, this trial means a lot," he said, adding that through the pursuit of justice, affected communities "are not airbrushed out of public consciousness". It also means that the Council and the broader international community will keep the promise made to the victims.

However, he emphasized that the Abd-al-Rahman case cannot be viewed as a final step, but a solid start to justice and accountability. States must now secure the arrest of those individuals subject to the Court's arrest warrants presently in Sudan: Omar Hassan Ahmad al Bashir, Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein. The transfer of Mr. Harun would be especially impactful at this moment, as the crimes with which he is charged relate directly to those presented before the Court in the trial of Mr. Abd-al-Rahman. "We believe we know where he is and have communicated this to Sudan," he added.

"Let politics and division be silenced for a moment to hear the cries of the Darfuri people [who] have the right to justice," he concluded, declaring: "It is time for us to prevent this constant cycle of despair that the generations of Darfuris have suffered."

Delegates Echo Call for Accountability and Justice

In the ensuing discussion, Council members echoed Mr. Kahn's call for accountability, underscoring that the swift investigation and prosecution of the gravest crimes can help stem the current wave of terror in Sudan.

Noting that both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces "bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan", the representative of the United States called for "a swift and durable negotiated end to the conflict". The failure to achieve accountability decades ago is one reason conflict continues to burn, she said, adding that several of the current conflict's leading actors and their affiliated groups were also directly engaged in criminality in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. "The very same victims, especially non-Arab groups, are again being victimized," she added.

The representative of Slovenia concurred that her delegation was "particularly struck" that the crimes ongoing in Darfur are a "reproduction"  in conduct, affected communities and alleged perpetrators  of the atrocities the Council referred to the Court 20 years ago.

In the same vein, the speaker for the Republic of Korea described the recurring violence in Darfur as "a stark reminder" of the devastating consequences of impunity, which underscores the urgent need to uphold justice and accountability.

Sierra Leone's delegate, while welcoming progress in the "landmark" trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman  "the first trial stemming from a Security Council referral"  expressed concern over "the continued impunity of key suspects". Addressing past crimes, he underscored, is critical to breaking the cycle of impunity and preventing future atrocities in Darfur and elsewhere. Spotlighting the "inextricable link between justice and peace", he said that "efforts to address the root causes of conflict  including systemic impunity  must be central to achieving a lasting political resolution" in Sudan.

Also recognizing the progress made by the Court to "hold aggressors accountable for their actions", Panama's delegate stressed that the tribunal's resolve to investigate those responsible for these crimes is not only a necessary response in the face of their "atrocious" nature, but also "decisive, in guaranteeing long-term peace and stability in the region".

For his part, the United Kingdom's delegate welcomed the creation of a structured dialogue between the Prosecutor's Office and civil society organizations. "This can help ensure that the voices of victims are heard," he stressed.

Asserting that "there is no room for impunity", Greece's delegate said that "lasting peace goes hand in hand with justice." Somalia's delegate added that the international community must remain committed to supporting the Sudanese people in their pursuit of justice, stability and reconciliation.

Sudanese Authorities for Collaboration with Prosecutors' Office Is Commendable, Delegates Stress, Urging More

When accountability prevails, said Denmark's delegate, "it represents the bridge between the pain of the past, and the hope of the future". She emphasized that collaboration is essential to securing justice and ending the cycle of impunity in Sudan, commending the Sudanese authorities' cooperation with the Court.

Picking up that thread, France's delegate called on the Sudanese authorities to increase their cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office and respect their obligations under resolution 1593 (2015) and the Juba Peace Agreement.

While welcoming the Sudanese Government's cooperation with the Prosecutor's requests for assistance, his counterpart from Guyana joined others in emphasizing that such cooperation must also extend to the arrest and surrender of outstanding suspects. She also joined others in stressing that the Court, its personnel and those cooperating must remain free from sanctions, threats and intimidation.

Foreign Interference in Sudan Must End

The representative of Algeria, Council President for January, spoke in his national capacity to urge for complementarity between transitional justice, accountability and peacebuilding efforts in Sudan  "and namely, in Darfur". While noting that Sudan's judicial structures must be strengthened to support national ownership of this process, he stressed that finding a lasting solution to the conflict will be impossible "if we don't put an end to foreign interference in Sudan".

Relatedly, China's delegate emphasized that the Court must abide strictly by the principle of complementarity, maintaining its independence and impartiality while genuinely respecting Sudan's national sovereignty and strengthening its cooperation with that country.

Court Must Display Complete Objectivity and Impartiality

The speaker for Pakistan observed that the Court can gain global credibility if it displays "full objectivity and impartiality in the cases and persons it decides to investigate and prosecute". However, he said, "some jurisdictions have so far been immune from prosecution for widely reported crimes, including those committed in situations of foreign occupation and intervention."

The Russian Federation's representative said that her country does not recognize the International Criminal Court, "which makes a serious contribution to discrediting the very notion of international justice". While Moscow "backs the endeavour of combatting impunity", she said that the tribunal and its activities "lost any link to the work of meting out justice long ago". Stressing that "selective justice has become the new norm", she added that the Court's "imitation of investigation" in Darfur is an "excellent example of its catastrophic ineffectiveness and uselessness".

Sudan's Speaker Outlines Country's Cooperation with Court

The representative of Sudan, meanwhile, pointed to the "many years" lost since the Council's referral of the situation in Darfur to the Court in 2004. While "there was no cooperation with the Court back then", he said that Sudan started to engage with the entity through a memorandum of understanding in August 2021. As part of this cooperation, the Prosecutor's Office has visited Sudan several times, met with high-level officials and visited refugee camps in Darfur. Further, Sudan's Foreign Minister instructed its embassy in The Hague to grant the Prosecutor's team visas "whenever they ask".

While detailing additional national measures to fight impunity, he observed that "extradition must take place in a permanent legal context and not in a provisional context, as is the case currently considering the political transition and its challenges". He added that criminal investigation necessitates an integrated legal and judicial framework to confirm and disclose facts and preserve the rights of the accused. "This requires a stable legal system that is not available now, owing to the current war," he said. Nevertheless, legal reform has started in Sudan and, emphasizing the need to cooperate with the Court, he said: "We will continue to do that."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






REINSTATING SERVICE MEMBERS DISCHARGED UNDER THE MILITARY'S COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE

EXECUTIVE ORDER

January 27, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. On August 24, 2021, the Secretary of Defense mandated that all service members receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Secretary of Defense later rescinded the mandate on January 10, 2023. The vaccine mandate was an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service members. Further, the military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, regardless of the years of service given to our Nation, after failing to grant many of them an exemption that they should have received. Federal Government redress of any wrongful dismissals is overdue.

Sec. 2. Redress.Consistent with the policies announced in section 1 of this order , the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, shall take all necessary action permitted by law to:

(a) make reinstatement available to all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated;

(b) enable those service members reinstated under this section to revert to their former rank and receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or compensation; and

(c) allow any service members who provide a written and sworn attestation that they voluntarily left the service or allowed their service to lapse according to appropriate procedures, rather than be vaccinated under the vaccine mandate, to return to service with no impact on their service status, rank, or pay.

Sec. 3. Additional Agency Responsibilities. (a) Nothing in this order precludes disciplinary or administrative action for conduct that is proscribed by chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. 801-946a).

(b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the President through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs on their progress in implementing this order.

Sec. 4. Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 27, 2025.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PRESS RELEASE: Doomsday Clock set at 89 seconds to midnight, closest ever to human extinction

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

By Adam Dombovari | January 28, 2025

"Humanity Edging Closer To Catastrophe": Iconic Doomsday Clock moves one second closer to midnight as global existential threats rage. Clock factors include nuclear weapons, climate crisis, artificial intelligence, infectious diseases, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  January 28, 2025  The Doomsday Clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its 78-year history. The 2025 Clock time signals that the world is on a course of unprecedented risk, and that continuing on the current path is a form of madness. The United States, China, and Russia have the prime responsibility to pull the world back from the brink. The world depends on immediate action.

The Doomsday Clock's time is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board (SASB) in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes nine Nobel Laureates. Factors included nuclear weapons threats, the climate crisis, biological threats, and disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The Clock's time changed most recently in January 2023, when the Doomsday Clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight.

Daniel Holz, PhD, SASB Chair, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and professor at the University of Chicago said: "The purpose of the Doomsday Clock is to start a global conversation about the very real existential threats that keep the world's top scientists awake at night. National leaders must commence discussions about these global risks before it's too late. Reflecting on these life-and-death issues and starting a dialogue are the first steps to turning back the Clock and moving away from midnight."

The 2025 Doomsday Clock statement warns:

In 2024, humanity edged ever closer to catastrophe. Trends that have deeply concerned the Science and Security Board continued, and despite unmistakable signs of danger, national leaders and their societies have failed to do what is needed to change course. Consequently, we now move the Doomsday Clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds to midnightthe closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Our fervent hope is that leaders will recognize the world's existential predicament and take bold action to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, and the potential misuse of biological science and a variety of emerging technologies.

Juan Manuel Santos, Chair of The Elders, former President of Colombia, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who participated in the 2025 Doomsday Clock announcement, said: "The Doomsday Clock is moving at a moment of profound global instability and geopolitical tension. As the hands of the clock get ever closer to midnight, we make an impassioned plea to all leaders: now is the time to act together! The existential threats we face can only be addressed through bold leadership and partnership on a global scale. Cada segundo cuenta. Every second counts."

The Nuclear Outlook: Extremely Dangerous Trends Continue

Manpreet Sethi, PhD, SASB Member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and distinguished fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi and Senior Research Adviser, Asia Pacific Leadership Network, said: "The risk of nuclear use continues to grow due to capabilities building up and treaties breaking down. Russia has suspended compliance with the New START treaty and withdrawn ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. China is rapidly increasing its nuclear arsenal. And, the US has abdicated its role as a voice of caution. It seems inclined to expand its nuclear arsenal and adopt a posture that reinforces the belief that 'limited' use of nuclear weapons can be managed. Such misplaced confidence could have us stumble into a nuclear war."

Disruptive Technologies To Watch In 2025

Herb Lin, ScD, SASB Member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and senior research scholar for cyber policy and security at the Center for International Security and Cooperation and Hank J. Holland Fellow in Cyber Policy and Security at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, said: "Proposals to integrate artificial intelligence into weapons of war raise questions about the extent to which machines will be allowed to make or support military decisionseven when such decisions could kill on a vast scale. Even if a human always make the final decision on the use of nuclear weapons, how and when, if at all, should AI be used to support such decision making? How should we think about lethal autonomous weapons, which identify and destroy targets without human intervention? Meanwhile, ever-increasing dysfunction in the world's information ecosystem disrupts society's capacity to address difficult challenges, and AI has great potential to accelerate the chaos and disorder."

Climate Change: Devastating Impacts And Insufficient Progress

Robert Socolow, PhD, SASB Member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and professor emeritus in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, said: "2024 was the hottest year on record. Extreme weather and other climate eventsfloods, tropical cyclones, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires devastated societies, rich and poor, as well as ecosystems around the world. Yet the global greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change continued to rise. And investments to adapt to climate change and cut fossil fuel emissions were way below what is needed to avoid the worst impacts. There were formidable policy headwinds globally: particularly worrisome, electoral campaigns showed climate change to be a low priority in the United States and many other countries."

Daunting Biological Threats

Suzet McKinney, DrPH, SASB Member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and principal and director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay, said: "Infectious diseases are a constant threat to mankind, but unfortunately the collective experience with COVID-19 has increased skepticism about the recommendations of public health officials, especially the use of medical countermeasures to mitigate disease spread. Concern is also growing over the proliferation of pathogen laboratories around the world, as well as nefariously using AI in biological research and development. Collectively, leaders must establish knowledgeable authorities to provide trustworthy information, increase reporting of changing disease patterns as the climate changes, decrease the number of high-containment laboratories, and curtail active biological weapons programs."

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project. The Bulletin created the Doomsday Clock two years later to convey man-made threats to human existence and the planet. The Clock has become a universally recognized indicator of the world's vulnerability to global catastrophe.

###

MEDIA CONTACTS: Alex Frank, (703) 276-3264 and afrank@hastingsgroupmedia.com, or Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 and mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






General Affairs Council: remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas at the joint press point following the informal breakfast meeting

European External Action Service (EEAS)

28.01.2025

Brussels, Belgium

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!



Thank you.

[This is a] great initiative from Minister Rosencrantz. I am also very happy to have you here, Olha. Always good to cooperate together with the Enlargement Commissioner.

Ukraine is our priority. That is very clear. We have to support Ukraine in the really immediate term but also looking to the future. Therefore, the enlargement process is extremely important because it gives hope to the people of Ukraine as well. And, therefore, of course, we can talk about clusters, we can talk about chapters, but, for people, it means that there will be a better future for Ukraine when Ukraine will be built up after the war.

Of course, right now the war is going on, so we need to also increase the pressure on Russia to stop this war. Therefore, I am very happy that we agreed to extend the sanctions, yesterday, with the Foreign Affairs Ministers. We are also working on the next sanctions package to come.

We really need to keep up the economic pressure on Russia while also giving military support to Ukraine. To strengthen Ukraine, so that the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are also behind the negotiation table.

What we also raised today - and I am happy that we have this core group gathering on the 3 and 4 of February - regarding accountability: I think this is extremely important.

It cannot be that you attack another country, you kill civilians, and you get away with it. It is clear that we need to work for the accountability today and really have the clear rules in place.

Then, of course, enlargement. The Enlargement Commissioner can really go in depth here, but I think what is important is that enlargement works as a conversions machine. It helps the Member States that are joining Europe, the European Union, but it also is necessary for the European Union to really develop itself further and have new Member States.

So, therefore, I am very grateful for this breakfast. This was a very interesting exchange of views, and thank you again for being here.

Q&A

Q. We have all heard Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, recently called Ukraine an economical threat to Europe. If Ukraine would be a Member of the European Union, how are you going to handle this and make every European Member allow Ukraine to start negotiations?

On Hungary - we have in the European Union 27 different countries, and 27 different internal democracies. So, every decision we make we discuss, and it is always difficult. I do not have any illusions that it is going to get any easier, but in the end we have always managed. Thank you.

Q. People have been talking about the opportunity now with Ukraine to apply pressure , you kind of address that a little bit. I wonder if you could flesh it out, if you have a message for the new administration in the United States about why it is important to apply pressure now, what are the circumstances that you see make this a good time to do it. An additional point on NATO, the US does not want Ukraine to join NATO, if you heard that, if you have any comments on that as well.

Putin can end this war very well - if he realises he made a mistake and cannot win in Ukraine - when he stops bombing the civilians and civilians infrastructure and withdraws its troops. So it is clear that the pressure to end this war has to be on Putin. It seems to me that the new administration in America also understands that, if you see the messages that President Trump has said regarding Putin. So, we need to work together. That is very clear. If the United States is worried about China, then they should first be worried about Russia, because how we react [faced with] Russia's aggression also gives a signal to China, in this regard. So, that is extremely important. When it comes to NATO membership, then we have agreed in NATO that Ukraine's path is towards NATO membership. The question is: when can that really happen? When we talk about security guarantees then the strongest security guarantee that there is, is a NATO membership - and the security guarantee really needs to be credible. But of course, Member States, everybody in NATO has to agree to this, and not everybody is there yet. Thanks.

Q. Since you mentioned security guarantees, how big do you see the danger that European Union membership could become mixed up in the discussion of negotiations? Would you or can we say that with certainty this prospect of Ukraine joining Ukraine is not negotiable?

On the negotiations, I think what is important to say is really that whether it comes to NATO or whether it comes to European Union, it is only for the members of these organisations to decide who gets to be in and who gets to be out. If we give the power to any third parties to say and agree that "this country cannot be in" and that is a bargaining chip, then we give a lot of power away. I think it should not be like this. We are the members of these organisations that need to decide ourselves.

Q. So far, every country that joined the EU had been a member of NATO.

That is not true. No, I mean [take] my own country.

I am talking about the big wave in the Eastern part of Europe. So, the question is: is there an intrinsic link between the two of them?

First, on the European Union and NATO membership. So, I remember I saw this process very closely because my father was the one who was negotiating as well. One time he said: "NATO is not going to happen" and then you know, "EU is not going to happen". It went [as if] you made the step here and then you made the step there. Actually, we were not in NATO before we joined the European Union, or vice versa. It was kind of almost at the same time, the same year. But it was not a precondition for this. I think the importance of NATO has grown over time, because we see the aggressiveness of Russia. Why Finland and Sweden joined, when they were not part of NATO? Because they did not feel the necessity. But when it was clear that Russia had these very imperialistic goals, then the only thing that really protects is the umbrella of NATO. That is why countries want to be in. I totally understand that, but it is not a precondition, no.

Q. Will sanctions happen on the anniversary of the war? And how dramatic and significant will the next sanctions be?

On the first I want to correct: there was no gas deal yesterday, but a statement made regarding energy solidarity. So, to be clear on that. Then of course we are working on the next sanctions package and hopefully we really want to get it ready by February. There are different items there, but as you always know this is a negotiation between Member States. We are really looking into all types of things that really help Russia to wage this war - to put them on the sanctions list. Even elements like the consoles for the video games, because apparently these are the ones that they operate the drones with. So, really being creative. [Even] chemicals that are needed for the Russian military industry. There are a lot of items. Of course, LNG is as well on this list. What the final agreement is will then be clear when we have agreed, but we are working for it to be ready in February.

Link to the video (starting at 2:50): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-266409

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Tsahkna in phone call with Rubio: A just peace in Ukraine makes both the USA and Europe stronger

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

28.01.2025

Today 28 January, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna had his first phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Tsahkna congratulated his US counterpart on his appointment and said he was looking forward to working together on advancing the interests of both countries and on reinforcing transatlantic relations.

The ministers spoke about the political, economic and security cooperation of Estonia and the United States, global challenges, and Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"Ukraine's victory in the brutal and unjustified war of aggression launched by Russia would reinforce not just the European and US security, but also economy," Tsahkna said, adding that this was why it was crucial to continue providing military support to Ukraine while taking the economic instruments for waging war from Russia, including by reducing Russia's oil revenues. "Russia's economy is already doing very badly. Increased economic pressure would bring Ukraine's victory closer."

Speaking about transatlantic relations, Tsahkna underlined that in order to successfully address the increasingly strategic cooperation between authoritarian regimes and other challenges facing the democratic world, Europe and the United States needed to stay united.

"Russia's aggression and the inclusion of North Korean soldiers in hostilities on European soil proves that the security of North America, Europe and the Pacific are closely related," Tsahkna said. "Paralysing the cooperation between Russia and its partners who support its hostilities is crucial for the security of the entire democratic world."

The foreign minister also recalled his meeting with Rubio in Washington DC, when he was serving as Estonia's Defence Minister. Speaking about defence topics, Tsahkna said Estonia was very serious about defending itself and the government has set a goal of increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP. Tsahkna also recognised the contribution the USA has made to Estonia's security so far.

Additionally, the phone call covered boosting economic cooperation between Estonia and the United States, particularly on energy.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement on the situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 28/01/2025

Norway condemns the recent offensives by the M23, supported by Rwanda, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected, in line with the UN Charter.

Norway follows the situation with deep concern, in particular with regard to the safety and welfare of the civilian population.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement on arbitrary detentions of UN personnel in Yemen

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 28 January 2025

Sweden echoes the EU statement and strongly condemns the latest round of arbitrary detentions by the Houthis of seven UN personnel working in Yemen.

Sweden reiterates the demand by the UN SecretaryGeneral for the immediate and unconditional release of all personnel from the UN, international and national nongovernmental organizations, and diplomatic missions, including those detained in 2021, 2023, and 2024. The continued arbitrary detention of aid workers is unacceptable and negatively impacts the ability to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid in Yemen.

Sweden calls on the Houthis to act in the best interest of the Yemeni people and underscores the obligations of all parties to armed conflict under international humanitarian law to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance, as well as to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement of the International Contact Group (ICG) on the situation in eastern DRC

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 28 January 2025

The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), chaired by Germany, gave a statement on the situation in eastern DRC.

The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes, including representatives from Denmark, Belgium, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, strongly condemns M23 and Rwandan Defense Forces' (RDF) capture of the town of Sake on 23 January and the current push to capture the city of Goma on 27 January. We call for urgent de-escalation, respect for the cease-fire, and operationalization of the verification mission. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be respected.

We urge M23 and RDF to cease its offensive in all directions, allow humanitarian access to the city of Goma and withdraw. The M23 capture of Goma will have grave humanitarian and security consequences on the ground. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently fleeing their homes, adding to the millions already internally displaced in eastern DRC due to conflict. The renewed offensive of the M23 and the RDF undermines efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in particular the Luanda Peace Process led by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. We call on all regional leaders to push for a renewed diplomatic effort at this critical time. We urge the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda to return to the negotiating table, respect the August ceasefire and implement their commitments under the Luanda Process CONOPS.

We reaffirm our unwavering support for MONUSCO and are deeply alarmed by the findings and support the recommendations of the recent report of the UN Group of Experts established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1533. Any threat or attack against Peacekeepers or humanitarian personnel is unacceptable. Jamming and spoofing operations which are endangering the security of civilians, United Nations and humanitarian flights must stop. We deplore the deaths of the military personnel of the MONUSCO and the SAMIDRC and we express our deepest condolences to their families, the United Nations and their countries of origin.

The members of the ICG will continue to coordinate their efforts to constantly reassess the situation while urging all parties to live up to their commitments and responsibilities.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Palestinians will not be uprooted through 'political coercion': Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says Palestinians have paid a heavy price to remain in their homeland.

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says Palestinians will not be forced out of their "homeland" in Gaza through "political coercion and demographic manipulation."

In a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Baghaei said that Israel's 15-month campaign of genocide failed to uproot the Palestinians from Gaza, stressing that the scheme will certainly fail through political pressure.

"This is their homeland and they've paid [an] extremely high price to remain there and continue their heroic struggle for self-determination & freedom," he wrote.

The comment came days after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that Egypt and Jordan take in more than a million Palestinians from Gaza to "clean out" the enclave.

The proposal drew widespread opposition from Palestinian leadership, the United Nations, and even U.S. allies in the region.

Baghaei said the idea of "cleaning out" Gaza was part of the broader "colonial erasure" of Palestine, which he said has long been underway with American military, political, intelligence, and financial support.

7129**4353

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






300,000 displaced Palestinians return to ruined northern Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- About 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza, which has been left in ruins following 15 months of relentless Israeli attacks.

The Government Media Office in Gaza said on Tuesday that there are not enough shelters for returning families, who are seeking refuge amongst the rubble and searching for relatives lost in the chaotic march.

The return follows a ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19, although it was delayed by 24 hours due to Israel's refusal to remove roadblocks.

During the war, Israeli attacks were particularly intense in northern Gaza.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has said that the return of Palestinians to their homes was a defeat for the Israeli regime.

Far-right former Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir has described it as a victory for Hamas.

7129**4353

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN opposes Trump's call for relocating people of Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The United Nations says it opposes US President Donald Trump's call for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from the war-stricken Gaza Strip.

During a news conference on Monday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the UN is against the proposal or any other scheme that would lead to the "ethnic cleansing" of the Palestinian people.

"We would be against any plan that would lead to the forced displacement of people, or would lead to any type of ethnic cleansing," he said.

On Saturday, Trump called to "just clean out" Gaza and resettle Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, terming the Strip as a "demolition site" after Israel's genocidal war.

Dujarric pointed out that Egypt, Jordan, and the Arab League also opposed Trump's proposal.

Egypt, Jordan, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation issued statements rejecting any call for the displacement of Palestinian nation from their land.

Earlier, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the Arab body would not engage in any negotiations regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their homes in Gaza or the West Bank.

7129**4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lebanon will remember Iranian-Iraqi support in hard times: Hezbollah chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says Lebanon will not forget the unwavering support from Iran and Iraq during the Israeli regime's assaults on the Arab country.

Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remarks in a televised speech from Beirut on Monday, adding that victory in Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, the regional nations that supported them, and all freedom-seeking individuals worldwide.

Sheikh Qassem said that Israel's attempt to dismantle Hamas in Gaza failed, revealing the Israeli regime's vulnerability.

The Zionist enemy would not have lasted a week without the unconditional support of the United States, he said.

He said that resistance is a political, national, and humanitarian response to Israeli occupation and aims to liberate the occupied territories.

"The objectives of the large-scale Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched by Gaza's resistance groups on October 7, 2023, have been met."

Sheikh Qassem further said that the Israeli enemy failed in honor and humanity, revealing itself as a criminal entity intent on extermination.

The Hezbollah chief condemned the US and certain Western governments for their unconditional support for the Israeli regime's aggression against Lebanon and Gaza.

"The US and Israel aimed to dismantle the resistance, but it prevailed through remarkable resilience and sacrifices that have yielded significant results."

7129**4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Al-Qassam: Occupation regime's insane war in West Bank will not bring security for Tel Aviv

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Ezzedin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military branch of the Hamas movement, in response to the crimes of the Zionist regime in the West Bank and the martyrdom of two of its fighters in Tulkarm, announced that the insane war of the occupiers in the West Bank will never bring security for this regime.

Al-Qassam said in its statement that the crazy war of the occupying regime in the West Bank will never bring security to it, and "the blood of the martyrs will also be an incentive to intensify the resistance".

The Zionist army announced on Monday that in a joint operation with the internal security organization of this regime (Shabak), it targeted the Tulkarm region in the north of the West Bank.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Latvian and Finnish Foreign Ministers: strengthening security of the Baltic Sea region lies in the common interests of the EU and NATO as a whole

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

28.01.2025

"Latvia and Finland are close allies and partners, we enjoy excellent bilateral relations and a shared position on security and defence matters. We are aware that Russia is a long-term threat to world peace and international order; therefore, NATO's deterrence and defence measures must to be further strengthened, while coordinating the Allied response to the intensifying threat posed by Russia. Latvia and Finland are making a joint contribution to strengthening the NATO defence industry: this includes our competent authorities guarding the entire eastern border of the EU and NATO from threats emanating from Russia and Belarus," Foreign Minister Baiba Braze underlined after a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen.

The Minister reaffirmed their readiness for continued close cooperation to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea region and reinforce measures against Russia to address the threats it poses.

Several incidents involving damage tocritical undersea infrastructurearecurrentlyunderinvestigation.Elina Valtonenrecalledthata powercablebetweenFinlandandEstonia(Estlink2)wasruptured onChristmas day.Twodays ago-on26January- the same happened to asubseaoptical fibrecablebetweenLatviaandSweden.ShenotedthatthoseincidentsandsecuritysituationintheBalticSeaareaglobalproblem,notaregionalone.

The Ministers commended coordination and cooperation between Allies in response to incidents in the Baltic Sea. The Ministers welcomed NATO's decision to implement additional security measures and increase the presence of forces in the Baltic Sea to safeguard the security of critical infrastructure. They also discussed further steps to curb the activity of the Russian "shadow fleet". The Ministers then exchanged views on the planned withdrawal of all three Baltic States from the Russian and Belarusian electrical systems (BRELL) in February and connecting to the European electricity grid, which will be an important step towards their energy dependence.

Baiba Braze and Elina Valtonen confirmed that Latvia and Finland, along with the other Baltic States and Nordic countries, will continue to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine and advocate an end to the war on terms of a just and sustainable peace. The territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is also in the focus of Finland as the country holding presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The Ministers agreed that it was essential to strengthen transatlantic cooperation on security and economy-related issues; it is therefore essential to build an active dialogue with the new US administration.

The Finnish Foreign Minister is visiting Riga on 28 January 2025. As part of her visit, Elina Valtonen also participated in the annual meeting of the heads of Latvian diplomatic missions traditionally held in January, the month of Latvia's international recognition: Latvia was recognised de jure on 26 January 1921. Elina Valtonen addressed its participants on the topic of the security of the Nordic-Baltic region from Finland's perspective.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Budrys met with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2025-01-28

On 27 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in Brussels. K. Budrys and K. Kallas discussed EU-US relations, sanctions policy against Russia, and support for Ukraine.

At the meeting, the Foreign Minister underlined that the European Union must be able to maintain a focused voice in the context of security and geopolitical challenges.

"We need to stand united to stop Russia's aggression, both in supporting Ukraine and in developing relations with strategic partners around the world," said the Foreign Minister.

Budrys and the High Representative discussed the imperfections in the EU's sanctions methodology, which often hinder the expansion of the sanctions list and ways to resolve them. They also agreed to liaise on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuania re-establishes the 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-01-28

Development and Strengthening of the Armed Forces | Security and defense policy

January 28, Rukla, re-established 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces was inaugurated with top political and military leadership in attendance. 250 years past the formation of Lithuania's first regular division in 1775, its modern twin has kicked off with the first staff and division commander in strength.

"We made a commitment to the Lithuanian public that it will be able to catch a breath reassured that as a country we are doing everything necessary to have the capability to operate a division in full operational capacity by 2030, which is one of the critical components of our defence. We cannot afford to skip the job required for our security. That is why we had to take fundamental, key decisions without delay to make a step forward in national defence, fill in defence funding gaps, and most importantly, do the homework to maximum extent. Therefore, we work shoulder to shoulder with all National Defence institutions, President and the Government every day for the sake of our mutual national interest and to deliver on this commitment," says Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene.

The Divisions under command of Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas is formed by the Lithuanian Land Force Brigades Iron Wolf and Griffin, Reserve Brigade Aukstaitija, and with air defence, engineer, reconnaissance and artillery units. The established Division Staff begins arrangements for military training of the assigned units as of this year aiming for Full Operational Capacity by 2030.

"Today we celebrate the inauguration of the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Element. The Re-established 1st Division dating back to the Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth traditions marks a quality milestone in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. We are expanding our deterrence and victory capacities. We will not stop at this and continue to develop the Lithuanian Armed Forces to ensure security of the state of Lithuania and our citizens," said Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaiksnoras.

When the Division reaches Full Operational Capability, it will function as one of the main components of Allied defence of Lithuania's land territory. Since many NATO members have divisions at the centre of their armies, Lithuania needs to interact with Allied divisions in collective defence activities. Formation of a national division will allow Lithuania to integrate and bring equal maneuver, fire support, logistical, reconnaissance and other capabilities to the table.

Establishment of national divisions as the central tactical unit was officially identified at the NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022, and approved in Lithuania at the State Defence Council meeting in May 2023 in light of the arising threats and executability of the NATO regional defence plans. The Division is planned to operate tanks, wheeled and tracked IFVs, and expanded air defence, engineer, reconnaissance and artillery capabilities. Re-establishment of the 1st Division will take the Lithuanian Armed Forces' capacity of warfare to a new qualitative and quantitative level.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on January 20-26, 2025

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-01-28

International cooperation

January 20-26 NATO Air Policing Detachment in the Baltic states was not activated to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating international aviation regulations in international airspace over the Baltic Sea five times.

On January 21 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one IL-22 flying from the mainland Russia to Kaliningrad through international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Its onboard transponder was switched off, it had no pre-filed flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On January 23 NATO fighter jets were alerted to identify and escort one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation through international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Its onboard transponder was not switched on, the crew had not pre-filed the flight plan, though maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On January 24 NATO air policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. It had its onboard transponder on and maintained radio communication with the air traffic control centre but had no pre-filed plan.

On January 24 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to identify and escort one SU-27 flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea from Kaliningrad and back. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. NATO fighter aircraft also intercepted one TU-134 flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad, without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On January 26 NATO air policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It had no pre-filed flight plan but the crew kept the onboard transponder switched on and maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The President: Bolstering our armed forces is one of the strategic priorities for our country

President of the Republic of Lithuania

Januray 28, 2025

On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nauseda attended the ceremony marking the restoration of the 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Rukla. The history of the 1st Infantry Division dates back to the era of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as well as 1920, a time when the newly restored independent state of Lithuania fought valiantly for its survival.

"We have waited decades for this moment. Since the restoration of Lithuania's independence, we have patiently built and strengthened our army, unit by unit. We have successfully transitioned to NATO standards and integrated seamlessly into the Alliance. Now, we can take another important step forward. To accelerate modernization, enhance combat capabilities, and improve interoperability with our NATO allies, we are re-establishing a national division as outlined by the State Defense Council in 2023," the President stated.

In his address, the President underscored that bolstering the armed forces is among the nation's most important strategic priorities. He highlighted the recent decision by the State Defense Council to allocate between 5% and 6% of the gross domestic product to national defense as a testament to this commitment. "By decisively increasing defense funding, we will not only achieve the full capacity of the division by 2030 but also create even better conditions for hosting allied troops in Lithuania," Gitanas Nauseda pointed out.

Demonstrating the will to defend ourselves, along with the necessary capabilities, will guarantee a credible deterrent, the Lithuanian leader underlined. We will send a clear message not only to our NATO allies but also to unfriendly powers that Lithuania and its armed forces are fully committed to defending our nation. Moreover, we will continue to set an example for all nations of the world on how to uphold freedom and independence.

The Head of State extended his best wishes to the 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, urging them to always perform their duty with honor and wishing them success in defending the Homeland and the entire Alliance.

The President's Communication Group

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






 Flash

China and India agreed Monday to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on Tuesday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri held a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India on Monday in Beijing, focusing on promoting the implementation of the common understandings reached between Chinese and Indian leaders at their meeting in Kazan and discussing measures to improve and develop China-India relations, the statement said.

The two sides reached common understandings on the following specific measures:

First, India is willing to fully support China's work as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and will actively participate in various activities hosted by China under the framework of the SCO.

Second, the two sides agreed to utilize bilateral and multilateral occasions to carry out active interactions at all levels, strengthen strategic communication, and enhance political mutual trust.

Third, the two sides agreed to jointly commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India in 2025, and carry out media and think tank exchanges, Track II talks and other people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Fourth, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, support the coordination and promotion of the competent departments of the two countries, and take measures to facilitate personnel exchanges and mutual dispatch of journalists between the two countries.

Fifth, the two sides agreed to promote the resumption of pilgrimage by Indian pilgrims to the sacred mountain and lake of Xizang in China in 2025, and will negotiate relevant arrangements as soon as possible.

Sixth, the two sides agreed to continue cooperation on cross-border rivers and to maintain communication on the early holding of a new round of meeting of the expert level mechanism on cross-border rivers.

The Chinese side emphasized that both sides should act in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, adhere to viewing and handling China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and adopt an open and constructive attitude to actively promote dialogue, exchanges and practical cooperation, guide public opinion and popular support toward the positive direction, enhance trust and remove suspicion, properly handle differences, and promote China-India relations to move forward along a sound and stable track.

The Chinese side and the Indian side also had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on issues of respective concerns.
Minister Radosaw Sikorski takes part in Poland-Australia consultations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

28.01.2025

Poland's chief diplomat met today with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. Their talks focused on bilateral issues, Russian aggression against Ukraine, Australia's support for this country, and the situation in the Indo-Pacific.

This was Minister Sikorski's first personal meeting with his Australian counterpart. The ministers discussed the most important topics on the bilateral agenda and the prospects for its expansion. The head of the Polish MFA expressed appreciation for Australia's Ukraine support effort. The officials also covered security issues of mutual interest and noted a close link between the security environment in Europe and Asia.

As representatives of countries with similar assessments of global threats, including the interconnectedness of the security situation in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the ministers pointed to the need to continue exchanging experiences and assessments in this area.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PCG to issue daily reports on illegal CCG presence in WPS: spox

Philippine News Agency

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

January 28, 2025, 5:15 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will monitor the continued incursion of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels off Zambales waters and reassert their illegal presence in the area.

In an interview over PTV Tuesday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela said there would be regular information and daily updates on Chinese activities.

"[This is] for the Filipino people to understand and also for the Chinese government to realize we are standing up and we're not allowing them to normalize their illegal presence in Zambales," Tarriela said.

He said the PCG would remain peaceful and professional despite repeated "bullying and aggressive actions on the part of the CCG", in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s guidance against being instigated and to ensure that the Philippines does not bear responsibility for an escalation.

"We're going to stick to our mandate: that is to challenge the illegal presence of the CCG," he said.

On Monday, the PCG vessel BRP Cabra responded to a distress call from F/B El Kapitan.

Despite being aware of the distress call from the Filipino fishing boat, CCG vessel 3304 shadowed BRP Cabra, hindering the transport of a fisher who died while offshore. (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






AFP: US foreign aid pause won't affect VFA, 'Balikatan'

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

January 28, 2025, 1:54 pm

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday that long-standing agreements such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which allows the conduct of the "Balikatan" exercises between the Philippines and the United States, will not be affected by President Donald Trump's order of a temporary suspension of foreign assistance.

"Sa side ng AFP kasi, ito yun ating mga long-standing agreements with them, which is we have our VFA, diyan nakapaloob ang 'Balikatan' and through the years, solid naman ito, kahit nung una pang umupo si President Trump nagtuloy-tuloy naman ito (On the side of the AFP, we have our long-standing agreements with them, which is VFA which includes the 'Balikatan' and through the years, this has remained solid even during President Trump's first term)," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Trump has ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance, pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy.

Padilla, however, said the effects of Washington's move "would be assessed by higher authorities".

She also said the VFA and the "Balikatan" are treaties and not part of the US assistance program.

"Basically what will be under review are financial programs funded by the US. Through the years (the VFA), it's been continuing," Padilla said.

'Balikatan' 2025

As this developed, the AFP spokesperson said this year's 'Balikatan" will be among the largest in history.

Padilla added that more nations have expressed interest to "participate actively" in the annual drills.

She, however, did not reveal these countries as planning for the activity is still ongoing.

Padilla added these nations have yet to give their commitments on what kind of assets they will try to bring for the exercise.

She also said the exact figure of participating nations and troops has yet to be determined.

The annual "Balikatan" drills now cover air, land, sea and cyber maneuvers. (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chinese vessel hinders PCG response in recovering fisher's body

Philippine News Agency

January 28, 2025, 7:00 am

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel hindered its ship BRP Cabra in responding to a distress call from Filipino fishers off Zambales province.

In a post over X (Twitter) Monday evening, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela said the BRP Cabra was monitoring illegal CCG presence when it received the distress call.

He said one of the fishers, whose boat was located about 70 nautical miles of Silanguin Island in Zambales, had died.

"Unfortunately, the team discovered that the fisherman had no pulse and was already deceased. To transport the body of the fisherman back to Subic, Zambales, BRP Cabra bravely navigated through the heavy waves to retrieve the deceased using its crane," Tarriela said.

Tarriela added that while PCG personnel were responding to the distress call, the CCG vessel CCG-3304 was still engaged in shadowing, hindering their recovery of the body.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, another PCG vessel, the BRP Teresa Magbanua was en route to patrol the area where there is illegal presence of the CCG.

"This follows the commendable efforts of BRP Cabra over the past few days in pushing CCG vessels further from the coast," Tarreila said.

"Despite facing wave heights of 3 to 4 meters, the PCG vessels will continue to operate courageously while standing firm against the illegal deployment of Chinese Coast Guard vessels off the coast of Zambales." (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Protesters attack US, French embassies in Congo Kinshasa

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 7:21 PM

Protesters have attacked the embassies of the United States and France in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Several other foreign missions came under attack on Tuesday.

Reportedly, in what seemed to be an orchestrated move, the US, French, Belgian, Rwandan, Ugandan, Kenyan and South African embassies all came under attack by angry protesters.

The protesters were demanding that an international effort be coordinated by foreign countries to intervene militarily and stop the advancing M23 rebels occupying parts of the eastern region.

Police fired tear gas but the protesters gained access to parts of the premises, looting and torching the buildings.

The decades-long conflict with the March 23 Movement (M23) has escalated.

Till now, the Congolese army has failed to stop the advancing Rwanda-backed rebel forces, who claimed to have taken the key eastern city of Goma on Monday. However, the Congolese army said it still controlled 80 percent of the city.

The protesters in Kinshasa demanded that the international community mount pressure on Rwanda over the rebel forces' advance.

"We denounce the international community's hypocrisy," said Timothee Tshishimbi, one of the protesters. "They must tell Rwanda to stop this adventure."

Meanwhile, at least 17 people were killed in Goma on Monday. Residents reported hearing gunfire shots overnight. Explosions and gunfire were also heard near the now-shut Goma airport.

Goma, the region's major business hub with an estimated 2 million permanent residents, has been the scene of heavy fighting between Congolese government forces and M23 rebels with many dead bodies abandoned on the streets.

Hospitals struggle to treat the growing number of casualties wounded by gunshots, mortar, and shrapnel.

"There are currently hundreds of people in hospital, most admitted with gunshot wounds," said Adelheid Marschang, WHO's emergency response coordinator for the DRC.

The city also shelters hundreds of thousands of refugees and acts as a main route for the distribution of humanitarian aid to the more than 6 million displaced people spread across eastern DR Congo.

The World Food Programme said food assistance activities in and around Goma "have been temporarily paused" and expressed concern over food shortages.

The prolonged conflict in the region charged with ethnic violence has resulted in one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises.

In 2012, the M23 rebels temporarily took over Goma before being forced to pull out its forces under international pressure.

In 2021, the rebel force regrouped gaining increased support from Rwanda, according to DR Congo's government and UN experts.

"The city is in real difficulty and if it hasn't fallen overnight, it will in the coming days," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Sud Radio. "Rwanda must put down its weapons, calm must return and dialogue needs to restart."

Rwanda has denied the reports of supporting the rebel Tutsi forces by supplying soldiers, weapons, munitions and provisions to them.

Kigali accused the DRC of harboring members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a force opposed to President Paul Kagame and involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Hundreds of armed groups are fighting in eastern DRC, aiming to gain control of parts of the country.

One of the world's biggest lithium deposits is said to be in the country. The metal has medicinal applications and is also used in a variety of rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones, and laptops.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli airstrikes injure over a dozen in Lebanon's Nabatieh

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 7:15 PM

The Israeli regime has conducted another airstrike on Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement, injuring at least 14 people.

The Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen reported that there were at least two Israeli attacks on the Nabatieh area, with the first targeting the city of Nabatieh and the second targeting the outskirts of the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

The channel said one strike was carried out by an Israeli drone targeting a civilian vehicle. It marks the first assault on Nabatieh since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, 2024.

In another incident on Tuesday, the Israeli military struck a convoy of cars in the Yaroun area, injuring at least three civilians and one Lebanese soldier.

The Lebanese military reported that their forces were escorting displaced residents returning to the southern border towns.

The Israeli regime has committed grave ceasefire violations in recent weeks, and those attacks have continued even after the expiration of a 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces on January 26.

Israeli forces killed 22 people in southern Lebanon on that day as thousands of people tried to return home in defiance of Israeli military threats.

The same day, the United States said the agreement would be extended until February 18. Israel said on January 24 that it would keep troops in the south beyond the deadline set out in the US-brokered ceasefire.

On Monday, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naeem Qassem rejected any extension of the Israeli withdrawal deadline, stating that there should be "no extension for even one day."

He underscored that continued occupation constitutes aggression against Lebanon's sovereignty, and everyonefrom the government to the people, resistance groups, parties, and all sectsbears responsibility to confront the occupation.

He said the resistance has "the right to act as it sees fit regarding the form, nature, and timing of confrontation."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel says UNRWA must evacuate occupied territories within 48 hours

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 6:41 PM

Israel says it will terminate all ties with the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) and any other body acting on its behalf in the occupied territories, despite warnings that the move will undermine the Gaza ceasefire.

Under legislation enacted by Israel's Knesset in October, Tel Aviv bans UNRWA from operating in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

"The legislation forbids UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNWRA," Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the legislation, Danon said, "Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf."

He said that the agency "must cease its activities and evacuate all its facilities" in al-Quds within 48 hours.

UNRWA, which is considered the backbone of humanitarian operations for Palestinians, provides aid to some six million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Israel's ban will undermine Gaza ceasefire

Addressing the Security Council meeting, UNRWA's chief Philippe Lazzarini described Tel Aviv's actions against the agency as a "relentless assault" that is "harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory."

"It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security."

Lazzarini warned that the ban on the agency's activities "will sabotage Gaza's recovery," and "undermine the ceasefire."

He said in a previous statement that despite the ban, the local staff will remain and continue to provide emergency assistance and where possible, education and primary health care to the people of Palestine.

He also warned that the absence of communication between UNRWA and Israeli authorities will make the agency's work even more dangerous in Gaza.

The besieged Palestinian territory faces a dire humanitarian crisis after more than 15 months of a US-backed campaign of death and destruction.

The United States, however, "supports the implementation of the ban on UNRWA's activities," and accuses Lazzarini of "overstating the impact of the decision," according to Dorothy Shea, Washington's representative to the UN.

"UNRWA is not and never has been the only option."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ICC seeks arrest warrants over alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 6:13 PM

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for those accused of atrocities in Sudan's West Darfur region.

Prosecutor Karim Khan made the announcement on Monday.

The region has seen reported ethnic cleansing by paramilitary forces that have been fighting government forces for about 19 months.

A power struggle between the top generals, namely government leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Special Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Dagalo, plunged the country into conflict in mid-April 2023.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, Khan said the arrest warrants will be issued for individuals linked to alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Khan cited targeted attacks on women and children amid famine in the country, describing the situation in the past six months as a "tailspin into deeper suffering, deeper misery for the people of Darfur."

"Famine is present in Darfur. Conflict is increasing. Children are targeted. Girls and women are subject to rape, and the whole landscape is one of destruction."

The ICC prosecutor said crimes are being committed "as we speak and daily" and are being used as a weapon of war. Khan called for an end to "the suffering of women and children and men in Darfur."

Khan said the arrest warrants decision is the result of evidence-based "analysis" of the information collected by his office.

"This is not, I want to make clear, a general assessment. This is not an assessment gleaned from unverified reports."

"It's a hard-edged analysis that my office has reached based upon evidence and information collected and reviewed."

He said his office had given "priority" to gender-based crimes.

"I can confirm today that my office is taking the necessary steps to put forward applications for warrants of arrest in relation to crimes we allege are being committed and have been committed in West Darfur."

Khan appealed to the warring parties to comply with international humanitarian law.

The arrest warrant applications, Khan said, will only be submitted when his office is "satisfied" with the evidence and "there's a realistic prospect of conviction."

"I do expect, and hope, and require swift and meaningful action, and will be monitoring that."

"Now, better late than never, for goodness sake, comply with international humanitarian law, not as a charity, not out of some political necessity, but out of the dictates of humanity."

The two warring sides deny any wrongdoing, and trade blames over such issues as targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran rejects Trump's plan to forcibly displace Gazans from 'homeland'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 3:05 PM

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has rejected US President Donald Trump's plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Jordan and Egypt.

Baghaei posted a message on X on Tuesday, after Trump called for the relocation to Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries to "just clean out" the war-torn area.

"The idea of cleaning out Gaza as part of the plan for the colonial annihilation of Palestinian people has long been underway using American lethal weapons and ammunition, as well as its political, intelligence and financial support," Baghaei stated.

He said the Israeli regime's 15-month-long campaign of genocide has failed to uproot the Palestinians, and that political coercion and demographic manipulations could not force them to leave.

"This is their homeland and they've paid extremely high price to remain there and continue their heroic struggle for self-determination and freedom," Baghaei said.

Trump's call came despite fierce opposition from Cairo and Amman to the plan, which has been labeled as "ethnic cleansing."

Trump claimed the move can "bring peace" to West Asia if Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations accept enough Palestinian refugees.

In provocative remarks on January 25, Trump first floated the idea to "clean out" the blockaded Palestinian territory, which, he said, has been become a "demolition site."

Trump said he had already spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordon about potentially building housing and relocating more than one million Palestinians from Gaza.

Cairo and Amman have formally rejected Trump's proposal. Egypt and Jordan are longtime opponents of the displacement of Palestinians.

Virtually all of the 2.4 million inhabitants of Gaza have been internally displaced since October 2023. Israel has massacred over 47,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since.

The regime accepted a ceasefire earlier this month after having failed to realize any of its wartime objectives, including "eliminating" the Gaza resistance.

Analysts say any plans for relocating the displaced Palestinians will give the regime the excuse it needs to forcibly expel the population from Gaza, and repopulate the territory with Israeli settlers.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Leader: Gaza brought US-backed Israeli regime to its knees

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 8:25 AM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the small territory of Gaza brought the Israeli regime, which is armed to the teeth and fully supported by the US, to its knees.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the resistance, which began in the Islamic Iran, brought some Muslim nations to the scene, and awakened the consciences of many non-Muslims, and that the kneeling of the Zionist regime in front of Gaza and Lebanon is the result of the same resistance.

The Leader made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with a group of Iranian officials and ambassadors of Muslim countries to Tehran on the occasion of Eid al-Mab'ath, marking the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) divine appointment as the final messenger of God.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the United States embodies colonialism and arrogance in today's world.

The Leader noted that the US is under the influence of the world's leading financial powers.

The world's bullying and evil powers have a "covetous eye" on the countries' and nations' natural resources, authentic culture and their national and Islamic identify, and seek to destroy or plunder them, he warned.

"Today, the description that we give for colonialism and arrogance is entirely manifested by the US government, which is itself under the influence of the world's financial powers," the Leader stated.

"That is, the world's super financial powers today dominate a number of Western governments, mostly perhaps the US government. The so-called cartels and trusts and the like are the ones who are planning all three stages of colonialism."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader said friends and foes thought that the martyrdom of the Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, had eliminated Lebanon's resistance movement.

However, he added, "Hezbollah showed that not only was it not terminated, but it was further inspired to stand up to the Zionist regime."

'US evil nature behind smiles of diplomacy'

Additionally in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei described the US's award for the commander of the missile cruiser that shot down an Iranian passenger plane in 1988 and Congress' standing ovation for Israel's murderer prime minister in 2024 as examples of the enemies' "evil nature and their enmities and grudges which are hidden behind the smiles of diplomacy."

"We must open our eyes to these facts and, as the Qur'an says, not seek behind-the-scene friendship with them (the enemies of Islam)," he emphasized.

He further called for vigilance in global contacts, saying, "We must watch out who we are dealing with, and with whom we are making a deal or negotiate."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas: Palestinians' return to north Gaza 'definite sign' of Netanyahu's defeat

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 8:20 AM

A spokesman for the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has praised the return of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the north of the Gaza Strip after 15 months of Israeli genocidal war as the definite sign of the Tel Aviv regime's defeat in its onslaught against the territory.

"[Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu failed in anything he had declared during the war on Gaza. The return of displaced people marks a clear manifestation of such a fact," Sami Abu Zuhri said on Monday night.

The remarks came after Gaza's Government Media Office said more than 300,000 people had crossed from southern Gaza into the north. The displaced Palestinians crossed the once-closed Netzarim Corridor, and returned to their destroyed homes for the first time since the war began on October 7, 2023.

An official from Gaza's Government Media Office said at least 120,000 tents were needed to shelter the displaced people returning to the north.

Abu Zuhri noted that Netanyahu has no option but to honor the ceasefire agreement with Hamas and the deal for exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives.

He also dismissed as hollow the Israeli leader's warning that the Tel Aviv regime would return to war in Gaza if the second phase of the prisoner swap and ceasefire agreement fails, emphasizing such remarks were made for domestic consumption.

"The mediators have begun verification processes to begin the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. We have information that the United States is willing to advance the second phase. We are fully prepared to successfully carry out all terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal and implement what has been agreed upon," the senior Hamas official stated.

He emphasized that the future of the Gaza Strip is an entirely Palestinian issue, stating that the so-called "day-after plan" and exclusion of Hamas from Gaza's post-war governance no longer exist.

Abu Zuhri also said that his group welcomes the establishment of an administration which is determined to rebuild Gaza and hold elections.

"The obstacle to broad consensus is the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, which failed to pursue justice for Gaza. We won't allow any party to assume guardianship," he said.

"Gaza does not suffer from an administrative vacuum," the Hamas spokesman noted. "We welcome the formation of a government elected by common consent."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump reiterates call for relocation of Gazans; UN blasts plan as 'ethnic cleansing'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 7:19 AM

US President Donald Trump has once again called for forced relocation of Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan, despite strong opposition from Cairo and Amman to the plan which has been slammed as "ethnic cleansing."

On Monday evening, when asked about his Saturday's proposal, the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would "like to get them living in an area where they can live without disruption and revolution and violence so much."

"You know, when you look at the Gaza Strip, it's been hell for so many years. They can live in much better and more comfortable areas. There's always been violence associated with it," Trump added, stressing that he thinks both Egypt and Jordan would comply with his request to take in Palestinians from the territory.

He added that he had spoken to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about sending Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt.

"I've helped him (el-Sisi) a lot and I hope he'll help us. I think he'll do it (take in Palestinians) and the king of Jordan will do it too," Trump noted.

In provocative remarks on Saturday, Trump first floated the idea to "clean out" the blockaded Palestinian territory after more than 15 months of Israel's heavy bombardment reduced the coastal sliver to a "demolition site."

He proposed at the time that Gazans should be relocated to neighboring countries Egypt and Jordan, saying that he had already spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordon about potentially building housing and moving more than one million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries.

This is while both Cairo and Amman have formally rejected Trump's proposal, as both countries have historically opposed displacing Palestinians.

Almost all of the Gaza Strip's 2.4 million inhabitants have been internally displaced by the genocidal war Israel waged on the impoverished territory in October 2023. The war claimed the lives of at least 47,306 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The occupying regime accepted a ceasefire earlier this month after having failed to realize any of its wartime objectives, including enabling the return of the captives, "eliminating" the Gaza resistance, and causing forced displacement of Gaza's entire population to neighboring Egypt.

UN: Trump's plan on Gaza 'ethnic cleansing'

On Monday, spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, said that Egypt and Jordan had clearly opposed the plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.

"We saw the comments, and I think we all saw the comments clearly opposing this plan from Egypt, from Jordan, from the Arab League. Of course, we would be against any plan that could, that would lead to the forced displacement of people or could or would lead to any type of ethnic cleansing," he told reporters, when asked about the Trump's proposal.

Analysts say any plans for relocating displaced Palestinians will give the Israeli regime the excuse it needs to forcibly expel the population from Gaza, and repopulate the territory with Israeli settlers.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Heavy fighting in West Bank's Tulkarm as Israeli bulldozers raze homes in refugee camp

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 6:59 AM

Invading Israeli forces have engaged in heavy clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank's Tulkarm governorate.

The resistance fighters said on Monday that they ambushed Israeli soldiers and inflicted multiple casualties on them in the Tulkarm refugee camp.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli drone struck a vehicle at the entrance of the Nur Shams refugee camp, also in the Tulkarm governorate.

The Hamas resistance group said Ihab Muhammad Atwi and Ramez Bassam Damiri, two members of its armed wing - the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades - were killed in the Israeli attack.

Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers destroyed infrastructure, including roads, homes and shops, in the Tulkarm refugee camp, particularly in al-Balawna, al-Wakalah, and al-Madrasa neighborhoods.

The occupation soldiers forced several families at gunpoint to leave their homes in the al-Mattar and Murabba'at Hannoun districts. They further set fire to a home belonging to the Shaheen family in the al-Wakalah neighborhood.

Additionally on Monday, Israeli soldiers stormed the town of Qaffin, in Tulkarm governorate, and blew up a house in the nearby Jenin refugee camp.

In a statement, the Palestinian presidency condemned Israel's intensified attacks in the West Bank, warning that they will not bring security but will instead fuel violence.

It said the assaults had caused widespread infrastructure damage and civilian casualties, citing the martyrdom of 17 Palestinians in Jenin.

"The presidency held the Israeli occupation authorities responsible for the deterioration of the situation in the cities, villages and refugee camps of the West Bank, emphasizing that these attacks on the Palestinian people, land, and sanctities would not bring security or stability to anyone," it added.

Backed by armored vehicles and drones, the Israeli military launched a series of attacks on Jenin on January 21.

The occupation's army claimed that its offensive, dubbed Iron Wall, was aimed at targeting resistance fighters of the Jenin Battalion.

Israel has ramped up violence against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, when it launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The regime forces have killed more than 800 Palestinians in the West Bank.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






'300,000 Palestinians' return to Gaza amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 1:33 AM

The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip, which struggles to emerge from 15 months of ferocious Israeli war of genocide, has announced that as many as 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned home in the coastal sliver.

"Today, more than 300,000 displaced Palestinians from the southern and central governorates returned to the Gaza and northern governorates via al-Rashid and Salah al-Din streets," the body said on Monday.

"This comes after 470 days of the genocide committed by the Israeli occupation army," it reminded, referring to the war that began in October 2023 in response to a legitimate resistance operation and went on to claim the lives of at least 47,000 Palestinians and destroy the biggest part of the Palestinian territory.

The office, meanwhile, underlined that the returnees as well as those, who were already in Gaza, "urgently" required 135,000 tents and caravans, "as the destruction inflicted by the Israeli occupation army in these areas has exceeded 90%."

"We call on the international community, international and United Nations organizations, and Arab states to open the crossings and bring in essential supplies to shelter our dignified Palestinian people."

Despite the massive toll that the brutal Israeli military onslaught has taken on Gazans, the ceasefire agreement has been hailed as a victory by Palestinians and their supporters.

Those in favor of the deal underline that it came by amid the regime's desperation in the face of interminable and successful anti-Israeli operations by the region's resistance movements.

They also assert that the agreement was brought about, despite the regime's falling short of realizing its wartime objectives, including "elimination" of Gaza's resistance groups, enabling the return of the Zionists, who have been captured by the movements, and prompting forced exodus of Gaza's entire population to neighboring Egypt.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ansarullah: Real peace to be established only through return of Palestinians to their homeland

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 12:30 AM

Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement has asserted that true peace would be established across the occupied Palestinian territories only through potential return of the territories' entire Palestinian population.

Spokesman Muhammed Abdul Salam made the remarks on Monday as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were making their way back home amid a ceasefire deal between the Gaza Strip-based resistance movement Hamas and the Israeli regime, which is expected to end the latter's 15-month-long ferocious war of genocide against Gaza.

The official, however, asserted that it would be potential repatriation of thousands more Palestinians, who have been rendered displaced amid the regime's ongoing campaign of deadly occupation and aggression against the territories, that would lead to realization of "real peace."

Abdul Salam, though, congratulated the displaced Palestinians' return to the coastal territory, describing it as a "popular message verifying the Palestinian nation's steadfastness, and their commitment to their homeland."

The return, he added, also served to contest the Israeli regime and the United States -- its biggest ally's -- project of bringing about forced exodus of Gaza's entire population to neighboring countries.

"We congratulate the people of Gaza's victory in the face of the most criminal and bloody wars," Abdul Salam noted, pointing to Tel Aviv's approving of the ceasefire deal earlier in the month in a move that translated into the victory of steadfast Gazans and their resistance groups over the brutal Israeli military onslaught.

He also insisted that Yemen would stand by the Palestinian cause of liberation from Israeli occupation and aggression.

Since October 2023, when the regime launched the war, Yemen has been staging hundreds of retaliatory operations against sensitive and strategic Israeli targets to devastating economic results for Tel Aviv.

"The entire world stands in admiration of the people of Gaza and Lebanon's steadfastness," Abdul Salam said, referring to the Lebanese nation's determined confrontation against simultaneous escalated Israeli aggression against their country.

The confrontation, he added, "incapacitated the US-supported Israeli arsenal."

The official finally defined confrontation against Israeli and American arrogance to be the safest and best way forward for the people of the West Asia region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Serbian PM Milos Vucevic Steps Down Amid Protests Over Novi Sad Train Station Tragedy

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service January 28, 2025

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned following weeks of mass protests demanding accountability for a deadly accident in Novi Sad where the collapse of a concrete canopy killed 15 people at the northern city's rail station, which critics have blamed on rampant government corruption.

Speaking at a hastily called news conference in Belgrade on January 28, Vucevic said that he and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric were stepping down to show accountability for what happened.

"The mayor of Novi Sad and I consider ourselves objectively responsible for what happened in Novi Sad and for that we are willingly paying the political price," he said.

"With the resignation of the prime minister, the entire cabinet falls, so practically speaking, the entire government is resigning. We will do our job responsibly until a new government is elected or until a new or different political decision is made," Vucevic said, adding that President Aleksandar Vucic had accepted his decision.

According to the Serbian Constitution, if parliament fails to elect a new government within 30 days of the prime minister's official resignation, the president is obliged to dissolve the National Assembly and schedule elections.

Djuric confirmed his resignation later in a statement.

"As someone who believes in the power of dialogue and mutual understanding, I believe that accepting responsibility and submitting my resignation is my human and political obligation and moral duty," he said.

Serbian farmers on tractors joined students on the main thoroughfares of Belgrade late on January 27 as demonstrators launched a 24-hour protest blockade against the handling of the aftermath of the deadly railway station disaster by the government and Vucic himself.

Although protests initially focused on the Novi Sad tragedy, anger has since mounted over the detention of protesters by Serbian authorities and attacks on students, one of whom was seriously injured and remains in hospital.

Djuric called on the police to find the attackers of the student as soon as possible and for the justice system to punish them.

"Stability and calming of tensions and stopping further divisions in society are a key condition for further progress and the development of Novi Sad and the improvement of the lives of the people of Novi Sad," he added.

A student group called Students of the Blockade said the actions fell short of their demands and called for a protest walk through Novi Sad to be held on January 30.

"Our demands have not been met," they said, without commenting further.

The canopy collapse occurred after the Novi Sad railway station had been renovated twice in recent years by a Chinese-led consortium of four companies.

Serbian Railways insisted that the renovation didn't include the concrete overhang, but some experts disputed that, while many people blame corruption and poor construction oversight for the tragedy.

The Novi Sad High Public Prosecutor's Office has so far questioned 48 individuals, including officials from Serbian Railways and Infrastructure.

The prosecutor's office has also seized documents from multiple institutions and companies and ordered expert analyses to determine the cause of the collapse and those responsible.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbian-pm-resigns-angry- protests-train-tragedy-/33291676.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






Lebanese Army Chief Reportedly Leaked Military Secrets to Hezbollah

Sputnik News

20250128

Svetlana Ekimenko

A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah due to expire on January 26 has been extended until mid-February. Israel had retained troops in Lebanon beyond the deadline, accusing the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati of not fully implementing its part of the deal, which required the removal of Hezbollah from the area.

A Southern Lebanon military intelligence head handed Hezbollah classified information jeopardizing a ceasefire agreement with Israel, Britain's The Times reported citing intelligence sources.

Suhil Bahij Gharb, responsible for peacekeeping, allegedly provided the information from inside a security control room operated by the US, France and the UN.

He was present in the international situation room on the insistence of the senior Hezbollah commander Wafiq Safa. Safa, who heads the group's so-called co-ordination and liaison committee, survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Beirut last October.

The purported security breach comes amid an announced extension of the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah until February 18.

Under the terms of the truce that originally came into effect on November 27, Hezbollah agreed to pull back above the Litani River, and Israel was supposed to pull all troops out of Lebanese territory over the 60-day period.

However, on the day Israeli forces were due to withdraw, Lebanese health officials reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed at least 15 people in the south.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the withdrawal would not be completed as the Lebanese government hasn't yet "fully enforced" the agreement.

Hezbollah has warned that it would consider the ceasefire null and void if Israel breaches the new withdrawal deadline.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Rafah Border Crossing in Southern Gaza to Resume Operations Soon - Cairo

Sputnik News

20250128

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will soon resume operations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said.

On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the European Union decided to resume the assistance mission on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in Rafah.

"The Rafah checkpoint will resume operations soon - after preparations are completed on the Palestinian side," Abdelatty told Egyptian broadcaster Al-Qahera News on Monday, adding that Egypt completed all preparations.

Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, agreed on January 15 to a 42-day ceasefire and declared their intention to finally end the hostilities that have claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians and about 1,500 Israelis over 15 months, spreading to Lebanon and Yemen and provoking an exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran.

The first stage provides for a partial exchange of prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the Gaza borders and humanitarian aid. The second and third stages are yet to be agreed upon.

Under the deal, the guarantors of the agreement  Qatar, Egypt and the United States  will establish a coordination center in Cairo.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New humanitarian support for Gaza as ceasefire allows operations to scale up

The Minister for Development announces new 17 million package to support thousands of civilians across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

28 January 2025

UK aid package will ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians and supports vital infrastructure across the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds announces 17 million package and reiterates need for much more aid to enter Gaza with the support of UN agencies including UNRWA

comes as 300,000 people now confirmed treated by UK-Med at field hospitals in Gaza thanks to UK funding

Thousands of civilians in Gaza will receive humanitarian aid funded by the UK. Food assistance programmes, water and sanitation services and maternal and children's healthcare are some of the areas which will be scaled up with new funding.

This will build on UK efforts over the past 15 months which have ensured more than half a million people have received essential healthcare in Gaza.

Within this 17 million package announced today, 2 million in funding for the World Bank will support critical water and energy infrastructure construction and restoration across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including in Gaza. The UK's ongoing support has meant 284,000 people in Gaza already have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

This announcement brings the total UK support for the OPTs this financial year to 129 million, demonstrating the UK's commitment to playing a leading role in alleviating Palestinian suffering and helping to build security and economic recovery in the Middle East. This will help drive UK security, in support of the government's Plan for Change.

It comes as a Jordanian-led helicopter initiative flying aid directly to Gaza has started delivering lifesaving UK-funded medicines to civilians today. As well as providing up to 500,000 of supplies onboard, the UK has also deployed military planners to assist with logistics.

Speaking in the House this afternoon, Minister Dodds will underscore the UK's pride in working with Jordan - who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to deliver aid via all routes possible - to get the airbridge up and running in such challenging circumstances.

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

The scale of suffering in Gaza cannot be overstated and the UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, must be allowed by Israel to do their vital work. This announcement is part of the UK's investment in the ceasefire deal, scaling up aid operations and helping the most desperate people access healthcare, water, food and shelter. We must seize this opportunity to get a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, all the hostages released and a path towards a viable Palestinian state.

Minister Dodds emphasised the UK will also continue to support the crucial role played by UN agencies and NGOs operating in Gaza. This includes UNRWA, which has played a vital role in the increase in humanitarian assistance since the ceasefire earlier this month.

Ahead of the upcoming implementation of Israel's UNRWA legislation on 30 January, which risks jeopardising the humanitarian response in Gaza and the delivery of essential services in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the UK has urged Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations for Palestinian refugees.

Israel has a responsibility under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance. Minister Dodds will again reiterate that humanitarian operations must not face a cliff edge on 30 January.

The Minister for Development also confirmed that the UK provided an additional 4.5 million to UK-Med last year. The charity deploys staff, many of whom work in the NHS, to crisis-hit areas around the world to deliver life and limb-saving healthcare. NHS staff who work for UK-Med typically deploy to Gaza for a 4-week period, supporting lifesaving efforts and gaining essential trauma experience.

UK funding has helped doctors in Gaza treat more than 300,000 patients in Gaza with a range of medical conditions as well as treating injuries directly associated with the conflict. This funding is on top of the 5.5 million announced for the charity on the Foreign Secretary's first visit to Israel and the OPTs in July last year.

UK-Med CEO David Wightwick said:

After more than two decades in humanitarian work, I have never seen a crisis of this scale and severity. That's why UK Government funding is vital in providing support to UK-Med to deliver life-saving care to over 300,000 patients in Gaza during 2024. I want to thank our 400-strong team on the ground for their determination, professionalism and tireless work to address the health impacts of this devastating conflict.

This government's steadfast support for UNRWA, including 41 million of support this financial year, has helped the organisation deliver its humanitarian operation and provide essential services such as education, social care and vaccinations across the OPTs and to Palestinian refugees in the region.

Background

The 17 million package announced today consists of:

15 million of UK funding comes from the Crisis Reserve pool to be allocated to partner agencies

2 million of funding for the World Bank to deliver water and energy infrastructure across the OPTs, including in Gaza

an additional 4.5 million of funding to UK-Med has previously been allocated and spent but not announced

UK-Med operate 2 field hospitals in Gaza, Deir Al Balah and Al Mawasi. The Al Mawasi field hospital has, among other facilities, an operating theatre, a maternity unit and physical rehabilitation services for patients. At Deir Al Balah, UK-Med staff deliver primary care and see over 400 patients a day

this air bridge to Gaza is no substitute for the road routes. The terms of the ceasefire must be adhered to, so that many more trucks can safely and effectively distribute aid within Gaza

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The UK is deeply alarmed by the events in Goma: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

28 January 2025

The UK is deeply alarmed by the events that have unfolded in eastern DRC.

Since we met on Sunday, M23, with support from the Rwandan Defence Forces, have closed in on Goma. M23 have declared that it is now under their control.

The humanitarian impacts are dire. The advances have displaced close to one million people in North and South Kivu. Civilian casualties are rising.

Hundreds of thousands of people who have already fled from M23's advances, many of them several times before, are now on the move again, with virtually nowhere safe to go.

How many times must they pack up their lives and flee? The cycle must end.

The UK is also deeply concerned by the limited ability of humanitarian actors to get help to those who need it.

Key humanitarian routes - land, water and air - are closed and hospitals are overcrowded, with staff risking their own lives to provide emergency assistance.

More than 800,000 people in the area who were prioritised for support may no longer receive vital food and nutritional assistance.

We call on the parties not to obstruct the vital services that humanitarians are providing, and to cease hostilities and uphold the protection of humanitarian workers, as required in international humanitarian law.

We also urge all parties to consider essential humanitarian corridors to allow the resupply and delivery of essential life-saving items and the freedom and safe movement of civilians and humanitarian actors.

President, the UK is deeply concerned by the continued endangering of peacekeepers' lives.

On Sunday I expressed my condolences to the families of the thirteen who have already been killed. Since then, four more peacekeepers have tragically been killed. We urge an immediate end to this violence.

We commend the leadership of MONUSCO and your courage under fire, and we thank you for their vital work.

Finally, President, the UK's Foreign Secretary and Minister for Africa have spoken with Rwanda at the highest levels, as well as with wider partners in the region.

And we have made clear that there can be no military solution.

We urge all parties to cease hostilities and return to diplomatic talks immediately without preconditions.

We remain committed to ensuring this Council takes the necessary action to support an end to this conflict.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The UK urges Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on UNRWA.

28 January 2025

I want to offer my condolences again to all UN and humanitarian staff who have been killed in this conflict, including 273 members of your team, Philippe.

President, after 15 months of conflict, we now stand at a rare moment of hope for Palestinians and Israelis. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt we have a ceasefire deal that has seen seven hostages returned, reunited with their families and an end to the violence in Gaza that has claimed so many Palestinian lives.

We cannot and must not forget the suffering that has brought us to this moment. Lives brutally cut short by Hamas. Men, women and children abducted from their families - many of whom are still being held while their loved ones suffer in anguish.

This conflict has also seen over 47,000 Palestinians killed. At least 35,000 children are thought to have lost one or both parents. And an estimated 20% of the population has been left with lifelong disabilities.

The levels of destruction in Gaza are beyond belief.

We must turn the page on this cycle of violence. I want to highlight key actions to support this.

It is vital that we now see the release of all remaining hostages, and a sustained ceasefire to allow us to move from phase one of the agreement through to further phases. Only then can we achieve a lasting peace.

We welcome reports that there has been an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza. This needs to be sustained and complemented by much-needed supplies of commercial goods.

To support this vital effort, my Minister for Development has today announced a further $21 million in funding to ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians and to support vital infrastructure across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

However, the implementation of Knesset legislation on UNRWA risks upending this humanitarian response as well as threatening the fragile and hard-won gains made through the ceasefire deal.

The vital work of UNRWA in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education and healthcare must also be protected in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These represent the most fundamental of human rights.

For this reason, the United Kingdom urges Israel, once again, to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations and provision of essential services across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We call on Israel to work urgently with international partners, including the UN, so there is no disruption to this vital work. Israel is obligated under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance by all means at their disposal. We stand ready to work alongside Israel, the UN and our partners to assist.

We also call on UNRWA to continue to deliver their commitment to neutrality. Implementation of reforms to strengthen their neutrality remains critical. We welcome UNRWA's commitment to fully investigate any allegations against their employees and the continued implementation of the Colonna Report's recommendations. We have earmarked over $1.2 million of our funding to UNRWA to support their implementation.

President, the UK will play our full part in the coming days and weeks to seize the opportunity of this ceasefire for a better future. To ensure it leads to a credible pathway towards a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Middle East: Minister for Development's statement, 28 January 2025

Development Minister Anneliese Dodds gave an oral statement to the House of Commons on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and effect on humanitarian aid.

28 January 2025

With permission, I will update the House on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and detail our latest efforts to get aid to those in desperate need.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this is a fragile ceasefire - but it brings much-needed hope for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

The agreement to end the fighting and release the hostages is what this Labour government has been pressing for from the moment we came to office.

I thank Qatar, Egypt and the US for their tireless efforts, and echo the Prime Minister in wishing Emily Damari and the other former hostages well as they begin to recover from their horrific ordeals.

We continue to call, Madam Deputy Speaker, for their immediate release of all those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, including the remaining hostages with links to the UK.

Madam Deputy Speaker, civilians in Gaza have endured suffering that defies belief, and this deal brings hope that they can start to rebuild their lives.

In the days since the guns were silenced, Israel has opened up mechanisms to surge in aid.

The UN and aid organisations have been working tirelessly to deliver the humanitarian aims of the ceasefire agreement.

After so much time waiting at the border - delays I saw for myself in December - trucks are now streaming in.

Partners on the ground report that more than 200,000 food parcels have been dispatched to more than 130 distribution points since the ceasefire.

This government has been at the forefront of the humanitarian effort in Gaza since we came to office.

Overturning the suspension of funding to UNRWA and then boosting our support. Supporting UK-Med field hospitals to help the injured. Working with Egypt to support those Medevac-ed out of Gaza and providing vital resources to UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

Today, I am pleased to announce that the UK is investing in the ceasefire.

UK support will be distributed to the UN and key medical partners, so that tens of thousands of civilians get the healthcare, food and shelter they need.

That support will amount to 17 million from the UK to get more aid into Gaza and restore services. The figure also includes 2 million for the World Bank to support the construction and restoration of critical water and energy infrastructure.

The UK has already helped around 284,000 people in Gaza to access water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Today's uplift brings our commitment for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Palestinian refugees in the region to 129 million this financial year.

I am also pleased to announce to the House that this morning, Jordanian air force helicopters started landing in Gaza with UK-funded medical supplies and logistical support from UK armed forces.

I thank Jordan for their excellent commitment to getting aid in, in such challenging circumstances. We will continue to support our Jordanian partners in this initiative.

But more action is needed.

The air bridge to Gaza is no substitute for road routes, which must remain open.

We also call on Israel to allow more essential items like tents, mattresses and medical equipment in.

As people start to move home, basic services need to be put back in place, and unexploded bombs and mines cleared.

Without this, even more lives will be lost.

And of course, the UN and humanitarian agencies must be able to operate freely.

This Government has repeatedly stated the need for UNRWA to continue its lifesaving assistance to the people of Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Knesset legislation taking effect on the 30th of January risks impeding the progress made since the ceasefire. Israel must allow the agency to continue to operate.

The legislation does not and cannot change the fact that Israel has a responsibility under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

As the UN Security Council heard last week, a million Gazan children need support to process their traumatic experiences - their suffering cannot be underestimated.

And around fifteen and a half thousand patients need medical evacuation, according to the World Health Organisation. Routes must be opened for them to get this treatment.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK and wider international community stand ready to support Palestinians as they begin to rebuild their lives, their homes and their communities.

We are under no illusions concerning the scale of the challenge ahead.

The overwhelming majority of homes in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The economy has collapsed. And basic services, including energy and water, have been knocked out.

So, we are working with partners to urgently find ways to

best finance and support recovery and reconstruction efforts.

It is essential that the coming surge of assistance is properly coordinated, and with the access and security to reach those in need.

The Palestinian Authority has a crucial role to play and we are providing technical and financial assistance to the Authority, including to support the urgent recovery of basic services.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK has always been clear that this ceasefire is just the first step. We must build confidence on all sides to help sustain it, progress through all its phases and turn it into a lasting peace that assures the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The UK will focus all of our efforts on keeping up the momentum, using every diplomatic channel available.

As you will know, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East kept up the drumbeat of engagement during their visits to Egypt and the United Nations last week.

We will keep up the pace until every hostage is released, aid reaches all those in need, and Palestinians are able to rebuild their homes and their lives.

I commend this statement to the House.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Sudan and Eastern DRC: Foreign Secretary's statement

The Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House of Commons on the situation in Sudan and Eastern DRC on 28 January.

28 January 2025

With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the situation in Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The latest conflict in Sudan has now lasted twenty-one months.

This weekend, the Rapid Support Forces attacked the last functional hospital in the besieged city of El-Fasher, in Darfur.

The World Health Organisation assess some seventy patients and their families were killed.

This attack is far from isolated.

In recent weeks, the RSF shelled the ZamZam camp, where displaced people are trapped outside El-Fasher.

While there are widespread reports of extrajudicial killings by militias aligned to the Sudanese armed forces in Wad Medani.

The Government condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

They show a callous disregard for international humanitarian law and innocent Sudanese civilians.

Exact figures for those killed and displaced in Sudan are hard to come by.

But we know aid is being blocked from reaching those in need.

And this is without a shadow of a doubt one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes of our lifetimes.

I saw this for myself, Madam Deputy Speaker, last week in Adre, on the Chad-Sudan border.

This was the first ever Foreign Secretary to visit Chad.

I felt it was my duty to confront the true horror of what is unfolding.

To bear witness.

And raise up the voices of those suffering, mainly women, so horrendously.

88 per cent of the refugees at Adre are women and children.

I met nurses in a clinic, fighting to save the lives of starving children.

I met a woman who showed me her scars.

She had been burned.

She had been beaten.

She had been raped.

Turning to DRC, conflict there has gripped the east for over thirty years.

An M23 rebel offensive at the start of this year had already seized Masisi and Minova.

This weekend saw them enter Goma, the region's major city, which M23 last occupied in 2012.

Brave UN peacekeepers from South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay have tragically been killed.

And with hundreds of thousands having already fled M23 to Goma, there is potential for a further humanitarian catastrophe.

I have not yet travelled as Foreign Secretary to meet those fleeing Eastern DRC

But the reports speak for themselves.

This is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or girl with children as young as nine reportedly attacked and mutilated by machete-wielding militias.

Around a quarter of DRC's population are facing acute food insecurity.

And frequent bombardment of the makeshift camps which shelter those who have fled their homes.

I regret to say, Madam Deputy Speaker, that Foreign Secretaries updating the House on conflicts in Africa is something of a rarity.

As I discussed yesterday with African Ambassadors and High Commissioners, the surge of conflict globally includes the number in Africa almost doubling in the past decade.

This is causing untold damage and holding back economic growth - the bedrock of our future partnership with African countries.

But where is the outrage?

Again and again in Adre, I was asked:

What is the world doing to help us?

The truth is, if we were witnessing the horrors of El-Fasher and Goma on any other continent, or, for that matter, seeing the extremist violence in the Sahel and Somalia anywhere else in the world, there would be far more attention across the Western world.

Indeed, one recent survey of armed conflict in 2024 contained spotlights on Europe, Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, but none on Africa.

There should be no hierarchy of conflicts, but there is one.

Every human life is of equal worth.

The impact of these wars, Madam Deputy Speaker, is clear for all to see.

You only have to be willing to look.

I could not see atrocities such as these, and shrug my shoulders.

However, the House will also understand the UK's national interest in addressing these conflicts.

Irregular migration from Sudan to Britain alone increased by 16% last year.

Unscrupulous smuggling gangs are looking to profit from the misery in places such as Sudan and DRC.

And the longer these wars last, the greater their ripple effects.

Neighbours like Chad and many others are working hard to manage this crisis alongside others nearby.

But further escalation only increases instability and the risks of conflict elsewhere.

With Sudan sitting along the major trade routes of the Red Sea and eastern DRC one of the most resource-rich regions in the world.

This is something we cannot tolerate.

This Government therefore refuses to let these conflicts be forgotten.

Working with Sierra Leone, the UK prepared a UN Security Council Resolution on Sudan to address the humanitarian catastrophe.

Shockingly, despite support from every other member, including China, Russia wielded their veto.

But Russian cynicism will not deter us.

We will continue to use our Security Council seat to shine a light on what is happening and work with our African partners on broader UN reform.

We have also doubled UK aid, supporting over one million displaced people.

I saw our impact at the Adre crossing, and announced a further twenty million pounds to support food production and sexual and reproductive services.

The UK is the third largest humanitarian donor on the crisis, having offered almost 250 million pounds in support this financial year.

We have been redoubling our diplomatic efforts as well.

In the spring, I am looking to gather Ministers in the UK to galvanise international support for peace.

We need to see three things.

First, the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces committing a permanent ceasefire and protection of civilians.

Second, unrestricted humanitarian access into and within Sudan, and a permanent UN presence.

And finally, an international commitment to a sustained and meaningful political process.

Instead of new and even more deadly weapons entering the conflict, we want to see consistent calls for all political parties to unite behind a common vision of a peaceful Sudan.

We will engage with all those willing to work on bringing the conflict to an end.

On DRC, the UK has also reacted quickly to the current crisis, we now advise British Nationals not to the Rubavu district in Western Rwanda on the border with Goma.

And we are continuing our humanitarian assistance , having provided 62 million pounds this financial year.

This enables lifesaving assistance such as clean drinking water, treatment for malnourished children, and support for victims of sexual violence.

Ultimately however, we need a political solution.

We know that M23 rebels could not have taken Goma without material support from Rwandan Defence Forces.

My Noble Friend, Lord Collins of Highbury, and I have been urging all sides to engage in good faith in African-led processes.

Lord Collins spoke to the Rwandan and Angolan Foreign Ministers last week.

And in the last few days, I have spoken to both Rwandan President Kagame and South African Foreign Minister Lamola.

For all the complexities of such a long-running conflict, we must find a way to stop the killing.

Madam Deputy Speaker, civilians in Sudan and eastern DRC must feel so powerless.

Power seems gripped by those waging war around them.

The Government, our partners, cannot simply will a ceasefire into being.

But this is not a licence for inaction.

As we have seen in Gaza, it can take hundreds of days of diplomatic failure to reach even the most fragile of ceasefires.

So for our part, Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK will keep doing all in our power to get the world focused on these conflicts.

And, somehow, to bring them to an end.

I commend this statement to the House.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






At least 4 children reportedly killed and 3 injured in attack on Saudi Hospital, El Fasher, North Darfur - Sudan

UNICEF

28 January 2025

NEW YORK/AMMAN/PORT SUDAN, 28 January 2025 -- At least one girl and three boys were reportedly killed and three boys injured in an attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, in Sudan's North Darfur, that took place on Friday. In an illustration of the relentless dangers that children face, the children were among the patients receiving care in the hospital's emergency ward, being treated for injuries resulting from previous bombings in the area.

"This heinous attack is a blatant violation of children's rights. Children are being killed and injured in the very places where they should be safest from harm," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Such attacks exacerbate the dire situation for children and families who are trapped in areas affected by conflict, insecurity, and lack of protection."

In Sudan, more than 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are currently non-operational due to damage, destruction, a lack of supplies, or from being used as shelters or for other purposes. The delivery of medical supplies, vaccines and routine immunization has been hindered by ongoing security concerns and lack of access, worsening the humanitarian crisis and putting countless lives, especially those of children, at significant risk.

Under International Humanitarian Law, hospitals enjoy special protection and must not be targeted. Attacks on them undermine the essential care and relief the facilities provide to civilians, including children. All parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure the protection of civilians, including children, and refrain from any actions that could impede access to life-saving medical services.

"Continued attacks on health facilities endanger children's lives and restrict their access to lifesaving medical care, which can have immediate and long-term impacts on their health," said Russell. "The violence must end now. Children in Sudan cannot wait any longer."

#####

Notes for editors:

In 2024 alone, the UN documented more than 90 attacks on hospitals and schools in Sudan.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel UNRWA ban will undermine Gaza ceasefire, Security Council hears

28 January 2025 - The implementation of new Israeli laws banning the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA - set to take effect on Thursday - will heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Security Council has heard.

Briefing ambassadors in New York on Tuesday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the laws passed in October last year in the Knesset jeopardize the lives of millions of Palestinians and risks undermining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

They require that UNRWA cease its activities in the territory of the State of Israel - including the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as the Knesset defines it, in defiance of international law - as well as restricting any Government contacts with the agency or anyone acting on its behalf.

"Curtailing our operations now - outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low - will undermine the ceasefire. It will sabotage Gaza's recovery and political transition," Mr. Lazzarini said.

He called for a "decisive intervention" by Council to support peace and stability in the occupied Palestinian territory and the broader region.

Disastrous consequences

Mr. Lazzarini further stressed that the full implementation of the Knesset legislation will be "disastrous".

In Gaza, undermining UNRWA's operations would compromise the international humanitarian response, he said, adding that it would also degrade the capacity of the United Nations just when humanitarian assistance must be scaled up.

"This will only worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians."

Unique role

UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly to provide humanitarian and other essential services to Palestine refugees until a political solution is reached. Read our explainer on how the Gaza war has impacted UNRWA services, here.

Mr. Lazzarini emphasised that its work cannot simply be transferred to other entities, as its scale and trusted relationship with communities are unmatched.

"The Agency's mere presence brings stability amid profound uncertainty," he said. "Undermining UNRWA will sabotage Gaza's recovery and any prospects for peace."

In East Jerusalem, where the Knesset legislation calls for the immediate expulsion of UNRWA, 70,000 patients and 1,000 students will lose access to health and education services.

Mr. Lazzarini also noted that the legislation coincides with plans to expand illegal settlements on the land currently used by the Agency.

Financial and political challenges

Compounding these threats are severe financial constraints, with key donors reducing or suspending contributions.

Mr. Lazzarini appealed for urgent funding to sustain UNRWA's operations, warning that its lifesaving work could abruptly end without sufficient resources.

He also highlighted a disinformation campaign spearheaded by Israeli authorities that falsely accuses the Agency of supporting terrorism. Such propaganda, he said, undermines UNRWA's neutrality and puts its staff at risk.

Call to action

In conclusion, Mr. Lazzarini urged Security Council members to push back against the Knesset legislation, ensure continued funding for UNRWA, and advocate for a genuine political pathway to address the plight of Palestine refugees.

"UNRWA was always meant to be temporary," he said.

"A fair and lasting political solution would allow the Agency to conclude its mandate, ensuring that its vital services are handed over to a functioning Palestinian state."

Jan Egeland: Humanitarian efforts face major obstacles

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), highlighted the indispensable role of UNRWA in supporting Palestine refugees and enabling broader humanitarian efforts.

"UNRWA cannot be replaced by any other of the humanitarian organizations on the ground. We all rely on UNRWA's logistical capacity. We operate in UNRWA's schools," Mr. Egeland said

"It is responsible for a massive relief operation in the hour of greatest need for the Palestinian civilians in Gaza."

He painted a grim picture of Gaza's post-war landscape, where 87 per cent of homes have been damaged or destroyed, alongside schools, roads, and hospitals. He also noted that 1.34 million people urgently need emergency shelter support.

Challenges persist

Humanitarian organizations are working to scale up assistance, but challenges remain.

"We managed finally to have 18 trucks of humanitarian cargo into Gaza last week. After months of frustrated attempts. We are working to deliver an additional 4,500 pallets of essential supplies," Mr. Egeland, noting that insecurity, attacks and looting are still impeding aid delivery.

A seasoned diplomat, Mr. Egeland has been an active participant in several peace processes, acting as the Norwegian official negotiating between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1992, which led to the Oslo Accord of September 1993.

He also served in top humanitarian roles, including as UN Humanitarian Affairs chief and UN Senior Adviser for Syria.

Algeria: UNRWA is life itself

Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama said that for generations of Palestinians, UNRWA "it is not just an agency, it is life itself".

"From birth to education...UNRWA has been an integral part of their lives," he said, stating that its role was especially crucial during the 15 months of Israel's offensive in Gaza.

"UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response, and its role remains essential under the ceasefire...it is irreplaceable, it is indispensable," he added.

United States: UNRWA not the only option

Dorothy Shea, US Ambassador, said her country is strongly committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement so that the hostages can return home and the people of Gaza can look toward a brighter future under new leadership.

Referring to the laws set to go into effect on 30 January, she said it was Israel's sovereign right to close UNRWA's offices in Jerusalem.

"The US supports the implementation of this decision. UNRWA exaggerating the effects of the laws and suggesting that they will force the entire humanitarian response to halt is irresponsible and dangerous," she said, noting the need for a nuanced discussion to ensure there is no interruption in the delivery of aid and essential services.

"UNRWA is not and never has been the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, many other agencies have experience and expertise to do this work and have done this work," she added.

Palestine: A 'sacred bond' exists between a people and their land

Riyad Mansour, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of Palestine, said that Israel has destroyed everything in Gaza, except the sacred bond between a people and their land.

"Their roots run too deep. Their history covers millennia. The wounds of their Nakba [expulsion from ancestral lands in 1948] yet to heal. So by the hundreds of thousands they are going back to the north from which they were uprooted and expelled by the occupying power," he said.

He underscored the importance of restoring life and hope for the Palestinian people, with the support of the international community.

"There is no alternative to the Palestinian Government and there is no alternative to UNRWA," he said.

Israel: UNRWA has failed miserably

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said that legislation concerning UNRWA activities in Israel will officially come into force in 48 hours, and that the Agency must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in Jerusalem.

"Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf," he said, stating that UNRWA "miserably failed" in its mandate and the people who were supposed to benefit from its services.

"It is time for you to accept, as we have, that UNRWA has failed - in every aspect of its mandate and responsibilities, both morally and professionally," he said.

The closure of UNRWA operations in Israel marks "the beginning of a new chapter, one focused on dignity, security and progress," he added, urging the international community to choose between continuing to fund an agency that sows hatred, or promoting a system that nurtures co-existence.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the United Nations Security Council

UNRWA

28 Jan 2025

New York

Mr. President,

Members of the Council,

Nine days ago, the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began.

We are heartened by the return of Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinians to their families.

We are encouraged by marked improvements in the flow of humanitarian aid and in operating conditions.

We hope that the ceasefire will hold and that the tremendous suffering in Gaza will subside.

UNRWA is the largest UN presence in Gaza, with 13,000 personnel and 300 premises.

The Agency is critical for supporting a shattered population and the ceasefire.

And yet, in two days, our operations in the occupied Palestinian territory will be crippled, as legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset takes effect.

At stake is the fate of millions of Palestinians, the ceasefire, and the prospects for a political solution that brings lasting peace and security.

Mr. President,

In the wake of the ceasefire, we must contend with the devastation of the last 15 months, and the enormity of the challenges ahead.

A peer-reviewed study of death by traumatic injury in Gaza reveals that the mortality figure provided by the Ministry of Health is a minimum estimate.

46,000 deaths is likely an undercount by more than 40 percent.

The study also confirms that the majority of those killed are women, children and the elderly.

Those who escaped death by bombardment, starvation and disease have emerged shell-shocked.

Tens of thousands of people are now returning to the decimated north, to search for the living and to bury the dead.

Across the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are turning to UNRWA - the Agency they have known all their lives - for support.

Curtailing our operations now - outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low - will undermine the ceasefire.

It will sabotage Gaza's recovery and political transition.

Members of the Council,

Full implementation of the Knesset legislation will be disastrous.

In Gaza, undermining UNRWA's operations will compromise the international humanitarian response.

It will degrade the capacity of the United Nations just when humanitarian assistance must be scaled up significantly.

This will only worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians.

The Government of Israel claims that UNRWA's services can be transferred to other entities.

In fact, the Agency's mandate to provide public-like services to an entire population is unique.

Our capacity to directly provide primary healthcare for millions of Palestinians, and to resume education for hundreds of thousands of children, far exceeds that of any other entity.

These services can only be transferred to a functioning state.

The Government of Israel claims that UNRWA plays a negligible role in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

In fact, UNRWA constitutes half the emergency response, with all other entities delivering the other half.

Since October 2023, we have delivered two-thirds of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons, and vaccinated a quarter of a million children against polio.

Since the ceasefire began, UNRWA has brought in 60% of the food entering Gaza, reaching more than half a million people.

We conduct some 17,000 medical consultations every day.

Less quantifiable, but critical for the humanitarian response and the ceasefire, is community acceptance.

Palestinians know and trust UNRWA.

For them, UNRWA is the doctors and nurses providing healthcare; the aid workers distributing food; and the mechanics and engineers building and repairing wells for clean drinking water.

The Agency's mere presence brings stability amid profound uncertainty.

In the occupied West Bank, where violence is surging, ending UNRWA's operations will deprive Palestine Refugees of education and healthcare.

The Palestinian Authority has made clear that it does not have the financial resources or capacity to compensate for the loss of UNRWA's services.

In occupied East Jerusalem, the Government of Israel has ordered UNRWA to vacate its premises and cease operations by Thursday.

This will affect approximately 70,000 patients and more than a thousand students.

The deputy mayor has called for a public celebration of UNRWA's expulsion from East Jerusalem opposite the headquarters of our West Bank field office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

It is on this land that local authorities are planning to build illegal settlements.

The relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory.

It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security.

Mr. President,

The Knesset legislation defies resolutions of this Council and the General Assembly.

It flouts the rulings of the International Court of Justice.

It disregards that UNRWA is the mechanism established by the General Assembly to provide assistance to Palestine Refugees, pending a political answer to the question of Palestine.

Implementing the legislation makes a mockery of international law and imposes massive constraints on UNRWA's operations.

We are determined, however, to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so.

This is not without risk for our Palestinian colleagues, who face an exceptionally hostile operating environment fostered, in part, by a fierce disinformation campaign.

Members of the Council,

The Government of Israel is investing significant resources to portray the Agency as a terrorist organisation, and our staff as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers.

Billboards and ads accusing UNRWA of terrorism recently appeared in major cities around the world.

They were paid for by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Google ad campaigns re-direct those seeking information about the Agency to websites replete with disinformation.

The absurdity of anti-UNRWA propaganda does not diminish the threat it poses to our staff, especially those in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza - where 273 of our colleagues have been killed.

It sets a precedent for governments to accuse a United Nations entity of terrorism as a pretext to clamp down on human rights.

It sets a precedent for criminalizing humanitarian assistance and protection.

This year, propaganda efforts spearheaded by the Israeli Foreign Ministry received a boost of 150 million dollars.

The political attacks on the Agency are motivated by the desire to strip Palestinians of their refugee status, thereby unilaterally changing the long-established parameters for a political solution.

The objective is to deny Palestine Refugees the right to self-determination and erase their history and identity.

Let me be clear, the rights of Palestine Refugees to protection and assistance are not derived from UNRWA's mandate.

They exist independently of the Agency.

And if UNRWA ceases to protect and assist Palestine Refugees, their rights will not only remain, but there will be much greater emphasis on the right to return or to be resettled, for which UNRWA has no mandate.

Mr. President,

A ceasefire in Gaza must be followed by a political transition that includes an orderly conclusion of UNRWA's mandate, and the handover of its public-like services to empowered and prepared Palestinian institutions.

This is the path now pursued by the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, led by Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the League of Arab States.

Only a political pathway of this nature can ensure the protection and welfare of Palestine Refugees, and peace and security in the region and beyond.

A clear choice lies before us:

We can allow UNRWA to implode due to the Knesset legislation and the suspension of funding by key donors.

The repercussions of this implosion will not be confined to national borders and will only further destabilize the region.

Alternatively, we can allow the Agency to progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political process.

UNRWA was always meant to be temporary.

A fair and lasting political solution would allow the Agency to handover its services and workforce to a Palestinian administration.

UNWRA has much to offer in support of a political solution.

The Agency is the largest provider of primary healthcare in Gaza, and the second-largest in the West Bank.

Our health services and expertise are integral to building a strong national health system.

UNRWA also has a pivotal role to play in education.

In Gaza today, 650,000 girls and boys are living in the rubble, learning nothing more than how to survive.

They have already lost more than two years of learning.

Absent a full-fledged State, only UNRWA has the capacity to bring these children back to learning.

So great is the enthusiasm for resuming learning in Gaza that more than 260,000 children - half of them girls - enrolled in our online learning platform this month.

If we fail to resume education in Gaza, and to preserve it in the occupied West Bank, we will sacrifice an entire generation of Palestinian children.

Members of the Council,

The threat posed by political efforts to dismantle UNRWA is compounded by financial challenges, with key donors deciding to end or reduce their contributions to the Agency.

I am appealing for an urgent increase in financial support to UNRWA, the early disbursement of allocated funds, and a review of funding currently on hold.

I also take this opportunity to underscore the Agency's longstanding commitment to neutrality.

A detailed presentation at UNRWA's Advisory Commission meeting last November made clear that our High-level Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the Colonna Report is on track.

We will also continue to take all necessary steps to investigate credible allegations made against the Agency and its personnel.

Mr. President,

Members of the Council,

Implementing the Knesset legislation will heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory at a critical moment.

I am seeking your decisive intervention in support of peace and stability in the occupied Palestinian territory and the broader region.

First, push back against the implementation of the Knesset legislation.

UNRWA's personnel and services are integral to the success of the ceasefire.

Second, insist on a genuine political path forward that delineates UNRWA's role as a provider of education and healthcare.

The Agency is essential for ensuring a viable political transition.

Finally, ensure that a financial crisis does not abruptly end UNRWA's lifesaving work.

The Agency cannot continue to operate in the face of extraordinary challenges without adequate resources.

In closing, I would like to share with you a message received from a young person in Gaza last week.

It is a stark reminder of the heavy responsibility we bear.

[begin quote]

"I am writing to you from the rubble of a home that once was a place of warmth and life [...]

Now, my days are spent searching for the most [basic] necessities, like flour to feed my family.

What truly breaks me is my helplessness in the face of children [...]

Their innocent eyes seek safety I cannot provide [and] answers I do not have [...]

Around us, the elderly sit in silence, their hearts weighed down by decades of loss and suffering [...]

And here I am [...] dying a thousand times every day as I think of all that I cannot do for them."

[end quote]

Unlike the author of this message, we are in a position to do something.

It only requires your decisive action and leadership.

Thank you.

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Briefing Security Council on Goma Attack, Senior UN Official in Democratic Republic of Congo Urges De-escalation to Avert 'Third Congo War'

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9853rd Meeting (PM)

SC/15986

28 January 2025

Note: Complete coverage of this afternoon's meeting of the Security Council will be available Wednesday, 29 January.

As the Security Council convened an emergency meeting for the second time in three days to address the worsening situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a senior United Nations official warned that escalating attacks by the 23 March Movement, or M23, continue to kill civilians and peacekeeping personnel in and around the city of Goma.

Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), voiced alarm that clashes in the eastern part of that country have resulted in massive displacement. Consequently, MONUSCO has received a large number of people seeking refuge, including officials and various elements who have surrendered their arms. However, MONUSCO bases are not able to accommodate the large number of surrendering elements and civilians seeking refuge. "Moreover, our bases are not safe themselves," she stressed.

The Mission is storing voluntarily relinquished or abandoned weapons in accordance with international standards, she reported, while casualty-evacuation efforts remain a significant challenge for seriously injured peacekeepers. She warned that troops are now running out of critical equipment  especially water, food, medical supplies and blood  while the proliferation of weapons in Goma poses a significant risk as combatants blend into the civilian population and abandoned military depots are looted by civilians.

Urging all parties to guarantee the protection of life, ensure access to basic services and prevent sexual violence, she called for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians. Moreover, ethnically motivated attacks in a region with a very sensitive history need to be taken seriously. Appealing for high-level diplomatic channels to ensure that critical airports, border points and humanitarian access routes are reopened without delay, she urged: "Resuming the Luanda Process is of utmost urgency to ensure a path towards de-escalation and to avert the looming threat of a third Congo war."

And, stressing that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, she called MONUSCO "a beacon for myriad vulnerable groups seeking protection". However, the Mission has been severely impacted by heavy direct and indirect fire over the last few days, and must address the logistical, human-rights and humanitarian challenges it is facing. "Let us please draw on our humanity and do our utmost to bring an immediate end to such levels of violence and suffering," she urged.

In the ensuing debate, the representative of Sierra Leone  also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia  cited significant African diplomatic efforts since 26 January to support the Congolese people. Nevertheless, he stressed: "But what is needed now is the commitment of both Rwanda and the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] to engage in direct negotiations under the Luanda Process." Allowing Goma to remain under the control of a rebel group, he stated, "sends a disturbing message about the ability  or willingness  of the international community to prevent threats to international peace and security from flourishing."

...



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






With Israeli Laws Set to Take Effect in 48 Hours, UN Palestine Refugee Agency Chief Warns Security Council of Risks to Gaza Ceasefire, Recovery Efforts

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9852nd Meeting (AM)

SC/15985

28 January 2025

While Many Speakers Support Agency as Lifeline, Israel's Delegate Says It Failed

The implementation of Israel's legislation on 30 January  curtailing the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)  will undermine the ceasefire and sabotage Gaza's recovery and political transition, a senior UN official told the Security Council today.

Expressing hope that the long-awaited ceasefire  which began nine days ago  "will hold and then the tremendous suffering in Gaza will subside", Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, welcomed the return of Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinians to their families. He also recognized the marked improvement in the flow of humanitarian aid and operating conditions. As the largest UN presence in Gaza  with 13,000 personnel and 300 premises  the Agency is critical in supporting a shattered population under a ceasefire, he emphasized.

Yet, in two days, "our operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will be crippled as legislation passed by Israel takes effect", he warned, adding that the fate of millions of Palestinians is at stake. "In the wake of the ceasefire, we must contend with the devastation of the last 15 months and the enormity of the challenges ahead," he said, pointing to a peer-reviewed study of death by traumatic injury in Gaza, which reveals that the mortality figure provided by the Ministry of Health is "a minimum estimate". In fact, 46,000 deaths is likely an undercount by over 40 per cent, with the majority of those killed being women, children and the elderly. The study also confirms that those who escaped death by bombardment, starvation and disease have emerged shell-shocked.

UNRWA's Community Acceptance Not Quantifiable But Critical

Tens of thousands of people are now returning to the decimated north "to search for the living and to bury the dead", he said, noting UNRWA's unique mandate to provide public-like services to an entire population. He rejected Israel's claim that the Agency plays "a negligible role" in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza and that its services can be transferred to other entities. UNRWA constitutes half the emergency response, having delivered two thirds of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons and vaccinated a quarter of a million children against polio since October 2023. Less quantifiable, but critical for the humanitarian response and the ceasefire, is community acceptance: "Palestinians know and trust UNRWA," he stressed.

Furthermore, Israel's Government is investing significant resources to portray the Agency as a terrorist organization and its staff as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. Billboards and ads accusing UNRWA of terrorism recently appeared in major cities worldwide. The political attacks on the Agency are motivated by the desire to strip Palestinians of their refugee status and erase their history and identity. Underscoring the need to allow the Agency to progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political process, he stated: "We are determined to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so."

Clearing Rubble Could Take 21 Years, Cost $1.2 Billion

Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, recalled his visit to Gaza City in December 2024 and expressed shock at the destruction: clearing over 50 million tons of rubble in the aftermath of Israel's bombardment "could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion". For two decades, children will have nowhere to play in the rubble and debris caused by this war, having to fear unexploded bombs. "The principles of proportionality, distinction and military necessity have been thoroughly violated," he stated.

While his organization managed to have 18 trucks of humanitarian cargo enter Gaza last week, looting and attacks on aid convoys remain a major concern. He recalled that, on 12 September 2024, the Israeli National Security Council admitted to the Knesset that Israel was no longer issuing visas to employees of international non-governmental organizations  apparently part of a broader effort to undermine humanitarian work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. However, as the occupying Power, Israel is legally obliged to facilitate humanitarian operations  in Gaza and in the West Bank alike.

Addressing the urgent humanitarian need, he called for full unrestricted access to northern Gaza, including the immediate opening of the Netzarim Corridor to facilitate the movement of civilians, humanitarian personnel and life-saving supplies. He further voiced alarm over intensified Israeli military operations and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank, urging the Council to "put all of our energies into achieving a peaceful resolution to the question of Palestine".

In the ensuing discussion, speakers highlighted UNRWA's essential role under the ceasefire as efforts continue to address the immense needs of the Palestinian people.

Halting UNRWA Operations 'Death Sentence' for Palestinians

"For generations of Palestinians, UNRWA is not just an Agency, it is life itself," said Algeria's delegate, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity. "Halting UNRWA's operations would be a death sentence for Palestinians," particularly for the most vulnerable among them  the refugees, he said, stressing that UNRWA must continue its mandate until the establishment of the Palestinian State.

"There is no alternative to the Agency  not in spirit and not in practice," stated Slovenia's delegate, rejecting attempts to dismantle it. Somalia's representative concurred that measures to restrict Agency operations "cannot be seen as anything other than a deliberate attempt to exacerbate the suffering of an already vulnerable population".

Without UNRWA, said Denmark's delegate, civilians in Gaza risk losing "a vital safety net", and Palestine's refugees in the West Bank risk losing their access to essential services. Without UNRWA, echoed Sierra Leone's representative, "the humanitarian response would risk collapse".

Calling for a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza, Pakistan's delegate added: "We must resist steps designed to extinguish the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood; we should instead take steps to make the two-State solution inevitable".

Nevertheless, stressed China's representative, "before the two-State solution becomes a reality, UNRWA is indispensable", citing its absence from Gaza's post-conflict reconstruction formula as "unthinkable". While Panama's delegate called for the Agency's sustained financing, the representative of France declared that Paris has allocated $20 million to UNRWA.

While stressing that the implementation of Knesset legislation on UNRWA risks threatening the fragile gains made through the ceasefire deal, the United Kingdom's delegate called on the Agency to continue to deliver their commitment to neutrality and fully investigate any allegations against their employees.

UNRWA 'Not the Only Option' for Providing Aid

The United States' supported Israel's sovereign decision to close UNRWA's offices in Jerusalem on 30 January, as the Agency "is not and never has been the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza"  with its work "tainted" due to terrorist ties to Hamas. Urging the international community to scale up humanitarian aid, she called for Gaza to be fully demilitarized, with Hamas having no role in its governance. The ceasefire provides the countries of the Middle East with "a historic opportunity to reshape their region" where Israel is fully integrated with its neighbours under the banner of the Abraham Accords.

Meanwhile, the Russian Federation's representative underscored that Israel would not dare to violate international law without unconditional financial and military support from Washington, D.C. "It is not an exaggeration to say that the fault for what is happening with the Agency falls on the United States' shoulders." Voicing support for UNRWA, he said the Russian Peace Foundation nominated the Agency for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

The representative of Egypt, speaking for the Arab Group, pointed out that Israel's allegations cannot serve as grounds for adopting a unilateral decision preventing a UN agency from conducting its operations. Echoing that, Jordan's delegate stated that allowing any State to undermine the immunities of UN agencies constitutes a dangerous precedent.

Relatedly, Greece's delegate called on Israel to reconsider the implementation of the legislation as it will obstruct UNRWA's capacity to operate within its mandate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. His counterpart from the Republic of Korea urged Israel to guarantee the conditions for UN staff to continue their work, including issuing proper visas for international staff.

For his part, Israel's delegate affirmed that the legislation concerning UNRWA activities in his country will come into force in 48 hours when it must cease operations in Israel and evacuate all premises in Jerusalem. This reflects "years of efforts to address the grave accusations" against UNRWA, he stated  including failing its mandate, placing political agendas and cover-ups over humanitarian principles and refusing to address widespread Hamas infiltration. He reiterated Israel's readiness to work with agencies with a track record of efficiency and accountability, while UNRWA's contribution is easily replaceable by organizations already operational in Gaza.

"Israel has destroyed everything in Gaza [...] except the sacred bond between a people and their land," stated the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine. Israel's logic is simple: to get rid of the refugees, one must destroy the Agency serving them. "If there is no education, health or assistance, they will surrender, leave, and abandon the land and their dream of liberation and return," he said, adding that such conduct violates international law, including the orders issued by the International Court of Justice. Palestinians returning to the north know they will find ruins  "yet, still, they went back," he said, noting that it is a testimony of their resilience.

Picking up that thread, Guyana's delegate echoed the words of poet Pablo Neruda: "You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot prevent spring from coming." Even amidst the 50 million tons of rubble, it is this "spring"  this hope for a new day in an independent State of their own and the drums of war silenced  that lies in the heart of every Palestinian, she said.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Belgian air, space commander visits Luke AFB

Published Jan. 28, 2025

By Senior Airman Jakob Hambright

56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- The 56th Fighter Wing leadership team, along with the 312th Fighter Squadron, hosted Maj. Gen. Thierry Dupont, commander of the Belgium Air and Space Component, during his visit to Luke Air Force Base, Jan. 13-16.

As Belgium prepares to transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-35A Lightning II, the nation is focused on ensuring its pilots and maintainers are fully equipped to operate and sustain the fifth-generation aircraft effectively.

"The relationship between Belgium and the United States is built on decades of trust and cooperation," Dupont said. "As Belgium transitions to the F-35 platform, it is vital that we continue to learn from one another to maintain mission readiness and ensure global preparation."

During his visit, Dupont toured various facilities, met with leadership, and observed training operations conducted by the 56th FW and the 944th FW. The discussions focused on enhancing interoperability, sharing best practices, and leveraging the advanced training environment provided at Luke AFB to support Belgium's F-35 program.

Luke AFB serves as a critical training hub for United States and allied F-35 pilots. Belgium is among several international partners participating in the F-35 program, with its first aircraft delivered in 2024.

"The integration of allies into our training programs not only enhances their operational capabilities but also strengthens our collective ability to respond to global challenges," said Col. Matthew Johnston, 56th Fighter Wing deputy commander. "This collaboration ensures robust deterrence and the ability to decisively respond to security threats around the globe."

As part of the visit, Dupont observed live training missions, including joint operations scenarios involving Belgian and U.S. pilots. He also toured the 312th FS, where F-35 pilots receive state-of-the-art instruction and engaged with Belgian personnel currently embedded at Luke AFB.

"The training environment here is unparalleled," Dupont said. "The ability to integrate our pilots into a diverse and dynamic operational setting prepares them to excel in complex, multinational missions."

Luke AFB continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the capabilities of allied air power, ensuring readiness and cooperation in support of global peace and security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. Navy Installations, Fleet Commands Participate in Annual Force Protection Exercise

US Navy

28 January 2025

From John Belanger

U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Navy Installations Command will conduct the annual two-part force protection exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain, Feb. 3-14, at all Navy installations in the continental United States. The exercises will simulate realistic threat scenarios to boost the readiness of U.S. Navy security forces.

WASHINGTON -- Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) will conduct their annual two-part force protection exercise, Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain (CS-SC25), Feb. 3-14 at all Navy installations located in the continental United States.

"Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain reinforces our commitment to protecting our people and preserving operational readiness by testing our ability to adapt to evolving force protection, security, and mission assurance challenges," said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "This exercise builds resilience and fosters coordination between fleet and shore forces, installation commands, and partner agencies, ensuring we stay prepared to counter modern day threats with precision and unity of effort."

Citadel Shield, held during the first week, is a field training exercise (FTX) led by CNIC, while Solid Curtain follows in the second week as a command post exercise (CPX) led by USFFC. This two-part training is designed to boost the readiness of U.S. Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among commands, other services, and agency partners to protect life, equipment, and facilities. Both weeks will simulate realistic threat scenarios, including active shooters, unauthorized base access, and improvised explosive devices.

"Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain exercises are vital to ensuring the preparedness and effectiveness of our Navy security forces," said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy Installations Command. "These comprehensive training scenarios simulate real-world threats to enhance our readiness and interoperability with other services and agency partners. Our commitment is to safeguard life, equipment, and facilities, and these exercises are an essential part of fulfilling that mission."

CS-SC25 is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not being held in response to any specific threat.

Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.

For information about potential local impacts due to the exercise, please visit your local Navy installation's website and social media channels.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN chief appeals Israeli law banning UNRWA

By Margaret Besheer January 28, 2025

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to Israel's government to retract a new law essentially banning the U.N. agency that assists Palestinians. The law goes into effect this week.

"I regret this decision and request that the Government of Israel retract it," Guterres wrote in a Monday letter to Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon that was obtained by VOA.

The U.N. chief said the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA as it is known, is irreplaceable and that no other organization has the capacity or mandate to do its work.

On Oct. 28, Israel's parliament adopted legislation to ban UNRWA. Israel says some UNRWA staff participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack inside Israel. The United Nations investigated the accusations and fired nine staffers.

"The legislation forbids UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the state of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA," Israel's ambassador told reporters Tuesday. "Furthermore, UNRWA will be prohibited from maintaining any representative office, service or activity within our territory. Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA, or anyone acting on its behalf."

Danon said UNRWA must cease all operations and evacuate its headquarters in East Jerusalem. The secretary-general said in his letter that Israel's "unilateral demand" that UNRWA "cease operations and evacuate all premises within less than a week of formal notice" is "unreasonable and inconsistent" with Israel's international obligations and that the U.N. and Israel should have discussions about the law, which goes into effect on Thursday.

Impact on Gaza

At a meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the situation, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said implementing the law now would be disastrous.

He said the agency is even more critical as the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire is implemented and humanitarian agencies race to provide aid to millions of Palestinians.

"Across the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are turning to UNRWA  the agency they have known all their lives  for support," Lazzarini said. "Curtailing our operations now  outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low  will undermine the ceasefire. It will sabotage Gaza's recovery and political transition."

Israeli officials say other aid agencies can take over UNRWA's work, but Lazzarini disagreed.

"Since October 2023, we have delivered two-thirds of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons, and vaccinated a quarter of a million children against polio," he told the council. "Since the ceasefire began, UNRWA has brought in 60% of the food entering Gaza, reaching more than half a million people."

The agency also is the primary provider of health care and education for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

"We are determined, however, to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so," Lazzarini said.

United Nations officials have repeatedly stressed that if the Knesset legislation is enforced and UNRWA dismantled, then Israel, as the occupying power, would have the legal responsibility for providing essential services to the Palestinian population.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Palestinians return to Gaza as Trump doubles down on their removal

By Patsy Widakuswara January 28, 2025

Large numbers of Palestinians continue to march from the south of the Gaza Strip toward their homes in Gaza City and the northern areas of the enclave after Israel opened checkpoints and allowed people through.

The displaced Palestinians are mostly on foot, traveling through areas now mostly in ruins after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

By late Monday, Hamas authorities in Gaza said more than 300,000 people had crossed. About a million people were ordered out of northern Gaza as the Israeli offensive began in October 2023 following Hamas' attack on Israel.

The Palestinian mass migration comes as U.S. President Donald Trump doubles down on his controversial suggestion to forcibly relocate large numbers of Palestinians to neighboring Jordan and Egypt.

"When you look at the Gaza Strip, it's been hell for so many years," Trump told reporters Monday evening aboard Air Force One. "You could get people living in areas that are a lot safer and maybe a lot better and maybe a lot more comfortable."

Trump first floated the idea on Saturday, saying he wants Jordan and Egypt to take in more displaced Palestinians as part of an effort to "clean out" Gaza.

Hamas, the U.S. and Israeli-designated terrorist group that rules over Gaza, said the Palestinians returning to their homes en masse is a repudiation against any suggestion of mass deportation.

In a statement posted online Monday, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou said the scenes "represent another failure of the occupation in achieving the goals of the war of extermination and destruction, and a message of defiance to any new attempt to displace them."

The Palestinians' return to Gaza City comes in the early stages of a six-week ceasefire, the first of a three-phased deal between Israel and Hamas. The first phase so far has resulted in the release of seven hostages held in Gaza, the freeing of 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The next round of hostage releases is due to take place later this week.

Trump's team has been managing the fragile ceasefire, secured in the last days of former President Joe Biden's administration. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel later this week to discuss first-phase ceasefire implementation and negotiations toward the second phase.

Prior to visiting Israel, Witkoff will stop in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a U.S. official said.

Arab rejection

Palestinians and Arab states, including Egypt and Jordan, have rejected Trump's idea to take in Palestinians, fearing their displacement would become permanent.

But following his calls over the weekend with Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi, Trump expressed confidence that the leaders would overcome their opposition.

"I wish he would take some. We helped them a lot, and I'm sure he'd help us," Trump said of Sissi. "But I think he would do it, and I think the king of Jordan would do it, too."

Trump said he would discuss the issue with Netanyahu "very soon." According to a White House official, Trump has invited Netanyahu to meet at the White House early next week.

Netanyahu and his far-right allies reject the creation of a Palestinian state. The prime minister is under pressure from the ultranationalist wing of his coalition who wants Israel to reestablish settlements inside Gaza. The government pulled out of the enclave in 2005, uprooting thousands of Israeli settlers.

Ultranationalist members of Netanyahu's coalition, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, have come out strongly in favor of Trump's proposal.

Large numbers of Palestinians were driven from their homes in what is now called Israel, twice. Israel's 1967 seizure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip drove 300,000 Palestinians mostly into Jordan. While in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, around 700,000 Palestinians fled their homes  an event the Palestinians commemorate as Al-Nakba, Arabic for "the catastrophe."

In 2008, former President George W. Bush, a Republican, announced his support for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Since then, all American presidents both Republicans and Democrats, including Biden, have supported the two-state solution.

In 2020 during his first term, Trump announced his Middle East peace plan that heavily favors Israel and would deny Palestinians of their longtime goal of a full-fledged state.

The war in Gaza started with the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 47,300 people, most of them women and children, according to health officials. The Israeli military said the death toll includes 17,000 militants.

Hamas is believed to be holding about 60 hostages and the remains of about 30 others. According to ceasefire terms, 33 are to be released during the first phase in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel.

Ken Bredemeier and Chris Hannas contributed to this report.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China tests US commitment to South China Sea by pressuring Philippines

By William Yang January 28, 2025

A little more than a week after Beijing and Manila reached an agreement aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines has accused Chinese coast guard vessels of fresh incursions, harassment and "aggressive maneuvers."

Analysts say the pressure campaign, which has stepped up in recent days, is part of Beijing's attempt to test the United States' commitment to support the Philippines.

"They want to see how far they can push the Philippines under the new administration in the U.S.," Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, told VOA by phone.

In a statement released on social media platform X last Saturday, the Philippine coast guard said two vessels from the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries encountered "aggressive maneuvers" from three Chinese coast guard vessels while heading to Sandy Cay for a marine scientific survey last Friday.

In one video released by Manila, a large Chinese coast guard vessel was seen moving within a few meters of one Philippine vessel. Another video showed a Chinese helicopter hovering above two inflatable boats carrying Philippine crew members.

Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the Philippine vessels were forced to suspend the scientific survey due to the "continuous harassment and the disregard for safety" shown by the Chinese coast guard.

In response to Manila's accusations, Beijing said Chinese coast guard vessels "thwarted" two Philippine vessels' attempts to "land on" Sandy Cay, which China calls "Tiexian Reef."

"The vessels attempted to illegally land on the reef and conduct sand sampling. China Coast Guard [CCG] vessels lawfully obstructed the Philippine ships' course and warned them away," the Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement released last Friday.

China views almost all of the South China Sea as its territory and is engaged in a series of disputes with several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, that have overlapping claims over the strategic waterway.

Apart from the incident near Sandy Cay, the Philippine coast guard said its vessels had successfully kept Chinese coast guard vessels from operating in waters near the coastline of the Philippines' Zambales province since last Friday.

"The Philippine Coast Guard [PCG] vessel has maintained the China Coast Guard vessel to keep a distance of 90-100 nautical miles away from the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone," said Jay Tarriela from the Philippine coast guard in a post on social media platform X on Sunday.

Then on Monday, the Philippine coast guard said its vessels were hindered by Chinese coast guard vessels while trying to recover the body of a dead Philippine fisherman from a Philippine fishing boat.

The series of incidents comes more than a week after senior Chinese and Philippine diplomats vowed to settle territorial disputes in the South China Sea through dialogues during a bilateral consultation.

Although the agreement has allowed the Philippines to conduct resupply missions to its forces near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal since late last year, some experts say the latest incidents are part of a bigger effort by Beijing to drive a wedge between Manila and Washington.

"Beijing isn't happy with Manila's assertive stance in the South China Sea and its close ties with the United States, so [these factors] serve as convenient justifications for Beijing to try to push Manila in the South China Sea," said Collin Koh, a maritime security expert at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Despite the persistent Chinese aggression, Koh said some in Manila think the Philippines can maintain its current approach in the South China Sea since there is bipartisan support for a more assertive position against China in the U.S. and some Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, have reiterated Washington's "ironclad" defense commitment to the Philippines during interactions with their Philippine counterparts last week.

"Manila appears to be more cautiously optimistic that it can maintain the current policy, knowing that there is U.S. backing for that," he told VOA by phone.

To counter Beijing's pressure campaign, Don McLain Gill, a lecturer in international studies at De La Salle University in the Philippines, said it's important for the Philippines and its allies, including the United States, to maintain close collaboration in areas such as joint maritime exercises.

Since China is expected to "continue pressing the Philippines into submission with its grey zone operations, which are now shifting from low intensity to high intensity, this must be addressed with more robust presence operations between the alliance and like-minded partners, along with continued support in the Philippines military modernization in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept," he told VOA in a written response.

With the Trump administration's announcement to suspend new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days, however, Chong in Singapore said Beijing may think there is a window of opportunity to pressure countries like the Philippines.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN: Civilians' suffering 'unimaginable' in Congolese city under rebel attack

By Margaret Besheer January 28, 2025

A senior U.N. official in the eastern Congolese city under threat from Rwandan-backed rebels said Tuesday that civilian suffering there is "truly unimaginable" and called for "urgent and coordinated" international action to end the fighting.

"Immediate action is required to alleviate the suffering of civilians and enable lifesaving humanitarian efforts to proceed," said Vivian van de Perre, the deputy head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO.

She briefed the second emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council in the last 72 hours on the situation in Goma. Van de Perre spoke from the city by video call, wearing a flak jacket and military helmet.

"Electricity and water supplies remain disrupted in Goma, and medical facilities are completely overwhelmed due to the intensity of the ongoing combat and the proximity of the front lines," she said. "Humanitarian operations have been suspended or readjusted."

The World Food Program said Tuesday it is temporarily pausing its operations in North Kivu province, of which Goma is the capital. WFP said that will affect 800,000 people who would not get food aid due to the insecurity. The agency warned that if the fighting is drawn out, it could lead to a food shortage and high prices in the city of 2 million to 3 million people.

Civilians are not the only ones running out of supplies.

"Many troops are now running out of critical equipment, especially water, food, medical supplies and blood," van de Perre said. "In some camps, fuel shortages have rendered generators inoperable, affecting communications equipment."

In early January, M23 rebels broke a ceasefire agreement, launching a large-scale offensive in the east with the support of the Rwandan army. The U.N. said the rebels have made significant territorial gains and are seeking to open a new front in neighboring South Kivu province.

The United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for the M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. They have called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and a return to the Luanda process of mediation overseen by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

At Tuesday's Security Council meeting, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner expressed her government's frustration with the lack of a strong international response.

"Over this past 72 hours, we've seen a regional tragedy that could have been prevented if the Council had been able to take action," she told its members. She said she had asked for action at its first meeting on Sunday and asked if "this council is unwilling to act?"

Some 2,574 kilometers away in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, protesters turned violent Tuesday, attacking, looting and burning some embassies, including those of France and Rwanda. The

Rwanda's U.N. ambassador condemned the attack, saying it was "totally burned down."

"Rwanda calls on the DRC to take its diplomatic obligations seriously and hold perpetrators accountable," Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo told council members.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission, known by its acronym MONUSCO, has also reinforced its positions to counter the rebels' advance on Goma, deploying a quick reaction force, a rapid deployment battalion, a reserve battalion, a platoon of special forces and an artillery battery.

In the past few days, three U.N. peacekeepers have been killed and several injured in the conflict.

Kenyan President William Ruto said he plans to hold crisis talks Wednesday with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at an emergency meeting of the East African Community.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a phone call Monday with Tshisekedi, "condemned the assault on Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 and affirmed the United States' respect for the sovereignty of the DRC."

Before the latest round of violence, eastern DRC was already mired in one of the largest and most protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 6.5 million people displaced due to efforts by armed groups to seize control of the country's valuable mineral deposits.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN warns of worrying humanitarian situation in DRC's Goma amid assault by Rwanda-backed rebels

By Margaret Besheer January 28, 2025

There was gunfire Tuesday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, as the United Nations warned of a worrying humanitarian situation amid clashes between Congolese soldiers and Rwandan-backed rebels who attacked the area and claimed to be in control.

U.N. humanitarian office spokesperson Jens Laerke told a briefing Tuesday that hospitals in Goma were overwhelmed.

The World Food Program said it temporarily paused food assistance activities in the Goma area.

Crisis talks were planned for Wednesday, Kenyan President William Ruto said, with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame set to attend.

Ruto said there is no military solution to the conflict.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio "condemned the assault on Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 and affirmed the United States' respect for the sovereignty of the DRC," in a phone call Monday with Tshisekedi.

A senior U.N. official in the Democratic Republic of Congo said Monday that fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army in Goma is "not over yet," despite the rebel claims of control.

"Fighting is still very much ongoing," said Bruno Lemarquis, U.N. resident coordinator in the DRC. "It's a very, very fluid situation. It's a very dangerous situation."

He told reporters via a video call from DRC's capital, Kinshasha, that "active zones of combat have spread to all quarters" of Goma in North Kivu province. Lemarquis said there have been severe disruptions to water, electricity, internet and phone service. Humanitarian warehouses have been looted.

In early January, M23 rebels broke a ceasefire agreement, launching a large-scale offensive in the east with the support of the Rwandan army. The U.N. says the rebels have made significant territorial gains and are seeking to open a new front in neighboring South Kivu province.

The United Nations Security Council, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and senior U.N. officials are calling for the M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. They have called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and a return to the Luanda process of mediation overseen by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

"On behalf of the humanitarian community, I call on all parties to agree on temporary humanitarian pauses in the most affected areas and establish humanitarian corridors to ensure humanitarian activities resume at scale. And more importantly, also to facilitate the safe evacuation of wounded individuals and civilians trapped in combat zones," Lemarquis added.

The United Nations announced Sunday a $17 million disbursement from its central emergency fund for urgent humanitarian needs in DRC.

Lemarquis said nonessential U.N. staff, foreign and Congolese, are being temporarily evacuated from Goma to either Kinshasa or to a U.N. base in Entebbe in neighboring Uganda.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission, known by its acronym, MONUSCO, has also reinforced its positions to counter the rebels' advance on Goma, deploying a quick reaction force, a rapid deployment battalion, a reserve battalion, a platoon of special forces and an artillery battery.

"At this critical juncture now, the onus really is and has to be about bringing about an immediate cessation of hostilities," U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters on the same video call, speaking from Damascus, Syria, where he is on a mission.

"The fate of the millions of civilians living in Goma or having been displaced is really the priority, along with the safety and security of U.N. personnel," he said.

In the past few days, three U.N. peacekeepers have been killed and several injured in the conflict.

Before the latest round of violence, eastern DRC was already mired in one of the largest and most protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 6.5 million people displaced due to efforts by armed groups to seize control of the country's valuable mineral deposits.

Some information for this story was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Puntland blocks illegal entry of foreigners in IS crackdown

By Mohammed Yusuf January 28, 2025

Authorities in Somalia's Puntland region this week banned the illegal entry of foreigners and ordered telecom companies to deactivate SIM cards linked to undocumented people and Islamic State terrorists.

The moves are an attempt to disrupt Islamic State financial networks as the military continues an offensive against IS fighters hiding out in the region.

Authorities recently launched military operations against IS fighters in the Alimiskaad and Al-Madow mountains in Puntland's Bari region. Security forces seized camps and defensive positions and pushed the fighters further into the mountains.

Security agencies have also started a crackdown on undocumented people in Puntland. According to local reports, authorities made more than 300 arrests in the operation.

Meanwhile, Puntland's Ministry of the Interior has issued a directive banning the sale of SIM cards to undocumented people and barring them from opening financial accounts without proper identification.

Abdirahman Yusuf Farah, a former intelligence chief of Puntland, said that security agencies will not violate people's rights in their pursuit of members and supporters of IS and that anyone who has entered the Puntland region legally will be respected.

The International Crisis Group, in a report released in December, said Islamic State's Somalia branch was becoming influential in dispersing money to finance terrorism elsewhere in Africa.

The group extorts civilians and businesses to finance its operation and sends money to other IS affiliates.

Omar Mahmood, a senior researcher at the International Crisis Group, said the IS threat is growing.

"It's not just about the Islamic State in Puntland or in Somalia itself, but the group there serves as a connective node for Islamic State affiliates elsewhere in Africa  in Eastern Africa, in Southern Africa," Mahmood said. "They report to the Islamic State in Puntland, and that serves as a connection to the Islamic State core and other affiliates outside of the continent."

Mahmood said Puntland is trying to block the local IS's access to international banking systems.

"The group has focused on developing its financial capabilities, whether that is extortion in Bosaso and then transferring this externally," he said. "They've really developed that particular niche, much more so than operational capacity. Puntland is trying to crack down on the use of their formal systems, whether that is the banking sector or telecom, to make it harder for the group to continue to, one, generate financially, and two, then send that money outside of Puntland."

Puntland is relatively peaceful compared to southern Somalia, but local officials have grown concerned about the Islamic State's rising strength, fueled by foreign fighters. Authorities are seeking international financial and military aid, including air support.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Namibian officials hopeful aid will resume after Trump's 90-day freeze

By Vitalio Angula January 28, 2025

Health officials in Nambia are reacting with caution to the order from U.S. President Donald Trump last week that freezes most U.S. foreign aid.

Though the country receives U.S. aid to bolster health care, especially the fight against AIDS, authorities say the 90-day freeze will have minimal impact, at least in the short run.

An estimated 219,000 people in Namibia  about 13% of the adult population have either HIV or AIDS, giving the country one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. About 3,800 people in Namibia die from AIDS each year.

Still, Namibia has made significant gains against the disease over the years, even surpassing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of having 95% of the population tested and effectively treated for HIV.

Two American agencies  the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have been crucial to Namibia's progress.

That aid is now on hold, but Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia's minister of health and social services, believes the hold is temporary.

"We are confident that the review will find no deviation from the intended purposes, and I am confident that after the review, the funding will resume to the programs which are supported by the United States of America," Shangula said.

The Trump administration announced last week that the 90-day pause will be used to determine whether U.S. aid is being used for its intended purpose and whether beneficiaries are acting in line with U.S. interests.

Nikodemus Kamangoti is part of an organization called the Rights Not Rescue Trust.

The organization receives U.S. funding through KP-Star, a program that provides access to HIV services for key populations.

KP-Star sets up mobile vans at night to provide HIV and reproductive health services, including HIV testing and treatment, and access to family planning options.

Kamangoti says his organization has received millions annually through USAID since it started its activities in 2008. Due to the funding freeze, the mobile vans are grounded now. He is hoping the funding will resume in the future.

"Currently, we have been really affected by that issue, actually, the decision that the president has taken," he said. "But as a human being, I respect his decision."

Asked how Trump's executive order will affect U.S.-funded programs in Namibia, Tiffany Miller, the public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy, told VOA in an emailed response that "Consistent with President Trump's Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and USAID for review. He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Crisis in eastern DRC escalates - leads to greater humanitarian and protection needs

World Food Programme

28 January 2025

This is a summary of what was said by WFP DRC's Spokesperson, Shelley Thakral, to whom quoted text may be attributed - at a press briefing In Geneva today

Kinshasa/Geneva: A major surge in violence in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has led to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing multiple active conflict zones.

There are growing protection concerns as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in and around Goma, many are exposed to the Gender Base Violence crisis and with limited access to food, safe clean drinking water and an income - the risks facing the populations will only increase in these volatile conditions.

Families fleeing the fighting face unimaginable challenges. Every step of their journey is fraught with danger. Roads are blocked, ports are closed, and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats. Certain IDP sites have been emptied where fighting has been the most violent.

I spoke earlier to a CSO activist in Goma:

"The security and humanitarian situation in Goma is currently deteriorating. We are still here, but in hiding. We don't know who will come to help us, we who are activists. There is a massive displacement of the population, including both new and long-time displaced people."

Even before the recent escalation of violence some 5.1 million people in Ituri, North and South Kivu, have been displaced and forced to live in overcrowded camps with little food and no security.

WFP's priority is keeping staff and their dependents safe. Only critical WFP staff remain in the area and once the security situation improves, we can resume our emergency assistance and operations.

Food assistance activities in and around Goma have been temporarily paused. WFP is concerned about food scarcity in Goma and rising food prices as the airport and major access roads within region have been cut-off. Depending on the duration of violence the supply of food into the city could be severely hampered. This is a huge test for Congolese trapped by the fighting in Goma and surrounding areas - of their resilience and the next 24 hours will be critical as people start to run low on supplies and will need to see what they can find to survive.

WFP strongly condemns the escalation of violence in the eastern DRC that is endangering civilian populations. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and uphold obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including the protection and safety of humanitarian workers.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






WFP reaches hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza in first week of the ceasefire

World Food Programme

28 January 2025

GAZA/CAIRO -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reached more than 330,000 people in Gaza with food assistance in the first week of the ceasefire, providing food parcels, hot meals and cash assistance to war-weary families.

"The first week has brought hope, but it is still early days. We must keep up this momentum," said Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director in Palestine. "And with so many people on the move now, keen to reach their homes and reunite with their families in the north, we need to make sure they have food wherever they are. WFP's priority is to ensure assistance follows the people."

Here are the latest updates on WFP operations in Gaza:

WFP has brought 10,130 metrictons of food into Gaza since the ceasefire. Food entered Gaza through all available corridors from Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

For the first time in months, families in Gaza are now receiving significantly more rations - two food parcels and a 25-kg bag of wheat flour.

In total, WFP reached more 330,000 people in the first week of the ceasefire with food parcels and hot meals.

WFP has also distributed nutrition products to 46,000 people, including children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

If the ceasefire holds, WFP aims to reach one million people each month for the next three months. WFP has enough food pre-positioned along the borders and on its way to Gaza to feed over a million people with full rations for three months.

A cash assistance programme started on Monday, with 7,000 people reached on day one, and more than 32,000 as of today. This money will enable families to meet their basic needs - not only food - as they seek to relocate and rebuild. The aim is to reach 30,000 families (150,000 people) in one month.

Thanks to the influx of fresh supplies entering the Strip, WFP has also been able to get bakeries up and running in the south - eight old and 5 new ones - and prepare hot meals and deliver ready-to-eat meals to families in shelters.

The humanitarian situation in the West Bank is also critical. WFP is ready to provide voucher assistance to approximately 3,750 people in Jenin camp, allowing them to obtain food at a local retailer or receive food parcels. Additionally, cash assistance will be provided to 12,750 displaced households affected by military operations.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russo-Ukraine War - 28 January 2025 - Day 1070

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 174 combat encounters.

Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect.

Russian invaders launched one missile and 26 air strikes today, launched one rocket and 51 guided bombs, deployed 966 kamikaze drones and launched almost 4,000 shells at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian opponent seven times without success stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk and Starica.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions near Kutkivka, Kindrashivka, Dvorichnaya, Petropavlivka, Nova Kruglyakivka and Boguslavka, two confrontations are ongoing so far. Ukrainian defenders stopped 12 enemy attacks.

In the Lyman direction Russian zagarbniki nine times attacked the positions of Defense Forces near Novoegorivka, Boguslavka, Novolubivka, Makiyivka and in the Serebryans komu forest. One battle is going on so far.

In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces 17 times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of bilogorivka, novosilka and verkhnyokam kogo. So far, two clashes are ongoing.

In the direction of Kramators ,komu, Russian forces 11 times attacked Ukrainian positions near the Antichynogo, the White Mountain and the Time Yar.

In the Toretsky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 17 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements of Crimea, Diliyivka, Dachne, Toretsk and Scherbinivka. Yet another battle is underway. In addition, Russian forces launched an aviation strike with 4 controlled bombs on the settlement of Katerinivka.

In the Pokrovsky direction, from the beginning of this day, the Russian enemy attacked 75 times in the areas of populated areas Vodyane Second, Peace, Elizabeth, Ray, Dry Yar, Fox, Green, Renaissance, Shevchenko, Pokrovsk, Sergiyivka, Udaachne, Nadiivka, Uspenivka, Novovasilivka, Novooleksandrivka, Oleksiyivka, Dachne, Bogdanivka, Kurakhove and Ulakly. At the same time, Russian forces caused aviation strikes controlled bombs on the settlements of Andriyivka and Luck.

Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, Ukrainian soldiers zneszkodili 275 invaders, of them 146 - irrevocably. Four motorcycles, four units of automobile equipment, one mortar, two satellite communication tools, two BPLA antennas were also destroyed, the motorcycle and mortar were also damaged.

In the Novopavlivs komu direction, Russian forces made seven attempts to break through Ukrainian defense near the settlements of Konstantinopil and Spill. In addition, the enemy launched aerial strikes on the settlements of Komar and New Komar, dropping seven controlled bombs.

In the direction of Gulyaipilsky, the Russian zagarbniki attacked the settlement of Novosilka five times.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian occupiers dropped six controlled aviation bombs near the settlement of Kalinovsk.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, Russian occupation troops conducted one assault of the positions of Ukrainian defenders, unsuccessful, retreated.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders today repelled ten Russian attacks, currently one fight is ongoing. At the same time, Russian forces launched 15 air strikes, dropped 27 controlled bombs in total and carried out 255 artillery shelling, including three from jet systems of salp-fire.

On the rest of the directions, the operational environment has not changed.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Liptsy and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 25 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles. Two field artillery guns and one ammunition depot were neutralised.

As a result of decisive actions of the Zapad Group of Forces, Dvurechnaya (Kharkov region) was liberated.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU and two territorial defence brigades near Topoli, Zapadnoye, Peschanoye, Lozovaya, Kopanki, Zeleny Gai, Krasnoye Pervoye (Kharkov region), Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Yampol, Grigorovka, and Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 330 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, to include two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, and six motor vehicles. Four field artillery guns, to include three of Western-made, two electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition depots were eliminated.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Formations of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades were hit near Verkhnekamenskoye, Yantarnoye, Zelenovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Chasov Yar, and Dachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 220 troops, two American HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. Manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, two national guard brigades, and one territorial defence brigade were hit close to Shcherbinovka, Dzerzhinsk, Lysovka, Krymskoye, Zverevo, Novoyelizavetovka, Vozdvizhenka, Yasenovoye, Novovasilyevka, and Kotlino (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 600 troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, to include one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, seven motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. Formations of one mechanised brigade of the AFU, one national guard brigade, and one territorial defence brigade were hit near Bogatyr, Vremevka, and Rovnopol (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 115 troops, one tank, two motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns, to include one manufactured by Western countries.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one coastal defence brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade close to Stepnogorsk, Novopokrovka, Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Antonovka (Kherson region), and Kherson.

The AFU losses were more than 40 troops and three motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, strike UAVs, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, drones and uncrewed surface vehicles manufacturing workshops and depots as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 152 areas.

Air defence systems have shot down 15 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles and 64 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 41,635 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,870 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,510 MLRS combat vehicles, 21,022 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,853 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 AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.

During the offensive, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of one tank brigade, one heavy mechanised brigade, four mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and three territorial defence brigades of the AFU close to Viktorovka, Gogolevka, Goncharovka, Guyevo, Zaoleshenka, Pervy Knyazhy, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Nikolayevka, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochina, Sverdlikovo, Sudzha, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye. Five enemy counter-attacks were repelled.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Bogdanovka, Zamostye, Kazachya Loknya, Pervy Knyazhy, Kolmakov, Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Loknya, Martynovka, Melovoy, Mirny, Nikolayevka, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Veselovka, Vodolagi, Glukhov, and Zhuravka in Sumy region.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 280 troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, six armoured fighting vehicles, and 20 motor vehicles.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 55,470 troops, 322 tanks, 239 infantry fighting vehicles, 184 armoured personnel carriers, 1,642 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,664 motor vehicles, 392 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, 103 EW stations, 14 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 32 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, nine 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






Cyber-attacks: three individuals added to EU sanctions list for malicious cyber activities against Estonia

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

27 January 2025

The Council today adopted additional restrictive measures against three Russian individuals responsible for a series of cyberattacks carried out against the Republic of Estonia in 2020. The individuals listed are officers of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) Unit 29155.

The cyber-attacks granted attackers unauthorized access to classified information and sensitive data stored within several government ministries, including Economic Affairs and Communications, Social Affairs, and Foreign Affairsleading to the theft of thousands of confidential documents. These documents included business secrets, health records, and other critical information compromising the security of the affected institutions. Unit 29155 is also responsible for conducting cyber-attacks against other EU member states and partners, notably Ukraine.

The covert unit, known for its involvement in foreign assassinations and destabilisation activities such as bombings and cyber-attacks across Europe, and some of its military personnel active in Ukraine, Western Europe and Africa, was also sanctioned last year under the new sanction regime in view of Russia's destabilising activities.

With today's listings, the EU horizontal cyber sanctions regime now applies to 17 individuals and 4 entities. It includes an asset freeze and a travel ban, and the prohibition for EU persons and entities to make funds available to those listed.

This decision confirms the willingness of the EU and its member states to provide a strong and sustained response to persistent malicious cyber activities targeting the EU, its member states and partners.

The EU and its member states will continue to cooperate with our international partners to promote an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Background

In June 2017, the EU established a Framework for a Joint EU Diplomatic Response to Malicious Cyber Activities (the "Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox"). The framework allows the EU and its member states to use all CFSP measures, including restrictive measures if necessary, to prevent, discourage, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities targeting the integrity and security of the EU and its member states.

The EU framework for restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the EU and its member states was set up in May 2019.

On May 21st, 2024, the Council approved conclusions on the future of cybersecurity aiming to provide guidance and setting the principles towards building a more cyber secure and more resilient EU.On June 24, 2024, the European Union added six individuals to its sanctions list due to their involvement in malicious cyber activities, specifically cyberattacks targeting EU member states and Ukraine. These individuals were linked to harmful actions that threatened the security and stability of the region. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.

In parallel, on October 8th, 2024, the Council established a new framework for restrictive measures in response to Russia's destabilising actions abroad. This framework allows the EU to target individuals and entities engaged in actions and policies, including cyber-attacks, by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, independence and integrity, as well as those of international organisations and third countries.

In its most recent conclusions of 19 December 2024, the European Council strongly condemned Russia's hybrid campaign, including sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, cyber-attacks, information manipulation and interference, and attempts to undermine democracy, including in the electoral process, against the European Union and its member states.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Iron Dome for America

EXECUTIVE ORDER

January 27, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including my authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered:



Section 1. Purpose. The threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.



President Ronald Reagan endeavored to build an effective defense against nuclear attacks, and while this program resulted in many technological advances, it was canceled before its goal could be realized. And since the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 and initiated development of limited homeland missile defense, official United States homeland missile defense policy has remained only to stay ahead of rogue-nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.



Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems and their own homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities.



Sec. 2. Policy. To further the goal of peace through strength, it is the policy of the United States that:

(a) The United States will provide for the common defense of its citizens and the Nation by deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield;

(b) The United States will deter  and defend its citizens and critical infrastructure against  any foreign aerial attack on the Homeland; and

(c) The United States will guarantee its secure second-strike capability.

Sec. 3. Implementation. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall:

(a) Submit to the President a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield. The architecture shall include, at a minimum, plans for:

(i) Defense of the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries;

(ii) Acceleration of the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer;

(iii) Development and deployment of proliferated space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept;

(iv) Deployment of underlayer and terminal-phase intercept capabilities postured to defeat a countervalue attack;

(v) Development and deployment of a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture;

(vi) Development and deployment of capabilities to defeat missile attacks prior to launch and in the boost phase;

(vii) Development and deployment of a secure supply chain for all components with next-generation security and resilience features; and

(viii) Development and deployment of non-kinetic capabilities to augment the kinetic defeat of ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks;

(b) Review relevant authorities and organization of the Department of Defense to develop and deploy capabilities at the necessary speed to implement this directive;

(c) Jointly with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, submit to the President a plan to fund this directive, allowing sufficient time for consideration by the President before finalization of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget; and

(d) In cooperation with United States Strategic Command and United States Northern Command, submit to the President:

(i) An updated assessment of the strategic missile threat to the Homeland; and

(ii) A prioritized set of locations to progressively defend against a countervalue attack by nuclear adversaries.



Sec. 4. Allied and Theater Missile Defense Review. The United States continues to cooperate on missile defense with its allies and partners to aid in the defense of ally populations and troops and of forward-deployed United States troops. Following the submission to the President of the next-generation missile defense reference architecture under section 3(a) of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall direct a review of theater missile defense posture and initiatives to identify ways in which the United States and its allies and partners can:

(a) Increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation on missile defense technology development, capabilities, and operations;

(b) Improve theater missile defenses of forward-deployed United States troops and allied territories, troops, and populations; and

(c) Increase and accelerate the provision of United States missile defense capabilities to allies and partners.



Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 27, 2025.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New dawn of innovation

By Major Dean Benson

28 January 2025

Soldiers, students and some sharp minds from defence industry came together for six weeks in Perth recently to deliver an innovation exercise that had been three years in the making.

Exercise Western Dawn 2024 was a concept drawn up over some informal chats between Perth's 13th Brigade and WA's renowned Curtin University three years ago.

That concept became a reality at the end of 2024, culminating in an innovation pitch day judged by a panel of experts from across Defence, industry and academia.

One of the judges was Brigadier Malcolm Wells, of Headquarters Joint Operations Command, who said six teams had to work across several weeks to address three key themes: persistent situational awareness, protracted sustainment and decision advantage.

"We know these three things represent huge challenges for the Australian Defence Force," Brigadier Wells said.

"By approaching these themes with new ideas, new thinking, with really innovative people, we know that we can deliver a really powerful set of results.

"Through Western Dawn, we've seen people who have brought together years of operational experience, people with incredibly impressive research and academic backgrounds, and from industry who are very invested in making sure that they can provide the systems, capabilities and perspectives we need to execute our mission."

The winning concept played to the persistent situational awareness theme. It was a system called 'tripwire', an undersea meshed communication system capable of transmitting sensed undersea data at high speeds.

Curtin University's Director of National Resilience and Security Program Office, Garry Hale, said the winning concept was just one selection from an impressive field.

"The challenging problems that Defence faces are great things for universities to be involved in, particularly where we've got collaboration involving industry, Defence and academia producing some amazing results," Mr Hale said.

"One of the key outcomes that we wanted to get from Exercise Western Dawn was that ability to innovate under pressure.

"The different ideas, thinking and diversity of the groups produced some pretty exciting outcomes as far as potential technologies that Defence could use in the future."

Commander 13th Brigade, Brigadier Amanda Williamson, said the innovation exercise had been a long time coming for the STEM experts of the 13th Engineer Regiment and that she hoped for it to become an annual exercise.

"We ran Exercise Western Dawn as a pilot concept to see what we could achieve with our partners in academia and industry," she said.

"What we've seen really blew us away and so we're hopeful that this will now become an annual feature on the 13th Brigade calendar."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






HMCS Harry DeWolf departs for counter-narcotics operations with US forces

National Defence

News release

January 28, 2025 - Halifax, N.S. - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

On Sunday, January 26, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf departedits home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a six-week deployment in the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean involving counter-narcotics related activities with US forces.

During Operation CARIBBE, the ship will participate in United States Coast Guard (USCG)-led efforts to monitor and intercept vessels of interest to impede the flow of illicit drugs and goods between South America, the Caribbean, and North America. As part of these efforts, sailors will support boarding and maritime interdiction operations with embarked USCG Tactical Law Enforcement Team personnel, partner nation surface assets, and maritime patrol aircraft.

Operation CARIBBE enables the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to work with our partners and allies to protect Canada's communities through counter-narcotics operations, and to help prevent the flow of illicit drugs and goods into Canada, contributing to a safer North America.

Quotes

"Many thanks to our families and loved ones whose continued support and sacrifice allows the sailors onboard His Majesty's Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf to take on this operation. As the ship embarks on Operation CARIBBE, I am immensely proud of our dedicated crew. Their commitment to combating illicit trafficking and enhancing maritime security in the Caribbean is a testament to their professionalism and resolve. I have full confidence in their ability to carry out this mission with excellence." Rear-Admiral Josee Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic & Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic

"As we deploy on Operation CARIBBE, I'm incredibly proud of the crew of His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf. Their professionalism, dedication, and teamwork will showcase the capabilities of both our Navy and the Harry DeWolf-class during this vital mission while demonstrating our commitment to protecting and safeguarding North America. To our families and loved ones, you remain the foundation of our success, and I thank you sincerely for your unwavering support." Commander Jon Nicholson, Commanding Officer HMCS Harry DeWolf

Quick facts

Operation CARIBBEsupportsmultinational efforts to address illicit trafficking by providing naval and air capabilities to detect and monitor suspect drug smuggling activities in the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic.

Since the beginning of Operation CARIBBE in 2006, the operation has contributed to the disruption or seizure of more than 123 metric tons of cocaine.

Commissioned on June 26, 2021, HMCS Harry DeWolf is the RCN's first-of-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship. This deployment is the second time HMCS Harry DeWolf has participated in Operation CARIBBE.

On December 16, 2021, HMCS Harry DeWolf became the first Canadian naval vessel to circumnavigate North America since HMCS Labrador made a similar voyage in 1954.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

January 28, 2025

Warsaw, Poland

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, in Warsaw, Poland.

Following yesterday's commemorative event to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism.

As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears the three-year mark, the prime ministers condemned Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression and reiterated the importance of Canada and Poland's continued support to the people of Ukraine as they continue to fight for their freedom and independence. The leaders underlined the importance of providing military, financial, and other assistance to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Tusk reaffirmed Canada and Poland's commitment to working together to tackle regional and global challenges, including threats to stability and energy security. Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed continued bilateral co-operation in initiatives to strengthen transatlantic security, such as the training of Ukraine's Armed Forces personnel and NATO's Canada-led Multinational Brigade in Latvia.

The two leaders reflected on the strong state of bilateral relations between their two countries, including growing commercial ties. They also welcomed the conclusion of the Canada-Poland Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and deepened ties in this key sector. The prime ministers agreed that their shared values and priorities will carry forward this relationship in the years to come.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of Poland Andrzej Duda

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

January 28, 2025

Oswiecim, Poland

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on the margins of a commemorative event to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp in Oswiecim, Poland.

The Prime Minister and the President paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to remembering the Holocaust, educating against Holocaust denialism and distortion, and combatting antisemitism and all forms of hate across the globe.

As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its three-year mark, the two leaders condemned Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression and reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Trudeau and President Duda recognized the strong and continued co-operation between their countries in support of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Trudeau and President Duda also reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional security, particularly on NATO's Eastern Flank.

The two leaders underscored the strong bilateral relations between Canada and Poland and discussed additional areas for further co-operation, including in the nuclear sector.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Xi lauds China's solid progress despite challenges in Year of Dragon

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Jan 27, 2025 03:20 PM Updated: Jan 28, 2025 06:08 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday noted solid progress the country has made in advancing Chinese modernization amid "complex and challenging" situations over the past twelve months at a high-level reception to ring in the Chinese New Year.

"In the Year of the Dragon, we demonstrated vitality and a can-do spirit. We endured storms and saw the rainbow," said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Faced with complex and challenging situations, China responded with composure and implemented a range of comprehensive measures, overcame difficulties and forged ahead with determination, Xi said at the reception held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to usher in the Year of the Snake, which begins on Jan. 29.

At the reception attended by over 2,000 people, Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.

Over the past year, China effectively implemented existing policies and proactively introduced a package of incremental policies, which helped promote the recovery of the economy, Xi said.

China achieved remarkable progress in technological and industrial innovation, with new quality productive forces forging ahead steadily. China's employment and consumer prices also remained stable, Xi said.

From a global perspective, China remained a major engine for the world's economic growth, he said.

China dealt with major natural disasters with strong and effective measures, Xi said, adding that Team China achieved its best overseas performance at the Paris Olympics and the country has injected more positive energy into safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting human development and progress.

Xi hailed the journey over the past year as "extraordinary" and the achievements "very encouraging."

"We proved once again through our hard work that no difficulty or obstacle will hold back the Chinese people in their pursuit of a better life," Xi said. "Our historical course to build a strong country and rejuvenate the nation will not be blocked."

"We will undoubtedly break new ground in reform and development as long as we strengthen our conviction and confidence, confront problems and obstacles directly, and tackle risks and challenges without hesitation," Xi added.

In 2025, China will further deepen reforms across the board, expand high-standard opening up, guard against and defuse risks in key areas and external shocks, and promote sustained economic recovery, Xi said.

Suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will be formulated and China will continue to strive towards grand goals, he stated.

China will continue to improve people's living standards and ensure that more benefits of modernization are shared among all the people in a more equitable way, Xi added.

The snake symbolizes wisdom and vitality in Chinese culture, Xi said, expressing his hope that Chinese people of all ethnic groups will stay confident, hopeful and forge ahead with an enterprising spirit.

Li Qiang presided over the reception. Other senior officials Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng were also present at the event.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China, India agree to strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual political trust, resume direct flights: FM

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Published: Jan 28, 2025 02:59 PM

China and India have recently reached multiple consensuses, including India expressing full support for China's rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and both sides agreeing to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, and facilitating personnel exchange, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held the China-India Vice Foreign Minister-Foreign Secretary Dialogue in Beijing on Monday. The meeting focused on pushing forward the implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries during the meeting in Kazan and discussing the measures for the improvement and development of China-India relations, according to a release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

The two sides reached consensus on multiple issues. Among these consensuses, the Indian side will extend full support for Chinese presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and will actively participate in the meetings under the SCO umbrella.

The two sides agreed to carry out active interactions at all levels on bilateral and multilateral occasions, strengthen strategic communication, and enhance mutual political trust, according to the release.

The two sides agreed to jointly commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India in 2025, and carry out media and think tank exchanges, Track II dialogues and other people-to-people exchanges, it read.

Hu Zhiyong, a professor from Zhejiang International Studies University and also research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the consensuses reached by both sides showed that, at this moment, both sides have common interests to stabilize bilateral ties and remove obstacles for further cooperation, as there will be uncertainties and challenges in 2025 that will require both sides to work together.

"Although the two countries had frictions and tensions in different fields in the past few years and New Delhi has imposed many sanctions or strict measures to target some Chinese firms that are operating in India, the data about trade between the two countries prove that decouple from China is unfeasible, and Indian decision-makers have realized that the confrontation approach against China is wrong and unsustainable," Hu noted.

The Indian media Economic Times reported on January 15 that "India is heavily reliant on Chinese imports, with the country's trade deficit surging to $85.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. China was India's top import source with $65.89 billion, a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase between April-October, 2024." However, India's exports to China "dipped by 9.37 per cent to $8 billion in the same period last fiscal," according to India's Commerce Ministry data.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at the meeting on Monday, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights between Chinese mainland and India, support the competent authorities of the two countries to coordinate and push it forward, and take measures to facilitate personnel flows and exchanges of resident journalists.

The two sides agreed to resume the Indian pilgrims' visit to Kailash Mansarovar in Xizang Autonomous Region, China in 2025, and will discuss relevant arrangements as soon as possible.

The two sides also agreed to advance trans-border river cooperation, and maintain communication on holding a new round of meeting of the China-India Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers at an early date, according to the release.

Hu said the obstacles of people-to-people exchange were unilaterally not set by China, and now it's the right decision for India to remove them and correct this mistake.

Li Zishuo, a Chinese student who is studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University of India, told the Global Times that since late 2024, after the meeting between top leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in last October, the bilateral ties and people-to-people exchange have recovered gradually.

"Chinese students in India or those who plan to come to India find that it's easier for them to get Indian visa now. In the past, they were troubled by groundless reasons such as 'national security concern' of the Indian side," Li said.

Indian universities who welcome Chinese students are also becoming more confident on the visa issue, Li said. "The number of new exchange students from China has also increased, and the application for student visa is also easier to get passed. But more efforts are needed, and we are being cautious to observe what will happen in 2025."

Lin Minwang, a professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday given the geopolitical landscape and other global uncertainties, India has realized that it has to expedite efforts to improve relations with China. Thus, barring unexpected circumstances, the broader trend of stabilizing China-India relations by 2025 is likely to be stabilized and proceed smoothly.

During the dialogue, the Chinese side stressed that both sides should view and handle China-India relations on the basis of the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and from a strategic height and long-term perspective, actively advance exchanges and practical cooperation with a candid and constructive attitude, guide the public opinion in a positive way, enhance mutual trust, and properly handle differences, so as to promote the development of China-India relations along the sound and stable track.

The two sides also had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on issues of respective concern, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China welcomes Year of the Snake, but 'nobody is spending'

Chinese and Hong Kongers dream of a better economy and a more predictable world amid ongoing economic gloom.

By Xiao An for RFA Mandarin, Wei Sze and Alice Yam for RFA Cantonese 2025.01.28 -- China's 1.4 billion people welcomed in the Year of the Snake on Lunar New Year's Eve Tuesday night with brand new clothes, festive decorations and firecrackers to ward off evil, as well as the obligatory extended family meal for those who could make it home in time for festivities

But few people who spoke to Radio Free Asia had the sense that the new year could bring better fortune than the departing Year of the Dragon, citing the country's economic woes.

A resident of southwestern China who declined to be named for fear of reprisals told RFA Mandarin that she would participate in all the celebrations, but she felt that "this year could be even worse than the last."

A young man working in a hotel in southern China who also asked to remain anonymous said he has one main wish for the Lunar New Year.

"I want to be rich, quickly and suddenly," he said, jokingly. "Just kidding. I have no plan [for achieving this]."

Asked if he plans to marry, he said: "Not sure."

China last month said it would loosen monetary policy in a bid to kickstart the country's economic growth in a bid to send "a positive signal that will effectively boost the confidence of all parties and help China's economy recover and improve."

China reported economic growth at around 5.0% for the first half of 2024, with a projected slowdown to 4.8% for the full year, but analysts say the figure doesn't fully reflect the damage done by the burst property bubble and three years of COVID restrictions.

A resident of central China, who declined to be named, said he has no expectations of the coming year.

"Ever since the three years of zero-COVID, the world seems a bit mysterious," he said, referring to government imposed restrictions between 2020 and 2022 that included grueling lockdowns and the mass testing, tracking and quarantining of citizens.

"I mean, there's no way to understand [the world] and no way to predict it. The future is kind of foggy ... including the political situation, the economy and the international situation," he said. "It seems to me that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the relationship between human beings and nature is unpredictable," he said.

He said international relations also seem to be in a state of distress.

"Some countries are on the verge of war, while some are already at war, and there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done about it," he said. "What are they even fighting for?"

A woman living in eastern China said she had few expectations for the Year of the Snake.

"It's very difficult right now," she said of the economy. "2025 could be even worse than 2024."

She said that there were fewer job opportunities, government departments were cutting spending, and the people had less disposable income.

"How are we supposed to spend money if we don't have any?" she said. "I'll be happy if everyone just gets to live normally."

She said she hadn't watched the flagship Spring Festival Gala show on the state-run CCTV channel for years, because much of the positive sentiment expressed on the show was "fake, given that most people's lives are getting worse and worse."

Street market slump in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the city's leader delivered a message that seemed pitched to encourage people to spend more.

"We are busy gathering with family and friends, doing New Year shopping and buying festive flowers for our homes, preparing for the New Year to come," Lee said in a statement on Tuesday.

For the first time, the English version of the statement used the term "Chinese New Year" instead of the more inclusive "Lunar New Year," suggesting that the city's officials are super-keen on demonstrating loyalty to Beijing.

Lee also name-checked "two adorable giant pandas from the motherland" who will be on view in Hong Kong during the holiday period, starting in mid-February.

"In Chinese culture, the snake is nimble and agile, and is a symbol of prosperity and wealth," Lee said, promising that Hong Kong will "show its resilience" in the coming year.

But stallholders at the city's street-markets, which usually see a huge boost to business ahead of the festival, said business had slumped.

"Nobody's spending," an underwear stall owner surnamed Siu told RFA Cantonese a week before Lunar New Year. Asked by how much sales had dropped compared with last year, he estimated: "By more than half."

"The economy's not doing well, and most people are going to spend their money in mainland China," he said.

A stallholder surnamed Wong agreed. "Business has been really weak this year -- I think 30% of it has gone to mainland China and another 20% online."

Hong Kong retail sales plummeted by 7.3% year-on-year in November, according to the Census and Statistics Department. The government recently launched multiple entry permits for Chinese nationals to boost cross-border consumption.

But stallholders said they can't really feel much improvement, despite a forecast influx of 1.4 million visitors from mainland China over the festive period.

"It's super-bad -- I've never seen it this bad," a food stall owner also surnamed Wong told RFA Cantonese, adding that people are taking tips from social media to save money instead. "People who visit Hong Kong aren't going shopping like they used to ... now they're coming here on a budget, and using ... recommendations from (social media app) Xiaohongshu."

Residents simply did not buy as much to prepare for New Year's celebrations this year compared to previous years, a marketing executive who gave only the surname Lee told RFA.

"I haven't bought anything for New Year yet," Lee said. "Everyone's saying that the markets and the economy are in bad shape this year."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Eugene Whong.

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






Analysts: Rubio charts a course for countering China

By Christy Lee, Young Gyo Kim January 28, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Southeast and East Asia strategies will be aimed at countering China by toughening U.S. policies to secure regional peace and maximize American interests, analysts say.

Rubio gave a glimpse of what U.S. foreign policy will look like as he began his first day as the head of the State Department last week.

Speaking to his staff after he was sworn on Jan. 21, Rubio said, "Our job across the world is to ensure that we have a foreign policy that advances the national interest of the United States."

Referencing President Donald Trump's objective, Rubio continued that the "overriding goal of global policy is the promotion of peace, the avoidance of conflict."

Putting "America First" and achieving "Peace through Strength" are twin pillars on which Trump said he will prop up the U.S. as he took office on Jan. 20.

Rubio is currently likely to consult with country directors of the region and coordinate with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to formulate Asia Pacific strategies, said Richard Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of state during the Bush administration, to VOA Korean on Jan. 24.

"Secretary Rubio's Southeast Asia policy will focus on countering China through stronger U.S. trade, security partnerships and supply chain diversification," said Mark Kennedy, director at the Wilson Center's Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, to VOA on Jan. 23

On Pyongyang and Moscow, "Rubio will ask China - as Trump did - to help convince North Korea to resume negotiations with the U.S.," said Joseph DeTrani, who served as special envoy for six-party denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration.

"If successful, with or without China's help, this may help to distance North Korea from Russia," DeTrani told VOA on Jan. 24.

Rubio's roots

In shaping and executing regional policies, Rubio's strong opposition to authoritarianism, communism, and human rights violations is likely to "color his approach at the State Department," said Evans Revere, who served as acting secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs during the George W. Bush administration.

The former senator grew up in Miami with Cuban immigrant parents and has exhibited an aversion toward communist governments throughout his political career.

This stance, mixed with the twin foreign policy pillars, are likely to result in tough strategies for countries like North Korea and China and their activities in the region, according to analysts.

Rubio signaled this on a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, stressing that "the Trump Administration will pursue a U.S.-PRC relationship that advances U.S. interests" and "the United States' commitment to our allies in the region." China's official name is the People's Republic of China (PRC).

He also expressed "serious concern over China's coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea."

In line with the policy goal of avoiding conflict, Rubio may support Trump's personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Gary Samore, former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration.

North Korea said Sunday it conducted a sea-to-surface strategic cruise missile test the previous day.

Rubio, doubtful initially about Trump's summits with Kim during his first term, said at a confirmation hearing earlier this month that Trump's personal diplomacy was able to stop the country from testing missiles.

He spoke by phone with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul last week emphasizing the alliance is the linchpin of peace on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific.

In a meeting also last week in Washington, Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi discussed North Korea's ties with Russia.

Rally against China

Among Southeast Asian countries, Rubio last week held calls with the foreign ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, each time stressing stable maritime security in the South China Sea.

Particularly in his calls with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Rubio underscored "PRC's dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea."

With Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Rubio expressed concern over "China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea."

Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told VOA on January 23 that the Trump administration "will look primarily to the Philippines and outside partners like Japan and Australia to defend freedom of the seas in the South China Sea."

One of the first meetings Rubio held was with the Australian, Japanese and Indian leaders of the Quad security dialogue last week in Washington where they expressed opposition to unilateral actions to change the status quo of the region by force or coercion and vowed to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open.

Poling continued the administration will look "secondarily to Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia to deepen practical maritime cooperation."

Rubio "may push Indonesia to take a stronger stance vis-a-vis Chinese activities in disputed waters, particularly in light of controversial Indonesia-China maritime development deal signed in November 2024," Anreyka Natalegawa, associate fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS told VOA on Jan. 23.

Indonesia and China signed a $10 billion deal in November agreeing to develop fisheries, oil and gas exploration, among other things, across their private sectors.

Diplomatic balancing

Analysts say Washington's push to have regional countries align more closely with Washington could lead to some tensions. Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar tend to lean more toward Beijing, and Indonesia tends to balance its engagement with China and the U.S.

Robert McMahon, a foreign relations expert at The Ohio State University, said Rubio's harsh stance on China could put Indonesia in a "difficult position, since it has not been willing to join the anti-China bandwagon."

He told VOA in December after Rubio was nominated as the secretary of state that "to the extent that the United States tries to pressure Indonesia to move in that direction, that could lead to some conflict."

Rubio said to his State Department staff last week that he expects other countries "to advance their national interests" but hopes "there will be many - in which our national interests and theirs align."

Seng Vanly, an assistant dean and lecturer at the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations at the University of Cambodia, said Washington is likely to increase pressure on Cambodia over concerns for human rights, democratic setbacks, and restricted civil society activities, coupled with its growing ties with China.

However, analysts say U.S. foreign policy under Rubio will likely balance issues such as human rights with regional security and economic goals.

Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow for the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute, said, "Washington will be more practical."

"While it could raise human rights issues with regional countries, the Americans understand if they disengage from the region because of human rights, China will fill in the void," Yaacob said.

Han Noy from Khmer Service, Yuni Salim from Indonesian Service contributed to this report.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Nuclear-material Production Base and Nuclear Weapons Institute

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute.

He was accompanied by Hong Sung Mu, first deputy department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, and leading officials in the relevant field.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un highly praised scientists, technicians, workers and officials in the field of nuclear weapons production for achieving remarkable successes in the new long-term projects while putting spurs to the fighting task which the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK additionally assigned to the field related to the nuclear forces after the nuclear-material production field, the Nuclear Weapons Institute and other relevant field registered amazing production results in 2024.

Looking round the core processes for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials, he learned in detail about the present production of nuclear materials, the long-term plan and the 2025 plan of the Nuclear Weapons Institute.

Noting that the struggle in 2025 is very important as the five-year tasks the Eighth Congress of the WPK assigned to the fields of nuclear weapons research and production should be perfectly carried out, he said that this year is a crucial year as it is an important watershed in which we should carry out the tasks in the important period in the course of implementing the line of bolstering up the nuclear forces, a line which has been propelled by the WPK and the DPRK government, and switch over to the fulfillment of the next duty. He underlined the need to further raise the present surging spirit and thus to achieve epochal successes in overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country.

Noting that the nuclear technical forces of the DPRK growing stronger day by day and the results made by them are a symbol of the incomparable self-respect and valiant spirit of our Party, state and people, he affirmed that guaranteeing peace and security by dint of strength is our mode of struggle and option that are most righteous and an immutable truth.

The external situation facing the DPRK remains grave and the challenges of the hostile forces to take the predominance of strength are becoming ever more pronounced, he said, adding that the absolute force capable of thoroughly containing the enemies and taking the initiative to control the situation is not provided by any declaration or slogan, but the stockpiling of the physical strength of practical use and its increase by geometrical progression.

The DPRK's security situation, the world's most unstable situation in which a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable, makes it indispensable for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield capable of strategically coping with not only the various existing threats but also new prospective security dangers and at the same time reliably guaranteeing the sovereignty, interests and development right of the state, as we should bear the responsibility for not only the present but also the future of the country, he said. And he said that everything should be subordinated to enhancing the prestige of the state and defending its interests and that it is our firm political and military stand and invariable noble task and duty to develop the state's nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely.

He expressed expectation that all the nuclear experts of the DPRK would bear in mind the invariable view of the state, courageously turn out in the sacred struggle to highly develop the self-defensive nuclear war deterrent gained at the dear cost and push forward with the building up of the overwhelming nuclear strategic capability of the DPRK with brilliant increased production.

His inspection serves as an occasion that gave great encouragement to all the nuclear scientific and technological forces of the DPRK standing in the vanguard of the struggle for bolstering up the national defence capabilities. -0-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Report on 30th Enlarged Meeting of Secretariat of Eighth Central Committee of WPK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 29 (KCNA) -- The 30th Enlarged Meeting of the Secretariat of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee on January 27.

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, guided the meeting.

Present there were members of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee and, as observers, chief secretaries of the provincial, city and county Party committees and Party committees of the complexes, leading officials of the Party committees of ministries and national agencies, and department directors and first deputy department directors of the Party Central Committee and relevant officials of its Organizational Leadership Department, Information and Publicity Department and Discipline Inspection Department.

The WPK has written the longest history in the world as a socialist ruling party in the sacred course of accomplishing the most just mission and realizing the far-reaching ideals, shouldering the destiny of the country and the people. Its mightiness and invincibility have been guaranteed through the struggle for firmly defending the immaculate political climate and discipline system peculiar to it and perfectly applying the people-first political ideals.

At the present time, the Party Central Committee set forth the idea and line of building discipline on administering and strengthening the Party by dint of a strict discipline system, established a powerful discipline inspection system throughout the Party and laid down the rules of work and the action guidelines calling on all the Party organizations and officials to work and live in a revolutionary way based on their high political consciousness.

The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee convened the meeting of leading officials of the whole Party in connection with the occurrence of serious cases of gravely infringing upon the dignity, rights and interests of the people while wantonly violating Party discipline and exercising negative privileges in Onchon County of Nampho Municipality and Usi County of Jagang Province.

The Party Central Committee stressed that the enlarged meeting of the Secretariat was convened to further consolidate the Party's political climate and revolutionary position, taking serious note of the violation of Party discipline and anti-people acts going against the requirements of the times when the entire Party and all the people have turned out in the implementation of the decisions of the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee as a top-priority problem to be urgently settled.

At the enlarged meeting, there were first a briefing on data gathered by the Organizational Leadership Department of the Party Central Committee through a survey and a report on data by the Discipline Inspection Department of the Party Central Committee as regards the violation of Party discipline by leading cadres of the Onchon County Party Committee of Nampho Municipality and the county who gave rise to a mega case of totally denying Party discipline and perpetrating wrongdoings in group.

Severely exposed were the wrong deeds of officials in Onchon County, who openly denied the idea and intention of the Party Central Committee to firmly guarantee the existence and development of the Party by dint of discipline by establishing a strict discipline-observance habit and iron discipline in the entire Party, and its harmfulness and gravity.

Jo Yong Won, secretary of the Organizational Leadership Department of the WPK Central Committee, and Kim Jae Ryong, director of the Discipline Inspection Department, said in the briefing and report:

Today when we are faced with the unprecedentedly huge struggle tasks of completely implementing the decisions of the Eighth Party Congress and opening up a new phase towards a higher development stage in this significant year of the 80th founding anniversary of the Party, our officials have to fulfill the heavy task of carrying out their mission and duty as the core of the Party and the faithful servants of the people by displaying vigorous courage, exertion and devotion more than ever before in the vanguard of the revolution.

But, on the contrary to such demand of the Party and the highly charged revolutionary atmosphere, Onchon County made poor preparations for a plenary meeting of the county Party committee for implementing the decisions of the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee and held the meeting in a grossly formalistic way. After that, there occurred the mega case, in which more than 40 officials, including Party officials, committed wrongdoing in group.

This is an act of flagrant violation of Party discipline that demands leading Party officials at all levels should not lead an indolent and careless life like being treated to drinking bouts at public service facilities. The leading official of the county Party committee personally organized the irregularities and dozens of leading Party and administrative officials in the county, including officials of the county Party committee, flocked together to commit such irregularities. It was a reckless act unheard-of in the history of our Party.

The group drinking spree openly committed in Onchon County is an act utterly contrary to the Party's line on building discipline, and this clearly proves that the ringleader of the case and those involved are a corrupt group and impudent rabble with no elementary qualifications as leading cadres.

The respected General Secretary made an important speech.

In the speech he said:

These are the days when revolutionary moral discipline should be established in a thoroughgoing way in the Party, Party officials, its leading cadres in particular, should strictly observe the rules of life and activities, and its internal discipline should be further strengthened than ever before. The serious case that occurred in Onchon County in this period is regarded as a grave crime of violating Party discipline and moral and cultural order and an open denial of our Party's line of building discipline.

Had there not been discipline in defending the firm unity of the revolutionary ranks and the strict political and moral discipline in and uncompromising struggle for establishing the leadership system of the Party Central Committee and defending the organizational and ideological unity of the whole Party, there would not have been the Party's glorious ruling history of 80 years nor today when its inheritance and innovation are being designed. It is useful for and beneficial to the revolution to boldly recognize such a grave deviation in the Party and to deal with it as an especially serious case in time.

Making a critical analysis of the ideological origin and gravity of the malpractices committed against the Party's intentions by officials, who should be more faithful to their duties than anyone else as persons in direct charge of regional development in the crucial period when the whole Party is paying close attention to strengthening cities and counties and new innovative projects in regions are being carried on one after another or planned, he pointed out that these malpractices are not only a serious case that could undermine the foundations for strengthening our Party and make the county, occupying one-two hundredth of the country's territory, a non-Party, non-political and non-socialist region, but also a dangerous signal which directly indicates that a privileged social stratum, seeking more special favours than the people by abusing their authority, may be formed.

He criticized that although all sorts of alien and heterogeneous ideological elements undermining the sound Party climate and obstructing the advance of the revolution, the political and moral crimes undermining Party discipline, occurred in the given region, it shows that the work of qualitative consolidation of cadre ranks, to which we have attached special importance and directed efforts for Party building in the new era, has not been conducted in a substantial way.

Giving the Party Central Committee's estimation that there is little improvement in the style of work and the spirit of observing discipline although there seems to be a change in them outwardly, he stressed that the conclusion drawn from this is that however revolutionary and perfect the line of Party building is, it would only remain a theory for theory's sake if the cadres were not ideologically prepared and failed to make efforts to implement it absolutely and unconditionally.

Noting that the current meeting marked an occasion for making a practical review and reaffirmation of the need to put greater efforts into establishing proper Party discipline at the beginning of 2025, the year that marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of our Party, he said that the meeting would constitute a turning point in further consolidating the Party consciousness, political awareness, revolutionary spirit and we-serve-the-people spirit of the officials who make up the core and leading forces of the Party, and in making substantial progress in strengthening the ranks of cadres and in building up the Party.

The core, central task in the new course of Party building is the transformation of cadres along revolutionary lines as well, he said, adding that the solution to this end is to conduct more intensive education, training and struggle across the Party. He specified the principles and ways for launching a dynamic organizational and ideological offensive throughout the Party to consolidate its sound political climate.

He emphasized that the main target of the discipline inspection sector should be practices of corruption within the Party and all other violations of its discipline to be proactively and aggressively contained, practices that the Party despises most, reiterating the need to "aim at, pursue, search and wipe out" such malpractices on the basis of strict regulations and rules.

He said that this year should be set as a year for establishing a revolutionary Party climate and strengthening the whole Party, in order to dynamically open up a new stage of building a ruling party that is strong in discipline and full of a revolutionary climate. He stressed the necessity of waging a resolute struggle for the eternal development of the Workers' Party of Korea and for the accomplishment of the sacred revolutionary cause.

The Secretariat of the WPK Central Committee, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea", decided and instructed to dissolve the Onchon County Party Committee of Nampho Municipality, which seriously damaged our Party's revolutionary trait and hindered the single-hearted unity of the Party and the revolutionary ranks by committing a wrong deed in group in wanton violation of Party discipline, and announced a strict proposal for dealing with those involved in the extra-large case related to the violation of Party discipline.

Then, the Enlarged Meeting of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee dealt with the serious anti-people crimes committed in Usi County of Jagang Province.

He sternly pointed out the fact that the Usi county agricultural inspection organ, which is duty bound to monitor and regulate in an exclusive and responsible manner the implementation of the Party's policy on rural construction and its agricultural policy, flagrantly encroached upon the interests and property of the people by abusing the legal power, instead of orienting its work to checking major illegal practices latent in the agricultural sector and establishing a well-regulated order and discipline.

Noting that those who abuse their power and work in a bureaucratic manner in local areas are attempting to destroy the sacred fortress of unity between the Party and the people without batting an eye, he stated that this is a mega crime which can never be pardoned by our Party, our people, our system and our legal power.

At the meeting there was a report on data about the mega crime perpetrated by inspectors of the Usi county agricultural inspection organ.

Those inspectors unhesitatingly committed an unpardonable crime of inflicting sufferings on regional inhabitants and misappropriating their property at random by abusing the inviolable legal power.

Very grave is the criminal act that seriously undermined the single-hearted unity of the Party and the people, the mainstay of the revolution and our lifeblood, by challenging the people-first politics of our Party which orients all affairs of the revolution and construction to the protection of the rights and interests of the people and makes selfless, devoted efforts for the good of the people.

The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee announced a strict proposal to dissolve the Usi county agricultural inspection organ and organize a new one and to deal with the chief secretary of the Usi County Party Committee, who fostered and connived at the anti-people acts, and the inspectors of the county agricultural inspection organ.

The ringleaders and those involved in the hideous criminal case will be put under investigation by law.

The meeting proved that the practices of corroding the sound moral traits of the Party, hindering the strengthened discipline throughout the Party and encroaching upon the rights and interests of the people which our Party regards as the most sacred, contrary to the original ideals and spirit of the Party, are being thoroughly repelled.

The 30th Enlarged Meeting of the Secretariat of the Eighth WPK Central Committee highlighted once again the immutable truth that the eternal vitality of the struggling and advancing Party lies on the iron discipline. And it serves as a political occasion of great significance in further clarifying the original features and character of the WPK which maintains the people-first principle as its mode of existence and its trait and in increasing its militant might in every way. -0-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Call with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Barrot

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 27, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot. Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the centrality of the U.S.-France alliance to the security and prosperity of the American people. He and Foreign Minister Barrot celebrated the depth of our global cooperation and explored ways to further the U.S.-France partnership through close collaboration and consultation on shared priorities, including defense spending.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pistorius visits activation staff of the Brigade in Lithuania

Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence

Jan 28, 2025

The deployment of an armoured brigade to Lithuania is among the most complex and ambitious projects in the history of the Bundeswehr. Some 4,800 German troops will contribute to deterring Russia on NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastern flank from now on. Germany's Defence Minister travelled to Lithuania to learn more about the progress of this lighthouse project.

Shortly before Christmas, Boris Pistorius welcomed Lithuania's new Minister of National Defence, Dovile Sakaliene, at the Bendlerblock in Berlin. Now, Germany's Minister of Defence has taken up his counterpart on her invitation to visit Vilnius. After a 90-minute flight on the FMoD Special Air Mission Wing's Airbus, he landed in the Lithuanian capital on Wednesday, 11.30 am local time. Pistorius was accompanied by several members of the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag.

Deterrence is a joint task

Germany and Lithuania are security partners in NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization and also cooperate closely within the European Union. In addition to this, they are pursuing a joint bilateral project, which is the deployment of a 5,000-strong German armoured brigade in Lithuania.

The Baltic state with its three million inhabitants is situated right between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus, which is an ally of Russia. Should Russia attack Europe, Lithuania would become a target. This is why Germany is supporting its Ally's deterrence efforts: as a part of the Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania since 2017, and, in future, with the permanently deployed Brigade in Lithuania.

This deployment is a lighthouse project of the German Zeitenwende in security policy, which began after Russia's attack on Ukraine. While the activation ceremony is scheduled for summer, 500 Brigade troops will be serving in Lithuania by the end of the year. Subsequently, more and more troops are to be deployed in increments until the target strength of 4,800 military and 200 civilian personnel has been reached.

Following their arrival in Vilnius, the delegation from Germany proceeded to the Presidential Palace, where Pistorius was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Lithuania by President Gitanas Nauseda. The subsequent working-level meeting with representatives of Lithuania's government focused primarily on the deployment project: What progress had been made since the last meeting; what challenges were still waiting to be tackled? After the meeting, the Ministers addressed the press.

Pistorius said that they were working towards the same goal, which was to ensure the security of NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastern flank. The Minister went on to say that the deployment of the Brigade to Lithuania was progressing consistently and as scheduled. He then emphasised the visibility of the Bundeswehr and its resulting contribution to deterrence. The Minister also announced that the close cooperation between the two countries would be further consolidated in the future.

His colleague, Minister Sakaliene, added that the Brigade's deployment was vital for Lithuania and a sign of both nations' resolve. The Minister of National Defence said that four of five Lithuanian citizens were convinced that the permanent presence of NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies would strengthen Lithuania's security and added that the German Brigade was Lithuania's number one priority.

Remembering the victims of the Holocaust

After focusing on their countries' future, the Ministers turned their attention to the past: In World War II, Germany committed a massacre in the Paneriai forest near Vilnius, murdering 100,000 people, some 70,000 of which were Jewish. Pistorius and Sakaliene laid a wreath at the Holocaust memorial erected at this site to honour the dead. The ceremony was attended by servicemen and women of both countries.

Later, the German delegation went to visit the barracks of the Lithuanian Duke Vaidotas armoured brigade in Rokantiskes. Just like another site in Nemencine, these facilities, which only opened last year, will be used temporarily by the Brigade in Lithuania until the Bundeswehr accommodation has been completed.

Brigadier General Christoph Huber, Commander of the Activation Staff, gave his guests a tour of the infrastructure in Rokantiskes. Afterwards, Pistorius met servicewomen and men from the activation staff in Vilnius in order to get a better impression of morale among the troops. The Minister called them the spearhead force of the Zeitenwende in security policy as well as the flagship of Germany.

On Wednesday evening, Pistorius travelled on to Rzeszow in Poland, where German air defence forces are stationed to protect a logistics hub of the international alliance that supports Ukraine as part of NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization's Integrated Air Defence. 31 of 32 NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization members have joined NSATU (NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine), a command created last year. Australia and New Zealand are participating as well. Through NSATU, Ukraine will receive assistance amounting to at least 40 billion euros annually in the future.

Author: Timo Kather

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli regime disrupting peace, endangering region's fragile stability: Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

New York, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani says that Israel is the main threat to international peace and security, emphasizing that Tel Aviv makes "baseless allegations against Iran" to conceal the regime's "destructive activities".

In a letter to the UN Security Council president, Iravani reacted to comments by Israeli president Isaac Herzog who accused Iran of being a "threat" to the world, particularly the United States and Israel.

Iravani condemned the "unfounded and provocative accusations" by the Israeli president against Iran during the United Nations General Assembly's special session on Monday.

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran explicitly and firmly rejects such baseless claims, which serve no purpose other than to divert the international community's attention from the horrific crimes committed by this apartheid regime against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

Iravani pointed out that such groundless accusations are part of a deliberate and ongoing effort to conceal the blatant violations of international law and the destructive activities of the Israeli regime against regional countries.

The letter was addressed to the UN secretary general and the president of the General Assembly.

Iravani also stressed that the Israeli regime "is not only a threat to Iran but also the primary and constant threat to peace and security" both in the region and the world.

The Iranian ambassador said that beyond the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by "this rogue regime against the Palestinian people, Zionism continues its relentless aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and Syria."

"These actions constitute clear violations of the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. Such unlawful acts are flagrant breaches of international law and further endanger the already fragile stability of the region," Iran's UN ambassador further said.

Iravani called on the international community not to allow such deliberate efforts of the occupying entity to divert attention from its crimes and destructive activities aimed at undermining peace and stability in the region and global efforts for the promotion of justice and accountability.

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to hold this "apartheid regime" accountable for "its crimes and take decisive measures" to ensure its compliance with international law.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran has 'upper hand' in defense thanks to advanced technology: Chief of Staff

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Qasreshirin, IRNA -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri says the Army has gained the "upper hand" in conventional defense and electronic warfare through the use of advanced technology, including robotics and artificial intelligence.

On Tuesday, General Bagheri met with Army forces participating in a large-scale security, offensive, and mobile exercise in western Iran. He commended the Army for effectively leveraging new combat technologies to bolster their defense capabilities.

The military exercise, conducted by the Army's Ground Forces, began on Monday in the western regions of the country.

General Bagheri said the war games aim to assess the readiness of helicopter units, parachute operations by the 55th Airborne Brigade, and combined offensive and defensive missions involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

On the second and final day of the exercise, the Army showcased the first joint flight of its drone systems, referred to as "swarm," and unveiled its first laser-guided, high-precision bomb systems designed specifically for unmanned aircraft.

The exercise also practiced various takeoff and landing methods for drones from different airstrips across the nation, including coordinated swarm flights and simultaneous operations involving both reconnaissance and combat drones.

4353

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Araghchi to Trump: 'Nice words' not enough to buy Iran's confidence

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 28, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says it would take a lot more than "nice words" by the new US administration to convince Tehran to begin negotiations with Washington toward reaching a new agreement.

In an interview with Sky News published on Tuesday, Araghchi pointed to the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal during the first time US President Donald Trump was in office, saying lots of things should be done by the other side to "buy our confidence."

In May 2018, the US unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and pursued a "maximum pressure" policy toward the Islamic Republic.

The withdrawal came despite Iran's full compliance with the JCPOA, as repeatedly certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), prompting Tehran to expand its civilian nuclear activities, which the deal had restricted.

Trump has suggested that he would prefer a diplomatic solution, saying a new deal with Iran would be "nice."

"The situation is different and much more difficult than the previous time," Araghchi said. "We haven't heard anything but the 'nice' word, and this is obviously not enough."

Israel, US would be 'crazy' to attack Iran's nuclear facilities: Araghchi

The foreign minister also warned that Israel and the US would be "crazy" to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, adding it would be faced with an "immediate and decisive response."

"We have made it clear," he said, "that any attack to our nuclear facilities would be faced with an immediate and decisive response. But I don't think they will do that crazy thing. This is really crazy. And this would turn the whole region into a very bad disaster."

Araghchi also dismissed Trump's call for Gaza to be cleaned out of Palestinians, which sparked outrage across the region and the world.

"My suggestion is something else," he said mockingly. "Instead of Palestinians, try to expel Israelis, take them to Greenland so they can kill two birds with one stone."

4354

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran's Army makes grand advances in electronic warfare, AI: General Bagheri

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 5:25 PM

Iran's Army has made grand achievements in acquiring new combat sciences and techniques, developing a substantial advantage in utilizing robotics, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare.

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri made the remarks on Tuesday, as he addressed the Army's Ground Force personnel during the main phase of a military exercise in western Iran.

General Bagheri said the drills demonstrated the armed forces' readiness to counter the enemy in electronic warfare. He said the Iranian military forces will effectively provide security and comfort for the nation.

During the two-phase maneuvers, the Iranian general said, various operations were conducted, including assessing the readiness of helicopter units and performing parachute drops by the 55th Airborne Brigade.

The exercises also included evaluating offensive and defensive flight operations of drones, he said.

"Due to the development and promotion of artificial intelligence and robotics, modern battles have significantly changed from those of the past," General Bagheri stated.

"Accordingly, the ground forces maximized their use of contemporary knowledge and technologies during the current exercise, successfully implementing robotic operations with equipment produced by the Research and Self-Sufficiency Organization of the Army's Ground Force."

The two-day drills, conducted along the western borders of Kermanshah province, concluded on Tuesday.

Brigadier General Karim Cheshk, Deputy Operations Chief of the Ground Force, said all predetermined objectives set by the participating units in this exercise were achieved.

During the drills, the Army practiced comprehensive assaults on terrorist positions with heavy aerial support from helicopters and armored drone units, among other operations.

Brigadier General Kiomars Heydari, commander of the Ground Force, announced during a visit to the region that Iran's helicopter missile range has increased from 2 kilometers to 200.

Brigadier General Khamoshi, commander of helicopter units, mentioned that over 100 helicopters were deployed during the exercise.

He said new helicopters have night-time combat capabilities, with many components now produced indigenously.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Any US, Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities will spell major disaster for region: FM

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 10:31 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that any "crazy" Israeli or American attack on Iran's nuclear facilities will spell a "very bad disaster" for the entire region.

In an interview with Sky News in the Iranian capital, Araghchi said "any attack to our nuclear facilities would be faced with an immediate and decisive response."

"But I don't think they will do that crazy thing. This is really crazy. And this would turn the whole region into a very bad disaster," he warned.

In 2015, Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers.

However, the US's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran during Donald Trump's first term in office left the future of the deal in limbo.

In 2019, Iran started to roll back the limits it had accepted under the JCPOA after the other parties failed to live up to their commitments.

Trump has recently hinted he would prefer a new deal with Iran, saying it would be "nice".

Araghchi said although he was prepared to listen to Trump, but it would take a lot more than that for Iran to be convinced it should begin negotiations with the US towards another deal, given Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 agreement.

"The situation is different and much more difficult than the previous time," he said, adding, "Lots of things should be done by the other side to buy our confidence... We haven't heard anything but the 'nice' word, and this is obviously not enough."

'Instead of Palestinians, send Israelis to Greenland'

Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister commented on Trump's proposal that Gaza could be "cleaned out" and that Palestinians could be moved to Egypt and Jordan.

Araghchi mocked the US president over the suggestion, proposing instead that Israelis be sent to Greenland.

"My suggestion is something else. Instead of Palestinians, try to expel Israelis, take them to Greenland so they can kill two birds with one stone," he said, amid Trump's repeated calls for acquiring the autonomous Danish territory.

Almost all of the Gaza Strip's 2.4 million inhabitants have been internally displaced by the genocidal war Israel waged on the impoverished territory on October 7, 2023. The war claimed the lives of at least 47,306 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The occupying regime accepted a ceasefire earlier this month after having failed to realize any of its wartime objectives, including freeing the captives, "eliminating" the Gaza resistance, and causing forced displacement of Gaza's entire population to neighboring Egypt.

Palestinians, Lebanese 'rebuilding themselves' after Israeli aggression

Araghchi stressed that the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements are "rebuilding themselves" after the Israeli aggression.

"Hamas and Hezbollah have been damaged. But at the same time, they are rebuilding themselves, because as I said, this is a school of thought, this is an idea, this is a cause, this is an ideal that will always be there."

Hezbollah opened a support front for Palestinians in Gaza only a day after the Israeli regime unleashed its genocidal war against the besieged territory, launching numerous retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets in the occupied territories.

Last November, Israel was forced to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah after suffering heavy losses following more than 14 months of fighting and failing to achieve its goals in its aggression on Lebanon.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar junta begins recruiting women for active military service

Women are also being forced to serve as soldiers in a pro-junta ethnic militia.

By RFA Burmese and Nang Hseng Phoo 2025.01.28 -- Myanmar's ruling military junta has begun initial steps to draft women for active military service, residents said, showing the military's desperation to replenish its ranks amid a series of battlefield defeats and desertions in the country's four-year civil war.

Last year, the junta enforced a 2010 military conscription law saying men aged 18-35 and single women 18-27 would be eligible for military service.

So far, it has conscripted only men  sometimes by force  but since mid-January, authorities have begun compiling lists of eligible women in the Yangon region, residents in several townships said, suggesting official conscription would begin in the future.

"The list of women has already been compiled, and many students are included in it," said a woman living in Taketa township who she was worried because her 20-year-old daughter, a student at East Yangon University, was on the list for recruitment.

The woman asked her ward administrator for a postponement for her daughter because she is a student, but her request was denied, she said.

Married women are exempt from military service under the law, but married women without children who live in Kayan township were still included on the list, said a resident there who had to register.

"The law states that married women are exempt, [but] when I asked why my name was included, they said if I was not pregnant or did not have children, I would have to serve in the military without exception," she added.

Getting ready

The military council denied that women had been called up for military service, and a representative from the Chairman's Office of the Central Body for Summoning People's Military Servants said authorities were simply taking a headcount of those eligible to serve.

"It is similar to a census  essentially a basic manpower registry," the representative said. "There has been no separate call for women for military service at this time."

Myanmar military officer Capt. Zin Yaw, a member of the Civil Disobedience Movement that opposed the military's seizure of power in 2021, said that the listings of women were part of a plan to recruit them for training, but not necessarily send them into combat.

"In the past, junta leader [Sen. Gen.] Min Aung Hlaing has shown interest in involving female officers," Zin Yaw said. "There have also been cases where female military personnel ... were called in and assigned roles."

The junta's council announced that women meeting the age requirements for military service under the country's military service law will be recruited starting from their fifth week of military training.

Women from all 10 townships in Mon state in Myanmar's south and from Kayin state and Tanintharyi region also have been recruited for military service since mid-2024, according to a survey by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, which monitors human rights in Mon state.

Militia forcing recruitment

The Pa-O National Army, a state-sponsored militia that fights alongside junta soldiers against Pa-O rebels, is forcing women and underage girls to join the military service, they said.

Female recruits mostly have been sent to the front lines of armed combat between the junta and Karenni rebels at the Shan-Kayah state border since late last year, a Pa-O Youth Organization official said.

A directive requiring women to undergo military training in areas controlled by the Pa-O National Army could result in girls being deployed in front-line combat, residents and Pa-O organizations said.

Though it is difficult to verify the ages of the women sent to combat areas, it is known that they include women under the age of 18, the official from the Pa-O Youth Organization said.

"We began noticing women being sent to the front lines around the end of 2024, particularly in the fighting along the [Kayah state] and Shan border," said the official. "Their presence in these areas is very evident. At times, a significant number of soldiers are deployed, and women are among them."

Khun Aung Mann, general secretary of the Pa-O National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed organization that opposes the military regime, told RFA that he has received reports that the Pa-O militia has been training women for military service.

"The current situation is that both the [Pa-O] militia and the military council are in need of manpower," he said. "Therefore, we believe that they will use women if necessary, as we are already witnessing the use of underage children on the battlefield."

There were 15-year-old child soldiers among captured prisoners of war, he said.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin for RFA Burmese. edited 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






Arakan Army captures junta camp on road to central Myanmar

The AA is probing areas to the east and south of Rakhine state after taking over most of it.

By RFA Burmese 2025.01.28 -- An ethnic minority insurgent force that has captured most of western Myanmar's Rakhine state has seized a military base on a main road into central heartland areas, the group said, raising the prospect of a rebel push into the Irrawaddy River valley.

The Arakan Army, or AA, has made significant gains over the past year in its bid to force the Myanmar military out of Rakhine state and take it over, capturing 14 of the state's 17 townships, and probing into southern and central areas of Myanmar dominated by the majority Bamar community.

AA forces seized a military base at a pass on the main road between the town of Toungup, which they hold near the coast, over mountains and down to the Bago region in the central plains.

"The AA completely captured the junta's Mo Hti Taung camp on the border between Rakhine state and Bago division," the AA said in a statement late on Monday.

The AA launched their bid to capture the camp, which is 180 kilometers, or 112 miles, southwest of the capital, Naypyidaw, on Jan. 21. They found abandoned ammunition, other military equipment and the bodies of junta soldiers, the group said, without giving details of casualties on either side.

The main spokesperson for the junta that seized power nearly five years ago, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htun, did not respond to calls by RFA seeking comment.

Junta forces were launching counter-attacks from the east, the AA said.

The AA did not say how the capture of the camp might fit into its military planning but one analyst said the group might be aiming to make a push east, down to the populated lowland, where the main north-south roads, railway lines and river transport links run, and on towards Naypyidaw.

"We must consider the possibility that they are coming to dominate along the Naypyidaw highway," said political analyst Than Soe Naing.

"A situation where Naypyidaw can be surrounded is being created," he said. "Similar to the military aims of other revolutionary forces, the conquest of Naypyidaw in the rainy season is possible."

The camp at the pass on a main road from central areas to Rakhine state would also be an important defensive position for the AA if it wanted to block the military from advancing into Rakhine state from the east.

Than Soe Naing said the AA was also launching guerrilla attacks from the south of Rakine state into the Ayeyarwady region, and into the Magway region to the north.

The AA captured the Gwa town in the south of Rakhine state in late December and the military was launching heavy air and artillery strikes from the Ayeyarwady border to try to take it back, residents of the area said.

Similarly to the north, fighting is taking place on the main road east from Ann town, which the AA took in early December, through the mountains to Pa Dan, in Ngape township, residents said.

Battles are also being fought daily around the Rakhine state capital of Sittwe, one of the few places left under junta administration, residents said.

The other main area under junta control in the state is the Kyaukpyu economic zone on the coast, where China aims to build a deep-sea port, and has energy facilities including natural gas and oil pipelines running to southern China.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. 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






Singapore oil firm urged to quit war-torn Myanmar

By Zsombor Peter January 29, 2025

Singapore-based petroleum company Interra Resources is being accused by an activist group in Myanmar of complicity in alleged war crimes committed by Myanmar's military government.

The group Justice for Myanmar said Interra Resources' majority stake in energy company Goldpetrol makes it complicit in war crimes because Goldpetrol produces and sells millions of barrels of oil that benefits the country's military government.

In a report released Wednesday, Justice for Myanmar said Interra holds 60% of the Goldpetrol Joint Operating Company. The report describes the venture as one of the few remaining companies in Myanmar still extracting oil from the country's onshore fields since the military overthrew a democratically elected government in February 2021, setting off a civil war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced over 3 million people.

"Interra Resources must take action now so that it is consistent with its international human rights responsibilities. This necessarily involves stopping the supply of crude oil to the junta. It needs to decide the most responsible way to do this, and it may involve suspending operations or divestment," Yadanar Maung, a Justice for Myanmar spokesperson, told VOA ahead of the report's release.

Interra did not reply to VOA's requests for comment.

Justice for Myanmar said Interra's annual reports and leaked financial statements from Goldpetrol reveal that all of Goldpetrol's oil production goes to the state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)  more than 2.3 million barrels from 2021 to 2023, the last full year of available data.

Those sales, the group said, have been earning Interra record profits. It said the firm reported $24.5 million and $19.1 million in crude oil sales to MOGE in 2022 and 2023, respectively, far more than in any of the previous five years. The average annual profits for the previous five years is $12.9 million.

Citing in its report anonymous sources with knowledge of Goldpetrol's operations and the country's oil supply chains, Justice for Myanmar said the crude Goldpetrol is pumping out of its two fields heads to the Mann refinery in the country's Magwe region, which supplies the area's military bases with jet fuel and other refined oil products.

The refinery sits in the heart of Myanmar's military weapons-making hub, between an air force base and a gunpowder mill.

Since the coup, the military claims it has been fighting so-called "terrorists" -- armed rebel groups -- with proportionate force to restore peace and order.

But United Nations experts and others have repeatedly accused the junta of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. As the junta continues to lose ground to armed rebel groups across the country, the U.N. said, it is resorting ever more to indiscriminate artillery and airstrikes on civilian areas, destroying scores of churches, schools and clinics and razing whole villages.

Conflict data collected by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a U.K.-based research group, show a gradual drop in armed clashes since late 2023 but a rise in air and drone strikes, including a record 345 in October.

A military airstrike in January on a village under rebel control in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, which borders Magwe, reportedly killed about 40 people, including women and children.

Justice for Myanmar said Interra bears some of the responsibility.

"Interra Resources is complicit in the junta's international crimes through the supply of crude oil. This oil fuels Myanmar military operations that indiscriminately target civilians and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," Yadanar Maung said.

"The domestic production of fuel is particularly important for the junta, given the impact of sanctions against junta banks and its aviation fuel supply chain," the spokesperson added.

The U.S. and other Western governments have imposed sanctions on a number of Myanmar banks and firms owned by or in business with the country's miliary since the coup in 2021, including some handling jet fuel sales and supplies.

Besides urging Interra to consider suspending its Myanmar operations or selling off its shares in Goldpetrol, Justice for Myanmar said Singapore's stock exchange should investigate Interra for any breaches of its rules. Trading in another listed firm was halted in 2021 because of its operations in Myanmar, which the exchange had designated a "sanctioned nation."

The stock exchange did not reply to VOA's requests for comment.

Justice for Myanmar said Interra told the activist group ahead of the report's launch that Goldpetrol's contract with MOGE requires it to sell all its crude oil to the government, and that the joint venture has continued supplying MOGE after the coup to fulfill its "contractual obligations."

The group said Interra declined to comment on how that oil was being used.

Amnesty International, which has also investigated Myanmar's jet fuel supply chains, said the military's airstrikes continue to devastate civilian areas, driving even schools to build bomb shelters.

"Airstrikes are only becoming more frequent, and aviation fuel remains a key asset for the Myanmar military, which is why we continue to call for states and companies to suspend shipments," Amnesty International's Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman told VOA.

The group said public pressure has convinced some of the foreign firms along Myanmar's jet fuel supply chain to pull out but said their exit does not always solve the problem.

"After that departure, either local companies with even closer ties to the Myanmar military entered the scene or regional companies with limited international operations and for the most part, immune to sanctions  came in to fill the void. We have seen this happen in a number of business sectors in Myanmar," Freeman said.

Goldpetrol's other shareholder that owns the remaining 40% stake in the company is North Petroleum International, a subsidiary of the China North Industries Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned weapons conglomerate doing business worldwide as NORINCO.

China has been the Myanmar military's main weapons supplier since the coup, along with Russia. It also has billions of dollars invested in Myanmar's energy sector, including parallel oil and gas pipelines that stretch across the country from the Bay of Bengal to China's Yunnan province.

China North Industries Group did not reply to VOA's request for comment.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Any Port In A Storm: How Russia's Navy Is Adrift After Syrian Pullout

By Mike Eckel and Mark Krutov January 28, 2025

After loitering off the Syrian coast for weeks, two Russian cargo ships docked at the port of Tartus, part of a reluctant mission to unravel one of the Kremlin's biggest foreign policy successes since the Soviet collapse.

The two ships -- the Sparta and the Sparta II -- arrived on January 22 at Tartus, where hundreds of pieces of heavy weaponry, vehicles, artillery, ammunition crates had been parked for weeks, guarded by Russian soldiers, awaiting shipment out. The day they docked, Syria's new government formally terminated a 49-year lease.

Granted access to the port after a long wait, the ships were expected to haul some of the Russian military hardware out of Syria. Satellite imagery released January 27 suggested the Sparta II may have already departed, with some portion of the equipment on board.

The question now: Where to next?

A growing number of experts point to a warlord-controlled part of Libya, which would allow Moscow to keep some forward presence in the region, and also a bridge to more shadowy operations in Africa. Sudan is also a possibility. So is Algeria.

Regardless, the departure of Russia's military presence from Syria scrambles the calculus for the region.

"It is a pretty significant logistical problem in the short term, but perhaps less so in the medium term," Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank. "Most of the options in Libya...do not have significant preexisting naval facilities and much of the infrastructure which does exist has suffered war damage. The Russians would likely be building from scratch."

Also problematic: Russia's access to the Black Sea is limited due a century-old treaty restricting certain military transit through Turkey's Bosporus. And while Russia's submarine fleet is still considered a formidable force, its surface fleet is increasingly seen as a rusty flotilla prone to breaking down.

"It is possible that in the short term the [Russian Navy] will attempt to maintain a presence of some kind in the Eastern Mediterranean, if only as a face-saving exercise to show that they didn't really need Tartus anyway," said Mike Plunkett, a senior naval analyst at Janes', the British security research group.

"However, if we assume that the Black Sea remains inaccessible to Russian warships for the foreseeable future then it is highly likely that a permanent Russian presence in the Mediterranean will quickly become unsustainable and will need to be dropped in favor of higher priority taskings," he said.

Syrian High Water

When Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced trip to Syria in December 2017, it was portrayed as his "mission accomplished" moment -- two years after Moscow sent in an expeditionary force to prop up the flagging military efforts of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Using Tartus, and the Hmeimim air base, about 60 kilometers up the coast, Russian forces helped Syria's air force obliterate swaths of Syrian cities, causing major civilian casualties while routing a ragtag collection of rebel groups.

"Syria has been saved as a sovereign, independent state, refugees are returning home and conditions have been created for a political settlement under United Nations' auspices," Putin announced at the time.

The Russian intervention turned the tide in Assad's favor. But Moscow was distracted a few years later, when it decided to launch all-out war on Ukraine. That invasion, now nearing its third anniversary, continues to draw massive military resources, and manpower -- making Syria a lower priority.

Last month, Syrian rebels, spearheaded by the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, swept into Damascus, sending Assad and his family fleeing to Moscow.

Like other rebel groups, HTS had no love for Russia's presence, and the destruction leveled on parts of the country. A steady trickle of heavy-lift cargo jets started flying in from Russian territory, to airlift some equipment home.

But even as heavier weaponry stacked up at Tartus, the question whether Russia would maintain some presence in the country was unclear. On January 22, multiple reports said the new Syrian government had canceled the Russian lease for the port.

The two Sparta ships -- civilian vessels operated by Oboronlogistika, a shipping company linked to the Russian Defense Ministry -- were spotted arriving at Tartus the same day, after weeks at sea off the Syrian coast.

Two other naval vessels -- the Ivan Gren and the Aleksandr Otrakovsky -- amphibious ships capable of handling heavy weaponry without the need for port gantry cranes, remain offshore.

"Why did HTS wait so long to force them out?" Plunkett said. "Was there some attempt to find an accommodation whereby the Russians could stay? I think that would be a very hard sell for many in Syria, given everything the Russians have been complicit in over the course of the war."

"It was always going to be a hard sell to the Syrian people to let the Russians stay in Tartus and Hmeimim... since the Russians helped destroy cities like Aleppo from these bases," Kaushal said.

Africa Bound

For the moment, Russia does not appear to be giving up on the region entirely.

The Russian Navy "could support a Mediterranean presence with deployments from Northern or Baltic Fleets, or even the Pacific Fleet, but this would be highly resource-and time- consuming," said Nick Childs, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

"Russian hopes of some sort of naval facility in Sudan also seem to be stalled and again would be of limited use compared to Tartus," he said.

But without access to a port in the region, Russia would have to rely solely on air cargo, which is incapable of handling the volume of heavy equipment needed for a serious military presence.

For that reason, a Libyan port -- Tobruk, for example -- may be the most likely destination.

Moscow has had a shadow presence in Libya's eastern regions, which are controlled by rebel warlord Khalifa Haftar. The notorious, now-defunct mercenary company Wagner backed Haftar in his fight against a UN-backed government in 2019.

It's unclear how big the Russian mercenary presence there is; but a senior Russian defense official met with Haftar in Cairo last year. But even if the Russians secure access to Tobruk, experts say it will take substantial investment to build out the port facilities to accommodate larger naval ships.

The lack of a reliable base or port in the region will also make Russian operations in African countries, such as Mali or the Central African Republic, more difficult.

"Bottom line up front: The loss of Tartus is likely to spell the end of a permanent Russian presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, at least until the Black Sea becomes accessible again," Kaushal said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-syria-tartus-exit- libya-africa-military-presence/33290554.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






Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the General Meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, Moscow, January 28, 2025

28 January 2025 14:43

102-28-01-2025

Good afternoon,

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

I wish all of us every success in 2025, as well as victories and all the very best.

Today, we are holding the General Meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO. It is one of the first international events of this kind this year.

I am delighted to welcome all of you in this room. The year 2024 was quite challenging for our country, for the entire world and in terms of the way we work with international organisations, including UNESCO. Once again, we saw that there should be no illusions regarding the current situation within UNESCO, or the policy vector as set by its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, and her closest associates. Having unleashed a hybrid war against our country, Western countries have been proactive in relying on the opportunities they can obtain through international secretariats by literally seeking to privatise them. UNESCO is not an exception in this regard. Attempts to exploit its agenda while pursuing vested political interests continue unabated despite the grave violations of the organisation's charter. There is also an obvious focus on injecting the Ukraine topic into the agenda of all the UNESCO structures. The UNESCO Executive Board has been guided by what we call double standards when taking its decisions on Crimea and Ukraine, while targeting Russia. There was a time when this organisation enjoyed universal acclaim and authority, but it is now reaching far beyond its mandate and competence when taking these decisions.

Headed by its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, who is a French national, UNESCO Secretariat has been de facto catering to the interests of those who proclaimed that their objective consists of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, and cancelling everything Russian, from Russia's involvement in international processes to culture, education and religious values. The Secretariat has been silent and opted for playing along with the Kiev regime and its Western backers. It has shamefully failed to speak up on the massive and system-wide effort to destroy Russian historical heritage sites in Ukraine and in the Baltic states, including those protected by UNESCO as cultural heritage sites. This situation is quite sad.

Together with her colleagues, Audrey Azoulay looked the other way when monuments to Catherine the Great and Prince Grigory Potemkin were destroyed in Odessa's historical neighbourhood. UNESCO listed this part of the city as a world heritage site just one week after this barbaric act took place, as if they created this delay intentionally in order to have an alibi. By the same token, they did not notice, as they claim, the destruction of a monument to Alexander Pushkin. It was erected in central Odessa back in 1889 and was funded by city dwellers. But they ignored all these developments. The same happened with Latvia, where authorities got rid of a monument to military commander Barclay de Tolly, a memorial plaque to Alexander Pushkin and Anna Kern's head statue in late 2024. UNESCO Secretariat has many other things on its conscience. Not only has it failed to live up to its mandate, but has been helping undermine the very concept of the cultural heritage of humankind in an extremely blatant and outrageous manner.

UNESCO remains blatantly inactive amid the ongoing persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is being forcibly expelled from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The organisation deliberately looks the other way while Ukraine and the Baltic states are ousting the Russian language entirely from education, the media, culture, science and everyday life. Not only are these countries flouting the rights of Russians and anyone else engaged with Russian culture - what they are doing actually challenges the first article of the UN Charter, which commands everyone to respect the rights of every human being regardless of their race, gender, language or religion, in a most blatant and brazen manner.

The UNESCO Secretariat is demonstrating a lack of scruples - to say the least - as well as utter incompetence in protecting freedom of speech and ensuring journalists' rights. Everyone knows about the recent scandal (1, 2, 3, 4) involving the UNESCO Secretariat's report on media workers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The report failed to mention several high-profile cases involving the murders of Russian journalists Darya Dugina, Oleg Klokov, Maxim Fomin, Rostislav Zhuravlev, Boris Maksudov, and many others. The Russian side had informed the Secretariat, in a timely manner, about each of those tragic incidents. However, all of our appeals were ignored. Ms Audrey Azoulay's disrespect for the mandate given to her in what regards the safety of journalists and her failure to condemn their murders makes her complicit in the information war against our country, or, possibly, a bigger war against the truth.

It is quite symptomatic that many countries of the Global Majority have similar reasons to be dissatisfied with the UNESCO Secretariat and Director-General Audrey Azoulay who have been neglecting their duty for years, hushing up cases that involved the respective countries, juggling facts and conniving with the propagation of falsehoods.

The Secretariat has distanced itself from France repeatedly reneging on its obligations as the host country of the UNESCO Headquarters, and is not reacting in any way to the artificial obstacles Paris creates to prevent Russian representatives from attending UNESCO events, such as denying them entry visas. I could go on forever citing the Secretariat officials' actions that violated the UNESCO Charter. And with all this, the Secretariat leadership still has the audacity to voice complaints and concerns about our recent public criticism of UNESCO and its Director-General.

They address us some written, totally ungrounded demarches. But despite everything, I am certain that we will not cease to expose the double standards and bias in the work of this organisation. We will continue to insist on the need for both the member states and the Secretariat to strictly comply with UNESCO's principles and ideals.

This "malady" is about catering to the interests of just one group of countries - the Western camp, in this case. It is not unique to UNESCO alone: its metastases can be discerned at other international bodies, including the UN Secretariat, where the effects of the Western policy to "privatise" its structures are felt quite distinctly.

Nevertheless, despite all the attempts I have mentioned, it is not possible to cancel Russia at UNESCO, nor ever will be. There is no doubt about that. In spite of all the intrigues and "spoke-putting," we achieved a number of positive results in several areas in 2024.

Specifically, we managed to have Russia's 33rd nomination placed on the UNESCO list of world natural and cultural sites at the World Heritage Committee's session in New Delhi in July 2024. I am referring to the Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake in the Arkhangelsk Region. I would like to thank Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky, the Kenozero National Park, and the regional authorities for the work they have done, as well as the Likhachev Russian Research Institute ofr Cultural and Natural Heritage that renders the expert support for Russian bids.

I would like to commend in particular the contribution made by our ministries and agencies. The delegation of the Russian Ministry of Culture led by Olga Lyubimova was highly instrumental in drafting the UNESCO Framework on Culture and Arts Education, the centerpiece of the conference in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.

The Russian Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs shared Russian advanced language policy know-how at a meeting of the Global Task Force for Making a Decade of Action for Indigenous Languages.

I would like to thank in particular Russian Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyarev for his consistent effort to protect the rights of Russian athletes at UNESCO. I am confident that these efforts will yield positive results quite soon. The UNESCO Executive Board has extended the status of the International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education (ICCMEE) as Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO. This centre is contributing greatly to strengthening our cooperation with UNESCO. Much credit in this regard goes to Vladimir Litvinenko, Chairman of the ICCMEE Governing Board and Rector of the St Petersburg Mining University.

In 2024, we commemorated the 70th anniversary of our country's accession to UNESCO. I would like to extend my gratitude to the TASS news agency for their productive collaboration in organising the photo exhibition that was showcased in Moscow and other capitals of UNESCO member states.

A particular note of thanks is due to the Kultura TV channel for their documentary film on the history of our collaboration with UNESCO, as well as to our longstanding partner, Marka, for issuing a commemorative stamp block dedicated to this anniversary.

We will persist in involving the Russian regions in engagements at the UNESCO platform when it aligns with our national interests. This is a beneficial practice. A product must be showcased to its full advantage. The regions of Russia embody its richness and diversity. In this context, significant work has been undertaken by the Republic of Altai, Bashkortostan, St Petersburg, Tatarstan, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and many others.

Last summer, with the support of the Russian Committee of the UNESCO Information for All Programme, two major international forums on multilingualism took place in St Petersburg and Khanty-Mansiysk, featuring experts from 40 countries. Under UNESCO's auspices, the international forum Child in a Digital World was held at Lomonosov Moscow State University in June 2024. In April 2024, an international conference with leading overseas experts was convened at the Yangan-Tau UNESCO Global Geopark in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Even in the realm of culture, it is virtually impossible to cancel Russia.

At the UNESCO headquarters, together with CIS delegations, we held, for the second time, celebratory events for the Russian Language Day in the summer of 2024. There, an exhibition entitled Splendour of Russia's Artistic Heritage was organised, featuring participation from the Higher School of Folk Arts from St Petersburg.

Our domestic experts have submitted numerous proposals during the drafting of the new Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology. They are directly involved in preparing a report on the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This matter must constantly remain under scrutiny. Daily news emerges about ground-breaking achievements in this field, including recent reports detailing how efficiently Chinese experts outperform their American counterparts with significantly fewer expenditures. We always advocate for fair competition, which should be evident across all spheres of life.

We will provide support to the Global Majority countries, including within the framework of UNESCO's Priority Africa. Towards this end, we have granted a voluntary contribution to finance African countries' projects under the International Programme for the Development of Communication. Russian fertiliser producer PhosAgro has provided the eighth series of grants to young talented chemical scientists, including in Africa and other Global South countries, within the Green Chemistry for Life project, which was launched jointly with UNESCO in cooperation with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

UNESCO will mark its 80th anniversary in 2025. It is a good occasion for making an objective and comprehensive analysis of the situation in the organisation to see how well it is delivering on its mandate, where advice would be welcome, and where recommendations and competences underlying UNESCO's programmes based on the member states' decisions should be adjusted. We should look into what can be done to enhance the efficiency of efforts to ensure our interests at UNESCO.

The 43rd session of UNESCO's General Conference will be held in November 2025. We have supported the idea of our Uzbekistani friends to hold it in Samarkand. It will be the first time over the past 40 years that a session of the General Conference will take place outside the organisation's Paris headquarters. A Russian delegation will undoubtedly take an active part in preparing and holding that event. I would like to enlist your help and to instruct the Commission's Secretariat to coordinate preparations for the General Conference and to submit proposals regarding the format of a representative Russian delegation.

A new Director-General of UNESCO will be elected at the General Conference and the preceding session of the Executive Board.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel installs military equipment in Syria's 'demilitarized zone'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 4:31 PM

Israel says it has transferred and installed military equipment within the demilitarized buffer zone in Syria's occupied Golan Heights.

Satellite imagery captured on January 21 shows Israel's military construction was taking place in the area.

Under the terms of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria in 1974, the regime's military is prohibited from crossing the so-called Alpha Line on the western edge of the Area of Separation (AoS).

In a post on X on Tuesday, Israel's military confirmed the transfer of the equipment to the buffer zone, describing it as "part of the logistical effort ... to the forces to withstand stormy weather conditions."

It said that the equipment and infrastructure is "uniquely suited to the severe weather in the area," in southern Syria.

"The comprehensive response also included, among other things, a unique medical building for treating cold-related injuries equipped with the necessary tools, as well as kitchens and a dining hall to provide hot meals for the soldiers."

Satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs PBC, a US-based Earth-imaging company, indicates that construction began at the beginning of this year, amid a security vacuum following the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8.

Following Assad's fall, the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered his forces to launch an incursion deep into Syrian territory and seize control of key strategic areas. He said that his forces will remain in the buffer zone "until border security is guaranteed."

According to military specialists, the latest military construction within the demilitarized zone indicates that Israel's military is planning to maintain at least an interim presence in the southwest corner of Syria.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Jordan engages with Syria's HTS leaders to tackle terrorism

By Dale Gavlak January 28, 2025

Jordan, which faces new regional challenges in dealing with Syria's transitional Islamist regime, is pursuing a strategy of containment through engagement to secure its long, shared border, analysts say.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week that Jordan has engaged "very deeply" from day one with Syria's new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders to tackle challenges both countries face. Jordan and other countries want to see inclusive governance in which all of Syria's religious and ethnic minorities are represented.

"Terrorism is one common threat," al-Safadi said. "We see Daesh [Islamic State] rearming, regrouping. [They] acquired a lot of weapons from the stockpiles of the Syrian army. Drug trafficking is still happening to Jordan. We have the same interests here in ending that threat. We have an interest in Syria succeeding. What happens in Syria will have a direct impact on us. If Syria succeeds, we will all benefit."

Farah Bdour, a senior adviser with the Washington-based U.S. Institute of Peace, said Jordan must address such "pressing issues as securing its 380-kilometer shared border with Syria to prevent the spillover of instability."

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's "success or failure will directly impact Jordan's stability," Bdour said. "Should HTS's transition falter, the group could revert to its militant roots, reigniting conflict and posing renewed threats to Jordan's security," she warned in the group's online publication, underscoring HTS's former link to al-Qaida.

Jordanian analyst Amer al-Sabaileh, a nonresident fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, told VOA that Jordan can reshape and support efforts for "Damascus to be a good counterpart" by working together on concerns such as security, logistics, telecommunications and electricity.

"This might help Jordan to reshape a good relation based on a win-win situation, where Jordan, as well, can definitely benefit from a new reality in Syria, especially on the level of political influence, political interest and definitely being part of rebuilding Syria," Al Sabaileh said. "But HTS is not controlling all the Syrian geography. ISIS [Islamic State] has growing capacities, desire to control certain areas closer to the Jordanian borders."

Bdour and al-Sabaileh also warned that HTS's Islamist ideology could influence other similar movements, including Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood. Bdour pointed to attempts by the Brotherhood to dominate Jordanian public sentiment over the Gaza conflict and its political gains in parliamentary elections last September.

"What happened in Syria might trigger the appetite and desire for power of all the political Islam groups: Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS, who at the end, think that maybe they deserve also to be recognized in certain areas, if they prove to be on the map," al= Sabaileh said.

Bdour wrote that even "if HTS successfully transitions to a governing regime, its Islamic orientation poses a unique challenge for Jordan."

She pointed to critics of the group who say they "fear that legitimizing HTS could embolden dormant extremist factions within Jordan," possibly "exacerbating internal tensions."

Ultimately, she said, "Jordan must navigate these overlapping domestic and regional challenges, as HTS's trajectory, and its implications for Syria, Jordan and the broader Middle East, remains deeply uncertain."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 27, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on a range of pressing global issues. Both leaders expressed eagerness to begin working together immediately to further our many shared foreign policy objectives. They affirmed the depth of the U.S.-UK Special Relationship and the crucial nature of our partnership in addressing issues like the conflict in the Middle East, Russia's war against Ukraine, and China's malign influence. They also heralded joint initiatives, including the AUKUS partnership, which promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






In Poland, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discussed Further Support for Ukraine with Emmanuel Macron

President of Ukraine

27 January 2025 - 22:45

The Presidents of Ukraine and France met in Poland following the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Emmanuel Macron for support of Ukraine and military assistance. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, France has provided 6 billion in defense aid.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed opportunities to further strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities with France's support, which would bolster Ukraine's position in achieving a just and lasting peace.

Special attention was given to security cooperation, particularly possible formats for security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

In addition, Ukraine is counting on the support of France and Emmanuel Macron personally in the negotiation process for EU accession.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Giving Up Nukes Was 'Absolutely Stupid, Illogical And Very Irresponsible,' Zelenskiy Says

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 28, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was optimistic about U.S. pressure on Moscow to end Russia's all-out war on Ukraine, according to a new interview, though he said he thought President Donald Trump was unclear how to do that.

In comments published January 25 with the Italian newspaper Il Foglio, Zelenskiy also pushed back on calls for more changes to the country's mobilization system, suggesting it would result in mass desertions.

The interview was conducted by Cecila Sala, a journalist and popular podcaster who was released from a Tehran prison earlier this month after 21 days in custody.

Zelenskiy's comments come as behind-the-scenes negotiations to resolve the nearly-three-year-old invasion ramp up following Trump's inauguration.

Trump has vowed to quickly end Russia's all-out invasion, launched on February 24, 2022, and two of his top security aides, Keith Kellogg and Mike Waltz, have floated different ways they say Russia could be used to push a cease-fire or peace deal. Trump has said he wants to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin as soon as possible.

Zelenskiy praised Trump's threats of increased economic sanctions to pressure Russia. However, he also said he told Trump about previous negotiations with "Putin giving his word and then not keeping it."

"I think [Trump] is not clear on the details," he was quoted as saying. "Almost everything depends on what we Ukrainians are able to secure to protect ourselves, because we will not make the mistakes of the past again."

"I told [Trump] frankly that Putin definitely does not want" to end the war, he said, "so it will not happen quickly. But Trump, thanks to his strength, sanctions, the strength of the U.S., and the economy, can speed it up."

Zelenskiy said he reminded Trump about the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the deal under which Ukraine agreed to give up its small holdings of nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees -- from Russia, the United States, and Britain. Some Ukrainians say Kyiv would have been able to deter Russia from invading if it had kept the weapons.

Giving up the weapons was "absolutely stupid, illogical and very irresponsible," the Ukrainian leader said.

"If I could go back to 1994, I would only trade our nuclear weapons for something that could truly deter any aggressor, regardless of their political power, territorial size, or military strength," he was quoted as saying. "Trump said, 'Yes, I understand what you're saying. You cannot make the same mistake three times'."

Ukraine has been steadily losing ground on the battlefield for nearly a year now, as Russia's bigger and better-armed military has been grinding down Ukrainian defenses and inflicting massive casualties.

One of Kyiv's biggest problems has been recruiting enough men to replenish depleted units. The government last year overhauled its system for mobilizing men, but Ukraine's frontline forces are still badly outnumbered. Zelenskiy has also resisted lowering the draft age to 18, saying it would decimate the country's demographics.

The personnel problems have come into sharp focus with newly created brigades, some of which have seen mass desertions.

"Today, we are defending ourselves. If tomorrow, for instance, half the army heads home, we really should have surrendered on the very first day," Zelenskiy said. "That is how it is. If half the army goes home, Putin will kill us all."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-nuclear- weapons-interview-trump-putin-/33291628.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






Ukraine Anti-Corruption Agency Launches Probe Into Defense Chief Umerov

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 28, 2025

KYIV -- Ukrainian authorities said a criminal probe has been launched into Defense Minister Rustem Umerov for his failure to comply with an order to extend the contract of the chief of the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ), in what appears to be a burgeoning dispute over arms procurement procedures.

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on January 28 told RFE/RL it had launched the probe into the possible abuse of power or official position by Umerov due to his refusal to renew the contract of AOZ head Maryna Bezrukova and his dismissal of two members of its Supervisory Board.

NABU said the Umerov probe was initiated following a complaint filed by the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), a nongovernmental organization.

The news of the Umerov probe came hours after Ukraine's cabinet officially fired Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov as part of a shake-up of the Defense Ministry's procurement operations.

The moves highlight what is seen as a pressing need for management reform in a sector critical to Ukraine's defense as it fights to repel Russia's full-scale invasion launched nearly three years ago.

Umerov did not immediately comment on the news, which was announced late in the evening on January 28.

He had been appointed to his post by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in September 2023.

The NABU said in a statement that the abuse of power or official position, if proven, is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to six years, along with fines and other sanctions. It also stated that a suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Earlier in the day, Klimenkov's firing was announced by the government, saying he was dismissed in accordance with a pledge by Umerov to restructure procurement in the Defense Ministry.

In a televised broadcast on January 24, Umerov vowed to fire "all those who didn't do their job properly" and set comprehensive reforms under way within the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ).

Umerov also renounced the contract renewal of AOZ director Bezrukova and two state representatives, Taras Chmut and Yuriy Dzhihir, were replaced on the supervisory board.

Umerov said the new director of AOZ would be Arsen Zhumadilov, who heads the State Logistics Operator. Zhumadilov has since confirmed his acceptance of the role.

The moves came on the heels of a controversial decision by AOZ's supervisory board a week ago to unanimously extend Bezrukova's contract for one year.

The Defense Ministry immediately appealed the decision citing procedural irregularities. Bezrukova has since warned that the ongoing legal dispute could disrupt crucial procurement activities, particularly the supply of ammunition.

The situation at the Defense Ministry has attracted international attention.

In a joint statement, G7 ambassadors have called for a swift resolution to the matter, the implementation of governance reforms, and adherence to NATO principles.

The statement underscores the importance of maintaining public and international confidence in Ukraine's procurement systems, particularly as Western allies debate continued military support for Kyiv.

The AOZ, established in mid-2022, was intended to streamline the acquisition of arms as Russia escalated its aggression against Ukraine.

However, its performance has been criticized for inefficiency and lax governance. Bezrukova, who took over as director in early 2024, has faced mounting criticism for her management style.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-defense-minister- klimenkov-fired-reforms-procurement/33292053.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






Ukraine Loses Over 280 Soldiers in Kursk Region in Past Day

Sputnik News

20250128

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian armed forces have lost over 280 soldiers and one tank in the Kursk region over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Over the day the Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 280 servicepeople and a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, six armored fighting vehicles and 20 vehicles were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

In total, Ukraine has lost over 55,470 servicepeople and 322 tanks during offensive in Kursk direction, the ministry added.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Loses Up to 600 Soldiers in Battles With Russian Forces - MoD

Sputnik News

20250128

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated up to 600 Ukrainian military personnel over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The enemy lost up to 600 troops, two tanks, two armored combat vehicles, including a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, seven vehicles and a field artillery gun," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated up to 330 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug has eliminated up to 220 Ukrainian soldiers, the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has taken control of the Dvurechnaya settlement in the Kharkov region, the ministry added.

Battlegroup Vostok eliminated over 115 Ukrainian soldiers, a tank and four artillery guns, including a Western-made one, the ministry's statement read.

In the Kharkov area, Russia's Battlegroup Sever has eliminated up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers and an armored fighting vehicle, the ministry said. Two field artillery guns and an ammunition depot were neutralized.

Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr has eliminated over 40 Ukrainian soldiers after engaging Ukrainian troops close to Stepnogorsk, Novopokrovka, Rabotino in Zaporozhye region, as well as in Antonovka and in Kherson region.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






I Instructed Government Officials to Provide a Report on Those American Support Programs That Are Currently Suspended - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

28 January 2025 - 21:12

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

A few key points for today.

The Commander-in-Chief's report on the frontlines - the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, the operation in the Kursk region. I held a meeting of the Staff. Among the issues on the agenda was the formation of corps in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are concrete details on this matter. We will continue to strengthen our army. We are scaling up combat brigades and the right army experience. The first established brigades will serve as a basis for other systemic steps; the modernization of the army system has no alternatives. The Minister of Defense reported on communication with our partners. I also held a meeting with our diplomats - the team of the Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are planning our international activities for February - meetings and negotiations. The key objectives are ensuring the unity of our partners - which is the foundation of everything - and coordinating our efforts in the European direction. Everyone on the continent should remember: if global issues are resolved without Europe, it will leave Europe with decisions that most Europeans are certain not to like. This also applies to issues of war and peace - the war that Russia started and the peace that we must together impose on Russia. We must do more together both for defense and for economic growth. Today, I spoke with the Prime Minister of Israel - I expressed my condolences on the occasion of Remembrance Day, Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is vital that the world continues to remember what happened and who is responsible. With the Prime Minister of Israel, we discussed the international situation, our contacts with partners, particularly with America. And I am glad to see their progress in bringing back the hostages - people who have been in captivity for so long, now they are finally returning home.

And one more thing. Today, I instructed Government officials to provide a report on those American support programs that are currently suspended. These are humanitarian programs. Oleksii Kuleba and other Government officials are identifying which specific programs are currently in short supply; almost all of them were not channeled through the Government of Ukraine, but directly through our communities, through various organizations. There are many projects. We will determine which ones are critical and need immediate solutions. We can provide part of this funding through our state finances, and we will discuss some of them with Europeans and Americans. These include many areas - from communications and digitalization to support for veterans, schools, hospitals, and reconstruction. Of course, the details of the programs were not a state matter, but the Government officials will present everything to me; and the priorities, those that primarily concern Ukrainian children, our veterans, and programs to protect our infrastructure - we will certainly support priority things. I thank everyone who is helping Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Militarization of Ukrainian Children in the Occupied Territories is a Part of Russia's State Policy - Dariia Zarivna

President of Ukraine

28 January 2025 - 18:45

Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office and Chief Operating Officer of Bring Kids Back UA, and Andriy Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, took part in the presentation of the analytical report "Militarization of Ukrainian Children in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine".

Dariia Zarivna emphasized that the militarization of Ukrainian children is part of Russia's deliberate state policy, enshrined in law and financed by the Kremlin.

"Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories become victims of ideological manipulation, they lose their identity and childhood. These are not individual initiatives, but a large-scale policy based on the historical practices of the Russian Empire and the USSR. Therefore, the issue of bringing back the children deported by Russia is extremely important for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," she said.

Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation Andriy Kovalenko stressed the importance of countering the crimes of militarization of Ukrainian children.

"Children from the temporarily occupied territories are already being used in activities against our state, including for finding and recruiting teenagers in Ukrainian-controlled territory for sabotage and espionage. Our task is to find those involved, gather evidence and work with other agencies on punishment and sanctions," he said.

The report was prepared by the Center for Countering Disinformation and the Bring Kids Back UA team.

It will serve as a basis for new international advocacy campaigns aimed at stopping violations of children's rights and returning them to Ukraine; it will also be presented to members of the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force, co-chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Director of the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute. The report includes an analysis of the methods used by Russia to involve children in military training, foster loyalty to the Russian army, and eradicate Ukrainian identity. Special attention is paid to the role of organizations, particularly "Yunarmiya," which serves as a central tool in the militarization of Ukrainian children.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Zelenskyy orders report on US support programs

By VOA News January 28, 2025

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered government officials to report on the U.S. support programs whose funds are "currently suspended" under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

"These are humanitarian programs," Zelenskyy said in his daily address Tuesday. Nearly all of them were not channeled through Ukrainian government, he said. Instead, went "directly through our communities, through various organizations."

"There are many projects. We will determine which ones are critical and need immediate solutions," he said. "We can provide part of this funding through our state finances."

Zelenskyy said the priorities will be "those that primarily concern Ukrainian children, our veterans and programs to protect our infrastructure."

On his first day back in office, Trump placed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid while the U.S. reviews whether the aid is aligned with Trump's America First agenda.

Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview on state television that Moscow would hold peace talks with Kyiv, but he said he would not speak to Zelenskyy, calling him and illegitimate leader.

"Negotiations can be held with anyone," the Russian president said. "But due to [Zelenskyy's] illegitimacy, he has no right to sign anything."

In return, the Ukrainian president said, "Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war," he wrote on X.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, national and local elections were banned under a martial law act passed by Ukraine.

A presidential election would have occurred in March 2024, and Zelenskyy's term would have ended in May 2024.

Critics are at odds about whether the Ukrainian constitution provides for an extension of the president's term in office under martial law. Some say it provides for the option, while others believe it does not.

Some information for this report is provided by The Associated Press.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukrainian officials say Russian drone attacks cause injuries in several regions

By VOA News January 28, 2025

Russian drone attacks overnight hit multiple Ukrainian regions and injured at least six people, officials said Tuesday.

In the Odesa region in southern Ukraine, Governor Oleh Kiper said Russian forces attacked overnight with drones and missiles, injuring at least four people.

Debris from drones destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses damaged four apartment buildings and five houses, as well as a grain warehouse, Kiper said on Telegram.

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that falling drone debris injured at least two people, while destroying several homes and damaging at least five others.

Officials in Chernihiv said Russian drone attacks damaged houses and outbuildings, but did not hurt anyone.

Mykolaiv Governor Vitaliy Kim said air defenses destroyed two drones over his region, while officials in Sumy reported the military shot down four drones.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it shot down five Ukrainian drones over the Smolensk region.

Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin said on Telegram there were no reports of damage or casualties.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said Russian air defenses shot down one Ukrainian drone over his region, with no damage reported.

Some information for this story was provided by Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Multiple Russian Regions Report Major Ukrainian Drone Strikes

By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 29, 2025

Officials in multiple Russian regions reported major Ukrainian drone strikes overnight targeting energy infrastructure, including a nuclear power site, while the Ukrainian and Russian presidents exchanged insults over the possibility of peace negotiations.

Government officials in Russia's Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, and Bryansk regions said their areas had been hit by Ukrainian drones on January 28-29, while airports in Kazan and St. Petersburg temporarily suspended traffic, citing safety concerns.

It was not possible to independently confirm the reports of the attacks.

"In various areas of the Smolensk region, civilian objects are being subjected to a massive attack" by drones," Governor Vasily Anokhin wrote on Telegram.

"Air defense and electronic warfare systems of the Russian Defense Ministry are destroying them...One of the drones was shot down during an attempt to attack a nuclear power facility. There were no casualties or damages," Anokhin added.

No additional information was provided, but the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant is a major power-generating facility some 100 kilometers from Smolensk city.

Meanwhile, Gleb Nikitin, governor of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, said a drone fell on the territory of a fuel and energy complex in the Kstovsky industrial zone but did not cause injuries or major damage.

"Special services are working at the site and all the necessary means are being used to localize the fire at one of the oil refining units," Nikitin said.

Regional governors in the Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border and in Tver near Moscow also reported drone attacks, although they said there were no casualties or damage.

Authorities at the airport in Kazan -- capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan -- said all flights had been halted to ensure safety, although details of any attack were not immediately disclosed.

State-run TASS news agency also reported that arrivals and departures were temporarily halted at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg to ensure air-traffic safety, although further details were not released.

Both sides in the war have stepped up the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones in recent months, often targeting the enemy's energy infrastructure.

Russia has also caused widespread destruction of Ukrainian civilian sites with drones, rockets, artillery, and various types of bombs. The Kremlin has denied it targets civilian areas despite evidence of such attacks.

Inside Ukraine, regional Governor Vitaliy Kim said two women were killed due to a Russian missile attack on the city of Mykolayiv.

Off the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "afraid" to enter into negotiations on ending the war after the Kremlin leader ruled out direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.

"Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war," Zelenskiy wrote on X.

"Every move he makes and all his cynical tricks are aimed at making the war endless," he added.

Earlier, Putin told Russian state TV that talks with Ukraine were possible but not with Zelenskiy, whom he deemed as "illegitimate" because his presidential term expired while the country was under martial law.

"But essentially, if they want to proceed, there is a legal way to do it. Let the chairman of the [Ukrainian parliament] handle it in accordance with the constitution," Putin said.

"However, so far, we simply do not see such a desire," he added.

Meanwhile, Axios reported the U.S. military transferred some 90 Patriot air-defense missiles from storage in Israel to Poland this week with an aim to deliver them to Ukraine.

The report, citing three people with knowledge of the operation, said the Israeli Air Force decommissioned the Patriot air defense system more than 30 years after it was given to Israel during the first Gulf War.

After the Israelis announced the decommissioning, Kyiv suggested to U.S. and Israeli officials that Israel return the missiles to the U.S. military to be refurbished and then sent to Ukraine.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and Axios

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-smolensk- putin-zelenskiy/33293717.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






NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate 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 case@rosenlegal.com 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 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
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until March 18, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE: IIPR), if they purchased the Companys securities between February 27, 2024 and December 19, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Innovative and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-iipr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by March 18, 2025 .

About the Lawsuit

Innovative and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On December 20, 2024, the Company disclosed that on the previous day, PharmaCann Inc., the Companys tenant for eleven properties which represented 17% of IIPs total rental revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024defaulted on its obligations to pay rent for the month of December under six of the eleven Leases, for properties located in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. December rent, including base rent, property management fees and estimated tax and insurance payments, totaled $4.2 million for these six properties.

On this news, the price of IIPRs stock fell fell $21.68 per share, or 22.73%, to close at $73.66 per share on December 20, 2024.

The case is Giraudon v. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc., No. 25-cv-00182.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:
Svitzer today announces that it has signed a large, 9-year terminal towage contract with Oman Liquefied Natural Gas LLC (Oman LNG), a joint venture company established by a royal decree and operating under the laws of the Sultanate of Oman.

The new contract covers time charter of four newbuild 65-ton bollard pull azimuth stern drive tugs to support the berthing and unberthing of LNG and NGL tankers at the jetty in Qalhat LNG Terminal. In addition to towage services, Svitzer will provide firefighting capabilities, escort duties, pilot boarding and dive support. Svitzers operations for Oman LNG are planned to commence at the beginning of 2026.

Svitzer has been a key towage and marine services provider in the Sultanate of Oman since 2005 and is today well-established in the country with three ongoing operations.

Svitzers Managing Director in AMEA, Deniz Kirdar True, comments: This new contract not only aligns with Svitzers growth strategy, it is also an important step in solidifying our position in Oman and the broader region. We are proud that Oman LNG have placed their trust with us to manage their towage operations, and we look much forward to providing safe and reliable services in their terminal.

For further information, please contact:

Michael Nass Nielsen, Head of Investor Relations and FP&A

T: +45 24941654

E: ir@svitzer.com

Anders Crillesen, Global Head of Communications

T: +45 27791286

E: anders.crillesen@svitzer.com

About Svitzer

Svitzer is a leading, global towage and marine services provider. The core business is to assist large seaborne vessels in manoeuvring in and out of ports and terminals to berth and unberth. With more than 450 vessels, Svitzers services play a crucial role as part of critical port infrastructure. Svitzer was founded in 1833 and serves approximately 2,000 customers in more than 140 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries. Read more on www.svitzer.com.

Attachment
ONWARD ARC-EX System for spinal cord injury is now available for purchase through VA Federal Supply Schedule and GSA Advantage platforms

Partnership with Lovell Government Services is providing commercial benefit, facilitating purchase through validated US government online purchasing platforms

EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ONWARD Medical N.V. (Euronext: ONWD), the medical technology company creating innovative spinal cord stimulation therapies to restore movement, function, and independence in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and other movement disabilities today announces it has secured the required approvals to enable Veterans Affairs (VA) and other government agencies to immediately purchase the ARC-EX System through federal procurement systems. This milestone is the first major benefit resulting from the Company's partnership with Lovell Government Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

"Adding the ARC-EX System to two major US federal government purchasing platforms is an important step toward making our therapy broadly available to US military Veterans living with spinal cord injury," said Dave Marver, CEO, ONWARD Medical. "The VA serves a significant percentage of Americans with spinal cord injury, and establishing these procurement channels soon after FDA authorization demonstrates our commitment to ensuring federal healthcare providers have rapid access to the latest technology."

The ARC-EX System is now available to US government clinics and other healthcare facilities through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Federal Supply Schedule National Acquisition Center (VA FSS NAC) and General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage Catalog. These web-based procurement platforms are used to manage contracts and purchases for medical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals and other healthcare-related products and services by VA medical centers and other authorized government providers. This comprehensive access ensures VA, Military Health System (MHS), Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, and other US government agencies have rapid access to ONWARD's breakthrough technology for their clinics and healthcare facilities treating people with spinal cord injuries.

"We are proud to partner with ONWARD Medical to bring their breakthrough ARC-EX System to Veterans and others served by federal healthcare systems," said Chris Lovell, Major, USMC (Ret.), CEO of Lovell Government Services. "This collaboration combines our federal distribution expertise with ONWARD's innovative technology to improve access to care for those who have served our country. Together, we're dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injury regain function and independence."

As ONWARD Medicals US government contracting and logistics partner, Lovell will also collaborate with the Company to make the ARC-EX System available through the Defense Logistics Agency's Electronic Catalog (ECAT) later this year, further broadening and facilitating purchase of the system by government healthcare providers.

The ARC-EX System delivers targeted, programmed stimulation of the spinal cord to restore upper extremity strength and function in people with SCI. This first-of-its-kind therapy represents a significant advancement in the treatment options available to Veterans and others living with SCI. It was authorized for commercial sale in the US by the FDA in December 2024.

For questions about the ARC-EX System and its availability in the US, complete this webform.

To learn more about ONWARD Medicals commitment to partnering with the SCI Community to develop innovative solutions for restoring movement, function, and independence after spinal cord injury, please visit ONWD.com.

About Lovell Government Services

Lovell Government Services has been a trusted Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) vendor since 2013 with a proven track record of successfully introducing suppliers to the government market. Lovell is a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree and leader in the federal space. They partner with medical and pharmaceutical companies looking to better serve Veteran and military patient populations, increase their federal revenue stream, and win government contracts.

For more information, visit www.lovellgov.com

About ONWARD Medical

ONWARD Medical is a medical technology company creating therapies to restore movement, function, and independence in people with SCI and other movement disabilities. Building on more than a decade of scientific discovery, preclinical research, and clinical studies conducted at leading hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and neuroscience laboratories, the Company has developed ARC Therapy, which has been awarded ten Breakthrough Device Designations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Companys ARC-EX System is now cleared for commercial sale in the US. In addition, the Company is developing an investigational implantable system called ARC-IM with and without an implanted brain-computer interface (BCI).

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the Company has a Science and Engineering Center in Switzerland and a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam (ticker: ONWD).

For more information, visit ONWD.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

For Media Inquiries:

media@onwd.com

For Investor Inquiries:

Investors@onwd.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements, beliefs, and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Companys or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve several risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, delays in regulatory approvals, changes in demand, competition, and technology, can cause actual events, performance, or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

ARC-EX Indication for Use (US): The ARC-EX System is intended to deliver programmed, transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation in conjunction with functional task practice in the clinic to improve hand sensation and strength in individuals between 18 and 75 years old that present with a chronic, non-progressive neurological deficit resulting from an incomplete spinal cord injury (C2-C8 inclusive).

Other Investigational Products: All other ONWARD Medical devices and therapies including ARC-IM and ARC-BCI are investigational and not available for commercial use.

Trademarks: ONWARD, ARC-EX, ARC-IM, ARC-BCI, and the stylized O-Logo are proprietary and registered trademarks of ONWARD Medical. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetAlly, a global leader in handheld network test and cybersecurity solutions, is doubling down on its commitment to EMEA market growth with the appointment of Nathan Collins as Regional Vice President. Collins brings decades of expertise to lead the companys ambitious expansion strategy, focusing on empowering partners and enhancing network resilience.

NetAlly provides network test, management and security products for companies to better understand and secure their networks. Their solutions cover a range of network management requirements, from testing tools that technicians can use to troubleshoot network issues in seconds to robust cybersecurity solutions that provide fast insights into potential vulnerabilities in edge network environments.

With over 300 active partners across the EMEA region, NetAlly is transitioning to a fully two-tier distribution model to ensure its cutting-edge solutions are readily available in all major markets. By partnering with local distributors, NetAlly enables faster product availability, better service quality, and streamlined operations for both customers and partners. Collins brings his more than 25 years of expertise in the data storage, networking, and business continuity markets to NetAlly, including senior leadership positions at the likes of AvePoint, CommVault, Druva, and PAVilion.

Companies rely on their networks to connect their operations and support their goals, so networks must evolve faster and be dynamic and responsive to those business goals. At the same time, increasing regulation and security challenges make building, deploying, and managing networks more challenging than ever. Helping our customers and partners navigate these evolving trends is crucial to our success. Nathan brings us a wealth of experience to help us deliver these goals, said Mike Parrottino, CEO at NetAlly.

The European Union has introduced numerous new regulations focused on security and resilience, while similar critical infrastructure regulations are being enforced in the UK for companies and service providers. These regulations aim to make digital services more reliable and resilient, but they need to be supported over time, all the time. Without strong networks, you cant deliver those great digital services to your customers. Compliance with these security regulations is a critical requirement for both partners and customers. NetAllys network test and security vulnerability solutions will be essential to stay compliant, explained Collins. I look forward to working with our partners on developing their networking infrastructure businesses, delivering more opportunities for them, and ensuring more reliable and secure networks for their customers.

Intec Microsystems is a NetAlly distributor based in the UK. Of their partnership with NetAlly, Tom Newall, direct vendor manager, said, The market certainly has a strong, positive sentiment about NetAlly. As a trusted advisor to our customers, we saw partnering with NetAlly as a way to build out our solutions portfolio and capture a larger share of wallet in our market space." Newall continued, The launch of our partnership was our most successful vendor kick-off in 2024. Our team is very enthusiastic about this addition to our portfolio, as NetAllys product line provides an attractive margin and good value attach to our network infrastructure sales. On top of that, their team is easy to work with and super responsive.

Lennart Heijnen, CEO at Heynen BV, a Dutch supplier of solutions in the field of professional electronics in the Benelux countries, said of their partnership with NetAlly, Weve experienced many years of year-over-year growth with the NetAlly portfolio, including significant large deals with several service providers. Weve had particular success with a key customer in the electronic payments processing industry. NetAllys close collaboration, teamwork, and responsiveness to their unique needs resulted in multiple large orders over the years.

Under Collins leadership, NetAlly is poised to transform how partners and customers experience network management and cybersecurity in the EMEA region. By focusing on accessibility, innovation, and collaboration, NetAlly will ensure that every business, from local enterprises to global corporations, can have secure, high-performance networks they can rely on.

About NetAlly

For decades, the NetAlly family of network test and analysis solutions has been helping network and cybersecurity professionals better deploy, manage, maintain, and secure todays complex wired and wireless networks. Since creating the industrys first handheld network analyzer in 1993, NetAlly continues to set the standard for portable network analysis and cybersecurity assessment with tools that include EtherScopenXG, CyberScope, AirMagnet, LinkRunner, LinkSprinter, AirCheck, and more.

NetAlly simplifies the complexities of network testing and cybersecurity assessments, provides instant visibility for efficient problem resolution, and enables seamless collaboration between site personnel and remote experts. To learn more, visit https://netally.com, follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9606265f-401a-408e-b44a-2d3d9c3baf46
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) proudly celebrates a year of transformative achievements through its Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (OTCoE). This reflects its leadership in healthcare innovation and dedication to improving patient lives as it prepares to highlight its groundbreaking contributions to global healthcare at Arab Health 2025 in Dubai.

In 2024, KFSHRCs Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (OTCoE) performed 882 organ transplants, a 6% increase from 2023, securing its position among the top ten transplant centres globally. The hospitals kidney transplant program has surpassed 5,000 transplants since its inception, demonstrating its unparalleled expertise in meeting complex medical demands with precision and care.

Building on this foundation of excellence, innovations in robotic surgery defined the year. The worlds first fully robotic heart transplant, the world's first living donor left lobe liver transplant, and the Middle Easts first robotic pancreas transplant offered transformative solutions for Type 1 diabetes patients. KFSHRC also performed the regions first liver transplant for MNGIE disease, contributing to the treatment of rare medical diseases.

Leadership in the paediatric transplant was another highlight of the OTCoE in 2024. Over 100 liver transplants, 80 kidney transplants, and two lung transplants, fostering hope for young patients and their families, placed KFSHRC among the worlds top five centres for paediatric transplant procedures. Additionally, its kidney-paired exchange program set a new Guinness World Record with 135 exchanges, optimising donor-recipient matching.

Complementing these clinical advancements, KFSHRC maintained high survival and graft rates while expanding its specialized care offerings with a new liver transplant centre in Jeddah and the regions first Fatty Liver Clinic.

Strengthening its global presence and commitment to collaboration and innovation in speciality medicine, KFSHRCs OTCoE hosted the inaugural Minimally Invasive Organ Transplant Consensus Conference (MIOT.CC), bringing together 80 international experts to provide insights on innovative transplant techniques and set global standards in the field.

It is noteworthy that KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally in the list of the worlds top 250 Academic Medical Centres for the second consecutive year and has been recognised as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. Additionally, it was included in the Worlds Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025 by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit www.kfshrc.edu.sa or contact our media team at mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.sa

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/16ddc37c-80c0-444e-aa07-2e19e3c06dc7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20ea1595-349d-499f-afbf-e6f65dc32e85

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b5331d5-2f47-4aa0-b8cf-4326bdba3fcb

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b64f4407-77f2-443e-b6ff-deefbfe5e69d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/88ad0eaf-fdd5-4073-a80f-5c5c25e3a6cc
New York, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Arbitration Association (AAA) and its international division, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), in partnership with EdTek, today announced the launch of AAAi Chat Book Case Preparation and Presentation. This free to all, first-of-its-kind AI-powered handbook, based on the resource Case Preparation and Presentation: A Guide for Arbitration Advocates and Arbitrators by Jay E. Grenig and Rocco M. Scanza, is the first interactive guide for users on preparing and presenting AAA cases.

The handbook is AI-enabled, allowing users to ask questions and receive answers at every case preparation and presentation stage. It also includes the relevant rules and the full text of the print book, making it an invaluable resource for anyone engaging with the AAA.

The AAAi Chat Book Case Preparation and Presentation is the first of several forthcoming free AAA AI chat books. Steve Errick, AAA chief development officer, says that the AAA-ICDR AI chat books will be fundamental tools to support new AAA advocates, law students learning alternative dispute resolution and self-represented parties. Making it easier for parties and advocates to present a claim is core to our mission, Errick said. By offering this resource at no cost, we ensure all parties have access to invaluable expert insights and practical guidance for handling AAA cases. The AAAi chat book series, developed with EdTek, will be instrumental in empowering parties and advocates to take full advantage of the AAAs next-generation AI learning resources.

Launched in 2024, the EdTek ChatBLDR program allows publishers to create online content databases and users to query the material in plain English. The system then provides synthesized, well-formatted and easy-to-understand answers and summaries based on the materials. This process mimics using a large language model like OpenAIs ChatGPT-4. However, EdTeks special sauce is that all responses are guaranteed to come solely from the publishers own verified materials. This approach eliminates the risk of AI hallucinations, false or fabricated information, which can occur with traditional AI models that rely on unverified data sources.

Whether legal and education publishers have one book or hundreds, they now have the same opportunity as the AAA-ICDR to transform static resources into a dynamic, AI-powered learning tool, said Steve Emanuel, EdTek co-founder and legal author. Were thrilled the AAA chose EdTek and were excited about the future of AI chat books in the legal and education markets.

As part of its focus on integrating advanced AI technologies, the AAA-ICDR is reimagining and expanding its educational resources with the goal of growing the community of users of dispute resolution services. In February, the AAA-ICDR will launch an AI Case Filing Assistant Chatbot, designed to streamline the filing process for users. The AAAi Chat Book, the AI Case Filing Assistant Chatbot, and other new free services are aligned with the AAAs mission to provide innovative solutions that prevent, mitigate and resolve disputes fairly and efficiently.

Visit AAAi Chat Book Case Preparation and Presentation to learn how to prepare to resolve disputes efficiently and confidently.

About the American Arbitration Association

The not-for-profit AAA is the leading alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service provider. It has administered more than eight million ADR cases since its founding in 1926. With offices throughout the United States and Singapore, the AAA provides organizations of all sizes in virtually every industry with ADR services and products. For more information, visit www.adr.org/.

About the International Centre for Dispute Resolution

The International Centre for Dispute Resolution is the international division of the AAA and the largest international provider of dispute resolution services. Established in 1996, the ICDR serves parties from over 100 countries with multilingual staff experienced in international dispute resolution proceedings and a roster of over 725 arbitrators and mediators. For more information, visit www.icdr.org.

About ODR.com and Mediate.com (Resourceful Internet Solutions)

ODR.com, an AAA company, is the global leader in online dispute resolution and offers a proven, secure and scalable ODR platform that is used by hundreds of organizations around the world, including courts, universities, businesses and government agencies. Since its establishment in 1996, Mediate.com has been the leading mediation website, offering an extensive repository of dispute resolution resources, online courses and a widely utilized directory of global mediators.

About EdTek

EdTek was founded by Steve Emanuel and a team of developers with strong backgrounds in educational technology. Steve is best known as the author of Emanuel Law Outlines and other series of study aids, which have helped generations of law students succeed in their courses and on the bar exam. EdTek combines large language models with its unique processes to ensure accurate results based solely on a publishers trusted content. EdTek collaborates with publishers and higher education institutions to provide customized generative AI content solutions by which users can query large collections of published content in plain English and receive synthesized plain English answers based solely on that content. For more information, visit www.edtek.ai.
CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Basis Technologies (https://basis.com), the industrys leading advertising automation platform, announced today that it has been named No. 1 on Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025. Ad Age (https://adage.com) is a daily must-read for an influential audience of decision-makers and disruptors across the marketing and media landscape. Its Best Places to Work list is an annual ranking of companies that lead the pack in factors ranging from pay and benefits to corporate culture and leadership. Details on the winners and ranking are available at: https://adage.com/2025-best-places-to-work (subscription).

This is the second year in a row that Basis Technologies has been ranked No. 1 and the fourth year in a row it has been in the top five of the Ad Age Best Places to Work ranking. The list for 2025 honors 50 companies that did a standout job over the past year as the ad business met the challenges of an unsettled economy, a changing media market, and a continued tight talent pool. Read more about Basis Technologies in Ad Age at: https://adage.com/article/best-places-work/basis-technologies-best-places-work-2025/2594091 (subscription).

The companies on Ad Ages 2025 Best Places to Work list have shown a deep commitment to building workplaces where employees truly want to beno small feat in todays challenging labor market, said Dan Peres, president of Ad Age. Earning this recognition isnt just a win for company culture; it also strengthens an organizations reputation, making it a more attractive place for top talent.

The winnerstop companies with 150 or fewer employees and top companies with more than 151 employeesreflect the highest overall numerical scores based on an analysis of questionnaires submitted by employers and survey responses from their employees. Ad Ages scoring system factors in employee responses on topics including pay and benefits and seven other core focus areas (80% of the score) and a companys policies and practices on areas including pay and benefits, work/life balance, recruitment, training and development (20% of the score). As noted in Ad Age, winning companies outscored other entrants in areas such as employee benefits, DEI initiative, training and professional development, and work-life balance.

Basis Technologies is incredibly grateful for our employees, whose feedback have been the key factor in bringing visibility to our workplace leadership, as recognized by Ad Age for numerous years, said Emily Barron, chief people officer, Basis Technologies. Empowerment, support, flexibility and inclusivity is practiced every day at Basis. We ensure that our team has the tools, knowledge and resources to perform their best, stay healthy, and continually develop professionally and personally.

Among the qualities of Basis Technologies, Ad Age cites, Basis Technologies is building a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, centered on personal growth, creative problem-solving and challenging the status quo The Chicago-based ad tech company recruits diverse talent through partnerships with inclusive organizations, removing degree requirements from most job postings and requiring bias-reducing hiring training.

Ad Age produced Best Places to Work 2025 in partnership with Workforce Research Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work. The competition was open to agencies, ad tech firms, data and research firms, brand or corporate marketing departments or groups and in-house agencies of marketers.

Basis Technologies provides advertising software with an integrated suite of modular applications for planning, operations, and more across programmatic, publisher-direct, search, and social channels. The companys various recognition for its workplace includes Fortune Best Workplaces in Advertising & Marketing (Top 4 from 2022-2024); Fortune Best Workplace in Chicago (Top 3 from 2022-2024); Fortune Best Workplaces for Women (No. 5 in 2023 and No. 14 2022); and Crain's Business Chicago Best Places to Work, 2019-2024.

About Ad Age

Created in 1930 to cover a burgeoning industry with objectivity, accuracy and fairness, Ad Age continues to be powered by award-winning journalism. Today, Ad Age is a global media brand focusing on curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture, and innovation and forecasting.

About Basis Technologies

Basis Technologies is solving the advertising industrys biggest problems with the most comprehensive advertising automation platform. As a unified command center for agencies and brands, Basis delivers an integrated suite of modular applications, each specializing in unique areas such as planning, operations, reporting, and financial reconciliation across programmatic, publisher-direct, search, and social channels. By closing system gaps, automating workflows, and streamlining data management, Basis empowers leaders to increase efficiency and productivity -- driving financial success for their organizations. Renowned for its dedication to both employees and customers, Basis creates more seamless operations and fosters a happier, more engaged workforce. Learn more at

https://basis.com.

Contact:

Anthony Loredo

anthony.loredo@basis.com

917-573-4157

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c6080f5-ef91-45a5-8ca2-80fa1a3e8aad
Dublin, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Tour Operators in Canada - Industry Market Research Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.

Canadian tour operators have been extremely volatile in recent years. With the domestic economy's expansions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, international trips taken by Canadians increased. Greater international exposure for the Canadian tourism industry, coupled with overall global economic growth, motivated more foreigners to visit and book tours in Canada, leading to increased inbound international travel. The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the global tourism sector, with countries closing borders, government authorities keeping only essential businesses open and strict travel restrictions being put in place.

Many travellers cancelled their trips while people that were planning trips ended up delaying them indefinitely, decimating demand for tour operators as revenue fell nearly 90.0% between 2019 and 2021. Revenue is forecast to decline at a CAGR of 7.3% to $7.3 billion over the five years to 2023. This includes an increase of 26.3% in 2023 as the tourism industry continues to normalize and COVID-19 restrictions are fully removed. Tour operators are also expected to return to profitability in 2023.



Companies in the Tour Operators industry in Canada primarily arrange, market and conduct tours, including wholesale tours, of cities, museums, natural attractions and other places of interest. The industry excludes companies that primarily provide travel information on an area's attractions, as well as travel agencies.



Key Topics Covered:



ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY

Industry Definition

Main Activities

Similar Industries

Additional Resources

INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE



INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

PRODUCTS & MARKETS

Supply Chain

Products & Services

Demand Determinants

Major Markets

International Trade

Business Locations

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Market Share Concentration

Key Success Factors

Cost Structure Benchmarks

Basis of Competition

Barriers to Entry

Industry Globalization

MAJOR COMPANIES

Transat AT Inc.

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Capital Intensity

Technology & Systems

Revenue Volatility

Regulation & Policy

Industry Assistance

KEY STATISTICS

Industry Data

Annual Change

Key Ratios

JARGON & GLOSSARY



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3kyevv

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.
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EXP, a global engineering, architecture, design and consulting firm, is proud to announce the promotion of Dale Johnson, MBA, P.Eng., to Vice President, Infrastructure  Western Canada. In this elevated role, Dale will oversee the strategic direction, performance and growth of the infrastructure group throughout the region.

With more than 30 years of experience, Dale has managed significant projects and pursuits. During his 10 years at EXP, he has managed the land development team, bringing a unique perspective and extensive background in project management, construction and engineering, which has allowed Dale to lead confidently and navigate complex private and public land development and infrastructure projects.

Dales extensive management and technical experience greatly benefits our operations team and clients, and he is integral in supporting our ongoing growth and excellence initiatives. In his new position, he will draw on his broad experience to provide comprehensive strategies to our Infrastructure Practice in Western Canada, said Senior Vice President, Western Canada Michael Roberts.

Dale spent 13 years at consulting firms in both Saskatoon and Calgary. His roles included project management and team management before he moved to one of his largest land development clients, Qualico Communities. After seven years with Qualico, Dale transitioned back to consulting and began his career at EXP, working with the Land Development team. Dale is focused on solidifying and expanding EXPs client base while continuing to identify strategic opportunities for the group.

This is an exciting time to lead EXPs Western Canada Infrastructure Practice. Were expanding our reach throughout the region, identifying new clients and planning our path forward. After assisting clients, partners and team members in achieving success on dozens of developments, I welcome this next challenge as Vice President of Infrastructure. Its exciting to consider whats to come at EXP for our group of very talented professionals, said Dale Johnson.

Dale is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from Edinburgh School of Business, Heriot-Watt University.

Learn more about Infrastructure at EXP.

About EXP

With a mission to understand, innovate, partner and deliver, EXP provides engineering, architecture, design and consulting services to the worlds built and natural environments. Our heritage dates back to 1906, when the earliest of EXPs predecessor companies started its engineering infrastructure practice.

Since then, we have grown to a full-service, multidisciplinary firm delivering projects and solutions to clients and communities around the world. Today, thousands of creative professionals across EXP work together to deliver extraordinary experiences year after year.

For more information, visit www.exp.com.

Media contact:

Nadia Abou-El-Seoud

Director of Communications | EXP

Nadia.abou@exp.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1575deb1-d870-4130-9298-6959b090a2b6
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Committed to prioritizing solutions for the affordable housing crisis in Southern California, U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragan, (CA-44) hosted a roundtable discussion with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today at The Enclave in Torrance, California. The roundtable brought together affordable housing leaders, community organizations, financial institutions, and other stakeholders throughout the area to discuss how organizations and public-private partnerships could play a pivotal role in solving the housing crisis in Southern California after tens of thousands were displaced by the recent wildfires in the region.

Many families in my district, and across Los Angeles County, struggle to afford housing, said Rep. Nanette Barragan. This roundtable brings together key partners to explore solutions to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and expand opportunities for homeownership. Together, we can make real progress for our communities.

Rep. Barragan has a history of leading on issues related to affordable housing and has secured millions in federal funding for local projects that support affordable housing development, advance homeownership for first time homebuyers and expand supportive housing options. By teaming up with FHLBank San Francisco and its members, she is working to find local solutions to the housing crisis.

This roundtable comes at a critical moment for our district, as many families and individuals have been displaced by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. We are proud to partner with Representative Barragan, a dedicated leader and tireless advocate for addressing the housing crisis in Southern California, said Alanna McCargo, president and chief executive officer of FHLBank San Francisco. Collaboration is essential to develop innovative solutions that improve affordability, expand housing supply and support the rebuilding of communities impacted by these wildfires. Our Bank is a valuable and trusted community partner that can leverage an extensive network of member financial institutions to help turn these ideas into action.

In 2024, FHLBank San Francisco awarded $6.75 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to support a range of projects in Los Angeles. Statewide, more than $49 million in AHP grants were awarded through its member financial institutions to help address and expedite solutions to California's affordable housing crisis.

Attendees at the roundtable included:

Dora Leong Gall, A Community of Friends

Holly Benson, Adobe communities

Andrea Parker, Farmers and Merchants bank

Jeremy Empol, FHLBank San Francisco

Anabel Cuevas, FHLBank San Francisco

Darrell Simien, Habitat for Humanity LA

Laura Archuleta, Jamboree

Suny Lay Chang, LINC Housing

Michael Ruane, National CORE

Gerald Phillips, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County

Patricia Valladolid, One San Pedro/Century Housing

Michael Faulwell, SchoolsFirst FCU

Brent Terecero, SchoolsFirst FCU



FHLBank San Francisco is dedicated to supporting housing initiatives throughout its three-state region, including Arizona, California, and Nevada. Since the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) was created in 1990, FHLBank San Francisco has awarded over $1.35 billion in AHP grants to support the construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of over 154,600 homes affordable to lower-income households, including $61.8 million in 2024 alone . Together, the 11 regional FHLBanks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System are one of the largest privately capitalized sources of grant funding for affordable housing in the United States.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-owned cooperative supporting local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada to build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions  commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions  propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

Contact:

Tom Flannigan

tom.flannigan@fhlbsf.com

415-616-2695
Vancouver, Jan. 28, 2025 - Terra Balcanica Resources Corp. ("Terra" or the "Company") (CSE:TERA; FRA:UB1) is pleased to announce closing of the 1st tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of units (the "Units") for gross proceeds of $129,000 Canadian.

The Company issued an aggregate of 1,290,000 Units at a price of $0.10 per Unit pursuant to the Offering of up to $400,000 announced on January 21st, 2025. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant issued in the first tranche of the Offering entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.15 until January 28th, 2028. Finders' fees in the amount of $6,930 were paid. Terra intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for land holding costs, project payments and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, all securities issued and issuable in connection with the closing of the third tranche of the Offering are subject to a four (4) month hold period ending May 29th, 2025. The Offering is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any U.S. person or any person in the United States, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. "United States" and "U.S. Person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

About the Company

Terra Balcanica is a polymetallic and energy metals exploration company targeting large-scale mineral systems in the Balkans of southeastern Europe and northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company has 90% interest in the Viogor-Zanik Project in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadian assets comprise a 100% optioned portfolio of uranium-prospective licences at the outskirts of the world-renowned Athabasca basin: Charlot-Neely Lake, Fontaine Lake, Snowbird, and South Pendleton. The Company emphasizes responsible engagement with local communities and stakeholders. It is committed to proactively implementing Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) and sustainable health, safety, and environmental management.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terra Balcanica Resources Corp.

"Aleksandar Miskovi?"

Aleksandar Miskovi?

President and CEO

For the complete information on this news release, please contact Aleksandar Miskovi? at amiskovic@terrabresources.com, +1 (514) 796-7577, or visit www.terrabresources.com/en/news.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of any of the words "will", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, the terms and completion of the Offering, the anticipated Closing Date, the payment of finder's fees and the use of proceeds for the Offering. These statements involve 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 statements. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approval for the Offering; the state of the equity financing markets in Canada and other jurisdictions; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; and fluctuations in metal prices. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 28, 2025 - Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF) ("Ascot" or the "Company") announces that the Company's newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Currie and his new management team, are continuing a detailed review and assessment of Ascot's mining operations and overall business strategy. Given the significance and complexity of this process, Mr. Currie requires additional time to complete his evaluation.

As a result, the previously scheduled conference call, announced in the Company's January 15, 2025 press release, has been postponed. The Company will announce a new date for the conference call in a subsequent press release once Mr. Currie has completed his review and is prepared to provide a comprehensive update to stakeholders.

"It is critical to ensure that we provide a thorough and transparent assessment of Ascot's operations and strategy to our shareholders," said Jim Currie. "I appreciate the patience of our stakeholders as I undertake this review to chart the best path forward for the Company."

Ascot remains committed to maintaining open and timely communication with its shareholders, stakeholders, and the broader investment community. The Company thanks all stakeholders for their understanding and continued support during this period.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ascot Resources Ltd.

Rick Zimmer

Chairman of the Board of Directors

For further information contact:

KIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. Email: AOT@kincommunications.com Phone: 604-684-6730

About Ascot

Ascot is a Canadian mining company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the ticker AOT and on the OTCQX under the ticker AOTVF. Ascot is the 100% owner of the Premier Gold mine, which poured first gold in April 2024 and is located on Nisga'a Nation Treaty Lands, in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or visit the Company's web site at www.ascotgold.com.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward- looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in respect of the ability of the Company to accomplish its business objectives and the intentions described herein and future plans, development and operations of the Company. These statements involve 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 statements, including risks related to the need for future waivers or forbearance agreements from the secured creditors of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to development, production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the exploration and development of Ascot's properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to finance operations and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in future plans and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; the need for TSX approval, including pursuant to financial hardship exemptions, and other regulatory approvals and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca including the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 25, 2024 in the section entitled "Risk Factors". Forward- looking statements are based on assumptions made with regard to: the estimated costs associated with the care and maintenance plans; the ability to maintain throughput and production levels at the Big Missouri mine and the Premier Northern Lights mine; the tax rate applicable to the Company; future commodity prices; the grade of mineral resources and mineral reserves; the ability of the Company to convert inferred mineral resources to other categories; the ability of the Company to reduce mining dilution; the ability to reduce capital costs; the ability of the Company to raise additional financing; compliance with the covenants in Ascot's credit agreements; and exploration plans. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Although Ascot believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Initiated Due Diligence Through Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Dragun Corporation Commissioned to Conduct ESA to Identify Potential Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) Phase II ESA & Remedial Action To Be Undertaken When AECs Identified

Discussions In Process to Select Potential Contractors and Construction Companies for Windsor Plant

Windsor Silicon Anode Plant to Reduce Reliance on Imported Material, Encourage Canada's Battery Technology Innovation, and Support Region's Economic Development

TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2025 -- Following the Windsor, Ontario, lease and investment announcement on January 24, 2025, NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ("NEO" or the "Company") (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost silicon anode materials developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, is pleased to announce advancements in its commercialization efforts of Canada's first advanced silicon anode manufacturing facility.

Site Due Diligence and Pre-Commercialization Activities Underway

To ensure the site is suitable for development, NEO Battery Materials has initiated due diligence by commissioning a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for the 8-acre site located in the Windsor Airport South Industrial Park. Dragun Corporation, an experienced environmental consulting firm, is conducting this assessment, which will include a review of potential areas of environmental concern (AEC) within and adjacent to the site.

Assessment components involve regulatory file reviews related to certain environmental permits, notifications, and enforcement actions as part of the Phase I ESA. If AECs are identified, a Phase II ESA may be undertaken to determine soil and/or groundwater impact, and subsequent remediations will be taken to achieve compliance with environmental laws and standards.

In parallel, the Company is pre-qualifying potential contractors and construction companies for the project. Discussions are underway to select partners who can meet the technical, regulatory, and timeline requirements for the silicon anode plant construction. NEO remains committed to successfully completing the due diligence process and advancing construction preparations. Contractor selection and site progress updates will be provided as each activity is completed.

Windsor: Home to Canada's First Silicon Anode Manufacturing Plant

The Windsor plant will contribute to the Company's efforts to advance high-performance, sustainable battery materials technology for Canada and North America. The project includes establishing a manufacturing facility to produce 5,000 tons of silicon anode materials annually, with plans for value-added, battery-related projects. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imported battery materials while supporting the region's economic development through job creation and investment.

About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Spencer Huh

Director, President, and CEO

For Investor Relations, PR & More Information:

info@neobatterymaterials.com

T: +1 (437) 451-7678

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock prices; the general global markets and economic conditions; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risk associated with the research and development of advanced technologies; the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale; the risks associated with entering into collaborations, joint ventures, or partnerships with battery cell manufacturers and OEMs; the risks associated with the construction, completion, and financing of commercial facilities including the Windsor and South Korean plant; fluctuations in input precursor prices; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel and financing; access to adequate infrastructure to support battery materials research and development activities; the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with the timely execution of the Company's strategies and business plans; the risks associated with the Company's abilities to attain its goals and commercialization; the risks associated with the lithium-ion battery industry's demand and adoption of the Company's silicon anode technology; the risks associated with the various environmental and political regulations the Company is subject to; the risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; the reliance on key personnel; liquidity risks; the risk of litigation; risk management; and other risk factors as identified in the Company's recent Financial Statements and MD&A and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued R&D and commercialization activities, no material adverse change in precursor prices, development and commercialization plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of theTSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 29, 2025 - Robex Resources Inc. (TSXV: RBX) ("Robex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced "best efforts" public offering of 16,585,400 common shares of the Company (each, a "Common Share") at a price of $2.05 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $34,000,070 (the "Offering"). All currency amounts in this news release are stated in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

The Offering was led by SCP Resource Finance LP, as bookrunner and agent (the "Agent"). The number of Common Shares sold and gross proceeds realized by the Company have been adjusted to reflect the exercise by the Agent of a portion of the over-allotment option granted to the Agent to purchase from the treasury of the Company (the "Over-Allotment Option").

Following the closing of the Offering, the Company is well placed to continue to advance construction, engineering and the procurement of long-lead items for its flagship Kiniero Gold Project, in Guinea, which is targeting first gold pour in Q4 2025.

Matthew Wilcox, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: "This equity raise will allow Robex to move forward with the Kiniero construction which is accelerating towards a gold pour later this year. Kiniero will be a transformative project for the Company, and I look forward to seeing it commissioned."

The Offering was completed under a prospectus supplement dated January 23, 2025 (the "Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated July 20, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"). The Supplement has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Common Shares were also offered by way of private placement in the United States in accordance with all applicable laws. The Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Agency Agreement (as hereinafter defined) are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Offering has received conditional TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") acceptance, and final approval of the TSXV is subject to receipt by the TSXV of customary closing materials.

The Company intends to mainly use the net proceeds from the Offering for the Kiniero Gold Project, in Guinea, to (i) advance the construction and engineering, and (ii) to continue the procurement of long lead items in line with the Company's schedule for Q4 first gold pour. The remaining funds will be used for general and administrative as well as working capital, the whole as disclosed in the Supplement.

Pursuant to the terms of an agency agreement dated January 23, 2025 between the Company and the Agent (the "Agency Agreement"), in consideration of the services rendered by the Agent in connection with the Offering, the Company has paid the Agent a cash commission in the amount of $2,040,004.20 equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, as adjusted to reflect the exercise in full by the Agent of the Over-Allotment Option.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Common Shares, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including in the United States of America. Such securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

About Robex Resources Inc.

Robex is a multi-jurisdictional West African gold production and development company with near-term exploration potential. The Company is dedicated to safe, diverse and responsible operations in the countries in which it operates with a goal to foster sustainable growth. The Company has been operating the Nampala mine in Mali since 2017 and is advancing the Kiniero Gold Project in Guinea.

Robex is supported by two strategic shareholders and has the ambition to become one of the most important mid-tier gold producers in West Africa.

For more information

ROBEX RESOURCES INC.

Matthew Wilcox, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Alain William, Chief Financial Officer

+1 581 741-7421

Email: investor@robexgold.com

www.robexgold.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward?looking statements" and "forward?looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (referred to herein as "forward?looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are included to provide information about the Company's management's ("Management's") current expectations and plans that allow investors and others to have a better understanding of the Company's business plans and financial performance and condition.

Statements made in this news release that describe the Company's or Management's estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions, projections of the future or strategies may be "forward-looking statements", and can be identified by the use of the conditional or forward-looking terminology such as "aim", "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "can", "contemplate", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "future", "guidance", "guide", "indication", "intend", "intention", "likely", "may", "might", "objective", "opportunity", "outlook", "plan", "potential", "should", "strategy", "target", "will" or "would" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon. Forward-looking statements also include any other statements that do not refer to historical facts. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: obtaining the final acceptance of the Offering by the TSXV and the timing thereof; the listing of the Common Shares on the TSXV; the timing of the first gold pour at the Company's Kiniero Gold Project; and the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions, including: obtaining the final acceptance of the Offering by the TSXV and the listing of the Common Shares on the TSXV; the availability of the net proceeds of the Offering in time for their intended use; the anticipated timing of the first gold pour at the Company's Kiniero Gold Project; and general economic and financial conditions in Canada and the other jurisdictions where the Company intends to distribute securities in connection with the Offering.

Certain important factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: delays in obtaining the final acceptance of the Offering by the TSXV and the listing of the Common Shares on the TSXV; delays in the timing of the first gold pour at the Company's Kiniero Gold Project; instability in the general economic and financial conditions in Canada and the other jurisdictions where the Company intends to distribute securities in connection with the Offering; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; volatility in the market price of the Company's shares; and changes in tax laws. See also the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's website at www.robexgold.com, for additional information on risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors are not intended to represent a complete and exhaustive list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, they should be considered carefully. 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.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or Management's estimates, assumptions or opinions should change, except as required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's expected financial and operational performance and results as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented in the Company's plans and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

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.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.


Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. ("Pinnacle" or the "Company") (TSXV:PINN; OTC:NRGOF; Frankfurt:P9J) is pleased to provide an update on the proposed acquisition of a staged option to acquire up to a 100% interest, subject to a 2% NSR, in the Potrero gold-silver project in Durango, Mexico, as announced in Pinnacle news release of Oct. 28, 2024.

As the proposed acquisition is subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") acceptance and the transaction is considered by the TSXV to be a "Fundamental Acquisition", Section 3.5 of Exchange Policy 3.3 requires regular updates on the progress of the transaction.

As the original Letter of Intent provided for a three-month period to conduct due diligence and sign a Definitive Agreement (the "DA"), the Company and the vendor have signed an extension until February 21, 2025 to complete the DA and allow time for a review by the TSXV. All technical due diligence has been completed, and the requisite NI 43-101 Technical Report has been reviewed and deemed suitable for filing by the TSXV, with the final executed version to be submitted prior to closing. Initial comments regarding the Title Opinion have been addressed and a revised version has been submitted for review. The preparation of the DA is in the final stages and the concurrent financing is almost complete. There is no change to the terms of the financing. Subject to the review process and final acceptance by the TSXV, the Company anticipates that the transaction, including the financing, should close by mid-February.

ABOUT PINNACLE SILVER AND GOLD CORP.

Pinnacle is focused on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Americas. In the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario, the Company owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, high-grade Argosy Gold Mine and the adjacent North Birch Project with an eight-kilometre-long target horizon. The addition of the high-grade Potrero gold-silver project in Mexico's Sierra Madre Belt will complement the project portfolio and provide the potential for near-term production. With a seasoned, highly successful management team and quality projects, Pinnacle Silver and Gold is committed to building long-term, sustainable value for shareholders.

Signed: "Robert Archer" President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Email: info@pinnaclesilverandgold.com Tel.: +1-877-271-5886 ext. 110

Website: www.pinnaclesilverandgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


William Fulton is a professor of practice at the University of California, San Diego, a senior adviser to PFM Consulting Group, and author of the Substack newsletter The Future Of Where. Previously he was mayor of Ventura, Calif., and director of planning and economic development for the city of San Diego, as well as director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. He is the author of eight books, including Place and Prosperity: How Cities Help Us To Connect And Innovate.
 Flash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington next week at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office on Tuesday.

Trump has invited Netanyahu to "a meeting at the White House on (next) Tuesday, Feb. 4," said the statement.

The meeting is expected to focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported.

Under the deal, a six-week ceasefire started on Jan. 19 during the first phase. By the 16th day of this ceasefire, talks will commence on subsequent phases aimed at addressing the release of remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

Netanyahu has been under political pressure from key members of his far-right coalition government to resume Gaza fighting after the first phase of the deal.

According to Kan, the White House has prepared an incentive package to encourage Netanyahu to proceed with the deal. The package reportedly includes sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu in late November last year for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" during the Gaza conflict.
Last week, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 series, and Honor was quick to mock its rival for all the ways its own recently launched flagship has it beat.

The campaign was extended to social media, where Honor claimed the Magic7 Pro covers all user needs. In contrast, the Chinese company believes, Samsung users may require several additional accessories to compete with Honor's flagship for portrait photography, zoom capabilities, and battery charging.



Honor posted those on various social media pages

The social media campaign showcased images highlighting the Magic7 Pro's advantages compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung needs to include an additional artificial light, the poster goes, while Honor can rely on the AI Enhanced Portrait feature.

Honor Magic7 Pro

The Chinese brand also brags about AI Super Zoom, AI Deepfake Detection, and AI Motion Sensing Capture on its phone, and while there's some merit to that, the AI features are arguably the one area where Samsung still has the edge.



More teasing posters from social media

There's more truth to the claim that S25 Ultra is lacking in the battery department, the latest Galaxy flagship sticking with the same battery capacity and 45W charging rates (with the standard Galaxy S25 at 25W) for four consecutive years.

Source
Leilani Sablan has a passion for fish. She likes to study them, spear them, eat them, and wants to make certain that future generations in Guahan will enjoy them.

Her work with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant allows her to help make this happen.

She is well-known in the local fishing community because of the time she spent meeting with fishers at all hours of the day or night to document their catches for her masters thesis. She spent time cultivating relationships with local fishing folk to collect data on catches by non-commercial fishers.

Guam, in general, lacks a lot of fisheries-related outreach and extension work, which is crazy since were an island full of fishermen and fisherwomen surrounded by an ocean that sustains us with this very renewable resource, fish, Sablan said.

They just started workshops promoting sustainable fishing.

Were trying to translate the science of fisheries and fish biology into something useful for the fishing community, because a lot of times information is stuck in a publication, in a form they cant access, Sablan said.

Her Marine Lab mentors, Brett Taylor and Peter Houk, guided her through her thesis work, and now Taylor leads the current Sea Grant fisheries research with Sablans help on the ground.

He has taught me everything I know about the life history of fish, and its been fun helping him in the lab and translating the life history information and the research aspect for the fishing community, Sablan said. Learning how to age fish using the small bones in their inner ears is fascinating.

It is essential to know the age at which different fish species mature and begin reproducing. Knowing the length of fish when they mature informs catch sizes and ensures sustainability for the species. Life history is significant for fisheries management.

Taylor and Sablan are working closely with the Guam Department of Agriculture to update the Fisheries Management Plan. Unlike other places in Micronesia, Guam does not have regulations regarding size limits of commonly taken food fish.

The plan aims to regulate fish species based on information on life history and community input. Sablan values her connection with the fishing community and takes their concerns to meetings of the Fisheries Management Plan to ensure their voices are heard and their ideas are incorporated into the plan.

I saw the power of what we can do to leverage the knowledge the fishing community has and how we can increase the quantity and quality of the data we collect by working directly with them. Our community science Initiative hopes to involve more fishers in fisheries research, said Sablan, and they are excited to be a part of the process.

Sablan is conducting in-person surveys on fisheries management for Guahan with all who are interested. She feels this method allows her to interact, answer questions, and clearly explain important aspects of management to fishers.

To be part of this essential work to protect fisheries in our waters, contact her at (671) 472-3749.
Calling all musicians from Guam, the Marianas, Asia and beyond, for the largest music event in the region.

The Tumon Bay Music Festival, which turns 20 this year, will be held from Feb. 26 to March 8 at various locations throughout Guam.

The festival includes:

 Opening ceremonies on Feb. 26 at the Micronesia Mall Center Court

 Choral festival on Feb. 27 and 28 at Guam Plaza Resort in the Kahida Ballroom

 Solo and small ensemble festival on March 1 at the Episcopal Church of Saint John the Divine, and Micronesia Mall

 Pops Concert Jazz, Rock, and Beyond on March 2 at Ypao Amphitheater

 Winds and Strings Festival on March 3 and 4 at Hyatt Regency Guam in the Grand Ballroom

 Finale concert and closing ceremonies on March 8 at the Micronesia Mall Center Court

This event is open to musicians and music groups of all ages and experience levels.

The festival will also include seminars, workshops, school visits and will feature over 80 performances involving over 900 performers.

Most concerts are free and open to the public.

More information can be found at www.tbmfguam.org

Those interested in participating are encouraged to register.

The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 31, or until all performance slots are filled.

For more information, contact Joanne Matanane, festival managing director, at joanne@tbmfguam.org or GPF director of communications, Isaiah Aguon, at isaiah@guamphilharmonic.org.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Wednesday said she wants as much as $400 million out of an anticipated $500.8 million in federal disaster relief money for Guam to go towards construction of a new hospital.

She also made an appeal to Attorney General Douglas Moylan to support the use of American Rescue Plan money for the hospital construction, as the Guam Waterworks Authority moves to start planning for water and sewer at the Mangilao hospital site.

Del. James Moylans office earlier this month announced the island would get the $500.8 million as part of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery allocation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, disaster declaration associated with Typhoon Mawar.

Leon Guerrero on Wednesday said she would like to use the majority of the funds for a new hospital, which she believes is allowed for the funding.

She spoke at a Housing Summit hosted by the Guam Housing Urban Renewal Authority at Hyatt Regency Guam. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development, HUD, attended the event.

Leon Guerrero said she did tell officials from HUD, which provides the block grant, about her plans.

What I wanted to recommend iswell use it for infrastructure and housing development and stuff, but I want most of it, Leon Guerrero said. Im thinking maybe, if I can get $400 million, you know, that would really go a long way.

She said she also has plans to fly to Washington, D.C. soon to see if I can get $350 million more.

Speaking to the crowd at the GHURA Housing Summit, she said the new hospital would aid community development in Mangilao by speeding along power and water infrastructure in the area.

At least one lawmaker, emergency response oversight chairman Sen. Shawn Gumataotao, has already expressed an interest in the $500.8 million pot of funding.

Gumataotao earlier this month wrote a letter asking the governor to use some of it to buy more ambulances for the Guam Fire Department, which had just six operational ambulances earlier this month.

The governor, in response, said buying ambulances was not an eligible activity under the grant, though she promised more would come online.

The hospital is needed

Leon Guerrero made a personal appeal to the attorney general to support the hospital project.

Mr. AG, the hospital is needed. The community needs this. I need you to be on board with this, the governor said.

The AG last week promised he would not sign any contracts using ARP funds to install infrastructure for the new hospital. Guam law requires his review on all contracts worth over $500,000.

AG Moylan is also currently suing to block the use of ARP money for the hospital, over various alleged illegalities related to the transfer of $12.5 million of ARP money for the acquisition of hospital land, and GHURAs condemnation of property for the facility.

We have not done anything illegal with these ARP monies. These are legal monies that we can use, Leon Guerrero said Wednesday. And so I am asking the AG to reconsider his statement about not signing any contract. I think thats a very irresponsible, blatant comment made, and its not really meeting his responsibility as an attorney general.

Leon Guerrero said she had given thought to appointing a special assistant attorney general to handle the matter.

GHURA and Adelup have moved to dismiss the AGs lawsuit in the District Court of Guam.

AG Moylan has said that the loss of the $104 million in ARP money the governor is using for the hospital, wrongfully, he alleges, would warrant her recall.

Water installs

Meanwhile, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities at a Tuesday night meeting approved the first move towards installing infrastructure at the new hospital site in Mangilao.

GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo spoke on the water authoritys intent to start planning and surveying for water and sewer at the hospital site, which is just across the street from the utilities headquarters.

The project will be added onto an existing contract the utility has with an engineering firm, and will be paid for using $750,000 worth of ARP money from the Office of the Governor.

CCU Commissioner Michael Limtiaco did ask Bordallo about how AG Moylans opinion on the funding would impact the project.

But Bordallo on Tuesday said the $750,000 planning and survey work will be added on to an existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract GWA has had in place 2019.

The contract amendment will not need additional legal approval, according to Bordallo.

GWA Legal Counsel Theresa Rojas said the contract was approved by GWAs legal counsel who, in 2019, was designated as a special assistant attorney general by the former AG.

AG Moylan withdrew all special assistant attorney general designations when he took office last year, with the intention of having his own office review all contracts.

Rojas on Tuesday said she had reviewed the AGs lawsuit in the District Court of Guam, and noted there was no injunction or writ of mandamus issued by the court regarding ARP funding.

I want to point out that in this complaint...he explicitly states that no monies that were already given, no ARPA, monies that were already transferred, committed or encumberedhes not asking for any of those to be returned, Rojas said.

Bordallo said the Department of Administration has confirmed that the money is available for GWA.

Commissioners approved GWAs contract amendment for the hospital project, without objection.
Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Veterans Affairs programs, rental assistance and child care aid are among those excluded from the Trump White Houses sweeping federal funding freeze, which a district judge temporarily blocked minutes before it took effect Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, theres no clarity what this could mean to federal funded employees within the government of Guam.

Judge Loren L. AliKhan for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an administrative stay halting the White Houses implementation of the funding freeze until Feb. 3, when a hearing will take place on the matter.

It was in response to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a coalition of organizations representing federal grant recipients.

The court-ordered stay capped a chaotic day for the U.S. government  and the government of Guam  as officials scrambled to seek clarity on which federal funded-programs would be affected.

I want to assure our people that as of now, everything remains status quo, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a statement on Wednesday.

Without clarification, the sweeping pause on federal grants and loans could cause significant disruptions to programs that fund schools, provide housing, ensure that low-income Americans have access to health care, aid to nonprofits, small business loans and state and local government grants.

Del. James Moylan, in a statement, said the federal funding pause will have no impact on VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries.

The governor, meanwhile, convened on Wednesday a meeting with members of her fiscal team and directors of key agencies that could be impacted.

These include the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and Guam Memorial Hospital.

The governor said all agencies are conducting a thorough review of federal programs to determine which are impacted by the funding freeze and which are not.

They will provide more details on the potential consequences of this (Office of Management and Budget) memorandum in the coming days. Each agency will also work to determine what impact, if any, this freeze will have on federally funded employees, Leon Guerrero said.

Additional information released by the White House and the OMB clarifies that the freeze is limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by executive orders that President Donald Trump issued last week, and will not include programs that provide direct benefits to Americans, such as Medicaid, SNAP, childcare assistance, and WIC, the governor said.

Other grants that directly impact Americans are not included in this executive order, meaning critical services will continue without disruption, Leon Guerrero said.

She acknowledges that federal websites for some of these programs shut down to coincide with the OMB Memorandum, and expects that further clarification will be made available in the coming days.

We will provide timely updates as more information becomes available, and I ask the people of Guam to remain calm as we conduct our assessment, the governor added.

The White House memo says the pause also applies to other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

Nonprofit organizations around the nation, including Guam, receive federal grants and depend on federal funds to fulfill their missions, pay their employees and help improve the lives of the people they serve.

The White Houses OMB issued later guidance and questions-and-answers on the impacts of the federal funding freeze, including the following:

Q: Is this a freeze on all federal financial assistance?

A: No, the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the presidents executive orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans?

A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.

Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused.
There was standing-room only in the main hall of Government House on Monday night, when the sound of static filled the room and the voice of former Gov. Ricardo Ricky Bordallo came calling to the crowd back from the year 1987.

All the work we went through, the late former governor said to the room, to understand how we could set up around two mics, so we could just talk very relaxed.

The audio was a snippet of over 100 tapes recorded just a few years before the former governors death in 1990, hours and hours worth of interviews taken by his old press secretary and cousin, C. Sablan Gault.

I hadnt heard them since 87, 88, said Gault, whose recounting of her late cousins life launched at the Monday night event, almost 50 years to the day after Ricardo Bordallo began his first term as governor in 1975.

Ricky: A Life Worth Sharing, Volume I, billed as an autobiography, tells the story of the early years of Ricardo Bordallo, who was born in 1927, and whose political career began in the years after World War II.

Gault began recording interviews for the former governors biography in 1987, the year he would be convicted in federal court for 10 government corruption chargesall but two of which were later overturned.

When they were transcribed into a digital form, and I heard them the first time again, was very emotional to hear his voice, to hear him talking to me again, Gault told the crowd on Monday, choking up slightly as she spoke.

Oh, we had arguments. We laughed, we argued...we had some really good times and some really sad times, she said.

If you wonder about the immediacy of it, Gault said of the biography, its because it was written at that time. Youre getting it 37 years after the fact.

The material salvaged in the decades the former governor was first recorded was incredible, said Victoria Lola Leon Guerrero, director of the books publisher, University of Guam Press.

Leon Guerrero described the efforts to digitize cassette tapes and old floppy disks, the 1,000-page document that came togethera part II of the book is in orderand a call from former Del. Madeleine Bordallo on Christmas Eve in 2020.

Congresswoman Bordallo called me and said, what address do I send all of this to you? Leon Guerrero said.

The former delegate, first lady of Guam, and widow of Ricardo Bordallo had helped scrounge up old images for the book, according to Leon Guerrero.

Thats not very easy, Madeleine Bordallo, now 91, told the crowd Monday. You know how it is, Oh, I had that photo, but the typhoon took it.

The former first lady, like others present Monday who knew Ricardo Bordallo, recalled the sharp dress and boundless energy of her late husband.

We had so many young people go through the many years he was governor and also senator, and those guys came out. They couldnt believe it, Madeleine Bordallo said. Hed go to five, six fiestas in one night, or a funeral. He did everything in his white pants.

In attendance at the Monday book launch was a whos-who of government of Guam dignitaries past and present, and a slew of notable figures from the private sector as well.

How many people ever served in Rickys administration? Madeleine Bordallo asked the crowd at one point.

A slew of hands shot up at the prompt.

The book itself drew high praise from many who knew the man himself.

I was shocked, Madeleine Bordallo said of the reading. Married to him all these years, he never told me all these things.

She said the autobiography should be put into the hands of any young person from Guam.

Youre going to read it pretty fast, said Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, who got his summer job at then-senator Madeleine Bordallos office back in the late 1980s.

Youre going to discover a whole bunch of things about Guams history, and youre really going to be reminded about what a phenomenal thinker Gov. Ricky Bordallo was, Tenorio said.

This book is just like an audio book, at least for me, because I spent many years with Ricky, and it sounds just like him, said Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz, who got a job out of law school in the early 1970s as the former governors legal counsel.

Cruz said the book had enthralling images of old Hagatna.

It gave me a lot of insight about things that happened to my parents, because...they didnt want to talk about the war. And so I was very fortunate to have this recounting by Ricky, said Cruz.

The former governors daughter, Deborah Bordallo, who also celebrated her birthday on Monday, thanked all those who came out to remember her father.

It warms my heart to see that there are people that knew my dad, and people that still carry him in their heart, she told the crowd.

Ricky: A Life Worth Sharing, Volume I retails for $35 and can be purchased from Bestseller, the UOG Triton Bookstore, Amazon, and UOG press, https://uogpress.com/products/ricky-a-life-worth-sharing-volume-i.
Collette Taitano moved from Guam in 2008 to pursue a bachelors degree and a masters degree on the mainland. She currently resides and works in Las Vegas, Nevada.




Haiti - Drug cartel : Cherfilus McCormick, against the American military intervention in Haiti





Since taking office, President Donald Trump has been aggressive at the border and has designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations



Strategically, Haiti is positioned as a gateway for drug trafficking routes between Latin America and the United States and has become a focal point in the discussion of drug cartel influence in the Western Hemisphere. President Trump has suggested that he is open to using U.S. military force against drug cartels.



Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democratic representative from South Florida, Haitian-American (born in New York to Capois parents), while acknowledging the importance of addressing cartel influence, suggested that the United States should take a different approach.



She believes that President Trump should not use military force against the cartels in Haiti. "I think that we could actually build upon what was already done [...]We have other countries that have committed their troops. I dont think theres any need to run in and send our troops [...]," explaining that existing international efforts should instead be strengthened in favor of Haiti and U.S. commitments respected.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Leslie Voltaire's Agenda in France





On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Leslie Voltaire, the Haitian President pro tempore of the Transitional Council, accompanied by Chancellor Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, arrived in Paris at the head of a Haitian delegation, for a 2-day official visit,



During his stay, President Voltaire will be received at the Elysee Palace this Wednesday, January 29, 2025 by the President of France Emmanuel Macron, a symbol of the historical and diplomatic ties uniting the two nations.



In addition, President Voltaire will meet during his stay with Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), to discuss new cooperation initiatives within the framework of the Francophone space.



Voltaire will also meet with Jean-Marc Ayrault, former Prime Minister of France and current President of the Foundation for the Memory of Slavery. The joint efforts to preserve memory and recognize historical legacies will be discussed, essential pillars for building a future marked by justice and reconciliation.



Finally, in a gesture of proximity, Voltaire will meet members of the Haitian diaspora in order to strengthen the ties between this community and their country of origin, while promoting the role of the diaspora in Haiti's international influence.



This official visit embodies the renewed desire of Haiti and France to consolidate a partnership based on common principles of cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect, while opening new perspectives for a shared future.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Kenscoff : More than 20 bandits killed

On Monday, January 28, 2025, at least twenty armed bandits were fatally injured during the attack by members of the gang coalition "Viv Ansanm" against the town of Kenscoff, during clashes with the police, according to an initial provisional report by Jean Massillon, the Mayor of Kenscoff (Acting President of the Municipal Commission) who reports at least 4 deaths among the population.



Police officer killed in combat in the city center

On Monday, January 27, 2025, Police Officer Harold Andre Theodore (14th class) was shot dead during violent clashes in the city center of Port-su-Prince against bandits from the "Viv ansanm" coalition.



USA : 32,363 deportation orders against Haitians

As of November 24, 2024, 1,445,549 non-citizens are on the ICE non-detainee registry with final deportation orders, among them 32,363 Haitians.



Protest, 5 students in the hospital

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in Jacmel, new demonstration of public school students to demand the presence of teachers in classrooms. At least 5 students from Lycee Celie Lamour were injured and admitted to Saint-Michel Hospital in Jacmel.



Exemptions in U.S. Aid Freeze

Tuesday January 28, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expanded the exemptions provided as part of a general freeze on US foreign aid for 90 days, by ensuring that emergency humanitarian assistancelife-saving medicines, medical services, food, shelter, and livelihood assistancewill continue to flow.



The CPT would like to replace the 42 Vice-delegates

In a correspondence dated January 28, the Collective of 42 departmental vice-delegates expressed its anger after learning from the media that the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) was considering their replacement without any consideration, without evaluation and without consultation, while they have not received any operating costs or salary for several years and despite everything, they claim to have continued to serve their districts and keep their office open...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Chinese AI company Deepseek, which is currently shaking up the AI world and the stock market, is now also releasing an image generator or a new model from the multimodal model family called Janus. Janus-Pro should be able to compete with the Dall-E 3 image generator from OpenAI, among others.

Anzeige

Like the other AI models from Deepseek R1 and V3, Janus-Pro is freely available as open source under the MIT license. The new model can be found at Hugging Face, for example. Janus-Pro is the successor to Janus and is significantly larger and more powerful. The model comes with the usual capabilities of a multimodal model: it can generate images, but also understand them and should be able to remain very stringent.

The images shown in the published paper are photorealistic and can compete with Midjourney in terms of quality. However, the actual use may differ. The images also show the word Hello. Writing is a difficult task for image generators. Janus obviously couldn't do it yet.

Hype about Deepseek

Deepseek describes Janus-Pro as a novel autoregressive framework. In some benchmarks, the version with seven billion parameters is even said to outperform Dall-E 3, Stable Diffusion XL and other image generators, the authors write.

The release of the multimodal model comes just in time for the hype surrounding the Chinese company. The R1 and V3 models have caused a stir in Silicon Valley and on the stock market. Numerous AI experts and major investor Marc Andreessen have praised the developments. As the models were trained much more cheaply and required fewer AI chips, the stock market value of Nvidia, for example, plummeted as a result.

It is not entirely clear how the Chinese company achieves the quality of the Deepseek models. There are allegations that model distillation was used and that R1 and V3 were trained using ChatGPT. Model distillation means that the knowledge of a large model is transferred to a smaller one. This is indicated by the fact that the models are said to have sometimes responded that they are ChatGPT.

Anzeige

(emw)
Customers of the e-commerce service provider Digital River are looking down the tubes: payments have apparently not been made since July. The situation is unclear and the US company has not yet provided any clarification. Numerous companies in this country are also affected.

Anzeige

Digital River is a service provider for e-commerce providers. The company operates online stores for major brands such as Nvidia, but also offers itself as a payment service provider for small companies and independent software developers. Customers can offer their goods and services, Digital River processes the payment via the "MyCommerce" platform and forwards the money collected minus a commission. At least that's how it worked until recently. However, complaints from customers, which heise online has also received, are now increasing.

Extension of the payment deadline

Among other things, customers report that Digital River has recently extended the deadline for payment to the seller from 15 to 60 days. This means that payments from July 2024 are now due by October at the latest. Affected customers are exchanging information in various forums and in some cases estimate their arrears at five- and six-figure amounts. The company is also said to have attempted to impose amended terms and conditions on merchants that include new fees.

The problem is not only occurring in English-speaking countries; German companies are also expressing their frustration in forums. In this country, the US company previously operated through a German subsidiary with an address in Frankfurt am Main, which in turn belongs to a holding company in the UK. According to the commercial register entry of September 6, a new managing director for the German GmbH was appointed by shareholder resolution on August 14, 2024, who is apparently an American lawyer residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The GmbH is no longer listed in the legal notice of the German website, which refers to the US company headquarters in Minnesota.

According to the last published annual financial statements, the German subsidiary transferred around EUR 5.8 million to the British holding company in 2022. The UK subsidiary, on the other hand, has recently been on shaky ground. According to the 2022 annual financial statements of the UK subsidiary Digital River UK, previous losses were to be countered with cost reductions. Auditors emphasize that the continued existence of the company is heavily dependent on payments from the US parent company. At the same time, the UK subsidiary reported a comparatively small profit of 155,298 pounds for 2022.

Affected parties organize class action lawsuit

Anzeige

Nothing else is known about the background, but speculation is all the more intense. Apparently, Digital River was recently sold and a new CEO took over the business. There is now speculation that the new owner could cannibalize and liquidate the company. There is talk of redundancies at the US parent company. According to a report by The Register, the company is having a law firm reject the claims of the dealers. In English-language forums, those affected by the payment default are also trying to organize a class action lawsuit.

There are some current posts about Digital River on an internet portal for rumors about redundancies. Users can post there anonymously and the truth of the information cannot be easily verified. According to these posts, however, there have been further redundancies at Digital River, and frustration over incompetent management staff is spreading. Others speculate that a new owner is planning to cease business operations in November.

The company and its European subsidiaries have not yet responded to inquiries, and an inquiry from heise online has so far gone unanswered.

(dmk)
Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky wants to bring Pebble-compatible networked wristwatches back onto the market. It will be called Repebble. The Canadian announced this on Monday. On the same day, Google released the majority of the PebbleOS source code online as open source. Pebble Technology Corporation sold more than two million smartwatches with ePaper screens between 2013 and 2016, but slipped into insolvency at the end of 2016.

Anzeige

Competitor Fitbit bought intangible assets from Pebble's bankruptcy estate and took on some employees. Google later swallowed Fitbit, meaning that the rights to PebbleOS ended up with the data company. The public launch of Pebble in 2012 was an exceptionally successful crowdfunding campaign. Migicovsky wanted to raise 100,000 US dollars for the first Pebble watch, and raised more than a hundred times that amount in 37 days. After the later bankruptcy, a community under the name Rebble kept servers for Pebbles in operation and set up an app store. As a result, numerous Pebble watches are still in operation today.

Migicovsky is now making a new attempt to bring new Pebble hardware onto the market. This is much easier and cheaper today than it was a decade ago, he writes on a blog post on the website of the project called Repebble. After all, there are now many capable factories and Bluetooth chips have become cheaper, better and more energy-efficient. The man is particularly grateful to Google for releasing the source code. The new watches should use the same operating system so that existing apps and watch faces are compatible.

Re-founder against his will

The revival is apparently taking place reluctantly: I really really really hoped that someone else would come along and build a Pebble replacement, writes the inventor, But no one did. So a small team and I are jumping back into the hardware world and bringing Pebble back! He is explicitly not looking for investors for Repebble, and he only wants a few employees. The focus is on sustainability: I want to keep building cool gadgets and keep Pebble alive for a long time to come.

Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier eine externe Umfrage (Opinary GmbH) geladen. Umfragen immer laden Umfrage jetzt laden

The new Pebble smartwatch will essentially have the same specifications and features as the original Pebble, with some fun new stuff thrown in. A date for the market launch has not yet been set. Incidentally, there is an Android app called Cobble as a companion for existing and future Pebble devices, and an iOS version is in the works. According to Migicovsky, his team has also contributed to this. He also invites the whole world to develop their own devices for PebbleOS.

Anzeige

(ds)
The Finnish government is presently mulling over the possibility as a means to kick-start long-sluggish economic growth and promote domestic inheritance.

ECONOMISTS in Finland are doubtful about the notion of abolishing the inheritance tax and replacing it with a capital gains tax in an attempt to kick-start economic growth, according to Helsingin Sanomat .

In Finland, the inheritance tax is levied on inheritances worth at least 20,000 euros. The tax rate is determined in accordance with the inheritance tax table and bracket based on the asset value and the relationship of the inheritor with the deceased, but the tax scheme also has provisions for various types of relief.

Last year, the tax generated roughly one billion euros in revenue, a sum that likely could not be raised with the capital gains tax. Calls for abolishing the tax have emanated, for example, from the Finnish Family Firms Association (PL), drawing support especially from members of the National Coalition.

PL on Tuesday estimated based on its survey that family-owned firms have set aside a total of five billion euros for future inheritance tax payments  a sum that cannot be invested in growing the firm and, consequently, creating jobs and economic growth, noted Minna Vanhala-Harmanen, the CEO of PL.

Preparing for paying the inheritance or gift tax postpones or prevents investments in 70 per cent of companies, she said to YLE.

The survey drew responses from the representatives of 200 companies, including 190 of the 563 member companies of PL.

Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday published an article where several economists expressed their reservations about the idea that abolishing the inheritance tax specifically could boost economic growth.

Economic research does not indicate that economic growth would be slower in countries with an inheritance tax, said Matti Pohjola, a professor emeritus of economics at Aalto University.

Unlike consumption and income taxes, taxing inheritances has no impact on prices and incomes determined by the market, and thereby not on the decisions of financial managers. That is why it is better than these taxes to fund public spending. The inheritance tax is also a good means to strive to create a society where everyone has the same possibilities to succeed regardless of their status at birth.

All taxes can inhibit economic growth and distort economic activity, reminded Tuulia Hakola-Uusitalo, the director general at VATT Institute for Economic Research. The inheritance tax, however, is generally regarded as possibly the least distorting taxegiven that the difficulty of anticipating inheritances means it has a limited impact on business and employment-related decisions.

The interrelationship between the inheritance tax and productivity is complicated, though.

If financing business operations was a problem or the inheritors had superior business acumen, you could claim that the inheritance tax has an impact on growth. However, research findings do not corroborate these claims  on the contrary. There really is no evidence that removing the inheritance tax would accelerate economic growth, she wrote to Helsingin Sanomat.

Essi Eerola, an advisor to the board of the Bank of Finland, similarly called attention to the lack of scientific evidence of a connection between economic growth and the inheritance tax. Elements of inheritance tax schemes can have various effects on the behaviour of both the would-be inheritor and the bequeather, including effects that undermine economic growth.

Also capital gains taxation has problems with disincentives. It can encourage you not to sell a company even though another owner could be better equipped to continue the operations, she said.

The Finnish inheritance tax certainly has the problem that the tax depends on what types of assets are passed on and to whom. The inheritance tax often also targets wealth that is not easy to liquidate. The inheritance tax should at least be reformed.

Scrapping the inheritance tax could promote economic growth if it encouraged investment, remarked Markus Jantti, a professor of labour economics at Stockholm University. It could also contribute to more effective business operations by doing away with the tax benefits of bequeathing businesses to successors.

If a company is passed on to successors instead of the people who are best positioned to continue the business operation, it can erode total productivity, according to studies, he said.

People, he also reminded, may be discouraged from investing in their own mental capital or build up savings because of the looming prospect of an inheritance. Taxing inheritances gnaws away at this kind of a possible negative incentive, wrote Jantti.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The dead fish, mostly herring and sprat, were first reported on Tuesday in areas around Hankos winter swimming facility and Regattaranta beach.

Large numbers of dead fish have washed ashore in Hanko, coinciding with the appearance of an unidentified white substance along a 20-kilometre stretch of coastline. Authorities are investigating possible links between the two incidents.

The city has since closed the swimming facility and advised against swimming in affected waters.

The Finnish Food Authority is analysing fish samples to determine the cause of death, including the possibility of poisoning. The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) is conducting laboratory tests on the white, waxy material found on the beaches. Preliminary findings suggest it may be a fatty ester-like substance, which is mildly harmful but not immediately dangerous to humans.

One theory under investigation is that the substance originated from a ship. Experts from the John Nurminen Foundation believe the material could be residue from a cargo tank wash that was not properly cleaned in port. If confirmed, this would be a violation of international maritime regulations.

Syke researcher Sanna Suikkanen noted that paraffin-like substances occasionally wash up on shores worldwide. However, the scale of the incident in Hanko is unusual.

The substance was likely transported in liquid form and solidified in the cold seawater before reaching the shore, Suikkanen told Ilta-Sanomat.

Authorities have not yet determined whether the substance is linked to the mass fish deaths.

Emergency services, the city of Hanko, and the WWF have launched a clean-up operation. Volunteers have been asked to sign up through the WWF website to assist with removing the substance from beaches.

Hanko residents had already begun clearing the material before the official response was organised. Marke Kettunen, who was among the first to start collecting the waxy substance, said local people feel a strong responsibility to protect their coastline.

The beaches in Hanko are unique. We have to keep them clean, Kettunen said.

Rescue services are also surveying nearby islands and waters to assess the extent of the contamination. The public has been advised to avoid direct contact with the substance and dead fish until the laboratory results are available.

HT
This shift began gradually around 2010 and has accelerated since 2018. By 2021, Finlands forests had transitioned from absorbing carbon to releasing it.

Finlands forests , once a crucial carbon sink, have become a source of emissions, raising concerns over the countrys climate policy and carbon neutrality targets. According to the latest data from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) , Finlands forests emitted 1.12 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023.

The main causes are declining forest growth, increased logging, and rising emissions from forest soil.

The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, which includes forests, emitted a total of 11.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023. This makes it one of Finlands largest emission sources, surpassing emissions from sectors such as agriculture.

LUKEs report highlights three key reasons behind the decline of Finlands forest carbon sink. First, tree growth has slowed. While forest growth previously outpaced harvesting, this is no longer the case. The total biomass growth of treesincluding trunks, branches, leaves, and rootshas decreased, affecting the overall carbon balance.

Second, logging rates have increased significantly. In the early 2010s, around 70% of forest growth was removed through harvesting and natural losses. By 2023, this figure had risen to 90%. This has left little room for forests to function as carbon absorbers.

Finally, the carbon storage capacity of Finnish mineral soils has weakened. Rising temperatures have accelerated soil decomposition, leading to greater emissions. Peatland forests, which store large amounts of carbon, have also begun releasing more greenhouse gases.

Professor Annalea Lohila, Focal Point of ICOS Finland, expressed concern over the findings. Finland has based its climate policy partly on the forest sinks, and now it seems this sink has disappeared, she said. The annual growth of trees, which used to increase until about 2010, is not increasing anymore. This can be explained at least partly by the age structure of forests. In addition, harvest levels have stayed high.

The loss of Finlands forest carbon sink has serious implications for the countrys climate policy. Finland has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2035, a goal that heavily depends on natural carbon sinks. To meet this target, Finland needs to cut emissions by 19 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Without strong carbon sinks, this will be much harder to achieve.

The problem is not unique to Finland. A similar trend has been observed in other European countries, including France, Germany, Sweden, and Estonia. Research from Paris-Saclay University has shown that land carbon sinks across Europe are weakening due to rising emissions from forest soils and increased deforestation.

The findings add further weight to concerns raised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which recently criticised Finland and Sweden for failing to protect Europes last old-growth forests. In a report published in January, WWF accused both governments of exploiting legal loopholes to allow logging in forests that should be safeguarded under EU biodiversity commitments. The organisation warned that ongoing deforestation could further weaken Europes carbon sinks, making it harder to meet climate targets.

Lohila stressed the need for urgent action. We need to take care of the forests and ensure that logging rates do not continue to increase, she said. One clear message for the research community is that there are still large uncertainties in the peatland forest emissions, and more data is needed to reduce these uncertainties.

HT
Woman, 39, convicted in Laurel Park stabbing death

A 39-year-old woman was sentenced to up to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Robin Arnold Bracken, 58, on Jan. 7, 2024, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced.

Related Stories

According to the investigation and court trial records, Vanessa Annalee Ledbetter was in a turbulent relationship with Bracken for some time before the stabbing occurred, the D.A.,'s office said in a news release.

EMS and the Laurel Park Police Department responded to 16 Lake Drive after a neighbor called 911. Upon arriving, first responders found Bracken lying in a common area outside the couples apartment, unresponsive and bleeding from his midsection. An investigation revealed he had been stabbed in the back in the bathroom of their shared apartment and had staggered out to the common area, asking for help before dying from the stab wounds.

Although neighbors described how Ledbetter and Bracken had been involved in a tumultuous and unhealthy relationship, the investigation revealed that Bracken was not armed and that no physical assault of Ledbetter had occurred when the stabbing took place, Murray said in a news release. Ledbetter admitted to stabbing Bracken because she was scared and afraid of him, court testimony showed.

Superior Court Judge William Stetzer sentenced Ledbetter to a minimum term of 10 years four months and a maximum term of 13 years five months in state prison.
KAMPALA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military said on Tuesday that it will send more peacekeeping troops to Somalia following the exit of those deployed by Burundi under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that Uganda has been added another area to cover which was previously occupied by Burundian peacekeepers.

"It is inevitable that we shall have to add more troops because the numbers we have on the ground cannot cover the two sectors," Kulayigye said, noting that the troops will move to the Horn of African country as soon as the paperwork is concluded by the deploying authority, AUSSOM.

Uganda has since 2007 deployed peacekeeping troops in Somalia.

Until January, Burundi was one of the troop-contributing countries to the African Union peacekeeping force battling militants in Somalia. Other countries include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. 
By Michelle Stirling

The Canadian documentary Sugarcane, now streaming on Hulu and shortlisted for an Academy Award, has captured widespread acclaim. Former U.S. President Barack Obama included it on his list of favourite movies, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone. With two Critics Choice Awards to its name and a private White House screening praised by U.S. President Joe Biden, Sugarcane appears poised to leave a lasting impact.

However, as the producer of TheHYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" BitterHYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" RootsHYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" ofHYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "https://rumble.com/v5i558i-the-bitter-roots-of-sugarcane.html" \t "_blank" Sugarcane, a rebuttal documentary, I feel compelled to address the glaring inaccuracies and misrepresentations that underpin Sugarcanes narrative.

The film, directed by Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat, tells a gripping story centred on St. Josephs Indian Residential School near Williams Lake, B.C., and the Sugarcane Reserve. Its central claims include allegations of priests impregnating Indigenous students and incinerating unwanted infants. While the documentary is emotionally powerful, its central premise is not supported by the facts.

At the heart of Sugarcane is the story of Ed Archie NoiseCat, a man whose life began in tragedy. As a newborn, Ed was abandoned by his mother and found crying in the schools garbage burner. While this event is true, the film implies it was part of a systemic pattern of abuse. In reality, Eds abandonment was a desperate act by his mother, not evidence of institutional wrongdoing. His father, Ray Peters, was not a priest but a man who fathered 17 children with multiple women.

The documentary also highlights a separate case involving Father OConnor, a priest at St. Josephs, who broke his vows by engaging in a consensual relationship with a 22-year-old Indigenous seamstress. Their child was placed for adoption. While both stories are true, the filmmakers conflate them to create a broader narrative of systemic abuse, which is not substantiated by evidence.

Charlene Belleau, the films lead investigator and a relative of NoiseCats grandmother, would likely have been aware of these facts. Yet the documentary presents a speculative crime board of alleged incidents, turning personal tragedies into accusations of systemic horror.

As the producer of The Bitter Roots of Sugarcane, I have conducted extensive research into these events, but even a few hours of online investigation reveal the discrepancies in Sugarcanes narrative. My documentary lays out these findings, countering the emotionally charged but misleading portrayal in Kassie and NoiseCats film.

What is particularly troubling is the scale of Sugarcanes success. National Geographic reportedly acquired the film for a seven-figure sum, and co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat  Eds son  has financially benefited from a narrative centred on his familys history. While profiting from storytelling is not inherently problematic, doing so by distorting facts about real people and communities raises ethical concerns.

The film concludes with the claim that Ed Archie NoiseCat is the only known infant to have survived the incinerator. This is misleading. While Eds case is documented, his abandonment was not the result of systemic abuse but a desperate act by his mother. Omitting this critical context leaves viewers with a sensationalized and inaccurate conclusion.

While Sugarcane has been praised for drawing attention to Canadas residential school system, documentaries addressing sensitive historical topics must adhere to the highest standards of accuracy. By prioritizing emotional impact over factual integrity, Sugarcane risks undermining the very issues it seeks to highlight.

The atrocities of the residential school system are a crucial chapter in Canadian history that must be told with care and respect for the truth. While Sugarcane has sparked important conversations, its approach raises significant questions about its handling of the facts.

The truth matters. When it comes to stories that shape our understanding of history, it matters more than ever.

Michelle Stirling is the producer/writer of The Bitter Roots of Sugarcane. This commentary was submitted by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
In NSW, government figures show there has been a 322 per cent increase in sales of electric mobility devices between 2020 and 2022.

Fines are in place for members of the public caught riding electric bikes where they shouldn't. Source: Getty

Frustrated community members, tired of encountering electric bicycles speeding along footpaths, are calling for stricter penalties, tighter regulations and physical modifications to the controversial devices to improve their safety.

Throughout NSW, the use of e-bikes has soared in recent years, particularly among food delivery drivers and young people. Advocates like Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean argued there are several key benefits of e-bikes, emphasising their role in sustainable and efficient transport.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, he praised the devices for reducing carbon emissions, as they offer a cleaner alternative to cars, particularly for short commutes. He said e-bikes are also more energy-efficient than traditional motor vehicles, contributing to greener cities and reduced traffic congestion.

But many across the state, particularly the elderly and those with mobility issues, argue there is a time and place for riding e-bikes  and it's not on footpaths. In fact, in NSW, a fine to the tune of $136 is in place for those caught riding them on the footpath, however the fine is seldom dished out by authorities.

Hireable e-bikes have garnered controversy in recent times due to how riders leave them around cities. Source: Reddit

E-bike opposers call for tougher penalties, tighter regulations

A NSW parliamentary inquiry investigating e-scooters and e-bikes has heard from several councils that have raised concerns that current legislation limits their ability to tackle illegal behaviour on e-bikes. That's because the responsibility for enforcement rests solely with NSW Police.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Glebe Society, an Inner West community group, is advocating for stricter regulatory measures. Member Janet Oakley believes there isn't enough awareness regarding the rules.

"E-bikes weave between pedestrians with scant regard for safety and there seems to be no risk of penalty," she told The Daily Telegraph. It's a sentiment many other Sydneysiders share.

Another local resident, Barry Ahearn, told the paper he supports changes to e-bike rules. "I have no issue with them in the bike lanes, but on the footpaths its just too dangerous," he said.

According to the Telegraph, despite e-bikes now proliferating our streets, less than a dozen penalties have been handed out to people for riding them on a footpath with a mere 11 cyclists copping fines.

Councils push for new e-bike rules

Several councils have proposed introducing new regulations requiring oversized e-bikes to be equipped with noise-emitting devices to alert pedestrians of their approach. Sutherland Shire Council suggested that such devices could help minimise the risk of collisions with pedestrians.

ADVERTISEMENT

Northern Beaches Council highlighted growing concerns among residents, particularly older and vulnerable individuals, who have expressed feeling unsafe while walking on footpaths.

The council noted in its submission to the NSW Government that near-misses and previous traumas have left some community members anxious about using footpaths. It's led certain residents to reconsider walking as a mode of transport, potentially affecting their physical health and social needs.

The council also raised concerns about youth riders, some as young as 10, who may lack the cognitive skills and empathy needed to assess and manage risks appropriately, posing potential dangers to both themselves and others.

E-bike opposers say they result in messy streets and travel too fast for use on the footpath. Source: Facebook/9News

Uptake soars as advocates cite environmental benefits

In NSW, government figures show there has been a 322 per cent increase in e-bike and e-scooter sales between 2020 and 2022. Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean, though supportive of the movement, agreed the industry needs stricter regulation.

ADVERTISEMENT

"They're getting more types of people with different chronic injuries, arthritis and joint problems or whatever else riding bikes, which is really fantastic for physical and mental health," he previously told Yahoo News Australia.

"From a mobility point of view, they're getting people from A to B, in a nice, sustainable manner. It's also reducing the number of [car] trips that people are taking."

McLean admitted the devices travel at speed, which can pose safety hazards. "When they're in the hands of people who don't have a huge amount of experience, they are unsafe," he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
While finding a kangaroo carcass in a household tank is very unusual, it's more common for snakes to become trapped and cause health risks to drinking water.

The routine tank clean ended up becoming a bit more serious. Source: Facebook/PristineWaterSystems

Aussie property owners are being warned to check their water tanks regularly after an "incredibly unusual" find in a backyard tank this week.

Tank cleaners working on the NSW Central Coast say the "unbelievable discovery" demonstrates the serious health risks of not keeping a close eye on your private water supply.

"We never thought wed encounter this during a routine water tank cleaning but today, our team found a decomposed kangaroo inside the tank," the team shared on Tuesday.

"The poor animal had been there long enough for bones and decomposing flesh to remain, and let us tell you  it was not a pleasant sight."

ADVERTISEMENT

Pictures shared from the scene show the animal had clearly been stewing in the tank for quite some time, with the owners seemingly unaware of the unfortunate contaminant.

Related: Aussies urged to make simple garden feature after 'amazing' backyard discovery

Astonishingly, Glen Gillingham, who runs Pristine Water Systems on the NSW Central Coast told Yahoo News Australia that it's not the first time his team has found a kangaroo carcass in a home owner's water tank.

He pulled a deceased kangaroo out of a 150,000 litre tank a little more than 12 months ago. And there are serious health risks with such a scenario, he warned.

"All the bacteria and everything else that goes along with a rotting carcass ... You wouldnt normally go out and drink water that has gone through a rotting carcass."

Unsurprisingly, it makes the water 'horrible'. Source: Facebook/PristineWaterSystems

In these situations his team typically drain the tank completely and give it a full clean. "There's not much else you can do," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

In that previous case, the tank was embedded in the slope of a hill on the property with the lid at ground level. However the lid of the metal tank had become rusted and weak when Glen believes a kangaroo jumped on it and fell through into the tank to perish.

Snakes can get into backyard water tanks and decompose

While a kangaroo is a real rarity, there's another animal that poses the same health risks but it more common to come across.

"More common is snakes in the tank," Glen told Yahoo. "That doesn't take a broken roof or anything. They can get in through the pipes  generally chasing mice or frogs  and they can't get out."

ADVERTISEMENT

He recently pulled a deceased three-and-a-half metre python from a family's water tank.

"I've pulled a few pythons out of tanks  they've all been dead. That's just as bad as a kangaroo," Glen said.

"It makes the water horrible."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Nobody likes to miss out on a prime spot at the beach or at your favourite campground, but these 'unfair' tactics should be avoided an etiquette expert warns.

Aussie have been slammed over the 'selfish' summer trend of reserving prime spots at campsites, car parks and beaches. Revellers set up picnic blankets in Cronulla at 7am on Australia Day, then fled the area until festivities started. Source: Facebook/Ian Mathie/Rob Killingback

It was the Australian debate that went global this recent holiday period. And again, Aussies are being called out for using "unfair" and "selfish" tactics to reserve prime spots at campgrounds, beaches and car parks to the detriment of others.

One of the nation's leading etiquette experts, Jo Hayes, spoke to Yahoo News on the matter, and said the "poor" trend is "reflective of a general societal decline" in courtesy towards our fellow man and woman.

She argued such acts are "bad form" and even branded them "un-Australian".

It comes after heated debate erupted over beach cabanas in January, and in particular those who use them to reserve space on the sand. Often people set up a cabana and then vacate the area, only to return later to expect to see it still waiting.

Ghost camping has seen prime spots around Victoria left vacant this summer, a local MP argues. Source: Tim Bull

Examples of dodgy reservations continue to mount

And the act isn't limited to beaches, with similar incidents occurring at campgrounds too. In Victoria, a local MP last week told Yahoo "ghost reservations"  reserving a campsite but leaving it unoccupied to prevent others from using it, or failing to honour a booking entirely  were costing the tourism sector big bucks in the wake of the state offering free camping to all visitors and residents.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nationals MP Tim Bull said the change "resulted in less people enjoying the outdoors in peak holiday period". Online this week, numerous examples of all three acts surfaced.

In one instance, a woman was photographed standing in the middle of a car park at Balmoral Beach in Sydney, in a bid to deter others from seizing the spot. She argued her "husband was coming soon".

Another example shows people setting up their picnic blankets in Cronulla at 7am in anticipation of Australia Day events later in the day, then vacating the area until showtime.

In Balmoral in Sydney, a woman was photographed attempting to reserve a car park by standing in it. Source: Facebook/Rob Killingback

How to avoid being part of the problem

Hayes said the "only people who have the right to do such reserving" are the local council/regulators in charge of that area. "It's not fair," she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There are ways that one can reserve the best, desired spots, that align with common decency and proper etiquette," she said. "This is the way things were done in previous generations. Get to the venue early, claim your spot and set up your gear, then stay there  you must have at least one person staying with the claimed spot.

"If you've taken the time to get there ahead of others  all power to you. Well done. But you don't have the right to lay down a blanket, or cordon off an area with your own self-made sign, and then choof off."

Hayes said that when in doubt, apply the golden rule of thumb: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

"The average Joe doesn't have the right to 'reserve' a spot and leave," she reiterated. "If a group wants to have an event at a council park, they can contact local council to officially reserve the spot. Council puts up a sign stating that the area is reserved for an event.

"One can't just put up their own sign."

ADVERTISEMENT

Hayes said the example of the woman reserving the car park spot at Balmoral "is OK, as she is actually a human person standing in the spot"  but putting up a self-made sign "would not be OK."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Charity workers say they need donations now more than ever. But they don't want stores to be considered a dumping ground.

The Vinnies store in Coffs Harbour is regularly targeted by illegal dumpers. Recently, a bag of prawn heads was found ditched at the outlet. Source: NBN News

Australian charities are facing an urgent and ongoing need for donations, despite the common misconception their stores are often "full."

Industry insiders are calling for Aussies to continue coming forward with items they no longer need that may help people facing hardship. But they ask for people to do so respectfully and in the appropriate way after several charity stores were seen with piles of items dumped at their sites.

Paula McCormack of the St Vincent de Paul Society is the charity's retail regional manager for the northeast. She spoke to Yahoo News Australia and urged prospective donors to learn best practices, which includes only handing in items "you'd feel comfortable giving to a friend".

Images show the aftermath of the Coffs Harbour store being closed for just a couple of days. Source: NBN News

What's the best way to donate to Vinnies?

McCormack clarified that even when donations are paused in some locations, they can still be taken and redirected to other areas where they are needed most.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I'm not sure the message is getting through that we still need donations," McCormack told Yahoo.

"We rely on them very heavily in shops because we fund all of our work in society [that way], which, for example, helps victims of domestic violence find temporary accommodation, helps people to pay their electricity bills, put petrol in their cars, all those kinds of things.

"I won't say we ever have enough. We always have a shortage of menswear for instance, right throughout the year."

McCormack said it's important Australians know how to "donate correctly" to ensure their well-meaning efforts are having the intended impact.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We value donations when we get them, but we just need them done in the correct way," she said.

This includes bringing items into stores during trade hours, so volunteers can physically inspect, accept and process them and "get them on the shop floor for sale".

"We are absolutely, very grateful for donations. But there is a process, and unfortunately, when things are basically dumped outside the front or the back in the shop, by the time we actually get to them the next morning, they're damaged, dirty, wet, strewn all over the footpath," she said.

"And it makes it really difficult for volunteers to stay motivated to do what they need to do."

Vinnies volunteers are regularly forced to sort through literal garbage. Source: Supplied

Prawn heads dumped outside Vinnies store

Recently, a bag of prawn heads was dumped outside a Vinnies store in Coffs Harbour, on the NSW Mid North Coast. McCormack said such acts are far from uncommon.

ADVERTISEMENT

"That't not unusual," she said. "Every other week we hear of inappropriate items that have been put through our charity bins, left beside them at the front of shops.

"We've had nappies, used nappies, I might add. Used sanitary items. We've had bags that contain things that we have to be really careful about when we handle them.

Vinnies isn't the only charity struggling to sort through the onslaught of inappropriate donations. Source: Reddit

"We now have to tip out the bags when we're sorting them, rather than putting our hands in, because there could be knives, there could be sharps."

McCormack said that volunteers, many of whom are mature-aged women, should not have to face the physical demands and emotional strain caused by having to sort through garbage and dangerous goods.

"If you look at the Coffs store, the average age is about 63," she said. "We've got gentlemen and ladies close to 90 in that store, and then we have some obviously younger. But they do it because they want to do it. They want to volunteer.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We don't want them to be worn out and exhausted by the time they finish their shift, we want them to be able to come back and still enjoy it. So these little things that happen, unfortunately put a big damper on the experience for them."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Dreams Cap Cana Resort & Spa - Image Credit Hyatt

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced an agreement with Anacaona de Inversiones for a new Hyatt Vivid branded flagship resort in the Dominican Republic, set to open by the end of 2025.

The 500-room, adults-only resort will be the first Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts branded property in the Dominican Republic, expanding Hyatt's presence in the region by approximately 30% in 2025.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has recently announced a new partnership with Anacaona de Inversiones to establish a new Hyatt Vivid branded resort in the Dominican Republic. The 500-room, adults-only resort is set to open by the end of 2025, marking the country's first Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts branded property.

The resort, Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, is part of the brand's expansion in the region and is designed to cater to the next generation of all-inclusive travelers. The resort will offer a variety of amenities, including locally inspired itineraries, experiential-driven programming, an impressive spa, indoor and outdoor gyms, and several dining alternatives.

The Dominican Republic continues to attract travelers seeking immersive, experience-driven vacations. The introduction of Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana not only strengthens Hyatts all-inclusive portfolio offerings in the destination but also caters to the evolving needs of loyal guests and new travelers.

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana and other strategic developments will collectively expand Hyatts all-inclusive resort presence in the region by approximately 30% in 2025, further strengthening Hyatts brand footprint in the Dominican Republic.
Bandzoogles Dave Cool named President of MySeat artist app platform

Longtime Bandzoogle executive Dave Cool has been named President of MySeat Media, the artist branded app platform.

Dave Cool named President of MySeat Media artist app platform

A popular figure in both the artist and music tech communities for two decades, Cool spent the last 13 years at Bandzoogle. As Chief Relationship Officer, he oversaw all departments at Bandzoogle related to growth and retention, including business development, marketing & communications, and customer support.

MySeat empowers musicians and creators to easily build their own community app and connect directly with superfans. Artists control their data and can generate revenue from subscriptions, merchandise, exclusive music, live and virtual meet-and-greets, livestreams, memorabilia, and collectibles.

Last month Chicago based rapper G Herbo released an exclusive mixtape through his MySeat- powered app, which generated over 7M streams and resulted in a 262%+ increase in paid subscriptions, a 30%+ increase in merch sales, and 70,000 app downloads, where it charted #3 among all music apps after Spotify and YouTube.

With artists needing to find ways to bypass algorithms and engage their fans directly, hearing some of the success stories on MySeats platform was really inspiring, says Dave Cool. To be named President this fast-growing platform is an honor, and I look forward to not only helping them continue on that growth path, but also helping musicians succeed by directly engaging with their superfans and generating more revenues for their career.

Having known Dave for years and watching his work at Bandzoogle, we knew he would be the right person to help take MySeat to the next level, says Steve Shelton, MySeats Co-Founder and CEO. He brings to MySeat Media a wealth of business development and marketing experience in the music tech space, and a passion for helping the artist community succeed.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and the founder of the Skyline Artists Agency

Share on:
MLC Spotify lawsuit dismissed, bundled royalties unchanged

UPDATED: A judge has dismissed the MLC Spotify lawsuit over mechanical royalties paid to songwriters and music publishers on subscription tiers bundled with audiobooks. The MLC and Spotify respond.

MLC Spotify lawsuit dismissed, bundled royalties unchanged

On Wednesday, Judge Analisa Torres of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Spotifys motion to dismiss the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) lawsuit.

Judge Torres wrote in her decision that, the Court finds that [Section 115] and its implementing regulations are unambiguous, and that the only plausible application of the law supports Spotifys position. Under the facts as alleged, audiobook streaming is a product or service that is distinct from music streaming and has more than token value. Premium is, therefore, properly categorized as a Bundle, and the allegations of the complaint do not plausibly suggest otherwise.

Days before the ruling UMG and Spotify announced a deal that included a direct US licensing deal with Universals publishing division that sets its own terms related to bundled royalties and circumvents the compulsory licences argued in the case.

MLC Responds

The MLC brought this action to address the unprecedented steps taken by Spotify to significantly underreport royalties to the MLC. Congress authorised the MLC to take legal actions in situations like this, to enforce the payment obligations of digital services under the compulsory blanket licence that the MLC administers. We continue to be concerned that Spotifys actions are not consistent with the law, and that todays decision does not align with the facts and legal principles central to this action.

Spotify Responds

After the decision, Spotify issued this statement: We are pleased with this outcome, which demonstrates that, after careful review by the court, Spotifys Premium service is appropriately categorized as a bundle and offers valuable content alongside music. Bundle offerings play a critical role in expanding the interest in paying for music and growing the pie for the music industry. We know the regulations can be complex, but theres plenty of room for collaborationand our recent deal with UMPG shows how direct licenses can create flexibility and additional benefits.

Read the judges full decision here via Reuters.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and the founder of the Skyline Artists Agency

Share on:
Future of Joann Fabric and Crafts Unknown

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The future is uncertain for Joann Fabric and Crafts and the store that's been in the Dalton Avenue Shopping Center for more than 30 years.

The well-known national retailer that has served sewers, quilters, crocheters, and crafters for more than 80 years filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week for a second time.

The approximately 800 stores across the United States and online businesses are still operational, including one on Dalton Avenue and in Hadley. There are also several in New York State's Capital District and it also had a store in North Adams in the 1990s. The chain was better known as Jo-Ann's for decades.

"Since becoming a private company in April, the board and management team have continued to execute on top and bottom-line initiatives to manage costs and drive value," said Michael Prendergast, Jo-Ann's interim CEO, in a press release.

"However, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail

environment, which, coupled with our current financial position and constrained inventory levels, forced us to take this step."

Prendergast said this course of action was determined to maximize the business's value after reviewing all the available strategic paths.

"We hope that this process enables us to find a path that would allow Jo-Ann to continue operating as a going concern," he said in the press release.

The business has a "stalking horse" bidder, Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC, which sets the floor for the auction process.

Gordon Brothers has indicated an intention to liquidate the company by having going-out-of-business sales at all store locations.

According to a Customer Frequently Asked Questions form, Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts continues to actively solicit alternate bids and has received inquiries from parties potentially interested in continuing to operate Joann stores and online businesses.

Last year, the company filed for Chapter 11 to address its capital structure.

However, following this restructuring last year, it continued to "experience significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment."

These challenges, coupled with its "financial position and constrained inventory levels," "forced" officials to take this step.
Clarksburg Issues RFP for School Roof

CLARKSBURG, Mass.  Town and school officials are looking to price out replacement of the school roof in preparation for a possible debt exclusion vote.

A joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee earlier this month agreed that something needed to be done about the roof  and sooner rather than later.

As water dripped through a classroom ceiling into buckets, the boards broached the possibility of taking out a loan rather than waiting years on the Massachusetts School Building Authority's accelerated repair program.

At its meeting last week, the Select Board determined to put out a request for proposals to get an idea of how much it would cost.

"We need to come to a definitive moment here with the school because it's been five, six years that nothing's been done because no one wants to make a decision," said Town Administrator Ronald Boucher at Wednesday's meeting. "But we have to do something for that roof. We can't just leave it like that."

The next day, a request for proposals was issued for replacing the 25,000 square-foot roof with new roofing materials, R-30 rigid insulation and rails for future solar panels. A site visit is set for Feb. 13 and the deadline for proposals is March 6.

The RFP can be found on the town's website

While the roof replacement is a priority, officials are still grappling with the long-term future of the school. Boucher noted it needs more than a roof  there's electrical issues, asbestos and inaccessible bathrooms, for a start.

The potential of a new building or renovation has been discussed, but the town rejected a school building project eight years ago and the MSBA has determined the school no longer conforms with modern educational needs. Plus, the number of local children enrolled has grown, putting pressure on classroom space. The school district is also involved in a regional study that could offer other options.

Boucher advocated for a vote to determine whether the townspeople want to invest in a long-term project.

Board member Colton Andrews agreed: "Lay everything out and see where the chips fall."

In the meantime, the board will continue discussing a loan similar to that taken out to make infrastructure and school repairs some years ago.

In other business,

 Agricultural Commissioners Martha Tanner and Trish Wilson informed the board the commission recommending Clarksburg as a Farmland of Local Importance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tanner explained that town has prime farmland soils and land conserved through the state's Chapter 61 laws which include forest, agriculture and open space and recreation.

"In our town we have a pretty good amount of [Chapter] 61 properties," said Tanner. "They're really valuable. They definitely add a lot of value to our properties, to all of our properties."

Some 559 acres are managed through the state, there's 64 acres under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction on Wood Road, the old North Adams Country Club is in a private trust connected to an APR, and Many Forks Farm on River Road has 20 acres in an agricultural covenant.

"Considering about half our town is owned by the state, another 10 percent is agriculture," she said. "So I think it's important we're doing things to protect it."

They also asked about hosting agricultural talks at Town Hall after being told they could not use the Community Center. Boucher said they should be able to use the center and would look into it; the library was also suggested as a space.

 New Animal Control Officer Diana Worth asked for identification, such as a sweat shirt and business cards, to alert residents to her office. She also asked the board to decide on a veterinarian to use in cases of injured or neglected pets.

 Town Treasurer Kelly Haskins updated the board on some OPEB, or "other post-employment benefits," issues including if they would be putting funds for that in the budget. This has been questioned in the town's audits. She also said she was speaking with Adelson & Co. about the annual audit.

 Boucher reported that fiscal 2024 should be closed out within three weeks but that he did not anticipate any significant free cash.
Sheffield Land Trust Awarded MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant

SHEFFIELD, Mass.  The Sheffield Land Trust has been awarded $28,150 from MassWildlife to treat invasive species at The Schenob Brook Preserve, a large calcareous wetland complex surrounding Schenob Brook.

Sheffield was one of the communities that was awarded a grant to restore critical wildlife habitat.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $325,000 in grants to restore approximately 520 acres of wildlife habitat across Massachusetts. The Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) awarded grants to six organizations through the Habitat Management Grant Program (MHMGP), which provides crucial financial assistance to private and municipal owners of conserved lands to improve habitat for wildlife, steward biodiversity, enhance climate resiliency, and promote public recreational opportunities.

"Partnership and collaboration are essential for meeting our ambitious biodiversity and climate goals. Most forests and other wildlife habitats in Massachusetts are not state-owned, and we rely on conservation organizations, cities and towns, private landowners, and other partners to greatly expand our impact," said DFG Commissioner Tom O'Shea."This program provides us with the unique opportunity to improve habitat for at-risk wildlife while also bolstering outdoor recreation opportunities for all."

While Massachusetts has made strides to permanently conserve over 28 percent of the state, many essential habitats for wildlife are degraded by invasive species growth, emerging pests and disease, and face increasing threats from climate change. Habitat management is crucial to address these challenges and support wildlife. MassWildlife leads work to restore habitat on state conservation lands and, through the MHMGP, supports private and municipal conservation partners in doing the same. Through this work, MassWildlife and partners restore healthy, resilient landscapes that support a variety of species, particularly those of greatest conservation need. Since 2015, the MHMGP has funded 117 projects by partners that have restored over 4,300 acres of natural habitat statewide.
Shaun F. Hayden is sworn in as lieutenant in the North Adams Fire Department at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. City Clerk Tina Leonesio swears in Hayden, who is accompanied by Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre, right, and Deputy Chief Robert Patenaude. PreviousNext

North Adams Council Debates Change to Airport Commission Appointments



New Lt. Shaun Hayden is pinned by Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Ordinance changes related to mayoral appointments were referred to General Government on Tuesday but not without debate by the full City Council and the mayor.

Vice President Ashley Shade proposed the changes to bring the city's code in line with current state laws following questions surrounding the mayor's sole authority to appoint to the Airport Commission.

Her proposal would add City Council approval to commission appointments, and prohibit any commissioner from having any current activity at the airport.

"Our city charter was established before airports were a thing and existed. This provision allowed our city to adopt an airport commission. Therefore, we need to adopt all of the language as is written in that provision and adopt that exact statute," she said.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey pushed back, calling the amendments a waste of time.

"I'm not trying to have a power play. I just want to get my job done and work with people who really want to serve and don't have to be put over the coals every time they come through here," she said.

Macksey had placed Doug Herrick, a member of the Mohawk Soaring Club, to the commission after withdrawing his appointment from the City Council two weeks ago.

He replaced one of two commissioners who resigned following approval of a lease that was then rescinded after the mayor pointed to procedural errors. One commissioner said "pressure" on his vote was his reason for resigning.

The city's ordinance, adopted in 1967, states " The Mayor shall , in the month of February, appoint a member or members, of the airport commission." The state's Chapter 90, Section 51E states commissioners "shall be appointed, in cities, by the mayor with the approval of the city council , and in towns by the selectmen." It is not clear when this language was adopted by the state.

Macksey responded that the councilors had all been sent the opinion by the city solicitor that the charter supersedes state law, not the other way around, as well as a second opinion on the conflict of interest.

"Number one, it's been very hard to get people to be on this commission. Secondly, I've learned over the last three years that it's important to have someone with some day-to-day experience in the airport and an active person in the airport," she said, later adding, "I kind of get a little grumpy when we're trying to split hairs over conflicts of interest, when I can probably go around the table and maybe tease out the conflict that all of you may have. ...

"That's why we have the conflict-of-interest disclosure form. So we can beat it up in General Government for the next five months, if you want. But I just think it's a waste of our time at this point."

She added that the City Council should leave the current situation at the airport to legal counsel.

Shade countered that the Airport Commission should be more strictly regulated as it is the only commission that can sign contracts without mayoral approval. The opinions from KP Law also seemed to contradict earlier opinions.

"The opinion we received tonight from the solicitor goes against an opinion that was received several years ago by the former mayor, Mayor Bernard, in regards to appointments, as far as meeting council approval," she said. "Also, the second opinion that was given is telling us that we don't have the ability to create ordinance changes, to essentially say who has power to serve on the commission or create other requirements, but we changed that last year when we allowed other people from other towns to serve."

Some councilors expressed concerns over going with an opinion but Councilor Lisa Blackmer pointed out they were all "opinions" until determined by a court of law. She said she'd spoken with several lawyers familiar with municipal law at the recent Massachusetts Municipal Association conference who had also said the charter superseded state law.

Her concern was trying matters in the court of public opinion, she said. "If we have a meeting and we discuss things and it's public record, then I can just see some of that showing up as testimony in a case."

"I'm not looking to have a power struggle," said Shade. "I'm not looking for lawsuits. I'm looking to prevent lawsuits and making sure that the city is following the law as is required."

Shade's other proposed changes  to add City Council approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals appointment and to have the ZBA approve and post its rules  did not stir as much debate outside of concerns of having the council responsible for appointments.

Councilors Peter Oleskiewicz and Keith Bona said the council did not have the process or capacity to vet anyone. Councilor Andrew Fitch said he'd want a statement or presentation about the nominations.

"I've really struggled over time to vote to approve people that I have no idea who they are, why people wanted them to be appointed, or why the mayor is appointing them," he said.

In other business, Shaun Hayden was sworn in as lieutenant in the Fire Department.

He was appointed as a permanent reserve firefighter in 2009 and as a full-time firefighter a year later. He was appointed acting lieutenant in 2022.

He is a member of the Western Mass Technical Rescue Team since its inception in 2012 and holds certifications in rope rescue, confined space rescue and swift water rescue.

Hayden replaces Matthew LaBonte, who retired on Jan. 10 after 32 years in the department. He was a member of the hazardous materials team, and acting lieutenant in 2006 and permanent lieutenant in 2020.

"Please join me in wishing Matt a happy and healthy retirement and a sincere thank you for his service to the city of North Adams," said the mayor.
Lenovo welcomes the Year of the Snake with an exclusive Chinese New Year Promo designed to bring smarter technology and fortune to everyone. From January 29 to March 31, 2025, customers who purchase select Lenovo devices from authorized resellers can enjoy exciting freebies that enhance their Lenovo experience and pave the way for a more prosperous year ahead for all.

No Need for Luck, Big Rewards Assured

Whether youre upgrading for work, gaming, or everyday needs, Lenovo has the perfect device for you. With every qualifying purchase, customers can claim amazing freebies such as the Lenovo D20-30 Monitor, Lenovo L22E-40 Monitor, Canon Pixma MG2570S printer, or even an Ark Desk Manual Crank M6-N, depending on the model.

Participating devices include the hottest bestsellers in the market like:

IdeaPad Slim 3i 15IAH8  A versatile device for students and professionals, bundled with a Lenovo 120 Wired Mouse .

 A versatile device for students and professionals, bundled with a . Yoga Slim 7i Carbon 13IRP8  Sleek and lightweight, bundled with a Canon Pixma MG2570S .

 Sleek and lightweight, bundled with a . Legion 9i 16IRX9  A powerhouse device bundled with the Ark Desk Manual Crank M6-N for your ideal productivity setup.

The 2025 Lunar New Year looks bright as Lenovos wide range of offerings ensures theres something for everyone, from professionals and students to gaming enthusiasts.

Easy Redemption, Hassle-Free Rewards

To redeem your freebie, simply visit https://promotions.lenovo.com/ph/en and provide the necessary details, including a valid ID, proof of purchase, and device serial number. Customers will receive confirmation within 5-14 business days and can expect delivery within 7-20 business days upon approval.

For purchases that qualify for a Lenovo 120 Wired Mouse, just your luck as the freebie can be claimed outright at participating stores for instant fortune.

Where to Shop

Shop Lenovos latest devices at Lenovo Exclusive Stores, Legion Exclusive Stores, and Yoga Stores nationwide. Lenovo products are also available at authorized resellers and Lenovo Flagship Stores on Lazada and Shopee.

Smarter Technology for All

With this Chinese New Year promo, Lenovo continues its mission of delivering Smarter Technology for All, equipping and empowering Filipinos with devices that cater to their evolving needs. Dont miss this chance to start the year right with smarter deals and incredible, exclusive freebies.

Promo runs until March 31, 2025.

For more details, visit https://promotions.lenovo.com/ph/en.
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

Ken Flores, the much-loved Chicago-based stand-up comedian, has died. He was 28.

A statement posted by his family on the comedians official Instagram reads: It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and son, Kenyi Flores.

Please respect our privacy at this time as we are all shocked and devastated by this loss.

No cause of death has yet been announced.

The comedian had been on his Butterfly Effect Tour around the United States, appearing in Norcross, Georgia on January 25. His next show was scheduled in Phoenix, Arizona on January 30.

Flores was born in Chicago in 1996, growing up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood before his family moved to Aurora.

He got his start making YouTube videos, and had several clips go viral on World Star Hip Hop.

At the age of 22, while working at a PNC Bank, Flores tried open mic at local venue the Comedy Shrine and fell in love with the craft. If you get that one big pop, you get bit by the standup bug and you're addicted, he told Comedy Gazelle. Ever since I went up the first time, I couldn't stop.

From there he became a regular fixture on the Chicago comedy scene, regularly appearing at Zanies Comedy Club and touring the country to play venues including the Hollywood Improv.

The Hollywood Improv paid tribute to Flores on X, writing: We were honored to share your talent on our stages. You were greatness, and it was only a matter of time until the whole world saw it. You were also kind and a tremendous friend to all lucky enough to know you. We love you Ken, thank you for all the laughs.

The Dope as Usual podcast also shared their memories of Flores, writing on X: We are absolutely heartbroken over the news of our good friend Ken Flores passing away. Ken was truly one of the funniest people on earth, an incredible story teller, and a great friend. He was a rising star from the community, paving his own path, living his dreams. His energy & spirit will be forever missed & never forgotten. We love you.

On Instagram, fans remembered Flores with one writing: My heart is broken man, he was way too you too too young and an upcoming star man, i had the privilege to see him 1 time, he will be missed so much man, way too young.
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

Conservative pundits found themselves in an online clash Tuesday with an unlikely demographic  Marvel fans  after calling for a boycott of the upcoming blockbuster Captain America: Brave New World.

The bust-up began following comments made by the movies star, Anthony Mackie, during a recent promotion for the film, in which he described the eponymous protagonist as a man with honor, dignity and integrity, and that such qualities did not currently represent America.

"For me Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I dont think the term America should be one of those representations, Mackie said. Its about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.

open image in gallery The bust-up began after Anthony Mackie described the eponymous protagonist as a man with honor, dignity and integrity and that such qualities did not currently represent America ( AP )

The viral clip was quick to anger Republicans, who called for the movie to be boycotted, with some going so far as to describe it as woke garbage. Conservative political commentator Dan Bongino shared a clip on X of Mackies remarks and wrote: "Another s*** movie I wont be seeing."

Todd Erzen of BlazeTVs Steve Deace Show added: "You should mock and boycott him just as mercilessly as you would Selena Gomez. His movie needs to pay the price for his disrespect."

Terry Schilling, president of American Principles Project, posted: "If you play Captain America, you should be proud to be American ... Wont be taking my kids to see this woke garbage."

open image in gallery Captain America: Brave New World, which also stars Harrison Ford (left), is scheduled to be released on February 14 in the U.S. ( ELI ADA/MARVEL STUDIOS )

True Marvel fans, however, came out in force to remind the detractors of the real meaning of the character and his values.

Captain America 2 and 3 were about Captain America directly going against the U.S. government because of poor choices based on incomplete information, one user wrote. Hes not a propaganda-spewing mouthpiece and is in fact the direct opposite. So yeah, Anthony Mackie is right.

The responses to this show that a lot of people truly do not fundamentally understand the character of Captain America, wrote another X user. He is a compass of morality, he is the ideals that we strive towards. He is the embodiment of The American Dream, not the American government."

Another added: "Captain America has never stood for what the United States is, Captain. America instead stands for what it should be. Cap is everything that the US should represent, and yet the country fails him time and time again throughout the comics. What Anthony said was 100% spot on.."

Captain America: Brave New World, which also stars Harrison Ford, is scheduled to be released on February 14 in the U.S.
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

Meryl Streep had to borrow wire cutters to cut a car-size hole in her fence so she could flee the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

The Oscar-winning actor, 75, was forced to take emergency measures after a tree fell and blocked her driveway, according to her nephew Abe Streep.

Writing in New York magazine, Abe Streep said: Evacuation mandates were sent across the city. My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit.

Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.

Elsewhere in the same story, Streep spoke to his aunts Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short, 74, who said he gathered up family photo albums before evacuating himself. In the end, his house survived the disaster, and Short said: I will definitely stay in my home.

Thousands of Los Angeles residents lost their homes in the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, including Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris, Mandy Moore, Ricki Lake and Eugene Levy.

Meryl Streep attending the 2024 Irish Arts Center Gala in New York in November 2024 ( John Nacion/Getty Images )

Rumors that Streep and Short are dating have circulated since they starred together in the murder mystery comedy show. Last October, the pair were photographed having dinner together in Santa Monica.

They first sparked speculation at the 2024 Golden Globes when they were seen looking cozy next to each other throughout the ceremony. Though rumors swirled immediately after their January interaction, the two were quick to dispel them.

Streeps representative told People that the two Hollywood legends were nothing more than friends.

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

Shortly after Streeps representative spoke out, Short chimed in on the subject while speaking on Bill Mahers podcast, Club Random. According to Short, he and Streep are just very close friends.

The Devil Wears Prada actor ended her 40-year marriage with Don Gummer in 2016. Streep and the sculptor, 77, met in 1978 soon after her previous boyfriend tragically passed away from lung cancer. The former couple share four children  Henry Wolf, 44, Mary, 41, Grace, 38, and Louisa Jacobson, 33.

Meanwhile, Short lost his wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolman, back in 2010. Short met Dolman in Canada before his days as a regular on Saturday Night Live. He was working on a musical when he met his former wife in 1972. However, at the time, he was dating his castmate Gilda Radner, who happened to also join him on SNL.
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

Machine Gun Kelly appears to have addressed recent reports that he is no longer in contact with his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Megan Fox.

In a recent Instagram post shared on Tuesday (January 28), the rapper  who reportedly split from the Jennifers Body actor last November  shared shirtless photos of himself rocking a man bun.

How can sources say when the sources havent said anything, Kelly, 34, wrote in the caption.

His message appears to be referring to an article published by TMZ earlier that day claiming that sources familiar with the situation have said the two are not on good terms and things are so bad they aren't even speaking to each other.

The Independent has contacted Kellys representative for comment.

Kelly and Fox, 38, allegedly called it quits last Thanksgiving, just weeks after they announced they were expecting their first child together.

MGK and Megan Kelly reportedly split in November 2024 ( Getty Images for iHeartMedia )

It was reported at the time that they broke up during a trip to Vail, Colorado, where tensions reached a boiling point. TMZ claimed the split stemmed from Fox discovering something upsetting on the rappers phone, prompting her to ask him to leave the trip early.

Insiders later told US Weekly that the pair had been trying to mend their relationship, especially in light of Foxs pregnancy, but their fiery personalities led to renewed conflict. A source claimed that while they are done for now, reconciliation down the line remains a possibility.

The new baby will be Foxs fourth child and Kellys second. The Transformer star shares three sons  Noah, 12, Bodhi, 10, and Journey, 8  with ex-husband Brian Austin Green. Meanwhile, Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, shares a 15-year-old daughter, Casie, with ex-partner Emma Cannon.

Fox and Kelly first met in March 2020 on the set of the crime thriller Midnight in the Switchgrass. They went public with their relationship when Fox starred in Kellys Bloody Valentine music video in May that year.

By January 2022, the couple announced they were engaged, with Fox sharing a video of the proposal on Instagram.

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up

On November 11, 2024, Fox revealed that she was pregnant with Kellys child in a carousel of Instagram pictures.

One showed Fox holding a positive pregnancy test for the camera, while another showed her cradling her baby bump covered in black liquid.

She captioned the photos with lyrics from Kellys song, last november, which touched upon the couples past miscarriage. She wrote: Nothing is ever really lost. Welcome back.
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

Games of Thrones creator George RR Martin has shared his opinion on the forthcoming prequel series.

Season one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan Dunk the Tall, is based on Martins novella The Hedge Knight.

The book is the first in the Dunk and Egg series, with subsequent novellas The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight also set to be adapted for following seasons.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is expected to arrive in late 2025, and takes place between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.

Writing on his Not a Blog page, Martin revealed hes watched all six episodes of the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Ira [Parker, showrunner] and his team wrapped the first season months ago, and moved right on to post production, the author wrote.

Ive seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favourites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible.

open image in gallery George RR Martin has shared his verdict on the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel series ( Getty Images )

The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. and Tanselle Too-Tall.

Martin continued: A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS is an adaptation of The Hedge Knight, the first of the novellas I wrote about them. Its as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that particular subject).

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

Last May, Martin shared an impassioned blog post claiming Hollywood screenwriters almost always make source texts worse when adapting them to screen.

No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and improve on it, he said. They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms started filming in Belfast last June, with a teaser trailer released by Max two months later.

open image in gallery Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan Dunk the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' ( Max )

Along with Claffey, the series will also star Dexter Sol Ansell as his squire Egg.

Finn Barnett (True Detective: Night Country) is set to play Aerion Targaryen, the cruel and arrogant son of the stern Maekar Targaryan, who is being portrayed by Sam Spruell (Fargo), an actor well-known for his villainous roles.

Maxs official logline reads: A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg.

Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.
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

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer has weighed in on the devastation caused by the recent LA wildfires, claiming that California officials took their eye off the ball.

The 69-year-old actor is one of relatively few outspoken conservative voices in Hollywood, and has been vocal about his support for President Donald Trump.

In a new interview with Fox News, Grammer suggested that Hollywood could be moving to the right on the political spectrum.

Ive always been a little bit on the more conservative side of things politically around here, so that shift seems to be unfolding because of, just, I guess youd call it malfeasance in office, he said.

He added: I mean, I dont really know what else to say, but somebody took their eye off the ball, and theres probably going to be some accountability for that. But you never know in California.

Grammer also revealed that he and his family had taken in people whod fled the fires, saying we had a house full of refugees for a bit. Its challenging, certainly.

Kelsey Grammer pictured in September ( Getty Images for Paramount+ )

He added: I am devastated by the loss, the human loss, the loss of life. When you lose everything you have, and thats happened to me a couple of times in my lifetime, its just: OK, thats [when] you pick up, and you figure out whats going to happen next, one foot in front of the other. Thats how it has to be.

So for those people, theres going to be a lot of people around who want to support them and help them. Many of them are going to want to find a new way to live, a new way forward, a new place to live, but I know a lot want to stay, and I wish them well with it. Ill certainly do everything I can to help. Im quietly volunteering some stuff behind the scenes, thats what I want to do.

Thousands of Los Angeles residents lost their homes in the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, including Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris, Mandy Moore, Ricki Lake and Eugene Levy.

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

Last week, XXX: Return of Xander Cage actor Nina Dobrev revealed she is experiencing survivors guilt after being forced to evacuate but ultimately returning to find her home unscathed.

I have been absolutely sick to my stomach with all the destruction and devastation that these fires have caused and displaced so many families, Dobrev said in a social media video. My heart is broken for all the people affected by these wildfires.
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 actor Tom Welling was reportedly arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in California over the weekend.

Welling, best known for playing Clark Kent on CWs Superman origin story series Smallville, was arrested shortly after midnight in an Arbys parking lot by a Yreka Police officer on Sunday and booked into the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office custody around 2am, according to multiple US media reports.

According to TMZ, which first reported the news of his arrest, Wellings blood alcohol level was about 0.08 per cent. The actor, 47, was released around 7am, and his arraignment was set for 11 March.

The New York Post, one of several outlets which said it had obtained the actors booking sheet, reported that Wellings speech was noted as clear.

No other information was available.

The Independent has reached out to Wellings representatives for comment.

Tom Welling with his Smallville costar Kristin Kreuk at the the 2004 Teen Choice Awards ( Getty Images )

After Smallville, Welling played LAPD lieutenant Marcus Pierce in Lucifer and had roles in TV series Batwoman and Judging Amy. He also had a recurring character role as Samuel Campbell on CWs The Winchesters. Welling appeared in films like Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen 2, alongside Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt and Hilary Duff, as well as The Fog and Draft Day.

He currently hosts a Smallville rewatch podcast called TalkVille, with costar Michael Rosenbaum, who played Superman nemesis Lex Luthor on the show. The actor has spoken about wanting to continue the Smallville story, but has had his plans stalled with no permission from the studios involved.

We want it to work. The honest answer is we have not been able to get Warner Brothers to give us the thumbs up. We need their permission, Welling told Screen Rant in November. Its the weirdest thing because it is more of a fan-driven idea. Its not going to be a blockbuster. Its not going to be a financial windfall for any of us.

On Sunday, the star posted a tribute to wife Jessica Rose Lee Welling on her birthday, writing: Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more! We love you to the moon and back!

They married in 2019 and have 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

The pilgrims came, millions upon millions, in an unrelenting tide, forming one of the largest religious gatherings in history. Day after day, the crowd  drawn by faith  swelled and pressed closely together, seeking purification in the sacred waters of the Ganga. They made their way through a sea of people, treading carefully down the slope before reaching the riverbank. At times they leaned on bystanders to steady themselves, other times they threatened to trample those around them. And then, it happened.

In the small hours of Wednesday, tragedy struck the Maha Kumbh Mela in Indias Prayagraj. A stampede near the Sangam Ghat before dawn killed at least 30 people and left 60 injured, with the death toll expected to rise further.

The Maha Kumbh is a Hindu religious festival that is held once every 12 years at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Its origin lies in the Hindu lore that the gods spilled four drops of the nectar of immortality on Earth and, when the Moon and Jupiter align, the Ganga and the Yamuna are joined by a mystical river called Saraswati, meeting at the points where the divine nectar fell.

Any Hindu who takes a dip in the conjoined waters during this time is cleansed of their sins and receives blessings that last for generations, pilgrims at the festival tell The Independent.

They make the trip not just for themselves but for their children and grandchildren.

On this occasion, though, dozens of pilgrims lost their lives as the festival descended into chaos on one of its busiest and holiest days  Mauni Amavasya, or the New Moon day.

For many who were there in the days leading up to this week, it feels like it was a disaster waiting to happen.

open image in gallery Hindu devotees arrive to take a holy dip at Sangam ( AP )

The seeds of Wednesdays tragedy were planted days ago when the Uttar Pradesh police and the Kumbh administration blocked several pontoon bridges for the movement of VIP vehicles. Throughout the festival, politicians and celebrities are afforded opportunities to bathe privately  creating traffic jams and even more cramped conditions for millions of ordinary pilgrims who have to walk miles along narrow pathways.

On 25 January, The Independent came across multiple barricades on different routes to the Kumbh Mela, with seemingly overwhelmed police personnel working to reroute the one-way traffic jam on a narrow road.

Yogi ji is here. So, we are rerouting, a police officer explains, referring to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

At pontoon bridge 17, close to Sangam, as the confluence of the rivers is known, several routes for vehicular movement were shut for hours on end. It will open once Yogi ji leaves, two police personnel manning the barricade confirm. No vehicles are allowed on the bridge till then.

To compound the chaos, roads were often suddenly closed without explanation. Serpentine queues of vehicles were everywhere, with even special commandos riding military-issue vehicles becoming stuck.

open image in gallery An ambulance arrives to take a dead body from the mortuary at the Motilal Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj ( AP )

As dusk fell on Tuesday, loudspeakers announced the start of Mauni Amavasya, drawing even more devotees towards Sangam. Seasoned pilgrims knew the ideal time for the ritual bath was at dawn, so many of them chose to rest by the ghats, planning to take a dip at sunrise and leave quickly afterwards.

At around 1.30am, there was a massive influx of new pilgrims.

The police forcefully herded them down a narrow path leading to Sangam despite several pontoon bridges offering a better route to regulate this rush, eyewitnesses tell The Independent.

It was so crowded I felt I would die of suffocation, Somi Devi, 67, tells The Independent. I didnt understand what was happening.

Chaos ensued as the crowd surged forward. In a desperate attempt to escape the crush, some people climbed poles, which reportedly collapsed.

I survived this only because of the blessings of Goddess Ganga, Devi says. The stampede did not deter her from going ahead with her pilgrimage and taking the holy dip herself.

open image in gallery ( AP )

The Kumbh has seen stampedes before, in 1840, 1906, 1954 and 1986, according to The New York Times. On the same day of the last Maha Kumbh, 12 years ago, a stampede at the local train station to the festival killed 36 people, and forced the resignation of the organising committee chief.

Measures are put in place to prevent such tragedies from occurring  yet they have been found wanting, time after time.

In the weeks before tragedy struck on Wednesday, the Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modi in Delhi and of Yogi Adityanath at the Uttar Pradesh state level had been touting the scale of the preparations for the festival, which serves as a powerful display of Indias religious soft power.

In the course of the 45-day festival, some 400 million people are expected to take part in the Maha Kumbh, a staggering number that dwarfs the two million pilgrims who journeyed to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage last year.

The festival has attracted several prominent figures this year, such as Indian federal ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, and Chris Martin of the band Coldplay.

The pilgrimage site has been turned into a sprawling tent city, stretching over 40sq km along the riverbanks and divided into 25 sections to provide smoother management. There are over 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 toilets and 11 hospitals.

Indian Railways is running more than 90 special trains, making nearly 3,300 trips to transport the devotees, in addition to its regular services.

The state government of Adityanath has allocated over $765m for this years festival.

Prayagraj is filled with towering billboards and posters of Adityanath and Modi, underscoring the political aspect of the event as the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to leverage the festival to strengthen its influence.

open image in gallery Nearly 400 million people are expected in Prayagraj for the festival over the course of 45 days ( Maxar Tech )

In spite of the money spent and the scale of preparations, the pilgrims dont have much to sustain themselves apart from their faith. Earlier this week, prior to the tragic events of Wednesday, they sounded cheerful and accepting of the discomforts of the festival, and humbled by the chance to take their holy dip.

Shri Shivkumari, a 65-year-old with a heart ailment, had been living in a tent on the riverbank for more than two weeks since 10 January. When The Independent meets her she is yet to reach Sangam, despite having walked for over two hours from the other end of the festival site.

But that doesnt dampen her spirits. Mother Ganga blesses you with a lot of peace and happiness. Grants wisdom and intelligence. Children live happily, she says.

As she walks across a pontoon bridge on the river with her son and daughter-in-law, tying garlands on the railing, Shivkumari sings in a regional dialect: Help us cross the river on your boat. Take me to the other side, O ferryman! Take me to the Ganga, ferryman. I want to worship the holy Ganga.

Ramlal Yadav, 52, has travelled nearly 300km from Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh to be at the Kumbh. Hes still figuring out the practicalities of securing two tents for the 26 people accompanying him, at a cost of Rs 10,000 (about 93) for six days.

Two lines of blue tents stand on bare land, fluttering in the wind, held in place by a pole through the middle and nails at the four edges. Theres not much in terms of privacy, as the tent cant be zipped or tied. Several pairs of slippers are scattered outside each tent, often occupied by 10 people. Seeing a tent assigned to his group, Yadav is elated.

There is a toilet and a bathroom. And our mother Ganga is closer to us. There is water. What more do we want? he says. Having seen the goddess Ganga, I want nothing else.

Anju Dikshit, 56, is equally ecstatic to be at the Kumbh Mela. She has travelled 600km from the central state of Chhattisgarh. I am not here to take advantage of the facilities. We have come here to celebrate Kumbh.

Sat at the festival are Meena Mishra and her husband. She is reading a prayer book while her husband makes a run to arrange food from the nearest free community kitchen. What is wrong in this? Everything is here. Our Ganga is here, water and food is there. We dont need much else, she says.

open image in gallery Hindu ascetics at the Maha Kumbh festival ( AP )

The streets even after 8pm are far from quiet. Apart from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, announcements over speakers and street vendors screaming at the top of their voices and preachers giving sermons create a cacophony.

The sermons are delivered by preachers sitting on stages and accompanied by musicians and singers.

One preacher explains why the Lord was born, recounts the number of avatars the Lord has had, and then breaks into a religious song praising Lord Rama.

Pick up the 18 Puranas, Upanishads and Vedas. And start asking, Who is God? Why is He? You will spend your whole life trying to understand this. You will end but the stories of God will never end, he says, as a musician plays the synthesiser, apparently seeking to complement the seriousness of the question.

Among the listeners is Trojan Hendrickson, 35, who has travelled from Australia after hearing so much about the highly publicised religious festival.

I want to experience Kumbh for the feeling, he tells The Independent, adding that he doesnt quite know what drew him to the festival. I want to meet all the babas and all the Indian locals. I heard its the biggest festival in the world, so I wanted to experience it.

open image in gallery Maha Kumbh festival ( AP )

A popular attraction at the festival is the Kinnar Akhada, a congregation of transgender saints. Transgender people have had a place in religious and spiritual traditions of India going back centuries, explains Devyani Mukherjee, a trans woman, as she gives blessings to believers.

It is believed that wherever we trans stand that place is filled with positivity. It is to seek for this positivity that people come to us, says the former activist and model.

For many transgender people in the Akhada, the Kumbh is a spiritual calling as well as a platform to reclaim their religious identity.

Mukherjee says she has always been religious, having been guided into this path by her guru, who understood her struggles and took her under his wing.

Indu Nandgiri, another Kinnar Akhada member, emphasises that their blessings are sought for health, prosperity and long life as she partakes in a unique tradition of giving a one-rupee coin.

It represents goddess Lakshmi and symbolises abundance, explains Nandgiri, a former IT professional. The coin, when received as a blessing, is believed to ensure that food and wealth never leave a devotees home.

This is the tragic irony of Wednesdays disaster  that it affected so many pilgrims who had travelled seeking nothing more than a blessing for a long life, and the washing away of sins.

Jaiprakash Singh, 64, from Ayodhya is sitting on a plastic sheet in the open, covering himself with a blanket, near the confluence. I eat sparingly to avoid frequent trips to the public toilets, he says. What is more important than Gods blessing? It is enough for us. Having already spent a night in the open, he plans to stay another. A couple of days later, pilgrims like him who were resting along the riverbanks were among those trampled during the crush.

Despite Wednesdays events, the festival will continue, with another particularly auspicious day in the celestial calendar falling on Monday 3 February. The authorities at Kumbh have promised to learn from the events of this week, and say there will be no VIP access in the coming days. Changes have already been made to how the flows of crowds are managed.

Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry  though he also played down the severity of the disaster on Wednesday, and it took officials more than 16 hours to admit there had been any fatalities at all.

For families mourning the loss of loved ones, excitement at the trip of a lifetime has turned into demands for accountability. Saroja, a pilgrim from the southern city of Belagavi who lost four family members in the stampede, must now accompany them home on a repatriation flight to Karnataka. Police didnt make proper arrangements, she tells Reuters. They are responsible for this.
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 stampede at India's Kumbh Mela festival, the world's largest religious gathering, has left several feared dead and many injured.

Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees bathe in the sacred river confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati on Wednesday, a holy day during the six-week festival.

Authorities were anticipating a record 100 million devotees to participate in ritual bathing on this auspicious day.

The festival, held every 12 years, commenced on January 13th and is expected to draw more than 400 million pilgrims to the site this year.

There have been other tragic incidents in India over the past two decades.

Stampede in Uttar Pradesh in 2024

open image in gallery Villagers watch as family members prepare for the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on 3 July, 2024 ( Rajesh Kumar Singh )

More than 100 people were killed in a stampede in northern India in July 2024 following a Hindu religious gathering, making it one of the deadliest such accidents in years. Thousands had gathered at a makeshift tent for an event led by a Hindu preacher in Uttar Pradesh state. The victims were crushed to death as they rushed to leave. Video of the aftermath showed the makeshift structure appeared to have collapsed.

Bridge collapse at the Navaratri festival in 2013

A collapsing bridge caused a stampede that killed 115 people, mostly women and children, on 13 October, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had come to a Hindu temple in the remote town of Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh state on the last day of the popular 10-day Navaratri festival.

Stampede at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur in 2008

At least 168 people were killed and 100 injured when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur on 30 September, 2008. Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush, as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navaratri, a Hindu festival.

Landslide rumours caused deadly crowd surge in 2008

Dozens of women and children were among the 145 people who died on 3 August, 2008, when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a remote mountaintop temple in northern India during celebrations to honour Shakrti, a Hindu goddess. The devotees attended a nine-day religious festival at the Naina Devi Temple in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh state. Rumors of a landslide apparently started the panic, according to a senior government official.

Stampede and blaze during a religious procession in 2005

A stampede during a religious procession to a hilltop temple on 25 January, 2005, killed at least 258 people and injured 200 in western India, near the village of Wai, some 150 miles (241 kilometers) south of Mumbai. The stampede was triggered after several Hindu pilgrims inside the temple fell on a slippery floor and were crushed to death by other pilgrims who apparently walked on them. Angered over the deaths, some pilgrims started a fire that gutted hundreds of makeshift shops along a narrow walkway leading to the temple and set off the deadly rush.
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 stampede-like situation at one of the biggest religious festivals in India, the Maha Kumbh Mela, led to multiple casualties on Wednesday, police said.

A massive crowd, estimated to be 100 million, had gathered for a ritual early in the morning when a stampede occurred, leaving dozens of pilgrims dead and many more injured.

Ambulances were dispatched to the scene and the injured were taken to a makeshift hospital.

open image in gallery Security officers carry a woman out from the site of a stampede at the Sangam ( AP )

open image in gallery Pilgrims arrive to take a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna, during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj on 29 January 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

What is Maha Kumbh Mela?

The Maha Kumbh Mela is one of Hinduisms holiest festivals, held once every 12 years at Prayagraj in Indias northern state of Uttar Pradesh where the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

Follow our live coverage here

The rivers are considered holy by Hindus and the Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modi has spent millions of rupees trying to revive the Saraswati

open image in gallery A policeman escorts a devotee after a stampede occurred before the second royal bath at the Maha Kumbh Mela ( Reuters )

The confluence of the rivers is called Sangam and a holy dip in the waters is regarded as one of the festivals main rituals.

open image in gallery A man stands in front of a poster featuring Indias prime minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath on the eve of the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj on 12 January 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

The dip, called Shahi Snan or royal bath, attracts millions of devotees and is led by Hindu priests and ascetics.

open image in gallery Pilgrims gather on a floating pontoon bridge near the site of a stampede at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj on 29 January 2025. To accommodate the influx of millions of pilgrims, the government of Uttar Pradesh constructed a temporary city along the banks of the Ganga, complete with tents, toilets, streets, pontoon bridges, and waste management systems. ( AFP via Getty )

The holy dip is supposed to lead to spiritual purification and moksha, or salvation.

open image in gallery Pilgrims at the site of a stampede during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela. Hindu priests and ascetics lead the Shahi Snan, or royal bath, which is the festivals highlight attracting millions of devotees ( AFP via Getty )

Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela

In contrast to the Maha Kumbh Mela, the Kumbh Mela occurs every three years, rotating among four locations  Haridwar in northern Uttarakhand state, Ujjain in central Madhya Pradesh state, Nashik in western Maharashtra state, and Prayagraj. The Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place every six years in Haridwar and Prayagraj.

open image in gallery A policeman makes an announcement to regulate the flow of pilgrims at Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj on 29 January 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

Prayagraj was earlier known as Allahabad. The name was changed by Adityanaths Hindu nationalist state government in 2018.

open image in gallery Security guards help a woman injured in a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj ( AP )

The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, running from 13 January to 26 February, is expected to draw around 400 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

open image in gallery A satellite image taken and published by Maxar Technologies on 17 January 2025 shows an overview of the Maha Kumbh Mela along the banks of Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, in Prayagraj, India ( Satellite image A2025 Maxar Tech )

Preparation for grand religious festival

To accommodate and regulate the massive influx of pilgrims, the government of Uttar Pradesh constructed a temporary city along the banks of the Ganga river, complete with tents, toilets, streets, pontoon bridges, and waste management systems.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Hindu devotees cross a pontoon bridge spanning the river Ganga as they arrive to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela ( Reuters )

Managing crowds has long been a challenge at the Kumbh Mela festivals. In 2013, a stampede at a railway station left 42 people dead and 45 injured as thousands of pilgrims arrived for the festival. Since then, authorities claim to have significantly improved safety measures.

Another stampede took place in 2001 when thousands of devotees gathered for the holy dip at a riverbank in Haridwar.

open image in gallery A Hindu holy man prepares to take a dip in the sacred waters of Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, during Shahi Snan at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on 14 January 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

This year, the Uttar Pradesh government deployed advanced technology to track crowd movements, allowing police to regulate the flow of people more effectively.
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 30 people have been killed and dozens more injured in crowd crushes at the Maha Kumbh Mela in India, where millions have gathered to bathe at the confluence of sacred rivers.

Tens of millions of people flocked to the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to immerse themselves in the water at the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu festival.

Police in Prayagraj city said in a statement that 30 pilgrims were dead and at least another 60 people were injured, and had been taken to hospital. That total is expected to rise.

The bodies were brought to a hospital morgue near the site of the festival in Prayagraj, three police sources told Reuters, putting the number at closer to 40. More bodies are coming in. We have nearly 40 bodies here. We are transferring them out as well and handing them over to families one by one, one of the sources said at the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital.

The stampede happened when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession of holy men, Uttar Pradesh states top elected official, Yogi Adityanath, said in a televised statement. The events main draw is the thousands of ash-smeared Hindu ascetics who make massive processions toward the confluence to bathe.

Indian authorities took more than 16 hours to release casualty figures, even as prime minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, calling the incident extremely sad and extending his condolences.

Videos showed bodies being taken away on stretchers and people sitting on the ground crying, while others stepped over a carpet of discarded belongings left by people as they tried to escape the stampede.

I saw many people falling and getting walked on by the crowd... many children and women getting lost, crying for help, Ravin, a devotee who gave only his first name, told Reuters.

open image in gallery Security officers carry a woman out from the site of a stampede at the Sangam ( AP )

More than 400 million pilgrims were expected to travel to Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh state over the course of the six-week festival, believing that bathing at the confluence of Hinduisms three holiest rivers  the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati  washes away ones sins.

With up to a record 100 million bathers on Wednesday, it represents the largest gathering of people anywhere on Earth.

Akanksha Rana, the officer on special duty at the event, said several people were taken to hospital after a barrier broke at the confluence.

open image in gallery Devotees seen trying to cross a barricade at the site of stampede amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela ( AFP via Getty )

Several eyewitnesses described being stuck between the barricades and the police force standing with batons on the other side.

Later in the day state authorities showered flower petals on the devotees from a helicopter, a use of resources that drew condemnation from members of the public.

Sarojini, a pilgrim from Karnataka state, said she was part of a group of nine people that got trapped after people in the crowd began pushing. A lot of us fell and the crowd went uncontrolled, the eyewitness told PTI news agency. There was no chance for escape, she added.

A woman who was part of the crowd but did not give her name told Asian News International that people kept stepping on her mother and her when they fell. I am safe but my mother has died, she said.

Dozens of ambulances were sent to take the injured to a medical centre inside the tent city, though they faced challenges getting through the crowds to reach those affected.

Distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, desperate for news of missing loved ones. Clothes, blankets and backpacks were strewn around the site of the stampede.

Hindu religious leaders suspended their royal bath, a major crowd draw on Wednesdays Mauni Amavasya  seen as the most auspicious day of the entire festival due to an alignment of celestial bodies. The day is marked by naked, ash-smeared ascetics leading a procession to the river. All of our saints and seers were ready for the snan (bath) when we were informed about this incident. That is why we have decided to call off our snan, said ascetic Ravindra Puri.

open image in gallery A woman crawls under a fence, after a deadly stampede before the second shahi snan ( Reuters )

Millions continued to throng the 4,000-hectare (15-square mile) pilgrimage site despite the stampede, even as police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence. Mr Adityanath urged people to take baths at other riverbanks instead.

The situation is now under control, but there is a massive crowd of pilgrims, Mr Adityanath said, adding that 90 to 100 million pilgrims were at the site.

About 30 million people had taken the holy bath by 8am local time on Wednesday, he said.

The Maha Kumbh Mela festival started on 13 January. Nearly 150 million people have already attended, including Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah and celebrities like Coldplays Chris Martin.

A sprawling tent city has been built on the riverbanks to accommodate the millions of visitors, with roads, electricity and water, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals, 145,000 toilets and about 100 car parks. Hundreds of thousands of new electricity connections have also been laid as the festival is expected to drain more power than what is consumed in a month by 100,000 urban apartments in the region.

About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds, and more than 2,500 cameras monitor crowd movement and density so officials can try to prevent such crushes.

Opposition parties criticised the federal and state governments and blamed the stampede on what they alleged as mismanagement and a VIP culture. Access to the rivers has frequently been restricted for ordinary people throughout the festival to allow politicians and other dignitaries to take part in private.

open image in gallery Security officers help a woman injured in a stampede by the banks of the Sangam ( AP )

VIP culture should be curbed and the government should make better arrangements to meet the needs of common devotees, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party said on X (Twitter), referring to politicians and celebrities being treated differently.

Akhilesh Yadav, the biggest opponent of Mr Adityanath in the state, suggested that the administration and management of the congregation should be immediately handed over to the army.

While the Kumbh Mela is held every three years, rotating between several holy cities, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held once every 12 years. Maha means great, and the event attracts the most devotees because it is considered the most auspicious and holy in the cycle.

A deadly stampede also occurred at the last Maha Kumbh Mela during the busiest day of bathing. A total of 36 Hindu pilgrims died in that incident in 2013, including 27 women and an eight-year-old girl.

Hindu devotees believe taking a dip in the confluence of the rivers during the Maha Kumbh Mela absolves them of sins and brings them salvation from the cycle of life and death.
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 large sinkhole appeared at a busy intersection in a Japanese city on Tuesday, swallowing a rubbish truck and trapping its driver inside.

The incident took place in Yashio at around 10am local time, Saitama prefecture governor Motohiro Ono said.

The crater measured about 32ft wide and 16ft deep. It is thought to have been caused by a crack in the Nakagawa River Basin sewer pipe, Mr Ono said on Tuesday. As a result of this collapse, a passing truck fell in.

The truck reportedly weighed two tonnes.

The Mainichi reported that sediment likely flowed into the heavily corroded pipe, laid about 33ft underground, creating a hollow beneath the road, which collapsed under the weight of passing vehicles.

Nearly 30 hours after the collapse, the driver remained trapped in the vehicle as sand and mud filled his seat, according to Japans Nippon TV.

Rescue workers were reportedly pumping air into the hole to supply oxygen to the 74-year-old driver. The driver was initially conscious but on Tuesday evening became unresponsive, according to local media reports.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that due to concerns over a gas pipe running underground, police urged residents living within a 200-metre radius of the sinkhole to evacuate. The Yashio city administration had set up an evacuation centre in a municipal building where some 150 people were now sheltering, an official said.

Aerial footage showed at least 12 fire trucks at the scene in Yashio, north of the capital Tokyo.

Police were reported to be investigating the cause of the accident.

open image in gallery Firefighters work to rescue a truck driver after his vehicle was swallowed up by a sinkhole at a road intersection in Yashio city, Japan, on 28 January 2025 ( JIJI Press/AFP via Getty )

The rescue team managed to remove the truck bed before dawn on Wednesday but had to suspend their work after 1pm local time as the sinkhole became unstable, CBS News reported. By Wednesday morning, water had begun accumulating in the sinkhole, submerging the trucks drivers seat, The Asahi Shimbun reported. Firefighters were forced to suspend the rescue operation to drain out the water.

As of 3.30pm local time, the operation had yet to resume.

Authorities were using drones and radar to assess the sinkholes interior and underground conditions while vacuum trucks were reportedly removing water.

The collapse also likely blocked other sewage pipes, prompting restrictions in 12 cities and towns. Japanese media said that around 1.2 million people had been affected.

The incident sparked concerns about the condition of local public infrastructure.

I noticed a concrete wall on the side of the hole and when I checked the old map, I found it had been a waterway before. It looks like the waterway had been covered up and a road built over it, and the roof of the culvert had collapsed, a user called kaishi wrote on X.

In the past decade, several sinkholes have appeared across Japan. In September 2024, a sinkhole in Hiroshima was caused by a burst underground water pipe.

In 2016, Fukuoka experienced a massive sinkhole, about 98ft wide and 50ft deep, that swallowed five road lanes.
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

Longtime costars Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant reunited at the premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, more than two decades after the first instalment of the film series was released.

Fans had been eagerly waiting for the fourth film since it was announced last year, when it was confirmed that Zellweger would be reprising her role as the titular and perpetually single Bridget Jones and Hugh Grant would be returning as Daniel Cleaver.

It was also announced that Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor would appear in the film.

The first movie in the series, Bridget Joness Diary, was released in 2001. It was based on the 1996 book of the same name by The Independent columnistHelen Fielding. The book not only sold 15 million copies, it also gave birth to a British icon.

Sequels Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Bridget Joness Baby followed in 2004 and 2016, with the three films together grossing over $760m worldwide.

At the premiere, Zellweger wore a black one-shoulder lace dress from Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello while Grant kept it simple in a black suit and white button-up shirt, almost identical to the look he wore to the first premiere.

open image in gallery Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger ( AFP/Getty )

open image in gallery Hugh Grant, Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth at the premiere of Bridget Jones Diary in April 2001 at Londons Empire Cinema ( Getty )

open image in gallery Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Fielding, Renee Zellweger, Michael Morris, and Leo Woodall at the French premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy ( AFP/Getty )

According to an official synopsis, the new film, based on Fieldings 2013 book, will see Bridget Jones navigate life as a widow and single mom with the help of her family, friends, and former lover Daniel. Back to work and on the apps, shes pursued by a younger man and maybe  just maybe  her sons science teacher.

Fans of Colin Firths Mark Darcy have reason to be upset as he briefly appeared in the trailer, which explained that with his death, he now only existed only in Joness memories.

Grant, who didnt appear in The Edge of Reason, described the script as being good and moving in an appearance on The Graham Norton Show but added that he was crammed in despite there being no obvious role for him.

Recently, Zellweger opened up on her reason for going on an acting hiatus from 2010 to 2016, saying the work felt like a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.

I was sick of the sound of my own voice, she told British Vogue. When I was working, I was like, Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renee? Oh, is this your mad voice? It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.

open image in gallery Leo Woodall and Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy ( Universal Studios )

But she kept busy during her break. I wrote music and studied international law. I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs, she explained. I got healthy.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released in cinemas internationally on 12 February 2025 and will be available to stream on Peacock in the US beginning 13 February 2025.
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

Dave Franco has responded to hype about him looking like Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione was apprehended at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania where he was spotted eating a meal after a nationwide manhunt.

A thirsty social media circus ensued as Mangione garnered a passionate online following dedicated to admiration of his appearance and beliefs.

Superbad star Franco was caught up in the contentious furore as he drew comparisons to the notorious murder suspect.

"Has anyone approached you to play Luigi?" a Hollywood Reporter asked the actor during promotion for his new horror film, Together, in which he stars alongside his wife, Alison Brie.

"Anyone? Do you mean everyone?" Brie joked.

"I've never received more texts in my life about anything," Franco revealed, but confirmed he had not been approached yet to play the role.

"Anyone who has my phone number has reached out about it."

open image in gallery Dave Franco has drawn comparisons to the notorious murder suspect ( AP/Getty )

Mangione is currently awaiting trial while being held in a Pennsylvania jail where he faces a murder charge as an act of terrorism. He also faces charges for gun law violations in Pennsylvania. He has pled not guilty to the charges.

Thompson, 50, was shot dead on 4 December outside the New York Hilton Midtown. That launched a massive manhunt for the suspect who eluded police for nearly a week.

The computer science graduate was reported missing by his mother in the weeks before his arrest.

One of the suspects former classmates, Aaron Cranston, told The Post that since undergoing back surgery several months ago, he hadnt been in touch with relatives since.

open image in gallery Mangione has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson ( AP )

Mangiones relatives broke their silence in a statement shared on X/Twitter by Mangiones cousin, Nino, and said they were shocked and devastated by the arrest, offering their prayers to the family of Brian Thompson.

Police said they found a three-page manifesto in Mangiones possession when he was arrested, which suggests he has an ill will towards corporate America, Joseph Kenny, NYPDs chief of detective, told the press conference.

It reportedly said these parasites had it coming and I do apologise for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done, according to CNN, who cited a police official who has seen the document.
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 Bachelor alum Rachael Kirkconnell said she was blindsided when her boyfriend of four years, Matt James, broke up with her while they were on holiday together in Tokyo.

The reality TV star appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast to share her version of events after James issued a shock statement on 16 January announcing that they had split.

During the episode, Kirkconnell claimed that the pair had been discussing picking out an engagement ring and having children in the months before he broke up with her, and that James shared his breakup statement without consulting her while she was at the airport to return home days after the split.

In her first time speaking about the breakup publicly, Kirkconnell told Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper that in the days leading up to the breakup, she felt that things were tense between herself and James and that they were bickering over dinner.

Speaking about the day of the breakup, she said that the pair were travelling to a restaurant when he snapped at her.

So we were on the way to get some food and I was scrolling through my phone, showing him a bunch of videos. I guess I was bothering him. I was annoying him.  [He] kind of snapped at me to where I got mad at him because I was like, You know, even if Im annoying you like, dont treat me like that. And so then it seemed like we were both kind of mad at each other or annoyed with each other.

open image in gallery Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James ( Getty Images for Atlantis The Ro )

When they got back to the hotel, Kirkconnell said that James raised his concerns about their long-term compatibility.

It was definitely out of nowhere, Kirkconnell said. He said that at the end of the day, there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife.

At the end of the day, there are things that we arent compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing. It was just one of those things where he just had this realisation that I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that.

Kirkconnell grew emotional as she explained she felt thrown by Jamess decision, claiming she had been hearing the opposite in previous months when they had casually discussed picking out rings, wedding plans and the possibility of having children.

We talked about rings, he told me a few months ago to start saving some things, picking things out, she said. That felt like such a green flag to me. I felt like that was a good sign. I dont know, when he started talking about kids and picking out a ring, wedding food and where we want the wedding. I dont know if there were any actions following those things but when youre told these things you just wanna hold on to them, she said.

open image in gallery Youtube via Call Her Daddy ( Youtube via Call Her Daddy )

Kirkconnell admitted she was shocked when James posted his breakup announcement without warning while she was at the airport to travel home.

I was freaking out. I just got broken up with and now a few hours later, it was out for the whole world to see. My phone was blowing up.

When I step back, Im mad, she said. He should not have done that to me after four years. He didnt even text me to give me a warning, like, saying, Hey, Im posting this.

Kirkconnell admitted that the pair have had contact since the breakup and James called her at 1 am four or five days after his breakup post and has tried to check in on her.

I confronted him about the post.  And thats when he was like yeah, I fully admit that I could have handled this a lot better. And he apologised.

It really sucks to look back at how things ended for us. Its heartbreaking.

The pair met and fell in love on the 25th season of the ABC dating show The Bachelor. They had a tumultuous start to their relationship when Kirkconnell was embroiled in a racism controversy after pictures of her at an antebellum plantation-themed party in 2018 surfaced online.

At the time, The Bachelor host Chris Harrison defended Kirkconnell against the racism controversy, which ultimately led to his exit from The Bachelor franchise in June 2021 after 20 years with ABC. James and Kirkconnell split, but were spotted together a month later and rekindled their relationship.

Since they repaired their relationship, the couple had been sharing loved-up pictures of their travels together, which meant that their January 2025 split came as a shock to fans  and to Kirkconnell who has said she was blindsided.
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 time to order wild flavor pairings and niche treats from Starbucks is now as they may not be around much longer.

Come late 2025, the coffee conglomerate will have dropped 30 percent of its refreshments and food offerings from its menu in accordance with CEO Brian Niccols Back to Starbucks plan to help make up for a four percent global sales loss.

Niccol has also already implemented changes to help solve the companys financial woes including the return of the self-service condiments bar, new ceramic mugs for patrons wanting to sit and enjoy their drinks, as well as free refills on coffee and tea for anyone in-store.

We believe this is the fundamental change in strategy needed to solve our underlying issues, restore confidence in our brand and return the business to sustainable, long-term growth, Niccol said in the Starbucks Q1 Fiscal Year 2025 Results report.

Meanwhile, Rachel Ruggeri, Starbucks CFO, said: We are encouraged by our Q1 results, which demonstrated the effectiveness of our 'Back to Starbucks' strategy, evidenced by our top-line trend.

Earlier this month, Starbucks reversed its laid-back, open-door policy from 2018 that invited everyone into its stores even if they werent paying customers.

Starbucks plans to cut back 30 percent of its menu come late 2025 ( Getty Images )

Now, an updated policy will prohibit people from hanging out or using the restroom at all locations without making a purchase.

If a patron is caught using the facilities and they havent bought anything, they will be asked to leave and the store may call law enforcement if necessary.

The fresh policy also bans discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling in all North American stores.

We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores, Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said. By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone.

The rule reversal comes seven years after two Black men were arrested in Philadelphia Starbucks where they had gone for a business meeting. This particular Starbucks location had a policy of asking non-paying customers to leave if they werent planning on buying anything.

The arrest of the two men, which was caught on video, turned out to be a bad look for the company.

At the time, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz spoke up, arguing the company had no intention of making anyone feel less than.

We dont want to become a public bathroom, but were going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key, Schultz said.
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

Conservatives are coming after Vogue for posting a scathing review of Melania Trumps new White House portrait in which the magazine accuses the First Lady of cosplaying The Apprentice.

The official image, printed in black-and-white and shot by Belgian photographer Regine Mahaux, features the 54-year-old woman standing over a reflective desk while dressed in a finely-tailored Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket, an unbuttoned white undershirt, and suit pants.

According to Vogue, the entire shot  clothing, set, and pose included  looked as if it were taken for her husband President Donald Trumps former reality show, which ran from 2004 to 2017.

Indeed, Trump looked more like she was guest starring on an episode of The Apprentice than assuming the role of first lady of the United States, the outlet wrote before comparing her outfit to a magicians uniform.

Its perhaps unsurprising that a woman who lived in a gold-encrusted penthouse, whose fame is so intertwined with a reality television empire, would refuse to abandon theatricseven when faced with 248 years of tradition, the article continued.

Vogues January 28 article was met with immediate backlash from conservative commentators online.

open image in gallery Melania Trumps 2025 White House portrait ( Regine Mahaux/The White House )

Right-wing Newsmax host Todd Starnes wrote: The mean girls who run Vogue published a scathing attack on First Lady Melania Trump's official White House portrait.

It's unclear why Vogue directed their poisonous venom at Mrs. Trump. Envy, perhaps? Or it could just be that they hate bold, confident Republican women.

open image in gallery ( X/@toddstarnes )

Melania Trump is a portrait of beauty, style, elegance and power. She's a wife and a mother. She's a person who embraces her God-given pronoun, he continued. She's incredibly intelligent. She can speak fluently in five languages. And she has a terrific sense of humor. The Mean Girls who run the fashion magazines have an entirely different standard for style and beauty.

Author Scott Holleran agreed: Dear @voguemagazine: The White Houses official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump, by Regine Malhaux, is rightly and radically emancipated, elegant and refined.

I love the reflection of herselfrepresenting that First Lady Melania Trump is a hands-on presidents wifeready, he added.

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum added: Cmon Vogue. For decades you told us to know our power and be thin and well dressed when wielding it, and you diss this portrait of our most stunning FLOTUS since Jackie? You want her in a comfy blazer and pastelsIm guessing she doesnt care.

open image in gallery ( @marthamaccallum/X )

Kathy Gyngell, editor of The Conservative Woman, wrote: Oh look. A magazine for women tearing pieces out of ...women.

open image in gallery ( @KathyConWom/X )

Many critics on X also pointed out that the magazine had featured Democrats Kamala Harris and Jill Biden on its covers in the past.

Vice President Harris was interviewed by the magazine in October 2024 in the midst of her bid for the White House just months after the former first lady appeared on the cover.

Already, the new FLOTUS has riled people with her statement outfits worn in the White House. For her husbands second inauguration on January 20, Melania wore a long, silk-and-wool navy blue overcoat designed by Adam Lippes and a wide-brimmed hat by Eric Javits.

For the majority of the swearing-in ceremony, the top half of Melanias face was shielded by the hat, spawning hundreds of memes online.
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

Wegmans has issued a recall on their Family Packed Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets with Rib Meat because they may contain bone pieces.

The grocery store conglomerate urged customers to throw out the 46-ounce bags of frozen nuggets that have an expiration date of August 26, 2025.

Customers can also return the product for a full refund at any Wegmans location.

The nuggets were only made for Wegmans Food Markets and distributed in Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service said that it was notified of the issue after Wegmans received multiple consumer complaints of bone fragments in the product.

There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service said that it is concerned that consumers may still have some of the nugget packages in their freezers. Consumers who still have packages are urged not to eat the product, and to throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased.

Wegmans 46-ounce bags of Family Packed Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets with Rib Meat ( Food Safety News )

The latest food recall comes a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration elevated the recall status of broccoli packages sold at Walmart stores in 20 states due to a Listeria contamination that has potentially fatal consequences.

The Braga Freshs ready-to-eat 12oz Marketside Broccoli Florets recall was moved to Class 1, which is described as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death by the FDA.

The FDA issued the initial voluntary recall earlier this month when possible listeria contamination was discovered during random sampling by Texas Health & Human Services from a Texas store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate many foods and cause an infection in the form of an invasive illness and intestinal illness.

The affected bags of Braga Freshs Marketside Broccoli Florets have a best-if-used-by date of December 10, 2024 and were sold at 20 Walmart stores across the country: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The FDA confirmed there havent been any reported illnesses due to the broccoli recall. That said, the agency said Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Individuals with stronger immune systems may experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

In a statement shared with The Independent, Walmart said: The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. While the expiration date for the potentially impacted Marketside Broccoli Florets has past and the product is no longer in stores, we encourage customers who may still have this product in their homes, such as stored in freezers, to not consume and to discard the product.

At this time, there have been no reported illnesses associated with this advisory, and we are working with the supplier to investigate, they added.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press
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 Washington state woman charged in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont, which happened days after authorities began watching her and a German companion who also died in the roadside shootout, is scheduled to appear in federal court Monday.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, faces two weapons charges in connection with the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who died Jan. 20 during the shootout in Coventry, a small town about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Canadian border. The public defender assigned to represent Youngblut in U.S. District Court in Burlington did not return an email seeking comment.

According to an FBI affidavit, a border agent pulled over Youngblut and Felix Bauckholt on Interstate 91 to conduct an immigration inspection. At the time, Bauckholt appeared to have an expired visa, according to a Department of Homeland Security database, but investigators later confirmed that his visa was current, the FBI said.

Youngblut, who had been driving Bauckholts car, got out and opened fire on Maland and other officers without warning, the FBI alleges. Bauckholt tried to draw a gun but was shot, the affidavit states.

At least one border agent fired on Youngblut and Bauckholt, but authorities havent specified whose bullets hit whom.

This investigation remains very active, and the legal process continues, FBI spokeswoman Sarah Ruane said in a statement over the weekend.

Investigators had been performing periodic surveillance of Youngblut and Bauckholt since Jan. 14 after an employee at a hotel where they were staying reported concerns after seeing Youngblut carrying a gun and she and Bauckholt wearing black tactical gear, according to the affidavit. Investigators tried to question the duo, who said they were in the area looking to buy property but declined to have an extended conversation, the FBI said.

During a search of the car after the shootout, authorities found cellphones wrapped in foil, a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators and ammunition, the FBI said. They also found a package of shooting range targets, including some that had been used, two-way radios, about a dozen electronic devices, travel and lodging information for multiple states, and an apparent journal.

In May, Youngbluts parents reported to Seattle police that she was missing, according to a police report. In the account, first reported by The Seattle Times, they said she had left home with duffel bags full of personal belongings, including her passport and medical records.

The parents said her behavior had changed and that she had been lying about where she was going and who she was seeing. They said she also had broken off contact with friends and changed her phone number. The parents said they were concerned she was being forced to take these actions or that she may be in a controlling relationship.

A Teresa Youngblut took out a marriage license to a man who was not Bauckholt in November, according to a search of records in Washington states King County.

A man reached at a phone listing for Youngbluts family Friday identified himself as Youngbluts grandfather and declined to comment. No one answered the door at homes in Seattle and Redmond, Washington, associated with Youngbluts name, and neighbors declined to comment.

Bauckholt graduated with an honors degree in mathematics from Waterloo University in Canada in 2018, according to online records. He competed and won honors in computer programming competitions and held an office in the universitys computer science club. He had received a scholarship and was one of several students who had won medals at international olympiads for either mathematics or informatics, according to a school news release from 2015.

A now-deleted LinkedIn profile for a Felix Bauckholt said he had been working as a quantitative trader for a financial firm based in New York since October 2021. An email was sent to the firm seeking confirmation.
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 woman from Washington state has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont, where authorities had for days been watching her and a German companion who also died in the roadside shootout.

The FBI announced the arrest of Teresa Youngblut, 21, on Friday, four days after the deaths of Border Patrol Agent David Maland and Felix Baukholt in Coventry, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Canadian border. She was charged on one count of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a Border Patrol agent, and one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to that assault.

An FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court shed some light on the events leading up to the fatal encounter, but many questions remain.

Here are some things to know:

Before the shooting

Youngblut and Baukholt were staying at a hotel in Lyndonville, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of the shooting site, on Jan. 14 when a hotel worker contracted law enforcement after seeing the pair wearing black tactical gear and Youngblut carrying a gun, according to the affidavit. State police and Department of Homeland Security investigators tried to question the duo, who said they were in the area looking to buy property but declined to have an extended conversation, the FBI said.

On Sunday, investigators saw the pair walking in downtown Newport, just north of Coventry, wearing similar tactical clothing. And about two hours before the shooting, investigators watched Baukholt leave a Walmart in Newport with two packages of aluminum foil, get in the car and wrap something in the passenger seat.

Investigators later found foil-wrapped cellphones in the car.

The highway encounter

According to the FBI affidavit, Youngblut was driving Baukholts car when a border agent pulled it over on Interstate 91 to conduct an immigration inspection. At the time, Baukholt appeared to have an expired visa, according to a Department of Homeland Security database, but investigators later confirmed that his visa was current, the FBI said Friday.

Youngblut got out and opened fire on Maland and other officers without warning, the FBI said. Baukholt tried to draw a gun but was shot, according to the affidavit. At least one border agent fired on Youngblut and Baukholt, but authorities havent specified whose bullets hit whom.

The contents of the car

Authorities who searched the car after the shootout found a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators and ammunition, the FBI said. The also found a package of shooting range targets, including some that had been used, two-way radios, about a dozen electronic devices, travel and lodging information for multiple states, and a journal.

The suspects

Authorities released no information about Youngblut other than her name, age and home state.

A man reached at a phone listing for Youngbluts family in Washington identified himself as her grandfather and declined to comment. No one answered the door at multiple homes in Washington associated with Youngbluts name, and neighbors declined to comment.

The public defenders office that will be representing Youngblut did not respond to a voicemail seeking further information.

The fallen agent

Malands aunt, Joan Maland, declined on behalf of his family to comment on the arrest. The family issued a statement expressing gratitude for the support theyve received.

Relatives have described Maland as a dedicated public servant who passed up promotion opportunities to continue field work. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had worked as a border patrol agent for nine years, including in Texas before heading to the northern border.

___

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack, Patrick Whittle and Hallie Golden contributed to this report.
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 U.S. Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35fighter jet crashed Tuesday at a base in Alaska.

The accident occurred on the runway at Eielson Air Force Base, but it was not immediately known if it occurred while the advanced fighter craft was landing or taking off, Eielson spokesperson Staff Sgt. Kimberly Touchet told The Associated Press.

Its still under investigation, so theyre trying to confirm all the details, she said. Officials planned a news conference later Tuesday.

A release from the Air Force said an incident occurred about 12:49 p.m., causing significant damage to the aircraft.

The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation, the statement said.

Eielson Air Force Base is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Fairbanks.

Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security, Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said in the statement. I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

open image in gallery Alaska Military Jet Crash ( Associated Press )

Eielson was selected in 2016 to host 54 F-35s, spawning an expansion that cost more than a half-billion dollars that was to include 36 new buildings and dozens of housing units. The expansion included about 3,500 new active duty airmen and their dependents.

With the capability to fly more than 12 hours at a time, the F-35 can reach almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in one mission.

Nearly 400 miles (644 kilometers) south, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage is home to two squadrons of F-22 fighter jets.
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Marine biologists have captured a rare sight of a giant pod of over 1,500 dolphins leaping and swimming off the California coast.

The super pod of Rissos dolphins was spotted in Carmel Bay, off central Californias coast.

This species, which can grow to over 10ft long and weigh as much as half a metric tonne, is identified by its white scarring. It has adapted to live near continental shelves where it can search for prey at depths of about 600 metres.

open image in gallery Dolphin super pod off California ( AP )

Carmel Bay is considered a haven for marine life with its nutrient-rich waters supporting rockfish, leopard sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and sea lions. The bay extends from shallow pools to a submarine canyon that reaches depths of nearly 150 metres.

While the Rissos dolphins usually travel in pods of 10 to 30 animals, the sighting of them in an extremely large cluster of hundreds of individuals is rare, scientists say.

Rare Chinese white dolphins spotted in S China

The dolphins usually form smaller, more stable subgroups within large pods, with fidelity between members. Studies have shown long-term bonds between adult males of the species.

Researchers initially planned to take a trip to track migrating Gray whales but were amazed to see over 1,500 dolphins swimming around their boat.

They were just having a great time. So they were breaching everywhere, tail slapping, coming right over to the boat. They looked like they were having a big party, marine biologist Colleen Talty from the Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center said.

They were on the horizon I feel like as far as I could see, Evan Brodsky from the Monterey Bay Whale Watch said.

open image in gallery Dolphin super pod off California ( AP )

Sightings of dolphins in newer areas such as off of the subarctic Norwegian coast indicate that the species is expanding its range.

Research suggests increasing noise in the oceans due to human presence threatens Rissos dolphin populations. Low-frequency noise of motorised boats appears to disrupt the acoustic behaviour, including the clicks and buzzes, the dolphins use to find prey.
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

While genetic diversity, the unique differences that determine the color of hair and the shape of a finchs beak, is being lost across the world amid the worlds ongoing species extinction crisis, scientists had good news on Wednesday.

Conservation efforts are helping to protect species and what makes each individual special.

There is no getting around the fact that biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates across the globe  but there are glimmers of hope, University of Sydney Associate Professor Catherine Grueber said in a statement. The action of conservationists is reversing these losses and helping to create genetically diverse populations that can better meet the challenges of the future.

open image in gallery Research lead Associate Professor Catherine Grueber, center, stands alongside joint first authors Dr. Robyn Shaw and Katherine Farquharson. The research was an international and multi-decadal effort ( The University of Sydney )

Grueber led the international landmark study which was published Wednesday in the journal Nature. It is the most comprehensive global analysis of genetic diversity ever conducted, and included a team of researchers from countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Poland, and China.

The data they collected to reach these conclusions spans more than 30 years, from the late 1980s to 2019. It looks at nearly 630 species of animals, plants, and fungi.

Of the species included in this analysis, two-thirds are declining in genetic diversity. It can be lost as populations shrink and are isolated due to factors like habitat loss and changing environmental conditions due to climate change. The loss of genetic diversity also decreases a species ability to adapt to survive. Scientists predict that more than a million species are on track for extinction in the coming decades.

But, efforts to improve environmental conditions, restore habitats, grow populations, and introduce new animals for breeding and maintaining and sometimes even increasing genetic diversity in species.

open image in gallery Baby bandicoots are seen in Western Australia during population and genetic monitoring. New populations of the threatened golden bandicoot were established in the region ( Judy Dunlop )

For example, new populations of the threatened golden bandicoot were established in Western Australia, maintaining habitat for endangered Hines emerald dragonflies has helped the species maintain genetic diversity, and Scandinavian arctic foxes that have seen huge declines due to the fur trade have seen success following captive breeding programs.

However, the studys authors say additional actions could be taken to improve or maintain genetic diversity, including moving animals between populations, habitat restoration, and controlling invasive or feral species.

Despite successes, we cant be complacent. Two-thirds of the populations analysed are facing threats, and among these populations less than half received any kind of conservation management, co-first author Dr. Robert Shaw, from Australias University of Canberra, said. Its vital that we learn from what is working so that we can protect species in the long-term.
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 teenage boy has been arrested after a woman reported being raped on a dark river pathway in Kent.

Detectives were called to reports that the victim was sexually assaulted as she walked along the footpath near Beaver Road, Ashford between 8.25pm and 9pm on Friday 24 January 2025.

Officers sealed off the quiet footbridge over the Great Stour river as they reviewed CCTV and interviewed potential witnesses to the alleged sex attack.

Kent Police announced that a 17-year-old boy from nearby Romney Marsh was arrested on suspicion of rape on Monday evening.

He remains in custody while the investigation continues.

Anyone with relevant information, CCTV or dashcam footage who has yet to speak to police should call 01622 652006 quoting reference 46/13691/25.

You can also report information to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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

Love Island star Jack Fincham, who was jailed for six weeks after his dangerously out-of-control dog bit a runner, has been released on bail pending an appeal.

The 32-year-old, who won the 2018 season of the reality show alongside then-girlfriend Dani Dyer, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, with one of the incidents causing injury.

He lodged an appeal following his sentencing at Southend Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. A CPS source said: "He was granted conditional bail pending that appeal."

Southend-on-Sea Magistrates Court heard how his black Cane Corso, named Elvis, bit and injured runner Robert Sudell in Swanley, Kent, in September 2022.

Prosecutor Erin Peck said that Mr Sudell had accepted an apology and Fincham was going to be cautioned and engage with a responsible dog ownership course.

She said conditions were made including that his dog must be muzzled, but in June last year there was a second incident in Grays in Essex when his dog was out of control and he was later charged.

Presiding magistrate Anne Wade, sentencing, said that Fincham was subject to a suspended sentence order at the time of the incident in Swanley in Kent. The order, for an unrelated driving matter, was of 12 weeks custody suspended for 18 months.

The 32-year-old won the 2018 season of Love Island alongside then-girlfriend Dani Dyer. ( Getty Images )

Ms Wade said this order would be activated in part, adding that we find no reason not to do so, and sentenced Fincham, whose address was given in court papers as Swanley in Kent and later by police as Grays in Essex, to jail for six weeks.

The dog was in a public place not abiding by the conditions to be muzzled and kept on a lead, she said.

He was also ordered to pay 3,680 to the court, including a 2,000 contribution to kennelling costs, a fine of 961 and 200 compensation to Mr Sudell.

According to the Daily Mail, he was supported in court by his family and girlfriend, The Only Way is Essex star Chloe Brockett.

Richard Cooper, for Fincham, said the defendant has no savings and Mr Fincham was told he could pay in instalments, initially at 400 per month.

An order was made that the dog must be muzzled in public places, be kept on a lead and not be left alone with anyone under the age of 16.

Cane Corsos is a powerful breed of Italian mastiff and and can weigh up to 50kg. There has been a surge of interest in the breed, which are traditionally used as guard dogs, after the UK government banned XL bullies last year.

The breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club and many pet insurance companies do not provide cover for them.

More than 200 Cane Corse puppies are currently on sale on Pets4Home, with prices for a pup reaching as much as 1,800.

After the hearing, Sergeant Alex Watkins said: "Owners have to take responsibility for their dogs, and on these occasions this dog was dangerously out of control.

"On both occasions, the owner was given a chance to rectify their behaviour with words of advice and a conditional caution. However, [he] failed to do so, resulting in this sentencing.

"I thank both victims for their courage during this investigation."
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 PhD student accused of being a persistent sexual predator allegedly filmed himself raping multiple women while they were unconscious, a court has heard.

Zhenhao Zou, 27, allegedly drugged or pressured 10 different women to drink large quantities of alcohol, before sexually assaulting them and taking intimate pornographic images.

At the time of the alleged offence, he had been studying an engineering course at University College London, having studied in the UK for the last seven years after moving from China.

He was arrested after one of the women reported him to the police, which led to them seizing his camera and mobile phone and uncovering the videos.

Zou, of Southwark, has denied 35 offences which include 11 rapes on 10 women, 12 charges of possession of extreme pornographic images, three counts of voyeurism, one of false imprisonment and eight counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Jurors at Inner London Crown Court heard on Wednesday that only two of the women had been identified, but not the remaining eight.

open image in gallery Zou has denied all 35 charges against him ( PA Archive )

The student, who moved to Belfast in 2017 to study at Queens University before coming to London in 2019 to do a masters degree and then a PhD at UCL, had initially appeared as a smart and charming young man.

The prosecution says that he is a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC said.

The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drugs or with alcohol, and, once they were significantly under the influence of drink or drugs, he would then rape them.

Often, he would record himself doing so, which the prosecution say are the defendants souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed; items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification, so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.

In one video, Zou can be seen allegedly raping a woman, known as Female A, the court heard while she said: I really dont want I beg you, dont do this.

In response to her repeated pleas for him to stop, the prosecution said, he tells her dont push me, its pointless and comments that the sound insulation in his bedroom is very good.

Another woman, identified only as Female D, was seen in footage either unconscious or telling the defendant to let her go and trying to fight him off, jurors were told.

Police first became aware of the case in May 2023, when one of the women reported an allegation of rape. She later decided against pursuing an allegation due to her mental health.

Upon speaking to officers on the second occasion in February 2024, the woman provided police with an account of her experience and confirmed she had been approached by another alleged victim who claimed she had also been raped by Zou.

open image in gallery The prosecution case against Zou opened at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday ( PA Archive )

The court heard that regarding the woman who initially decided against pursuing an allegation, she had been invited back to Zous flat in Elephant and Castle after attending the party on 18 May 2023 and that he had given her wine.

After a while, she began to find the defendant odd and boring and he was trying to get close to her, which she didnt like, so she indicated that she wanted to leave but the defendant persuaded her not to, Ms Farrelly said.

She claimed when she tried to run to the door to leave, Zou dragged her back by her clothes into his bedroom, and kept her there against her will.

After she became semi-unconscious, the defendant allegedly proceeded to rape her, with the woman telling police she was drunk, I was really tired, I cant fight back, I have no strength.

In the morning, she woke up at 6am without any clothing and feeling dizzy and drowsy, the court heard, with her underwear found in the defendants wardrobe.

Police later discovered recordings and graphic images on Zous camera of the woman, where she can be heard asking to go home, the prosecution said, stating she is feeling unwell and screaming repeatedly before the defendant pushes her down to the bed.

The second alleged victim told police that she had met Zou in September 2021 and had stayed at his address and engaged in consensual sex.

A month later, she had invited him to her birthday with friends in central London. Her recollection became unclear and she remembered vomiting in the street with the defendant, before being back at his address with him on top of her, she said.

She claimed that he was having sex with her in a fast and forceful way, and that she had asked him to stop before falling unconscious.

The prosecution says that it is clear that the defendant had sex with her when she was in no position to consent, she had passed out through drink, and he had sex with her anyway, Ms Farrelly said.

An examination of his laptop found searches for sleeping drugs, how long semen remains in the vagina and a visit to a page relating to Surveillance Spy Hidden Cameras, the jury heard. Drugs found in his possession included MDMA, GHB, Ketamine, and Xanax, the court was told.

Zou sat in the dock wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, and navy blue tie as the prosecution case opened.

The trial is set to last for four weeks.

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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 XL Bully ban is predicted to cost police 25 million in vet and kennel fees this year, as chiefs admit it could take several years to see a reduction in dog attacks.

The National Police Chiefs Council have revealed the huge burden the ban is having on forces in Britain, after the controversial breed was outlawed last year following a string of fatal attacks.

Speaking ahead of the first anniversary of the ban coming into the force on 1 February, chief constable Mark Hobrough, the NPCCs lead for dangerous dogs, said forces are facing spiralling kennel costs after 4,586 suspected unregistered banned dogs were seized by police between February and September alone.

Keeping these dogs in kennels costs police an average of 1,000 per month, per dog, until cases reaches court. Amid record court backlogs, they expect costs to soar to 25 million by the end of the financial year  an increase of 500 per cent on 4 million in 2018.

Its anticipated that across the 43 forces, the cost for veterinary and kennelling will come to 25 million, he said.

Thats just for veterinary and kennelling. It doesnt account for half a million pounds worth of overtime thats been spent between February and September last year. It doesnt account for forces having to buy specialist vehicles, specialist equipment, uplift their dog legislation officers.

open image in gallery Esther Martin was mauled to death by two XL bully dogs last February (Essex Police/PA) ( PA Media )

He called for legislative changes to help them cope with soaring demand, including options for out of court disposals in some cases and the ability to recoup costs from owners in court.

They also called for a renewed focus on education around responsible dog ownership, so people choose a breed which suits their lifestyle, environment and experience.

We will always protect our communities by ensuring these dangerous dogs are dealt with but we urgently need the government to support us in coping with the huge demand the ban has placed on our ever-stretched resources, he added.

Under the change to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which was strongly opposed by animal welfare groups including RSPCA and Dogs Trust, it became illegal to own an XL bully without a certificate of exemption.

Officials had predicted around 10,000 XL Bully owners would come forward to register their dogs, agreeing to comply with rules including neutering their pet and muzzling them in public, however more than 55,000 were registered.

A further 848 dogs were surrendered by their owners and euthanised after the ban came into force  with no assessment of their dangerousness  costing 340,000 in vet fees, according to the NPCC.

CC Harborough admitted they have not yet seen evidence of a reduction in dog attacks, although official figures are not yet available.

It comes after figures obtained by The Independent last year revealed incidents of out-of-control dogs injuring people or guide dogs had risen by nine per cent in the first five months since the ban.

open image in gallery XL Bully owners protested against the ban in London last October ( AFP/Getty )

Patrick OHara, the NPCCs tactical lead for dangerous dogs, agreed no forces have yet reported a reduction in incidents and many are putting in additional staff to cope with demand from policing dangerous dogs.

Since the ban came into force, an additional 100 Dog Liason Officers have been added to forces in England and Wales, with a further 40 to be trained this coming year.

The officers expect numbers of XL Bullies to decrease gradually over time, but warned it will not be an overnight fix and will be a generational change spanning the lifetime of a dog.

They could also not rule out the risk of unscrupulous breeders circumventing the ban by breeding puppies that do not meet the current legal definition of the height and weight of an XL Bully.

Thats not going to be an overnight fix, Mr OHara said. We are probably not going to see a change year on year. We are probably looking at generational change in terms of the life of a dog.

A Government spokesperson said: The ban on XL bullies is an important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict conditions.

We continue to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to prevent dog attacks by encouraging responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog, addressing dog control issues before they escalate and using the full force of the law where needed.
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

Actor Idris Elba has suggested more action can be taken to make kitchen knives safer to reduce stabbings across the country.

The 52-year-old was speaking ahead of the release on Wednesday of Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, a documentary which sees the Luther star spend 12 months exploring the reality of the UKs stabbing epidemic.

Elba claimed that around 25 per cent of stabbings are perpetrated using knives commonly found at home, and areas of innovation could help reduce this.

Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say, he told BBC Radio 4. But you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it.

There were more 50,000 serious knife crime offences recorded in England in the year ending June 2024. London has the highest rate of serious knife crimes.

Between April 2023 and April 2024, 509 children under the age of 17 were hospitalised for injuries from knives and other sharp items, according to the Youth Endowment Fund.

The number of offences classed as possession of an article with a blade or point stood at 27,553 offences in the 12 months to June 2024, down 4 per cent year on year from 28,582.

Ive got three kids, Elba said. As a parent, thats always going through your mind.

open image in gallery The BBC film sees Elba meet Keir Starmer and the King ( BBC/22 Summers )

In September 2024, it became illegal to own, sell or manufacture zombie knives and machetes in the UK.

However, many illegal weapons remain on UK streets and have been used in recent violent crimes.

In the BBC film, Elba said young people in London gangs are not big and scary, adding it is sad that society has turned our back on them.

The actor and activist spoke about someone very close to me who had gone into a gang at the same time that he went into acting. He said he had spoken to him about the documentary.

The Hackney-born star said he had told him youre doing the right thing but that he isnt as hopeful or optimistic as I am.

Elba went on to say that he felt big tech and social media needed to take more responsibility for the issue.

He added: When it comes to big tech, there needs to be accountability within their own policies, and their policies need to be educated and driven by what society deems is right or wrong.

Its great that youre a big company, you make a lot of money, got lots of social media followers, thats fantastic.

But by the way, we dont like knives, were not going to tolerate you advertising knives to young people, please.

We dont like porn, we dont like this, we dont like bully dogs, it can be done in a society, and in my opinion, where democracy leads, it takes a village.

The BBC film sees Elba meet prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said that his party would commit to halving knife crime if elected, and the King, where the pair discussed solutions to the problem with some of the young people most affected by youth violence.

The hour-long programme will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 29 January at 9pm.
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 legal win has cleared the way for discount supermarket Lidl to open its first pub inside one of its stores after the High Court rejected a challenge to the proposal.

An appeal against the retailer's temporary permit to operate a bar within its Dundonald, County Down, store was launched by the owner of several off-licences in Northern Ireland, but the legal bid was denied by a judge.

Philip Russell Ltd filed the appeal, claiming Lidl had not demonstrated that there were insufficiently licensed establishments close to the location.

Lidl obtained planning approval in 2020 to build a tap room on their Dundonald site, which is located just outside of Belfast.

The suggested plan called for investing 410,000 in a new in-store pub and an off-sales section, as well as coming to an agreement with the owners of a nearby bar to give up that licence.

No new alcohol-selling licenses can be issued in Northern Ireland until an existing one is surrendered, according to licensing regulations.

After being turned down for an off-licence at the shop several years earlier, Lidl has stated that should the fresh application be accepted, it was committed to operating a bar.

open image in gallery A legal win has cleared the way for Lidl to open its first pub ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Philip Russell Ltd argued that Lidl had failed to show there were "inadequate licenced premises" near the site as required under the Licencing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

It was also alleged to be an impermissible attempt to circumvent the legislation by effectively making another application for an off-licence.

Ruling on the dispute, Mr Justice Colton determined that Lidl had established the necessary inadequacy.

He pointed out that if the application is successful, there will be only one licensed premises in a vicinity where two pubs previously operated.

The planned new location would be in the middle of a neighbourhood with well-established retail and transportation options as well as a growing adult population.

"It may well be that it will not meet the full demand for licenced premises within the vicinity given its size and lack of food provision," the judge said.

"That however does not mean that (Lidl) fails to establish inadequacy."

Dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Colton held that Lidl had made a bona fide application to operate the premises as a public on/off-licence.

"It will invest a significant sum of money, at least 410,000 into fitting out the public house," he said.

"I accept that it has concluded that the public house will be profitable, knowing that if it closed through lack of profitability an evitable consequence would be that the off-licence permission would lapse following any such decision.

"I am satisfied that it meets the statutory requirements and there is no good reason for refusing the application."
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 Bishop of Liverpool has denied any wrongdoing after allegations of sexual assault and harassment were made against him, according to Channel 4 News.

One woman accused the Rt Rev Dr John Perumbalath of kissing her without consent and groping her and another woman accused him of sexual harassment, according to Channel 4.

In a statement, Dr Perumbalath said he has consistently denied the allegations and complied with any investigation from the National Safeguarding Team (NST).

The allegations set out in this programme are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present, Dr Perumbalath said.

I have consistently denied the allegations made against me by both complainants. I have complied with any investigation from the NST. The allegations raised in Essex were also investigated by the police who took no further action.

open image in gallery While denying wrongdoing, the bishop says he has taken seriously how his actions could be perceived by others ( EPA-EFE )

Whilst I dont believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others.

I will comply with any investigation deemed necessary. I take safeguarding very seriously and work hard to provide proper leadership in this area.

In response to the Channel 4 programme, a spokesperson for the Church of England said that in 2023 a complaint of alleged misconduct against Dr Perumbalath was brought to the NST and concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to bring a safeguarding-related issue under the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) itself but offered the woman support if she wished to do so.

The complaint was looked into according to statutory safeguarding guidance in an NST-led process and an independent risk assessment undertaken. This process concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged. The complaint was also investigated by the police which resulted in no further action, the spokesperson said.

open image in gallery The Church of England has said complaints were investigated ( PA )

A further disclosure was made by another woman, and the information was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct, the spokesperson said.

The second complainant did not bring a CDM complaint within the one-year deadline. She later applied for permission to bring it after the deadline, which the Archbishop of York supported, but this was refused by an independent judge, the Deputy President of Tribunals, they added.

Pastoral support has been provided throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing, they said.

The spokesperson said Archbishop Stephen supported the complainant pastorally throughout the process and continues to offer practical help. He had no part in the decision-making around safeguarding or disciplinary matters.
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 UK can expect more volatile weather with a number of yellow weather warnings for ice, while heavy rain and wind from Storm Ivo batter parts of the country.

The Met Office has issued two weather warnings for Scotland and Northern Ireland predicting icy patches overnight which they warned may lead to travel disruption on Thursday morning.

The warnings are in place from 10pm on Wednesday to 10am on Thursday as they forecasted that wintry showers on Wednesday night could lead to icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

Meanwhile, southern parts of England and the Channel Islands are experiencing heavy rain and winds of 35 to 40mph as remnants of Storm Ivo impact the coast.

open image in gallery Yellow weather warnings for Ice will sweep across Scotland and Northern Ireland over Wednesday night into Thursday morning ( Met Office )

Met Office Meteorologist Alex Burkill said of the storm: For us, it is going to bring some heavy rain, but confined mainly to southern most counties. That being said, we could see some high totals, 25-30mm perhaps over the far south of Devon and some heavy rain spreading across further East as well.

Also need to watch out for some strong winds in the south west, but not enough to cause too many issues.

The Met Office told The Independent that while Storm Ivo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to South Western parts of Europe, the system is too far South to bring any major impacts to the UK, with just some rain in Southern parts of England through Wednesday.

open image in gallery Storm Ivo brings heavy rain to the south of England ( Met Office )

Storm Ivo, named by the Portuguese meteorological office, is primarily impacting France, Spain and Portugal. Like Storm Herminia, it did not meet the criteria to be named by the Met Offices storm naming group, which includes Met Eireann and KNMI.

Nevertheless, Storm Herminia did wreak havoc to the south of England. The Met Office recorded 84mph gusts of wind in the Isle of Wight, while 59.4mm of rainfall was noted in Seathwaite, Cumbria.

Somerset declared a major incident on Monday morning after overnight flooding caused problems in the region and more than 100 people were evacuated from their homes.

Storm Ivo and Storm Herminia are two of the latest storms to follow Storm Eowyn, which saw red weather warnings issued across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Nearly a million properties were left without power across the British Isles, with wind gusts in excess of 100mph.

The Met Office named it probably the strongest storm to hit the UK in at least a decade.
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 UKs former top judge has warned that assisted dying decisions should be kept out of the courts, suggesting the removal of the clause that requires terminally ill people to get court approval.

The Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.

But giving evidence at the Assisted Dying Committee on Wednesday, Lord Sumption suggested the removal of the clause 12 stage, which requires a terminally ill person to apply to the High Court for a declaration that the requirements of the Bill have been met.

The former Supreme Court justice previously backed a change in the law to allow assisted dying, but described Kim Leadbeaters legislation  which passed its second reading in the Commons before Christmas last year  as over-engineered, bureaucratic, and coldly inhumane.

He is one of about 50 witnesses who will give evidence across three days this week as the committee prepares to look next month in detail at each part of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

open image in gallery Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption gave evidence to the assisted dying committee (Supreme Court/PA) ( PA Media )

Ms Leadbeater asked him whether he would agree with remarks made by Englands chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty, who urged MPs to not overly complicate assisted dying laws if they are to introduce it.

Prof Whitty said the best safeguards were the simple ones and warned that patients could find themselves in a "bureaucratic thicket" at the end of life if there is too much to navigate.

Responding, Lord Sumption said: I do agree with that.

One suggestion, which I think would make a significant difference, was the removal of the clause 12 stage.

I think that that is a principal point, because the medical input from the two referee doctors, that is an important but private and informal process. Whereas the proceedings of a court are extremely public and formal and also productive of very considerable delay.

So that would make a considerable difference in the direction youre talking about, he said.

Under the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in its current form, a High Court judge must hear from at least one of two independent doctors who have signed off the dying persons application and can also question the dying person as well as anyone else they consider appropriate.

On Tuesday, retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn - who has Parkinsons disease - told MPs at the committee that it would be impossible, in my opinion, for this to be done by the High Court.

Instead, he suggested the use of a panel, as is the case in Spain, with a doctor and a lawyer checking everything has been done lawfully.

Speaking about High Court capacity, he said he had calculated, based on the number of hours which would need to be dedicated to each application and the potential number of cases, that there could be nearly three quarters of the entire family division doing nothing but this.

Lord Sumption also urged people to be conscious of the fact that coercion, even when it is overtly applied, is extraordinarily difficult to detect, drawing attention to the subtle pressures that old and disabled people feel.

open image in gallery Kim Leadbeater (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

In the end I have come down in favour of the principle behind this Bill. But I regard it as an extremely difficult balance to draw, notably for that reason, he told the committee.

No date has been given yet for the Bill to return to the Commons for further debate by all MPs at report stage but it is likely to be towards the end of April.

While the Bill passed second reading stage after a lengthy debate in the Commons before Christmas, some MPs who voted yes said they might not continue their support if they are not convinced of strong safeguards around aspects including potential coercion.

The Bill will face further scrutiny and votes in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until later this year at the earliest.
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Five years after Brexit, the proportion of Brits who think it was right to leave the EU is at its lowest-ever point since the referendum.

Just three in 10 Britons (30 per cent) say that it was right for the UK to vote to leave the EU, compared to 55 per cent who say it was wrong, a new YouGov poll has shown.

This is the lowest proportion of the public saying that Britain was right to vote to leave since the pollster began asking this question in the aftermath of the referendum.

In January 2020, when Britain officially left the bloc after voting to leave four years earlier, 40 per cent of people said it was the right decision, while 47 per cent said it was wrong.

open image in gallery More than six in 10 Britons say that Brexit has so far been more of a failure ( PA )

Now, more than six in 10 Britons (62 per cent) say that Brexit has so far been more of a failure, against just 11 per cent who feel that it has been more of a success, though a more noncommittal 20 per cent of Britons consider it to be neither a success nor failure.

Notably, even Leave voters are more likely to consider Brexit to have gone badly than well, with 32 per cent labelling it more of a failure so far, compared to 22 per cent describing it as more of a success.

However, just one in six (18 per cent) Leave voters say that it was the wrong decision, with 66 per cent still saying it was the right choice.

By contrast, 88 per cent of Remainers think a vote for Brexit was wrong, with just 7 per cent saying it was the right choice.

Meanwhile, among 18-24-year-olds  who were unable to vote in the referendum - there is little belief that it went the right way  with three-quarters saying it was the wrong choice. Just one in 10 (10 per cent) say the UK made the right choice.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer is pursuing a reset of relations with the EU ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

The latest polling comes after a damning report to mark the fifth anniversary of Britains departure from the EU, UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) said it appears that EU policy appears peripheral to Starmers government.

The Brexit Files, published on Tuesday by UKICE, lays bare the impact of Brexit on areas of the economy such as trade, immigration and defence, as well as the state of Sir Keir Starmers attempts to rebuild ties with Brussels.

The report branded the prime ministers post-Brexit reset of relations with Brussels as anaemic, warning that his EU policy is vague and unambitious.

And, despite the PM and Rachel Reeves relentlessly focusing on economic growth, the EU relations think tank said it was remarkable that the chancellors October Budget failed to mention the impacts of Brexit once.

The YouGov survey, conducted on 21-22 January, spoke to 2,225 adults.
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

More than three-quarters of all farms in England and Scotland will be impacted by new inheritance tax rules which have sparked mass protests, according to new research.

It comes after lines of tractors took to streets across Northern Ireland as part of a UK-wide protest by farmers against the announced cap on Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

From April 2026, the first 1 million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax.

open image in gallery Farmers have already taken to the streets of London and other cities to protest against the changes to inheritance tax ( PA Wire )

But for assets over 1 million, inheritance tax will apply with 50 per cent relief, at an effective rate of 20 per cent.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) have calculated that 42,204 out of 54,938 farms (76.8 per cent) across England and Scotland will be impacted by the new tax rules.

More than half affected are involved in cereals or general crop production as their main enterprise, with the rest predominantly livestock producers or mixed farming operations.

open image in gallery Members of the Ulster Farmers Union take part in a protest on the streets of Londonderry ( PA Media )

AHDB analyst Tom Spencer said: Our calculations show that cereals and general cropping farms are the most likely to be affected due to their scale and asset size. For livestock farms, it is those businesses with single-person ownership that are most at risk.

The levy boards economics and analysis director, David Eudall, added: Our priority is to help explain how this will impact many levy payers and support them on navigating a path through these challenges.

The first stage has been to identify the farms at risk, so they can review their own circumstances and implement appropriate actions.

open image in gallery Tractors parked on the lawns of Whitehall ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

It is critical for any affected farming enterprise to seek out expert tax and business planning advice. Succession planning was already important in agricultural farming businesses, now it is essential.

It came as the shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins urged the government to record the number of farmers dying by suicide to understand the human cost of their changes.

She said that pensioners, family businesses and farmers are paying the price for Labours economic illiteracy as she urged the government to commit to a full and proper review of this dreadful policy.

A government spokesperson said: Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.

This Government will invest 5 billion into farming over the next two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our countrys history.

We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.
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

Rachel Reeves delivered a landmark speech this week, promising economic growth across all regions of the UK. Speaking in Oxfordshire, the chancellor pledged a slate of new development projects  including a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Discussions about the expansion of Londons busiest airport date back to 2003, when its owners first sought approval for the third runway. Over 20 years later, Labour has got behind the project as the government invites proposals to be brought forward in the Summer.

Confirming the decision in her speech, Ms Reeves said: We cannot duck the decision any longer.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves has approved plans for the badly needed third runway at Heathrow Airport (Peter Cziborra/PA) ( PA Wire )

The chancellor promised to take forward a full assessment through the airport national policy statement, designed to ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding.

It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.

Asked for a timeline on the plan, Ms Reeves told BBC Breakfast she wants to see spades in the ground this Parliament, confirming that the goal is for the runway to be in use by 2035 at least.

But the plan for a third runway at Heathrow also has many opponents, and has been pushed back several times before now. Heres everything you need to know about the ongoing debate:

Why does Labour want to expand Heathrow?

In her speech, the chancellor said that a third runway at Heathrow is badly needed as for decades its growth has been constrained.

She added that by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

Flights from the airport are currently capped at 480,000 per year, and that limit is being reached. A third runway would theoretically increase this to 720,000 flights.

open image in gallery Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

The airport also currently handles 200 billion worth of trade a year, over 60 per cent of the UKs air freight. It would be well-equipped to deliver even more after an expansion.

I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investments, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected, Ms Reeves said.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander will also soon decide on requests for expansion projects at Gatwick and Luton airports.

Responding to the announcement, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: This is the bold, responsible vision the UK needs to thrive in the 21st century and I thank the government and chancellor for their leadership.

Who has opposed the plans  and why?

Critics say there is a strong environmental argument against expanding Heathrow, and that Labours new pledge risks the party falling short of climate targets.

Putting himself at odds with the chancellor, environment secretary Ed Miliband said the expansion of Heathrow and other UK airports won't go ahead if they dont meet emissions targets.

The former Labour leader, who has long been a vocal opponent of the plan, told MPs the day before Ms Reeves speech he wanted to provide reassurance that any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it cant be justified, it wont go ahead.

open image in gallery Energy secretary Ed Milibands opposition to Heathrows third runway spans back as far as 2009 (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

But the chancellor has told reporters that she will pursue the investment even if it is not popular, stressing the need to grow the economy.

The scheme would also have a major impact on the local area, with hundreds of Greater London homes demolished and villages such as Harmondsworth and Longford likely to be partly or wholly demolished.

Responding to the chancellors speech, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on social media: I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow airport because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

I will scrutinise carefully any new proposals that now come forward from Heathrow, including the impact it will have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure.

Several environmental groups have also spoken out against the plans. Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition said: We assume Heathrow expansion was chosen because it has become the totemic mission impossible.

Yet, the plan is not only eye-wateringly expensive. It entails flattening villages and tunnelling over the M25s busiest junction to increase Heathrows size by an area that is larger than Birmingham airport, to fly as many extra planes as Gatwick currently flies  effectively to build the UKs second-largest airport next to the first. And all in the most overflown and densely packed residential region in the UK.

How long has Heathrows third runway been debated?

Bosses at Heathrow Airport first sought approval for a third runway in 2003, sparking backlash after previously saying they wouldnt. In December of that year, then transport secretary Alistair Darling expressed concerns about air pollution, but said he expected a third runway to be built within the next 12 years.

It was not until 2009 that the plan gained steam again when then prime minister Gordon Brown approved the plan. He was met by fierce opposition from fellow Labour cabinet members Hilary Benn and Ed Miliband.

open image in gallery Plans for Heathrows third runway were first approved by Gordon Brown in 2009 (pictured in 2025) ( Victoria Jones/PA )

Following his election victory in 2010, David Cameron formally cancelled the plans, which he had called pig-headed. But in 2012, he and his chancellor George Osbourne become open to the idea, saying they would no longer block airport bosses from submitting proposals.

Six years later, under prime minister Theresa May in 2018, a Commons vote backed the Heathrow expansion by 415 votes to 119  a majority of 296. However, the idea was shut down in February 2020 when the Court of Appeal blocked the Conservative plans because ministers had failed to take into account the UKs commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord.

This ruling was overturned later in the year by the Supreme Court, permitting Heathrow bosses to submit applications once again. However, the impact of Covid-19 travel restrictions on the industry put all plans on hold.

Now in 2025, the idea has been backed by Sir Keir Starmers Labour government, setting the stage for construction on a third runway to begin.
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

Watch as Sir Keir Starmer faced MPs at Prime Ministers Questions after Rachel Reeves backed a third Heathrow runway on Wednesday, 29 January.

The prime minister was grilled by Kemi Badenoch on the chancellors major speech on growth, in which she outlined a series of projects the government was backing.

Speaking in Oxfordshire, Ms Reeves confirmed government support for the expansion of UKs busiest airport despite environmental concerns, including from inside her own Cabinet.

She said: I can confirm today that this Government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be be brought forward by the summer.

Responding to Rachel Reeves backing, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan quickly gave his response on social media.

He said: I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow airport because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

Ms Reeves also announced her backing for the redevelopment of Old Trafford in Manchester, a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge and the building of the Lower Thames Crossing.

A planning and infrastructure bill will loosen environment requirements for developers and address delays caused by judicial review challenges, Ms Reeves said.
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 UKs new ambassador to Washington has claimed that Donald Trump has won fresh respect as he sought to disown his previous criticism of the US president.

Peter Mandelson described the Republican as a danger to the world in 2019.

But hours after it emerged that President Trump had approved his appointment, he told Fox News: I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong. I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed.

Referring to his second election as president, Lord Mandelson said: I think that he has won fresh respect. He certainly has from me, and that is going to be the basis of all the work I do as His Majestys ambassador in the United States.

Peter Mandelson described Donald Trump as a danger to the world in 2019 ( AFP/Getty )

He added that with the many threats and challenges the world faces, it takes courage, somebody, sometimes, who's prepared to be argumentative and, indeed, disruptive, not just take business as usual.

"Frankly, I think President Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life," he added.

Mr Trump was said to be considering rejecting Lord Mandelsons nomination, in what would have been a major diplomatic headache for Sir Keir Starmer.

The Independent revealed last week that the extremely rare move was under consideration and that a decision was set to be made this week.

While Lord Mandelson has been allowed to take up his post, it is understood that it will still come with conditions and the peer will be kept on a short leash, in part because of his past links with China.

In the interview, Lord Mandelson tried to draw a line under the recent difficulties and suggested that the UK and the US would find common ground over the next four years.

"They're not Siamese twins, President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer, but they're both pragmatic people. They know where each is coming from, they want to find common ground," he said. "I feel very optimistic. I feel very upbeat about the relationship that theyre both going to have."

The Labour grandee also highlighted that he is a politician, not a career civil servant, a rarity in the role.

"The president isn't a career diplomat, and I'm not a career diplomat," he said. "I came into politics to change things for the better for people, and so did he.

"We share a similar, if not identical, outlook on the world and motivation in politics. But I think above all, we believe in something which is really special between our countries," he added. He said his top priorities would be to work with the US on trade, tech and defence partnerships, particularly in the face of countries like China.

"I think that the United States and Britain, working together, can outsmart and keep ahead of the curve as far as China is concerned," he said. "[Trump] wants a dialogue with China, he wants to do deals with China. But he's also not going to be naive about China.

"We face a challenge together from China, and we've got to make sure that we are able to deter that challenge or that threat when theyre having aggressive intents toward us," he added.

He added: "Security in the Euro-Atlantic area depends on making sure that China is kept at bay in its own region. China has the right to prosper, to generate higher standards of living for its own people, but not at the expense of others."
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

Labour has been accused of rank hypocrisy over plans to uphold controversial Tory proposals to detain child migrants in its bid to crack down on cross-Channel smuggling gangs.

Despite Labour frontbenchers repeatedly speaking out against the Conservatives Illegal Migration Act (IMA), Yvette Cooper is pressing ahead with plans to allow unaccompanied children whose age is disputed by the Home Office to be detained.

In Labours Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, published on Thursday, the home secretary will also keep a ban on migrants claiming modern slavery protections, along with a string of other measures the party previously opposed.

Amnesty International accused Ms Cooper of rank hypocrisy for holding on to parts of the Tories bill, a decision it said would signal that disdain for human beings remains at the heart of this government. Independent anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons said victims of modern slavery deserve our compassion and support, and no new legislation should reduce victims rights.

open image in gallery Yvette Cooper has been accused of rank hypocrisy over Labours small boats bill ( PA Wire )

Labour MP Sarah Champion called for the government to ensure the safety of victims of slavery, as well as urging the government to think very carefully about child protection.

I was hoping this bill would disentangle human trafficking from people-smuggling once and for all, the former shadow home office minister told The Independent.

Rather than restricting survivors ability to claim slavery protections, we should be ensuring their safety.

We also need to think very carefully about child protection. We know child asylum seekers are a particularly vulnerable group, with hundreds of children going missing over the years. Their care and wellbeing should be a primary concern.

Meanwhile, Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the bill was weak and reannounces steps the last government took already.

Labours Jess Phillips  who now sits in Sir Keir Starmers government as safeguarding minister  previously claimed that the Conservative bill was a traffickers dream, a tool for their control, as it effectively hid modern slavery victims from UK authorities.

And former shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock, now a health minister, said it is deeply unethical, as it also makes it harder for victims of modern slavery to come forward and [makes it] harder to prosecute criminals. Mr Kinnock branded the bill a traffickers charter, a gift to traffickers and pimps.

Dame Diana Johnson, now a minister in the Home Office, previously accused the Tory government of making an unnecessary and unjustified choice to sacrifice its focus on human trafficking as part of its response to irregular migration. None of the three has responded to The Independents request for comment on the U-turn.

The Tory bill meant that victims of human trafficking who enter the UK on small boats will not be able to get help via the UKs national referral mechanism  the system for supporting and identifying victims. But Home Office officials stressed that Labours bill repeals provisions that would have banned those people from accessing it. They said migrant victims of modern slavery who are in need of support will be able to access it, regardless of their method of arrival.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who sits as an independent MP after being suspended by Labour, said: It is beyond me why Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have done a complete reversal of our position prior to the election, [which saw us] vehemently opposing the Conservatives policy of detaining children.

I remember when children were detained at Harmondsworth detention centre in my constituency, and it is harmful and can have a lasting impact on the lives of these children. I am so anxious now that in government we appear to be losing all sense of compassion.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said she was shocked that Labour was keeping in place measures that Labour frontbenchers had previously opposed.

She told The Independent that the UK should be supporting those who come here in search of safety and want to rebuild their lives and be reunited with loved ones.

She said: The only way to stop people-smugglers is to create safe routes for people to come here fleeing violence or war, but this governments new bill contains no measures to do so.

I very much hope that all those who spoke with their consciences when these cruel measures were introduced by the last government will continue to do so now.

The bill is intended to target the gangs smuggling tens of thousands of migrants across the English Channel every year, and includes a slew of powers the government hopes will help break the business model of the smugglers.

open image in gallery Jess Phillips described the Tory bill, parts of which Labour is keeping in place, as a traffickers dream ( PA Wire )

But experts have warned that plans to deny some victims of human trafficking access to government help could be incompatible with UK and international law, and that this will embolden criminals.

Responding to Labours bill, Amnesty International refugee and migrant rights director Steve Valdez-Symonds said: It is less than two years since Yvette Cooper stood in parliament to oppose the Illegal Migration Act 2023 in its entirety, including because under it, victims of modern-day slavery would be left without any protections.

Choosing to now keep this act, or any part of it, to hammer rather than safeguard adults and children whove suffered the trauma of human trafficking, torture and war, would be rank hypocrisy.

And Jakub Sobik, from the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, said that keeping this legislation risks increasing trafficking and modern slavery in the UK.

He added: If implemented, they would deny potentially thousands of people protection from trafficking, and would strengthen the hand of traffickers as well as [impeding] our ability to prosecute traffickers.

In a bid to avoid attacks from Reform UK and the Conservatives, Labour is also retaining the cap on the number of migrants who can arrive each year via safe and legal routes.

Under the bill, people-smuggling suspects will face travel bans and social media blackouts as part of an attempt to crack down on organised immigration crime.

open image in gallery Home Office figures show that 129 people made the journey in two boats on Tuesday, taking the provisional total for 2025 to date to 1,019 ( PA Wire )

Court orders to restrict the activity of those under investigation for such crimes will be strengthened, with suspects being banned from using laptops or mobile phones, accessing social media networks, associating with certain people, or accessing their finances, under the measures announced by the Home Office.

Serious crime prevention orders (SCPOs) can already be sought to curb the movement of people involved in organised immigration crime. But the government said the measures are not being used to their full effect, and plans to introduce new interim SCPOs that are designed to place immediate restrictions on a suspects activity while a full order is considered by the court.

Under powers inspired by counterterrorism laws, immigration officers and police will also be given the power to seize phones, laptops and other electronic devices from migrants arriving in the UK without arresting them first. Officials said this will help officers gather intelligence on the gangs running the people-smuggling trade.

The section of the IMA covering detention, which is being upheld by Labour, is not targeted specifically at unaccompanied child migrants. And the Tories previous plans on 28-day detention limits have been repealed by Labour, The Independent understands.

Conservative shadow home secretary Mr Philp said: This is a weak bill from a weak government. It reannounces steps the last government took already, and beyond that only engages in minor tinkering  for example, about taking phones from illegal immigrants when they arrive. That wont stop the boats.

But Labours new Border Security commander Martin Hewitt said the bill would equip teams on the ground and empower them to go further and faster when dismantling organised criminality.

He said: These crucial measures will underpin our enforcement action across the system, and together with our strengthened relationships with international partners, we will bring down these gangs once and for all.

Announcing the bill, Ms Cooper said: Over the last six years, criminal smuggling gangs have been allowed to take hold all along our borders, making millions out of small-boat crossings.

This bill will equip our law enforcement agencies with the powers they need to stop these vile criminals, disrupting their supply chains and bringing more of those who profit from human misery to justice.

These new counterterror-style powers, including making it easier to seize mobile phones at the border, along with statutory powers for our new Border Security Command to focus activity across law enforcement agencies and Border Force, will turbocharge efforts to smash the gangs. 
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

Rachel Reeves has given her backing to the long-awaited expansion of Heathrow airport as she set out her optimistic vision for Britains economy with a plan for growth based around building faster and better.

However, the chancellors upbeat message was almost immediately hit by short-term economic woes, with Tesco cutting 400 jobs and Lloyds announcing the closure of 136 branches. This followed Sainsbury cutting 3,000 jobs last week.

Meanwhile, Durham University has slashed 200 jobs and Cardiff University cut 400 posts in the last 72 hours. The job losses were linked to Ms Reevess anti-growth hike in national insurance contributions and plans to roll out workers rights.

To add to her woes, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told the Commons Treasury committee that very big decisions will be needed to stop Britains public debt pile from spiralling higher

Faced with the continued challenges, a beleaguered Ms Reeves told ITVs Robert Peston: Look, Im trying to turn around this economy. Its not an easy job.

Speaking immediately after her speech in Oxfordshire, she insisted the job gains from measures she has announced will outweigh job losses.

Today I announced the third runway at Heathrow potentially creating 100,000 jobs and investment in East Midlands airport, with 2,000 jobs. Investment in an investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire, 6,000 jobs. So, we can trade numbers. The IMF upgraded the forecast for growth for this year for the UK. Only the UK and the US are in that position.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves has given her backing to the long-awaited expansion of Heathrow airport ( Kirsty O'Connor/Treasury )

However, Tory shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith posted on X (formerly Twitter): Yesterday, Lloyds [sic] CEO sat down to breakfast with the prime minister and chancellor; 24 hours later Lloyds [sic] announce likely job losses and the closure of almost 140 branches. As votes of confidence go, might need a bit of work.

There were also concerns that the growth measures Ms Reeves announced would not show any benefits for many years  the Heathrow expansion is expected to take at least a decade  while the problems the government faces in the short term have left it on the brink of a recession.

Simon Gleeson, a partner at business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, warned: Her narrative that short-term pain is long-term gain is difficult to understand when a third runway will take 10-12 years to build. Furthermore, creating a new Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge is a longer-term play, and a sizable public investment at a time the 22bn black hole is still being referenced.

Shanker Singham, chair of the Growth Commission, added: The rhetoric is excellent but words are not enough. Robust action is required. I suspect she is about to find out that wealth is incredibly hard to create but very easy to destroy.

Ms Reevess bold vision of the future was already seeing a backlash from her own party, with Labour transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and party donor Dale Vince joining environmental groups in criticising the Heathrow decision.

Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to the plan because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

Even those benefiting from infrastructure building were not happy. One airline boss, Ryanairs Micheal OLeary, described Ms Reeves as Rachel Rubbish and a dimwit because she had refused to go back on a hike in air passenger duty.

Notably, Ms Reeves declined to rule out any further tax rise while Sir Keir Starmer insisted there would be no retreat on boosting workers rights which were also being linked to the flurry in job losses.

open image in gallery Sadiq Khan opposes Heathrow expansion ( PA )

However, the CBI suggested that trust has been restored and described the speech as excellent while other business groups praised the bold long-term vision.

Shevaun Haviland, from the British Chambers of Commerce, said: Expanding our international airport capacity, investing in modern roads and railways, and rebalancing the planning system all send signals that the UK is building for a better future.

Sam Richards, from pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, added: The chancellor is absolutely right to argue that by making it easier to build we can both get richer and reach net zero carbon emissions.

The chancellors speech was given to an audience of business leaders at a vast factory in Oxfordshire operated by the German company Siemens, which makes the magnets for use in medical scanners.

Speaking near the location of what she hopes will become the UKs version of Silicon Valley, Ms Reeves warned that for too long the UK has been held up by naysayers and blockers preventing major infrastructure projects from going forward.

She mocked the way a 100m bat tunnel had added costs and bureaucracy to the much-maligned High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, warning that such delays are unsustainable going forward.

However, in a sign of disunity, energy secretary Ed Miliband, who has long opposed aviation expansion, was noticeably absent at Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) shortly afterwards where Sir Keir hailed the speech.

Both the prime minister and Ms Reeves were hit with questions from the Tories and others over whether they would rein back on anti-growth policies.

open image in gallery Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said that businesses were not giving the government a vote of confidence ( PA )

There was also criticism of a lack of movement on the UKs relationship with the EU, as Ms Reeves stuck to the strict Brexit red lines of staying out of the customs union and single market which the Lib Dems warned put a handbrake on growth.

The original plan to build a third runway at Heathrow received parliamentary approval in June 2018 but has been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic. The airport needed to secure approval for a Development Consent Order to go ahead with the project.

Ms Reeves said: I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.

We will then take forward a full assessment through the airports national policy statement.

This will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding. It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.

Mr Reeves said that by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye described the chancellors speech as the bold, responsible vision the UK needs to thrive in the 21st century.

The scheme would involve around seven years of construction to produce a third runway and a new terminal. It would also require more than 700 houses to be demolished and the M25 motorway to be moved into a tunnel.

Environmental groups expressed major concerns over the announcement.

Bob Ward, from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, said airport expansion should not proceed until the government shows exactly how it will be compatible with the UKs carbon budgets and net zero target.

Friends of the Earths head of campaigns Rosie Downes warned giving the go-ahead to airport expansion while relying on new technology such as sustainable aviation fuels would be a reckless gamble.
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

Rachel Reeves is set to publish a tax return, in a U-turn hours after saying she did not have any plans to do so.

A Treasury spokesperson indicated that Ms Reeves will release the details on her taxes, and Downing Street has confirmed that the prime minister will do the same.

In 2024, a summary of Sir Keir Starmers return showed he paid almost 100,000 to the taxman.

open image in gallery Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to publish a tax return ( PA Wire )

Answering questions following a major speech on her economic growth plans, Ms Reeves said earlier on Wednesday: Chancellors and prime ministers havent published their tax returns in the past, and I dont have any plans to do so.

Sir Keirs press secretary later told reporters: He published his tax return in opposition and will do so as prime minister.

Both Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt published tax figures while they were in government.

Figures released in February 2024 showed Sir Keir paid 99,431 in tax after making 275,000 in capital gains.

The release showed that the Labour leader paid 44,308 in income tax in 2022-23.

He also paid 52,688 in capital gains tax after the sale of a field in December 2022 partly owned by himself and partly owned by his fathers estate.

open image in gallery The prime minister is also going to release his details ( Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street )

Mr Sunak published a summary of his tax affairs while he was in No 10.

The then prime minister paid more than 500,000 in UK tax for 2022-23 as his total income rose to 2.2m.

Ms Reevess predecessor in No 11, Jeremy Hunt, paid a total of 117,418 in UK tax in 2022-2023, a summary of his return showed.

His total income before tax was 416,605, including 27,370 in rental income.

Kemi Badenochs spokesperson suggested that the Conservative leader is waiting to see what the chancellor does with her tax returns.

Asked whether Ms Badenoch would publish her returns, the spokesperson said: She is in opposition. And she  waits to see what Rachel Reeves does.

Pushed further on the point, they later added: The point is, we are in opposition, you can ask me this question when we form a government in four years.
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 Brazilian government Tuesday said it will create a reception center for deported migrants from the United States following controversy over conditions on a recent deportation flight.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gave the green light to establish a humanitarian reception post at Confins, a municipality in Minas Gerais state, Brazils Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship Macae Evaristo told journalists in the capital Brasilia.

That decision was made because of the possibility that more flights will follow the arrival of an initial flight to Brazil under the new Trump administration with 88 deportees on board this weekend. That followed dozens of flights during the Joe Biden administration.

Local media reported that government officials were disturbed by the fact that Brazilians were kept handcuffed after an unscheduled stop in the Amazons biggest city, Manaus, prompted by technical problems with the plane.

A Brazilian military plane brought them to their destination, the city of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, on Saturday afternoon.

The next day, Brazils Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was seeking answers from Washington regarding the degrading treatment of nationals during the recent flight. It cited the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft, with a broken air conditioning system, among other problems.

The US Embassy declined to comment and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency didnt respond to an email request for comment.

It was unclear whether the 88 Brazilian deportees were taken into custody during the tenure of Donald Trump or former President Joe Biden.

There have been almost four dozen deportation flights from the U.S. to Brazil over the past three years. Brazil has no desire to interrupt them and held talks with the American charge daffaires on Monday, according to a government source with knowledge of the matter. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly.

Brazil has permitted the use of handcuffs in exceptional circumstances, but not indiscriminately and there must be an evaluation of risk, the person said.

Authorities are looking into how many were handcuffed. There have been passenger reports that the planes air conditioning suffered problems, causing intense heat in the cabin, and they exited through the emergency door upon landing in Manaus.

Commenting on the humanitarian center, Evaristo said the objective was to ensure that these passengers have good conditions for water, food and even temperature, which I think was the most damaging aspect in the first flight.

We dont want to provoke the American government, but its essential that deported Brazilians are treated with dignity, Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said on Monday.
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

On January 20, a Border Patrol agent was shot dead during a traffic stop in Vermont. It quickly emerged that a German citizen had also died and that a 21-year-old woman had been arrested.

Now investigators are exploring whether those deaths are linked to a fatal stabbing of a landlord 3,000 miles away in California, and a mysterious alleged cult made up of highly educated young computer scientists obsessed with veganism, animal rights, and theories about the nature of human consciousness.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, the woman accused of killing Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont last week, is believed to be closely acquainted with 22-year-old Maximilian Snyder, the man arrested on Friday in the landlords death.

The pair were in frequent contact with each other prior to the killings on opposite sides of the country, according to a motion filed Monday by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Vermont.

So acquainted, in fact, that Youngblut and Snyder had applied for a marriage license on November 5, according to public records viewed by Open Vallejo.

open image in gallery Teresa Youngblut, 21, had been under FBI surveillance since January 14 after a hotel employee in Lyndonville, Vermont, reported seeing her and another person dressed in black tactical clothing and protective equipment, with Youngblut carrying a holstered firearm ( Newport City Inn and Suites in Vermont )

They both studied computer science in Washington and appeared to follow the vegan Sith ideology of a fringe Bay Area group that has been described as a murder gang, the outlet reported, citing an interview with a person familiar with the group.

Youngblut has been charged in the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who was killed on January 20 during the shootout in Coventry, about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Her passenger Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen, also died in the shooting.

U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said in the motion filed on Monday that the gun allegedly used by Youngblut, along with the one that Bauckholt was carrying, were both purchased by a third person in Vermont last February  who is a person of interest in a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania. In that case, Richard Zajko, 72, and 69-year-old Rita Zajko were found shot dead at their home in Chester Heights, near Philadelphia, according to the Toronto Sun. Police said the killings were not random.

Drescher said Youngblut and Bauckholt are acquainted with and have been in frequent contact with the person who was detained during that investigation and who also is a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California, the motion said.

On Monday, Maximilian Snyder was charged with murder in the stabbing death of 82-year-old Curtis Lind, the landlord who was killed on January 17.

The Vermont shooting

Youngblut and her passenger, Bauckholt, were driving a 2015 Toyota Prius with a North Carolina license plate in Coventry, Vermont, when the shooting unfolded.

They had been under FBI surveillance since January 14 after a hotel employee in Lyndonville, Vermont, reported seeing them dressed in black tactical clothing and protective equipment, with Youngblut carrying a holstered firearm, according to the FBI affidavit.

That day, investigators approached Youngblut and Baukholt, but the pair declined to have an extended conversation, according to the affidavit, which also stated that they claimed they were in the vicinity to look at purchasing property.

open image in gallery Border Patrol Agent David Maland was killed without warning during the traffic stop ( AP )

Days later, on the afternoon of January 20, multiple Border Patrol agents conducted a traffic stop and pulled the Prius over for an immigration inspection. According to Open Vallejo, investigators discovered that Bauckholt appeared to have an expired visa, although they later determined it was current.

Youngblut pulled out a gun and fired at an agent without warning, and Baukholt attempted to draw a gun when at least one of the border agents returned fire, according to the affidavit.

Both Youngblut and Baukholt, along with Agent Maland, were struck by gunfire in the shootout. Baukholt was pronounced dead at the scene and Maland died at North Country Hospital, according to the affidavit.

Youngblut was transported to a New Hampshire hospital for her injuries and has been charged with intentional use of a deadly weapon while forcibly assaulting or interfering with federal law enforcement, and use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to an assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records.

open image in gallery Law enforcement follow a hearse carrying fallen border patrol agent David Maland after he was shot and killed on January 20

A search of the Prius revealed the pair had been traveling with a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, 48 rounds of ammunition, used shooting range targets, and a dozen electronic devices, including cell phones wrapped in aluminum foil, according to the affidavit.

Agent Malands family told the Associated Press his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 years in the federal government, including working security duty at the Pentagon during the 9/11 terror attacks.

He was a devoted agent who served with honor and bravery, they said. He had a tremendous respect and pride for the work he did; he truly embodied service over self.

What in the world is going on with these people?

Prior to the shooting in Vermont, Youngblut and Bauckholt were living in separate duplexes in the same neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, according to the building owner, the Associated Press reported.

Bauckholt rented one unit through Airbnb starting in July 2023 and moved to the second unit later that year, the owner said Tuesday. Youngblut began renting the original unit in November 2024 and had paid nearly $10,000 to extend her stay until the end of March, he said.

The owner, who did not want to be identified for safety reasons, said he had sent messages to all his renters during a recent cold snap asking them to let their faucets drip to avoid frozen pipes. He never heard back from either one, but an individual renting the other half of Youngbluts duplex said her hot water wasnt working, so the owner went to check on the plumbing.

The thing that struck me the most was that there was a stretcher in the living room. Like, what in the world is going on with these people? he said.

Suspects in deadly Vermont Border Patrol shooting had tactical gear: Officials

The hair on the back of my neck is still up and I just cant believe its being connected to my Airbnb.

The owner recalled that his last contact with Bauckholt was about a month ago when the tenant was trying to negotiate a more traditional lease instead of using Airbnb. Box trucks were parked outside of both units, he said, and Bauckholt was running an electrical cord to one of them.

There would be times when I would come to get the trash and as Im coming up the driveway, hed be crawling out of the cab, he said.

The California stabbing

On January 17, three days before the shooting at the border, Curtis Lind was attacked and stabbed to death by a man wearing a mask and black beanie outside his gated property on the 300 block of Lemon Street in Vallejo, according to police.

It wasnt the first time Lind had been attacked, according to court records and a GoFundMe account that describes Lind as a loving grandfather who was generous with what he had to help a friend or a stranger in need in need.

In 2022, the landlord was impaled by a sword during a violent incident following a dispute with his tenants at the time, who were living in box trucks on his property.

Lind shot two of his alleged attackers during the assault on him, killing 31-year-old Emma Borhanian and injuring another person, which authorities ruled to be self-defense, according to court records obtained by Open Vallejo. But he was left seriously wounded and blinded in one eye.

Suri Dao and Alexander Jeffrey Leatham were charged with murder, attempted murder, and aggravated mayhem for the death of Borhanian, and the attempted killing of Lind, according to court records.

open image in gallery Maximilian Snyder, 22, who is believed to be linked to Youngblut, was charged Monday in the murder of Curtis Lind, a landlord in California ( Linkedin )

Thomas Young, who was a friend of Linds, told Open Vallejo that when he searched the box trucks after the attack, he made a creepy discovery.

Stashed inside the trucks, which were allegedly registered in Vermont, were used surgical equipment, more than a dozen laptops, and expensive electronics.

It was actually very uncomfortable, Young said. You kinda wanted to put on a hazmat suit before going into it. It was really just creepy in the extreme.

Before his death last week, Lind was set to testify against his alleged assailants at their trial in April, according to court records.

In 2019, Leatham and Borhanian had been among four people arrested wearing black robes and Guy Fawkes masks at a protest against a Berkeley, California non-profit focused on rational thought. They were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment, false imprisonment and conspiracy as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, wearing a mask while committing a crime and trespassing, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Who are the suspects and what is their alleged connection to the Zizians?

Youngblut and Snyder, as well as Bauckholt, allegedly followed a self-described vegan Sith ideology, according to Open Vallejo, which reviewed their social media posts and spoke to a friend close to the group.

Jessica Taylor said she was a friend of Bauckholt, who she knew by the name Ophelia. She recalled warning Baukholt about Zizians, a group she described as a murder gang.

I remember warning Ophelia that Zizians were a death cult with a high local death rate, she wrote in a post on X after hearing about her friends death. Idk if this involved Ziz or associates but... well, Bayesian evidence (lefty radical violence + violent women).

Several online posters attributed the attack to the Zizians, which was referred to as a cult on various online forums. The group is a radical offshoot of the Rationalist movement, an ideology centered on using scientific techniques to enhance human decision making, Open Vallejo reported.

open image in gallery On the night of the shooting in Coventry, the US-Canada border was backed up for hours ( AP )

Taylor explained to the outlet that veganism and animal rights are central to the ideology and that the Zizians believe that there are two hemispheres in the brain, meaning that individuals can split their consciousness between two personalities by waking one side at a time.

Court records have not explicitly linked Snyder and Youngblut to the ideology, but posts on their social media accounts appear to display beliefs consistent with Zizianism.

Youngblut, who studied computer science and computer software engineering at the University of Washington, according to her LinkedIn profile, appeared in a federal court on Monday and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.

Snyder, who studied computer science and philosophy at the University of Oxford, according to a LinkedIn profile matching his name, is being held without bail at the Justice Center Detention Facility.
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

When Florida police responded to noise complaints at a Cocoa Beach home, they discovered a few of the usual suspects behind such complaints  marijuana, alcohol  and 100 unusual ones: children.

Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the 47-year-old principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, and Karly Anderson, a third-grade teacher at the school, were both arrested in the wake of a massive party, police said. However, the teens in attendance said it wasnt the first such event.

Parties like this happen once or twice a month, students told police.

The teens arrived at the principals house at 7.45 p.m. on January 19 to help make preparations for the party, an arrest affidavit obtained by The Independent says. When they arrived, alcohol was already available in multiple red-and-white coolers inside the home.

An hour later, police responded to numerous complaints of noise, alcohol and drug use in Cocoa Beach, Florida. When they arrived, they noticed cars stretched down the driveway, spilling into the middle of the road. Teens were consuming alcohol and marijuana.

As they began to clear out the scene, officers conducting traffic stops saw multiple kids inside the cars wearing matching t-shirts. They were all coming from the white lie party, the affidavit says. That is a trend where attendees where white T-shirts to an event with a minor lie on them.

At around 9:20 p.m., an officer called Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the owner of the home and principal, to inform her that minors were drinking alcohol and using marijuana at her home. She told the officer she was down the street and would take care of it, according to an affidavit.

open image in gallery Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan (left) and Karly Anderson (right), both educators at Roosevelt Elementary School in Cocoa Beach, Florida, were arrested after a house party at Hill-Brodigans, where 100 students were allegedly drinking and using marijuana, police said ( Brevard County Sheriffs Office )

But she apparently didnt and neighbors continued to complain about the open house party and about how kids were walking through their yards and yelling obscenities at them, authorities said.

Police returned around 9:30 to find an active party happening at the home, officers wrote. Hill-Brodigan approached an officer and assured she was shutting down the event.

But it didnt end. Even while police were at the scene of the house party, they received another call around 10:30 p.m. This call seemed to be from a child, police said.

The unknown juvenile male advised there were people shooting guns at the nearby skatepark and then drove to Sydney Fisher Park. The juvenile then advised the people at the park were conducting satanic activity and had someone at gunpoint, according to the affidavit.

But when they arrived at the park, they didnt witness anything similar to what the kid described. So, they returned to the house party to find most of the partygoers had left.

There, just after 11.30 p.m., a sergeant saw a car run the stop sign and then almost hit his vehicle. While conducting a traffic stop, the sergeant found two intoxicated female juveniles in the car. Both were sporting white lie party attire, police said.

The underaged driver was arrested for DUI and the passenger was cited for possessing marijuana, the affidavit said.

Meanwhile, around the same time, an officer found a teen vomiting and shaking in the principals front yard. The officer called Brevard County Fire Rescue to treat the child.

Thats when Hill-Brodigan walked out of her home and stood at the top of her driveway, before walking inside and turning off all the lights in the front of her house. Firefighters then had to use their vehicles auxiliary lights while treating the child, who was determined to be intoxicated, police previously said.

The officer put the child in the backseat of his patrol vehicle to bring him to the police station, where his mom picked him up.

Anderson, the third-grade teacher, then began to berate the fire rescue team, and then told the officer she was upset because the intoxicated child was being put in a machine, the affidavit says.

open image in gallery Roosevelt Elementary School where Hill-Brodigan wroked. According to the affidavit, the partygoers said the principal made no attempt to stop the party ( Google Maps )

Anderson, who was slurring her words and smelled of alcohol, identified herself as a teacher and admitted she had been hanging out at the party. When the officer informed her that children were drinking at the party, she interrupted him and yelled that she already knew that, the affidavit states.

She was charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The following day, officers spoke to Anderson on the phone. Without any questioning the defendant advised she had no participation in what took place on Country Club Road, the affidavit says. She insisted she doesnt participate in underaged ragers, the affidavit says.

Anderson explained that Hill-Brodigan had invited her out for a drink and insisted that Hill-Brodigan was sober the entire time, having had just one drink.

She then placed the blame on Hill-Brodigans kid, saying he did what he did, she added.

Students gave the same story. The party was advertised via Snapchat and was hosted by the principals two sons, they told police.

The students provided more insight into the chaotic scene. In one video shared with police, a mask-clad child was taking videos of himself with a firearm, described as a Beretta, and then pointing the weapon at the person filming the video.

There were also fights, including one involving a student with a learning disability, who was punched by another student, who was then slapped by a wrestler, authorities said.

According to the affidavit, the partygoers said the principal made no attempt to stop the party: Students also advised that Elizabeth made no attempt to stop the party at any point and advised that she seemed okay with what was happening.

However, some said that she told her son to stop the party. Once he ignored her, she didnt try to stop it again.

Later on January 20, police called Hill-Brodigan. Although she initially agreed to meet in person and provide a statement, she never showed. When the officer called her to see if she was planning on showing up, she advised that she was not willing to speak with me anymore, the officer wrote.

After further attempts to speak with Hill-Brodigan, she still refused and was brought to Brevard County Jail. She was charged with child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and holding an open house party.

Hill-Brodigan and Anderson were both placed on administrative leave, the school district told WESH.
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

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann returned to a Long Island courtroom on Wednesday where his attorneys challenged the DNA evidence against him and argued that the high-profile case should be split into five separate trials for the seven murders he is charged with.

The 61-year-old architect from Massapequa Park stood completely still next to his defense attorney Michael Brown, who said splitting up the cases would give Heuermann the best chance at a fair trial.

Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 as part of an investigation police had been working on since 2010 into the deaths of at least 10 people  mostly female sex workers  whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway near Gilgo Beach on Long Island.

open image in gallery Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann stood next to his attorney Michael Brown in a Riverhead courtroom on Long Island Wednesday

The defense is seeking one trial for the original three murders Heuermann was charged with  Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello  and then four separate trials for all the murders he has been charged with since then  Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack.

Brown argued theres a substantial disparity in the evidence in some of the deaths, which he maintained involves different time frames, killing methods and locations for disposing of the bodies.

The danger of having count after count, victim after victim in the same trial is that 'If there's smoke, theres fire' mentality," Brown said.

They shouldnt be tried together. One issue has nothing to do with the other.

Wednesdays hearing was held to hear a pair of motions filed earlier this month, in which the defense also asked Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei to exclude DNA evidence in the case, arguing that the analysis relied on by prosecutors is not widely accepted in the scientific community and should be excluded from the trial.

The judge set a date of February 18 for a Frye hearing to discuss admissibility of the DNA evidence in court.

A Frye hearing is really the admissibility of this new what they call science, Brown said. We call it magic, quite frankly.

Brown told reporters following the hearing on Wednesday that his client risks being improperly convicted because of the cumulative effect of the evidence put forward by prosecutors.

open image in gallery Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes

The nuclear DNA testing in the case was done with the assistance of Astrea Forensics, a California-based lab that specializes in broken down, older DNA evidence such as rootless hair, The Long Island Press reported.

DNA results from hair strands found at some of the crime scenes are among the key pieces of evidence prosecutors have put forward in the case.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney has maintained the DNA science is sound and that the findings were also independently corroborated by mitochondrial DNA testing, a methodology long accepted by New York courts.

This is the next generation of DNA testing, Tierney said after the hearing. I started in 1992, and we had RFLP, then we went to PSL, PCR, then we went to STR. Now I would submit that this is the next generation of the evolution of the technology. Its exciting to be at the forefront of that, and we look forward to proving the scientific acceptance and the effectiveness of this technology.

open image in gallery Heuermann was charged with the murders of Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor in June 2024 ( Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page )

In the filing, prosecutors argued that the whole genome sequencing technique utilized in the case has been accepted in peer-reviewed scientific journals and by federal regulators, paleontologists, virologists, and medical communities.

Whole genome sequencing enables more comprehensive collection and evaluation of DNA, prosecutors wrote. It is so widely used for scientific, medical, and forensic purposes, it would seem there is little question as to whether it has been accepted in the relevant scientific community."

Prosecutors also say Heuermann kept a blueprint of his alleged crimes on his computer that included a series of checklists with tasks to complete before, during and after the killings, as well as practical lessons for next time.

There are still at least four victims that have been linked to the Gilgo Beach murders, but Heuermann has not been charged with any additional murders.

open image in gallery A sketch of Asian Doe ( Suffolk County District Attorneys Office )

Tierney has previously acknowledged the similarities but has refused to directly name Heuermann a suspect in the unsolved murders, which include Peaches Doe, whose remains were found at Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997 and on Jones Beach in 2011, and Baby Doe, a child believed to be the daughter of Peaches, who was found near Valerie Macks body in 2011.

There is also the case of Karen Vergata, whose dismembered legs were found on Fire Island in 1996 and whose skull was found on Tobay Beach in 2011, and an unidentified Asian individual who was biologically male.

Tierney insists the investigation into these killings is ongoing. Earlier this month, he announced that they had formed a Cold Case Task Force to look into a slew of unsolved cases dating back to 1965 in Suffolk County.

When asked on Wednesday about a possible connection between Heuermann and the cold cases, Tierney again would not say, but promised the task force was pushing forward with the investigation.
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 19-year-old Tiktoker was arrested after she allegedly danced in a provocative manner above a disabled person in a viral video, police said.

Lucrecia Kormassa Koiyan was arrested and charged in Georgia after authorities were made aware of the viral video on January 23, Loganville Police Department said.

In the video, Koiyan was dancing in a provocative manner above a disabled person, who was sitting in a chair, police said.

The video captures Koiyan wearing navy scrubs and a stethoscope as she stands on the arms of the chair with the persons head between her legs. Koiyan was working at an in-home adult daycare employee when the video was filmed, Chief M.D. Lowry told USA Today. Its not immediately clear where she worked.

open image in gallery A 19-year-old TikToker was arrested in Georgia after 'viral' video showing her dancing 'provocatively' over a disabled person ( Loganville Police Department )

The circumstances and licensure of her employer is part of an ongoing police investigation, Lowry told the outlet.

Her TikTok account appears to have been taken down as of Wednesday morning.

Loganville Police launched a criminal investigation into the matter and obtained search and arrest warrants for the teen..

She was charged Tuesday with exploitation of a disabled person, in violation of state law.

Koiyan was booked into Walton County Jail. She has reportedly posted $7,500 bond and was in the process of being released on Wednesday morning, USA Today reported.

"I was appalled and disgusted that anyone would create such a video featuring a disabled person," Lowry told the outlet. "As police officers, our highest duty is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and my detectives worked as swiftly as possible to bring charges in this incident."

The Independent has reached out to Loganville Police for more information.
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 had recently brought his family back to Pakistan from the United States has confessed to shooting dead his teenage daughter, motivated by his disapproval of her TikTok content, police said.

The shooting happened on a street in the southwestern city of Quetta on Tuesday. The suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, initially said that unidentified gunmen shot and killed his American-born, 15-year-old daughter before he confessed to the crime, police official Babar Baloch said.

Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering, another police investigator, Zohaib Mohsin, said. We have her phone. It is locked, he told Reuters. We are probing all aspects, including honour killing.

The family had recently returned to Balochistan province in predominantly Muslim Pakistan, a nation with conservative social norms, having lived in the United States for about 25 years, Baloch said.

The southwestern city of Quetta:

The suspect has U.S. citizenship, the officer said. He said Haq had told him his daughter began creating objectionable content on the social media platform TikTok when she lived in the United States.

He told police that she continued to share videos on the platform after returning to Pakistan. Baloch said the main suspects brother-in-law had also been arrested in connection with the killing.

Police said they had charged Haq with the murder. They did not offer proof of Haqs U.S. citizenship except for the suspects own testimony and declined to say whether the U.S. embassy had been informed of the incident.

His family declined to respond to a Reuters request for comment.

More than 54 million people use TikTok in Pakistan, a nation of 241 million. The government has blocked the video-sharing app several times in recent years over content moderation.

This week hundreds of Pakistani journalists rallied against a proposed law to regulate social media content that they say is aimed at curbing press freedom and controlling the digital landscape.

The law would establish a regulatory authority that would have its own investigation agency and tribunals. Those found to have disseminated false or fake information face prison sentences of up to three years and fines of 2 million rupees ($7,200)

Digital media in Pakistan has already been muffled with measures by telecom authorities to slow down internet speeds, and social media platform X has been blocked for more than a year.

TikTok, which has about 170 million U.S users, was briefly taken offline in America just before a law requiring its Chinese owner ByteDance to either sell it on national security grounds or face a ban took effect on January 19.

open image in gallery Trump, after taking office on Jan. 20, signed an executive order seeking to delay by 75 days the enforcement of the law on TikTok ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Islamabad often takes issue with what it terms obscene content with the social media platform, which has lately started complying with requests from Pakistan to remove certain content.

Over 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of community or family members over perceived damage to honour, according to independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

That could involve eloping, posting social media content, fraternising with men, or any other infraction against conservative values relating to women.
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

Former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in a years-long corruption scheme in which he wielded his political influence to conduct favors for the Egyptian government in exchange for lavish gifts.

Once a three-term senator who chaired the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez sat before a federal judge in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday, flanked by lawyers and at times crying, to receive his punishment after becoming the first senator to ever be convicted of acting as a foreign agent.

Menendez, 71, accepted bribes  in the form of lavish gifts  from three New Jersey businessmen who sought his help in meddling in state and federal criminal investigations and securing lucrative deals with officials from Egypt and Qatar.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system. Somewhere along the way, and I don't know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good, District Judge Sidney Stein told Menendez.

open image in gallery Robert Bob Menendez arrives at Manhattan Federal Court for sentencing ( Getty Images )

Before sentencing, the former US senator tearfully begged the judge for consideration of his long public service.

"Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. I've done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context, Menendez said between tears.

He recounted various times he helped others such as helping a family secure a new kidney for a family member.

Menendez cried while recounting how he dedicated himself to public service so much that he missed several events in his two childrens lives. He struggled to describe the pain of missing events in his grandchildrens lives if he was given a long sentence.

While Judge Stein agreed Menendez had done much good in his life, he reminded the former senator that his bad actions could not go unpunished.

The public cannot be led to believe that you can get away with bribery, Judge Stein said.

Roughly six months ago, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts including bribery, extortion, corruption, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt  what prosecutors described as the most serious conduct that a senator has been convicted for in the history of the republic.

open image in gallery The three-term New Jersey senator resigned from his position after being found guilty on 16 charges ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

When federal agents descended upon Menendezs home in 2022 and 2023 they made a startling discovery.

More than $100k worth of gold bars, one found in a Ziploc bag, stuffed in a closet, a Mercedez-Benz convertible parked in the driveway, and more than $480,000 in cash stuffed into coat jacket pockets, shoes and bags.

Those, in addition to jewelry and other gifts, were all bribes that Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez accepted from two co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, as well as a former co-defendant who took a plea deal, Jose Uribe.

Federal prosecutors asked Judge Stein to sentence Menendez to 15 years in prison and impose a $2.8 million fine and more than $920,000 in restitution.

open image in gallery Stacks of cash were found hidden in jackets, shoes, bags and more in the Menendezes closet

The former senators attorneys asked the judge for leniency, asking him to consider home detention and rigorous community service instead.

Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman with a halal-meat certifying business, connected Menendez with Egyptian intelligence officials. With Menendezs help, Hana secured a lucrative contract with U.S. officials to be the exclusive certifier of halal meat to Egypt.

Menendez pushed the U.S. to give Egypt millions in military aid and sent Egyptian officials nonpublic information.

Hana was sentenced to roughly eight years in prison.

Daibes, a real-estate developer, gave Menendez gold and cash in exchange for his help interfering with a criminal investigation and securing investors in a development project. Daibes introduced Menendez to a Qatari investor who was also a member of the Qatari royal family.

Menendez later supported a Senate resolution praising Qatar.

Daibes was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday.

open image in gallery Federal authorities allegedly seized $100,000 in gold bars from the home of Menendez ( US Department of Justice )

Uribe, an insurance executive, pleaded guilty telling prosecutors he gave Menendez and his wife a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for Menendez to interfere in a state fraud investigation. Menendez then spoke directly with the New Jersey attorney general about the case.

Uribe will be sentenced in April.

The senators wife allegedly played a pivotal role in the scheme, according to Menendezs lawyers who sought to push the blame on Nadine for pressuring Menendez to accept the lavish gifts.

open image in gallery Nadine Menendez allegedly plaid a pivotal role in the scheme ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Nadine is expected to stand trial in March. Her trial was severed from her husbands last year after she revealed she is battling breast cancer.

From the moment Menendez was indicted until sentencing, he has maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal the conviction.

Even while facing calls to resign from fellow Democratic members of Congress, Menendez refused to let go of his power. He initially teased running for re-election in the state, this time as an independent candidate. However, after his conviction Menendez resigned.

I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country, Menendez said after the verdict. The decision rendered by the jury today would put at risk every member of the United States Senate in terms of what they think a foreign agent would be.
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

Robert F. Kennedy is addicted to attention and power according to scathing letter revealing some of his darkest moments, penned by his cousin Caroline Kennedy.

Kennedy, 71, who is Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is a hypocritical predator who is addicted to attention and power, his cousin warned senators ahead of the confirmation hearing in the senate - which will confirm his control over a $1.7 trillion budget as the top health official.

The bombshell letter reveals a number of shocking accusations about Kennedys life, from putting mice in a blender to leading his family members down a path to drug addiction.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together, said Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan, in a letter and accompanying video statement.

Here are the five key bombshells from Caroline Kennedys blistering criticism of her cousin

1. Predator Kennedy enjoyed putting chicks and mice in a blender

open image in gallery RFK Jr originally mounted a campaign for the presidency himself before throwing his support behind Trump ( AP )

Kennedy, the son of liberal political icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 at 42 as he appeared set to clinch the Democratic nomination, is a licensed master falconer who has trained hawks since he was 11.

Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator, Caroline Kennedy said in the letter.

Kennedy loved to display one of his bizarre and gruesome habits in caring for his birds of prey, she said.

He enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, Ms Kennedy alleged.

It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

2. Pushed his loved ones into a life of drug abuse

Kennedy, who struggled with addiction to heroin, led his family members down the path of drug addiction simply through the strength of his personality.

The former Democrats basement, garage and dorm room were the centres of the drug-fuelled action, she alleged.

Siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life, she claimed in the letter.

But she did praise her cousin for pulling himself out of illness and disease. Kennedy says his 14 years of heroin abuse - which began soon after his fathers death when he was 15 years old - ended after he was convicted for possession in 1984 and attended rehab.

3. Dangerous vaccine views - which he is using to make himself rich

While avoiding most political topics about her cousin, she unleashed a stinging criticism of his dangerous vaccine-sceptic views - which she says are serving him financially.

Kennedys financial disclosures show he intends to receive legal fees from Wisner Baum, a firm suing the producer of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil. The company is accused of failing to warn customers about its risks.

Through his crusade against vaccination, she said, "he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls."

His views on vaccines are not reflective of the views of most Americans and the rest of the Kennedy family, she added.

4. Preying on desperate parents of sick children - while vaccinating his own

open image in gallery RFK Jr. pictured with his Hollywood actress wife Cheryl Hines at Donald Trumps inauguration ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

As he discourages frightened parents from vaccinating their sick children due to alleged risks, Kennedy continues to vaccinate his own, Ms. Kennedy said.

Bobby is addicted to attention and power, she wrote. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents and sick children  vaccinating his own children while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

His constant denigration of our health care system and the conspiratorial half-truths he has told about vaccines have cost lives," she added.

open image in gallery Kennedy says he is not anti-vaccine ( Getty Images )

Kennedy has previously maintained that he is not anti-vaccine.

5. Kennedy used his name to boost his career - before he grovelled' to Trump

Caroline Kennedy slammed Trumps health secretary pick for using the image of her father - former president John F. Kennedy - to boost his own political career.

Bobby expropriated my fathers image and distorted President Kennedys legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign  and then grovelled to Donald Trump for a job, she wrote.

He continues to grandstand off my fathers assassination, and that of his own father, she added. It is incomprehensible that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be in charge of American life-and-death situations.

Her father would be disgusted by his actions, she added.
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 Connecticut senator has accused Donald Trump of carrying out a blitzkrieg of executive orders in his first week in office in an attempt to collapse our democracy.

Democrat Chris Murphy said that the flurry of orders issued by the president since taking back the Oval Office were designed to help in seize control.

The freezing of federal grants, the firing of all inspector generals, the immunization of political violence - does everybody not see whats happening? Murphy wrote on X Tuesday. In a blitzkrieg, Trump is trying to collapse our democracy - and probably our economy - and seize control.

A blitzkrieg, or lightning war, was a series of short, powerfu military attacks intended to bring about a swift victory used by Adolf Hitlers Nazi forces in World War II.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has been accused of carrying out a blitzkrieg of executive orders in his first week in office ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

As of Tuesday, just eight days into his second term, the president signed almost 40 executive orders, including those referred to by Murphy.

One, freezing federal grant funding across government agencies, was temporarily blocked by a federal judgeTuesday evening. US District Judge Loren AliKhan issued the two-day temporary restraining order after a brief hearing in Washington on Tuesday.

It came after a memo issued late on Monday by the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget,ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.

This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, the memo read.

Other controversial orders signed by Trump have included the removal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement, and the firing of all federal employees on DEI programmes.

open image in gallery U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) called said the flurry of executive orders from the president was an attempt to collapse our democracy ( Getty Images )

A separate executive order, effectively banning transgender people from serving in the military, has already resulted in a lawsuit from a group of transgender service members.

On his first day in office, the president also pardoned nearly all January 6 defendants, granting roughly 1,500 full, complete and unconditional pardons for those charged in connection with the Capitol attack, including 169 who confessed to attacking police officers.
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

Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation to put President Donald Trumps face on Mount Rushmore.

His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument, the staunch Trump backer wrote on X. Let's get carving!

This comes after a Fox News segment where a number of panelists discussed the option.

Hey, if theres room up there, I think itd be great, said former Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz. I think what Donald Trump has done, and is in the process of doing, is transforming the United States of America and putting America first. And I think America loves it, and I think theres a great case for it.

Former Trump White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany chimed in: Yeah, Im fascinated by this because that would be some sweet irony after President Joe Biden stopped the fireworks display from Mount Rushmore.

So, if you did, like, the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trumps face, it would be epic, she added.

Other panelists argued that Trumps face should be added to banknotes or that famous buildings be named after him.

So I dont know if it would be even feasible at that point, but I do fully support changing Dulles Airport after President Trump, Lisa Boothe said. It also makes a lot of sense because you have Reagan here in D.C. with DCA, and theres a lot of parallels between the two presidents of inheriting terrible economies, instability around the world, and then building off of that, fixing those problems and then going on to tons of success.

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives for the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2020. A new bill proposes adding his face to the monument ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump has hesitated in the past to say that he should be on Mount Rushmore.

If I answer that question, Yes, I will end up with such bad publicity, he told The Hill in 2019.

In 2018, former South Dakota Governor and new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was in the middle of her gubernatorial campaign at the time, said that Trump had told her that it was his dream to be on the monument alongside Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The two met in the Oval Office after Trump was sworn in for the first time.

"He said, 'Kristi, come on over here. Shake my hand,'" Noem said. "I shook his hand, and I said, 'Mr. President, you should come to South Dakota sometime. We have Mount Rushmore.' And he goes, 'Do you know it's my dream to have my face on Mount Rushmore?'

Noem, then a House representative, added: I started laughing. He wasn't laughing, so he was totally serious.

Noem told the story during the filming of a segment for the South Dakota edition of carpool karaoke, and it was then picked up by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

During a 2017 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump said: Id ask whether or not you think I will someday be on Mount Rushmore, but here's the problem: If I did it joking, totally joking, having fun, the fake news media will say 'he believes he should be on Mount Rushmore.

So I won't say it, OK? I won't say it, he added.
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 Donald Trump has launched his second bid to remove all transgender troops from the military.

Although the new order will affect only a tiny fraction of America's 2.1 million service members, it has taken on oversized importance to Trump and his administration, who see transgender forces as a sign the military is woke or not focused on training and winning wars.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, before he took the job, wrote in his book War on Warriors that for the recruits, for the military, and primarily for the security of the country, transgender people should never be allowed to serve. Its that simple.

Trump's order to push out transgender troops, issued late Monday night, was instantly condemned by an array of activist groups as exceptionally egregious and ultimately harmful to military readiness. They say transgender people have been serving successfully for years, including openly on and off for the past decade.

What does the order say?

Trump's order essentially says that anyone who is diagnosed with gender dysphoria  the unease someone has when their assigned sex and gender identity dont match  cannot serve in the military. It gives the defense secretary 60 days to update the medical standards for enlistment and re-enlistment to reflect that change. And it gives Hegseth 30 days to lay out how he plans to implement it all.

According to the order, expressing a false gender identity divergent from an individuals sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service. It says the hormonal and surgical needs involved in taking on a different gender identity conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle."

open image in gallery President Donald Trump signs an executive order as he attends an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event at Capital One Arena ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

It concludes that, A mans assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.

The order also zeroes in on the heady bathroom issue.

On his first day in office Trump issued an executive order that he said would restore biological truth to the federal government by eliminating the word gender and replacing it with sex. He said the federal government will only recognize people based on their sex at the time of conception based on their reproductive cell.

His latest order expands on that, saying the military will neither allow males to use or share sleeping, changing, or bathing facilities designated for females, nor allow females to use or share sleeping, changing, or bathing facilities designated for males.

open image in gallery Protests outside the White House in 2020

The Pentagon has said in recent years that it is impossible to count the total number of transgender troops. The military services say there is no way to track them and that much information is limited due to medical privacy laws.

Estimates have hovered between 9,000 and 12,000. But it will be very difficult for officials to identify them, even as service members worry about the hunt to root them out.

This casts an enormous shadow on people that are getting ready to go on a deployment for six months overseas or, you know, getting ready to go on a combat mission, said Sasha Buchert, counsel for Lambda Legal. This is going to be extremely disruptive. And theyre going to have to look over their shoulder in fear of when the next shoe will fall.

Since transgender troops have been able to serve openly for a number of years, its possible their fellow unit members or commanders know who some of them are. That triggers worries about people identifying them in order to get them pushed out  and raises parallels to the Clinton administration's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which allowed gays to serve in the military as long as they didn't tell.

In March 2018, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis released a memo with unprecedented details on the number of transgender forces and how many of them had sought mental health help or were planning to seek surgery.

It said, at that time, there were 8,980 service members who identified themselves as transgender, and 937 had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The report said data collected by the military health system revealed that 424 of those service members diagnosed had gotten treatment plans approved and for at least 36 of them those plans didn't include cross sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery.

open image in gallery A member of the British Army carries a transgender flag during the Gay Pride Parade on July 01, 2023 in London, England. Pride in London is an annual LGBT+ festival and parade held each summer in London ( Getty Images for Pride In London )

In 2015, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter broached the idea of lifting the ban on transgender troops and allowing them to serve openly, which raised concerns among military leaders. He set up a study, and then about a year later, in June 2016, announced the ban was ended.

A year after that, just six months into his first presidential term, Trump suddenly announced via tweet he was not going to allow transgender people to serve in the military in any capacity. The tweets caught the Pentagon by surprise and plunged leaders into what became a roughly two-year struggle to hammer out the complex details of who would be affected by the ban and how it would work, even as legal challenges poured in.

By March 2019, as courts ruled against the ban, the Pentagon laid out a policy that allowed those currently serving to continue with plans for hormone treatments and gender transition if they had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. But it barred new enlistments of anyone with gender dysphoria who was taking hormones or had transitioned to another gender. And it said in the future those diagnosed with gender dysphoria must serve in their birth gender and were barred from taking hormones or getting transition surgery.

Soon after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he overturned Trump's ban and the Pentagon also announced it would cover transition medical expenses for troops.

open image in gallery President Joe Biden speaks during a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 3, 2024 ( AP )

The chiefs of all four military services told members of Congress in 2018 they were seeing few problems as transgender troops began serving openly.

The Navy chief at the time, Adm. John Richardson, said the Navy was dealing with the issue the same way it handled the integration of women sailors on submarines.

And the Marine commandant then, Gen. Robert Neller, said there were no unit cohesion or discipline problems. His only concern, he told a Senate committee, was that some commanders were saying they had to spend a lot of time with transgender people as they worked through medical requirements involving their transition to their preferred gender.

Sarah Klimm, a transgender Marine who served for 23 years, retired just as the end to the ban was announced in 2016, so was never able to serve openly.

Trans military members that are out there right now are dropping bombs, pulling triggers, fixing all the weapons systems, she said Tuesday. And now youre looking to keep them away.

Klimm, who is now a policy analyst for Minority Veterans of America, said its an especially precarious time to remove thousands of service members as recruiting has been a struggle.

Emily Shilling, who has been openly transgender since 2019, is currently serving as a commander in the Navy with more than 19 years of service, including as a combat pilot who flew 60 missions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

I just want to continue serving my country, using the skills this nation invested in me as a fighter pilot and leader, she said, stressing that she was speaking in her personal capacity. "For nearly two decades, Ive upheld the highest standards of excellence, leading teams in combat and peace. All I ask is the opportunity to keep using my training and experience to serve this country with honor, courage and dedication.
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

An ultra-conservative Oklahoman Republican is on a crusade in a bid to restore moral sanity in the state, emboldened by Donald Trumps election in November.

Senator Dusty Deevers, an abortion abolitionist, pastor, and Oklahoma State Senator announced eight executive measures last Tuesday aimed at railing against the moral decay foisted upon Oklahoma  including a bill that seeks aims to penalize anybody who engages with porn.

The eight legislative bills are aimed at removing abortion rights, handing out jail sentences for the possession of pornography with increased sentences for child pornography, banning children from watching drag queen performances, promoting the sanctity of marriage, removing incompatibility as a justification for divorce, offering tax credits to incentivize adoption, promoting two-parent households, and granting Christian health insurance firms the same tax benefits as regular insurance companies.

Strikingly, if his pornography bill passes, people who produce, distribute, or possess pornographic material could face up to 30 years in prison as a criminal penalty as Deevers believes pornography is both degenerate material and a highly addictive drug.

He went on in the bill to add that pornography was a destructive vice that ruins marriages, ruins lives, destroys innocence, warps young peoples perception of the opposite sex, turns women into objects, turns men into objects, degrades human dignity, and corrodes the moral fabric of society.

Any decent society will stand against this plague with the full weight of the law.

open image in gallery Deevers activities have become emboldened since Donald Trumps election victory in November ( EPA )

In the past, Deevers appeared in a podcast stating that people in society will either stray toward God, or the Devil  suggesting there was no scope for anything in between, particularly when it came to immoral temptations such as porn.

Either youre coming under the rule of God your creator[]or youre going to come under the rule of The Serpent, he told Jon Harris, presenter of the Conversations That Matter" podcast  a channel that delves into Christian, traditional, and masculine views on theology, culture, and politics, according to the Youtube listing.

Deevers blamed the far lefts influence for the moral decay of institutions in Oklahoma and his bills echo the conservative values and ideals drawn up in the highly controversial and discriminatory Project 2025.

The 900-page plan, drawn up by former Trump aides and endorsed by right-wing think tank, the Heritage Foundation, has often been deemed as the lynchpin for driving ultra-conservative ideals in Trumps second term.

Sadly, the lefts century-long assault on morality and decency has been so successful that some have come to accept as normal a society that is drowning in hardcore pornography, prenatal homicide, and sexual performances for children, said Deevers.

None of this is normal. Each one of these evils is a result of a policy choice to not stand for what we know is right. Opposing these evils does not mean we are extremists. It means we are sane, he added in the press release.

The outspoken bills were announced after more than a third of U.S. states announced restrictions for explicit online content, choosing to block pornographic websites such as Pornhub.

Since the start of 2025, 17 states have put porn restrictions in place, which require visitors to provide state-approved identification to access the material.

However, these restrictions have led to a surge in VPN purchases, highlighting that many still seek access despite what state senators preach.
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

During a 90-day foreign aid freeze, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued exemptions for life-saving humanitarian assistance, but the fate of HIV treatment for the worlds poorest nations remains uncertain.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on any foreign assistance as agencies review to ensure they will not be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the president.

On Tuesday, contractors working with the U.S. Agency for International Development received memos to halt work immediately, sources told Reuters. That evening, Rubio exempted humanitarian assistance, which he defined as core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance, according to the waiver seen by the Washington Post.

The waiver didnt explicitly mention the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a global health program that includes HIV treatment, testing and prevention drug distribution across the world, according to the New York Times. The distribution of HIV medications seemed to be permitted under the waiver, but whether preventative HIV drugs and other services are allowed is not immediately clear.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver exempting humanitarian assistance after President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on foreign aid  but HIV medications are still in flux. ( REUTERS )

The program, which began in 2003 under the George W. Bush administration, received $6.5 billion in government funding in 2024. If aid to the program is cut permanently, more than 20 million people across the globe living with HIV, including 560,000 children, around the world would no longer have access to life-saving treatment.

Gumisayi Bonzo, director of a health nonprofit in Zimbabwe, told the Associated Press that stripping access to HIV medication would be life-altering.

I have been religiously taking medicines for over two decades, I am living a normal life again, and suddenly we have to stop, she said. Thats a death sentence for many people.

If treatments are interrupted, patients are more susceptible to getting sick and the disease could spread to others, Reuters reported. Inconsistent treatment could also lead to drug resistance.

We can very rapidly return to where the pandemic is exploding, like it was back in the 1980s, Dr. Steve Deeks, an HIV expert at the University of California, San Francisco, told the New York Times. This really cannot happen.

The program has nearly 200,000 providers; on average, they make around $3,000 per year, making even short funding suspensions extremely difficult, according to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Each day, the program supports more than 222,000 people receiving treatments, according to amfAR. The program also supports hundreds of thousands of HIV tests, newly diagnosing 4,374 people with HIV every day, including pregnant women.

If H.I.V. testing falls by the wayside, its unlikely that we will be able to even diagnose people who need to go into treatment, Dr. Glenda Gray, a pediatric HIV expert at Wits University in South Africa, told the Times.

If pregnant women are unable to get tested, they could unknowingly pass the virus to their children.

The World Health Organization, which Trump ordered the U.S.s withdrawal from, called on the Trump administration to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care.

The global health body warned of the consequences around the world and in America should PEPFAR funding be frozen: A funding halt for HIV programs can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries. Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America.
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

Hours after signing off from CNN for the final time following his rejection of the networks proposal to take his news program to the graveyard midnight shift, Jim Acosta revealed that he is going independent and launching a new show on Substack.

After two decades of service, I am leaving CNN to start a new chapter, and I wont pull any punches this time around, either. I owe that to myself and to you, Acosta said in a press release.

As I said during my sign-off at the end of my final show on CNN ... Dont give in to the lies. Dont give in to fear. Hold on to the truth. Hold on to hope, Acosta added. In the meantime ... To President Trump and his allies, you may think you have silenced me. But guess again.

In a short video shared on his new Substack link, the now-former CNN anchor said he wanted to jump on Substack Live for a moment and welcome prospective subscribers to his new venture.

CNN anchor Jim Acosta said he was still reporting from Washington on Thursday while his future at the network remains in doubt. ( CNN )

Acosta joins a growing list of mainstream news journalists and personalities who have ditched legacy media to go the independent route on Substack. After his MSNBC show was canceled in early 2024, Mehdi Hasanleft the network and launched the media company Zeteo on the platform. He has since pulled in tens of thousands of paying subscribers and an emerging roster of high-profile reporters and contributors. (Disclaimer: This reporter worked for Zeteo until last November.)

Earlier on Tuesday, Acosta informed CNN viewers that he would be leaving the network after 18 years, letting them know that it came after some careful consideration and weighing an alternative time slot the network had offered him. He also delivered a serious final message to his audience.

It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant, he said, adding: Dont give in to the lies. Dont give in to the fear.

Acostas departure comes after CNN chief executive Mark Thompson proposed moving him from his 10 a.m. ET weekday slot to a shift that would begin at midnight and not end until 2 a.m. on the East Coast.

While the network head attempted to portray the move to the Siberia of television as an opportunity, noting that Acosta would air in primetime on the West Coast and be simulcast on CNN International, critics have suggested that it was an effort to exile Acosta to late-night to curry favor with Donald Trump.

They want to get rid of Acosta to throw a bone to Trump, one media executive said of the proposed offer. Midnight is not a serious offer when his ratings are among the best on the network.

Though Thompson told Acosta  an outspoken Trump critic  that the offer had nothing to do with his editorial style and was merely about finding an extra hour amid a programming shakeup, the president was ecstatic that Acosta was on the outs.

Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, Death Valley, because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!) Trump posted on Tuesday morning. Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim! he added sarcastically.

In his first post on Substack, Acosta noted his run-ins with the president over the years, which included Trumps attempts to get him banned from covering the White House.

The Trump administration and its MAGA allies made it their mission in life to run me out of town on a rail. From the suspension of my White House press pass to the relentless calls for my firing on Fox News, not to mention the continuing threat environment for me and my loved ones, it was a trying time in my life, he wrote. But for me, there was always a greater purpose to the work.

At the anchor desk, I made sure my program, CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, devoted as much airtime as possible to reporting on Trumps assault on our elections and the destructive aftermath of his actions, Acosta added. We also covered the pandemic and other major news during this period, but we remained laser-focused on the democracy beat  relentless, like a pit bull on steroids. My team and I made a clear decision: the show would not pull any punches. How could we?
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 Donald Trump on Wednesday repeated a blockbuster claim about the government sending $50 million worth of condoms to the Gaza Strip despite outstanding questions as to whether the colossal figure was accurate.

Speaking during a signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act in the East Room on Wednesday, he repeated a boast about the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency having stopped what he described as $50 million that had been set to be sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.

He further claimed that the terror group was using the contraceptives to fashion improvised bombs - which is backed by reports of condoms being used as makeshift balloons to carry explosive devices over the wall that separates Gaza from Israel.

Trumps claim was first promoted by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at her first-ever White House briefing on Tuesday when she told reporters that DOGE and the White House Office for Management and Budget had found and blocked $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza and called the alleged expenditure a preposterous waste of taxpayer money.

It was a blockbuster claim that seemed to exemplify the exact sort of profligate spending that Trumps self-styled America First administration was elected to prevent. The presidents Wednesday statement came after the administration appeared to downplay what Leavitt had said about the alleged $50 million worth of condoms from being shipped to Gaza.

An administration official who spoke to The Independent on Wednesday about the contraceptive controversy said the $50 million was part of larger aid package for medical services in Gaza. The official said the $50 million figure  a massive number that would have represented roughly $23 spent on contraceptives for each of the 2.1 million residents of Gaza  was part of two equal buckets of foreign aid meant to help the International Medical Corps provide medical services in Gaza.

open image in gallery Karoline Leavitt spoke during a White House briefing and talked about $50 million in condoms for Gaza. The White House is defending that figure, though the details are murky ( Getty Images )

Moreover, the claims about the alleged condom shipment did not appear to match what the government had previously said about its aid efforts in Gaza. A September 2024 U.S. Agency for International Development report says not one dollar of the $60.8 million used to fund condoms and contraceptives distributed by the agency worldwide last year was allocated to the Palestinian territory.

The same report shows that the only contraceptives sent to the Middle East were distributed to the Jordanian government in the form of $45,680 worth of oral and injectable medications  not condoms.

On Wednesday, the administration official said that the blocked grants were for family planning programming including emergency contraception; sexual healthcare including prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections; and adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The official clarified that the combined $100 million in grants for the International Medical Corps efforts included contraceptives, a broader category that included condoms because they have traditionally always been used for family planning in developing countries by USAID.

The official also claimed the $100 million in funding for the corps was a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars which does not serve President Trumps goal to promote peace in the Middle East.

The Trump administrations clarification tracks what Andrew Miller, the ex-Biden administration State Department official who served as deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.

In an interview, he said that Leavitts claim about $50 million in condoms bound for Gaza was outlandish and a feverish dream on the part of the new administration.

Its possible that $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynecology and many other services, but definitely not condoms alone, he said.

Jeremy Konyndyk, the former Biden administration official who now leads Refugees International, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that because USAID procures condoms for around $0.05 apiece the $50m figure quoted by the Trump officials and the president would amount to a purchase of one billion condoms.

What's going is here is NOT a billion condoms for Gaza. What's going on is that the bros at DOGE apparently can't read govt spreadsheets, he added.

Musk, who is also the owner of X, posted that the false condom expenditure was the tip of the iceberg for waste and claimed that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets of Hamas. There is no evidence to support either of those assertions.

Leavitt also announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration had blocked a $37 million pending payment to the World Health Organization after the president signed an executive order cutting ties with the global health body on his first day in office.

open image in gallery The White House claims about the alleged condom shipment did not appear to match what the government had previously said about its aid efforts in Gaza ( AP )

The blocked funds are being withheld under an Office of Management and Budget memo that White House officials have said temporarily pauses grants, loans and federal assistance programs so they can be reviewed to see if they align with Trumps political priorities.

Leavitts condom comments came at the top of her first White House press briefing, during which she said that new media voices including independent journalists, podcasters and social media influencers would be welcomed into the sessions held in the iconic James Brady Briefing Room. The room has always been open to any person who asks for and receives a day pass to enter the White House grounds for the purpose of attending briefings.

She also announced that shed be allocating two seats normally used by staff for podcasters, influencers, and other new media outlets that arent among the news organizations that have been assigned use of one of the rooms 49 seats that are managed by the White House Correspondents Association.
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

Political pundits have weighed in on Trumps new White House press secretary hire following her first official press debut on Tuesday.

Karoline Leavitt, a 27-year-old mother of one, and the youngest press secretary to take up the role in White House history made her first official statements to the media Tuesday, giving the rundown on everything from Trumps staunch immigration policies to Bidens presidency.

The press conference saw new media  Tiktokers, podcasters, and independent journalists - in the room with a representative of that group even promised the first question at each White House briefing henceforth.

But this Gen Z Republican from New Hampshire, who formerly launched a bid for Congress, before interning at Fox News, is now facing both praise and criticism from all sides  prompting questions as to whether she will will thrive in the world of MAGA or buckle under the scrutiny of the left.

Speaking about Leavitt in a Fox News Tuesday night segment, broadcaster Brittney Hopper said: I just love her. I think she was born for this job  she did such a great job today.

The former CBS News journalist praised the expansion of press briefings to the new media citing her belief that former administrations only granted the left narratives questions before calling the new age of TikTok politics real journalism.

However, those on the left made a clear signal that Leavitt was not one to be trusted branding her worse than Trumps former press secretary and Dancing with the Stars contestant Sean Spicer.

open image in gallery The 27-year-old told the press that the new Trump 2.0 era would welcome questions from the new media allowing TikTokers the right to probe the Trump administration ( Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Spicer made headlines in 2017 when he berated the press and refused to take questions during a White House press conference, accusing them of incorrectly reporting on Trumps 2017 inauguration and the crowd size being smaller than former President Barack Obamas in 2009.

In his Tuesday late show diatribe, Jimmy Kimmel fired out at Leavitt for peddling Trumps false claim that he solved the Southern California wildfire crisis after deploying the US military.

California water officials debunked the Presidents claims Tuesday in a statement published on X that read: The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days.

State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.

Citing the bleak truth of the matter as per a statement on behalf of Governor Newsom, Kimmel, told his audience, but dont say any of that to Trumps new press secretary before rolling a clip from Leavitts conference.

When asked to clarify the militarys role, where the water came from, and how the water was transported to the fires, Leavitt told the press that the military had been on the ground to respond and stressed that the water was only turned on because Trump had made an official visit there.

open image in gallery Karoline Leavitt at a shooting range in 2022, where her video was captioned: take it @joebiden' ( @karolineleavitt/Instagram )

Stunned by her response, Kimmel, said: This might be worse than when he made Sean Spicer say he had the biggest inauguration crowd in history.

Whether or not the U.S. military entered California and turned the water on is not a matter of debate  this is not liberal versus conservative. It didnt happen OK.

After a stint working for Rep. Elise Marie Stefaniks office, Leavitt was branded one of the many bright rising Republican stars for serving as a prominent voice in rallying against Democratic Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the sexual harassment scandal he was embroiled in, according to a 2021 New York Post article.

She is the fifth press secretary to join Trumps White House after purging four of them during his first tenure, namely: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany.

Leavitts journey to the White House is less than most starting almost eight years ago when she was a college student at the conservative Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

Despite the onslaught of commentary, she appears to have the full support of the man set to keep her on her toes as he orchestrates divisive policies in his second term, Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator," Trump previously stated.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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
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

Elon Musks ongoing vocal support for far-right political parties in Europe is really disgusting and a hindrance to democratic development, Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday of Donald Trumps best buddy.

Scholz blasted the worlds richest man for his recent comments, made during an appearance at a campaign event for the right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland party.

Musk urged Germans at the event to move beyond guilt for a past that includes the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

Musk, who has remained very close to Trump since his inauguration, has also thrown his weight behind other controversial political figures, including former English Defense League leader Tommy Robinson, aka Steven Yaxley-Lennon. He has also attacked the UKs Labour government and its leader Sir Keir Starmer.

open image in gallery Olaf Scholz criticized the worlds richest man for his recent support for far-right political figures and parties in Europe ( AP )

Speaking at a campaign event in Berlin on Tuesday, Scholz said that although he had already been subjected to attacks by the SpaceX boss, Musks support for such organizations was becoming more blatant and concerning to him.

"What is new is that he is intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe, he said, per Reuters. And this is really disgusting and it is not good for the democratic development in all the European Union.

On Saturday, Musk made a surprise appearance at the AfDs campaign event via video link, telling attendees that there was too much focus on past guilt, and there was a need to move beyond that.

open image in gallery On Saturday Musk made an appearance at a campaign event for the right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland party ( Getty Images )

Addressing the far-right crowd alongside party leader Alice Weidel on Saturday, the American billionaire said that children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents.

"I am absolutely critical about what Elon Musk said about the history of Germany," Scholz said, referring to the remarks. He added that his country would continue to bear responsibility for the past.

"This killing of so many Jews and other people in Europe done by Germans in the past, this is a historic responsibility, Scholz said.

open image in gallery The SpaceX boss also caused uproar on Donald Trumps inauguration day after making a gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute ( AFP via Getty Images )

Monday was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, with the remaining survivors of Nazi Germanys atrocities joined by world leaders and royalty for commemorations and observances taking place in southern Poland.

One week earlier, on the day of Trumps inauguration, Musk caused an uproar after he made a gesture while giving remarks onstage that many compared to a Nazi salute. He has strongly denied such claims.
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

Robert F Kennedy Jr and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts got into a heated exchange during the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Warren began by saying that the two of them agree on one thing  Big Pharma has too much power in Washington.

You've said that you will quote slam shut the revolving door between government agencies and the companies they regulate, Warren said, adding that it sounds great.

So here's an easy question: Will you commit that when you leave this job, you will not accept compensation for a company, a medical device company, a hospital system, or a health insurer for at least four years, including as a lobbyist or a board member? Warren asked.

Im happy to commit to not taking money from drug companies, Kennedy said after some confusion. I dont think any of them wants to give me money, by the way.

Warren accused Kennedy of urging people to join lawsuits against vaccine makers.

In the past two years, you've raked in two and a half million dollars from a law firm called Wisner Baum, said Warren.

You go online, you do commercials to encourage people to sign up with Wisner Baum to join lawsuits against vaccine makers. And for everyone who signs up, you personally get paid. And if they win their case, you get 10 percent of what they win, she added, noting that if you bring in somebody who gets ten million you walk away with a million dollars.

open image in gallery Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. he got into a heated argument with Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( AP )

You just said that you want the American people to know you can't be bought, Warren continued. Your decisions won't depend on how much money you could make in the future. You won't go to work for a drug company after you leave HHS.

But you and I both know there's another way to make money. So Mr. Kennedy, will you also agree that you won't take any compensation from any lawsuits against drug companies while you are secretary and for four years afterward? she asked.

Kennedy accused Warren of making him sound like a shill before saying that he wouldnt take any fees from drug companies during his time as secretary.

The misunderstandings between the senator and Kennedy continued apace.

I'm asking about fees from suing drug companies. Will you agree not to do that? an increasingly frustrated Warren asked.

Youre asking me to not sue drug companies, said Kennedy.

No, you can sue drug companies as much as you want, the senator pushed back before going through a litany of dire scenarios. If you get confirmed, you can influence every one of those lawsuits. Well, let me start the list. You can publish your anti-vaccine conspiracies, but this time, on US government letterhead, something a jury might be impressed by. You could appoint people ... who share your anti-vax views and let them do your dirty work.

open image in gallery Warren attacked Kennedy on a host of issues including his vaccine stance ( Getty Images )

She added: You could tell the CDC vaccine panel to remove a particular vaccine from the vaccine schedule. You could remove vaccines from special compensation programs, which would open up manufacturers to mass torts. You could make more injuries eligible for compensation, even if there is no causal evidence.

You could change vaccine court processes to make it easier to bring junk lawsuits. You could turn over FDA data to your friends at the law firm, and they could use it however it benefited them. You could change vaccine labeling. You could change vaccine Information rules. You can change which claims are compensated in the vaccine injury compensation program, said Warren.

The senator said that there are a lot of ways that Kennedy could influence lawsuits as HHS secretary, before asking once again that he not take a financial stake in those lawsuits for his work as secretary to not benefit him down the line.

I will comply with all the ethical guidance, said Kennedy.

Thats not the question, Warren retorted.

Senator, youre asking me not to sue vaccine companies-- Kennedy started before being interrupted by an enraged Warren.

No, I am not! she shouted.

No one should be fooled here, she continued, arguing that as HHS secretary, Kennedy would have the power to undercut vaccines and vaccine manufacturing.

For all of his talk about follow the science ... the bottom line is the same: Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it. Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in, said Warren.
Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The State Department will maintain the spirit of President Donald Trumps order rescinding DEI programs - a move that will likely leave the agency downplaying Black History Month, according to a report.

As part of Trumps efforts to drastically scale back diversity programs, federal departments have been asked to shut down DEI departments, rescind DEI guidance and put all DEI workers on leave.

An email, obtained by the Wall Street Journal, offered State Department officials vague guidance for Black History Month imploring staff to highlight valuable contributions of individual Americans throughout U.S. history, while ensuring our public communications maintain the spirit of the directive eliminating DEAI programs.

However, programming and content related to accessibility or people with disabilities would have no restrictions.

A State Department official told the Journal that staff was taking it to mean no public events or messages about Black History Month. The month has been celebrated since the 1970s. Trump recognized and celebrated February as National African-American Month all four years during his first term.

Thats how were reading it, the official told the outlet. The diplomats I spoke to today, with decades of experience, couldnt remember a time we failed to mark Black History Month, the official added.

Donald Trump, pictured in 2019, celebrated Black History Month all four years he was in office. Now the State Department is being advised to maintain the spirit of his most recent anti-DEI orders since he hsa returned to office. That will likely leave the agency downplaying the month ( Getty Images )

State Department officials may not release public-facing messages or events on Saturday, an unnamed official told the Wall Street Journal.

When confronted with a similar question on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House certainly still intends to celebrate, but added that it will also continue to celebrate American history and the contributions that all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed have made.

The Independent has asked the State Department for further clarification.

Trump promised to end federal DEI programs while on the campaign trail, adopting the opinion of many Republicans who believe the measures threaten merit-based hiring and unfairly target majority populations such as white men. Other communities have also criticized them. Some Asian-American students opposed affirmative action admission policies believing they stifle high-achieving students. Other people have accused DEI programs of portraying Black Americans as victims.

However, studies have shown that prioritizing diversity in the workplace benefits companies, educational institutions, organizations, and more.

Trump has called DEI programs illegal and immoral believing they waste resources.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order revoking several decades-old diversity programs that sought to increase, strengthen, and protect diversity initiatives in the federal government.

New Secretary of State Marco Rubio has backed the Trump ideas and even sendt messages to staff saying that there was talen in the agency, but upholding strict meritocracy is essential to securing our nations future, according to the Journal. He also encouraged aides to report ongoing DEI programs.
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

More than 200 Colombians were marched in handcuffs into military aircraft in two high-profile deportation flights that nearly triggered a trade war during President Donald Trumps first week in office.

But despite the administrations insistence that Trumps mass deportation agenda would target violent offenders, none appeared to be on board.

One flight from San Diego, California, brought 62 men, 16 children, and 32 women  including two pregnant women, according to Colombias foreign minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.

Another flight from El Paso, Texas, carried 46 men, 45 women, and five children.

Everyone is in good condition, Murillo said in Spanish in a video statement Tuesday.

They are not criminals, he said. This information has been verified and corroborated by competent authorities following the protocols established for deportation flights.  And this is done as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and organizations such as the International Migration Organization, because being a migrant is not a crime.

Law enforcement officers handcuffed us and pushed us around as if we were in jail, Daniel Oquendo told CNN. I understand the military has some procedures, but there were children, families.

open image in gallery Deportation flights from the United States to Colombia included more than 200 people, including pregnant women and children. None of the people on board had criminal records, according to Colombia officials ( GUSTAVO PETRO VIA X via REUTERS )

On January 20, days before he was put on a plane after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Oquendo was told by a border agent that the fun is over.

He was on a plane bound for Colombia eight days later, according to CNN.

It was very confusing: Nobody told us anything, he said. They told us the flight to Bogota was going to be seven hours, but when we landed, it was 10 hours, and as soon as the back door for the plane opened, we could see an ambulance saying Houston.

The plane was still in the United States.

Colombia had initially refused to accept the military planes, with President Gustavo Petro arguing that his country wanted to secure the arrival of immigrants in dignified conditions using civilian aircraft.

A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity a human being deserves, he said Sunday. We will receive our nationals in civilian airplanes, without treating them as criminals. Colombia must be respected.

Trump then threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Colombia for all goods going to the U.S. In a week, those tariffs will be raised to 50 percent, the president wrote in a furious screed on his Truth Social account.

He added that a travel ban and visa revocations will be imposed on Colombian government officials, as well as all allies and supporters.

Trump also said that visa sanctions would be levied against all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.

The president also promised that there would be Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.

The White House later said Colombia agreed the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.

open image in gallery Trump nearly ignited a trade war after Colombia initially refused to accept deportation flights on military aircraft, with officials in the country urging the U.S. president to use civilian aircraft ( AFP via Getty Images )

After taking office, Trump pledged to remove violent criminals from the country, and swiftly deployed the full force of the federal government to assist in his anti-immigration agenda, with the Department of Homeland Security reorganizing its focus on immigration enforcement.

These are murderers, Trump told reporters Friday. These are people that have been as bad as you get. As bad as anybody youve seen.

He said he was taking them out first.

Federal law enforcement agents have arrested thousands of immigrants within the last week, but its unclear how many violent offenders have been removed.

Just over half of those arrests were considered criminal arrests, according to law enforcement data first reported by NBC News. The rest of those arrested appear to be nonviolent offenders or people who have not committed any criminal offense other than entering the country without legal permission.

But the administration confirmed Tuesday that it was treating all immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission as criminals.

In her first White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt falsely labeled the thousands of people arrested for allegedly living in the country illegally as criminals, despite the offense being a civil one. Anyone arrested on those grounds is not convicted of a crime.

I know the last administration didn't see it that way, so its a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal, but thats exactly what they are, she said.

The Trump administration has also instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to aggressively pursue immigration arrests  and for each field office to make at least 75 arrests a day, according to The Washington Post.

The directive amplifies fears from immigrant communities and advocacy groups that U.S. citizens and people who are living in the country legally will be collateral damage in the presidents campaign.

We didnt do anything wrong: Im not a criminal, Andrei Barrientos told CNN after getting off a Colombia-bound deportation flight. Yes, I crossed the border illegally, but I was doing that to help my family  and they treated me like I was a gangster.
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 White House has abruptly rescinded a directive that threatened to freeze billions of dollars in federal assistance.

The notice from the Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday followed a federal judges decision that temporarily blocked Donald Trumps administration from freezing funds across government agencies, with lawsuits accusing the president of brazenly unconstitutional threats to critical funding.

A two-sentence memo from acting White House Office of Management and Budget director Matthew Vaeth simply states that a previous directive is rescinded, and directs questions to government lawyers.

open image in gallery Protesters in Washington, D.C. on January 28 demonstrated against Donald Trumps move to freeze federal funding across government agencies ( AP )

The office is still expected to continue reviewing government grants and assistance, and could try to block funding if officials believe recipients run afoul of Trumps ideologically driven commands to abandon anti-discrimination and equity efforts outlined in a blitz of executive orders.

This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

A lawsuit from 23 states sought a court order to immediately halt the administrations order, which they say imperils billions of dollars in aid to their states.

On Wednesday, a federal judge presiding over that case  citing Leavitts own X post  said OMBs hugely ambiguous order to implement the freeze appeared to be undercut by her statements.

A separate lawsuit from a coalition of nonprofit organizations and small businesses warned that the order will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients who depend on the steady flow of grant money that theyve already been awarded.

On Tuesday, a judge granted their request for a temporary restraining order to block the order from going into effect.

Democratic senators are also demanding that a vote to confirm Trumps nominee to lead OMB, Russell Vought, be postponed until he can answer whether he intends to issue a similar directive.

A group of Senate Democrats have called Vought  who has pushed Trump to ignore federal law that affirms Congresss spending authority  a clear and present danger to Congresss Power of the Purse.

Vaeths two-page memo this week directed federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.

That includes other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by Trumps sweeping executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal, according to the memo.

open image in gallery Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters about Trumps federal funding freeze on January 28 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The memo sent nonprofits and public programs that support low-income families and vulnerable Americans into a tailspin Tuesday, fearing imminent cuts to disaster relief, healthcare, childcare, infrastructure support and groups that support homeless people and veterans, among a wide range of other programs that depend on federal funding, from suicide prevention to support for domestic violence survivors.

A subsequent memo from the White House to members of Congress on Tuesday sought to clarify the pause, which Leavitt told reporters is meant to ensure that all of the money going out from Washington, D.C., is in line with the presidents agenda.

Democratic officials and legal analysts have argued that Trumps order violates Congresss constitutional authority and federal law that prohibits the president from blocking funds appropriated by lawmakers.

This is an important victory for everyone who made their voices heard, Democratic Senator Patty Murray said. Undoubtedly, the Trump admin caused serious chaos [and] real harm through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and disregard for the law. But real people made a difference by speaking out.
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 federal judge has temporarily blocked Donald Trumps administration from freezing federal grant funding across government agencies, dealing a setback to the White Houses plan to pause programs that dont align with the new presidents political ideology.

US District Judge Loren AliKhan issued the temporary restraining order blocking the funding freeze until February 3 after a brief hearing in Washington Tuesday.

The order, which is intended to preserve the status quo while legal proceedings continue, was the result of a lawsuit from a coalition of nonprofit organizations and small businesses that warned in court documents that the order will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients who depend on the steady flow of grant money that theyve already been awarded.

The order will deprive people and communities of their life-saving services, including health care services, LGBT+ community support and services to support small businesses, the lawsuit argued.

A White House official told The Independent that administration officials were still digesting the decision before deciding on what, if any, response to issue.

The two-page memo at issue was issued by acting White House Office of Management and Budget Director Matthew Vaeth and orders federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.

That includes other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by Trumps sweeping executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal, according to the memo.

The memo sent nonprofits and public programs that support low-income families and vulnerable Americans into a tailspin Tuesday, sparking fears of imminent cuts to disaster relief, healthcare, childcare, infrastructure support and groups that support homeless people and veterans, among a wide range of other programs that depend on federal funding, from suicide prevention to support for domestic violence survivors.

A subsequent memo from the White House to members of Congress on Tuesday sought to clarify the funding pause, which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters is meant to ensure that all of the money going out from Washington, D.C., is in line with the presidents agenda.

Democratic officials and legal analysts have argued that Trumps order violates the constitutional authority of Congress and federal law that prohibits the president from blocking funds appropriated by lawmakers.

A second lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James and 22 other state attorneys general is also seeking a court order to immediately halt the administrations order, which they say imperils billions of dollars in aid to their states.

This president has exceeded his authority, he has violated the constitution and he has trampled on a co-equal branch of government, James told reporters in a video briefing on Tuesday.

There is no question, this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal, and unconstitutional, she said.

She called the Trump administration memo arbitrary and capricious.

What we are doing is protecting democracy and the rule of law, she said.

In a press briefing in Washington, D.C., Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer called Trumps funding freeze a heist done on a national scale. He called the order lawless, dangerous, destructive, cruel.

Its illegal. Its unconstitutional, said Schumer, speaking at a briefing that was initially intended to speak on Senate Democrats resolution to condemn Trumps January 6 pardons.

Instead, lawmakers are getting panicked calls and people are scrambling to understand the scope of Trumps order.

Virtually any organization  school, state, police office, county or community  depends on federal grant money to run its day to day operations, and theyre all now in danger, Schumer said.

The blast radius of this terrible decision is virtually limitless, and its impact will be felt over and over again, he added. The only people who might be immune to this might be the ultra, ultra wealthy who they want to give a tax break to. The Trump administration is robbing Peter to pay the billionaires.
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 administration has reportedly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to make at least 75 arrests every day at each of the agencys 25 field offices.

Senior ICE officials have been told by President Donald Trumps team to aggressively ramp up their efforts from a few hundred every day to at least 1,200 to 1,500 nationally as the administration carries out his anti-immigration agenda, according to the Washington Post.

The quotas were given to officials over the weekend as Trump is said to be disappointed with the results so far, four people with knowledge of the briefings told the Post.

Managers would be held to account if those targets are missed, the paper reports.

Since Trump took office, ICE has been posting the daily arrest figures on social media. On Sunday, the agency said there were 956 arrests and 554 detainees lodged nationwide and on Monday the number had increased to 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers lodged.

open image in gallery ICE officials have reportedly been told to ramp up their efforts and have a new daily arrests target, according to a reporte ( via REUTERS )

There were 969 arrests and 869 detainers lodged on Tuesday, according to ICE.

The Independent has contacted ICE for comment.

ICE has field offices in regions across the nation including Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, San Diego and Tampa Bay.

During the last fiscal year, ICE had conducted 113,431 administrative arrests which amounts to about 310 arrests a day across its field officers, CNN reported.

Communities around the country are reporting an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, as federal immigration agents carry out Trumps goal of conducting the largest mass deportations in U.S. history.

Over the weekend, federal law enforcement agents and administration officials carried out a series of immigration arrests in Chicago.

open image in gallery Kristi Noem joined federal agents in New York this week to announce the arrests of immigrants wanted on criminal charges ( @Sec_Noem via REUTERS )

A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement labeled the actions enhanced targeted operations designed to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.

Tom Homan, Trumps immigration czar, said that the administration is in the beginning stages of carrying out the mass deportation action. He warned that there would be more arrests nationwide to come.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined federal agents in New York City this week to announce the arrests of immigrants wanted on criminal charges.

Arresting some criminal aliens this morning in NYC  thank you to the brave officers involved, Noem posted on X. Criminal alien with kidnapping, assault & burglary charges is now in custody  thanks to @ICE. Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets.
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

Potential appointees to Donald Trumps new administration are reportedly being asked to prove their past loyalty to the president, including by sharing the moment of their conversion to the Make America Great Again movement.

Trump officials, reportedly mocked by some in government as Soviet-style MAGA commissars are reportedly fanning out across federal agencies and asking staff about their political positions and whether they previously backed Trump or supported his campaigns.

Applicants have also been asked to prove their enthusiasm for the Trump agenda and share the moment of their MAGA revelation, the Associated Press reported.

Candidates are reportedly being asked about their MAGA conversion moment and if they believe 2020 election was stolen ( Getty Images )

No one should be surprised that those being hired should align with the mission of the Administration. Nobody in private industry would ever hire someone who isnt mission focused, and the government should be no different, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to the outlet in response to the report.

Trump has long fumed that adversarial career officials inside the federal government hampered his agenda, and he frequently turned on his own key political appointees, firing some via tweet during his first term.

The new administration appears to be taking no chances for dissent this time around.

In December, at least nine people who interviewed for jobs in the new administration or were involved in the hiring process toldThe New York Times that candidates were asked about their thoughts on the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, as well as the validity of the 2020 election, which Trump has long falsely claimed he won.

Those who gave answers that dencounced the violence on January 6, or suggested Joe Biden won the 2020 election, told the newspaper that they did not get jobs.

Since taking office, Trump has moved to quickly sideline or fire elements he deems overly critical.

More than a dozen Department of Justice officials who worked on past criminal investigations into Trump have been fired.

You played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump, a letter from acting Attorney General James McHenry to the prosecutors, obtained by CNN, said.

The proper functioning of government critically depends on the trust superior officials place in their subordinates. Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the Presidents agenda faithfully, the letter said.

Investment banker Howard Lutnick, Trumps pick to lead the Commerce Department, said last year the administration will give people the role based on their capacity  and their fidelity and loyalty to the policy, as well as to the man.
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 Donald Trumps media company, the Trump Media & Technology Group, revealed on Wednesday its plans to begin to sell financial products.

The company said that it will launch a finance firm known as Truth.Fi. While it didnt state if it plans to begin offering investment or savings products to the public, it indicated that its possible that the company will offer investments backed by Trump, according to The Wall Street Journal.

To help the venture, Trump Media is taking about $250 million of the companys cash into cryptocurrency and other investments, according to the Journal. Charles Schwab will hold the funds.

The goal is to offer services to conservatives who may feel frozen out by big banks. Last week, Trump slammed the CEOs of Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, arguing that they havent allowed conservatives to work with the bank.

Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan appeared on stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as Trump spoke via video link.

I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives, said Trump. Because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank and that included a place called Bank of America.

While JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon wasnt on stage, he attended the forum.

What youre doing is wrong, Trump added.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump speaks before signing the Laken Riley Act. Now comes word Trump media is looking to launch its own financial brand ( AFP via Getty Images )

The banks argued that they dont discriminate against conservatives, but that didnt stop right-wingers from posting letters of account closures on social media, which they believe was the banks way of targeting them for their political beliefs. That kind of criticism has been building after banks took on diversity policies following the 2020 police murder of George Floyd.

Devin Nunes, Trump Media CEO, told The Journal: Developing American First investment vehicles is another step[so] American patriots can protect themselves from the ever-present threat of cancellation, censorship, debanking, and privacy violations committed by Big Tech and woke corporations.

According to Trump Media, Truth.Fi investment will mostly be aimed at American growth, manufacturing, and energy companies as well as investments that strengthen the Patriot Economy.

The company said that it would work to launch new financial products this year. Trump Media said Yorkville Advisors would be the investment advisor to Truth.Fis products.

The stock of Trump media rose 7 percent following the announcement, according to The Journal.

open image in gallery The stock of Trump media rose 7 percent following the announcement, according to The Journal. ( AFP via Getty Images )

The president owns roughly 53 percent of Trump Media, a December securities filing shows. After his election victory, the president moved the shares into a trust controlled by Donald Trump Jr. The filing states that Trumps son has sole voting and investment power over the approximately 115 million shares.

It would be yet another unprecedented moment for Trump, being a sitting president in control of a company looking to invest and hold assets, The Journal noted.

Trump Media is the parent company of Trumps social media platform Truth Social and it recently started the streaming platform Truth+, going public last year. The stock has been as high as $95 and as low as $12.

Shareholders are now arguing that Bank of America and Citigroup must reveal how much they have discriminated against customers for their political or religious beliefs, and Bank of America was recently ostracized from providing services in Louisiana because of the allegations.

Alternate conservative options to mainstream firms have been attempted in the past, but Trumps ascension has prompted further discussion regarding rightwing values at companies.

Strive, operated by Republican presidential candidate and former DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy, offers investment management and wealth-planning services. It pitches itself as a Wall Street alternative that uses its funds to push their social and political agendas, often in the name of ESG [and] DEI.

Meanwhile, Trump Jr. has joined the venture capital firm 1789 Capital, which is working to invest in a Republican or Parallel economy, according to The Journal.

Ken Griffin and Peter Thiel provided funds to start GloriFi, a bank for those viewing Wall Street as too liberal. But just months after launch, those investments had mostly vanished, with the startup shuttering in 2022.
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

Meta will pay Donald Trump roughly $25 million as part of a settlement agreement resolving a 2021 lawsuit brought after the company suspended the presidents Facebook accounts.

Trump filed the suit after his accounts were taken offline in the wake of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Sources familiar with the agreement told

The president signed the settlement agreement Wednesday, sources said. Meta later confirmed the reports to The Independent.

open image in gallery Zuckerberg (left) was present at Trumps inagauration alongside fellow billionaires including Jeff Bezos (center) and Elon Musk (far right) ( AP )

The settlement comes just over a week after Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg was seen alongside fellow billionaires and tech bros at Trumps inauguration.

In recent months the pair have apparently mended their previously frosty relationship, with Zuckerberg visiting the president for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida shortly after the election as part of several efforts to soften relations between Meta and the incoming administration.

Meta also donated $1 million to Trumps inaugural fund.

The sources told the WSJ that the president had raised the matter of the lawsuit with Zuckerberg at the end of their dinner in November and implied that it had to be resolved before he could be brought into the tent.

open image in gallery Pictures of insurrectionists including the infamous Q shaman who stormed the Capitol on Jan 6 ( Getty Images )

Zuckerberg returned to Florida in early January for a day of mediation, during which time Trump reportedly stepped out briefly to face sentencing in his high-profile hush money trial.

Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended in 2021 because of posts he made linked to January 6 when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to upend Joe Bidens presidential victory.

In the days leading up to the violent insurrection, Trump repeatedly used his platforms to make false claims that he won the 2020 election and allege widespread election fraud, which was later found to be false. He urged his followers near the Capitol the day his supporters stormed the building to fight like hell.

The subsequent lawsuit against Meta was one of a series of legal actions that Trump brought in July 2021, months after leaving office. He also sued Twitter, now X and owned by Elon Musk, and YouTube.

Censorship runs rampant, the 2021 complaint against Meta read, and the result is a chilling effect cast over our nations pressing political, medical, social, and cultural discussions.

Trump sought an injunction ordering Facebook to reinstate their accounts, as well as removing all warning labels from their content.
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 demanded SpaceX boss Elon Musk go get two NASA astronauts who, the president claims, were left abandoned in space by the Biden Administration.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck on the International Space Station since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner became beset with issues. The mission, which was intended to last eight days, has now lasted more than eight months.

Extending beyond Musks remit as head of the non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency tasked with cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget, Trump called on his First Buddy to bring Williams and Wilmore back from the thermosphere.

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, he wrote on Truth Social late on Tuesday, taking a swipe at his predecessor.

He continued: They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

open image in gallery NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore embraced the holiday spirit with some festive gear aboard the ISS ( Instagram )

Hours before Trump broadcast his request, Musk publicly accepted the challenge.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible, the billionaire wrote on X. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.

Responding to a comment that the Biden Administration hated Musk more than they wanted to rescue the astronauts, the MAGA loyalist replied, True.

Though it wasn't immediately clear what the new timeline was, a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon was originally planned to retrieve the astronauts in February, before it was moved to no earlier than late March 2025, NASA said last month.

A previous SpaceX rescue mission faced problems, causing Musks company to temporarily ground its Falcon 9 rockets in September.

open image in gallery Trump has called on his First Buddy Elon Musk to return Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth ( via REUTERS )

Musk has been especially close with the president ever since endorsing the GOP candidate in July, after the first attempt on Trumps life during a Pennsylvania rally.

The Silicon Valley stalwart spent over $250m on political donations to help Trump retake the White House last week, primarily through donations to his super-political action committee, America PAC.

He continued to cozy up to the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, staying in a $ 2000-per-week cottage on its grounds ever since Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris at the ballot box in November.
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

In the summer of 2015, three Syrian girls who had narrowly survived an airstrike some weeks earlier stood before Tulsi Gabbard with horrific burns all over their bodies.

Gabbard, then a US congresswoman on a visit to the Syria-Turkey border as part of her duties for the foreign affairs committee, had a question for them.

How do you know it was Bashar al-Assad or Russia that bombed you, and not Isis? she asked, according to Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian activist who was translating her conversation with the girls.

open image in gallery Tulsi Gabbard has been accused of being a Russian asset ( Getty )

It was a revealing insight into Gabbards conspiratorial views of the conflict, and it shocked Moustafa to silence. He knew, as even the young children did, that Isis did not have jets to launch airstrikes. It was such an absurd question that he chose not to translate it because he didnt want to upset the girls, the eldest of whom was 12.

From that point on, Im sorry to say I was inaccurate in my translations of anything she said, Moustafa told The Independent. It was more like: How do I get these girls away from this devil?

Even before Gabbard left the Democratic Party, ingratiated herself with Donald Trump and secured his nomination to become director of National Intelligence, she was known as a prolific peddler of Russian propaganda.

In almost every foreign conflict in which Russia had a hand, Gabbard backed Moscow and railed against the US. Her past promotion of Kremlin propaganda has provoked significant opposition on both sides of the aisle to her nomination.

Her journey from anti-war Democrat to Moscow-friendly Maga warrior began in Syria. The devastating conflict was sparked by pro-democracy uprisings in 2011, which were brutally crushed by the Assad regime. It descended into a complex web of factions that drew extremist Islamists from around the world and global powers into the fray.

open image in gallery Gabbard on a congressional fact-finding mission to southern Turkey in June 2015 ( Mouaz Moustafa/The Independent )

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group with a network of sources on the ground, documented the deaths of 503,064 people by March 2023 . It said at least 162,390 civilians had died in that same time, with the Syrian government and its allies responsible for 139,609 of those deaths.

But Gabbard, a veteran of the Iraq War, viewed it all as a  regime-change war  fueled by the West and aimed at removing the dictator from power. She saw Assad  and Russia, when it entered the conflict  as legitimate defenders of the state against an extremist uprising.

In 2015, when Russia entered the Syrian war on the side of the dictator Assad, Gabbard expressed support for the move, even as the civilian toll from Moscows devastating airstrikes grew into the thousands .

Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama wont bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911, she wrote on Twitter.

It was precisely because of her support for Assad and Russias war that Moustafa was keen for her to attend the congressional delegation to southern Turkey to meet the victims of the conflict.

From experience, everyone that we bring over to the border, and they see the victims, they always come back with a realistic view of whats happening and who is behind the mass displacement and killing and atrocities and so on, and so that was the objective, he said. What was shocking was her lack of empathy. Shell sacrifice the facts, even when it came to little girls in front of her telling her they got bombed by a plane  it didnt matter.

open image in gallery Gabbard at a campaign rally for Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign ( Reuters )

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who testified twice on Syria to the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Gabbard was a member, spent years debunking her various conspiracy theories about the war.

Her consistent denial of the Syrian regimes crimes is so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming, he told The Independent.

Lister said her views appear to be driven by a strange fusion of America First isolationism and a belief in the value of autocratic and secular leaders in confronting extremism.

They included a suggestion that Syrian rebels staged a false-flag chemical weapons attack against their supporters to provoke Western intervention against Assad  something the US intelligence agencies she will soon lead had concluded was false. She declined to call Assad a war criminal when pressed , despite masses of evidence, and used a video of Syrian government bombings to criticize US involvement in the war.

Her descriptions of the crisis in Syria read like they were composed in Assads personal office, or in Tehran or Moscow  not Washington, Lister added.

Gabbard was not swayed by meeting the victims of Assads airstrikes in 2015. In fact, two years later, she went to Damascus to meet the Syrian president in person and came away even more convinced of her opinions.

The congresswoman said her visit to meet Assad  the first by a sitting US lawmaker since the conflict began  was aimed at bringing an end to the war.

I felt its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace, she told CNN at the time.

open image in gallery Fire rises following a Syrian government airstrike in Aleppo in 2016 ( AP )

Gabbard was forced to defend her embrace of Assad and other dictators during her 2020 run for the Democratic presidential nomination. During the Democratic primary debate, she clashed with Kamala Harris, who accused her of being an apologist for an individual  Assad  who has murdered the people of his country like cockroaches.

She has embraced and been an apologist for him in a way that she refuses to call him a war criminal. I can only take what she says and her opinion so seriously and so Im prepared to move on, added Harris, who would subsequently drop out of the race and later be selected as Joe Bidens running mate.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard again defended Russian aggression.

This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/Nato had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns, she posted on Twitter in 2022.

Gabbard appeared to fall for various conspiracy theories about the conflict that were promoted by Russia, as she had done in Syria. One of those conspiracy theories was a Russian claim about the existence of dozens of US-funded biolabs in Ukraine that were supposedly producing deadly pathogens.

She later walked back on those remarks, suggesting that there might have been some miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Gabbards frequent echoing of Kremlin talking points has earned her praise in Russian state media. Indeed, an article published on 15 November in the Russian-state controlled outlet RIA Novosti went so far as to call Gabbard a superwoman.

The possibility that Trump would tap someone with Gabbards history to be Americas top intelligence official shouldnt be a surprise to anyone who followed the president-elects first four years in the White House.

During his 2018 summit with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, the then-president was asked if he believed the US intelligence communitys assessment, which stated that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf.

That assessment was based on analysis of what was determined to have been state-sponsored campaigns of fake social media posts and ersatz news sites to spread false stories about his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as cyberattacks targeting the Democratic National Committee and prominent operatives associated with the Clinton campaign.

But Trump, whod just spent several hours in a closed-door meeting with Putin, stunned the assembled press and the entire world by declaring that he trusted the Russian leaders word over that of his own advisers.

open image in gallery Gabbard has repeatedly defended Vladimir Putin and has been accused of using Kremlin talking points ( Getty )

"President Putin says its not Russia. I dont see any reason why it would be," he replied.

Trump would go on to repeatedly clash with his own intelligence appointees during the remainder of his term. He sacked his first DNI, former Indiana senator Dan Coats, after Coats repeatedly declined to back away from the governments assessment of what Russia had done during the 2016 presidential race.

Larry Pfeiffer, the director of George Mason Universitys Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, said Gabbards apparent susceptibility to foreign disinformation and her affinity for strongmen will give pause to American allies with whom the US routinely shares intelligence on common threats.

Intelligence services, he explained, are notoriously territorial and tight-lipped on sources and methods  particularly when it comes to so-called human intelligence, or Humint, which refers to information collected by and from spies and sources within hostile governments.

Pfeiffer said foreign allies are likely already concerned about how a second Trump administration will handle intelligence, given the president-elects record. He also predicted that Gabbards confirmation as DNI would cause even more problems among skittish partners.

I think they wouldnt feel like theyve got an American confidant that they can deal with on a mature level, he said. I can guarantee you that the foreign intelligence services of Europe, including the Brits, are all having little side conversations right now about  what is this going to mean, and how are we going to operate, and what are we going to do now.

open image in gallery Gabbard has taken the side of Syrias Bashar al-Assad as well as the Russian president ( AP )

The former US intelligence veteran also said Gabbards record of spreading foreign talking points calls into question whether she will be able to carry out the DNIs important responsibility of briefing the president on threats to the nation.

He told The Independent: Somebody like Tulsi Gabbard, you look at her long history of statements that seem to come out of the Kremlins notebook, her propensity to be influenced by their viewpoint  [it] raises questions as to whether she has the ability to present the intel communitys perspective as it is, or is she going to be one whos going to want to discount it, influence it, color and change it, or ignore it and just present her own view?

I think it also raises questions of judgement. You know, heres an individual who seems very prone to misinformation, prone to conspiracy theory. That should worry anybody whos worried about Americas national security, he added.

Trumps selection of the former Hawaii congresswoman could be a problem for the senators tasked with confirming her, on several different levels. For one, the position is unique among cabinet agencies in that there are strict requirements for who can serve in the directors role.

The text of the 2004 law which established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington and the intelligence communitys failures leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, specifically states that any person who serves in the DNI job shall have extensive national security expertise.

open image in gallery Formerly a Democrat, Gabbard is now described as a Russian puppet

The first person to serve as DNI, John Negroponte, was a widely respected foreign service veteran who had served as US ambassador to Iraq, Mexico, Honduras and the Philippines, as the countrys ambassador to the United Nations, and as a deputy national security adviser during the Reagan administration. The next three people to hold the office were flag-rank military officers with significant intelligence experience.

Pfeiffer, a US intelligence veteran of three decades standing who once ran the White House Situation Room and served as chief of staff to then-CIA director General Michael Hayden, told The Independent that Gabbards experience in the House and her military service, while admirable, do not match the standards envisioned by the authors of the 2004 law which established the office.

Thats national security experience  but she was a freaking military cop  operating at a largely tactical level, not that strategic, long-term national security perspective that one would expect, he said.

Gabbard may have left the Syrian conflict behind, but Moustafa still works with its victims every day. And he believes the connection between her views on Syria and Ukraine is clear.

What happened in Syria is what allowed the Russians to feel that they could do the very same in Ukraine, he said.

And what she is doing with Ukraine shows that it goes beyond her maybe misunderstanding one conflict. She is, hook, line and sinker, a Russian puppet.
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

Tulsi Gabbards campaign paid a firm to mask connections to an alleged pyramid scheme linked to a secretive sect she grew up in, according to a report.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to grill President Donald Trumps pick to serve as director of national intelligence on Thursday over her questionable connections and background. Since she was named as nominee to the post, she has faced questions and pushback given her previous statements and her history with foreign nations.

Lawmakers have been scrutinizing Gabbards ties to the Science of Identity Foundation and the Hong Kong-based marketing firm QI Group, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Gabbard was raised in the secretive sect whose members pledge absolute loyalty to its reclusive guru, Chris Butler. The sect has long been tied to QI  accused of running a pyramid scheme in several countries.

Gabbard attended a Science of Identity boarding school in the Philippines and spent her formative years and schooling sheltered from outside influences, her late aunt told The Independent in 2022.

According to the Journal, Gabbards campaign paid the PR firm Potomac Square Group, based in Washington D.C., to mask the connections between the sect, the marketing firm, and the politician. But the clean-up was reportedly steered by a former follower of the sect  Sunil Khemaney  who is also a long-time political fundraiser to Gabbard and sits on the board of a QI subsidiary.

open image in gallery Tulsi Gabbard is set to be grilled by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. But now reports of her paid to mask connections to a sect in her past have come to light ( Getty Images )

Potomac managing director Christopher Cooper told The Independent that the firm worked with Gabbards campaign for a few months in 2017 to help it manage online attacks related to her religion.

We provided support and advice in two specific categories: to demystify the issue by helping Rep. Gabbard publicly discuss the details of her spiritual life and relationship with SIF, and to correct errors of fact, Cooper said in a statement. PSG wasnt directed to mount a pressure campaign to silence or target reporters and we didnt conduct one [and] PSG was not hired to conceal Rep. Gabbards relationship with SIF and we did not do so.

Cooper added that the firm worked briefly with the sect and there was no involvement from the Gabbard campaign.

Hong Kong-based QI and the sect have been linked for years. The company was founded in 1998 by Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark, a Filipino businessman who is also reportedly a Science of Identity follower. It began as an e-commerce operation selling commemorative gold and silver coins in developing countries.

One of QIs enterprises is an alleged pyramid selling system where customers become distributors, selling gadgets, jewelry, beauty products and more for a share of the profits. Customers, according to the Journal, are encouraged to recruit others to join the scheme and if successful, earn a cut from their sales.

Sri Lanka, Nepal and Rwanda banned QIs subsidiaries in 2000 after they were declared pyramid schemes, the outlet reports. The firms direct-selling business, Qnet, has been accused of being a Ponzi scheme in the guise of direct selling business by prosecutors in India who carried out several raids in 2023.

Indian authorities also filed criminal charges against 25 people connected to Qnets network, the Journal reports, including a senior Science of Identity figure. According to the newspaper, there were more than 32,000 alleged victims involved and Qnets local network settled with approximately half of them. The case was closed in 2020.

open image in gallery Trump has tapped Gabbard to be his pick as Director of National Intelligence ( Getty Images )

In further evidence of ties between Science of Identity and QI, in 2007 the company purchased Healthys, the parent company of the Down to Earth grocery store chain which was founded and operated by sect followers, according to the Journal.

The chain has six locations in Hawaii.

Gabbards longtime fundraiser Khemaney, who she has described as an uncle, sits on Healthys board, along with QIs founders Bismark and Eswaran who joined in 2015 and 2016, corporate records seen by the Journal reportedly show.

While Gabbard considered a 2020 run for the presidency and her political profile grew, her campaign, Tulsi For Hawaii, hired Potomac Square Group.

Potomac worked under Khemaneys direction to shroud the links between the then-Democrat and Butler, and QI and the sect itself, according to documents reviewed by the Journal citing a person familiar with the matter. Potomac was paid $19,400 by the campaign in October 2017, according to the Journal, citing FEC records.

The Independent has contacted QI and the Science of Identity Foundation for further comment.

open image in gallery Gabbard during her 2020 presidential run ( Getty Images )

A QI spokesperson told the Journal that the seat Khemaney held on Healthys board was solely as an inactive, non-executive director.

The QI Group has no knowledge of, and has had no involvement in the Congressional Campaign of Ms. Gabbard, the spokesperson added.

A Science of Identity spokesperson accused the newspaper of falsehoods, half-truths, and misrepresentations.

A Trump administration spokesperson responded to the Journal by posting screenshots of the request for comment on X. The media has nothing new so they keep writing the same Hinduphobic smears and other lies about LTC Tulsi Gabbard, the spokesperson said.

In 2022, Gabbards late aunt Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard told The Independent that her nieces bid for the presidency in 2020 was the culmination of four decades of effort from the sects founder, Butler, to seek political influence.
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 painting that sold for less than $50 at a garage sale could be an original Van Gogh worth $15 million, experts say.

The canvas was found by an unsuspecting antiques collector at a Minnesota garage sale in 2016 and now historians, scientists and curators have teamed up to prove that it is an oil painting by the famed Dutch artist, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The painting bears a resemblance to Van Goghs work and depicts a fisherman smoking a pipe as he tends to his net on an empty beach.

Experts have called the painting Elimar because the name is etched into the lower right-hand corner of the canvas.

An exhaustive, multi-year investigation of the painting by experts in several fields has yielded the evidence required to identify Elimar as an autograph work by the artist, New York art-research firm LMI Group International, which acquired the painting from the antiques collector, declared in its 450-page report.

The groups findings will be shared with Van Gogh specialists and art dealers around the world later this month, according to the Journal.

They argue that the portrait was painted while Van Gogh was in the Saint-Paul asylum in Frances Saint-Remy de Provence between May 1889 and May 1890.

Elimar is clearly based upon a painting by the Danish artist Michael Ancher, the report said. Van Gogh did not copy but translated Anchers work.

Vincent Van Gogh arrived at the Saint Paul monastery in May 1889 in Saint-Remy de Provence ( Getty Images )

Experts said that the portrait also represents a time in the artists life when he was returning to themes and images from his youth.

Portraits of fisherman and themes of the life at sea were some of his earliest subjects, the report noted. The fisherman was a persona and subject matter that was very close to him for the lonely and dangerous lives that fishermen led in his lifetime.

Evidence was meticulously gathered and thousands of dollars were reportedly spent on carrying out the work. Brushstrokes were examined and compared to other works, while the paintings pigments and fibers were also studied by a fine art expert.

Maxwell Anderson, former curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, told the Journal that he was struck by what he saw when the painting was first unveiled to him.

Was I all in? No, Anderson told the outlet. But I was super intrigued.

However, the painting cannot be validated officially as a Van Gogh original without the final word from a Van Gogh Museum scholar in Amsterdam, art authenticator Richard Polsky told the Journal.

People love it when things fall through the cracks, and it would be wonderful if they found a Van Gogh, Polsky, who was not involved in the project, said. But theyve got to pin everything down and get a scholar at the Van Gogh Museum to sign off on it.

The Museum did not comment on Elimar but told the newspaper that it had a rigorous procedure in place to separate the fakes from legitimate pieces.

The spokesperson added that 99 percent of authentication requests the museum received over the last few years could not be attributed to Van Gogh in our opinion.
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 World Health Organization (WHO) is set to lose its biggest financial contributor following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the UN agency.

The U.S. was projected to contribute $958 million, or nearly 15 per cent, of the agencys $6.5 billion budget for 2023-25.

Most of the U.S.'s contribution  and most of WHO's budget overall  is via voluntary contributions. WHO member countries are assessed membership fees based on a country's gross domestic product

This reliance on voluntary funding complicates the agency's ability to prioritise its own public health agenda. In an effort to address this, member countries agreed in 2022 to increase mandatory dues to represent half of the budget by 2030.

The WHO plays a crucial role in coordinating global responses to health threats such as mpox, Ebola and polio.

It also provides vital support to less-developed nations, including technical assistance and distribution of essential vaccines and medical supplies.

Furthermore, the agency establishes guidelines for numerous health conditions, ranging from cancer to mental health.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the US from the WHO ( EPA )

Here's a list of the WHO's top donors:

U.S.: $958 million

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: $689 million

Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance: $500 million

European Commission: $412 million

World Bank: $268 million

Germany: $324 million

United Kingdom: $215 million

Canada: $141 million

European Investment Bank: $119 million
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 young girl died after the religious sect her family were part of denied her vital insulin shots choosing to let God decide whether she lived or died.

Elizabeth Struhs, 8, passed away after fringe Christian group The Saints withheld her life-saving medication, believing that God would intervene.

The parents of Elizabeth and 12 members of the home-based religious sect in Australia were convicted of her manslaughter after believing that medical care went against their faith.

open image in gallery Elizabeth was vomiting for six days before she died ( 7News )

Young Elizabeth was left to die over six days in January 2022 at her home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane as members of the cult sang and danced hoping for divine intervention that never came.

The group maintained a vigil around her bed and even after shed stopped breathing they sang choruses and prayed for her to be raised from the dead by God.

Her father Jason Struhs finally called emergency services 36 hours after his daughters death, telling members that though God would still raise Elizabeth, they could not leave a corpse in the house.

open image in gallery 14 members of The Saints were found guilty at the judge-only trial at Brisbanes Supreme Court ( 7News )

Handing down the verdicts, Justice Martin Burns said: Until her death, Elizabeth Rose Struhs was a vibrant, happy child with, of course, her whole life ahead of her.

She left a lasting impression on many with whom she came into contact on the outside, whether through her schooling or during the treatment and control of a medical condition she was first diagnosed with in 2019  Type 1 diabetes.

It cannot be doubted that she was lovingly cared for in almost every way by her parents, Jason and Kerrie Struhs, or that she was adored by every member of the Church including all other accused.

He added: However, due to a singular belief in the healing power of God which, to the minds of her parents and the other members of the Church left no room for recourse to any form of medical care or treatment, she was deprived of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive  insulin.

Outside court on Wednesday, Elizabeths older sister Jayde Struhs told reporters she was relieved that those responsible for her death had been found guilty.

Its been a long and hard three years. Not a moment has gone by that I havent thought about my little sister, Elizabeth, Struhs said.

All 14 found guilty at the judge-only trial at Brisbanes Supreme Court will be sentenced on February 11.
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 Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to healthcare, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vaticans doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost.

The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact of AIs uses in various sectors may not always be predictable from their inception.

AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness, the document said in its conclusion.

open image in gallery Pope Francis sips wine after receiving the communion during a mass on the "Word of the Lord Sunday" in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war well beyond the scope of human oversight, which could provoke a destabilizing arms race. Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,'' it said.

No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,'' the document warned.

AI and Human Relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for authentic human relationships, and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomorphizing AI in areas such as child development or interpersonal relationships.

While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them, the document said.

AI and Search for Meaning

The document cites the risk that as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment  longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.

The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against, the document said.

AI and <Surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature of individuals, the document said.

The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure transparency and public accountability, it said.

AI and the Environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like the cloud that detach data storage from the physical world.

It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions, the document said.

AI and Education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking, and not just train young people how to amass information and generate quick responses. Education is not about filling ones head with ideas, but is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands, it said.

Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,'' the document said.

AI and Healthcare

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.

Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI, the document said.

AI and Misinformation/Deepfakes

AI presents a risk of generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,'' the document said.

Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts  it requires the efforts of all people of good will,'' it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify the truth of what they disseminate.
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 man has been fined after being convicted of drink-driving a drone in Sweden.

It is understood to be the first case in the country of a drone operator being prosecuted and convicted of being drunk.

Few countries have outlawed being drunk while in charge of a drone, but Japan did so in 2019.

Police flying their own device to monitor a classic car event in Rattvik, a town in central Sweden, spotted another drone in the temporary no-fly zone, The Guardian reported.

Officers tracked down the person controlling the drone, and tests found his bloodstream contained 0.69 parts of alcohol for every 1,000 parts of blood  0.069 per cent.

Under Swedish law, the blood alcohol limit is 0.02 per cent, which is strict compared with other parts of Europe. In the UK, the limit is 0.08 per cent; in Spain, France and Belgium it is 0.05 per cent. In Romania and Hungary it is 0.

The 55-year-old man later denied flying the drone under the influence of alcohol, blaming a friend who was not there when police arrived.

But he was found guilty and fined 32,000 SEK (2,335) to be paid across 80 days in daily fines of 400 SEK (29).

I have not seen a case like this before, prosecutor Jenny Holden Nystrom told broadcaster SVT. I am satisfied with the verdict.

Karin Hellmont, the district court president, said it applied the same punishment scale as it would for drink-driving.

It is an aircraft. Even though it is flown by itself, it is controlled by someone down on the ground and can fall from a high height and injure someone, she 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

A new poll reveals that an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders reject the idea of their Arctic island becoming part of the United States, with many viewing President Trump's interest as a threat.

The survey by pollster Verian, commissioned by Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, found that 85 per cent of Greenlanders do not want their semi-autonomous Danish territory to become part of the US.

This follows President Trump's statement earlier this month asserting Greenland's strategic importance to US security and suggesting Denmark relinquish control.

Only a small fraction, 6 per cent, favour joining the US, while 9 per cent remain undecided. The poll highlights the divisive nature of Trump's interest: 45 per cent perceive it as a threat, while 43 per cent% see it as an opportunity, leaving 13 per cent undecided.

Greenland currently benefits from Danish welfare programs, including universal healthcare and free education, factors that could influence residents' views on a potential change in status.

Only 8 per cent of those polled said they would be willing to change their Danish citizenship to American, 55 per cent said they would prefer to be Danish citizens, and 37 per cent were undecided.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday she had given full backing to the principle of maintaining respect for international borders, following meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Nato chief Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (left) speaks to reporters. Her country is set to raise its military spending in the Arctic - while U.S. President Donald Trump talks about acquiring Greenland ( Getty Images )

"I am pleased if the survey is an expression that many Greenlanders would like to see a continued close cooperation with Denmark. Probably in a different form than what we know today, because everything changes over time," she told Berlingske in response to the poll.

Denmark said on Monday it would spend 14.6 billion crowns (1.6 billion) on boosting its military presence in the Arctic.

Greenland - with a land mass larger than Mexico and a population of 57,000 - was granted broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has stepped up a push for independence, has repeatedly said the island is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future.

The U.S. military has a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a strategic location for its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island.
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 Korean troops fighting alongside Russia near the Ukrainian border have temporarily withdrawn following weeks of heavy losses, Kyivs military has claimed.

A Ukrainian special forces commander tasked with retrieving DNA samples from North Korean soldiers claimed Pyongyangs troops had retreated from one of the axes of the Kursk region, where they have been mobilised since last December, for roughly a fortnight.

It follows claims by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last week that around a third of the 11,000 North Korean troops deployed to Kursk have already been wounded or killed.

The withdrawal was confirmed by Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, a spokesperson of the Special Operations Forces.

[They] will be back soon, the commander, who goes by the call sign Puls, reportedly said. South Korean intelligence has claimed that Kim Jong Un is also planning to send more troops to Russia.

It is unclear why the troops appear to have withdrawn, but the commander added that the North Korean troops had suffered significant losses due to an apparent lack of awareness about aerial threats. They have also been committing suicide to avoid being captured by Ukraine, which Kyiv says shows the extent of these troops brainwashing.

Colonel Kindratenko said that they were attacking on foot in groups of up to 60 soldiers, like something out of World War II. It made them easy targets for Ukrainian drones, which have become a staple of this war, as well as artillery.

It comes as overnight Russian air attacks wounded eight people, set a private business on fire, and damaged residential buildings around Ukraine, local officials said on Tuesday.

Ukraines air force said it shot down 65 drones and 28 more did not reach their targets in the barrage.

A 62-year-old woman was taken to hospital for treatment and a 66-year-old man injured when drone debris damaged several houses in the Kharkiv district including the city of the same name, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Emergency services were called soon after midnight to a private business that caught fire in Kharkiv due to the Russian drone attack, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.

Ukraines state emergency service said the fire engulfed production facilities. Two people suffered acute stress reactions, including a child, the emergency service said.

It was not immediately clear what facility was burning. Video footage showed massive flames coming from what looked like an industrial building.

Russia also launched a drone attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa, damaging several residential buildings and cars, and injuring four people in the city and the nearby area, its governor Oleh Kiper said.

After the attack impacted power and heating in the central town of Uman in the Cherkasy region, local services were working to restore the supply, according to the mayor, Iryna Pletnova.

The drone attack on the Kyiv region destroyed nine vehicles and damaged 27 more in the vintage car museum. It also damaged residential houses and cars around the region, without causing any casualties.
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 Australian man who was feared dead after being captured by Russian forces is alive, foreign minister Penny Wong has announced.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, a teacher who signed up to fight for Ukraine against Russia, was taken captive in December last year. A video showed him being struck by a Russian interrogator, sparking fears for his life.

The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody, Ms Wong said on Wednesday.

Australia still has serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war, she said.

We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

Canberra has called on Russia to release Mr Jenkins.

If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal, Ms Wong said.

Russia has previously warned that foreign fighters in Ukraine will not be afforded the rights given to lawful combatants according to international humanitarian law.

I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kyiv can be considered as combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy the status of prisoners of war, a defence ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by TASS after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyivs nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way.

Ms Wong thanked Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and the International Committee of the Red Cross president for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.

The Russian ambassador said Mr Jenkins was in the custody of the armed forces, The Guardian reported. His health condition is said to be normal.

Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular support to Mr Jenkins family.

Another foreign fighter who trained with Mr Jenkins said earlier this month that he believed the Russian forces had executed the Australian prisoner to make an example of him, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 14 January.

Soon after, prime minister Anthony Albanese said that his government was gravely concerned about the capture of Mr Jenkins and warned of the strongest action possible if reports of his death were correct.

On 14 January, Australia summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky to answer questions about Mr Jenkinss status. The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, a spokesperson said in a statement at the time.
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

Russia has claimed to have captured another key Ukrainian town as it looks to consolidate gains ahead of potential peace talks pushed by Donald Trump.

After months of heavy fighting, Russian forces claimed control of the town of Velyka Novosilka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Monday. The town is small, with a prewar population of only 5,000, but it has served as a key assembly area for offensive and defensive Ukrainian operations in the wider area, says Frontelligence Insight, a Ukrainian war tracker. It is also a key route linking towns further east to the rest of unoccupied Ukraine.

It is the second significant town in Donetsk to fall to the Russians this month after Moscow claimed control of Kurakhove roughly 20 miles to the northeast.

The city of Toretsk, further north, has also been almost completely occupied. Its fall appears inevitable, according to Ukrainian security think tank the Centre for Defence Strategies (CDS).

Near the northernmost tip of Russias attack in Ukraine, Moscows troops have also made advances through the town of Dvorichina in the Kharkiv region. It is just north of the city of Kupyansk.

The situation on the frontline remains complicated, the Ukrainian general staff wrote in its latest update. The opponent, using their advantage in live force, is attacking our positions.

Russian forces have been steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine for months in an attack that has centred on the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider Donetsk regions defence. Ukraines general staff said there had been 85 Russian attacks on Monday in that direction.

Taking advantage of a Ukrainian shortage in manpower, Russian forces have advanced around 30 miles from the city of Avdiivka, which they took last February, towards the outskirts of Pokrovsk. A wider attack has engulfed Kurakhove to the south, Velyka Novosilka further south and Toretsk and Chasiv Yar to the north.

It has proved costly in terms of personnel: Western estimates suggest the Russian military is suffering more than 1,000 casualties a day. The total number of wounded and killed could top 1 million before the end of 2025.

The advances are nonetheless concerning for Ukraine. Whatever Russia seizes before any negotiations take place might end up more permanently in Moscows control if the frontline is frozen.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky replaced the commander of the eastern front over the weekend in a bid to strengthen defences in the Donetsk region.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian soldier fires a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line in Donetsk ( via REUTERS )

The capture of Velyka Novosilka is emblematic of the wider problem facing Ukraine, namely a shortage of personnel and weapons. But Ukraines 110th brigade, which has been fighting in the town, described the Russian takeover as mainly a flag-raising exercise.

The Mokri Yaly river circling the northern outskirts of the town created problems for the 110th as it tried to resupply its troops; now that they have withdrawn behind the waterway, it has become an obstacle to the enemys advance.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, says the capture of Velyka Novosilka may prove more political than strategic.

Russia is likely trying to leverage the claimed seizure of Velyka Novosilka to influence Western perceptions of the situation on the battlefield in Donetsk Oblast, to advance narratives that Russian battlefield gains are inevitable and that Ukrainian positions are rapidly deteriorating, they wrote in their latest update.

The same might not be true for Toretsk. CDS writes that the capture of Toretsk will be used to advance further west along a highway that runs towards the city of Kramatorsk, one of the Donetsk regions largest.

The Ukraine catch up The latest from our Ukraine live blog as of 1pm GMT on 28/01/2025 Trumps freeze on US aid to Ukraine has severely impacted humanitarian projects, including those supporting veterans, removing landmines, and providing healthcare.

North Korean troops, fighting alongside Russian forces, have partially withdrawn from the frontlines in the Kursk region after suffering heavy losses, according to a Ukrainian commander. They may be regrouping or awaiting reinforcements.

Zelensky defended Ukraines mobilization, stating that disbanding troops would leave them vulnerable to Russian aggression.

Russia launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine, injuring eight people and damaging residential buildings and businesses in several cities. Ukraines air force claims to have shot down 65 drones.

A Ukrainian commander reports North Korean troops have withdrawn from the Kursk region frontline after heavy losses, possibly to regroup or await reinforcements.

Follow latest updates.

Meanwhile, the think tank writes, Russia will likely intensify efforts to take Chasiv Yar and, ultimately, concentrate an attack on Pokrosvk. According to the Ukrainian military, it remains Russias main objective, despite previous months of Moscows troops focusing on areas surrounding the city. It is, however, heavily fortified.

Viktor Trehubov, a Ukrainian Eastern Forces spokesperson, said around 7,000 people are believed to remain inside Pokrovsk, which had around 60,000 residents before the invasion. Its loss would be much more concerning for Ukraine.

Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst tracking the war in Ukraine for The Black Bird Group, based in Finland, says that a serious encirclement will take a long time and battles inside the city are unlikely to occur soon, since Ukraines extensive fortifications continue to slow the advancing Russian troops.

But Russian attacks along the western flanks of Pokrovsk could develop into a problem for Kyivs forces. It is there that Russia has had the most success, moving to within a few miles of the city. It is there, also, that Ukraines fortifications are weakest.
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

US president Donald Trumps pre-election promises to end the war in Ukraine in less than 24 hours  and before his inauguration  have proved empty.

Keith Kellogg, Mr Trumps special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, says the administrations new goal is to stop the fighting in 100 days.

But details on how this will be achieved remain scant. Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed this is because speaking openly about his plans would undermine his negotiating position. His detractors, however, say this is a cover for a lack of plan.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, have both expressed a willingness to speak with Mr Trump, though both have their own demands if peace is to be achieved.

Below, The Independent looks at the factors at play and why a peace deal could prove elusive.

Sanctions

Two days after Mr Trumps inauguration, the US president gave the first brief insight into his plans.

If a deal is not reached, I will have no other choice but to put high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States and other participating countries," he posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

We can do it the easy way or the hard way, he said, adding: The easy way is always better.

A week previously, Bloomberg reported that the incoming administration had begun forming its sanctions strategy on Russia, one that included offering targeted relief to Russian oil producers to incentivise negotiations or expanding sanctions to ramp up pressure.

It is no surprise that a notoriously transactional Mr Trump, who has spoken at length about tariffs, appears focused on leveraging the financial might of the US to end the war.

Whether it will succeed, however, is unclear.

Russias economy appears to have soaked up the brunt of Western sanctions over the course of the war, though the long-term implications of putting an economy on a war footing could prove dangerous.

But additional pressure from Mr Trump, off the back of a particularly aggressive sanctions package in Joe Bidens final days in office, could force Putin to think more carefully.

Territorial concessions

Russia controls a little under 19 per cent of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula and parts of the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Ukraine controls a sliver of the Russian border region of Kursk.

During his last annual end-of-year conference, Putin called on Ukraine to withdraw from those four Ukrainian regions and for the West to lift all sanctions.

European leaders have consistently dismissed this possibility as rewarding the Russian leader for his land grab but Mr Trump appears more open to the idea.

His vice-president, JD Vance, has spoken about a demilitarised zone patrolled by Western-backed forces. Mr Trump says no US troops will be involved.

The stumbling blocks here are numerous.

The Kremlin has said it does not want Nato forces near Russian troops in occupied Ukraine. Indeed, Putin claimed his invasion of Ukraine was because Nato was trying to get too close to Russia.

Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, may be willing to accept the loss of some territory but it is unlikely he will give up land currently not under Russian control, which includes much of the four regions Putin is claiming. Likewise, Putin will not want Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

In the meantime, Russian forces are creeping forward in eastern Ukraine. Some will question why Putin would stand his troops down when they are advancing, though losses are high.

Security guarantees

Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining Nato while he is in the White House ( AP )

This is likely to be the most contentious issue. Previous agreements to end the fighting in 2014 and 2015, after Russias initial invasion of Ukraine, have failed, as have many more attempts.

There is widespread belief that Putin cannot be trusted to abide by a ceasefire. It is possible he will simply use the pause in fighting to rest his forces before invading again.

Ukraine believes accession to Nato would deter another invasion since Article 5 necessitates the defence of an attacked member. But Mr Trump has ruled that out.

Putin not only opposes any Nato membership for Ukraine but says the country must become a neutral state and drastically reduce its military forces. That would effectively strip Ukraine of its sovereign right to choose with whom it allies itself. It would also make Ukraine an easier target for future Russian invasions.

Ukraine says the US must offer security guarantees and that European assurances alone are not enough.

Mr Zelensky has called on Mr Trump to give Ukraine more weapons but in the form of loans. Others have suggested Mr Trump backs the transfer of roughly $300bn (240bn) in frozen Russian assets so Ukraine can arm itself.

Russias alliance with China, Iran and North Korea

The most significant difference between Mr Trumps first and second terms, with regards to constructing a foreign policy, is the interconnectedness of nations hostile to the US.

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are more aligned than ever. They have helped one another evade sanctions; they have backed each others wars; they have sought to pull other countries away from the purview of the US-led West.

Mr Trump could look to disrupt these alliances to slow support for Russias war, or he could put pressure on these allies to stop funding Putin.
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

Ukraine has targeted Russian energy facilities and a big oil refinery that feeds Vladimir Putins war machine in multiple waves of drone strikes, Kyiv has said.

The Ukrainian military said the strike on the refinery in Russias Nizhny Novgorod region had caused a large fire. A video posted on social media that showed orange flames lighting up the night sky in the city of Kstovo. Lukoil's Norsi refinery, Russias fourth largest, is based in Kstovo, which lies east of Moscow and about 800 km (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Russias Defence Ministry claimed it had detected more than 100 drones in a major overnight attack, with the governor of the Smolensk region claiming one drone had been shot down near the largest nuclear power plant in Russias northwest.

Read the latest updates on the Ukraine war

Reporting a powerful fire at the oil refinery in Kstovo, a city in Russias Nizhny Novgorod region, Ukraines military said on Wednesday morning that it was still clarifying the extent of the damage but vowed to continue its attacks on facilities involved in supporting Russias war.

A Ukrainian military intelligence source claimed to the Kyiv Independent that Lukoils depot in Kstovo was targeted by four drones, all of which hit their target and caused significant damage. A drone strike also hit Russia's Andreapol oil pumping station, part of an export route via the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, causing a leakage of oil products and a fire, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told Reuters.

The attack also hit a Russian missile storage facility in Russia's Tver region, causing a string of explosions, the source said.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian Hell drone missile ( AFP )

Meanwhile, Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur said it had temporarily suspended operations at its plant in Kstovo on Wednesday morning, claiming that debris from a Ukrainian drone had caused a fire.

While Russia has targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout its near three-year invasion, forcing millions of civilians to endure power cuts through the winter, Ukraine has increasingly been striking back with attacks on energy facilities deep inside Russian territory in recent months.

The governor of Russia's western Smolensk region also claimed on Wednesday that air defence systems had destroyed a drone attempting to strike a nuclear power plant there. The plant was working normally, the RIA state news agency reported, citing its press service

The attack in Kstovo came just hours after reports that work at the Ryazan oil refinery  among Russias largest  had been suspended as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has credited Kyivs booming drone production capacity with enabling the recent strikes, saying on Sunday: I would like to thank all developers and producers of our long-range drones and missiles.

Everyone can see their effectiveness. Our weapons are bringing the war back to Russia and reducing Russias military potential.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky has praised his countrys growing ability to produce long-range drones ( AFP/Getty )

With new US president Donald Trump also suggesting that Russias energy sector could be further squeezed in a bid to bring Mr Putin to the negotiating table, the Kremlin is showing no sign of easing its grinding push for territory in Ukraines eastern Donbas region.

In its latest daily update, Ukraines military claimed to have inflicted a further 1,670 casualties among Russias forces, as it reported nearly 200 combat clashes along the front line.

The general staff of Ukraines armed forces said Russia had launched a ballistic missile and 57 drones in its latest overnight attack, as well as having carried out 33 airstrikes, fired more than 5,000 artillery shells, and deployed nearly 2,500 kamikaze attack drones over the 24 hours prior.

Ukraines state emergency service and Mykolaivs regional governor Vitaliy Kim said two women  aged 54 and 56  had been killed in a missile strike on the food factory where they were working.

open image in gallery Rescuers seek to uncover the body of a woman killed in the Russian strike on a food factory in Mykolaiv ( AP )

Russias Defence Ministry claimed to have shot down Ukrainian drones over nine regions, including Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tver, Bryansk, and in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces have gained a foothold since their surprise cross-border incursion last August.

In neighbouring Belgorod, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed a mother and her two-year-old child were killed in the Russian border region after a drone hit their family home.

Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia also temporarily halted flights at the Kazan airport in Russias Republic of Tatarstan and at the Pulkovo airport in the Leningrad region. Flights have resumed since, according to Rosaviatsias Telegram statements.

Despite Kyivs advances in the production of long-range drones, Mr Zelenskys defence minister Rustem Umerov on Wednesday found himself embroiled in a criminal investigation over a standoff in his ministry relating to arms procurement.

In a row which G7 ambassadors warned on Wednesday could jeopardise trust in Kyiv, Mr Umerov intervened last week to block the reappointment of the head of Ukraines Defence Procurement Agency, which he claimed had been failing to deliver for Ukraines frontline troops.

Mr Umerovs critics claim his move was illegal, and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is now examining whether there was an abuse of power by Mr Umerov, as part of a criminal probe requested by a corruption watchdog. Mr Umerov denies any wrongdoing.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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

The building blocks of life have been found on an alien asteroid, scientists have said.

Samples taken by Nasa from the asteroid Bennu have not only the ingredients required to life but also show the leftovers of an ancient water world, researchers said in new findings.

The findings suggest more strongly than ever that life on Earth might have come from an asteroid that crashed into our planet. They also show that those ingredients might have been in the water also thought necessary for life from early on.

That's the kind of environment that could have been essential to the steps that lead from elements to life, said the Smithsonian Institution's Tim McCoy, one of the lead study authors.

NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft returned 122 grams (4 ounces) of dust and pebbles from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, delivering the sample canister to the Utah desert in 2023 before swooping off after another space rock. It remains the biggest cosmic haul from beyond the moon. The two previous asteroid sample missions, by Japan, yielded considerably less material.

Small amounts of Bennu's precious black grains  leftovers from the solar system's formation 4.5 billion years ago  were doled out to the two separate research teams whose studies appeared in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy. But it was more than enough to tease out the sodium-rich minerals and confirm the presence of amino acids, nitrogen in the form of ammonia and even parts of the genetic code.

Some if not all of the delicate salts found at Bennu  similar to what's in the dry lakebeds of California's Mojave Desert and Africa's Sahara  would be stripped away if present in falling meteorites.

This discovery was only possible by analyzing samples that were collected directly from the asteroid then carefully preserved back on Earth, the Institute of Science Tokyo's Yasuhito Sekine, who was not involved in the studies, said in an accompanying editorial.

Combining the ingredients of life with an environment of sodium-rich salt water, or brines, that's really the pathway to life, said McCoy, the National Museum of Natural History's curator of meteorites. These processes probably occurred much earlier and were much more widespread than we had thought before.

NASA's Daniel Glavin said one of the biggest surprises was the relatively high abundance of nitrogen, including ammonia. While all of the organic molecules found in the Bennu samples have been identified before in meteorites, Glavin said the ones from Bennu are valid  real extraterrestrial organic material formed in space and not a result of contamination from Earth.

Bennu  a rubble pile just one-third of a mile (one-half of a kilometer) across  was originally part of a much larger asteroid that got clobbered by other space rocks. The latest results suggest this parent body had an extensive underground network of lakes or even oceans, and that the water evaporated away, leaving behind the salty clues.

Sixty labs around the world are analyzing bits of Bennu as part of initial studies, said the University of Arizona's Dante Lauretta, the mission's chief scientist who took part in both studies.

Most of the $1 billion mission's cache has been set aside for future analysis. Scientists stress more testing is needed to better understand the Bennu samples, as well as more asteroid and comet sample returns. China plans to launch an asteroid sample return mission this year.

Many are pushing for a mission to collect rocks and dirt from the potentially waterlogged dwarf planet Ceres in the main asteroid belt. Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus also beckon as enticing water worlds. Meanwhile, NASA has core samples awaiting pickup at Mars, but their delivery is on hold while the space agency studies the quickest and cheapest way to get them here.

Are we alone? McCoy said. That's one of the questions we're trying to answer.

Additional reporting by agencies
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

A man was arrested after opening the emergency exit on a domestic flight minutes before it was to take off from an airport in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan on Tuesday.

IndiGo flight 6E 6033, bound for Bengaluru in southern India, was scheduled to depart the Jodhpur airport at 10.10am local time.

The cabin crew had just begun the safety demonstration when a passenger, later identified as Axis Bank employee Siraj Kidwai, reportedly opened the emergency exit flap.

Mr Kidwai claimed it was accidental and not intentional.

The incident caused disruption on board, and led to a 20-minute delay in takeoff, NDTV reported.

The pilots and the cabin crew followed standard operating protocols and alerted airport security.

Today, during the safety briefing before the departure of flight 6E 6033 from Jodhpur to Bengaluru, a passenger opened the emergency exit flap. The crew immediately followed standard operating procedures. The passenger was disembarked and handed over to law enforcement officials for investigation, an IndiGo spokesperson said.

Mr Kidwai was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force for questioning.

IndiGo expressed regret for the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to other passengers on the flight and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and security in all our operations, the airline said.

A similar incident took place in 2023 in South Korea when a man opened the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines aircraft just before it landed in Daegu city. The passenger said he was overwhelmed by stress after losing his job, felt suffocated and needed to exit quickly. He was arrested for violating aviation law.

On 8 November last year, an aggressive Korean Air passenger was restrained by cabin crew after attempting to open the emergency exit door during a flight to South Korea. Flight KE658 from Bangkok to Seoul was reportedly an hour into its almost five-and-a-half-hour journey when the unidentified man reached for the emergency exit door handle after refusing to move from a crew-only jumpseat.
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

A Japanese city has hired security guards to oversee a scenic vista after it became inundated with tourists.

Officials have been stationed to manage the overflow of tourists during the lunar new year holidays at the Funamizaka slope in Otaru of Hokkaido prefecture. The spot, featured in the 1995 Japanese film Love Letter, is popular with tourists for its views of the sea.

A Chinese tourist was struck by a train and killed while taking pictures on the tracks near the slope earlier this month. Her husband said she was trying to photograph a location featured in the 2015 Chinese film Cities in Love and did not notice the oncoming train.

There have been a growing number of complaints by residents about visitors blocking roads and trespassing on private property. The road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic. Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant and this fiscal year has been particularly severe, a city official told the Mainichi Shimbun.

On Tuesday, guards were stationed at three places carrying signs in English, Chinese and Korean urging visitors not to trespass on private property or take photos in the middle of the road, Kyodo News reported.

The guards will remain deployed until the end of March and local police will step up patrols in the area.

People are even entering private property without permission to take photos, local resident Hidetoshi Itagaki, 80, told the Japanese media outlet.

Japan welcomed a record 36 million tourists in 2024, according to official numbers released this month. Otaru saw over 90,000 foreign tourists staying in the city during the first half of fiscal 2024, the highest number since records began in 1997, local officials said.

The record surge in tourists has been attributed in major part to a weaker yen which has made Japan more attractive to international visitors. The soaring numbers, however, have sparked concerns about overtourism at popular destinations, leading to challenges in managing visitor flow and preserving local environments.

Last year the Japan Tourism Agency launched a travel etiquette  a series of guidelines encouraging better behaviour from tourists, such as travelling light and minding your manners.

It also produced 22 pictograms designed to be easily replicable for hotels, guesthouses and other local establishments, with messages like Selfie sticks prohibited.

The Japanese government has an ambitious target of attracting 60 million visitors each year by 2030.

Meanwhile, following the death of the Chinese tourist near the Asari station, Hokkaido Railway Co is considering adding safety announcements in English and Chinese on its trains.
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

Almost 22 years after Concorde made its final commercial flights, a prototype passenger jet has broken the sound barrier during a supersonic test flight.

Boom Supersonics XB-1 aircraft climbed over 35,000ft on Tuesday before accelerating to Mach 1.1 speed and then breaking the sound barrier in three high-speed runs spanning 35 minutes over the Mojave Desert in California. It is the first civilian aircraft to achieve the feat since the British-French supersonic airliner, which was retired in 2003.

Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl praised his team for accomplishing a feat that has been confined to the work of governments and militaries for the last two decades. He said he hopes now to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.

open image in gallery The XB-1 prototype aircraft ( Reuters )

XB-1s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived, he said.

A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars. Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.

XB-1 first flew in March 2024 and has been steadily increasing speeds over 11 test flights but never beyond Mach 1 (770 mph)  the speed of sound.

The American-built civil supersonic jet is made from carbon fibre, and unlike Concordes droop nose, pilots use an augmented reality vision system to see past its long nose for takeoff and landing.

Booms chief test pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg was at the controls for this first supersonic test flight.

open image in gallery At the controls was Booms chief test pilot, Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg ( Boom Supersonic )

He said: I still get nervous before a flight in XB-1, but I think thats healthy. If I werent nervous, it would indicate I wasnt taking it seriously enough or was ignoring the risks.

Im incredibly grateful for the abilities and opportunities God has given me, the people who have helped me along the way, and the belief that Im not alone in the cockpit. I always say a prayer at the base of the ladder to remind myself of those things and to give credit where credit is due, Brandenburg added.

The XB-1 supersonic flight took off near Edwards Air Force Base in Mojave, California, and flew through the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor and the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor for 35 minutes.

Chuck Yeager, a United States Air Force officer, became the first person to exceed the speed of sound in the same airspace in 1947.

The XB-1 model is Booms supersonic demonstrator is one-third of the size of the lines Overture aircraft  set to be the worlds fastest commercial airliner.

open image in gallery Boom Supersonics XB-1 aircraft broke the sound barrier on first supersonic flight ( Boom Supersonic )

According to Boom, the carrier has received 130 pre-orders for the 65-seat aircraft from global airlines, including American Airlines, United and Japan Airlines.

The Colorado company says its plane will fly at Mach 1.7, and previously claimed it would fly from London to New York in 3.5 hours, the same as Concorde.

An Overture Superfactory in North Carolina was completed in June 2024 and plans to produce 33 of the supersonic aircraft annually.

Former chief Concorde pilot for British Airways, Mike Bannister, said: Ive been waiting over 20 years for the return of supersonic speeds, and XB-1s historic flight is a major landmark towards my dreams being realized.

When I last flew Concorde in 2003, I knew this day would come. Boom is well on its way towards making sustainable supersonic flight a reality, aboard Overture  my #1 choice as a successor to Concorde.

The live stream of the test flight starts at 3.45pm GMT.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
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

An Airbus aircraft caught fire at an airport in South Korea on Tuesday evening, forcing the evacuation of all 176 people on board.

The fire, which started in the tail section of the Airbus A321 as it was preparing to take off at the Gimhae international airport in Busan, led to seven people suffering injuries, according to the state news agency Yonhap.

The Air Busan flight was bound for Hong Kong.

Four of the injured were crew members who experienced chest discomfort from smoke inhalation. The other three were passengers, including a woman in her 70s and two individuals in their 50s, who reported pain in their tailbones and backs.

Firefighters quickly responded to the plane, containing the blaze that had spread to the fuselage. The National Fire Agency said in a statement the fire was fully extinguished at 11.31pm local time on Tuesday, about an hour after firefighters and fire trucks were deployed to the scene.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The Gimhae airport resumed normal operations on Wednesday, with all 279 scheduled flights running as planned except for eight Air Busan flights that were cancelled.

Air Busan is a budget carrier affiliated with Asiana Airlines, which was acquired by Korean Air in December.

The Independent has reached out to Air Busan for comment.

The incident came less than a month after a deadly plane crash at the Muan international airport killed 179 people.

open image in gallery Firefighters work to extinguish a fire on an Air Busan airplane at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, 28 January 2025 ( Son Hyung-joo/Yonhap )

Footage showed the Jeju Air plane skidding on the runway after its landing gear failed to deploy, crashing into a concrete wall and catching fire.

open image in gallery Mayor of Busan Park Heong-joon and other officials visit the site where an Air Busan airplane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Wednesday, 29 January 2025 ( AP )

Only two crew members seated near the rear of the Boeing 737-800 jet survived the crash of the aircraft, which had arrived from Bangkok.

Among the passengers were five children under 10, including a three-year-old.

The preliminary investigation report, released on Monday, indicated that bird strikes played a role in the crash, but didnt make any conclusions about the cause of the accident.
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

New restrictions are set to affect tourists visiting Spain as authorities in the popular holiday destination increase measures to curb the impacts of overtourism.

The move follows the wave of anti-tourists protests that has spread across the country and other European destinations over the past year.

Although it has been called a tourist ban by some, the new rules wont stop tourists from visiting the country. It will, however, have some impact on how Britons should plan for their holidays.

Policies to prevent overtourism are already underway for places in popular destinations like Barcelona, Mallorca and Tenerife. From this year, they will also be coming to Malaga, in the countrys Costa Del Sol region.

The move has come to address locals concerns about overcrowding in the city, alongside property prices and rents become increasingly unaffordable for them.

open image in gallery The changes will affect holiday lets in popular Spanish city Malaga, with similar measures in place across the country ( Getty Images )

As with several other locations, the plans take aim at the influx of holiday rental properties which can increasingly be found in the citys central districts. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said: It isnt fair that those who have three, four or five apartments as short-term rentals pay less tax than hotels or workers.

The governments duty is to prioritise residential use of housing and prevent speculative and touristic uses from expanding in a totally uncontrolled manner at the cost of residents.

For the next three years, new holiday rentals will not be allowed to be registered across any of Malagas 43 districts, matching policies in place in areas across Spain.

What do the plans mean for British tourists?

Holidaymakers will still be able to book hotels, Airbnbs and apartments as usual.

The only existing accomodation that will be affected are holiday flats which have been registered since 22 February 2024 that do not have entrances and utilities separate from those for permanent residents. The licences for these lets will reportedly be cancelled.

open image in gallery Anti-tourism protests take place in Barcelona, 19 June 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The change could have major implications for Airbnbs popular private room option, which will often see tourists residing in a separate part of the owners property.

The changes follow a countrywide law introduced last year which mean that anyone registering for a hotel stay or car hire will need to provide more personal information than was previously required.

What other anti-tourist measures are in place in Spain?

The new ban in Malaga follows from similar measures taken in other popular Spanish cities like Alicante and Madrid.

Authorities in Seville are also set to soon follow suit, alongside introducing a charge for those looking to enter the citys popular Plaza de Espana square.

In Barcelona, short-term tourist apartments will be banned from 2028. Changes have also recently come to popular destinations, with authorities in Mallorca putting a cap on the number of cruise ships which can dock in its port, and a limit of the number of visitors to national parks being introduced in Tenerife.
01:51

Gerard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

02:07

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

02:00

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

02:09
Just Stop Oil activists gathered outside the High Court on Wednesday (29 January) as appeal hearings began for 16 protesters jailed over a series of disruptive actions across the UK.

Dressed in iron muzzles and long black gowns, the activists maintained a silent vigil outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The group is demanding the UK government stop approving new fossil fuel projects, which they say are exacerbating climate change.

Sixteen activists who received prison terms of between five years and 15 months for their involvement in four climate protests will bid to appeal against the length of their sentences at a joint hearing set to begin on Wednesday.

The challenges are set to be heard at the Court of Appeal in London over two days.
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 fascinating eruption is approaching as a sleeping giant underwater volcano stirs with seismic activity near Americas west coast.

The seismic activity of Axial Seamount, a submerged volcano roughly 300 miles off the coast of Oregon and more than one mile beneath the seas surface, has been increasing with hundreds of small earthquakes taking place every day.

Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist who has been monitoring activity associated with Axial Seamount for six years, believes the seismic activity shows an eruption could happen by the end of this year.

An eruption does not seem imminent, but it can't do this forever," Chadwick wrote in an Oregon State University blog post with his colleague, University of North Carolina geophysicist Scott Nooner.

Located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific Ocean, the underwater shield volcano last erupted in 2015, following previous eruptions in 1998 and 2011.

The volcano, first detected in the 1970s by satellites, is 1.1km tall with a peak sitting 1.4km below the surface of the sea.

Scientists say they are noting the same signs of swelling at the volcanos base which preceded previous eruptions, as rising magma presses beneath the mountains thin surface, Discover Magazine reported.

The eruption wont be cataclysmic, nor will it be noticeable to anyone above water. The eruption is likely to crack open at the surface where magma will ooze out, rather than exploding it, and it is unlikely the eruption will cause a tsunami.

Mike Stone, a researcher at Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, told Cowboy State Daily: This particular volcano is probably the best-monitored submarine volcano in the world. It's fascinating and doesn't really pose a hazard.

When Axial Seamount erupts, it'll look a lot like a Hawaiian lava flow eruption, Stone added. It's not an explosive eruption, but calm effusions of lava flowing out of the caldera and across the seafloor.

Observers have been watching the volcano since 1997 using a mixture of geophysical, chemical and biological sensors, along with video cameras which capture signs of magma flow.

Axial Seamount will not endanger any lives, but observing the volcano allows scientists to better predict other eruptions by improving their understanding of the factors leading up to an eruption.
The government paid Devenish 11m for the 223-hectare Dowth Estate in Co Meath in 2023

Belfast-based animal nutrition company Devenish shrunk its operating losses from continuing operations to 11.1m (13.2m) last year, according to newly-filed accounts for the business.

That compared to a 13.9m loss from continuing operations the previous year.

But the company, which in 2023 sold its Dowth research farm in Co Meath to the government for 11m, managed to post a 15.1m profit in the 12 months to the end of May 2024, after making a 29.7m profit on the sale of its US business.

The group, whose CEO is Tony McEntee, continues to have operating units in Ireland, the UK, Denmark, Turkey, Kenya and Uganda. It said that trading since the end of May last year has continued its upwards momentum in Ireland and the UK.

It said it has also seen significant growth in its international markets.

Turnover in the last financial year from continuing operations was 124.4m, compared with 133.5m the previous year.

The government paid Devenish 11m for the 223-hectare Dowth Estate in Co Meath in 2023

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 28th

Devenish has undergone major restructuring over the past couple of years.

The companys directors note in the latest accounts that over the past 18 months, management and the board have developed a strategy to tackle the challenges facing the group, both from a trading perspective and the levels of debt previously accumulated by the group.

Since the last year end, the group has executed a strategy of eliminating term debt and improving the working capital position through increased profitability in the core animal nutrition business, the directors note.

They said that strategy also included the group exiting non-core activities, the disposal of the research farm in Dowth, Co Meath, and the sale of it North American business, which was completed in February last year.

Simultaneously, the operating costs of the company were reviewed, resulting in a number of redundancies, the directors added.

Since the end of its financial year last May, Devenish said it has continued to monitor its cost base and strengthened its leadership team.

All of the actions carried out by the group have put the group in a very strong operational and financial position with a positive cash position at year end versus a prior year net debt position of 40m, the directors point out in the accounts.

They said that the group is now in a strong position for the years ahead and that it will focus on further development of its manufacturing and research facilities along with expansion in domestic and international markets.
Gross domestic product (GDP) results for the full year indicate growth with an increase of 0.3pc compared with the previous year, according to an early estimate by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

GDP  which measures the size of the economy  has decreased by 1.3pc in the last quarter of 2024. The CSO report notes that the result was driven mainly by a fall in the multinational-dominated industry sector in 2024.

Based on the estimates, GDP in Q4 of last year rose by 6.3pc compared with the same period in 2023. It contracted by 1.3pc compared with the previous quarter.

Enda Behan, statistician in the National Accounts Integration Division, said: In todays release, GDP is estimated to have contracted by 1.3pc in October, November and December in volume terms when compared with Q3.

This was driven by a decrease in the multinational-dominated Industry sector in Q4. GDP is estimated to have risen by 6.3pc when compared with Q4. Results for the full year 2024 compared with 2023 show moderate growth.

CSO results from late last year found that there was a 3.1pc growth in the domestic economy during the first nine months of last year after the third quarter saw a rebound in multinational exports.

Preliminary estimates from the CSO are subject to revisions. In March 2025, they will release an updated set of results when additional data is available.

Earlier figures from the CSO showed that output in the industry sector expanded by 14pc in the third quarter compared with earlier in the year, while the information and communication sector had an increase of 6.3pc.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said he was pleased to see the continued strength of the economy.

Growth on an annual basis has been broad-based in nature, with both consumer spending and modified investment making a positive contribution, he said.

As a small, open and highly globalised economy, Ireland is particularly vulnerable to any deterioration in the external environment.

Put simply, these are risks that we cannot control directly  we must instead focus on managing what is in our control. In particular, we must continue to build up our fiscal buffers, invest in our people and our infrastructure, and ensure the economy remains competitive.
Company says its product is a true technological breakthrough in one of the worlds most polluting industries

Ecocem, an Irish producer of low-carbon cement, has announced plans to build its first production facility dedicated to ACT  a low-carbon globally-scalable cement technology  at its existing site in Dunkirk, France.

The facility will produce cement for the north of France, including the Paris region.

Construction of the 50m production line will begin early this year and the facility is due to become operational in 2026, with an initial annual production capacity of 300,000 tonnes of ACT binder.

The company  with plants in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands and France  manufactures cement using a byproduct from steel-making, thereby cutting its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in half.

The business is headed by founder Donal ORiain and chaired by the former European Parliament president Pat Cox.

Ecocems products have been used in construction of projects including the Grand Paris Express, Dublins Aviva Stadium and the HS2 high-speed rail line in the UK.

The new Dunkirk production line is a joint venture between Ecocem in France and CB Green, a division of Groupe CB.

The total investment for this plant expansion is 50m.

It will expand and upgrade capacity at Dunkirk to in excess of onoe million tonnes per year  and strengthen the company's position in northern France, the Paris area, and export regions.

The company says it will deliver a 70pc reduction in the CO2 footprint of cement produced at the plant, compared to the average footprint of cement in Europe.

Funding for the facility is supported through a bank loan classified as a green loan by the EthiFinance agency and supported by both the French government and local authorities.

Donal ORiain said the new facility means industrialisation of the ACT technology and marks a historic turning point for the cement industry.

"Cement manufacturing processes have remained unchanged for 200 years, he said. ACT represents a true technological breakthrough and an opportunity to rapidly decarbonise what is one of the worlds most polluting industries  responsible for almost 8pc of global emissions  without compromising quality and performance, or significantly increasing costs.

In 2026, we will be able to offer the market a low carbon solution deployable on an industrial scale. This advancement, supported by major industrial players and public authorities, positions France and, more broadly, Europe at the forefront of cement decarbonisation, he said.

The steel and cement industries are major targets of the EUs climate drive, which brings buildings and road transport within its emissions trading system  effectively capping how much they are allowed to pollute and penalising them for overshooting and creating incentives to use alternative products and technologies.

Concrete, made up of sand, cement and water, is the second most-used substance on earth, with the cement industry contributing as much as 8pc of global CO2 emissions, more than most countries  except for China and the US.
The couple audit: 51 money-related questions to ask your partner at every stage of your relationship

Money matters in relationships, which is why regular financial check-ins and honest conversations are essential

Shared goals, emergency funds and short and long-term savings can reduce relationship friction. Photo: Getty

Liadan Hynes Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 03:30

For financial advisor Paul Merriman, founder of the AskPaul service, it was Covid-19 that brought about a sea change in how couples talk about their finances.
Russia trying to extort $1.3bn from Google Ireland to fund Ukraine war, company claims

Tech giants lawyers in US want court there to rule before a hearing this week

Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev. Photo: Bloomberg

John Mulligan Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 03:30

Googles Irish arm has become embroiled in a world legal war as the liquidator of the tech giants business in Russia attempts to slap the division in Ireland with a $1.3bn (1.2bn) judgment.
In cinemas; Cert 12A

Edna O'Brien never disclosed the identity of the British politician with whom she had a doomed affair. Photo: Getty

In her introduction to a 2017 reprint of The Country Girls trilogy, author Eimear McBride speaks about Edna OBriens 1960 debut not so much breaking the mould as making it.

Anyone familiar with that literary landmark will understand McBrides logic. In one fell swoop, OBriens maiden novel gave voice and colour to an indigenous but stifled creature: burgeoning Irish womanhood.

OBrien unshackled and emboldened a new generation of female expression using a saga of two small-town girls fleeing convent school for Dublin and negotiating the first blossoms of sexual awakening.

Sally Rooney? OBrien was doing it at a time when it could get you cancelled in this country.

The slim edition scandalised the baldly neurotic, respectability obsessed rosary-clutchers of a Catholic Ireland now largely consigned to the past. Book bans  and even burnings  ensued (perhaps no greater artistic hallmark on this sorry little island). Overseas, meanwhile, OBriens white-hot literary talent surged her to stardom.

Built around rich archive material and interviews with OBrien in the final year of her life, Blue Road is a timely mural to a cultural cornerstone who never quite received due gratitude for dragging us into modernity.

For her part, director Sinead OShea (Pray for Our Sinners) finds herself in the company of a gift from the documentary filmmaking gods.

Edna O'Brien never disclosed the identity of the British politician with whom she had a doomed affair. Photo: Getty

OBrien lived, for better and worse, by her own rules. Thrills, spills, bestsellers and busts, she packed so much drama into her 93 years that it was as if she sought to emulate the chapter-by-chapter plot turns of fiction itself.

That she could impart her reflections (in these interviews or through extensive personal diaries read here by actor Jessie Buckley) with such grandiose eloquence gives this indispensable portrait a sturdy inbuilt narrative pitch. The clue is in the films title  the storyteller is now the protagonist.

A somewhat lonely childhood in rural Co Clare is suggested, with OBrien seeking solace among nature from her alcoholic fathers ruinous gambling habit and mothers devout Catholicism.

Dublin provides scope for reinvention. A column in a railway magazine gets her writing, before she meets successful Irish-Czech author Ernest Gebler in 1952.

It would be the first of a series of poor choices in male partners that would befall OBrien. The marriage was defined as much by sons Carlo and Sasha (both of whom contribute here) as bitter rows, especially when OBriens fledgling literary spotlight starts to eclipse Geblers.

Newly separated, she then begins a new chapter as a darling of Londons celebrity set. Lavish parties are thrown, champagne is popped and Hollywood film stars are bedded. She becomes an elegant and truth-telling guest on prime-time chat shows.

Edna O'Brien had a long-reaching impact on Irish culture, especially for women. Photo: Getty

Back in the old country, meanwhile, the establishment sees only a wanton hedonism that it deems on-brand given the lurid content of her novels.

What Blue Road makes abundantly clear, however, is that a furious discipline underscored everything about OBrien the author, so that she was putting out almost a novel a year during that Swinging Sixties period and beyond.

A major hiatus would come, though, in the wake of an affair with a prominent British politician who remains nameless, the relationship sending her into a deeply unhappy stupor that had severe effects on productivity, personal finances and health.

Regal of tone and painstaking in her choice of words, OBrien makes for a defiant, wistful, often sanguine, but ultimately brittle interviewee. Most of the interviews take place on a couch in the Chelsea flat she rented in later years until a dip in health forces a break in filming.

Momentary pauses to gather her thoughts hint at the lingering pain of that early rejection by her homeland, the character assassinations by peers, and the abusive marriage to Gebler.

One particularly telling piece of archive footage shows her visiting her parents at home with a TV crew and being frozen as if in fear as her withered father sings Danny Boy by the fireside.

The road was indeed a blue one, OSheas film prompts us to consider, with OBriens extraordinary, timeless creative gifts coming at the expense of any prolonged happiness or emotional consistency. But it was OBriens road, nonetheless, and she paved it in her own unique way.

Four stars
A corporal in the Irish Defence Forces was involved in a money laundering operation that handled over 6.6 million worth of drug dealers cash, a court has heard.

Richard Kearney (36) of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an address in Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght on May 6, 2022. He has no previous convictions.
A dangerous and volatile prisoner serving a life sentence for murder has lost a High Court action over the authorities decision to intermittently place him in solitary confinement due to his challenging behaviour and his alienation from other inmates.

In the judicial review proceedings, the prisoner  who was not named by the court  had claimed that his incarceration in the Mountjoy Prison's controlled behaviour unit for protracted periods has been without lawful justification.
A DUBLIN man accused of assaulting a woman on board a bus in the south of the city was identified through RTEs Crimecall programme, it is alleged.

Martin Ball (36) appeared in court this afternoon charged over an alleged assault on a passenger on a bus service in the south of the city last year.
A private funeral is to be held for Gillian Curran, the woman who was found unresponsive in her Waterford city home last Saturday, her family has announced.
Joseph O'Donovan, who changed his name from Gary Flynn. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Cork Courts Ltd

A former Fianna Fail councillor has appeared in court charged with the harassment of a woman.

Joseph ODonovan, formerly known as Gary OFlynn, appeared before Cork District Court today charged with one count of harassment. The alleged offence occurred on three dates between July 30-August 6, 2022.
Man jailed after forcing woman with Down syndrome to buy him 1,300 iPhone and withdraw cash
A judge has thrown out a 60,000 damages claim against Dublin Bus relating to an accident in which a four-year-old boy was seriously injured  19 years ago.

Judge Terence OSullivan said in the Circuit Civil Court that while he considered the delay to be inordinate and inexcusable, he was not dismissing the claim for that reason.
A father-of-three was given a fully suspended three-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a doctor who he wrongly believed had molested his then partner during an examination at University Hospital Limerick.

Nathan Murphy, (33), with an address at Belfield Court, Farranshone, Limerick, admitted the offence before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

The court heard that, on September 22, 2019, Murphys then partner attended the hospital and requested a procedure but was told it was not possible on the day.

Instead, the woman agreed to have an internal gynaecological examination, which was performed by a registrar, with a midwife present.

The court heard that Murphy told Gardai after his arrest that his partner arrived at his house in a distressed state and said she had come from an examination at the hospital.

Murphy told gardai he believed his partner had been sexually assaulted and that he went straight to the hospital to confront the doctor who performed the womans examination.

I was in the doctors face, I was screaming, I said I was going to kill him, I didn't mean it, Murphy told Gardai.

John OSullivan, prosecuting barrister, told the court: He (Murphy) bizarrely thought his partner had been sexually assaulted and there is not the slightest foundation to that.

Murphys partner told gardai she had no complaint about the examination.

Mr OSullivan said Murphy had gone to the hospital and waited in a room for the doctor to return.

When the doctor and two colleagues entered the room Murphy held a chair up over his head and threatened to throw it at the doctor.

Mr OSullivan said Murphy repeatedly told the doctor, I will find you and I will kill you as he was removed from the hospital by security personnel.

Murphy said that, later on he returned to the hospital to apologise to the doctor but that he was told he was barred, however the hospital and the doctor told Gardai they were not aware of any attempts to apology.

Murphy had 32 previous convictions including for burglary, theft, criminal damage and road traffic offences.

Murphys barrister, Eimear Carey, said he had completely misinterpreted the situation on the day, and he saw red.

He didnt mean to put anyone in fear, he is regretful and remorseful, Ms Carey said.

Offering mitigation, Ms Carey said Murphy was in the throws of a drug addiction at the time, and that Murphy had sole custody of his three children after he had turned his life around. Murphy is no longer in a relationship with the woman, the court heard.

It must have been very frightening for the doctors who were caring for expectant mothers. He publicly apologises, he is ashamed and mortified - it was a moment of madness, Ms Carey said.

Nathan Murphy outside Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. Photo: Brendan Gleeson

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

The barrister asked Judge Colin Daly not to jail the defendant and to allow Mr Murphy to continue looking after his children.

Judge Daly noted staff at the hospital would have been pressurised enough without such threats to their personal safety, and threats such as this were completely unwarranted.

The victim did not provide a statement outlining the impact of Murphys threat against him, however the judge noted, it must have been deeply upsetting for the doctor.

In weighing up the aggravating factors as well as Murphys guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with gardai, Murphys family circumstances, and that he had overcome his drug addiction, the judge imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence for three years.

The judge ordered Murphy to keep the peace and not reoffend, with liberty to re-enter the sentence if he breaches these terms.
Ireland may be caught between the European continent and the United States in military powerplays, civil servants have warned Tanaiste Simon Harris.

The new Defence Minister has been told Ireland could become more isolated within the EU because of our limited co-operation with other member states.

Ireland is involved with some EU battlegroups while still espousing strict military neutrality and requiring the triple lock over deployment abroad.

Mr Harriss predecessor  Micheal Martin  has floated the idea of just a double lock for any posting of more than 12 members of the Defence Forces abroad.

The triple lock requires a UN resolution of the security council, a government decision, and then approval by the Dail.

Mr Martin has argued that the security council is hamstrung by the system of Big Power vetoes, which means Irelands defence posture is effectively outsourced to Britain, France, China, the US and Russia, who hold UN vetoes.

Now officials are telling Mr Harris that Irelands position has been rendered more awkward by the recent moves by Finland and Sweden to join Nato. Both are in close proximity to northern Russia, and took their decision following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Simon Harris. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

It has also been pointed out that Ireland does not have the Naval Service strength, nor radar cover, to adequately monitor the potential threat to vital undersea communications cables in Irish territorial waters.

Officials are warning that heightened uncertainty over the commitment of the US to European defence has implications not just for Nato, but may harden attitudes to Ireland within the EU  especially with the new Donald Trump presidency sabre-rattling against Denmark, a member of both the EU and Nato, over Greenland.

Hitherto, this, Irelands position, and those of other militarily neutral states, has been accepted, the document to Mr Harris said.

The changing geopolitical climate, Finland and Swedens move into Nato, with a resulting increased focus on wider defence matters, means that there will likely result lower tolerance or understanding of Irelands position into the future.

It notes a US strategic pivot away from Europe, towards its own defence and with a focus on matching Chinas moves in Asia in particular. This reinforces the need for autonomous and cohesive European defence, as regularly voiced by France.
Michael Shaughnessy, from Tuam, Co Galway, examines the damage caused by Storm Eowyn to his farm shed, which was built in 1965. Photo: Ray Ryan

Rachel Connolly, from Castlerea, Co Roscommon, remonstrates with Taoiseach Micheal Martin about the plight of families left without power and water in the wake of storms. Photo: RTE

Dozens of electrical engineers from various countries have started arriving in Ireland to help exhausted ESB workers tackle the unprecedented damage to the national power grid.

The foreign crews have largely been deployed to Cavan, Galway and Mayo, where the worst of the storm damage was sustained in Storm Eowyn.

The influx of workers came as Taoiseach Micheal Martin met angry householders in Roscommon and Mayo, some of whom face being without power or water for another seven to 10 days.

Rachel Connolly, from Cloonkeen, Castlerea, confronted the Taoiseach about the difficulties faced by her family, who have been told their power will not be restored until February 5.

Ms Connolly dismissed the Taoiseachs repeated attempts to detail the Governments planning around the storm to limit to hardship suffered by families.

With respect, Taoiseach, am I the only who these plans didnt work for? she said. There are no facilities here. Why didnt you have more in place? You knew this was coming.

She told Mr Martin he needed to get the Dail back and to sit at the Western Development Commission offices in Ballaghaderreen so politicians could understand the ordeal suffered by those with no power or water.

We are already having a breakdown in hygiene in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. That is not acceptable, Ms Connolly said. No hand-washing facilities in the house for seven days is not acceptable. Its not good enough.

Mr Martin said he could fully understand the anger and the frustration felt by locals, but added: Every single agency and authority in the country filtered into the emergency response. This is the worst storm we have had for 60 years and our priority was to save lives.

The Taoiseach said everything possible was being done to help support storm-hit families and businesses.

The Government will set up a new scheme to help homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses with extreme weather events. The Programme for Government promises to set up an Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme for communities in the event of storms or harsh weather.

Cabinet ministers will discuss the latest on the States response to Storm Eowyn today as well as establishing the new scheme. There are humanitarian assistance schemes already under the Department of Social Protection, and a specific flooding scheme set up by the last government.

ESB Networks is struggling to repair almost 1,000km of damaged power lines  three times the scale of the damage from Storm Darragh last December.

Emergency responder Jerry Higgins from Claremorris, Co Mayo, described the situation as extremely serious.

We had no coverage at all on the phone, so you had situations where first responders were getting texts a full day after they were sent, he said.

Communications going down is a big safety issue. We are so reliant on it these days just to function and we shouldnt have situations where people cannot reach out for help.

We shouldnt be in this situation. We are not at war, it was just a storm.

Aontu TD Paul Lawless said for the Taoiseach not to acknowledge a problem was deeply concerning.

The Taoiseach has said that broadband has been restored and only 3pc remain without it  he is way out, Mr Lawless said. In my experience in Mayo, Im finding the complete opposite  that over 95pc of people in my locality and surrounding towns do not have access to internet.

Overseas repair crews said they were very happy to be able to play a role in restoring power to 768,000 Irish homes, businesses and farms after the devastation inflicted by Storm Eowyn.

Over 20 UK electrical workers arrived in Ireland last weekend, while 10 Austrian electrical grid repair staff arrived early yesterday morning. Crews from Finland, France and the Netherlands will arrive over the next 36 hours.

Almost 40 Finnish workers flew into Ireland from Helsinki yesterday and up to 40 more staff from French grid contractors will arrive today. Each crew will work with an ESB Networks liaison officer. Crews from Germany may also be requested if required.

Storm Eowyn set a new record for wind gusts of 183kmh and is estimated to have felled more than 10,000 trees nationwide.

Almost 168,000 homes and businesses were still without power yesterday.

Repair crews now hope to restore power to 80,000 homes and businesses over the next three days, though the pace of reconnections has slowed given that workers are now dealing with the most complex and extensive damage.

ESB Networks crews from Leinster and Munster have already deployed to the worst-hit parts of Connacht and Ulster.

An estimated 30,000 customers located in the most remote and inaccessible network areas probably wont be reconnected until late next week.

Almost 580,000 homes were reconnected within 72 hours of Storm Eowyn departing Irish shores as repair crews braved appalling working conditions to deal with the network damage.

Dozens of schools were forced to close or undertake remote learning because of loss of electricity and water, or storm damage to buildings. It is hoped that all schools will be back open by tomorrow.

An Post confirmed that 70 of its outlets had to close because of power supply issues, but now less than 20 remain closed.

Over 100,000 people lost water supplies, while a further 100,000 have supplies at risk of disruption.

Uisce Eireann said it had successfully restored supplies to 50,000 customers.
Parents whose babies died or suffered injury in Portiuncula University Hospital well over a decade ago were left heartbroken yesterday as questions arose over how soon renewed concerns over its maternity care in the last year were acted on.

It was announced this week that external reviews have been ordered in to the care of seven babies who suffered a lack of oxygen or blood supply in the maternity unit over the last year, with the latest case last week. Another two stillbirths in 2023 are also to be investigated.

Lorraine and Warren Reilly, from Loughrea, Co Galway, who lost two baby daughters, Asha and Amber, two years apart in the hospital  in 2008 and 2010  were among the parents plunged into disbelief after thinking a previous review of the hospital published in 2018, looking at 18 incidents at or around the time of birth, had led to patient safety.

Speaking to RTE yesterday, Ms Reilly said: Today, I have spent half of the morning crying. I am absolutely devastated over it.

I am devastated for the families involved now. I just cant believe that its happening again.

Her husband questioned whether the hospital was suitable for anything other than a straightforward birth.

Theres clearly something wrong with the way things are in Portiuncula, he told RTEs News at One.

Ms Reilly was part of an implementation group to ensure safety recommendations arising out of previous incidents, including the highly critical 2018 review of maternity care, were implemented.

It emerged yesterday that the hospital carried out its own internal examination of incidents where babies suffered a lack of oxygen and blood supply over the last year, a condition known as hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

In 2024, there were six such deliveries, but the norm should be just two or three. Six of the babies were sent for therapeutic cooling to reduce the rate of death, severe disability and lifelong cerebral palsy. The outcomes of this are unclear as yet.

Dr Cliona Murphy, clinical director of the HSEs National Women and Infants Health Programme, said yesterday that cases were monitored and there were a lot of engagements with the hospital group Saolta, which oversees Portiuncula hospital. She said it was wrong to say nothing was done, but it was decided an escalation was warranted.

Two cases of stillbirth in the hospital in late 2023 that had certain features were also included in the external reviews, which will conducted in to each individual case, she added.

The latest revelations have left families such as the Reillys deeply upset.

Their daughter Asha was delivered stillborn in 2008 after Ms Reilly suffered a placental abruption.

Two years later, she was admitted to the hospital as a high-risk case.

Her daughter Amber was delivered by C-section with the umbilical cord tied around her neck  and died six days after being transferred to the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.

A new management team, overseen by obstetrician Dr Mark Skehan, as well as a director of nursing and senior manager, have been installed in the hospital this week and they will oversee areas such as caesarean sections.

Around 800 women are booked in to give birth at the hospital and they have been promised heightened levels of care.

The HSE was yesterday unable to name the experts who are carrying out the nine individual reviews of the HIE and stillbirth cases.

A spokeswoman said they are at varying stages of completion.

Asked what has been done following the 2018 report into maternity care in Portiuncula, a spokeswoman said it involved 18 individual patient reviews and a service review of maternity services.

The report made 154 recommendations. An implementation team was established overseen by the Saolta group womens and childrens directorate involving family members of the original cases. All of the recommendations were implemented, she said.

The number of consultants was doubled from three to six. A series of service improvement plans and other measures were put in place. 

This included the setting up of a joint clinical directorship across Galway University Hospitals (GUH) and Portiuncula.

The current funding and staffing in Portiuncula for the maternity workforce is well within acceptable ranges for each discipline and professional area, the spokeswoman added.
The Legacy Act prevented a landing zone being reached that could have enabled Troubles victims to secure truth and answers, Simon Harris has said.

The Tanaiste said he hoped that the government would in future be able to suspend its interstate legal case against the UK Government over the Act, subject to the right conditions being met.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, introduced by the Conservatives, halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths.
Mr OLeary said the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer should scrap air passenger duty (APD) rather than waffle on about Heathrow expansion, which he described as a dead cat that would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest.
Six out of nine males who were found inside a sealed freight container at Rosslare Europort on Monday morning have been refused leave to land in Ireland.

Six adult males were deported in accordance with immigration legislation. One man has claimed international protection and will now be processed by the International Protection Office (IPO).

Two others who have said they are juveniles are now in the care of the HSE.

None of them had any legitimate travel documentation when they were found, but gardai believe they are Eritrean citizens. They were all subject to interview by officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Wexford garda station.

The six men, believed to be aged in their 20s, were due to be taken back to France on a ferry last night, accompanied by gardai.

It is understood they gained access to the container in France on Thursday and spent four days inside before being discovered.

The Eritreans are understood to have spent two days in the container at the Co Wexford port. All were in good health when found, sources said, but one individual required a hospital check-up.

It is understood they may have thought they were waiting to be transported onwards to the UK while in Rosslare before raising the alarm.

Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

The container they were found in was unaccompanied and was not brought to Rosslare by truck.

The GNIB has launched an international people-smuggling investigation, but there have been no arrests in the case so far.

Sources said the focus of the investigation is the truck driver who dropped the container containing the east Africans at a port in France last week.

Speaking on Monday, a garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana at Wexford garda station have commenced an investigation following the discovery of nine people in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort at approximately 10.30am this morning.

Gardai were alerted to the presence of a number of people inside a shipping container at Rosslare Europort. Gardai and emergency services located the nine males and they have been assessed by medical personnel.

Gardai attached to Wexford garda station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all of the circumstances of this incident.

Anyone with any information in relation to this discovery is asked to contact Wexford garda station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Last October, two men were found hiding in a van that had arrived at Rosslare Europort.

They were in good health and provided with state supports, while two other men were arrested as part of the people-smuggling operation.

The previous March, seven people were discovered inside a trailer at the same port.
Lion dances, as seen here at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, are a common feature of the Spring Festival (AP)

It is the first day of the Year of the Snake, with celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year beginning today.

There are events taking place across the world, which will continue for the next two weeks to mark the new year.

What is the Lunar New Year?

The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, to reflect how it is celebrated by communities across the world  not just in China. It is an annual festival that lasts more than two weeks and coincides with the new moon of the lunar calendar.

Why is this year called the Year of the Snake?

The snake is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, following the dragon and preceding the horse. Regions across Asia also celebrate Lunar New Year and may follow a different zodiac.

Each animal and one of the five elements is associated with a year in the lunar cycle. This year marks the year of the wood snake.

The Snake arrives every 12 years, with those born in the years 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941 or 1929 all born in the Year of the Snake.

What does it symbolise?

The snake symbolises transformation, wisdom and healing in Chinese mythology.

People born in a Snake year are associated with mystery, determination, intelligence, intuition and a cleverness that makes them lucky. Green and black are considered their lucky colours.

Their ability to analyse everything can lead to stress, but they are also able to stay calm under pressure.

What are the important dates for the Lunar New Year?

This year, the Lunar New Year takes place between January 29 and February 4 but the dates can vary by culture.

What are the traditions and events associated with the Lunar New Year?

There is a strong focus on family during the Lunar New Year. Lucky envelopes, which are red or gold envelopes containing money, are traditionally given by elders to younger family members as a token of good luck.

It is also common to give the home an extensive clean in the days leading up to the new year to symbolise starting fresh, while red decorations commonly feature in homes and as part of festivities.

Will events take place in Ireland for the Chinese New Year?

A series of events are taking place across the country to celebrate the New Year, including a festival in the capital organised by Dublin City Council from January 25 until February 2.

A series of events and workshops  such as a snake workshop at Dublin Zoo and a Snake in the Glass cocktail making workshop at JT Pims have been taking place across the city.
More women will be appointed as junior ministers today after a backlash over gender imbalance in the new Cabinet.

Fianna Fails Niamh Smyth is being viewed as a nailed-on promotion, with Minister for Older People expected to go her way. Catherine Ardagh and Aisling Dempsey also tipped for elevation. Cork North West TD, Michael Moynihan, is also likely to be promoted, the Irish Independent understands.

In Fine Gael, Emer Higgins is expected to be kept as a junior minister, with Grace Boland and Catherine Callaghan tipped as possible wild cards, one TD said.

Because of the backlash over the lack of women in the Cabinet, they will overcompensate with juniors, they added.

Fianna Fail will appoint a junior minister at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for fisheries and the marine after backbenchers pushed for the party to secure at least one ministerial role in the department.

Two Independent TDs, Noel Grealish and Michael Healy-Rae, have already been appointed, with Fine Gaels Martin Heydon heading the department.

Fianna Fails Chris OSullivan is one of the names tipped for the role in the department, with one TD saying he is the obvious choice.

Thomas Byrne and Niall Collins are expected to be kept on as junior ministers, while Timmy Dooley is expected to be promoted to junior European affairs minister.

Colleagues also expect Charlie McConalogue to be offered a junior ministerial position after he was dropped from the Cabinet last week.

Catherine Ardagh of Fianna Fail

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

Sean Fleming may be in danger, with one colleague speculating he might be dropped to make space for other TDs to be promoted. Michael Moynihan is also expected to be elevated, as is Martin Daly.

A total of 19 junior ministers will be appointed who will not sit at cabinet.

These are nine for Fianna Fail, seven for Fine Gael and three Independents  Michael Healy-Rae, Marian Harkin and Kevin Boxer Moran.

While Cormac Devlin and Paul McAuliffe may also be eyed for promotion, geography may work against them, Fianna Fail colleagues said.

In Fine Gael, Neale Richmond and Alan Dillon will be kept on as junior ministers, as will Emer Higgins.

John Cummins is strongly tipped for elevation, as he was said to be very impressive on the partys negotiating team in government-formation talks.

Cork TD John Paul OShea, who was also involved in the talks, is a possibility. Tanaiste and party leader Simon Harris is expected to promote a Cork TD, and Jerry Buttimer and Colm Burke are also in contention.

Frank Feighan is in the mix and Kieran ODonnell may also be reappointed, with one TD saying he was impressive in the Office of Public Works.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin did not promote a female TD to a senior cabinet position, with Mary Butler taking over as Chief Whip despite expectations that she would get a full role in the Cabinet.

Mr Martin and Mr Harris were criticised last week for appointing one female TD fewer to the Cabinet than the last government.

It was shocking and disappointing to see the decline of female representation, according to Women for Election.
Our drinks expert shares some of the best beers from women working in Irelands breweries

This Saturday marks St Brigids Day and the first day of the Celtic spring  or of Imbolc, to be precise. To celebrate Brigids miraculous brewing abilities, which were the stuff of legends, todays beer recommendations highlight women working in Irish breweries today. Some are brewers, others are brewery founders. 

Cuilan and Sally Loughnanes eldest daughter Aoife has taken on a second-generation role to steer her familys craft brewery into its next phase with a visitor centre at its Templemore base. The family have been pioneers of Irish craft brewing since even before the couple founded Whitefield Brewery (initially White Gypsy) in 2009, running first Dwans brewpub in Thurles in the late 1990s and then Messers Maguires brewery in Dublin from 2002.

Whitefield is one of several Irish breweries founded by husband-and-wife teams. Lineman was established in Dublin in 2019 by graphic designer Vivienne Lucey and home brewer Mark Lucey, while Rascals was founded in 2014 by an award-winning home-brewing couple, Emma Devlin and Cathal ODonoghue, whose Inchicore brewhouse doubles as a buzzing destination taphouse and restaurant.

I havent featured anything from Kinnegar today, another husband-and-wife operation, whose powerhouse, Libby Carton, is the new chair of the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland, simply because Ive (deservedly) featured it so often before.

Of todays recommended beers brewed by women, I was already a fan of West Kerry Brewerys dark ale and stout  and her Golden Ale simply confirmed Adrienne Heslin as one of Irelands most impressive brewers.

The real revelation for me was the serious confidence at play in Aine OHoras Irish ale and lager from Connemara Brewery. OHora, who has a masters in brewing and distilling, brings decades of big-brewery experience to this small west coast brewery, having run both start-up craft and large international breweries over two diverse decades of brewing overseas.

Sadly, Waterford brewer Grainne Walsh is on a hiatus, having handed over production at Metalman to long-time collaborators and friends, Hopfully Brewing. But look out too for the rebranded Brigids Ale from Two Sisters Brewing, an unfiltered ale from Susan and Judith Boyle, which they describe as tasting like beer should.

Always available on draught in their family pub, Boyles of Kildare, it will pop up in bottles through February in selected outlets  the perfect tipple to raise a toast to St Brigid and all the women in Irish brewing who follow in her footsteps.

Beers of the week

Connemara Brewing Co Irish Lager

Connemara Brewing Co Irish Lager, 4.5pc, 3.25 (33cl)

Featuring local malts paired with mild, earthy Saaz hops (typical to pilseners and Bohemian lagers), this is a fruity and very well-balanced lager with pineapple, lemon and floral hops character, pale biscuit malt notes and a touch of cocoa on the soft mouthfeel but refreshingly crisp to finish. Deserving winner of Gold at the World Beer Awards, and a great match for seafood dishes from coconut curries to Mediterranean-style stews. Its Irish ale is rich, bold and equally well-balanced. McCambridges Galway, connemarabrewery.ie

West Kerry Brewery Beal Ban

Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne/West Kerry Brewery Beal Ban, 5pc 4.50 (500ml)

This unfiltered, unpasteurised Golden Ale brewed by Adrienne Heslin with Ballyferriter spring water and no additives uses English and American hops to conjure rock ginger, pineapple lozenges, Kerry apple cake and salt caramel notes before a distinctively grapefruit pithy finish. Matsons, Martins, McHughs, The Vintry, westkerrybrewery.ie

Whitefield The Banker Wheat Beer with Rye Malt

Whitefield The Banker Wheat Beer with Rye Malt, 5.4pc 3.99 (500ml)

If you enjoy the banana notes of wheat beers but find most a bit cloying, you might love this lighter, drier take from Tipperary which uses rye malt for levity. Think banana fried in brown butter with nutmeg and cloves, and a white pepper, gingery finish. A moreish match for curries. Martins, whitefieldbrewery.ie

Lineman Fluid Dynamic Extra Pale Ale

Lineman Fluid Dynamic Extra Pale Ale, 4.8pc, 3.70 (440ml)

EPAs bridge pale ales and IPAs in strength of both alcohol and hops. Brewed with wheat and barley, this is fresh and pungent, as if innocent lemon thyme fell in with an illegal herb stash, finishing with bittersweet blood orange and stone fruit. Go herb-heavy pork or lamb meatballs. Dwans, McHughs, craftbeersdelivered.com

Rascals Brewing Side Kick IPA

Rascals Brewing Side Kick IPA, 5.3pc, 3.50 (440ml)

With its dark amber colour, this is a warm and robust IPA with fruit cake malt notes, a peppery spice nicely balanced by dark cocoa malts on finish, and full-bodied and soft-edged, but with a delicate frisson. Pair with richer meats like venison. OBriens, Molloys, McHughs, rascalsbrewing.com, craftbeersdelivered.com, thecru.ie, craftcentral.ie
Headlines citing a tourist ban are inaccurate  but new regulations signal growing issues with mass tourism

Spain is the most popular sun destination for Irish holidaymakers, who flock year after year to the mainland, Canary and Balearic islands.

But with a record 94 million tourists last year setting it among the most visited countries on earth, debates on mass tourism are gathering steam.

The surge in visitors has stoked complaints from some about overtourism, ranging from concerns about overcrowding to water use and particularly the availability and affordability of housing.

But that doesn't mean Spain is putting the brakes on tourism, an industry that accounts for about 12pc of its GDP.

Here's what Irish holidaymakers need to know.

Does Spain have a tourist ban?

No, but some cities have started to regulate tourism rental properties.

Malaga this month prohibited new rental properties in 43 neighbourhoods of the city, including the historic centre, where those rentals exceed 8pc of the residential stock.

The policy will be tested for three years.

What else is happening?

Spain's government has started listening to demands for more regulation, particularly around housing in Spain's big cities.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez introduced a 12-part plan to tackle the housing crisis, with measures aimed at bringing stricter regulations to short-term rentals that mainly cater to tourists.

Spain is in the throes of a growing housing affordability problem. Skyrocketing rents are particularly acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for young people.

Housing prices are also steadily rising, especially in cities and coastal areas.

Meanwhile, Barcelona plans to close down all of its 10,000 apartments licensed as short-term rentals in the coming years to safeguard the housing supply for full-time residents.

The city announced last year that it would not renew any new tourism apartment licenses after they expire in 2028.

Malaga, Spain. Photo: Getty

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

Can I still holiday in Spain?

Yes. Tourists can book hotel stays and short-term apartment-style rentals just about anywhere in Spain.

Although it has been called a tourist ban, new measures in Malaga and other areas wont stop tourists from visiting, and you can still book packages, hotels, Airbnbs and apartments that already exist.

It has been reported that some existing accommodation may be affected in Malaga, including holiday flats registered since February 22 of last year that do not have entrances and utilities separate from those for permanent residents.

These could impact Airbnbs popular private room option, which can see tourists staying in rooms or separate spaces within the owner's property.

What else should I know?

Visitors renting a car in Spain or booking hotel stays will also have to file more paperwork thanks to a new law that requires hotel owners and car rental companies to send personal information to the government for national security reasons.

Passport details, home addresses and payment information used by travellers above 14 are among the details that will be collected.

- Additional reporting by Pol O Conghaile
As US pulls out of WHO and Paris Agreement, China will merrily step in to take a leadership role

As luck would have it, Denmark and Panama just became two of the 10 rotating members of the UN Security Council, the body charged with maintaining international peace.

The Danes will hold the presidency in March, with a high-minded agenda of standing up for international law and other good stuff. The Panamanians will take the gavel in August.

What could possibly go wrong? Let me count the ways. The Danes, Panamanians and other diplomats will take their seats next to Elise Stefanik, a MAGA mouthpiece whom president Donald Trump is sending to the UN to represent the US, one of the councils five permanent and veto-wielding members.

In her confirmation hearing, she promised to put America first and again made clear she views the UN largely as an antisemitic swamp that wastes US tax dollars.

Denmark and Panama will have lots of questions for Stefanik, not least about Trumps stated ambitions to buy or seize Greenland from the Danes and to take back that US-built canal from Panama. If Trump becomes as coercive as he sounds, both moves would not only violate but mock international law, the UN Charter and everything the security council stands for.

Trumps disdain for those concepts and institutions runs deep. As the 45th president, he jeered the globalists at the UN and other multilateral bodies that are meant to manage conflict and promote international co-operation. As the 47th, he now appears hell-bent on taking a wrecking ball to the system built and sustained by all his predecessors since Harry Truman.

What Trump and Stefanik are selling as strength amounts to unilateral sulking

Within hours of being sworn in, Trump gave orders to withdraw the US from two important parts of the UN system, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris Agreement to limit climate change. Each has flaws, but instead of fixing these institutions, Trump wants to sideline or even ruin them.

Even in the nationalist mental universe of America first, such moves must count as spectacular own goals. As the US steps out of these institutions, China will merrily step in and up, cynically posing to countries in the Global South as a better steward of world order. What Trump and Stefanik are selling as strength amounts to unilateral sulking.

Ships enter and leave the Panama Canal, which Donald Trump wants to 'repossess'. Photo: Getty

Trumps looming boycott, which will probably extend to other agencies of the UN, is myopic in other ways too. Neither viruses nor the warming atmosphere respect borders. They are global problems that require concerted, meaning multilateral, responses from all nations  exactly the kinds of scourges the UN was built to address.

By hobbling WHO, for example, Trump will make it less able to monitor the spread across geographies and species of zoonotic diseases  bird flu is currently of interest again  and to give timely warning of the next pandemic.

And by undermining the climate accords, the US, as the worlds second-largest emitter of carbon, is in effect betraying humanitys common struggle to keep the planet habitable.

Republicans in Congress, nowadays a MAGA fan club, are marching in lockstep behind Trump. While quizzing Stefanik, James Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, could barely suppress his contempt for the UN, suggesting that she ratchet down the number of people that are clogging the New York streets around the UN headquarters.

When the ICC targets Americans or allies  such as Israel  the US impugns the court

Brian Mast, who heads the equivalent committee in the House, boasts about sanctioning the International Criminal Court, which he calls a kangaroo court. The ICC, based in The Hague, sits outside of but adjacent to the UN system. It came out of efforts led by the US during the 1990s to create a tribunal to try individuals for atrocities and war crimes, but once the court went live in 2002, the US turned its back on it.

When its judges investigate adversaries of the US, such as Russian president Vladimir Putin, Washington tends to co-operate. When the ICC targets Americans or allies  such as Israel  the US impugns the court.

This US ambivalence about international law dates back more than a century. In the rubble of World War I, Woodrow Wilson dreamt up a League of Nations to outlaw and end all wars. But the Senate then failed to ratify Wilsons brainchild; without US support, the League became irrelevant as Japan, Italy and Germany overran sovereign nations in the 1930s.

In the rubble of another world war, the US tried again, hosting 51 nations in San Francisco and Washington to found a new and improved League: the United Nations.

By design, the UN and the other elements of what came to be known as the liberal or rules-based international order. Its often said that the UN doesnt exist to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell.
The appointment of Eileen Flynn in 2020 as the first Traveller senator gave marginalised community a voice  and its time to do the same for the 15pc of our society who are immigrants

As children, we often learn about values and morals through animal fables. Think of Aesops hare and the tortoise teaching us about more haste, less speed. Heres a condensed contemporary tale with a message about democracy: ask two foxes and a chicken to vote on whats for dinner, and you know which one is going to end up on the plate.

In plain language, democracy as a regime of the majority leaves minorities at risk. To keep a balance of power, we should see democracy as a tool for seeking a consensus. Doing this requires giving under-represented voices a seat at the decision-making table  because if you are not at the table, then you are on the menu.

One in seven residents of Ireland are migrants and one in five workers here are migrants, contributing taxes to the economy. No taxation without representation is considered a key democratic principle, yet migrants in Ireland lack representation in national politics.

Last year we made undeniable progress in local politics. More than 20 candidates of a migrant background were elected. That accounts for a 100pc increase in ethnic diversity on our councils from the previous elections in 2019. Yet we are far from equal representation. Some 15pc of Irish society are migrants whereas only 2.2pc of local councillors have migrant backgrounds.

The progress we achieved at local level was not repeated in the general election. None of the seven immigrant candidates who stood in November come even close to being elected.

Teresa Buczkowska

According to the research by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, candidates of a migrant have a 62pc lower change of being elected than their non-migrant counterparts. Small social networks were found to be one of the main challenges. Candidates with a migrant heritage also have much smaller campaigning teams and financial resources. They also find navigating the nuances of Irish campaigning challenging.

Racist political violence was a common experience too: 74pc of candidates with migration roots were subjected to racist harassment. The severity of this violence forced some of them to stop canvassing and use different and less effective campaigning tools instead.

International research has shown that the lack of ethnic diversity among politicians makes voters less likely to vote for candidates with diverse ethnic backgrounds. It is a Catch-22 situation.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin will nominate 11 senators. Photo: Damien Eagers

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

Six candidates of migrant background are contesting the Seanad elections. Some are experienced politicians with a genuine chance of winning. However, considering all of the additional challenges that those candidates face, their task isnt easy

Regardless of the Seanad voting results, migrant communities deserve one of the Taoiseachs nominations to be reserved for a candidate to represent our voices. Migrant communities deserve dedicated political representation supporting an active inclusion agenda to fill in the gap created by the dismantling of the Department of Integration.

Reserving one of the Taoiseach's nominations for a migrant senator will provide recognition of migrant communities as equal members of society. It should go to someone with experience and expertise that go beyond having only a migration background. Leo Varadkar, an immigrants son who became taoiseach, wasnt a champion of migrant rights.

The appointment of senator Eileen Flynn gave the Travelling community a voice in the Seanad. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The Seanad has been established as a chamber giving a voice to under-represented communities and groups of interest. In recent years, taoiseachs nominations rarely upheld the founding values of the Seanad. The appointment of Eileen Flynn in 2020 as the first Traveller senator was an appreciated exception, giving a marginalised community a voice. The rest of the 11 taoiseachs seats were disseminated among members of the governing parties.

Leaving 15pc of Irish society with no political representation at the national level doesnt look like a fable about democratic consensus. Will Micheal Martin take this opportunity to write a different tale about Irish democracy?

Teresa Buczkowska is Polish-Irish writer and migrant rights campaigner. She is the editor of The Migrant Vote
On August 15, 1998, the Real IRA visited a day of wanton carnage on the town of Omagh when a 500-pound bomb explosion took the lives of 29 people.

Among the dead were unborn twins, babies, children and young people. Sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, and grandparents were killed. Yesterday, their names were read out as an inquiry into their deaths opened in Tyrone.

The sorrow of the worst single atrocity of the Troubles lives on in the hearts of loved ones left behind.

They were also left bereft of answers as to what exactly happened. This inquiry will examine whether UK authorities could reasonably have prevented the bombing. Tanaiste Simon Harris has said the Irish Government will not be found wanting in its co-operation with the inquiry.

The aftermath of the Omagh bomb

Government will fully cooperate with Omagh Bomb Inquiry  says Micheal Martin

Living in the dark for so long unnecessarily, not knowing the full facts, may have compounded a terrible wrong. Inquiry chairman Alan Turnbull took pains to thank those who had chosen to engage with the inquiry. He spoke of the distressing and difficult experience of those who had volunteered to take part in the process.

Triggering and traumatic though it might be, Mr Turnbull hoped the devastating and lasting impact of terrible random violence would be understood by all. Victims must be centre stage, he said.

No one was convicted for the murders in the criminal courts, but Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, who died in 2021, was found responsible in a 2009 civil case. Colm Murphy, who died in 2023, was convicted of being involved in the plot, but was cleared in a retrial.

Daddy, I love you very much. Those were the last words she spoke to me

Mr Turnbull said he hoped those who might have condoned the actions of the bombers would learn the devastating consequences for the innocent victims.

Time will be taken to go through the evidence, but the human trauma, the personal stories, must be heard and acknowledged. Finding out who might have been responsible is key to the judicial process. But in so far as any healing process is possible, it is critical that we understand what victims went through.

Eleven years before the Omagh bombing, the IRA detonated a bomb on November 8, 1987, in Enniskillen. The late Gordon Wilson was with his daughter Marie (20) when he lost her to the blast.

Read more Spanish family have fresh hope Omagh bombing inquiry will finally reveal the truth

He recalled their last moments, saying: I said, Are you all right?, and she said, Yes, but she was shouting in between. Three of four times I asked her, and she always said yes, she was all right. When I asked her the fifth time, Are you all right, Marie?, she said, Daddy, I love you very much. Those were the last words she spoke to me.

Mr Wilson devoted himself to campaigning for peace until his death in 1995.

Such bombings must be consigned to the past, but those who suffered must remain in our thoughts. In the absence of accountability, people at least deserve to know the facts.

As 17th-century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes said: Hell is truth seen too late.
Former litter warden with Cork County Council Jim Dooley highlighting the difficulties in addressing the ongoing problem of dog fouling.

A man who spent more than two decades as a litter warden for County Cork said it is very difficult to reduce the level of dog fouling in public places because of how hard it is to punish people for not cleaning up after their pets.

Jim Dooley said Cork County Council hired him as its first ever litter warden in 1998, when reducing littering and dog fouling was high on the agenda of many local authorities following the introduction of the Litter Pollution Act of 1997.

Mr Dooley spent 22 years in his job as a litter warden for Cork South and later as a litter warden supervisor before retiring over two years ago. He told The Corkman he managed to issue very few fines for dog fouling despite his enthusiasm for targeting the problem, even when off duty.

Youd see stuff and youd act on it. But in all the years I was there, and I wrote a hell of a lot of fines, I reckon I didnt write 30 fines [for dog fouling] in all that time and that wasnt for lack of trying, Mr Dooley said.

A dog-fouling fine can only be handed out when the dogs owner was witnessed when the fouling happened, the owner is identified by the witness and the witness testifies the owner left without picking up the dogs waste.

Unless you had specific information, you would sometimes be told by neighbours look this fella is out walking his dog or he is letting his dog out and its happening all the time, Mr Dooley explained.

And in that case Id say to someone, I cant be sure Ill catch them but if you want to write a statement about any particular incident well write a fine for it, and that happened in a few cases alright.

But generally speaking its very hard to catch them.

Mr Dooley recalled that because he drove marked council van, people knew to clean up their dogs waste in his presence. On some occasions, startled members of the public would frantically rustle around in their pockets in search of something to serve as a pooper scooper when they were caught in the act.

He spoke passionately after the Irish Independent revealed that just 37 fines for dog-fouling were issued by local authorities in Ireland last year, with 11 of those served by Cork County Council.

The county council issued six fines in 2023 and 17 fines in 2022. Cork City Council, preferring to tackle the issue by raising awareness and changing behaviour rather than issuing fines, handed out zero fines in the last two years and served just one in 2022.

Mr Dooley said dog-fouling is an issue that really upsets people and could cause serious health impacts too, with the potential for faeces to cause a rare yet potentially serious condition called toxocariasis that can lead to vision problems and difficulty breathing.

In his time as a warden, he noticed certain patterns in dog fouling. Much of it would occur in the morning and lunchtime while most of it happened when people got out of work and took their dogs out around 5pm.

Fortunately, he noticed a lot of progress being made as attitudes towards the issue changed. This was no doubt partially due to the school visits made by Mr Dooley, as well as the signage and educational flyers he had made.

When I started first I never saw people picking up after their dogs. It wasnt happening, now it is happening. People are far more aware of it now, theres no doubt about that. Youd get complaints about it from the public on a regular basis now, he explained.

If you are walking your dog you are aware you are being watched.

Still, dog-foul remains a problem on streets and in parks across the county.

Mr Dooley believes much of it occurs when people take their dogs for walks around 11pm before they head to bed and do not expect to come across a warden or guard who could fine them for not cleaning up their pets poo.

Such was his efforts to reduce the offence, Mr Dooley said he began to recognise the foul of individual dogs, who would evacuate in the same spot on their nightly trots.

Even if people are now choosing to clean up after their four-legged friends, that does not necessarily result in a cleaner environment.

People are still dumping the bags, theyd have the dog foul in the bags and then they would toss it, Mr Dooley said.

The former litter warden said many local authorities have made progress in dealing with littering and rubbish, but a lot of the ambition that previously existed is no longer present. This is seen when it comes to dealing with dog foul too.

The novelty wore off it. [It is only if there is an] incident when someones child puts their hand into dog fouling in a playground and then theres hullabaloo, he said.

Mr Dooley has called for more litter and dog wardens to be hired and for Gardai to issue more fines. He is not entirely convinced by Cork City Councils approach of not focusing on handing out fines either.

Its a handy way of dealing with someone, Mr Dooley said.
'Temporary' access to Clongriffin Dart Station has been in place for 15 years

A group of environmental activists has confirmed it plans to take legal action against Fingal County Council after it granted permission for more homes to be built in Baldoyle before access to Clongriffin Dart Station is improved.

A temporary stairwell  managed on behalf of the owners by Richmond Homes  has been in place for more than 14 years, and residents have experienced multiple issues with lift breakdowns, anti-social behaviour and assaults on the Baldoyle side.

Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) released a statement prompted by a decision by Fingal County Council to permit a new phasing of the construction of homes in the area.

Developer Shoreline Partnership bought land on the Baldoyle side of the Dart station in October 2019 and has planning permission to build more than 800 homes, along with a new village square and access route to the train station.

Just over 100 homes have been built, and the council has said construction can continue, even though issues over access to the station have yet to be resolved.

This housing development is one of the largest proposed in the State in recent years, FIE said in a statement.

However, FIE is concerned that access to public transport, both to the railway serving Clongriffin Train Station and to the 24-hour Dublin Bus service operating from Clongriffin Train Station, as well as to the public realm works at Stapolin Square, specified to be provided in respect of that housing development, will not be delivered under the 2017 permission, which only has 2 years left to run.

The entire justification for intensive development at this location was premised on full, effective, and universal public access between the new residential areas in Clongriffin and Stapolin, including access from residential areas to local schools and other amenities on both sides of the railway, as well as to Clongriffin Train Station and the bus service running from the station, it added.

Samantha OFlanagan, from the Myrtle the Coast Residents Association, has been campaigning for the past two years to address both the long and short-term access issues.

For 15 years, residents have endured substandard public transport access, with conditions only worsening, she said.

Its inaccessible much of the time for many of our residents and completely unsafe for the community.

Despite two years of constant advocacy on our behalf, Fingal County Councils decision to alter planning conditions  allowing further development to proceed before essential infrastructure  is a betrayal of all the residents here.

Fingal County Council and Shoreline Partnership Developers have been contacted for comment.
Michael Healy-Rae and his brother Danny. Michael has today become a Minister of State after both brothers agreed to enter the current Government.

Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD has described taking up the role of Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with Special Responsibility for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety as a proud moment in which he is honoured, humbled and ready to serve the farming community.

He is one of 23 new Ministers of State or Junior Ministers in the new Government  an increase of 3 from the last Government.

He said he was enthused by the role he was given as farming is at the heart of people in rural areas.

It is an expansive role in which there are a number of issues particularly in Forestry and Horticulture as well the issues caused by the most recent storm and Im relishing tackling some of the big challenges facing farmers across the country.

Michael Healy Rae (58) is the youngest son of the late Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011, and Julie Healy-Rae, he remembered his parents on taking up his new role.

In many ways, it is a day youd love to share with them as both really installed a sense of helping people in me and my family. I wonder too where we all would be only for the brave decision my late father Jackie took in April 1997 to stand for the Dail. We as a family are proud of that legacy and work hard both night and day to honour it and we are ready now to work even harder for the people of Kerry and indeed a great deal more. I of course too want to thank my wife Eileen and our five children Ian, Juliette, Rosie, Jackie and Kevin for without their support today would not be possible.

Michael Healy-Rae TD was first elected to the Kerry County Council at the 1999 Local Elections and was re-elected in 2004 and 2009 before being elected for the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 General Election. He topped the poll in the newly created Kerry constituency at the 2016 General Election and has continued to top the poll at the 2020 and 2024 General Election.

The Kerry poll topper has become just the 12th ever Kerry TD to attain the position of a Minister of State (previously Parliamentary Secretary) and the first ever Independent to do so.

He said he and his team will continue to work for the people of Kerry which include the three Healy-Rae councillors along with Cllr Sam Locke and Cllr Liam Speedy Nolan.

We have heard plenty of shouts of people going to look after Kerry while Im a Minster of State. I can assure them, that we have five councillors, two TDs and now a Minister of State who will work as hard as they ever have had to ensure Kerry will be heard.

"As they say in Irish, Ni dheanfaidh smaoineamh an treabhadh duit (You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.) Its time to pick up the plough and start the work, concluded Deputy Michael Healy Rae.

The Kilgarvan TD was appointed by An Taoiseach Micheal Martin after he and Danny agreed to become part of the current Government. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said they did so after many years in opposition to help the people of Kerry.

Kerry also has a senior cabinet position with Minister Norma Foley the new Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
Noel and Max Lavelle are driving from Galmoy in Kilkenny to The Gambia, in West Africa in memory of Noels late mother Anne, his late uncle Sean and his late aunt May

Noel and Max leaving Galmoy in Kilkenny at the start of their journey

Noel and Max with the police officer in Morocco who found their passports

Max and Noel Lavelle crossing the Tropic of Cancer as part of their 6,000km journey from Kilkenny to West Africa

A father and son duo from Kilkenny are undertaking a mammoth journey behind the wheel of a 2003 Lexus as they travel over 6,000km in 21 days from Galmoy in Kilkenny to the Republic of The Gambia, a country in West Africa.

Max Lavelle and his dad, Noel, are the only team from Ireland to participate in this year's Dakar/Banjul challenge, an event which sees challengers travel from their front door all the way to West Africa in their trusty rusty old banger.

A challenge not for the faint-hearted, participants drive through France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal, before ending in The Gambia  if all goes to plan.

But Max and Noel are not travelling alone. Sat in the front seat of the Lexus is a photo of the car's previous owner  Noel's late uncle, Sean, along with a picture of Noels late mother, Anne and his late aunt, May.

For Noel and Max, this is a journey of remembrance, as they honour the lives of their loved ones who are sadly no longer with them.

"We have a picture of my grandmother, Anne, my grand-auntie, May and Sean sat on the front seat of the car," Max told The Irish Independent. "It is an emotional journey for us as we feel like we are going through the journey with them and they are all here with us.

"When Im driving through all these new places and countries I have never seen before, the photo of my mother, Anne, Sean and May keeps catching my eye, added Noel. Its like they are sat there, taking it all in with us.

Noel and Max leaving Galmoy in Kilkenny at the start of their journey

Noel was very close to his uncle Sean who he remembers as an extremely generous man who would do anything for those he loved.

"He was always in his Lexus giving us lifts here and there, recalled Noel. He spent so much time in that car that the car smelled just like him, he joked.

Before Sean passed away in 2021, he gifted his Lexus to his nephew, which was a dream come true for Noel, who had always admired and loved the car.

But since Seans passing, Noel has wanted to honour his uncle and his generosity by doing something big in his memory. Thus came the idea to travel all the way to West Africa in his old car.

Max and Noel Lavelle crossing the Tropic of Cancer as part of their 6,000km journey from Kilkenny to West Africa

Today's News in 90 seconds - 29th January 2025

Upon arrival in The Gambia, Noel and Max will auction off the 2003 Lexus with all the proceeds going to local charities.

"It will be a bittersweet moment parting with the car," said Noel. "The car has become a family heirloom. But I know by auctioning the car for charity it's the generosity of Sean being passed on to someone else.

"Before we started this journey, the car was just sat in my driveway and I wasnt enjoying the car or using it. The main thing Sean said to me when he gave me the car was to use it and enjoy it and I have never forgotten that.

"Now we are most definitely using it and enjoying by travelling through places I never thought I would see and it does feel like Sean is here with us in a way as we are using his old car.

Max and Noel with the 2003 Lexus in the Atlas Mountains

However, the journey so far has been littered with some challenges. Disaster struck for the pair when they arrived in Morocco as their passports went missing.

"At one point we thought we would have to give up and go home, said Noel. Without our passports we couldnt continue. But I have to say the Irish embassy and the police in Morocco were incredible. We told them our story and the reason why we were doing this challenge and they were determined to help us get back on our way again.

"Luckily 36 hours after our passports went missing the police found them and returned them to us. The Moroccan police were exceptional. They were genuinely upset for us and even the locals walked the roads with us helping us look for the passports. It restored our faith in humanity.

"The police officer who returned our passports to us was so helpful and kind. We have even invited him to come visit us in Kilkenny.

Noel and Max with the police officer in Morocco who found their passports

For Max, the passports being found is even more of a sign that Sean, Anne and May are watching over the family.

"We literally said after the passports went missing that if all the passports are found, the three of them are definitely looking down on us. Then literally, 36 hours after we said that, the passports were found, laughed Max.

But as all prepared travellers should, Noel and Max had a back-up plan ready to go in case the passports couldnt be located. Noels daughter, Nonie, with the help of the Irish embassy in Morocco, was going to travel over with new passports for her dad and brother.

By the time the passports were found, Nonie already had her bags packed so the family thought why not make it a team of three rather than just a team of two and with that Nonie travelled over to Morocco to join Max and Noel on their journey.

Noel, Max and Nonie have now entered the difficult part of the journey as they drive across the desert and sleep out in the open under the stars at night.

With nothing to see but open desert for miles, the trio must make sure they have enough water, food and fuel to keep them going until they reach civilisation again.

Max and Noel Lavelle crossing the Tropic of Cancer as part of their 6,000km journey from Kilkenny to West Africa

Noel, Max and Nonie are expected to reach the finish in The Gambia at some point between late January and early February.

When they arrive at their destination, their beloved Lexus will be auctioned and the money raised will be donated to the Rotary Club who will distribute the funds to a variety of local charities such as Bijilo School; Sightbox, a charity for blind children; Bakteh Village; Legs4Africa, which has recently rebranded to STAND, among many other community initiatives.

"This journey is about so much more than travel; its about giving back and keeping the memories of Sean, Nana and May alive through acts of kindness and generosity, explained Max.

"Thats why we have also decided to set up a Go Fund Me page to get some more donations to add to the money raised from the auction of the Lexus.

"The donations from the Go Fund Me, no matter how big or small, will help make a real difference to the lives of people in need in The Gambia.

"For anyone who donates, thank you so much for being part of this special journey.

To donate to the fundraiser please click here
Sligo County Council has established a dedicated Community Response Support Helpline

Hundreds of homes throughout the county remain without power as one of the worst storms ever to hit the country caused devastation in the early hours of Friday morning. A red warning weather alert meant schools and businesses closed throughout the county with the storm not abating until the early afternoon.

Storm Eowyn, named by the Welsh meteorological service, wrecked havoc across the county with hundreds of fallen trees bringing down powerlines and also causing disruption to water, telephone and internet services.

Some 18,000 homes throughout Sligo/Leitrim remained without electricity at the start of this week and it could be well into next week before they see power restored as ESB Networks battles to get connections restored in trying conditions.

The West and North West were particularly hit by the storm which broke the previous wind speed record. A new wind speed record of 183 kph was recorded in Connemara on Friday morning.

Fallen trees blocked several national primary, regional and local roads across Sligo on Friday and county council crews, assisted by the fire services were out to clear roads once the red weather warning expired on Friday afternoon.

Storm Eowyn brought unprecedented, widespread and extensive damage to electricity infrastructure resulting in 768,000 customers nationally losing supply on 24 January. A spokesperson said this is by far the worst storm experienced by ESB Networks both in terms of customers losing supply and the scale of damage across the network.

Nationally, 278,000 customers remain without supply at the start of this week and ESB Networks say they hope to have this figure down to 100,000 at the start of next week.

We anticipate that the vast majority of customers who lost power during Storm Eowyn will have supply restored by Friday night, 31st January. For the remaining customers, these will progressively have power restored over the course of the following week. This could be as many as 100,000 customers.

Fallen tree crushed this camper van at Ballincar.

Crews have continued to work in difficult conditions through a second storm, Herminia which struck on Sunday and while this hasnt caused significant damage to the network, it hampered power restoration efforts in places.

ESB networks expect support to arrive from the GB in coming days. In addition, ESB Networks crews from the south of the country and Dublin are being deployed across worse impacted areas, while skilled retirees from ESB Networks are also being redrafted to help.

The Sligo County Council Local Coordination Group has been working tirelessly, liaising with key agencies such as the HSE, and An Garda Siochana, Sligo LEADER and Sligo Civil Defence to coordinate available resources and ensure the needs of the citizens are promptly addressed.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Declan Bree, praised the remarkable community spirit displayed during this challenging time. He stated, "The phenomenal response from the people of Sligo in the face of this unprecedented disruption to basic services has been truly inspiring. It is heartening to see our community come together to support one another. I thank each and every individual for their commitment to helping our neighbours during this difficult period."

Fallen trees blocked the road at Cleveragh.

In response to the emerging humanitarian needs, Sligo County Council has established a dedicated Community Response Support Helpline, available at 071 911 1013 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Members of the public can also email for support at communications@sligococo.ie.

Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon, emphasised the Council's commitment to providing comprehensive assistance, saying, "The safety and well-being of our citizens is our top priority. We have set up Emergency Response Hubs and are working closely with community-led initiatives to ensure that those without power, water, and other essential services receive the support they need."

Details of the available Emergency Response Hubs and community resources can be found on Sligo County Council website at https://www.sligococo.ie/EmergencyHelpline/.

Residents are encouraged to check in on vulnerable neighbours to ensure their safety and access to essential services, including the dedicated Community Response Support Helpline.
News

Rehearsals underway for Sligos biggest ever musical as Sweeney Todd is coming to the stage
Ceann Comhairle and Wexford TD, Verona Murphy, has invited students from Danescastle National School to celebrate St Brigids Day with her in Leinster House on Thursday, January 30.

The Ceann Comhairle will open the event with a short welcome address to guests in attendance which includes members of the Irish Womens Parliamentary Caucus, members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Diplomatic Corps, students and teachers from Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, and staff of the Oireachtas.

The students from Danescastle National School, Co. Wexford will then perform a musical element with a variety of traditional Irish musical instruments including; button accordion, fiddle, tin whistle, and the harp.

This performance will be followed by an opportunity for guests to partake in a St. Brigids cross making workshop where they will be guided by the students to weave St. Brigids crosses using rushes from Co Wexford.

"As we celebrate the courage and commitment of St. Brigid, I am not alone when I say we must continue to build an inclusive society, one which respects fundamental rights, which listen to diverse voices, and a society which overcomes challenges to peace and the prevention of conflicts, the Ceann Comhairle said. Let us use this opportunity to renew our dedication to these shared values on St. Brigid's day and every day.
The mother of the late Malika Noor Al Katib (8) who died tragically in her home in December 2024, has expressed her gratitude to the entire New Ross community for the support shown during an unimaginable time.

When reaching out to the New Ross Standard, Aisha said she would like to thank everyone who left flowers, cards and teddies outside her home where she and her little girl lived in New Ross town. I am very grateful for all the kind messages and how New Ross came together as a community to help each other, she said.

On Sunday, December 1, Malika was fatally assaulted in her home, while her mother Aisha also received extensive injuries.

The heartbroken mother said she will always be grateful to her daughters school, New Ross Educate Together, where Malika loved her teachers and friends.

Speaking about her own turmoil since the sudden loss of her daughter, Aisha said, My heart is broken into a million pieces and taste of life is gone from me without my daughter.

Everyone knows Malika and I lived in New Ross for four years, peacefully and happily. We loved being here. I have the best neighbours in the world and I am so grateful, she continued.

Malika came from a multinational, multi-religion family, but most of us are Irish and are very proud of the fact of being Irish, said Aisha. Thank you to the kind, open minded people who were caring and compassionate. And also, the people who know myself and my beautiful daughter Malika Noor, which means princess of light. She definitely was my light throughout her whole life and even now, her strength lives on in me.

"Malika was a kind, well-balanced compassionate and confident child, and she never wanted anyone to be hurt, feel pain, or sadness. She was pure love, Aisha said.

Aisha also said that once she has healed from her injuries she will be organising a memorial for Malika. Thank you again everyone, she concluded.
Minister Browne heading up emergency response to Storm Eowyn before setting his sights on the tempest of Housing

The newly appointed Housing Minister says everything possible is being done to get the country back up and running as electricity crews arrive from mainland Europe and generators are flown in from Poland

Newly appointed Minister for Housing James Browne pictured in Enniscorthy . Photo: Gerry Mooney

Padraig Byrne Wexford People Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 01:00

Last Thursday, Wexford Fianna Fail TD James Browne sat in silence in his office in Leinster House. With Micheal Martin having been confirmed as Taoiseach, Browne was left pacing the floor and watching the phone to see if he would be called to the party leaders office.
The discovery of nine men stowing aboard a container in Rosslare Europort on Monday morning has led to calls for the French port authorities to put stricter securities in place. The men, who are from Somalia and aged in their 20s and 30s, had been in a container for up to four days when they were located in Rosslare on Monday

Emergency services were alerted and paramedics initially treated the men at the scene. Eight were deemed to be in good health, while one man received further medical assessment at a hospital in the south-east of the country for non-life threatening injuries.

Initial indications are that the men gained access to the container in France on Thursday and spent four days inside prior to being discovered.

Wexford Deputy George Lawlor said the onus was on those manning the ports in mainland Europe to ensure incidents like this didnt occur again.

Whats happening on the far side in France? Why havent the French authorities put a more strict regime in place to stop people putting their lives in danger? he asked. We were very close to having yet another tragedy, so the French authorities have questions to answer here. Nine people managed to stowaway on a container bound for a long, long journey and when you consider how long they were on board were lucky were not looking at a far worse situation.

Having attended the scene in his role as Operations Resource Manager for the National Ambulance Service, Cllr Ger Carthy expressed concerns that next time a more harrowing scene could await the emergency services.

"It's very concerning that the people involved would have to feel that they have to take that trip," he said. "It's horrendous to see people taken advantage of by criminals that are engaged in human trafficking, but it's something that we're going to see more and more of, with more wars around the world and more people displaced.

"We have a robust immigration service in Rosslare Europort, but like anything in the public service, it could probably do with being enhanced and supported with more staff etc."

While declining to offer any information relating to the condition of the nine young men, Cllr Carthy confirmed that emergency services were alerted to the situation after they received a call from one of the men on board the container informing them of a "medical emergency".

A garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana at Wexford Garda Station have commenced an investigation following the discovery of nine people in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort at approximately 10:30am this morning Monday, 27th January 2025.

Gardai were alerted to the presence of a number of people inside a shipping container at Rosslare Europort. Gardai and emergency services located the nine males and they have been assessed by medical personnel.

"Eight have been deemed to be in good health while one male is receiving further medical assessment at a hospital in the south-east of the country for non-life threatening injuries.

Gardai attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all of the circumstances of this incident. Anyone with any information in relation to this discovery is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Figures released by the Department for Justice show that the number of gardai employed at Rosslare Harbour has remained at 11 since the end of 2020 despite an increase in traffic coming to and from the port.

Meanwhile, the reaction to the news locally has caused another Wexford councillor to condemn horrible, racist thuggery from online commentators.

Anybody thats locked in a container for a number of days without food and water, who has nowhere to wash themselves, nowhere to go to the toilet, travelling in the pitch dark, I can only imagine the terror, said Cllr Jim Codd. I have absolute sympathy for anyone whos in such a dreadful situation and finds themselves in this plight, I wish them well and hope they recover.

"I am aghast and astounded by some of the online commentary and how these men are being spoken about, Ive even read suggestions that places where migrants are housed would be set alight. I have no time for those who forward that horrible racist thuggery, as an Irish republican I stand firmly against any of that commentary. Im amazed that people purporting to be Christians want to advance this type of commentary, it frightens me when I hear this.
A Wexford student will represent the county on the national stage when he takes part in a young ambassador final in Dublin later this year. Cian Martin, who is a fifth-year student at Selskar College, has been selected by the Wexford Lions Club to compete in the Europa Forum in Dublin in November where he will discuss a project focusing on integrating students from different countries into his school.

Based on the Schools of Sanctuary programme, Cians project saw him receive the Lions Clubs Perpetual Trophy and represent the organisation at the All-Ireland Young Ambassador District Final. As a result of his achievement. In addition, Cian has been awarded a bursary of 1,000 to support his school and community projects.

He will also travel to Birmingham next month to take part in the Young Ambassador of the 21st Century and has received an invitation to speak at the District 133 Convention in Tullamore on March 1.

Thanking Selskar College Principal Michael Weafer and all of Cians teachers, especially Mairead Foley, the Wexford Lions said, Cian is an enthusiastic young individual who embodies true community spirit, and Wexford Lions Club takes great pride in him as he is sure to emerge as a future leader. Additionally, Lion Thomas McLoughlin deserves commendation for his outstanding leadership and mentoring abilities. This marks a fantastic start to the year for everyone involved.
Head, Heart and Hands, The Made in Wicklow Showcase takes place at the entrance hall of Powerscourt House.

A celebration of the countys craft talent organised by Made in Wicklow will run for nine days at the entrance hall of Powerscourt House, Enniskerry.

The free exhibition titled Head, Heart and Hands, The Made in Wicklow Showcase runs from Saturday, February 1 to Sunday, February 9, and offers a unique opportunity for the public to engage with the work of 41 talented craft practitioners represented on the Made in Wicklow platform at madeinwicklow.com.

Following the success of last years launch of the Made in Wicklow Digital Craft Trail, Sarah Slazenger, general manager of Powerscourt has invited Made in Wicklow to return with an extended nine-day exhibition. The showcase coincides with the St. Brigids Day weekend, further highlighting the deep connection between Wicklows cultural heritage and the creativity of its craftspeople

The showcase will feature works across disciplines such as ceramics, textiles, woodcraft, jewellery and metalwork. In addition, visitors will have the chance to attend meet the maker sessions, where they can interact with craft practitioners, learn about their techniques and discover the inspiration behind their work. These sessions will run alongside the exhibition and can be booked via Eventbrite.

Evelyn Murray, rural developmentofficer at County Wicklow Partnership, expressed her excitement about the showcase, stating: This exhibition embodies the values of Made in Wicklowcreativity, craftsmanship and community.

Its a testament to the incredible talent within our county and a celebration of the collective artistry that defines Wicklows craft sector. Were thrilled to share this with the public and to celebrate the start of St. Brigids Day weekend in such a meaningful way.

The showcase also marks the official launch of the Made in Wicklow open call for 2025. Talented craftspeople and artisans from across County Wicklow are invited to apply for membership to the platform, which offers a wealth of opportunities, including participation in future exhibitions, such as the annual St. Brigids Bank Holiday weekend showcase at Powerscourt.

Speaking about the initiative, Liz Wall, Chairperson of County Wicklow Partnership, added: This project continues to bring together a diverse range of craft producers, strengthening their voice as a collective and celebrating the unique artistry that makes Wicklow so special.

With the launch of the open call, we look forward to welcoming new members to this vibrant community and further elevating Wicklows reputation as a hub of creativity and craftsmanship.

The Made in Wicklow Open Call is open to applications from February 1 to February 16. Eligible craftspeople are encouraged to submit an expression of interest through the Made in Wicklow website, with accepted members being selected by an external vetting committee. The platform continues to advance Wicklows Craft Strategy 20232027 and plays a central role in promoting the countys unique craft heritage to both local and international audiences.

The Head, Heart, and Hands showcase is made possible through the support of the LEADER Rural Development Programme 20232027, County Wicklow Partnership, Wicklow County Council, and Wicklows Local Enterprise Office.
A six-week drawing course takes place in Kilcoole Community Centre, from Wednesday, January 29, at 2pm. Proven drawing techniques and methods will enable you to accurately draw from observation, from photos/artwork, and from your own memory and imagination. Nicola has been an art teacher for many years and is also the author of You Too Can Draw. Price is 150. Contact Nicola at 085 7396219 or nic1.sedgwick@gmail.com

Bray Youth Club

Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club is preparing a new adventure programme, but it can only be delivered to members if the club has enough volunteers to help out.

The club has an urgent need for more leaders, especially females. If anyone can spare two to three hours once a week, or even less frequently, to help out it would be appreciated. Call Paul on 086 3516630, or Mike on 089 0855151 for more information.

Bray Library

Bray Library opens from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm.

If you fancy a new book club for 2025, the Literary Book Club meets on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm, and the Library Romance Book Club meets at 7pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

If crime is your thing, the Crime Book Club meets on the second Tuesday at 7pm.

Diving club

Bray Divers Sub-aqua Club are hoping to start new divers courses early in January. Persons of fourteen years of age and upwards are welcome to join. The club is eager to bring in other social and educational activities to brighten the winter. Call 087 6756439 for details and you could be a qualified diver within weeks.

Shankill Music Club

The next meeting is on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.at the usual time of 7.45pm to 10 pm, including a tea break, in the Shankill Day Centre, Lower Road, Shankill (100 yds from the Main Street, car parking available).

The music will be as always a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genres  orchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera etc in a friendly setting.

Visitors and new members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert. Theres no charge on the night. For further information on joining in, phone or text John at 087-2109175.

Cancer Support

Greystones and District Cancer Support provide various support services to those affected by cancer and their families in Greystones, Delgany, Kilcoole, Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy. They offer a range of support services, classes and therapies. You can contact the office at 01 287 1601, email info@greystonescancersupport.com or visit greystonescancersupport.com.

Drama Festival

The 46th Bray One-Act Drama Festival takes place from Tuesday, January 28 in the Mermaid Theatre Bray, and will run until Saturday, February 1, 2025. Curtain up at 7.30pm, nightly.

Delgany ICA

The Delgany Guild ICA team have their monthly meeting happening at 8pm every first Thursday in the Kilian House Family Centre, drama on Mondays from 2pm to 4pm, crafts on Wednesdays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and a book club gathering every last Thursday at 10.45am.

Rathdown Bridge

A new Bridge club has opened at Greystones Bridge Centre, Victoria Road each Tuesday, from 10am until 1pm. Established players and beginners are both most welcome and lessons are available. Details of membership from: johnstaffordfennell@gmail.com.

Dargle Bridge Club

Dargle Bridge Clubs new season has begun again and takes place each Wednesday at 7.20pm. Play finishes approx. 10.30pm. Membership is 20 and 5 per night table money. Venue is the Open Door Day Centre, Vevay Road.

For further details see darglebridgeclub.com, or phone Michael on 087 9480151, or Anne on 087 2399457. A new novice section has also been added to the club for any newcomers.

Sanctuary Runners

The Bray Sanctuary Runners Walk and Talk group meets at 7pm at Queen of Peace Church car park, Putland Road, Bray, on the last Thursday of the month. If a run is more your thing by way of a winter warmer, go to The Esplanade Hotel on Saturdays at 11.30am.

Open Door Day Centre

The Open Door Day Centre operates Monday to Friday on Vevay Road, Bray. Open Door provides facilities and activities for adults with physical disabilities as a result of multiple sclerosis, stroke, motor neurone disease, spina bifida, road accidents. Call 01 286 7123, email info@opendoor.ie.

Garda clinic

The community policing clinic is held every Monday from 6 pm to 8pm in the Kilcoole Community Centre. The clinic is there for members of the public to drop in and for crime prevention advice, to get help with forms, such as passports stamped and driving licences, as well as other Garda services that can be attended to by Gda Molly Corbett.

Parkinsons Support

Theres a Parkinsons Support Group meeting every first and third Friday of the month at the Holy Rosary Church from 3pm to 5pm, with everyone welcome to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Theres also Musical Memories sessions, which take place every Friday at St Patricks Church from 11.30am to 12.45pm and everyone is welcome to join in.

Ballywaltrim Library

Storytime for All takes place on Saturday mornings in the library at 11,30am and at 11.30am and on Tuesdays in July and August  no booking is required to attend. Tummy Time for Babies takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10.30am to 12pm when babies can play beneath the Magic Tables Projections.

All are welcome  no booking is required. Adult Scrabble takes place every Monday from 3pm to 4.30pm.

Lakers volunteers

Lakers supports adults and children with intellectual disabilities and runs over 60 activities a week for its 400 members, and growing. For this reason, volunteers are encouraged to take part in training opportunities. You can email info@lakers.ie for details.

Mens Sheds

Bray Mens Shed is now full. Greystones Mens Shed meets on Mondays at 77 Rathdown Park, from 7.30 p.m. Contact Jim Rice at 089 254 0586.

Dementia Support

Wicklow Dementia Support is seeking volunteers to become a friend to someone with dementia. The organisation is also looking for volunteers for a new group in the Villa Pacis Centre (Queen of Peace), Bray, each Wednesday, 10.30am-12.30pm. Contact: info@wicklowdementiasupport.org or call Kate on 0851345128.

Country Market

Over at the Newcastle Community Centre every Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, you can catch the long-running North Wicklow Country Market (started in 1970).

Youth Cafe

Greystones Youth Cafe, at Collnagreina, offers teenagers some time to mix and chat every Wednesday from 3pm to 5pm and Friday from 7pm to 9pm, plus Mondays, 7pm to 9pm, for fourth to sixth years.

GARA activities

Greystones Active Retirement Association is on Mondays, with yoga at 1.15pm and art at 2.30pm. On Tuesdays its bowling at 10.45am. Classes in Kilian House, Greystones.

Open Mic

El Troubadours Open Mic Night takes place at the function room in Butler & Barry, Strand Road, Bray, 8-10 p.m. every Wednesday.
Panellists Peter Eustace of West Wicklow House, Blessington, Paddy Holohan of SuperValu, Greystones and Stephen Delaney of the Shoe Box, Wicklow Town at the Wicklow Retail Seminar in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh. Photo: Michael Kelly

Card drive

45 card drive will be on every Thursday night at 8pm in Glenealy Village Hall. New players always welcome.

Indoor Bowls

Indoor Bowls are played in Glenealy village hall every Wednesday night from 8pm to 10pm. New players always welcome.

SOCIAL CLUB

The next Glenealy social club/ Tea Dance will be on Sunday 16th February from 2.30pm to 5.30pm in Glenealy Village Hall. Entry fee is 10 which includes Tea/Coffee, a chat, line dancing, jiving and social dancing to live music. All enquiries to Leslie on 0404 67755.

Pilates

Pilates is now on in Glenealy Village Hall every Tuesday night from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. For more information contact Zara on 087 9367474.

Men & Women Shed

We are looking at setting up a Men and Women shed here in Glenealy Village Hall. Anyone who might be interested in this please contact Tomas Cooney on 087 1266624.

LARAGH-GLENDALOUGH

AA Meetings

Closed AA Meetings are held in the Brockagh Resource Centre at 8.30 p.m. every Monday night. All are welcome to come along.

Walking group in the Brockagh

On Monday mornings weekly at 10am join the Laragh walking group at the Brockagh Resource Centre for a walk around the Glendalough area for approximately one hour. This is a great way to meet and chat with others and with no fee involved. No need to book, just show up on the day.

Brockagh Country Market (carboot)

Our next event is early back this year and is on Sunday, 9th February. With Valentines Day around the corner you are sure to pick up a lovely gift for your loved ones.

Come shop indoor and outdoor with beautiful handmade crafts and plenty of bargains and from gifts, clothes, plants, books, toys, skincare products, candles, art, tools, household items etc. You might be a keen bargain hunter or enjoy browsing for affordable gifts.

Open to the public from 10am to 3pm. Tea, coffee and food snacks are available. Our tasty Hot Dog and Burger is an affordable treat for the family lunch!!

The barrier will be locked from 6pm Saturday evening until 8am Sunday morning. You can contact us by phone 0404 45600 (Mon-Fri 9am to 4pm) or email brockaghoffice@gmail.com. All stallholders must pre book their space or no entry on the day. www.brockaghresourcecentre.ie. The Brockagh Market(carboot) is once a month on the 2nd Sunday (except Jan/Feb).

Tidy Towns

Last Saturday we had a great turnout of volunteers along with our Junior TT volunteers to help mulch the beds. The mulch was kindly donated to us by our local tree surgeon, David Holden. It will make a big difference to the plants in the coming year and to our new plants, we are planning to plant in the spring.

Knock Trip

There will be a Pilgrimage to Knock on Divine Mercy Sunday 27th April. Leaving Memorial Park, Rahdrum at 7.30am sharp, Roundwood 8am. Breakfast, Dinner and Bus 80 per person. Contact Susan at 087 6273032 all names and money before 1st March 2025.

Brockagh Digital Hub

We have Dedicated (Daily/Weekly/Monthly) Desks and Pod with High Speed Broadband Connection. Our Shared Working Space is located in the heart of County Wicklow with panoramic views of the stunning Glendalough Valley. Free parking, fridge, self catering facility for making tea/coffee, outdoor seating and lift access.

Daily rate 20, Half day rate 15, Weekly rate 80 and Daily Student rate of 15 (Must produce a valid Student Card). For Monthly or Yearly Rates please contact the Manager 0404 45600.

Email: brockaghoffice@gmail.com or brockaghhub@gmail.com to book. Please check into the Main Office on Arrival (Open Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm). For more information visit our website www.brockaghresourcecentre.ie

NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY

Notes contact

If you have news or an item to be added to the Newtownmountkennedy Notes, please email Ciara Martin Perks at ciaraperks87@gmail.com or call 087 6380155.

Public Defibrillator

The defibrillator is located at Henry and Rose, Main Street, Newtownmountkennedy. In any emergency dial 999/112, dont assume somebody else has.

Bingo

Bingo is played at Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre every Friday. Doors open at 7pm, starts at 8pm  bring a friend.

Yoga classes

Come as you are! These yoga classes are for you - however you are: tired, busy, quiet, strong, stressed , happy, distracted, focused, curious, unsure we will explore, create and practice together as we are.

Looking forward to continuing to teach on Monday nights in Kilcoole Community Centre for anyone with some experience of yoga and to starting a brand new beginners class on Tuesdays at 6pm in The Yoga Barre Studio in Kilcoole. Both classes are 18 drop in or 105 for 7 weeks. New students are welcome to try the first class before committing to a term.

Come and see what it feels like to take a little time each week to come home to yourself. To breathe, stretch, strengthen and ease your body, mind and soul.

Call/Text/Email sachajohnstonyoga@gmail.com / 087 2419667 to book a spot or for more info!

Ciorcal Comhra

Ciorcal Comhra is on every week in Newtownmountkennedy. Wednesday at 8pm in the Parkview Hotel reception and Saturday at 3pm in The Coffee Place.

We periodically organise Pop Up Gaeltachts in Newtown, Bray and Greystones.

We also have a library of Irish language books that members of our group can access.To find out more email us at: ciorcalcomhrantmk@gmail.com

ROUNDWOOD

Panto tickets

The Roundwood Variety Group is thrilled to announce that tickets for our much-anticipated 2025 production of Puss in Boots are now on sale! The Panto takes place on Friday 31st January. Saturday Matinee on 1st February and Saturday night. Ending with Sunday Matinee on 2nd February in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh.

Please note when selecting your seats, the system will automatically suggest one for you. If you dont want that particular seat, you must deselect it before proceeding, or it will be added to your order. Double-check your selections before finalizing your purchase to ensure your perfect seats! For tickets check https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/roundwood-variety-group-11975459498

Personal alarms

The Roundwood and District Community Council are registered to administer the senior alert scheme which provides grants to elderly people towards the provision of personal alarms through the Senior Alert Scheme.

The personal alarm offers reassurance to allow independent living, safe in the knowledge that you can quickly be in contact with a family member or neighbour in the event of an emergency. It provides security and peace of mind. If you would like more information, please call 086 8055040 or email sascontact123@gmail.com

Lotto

Results of the draw held on 26th January. There was no jackpot winner the numbers drawn were, 1, 3, 8 & 23. There were thirteen match three winners. Trevor Conyard, Jackie & Chris, Joseph McDonnell, Donna, Anthony Nolan, Damian Cleary, Monica Brady, Martin Brady, Nellie King, Helen C, Karen Murdock, Evelyn Morgan and Celine Molloy. Next weeks jackpot will be 15,400.

Glendalough to Bray Bus Consultation

The NTA is looking for feedback from the public, which will be used to improve service levels along the Bray-Glendalough bus corridor. This service will be of huge importance for our community and everyone is urged to provide feedbackeven if you dont currently use public transport.

Other members of our community will need this service, so please make sure your feedback is included! The objective is to provide more frequent services on the GlendaloughBray Corridor which will help to improve the integration with other bus routes and rail services.

The purpose is to provide the following: a 7-day week service between Glendalough and Bray, serving Laragh, Annamoe, Roundwood and Kilmacanogue. The proposed service will offer significantly enhanced service levels, providing an additional 5 buses per day between Glendalough and Bray; improved connectivity with regional and Dart rail services at Bray (Daly) Rail Station. The closing date is 07/02/2025 at 5pm so please submit your feedback as soon as possible at https://consult.nationaltransport.ie/en/

consultation/glendalough- bray-consultation

Social Whist

Results of the Whist held on 22nd January - Top Score: Mick Whelan. First Gent: Michael Doyle. Second Gent: Shay Brady. First Lady: Catherine Doyle. Second Lady: Kay Plunkett. First Half: Mary Pierce. Second Half: Ann Pierce. Longest Sitting: May Kenna. Lowest Score: Richie Cullen. Raffle Prizes: May Kenna, Shay Brady, Jimmy Molloy, Michael Doyle, Maura McHugh, Ann Pierce and Mick Whelan. Next Whist will take place on February 5th starting at 8pm in the Parish Hall. Come along and enjoy a night of cards with us.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage to Medjugorje leaves on 29th April for one week. For more information, please contact Mary King on 087 2185067.

Knock Pilgrimage

There will be a Pilgrimage to Knock on Divine Mercy Sunday, 27th April. Leaving Memorial Park, Rathdrum at 7.30 am Sharp, and Roundwood at 8 am. 80 per person, including Breakfast, Dinner and Bus. Contact Susan at 087 627 3032. Names and payment before March 1st

Card game

45 Card Game is played every Tuesday night in Moneystown Community Centre starting at 8pm. Teas served.

Bridge

Results for Monday, 20th January. 4.5 table Howell. 1st Teresa Leahy and Marion Davis 2nd Mairead Fallon and Seamus Kennedy 3rd Diane McHugh and Sheila McConnell. Bridge is held in the Roundwood Community Hall every Monday, commencing at 7.30pm. New players/members welcomed. Contact Seamus Kennedy 087 2452903

Local notes

If you have an item or news that you would like to include in the Roundwood Notes contact Margaret Bolger the email address is mgtbolger@gmail.com
Enforcing XL bully ban placing huge burden on policing in UK

Since February, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificateThe ban is set to come into effect in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, February 1

Since February, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate (Jacob King/PA)

Sam Hall Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 08:24







Enforcing a ban on XL bully dogs is placing a huge burden on policing, with millions of pounds spent on veterinary bills and kennelling, police chiefs in the UK have warned.
Nato said that acts of sabotage carried out across the military alliance over the past years included threats to plot the murder of industry leaders such as the head of German arms maker Rheinmetall.
Two Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in West Bank

The West Bank has also seen a surge in violence since the start of the war in Gaza

Palestinians walk through buildings that were destroyed by the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen at the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamamd Abu Samra)

Irish Independent Newsdesk Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 12:10







Two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank, health officials said.
President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week as the first foreign leader to visit in his second term.

The announcement came as the United States pressures Israel and Hamas to continue a ceasefire that has paused a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. Talks about the ceasefire's more difficult second phase, which aims to end the war, begin next Monday.
Madurai Paiyanum Chennai Ponnum OTT Release Date: As Valentine's Day approaches, several romantic entertainers are eyeing a mega release around the love week. This Tamil series is one of them headlined by Kanna Ravi and VJ Angelin B. Get ready to experience a new shade of love as Madurai Paiyanum Chennai Ponnum is coming on Aha Tamil on February 14, 2025.

Madurai Paiyanum Chennai Ponnums plot summary

This ones a fun and heartwarming rom-com that mixes comedy, emotions, and Tamil culture. Set in Tamil Nadu, the story follows a boy from Madurai and a girl from Chennai as they try to understand each others different backgrounds. Will their worlds clash or will they fall in love? With the fresh pairing of Kanna and Angelin, the series will explore their differences and offer a unique love story.

Madurai Paiyanum Chennai Ponnums cast and crew

Starring Kanna Ravi, known for his roles in Mandela and Lover, Angelin stars as the female lead, a popular influencer and anchor, making her acting debut in this series. Directed by Vignesh Pazhanivel, this romantic comedy-drama also features Murugesh Veera as the director of photography and Saachin Raj Chelory composing the music. The series will have 25 episodes, with three new episodes released every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Whats new on Aha Tamil?

While you wait for Madurai Paiyanum Chennai Ponnum, Aha will start streaming the 2025 film Bioscope: The Story of the Story, on the 31st of January. Sankagiri Rajkumar has directed, cinematographed, edited and acted in this film alongside an ensemble of Manickam, Vellayammal, and Muththayi. The music for Bioscope is composed by Taj Noor also featuring Cheran in a special guest appearance.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Following a frightening knife attack on Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra residence in the early hours of January 16, the actor's security has been increased. On Tuesday, Kareena Kapoor's team met with the Mumbai paparazzi. According to a Times of India article, they asked photographers not to take images of Taimur and Jeh.

Saif and Kareena request paps to keep off Taimur and Jeh

Credit: IG

The couple reportedly requested that photographers not gather outside their home, citing increased security concerns. According to rumours, a police constable has been assigned to accompany the 54-year-old actor throughout the day for his security. Mr Khan has hired actor Ronit Roy's firm to increase his protection.

Saif Ali Khan was attacked by an intruder early Thursday morning (January 16). He was stabbed six times with a knife. The actor underwent neurosurgery and reconstructive surgery to address his severe wounds.

Later, during a media briefing on Thursday afternoon, the hospital stated that Saif Ali Khan was stabbed in the spine with a knife and that the leaking spinal fluid had been fixed. Khan has two serious wounds on his wrists and neck, which were healed with plastic surgery.

Saif Ali Khan returned home from the hospital six days later (January 21). While entering his home, he waved to the fans stationed outside. Police have detained Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who illegally entered India and was living under the alias Bijoy Das, for reportedly breaking into the actor's home and assaulting him.

In another development, the Mumbai Police have recorded the statement of a West Bengal-based woman, whose Aadhar Card was used by the accused, Sariful Islam, to purchase a SIM card.

Also read: Saba Pataudi ask trolls to 'educate' themselves about questioning Saif Ali Khan's quick recovery

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Prabhas is currently working on his film with director Hanu Raghavapudi, being referred to as Fauji. The romantic action drama features the mass hero in a new avatar and marks his first collaboration with the Sita Ramam helmer. Now, some information about its storyline is going viral and it suggests that the flick has the potential to be a treat for those fond of intense love stories.

Prabhas to do a Shah Rukh Khan in Fauji?

Prabhas will be seen alongside Imanvi in Fauji, one of the most eagerly awaited films of his career, According to Mirchi 9, a news portal, the film will feature Darling in the role of a man who sacrifices everything and even goes to jail because of his love for his sweetheart. Going by this, one can expect Fauji to feature several emotional romantic scenes and give Prabhas ample scope to undergo a major onscreen transformation during his characters journey.

The report further states that the films plot is similar to the one featured in Veer-Zaara. The 2004 classic featured Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in the lead and was directed by Yash Chopra. The film featured King Khan as an Indian Air Force officer who is imprisoned on false charges. Veer-Zaara received rave reviews with critics praising the lead pairs chemistry and the intense romantic scenes. It remains to be seen whether Fauji lives up to these standards.

Busy time for Prabhas

Coming back to Prabhas, he will be seen in a key role in Vishnu Manchus Kannappa. His first look from the film, slated to premiere in April, will be released on February 3. Prabhas also has The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, and the Sandeep Vanga-helmed Spirit in his kitty.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Basant Panchami 2025: Vasant Panchami, derived from 'Vasant' meaning 'spring' and 'Panchami' signifying 'fifth', marks the arrival of spring on the fifth day of the Hindu lunar month of Magha (usually falling in January or February in the Gregorian calendar). This festival signifies the transition from winter to spring, symbolising renewal and rejuvenation.

It is a day dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, learning, and the arts. Devotees seek her blessings for enlightenment and intellectual growth.

Across India, people rise early and dress in yellow, a colour believed to be favoured by Goddess Saraswati. They share yellow sweets and snacks and participate in puja rituals to honour the deity.

When is Basant Panchami in 2025?

In 2025, the auspicious day of Basant Panchami also celebrated as Saraswati Puja will be celebrated on February 2nd.

Valentines Week 2025: Day-wise list

Credit: Indiatimes

In 2025, Valentines Day falls on Friday, February 14. The entire week, often called "Valentine's Week" or "Love Week," begins with Rose Day on February 7 and ends with Valentines Day on February 14. Before Valentine's Day, people celebrate the themed days of Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day, and Kiss Day. Each day carries a special meaning and adds to the excitement of expressing love.

Celebrations in Bengal

In Bengal, Saraswati Puja is observed with grand decorations, with traditional alpana artwork adorning homes. Offerings of flowers, fruits, and homemade sweets like naru, moya, chal makha, and dal makha are presented to the Goddess, followed by the distribution of prasad among neighbours. The festival is a vibrant affair, with young people dressing in traditional ethnic attire, adding a festive touch to the celebrations.

Why Is It Called the 'Bong Valentines Day'?

Vasant Panchami, known as Saraswati Puja in West Bengal, is eagerly awaited by students across the state. In Kolkata, it is affectionately referred to as 'Bongs Valentines Day'. The occasion sees young couples dressed in traditional outfits, often in shades of yellow, strolling hand in hand through the city.

Valentines Day in Bengal

In Kolkata, Saraswati Puja is fondly called 'Bongs Valentines Day' due to the romantic atmosphere that permeates the city. Across Bengal, young couples can be seen elegantly dressed in traditional attire, walking together and enjoying the celebrations, adding a touch of romance to the festivities.

The Origins of 'Valentines Day' in Bengal

On Saraswati Puja, students follow the tradition of placing their textbooks, notebooks, pens, and study materials before the Goddess, believing that she will bless them with academic success. This also grants them a well-deserved break from their studies.

For many years, single-gender schools have been the preferred choice for education in Bengal, with even prestigious institutions catering exclusively to either boys or girls. It was once widely believed that not securing admission into a single-gender school meant attending a co-educational institution. However, Saraswati Puja alters these norms, as groups of boys visit girls schools and hostels, and vice versa, to witness the pujas.

This day allows for a more relaxed social environment, with students mingling freely, chatting, sharing meals, joking around, and capturing moments in photographsall without societal restrictions.

Saraswati Puja, therefore, becomes a rare occasion when students from different institutions can take a legitimate break from academic and familial responsibilities, embracing a day of friendship, fun, and cultural festivities.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Happy Chinese New Year wishes & greetings: As we step into the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year 2025, the air is filled with happiness, hope, and excitement for fresh beginnings. This grand occasion, also known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most important festivals in China and is widely celebrated in countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, as well as among Chinese communities worldwide.

The Significance of Chinese New Year 2025

This year, Chinese New Year welcomes the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and strength. More than just a festival, it is a time for families to reunite, express gratitude, and honour traditions. Houses are decorated with red lanterns, fireworks light up the night sky, and people gather for festive feasts to usher in good fortune and happiness.

Why Do We Celebrate Chinese New Year?

The Lunar New Year is not just about changing the calendar; it represents renewal, prosperity, and togetherness. Families and friends come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and send Chinese New Year wishes to spread positivity and love. It is a time to reflect on past successes, set new goals, and step into the future with optimism.

Best Chinese New Year Wishes and Greetings for 2025

Sending Chinese New Year greetings is a beautiful way to share joy and blessings with your loved ones. Whether through a heartfelt message, an inspiring quote, or a traditional blessing, here are some Happy Chinese New Year wishes to share this festive season:

Wishing you happiness, prosperity, and success in the Chinese New Year 2025!

May the Year of the Snake bring wisdom, strength, and endless opportunities to you and your family.

Happy Chinese New Year! May your days be filled with love, laughter, and great achievements.

Wishing you and your loved ones health, wealth, and good fortune throughout the Lunar New Year.

May this year be filled with success, joy, and everything you wish for!

Sending you warm Chinese New Year wishes of peace, prosperity, and happiness.

May your home be blessed with harmony, laughter, and positivity this new year.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing you abundance and happiness in the Chinese New Year 2025.

Hope the Lunar New Year brings you new beginnings and bright opportunities!

Happy Chinese New Year! May your dreams turn into reality and your hard work bring great rewards.

Happy Chinese New Year greetings to loved ones

May this year bring you happiness and achievements in every part of life.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health, wealth, and endless joy.

May your dreams take flight and your goals come true this year.

Hope the Year of the Dragon fills your life with strength and good fortune!

Wishing you plenty of success and prosperity in all that you do.

May your home be filled with love, laughter, and peace.

Sending you warm wishes of joy, happiness, and many blessings.

May each day of the new year bring you new chances and joy.

Wishing you a year full of love, laughter, and great success.

May your business grow and your career reach new levels.

Wishing you a wonderful Lunar New Year filled with joy, love, and prosperity. Enjoy the celebrations!

As the new year begins, may it bring hope, laughter, and great achievements. Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing you a year filled with peace, harmony, and everything that makes you happy. Happy Lunar New Year!

May your life be filled with beautiful moments this Lunar New Year. Wishing you a year of blessings and happiness!

May the Year of the Snake bring you plenty of success, wisdom, and joy. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Wishing you good health, wealth, and a year full of love. Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family!

Sending you happiness, peace, and success as we celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Wishing you a year of success and joy! May the new year bring you great opportunities and good fortune.

Happy Chinese New Year! May your days be as bright and cheerful as the lanterns lighting up the sky.

Chinese New Year Messages to Share with Family and Friends

May the Chinese New Year 2025 be filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories with your dear ones!

Wishing you good health, happiness, and endless blessings in this Lunar New Year.

Lets embrace the Year of the Snake with courage, positivity, and new aspirations. Happy Chinese New Year!

New Year, new hopes, and new dreams! Wishing you all the success and joy this year.

With the arrival of the Chinese New Year, may all your worries fade away and your happiness multiply.

Cheers to another year of fun, laughter, and making beautiful memories. Happy Chinese New Year 2025!

May every moment of this year bring you closer to your goals. Wishing you prosperity and success!

Sending you warm Chinese New Year greetings and best wishes for a fantastic year ahead.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Love and Positivity

The Chinese New Year 2025 is a time to embrace new opportunities, cherish family moments, and share happiness. Whether youre celebrating with a traditional feast, exchanging red envelopes, or sending heartfelt Chinese New Year wishes, let this festival bring joy and success to you and your loved ones. Happy Chinese New Year!

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Dozens of devotees have been injured, and many are feared dead after a stampede at the Sangam Nose area of the Maha Kumbh around 1:00 am on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. Many devotees had converged at the Sangam to take the holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which marks the day of the second Shahi Snan.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Several injured, casualties feared

According to initial reports, some barriers at the Sangam broke, resulting in the stampede.

Video and photographs after the stampede showed bodies being stretchered away, people sitting on the ground crying, while others stepped over a carpet of discarded belongings left behind as they tried to escape the chaos.

The exact number of injured is yet unknown, and as of now, there is no official confirmation of any deaths.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan called off

Following the stampede, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad said that the seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya's Amrit Snan.

"You would've seen what happened in the morning, and that's why we have decided to... All of our saints and seers were ready for the 'snan' when we were informed about this incident. That's why we have decided to call off our 'snan' on Mauni Amavasya," ABAK president Mahant Ravindra Puri said.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Ravindra Puri says, "We are saddened by the incident that took place. There were thousands of devotees with us... In the public interest, we decided that the Akharas will not pic.twitter.com/3HHkYjG11G  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

He also said that the third Amrit Snan of the Mahakumbh will take place on February 3.

'Take holy dip at other ghats'

Other spiritual leaders, including Jagatguru Rambhadracharya, have also appealed to devotees to take the holy dip at the nearest ghat on the Ganga and not come to the Sangam Nose.

#WATCH | Maha Kumbh Stampede | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya Ji says, "I appeal to all the devotees that because a large crowd has gathered in Prayagraj today, they should not insist on taking a holy dip only at the Sangam Ghat. As of now, they should pic.twitter.com/KV7KZ9ptfn  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

CREDIT: REUTERS

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Anand Akhara, Balakanand Puri, also said that people should take a dip at any of the ghats along the Ganga. "The river is the same everywhere, so why become stubborn about taking the dip only at the Sangam? The entire mela area is as pious as the Sangam," he said.

Next holy dips of Mahakumbh

Around 10-15 crore devotees were expected to take holy dips during the second Shahi Snan of the ongoing Mahakumbh mela.

Other significant bathing dates during the Maha Kumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami - Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Indie-pop band Cigarettes After Sex, who were set to perform in Bengaluru at Bhartiya Mall on Tuesday (January 28), canceled their show just hours before it was set to take place, leaving fans disappointed and frustrated. Fans, who had been eagerly awaiting the concert as part of the group's ongoing world tour, were left heartbroken, especially after many had already gathered at the venue.

The band members Greg Gonzalez (bandleader), Randall Miller (bass) and Jacob Tomsky (drums) performed in Delhi-NCR on January 24 and Mumbai on January 25. However, the Bengaluru show marked the only cancellation, leaving fans in the city disappointed.

Cigarettes After Sex issues statement

According to their post shared on their Instagram Story, the band cited "local production issues" as the reason behind the sudden cancellation. They offered an apology to fans for the inconvenience.

"We're heartbroken to announce that due to technical difficulties, which were the responsibility of local production at the venue and beyond our control, we're unable to perform and unfortunately have to cancel tonight's show in Bengaluru. We're so incredibly sorry we can't see you all tonight and truly tried everything we could to make it happen," they wrote.

unfortunately the local production had technical difficulties they couldn't fix. we tried everything we could to make the show happen, but the problems are with the local production & beyond our control. we waited months & months to see you & are heartbroken  pic.twitter.com/KpFFjngGx3  Cigarettes After Sex (@CigsAfterSexx) January 28, 2025

Fan reactions

The cancellation left many fans disappointed, with many taking to social media to express their frustration. Some questioned how Bengaluru was not equipped to host such an event, suggesting that the concert could have been relocated to Ahmedabad.

One fan wrote under the band's post on X (formerly Twitter), "Shift the venue to Ahmedabad".

Shift the venue to Ahmedabad. You can do it the best way possible  Adithya Thatipalli (@adi_thatipalli) January 28, 2025





Where is the Khat khat thugs who were abusing Ahmedabad



Bangalore cannot even conduct a normal concert   Bharat (@Bharatmkm) January 28, 2025

Others criticized the lack of communication from the ticketing platform, BookMyShow, with one user pointing out that no emails or messages were sent to concertgoers to inform them of the cancellation in advance.

Good luck to people who bought tickets in black   Phunsuk Wangdu (@Phunsukwangduji) January 28, 2025

Learn Kannad first , then only they will allow you to perform in Bangalore  Tranquil (@15Tranquil15) January 28, 2025





They here is clearly @bookmyshow. They botched the Coldplay tix sales, cancelled Trevor Noah for same reason, ran a crappy Vir Das event at kora stadium despite bad sound & long ago I remember my James Blunt tix cancelled for some lame reason. They have learned nothing so far!  J. Mohsin (@SaifurMohsin) January 28, 2025

Refund promised

Despite the setback, Cigarettes After Sex assured fans that refunds would be offered through the ticketing app. "BookMyShow will reach out to you with information on refunds for the show as well. Love you so much," the statement added.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
DeepSeek, the groundbreaking AI model developed by China, has taken the tech industry by storm, as it is said to be outperforming the existing artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude AI. While one of the standout members of the team who developed DeepSeek, Luo Fuli has been hailed as an 'AI prodigy' in China because of her brilliant mind.

DeepSeek has already impressed many, including Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. The chatbot has ranked at the top of the Apple App Store charts surpassed ChatGPT and sent shock waves through the US stock market.

As DeepSeek's incredible success can be attributed to its talented young workers who have developed cutting-edge AI technology despite its limited resources.

Who is Luo Fuli?

Among all the team members, Luo Fuli has stood out as an "AI prodigy" in China. Luo Fuli is a 29-year-old AI researcher and prodigy who has garnered widespread acknowledgement for her major contributions to natural language processing (NLP).

Fuli's journey started at Beijing Normal University, where she initially struggled in computer science, but she eventually excelled in the field. Following this, she earned a spot at Peking University's Institute of Computational Linguistics, publishing eight papers at the prestigious ACL conference in 2019.

Luo Fuli's achievements attracted tech giants like Alibaba and Xiaomi

Luo Fuli's acclamation extended beyond this, as her remarkable achievement caught the attention of tech giants Alibaba and Xiaomi; this paved the way for her future collaborations.

Fuli was also a researcher at Alibaba's DAMO Academy, and she developed the multilingual pre-training model VECO. She also contributed to the open-source AliceMind project.

Feminism with Chinese characteristics.



This is Luo Fuli, a prodigy at DeepSeek and author of 8 AI papers!



She got her Masters degree from Peking University in 2020.



Worked at Alibaba, joined DeepSeek in 2022, did amazing stuff, and now has been stolen by Xiaomi AI lab! pic.twitter.com/MCz3ahXKVJ  S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) January 29, 2025

Luo Fuli joined DeepSeek in 2022

Later in 2022, Luo Fuli joined DeepSeek as a natural language processor. Her expertise in natural language processing played a major role in developing DeepSeek-V-2. This has been acclaimed for its ability to rival ChatGPT.

After spending a stint at DeepSeek, Luo's expectational skills caught the attention of Xiomi's founder, Lei Jun. According to the South China Morning Post, Xiaomi's founder offered her an annual compensation package of 10 million yuan.

Know more about DeepSeek

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI chatbot that is making waves in the AI world because of its impressive large language models. The chatbot was founded in 2023 by 40-year-old Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, China.

The large language models (LLMs) were developed at a significantly lower price as compared to their other competitors. DeepSeek-V3's performance rivals are among the top LLMs, including Llama 3.1 and Qwen 2.5, while matching GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Artificial Intelligence has been dominating conversations for a while, and its rapid advancements are hard to ignore. Just recently, a new low-cost chatbot called DeepSeek emerged, challenging the likes of ChatGPT. Now, India's wealthiest individual, Mukesh Ambani, has added his voice to the AI debate. He urged India's youth to not overly depend on ChatGPT, emphasising that true progress comes from "khud ki buddhi," (one's own intelligence), not just AI.

Speaking about artificial intelligence at the 12th Convocation of PDEU (Pandit Deendayal Energy University), Mukesh Ambani shared valuable advice for young students: "Talking of artificial intelligence I have a piece of advice to our young students. You must be good at using AI as a tool of learning, but do not give up your own critical thinking."

Check out the video here:

"Artificial Buddhi se nahi.



Mukesh Ambanis true advice on using ChatGpt AI or DeepSeek#ChatGPT #DeepSeekR1 pic.twitter.com/VV4NxZFZ2v  M kumar (@MkumarCyber) January 29, 2025

He further emphasised, "ChatGPT ka zarurat se istemal karo, lekin yaad rakho, artificial buddhi se nahi, khud ki buddhi se hum aage badhenge aur aage badh sakte hai." (Use ChatGPT as needed, but remember, it is not with artificial intelligence, but with your own intelligence that we will move forward and can achieve progress.)

Mukesh Ambani's investments in AI

Reliance is reportedly making significant investments in AI technologies, including acquiring advanced semiconductors from NVIDIA, a leader in the field.

Mukesh Ambani is also planning to build the world's largest data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is expected to boost India's AI capabilities.

Additionally, a consortium supported by Reliance Industries and top engineering institutions in India is working on launching a ChatGPT-like service.

The project, called BharatGPT, which includes partnerships with IITs and Reliance Jio, recently showcased its AI language model, "Hanooman," during a tech conference in Mumbai.

If successful, Hanooman could mark a significant milestone for India in the race to develop AI technologies, offering services in 11 local languages across sectors like healthcare, governance, finance, and education.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Most powerful Air Forces in the world: The global ranking of the most powerful Air Forces in the world has been released by GlobalFirePower.com. The report evaluates Air Forces based on their fleet strength, including fighter jets, helicopters, and support aircraft. A notable highlight of this ranking is that the Indian Air Force has secured a spot in the top five most powerful Air Forces in the world. Additionally, the ranking also includes Pakistan's Air Force, showing a clear difference in air power between the two neighbouring nations.

US Air Force Leads, Russia and China Follow

According to the report, the US Air Force holds the title of the worlds most powerful Air Force. It is followed by Russia in second place and China in third. The Indian Air Force ranks fourth, while South Korea secures the fifth position. The report highlights that the US Air Force has an unmatched fleet, boasting more aircraft than the combined air strength of Russia, China, India, South Korea, and Japan. Japan ranks sixth on the list.

United States Air Force  The Strongest in the World

The US Air Force dominates with an extensive fleet, including 5,737 helicopters, 1,854 fighter jets, and 3,722 support aircraft, as reported in NBT. With an annual defence budget of $800 billion, the US Air Force accounts for 40% of global military spending.

Russias Air Force  A Powerful Contender

Ranked second, Russias Air Force has a fleet of 4,292 aircraft, which includes 809 fighter jets, 1,554 helicopters, and 610 support aircraft. Despite being a powerful force, its airpower is only one-third of the USA Air Force.

Chinas Air Force  Rapid Modernisation

China, in third place, is rapidly modernising its Air Force, heavily investing in advanced fighter jets and aerial technology to strengthen its air dominance.

Indian Air Force  The Fourth Most Powerful in the World

The Indian Air Force is ranked fourth, with a fleet of 2,229 aircraft, as reported in NBT. This includes 53 fighter jets, 899 helicopters, and 831 support aircraft. Known for its strategic strength and modernisation efforts, the Indian Air Force continues to enhance its capabilities to maintain its position among the world's most powerful Air Forces.

South Koreas Air Force  Fifth on the List

Ranked fifth, South Koreas Air Force has 1,592 aircraft, demonstrating strong aerial defence capabilities in the region.

Japans Air Force  Sixth Most Powerful

Japan follows in sixth place, with a total of 1,443 aircraft. The country maintains a highly advanced Air Force, ensuring strong aerial defence.

Pakistans Air Force  Where Does It Stand?

In comparison to the Indian Air Force, Pakistans Air Force ranks three spots lower, showing a significant gap in aerial strength. Pakistan's Air Force has a total of 1,399 aircraft, including 328 fighter jets, 373 helicopters, and 750 support aircraft.

Other Air Forces in the Top 10

Following Pakistan, Egypt ranks seventh with 1,099 aircraft, while Turkey is eighth with 1,083 aircraft. France rounds up the top 10 powerful Air Forces in the world with 976 aircraft.

The ranking of the worlds most powerful Air Forces highlights the dominance of the US Air Force, with Russia, China, India, and South Korea completing the top five. The Indian Air Force maintains a strong position, ranking fourth, while Pakistans Air Force remains significantly behind in comparison. As global military advancements continue, nations are investing heavily in modernising their Air Forces to secure their defence and global influence.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi, known for her stunning performances, made her highly anticipated first public appearance after a health crisis led to her hospitalization. After nearly a month away from the spotlight, sparking concern among her fans, the star made a memorable entrance at the event in a horse-drawn carriage.

WELCOME BACK ROSY  pic.twitter.com/Wjlcl81BJK  zhao lusi media (@lusifilms) January 25, 2025

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as she stepped out, with some fans moved to tears by the heartfelt reunion. While fans anxiously await her full recovery, here are her top 5 must-watch C-dramas.

Hidden Love

Where to watch: Netflix

The series follows Sang Zhi (Zhao Lusi), a young girl who develops a crush on Duan Jiaxu (Chen Zheyuan), her older brother's (Victor Ma) best friend. Over time, their relationship evolves from a simple infatuation to genuine love.

Gen Z

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Sun Tou Tou (Zhao Lusi), an orphan, is helped by Professor Ren Xin Zheng (Wu Gang) after getting into trouble. He offers her a chance to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where she faces challenges, including with Ren's son, Tian Zhen (Luo Yi Zhou). Over time, they grow closer, and Tou Tou pursues her passion for TCM, alongside her classmates, finding support to follow their dreams.

The Story of Pearl Girl

Where to watch: Netflix

After escaping a pearl farm, diver Duan Wu (Zhao Lusi) joins merchant Yan Zi Jing (Liu Yu Ning) and noble Zhang Jin Ran (Tang Xiao Tian), diving into the world of jewels while uncovering secrets. Renamed Su Mu Zhe, she starts a business, partners with Zhang, and inspires women at the Jewel Exhibition.

Who Rules the World

Where to watch: Netflix

Hei Feng Xi (Yang Yang), refined, and Bai Feng Xi (Zhao Lusi), bold, are unmatched in skill and intellect. Amid political unrest and martial arts chaos, their love blooms. Together, they seek justice while navigating betrayal, uncertainty, and the battle for the throne.

The Romance of Tiger and Rose

Where to watch: Viki

Aspiring screenwriter Chen Xiao Qian (Zhao Lusi) sells her script but faces resistance from the male lead. After being transported into her own story as the Third Princess, she must find a way to survive and return home, knowing her character's fate.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Toll workers at the Aggelokastro station on the Ionia Odos highway experienced a truly unusual encounter early Monday morning when a driver returned with an unexpected explanation for his U-turn.

According to Synidisi.gr, a driver from Albania, en route to Athens, stopped at the toll station around 2 a.m., paid his fee, and continued his journey. About 30 minutes later, he returned, sheepishly explaining to the

astonished toll workers that he had forgotten something  or rather, someone  important: his wife.

The man recounted that he had briefly stopped along the way, and his wife, who had been sleeping, had exited the car. Distracted, he then resumed driving, completely unaware that she was no longer in the vehicle.

It wasn't until he neared the Rio-Antirrio Bridge that he realized his wife was missing. He immediately turned around and drove back to the rest stop where he had last seen her.

The driver's quick thinking and return ensured a happy reunion, but his story left toll workers amused and likely shaking their heads in disbelief.

   iefimerida.gr
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in a statement in Vilnius after his meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Kestutis Budrys, expressed Greece's solidarity with the countries of the Baltic Sea following the damage caused to the submarine data cable, which affected critical infrastructure.

He also stressed that no interference should be tolerated, adding, We will be in full

solidarity in this regard. The resilience and security of our infrastructure must be a top European priority.

Gerapetritis highlighted the importance of unity among European countries and the development of common policies to safeguard not only their security but also the security and prosperity of Europe.

On Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he stressed that Greece condemned it from the beginning and that it firmly supports the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.

On the Middle East issue, he welcomed the ceasefire agreement and expressed the hope that there would be a long-lasting agreement to achieve stability in the region and in the whole world.

Referring to the migration issue, he said that due to geography, Greece and the Baltic States are coordinated on this issue and have suffered significant violations in terms of migration and hybrid threats through instrumentalisation.

At the same time, he noted that strengthening European security is of paramount importance. "We must also promote the European Union's crucial strategic autonomy, as well as deepen the ties between the European Union and NATO and strengthen our cooperation within the Alliance," Gerapetritis stressed.

He added that there was also an agreement with his Lithuanian counterpart to further expand bilateral relations in critical policies such as defence. He also expressed the willingness for further cooperation in the framework of the Three Seas Initiative, which foresees the implementation of important interconnectivity projects in the energy, transport, and data sectors.

   iefimerida.gr
Greece has offered to provide humanitarian aid to both Gaza and Lebanon, stepping in after US efforts to establish a supply route to Gaza were hampered by severe weather.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced that four navy ships have been placed on alert to deliver essential aid, including water, food,

and medication, if requested.

"This is our region," Mr. Dendias said. "We have offered to contribute to humanitarian aid efforts both in Gaza and Lebanon. We want to create a stable future with the goal of prosperity."

The need for humanitarian assistance is critical in the wake of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as thousands of displaced Palestinians return to devastated homes in northern Gaza.

The US military had been working to build an artificial dock in the eastern Mediterranean to facilitate aid delivery, but those efforts have been halted due to challenging weather conditions.

Mr. Dendias emphasized Greece's readiness to assist, stating, "We have limited resources, but we are present." The offer of aid reflects Greece's commitment to regional stability and humanitarian support in the Middle East.

In other news, the Greek Armed Forces have undergone a restructuring, with reductions in officer ranks across various branches.

The number of Brigadiers in the Army has decreased by 36, Navy Captains by 5, and Air Force Brigadiers by 7. The number of Colonels has seen a significant reduction of 369.

   iefimerida.gr
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday expressed "Greece's strong opposition to the possible sale of METEOR missiles to Turkiye, by a consortium in which France participates," in a meeting on Wednesday with the French Ambassador to Greece Laurence Auer.

In a post on X, Dendias noted that such a possibility "does not align with the up-to-now excellent strategic relations between the two countries."

"After being informed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, I met today at the Ministry of National Defence with the Ambassador of France, Laurence Auer," Dendias said.

"I asked," he added, "for an official briefing regarding the reports concerning the sale of METEOR missiles to Turkiye by a consortium in which France participates."

   iefimerida.gr
Farmers across Greece are intensifying their protests, deploying tractors to key locations nationwide and demanding government action to alleviate the burden of rising production costs.

Tensions flared briefly Tuesday in northern Greece as police prevented farmers from blocking the national highway with tractors at Malgara and Kymina, according to ThessToday.gr.

However, farmers have maintained a strong

presence in the region, with dozens of tractors gathered at various points, including near Alexandria, Polykastro, and Gypsohori.

In Katerini, farmers staged a symbolic protest by distributing lentils to passing drivers.

In Thessaly, farmers have taken more decisive action, briefly blocking the national highway near Gyrtoni and staging a two-hour blockade at the Megalochori junction.

The Pan-Thessalian Coordinating Committee has called for daily short-term road blockades, and rallies are planned for Karditsa, Trikala, and Larissa later this week.

The number of tractors participating in the protests continues to grow, particularly in Imathia, Kilkis, and Pella. Farmers are expressing growing frustration with the rising costs of fuel, fertilizer, and other essential inputs, and they are demanding concrete government measures to address their plight.

While Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Christos Kellas has offered to meet with farmers, it remains to be seen whether this will diffuse the escalating tensions.

The farmers' resolve appears firm as they push for meaningful relief from the economic pressures they face.

   iefimerida.gr
The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias, convened a wide-ranging meeting on Wednesday to discuss the mild seismic-volcanic activity observed in the area of the Santorini caldera.

The meeting focused on implementing necessary preventive measures to better prepare civil protection efforts

in Santorini , considering its unique geological conditions.

According to the recommendation of the Permanent Scientific Committee for the Monitoring of the Greek Volcanic Arc, an increase in activity is recorded in the central fault of Kameni in the northern part of the caldera. For this reason, the Scientific Committee is constantly monitoring the phenomenon, analysing the data, and updating the planning of the corresponding prevention actions.

As stated in an announcement by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, this volcanic activity is similar to that of 2011-2012, which lasted about 14 months and was completed without a volcanic event. According to scientists, based on the data available so far, there is no cause for concern.

   iefimerida.gr
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), has filed a defamation lawsuit against Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), seeking N20 billion in damages.

Kanus lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, filed the suit at a Federal Capital Territory high court on Tuesday, alleging that Adejobis press statement on January 25 portrayed Kanu as a terrorist leader.

Advertisement

The statement described IPoB as a proscribed terrorist organisation and claimed that six notorious kingpins belonging to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and IPoB were neutralized by the Imo police command.

According to the suit, Kanu claims that Adejobis statements were false and constitute a grave libel on his person, as the words in their natural and ordinary meaning portrayed him as a leader of a violent and terrorist group.

READ ALSO: People Benefiting From Insecurity Behind My Predicament, No Hope Of Favourable Judgment In Abuja Court Nnamdi Kanu

Kanu also stated that the defamatory statements read by his brother and circle of friends in Abuja and Nigeria at large were false and constitute a grave libel on his person.

Furthermore, Kanu alleged that the defendants libellous publications and utterances have seriously injured the claimants character, credit, reputation, and integrity and resulted in significant prejudice against the claimant regarding his cases pending in court in Abuja and elsewhere in Nigeria.

Kanu is seeking an order from the court directing Adejobi to retract the statements, publish an unreserved apology in three national dailies, and pay N20 billion in general and exemplary damages.

The letter of apology shall be prominently and boldly published full-page in three (3) national dailies, namely: the SUN, Daily Trust, and Vanguard, the suit read.

Additionally, Kanu is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Adejobi from further uttering the defamatory words.
A Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has struck out a defamation suit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against controversial activist, Dele Farotimi, over alleged cybercrime.

Recall that Mr. Rotimi, in his book, titled: Nigeria and its criminal justice, accused legal icon, Are Afe Babalola, of corruption.

A case, which Mr. Babalola had accepted to discontinue after several appeals by notable Nigerians.

Advertisement

Meanwhile on Wednesday, at the hearing, counsel for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance.

He said: The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning.

READ MORE: Obi Hails Afe Babalola For Withdrawing Defamation Suit Against Farotimi

The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.

He further explained that the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter.

Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal.

In his judgement, Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the case.

He said: This case is hereby struck out.


The Federal Government has intensified its efforts to combat irregular migration, deporting 828 illegal immigrants in 2024.

This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security, according to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

At a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister noted the governments achievements, stating, In the last one year, 137 victims of trafficking were intercepted, and in 2024 alone, 828 foreigners were repatriated by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Advertisement

To strengthen border security, the government, he said has implemented various reforms, including the integration of Nigerian passports into the International Civil Aviation Organisation Public Key Directory which allows for seamless verification worldwide.

READ ALSO: Immigration Deports 61 Foreigners Over Irregular Migration

According to him, a centralised Visa Approval Centre has been established in Abuja to streamline visa processing.

Other measures include the construction of an 8.3-petabyte data centre, the largest in Nigeria, and the introduction of solar-powered infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted operations.

A Command and Control Centre has also been set up to provide real-time monitoring of all land and air entry points, boosting surveillance capabilities.
The organisers of The Headies have revealed an unexpected development with two separate editions of the award show to be held in 2025.

On Tuesday evening, Ayo Animashuan, the founder of The Headies, announced the schedule for the two ceremonies at an event in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He stated that the 17th edition of The Headies is scheduled for April 5 and will highlight the music of 2024.

Advertisement

He also announced that the nominations list for the 17th edition will be unveiled on February 12.

READ MORE: God Instituted Tithes Because Ministry Costs Money  Pastor Iluyomade

Taking to the X account, the organisers wrote, The 17th Headies will hold on the 5th of April 2025 with the nominees list set to drop on the 12th of February 2025

The 18th edition of The Headies is set to take place in December, although the specific date has not yet been revealed.

The organisers of the 17th award event announced in February 2024 that it would return to Nigeria after being held in the United States in 2022 and 2023.

The 16th Headies was held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a venue that also hosted the award ceremony two years prior.

The Headies is a renowned music awards show founded in 2006 to honour exceptional accomplishments in the Nigerian music industry.

SEE POST:
Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, has dismissed speculation that he intends to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling party, reaffirmed his commitment to the APC.

I have no plans to leave the party, El-Rufai said, emphasizing his expectation of improved performance from the APC.

Advertisement

El-Rufai, who has been critical of the Party since being excluded from the ministerial list in 2024 strongly refuted claims about his possible exit.

I am not leaving the APC. I dont have such plans, he declared.

READ ALSO: People Who Cant Control Their Partys Crisis Want To Rule Big Country Like Nigeria  APC Slams Atiku

When asked why he has been critical of the party lately, El-Rufai responded, No, no no, I want them (APC) to change.

Recall that on Monday, El-Rufai accused the APC of abandoning its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.

He complained of a lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the party.

According to him, I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two yearsno caucus, no NEC, nothing. You dont even know if it is a one-man show; its a zero-man show.

The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening, he hinted.
Controversial socio-political activist, Omoyele Sowore has been arraigned by Nigeria Police Force on charges of cybercrime before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Recall that Mr. Sowore, on the 27th of January 2025, honoured the invitation of police, when he was questioned at the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

He was also granted bail but rejected the conditions surrounding it and remained in custody.

Advertisement

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the police later filed a 16-count charge of cybercrime against him.

In count three, the police said Sowore on December 20, 2024, through his X handle, called the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force.

READ MORE: Police Summon Sowore Over Lagos Airport Road Altercation Video

Count One of the charge reads: That you, Omoyele Sowore, on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account, Omoyele Sowore, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.

Count Two reads: That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, Omoyele Sowore, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun. This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle, @policeNG. The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force. By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).

Count Three read: That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, Omoyele Sowore, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it.

Just a matter of time. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution. This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto State Command, has arrested three suspects in connection with the abduction and gang rape of 15-year-old Amina Abdullahi in Gantsare village, Wammako Local Government Area.

This is according to a press statement released to journalists on Tuesday by the commands spokesman, DSC Mohammad Zayyanu.

The statement said, The suspects identified included one Halidu Shehu, male, 20 years, who is the principal suspect.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Gunmen Storm Abuja Community, Abduct Four Family Members

Others are Jamilu Umar, male, 20 years, and Usama Bello, male, 24 years, who were all arrested on January 23, 2025, after a report was filed by the victims parents, who had been searching for their missing daughter.

The suspects held the victim captive for over three days in the principal suspects room, subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults.

The statement also revealed that preliminary investigations showed the victim was drugged and enticed by one Rabiatu, who is still on the run.

Efforts are underway to apprehend her. The victim has received medical attention, and results from the examination are awaited to aid in the ongoing investigation.

The commandant, Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, through his aide, CSC Aliyu Jamilu, strongly condemned the act, describing it as horrific and inhumane. He assured the public of the commands commitment to ensuring that the suspects face the full weight of the law.

This tragic incident reminds us of the need for parents and guardians to remain vigilant and protective of their children. It also highlights the importance of community involvement in promptly reporting suspicious activities to security agencies, the commandant stated.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC Sokoto Command is urging all stakeholders, including religious and community leaders, to collaborate in creating a society free from such horrific crimes.

Protecting our children is a collective responsibility, and we must remain united in this fight against all forms of criminality, the commandant added.

He stated that the command remains dedicated to protecting the lives and rights of all residents and encouraged the public to keep providing reliable and timely information to aid in the fight against crime.
The All Progressives Congress has said that political desperation of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar is the reason why Peoples Democratic Party is in a crisis.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that APCs statement is coming, following Atikus recent claim, saying that there is a need for reform to curb judicial recklessness.

The former vice president led this out on Monday in Abuja at the national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

Advertisement

Reacting to Atikus claim in a statement on Tuesday, Felix Morka, Spokesman of the APC, said that it is an irony that the former PDPs presidential candidate would criticise judiciary because he has a long history of using the courts to further his political agenda.

Morka said: The judicial branch of government is a constitutional creation like the executive and legislative branches with its constitutionally defined powers to adjudicate disputes among citizens and between citizens and the state.

Atiku cannot wish away or seek to abolish enshrined power of the courts to intervene in civil disputes, including electoral disputes, in cases where the authority of the court is validly invoked by a litigant.

READ MORE: Were At Crossroads  Atiku Warns Of Nigeria Loosing Democratic Future

Atiku should focus on rebuilding his party and offering constructive solutions to Nigerias challenges. Atiku knows that his political desperation is responsible for the PDPs catastrophic disintegration.

The bizarre suggestion by opposition figures like Atiku, Peter Obi, and recently, aggrieved leaders like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai that our great party may be complicit in the internal corrosion of opposition parties is pitiful, and only an incompetent alibi for their crass failure to manage their affairs.

They cannot govern their parties but tout their ability to govern Africas most populous country. We cannot possibly forget how Atikus PDP heavy-handedly captured most South-West states and vowed to remain in power for 60 years.

It was in those same years that Atikus former boss and then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, infamously described the election as a do or die affair in a desperate attempt to annex Lagos. We deserve better than petty politicking and alarmist rhetoric from an elder statesman.
Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has rejected the establishment of Sharia Court in the state, describing the development as unconditional.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the islamic institution has suffered many setbacks in some South west States, due to individuals kicking against it.

Recall that Ekiti State Government had noted that courts in the state are enough to carry on any legal cases, adding that it wont tolerate any movement behind Sharia Court establishment.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Lack Of Proper Understanding Responsible For Kicks Against Sharia Court  Islamic Cleric

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun, in a statement personally signed by him, said that Ogun States legal framework does not recognise Sharia Court, adding that only courts recognised by the Nigerian constitution are allowed in the state.

The Governor also issued warnings against organisers of Sharia court sitting.

He said: The Ogun State Government has noted the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of a Shariah Court in Ogun State.

No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State.

The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by State Laws, which are: Magistrates Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.

No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society.

The Ogun State Government upholds and protects the rights of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion, and recognizes the freedom of individuals to apply their faith in their personal and private matters.

The Ogun State Government upholds and protects the rights of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion, and recognizes the freedom of individuals to apply their faith in their personal and private matters.

However, this freedom does not extend to the formation of unauthorized assemblies or institutions.

No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing.

The Ogun State Government hereby directs that all persons involved in the creation or operation of this unauthorized court must immediately cease all related activities and disband the illegal entity and all its apparatus.

The Ogun State Government also advises members of the public to disregard any summons, documents, or persons associated with the illegal Sharia Court. Such occurrences should be promptly reported to the state.


A 19-year-old boy, Dahiru Usman, has been sentenced to one month in prison by a Sharia court in Kaduna for assaulting a sex worker.

The court, presided over by Judge Malam Kabir Muhammad, also gave Usman the option of paying a fine of N7,000 and compensating the victim with N70,000, as stated by News Agency of Nigeria.

According to the prosecution, led by ASP Luka Sadau, the accused had agreed to pay the sex worker, Zainab Idris, N10,000 for her services at a hotel on Constitution Road.

Advertisement

However, a dispute arose, and Usman allegedly attacked Idris with a hammer, causing her serious injury.

READ ALSO: Sharia Court Sentences 8 Crossdressers To 3 Months Imprisonment, 10 Lashes Each In Kano

The prosecutor, on Tuesday, presented the hammer as evidence and urged the court to punish the accused and order him to compensate the victim.

Usman pleaded guilty to the charges and was subsequently sentenced.

The Judge stated that the accuseds actions were unacceptable and that he must face the consequences.

The victim, Idris, reported the incident to the Sabon Gari Police Station on January 15, leading to Usmans arrest and prosecution.
An accident on the Third Mainland Bridge near the University of Lagos Waterfront, in the Adeniji area, has left five people with varying degrees of injuries.

The accident, involving a commercial bus and a Toyota Highlander, occurred on Tuesday, briefly disrupting traffic flow.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed this in a post on X.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Driver Arrested After Truck Fatally Hits Woman In Rivers

LASTMA disclosed that its personnel, with the assistance of good Samaritans, promptly came to the aid of the injured victims and facilitated their access to medical care.

The post reads, An accident occurred on the Third mainland bridge at Unilag Waterfront inward Adeniji, and it involved a commercial bus and a Toyota Highlander.

There are 5 casualties (Injured persons) involved and have been swiftly rescued by LASTMA officials and other good Samaritans.

It also mentioned that efforts are ongoing to remove the affected vehicles and restore normal traffic flow on the busy bridge.

Recovery of the affected vehicles is also expected to be done now. LASTMA added

LASTMA, on the other hand, recommended motorists to travel carefully, comply with speed limits, and perform proper vehicle checks before going out.

The agency emphasised that road safety measures are critical for preventing needless incidents.

In order to save lives and property, drivers are also urged to emphasise safety and work with traffic officials.

Lets always drive cautiously and maintain within the speed limit. Checking car conditions before home should also be a priority, it added.
Donald Trump, President of the United States, has stated that Microsoft is in negotiations to acquire TikTok.

As reported by Reuters on Tuesday, Trump spoke to the press on Monday.

While the president refrained from naming all the US companies interested in the sale, he mentioned that there was great interest in TikTok.

Advertisement

I like bidding wars because you make your best deals, Trump said.

READ MORE: Im Now Seen As One Who Makes Things Disappear  Ikwechegh Reflects On Assault Of Bolt Driver

Microsoft chose not to comment.

On January 19, TikTok was banned in the United States following a federal order over national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership.

The ban temporarily removed TikTok from service, leaving over 170 million US users unable to use the platform.

It also resulted in TikTok being removed from the app stores of Apple and Google to comply with federal regulations.

However, on his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order extending the bans enforcement by 75 days, allowing TikTok to operate again.

Following the signing of the order, Trump told reporters that the US should receive 50 percent of the proceeds from any potential sale of TikTok through a joint venture arrangement.

On January 22, Trump expressed his willingness to consider the possibility of Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and the microblogging platform X, buying TikTok.


In a move that has sparked widespread concern, the United States government has halted funding for HIV treatment programs in Nigeria and other developing countries.

This decision follows an executive order by former President Donald Trump, directing all agencies managing foreign aid to temporarily pause fund distribution.

The suspension affects the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a crucial US initiative that provides life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people globally.

Advertisement

PEPFAR has been instrumental in saving 26 million lives since its launch and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of global health efforts.

According to US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce on Tuesday, in an explainer on the order said The US is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.

This statement has raised concerns among public health experts, who fear that the program could face complete termination under the Trump administration.

The funding suspension is expected to last for at least three months, unless PEPFAR is granted an exemption.

Nigeria, one of the countries most affected by HIV, is expected to be significantly impacted. With approximately two million Nigerians living with HIV, PEPFAR has played a vital role in providing life-saving medications and strengthening the countrys healthcare infrastructure.

READ ALSO: Trump Says Microsoft Negotiating To Buy TikTok, Backs Bidding War

Since its inception, PEPFAR has contributed over $6 billion to Nigerias national HIV/AIDS response, saving countless lives and helping to control the viruss spread.

Reacting, medical professional, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, in a post on Tuesday via X, warned that Nigeria cannot continue to rely on donations for its healthcare needs.

According to him, Nigeria may witness a rise in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria infections.

His words: Now is the time to take our health system seriously. The second-best time was yesterday. Nigeria cannot continue to depend on donations for its own healthcare.

He highlighted the severe impact of the funding cut, particularly on people living with HIV in Nigeria.

If you dont treat HIV, almost everyone affected will develop AIDS, he explained, stressing that antiretroviral drugs are crucial in suppressing the virus and preventing transmission.

If Nigeria doesnt rise to the occasion and take charge, infections will risecurrently close to 200,000 new infections every year. People will die from AIDS because drugs are not available

These are just a snippet of the ripple effect. Lets not forget that diseases like tuberculosis and malaria are being affected also by the pause of funding, he posited
Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has unveiled a new partnership with Spiro, Africas leading electric vehicle company, to introduce his own line of electric bikes on the continent.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the artist stated that the initiative aims to empower motorcycle riders while providing a Made-in-Africa solution to the continents transportation challenges.

Advertisement

He wrote, Manifestation is spiritual. Years ago, I claimed 30 BG, but it wasnt just about success  it was about purpose. Today, Im transforming that vision into something bigger: generational wealth and ownership. With my own line of electric bikes, in partnership with Spiro, were not just building a product  were building a movement.

The bike market in Africa is more than transportation; its the backbone of our economy. Over 27 million motorcycles power the dreams and hustle of our people, with 80% of riders relying on bikes for their livelihoods.

READ MORE: Alleged Paternal Scandal Is Aimed At Destroying My Marriage  Cubana Chief Priest

Davido noted that motorcycle riders, known as Okada riders in Nigeria, have played a significant role in his career. He sees this partnership as an opportunity to give back while promoting sustainable transportation.

These same Okada drivers, who have supported me throughout my career, are now at the center of this vision. They moved my music, my name, and my story across every corner of Nigeria and Africa. Now its time to give back, he wrote.

Davido further emphasised the need for developing solutions within Africa to address the continents unique challenges, stating, This isnt just about business  its about creating a Made in Africa solution for Africa.

Streams might belong to foreign labels, but this is how you flip the script. This is how you turn influence into equity, and visibility into ownership. With financing solutions for riders across Nigeria and Africa, were empowering the hardworking individuals who have always been the lifeline of our economy.

He also noted that the initiative reflects his philosophy of We Rise By Lifting Others, saying: This is about legacy. Its about breaking barriers and showing whats possible when vision, purpose, and community align.

When I said We Rise By Lifting Others, it wasnt just a motto  it was the blueprint. This partnership is proof that when we create for our people, by our people, we build something that lasts.

Commenting on the bikes design, Davido wrote: And lets not forget  these bikes are fly! Big shoutout to Tycoone and Spiro team for the groundbreaking design cant wait until we reveal the final product. Oh yeah, I put my people on.

This is more than a deal; its a statement. Its ownership, empowerment, and legacy in motion. Africa is not just catching up  were redefining what it means to lead. The future isnt waiting for us  were driving straight into it.

We are live in Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda , Tanzania and Ghana, he added as he urged interested riders to sign up on the Spiro website.

SEE POST:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFX4y8wRvsp/?igsh=dGdyNTNmY24zNmFk
The Bucks County man who was the first person to break through a metal barricade outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, acknowledges that his actions effectively kick-started the historic riot that left scores of police officers injured and threatened the peaceful transfer of presidential power.

But Ryan Samsel, who was among the roughly 1,500 defendants to receive a pardon from President Donald Trump  the intended beneficiary of the Capitol attack  also said he believes he became something of a scapegoat over the last four years: overcharged by federal prosecutors, unfairly villainized in the public discourse, and subject to mistreatment while behind bars.

Advertisement

Just days before he was granted clemency, prosecutors said they planned to ask a judge to sentence Samsel to 20 years in prison, a term that would have been among the longest for any Jan. 6 defendant. Now, hes free.

Im not saying I wasnt wrong. Im not saying I was totally innocent, Samsel said in an interview. But, he added, I dont think my action warrants 20 years. People kill people and get 20 years.

The 41-year-olds remarks came as the fallout from Trumps pardons for convicted rioters continues to reverberate across the country. In the weeks since Trump effectively wiped away all criminal consequences for those accused of participating in the attack, the Republican president has faced criticism from nearly all sides of the political spectrum, particularly over his decision to issue blanket pardons to both nonviolent protesters and those accused of assaulting police.

Other Philadelphia-area residents have benefited  including Zach Rehl, a Port Richmond native and former head of the Philadelphia Proud Boys, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for serving as one of the attacks lead provocateurs. Trump commuted Rehls 15-year sentence, freeing him from prison. Rehl has since said he hopes to have the commutation upgraded to a pardon, a more expansive form of relief that Trump issued to almost every person charged with or convicted of any crime stemming from the Jan. 6 melee.

More than 1,200 people were convicted of crimes for their actions on that day. Some were charged with trespassing, while others were prosecuted for assaulting law enforcement officers. Justice Department officials said the probe was the largest single investigation in its history. But Trump had long accused prosecutors of abusing their power and targeting political opponents, calling defendants hostages while seeking to downplay the gravity of what occurred during the attack.

Samsel, of Bristol, was a key part of how the riot began.

Prosecutors said he and four other men  who did not know one another  toppled metal barricades outside the Capitol as a crowd began to swell behind them. Their shove broke the buildings security perimeter and caused Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards to fall, hit her head on a metal handrail, and lose consciousness.

At Samsels trial in Washington, prosecutors said he and his codefendants cleared the way  for the hours of terror, violence, destruction and injury that followed. He was convicted last year of charges including civil disorder and assaulting a police officer, and he was scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Samsel, in the interview, said its true that he was the person who first breached the Capitol perimeter, and that his shove of the barricade caused Edwards to fall. But he said he didnt act alone. He didnt mean to knock Edwards over, he said, and tried to help to her feet after she fell to the ground. And he said he never went inside the Capitol as rioters poured into the building.

In fact, he said, he had only gone to the Capitol grounds because he thought Trump might speak there. While Samsel didnt deny acting aggressively at times, he said he never intentionally struck an officer, and added: When I started seeing people fist-fighting with the cops  I said, Its time for us to go.

He ended up in federal custody not long after the attack, and for years was shuttled between jails as he awaited trial. He regularly complained of being assaulted by guards and not receiving adequate medical treatment. Prosecutors, in court documents, often accused him of lying or fabricating materials to support his claims, something he denied in the interview.

In any case, Samsel said, he was exposed to what he described as horrific conditions while incarcerated, including having to spend lengthy amounts of time in solitary confinement, or in cells without toilets. He also said he communicated with Rehl through the toilet pipes while both were incarcerated at the same jail, and  in an assertion that could not be independently verified  he said he saw famous defendants including Sean Diddy Combs and Luigi Mangione while he was recently housed at the federal jail in Brooklyn.

Now, Samsel  a barber who used to work in Center City  said he hopes to dedicate at least some of his time to working on prison reform. He said he has reached out to elected officials from both parties to connect on the issue, including U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat; U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican; and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic.

As for his past, Samsel said he has deep remorse for crimes he committed in the years before Jan. 6, 2021, including assaults against women. In one of those incidents in 2010, he shoved his pregnant girlfriend into a canal.

Federal prosecutors said in recent court documents that he remained the subject of an active warrant for a 2019 assault in New Jersey; Samsel said he had to agree to a payment plan to resolve that case this month and secure his release from federal prison.

When reflecting on what happened at the Capitol, Samsel said he doesnt have regrets, believing that the fallout from that day has helped put him on a new path.

I wouldnt [say I] regret it, because I believe good can come from it, he said, and if I have to sacrifice my own freedom, then I will do that.
Steven Gretsky, seen here in 2021, has been charged with reckless driving and other summary offenses, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Read more

Chesters recently retired police commissioner was charged with reckless driving Wednesday for a hit-and-run crash he fled from earlier this week, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Steven Gretsky, 46, also was charged with careless driving, failing to give his insurance information at the scene of the crash, and other summary offenses, according to a statement from state police.

Advertisement

(Summary offenses are minor criminal charges that usually result in fines or other penalties.)

Gretsky did not return a request for comment.

The crash took place just after midnight on Monday, as Gretsky was driving a department-issued vehicle on East 22nd Street near Hyatt Street in the city. Witnesses told police a black SUV struck a parked delivery vehicle and its driver sped away without stopping.

Investigators later determined the car was driven by Gretsky.

As news about the crash circulated Tuesday, Gretsky announced his retirement, ending a 22-year career with the police department in his hometown. The Bala Cynwyd-based law firm Campbell Durrant will conduct an internal review of the incident, according to city officials.

A spokesperson for Mayor Stefan Roots said officials trust the state police and the independent counsel retained by the city to their jobs well in investigating the crash.

Gretskys second-in-command, Maj. Katrina Blackwell, will serve as acting police commissioner while a search for his replacement is conducted, officials said.
Amid an ongoing flurry of executive actions, President Donald Trump signed an order Wednesday prioritizing school choice, a campaign-trail talking point aligned with conservative efforts to expand public funding for private education.

Trumps order directed the federal Department of Education to issue guidance to states on how to use federal funding to support K-12 scholarship programs. The order also directed the department to prioritize school choice programs through discretionary grant programs, and directed the defense secretary to submit a plan for how military families could use federal funds for school choice.

Advertisement

Citing declining test scores, Trump called for increased competition for government-run schools.

When our public education system fails such a large segment of society, it hinders our national competitiveness and devastates families and communities, he said in the order.

In Pennsylvania, the vast majority of school funding comes from local property taxes and the state. Still, Trumps order was cheered by conservative activists who have long been calling for school choice expansion  an issue that Republicans are likely to press again as Gov. Josh Shapiro gives his budget address next week.

Heres what to know about school choice in Pennsylvania, and what Trumps order could mean:

Pa. already has school choice programs

School choice has been a fraught issue in Pennsylvania, where Republican lawmakers have been pushing to enact a school voucher program that would pay families to send their children to private schools. While Shapiro, a Democrat, has voiced support for vouchers, Democrats who control the House have blocked the proposal, saying the state should be investing in its underfunded public schools rather than diverting money into a private system.

But the state already has school choice programs  including two that function similarly to vouchers, where families that meet certain income qualifications can get scholarships for private schools. Businesses that donate to the scholarship programs  the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC)  receive tax credits from the state.

Pennsylvania spends more than $500 million a year on the tax credits, an amount lawmakers have consistently expanded. Critics say the programs lack accountability, with no information tracked by the state on household incomes or how students fare academically.

The Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversees the tax credit programs, did not immediately respond to a question Wednesday on how many students received scholarships last year. A report by the Commonwealth Foundation, a Harrisburg think tank that backs school choice, said that in 2021-22, the programs awarded 77,000 scholarships; funding has more than doubled since then.

The state also has charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently managed and do not charge tuition to families. Most are concentrated in Pennsylvanias urban areas; about one-third of children in Philadelphia, for instance, attend charters.

Children statewide also attend cyber charter schools, which saw enrollment surge during the pandemic. In the 2023-24 school year, 164,000 of Pennsylvanias 1.7 million public school students  about 10%  attended charter schools; 60,000 of those students attended cyber charters.

Funding for charter schools  which are paid by school districts for each student they enroll  has been a perennial issue, with public education advocates arguing that charters are pulling money away from public schools. Cyber charters, which receive the same payment rates as brick-and-mortar schools, have been particularly contentious, especially as their enrollment has grown.

Proponents say executive order has limited impact

Federal funding has traditionally accounted for a relatively small portion of school district budgets. In Pennsylvania, federal money accounted for 6.5% of school district budgets in 2022-23. (That share varies widely from district to district. Poorer districts rely more heavily on federal money; Philadelphia got more than 12% of its money from federal sources that year.)

To add new federal funding for school choice, Congress would need to pass legislation.

The Commonwealth Foundation, which has ties to voucher proponent Jeffrey Yass, praised Trumps focus on the issue  but noted the order wouldnt bring sweeping changes.

We are pleased to see President Trump address what Josh Shapiro campaigned on but hasnt delivered for Pennsylvania families: more school choice options, Rachel Langan, the groups senior education policy analyst, said in a statement Wednesday. She said that more money had not translated to better academic performance in Pennsylvania public schools, and that more educational options were needed.

Still, an executive order is limited in its impact, Langan said. She called on Congress to pass a GOP-sponsored bill to enact a federal private school scholarship program similar to those already existing in Pennsylvania, and urged Shapiro to back school vouchers in the state.

Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First, a pro-public-education group, said that school choice options were already robust in Pennsylvania and that the overwhelming majority of parents choose public schools.

If the government were to create a federally funded private school choice program, that would be a massive income transfer program, from working families to  families of greater means, Cooper said. She said subsidies would be too minimal for lower-income families to afford tuition at elite private schools. In some states that have enacted universal voucher programs  which Trumps order described as most promising avenue for education reform  data show most students using the money were already enrolled in private schools, or homeschooled.

Cooper also noted research showing students in voucher programs do not benefit academically.

Were paying for private schools for people who can already afford it, Cooper said. It isnt about making sure that kids who are struggling are going to  learn better.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress  known as the 'Nation's Report Card'  released test results in reading and math Wednesday, showing that students still haven't rebounded since the pandemic. Read more

Students reading scores continued to slide in the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress from 2024, though there were some gains in math.

But even with the uptick in math scores among fourth graders, students nationally are still faring worse than before the pandemic, with widening divides between low- and high-achieving students, according to the NAEP results, which were released Wednesday and come out every other year.

Advertisement

The nations report card is out, and the news is not good, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. Were not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground students lost during the pandemic, and where we are seeing signs of the recovery, theyre mostly in math, and largely driven by higher-performing students.

 READ MORE: Philly student performance improved in 2024, but still lags other big-city school systems, national test results show

Heres how Pennsylvania and New Jersey matched up on the tests, which were administered to 235,000 fourth graders and 230,000 eighth graders across the country in early 2024:

Little change in Pennsylvania or New Jersey

Pennsylvania and New Jersey largely mirrored the national trend, with no measurable changes in proficiency scores from 2022. In both states, more students achieved proficiency on the NAEP tests than the nation as a whole, though fewer students are scoring proficient than in 2019.

Most jurisdictions are not at or near where we were before the pandemic, Carr said.

In Pennsylvania, 33% of fourth graders were proficient in reading last year, compared with 34% in 2022 and 40% in 2019. (Testing was delayed in 2021 because of the pandemic.) In eighth grade, 31% were proficient in reading, the same as in 2022, and compared with 35% in 2019. (Proficiency means students have demonstrated competency over challenging material; more students meet NAEPs basic level, which requires partial mastery of the material.)

In fourth-grade math  an area officials called a bright spot nationally, though Pennsylvania and New Jersey were not states that reported significant gains by NAEPs measures  41% of Pennsylvania students scored proficient, compared with 40% in 2022 and 47% in 2019. Among eighth graders in the state, 31% scored proficient in math, compared with 27% in 2022 and 39% in 2019.

The New Jersey story was similar: 38% of fourth graders scored proficient in reading last year, the same as in 2022. In 2019, the share was 42%. In eighth grade, 38% were proficient, compared with 42% in 2022 and 43% in 2019.

In math, 44% of New Jersey fourth graders were proficient, compared with 39% in 2022 and 48% in 2019. And in eighth grade, 37% were proficient, compared with 33% in 2022 and 44% in 2019.

A math boost in Philly

Some fourth and eighth graders in Philadelphia took the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), a NAEP test specifically for the nations largest school systems.

Proficiency increased for all Philadelphia students, with the largest jump  six percentage points  in fourth-grade math. All other student groups performance was termed not significantly different, according to NAEP officials.

Fourth graders proficiency jumped two percentage points, to 17% meeting federal standards, over the 2022 reading results, and six points in math, to 19% proficient. Eighth graders posted a one-percentage-point increase in reading, and two percentage points in math, to 15% proficient.

Philadelphia still ranks near the bottom of student performance nationally in all exams, and has not yet reached its post-pandemic levels of achievement. Still, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said he was delighted  and surprised  by the increases.

It takes time, and you have some ebbs and flows, but youre staying for the long haul, Watlington said. The same thing is true for progress in a public school district, particularly a big-city school district like this one, the nations eighth-largest.

Reading is a major concern, and not just since the pandemic

The most sobering results nationally were in reading, where scores are still declining years after the onset of the pandemic. In 2024, the percentage of eighth graders reading below the NAEP Basic level was 33%  the highest share in the assessments history, officials said. The percentage of fourth graders who scored below NAEP Basic, meanwhile, was 40%, the largest in 20 years.

This is a major concern  a concern that cannot be blamed solely on the pandemic, said Carr, who said reading scores began to decline in 2017. Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.

The data do not reflect the reason for the declines, Carr said, though she noted factors including chronic absenteeism. She also noted that more students read on devices, and fewer students are reporting reading for enjoyment.

While reading instruction has undergone a rethinking nationwide, Carr said it was too soon to say whether recent curricular changes were paying off. She pointed to Louisiana, a rare state where fourth-grade reading scores have surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

I would not say we cannot turn this around. Its been demonstrated that we can, even in reading, she said.

A widening achievement gap

Masked in the averages is a concerning trend, officials said: The achievement gap is widening.

While eighth graders showed progress in math last year, the improvements were driven by increases among higher-performing students, Carr said. Lower performers, however, did worse than in the past; the gap between the highest and lowest performers in eighth-grade math was the widest it has ever been, she said.

The lowest-performing students are also reading at historically low levels, Carr said.

She said some of the gap could be attributable to student absenteeism, which decreased last year but remains higher than before the pandemic. Among eighth-grade students taking the 2024 NAEP math test, 12% reported being absent for five or more days in the month prior.

Theres a strong relationship between absenteeism and performance in these data, with lower-performing students more likely to be absent, Carr said.
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said Philadelphia's increases in national fourth and eighth grader math and reading exams is promising, but the district still lags most other big-city systems. Read more

Philadelphia students improved in all areas as measured by the nations report card  but its school system still lags most other large, urban districts.

The Philadelphia fourth and eighth graders who took part in the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), a special exam of the biennial National Assessment of Educational Progress report (NAEP), performed better in 2024 in both reading and math.

Advertisement

 READ MORE: The Nations Report Card is out. The results are sobering, including in Pa. and N.J.

Fourth graders proficiency jumped two percentage points, to 17% meeting federal standards, over the 2022 reading results, and six points in math, to 19% proficient. Eighth graders posted a one-percentage-point increase in reading, and two percentage points in math, to 15% proficient.

Philadelphia still ranks near the bottom of most big-city school districts, and its performance in all areas still has not matched pre-pandemic levels, as measured by NAEP performance. But Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said progress is the bottom line.

I did not expect us to improve in all four areas  fourth-grade reading, fourth-grade math, eighth-grade reading, eighth-grade math, Watlington said in an interview.

The district still has a long way to go, Watlington said, but theres no way to go from low-performing to stellar quickly in a large, historically underfunded school system.

Its no different than how your 401k grows  it doesnt all grow in two days, the superintendent said. It takes time, and you have some ebbs and flows, but youre staying for the long haul. The same thing is true for progress in a public school district, particularly a big-city school district like this one, the nations eighth-largest.

NAEP officials do not deem Phillys scores significantly different from the districts 2022 results, except the jump in fourth-grade math.

One reason for that improvement, Watlington believes, is the districts new $20 million math curriculum, adopted in the 2023-24 school year.

In the past, different schools had different curricula, but Watlington standardized the curriculum, purchasing Illustrative Math with $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Its a math curriculum that Penn Alexander has been using for years  one of our highest-performing schools, not just in Philadelphia, but in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Watlington said.

Philadelphia bested the average fourth-grade math and reading scores of just four cities  Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee. It fared worse in eighth-grade comparisons. Philadelphia eighth graders outperformed three districts  Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee  in math, and only Cleveland and Detroit in reading.

Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center on Education Statistics, said that while there were bright spots, nationwide, the news about student performance on the NAEP is concerning  particularly around reading. Historic levels of students scores fell into the lowest category  below basic.

No ones back to where they are prior to the pandemic, so I dont know how much celebrating you should be doing, Carr said. This is a tough call that we have as a nation to turn this back around.

Overall, 25 districts besides Philadelphia participated in the TUDA: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte-Mecklenberg, Chicago, Clark County in Nevada, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, the District of Columbia, Duval County in Florida, Fort Worth, Guilford County in North Carolina, Hillsborough County in Florida, Houston, Jefferson County in Kentucky, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade in Florida, Milwaukee, New York, Orange County in Florida, and San Diego.
Residents arrive at the only polling place in Pitman, the United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Jan. 28. 2025, as voters consider a $21.3 million school bond referendum to fund improvement projects at the district's elementary and high schools. Read more

Voters in Pitman are deciding a $21.3 million school bond referendum that would raise property taxes to fund repairs that officials say are desperately needed for its three aging buildings.

Superintendent Robert Preston was cautiously optimistic as voters in the Gloucester County community were heading to the polls Tuesday to consider the first bond referendum there since 2009 to fund new boilers, bathrooms and upgrades. If approved, the owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $238,209 would see an annual property tax increase of $264.

Advertisement

Im definitely eager and excited, Preston said. Its the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people.

Pitman is the only South Jersey district with referendum questions in Tuesdays special election, one of five times during the year that school boards may ask voters to approve a bond issue or special question.

Statewide, Pitman and two other districts are seeking approval for bonds for $129 million. The state would contribute $27.3 million if local voters approve the spending measures.

Like the other districts in North Jersey, Pitman has two proposed questions on the ballot. Preston said the district selected projects addressing critical needs in order to qualify for the maximum in state aid  $7.2 million.

The proposed projects in the first question would fund much-needed improvements, such as replacing 80-year-old steam boilers at Pitman Elementary with high-efficiency hydronic boilers. Seven bathrooms would also be renovated in the century-old building.

Under that proposal, the track at Pitman High, which is sinking, would be reconstructed. Half of the schools 20-year-old roof, which is no longer under warranty, would also be replaced. Repairs would be made to fix drainage issues between the track and parking lot.

The second question asks to fund the installation of air-conditioning at the elementary school. The district would also install a security vestibule at the high school to better screen visitors. The district said it plans to use budget funds to put a security vestibule at the elementary school by 2026; that is not part of the referendum.

The projects proposed in the second question would go forward only if voters approve the first ballot question. The district said it would take years to finance the projects through its annual operating budget and without state aid. The district enrolls 1,200 students in pre-K through 12.

 READ MORE: N.J.s primary day had special meaning for Pitman students who voted for a new school name

Pitman, which relies heavily upon property taxes for its funding, was among 100 districts that were notified in 2024 that they would receive less state aid. The Legislature restored some funding for the current school year.

Weve lost millions, said Preston said.

Preston said the district would be forced to go back to the drawing board if voters fail to approve the referendum. The board has tried to make its case with presentations and town hall meetings to inform residents about what is at stake.

Voting was scheduled to continue until 8 p.m.

The vote is really the collective vote of the community, Preston said. God forbid it gets kicked down.

 READ MORE: Should N.J. high school students vote in school board elections? The state could become the first to allow it.

Elsewhere in the state, Princeton has two proposals totaling more than $75 million to pay for projects at its high school and middle school for HVAC improvements and renovations. If approved, the state would contribute about $13.8 million.

In Morris County, the Mendham Borough school district is asking voters to approve two questions for work at its high school and middle school, including adding a new auditorium. The bonds total $18 million, with the state contributing $3.9 million.
Central High School Junior Mohamed Bashir, works on STEM project during at after school program led by West Chester professor Brandon Mitchell. Read more

West Chester University physics professor Brandon Mitchell readied the equipment in front of him, which he likened to an adult set of Legos.

This is a bunch of parts and components that you play with to get light to do something, he said of the system of mirrors, lenses, and irises.

Advertisement

The lesson was on photonics: how to manipulate light to get it, for example, to transmit music from an MP3 player to a speaker through the air, which he demonstrated.

 READ MORE: Penn State is pushing for more diversity among STEM scholars

At Central High School in Philadelphia one recent afternoon, several students tried Mitchells task, attempting to maneuver a laser precisely through two small pinholes placed at a certain angle on a black metal board.

Were so close, said a determined Linda Kamal, 15, a 10th grader, as she fiddled with the mirrors.

That feeling of you almost got it  thats science to a T there, Mitchell said.

Mitchell runs the Center For STEM Inclusion at the state university with the goal of bringing more students from under-resourced, low-income communities into the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Some efforts involve bringing middle and high school students onto campus for hands-on activities and panels with educators and STEM professionals from business partners including Deloitte, a financial firm, and United Safety & Survivability Corp., an Exton-based company that makes seats for airplanes and trains.

Other efforts entail visiting students at their home schools, as Mitchell did earlier this month at Central, one of Philadelphias magnet high schools. West Chester is partnering with groups including Heights Philadelphia, a nonprofit that helps students get into and through college, to establish relationships in the schools.

The center serves about 2,500 students a year from the five-county area, Mitchell said, with 300 of those students participating in multiple events annually, allowing educators to get to know the students and follow up. Some students have wound up enrolling at West Chester, though the program is not targeted at recruitment, and instructors are not pitching West Chester, he said. Still, the university has gone from 20 freshman physics majors before the program started in 2021 to 48 this year, he said.

The effort began after West Chester got a $1 million grant to support students from low-income families pursuing a career in STEM. Interest among girls and lower-income students tends to wane in eighth and ninth grades, he said. Students often do not have STEM professionals in their families and cannot see the economic sense in pursuing such a career, he said.

The center initially targeted those middle grades but has since expanded to lower grades and high school, too, for continuity, he said.

Several students who participated have since started their own clubs at their schools, he said. At Masterman, another Philadelphia magnet, Laila Butts, 16, a junior who participated in STEM programs at West Chester, helped to start the Science Thursdays club in which Butts and some classmates conduct experiments and competitions with fifth graders, encouraging them to pursue STEM.

I wanted to show kids that there was more to science than just in the classroom and talking and that it could be applied in real life, Butts said.

At recent club meetings, students built paper airplanes to try out aerodynamics and made towers out of marshmallows and Popsicle sticks to see which would be the tallest and stay up the longest, Butts said.

They were very competitive, said Butts, who aspires to be a mechanical engineer.

Jeremy Heyman, Heights director of STEM Pathways, said the organization is grateful for the partnership.

It continues to be helpful for a growing number of our students, helping to build their network and social capital, said Heyman, whose group also works with Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Were really focused on expanding access and opportunity in STEM fields.

Mohamed Bashir, 16, an 11th grader at Central, said he signed up for the program at his school because he enjoys hands-on STEM activities.

I really wanted to explore my passion, he said. I feel like things like this really help me explore what Im interested in.

He participated in a STEM-based research internship at West Chester last summer.

It really made me want to go to West Chester, he said.

Kamal was one of a handful of students who turned out for the Central program on an unusually cold January day that organizers thought kept some away. She said she saw an email about the program and already participates in a club at Central  Girls Empowerment Mind and STEM, GEMS for short.

There are a lot of schools that are underfunded, and they dont get the opportunities like these, she said. So whenever I see an opportunity, I like to take advantage of it.
One thing chef Evan Snyder has not been working on lately are recipes.

They have been locked in for two years, since Snyder hit the collaborative-dinner circuit with such chefs as Alex Yoon of Little Fish; Alex Garfinkel of Balboa Catering; and Dan Griffiths, Sam Kalkut, and Jake Loeffler of Paffuto as he plotted the creation of Emmett in south Kensington with partner Julian van der Tak.

Advertisement

Emmett, named after Snyders almost-2-year-old son, opens this week  its 30 seats are booked for the first week or so, but eight bar seats are devoted to walk-ins  at 161 W. Girard Ave., which was last Primary Plant Based. Its open from 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

Also on board is Eli Silins, owner of Northeast Philadelphias Camuna Cellars. Its limited-winery license allows Emmett to serve Pennsylvania wines and spirits, overcoming the spaces previous BYOB limitation from its days as such destinations as Cadence and Modo Mio.

Snyder and crew gone for a clean, midcentury look, with date-night-appropriate mood lighting.

Emmetts menu is Levantine-inspired  in that Snyder works with such ingredients as harissa, sumac, and hawaj and cooks over wood. Its not traditional, said Snyder, 33, who grew up in Bucks County. Were pulling flavor from the region and creating our own take on these dishes.

Because the kitchen is small, Snyder and chef de cuisine Antonio Pizzo are offering a four-course $95 tasting menu and a small a la carte selection.

We want the tasting menu to have value, Snyder said. A lot of tasting menus, you leave hungry and youre like, What did I just pay for? Here, I want you to be able to eat a lot of the menu and leave satisfied.

Based on a pre-opening meal, you will. The tasting menu starts with four snacks, segues into a choice of four slightly larger plates (such as coal-roasted beets and barbecue lamb neck dolma) and then offers grilled rockfish with curry, maitake, and spinach, or lamb loin with mujaddara, sumac carrot, and labneh. Desserts are a date cake with Turkish coffee caramel and pistachio, or butternut curd with fennel soft-serve, candied fennel, and an amaretto cookie.

Theres a $35 supplement for the charcoal-grilled duck, which is also available at $70 per person a la carte. The duck, aged 14 to 21 days, gets a lacquer of seven-peppercorn spice and black vinegar, and is cooked down with honey. Theres a sunchoke puree, and duck merguez made of duck fat, fatback, and foie gras.

All of this is served on plates from ceramic artists Lauren Rider and Megan Stover in the Bok Building in South Philadelphia.

Snyder went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando then worked all over New Orleans and the Washington, D.C., area before returning to Philadelphia to become executive chef of Redcrest Kitchen in Queen Village, the polished restaurant at Sixth and Bainbridge Streets bearing the name of owner Adam Volks former fried chicken shop in East Passyunk.

Snyders cooking was praised but underappreciated . With business flagging, Volk revived the fried chicken. Snyder said it was time to leave. I either had to do something on my own or stop cooking, he said.

When Snyder got home after quitting, he said he told his wife, Jessica, I quit my job. Im going to open a restaurant. And she said, Give it some time and think about it. I said, No. I quit my job. Im going to open a restaurant.

Their son, Emmett, was a month old.

Now were two years later and shes supported me the whole way, but I did not think it was going to take this long, Snyder said.

Snyder met van der Tak, then a sales representative for Samuels & Sons Seafood, through van der Taks wife, Victoria, who handled Redcrests social media. As Snyder mentioned his plans for his own restaurant, she said, You know, my husband might be into that.

Marissa Chirico, who was front-of-house and beverage manager for River Twice, joined as general manager (while overseeing the wine), and Petra Manchina, who has managed at Philadelphia Distilling and Manatawny Stillworks, is the bar manager handling spirits.

The Pennsylvania-only restriction honestly works out perfectly for us, because the ethos of the food is local sourcing and I would like to do the same with the wine program anyway, Chirico said. Everything that Ill ever bring into the restaurant is farmed intentionally. Emmett also pours Pray Tell Wines from Oregon, as it has an arrangement with the state.

Cocktails will be seasonal, in that Manchinas drinks will use the same produce as the kitchen, such as leeks in a vodka martini and carrots in one of the nonalcoholic drinks. As the menu changes in the kitchen, the menu changes at the bar, Snyder said. They have to go together.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivers a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday and answered questions about the federal grant freeze. Read more

Philadelphia medical researchers and the institutions where they work scrambled Tuesday to understand how the Trump administrations temporary freeze on federal grants would affect thousands of research projects on everything from cancer vaccines to rare disease treatments that are supported by more than $1 billion in federal funding.

The freeze on federal grants is intended to give the administration a chance to review whether spending is in line with the presidents priorities. Programs such as Medicare and Social Security, which provide funds directly to individuals, are exempt from the freeze, White House officials said.

Advertisement

 READ MORE: Trumps sudden threat to halt federal funds spurs confusion in Pa. and N.J. and sends officials scrambling

A federal judge temporarily blocked the order until Monday, but only after the announcement sparked widespread confusion in Philadelphia and across the country, coming without clear guidance to help organizations understand how the freeze would affect their operations. Also unclear: how long the freeze could last, which programs will be affected, and even whether it is legal.

In a university-wide email, University of Pennsylvania interim president J. Larry Jameson wrote that the university is unsure how a number of recently announced Trump policies will play out, but said the school is monitoring the situation and reviewing its own policies.

He said the schools financial outlook is sound and encouraged the Penn community to continue its essential research and other work. He asked staff to reach out to their deans if a funding agency asks them to pause research.

Rutgers University told researchers to continue working unless directed to stop by a Rutgers grant specialist, and to alert administrators if they receive a stop-work order from a federal sponsor. The university, which received $344 million in NIH grants, has a contingency plan to deal with any pause in payment, according to a memo from J. Michael Gower, Rutgers chief financial officer, and Michael E. Zwick, senior vice president for research.

During these uncertain times, know that the university remains profoundly committed to its public mission of research, teaching, and service, and to our students success, Gower and Zwich wrote. They did not elaborate on contingency plans.

A spokesperson from Drexel University said the school is closely monitoring this dynamic situation and will be communicating with its community as more information is available.

Heres a look at how at least $1.7 billion in NIH funding is allotted to major academic research institutions and medical schools in the Philadelphia region.

Editors note: This story was updated with comment from Penns interim president.
Rutgers University told staff to continue to apply for federal grants amid a funding pause announced by the Trump administration Monday. The pause has created widespread confusion among health researchers and providers. Read more

Billions in federal dollars for health initiatives and research in the Philadelphia area were under scrutiny Tuesday as the Trump administration proposed a temporary freeze on a wide swath of federal funding.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the policy from taking effect, capping a chaotic day that had local health organizations rushing to understand whether providers and researchers might lose funding from the federal government.

Advertisement

It was still unclear exactly which funds might be affected by the order, with some states, including Pennsylvania, reporting issues accessing computer systems that run crucial health-care programs like Medicaid, the public health insurance program for lower-income Americans and many with disabilities.

In the meantime, health providers say that widespread confusion about the pause and its potential impact on patients was already making it harder for health-care workers to concentrate on their day-to-day jobs.

It takes attention from things like research, and it adds an added burden to a health-care provider, said Ala Stanford, a surgeon and nationally recognized advocate for health equity. Everyone is going back to their grants officers and finance departments and checking their large revenue streams to see if there is any associated federal allocation with this money.

 READ MORE: NIH funding is critical for Philadelphia-area research institutes. Its paused under a Trump administration freeze.

Stanford founded the Black Doctors Consortium during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve Black Philadelphians access to testing and vaccines and served in the Biden administrations Department of Health and Human Services. Shes now a professor of the practice of biology at the University of Pennsylvania and heads the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity, a primary-care clinic in Swampoodle.

Stanford also said that health workers who receive federal funds are concerned about losing grants that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, initiatives that Trump has targeted in multiple recent executive orders.

Youre asking [yourself], has any [federally funded program] had a DEI focus? Because you know thats something thats being targeted, she said.

Hospital systems and universities react to the funding pause

Drexel University said in a statement that it is closely monitoring this dynamic situation. A spokesperson for Cooper University Health Care said the health system was also reviewing the situation in Washington.

Over the weekend, officials at Penns Perelman School of Medicine told staff that they should continue to prepare and submit grant proposals.

Tuesday night, Penn interim president J. Larry Jameson sent a university-wide email saying the school doesnt know how these developments will play out but is closely monitoring a variety of Trump policies, including those on research funding, financial aid, visas, and DEI programs.

In the email, obtained by The Inquirer, Jameson said the university is also reviewing its own policies, programs and practices due to the quickly developing situation.

Penns financial outlook is sound, he wrote, and its community should continue its essential research and other work. He encouraged staff to reach out to their deans if a funding agency has asked them to pause research.

Another school official earlier Tuesday had separately sent an email, writing in light of recent events regarding NIH and other health agency operations to remind staff that lobbying and advocacy are strictly regulated for tax-exempt organizations like Penn, but that faculty can reach out to elected officials through their personal emails.

Rutgers University said in an email to staff and students that the Trump administrations actions have understandably caused many members of the Rutgers University community to ask questions and express concern.

Rutgers faculty should notify the school about any stop-work orders or communications from federal grant sponsors, and should not stop working on any projects funded by grants, the school said. They should also continue to submit proposals for grants.

While there is much confusion over what Trumps freeze order covers, federal student aid appears not to be affected, said officials from the American Council on Education, a national higher education advocacy group. That would include federal Pell grants targeted to lower-income students, student loans, and work-study programs.

The Trump administration stated that aid going to individuals would not be affected, but its unclear exactly what that means, and Pell grants, for instance, are awarded to individuals but sent directly to institutions.

But the federal Department of Education later clarified that they would be exempt, said Jon Fansmith, the councils senior vice president for government relations and national engagement. A Q&A document from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget also said that Pell grants are exempt from the proposed freeze.

Fansmith cautioned, however, that there is not formal written guidance on that yet. What other programs will be affected and how significantly is much less clear.

Unless something is exempted, it is in the pot to be reviewed, said Ted Mitchell, council president. He called the Trump order horrible, horrible public policy.

This impacts billions of federal dollars literally overnight, he said. Thats not public policymaking. Thats institutional destruction.

Health organizations monitoring restrictions

Other health organizations who represent Philadelphia-area providers and researchers said they are monitoring the proposed funding restrictions.

The Association of American Cancer Institutes, which represents more than 100 cancer centers that conduct research and care for cancer patients, including four in Philadelphia, said that pauses on federal programs are not unprecedented during a presidential transition.

Still, the organization said, a prolonged federal funding freeze will have devastating consequences for scientific research, stifling innovation and slowing progress against cancer.

The Association of American Medical Colleges, a nonprofit whose member institutions include hundreds of medical schools and teaching hospitals across the country, said it was also reviewing the Trump administrations executive orders and directives to assess their impact.

Philadelphia is a national hub for medical schools and teaching hospitals that train and employ thousands of doctors.

The AAMC said its priorities remain unchanged, including advancing medical research and addressing long-standing health inequities.

These are critical priorities for the nations health, and federal funding has always been an integral part of advancing this work, the organization said.

Staff writer Sue Snyder contributed to this article.

Editors note: This story has been updated with comment from Penns interim president.
WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip  President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week as the first foreign leader to visit in Trumps second term, Netanhayu and the White House said Tuesday.

The announcement came as the United States pressures Israel and Hamas to continue a ceasefire that has paused a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. Talks about the ceasefires more difficult second phase, which aims to end the war, begin next Monday.

Advertisement

The White House letter shared by Netanyahus office, dated Tuesday, said I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.

The meeting on Feb. 4 is a chance for Netanyahu, under pressure at home, to remind the world of the support he has received from Trump over the years, and to defend Israels conduct of the war. Last year, the two men met face-to-face for the first time in nearly four years at Trumps Florida Mar-a-Lago estate.

Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid, and Netanyahu is likely to encourage Trump not to hold up some weapons deliveries the way the Biden administration did, though it continued other deliveries and overall military support.

Netanyahu also wants Trump to put more pressure on Iran, and renew efforts to deliver a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a rival of Iran and the Arab worlds most powerful country.

Even before taking office this month, Trump was sending his special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region to apply pressure along with the Biden administration to get the current Gaza ceasefire achieved.

But Netanyahu has vowed to renew the war if Hamas doesnt meet his demands in negotiations over the ceasefires second phase, meant to discuss a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a sustainable calm.

Over 375,000 return to northern Gaza

Under the deal, more than 375,000 Palestinians have crossed into northern Gaza since Israel allowed their return on Monday morning, the United Nations said Tuesday. That represents over a third of the million people who fled in the wars opening days.

Many of the Palestinians trudging along a seaside road or crossing in vehicles after security inspections were getting their first view of shattered northern Gaza under the fragile ceasefire, now in its second week.

Trump this week suggested that Egypt and Jordan take in Palestinians from Gaza, at least temporarily, so that we just clean out that whole thing  which Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians swiftly rejected, fearing Israel would never allow a return.

Instead, Palestinians were determined to pitch makeshift shelters or sleep outdoors amid the vast piles of broken concrete or perilously leaning buildings. After months of crowding in squalid tent camps or former schools in Gazas south, they would finally be home.

Its still better for us to be on our land than to live on a land thats not yours, said Fayza al-Nahal as she prepared to leave the southern city of Khan Younis for the north.

At least two Palestinians set off for the north by sea, crowding into a rowboat with a bicycle and other belongings.

Hani Al-Shanti, displaced from Gaza City, looked forward to feeling at peace in whatever he found, even if it is a roof and walls without furniture, even if it is without a roof. One newly returned woman hung laundry in the ruins of her home, its walls blown out.

Next steps

Under the ceasefire, the next release of hostages held in Gaza, and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, is set to occur on Thursday, followed by another exchange on Saturday.

In the ceasefires six-week first phase, a total of 33 hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that ignited the war should be released, along with almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel this week said a list provided by Hamas confirmed the fears that eight of the 33 hostages to be freed are dead, bringing fresh grief to Israeli families who have long pressed the government to reach a deal to bring everyone home before time runs out.

On Tuesday, one of the first hostages to be released under the current ceasefire  just the second in the war  shared a glimpse of life in captivity.

Naama Levy, 20, wrote on social media that she spent most of the first 50 days alone before being reunited with other soldiers kidnapped from her military base on Oct. 7, well as other civilian captives.

We strengthened each other until the day of our release, and also afterwards, she wrote.

Aid flows in

A surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza continued under the ceasefire.

In this past week alone, approximately 4,200 trucks carrying aid have entered the Gaza Strip following inspections, said Israels Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel.

Under the deal, 600 trucks of aid are meant to enter per day.

The government of Qatar, a mediator in the ceasefire talks, said Tuesday that while complaints have been raised by both sides, no confirmed ceasefire violations have occurred that could cause the agreement to collapse.

The ceasefire is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas. Militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 assault and abducted another 250.

Israel responded with an air and ground offensive that has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. It does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
Peter Pedemonti, with New Sanctuary Movement, speaks at a rally Tuesday outside ICE headquarters in Center City. Read more

ICE arrested seven migrants during a Tuesday morning raid on a North Philadelphia car wash, according to leaders of advocacy groups who said they were in touch with the mens families.

About 25 pastors, activists, and city residents converged in protest Tuesday afternoon outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Center City, as word spread of the action at Complete Autowash Philly, a longtime business in the Juniata Park neighborhood.

Advertisement

According to New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, most if not all of the men who were arrested had been in the United States for years. One person to whom the group has lent legal support has been in the country since 1999 and was on track to receive lawful permanent residency, what is known as a green card, group leaders said.

The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia has been in touch with the mens families, according to the New Sanctuary Movement. Efforts to contact the consulate were unsuccessful Tuesday evening.

People who dont have the correct documentation do not deserve to be picked up at work or in their houses and thrown into a detention center, Rabbi Linda Holtzman of Tikkun Olam Chavurah told the group outside ICE headquarters. They do not deserve to have their lives torn apart, their families torn apart.

Philadelphia ICE officials said they could provide no information. The agencys media office in Washington did not reply to a request for information.

The mens whereabouts could not be immediately determined Tuesday. Usually, those taken into custody are held at one of the three Pennsylvania detention centers, in Pike, Clinton, and Clearfield Counties, from where they may be deported.

The car wash, located on East Hunting Park Avenue, is normally open all day, people in neighboring businesses said. But it was shuttered Tuesday afternoon, hours after the raid took place.

Efforts to contact the car-wash owner for comment were unsuccessful.

The wash features graffiti art that includes the flags of Mexico, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic on its exterior.

Workers at nearby companies said they did not see the actual raid, which appeared to have concluded by 9 a.m., before many of the other businesses opened. Still, they remarked on how unusual it was for the wash to be closed  workers there typically are on the job seven days a week.

Where is the mayor? Where is City Council? Wheres the statement? Wheres the press conference? the Rev. Hannah Capaldi with the Unitarian Society at Germantown said outside ICE, as people expressed discontent that the administration of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker had not quickly acknowledged the arrests.

Parker has been criticized for not vocally affirming Philadelphias status as a sanctuary city, a place that limit its cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

City Solicitor Renee Garcia said after the arrests, The citys 2016 executive order on detainers remains in place, and it has not been violated.

That order dealt with migrants in city custody, directing that those due to be released would not be held solely on the basis of an ICE-issued detainer, not unless that paperwork was accompanied by a signed judicial warrant.

The protesters outside ICE pledged to resist the stepped-up enforcement of President Donald Trumps administration, including its plan to deport millions of undocumented people.

I think that people need to show up, even if its a little inconvenient for them to take time out of their day, said Philadelphia resident Ray Coyne, 30. This is the beginning of this administration. Its only going to keep happening.
Kevin Smith, John Carpenter, John Hunter, and Kay Sykora posed for a photo overlooking construction on Venice Island in Philadelphia. Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Morning, Philly.

Whats planned for 30 acres of Manayunks Venice Island? Still reeling from Hurricane Idas damage, locals fear a mystery development could worsen future flooding and trap residents on the island.

Advertisement

And Pennsylvania state and local officials were sent scrambling after President Donald Trumps administration ordered a temporary pause on federal financial assistance, a halt that could disrupt trillions of dollars and hundreds of programs.

 Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Flooding is a major concern in Manayunk. The Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood was hit hard by Hurricane Ida in 2021, and its narrow Venice Island, nestled between the Schuylkill and Manayunk Canal, is one of the lowest lying areas of the city.

Now, Venice Island residents are worried that an uptick in development activity on a long-dormant property could bring danger to an already vulnerable site.

Its not clear whats planned for the property, which makes up nearly half of the islands land mass and was once home to a paper mill. Even Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., who oversees the district, doesnt know. But trucks and other heavy equipment have been seen hauling in and piling hills of soil across its 30 acres.

Environment reporter Frank Kummer has the story on neighbors quest for information, and why they fear the possibility of more residential construction.

The late-Monday memo from the Trump administration announcing a pause in federal grants could have massive implications for the region.

Panic over the intended funding freeze led a federal judge to pause the order shortly before it would have gone into effect Tuesday evening. The constitutionality of Trumps order was also questioned by Democrats in Washington and several state attorneys general, including in New Jersey and Delaware, which joined a multistate lawsuit seeking an injunction against the order.

Heres what we know so far about how the funding freeze could impact services in Pennsylvania, Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Effect on research and health care: Philadelphia medical researchers scrambled Tuesday to understand how the freeze would affect thousands of research projects that are supported by more than $1 billion in federal funding. Health providers, too, said widespread confusion about the pause and its potential impact on patients was already making it harder for health-care workers to concentrate on their day-to-day work.

In other federal policy news: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested seven migrants during a Tuesday morning raid on a Juniata Park car wash. A lawsuit by several Quaker groups claims the threat of homeland security agents around houses of worship violates their First Amendment rights. And a medical journal article stemming from a national symposium on research standards held at the University of Pennsylvania will not be published as planned, pending a review by the Trump administration, its editors said.

Plus: The mysterious drone sightings that cropped up in Jersey late last year were not the enemy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.

What you should know today

 Trivia time

Regarding his Philly-set Apple TV+ series Servant, a federal jurys unanimous ruling cleared M. Night Shyamalan of charges accusing the Montgomery County-raised filmmaker of doing what?

A) Not paying local extras

B) Plagiarizing plot points

C) Not securing permits from the city

D) Writing a bad script

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were...

 Anticipating: Bucks County, USA, a docuseries about teens finding common ground in a politically split community.

 Tracking: Sixers star Joel Embiids injury status and (lengthy) history record.

 Excited to see: Kevin Harts new adult-animated comedy series is set in 90s Philly.

 Wondering: When the hypothetical Eagles Super Bowl parade will take place.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philly workers at this grocery chain have voted to unionize

HOOFED OWLS

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Gary Bolton, who solved Tuesdays anagram: Ultimo Coffee. The local coffee chain announced it would close its Rittenhouse location permanently due to ongoing plumbing issues.

Photo of the day

 One last monstrous thing: Grittys Chaos Factory is now open at the Wells Fargo Center, where you can build your own Itty Bitty Gritty. Ill let columnist Stephanie Farrs headline speak for itself.

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday. Back at it tomorrow morning.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Police investigate following a shooting in West Philadelphia in 2023. The erasure of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention by the Trump administration won't stop the stories of gun violence from being told. And it wont stop the work, writes Helen Ubinas. Read more

Around the time the Trump administration was busy erasing websites of government agencies  including the Office of Gun Violence Prevention just before a deadly school shooting in Tennessee  I got an email about the Philadelphia Obituary Project launching a writing program to help loved ones of victims to tell their own stories.

The nonprofits program wasnt in reaction to the administrations erasure. It has long honored people whove lost their lives to guns  but the coincidental timing highlighted two truths: Trumps diabolical attempts to silence our most marginalized voices, and the relentless resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.

Advertisement

The Office of Gun Violence Prevention, established in 2023 by President Joe Biden to address mass shootings and community violence, helped implement the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. But days before Trumps inauguration, its staff resigned, and its website now redirects to a 404 error.

Despite this, former leaders of the office struck a surprisingly optimistic tone with the Trace, a news site focused on guns and gun violence in America. Their work, one of the directors said, can help inform prioritizing gun violence in the future  even while recognizing that the momentum against gun violence will likely come from outside the White House.

On that point, I agree, and that goes for everything currently under attack by this administration, including reproductive, transgender, and immigrant rights. Too many politicians have shown little will, and even less ability, to fight the increasingly disturbing actions coming out of Washington. One example right here in Philadelphia is the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a North Philadelphia car wash last week, where the arrests of seven men, most of whom had been in the United States for years, were met with deafening silence from City Hall. Where is the mayor? the Rev. Hannah Capaldi, of the Unitarian Society at Germantown, asked at a protest after the arrests. Where is City Council? Wheres the statement? Wheres the news conference?

The news conference, at least, finally came on Friday, with many city leaders pledging a united show of force. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, however, wasnt among them.

Ive spent much of my career amplifying the voices of marginalized people, including gun violence victims, grateful for a platform to help share their stories, hopeful its made some small difference. But make no mistake, these stories have always been there  told and retold by those most directly impacted, regardless of our attention or inattention  as has the ongoing work on the ground.

So while the erasure of the websites and closure of vital offices is, by design, chaotic and confusing, what I also know for sure is this: It wont stop the stories from being told. And it wont stop the work.

It will get harder, and that, as is the fear and cruelty that drives this administration, is the point. But it wont end.

History  something else Donald Trump and his supporters are desperately trying to whitewash  has taught us that, and as such we have to wield the power of storytelling as we navigate this dark moment in our history.

(This is where I admit that there have been times, in the last few weeks especially, where my faith in storytelling has sometimes wavered  what have the thousands of words of warning so far amounted to? But I return, always, to my long-held belief in the power of stories to help create a more just world.)

The Philadelphia Obituary Projects new program is called Writing Heals, and families will be paid to tell their own stories about victims who are too often forgotten  and are in danger of being so again as the world is pulled in countless chaotic directions.

Helping to lead the project is Kimberly Kamara, who lost her youngest child and only son, 23-year-old Niam Johnson-Tate, to gun violence in 2017.

Kamara, who lives in Germantown, has been sharing her story for years  with fellow victims, with lawmakers and journalists, in a column she writes for the Philadelphia Obituary Project, and with anyone who will listen to the agonizing and endless pain of an epidemic that cannot be erased by political cowardice.

In 2019, she wrote a book for children like her then-2-year-old grandson, who she knew would one day be forced to grapple with the loss of a loved one theyd barely gotten a chance to know.

In three workshops starting Wednesday, she and Albert Stumm, the projects executive director, will teach others to do the same (more information at phillyobitproject.com).

Its healing to share your story, Kamara said when we talked this week. But its also necessary so that people who maybe havent been touched by this pain yet know that we are out here and that this pain is out here, and that we can do something about it before it reaches us all.

Like me and others, she worries what the shuttering of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention means, but while she remains hopeful, I fear its future has already been decided by a president who promised the National Rifle Association that hed terminate Bidens gun laws, and that no one will lay a finger on your firearms.

And yet, no matter what other horrors this administration dreams up, what other protections it ignorantly and mercilessly strips away, we can never lose sight of one thing it cant take away from us: the stories, our stories, that, as the Philadelphia Obituary Projects mission states, empower and embolden us to create a more empathetic and connected community.

And that is what we need now more than ever.
Im so mad at Target right now that I dont know when  or if  Ill ever step back inside one again now that the discount retailer has announced a rollback back of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

It pains me to have to part ways with Tar-Jay. I was just there last week, buying a Red Flyer tricycle for my nephew that was on clearance. I got such a good deal that I circled back the next day and bought him a toy truck, also for next to nothing. Each time, as I lugged the merchandise to a checkout register, I found myself eyeing the colorful kitchen merchandise by vegan influencer Tabitha Brown. I told myself I would circle back another day when I had more time. Same thing with the new Blogilates yoga line by fitness influencer Cassie Ho.

Now, that day may never come.

Advertisement

As one shopper wrote on social media: They pulling back DEI efforts. Im pulling back my coins! It is upsetting that it has come to this. Over the years, the discount retailer has had some amazing collaborations with a diverse group of designers. I look forward to Targets Black History Month collection. Several years back, the store partnered with historically Black colleges and universities to support the next generation of Black talent. As Brown pointed out in a YouTube video posted over the weekend, boycotting Target will hurt minority-owned brands like hers, which is unfortunate.

Still, it will be a long time before you will catch me pushing around a red plastic shopping cart again. Im not saying Ill never go back. But for now, I intend to spend more of my time and money at other stores, including Costco, which hasnt followed President Donald Trumps anti-woke lead. (In the interest of full disclosure, my husband is a Costco shareholder, but even if he werent, I would still feel the same way.)

The best weapon consumers have is our wallets.

Trump made the eradication of DEI in the federal government a key campaign issue, along with the institution of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and retribution against his political enemies. Shortly after being inaugurated on Jan. 20, he signed an executive order calling for the elimination of all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs in the federal government  as if attempts to increase opportunities for historically disadvantaged Americans are wrong.

DEI critics like to say the acronym stands for didnt earn it, yet remain silent as Trump fills his cabinet with inexperienced and unqualified MAGA loyalists. Its galling to watch, not to mention misguided. DEI programs are important because they increase representation of historically disadvantaged groups in majority-white settings. Its not just a Black thing. Nor is it just an LGBTQ thing. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries of DEI are white women. But that hasnt stopped conservatives from claiming it puts white Americans at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Trumps cabinet picks are once again predominantly white men. A government of the people should look like the people.

 READ MORE: Republicans go DEI on Kamala Harris at their own peril | Jenice Armstrong

Corporations such as Amazon, Meta, and McDonalds have also throttled their DEI initiatives. Target officials announced Friday that they will no longer participate in external diversity-focused surveys or share data with the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates on behalf of the LGBTQ community. That isnt shocking considering the about-face the retailer made following right-wing pushback over its Pride collection two years ago. Im not going to give up Meta or Amazon. But Target I can do without. Doing something is better than nothing.

We are not powerless. The best weapon consumers have is our wallets. As the Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler pointed out on Meta on Friday, we need to revisit strategies of the past, such as the selective patronage program popularized by the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, founder of the Opportunities Industrialization Center and Progress Plaza in North Philly.

Sullivan began preaching about it in 1960 after getting repeatedly rebuffed when he approached businesses and asked them to hire African Americans. He urged members of Zion Baptist Church, Dont shop where you cant work. Other Black ministers followed suit. It caught on. Some businesses reconsidered and began hiring African American workers.

The same tactic can work today. We dont have [the] numbers to stop them all, but we do have numbers to stop some if we work in concert, wrote Tyler, the former pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church in Society Hill. What we need is to remember what we have already done and update the tactics for a new day.

Some folks cant be choosy about where they shop. But we should each examine our spending and become more intentional about where we spend our dollars in the face of so much pushback against diversity.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will be sentenced for bribery and corruption charges Wednesday. Read more

NEW YORK  Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in federal prison for selling the powers of his office to wealthy benefactors and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government  capping a historic fall from grace for the once-prominent Democrat, who spent five decades rising through the nations halls of power.

U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein said the penalty  one of the longest ever given to a federal legislator  reflected the seriousness of Menendezs crimes, which he said were motivated by greed and hubris and betrayed the voters of New Jersey.

Advertisement

Menendez was convicted last year of accepting bribes, including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, both to advance the interests of three New Jersey businessmen and to secretly advance the interests of Egyptian officials.

You were successful, powerful, Stein told Menendez, 71, whose political career began on a local school board at age 20, and ended with him serving as chair of the prominent Senate Foreign Relations Committee. You stood at the apex of our political system.

But, the judge added: Somewhere along the way, you lost your way, and working for the public good became working for your good.

Earlier in the hearing, Menendez had asked Stein for leniency, choking up when recalling acts that he said displayed his lifelong dedication to public service, including advocating for lifesaving medical care for constituents and seeking to help homeowners recoup higher insurance payments after Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey.

He did not, however, mention the crimes for which he was convicted except to say that he had lost nearly everything he had worked for in the wake of his conviction.

Other than family, he said, I have lost everything.

And afterward, while addressing a large crowd of news reporters, Menendez was unrepentant, describing the Manhattan federal courthouse where he was tried and sentenced as the Wild West of political prosecutions and going out of his way to praise President Donald Trump, a Republican who has repeatedly attacked the justice system as corrupt.

President Trump is right  this process is political and is corrupted to the core, Menendez said. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores integrity to the system.

Menendez left without taking questions and did not say whether he planned to ask Trump for a pardon. He was ordered to surrender to begin his sentence in June.

Thursdays hearing was an unseemly bookend to a political career in which Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, had vaulted to the upper crust of American society.

While addressing the judge, Menendez recalled how he got his start in politics, including by testifying against a local mayor in a corruption trial  an episode he said required him to wear a bulletproof vest due to threats against his life  and then winning election to the Union City school board and later serving as that citys mayor.

His steady ascent continued as he won election to offices with increasingly higher profiles over the years. And in 2006, he was elected to the U.S. Senate  the first person of Hispanic descent to serve in that role for New Jersey, he said.

His attorneys sought to highlight his decades of good works for Stein, the judge, and asked for a sentence of no longer than eight years, saying that to do so could doom Menendez to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

He deserves punishment, said attorney Adam Fee. He does not deserve to die in prison.

Prosecutors, however, asked the judge to imprison Menendez for 15 years, saying his case marked the first time that an American elected official had been found guilty of working on behalf of a foreign government, and writing that his conduct was perhaps more serious than that for which any other Senator has been convicted in United States history.

The case was a window into what the defendant believed, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni. He believed the power he wielded belonged to him.

Menendez was convicted in July of accepting bribes to advance the interests of three businessmen. Among other crimes, prosecutors said, Menendez lobbied a federal agency to grant one of the men  Wael Hana  a monopoly on certain meat exports from the United States to Egypt. Hana and another businessman, Fred Daibes, were convicted alongside Menendez at trial, while a third, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified against them.

Hana was sentenced Wednesday to more than eight years in prison, while Daibes received a seven-year sentence.

Prosecutors said Menendez took other troubling actions after receiving the bribes, including promoting the views of the Egyptian government, briefing Egyptian officials on pointed questions other senators might ask them, and helping ghostwrite a letter justifying alleged human rights abuses that occurred there.

Menendez literally not just took the side of, but secretly authored a response in the voice of, a foreign government against his own fellow U.S. Senators, prosecutors wrote in court documents.

He also tried to quash criminal investigations in the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office at Uribes request, prosecutors said. And in exchange for Menendezs help, Uribe testified, he gave Menendezs wife, Nadine, the Mercedes-Benz. (Nadine Menendez was also charged in the case, but she is still awaiting trial because she has been receiving treatment for breast cancer.)

Monteleoni, the prosecutor, said Menendez tried to liquidate his power into cash and gold bars, and pointed out that Menendez did so even after he had been admonished years earlier by the Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts from donors that he failed to disclose.

Menendez tried to convince Stein, the judge, that losing his career and livelihood was enough to spare him from a lengthy term of incarceration. He resigned his seat in August after a wide array of officials called for him to step down. Former U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, won the election to fill Menendezs former seat in November.

And Menendezs lawyer said the public shame that has accompanied his conviction will follow him forever.

He is now widely known as Gold Bar Bob, said the lawyer, Fee.

Stein, however, was not swayed.

People have to understand, he said, that when theres wrongdoing of this magnitude, there are serious consequences.
Federal computer systems that were down in Pennsylvania on Tuesday were restored, and President Donald Trumps administration on Wednesday rescinded its controversial memo ordering the pause of trillions of dollars in federal disbursements that caused chaos throughout the state and across the country as officials scrambled to decipher which government programs were at risk and groups mounted legal challenges to block it.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Wednesday that access to payment systems for Medicaid, workforce development database CareerLink, and preschool provider Head Start were all restored late Tuesday night, after he said they were previously inaccessible earlier in the day in Pennsylvania and other states after the memo was released.

Advertisement

He also reiterated his criticism that Trumps administration intended to cause confusion across the country by issuing the memo with little explanation.

Dont let anybody tell you this was some technical glitch, Shapiro, a Democrat, said. They were very purposeful in trying to wreak havoc on our communities and stop these federal dollars from flowing to our states.

It was not immediately clear how long the federal computer systems were down on Tuesday, and the White House claimed that no Medicaid payments were affected by the outage.

The turmoil began late Monday, when the Office of Management and Budget initially ordered that all federal funds  including those already granted by Congress  be paused starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday for review to ensure they aligned with Trumps recent executive orders restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and environmental efforts. A federal judge quickly blocked the directive from going into effect Tuesday evening, and the Trump administration on Wednesday rescinded the order altogether.

Federal funding makes up approximately 40% of Pennsylvanias annual spending, totaling nearly $49 billion in the current fiscal year. These funds are often used by state governments or pass through to local governments to pay for essential services, such as highway repairs, food programs, public education, and more. Nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities also rely on federal funding for everything from cancer research to providing community welfare services.

Attorneys general from 22 states filed a separate lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the directive on Tuesday evening, including New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, a Democrat.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, a Republican, did not join the lawsuit, and put out a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that he spent the last day assessing the impact a federal freeze would have on Pennsylvania and voicing concerns to the appropriate officials.

I am grateful that the President quickly recognized the importance of this funding to the people and organizations of the Commonwealth, Sunday said.

While the memo was rescinded Wednesday, the confusion it caused did not stop there.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the core purpose of it still stood: Federal funding is still frozen for funding related to Trumps recent executive orders and will be rigorously implemented.

Meanwhile, freshman Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) wrote on the platform that he is grateful to all the Pennsylvanians who reached out about the Administrations spending pause over the last 24 hours.

The pause has been rescinded. Your input made a difference  thank you, McCormick wrote.

Shapiro said on X in response to the memos rescission that the daylong chaos it created for leaders across the country was reckless and unnecessary.

Pro tip: Next time, the Administration should do its homework instead of shutting down critical payment systems, Shapiro added.
Affordable BSN Nursing Paper Help: Fast & Reliable

Introduction

Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a rewarding yet nurs fpx 4005 assessment 3 demanding journey. As nursing students juggle extensive coursework, clinical hours, and practical training, they often find themselves overwhelmed with assignments that require meticulous research, critical thinking, and flawless writing. Nursing assignments cover various topics such as case studies, care plans, nursing research, ethics, and patient care. Given the importance of academic performance in nursing programs, timely and well-written assignments play a pivotal role in ensuring success.

However, the pressure to maintain high academic standards while managing other responsibilities can be exhausting. This is where affordable BSN nursing paper help can make a significant difference. Fast, reliable, and cost-effective nursing writing services can ease the burden of nursing students, ensuring they submit well-crafted papers without compromising quality or breaking the bank.

In this article, we will explore how affordable BSN nursing paper help can provide students with essential support, the advantages of opting for professional help, and tips on choosing the right service for academic success.

Why Affordable BSN Nursing Paper Help Is Essential

1. Managing the Rigorous Nursing Curriculum

The BSN program is known for its intensity and breadth, requiring students to balance theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical practice. Students are expected to understand complex medical concepts, deliver patient-centered care, and excel in both individual and group projects. These demands can create a time crunch when assignments and deadlines pile up.

While clinical placements and practical training are crucial for skill development, students must also meet academic requirements. Assignments like research papers, essays, reflective practice pieces, and nursing care plans require substantial time for research, writing, and editing. Affordable BSN nursing paper help allows students to get quality papers without compromising their study schedule or clinical hours, enabling them to focus on mastering nursing practices and patient care.

2. Meeting High Academic Standards

Nursing education is known for its high academic expectations. Professors require students to submit well-researched, properly cited, and well-written papers that demonstrate their understanding of nursing theories, clinical practices, and healthcare policies. Many nursing students, especially those new to the field, may struggle with writing high-quality academic papers that meet these standards.

Affordable nursing paper writing services employ expert writers with a deep understanding of the healthcare field. These professionals ensure that all papers are properly formatted and written according to the highest academic standards. With affordable nurs fpx 4045 assessment 5 services, nursing students can submit well-researched, plagiarism-free papers without the financial strain often associated with premium services.

3. Reducing Stress and Improving Mental Health

The demands of nursing school can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Students are not only expected to perform well in their academic assignments, but they must also excel in their clinical training, exams, and other academic activities. The pressure to complete assignments while also balancing real-world healthcare training can take a toll on students' mental health.

Affordable BSN nursing paper help can ease some of this pressure. By outsourcing writing tasks, students can alleviate the stress of juggling multiple assignments and focus on their well-being and overall academic success. Timely delivery of high-quality assignments also eliminates the stress of last-minute writing, allowing students to submit their papers with confidence.

Types of Nursing Assignments That Benefit from Affordable Help

1. Research Papers and Literature Reviews

Research papers are common in nursing programs, and they require students to conduct thorough research on various topics. These papers often involve reviewing literature, analyzing studies, and providing evidence-based recommendations. Since research papers require a deep understanding of the subject matter, students may find it challenging to write them without expert help.

Affordable BSN nursing paper help offers:

Comprehensive research on nursing topics.

on nursing topics. Clear and concise writing , presenting ideas logically.

, presenting ideas logically. Proper citation and referencing in formats like APA, MLA, or Chicago.

in formats like APA, MLA, or Chicago. Plagiarism-free content, ensuring originality and authenticity.

Opting for professional help ensures that students can produce a research paper that meets the academic expectations of their instructors while saving valuable time.

2. Nursing Case Studies

Case studies in nursing require students to analyze a patients condition, medical history, and treatment plan. Writing a nursing case study involves applying theoretical knowledge to real-life clinical scenarios, which can be complex. Students need to consider multiple factors such as patient assessments, diagnostic findings, nursing diagnoses, and interventions.

Affordable BSN nursing paper help assists students with:

Thorough analysis of case scenarios and patient history.

and patient history. Identifying nursing diagnoses and interventions .

and . Crafting clear, structured care plans .

. Offering evidence-based solutions based on the latest research.

Having an expert writer handle case study assignments ensures that students demonstrate a solid understanding of clinical practice while avoiding common mistakes that can impact their grades.

3. Nursing Care Plans

Developing a nursing care plan is a critical part of nursing education. These plans outline the nursing interventions required to address a patients healthcare needs. Writing a care plan involves assessing the patients condition, identifying potential problems, and formulating appropriate interventions.

Affordable BSN writing assistance provides:

In-depth analysis of the patients medical condition.

of the patients medical condition. Detailed nursing diagnoses and corresponding interventions.

and corresponding interventions. Goal setting and evaluation criteria to track patient progress.

and to track patient progress. Use of evidence-based practices to support care plan decisions.

A well-organized nursing care plan is essential for demonstrating the application of nursing theory to patient care. Affordable help ensures that students can develop comprehensive care plans that meet academic standards.

4. Reflective Practice Essays

Reflective practice is an essential component of nursing education. Students are often asked to reflect on their clinical experiences and discuss their personal growth, challenges, and learning outcomes. These essays require students to provide a critical analysis of their experiences and demonstrate how these experiences have contributed to their development as future nurses.

Affordable writing services help by:

Structuring reflective essays according to academic guidelines.

Encouraging students to analyze their clinical experiences critically.

Highlighting key learning moments and personal insights.

Providing feedback and revisions to improve writing quality.

A well-written reflective essay showcases not only the students academic abilities but also their capacity for self-assessment and professional growth.

5. Nursing Ethics Papers

Nursing ethics papers address the ethical challenges that nurses face in their practice. Topics might include patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, and the ethical dilemmas nurses encounter when providing patient care. Writing about ethical issues requires a nuanced understanding of ethical theories and principles.

Affordable writing services support students by:

Analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing practice.

in nursing practice. Applying ethical principles to real-life scenarios.

to real-life scenarios. Ensuring proper referencing of ethical theories.

Writing essays that are both reflective and evidence-based.

Having access to expert writing help ensures that students tackle nursing ethics papers with the depth and professionalism required to meet academic expectations.

Benefits of Using Affordable BSN Nursing Paper Help

1. Cost-Effective Solutions

Affordability is a major factor when choosing writing services. Nursing students often face financial constraints, especially given the cost of tuition, textbooks, and clinical training. Affordable BSN nursing paper help provides students with high-quality services without putting an excessive burden on their finances. Many services offer discounts for first-time users, bulk orders, or long-term clients, making professional writing help accessible to a larger number of students.

2. High-Quality Content

Despite being affordable, these services do not compromise on the quality of work. Professional writers with advanced degrees in nursing ensure that all papers are well-researched, properly formatted, and aligned with academic standards. These writers are experienced in the nuances of nursing education and can provide papers that meet the specific needs of nursing students.

3. Timely Delivery

Meeting deadlines is crucial in nursing education. Delays in submitting assignments can negatively impact students' grades. Affordable BSN nursing paper help guarantees on-time delivery, ensuring that students can submit their work without fear of missing deadlines. Whether the paper is due in a day or a week, these services can accommodate urgent requests and deliver papers promptly.

4. Plagiarism-Free Work

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that can result in severe consequences, including failure or expulsion. Affordable writing services ensure that all papers are 100% plagiarism-free by using advanced plagiarism detection tools. Students can trust that the papers they receive are original and unique, helping them avoid academic dishonesty.

5. Confidentiality and Privacy

Reputable writing services guarantee the confidentiality and privacy of their clients. Nursing students can rely on these services to protect their personal information, academic records, and payment details. With secure systems in place, students can focus on their assignments without worrying about privacy issues.

How to Choose the Right Affordable BSN Writing Service

1. Check Reviews and Testimonials

Before choosing a writing service, it is essential to read customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the quality of the service. Positive feedback from previous students is a good indicator that the service is reliable and offers quality work.

2. Ensure Expertise in Nursing

Make sure that the writing service has a team of writers with expertise in nursing and healthcare. Writers should be familiar with nursing terminology, theories, and practices to deliver papers that meet academic standards.

3. Compare Prices and Services

Look for services that offer affordable rates without compromising quality. Compare the prices of different services to find a balance between cost and quality. Some services may offer discounts, free revisions, or money-back guarantees.

4. Evaluate Customer Support

Responsive customer support is essential for addressing any concerns or questions. Choose a service with 24/7 customer support to ensure that you can easily reach them whenever needed.

Conclusion

Affordable BSN nursing paper help is a game-changer for students navigating the challenges of nursing school. With expert assistance, students can ensure that their papers are well-researched, properly written, and submitted on time, all without the financial burden of expensive services. Affordable nursing paper help not only improves academic performance but also reduces stress and enhances overall well-being.
Venice Island looking toward Manayunk, where trucks and heavy equipment have been working. Read more

Geoff Woolery was landscaping outside his townhouse on Manayunks Venice Island last summer when scores of dump trucks began trundling by.

He watched the hours-long parade, increasingly curious as the trucks entered the long dormant property at 5000 Flat Rock Rd., off the northwestern tip of the island.

Advertisement

There must have been at least 50 trucks, Woolery said. It was just absolutely nonstop.

Trucks and other heavy equipment have continued to comb the property at 5000 Flat Rock Rd., hauling in and piling hills of soil on the 30-acre property once slated for development by former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith.

But neither Woolery nor any of his neighbors  not even the local City Council member  understand why. No building plans have been submitted for the property, which composes about 45% of the islands land mass.

Manayunk residents and community groups worry that a major development looms for the largest open parcel on the island  and a rare big undeveloped space in the city. Still reeling from flooding by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021, they fear a development could worsen future flooding and trap residents on the island.

Ida was the most devastating flood, Woolery said. But its been one flood after another.

After Smiths 2018 plan to build a sprawling campus of labs, offices, and homes on the island never materialized, Manayunk Renaissance LLC, a subsidiary of A.P. Construction, purchased the property in 2021 for $23 million. The construction company razed a shuttered paper mill on the property and later began hauling in fill and grading the land.

As of this month, fill has been piled or spread to raise the height of the property above the river and canal on the Flat Rock Road site.

We dont know whats going on and you cant get any questions answered, Woolery said.

More homes for Venice Island?

A.P. Construction is a South Jersey-based construction company, with an office at the Navy Yard. It boasts a portfolio of big projects in the region, including work on bridges, stadiums, and the Manayunk Bridge Connector Trail and Park.

Its 5000 Flat Rock Rd. property lies within a floodplain and is zoned industrial. Currently, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is finishing work on the Flat Rock Dam, just above A.P. Constructions property. PWDs project is designed to reconnect the Manayunk Canal with the Schuylkill, better manage stormwater, and improve local water quality.

I think its inevitable that theyre going to be proposing a large residential development there, said Kevin Smith, president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council. The site has massive, if not insolvable, egress and flood safety issues. Its amazing that nothing is known about such a large project. That seems hard to believe, right?

A.P. Construction did not respond to requests by The Inquirer for its plans.

The company has permits to grade and raise the property but has not submitted development plans. Its also possible A.P. Construction could be preparing the land to sell. The company also owns a smaller adjacent property with a site work permit to grade and raise a portion of that 2.5-acre lot above the floodplain.

The land is in Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.s district. Jones said he does not know the companys goal.

The only thing theyve talked about specifically is to get it above floodplain  high enough to withstand a flood, Jones said, noting that 100-year storms seem to happen every three years now.

The Council member said the company has not given his office any direction on the site.

Whats Venice Island?

Venice Island, one of the lowest lying areas of the city, is a narrow wedge of land, just shy of 70 acres and roughly 1.7 miles long between the Schuylkill and Manayunk Canal.

It was created between 1817 and 1823, when the canal was dredged. A base for the textile industry, it drew thousands of European immigrants, who settled in Manayunks muscular hills to work in 16 mills that once lined the island.

As the mills shuttered because of changing economic forces, Manayunk took an economic downturn.

The neighborhood began to boom again in the late 1980s, and Main Street emerged as a nightlife center. Manayunk was back and desirable.

In 1999, former Mayor Michael Nutter, then a City Council member, worked to rezone Venice Island from industrial to residential as demand for housing grew. That same year remnants of Hurricane Floyd dumped 10 inches of rain, the Schuylkill rose to 14.1 feet, and parts of the island were submerged. But city officials pressed on, and in 2000, the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted the first variances for two housing developments.

The Manayunk Neighborhood Council sued to block the developments by Carl Dranoff and Dennis Maloomian. In 2001, a Common Pleas Court judge agreed with them that an apartment development poses too great a risk to human life and property. A Commonwealth Court overturned that judges decision, and the state Supreme Court refused to take up the case, allowing construction to proceed.

High-risk flood zone

Venice Island lies within a high-risk, 100-year-floodplain designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), meaning it has a 1% chance of flooding in any given year.

All of the island was listed as being in a floodway, which is the most dangerous part of a floodplain, meaning it is susceptible to fast-moving water during a flood.

However, developers later persuaded FEMA to designate some of the island out of the floodway, which paved the way for homes to be built.

Today, Venice Island contains at least 260 housing units across multiple projects, including the Apex Manayunk apartments, formerly Dranoffs Venice Lofts.

When Hurricane Ida deluged the region in September 2021, the Schuylkill overflowed and flooded Main Street in Manayunk, swamped the island, and forced residents from waterlogged apartments such as Apex to cross the bridge to safety as waters rose below.

The thought of another storm like Ida terrifies residents.

Frustrating disconnect

A.P. Construction applied for a city permit in 2022 to demolish the old paper mill.

It subsequently applied for permits to truck in enough fill to raise most of the site above the floodplain. An engineering plan submitted by Pennoni Associates for the permit gave no hint of future plans, only noting that the current use of the site is vacant which will not change.

Concerned residents say the work has been obscured from view of casual observers because it lies north of Leverington Avenue and bustling Main Street. Heavy equipment crawling the site can be viewed from a wooded path along the canal.

Opponents of building more homes along the canal and river say FEMA maps are outdated and dont reflect even more risk of flooding due to climate change. Sewer outfalls along the Schuylkill can back up during a storm, adding to flooding.

Concerns are serious enough that Manayunk and East Falls development corporations joined forces to issue a study on flooding preparedness last year.

Regardless, developers have gobbled up former industrial sites and are applying for zoning variances to build housing.

What I consistently find as a challenge is peoples lack of understanding about the power of water, said Kay Sykora, a 30-year resident of Manayunk who has helped trapped motorists during storms. There is a disconnect thats really frustrating at times.

John Hunter, an architect and zoning chair of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, has argued at zoning meetings against more waterfront housing.

Seven storms have flooded Main Street since 2010, he said, two of which were major floods that included a 2014 storm and Ida in 2021, which infamously trapped residents on the island.

Most recently, however, the citys Zoning Board of Adjustment, with Jones support, granted variances in December for a residential development at 3900 Main St., south of the island. The Manayunk Neighborhood Council argued against approval.

Hunter said its almost inevitable that A.P. Construction will need Jones support if it proposes a development.

The project would be so big that it will not need just a variance, but a bill through the city sponsored by Councilmember Jones, so he is becoming pivotal in these developments, Hunter said.

John Carpenter, a resident for four decades and a board member of the Roxborough Manayunk Conservancy, also fears the widely used Manayunk Canal Towpath, a section of the Schuylkill River Trail, could also see more flooding with additional development.

The towpath trail was severely damaged during Ida, Carpenter said. Increased displacement of water coming off all this fill is likely to make damage to that towpath trail even more frequent and more severe. And yet, its a primary gateway for cyclists and runners.

One way out

Venice Island is separated from the mainland by three, two-lane bridges and a single one-lane bridge.

Josh Lippert, the citys former floodplain manager, calls potential residential development concerning, given there would be only one city-owned bridge to serve the area now being graded and prepared by A.P. Construction.

Whats the risk to first responders in a flood? Lippert asked. The site is very inaccessible. Even during a non-flood event theres only one way in and one way out.

He said climate change and increased development upstream only serve to make the impact of flooding more precarious.

Buildings are built for today, Lippert said. Theyre not built for the future.
The justification that the insurer demonstrated a proactive and effective response does not negate the right to transparency. Accountability should not be contingent on cooperation  it should be a fundamental expectation, he said.
When customers turn to insurers for help during times of crisis, they have the right to expect timely, effective, and fair support. This insurer fell well short of that expectation, she said.
The Court decided that if you are a builder or developer and have taken on the responsibility to do construction work, whether by physically doing the work, coordinating it, or supervising it, you cant escape liability by passing that responsibility down to others, he said. You are still accountable to the current and future owners of the building for any issues, even if someone else physically carried out the work.
As the third most populated state in the US, and one of the largest economies in the world, Florida is a special state to me and our company. We want to help enhance Floridas financial and physical resiliency as it safely continues to grow, Weinstein said in a statement.
The renewal of Phoenix Re 3 represents a 12.5% increase from 2024 and continues the expansion of MS Amlins Singapore-based sidecar. The vehicle provides quota share support for the companys reinsurance portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region and has grown since its launch in 2021, reflecting investor interest in accessing Asias catastrophe risk market.
Air Canada argued that Moffatt should have gone to the link provided by the chatbot, where he would have seen the correct policy. The tribunal rejected the argument. The airline attracted further criticism for attempting to distance itself from the error, alleging the chatbot was responsible for its own actions.
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake centered near the southern Maine coast rattled houses in northern New England on Monday and was felt by surprised residents of states hundreds of miles away.

The earthquake took place at about 10:22 a.m. on Monday and was centered about six miles (10 kilometers) southeast of York Harbor in southern Maine, the United States Geological Survey reported. It was reported at a depth of about eight miles (13 kilometers) the survey said.

Officials said the quake could be felt in every state in New England and as far away as Pennsylvania. In southern Maine, many residents reported feeling houses and buildings shake as the surprising earthquake interrupted a sunny winter morning.

The quake sent residents and officials in Maine and New Hampshire looking to assess any possible damage. In most cases, residents and businesses reported confusion over what had happened. Many shared stories on social media indicating they initially thought there may have been a nearby car accident or possibly an explosion.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency asked residents to only call 911 in the event of an emergency. The earthquake did not appear to cause major damage, said Vanessa Corson, a spokesperson for the agency. Corson also said local emergency management agencies did not report any damage.

New Hampshires Department of Safety said the states 911 number did not receive any calls about damage or injuries.

We have not received word of any issues. Weve spoken with the directors at York and Cumberland County EMA, and everything seems to be in order, Corson said.

Justine Wenger, a freelance copywriter working from her Scarborough home, said she was texting with a friend when she felt the earthquake. The vibrations lasted about 30 seconds and shook her house. At first, she thought it was a passing truck, then feared her furnace might blow up so she went out onto her deck.

I wasnt terrified, but this felt different than a normal rumbling, she said. It felt substantial. There was an instinct to get out of the house.

Authorities said residents who felt the earthquake could report it to the USGS website. Earthquakes in the center and eastern parts of the U.S. are less frequent than in western states, but they are typically felt over a much broader region, the survey said on its website.

Its common for there to be two small earthquakes a year in New England, the survey said. A slightly stronger earthquake based in New Jersey shook the Northeast in April.

People in New England, and in its geological extension southward through Long Island, have felt small earthquakes and suffered damage from infrequent larger ones since colonial times, according to the surveys website.

An earthquake of close to 4.0 or slightly higher in magnitude in the Northeast states is not particularly common, but its not all that rare, either, said Maureen Long, the chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University. Long cited the April earthquake in New Jersey as an example.

An 2002 earthquake in upstate New York measured at a magnitude of 5.1. There was also a magnitude 4.7 event near Hollis Center, Maine, in 2012, Long said.

Residents of cities including Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, also reported feeling the quake.

In Kennebunk, Maine, school superintendent Terri Cooper assured parents via e-mail that staff was looking through schools for any damage and everything seemed fine.

Our operations department has checked all district buildings and systems to ensure they are in working order and no damage has been discovered, Coopers e-mail said.

___

Casey reported from Boston. Associated Press writer Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, also contributed to this story.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Maine
New Yorks Long Island was once synonymous with duck in the culinary world. Now it may lose its last commercial farm.

The avian flu outbreak that has led to the slaughter of millions of birds at U.S. poultry farms and driven up the price of eggs struck the Crescent Duck Farm this week, leading federal officials to order the destruction of the operations entire flock.

Doug Corwin, whose family has owned the roughly 140-acre farm since the 1640s, said Friday that a multiday culling of about 100,000 birds has been completed at the now-quarantined barns in Aquebogue.

His remaining staff will thoroughly sanitize the facility, a process that could take months.

Were just stunned right now, Corwin, 66, said Friday by phone. Its a very, very sad time. Were trying our best to work our way through this, one step at a time.

He said the family will have to reckon with the future of the fourth-generation business, which was established in 1908 and is tucked among the vineyards and agricultural lands of Long Islands North Fork, about 80 miles (129 km) east of Manhattan.

Corwin said he was forced to lay off 47 of the farms 75-member staff, including many who had worked there for decades as the farms revenue cratered.

If duck farming isnt an option, Im not sure what wed do, he said. Were not really set up for anything else.

Long Island was once a center of duck production in the U.S., thanks to its abundance of freshwater streams, friendly climate and proximity to major East Coast cities.

During its heyday in the early 1960s, the region boasted more than 100 farms, producing up to 7.5 million birds annually, or about two-thirds of the nations duck output.

Crescent Duck Farm has been the islands lone remaining operation for the better part of a decade, as higher operating costs, tougher regulations and increasing suburban sprawl took their toll.

Today the farm supplies nearly 4% of all the ducks sold in the country, supplying restaurants across the Northeast and beyond, including a number of high-end establishments in New York City, Corwin said.

The key to its longevity has been the quality of its ducks, which he said have a thick, meaty breast and just enough skin fat to keep them tender and moist during cooking.

The only way weve survived on Long Island is by making a duck that is different from our competition, Corwin said.

Following the outbreak, the farm was allowed to hold on to several thousand duck eggs, which he hopes will help rebuild its flock and preserve the distinctive genetics honed over generations.

The quarantined eggs will first be sanitized and hatched offsite, with regular testing for any signs of the virus.

But Corwin said he is reluctant to restart without federal approval for vaccinating poultry  something larger industrial farms oppose because of its impact on international sales.

Without vaccination, he said, smaller operations will continue to be at risk of total ruin.

Even now, Corwin said he is not sure how the virus entered the tightly controlled facility after he noticed signs some of the birds were amiss last week.

The farm, he said, imposed strict protocols to prevent infection as bird flu has ravaged poultry operations globally.

Cases of this strain of bird flu jumping into humans is rare. There have been 67 confirmed human cases and one death reported in the United States so far, according to federal health officials. Cattle outbreaks have been reported in several states. Infections in commercial flocks, though, have become more common. At least 13 million birds have been infected in the past 30 days alone, according to the USDA, with a handful of farms being effected each day.

We had identified weaknesses and tightened everything up, Corwin lamented. It wasnt enough, I guess.

Photo: Doug Corwin, owner of Crescent Duck Farm, carries a female duck used for breeding in one of several barns on his property, in Aquebogue, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness
More than four years after his death, Richard Lapointes family is set to receive a nearly $5.9 million award from Connecticut for his wrongful, quarter-century imprisonment that ended in 2015 when his murder conviction was overturned in the rape and killing of his wifes 88-year-old grandmother.

Lapointes case became a cause celebre, receiving widespread publicity from advocates for the disabled and celebrities, including writers Arthur Miller and William Styron, who called for his release. Lapointe, who died at age 74 in 2020, had Dandy-Walker syndrome, a rare congenital brain malformation that his lawyers believe was a factor in his falsely confessing to the crime.

The award by the state claims commissioners office, which now moves to the legislature for approval, was issued Jan. 2 after years of legal battles between Lapointes lawyers and the state attorney generals office. Lapointe was never declared innocent, but the two sides eventually agreed to settle, leading to the award.

The award is by no means adequate compensation for what was done to Richard Lapointe, his attorney, Paul Casteleiro, said Friday. He said the state destroyed his life for a crime he did not commit.

The award, he said, is a recognition by the state of the wrong it committed in prosecuting and imprisoning an innocent man. Sadly, Richard did not live long enough to witness his final vindication.

Asked about the award and Lapointes case, the attorney generals office released a brief statement Friday saying it negotiated a resolution of this claim in the interests of all parties. This reflects that process.

In his decision, Claims Commissioner Robert Shea Jr. said his office agreed that the award is reasonable and appropriate. The agency decides whether people can file lawsuits against the state or receive money under the states wrongful incarceration law.

A spokesperson for the claims commissioners office did not immediately return an email message seeking additional comment.

Bernice Martin, the grandmother of Lapointes wife, was found stabbed, raped and strangled in 1987 in her burning apartment in Manchester, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Hartford.

Lapointe, a dishwasher, was convicted of murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release, with key evidence including confessions he made during a 9 1/2-hour interrogation by Manchester police. His lawyers argued his mental disability made him vulnerable to giving false confessions, and alleged the confession was coerced without any defense lawyers present.

The state Supreme Court ruled 4-2 in 2015 that Lapointe was deprived of a fair trial because prosecutors failed to disclose notes by a police officer that may have supported an alibi defense. Later the same year, prosecutors said new DNA testing did not implicate Lapointe and all the charges were dropped. No one else has been charged in the killing.

Ten days after the courts ruling, Lapointe was freed and emerged from the Hartford courthouse wearing a black T-shirt that read I didnt do it. He threw his hands into the air in triumph.

Of course I didnt do it, Lapointe said. That wasnt me. I wouldnt do nothing like that to nobody. I wouldnt even kill my worst enemy.

Casteleiro said the case destroyed Lapointes family, who shunned him. Before the killing, Lapointe and his wife, who has cerebral palsy, were making a life together. They were doing OK, Casteleiro said. She divorced him after his arrest, and he lost all contact with his son, who was young at the time.

After he was released from prison, Lapointe began suffering from dementia, was placed in a nursing home in East Hartford and died after a bout with COVID-19, his lawyers said.

Through the years, he was supported by an array of advocates, including the groups Friends of Richard Lapointe and Centurion, a Princeton, New Jersey-based organization for whom Casteleiro works that helps the wrongly convicted.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In a 5-2 opinion, the Maine Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a 2021 state law that eliminated the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of minors.

The ruling is a victory for the Roman Catholic Church of Portland which has been battling 13 lawsuits alleging abuse of minors decades ago. In its attempt to have the claims dismissed, the church successfully argued that the retroactive law violates the Maine Constitution.

The majority was unequivocal in its opinion.

In sum, we have declared flatly, many times, with no articulated restriction, in varied types of cases, both common law and statutorily created, that a claim cannot be revived after its statute of limitations has expired, the ruling written by Justice Catherine R. Connors states.

From at least 1954 until 1985, the general limitations period for most civil claims was six years. In 1985, the legislature enacted a separate six-year statute of limitations for claims based on sexual acts toward minors. That statutory period was extended to 12 years in 1991. The legislature then eliminated the limitations period altogether in 2000 for claims accruing after their effective date or those not yet barred by the previous statute of limitations in force. In 2021, however, lawmakers sought to revive these previously barred claims.

The court found that retroactive application contravenes centuries of precedent and multiple provisions of the Maine Declaration of Rights as well as the Constitutions provisions regarding separation of powers.

According to the majority, while not all retroactive legislation is prohibited, retroactive legislation cannot impair vested rights. Once a statute of limitations has expired for a claim, a right to be free of that claim has vested, and the claim cannot be revived, the opinion states in finding the law unconstitutional as applied to expired claims.

In 2022, Robert E. Dupuis and 12 other plaintiffs filed lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland seeking damages for sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by the churchs clergy when the plaintiffs were minor children. Their claims were previously barred by the statute of limitations, and the bishop argued that the law that purports to revive the plaintiffs claims deprives the bishop of a constitutionally protected vested right.

The lower court denied the bishops motions but reported to the Supreme Court its 13 separate, nearly identical orders denying the motions. The high court decided that the question for it was whether the retroactive application of the removal of a statute of limitations after a plaintiffs claim has been extinguished by a preexisting statute of limitations violates the Maine Constitution.

The court answered the same as it said it has in a long list of precedents. Under the Maine Constitution, once the statute of limitations has expired for a cause of action, the claim cannot be retroactively revived. We have declared many times that a claim cannot be revived after the expiration of its statute of limitations.

Furthermore, the court noted that the framers of the state Constitution did not deem legislation reviving claims that have expired to be a law within the power of the legislature to enact. Also, the court said, long before the adoption of the Maine Constitution, the common law condemned the concept of retroactive liability as well.

The court added that it was not persuaded by a minority of other jurisdictions that have allowed retroactive liability, although it acknowledged that evolved knowledge provides support for the elimination of any statute of limitations for torts involving sexual assaults. But the issue as the court saw it was not the elimination of a statute of limitations but rather the revival of a claim after the relevant existing statute of limitations has expired.

The majority expressed sympathy for the victims of abuse.

The problems presented in a case like this one are heart-wrenching. We have enormous sympathy for victims of child sex abuse. But our oath is to support, obey, and defend the constitution. And we find the Constitution to dictate a clear answer to the question presented, Justice Connors wrote.

Connors was joined in the opinion by Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill and Justices Andrew M. Mead, Andrew M. Horton, and Thomas Edward Humphrey.

Justice Wayne R. Douglas dissented, joined by Justice Rick E. Lawrence. Our Constitution does not require the result the Court reaches today. Nor does our caselaw, Douglas wrote.

Despite the courts pronouncement that it has declared many times that a claim cannot be revived after the expiration of its statute of limitations, Douglas maintains this was a case of first impression in Maine.

Douglas did not agree that the running of a statute of limitationsan arbitrary constraint on bringing suitcreates a vested right. To conclude otherwise, as the Court does here, effectively confers an absolute constitutional right upon an alleged tortfeasor to be relieved of having to answer to a lawsuit of this nature based on the age of the claim, regardless of the circumstances and contrary to other express constitutional guarantees. There is no such thing as a vested right to do wrong, he wrote in dissent.

Last September, the Supreme Court of Maryland heard arguments about the constitutionality of a 2023 law that ended that states statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits following a report that exposed widespread wrongdoing within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down a law that gave sex abuse victims a three-year window to sue over abuses as far back as the 1960s. The court cited the state Constitutions ban on legislation that retroactively applies to conduct prior to its passage.

Topics Claims Maine
A worker died Tuesday after a house under construction in Massachusetts collapsed.

According to local police, Mario Diaz Obando, 29, of Fall River, died when the house being built on Vine Street in Weymouth collapsed.

Diaz and four other workers who were injured were taken to South Shore Hospital, where Diaz Obando died, officials said.

While winds were strong during the day, the cause of the collapse is unknown. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, and State Police are investigating the incident.

Topics Massachusetts Construction
A federal judge in Manhattan has extended an order blocking three Alliant Insurance Services employees from soliciting or contacting any current Marsh & McLennan Agency (MMA) clients or using a spreadsheet of MMA clients that MMA says they took when they abruptly resigned.

In issuing a preliminary injunction that will be in effect until the legal case between the two agencies is resolved, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil concluded that MMA has shown it is likely to suffer irreparable harm without such an injunction and that it is likely to succeed on the merits of some of its claims against Alliant and its former employees.

The preliminary injunction is against Johnny Osborne, a former producer in MMAs Huntsville, Alabama office, and two members of his MMA team, Rachel Murray and Margaux Stone all three of whom simultaneously resigned from MMA on December 16, 2024, without notice, to join Alliant.

The preliminary injunction succeeds a temporary restraining order that expired January 28.

New York-headquartered MMA and California-based Alliant are two of the biggest insurance agencies in the country.

Alliant opposed the restraining order as anti-competitive, relying on a prior case involving similar allegations between Marsh and Alliant. Alliant maintained that court ruling concluded that the types of restrictive covenants Marsh is seeking to enforce are unenforceable as a matter of law.

However, Judge Vyskocil dismissed that argument, finding that the case Alliant relies on is an outlier and not representative of the body of the law on such agreements. In fact, the judge added, New York courts will enforce a restrictive covenant to the extent necessary to protect an employers relationships and goodwill.

Alliant Employees Blocked From Soliciting Former MMA Clients

MMA asked for the preliminary order against its former employees in order to stem further loss of business from what it claims has been a scheme orchestrated by Alliant to poach MMAs employees and solicit MMAs clients. MMA maintains that within 24 hours of it discovering the resignations, at least four of Osbornes clients had moved their business to Alliant and by the end of that week, at least 16 had moved, and there were no signs of slowing.

The judge found that Alliant has not offered any evidence to rebut MMAs case that Osborne misused its confidential information and solicited its clients and employees in violation of his MMA agreement.

MMA maintains that Osborne, Stone and Murray each executed a nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreement when joining MMA and each agreed that for two years following the separation of their employment with MMA, they would not, directly or indirectly, solicit or service MMA clients or prospective clients. MMA alleges in its complaint that the three are in breach of their nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreements.

Osborne managed a book of business for MMA that generated approximately $1.6 million in annual revenue. Stone and Murray handled the day-to-day servicing for many of the clients.

The judge concluded that MMA clearly is entitled to a prohibitory injunction against Osborne and Alliant to prevent further losses of client relationships and customer goodwill, further solicitation of MMA employees, and further use or disclosure of protected confidential information. However, the judge declined to extend the order against nonparties to the suit who may act in concert with Alliant.

Topics Legislation Alliant
A fire broke out on a plane operated by Air Busan Co. at a local airport in South Korea late Tuesday, with everyone on board evacuated.

Flight BX391, departing from Gimhae International Airport, was preparing to take off from Busan for Hong Kong, Koreas National Fire Agency said in a text message. The Airbus A321 jet caught fire near the cabins back seats, Koreas transport ministry said. Authorities are investigating, it added.

A clear picture of the Air Busan Airbus A321-231 aircraft fuselage shows the beyond recovery damage of the hull following an empennage fire that spread to the other parts at Busan Gimhae Airport Apron of South Korea, during preparations for the departure to Hong Kong https://t.co/mJrHSDqXDu pic.twitter.com/2cb7JUomth  FL360aero (@fl360aero) January 28, 2025

The incident comes a month after the fatal crash of a Jeju Air Co. plane, which killed almost everyone on board and was South Koreas worst-ever aviation accident. The Dec. 29 crash of the Boeing Co. 737-800 jet sparked an array of inspections into the countrys safety standards and facilities at airports. The jet skidded on its belly off the runway and exploded after hitting a concrete structure supporting the localizer, minutes after the control tower warned of bird strikes.

As a result, the government ordered budget airlines to reduce flight hours and hire more maintenance workers, while airport operators were directed to extend runway safety areas and redesign infrastructure. Runway end safety areas at nine airports will now be lengthened to 240 meters (787 feet) and structures holding the localizer  an instrument used to guide landing planes  should be changed to easily breakable materials.

South Korea Jet Crash Puts Fast-Growing Jeju Airs Safety Under Scrutiny

The Airbus jet in the Air Busan incident was an older A321ceo model. According to Planespotters.net data, it was just over 17 years old and was transferred to the Air Busan fleet from parent Asiana Airlines Inc. in 2017.

Airbus said in a statement that it has dispatched a team of specialists to assist safety officials investigating the incident. It delivered the plane in November 2007.

Authorities received the call at 10:26 p.m. local time and 45 fire fighters helped to extinguish the fire, according to the National Fire Agency. All 169 passengers, six crew and a maintenance worker on board were evacuated via slides. Three passengers were injured but theyre not in a critical condition.

Air Busan is a low-cost carrier that operates domestic and international flights to and from Busan, a large port city in the countrys south.

Photograph: An Air Busan passenger aircraft taxies on the tarmac at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. Photo credit: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at the re/insurer Canopius Group and the broker Evolin.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Patel Named Chair of Canopius Managing Agents, Succeeding Meader

Canopius Group, the global specialty re/insurer, announced the appointment of Hitesh Patel as the new chair of Canopius Managing Agents (CMA), effective April 1, 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

Patel will be succeeding Paul Meader, who will be stepping down after many years of distinguished service.

In addition to his new role as chairman of CMA, Patel will also serve as a non-executive director on the board of Canopius Group Ltd. (CGL).

CMA manages Canopius Lloyds syndicate 4444, which in 2025 became the single largest syndicate in the London market, with a capacity of 2.55 billion.

Patel currently is on the board of Enstar Group Ltd. and has previously served as a non-executive director for both Aviva Life and Aviva UK. Patel also currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Capital Home Loans, Landmark Mortgages and Augusta Ventures. Patel spent much of his career at KPMG, serving most recently as the firms insurance lead partner.

Canopius also announced that Giorgia Rodigari, senior managing director of Centerbridge Partners, has joined the CGL board as a representative of Canopius majority shareholder, further strengthening the business governance and strategic oversight.

Canopius said that Meader has made significant contributions to the company, serving as an independent non-executive director of CGL and chair of CMA. Until 2012, he was head of Portfolio Management at Canaccord Genuity, and prior to this served as CEO of Corazon Capital.

We are delighted to welcome Hitesh to both CMA and CGL Boards. His extensive background in the Insurance industry, financial markets, investment management as well as his past roles at prominent institutions, position him perfectly to lead Canopius Managing Agents into the future, commented Andy Haste, chair of Canopius Group.

Haste went on to thank Meader for serving on Canopius boards for so many years. His expertise and leadership have been invaluable, and we extend our deepest gratitude for his years of dedicated service.

***

Evolin Broking Taps Millers Downing to Launch Construction Division

Evolin Broking Ltd., the independent London market wholesale insurance broker, announced the launch of its new construction division, with the appointment of Steve Downing as head of construction, effective immediately.

Downing will be based in London and report to managing director, Chris Baulf.

Downing will be responsible for building out the construction offering, which will include construction all risks, erection all risks, builders risk, delay in start-up and third party liability, complementing the existing construction liability offering. He will also be heavily focused on finding market leading talent to support product development and distribution.

Downing brings more than three decades of industry experience to the role. He has held a variety of senior positions in the sector, including terms as a senior vice president at Lockton and a director at Willis. Downings most recent role was at Miller Insurance Services, where he held the position of account executive.

About Evolin

Rebranded from GAWS of London in 2024, Evolin is a Lloyds of London broker and coverholder, which offers tailored wholesale insurance solutions that cover a variety of classes of business including cargo & stock throughput, casualty, construction, cyber, financial & professional lines, marine, product recall, property, terrorism & political violence, and specie.

Topics Agencies Talent Construction Human Resources
Ignite Specialty Risk Names Patel as US Head of Intellectual Property Underwriting

Ignite Specialty Risk, headquartered in London, appointed Ankit Patel as U.S. head of intellectual property (IP) underwriting.

With more than a decade of experience, Patel specializes in contingent legal risks and IP. Before joining Ignite, Patel led the contingent legal risk insurance team for the Americas at Liberty Mutual Corporation. Prior to working at Liberty, he served as senior intellectual property counsel at Ambridge Partners LLC.

QBE North America Appoints Finnis as SVP of Distribution

QBE North America, headquartered in New York City, appointed Lauren Finnis as senior vice president of distribution.

Based in Chicago, Finniss experience includes roles in distribution, underwriting, pricing and claims with insurance carriers and brokerage firms. Finnis joins QBE from Willis Towers Watson, where she served as head of commercial lines in their insurance consulting and technology practice. Prior to that, served as director, wholesale distribution at SynchronoSure and customer and broker engagement leader, central region, at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance.

Topics USA Excess Surplus Underwriting
Less methane escaped into the atmosphere from certain oil and gas equipment and oil wells in 2023, according to a report released earlier this month by an energy analytics firm that industry leaders promoted.

Environmental experts said more information was needed.

Equipment used to find and produce crude oil, including those that control the pressure and flow of natural gas, pumps and pipes, leaked 25% less methane than in 2022. The reports findings, published by S&P Global, a New York-based company, also included information on the methane leaking from the 162,000 oil wells, from which emissions also decreased.

The report focused only on the stage of oil production where companies search, drill and draw crude oil, known as upstream.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. It is a particle that scientists say is a main culprit in climate change, with 80 times the potency of carbon dioxide. And it is released in remarkable volumes in the Texas oil fields through unintended leaks and when companies flare or vent gas to relieve gas build-up in the equipment.

Kevin Birn, a vice president at S&P Global that focuses on emissions, said there is no consensus on tracking methane, a colorless and odorless gas, adding that he hopes the report provides a standard.

The report was released ahead of President Donald Trumps second term. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to relax regulations on oil and gas companies that the Biden administration ratcheted up during the last four years. The report offers evidence that oil and gas companies can reduce methane emissions while still producing a record amount of oil  and profits.

Behind investments in technologies and manpower is the priority companies have assigned to reducing emissions to protect the environment and advance climate goals, and to capture as much methane as possible, the American Petroleum Institute, a nationwide trade group, wrote when they announced the report.

The reports findings used data collected by another company, Insight M, which has been tracking methane emissions for operators since 2014. The company flew an aircraft 15,000 feet above the Permian Basin, a part of Texas abundant in oil and natural gas. Sensors on the craft detected plumes collecting in sunbeams bouncing off the ground. If parts of the sunbeams were missing, it meant methane collected there. The company deployed the plane 700 times in 185 days. It flew above operators who produced no less than 200 barrels of oil daily, accounting for operators producing significant amounts of crude oil and natural gas. The flyovers accounted for 96% of production in the region, the reports authors said. That includes more than 85% of operators in the region.

Raoul Leblanc, vice president at the firm, said the data collected during those flyovers account for specific sources of emissions, which operators can use to find the equipment that is leaking. He said such information points to a specific process during oil and gas production for emissions that could go undetected.

The report sheds light on the industrys efforts to pollute the air less. Still, its far from a full understanding of how much methane escapes oil field operations, said Jon Goldstein, vice president of energy transition at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Goldstein said emissions under 10 kilograms, which the sensors could not detect, also account for a significant portion of air pollution, even if it is harder to track. He said that, as a result, the conclusions should be taken with a grain of salt. For equipment releasing less than 10 kilograms of methane an hour, researchers used wind gauges detecting plumes of methane in the wind. This method provided an estimate of how much methane certain equipment released.

eCompanies and regulators can use multiple instruments to track fugitive emissions or gases that leak, such as satellite, aerial, and vehicle trackers. Satellite trackers are older and provide a broader picture of ambient emissions, though he said they are more precise with time. The devices mounted on aircraft, like a helicopter that flies over an oil basin, collect more specific data. Handheld devices that can be used on vehicles can also supply information that is more specific.

Goldstein said that oil and gas operators could be working to comply with methane reduction regulations set by the federal government in 2024, which the industry supported and contributed. Oil and gas companies can be fined if they breach the amount of methane they are allowed to leak. Texas does not require operators to capture methane emissions in their field operations.

Theres no consistency. Were talking about an industry thats incredibly diverse, hundreds and hundreds of companies in the U.S. alone that are engaged in oil and gas development, Goldstein said. Each one may have a different voluntary program (to reduce methane emissions) that theyre implementing with different technologies, and so its really hard to have an apples-to-apples comparison.

Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift, an oil and gas watchdog group in Texas, said regulatory agencies should be more active in emission reductions. She said that putting rules that push for monitoring, like satellite and aerial technology, could reduce waste.

Oil and gas companies, Palacios said, shouldnt wait for the market to decide to reduce methane emissions.

There is still a role for oversight agencies to play in preventing waste and reducing climate-warming emissions when operators lack a financial signal to do so, Palacios said. Regardless of cost-effectiveness, the public is harmed when scarce natural resources are wasted or when methane warms the climate.

Disclosure: The Environmental Defense Fund has been a financial supporter 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 Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Topics Texas
A pharmacy benefits manager bill passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives last week may have little impact on drug costs in the states workers compensation system, even if that is part of the bills intent.

The problem is, drug pricing is as hard to understand as quantum mechanics are to a fish, said Joe Paduda, principal of Health Strategy Associates and a longtime consultant on workers comp medical costs.

That sentiment has not stopped lawmakers around the country from trying to crack the code on increasingly controversial pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs. The firms have been employed mostly in health insurance to control drug costs but also are used in workers compensation insurance in many states, including Mississippi. Workers comp laws in most states generally require generic drugs for injured workers, but even those prices can vary, and generics are not always available, so PBMs are often employed.

Critics have charged that PBMs act as middlemen that inflate prices while squeezing independent pharmacies.

The Mississippi House last week voted 90-8 in favor of House Bill 1123, sponsored by Rep. Jansen Owen and by Speaker Jason White. If passed by the Senate and signed into law, it would, according to the Associated Press and Mississippi Today news outlets, would:

Prohibit PBMs from charging insurers more for drugs than pharmacists are paid, a practice that can be used by the companies to inflate their profits. But this spread pricing is one way that PBMs have made a profit, so its unclear if the restriction would effectively bar PBMs altogether.

Require PBMs to submit reports detailing the rebates, or cost savings, they receive from pharmaceutical companies and to disclose their affiliations with pharmacies to the state Board of Pharmacy.

Require drug manufacturers and health insurers to submit reports detailing wholesale drug costs and information about drug costs and spending to the Board of Pharmacy.

A similar measure, SB 2025, is awaiting action in the Senate. It would effectively prohibit spread pricing by PBMs, except for those used by self-funded health plans, according to the sponsors summary of the bill.

The chairman of the Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission, Mark Formby, said Tuesday that the quick passage of the House bill caught him by surprise. He noted that the measures may have little impact on the comp industry in the state, except for the fact that they would likely require PBMs, drug makers and insurers to report to the Board of Pharmacy regularly, including when the wholesale acquisition cost of a medication increases significantly.

Paduda argued that linking reports to the wholesale drug price is ineffective because the wholesale price is often too fluid and can be easily manipulated by drug manufacturers. Pharma companies will monkey around with the drug codes and the average wholesale price and game the system, he said. That happens all the time now.

A better approach would be one that dictates actual prices on drugs used to treat various conditions, Paduda argued. A few states have tried that idea.

Some 12 states have taken another route: establishing complex drug formularies for workers compensation and, in some cases, for no-fault auto insurance. Formularies, which develop lists of medications that do not require prior approval by the insurer, have been seen as effective in reducing costs.

Mississippi has a workers comp medical fee schedule for services, but has not adopted a drug formulary.

Injured workers in the state could be affected if independent, smaller pharmacies close down in coming years. Many Mississippi independent pharmacists fear they may be forced to close as a result of low payments from pharmacy benefit managers, which small businesses do not have the leverage to negotiate, the Associated Press reported.

Collecting the data is one thing. Doing something with it is another, said Robert Dozier, the executive director of the Mississippi Independent Pharmacy Association. When you look at the legislation, it does nothing to help the pharmacists, and its not tightening the loopholes that the Board of Pharmacy needs. Its not going to do a whole lot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Top photo: AI-generated image from Adobe Stock images.

Topics Workers' Compensation Mississippi
Police and federal safety crews are investigating after an airport vehicle struck and killed a 66-year-old worker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport this week.

News sites reported that emergency personnel responded Monday morning to the accident, in which an American Airlines airplane tug vehicle ran over or hit the worker on the tarmac. Details and the mans name were not immediately released, The Charlotte Observer noted. Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are looking into the tragedy.

We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, American Airlines said in a statement to USA Today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time.

Airport and airliner repair work can be hazardous, according to reports. In August, two Delta Air Lines maintenance workers were killed while an airplane tire exploded at a maintenance shop at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Read more here.

Photo: A 2024 shot of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Topics Aviation
January 29, 2025 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Greenland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. About 80% of Greenland is ice cap that can be up to 3 km thick. Approximately one-twentieth of the world's ice and one-quarter of the Earth's surface ice is found in Greenland. The ice-free zone around the ice cap is up to 300 km wide and covers an area of 410,000 km (the area of Germany is 357,000 km).

Norsemen settled on the uninhabited southern part of Greenland in the 10th century.

"The descendants of the Vikings had persevered in their North Atlantic outpost for almost 500 years, from the end of the 10th century until the mid-15th century. The Medieval Warm Period had made it possible for settlers from Norway, Iceland and Denmark to live on hundreds of scattered farms along the protected fjords, where they built dozens of churches and even had bishops." - Gunther Stockinger, Abandoned Colony in Greenland: Archaeologists Find Clues to Viking Mystery'

Greenland has been inhabited, on and off, by Arctic peoples for up to 5,000 years. The Thule are the prehistoric ancestors of the current Greenlandic Inuit population. They left Alaska about 1,000 AD and arrived in Greenland via dogsleds (usually made of driftwood with whalebone runners) and umiaks (large whaling and traveling boats constructed with a frame of walrus ribs covered with walrus hide), in the 13th century.

The Norse colonies had disappeared by 1500 AD, beaten by a cool climate turned much colder by the Little Ice Age - a period of cooling extending from about 1350 to roughly 1850.

According to radio-carbon dating of plant material it was almost the geological equivalent of turning off a light switch. Between 1275 and 1300 AD summers suddenly turned very cold, seas normally open froze over and glaciers started their inexorable advance. Between 1430 and 1455 AD the cold intensified substantially.

Contact was re-established between Scandinavia and Greenland in the early 18th century and Denmark established rule over Greenland.

In 1979, Denmark granted Home Rule to Greenland. In 2008, Greenland voted to transfer more power from the Danish royal government to the local Greenlandic government. This became effective the following year. The 2009 Act on Greenland Self-Government gave Greenlanders authority over a number of new sectors including mineral resource extraction.

Copenhagen remains constitutionally responsible for Greenland's foreign, defense and security policy.

As mentioned approximately 80% of Greenland is covered by ice, with the exposed area forming a fringe around the coast. These ice-free coastal areas - geological terrain that is an extension of the Canadian Shield - expose numerous mineral belts that are highly prospective for gold, lead, zinc, uranium, molybdenum, copper, tantalum and niobium, iron ore, nickel, several forms of industrial minerals, platinum group elements, diamonds, cobalt, rubies and rare earth elements.

As demand pushes up the prices of energy and minerals, finding new sources of supply is crucial.

The combination of a stable political and regulatory landscape, global warming, thawing Arctic sea lanes, and large mineral reserves have made Kalaallit Nunaat  Country of the Greenlanders' an increasingly attractive location to look for minerals.

The population of Greenland is 56,865 with 19,783 inhabitants living in the capital Nuuk (formerly Godthab). The majority of Greenland's population live in towns along the fjords in the southwest of the country where the climate is relatively mild.

There are no roads between the towns on the coast, so people travel by airplanes, helicopters or by boat.

Greenland is far from financially self-sufficient - currently there is only revenue from fishing and a little tourism; there is no manufacturing sector.

Half of the Self-Rule administration's revenue is derived from an annual block grant from Denmark. According to the International Trade Administration, Greenland's GDP was estimated at USD$3.24 billion in 2021. Denmark provides Greenland roughly $548 million a year which accounts for approximately 20% of its GDP and more than half of the public budget.

A shortage of labor and the lack of infrastructure are the most formidable challenges facing the country. Both are huge stumbling blocks in the country's quest for self-sufficiency and financial independence by utilizing its natural resources.

The benefits from the country's emerging mining industry will include:

Employment and job training for some of the highest paying jobs in the country. Provide jobs in rural areas of the country with involvement of local laborers and local companies.



Education.



Infrastructure improvements in cities and remote areas that remain long after each mine has shut down.



Financial independence from Denmark, significant tax revenues or royalties for government.

Business and investment opportunities.

Mines need their own power plants and transportation facilities such as runways, roads, power plants and port facilities.

Greenland, with a population of just under 57,000 and a workforce of only 36,000, is unable to provide the necessary labor to tackle its infrastructure issues on anything but a small scale.

Trump's Greenland bluster

President-elect Trump has said he might like to take over Greenland, and has publicly mused about making Canada the "51st state" and returning the Panama Canal to the United States. (the canal was turned over to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999)

It's not the first time the United States has coveted the world's largest island. Back in 2019, Trump offered to buy Greenland, telling the Wall Street Journal that he saw it as a "major real estate deal." However, the idea was quickly shelved by Danish Prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who called it absurd" and said "Greenland is not for sale."

Greenland's strategic location close to Russia and its rich mineral deposits made it an acquisition target by President Andrew Johnson when he bought Alaska from Russia in 1867.

In 1946, President Harry Truman offered to buy the island for $100 million.

Two days after Trump's victory in November, a loyal supporter, Congressman Mike Collins, posted on X an image of the Republicans' winning map for 2024 and added Greenland painted in Republican red and with the caption "Project 2029".

According to opencanada.org, Trump just before Christmas wrote on his Truth Social media platform, "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."

Symbolizing the seriousness of Trump's statement, his son Donald Jr. visited Greenland on Jan. 7.

According to Statista,

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Arctic has been considered a politically neutral zone, marked by the peaceful international cooperation of scientists. But as the Arctic ice melts and more land and sea becomes accessible, opportunities for resource extraction and maritime trade routes are opening up, making it increasingly attractive to vying global powers, with some observers questioning confidence in its stability.

There are two reasons why Trump is coveting Greenland: its strategic location and its natural resources.

According to Al Jazeera, Greenland offers the shortest route from North America to Europe. This gives the US a strategic upper hand for its military and its ballistic missile early-warning system.

The US has expressed interest in expanding its military presence in Greenland by placing radars in the waters connecting Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom. These waters are a gateway for Russian and Chinese vessels, which Washington aims to track.

While the US has a base on Greenland, called Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule), it is unlikely to be invaded by the US Army since through association with Denmark it is part of NATO. If the US attacked, the rest of NATO would be forced by its constitution to come to Greenland's aid.

While taking Greenland by force appears unlikely at this point, there have been discussions about the US offering Greenland a Compact of Free Association. Opencanada.org writes:

Under a typical COFA agreement, the US provides for defence, funding grants, and access to US social services for citizens of COFA territories. In return, the U.S. is allowed land for military bases and to station troops, plus exclude other militaries from entering any COFA designated territory.

In October 2024, just prior to Trump's election victory, three political operatives from the Trump camp suggested in the conservative magazine The National Interest' that it was time for a U.S.-Greenland free association agreement. One of the three authors of the article, Alexander Gray, was chief of staff for Trump's National Security Council for a while and today is affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council, a conservative think-tank.

In a recent interview with Martin Breum, a Danish journalist and expert in Arctic affairs, Gray said that it was important to take early action, as a COFA would take time to negotiate. He also offered several reasons why the U.S. should go ahead: Russia's military mobilisation in the Arctic, China's increased and significant ambitions in the region, the existence of important deposits of critical minerals in Greenland, and that geographically Greenland is part of North America. In the interview, Gray stressed that he was not speaking on behalf of Trump's team, but according to him Greenland and the North Atlantic must become an important priority in Trump's security policy to deal with the possibility of missiles passing over Greenland.

It was Gray's view that a COFA would respect Greenland's sovereignty and at the same time ensure generous economic support for education, health services, and infrastructure. The deal would also give the U.S. control of Greenland's security and provide a robust military presence with troops on bases on the world's biggest island.

How is this being viewed in Greenland?

Opencanada.org notes that Greenland's parliamentary election is being held in the spring and that Trump's renewed interest in purchasing Greenland will become part of the electoral debate.

While the Danish prime minister has rejected the idea of Greenland becoming part of the US, stating that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders", the fact is that since 2009, Greenland has the right to declare independence through a referendum.

Significantly, Greenland was the first country to leave the EU, in 1985.

Its Prime Minister Mute Egede has said that "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," but he has also called for Greenland's independence, adding "We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."

Reuters reported on Jan. 13 that Egede said his government was looking for ways to cooperate with the United States and that it was ready to start a dialogue with Trump's incoming administration, but stressed it would be up to it to decide how it should proceed.

Opinion polls show that Greenlanders favor independence but only if its current social welfare system is maintained, based on Denmark's annual block grant.

Canada and Greenland

Arguably, Greenlanders would be much better served through an association with Canada, not the US.

Opencanada.org notes that in December 2024, Canada published its Arctic Foreign Policy - an update to the 2019 Arctic and Northern Policy Framework.

Citing several international developments including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's search for greater Arctic governance, the document emphasizes the need for deeper collaboration with the US and the five Nordic countries, all members of NATO.

The policy also acknowledges that more emphasis should put on Arctic indigenous peoples. Recommendations included the appointment of an Arctic ambassador and a new consulate in Nuuk.

Before we get into the reasons why it would be advantageous for Greenland to join Canada, let's explain why hitching its wagon to the United States would not be in its best interests.

First, Greenland is unlikely to get the political representation it deserves, or might expect to receive, due to its small population. At just under 60,000 people, Greenland is barely a tenth that of Wyoming, currently the least populous state. It seems fair that Greenland should get a member or two of Congress, but would it even get a senator?

The more likely scenario is that Greenland would become a US territory without statehood, such as Puerto Rico and a handful of small tropical islands such as Guam. The example of Puerto Rico is reason enough to be wary of such a political association.

Last fall at a Trump rally in New York, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as "literally a floating island of garbage". Trump himself has called Puerto Rico "dirty" and reportedly suggested trading the US territory for Greenland, according to Politico.

Puerto Ricans cannot vote in presidential elections, nor do they have equal access to federal programs such as Medicaid.

After Hurricane Maria devasted the territory in 2017, the former Trump administration withheld billions of dollars in federal aid funding. The hurricane knocked out power to parts of Puerto Rico for nearly a year and killed almost 30,000 people. The funding didn't start flowing until the Biden administration took over federal recovery efforts, Politico writes.

In contrast, the Canadian federal government knows how to administer territories (we have three northern territories, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and each territory is treated as an equal with the 10 provinces. If Greenland were to join Canada, it would most likely become the country's fourth territory.

The federal government supports the territories through transfer programs - six are named by Google AI - and has devolved greater authority to territorial governments and provided Territorial Formula Financing (TFF) to cover the costs of delivering essential public services in remote northern areas.

A recent op-ed in The Financial Post says territorial funding currently costs CAD$5 billion a year, and points out that incorporating Greenland into TFF would almost certainly provide Greenlanders more support than Denmark's current annual block grant of just under CAD$1 billion. Five times as much support, to be exact.

Moreover, Canada is closer to Greenland than Denmark and shares a land border on Hans Island. Existing ports, airfields and other facilities in Newfoundland & Labrador and Nunavut could help to serve Greenland and vice versa, the op-ed adds.

According to Policy Options, Canada has at least three interests in increasing ties with Greenland. First is economic security, because Canada, like the US, wants to be less dependent on Chinese supply chains, especially critical minerals.

The coming critical minerals trade war - Richard Mills

Second is regarding North American security: Securing Canadian airspace and sea lanes will focus more on Greenland as the Arctic sea ice recedes and more ships ply northern waters. The U.S. has led this relationship since the Second World War, but Canadian fighter jets regularly fly out of the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland.

Third is that co-operation with Greenland advances indigenous reconciliation (discussed below).

While Trump argues the US needs Greenland for aerospace security, Greenland joining the Canadian federation would fully integrate it into the NORAD defences, which stretch across Canada's existing Arctic territories.

And how is this for irony?

Confederation arose when Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia banded together in the face of tariffs and other threats from the U.S. The most recent addition was Newfoundland and Labrador, which joined in 1949 to fully access Canada's nearby economy, infrastructure and public services. In the face of renewed threats from south of the border, we should extend the same opportunity to Greenland.

Greenland wants to develop its economy through mining, so what better country to join with than Canada, a leader in mining and mineral exploration? The majority of the world's junior mining companies are headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Canadian miners and explorers have the technical know-how and the financial wherewithal to develop Greenland's vast mineral deposits into working mines.

Canadian companies have extensive experience operating Arctic mines such as the Ekati diamond mine, the Mary River iron ore mine, and Agnico Eagle's Meadowbank and Meliadine gold operations.

Most have impact and benefit agreements that outline how the mine will benefit the local Inuit and aboriginal groups, including employment, training and business opportunities.

The Inuit

As mentioned at the top, Canada and Greenland share important cultural connections. The latter is predominantly (about four-fifths) Inuit, while Canada is home to the world's largest Inuit population.

Since 1982, Canada's constitution has recognized Inuit aboriginal rights - something Inuit Greenlanders would be unlikely to receive as a US state or protectorate.

The Financial Post article observes that Greenland is almost exactly the same size as Nunavut: Greenland's population is larger than any single Canadian territory's but smaller than any two combined. Greenland could easily fit into Confederation as a fourth territory.

A similar-themed Globe and Mail article notes that By partnering with Canada, Greenland could achieve economic self-reliance while preserving its cultural and environmental heritage.

The piece by McGill University professor Bart Edes states that Benelux, a regional cooperation agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg could serve as the model for a potential Canada-Greenland partnership.

Edes describes an economic union with Greenland as one without trade barriers, with aligned economies fostering greater economic cooperation:

They would also adopt a common market, shared regulations, and replace the anachronistic Danish krone with the Canadian dollar. Citizens of the two countries would have the right to move, reside, study and work anywhere within the union...

Last year, the Inuit-owned airline Canadian North launched a seasonal route between Ottawa and Nuuk via Iqaluit, Nunavut's largest city and seat of government. Indeed, Greenland and Arctic Canada have become increasingly connected by shipping routes and air travel, enabling the exchange of goods, ideas, and people...

Edes reiterates what was said above about mining, with Greenland's plentiful untapped resources complementing Canada's established expertise in resource management.

Other areas of synergy include fisheries and tourism. In conclusion, writes Edes,

Greenland's path to independence brings opportunities. While the country has immense resource potential, its economy remains underdeveloped and heavily reliant on the generosity of its benefactors on the Old Continent. An economic union with Canada would provide Greenland with the tools to diversify its economy and build a sustainable foundation for long-term growth.

By joining forces, Greenland can benefit from Canada's established financial systems, trade networks, and infrastructure expertise. Canadian investment in Greenland's ports, roads, and energy projects would unlock economic opportunities while creating jobs and improving quality of life. For Canada, this partnership would open doors to a new market and strengthen its strategic presence in the Arctic.

The Arctic has become a region of global significance, with climate change, resource competition, and geopolitical tensions reshaping its future...

One of the most compelling arguments for an economic union is the opportunity to empower Indigenous communities on both sides of the Davis Strait. The Inuit and other Indigenous groups have historically faced marginalization, but a partnership focused on cultural preservation and economic inclusion can reverse this trend.

Promoting mining

Greenland's push to develop its mineral potential is more than just talk. In February 2024 the country released an Arctic strategy, then followed that up in March with a presence at the annual PDAC mining conference in Toronto.

According to Policy Options,



Greenland's Arctic strategy has key goals for its relationship with Canada. It wants more human mobility, trade and communication. It wants to engage more across Northern Canada, especially with Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland across Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec and Labrador. Mining and education are two of its priorities.

The minerals

A Reuters Fact Box article states that three of Greenland's biggest deposits are in the southern Gardar province. Companies seeking to develop rare earth mines there include Energy Transition Metals and Neo Performance Metals. Kvanefjeld is home to one of the world's largest undeveloped deposits of rare-earth elements outside of China.

Zero Hedge reports Greenland has 38.5 million tons of rare earth oxides, massive uranium deposits, vast oil and gas reserves, precious metals and some of the world's largest freshwater reserves.

Occurrences of graphite and graphite schist have been reported from various locations on the island. Most copper deposits have seen only limited exploration, with the northeast and central-east areas thought to be of particular interest.

Greenland's Mineral Resources Authority says traces of nickel accumulation are numerous, and zinc is found in the north in a geologic formation that stretches for more than 2,500 km.

Known deposits of titanium and vanadium are in the southwest, the east and south, tungsten is found mostly in the central east and northeast, and uranium is mined as a byproduct of rare earths at the Kuannersuit rare earths project - although the project has been halted since 2021 when uranium mining was banned.

Conclusion

Greenland is being pulled in the direction of the United States by the new Trump administration but the stronger magnetic force is the one attracting Greenland to Canada.

The two countries share important cultural ties specifically in relation to their high Inuit populations and an Arctic lifestyle revolving around nature, hunting and fishing, and small northern communities.

Greenland's vast resource wealth could be tapped by junior resource companies mostly based in Vancouver, which combined with Toronto, has a large pool of venture capital available to move projects forward. Some of the world's top mining companies are Canadian.

Greenlanders would be welcomed into the federation with full territorial status, entitling them to federal grants and transfer payments. They would immediately get full medical coverage and additional supports due to the Inuit status of 80% of its residents.

If the island nation was to align with the US, and become a protectorate, Greenlanders could not vote in presidential elections, nor would they have equal access to federal programs such as Medicaid.

Likely the US government would see Greenland gaining more from the arrangement than the United States, such as military protection, and therefore would have trouble justifying the nearly CAD$1 billion the country currently gets annually from Denmark. Having to forego that grant would make any association with the US a bad deal for Greenlanders.

Putting it all together, the conclusion is obvious: Greenland should cozy up to Canada and leave the United States out in the cold.

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

subscribe to my free newsletter

Legal Notice / Disclaimer

Ahead of the Herd newsletter, aheadoftheherd.com, hereafter known as AOTH.

Please read the entire Disclaimer carefully before you use this website or read the newsletter. If you do not agree to all the AOTH/Richard Mills Disclaimer, do not access/read this website/newsletter/article, or any of its pages. By reading/using this AOTH/Richard Mills website/newsletter/article, and whether you actually read this Disclaimer, you are deemed to have accepted it.

Any AOTH/Richard Mills document is not, and should not be, construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment.

AOTH/Richard Mills has based this document on information obtained from sources he believes to be reliable, but which has not been independently verified.

AOTH/Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness.

Expressions of opinion are those of AOTH/Richard Mills only and are subject to change without notice.

AOTH/Richard Mills assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission.

Furthermore, AOTH/Richard Mills assumes no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information provided within this AOTH/Richard Mills Report.

You agree that by reading AOTH/Richard Mills articles, you are acting at your OWN RISK. In no event should AOTH/Richard Mills liable for any direct or indirect trading losses caused by any information contained in AOTH/Richard Mills articles. Information in AOTH/Richard Mills articles is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. AOTH/Richard Mills is not suggesting the transacting of any financial instruments.

Our publications are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security - no information posted on this site is to be considered investment advice or a recommendation to do anything involving finance or money aside from performing your own due diligence and consulting with your personal registered broker/financial advisor. AOTH/Richard Mills recommends that before investing in any securities, you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and that you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks. Ahead of the Herd is not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or advisor. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell, or offer to buy any security.

More Info:

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/

Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp
The website carabin-shaw.com used by San Antonio attorney Kirsten Carabin has sparked a trademark infringement lawsuit by her former law firm, Carabin Shaw. Screengrab

San Antonio attorney Kirsten Carabin has irritated former marital and law partner James Jamie Shaw with the launch of carabin-shaw.com to promote her own law practice.

Carabin minus Shaw, the website proclaims. Pick the better half.

Shaw, the name partner of personal-injury firm Carabin Shaw  formerly Carabin & Shaw  isnt amused.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Tuesday, he and his firm sued Carabin and Carabin Law in federal court in San Antonio to stop them from using the website, hand over the domain name and fork over any profits from its use. They also seek unspecified damages.

The individual in question cannot use the federally trademarked name of Carabin Shaw in her advertising, Shaw said in a text Wednesday. We are confident that the court will protect the trademark and impose appropriate sanctions if violations continue.

San Antonio lawyer Adam Poncio, who represents Carabin, said Shaw is trying to prevent his client from using her name in her practice.

Ms. Carabin intends to continue with her own firm, Carabin Law, to bring compassion and client-centered representation back to the industry, Poncio said in an email. Kirsten Carabins mission is to fight for the people  not for wealth or status.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Shaw complains that her website is confusingly similar to his firms site  carabinshaw.com  and will likely create confusion to those in the market for legal services.

He also takes issue with her websites message, which the lawsuit says touts Carabin Law as a beacon of integrity in contrast to (Carabin Shaw) and the field of personal injury law in general which she states is overly money-driven and unethical.

While still married, the attorneys opened Carabin & Shaw in 1995. They divorced in 1999 but continued to work together at the firm until 2003, when she retired from the practice of law, the lawsuit says.

Shaw purchased all of her interest in Carabin & Shaw, including the carabinshaw.com website, which was registered in 1998, the suit says. It adds that Carabin granted Carabin & Shaw the right to use her surname as part of the name of the law firm.

She willingly released her interest in that firm and in that name and received substantial compensation from the firm for it decades ago, Shaw said in a text.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Poncio, Carabins lawyer, countered that there were many agreements including for the use of a specific name and the division of expenses and profits.

However, it is our position that Mr. Shaw and his firm breached those agreements and failed to honor and follow the specific terms of those agreements, for which Kirsten Carabin intends to assert her own claims, Poncio added.

The complaint says Carabin & Shaw invested heavily in a marketing strategy to promote its well-earned reputation for its legal services and the results it has achieved for clients.

Carabin, meanwhile, formed Carabin Law in 2010. She sought to trademark Carabin Law, Were on Your Side, but that was deemed abandoned in 2011 because she didnt verify she was using it. The suit says Carabin focused her attention on other entrepreneurial ventures until 2024, when she resurrected her firm and practice.

She registered the domain carabin-shaw.com on Dec. 5 in an improper attempt to profit by riding the coattails of the success and reputation development of Carabin Shaw and Shaw, the suit alleges. The site poses the question, How can I reach Carabin & Shaw?

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Shaw said in his text that Carabin is violating the agreement she entered when she retired from Carabin & Shaw. She also has the website carabinlaw.com. Her firm handles personal injury cases, employment law and immigration matters.

Shaw and his firm are suing for trademark infringement, trademark dilution and cyberpiracy prevention. A violation of the latter claim may to lead to recovery of $100,000 in damages for each domain name.

Carabin & Shaw became Carabin Shaw in late 2022.
What is the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year  known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea  is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries.

With roots tracing back some 3,500 years to ancient China, it signifies the end of winter and the arrival of a new year and begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later.

The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon so the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.

This year, the Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29.

What is the Year of the Snake?

Each Chinese astrological year is defined by one of 12 zodiac animals with their own personality.

The circle of 12 animals, which includes the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, measures the cycles of time.

2025 will see the Year of the Dragon come to an end and the Year of the Snake begins.

The Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation.

People born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intuitive, strategic, and intelligent.

In Chinese culture, the snake carries the meanings of malevolence, cattiness, mystery, as well as acumen and divination.

How do people celebrate?

Kai Xin Zheng, 11, and Kate Wang, 11, at the launch of the 11th Hill Street Family Resource Centre Lunar New Year Community Celebration Dublin. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography.

Lunar New Year is a festival rich in traditions and customs. Asian countries share many similar traditions, but each also has some unique traditions.

People usually start preparing for the New Year a week or half a month in advance of the actual date of the holiday by shopping for gifts and food, cleaning the home and decorating with lanterns and New Year paintings, and sending off 'Kitchen God'.

Sending off the Kitchen God is a very old custom. On the 23rd day of the 12th month of the Lunar Calendar, according to Chinese tradition, Kitchen God departs to deliver an annual report on the household's activities to the Jade Emperor in heaven.

According to the report, the Jade Emperor will decide to bless or punish that family in the New Year.

People therefore prepare abundant offers to show their thankfulness to the Kitchen God and wish that he would say good things about them to the Jade Emperor.

All these activities share a common theme, that is: 'bid farewell to the old and welcome the new'.

Traditions that are celebrated over the course of the festival include making offerings to ancestors before the New Year's Eve feast or at midnight on New Year's Eve, visiting family and friends, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and giving and receiving red envelopes and extending New Year greetings.

The fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year known as the Chinese Lantern Festival signals the end of the New Year festival period.

Traditional activities include eating tangyuan, appreciating colorful paper lanterns and guessing lantern riddles.

How does Ireland celebrate?

Dublin City Centre is again set to resound to the excitement and vibrancy of the Lunar New Year. Picture: Andres Poveda.

In Dublin city centre, business group Dublin Town, in partnership with Dublin City Council City Coordination Office and local businesses including the Asia Market, is once again organising street events to bring people together, share traditions and highlight the capitals rich cultural tapestry.

The celebrations on Sunday, February 9 on Drury Street, Suffolk Street and Capel Street will mark the start of the Year of the Snake with an Asian cultural extravaganza of food, music, dance and a 10-metre long Asian dragon and snake.

There will be street performances from Asian musicians and cuisine at every turn, with local businesses offering everything from dumplings to noodles.

In Cork, the Lunar New Year will be celebrated with a variety of events and activities at Firkin Crane on February 8 and at Nano Nagle Place on February 9.

Chinese New Year was celebrated with a variety of activities at the Marina Market in Cork over the weekend, with the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland He Xiangdong and Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle visiting the market on Saturday last.

Cork became the first Irish city to twin with a Chinese city in 2005 when it began its relationship with Shanghai. Since then, Cork city has entered partnership agreements with Hangzhou, Wuxi, and Shenzhen.
The only living relative of a Bosnian refugee who was beaten to death in Dublin three years ago has appealed for justice for his cousin, saying he is still haunted over the way he died.

Adnan Asic, aged 60, was attacked in the early hours of Saturday, October 22, 2022, as he was walking home after a night out socialising in West Dublin.

Mr Asic had fled the Bosnian war in the 1990s and sought refuge in Ireland, where he had living peacefully for almost 30 years.

Earlier this month, gardai arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the death. He was released without charge, and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In his first interview, the deceased's cousin Ahmet Dracic, who gave evidence at his inquest, said he continues to suffer nightmares over his death.

I am still devastated he told the Irish Examiner. "He did not deserve the way he died.

I left Bosnia before him in 1996; I went to Croatia, and we were sent to Ireland for refuge. My cousin came after me.

We both lived in Dublin, and he was a very peaceful kind man

He never had a family here, no wife or children. He only had me. He would not hurt a fly. We were very close; he was a good guy. We took care of each other.

Mr Asic, of Castlecurragh Heath, Blanchardstown, was found lying on the ground with serious injuries on the night of this death at a junction off the Old Navan Rd and Blanchardstown Rd North at 2.15am.

Gardai at the scene in Blanchardstown where they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death of Adnan Asic in 2022. File Picture: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Emergency services were called to the scene and he was rushed to nearby Connolly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gardai said the victim had left the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre area with a friend to return home.

He was later captured on CCTV walking past Starbucks Cafe and the Crown Plaza Hotel in the direction of the Blanchardstown slip road.

Blunt force trauma

Mr Dracic gave evidence at his inquest in 2023, which heard autopsy results showed Mr Asic suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his chest and shoulder.

The coroner granted an application by gardai for an adjournment of the inquest at the time on the basis that criminal proceedings were being considered in relation to his death.

Mr Dracic had been at a party with his cousin on the night in Blanchardstown before they went there separate ways.

I got a call from my friend the next day, he said the gardai were looking for me and I went to the station.

They told me my cousin was dead and was beaten to death. I was in so much shock

"I had to go to the morgue in Whitehall to identify him. He was covered in bruises, he had been hit on the side of face, hit on the back of head also. You would not do this to a dog.

I was devastated. Im still devastated. I have a pain in my heart, gardai are trying to solve this and they contact me with updates."

M Dracic said he just wants to see justice done for his cousin.

"I just want who did this to be found. We made the life for ourselves in Ireland, which is a lovely place. I love this country, it is my home now."

In a statement, the garda press office said: The man, 40s, arrested in connection with this investigation has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing.
Irish officials have told the Defence Minister, Tanaiste Simon Harris, that many of Irelands EU partners are in full war preparation mode.

A high-level briefing document for the new minister said European defence was increasingly seen as vital to the EUs very security.

The ministerial brief from the Department of Defence said strengthening cyber defence capabilities and securing critical infrastructure were key matters on the EU agenda.

The document said that up until now, Irelands position, and that of other countries, of military neutrality, had been accepted, but that the changing geopolitical climate and the decision of previously neutral states such as Sweden and Finland to join Nato would likely result in a lower tolerance or understanding of this position into the future.

A participant in last year's Locked Shields exercise in Tallinn, Estonia. The annual Nato event is intended to boost the skills of cybersecurity experts to defend national IT systems and critical infrastructure under real-time attacks. Picture: Peter Kollanyi/Bloomberg/Getty

The briefing said defence and security are now at the top of the EU agenda.

"In this current geopolitical climate, European defence is therefore increasingly viewed as vital to Europes existential security, with many member states calling for a strategic paradigm shift in the EUs defence approach and priorities, it said.

"Many of our EU partners, particularly the Nordics and the Baltics, are in full war preparation mode, and this is naturally reflected in part by the EU, albeit caveated by any developments in this regard needing to respect the nature of the EU treaties and the security and defence interests of all member states.

It said Poland, with its 4.6% GDP spend on defence, the highest of all Nato and EU members, holds the presidency of the European Council for the first half of 2025.

It has identified an explicit focus on European security during its term, the brief said.

This, when viewed with the upcoming EU White Paper on Defence [March 2025], and allied to the strategies on readiness and internal security, will further move the dial on defence and security matters at EU level.

"It will require early, sustained and detailed engagement from Ireland, to ensure that our national position remains protected, while we remain a constructive member of the EU."

Figures published last month in the Irish Examiner showed that Ireland remains stuck at the bottom of the EU table for defence spending.

Ireland allocates about half the amount  calculated as a percentage of national wealth or GDP  as neutral Malta and less than a quarter of the budget of fellow neutral state Austria.

Figures produced by the European Defence Agency said Irelands spend on defence in 2023 was 0.2% of GDP, compared to Malta at 0.4%, Austria at 0.9%, and an EU average of 1.6%.

The briefing document said Ireland has always maintained a policy of military neutrality, but added: At the same time, however, it has always been acknowledged that no state acting alone can address the entirety of existing and emerging security challenges.

The briefing spells out for the Tanaiste the grim picture of the strength of the Defence Forces:

Overall numbers dropped from 8,568 in 2020, to 7,550 in 2023, and stabilising in 2024 (7,557);

Army strength fell from 6,920 in 2020, to 6,136 in 2023 and to 6,099 in 2024;

Air Corps dropped from 746 in 2020, to 689 in 2023, but rising to 739 in 2024;

Naval Service strength fell from 902 in 2020 to 725 in 2023 and to 719 in 2024.

It said the Defence Forces was supposed to have an established strength of 9,739 and that the Commission on Defence Forces second of three recommendations, adopted by the Government, envisages an established figure of 11,500 by 2028.

It said inductions (768) did exceed discharges (674) in 2024, breaking the trend of recent years.

The briefing flags pressures Ireland will face when it assumes the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2026, when negotiations take place on the next EU budget, with a very likely considerable focus on defence.
Safer Births Ireland has again called for a review of HSE baby deaths and injuries in the wake of the the latest probe into the treatment of nine babies at Portiuncula University Hospital.

It is the second review of its kind in just over a decade and centres around another above-normal level of babies being referred by the hospital for cooling therapy used to treat babies brain damaged due to a lack of oxygen just before or after birth.

The advocacy group, which is made up of mothers whose children died or were injured in maternity units around Ireland, said there needs to be a comprehensive review of maternity services nationwide.

A spokesperson said: We are lost for words and so deeply sorry to the families who have been impacted by the loss and injuries of their babies at Portiuncula. Accountability and change are necessary.

The reoccurrence of these critical incidents requires a comprehensive review of the entire system and allow scope for necessary changes towards the avoidable, preventable deaths and birth injuries which continue to occur.

Safer Births Ireland is one of the organisations behind a national campaign to get the government to hold a Commission of Investigation into avoidable mother and baby deaths.

An alliance made up of Safer Births Ireland, Feileacain, Aims Ireland, and the Birth Rights Alliance formally launched their call for the inquiry at an event in Leinster House hosted by former Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Roisin Shortall in April 2024.

The alliance wants maternity ward deaths and injuries since 2013 investigated.

The date has been picked as reforms in maternity care that followed the 2014 Portlaoise Baby Scandal came after a Department of Health look-back over deaths in Portlaoise Hospital between 2006 and 2012.

Reviews into five baby deaths in Portlaoise in those years led to the countrys first maternity strategy.

Research initiated by the Irish Examiner in 2023 into coroners inquests into HSE baby deaths showed there have been at least 55 avoidable baby deaths since 2013.

Safer Births Ireland, which helped collate the data in the research, has since called on the government to do a basic look-back over avoidable deaths that featured in the Irish Examiner in December, 2023.

Among the avoidable baby deaths, six each happened in the Coombe and the Rotunda  between 2015 and 2020  and five were in Our Lady of Lourdes, and four each in Portlaoise, St Luke's and Holles Street.

The factors involved in the deaths are common with baby deaths throughout the health service.

These factors include poor communications, lack of adequate staff training, availability of consultants, women not being listened to and delayed births.

Meanwhile it has emerged that the HSE has written to pregnant women due to give birth at Portiuncula to inform them of the nine reviews currently being carried out at the hospital. The women are being told they can contact the HSE with any concerns they have.

They are also being told they will be facilitated if they want to move their maternity care elsewhere.
Concern has been expressed that a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb will not be able to uncover the full truth.

Claire Hayes, whose brother Alan Radford, 16, was among the 29 people killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in 1998, said she is very sceptical, with the Irish Government not being a full participant in the proceedings.

The inquiry started four weeks of public commemorative hearings on Tuesday, recalling the lives of and hearing tributes to all those killed and impacted by the Real IRA atrocity.

The probe, led by Scottish judge Alan Turnbull, is examining whether the atrocity could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities.

The first tributes were paid to Fernando Blasco Baselga, 12, and Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, two Spanish tourists killed in the bombing.

Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, from Madrid, was among 29 people killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in the Co Tyrone town in 1998.

Bereaved families and survivors have gathered at the Strule Arts Centre in the Co Tyrone town for the second day of commemorative hearings which include evidence from Ms Hayes about her brother.

Speaking ahead of the hearing, Ms Hayes said she is sceptical about the outcome of the inquiry.

I am very sceptical  when the Irish Government isnt partaking in it, it is not a full inquiry, so  there is already a flaw, she told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme.

That doesnt give me great comfort knowing that given the fact that this bomb was made in the south (of Ireland), the car was stolen in the south.

Claire Hayess brother Alan Radford was killed in the Omagh bomb (Liam McBurney/PA)

The southern Government have said that they will help but they are not compelled to do so, and for me, for Alan, I wanted it to be completely robust, completely transparent, so we know absolutely everything.

Earlier this week Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his Government will co-operate fully with the inquiry, while Tanaiste Simon Harris said they will not be found wanting.

Mr Turnbull said during his opening statement last year that the inquiry will undertake its task rigorously and fearlessly, and emphasised the defining character of the inquiry must be its independence.

Later, the inquiry will hear commemorations of three generations of the same family who were killed in the bombing.

James Barker, Esther Gibson, Sean McGrath, Gareth Conway, Elizabeth Rush, Fred White, Lorraine Wilson, Veda Short, Alan Radford, Bryan White, Brenda Logue, Deborah Cartwright, Geraldine Breslin, and Oran Doherty were among the victims (Handout/PA)

Mary Grimes, her daughter Avril Monaghan, who was pregnant with twins, and her daughter Maura Monaghan, who was just 18 months old, died in the attack.

The names of all those killed in the bombing were read out at the inquiry on Tuesday morning before all those assembled were invited to stand for a minutes silence in remembrance.

The commemorative and personal statement hearings will be heard over the next four weeks.

These will begin with bereaved families giving pen portrait evidence of those who died, followed by survivors, emergency services and those working in statutory organisations.
Gardai were called to the Premier Inn hotel on Morrisons Island in Cork, where a drunken customer was no longer welcome and when they arrived the young man lunged at one of the gardai and tried to headbutt him.

On Tuesday, it emerged in Cork District Court the young man in the hotel that night was due before the court the next day to face sentencing on a drug-dealing charge.

Inspector Mark Keating said 21-year-old Ciaran Maguire, of Woodbrook, Glanmire, Co Cork, behaved in that threatening manner at the hotel at about 10pm on December 10, 2024. He was arrested, charged and released.

On December 11, 2024, he came to court and received a three-month suspended sentence for having drugs for sale or supply to others on a much earlier occasion.

On the night of December 10, he was aggressive to staff at the hotel and extended this to gardai on their arrival. Insp Keating said while the young man lunged at a garda, he did not make contact with him.

Judge Joanne Carroll commented: He was in the Premier Inn and he created total upset.

Aoife Buttimer, defence solicitor, described him as a young man who is easily led but he had not taken any intoxicant since this occurred last month.

He has isolated himself from associates. He is embarrassed and has instructed me to apologise, Ms Buttimer said.

Judge Carroll said: He has used up all of his opportunities. I will remand him on bail to April 22 [for sentencing]. A very persuasive plea would need to be put together.
A former corporal in the Irish Defence Forces was involved in a money-laundering operation that handled over 6.6m worth of drug dealers cash, a court has heard.

Richard Kearney, 36, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an address in Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght on May 6, 2022. He has no previous convictions.

On Wednesday, Kearney was jailed for three years.

Garda Vincent Jaffray told Alison Fynes BL prosecuting, that a phone seized during the search of Kearneys rented home at the time was analysed and found to contain communication with known drug dealers.

The garda said the conversations showed amounts of money, locations and dates and suggested Kearney was responsible for laundering 6.6m and 250,000 in sterling between April 2021 and May 2022.

He said the search also uncovered 10,455 in cash, concealed in a bedframe and a further 15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer.

Kearney admitted during interview he was the only person who lived in the flat and confirmed it was his phone.

Garda Jaffray confirmed analysis of Kearneys bank statements showed he had no legitimate way of making the amount of money which was found in his home.

Garda Jaffray agreed with Ciara Ni Ghabhann BL, defending, that Kearney caused no trouble during interview and answered all questions put to him.

He accepted he was a corporal with the Irish Defence Forces and would now lose that job.

Ms Ni Ghabhann told Judge Martin Nolan her client was a father of two children and acts as a parent to his partners four children.

She said he had risen to rank of corporal in the Irish Defence Forces and was involved in the equestrian school with the army. He travelled to the Olympics with an equestrian team, where he acted as a groom.

Ms Ni Ghabhann said Kearney looked for a transfer in location in the army, which led to a drop in his wages, and he struggled financially as a result.

She said around Christmas 2020 he was approached and offered what he thought was a friendly loan, but he found himself in over his head.

Counsel said threats started to come in and Kearney had to get involved in the offence as a result.

Judge Nolan said gardai had certain beliefs which led them to embark on the search of Kearneys home, adding their beliefs were justified.

He acknowledged Kearney pleaded guilty to possession of the physical cash that was found during the search but said the full facts, as disclosed during the sentence hearing, detailed phone evidence which demonstrated Kearney was involved in very substantial money-laundering.

Judge Nolan accepted Kearney had no record of conviction, had family responsibilities, was unlikely to come before the courts again and had many, many good points.

He noted the maximum penalty available to the court was 14 years and said given the seriousness of the offence, a headline sentence of six years was appropriate.

Judge Nolan reduced the sentence to three years, having taken into account the various mitigating features of the case.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the countrys nuclear capability, state media reported on Wednesday.

It comes as the North looks to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

Mr Kims visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Koreas nuclear arsenal, though Mr Trump has said he is willing to talk to Mr Kim again to revive diplomacy.

Many analysts view North Korean weapons moves as part of a strategy to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could result in aid and political concessions.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Mr Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute.

President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in 2019 (AP/Susan Walsh)

It did not say where those facilities are located, but North Korean photos of Mr Kims visit indicated that he likely visited a uranium-enrichment facility that he went to last September.

That visit was North Koreas first disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.

During the latest visit, Mr Kim praised scientists and others for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country.

On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed the toughest response to what it called the escalation of US-South Korean military drills.

North Korea views US military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive in nature.

In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear programme.

The start of Mr Trumps second term raises prospects for the revival of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Mr Trump met Mr Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea.

During a Fox News interview broadcast on Thursday, Mr Trump called Mr Kim a smart guy and not a religious zealot. Asked whether he will reach out to Mr Kim again, Mr Trump replied: I will, yeah.

Many experts say Mr Kim likely thinks he has greater bargaining power than in his earlier round of diplomacy with Mr Trump because of his countrys enlarged nuclear arsenal and deepening military ties with Russia.
Lunar New Year festivals and prayers have marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and further afield  including in Moscow.

The holiday  known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea  is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world.

The snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, follows the just-ended Year of the Dragon.

Acrobatic lion dances are a popular feature of the celebrations (AP)

In Hong Kong, hundreds of people lined up in the hours before midnight at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the main hall.

The pop-pop-pop of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

People holding incense sticks in front of them bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-coloured pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.

Many Chinese people who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the worlds biggest annual movement of humanity.

Prayers were offered at the the Dongyue Temple in Beijing on the first day of the Year of the Snake (AP)

Beijing, Chinas capital, has seen many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied out.

Traditionally, Chinese people have a family dinner at home on New Years Eve and visit temple fairs on the Lunar New Year to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets from booths.

Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel both in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.

Under the Chinese zodiac, it is the Year of the Snake (AP)

Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of a colourful procession with drummers, costumed dancers and large dragon and snake figures held aloft that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival in Moscow on Tuesday night.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as US dominance of the world order.

Visitors shouted: Happy New Year in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.
Harvey Weinstein begged a judge on Wednesday to hold his sexual assault retrial as soon as possible, telling him I dont know how much longer I can hold on with cancer, heart issues and harsh conditions at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex.

The disgraced movie mogul objected after Judge Curtis Farber said the retrial would start on April 15, imploring him to swap with another, unrelated trial the judge has in March.

Every day Im at Rikers Island, its a mystery to me how Im still walking, Weinstein said at a hearing in court in Manhattan.

Im holding on because I want justice for myself and I want this to be over with, he said.

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein during Wednesdays hearing (Timothy A Clary/Pool Photo via AP)

Weinstein, 72, is being treated for numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues and diabetes. He complained to Judge Farber that jail officers gave him the wrong pills on Wednesday morning and failed to pick him up for court in a timely fashion.

So many people suffering on Rikers Island, he said.

Weinstein arrived in court in a wheelchair more than half an hour after the hearings scheduled start time.

Im asking and begging you, your honour, to move your trial, Weinstein said, suggesting that even a weeks head start would be helpful.

Weinstein said that at times he finds himself gasping for air and predicted that he would soon be in a hospital again for treatment.

Im in a serious emergency situation. I am begging the court to move your date

He quizzed the judge about his trial calendar, including jury selection in another matter that is set to begin on Monday.

Judge Farber said he arrived at the April 15 date after consulting with prosecutors and Weinsteins lawyers but would look into possibly starting the trial a few days earlier, if time allows.

Im in a serious emergency situation. I am begging the court to move your date, Weinstein said, telling the judge he wanted to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

Weinsteins request came after Judge Farber issued a key ruling defining the scope of his retrial. The judge upheld a charge based on an allegation from a woman who was not in the original case.

Weinstein had wanted the extra charge thrown out, arguing through his lawyers that the Manhattan district attorneys office only brought it to bolster their case with a third accuser after New Yorks highest court overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges involving two women.

Scheduling the retrial was complicated by an increasingly crowded court calendar.

Harvey Weinstein, centre, appearing in criminal court in New York in September (Seth Wenig/AP)

Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, is representing political strategist Steve Bannon in a border wall fraud trial set to start on March 4 before a different Manhattan judge.

Meanwhile, Judge Farber has a murder trial in March.

Before Bannons trial date was set last week, Mr Aidala had suggested that Weinsteins trial go first in the interest of humanity, citing the ex-studio bosss declining health.

They know that Mr Weinstein is dying of cancer and is an innocent man right now in the state of New York, Mr Aidala argued in court last week. He pleaded to prosecutors: Can I try this dying mans case first?

Weinstein is being retried on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013. The additional charge, filed last September, alleges he forced oral sex on a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006.

The Manhattan district attorneys office said in court papers that the woman, who has not been identified publicly, came forward to prosecutors just days before the start of Weinsteins first trial but was not part of that case.

Prosecutors said they did not pursue the womens allegations after Weinstein was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in prison, but they revisited them and secured a new indictment after the states Court of Appeals threw out his conviction last April.

Judge Farber ruled in October to combine the new indictment and existing charges into one trial.

Weinsteins lawyers contend that prosecutors prejudiced him by waiting nearly five years to bring the additional charge, suggesting they had elected not to include the allegation in his first trial so they could use it later if his conviction were reversed.

Prosecutors called that thinking absurd, countering that Weinsteins lawyers would have also been outraged if he had been charged based on the third womans allegation either during his first trial or immediately after his conviction.

Weinstein would likely have characterised that timing as a vindictive and gratuitous pile-on, prosecutors wrote in a court filing last month.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office said the previously uncharged allegation required a sensitive investigation and serious contemplation before seeking an indictment, in part because there are no eyewitnesses to the alleged assault and no scientific or other physical evidence.

Weinstein co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, having produced films such as Pulp Fiction and The Crying Game.

In 2017, he became the most prominent villain of the #MeToo movement, which erupted when women began going public with accounts of his behaviour.

He has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

In vacating Weinsteins conviction, the Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge, James M Burke, unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women who were not part of the case. Mr Burke is no longer on the bench.

Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. His 16-year prison sentence in that case still stands, but his lawyers appealed in June, arguing he did not get a fair trial.

Weinstein has remained in custody in New Yorks Rikers Island jail complex, with occasional visits to hospital for medical treatment, while awaiting the retrial.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has strongly opposed a Zanu-PF faction's attempt to amend the Constitution and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term until 2030, calling it an unconstitutional and treacherous move.Mnangagwa has consistently stated that he will not seek a third term and will step down when his current two terms end in 2028. However, recent remarks by Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi indicated that Zanu-PF is working on a constitutional amendment to extend Mnangagwa's presidency, following a resolution passed at the Zanu-PF National People's Conference in Bulawayo last year.In an interview with Southern Eye yesterday, MRP president Mqondisi Moyo condemned the push for an extended term, accusing Zanu-PF of treachery. He questioned Mnangagwa's true stance on the issue, suggesting that the President was not genuinely opposed to the idea."The President and leader of the ruling party has chosen not to exercise his authority to halt this unconstitutional push for an extended term," Moyo said. "Instead, he seems to be underhandedly embracing the move, creating the illusion that he's being pressured by party members. This duplicity has raised questions about his integrity and commitment to upholding the Constitution."Moyo went on to criticize Mnangagwa's leadership, saying that his presidency was a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and disregard for human rights. He accused Zanu-PF of manipulating internal factions and exploiting political divisions to push the narrative of support for the term extension."Zanu-PF has covertly manipulated Sengezo Tshabangu's minority faction and exploited divisions within CCC parliamentarians to orchestrate a fake show of support," Moyo added. "This tactic aims to create a misleading narrative of consensus, masking the stark absence of genuine agreement."Promise Mkwananzi, spokesperson for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), echoed MRP's concerns, reaffirming his party's stance against any attempt to extend Mnangagwa's term. Mkwananzi emphasized that the CCC would do everything within its power to ensure that elections are held as scheduled in 2028."We will do everything permissible in a democratic society to stop him and his cabal and ensure that elections are conducted in 2028 as scheduled," Mkwananzi said.The calls for a constitutional amendment and the extension of Mnangagwa's term have sparked tensions within Zimbabwe's political landscape, raising concerns about the future of the country's democracy. Both the MRP and the CCC have vowed to take legal and political action to resist any moves that would undermine the constitutional limits on presidential terms.As the debate continues, the opposition parties are urging the government to honor the Constitution and the democratic process, ensuring that the leadership transition planned for 2028 remains on track.
Rebels backed by Rwanda captured more towns in eastern Congo on Wednesday, as fighters moved beyond the key city of Goma in an apparent attempt to expand their control in the conflict-battered region.

The rebels were advancing toward the centre of South Kivu province after capturing several of its towns, including Kalungu, Kanyezire and Mukwinja, according to a local civil society leader and an aid worker in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The advance further raised fears of prolonged occupation by the rebels, who have said they plan to set up a new administration in Goma.

Unlike now, they only captured Goma during their first rebellion in 2012 but withdrew days later under international pressure on Rwanda.

People have fled to Rwanda as the rebels advance (AP)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on X that he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the need to ensure a ceasefire and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.

Soldiers fighting for Congo  many of them mercenaries from other nations  were laying down their weapons at the border with Rwanda. Congos army seemed to be in disarray, and those at the border appeared disorganised and ill-equipped for fighting.

A rebel spokesman said nearly 300 mercenaries have surrendered their arms and returned to their countries.

Let the people of Goma be calm, peace is here, said Willy Ngoma, a spokesman of the M23 group. Mr Ngoma is on the UN Security Councils sanctions list for crimes committed by the rebels.

Its like you are fighting without command, said Jean Marie Ndahambaza, one of the surrendering soldiers.

Armed groups have long vied for control of eastern Congo, which is rich in minerals critical to much of the worlds technology, and has been the scene of proxy battles between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, as well as other powers.

Fighting reignited this week, and the rebels backed by Rwanda, known as M23, announced on Monday that they had captured much of the provincial capital of Goma.

Hundreds of thousands of Goma residents were trying to get away from the fighting, with some retreating into Congos interior to seek protection, and others crossing into nearby Rwanda.

Rwandan border patrol agents thoroughly searched the belongings of the men, women and children crossing the border in waves, with suitcases and children in tow. The displaced people were then taken care of by the Rwandan Red Cross.

Meanwhile, rebels took control of Gomas airport, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, warning of risks of a breakdown of law and order in the city of two million people given the proliferation of weapons.

Clashes with rebels continued in some parts of the city on Wednesday afternoon, including at the centre of Goma in the neighbourhoods of Katoyi and Kahembe.

Other parts of the city were calm, with less fighting after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew overhead, and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to address the country later on Wednesday in his first public remarks since the incursion.

The conflict has been going on for decades, with many armed groups vying for control (AP)

M23, made up primarily of ethnic Tutsis, has told the AP that it plans to set up an administration in the city so people can continue living normal lives and displaced people can return home.

Analysts have warned that securing a rebel withdrawal could be more difficult than in 2012, when M23 first captured Goma.

Murithi Mutiga, programme director for Africa at the Crisis Group, said the group has become more emboldened by Rwanda, which feels Congo is ignoring its interests in the region and which has accused Congo of failing to meet demands of previous peace agreements.
Google is enhancing its Play Store services with the introduction of "Verified" badges for virtual private network (VPN) apps, aiming to help users identify legitimate services amidst growing concerns about fake and malicious VPN applications. These badges serve as an additional layer of assurance, signaling that the apps have undergone Google's review process.

VPNs are widely used tools for protecting online activities from trackers and data miners. However, not all VPN apps deliver on their promises of security. Some are deceptive, designed to collect data, or worse, introduce malware to devices. The new verification system is part of Google's effort to address this persistent issue.

Google's Verified Badges for VPNs

According to a report by 9to5Google, the Verified badge will feature a shield and checkmark icon, prominently displayed on the app's landing page in the Play Store. The report highlights that this initiative builds upon Google's prior measures, such as independent security reviews for VPNs, and aims to make it easier for users to identify trustworthy apps at a glance. By providing a clear visual indicator, Google is streamlining the process of finding reliable VPN services.

Unlike the previous review process, which required users to scroll to the bottom of an app's listing to find the security review seal, the Verified badge offers a more visible and user-friendly approach to identifying trustworthy apps.

Tackling Fake VPN Apps

Fake VPN apps have been a longstanding problem in app marketplaces. These deceptive applications range from those collecting user data for advertisements to those containing malware capable of stealing sensitive information. With VPNs playing a crucial role in online safety, Google's Verified badges aim to make it easier for users to distinguish legitimate services from fraudulent ones.

The new system is comparable to the verified badges used on social media platforms, which help users identify authentic accounts. By providing a clear visual marker, Google hopes to reduce the risk of users falling victim to fake VPN apps.

The Importance of VPNs for Online Protection

VPNs have become essential tools for safeguarding online privacy, offering protection that surpasses the limitations of browser incognito modes. By masking users' IP addresses through proxy networks, VPNs help shield their activities from trackers, advertisers, and cybercriminals.

Despite their benefits, VPNs have also been subject to exploitation by malicious actors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has previously highlighted deceptive practices within the VPN industry, emphasizing the need for stricter measures to protect users. Google's Verified badges represent a step forward in addressing these concerns.

Global Context of VPN Usage

While VPNs are embraced by users worldwide, their use is subject to varying regulations. Countries like Russia and China impose strict controls or outright bans on personal VPN usage. In contrast, the United States maintains an open approach, allowing users to freely choose VPN services. Google's new verification initiative further supports this openness by promoting transparency and trust in VPN applications available on the Play Store.

By introducing Verified badges, Google is taking a proactive stance in safeguarding Android users, ensuring they can access reliable VPN services without falling prey to harmful applications.
Today

Windy. Showers early with clearing later in the day. High 64F. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds early. Low near 50F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 65F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Three women from Harare, Diana Sibanda (35), Brendy Msipa (35), and Tabeth Harris (33), have been arrested and charged with aggravated indecent assault and robbery following a harrowing incident involving a 20-year-old man from Mazowe.The three suspects appeared before regional magistrate Tilda Mazhande yesterday and were remanded in custody until February 13, pending the completion of investigations.According to State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, the incident occurred on January 25 when the complainant was driving along Leopold Takawira Street in Harare. Sibanda allegedly forced open the passenger door of the complainant's car and grabbed the gear lever, blocking him from driving. She then took the complainant's Samsung Note 20 Ultra from the armrest.Sibanda reportedly threatened the complainant with a screwdriver and directed him to follow her to a nearby residence. Once inside, the court heard, Msipa and Harris joined them, where they allegedly assaulted the complainant, caressed him, and forcibly undressed him before sexually assaulting him.The trio then demanded money from the victim, who gave them US$20. After the assault, they escorted him back to his car and stole a power bank, modulator, and phone charger. They later forced the complainant to hire a taxi to his residence, where they demanded and were given US$80.However, their plan unraveled when the complainant spotted police officers patrolling the area and shouted for help, leading to the swift intervention of law enforcement. The suspects were arrested, and the complainant's belongings were recovered.The case has attracted attention due to the severe nature of the assault and the boldness of the suspects' actions. Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will remain in custody as the case progresses.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The High Court has upheld an application for review filed by three opposition activists, Denford Ngadziore, Makomborero Haruziviishe, and Jonah Matoratora, who were charged with disorderly conduct in 2019. The three were arrested while entering the Harare Magistrates Court and faced charges related to singing abusive songs at the court's entrance.In their application, the activists sought to challenge the ruling of Magistrate Standford Mambaje, who had dismissed their application for discharge at the close of the State's case. Justice Siyabona Musithu, who heard the application, ruled in their favor, finding that the magistrate had erred in his decision.The activists were arrested on October 22, 2019, and charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly singing provocative songs against police officers at the entrance of the Harare Magistrates Court after being denied entry for wearing jeans. The trio denied the charges, arguing it was a case of mistaken identity, and they were not part of the group singing the songs.During the trial, which began in November 2019, the three made an application for discharge in March 2020, which was dismissed by Magistrate Mambaje. However, Justice Musithu found the evidence presented by the State to be insufficient to prove the allegations against the accused.The judge noted that the evidence provided by the police officers involved in the case was inconclusive, as none of them claimed to have arrested the activists. One of the officers even disowned her statement, alleging it had been tampered with. The investigation officer who allegedly altered the statement was not called to testify as a State witness.Justice Musithu emphasized that the State had failed to call independent witnesses, such as journalists who were reportedly covering the demonstration, to substantiate the claims against the activists. The judge also pointed out that the applicants' defense, which stated that they were mistakenly identified by the officers, had not been rebutted by the State.As a result, Justice Musithu ruled that the application for review succeeded, and the previous decision to put the activists to trial was set aside. The trio was discharged and acquitted, with no order for costs.The ruling represents a significant victory for the opposition activists, who have long maintained that they were unjustly targeted. Haruziviishe, who is currently studying in Europe after being granted asylum, was not present for the hearing.The decision marks a key moment in the ongoing legal battles faced by opposition figures in Zimbabwe.
News / National

by Staff reporter

ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera is facing mounting criticism and backlash after leading a controversial song at the burial of Justin Mupamhanga at Heroes Acre on Monday, which many perceived as a veiled attack on acting President Constantino Chiwenga.Mavetera, who leads the Young Women 4ED, a group aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's loyalists, was filmed singing a song that included the lyrics "sellouts deserve to be in a hole," which was widely interpreted as being aimed at Vice-President Chiwenga.The incident has ignited tensions within the ruling Zanu-PF party, with some accusing Mavetera of disrespecting both the office of the acting president and the sanctity of the Heroes Acre, a national monument dedicated to Zimbabwe's liberation heroes.The General Chiwenga Voluntary Supporters Association (GCVSA) condemned Mavetera's actions in a strongly worded press statement, calling it "a direct provocation" and an "act of betrayal" against the former army commander."Heroes Acre is not a playground for political theatrics," said the statement, issued by the group's secretary-general Ntokozo Msipha. "It is hallowed ground where the bravest sons and daughters of Zimbabwe rest, a site consecrated by the sacrifices of those who fought for our liberation."The GCVSA described the incident as "reckless" and "dishonourable," labeling it an "unforgivable insult" not only to Chiwenga but also to Zimbabwe's war veterans, soldiers, and patriotic citizens.Chiwenga, a decorated war veteran and former military commander, remains a central figure in Zimbabwe's political and military landscape. His supporters, including the GCVSA, framed the incident as a direct attack on the nation's revolutionary values."General Chiwenga is not just a leader; he is a guardian of Zimbabwe's sovereignty," the statement continued. "Any assault on his dignity is an assault on the values of our revolution."The GCVSA also issued a stern warning to those who might challenge Chiwenga's stature and authority within the party, stressing that further provocations would not be tolerated."Let this statement serve as a final warning  discipline, respect, and loyalty are the cornerstones of leadership. Those who fail to uphold them will find themselves on the wrong side of history," Msipha added.Mavetera has yet to respond to the accusations or comments on the incident, despite several requests for clarification.The altercation at Heroes Acre comes amid rising factionalism within Zanu-PF, with divisions deepening over efforts to amend the Constitution to extend President Mnangagwa's tenure. While Mnangagwa has repeatedly expressed disinterest in staying in office beyond his constitutional two terms, a faction within Zanu-PF is pushing for an extension of his term until 2030, a resolution adopted at the party's annual conference last year.The situation is further complicated by a recent statement from the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, urging Mnangagwa to resist any attempts to alter the Constitution and extend his presidency.Political analysts suggest that the Mavetera incident is symptomatic of the growing tensions and factional rivalry within Zanu-PF, with figures aligned to different factions seeking to assert dominance ahead of the 2028 elections.As the controversy unfolds, many are watching closely to see how the ruling party will manage the internal divisions that appear to be escalating.
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former US President John F. Kennedy, has penned a sharp letter regarding her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to US senators, just ahead of his senate confirmation hearing tomorrow.

She described him as wholly unqualified for the position of Secretary of Health, labeling him a predator and emphasizing that his anti-vaccine stance has resulted in numerous fatalities.

RFK Jr. initially ran for president but later withdrew to endorse Donald Trump, who has now put him forward for the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Kennedy is scheduled to appear before a senate committee tomorrow, which is responsible for approving his nomination.

Carolines son, Jack Schlossberg, shared a video of his mother as she read the letter to the senators.

She added: These facts alone should be disqualifying; however, his personal attributes related to this role raise even greater concerns for me.

Donald Trump has nominated RFK Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

She further alleged that her cousin, a former heroin user, has led some of his siblings and cousins towards addiction, resulting in sickness and death.

Mr. Kennedys younger brother, David, tragically passed away in Palm Beach County in May 1984 due to the multiple ingestion of three drugs, as stated by authorities at that time.

Ms. Kennedy highlighted that his anti-vaccine rhetoric has claimed many lives and was responsible for a severe measles outbreak in American Samoa in 2019.

Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because Bobby himself is a predator, she remarked about her cousin, providing details on how he once took pleasure in blending mice and chickens to feed his hawks.

Additionally, she pointed out Mr. Kennedys choice to maintain a financial interest in a lawsuit against Mercks HPV vaccine, which is designed to prevent cervical cancer, suggesting he intends to enrich himself.

In her capacity as former US President Joe Bidens ambassador to Australia, Ms. Kennedy actively promoted the HPV vaccine.

She concluded her letter by urging US Senators to deny his appointment on behalf of Americas most vulnerable populations, stating, They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy, and so do the rest of us.

If confirmed, Mr. Kennedy would manage an approximately $1.7 trillion (1.6 trillion) mandatory budget and a $130.7 billion (125.2 billion) discretionary budget as the leader of HHS, with over half of the funding allocated to significant entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Authorities in the Netherlands have apprehended three individuals linked to a bold theft of ancient Romanian artifacts from a museum in the northeastern part of the country, following a rigorous four-day search.

The burglary occurred on Saturday, during which the perpetrators employed explosives to breach the Drents Museum in Assen, inciting outrage in Romania and leading Dutch police to swiftly pursue the assailants.

The artifacts in question were on loan from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest, and as a result of this incident, the director has lost his position.

The suspects are being held under strict conditions and are undergoing interrogation regarding their involvement in the theft, stated Dutch police, mentioning that further arrests cannot be ruled out.

The Helmet of Cotofenesti is a Getic helmet formerly belonging to a prince

The thieves made away with four significant Romanian artifacts, including the approximately 2,500-year-old golden Helmet of Cotofenesti, a renowned piece from the Dacian civilization.

Additionally, three gold bracelets, dating back to around 50 BC, were also stolen.

The items were considered to have special cultural and symbolic significance, and their loss has caused considerable distress in Romania, as noted by Bucharests foreign affairs minister, Emil Hurezeanu.

Dutch police have initiated an extensive investigation into the theft and today released a photograph of another suspect sought in connection with the incident.

There were four Dacian bracelets originally displayed at the National History Museum of Romania

The Drents Museum has expressed satisfaction with the arrests, which took place in the small city of Heerhugowaard, located approximately 50 km north of Amsterdam.

The safe return of the artifacts would be a fantastic next step for everyone involved, the museum stated.

It further expressed: This is important not only for us but also for the Romanian people.

In the past, Dutch museums and galleries have faced similar thefts, including a November incident where works by artist Andy Warhol were taken, as well as a Van Gogh stolen from a museum in 2020.

These heists have led to calls for improved security measures to safeguard valuable artworks.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had received a list of hostages held by Hamas, set to be released on Thursday as part of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Israel has obtained the list of hostages expected to be released from Hamas captivity tomorrow, the prime ministers office stated, noting that additional details would be provided once the families have been informed.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi commented that the forced displacement of Gazans is an injustice that we cannot partake in, following US President Donald Trumps suggestion to relocate Palestinians from the territory to Egypt and Jordan.

The deportation and displacement of the Palestinian people from their homeland is an injustice that we cannot endorse, Mr. Sisi remarked during a press conference in Cairo alongside Kenyan President William Ruto.

He emphasized Egypts support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and expressed his commitment to collaborate with President Trump, who aims to achieve lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

We believe that President Trump has the potential to realize this long-awaited objective of establishing a just and enduring peace in the Middle East, said Mr. Sisi.

Following the initiation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on 19 January, Mr. Trump promoted a plan to clear out Gaza, reiterating his idea on Monday by suggesting that Palestinians should move to safer locations like Egypt or Jordan.

Addressing reporters, Mr. Trump expressed his hope that Mr. Sisi would accept some Gazans.

We have assisted them significantly, and I am confident he would assist us, he stated.

As they say, its a tough neighborhood, but I believe he would agree to it, and I think the King of Jordan would as well.

Jordan also dismissed this notion, stating: Jordan is for Jordanians, and Palestine is for Palestinians.

Israeli drone strike injures 5 people in southern Lebanon  health ministry

Five individuals were injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Selm, as reported by the Lebanese health ministry.

On the previous day, Israeli airstrikes injured 36 people in Nabatieh, a major town in southern Lebanon, according to health officials.

The Israeli military stated that it had targeted Hezbollah vehicles transporting weapons on the outskirts of Nabatieh.

The Israeli army also apprehended three individuals in the southern border town of Maroun al-Ras, according to the Lebanese state news agency NNA.

Israeli airstrikes injured 24 people in Nabatieh, a significant town in southern Lebanon.

Israel has conducted strikes in southern Lebanon despite an agreement between Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel that established a ceasefire in late November, concluding a conflict that resulted in thousands of deaths since it was triggered by the Gaza war in 2023.

Israel has not fully withdrawn its forces from southern Lebanon and has indicated it will continue operations against any threats to the state of Israel and its citizens.

Following the airstrikes on Nabatieh, senior Hezbollah official Mohammad Raad asserted that the Lebanese peoples right to resist Israeli assaults is a sacred and legitimate right.

He indicated that this right should be exercised at the appropriate time and place to safeguard the countrys security.

The US announced on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which includes an initial 60-day period for the withdrawal of Israeli troops, would remain effective until 18 February, extending the previous deadline of 26 January.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on US General Jasper Jeffers, who chairs the committee overseeing the ceasefire, to urge Israel to implement the ceasefire in accordance with international law.

Mr. Mikati also expressed gratitude to the International Red Cross for their efforts in securing the release of nine Lebanese individuals detained by Israel.

Israeli forces killed at least 24 people and injured at least 141 in southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, according to the Lebanese health ministry, as thousands attempted to return to their homes in defiance of Israeli military orders.

Read more:

Israeli troops kill 22 people returning to south Lebanon

Hopes of peace and stability rest on fragile foundations
New Executive Orders Focus on Diversity in the U.S. Military

President of the United States, Donald Trump, has enacted a number of executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the military, reinstating thousands of troops discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccinations during the pandemic, and targeting transgender service members.

Pete Hegseth, who narrowly gained enough support to become the Secretary of Defense, mentioned the names of Confederate generals that were previously associated with two prominent military bases during his comments to reporters upon entering the Pentagon on his first full day in office.

Mr. Trump signed these executive orders while en route back from Miami to Washington DC.

One of the signed executive orders stated that expressing a gender identity that differs from an individuals sex at birth does not align with military standards.

Mr. Trumps initiatives have faced significant backlash from advocacy groups, which argue that his actions may be unlawful.

President Trump has made it clear that a primary objective of his administration is to push transgender individuals back into obscurity and out of the public arena entirely, stated Joshua Block from the ACLU.

During his initial term, Mr. Trump declared that he would prohibit transgender individuals from serving in the military. However, he did not fully enforce this ban; his administration halted recruitment for transgender personnel but allowed those already serving to remain.

President Biden reversed this decision upon taking office in 2021.

The military comprises approximately 1.3 million active-duty personnel, according to data from the U.S. Department of Defense. While transgender rights advocates estimate that up to 15,000 transgender service members are present, officials contend that the actual number is in the low thousands.

When Mr. Trump announced his initial ban in 2017, he asserted that the military should prioritize decisive and overwhelming victory without the added burden of tremendous medical costs and disruption associated with having transgender personnel.

Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed as the new Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Hegseth has committed to implementing significant changes at the Pentagon, with the elimination of DEI from the military being a primary focus.

The executive order signed by Mr. Trump regarding the cessation of DEI in the military mandates that service academies teach that America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history.

The Air Force announced on Sunday that it will resume training with a video highlighting the first black airmen in the U.S. military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, ensuring compliance with Mr. Trumps DEI ban.

Mr. Hegseth received a warm welcome on the steps of the Pentagon from the top U.S. military officer, Air Force General CQ Brown, despite Mr. Hegseth having criticized him in his latest book. When questioned about the possibility of dismissing General Brown, Mr. Hegseth humorously remarked that he was standing right next to him.

Im standing with him right now. I look forward to working with him, he said, patting the General on the back.

Previously, Reuters reported on the potential for mass firings among high-ranking officials, something Mr. Hegseth consistently declined to rule out during his confirmation process.

He referred to Fort Moore and Fort Liberty by their former names, Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, during his interactions with reporters.

The names honoring Confederate officers were altered under President Biden as part of a movement to reassess U.S. history and the legacy of the Confederacy.

Im thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, Germany, Fort Benning, and Fort Bragg, Mr. Hegseth stated.

Pete Hegseth was seen alongside Air Force General CQ Brown.

Much of Mr. Hegseths attention at the Pentagon may be directed internally, particularly towards fulfilling Mr. Trumps executive order to reinstate troops discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccinations.

Thousands of service members were discharged following the Pentagons mandatory vaccine policy in 2021.

Mr. Trump also signed an executive order that mandated a process to develop an American Iron Dome.

The short-range Iron Dome air defense system was developed by Israels Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with U.S. support and is designed to intercept rockets launched by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza toward Israel.

Each truck-towed unit fires radar-guided missiles to destroy short-range threats such as rockets, mortars, and drones in midair.

The system assesses whether a rocket is likely to strike a populated area; if not, the rocket is disregarded and allowed to land safely.

Any such initiative would take years to implement in the United States.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  President Trumps attempt to derail the wind and solar industries in the United States in favor of dirty fossil fuels is a threat to the health of the planet, of course.

But it is also a threat to the US economy. Fossil fuels are sources of short term profits. As the horrific effects of carbon dioxide on human-driven climate change become ever more destructive, coal, fossil gas and petroleum will increasingly be banned or discouraged. Companies investing in two decades of drilling and development of these sources of energy now will likely never get their money back, and their investors will never get to retire. Plus, these sources of energy are expensive.

Solar and wind are less expensive and the energy they use to produce power is free. Not only does the domestic economy benefit from the switch but getting good at manufacturing and exporting solar panels and wind turbines can be very lucrative.

Some 64% of US manufacturing for offshore wind turbines is located in districts that typically vote Republican, so Trumps cancellation of offshore bids hurts the MAGA voters most of all.

The danger to a US retrenchment from these industries is a less competitive America, with higher power costs at home, and the loss of high-value contracts at home and abroad.

And you know who will eat Americas lunch? China.

Isabella OMalley at the Associated Press reports that China installed 357 gigawatts (1 gig = a billion watts) of solar and wind power in 2024, an unprecedented feat.

Solar capacity in the Peoples Republic is nearly twice now what it was a year ago, and wind is up 18%.

China has 888 gigawatts of installed solar capacity and 520 gigawatts of wind. Mega-batteries are solving the old problems of intermittency in renewable power.

Because it makes so many solar panels for use at home, China is well positioned to export the panels abroad as well, a trade worth $13 billion in 2024. At 13.7 cents per megawatt, Chinese panels are the most competitive globally.

China exported $27 billion worth of wind turbines in 2024, par for the course.

The US only installed 30 new gigs of solar last year, and has 219 gigs total. Were pygmies compared to China. And if Trump gets his way, the gap will quickly widen.

We have only 136 gigawatts of installed wind capacity, up by 5% last year (not 18% like China).

Turning from electricity to transportation, inside China, sales of all kinds of electric vehicles soared 40% in 2024. Sales of Chinese EVs abroad rose to 1.6 million units, a 6 percent increase year over year. All in all, the Chinese sold 11 million EVs last year, to Americas 1.3 million.

The only answer the US has to this incredible challenge is protectionism, as though we were a 1960s third world country standing guard over its infant industries.



Shangha, 2019.  Juan Cole.

When I was eight years old, China was desperately poor and the US gross domestic product made up 40% of the world GDP. We couldnt have imagined a super-advanced China now on the cusp of being the first electrified society, while the backward US wallowed in dangerous and unhealthy fossil fuels, as it deteriorates into a society with a handful of piggy, fascist multi-billionaires and an army of impoverished Walmart greeters acting as agents of the Chinese Communist Party (60% to 70% of Walmarts merchandise is from China).

It is a hell of a note, and Trump will only make it orders of magnitude worse.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Hard-hitting statements by Zimbabwe's war veterans calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down have exposed deepening factional rifts within Zanu-PF over the controversial push to extend his term to 2030, according to party insiders and political analysts.Zanu-PF's annual conference in October 2024 saw the adoption of a resolution to extend Mnangagwa's tenure by two years, despite the President's repeated assertion that he plans to retire at the end of his final term in 2028. Mnangagwa's loyalists have been pushing ahead with the 2030 agenda, holding weekly meetings and rallying support in various constituencies, but this has sparked significant resistance within the party.The tensions came to a head over the weekend when Blessed Geza, a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee, and other war veterans publicly opposed the extension of Mnangagwa's term, with Geza even calling for the President to step down. The statement by the war veterans is seen as a rallying cry for the country's ex-combatants and broader political opposition to the 2030 proposal.On Monday, Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, widely regarded as a frontrunner to succeed Mnangagwa, also spoke out against corruption at the National Heroes Acre, where he was greeted with chants of support. His comments further reinforced the growing anti-2030 sentiment within the party.A senior Zanu-PF official, speaking to NewsDay, suggested that the war veterans' statement marked a significant turning point for the party and the Mnangagwa administration. "The President will try to resist, do all that he can for now, but the die has been cast," the official said. "The position of those war veterans normally speaks to the position of party members, and what they are saying is exactly what the party membership is thinking about."The official added that the pro-Chiwenga chants at the National Heroes Acre, coming just a day after Geza's statement, underscored the growing resistance to the 2030 plan, with Chiwenga's remarks on corruption further undermining Mnangagwa's position.Political analysts agree that Zanu-PF is at a tipping point due to these factional struggles. Eldred Masunungure, a political analyst, said that the current situation in Zanu-PF mirrors the tensions of 2017, which led to the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe. "There is too much going on, and we are probably seeing a confrontation within the party and military or more broadly the security sector," Masunungure warned.He also noted that the war veterans' statements represent the broader sentiment within the security sector and the public. "We are entering troubled times and it may not end well unless there is an intervention to bring down the temperatures," he said, drawing parallels to the 2017 coup that removed Mugabe.Analyst Ibbo Mandaza also suggested that the war veterans' stance resonates with ordinary Zimbabweans. "The statement by the war veterans resonates with the population at large," Mandaza said, pointing to the public support Chiwenga received at the Heroes Acre. He argued that the war veterans are likely to garner popular support due to widespread frustration with corruption and impunity within the ruling party.The ongoing internal divisions in Zanu-PF have drawn the attention of religious and political leaders. Last week, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations warned that the call to extend Mnangagwa's presidency and postpone the 2028 elections constitutes "an invitation for the President to be a co-conspirator in overthrowing the Constitution of the country."In a bid to defuse tensions, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere stated last week that there was nothing criminal in either supporting or opposing the 2030 agenda, while Zanu-PF Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha reiterated that members of the party should not be persecuted for opposing the extension of Mnangagwa's term.As political factions continue to clash within Zanu-PF, all eyes will be on how the leadership responds to the mounting resistance. The outcome of these internal struggles could have far-reaching implications for the future of the party and the country.
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | 

Senator Greg Fryer

Co-Chair, Faculty Affairs, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee

Columbia University Senate

gaf1@cumc.columbia.edu

Senator Letty Moss-Salentijn

Co-Chair, Faculty Affairs, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee

Columbia University Senate

lm23@cumc.columbia.edu

Dear Senators Fryer and Moss-Salentijn:

We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern about the flawed disciplinary proceedings involving James L. Dohr Professor of Law Katherine Franke and the circumstances surrounding her retirement. Professor Franke has held a tenured appointment at Columbia Law School for almost twenty-five years. It appears that the investigation of Professor Franke by the universitys Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) was conducted in a manner that is inconsistent with Columbia Universitys own policies. As a consequence of former Columbia University President Minouche Shafiks public remarks about Professor Franke during a congressional hearing, she was subjected to harassment and threats that left her unable to regularly attend events and meetings on campus. The OIEs investigation ultimately resulted in Professor Frankes constructive termination as she was effectively induced to retire under conditions of duress, requiring her to waive previously agreed-upon retirement terms. The treatment of Professor Franke has also had a chilling effect, undermining Columbia facultys ability to exercise their academic freedom and their right to free speech. Finally, the universitys treatment of Professor Franke reinforces a climate of anti-Palestinian racism on campus in which pro-Palestine speech and expressive conduct are subject to disproportionate sanctions and repression.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America.

Professor Franke has for many years faced a hostile climate at Columbia University, undergirded by anti-Palestinian racism which the university has failed to address. She reports that, on multiple occasions, she has been accosted by people on campus who called for her rape and made other violent threats; she has also received rape and death threats over email and phone, and photographs of her office door have been circulated on social media. People posing as students have recorded her in private meetings and posted her remarks on social media, accompanied by insults. Professor Franke reported these incidents to the university but was told that they did not violate university policy.

On 25 January 2024 Professor Franke was interviewed on the independent television and radio news show DemocracyNow! During the interview, she raised concerns about an incident on the Columbia campus involving the spraying of a foul-smelling chemical on pro-Palestinian protesters by students who opposed the protest; several students sought medical attention due to their physical symptoms after being sprayed. In that interview Professor Franke stated the following:

The students were able toexamine video from that protest and identify, I think, three older students. We have a  Columbia has a program. Its a graduate relationship with older students from other countries, including Israel. And its something that many of us were concerned about, because so many of those Israeli students, who then come to the Columbia campus, are coming right out of their military service. And theyve been known to harass Palestinian and other students on our campus. And its something the university has not taken seriously in the past.

The students who deployed the noxious chemical were later disciplined by the university. However, on 14 February 2024 Professor Franke was notified that two colleagues at the Law School had filed complaints against her with Columbias office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, alleging that her comments on DemocracyNow! constituted harassment based on national origin of other members of the university community. On 26 November 2024 Professor Franke was found to have committed one count of discriminatory harassment on the basis of national origin and two counts of retaliation for publicly sharing information about her investigation, including the names of the complainants.

We note that at the time she shared those names, Professor Franke was under the impression that they were already public knowledge. Moreover, Professor Frankes DemocracyNow! comments reflected the facts as they were known to her at the time, including a pattern of anti-Palestinian harassment by former Israeli soldiers that both she and the university had evidence of as early as 2017. Her comments were also based on reputable academic research about the effects of recent military service on individuals and communities. They thus constituted protected extramural speech, and as the American Association of University Professors has confirmed , extramural speech, which often occurs in highly charged political moments, must not be subject to institutional sanction. We also note that Columbias own Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policies and Procedures states that Nothing in EOAA Policies & Procedures shall be construed to abridge academic freedom and inquiry, principles of free speech, or the Universitys educational mission.

When Professor Franke learned that a formal investigation had been opened based on the complaint submitted by her colleagues, she told Columbia University that she preferred to remain unnamed, consistent with university policy which provides, inter alia, that the subject of an investigation has the right to expect privacy. Yet under questioning during a televised congressional hearing, then-president Shafik confirmed that Professor Franke was under investigation and also appeared to affirm a mischaracterization of her comments during the DemocracyNow! interview. Within days of former president Shafiks comments, Professor Franke began to receive threats at her office and home telephone numbers and by email. The climate of intimidation and harassment to which Professor Franke was subjected due to the publicizing of the investigation produced a hostile environment for her on Columbias campus. No steps were taken by the university to protect Professor Franke from the consequences of former president Shafiks violation of her right to privacy during the investigation.

The investigators assigned to Professor Frankes case failed to request information about patterns of discriminatory action against Palestinian or pro-Palestinian students that could confirm the veracity of Professor Frankes DemocracyNow!comments. The investigators similarly failed to acknowledge that the complainants decision not to file their complaint anonymously  despite the availability of this option  might have been reasonably construed by Professor Franke as an indication that their identities were a matter of public record. Only by taking her comments out of context could investigators draw the conclusion that her description of a pattern of anti-Palestinian harassment itself constitutes discrimination or that her confirming names she believed to be in the public record constitutes intentional retaliation. The result is that extramural comments that should be protected as a matter of free speech were the basis of adverse disciplinary action against Professor Franke. This outcome not only infringes on her academic freedom, it also produces a chilling effect on the protected speech of other faculty and students on Columbias campus.

We also note that sanctioning Professor Franke for her speech activities, including the termination of her previously agreed-upon retirement benefits, may violate New York State law, which prohibits employers from discriminating in compensation, promotion or terms, conditions or privileges of employment because ofan individuals political activities outside of working hours, off of the employers premises and without use of the employers equipment or other property. (N.Y. Lab. Law  201-d.)

We call your attention to the statement issued by the American Association of University Professors on 24 October 2023:

It is in tumultuous times that colleges and universities stated commitments to protect academic freedom are most put to the test. As the Israel-Hamas war rages and campus protests proliferate, institutional authorities must refrain from sanctioning faculty members for expressing politically controversial views and should instead defend their right, under principles of academic freedom, to do so.

We therefore call on the Columbia University Senate to conduct a thorough and transparent review of the Office of Institutional Equitys investigation of Professor Franke as well as former president Shafiks divulging of the investigation in her congressional testimony. We also call on Columbia University to act in conformity with all applicable laws, as well as its own policies, by reinstating Professor Frankes prior retirement agreement. Finally, we call on university leaders to publicly and forcefully reiterate their commitment to upholding the principles of academic freedom and free speech for all members of the university community.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California

cc:

Jeanine DArmiento

President, Columbia University Senate

jmd12@cumc.columbia.edu
Updated Five-Year Production Outlook Provided

Highlights of the Asanko Gold Mine (100% basis)

Mineral Reserve Estimate as of December 31, 2024, totaling 2,055,000 ounces ("oz") of gold (47.1 million tonnes at 1.36 grams per tonne gold).

2025 production guidance of 130,000 oz to 150,000 oz of gold at all-in sustaining costs1 ("AISC") of $1,750 to $1,950 per gold ounce sold.

New five-year production outlook  gold production is expected to increase by approximately 75% from 2024 production levels over the next 24 months as higher grade mill feed is supplied by Abore and Esaase.

Significant pit wall pushback at Nkran to access high-grade ore at depth expected to commence by mid-year 2025.

Exploration focus on both near-mine and greenfields targets, Akoma and Sky Gold B prospects, to test for extensions of mineralization discovered in 2024.

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Galiano Gold Inc. ("Galiano" or the "Company") (TSX: GAU) (NYSE American: GAU) announces 2025 guidance, updated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and a five-year outlook for the Company's Asanko Gold Mine ("AGM") located on the Asankrangwa Gold Belt in the Republic of Ghana, West Africa, of which, the Company owns a 90% interest. All dollar amounts are in US dollars, and all operational data on a 100% basis, unless otherwise noted.

"We are pleased that near mine drilling at the AGM has resulted in 100% replacement of depleted ounces over the past 2-year period," said Matt Badylak, Galiano's President and Chief Executive Officer. "On the back of our mine plan optimizations, we are providing 2025 production and cost guidance and further clarity with a five-year operational outlook."

"The mine plan prioritized larger deposits to increase flexibility and mitigate operational risks associated with operating smaller pits simultaneously. Production growth is expected to be achieved from higher grade mill feed processed from mining Abore and Esaase, without any material capital expenditures. This will commensurately see a reduction in AISC and provide significant cash flows to support our investment in mining Nkran."

"Our strong cash balance of over $100 million, no debt, and anticipated future cash flows, are expected to provide us with the financial strength to invest in operational improvements and deliver approximately 200,000 ounces of gold annually from 2026."

____________________ 1 Refer to Non-IFRS Measures

2025 Outlook

The Company is providing 2025 guidance for the AGM based on the optimized mine plan. The AGM is expected to produce between 130,000 oz to 150,000 oz of gold at AISC1 between $1,750/oz to $1,950/oz. AISC1 is anticipated to be elevated in 2025 compared to future years due to lower gold production. Given the current crushing constraints, softer Esaase material will provide supplementary mill feed prior to the secondary crushing circuit being commissioned. Higher grades are expected from deeper elevations at Abore and Esaase in the second half of the year and are expected to result in gold production being weighted to the second half of the year.

Total sustaining capital expenditures are guided to $15 million in 2025. Sustaining capital expenditures in 2025 include the commencement of a tailings facility expansion with $9 million spent (and an additional $9 million to be incurred in 2026) and Esaase site establishment costs of $3 million.

Development capital for 2025 is guided at between $60 million to $65 million, which primarily relates to Nkran Cut 3 waste stripping and site establishment costs, completion of the secondary crushing circuit and village resettlement costs at Abore and Esaase. With the emphasis in the first half of 2025 on completing mill upgrades (secondary crushing circuit, additional carbon-in-leach tanks and oxygen generation plant), the Company has re-sequenced mining activities to focus on Abore and Esaase in the near-term.

For 2025, exploration expenditures at the AGM are estimated at approximately $10 million, which includes approximately 17,000 metres of drilling as well as ground geophysics and regional prospecting and mapping. The 2025 exploration program is focused on increasing Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at Abore, as well as targeting discoveries in both near mine and greenfields areas of the AGM tenements. Greenfields activities will include follow-up drilling at the Akoma and Sky Gold B prospects to test for extensions of mineralization discovered in 2024.

Five-Year Outlook for the AGM (100% basis)

Units 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Gold Production koz 130-150 180-210 190-220 210-240 230-260 AISC1 $/oz 1,750-1,950 1,400-1,700 1,300-1,600 1,200-1,500 1,100-1,400 Sustaining Capital^ $M 15 13-18 10-15 18-23 5-10 Development Capital* $M 60-65 120-130 115-125 70-80 20-30

^ Excludes capitalized stripping costs

*Includes Nkran stripping costs.

Assumptions underlying 5-year outlook:

Mining ($/t mined): 3.34 (including any capitalized stripping)

Ore Haulage ($/t hauled): 4.44

Processing ($/t milled): 11.30

Site G&A ($/t milled): 5.25

As a result of mine plan optimizations, deposit sequencing has been configured to the following:

Abore: mining commenced in October 2023 and currently producing mill feed.

mining commenced in and currently producing mill feed. Esaase: mining to commence in February 2025 . Minimal waste stripping is required to access the ore body, mill feed is expected in late Q1 2025.

mining to commence in . Minimal waste stripping is required to access the ore body, mill feed is expected in late Q1 2025. Nkran: Cut 3 waste stripping campaign expected to commence by mid-2025.

Multiple pit designs and mining schedules, including an accelerated Nkran pit and a split pit, were considered during the optimization process. Ultimately, the approach selected was developed with the goal of balancing mining across multiple deposits to enable a reliable and consistent ore supply to the mill, reducing operational risk, while also ensuring Nkran's Mineral Reserve ounces were maximized. The resultant mine sequence focuses on delivering mill feed from Abore and Esaase prior to Nkran ore being released in late 2028.

With the exception of 2025, where mill throughput is constrained until the secondary crusher is commissioned, mine production is expected to feed the mill at annual throughput capacity of 5.8 million tonnes per annum, with excess lower-grade ore to be stockpiled for future processing.

AGM MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES (100% basis)

Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate as of December 31, 2024

Measured Indicated Measured + Indicated Inferred Tonnes Grade Au

Contained Tonnes Grade Au

Contained Tonnes Grade Au Contained Tonnes Grade Au

Contained Deposit (Mt) (g/t) (koz) (Mt) (g/t) (koz) (Mt) (g/t) (koz) (Mt) (g/t) (koz) Nkran 16.3 1.81 950 16.3 1.81 950 6.4 1.31 271 Esaase 30.6 1.25 1,227 30.6 1.25 1,227 8.2 1.26 334 Abore 16.0 1.24 638 16.0 1.24 638 2.1 1.17 78 Adubiaso 2.0 1.46 95 2.0 1.46 95 0.2 0.81 5 Akwasiso 1.4 1.16 52 1.4 1.16 52 0.2 1.28 9 Asuadai 1.6 1.23 64 1.6 1.23 64 0.1 1.29 4 Dynamite 2.2 1.34 95 2.2 1.34 95 1.0 1.24 40 Midras South 4.9 1.09 173 4.9 1.09 173 1.1 1.17 40 Miradani North 7.9 1.39 352 7.9 1.39 352 2.9 1.30 122 Stockpiles 0.9 0.78 22 0.9 0.78 22 Total 0.9 0.78 22 83.0 1.37 3,646 83.9 1.36 3,668 22.2 1.26 903

Mineral Resource Notes:

Mr. Eric Chen , P.Geo., Vice President Mineral Resources for Galiano Gold Inc., is the Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource statements of Nkran, Abore, and Adubiaso deposits. Resources are reported within an optimized pit shell assuming a price of USD2,000 /oz gold and using various cut-off grades: 0.35 g/t gold in Nkran, 0.40 g/t Au for Abore, and Adubiaso. Metallurgical recovery for Abore assumes constant 0.10 g/t Au in tails. Metallurgical recovery of 94% was assumed for Nkran, Adubiaso, and Midras South deposits. Mr. Ertan Uludag , P.Geo., Director Mineral Resources for Galiano Gold Inc., is the Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource statement of the Midras South deposit. Resources are reported within an optimized pit shell assuming a price of USD2,000 /oz gold and using a cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au. Metallurgical recovery of 94% was assumed. Dr. Oy Leuangthong , PEng and Mr. Glen Cole , PGeo of SRK Consulting ( Canada ) Inc. are Qualified Persons responsible for the Mineral Resource statements of Esaase, Miradani North, Akwasiso, Asuadai and Dynamite Hill. Resources are reported within an optimized pit shell assuming a price of USD1,800 /oz gold and using various cut-off grades: 0.50 g/t in Oxides and 0.60 g/t gold in Transition and Fresh for Esaase; and 0.45 g/t gold for all other deposits. Metallurgical recovery of 94% was assumed for Miradani North, Akwasiso, Asuadai and Dynamite Hill. Metallurgical recovery for Esaase vary based on lithology and grade. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Due to rounding, some columns or rows may not compute exactly as shown. All tonnages are reported as in situ dry tonnes. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. All quantities are reported on a 100% basis. Mineral Resources for Nkran, Abore, Adubiaso Midras South, and Stockpiles are stated with an effective date of December 31, 2024 . Mineral Resources for Esaase, Miradani North, Akwasiso, Asuadai, and Dynamite Hill are stated with an effective date of December 31, 2022 .

Table 2: Mineral Reserve Estimate as of December 31, 2024

Deposit Proven Probable Total Proven and Probable Tonnes (Mt) Au Grade

(g/t) Au Content

(koz) Tonnes (Mt) Au Grade

(g/t) Au Content

(koz) Tonnes (Mt) Au Grade

(g/t) Au Content

(koz) Nkran 10.6 1.67 571 10.6 1.67 571 Esaase 13.6 1.22 533 13.6 1.22 533 Miradani North 6.8 1.41 310 6.8 1.41 310 Abore 11.2 1.27 458 11.2 1.27 458 Dynamite Hill 1.1 1.31 45 1.1 1.31 45 Adubiaso 1.5 1.39 67 1.5 1.39 67 Midras South 1.4 1.12 49 1.4 1.12 49 Stockpiles 0.9 0.78 22 0.9 0.78 22 Total 0.9 0.78 22 46.2 1.37 2,033 47.1 1.36 2,055

Mineral Reserve Notes:

The Nkran, Abore, Adubiaso, Midras South and Stockpiles Mineral Reserves are stated as of December 31, 2024 and the Esaase, Miradani North and Dynamite Hill Mineral Reserves are stated with an effective date of December 31, 2022 . Mineral Reserves are reported assuming a gold price of US$1,700 /oz for Nkran, Abore, Adubiaso, Midras South and Stockpiles, and US$1,500 /oz for Esaase, Miradani North and Dynamite Hill. Mineral Reserves are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant or to stockpile. All tonnages are reported as diluted dry metric tonnes. Mineral Reserves are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards. Mineral Reserves are defined within seven different pit designs guided by pit shells derived from the optimization software, HxGN MinePlan's Minesight Economic Planner, GEOVIA Whittle and Datamine Studio NPVS. Mining cost inputs are in US$/t mined. All other unit cost inputs are US$/t ore. Mining costs vary based on the pit, the rock type, and the depth of the pit. The base mining costs for Nkran, Esaase, Miradani North, Abore, Dynamite Hill, Adubiaso and Midras South are $2.63 /t, $1.98 /t, $1.94 /t, $2.03 /t, $2.29 /t, $2.03 /t, and $2.03 /t respectively. There are additional expenditures for fixed contractor monthly fees, grade control, community fees, Owner's Mining G&A, and other small costs that vary with each deposit and are in addition to the $/t stated. Processing cost assumptions for Nkran, Abore, Adubiaso, Midras South and Stockpiles is $10.39 /t for oxide ore, $11.25 /t for transition ore and $11.52 /t for fresh ore, and for Esaase, Miradani North and Dynamite Hill processing cost assumptions are $8.81 /t for oxide ore, $10.39 /t for transition ore and $10.66 /t for fresh ore. General and administration cost assumptions vary by pit and timing with a range in unit costs from $5.17 /t to $6.69 /t ore. Ore transportation cost varies for each pit based on the haul distance. It ranges between $0.61 /t for Nkran and $6.15 /t for Esaase. Processing recovery is 94.0% for all ore types in all pits except for Abore and Esaase. Processing recovery for Abore is calculated using a fixed tail of 0.10 g/t but capped to a maximum of 94%. Processing recovery varies based on the ore type and head grade in Esaase, where the average recovery for oxide, Upper Sandstone, Cobra and Central Sandstone ore types are 90.1%, 73.8%, 71.3% and 76.4%, respectively. Processing recovery for existing stockpiles ore is calculated using a fixed tail of 0.10 g/t but capped to a maximum of 85%. Mining dilution varies between pits. The average mining dilution is calculated to be 7.4%, 14.4%, 6.0%, 7.8%, 11.6%, 13.6% and 8.3%, for Nkran, Esaase, Miradani North, Abore, Dynamite Hill, Adubiaso and Midras South, respectively. Mining ore loss varies between pits. The average mining ore loss is calculated to be 3.7%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 6.2%, 2.0%, 3.7% and 11.7%, for Nkran, Esaase, Miradani North, Abore, Dynamite Hill, Adubiaso and Midras South, respectively. The overall strip ratio (the amount of waste tonnes mined for each tonne of ore) for AGM is 7.4 : 1. The strip ratio for Nkran, Esaase, Miradani North, Abore, Dynamite Hill, Adubiaso and Midras South is 13.5, 4.5, 5.6, 5.9, 9.8, 9.3, and 6.9, respectively. Figures are rounded to the appropriate level of precision for the reporting of Mineral Reserves. Due to rounding, some columns or rows may not compute as shown. Mr. Richard Miller , P.Eng., Vice President Technical Services for Galiano Gold Inc., is the Qualified Person responsible for the Nkran, Abore, Adubiaso, Midras South and Stockpiles Mineral Reserves. Dr. Anoush Ebrahimi , P.Eng., Principal Consultant (Mining) SRK ( Canada ) Inc., is the Qualified Person responsible for Esaase, Miradani North and Dynamite Hill Mineral Reserves. The Qualified Persons are not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimates. Cut-off grades vary based on the deposit and oxidation. All cut-off grades are applied to the fully diluted Au grade. The Mineral Reserves are reported at the following cut-off grades:

0.35 g/t for all Nkran ore

0.40 g/t for all ore types from Adubiaso and Midras South

0.50 g/t for all ore types from Abore, Miradani North, and Dynamite Hill

0.55 g/t for Esaase oxide ore, and 0.70 g/t for the remaining Esaase ore types

Upcoming Events

Galiano will host a conference call to discuss the five-year outlook for the Asanko Gold Mine on January 29, 2025:

Conference Call Details Replay (available until February 5, 2025) Date: January 29, 2025 Local: (+1) 289-819-1450 Time: 10:30 AM ET (7:30 AM PT) Toll Free: 1-888-660-6345 Dial In: (+1) 437-900-0527 Access Code: 73306 # Toll Free: 1-888-510-2154

The call will be webcast https://app.webinar.net/5YvW6AZgz3M and can be accessed at Galiano's website: www.galianogold.com

Qualified Person and QA/QC

Mr. Eric Chen, P.Geo., Vice President Mineral Resources of Galiano, is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has approved the Mineral Resource statement.

Mr. Richard Miller, P.Eng., Vice President Technical Services with Galiano, is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has approved the Mineral Reserve statement and, except for the Mineral Resource statement, all other scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Galiano Gold Inc.

Galiano is focused on creating a sustainable business capable of value creation for all stakeholders through production, exploration and disciplined deployment of its financial resources. The Company owns the Asanko Gold Mine, which is located in Ghana, West Africa. Galiano is committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and the health and safety of its employees and neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.galianogold.com.

1 Non-IFRS Performance Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS performance measures in this news release. These non-IFRS performance measures do not have any standardized meaning and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Accordingly, these performance measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

All-in Sustaining Costs per Gold Ounce



AISC for the AGM include total cash costs, AGM general and administrative expenses, sustaining capital expenditure, sustaining capitalized stripping costs, reclamation cost accretion and lease payments made to and interest expense on the AGM's mining and service lease agreements per ounce of gold sold.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "preliminary", "prospective", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "pursue", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to the five-year production and operational outlook for the AGM; production and cost guidance; the Company's expectations regarding production, AISC, sustaining capital and development capital; estimated exploration expenditures for 2025 and the 2025 exploration program; the operating plans for the AGM and timing thereof; mine plan optimizations; operational improvements; pit wall pushback at Nkran and the timing thereof; sequencing of mining activities and the timing thereof; the merits of the AGM; commitment to health and safety; future exploration and exploration programs and the timing thereof; information regarding the plans and expectations of the Company; and related matters. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company proceeding with operating plans as currently anticipated; the Company proceeding with further exploration and exploration programs as currently anticipated; development plans and capital expenditures; the price of gold will not decline significantly or for a protracted period of time; the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions underlying mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the Company's ability to raise sufficient funds from future equity financings to support its operations, and general business and economic conditions; the global financial markets and general economic conditions will be stable and prosperous in the future; the ability of the Company to comply with applicable governmental regulations and standards; the mining laws, tax laws and other laws in Ghana applicable to the AGM will not change, and there will be no imposition of additional exchange controls in Ghana; the success of the Company in implementing its development strategies and achieving its business objectives; the Company will continue to have sufficient working capital to fund its operations; and the key personnel of the Company will continue their employment.

The foregoing list of assumptions cannot be considered exhaustive.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein. Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, include, but are not limited to: the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates may change and may prove to be inaccurate; metallurgical recoveries may not be economically viable; LOM estimates are based on a number of factors and assumptions and may prove to be incorrect; actual production, costs, returns and other economic and financial performance may vary from the Company's estimates in response to a variety of factors, many of which are not within the Company's control; inflationary pressures and the effects thereof; the AGM has a limited operating history and is subject to risks associated with establishing new mining operations; sustained increases in costs, or decreases in the availability, of commodities consumed or otherwise used by the Company may adversely affect the Company; adverse geotechnical and geological conditions (including geotechnical failures) may result in operating delays and lower throughput or recovery, closures or damage to mine infrastructure; the ability of the Company to treat the number of tonnes planned, recover valuable materials, remove deleterious materials and process ore, concentrate and tailings as planned is dependent on a number of factors and assumptions which may not be present or occur as expected; the Company's mineral properties may experience a loss of ore and the Company may experience lack of access to its mineral properties and other issues due to illegal mining activities; the Company's operations may encounter delays in or losses of production due to equipment delays or the availability of equipment; outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases may have a negative impact on global financial conditions, demand for commodities and supply chains and could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of the common shares of the Company; the Company's operations are subject to continuously evolving legislation, compliance with which may be difficult, uneconomic or require significant expenditures; the Company may be unsuccessful in attracting and retaining key personnel; labour disruptions could adversely affect the Company's operations; recoveries may be lower in the future and have a negative impact on the Company's financial results; the lower recoveries may persist and be detrimental to the AGM and the Company; the Company's business is subject to risks associated with operating in a foreign country; risks related to the Company's use of contractors; the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of gold; the Company's operations are subject to environmental hazards and compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; the effects of climate change or extreme weather events may cause prolonged disruption to the delivery of essential commodities which could negatively affect production efficiency; the Company's operations and workforce are exposed to health and safety risks; unexpected costs and delays related to, or the failure of the Company to obtain, necessary permits could impede the Company's operations; the Company's title to exploration, development and mining interests can be uncertain and may be contested; geotechnical risks associated with the design and operation of a mine and related civil structures; the Company's properties may be subject to claims by various community stakeholders; risks related to limited access to infrastructure and water; risks associated with establishing new mining operations; the Company's revenues are dependent on the market prices for gold, which have experienced significant recent fluctuations; the Company may not be able to secure additional financing when needed or on acceptable terms; the Company's shareholders may be subject to future dilution; risks related to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; risks relating to credit rating downgrades; changes to taxation laws applicable to the Company may affect the Company's profitability and ability to repatriate funds; risks related to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting and compliance with applicable accounting regulations and securities laws; risks related to information systems security threats; non-compliance with public disclosure obligations could have an adverse effect on the Company's stock price; the carrying value of the Company's assets may change and these assets may be subject to impairment charges; risks associated with changes in reporting standards; the Company may be liable for uninsured or partially insured losses; the Company may be subject to litigation; damage to the Company's reputation could result in decreased investor confidence and increased challenges in developing and maintaining community relations which may have adverse effects on the business, results of operations and financial conditions of the Company and the Company's share price; the Company may be unsuccessful in identifying targets for acquisition or completing suitable corporate transactions, and any such transactions may not be beneficial to the Company or its shareholders; the Company must compete with other mining companies and individuals for mining interests; the Company's growth, future profitability and ability to obtain financing may be impacted by global financial conditions; the Company's common shares may experience price and trading volume volatility; the Company has never paid dividends and does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future; the Company's shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of the Company's common shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of its common shares, or at all; and the risk factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, you are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that the Company has not identified. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in, this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2025) - Canterra Minerals Corporation (TSXV: CTM) (OTCQB: CTMCF) (FSE: DXZB) ("Canterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its 2025 exploration plans for the Buchans Critical Minerals Project (the "Buchans Project"), located in the Central Newfoundland Mining District. (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Canterra's Central Newfoundland Mining District properties.



Highlights:

Canterra intends to significantly expand exploration activities at Buchans in 2025 by initiating programs building on the success of its 2024 drill program ( 105.00 m of 1.53% (1) CuEq; December 2, 2024 news release)

Identification of five priority drill targets

Advanced deep-seeking geophysical survey to commence in Q1 to further refine drill targets

substantial drilling scheduled to begin in Q2 focused on making new high-grade massive sulphide discoveries, including further testing of the Lundberg deposit and adjacent high-grade Two Level zone

Figure 2. 2025 Buchans Project Targets. Priority drill targets at the Buchans Project and previously mined orebodies. Lundberg deposit outline projected to surface in dark blue.

Clementine - This 7 km trend has all the ingredients of the existing mine trend and includes a historical, non-NI 43-101 compliant resource of 0.36 Mt grading 0.3% Cu, 4.9% Zn, 2.6% Pb and 41.0 g/t(2) located approximately 6 km northwest of the Canterra's Lundberg deposit. The trend is defined by a zone of breccia mineralization comprised of high-grade massive sulphide clasts. Canterra believes this mineralization demonstrates its host stratigraphy is prospective for larger accumulations of Buchans-style transported (i.e., breccia sulphide mineralization) or insitu (i.e., massive sulphide) mineralization along strike and down dip. This trend remains largely untested below 200 m depth.

Highlights from this trend include:

A drilled intercept located approximately 900 m southwest of the Clementine deposit that cut altered felsic volcanic rocks assaying 0.36% Cu+Zn+Pb over 55 m , including 8.7 m assaying 0.01% Cu, 0.34% Zn, 0.08% Pb, and 0.84 g/t Ag (estimated true widths) (2) .

, including (estimated true widths) . Relogging by Canterra in 2024 visually identified barite clasts similar to those commonly found within or adjacent to Buchans ore deposits within the Clementine Target ~6 km southwest of the Clementine deposit.

Sandfill - 3 km northeast of Canterra's Lundberg deposit, the historical Sandfill deposit represents an undeveloped zone of transported debris breccia mineralization similar to Clementine. At Sandfill, previous operators estimated a historical, non NI 43-101-compliant resource of 68,000 tonnes averaging 1.5% Cu, 4.7% Pb, 10.0% Zn, 85.7 g/t Ag & 0.34 g/t Au. Canterra has undertaken relogging of archived drill holes from this target and believes this mineralization demonstrates its host stratigraphy is prospective for larger accumulations of Buchans-style transported or insitu mineralization along strike and down dip at depths below 300 m(2).

Drill testing of this zone by previous operators yielded multiple intersections of transported breccia mineralization including:

0.69% Cu, 5.15% Zn, 1.58% Pb, 33.5 g/t Ag and 0.21 g/t Au over 7.0 m,

including 2.96% Cu, 15.5% Zn, 5.13% Pb, 96.4 g/t Ag and 0.27 g/t Au over 1.0 m(3).

Pumphouse - Situated 500 m northwest of the past producing Oriental orebody (where Asarco is reported to have mined 3.3 Mt averaging 14.18% Zn, 7.90% Pb, 1.47% Cu, 154.0 g/t Ag & 1.96 g/t Au between 1935 and 1983)(4). Canterra believes the Pumphouse zone plunges to the northwest to depths below 500 m where it remains poorly tested by past operators.

Historic drill testing of this zone intersected classic Buchans high-grade massive sulphide mineralization including:

2.6% Cu, 23.7% Zn, 9.0% Pb, 147.4 g/t Ag & 3.4 g/t Au over 2.74 m (3) ; and

; and 2.65% Cu, 24.85% Zn, 10.75% Pb, 212.9 g/t Ag & 1.48 g/t over 2.38 m (3)

Nu target - Artificial Intelligence driven modelling supported by VRIFY identified this target area as having high prospectivity to host high-grade Buchans-style massive sulphide mineralization comparable to existing mine trends (October 10, 2024 news release). Preliminary review of this target (drill core and historical data) suggests the area received limited past drilling ,though the area may host several key conditions for Buchans-style mineralization including favourable host rocks and indications of alteration and mineralization in float (i.e., prospecting rock samples).

Lundberg Deposit

In 2024, Canterra completed a 1,600 m maiden drilling program at Buchans to further delineate and explore near the margins of its Lundberg deposit, the largest and most advanced copper-zinc-lead deposit within the Central Newfoundland Mining District. Drilling returned multiple intercepts of higher grade stockwork sulphide mineralization containing significant copper equivalent ("CuEq") grades adjacent to historically mined high-grade massive sulphide orebodies(1). Highlights include (December 2, 2024 news release):

60.25 m of 2.58% CuEq including 26 m 3.71% CuEq

105.00 m of 1.53% CuEq including 14.00 m of 5.39% CuEq, and 78.00 m of 2.00% CuEq including 22.00 m of 2.96% CuEq



In 2025 the company will pick up where 2024 left off as it seeks to expand the resource in peripheral areas.

The Lundberg copper-zinc-lead deposit includes In-pit Indicated Mineral Resources containing 156 million pounds Cu, 566 million pounds Zn, 237 million pounds Pb, 3.1 million ounces Ag, & 37,000 ounces Au as well as In-pit Inferred Mineral Resources totaling 380,000 tonnes containing 3.0 million pounds Cu, 17 million pounds Zn, 9 million pounds Pb, 270,000 ounces Ag, & 38,000 ounces Au and assigns 97.8% of the In-Pit resources to the Indicated category(5). See Canterra news release dated June 4, 2024 for additional disclosure and resource details.

Chris Pennimpede, President and CEO of Canterra, commented: "We look forward with great anticipation as 2025 promises to be a busy and exciting year at Buchans for Canterra as we enhance our efforts and expand exploration of the greater Buchans project towards discovery of new high-grade orebodies comparable to those that established the Buchans Camp as one of the world's highest grade VMS mining camps. After careful review of available data, including geophysical data collected as part of our 2024 drilling and relogging programs, we also look forward to undertaking deep-seeking geophysical surveys throughout the greater project to identify and enhance drilling targets for the 2025 drill program. With recent drilling success at Lundberg we also look forward to advancing this deposit further towards development through the addition of mineral resources at improved prevailing metal pricing and exploration of near-deposit opportunities that may add metal inventory to this advanced asset. 2025 will see the largest exploration program of this project in the past decade."

Buchans Project

The Buchans Project is an advanced critical minerals project that hosts a significant undeveloped mineral resource adjacent to the past producing Buchans Mine. This brownfield project covers 87.5km2 near the town of Buchans, NL. The past producing Buchans Mine was operated by Asarco from 1928 to 1984. The project's undeveloped resource, the Lundberg deposit, is a VMS stockwork sulphide deposit comprising a large, near-surface resource located beneath and adjacent to previous mining. Asarco is reported to have mined high-grade ore totaling 16.2 Mt at an average grade of 14.5% Zn, 7.6% Pb, 1.3% Cu, 1.37 g/t Au & 126 g/t Ag mined from five orebodies, all located within Canterra's Buchans Project.(4)

Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Exploration Assistance

Canterra gratefully acknowledges the financial support it may receive from the Junior Exploration Assistance Program in relation to the Company's Buchans 2025 exploration program.

Qualified Person

Paul Moore MSc. P.Geo. (NL), Vice President of Exploration for Canterra Minerals Corporation, a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical disclosure in this news release for accuracy and either prepared or supervised its preparation.

About Canterra Minerals

Canterra is a diversified minerals exploration company focused on critical minerals and gold in central Newfoundland. The Company's projects include seven mineral deposits located in close proximity to the world-renowned, past producing Buchans mine and Teck Resources' Duck Pond mine that both produced copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold. Several of Canterra's deposits support historical Mineral Resource Estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves current at their respective effective dates. Canterra is not treating any of the historical estimates as current; nor has Canterra undertaken work necessary to verify the historic estimates. Canterra's gold projects are located on-trend of Calibre Mining's Valentine mine currently under construction and cover a ~60 km extension of the same structural corridor that hosts mineralization within Calibre's mine project. Past drilling by Canterra and others within the Company's gold projects intersected multiple occurrences of orogenic style gold mineralization within a large land position that remains underexplored.

Notes:

(1) Copper Equivalent % = Cu% + ((Pb% * 22.046 * Pb Rec.* Pb price) + (Zn% * 22.046 *Zn Rec. * Zn price) + (Ag g/t/31.10348 *Ag Rec. * Ag price) + (Au g/t/31.10348 * Au Rec. * Au Price))/(Cu Price * 22.046 *Cu Rec.). Metal recoveries are assumed to be 100%(Rec.)

(2) Canterra is not treating historical estimate as current; nor has Canterra undertaken work necessary to verify the historic estimate. The historic estimate should not be relied upon. Information pertaining to the historic estimate is derived from archival documents produced by ASARCO, former operators of the Buchans mine.

(3) Drilled assays derived from historic archived ASARCO documents (pre-NI 43-101 as well as more recent results (2010-2018) disclosed by other past operators (disclosed in compliance with NI 43-101 disclosure requirements at the time of their disclosure). Core lengths reported (true widths estimated to be 90% or reported core length).

(4) Past production figures from Kirkham, R.V., ed., 1987, Buchans Geology, Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 86-24, 288 p.

(5) Lundberg mineral resource details available in Technical Report titled: "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on the Lundberg Deposit, Buchans Area, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada"; dated May 16, 2024, effective date March 12, 2024; prepared by Matthew Harrington, P.Geo., of Mercator Geological Services, an independent QP as defined under NI 43-101 (report available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or the Company's website at www.canterraminerals.com). Lundberg Mineral Resource Estimate effective date February 2019.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements with respect to estimated mineral resources, the opening of avenues for substantial discoveries within the belt, the Buchans Project being ripe for a modern approach with significant exploration potential for high grade VMS mineralization, the Company anticipating being strongly positioned to unveil the next mineral discovery in central Newfoundland. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects.; as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2025 / Banyan Gold Corp . (the "Company" or "Banyan") (TSXV:BYN) (OTCQB:BYAGF) is pleased to announce analytical results from nine (9) diamond drillholes collared within the Airstrip Deposit located on the Company's AurMac Project, Yukon Territory. This set of holes targeted the western portion of the Airstrip Deposit (See Figure 2) as part of the 2024 AurMac definition drilling program.

Highlights from these most recent analytical results include:

AX-24-597: 36.2 metres ("m") of 1.14 g/t Au from 20.8 m

AX-24-598: 21.7 m of 1.35 g/t Au from 51.3 m

AX-24-600: 23.4 m of 1.35 g/t Au from 36.7 m

AX-24-602: 65.5 m of 0.53 g/t Au from surface (3.2 m)

AX-24-604: 46.4 of 1.31 g/t Au from 55.8 m

AX-24-609: 68.1 m of 0.37 g/t Au from 38.9 m

AX-24-612: 64.5 m of 0.36 g/t Au from 149.5 m

AX-24-615: 62.5 m of 0.44 g/t Au from 133.4 m

"These results from the first drilling on the Airstrip deposit since 2021 demonstrate high grade gold intervals near-surface over appreciable widths, showcasing the potential for resource expansion," stated Tara Christie, President and CEO. "Updated interpretations by Banyan based on ongoing geological modelling and geophysical studies have identified the Airstrip deposit as a key component for the rapid increase of near-surface high-grade gold ounces at AurMac. These results underscore its potential."

Figure 1: AurMac Diamond Drill Grade Thickness Intervals Map. The calculation utilized for the presentation is Au Grade (g/t) x Interval (m). The grade thickness map was calculated using ESRI kernel density method. Where a drillhole has multiple intervals, the highest interval is used in the calculation. Map A: presents all analytical results to January 2024, and Map B presents an update of all analytical results through this January 29, 2025 news release.

Summarized analytical results of these drillhole assays are presented in Table 1, collar locations in Table 2 and Figure 2 identifies drill collar locations, respectively.

The Airstrip Deposit is contained within a metasedimentary package which consists of predominately schists, quartzites and limestones of the Mississippian age Sourdough Hill Member of the Keno Hill Formation. Gold mineralization here is chiefly associated with pyrrhotite-bearing skarn altered calcareous schists and with low angle quartz-sulfosalt-arsenopyrite veins seen crosscutting all lithologies. Gold mineralization is interpreted to be associated with a large intrusion related gold system typical of the Tombstone Gold Belt and Selwyn Basin gold deposits.

*MRE effective date of February 6, 2024, details in Table 3.

Figure 2: AurMac drillhole locations. Location of historic and Banyan completed diamond drillholes used in the Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE")* (black and blue dots) and collar locations of 2024 drilling (yellow, red and green dots).

Table 1: Highlighted Airstrip Diamond Drill Analytical Results.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m*) Au (g/t) AX-24-597 20.8 57.0 36.2 1.14 and 71.7 75.5 3.8 0.49 AX-24-598 26.2 28.0 1.8 4.94 and 51.3 73.0 21.7 1.35 and 88.5 94.5 6.0 4.07 AX-24-600 36.7 60.1 23.4 1.35 and 72.4 79.0 6.7 1.28 AX-24-602 3.2 68.7 65.5 0.53 and 93.5 100.7 7.2 3.75 AX-24-604 24.0 30.7 6.7 0.47 and 55.8 102.2 46.4 1.31 and 143.0 159.5 16.5 0.55 AX-24-607 13.0 42.2 29.2 0.61 AX-24-609 38.9 107.1 68.1 0.37 and 121.1 130.5 9.4 0.42 AX-24-612 82.1 97.9 15.8 0.55 and 108.1 114.0 5.9 1.31 and 149.5 214.0 64.5 0.36 and 224.3 228.9 4.6 3.65 AX-24-615 28.0 63.3 35.3 0.33 and 76.7 79.9 3.2 0.64 and 108.7 113.0 4.3 0.37 and 133.4 195.9 62.5 0.44

*True widths are estimated to be approximately 90% of drilled intervals.

Table 2: Drill Collar Location for Released Results

AX-24-597 466720 7084005 761 001 -59 131.1 AX-24-598 466703 7083964 759 001 -59 149.4 AX-24-600 466683 7084003 755 352 -62 115.8 AX-24-602 466738 7083949 756 353 -58 136.3 AX-24-604 466664 7083948 749 006 -61 170.7 AX-24-607 466658 7084011 749 358 -58 114.3 AX-24-609 466715 7083901 749 008 -55 175.3 AX-24-612 466774 7083743 759 005 -59 248.7 AX-24-615 466459 7083765 724 357 -61 243.8

Upcoming Events

Yukon Mining Alliance Vancouver Investor Day, February 19, 2025

BMO 33rd Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference, February 23 - 26, 2025

Tombstone Gold Rush Breakfast - Fireside Chat - Toronto, March 3, 2025 7AM to 9 AM EST



PDAC, Toronto, March 2 - 5, 2025 Exhibitor Booth No. 2213, March 2 - 3



SMI Conference, Zurich, March 18 - 19, 2025

Analytical Method and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Measures

All drill core splits reported in this news release were analysed by Bureau Veritas of Vancouver, B.C., utilizing the aqua regia digestion ICP-MS 36-element AQ-200 analytical package with FA-450 50-gram Fire Assay with AAS finish for gold on all samples. All core samples were split on-site at Banyan's core processing facilities. Once split, half samples were placed back in the core boxes with the other half of split samples sealed in poly bags with one part of a three-part sample tag inserted within. Samples were delivered by Banyan personnel or a dedicated expediter to the Bureau Veritas, Whitehorse preparatory laboratory where samples are prepared and then shipped to Bureau Veritas's Analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., for pulverization and final chemical analysis. A robust system of standards,  core duplicates and blanks was implemented in the 2024 exploration drilling program and was monitored as chemical assay data became available.

Qualified Persons

Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. Mr. Gray is a consultant to Banyan and has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information.

About Banyan

Banyan's primary asset, the AurMac Project is located in Canada's Yukon Territory. The current inferred Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the AurMac Project of 7.0 million ounces has an effective date of February 6, 2024.

The 173 square kilometres ("sq km") AurMac Project lies 40 km from Mayo, Yukon. The AurMac Project is transected by the main Yukon highway and benefits from a 3-phase powerline, existing power station and cell phone coverage. Banyan has the right to earn up to a 100% interest, in both the Aurex and McQuesten Properties respectively, subject to certain royalties.

The inferred MRE for the AurMac Project was prepared on February 6, 2024, and consisted of 7,003,000 ounces of gold (see Table 3) hosted within near surface, road accessible pit constrained Mineral Resources contained in two near/on-surface deposits: the Airstrip and Powerline Deposits.

Table 3: Pit-Constrained Inferred Mineral Resources - AurMac Property

Deposit Gold Cut-Off (g/t) Tonnage

(Tonnes) Average Gold Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (oz.) Inferred Airstrip 0.30 35,243,000 0.75 845,000 Powerline 0.30 312,243,000 0.61 6,158,000 Total Combined 0.30 347,486,00 0.63 7,003,000

Notes : 

The effective date for the MRE is February 6, 2024, and was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI43-101. The technical report supporting the Resource Estimate entitled "AurMac Property, Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada" (the "Technical Report") has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca on March 18, 2024. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, changes in global gold markets or other relevant issues. The CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t gold for all deposits, using a US$/CAN$ exchange rate of 0.75 and constrained within an open pit shell optimized with the Lerchs-Grossman algorithm to constrain the Mineral Resources with the following estimated parameters: gold price of US$1,800/ounce, US$2.50/t mining cost, US$5.50/t processing cost, US$2.00/t G+A, 80% gold recoveries, and 45 pit slopes. The number of tonnes and ounces was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101.

In addition to the AurMac Project, the Company holds the Hyland Gold Project, located 70 km Northeast of Watson Lake, Yukon, along the Southeast end of the Tintina Gold Belt (the "Hyland Project"). The Hyland Project represents a sediment hosted, structurally controlled, intrusion related gold deposit, within a large land package (over 125 sq km), accessible by a network of existing gravel access roads.

Banyan trades on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the symbol "BYN" and is quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "BYAGF". For more information, please visit the corporate website at or contact the Company.

ON BEHALF OF BANYAN GOLD CORPORATION

(signed) "Tara Christie"

Tara Christie

President & CEO

For more information, please contact:

Tara Christie  778 928 0556  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jasmine Sangria  604 312 5610 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts and is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend(s)", "believe", "potential" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration; and statements regarding exploration expectations, ease and confidence in increasing ounces, exploration or development plans and timelines; mineral resource estimates; mineral recoveries and anticipated mining costs. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include uncertainties inherent in resource estimates, continuity and extent of mineralization, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, enhanced risks inherent to conducting business in any jurisdiction, and timing and risk of earning the final 25% earn-in on the properties and those risks set out in Banyan's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Banyan 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, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Banyan disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
ESTES PARK, CO / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2025 /Taranis Resources Inc. ("Taranis" or the "Company") (TSX.V:TRO) (OTCQB:TNREF) has filed a new Notice of Work ("NoW") permit application to explore a recently-identified area of opportunity on the Thor Property. The application was submitted on January 28, 2025 and consists of five drill sites strategically located along an existing access road to the project. Taranis already holds an existing 5-year MYAB permit to conduct exploration which was submitted August 30, 2023 and issued in March of 2024. Although some of the planned drill holes can be drilled from the existing permitted area, they are most efficiently and safely drilled from the existing access road to Thor. Drilling from the access road will reduce the total number of meters drilled and minimize environmental impact due to significantly reduced surface disturbance. We are genuinely excited about the prospect of having this permit issued quickly (before the summer of 2025), considering Premier Eby's recent comments on exploration and mine permitting.

John Gardiner, President and CEO of Taranis states, "At the last day of the Association of Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup in Vancouver, Premier David Eby reportedly acknowledged that the NDP government of British Columbia is not doing enough to grow the economy of the province, specifically in natural resource development. Premier Eby further acknowledges that his government's "hyper-focus" on First Nations reconciliation has been to the detriment of mining exploration. Premier Eby said "We need to grow our economy, we need to expedite permits, we need get to metals and minerals out of the ground, and that is one of the reasons why we emphasize the reconciliation work".

Mr. Gardiner continues "Exploration expenditures in British Columbia have dropped nearly 50% since 2022 per Natural Resources Canada, despite a push for exploration and mining companies to find and produce more critical minerals. Taranis has noted that in the same timeframe, the British Columbia government has doubled its expenditures on government agencies that regulate exploration and mining in the province. We hope that Premier Eby's comments are reflective of a genuine desire in British Columbia to issue exploration permits in a more expeditious fashion. Taranis' directors hope to be able to report that Premier Eby's comments have been made in good faith and that a permit has been issued inside of the expectations outlined to the industry".

About Taranis and Thor

Taranis Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company. The Thor Project is in southeast British Columbia. The Thor property is 100% owned by Taranis resources Inc. and consists of 27 fee-simple Crown Grant Mining Claims located over the Thor epithermal deposit, and 5,445 Ha of Mineral Tenures located over prospective areas in the historic Silver Cup mining district.

Qualified Person

Exploration activities at Thor were overseen by John Gardiner (P. Geo.), who is a Qualified Person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. John Gardiner is a principal of John J. Gardiner & Associates, LLC which operates in British Columbia under Firm Permit Number 1002256. Mr. Gardiner has reviewed and approved the comments contained within this News Release.

For additional information on Taranis or its 100%-owned Thor project in British Columbia, visit www.taranisresources.com

Taranis currently has 100,348,854 shares issued and outstanding (113,827,227 shares on a fully-diluted basis).

TARANIS RESOURCES INC.

Per: John J. Gardiner (P. Geo.), President and CEO

For further information contact:

John J. Gardiner

681 Conifer Lane

Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Phone: (303) 716-5922 Cell: (720) 209-3049 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This News Release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from expected results.
TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goliath Resources Limited (TSX-V: GOT) (OTCQB: GOTRF) (FSE: B4IF) (the Company or Goliath) is pleased to announce that an agreement has been made for McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) to make a strategic investment into Goliath Resources.

Strategic Investment Highlights

Post transaction, McEwen Mining will own 3.76% of the issued and outstanding shares of Goliath Resources.

McEwen Mining will pay in McEwen Mining shares worth C$10 million based on the closing price of McEwen Mining and Goliath Resources on January 28, 2025.

McEwen Mining will receive a half warrant, exercisable at C$2.50 for 12 months.

Goliath Resources will own 868,056 shares of McEwen Mining.

Roger Rosmus, Founder and CEO of Goliath Resources, states: We are delighted to have McEwen Mining make a strategic investment into Goliath Resources. Rob McEwen recognized the potential of our Surebet high-grade gold discovery in 2023, and has made three personal investments through private placements since then. Our 2024 drilling campaign was a major breakthrough season for the Surebet high-grade gold discovery in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. The discovery is noted for having a series of stacked gently dipping veins with widespread high-grade gold. It is fortunate to have a remarkable content of visible gold which is in all the rock units (sediments, contact of the sediments and volcanics, and in the volcanics, as well as in the intrusion related dykes) with abundant fine-grained visible gold, including coarse-grained visible gold. In our 2023 drilling, we found visible gold in 32% of the drill holes and in 2024 that increased to 92%. Our recently reported drill hole intersection was our best to date returning 10 meters of 132.93 g/t gold equivalent (plus several high-grade holes with multiple intercepts, system remains wide open) making for a gram/meter intersection that puts it in the top percentile of all intersections throughout the world in the past 20 years. Each season we have seen the discovery get better and saw several pleasant surprises in 2024, including the high percentage of visible gold in our deeper drilling into the system, and our remarkable recently reported intersection. We still have 89 pending holes from the 2024 drilling season to report and think we may have made a second important discovery, this one a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) 35 km to the north of Surebet. Rob McEwen is a member of the Order of Canada and a Canadian Mining Hall of Fame member due to his record of philanthropy and the tremendous success he had building Goldcorp from a small gold miner to a success story when Goldcorp mined its bonanza-zone at their Red Lake Mine, making it one of the lowest cost miners of high-grade gold in the gold mining sector. His recognition of the success of the Surebet discovery in 2023 has been greatly appreciated and we are pleased to have McEwen Mining join our shareholder roster with this strategic investment. We are also very pleased that Goliath Resources will be a significant shareholder of McEwen Mining due to their combination of being a gold miner, their extensive drilling on their gold projects and their world-class copper asset that is in the top 10 undeveloped copper projects ranking in the lowest cost quartile as well.

Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner of McEwen Mining, states: The Goliath Resources team has done a terrific job advancing their Surebet high-grade gold discovery in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia and McEwen Mining is thrilled to make a strategic investment into Goliath Resources. What initially caught my attention was the high-grade gold they discovered, and that it was a grassroots discovery in the Golden Triangle which is a prolific gold mining jurisdiction, one of the most important in Canada. Worldwide, grassroots discoveries of high-grade gold in a mining-friendly jurisdiction well-known for high-grade gold mines are exceedingly rare. They were able to make the grassroots discovery due to it until fairly recently being covered by glaciers and permanent snowpack that have receded to expose a large area of outcropping rock that has now been significantly advanced over the past few drilling seasons. McEwen Mining is committed to gold mining, our gold mines are benefitting from the record high prices of gold in 2024 and we have an updated resource coming out in the first quarter of 2025 on our Fox Complex, where we also have a 69,500 meter (budgeted for $9.7 million) drilling campaign underway. We are also moving our Los Azules copper development project toward a feasibility study in the first half of 2025 and are contemplating taking McEwen Copper public after the feasibility study is published (McEwen Mining owns 46.4% of McEwen Copper, Stellantis owns 18.3%, Nuton is a Rio Tinto venture that owns 17.2% and Rob McEwen owns 12.7% of McEwen Copper). I believe strongly that the future is very bright for both copper and gold, and that McEwen Mining is well positioned for significant growth potential in those metals with our assets. We look forward to seeing the pending assays from Goliath Resources Surebet discovery and their new VMS discovery and we are pleased to be enthusiastic shareholders of Goliath with this strategic investment.

Golddigger Property

The Golddigger Property is 100% controlled and covers an area of 91,518 hectares in the world-class geological setting of the Eskay Rift, within 3 kilometers of the Red Line in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. This area has hosted some of Canadas greatest mines including Eskay Creek, Premier and Snip. Other significant and well-known deposits in the Golden Triangle include Brucejack, Copper Canyon, Galore Creek, Granduc, KSM, Red Chris, and Schaft Creek. Goliath controls 56 kilometers of the Red Line which is a geologic contact between Triassic age Stuhini rocks and Jurassic age Hazelton rocks used as key markers when exploring for gold-copper-silver mineralization.

The Surebet discovery has exceptional continuity and excellent metallurgy with gold recoveries of 92.2%, with 48.8% of it as free gold from gravity alone at a 327-micrometer crush (no cyanide required to recover the gold). The metallurgy completed to date shows no deleterious elements are present such as mercury or arsenic.

The Property is in an excellent location in close proximity to the communities of Alice Arm and Kitsault where there is a permitted mill site on private property. It is situated on tide water with direct barge access to Prince Rupert (190 kilometers via the Observatory inlet/Portland inlet). The town of Kitsault is accessible by road (190 kilometers from Terrace, 300 kilometers from Prince Rupert) and has a barge landing, dock, and infrastructure capable of housing at least 300 people, including high-tension power.

Additional infrastructure in the area includes the Dolly Varden Silver Mine Road (only 7 kilometers to the East of the Surebet discovery) with direct road access to Alice Arm barge landing (18 kilometers to the south of the Surebet discovery) and high-tension power (25 kilometers to the east of Surebet discovery). The city of Terrace (population 16,000) provides access to railway, major highways, and airport with supplies (food, fuel, lumber, etc.), while the town of Prince Rupert (population 12,000) is located on the west coast and houses an international container seaport also with direct access to railway and an airport.

About CASERM (Center To Advance The Science Of Exploration To Reclamation In Mining)

Goliath is a paying member and active supporter of CASERM, an organization that represents a collaborative venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech aimed at transforming the way that geoscience data is used in the mineral resource industry. Research focuses on the integration of diverse geoscience data to improve decision making across the mine life cycle, beginning with the exploration for subsurface resources continuing through mine operation as well as closure and environmental remediation. As a CASERM member, the Company requested a study and written report to be performed by Colorado School of Mines analysing Surebets origin of mineralization. The study confirmed an extensive porphyry feeder source at depth for the high-grade gold mineralising fluids at Surebet.

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Goliath Resource Limited projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release. Mr. Turna is also a director of the Company.

About Goliath Resources Limited

Goliath Resources is an explorer of precious metals projects in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. All of its projects are in worldclass geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to mining in Canada. Goliath is a member and active supporter of CASERM which is an organization that represents a collaborative venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Goliaths key strategic cornerstone shareholders include Crescat Capital, Mr. Rob McEwen and Mr. Eric Sprott, a Singapore based fund and Larry Childress.

For more information please contact:

Goliath Resources Limited

Mr. Roger Rosmus

Founder and CEO

Tel: +1.416.488.2887

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.goliathresourcesltd.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Goliaths current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the ability of the Company to complete financings and its ability to build value for its shareholders as it develops its mining properties. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Goliath. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the proposed transactions will occur, or that if the proposed transactions do occur, will be completed on the terms described above.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and Goliath is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

This announcement does not constitute an offer, invitation, or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this announcement nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Black Mammoth Metals Corporation (TSXV: BMM) (OTC: LQRCF) ("Black Mammoth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Antelope Creek Gold Corporation ("Antelope Creek"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Mammoth, has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") dated January 8, 2025, with Nevada Select Royalty, Inc. (the "Vendor") to acquire a 100% interest in 47 unpatented lode claims and the Company has recently completed staking of an additional 41 unpatented lode claims (the "Claims") covering approximately 708 hectares (1750 acres) and is called the Clover Gold property ("Clover" or the "Property").

Claims:

The Property is located 16 kms west of the town of Midas, along the southwest flank of the Snowstorm Mountains, in Elko County, NE Nevada. There is good access to the Property by the graded Midas-Tuscarora gravel road and the Claims are managed by the Bureau of Land Management with no difficulties permitting the recent drilling programs.

Mineralization:

Faulting on the Property strike NNW and ENE, including a large reverse fault striking NNW (the "Structure"), dipping 40-45 degrees east on the surface, containing medium grained quartz-adularia veins and breccia filings. Most high-grade Au values in drill holes are spatially associated with nearby quartz veining but in several holes the high-grade intercepts are associated with little or no veining. Silver-gold ratios in most of the high-grade intercepts are around 1:1 although some holes contain up to 231 g/t Ag with Au of 0.68 g/t.

Drill Intercepts/Targeting:

Where drill holes have targeted the down-dip extension of the 45 degree east dipping portion of the Structure, high-grade intercepts in drill holes usually occur immediately below and/or at the base of the Structure, suggesting that near-vertical, feeder structures may be controlling the high-grade intercepts.

On the Property, high-grade intercepts along the southern portion of the north-south trending Structure include:

23.03 g/t Au over 9.75 meters @ 102 meters depth - JK-4C

- JK-4C 20.17 g/t Au & 23.6 g/t Ag over 3.0 meters @ 211 meters depth  USCV012

USCV012 7.15 g/t Au over 7.62 meters @ 88 meters depth - CL-13 discovery hole

Intercepts along the northern portion of the Structure include:

6.59 g/t Au over 3.04 meters @ 178 meters depth - JK-14

- JK-14 2.375 g/t Au and 237.5 g/t Ag over 1.52 meters @ 143 meters depth JK-23

Towards the northern extent of Claims, and along trend with the Structure, high-grade banded chalcedonic-quartz vein boulders assay up to 29 g/t Au and 281 g/t Ag and are geochemically similar to the veins being mined in the Midas district.

Drilling at Clover in 2008  Yamana Gold Inc.

Past Operators:

Past operators at Clover include Romarco (JK drill holes), Placer Amex, Echo Bay (CL drill holes), Meridian/Yamana (USCV drill holes), Amax, Nassau and Atna.

Geology

The Property occurs along the west margin of the Northern Nevada Rift. Other deposits and districts with a similar regional setting include Midas, Ivanhoe and Mule Canyon. The large sediment-hosted Au deposits at Twin Creeks and Getchell are located 16-24 kms to the west. The Property is underlain by volcanic rocks of mid-Miocene age. Basaltic andesite flows are recognized along with the Clover rhyolite and "green" pumice-lithic tuff and lacustrine sedimentary and tuffaceous rocks that comprise the remaining older units. As mapped by the USGS and confirmed by later detailed work, these rocks are the time-stratigraphic equivalents to rocks that host bonanza veins in the Midas district. High-grade drill intercepts on the Property occur mainly within the Clover rhyolite which is often moderately to strongly silicified with low level Au over a broad area.

Acquisition Terms (in USD):

Under the terms of the Agreement, Antelope Creek may purchase a 100% interest in the Property by making an aggregate of $185,000 in cash payments in accordance with the following schedule:

Payment Date Cash Payment Status

At signing $7,500 Paid

1st anniversary $15,000 -

2nd anniversary $30,000 -

3rd anniversary $65,000 -

4th anniversary $67,500 -______

Total: $185,000

The Vendor will retain a 2.5% NSR and the Optionee will reimburse the Vendor for claims staking costs in addition to the associated BLM and County filing fees (paid).

There are no work commitment amounts, finder's fees or share compensation in connection with Clover Agreement.

About Black Mammoth Metals Corporation:

In the past 12 months, Black Mammoth Metals acquired a 100% interest in:

Coleman Canyon property, Elko County, NV ,

Leadore Silver-Lead property , Lemhi County, ID ,

, , East Reveille Gold property , Nye County, NV ,

, , America Mine Gold property , San Bernardino, CA ,

, , Quito Gold property , Lander County, NV

, South Ravenswood District , Lander County NV ,

, , Callaghan Gold District, Lander County NV.

At the Company's 100% owned, 1,213 hectare (2,997 acre) Happy Cat Gold property, Lander County, NV, an approximate 4 square kilometre area is identified as being hydrothermally altered. Structural modelling suggests the density of the alteration and its' density contrast relative to the host rock is typical to that of alteration zones present at other Carlin-type deposits in northern Nevada. The alteration encompasses an area where northerly trending high-angle faults intersect indicated NW-trending re-activated faults that are known to be of age and orientation as ore-controlling faults occurring at other Carlin-type deposits. The Company intends to drill approximately 1500m in January 2025 to further understand the structure and stratigraphy. The required permit and bond are in place.

Black Mammoth also has a 100% interest in the Blanco Creek Gold property in the Elk Creek Mining District, central Idaho, which hosts three historic underground mines along 3,550 meters (11,644 feet) of strike on the north-east trending regional Blanco Shear Zone. Exploration by two previous operators identified a geological target for the Blanco Creek property in the order of 1.70 to 2.48 million tons, grading 0.20 to 0.33 oz/ton Au (1.54 to 2.24 million tonnes, grading 6.85 to 11.31 g/tonne Au); see the Company's press release dated February 14, 2017.

Black Mammoth cautions investors to note the potential quantity and grade of the geological target are conceptual in nature. A qualified person has not completed sufficient work to classify the geological target as mineral resources as defined by NI 43-101, and it is uncertain if future exploration will result in the target being delineated as mineral resources.

Mark J. Abrams, CPG #11451, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and director of Black Mammoth, has reviewed and approved the technical content in this release. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as Mr. Abrams, the Company's Qualified Person, has not prepared or verified the historical information.

On behalf of the board,

"Dustin Henderson"

Dustin Henderson, BBA

President & CEO

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the Company's completion of the Transaction and related transactions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, 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. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include that the requisite corporate and TSXV for the Transaction may not be obtained; that the Company or IDA Mining, as applicable, may be unable to satisfy any or all closing conditions necessary for the completion of the Transaction; and other risks that are customary to transactions of this nature. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

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.
CALGARY / TheNewswire / January 29, 2025 / San Lorenzo Gold Corp. ("San Lorenzo" or the "Company") (TSXV: SLG) is pleased to report that the second phase of the recently announced diamond drilling program  on the Arco de Oro target of the Companys Salvador Gold-Copper Project in Chile - has been successfully completed.

Arco de Oro Drilling

A minimum of two holes were planned, with a third hole dependent on results from the first two. The third hole was successfully drilled, bringing the total to 891 metres completed on Arco de Oro during the second phase.

San Lorenzo previously drilled five holes that cross-cut the Arco de Oro system. Those prior holes established a strike length of approximately 1 km. The current program aims to extend this strike length in both the NW and SE directions. San Lorenzos IP has identified a significant chargeability anomaly under the Arco de Oro system which appears to be stronger in the NW direction.

Drilling Indicators

San Lorenzos VP, Exploration, Terence (Terry) Walker stated, We are pleased with the mineralization and alteration exhibited in core from drilling on Arco de Oro. We eagerly await the assay results which will be forthcoming in 4-5 weeks due to lab backlogs in Chile. We are especially interested in determining the validity of the chargeability anomaly which appears stronger towards the NW.

Figure 1: Drilling underway at SAL 04-25  the first of three holes drilled on the Arco de Oro trend.

The Arco de Oro Trend

Arco de Oro is a high priority target. Approximately 1 km of strike length on a system of epithermal veins has been confirmed by drilling conducted by San Lorenzo thus far and surface artisanal workings infer that an additional 1.5 km of strike may exist on the Arco de Oro trend. This drilling program was designed to test NW and SE extensions.

Figure 2: Artisanal mining visible at surface in a NW direction from the location of just drilled. SAL 04 25  the most northwesterly hole drilled so far on the Arco de Oro trend.

Figure 3: Artisanal workings evident on surface looking SE from SAL 04 - 16 located at the Feliz Retiro mine - previously the most southeasterly hole drilled by San Lorenzo on the Arco de Oro trend.

Figure 4: Adit on Arco de Oro trend where historical artisanal mining occurred

Additional Drilling  Tres Amigos

San Lorenzo has commenced the permitting process with Sernageomin (the Chilean mining regulator) for an expanded multi-hole program on Tres Amigos - an exciting and significant third target area on the Salvadora property insofar as hole SAL 06-16 returned the following significant results:

Hole # From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu % Au g/t SAL 06-16 36 70 34 1.48 0.22 including 48 54 6 5.71 0.1

and the follow-up hole SAL 02-18  located approximately 500 metres north of SAL 06-16  returned the following significant results:

Hole # From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu % Au g/t SAL 02-18 59 109 60 0.47 0.17 including 75 107 33 1.07 0.37

San Lorenzo looks forward to updating shareholders on its activities at Tres Amigos  a system that is open in both directions - later in Q1, 2025.

About San Lorenzo

Sam Lorenzo is focused on advancing its Salvadora property located in Chiles mega-porphyry belt. Results obtained from drilling programs already conducted on 4 different targets to date have convinced management that several significant gold and copper enriched epithermal and porphyry style systems underly the Salvadora property.

San Lorenzo looks forward to continuing to provide assay results from drilling completed at Salvador in the coming weeks.

For further information, please contact:

Terence (Terry) Walker, VP Exploration

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: + 56 9 5179 5902

Or:

Roger Blair, Acuity Advisory Corp.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: +1-604-351-0025

Or:

Al Kroontje

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: 403-607-4009

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the control of San Lorenzo. Included are references to indicators from drilling on the Cerro Blanco target. All statements included herein other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, San Lorenzo does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Quimbaya Gold Inc. (CSE: QIM) (OTCQB: QIMGF) (FSE: K05) ("Quimbaya Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a rock sampling program conducted on the Tahami North project in Segovia, Colombia. These results include rock samples grading up to 5.86 g/t gold and 133 g/t silver along a new 2km trending vein system. The targeted veins trend to the North-West within the Company's claims. This represents a significant advancement in the understanding of the potential of these gold/silver vein systems at Tahami North.

Highlights

A total of 67 channel samples, 60 rock samples and 5 pan concentrates were collected during 2024 in the preliminary field exploration season on the property (table 1, table 2, table 3).

Rock sampling confirms the occurrence of an interpreted trend of gold  silver veins demonstrating the promising potential within the Company's claims. (Figure 1)

The Salomon veins returned up to Au@ 3.31 g/t and Ag@ 133 g/t Ag in channel sampling, Pile rock samples up to Au@ 5.86 g/t, Ag@ >100 g/t, and pan concentrates up to Au@ 45.6 g/t, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. g/t (Figure 1).

Data consolidation was completed during January 2025 including a regional structural interpretation of the Digital Elevation Model and regional magnetometry geophysics, interpretation of the gold veins trend, geochemical data analysis, and database normalization (included laboratory certificates).

A follow-up exploration program has been designed to test the continuation of the gold/silver veins along the trend. This work will include geological mapping, trench design, soils and channel rock sampling programs. (figure 2).

"These results provide a strong foundation to advance the exploration program and define drilling targets along this mineralized gold-silver corridor at Tahami North," commented Mr. Alexandre P. Boivin President & CEO. "It provides us with an additional project area with new discovery potential which will complement our upcoming drilling program on our Tahami South concession located adjacent to Aris Mining's (TSX: ARIS) Segovia mining operation.

Tahami North Vein Systems

The structural interpretation of the mineralized veins is based on the 2024 results, which included mapping, rock sampling, pan concentrate sampling and geophysical analysis. Our 2025 exploration program at Tahami North will focus on defining and expanding the Au-Ag mineralized vein system along a 4.4 km potential mineralized trend.

Sample preparation and analysis

Quimbaya Gold used various laboratories to prepare and assay samples collected on the Tahami Project. These include SGS and ALS for preparation and analysis. SGS preparation and Fire Analysis in the SGS laboratory in Medellin Colombia, and SGS multi-element analysis located in Peru; and ALS Global preparation in Medellin and ALS Global analysis located in Peru.

Samples delivered to SGS were prepared in Medellin, samples were received and labelled, dry at 100C +- 5C, primary crushing in a jaw crusher to 95% passing 20 mesh, secondary crushing with roll mill and slow revolution, cleaning with compressed air and quartz, with 85% passing 10 mesh, with every 10 sampled control and granulometry, riffle split coarse crushed sample in jones splitter, to extract 250 ti 500 gr; Pulverization of samples is completed in a ring mill, with >95% passing 140 sieve and cleaning with clean sand. Samples were assayed for Fire Assay for Au and aqua regia digestion for Ag in Medellin using FAA515, FAG505 and AAS12C method, and multi-element analysis in Peru using ICP40B, and AAS41B methods.

The sample preparation method at ALS comprises drying the sample at 60C, crushing the entire sample to a target of 70% passing 2mm, rotary split off 250gr, pulverize split to a target of 85% passing g75um. Samples were assayed by ALS Peru for Fire assay to Au using Au-AA23 Au 30g, and Multi-element four acid ICP-MS using ME-MS61 method code, in line with QA/QC best practices.

Qualified Person - Ricardo Sierra BSc. Geology, MAusIMM (3078246)

The information in this report that relates to technical evaluation results, interpretation of airborne magnetic, and geochemical analysis is based on information reviewed and approved by Ricardo Sierra, VP exploration Quimbaya Gold who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and is a Qualified Person as defined within the meaning of the National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Sierra has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration. Mr. Sierra consents to the inclusion of the technical evaluation results based on the information and in the form and context in which it appears.

About Tahami

The Tahami project is located nearby the municipality of Segovia in the Department of Antioquia in Colombia. It is 217 km northeast of the city of Medellin.

About Quimbaya

Quimbaya aims to discover gold resources through exploration and acquisition of mining properties in the prolific mining districts of Colombia. Managed by an experienced team in the mining sector, Quimbaya is focused on three projects in the regions of Segovia (Tahami Project), Puerto Berrio (Berrio Project), and Abejorral (Maitamac Project), all located in Antioquia Province, Colombia.

Quimbaya Gold Inc.

Follow on X @quimbayagoldinc

Follow on LinkedIn @quimbayagold

Follow on Instagram @quimbayagoldinc

Follow on Facebook @quimbayagoldinc

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as that term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking information by its nature is based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Quimbaya to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: any increased liquidity of the Company's stock through the additional listing or increased European investment / exposer. Although Quimbaya's management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Quimbaya as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Quimbaya does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Arsenic and Copper soil anomaly map highlighting the locations of drill holes completed by Arras in 2024. The map also shows the location of the Soviet-era K-Ozek trenches, with results previously announced by Arras in July 2023. The geological section line between drill holes EL24001 and EL24004 shown in this news release, is also displayed as the dashed line A-A'.

Figure 2. Molybdenum "Mo" soil anomaly map highlighting the locations of drill holes completed by Arras in 2024. The map also shows the location of the K-Ozek trenches, with results previously announced by Arras in July 2023. The geological section line between drill holes EL24001 and EL24004 shown in this news release, is also displayed as the dashed line A-A'.

Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals noted, "We're very excited with these new results from Elemes, particularly with drillhole EL24004 intersecting a thick zone of continuous gold mineralization starting from surface. Most notably, it encountered 194.8 meters grading 0.69 g/t AuEq, including a higher-grade interval of 37.8 meters grading 1.50 g/t AuEq. This mineralization is hosted in altered and locally brecciated propylitic altered diorites containing 1-3% pyrite and pervasive quartz magnetite veining. This hole has significantly advanced our understanding on the controls on gold mineralization at Berezski East and suggests that it may host a significant open pitable gold deposit. We're also very pleased with hole EL24009 that explored the K-Ozek target and intersected several gold-bearing quartz veins suggesting that this target has excellent potential to host multiple high-grade low sulphidation epithermal veins."

The Elemes project is in the Bozshakol-Chingiz Magmatic arc and is 61 kilometres Southeast of Kaz Mineral's Bozshakol Copper Mine ("Bozshakol"). The Bozshakol mine commenced operations in 2016 and in FY2023 produced 105,000t copper "Cu" & 115,000 oz gold "Au" per annum at US$0.95/lb Cu (net) cash costs. Reported reserves are 1.003Bt @ 0.33% Cu & 0.13 g/t Au.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2025 / Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK) (OTCQB:ARRKF) ("Arras" or "Arras Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from its initial drill program on its Elemes project in Northeast Kazakhstan. Drilling has intersected wide zones of near surface gold mineralization at the Berezski East Target, and several gold-bearing veins at the K-Ozek Target adjacent to the porphyry-style copper-gold mineralization intersected at the Bereszki Central Target reported by the company in its news release on January 15, 2025.

Darren Klinck, President of Arras Minerals commented, "Results from the Elemes Phase 1 drill program continue to deliver positive results with the most recent hole EL24004 at Berezski East demonstrating broad zones of gold mineralization. This is encouraging and highlights the significant potential for both copper and gold that exists at Elemes."

Table 1. Summary results from holes EL24004, EL24008 and EL24009

Hole ID Intersection Interval Au Cu Ag Mo CuEq AuEq From (m) To (m) (m) (g/t) (%) (g/t) ppm (%) (g/t) EL24004 1.20 306.00 304.80 0.46 0.07 0.4 3 0.49 0.54 Including 1.20 196.00 194.80 0.59 0.08 0.4 3 0.63 0.69 That Includes 1.20 140.00 138.8 0.78 0.09 0.4 3 0.81 0.89 And Includes 1.20 106.00 104.80 0.92 0.09 0.3 3 0.94 1.02 And Includes 1.20 88.00 86.80 0.99 0.10 0.3 3 1.01 1.10 And Includes 1.20 39.00 37.80 1.35 0.13 0.3 4 1.37 1.50 And Includes 210.00 260.00 50.00 0.36 0.08 0.3 3 0.41 0.45 EL24008 182.00 310.00 128.00 0.06 0.03 0.4 3 0.09 0.09 Including 232.00 244.00 12.00 0.14 0.04 0.7 5 0.18 0.14 EL24009 60.00 64.00 4.00 0.17 0.01 0.2 4 0.17 0.17 & 97.00 101.00 4.00 0.83 0.01 0.5 3 0.78 0.85 Including 99.00 101.00 2.00 1.50 0.02 1.4 4 1.42 1.51

Notes: Copper Equivalent ("CuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.9167) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0100) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.2857).AuEq grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.090858) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0109) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.6751). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.50/lb. Copper, US$2,200/oz Gold, US$24/oz Silver, US$15/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%.

Table 2. Drill-hole locations

Hole_lD Coordinates (UTM) Azi Dip Hole depth (m) Easting Northing RL EL24004 506963 5712788 227 083 -64 450.0 EL24008 507427 5714317 235 285 -72 323.4 EL24009 508124 5715387 235 295 -45 175.0

Drill-Hole Summaries

Drill hole EL24004 was designed to test a small Cu in soil anomaly, and to provide additional information on the exploration target identified from historic drilling. The hole was drilled to 450m depth. The hole was collared in strongly argillic altered Diorites and at 30m depth passed into propylitic altered diorites. Mineralization is represented predominantly by veins of quartz and quartz-pyrite occasionally carrying chalcopyrite. Pyrite and chalcopyrite dissemination is in traces if any. Magnetite and quartz-magnetite veins and veinlets are prevailing almost through the entire drill hole.

Drill hole EL24008 was drilled to explore a coincident geochemical (Cu/Mo soil), magnetic and IP anomalies. The hole was drilled to 323.4m depth, and intersected polymictic andesite breccia cut by several feldspar-andesite dykes. Alteration is dominated by argillic-phyllic alteration that is by depth gradually weakening and transiting to Propylitic (chlorite-hematite) alteration. Mineralization is mainly pyrite in dissemination up to 2% through entire core and 5% in the interval from 113m to 200m. Veining is weak locally moderate carbonate-pyrite and pyrite veins.

Drill hole EL24009 was designed to test an area where Arras has mapped and sampled several Au-Ag-rich low sulphidation quartz veins. The hole was drilled to 175m and was collared in argillic altered Andesite and from 21.5m continued through phyllic/argillic altered diorite with alteration getting weaker by depth with remanent Propylitic alteration. Mineralization was mainly narrow zones of veining and silicification and disseminated pyrite.

Figure 4. Plan map, showing 2024 drill-hole locations, overlain on copper soil anomaly, Elemes Project.

Figure 5. Cross-section looking NE showing key intercepts in drill-holes EL24001 and EL24004. The cross-section demonstrates a strong porphyry-epithermal style of alteration hosting consistent mineralization. 1.0 Km distance between drill holes EL24004 and EL24001

K-Ozek Trenches: The gold-silver-tellurium mineralization at K-Ozek is hosted in a zone of quartz veining (individual veins between 0.5 to 1 m width), that display typical low sulphidation textures including crustiform banding, euhedral crystal infill of vein voids, and bladed textures (quartz after calcite) (Figure 7 below). A zone of strong silicification and argillic (kaolinite-illite-quartz) alteration surrounds the quartz veins.

Table 3. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the K-Ozek target

Figure 6. Plan map of the K-Ozek target showing location of drill-hole EL24009, mapped veins and grab sample locations.

Figure 7. Samples from the K-Ozek epithermal veins from historic soviet trenches, K-Ozek target, Elemes project.

Figure 8. Drill core photos from hole EL24004 showing lithology, vein styles and mineralization.

Elemes Project: Drilling commenced in September 2024 and the Phase 1 program was completed in late December 2024. This program of approximately 4,000 meters of diamond drilling has generally focused on priority targets at Berezski Central, Berezski East, Q-Gorka and K-Ozek targets. These targets were identified following two field seasons of comprehensive exploration work at the Elemes Project, including airborne magnetic and Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization geophysical surveys, as well as extensive soil sampling and mapping. In addition, some historical drill holes from the Berezski East and Q-Gorka targets were re-assayed with those results reported in January 2024 (see Arras new releases January 8 & 22, 2024).

QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSON

Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be calculated at this time due to the unknown geometry of the mineralization. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Arras Minerals. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Arras Minerals. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate.

Historical holes Bz6 & Bz20 shown in Figure 5 were re-assayed and reported in the Company's news release January 22, 2024. Bz5 also shown in Figure 5 was not re-assayed but is included in the figure for completeness.

The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim Barry"

Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

+1 604 687 5800

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further information can be found on:

the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or

follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or

follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/arrasminerals

About Arras Minerals Corp.

Arras Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") in which Teck may sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras Minerals license package in 2024-2025. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK" and on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "ARRKF".

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.

Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras Minerals' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras Minerals is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras Minerals' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras Minerals operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras Minerals' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to futureperiods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
News / National

by Staff reporter

ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera is facing a firestorm of criticism after leading a controversial song that appeared to target Acting President General Constantino Chiwenga at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Monday. The song, which many have interpreted as a personal attack, has sparked tensions within the ruling Zanu-PF party, exposing deep divisions at a time when unity is desperately needed.Mavetera, who is known for her leadership in the Young Women for ED group, was seen in the stands at the burial of national hero Justin Mupamhanga leading her supporters in a provocative chant. The lyrics, "mupanduki mupanduki nguva yakwana, chera mwena," which translates to "traitor, traitor, your time is up," seemed to directly accuse Chiwenga of betrayal.The burial, which should have been a somber occasion honoring Zimbabwe's fallen heroes, instead became a stage for open Zanu-PF infighting. In one section of the stands, Mavetera's group, clad in pink Young Women For ED t-shirts, clashed with another group that appeared to be aligned with Chiwenga. As the two factions exchanged heated words, the rift within the party became painfully clear.Adding fuel to the fire, Mavetera's supporters waved faux crocodilesa symbol of loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwawhile chanting in her favor. On the other side, the pro-Chiwenga group responded with their own fervent songs of praise for the Acting President, chanting: "siyanai naye Chiwenga munovengerei," which means "leave Chiwenga alone, why do you hate him?"The confrontation raised serious questions about the level of factionalism within Zanu-PF, especially considering the prominent location of the incident. Ntokozo Msipha, Secretary-General of the General Chiwenga Voluntary Supporters Association, expressed his outrage, accusing Mavetera of crossing the line.In a statement released Tuesday morning, Msipha condemned Mavetera's actions, declaring: "Hon Minister, you have crossed the line. This must never happen again. Let this statement serve as a final warning. Discipline, respect, and loyalty are the cornerstones of leadership. Those who fail to uphold them will find themselves on the wrong side of history."The confrontation also echoes recent comments by Chiwenga during the burial of other national heroes, where he described disrespect as a "mortal sin," further fueling the sense of a major breach in party decorum.Clive Malunga, a prominent critic of the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda and a veteran of the liberation struggle, weighed in on the incident, calling Mavetera "a disrespectful and Mnangagwa bootlicker" who has neglected her official duties in favor of appeasing the President. He criticized her for her focus on personal political gain rather than addressing the country's pressing issues.Political analyst Lazurus Sauti, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, added his voice to the criticism, stating that the current Zanu-PF government is made up of ministers who are "not chosen based on merit." Sauti pointed out that Mavetera, instead of fulfilling her role in promoting ICT policies, was more interested in engaging in factional politics at a national shrine.Efforts to reach Mavetera for comment were unsuccessful, with her phone going unanswered.Meanwhile, Zanu-PF spokesperson Farai Marapira attempted to distance the party from Mavetera's actions, stating: "Young Women for ED is an affiliate of the party Zanu-PF and it is an independent juristic person. Therefore, it has its own structures that speak and defend on its own behalf. I speak on behalf of the party."The incident has sent shockwaves through social media, with many Zimbabweans reacting with fury and disbelief. The clash at the National Heroes Acre has revealed just how deep the fault lines are within Zanu-PF, and many are now wondering how the ruling party will handle the growing tensions as rival factions continue to vie for control.Some commentators have even suggested that Mavetera may soon find herself on the wrong side of history, with comparisons being drawn to former Zanu-PF officials like Jonathan Moyo, who fled the country after the 2017 Operation Restore Legacy ousted President Robert Mugabe. This comparison has sparked further speculation about the future of the minister and the fate of Zanu-PF's infighting.As the dust settles from the shocking scenes at the National Heroes Acre, all eyes will be on the Zanu-PF leadership to see how it responds to the latest in a series of factional skirmishes threatening to tear the party apart.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Nuclear Fuels Inc. (CSE: NF) (OTCQX: NFUNF) ("Nuclear Fuels" or the "Company") announced today the discovery of two new zones of roll front-hosted uranium mineralization at the Kaycee In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") Uranium Project (the "Project") in Wyoming's Powder River Basin ("PRB"). Drill testing of regional targets on the Project encountered mineralization at the newly discovered Outpost and Trail Dust Zones, including 0.082% eU 3 O 8 (uranium) over 6.5 feet for a total hole Grade Thickness ("GT") of 0.532. In the PRB, potentially ISR-recoverable uranium mineralization with a GT of greater than 0.20 is considered suitable for inclusion in a potential wellfield. Follow up delineation drilling of these two new zones is planned for May 2025. In addition, Nuclear Fuels announces the Company has been added to the Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF.

Specific Highlights Include:

At the Outpost Zone, drill hole LT24_050 returned 0.082% eU 3 O 8 over 6.5 feet for a total GT of 0.532, beginning at a downhole depth of 767.0 feet; the best result to date in the Kaycee Project's regional exploration program. The roll front trend remains open and will be a primary focus when drilling resumes;

O over 6.5 feet for a total GT of 0.532, beginning at a downhole depth of 767.0 feet; the best result to date in the Kaycee Project's regional exploration program. The roll front trend remains open and will be a primary focus when drilling resumes; At the Trail Dust Zone, located approximately 1.5 miles to the north of the Outpost Zone, drill hole LT24_037 returned 0.0553% eU 3 O 8 over 5.5 feet for a total hole GT of 0.304, beginning at a downhole depth of 886.0 feet;

O over 5.5 feet for a total hole GT of 0.304, beginning at a downhole depth of 886.0 feet; Drill hole LT24_004 was drilled approximately two miles to the southeast of holes LT24_037 and returned 0.029% eU 3 O 8 over 3.0 feet for a total hole GT of 0.086. While lower grade than the other Trail Dust Zone holes located to the northwest, initial geological interpretation suggests the mineralization intersected in hole LT24_004 may represent the same roll front trend and testing of the approximately two-mile distance between these intercepts for additional zones of high grade mineralization will be a priority for the 2025 drill program.

To view project maps, please visit: https://bit.ly/4hojhq2.

Greg Huffman, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Nuclear Fuels' drill program was designed to test for new zones of uranium mineralization on the Kaycee Project and we are pleased that the program has discovered two new mineralized roll fronts. These discoveries, aided by the team's deepening understanding of the geology and mineralization, also highlight the strong potential of this area for further exploration and will serve as a launching point for the 2025 drill program. We are also honored to have recently been added to the Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF."

Table of Significant Results from the Outpost Zone and Trail Dust Zone

Kaycee Uranium Project, Wyoming

Drill holes are reported that returned significant zones of uranium mineralization with >2 ft thickness at or above a grade cut-off of 0.02 per cent eU 3 O 8 or that are relevant to exploration targeting. (1) % eU 3 O 8 by Gamma logging is a measure of gamma intensity from a decay product of uranium. Gamma log assays may be in disequilibrium with ICP-MS assays. Comparisons of eU 3 O 8 Gamma log and ICP-MS assays of Powder River Basin core samples indicate that eU 3 O 8 Gamma is comparable to ICP-MS uranium assay in the Powder River Basin. (2) Grade Thickness, or GT, is defined as the product of the mineral grade multiplied by the thickness of the mineralization.

The Kaycee Uranium Project Drill Program

In October 2024, the exploration drill program on the Kaycee Project shifted to testing regional targets that have not been previously extensively explored for uranium mineralization. These targets were generated by the evaluation of over 500 oil and gas logs, with an initial focus on an area located approximately 8 miles to the east of the Saddle Zone, and approximately 6 miles to the west of Energy Fuels Inc.'s Nichols Ranch ISR uranium mine, which is currently being prepared for restart in mid-2025. The regional drilling was successful in identifying two new zones of roll front-hosted uranium mineralization. Both of these zones represent new discoveries associated with previously unidentified roll front trends that are incremental to the 430 miles of roll fronts historically delineated on the Project.

The 2024 drill program at the Kaycee Project concluded in late December 2024, with the Company having completed 206 holes for a total of approximately 124,720 feet since drilling re-started in mid-July. Recall, prior to September 30th, the objective of the drill program was to confirm and expand uranium mineralization associated with known historic resource areas. Previously released highlights from this drilling includes 0.205% eU 3 O 8 over 8.0 feet for GT of 1.640 at the Stirrup West Zone, 0.233% eU 3 O 8 over 7.0 feet for a GT of 1.631 at the Saddle Zone, and 0.117% eU 3 O 8 over 5.0 feet for a GT of 0.585 at the Spur Zone.

Planning is currently underway for the 2025 drill program at the Kaycee Project, which is anticipated to commence in May 2025. The initial focus will be to follow up on the new discoveries at the Outpost and Trail Dust Zones to better define their orientation and geometry. 2025 drilling will also test other high priority regional targets given the early success in identifying new zones of roll front-hosted uranium mineralization in this underexplored area of the Project.

Kaycee Uranium Project, Wyoming

The Kaycee Project in Wyoming's PRB, Nuclear Fuels' priority project, consists of 55 square miles of mineral rights over a 35-mile mineralized trend hosting 430 miles of identified roll fronts. The Kaycee Project is believed to be the only project in the PRB where all three known historically productive sandstone formations (Wasatch, Fort Union, and Lance) are mineralized and potentially accessible for ISR extraction. The Kaycee Project, under Nuclear Fuels, represents the first time since the early 1980's that the entire district is controlled by one company.

In 2023, Nuclear Fuels acquired the Kaycee Project from enCore Energy Corp., which retains a back-in right for 51% of the project by paying 2.5X the exploration costs and financing the Kaycee project to production (costs recoverable from production) upon Nuclear Fuels establishing a minimum 15 million pound eU 3 O 8 43-101 compliant resource.

Wyoming is a proven and prolific uranium producer with a pro-energy government and established regulatory regime for the permitting and extraction of uranium through ISR technology. Wyoming is one of the few "Agreement States" hosting ISR uranium deposits, where the federal government and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have ceded regulatory authority to the state government, permitting and advancing uranium projects is more efficient and streamlined as compared to most other states. Wyoming, with over 250 million pounds of historic uranium production, ranks as the state with the second most uranium production to date; most of which has been through the ISR technology since 1990, predominantly from the PRB.

Drill holes were completed by Single Water Services using a rotary drill rig. Chip samples are collected for lithological logging every five feet. Century Geophysics of Tulsa Oklahoma is contracted to conduct downhole gamma ray, resistivity, spontaneous potential, and deviation. Century Geophysics calibrates the downhole tools in the US Department of Energy uranium logging Test pits in Casper Wyoming, to ensure the accuracy of the down hole gamma ray log measurements. % eU 3 O 8 is a measure of gamma intensity from a decay product of uranium and is not a direct measurement of uranium. Numerous comparisons of eU 3 O 8 and chemical assays of PRB core samples indicate that eU 3 O 8 is a reasonable indicator of the actual uranium assay.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark Travis, CPG., a contractor to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Nuclear Fuels Inc.

Nuclear Fuels Inc. is a uranium exploration company advancing early-stage, district-scale In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") amenable uranium projects towards production in the United States of America. Leveraging extensive proprietary historical databases and deep industry expertise, Nuclear Fuels is well-positioned in a sector poised for significant and sustained growth on the back of strong government support. Nuclear Fuels has consolidated the Kaycee Wyoming district under single-company control for the first time since the early 1980s. Currently executing its second drill program at the Kaycee Project, the Company aims to expand on historic resources across a 35-mile trend with over 430 miles of mapped roll-fronts. The Company's strategic relationship with enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company, offers a mutually beneficial "pathway to production," with enCore owning an equity interest and retaining the right to back-in to 51% ownership in the flagship Kaycee Project in Wyoming's prolific Powder River Basin.

W: www.nfuranium.com

Forward-Looking Information

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to planned exploration programs and the results of additional exploration work in seeking to establish mineral resources as defined in NI43-101 on any of our properties. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with the completing planned exploration programs and the results of those programs; the ability to access additional capital to fund planned and future operations; regulatory risks including exploration permitting; risks associated with title to our mineral projects; the ability of the company to implement its business strategies; and other risks including risks contained in documents available for review at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. Readers are 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.
Vancouver, Canada, January 29, 2025  TheNewswire - Electrum Discovery Corp. ("Electrum" or the "Company") (TSX-V:ELY |FRA:R8N |OTC:ELDCF) is pleased to announce the commencement of its maiden diamond drill program at the Timok East copper-gold project ("Timok East") in Eastern Serbia. The program principally aims to test priority geological, geochemical and geophysical targets defined at the Bambino Central copper-gold anomaly, located less than 4 kilometers east from Zijin Minings Bor mining complex. The initial phase comprises up to 1,000 meters of drilling, with an additional 1,000 meters contingent on the results of the first phase.

Highlights:

Phase one 1,000-meter diamond drilling program targeting Bambino Central has commenced.

The maiden drill program aims to test the potential down-dip extensions of copper mineralization identified on surface at Bambino Central and refine additional drill targets to depth across Bambino.

The first drillhole, BP001, is designed to test the strongest chargeability anomaly beneath surface copper anomalism across the southern portion of Bambino Central.

The second hole, BP002 will be drilled in the central portion of Bambino Central, targeting the near surface down-dip extensions of copper mineralised quartz-limonite stockwork.

Emerging District: The Timok East Project is located adjacent to the Timok Magmatic Complex that hosts several operating copper and copper-gold mines, and exploration projects held by major mining companies including Zijin Mining and Dundee Precious Metals.

Dr Elena Clarici, CEO and President of Electrum commented: We are thrilled to move into the next stage of exploration and to start our maiden drilling campaign at the Bambino Central zone of the Timok East project. Initial soil and rock chip sampling, trenching and ground geophysics have all pointed to a strong anomaly in the southern part of Timok East and drilling is the natural next step. Drilling Bambino is the first step in the broader exploration program and will provide further understanding of the largely untested 123 square kilometers Timok East Project 

The Timok East project is located on the eastern margin of the Timok Magmatic Complex (" TMC"), a world-class copper-gold district located in the Republic of Serbia. In the recent times, the TMC region has seen and continues to see significant new exploration, discoveries and investment. The Timok East project, consists of three licences: Bukova Glava, Luka and Makoviste and covers some 123 square kilometers. Work to date was entirely focused on the Makoviste licence where Bambino Anomaly was outlined in 2024 (see News Release 8th May 2024).

Bambino Central, the most advanced target at Timok East, spans 550 meters of strike and features highly anomalous surface copper and gold geochemistry supported by positive trenching results (See Figures 1 & 2) with underlying chargeability and resistivity anomalies at depth. It lies within the 1.8 kilometer Bambino copper and gold

anomaly within which Electrum has identifiedfould additional target areas (Bambino 1, Bambino 2, Bambino 3, and Bambino 4) with significant copper and gold anomalies identified from soil and rock-chip samples (See Figure 2).

Figure 1: Geology and surface geochemistry map showing the location of the Bambino and Bambino Central anomalies within the broader target area (rock and soil results from News Releases 30th October 2024, 4th September 2024, and 3rd July 2024).

Figure 2: Planview map showing the initial 2 planned drillholes at Bambino Central, with rockchip and soil sampling results within the broader Bambino anomaly. (News release October 30th 2024).

Drill Program Summary

An initial 1,000 metre diamond drill program is planned at Bambino Central, followed by an additional 1,000 metre contingent on the results of the first phase. The program is primarily aimed at gaining insights into the sub-surface geological environment, with a focus on evaluating potential down-dip extensions of copper-gold bearing quartz-limonite stockwork mineralisation identified at surface across Bambino Central and identifying evidence for the potential presence of a large hydrothermal system at depth. This drilling will be guided by chargeability and resistivity high anomalies identified beneath Bambino Central in the High-Resolution Induced Polarization ("HIRIP") survey.

The first of the two planned drillholes, BP001, is designed to test the strongest chargeability anomaly beneath surface copper anomalism across the southern portion of Bambino Central. Drilling from east to west also targets a deeper resistivity-high anomaly at approximately 250 meters depth, which may correspond with increased silicification, potentially linked to the outer margins of an underlying hydrothermal system (see Figures 2 & 3).

The second hole, BP002 will be drilled in the central portion of Bambino Central, targeting the near surface down-dip extensions of copper mineralised quartz-limonite stockwork that has been mapped and trenched at surface, and resistivity high anomalies identified at depth. Subsequent drillhole location and orientations will be adjusted based on initial geological interpretations from these holes, ensuring maximum targeting efficiency.

This initial phase of drilling will advance the understanding of potential mineralisation styles at Bambino Central and will add significantly to the geological understanding of the Bambino prospect. In conjunction with planned geophysical surveys, the data generated during drilling will support ongoing exploration efforts to refine additional drill targets within the northern and southern Bambino extensions, deep targets at Bambino, and define high-priority targets throughout the broader Timok East project area.

Drilling is being conducted by DRILLEX International DOO, utilizing a Cortech CSD1300 track-mounted diamond drill rig capable of angled drilling to depths exceeding 500 meters (See Figure 4).

Figure 3: Cross section showing the planned BP001 drill hole on a background of resistivity and chargeability anomalies and surface copper anomalism (News release 19th December 2024).

Figure 4. Cortech CSD1300 diamond drill rig on site preparing to drill hole BP001.

For more information contact:

Dr Elena Clarici, Chief Executive Officer and Director

T: +1 604 801 5432 | E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W: electrumdiscovery.com

Graham Farrell, Investor Relations

T: +1 416 842 9003 | E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W: electrumdiscovery.com

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas Sant BSc, FGS, CGeol, EurGeol. Mr. Sant is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the VP, Operations, of the Company.

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 Companys 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.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Golden Arrow Resources Corporation (TSXV: GRG) (FSE: G6A) (OTCQB: GARWF), ("Golden Arrow" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from the final two holes of the Phase 2 drill program at the San Pietro Copper-Gold-Iron-Cobalt Project in Chile ("San Pietro" or the "Project"). These two holes (SP-DDH-39 and SP-DDH-40) together with two of the previously reported holes from the program (SP-DDH-29 and SP-DDH-38) confirm a broad extension of the Rincones target up to 400 metres to the south (see Figure 1). Each of the four holes has now reported intervals of between 180 and 310 metres that average over 0.2% Cu and 0.03 g/t Au as well as significant cobalt and iron. This southern Rincones area is expected to have significant positive impact on the Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") that is currently underway. Furthermore, the area remains sparsely drilled and open for expansion, particularly towards the Colla target located approximately 600 metres further to the south-southeast.

Results of the final two holes are highlighted by:

180m averaging 0.21% Cu, 0.07 g/t Au, 95 g/t Co and 12.9% Fe starting at 276.73m depth in hole SP-DDH-39, in an undrilled area 280m south of SP-DDH-38 and 220m along trend from SP-DDH-29





starting at depth in hole SP-DDH-39, in an undrilled area south of SP-DDH-38 and along trend from SP-DDH-29 Pervasive mineralization from 75 m depth to nearly the end of the hole at 541 metres in SP-DDH-40, including 224 m averaging 0.20% Cu, 0.03 g/t Au, 63 g/t Co and 11.6% Fe starting at 317.05 metres Geologic modelling indicates continuity of mineralization of this hole with SP-DDH-38 and earlier holes along section (see Figure 2).

depth to nearly the end of the hole at 541 metres in SP-DDH-40, including

Brian McEwen, VP Exploration and Development for Golden Arrow, commented, "Phase 2 drilling has definitely finished on a high note. We are going into our first resource estimate knowing that the infill program we designed has successfully confirmed what we had expected after our preliminary work: stronger mineralization and better continuity than many previous interpretations. We believe this will translate into an MRE that shows our investors and stakeholders that we have again discovered a substantial deposit with strong upside and value-creation potential. Phase 2 might be done but we can't wait to get back out into the field to keep drilling and building Rincones, potentially all the way to Colla, as well as continuing to make new discoveries at our many targets throughout the massive project area, including some exciting prospects that were newly identified in 2024."

The Phase 2 drill program was executed in 2024, including an additional 24 holes, or 8292 metres of drilling on the Rincones advanced exploration target and 2 holes with a total of 607 metres drilled at the early-stage Colla target. Mineralization at the project is hosted in magnetite-rich mantos that are highly magnetic, as well as structurally-related specularite breccias and veins. In late 2024 the Company completed a new detailed ground magnetic survey over the Rincones and Colla targets to further delineate the targets and prioritize areas for the next phase of drill testing. In addition, since 2023 company geologists have been engaged in detailed geologic mapping throughout the nearly 20,000 hectares of concessions, work which had not been undertaken by previous operators. The 2024 mapping and surface sampling program in the southern project area identified new prospective targets, including Noemi and Lolita N (Figure 1), and a ground magnetics survey covering 1500 hectares was completed late in the year. Data from the surveys is still being processed.

Table 1. Summary of New Intervals, Phase 2 Drilling [Cu Grade >0.20% or Co Grade >200 g/t or Au Grade >0.2 g/t or Fe Grade >30%]

Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Co (g/t) Fe (%) Rincones Target SP-DDH-39 200.00 202.30 2.30 0.35 0.05 77 10.9 231.00 236.00 5.00 0.14 0.13 335 4.0 276.73 456.85 180.12 0.21 0.07 95 12.9 includes 323.70 337.55 13.85 0.31 0.04 98 17.5 & 371.00 456.85 85.85 0.28 0.11 106 13.8 includes 451.72 456.85 5.13 0.90 0.52 431 15.2 SP-DDH-40 49.00 53.32 4.32 0.02 0.04 294 15.7 75.00 149.03 74.03 0.20 0.04 119 14.7 279.00 283.54 4.54 0.30 0.03 156 28.1 317.05 541.22 224.17 0.20 0.03 63 11.6 includes 329.00 341.00 12.00 0.49 0.05 106 14.3 & 381.87 386.67 4.80 2.15 0.30 167 33.8 & 473.00 477.10 4.10 1.13 0.06 128 21.1 Note: Intervals are downhole length. See hole descriptions in text for additional details.

Drill Hole Details

The San Pietro Project hosts multiple targets with strong Iron oxide-Copper-Gold and Cobalt mineralization (see Figure 1). This mineralization is typically found within a pile of fine to porphyritic andesites that exhibit widespread potassic feldspar alteration. The mineralization is often associated with areas where a superimposed quartz-scapolite alteration is more intense and there is a development of brecciation with specularite and massive replacement of magnetite.

SP-DDH-39 was collared 220 metres to the northwest of, and drilled parallel to, SP-DDH-29 which intersected 310.85m averaging 0.19% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au, 127 g/t Co and 12.2% Fe starting at 186.4m depth, as reported on October 31, 2024. The new hole tested for mineralization along the general northwest structural trend from SP-DDH-29 corresponding to a set of subparallel specularite breccias trending from east-west to northwest. The first 322 metres of the hole were dominated by a porphyritic andesite, which is less permeable to the development of fracturing and the entry of mineralized solutions. From 322 metres to the end of hole at 509 metres, the SP-DDH-39 shows a package of fine porphyritic andesites. These host a series of veinlets and crackle breccias with chalcopyrite-pyrite and specularite including a higher-grade structure at 452 metres with a halo of disseminated magnetite. In addition, near the contact between the porphyritic and fine andesites at 276 to 322 metres depth several mineralized structures were developed.

SP-DDH-40 filled in the area between the main Rincones target area and the step-out hole SP-DDH-38 (155 metres southwest) which recently reported 283 metres averaging 0.23% Cu, 0.04 g/t Au, 101 g/t Co and 15.5% Fe from 83 metres depth (see January 21, 2025 news release). From 130 metres to the end of the hole at 548 metres, the fine porphyritic andesite hosts a series of zones with veinlets and crackle breccias filled with chalcopyrite-pyrite. Additionally in this hole there are a series of sub horizontal magnetite replacement mantos of 5 to 8 metres wide with >30% of total iron, and in some cases with high Cu-Au mineralization, as demonstrated in the 4.80 metres interval with 2.15% Cu, 0.3 g/t Au and 33.8% Fe starting at 381.87 metres deep. The cross-section in Figure 2 demonstrates the modeled units and continuity with SP-DDH-38, as well as neighbouring holes SP-DDH-11 and SP-DDH-05 (reported on July 12, 2023).

Table 2. Drill Hole Collar Information [PSAD 56 / UTM Zone 19 S]

Hole Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth () () Final Depth (m) SP-DDH-39 390572 7071002 1003 20 -60 509 SP-DDH-40 390653 7071424 997 20 -60 548

Methodology & QA/QC

This drilling campaign was completed by Sociedad de Servicios Andinos SpA of Copiapo, Chile, using diamond drill producing HQ-sized core. The Golden Arrow field team, supervised by senior geologists, photographed and logged the entire length of core for each drillhole, as well as measured it for recovery and marked it for sampling. Pieces of whole core approximately 10 to 15 cm long were selected and measured for specific gravity on average every 20 metres and targeting all different lithologies. Subsequently, the core was cut in half with an electric saw. One half was labelled, bagged and sent for analysis and the other half retained onsite. After completing the sampling of each hole, the samples were shipped to ALS Laboratory in Copiapo, Chile by a contract truck service. Sample preparation and gold analysis by Fire Assay and reading by atomic absorption on 30 gm sample by method Au-AA23 was completed at the ALS facility in Santiago de Chile. Multi-element package by ICP-OES reading following a four-acid digestion by method ME-ICP61 was performed at ALS facilities in Lima, Peru. Samples with over limits in copper (+ 10,000 ppm) were re-assayed by ore grade method Cu-OG62 that includes four acid digestion and ICP-OES reading. The Company follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the San Pietro Project, with a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program. Blank and standard samples were inserted in each batch of samples sent to the laboratory for analysis. Golden Arrow detected no significant QA/QC issues with material effect on the data. The trajectory of all the holes drilled at San Pietro during this Phase 2 were measured using the gyroscope equipment "Champ Navigator" that assures no interference from the magnetite in the ground. Additionally, all the core was orientated using the "Champ Ori" core orientator to measure the azimuth and dip of structures.

About the San Pietro IOCG Project

The San Pietro Project covers approximately 20,000 hectares, 100 kilometres north of Copiapo. Situated between and adjacent to Capstone Copper's Manto Verde Mine property and Santo Domingo Project, San Pietro is in the centre of a potential new copper-iron-cobalt district within an active, well-developed mining region that is home to all the major iron oxide-copper-gold ("IOCG") deposits in Chile.

The Project is hosted by andesite units in a Cretaceous-aged volcano-sedimentary sequence associated with intrusive rocks including granodiorites and diorites of similar age. The Project is located east of the Atacama Fault system, a major north-south regional structure, which was instrumental in controlling the emplacement of the ore deposits in the area.

Mineralization at San Pietro is typical of an IOCG system, with the addition of cobalt, and occurs in mantos, breccias and veins within a zone of alteration characterized by an association of actinolite, epidote, chlorite and scapolite. The mantos are replacement of andesite by magnetite and sulphides, with a roughly southeast strike and a gentle dip to the SW. Breccias and veins crosscut the mantos, are often subvertical, and filled with specularite and sulphides.

Qualified Persons

The exploration programs are designed by the Company's geological staff and results are reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled under the supervision of Brian McEwen, P.Geol., VP Exploration and Development to the Company. Mr. McEwen is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents of the news release.

About Golden Arrow

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation is a mining exploration company with a successful track record of creating value by making precious and base metal discoveries and advancing them into exceptional deposits.

Golden Arrow is actively exploring its flagship property, the advanced San Pietro iron oxide-copper-gold-cobalt project in Chile, and a portfolio that includes nearly 125,000 hectares of prospective properties in Argentina.

The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Joseph Grosso"

Mr. Joseph Grosso,

Executive Chairman, President and CEO

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments management of the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with exploration activities; the possibility that future exploration. There may be other factors that cause results or events to not be as anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
In less than two months, Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa has risen from rebel leader to interim president, after his Islamist group led a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad.

Sharaa was appointed Wednesday to lead Syria for an unspecified transitional period, and has been tasked with forming an interim legislature after the dissolution of the Assad era parliament and the suspension of the 2012 constitution.

The former jihadist has abandoned his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, trimmed his beard and donned a suit and tie to receive foreign dignitaries since ousting Assad from power on December 8.

The tall, sharp-eyed Sharaa has held a succession of interviews with foreign journalists, presenting himself as a patriot who wants to rebuild and reunite Syria, devastated and divided after almost 14 years of civil war.

Syria's new authorities also announced Wednesday the dissolution of armed factions, including Sharaa's own Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda.

Since breaking ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016, Sharaa has sought to portray himself as a more moderate leader, and HTS has toned down its rhetoric, vowing to protect Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.

But Sharaa has yet to calm misgivings among some analysts and Western governments that still class HTS as a terrorist organisation.

- 'Pragmatic' -

"He is a pragmatic radical," Thomas Pierret, a specialist in political Islam, told AFP.

"In 2014, he was at the height of his radicalism," Pierret said, referring to the period of the war when he sought to compete with the jihadist Islamic State group.

"Since then, he has moderated his rhetoric."

Born in 1982 in Saudi Arabia, Sharaa is from a well-to-do Syrian family and was raised in Mazzeh, an upscale district of Damascus.

In 2021, he told US broadcaster PBS that his nom de guerre was a reference to his family's roots in the Golan Heights. He said his grandfather was among those forced to flee the territory after its capture by Israel in 1967.

According to the Middle East Eye news website, it was after the September 11, 2001 attacks that he was first drawn to jihadist thinking.

"It was as a result of this admiration for the 9/11 attackers that the first signs of jihadism began to surface in Jolani's life, as he began attending secretive sermons and panel discussions in marginalised suburbs of Damascus," the website said.

Following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, he left Syria to take part in the fight.

He joined Al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and was subsequently detained for five years, preventing him from rising through the ranks of the jihadist organisation.

- Realist or opportunist? -

In March 2011, when the revolt against Assad's rule erupted in Syria, he returned home and founded Al-Nusra Front, Syria's branch of Al-Qaeda.

In 2013, he refused to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who would go on to become the emir of the Islamic State group, and instead pledged his loyalty to Al-Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri.

A realist in his partisans' eyes, an opportunist to his adversaries, Sharaa said in May 2015 that he, unlike IS, had no intention of launching attacks against the West.

He also proclaimed that should Assad be defeated, there would be no revenge attacks against the Alawite minority that the president's clan stems from.

He cut ties with Al-Qaeda, claiming to do so in order to deprive the West of reasons to attack his organisation.

According to Pierret, he has since sought to chart a path towards becoming a credible statesman.

In January 2017, Sharaa imposed a merger with HTS on rival Islamist groups in northwestern Syria, thereby taking control of swathes of Idlib province that had been cleared of government troops.

In areas under its grip, HTS developed a civil administration and established a semblance of a state in Idlib province, while crushing its rebel rivals.

Throughout this process, HTS faced accusations from residents and human rights groups of brutal abuses against those who dared dissent, which the United Nations has classed as war crimes.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Information, Communications, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas political maneuvers in Mt. Kenya, saying they will amount to nothing.

Speaking yesterday, Kabogo asserted that President William Rutos message continues to resonate positively with Mt. Kenya residents and dismissed claims of political hostility in the region following Gachaguas impeachment.

Those who are saying mlima iko shida, Mlima haina shida. Mimi nitaenda mlimani na nitatumana salamu za rais na zitapokewa, he said.

Since his impeachment, Gachagua has been engaging in various activities, attempting to undermine leaders allied with the Kenya Kwanza government in the region, terming their association with President William Ruto as a betrayal to the people of the mountain.

This has led to various leaders, including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, being heckled by citizens.

Referring to this, Kabogo likened Gachaguas recent political activities to a frogs noise that cant prevent a cow from drinking water, dismissing the former DPs influence in the region.

Even if a few people are making noise, as we say in our language, the eyes of a frog cannot stop a cow from drinking water,' he added.

Kabogo criticized Gachaguas recent exposes about government projects and his fallout with President Ruto, questioning the former DPs credibility.

Hiyo kelele iko mlima itakuja kuisha. It is impossible for someone who was in the kitchen where cooking was happening to come out after being kicked out and start claiming the cook was adding poison to the food.

"Is such a person mentally sound? Kabogo added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has exposed a ruthless side of former President Uhuru Kenyatta that was previously unknown to the public.

Speaking during a consultative forum with Tharaka Nithi County leaders in Karen, Nairobi, Kindiki narrated how Uhuru forced him out of government during his last two years in office.

He noted that Uhuru chased him out of government without giving him a reason.

The Deputy President explained that while he had political differences with the former Head of State at the time, the break allowed him to focus on personal matters.

"We had political differences with former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the last two years of his administration when he chased me away without giving me a reason. I even asked him to explain because it was not so much about the job.

"I was not keen on the job. In fact, that break gave me time to reorganize my personal issues which had gone out of order. I mended those issues when Uhuru chased me away. I am okay now, Kindiki remarked.

He noted that he asked Uhuru to tell Kenyans what he had done but claimed that the former president did not answer him.

I told Uhuru it was okay I was going to leave because I saw he had made a decision. But asked him to tell the people of Tharaka Nithi and the whole country what I had done so that they know if I was corrupt or I stole.

"What is the big sin that I had committed? But he did not answer me, Kindiki stated.

However, Kindiki gave credit to Uhuru for the many projects he completed during his tenure.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, January 29, 2025 - Second-hand vehicle dealer Joseph Kairu Wambui, widely known as Khalif Kairo, was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in connection with yet another case of fraud.

Kairo, who runs Kai and Karo Limited was charged with obtaining Ksh 3,045,000 from Dan Odhiambo Odundo.



The charge states that between October 5 and October 7, 2024, at Westlands Business Park, Nairobi County, acting through his company Kai and Karo Limited, he falsely represented that he could import a Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 line from Japan.



The complainant, Dan Odhiambo Odundo, was deceived by these claims, resulting in the payment of the sum in question.



Kairo, who was arrested on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, was brought to court on January 29, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of cheating under Section 315 of the Penal Code.



In his defence, Kairo denied the allegations that he had misrepresented his ability to import the vehicle and that the complainant had been misled into paying the money.



Witnesses, including Simon Otieno Odhiambo, Albert Hesbon Odundo, and police officer Wako Jarso are expected to testify in the case.



Kairo is currently in custody pending a decision from the court on his bond terms.

It is also emerging that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has filed a case against him for tax evasion and money laundering at Kiambu Law Courts.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has declared war on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Atwoli revealed his strained relationship with Gachagua, accusing him of sabotaging workers during his tenure as Deputy President.

According to Atwoli, Gachagua was strongly opposed to any commitment by President William Ruto to take care of the workers' rights.

He claimed that while in office, Gachagua always wanted the Kenyan workforce sidelined from the government on account of not rallying behind Ruto during the 2022 campaigns.

As a result, Atwoli vowed to make Gachaguas life a living hell.

He committed to countering the former DPs political rhetoric and the clout he has earned due to his impeachment late last year.

"When we paid a courtesy call to the president at State House Nairobi in February 2023, Rigathi told the president why he was meeting us yet workers did not support the president in the campaign.

He said workers had no slightest share in this government. He dismissed workers and the press.

During Labor Day last year, I invited him to come and have lunch with workers. He refused. He is not pro-workers.

"We know him and we will fight him. I will make sure we fight him," Atwoli said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has downplayed former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's ambitions of becoming president, saying the former CS is worse than President William Ruto.

In a statement, Atwoli stated that he had known Matiang'i and that the guy would tax Kenyans even more than Ruto is doing if he became president.

Claiming to know Matiangi too well, Atwoli expressed doubt over his State House bid, saying he should never be allowed to be president.

"Can you tell me that Matiang'i can be the President of the Republic of Kenya? I have worked with Matiang'i. He is a tax collector more than Ruto. I know him," he claimed.

At the same time, the COTU boss castigated Matiangi, claiming that he did not support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the 2022 General Elections, despite Odinga's candidature being supported by the government.

"When we were in Azimio and we were leaving, Matiang'i did not even campaign for Raila.

He did not stand up or appear anywhere supporting Raila. They were busy in the office of the President making money. I know them, I was there."

Meanwhile, he expressed that the alliance between Matiang'i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua can not win the elections.

He asserted that the trio lacked political mobilization power in comparison to a leader like Raila.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, January 29, 2025 - Two notorious robbers believed to be behind cases of abductions and armed robberies along the Kisumu-Nakuru highway have been arrested.

Reports indicate that the thugs were nabbed through an intelligence-led operation after a foiled kidnapping attempt.

They carry out their criminal activities along the highway at night using a private car.

The suspects pretend to be offering lifts to unsuspecting victims stranded on the highway, before kidnapping and robbing them.

See photos.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi has revealed how he landed the coveted position in President William Ruto's government, despite having opposed him in the 2022 General Election.

Speaking during an interview yesterday, Muriithi, who is also the nephew of the late President Mwai Kibaki, revealed that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the reason he became the KRA Chairman, contrary to the popular belief that former President Uhuru Kenyatta may have influenced his appointment.

He noted that his appointment came about following discussions between Raila and President William Ruto.

Muriithi explained that his own conviction also led to his decision to accept the offer.

The former Laikipia governor emphasized that it was not right for leaders to stand aside in times of need, which is why he offered himself for service to the country.

"It is quite clear what happened. The president has been reconstituting his government. It is not unusual. I joined the government after conversations between the Azimio party leader and the president but also of course, at a personal level, I joined out of my own conviction.

"I take the view that when the republic is having difficulties, as a leader, I dont think that we have the luxury to stand aside and say we saw things going wrong.

"As leaders, we have to step forward and offer ourselves for service to the country at the time of need, Muriithi remarked.

Ruto appointed Muriithi as the KRA Board chairperson on December 19, 2024, just after the meeting between Ruto and Uhuru at his Ichaweri home.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Detectives have launched a hunt for a notorious mchele lady believed to be targeting men on dating sites.

The lady, identified as Grace Mbogo, was exposed on social media last year after she drugged a victim on 2nd July and almost wiped out his bank account.

They had met on Bumble, a popular dating site.

The victim reported the matter at Thika police station but the suspect was not arrested, despite detectives having her phone number and photos.

The same lady has drugged another victim at an apartment along Thika Road and left him dead.

Renowned social media personality Aoko Otieno shared the suspects photos on her X account and asked anyone with information on her whereabouts to report to the police.

The notorious lady is believed to be working in cahoots with rogue DCI officers to avoid arrest.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has promised monetary reward to anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of a suspected thug who stabbed a father in Mathare as his young son watched.

Taking to his X account, the philanthropic city politician shared a photo of the ruthless thug, revealing that his accomplices had been arrested.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who went into hiding after committing the heinous act.

The deceased was attacked at dawn while taking his son to school in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi.

He died on the spot after sustaining stab wounds.

Sonko has adopted the little boy after his fathers untimely demise.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has urged Kenyans to stop speculating about the health condition of Malava MP Malulu Injendi, who has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Speaking during the ongoing National Assembly retreat in Naivasha, Wetangula also sent a stern warning to lawmakers who had equally fallen into the trap of spreading misleading information on the status of Injendi.

According to the Speaker, the lawmaker is currently recuperating in hospital and therefore there was no need for Kenyans to continue speculating about his health.

Wetangula's confirmation of the lawmaker's health status was eagerly awaited by the public, as he is legally required to provide updates on the well-being of Members of Parliament, according to the Standing Orders.

Injendi has been hospitalised for the past two weeks, sparking social media speculation, with some claiming that he was in a critical condition.

He was reportedly admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, January 21, after experiencing health complications, sparking concerns about his well-being.

The Speaker is the latest national leader to address the lawmaker's state after Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa issued a similar update last Thursday.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sara DiNatale covers energy, the Texas grid, ERCOT, CPS Energy, and labor for the San Antonio Express-News. She can be reached at (210) 446-3358, sara.dinatale@express-news.net, or @sara_dinatale.

Sara joined the staff in 2023. She spent six years in Florida at the Tampa Bay Times, where she covered breaking news before settling into business reporting. She also covered labor, the economy, and health care at Mississippi Today, where her reporting was recognized by the Green Eyeshade Awards and the Mississippi Press Association. Shes a graduate of the University at Buffalo (2015) and a native of Western New York.






LOS ANGELES-based model and entrepreneur Tiffany Stanley from Moone in Kildare lived life as a normal Kildare woman. She went to college in IT Carlow where she studied PR and communications, and worked on the tills at Tesco.

I loved growing up in the country  the best part for me was having so much space. We had two horses and I loved nothing more than taking them around the fields for a trek, or up to the woods in Mullaghreelan, or down to the river to splash, says Tiffany.

All of this changed when she moved to LA to pursue a career in acting and television hosting. Moving here really helped my modelling career and I got to shoot for Maxim, FHM, GQ, Cosmo and many more. It was a dream come true, but I definitely worked my ass off to make it happen.

In her 12 years of living in LA, she has seen many successes, and recently in 2023 she won Glamour Magazines Entrepreneur of the Year award. This was a proud moment, she said.

Tiffany moved to LA with no experience of the glitz and glamour, having come from an area with only a few hundred people living in it.

I started with nothing. I started with 5,000 followers and now its two million, which took me 12 years to build. Hard work and focus always pays off, she explained.

But it wasnt always smooth sailing for Tiffany. She found it difficult to adjust to LA at first and felt quite lonely.

At first, it was difficult to adjust for sure. For one thing, when I first arrived I had no friends, so that was difficult. Over time things got better for Tiffany when she found friends and was initiated into Hollywood life.

The first few years were a wild and crazy adventure. I remember my friend Roz and I got invited to Leonardo Di Caprios house. Jonah Hill was there and a few other celebs. That was a wild moment.

I think Kildare is so beautiful with its open green fields. Its a stunning place and the people are so genuine and nice"

Apart from Hollywood celebrity parties and photo shoots for magazine covers, Tiffany said that she loves California for the weather.

I love the sun here. You can go to the beach or go snowboarding, all within a couple of hours. Its great for outdoorsy people like myself. One thing she does not rate is the unsavoury characters that Los Angeles is home to.

I hate to say this, but sometimes the people are not that nice. There are a lot of liars, hustlers, time wasters and weird people out here. Every second person is a producer, but its usually some guy just making stuff up to try to hit on women, she said.

Tiffany loves her life in LA, but misses the sense of community she had in Ireland. She looks forward to her visits home to visit family and friends, and hopes to find an Irish partner to help her bring her brand Malibu Bronze Tan over to Ireland.

I do want to do more work in Ireland. Im interested in TV presenting and creating documentaries, so it will be wonderful when that all comes together. My plan is to spend more time at home, she said.

I think Kildare is so beautiful with its open green fields. Its a stunning place and the people are so genuine and nice, she said.

I really enjoy the way family or friends just stop by for a cup of tea  the sense of community is the best. Its the little things that are irreplaceable. I miss that for sure. For other Kildare people wanting to live the LA lifestyle, Tiffany explains that its not without its challenges.

I would tell people that want to move here to really make sure they have the funds to do so. LA is extremely expensive. There is no free healthcare so you need to spend $500 a month on insurance. Even a tiny, small home could be one million dollars  and thats not even in a great area, she elaborated.

But the biggest challenge Tiffany warns others about is missing family.

You will also miss your family a lot and so its not an easy move at all. I stayed with my uncle, director Kevin Connor, and without his help it would not have been possible.
Eva Osborne

On Tuesday, Tanaiste Simon Harris said he does not expect there will be a referendum on Irish unity within this decade, while he has previously stated that it is entirely possible that there could be a united Ireland in his lifetime.

Sinn Fein has pushed for a unity referendum to be called this decade. But, when asked if he thinks that will happen, Harris said: Thats not my expectation.

So, how likely is it that you will see a united Ireland in your lifetime? And what are the key issues that would need to be addressed in advance of a referendum on the matter?

Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Professor of Political Science at Trinity College Dublin, Lisa Keenan, laid out the economic, social, and cultural issues that a united Ireland would face.

A new flag, a new national anthem

Keenan explained that cultural issues, which are "not minor issues", would need to be carefully considered.

Like, to what extent are people happy to adopt a new flag? Are they happy to adopt a new educational system? A new national anthem? All these things are really important and would need to be considered in advance of a vote," she said.

"But the biggest thing would be the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Is it a case of taking the integrated model, whereby effectively Northern Ireland is just folded into the existing institutional arrangement that we have in the Republic of Ireland?

"Do the parties contesting in Northern Ireland for elections end up sitting in Dail Eireann? Or do we have this devolved model, whereby the government in Dublin just replace the government in Westminster?

"These are really the critical issues and it would be really important to think about how to get consent across communities in Northern Ireland, but equally among the people in the Republic of Ireland.

'There's a big problem equating Catholicism with Nationalism'

Keenan explained that, when looking at polling data, the majority in Northern Ireland do not currently favour a United Ireland, but it matters how questions are worded.

"What we have, kind of consistently, is around one third of people supporting a united Ireland. So that's a long way off a majority, and you would want a majority to be in evidence over time. We also have around 10 to 15 per cent that are undecided.

"If you look at the demographics as well, its a little bit tricky, but if you look just at the Catholic population from the 2021 census, it's 42.3 per cent of the population. So that isn't a majority.

"Theres also a big problem with inferring that because someone identifies as Catholic, that they also are identifying as nationalists and in favour of a united Ireland.

"And if you look at political identity, which we can look at through the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, you know it's been stable for the past few years and what we have is 28 percent of people who are identifying themselves as nationalists. So the circumstances aren't in place at the moment."

Keenan said it is the case that in terms of the commitment to the principle of a united Ireland in the Republic of Ireland, that has been "high and consistently high over time".

Economy and healthcare

The economy is a major issue when looking at the possibility of a united Ireland, Keenan said.

"There was of course that report last year that came out with a ballpark figure of how much a united Ireland would cost. One estimate was 20 billion, another estimate was 8 billion, and its not at all clear, necessarily, how much it would cost.

"But we would expect that there would be a cost involved. We can look at the reunification of Germany and think about the money that was spent in order to harmonise those two territories but also to bring up the living standards in east Germany to those in west Germany.

"I think certainly we need to think about things like public sector wages - theyre higher in the Republic. So, we would expect there would be harmonisation there right? We dont pay people less in parts of the country because the cost of living is lower than it would be in maybe Dublin.

"You need to think about benefits. So things like pensions and that, like are they going to be matched up? You would suspect that would be the case. So those kinds of things are reasonably important."

A united Ireland prompting the stimulation of economic growth in the medium to long term is something that would be likely, but Keenan explained that people in the Republic would be thinking about the possible impacts they would be experiencing.

"People would be thinking: 'Is my tax bill going to go up?'," she said.

Keenan explained that the health system would also top the list of questions people would have about what a united Ireland would look like.

"You also have to think about domestic policy. We have two separate health services. So what is the health service going to look like in the event of reunification?

"Is it the case that the Republic would have to roll out a national health service, like the one in Northern Ireland, or what would that look like?"

Neutrality and policing

"Not necessarily talked about as much is policing and security. So, obviously, we know the history of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland creates challenges for policing," Keenan said.

"You need to think about the resources that would be available to continue that kind of policing, but also how would you integrate the police forces? What would that look like?

Keenan said the Republic's neutrality has not been talked about a lot.

Currently Northern Ireland, as part of the UK, is a member of Nato and a nuclear power. And Ireland is military neutral, sitting outside Nato, and does not have significant investment in the military.

"Although that did become a little bit of an issue last year and has been talked about in terms of talking about how to quit the Defence Forces, particularly in light of this threat from Russia.

"These are important questions. And theyll be important questions for people voting in Northern Ireland as well. Do they want to suddenly come out of the Commonwealth, or are people in the Republic of Ireland willing to join the Commonwealth?"

Would there need to be two referendums?

Interestingly, from a constitutional perspective, it appears to be the case that only a vote in the Oireachtas would be required, and the Republic of Ireland would not need to hold a referendum on the matter.

However, Keenan highlighted that it would be unlikely a referendum would not be held in the Republic.

"It certainly is not set out in the Constitution or the Good Friday Agreement that there needs to be a referendum in the Republic of Ireland.

"Now, politically, it would be extremely difficult and perhaps not politically a wise decision not to have a referendum.

"It's probably the case that it would be unifying, it would be a good opportunity to air a lot of concerns that people might have. There is an assumption that there will be two referendums, I think there would be. But then you have to think about, well, would they be done in sequence?

"Certainly it would be difficult, however unlikely, if there was a vote in Northern Ireland that said yes to a united Ireland and then a vote in the Republic said no. That would be extremely tricky.

"So it is likely that what would happen, probably, is that you would have a referendum in Northern Ireland and you would then endorse that with a referendum in the Republic of Ireland. But its not clear that we have to have one.

How would a referendum happen?

It comes down to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to determine when a referendum takes place.

"There isnt actually a clear set of pieces of data that need to be consulted in order for that to decision to be made. But we know from what we have in the Northern Ireland 1998 Act that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will call a poll if it appears likely that the majority of those voting support a united Ireland," Keenan said.

"So, what does that mean? Well, there's different ways to measure a majority, so we could look at opinion polling data. That would be one of the pieces of information wed probably look at.

"Wed probably also look at election results as well. We would also look at demographics, and we probably would also look at other survey data that might be more qualitative in nature.

"We don't know what kind of metrics would be consulted, but those seem to be the most likely ones."

At the moment, Keenan said it is not clear that voters in the Republic of Ireland are aware of the types of changes or compromises that would be necessary to achieve a united Ireland, or indeed that they would be supportive of them either.

"It may be that ultimately the people in the Republic of Ireland are actually happy to compromise in order to achieve this aspiration.

"But at the moment, it isn't clear that there is much understanding about the amount of work that has to be done on so many different levels in order to achieve what is, for the majority of people, an aspiration."

There would need to an extensive campaign for a referendum on a united Ireland, Keenan explained, as referendums offer an opportunity for education to make the consequences clear for the public, and are not just about getting a yes or a no vote.
ST PAULS Secondary School in Monasterevin was thrilled when its Young Scientist group of Jack Boughton, Jakub Urbanczyk and Angelo Leonardo won third place in the senior category at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin. The students were competing in the health and wellbeing category with their project on developing a sustainable air purifier.

The group was celebrated in their school during school assembly on Monday morning and the school faculty, staff and students congratulated them and were feeling proud of them for their achievement.

The students said: We were really surprised, but the hard work paid off in the end. And that was no lie.

The students worked very hard on their project, even coming into school during the recent snowfall to work on their project.

Young Scientists of the Year - 3rd Place for St Pauls Secondary School Monasterevin

The BT Young Scientist Exhibition is one of the most prestigious second-level competitions in the country. The St Pauls three were the first group in the schools history to place in the awards.

Group member Angelo recounted the atmosphere of the exhibition day: It was amazing seeing all the different projects from different schools. We just told ourselves that we were really lucky to get in in the first place and that wed be happy with whatever we come out of this exhibition.

The sustainable air purifier project has been in the works for some time now, with the group entering the project into SciFest and coming out with an Eir Grid Award before entering into the Young Scientist competition. The projects focus is around improving energy efficiency in air purifying systems.

Jack, who came up with the initial idea for the project, said: Most air purifiers around the world use high amounts of electricity to power the fan to actually clean the air.

The group wanted to tackle this problem, ensuring the delivery of clean air in a sustainable way.

Congratulations to the St Pauls group  very bright futures lie ahead for sure.
A married father-of-six who was convicted of assaulting his wife and making a threat to kill her and of two counts of theft was handed down a nine-month suspended sentence at Kilkenny District Court.



The man cannot be named in this report to protect the identity of his children.

The court previously heard evidence from the mans wife at the time of the incidents she had been married to the defendant for 27 years and they had six children. The woman had a safety order in place until June 2022. Things were fine for a few weeks after it expired then things got much worse. The couple was separated but living in the same house and they were on speaking terms.

The first incident occurred on August 16, 2022. During the day her husband rang her numerous times while she was at work. She also received a lot of text messages. He was upset over something he wanted to find out but that she could not tell him, the woman said.

She arrived home at about 7.30pm and her husband was asleep on the couch. That evening their then 13-year-old son went to bed at about 11.30pm. The defendant was questioning the woman and she had her phone, so started recording.

The man had a drink and approached her. She said she didnt really know what he was talking about. The woman said she didnt know the quantity of alcohol her husband drank but he would drink most evenings.

The man asked his wife where one of their older sons was and she could not tell him because the son had moved away and did not want her to share the location. The man then mentioned the 13-year-old son and said if anything happened to him he would kill her and do time for her.

The woman said her husband would not say what he was talking about but she took it to mean he would be happy to go to jail if he killed her. The mans demeanour was very calm, the woman said. She felt shocked because he had never said anything like that to her before.

The second incident related to the theft of a folder containing documents on a date unknown between November 21 and 26, 2022.

At last Tuesdays sitting of Kilkenny District Court a probation report was before the court. Solicitor Michael Lanigan also said that his client had attended Ardu and had last had a drink at a social function the previous Friday.

It is really unusual that this type of event occurs and two years later they are still living together, he said adding that they speak about making a new life in another jurisdiction.

The French have a word for it, amour fou, he added.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said that she was taking into account the family dynamics, his efforts in going to Ardu and that the last time he had consumed alcohol was with his wife in a social setting.

The judge imposed a nine-month sentence which she suspended for 18 months on condition that the defendant be of good behaviour, not re-offend, be of sober habits and comply with any court orders. The remaining three matters before the court were taken into consideration.
Very few people have ever had the opportunity to sit in "Margaret's chair" in Ballyragget.

I am referring to the stone seat, still intact, on top of Ballyragget Castle which affords the best views of the town named after the family who owned the land around it for generations, the Raggets.

It is hard to believe that this forgotten gem was absolutely central to the defence of Kilkenny in the 16th and 17th centuries and has been the backdrop for incredible events and the scene of much bloodshed and bitterness.

During the late 16th century and all through the 17th and 18th century it played a huge role in the military and political life of the county and the region, being the main defensive structure and fortified keep to the north of Kilkenny Castle. It also became a prized possession for the English, the Irish and the various squabbling branches of the Ormonde dynasty.

We know this and much more from the seminal work on the castle by Enda Houlihan through his thesis for his Bachelor of Education degree. It should be compulsive reading for anyone with a smidgeon of interest in their local place.

Back to the Chair.

It is also known as the Wishing Chair and the older people in Ballyragget believed that if you sat in the chair your wish would be granted.

It is also said but not recorded anywhere in print, that Lady Margaret Butler who was one of the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare, would sit here and look out at the lands and that on occasion, servants, or others who did her a disservice would be hung from the castle.

The same story is told about another of her favourite haunts, Grannagh Castle while there is also a Margaret's chair at Clomantagh Castle, outside Freshford.

And just to demonstrate how important Ballyragget Castle was, a number of castles which were built later in the 16th century were modeled on it, including Tybroughney Castle, Piltown.

A very unsavoury character who held the castle was one of Cromwell's most deprived officers, Col Daniel Axtell who had one of the Butlers of the castle tortured and killed for not disclosing where the Mountgarret treasure was buried. He hung Catholic and Protestant royalists on the Fair Green, Ballyragget while laughing on from the castle.

The same treatment is supposed to have pertained to another of Lady Margaret's castles at Grannagh, Kilmacow.

Lady Margaret and her fondness for Ballyragget gives the place an extra special significance and along with the curse on the Mountgarrets (that eventually came through in the late 18th century when they finally left the castle), the murderous goings on, the secret tunnel and the greatest collection of Whiteboys ever seen in Kilkenny, Ballyragget Castle with its four intact towers, one now used as a Marian shrine, should be celebrated and enjoyed by locals and visitors to marvel at its size and beauty.

In some ways it's similar to the French chateaus. Many of these have walled fortifications around which an urban centre grew much as it did in Ballyragget and didn't around others like Balleen Castle which was preferred by one of the Mountgarrets over Ballyragget.

While the castle features on the crest of the Ballyragget GAA club jerseys and the local girls primary school, none of the players or the students have, to my knowledge been inside the castle.

This is to be expected and the owners have done a great job in keeping it in good condition and for that and for much more they should be congratulated.

In other areas, these type of medieval castles have disappeared and many archaeologists and others would argue that we have too many castles and that it is difficult to know what to do with them all.

It is an excellent point and one which Kilkenny with over 200 medieval installations in varying degrees of upkeep will have to address sooner rather then later.

Yet Ballyragget Castle dominated the town and was responsible for its foundation.

And even though some would argue that the modern town turned its back on the castle, literally; it remains a sleeping giant, an untapped resource full of potential that should really be explored.

The castle itself is still imposing and Pat Moore's photo captures that very well.

And at dusk, the crows fly to and from it, like something straight out of a Disney film.

The castle which still has a roof and is intact if probably dangerous to explore and is also good reason to keep it closed. Wouldn't it make a great place to film Game Of Thrones.

Ballyragget Castle is basically 44 feet by 31 feet in size, according to the bible of Kilkenny archaeology and history, Canon Carrigan's opus on the Diocese of Ossory.

The walls are around seven and a half feet thick and all the doors, are of cut stone, probably limestone.

The main entrance-door on the east side is Gothic, in appearance and is close to the girls primary school.

It would be quite easy to make an entrance from the school side, making it accessible without too much hassle.

However, there is potentially, an even better entrance available if it was opened up.

This is where the owners have set beautiful alder trees along the avenue up to the Castle which is just about visible if you peek in through the corrugated iron gates, down from SuperValu.

Bishop Carrigan noted that two sets of corbels (a stone jutting out from a wall to carry a beam, a type of heavy duty bracket) in the same wall as the east entrance and other marks on the wall indicate a very large house or mansion now demolished that was built against it.

And this is in keeping with folklore which claimed a huge thatch house was situated next to it with one of its gables part of the Castle wall.

And it would seem that the lost house probably replaced the thatch house.

Down from the east side entrance is a cattle shed, still intact after hundreds of years and still being used and I for one think that is terrific.

What good are old buildings dotted around the countryside unless they are used. Otherwise they will fall down.

A few years before the end of the 16th century, the state room, where banquets were held, was remodeled and fitted up with a massive cut stone chimney piece, inscribed with the initials of Edmund, second viscount Mountgarrett and the date of the inscription;

According to the 2014 County Development Plan the Tower House at the castle is a listed building.

It is not a national monument according to the Office of Public Works (OPW) and that seems to be because it is in private ownership.

The four round towers that defend it are looped so as to command what is outside of the walls. The Keep is five stories high with the look-out turret that rises above the parapet in the north east corner of the keep.

During the half century that followed, Ballyragget Castle seems to have been abandoned, at least temporarily by the Mountgarrett family. And we know this because, Richard, the third Viscount was described in a contemporary document from that time, as residing in Balleen Castle in 1610.

In the year 1619, King James I constituted the place a manor, with a grant of two annual fairs, in favour of Richard third Viscount Mountgarrett, the proprietor of the estate.

The Ballyragget Convent School did a folklore project some years ago and came up with the following:

"There is a big stone chair in it and it is said if anyone wished while sitting in it they would get their wish.

It has a dungeon which stretches from it to the river," Maisie Baird told the project.

"The castle itself is fairly well preserved and seems to be withstanding the ravages of time well. As a matter of fact it provides no mean living accommodation for a workman, his wife and family. The upper storeys are not so safe but he first and second storeys are very stable and the present resident considers it a very safe abode. (J. Kelly, Ballyragget as part of the folklore project."

The Battle of Ballyragget took place in the shadow of the castle in 1775.

It was the largest assembly of Whiteboys ever in Kilkenny, 300 horsemen and 200 on foot.

Whiteboys were a secret agrarian organisation in the 18th-century which used violent tactics to defend tenant farmer land rights for subsistence farming.

They were led by a Moore man from Higginstown, Clara and the family are still there.

The castle and the surrounding stone walls support a wide variety of plants. Aubrietia, (an ornamental nonnative plant) is abundant, with ivy, maidenhair spleenwort, common polypody, white stonecrop, pellitory, germander speedwell and various mosses and lichens all frequent, according to a LAP Habitat Assessment by Mary Tubridy & Associates.

Elder and sycamore are also present, with dead lime trees along the southwestern wall. Alder have been planted on the avenue to the castle.

The castle provides suitable habitat for bat species, but no bat survey of the castle has been undertaken.

The castle also provides habitat for common birds, with jackdaw, blackbird, song thrush, robin, blue tit, house sparrow, chaffinch and swallow recorded in and around the castle grounds in 2010.

The stone wall surrounding the castle supports rich flora, including ivy and aubrieta. Dry meadow and grassy verge habitat is present around the grounds of the castle. Cocksfoot, nettle, cleaver, ribwort plantain, creeping buttercup and docks are abundant. Adjacent to the south wall of the castle grounds, there is a small area of scattered trees and parkland, with mature oak, beech and cherry. Shrubs include lilac, elder and ivy.

Ground flora features dandelion, lesser celandine, lesser periwinkle, violet, creeping cinquefoil, daisy and lordsandladies.

Borders with nonnative species of shrub have been planted nearer to the road.

Canon Carrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory; The Old Kilkenny Review article; Ballyragget and District by T Lyng; PM Egan's History of Kilkenny; Kilkenny county Council's Local Area Plans (LAP) for Ballyragget; Scoil Chiarain Naofa Primary School folklore school project; Lewis Topographical Dictionary (1837).

Enda Houlihan's work; Enda Houlihan B.A.: Ballyragget Castle, Co. Kilkenny. A history and comparative analysis.

The aim of the dissertation was to analyse Ballyragget castle, Co. Kilkenny and compare it on three levels to its baronial, and in turn its shire contemporaries in Co. Kilkenny.

The thrust of the dissertation came in three ways. The first was to attain an understanding of the castle's history throughout its perceived lifetime and assess its implicationsfor the castle's level of prestige within its barony and in turn the implications it had for the castle's importance to the Earldom of Ormond.

The second aim was to assess the geographical location of the castle, and in turn its strategic positioning, in terms of it being a castle structure but also in terms of it being a Butler fortress and military structure.

The third was to assess the castle's military and defensive strengths archaeologically and in turn compare this to the other premier castles in the castle's relevant barony, and in turn against others along the Kilkenny northern borderlands. In turn these three investigated areas, and their relevant conclusions, allowed Houlihan to draw a conclusion on the castle's standing as a formidable military structure and a acutely strategically sited building within the barony of Fassadinin.

We are indebted to Enda Houlihan for his work on Ballyragget Castle entitled, A History and Comparative analysis, which formed the basis for his Bachelor of Education thesis.

He argued that the Tower House of Ballyragget was not an addition but an original construction from the late 15th century when it became an important strategically because of the prevailing, fragile political situation between the Earls of Kildare and Pierse Ruadh Butler whose feisty wife was daughter of the Earl of Kildare. It created a prosperous town and more importantly from the Butlers point of view, gave them a military presence in a previously unmarshaled area and it also meant that the castle and the people who lived in and around it were firmly tied to the shire of Kilkenny.

It became the premier crossing point of the River Nore for the upper Nore valley.

The castle continued to be of military importance up until the 18th century, when the British army placed a garrison there during the 1798 rebellion in Wexford.

From the 16th century on, Ballyragget Castle gained in prestige, becoming the seat of residence of the Mountgarrets (a branch of the Ormonde family).

It became of huge military importance and Mountgarrets used it as a defence and to raid the adjoining MacGiollapadraig territory.

However, it became the base for revolt in the late 16th century when Edmund, the 2nd viscount Mountgarret decided to revolt against the crown and support the Ulster rebels. Ballyragget became a prized possession during the war that followed and was attacked and captured on three separate occasions. And it speaks volumes that it was used as a base by the Cromwellians, according to Enda Houlihan's seminal work on Ballyragget Castle: "It was a formidable and imposing structure, militarily and politically.
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
Nine men were found in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort in Wexford on Monday morning, 27th January 2025.

According to the Irish Independent, it is believed that the men had come from Somalia and were in the container for up to four days.

One of the men had to receive medical attention while the other eight men were in good health, Gardai said.

Six of the adult males have been refused leave to land in accordance with immigration legislation, Gardai said.

One adult male has claimed international protection and will now be processed by the International Protection Office (IPO), according to An Garda Siochana.

Two of the males are believed to be minors and are now in the care of Tusla, Gardai stated.

READ NEXT: Boy found unresponsive following e-scooter crash leaving him 'in critical condition'

Gardai attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all of the circumstances of this incident.

Anyone with any information in relation to this discovery is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11 or any Garda Station.
At lunchtime today, a school in Kerry saw over 200 pupils, along with their teachers, evacuated as a result of an electrical fire that broke out.

The fire alarm began to ring in Scoil Naisiunta an Chuileannaigh, which alerted staff to the incident.

Promptly, both students and staff removed themselves from the building, as part of the school's fire evacuation plan, and reached safety at a nearby astro-turf pitch on the grounds.

READ MORE: WATCH: Irish Coast Guard flies to the rescue as many still left stranded after Storm Eowyn

The electrical fire occurred due to an issue within a fuse box, located in the school. Thankfully, a staff member was able to extinguish the flames, just before the Killarney and Killorglin Fire Stations arrived to intervene.

Paudie Mangan, Station Officer of Killarney Fire and Rescue Service told Ireland Live, "It was a minor fire around lunchtime, it was an electrical fault in the fuse board of the school. The alarms went off and everybody was evacuated. There was no major fire, as such. The school is closed for this evening, until they get electricians, or somebody in, to get the school back up, and active again."

No injuries were reported, and also in attendance at the scene were members of the National Ambulance Service and An Garda Siochana.
Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly has been granted High Court permission to take legal action alleging the attendance of super junior ministers to Cabinet meetings is unconstitutional.

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted leave to the Kerry TD, meaning he can pursue his case after she was satisfied that he surmounted the relatively low bar of showing that he had an arguable case and that it had a prospect of success.

Senior counsel Feichin McDonagh previously told the court that the application for leave to seek judicial review is over the appointment of super junior ministers who attended meetings of the Cabinet.

He told Justice Gearty that Mr Daly wants declarations that their attendance breaches the constitution.

Mr Daly points out that Article 28 of the Constitution of Ireland limits the number of government members to 15.

The super junior ministers appointed include Fine Gaels Hildegarde Naughton, as well as Independents Sean Canney and Noel Grealish.

Fianna Fails Mary Butler is also a minister of state attending Cabinet.

Mr McDonagh said the papers submitted to the court raise important issues.

Justice Gearty said that the bar for granting leave is relatively low and not insurmountable.

She said that the case is one that is arguable and has a prospect of success.

I think you have surmounted that obstacle and I grant you leave to seek relief, she told the High Court on Wednesday.

The case will come before the court next Tuesday, after the respondents, including the Taoiseach, the Government and the Attorney General have been notified.

Mr McDonagh said that the papers will be served at the Oireacthas on Wednesday.

He also told the court that he will write individually to each super junior minister to ask if they want to join as a notice party or be joined to the respondents.

Speaking outside the High Court in Dublin, Mr Daly said: First of all I would like to thank Judge Gearty for taking the case, and hearing it so soon.

Im glad that she got to hear the arguments we had to make and she has granted us leave to take the case to the next stage.

Over the last 15 to 20 years, there has been an increase in the number of super junior ministers appointed and if you listen to the comments that were made by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the weekend, these super junior ministers have full access to Cabinet papers and to memos and treated equally at Government talks.

So it is the view of an increasing number of people that this may be contrary to certain sections of the Articles of the Constitution.

I hope that the case proceed along with the same speed as has been shown to it to date.

There are three separate headings in the pleadings, including the number of people attending Cabinet meetings.

He said there is an issue of cabinet confidentiality as well as an issue of expenses and allowances paid to super junior ministers.

Asked if Mr Varadkars comments will bolster his case, Mr Daly said: I dont think they were unhelpful.

Mr Daly also said it will be interesting to see the arguments put forward by the Government about the practice of super junior ministers attending Cabinet meetings.
Gardai came to the rescue of an American tourist who lost her drivers license during a trip to Kerry.

The license had thankfully been dropped into Killarney Garda Station where it was safely returned to Ohio woman Caroline.

In a hilarious letter from gardai which accompanied the returned drivers licence, Sergeant Joseph Sullivan wrote: "I hope you had a wild and enjoyable time here in Ireland. Please feel free to visit us again any time and next time don't drink so much Guinness and lose your driving license."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by An Garda Siochana (@gardainsta)

In the post shared on Instagram, gardai commented: "This is important: we do not tolerate any references to 'splitting the G.'"

Tourists Caroline and Rachel had visited Ireland together and posted videos of their trip on TikTok to the attention of the gardai, who noted they had shared plenty of "wonderful snaps and pints."

READ NEXT: 2025 Garda recruitment campaign launched with 5,000 new gardai to be recruited over 5 years

One person commented on the post to say: "Pure class, Im so proud to be Irish!"

Another shared: "Your sense of humour is surely enough to prompt a return visit!"
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a nuclear-material production base and a nuclear weapons institute, emphasizing that strengthening his country's nuclear shield was "indispensable" amid a long-term confrontation with "the most vicious hostile countries."

Kim made the remarks during his inspection of the production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute, where he reviewed the core processes for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and learned about the present production status, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Wednesday, without specifying the date.

North Korea's security situation, in which "a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable," makes it "indispensable" for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield to cope with existing and new security dangers and to guarantee its sovereignty, interests and development right, the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

The external situation facing North Korea "remains grave and the challenges of the hostile forces are becoming ever more pronounced," he said, adding that nuclear weapons stockpiling and its increase by geometrical progression provide an absolute force capable of thoroughly containing North Korea's enemies.

The leader stated the country's nuclear technical forces are growing stronger day by day, affirming that "guaranteeing peace and security by dint of strength is our mode of struggle and option."

He also ordered the overfulfillment of the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and the strengthening of the country's nuclear shield.

The KCNA did not specify the nuclear-material production base Kim visited, but photos it published suggest it might be the same facility he inspected in September last year.

Reporting to the National Assembly last year, South Korea's spy agency said the facility was likely to be the Kangson nuclear complex near Pyongyang, which is one of the two known nuclear facilities operated by the reclusive state, along with the Yongbyon nuclear site.

Some observers also raise the possibility that the production base visited by Kim this time could be a different complex.

"It is possible to install a uranium enrichment facility within a short period, and the facility shown in the reported photo appears more outdated than the one revealed in September last year," Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, suggesting it may be Yongbyon or a different facility.

Kim's latest pledge for stronger nuclear capabilities, coming just days after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed an intent to reach out to him, suggests he may not reciprocate and instead continue with the current confrontational stance. (Yonhap)




U.S. President Donald Trump will pursue the "complete denuclearization of North Korea," a White House official said Tuesday, amid questions over whether Trump's recent reference to the North as a "nuclear power" signaled any policy shift.

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes made the remarks shortly after the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a nuclear-material production base and a nuclear weapons institute in an apparent move to highlight its military capability.

"President Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, just as he did in his first term," Hughes said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

"President Trump had a good relationship with Kim Jong-un, and his mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization," the official added.

Hughes appears to be referring to the agreement between Trump and Kim during their first summit in Singapore in 2018. Under it, the two sides agreed to work toward the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula and setting new bilateral relations.

Earlier in the day, a U.S. government official said that there has been no change yet in the United States' policy toward North Korea.

"There has not been any change of policy regarding the DPRK," the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Last week, Trump referred to the North as a nuclear power  a term that U.S. officials have mostly refrained from using as it could be regarded as U.S. recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also called the North a nuclear power during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.

Trump's "nuclear power" label for the recalcitrant regime gave rise to speculation that should Trump reengage with Kim, he could seek a deal that would curb the North's nuclear threats rather than pursuing the ultimate goal of the North's complete denuclearization. Hughes' remarks helped squelch that speculation.

In what could be a move to raise its leverage ahead of potential talks with the U.S., the KCNA reported that Kim visited the sites related to the North's nuclear program, where the leader called for "overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and strengthening the country's nuclear shield."

During a recent Fox News interview, Trump said he would reach out to Kim again, portraying him a "smart guy" and "not a religious zealot"  an expression that apparently indicates that the dynastic ruler is someone he could communicate with again for talks.

During his first term, Trump had three meetings with Kim  the first-ever summit in Singapore in June 2018, the Hanoi summit in February 2019 and the meeting in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. The U.S. and the North last held working-level nuclear talks in Stockholm in October 2019.

Some observers have said that Pyongyang's appetite for reengagement with Washington might have dwindled as it now relies on Russia for food, fuel, security assurances and other forms of support after its provision of munitions and troops to back Moscow's war in Ukraine. (Yonhap)
Experts warn profit-driven approach threatens academic diversity

By Jung Da-hyun

Korean universities are increasingly pursuing mergers and introducing vocational programs to address the growing crisis of the countrys low birthrate and declining enrollment, two key issues that are putting additional financial pressure on these educational institutions.

Experts agree that these changes are inevitable, but concerns are rising that the restructuring could undermine diversity and competitiveness in higher education. They caution that shifting the focus to universities as job training centers might limit the range of academic disciplines and weaken the overall educational environment.

According to the Korean Council for University Education, the number of university entrants is projected to fall from 440,000 in 2023 to just 260,000 by 2040. Since 2021, the number of university applicants has been falling short of university admissions quotas.

In addition to shrinking student numbers, universities outside the capital are finding it difficult to attract students due to the dominance of higher education institutions in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

As a survival strategy, many institutions are opting to merge.

Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University, both located in South Jeolla Province, submitted merger applications to the Ministry of Education last month. Through the merger, the universities aim to establish a medical school and an affiliated hospital  an ambition long pursued by the province located in southwestern Korea.

Kangwon National University and GangneungWonju National University, located in northeastern Korea's mountainous Gangwon Province, are currently in negotiations to merge by 2026. The combined institution aims to strengthen its role as a key educational force in the region by focusing on specialized academic disciplines across its campuses.

Chungbuk National University and the Korea National University of Transportation, located in North Chungcheong Province in central Korea, are also planning to merge by March 2027.

In South Chungcheong Province, Chungnam National University and Kongju National University signed a memorandum of understanding last month and are speeding up discussions on a potential merger.

The pushes for university mergers and specialization have gained momentum, particularly after the government introduced financial support for selected "glocal" universities.

The term "glocal," a blend of "global" and "local," highlights the importance of preserving regional identity while adapting to the wider process of globalization.

Starting in 2023, the Ministry of Education launched a policy allocating 100 billion won ($69.62 million) over five years to 30 selected universities outside of Seoul, with the goal of strengthening both the schools and their surrounding communities. This initiative represents the largest single-university subsidy in the ministrys financial support programs.

Universities selected for the program designate specialized fields of study and partner with leading companies in their respective geographic areas to boost the region's economic vitality.

Universities under scrutiny

Experts acknowledge that these changes are inevitable, but worry about a persistent issue in Koreas educational landscape: The growing perception of universities primarily as job training centers for students and tools for local governments to drive regional development, rather than as centers for knowledge, research and intellectual growth.

Park Joo-ho, a professor at Hanyang Universitys Department of Education, argued that the decline of universities outside the capital and their pursuit of mergers is a natural trend, with the education ministrys initiative only accelerating the process.

"With the demographic cliff and low birthrate leading to fewer students and less demand, theres little need for universities in nonmetropolitan areas," he said.

Experts were also skeptical of the government's goal to use these struggling universities to boost regional economies through mergers and the introduction of more vocational programs.

"The countrys development model is centered around industrial and economic concentration in the metropolitan areas, including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. In this context, its unrealistic to expect universities in non-metropolitan areas to alleviate this concentration."

Park also emphasized the importance of recognizing the impact of demographic changes on the size and scope of higher education.

"The structure of higher education was designed in the 1980s, when the population was growing," Park noted. "Now, compared to the current population, the structure of higher education is disproportionate."

He explained that the oversupply of higher education institutions has created a mismatch in the labor market.

"There are jobs that dont require a university education, yet even those positions attract university graduates," he said.

Song Ki-chang, chancellor of Sungsan Hyo University and honorary professor at Sookmyung Womens University, also recognized the inevitability of universities' decline due to low demand.

"Merging is a necessary survival strategy for local universities," he said.

Song also voiced concerns about its effect on the diversity and specialization of universities.

"When two universities merge, majors and departments deemed less competitive are often eliminated," he said. "While this may boost competitiveness, it could also eliminate departments essential for preserving diversity and continuity in education."

He also raised concerns about the emphasis on specialization, cautioning that if a particular field wanes, universities focused on that area could experience severe setbacks.

"Theres a growing tendency to view universities purely as practical tools for employment," Song said.

"The emphasis on universities collaborating with local governments and industries may ultimately hinder long-term national development."

The increasing demand for medical schools also reflects this situation, fueled by the widespread belief that gaining admission to a medical program guarantees a secure future.

Complicating the situation, the increase in the medical school quota in Korea is attracting top students away from other universities, especially those without medical programs. The fierce competition for limited spots encourages students to focus on pre-med coursework, often at the expense of other fields.

The number of applicants for regular admissions to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, as well as other leading science and technology institutes across the country, fell by 28 percent this year compared to the previous year.

In contrast, the number of applicants to 39 medical schools in Korea increased 29.9 percent year-on-year in 2024 to 10,519 applicants.

"While fields like the humanities may seem impractical in the short term, there has been little research or effort to explore how universities could contribute to future societal development within the educational community," Song said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to pursue a "next-generation" missile defense shield against threats of potential advanced foreign aerial attacks in a major security effort that also seeks to enhance defense of allied territories, troops and populations.

On Monday, Trump signed the order to build an "Iron Dome" for America, calling on the Pentagon chief to submit plans for the crafting of an advanced defense system within 60 days of the order's issuance, pointing to the threat of attacks by ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks.

Iron Dome is an Israeli air defense architecture intended to intercept hostile short-range rockets and artillery shells. But in this order, Trump appears to use the name in reference to a comprehensive missile defense system to defend the continental United States, its forward-deployed troops and allies.

"Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems and their own homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities," the White House said.

Under the order, the defense secretary should submit a series of plans, including those for the development and deployment of space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase interception, and of capabilities to defeat missile attacks in pre-launch and boost phases.

The boost phase is a segment of a ballistic missile flight trajectory during which the booster and sustainer engines run until it reaches top velocity.

Beyond homeland defense, the order reaffirms that the U.S. continues to cooperate on missile defense with its allies and partners to aid in the defense of allied populations and troops, and of forward-deployed U.S. troops, according to the White House.

It calls on the defense secretary to direct a review of missile defense posture and initiatives to identify ways in which the U.S., and its allies and partners can increase cooperation on missile defense technology development, capabilities and operations, the order showed.

It also calls for exploring ways to improve theater missile defense of forward-deployed U.S. troops and allied territories, troops and populations, and for increasing and accelerating the provision of U.S. missile defense capabilities to allies and partners.

Some observers raised the possibility that the U.S. government would consider deploying additional missile defense assets to South Korea, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, better known as THAAD.

The order came as South Korea and Japan face the growing need to beef up missile defense due to threats from North Korea, which has been doubling down on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs as seen in its relentless weapons tests, including that of a hypersonic missile. (Yonhap)




A pre-dawn stampede at the world's largest religious gathering killed at least 15 people in India Wednesday, with many more injured after a surging crowd spilled out of a police cordon and trampled bystanders.

Deadly crowd incidents are frequent occurrence at Indian religious festivals, including the Kumbh Mela, which attracts tens of millions of devotees every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj.

As pilgrims rushed to participate in a sacred day of ritual bathing, people sleeping and sitting on the ground near the rivers told AFP they were trampled by huge swells of devotees coming towards them in the darkness.

"I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward," Pilgrim Renu Devi, 48, told AFP.

"When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help."

Rescue teams carrying victims from the accident site weaved through piles of clothes, shoes and other discarded belongings.

Police were seen carrying stretchers bearing the bodies of victims draped with thick blankets.

"At least 15 people" were killed with dozens more injured, a doctor at a hospital tending to survivors told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to media.

Authorities have yet to officially confirm the number of dead in the stampede, which took place around 1:00 am (local time).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the accident was "extremely sad" and offered his "deepest condolences" to relatives of those killed.

"I wish for the speedy recovery of all injured," he added.

Dozens of relatives were anxiously waiting for news outside a large tent serving as a purpose-built hospital for the festival around one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the disaster site.

'Please cooperate'

The six-week Kumbh Mela is the single biggest milestone on the Hindu religious calendar.

Wednesday marks one of the holiest days in the festival, when saffron-clad holy men lead millions in a sin-cleansing ritual of bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

Instead, officials were strolling the festival with loudhailers pleading with pilgrims to keep away from the disaster site and bathe at other locations.

"We humbly request all devotees do not come to the main bathing spot," said one festival staffer, his voice crackling through his megaphone.

"Please cooperate with security personnel."

The Uttar Pradesh state government, responsible for staging the festival, said millions had already bathed in the waterways between midnight and the early morning.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told reporters that medical workers were treating those seriously injured in the crush, adding that the situation was "under control."

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the disaster on poor crowd management that prioritised the comfort of prominent pilgrims.

"Mismanagement and the administration's special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident," he wrote on social media.

'My family got scared'

Railway official Manish Kumar said numerous special train services scheduled to transport pilgrims had been halted due to massive crowding at Prayagraj.

Some devotees decided to make an early exit from the city.

"I heard the news and saw the bathing site," attendee Sanjay Nishad told AFP.

"My family got scared, so we're leaving." The Kumbh Mela is rooted in Hindu mythology, a battle between deities and demons for control of a pitcher containing the nectar of immortality.

Organisers have likened the scale of this year's festival to that of a temporary country, forecasting up to 400 million pilgrims would visit before the final day on Feb. 26.

Mindful of the risk of deadly crowd accidents, police this year installed hundreds of cameras at the festival site and on roads leading to the sprawling encampment, mounted on poles and a fleet of overhead drones.

The surveillance network is fed into a sophisticated command and control centre that is meant to alert staff if sections of the crowd get so concentrated that they pose a safety threat.

More than 400 people died after they were trampled or drowned at the Kumbh Mela on a single day of the festival in 1954, one of the largest tolls in a crowd-related disaster globally.

Another 36 people were crushed to death in 2013, the last time the festival was staged in the northern city of Prayagraj. (AFP)
Tom Tuite

A man charged with attacking a woman on a bus in Dublin was identified through RTE's Crimecall programme, a court has heard.

The alleged incident in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29th, 2024, featured in a public appeal for assistance last week.

Martin Ball, 36, of Gleann na hEorna, Springfield, Tallaght, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

He was granted bail with a condition not to travel on a specific bus route.

Mr Ball is charged with assault causing harm to a woman at Grange Road, Rathfarnham, D14, on May 29th last year.

Court presenter Garda Sergeant Bryan Duff furnished a certificate outlining the evidence of arrest, charge, and caution.

The sergeant said that due to the nature of the case, directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions needed to be obtained.

Dressed in a black coat, blue jeans, black runners and cream jumper, Mr Ball did not address the court and has yet to indicate a plea.

There was no objection to bail with conditions, most of which had been flagged to defence counsel Fergal McMorrow.

No evidence about the alleged assault was given during the brief hearing.

Judge Murphy ordered Mr Ball to have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured party or any witness, reside at his current address, sign on three days a week at his local Garda station and stay off the S8 Go Ahead bus which the court was told goes through Rathfarnham to Cabinteely.

Mr McMorrow argued that the signing-on condition was "a little onerous" for his client, who worked full-time and had no prior convictions. The defence was agreeable to all the other terms.

The court sergeant asked it to be part of the bail due to the nature of the charge, and he added that the accused had been identified through Crimecall.

Judge Murphy said that because of the lengths gardai had to go to locate him, she was leaving the requirement for Mr Ball to sign on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, she added that the issue could revisited.

The accused was remanded on his bond of 300 to appear again on March 12th for the DPP's direction to be conveyed. Judge Murphy held that he was a suitable candidate for free legal aid, which was granted.
A PROBATION report has been ordered on a Mountmellick man who has been warned he could be facing a six-year prison sentence after drugs were found near his home while it was being searched for fireworks by gardai over three years ago.

Tony Cawley (33) of Derrycloney, Mountmellick pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act on 12 October 2021.

At a sentencing hearing at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Cathal Burke gave evidence that a search was carried out at Mr Cawleys home on that date for suspected unlicensed fireworks.

During the search, gardai became suspicious about a ladder against a wall at the back of the house as there were markings which suggested someone had climbed over the wall.

Garda Burke said a quantity of cocaine and cannabis worth a total of 13,724 was found in plastic on the other side of the perimeter of the property.

He told counsel for the DPP, Will Fennelly BL, that several items, including a deal bag and digital scales, were discovered in a subsequent search of a garage, while a total of 11,500 in cash was found in various parts of the property.

When arrested, Garda Burke claimed Mr Cawley had stated he had no clue where the drugs came from.

However, the witness said approximately 20 messages on a mobile phone belonging to the accused specifically related to the sale of drugs.

The court heard that a jury had been empanelled after Mr Cawley had originally pleaded not guilty to a number of charges but that the defendant was later rearraigned and pleaded guilty to the single charge before the hearing.

Garda Burke also confirmed that Mr Cawley  a married father of three who works as a delivery driver  had nine previous convictions.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Marc Thompson BL, Garda Burke agreed that the accused had not been aggressive to gardai and had not obstructed them during the search.

The witness also accepted that Mr Cawley was remorseful.

In a letter of apology to the court, Mr Cawley stated that he was very sorry for putting myself into this situation and that he should never have got involved with drugs, which arose after he had got mixed up with bad company.

Commenting on his three young children, Mr Cawley wrote: Theyre my life. I would do everything to get another chance. Mr Thompson pointed out that the accused was also drug-free for the past three years.

Although the barrister stressed that his client was not trying to buy his way out of custody, he suggested Mr Cawley could pay a sum of 5,000 to 10,000 in compensation.

Pleading for leniency, he argued that the defendant was no mastermind and not an intellectual powerhouse but realised he was on the cusp of going to the Midlands Prison.

Asked by Judge Keenan Johnson about the large quantity of cash found in the accuseds house, Mr Thompson said his client was a settled Traveller who was suspicious of banks.

The judge indicated he might impose a six-year sentence on the accused as he observed that Mr Cawley had a huge level of culpability.

However, he adjourned finalisation of sentencing in the case until 28 February to allow for preparation of a probation report and more concrete proposals for the payment of compensation.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

McConnell has in turn said Trump was "practically and morally responsible" for the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He has blamed Trump for the GOP's poor 2020 and 2022 election results. And he has called Trump a "despicable human being," a "narcissist," "stupid" and "ill-tempered," according to a recently released biography.

On Friday came confirmation that this very same McConnell could prove to be a creaky fulcrum for much of Trump's second-term agenda - if he chooses to go that route.

McConnell has the potential to play the role of disrupter in a largely fawning GOP Senate because he is no longer its leader, tasked with keeping the GOP together and protecting the Republican majority. He is now just one of 100 senators, and as such, he can choose to exercise a different kind of power - that of thorn in Trump's side, if he opts to - and have an outsize impact on the president's appointments and agenda. Then again, McConnell may over time bow to party unity and the political winds of the day, as he has before.

McConnell's decision to buck one of Trump's Cabinet appointments on Friday thickened one of the most intriguing subplots of the next two years.

McConnell's vote against Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was the most surprising of the day. McConnell was one of three Republicans to vote with all Democrats against the former Fox News host. The others were the usual suspects: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), both moderates who had voted against Trump nominees before.

That effectively put McConnell smack in the middle of the Senate, which is seemingly where he could be on plenty of things. McConnell has signaled a desire to reorient his party with the Reaganesque, hawkish Republican values that have been on the decline in the Trump era. He has also signaled at least some potential resistance to other Trump nominees, including director of national intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services secretary pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

At the same time, McConnell's opposition to Hegseth was a somewhat familiar story. His vote was startling but relatively meaningless, practically speaking - much like his Jan. 6 comments in that neither of those things managed to turn the wheel and achieve a measurably damaging outcome for Trump. The Senate vote on Hegseth was tied, 50-50, and that meant Vice President JD Vance cast a predictable tiebreaking vote to confirm Hegseth.

But McConnell still chose to lodge his protest vote, even as it was clear Hegseth was about to be confirmed. (Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the GOP's other holdout, had publicly signaled his support when the vote began, erasing any real drama from the proceedings.)

How to read that?

There are plenty of Trump (and McConnell) critics who will view the vote as thin gruel. And they have their reasons.

When the rubber has met the road, McConnell has regularly been there for Trump. Despite his comments about Trump's culpability for Jan. 6, the then-GOP Senate leader gave Trump a pass in his impeachment trial, when he could have marshaled support for banning Trump from office. And McConnell even endorsed Trump for president last year - after everything in the first two paragraphs above - when it became clear Trump would be the nominee.

Among the many Republicans who don't seem to have much regard for Trump but have responded to political pressure by enabling him in major ways, McConnell is at or near the top of the list.

But McConnell comes into Trump's second term with a different set of priorities. He's just a senator from Kentucky (with a significant subcommittee chairmanship). That means he could feel less pressure to reflect his conference and be consumed by its degree of power - his decades-long North Star. And assuming the 82-year-old McConnell doesn't seek reelection in 2026 when his term is up, it means he'll be less burdened by personal political considerations.

That's not to say he'll suddenly become unchained and take on the role of a John McCain or a Mitt Romney. Nobody should expect that. And while retiring GOP senators have often been Trump's biggest problems, he has a talent for making those critics' lives hell in ways that generally keep them in line.

But McConnell has repeatedly suggested his overriding desire now is to guide his party in a certain political direction that isn't just "more power."

McConnell has made clear on multiple occasions that his first priority is assuring that the party doesn't continue its descent into the kind of anti-interventionism and even isolationism that has taken hold in the MAGA movement, particularly with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"With the party Ronald Reagan once led so capably, it is increasingly fashionable to suggest that the sort of global leadership he modeled is no longer America's place," McConnell said last month. "But let's be absolutely clear: America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline. So how do we turn back this tide?"

In an interview with the Financial Times around the same time, McConnell explicitly promised he would push back on Trump.

"No matter who got elected president [in 2024], I think it was going to require significant pushback, yeah," McConnell said, "and I intend to be one of the pushers."

McConnell also wrote a nearly 5,000-word essay in Foreign Affairs in which he repeatedly cautioned Trump against pulling back from American leadership on the world stage.

In the near term, the question is whether McConnell might actually thwart something Trump wants - specifically, Gabbard's and/or Kennedy's nominations.

He has declined to back Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman in line with the more anti-interventionist foreign policy he has warned about. McConnell, a polio survivor, also issued a sharp statement last month about how vital the polio vaccine is, at a time when the media were reporting on Kennedy's skepticism of that vaccine.

But it's not just about McConnell's votes, which might or might not be sufficient to defeat these nominees or anything else; it's also about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering. This is a man, after all, who has few historical equals when it comes to working the levers of political power. He might be a diminished figure, given his reduced power and his health issues, but he could seemingly be a significant problem for Trump if he wanted to be - and if he decided there was something more important than party unity.

He doesn't seem to have thrown his weight around much to defeat Hegseth. But he at least sent something of a warning signal. Now, we watch and wait.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
The uniform patch for the U.S. Space Force is seen during a swearing-in ceremony of airmen in 2023 at Scott AFB. The Texas Space Commission has granted $20 million to the Borderplex Alliance, an El Paso economic development organization, for a new secure facility for Space Force in that border city. Scott Marion/Staff file photo Texas Space Commissioner Brad Morrison, left, confers with Executive Director Norman Garza Jr. during a meeting of the commission in July. The commission made its first round of grants to support aerospace in the state. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott visits NASAs Johnson Space Center in March to introduce the Texas Space Commission board of directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium executive committee. With him from left are Rep. Greg Bonnen, Speaker Dade Phelan and, at his right, NASAs Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. The consortium came to San Antonio for its first-ever workshop on how it should invest in the states space industry. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, left, Texas A&M Space Institute Director Nancy Currie-Gregg, center, and Texas Space Commission Chair Gwen Griffin testify during a hearing Tuesday of the House Appropriations Committee. Lesson Medrano Photography After his first meeting with the Texas Space Commission, Executive Director Norman Garza Jr. laughs with Nancy Currie-Gregg in the Greer Building on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

The first grants from the Texas Space Commission, which was founded last year to grow the states aerospace industry, will help build a new military facility in El Paso and pay for studies that could lead to new space launch facilities in West Texas.

The biggest chunk of the state funding  nearly $20 million  will go to El Paso economic development group the Borderplex Alliance for a U.S. Space Force facility to work with classified information.

Another $800,000 is going to El Paso County and $500,000 each to the Concho Valley Council of Governments in San Angelo and the South Plains Association of Governments in Lubbock to study the feasibility of establishing a West Texas spaceflight corridor and launch site.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

What were doing is, again, sending a signal to the rest of the world that (the states space business) is not just about Houston but rather the whole of the state, said Brad Morrison, a Boerne-area Air Force veteran and one of the commissions directors.

All told, the first round of grants amounted to $21.5 million of the $150 million in the commissions Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund grant program.

Since September, its received 284 grant requests from 140 entities seeking $3.46 billion  including pitches from San Antonios Southwest Research Institute, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Astroport Space Technologies, the privately held San Antonio space construction and materials company.

Chairwoman Gwen Griffin said the approved projects would begin to help the commission understand how various regions across Texas can engage with the states space economy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Space Force

Space Force  the military branch charged with protecting U.S. interests in space  has been growing its Texas presence, especially in El Paso, Morrison said. The growth there is due to the areas manufacturing base, University of Texas at El Paso programming, proximity to Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range and adjacency to other installations in Colorado and New Mexico.

They have to go to where talent is, he said. The University of Texas El Paso has got some pretty creative aerospace studies programs, a new generation of talent.

UTEP President Heather Wilson is a former secretary of the Air Force and holds board seats on both the Texas Space Commission and the Borderplex Alliance.

El Paso also has a very strong manufacturing sector, obviously tied across the border, Morrison said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The grant will help the Space Force build a so-called Secure Compartmentalized Information Facility for Space Systems Command to handle its classified work.

It sends a great signal to the Pentagon that Texas is open for space business from Houston to El Paso and everything in between, including San Antonio, Morrison said.

There has long been talk of landing a Space Force cyber unit in San Antonio, but those discussions are pending. The Air Force already has significant cyber operations in the city.

Space Force didnt respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Flight corridor

The commission also approved funds to evaluate a spaceflight corridor between Midland and El Paso, a step toward creating airspace thats officially approved for spacecraft to launch and land.

Morrison said the area being studied is along the Interstate 10 corridor from El Paso through Van Horn to Midland.

The idea is meant in part to spur discussions about new facilities for inland space operations. Its part of a larger conversation about increasing U.S. space launch capacity and creating redundancy beyond launch sites on the coasts.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its for national security, Morrison said.

Application materials for the grants suggested the ultimate goal is finding the best location for a launch facility. The commission didnt provide more details about the planned studies.

Its scheduled to review more grant applications at its meetings in February in Austin.

With governing rules in place, each board member is working through all of the compliant applications as quickly as possible, said commission Executive Director Norman Garza Jr. We know applicants are anxious to see the commission increase its cadence of awards.
ARE you or is someone you know struggling with alcohol? This is a subject broached by a Portlaoise based Alcoholics Anonymous support group.

If this does apply to you or someone belonging to you, you are invited to come along to an opening meeting this Friday, 31 January.

The meeting is being hosted by Portlaoise First Things First Group of Alcoholics Anonymous and will be held in Hollys Room, Clonminam Industrial Estate, R32 R624, in Portlaoise.

The group say Come along to see what supports are on offer. At this meeting is an information meeting called to inform the public what services are available. There will be speakers from AA and Al-Anon.

Portlaoise First Things First Group of Alcoholics Anonymous host weekly closed meetings which are welcome to attend.
Waiting for an emergency cesarean section, Consuelo Hermosillo sat in pain on a gurney in the hallway of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. At 23, Hermosillo was having her third child with her husband. But before she could be seen by the doctor, she was asked to sign papers consenting to sterilization.

You better sign those papers or your baby is going to die, a woman told her in Spanish, recalled Hermosillo, a native of Veracruz, Mexico. As soon as you sign, theyll take you in.

Hermosillo didnt want to sign. She was too young and wanted to speak with her husband first. Leaving the hospital, however, she carried the last child she would ever be able to conceive.

Advertisement

I dont remember signing the consent form, said Hermosillo, now 66. They decided for me.

INDIE FOCUS: Sign up for Mark Olsens newsletter about film

In 1975 she was one of about 10 women who filed Madrigal vs. Quilligan, a class-action lawsuit against L.A. County doctors, the state and the federal government for sterilizing them without consent. They hoped that the case would prevent the same from happening to other women. They lost in court, but 40 years later, in the documentary No Mas Bebes (No More Babies) premiering Sunday at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the women revisit their landmark legal battle.

Advertisement

Throughout the 1900s, thousands of poor women in at least 30 states were unknowingly sterilized after giving birth as part of a federally funded program aimed at population control. In California, which accounted for a third of the sterilizations, many of these women were Spanish-speaking immigrants. Before they could enter the delivery room, they were forced to sign papers, written in English, consenting to the cutting of their fallopian tubes. Most did not know they were unable to bear children until many years later.

When director Renee Tajima-Pena first heard the story, she was appalled. Aware of the sterilization of women in Puerto Rico, as chronicled in the 1982 documentary La Operacion, she never thought that it would have happened in this country, let alone so close to her childhood home in Los Angeles.

Tajima-Pena said she makes films when something makes her mad. And this really made her mad.

Advertisement

I thought that these mothers had a right to be heard, she said.

The director learned of Madrigal vs. Quilligan, one of the first cases in which women used the Roe vs. Wade precedent to support their right to bear children, from her neighbor Virginia Espino, and an elementary school teacher turned historian whose dissertation at Arizona State University centered on the outrageous and absurd victimization of these and countless other women.

No Mas Bebes is the realization of her goal as a historian to bring traditional academic history to wider, more public audiences, she said.

But putting the documentary together  a six-year process  wasnt easy. Not only was the pair using old court documents to attempt to find the women, but many of the mothers preferred to forget what had happened to them.

We were bringing up this history that they had not shared even with their own children, Espino said. It took several years building trust and convincing them that what we were doing was an important part of that same struggle they had started with their lawsuit.

The documentary features interviews with five of the original complainants; their lawyer, Antonia Hernandez; and Dr. Bernard Rosenfeld, who as a medical student in residence at County-USC shared the confidential hospital records with Hernandez. Four of the defendant doctors also are interviewed.

Espino and Tajima-Pena hope the film encourages people to evaluate reproductive rights through a new lens.

Advertisement

All the gains weve made since the 1970s, we seem to be losing, Tajima-Pena said. Whats interesting about these women is they were talking about the right to bear a child in a way nobody was thinking about in the last 40 years.

As reproductive rights policies once again become hot topics of debate, she offers a reminder that on the other end of all policy is a person.

Hermosillo was once one of those people, on the end of a policy that she said took away her control of her body. Although public pressure from her case prompted the federal government to make consent forms in Spanish and English and propelled the state to mandate bilingual counselors at county hospitals, since she walked out of the courthouse in 1978 on the losing end, Hermosillo had kept to herself the secret of her sterilization.

When she brings her family to the premiere, she will keep in mind the words of her son after he learned her story in a Chicano studies class at Santa Barbara College: Dont let go of something that you should have the world know what happened.

-----------------------

No Mas Bebes

Where: Regal Cinemas L.A. Live, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles

When: 2:15 p.m. Sunday and 6:10 p.m. Tuesday

Tickets: $15

Info: https://www.lafilmfest.com
On 28 January Mexicos Presidentrejected calls that she should sack Sinaloa governor, like her, a member of the ruling left-wing Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional (Morena).

End of preview - This article contains approximately 382 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 28 January the centre-left Partido Liberal (PL) announced its withdrawal from the legislative coalition of Colombias President, citing concern over his recent row with US Presidentand the governments handling of escalating violence in the north-eastern Catatumbo region.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 596 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
The faculty at Lafayette College has approved a no confidence vote against the college president.

The vote at a faculty meeting Tuesday night passed 102-86 with six abstentions, according to an email from Lafayette sociology professor Caroline Lee. She was one of 10 professors who signed a letter in January calling for the vote against President Nicole Hurd.

It doesnt feel like a win when its something so serious for the organization, Lee said in her email, adding, Lafayette is an outstanding and really special institution. ... . We deserve excellent leadership.

The faculty blames Hurd for a high turnover among administrators, for not taking their input seriously on the colleges strategic plan and for failing to listen to faculty concerns. They circulated a lengthy motion outlining more specific concerns.

College spokesman Scott Morse said President Hurd has always valued constructive dialogue with faculty and staff in all departments.

She acknowledges the vote and pledges to continue working closely with the faculty to advance the academic mission of the college, Morse said in an email Tuesday.

Lee said the faculty vote constitutes a call to the college board of trustees to address our leadership crisis.

Its not our job to decide the next step, but I hope that we have a quick resolution and can get back to moving forward at this incredible institution, Lee said.

Morse said the college anticipates a statement from the board of trustees later this week.

The college in Easton received 10,528 applications for the fall 2025 semester, the largest admission applicant pool in the colleges history, Morse said.

Lafayette College is fortunate to have faculty and staff who care deeply about the institution and its future success. The college is in an incredibly strong position, Morse said.

Hurd was appointed president in 2021.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Outdoor enthusiasts will be unable to use many of the forests in Laois for some time as Coillte continues to assess the damage caused by Storm Eowyn.

Coillte says it has yet to discover the full extent of the damage caused to its forests by Storm Eowyn, but early indications suggest it is extensive.

The State agency manages forests across Laois including some of the most scenic sites in the county. As a result of the damage caused by Storm Eowyn, Coillte has now asked people not to enter its forests.

As a result, people are being asked not to use scenic walks such as those at Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms, around Emo Court, Durrow, Oughaval in Stradbally, Garryhinch and Carrick Woods in Portarlington and Lacka in Mountrath. They are also being advised to stay off mountain biking and walking trails between Laois and Offaly.

At this stage we do not know the full extent of the damage caused by Storm Eowyn to our forest estate. However, early indications are that it is extensive. Our priority at this time is to support the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, power companies and local communities, by clearing individual trees to open road access and helping them to restore power and services to homes and farms as quickly as possible, a Coillte Spokesperson said.

They explained that Coilltes staff and contractors are working hard in hazardous conditions to deal with any damage caused as quickly as possible. We thank our neighbours and stakeholders for their patience and for highlighting any damage and as we clear the most urgent areas as a priority.

With regard to damage to our own forest estate, we do not have specific details at this time. Once weve dealt with the priority of tree clearance, our focus will turn to mapping and estimating the extent of damage across our forest estate.

Coillte has asked members of the public to not enter forests in the following counties: Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath until further notice.

As we endeavour to clear areas impacted by storm damage as quickly as possible, safety is our absolute priority. Hazards arising from storm damage may not be visible. Coillte is asking members of the public not to enter forests where there is clear storm damage or where there are clearance operations underway, the Spokesperson stated.

Meanwhile, Waterways Ireland is advising the public that all navigations have been significantly impacted by Storm Eowyn, resulting in restricted access to towpaths, greenways, blueways and navigation.

Waterways Ireland said that while substantial branch and storm debris have already been cleared the inspection, assessment and clean-up efforts are ongoing and will continue for some time.

Extensive numbers of trees have fallen in the following locations: Royal Canal and Royal Canal Greenway from Clondra to Ferns Lock Barrow Blueway from Lowtown to Athy. Barrow Way from Athy to St Mullins. Grand Canal and Grand Canal Greenway from Rahan to Lowtown. Movanagher Canal on the Lower Bann These sections of navigation and Greenway / Blueway are closed until further notice, Waterways Ireland said in a marine notice.

Waterways Ireland is advising people to report damage. Anyone who notices damage impacting Waterways Ireland property can report it by calling 01 2248204.

Waterways Ireland said this includes downed trees blocking towpaths or any damage to navigational markers. It said reports of damage to vessels have been received, owners and masters are advised to check their vessels at the earliest opportunity.

Waterways Ireland and the Local Authorities are working to remove the fallen trees.
Laois will have no Ministerial voice in the Government for the foreseeable future with confirmation that Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming has been dropped from the as Minister of State.

After serving in two high-profile Departments for the last five years, Michael Martin has decided not to reappoint Sean Fleming as a junior minister.

The only other hope for Laois was Fine Gael poll-topper Willie Aird who was not tipped for a job as he is a first-time TD. There is no Minister either for Offaly which has traditionally been linked politically with Laois.

Announcing the team Mr Martin said: "We are very conscious of the work ahead and I have every confidence in our team of Ministers from across the two government parties and independents.''

The Midlands has two representatives on the junior Minister selection both from the Longford Westmeath five-seat constituency. They are Kevin Boxer Moran and Robert Troy. Minister Troy, who had to resign from the last Government, is Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance. It's the same job as Dep Fleming had when he was appointed in 2020.

The only senior Minister from the midlands is Peter Burke who is also Longford Westmeath TD for Fine Gael.

The closest connection to Laois on the record number or 23 ministries is Carlow Kilkenny TD Jennifer Murnane OConnor who lives on the Carlow side of Graiguecullen. The Fianna Fail TD will be a Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy

There is sure to be disappointment in the Fleming camp who, after more than two decades in government and opposition, was appointed as Minister of State by Micheal Martin in July 2020 after his Laois Offaly colleague Barry Cowen was sacked from Cabinet as Minister for Agriculture in a drink-driving controversy.

In December 2022, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora in the ministerial reshuffle that followed the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach.

The Laois man was one of two Laois Offaly Ministers of State in the last Government. Former Green Party senator was attached to the Department of Agriculture but was given super junior status meaning she could sit at the cabinet table.

Dep Fleming, a former county councillor, was first elected to the Dail in 1997 in the Laois Offaly constituency and retained his seat at every subsequent general election.

He topped the poll in the 2016 race when Laois was first a three-seat constituency. He came in second behind Fine Gael TD Willie Aird in the reformed Laois three-seat constituency in the 2024 General Election.

In Ireland, a Minister of State in Ireland, also called a junior minister, is of non-cabinet rank attached to one or more Goverment Departments who is appointed to assist the Minister of the Government responsible for that Department.

See the full list of junior minister appointments below picture:

Thomas Byrne TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs and at the Department of Defence

Michael Moynihan TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion

Charlie McConalogue TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy

Kevin Boxer Moran TD IND: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works

Emer Higgins TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment

Jennifer Murnane OConnor TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy

Michael Healy-Rae TD IND: Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture

Neale Richmond TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora

Jerry Buttimer TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, with special responsibility for Community Development, Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport

John Cummins TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning

Christopher OSullivan TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity

Kieran ODonnell TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Older People and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Housing

Robert Troy TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance

Niall Collins TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice

Niamh Smyth TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation

Alan Dillon TD FG: Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Small Businesses and Retail and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Circular Economy

The Government noted the intention, subject to the necessary amendments being made to the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 to nominate the following persons to be appointed as Ministers of State:

Timmy Dooley TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Fisheries and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for the Marine

Colm Brophy TD FF: Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for Migration

Marian Harkin TD IND: Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with special responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills
The Rock of Dunamase fortress ruins in Laois should be lit up at night for all to admire, a Portlaoise councillor has suggested.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan believes "we are missing a trick here" in promoting the county's most prominent tourist attraction, sited off the Portlaoise to Stradbally road.

He want the Office of Public Works to pay for the lights.

"They will benefit the aesthetics as well as safety at the Rock of Dunamase at night," Cllr Mulligan said, tabling a motion on it to the January 2025 meeting of Laois County Council.

"This is one of our main tourist attractions. The fortress is 1,100 years old, the castle is 800 years old. We should promote it as best we can by illuminating it at night.

"You see it with other historical monuments, if we could get it done it would be a huge addition to tourism in Laois. Different light displays could be done on special occasions like St Patrick's Day and the winter and summer solstices," he said.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy seconded the motion.

"It's probably one of our strongest tourist attractions. We are putting in a new carpark, maybe it could be done in conjunction with that. Residents are at their wits end, we need to have that parking in place if we are trying to encourage visitors," he said.

"If it was in Kerry they'd have a halo over it," quipped Cllr Barry Walsh.

The Director of Services Simon Walton said that the existing upgrade budget does not include the lighting.

"A separate budget would have to be provided. We'll be in close contact with the OPW and Failte Ireland until we have the funding under the EU Just Transition for the carpark. It's a sensitive site, with delicate archeological issues. We are meeting the OPW on Friday about the progress of the project. I can bring this to their attention and then update members," the council director said.
Into Kildare and Solas Bhride are once again coming together to ask people across the globe to pause for a minute of silence and reflection at midday on February 1 st , St. Brigids day.

Into Kildare is the official tourism body for County Kildare, offering a gateway to the heart of the Emerald Isle. Together with Failte Ireland and their many members, they are responsible for the promotion of all things happening in Kildare, including the Pause for Peace.

The initiative was first launched in 2023 alongside the beginning of a new national holiday, honouring Irelands only female patron saint. The purpose of the pause is to offer a collective stance against warfare and the use of arms worldwide.

READ MORE: Kildare judge criticises the premiums demanded by car insurance companies

Kildare, and Ireland as a whole, will take part in this initiative that has received continuous growing support both domestically and internationally.

It has also enjoyed the support of the Kildare Local Authority, numerous Irish embassies and consulates, members of both Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann, as well as President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who, speaking on the Pause for Peace Movement said: Your efforts to bring together communities from across the globe in the name of Naomh

Brid (St. Brigid) is truly admirable. Mar Uachtaran na hEireann (President of Ireland) may I thank you for this initiative which constitutes a form of active global citizenship at its best.

Aine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare, said the new bank holiday is an opportunity for the Irish public to follow in the footsteps of St. Brigid, one of Ireland's three patron saints. "There is massive interest in Brigid from a cultural, spiritual, and historical point of view. She isnt solely a religious figure but is synonymous as a peacemaker and was in fact the first real climate activist as she was a protector and a custodian of the natural world," Mangan said in a statement.

For more information on the Pause for Peace initiative, you can visit:

www.solasbhride.ie

www.intokildare.ie
The RISE Community Fund has announced plans to award new cash grants to small businesses, farms, social enterprises, schools, charities and community groups in County Kildare, with funding available to those who can demonstrate innovative plans to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work and benefit the local community.

Supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Irish Governments National Broadband Plan, as well as other corporate partners including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies and TLI Group, the RISE Community Fund has travelled the breadth of the country in recent years to provide a cash injection for community organisations thinking creatively about how they can use technology.

READ MORE: Kildare Death Notices for today: Wednesday, January 29 2025

Previous grant recipients include farm owners who are using technologies to improve the productivity and environmental impact of their practice; community groups upskilling local residents in new technologies; schools introducing children to coding and cutting edge advancements; and small businesses using technology to grow their operations nationally and internationally.

David McCourt, Chairman of NBI and founder of RISE, said: At NBI weve always been clear that our mission is about more than bringing Netflix to rural Ireland; its about empowering communities to embrace new technologies with the foundation of world-class fibre broadband, which NBI is delivering at scale.

In partnership with RISE, were finding and rewarding entrepreneurial uses of technology, and weve already awarded over 130 cash grants across the country, including many great examples here in Kildare.

Applications for the cash grants open on February 3 and close on February 28 2025. Grants of up to 1000 will be available to successful applicants across the county.

The application process is incredibly quick and easy, and successful applicants will be notified in March, with money following in quick succession. We cant wait to see the entrepreneurial ideas from Kildare, added Mr McCourt.

With 12,800 premises in Kildare already able to order or pre-order a service on its network, NBI is reminding Kildare residents and businesses to visit their website at www.nbi.ie to order from their broadband provider of choice.

Read more about the RISE Community Fund and gain access to the grant application at www.riseglobalfoundation.com
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke TD recently announced Athy, Co. Kildare as one of five areas nationally to share in a 710,000 Dormant Accounts fund, to address the social determinants of Traveller health.

Kildare secured 142,000, the maximum allocation for this two year programme.

The successful application was made as part of the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme, through the Local Development Officer in Kildare County Council.

READ MORE: National Irish Steak Challenge comes to Kildare to tell you where to find the best steak

Athy is one of twenty Slaintecare Healthy Community Programmes, established throughout Ireland by the Department of Health, in areas with a higher population of Travellers compared to the rest of the country.

Slaintecare Healthy Communities Kildare, in collaboration with Kildare Traveller Action, HSE, County Kildare LEADER Partnership, KWETB and other organisations, will work together to recruit a dedicated Traveller Community Worker.

This Traveller Community Worker will deliver programmes based on Traveller mens interests, including the Engage National Mens Health Training Programme.

The funding will also support the establishment of an after-school programme for Travellers attending primary school and a support hub for secondary school students. Kildare Traveller Action will lead this project.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Burke said: As Minister of State in the Department of Health, I am delighted that this new funding contributes to the implementation of our National Traveller Health Action Plan. It also complements the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme which targets the most disadvantaged areas across the country.

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council highlighted the significance of this funding for Kildare: We are delighted to secure this funding to continue the very positive work that is taking place in Athy with Kildare Traveller Action. This funding will build on the work to increase opportunities for young Travellers to participate in increased educational supports after school and to engage more Traveller men in community development initiatives.

The Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Athy, as part of the work of Kildare LCDC, is very positively working to engage local people in determining how they can live healthier lifestyles and enabling those changes to occur. This funding recognises the work to date and provides additional required resources for Kildare.
A corporal in the Irish Defence Forces was involved in a money laundering operation that handled over 6.6 million worth of drug dealers cash, a court has heard.

Richard Kearney (36) of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an address in Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght on May 6, 2022. He has no previous convictions.

READ MORE KILDARE NEWS

The Defence Forces released a statement saying it unequivocally condemns any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to military regulations or that do not reflect its values.

A spokesperson added: "Any conviction in a civilian court has implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in military regulations.

"In this case, as a result of today's decision, the individual's Commanding Officer has initiated the proceedings for discharge, and this process is ongoing."

ALSO READ: Kildare Death Notices for January 29

At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Vincent Jaffray told Alison Fynes BL prosecuting that a phone seized during the search of Kearneys rented home at the time was analysed and found to contain communication with known drug dealers.

The garda said the conversations showed amounts of money, locations and dates and suggested that Kearney was responsible for laundering 6.6 million and 250,000 Stg between April 2021 and May 2022.

He said the search also uncovered 10,455 in cash, concealed in a bedframe and a further 15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer.

Kearney admitted during interview that he was the only person who lived in the flat and confirmed that it was his phone.

Gda Jaffray confirmed that analysis of Kearneys bank statements showed that Kearney had no legitimate way of making the amount of money which was found in his home.

Gda Jaffray agreed with Ciara Ni Ghabhann BL defending that Kearney caused no trouble during interview and answered all questions put to him.

He accepted that he is a corporal with the Irish Defence Forces and will now lose that job.

Ms Ni Ghabhann told Judge Martin Nolan that her client is a father of two children and acts as a parent to his partners four children.

She said he had risen to rank of corporal in the Irish Defence Forces and was involved in the equestrian school with the army. He travelled to the Olympics with an equestrian team where he acted as a groom.

Ms Ni Ghabhann said Kearney looked for a transfer in location in the army, which led to a drop in his wages and he struggled financially as a result.

She said around Christmas 2020 he was approached and offered what he thought was a friendly loan but he found himself in over his head.

Counsel said threats started to come in and Kearney had to get involved in the offence as a result.

Judge Nolan said gardai had certain beliefs which led them to embark on the search of Kearneys home adding their beliefs were justified.

He acknowledged that Kearney pleaded guilty to possession of the physical cash that was found during the search but said the full facts, as disclosed during the sentence hearing, detailed phone evidence which demonstrated that Kearney was involved in very substantial money laundering.

Judge Nolan accepted that Kearney has no record of conviction, has family responsibilities, is unlikely to come before the courts again and has many, many good points.

He noted the maximum penalty available to the court was 14 years and said given the seriousness of the offence a headline sentence of six years was appropriate.

Judge Nolan reduced the sentence to three years, having taken into account the various mitigating features of the case.
On Monday's episode of RTE Radio 1's Liveline, Katie Hannon spoke with Niall, a farmer from West Clare, who has been left devastated by the impact of Storm Eowyn.

Niall, a father of three, including a nine-month-old baby, lost power in the height of the Status Red wind warning. He told Katie Hannon, "We have no power, for what looks like to be the foreseeable."

Keeping calm and collected under the pressure, Niall's main focus are his cows, who are due for spring calving.

The farmer explained, "I use the synchronization programme, so I could have 40 calves by next Monday. I have a PTO generator, so, I'm probably in a fairly okay position on that end, but that won't run the cameras during the night, so pretty much, I'll probably just stay with them. It is what it is."

The ongoing issues are forcing the father to get creative.

With no water, he managed to get a well up and running, and while this water is fine for his animals, it is not safe for Niall's family, particularly for his baby, who needs clean water for his bottles and the sterilisation of them.

He told Liveline, "My child requires boiled water for his milk. We've purchased water now, and I have a gas barbecue, we're lucky that it was something we just had in our shed, it's got a ring so I'm able to boil water on that, and lucky enough again, we have a turf fire, so we're able to run heat."

The storm's destruction also took an emotional toll on the farmer.

READ MORE: Gardai make urgent witness appeal as man in 'critical condition' following serious crash

Niall revealed the heart-breaking loss of his trees, some of which he and his father planted together, saying, "I took a good walk through, for maybe about an hour, and I would say about a third of the trees are down, about 25 year old forestry, at least the third,"

The farmer continued, "Yeah, it's pretty much a mess there. That's as bad as anything to walk through, you know, you'd be hoping to see them mature in the next number of years. It wasn't nice."

Thankfully, Niall's family home was spared from any damage, though his farm and sheds weren't as lucky. Regardless of the damage, and loss of water and power, he is grateful the situation wasn't worse.

Niall shared, "I have the generator. The house is away from the farm too, so the house isn't hooked up to that generator, but I'm going to act on that now. Having known, from what I've seen, is that we're likely to be out for a number of days, so I'll get the house wired up that that generator, it can operate both.

"But again, that can't run all night. It'll be running off a tractor, you know, so it'll be just intermittent, but it gets us out of a bit of a hole," he added.

Through it all, Niall and his family aim to persevere, telling Katie, "We'll stay as positive as we can," demonstrating resilience in the aftermath of the record-breaking Storm Eowyn.
The aftermath of Storm Eowyn has left extensive damage across South Leitrim, with large sections of forestry complicating power restoration efforts. ESB has deployed helicopters to survey the destruction from above, as fallen trees have created near-impenetrable barriers to infrastructure on the ground.

Paddy ORourke, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, has described the scene as overwhelming. I can only imagine what it must have looked like from a low-flying helicopter yesterday, he said. Almost a kilometre of forestry is lying like a carpet over what used to be power lines.

The sheer scale of the damage has made it impossible for ground crews to assess certain areas, forcing ESB to rely on aerial surveillance to plan their next steps. Large portions of the affected regions contain a mixture of state-owned and privately owned forests, further complicating access for repair teams. The patchwork of ownership in these forested areas is a real challenge, ORourke explained. One section might belong to Coillte, while the next is privately held, and that slows everything down.

Despite the dramatic images captured from above, frustration remains high among rural residents who are still without power. Many argue that while helicopters provide a useful assessment tool, the real focus should be on getting boots on the ground to clear pathways and restore electricity.

The state needs to take control here, ORourke insisted. Regardless of ownership, there needs to be immediate action to allow ESB to enter these forests and carry out necessary repairs.

Jimmy Clancy, a native of Glenade in County Leitrim, worked with the ESB for 42 years and believes closer scrutiny of forestry regulations is needed to prevent future widespread power outages and property damage.

Theres not enough space between the trees, Clancy says, describing the dense forestry near power lines. All those trees need to be cut back. It has to be done nownot in ten years.

Clancy has witnessed multiple storms during his decades with the ESB, but he says the recent weather events have been unusually severe. According to him, two of the worst storms struck just months apart, causing extensive damage to sheds, cottages, and power lines in his local community.

While helicopters continue to provide aerial insights into the extent of the devastation, many question when real progress will be made in clearing the fallen trees and reconnecting isolated homes to the power grid.

In many cases, the necessary repairs to make those small connections work again is very minimal and would only require a small number of ESB personnel for a short period of time, ORourke stated.

Despite ongoing efforts by ESB and external crews from the UK. A team from Leicester recently arrived in the Carrigallen area, bringing some homes back online. However, many rural areas still await action, especially where heavy forestry has made access challenging. There needs to be a balanced approach, ORourke urged.
Communities across rural Leitrim are in an uproar as ESB continues to prioritize the restoration of main power lines, leaving countless smaller connections in limbo. Furious residents say theyve been left without electricity for days on end, with no clear indication of when the lights will finally come back on.

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Paddy ORourke, has launched a scathing critique of the utilitys strategy. The focus is entirely on the major power lines while small clusters of rural homes are left in the dark, he declared. Its completely unacceptable that people in isolated areas, particularly the elderly and those with health conditions, have been without power for so long. These people should not be an afterthought.

In many cases, the necessary repairs to make those small connections work again is very minimal and would only require a small number of ESB personnel for a short period of time, ORourke says. Im aware of one particular instance where a single wire snapped from a pole, and that one wire is denying four houses of electricity. Meanwhile, everyone above and below them on the line has power.

ORourke notes that many rural households, especially in areas like Cloone, Aughavas, and Corriga, remain completely in the dark. Residents in some townlands have been told they may not have power until February 2or even February 5causing growing alarm among farmers, business owners, and especially elderly people. These folks are sitting at home all day wrapped in blankets and hot water bottles, with no means to heat their houses properly, he says. Its absolute hardship.

In rural areas like Cloone and Aughavas, fallen trees and mangled poles add to the mounting frustration. ESB teams have resorted to aerial assessments to gauge the havoc, but progress remains painfully slow. In some cases, its impossible to even get near the damaged lines, but that doesnt mean those homes should be forgotten, ORourke insisted. We need a more balanced approach that doesnt just cater to the largest number of people first but also ensures that those most vulnerable are taken care of.

Outrage has peaked following warnings that some households might be stuck without power until early February. ORourke acknowledges the gruelling task that ESB workers face yet demands immediate change. We fully appreciate the work being done by the ESB crews, and we know theyre under enormous pressure. But there needs to be a fairer way of allocating resources. We cannot have people in remote areas waiting weeks for power while main line repairs are being prioritized at all costs.

As the storm recovery drags on, critics are ramping up calls for ESB to overhaul its entire response. No one should be left behind in this recovery, ORourke said. We need action, and we need it now.

READ MORE Seamus ORourke shines on The Tommy Tiernan Show

READ MORE Thousands without power in Leitrim as storm Eowyn strikes
Ryanair boss Michael OLeary claimed Rachel Reeves hasnt a clue about how to generate growth in aviation.

Mr OLeary said the Chancellor should scrap air passenger duty (APD) rather than waffle on about Heathrow expansion, which he described as a dead cat that would not happen before the 2040s at the earliest.

In her budget in October 2024, Ms Reeves announced increases in APD from the 2026/27 financial year.

For passengers travelling in economy on a short-haul flight, this will raise APD from 13 to 15.

At a press conference in London on Wednesday, Mr OLeary said: The UK continues to lose out on enormous growth opportunities because you have a Chancellor who hasnt a clue about how to deliver growth, has had five years to get ready for it, and yet has managed to screw it up in her first budget.

He added: Nothing is designed to damage growth faster than increasing taxes on air travel.

Mr OLeary described APD at 15 as insane as it represents a rate of tax of 33% on Ryanairs average ticket price.

Ms Reeves announced earlier on Wednesday that she is supporting a third runway being built at Heathrow, saying the Government is inviting the airport to bring forward proposals.

Mr OLeary said: The third runway at Heathrow is a dead cat.

If it ever arrives, it will be about 2040, 2045 or 2050, in fact long after Ive departed from Ryanair.

It will not deliver any growth.

The thing that will deliver growth is abolishing APD.

He went on: Heres the prize weve offered to Rachel Reeves.

We deliver about 60 million passengers a year to the UK.

Within five years, we could grow that by 50% to 90 million passengers, and all she has to do is abolish APD.

This would cost the Government 4 billion which would be paid back two-fold within 12 months because of growth in passengers, he said.
YOUNG people from Limerick launched a photography exhibition featuring images of one of Limericks oldest communities.

Limerick Youth Service (LYS) from the Kings Island area launched their My Island photography exhibition at the Education Unit of The Hunt Museum on Tuesday, January 21.

When we spoke with the young people about the photography project, they were keen to capture images of their lives and community, said Michelle Manning, Youth Justice Worker at LYS.

Many of the young people felt their community was portrayed negatively and they felt this did not represent their family and friends.

READ ALSO: Limerick selected as 'Twin City' in ambitious European NetZeroCities project

Under the tutelage of renowned photographer Stephen Lappin, the young people learned about the art of photography, from shades of lighting, framing and angles to using the technology.

Michelle was full of praise for the participants as she thanked them for giving up their free time to take part.

The young people are delighted with their photographs and they should be very proud of their achievements, she said.

The results of their endeavours are now proudly displayed in The Hunt Museum and will remain on show for the coming week with members of the public invited to visit the exhibition.

Michelle reserved a special word of thanks for Stephen Lappin, her colleagues with LYS Kings Island projects for their support and commitment throughout the programme and The Hunt Museum for hosting the exhibition.

The young people who took part in the My Island photography programme are members of the Kings Island hub of the LYS Youth Diversion Project and the Kings Island & Surrounds Youth Project, that are both located at Nicholas Street Youth Space.

The Youth Diversion Project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union with more information available at eufunds.ie

The Kings Island & Surrounds Youth Project is one of six UBU Your Place Your Space youth work projects with LYS.

LYS is a member of Youth Work Ireland and the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations and remains committed to connecting with young people and supporting them to reach their potential.
GARDAI are reminding students who drive to Limerick for college to park safe, legally and responsibly. Third level colleges across the country resumed this week and with that came an influx of students returning to Limerick.

"We want to firstly welcome back all the students studying in Limerick for another semester, we hope you're all safe and well," said the gardai in a post on Instagram.

READ MORE: Team Limerick Clean-Up releases new video and website to mark 10-year celebration

"Don't cause a road block or obstruction to others in the area to be able come and go, this can be frustrating for residents. Those parked in such a way will be issued with a Fixed Charge Notice (fine and penalty points on your licence) and in some cases we will have no alternative but to seize the car."

Garda Gavin Keegan, Henry Street and Andrea Latouche, Community Engagement Liaison Officer at the University of Limerick were out surveying the parking situation yesterday evening and provided information to students about the 'Think Before You Park' campaign in collaboration with Limerick City Council.
A JUDGE said a man threatening to kill a gynaecologist in a maternity hospital was an unwarranted attack on an essential service and those providing it.

Judge Colin Daly passed sentence this Monday on Nathan Murphy, aged 33, of Belfield Court, Farranshone, Limerick city for a threat to kill in the University Maternity Hospital Limerick on September 22, 2019.

The accused bizarrely thought the doctor had molested his then partner who was pregnant with twins, Limerick Circuit Court heard last week, when the evidence was outlined by prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe.

I will find you and I will kill you, said Mr Murphy to the gynaecologist. A female consultant and a nurse, who were also present, were pinned against a wall by the defendant who was holding a chair in the air.

Mr OSullivan said the doctor had informed Mr Murphys former girlfriend of the plan to carry out an internal examination with the attendance of a midwife.

Later, the doctor was informed her partner (Mr Murphy) had arrived and was waiting in a room. Security had been alerted. Mr Murphy appeared to be leaning on a chair.

He wanted to know who examined his then partner. He picked up a chair as if to strike the doctor with it. They were pinned against the wall. The consultant said put it down. Mr Murphy said to the doctor, I will find you and I will kill you. He said this three times, said Mr OSullivan.

Mr Murphy was later arrested by gardai.

He told investigating officers that his then partner had walked to his house and was in floods of tears when she arrived. He bizarrely thought she had been molested. He said he didnt mean the threats. He said, Its just something we say where I am from. He said he went back to apologise but was stopped by security, said Mr OSullivan.

Judge Daly adjourned sentencing for a week to consider his decision. On Monday, the judge said the maternity hospital in Limerick is extremely busy and the most essential service to all expectant women in the region.

The staff must be pressured and stressed enough without having to be faced with such aggression and such threats to their personal safety. The staff, no doubt, diligently go about their business in a completely professional manner. Threats and aggressive behaviour such as this are completely unwarranted, said Judge Daly.

READ MORE: I will kill you: Limerick man tells gynaecologist after examination on woman

In mitigation, the judge said Mr Murphy co-operated with gardai, pleaded guilty at a very early stage, expressed genuine remorse and regret and was suffering from addiction issues at the time. Judge Daly said Mr Murphy sought residential treatment, maintained his sobriety for more than three years and volunteers with addiction services now, to assist others in their journey through rehabilitation.

The judge also took into account that Mr Murphy is now the sole custodian of his three children.

Judge Daly imposed a three year jail sentence which he suspended in full.
PLANNING permission is to be sought for a new multi-storey student accommodation development, which could deliver up to 1,400 bed spaces in Limerick.

Groody Developments Ltd are seeking the go-ahead for a purpose-built student accommodation scheme on land fronting the Groody Road and Dublin Road in Castletroy.

The firm is seeking permission to be valid for a period of seven years.

It's anticipated the development will tower up between five and eight storeys.

READ MORE: Power play: Limerick man appointed to top European job

It will consist of 196 'clusters' across five separate blocks, an application shows.

These will range in height from five to eight storeys.

According to the plan, the development will bring a total of 1,400 student bedspaces, as well as a number of other amenities for students including a library, a union, a laundry room and two canteens.

These will be deliverted in two phases of development across five blocks, A to E, and are being described by the developer as bed 'clusters'.

Block A will see eight storeys providing 28 clusters, with 224 bed spaces.

It will be this block which houses a library, and a student union facility.

Block B will rise up seven storeys providing 52 clusters, with 400 bed spaces.

This block looks set to accommdate the reception and office, a laundry room, and a canteen.

Block C will be six-storeys providing 51 clusters, with 355 bed spaces.

It will be home to a student gym among other facilities.

Also over six levels, block D will include 32 clusters and 211 bed spaces, another student canteen and a student supply retail unit.

The final block E, over five storeys will house 33 clusters with 210 bed spaces.

Vehicular access to the site will be from the Groody Road with pedestrian access to the Dublin Road.

On top of the building work, there are proposals to provide landscaped courtyards, natural landscaping and public walkways around the site.

It's also proposed to convert the student halls into short-term accommodation lets outside term-time.

The development of student housing will no doubt be welcomed by those attending University of Limerick.

Last year, a survey carried out by its student union UL Life, revealed more than 35% of its members were being forced to commute long distances to Limerick, as well as stay in hotels, sleep in their cars, cope with homelessness, or reside in emergency accommodation.

Many felt squeezed out by the prices being asked for student housing locally.

The developer has two weeks to furnish Limerick City and County Council with the documentation for the massive development.

The public will have the chance to have their say on the proposals.

The application may also be inspected online at www.whiteboxstudentcampus.ie
A KILMEEDY man has been appointed to a senior role in the European Commission.

Peter Power is the new head of the European Commission representation in Dublin.

As part of the job, he will act as official representative of the Commission in Ireland under the authority of its president Ursula von der Leyen.

Mr Power has more than a decade of experience of experience within the European Commssion and Cabinets.

READ MORE: Island life captured by Limerick youth club in photography exhibition

Since 2022, Mr Power has served as senior adviser to the director-general of the directorate-general for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

Previously, he held the role as head of cabinet for Commissioner Phil Hogan during his terms as Commissioner for Agriculture and subsequently for Trade, as well as for Commissioner Mairead McGuinness in her portfolio for financial services, financial stability, and the Capital Markets Union.

Earlier in his career, Mr Power served as head of press at the European Commission Representation in Dublin and held several roles within the Commission's Cabinets and Directorates-General, equipping him with invaluable expertise in Ireland's EU relations and the operational intricacies of a Commission Representation.

Educated at Ring College in Waterford, Mr Power was also press secretary to the British Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson who only this Wednesday, was confirmed as the British Ambassador to the USA in the wake of Donald Trump's election as president.

This Peter Power is not to be confused with the former Fianna Fail Minister of State and Limerick East TD who shares the same name.

He is currently the executive director of aid agency Unicef Ireland.
LIMERICK TDs Niall Collins and Kieran O'Donnell have been named as Ministers of State in the new Government.

Following a cabinet meeting this Wednesday afternoon, the pair were confirmed in their roles.

Fianna Fail's Limerick County TD Mr Collins will serve as a Minister of State in the Department of Justice, where he will handle the portfolios of law reform, international law and youth justice.

"I'm delighted to be reappointed. It's a substantial and important role within the Department of Justice and within government. I am looking forward to working with my colleague Jim O'Callaghan. There is a lot of ambition in the Programme for Government in the areas of justice and law reform. I think it's an endorsement for Limerick, the people of Limerick and my supporters," he said.

Above, Niall Collins, with Taoiseach Micheal Martin

Meanwhile, Fine Gael's TD for Limerick City Mr O'Donnell is back as the Minister of State with his role straddling health and housing.

Working at the Department of Health and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, he will have a special responsibility for older people and housing.

"I am deeply honoured to have been appointed Minister of State for Older People and Housing. I wish to thank Tanaiste Simon Harris for giving me this great opportunity. I look forward to this new ministerial challenge and working with Ministers Jennifer Carroll McNeill and James Browne. I will continue to ensure Limerick receives the priority it deserves," pledged Mr O'Donnell, who is pictured below with Tanaiste Simon Harris.

The pair are both long-serving local politicians.

Mr Collins, from Patrickswell, was elected in 2007 and has been returned at every General Election since.

READ MORE: Power play: Limerick man appointed to top European job

In the last Dail, he received his first elevation to become a Minister of State for Skills and Further Education.

Mr O'Donnell was also returned in the old Limerick East constituency in both 2007 and 2011.

He lost his seat in 2016 and served a term in Seanad Eireann, before being returned to the Dail in 2020, and securing re-election in November last.

The Monaleen man has served in two previous junior ministerial roles.

In 2022, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Following Simon Harris's election as Fine Gael leader and elevation to Taoiseach last year, Mr O'Donnell became Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

Last week, Limerick County Fianna Fail TD Patrick O'Donovan was named in the cabinet.

He is the Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.
Nvidias success as the computational arms dealer for the artificial-intelligence boom has made it a target for a host of rivals seeking to diminish its dominance. That list includes other chip makers and customers who are developing their own AI chips to reduce their spending. But few in the tech world saw a nimble Chinese AI model as a risk to Nvidias business, even if the final effect is unclear.

Nvidia has been perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the AI boom, with profit exceeding $63 billion in the last four quarters alone. Its shares have surged eightfold since the end of 2022.

With the excitement around DeepSeek emerging over the weekend, Nvidias shares plunged around 17% Monday. The stock stabilized Tuesday, closing up 8.9% to $128.99.

Nvidia cast the DeepSeek jolt in a positive light. In a statement Monday, it said that DeepSeeks advance was an excellent illustration of new ways of operating AI models. Doing the work of serving up such AI models to usersa process called inference"required large numbers of Nvidias chips, it said.

The concern for investors is that DeepSeeks more efficient way of developing AI could upend a status quo where the most sophisticated AI models require the largest number of Nvidias AI chips to train. AI development has thus far led to insatiable demand and supply shortages for its most advanced chips as big tech pours cash into AI data centers.

Some of its biggest customers, including Amazon.com, Google and Microsoft have also been developing their own in-house chip designs to support their AI platforms. Rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are pushing their own AI-specific chips to challenge Nvidia.

Now DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, has unveiled a low-cost AI model on par with some of the most advanced in the world but purportedly trained with far fewer Nvidia chips. Concern about its advances reverberated across Wall Street and in Washington, where it was seen as a threat to the U.S.s technological lead over China.

DeepSeek could translate into renewed scrutiny over Nvidias sales of its AI chips to China. The U.S. in recent years has tightened restrictions on shipments of chips to China, aiming to limit its rivals development of the most advanced AI tools. Nvidia responded by producing less-powerful chips for the Chinese market that met Washingtons restrictions, some of which DeepSeek said it used to develop its latest R1" model.

Morgan Stanley analysts estimated in a note Tuesday that Nvidia sold more than $10 billion of China-specific chips over the past 12 months, and called tighter export controls one potential ramification of DeepSeeks emergence. But previous controls hadnt kept China from producing AI models, they said, and more controls could further spur Chinese chip development.

Some chip-industry executives believe DeepSeeks advances could end up being more of a benefit than a curse for Nvidia as the AI industry adopts its more efficient approach. Jonathan Ross, chief executive of AI chip startup Groq, said that when operating a model, a process called inference," costs less, the capabilities of AI writ large are enhanced.

If the cost of inference is too high, people arent going to use it as much," he said, but higher usage leads developers to invest in training better models. And so theres a virtuous cycle between training and inference."

Tech-industry insiders also cite Jevons paradox, the notion in economics that technological advancements that make resources more efficient to use often lead to greater consumption of those resources.

There is latent demand for AI capabilities across a number of domains but where those tasks are not worth the cost of inference being charged by leading AI labs," said Akash Bajwa, a principal at Earlybird Venture Capital in London. Lower prices from DeepSeek could help realize that demand, he said.

Nvidias offices in Shanghai.

The way DeepSeeks model works may also point to a continued need for large numbers of Nvidias chips, analysts say. The companys R1 model uses engineering tricks that require significant computing power as it produces multistep answers to users queries.

There is also skepticism around DeepSeeks claims and some American AI industry leaders said Chinese researchers may have stockpiled leading-edge Nvidia chips before the U.S. restrictions, or used workarounds such as accessing Nvidia-enabled computing power from countries outside the U.S. and China. The Biden administration in its final days implemented new rules to address such blind spots.

AI, meanwhile, has already begun to shift focus from training large models to deploying them for use: Nvidia said last year that more than 40% of its data-center revenue was coming from inference. Being able to serve up a popular AI model smoothly to a user base across the globesomething DeepSeek has struggled to do as its app shot up the chartsrequires a lot of computing power on its own.

I get the nervousness that it could reduce demand or cause customers to rethink near-term purchases," said Stacy Rasgon, a semiconductor analyst at Bernstein Research. But even with that, in the near term spending is going up."
Wow! Momo Pvt Ltd is on an expansion spree, with plans to go public and double revenue to 1,000-1,200 crore as its FMCG business grows.

With about 680 stores across its three main brands  momos, chicken and Chinese quick service restaurants  the Tiger Global-backed company expects to post ebitda of 50-80 crore by FY27, co-founder and CEO Sagar Daryani told Mint.

The company expects growth from its core momo brand as well as newer verticals such as its kulfi brand and the FMCG segment, which includes frozen momos and cup noodles. The two-year-old FMCG business is expected to become a major contributor to the companys overall earnings, Daryani said.

We realised that we needed to be available across categories as people are consuming our momos not just in stores but in homes too," he said, adding that the FMCG business has the potential to equal the quick service restaurant segment within the next decade.

Daryani did not specify when Wow! Momo will come out with an initial public offering. He said the company expects to close this fiscal year with 625 crore in revenue. The FMCG division is already contributing 60 crore in its second year. Daryani expects its FMCG segment to account for about one-sixth of the company's revenue by the time the company is listed.

The company is expanding some of its newer verticals like the chicken brand, which competes with QSR chain KFC. At present, it operates 50 stores across south and east India. Daryani said this business will become profitable once it hits about 100 stores.

The chicken business has a slightly lower gross margin of 60% as compared to momos where the margins are 70%," he said.

The company has raised about 625 crore in funding since its inception, including 40 crore from Lighthouse Funds in 2017 and 120 crore from Tiger Global Management in 2019. The company was valued at about 2,500 crore when it last raised funds.



Kulfi, chicken brands

The Wow! Kulfi vertical, launched last year in a shop-in-shop model within momo outlets, is still in its early growth stages.

"That now has 260 points of sale and gives the company a revenue of 1.5 crore per month," Daryani said.



The pandemic-induced surge in delivery orders has become a mixed blessing, with deliveries now accounting for 40% of the business, up from 10% before the pandemic. While deliveries have brought in more customers, they come with higher costs due to logistics and discounting, leading to lower margins.

Deliveries give you more business, but they are more expensive than serving dining-in customers as margins are lower and discounting is high," said Daryani.

The quick-commerce segment is driving almost two-thirds of the FMCG segments revenue. The company has also ventured into exports.

We started exports as well of these products which are now getting exported to the Middle East markets like Qatar, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi in Lulu Mall-owned stores. All these products are being made in our facilities in Delhi and Kolkata, and we are also setting up a new factory in Maharashtras Taloja district before the end of FY25 to add to the production line," Daryani said.

Wow! Momo is expanding its frozen food offerings, including new ready-to-fry products, for which it has acquired the rights to produce in the non-vegetarian space.

Were very bullish about our entire FMCG division. We will also expand the kulfi business into quick commerce and will look at growing it to 5 crore a month by this summer," Daryani said.

Indias food services industry is expected to reach 7.76 trillion by FY28 from the current 5.69 trillion, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% according to the National Restaurant Association of India. Quick service restaurants like these are expected to grow by 27% by FY28.
New Delhi: The Central government is considering privatizing some small state-owned fertilizer companies, two people aware of the matter said, after an earlier plan to divest stake in larger public sector agrochemical makers faced resistance.

The stake sale process may begin in the first and second quarters of the next financial year starting April (FY26), depending upon market conditions and the consensus among stakeholders, the people said on the condition of anonymity as details are not public yet.

With recent policy measures reducing the countrys dependence on imports, it could be the right time for the Centre to offload its stake in some state-owned companies, particularly the smaller ones," the first of the two people said.

Niti Aayog had identified eight public sector fertilizer makers for a proposed strategic sale in 2022. However, the Centre put the plan on hold the following year as it prioritised increasing domestic production and self-sufficiency.

The proposal faced resistance from various stakeholders who argued that it could hinder efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in fertilizer production," the first person said.

The eight fertilizer companies listed for privatisation by the government think tank are Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corp Ltd, The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd, FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Ltd, Madras Fertilizers Ltd, National Fertilizers Ltd, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd, The Fertilizer Corp of India Ltd and Hindustan Fertilizer Corp Ltd.

Efforts to privatise the larger state-owned fertilizer companies have been resisted in the past. Plans to merge smaller state-owned fertilizer companies with the larger ones have also been put on the backburner.

As a result, the Centre is unlikely to immediately divest its stake in major companies such as Fertilizer Corp and Hindustan Fertilizer and may instead focus on privatizing some smaller companies, the people said.

"Disinvestment of fertilizer PSUs should be approached cautiously, given their critical role in food security and self-reliance," said Chirag Jain, a partner at Grant Thornton Bharat. Privatization may improve efficiency, but it risks price volatility and reduced accessibility for farmers. Instead, strategic reforms, technological upgrades, and better management can enhance performance without losing government control over this essential sector."

Subsidies continue

News agency Reuters reported on Monday that the Centre has put in abeyance" the privatization of at least nine state-owned units after opposition from associated ministries. These companies include Madras Fertilizers and Fertilizer Corp of India.

However, a stake sale, if successfully carried out, will not affect fertilizer subsidy payments, the second person said.

"The divestment of some of the companies, especially smaller ones, may help them with more funds to address the country's food security challenges and reduce the import bill further," the second person said, requesting anonymity.

Federal fertilizer subsidies have been cut to 1.64 trillion (budget estimate) in FY25 from 1.88 trillion (revised estimate) in FY24. Fertilizer subsidies have long been crucial for Indias policy framework, aimed at ensuring food security, supporting livelihoods, and boosting agricultural production and productivity.

Typically, the subsidies go to the fertilizer companies, with the ultimate beneficiaries being the farmers, who pay prices that are below market-determined rates.

India imports urea primarily from Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE and is targeting a complete cessation of urea imports by FY26.

The country has already made progress in reducing its fertilizer import bill. In FY24, urea imports stood at 7.04 million tonnes, valued at $2.61 billion, down from 7.57 million tonnes in FY23, according to data from the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers.

Last August, Anupriya Patel, minister of state of chemicals and fertilizers, informed the Rajya Sabha that to achieve self-sufficiency in urea production, the government mandated the revival of fertilizer units in Ramagundam (Telangana), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Sindri (Jharkhand), Talcher (Odisha), and Barauni (Bihar).

These units, under the Fertilizer Corp of India and Hindustan Fertilizer, are being revived through joint ventures with nominated public sector companies to establish new ammonia-urea plants, each with a production capacity of 1.27 million metric tonnes per annum.

Spokespersons for the ministry of finance and the department of fertilizers did not respond to emailed queries seeking comment on the divestment plans.
Spains economy grew last year at a pace that likely outstripped its European peers and even the U.S. Tourists and immigrants alike contributed to that world-beating growth, which experts say is set to continue apace.

Gross domestic product was 3.2% higher in 2024 than it was in 2023, Spanish statistics authority INE said Wednesday. That is faster than the 2.8% growth the International Monetary Fund estimates for the U.S. economy over the same period, and far ahead of the expansion of just 0.8% the IMF has penciled in for the wider 20-member eurozone. Figures for the U.S. and eurozone will be released Thursday. Growth showed no signs of slowing in the years final months, INE said, with GDP up 3.5% from a year earlier.

Spains economy is being fuelled by two kinds of movement of people: tourism and immigration. Arrivals of jobseekers from overseas are bolstering a working-age population that would otherwise be in decline, and many of those immigrants work in hotels and restaurants or in other tourism jobs.

How have we done this?" asked Javier Diaz-Gimenez, a professor of economics at the IESE business school. A lot of immigrants, especially in tourism and services."

Those jobs exist thanks to the roughly 94 million tourists who visited the Iberian kingdom last year. That keeps Spain second only to neighboring France in popularity among global tourists. Growing some 10% on year, arrivals to Spanish shores represent the equivalent of a little more than the population of Turkey touching down in a country that is smaller than Texas.

Spain has for decades been a favorite destination for sun-starved northern Europeans. Britons make up by far the largest number of tourists in Spain at more than 17 million a year, or around a quarter of the entire U.K. population. A similar share of the Dutch populace visits every year; the figure for rain-soaked Ireland is closer to half.

But Spains beaches, cities, gastronomy and heritage are increasingly popular also with visitors from Asia and, especially, the U.S., with Americans making up the fastest-growing cohort for much of last year, according to INE figures. In 2024, Spain benefited from the conflict in the Middle East, which made some tourists wary of rival destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.

It is more and more common to run into Americans in the beach town of Sitges, a little way down the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona, said New York City-based Michael Steven Grant, who bought an apartment there with his partner four years ago, visiting for a few weeks every three months.

Flights have proliferated from the East Coast, everything is very full now," said Canadian-born Grant, 64 and semi-retired from the health-insurance business.

U.S. travelers are flocking to Spain for its idyllic beaches and vibrant cities," a spokesperson for online travel firm Expedia told The Wall Street Journal. Flight-search data showed American interest in Spain rising by one-fifth on year, Expedia said.

Still, the data suggest that an existing problem is being compounded. The biggest jumps in interest from U.S. tourists were for Spanish destinations that already draw millions of visitors every month, including the Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.

These areas, along with the Catalan capital Barcelona and the southern city of Malaga, are among hotspots that have seen protests from locals indignant at rising house prices, overcrowding and the squeezing out of local commerce.

Thousands of locals marched through Barcelona this summer demanding action to reduce visitor numbers and make homes more affordable. In response to the anger, the city government said in July that by 2028, it would eliminate the practice of renting flats to tourists rather than residents by stopping all new licenses and declining to renew existing ones.

Access to housing for the people of Barcelona is our priority," Socialist Mayor Jaume Collboni said at the time.

The centrality of tourism to economic expansion is itself a problem, said one of the organizers of the summers protests, the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth.

Tourism, as it is understood today, implies the funneling of public money to private interests and job and housing insecurity for local populations, as well as pollution and destruction of the planet," a spokesperson for the association told the Journal.

Still, the rise in tourism offers an important route into work for the migrant workers who arrive in Spain.

The average Spanish worker is no longer willing to work in these fields, which have been promptly taken up by the immigrant population," researchers Gemma Canoves Valiente and Asuncion Blanco Romero at the Autonomous University of Barcelona wrote in a paper.

That population sees in this part of the labor market an opportunity to establish themselves in Spain and better their economic position," they wrote.

Indeed, foreign workers in Spain have a higher rate of participation in the workforce than their counterparts do in many of the eurozones other major economies, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, Bank of Spain economy chief Angel Gavilan wrote in a recent report. Immigration can claim to account for around one-fifth of Spains total per-capita economic growth between 2022 and 2024, the report showed.

Without immigrants, Spains population would be shrinking every year; the countrys birthrate is among the lowest in Europe. Thanks to net migration, the population increased by 500,000 in the 12 months to the beginning of last year, reaching around 48.6 million. Spain benefits from its linguistic and cultural ties to Latin America, where economic and political turbulence encourage large-scale emigration. Spain also attracts foreign residents lured less by economic advantage than by lifestyle; hundreds of thousands of Italians and Britons hold residence in Spain, for example.

Spains attractiveness to tourists and immigrants alike should keep its growth trending ahead of its European neighbors in the coming years.

Where Spain really stands out is in a sustained and rapid increase in the working age population, driven by immigration," economists at JP Morgan wrote in a recent research report. Spain appears reasonably well placed to maintain its growth advantage over other large euro-area countries."

Other factors currently smiling on Spain include low energy costs. The country, which imported little Russian gas, emerged largely unscathed from the 2022 energy shock that in other parts of Europe drove up costs for consumers and industry alike and has proved debilitating for much of the European economy.

The Spanish government has also made heavy use of European funds aimed at rebuilding from the global pandemic, and is at the forefront of the climate transition, with not far from half of its total energy production originating from renewables like solar and wind in 2022, according to figures from the International Energy Agency.

Still, those hotter, drier summers and more frequent floods at other times of the year may eventually persuade tourists to look elsewhere.

Climate change may slow the flow," IESEs Diaz-Gimenez said.

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com and Paul Hannon at paul.hannon@wsj.com
KKR-backed Avendus Capital is winding down its hedge funds, a move that will see market veteran Andrew Holland leave the firm, two people with knowledge of the development told Mint on condition of anonymity.

The two funds Avendus Absolute Return and Avendus Enhanced Return funds have already started returning money to their investors and the process of winding down is expected to be completed by February, the first person cited above said.

The firms ambitions for its hedge fund strategy did not achieve scale as envisaged because of tax and regulatory reasons, the person added. Sebis introduction of New Asset Class scheme in October also made the strategy harder to sell, the people cited above said.

Focus shift

However, Avendus will retain its long-only public equities portfolio management scheme (PMS) under Ganesh Jayraman. It will also retain its credit fund and future leaders fund series.

While our strategies in structured credit, private equity and long-only public markets continue to garner significant investor interest, our hedge funds havent seen as much traction. After careful strategic review and with our investors best interests in mind, we have taken steps to realign our offerings in the asset management space, in keeping with evolving market dynamics. We have decided to wind down our hedge funds business and concentrate our efforts on expanding the aforementioned strategies within Avendus Asset Management," an Avendus Capital spokesperson told Mint.

Mr. Andrew Holland, CEO, Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies LLP, who played a pivotal role in shaping our hedge fund business, would be transitioning out of the firm. We deeply appreciate his significant contributions to Avendus and wish him continued success in his future endeavors," the firm added.

The two funds in question had assets under management (AUM) of around 2,000 crore. The Avendus Absolute Return Fund had an AUM of 1,028 crore till 31 December 2024, according to Sebi filings. Avendus Enhance Return AUM stood at 620 crore while Avendus Enhanced Return Series II had an AUM of 320 crore.

Avendus Capital hired Holland from Ambit Capital in 2016 to run its hedge fund business as part of its strategy to build out its asset management business. In 2017, it acquired UK-based Ocean Dial Asset Management and early stage tech-focussed private equity firm Zodius Capital to bolster its asset management business.

However, in subsequent years, Avendus Capital exited its interests in Ocean Dial and Zodius Capital.

Earlier this month, Avendus announced the launch of its third private credit fund ASCF III, with a target size of 4,000 crore and the first close of its Future Leaders Fund III, which was launched in May 2024.

Avendus Capital, most known for its flagship investment banking business, also owns a wealth management business. Private equity firm KKR, which owns 60% stake in the company, along with some shareholders have been in talks with multiple bidders to sell their stakes, as Mint has reported.

Read more: Motilal Oswal group evaluates sale of home finance arm
Dr. Agarwals Health Care, Indias largest eye care chain by revenue and network size, is launching the initial public offering ( IPO ) with plans to raise 3,027 crore. This issue will open for subscription on Wednesday and close on Friday.

The company, led by Dr. Amar Agarwal, a renowned ophthalmologist with over 35 years of experience, is well-positioned to capitalize on the expanding healthcare sector. However, its lofty valuations compared to rivals and its declining ability to service its debt could hinder future expansion plans.

The companys first foray into the stock market was in 1995, when it listed its subsidiary, Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, on the BSE to fuel expansion in Tamil Nadu. In 2010, the holding company, Dr. Agarwals Health Care was established with a 72% stake in Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital Ltd.

Our plan is to merge the subsidiary with the holding company within the next three years. We aim to complete this within that timeframe," Adil Agarwal, the companys chief executive officer, told Mint. The reason for listing the holding company is that we believe the company, due to its size, scale, and strong financial position, presents significant value and wealth creation opportunities for all our stakeholders," he added.

With an estimated 25% market share in FY24 and a network of 209 facilities nationwide, Dr. Agarwals Health Care offers a range of eye care solutions, including cataract and refractive surgeries, consultations, diagnoses, non-surgical treatments, and the sale of optical products, contact lenses, and pharmaceutical items.

Also read: Four generations of eye doctors from Chennai build $1.5 billion eye care business

Healthy financials

The company has achieved a 38.3% revenue and a 48.4% net profit growth between FY2022 and FY2024. The impressive three-year compounded annual growth rate demonstrated by Dr Agarwal Health Care positions it favourably for continued robust growth. The company's revenue growth showcases strong execution capabilities, said Atul Parakh, CEO of online investment and trading firm Bigul.

Dr. Agarwals 'hub-and-spoke' model, characterized by scalability and efficiency, has been a key driver of its consistent domestic revenue growth. The model allows patients to access care conveniently. They can visit a nearby primary or secondary facility (spoke) and, if necessary, be seamlessly referred to a higher-level facility (hub) for specialized treatment.

The companys centres operate on a hub-and-spoke" model which supports high patient volumes and yields economies of scale and thus allowing greater accessibility and choice to patients," said Sunny Agrawal, head of fundamental equity research, SBI Securities Ltd.

The asset-light model is expected to enhance capital efficiency over time, positioning the company for sustainable growth, said Parakh. "However, it faces potential risks, including intense competition from specialized eye care providers and large healthcare chains," he added.

The company competes with ASG Eye Hospitals, Centre for Sight, and Vasan Eye Care in the organized eye care segment.

Also read: Four generations of eye doctors from Chennai build $1.5 billion eye care business

Expansion on thin ice?

A declining debt service coverage ratio, which dropped from 2.2 times to 1.7 times in the last two years, raises concerns about the company's long-term financial sustainability. This could significantly hinder future growth and limit its ability to capitalize on new opportunities. Adding to this is the company's current valuation, which appears inflated relative to its peers (based on the upper price band and basic earnings per share), potentially creating an unattractive investment proposition for long-term investors.

Furthermore, the company's return on capital (ROCE), based on a three-year median, lags behind its peers, indicating underwhelming performance in capital efficiency.

"The decline in return on capital employed and debt service coverage ratio in FY2024 can be attributed to a one-time deferred tax entry of approximately 38 crores in FY2023. If we exclude this adjustment, the figures show a significant improvementnet profit moved from around 63 crores to 95 crores, reflecting strong growth in profitability."

The slight decline in ROCE and debt service coverage ratio warrants attention but should be viewed in context. These metrics likely reflect the company's aggressive expansion strategy and investments in new facilities, which typically pressure short-term returns," Parakh said.

Also Read: Dr. Agarwal's Health Care IPO: High valuation calls for caution

Concentration risk

Meanwhile, the company faces a double-edged sword: high doctor attrition threatens patient care and service delivery, while concentrated revenue streams leave it vulnerable to competitive shocks in key regions.

The companys doctor attrition rate remained elevated at an average 18.5% in the past three years.

A significant portion of its revenue is concentrated in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. However, the company plans to expand its domestic footprint. We will explore more opportunities to expand our network in our core markets, which include all the southern states of India and Maharashtra. Along with this, we will expand in other regions like Gujarat and Punjab. We have also entered a new region, Uttar Pradesh, and at the same time, we will look to enter markets wherever we can establish a presence," the companys CEO said.

A significant majority of its facilities are located in Chennai, Maharashtra and Karnataka. These three states put together 62% of total facilities. Any adverse developments in relation to these facilities could adversely affect business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows," added Sunny Agrawal.

Also read: Tepid Q3 outlook spells more pain for India Inc. earnings

Eyeing growth

Despite challenges, Dr. Agarwal's Health Care is well-positioned to capitalize on the burgeoning Indian eye care market, projected to expand at a robust 12-14% CAGR through 2028. Surgical procedures, representing 80-85% of the market in FY2024E, are driving this rapid growth. This dynamic sector operates within a larger Indian healthcare market valued at 6.3 trillion (FY24 estimated), forecast to grow at 9-11% in the next five years.

The broader Indian single-speciality healthcare market, within which eye care is a significant segment, is estimated to be worth between 1.5 trillion and 1.9 trillion in FY24.
Patil is a chronicler of life, or, seen another way, time. The subjects of his sculptures are workers at Mumbais textile mills. They live in chawls, and toil all day to eke out a living. And Patil captures them in action, as layers of dust, fabric scraps and rubbish stick to them.

I use performative body language. It represents the things that people in the area work with, and around. I wanted to show how the body is always moving. So many of these workers are actually from outside the region, and they take their stories wherever they go. That is the idea behind the cloud-like shape of the body," the artist explains.

TREATISE ON DISPLACEMENT

To the urban lower- and middle-class in India, Patils sculptures would probably seem like art imitating life. For the upper-class though, the depiction is far removed from reality as they understand it. Its interesting, then, to wonder what emotion these sculptures will evoke for viewers in the United States, when they are showcased at the Berkeley Art Museum and Film Archive (BAMPFA) in California as part of Patils first solo in the country. It is titled A Forest of Remembrance, and has been curated by Victoria Sung, Phyllis C. Wattis and Margot Norton of BAMPFA.

Patils muse is Mumbai, its chawls in particular. He grew up near these chicken-coop dwellings inhabited by the textile mill workers. In hindsight, he thinks he may have subconsciously been a witness to the happenings in these sites that he would pass on his way to school and back. Serious contemplation, however, began only when he read plays on the daily lives of these people written by his late father, Kisan Patil, who was a civil engineer by day and a playwright in his free time.

Life in chawls is a hyperlocal phenomenon, unique to Mumbai. Even Indians living outside this city are bemused by the idea of entire families inhabiting a single room, which are constructed like stacked matchboxesvertically and horizontallyand where privacy is an alien idea.

Over the years, they have transformed into subjects of curiosity for artists, writers and filmmakers. Now, redevelopment projects threaten the mill workers, many of whom have already been reluctantly relocated to Mahul, an area on the eastern seafront of the Mumbai suburbs that is prone to gas leaks. Others helplessly wait to turn homeless.

It is this discourse on displacement that Patil feels will help his work resonate with viewers, not just in the US but the entire world. This conversation is relevant in any part of the world because this is a conversation about who has the money and who has the power," he says.

A Forest of Remembrance assumes particular importance because of its topicality: it opened right before Donald Trump took oath as the 47th American President on 20 January. Trump has been upfront about his radical views on immigration, and hasnt shied away from dehumanising migrants in the country.

FINDING JOY IN CROWDED LIVES

Patils work challenges this degradation of life, no matter whose it is. Through a set of untitled paintings, he brings the focus on the innocuous and the irrelevant in the quotidian of these mill workerscoiled phone chargers plugged into sockets, the famous dabbas neatly stacked on a steel shelf, crayon scribbles on the walls, the peeling paint on the walls, and more.

By zooming in on these seemingly insignificant details, Patil elevates their importance. Perhaps borrowing from his fathers theatrical aptitude, he executes these paintings with a rhythmic finish that exudes a sense of joy. He approaches these things with a child-like curiosity rendering them the pride of place of being chroniclers of their owners lives. What normally would have been perceived as symbols of drudgery are transformed into something almost celebratory, as Patil gives them a coat of milestone-esque lustre.

Patil is saying that these lives are worth living, and worth remembering too. There isnt much the people living in these chawls can do about their homes, apart from painting the walls. Earlier, almost all houses used to be uniformly painted in shades of blue, but now the younger generation, with increased exposure, are choosing brighter colours. Today when you walk through the corridors, you can see the rooms in different colours. And, you can pretty much smell what is being cooked in each house," says Patil, adding, So the boundaries separating these rooms appear to disappear, creating a sense of a larger community that is sharing more than just the walls between their homes. For me, documenting this is interesting because it shows the changing history of these spaces through generations. Redevelopment can erase these spaces, but not their history."

Trisha Mukherjee is a Delhi-based writer and arts professional.
Donald Trump withdrawing the US from the Paris climate accords was a decision foretold. Trump has never been shy of airing his deep climate denialism, so it was clear as soon as the US presidential results were announced last November that the US would give up on climate action. However, just withdrawing from the UN process is one thing. What is equally worrying is the fact that several key US climate institutionsfrom NASA to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationmight well be forced to curtail their work.

As many analysts have pointed out, the nature of US federalism means that many progressive (and wealthy) US statessuch as Californiacan continue to be a part of the global climate alliance, but without the presence of the US as a nation, the advantages are limited. In fact, I would go as far as to say that with the Trump dispensation, the global fight against climate change has entered a period of serious destabilization.

Why is this a possible scenario? The next four years of Trump are going to coincide with a crucial make-or-break period which will determine whether humanity succeeds or fails in keeping global heating to within a rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial levels), by 2100. Failure to do so would be catastrophic, not just in the distant future, but also in the near term, perhaps as early as the 2040s.

Also Read Climate change in 2025: An era of record heat and rising disasters

This year, before the beginning of the annual UN climate summit (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, in November, member nations of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) must submit their climate mitigation plans for the decade leading up to 2035. Called the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), it involves a ratcheting up of climate commitments, including slashing national dependencies on fossil fuels. A combination of increased ambition from all nations will shape how soon the world transitions away from oil, coal and gas.

The US is the worlds second largest emitter of planet-heating greenhouse gases (GHG) and is the largest historical emitter as well. As a result, the onus is greater to make deeper cuts in its fossil fuel consumption. Indeed, just before Trumps inauguration, the Joe Biden administration had filed new plans under the Paris agreement: cut GHGs by 61-66% from 2005 levels by 2035, a big step towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That plan has been scrapped by Trump, and under the new administration, the US will, as Trump puts it, drill baby drill", to increase its oil and gas production.

Over the course of the year, other countries will have to recalibrate their own positions in light of the abdication of responsibility by the US. As reported in the Hindustan Timeslast week, some experts are wary that the US decision to withdraw may cause a loss of confidence in the UNs multilateral process. For poorer nations, which have largely contributed next to nothing to cause the climate crisis, and yet are suffering disproportionately from climate impacts, the US is a disgrace".

The United States is mostly the origin, deepening, and perpetuation of the global climate crisis. In recent years, it has consistently failed to fulfil its commitmentsand undermined the potential impact of the Paris Agreement. While remaining a part of it, the US persistently attacked it, and now it is withdrawing for the second time. This is the greatest expression of hypocrisy and global disgrace," Bolivias lead climate negotiator Diego Pacheco told Hindustan Times.

Also Read How global warming smashed all safety barriers in 2024

Much will depend on the political signaling from China and the European Union this year, and we will likely see a watershed moment at COP30. The struggle is this: will the overlapping groupings of petro-states, climate deniers and the US succeed in derailing meaningful climate action for another decade? In a world where online misinformation is rife, and likely to get worse because of the anti-regulatory actions of Meta and X, this is looking increasingly likely. If this does indeed come to pass, then the results will be catastrophic.

It is quite ironic that this year marks a decade since the landmark Paris agreement. Much of the promise of that accord has been frittered away, especially between 2018-2022, when the global momentum for action was arguably at its highest, multilateralism still had legs and climate impacts like regular wildfires and cyclones were just starting to bite.

We may well look back at the past ten years as a lost decade. While there have been massive strides in the area of renewable energy, what has been lacking has been political will. And while it was still possible to shame the highest emitters into changing their tune, this will get increasingly harder. All that has changed, and we can expect climate denialism to become even more strident now.

One development that has mostly flown under the radar over the past year is how the biggest players in the global banking system have been pulling out of climate pledges. This has only escalated in the period leading up to Trumps inauguration, as six of the biggest US banksMorgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Copulled out of the international Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). And this has, in part, been due to increasing pressure from Republican politicians and state attorneys to stop banks from withholding financing for oil and gas companies.

So, as we come to the end of the first month of 2025, the climate picture looks pretty bleak. Ever since the Paris agreement, climate scientists have time and again given updates on how the time for meaningful action has been shrinking. But after years of drift, we are now faced with a situation where even the small gains that have been made may be reversed.

Also Read Under pressure: How climate change is impacting Indian cities
AI seems to be in every discussion these days, whether it is about privacy, surveillance, consumer rights, health, education, climate change, jobs or incomes.

On one hand, there is optimism that AI will improve the world in ways that human intelligence has not been able to. On the other is the fear that we dont know how this artificial (or non-human) intelligence will change the world.

There are two responses to uncertainty over how it will turn out.

One is to predict future outcomes for a world with more AI and design policies accordingly.

The other is to regulate AI beforehand, even before we agree on its impact, so that we can prevent its bad side from destroying us and get more of the good.

But then, The only thing you cannot predict is the future," someone once said. I asked ChatGPT who did. It said many people have said it through history and one cannot attribute this eternal wisdom to anyone.

But why is the future unpredictable? There are two reasons.

One is that multiple forces interacting with each other in non-linear ways change the state of complex systems and produce outcomes that will not be visible until the system has changed. Social, economic, environmental and political forces will be impacted by any transformative technology, and they will, in turn, react to the technology and change its course.

Ten years ago, the hype was Industry 4.0, a theme pushed by the World Economic Forum and other lobbies. Consultants made predictions of how jobs will be affected and what new skills will be required. There were wide differences in their predictions of skills in demand and how employment will be affected.

A 2016 Confederation of Indian Industry report that I guided, titled Future of Jobs in India: Enterprises and Livelihoods, noted the wide variation of their estimates. For example, forecasts of jobs in Indias automotive sector in 2025 varied from 3.4 million to 19 million.

There were methodological reasons for the variations. First, it was non-systemic. The models excluded social and political forces that are not easy to quantify. Second, some estimators were biased. Those vested in new technologies tend to make positive projections.

The other reason why transformations led by new technologies cannot be predicted is that their trajectory depends on how they will be regulated, and by whom. This is a political process.

Early developers of transformative technologies always want control over their proliferation to retain their own power. With AI, the world is at a nuclear moment again, 80 years after the power of nuclear energy was unleashed in Hiroshima. Regulation of nuclear energy has been controlled since then by its first large producer.

AI evangelists promote its benefits in healthcare, education, commerce, etc. Others are concerned about AIs dark side: loss of privacy and the oligarchy of private companies controlling tech platforms and AI applications, who seem to be controlling our lives and even our governments. AI is giving the most powerful even more power.

Thoughtful people, not yet brain-washed by AI evangelists and tech corporations, do not want to leave AI regulation to the conscience of rich companies and individuals.

Lets take forecasts of AIs benefits by its promoters with a pinch of salt and look to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which takes a more systemic view and recognizes that the impacts of AI will differ across countries, depending on their economic, social and political structures.

The IMF says that AI will impact only 26% of employment in India. And that it will benefit 14% of job categories and have a negative impact on 12%. So the overall impact of AI on jobs and incomes in India will be insignificant in the bigger scheme of things.

From a big-picture perspective of the Indian economy, AI is a distraction. Instead, we must look at the structural impediments that prevent the growth of decent jobs and incomes.

A fundamental problem is the way that policies for structural reforms are developed. The IMF has examined why many governments have diluted IMF-backed structural reforms over the past decade (and even backtracked).

The IMFs World Economic Outlook report of October 2024 concludes that stakeholders are not consulted sufficiently before policies are designed because experts think that common people do not understand their own problems as well as they do.

Consultations, if any, with common people are pro forma and insincere. Unsurprisingly, says the IMF, reforms are resisted when they are imposed on people.

In conclusion, AI is marginal to Indias challenge of jobs and incomes. Better solutions will be found by improving the process of reforming labour, land and agriculture policies. Solutions cannot be found by data analysis, nor by think-tanks and experts alone.

To understand how the economy should be reformed and technology applied judiciously, our policymakers must listen more intently to common people. This could guide how we go about increasing employment and incomes faster in the lower half of the pyramid, which would give businesses an impetus to invest in growth.

The intended beneficiaries of structural reforms to increase jobs and incomes are farmers, workers and small enterprises, principally those in the informal sector, not providers of finance and technology that fund research and publish reports. As the IMF report suggests, their inputs are vital to making policy progress on their behalf.

The author is former member of Planning Commission and author of Transforming Systems: Why The World Needs A New Ethical Toolkit.
It has been said that it takes only a minute to rupture ties, but needs years to repair them. The recent meeting between career diplomats from India and China achieved some progress in normalizing relations between the two powerful Asian neighbours, riven by festering border disputes and uneven trade balances. It was the latest in a series of engagements following the October meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping after a gap of almost five years. The two nations agreed to resume people-to-people exchanges as a step towards dispelling mistrust on both sides of the 3,500km border.

Two developments hold special significance. The first is a resumption of direct flights, once relevant authorities finalize the appropriate framework. Media reports estimate that about 500 direct flights operated every month, linking different cities of the two countries, before border incursions by Chinese troops in 2020 strained relations and snapped all air-links. The second is Chinas signalling of respect for Indian sensitivities by agreeing to restart the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. Two other subsidiary agreementsto resume media and think-tank interactions as well as cooperation on trans-border riversare also critical.

What will be vital in giving a leg-up to the relationship would be addressing concerns in the realm of economic and trade ties. India has an uneven trade balance with China, with the deficit growing every year. The gap widened to over $85 billion in 2023-24, surpassing previous records and earning notoriety as the largest trade deficit we have vis-a-vis all our trade partners. Beijing has disregarded New Delhis concerns for years, even as it imposed restrictions on a number of export items in which we have a competitive advantage (such as active pharmaceutical ingredients), while flooding the Indian market with a variety of Chinese products.

This one-way trade flow has another characteristic. It lacks transfers of technology and shared participation in global value chains with investments from within the region. For years, we have demanded that China step up foreign direct investment (FDI) in India to make up for uneven trade. The Economic Survey for 2023-24 had also advocated a two-step feint for China: rationalizing imports but welcoming FDI.

Any red carpet rolled out for Chinese investments, though, will have to be nuanced. Beyond limited curbs on FDI in some sectors, Indian strategists must strive to attract investments in high-tech areas, away from sweatshops and low-value assembly lines. Recent revelations of Chinas technological progress, especially its advances in artificial intelligence (AI) through DeepSeek, hold an important lesson for us. India has long, deep and varied experience in information technology.

Ideally, both countries should provide a pan-Asia platform for building and rolling out AI solutions that are free of American or European biases. India and China are also pioneers in frugal innovation, with which DeepSeek has shaken the West, and combining these capabilities could yield valuable breakthroughs in chip technology as well as new standards in clean-tech. Two notes of caution are necessary here. While the cessation of hostilities and enhanced trade ties with China are necessary, India must ensure its multi-faceted relationship with the US is not jeopardized in the process. And we must remember that relations between neighbours can never heal fully unless border issues are resolved once and for all.
Signals from Washington are proving hard to decode. What should we make of its disposition towards India? On one hand, US President Donald Trumps statement of a likely visit as early as next month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlines the importance of bilateral ties.

But Trump followed his cordial words by naming India as a big user of trade barriers. China is a tremendous tariff maker, and India and Brazil, and so many other countries," he reportedly said, before asserting that he would put America first."

Trumps tariff threats have mostly been aimed at US neighbours Mexico and Canada, apart from China. But he did brand India as tariff king" along the way, so his latest mention isnt much of a surprise. Trumps use of tariff threats as a bargaining tool is clear from the way he got Colombia to buckle under his demands of it.

What exactly he may want of India is unclear, but he has spoken of reciprocal duty rates. This may mean the US will levy the same charge on Indian imports that India levies on US wares. Now, India does need to lower its import duties, but this must be aimed at making Indian products more globally competitive, not at pleasing Trump.

Also Read: Adapt to a Trumpian world order in a way that makes India great
A former friend and collaborator of Elon Musk says the billionaires two Nazi salutes at President Donald Trumps inauguration were no accident, but the calculated ploys of an egomaniac.

Philip Low, a neuroscientist and founder of the brain-monitoring company NeuroVigil, delivered a scathing open letter to Musk on Linkedin, before continuing on Facebook.

In the post, he calls Musk a total miserable self-loathing poser who chooses far-right parties because they are easier to control.

The letter not only condemns Musk for his political meddling, but implies that his lust for power  and potential jealousy regarding his ex-wife  drove him to undermine Lows company.

I have known Elon Musk at a deep level for 14 years, Low writes. Elon is not a Nazi, per se. He is something much better, or much worse, depending on how you look at it.

Low says that while Musk is not a Nazi, his onstage salutes were intentional: performed not only to win favor with the furthest right faction of Trumps party, but to show complete control and dominion over the audience.

He was concerned that the Nazi wing of the MAGA movement, under the influence of Steve Bannon, would drive him away from Trump, Low writes. He was already feeling raw over the fact that Trump did not follow his recommendation for Treasury Secretary and that the Senate also did not pick his first choice.

Low alleges that Musk also was upset about being forced to visit Auschwitz last year, and wanted to reclaim power. (Musk was invited to tour the concentration camp in January 2024 in the wake of backlash from his online endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.)

Prior to this scorching takedown, the two tech moguls seemed to be close.

Low launched NeuroVigil in 2007, with a mission of developing non-invasive brain monitors and advanced machine learning algorithms to detect diseases in the brain.

Musk is listed as an adviser on the official NeuroVigil website, and is quoted as calling the company the only one with true potential to completely revolutionize neuroscience."

In a 2014 interview for Raw Science, the two sit side-by-side, with Low donning an OCCUPY MARS T-shirt.

Two years later, Musk went on to launch his own neuroscience company, Neuralink, with a mission of developing implantable braincomputer interfaces" that help restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs.

Low alleges that this move was a power grab.

His lust for power is also why he did xAI and Neuralink, to attempt to compete with OpenAI and NeuroVigil, respectively, despite being affiliated with them, he writes.

Low also implies something more personal: He announced NeuraLink shortly after I invited his ex-wife, which she and I notified him about, to a fundraising dinner for Hebrew University in London.

He writes that Musks ex-wife playfully tried to kiss him in a photo  and despite the fact that he pushed her away, it may have added to the alienation and possible emasculation Musk had felt earlier, when the same woman allegedly swam naked near Low at a pool party.

(Musk was married to Canadian author Justine Musk from 2000 to 2008 and English actress Talulah Riley from 2013 to 2016. The post did not specify which woman it was referring to.)

Low says that he fired Musk with cause in 2021, after he tried to manipulate NVs stock.

The NeuroVigil CEO ends the letter by vowing to stand up to his former collaborator: He can send his dumb Proud Boys and Oath Keepers after me and they will be butchered on sight. Either way, I would rather die with honor than live as a coward, Low writes.

The post concludes with a quote from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel: Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Musk has not publicly responded to the accusations, nor has the tech mogul-turned-Trump first buddy given an explanation for his Nazi-esque onstage salutes.

In the wake of the backlash, Musk appeared virtually at a campaign rally for a far-right German political party on Saturday, Jan. 25, where he urged listeners to move beyond Nazi guilt.
A judge has jailed an 82-year-old Longford man for two years for having sexual with a woman suffering from progressive dementia.



Brendan Rogan, 82, of the Demesne, Longford, pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness.



State barrister Shane Geraghty BL, said the victim had been diagnosed in her early-50s with frontotemporal dementia.



The victim's husband contacted Gardai on March 26, 2020 shortly after 10am when he got home and found his wife in their bedroom with Rogan, then aged 77.

READ NEXT: Storm Eowyn leaves Longford Town FC needing extensive repairs





The defendant was described as being partially clothed and it was obvious to her husband that something had happened.



The details of the victim's medical condition was outlined to the court and evidence was heard that she was incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse.



The court heard the victim had been friends with Rogan's wife, who she had known for several years and the defendant then became more acquainted with her.



The victim's husband had only been away from the house for 20 minutes when he discovered the accused with his vulnerable wife and he immediately decided to contact the Gardai despite pleas from Mr Rogan not to do so.



The court heard the accused had been bringing the victim for afternoon drives for a period of time and he had also asked her to call him when she was at home alone.

READ NEXT: A Man has been jailed following the sexual assault of a sleeping woman in Longford



The victim's daughter told Gardai in her statement the family became concerned about Mr Rogan taking her away as they were unable to reach her and did not know where she was.



The victim's daughter phoned Mr Rogan and asked him to stop contacting her mother, however, the accused continued to visit and he ignored the family.



The court heard Rogan told Gardai he noticed the victim was quiet and she willingly went upstairs with him and "she never complained".



The accused claimed to officers he was not aware of her condition.



Mr Rogan wrote a letter to the victim's family where he apologised "sincerely and unreservedly" for his actions.



The court heard she was rarely left on her own and when she was it was very short periods of time.



On March 26, 2020 the victim had been less than an hour alone when Mr Rogan visited.



The visibly emotional daughter stated "only in our worst nightmares did we think that someone would victimise a woman so obviously unwell in a sexual way".



She stated the family have strong feelings of guilt and they were left with no choice but to put her into a nursing home at the age of just 56.



The victim's daughter was emotional as she recalled having to move her mother into a nursing home resulting in "our hearts [being] broke for her all over again".



Rogan had no previous convictions.



Judge Kenneth Connolly noted the defendant's elderly age and he said that had to be considered, however, he stated it was "exceptionally serious offending" and that had to be reflected in the sentence.



"This was a crime of utter repulsion to any norm of understanding," he said. "This was an utterly despicable breach of trust, especially in circumstances where the victim's daughter had gone out of her way to ask that he not contact her mother."



Judge Connolly criticised the way the defendant ignored the pleas of her daughter and "disrespected her in disregarding her wishes and he disrespected her mother by subjecting her to this utterly gross behaviour".



Judge Connolly insisted the "crime is simply too heinous and repulsive to avoid a custodial element" and he sentenced Rogan to four years in prison suspending the final two years.



He stated he had some regret sending such an elderly man to prison but he felt "I would be "letting the victim down if I didn't impose a custodial element".
A woman has vented her frustrations to Micheal Martin earlier today as her, along with thousands of others across Ireland, have been without power and water since the destructive Storm Eowyn blew across the country last week.

The Taoiseach was visiting an emergency hub in Roscommon on Tuesday morning for people who have no power and water.

Rachel Connolly, a resident of Castlerea, confronted the Taoiseach and said she has lost power in her area four times in the last 12 months and that her, and the other residents, are very concerned over the loss of food that they've had to throw out due to the frequent power cuts.

In a video posted on X by Virgin Media News, Rachel Connolly says,

"There's a lot of people here, myself and out there, who are very concerned about the loss of food...this is my fourth time to have lost power in the last 12 months.

"Why didn't you do something? Why didn't you have something in place before...you knew this was coming."

Mr Martin, who was holding a cup of tea, tried to rebuttal and say things were in place, but Ms Connolly cut him off saying,

"No you didn't. I have no power coming until the 5th of February...the only person who prepared for this in my home, and in my village, is the people who live there.

"I have had no contact from any member of any authority of any part of the Government...You need to get the Dail, you need to bring it up here to the Western Development Commission, you go and sit there, and hold the Dail there for two days with no power and no water...I tell ya, we'll have no knee jerk reaction then."

"You go and sit and hold the Dail there for two days - no power, no water."



A Castlerea resident questioned the Taoiseach on the Government's preparations and response to Storm Eowyn.



Many communities are now into their fifth day without power, water or heat.#VMNews pic.twitter.com/f96XN2rW8P  Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) January 28, 2025

READ NEXT: Irish farmer with no power or water details his struggles in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 29 2025

Giovanni Gio Cipriano tragically passed away in 2013 due to an allergic reaction. Since then, his mother has become a tireless advocate for food allergy safety.

Nassau County Legislator Seth I. Koslow (D  Merrick) is urging Nassau residents to sign a petition being spearheaded by food allergy safety advocate Georgina Cornago to enact Gios Law in Nassau County and across America.

The petition drive was launched after Legislator Koslow filed legislation to equip every Nassau County police vehicle with EpiPens  a measure which County Executive Blakeman and Republican lawmakers have stonewalled in the Legislature to date. A previous petition by Cornago on increasing access to epi pens garnered more than 60,000 signatures.

Cornagos son, Giovanni Gio Cipriano, tragically passed away in 2013 due to an allergic reaction. Since then, she has become a tireless advocate for food allergy safety, launched the Love for Giovanni Foundation, and spearheaded the enactment of Gios Law in New York, which allows first responders like police officers to carry epinephrine.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 29 2025

Program Assists First Time Homebuyers Achieve the American Dream.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced today the County is accepting applications for the Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides eligible first-time homebuyers up to $30,000 on a purchase of a single-family residence under the condition that they live in the home for at least 10 years. Applications are being accepted through April 1, 2025.

We are committed to making Suffolk County more affordable by offering young professionals and first-time buyers the assistance to achieve their dreams of home ownership, said Romaine. By offering our residents further assistance and financial relief, we will be able to build a brighter future for our communities.

The program, which was launched in 1993, provides eligible, first-time homebuyers with a conditional grant of up to $30,000 to use towards their down payment. The buyer is responsible for the balance of the down payment and all the closing costs. Last year, the program assisted in six closings, totaling $162,000 in assistance.

All applicants are required to attend housing counseling prior to submitting an application. The property must be a single-family residence with no rental units and may be a pre-existing or newly constructed single-family residence, condominium, co-operative apartment (Co-op) or manufactured home. The maximum appraised value cannot exceed $551,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Must be a first-time homebuyer, defined by HUD as a person who has not owned a home during the three year period immediately prior to the purchase of a residence with HOME funding.

Have an adjusted gross household income must be within the HUD guidelines (listed in the application).

Occupy the property as their principal residence for 10 years.

Attend homebuyer counseling at a HUD certified not-for-profit housing agency in person.

Not have entered a Contract of Sale to purchase a home prior to being awarded a Purchaser Certificate from the Suffolk County Community Development Office.

Have minimum of $3,000 of their own funds at the time of application in their savings, checking or investment accounts.

Residents are advised to visit SCDownpayment.com to download the application and guidelines as well as the programs Quick Reference Guide in English and Spanish.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Suffolk County Office of Community Development at 631-853-5705 or community.development@suffolkcountyny.gov.
The logo of the Iraqi Kataib Awliya al Haq. (@lsyrlsyr849260 on X)

On January 25, a new Iraqi militia, Kataib Awliya al Haq (Guardians of Truth Brigades), announced its formation. So far, the group has issued a single statement displaying its full name, logo, and justification for its establishment.



The statement reads:

Islamic Resistance Kataib Awliya al-Haq In the name of God, the Merciful We seek vengeance against the criminals. As part of our ongoing mission to defend the oppressed and resist oppressors, we condemn the crimes committed by Jolanis terrorists [a reference to Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS)] in Syria against Alawite Shiitesblatant violations of human rights. Therefore, Kataib Awliya al Haq remains committed to resisting these Takfiri groups. We will launch military operations as soon as possible and enter Syria from all directions to protect the Alawite sect. God is the Supporter of the Believers

Little is known about the leadership of this group, as it has only released one statement and did not name any of its leaders or release pictures or videos. However, a close look at Kataib Awliya al Haqs logo shows a distinct similarity with other Iraqi militias, namely, Saraya Awlia al-Dam (Companies of the Guardians of Blood).

The logos of Kataib Awliya al Haq and Saraya Awlia al Dam both display a fist holding an AK-47 springing from the map of Iraq and a circle surrounding the map marked with the words of each militia.



Kataib Awliya al Haqs logo (left) and the logo of Saraya Awlia al Dam.

Saraya Awlia al Dam first gained attention on August 24, 2020, when it claimed responsibility for an attack on an Iraqi convoy allegedly transporting US goods and released dramatic footage of the incident.

The extent to which Kataib Awliya al Haq is genuinely preparing to enter Syria remains uncertain and cannot be determined by a single statement. However, one thing is clear: the Syrian coastwhere clashes have repeatedly occurred between HTS-led forces and Syrian Alawites, as well as remnants of the Assad regimecould see further escalation.

Clashes have also erupted on the outskirts of Homs, a region with a significant Alawite, Shiite, and Sunni population. On January 24, more than 13 officers from the Assad regimes Syrian Arab Army were killed in the village of Fahel in the Homs countryside. The ongoing violence in these areas will only fuel the growth of armed groups.

Calls for violence among former Assad loyalists have driven many Alawites to take up arms against HTS-led forces in the Syrian coastal governorates of Tartus and Latakia, as well as in Homs. Meqdad Louay Fatiha (Abu Jaafar), an Alawite and former officer in the Syrian Republican Guard, has been urging the Alawite community to resist HTS since the Assad regimes downfall on December 8.

In his latest video on January 27, where he appears masked, Fatiha said, From this day, I call on the community to not hand in their weapons, and whoever attacks the villages for military sweeps, kill them, kill them, kill them, and we will be supportive of you, god willing. And I will cooperate with a group of our brothers to do vengeful military operations in Latakia and its countryside in retaliation for the killing of our sons in Homs Governorate and what the members of HTS are doing in terms of stealing and looting in Jableh and Latakia.

Other armed groups operating on the Syrian coast include the Syrian Popular Resistance, a pro-Assadist militia created in December 2024. The group vowed to kill HTS leaders in response to the extrajudicial killings of Christians, Alawites, and Shiites after the fall of the Assad regime.

Since December 8, the Syrian Popular Resistance has killed the following HTS and HTS-affiliated commanders:

Ahmad al Wazeer (Abu Akar) Muhialddin al Turki Akram al Siyah Abdulrahman Qazali Mohammad Khaled al Safadi Salem Janbaz Mohammad Abdul Qader Khalil (Abu Abdo Talbiseh)

Western Syria will be a key area to watch, as Assad loyalists remain trapped there but with access to weapons. It is highly likely that external actors will seek to exploit this chaos, particularly Iran, which has been accused of fueling the insurgency against HTS. Additionally, the region holds strategic value for the Islamic Republics broader ambitions, as it provides direct access to Lebanon, where its key proxy, Hezbollah, is eager to rearm and rebuild. A destabilized border corridor creates the ideal conditions for Iranian influence.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant.


Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassems last speech, delivered on Monday, was his most defiant to date. Qassem spoke one day after the expiration of the November 27 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deals 60-day timetable for the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from south Lebanon.

The prior day had witnessed tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of predominantly Shiite south Lebanese defy Israeli orders and seek to return to border towns and villages still occupied by the IDFa human procession reportedly instigated by Hezbollah. Qassems combativeness was likely encouraged by this massive turnout and its overall pro-Hezbollah character. The groups continued ability to mobilize the Shiite masses was a demonstration of strength not only to the Israelis but also to Hezbollahs domestic Lebanese opponents, who would contemplate exploiting the groups current military degradation to move against it.

Qassem described his speech, which coincided with the 27th of the Islamic month of Rajabtraditionally believed to be the date of the Islamic prophet Mohammads Night Journeyas an accounting and a narrative. Qassem began in a typical formulaic manner, recounting recent events and offering salutations, with a special dedication to the struggling [al-mujahid] Palestinian people and their resistance in Gaza, the West Bank, and the 48 Lands [Israel] on achieving a ceasefire. He also lauded the partners to this victory, the Islamic Republic of Iran  dear Yemen  and dear Iraqs people and Shiite religious authority [marjaiyya] and [Popular] Mobilization [Forces] and praised Lebanon, which bravely offered blood and sacrifices, including the most eminent of the ummahs martyrs, sayyedHassan Nasrallah, in support of Gaza.

Qassem continued to frame Al Aqsa Floodthe war begun after Palestinian armed factions attacked Israel on October 7, 2023as a momentous victory that restored the centrality of the Palestinian cause even in the West and exposed Israel as a weak and murderous warring gang working towards the extermination of humanity that will eventually be swept away God willing  as this Palestinian people achieve the liberation of its land from the river to the sea.

Qassem broke down the remainder of his speech into six points. The first two, recounting the recent war and Hezbollahs losses, were interrelated. He began by exaggerating the magnitude of the groups recent fight with Israel. Qassem described the fight as an aggression with global, American, Western support that respected no law, brooked no sanctity, killing humans and destroying stone and tree and life with no limits, stressing the tremendous gap between the vast American-Israeli military capability and that of the Resistanceno matter the capabilities it acquired. Qassem drilled down on this contrast between the Israeli-American exceptional military superiority and Hezbollahs comparatively meager military means but argued that Hezbollahs ultimately superior strength rested upon the inevitable triumph of justice over injustice.

Having thus framed the contest between the two sidesoverwhelming, American-backed Israeli military might vs. a plucky resistance organization whose strength is derived from the power of belief and the justice of its causeQassem conceded that Hezbollah had indeed suffered tremendous, unprecedented military setbacks during the last war.

Some of this [Hezbollah support] base has questions and was surprised by what happened, Qassem said. This was a tremendous event and war, and some of its outcomes were unexpected, he explained before offering Hezbollahs closest-ever admission of a military defeat at Israels hands.

Because of the capabilities that Hezbollah had amassed over the years, Qassem said, many assumed we would defeat Israel and deal it a mortal blow. Many, he said, also assumed that Hezbollahs accumulated deterrence against Israel and its unbroken record of prior military victoriesas the groups narrative frames all its past engagementswould hold and continue. Hezbollahs supporters, Qassem said, were, therefore, shocked at the spate and extent of the organizations losses in materiel and men, chief among them the greatest of the martyrs, sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. He also admitted that Israeli intelligences successful penetration of Hezbollahs organizational apparatus had facilitated these losses.

But while Qassems words approximated an admission of defeat, they were far from one. He employed rhetorical sleight of hand, lowering his audiences expectations. We must understand  that the Resistance cannot be military stronger, and we can never assume that its victory is military, Qassem said. The Resistances victory over Israel is [through] its faith, youth, women, children, elders, offerings, blood of its leaders, in the sacrifices it offers, he explained. That is how the Resistance prevails, Qassem continued, insisting that the military component was but one element of victory, with the more important aspects being faith, belief, and the ability to withstand and offer great sacrifices.

Here, Qassem claimed, Hezbollah had delivered in spades. Not only had it achieved the two best things, martyrdom and victory  victory because we remained in the battlefield and the Resistance will persist, but the group had also dealt Israel heavy blows and foiled its plans. Despite Israel, as he claimed, deploying five divisions comprised of 75,000 soldiers, Hezbollah confronted them with legendary steadfastness, exceptional bravery, and the determination of martyrdom. Israels massive war machine was thus denied entry into Lebanon, save for some hundreds of metersits goals of destroying Hezbollah and stoking domestic Lebanese strife foiled. Meanwhile, it was Hezbollah that inflicted massive losses among the ranks of the Israeli army, and throughout the Israeli entity, denying them safety or stability, with economic, social, political, operational, and psychological consequences, until Israel asked, through America, for a ceasefire.

It was at that point, Qassem said, [Hezbollah] agreed with the Lebanese state to a ceasefire. This, he claimed, was a victory. Qassem concluded with a particularly obnoxious phraseRecord this as a victorythat he kept repeating throughout his speech, likely intending for Hezbollahs propaganda apparatuses to turn it into a popular meme, much like they did with his predecessor Nasrallahs phrases and gestures.

So, in Qassems narrative, Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire from a position of strengthan agreement for which Israel had effectively begged. We agreed to a ceasefire because we had suffered aggression and the aggressor requested to end its aggression, he said, adding, We agreed to the end of the aggression because we did not want it or a war to begin with, a falsehood belied by Hezbollah initiating unprovoked attacks against Israel on October 8, 2023. Because Hezbollah had not wanted a war, he said, it was only natural for us to accept a ceasefire. Qassem also said his group had agreed to a ceasefire to comply with the Lebanese states decision to enter into such an agreement.

Now, Qassem claimed, Hezbollah had decided to strictly adhere to the ceasefires terms despite Israel allegedly violating the deal almost 1,350 times by air, land, and sea.

We, as Hezbollah, complied. We were in constant dialogue with [Lebanons] political authorities. At one point, Ill admit, we thought to respond to the violations, Qassem said, but the Lebanese authorities advised against it. They told us  it would be better to be a little patient  we adhered despite Israels violations. We thought to wait, and God would help us, and to remain as patient as possible despite the losses being inflicted and, God willing, the situation would improve.

This patience paid off, Qassem claimed, with the immediate return of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese to their hometowns along the border, which coincided with the [end] of the November 27 ceasefire, at 4 am. With that event, he said, the victory celebrations spread to all areas [of Lebanon]  while the Resistance fighters remained in the battlefield, not leaving it for one second.

Qassem alleged that as the deals sponsor, the United Stateswhich he described as a fox guarding a henhousefailed to restrain Israel despite Lebanese governmental pressure. Here, as with every other mention of Washington in his speeches, Hezbollahs secretary-general sought to direct his audiences hatred toward the United Stateswhich the group has always considered its primary enemy, with Israel merely serving as Americas tool or forward military base.

Qassem then claimed that Israels violations and the Lebanese states inability to halt them proved Lebanons need for Hezbollah. It became clear that when the resistance fighters were fighting, Israel didnt dare come forward. But after the ceasefire and the political track, it began entering villages and doing as it pleases. So, what kept [Israel] at bay? Politics or the Resistance? Therefore, this is a confirmation that the Resistance is needed to confront the Israeli enemy.

Turning to Hezbollahs domestic opponents, Qassem portrayed them as stooges of the United States, whose hopes of ending the group had been foiled by its victory. Indeed, he stressed, the triumph had only come through adherence to Hezbollahs golden tripartite equation of Army-People-Resistance. The Lebanese Army, by protecting the throngs of Lebanesemostly Hezbollah supporterswho returned to their border villages, had together acted as a resistance, thus confirming the effectiveness and durability of the tripartite equation. Bizarrely, Qassem then insisted that Hezbollah would not accept Israel remaining in Lebanon beyond the 60-day withdrawal timetable and denied that the Lebanese government had accepted an extension until February 18despite caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati agreeing to precisely that arrangement.

Praising Frances demand for an immediate Israeli withdrawal, Qassem threatened that an extension of the IDFs stay in Lebanon would transform the Israeli army into an occupying force in Hezbollahs eyeswith all the attendant consequences. Hezbollahs position  is that we are confronting an occupation committing aggression and refusing to withdraw. And the resistance has the right to act in accordance with what it believes to be appropriate regarding the form and nature of the confrontation and its timing. This is our message to everyone; let them understand from it what they wish, Qassem threatened. He also called upon all of Lebanon, not just the Resistance, to deal with Israel accordingly to end its militarys continued presence in the country.

The final part of Qassems speech dealt with domestic politics and the government formation process. The Hezbollah secretary-general expressed his groups sense of ease and comfort with Lebanons post-war political direction. He explained that Hezbollah voted for Joseph Aoun as the president of Lebanon to promote national unity. Others, he said, had chosen a different path, and thus surprised the group by selecting Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate over long-time Hezbollah ally Najib Mikati. This outcome, Qassem said, was intended to put Hezbollah on a collision course with Aoun. However, he stated, We acted wisely because we want consensus, we want a country, a government, a state that can stand on its two feet, and national accord. So, we cooperated with the prime minister-designate, and thank God matters between us and him are proceeding.

Now, Qassem added that it was not Hezbollah that was obstructing the governments formation, but other factions that demanded specific ministries and appointments. But our relations with the prime minister[-designate] and the president are fine, thank God, and we have no problems or obstructions, he said.

Qassem also seemed to hint that Hezbollah may have opted not to join Salams potential cabinet directly. He stressed that the incoming governments role would be to achieve unity on a national level, not the government-formation level, and that Salam alone would choose the method of [government] formation to best position Lebanon to confront domestic and foreign challenges. This statement does not necessarily suggest that Salam is seeking confrontation with Hezbollah or to exclude the group. Rather, it could be part of a quid pro quo between Hezbollah and the incoming premier: the group will support his premiership, and, in exchange, Salam will allocate the Shiite share of the cabinet to candidates approved by Hezbollah and its allied Amal party but not directly affiliated with the maligned groups.

This political sleight of hand would satisfy both sides. By helping select acceptable ministers, Hezbollah would be assured that Salams government would not move against its interests or arms. In addition, those ministers not being directly affiliated with Hezbollah would facilitate the groups and Salams shared goalswhich Qassem enumerated in his speechof ejecting Israel from Lebanon by all means and achieving post-war reconstruction. After all, a seemingly Hezbollah-free Lebanese government would be better positioned to mobilize the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and seem a more worthwhile and attractive recipient for reconstruction aid.

In the meantime, Qassem concluded, Hezbollah was sparing no effort to move along the reconstruction process. He said the group had already surveyed 270,000 residential units and offered reconstruction or housing assistance to almost 200,000 people but required more time and patience from its supporters.

David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
A Lynn teenager sits in a jailhouse on Wednesday with her future in the U.S. in doubt after federal immigration authorities apprehended her at a Massachusetts courthouse where she faced a single misdemeanor charge.

Her charge: pushing her brother during an argument over a cell phone.

Zeneyda Barrera, 18, originally from Nicaragua, was arrested by Lynn police after a neighbor complained about a noise disturbance around 4:30 a.m. on Monday. After speaking with Barrera, her mother and her 12-year-old brother, police learned Barrera pushed her brother to the floor during an argument over a cell phone, according to Barreras attorney, Patrick Callahan.

The allegation is that she pushed him to the floor, Callahan said. That was the extent of the allegation, he said, noting that there were no injuries to the 12-year-old whatsoever.

Hours after the incident, however, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Barrera before her arraignment at Lynn District Court, Callahan said. Court records show Barrera was charged with one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor.

This was a minor, minor case, Callahan said. Things that happen with any household that have children in their preteen to teens.

It threw me for a loop when they (ICE) placed her into custody, Callahan said since Barreras mother told him that her daughter has legal status in the United States. Its unusual for (ICE) to pick up an individual with legal status and not convicted of a crime. That usually doesnt happen.

Especially since the Essex County District Attorney had agreed to divert Barreras case to a young adult diversion program, which could have led to the charge being dismissed, according to Callahan.

After being detained by ICE, she was brought to a jail in Cumberland County, Maine, the attorney said.

ICE did not immediately return a request for comment on Wednesday.

Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson expressed concern about how Barrera was separated from her family and is at risk of being deported into an impossible situation.

Her mother is desperately trying to understand what is happening, the mayor said in a statement to MassLive.

We have been told that ICE would be targeting violent offenders whose presence puts our community at risk, Nicholson said. Based on what we have learned so far, that is not what is happening in this case. The facts here show that in order to genuinely partner with communities on public safety, ICE needs to take all the circumstances into account.

Nicholson added that hes concerned that cases such as Barreras could create a potential chilling effect surrounding policing by the Lynn Police Department if people are afraid of the implications of contacting law enforcement.

He clarified that the Lynn Police Department does not ask for immigration status.

ICE detained Barrera moments after a Lynn judge ordered her released. She was waiting to speak with the district attorneys office about the diversion program and in the courts lock-up area when ICE apprehended her, Callahan said.

Immigration authorities ramped up deportation efforts once President Donald Trump took office last week.

ICE said it made 956 arrests nationwide on Sunday and 286 on Saturday, the Associated Press reported . While some of the operations may not have been unusual, ICE averaged 311 daily arrests in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healeys office referred a request for comment to local law enforcement.
Shantel Gillespie entered her apartment building around 9:40 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2024. A clinicians assistant at Boston Childrens Hospital, the 30-year-old lived with her three children  ages 1, 3 and 6 inside an apartment on the fifth floor of a Harrison Avenue apartment complex.

Gillespie never left her apartment, after prosecutors say the father of her children, Eric McPhail, 37, strangled her and assaulted her, causing blunt force injuries to her head, and ultimately killing her.

McPhail was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court Wednesday afternoon, where a judge ordered him held without bail on a single charge of murder. His hands cuffed behind his back, McPhail wore a white shirt and a blue surgical mask in the courtroom. Members of Gillespies family, friends and at least one coworker from Boston Childrens filled the courtroom gallery for the brief hearing.

Prosecutors say the 37-year-old had a history of abusive behavior toward Gillespie, including prior domestic violence charges, and two prior restraining orders: one on Feb. 17, 2021, and another on July 11, 2022.

Prosecutors say McPhail entered 390 Harrison Ave. mere moments before Gillespie on Dec. 11. The pairs three children were present inside the apartment throughout the night, according to a Boston Police report filed in court.

McPhail is seen on surveillance footage leaving the apartment building just after midnight on Dec. 12  at 12:01 a.m.  then returning at 12:08 a.m., using a key fob to enter Gillespies apartment. He and his three children left the building hours later when McPhail dropped them off at school.

After doing so, he returned to the apartment around 9 a.m., leaving at 10:35 a.m. and not returning after.

Later that night, McPhail went to a Dorchester residence, where he dropped off the children and their clothing, telling a witness he was going away for a long time and was not to be seen again. He denied knowing anything about Gillespies whereabouts, according to the report.

Prosecutors say McPhail told another witness, This is probably the last time you are going to hear from me. He then abandoned Gillespies car and debit card in a garage on Francis Street, where both were recovered by police, according to the report.

Police found Gillespie dead inside her apartment on Dec. 12, 2024, after the same person who McPhail dropped the children off with called police to report they feared he might have killed Gillespie, Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy said during the arraignment. Officers responded to 390 Harrison Ave. at around 6:57 p.m. that night.

McPhails court-appointed lawyer, Dan Fitzgerald, did not contest the request for McPhail to be held without bail.

After the arraignment, he told reporters he met McPhail for the first time just before the hearing.

It was more about the procedure than it was anything else, he said.

Fitzgerald said McPhail has been in police custody since a December arrest. In July 2022, just days before Gillespie obtained a restraining order against him, McPhail was charged with assault and battery on a family/household member for an incident on July 7 of that year, court records show.

But McPhail never appeared in court on that charge until December 2024, when he was arraigned on it in Boston Municipal Court in West Roxbury. After that hearing on Dec. 20, he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. A judge ultimately allowed prosecutors' motion to hold McPhail as dangerous.

A jury trial in that case is scheduled to begin Feb. 27.

McPhail will return to court for a pre-trial hearing on the murder charge on March 7.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, whose office is prosecuting McPhail, said following the arraignment that it was just the first step in a long quest for justice.

Its a long road, but we will be with the family and with the entire community that loves and cared for Shantel so much every single step of the way, Hayden said. This has been a long and painstaking investigation that has brought us to this point.
Honda said it is voluntarily recalling about 295,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States to update the fuel injection electronic unit, a device that determines how much fuel enters the engine.

The recalls affect the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S, the automaker said.

The fuel injection electronic unit was improperly programmed, Honda said. Sudden changes in the throttle  a valve that controls the amount of air that enters the engine, according to carfax.com  could light up the check engine light and cause the engine to lose power, stop and/or stall. This could increase the risk of a crash or injury.

As of Wednesday, American Honda has not received any confirmed reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue, the company said.

Honda said it self-diagnosed the issue with the fuel injection electronic unit by monitoring data from its vehicles. The company determined there was a need to perform a software update on the fuel injection electronic control unit.

Registered owners of all affected Honda and Acura models will be contacted by mail in March, Honda said.

They will be asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to update their vehicles fuel injection electronic control unit for free.

Honda said owners of these vehicles can also see if their car needs a repair by visiting www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com, or by calling (888) 234-2138.
A man is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of 30-year-old Shantel Gillespie, a Boston mother of three found dead in a luxury apartment complex in the South End in December.

Eric McPhail, who is the father of Gillespies children, is set to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement.

This was a lengthy and thorough investigation and Im grateful for the work of all involved to bring this suspect forward to answer for Shantel Gillespies tragic death, Hayden said in a statement.

Gillespies sister, Shanakay Gillespie, described her as a beautiful soul and loved by all.

My sister had one goal in life: to make a better life for herself so her children would grow up wanting of nothing, said Shanakay Gillespie, in a GoFundMe made for the Gillespie family.

Shantel Gillespie had grown up in Jamaica before she immigrated to the U.S. in 2014.

For the past five years, Gillespie was a devoted health care worker for Boston Childrens Hospital as a clinical assistant, all while she attended school and raised her children, her sister said.

Shantel Gillespie was a valued member of our hospital family, known for her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the care of our patients. Her sudden passing is a tremendous loss to our organization, and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, Boston Childrens Hospital said in a statement to MassLive.

Gillespie had just finished her nursing degree from the Laboure College of Healthcare before she died and was set to graduate this month.

[Shantel and I] cried tears of joy together celebrating a victory well deserved. Today we cry together but tears of sorrow at such a tragedy, Gillespies sister wrote.

She never received her degree, she never walked the stage, she never got to tell her children goodbye. She worked so hard for a future that was ripped away too soon, her sister said.

Gillespie was also a victim of domestic violence for years, according to Shanakay Gillespie, and had worked tirelessly to have a successful future while battling to break the cycle of domestic violence.

The GoFundMe for Gillespie will be used towards her childrens well being and finding justice for her murder, her sister wrote. Gillespies family plans to send her body home to Jamaica.

Please share to help a family in need and shed light on the matter for victims of domestic violence, her sister wrote.
A South Deerfield man carrying Molotov cocktails and knives was arrested in connection with wanting to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, WCVB-TV reported Tuesday.

Ryan Michael English, 24, faces charges of unlawful receipt of a firearm; possession or transfer of a firearm; and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on Capitol grounds, according to court documents obtained by the news station.

English turned himself in to United States Capitol Police and told them he wanted to kill Bessent, who was recently confirmed as President Donald Trumps Secretary of the Treasury, WCVB-TV wrote.

He also wanted to kill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or House Speaker Mike Johnson, who English called Nazis, according to Roll Call.

You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly because of my heart, English wrote in a note that police found in his jacket pocket, WCVB-TV reported. This is terrible, but I cant do nothing while Nazis kill my sisters.

Capitol police also searched Englishs car, parked along the 900 block of Independence Avenue, Roll Call wrote.

Investigators uncovered materials to make additional Molotov cocktails inside the vehicle, a Capitol police spokesperson told Roll Call in an email.

English also wanted to burn down the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation two blocks from the White House, and admitted to buying an atlas to find Washington D.C., WCVB-TV also reported.
A retired U.S. Navy captain born and raised in Quincy, who also was one of the longest-serving POWs during the Vietnam War, will be buried in his hometown with full military honors, including four jets performing the missing man formation.

Captain Richard Stratton died on Jan. 18 at 93, a Quincy town statement released on Wednesday read. Eight days is body was flown to Logan International Airport in Boston from Florida and escorted by Quincy police to the funeral home.

Quincy residents and friends paid tribute... holding American flags in honor of the hero and his family, the statement read.

Known as The Beak, Stratton was a member of the Strike Fighter Squadron 192, also known as the World-Famous Golden Dragons. He earned his pilots wings in 1957 and, while fighting in the Vietnam War, was captured after he ejected from his plane due to a missile malfunction.

Stratton was in a North Vietnamese prison camp for 2,251 days and was not released until March 1973, the town said. He returned home to his wife Alice and their three sons.

We never doubted you would get us home, the town quotes Stratton, reflecting on his captivity. We were blessed; we were Americans.

Stratton was born on Oct. 14, 1931, his obituary read. He was discharged from the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1948 and entered the Catholic Seminary of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He left years later to enroll in Georgetown University and graduated with a degree in history.

Upon his return from Vietnam, he held several positions and commands across the country, from New York to California. He retired in 1986 and practiced as a clinical social worker, specializing in psychological trauma and addiction.

Strattons wake will be held at Keohane Funeral Home at 785 Hancock St. between 4 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Services will follow the next day at the funeral home at 10 a.m., followed by his funeral at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church at 386 Hancock St.

Stratton will be interred at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, with full military honors and a flyover, Quincy officials said.
The current strain of avian influenza is widespread among wild birds in Massachusetts, state officials say, but the risk to humans still remains low.

I want to stress that right now at the Department of Public Health, we feel like awareness is the right approach as opposed to alarm, Dr. Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist and public health veterinarian, said during a media briefing Wednesday.

Massachusetts has experienced periodic bird flu outbreaks since this particular strain arrived in North America in 2021. But the current outbreak is the largest in terms of its distribution and the total number of infected birds, according to Andrew Vitz, state ornithologist at MassWildlife.

Vitz said the virus (H5N1) is widespread among the states water birds, primarily affecting geese and swans.

Nationwide, 67 people have been infected with bird flu and one person has died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human cases have been reported in California, Washington, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin, primarily linked to direct contact with infected domestic birds or dairy cattle.

Brown emphasized that there have been no confirmed human cases of bird flu in Massachusetts.

The leading message coming from Bay State officials this week was that people and pets should stay away from sick or dead wild birds. And if they see any, they should report their observations to MassWildlife.

This is an animal virus right now, Brown said. It has not mutated in a way where it can infect people easily. We still consider the risk to the general public from the current flu to be low, but were all maintaining situational awareness and preparing in the event that those mutations happen.

Raising concerns among public health officials, though, is genetic analysis done on the one individual who died in Louisiana that suggest the virus mutated within the patient after infection  meaning it had begun to adapt to infect humans better, according to the CDC.

Where are bird flu cases in Massachusetts?

Vitz, of MassWildlife, said bird flu cases in Massachusetts have primarily been identified around Greater Boston through the southeast portion of the state.

In Plymouth this month, Billington Sea was the epicenter of a suspected outbreak that infected more than 60 geese, swans and ducks.

In Brockton and Avon, officials last week closed the 650-acre D.W. Field Park due to bird flu concerns.

Two Canadian geese found dead on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus tested positive for the virus.

Vitz said both wild and domestic birds  such as chickens, ducks and turkeys  can become infected. Raptors, water fowl and other aquatic birds are most at risk.

Some birds infected may not show any signs of illness and do not die from the infection, but they can transmit the virus through droppings and other bodily fluids, Vitz said.

Bird flu concerns for poultry, dairy cattle

Wild and domestic mammals can also become infected due to contact with birds.

Ashley Randle, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, said despite national concerns regarding dairy cattle, the state has consistently tested milk supply and achieved 100% negative results among licensed dairy farms since last August.

The state is also working directly with poultry owners to prevent spread by keeping their flocks indoors and away from wild birds.

Biosecurity is incredibly important on farms and for backyard flocks, as we recognize how emotionally and financially devastating this can be for flock owners, Randle said.

Last week, the New York Times published a story about how the last duck farm on New Yorks Long Island must euthanize its entire flock of nearly 100,000 ducks due to an outbreak, and may go out of business as a result.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bird flu killed over 17 million egg-laying hens nationwide in November and December.
There was something hauntingly familiar about the chaos that overtook Beacon Hill on Tuesday as state officials scrambled to make sense of  and tried to halt  a shock Trump White House order freezing billions of dollars in federal aid.

Ditto for the scene unfolding at Boston City Hall, the brutalist pile of concrete now preserved forever as a historic landmark, where Mayor Michelle Wu responded to her summons to Washington by a Republican-led committee probing so-called sanctuary cities.

By mid-afternoon, state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell had joined her second lawsuit in as many weeks challenging an order by President Donald Trump.

And Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who repeatedly hauled Trump and his administration into court the first time he sat in the White House and she served as attorney general, denounced the halt in billions of dollars in federal aid as devastating.

And by early Tuesday evening, just as that freeze was set to go into effect, a federal judge temporarily stymied the administrations plans, The Associated Press reported. And that was just this week.

Dont forget the pardons last week for the scores of people sent to jail after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, or the blizzard of executive orders on matters ranging from gender to the Paris Climate Accords.

In other words, it was Trump being Trump. And if youd forgotten what that was like, the last two weeks have been a crash refresher course.

The Republican had run on promises of being a disruptor. And not quite 10 days after taking the oath of office, he was carrying through on that vow.

And the ripples of it were felt in Boston and beyond, as federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carried out raids, and as immigration lawyers braced their clients for the worst.

People are absolutely terrified, immigration attorney Matthew Maiona told MassLive during a break in the action at U.S. Immigration Court in Boston.

And so far, at least, a majority of Americans appear to be onside with the White House.

A majority of respondents (51%) to a poll by Echelon Insights said they approved of Trumps job performance, compared to 43% who disapproved.

Breaking the numbers down, 36% said they strongly approve vs. 14% who somewhat approve, AL.com, a sibling site to MassLive, reported.

A little more than a third, 36%, said they strongly disapprove of the job the second-term Republican is doing compared to 7% who said they somewhat disapprove, the poll found.

Trumps approval ratings also were above water by 10 percentage points when it comes to handling the economy (50% approval vs. 40% disapproval) and immigration (55% vs. 40%.)

His highest rankings came in his handling of foreign policy, where 50% said they approve of the presidents plans vs. 39% who disapprove, Al.com reported.

Fifty percent said they also believe the U.S. should continue its policy of birthright citizenship compared to 34% who believe the policy of giving automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. should end.

Fifty-six percent said they at least somewhat supported the deportation of those living in the country illegally compared to 37% who oppose deportation, Al.com reported.

More than half, 52% said they approved of the Executive Orders Trump signed on his first day of office compared to 42% who disapproved.

As was the case in the early days of Trumps first term in 2017, the dividing lines between Democrats and Republicans are familiar ones  even if the opposition is somewhat more muted than eight years ago.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., for instance, is voicing his opposition to the White Houses climate policies  an issue with profound implications for the Bay State.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined with Democratic colleagues, including U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton of Salem, to rip Trump over rising egg prices and to criticize him for ignoring a larger vow to reduce Americans' grocery bills.

Thats also a biggie in a state with the second-highest cost of living in the country.

Far from complaining, Massachusetts Republicans celebrated Trumps return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

This past election, Americans in Massachusetts and across the country made it resoundingly clear: its time for a new direction for our nation, state Republican Party Chairperson Amy Carnevale said in a Jan. 20 statement.

Voters have sent a strong message that they want a secure border, an economy where prices stabilize and wages rise, and businesses that are free to prosper, she continued. They want America to be respected on the world stage and our citizens to come first. This includes addressing the issue of criminal illegal immigrants by ensuring deportation efforts are prioritized for those who endanger our communities at taxpayer expense.

Among voters, the sentiment is much the same.

Trump is being bold and thinking big, Betsy Sarcone, a Republican voter from suburban Des Moines, told CNN in a story published on Monday. How refreshing it is to have someone who says what they mean and can coherently answer questions.

Davette Baker, a Democratic organizer from Milwaukee, sees things differently.

This man is unhinged, Baker told CNN. The law and order president isnt holding up law and order.  And the immigration issue has everyone scared.

And it was only Tuesday.
Concerned by the Trump administrations unfolding deportation efforts, some Massachusetts lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates launched a new campaign Wednesday pressing the Legislature to offer a quick response.

Supporters gathered outside the State House for the start of the Protect Our Immigrant Communities campaign, calling for prompt action on legislation that would limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration affairs, end contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and deploy state dollars toward legal fees for some Bay Staters' immigration proceedings.

Marbled throughout the speaking program were concerns about President Donald Trumps hardline stance toward illegal immigration, including his pledge to oversee mass deportations. The rally took place hours before Trump was set to sign a law requiring authorities to detain undocumented immigrants accused of some crimes, seemingly before they are convicted of any offenses.

We must quickly take action to expand and enforce civil liberties and rights for all Massachusetts residents in the face of the orange mans administration [putting a] target on our commonwealth, state Sen. Liz Miranda, D-2nd Suffolk, said.

The campaign, led by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, set its sights on a long-debated bill known as the Safe Communities Act and another measure that is a newcomer to debate.

State Reps. David Rogers, D-24th Middlesex, and Frank Moran, D-17th Essex, joined by Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Hampden, are sponsoring bills in their respective chambers creating a publicly funded Immigrant Legal Defense Fund that Bay Staters could use to cover attorney fees in immigration proceedings.

Gomez said the measure would establish a united front to provide some of our most vulnerable residents with the protections and tools they need to face the threat of detention and deportation.

Legal representation can often make all the difference in immigration court. Detained immigrants with a lawyer are 10 times more likely to win their case than those without legal representation, he said. Still, in Massachusetts, more than half of the immigrants with pending cases are navigating their proceedings without a lawyer.

The bill would stand up the legal defense fund on the states books and allow it to be seeded with legislative appropriations plus private money from corporations or nonprofits. Eligibility would be limited to applicants whose annual household income is 200 percent or less of the federal poverty limit.

MIRA Coalition Executive Director Elizabeth Sweet said New York, New Jersey, Colorado, California and Oregon have launched similar legal defense funds. Supporters in Massachusetts are hoping for a $10 million initial commitment to get it started, she said.

Thats probably not enough to cover all of the potential needs, but it would make a huge difference for the immigrants who are particularly in detention and those already in deportation proceedings, Sweet told the News Service. While we know its a significant amount of money, weve also seen that in some of the other states where they have passed similar bills, there is some offset. The reality is, if immigrants are not deported from our communities, if theyre not put in detention, if theyre remaining in their workplaces and contributing economically to the commonwealth, that benefits all of us.

The coalition said Massachusetts had 369 people in federal immigration detention as of this month.

The campaign is also backing the latest version of the Safe Communities Act, legislation that would move toward ending contracts with ICE, including so-called 287(g) agreements that delegates to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform immigration officer functions, and a long-debated bill seeking to stand up a more formal wall between local police and federal immigration authorities.

Supporters argue that immigration enforcement is solely a federal responsibility and that state and local police -- as well as the constituents they serve -- need more clarity that their jobs will not entail that complex work.

Versions of that bill have been floated on Beacon Hill for close to a decade.

The bill has earned committee endorsements in several terms, but for years, top House and Senate Democrats have decided against bringing it forward for a vote, instead opting to pursue reforms such as allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire drivers licenses.

Rep. Manny Cruz, D- 7th Essex, said hes optimistic the latest version will break the logjam because it has support from key law enforcement figures.

Weve worked with district attorneys like [Middlesex DA] Marian Ryan. We have police chiefs who have rallied around the bill and helped us tweak the language to ensure that we were addressing some of their concerns about due process and notification and communication, Cruz, of Salem, told State House News Service.

Weve done the work of engaging with local law enforcement. Thats going to be our focus this session so that we can make the case that what local and state law enforcement are saying is that they dont want to be involved in civil immigration enforcement, he continued. I think that thats a really persuasive argument for my colleagues to understand.

Cruz, Gomez and Miranda were joined at Wednesdays rally by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Middlesex/Worcester of Marlborough, and Rep. Priscila Sousa, D-6th Middlesex.

Trump campaigned on ramping up deportations of people in the United States without legal status. Before taking office, he said his administration would prioritize undocumented immigrants with criminal histories.

The president issued a series of executive orders during his first week that suspended refugee admissions and applications. The administration also pursuedg additional removal of immigrants without legal status and cracked down on immigration at the countrys southern border.

Some Massachusetts Democrats are not convinced enforcement will target only those with criminal records.

If anyone tells you that theyre only focused on violent criminals, they are lying, Miranda said.
Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday grilled President Donald Trumps pick to run the nations public health system over his pledges to close a revolving door in government.

In a sharply worded exchange, Warren asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to pledge not to take employment with a pharmaceutical company or any other related industry hed be charged with regulating if he were to win Senate confirmation to helm the U.S. Department of Human Services.

"Im happy to commit to that," Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, said during an appearance before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

Warren shot back, Good, thats what I figured. I said, its an easy question to start with. And I think youre right on this question ...

That prompted Kennedy to quip that he did not believe that any of them want to give me any money, by the way.

The Cambridge Democrat also asked Kennedy, who has faced scrutiny for his public pronouncements on vaccines, to further commit to not taking compensation from lawsuits against drug companies during his tenure and for four years after that.

In the past two years, youve raked in $2.5 million from a law firm called Wisner Baum. You go online, you do commercials to encourage people to sign up with Wisner Baum to join lawsuits against vaccine makers, Warren said Wednesday.

And for everyone who signs up, you personally get paid, and if they win their case, you get 10% of what they win. So, if you bring in someone who gets $10 million, you walk away with a million dollars, Warren said.

As part of his ethics filings, Kennedy disclosed financial ties to the firm, which is pursuing litigation against drug maker Merck over its human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil.

The firm employs Kennedys son, Conor, Politico reported Wednesday.

"Pursuant to the referral agreement, I am entitled to receive 10% of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm," Kennedy wrote in that filing.

I am not trying these cases, I am not an attorney of record for the cases, and I will not provide representational services in connection with the cases during my appointment to the position of secretary, Kennedy wrote in his ethics filing.

Kennedy bristled at Warrens characterization of his relationship with the law firm, telling her that she made him sound like a shill.

" I put together that case," he said. I did the science day presentation to the judge on that case to get it into court, the docket hearing ...

Warren cut him off, firing back: Mr. Kennedy, its just a really simple question. Youve taken in $2.5 million, I want to know if you will commit right now that not only will you not go to work for drug companies, you wont go to work suing the drug companies and taking your rake out of that while you are secretary and for four years after.

Kennedy told Warren that he would commit to not taking any fees from drug companies while he helmed the agency, prompting more back and forth.

In a statement to MassLive released after the confirmation hearing, Warren said Kennedy has made millions off of lawsuits against the same vaccine makers hed regulate as health secretary.

Today, he wouldnt commit to stop raking in those profits. Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy Jr. will keep cashing in, Warren said.
SPRINGFIELD  The Springfield Thunderbirds, in collaboration with the Springfield Fire Department, the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, and the Springfield International Association of Firefighters Local 648, have announced a total of $4,000 raised in support of fire departments in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.

All funds will be directed through the International Association of Fire Fighters Foundation.

Springfield firefighters campaigned through Saturday nights Hometown Heroes Night at the MassMutual Center, filling the boot with donations from T-Birds fans. The team also chipped in by donating a portion of the evenings 50-50 raffle funds to the cause.

This years Hometown Heroes Night was a reminder to us all of the bravery and courage these men and women showcase on a daily basis to protect and serve their communities, Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa said. We are so proud as an organization to see such an amazing response from our fanbase to make this donation possible. Our thoughts continue to be with all those affected by the devastation in Southern California.

Fans can get their Thunderbirds tickets today by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.

-- SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS 
The National Weather Service issued an updated snow squall warning at 1:27 p.m. on Wednesday in effect until 2 p.m. for Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcester counties.

"At 1:26 p.m., a dangerous snow squall was located along a line extending from near Winchendon to near Hatfield, moving east at 40 mph," comments the weather service. "Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes."

Locations impacted by the warning include Leominster, Fitchburg, Amherst, Orange, Gardner, Belchertown, Athol, Groton, Winchendon, Lunenburg, Ware, Townsend, Templeton, Westminster, Shirley, Granby, Ashburnham, Barre, Hadley and Hubbardston.

The weather service adds, "Reduce speed and turn on headlights! During snow squalls, the visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions."

Hazards include intense bursts of heavy snow. Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts up to 35 mph.

Snow squalls: Safety protocols and prevention tips

What are snow squalls?

Snow squalls are intense winter weather events often associated with strong cold fronts. They can quickly blanket roads with snow and ice, even without a major winter storm in the forecast. Typically lasting less than an hour and resulting in minor snow accumulation, these squalls can still be dangerous due to reduced visibility, gusty winds, and rapidly dropping temperatures. Unfortunately, these conditions have historically contributed to serious and sometimes fatal traffic accidents.

Understanding snow squalls vs. Snowstorms

The difference between a snow squall and a snowstorm is the duration of the event. Snow squalls are usually very short-lived (on the order of 30-60 minutes) and extremely intense. A snowstorm could last for several hours or even days.

Snow squall warnings

Snow squall warnings are short-fused and focused on distinct areas (like tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings). These warnings provide critical, highly localized life-saving information. If a snow squall warning is issued for your area, avoid or delay motor travel until the squall passes through your location.

Actions to take

In response to a snow squall warning, individuals should follow the guidelines provided by the weather service, which encompass the following key actions:

Avoid or delay travel: If a snow squall warning is issued for your vicinity, it's advisable to postpone or refrain from motor travel until the squall has passed through your area. Highways and roads are particularly hazardous during snow squalls.

Reduce speed and increase visibility: If you are already in transit and cannot exit the road in time, reduce your speed, turn on your headlights and hazard lights.

Maintain safe distance: Ensure there is ample distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. This precaution is essential to account for reduced visibility and the potential unpredictability of road conditions during a squall.

Avoid abrupt braking: Its also best not to slam on your brakes. With slick/icy roads, this could contribute to the loss of vehicle control and also increase the risk of a chain reaction crash.

Winter weather safety tips: For tips on how to stay safe before, during, and after winter weather, visit the weather service Winter Weather Safety page.

Prepare your vehicle: Prior to hitting the road this winter, ensure your vehicle is winter-ready by inspecting tires, brakes, and lights, and confirming all fluids are at appropriate levels. A properly maintained vehicle is more capable of navigating the demands of winter roads.

Emergency kit essentials: Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive emergency kit, featuring essentials such as blankets, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit. Don't forget to add jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car cell phone charger, a map, and cat litter or sand to enhance tire traction. These provisions can prove invaluable in the event of an unforeseen breakdown or emergency during your journey.

In conclusion, when faced with a snow squall warning, prioritizing personal safety and adhering to the weather service recommendations can significantly mitigate risks. By understanding, preparing, and staying vigilant, individuals can navigate these winter hazards with greater confidence and security.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Networking has long been a cornerstone of business success, and no one understands this better than renowned entrepreneur and Yellow Brick Road founder, Mark Bouris.

As a passionate advocate for meaningful connections, Bouris is lending his support to Boa App  an innovative and free-to-join networking platform transforming the way Australian business owners connect and collaborate.

At the heart of Boas mission is the desire to create productive networking opportunities for business owners. This year, Boa is rolling out a series of local networking chapters designed to foster supportive communities, spark fresh ideas, and tackle challenges together.

Introducing Boas inner circle

The first of these chapters, known as the Inner Circle, will officially launch on 19 February in Sydney at the iconic Bondi Icebergs. Attended by a roster of high-profile guests  including Zoe Marshall (arise), Jane Lu (Showpo / Shark Tank), Sally Obermeder (SWIISH), Jeremy Cabral, and Fred Schebesta (Finder)  the Inner Circle promises to set a new standard for networking in Australia.

Each chapter will consist of a small group of like-minded business owners with access to monthly events, exclusive resources, and a private in-app community. The Inner Circle is just the beginning, says Kirsten Scott, Boa Apps General Manager. Were thrilled to introduce these chapters because we know theyll help business owners in countless ways  from building authentic connections to solving problems and driving success.

Seeking local chapter leaders

Boa App is also on the lookout for business owners to lead local chapters as presidents. We understand how busy our members are, so weve made sure the chapters are not just impactful but also enjoyable, adds Scott.

A mission to democratize networking

Networking apps are booming, with the global professional networking market expected to surpass AUD 100 billion by 2030. Yet, as Bouris points out, many Australian business owners still lack access to quality networking opportunities.

Networking in Australia has traditionally been reserved for the elite. Boa App is changing that, says Bouris. Were breaking down barriers to make premium networking free and accessible for everyone, no matter their business size, background, or gender. Australia is a land of opportunity, and Boa is bringing that ethos back.

The platform is the brainchild of business networking entrepreneur Daniel Hakim, founder and CEO of Club of United Business (CUB). With its innovative approach, Boa App is poised to become a game-changer in the Australian business ecosystem.

For more information, visit Boa.App.

Mark Bouris top 10 tips for effective networking
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement at 5:09 a.m. on Wednesday in effect until 9 a.m. for Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties.

Patchy icy spots along with snow covered roads being reported on roadways and sidewalks this morning as light snow and freezing drizzle moves offshore. Motorists and pedestrians should take extra caution this morning and be prepared for slippery travel, says the weather service.
SPRINGFIELD  A threatened freeze on all federal grant funding could jeopardize education, current climate change reduction projects, affordable housing development and even parks improvements in Springfield and other Western Massachusetts communities.

During an announcement Tuesday morning that the Environmental Protection Agency will provide $6 million in grants to switch some city school buses over electric power, Springfield officials and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said they were concerned that the new grants and many others could be compromised by President Donald Trumps plan.
BELCHERTOWN  Local historian Cliff McCarthy will speak publicly for the first time Monday evening in Belchertown about his biracial family, telling the story of his grandfathers passing over the color line.

McCarthy, a former archivist at Springfield Museums, has contributed significantly to documenting the history of African Americans in the Pioneer Valley who actively sought freedom and equality.

The talk, Legacy: A Genealogical Journey Through Time, Race and Family Secrets, will be held Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clapp Memorial Library at 19 South Main St.
Fried Oreos, BBQ brisket, climate-controlled lounges and more drink rails are coming to Worcesters Polar Park this spring.

The 2025 season will feature new food attractions, including Country Fair fare, such as fried Oreos, fried mac and cheese balls, fried mozzarella, corn dogs, and specialty French fries, including buffalo and poutine, according to a press release from the Worcester Red Sox Wednesday.

The Nacho Nacho Man stand located in the right-field corner of the ballpark will add BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and walking tacos to their menu.

On Taco & Tequila Tuesdays, this year presented by Teremana, fans can enjoy a Whopping Walking Taco made of ground beef, shredded chicken, or pulled pork, and a margarita for $15, the release said.

The new season will also feature new amenities such as the Royal Wooters Club, a climate-controlled lounge for season ticket members.

The lounge will be located on the club level of Polar Park.

The WooSox reduced their office space to create this amenity, which includes a cool bar and an historic pool table that formerly resided inside Fenway Park and later the home of the late Red Sox Hall of Famer and WooSox Chairman Larry Lucchino, the Sox said.

Other new park features include interactive games being added to Woofsters Landing, located at the 8th Hill in left field, an ice cream sign adorning the top of Sherwoods Diner on Summit Street and 18 new seats to Polar Park that will be ADA compliant, the release said.

Colorful lights under the Madison Street bridges and drink rails at the Shaws Visitors Bullpen Terrace located above the visiting teams bullpen have also been added to the park.

Opening day for the WooSox will be on March 28.
Video News: [Video News] Nandos Maurice celebre la finale du concours dArt #Feedyourcreativity[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 janvier 2025[Video news] LArtigiano ouvre sa premiere franchise a Moka[Video News] The Joint Committee celebrates a strong partnership that goes far beyond fisheries[Video News] Azaad au Cinema Sirsa[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du janvier 2025[Video News] Lancement de  Racines et Prespectives  dAlain Jeannot[Video news] Laetica a remporte #Feed your Creativy de Nandos[Video news] Reaction de Gheerishsing Gopaul sur le discours programme 2025-2029[Video News] Conference de presse de la Plateforme Lunite natif Afrikain (Maurice)[Video news] 2e reunion de travail EU/Maurice sur la peche soutenable[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 22 janvier 2025[Video news] Atelier du RUSI sur les risques de financement de la proliferation[Video news] Fabrice David a dit[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 21 janvier 2025[Video News] Dr Jyoti Jeetun a dit[Video news] Dimans Politik[Video news] Conference de presse du Reform Party[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 18 janvier 2025[Video news] 5th Entrepreneurial Exchange[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 17 janvier 2025[Video News] Edition Speciale[Video news] Baisse du niveau deau dans les reservoirs[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 janvier 2025[Video news] Conference de presse de Patrick Assirvaden[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 11 janvier 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 10 janvier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 janvier 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 janvier 2025Se preparer pour le passage dun cyclone[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 janvier 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 3 janvier 2025[Document] Les chansons de lannee de 2024 de Radio One[Video news] Petards a Poste de Flacq[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er janvier 2025[Video News] Message du nouvel an de Navin Ramgoolam[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du decembre 2024[Video news] Cotton Bay a lheure de 2025[Video News] Pointe aux Sables passe en 2025[Video News] Les consignes de Pravind Rughoo pour les Late Night ShoppersHomelie de Mgr Durhone a loccasion de la messe de Noel a la prison de Melrose[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 decembre 2024[Video News] Dawood Rawat a rencontre les investisseurs dans la BAI[Video news] Message de fin dannee de Paul Berenger[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 27 decembre 2024[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Jean-Michael Durhone[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Stelio Andre[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto et Loto Plus du 25 decembre 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 24 decembre 2024[Video news] Conference de presse du ministre de lEducation[Video News] Kaviraj Rookny et Ranjiv Woochit ont dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 21 decembre 2024Wall of Wonders au Tribeca Mall : Lexperience incontournable de cette periode festive[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 20 decembre 2024[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 20 decembre 2024 en Live[Video News] Diner de fin dannee de La Plateforme Militante[Video News] Handover of Medical Equipment and Renovated Fascility to APSA International[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 18 decembre 2024[Video News] Rencontre au ministere de lEnvironnement[Video News] Conference de presse de la Middle Temple Association[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 17 decembre 2024[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 17 decembre 2024 en Live[Video news] New Grove, de Grays Inc. Ltd, devoile sa nouvelle identite[Video News] Dons dequipement medicaux de lAmbassade du Japon a APSA Diabetes Care Centre[Video news] Nouvelles rencontres pour le ministre de lEducation[Video news] Launching of the book The Dodos Legacy  The Story of Conservation in Mauritius[Video news] Don de sang @ DLB Construction[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video news] Conference de presse du gouvernement du 14 decembre 2024[Video news] Get Together du CIPR International[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 14 decembre 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 13 decembre 2024[Video news] Lancement du livre  The Dodos Legacy [Video news] Un All Night Concert qui promet[Video News] :Caprizzio! Start up de La Turbine : une nouvelle adresse pour des pizzas artisanales[Video news] Caprizzio! @ Cottage[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 11 decembre 2024[Video news] Le programme du Festival Internasional Kreol 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 10 decembre 2024[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 10 decembre 2024 en Live[Video news] Conference de presse de Richard Duval et Sydney Pierre[Video News]Le Fonds de Solidarite Africain presente ses solutions aux acteurs economiques[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 7 decembre 2024[Video news] Conference de presse de Rama Sithanen[Video News] New Grove passe au Bio[Video News] IFRS S1 et S2 : Un cadre global pour le reporting durable et leur impact sur les administrateurs[Video news] AmCham Mauritius a publie le deuxieme rapport de lIndice du Climat des Affaires 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 6 decembre 2024[Video News] Le Fonds de Solidarite Africain presente ses solutions aux acteurs economiques[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 6 novembre 2024 en Live[Video news] Succes retentissant pour  Narta Warriors by Night  au Tribeca Mall ![Video news] Le MIoD a presente son 9e Directors Forum Position Paper[Video news] Le Fonds de Solidarite Africain a presque triple ses soutiens en deux ans a Maurice[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 decembre 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 3 decembre 2024[Video News] La vie dans les profondeurs de lOcean Indien[Video news] Campus Abroad rencontre un franc succes avec le salon Study in the USA 2024[Video news] Vatel Mauritius fete ses 15 ans aux cotes de ses etudiants[Video news]The MBA Conference 2024
Mayo County Council along with ESB, Uisce Eireann and Eir were accused of 'keeping people in the dark' with the lack of information following Storm Eowyn and a 'failure' of communication.

Members of Mayo County Council expressed frustration with the local authority as well as ESB, Uisce Eireann and Eir at the lack of information they received in the days following Storm Eowyn and urged them to ensure the county is better prepared to deal with future storms.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that while the crews and outdoor workers should be praised for their work in the aftermath of the storm, the senior management of Mayo County Council and other companies had failed abysmally in their roles.

People have been in the dark because of the lack of electricity but they have been completely in the dark because of the lack of communication. It has been a complete and abysmal failure from the senior management point of view in the likes of Mayo County Council, Irish Water and the ESB. It has not been good enough.

READ: City Link asked to consider extending Dublin bus service to Mayo town

As councillors we were inundated with calls because we were the ones that people called or emailed or texted to seek information on when water will be restored or electricity and the networks restored and we did not have that information. You can point figures all you want but ultimately as a local authority we are supposed to be at the centre of all that is important in terms of infrastructure for the people and we are the ones they will call. We were completely and utterly left in the dark regarding information on critical services, he said.

An emergency response hub was established by Mayo County Council on Monday but Cllr Flynn felt this was too little too late.

His colleague, Cllr Brendan Mulroy also criticised the lack of information councillors and the wider public received from the utility companies regarding power cuts and water shortages.

The world and his mother knew that the water was going to go in Westport but the business people were not told that. It was all gone by nine [o'clock on Saturday] when the restaurants and pubs were full. It is intolerable the lack of communication.

We worked hard to get information out but we had to look for the information to get it out. That was the problem, it wasn't coming to us, he said.

Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Cllr Sean Carey told the meeting that lessons have to be learned from Storm Eowyn and to be better prepared for future climatic events.

Rural Areas

Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara also felt that the utility companies have to take their share of responsibility for what he believes was a failure to invest in the infrastructure in rural areas.

There seems to be less people out working on the ground and more people in offices and that does not work when something like this happens. When you haven't got the people on the ground to deal with devastation the work takes longer to do. If we go back 15 years and look at the rural areas where most had an ESB office and a telecom office but those days are gone now.

They are manned from urban centres and that is having a knock on effect on the rural and coastal areas when it comes to restoration of power. It hasn't taken this storm alone to take out the ESB network...any bit of wind is knocking out the lights. A serious upgrade needs to be done on our network particularly in the rural areas, he said.

Head of the Municipal District, Seamus O Mongain defended Mayo County Council's response to the storm saying that the lack of phone coverage had made things difficult.

It is important to point out that anything within our remit to be able to do something about we were very proactive and very responsible and reactive to everything that occurred. As a senior management team there was constant communication to get the main infrastructure opened for the people to use.

Most of the mobile network went down and anytime try to contact someone it could take up to tein calls to get somebody. That made it extremely challenging for our crews and engineers and myself but we persevered," he said.
A REPORT into the cleaning of a river in west Mayo has been described as 'bunkum' with one councillor promising a war if it is not cleaned.

The cleaning of rivers has become a contentious subject in parts of west Mayo with many councillors claiming that flooding on large swathes of farmland over the winter would have been prevented if the local rivers had been cleaned.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Carrowholly-based councillor John O'Malley dismissed a report on the cleaning of the Mayour River in Kilmeena as 'bunkum'.

The report also stated that the local authority will appoint an ecologist to look into the possibility of cleaning the river but Cllr O'Malley said he would not accept anything other than having it cleaned.

READ: City Link asked to consider extending Dublin bus service to Mayo town

I don't like that word ecologist because they do whatever they are asked to do and I don't believe that will be an independent person who will come in and look at it. I don't like the idea of one when there is no need for them.

I don't agree with this [report] but let me assure you that if the ecologist comes up and says it cannot be done there will be war. I can guarantee you that I will not be given up until that river is cleaned. It has to be cleaned because it is causing awful problems, the Independent councillor said.

He was supported by Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell who dismissed a suggestion that a stakeholders group should be formed in Louisburgh to look into dealing with flooding from the Carrowniskey River.

All the people want there is to get the trees cut. We don't want to set up a stakeholders group, we want action and diggers in there and get the bushes cut to relieve funding. Those people are in a desperate situation at the top of the river and it is not right to be talking about setting up a stakeholders group. The people want the trees cut and it is no less than they deserve.

Just get the job done. Action is what is required and not another talking shop and setting up stakeholder, he said.

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy added that he fears that one of the bridges in the Mall in Westport may be washed away but to flooding and called for parts of the Carrowbeg river to be cleaned.
The Government has been urged to enlist army support and provide hotel accommodation to Mayo people still affected in wake of Storm Eowyn.

Mayo Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh called on the government to utilise army personnel and that local hotel accommodation should be provided for those who are facing another week without heat, water, and light.

Thousands of people in Mayo are still without electricity while hundreds are still without running water six days after Storm Eowyn left a wave of devastation through the county.

While commending the workers who have succeeded in reconnecting many households and are now exhausted, the Mayo TD has responded to growing frustration at persistent delays in restoring electricity supply and water to thousands of families across Mayo.

The delays in electricity and water reconnection to homes across Mayo following Storm Eowyn is simply unbearable, the Erris-based TD said.

I and my colleague, Cllr Gerry Murray are in touch with many vulnerable people with medical needs, young families with babies, children with additional needs and elderly individuals who are still without basic services.

It is past time for the Government to delay any further, it's clear that there are not sufficient numbers of ESB and Uisce Eireann workers to deal with this situation, the reasons for this is a conversation for another day.

READ: Mayo motorists to be compensated for damage caused by 'incompetent' broadband contractors

I am calling on the government to immediately introduce army staff to assist with clearing trees and other debris to enable technicians to get access to the fallen wires etc and get them fixed.

I also think it is imperative that local hotel accommodation is made available to families with no water, heat, and electricity. This must be paid for by the central government for the duration of the outages.

The cumulative effect of days without heat and the ability to cook warm food is devastating especially for vulnerable individuals. This is not a time for pondering, it is a time for emergency action.

The government is yet again letting rural Ireland down  this would not happen if Dublin was without basic services for six days. Mayo people cannot stand another week of this. The money is there if its not going to be used now. When?

This is not the time to penny pinch or get entangled in bureaucracy.
The progression of the Greenway from Westport to Murrisk remains a priority for the design team working on the project according to a senior council official.

Councillors in the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District were informed that design on the controversial Greenway extension from Belclare to Murrisk is currently being reviewed with an update expected to be made in March.

The Murrisk Greenway project is being developed by Mayo County Council in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The preferred route option will see the Greenway go off road from Aughavale Cemetery via the townlands of Cloonagh, Kiladangan and Deerpark towards Murrisk and will cut through land at the foot of Croagh Patrick.

READ: 'War' promised if west Mayo river is not cleaned

This route has faced strong opposition from a number of landowners who have formed a committee to oppose it and the possible CPO of land.

Speaking at the monthly municipal district meeting, Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy said that the project was creating a lot of problems for people in the area and called on the council to deal with it quickly.

It needs to be dealt with as soon as possible because it is problematic. Lets not beat about the bush here it is going to be one of the most problematic things to arrive in front of us at a council meeting. I can't figure out for the life of me how they have not arrived at a decision for the preferred route considering the presentation we got. We have seen what the preferred route is and it is quite clear what the preferred route is going to be so at least come out and put it on the table, he said.

Seamus O Mongain, Head of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District explained that the design is currently in review but is a priority for the National Roads Design Office who are dealing with it.

I do know work is ongoing and they are continuously trying to optimise it so that it is to everybody's satisfaction. They are working hard to make sure that Greenway does get to Louisburgh.

It is a priority for the National Roads Office and the delivery of the Greenway is their priority and they are moving on with it continuously, he explained.

Mr O Mongain added that he expects the final decision on the route to come before the councillors to decide but this will depend on the environmental evaluation.
Some of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025 came from (clockwise from top left): Chart House at the Tower of the Americas, Pumpers on Broadway, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery at Pearl and April's Chinese Restaurant. Mike Sutter/Staff

If distilling segments of the San Antonio restaurant world into neat Top 10 packages seems like a reductive exercise, I get it. But those rankings start with a much larger database, with trips to dozens of restaurants, cafes, shops and diners across the city. Its an exercise of discovery and rediscovery that accounts for the institutions, the upstarts and the also-rans. In that spirit, Januarys research took me to the citys sprawling network of coffee shops, Chinese restaurants and the past years most high-profile newcomers. Plus an idea Im chasing ahead of Valentines Day: The citys most romantic restaurants. Heres a look at the best (and worst) things on my table in January.

The best

Texas oysters at Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery at Pearl are some of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Texas oysters at Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery: Clearwater Selects, Copano Bay, Big Tree. Its time to move beyond the idea that all Texas oysters belong in that big tub we call Gulf oysters. Southerleigh chef Aaron Juvera is doing exactly that at this newest member of the Michelin Bib Gourmand club by forging relationships with Texas producers whose oysters can match their East Coast rivals for brine, for sweetness and for the ethereal nuances of the sea. 136 E. Grayson St., Suite 120, at Pearl, 210-455-5701, southerleigh.com

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

NOW OPEN: Top 10 new restaurants

The Charles' Jr. burger at Pumpers on Broadway is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Charles Jr. burger at Pumpers: Chef Stefan Bowers turned his pop-up dreams into brick-and-mortar reality with one of the years Top 10 new restaurants. And he did it with this burger, a double cheeseburger with candied bacon, fried onions, charred cumin barbecue sauce and two of the most essential sides in the city: beef-fat french fries and a napkin dispenser. 1101 Broadway, 210-888-0666, eatpumpers.com

Roasted chicken from Bliss is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Roasted chicken at Bliss: Its been a long time since I had a first time at Bliss. The menu of fried oyster sliders, seared scallops and duck with foie gras hasnt changed much since Bliss opened in 2012. And thats just fine with me. Except when chef Tony Hernandez decides its time to add an instant classic: a perfectly roasted chicken with peri-peri sauce and mashed potatoes that says its OK to want comfort food even when youre dressed up. 926 S. Presa St., 210-225-2547, foodisbliss.com

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A dim sum basket of dumplings with shrimp and peanuts (center) at Golden Wok on Wurzbach Road is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Shrimp dim sum dumplings at Golden Wok: Dim sum and then some. Thats the beauty of this Top 10 Chinese restaurant, where the art of dim sum happens every day. But the small-plate parade reaches its zenith on Saturdays and Sundays, when dim sum carts patrol the dining room. And these translucent shrimp-and-peanut dumplings are worth flagging down for taste and texture beyond the everyday dumpling. 8822 Wurzbach Road, 210-615-8282, goldenwoksa.com

Fried chicken at Freight Fried Chicken at Pearl is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Fried chicken at Freight Fried Chicken: I thought fried chicken couldnt get much better than it gets at Chef Nicola Blaques flagship restaurant The Jerk Shack. But it can, and now the Michelin-recognized chef has become her own strongest competitor with this modest food-hall kiosk that honors the enterprising Black women who sold fried chicken to rail passengers in the South. Potato flour and corn flour combine for a gluten-free crust thats equal parts light and crunchy over tenders, legs and thighs that stay juicy at the core. 312 Pearl Parkway at the Pearl food hall, Instagram: @freightchicken

A burrata plate at Nonna Osteria at The Fairmount Hotel is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Burrata plate at Nonna Osteria: I wish I could say this all-in-one antipasti celebration of roasted peppers, toasted bread, fried cauliflower, sauced asparagus, pickled artichoke hearts and Italian cheese with a creamy center was a work of art. Its not. Its a mess, in fact. But in that way that your best friend is a mess, and theres nobody youd rather have with you at the table. 401 S. Alamo St. at The Fairmount Hotel, 210-224-8800, siloelevatedcuisine.com

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The worst

Spiced ahi tuna at Chart House atop the Tower of the Americas is one of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Spiced ahi tuna at Chart House at the Tower of the Americas: In my search for the citys most romantic restaurants, I started at the top. Like 750 feet up, where Chart House commands a rotating view of the city below. At sunset, theres nothing quite like it in San Antonio. But the restaurant, like any relationship, has its issues. And one of those issues is a plate of ahi tuna that lost the blush of romance on the way to the resigned dull grayness of love gone cold. 739 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. at the Tower of the Americas, 210-223-3101, chart-house.com

BIGGEST & BADDEST: The 10 worst things I ate last year

Barbecue pork ribs from April's Chinese Restaurant are some of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Barbecue pork ribs at Aprils Chinese Restaurant: You know that beat-up old restaurant just off Interstate 35 at South Alamo? This is that restaurant, and it looks about the same on the inside. I was pleasantly surprised by the array of dinner combos for around $8, the ones with Kung Pao chicken and Hunan shrimp and beef with broccoli. Step outside that lane at your own risk. And that risk looks a lot like these pork ribs, magically slick and dry at the same time, with an irradiated orange pallor best measured in half-lifes. 2030 S. Alamo St., 210-223-7335, aprilschineserestaurant.com

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Breakfast food at Starbucks at Alamo Quarry Market is some of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff

Breakfast food at Starbucks: I have no trouble defending Starbucks for its egalitarian leveling of the worlds coffee culture, and it passed the test as one of San Antonios best coffee chains. But I wont go to bat for the food, a tired and damp collection of Automat egg sandwiches, pesto abominations, back-alley croissants and past-tense pastries. That scorn you roll out every autumn for the pumpkin-spice lattes? Save it for these things. 255 E. Basse Road at Alamo Quarry Market, 210-828-3818, more locations at starbucks.com

Curry fried noodles (left) at Noodles & Dumplings on Walzem Road are some of the 10 best (and worst) things Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter ate in San Antonio in January 2025. Mike Sutter/Staff
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border of the United States. Americas sovereignty is under attack, warned President Trump. Our southern border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics that harm Americans, including America.

This invasion has led to the horrific and inexcusable murders of many innocent American citizens, including women and children, at the hands of illegal aliens. Foreign criminal gangs and cartels have begun seizing control of parts of cities, attacking our most vulnerable citizens, and terrorizing Americans beyond the control of local law enforcement. Cartels control vast territories just south of our southern border, effectively controlling who can and cannot travel to the United States from Mexico. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have tragically died from drug overdoses because of the illicit narcotics that have flowed across the southern border.

This assault on the American people and the integrity of Americas sovereign borders represents a grave threat to our Nation, declared President Trump.

Because of the gravity of this threat, it is necessary for the Armed Forces to assist the Department of Homeland Security in obtaining full operational control of the southern border, explained President Trump in a speech to the Congressional Institute:

I've also deployed troops to the border, and for the first time in history, we're locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came.

To protect the security and safety of United States citizens, to protect each of the States against invasion, and to uphold my duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, it is my responsibility, said President Trump, to ensure that the illegal entry of aliens into the United States via the southern border be immediately and entirely stopped.

[W]e've made it clear to every country that they will be taking back our people, that we're sending out, the criminals and the illegal aliens coming from their countries, were taking them back, and they're going to take them back fast. And if they don't, they'll pay a very high economic price.

As Commander in Chief, said President Trump, I have no more solemn duty than to protect the American people.
Small businesses and community groups and organisations in Mayo are being urged to avail of funding through a community fund supported by National Broadband Ireland.

The RISE Community Fund has announced plans to award new cash grants to small businesses, farms, social enterprises, schools, charities and community groups in County Mayo, with funding available to those who can demonstrate innovative plans to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work and benefit the local community.

Supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Irish Governments National Broadband Plan, as well as other corporate partners including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies and TLI Group, the RISE Community Fund has travelled the breadth of the country in recent years to provide a cash injection for community organisations thinking creatively about how they can use technology.

Previous Mayo groups to receive grant funding from the RISE Community Fund include Foodie Save Ltd, Parke Community Hall CLG, Achill Experience Aquarium and Visitors Centre, Balla Community Resources Development CLG, Croi, The West of Ireland Cardiac and Stroke Foundation, FACT Social Club Foxford Alzheimer's & Community Trust and Urlaur Pattern & Family Fun Day Committee.

READ: Mayo County Council give go-ahead for new music festival in Castlebar

David McCourt, Chairman of NBI and founder of RISE, commented: At NBI weve always been clear that our mission is about more than bringing Netflix to rural Ireland; its about empowering communities to embrace new technologies with the foundation of world-class fibre broadband, which NBI is delivering at scale. In partnership with RISE, were finding and rewarding entrepreneurial uses of technology, and weve already awarded over 130 cash grants across the country, including many great examples here in Mayo.

Applications for the cash grants open on February 3 and close on February 28, 2025 with grants of up to 1,000 available to successful applicants across the county.

The application process is incredibly quick and easy, and successful applicants will be notified in March, with money following in quick succession. We cant wait to see the entrepreneurial ideas from Mayo, added McCourt.

With over 11,800 premises in Mayo already able to order or pre-order a service on its network, NBI is reminding Mayo residents and businesses to visit their website at www.nbi.ie to order from their broadband provider of choice.

Read more about the RISE Community Fund and gain access to the grant application at www.riseglobalfoundation.com.
A Mayo County Councillor has suggested that criminal damage to a local regeneration project is a result of the Governments very poorly managed refugee accommodation policy.

Ballina-based Fine Gael Cllr Mark Duffy called on the Government to move away from a for-profit model for housing International Protection Applicants (IPAs) after the building of the former Sisters of Mercy convent in Ballina was vandalised.

Cllr Duffy is the Chairman of Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG, which was gifted the building by the Sisters of Mercy after they closed the convent in December 2008. The charity is currently renovating the building so that it can be used as a community facility. These refurbishment works began last year, and the building has already partially reopened.

READ: Mayo public 'left in the dark' with lack of information following Storm Eowyn

Built in 1867, the convent building is located beside the old St Marys Secondary School, on the same site. In 2022, St Marys Secondary School moved into a newer building near the old school, leaving the old building vacant. Last October, that old school building, which is now in private hands, was put forward by its new owners as potential emergency accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs).

To this end, the private owners lodged a Section 5 declaration with Mayo County Council, which would see the building exempt from requiring planning permission if used for IPA accommodation.

However, the Department of Integration later said it was not considering the building for the accommodation of IPAs.

On Friday, January 17, some of the convents exterior windows, including historic stained-glass windows, were vandalised. Gardai are currently treating the incident as an act of criminal damage and are calling for anyone with information to come forward.

Misinformation

Speaking to The Mayo News, Cllr Duffy said the convent had been the subject of online agitation over the proposed accommodation of IPAs at the old school, despite the fact that the building was not, in fact, being considered for such use.

Cllr Duffy described the vandalisation of the convent as very disappointing, and he said online agitators and the misinformation they spread should be called out.

People need to be called out for creating agitation, for purposefully using the image of the convent building to talk about plans and intentions for IPAs, which has never been the case, and weve made that case clear on multiple occasions, he said.

The councillor believes the agitators seized on confusion that has been caused by incoherent immigration policy at government level.

Its just disappointing that we suspect that weve been caught in the crossfire of a very poorly managed immigration policy. That remains the case, as we as councillors and we as local community members dont have sight over what is planned in parts of the community, like [the old] St Marys Secondary School, he said, adding: There are also people purposefully using that as a way of just creating consternation.

In light of this, Cllr Duffy said, the Government should move away from a for-profit model where you have people making financially motivated decisions when housing IPAs.

READ: City Link asked to consider extending Dublin bus service to Mayo town

Quick buck

The Government has relied heavily on paying private providers to accommodate IPAs following a surge in applications following the pandemic.

The State paid over 1.9 billion to private providers to house IPAs and refugees in the first nine months of 2024.

For the planning system to then allow immigration accommodation on site without any public interaction or communication totally undermines democracy. So I do have misgivings, said Cllr Duffy.

I constantly have people coming up to me asking for land zonings. They want to build a housing estate to house the next generation of Ballina citizens, yet in the same breath, no housing bureaucracy or any planning bureaucracy is levelled if you want to make a quick buck on immigration.

Cllr Duffy said the Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG is still very enthusiastic about the convent project.

While acknowledging that security measures need to be tightened, Cllr Duffy said the charity will press ahead with its plans to fully reopen the building as a community facility.

So much good has come out of this project, and so much good that will come out of this project, he said. So we need to address the criminality and follow through with the investigation and then continue on with our grant-aid efforts and try and keep going with what were doing  fundraise, apply for grants and get more community groups and different initiatives based from the site.

READ: Mayo motorists to be compensated for damage caused by 'incompetent' broadband contractors
On January 23, Houthi militants abducted seven members of United Nations staff in Sanaa, Yemens capital, which has been under Houthi control since 2014.

This is not the first time that Houthis abducted employees of humanitarian aid organizations. The seven most recent abductees join another 16 already in Houthi custody, 11 of whom were kidnapped in a raid last June. The Houthis have detained some 20 Yemeni employees of the U.S. embassy for the past three years.

Ironically, this latest attack took place less than a week after the Houthis released 153 detainees, ostensibly for humanitarian reasons.

As a result of the January 23 attack, the United Nations suspended all official movements into and within areas controlled by the Houthis.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the immediate and unconditional release of the seven kidnapped U.N. personnel, adding that The continued targeting of U.N. personnel and its partners negatively impacts our ability to assist millions of people in need in Yemen.

Indeed, Yemen is currently experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. According to the U.N., 21.6 million people, about two thirds of Yemens population, are in dire need of humanitarian aid. Seventeen million Yemenis are food insecure, meaning they dont know where their next meal is coming from.

The United States condemned this latest outrage by the Houthis. These actions come amid the Houthis ongoing campaign of terror that includes taking hundreds of UN, NGO, and diplomatic staff members, including dozens of current and former Yemeni staff of the U.S. government, noted a statement issued by the State Department Office of the Spokesperson.

We support the UN Secretary-General and all U.N. efforts to secure the unconditional and immediate release of all Houthi detainees. This latest Houthi roundup demonstrates the bad faith of the terrorist groups claims to seek de-escalation and also makes a mockery of their claims to represent the interests of the Yemeni people, said the statement.

The Houthis have failed to commit to ceasing attacks on regional states, U.S. service members and all maritime traffic in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, the statement continued.

The Presidents Executive Order on designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization recognizes these realities and will hold the group accountable for its reckless attacks and actions.
Fighting is again intensifying in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congolese military forces and the M23, a Rwanda-supported Congolese rebel military group, are battling for control of the countrys mineral-rich northeast provinces. According to the United Nations, the M23 is tightening its grip on the regional capital of Goma. It has also conducted attacks on MONUSCO, the U.N.s Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We condemn in the strongest terms Rwanda's and M23s hostilities on Goma, said U.S. Charge dAffairs ad interim, Dorothy Shea.

We urgently call for a cease fire and an end to this fighting which has endangered civilians.

Rwanda's use of advanced weaponry and systems, including GPS jamming and spoofing, have interfered with the humanitarian response, endangered MONUSCO and continued to endanger those fleeing from the violence. These actions must stop immediately.

More than ever, humanitarian actors must be allowed to operate freely and deliver life-saving aid. The rights of all Gomas inhabitants, including former combatants, must be respected, said Ambassador Shea.

We are similarly concerned that M23s and Rwandas ongoing advances are opening up a bloody new front to this conflict in South Kivu, which no longer benefits from the roles MONUSCO assumed in the past to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Indeed, There is no military solution to the conflict in eastern DRC.

We must abandon the delusion of short-term military solutions and work instead toward a durable peace powered by regional economic arrangements for the Great Lakes vast mineral wealth, to ensure stability and prosperity for local populations.

Hope is not lost. There is an end in sight to this fighting and a path for regional dialogue, said Ambassador Shea. Those unwilling to return to the negotiating table must face a clear and unambiguous response from the Council.

Addressing historical grievances, ending ethnic attacks, and other roots of this conflict must be done through a process that has clear incentives and unmistakable accountability.

We call for an immediate ceasefire and end to this fighting. Rwanda must withdraw troops from the DRC. Rwanda and the DRC must return to the negotiating table and work toward a sustainable, peaceful solution, said Ambassador Shea.

The United States will consider all the tools at its disposal in order to hold accountable those responsible for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.
by Les Luchter , January 28, 2025

Obesity is Americas greatest epidemic, declares Hims & Hers first ever Super Bowl commercial, unveiled Tuesday. Seventy-four percent of us are overweight, and obesity leads to half a million deaths each year.

Calling weight loss a $160 billion industry that feeds on our failure, the telehealth companys spot decries medications from others as priced for profits, not patients, while its own weight-loss drugs are affordable, and doctor trusted.

Using the Super Bowl to advertise weight loss drugs makes sense, per Toby Katcher, senior vice president, video investment, at WPP healthcare agency CMI Media Group, which is not involved with Hims & Hers.

advertisement advertisement

Katcher tells Marketing Daily the placement represents a unique chance to increase brand recognition and visibility for weight-loss drugs during a time when viewers tend to be gluttonous, leaving many feeling guilty the next day.

With over 100 million viewers, the Super Bowl ensures widespread exposure and elevates the brand to the forefront of popular culture and current discourse, Katcher continues, successfully bringing the brands message to a wide range of demographics, including high-potential patients.

Katchers comments are backed by a brand-new new study from CMI titled Media Vitals 2025: Focus on Obesity, which found TV overall lagging behind only Facebook as a vehicle to reach patients with obesity.

However, the study found, only 12% of patients would most prefer using telehealth services (like Hims & Hers) to get their medicines, versus 72% preferring in-person visits to healthcare providers (HCPs).

As a result, said Ari Wexler, CMIssenior vice president, engagement Strategy, brand marketers who best execute integrated, empathetic content strategies to bridge pre- and post HCP appointment patient support will be most successful.

The CMI study also found that 27% of the patients are asking their doctors about specific medications they see in ads, with Katcher pointing out that pharmaceutical brands have a significant opportunity to create informative and trusted video content that patients can access through their preferred platforms.

Hims & Hers focus on cost in the Super Bowl spot may be a factor in its favor, per another new study, this one from WHY Group, Horizon Medias cultural intelligence division.

Titled Injecting Change: Whats Lost and Gained Beyond Weight in the Age of Ozempic, this study identified insurance and cost as the top two barriers standing in the way of people expressing interest in weight loss drugs but not yet using them.

The study found 58% of adults are at least somewhat interested in taking these medications, and that changes in coverage and cost could unleash a high level of pent-up demand, which would potentially at least double the 9% of the population who are currently on the drugs.

But the Horizon study mainly focuses on the effect of weight loss drugs on those other than the users themselves.

For every person taking these revolutionary weight loss drugs, at least one additional person in their immediate circle is experiencing significant lifestyle changes, the report states, from transformed eating habits to reimagined social gatherings.

The Horizon study found that 70% of people who share meals with GLP-1 users have inadvertently adopted healthier eating habits themselves, with partners reporting that, simply by proximity, they eat smaller portions (65%), choose more nutrient-dense foods (58%), and drink less alcohol (45%).

The report includes recommendations for how brands can support GLP-1 users all throughout the year:

Restaurants can create nutrient-dense, smaller-portioned meals.

Companies can host activity-based events or virtual gatherings that shift the focus from food-centric traditions to experiences rooted in connection.

Brands can promote functional wellness products, from supplements to fitness programs, as thoughtful gifts for health-conscious individuals.

The Horizon study was based on an August survey of 1,500 people, and the CMI study was based on a March/April survey of 3,000 people.

You deserve to feel great in your body, concludes the Hims & HersSuper Bowl spot. This is the future of healthcare."
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 28, 2025

A federal appellate court late last week struck down a Federal Communications Commission order that would have curbed companies' ability to send robotexts to consumers.

The FCC order, issued in late 2023, would have required every company that robotexted or robocalled a consumer to obtain that person's consent. The order aimed to close what the agency identified as a lead generator loophole in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act -- a law that prohibits companies from sending robotexts or robocalls to consumers without their prior consent. The loophole identified by the FCC allowed one company to ask a consumer to receive robotexts or robocalls from numerous other companies.

Former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said at the time that the lead generator loophole was a big reason why unwanted robocalls and robotexts are multiplying on our phones.

advertisement advertisement

Imagine you are shopping online, she stated. You give a business your number and in a single click you are also giving that business the right to sell and share your number with hundreds if not thousands of other businesses that may use it to send you robocalls and robotexts that you never asked for, do not want, and do not need. They bury it in the fine print, so you do not realize when you make that one click you are authorizing all kinds of incoming junk to your phone.

The Insurance Marketing Coalition sued in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down the FCC's order, arguing it would reduce consumer choice, drive small businesses from the market, and devastate many companies that partner with and rely on comparison shopping websites to connect with potential customers.

A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit sided against the FCC, ruling on Friday that the agency lacked authority to require companies to obtain one-on-one consent for robotexting or robocalling.

Under the 2023 Order, even if a consumer 'clearly and unmistakably' states, before receiving a robocall, that he is willing to receive telemarketing or advertising robocalls from multiple entities, the 2023 Order provides that consent cannot be given unless the consumer independently and separately consents to receive robocalls from each individual caller, the judges wrote. In so doing, the 2023 Order exceeds the FCCs statutory authority.
by Danielle Oster , January 28, 2025

:

On the heels of Pepsis Wild Cherry & Cream launch, Coca-Cola is introducing a new flavor of its own.

In a statement, Coca-Cola described the new Coca-Cola Orange Cream as Coca-Cola infused with refreshing orange and smooth, creamy vanilla flavors.

Coca-Cola focused on the Orange Cream flavor due to its long history dating back over a century, and resurgent interest in the flavor over the course of the past decade -- citing Google Trends data.

Coca-Cola Orange Cream and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Orange Cream will be available in most national retail locations in the U.S. and Canada, and online via Coca-Colas website, beginning Feb. 10. For launch, the new flavor will be available in 12-packs of 12-oune cans, and 20-ounce bottles, as well as ten-packs of 7.5-ounce mini cans for the version of Coca-Cola Orange Cream with full sugar.

advertisement advertisement

Packaging design for the new product finds a middle ground between leaning into the recognizability of Coca-Colas flagship cola offering and flagging the product as something new. According to a statement from the brand, the packaging was designed in a way that maintains the classic Coke Trademark red, along with the brand logo sitting toward the top half of the packaging, supplemented with citrus-inspired colors overlayed onto the classic red to represent the multidimensional burst of flavors that make up Coca-Cola Orange Cream.

Coca-Cola will support the launch with a robust 360 marketing campaign across a number of activations, a brand representative told Marketing Daily .

Unlike Pepsis Wild Cherry & Cream launch, Coca-Colas newest flavor is not a permanent addition to its flavor roster, "but is planned to be in-market until Q1 2026, a brand representative said. This timing allows flexibility to evolve our flavor portfolio as needed, based on ever-changing market trends and consumer preferences. However, this is subject to change.

The Coca-Cola Orange Cream launch follows Coca-Colas decision last September to discontinue its Coca-Cola Spiced flavor some seven months after announcing it as a permanent flavor.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 28, 2025

Google explained in a post on X that it has a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources. This most recent name change will affect the Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley.

The company said it is complying with President Donald Trumps executive action that renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The name change will appear that way in Google Maps.

Google will also change the name of Mount McKinley, the highest peak in the U.S., from Denali. Former President Barack Obama had renamed the Alaska landmark to Denali in 2015 as a nod to the regions native population.

It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes, the executive order said.

advertisement advertisement

Microsoft Bing or other mapping platforms did not say if they would also change the names.

Google Maps also reclassified the U.S. as a sensitive country, a designation it reserves for states with strict governments and border disputes, reports CNBC.

It shows the challenges tech companies face in navigating substantial changes. Other sensitive countries with regard to Google Maps include China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 29, 2025

Google will now open Meridian, the companys marketing mix modeling measurement system, which will become available to all marketers and data scientists globally.

A certified partner program with more than 20 measurement experts also will launch. These experts have been trained and certified to support advertisers in implementing Meridian.

Google said its goal for Meridian is to help advertisers understand their marketing efforts, but also contribute to the industry as a whole by introducing new, innovative methodologies for advertisers to be able to measure against.

In the coming months, Google will continue to add new features and improve the methodology, and make the platform available by downloading its code on GitHub.

Google tested Meridian with hundreds of brands globally and incorporated their feedback. Harikesh Nair, senior director of data science at Google, believes Meridian is now ready for everyone to take advantage of its benefits.

advertisement advertisement

Brands like Finder, an Australian financial company with presence in the U.K., U.S. and Canada, gained insights because of the ability to customize the platform.

Nair wrote in a blog post that traditional models lack a modern approach, which may lead to inaccurate budget decisions."

They may not update assumptions based on incrementality experiments or provide granular insights, such as optimal frequency or regional nuances.

Using a more modern approach found in Meridian can help drive better business outcomes.

It relies on Bayesian causal inference that allows advertisers to combine prior knowledge with real-world data to gain the true incremental impact of marketing.

Meridian was built to help marketers uncover the true value of performance with more data like impressions, clicks, and cost, as well as Google query volume.

The MMM is an open-source modeling framework that offers full transparency and allows marketers to examine its code and methodology.

To make accurate budget decisions, Meridian analyzes campaign performance based on the key performance indicators to help make sense for business numbers such as sales, website visits, and conversions.

MMMs have historically measured video in impressions, but Google says impressions only tell part of the story. For example, 10 impressions could mean that 10 people reached, or one person reached 10 times.

Meridian integrates incrementality experiment results as priors, agnostic of the channel or the experiment, according to Google.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, January 29, 2025

Omnicom agency network DDB has restructured its North American operations and management team, naming Caroline Winterton North America CEO, a role that has been vacant since the departure of Justin Thomas-Copeland in 2023.

In part DDB said the moves are designed to foster closer collaboration among the networks key agency units including DDB Chicago, multicultural unit Alma and boutique agency Adam&EveDDB.

advertisement advertisement Winterton has been serving as U.S. CEO of Adam&eveDDB and will continue to oversee that agency along with DDB Chicago in addition to her new NA role. (DDB Chicago CEO Emma Montgomery left the agency last fall).

Alma CEO Isaac Mizrahi has been named Chief Operation Officer, DDB North America and will retain oversight of Alma.

The agency network also disclosed that Laura Cona has been hired as Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, a new role at the firm. Previously she held senior growth and marketing roles at VML, Wunderman Thompson, BBH and FCB New York.

Michele Lewis continues as Chief People Officer, Americas and DDB veteran Justin Gee will serve as Chief Financial Officer.

The agency said the new NA team will be supported by global leaders, Chaka Sobhani, Global President and Chief Creative Officer, and Tomas Gonsorcik, Global Chief Strategy Officer. Additional senior managers will also be put in place to support the new structure.

Alex Lubar, Global CEO, DDB Worldwide, stated, "Our unified approach will allow us to build on our creative momentum and continue driving results for our clients, while unlocking new growth opportunities for our teams."
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 29, 2025

The ad industry is urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to either veto or recommend revisions to a privacy bill that would limit the ability of app developers and other businesses to collect or share health-related information.

The New York Health Information Privacy Act would have far-reaching, unintended, and unfavorable consequences for New York consumers and the business community alike, the Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Interactive Advertising Bureau American, Advertising Federation, and Digital Advertising Alliance say in a letter sent to Hochul this week.

The bill, which was passed last week by the New York legislature, includes provision that would require app developers and other companies to obtain people's opt-in consent before processing a broad range of health data for ad purposes. The type of data covered by the measure includes information that's reasonably linkable to people or devices, and that relates to people's physical or mental health.

advertisement advertisement

The measure resembles Washington state's My Health, My Data Act, passed in 2023.

New York Senator Liz Krueger, who sponsored the legislation, stated that it would create a legal framework for residents to reclaim and retain control of their healthcare information.

Residents are generally unaware that their technology is constantly tracking their movements, and geolocation data is being sold to companies for the purposes of targeted advertisements or tracking, she stated earlier this month.

The New York Civil Liberties Union endorsed the proposed law in New York, saying it could help protect people's ability to access abortions or gender affirming treatments without leaving a digital trail.

The bill will ensure that New Yorkers -- not big tech companies, bad actors, or government entities -- have control over the intimate health information collected through fitness apps, phone records, search engines, period tracking apps, and the many other tools that are part of modern life, senior policy counsel Allie Bohm stated last week.

But the ad groups say the bill's definition of health data is so broad that it could cover material not inherently related to health -- such as the fact that a consumer purchased non-prescription shampoo for individuals with dry hair at a local grocer, attended a fitness event, or signed up to receive promotional notices about specific clothing or footwear restocks.

The organizations propose narrowing the definition of health data to cover personal information that is linked or reasonably capable of being linked to a consumer and that 'is used to identify' the past, present or future health status of the consumer.

The ad industry groups also claim the requirement to obtain opt-in consent every time health data is processed would inundate New Yorkers with an overwhelming number of consent requests for even the least sensitive data processing activities.

The groups add that the opt-in mandate would significantly hinder the use of data to improve products or services, conduct research for the benefit of consumers, and apprise consumers of relevant offerings that may interest them -- such as a coupon on shampoo.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 29, 2025

A federal appellate panel has temporarily blocked enforcement of a California law that would have prohibited social media platforms from algorithmically recommending posts to minors without their parents' consent.

The injunction, issued late Tuesday by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, will remain in effect until the court rules on the constitutionality of the Protecting Our Kids From Social Media Addiction Act (SB976).

The tech organization sued last year to invalidate the measure, which was passed last year and had been slated to take effect January 1. NetChoice argued in its request for an injunction that web publishers have First Amendment right to recommend content, and teens have a constitutional right to access content.

advertisement advertisement

Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in the Northern District of California blocked enforcement of some provisions in the law, but said NetChoice had not proven that the restrictions on algorithmic recommendations were unconstitutional. Davila later stayed the entire law on an emergency basis, but only until February 1.

When Davila upheld the restrictions on recommendations, he noted that they don't require platforms to remove any posts.

Users may still access all posts by searching through the social media platforms, Davila wrote.

NetChoice -- which counts Meta, Snap, Google and other large tech companies as members -- appealed Davila's ruling to the 9th Circuit, and asked that court to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement.

Among other arguments, NetChoice says that even if the law doesn't require social platforms to remove speech, the restrictions on recommendations limit the ability to offer compilations.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta opposed NetChoice's request, arguing that the law's restrictions pursue a compelling interest -- the physical and mental health of children and teens -- while focusing narrowly on features that cause children and teens harm.

The states compelling interest is to protect the physical and mental health of minors, which includes limiting their access to addictive feeds, Bonta argued.

NetChoice is expected to file additional arguments by Thursday, and Bonta is expected to respond by the end of February.

The 9th Circuit plans to hear arguments in the matter in April, after which it will decide whether to permanently strike down the law.
President Donald Trump has said that U.S. efforts to secure a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine are now underway.

Its so important to get that done. That is an absolute killing field. ... Nobodys seen anything like it since World War II.

President Trump said that Russian President Valdimir Putin wants to speak to him, and that the two men will be speaking soon. Mr. Trump noted he has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky numerous times, and theyd like to see peace.

President Trump said other countries, like China and Saudi Arabia, could help end the war. China, he observed, is a very big trading partner of Russias: I think they have a lot of power over Russia.

President Trump urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil:

If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately. Right now, the price is high enough that the war will continue.

President Trump insisted that if he had been president, Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine, despite the fact that Ukraine was the apple of Putins eye. President Trump noted that Putin is not doing so well. He's grinding it out, but most people thought that war would have been over in about one week. And now, you're into three years, right? So ... he can't be thrilled.

President Trump mourned the destruction that is happening in Ukraine:

Now you have all these bombed-out cities  they look like demolition sites, with many people killed ... I think youre going to find that there were many more people killed in Ukraine and the Ukraine war than anybody has any idea. ... You see pictures of the fields that I see, nobody wants to see it. Youll never be the same.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, President challenged President Putin: Settle now and STOP this ridiculous War. ... If we dont make a deal and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and sanctions on anything sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries ... Its time to MAKE A DEAL. NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 29, 2025

Apple will ask a federal appellate court to allow the company to intervene in an upcoming hearing on the Department of Justice's proposal to terminate the company's long-standing search and revenue-sharing partnership with Google.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C. rejected Apple's bid to intervene, ruling that the company's request was untimely. On Wednesday, Apple initiated an appeal of that decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Apple hasn't yet filed its substantive arguments with that court.

The move comes in an antitrust lawsuit dating to 2020, when the Justice Department and a coalition of states alleged that Google monopolized search.

In August, after conducting a trial, Mehta ruled 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 in October proposed numerous restrictions on Google, including that it end a long-running revenue-sharing partnership with Apple. That deal involves Google serving as the default search engine for Safari, and paying 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 month, Apple sought to intervene in the case, arguing that it has a stake in the outcome.

The Justice Department argued Apple's request was untimely, adding that Google would have an incentive to oppose the proposal because its interests in the revenue-sharing agreement are aligned with Apple's.

Mehta sided against Apple, ruling that Apple should have known earlier that the lawsuit would affect its deal with Google.

He ruled that even though Apple can't intervene in the upcoming hearing, it can participate as a friend-of-the-court, and can also file post-hearing submissions. That ruling effectively allows Apple to submit written arguments to the judge, but not to present its own witnesses or cross-examine witnesses for the government or Google.
Military families are already reporting delays and cancellations while trying to arrange household goods moves under the Defense Department's new privatized system.

With only 688 moves completed by HomeSafe Alliance, the company contracted to manage the process, as of Jan. 17, families around the U.S. have reported instances of crews never showing up to pack their belongings, despite receiving confirmation messages, as well as waiting indefinitely to receive their items at their new home.

Meanwhile, a petition on the change.org website with more than 39,000 signatures at publication time says households can't arrange and conduct their own moves as they could in the past because the reimbursement rates for a personally procured move are too low, effectively forcing them into a government-contracted move through HomeSafe.

Read Next: Trump Orders Pentagon Policy Saying Transgender Troops Are 'Not Consistent' with Military Ideals

In response to queries dating back to November, U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees the new moving contract, and HomeSafe Alliance denied that reimbursement rates and sourcing movers were legitimate issues.

HomeSafe acknowledged to Military.com on Jan. 28, however, that it has "experienced unexpected challenges which we have had to work through as we lead a complex transformation of the military move system."

No-Shows and Delays

Military spouses interviewed for this story described numerous calls to HomeSafe customer service representatives who could rarely provide details about the nature of the delays. One spouse said she is hopeful that her household will receive more than $2,000 after filing an "inconvenience claim."

Another spouse, Laura Brigman, said her family's move, requested in December, made them the "guinea pigs" to undergo a HomeSafe move at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Her husband was close to his medical retirement date from the Army, with physical limitations that meant the family was counting on the military coming through to arrange a move, as it always had throughout his 11-year career, including two overseas moves the couple made together.

"We were very familiar with having the Army move us," Brigman said.

Recognizing that HomeSafe's system was new, they figured they'd "roll with the punches."

At first, things seemed OK with the arrangements, she said. They received multiple messages confirming the dates and times that crews would arrive to pack and load their things. But no movers ever showed up, and the HomeSafe customer service reps, for the most part, reported "no progress" during repeated calls.

The family had only nine days from their missed packing date until they had to be out of their home on post. When HomeSafe reps ultimately suggested the couple arrange a personally procured move, or PPM, instead, Fort Johnson's transportation office stepped in and had movers lined up within 24 hours to move the family to Wisconsin. HomeSafe had failed to do so for about two weeks.

Brigman considers the family "really lucky" to have received the transportation office's intervention, she said, but worries that local officials will get overwhelmed with emergency requests as the frequency of moves ramps up over the spring and summer.

Kaitlyn Jones said she and her Navy husband set up their move from Pensacola, Florida, to San Diego through HomeSafe. Movers turned up a day later than promised, but otherwise the packing and loading went fine. That was Dec. 20, and their belongings were supposed to be delivered by Jan. 4.

As of Jan. 26, with her husband already at sea, Jones still didn't know when their things would arrive but held out hope of receiving their full "inconvenience claim" of $86 a day after the delivery. She said the family had declined an offer by HomeSafe to "settle" Jan. 15 for less than half of what she thinks they could ultimately receive.

HomeSafe subsequently told Military.com, "While the majority of moves have been successful, logistical issues have impacted some of the moves we service. We are working hard to navigate these issues and strengthen our service provider network while supporting our service members and ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of care."

"We are taking all of the lessons learned from these early stages of our program and continually improving our systems and processes," HomeSafe said.

After delays attributed to snow, a holiday, and a broken truck, Katelin Golgart and her husband realized Jan. 21 -- after waiting all day Jan. 20 for movers who never showed up -- that "yeah, they're not coming." Again, the local transportation office took over and had "someone in the next day packing up our stuff."

Families are also reporting their experiences to the 66,000-plus-member PCS Like a Pro -- Your Smooth Move group on Facebook, along with the GHC Stories Facebook page.

A group of more than 1,000 companies and individuals in the moving industry that oppose the contract, Movers for America, distributed a compilation of social media posts in January that included more reports of no-shows as well as poorly equipped crews.

In response to a prior query by Military.com, HomeSafe said it was "postured to respond to any shipments USTRANSCOM awards us."

HomeSafe declined to introduce Military.com to households that had undergone successful moves, citing privacy.

How It's Supposed to Work

The DoD provides approximately 400,000 household goods moves each year to service members and their families, amounting to about 15% of all U.S. moves and making the military the industry's largest customer. Most military moves take place in late spring or summer.

The department cited service members' reduced satisfaction with the relocation process as a reason for privatizing the system, though the Government Accountability Office has since deemed that Transportation Command needs to better account for "non-response bias" in calculating user satisfaction because people with negative experiences are more likely to respond to surveys.

The privatization concept, dubbed "GHC" as an abbreviated acronym for Global Household Goods Contract, in part theorized that a single private contractor could improve the experience for families, as well as make the process more efficient, by centralizing and automating aspects of it.

Developing and working out kinks in two digital apps, one belonging to the military and the other to HomeSafe, accounted, at least in part, for a pause in the rollout of the new program that left almost all 2024 permanent change-of-station, or PCS, moves to be conducted under the legacy Defense Personal Property System instead of by HomeSafe, officials said at the time.

Now, HomeSafe has come online at 94 bases in total, according to Transportation Command, which amounts to more than half the bases in the contiguous U.S. The military expects households to request their move through the DoD's MilMove app, then arrange the rest of the details through the contractor's corresponding app, HomeSafe Connect.

The department has consistently pledged access to more streamlined customer service in which representatives would have specific information about the moves.

Members of the industry have been sounding the alarm about potential disruptions to household goods moves for more than a year, since first learning how much HomeSafe intended to pay moving crews and drivers, rates they claimed were so low that to accept them didn't make any business sense.

Many of them -- reportedly more than 1,000 companies and independent contractors in the moving industry -- banded together to form Movers for America to try to attract attention to what they perceived, they said, as issues that could hurt not only their companies but also military households.

Megan Harless, an advocate for relocation reform within the department who has advised Transportation Command as part of a spouse advisory group, said she's communicated with families daily since late December.

"It seems like all are experiencing the same problems," she told Military.com, including "poor communication, no shows on confirmed packing days, and then the packing days are being rescheduled."

She suspected HomeSafe's network of movers is falling short, prompting concern "about the peak season and how extreme these issues will be then."

Transportation Command denied Military.com's request for an interview in November to address the likelihood of problems with the rollout.

Related: Troops at 16 More Bases Will Do Local Household Goods Shipments Through New Private Manager
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's nominee to be the military's top weapons buyer is an official who directed the Pentagon to withhold aid from Ukraine in 2019 as Trump sought a commitment from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate the Biden family  a key component of the impeachment of Trump in his first term.

That relationship is raising questions among some senators about whether the nominee will follow the law if confirmed for a powerful new position that oversees a budget of $311 billion.

Michael Duffey, Trump's nominee to be undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, served as the associate director at the Office of Management and Budget during Trump's first term.

In that job, he directed the Pentagon in July 2019 to place the hold on $391 million in security assistance for Ukraine. It continued until mid-September as Trump tried to secure an announcement from Zelenskyy about investigating Trump's 2020 election rival Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden on corruption charges tied to the younger Biden's role with the Ukrainian gas company Burisma.

Withholding money for a policy reason is a violation of the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which prohibits the executive branch from freezing funds appropriated by Congress, the branch controlling the power of the purse. The hold on Ukraine aid became a key factor in lawmakers' party-line vote to impeach Trump in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate later acquitted him.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Duffey that his role in withholding aid raises concerns about whether he will follow the law if approved for the powerful Pentagon position that oversees a large weapons-buying budget. It has been a gatekeeper for generating more than $66 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Kori Schake, a senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, said Duffey's budget-office experience was valuable and should make him an effective weapons buyer for the Pentagon.

But he and others who favor presidential impoundment of congressionally appropriated funds should be made to commit in confirmation hearings to expending what Congress appropriates, Schake said.

Warren sent Duffey more than 40 questions in advance of his Senate confirmation hearing that not only seek more information about his part in the 2019 aid pause but ask whether he would be responsive to congressional oversight because he did not comply with a subpoena to testify during Congress' impeachment investigation.

That refusal bodes poorly for your plans to be honest and open with Congress and the American people when overseeing acquisitions and contracts for programs that uphold our national security, Warren said in her letter to Duffey.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment Monday about Duffey's nomination or whether his nomination signaled a change in direction for weapons support to Ukraine.

Trump was impeached a second time in 2021 following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
An F-35 Lightning II crashed Tuesday afternoon during a scheduled training event at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, causing a massive fireball and spreading debris not far from the fence line, a video verified as authentic by officials showed.

Video footage of the crash began circulating online Tuesday and showed the F-35 plummeting to the ground as the pilot slowly floated in the air in a parachute. The incident happened around 12:49 p.m. local time.

The pilot safely landed and was transported to Bassett Army Community Hospital in Fairbanks for more attention, the 354th Fighter Wing said in a news release.

Read Next: White House Funding Freeze Stokes Uncertainty for Military Families as Raft of Programs Under Review

An F-35A costs upward of $100 million, and the incident comes amid an Air Force-wide push on safety standards aimed at curbing expensive accidents. The crash also comes as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who is tasked with eliminating waste in government, have both openly criticized the production and use of the F-35, Military.com has previously reported.

Col. Paul Townsend, commander of Eielson's 354th Fighter Wing, said in a news release that officials are probing the cause of the crash and are committed to making sure it won't happen again.

"Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed [to] ensuring their safety and security," Townsend said. "I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to minimize the chances of such occurrences  happening again."

He did tell local reporters during a press conference that the pilot "experienced an in-flight malfunction" and that the crash "occurred during the landing phase," according to video shared by the 354th Fighter Wing.

Local traffic was advised not to stop on Richardson Highway next to the base, as doing so "poses a safety risk and impedes recovery efforts," the wing said in the news release.

Russell Goemaere, a spokesperson for the F-35 Joint Program Office, said the office will assist in the investigation of the incident.

"The JPO will support the Air Force in the investigation of the mishap," Goemaere said. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our warfighters."

The incident marks the first F-35 crash in 2025. Last year, an F-35B test pilot was in serious condition after ejecting from the aircraft while refueling at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The aircraft was on a trip to Edwards Air Force Base in California from Fort Worth, Texas.

In September 2023, a Marine Corps pilot ejected from an F-35B over South Carolina after experiencing an electrical issue and becoming disoriented. Military and law enforcement officials couldn't locate the jet for nearly a day.

In 2022, there were four F-35 incidents and crashes.

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the name of the 354th Fighter Wing.

Related: Marine Corps Blames Pilot Error for Crash of Malfunctioning F-35 in South Carolina Forest
The United States welcomes Finlands decision to become the 53rd country to sign the Artemis Accords. These accords were initially launched in October 2020 by Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding principles designed to guide civil exploration of the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids in the 21st century.

The United States and Finland enjoy an enduring partnership, rooted in our shared democratic values and longstanding commitment to space research and innovation, said a statement from the U.S. Department of State.

The Artemis Accords bring together nations with a common vision for peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation in space. This includes sharing scientific data in a timely manner. The promotion of interoperability enhances the potential for space exploration that is safe and robust among cooperating nations.

The accords also describe how all signatories commit to preserve historically significant human or robotics landing sites, artifacts, spacecraft and other evidence of activity on celestial bodies.

The accords also provide direction for taking reasonable efforts to provide emergency assistance to personnel in outer space who are in distress.

Countries who signed the Artemis Accords also commit to working together to register space objects, mitigate orbital debris and safely dispose spacecrafts. Along with responsible use of space resources, the accords call for the proper notification of activities in space, lowering the risk of harmful interference.

These accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which had the goal of preventing a new form of colonial competition and the possible damage that self-seeking exploitation might cause during the Cold War.

Finlands signing of the Artemis Accords, said the statement, demonstrates a shared vision of peaceful, responsible space exploration and a willingness to work hand-in-hand with the international community toward a brighter future.
A U.S. military base in Aurora, Colorado, will be used to process and temporarily house migrants facing deportation, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement steps up raids under President Donald Trumps sweeping crackdown.

Facilities at Buckley Space Force Base will be made available to ICE officials starting this week, according to U.S. Northern Command. NorthCom, as the military division is known, is overseeing Trumps deployment of troops to the Southwest border and deportation flights aboard military aircraft.

Military personnel wont be involved in the ICE operations in Colorado, NorthCom said. The arrangement, first reported by CBS News, marks the latest use of military infrastructure in immigration enforcement.

Aurora, a suburb of Denver, became a flash point during the presidential election, with Trump and others alleging that Venezuelan gang members had overrun parts of the city and occupied entire apartment buildings. Local and state officials repeatedly denied the claims.

Denver, a sanctuary city, has vowed to shield migrants from ICE raids, with Mayor Mike Johnston saying hes prepared to go to jail to protect undocumented migrants from federal immigration authorities. In recent years, the city had received tens of thousands migrants, many of whom were sent on buses by the state of Texas.

Over the past week, ICE has reported making more than 4,000 arrests nationwide.

On Jan. 26, ICE led a pre-dawn raid in Chicago, coordinating with federal agents from the Department of Justice in the first multi-agency immigration operation of Trumps second term. While the agency hasnt released specific arrest numbers from Chicago, it confirmed that more than 1,000 individuals were detained in operations across the country that day.

The Chicago raid was overseen by Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, and live-streamed by television personality Dr. Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, who joined federal agents during the operation.

Similar ICE raids have been conducted across the country, including an early-morning operation Tuesday in New York. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on X that agents arrested a leader of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who she said was wanted in Colorado.

The Trump administration cited the Tren de Aragua gang as an example of a group threatening US security in an executive order aimed at dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations.

While ICE officials have emphasized that many of those arrested have criminal records, the agency acknowledged that hundreds of others detained had no prior offenses beyond entering or remaining in the country without permission.

___

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Editors Note: This story was published in partnership with San Quentin News and was written during a writing seminar for incarcerated veterans in April hosted by The War Horse at Californias San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Tens of thousands of military veterans are incarcerated across the United States, and these stories are intended to shine a light on their unique needs, challenges, and experiences. Learn about the seminar here.

I exited the county bus in waist chains and leg irons with just enough room to shuffle my feet forward. My Achilles tendon flexed against the sharp metal with every step.

You SNY? GP? EOP? the corrections officer yelled as we moved toward the receiving entrance of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.

I had no idea what any of the acronyms meant. I followed the person in front of me, lined up against the wall, and removed all my clothing as instructed. I stood there naked as the day I entered this world, trying to understand what the officer was asking.

I was suddenly back in the Marine Corps, on my first day of boot camp, when Id reverted to survival mode. I did the same now: shut my mouth, used my ears, did my best to fit in, and observed my surroundings as if my life depended on it.

SNY Tank 4, GP, Tank 6.

What are they saying?

I was too afraid to ask.

The line began moving again, and I found myself in Tank 6. I sat down and waited. This, I realized, was my new normal. The heavy metal door slammed shut and I felt a rushing sense of claustrophobia.

A voice interrupted my thoughts.

Hey, you active? Where you from?

I knew active was a term used by gang members to self-identify. Loosely translated, he was asking me what hood I represented.

I didnt respond fast enough. Two large Hispanic men stood up and walked toward me. My entire body tensed up. I knew I was in danger.

The first blow landed on the side of my face, the second square in the jaw. I fought back, but there were too many of them. The Marines had taught me violence of actionI knew how to protect myself. I met their punches head on , throwing one for every five or six that landed on me.

Fuck. My first day in prison, and I get jumped. How did I get here?

It was my first day at San Quentin but it wasnt my first day in prison. That had happened years ago, when I was just four years old.

* * *

Id grown up in the early and mid-1980s in Placentia, California, with no worries in the world. My dad was my super hero, the biggest, smartest, strongest person I knew, and, most importantly, the funniest. My universe happily revolved around him, my mother, and my three older sisters.

That ended one evening in 1987 when my dad assaulted my mom and then my sisters when they tried to protect her. In my young mind, I thought they must have done something to deserve it. My dad was the disciplinarian, doling out justice in our household.

Still, this seemed different. More intense than what Id routinely witnessed. I felt frightened. Maybe I was next. Several minutes passed. Things were beginning to calm down when I heard three booming knocks at the door. The knocks turned to banging until someone opened the door.

Four men in dark clothing stood in the doorway. Things happened quickly after that. One of the men felt the blood splatter on the wall, presumably from my moms face, and he immediately turned toward my dad. A melee ensued.

The four men in dark clothing were Placentia police officers. My father was arrested that night.

After what felt like hours, my sisters and I were herded into a police car and taken to a receiving home, an emergency shelter for children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.

Girls to one side, boys to the other, came a voice.

I clung desperately to my sisters, but to no avail. I entered a cold, concrete room with two beds. I was alone.

I spent most of the night catching flies and removing their wings. I still dont know why. When I finally fell asleep, I wet the bed, even though Id outgrown such things.

I spent days at the receiving home before I was reunited with my mother, who raised me for a short time as a single mom.

* * *

In ninth grade, I was introduced to the Marines Junior R.O.T.C. program. After years of not fitting in, Id found a direction. Id found my people. I excelled, quickly rising all the way to the top of the program. My instructor was a short Puerto Rican man from New York who took no shit. He demanded accountability, respect, honor, courage, and commitment.

He demonstrated this to me one day when I decided it was a good idea to toss a powdered donut toward the chalkboard, hitting my teacher in the back of the head instead. Worse, Id done it while wearing my R.O.T.C. uniform. My teacher stormed out of the classroomI assumed it was the principal.

She returned a few moments later, alone, with a sly smile on her face. Then my master sergeants frame filled the doorway. His shoes were glossy, his green alpha trousers and khaki shirt impeccably pressed. The ironed creases seemed almost menacing, as if daring anyone to look away. His barrel chest heaved up and down, and his gaze reminded me of a shark with a fat, juicy seal in its jaws.

I never acted out in class again, and I learned to give the uniform its proper respect.

After high school, I served in the U.S. Marines for four years. I fell right into military life, where there was a manual and a reason for everything.

But that broken child had grown into a broken teenager and then a broken man who found power and was corrupted by it.

* * *

Members of the Veterans Group of San Quentin meet regularly and are distinguished by their royal blue hats emblazoned with VGSG. (Photo courtesy of San Quentin News.)

At San Quentin, my hope and dignity landed on a mental ledge.

I had felt this before, about a month into boot camp, when Id been stripped of every speck of my identity. This was where Marines were made. This was where the Corps inserted a never give up governor into my subconscious so that even at the most dire moments, I would choose life over death.

I did what Id done as a Marine recruit. Get up. Make it to lunch. Get to dinner. Get to lights out. Get to breakfast. And then start the whole thing over again.

I took stock of my new home, a cell so small I couldnt fully extend both arms without touching the walls. I had just enough space to crabwalk to my bunk. The toilet sat at the opposite side of the bunk adjacent to a small metal sink. On a clear day, I could look through the bars and a foggy window and see the bay. Ferries slowly floated by. Life, civilization, teased me.

My language changed. Classes were programs. Therapy sessions were groups. Food was chow. Up was down and down was up.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. Then in 2023, after several transfers throughout Californias prison system, I wound up back where it all beganat San Quentin, where one day I was introduced to a former U.S. Marine locked up with me.

He invited me to a veterans meeting that afternoon.

Whats a veterans meeting? I asked.

He patiently explained that several incarcerated veterans got together once a week to meet and hang out. I decided to go.

When I entered the room, I encountered whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Italians, and others. This was something Id learned to avoid in prison, where youre safer with individuals who look like you. Here though, none of that seemed to matter. We all went around the room introducing ourselves, calling out our names and service branches to the accompaniment of cheers from fellow branch mates and good-natured jeers from others.

Noah Winchester, United States Marine Corps, I said as several other Marines grunted Semper Fi, Oorah, and Yut!

That brief acceptance felt like a warm blanket on a chilly night. I decided then and there to give this group my all, and I wanted to help other veterans find their warm blankets, too. About a year later, I finally got my chance.

As a member of the Veterans Group at San Quentin, were allowed to wear distinctive royal blue hats emblazoned with its acronym, VGSQ. These hats are a source of pride for us, and many of us personalize them with ranks, ribbons, pins, and slogans.

One day, I noticed another inmate who Id seen just a few times in our veterans meetings or in the chow line. He rarely left his cell. When he did, he never said much, and he displayed little emotion. I gave him a VGSQ hat and told him hed earned the right to wear it.

I didnt think much of it until the next morning when I noticed him sitting in our day room, the royal blue hat firmly on his head. It was still early, maybe 7:45 a.m., but he sat upright, a smile and something like pride on his face. This was my brother.

That hat looks good on you, I told him.

It feels good, he said back with an even bigger smile.

Thirty years after losing my family, Id found one again, within the prison walls of San Quentin.

This War Horse reflection was edited by Kristin Davis, fact-checked by Jess Rohan, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Hrisanthi Pickett wrote the headlines.

Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter.
WASHINGTON  When Tulsi Gabbard returned to Washington from a clandestine sit-down with Syrias then-president Bashar Assad eight years ago this month, she was greeted with a flurry of criticism.

Lawmakers and civil society groups chastised Gabbard, then a Hawaii congresswoman, for her meeting with an avowed U.S. adversary whose administration has been credibly accused of war crimes and major human rights abuses. A Republican congressman even called the meeting a disgrace.

At the time, Gabbard defended the trip by saying she had gone to try to find a peaceful resolution to a long and bloody conflict. But the details of what the pair discussed remain a mystery  dogging Gabbard to this day and has taken on new salience as rebels have swept Assad from power and President Donald Trump has nominated her to be the nations spy chief.

Gabbard can afford to only lose votes from three Republican senators if all Democrats oppose her nomination. Several GOP lawmakers have refused to say how they will vote. Echoing other Republicans, Sen. Lindsey Graham told NBC's Meet the Press" over the weekend that he needed to see how Gabbard handled her confirmation hearing, slated for Thursday, before making a decision. Among the top questions Graham wants answered: Why did you go to Syria? What did you do regarding Assad?"

A key moment in Gabbards eight-year stint on Capitol Hill, the Assad sit-down also provides insights into the nominees worldview and is emblematic of an unorthodox and iconoclastic approach to politics that has fueled her rise from progressive favorite to one of Trumps most vocal defenders in the 2024 campaign. Since arriving in Washington in 2013 as a Democratic legislator representing Hawaii, Gabbard has routinely staked out foreign policy and national security positions that put her on the opposite side of every presidential administration, including Trumps.

Bipartisan questions about Gabbard and trip

Lawmakers of both parties have said Gabbard's meeting with Assad raises questions about the judgment and worldview of someone tapped to be Trumps director of national intelligence. Trump and his allies have brushed off criticism of Gabbards face-to-face with Assad. I met with Putin. I met with President Xi of China. I met with Kim Jong-un twice. Does that mean that I cant be president? Trump said on NBC in December, adding that Gabbard is a highly respected person.

Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, said the trip was approved by the House ethics panel at the time, included debriefings with top U.S. officials and congressional leaders upon her return, and has generated very little interest from senators in the nominees private meetings on Capitol Hill.

But those who study national security issues say there has never been as enigmatic a choice for the post as Gabbard.

And its not just about her trip to Syria. Among her most controversial positions: Shes called for pardoning intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked numerous highly classified programs in 2013, and she has advocated unwinding key intelligence programs that spy agencies have come to rely on. (A transition spokeswoman says shes changed her position on the intelligence law.)

Critics over the years have accused her of taking stances sympathetic to Russia. And she has advocated against the prosecution of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, a bete noir of the U.S. spy agencies for more than a decade who ran an organization that Trump's former CIA director Mike Pompeo called a hostile intelligence service. Assange pleaded guilty last year to publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with federal prosecutors that secured his release, ended his high-profile case, and allowed him to avoid prison time in the U.S.

Shes a highly unusual choice to be director of national intelligence, Jamil N. Jaffer, executive director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University and a former senior Capitol Hill staffer and Bush administration official.

President Trump has nominated a bunch of people that are mainstream and will get through because nobodys going to object to them, Jaffer said. Then theres a few that leave you scratching your head.

Gabbards rise

A combat veteran and a one-time rising star in the Democratic Party and a progressive darling, Gabbard has drifted rightward and found common cause with Trump and other populist figures in his political orbit.

One of the throughlines in Gabbards career is her skepticism about the wisdom of using U.S. power abroad. That view has won her plaudits in certain circles on both the progressive left and Trumps MAGA base, amid a roiling debate in both political parties over whether the U.S. should play a leadership role in global affairs or look more inward.

Gabbard came to Congress in 2013, just as the Syria conflict took center-stage in U.S. foreign policy. The conflict grew out of the regional Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 but unlike some of the other authoritarian governments in the region, the Assad regime clung to power with assistance from Iran and Russia.

Over time, Gabbard would transition from questioning the wisdom or legality of certain aspects of U.S.-Syria policy to questioning the facts being presented to the public.

In 2015, Gabbard was part of a congressional trip led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to the Turkish-Syrian border to see the impact of the war. As part of that trip, they visited Gaziantep, where civilians from Syria were receiving medical treatment across the border in Turkey.

Mouaz Mustafa, who is the executive director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force and who was serving as a translator for Gabbard and other members of Congress on that visit to the border, recalled a conversation between the congresswoman and several young girls who were getting treatment from injuries sustained in airstrikes by regime forces. When the girls recounted being injured by Syrian airplanes, Gabbard questioned their story, Mustafa claimed.

Her response was, How do you know it was Assad and Russia and not ISIS? Mustafa recalled of the exchange. Ludicrous question: ISIS doesnt have airplanes. Henning, the spokeswoman for the Trump transition, denied the exchange occurred.

Two years later, she echoed similar doubts about the Trump administrations assessment that the Assad regime used sarin gas to attack civilians. A United Nationals panel and numerous other foreign governments came to the same conclusion. The Trump administration conducted airstrikes in response to the attack, an attack Gabbard opposed.

The Syria Trip

She departed on her 2017 trip to Syria just before Trump took office. It was arranged by two Arab-American brothers, Bassam and Elias Khawam. According to people who know the Khawams but did not want to speak publicly against fellow members of the tight-knit Arab-American community, they are Lebanese-Americans with a history of activism in Arab American political circles particularly on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Bassam has also long been active in U.S. politics. Since 2005, hes donated more than $40,000 to mostly Democratic political candidates according to federal campaign finance records  though hes occasionally crossed party lines, supporting Ralph Naders 2008 Green Party presidential bid, Republican Justin Amash for Congress and Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

The Khawams also have ties to a foreign political movement: the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a right-wing nationalist movement that advocates the integration of Lebanon into an enlarged Syria state. The party was allied for a time with the Assad regime  and the brothers were part of a broader split inside the Arab-American community over how to respond to the Syrian civil war.

Some Arab Americans saw Assad as a bulwark against terrorism  seeing the anti-Assad forces as tied to Islamic terrorists while many others were appalled by decades of authoritarian rule and human rights violations and supported any effort to oust the Assads.

In the U.S., there are segments of the Syrian diaspora that support the Assad regime. This includes Syrian Christians and some Syrian Muslims. That community has mobilized in various ways to support the regime, said Steven Heydemann, a Middle East expert who is a professor at Smith College and a fellow at the nonpartisan Brookings Institution. Seeing Gabbard as someone who could further their cause, (the Khawams) brought her to Syria to emphasize their narrative and attempt to temper U.S. opposition.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who received campaign donations over the years from the Khawams, joined Gabbard on the trip. Kucinich, like Gabbard, is a Democrat-turned-independent and a longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy. The two are political allies, having endorsed each others various runs for office. He did not respond to calls seeking comment  but the trip was a major controversy during his unsuccessful 2018 run for Ohio governor.

Gabbard did not publicize her trip before she left, and upon her return, she described it as a fact-finding mission. Even her own staff was unaware of her plans and struggled to reconstruct the trip when she began filing required congressional disclosure forms, according to a Washington Post report. She did not disclose many details about what she discussed in her meetings in Lebanon and Syria. Under questioning from reporters upon her return, she admitted she sat down with Assad.

When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt that its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace, Gabbard told CNN at the time. In 2019, she went further, saying in an interview on MSNBC: Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States.

Gabbards official itinerary filed three weeks after she returned in a disclosure report to Congress showed two meetings with Assad that lasted a total of two hours  plus an additional meeting with the first lady of Syria, the Syrian foreign minister and the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations. In Lebanon, she also met with a wide variety of civil society figures.

To Gabbards supporters and allies, she was merely expressing a realpolitik critique of the U.S. rush to push out Assad  a conflict that she feared might lead to another protracted war. In no way was she defending Assad. She has called him a brutal dictator, said Henning, the Trump transition spokeswoman.

But others saw her rhetoric as echoing talking points and policy positions held by Americas adversaries, particularly Russia. The Kremlin was among Assads strongest backers in terms of political and military support. Hillary Clinton called her a Russian asset in 2019  a charge that led Gabbard to file a libel lawsuit against the former secretary of state that was later dropped.

More recently, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley called Gabbard a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer.

Senate Republicans have been more muted in their criticism since her nomination was announced. But they nevertheless hope to glean some answers about her discussions with Assad, who fled to Russia after his regime was toppled.

Sen James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma who sits on the intelligence panel that will consider her nomination, said on CNN: Well have lots of questions. She met with Bashar Assad. Well want to know what the purpose and what the direction for that was.

___

Associated Press writers David Klepper in Washington, Julie Carr Smyth in Cleveland and Bassem Mroue in Lebanon contributed to this report.
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the countrys nuclear fighting capability, state media reported Wednesday, as the North looks to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Kims visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Koreas nuclear arsenal, though Trump has said hes willing to talk to Kim again to revive diplomacy. Many analysts view North Korean weapons moves as part of a strategy to win sanctions relief and political concessions from the United States.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute. It didnt say where those facilities are located, but North Korean photos of Kims visit indicated that he likely visited a uranium-enrichment facility that he went to last September. That visit was North Koreas first disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.

During the latest visit, Kim said North Korea reported amazing" results in its production of nuclear material last year and underlined the need to exceed this year's production goal to strengthen the nuclear shield of the country," according to KCNA.

Kim said that further boosting the country's nuclear counteraction posture is our invariable noble task to cope with intensifying challenges posed by hostile forces, an apparent reference to the U.S. and South Korea.

The start of Trumps second term raises prospects for the resumption of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Trump met Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over U.S.-led economic sanctions on North Korea, and Kim has since significantly dialed up weapons testing activities.

During a Fox News interview broadcast Thursday, Trump called Kim a smart guy and not a religious zealot. Asked whether he will reach out to Kim again, Trump replied, I will, yeah.

North Korea hasn't yet directly responded to Trump's overture as it continues its belligerent rhetoric against the U.S. along with weapons testing activities. Many experts say Kim could eventually sit down for talks with Trump and would likely think he now has greater leverage than before because of his enlarged nuclear arsenal and deepening military ties with Russia.

On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed the toughest response to what it called the escalation of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

North Korea views U.S. military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive in nature. In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program.

During the September visit to the uranium-enrichment facility, Kim stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges to exponentially" build more nucellar weapons.

North Korea first unveiled a uranium enrichment site at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex to a visiting delegation of American scholars in 2010. Many experts say the uranium enrichment facility disclosed in September was likely a different place from the one shown to the U.S. scholars.

Nuclear weapons can be built using either highly enriched uranium or plutonium, and North Korea has a facility at Yongbyon to produce weapons-grade plutonium as well. Estimates of how many nuclear bombs North Korea can add every year vary, ranging from six to as many as 18.

In 2018, a top South Korean official told parliament that North Korea was estimated to have already manufactured 20 to 60 nuclear weapons, but some experts say the North likely has more than 100.

___

Klug reported from Tokyo
Syrias new government pressed Russia for compensation during its first talks with a Kremlin delegation since the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

The dialogue highlighted Russias role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and recovery, according to the Syrian readout on the talks in Damascus with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. The new administration also stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes.

The statement didnt explain what form of compensation Syria is seeking from Russia. Bogdanov called Tuesdays talks constructive though we understand how difficult the situation is, the Interfax news service reported.

The Syrian statement made no reference to two key Russian military bases in Syria that the Kremlin is desperate to retain. Bogdanov told reporters thered been no progress on the issue and that further negotiations were required, Russias Tass news service reported.

The military bases  a naval port at Tartus and an airfield at Hmeimim  have enabled Moscow to project influence in the Middle East and Africa. Their loss would be a significant strategic setback as Russian President Vladimir Putin remains locked in escalating confrontation with the U.S. and its European allies almost three years since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tartus is the only Russian naval hub in the Mediterranean and Hmeimim is a key resupply base for the Kremlins activities in many parts of Africa. Negotiations with the new Syrian government on retaining them are stuck, with Russian activities at Hmeimim curtailed and two transport ships kept waiting for weeks before Syrian officials allowed them to dock at the port to remove military equipment, according to a person in Moscow with knowledge of the situation.

The Kremlin had earlier been optimistic it could persuade Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS, the former al-Qaeda offshoot that last month forced Assad to flee Syria, to let it remain at the bases. Russia helped Assad to escape to Moscow as his regime crumbled.

Putin ordered his military to intervene in Syria in support of Assad in 2015, helping turn the war against rebel forces at that time. In 2017, Russia was awarded 49-year leases to the Tartus base and the Hmeimim airfield.

Turkey, which backed the rebels in ousting Assad and is a rival to Russia in Syria, opposes the continuation of Moscows military presence in the country. Its highly doubtful the new Syrian authorities will let Russia stay at the bases after Russian warplanes targeted opposition forces during the countrys civil war, said two senior Turkish officials.

Turkeys Defense Ministry declined to comment.

Turkey has offered to supply the Syrian armed forces with weapons and provide training. Much of the countrys military capability has been destroyed by Israeli attacks since Assad was overthrown.

The German and French foreign ministers visited Syria soon after the New Year as the European Union stepped up efforts to build ties with the new authorities and persuade them to curtail Russias influence.

E.U.foreign ministers reached a preliminary deal Monday on a roadmap to ease sanctions gradually on Syria, the blocs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters.

Some Group of Seven nations and allies have explored ways to enable Syria to find alternatives to imports of Russian oil and food, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Ukraine sent Syria a shipment of wheat and promised more deliveries during a visit in December by the foreign and agricultural ministers.

-------

With assistance from Selcan Hacaoglu.

___

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Department of Veterans Affairs moved with breakneck speed Tuesday to review its programs that oversee grants, loans and financial assistance to outside organizations, declaring that 44 programs targeted by a federal funding freeze would continue.

The VA said its listed programs had received the OK to continue following a White House Office of Management and Budget directive late Monday that ordered a pause on thousands of federal aid programs while they underwent review to ensure they complied with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.

"[The freeze] will have no impact on VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries," Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter said in a news release Tuesday night.

Read Next: Defense Secretary Pulls Trump Critic Gen. Milley's Security Clearance and Protective Detail

The surprise White House announcement drew outcries from aid recipients Tuesday and prompted a lawsuit by representatives for nonprofits and other organizations. It also sparked confusion across federal agencies and groups that provide services and programs for Americans, including military personnel, families and veterans.

The VA's announcement late Tuesday followed a federal judge's order temporarily blocking the freeze. U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan suspended the effort minutes before it was set to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday in response to the lawsuit.

Any delays are likely to face legal challenges because the administration would be preventing spending already approved by Congress and signed into law.

The judge's order suspending the freeze remains in place until Feb. 3, when a hearing is scheduled for the lawsuit.

The VA announcement implied, however, that the department had reviewed its targeted programs as required and they meet the president's criteria.

According to the VA, it conducted a "comprehensive analysis" of 44 programs and consulted with the OMB, which oversees the performance of federal agencies and the federal budget, to determine that all "will continue uninterrupted."

The OMB memo ordered federal agencies to review their programs with several questions in mind, including whether they met Trump's orders banning diversity programs, requiring migrant deportation, restricting foreign aid, limiting transgender rights and abortions paid for with federal tax dollars, and more.

The vaguely worded announcement, which did not include a list of targeted programs, led to chaos across federal agencies and alarmed Americans, including military personnel, families and veterans, who feared losing access to government benefits.

A footnote in the initial announcement said that the order did not affect assistance provided directly to individuals, and it specifically said Medicare and Social Security benefits were unaffected.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated these protections during her first press conference Tuesday, citing Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, welfare benefits and "assistance that is going directly to individuals" as protected.

"I want to make that very clear to any Americans who are watching at home," Leavitt said.

But without a specific list, many military families and veterans feared the loss of benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants and Children program vouchers, GI Bill payments, and even VA home loans.

Even though private banks and lenders fund most mortgages backed by the VA, there was uncertainty over the covered fees, insurance and guarantees of these loans.

Eileen Huck, deputy director for government relations at the National Military Family Association, said military families were concerned and confused by the news.

"It's important, when you're talking about these programs that people rely on, that you have to be careful and communicate clearly what your intent is. And if you don't, people are going to jump to conclusions and be afraid," Huck said.

Under the review, the Defense Department must assess roughly 80 programs encompassing education of service members and dependents, environmental protection, medical research, foreign assistance and more.

The Pentagon issued a statement Tuesday evening saying it will analyze its financial assistance programs "expeditiously" and would temporarily pause any related activities as directed.

It added that defense contracts were not included in the OMB memo.

"While we are not aware of any specific contracts or other activities affected, it is possible that activities may be paused if they are determined to fall within the bounds of the guidance," the statement read.

Related: Trump Orders Pentagon Policy Saying Transgender Troops Are 'Not Consistent' with Military Ideals
Folk artists perform a dragon dance in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

HONG KONG, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- As a vibrant and highly anticipated event, Chinese New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries.

Colorful and heartwarming celebrations including dragon dances, family reunions, and festive meals filled the air with joy, hope, and unity.

Inscribed in 2024 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Chinese New Year invites people around the world to experience its inclusive and festive spirit.

The festival starts on Jan. 29 this year.

This photo taken on Jan. 28, 2025 shows the Tokyo Tower illuminated in festive red to celebrate the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

People visit the National Monument illuminated in red color to celebrate the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Jan. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2025 shows people passing by lantern decorations installed for the Chinese New Year in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. (Photo by Bram Selo/Xinhua)

Editor: ZAD
EAST LANSING, MI  Theres a new plan to help restore and protect Michigans remaining native wild rice beds.

Michigans wild rice, or manoomin stewardship plan was discussed in depth on Jan. 24 during an environmental conference hosted by Ann Arbor-based nonprofit The Stewardship Network. Both Indigenous and academic experts explained how the plan was a project of the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative during presentations at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
HOLLAND, MI -- A Michigan beach town is going to freeze over with 10,000 pounds of ice this winter. But it wont be covering Lake Michigan, itll be decorating downtown Holland.

Holland on Ice will bring professional ice carvers from across the country to the Lakeshore.

Starting 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 sculptures will be on display downtown as well as live carving in GDK Park on 8th Street between Central and River Avenue. Live ice carving will return 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday.

RELATED: Bundle up and race down heated streets at the Lakeshores winter 5K

As visitors wander downtown they can play frozen games made out ice and pose for photos with interactive ice sculptures.

The winter festival will also bring back the popular Meltdown Sale with 30 participating businesses offering discounts and giveaways on winter merchandise.

Theres still time to sign up for the Snowmelt 5K race and Kids Mini Melt which will take place Saturday morning. Register at hollandrecreation.com. The 5K race fee is $35, and the Mini Melt fee is $10.

RELATED: Holland nearing completion of $11.3M ice rink, legacy of area late educator
WILLIAMSBURG, MI  A rehabilitated snowy owl flew to freedom over the weekend after recovering from injuries sustained when it was hit by a car.

The owl was released Saturday afternoon at Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg, near Traverse City. This was after two months of care from Skegemog Raptor Center.

Rescued on Nov. 26 near Acme and Elk Rapids, the owl was severely emaciated and suffering from a fractured wing. It had been struck by someone who didnt stop to help.

About 300 people gathered to witness the owls release.

A snowy owl was returned to its natural habitat on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. It was rescued in November 2024 after being hit by a vehicle. It was severely emaciated and had a broken wing. It spent two months in rehabilitation with Skegemog Raptor Center.Tyler Franz via Skegemog Raptor Center

In a video captured by Toby Thompson, the owl can be seen taking off from the arm of a staff member, flying over the crowd and into the distance. Tyler Franz captured photos of the event.

While it was a joyful moment, the day was not done. James Manley, executive director of Skegemog, left from the release to pick up a new patient: a barred owl that was struck by a vehicle, he said in a news release. Like the snowy owl, the person who hit it didnt stop to help.

A snowy owl was returned to its natural habitat on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. It was rescued in November 2024 after being hit by a vehicle. It was severely emaciated and had a broken wing. It spent two months in rehabilitation with Skegemog Raptor Center.Tyler Franz via Skegemog Raptor Center

The owl came in with an injured eye, a concussion, and signs of internal trauma. While were doing our best to stabilize him, his prognosis is very guarded, Manley said. (It) was a sobering reminder that, alongside moments of celebration, there is still much work to be done.

This winter has brought an irruption of snowy owls to Michigan, leaving them vulnerable as they navigate unfamiliar territories.

Our team has been working hard to rescue and rehabilitate these magnificent birds, and this release is a testament to whats possible with community support, Manley said.
IRON MOUNTAIN, MI -- Veterans in the Upper Peninsula have complained vital prescriptions, documents and other mail has been rerouted to Wisconsin for processing once again, this time 100 miles further south to Milwaukee.

U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) wrote to U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy relaying complaints from his constituents in Michigans 1st Congressional District, containing 15 counties in the U.P. and 20 counties in Northern Michigan.

Constituents in the U.P. complained all outbound mail from the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center is now being routed to the USPS Processing and Distribution Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to the Jan. 17 letter.

This would be a further change from last years proposed switch to processing out of Green Bay, approximately 100 miles from the U.P. facility. The Milwaukee facility would add an estimated 100 miles south and hour and a half drive time, one way.

The USPS Delivering for America service performance dashboard says outbound delivery for first-class mail out of Iron Mountain takes roughly three days to deliver.

This lack of communication from your agency is entirely unacceptable, particularly when an operational change of this nature  affecting the delivery process for prescriptions  could have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of Veterans in Michigans Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin," Bergman wrote to DeJoy.

MLive reached out to the USPS for comment on the change and Bergmans letter.

Elizabeth Najduch, USPS Strategic Communications Specialist for Michigan, did not address the comments on communication and said USPS will respond directly to the Congressman.

There have been no operational changes regarding the handling of VA mail or prescriptions from the Kingsford facility, Najduch said.

Processing at the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center was under scrutiny last spring, when USPS began transferring mail processing outgoing operations to a facility in Green Bay.

That decision, and the lack of communication around it, sparked an inquiry from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) and outcry from 26 senators.

Last April, Peters led an oversight hearing with DeJoy and other USPS officials to discuss the proposed changes. Senators on the panel grilled DeJoy about the loss of services under the plan, noting cities such as Richmond, Va., and Atlanta, Ga., had slower delivery times after centers were consolidated.

After bipartisan pushback in May, DeJoy agreed to pause the changes and revisit consolidation plans in 2025.

Now just one month into the new year, Bergmans letter doubled down on the mounting concern around USPS operational changes.

This shift further amplifies serious concerns regarding USPSs ongoing challenges under the Delivering for America (DFA) plan. For months, I have raised alarms about the decline in mail service and deterioration of delivery standards linked to the DFA plan, which have disproportionately impacted rural and remote communities like ours. The decision to reroute mail from the OGJ VAMC risks worsening these challenges, further threatening the timely delivery of essential mail to one of our Nations most vulnerable populations.

Bergman demanded a response by Feb. 3 answering questions on why the changed occurred, why his office wasnt notified and what steps USPS will take to ensure delivery is not delayed or disrupted for veterans.
An office of a financial institution is pictured on a street in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

In 2024, Macron delivered a significant speech on Europe's strategic autonomy, urging Europeans to be lucid and "recognize that our Europe is mortal. It can die. It all depends on the choices we make, and those choices need to be made now."

PARIS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- When Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term as U.S. president earlier this month, Europeans were plunged into a collective sense of anxiety.

This anxiety stemmed not only from the new U.S. administration's potential impact on transatlantic relations but also from a deeper identity crisis among Europeans, exacerbated by a lack of strategic autonomy.

ANXIOUS CONTINENT

When the U.S. Republican Party nominated Trump as its presidential candidate in 2024, France's Prospective and Innovation Foundation held a geopolitical forum. During the event, a participant referenced the book "The Geopolitics of Emotion," which argues that three fundamental human emotions, namely fear, humiliation and hope, are reshaping the world.

According to the author, Asia embodies hope, many developing countries experience humiliation, and Europe stands as an example of fear.

In June 2021, then U.S. President Joe Biden attended the G7 summit in Cornwall, Britain, marking his first meeting with U.S. allies' leaders. During the summit, he declared, "America is back," to which French President Emmanuel Macron responded, "For how long?"

Europe has long feared the decline of its civilization, and the change of government in Washington has only intensified this anxiety.

In 2024, Macron delivered a significant speech on Europe's strategic autonomy, urging Europeans to be lucid and "recognize that our Europe is mortal. It can die. It all depends on the choices we make, and those choices need to be made now."

Last November, after the 2024 U.S. election results were announced, Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief for The Economist, said on social media X, "France is right."

People walk past a street painting on a sidewalk adjacent to the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

MULTIFACETED FEARS

In terms of security, having supported Ukraine for three years, Europe fears the new U.S. administration's abandonment or a peace agreement reached with Russia without Europe's involvement.

Prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on his X account, "Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over."

For Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, acting president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), Tusk's remarks revealed the severity of the situation.

On the economic front, Europe fears the U.S. tariff stick.

"From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly," said Trump in a virtual address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, adding, "And we're going to do something about it."

Ian Lesser, a political analyst at the GMF, said Trump's tariff threats are real and that Europe is far from ready.

"They're not prepared, no one really is. This very different approach to global trade upsets many cornerstones of the international economy, which has evolved over decades," he told the BBC.

Politically, Europe remains wary of U.S. interference.

U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, Trump's close ally, has frequently commented on the political affairs of many European countries on his social media platform X, including publicly supporting Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party on many occasions.

What's more, Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland has sounded alarm bells across Europe, underscoring significant tensions between the United States and its European allies.

This controversy, which centers on Greenland's sovereignty, has drawn widespread opposition from European leaders and fuelled concerns about Trump's motivations, as well as the future of transatlantic relations.

Talking about the new U.S. administration, former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin said Europe's compromises in the face of all sorts of deals with the United States would not bring itself any benefit.

Speaking to French media on the day of Trump's inauguration, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the world has re-entered an era of "might makes right" and Europe needs to be tough and seize all the attributes of its power to defend its interests.

CALL FOR SELF-AWAKENING

It's high time that Europe stood up for itself, shook off its fear and engaged in some intensive self-awakening, experts said, adding that the remedy to Europe's fear is to reclaim its capacity of making its own decisions while acting independently.

As Macron said in his New Year speech to the French army, "Let's therefore make this need for autonomy an opportunity for a European strategic awakening."

Last week, Macron and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need for a stronger and more united Europe to address emerging global challenges.

"It's up to the Europeans, and to our two countries, to consolidate a united, strong and sovereign Europe," Macron said during a joint press conference following their meeting.

Editor: ZAD
Your next trip to the Costco food court may taste a little different as the national retailer has announced it will switch which pop company is featured in its stores. Starting this summer, Coca-Cola products will return to the food courts for the first time since 2013, according to CNN.

Costco CEO Ron Vachris made the announcement during the companys annual shareholders meeting last week. The retailer had previously switched to Pepsi products in order to maintain the well-known $1.50 price point on its hot dog combo meal which comes with a drink. With the change to Coke products coming this summer, the cost of the hot dog meal is expected to remain at $1.50.

While the meal is known to actually cost the company money each time one is sold, the retailer says the popularity is worth the small loss. Costco has also taken to raising prices on other food court items in order to offset some of the losses. The hot dog meal has been available at the same price since 1985 with Costco estimating that it sold 150 million of the hot dog combos last year.

There are currently 17 Costco warehouses operating in Michigan.
ISHPEMING, MI -- A man accused of assaulting another man with a meat tenderizer during an incident on New Years Eve has been referred for a competency exam. According to WLUC-6, Zachary Lewis, 30, appeared in Marquette County District Court for a preliminary exam last week, but that exam was disposed until Lewis can undergo the competency exam.

Earlier this month, Lewis was charged with assault with intent with murder in connection with the alleged assault.

Police were called to 551 Jasper Street around 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 31 for reports of an assault. Once on scene police began investigating and eventually placed Lewis under arrest. A 56-year-old male victim was also at the scene and appeared to have been assaulted with a meat tenderizer.

Following his arrest, Lewis was first taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for a self-inflicted wound before then being lodged at the Marquette County Jail.

If he is found competent to continue with court proceedings, Lewis will return to court for his initial preliminary examination.
Time is running out to visit one of Disney Worlds longest running and most popular attractions as the last day for Muppet*Vision 3D is set for June 7. The Florida-based theme park confirmed the closing date this week while also setting shutter dates for two restaurants near the attraction.

PizzeRizzo, an Italian restaurant located right across from the Muppet*Vision 3D entrance will also close on June 7. The nearby Mama Melroses Ristorante Italiano will close on May 10.

Muppet*Vision 3D and the two restaurants are closing so that Disney can begin construction on a previously announced Monsters Inc. theme land.

Located inside the Hollywood Studios park at Disney World, Muppet*Vision 3D has been running since 1991. The attraction takes place inside a perfect replica of the Muppet Theater from the TV series, The Muppet Show. Guests are given 3D goggles, and watch as Kermit, Miss Piggy and crew showcase a newly developed movie-making invention known as Muppet*Vision 3D.

While Muppet*Vision 3D is closing, the Muppets arent leaving Disney World as the characters will be featured in the Rock n Roller Coaster which currently features legendary rock band Aerosmith.

As for the planned Monsters Inc. land, details on when it is expected to open havent been released by Disney. However, during the announcement of the land last year, Disney gave guests an idea of what to expect once it does open.

Picking up after the events of Pixars beloved film, humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc.  and the monsters need laughter to power the city and keep it running smoothly, reads a description in an August 2024 blog post. But its not a true visit without the factory itself. Youll be able to see the sights, hear the laughs and zoom through the building just like James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley) and Mike Wazowski  via a door!

As work begins on the area, the Grand Avenue portion of Hollywood Studios will undergo a phased closing in May.
FLINT, MI -- The North Flint Food Market wont open in the first quarter of 2025 -- a projection made less than five months ago, according to the leader of the co-op grocery store thats been built but has yet to open its doors to customers.

Reginald Flynn, chief executive officer of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, told investors in a meeting on Monday, Jan. 28, the new goal is to open the market in the fall, which will be more than four years after ground was first broken on the project.

(Where) we are now is a critical point ..., Flynn said during a store planning meeting broadcast in a Zoom call for supporters. This is our purpose. This is our mission ... We are trying to do something positive ... Say what you want, but were going to focus on creating jobs and opportunity.

Flynn, a retired pastor, has led the effort to open the market, located near Pierson and Clio roads on Flints northwest side.

The store has won financial support from the Michigan Strategic Fund Board but its opening has been repeatedly delayed by a lack of operating capital and the fallout of COVID-19, including higher-than-expected equipment and construction costs.

In addition to revenue from sales, the store is banking on the sale of memberships -- $250 for individuals or $500 for churches and other organizations -- which include a voice in how the business operates and how profits are reinvested or distributed.

Officials said last year nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations have purchased co-op memberships and Flynn said that number needs to increase and partial memberships need to be upgraded to full memberships to make the project a success.

Members of the co-op and dignitaries broke ground on the market in August 2021 but plans to open the following year were pushed back because of rising costs.

In August 2022, the MSFB amended a grant in support of the market from $1.25 million to $1.5 million but it wasnt enough to cover all opening costs.

Flynn said in September that $1.4 million was still needed to open the store to shoppers.

He requested $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the city of Flint but support for the project never materialized on the City Council.

It would be a shame if the city of Flint didnt put one dollar (into) this project, Flynn said Monday. I dont understand it.

Flynn said the market building is complete, fixtures are in place, and the city has granted a certificate of occupancy but the store still needs to secure membership in the National Co+op Grocers, which would act as wholesaler for it.

The market also has received applications from more than 50 individuals but has yet to choose a general manager, something that needs to be done in the coming months.

Flynn has said hell never give up on the market because the grocery in needed in an area of the city where large companies like Kroger and Meijer have closed, creating a food desert for residents, and because God gave me this assignment.

God has worked in our favor, he said Monday. It just hasnt been in our timeline that we desired.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The city of Grand Rapids is facing growing pressure from pro-immigration activists to defy President Donald Trumps federal mass deportation efforts and declare itself a sanctuary city for immigrants.

Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump has issued several executive orders aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, a promise he campaigned on. On day one of his presidency, he threatened to withhold federal funds from any cities or counties that interfere with the federal governments deportation operations.

In Grand Rapids, many pro-immigration activists have been urging city officials to push back on those orders and declare Grand Rapids as a sanctuary city to protect the citys undocumented immigrants.

More than 60 residents spoke at the Tuesday, Jan. 28 Grand Rapids City Commission meeting to demand that commissioners put protections in place for immigrants, arguing the city should take brave actions to protect the citys large immigrant community.

The group has presented two main demands to city commissioners: Declare Grand Rapids as a sanctuary to undocumented immigrants, and prohibit local police from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on deportation efforts.

RELATED: We are not criminals: Immigrants seek sanctuary status for Grand Rapids amid deportation fears

Two residents spoke in support of Trumps immigration crackdown on Tuesday, arguing that immigrants must use the countrys legal immigration procedures to enter the country.

There were no action items on Tuesdays agenda related to sanctuary cities or police policies, and the commission did not act on either demand during the meeting. The meeting lasted four hours, with over 100 attendees at the packed meeting.

During closing comments, commissioners said they are reviewing what they can do at the city level.

Mayor David LaGrand said immigrants are an integral part of the Grand Rapids community and that city officials should do everything they can to support them. He said the rhetoric around immigration at the national level has been appalling and dehumanizing.

However, the mayor said he is mindful that the citys actions could have a harmful impact. He said the city must avoid making rhetorical, not legal moves that could put undocumented immigrants in harms way by creating false promises that they will be safe from deportation in the city of Grand Rapids.

LaGrand said the concept of a sanctuary city was a term created by the media and doesnt have any legal status to protect immigrants.

We have an obligation to speak out on this issue and to speak out on it in moral terms and to do everything in our power to respect, honor and support the members of our community who have built their lives here, LaGrand said. But we also have to not build false hope. The danger of holding out some media term like sanctuary cities is that people may think that somehow gives them protection they dont have.

The term sanctuary city has become more common since Trump first took office in 2017, but theres not a standard legal definition of what makes a sanctuary city. Generally, it means a municipality limits its cooperation with federal immigration officials, specifically when it comes to detaining immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Lansing is the only Michigan city that has formally declared itself as a sanctuary city, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

RELATED: Activists push for sanctuary city status in Grand Rapids amid Trumps deportation pledge

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said last week that his officers will not be arresting or detaining people solely on the basis of an immigration violation. Winstrom said his department aims to be nonpolitical and that officers have a good relationship with local ICE authorities.

The Grand Rapids Police Department passed official policy in 2019 stating it would not arrest or detain people solely on the basis of an immigration violation.

However, pro-immigration activists say the city must go beyond those policies and definitively declare itself as a city that will work to protect its immigrants.

Sergio Cira-Reyes, who has lived in Grand Rapids for the last 25 years, said he was born in Mexico and his family lived undocumented in the U.S. when he was growing up. Both his parents were deported when he was a freshman in high school, something that motivated his pro-immigration advocacy work later in life.

Even to this day, I still get emotional thinking about that, he said.

Cira-Reyes said he wants the city to create protocol that would hold officers accountable if they collaborate with ICE.

Today, I want to ask you to go beyond what youve already committed to, he said. In the past, city police has collaborated with ICE, going to places and helping ICE with manpower to arrest people. I ask you to go beyond a promise.

However, Grand Rapids resident Tom Howe argued that immigrants must come to the U.S. legally or face the consequences of breaking the law.

Howe, 61, a lifelong Grand Rapids resident, said he supports Trumps efforts to deport illegal immigrants, which he argued will only target felons and people that are criminals.

Theyre only going to get the worst people, he said. Theyre not going to go after kids or nothing like that.

However, several people said immigrants who are valuable contributors to society are now living in fear because theres been an uptick in rumored ICE sightings around town.

Right now, our immigrant community is living in a state of panic due to the ongoing threats and operations conducted by ICE in our streets. Our neighbors are being detained, families are being separated said Gema Lowe, an organizer with immigrant advocacy group Movimiento Cosecha.

We are not criminals, despite how the federal administration seeks to portray us. We pay taxes, we are essential workers, and above all, we are human beings who happen to have been born in another country.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) announced four new exhibitions, which will run through February.

The dynamic lineup includes large-scale textiles and sculptures at 101 Monroe Center downtown, highlighting migration stories across time and geography.

As we welcome the start of 2025, the GRAM is excited to present a new season of exhibitions and programs that offer unique encounters with art, artists, and one another, said Jennifer Wcisel, curator of collections and exhibitions. These exhibitions offer a rich tapestry of perspectives  from Christopher Myers exploration of migration and mythology to Kristina Sheufelts intimate reflections on nature and loss, Andrea Frasers satirical yet incisive critique of museums as institutions, and the wonder and creativity of works on paper from our permanent collection.

According to the museum, the new exhibitions invite the West Michigan community to come together, engage in a shared dialogue, and explore new perspectives alongside the voices of these artists.

Heres a look at the featured experiences offered through the spring.

Each year this blood shall change and blossom: Christopher Myers on Myth and Migration (Feb. 8  Apr. 27)

The exhibition commemorates heroic stories of human migration through the monumental textiles and sculptures of the Brooklyn-based artist. It acknowledges the mythic proportion of individual migration stories. It reminds viewers of the significant risk and ambition of people who journey far from home, hoping for a better future.

Visitors will experience new and never-before-seen works, including new textiles inspired by Myers conversations with seasonal farmworkers in West Michigan.

With support from Migrant Legal Aid, a local advocacy group, Myers visited migrant housing sites throughout Kent and Ottawa counties to meet and record the stories of seasonal farmworkers. The 50,000+ migrant farmworkers in Michigan play a critical role in the states agricultural production, yet their stories largely remain untold.

Michigan Artist Series | Kristina Sheufelt: Fallow Season (Feb. 1  May 4)

Using her body to study how local ecologies impact biological responses, Kristina Sheufelt reflects on what it means to be isolated from nature by modern society yet intrinsically bound to its rhythms.

Sheufelts sculptures reflect an overwhelming sense of loss: a bereavement of the embodied experience of our natural environment and the demise of environmental health. This exhibition explores questions about the worlds ecological future and humanitys place within it.

Andrea Frasers Museum Highlights: A Gallery Talk (Feb. 1  Apr. 27)

This film, the latest to open in GRAMs Hunting Gallery on Level 2, uses satire to deconstruct how cultural institutions demand reverence from the visitors they claim to serve and to examine the inherent power dynamics between museums and viewers.

From the Vault: Selections of Works on Paper from GRAMs Collection (Jan. 14  May 4)

Almost two-thirds of the more than 6,500 objects in GRAMs permanent collection are works on paper. From the Vault highlights a selection of those works chosen for their undeniable craftsmanship and visual resonances with one another.

The exhibition includes artists Alex Katz, James Rosenquist, Jacob Lawrence, Patricia A. Quinlan, Arthur Secunda, Derrick Greaves, Nancy Ester Pletos, Gene Davis, Francoise Gilot and Saul Steinberg.

Call 616-831-1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org for museum hours and admission fees.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
GRAND HAVEN, MI  A 51-year-old woman and her dog were rescued by a group of strangers after falling through the ice, Grand Haven police reported.

No injuries were reported during or after the rescue.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Nerida Aviles has been living, working and paying taxes in the city of Grand Rapids with her husband and seven children for 26 years.

Aviles, 45, is a Mexican immigrant who said she has not yet received permanent citizenship in the U.S. but that she plays an important role in the Grand Rapids community, like countless other immigrants. However, she said many are living in fear amid President Donald Trumps promised mass deportation operations.

We are living here in fear and uncertainty with the threat of arrest and deportation by ICE, Aviles told reporters via a translator Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Aviles was among demonstrators who showed up to the Tuesday, Jan. 28 Grand Rapids City Commission meeting to demand that elected leaders declare Grand Rapids as a sanctuary city.

By the time the 7 p.m. meeting started, more than 100 people were packed into the city commission chambers, with another 70 waiting downstairs due to capacity limits.

The demonstration was organized by Movimiento Cosecha, a group made up largely of immigrants that advocates for drivers licenses for all, and by GR Rapid Response to ICE, an ally group formed in 2017 to support and protect immigrants in Grand Rapids.

Gema Lowe, organizer of Movimiento Cosecha, said the group planned to present two main demands to city commissioners at Tuesdays meeting:

To declare the city as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants

To commit to preventing the Grand Rapids Police Department from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and any law enforcement agencies that seek to arrest, detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

We are not criminals, despite how the federal administration seeks to portray us, Lowe said. We pay taxes, we are essential workers, and above all, we are human beings who happen to be born in a different country.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said last week that his officers will not be arresting or detaining people solely on the basis of an immigration violation. Winstrom said his department aims to be non-political and that officers have a good relationship with local Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.

We are not criminals, despite how the federal administration seeks to portray us, Aviles told reporters via a translator Tuesday, Jan. 28. We pay taxes, we are essential workers, and above all, we are human beings who happen to be born in a different country.

People in our city depend on and interact with immigrant neighbors every day: from the harvested food we eat, to the restaurants we patronize; from the construction of buildings we live and work in, to the manufactured products we use daily; from the clean hotel rooms and offices we visit, to the home health care we receive or provide for our loved ones, Lowe said. They are the children learning and playing in our schools, the drivers who stop and wave us through the busy traffic turn, and the neighbors who offer a smile on our daily walks and errands.

RELATED: Activists push for sanctuary city status in Grand Rapids amid Trumps deportation pledge

The same group has asked Grand Rapids Public Schools to pass a Sanctuary Schools resolution that would prohibit federal deportation officers from stepping foot on school property.

Last week, GRPS issued guidance to its staff and faculty on what to do if paid a visit by ICE. Superintendent Leadriane Roby told staff to remain vigilant about who enters school buildings, and to prioritize the safety and security of students.

RELATED: Remain vigilant: Grand Rapids schools issue protocol for visits by ICE

In addition to speaking at Tuesdays commission meeting, the group is also circulating an online petition that outlines the same demands seeking that Grand Rapids declare itself a sanctuary city. The group said it has already generated over generated 20,000 letters to the city seeking sanctuary status.

The Grand Rapids Police Department passed official policy in 2019 stating it would not arrest or detain people solely on the basis of an immigration violation.

GRPD will not coerce, threaten with deportation or engage in verbal abuse of any person based on the persons or the persons family members actual or perceived immigration status or citizenship, the city policy states.

City Manager Mark Washington included the policy in Tuesdays agenda in response to the recent demands for sanctuary status.

The Department will not inquire into a persons immigration status when the person seeks police services, such as filing a police report or calling 911, the police states. Moreover, officers will not stop, question, investigate, arrest, search or detain an individual based solely on actual or suspected immigration status, actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law, prior deportation order or other civil immigration document.

RELATED: Grand Rapids police not in the business of immigration enforcement, chief says

Tuesdays Grand Rapids City Commission meeting started at 7 p.m. in the 9th floor commission chambers at city hall and is streamed online.

The Grand Rapids City Commission has already received more than 1,600 communications urging commissioners to vote to make Grand Rapids a sanctuary city, according to Tuesdays agenda.

MLive/The Grand Rapids Press will have further coverage of Tuesdays meeting.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A 78-year-old Holland woman was killed and two other people were injured in a crash Wednesday, Jan. 29, in Holland Township.

The names of those involved were not released.

The crash was reported around 11:10 a.m. at Riley Street and 112th Avenue, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.

The investigation showed that an 86-year-old Holland man was driving west on Riley Street when he attempted a left turn onto 112th Avenue, where his car was struck by an eastbound sport-utility vehicle.

Witnesses told police that the traffic light was green for eastbound and westbound traffic.

The 86-year-old mans passenger was taken by AMR ambulance to Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

The man and the other driver, a 34-year-old Zeeland woman, were also injured, sheriffs deputies said. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. It was not known if the deceased woman was wearing a seat belt.

The intersection was partially closed during the investigation but has since reopened.

The sheriffs Traffic Services Division is investigating.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI  Fire destroyed three buildings after neighbors reported hearing an explosion and saw flames, South Haven Area Emergency Services reports.

It happened around 6:05 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, on County Road 687 near 63rd Street in Van Buren Countys Geneva Township, fire officials said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Information from district election commissions will be received five times during the day, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Mazahir Panakhov told journalists today, Trend reports.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission reported that the public will be informed about voter turnout at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00.

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts.

There are 5,846 polling booths for municipal elections. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

A grand total of 16,092 candidates were enumerated on the ballots for the municipal elections.

Of the 16,092 candidates, 8,424 were nominated by 23 political parties. Of the candidates, 8,504 were from 24 political parties, and 7,588 were neutral. About 31 percent of the candidates are women, and roughly 82 percent have higher education.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal elections. Of the observers, 26,260 are observers nominated by 24 political parties.

Approximately 41 percent of candidates running in the municipal elections are between 21 and 35 years of age.

Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

To note, the voting process will run until 19:00.
UPDATE: This story has been edited to include additional information and clarifications from KPS officials.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Immigration Customs Enforcement officers will be stopped at the front office if they show up to Kalamazoo schools  just like any visitor would  and top administrators would be alerted.

Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Darrin Slade told parents how the district would respond to ICE agents at a Tuesday, Jan. 29 meeting to discuss metal detectors.

MORE: Metal detectors considered for Kalamazoo middle, high schools next year

If ICE arrives at any district schools, it will be required to meet with the principal in the main office, as is policy for all government officials. The principal will contact a district administrator, who may come to the school if necessary.

They cant interact with teachers, Slade said. They cant step past the main office unless the principal or assistant principal gives permission.

If officers dont have a warrant for a specific student or staff members, they wont be permitted to enter the building beyond the main office, Slade said. If officers do have a warrant, Slade said he cant foresee students being removed from school grounds, but said the district has to follow state and federal laws.

This is the practice that most school districts have in place, Slade said.

In a follow-up email to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette, Slade said KPS will follow all state and federal laws and will interact with officials in a respectful and professional manner.

About 11.3% of KPS students are Hispanic/Latino, according to state data.

ICE has not been to any KPS schools this year, said Susan Coney, KPS chief of marketing and communications.

School districts across the country have been on high alert after President Donald Trump ended a practice prohibiting ICE and border patrol from making arrests at sensitive areas like schools, churches and hospitals. The policy rendering those sites off limits had been in place since 2011.

Grand Rapids Public Schools has also issued guidance to staff members on how to address ICE arriving at schools.

RELATED: Remain vigilant: Grand Rapids schools issue protocol for visits by ICE

The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center condemned the change, saying it is designed to stoke fear among immigrant communities and limit their access to important locations for the well-being of people and the communities of which they are a part.

Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Benjamine Huffman said the change was essential to ending the invasion of the U.S. southern border and empower(ing) law enforcement to protect Americans, in a statement.

Chicago Public Schools mistakenly reported ICE had attempted to enter a local elementary school on Jan. 24. Staff incorrectly identified U.S. Secret Service agents as ICE agents.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  Its been about a month since William Wolfe has been readmitted to the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital.

Wolfe, who killed Kailey and Larry Walker in the couples Galesburg apartment in June 2021, was charged with two counts each of open murder and felony firearms.
MUSKEGON, MI  A 36-year-old man was arrested for allegedly robbing two businesses within Muskegon County, police said.

The Muskegon man was taken into custody Saturday, Jan. 25, for his alleged role in the armed robberies.
The top appointed official of a mid-Michigan county has resigned amid a Michigan State Police investigation.

The Gratiot County Board of Commissioners announced Tuesday that County Administrator Chris Oosterhoff had resigned effective Friday, Jan. 24.

The news release Tuesday, Jan. 28, from county leaders provided no further detail about what they said was an open and ongoing investigation.

County Board Chair Dave Owens told MLive/The Saginaw News that Oosterhoff is being investigated by Michigan State Police. He said he was unable to comment further.

Interim County Administrator Sheila Barnaby, Gratiot County Sheriff Tom Clark and Michigan State Police did not immediately return requests for comment.

Oosterhoff could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to the county, Oosterhoff served as county administrator since March 2023. Before that, he worked as the countys finance director since 2017.

Deputy Administrator Sheila Barnaby was named interim county administrator.

The Board of Commissioners emphasizes their commitment to maintaining the trust and confidence of the community through this transition, the board wrote in the news release.

Located south of Mount Pleasant, Gratiot County is home to about 42,000 residents, according to the 2020 Census.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ruled out a bid for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat next year, but a number of other high profile politicians are potentially weighing a run.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters announced Tuesday, Jan. 28, he will not seek reelection when his term ends in 2027, setting the stage for an open 2026 race.

The Bloomfield Township Democrat who has served in Congress since 2009 said he plans to dedicate more time to family.

Related: Sen. Gary Peters plans to step down when term ends in 2027

Following the announcement, Axios reported that former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is taking a serious look at running for the seat, citing a person close to Buttigieg.

The former Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend mayor moved to Michigan in 2022 and has been speculated to be among the contenders for state governor in 2026.

Whitmer, who is unable to seek reelection as governor due to term limits, quashed any notion that she would be running for the seat. The rising star in the Democratic Party has long been viewed as a potential contender for president.

Gov. Whitmer is grateful for Senator Peters service, a spokesperson for her political action committee, Fight Like Hell, said Tuesday. She is proudly serving the people of Michigan as governor and is not running for this seat in the Senate.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, who went viral for her fiery response to a GOP colleague accusing her of being a groomer, said in a statement she is taking a very close look at both the U.S. Senate seat and the governors race.

I plan to have a number of conversations in the coming days about where I can do the most good for Michiganders, McMorrow said.

According to the Associated Press, other potential Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. Theres also been speculation about U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten.

For the Republicans, U.S. Rep. John James could potentially attempt another run. James ran in two of Michigans last three U.S. Senate elections, failing both times.

Tudor Dixon, who ran unsuccessfully against Whitmer in 2022, hinted on social media at a possible run. She said Peters retirement is an opportunity for a strong America First candidate and that she is considering the future very seriously.

Theres also former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost to Democratic U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin in a close race last November for the seat.

Rogers said Thursday on social media that hes strongly considering joing the fight once again.

None of these potential contenders have officially declared theyll run for the seat.

The seat isnt a sure thing for Democrats to maintain their hold on.

Trump carried Michigan in November by a little more than one point. That same election, Slotkin narrowly beat Rogers by a measure of 48.64% of the vote to 48.30% in the Senate race.

The seat was left open by Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who declined to seek a fifth term.

Related: We can heal the divide: See Sen. Debbie Stabenows farewell message

The Republican and Democratic fields for Stabenows seat were crowded, with many candidates dropping out ahead of the primary.

Michigan has been represented in the Senate by two Democrats for 24 years, with former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham being the last Republican to serve the state. His tenure ended in 2001.
LANSING, MI -- Despite abolishing the death penalty in 1963, a Michigan prisoner is scheduled to be executed next week.

Demetrius Frazier, 52, originally from Detroit, is listed in Michigan Department of Corrections online records as serving a mandatory life sentence. But hes not in Michigan.

Due to an unusual agreement between former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and then-Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley in 2011, Frazier, whom officials deem a sexual predator, has for the last 14 years been imprisoned on Alabamas Death Row.

Related: Alabama death row inmates lawyers drop effort to move him to Michigan

His mother, Carol Frazier, 69, of Taylor, held a press conference in Lansing Tuesday, Jan. 28 along with anti-death penalty advocates.

We want him to come back to Michigan to finish his time here, said Carol Frazier.

Since Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in federal court filings said her office doesnt want Frazier back, supporters are asking Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to use her executive powers to save the twice-convicted murderers life.

Supporters claim Fraziers Alabama transfer was improper and the governor should uphold the intent of Michigans constitutional ban on the death penalty.

Related: A sexual predator: Michigan prisons dont want Alabama death row inmate back

Calling her son a changed man, the inmates mother intended to deliver Whitmers staff a handwritten letter and petitions said to contain thousands of signatures in Lansing. She hopes her son will live the rest of his life behind bars in Michigan, rather than die while strapped down inside an Alabama prison.

Advocates admit Fraziers crimes were heinous, but oppose his execution on philosophical and legal grounds.

In 1993, a Michigan jury convicted Frazier on two counts first-degree criminal sexual assault in Detroit and the 1992 murder of 14-year-old Crystal Linda Kendrick, who police believe escaped a vacant house where Frazier intended to rape her in 1991.

Frazier chased her outside and fatally shot her in the head. A passing motorist found her naked body, according to a 1993 pre-sentence report included in new court filings.

MLive hasnt been able to locate members of the victims family but the same pre-sentencing report said the family wanted Frazier sentenced to life in prison, the electric chair or the same treatment he gave Crystal.

Frazier was also convicted of breaking into a womans Detroit home armed with a knife on Sept. 1, 1991. Wearing a T-shirt with holes cut out for the eyes over his face, he raped the woman multiple times while multiple children were inside the home.

According to the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, at the time of his arrest in 1992 when he was 19, Frazier faced 15 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, some that hes never faced trial for.

During the Michigan investigation, Frazier revealed his responsibility in another crime, the sexual assault and murder of Pauline Brown in Alabamas Jefferson County.

In November 1991, Frazier, according to court records, broke into Browns apartment. He searched the home for money and when he couldnt find much, woke up Brown. He raped her at gunpoint, and then shot her in the head.

After he was convicted for his Michigan crimes, the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1994 temporarily transferred Frazier to Alabamas custody to face trial for Browns killing. A jury found Frazier guilty and the judge sentenced him to death.

He was transferred back to Michigan until the 2011 agreement between state governors, at which time a private plane delivered Frazier back to Alabama. Hes remained there awaiting execution ever since.

Frazier is scheduled to be put to death within a 30-hour period that begins on Feb. 6 and extends into Feb. 7.

Fraziers attorneys have put forth multiple arguments in their attempts to save Fraziers life. Federal court filings claim the manner of execution -- administering nitrogen and depriving the body of oxygen -- is cruel and unusual.

Due in part to rising cost and complications linked to chemicals commonly used for lethal injection, Alabama joined several other states that allow nitrogen-induced execution.

Fraziers attorneys also argue that the governors agreement was unlawful. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, whose office convicted Frazier, doesnt recall being notified of the 2011 extradition plan.

She was (recently) contacted by a lawyer on behalf of the defendant, said Maria Miller, a spokesperson for Worthy. She advised him that she thought that Gov. Whitmer would be the most appropriate person for this since the allegation is that a former governor wrongly extradited him to Alabama.

Representatives for Whitmers and Nessels offices havent responded to requests for comment.

We have current pending litigation regarding this case and will not be providing comment at this time, said Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Jenni Riehle when asked about Fraziers case and the agencys policy on transferring prisoners to other states for execution.

There is a week and two days to the execution date and there is enough time for Gov. Whitmer to issue an executive order, said Abraham Bonowitz, an anti-death penalty advocate whos helping coordinate efforts to save Frazier. Everybody acknowledges that its a longshot.
U.S. senators will soon determine whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be the nations next health secretary.

If the environmental attorney from California takes the reins of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and with it the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- what does that mean for Michigan?

Kennedy, 71, is considered a controversial choice by President Donald Trump to lead the federal health department, given his lack of medical background, opposition to vaccines, and history of spreading conspiracy theories including those related to the COVID-19 infectious disease.

Senate confirmation hearings for Kennedy are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 29 and 30.

RELATED: Grand Rapids was first to put fluoride in its water 80 years ago. Will RFK Jr. change that?

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services declined to discuss Kennedys nomination as well as some hospital spokespersons.

Numerous Michigan physicians have voiced concern about Kennedy having a platform to spread medical misinformation, reduce access to healthcare, and hamper response to future public health emergencies.

He is not qualified for this position, said Dr. Nancy Herta, a Fremont-area obstetrician and gynecologist. His past behavior has demonstrated he has no interest in working with physicians or with the FDA or CDC. He has set himself up as obstructing these organizations.

But on his Truth Social site announcing Kennedys appointment, Trump said he would end the Chronic Disease epidemic and Make America Great and Healthy Again!

For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health, Trump said Nov. 14.

RELATED: Trumps executive orders and what they mean for Michigan

The Michigan Hospital Association said it doesnt have a clear understanding of the policy and regulatory priorities of the new administration and its health-related cabinet members; thus, they declined to speculate.

We can say that the MHA and its members are strategically focused on growing the healthcare workforce, protecting access to care, mental and behavioral health, cybersecurity and cybercrime, and creating healthy communities, said CEO Brian Peters. We look forward to working with any and all administration officials and legislators on these critical matters.

Supporters of Kennedys nomination say hes committed to scientific transparency and determined to address the root causes of chronic illnesses that plague the nation. They cite Americas high rates of chronic illness among children and declining healthy life expectancy world ranking.

We believe Robert F. Kennedy Jr. possesses the vision, integrity, and leadership essential for this critical moment in public health, reads a letter addressed to Congress and signed by a group of about 800 medical professionals.

Below is a summary of what Trump, Kennedy Jr., and Michigan health officials have said about a few health-related topics as they relate to Michigans future:

Priorities

Trump has called on Kennedy to save Americans from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products and food additives that have contributed to an overwhelming health crisis.

Kennedy said in November hes committed to advancing Trumps vision to Make America Healthy Again.

His stated three main priorities: clean up corruption, open-source all data, and end the chronic disease epidemic.

Going further on the third priority, Kennedy has said he wants to make school lunches healthier, ban certain food additives making people sick and fat, and crack down on ultra-processed foods linked to obesity and diabetes.

Were creating a diabetes problem in our kids by giving them food thats poison and Im going to stop that, Kennedy said in an interview on Fox News.

Vaccines

Kennedy has said he isnt anti-vaccine. Those claims are often countered by his own comments. In a July 2023 podcast interview he said, Theres no vaccine that is safe and effective. He later walked it back and said he meant to add for everyone to the end of that sentence.

He has said people who want vaccines should be able to get them, but they ought to know the safety profile and risk profile and efficacy of that vaccine.

He also founded the nonprofit Childrens Health Defense, a group that regularly publishes anti-vaccine articles and videos, including recently a movie titled Vaxxed III: Authorized To Kill.

Dr. Rob Davidson, an emergency physician in West Michigan for two decades, who has run unsuccessfully for Congress as a Democrat, said its one thing to hear from a crazy guy like RFK on a video shared on social media. Its more troubling when that same information comes from a .gov and a cabinet official.

It makes it that much harder for us to share real information about the safety and benefit of vaccines, said Davidson, who leads the Committee to Protect Health Care, a lobbying group of more than 25,000 physicians who promote pro-patient policies.

Thats terrifying to me and can really harm a lot of people and put a lot of communities at risk.

RELATED: Michigan is seeing more whooping cough, which can be dangerous for kids

Diseases like measles and pertussis that had been nearly eliminated in the U.S. through vaccine campaigns have recently popped back up in Michigan as vaccine rates have declined.

Davidson is concerned that would only continue with Kennedy being given a platform and megaphone to spread misinformation.

That then trickles down to patients we take care of and the parents who have kids, he said. As someone whos practiced medicine for so long, and my wifes a family doctor -- we very strongly believe vaccines have saved millions of lives.

Its not just a belief, its a reality.

Abortion access

Kennedy has been inconsistent on his views around abortion.

In 2023, he said hed support a 15-week federal ban, but later said he misspoke.

Last summer, Kennedy recorded a video in which he voiced support for abortion being legal up until a certain number of weeks and restricted thereafter. He didnt specify a timeframe.

In late term cases where a mothers life is at risk or the babys got a fatal diagnosis, Kennedy said I dont think a bureaucrat or a judge is better equipped than a babys own mother to decide what to do in those circumstances.

RELATED: Michigan abortions neared 30-year high in 2023

Federal lawmakers have come away from meetings with Kennedy in recent weeks with the impression hed do what Trump wants as it relates to abortion access. The president has repeatedly stated abortion laws should be left up to the states.

Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022 to secure reproductive freedom. State law includes protections related to pregnancy, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management and infertility care.

This summer, the Michigan Court of Claims determined the states mandatory 24-hour waiting period for abortions was unconstitutional. The court also removed the need to provide an informed consent form to an abortion provider and a ban on clinicians other than physicians providing abortion care.

Dr. Herta said she hopes the Trump administration doesnt limit access to mifepristone, a drug used to end a pregnancy within 10 weeks by blocking the hormone progesterone. The drug is also used in cases of miscarriages, she said.

Since 2023, the FDA has allowed mifepristone to be shipped to patients in states that allow medicated abortion via telehealth. Health officials say the move removed barriers to access for patients, saving them time and money traveling to appointments, arranging childcare and taking time off work.

Its also much safer for elective abortions to do them medically, Herta said. (Surgical) abortions are medically more dangerous, more expensive, and a huge loss of privacy, and the end result is the same.

Health emergencies

If there were to be another public health emergency like COVID-19 over the next four years, Kennedy would likely play a significant role in the nations response.

Kennedy has criticized the leadership of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease for more than 36 years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. He even writing a book denouncing Fauci.

Kennedy promoted unproven treatments for COVID-19 like hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, and ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug. Neither drug has demonstrated being effective against COVID-19 in humans, according to the FDA.

Citing unverified Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) entries, he also petitioned to have authorizations for the COVID-19 vaccines revoked in May 2021.

I guess we could expect more of the same on that front, Dr. Davidson said.

(Kennedy) has said he wants to go to the (National Institute of Health) and put a pause on new drug development and outbreaks. One would assume that includes studying and preparing for infectious disease outbreaks, which would put us in a difficult position to respond in the future.

Gender-affirming care

During his run for president, Kennedy backed a ban on treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors.

I dont think children can genuinely consent to repurposed castration drugs (puberty blockers) and surgical mutilation, which have permanent, irreversible effects, he posted in May on X. People with gender dysphoria or who want to change their gender deserve compassion and respect, but these terribly consequential procedures should be deferred till adulthood.

RELATED: Whitmer directs state departments to review compliance with Trumps orders on DEI, gender

Dr. Herta said puberty blockers can prevent a psychologically devastating experience for youth going through puberty while feeling like theyre the wrong gender. She noted their effects are reversable if and when they stop using them.

These drugs arent new and have long been used for other purposes than gender-affirming care. One such drug, Lupron, has many uses including for treating endometriosis, fibromyalgia, prostate cancer, and enlarged thyroid.

Fluoride in drinking water

Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities.

In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city to add fluoride to its drinking water at a level of 0.7 milligrams per liter. That level is recommended by state and federal departments of health and environment, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association.

Kennedy has called fluoride an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. He said Trump would advise all US. water systems to remove it from public water once he took office.

An August 2024 report from DHHSs National Toxicology Program did find higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams per liter, were associated with lower IQ in children.

However, there was insufficient data to determine if low levels of 0.7 milligrams per liter had any negative effect on childrens IQ. Additionally, they found no evidence that fluoride exposure had adverse effects on adult cognition.

More research is needed to better understand if there are health risks associated with low fluoride exposures, but the CDC and other health groups continue to recommend low levels in drinking water.
The Detroit Red Wings are embarking on a tough road trip at a crucial point of their season. You can join them as they tour through Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

Buy Red Wings tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster

The Red Wings get set to take on four quality opponents this week, starting with a clash with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. From there, they head down to face the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, before having a quick turnaround against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

Detroit finishes up the four-game swing with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.

As of Wednesday, the Red Wings (24-21-5) are tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division, two points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Buy Red Wings gear: Fanatics, Amazon, Lids

There are many options for flying out west to catch the Wings. Book your flight through TripAdvisor or Booking.com for discounted rates.

With each game taking place in the heart of the respective cities, there are many quality lodging options that are both affordable and convenient.

Take a look at other available lodging options on TripAdvisor or Hotels.com for a broad view, or narrow your search to Hilton or Marriott.
Smith Group Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 77,100 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $4,875,000.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of CM. BNP Paribas Financial Markets acquired a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 571.6% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 732 shares of the banks stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 623 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 1,069.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 725 shares of the banks stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 663 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 23.1% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 911 shares of the banks stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, City State Bank acquired a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.88% of the companys stock.

Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts:

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CM opened at $64.47 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $64.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $60.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.05, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52-week low of $43.86 and a 52-week high of $67.45.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 27th were issued a dividend of $0.6912 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.29%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 27th. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is presently 51.22%.

Several research firms have recently issued reports on CM. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $97.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CM

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM).

Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 36.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,711 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,467 shares during the period. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $798,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AFL. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership acquired a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Aflac by 41.8% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 363 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the companys stock.

Get Aflac alerts:

Aflac Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $107.39 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $59.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.17, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.00. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $105.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $106.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $75.07 and a fifty-two week high of $115.50.

Aflac Increases Dividend

Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.30 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 22.02% and a return on equity of 16.34%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 40.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.84 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be issued a $0.58 dividend. This is an increase from Aflacs previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. Aflacs payout ratio is presently 30.12%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AFL shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Aflac from $103.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $115.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Aflac from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, TD Cowen started coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. They set a hold rating and a $102.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $102.67.

Read Our Latest Research Report on AFL

About Aflac

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. On January 29, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov left for Ankara on a working visit to attend the second trilateral meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, economy/trade and transport of Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

During the visit, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov is scheduled to speak at the second trilateral meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, economy/trade and transport of Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as at a number of high-level bilateral meetings.
Ameriprise Financial (NYSE:AMP  Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $9.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.16 by $0.20, Zacks reports. Ameriprise Financial had a return on equity of 68.52% and a net margin of 15.99%.

Ameriprise Financial Stock Performance

Ameriprise Financial stock traded up $3.44 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $575.28. 797,901 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 477,389. Ameriprise Financial has a 12 month low of $378.05 and a 12 month high of $577.89. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $548.34 and a 200 day moving average of $495.95. The firm has a market cap of $55.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.08, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.36.

Get Ameriprise Financial alerts:

Ameriprise Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $1.48 dividend. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.03%. Ameriprise Financials payout ratio is 22.73%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on AMP. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $625.00 price objective on shares of Ameriprise Financial in a research note on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on Ameriprise Financial from $565.00 to $560.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group downgraded Ameriprise Financial from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $580.00 to $570.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Ameriprise Financial from $440.00 to $502.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $503.22.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AMP

Insider Activity

In other Ameriprise Financial news, insider Joseph Edward Sweeney sold 10,735 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $549.68, for a total value of $5,900,814.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 5,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,194,190.48. This represents a 64.88 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Walter Stanley Berman sold 8,655 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $564.16, for a total transaction of $4,882,804.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,409 shares in the company, valued at $3,615,701.44. This represents a 57.45 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,715 shares of company stock valued at $11,983,436 over the last 90 days. 0.73% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Ameriprise Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ameriprise Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services to individual and institutional clients in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Advice & Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement & Protection Solutions, and Corporate & Other.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Ameriprise Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameriprise Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA  Free Report) (NYSE:NOA)  National Bank Financial cut their FY2024 earnings estimates for shares of North American Construction Group in a report released on Wednesday, January 22nd. National Bank Financial analyst M. Sytchev now expects that the company will earn $3.59 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $3.79. The consensus estimate for North American Construction Groups current full-year earnings is $4.06 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for North American Construction Groups Q4 2024 earnings at $1.00 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $3.90 EPS.

Get North American Construction Group alerts:

North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported C$1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.10 by C$0.02. The business had revenue of C$286.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$294.95 million. North American Construction Group had a net margin of 4.99% and a return on equity of 15.19%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.50 earnings per share.

NOA has been the subject of several other research reports. ATB Capital lowered their price objective on North American Construction Group from C$40.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Friday, November 1st. National Bankshares increased their price target on shares of North American Construction Group from C$39.00 to C$40.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. CIBC upgraded shares of North American Construction Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from C$30.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Cibc World Mkts upgraded shares of North American Construction Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on North American Construction Group from C$32.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, North American Construction Group currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$37.63.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NOA

North American Construction Group Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of NOA stock opened at C$28.28 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$29.48 and a 200 day moving average of C$27.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 210.33, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.79. North American Construction Group has a 1-year low of C$22.68 and a 1-year high of C$34.87. The stock has a market capitalization of C$755.92 million, a PE ratio of 15.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.59.

Insider Buying and Selling at North American Construction Group

In other news, Director Martin Robert Ferron sold 6,209 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$31.60, for a total value of C$196,204.40. Insiders own 8.93% of the companys stock.

North American Construction Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were issued a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 27th. This is a positive change from North American Construction Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.70%. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.86%.

North American Construction Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy civil construction services to customers in the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The company operates Heavy Equipment  Canada, Heavy Equipment  Australia, and Other segments.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for North American Construction Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North American Construction Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, a renowned global leader in innovative solutions from nature, recently disclosed a significant executive appointment in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company announced that on January 29, 2025, the Board of Directors appointed Carrie Nichol as the Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer effective March 1, 2025. This appointment follows the forthcoming departure of Molly Strader Fruit, who currently serves as the Vice President and Corporate Controller.

Get alerts:

Carrie Nichol, aged 45, brings a wealth of experience to her new role at Archer-Daniels-Midland. Before her appointment, she held the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Global Process Leader at Cargill from June 2024 onwards. Her financial career also includes serving as Vice President, Finance, and Controller of Cargill and as Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer at Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Ms. Nichols professional journey commenced in public accounting with KPMG, where she laid the foundation for her career.

In the 8-K filing, it was clarified that there are no specific arrangements or relationships that influenced Ms. Nichols appointment to her new role. She has also accepted a compensation package outlined in a written offer letter from the company, which includes an initial annual base salary of $550,000, participation in the 2025 annual cash incentive plan with a target bonus opportunity of $500,000, and an annual equity award of approximately $1,315,000.

Additionally, Ms. Nichol will receive one-time make-whole cash payments, relocation benefits, and participation in various employee benefit plans and programs. The specifics of these compensatory arrangements were detailed in the offer letter extended to Ms. Nichol by Archer-Daniels-Midland.

Archer-Daniels-Midland further disclosed that on January 29, 2025, a press release was issued to announce the appointment of Ms. Nichol. In a statement, Monish Patolawala, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer at the company, expressed confidence in Ms. Nichols ability to lead the crucial accounting functions and support the companys strategic priorities.

This appointment underscores the commitment of Archer-Daniels-Midland in bolstering its leadership team with seasoned professionals to drive financial excellence and operational efficiency in the organization.

The complete details of this disclosure can be found on the SECs EDGAR database under Archer-Daniels-Midland Companys filings.

END

This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Archer-Daniels-Midlands 8K filing here.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

Read More
Avista (NYSE:AVA  Free Report) had its target price cut by Jefferies Financial Group from $40.00 to $39.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the utilities providers stock.

Avista Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE AVA opened at $36.49 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $36.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The company has a market cap of $2.89 billion, a PE ratio of 14.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.49. Avista has a 12 month low of $31.91 and a 12 month high of $39.99.

Get Avista alerts:

Avista (NYSE:AVA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.10. Avista had a net margin of 10.24% and a return on equity of 7.83%. The firm had revenue of $383.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $389.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.19 EPS. Avistas revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Avista will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Avista Announces Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 26th were paid a dividend of $0.475 per share. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 26th. Avistas dividend payout ratio is currently 75.70%.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AVA. Algert Global LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Avista by 202.2% in the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 57,617 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,233,000 after purchasing an additional 38,550 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Avista by 9.0% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 420,527 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $16,295,000 after acquiring an additional 34,829 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Avista by 1.5% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,828,230 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $70,857,000 after acquiring an additional 27,328 shares during the last quarter. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Avista in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,340,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 2nd quarter worth about $5,638,000. 85.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Avista Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Avista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Hantz Financial Services Inc. lessened its holdings in Crane (NYSE:CR  Free Report) by 5.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 74,425 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 3,908 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. owned about 0.13% of Crane worth $11,294,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in CR. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Crane by 16.1% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 655,470 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $103,748,000 after purchasing an additional 91,029 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Crane by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 585,718 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $92,707,000 after purchasing an additional 3,188 shares in the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC grew its stake in shares of Crane by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 183,725 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $29,080,000 after purchasing an additional 8,899 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in shares of Crane by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 132,200 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $20,925,000 after purchasing an additional 4,096 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Crane by 0.4% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 128,577 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $20,351,000 after buying an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. 75.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Crane alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on CR shares. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Crane from $176.00 to $170.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group increased their price target on Crane from $152.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Crane from $175.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Crane has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $166.80.

Crane Trading Up 12.3 %

CR stock opened at $175.64 on Wednesday. Crane has a 12-month low of $110.49 and a 12-month high of $188.52. The businesss 50-day moving average is $163.64 and its 200 day moving average is $158.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $10.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.26, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.22.

Crane (NYSE:CR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The conglomerate reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.07. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.90 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Crane will post 7.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Crane Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This is an increase from Cranes previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Cranes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.06%.

Crane Profile

(Free Report)

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Crane (NYSE:CR  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Deluxe Co. (NYSE:DLX  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $21.31 and traded as high as $23.22. Deluxe shares last traded at $23.06, with a volume of 268,777 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Deluxe from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th.

Get Deluxe alerts:

Get Our Latest Analysis on DLX

Deluxe Stock Performance

Deluxe Announces Dividend

The companys fifty day moving average price is $22.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.02 billion, a PE ratio of 18.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.52.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 19th were issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 19th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.20%. Deluxes payout ratio is 96.77%.

Insider Activity at Deluxe

In other news, CEO Barry C. Mccarthy acquired 2,290 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average price of $23.57 per share, with a total value of $53,975.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 180,960 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,265,227.20. The trade was a 1.28 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 4.23% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Deluxe

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of DLX. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Deluxe in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Deluxe in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Ariadne Wealth Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Deluxe during the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Deluxe during the third quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Deluxe by 57.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,206 shares of the business services providers stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.90% of the companys stock.

Deluxe Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Deluxe Corporation provides technology-enabled solutions to enterprises, small businesses, and financial institutions in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It operates through Merchant Services, B2B Payments, Data Solutions, and Print segments. The Merchant Services offers credit and debit card authorization and payment systems, as well as processing services primarily to small and medium-sized retail and service businesses.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Deluxe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deluxe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Denver Wealth Management Inc. trimmed its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 9.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,115 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,284 shares during the period. Denver Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $321,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 290,460,600 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $8,405,930,000 after acquiring an additional 3,405,539 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Pfizer by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 130,143,942 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,766,366,000 after purchasing an additional 12,864,343 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 117,666,245 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,392,342,000 after buying an additional 1,855,419 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in shares of Pfizer by 22.4% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 38,068,879 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,101,713,000 after buying an additional 6,977,587 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the third quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 16,819,712 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $486,762,000 after buying an additional 100,900 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Pfizer Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of PFE stock opened at $26.79 on Wednesday. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.48 and a fifty-two week high of $31.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.79 billion, a PE ratio of 36.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.00. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $26.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.92.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.42. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. The business had revenue of $17.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.92 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.17) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 31.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 227.03%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have commented on PFE shares. Bank of America reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $29.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Guggenheim dropped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $35.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Pfizer to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $31.92.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on PFE

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
waypoint wealth counsel reduced its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 631 shares of the companys stock after selling 17 shares during the period. waypoint wealth counsels holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $487,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the third quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. now owns 2,105 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,865,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Prio Wealth Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Prio Wealth Limited Partnership now owns 2,411 shares of the companys stock worth $2,136,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. First Community Trust NA lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. First Community Trust NA now owns 257 shares of the companys stock valued at $228,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc now owns 1,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,126,000 after buying an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Finally, James Hambro & Partners LLP increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.7% in the third quarter. James Hambro & Partners LLP now owns 340 shares of the companys stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts:

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 0.4 %

Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $804.87 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $778.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $847.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $637.00 and a 12 month high of $972.53. The stock has a market cap of $764.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 87.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.41.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.52 by ($0.34). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 71.08% and a net margin of 20.48%. The firm had revenue of $11.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.09 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.98 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.22%.

Eli Lilly and Company declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Monday, December 9th that authorizes the company to buyback $15.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on LLY shares. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,250.00 to $1,190.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,025.00 to $975.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $1,100.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $970.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, StockNews.com raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $997.22.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 900 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $803.38, for a total value of $723,042.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,480 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,402,522.40. This represents a 14.11 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) was up 1.2% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $10.23 and last traded at $10.21. Approximately 17,432,971 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 61,221,141 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.08.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on F. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Ford Motor from a hold rating to an underperform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $12.00 to $9.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Ford Motor from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $12.00 to $13.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Wolfe Research reiterated an underperform rating on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Barclays downgraded Ford Motor from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their target price for the stock from $13.00 to $11.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Ford Motor from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $11.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ford Motor currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.82.

Get Ford Motor alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on F

Ford Motor Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.64.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 28th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $46.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.13 billion. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 16.16% and a net margin of 1.93%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.39 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 1.77 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ford Motor

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in shares of Ford Motor by 14,373.9% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 8,885,389 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $93,830,000 after acquiring an additional 8,824,000 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its stake in Ford Motor by 112.8% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 11,976,950 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $126,477,000 after purchasing an additional 6,348,185 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Ford Motor by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 122,609,058 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,294,752,000 after purchasing an additional 5,270,562 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the 3rd quarter valued at $55,456,000. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 420.2% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 6,042,820 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $63,812,000 after purchasing an additional 4,881,105 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 58.74% of the companys stock.

Ford Motor Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Veren Inc. (NYSE:VRN  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Atb Cap Markets cut their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Veren in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, January 22nd. Atb Cap Markets analyst A. Arif now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.90 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $0.94. The consensus estimate for Verens current full-year earnings is $0.96 per share. Atb Cap Markets also issued estimates for Verens Q1 2025 earnings at $0.17 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.19 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.19 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.77 EPS.

Get Veren alerts:

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Veren from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Raymond James started coverage on Veren in a report on Friday, October 18th. They set a strong-buy rating and a $13.00 price target for the company.

Veren Trading Down 1.4 %

Veren stock opened at $5.12 on Monday. Veren has a 12 month low of $4.39 and a 12 month high of $9.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market cap of $3.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 2.13. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $5.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.09.

Veren (NYSE:VRN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by ($0.04). Veren had a net margin of 26.93% and a return on equity of 12.23%. The company had revenue of $813.63 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $738.93 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.31 earnings per share.

Veren Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Sunday, December 15th were paid a $0.085 dividend. This represents a $0.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.65%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. This is a positive change from Verens previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Verens payout ratio is presently 23.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Veren during the third quarter worth approximately $65,155,000. Millennium Management LLC bought a new stake in Veren during the second quarter valued at about $74,306,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new position in shares of Veren in the second quarter worth about $28,162,000. Intact Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Veren by 46.7% during the 3rd quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,458,686 shares of the companys stock worth $33,624,000 after purchasing an additional 1,737,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of Veren during the third quarter worth approximately $9,322,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.37% of the companys stock.

About Veren

(Get Free Report)

Veren Inc explores, develops, and produces oil and gas properties in Canada and the United States. The company focuses on crude oil, tight oil, natural gas liquids, shale gas, and natural gas reserves. Its properties are located in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba; and the states of North Dakota.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Veren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Veren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva cast her vote at polling station No. 13 of the Nasimi-Sabail electoral district No. 23, the Ombudspersons Office told Trend.

After voting, the Ombudsman engaged with the media representatives, discussing in detail the measures taken by her office ahead of the municipal election.

She made it clear that there is a watchful eye on polling stations throughout Azerbaijan and that all essential steps have been taken to guarantee an open and fair voting experience. Aliyeva also highlighted that several stations have ramps in place, enabling individuals with disabilities to cast their votes on their own and without hindrance.

Aliyeva shared that, drawing from positive experiences in previous years, her office, including the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Ombudsmans Office, is conducting independent election observation on its initiative. This includes monitoring voting at military units, penitentiaries, and other closed institutions.

"The public will be informed about the progress of the election," the press service said.

To note, voting for the municipal election started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for municipal election. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal election. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

The voting process will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
LandBridge (NYSE:LB  Free Report) had its target price boosted by Raymond James from $80.00 to $85.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on LB. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an underperform rating and issued a $25.00 price objective on shares of LandBridge in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of LandBridge from $38.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $71.00 target price on shares of LandBridge in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on LandBridge from $39.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, LandBridge presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $53.33.

Get LandBridge alerts:

View Our Latest Stock Report on LB

LandBridge Stock Down 0.2 %

LandBridge stock opened at $64.08 on Tuesday. LandBridge has a fifty-two week low of $18.75 and a fifty-two week high of $84.70. The companys 50-day moving average is $68.50 and its 200-day moving average is $51.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.73.

LandBridge (NYSE:LB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.31 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $28.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $35.50 million. On average, analysts anticipate that LandBridge will post 0.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

LandBridge Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 5th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.62%.

Institutional Trading of LandBridge

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new position in LandBridge in the third quarter valued at about $31,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of LandBridge in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. KBC Group NV acquired a new position in shares of LandBridge in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $72,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets bought a new stake in shares of LandBridge during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $168,000. Finally, Axxcess Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of LandBridge during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $218,000.

LandBridge Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

LandBridge Company LLC owns and manages land and resources to support and enhance oil and natural gas development in the United States. It owns surface acres in and around the Delaware Basin in Texas and New Mexico. The company holds a portfolio of oil and gas royalties. It also sells brackish water and other surface composite materials.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for LandBridge Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LandBridge and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Legal & General Group Plc (LON:LGEN  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 276.67 ($3.44).

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 265 ($3.30) price target on shares of Legal & General Group in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a top pick rating on shares of Legal & General Group in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Legal & General Group from GBX 290 ($3.61) to GBX 295 ($3.67) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th.

Get Legal & General Group alerts:

Read Our Latest Research Report on Legal & General Group

Insiders Place Their Bets

Legal & General Group Stock Up 0.4 %

In other Legal & General Group news, insider Henrietta Baldock bought 1,118 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 221 ($2.75) per share, with a total value of 2,470.78 ($3,074.26). Also, insider John Kingman purchased 756 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 218 ($2.71) per share, with a total value of 1,648.08 ($2,050.62). Insiders have acquired a total of 2,590 shares of company stock valued at $576,566 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Shares of Legal & General Group stock opened at GBX 235.72 ($2.93) on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 722.64. Legal & General Group has a 1 year low of GBX 211.40 ($2.63) and a 1 year high of GBX 259 ($3.22). The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 227.64 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 226.17. The company has a market cap of 13.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 4,714.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.31.

About Legal & General Group

(Get Free Report

Legal & General Group Plc provides various insurance products and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates in Legal & General Retirement Institutional (LGRI), Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), Legal & General Capital (LGC), and Retail segments.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Legal & General Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Legal & General Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV  Free Report) by 6.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,428 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,632 shares during the quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC owned 0.09% of iShares Europe ETF worth $1,376,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in iShares Europe ETF by 12.0% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,698,388 shares of the companys stock valued at $98,965,000 after purchasing an additional 182,168 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares Europe ETF by 8.8% during the third quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 159,621 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,301,000 after buying an additional 12,957 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its position in iShares Europe ETF by 10.2% during the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 149,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,719,000 after purchasing an additional 13,840 shares in the last quarter. One Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Europe ETF by 0.9% during the third quarter. One Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 122,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,150,000 after purchasing an additional 1,148 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Europe ETF during the second quarter valued at about $5,797,000.

Get iShares Europe ETF alerts:

iShares Europe ETF Stock Down 0.6 %

NYSEARCA IEV opened at $55.22 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $53.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $55.15. iShares Europe ETF has a twelve month low of $51.38 and a twelve month high of $59.06. The company has a market capitalization of $1.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.09 and a beta of 0.83.

iShares Europe ETF Profile

iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.14 per share and revenue of $5.70 billion for the quarter. Persons interested in listening to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Nokia Oyj Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:NOK opened at $4.47 on Wednesday. Nokia Oyj has a 1 year low of $3.29 and a 1 year high of $4.95. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $4.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The company has a market cap of $24.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.81, a PEG ratio of 5.72 and a beta of 1.06.

Get Nokia Oyj alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Danske upgraded shares of Nokia Oyj from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Northland Securities reiterated an outperform rating and set a $6.50 price target on shares of Nokia Oyj in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Craig Hallum lifted their price objective on Nokia Oyj from $6.00 to $7.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Nokia Oyj from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $3.60 price target on the stock. in a report on Thursday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5.86.

About Nokia Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. The company provides fixed networking solutions, such as fiber and copper-based access infrastructure, in-home Wi-Fi solutions, and cloud and virtualization services; IP networking solutions, including IP access, aggregation, and edge and core routing for residential, mobile, enterprise and cloud applications; optical networks solutions that provides optical transport networks for metro, regional, and long-haul applications, and subsea applications; and submarine networks for undersea cable transmission.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 8.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,453 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 578 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $641,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 10,608.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,813,571 shares of the companys stock worth $215,942,000 after buying an additional 1,796,635 shares during the last quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 3rd quarter valued at about $98,765,000. Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,017,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 2nd quarter valued at about $41,646,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 2,655.9% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 280,409 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,388,000 after purchasing an additional 270,234 shares during the last quarter. 11.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on NVO shares. BNP Paribas raised Novo Nordisk A/S to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. UBS Group upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $160.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. StockNews.com cut Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, December 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Novo Nordisk A/S from $156.00 to $105.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $145.25.

Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance

NVO stock opened at $85.00 on Wednesday. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 1 year low of $78.17 and a 1 year high of $148.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.94. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $95.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $114.43. The firm has a market cap of $381.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.51, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.45.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NYSE:NXN  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 13,200 shares, an increase of 247.4% from the December 31st total of 3,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 15,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio stock. Breakwater Capital Group raised its position in shares of Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NYSE:NXN  Free Report) by 15.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 41,133 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 5,470 shares during the period. Breakwater Capital Groups holdings in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio were worth $467,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Get Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio alerts:

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Price Performance

Shares of Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio stock traded down $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $11.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,035 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,805. Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio has a 52-week low of $10.98 and a 52-week high of $12.40. The firms 50-day moving average is $11.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.82.

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Announces Dividend

About Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be paid a $0.042 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.35%.

(Get Free Report)

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of New York. The fund invests in the securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pacer Advisors Inc. cut its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 4.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 158,308 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 6,817 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $17,906,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Insight Folios Inc increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 3.3% in the third quarter. Insight Folios Inc now owns 2,691 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $307,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Sfmg LLC increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Sfmg LLC now owns 4,622 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $527,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Boltwood Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 21,821 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,488,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC grew its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 2.9% in the third quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 3,153 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $359,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 8.7% in the third quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 1,108 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock.

Get Abbott Laboratories alerts:

Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 1.7 %

ABT stock opened at $127.28 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $220.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $115.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $113.64. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $99.71 and a 1-year high of $129.85.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.34. The company had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.03 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.95% and a return on equity of 20.74%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.19 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.15 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be given a $0.59 dividend. This is an increase from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Raymond James restated a buy rating and set a $129.00 price target (up previously from $122.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories to $136.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $133.06.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Abbott Laboratories

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO  Free Report) by 8.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,385 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 528 shares during the quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RIs holdings in Valero Energy were worth $660,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 0.5% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,287,269 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,389,090,000 after purchasing an additional 50,837 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Valero Energy by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,687,585 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $639,268,000 after acquiring an additional 247,630 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Valero Energy by 13.6% during the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,072,188 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $499,210,000 after acquiring an additional 487,022 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4,908.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,850,526 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $384,907,000 after acquiring an additional 2,793,607 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 6.3% in the third quarter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. now owns 2,533,434 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $342,090,000 after purchasing an additional 151,200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of the companys stock.

Get Valero Energy alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on VLO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Barclays reduced their target price on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Piper Sandler upgraded Valero Energy from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Valero Energy from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $154.54.

Valero Energy Trading Down 2.2 %

NYSE:VLO opened at $138.14 on Wednesday. Valero Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $116.84 and a 1 year high of $184.79. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $131.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $137.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a market cap of $43.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.42.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 30th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.27%. This is an increase from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.07. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.39%.

Valero Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC lowered its position in iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:ILCG  Free Report) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,026 shares of the companys stock after selling 126 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in iShares Morningstar Growth ETF were worth $898,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in iShares Morningstar Growth ETF by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 301,665 shares of the companys stock worth $25,352,000 after purchasing an additional 15,527 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Morningstar Growth ETF by 4.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 30,259 shares of the companys stock worth $2,543,000 after buying an additional 1,209 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Morningstar Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $241,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Morningstar Growth ETF by 38.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 55,183 shares of the companys stock worth $4,926,000 after acquiring an additional 15,405 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LongView Wealth Management increased its holdings in iShares Morningstar Growth ETF by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. LongView Wealth Management now owns 137,410 shares of the companys stock worth $11,548,000 after acquiring an additional 13,663 shares in the last quarter.

Get iShares Morningstar Growth ETF alerts:

iShares Morningstar Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:ILCG opened at $92.67 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.76 and a beta of 1.24. iShares Morningstar Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $69.37 and a 1-year high of $94.61. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $91.26 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $85.79.

iShares Morningstar Growth ETF Profile

The iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (ILCG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of growth stocks, selected from the top 90% of the US market-cap spectrum. ILCG was launched on Jun 28, 2004 and is managed by BlackRock.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Morningstar Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Morningstar Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The business services provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($0.01), Zacks reports. Robert Half had a return on equity of 18.78% and a net margin of 4.84%.

Robert Half Stock Performance

Shares of Robert Half stock traded down $1.14 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $69.19. 2,003,928 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 988,802. Robert Half has a 1-year low of $57.05 and a 1-year high of $83.25. The company has a market cap of $7.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.25 and a beta of 1.24. The firms 50-day moving average price is $71.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.93.

Get Robert Half alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays upgraded shares of Robert Half from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $60.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Truist Financial raised Robert Half from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $62.00 to $90.00 in a report on Friday, December 13th. BNP Paribas lowered Robert Half from an outperform rating to an underperform rating and set a $64.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Robert Half from $70.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $74.33.

Insider Buying and Selling at Robert Half

In other Robert Half news, Director Dirk A. Kempthorne sold 1,032 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.35, for a total value of $76,729.20. Following the sale, the director now owns 12,310 shares in the company, valued at $915,248.50. This trade represents a 7.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 3.00% of the companys stock.

About Robert Half

(Get Free Report)

Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti segments. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. John Alderdice, member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, has been appointed as the countrys Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, Trend reports via the UKs Department for International Trade.

According to the department, the UKs Trade Minister announced today the appointment of a team for global development.

Overall, 32 newly appointed trade envoys will work to increase the UKs export and investment potential, aiming to stimulate economic growth as part of the governments reform plan.

Alderdice is a politician from Northern Ireland who has held various influential positions. From 1998 through 2004, he was the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB  Get Free Report) shares were up 0.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $41.70 and last traded at $41.70. Approximately 2,081,352 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 15,078,841 shares. The stock had previously closed at $41.32.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SLB has been the topic of several analyst reports. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Schlumberger from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Schlumberger from $64.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Schlumberger from $58.00 to $54.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 14th. Atb Cap Markets lowered Schlumberger from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Griffin Securities lowered Schlumberger from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 20th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $55.81.

Get Schlumberger alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Report on SLB

Schlumberger Price Performance

The companys 50 day moving average price is $40.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.66. The company has a market capitalization of $57.07 billion, a PE ratio of 13.09, a PEG ratio of 9.98 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.02. Schlumberger had a net margin of 12.29% and a return on equity of 21.90%. The company had revenue of $9.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.24 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.86 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Schlumberger Limited will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Schlumberger Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.285 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 5th. This is a boost from Schlumbergers previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.80%. Schlumbergers payout ratio is currently 36.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Schlumberger news, VP Ugo Prechner sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.20, for a total value of $309,400.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 11,240 shares in the company, valued at $496,808. The trade was a 38.38 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Dianne B. Ralston sold 43,161 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.96, for a total transaction of $1,897,357.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 235,024 shares in the company, valued at $10,331,655.04. This represents a 15.52 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 198,258 shares of company stock valued at $8,732,604. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Schlumberger

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC lifted its holdings in Schlumberger by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 15,365 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $589,000 after buying an additional 705 shares in the last quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 60.7% in the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. now owns 257,784 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,883,000 after purchasing an additional 97,375 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Schlumberger in the 4th quarter valued at about $50,000. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 333,800 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $12,798,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisors Inc. OK raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 658,409 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $25,243,000 after purchasing an additional 17,634 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.99% of the companys stock.

Schlumberger Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Schlumberger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schlumberger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Zijin Mining Group Company Limited (OTCMKTS:ZIJMY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,000 shares, an increase of 1,566.7% from the December 31st total of 600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 8,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Zijin Mining Group Trading Down 1.4 %

ZIJMY opened at $38.03 on Wednesday. Zijin Mining Group has a fifty-two week low of $30.22 and a fifty-two week high of $50.25. The companys 50-day moving average price is $38.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.23.

Get Zijin Mining Group alerts:

About Zijin Mining Group

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Zijin Mining Group Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, mining, processing, refining, and sale of gold, non-ferrous metals, and other mineral resources in Mainland China and internationally. It primarily produces gold bullion; gold, copper, zinc, lead, tungsten, and iron ore concentrates; and copper cathodes, zinc bullion, sulphuric acid, copperplate, silver, iron, etc., as well as molybdenum, cobalt, tin, coal, lithium, platinum, and palladium.

Receive News & Ratings for Zijin Mining Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zijin Mining Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. grew its stake in iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (NYSEARCA:USRT  Free Report) by 172.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 105,300 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 66,600 shares during the period. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. owned approximately 0.24% of iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF worth $6,035,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of USRT. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF in the third quarter valued at $33,794,000. Cannon Financial Strategists Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $9,422,000. School Employees Retirement Board of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $6,944,000. Executive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $5,773,000. Finally, SMI Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF by 227.0% in the third quarter. SMI Advisory Services LLC now owns 132,264 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,970,000 after buying an additional 91,818 shares in the last quarter.

Get iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF alerts:

iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF stock opened at $58.01 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.47 and a beta of 0.97. The firms 50-day moving average price is $58.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $59.32. iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF has a 1-year low of $49.12 and a 1-year high of $63.22.

About iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF

The iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Nareit \u002F Equity REITs  INV index, a market-cap-weighted index of US-listed REITs USRT was launched on May 1, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Summit Materials, Inc. (NYSE:SUM), a Delaware corporation, is currently navigating legal hurdles surrounding its proposed merger with Quikrete Holdings, Inc. and Soar Subsidiary, Inc. The company recently disclosed in a Form 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that two lawsuits related to the merger have been filed. These lawsuits, initiated by individual stockholders, allege material incompleteness in the Proxy Statement submitted by Summit.

Get alerts:

The lawsuits, titled Clark v. Summit Materials, Inc., et al. Index No. 650286/2025 and Stevens v. Summit Materials, Inc., et al. Index No. 650279/2025, were both filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, on January 16, 2025. The litigations claim that certain disclosures in the Proxy Statement are inadequate, citing misrepresentations and omissions under New York common law. Among other things, the lawsuits seek injunctions to prevent the completion of the merger.

Additionally, Summit disclosed the receipt of demand letters from multiple stockholders attorneys highlighting deficiencies in the Proxy Statement and requesting supplementary disclosures before the Special Meeting scheduled for February 5, 2025. One stockholder has further demanded access to specific company records. Summit acknowledged the possibility of more claims or demand letters in the future and stated its reluctance to announce each unless legally mandated.

Summit Materials firmly believes that the allegations in these lawsuits and demand letters lack merit. To address these concerns, the company chose to enhance the Proxy Statement voluntarily while maintaining that these actions do not imply an admission of legal obligation or the material relevance of additional disclosures.

The supplemental disclosures provided in the Form 8-K filing amend various sections of the original Proxy Statement. Noteworthy revisions include adjustments to financial analyses specific to the merger, such as the Discounted Cash Flow Analysis and the Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis.

Summit Materials emphasized that these legal challenges and supplemental disclosures are part of the ongoing process regarding the merger proposal. The company encourages stockholders to review all SEC filings, including the Proxy Statement, for a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Participants interested in further details or documents related to the merger can access them via the SECs website or the companys investor relations webpage.

As the legal proceedings continue, Summit Materials aims to provide transparency and additional insights into its operations to ensure clarity and compliance with regulatory standards.

The article complies requirements and limitations specified for the assignment.

This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Summit Materialss 8K filing here.

Summit Materials Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Summit Materials, Inc is a vertically integrated construction materials company, which engages in manufacturing construction materials and related downstream products. It operates through the following segments: West, East, and Cement. The West segment includes operations in Texas, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Arkansas and British Columbia, Canada.

Featured Stories
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.01, Zacks reports. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had a positive return on equity of 42.92% and a negative net margin of 5.73%. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries updated its FY 2025 guidance to 2.350-2.650 EPS.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of TEVA stock opened at $21.57 on Wednesday. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has a twelve month low of $11.48 and a twelve month high of $22.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.89. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $19.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.47. The company has a market capitalization of $24.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -25.37, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.73.

Get Teva Pharmaceutical Industries alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TEVA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $23.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.63.

Insider Transactions at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

In other news, EVP Christine Fox sold 19,388 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.87, for a total value of $327,075.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $744,034.48. This represents a 30.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Roberto Mignone sold 286,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.01, for a total transaction of $6,294,860.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 695,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,296,950. The trade was a 29.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

(Get Free Report)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, Israel, and internationally. It offers generic medicines in various dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams; sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in parenteral and solid dosage forms; and generic products with medical devices and combination products.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) is expected to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect The Hartford Financial Services Group to post earnings of $2.68 per share and revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter. Persons interested in listening to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Performance

Shares of HIG stock opened at $113.46 on Wednesday. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a 12 month low of $85.34 and a 12 month high of $124.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The companys fifty day moving average price is $113.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $113.26.

Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts:

Insider Activity at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 6,865 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.04, for a total transaction of $803,479.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,820 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,021,972.80. This trade represents a 21.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

HIG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays raised The Hartford Financial Services Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $134.00 to $130.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $135.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, The Hartford Financial Services Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.28.

Check Out Our Latest Report on The Hartford Financial Services Group

About The Hartford Financial Services Group

(Get Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Korea Fund, Inc. (NYSE:KF  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 0% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $20.17 and last traded at $19.74. 7,953 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 57% from the average session volume of 18,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.73.

The Korea Fund Price Performance

The companys 50-day simple moving average is $19.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.03.

Get The Korea Fund alerts:

The Korea Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a  dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 27th were paid a $0.4542 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 27th.

Institutional Trading of The Korea Fund

About The Korea Fund

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Matisse Capital bought a new stake in shares of The Korea Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $291,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in The Korea Fund by 76.5% in the third quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 31,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $728,000 after buying an additional 13,869 shares during the period. Mraz Amerine & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of The Korea Fund by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter. Mraz Amerine & Associates Inc. now owns 49,210 shares of the companys stock worth $1,120,000 after buying an additional 13,185 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of The Korea Fund during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $6,220,000. 69.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

The Korea Fund, Inc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Korea. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in growth stocks of companies.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for The Korea Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Korea Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tritax Big Box REIT plc (LON:BBOX  Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 149.11 ($1.86) and traded as low as GBX 140.30 ($1.75). Tritax Big Box REIT shares last traded at GBX 143.40 ($1.78), with a volume of 14,145,266 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Tritax Big Box REIT in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 191.75 ($2.39).

Get Tritax Big Box REIT alerts:

Read Our Latest Analysis on BBOX

Tritax Big Box REIT Trading Up 0.1 %

About Tritax Big Box REIT

The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 134.93 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 149.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.99. The firm has a market capitalization of 3.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,051.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.89.

(Get Free Report)

Tritax Big Box REIT plc (ticker: BBOX) is the largest listed investor in high-quality logistics warehouse assets and controls the largest logistics-focused land platform in the UK. BBOX is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for Shareholders by investing in and actively managing existing built investments and land suitable for logistics development.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TSGTY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,600 shares, a growth of 89.5% from the December 31st total of 1,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.5 days.

Tsingtao Brewery Stock Performance

Shares of TSGTY traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $31.01. 270 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 464. Tsingtao Brewery has a 12 month low of $25.05 and a 12 month high of $42.19. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $33.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.68.

Get Tsingtao Brewery alerts:

About Tsingtao Brewery

(Get Free Report)

Featured Articles

Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of beer products worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Shandong Region; South China Region; North China Region; East China Region; Southeast China Region; Hong Kong, Macau and Other Overseas Region; and Finance Company.

Receive News & Ratings for Tsingtao Brewery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsingtao Brewery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $37.90, but opened at $33.75. Victorias Secret & Co. shares last traded at $36.27, with a volume of 992,708 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on VSCO. Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a report on Friday, December 6th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $30.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $33.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $45.00 price objective (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Victorias Secret & Co. from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Victorias Secret & Co. presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.09.

Get Victoria's Secret & Co. alerts:

Get Our Latest Stock Report on VSCO

Victorias Secret & Co. Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $2.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.65, a PEG ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 2.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.12. The company has a 50 day moving average of $40.63 and a 200 day moving average of $30.46.

Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The company reported ($0.50) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.62) by $0.12. Victorias Secret & Co. had a return on equity of 44.74% and a net margin of 2.47%. The company had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.29 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.86) EPS. Victorias Secret & Co.s quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Victorias Secret & Co. will post 2.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Victorias Secret & Co.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 146.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,757,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,856,000 after buying an additional 1,636,602 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Victorias Secret & Co. by 1.4% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,794,221 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,121,000 after acquiring an additional 24,967 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 5.0% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,608,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,338,000 after purchasing an additional 76,858 shares during the last quarter. Forest Avenue Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,861,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Victorias Secret & Co. by 13.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 917,017 shares of the companys stock worth $16,206,000 after purchasing an additional 109,013 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.29% of the companys stock.

Victorias Secret & Co. Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Victorias Secret & Co operates as a lingerie, clothing and beauty retailer. It offers bras, panties, lingerie, pajamas, sleep, sport and swim apparel, and beauty products. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Reynoldsburg, OH.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Victoria's Secret & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria's Secret & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. As of 10:00 (GMT+4), 499,575 voters had participated in Azerbaijans municipal elections, Farid Orujov, Head of the Information Center at the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, told Trend.

Orujov noted that the voter turnout stood at 8.38 percent.

To note, voting for the municipal election started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for the municipal election. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal election. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Yaruqhullah Khan

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Aishwarya Dabhade

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Budget 2025: India to slash duties on few US imports after Trump's 'tariff abuser' comment, says report

Debaroti Adhikary

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Danish Khan

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
We expect too much from the Union Budget

Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday.

Namrata Agarwal

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Will FM Sitharaman go gangbusters in Budget 2025 to bring India's growth mojo back?

Swarali Bodas

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Archisha Yadav

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Saurav Pandey

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of China Xi Jinping on the occasion of the upcoming Spring Festival, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations to you and, through you, to the friendly people of China on the occasion of the upcoming Spring Festival, both on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan.

I wish that the Chunjie Festival, which marks the beginning of the new year in the Chinese calendar and symbolizes the awakening of nature and the renewal of life, brings joy, prosperity, and well-being to your entire nation.

It is gratifying to see Azerbaijan-China interstate relations reached the level of strategic partnership. We attach great importance to the comprehensive development of our cooperation, which is built on strong foundations of mutual trust and confidence. I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further strengthen and deepen our friendship and cooperation in line with the will of our peoples.

Once again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on this festive occasion and wish you good health, happiness, and success in your endeavors. I also wish the friendly people of China continued peace and prosperity," the letter reads.
Siddharth Chakravorty

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Palak Vij

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vaishnavi Gavankar

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Kishore Kumar left Madhubala alone in her dying days, he ignored her calls, reveals actress' sister Madhur Bhushan

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Netizens slam makers of Tamil film Bad Girl for portraying 'Brahmin community' in bad light, read their reactions

M Snehanjali

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Prakash Raj responds to fake photo of Maha Kumbh with official complaint, says "face the consequences..."

Palak Vij

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Saif Ali Khan attack case: Accused sent to 14 days of judicial custody by Bandra Court

101Reporters

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Tom Welling, known for Superman, arrested on DUI charges in California

M Snehanjali

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
When Sushmita Sen addressed her relationship with married man Vikram Bhatt, saying "It was a slow chemistry and I dont feel guilty because...

Palak Vij

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Priyanjali Ghose

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Head of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev has voted at polling station No. 34 of Yasamal district's second constituency No. 16 at the municipal elections, Trend reports.

Electors at this polling location are engaging in the electoral procedure.

As of 10:00 (GMT +4), 499,575 voters had cast their ballots in the municipal elections in Azerbaijan.

To note, voting for the municipal elections started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT +4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for municipal elections. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal elections. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal elections in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. A total of 19 members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Shubhangi Mathur

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Harjot Dhaliwal takes over as new India head of PE firm Apax Partners

Arindam Roy

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus.

Lovisha Darad

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Aishwarya Nair

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
101Reporters

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vaibhavi Ranjan

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
IPOs, Pre-IPO, Long-Short strategies: How to make money in 2025 with Alternative Investment Funds

Srushti Vaidya

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
ITC Hotels to list on NSE, BSE today; what price will it list at?

Zoya Springwala

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sunil Matkar

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Russian oil share to dip for Indian Oil as firm secures no purchase since Jan 10 sanctions

Shubhangi Mathur

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova has voted in the municipal elections at polling station No. 11 of the Narimanov first constituency No. 19, Trend reports.

The voting process at the polling station is being monitored by local observers.

Voter activity has also been observed at polling station No. 11 since 08:00 (GMT +4).

There are 1,482 registered voters at the polling station.

As of 10:00, 499,575 voters had cast their ballots in the municipal elections in Azerbaijan.

To note, voting for the municipal elections started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for municipal elections. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal elections. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

The voting process will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal elections in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

Startup employees to earn more via ESOPs as companies increase pool

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Bhavya Dilipkumar

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Khushi Keswani

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Debaroti Adhikary

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sonalee Borgohain

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Deepest condolences to devotees who lost loved ones': PM Modi on Maha Kumbh stampede-like incident

Priyanjali Ghose

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
January 29, 2025 / 10:33 IST

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar slammed the BJP government, claiming that its policies have burdened the middle class with high taxes while diverting taxpayer money to select industrialists.

BJP has levied tax on middle-class men over everything, they have broken the middle-class people by making them pay taxes. If you are earning Rs 10 lakhs, you are paying Rs 5 lakhs as taxes. So what should be done with that tax money? she said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov have signed and approved a Comprehensive Program of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, a source in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

The document was signed on the sidelines of the 2nd trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economy, and Transport of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan.

The meeting between Bayramov and Saidov has discussed issues arising from the Azerbaijani-Uzbek alliance, opportunities for expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period.

"The parties have expressed hope that the past year, marked by the signing of a treaty establishing allied relations between the two countries, as well as the current 2025 year, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, will bring further development to the political, economic, trade, energy, transport, and cultural-humanitarian aspects of the alliance.

The importance of the existing high-level dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan High Interstate Council, the intergovernmental commission, and the political consultation mechanism in the development of the alliance between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, based on brotherhood and friendship, has been emphasized.

Significance of enhancing cooperation and mutual support within the framework of the regional and international organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States, UN, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Economic Cooperation, Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and other multilateral formats, has been underscored.

It was noted that the agreement on a strategic partnership in the field of development and transfer of green energy between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, signed last year within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), is one of the important steps towards the development of regional energy, transport and communications.

Bayramov also informed his colleague about restoration, reconstruction, and mine clearance, including efforts to establish peace in the region in the post-conflict period.

The obstacles standing in the way of advancing the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia were discussed, including territorial claims against our country reflected in the Constitution of Armenia, as well as the armament of this country, which jeopardizes the agenda for normalizing relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, views were also exchanged on other issues of mutual interest.

To note, today Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Uzbek ministers of trade, transportation, and foreign affairs met in Ankara, Turkiye. The meeting's agenda covers foreign policy and regional cooperation, boosting trade, economy, and investment partnerships; enhancing regional transportation networks; and fortifying collaboration in transport and communication sectors.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Do not try to...': Yogi Adityanath's appeal to devotees after stampede-like situation in Maha Kumbh

Chhabi Kala

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Arindam Roy

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Swarali Bodas

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Kerala double murder: 6 years after murdering woman, killer returns to hack her husband, mother-in-law to death

Sonalee Borgohain

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Surabhi Pandey

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. A roadmap to strengthen cooperation between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan will be developed, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Trend reports.

In his speech at the 2nd trilateral meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, economy, trade, and transport from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, Fidan emphasized that special attention is being given to the development of trade cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries.

He pointed out that special attention is being given to the development of trade cooperation between the countries of the Turkic world.

"Conflicts in the region have shaken the main pillars of the global system. All these challenges show that trade between Asia and Europe through the Middle Corridor is the safest and most cost-effective route, covering Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, and Turkiye," he added.

Fidan emphasized that the energy crisis caused by sanctions has increased the geostrategic significance of Central Asia and the Caucasus, placing Turkey at the forefront as an energy hub.

To note, today Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Uzbek ministers of trade, transportation, and foreign affairs met in Ankara, Turkiye. The meeting's agenda covers foreign policy and regional cooperation, boosting trade, economy, and investment partnerships, enhancing regional transportation networks, and fortifying collaboration in transport and communication sectors.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Parimal Peeyush

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Maharashtra: Five critical as boiler blast triggers fire at tyre plant in Palghar district

101Reporters

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Smriti Mishra

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Armaan Bhatnagar

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Reject report': MEA on Canada's 'interference' claim report, says Toronto 'meddling in our affairs'

Priyanjali Ghose

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Chhabi Kala

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The second trilateral meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economics, and Transportation of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan was held in Ankara, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov participated and addressed the meeting.

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov and Minister of Digital Development and Transportation Rashad Nabiyev also took part in the meeting. The ministers made reports on the topics on the agenda, including foreign policy and regional cooperation, strengthening cooperation in trade, economy, and investment, development of regional transportation networks, and strengthening cooperation in transport and communication sectors.

Jeyhun Bayramov in his speech noted that the preservation and development of the existing trilateral format between our countries is an example in the current crumbling system of international relations and emphasized the importance of this format to complement other regional cooperation formats, maximize the potential of cooperation, and take joint measures to counter common threats.

Meanwhile, it was noted that some strategically important projects linking the Caspian, Black, and Mediterranean Sea regions where the three countries are located, including initiatives such as the Digital Silk Road and Green Energy Exports, increase the importance of trilateral cooperation.

Moreover, it was conveyed that mutual support and coordinated position should be continued between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan within several regional and international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization (D-8), and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

It was expressed gratitude for the support in holding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), as well as for active participation in the initiative proposals of Azerbaijan in the global and regional contexts.

Also, it was noted that the promotion of priorities in the spheres of communication, digitalization, sustainable development, transport, and education, corresponding to the agenda of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in CICA, among others, coincides with the agenda of trilateral cooperation.

Bayramov also detailed the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, large-scale reconstruction and construction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, efforts to combat the mine threat, progress in the normalization process of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and current challenges. The construction of transport infrastructure in Azerbaijani lands isolated from other territories as a result of occupation for almost 30 years was emphasized, especially in terms of expansion of transport opportunities along the Middle Corridor, and the support provided by brotherly Turkiye and Uzbekistan in reconstruction works was appreciated.

Furthermore, it was noted that ensuring regional peace, security, and development in a broad sense was at the core of the shared vision, focusing on socio-economic support initiatives aimed at Afghanistan, as well as the development of the Trans-Afghanistan Rail Link project. The importance of the ceasefire achieved in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip, and its observance was emphasized, as well as the importance of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law. It was also noted that after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkiye's joint support for the reconstruction efforts in that country has become another important aspect of regional cooperation.

Following the meeting, the Ankara Declaration was adopted and signed.

The declaration expresses the development of cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as support for joint actions against steps taken against sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The importance of full implementation of the existing potential in the areas of economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, environment, and combating climate change, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of cooperation in this direction within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, especially the Middle Corridor, was noted.

The declaration also underlines the importance of Azerbaijan's contribution to reconstruction and humanitarian demining in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions.

The Ankara Declaration also highly praised Azerbaijan's role within the framework of the chairmanships of COP29 and CICA.

The importance of forming a joint position within the Organization of Turkic States on the security and development of Afghanistan, which plays an important role in the security of Central Asia, preserving the ceasefire achieved in the Gaza Strip, and the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state principle was noted.

Afterward, the ministers made press statements on the outcome of the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Transform Your Trading Experience with Plus500: The Platform Built for Traders

*Disclaimer - Brand Connect is a solution that allows brands to break the queue to gain better engagement among our audiences

Riya Gandhi

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

Karnatakas proposed MFI Bill can turn out be a double-edged sword for the industry

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

Jan 29, 2025 / 10:37 AM ISTAll Rights Reserved. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times Limited Not to be redistributed, copied or modified in any way.

Martin Wolf: We will have to learn to live with machines that can think

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Namrata Agarwal

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Ankita Sengupta

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Tesla self-driven cars impress Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma: 'Driving will soon be a job for machines'

Ankita Sengupta

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
DeepSeek shows China playbook for even bigger US shock on chips

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Rohit Singh

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Israel says Hamas to free 11 more hostages this week

101Reporters

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. There is a need to establish strategic cooperation mechanisms to support development and prosperity within the shared geography, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Trend reports.

Today, in his speech at the second trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Economy and Transportation of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, Fidan emphasized that the current international system fails to ensure justice, peace, and stability.

"We are going through a difficult period with growing global challenges. However, by maintaining our solidarity as the Turkic world, we are working on addressing the existing problems. We strive for peace, stability, and prosperity in our region," the minister added.

Today, the second trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan was held in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Manjiri Patil

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Who is Luo Fuli? The 29-year-old 'AI Prodigy' behind DeepSeeks growth story

Smriti Mishra

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Who is Tanner Fox? Hitman sentenced to life for murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik acquitted in Air India bombing

Smriti Mishra

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Trying to remember how to walk', says Sunita Williams after 7 months in space

Rajni Pandey

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov addressed the second trilateral meeting of MFAs, Trade/Economy, and Transport Ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan in Ankara, the publication of Azerbaijani MFA on X said, Trend reports.

Stressing the multifaceted nature of trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, Bayramov noted the main directions of the partnership, including security, economic development, trade, investment, infrastructure, and transport communications.

The minister noted that there are additional opportunities for further development of cooperation between the three countries, in particular, due to the development of the Middle Corridor, the main trade and transportation route connecting Asia with Europe.

By utilizing the existing regional potential, contributions are being made to peace, security, and development of the wider region, including the Middle East and Afghanistan, he said.
Apple teams up with Elon Musks SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite services to iPhones

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Ankita Chakravarti

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Debangana Ghosh

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Shaurya Shubham

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Merchants left fuming after payment gateway firms try to work around Juspay

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Anand J

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Ankita Chakravarti

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting.

Maryam Farooqui

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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
(Left to right) Republican Party County Chair Kris Coons, Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen, and Democratic Party County Chair Monica Alcantara hold a press conference after the Bexar County Election Commission meeting where they announced Callanens retirement at the Bexar County Courthouse on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai aims to hire the next elections chief by the end of February  a little more than two months before the May 3 election, when voters will elect a new San Antonio mayor and all 10 City Council seats will be on the ballot.

The five-member Bexar County Election Commission interviewed two candidates in a closed-door session Tuesday morning.

Sakai, who declined to identify the interviewees, said the commission will meet again to interview at least one other candidate early next month.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This week's meeting is the second time the commission has met to discuss the search process since the county in November tapped Washington, D.C.-based search firm Robert Half Executive Search to find Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen's successor by early February. Sakai said the commission would likely miss that deadline.

The commission members are Sakai, the chair; County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark; County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti; and Kris Coons and Michelle LoweSolis, leaders of the local Republican and Democratic parties, respectively.

Callanen, who was set to retire last Friday, agreed to stay on through the end of February. She said the department is "knee deep" in preparations for the May municipal election.

We absolutely thank our election administrator and her team for graciously and professionally staying on with us during this transition at this time, Coons said. We are in the middle of city elections, and without them there to guide them and to help us, we might be in a world of hurt at this time.

Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody suggested in an X post that Callanen stay on through the middle of May to help the new elections administrator tackle the polls.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Callanen told the Express-News she has not decided if she would stay past February.

Sakai previously said Callanen's successor should have extensive experience administering elections and be well-versed in elections technology.

Adame-Clark is also looking for a tech-savvy candidate, preferably from within the county elections department so the new elections boss would have an institutional knowledge of how Bexar County elections work. But the two candidates interviewed Tuesday were from outside Bexar County.

"We are going to make sure that any internal applications that came from within Bexar County Elections Department are going to be given every due consideration," Sakai said. "Whether they're interviewed or not, that remains to be seen."

Callanen has overseen county elections since 2005. After nearly two decades as elections chief, Callanen submitted her resignation letter in June amid mounting criticism of her work. Callanen's handling of the 2020 presidential and 2022 midterm elections drew lawsuits that successfully forced the county to open additional polling sites.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In her June resignation letter, Callanen said her retirement date gave the county time to select the most qualified candidate to replace her by the first of the year and ensure a smooth transition.

Among 60 applicants, a handful work under Callanen, including Chief Deputy Elections Administrator James Huerta, who has worked as the department's No. 2 since December 2005. Huerta said in his application that he takes over as chief in Callanens absence and helps manage daily department operations.

"He's been with me for 21 years," Callanen said. "He understands all of the different divisions in the office and hub, and how the puzzle works. So a great fit."

Huerta previously worked in Bexar Countys information services department as a programmer-analyst for seven years before he moved into his current position. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994 after majoring in liberal arts.

Also emerging from the elections department is voter registration coordinator La Tonia Burton. In 2015, Burton began working as a voting registration processor and was promoted in 2021 to lead a team of 18 employees maintaining voter records, according to her application. She also works with the Texas secretary of state to ensure the county adheres to the Texas election code.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The majority of candidates from the nationwide search came from San Antonio or neighboring cities. Two candidates came from out of state, including Michigan resident Norma Townsend.

Townsend managed customer relations at Dominion Voting Systems, the company accused  baselessly  of rigging its machines to manufacture President Donald Trumps loss in 2020.

The Southern New Hampshire University graduate left the company before the controversy erupted four years ago. Townsend worked at the voting machine company from 2015 to 2018, helping the Chicago election division.

Townsend currently helps elections offices with equipment and ballot printing as an specialist for Spectrum Printers, which prints and ships voting ballots.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The Ankara Declaration, the outcome document of the 2nd trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economy, and Transport from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, has been adopted and signed by the three countries, the Azerbaijani MFA said in a post on its X page, Trend reports.

"In addition to a comprehensive Action Plan aimed at strengthening cooperation in transport and regional connectivity, the Ankara Declaration includes:

- A reaffirmation of the commitment to enhance collaboration on regional and international issues of common interest;

- A pledge to support joint actions against attempts undermining sovereignty and territorial integrity;

- A commitment to fully unlocking the potential in key areas including economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitization, environment, and climate change;

- A call to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor;

- Support for Azerbaijans reconstruction and demining efforts in the liberated regions of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur;

- Recognition of the positive developments in economic, trade, connectivity, and climate action cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States;

- Acknowledgment of Azerbaijans chairmanship roles in COP29 and CICA;

- Emphasis on the importance of a unified approach within the OTS regarding the security and development of Afghanistan, which is seen as key to ensuring stability in Central Asia;

- A welcoming of the ceasefire announcement in Gaza, urging its strict implementation, and advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the post reads.
Spains viral chef Elias Dosunmu with over 20 million followers across all of his social media puts salt on dishes in his restaurant in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 24, 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, creates new opportunities for economic cooperation across a broader geography, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said at a briefing following a trilateral meeting between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan in Ankara today, Trend reports.

"A new artery of the East-West Middle Corridor is currently being laid, namely through this region. We see huge prospects in this," added Bayramov.

The minister also emphasized the importance of finalizing the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"However, territorial claims and revisionist tendencies toward Azerbaijan, which remain in Armenia's Constitution and other legal acts, are a cause for concern. Azerbaijan will continue its constructive efforts in this regard," he added.

The 2nd trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economy, and Transport from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan took place today in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The third trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan will be held in Azerbaijan, said Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Trend reports.

Speaking at a briefing following the trilateral meeting in Ankara, Fidan noted that relations between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan are at a high level.

"The next trilateral meeting in this format will be hosted by Azerbaijan. We hope the decisions we made today will lead to successful results," he said.

Today, the second trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan was held in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
This may be the biggest news of the decade. Completely overshadowed by shenanigans in the White House.

It looks like H5N1 reinfections are entirely possible. This means that our farms are going to be a never-ending circulating pump of H5N1.

This. Is. Not. Good.

/1 pic.twitter.com/GFm9jp4zfI

 Lazarus Long (@LazarusLong13) January 28, 2025
Yves here. Wellie, Trump seems determined to restore the Gilded Age in the US, along with its lack of professionalized medicine and fundamental research, particularly in pharmaceuticals. If you want to permanently cement Chinas leading position as a supplier of pharmaceuticals and grease their path to take leadership in drug development, this is how to do it.

Conventional wisdom is that approved contracts, and that would include NIH studies underway, will have to be paid. Having said that, I do not know if any grants are phased, as in you have to complete a first set of activities before the next tranche of funds is released. But even if so, Federal claims that the recipient had not met the requirements to receive the next money distribution amounts to a contract dispute and if push comes to shove, could be adjudicated.

And its not as if NIH-funded studies are an isolated case. Readers can no doubt point to other areas where even short halts in spending for outside parties will produce cascading damage and even business closures.

Even so, what happens if the Administration hangs tough? It takes time and money to gin up litigation. Oh, and where were these researchers during the >20 year campaign to gut the class action bar? First them came for the gypsies, and I did nothing

By Aliasger K. Salem, Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa. Originally published at The Conversation

In the early days of the second Trump administration, a directive to pause all public communication from the Department of Health and Human Services created uncertainty and anxiety among biomedical researchers in the U.S. This directive halted key operations of numerous federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, including those critical to advancing science and medicine.

These operations included a hiring freeze, travel bans and a pause on publishing regulations, guidance documents and other communications. The directive also suspended the grant review panels that determine which research projects receive funding.

As a result of these disruptions, NIH staff has reported being unable to meet with study participants or recruit patients into clinical trials, delays submitting research findings to science journals, and rescinded job offers.

Shorter communication freezes in the first few days of a new administration arent uncommon. But the consequences of a freeze lasting weeks or potentially longer underscore the critical role the federal government plays in supporting biomedical research. It also brings the intricate processes through which federal research grants are evaluated and awarded into the spotlight.

I am a member of a federal research grant review panel, as well as a scientist whose own projects have undergone this review process. My experience with the NIH has shown me that these panels come to a decision on the best science to fund through rigorous review and careful vetting.

How NIH Study Sections Work

At the heart of the NIHs mission to advance biomedical research is a careful and transparent peer review process. Key to this process are study sections  panels of scientists and subject matter experts tasked with evaluating grant applications for scientific and technical merit. Study sections are overseen by the Center for Scientific Review, the NIHs portal for all incoming grant proposals.

A typical study section consists of dozens of reviewers selected based on their expertise in relevant fields and with careful screening for any conflicts of interest. These scientists are a mix of permanent members and temporary participants.

I have had the privilege of serving as a permanent chartered member of an NIH study section for several years. This role requires a commitment of four to six years and provides an in-depth understanding of the peer review process. Despite media reports and social media posts indicating that many other panels have been canceled, a section meeting I have scheduled in February 2025 is currently proceeding as planned.

Reviewers analyze applications using key criteria, including the significance and innovation of the research, the qualifications and training of the investigators, the feasibility and rigor of the study design, and the environment the work will be conducted in. Each criterion is scored and combined into an overall impact score. Applications with the highest scores are sent to the next stage, where reviewers meet to discuss and assign final rankings.

Because no system is perfect, the NIH is constantly reevaluating its review process for potential improvements. For example, in a change that was proposed in 2024, new submissions from Jan. 25, 2025, onward will be reviewed using an updated scoring system that does not rate the investigator and environment but takes these criteria into account in the overall impact score. This change improves the process by increasing the focus of the review on the quality and impact of the science.

From Review to Award

Following peer review, applications are passed to the NIHs funding institutes and centers, such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or the National Cancer Institute, where program officials assess the applications alignment with the priorities and budgets of institutes relevant research programs.

A second tier of review is conducted by advisory councils composed of scientists, clinicians and public representatives. In my experience, study section scores and comments typically carry the greatest weight. Public health needs, policy directives and ensuring that one type of research is not overrepresented relative to other areas are also considered in funding decisions. These factors can change with shifts in administrative priorities.

Grant awards are typically announced several months after the review process, although administrative freezes or budgetary uncertainties can extend this timeline. Last year, approximately US$40 billion was awarded for biomedical research, largely through almost 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at over 2,500 universities, medical schools and other research institutions across the U.S.

Consequences of An Administrative Freeze

The Trump administrations initial freeze paused some of the steps in the federal research grant review process. Some study section meetings have been postponed indefinitely, and program officials faced delays in processing applications. Some research groups relying on NIH funding for ongoing projects can face cash flow challenges, potentially resulting in a need to scale back research activities or temporarily reassign staff.

Because my own study section meeting is still scheduled to take place in February, I believe these pauses are temporary. This is consistent with a recent follow-up memo from acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink, stating that the directive would be in effect through Feb. 1.

Importantly, the pause underscores the fragility of the research funding pipeline and the cascading effects of administrative uncertainty. Early-career scientists who often rely on timely grant awards to establish their labs are particularly vulnerable, heightening concerns about workforce sustainability in biomedical research.

As the NIH and research community navigate these pauses, this chapter serves as a reminder of the critical importance of stable and predictable funding systems. Biomedical research in the U.S. has historically maintained bipartisan support. Protecting the NIHs mission of advancing human health from political or administrative turbulence is critical to ensure that the pursuit of scientific innovation and public health remains uncompromised.
Your humble blogger has been reluctant to dignify AI, even in the face of technologists we know and respect saying that it is truly revolutionary. But then the question becomes Revolutionary for what?

The enthusiasm for AI, aside from investors in its realm and various professional hangers-on, comes from businesses out of the prospect of cost savings due to productivity increases. And most are unabashed in saying that this means replacing workers.

But as we will soon show, AI mainly decreases rather than increases productivity. So if that is the case, why has the fanfare continued at a fever pitch?

It is not hard to discern that, irrespective of actual performance, AI is yet another tool to discipline labor, here the sort of white collar and professional laborers that management would tend to view as uppity, particularly those that push back over corners-cutting and rules-breaking.

In this it falls in the proud tradition of other labor-bargaining-power-reducing yet overhyped gimmicks like outsourcing and offshoring.

Let me quote IT expert Robert Cringely from an important 2015 article on the use of H1-B visas and offshoring. Cringley said it was an open secret that offshoring was not working, but in a modern analogue to footbinding, no one dared stop because investors would punish the company based on wrong-headed assumptions. From Cringley:

Now lets look at what this has meant for the U.S. computer industry. First is the lemming effect where several businesses in an industry all follow the same bad management plan and collectively kill themselves This mad rush to send more work offshore (to get costs better aligned) is an act of desperation. Everyone knows it isnt working well. Everyone knows doing it is just going to make the service quality a lot worse. If you annoy your customer enough they will decide to leave. The second issue is you cant fix a problem by throwing more bodies at it. USA IT workers make about 10 times the pay and benefits that their counterparts make in India. I wont suggest USA workers are 10 times better than anyone, they arent. However they are generally much more experienced and can often do important work much better and faster (and in the same time zone). The most effective organizations have a diverse workforce with a mix of people, skills, experience, etc. By working side by side these people learn from each other. They develop team building skills. In time the less experienced workers become highly effective experienced workers. The more layoffs, the more jobs sent off shore, the more these companies erode the effectiveness of their service. An IT services business is worthless if it does not have the skills and experience to do the job. The third problem is how you treat people does matter. In high performing firms the work force is vested in the success of the business. They are prepared to put in the extra effort and extra hours needed to help the business  and they are compensated for the results. They produce value for the business. When you treat and pay people poorly you lose their ambition and desire to excel, you lose the performance of your work force. It can now be argued many workers in IT services are no longer providing any value to the business. This is not because they are bad workers. It is because they are being treated poorly.

Lets turn more briefly to offshoring which America is now amusingly trying to reverse. Through the McKinsey mafia and other contacts, I have heard quite a few tales about decisions to move manufacturing abroad. In a substantial majority, the business case was not compelling and/or the company could have achieved similar results through just-in-time and other improvements. But they went ahead because management wanted to look like it was keeping up with the Jones and/or they knew it was what investors wanted to see.

Moreover, from what I could tell, no one risk-adjusted the alleged improvement in results. What about the cost of contracting? Of disputes and finger-pointing about goods quality and delivery times? Of all of the extra coordination and supervision? Of catastrophic events at the vendors plant? And as Cringley alluded, the loss of basic know-how?

Keep in mind that for most manufactured goods, direct factory labor is 3% to 7% of total product cost, typically 3% to 5%. Offshoring is best though of as not a cost savings but a transfer from direct factory labor to higher executives, middle managers, and to a lesser degree, various outside parties (lawyers, outsouring consultants), all of whom have more to do in devising and minding a more complex and fragile business system.

Now back to AI.

I am not saying that there are no implementations where AI would not be a net plus, even allowing for increased risk. But theres way way way too much treating AI output as if it were an oracle when its often wrong (and I see this well over 50% of the time when readers quote AI results in comment on topics in which I have expertise). And Ive been shown cases of literally dangerously output in high-stakes environments, like medicine.

One of our normally skeptical tech experts who was impressed by AI made clear its limits: it was like having a 3.9 GPA freshman as your assistant. It provides a very good pass but its results still have to be reviewed and revised. But how often is that happening in practice?

And surveys so far have been finding that AI is a productivity dampener. For instance, from Inc Magazine last July:

When corporate executives look at AI, many of them see a means of boosting productivity. But ask employees how they view the tech and you get a much more pessimistic perspective. Thats the big takeaway from a survey that freelance job platform Upwork just published. According to the firms research arm, 96 percent of C-suite executives expect the use of AI tools to increase their companys overall productivity levels. Yet at the same time, 77 percent of employees who use AI tools have found that the technology has actually decreased their productivity and added to their workload. Thats for a variety of reasons, the survey indicates, including the time employees now have to spend learning how to use AI, double-checking its work, or keeping up with the expectations of managers who think AI means they can take on a bigger workload.

And from Vimohs Ideas in December:

when AI tools came over the horizon, we were hearing a lot about how theyre going to make people more productive. And there were studies to this effect. There is at least one study by McKinsey, which predicted a productivity growth of 0.1 to 0.6% by 2040 from AI use. But 2040 is far away, and until now, we havent seen that. In fact, we may actually be seeing the opposite because a recent study done by Intel says that productivity is actually down. They followed 6,000 employees in Germany, France, and the UK and found that AI PC owners were spending longer on digital chores than using traditional PCs. The reason behind this, of course, is that you cannot hold AI tools accountable. If you are someone who has AI tools, who has a workplace where AI tools are being used to achieve something, you cant fire an AI tool. In fact, youre paying money to use the AI tool; youre paying money to the company that made the AI tool. At the end of the day, the person you can hold responsible, the person you can hold accountable, is your employee. You can tell them that if this job does not get done, your job is on the line. You cant say that to an AI tool. So, the work at the end of the day is still being done by someone whos using the AI tool. And now, while earlier they just had to do the job, now they have to train the AI to do the job, make the AI do the job, and check what the AI has done. And in some cases, probably many cases, fix the mistakes being made by the AI. I myself have tried to use AI tools to do some jobs that I dont like to do. And in every single case, it has to be checked. In every single case, it has to be fixed. So, Intel thinks this is a problem of employees not knowing how to use the tools. I think that short of AI becoming agents in their own right, where they take decisions and perform tasks and are proactive, were not going to solve this problem. And that the buck will continue to stop at humans and the humans who hire them to do work.

The way Vimoh breaks his argument down suggests hes had to say this sort of thing to resistant higher ups before.

The AI optimists among you might contend that surely the employees or the companies will get better at AI implementation. Erm, bad tools are bad tools. But even if workers get better at finessing them, there will still have been the phase of productivity losses. And thats front loaded, which makes it more expensive in net-present-value terms. Is there any reason to think that this will eventually be recovered?

Again, before you try saying yes, consider the counter-evidence, which is the low level of tech competence generally. From I Will Fucking Piledrive You If You Mention AI Again:

Unless you are one of a tiny handful of businesses who know exactly what theyre going to use AI for, you do not need AI for anything  or rather, you do not need to do anything to reap the benefits. Artificial intelligence, as it exists and is useful now, is probably already baked into your businesses software supply chain Consider the fact that most companies are unable to successfully develop and deploy the simplest of CRUD applications on time and under budget. This is a solved problem  with smart people who can collaborate and provide reasonable requirements, a competent team will knock this out of the park every single time, admittedly with some amount of frustration.But most companies cant do this, because they are operationally and culturally crippled. Most organizations cannot ship the most basic applications imaginable with any consistency, and youre out here saying that the best way to remain competitive is to roll out experimental technology that is an order of magnitude more sophisticated than anything else your I.T department runs, which you have no experience hiring for, when the organization has neverused a GPU for anything other than junior engineers playing video games with their camera off during standup, and even if you do that all right there is a chance that the problem is simply unsolvable due to the characteristics of your data and business? This isnt a recipe for disaster, its a cookbook for someone looking to prepare a twelve course fucking catastrophe.

Mind you, this generally sorry picture does not seem likely to be improved by DeepSeek or similarly more efficient models with different underlying paradigms. We are at least relieved that DeepSeek and its ilk may and should derail OpenAI, ChatGPT, and other US AI flagships that are monster energy hogs. At least the level of planetary destruction will be reduced.

Or perhaps not. AI hype has made a lot of people obscenely rich, so the incentive to keep the grift going is very large. So expect more strained justifications about necessity and improved competitiveness, when the evidence of either among users remains thin.
There are opportunities you just dont pass up. As the great philosopher Tom Jones once said, Tomorrow is promised to no one, and when a chance at joy comes your way, especially at this moment in history, youre well-served by grabbing hold and not letting go until it thunders. And thats how I found myself talking to Vixen herself, the legendary Erica Gavin.

It begins with David Gregory, the head of Severin Films (if youre into physical media, youre doubtless familiar with Severin). Gregory basically did the independent film equivalent of finding the Holy Grail when he worked out a deal with the estate of legendary filmmaker Russ Meyer to bring three of his titles into the HD/4K era. Meyers films are American originals  hard-hitting melodrama, a bounty of bosoms, white-hot thrills and a preternatural ability never to wear out their welcome. And other than very basic DVD editions from back at the dawn of the millennium, theyve not been easy to get hold of.

But now, with the nation in chaos, Los Angeles in flames and Puritans and reactionaries holding sway, the time is right for the return of Russ Meyer to the human id, and with the Vixen Trilogy (1968s Vixen!, 1975s Supervixen and 1979s Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens) making that HD leap, its a chance to pay tribute to one of the great directors in American film, but also one of its greatest stars.

So how does it feel for you coming back to Vixen, this character you created who is no less vivacious, shocking, liberating and complicated now, 57 years on?

Erica Gavin: I dont think its really hit me yet, just how big this is. People tell me its big. But it just feels great to be talked to about it.

Its historic that were finally getting Russ non-Beyond the Valley of the Dolls films out there and available to the public again, but one of the things that feels very fitting with these films coming out thanks to Severin is that were very fortunate to have several boutique home media labels, all of whom share the ethos of preserving films unlike anything else out there that define their own respectability. But in the past few years, Severin has been doing an incredible job  first in 2023 with the Laura Gemser Emanuelle Nera films in The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle box set, and then just last year with Indonesian scream queen Suzzanna in the second installment of the All the Haunts Be Ours set  finding these films featuring these singular women of cult and exploitation cinema and saying, These iconic women deserve your attention and respect. And as far as Im concerned, bringing Erica Gavin to the forefront and saying, This is a big deal is both accurate and fair.

+3 Lets Get Physical: The Best Physical Media of 2024 From All of Us Strangers to The Peoples Joker, here are some of the best home-video offerings of the year

EG: It certainly points toward liberating all these actresses, and Severin has stepped outside the box to do it.

David Gregory: And all three of the examples youve offered are icons who rightfully should be celebrated and whose world should be presented to todays audience in the best possible quality. What we like to champion is the work of true filmmakers and performers who were going out and making entertaining and well-made movies with limited resources. And that, for me, is very exciting. When people are getting a band of like-minded people together and by hook or by crook, getting something in the can in order to make a film, and then coming out with something that stands the test of time  particularly like Vixen!, where it was a massive hit at the time and has remained for me an important American independent film thats something were very happy to champion.

JS: Have you run into any issues with this new restoration due to it still technically being banned in several counties in Ohio?

DG: Interestingly, we are trying to organize the first legal screening of Vixen! right now in Cincinnati, due to the film still being banned there. Which is absurd. Its that no one has tested that theory in recent years, so were working on that. But it is still on the books. And there are certain hoops to be jumped through to make that happen. I dont think anyone would raid the cinema like they did back in the day, but that might be cool too.

EG: It would! It would certainly draw a crowd.

DG: It would get a lot of attention. If Vixen! was still being seized.

EG: I was just looking at a newspaper clipping of the vice cops going in to see Vixen! in Ohio, and that whole movement was led by [disgraced conservative activist and convicted felon] Charles Keating. And he was a very upstanding citizen, what with his S&L crisis.

DG: As is often the case with people who are moral crusaders, who want to get into the way of other peoples liberties, theyre often hiding something in their closet themselves.

EG: And he wasnt hiding it very much, was he?

DG: Its crazy that back then that theaters were being raided and prints were actually seized. But Russ used to love that  engaging in that discussion about limiting American freedoms on something like nudity. Its absurd.

EG: And he spent millions of dollars taking Keating to court.

DG: And it also got him a lot of publicity.

Which doesnt hurt. Vixen! is such a quintessentially American film. Its about sex and hypocrisy and racism and Vietnam, and what happens when you stir that particular gumbo together.

EG: Russ was very good about addressing whatever was in the news at the time; he was almost ahead of it. Just look at the end of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and the Manson murders. How he had that insight, I dont know. I guess thats genius.

+8 The 2024 Jim Ridley Film Poll Dedicated to the Scenes late longtime editor and critic, our poll asks cinephiles, critics and industry insiders about 2024 in film

The chain of events it must have taken for this release to happen is impressive: You have the Meyer estate, you have Severin, you have the Museum of Modern Art. And that is a dinner party I would love to be a fly on the wall at.

EG: [Laughs] Agreed.

DG: Oh, absolutely. Working with the Russ Meyer Trust has been very good for us. At the heart of it, they want to make sure that Russ work is preserved and presented in the best possible way to a contemporary audience, and thats what we have gone to pains to deliver. We retained the graphic design he used on his VHS releases and brought those over to the disc format  that was very important to the trust. We had to imagine what he would want with his films if he were with us now.

EG: This was what he would have been going for in the time that the films were made, he just didnt have the technology that we do now.

DG: [Holds up a U.K. VHS of Vixen!] I have my VHS of Vixen! right here, and it has a sticker on it that says, Mint quality. Made from original negative. And in the early 80s, those transfers were state-of-the-art.

EG: They were.

DG: But obviously, the technology has moved on quite a bit since then, and thankfully the negative was in very good condition thanks to the Museum of Modern Art, who were able to supervise the remastering.

The thing about the new transfer thats so staggering to me is that, being familiar with the previous transfers, these colors come to life. Particularly, Ms. Gavin, it emphasizes your eye for clothes, because every single one of Vixens outfits is iconic  it is the late 60s and it is alive! And I am in awe of that.

EG: Thank you. ... It couldnt have been any more pop.

DG: And the costumes were yours, Erica?

EG: Yeah, yeah. They were my clothes. [Laughs] My putting together whatever I had in my suitcase packed for Miranda, Calif.

They are spectacular outfits, and you can see them to this day  in couture, in drag performances and everything in between. Thats an impact still being felt today, and not just in Cincinnati.

DG: Youre an influencer, Erica.

EG: Thank you. I never thought of it in that way. But I appreciate it.

The Vixen Trilogy is available on Blu-ray and 4K UHD from Severin Films, and these new restorations are also streaming on Night Flight. 1965s Motor Psycho and 1976s Up! (a personal fave) will be released on Blu-ray and UHD in March.

Special thanks for assistance in preparing for this interview to Jess Bennett.
On Friday, Judge Justin C. Angel ruled that Thunder Air, a development company of John Thunder Thornton, must pay the attorneys of Joey Blevins and the late Ronnie Kennedy $211,345.40 in legal fees. In September, the same judge ruled that Thunder had violated the free speech of both men under the Tennessee Public Participation Act, or TPPA.

Thunder's Blunder: East Tennessee Developer Loses Libel Suit The latest in the ongoing skirmish over East Tennessee's River Gorge Ranch development

Thornton sued the two for libel after Kennedy said River Gorge Ranch (RGR), Thunders mountaintop development, sits above abandoned coal mines. Among other slights, the lawsuit quoted Kennedy as saying Aetna Mountain was like Swiss cheese, while Blevins responded to a Thornton Facebook post claiming that there were no mines with the single word: gag.

The TPPA, passed in 2019, was designed to keep wealthy companies and individuals from stifling free speech through libel suits.

The court's order serves as complete vindication for Mr. Blevins, who performed a public service, says Daniel A. Horwitz, Blevins' Nashville-based lead counsel. Hopefully, this humiliating defeat will teach Mr. Thornton and all other developers who dare to abuse Tennessee's court system an important lesson: Litigation is not a substitute for addressing valid criticism.

Kennedy died in August, mid-lawsuit, but his attorney William J. Harbison continues to represent his family. We are thankful the court saw this case for exactly what it was  a meritless lawsuit that sought to bully and intimidate two gentlemen who did nothing but speak truth to power, Harbison says.

Blevins says that if Thornton had only been transparent with his out-of-state buyers about the nearly 200-year history of mining beneath RGR, none of this would have had to happen. He adds that the TPPA was put in place specifically to protect people looking out for their neighbors.

The award comes as controversy continues to swirl around RGR.

Monday night, county commissioners debated proposed road variances for the development. The county road commissioner, Cory Pickett, described Thornton engineering reports not shared with the commission.

Tennessee code 54-9-123 requires county road commissioners not to be members of a county legislative body, but Pickett serves on the planning commission that approves all roads and plats for RGR. However, Charlie Curtiss, the director of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association, explained Tuesday that this was a case of bad job title rather than criminal behavior.

+6 Thunder on the Mountain: Do Luxury Homesites Sit Atop Environmental Catastrophe? An East Tennessee development is moving forward on what locals call a Swiss cheese of abandoned coal mines

Hes not a road commissioner, Curtiss says. Hes a highway superintendent. The county website lists Pickett as Road Commissioner, which was how he was introduced at the Monday meeting. But Curtiss says that title only legally applies in counties with a separate legislative body called a road commission. Marion County does not have a road commission, so one thread in a conflicted web of county connections to Thornton was straightened out.

Others remain: The development still has no public water. Some home construction permits may be invalid without installed water lines. Restaurants and vacation cabin sites never considered by the planning commission lack plats allowing their construction.

No one yet occupies any of the 2,500 projected homesites.
Chinas hypersonic air-to-air missile: A game-changer in modern warfare

China unveils a groundbreaking hypersonic air-to-air missile, marking a significant leap in military technology.

The missile, developed by the China Airborne Missile Academy, can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and has a range of over 1,000 kilometers.

This development poses a direct threat to U.S. stealth aircraft, including the F-22, F-35, and the new B-21 Raider bomber.

The missiles extreme heat resistance and maneuverability represent a major technical breakthrough, challenging existing air combat strategies.

The hypersonic arms race now favors China, Russia

In a world where military supremacy is increasingly defined by speed and precision, China has taken a decisive step forward with the unveiling of its new hypersonic air-to-air missile. Developed by the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA), this weapon represents a technological leap that could reshape the balance of power in the skies. Capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (6,400 kilometers per hour) and with a range of over 1,000 kilometers, the missile is designed to target advanced U.S. stealth aircraft, including the F-22, F-35, and the newly developed B-21 Raider bomber. This development comes amid a global arms race in hypersonic technology, with China, Russia, and the U.S. vying for dominance.

Hypersonic missiles, defined as those traveling at speeds above Mach 5, have become a focal point of modern military strategy. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons can maneuver mid-flight, making them harder to intercept. China has been at the forefront of this race, first deploying the ground-based DF-17 hypersonic missile in 2017. Since then, it has expanded its arsenal to include submarine-launched, ground-based, and air-launched variants, such as the DF-21D, nicknamed the carrier-killer, and the DF-26B, known as the Guam Express for its ability to target U.S. bases in the Pacific.

Russia has also made significant strides, testing its Oreshnik hypersonic missile in Ukraine, while the U.S. recently conducted its first successful test of the Dark Eagle, a surface-to-surface hypersonic weapon. However, Chinas new air-to-air hypersonic missile represents a unique and potentially game-changing development. Unlike ground or sea targets, aircraft move at much higher speeds and require missiles to be both fast and highly maneuverablea challenge long considered insurmountable.

Overcoming the heat barrier is crucial

The primary obstacle to developing hypersonic air-to-air missiles lies in managing the extreme heat generated at such speeds. At Mach 5, the missiles surface can reach temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,192 degrees Fahrenheit), posing risks of structural deformation, thermal damage, and electronic failure. To address this, Chinese scientists at CAMA employed cutting-edge testing methods, including oxyacetylene flames, lasers, and high-temperature plasmas reaching up to 16,000 degrees Celsius.

The team also utilized an arc-heated wind tunnel, a facility capable of generating airflows at tens of thousands of degrees Celsius. By heating the gas with an electric arc, [this type of tunnel] can generate hot air flows reaching thousands to tens of thousands of degrees Celsius, wrote senior CAMA scientists Cheng Gong and Huang Yimin in a peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Equipment Environmental Engineering. While the wind tunnel is super expensive to operate due to its enormous power consumption, it has proven essential for simulating the extreme conditions faced by hypersonic missiles.

Strategic implications for global air power

The introduction of Chinas hypersonic air-to-air missile has profound implications for global air combat strategies. Traditional air-to-air missiles rely on radar guidance and in-flight updates from the launching aircraft, limiting their range and effectiveness. In contrast, hypersonic missiles can engage targets with little to no warning, thanks to their sheer speed and maneuverability.

In a simulated exercise conducted in 2023, a Chinese J-16 fighter armed with the new missile successfully intercepted a target at hypersonic speeds, climbing to the edge of the atmosphere before descending at hypervelocity. This capability poses a direct threat to U.S. stealth aircraft, which were designed under the assumption that adversaries would rely on slower, less advanced interception systems.

The detection range of mainstream airborne missile warning systems is less than 10 kilometers, noted military analysts. From the time the alarm sounds to the missiles arrival, pilots would have less than four seconds to react. Even the F-22, one of the fastest U.S. fighters, can only reach speeds of about Mach 2, making evasion nearly impossible.

The development of hypersonic air-to-air missiles marks a new frontier in military technology, forcing air forces worldwide to rethink their strategies. For the U.S., the B-21 Raider bomber, designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace, may now face unprecedented risks. The missiles ability to engage targets at extreme ranges and speeds could render even the most advanced stealth platforms vulnerable.

Beyond the technological challenges, the hypersonic arms race carries significant economic implications. Developing and maintaining these systems requires substantial investment, from advanced wind tunnels to heat-resistant materials. As China continues to lead in this field, its adversaries may find themselves forced to allocate vast resources to keep pacea strategy that aligns with Sun Tzus ancient maxim: Bankrupt your enemy.

In the end, Chinas hypersonic breakthrough is not just a testament to its technological prowess but a stark reminder of the shifting dynamics of global power. As nations grapple with the implications of this new era of warfare, one thing is clear: the skies will never be the same.

Sources include:

Unz.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai

Substack.com
Drs. Ardis and Ealy on the Health Ranger Report: How snake venom and nicotine intersect with COVID-19

Research by Dr. Bryan Ardis and Dr. Henry Ealy suggests that snake venom peptides, not the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, may have caused severe COVID-19 symptoms, including hypoxia and immune suppression, by targeting nicotine receptors in the body. This connection was supported by studies, including one by the late researcher Bing Liu.

Nicotine, often vilified, may counteract the effects of venom proteins by activating the same receptors that venom peptides disable. This could explain why smokers and asthmatics, who use nicotine or compounds like EDTA, experienced lower rates of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Governments worldwide are restricting access to nicotine products, such as through prescription mandates or heavy taxation, which Ardis and Ealy argue is part of a coordinated effort to suppress a natural remedy that could undermine their agenda.

The researchers raise concerns about the deliberate introduction of venom proteins into the population, possibly through vaccines or environmental exposure, and highlight patents detailing the use of venom peptides in medical and agricultural applications.

Ardis and Ealy advocate for natural solutions like nicotine, EDTA and other remedies to counteract the effects of COVID-19 and vaccines, emphasizing the need for individuals to take control of their health and challenge the pharmaceutical-dominated medical system.

Drs. Bryan Ardis and Henry Ealy have uncovered a hidden link between snake venom, nicotine and the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19)  a shocking revelation that could rewrite the COVID-19 pandemic's narrative.

Their groundbreaking research, which they shared with the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report," suggests that venom peptides may have been the true cause of the devastating symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients and not the virus itself. Even more astonishing, they reveal that nicotine  a molecule long demonized by public health authorities  could hold the key to neutralizing these venomous effects.

This startling discovery raises urgent questions about the origins of the pandemic, the suppression of natural remedies and the global push to ban nicotine. Are people witnessing a coordinated effort to conceal the deadliest medical deception in history?

Ardis, a prominent researcher and advocate for natural medicine, points to a pivotal study by Bing Liu, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, who was tragically murdered in May 2020  just before he was set to reveal his findings. Liu's research identified snake venom proteins as the critical factor distinguishing mild COVID-19 cases from severe and fatal ones. These proteins, known to bind to nicotine receptors in the body, suppress breathing and lower oxygen levels, mirroring the hypoxia observed in COVID-19 patients. (Related: Dr. Bryan Ardis BLOWS THE WHISTLE on COVID-19 and CLOT SHOTS attacking the body like snake venom and he speaks on detoxification and prevention of damage.)

"The only difference between mild cases of COVID, moderate to severe and those who died was the presence of high amounts of snake venom proteins in their bodies," Ardis explained. This discovery, he added, had cost Liu his life.

Further research supports this connection. In April 2020, French scientists found that the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were structurally identical to cobra and krait venom proteins. These venom peptides target the same nicotine receptors in the body, effectively shutting down critical functions like breathing and immune response.

Nicotine: The unexpected antidote

While nicotine has been vilified for decades, Ardis and Ealy argue that it may be one of the most effective antidotes to venom-induced damage. Nicotine activates the same receptors that venom proteins seek to disable, potentially reversing the effects of these toxins.

"Every cell in the human body has nicotine receptors," Ardis noted while adding that these receptors are essential for immune function and the activation of T-cells, B-cells and macrophages. The certified acupuncturist and nutritionist stated that nicotine isnt the villain, and it is a vital molecule that the human body is designed to use.

This revelation explains why smokers and asthmatics  groups traditionally considered high-risk  were largely spared from severe COVID-19 outcomes. Asthma inhalers contain EDTA, a compound that destroys snake venom proteins, while nicotine's interaction with venom-targeted receptors may have provided a protective effect.

The implications of this research are staggering. If snake venom proteins were deliberately introduced into the population, whether through vaccines, environmental exposure, or other means, it would represent an unprecedented act of bioterrorism. Ardis pointed to patents held by the University of Utah and other institutions that detail the use of venom peptides in medical and agricultural applications, raising questions about their potential misuse.

Meanwhile, governments worldwide are moving to restrict access to nicotine. Australia recently mandated that nicotine products be available only by prescription, while the U.S. has proposed a 98 percent tax on nicotine-containing items. These actions, Ardis argued, are part of a coordinated effort to suppress a powerful, natural remedy.

Ealy commented that the health and government authorities are attacking nicotine because it works by breaking through the nanotechnology and undermines their agenda. The founder of the Energetic Health Institute stressed that people must be taught how to defuse the 'time bombs' created by the COVID vaccines in their bodies whether it is through nicotine, EDTA or other natural remedies.

Watch the full interview between Dr. Bryan Ardis, Dr. Henry Ealy and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

VENOM FACTORIES: World Economic Forum celebrates new technology to SYNTHESIZE snake venom peptides using RNA advances for rapid venom drug development and deployment.

Nicotine  A missing piece of the therapeutic puzzle concerning the bioweapons of the jab and COVID-19.

Researchers find dozens of venom peptides in blood plasma and fecal samples from COVID-19 patients, CONFIRMING link between toxins and covid.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

UTimes.Pitt.edu

HealingForTheAGES.com 1

HealingForTheAGES.com 2
Israeli ally and Christian Zionist appointed to head the ICJ: How end times theology shapes a judges stance on Israel

Justice Julia Sebutinde of Uganda cast a lone dissenting vote against South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), sparking controversy.

Sebutinde's judicial philosophy is heavily influenced by her affiliation with Watoto Church, a Pentecostal megachurch known for Christian Zionism, and her rulings often cite biblical narratives and Zionist historical claims.

Sebutinde was elected as the new president of the ICJ, raising concerns about the impartiality of the court, especially in cases involving Israel.

Sebutinde's appointment highlights the growing influence of Christian Zionism in global institutions, particularly in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Her dissent in the South Africa case has drawn both praise from evangelical communities and criticism from legal scholars and human rights advocates, who fear her approach may undermine the ICJ's credibility.

In a dramatic turn of events at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Justice Julia Sebutinde of Uganda has emerged as a polarizing figure, casting a lone dissenting vote against South Africas genocide case against Israel. Now, as the newly elected president of the ICJ, Sebutindes decisions are drawing scrutiny not only for their legal implications but also for the theological underpinnings that appear to guide her judicial philosophy.

Sebutindes ascent to the ICJ presidency follows the resignation of Nawaf Salam, who stepped down to become Lebanons prime minister. Her tenure begins amid escalating tensions over Israels military actions in Gaza, with South Africas case accusing Israel of genocide gaining momentum as more countries join the legal challenge.

A lone voice in the court

In January 2024, Sebutinde stood alone in rejecting South Africas call for the ICJ to demand that Israel halt its military operations in Gaza, end forced displacement and cancel its planned invasion of Rafah. Her dissent was not only unprecedented but also deeply controversial, as it placed her at odds with every other judge on the panel, including Israels own representative, Aharon Barak.

Sebutindes reasoning, outlined in a lengthy opinion, leaned heavily on biblical narratives and Zionist historical claims rather than international law or United Nations resolutions. She cited archaeological evidence and the Hebrew Bible to argue that Jewish ties to the land of Israel date back to the biblical era of Kings Saul, David and Solomon. The Hebrew Bible offers detailed accounts of the history, culture and governance of the Israelites during this period, she wrote. While these texts are religious in nature, many scholars consider them valuable historical documents.

Her reliance on theological arguments sparked immediate backlash. Ugandas ambassador to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, publicly distanced the Ugandan government from Sebutindes stance, stating that her ruling does not represent the Government of Ugandas position on the situation in Palestine.

Christian Zionism and end times theology

Sebutindes judicial philosophy appears deeply influenced by her affiliation with Watoto Church, a Pentecostal megachurch in Kampala, Uganda, known for its fervent Christian Zionism. Founded by Canadian pastor Gary Skinner in 1984, Watoto Church has long promoted the belief that the modern state of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy and is central to the End Times narrative.

In a 2021 sermon titled Israel: The Greatest Sign, Skinner declared, If you bless the Jews, you will be blessed. If you curse the Jews, you will be cursed. He described Israels founding in 1948 as the fulfillment of prophecy and a sign of Jesus imminent return. What happens to Israel is a sign of the End Times scenario, Skinner preached. The national rebirth of Israel is the greatest End Time sign we have.

Sebutinde has openly credited Watoto Church and Skinner with shaping her worldview. During a June 2024 ceremony for a new church branch, she said, The godly values of integrity, honesty, justice, mercy, empathy and hard work that the Skinners and Watoto Church instilled and nurtured in me, over the years, account for who I am today.

A controversial legacy

Sebutindes elevation to the ICJ presidency grants her significant influence, including the power to break deadlocked votes. Critics fear her theological convictions could undermine the courts impartiality, particularly in cases involving Israel.

Her dissent in the South Africa case has already drawn praise from influential figures within Ugandas evangelical community. Patience Rwabwogo, a prominent Pentecostal preacher and daughter of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, hailed Sebutinde as a heroine, declaring, Not all heroes wear capes.

However, legal scholars and human rights advocates warn that Sebutindes approach risks eroding the ICJs credibility. Frank Kisakye, a Ugandan constitutional scholar, noted that her rulings appear to align with Genesis 12:1-3, a biblical passage often cited by Christian Zionists to justify unwavering support for Israel.

Historical context and global implications

The intersection of religion and international law is not new, but Sebutindes case highlights the growing influence of Christian Zionism in global institutions. This ideology, which views Israels existence as divinely ordained, has gained traction among evangelical communities worldwide, particularly in the United States and Africa.

Sebutindes rise also comes at a critical juncture for the ICJ, which faces mounting pressure to address allegations of war crimes and genocide in Gaza. With Israel likely to violate the fragile ceasefire, time is running out for investigators to gather evidence.

As Sebutinde assumes her new role, the world watches closely. Will her decisions be guided by international law, or will her theological convictions continue to shape her judicial legacy? For now, the answer remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher for the ICJor for the pursuit of justice in one of the worlds most contentious conflicts.

Sources include:

TheGrayZone.com

BBC.com

TheGuardian.com
Gary Heavin and Mike Adams: J6 prisoners used as PAWNS in political chess game

Over 300 individuals arrested for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protest are detained in 75 federal prisons across 35 states, often far from their families.

Critics compare this to the Soviet Gulag system, accusing the Biden administration of isolating and psychologically abusing prisoners, with claims of denied due process and harsh conditions.

Texas entrepreneur Gary Heavin, founder of American Patriot Relief, has become a prominent advocate for the J6 prisoners through his Freedom's Ambassador Project. He highlights their brutal treatment, including solitary confinement, lack of legal representation and withheld evidence, calling it a "Soviet-style concentration camp" on American soil.

Heavin and his team are preparing "Operation Airlift," a plan to support prisoners upon their release. This includes providing food, housing and transportation via private jets to reunite them with their families. Over 100 ambassadors are stationed at prisons nationwide to assist with the transition.

Heavin and others demand full exoneration, expungement of records and substantial compensation for the J6 prisoners, including federal pensions. They argue that the prisoners deserve restitution for the injustices they've endured, with some suggesting payouts as high as $50 million per person.

In the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, a story of tyranny unfoldsone that has drawn comparisons to the darkest chapters of Soviet history. Over 300 individuals arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol protest are scattered across 75 federal prisons in 35 states, often hundreds of miles from their families.

Critics argue that this dispersal mirrors the Soviet Union's infamous Gulag Archipelago, a network of forced labor camps designed to isolate and break political dissidents. The Biden administration has been accused of orchestrating this modern-day Gulag, where prisoners endure solitary confinement, denied due process and face what some describe as psychological and nutritional abuse. (Related: Calls for JUSTICE: Trump urged to pardon J6 protesters as 2025 inauguration nears.)

Gary Heavin, a Texas-based entrepreneur and founder of American Patriot Relief (ARF) Freedom's Ambassador Project, has emerged as a leading voice in the fight to free these prisoners. In a recent "Health Ranger Report" interview with Mike Adams of Brighteon.com, Heavin detailed the harrowing conditions faced by the J6 detainees.

"These people have been brutalized. Solitary confinement for weeks, no speedy trial, no proper representation. Tens of thousands of hours of video evidence were kept from their defense lawyers illegally," Heavin said.

The prisoners, many of whom were charged with non-violent offenses, have been dispersed across the country in what Heavin describes as a deliberate strategy to isolate them from their support networks. Families have been forced to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to visit loved ones, often at great personal and financial cost.

Operation Airlift: A plan for freedom

With rumors swirling that President-elect Donald Trump may pardon the J6 prisoners on Inauguration Day, Heavin and his team are preparing for what they call "Operation Airlift." The initiative aims to provide immediate support to the prisoners upon their release, ensuring they are fed, housed and reunited with their families.

"We have over 100 ambassadors positioned at all 75 prisons," explained the founder and former CEO of the fitness chain Curves. "They'll be there to greet these men and women as they come out, make sure they're warm, fed and connected with their families."

For those located far from home, Heavin has mobilized a fleet of private jets to transport them safely and with dignity. According to him, Operation Airlift is backed by "over a dozen private jet aircraft whose owners are loaning them to the program."

For many J6 prisoners, the challenges won't end with their release. Some have lost their homes, jobs and even their families during their incarceration. To address this, Heavin has established transitional homes in Texas, Missouri and other locations, offering shelter, counseling and spiritual support.

"We've built 12 brand-new one-bedroom homes on my property in Waco," Heavin said. "We're also working closely with churches, particularly the Orthodox Church, to provide counseling and meet their spiritual needs."

A call for justice and compensation

Both Heavin and Adams argue that the J6 prisoners deserve more than just their freedom. They are calling for full exoneration, expungement of their records and substantial compensation from the federal government.

Adams said the compensation should not just be a million-dollar payout, but it should be $50 million per person after taxes. Heavin echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the prisoners should receive federal pensions for the rest of their lives.

According to Heavin, Trump's decision to pardon them will determine whether he can deliver on his promises of restoring justice and accountability. Thankfully, the president stuck to his vow  promises made, promises kept.

Follow Tyranny.news for more news about government tyranny in America and around the world.

Watch the full interview between Gary Heavin and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trumps plan to pardon over 1,000 convicted J6 protesters sparks criticism from Big Government.

J.D. Vance believes Jan. 6 participants who committed violent acts obviously should not be pardoned.

PURE EVIL: Government is taking donations away from J6 prisoners so their families starve and they lose everything  and so defendants cannot afford attorneys.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

JimBakkerShow.com
RFK Jr.s push to BAN direct-to-consumer pharma ads sparks industry anxiety and legal debate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for HHS Secretary, plans to ban direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs, a practice only allowed in the United States and New Zealand. This move has sparked intense debate among pharmaceutical companies, media networks and legal experts.

Kennedy argues that DTC ads mislead consumers, drive up drug prices and contribute to overmedication. He has vowed to issue an executive order banning such ads on his first day in office, which could significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry's marketing strategies and sales.

A ban would face major hurdles, including First Amendment protections for free speech and strong opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which relies heavily on DTC ads. Past attempts to regulate drug ads have been struck down in court, and industry groups claim the ads empower patients by raising awareness of treatment options.

Media networks, which depend on pharmaceutical advertising for a substantial portion of their revenue, are concerned about the financial impact. Drug ads accounted for half of ad spending on popular nightly news shows in 2023, highlighting their importance to the media industry.

Critics, including the American Medical Association, argue that DTC ads harm public health by promoting expensive, brand-name drugs with minimal benefits. The rise of DTC advertising in the late 1990s transformed drug marketing, but Kennedy's proposal could align the U.S. with global norms and reshape public health outcomes, though implementation remains uncertain.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is poised to target one of the industry's most lucrative practices: direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs.

With the U.S. and New Zealand standing as the only countries allowing such ads, Kennedy's proposed ban has ignited fierce debate, drawing concerns from pharmaceutical companies, media networks and legal experts. The potential policy shift raises questions about free speech, public health and the future of drug marketing.

Kennedy, a vocal critic of pharmaceutical advertising, has long argued that DTC ads mislead consumers, inflate drug prices and contribute to overmedication. In a post on X earlier this year, he vowed, "On my first day in office, I will issue an executive order banning pharmaceutical advertising on television." (Related: RFK Jr. declares plan to free federal health agencies from Big Pharma.)

His stance has alarmed the biopharma industry, which relies heavily on DTC ads to drive sales. According to research firm Intron Health, the return on investment for these ads can range from 100 percent to 500 percent, making them a cornerstone of pharmaceutical marketing strategies. The potential ban has been described as the "biggest imminent threat" to the industry under Kennedy's leadership.

Analysts warn that while companies would save on marketing costs, the loss of DTC advertising could significantly dent drug sales. High-profile medications like AbbVie's Skyrizi and Rinvoq, as well as Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent, are among those that could be hardest hit.

Legal and industry challenges

Despite Kennedy's enthusiasm, implementing a ban would face significant hurdles. The First Amendment's protection of free speech has historically shielded DTC advertising from heavy regulation.

Past attempts to modestly restrict drug ads, such as requiring price disclosures, have been struck down in court. Dr. David Kessler, former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, noted, "No one's putting the genie back in the bottle at this point."

The pharmaceutical industry is also a formidable opponent, with deep pockets and a history of successful lobbying. Industry groups argue that DTC ads empower patients by raising awareness of treatment options.

However, critics counter that the ads often promote expensive, brand-name drugs with minimal benefits over cheaper alternatives. Research has shown that many of the most heavily advertised drugs offer little to no medical advantage compared to existing treatments.

Media networks, which rely on pharmaceutical advertising for a significant portion of their revenue, are also wary. Advertisements from drug makers accounted for half of ad spending on five popular nightly news shows this year, according to iSpot.TV.

Historical context and public health implications

The rise of DTC advertising in the U.S. dates back to the late 1990s, when the FDA relaxed rules requiring ads to include exhaustive risk information.

This change unleashed a flood of pharmaceutical marketing, with companies spending tens of billions of dollars on TV ads. Iconic campaigns, like Merck's promotion of the painkiller Vioxx, helped turn drugs into household names  though Vioxx was later withdrawn due to safety concerns.

Kennedy's critique extends beyond the ads themselves. He has accused major news networks of being complicit in promoting pharmaceutical interests, claiming that drug ads function as payments to suppress unfavorable coverage.

"People like Anderson Cooper, like Jake Tapper, are really pharmaceutical reps," he said last year. While CNN has denied such claims, Kennedy's rhetoric underscores his broader skepticism of both the pharmaceutical and media industries.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has previously called for a ban on DTC ads, citing concerns about their impact on public health. Some researchers argue that other forms of pharmaceutical marketing, such as direct outreach to doctors, are more influential and less regulated. In 2022, drug makers distributed $31 billion worth of free samples to doctors' offices and spent $8 billion on direct interactions with healthcare professionals, according to IQVIA.

As Kennedy prepares to assume leadership of the HHS, his push to ban DTC pharmaceutical advertising has set the stage for a high-stakes battle. While the proposal aligns with his long-standing critique of the industry, its implementation would face significant legal, political, and economic challenges.

For now, the pharmaceutical industry and media networks remain on edge, awaiting clarity on whether Kennedy's vision will translate into policy. If successful, the ban could mark a seismic shift in how drugs are marketed in the U.S., bringing the country in line with global norms and potentially reshaping public health outcomes.

However, as history has shown, dismantling a multibillion-dollar advertising juggernaut is no small feat. The coming months will reveal whether Kennedy's bold vision can overcome the formidable obstacles in its path.

Follow RFKJr.news for more news about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Watch this clip from "The HighWire with Del Bigtree" about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s nomination as health secretary.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

RFK Jr.s bold vision for health reform faces opposition  Tell your Senators to confirm him today.

Trump wants Kennedy to investigate potential link between childhood vaccines and autism.

RFK Jr. to lead HHS vaccine investigation under Trump administration.

Sources include:

FiercePharma.com

ArmageddonProse.Substack.com

NYTimes.com
First of many EXECUTIONS of Jan. 6ers AFTER PARDON by Trump? Man was stopped by Indiana POLICE and shot to death for traffic violation and resisting arrest

Matthew Huttle, a J6 protester pardoned by Trump, was killed by a Jasper County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in Indiana.

The incident occurred after Huttle was arrested on November 28, 2022, in Boise, Idaho, for protesting the 2020 election results inside the Capitol and was released from federal prison on July 17.

Huttle's death has raised concerns and calls for a thorough investigation, with fellow J6 protester Richard 'Bigo' Barnett expressing skepticism about the circumstances leading to Huttle's arrest and subsequent shooting.

The event has sparked controversy and debate, highlighting ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding the J6 movement and its members facing scrutiny and consequences for their actions during the 2020 Capitol protest.

This is just the first one. How many more J.6ers will be executed now that they are free to tell the story of abuse and torture they suffered in the DC gulags thanks to the insidious Biden Regime? Whos next to resist going to jail for no good reason? Was the police officer suffering Trump Derangement Syndrome? This needs to be investigated thoroughly, as its likely not the only execution of a J.6er that we will see in the upcoming days, weeks and months following their freedom from the political hostage nightmare they were lucky enough to survive for 4 years.

Lets see the video of the killing from the squad car camera or chest cam. If this video exists, Trump and patriotic sheriffs in that city should have this preserved before the Demoncrats destroy it. supposedly it was a routine traffic stop, so why was the officer putting him under arrest? And why shoot him to death? Was he carrying a weapon? It is legal, by the way, to have a registered firearm carry in Indiana.

Matthew Huttle was pardoned by Trump and is now dead due to a cop shooting him to death for a traffic violation, then resisting arrest

Matthew W. Huttle, a 42-year-old J6 protester who was pardoned by President Trump, was killed by a Jasper County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop near the Pulaski County line in Indiana. According to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, an altercation occurred between Huttle and the deputy, leading to the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding Huttle.

Huttle was one of over 1,500 individuals arrested for protesting the results of the 2020 Presidential election inside the Capitol. He was arrested in Boise, Idaho, on November 28, 2022, and charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses, including recording his entry into the Capitol's Senate Wing and walking through several locations inside (while escorted peacefully by Capital Police). He was sentenced to federal prison, where he was treated horribly, like a political hostage, and then was finally released on July 17.

In a statement, Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson said that the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, and the Indiana State Police have been requested to investigate the incident. The officer's name will be released once approval has been granted by the State Police Detectives.

Fellow J6 protester and political prisoner Richard 'Bigo' Barnett raised suspicions regarding the incident, noting his own experience of being put through "hell" after being sentenced to four years in prison for bogus offenses. He emphasized the need for a valid reason for the arrest and expressed concern due to living in a right-to-carry state, as Indiana is also one.

Does the deputy officer who killed Huttle have a record of violence? Did he protest the Trump pardons online? Lets see all of his social media posts to see if he had a chip on his shoulder BEFORE this tragedy occurred. Maybe Huttle pulled a gun out, or tried to take the deputys gun, but maybe not. Couldnt the deputy have simply called for backup, or let Huttle run away, instead of shooting him dead? Did the deputy KNOW that Huttle had suffered in a Biden gulag prison for the past four years for a non-violent offense?

The incident has sparked controversy and debate, with some questioning the circumstances surrounding Huttle's death and calling for a thorough investigation. It highlights the ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding the J6 movement and its members, who continue to face scrutiny and consequences for their actions during the 2020 Capitol protest.

Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. Navys stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt set to carry hypersonic missiles

The USS Zumwalt, a stealth destroyer, is undergoing a major upgrade to carry the Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missile system, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5. This marks a significant advancement in the U.S. Navy's capabilities to counter emerging threats, particularly from China in the Indo-Pacific region.

The ship's forward 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS) turret has been replaced with four 87-inch launch tubes, each capable of holding three hypersonic missiles, allowing the Zumwalt to carry up to 12 missiles. These modifications, completed by October 2024, significantly enhance its long-range strike capabilities.

Hypersonic weapons, traveling at speeds over Mach 5, offer greater maneuverability and precision compared to traditional ballistic missiles, making them difficult to intercept. The IRCPS system, developed jointly by the U.S. Navy and Army, is designed for swift, accurate strikes on strategic targets from over 1,000 miles away.

The upgrade redefines the Zumwalt-class destroyers role, transforming them into the Navy's foremost offensive surface combatants. The USS Zumwalt is expected to achieve operational capability with the IRCPS system by 2026, with the other two Zumwalt-class ships following. The Navy is also exploring additional payload options for the launch tubes, such as uncrewed systems.

The USS Zumwalt's transformation and live-fire tests in 2024 represent a milestone in naval warfare, emphasizing the importance of hypersonic technology in maintaining strategic advantage. The Zumwalt-class destroyers, once criticized for their unclear mission, are now central to the Navy's future fleet, showcasing adaptability and cutting-edge technology.

The U.S. Navy is poised to enter a new era of naval warfare as its stealth destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, undergoes a transformative upgrade to carry hypersonic missiles capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5.

This groundbreaking development, revealed during the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium, marks a significant step in the Navy's efforts to counter emerging threats, particularly from China, in the Indo-Pacific region.

The USS Zumwalt, currently undergoing modernization at the HII shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, will be the first at-sea platform to test the Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missile system, with live-fire trials expected by the end of 2024. This upgrade not only redefines the ship's role but also underscores the Navy's commitment to maintaining technological superiority in an increasingly contested global landscape.

The USS Zumwalt, the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers, has been undergoing extensive modifications since August 2023. The most notable change is the removal of its forward 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS) turret, which was deemed too costly to maintain due to the exorbitant price of its precision-guided ammunition.

In its place, four massive launch tubes each 87 inches in diameter have been installed to accommodate the IRCPS hypersonic missiles. These tubes, capable of holding three missiles each, will allow the Zumwalt to carry up to 12 hypersonic munitions, significantly enhancing its long-range strike capabilities.

Capt. Clint Lawler, program manager for the Zumwalt-class destroyers, shared images of the installation process during the symposium, highlighting the scale of the engineering feat.

"The foundation for the new launch tubes went into the newly freed-up space in May 2024," Lawler explained. "The basic installation of the tubes was finished by October."

The USS Zumwalt returned to the water in December 2023 after months in dry dock, with the goal of conducting live-fire tests by the end of 2024. The Navy plans to integrate the IRCPS system into all three Zumwalt-class ships, including the USS Michael Monsoor and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson, which is currently in the final stages of construction.

Hypersonic weapons: A game-changer in modern warfare

Hypersonic weapons, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (approximately 3,830 mph), represent a paradigm shift in military technology. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable trajectory, hypersonic missiles are equipped with unpowered boost-glide vehicles that allow for greater maneuverability and precision. This makes them exceptionally difficult to intercept, even for advanced defense systems.

The IRCPS missile, jointly developed by the U.S. Navy and Army, is designed to deliver swift, accurate strikes against high-value strategic targets, such as enemy command centers or missile launchers, from distances exceeding 1,000 miles.

The Navy's investment in hypersonic technology is driven by the need to counter similar advancements by adversaries, particularly China. In 2023, leaked documents revealed that China had successfully tested its DF-27 intermediate-range hypersonic weapon system, underscoring the urgency for the U.S. to deploy its own capabilities. (Related: Leaked Pentagon documents indicate latest Chinese test of hypersonic missiles can evade all existing U.S. defenses.)

"Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next stage in non-nuclear warfare," said Lawler. "They enable targets to be destroyed swiftly and accurately from far greater distances than conventional weapons allow."

The integration of hypersonic missiles into the Zumwalt-class destroyers marks a turning point for a program that has faced significant challenges since its inception. Originally conceived in the early 2000s as a fleet of nearly 30 ships, the program was scaled back to just three vessels due to budget constraints and shifting priorities. The Zumwalt-class ships, once criticized for their lack of a clear mission, now have a renewed purpose as the Navy's foremost offensive surface combatants.

The USS Zumwalt is expected to achieve operational capability with the IRCPS system by 2026, with the USS Lyndon B. Johnson and USS Michael Monsoor following suit in subsequent years. The Navy is also exploring the potential for the new launch tubes to accommodate other payloads, such as uncrewed underwater and aerial systems, further expanding the ships' versatility.

"The Zumwalt class, with its advanced stealth design and integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike weapon system, will deliver sea-based precision capabilities essential for engaging strategic targets with long-range fire," Lawler stressed.

The USS Zumwalt's transformation into a hypersonic missile platform represents a significant milestone in the evolution of naval warfare. As the U.S. Navy prepares to test its first at-sea hypersonic weapon system, the stakes could not be higher. In an era defined by great-power competition, the ability to deliver swift, precise strikes from vast distances will be critical to maintaining strategic advantage.

Watch this video about the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov frigate entering combat duty armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

US hypersonic test fails, ringing China, Russia alarm bells.

Russia deploys warship with hypersonic missiles to waters around Ukraine.

Mach 7 drone illustrates Chinas latest leap in hypersonic technology.

Sources include:

TWZ.com

InterestingEngineering.com

LiveScience.com

Brighteon.com
The big freeze at HHS, CDC, and NIH

Part of the sweep of government in the first days of the Trump administration has been a freeze on communications. The explosion has hit the whole of public health bureaucracies, which Trump personally blames in part for the meltdown of his previous term of president in his last year. The pause in operations is designed to figure out exactly what is going on.

(Article by Jeffrey A. Tucker republished from Brownstone.org)

It is certainly not the case that Donald Trump wants you to die, contrary to Paul Krugmans claim. No longer writing at the New York Times, he reserved his rather extreme view for his Substack account.

Recall that Krugman was 100 percent for lockdowns and all the rest including the fake science behind vaccine mandates. While most of the world was in cages, he was proclaiming the dawn of the great reset. With that reversed, he has reverted to form.

What actually seems to be dying the death is the public health bureaucracy.

As the Wall Street Journal explained in their story headlined Swaths of U.S. Government Grind to a Halt After Trump Shock Therapy: While glitches arent uncommon during the early days of presidential transitions, some longtime federal employees said the chaos seemed more extreme this week due in part to wide-spanning differences between the agendas of the previous administration and the new one. The stalled initiatives extended far beyond Trumps cancellation of federal DEI programs.

I seriously doubt that public opinion registers much concern.

Lets take a look at the actions of these agencies in the pre-inauguration days before the freeze.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on January 17, three days before the inauguration, a jaw-dropping $590 million grant to Moderna, a driving force behind global vaccination with mRNA shots during Covid. The announcement of this grant changed the fortunes of the companys stock price, which had been in a two-year slide.

The timing alone cries out for explanation. Was this to dump largess on the deep-state partner before Trump could stop it? Or was it tacitly approved by the incoming administration in order to keep Trumps fingerprints from it? Well know based on whether this goes ahead. It will certainly be a test of the agencys future under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., provided he is confirmed by the Senate.

For now, it has all the earmarks of an old regime grabbing whatever it can on the way out.

Over at the CDC, which exists as part of a suite of agencies under the control of HHS, we have one last communication dating also from January 17. It was to announce the first-ever National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States.

David Bell at Brownstone has been writing about this for longer than a year. As he describes it:

Those pushing it envision a world in which any lifeform is considered intrinsically equal worth to others. If you must choose between your daughter and a rat, the choice should weigh the probability of survival of each, or may do the least harm to other lifeforms after being saved. Within this equitable worldview, humans become a pollutant. Ever-growing human populations have driven other species to extinction through environmental change, from the megafauna of ancient Australasia to the plummeting insect populations of modern Europe. Humans become a plague upon the earth, and their restriction, impoverishment, and death may therefore be justified for a greater good.

The connection here to Fauci et al, and their view concerning spillover diseases from animals to humans  a major reason why they were so insistent on the zoonotic origins of Covid  is rather obvious.

In the middle of the worst part of US lockdowns, Fauci and his co-author David Morens wrote an article for Cell in which they explain that the real problem with life on earth began 12,000 years ago when human hunter-gatherers settled into villages to domesticate animals and cultivate crops. These beginnings of domestication were the earliest steps in mans systematic, widespread manipulation of nature.

Its always with the same theme. If there were fewer of us, had we never had much contact with each other, if we never dared to cultivate crops, domestic animals, store water, and move around, we could have been spared all diseases.

The real problem is what we call civilization itself, which is why the article ends with an assault on overcrowding in dwellings and places of human congregation (sports venues, bars, restaurants, beaches, airports), as well as human geographic movement, all of which catalyzes disease spread.

The only solution, in this view, is rebuilding the infrastructures of human existence, from cities to homes to workplaces, to water and sewer systems, to recreational and gatherings venues.

One Health, as newly embraced by the CDC, amounts to a radical transformation of the basis of social order itself, under the guidance of god-like scientists who alone know how to structure the best life for all living things, even if that comes at the expense of human flourishing.

David Bell describes this creepy strain of belief as a cult but it might also be described as an ideology very different from the dominant ones in the 20th century. Socialism might have proven unworkable but at least it aspired to the improvement of human life. Capitalist ideology was the same. This is something different, with more in common with the far-flung imaginings of Rousseau or the Prophet Mani who shared in common the belief that all attempts to create what we call civilization are inherently corrupting of our perfect state of nature.

This was part of the underlying philosophical infrastructure of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, not merely a public health establishment doing crazy things that happened to be captured by high-powered industrial interests. There was a dreamy and ultimately ghastly utopianism backing all of these actions, stemming from hot-house salons of government-funded science cabals where they not only refuse to speak to normal people; they have nothing but disdain for the aspirations of the common folk and their attachments to property, family, and tradition (which includes, for example, home remedies on dealing with infectious disease).

How it came to be that our main engines of public health came to be captured in whole by such a crazed ideology would require a deep and expansive investigation. Certainly, it happened gradually and largely out of the public eye, so much so that even our best investigative writers are still trying to wrap their brains around it all. Whatever this ideology is, it captured nearly the entire planet Earth in the years 2020-2023 or thereabouts and resulted in a health crisis without precedent in modern times.

Part of the result of that grand experiment was the unseating of a variety of populist leaders in the US, UK, and Brazil. This seems to have set in motion what Walter Kirn has called a coup against a coup, as the astonishing avalanche of executive orders reveals. The flurry of news  including a full reaffirmation of free speech, a purge of all DEI edicts, a deletion of previous dictates on Central Bank Digital Currencies, and a full hiring freeze in the federal government  has been so massive that the pundit class has been left gasping to stay on top of it all.

As for NIH, Jay Bhattacharya has been tagged to head the agency. As he awaits Senate confirmation, the acting head is Dr. Matthew Memoli, an award-winning vaccinologist who has worked at NIH for 16 years. In defiance of the regime, he argued in 2021 that with existing vaccines, blanket vaccination of people at low risk of severe illness could hamper the development of more-robust immunity gained across a population from infection.

Our own Fellow Bret Swanson took note of this one dissident within the Fauci ranks and celebrated his resolve to speak truth to power, in a complete takedown of evil four years ago. The doctor came under fire for daring to disagree.

Now Dr. Memoli heads the agency he defied. He remains in that position until the man once called a fringe epidemiologist by the previous head of NIH takes full control. This is as close to revolution and counterrevolution as you will find in a democratic society.

Something big and potentially wonderful is happening in the realm of public health, which was deployed for egregious purposes only a few years ago. It is a turning point of some sort, and one can hope that the results are consistent with the health, well-being, and freedom of everyone.

For now, there doesnt seem to be too much in the way of public panic about the big freeze at HHS-related agencies, much less the removal of Anthony Faucis expensive security detail.

Read more at: Brownstone.org
Trump dismisses charges against doctor who exposed secret transgender surgeries on minors

Federal charges against Dr. Eithan Haim, a whistleblower who exposed secret transgender medical procedures on minors at a Houston hospital, were dismissed by Trumps DOJ.

The Biden administration had pursued felony charges, accusing Haim of HIPAA violations, but critics called it a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.

Haim revealed Texas Childrens Hospital continued gender-affirming procedures for minors despite publicly claiming to halt them, prompting Texas AG Ken Paxton to label such practices as child abuse.

President Donald Trumps Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed federal charges against Dr. Eithan Haim, a Texas whistleblower who exposed a Houston hospitals secret transgender medical procedures on minors. The Biden administration had pursued felony charges against Haim, accusing him of violating federal privacy laws, but critics argue the case was a politically motivated attempt to silence a doctor who sought to protect children from irreversible medical interventions.

The dismissal, approved by U.S. District Judge David Hittner on Friday, comes just weeks before Haims trial was set to begin. The case has sparked national outrage, with many viewing it as an example of the Biden administrations overreach in targeting individuals who challenge its policies.

A doctors fight for transparency

Dr. Eithan Haim, a former resident at Texas Childrens Hospital (TCH), revealed in 2023 that the hospital was secretly performing gender-affirming surgeries and administering puberty blockers to minors, despite publicly claiming it had halted such procedures in 2022. Haims disclosures, published by journalist Christopher Rufo in City Journal, prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to declare such practices a form of child abuse under state law.

The Biden DOJ indicted Haim on four felony counts, alleging he violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by accessing patient records under false pretenses. However, Haims legal team argued that he had meticulously redacted all patient-identifying information and that his actions were protected under whistleblower provisions.

The United States has finally agreed to drop the case against Dr. Haim, and the Court just granted dismissal, said Marcella Burke, Haims attorney. This dismissal represents a repudiation of the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the first step in accountability for the misdeeds we have all witnessed in this case.

Bidens overreach vs. Trumps justice

The Biden administrations pursuit of Haim drew sharp criticism from conservatives and medical professionals, who argue that the government should prioritize protecting children over advancing controversial medical practices. Critics accused the administration of using federal resources to intimidate whistleblowers and suppress dissent.

In contrast, Trumps DOJ moved swiftly to dismiss the charges, signaling a return to a justice system that values transparency and accountability. We took on the most powerful federal leviathan in human history and won! Haim told Fox News Digital. This is credit to the power of truth and justice being able to destroy lies and corruption.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who urged the Trump DOJ to drop the case, celebrated the decision, calling it a victory for whistleblowers and a rebuke of the Biden administrations malicious prosecution.

Haims case highlights the ongoing national debate over the ethics of transgender medical procedures for minors. Critics argue that such interventions, including puberty blockers and surgeries, are experimental and can cause irreversible harm to children.

Texas Childrens Hospital, one of the largest pediatric facilities in the U.S., had publicly stated it would cease providing these procedures after Paxtons 2022 ruling. However, Haims revelations showed the hospital continued the practices in secret, raising questions about accountability in the medical community.

The dismissal of charges against Dr. Eithan Haim marks a significant victory for whistleblowers and a blow to the Biden administrations efforts to suppress dissent. Haims courage in exposing dangerous medical practices has not only vindicated him but also sparked a broader conversation about the ethical boundaries of pediatric care.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com
Trumps rapid actions ignite Washington: The swamp drainage accelerates

President Donald Trump dismissed at least 17 agency inspectors general, watchdogs responsible for rooting out waste, fraud and abuse within federal agencies, sparking controversy and criticism from Democrats and some Republicans.

The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to terminate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs and positions within 60 days, a move seen as a return to merit-based policies by conservatives and as an attack on inclusivity by critics.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a pause on new obligations of funding for foreign assistance programs, pending a review to ensure the aid is effective and consistent with Trump's foreign policy.

Trump's actions are part of a broader strategy to fulfill his campaign promise of draining the swamp, reflecting the conservative movement's long-standing criticism of the federal bureaucracy.

The rapid changes have begun to reshape the federal government and are likely to alter the political landscape, with conservatives viewing it as a necessary cleanse and liberals warning of potential negative consequences.

In a series of bold and sweeping moves, President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of controversy and excitement across Washington and the nation. Within the first few days of his presidency, Trump has launched a comprehensive assault on what he calls the "swamp"the entrenched bureaucracy and special interests that have long dominated the federal government. His actions, which include the dismissal of numerous agency inspectors general, a crackdown on diversity and inclusion programs, and a freeze on foreign aid, have left the media and liberal politicians reeling.

The purge of inspectors general: A step toward accountability

On Friday night, Trump made headlines by dismissing at least 17 agency inspectors general (IGs), watchdogs tasked with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse within federal agencies. The list of ousted IGs spans a wide range of departments, including State, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, Defense, the Small Business Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The move has been met with intense criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime champion of IG independence, expressed concern over the lack of a 30-day notification to Congress, as required by law. "I guess its the case of whether he believes in congressional oversight, because I work closely with all the inspector generals and I think Ive got a good reputation for defending them. And I intend to defend them," Grassley said.

However, many conservatives see this as a necessary step to ensure that the federal government operates more efficiently and transparently. "Ultimately, these inspectors general were either not doing their job or were part of the deep state," said a senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "President Trump is committed to accountability, and these actions are a clear signal that he means business."

Terminating DEI programs: A return to merit-based policies

In another significant move, the Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to terminate all diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs and positions within 60 days. The memo, issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, directs agency heads to "take action to terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA and 'environmental justice' offices and positions."

This decision has been met with mixed reactions. While conservative supporters applaud the move as a return to merit-based policies, critics argue that it undermines the progress made in ensuring a more inclusive and equitable federal workforce. "These attacks on DEIA are just a smokescreen for firing civil servants, undermining the apolitical civil service, and turning the federal government into an army of yes-men loyal only to the president, not the Constitution," said a statement from the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union.

Freezing foreign aid: A strategic reevaluation

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered a pause on "all new obligations of funding" for foreign assistance programs, pending a comprehensive review. The directive, which aligns with an executive order signed by Trump, aims to ensure that foreign aid is "not duplicated, is effective and is consistent with President Trump's foreign policy."

The freeze impacts a wide range of programs, from humanitarian aid to development projects, and has raised concerns among international partners. European diplomats have noted that while military aid to allies like Israel and Egypt remains unaffected, civilian aid programs, including those for Ukraine, are now on hold. "President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people," said Tammy Bruce, the new State Department spokesperson. "Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hardworking taxpayers is not just the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative."

The broader context: A promise kept

Trump's rapid actions are not just a series of isolated moves but part of a broader strategy to fulfill his campaign promise of draining the swamp. This strategy has historical roots in the conservative movement's long-standing criticism of the federal bureaucracy. During his first term, Trump faced significant resistance from both Democrats and so-called Republicans in Name Only (RINOs), who used every available tool to block his agenda. Now, with a more favorable political landscape, Trump is moving swiftly to implement his vision.

The media, often critical of Trump's actions, has struggled to keep up with the pace of change. The lack of a coordinated narrative has left many liberal outlets scrambling to respond. "The establishment, the status quo of how things are run, has been upended," said Susan Duclos, a conservative journalist. "While conservatives are seeing many of these rapid events as 'winning,' liberals are taking to social media acting like the world is ending."

The swamp drainage continues

As the legal challenges and political battles begin to unfold, Trump's actions have already begun to reshape the federal government. The rapid dismissal of inspectors general, the termination of DEI programs and the freeze on foreign aid are just the beginning. By the time these actions reach the courts, much of Trump's agenda will already be in place, potentially altering the landscape of American governance for years to come.

Conservatives are thrilled with the progress, seeing it as a long-overdue cleanse of a bloated and unaccountable bureaucracy. Liberals, on the other hand, are sounding the alarm, warning of dire consequences. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: the swamp is being drained, and the political landscape will never be the same.

Sources include:

AllNewsPipeline.com

Axios.com

Politico.com

CBSNews.com
Biden gave China the AI advantage

The United States finds itself lagging behind China in the global AI race, a position once thought unlikely. Chinese companies like DeepSeek and ByteDance are releasing AI models that rival U.S. giants like OpenAI and Google, with significant cost and efficiency advantages.

The open-source and cost-effective nature of Chinese AI models is seen as a strategic economic threat. These models are up to 95% cheaper to develop, potentially disrupting American software and hardware companies.

The Biden administration's restrictive policies towards AI startups and development, coupled with "AI safety" executive orders, are cited as key factors in America's AI decline. These actions are contrasted with the Trump administration's efforts to reverse such policies.

The Biden administration's attempt to limit China's access to high-end AI hardware (NVIDIA GPUs) inadvertently spurred Chinese innovation, leading to breakthroughs in cost-effective AI applications. This has allowed China to share its advancements openly, further eroding U.S. dominance.

In response to the AI shift, President Donald Trump has launched the $500 billion StarGate project, a collaboration with tech giants to build AI data centers and infrastructure. This initiative is seen as a step towards addressing the challenges posed by China's AI advancements.

In a surprising turn of events, the United States finds itself playing catch-up in the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) dominance, a position that many thought would never come to pass. The past month has seen a surge in Chinese AI capabilities, with companies like DeepSeek and ByteDance releasing models that are not only on par with the best from U.S. giants like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic but are also significantly cheaper and more efficient. This shift is not just a technological setback; it is a strategic and economic disaster that can be traced directly to the policies of the Biden administration.

The rise of Chinese AI

Chinese companies have made remarkable strides in AI, particularly with the release of DeepSeeks R1 reasoning model. According to Marc Andreessen, a legendary venture capitalist and tech entrepreneur, "This Chinese model is open source, meaning anyone can freely use it in their own applications. And it costs 1/10th to 1/30th as much as the equivalent U.S. models." The implications are massive. China is now "dumping" cheap, high-quality AI access on the world, a strategy they have used to dominate other industries like steel, cars and rare metals.

The cost advantage is not the only concern. These new models are about 95% cheaper to build compared to top American models. This efficiency could threaten not just American AI software companies but also hardware giants like NVIDIA. If cutting-edge models can be trained with 5% of the previous hardware requirements, what does that mean for the future of GPU sales?

Bidens role in the decline of American AI

The root of this problem can be traced back to two words: Joe Biden. The damage his administration caused to American AI efforts will echo for the next decade. President Trump is already working to reverse the damage, but the setback will take time to overcome.

The Biden administration's first move was to attempt to strangle America's AI industry. In a meeting with Andreessens venture capital firm, Biden officials made it clear that they intended to control the AI industry tightly. Andreessen described the meeting as "absolutely horrifying," quoting the officials as saying, "Don't fund AI startups. That's not something that were gonna allow to happen. Theyre not gonna be allowed to exist." The officials further stated, "AI is going to be a game of 2 or 3 big companies working closely with the government. We're gonna protect them from competition, control them and dictate what they do."

These policies were designed to limit competition and innovation, effectively handing China the keys to the AI kingdom. The Biden administration also issued AI "safety" executive orders that were intended to limit the development and deployment of AI technologies. While Trump has already repealed these executive orders, they set the U.S. back for over two years.

The failed containment strategy

In 2022, the Biden administration attempted to contain Chinas AI advancement by cutting off the countrys access to high-end NVIDIA GPUs, the only suitable hardware for building and running AI applications at the time. This move backfired spectacularly. By cornering China, the Biden administration gave them a clear and urgent need to innovate. The result? China learned to build cutting-edge AI applications without high-end GPUs, reducing their costs dramatically.

This innovation is now being shared openly, allowing the world to benefit from Chinas breakthroughs. If the U.S. had simply allowed China access to top NVIDIA chips, these breakthroughs might not have happened for years. NVIDIA would have sold a lot more chips, and the U.S. would have maintained its technological edge.

The road ahead: Trumps StarGate project

The era of underestimating Chinas AI sector is over. The project to contain their development has failed, and its time to strike a deal. President Trump is already taking steps to address these challenges. He has launched the $500 billion StarGate project, a joint venture with OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, aimed at building AI data centers and electricity infrastructure to power them.

However, the lessons from Bidens mistakes must be taken to heart. American companies will need to step up and release new, cutting-edge products, even if they are unsure about issues like safety. The wakeup call has arrived, and we can no longer rely on brute force to dominate the AI landscape.

The future of AI is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Biden administrations policies have handed China a significant advantage. It will take time, innovation and a renewed focus on competition to reclaim our position as the global leader in AI. The Trump administrations efforts are a step in the right direction, but the road ahead is long and fraught with challenges.

In the meantime, the world watches as the balance of power in the AI sector shifts, and the United States must adapt to a new reality where China is no longer the underdog.

Sources include:

DailyReckoning.com

X.com

APNews.com
Billionaire Nicole Shanahan threatens to fund primary challenges against senators opposing RFK Jr.

Billionaire Nicole Shanahan vows to fund primary challengers against 13 senators opposing RFK Jr.s HHS confirmation.

Shanahans campaign targets both Republicans and Democrats, including Mitch McConnell and Bernie Sanders.

RFK Jr.s Make America Healthy Again initiative focuses on health freedom, transparency, and challenging Big Pharma.

Billionaire Nicole Shanahan has declared war on 13 U.S. senatorsboth Republican and Democratwho refuse to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Shanahan, RFK Jr.s former running mate and a prominent advocate for his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, is leveraging her vast wealth and influence to ensure that any senator who stands in Kennedys way will face a well-funded primary challenger in their next election. The stakes are high as Kennedys confirmation hearings unfold this week, with Shanahan warning senators to choose wisely or risk losing their seats.

Shanahan, a Silicon Valley lawyer and philanthropist, has made it clear that she will not tolerate political gamesmanship when it comes to Kennedys nomination. In a fiery video posted on X (formerly Twitter), she called out 13 senators by name, including high-profile Republicans like Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as well as Democrats such as Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me, Shanahan declared.

Her message is bipartisan but unapologetically aggressive. While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I wont, she said, emphasizing that her mission is to hold senators accountable for their votes.

Among the senators targeted by Shanahan, Lindsey Graham has drawn particular ire. Critics accuse Graham of prioritizing foreign interests over domestic concerns, such as his staunch support for Ukraine while allegedly neglecting the health and well-being of his constituents. Eric Matheny, a conservative commentator, highlighted Grahams controversial actions during the January 6 protests, where he reportedly urged police to use their guns against demonstrators. He is a worthless government parasite, Matheny said, echoing the frustration of many conservatives who view Graham as out of touch with the America First agenda.

Other senators on Shanahans list, such as Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), have also been criticized for their moderate stances and willingness to cross party lines. Shanahans campaign against these senators underscores a growing divide within the GOP between establishment figures and grassroots conservatives who support Kennedys vision for health freedom and transparency.

RFK Jr.s vision for a healthier America

At the heart of this battle is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again initiative, which seeks to address chronic illnesses and promote natural health solutions. Kennedy, a vocal critic of Big Pharma and industrial agriculture, has pledged to prioritize transparency and accountability in the healthcare system. His nomination has sparked controversy due to his views on vaccines and public health, but supporters argue that his commitment to challenging the status quo is exactly what the country needs.

During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Kennedy faced protests from vaccine advocates, but he remained steadfast in his defense of his record. I am not anti-vaccine, he said, emphasizing his focus on safety and accountability. We have massive health problems in this country that we must face.

A turning point in American politics

Nicole Shanahans campaign to oust senators who oppose Kennedys confirmation marks a significant escalation in the fight for health freedom and political accountability. By targeting both Republicans and Democrats, she is sending a clear message: the era of political gamesmanship and corporate influence is over.

As the Senate prepares to vote on Kennedys nomination, the pressure is mounting. Shanahans ultimatum has galvanized supporters of the MAHA movement, who are now calling on their senators to back Kennedy or face the consequences. The gloves are off, Shanahan declared. Your constituents have spoken. The majority support RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and what they stand for. Your duty is to them, not your donors.

For senators who value their careers, the choice is clear: stand with RFK Jr. and the American people, or prepare for a fight they may not win.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NewsMax.com

Yahoo.com

FoxNews.com
Shots FIRED toward Border Patrol agents at U.S.-Mexico border as cartels desperately try to retain power

Cartel members opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents in Starr County, Texas.

This incident follows President Trump's recent designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and increased military deployment.

Texas Department of Public Safety footage captured cartel gunmen fleeing Mexico after the shooting.

The Trump administration plans to deploy up to 10,000 troops to secure the southern border.

The move is part of a broader strategy to restore national security and halt unlawful migration.

This is war

Chaos erupted along the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday when cartel members opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents in Starr County, Texas. This incident occurred just one week after President Donald Trump ramped up military deployment and designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The Texas Department of Public Safety provided footage of cartel gunmen fleeing Mexico after the shooting, adding to the urgency of the situation.

The chaos along the border comes as part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to secure national security and halt unlawful migration. President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border during his inaugural address, promising to halt all illegal entry and begin the process of returning millions of criminal aliens to their countries of origin.

Key Executive Orders:

 End birthright citizenship for future children born to mothers who are in the United States unlawfully or temporarily unless the child's father is here legally and permanently.

 Direct federal agencies to identify countries that do not provide sufficient information on their nationals and to bar those nationals from entry to the US.

 Halt all refugee admissions into the United States until policy "aligns" with US interests.

 Designate cartels and migrant gangs MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations.

 Restrict federal funds from sanctuary cities and potentially take legal action against them.

 Require immigrants unlawfully in the United States to register and be fingerprinted.

 Deny public benefits to unauthorized immigrants.

 Reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy.

Troops deployed to secure southern border

The Trump administration plans to deploy up to 10,000 troops to secure the southern border. This move follows Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses's reported signing of a deployment order for 1,500 active-duty troops who would support border agents by assisting with logistics, transportation, and the construction of barriers. Active-duty forces are prohibited by law from doing law enforcement duties, but that may change based on a 90-day report from the incoming secretary of defense and homeland security chief on whether the Insurrection Act should be invoked.

Border Czar Tom Homan's Confirmation: Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed earlier this week that large-scale raids targeting criminal illegal aliens were already underway. These raids are part of a broader strategy to secure the southern border and protect the American people from the unlawful migration facilitated by globalist Democrats in the Biden-Harris regime.

The American people have given President Donald Trump a mandate to restore national security. This illegal alien invasion had consequences, including the loss of American lives. Once the southern and northern borders are secured, the American people must hold accountable the politicians, non-profits, federal agencies, staffing companies, corporations, and others involved in facilitating the migration invasion that has undermined national security.

The latest developments in the Trump administration's strategy to secure the southern border and restore national security are a testament to the will of the American people. The chaos along the U.S.-Mexico border is a stark reminder of the urgency of the task at hand. The move to deploy up to 10,000 troops and the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations are critical steps in the administration's campaign to fulfill its promise to the majority of voters. The American people want a safe homeland and an end to far-left globalist policies. The Trump administration's extraordinary move to restore national security is a step in the right direction.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

X.com

Zerohedge.com
Chris Rufo finally reveals abuse liberals unleashed on his wife and young kids

The left plays dirty. And for way too long, the right let them get away with it. Why? Because we were too busy taking the so-called high road. We clung to the Thats not who we are mantra, spoon-fed to us by weak, spineless losers like Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney. Sure, it sounded noble, but in reality, it handed the left a golden ticket to grow their mob bigger, meaner, and stronger. And they used that mob to take over the country and crush us.

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

Looking back, its clear now: this was the unipartys master plan to keep the right in check while allowing the left to gain more power and control.

What we shouldve done was embrace President Trumps Peace Through Strength philosophy. Its not about picking fights but knowing when to stand your ground. And when the moment calls for it, you fight with such overwhelming force that your enemies dont know what hit them.

Thankfully, after years of getting kicked around and losing ground to the left, the sleeping giant has awakened. Were finally fighting back like we mean it. Leading the charge is a new breed of right-wing warriors, and one name very high on that list of heroes is Chris Rufo.

Hes a perfect blend of educator and fighter.

American culture has been sent adrift. In a new short film, I show how a strange new pattern of psychopathologies has deranged our institutions and plunged our public life into hysteria, narcissism, and moral theatricsall in the name of "care." Welcome to the Cluster B Society: pic.twitter.com/f6d2EN0yQH  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) September 20, 2023

Chris has been a trailblazer, showing conservatives how to fight smart and win. His relentless investigative work exposed the rot of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) schemes, forcing even the president of Harvarda DEI plagiaristto step down in disgrace. Thats the kind of results we need.

Chriss battle plan isnt some instant gratification fluff. No way. His mission is about something far more meaningful: restoring this country to its beautiful, traditional roots. And heres the best partits working.

Last year, when I launched the "abolish DEI" campaign, it was dismissed as a fringe right-wing plot. Now the Washington Post editorial board has followed our lead. We are moving our ideas from Right to Left, steadily taking territory. We will not be stopped. pic.twitter.com/3wH64uoxh6  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) May 19, 2024

The left is scared because they know Chris gets it and isnt afraid to fight.

Rufo is a force of nature. Hes taken on the woke agenda and crushed itturning a Florida progressive college into a beacon of conservative values. Hes targeted DEI and hit the bullseye every time.

WINNING: The Florida state legislature has passed the S.T.O.P Woke Act, which prohibits schools, corporations, and government agencies from promoting race essentialism, collective guilt, and racial scapegoating. It now heads to Gov. DeSantis for signature. pic.twitter.com/WTwva3bbFk  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) March 10, 2022

But lets be real, Chriss road to victory wasnt smooth. It was riddled with hardships that wouldve sent most people running for the hills.

Because, as we said, the left plays dirty.

But just how dirty?

For the first time ever, Chris Rufo is pulling back a dark curtain to reveal the vile attacks left-wing lunatics launched against his wife, his young kids, and himself. And hes not telling his story to play the victim or seek sympathy. Hes sharing it to remind us why defeating these ghouls must always be our mission.

Chris Rufo:

Theyre going to try to memory-hole this, but we cant forget that the Left put America through a reign of terror after 2020. This is some of what they did to me and my family, in an attempt to shut me up: When I was in Seattle, they put up posters around my neighborhood with insane lies about me and my home address, instructing activists to show up at my door. Later, they sent letters to a few hundred of my neighbors, claiming I was a Nazi white supremacist. Death threats, references to my family, the whole deal. A few times, we had to take the kids and leave town. One of these activists found one of my children at the park with the babysitter and yelled at him until he started crying. My son came home terrified, so I figured out who this person wasa software developer in the neighborhoodgot his number, called him, delivered some persuasive words, and forced him to apologize to my son over the phone. I made sure he was much more frightened than my son. The same group organized employees within Microsoft to bomb my wifes boss with emails claiming she was a white supremacist. Thankfully, he thought it was strange for her to be an Asian white supremacist and knew it was all a fabrication. I tracked down the ringleader and, coincidentally, he was fired a few months later. He overestimated his position and underestimated mine. Then there were the calls and texts to our private numbers. Threats to rape my wife and murder my children. At one point, I was working with the FBI about it, but the perpetrators had used number-cloaking apps and there was nothing law enforcement could do. I thought we had a lead in St. Louis and hired a private investigator to look into it, but the trail went cold. We fortified our home and studied the law. I was prepared to kill anyone who crossed the threshold. The institutions got in on it, too. Organized campaigns to ruin my reputation, manipulate my Wikipedia page, cancel my speaking engagements, and list me on the websites of the SPLC and ADL, in an attempt to get me banned from social media. The censorship apparatus put a target on my back and the federal government egged them on. Fortunately, they all failed. For years, I refused to publicly acknowledge much of what happened to my familyI didnt want to give my enemies the satisfactionbut now is the time to get it out and address it. My experience is hardly unique; many other conservatives have faced similar circumstances. Its about CRT, DEI, and all of the other intellectual issues, but even more, its about having a society free of threats, violence, intimidation, and madness.

They're going to try to memory-hole this, but we can't forget that the Left put America through a reign of terror after 2020. This is some of what they did to me and my family, in an attempt to shut me up: When I was in Seattle, they put up posters around my neighborhood with  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) January 22, 2025

This is the kind of story that should ignite the fire of a thousand righteous suns in every single one of you. Its a powerful reminder of why we do what we doeven if its as simple as sharing an article. This new wave of all-American good is like a tsunami of righteousness, growing bigger and stronger every day because youre engaged.

Keep it up and never forget: the so-called high road is littered with the skeletons of conservatives like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. If you truly want to defeat your enemies and save souls, sometimes you have to fight the devil right there in the gutter.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone out there battling for a better country, and a special shoutout to Chris Rufo and his family. God bless, and stay safe, and never back down.

Read more at: Revolver.news
Deep State in disarray: Trumps funding freeze sows chaos, Democrats vow legal battle

President Trump announced a sweeping freeze on federal grants and loans, affecting approximately $3 trillion of the federal government's spending for 2024, to combat what his administration perceives as "wokeness."

The freeze has caused chaos and confusion, with Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, calling it "outrageous" and preparing to challenge the decision in court. Essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP remain unaffected.

The freeze has disrupted critical funding for local governments, hospitals, schools and businesses, with some states experiencing system outages for programs such as Medicaid and Head Start.

Legal challenges have been filed, with a stay granted in a case by Democracy Forward, setting the stage for further examination of the president's authority to impound appropriated funds. Democrats are also mobilizing state attorneys general to join the legal fight.

The freeze is part of a long-standing struggle over the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, with the current situation being seen as a modern iteration of the old battle over presidential impoundment and the limits on executive power.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the federal bureaucracy, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping freeze on federal grants and loans, setting off a cascade of panic and confusion across the nation. The freeze, which affects approximately $3 trillion of the federal governments spending for 2024, has been met with immediate and fierce resistance from Democrats, who are now preparing to challenge the decision in court.

The freeze: A bold stroke against "wokeness"

On Monday night, Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), issued a memo outlining the freeze, which was to take effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The memo stated that federal dollars would not be released until programs were found free of "Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering." This directive has been interpreted as a broad attack on what the Trump administration perceives as "wokeness" within federal agencies.

The freeze affects a wide array of programs, including those that provide critical funding to local governments, hospitals, schools and businesses. However, the OMB later clarified that certain essential programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), would not be impacted by the pause. Despite these clarifications, the uncertainty has led to widespread disruption and concern.

Chaos and confusion: The immediate impact

The announcement sent phones ringing off the hook in state and federal offices as organizations scrambled to understand the implications. Democratic lawmakers were quick to raise the alarm, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) calling the freeze "outrageous."

"Last night, President Donald Trump plunged the country into chaos without a shred of warning," Schumer said. "It is a dagger to the heart of average American families in Red states and Blue States, in cities, suburbs and rural areas. It is just outrageous."

Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) reported that Medicaid portals were down in all 50 states, while Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) noted that Connecticuts Medicaid payment system had been turned off, and the Head Start reimbursement system was shut down. Rep. Richard Neal (D., Mass.) also reported that community health centers in his state were unable to access their payment management system.

Legal challenges and political ramifications

The chaos has not gone unnoticed by the legal community. Judge Loren L. Alikhan of U.S. District Court in Washington granted a stay in the case filed by Democracy Forward, a group representing nonprofits. This stay sets the stage for a hearing on Monday, where the legal arguments will be further examined.

The freeze has reignited a long-standing battle over the president's authority to impound appropriated funds. The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was specifically designed to limit a president's ability to withhold funds. However, Trump's nominee to run the OMB, Russ Vought, and his pick for OMB general counsel, Mark Paoletta, have previously argued that a president can impound budgeted funds.

Democrats are not only challenging the freeze in court but are also mobilizing on multiple fronts. Senate Democrats, including Schumer, are calling on state attorneys general to join the legal fight. Schumer stated, "We will not stand idly by while the Trump administration wreaks havoc on the lives of millions of Americans."

The battle over presidential power

This conflict is part of a broader historical struggle over the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. The issue of presidential impoundment has roots in the Nixon era, when President Richard Nixon attempted to withhold funds appropriated by Congress. In response, Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which requires the president to seek congressional approval for any significant changes to spending.

The current freeze is seen by many as a modern iteration of this old battle. Trump's actions are being interpreted as a direct challenge to the constitutional limits on executive power, and the legal and political fallout is likely to be significant.

A new chapter in the battle for federal control

As the legal and political battles unfold, the freeze has already caused significant disruption and uncertainty. The Trump administration argues that the pause is necessary to ensure that federal funds are not used for "wokeness" and to promote efficiency. However, the immediate impact on critical programs and the lives they touch has raised serious concerns.

The coming weeks will be crucial as the courts and Congress grapple with the constitutional and practical implications of the freeze. For now, the Deep State finds itself in chaos, and the nation watches with bated breath to see how this latest chapter in the battle for federal control will play out.

Sources include:

MSN.com

Barrons.com

Reuters.com
The green agenda is about getting rid of as many humans as possible

For those that are attempting to fight climate change, fighting population growth is one of their number one goals. They tell us that on average each additional human produces approximately 4 tons of carbon dioxide per year. So many true believers in this agenda are convinced that reducing population growth is the most important thing that they can do for the environment. In recent years, an increasing number of young people have been getting sterilized, the number of childless couples in the western world has reached an all-time high, and assisted suicide has been legalized in more nations. Of course abortion continues to be a really big issue as well. Since 1973, abortion has reduced the population of the globe by 1.5 billion. But even though they have made so much progress on their agenda, they are not even close to satisfied. During the WEFs meetings in Davos, Switzerland this year, the fight against climate change is taking center stage. The following comes from the official WEF website

(Article by Michael republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

The World Economic Forums Annual Meeting in Davos is bringing together leaders to forge innovative partnerships and dialogue to enable investments in climate and clean technologies  and work towards achieving equitable, secure and sustainable energy systems. The weeks sessions come as US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement. In many respects, the attitude has been one of business as usual with participants describing a situation where climate activity is so entrenched that policy and action towards net zero and the shift to decarbonization will continue, regardless.

Did you catch the point of that second paragraph?

They believe that their agenda has become so entrenched that not even President Trump can do anything about it.

On another page on the official WEF website, the fight against climate change and the fight against population growth are explicitly linked

More people means more carbon footprints  more cars, waste and emissions, more houses and infrastructure to be constructed using the worlds limited resources, more mouths to be fed using more water and energy in food production. So, how many people is too many?

That is a rather chilling question.

Later on in that same article, we are told that if everyone in the world behaved like typical middle class Americans, the carrying capacity of our planet would only be somewhere around 2 billion people

An average middle-class American consumes 3.3 times the subsistence level of food and almost 250 times the subsistence level of clean water, according to Professors Stephen Dovers and Colin Butler in their paper, Population and Environment: A Global Challenge. So if everyone on Earth lived like a middle-class American, then the planet might have a carrying capacity of around 2 billion. However, if people only consumed what they actually needed, then the Earth could potentially support a much higher figure.

There are 8 billion people living in our world today.

In order to get down to 2 billion people, approximately 6 billion of us would have to go.

Let that sink in for a moment.

That article also suggests that getting women into schools that teach their agenda is one of the best ways to control population growth

As for controlling population growth, the education of women is one key factor. Research shows the higher level to which a woman is educated, the fewer children she is likely to have. In Ghana, for example, women who have been to high school, have a fertility rate of between two and three children, compared with six for those who have no education.

Of course family planning is another favorite population control tool that the globalists love to use.

Sadly, giant mountains of our tax dollars have been funding family planning programs all over the world, and most Americans dont even realize that this has been happening. For much more on the sick agenda of the globalists, please see my previous article entitled 47 Shocking Population Control Quotes From The Global Elite That Will Make You Want To Lose Your Lunch.

Thankfully, some world leaders are now taking a very strong stand against this agenda.

For example, Argentine President Javier Milei just delivered an absolutely blistering speech to the WEF

In his speech to world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Milei said, it is our moral duty and our historical responsibility to dismantle the ideological edifice of sickly wokeism. Milei denounced the sinister agenda of wokeism and the mental virus of woke ideology as the great epidemic of our time that must be cured and the cancer that we need to get rid of. He elaborated on what he viewed as the harmful impacts of woke ideology, specifically the bloody and murderous abortion agenda that he described as an outgrowth of a faulty premise that overpopulation will destroy the earth and that we must therefore implement some form of population control as well as the LGBT agenda.

Wow.

I have never heard a world leader put it so bluntly.

Donald Trump had an opportunity to speak in Davos as well, and he specifically addressed how his administration will be turning away from the environmental policies of the globalists. The following comes from the official White House transcript of his remarks

I terminated the ridiculous and incredibly wasteful Green New Deal  I call it the Green New Scam; withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord; and ended the insane and costly electric vehicle mandate. Were going to let people buy the car they want to buy. I declared a national em-  energy emergency  and its so important  national energy emergency to unlock the liquid gold under our feet and pave the way for rapid approvals of new energy infrastructure. The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and were going to use it. Not only will this reduce the cost of virtually all goods and services, it will make the United States a manufacturing superpower and the world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto. My administration has also begun the largest deregulation campaign in history, far exceeding even the record-setting efforts of my last term.

Every human life is incredibly valuable.

If you do not understand why this is true, please get my new book entitled Why and read it from cover to cover. There is a reason it is the highest rated book that I have ever written.

You are not here be accident.

God put you at this specific moment in human history for a reason.

But you are not the only one that is unique. Ultimately, God made each one of us unique in our own special way.

When we choose to take a life, we are destroying someone that God uniquely created.

Being pro-life is to be pro-God. Being anti-life is to be anti-God.

Unfortunately, much of the global population has bought into the anti-life agenda of the global elite. Let us do our best to try to wake them up while there is still an opportunity to do so.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
Top Ukrainian intelligence official warns that Ukraine could cease to exist if peace deal is not reached by summer

Ukraines top spy warns the country could cease to exist if peace talks with Russia are not initiated by summer.

Ukrainian forces have been pushed back by Russian troops, indicating a potential shift in the conflict dynamics.

Reports of manpower shortages and recruitment challenges have further raised concerns about Ukraine's ability to sustain military operations.

A US plan to end the conflict within 100 days is being reviewed, but its details remain unconfirmed. Moscow insists on Ukraines permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification for peace talks.

The potential for partial lifting of sanctions on Russia in the event of a peace deal underscores the role of international diplomacy and sanctions in the conflict.

Ukraines top spy warns of imminent collapse without peace talks

In a stark warning to Ukrainian lawmakers, Kirill Budanov, the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, has reportedly said that Ukraine could cease to exist if peace talks with Russia are not initiated by summer. Budanovs statement was made during a closed-door meeting in the Ukrainian parliament, as reported by local outlet Strana.ua on Monday.

The intelligence chiefs warning comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict, where Ukrainian forces are facing significant challenges. Reports indicate that Russian troops have been pushing back across the front line, leaving Ukrainian officials and commanders to grapple with manpower shortages and resistance from reluctant draftees.

Ukraines current position is precarious, with the country heavily reliant on foreign aid, particularly from the United States and the European Union. However, this support is not indefinite; analysts predict that the cash stream from the US, which has been sustaining Ukraines military efforts, could run dry by 2025. This looming deadline underscores the urgency of Budanovs warning.

The situation is further complicated by internal political dynamics and external pressures. Ukraines reluctance to abandon its NATO membership aspirations, coupled with Russias insistence on the countrys permanent neutrality, creates a deadlock that is challenging to navigate. As Budanovs warning suggests, the window for negotiation is narrowing, and the stakes are higher than ever.

Potential paths forward

Amid the crisis, a US roadmap for ending the conflict within 100 days is being reviewed by Ukrainian officials. According to reports, this plan would involve direct talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to a ceasefire by April 20 and a peace agreement by early May. The roadmap includes conditions that Ukraine would need to meet, such as abandoning its NATO ambitions and becoming a member of the EU by 2030.

However, Ukrainian officials have dismissed the roadmap as a hoax, and its validity remains unverified. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has signaled readiness for a Trump-Putin summit but insists on Ukraines permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification for peace talks to proceed. Meanwhile, Ukraines Zelensky demands U.S. isolate from Russia, and cut off communications. Negotiations have taken a unique twist, after a Ukrainian drone attacked the TurkStream pipeline, raising EU concerns over energy security. This led to Ukraine refusing to renew a gas transit deal with Russia, marking the end of decades of Russian dominance in European energy markets.

Right now, Budanovs warning about Ukraines imminent demise highlights the urgent need for diplomatic engagement between Ukraine and Russia, if that is even possible. The Biden regime had cut off communication with Russia and targeted the country with sanctions, an action that won't be easily forgiven.

As the world watches, the race against time continues, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for regional stability and global geopolitics. The coming summer could mark a turning point, where the fate of Ukraine and the broader conflict in Eastern Europe will be decisively shaped.

The situation remains fluid, with multiple factors at play, including internal politics, international diplomacy, and military dynamics. As Budanovs chilling warning suggests, the path forward is fraught with complexity and risk. The coming months will be pivotal in determining whether Ukraine can navigate the treacherous waters of war and diplomacy to secure its future.

Sources include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
KING OF THE JUNGLE: Trump is the courageous LION taking on Big Pharma, Big Food, Biden child trafficking cartel, Mexican drug cartel and Globalists

Trump is portrayed as the "king of the jungle," symbolizing his role as a protector against corrupt forces in the United States.

Democrats, Liberals, and Globalists are characterized as "animals" that have attempted to strip Americans of their rights and resources, turning the country into a dangerous and hostile environment.

Trump is described as combating the influence of Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Brother, which are seen as colluding to exploit citizens.

The narrative emphasizes Trump's efforts to restore military members' rights, regulate harmful food practices, challenge mainstream media and tech companies, and promote free speech and religious freedom in the United States.

Once in a while, the lion has to remind the jackals and the hyenas who is king of the jungle, otherwise, theyll team up and try to attack the lion, rip him to shreds, and eat him for dinner. Trump is now the king of the jungle again, and we do mean a jungle and massive swamp, being that the USA has turned into a volatile, hostile, and dangerous place to live and try to survive, thanks to the most corrupt animals that tried to turn the nation into a chaotic frontier of murder, kidnapping, destruction, vile hatred, disease and disorder.

The Democrats, Liberals and Globalists leading the charge over the past few years have attempted (and succeeded on many levels) to steal our food, our land, our homes, our children, our methods of defense, and our human rights. Its truly a jungle out there just trying to keep a job, put food on the table, and not be kidnapped and force-medicated by the pharma industrial complex.

Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Brother are one huge cabal of vicious animals that will take everything you have while pretending to be your partner in the struggle

In the jungle, survival depends on relying on yourself and your family to protect your well-being, including your home, land, and your clean food and natural medicine supply. Animals will come and raid your food supply at any given moment and fight you to the death if necessary to feed their own family. This is what it has been like in America over the past four years, as the Biden Regime has fostered crime and criminal activity everywhere, especially in the Democrat-run metropolitan cities.

During the Covid plandemic, hospitals were the most dangerous place to go, but most people didnt realize it. It was like walking into a den of jackals with an open wound. Now Trump is taking on Big Pharma and the Vaccine Industrial Complex like no politician or world leader has ever done. He is reinstating all military members who were fired because they resisted being injected with the worlds most deadly vaccines, the mRNA clot shot nanoparticle jabs.

Trump the Lion is so courageous hes also taking on Big Food, by putting Robert F. Kennedy in one of the most powerful positions, head of HHS, to regulate all of this toxic junk-science food, so that the preventable diseases and disorders can be mitigated, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and dementia.

Trump, the King of the Jungle, is also challenging the status quo, mainstream media, the Demonic Democrats, and Big Tech by taking down the censorship industrial complex, the fake fact checking systems and organizations, and reigniting free speech, free press, and freedom of religion in America, home of the brave, land of the free.

We are so ready for President Trump to show the jackals who he is?? Release the Kracken?? https://t.co/h1OnUCayUA  TheRealCherokeeOwl (@RealCherokeeOwl) January 26, 2025

Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us all every day now. Fight depopulation and the Deep State. Defend your freedom in the jungle.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The second trilateral meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade/Economics, and Transportation of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan was held in Ankara, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov participated and addressed the meeting.

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov and Minister of Digital Development and Transportation Rashad Nabiyev also took part in the meeting. The ministers made reports on the topics on the agenda, including foreign policy and regional cooperation, strengthening cooperation in trade, economy, and investment, development of regional transportation networks, and strengthening cooperation in transport and communication sectors.

Jeyhun Bayramov in his speech noted that the preservation and development of the existing trilateral format between our countries is an example in the current crumbling system of international relations, and emphasized the importance of this format to complement other regional cooperation formats, maximize the potential of cooperation and take joint measures to counter common threats.

Meanwhile, it was noted that some strategically important projects linking the Caspian, Black, and Mediterranean Sea regions where the three countries are located, including initiatives such as the Digital Silk Road and Green Energy Exports, increase the importance of trilateral cooperation.

Moreover, it was conveyed that mutual support and coordinated position should be continued between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan within several regional and international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization (D-8), Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

It was expressed gratitude for the support in holding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), as well as for active participation in the initiative proposals of Azerbaijan in the global and regional contexts.

Also, it was noted that the promotion of priorities in the spheres of communication, digitalization, sustainable development, transport, and education, corresponding to the agenda of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in CICA, among others, coincides with the agenda of trilateral cooperation.

Bayramov also detailed the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, large-scale reconstruction and construction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, efforts to combat the mine threat, progress in the normalization process of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and current challenges. The construction of transport infrastructure in Azerbaijani lands isolated from other territories as a result of occupation for almost 30 years was emphasized, especially in terms of expansion of transport opportunities along the Middle Corridor, and the support provided by brotherly Turkiye and Uzbekistan in reconstruction works was appreciated.

Furthermore, it was noted that ensuring regional peace, security, and development in a broad sense was at the core of the shared vision, focusing on socio-economic support initiatives aimed at Afghanistan, as well as the development of the Trans-Afghanistan Rail Link project. The importance of the ceasefire achieved in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip, and its observance was emphasized, as well as the importance of a two-state solution to the Israeli - Palestinian conflict based on international law. It was also noted that after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkiye's joint support for the reconstruction efforts in that country has become another important aspect of regional cooperation.

Following the meeting, the Ankara Declaration was adopted and signed.

The declaration expresses the development of cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as support for joint actions against steps taken against sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The importance of full implementation of the existing potential in the areas of economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, environment, and combating climate change, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of cooperation in this direction within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, especially the Middle Corridor, was noted.

The declaration also underlines the importance of Azerbaijan's contribution to reconstruction and humanitarian demining in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions.

The Ankara Declaration also highly praised Azerbaijan's role within the framework of the chairmanships of COP29 and CICA.

The importance of forming a joint position within the Organization of Turkic States on the security and development of Afghanistan, which plays an important role in the security of Central Asia, preserving the ceasefire achieved in the Gaza Strip and the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state principle was noted.

Afterward, the ministers made press statements on the outcome of the meeting.
More than 75,000 TRAFFICKED CHILDREN FOUND: If the Trump administration found these kids in a week, WHY couldnt Biden Regime locate any of them?

Mexican Cartels are suspected of being heavily involved in child trafficking and drug trafficking (fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin) across the US-Mexico border under the Biden administration.

Chaos erupted at the US-Mexico border when cartel members fired on US Border Patrol agents, an incident that followed President Trump's efforts to strengthen border security and designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Trump administration reportedly located between 75,000 and 80,000 children who were missing and possibly trafficked across the US-Mexico border, highlighting the effectiveness of their measures to combat trafficking.

Critics argue that President Biden's immigration policies, such as halting border wall construction and loosening enforcement, have inadvertently created an environment where child trafficking can thrive, with estimates suggesting over 300,000 children have been trafficked in recent years.

Like no other time in U.S. history, the American government, namely the Biden Regime, is involved in trafficking children by the hundreds of thousands into black market sex slavery and for other demonic rituals too sick and demented to even write about in truth media. Now, the Trump administration is finding these kids by the tens of thousands, most of them illegal immigrants trafficked here by sinister politicians and cartel and rescuing them and returning them to their families.

Mexican Cartel most likely involved in Bidens child trafficking operation, along with drug running of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin across U.S. border

Chaos erupted recently along the US-Mexico border when cartel members opened fire on US Border Patrol agents. This incident followed President Trump's recent efforts to strengthen border security, deploy the military, and designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez, the incident occurred in Fronton, Starr County, when agents were patrolling and received gunfire from cartel members in Mexico. DPS Drone Operators captured footage of gunmen fleeing Mexico and seeking refuge on an island between the US and Mexico.

In a related development, it was revealed that the Trump administration had located between 75,000 and 80,000 of the more than 300,000 children who were missing and possibly trafficked across the US-Mexico border during the Biden administration. This figure was reported by Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner, highlighting the extent of child trafficking under Biden's policies.

Critics argue that President Biden's immigration policies, including halting border wall construction and loosening enforcement measures, have inadvertently created an environment where child trafficking can thrive. Thousands of children have been separated from their families, left in the hands of smugglers, or abandoned by those crossing the border illegally.

In contrast, the Trump administration's efforts to combat trafficking included using advanced tracking technologies and improving coordination with local law enforcement and NGOs. The reported discovery of 75,000 to 80,000 children emphasizes the effectiveness of these measures in preventing and rescuing trafficked minors.

The stark difference between the two administrations' approaches to border security and human trafficking underscores the ongoing debate about the most effective strategies to combat these issues. The Trump administration's proactive measures and use of technology have yielded significant results, while serious questions remain about the Biden administration's handling of the crisis.

Despite the current administration's efforts to downplay the situation, the number of children trafficked across the border continues to rise, with some estimates suggesting over 300,000 children have been trafficked in recent years. This highlights the urgent need for robust measures to protect vulnerable children and address the growing crisis at the southern border.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaun Hammonds (@just__fedup)

Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on real news about human trafficking, child abductions, and protecting your family from Democrat-led aggression, crime, and the promotion of illegal immigration that still affects this country today.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com

TheGatewayPundit.com
HUGE: Putin claims 2020 election fraud in U.S. sparked Ukraine war, calls for peace talks with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted in a recent interview that the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which he believes was "stolen" from Donald Trump, was the catalyst for the 2022 Ukraine conflict. He suggested that a Trump presidency might have prevented the crisis.

Putin expressed readiness to negotiate a resolution to the war with a potential Trump administration, signaling a possible shift in diplomatic strategy and a desire to address the "fundamental reason for the conflict."

The Biden administration has continued to bolster Ukraine's defenses, with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announcing an additional $500 million in aid during a recent meeting at Ramstein Air Base. Austin emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression.

The Ukraine conflict stems from Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale war in 2022. Putin's comments highlight the intersection of domestic U.S. politics and international conflicts, adding layers of complexity to the situation.

The potential for peace talks under a Trump administration introduces unpredictability into the conflict's trajectory. The outcome could significantly impact the geopolitical landscape, with far-reaching consequences for Ukraine, Europe, and global power dynamics. The international community is closely monitoring developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution.

In a recent interview with Russia Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an extraordinary claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which he believes was stolen from then-candidate Donald J. Trump, was the catalyst for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

This unprecedented statement reflects Putin's continued alignment with the Trump administration and his eagerness to negotiate a resolution to the war.

According to Putin, "If he had been the president, if the victory weren't stolen from him in 2020, maybe the Ukrainian crisis that arose in 2022 would have never appeared." This assertion highlights the Russian leader's belief that Trump's presidency could have prevented the escalation of tensions with Ukraine, leading to the current conflict. (Related: Putin ready to meet Trump on Ukraine War amid tariff threats.)

The timing of Putin's comments is significant, as they come after the Biden administration's efforts to bolster Ukraine's defenses. In a recent meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional $500 million in aid for Ukraine. Austin emphasized the importance of continuing to support Ukraine to prevent further aggression from Russia, stating, "If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow."

However, Putin's statement signals a potential shift in the diplomatic landscape. He has expressed readiness for peace talks with the incoming Trump administration, indicating a desire to address the "fundamental reason for the conflict." Putin's call for dialogue underscores the complexity of the situation and the possibility of a new approach under Trump's leadership.

Geopolitical landscape to depend on Trump and peace talks with Russia

The conflict in Ukraine has its roots in the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia and the subsequent separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. The situation escalated in 2022, leading to a full-scale war. Putin's claim about the 2020 election highlights the intertwining of domestic politics with international conflicts, a pattern that has become increasingly evident in recent years.

The Trump administration's stance on Ukraine has been a point of contention, with the previous administration providing substantial military aid to Ukraine. Trump's potential willingness to engage in peace talks with Russia raises questions about the future of the conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape.

Putin's comments and the potential for peace talks under the Trump administration signal a critical juncture in the Ukraine conflict. The alignment of interests between Russia and the U.S. under Trump could pave the way for a more constructive dialogue, potentially leading to a resolution of the crisis. However, the complexities of the situation, including the historical and political factors at play, will undoubtedly make the path to peace a challenging one.

As the conflict enters a new phase, the international community will be closely watching the developments in Ukraine, hoping for a peaceful resolution that respects the interests of all parties involved. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications not only for Ukraine but also for the balance of power in Europe and beyond.

The next few months will be crucial in determining whether the conflict can be de-escalated, or if it will continue to simmer, potentially leading to further instability in the region. The world watches with bated breath as the diplomatic dance unfolds.

Head over to RussiaReport.news for updates on Trump's plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Watch the video below where Trump advisor Mike Waltz talks about the preparations being done for negotiations with Putin.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump and Putin set stage for high-stakes meeting amid Ukraine war stalemate.

Zelensky demands U.S. troops put their lives on the line in Ukraine for peace deal.

Putin claims divine approval and foresees Russian VICTORY in Ukraine by 2025.

Putin is ready to negotiate a CEASEFIRE with Trump.

Lavrov: Outgoing Biden administration SABOTAGING Trump's efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.Substack.com

X.com

Brighteon.com
Putin: War could end in weeks if West cuts support to Ukraine

Putin suggests conflict could end quickly if Western support for Ukraine stops.

He claims Ukraine has no sovereignty and is wholly dependent on Western allies.

Putin is willing to negotiate but not directly with Zelenskyy, labeling him "illegitimate."

Zelenskyy rejects Putins claims, accusing him of fear and prolonging the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday suggested that the conflict in Ukraine could come to a swift end if the West ceased its substantial financial and military support for Kyiv. The Russian leader, in an interview with state broadcaster Rossiya 1, emphasized that Ukraines ability to sustain the war effort is heavily dependent on its Western allies, particularly the United States.

Everything can be over in a month and a half to two months. Ukraine practically has no sovereignty, in that sense, Putin told reporter Pavel Zarubin. The Russian presidents comments come as the conflict enters its third year, with no signs of de-escalation despite international pressure for a ceasefire.

Since the start of the war, the United States and its allies have provided Ukraine with over $200 billion in aid, including advanced weaponry, ammunition, and financial assistance. This support has been crucial in enabling Ukraine to mount a robust defense against Russian forces. However, Putins assertion that Ukraine is entirely dependent on Western backing highlights the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict.

The Biden administrations unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine has drawn criticism from many Americans, who believe that the massive financial and material aid is prolonging a war that many believe Ukraine is unlikely to win. The prolonged conflict has resulted in significant human and economic costs, both for Ukraine and its Western backers.

Peace talks are complicated

Putin also addressed the possibility of peace talks, stating that he would be willing to hold negotiations with Ukraine but not directly with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Russian leader labeled Zelenskyy as illegitimate because his presidential term expired while under martial law, which has been in effect since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

If (Zelenskyy) wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part, Putin said, adding that Zelenskyys illegitimacy makes him not the person to sign the documents. Putin suggested that the Ukrainian parliament could organize talks and that legal experts could verify the legitimacy of the negotiators.

However, Zelenskyy vehemently rejected Putins claims, accusing the Russian president of being afraid of direct negotiations. In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war.

The Ukrainian president has maintained that he is ready to negotiate a deal to end the conflict, but he has emphasized that any peace talks must be inclusive and respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

International pressure grows

Despite the ongoing conflict, international leaders, including President Trump, have increased pressure on both sides to reach a peaceful resolution. Trump has threatened Russia with new sanctions if a deal is not reached soon, while also acknowledging the complexities of brokering a peace accord.

The Biden administrations substantial support for Ukraine has been a source of contention, with some arguing that it is exacerbating the conflict. Critics point to the $65.9 billion in military assistance provided by the U.S. since Russias full-scale invasion, including advanced systems like the Patriot and NASAMS air defense batteries, as evidence of an overinvestment in a losing war.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the roles of Western support and diplomatic negotiations remain central to the ongoing stalemate. While Putins offer of peace talks, conditional on Western support being cut, and Zelenskyys rejection of direct negotiations highlight the complex and contentious nature of the conflict, the human and economic toll of the war underscores the need for finding a path to peace.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

France24.com

Reuters.com

State.gov
CIA Director John Ratcliffe launches probe into COVID-19 origins, vows to counter Chinas growing threat

New CIA Director John Ratcliffe has prioritized investigating the origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the possibility of a lab leak from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology. He aims to review classified intelligence and ensure transparency, calling it a "day-one priority."

Ratcliffe identifies China as America's top geopolitical adversary, marking a strategic shift in the CIA's focus. He criticizes past U.S. intelligence for being slow to recognize China's threat due to financial and special interests.

Ratcliffe has pledged to address internal concerns about political bias within the agency, aiming to restore its reputation as an apolitical institution. He has committed to prohibiting loyalty tests and ensuring intelligence assessments remain free from political influence.

Ratcliffe's investigation into COVID-19's origins is not only about understanding the pandemic but also holding accountable those who may have contributed to its spread. He emphasizes the need for the president to have accurate intelligence on China's role.

Ratcliffe's leadership represents a pivotal moment for the CIA, focusing on countering China's influence and reclaiming its role as a preeminent intelligence service. His efforts aim to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by the pandemic and rising superpower tensions.

In a bold move to address one of the most contentious issues of the pandemic era, newly confirmed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe has vowed to uncover the origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), focusing on the possibility of a lab leak from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

Ratcliffe, sworn in on Jan. 23, has made this investigation a "day-one priority," signaling a shift in the agency's approach to China, which he describes as the United States' top geopolitical adversary.

His confirmation comes amid growing scrutiny of the CIA's past handling of intelligence on COVID-19 and its broader focus on global threats. Ratcliffe's leadership marks a pivotal moment for the agency as it seeks to depoliticize its operations and refocus on countering China's influence.

The origins of COVID-19 have been a subject of intense debate since the virus first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. While some theories suggest the virus jumped from animals to humans in a natural setting, others point to a potential leak from the WIV, a high-security lab known for studying coronaviruses. Ratcliffe has publicly stated that "our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictate that the origins of COVID-19 was a leak at the WIV."

However, the CIA has yet to formally endorse this theory, despite allegations that agency analysts were pressured to dismiss it. Ratcliffe's probe aims to review classified intelligence and ensure transparency.

"The CIA has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID," he said in an interview with Breitbart News. "That's a day-one thing for me."

This renewed focus comes as the lab-leak theory has gained traction in recent years, with multiple congressional investigations pointing to evidence supporting the possibility. Ratcliffe's commitment to resolving this issue underscores its significance not only for understanding the pandemic but also for holding accountable those who may have contributed to its spread.

Ratcliffe deems China as top national security threat

Ratcliffe's agenda extends beyond COVID-19, as he seeks to refocus the CIA's efforts on countering China's growing influence. He has repeatedly emphasized that China, not Russia, is the primary geopolitical threat to the United States. (Related: DNI Ratcliffe details how China influenced the 2020 election while the intel community deep state worked to cover it up.)

"From my unique vantage point as the official who saw more intelligence than anyone else, I assessed that China was far and away our top national security threat," Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee during his confirmation hearing.

He criticized the U.S. intelligence community for being slow to adapt to this reality, attributing the delay to financial ties and special interests that have historically downplayed China's actions.

"From Washington, DC, to Wall Street to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, there has been a desire to keep China from being labeled a bad guy because a lot of people make a lot of money from China and in China," Ratcliffe said.

This shift in focus aligns with President Donald Trump's priorities, as Ratcliffe aims to arm the administration with the intelligence needed to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"If [China] caused or contributed to the death of a million Americans, the president needs to be armed with that," Ratcliffe stated.

Ratcliffe's leadership also promises to address internal concerns about political bias within the CIA. A recent audit revealed that a significant portion of the agency's workforce questions the objectivity of its intelligence products. Ratcliffe has pledged to restore the CIAs reputation as an apolitical institution focused on its core mission of collecting foreign intelligence.

"To the brave CIA officers listening around the world, if all of this sounds like what you signed up for, then buckle up and get ready to make a difference," Ratcliffe said during his confirmation hearing. "If it doesn't, then it's time to find a new line of work."

He has also committed to prohibiting loyalty tests and ensuring that intelligence assessments remain free from political influence. For a nation still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the challenges posed by a rising superpower, Ratcliffe's leadership could not come at a more critical moment.

Follow CommunistChina.news for more news about China.

Watch this clip of CIA Director John Ratcliffe pointing out that the agency's analysts were quiet on the origins of COVID-19 during his testimony before Congress as the former director of national intelligence.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Donald Trump names John Ratcliffe as CIA director.

Chinese nationals staged dramatic intrusion attempt on Guam during sensitive missile test.

China is successfully targeting US members of Congress with communist influence campaigns, warns DNI Ratcliffe.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Breitbart.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
The great sorting-out begins

This, as they say, is one of those weeks when decades happen. You realize that under the fiends fronted by Joe Biden, the US government became a demon-driven machine for wrecking lives, perverting the law, and demolishing all scaffolds of decent behavior. And now, it all has to be fixed, cleaned up, fumigated, rectified, rehabilitated.

(Article by James Howard Kunstler republished from Kunstler.com)

Scores of executive orders flew out of the Oval Office, rescinding four years of Biden regime lunacy in every direction: Censorship, dead. . . Gain of function research, killed. . . CBDCs banned. . . CBP-app for aiding illegal migrants, discontinued. . . border fortified. . . homicidal alien mutts deported. . . World Health Organization, no thanks. . . Paris Climate Accords, fuggeddabowdit. . . DEI, vacated through all of government. . . Green New Deal, scrapped. . . pride in mental illness, cancelled. . . Ukraine War, headed for the negotiating table. . . all in four days and so much more coming.

The DEI flimflam is particularly illustrative of the hazards still lurking. The DC blob is desperate to hide its chaos agents by switching their job titles and shuffling them around to hidey-holes in obscure precincts of this-or-that bureaucracy. Being federal employees, of course, they all have searchable names and payroll accounts, so you may be sure theyll be discovered wherever theyre hiding-out and placed, as ordered, on administrative leave. Since DEI was essentially a program to promote incompetence, these employees represent a monumental cargo of dead-weight. So, the next task will be finding a way under the civil service codes to cashier them for good. For instance, reclassifying their job status to render them fire-able.

This is sure to be a major friction-point for the so-called resistance, the huge cadre of activist Wokesters embedded in the agencies. Cue the army of Democratic Party lawyers who will be filing suits to prevent the chief executive from coherently managing the departments of the executive branch. But theres a catch: this time, the White House will not be funneling scads of money directly to the NGOs that pay for these blob-adjacent lawyers, nor will they be able to redirect money out of the DOJ, FBI, and CIA for that purpose. The president may also find a way to interrupt the flow of money from foundations financed by malign freelancers such as George Soros and Linked-in founder and billionaire Reid Hoffman (who financed the E. Jean Carroll rape trial hoax and many more Democratic Party pranks ).

Another friction point: release of the pardoned J-6 prisoners is being loudly opposed by DC District federal judges such as Tanya Chutkan and Amy Berman Jackson. They dont enjoy any privilege or prerogative for voicing prejudicial opinions about vacated cases, nor for failing to comply with paperwork needed to discharge them. They can be impeached for that in the House of Representatives. Or, if they actively obstruct releases, the new-and-improved Department of Justice might consider 18 U.S.C.  242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law.

Meanwhile, goons at the DC jail detained pardoned prisoners unlawfully this week after years of the grossest mistreatment, including solitary confinement in basement holes without beds, blankets, or water, and direct physical assault that could be described as torture. All of this was countenanced by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, despite plentiful public reports of abuse over the past four years. That is, she knew all about it. This is an argument for finally rescinding Washington DCs home rule status and placing the city and all its departments back under federal management.

Last night, Mr. Trump signed an order to declassify government files relating to the murders of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King. Of course, the intel agencies holding these files have had a half-century to expunge anything in the files that might reflect poorly on the intel agencies  such as, the long-trafficked rumor that the CIA was behind the killing of all three. Why would you expect to get anything like that? How could the remaining material be anything but a cover-your-ass file? Well, now we shall see. At some point in his first term, Mr. Trump allegedly saw what was in the files and demurred from his promise then to release them. Was it too shocking? Or was it the well-groomed nothingburger described above?

Thats not to say that theres any shortage of weird, tantalizing documentation around all those cases, inexplicable doings. . . sketchy characters like Oswald, Jack Ruby, Howard Hunt, Clay Shaw, Sirhan Sirhan, Thane Eugene Cesar, James Earl Ray, Raul (Rays alleged handler), Frank Liberto, Loyd Jowers. . . . and curious circumstances like the so-called magic bullet that supposedly exited JFK and wounded Texas Governor Connolly, and was later found oddly intact on a stretcher in Parkland Hospital. I guess well find out shortly.

Now, we await the confirmation of Mr. Trumps cabinet. Pam Bondis USAG nomination was held up for a week by peevish freshman Senator Adam Schiff, after she called him out for being censured last year in the House for reckless statements  that is, she reminded the committee and the public that Mr. Schiff is a chronic liar. There are rumblings that he will be kicked off the Senate Judiciary Committee (maybe not such a good fit for someone incapable of telling the truth). The preemptive pardon he received last week from Joe B might be tested through the courts in the years just ahead. The Judiciary Committee announced that it will convene an inquiry into the whole J-6 fiasco. Do you sense that there is much to discover in that hairball of enigmatic events, hidden actions, concealed motives, and buried evidence?

All this (plus a lot I left out) and the first week isnt even over yet!

Read more at: Kunstler.com
Trump revives push for NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION talks with Russia and China

U.S. President Donald Trump reignited discussions on reducing global nuclear stockpiles, proposing renewed talks with Russia and China. He emphasized the moral and financial necessity of denuclearization, citing the high costs and destructive potential of nuclear arsenals.

Trump referenced past conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming both leaders were close to a denuclearization agreement before the 2020 U.S. election. However, geopolitical tensions and the expiration of the New START treaty in 2026 complicate current efforts.

China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal and its deepening ties with Russia pose significant hurdles to a trilateral agreement. Additionally, Russia's suspension of the New START treaty and its aggressive nuclear posture amid the Ukraine war further strain prospects for cooperation.

The invasion of Ukraine and shifting global dynamics have heightened mistrust between nuclear powers. While Russian officials express openness to dialogue, skepticism remains about the feasibility of a new arms control agreement in the current climate.

Despite obstacles, Trump's renewed push highlights the critical need for international cooperation on nuclear arms reduction. Success depends on overcoming geopolitical divides and prioritizing global security over national interests, with the New START treaty's expiration adding urgency to the situation.

In a bid to reshape global security dynamics, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited discussions about reducing nuclear weapon stockpiles, calling for renewed talks with Russia and China.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, Trump recounted past conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed optimism about the potential for a groundbreaking denuclearization agreement. The proposal, which Trump claims was supported by Putin during his first term, could mark a significant shift in international arms control efforts, particularly as tensions between nuclear powers remain high amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump's remarks at Davos highlighted his belief that reducing nuclear arsenals is not only a moral imperative but also a financial necessity. He told the WEF attendees: "Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don't even want to talk about."

Trump recalled discussions with Putin ahead of the 2020 U.S. election, during which both leaders reportedly expressed interest in limiting their nuclear stockpiles.

"I can tell you that President Putin wanted to do it, he and I wanted to do it," Trump said. "We had a good conversation with China, they would have been involved, and that would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet."

The proposal comes at a critical juncture in global arms control. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) pact, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between the U.S. and Russia, is set to expire in 2026. Signed in 2010, the treaty limits both nations to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and has been a cornerstone of nuclear stability.

However, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, citing U.S. military support for Ukraine. Despite this, Moscow has stated it will continue to abide by the treaty's limits. (Related: Russian, Chinese nuclear arsenals have been upgraded in race to dominance over outdated U.S. ICBMs.)

Talks with China could face hurdles

Trump's vision for a trilateral agreement involving China faces significant hurdles. China, which has historically maintained a smaller nuclear arsenal compared to the U.S. and Russia, is rapidly expanding its capabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, China currently possesses approximately 600 operational nuclear warheads and is on track to reach 1,000 by 2030. This buildup, coupled with Beijing's deepening ties with Moscow, complicates efforts to bring China into a multilateral arms control framework.

Moreover, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since Trump's first term. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has strained relations between Moscow and Washington, while China's support for Russia's war effort has further complicated U.S.-China relations. Putin has repeatedly warned that Western military aid to Ukraine could trigger a proportional response, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. In 2023, Russia updated its nuclear doctrine to classify aggression by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power as a "joint attack" on Russia, signaling a more aggressive posture.

The push for nuclear arms reduction is not new. During the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviet Union engaged in a series of arms control agreements, including the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which helped curb the nuclear arms race.

However, the inclusion of China in such efforts has proven elusive. Trump's previous attempts to bring China into the New START framework during his first term were unsuccessful, and the Biden administration faced similar challenges.

Beijing has reiterated its commitment to peaceful development, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating, "China's development of nuclear weapons is a historic choice forced to be made."

Despite these obstacles, Trump remains optimistic. "We want to see if we can denuclearize, and I think that's very possible," he said at Davos. His comments echo those made during a recent Fox News interview, where he claimed to have been "very close" to a deal with Putin before the 2020 election.

In the end, the success of any denuclearization effort will depend on the willingness of all parties to prioritize global security over national interests. As Trump himself noted, "That would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet." The question now is whether the world's nuclear powers can turn that vision into reality.

Follow Trump.news for more news about President Donald Trump.

Watch this news report about Russian President Vladimir Putin suspending Moscow's participation in the New START pact.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia appears ready to strike the US with nuclear weapons.

Trump and Putin set stage for high-stakes meeting amid Ukraine war stalemate.

Nuclear-armed nations are expanding and modernizing their nuclear arsenals in anticipation of a potential global power conflict.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheHill.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
Trump reinstates troops discharged over COVID-19 vaccine mandate, restoring ranks and back pay

President Trump signed an executive order to reinstate military members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

The order reverses the Biden administration's mandate, which led to over 8,000 discharges.

Trump criticizes the mandate as unfair and unnecessary, ordering the reinstatement of those who request it.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to reinstate service members who were discharged from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The order, which Trump promised during his inauguration, restores these individuals to their previous ranks and provides them with back pay and benefits.

This move comes as a significant reversal of the Biden administration's policy, which had mandated the vaccine for all service members, leading to the dismissal of over 8,000 troops from 2021 to 2023.

"The vaccine mandate was an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service members," Trump wrote in the executive order. "Further, the military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, regardless of the years of service given to our Nation, after failing to grant many of them an exemption that they should have received. Federal Government redress of any wrongful dismissals is overdue."

The executive order directs the Secretary of Defense to reinstate all members of the military, both active and reserve, who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated. According to the White House fact sheet, only 43 of the more than 8,000 troops dismissed under the Biden administration returned to service after the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023.

A victory for freedom

Retired U.S. Army bomb disposal expert and Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast praised Trump's action, calling it a "great day for patriots, a great day for our service members, my brothers and sisters in arms." Mast, who introduced legislation in 2023 to require military departments to reinstate individuals who refused the vaccine, highlighted the broader implications of the mandate.

"Let's not forget it wasn't just the military. It was other government agencies as well, where they were essentially washing conservatives that were raising their hand, saying, 'I don't want to take this vaccine,'" Mast said.

Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy also lauded Trump's decision, emphasizing the principle behind the mandate. "There were a lot of younger people who said, 'This is a government vaccine, at least government-funded,' and they don't completely trust the government, and on principle, they said, 'We don't want to take the vaccine. Dr. Fauci he made them [take the vaccine]. He tried to establish complete control over everybody. Why did he do that? In my opinion, he was scared," Kennedy said.

The Biden administration's vaccine mandate, implemented in August 2021, required all service members to be vaccinated by November of that year. The mandate was lifted in January 2023 as part of an annual defense spending bill. However, the impact of the mandate on military readiness and recruitment was significant. In February 2022, then-Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth claimed that "unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness," leading to swift "involuntary administrative separation proceedings" for those who did not comply.

Despite the mandate, fewer than 100 members of the military died from COVID-19, and over 2,700 were hospitalized, according to the Department of Defense. The mandate's effectiveness in preventing the spread of the virus has been questioned, with critics arguing that it was an overreach of federal authority and a violation of personal freedoms.

President Trump's executive order to reinstate service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine marks a significant step toward correcting what many see as an unjust policy. By restoring these individuals to their previous ranks and providing back pay, Trump is not only righting a wrong but also reinforcing the importance of personal choice and freedom in the military. This move underscores the new administration's commitment to respecting the principles that service members swear to defend, even when those principles are at odds with government mandates.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

FoxNews.com

Axios.com
Trumps aggressive immigration raids spark controversy and praise

President Trump's administration launches large-scale deportation operation targeting 100,000 illegal immigrants via the San Diego border, deploying 1,500 active-duty troops.

The operation aims to deport 1,800 illegal immigrants daily, reflecting Trump's campaign promise to secure borders and enforce strict immigration laws.

Mike Adams, a supporter, praises the operation as a decisive and necessary step, highlighting its aggressive nature as a significant achievement.

Critics argue the operation is inhumane, unrealistic, and potentially harmful, with concerns over wrongful deportations and the militaristic approach.

The operation intensifies the immigration debate, with supporters citing national security and job preservation, while critics see it as undermining American values of compassion and inclusivity.

In a bold and controversial move, President Donald Trump's administration has launched an extensive operation to deport 100,000 illegal immigrants from the San Diego border crossing. The operation, which includes the deployment of 1,500 active-duty troops, has been met with both fierce criticism and enthusiastic support, reflecting the deeply polarized nature of American politics today.

A massive deportation effort

According to reports from the UK Daily Mail, thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been dispatched to the San Diego border crossing to carry out one of the largest migrant raids in recent history. The operation is designed to remove 1,800 illegal immigrants per day, a target that, if met, would result in the deportation of 650,000 individuals annually. This aggressive approach is part of Trump's broader strategy to secure the border and crack down on illegal immigration, a key promise from his campaign.

Support from Trump's base

Supporters of the President, like Mike Adams, host of Brighteon Broadcast News, have lauded the operation as a long-overdue and necessary step. Adams, known for his strong stance on immigration, expressed his approval, stating, "I did not expect this level of aggression at all, and I am so pleased, I'm absolutely thrilled." He praised the President for his decisive action, emphasizing that it is a "mind-blowing" achievement.

Criticism and concerns

However, the operation has also drawn significant criticism from those who argue it is inhumane and politically motivated. Opponents contend that the daily deportation quota of 1,800 individuals is unrealistic and potentially harmful, given the complexities and legal considerations involved in each case. They also point out that the deployment of 1,500 active-duty troops, including 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California, adds a militaristic element that could exacerbate tensions and fear among immigrant communities.

Human rights organizations and immigration advocates have expressed deep concern, stating that such a large-scale operation could lead to the wrongful deportation of individuals who have legitimate claims to stay in the country. They argue that the Trump administration's approach is more about political posturing than effective immigration policy.

Broader implications

The operation is part of President Trump's broader effort to secure the border and enforce immigration laws more strictly. Since taking office, Trump has made significant moves to reverse policies enacted by the previous administration, including the banning of chemical and surgical mutilation of children in hospitals that receive federal funding and across the military. These actions have been hailed by some as a victory for traditional values and the protection of children's rights.

The future of immigration policy

As the operation unfolds, the debate over immigration policy is likely to intensify. Supporters see it as a crucial step in protecting national security and preserving jobs for American citizens, while critics view it as a draconian measure that undermines the country's values of compassion and inclusivity.

The outcome of this operation and the broader immigration debate will have significant implications for the future of the United States. As the country grapples with these issues, the world watches to see whether Trump's aggressive tactics will set a new precedent for immigration policy or if they will face legal and political challenges that could reshape the landscape of American governance.

President Trump's aggressive immigration raids in San Diego have ignited a firestorm of controversy and praise, reflecting the deep divisions in American society. While supporters commend the President for his strong stance on illegal immigration, critics warn of the potential human rights violations and political motivations behind the operation. As the raids continue, the nation will be closely monitoring the impact and the broader implications for immigration policy and national values.

Watch this Jan. 29 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump's aggressive immigration raids.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump to begin large-scale immigration raids in Chicago

Dallas protesters rally against Trumps mass deportation plan

Federal government ends sanctuary protections, expands immigration enforcement to SCHOOLS and CHURCHES

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Newslooks.com
Trumps border success: A beacon of hope for Europe

President Trump has taken decisive action to secure America's borders, including shutting down the CBP One app and repealing restrictions on ICE agents.

ICE officers have arrested over 300 illegal migrant criminals in sanctuary cities, including an attempted murderer and a child molester, in the first few days of the Trump administration.

The number of Border Patrol encounters at the southern border has declined by 35% since Trump took office, indicating the effectiveness of his border security measures.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has praised Trump's border policies and sees them as a model for securing Italy's borders, reflecting a growing alliance between the two leaders.

The international community is taking note of Trump's policies, which could inspire other countries to adopt more stringent measures to protect their sovereignty and ensure national security.

In a remarkable turn of events, President Donald Trump is making good on his campaign promises to secure Americas borders and restore law and order. His aggressive deportation strategy, spearheaded by Border Czar Tom Homan, has not only captured the attention of Americans but has also earned applause from across the Atlantic, particularly in Italy. The world is watching, and many are cheering Trump on.

A new era of border security

From the moment he was sworn in, President Trump took swift and decisive action to address the border crisis that had spiraled out of control under the Biden administration. One of his first executive orders was to shut down the CBP One app, a Biden-era initiative that facilitated the processing of asylum seekers. This move was seen as a critical step in regaining control over the border.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly followed up by issuing memos to repeal restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, which were imposed by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. These changes have empowered ICE agents to take a more proactive role in identifying and deporting criminal aliens.

On January 22, ICE officers arrested Franz Cadet, a 43-year-old Haitian citizen with multiple drug offenses. This arrest was just one of many that have taken place in the first few days of the Trump administration. By January 24, federal officers had conducted sweeps in sanctuary cities, apprehending over 300 illegal migrant criminals, including an attempted murderer and a child molester.

The impact of these actions has been immediate and significant. According to sources, the number of Border Patrol encounters at the southern border in the first three days of the Trump administration is 35% lower than the final three days of the Biden administration. This sharp decline is a clear indication that Trumps border security measures are effective.

Italy cheers Trumps tough stance

The news of Trumps border actions has not gone unnoticed in Europe, particularly in Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a conservative leader who has faced her own challenges with immigration, has expressed admiration for Trumps approach. Her recent surprise visit to Florida to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago underscores the growing alliance between the two leaders.

Meloni, who has been a vocal critic of the liberal immigration policies that have led to significant social and economic challenges in Italy, sees Trumps actions as a model for her own efforts to secure Italys borders. During her visit, she praised Trump, saying, This is very exciting. Im here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy. Shes really taken Europe by storm.

Italian social media is abuzz with support for Trumps border policies. Comments translated from Italian videos showing Trumps deportation efforts include:

- Grand Trump  Great Trump

- fuori dalle balle sono per lo piu delinquenti  Get them out of here, theyre mostly criminals.

- Grande ? prendiamo esempio  Great ? lets take an example from this.

- TOP poche chiacchiere e molti fatti. Trump favoloso  TOP, less talk and more action Trump is fabulous.

- Trump vieni in Italia  Trump, come to Italy.

- caro Trump aiuta anche lItalia.  Dear Trump, help Italy too.

These comments reflect the frustration many Italians feel with their own governments handling of the immigration crisis. Prime Minister Meloni has had to navigate a complex political landscape, facing resistance from left-wing factions and the EU, which often push for more open borders. Despite these challenges, Meloni has managed to maintain a degree of stability in Italy, but she is clearly inspired by Trumps no-nonsense approach.

A global impact

The international community is taking note of Trumps border security measures. The success of these policies could have far-reaching implications, not just for the United States but for other countries grappling with similar challenges. In a world where globalist agendas often prioritize open borders over national security, Trumps actions serve as a powerful counter-narrative.

Prime Minister Melonis visit to Mar-a-Lago is a sign that conservative leaders around the world are seeking to build alliances and share strategies to address the immigration crisis. The meeting between Trump and Meloni is likely to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Italy, potentially leading to more coordinated efforts on issues such as border security, trade and international relations.

As the world watches, the success of Trumps border policies could inspire other nations to adopt more stringent measures to protect their sovereignty and ensure the safety and well-being of their citizens. The global impact of these actions cannot be overstated, and the support from Italy and other European countries is a clear indication that Trumps approach is resonating far beyond American shores.

In conclusion, President Trumps early actions to secure the border and deport criminal aliens are not only a fulfillment of his campaign promises but are also setting a global standard for effective border management. The enthusiasm from Italy and other European nations is a testament to the universal appeal of these policies and the growing movement to prioritize national security and law and order.

Sources include:

RevolverNews.com

DHS.gov

NBCNews.com
WHO turns to crowdfunding after Trump pulls the plug: A billion-dollar shortfall and a lesson in global priorities

Following President Trump's announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), the organization is desperately calling for donations on social media to fill a $706 million funding gap, representing 18% of its total revenue for the 2024-2025 budget cycle.

Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, initiating a year-long withdrawal process as outlined in the 1948 congressional resolution. This move reflects growing frustration with the WHO's perceived lack of accountability and financial burden on the U.S., which is the organization's largest contributor.

In response to the funding shortfall, WHO has implemented stringent cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, travel expense cuts and halting capital investments. These measures will particularly impact key programs addressing HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis, which heavily rely on U.S. voluntary contributions.

The U.S. withdrawal highlights the WHO's controversial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its perceived alignment with Chinese authorities. This includes praising China's lockdown measures and accepting a lab-related origin conclusion only after Chinese pressure, despite lacking comprehensive data from China.

The U.S. withdrawal raises serious questions about the WHO's future, as it now relies on the generosity of individual donors and member states. The organization's survival may depend on collective responsibility rather than the largesse of a single nation, challenging its ability to address global health crises effectively.

In a move that could only be described as a desperate plea for relevance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has resorted to begging for donations on social media after President Donald Trump announced the United States withdrawal from the global health body. The decision, which came just hours into Trumps second term, has left the WHO scrambling to fill a $706 million funding gapa staggering 18% of its total revenue for the 2024-2025 budget cycle.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on COVID-19, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to ask the world for help. Consider a donation to @WHO via the @WHOFoundation  One Dollar, One World #ProudToBeWHO, she wrote, linking to a fundraiser with a lofty 1 billion goal. As of Friday afternoon, the campaign had raised a paltry 23,000enough to fund a small-town bake sale but hardly a dent in the organizations financial woes.

The U.S. exit: A long time coming

Trumps executive order, signed on January 20, 2025, initiates a year-long withdrawal process as outlined in the 1948 congressional resolution that established U.S. membership in the WHO. The move is not without precedent. In 2020, during his first term, Trump announced a similar withdrawal, citing the WHOs mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its perceived deference to China. Although the Biden administration reversed that decision in 2021, Trumps latest action underscores a growing frustration with the organizations lack of accountability and disproportionate financial burden on the U.S.

The U.S. has long been the WHOs largest contributor, providing both mandatory assessed payments and voluntary contributions. For the 2024-2025 budget cycle, the U.S. was expected to pay 264 million in assessed contributions and 442 million in voluntary funding. By contrast, Chinathe worlds second-largest economywas set to contribute 181 million in assessed payments and a mere 2.5 million in voluntary funds. This disparity has been a sticking point for critics who argue that the WHOs funding model unfairly penalizes wealthier nations while allowing others to shirk their responsibilities.

Cost-cutting measures and a hiring freeze

In response to the funding shortfall, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed staff on Thursday that the organization would implement stringent cost-cutting measures. These include a hiring freezeexcept for critical positionsand a halt to capital investments. Travel expenses will also be slashed, with all meetings to be held virtually unless otherwise approved.

The cuts are expected to hit key programs hard, particularly those addressing HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis, which rely heavily on U.S. voluntary contributions. According to internal WHO documents, the U.S. accounts for 75% of global voluntary funding for HIV and AIDS programs and 61% for tuberculosis initiatives. Without American support, these programs face an uncertain future.

A history of controversy and deference to China

The executive order also highlights the WHOs controversial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its perceived alignment with Chinese authorities. During the early stages of the outbreak, WHO officials praised Chinas strict lockdown measures as the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history. This statement, later amplified by Chinese state media, raised eyebrows among critics who accused the WHO of parroting Beijings propaganda.

A 2021 WHO mission to Wuhan to investigate the origins of the pandemic concluded that a lab-related origin was extremely unlikely. However, reports later revealed that this conclusion was included only after pressure from Chinese authorities. To this day, the WHO has yet to receive comprehensive data from China necessary to fully determine the viruss origins. In a January 16 article in Science, Van Kerkhove acknowledged that the WHO has repeatedly requested critical information from China, including details about early COVID-19 cases and laboratory research involving coronaviruses. To date, it has not received this information, she wrote.

Whats next for the WHO?

The U.S. withdrawal raises serious questions about the WHOs future. While international conventions require the U.S. to fulfill its financial obligations for the current fiscal year, enforcement mechanisms remain unclear. The WHO is already owed $130 million in assessed contributions for 2024, which were due earlier this month but have yet to be paid.

In the meantime, the WHO is left to rely on the generosity of individual donors and member states. But with only $23,000 raised so far, its clear that the worlds enthusiasm for funding the organization has waned. Whether this is a reflection of the WHOs diminished credibility or simply a lack of public awareness remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: the WHOs reliance on U.S. funding has long been a double-edged sword. While American dollars have enabled the organization to tackle global health crises, they have also allowed other nations to free-ride on U.S. generosity. As the WHO grapples with its new reality, it may finally be forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that its survival depends not on the largesse of a single nation, but on the collective responsibility of all its members.

In the words of Van Kerkhove, its time for the world to come togethernot to assign blame, but to collaborate. Whether the WHO can rise to the occasion remains to be seen. For now, it seems, the organizations future is as uncertain as the origins of the pandemic that brought it to its knees.

Sources include:

Disswire.com

DailyCaller.com

Reuters.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The next summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will be held in Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a briefing following a trilateral meeting between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

Fidan noted that the OTS is facing such challenges as the energy crisis and uncontrolled migration.

According to him, in this regard, there is a growing need to further strengthen solidarity in the Turkic world.

An important role in this direction is played by the Organization of Turkic States. The summits last year, first in Shusha and then in Bishkek, made important decisions. Two important summits will also be held this year. One of them is an informal summit in Hungary, and the other is the 12th official summit of the OTS in Azerbaijan, he said.

To note, a trilateral meeting of the ministers of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan was held today in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Azerbaijan and Armenia have made progress in the process of border delimitation and demarcation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters, Trend reports.

Answering a question of whether the trilateral working group continues its work together with Azerbaijani and Armenian colleagues Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan, Overchuk noted that formally no one terminated it.

Periodically we communicate on this topic, but not in a trilateral format, but, as we say, one-on-one... My colleagues meet regularly within the framework of the commission on border delimitation and demarcation. There has been very significant and good progress there, Overchuk noted.

Overchuk emphasized that part of the border has already been delimited and demarcated; now the sides have agreed to move in the relevant issue from north to south, from the junction with Georgia.

We have always welcomed this kind of contact and this type of joint work, as it will undoubtedly contribute to stability in the region. On our part, we have always offered to support this process. This is very constructive work, he added.
Sorry, something doesn't look right.

Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support.
If you are affected or compromised, then this becomes such a challenge, he added. First, its re-imaging or, in some cases, hardware replacement, depending on the depth of the infection. Most of the time, deleting and replacing the firmware from scratch is enough, but Juniper may be of more assistance. Secondarily, there is a J-Door infection on your router how did it get there? If you are impacted, someone has executed scripts on your device, he said.

From what this write-up alludes to, its a theory from Lumen that seems to make sense. Someone typically can only execute scripts if you log in to your router or an unknown exploit exists, he added. I will assume that the more straightforward explanation that someone has logged in is the more likely assumption. Closing access to login prompts from the internet, rotating passwords, and enabling 2FA are all part of a standard practice. If you didnt know you had this device in your network, look at an attack surface management tool.

Ed Dubrovsky, chief operating officer at Cypfer, an incident response firm, noted so far this is not a mass impact event.

Still, he noted that threat actors are increasingly trying to compromise security devices because they are gaining power and control over access to digital assets.

The majority of organizations are still dependent on vendor notifications or alerts, following standard processes such as change management to implement corrections and that results in a longer time to remediate, he said. A closer alignment between threat feeds and administration/operation function is advised.

According to Lumen researchers, vulnerable routers are compromised by a variant of the open source cd00r backdoor, aimed at devices running UNIX, that has a passive agent looking for devices with five parameters. If the device has at least one of them, it sends back a magic packet to the attacker. The attacker then installs a reverse shell on the local file system so they can control the router, steal data, or deploy more malware.
Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) talks to news media after a City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board meeting on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board reviews a video of Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that McKee-Rodriguez misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2), front center, attends a City of San Antonio Ethics Review Board meeting on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) attends a City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board meeting on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board unanimously voted to issue Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training during a meeting on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) addresses the City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) addresses the City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) talks to news media after a City of San Antonios Ethics Review Board meeting on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Following a complaint that he misled business stakeholders and improperly attempted to influence a zoning issue in his district, the board unanimously voted to issue him a letter of admonishment and recommended that he undergo ethics training. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

City Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez violated the city's ethics code when he tried to stop a developer from building a semi-truck dealership near an East Side neighborhood, the Ethics Review Board ruled this week.

The board ruled 6-0 that the District 2 councilman violated a provision that bars city officials from using their positions to unfairly impede the interests of private companies or other parties.

Converse-based Doggett Freightliner had tried for more than a year to secure zoning and land-use changes for its vacant 35-acre property on Weichold Road and Interstate 10, angering nearby residents on the citys increasingly industrial East Side.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ahead of an Oct. 17 council meeting, McKee-Rodriguez told Doggett Freightliner lobbyist Ken Brown that he would delay discussion of the trucking company's requested change until later that month. The councilman then pushed for a vote that would have changed the property's zoning to allow for shops and other retail development  which he said nearby residents wanted  and blocked the company from opening a dealership at that location.

McKee-Rodriguez told Brown of his plans once the meeting had started  and when it was too late for the lobbyist to sign up to address City Council. Nevertheless, Brown shared his concerns with council when District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte called him to the podium for questioning.

Late Tuesday, ethics board members found McKee-Rodriguez hadn't been transparent with the trucking company. But they stopped short of saying the second-term councilman lied to Doggett Freightliner, as San Antonio resident Oscar A. Zepeda alleged in an ethics complaint that triggered Tuesday's hearing.

Despite the boards ruling, McKee-Rodriguez stood by his efforts to block the company from opening its planned dealership, which nearby neighbors had rallied against.

Too often these corporations, these developers, this real estate is treated above my constituents, and theyve suffered for that, McKee-Rodriguez said late Tuesday. Theyve been marginalized. Theyve been underinvested in. Theyve been exploited. I would time and time again fight for them the way that they want me to.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Only six other members of the 11-member board were present because of scheduling conflicts. Also, one seat is vacant and the chair recused himself Tuesday because he's a McKee-Rodriguez appointee.

Social media posts McKee-Rodriguez wrote after the Oct. 17 meeting helped convince the board that he'd violated the ethics code. In one post, he called his actions a tactic that failed but had been worth a shot.

Still, the board concluded that McKee-Rodriguez didn't knowingly violate the ethics code, so it issued him a letter of admonition  the penalty when the board believes an ethics violation was minor or when an official unintentionally violated the code.

The admonition does not impose fines or sanctions, or result in criminal prosecution or any tangible change to McKee-Rodriguezs standing as a councilman.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

McKee-Rodriguez will also have to undergo one-on-one ethics training with the Ethics Review Boards city liaison.

READ MORE: East Side councilman could go before ethics board after misleading truck dealer

In his defense against the ethics complaint, McKee-Rodriguez claimed he was weighing his options up until the October meeting and made a last-minute decision to call for a vote instead of delaying discussion of Doggett's requested zoning changes. He said he sought the advice of the city attorneys office on how to craft potential motions for the meeting and was not advised that he was doing anything unethical.

Brown, who initially bashed McKee-Rodriguez's actions and said he could never trust the councilman again, came to the councilman's defense in a letter to the Ethics Review Board.

I believe he acted in good faith, in the best interest of his constituents, and with respect to our rights as an applicant, Brown said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Two months before Tuesday's ethics hearing, McKee-Rodriguez made amends with Brown, and in November the council voted to allow Doggett Freightliner to build a dealership on its East Side property after the company struck several compromises with the councilman and nearby residents.

McKee-Rodriguez isn't the only council member found to have broken the city's ethics rules lately.

In August, the board reprimanded Marc Whyte for knowingly violating the citys ethics rules. The Northeast Side councilman had called Police Chief William McManus last spring to relay his wifes friends concern that her child was being abused.

'Political retribution'?

In his comments to the board, McKee-Rodriguez said the complaint was a "baseless accusation fueled by political motives." He accused Zepeda, who isn't a District 2 resident, of filing the complaint to undermine his credibility and his constituents' trust in him.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

McKee-Rodriguez said District 8 councilman and mayoral candidate Manny Pelaez had been introducing Zepeda to various parties as the person who filed an ethics complaint against McKee-Rodriguez.

Zepeda has no ties to Doggett Freightliner but does have connections to Pelaez. The councilman said he's known Zepeda for decades through organizations they both belong to, and their children go to the same school.

Since 2021, Zepeda has donated $1,450 to Pelaezs campaigns. Pelaez is the only council member Zepeda has ever donated money to, according to campaign finance records dating back to 2016.

McKee-Rodriguez told the board before its vote that he hoped members would reject the complainant's intent to make your body into a tool of political retribution.

The board did not address that accusation during the public portion of its Tuesday night meeting. The board has the authority to toss cases it deems baseless, brought in bad faith or filed to harass an official, according to the code of ethics.

In December, Pelaez told the Express-News that rumors that he put Zepeda up to filing the complaint were untrue.

In November, Zepeda did not respond to several interview requests from the Express-News. Instead, he sent a brief statement by text message.

"I would be very surprised if the ethics review board disagrees with me," Zepeda said in November. "I am a real estate agent and I am very worried that his unethical conduct, if left unopposed, will negatively impact my industry."

The address on Zepeda's complaint is in District 9 on the North Side.

He didn't attend Tuesday night's hearing.

McKee-Rodriguez and Pelaez are often on opposite sides of council policy debates.

Theyve fought over cite-and-release program proposals and Pelaezs decision not to support a symbolic resolution supporting abortion access.

McKee-Rodriguez also criticized Pelaez last year after he backed out of a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. A whopping 1.87 million voters have cast their ballots in the municipal elections as of 19:00, Head of the Information Center of the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Farid Orujev said, Trend reports.

According to Orujev, voter turnout amounted to 31.45 percent.

The voting in municipal elections was completed in Azerbaijan at 19:00 today.

Following the results of the elections, 8,071 members of 685 municipalities in 118 electoral districts will be elected.

The number of polling stations where voting in the municipal elections took place amounted to 5,846. Of these, 5,734 were permanent and 112 were temporary.

A total of 5.9 million eligible voters had the right to participate in the elections. As of 17:00, 1.7 million voters had cast their ballots.

The names of 16,092 candidates were listed on the ballot for the municipal elections.

Of the 16,092 candidates, 8,424 were nominated by 23 political parties. About 31 percent of the candidates are women, and about 82 percent have higher education.

As many as 70,625 observers were accredited by the CEC and district election commissions for the municipal elections. Of these, 26,260 were political party observers.

Some 41 percent of candidates in the municipal elections were between 21 and 35 years of age.
Download Now

The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The districts with the highest and lowest voter turnout in Azerbaijans municipal elections have been announced, Farid Orujov, Head of the Information Center at the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, told Trend.

As of 10:00 (GMT+4), the highest voter turnout was recorded in the Babek-Shahbuz-Kengerli constituency No. 3, with 18.04 percent turnout, representing 8,494 voters.

In contrast, the lowest turnout for the same timeframe was reported in the Yasamal II electoral district, with just 2.39 percent of voters casting their ballots, amounting to 1,115 voters.

As of 10:00 (GMT+4), 499,575 voters had participated in Azerbaijans municipal elections. The voter turnout stood at 8.38 percent.

To note, voting for the municipal election started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for the municipal election. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal election. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Researchers at The University of Queensland have identified the first henipavirus in North America.

Dr. Rhys Parry from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Camp Hill virus was confirmed in shrews in the US state of Alabama.

Henipaviruses have caused serious disease and death in people and animals in other regions. One of the most dangerous is the Hendra virus, which was first detected in Brisbane, Australia and has a fatality rate of 70 per cent. Another example is Nipah virus which has recorded fatality rates between 40 and 75 per cent in outbreaks in South-East Asia, including in Malaysia and Bangladesh. The discovery of a henipavirus in North America is highly significant, as it suggests these viruses may be more globally distributed than previously thought." Dr. Rhys Parr, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland

Camp Hill virus was found in northern short-tailed shrews, a small mammal with wide distribution across Canada and the US.

Dr. Parry said more research was needed to understand if it was a threat to people.

"The closest known henipavirus to Camp Hill virus that has caused disease in humans is Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China," Dr. Parry said.

"This indicates that shrew-to-human transmission can occur."

Co-author Dr. Ariel Isaacs said developing vaccines for the virus family was a focus for UQ researchers.

"The next step for this work is to characterise key surface proteins on the virus that are involved in cell entry to broaden our understanding of the virus family and identify better ways to protect against it," Dr Isaacs said.

The research was completed with help from UQ's Dr. Naphak Modhiran and Professor Daniel Watterson, along with members of the Professor Wendy R. Hood lab at Auburn University and members of The Gorbunova and Seluanov Laboratory at the University of Rochester.

The research was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
A study by researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health shows that nearly half of all primary care providers (PCPs) in the United States are affiliated with hospitals, while the number of PCPs affiliated with private equity firms is growing and concentrated in certain regional markets.

Compared with PCPs at independent practices, those affiliated with hospitals or private equity firms charged higher prices for the same services.

The findings were published in JAMA Health Forum.

Health care consolidation is a driving force behind high health care prices in the U.S., said lead study author Yashaswini Singh, an assistant professor of health services, policy and practice who is affiliated with the Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research at Brown.

Because of a lack of data on the consolidation of primary care physicians, Singh said that it was difficult to quantify the trend.

It's impossible, in the absence of price and ownership transparency, to really understand the trends in consolidation and corporatization in primary care, and then ultimately, what are the effects they are having on the prices you and I pay for health care." Yashaswini Singh, assistant professor of health services, policy and practice, lead author

The recent implementation of federal Transparency in Coverage rules, which require health insurers to disclose in-network negotiated rates for all services and for all contracted health care professionals, provided a novel opportunity to undertake this analysis, Singh said.

The researchers analyzed a total of 198,097 primary care providers and 226.6 million negotiated prices. They first identified hospital-affiliated and private equity-affiliated PCPs and then linked that information to pricing data derived from Transparency in Coverage datasets.

They found that primary care physicians affiliated with hospitals increased from 25.2% in 2009 to 47.9% in 2022. Over the same period, 1.5% of PCPs in the U.S. became affiliated with private equity firms. While that number looks small, Singh said that the localized consolidation model of private equity means that the trend tends to be more pronounced in certain regional markets - Texas and Florida in particular.

Relative to independent PCPs, negotiated prices for office visits were 10.7% higher for those affiliated with hospitals and 7.8% higher for those affiliated with private equity firms.

These differences in prices persisted regardless of insurer.

"Our sample includes some of the largest national health insurers and suggests that, despite their size and power, insurers are either not able to or not willing to exert downward pressure on prices in negotiations with these entities," Singh said.

Higher health care prices per se are not problematic, Singh said, especially in primary care, which has been characterized by under-investment. However, she said, consolidation is not associated with reinvestments that improve quality or access to care.

"Higher payments might be a good thing if that expanded access to care, or attracted talented physicians within the specialty," Singh said. "But we know from longstanding data in health economics and health policy that in general, the higher prices that result from consolidation do not seem to be reinvested in ways that improve the quality of care for patients or the compensation received by physicians."

She added: "And so then the question becomes: are these higher prices just going back in the pockets of investors or executives rather than being invested in ways that can improve the overall care experience or workforce experience?"

In the study, researchers said that additional evidence on the growth in hospital and private equity affiliation in primary care can shed light on recent changes in physician organization and help guide competition policy in health care markets. This type of research may also help identify the sources of the wide variations in prices paid for physician services observed across geographic areas for similar services, they noted.

Additional study contributors include Christopher Whaley and Nandita Radhakrishnan from Brown and Loren Adler from the Brookings Institution.
Antibiotic resistance is a global public health crisis responsible for more than a million deaths annually. By 2050, the World Health Organization estimates it could surpass cancer and heart disease as the leading cause of death as more bacteria develop defenses to the drugs designed to combat them.

Now Tulane University researchers have identified a unique genetic signature in bacteria that can predict their likelihood of developing antibiotic resistance, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. The findings could help researchers more quickly identify precision-based treatments that are more effective against the deadly, treatment-resistant pathogens.

"If we see this pattern when we sequence its genome, we can expect it to become drug-resistant if you try to treat it," said lead author Kalen Hall, PhD, who spearheaded the research before graduating from Tulane University School of Medicine in 2024.

At the center of the study is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria with a known history of multidrug resistance and a common cause of infection in hospitals. The bacteria are prone to deficiencies in a specific DNA repair pathway, a condition known to spur rapid mutations in bacteria, which increase the odds of drug resistance developing.

After analyzing the bacterial genomes for mutational signatures  a technique typically used in cancer research to map genetic changes in tumors  the team found a distinct pattern associated with these DNA repair deficiencies that accurately predicted bacteria's potential to develop antibiotic resistance.

It's essentially a fingerprint that's able to predict the presence of potential multidrug-resistant bacteria." Zac Pursell, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Tulane University School of Medicine

Resistance can only be acquired when bacteria are treated with an antibiotic that fails to kill them, underscoring the need to identify the proper path of treatment. Making matters worse, the findings show that bacteria acquire resistance to drugs not involved in initial treatment.

"Over 50% of antibiotics prescribed are either unnecessary or the wrong treatment, and if you provide the wrong antibiotic, you're promoting more and more resistance," Hall said.

Importantly, the same DNA sequencing technology that can identify bacterial "fingerprints" can also identify points of attack for clinicians. The researchers found success identifying separate resistance pathways and administering specific combinations of antibiotics that target these pathways, preventing the bacteria from acquiring drug resistance.

Though the findings are still in their early stages, successful creation of a diagnostic tool could reduce the overuse of antibiotics and allow for more precise treatment of bacterial infections. Hall is now CEO and cofounder of Informuta Inc., a San Diego-based startup that aims to develop a machine learning model that can scan bacteria samples and predict the development of antibiotic resistance.

"There's absolutely nothing like this available right now, and it would be game changing for so many patient populations. Antibiotic resistance is getting worse year over year," Hall said. "I believe proper antibiotic stewardship and accurate diagnostics are important pieces of the puzzle."
The European Commission has just launched a new tool that supports the tracking of the spread of infectious diseases by analyzing wastewater: the European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard. It displays data from across the EU by bringing together existing national and research-based dashboards. By providing near real-time information on pathogen trends, the dashboard can support public health authorities in their efforts to track, predict, and respond promptly to disease outbreaks.

The dashboard was developed by the EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with the European Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).This tool is designed to support the integration of wastewater testing into EU public health surveillance activities.

Recognizing the interlinkages between human and environmental health, in line with the One Health approach, a number of EU initiatives are being put in place to ensure surveillance of health parameters in water to reduce health risks and prevent outbreaks. The revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, that entered into force this month, requires Member States to establish national systems for urban wastewater surveillance for monitoring public health parameters with the objective to support quick decision-making in case of a public health emergency. The upcoming Water Resilience Strategy will further strengthen the One Health approach through measures to enhance knowledge and reduce water pollution.

A smarter, faster approach to disease tracking

Traditionally, public health surveillance relies on clinical reporting  i.e. testing and diagnosing individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that wastewater surveillance can add helpful supplementary surveillance data for monitoring epidemiological situations, providing an early, more holistic signal of disease spread. By tracking the circulation of pathogens, wastewater-based surveillance can give health authorities a head start in identifying potential disease waves and might detect known viral variants before they show up in clinical settings.

The European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard is setting the stage for a transnational disease monitoring platform. It currently includes data on three key pathogens (SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza) across eleven European countries, and is supported by more than one million measurements. The dashboard is accessible to anyone free of charge.

A unified response across Europe and beyond

The EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health aims to establish a unified wastewater surveillance system that can provide consistent data to health authorities and help coordinate cross-border response to health emergencies. To achieve this, the dashboard is projected to incorporate data about more countries and pathogens in the future.

The dashboard could ultimately connect data sources from other world regions under the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON). This initiative, launched by the European Commission in collaboration with key global partners, aims to create an international sentinel system for the early detection, prevention, and real-time monitoring of epidemic threats and outbreaks.
Climate change is impacting the spread of Salmonella, according to new research from the University of Surrey. This research follows previous work from the team, which found that weather change is leading to the spread of dangerous diarrheal illness.

The study, led by a team of researchers at Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine, investigated the impact of different weather factors on the transmission of Salmonella - a leading cause of foodborne illnesses in Europe, accounting for nearly one in three foodborne outbreaks.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It's found in the intestines of animals and humans and can contaminate food if it's not cooked or handled properly. Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps, and it is most prominent in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene.

In the study, published in the Journal of Infection, researchers compared UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data of confirmed cases of Salmonella in England and Wales during 2000-2016 with Met Office data of the time, focusing on 14 different weather factors. This provided a more holistic understanding, which considered the combined effect of multiple weather factors on incidences of Salmonella, leading to an in-depth description of the risk of salmonellosis when we know the local weather during the past days.

Warmer temperatures (above 10 degrees Celsius), relative humidity, dewpoint temperature (between 7-10 degrees Celsius), and longer days (over 12-15 hours) were identified as key weather factors associated with an increase in Salmonella cases, irrespective of geographical location. These findings were also validated by analyzing data from the Netherlands.

The model we used to analyze the data shows promise, as the findings were replicated across England, Wales and, independently, in the Netherlands, suggesting a potential for wider application in other European and high-income countries to help gain new insights on the incidence of Salmonella. It would be interesting to investigate this in regions with very different environmental and socio-economic characteristics, like tropical countries." Dr. Gianni Lo Iacono, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Surrey

Dr. Laura Gonzalez Villeta, the first author of the study and researcher at the University of Surrey, said:

"The study highlights how weather plays a significant role in Salmonella outbreaks and provides a valuable tool for predicting future risks and tailoring interventions, particularly in the context of climate change."
With President Donald Trump having threatened school vaccine mandates for children during his campaign, a new survey finds that nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults support requiring that children be vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella. To protect children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, over half of Americans also support states prohibiting other unvaccinated children from attending school, either private or public. However, support for this prohibition has dropped significantly since the spring of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Comparing responses from a new January 2025 Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) nationally representative survey with an APPC national survey conducted in April and May 2019, less than a year before the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, we find a significant drop in support for states prohibiting unvaccinated children (for non-medical reasons) from attending public or private schools. Further, the new survey finds increased support for state policies allowing parents to opt out of vaccinating their children for medical, religious, and personal or philosophical reasons. The public, however, continues to support state policies that set aside funding to provide free or discounted access to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The survey finds that these changes are driven in part by changing views from 2019 to 2025 among self-described Republicans  notably, a decline in support for the mandatory vaccination of children for preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella, and large increases in support for parents to opt out of having their children vaccinated for medical, religious, and personal or philosophical reasons. The growing support for parental opt-outs is universal across political party for medical exemptions, while religious and personal exemptions are seen to lesser degrees among self-described Democrats or political independents (identifying as independent or with a party other than the Republican or Democratic ones).

APPC's latest survey asked about state policies because school-related vaccine requirements are set at the state level, not the federal level. Nonetheless, federal actions can influence state-level policy. At a June 22, 2024, campaign event, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would not provide federal funding to any school that has a vaccine requirement:

And on Day One, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, and I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.

To date, Trump has not signed such an order on vaccine mandates.

His nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who lately has been seeking to distance himself from his long-promoted anti-vaccine views, led the vaccination-focused organization Children's Health Defense before he stepped aside in April 2023 to run for president. As stated currently on its website, that organization takes the position "it should be the parent's choice, and not the government's, to decide what goes into the bodies of their children. Statewide policy is becoming more and more oppressive while, at the same time, more inadequately-tested vaccines are added to the childhood schedule. Parents in many states are now fighting to keep their personal beliefs and religious exemptions in place and prevent mandates."

In July 2023, Kennedy told podcaster Lex Fridman that "There's no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective." However, in a Nov. 6, 2024, statement to NBC News, Kennedy said, "If vaccines are working for somebody, I'm not going to take them away. People ought to have choice, and that choice ought to be informed by the best information  So, I'm going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them."

Infectious disease expert Paul A. Offit, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, says parents have every right to be skeptical, but that Kennedy has misrepresented the findings of vaccine safety studies and "is a vaccine cynic, failing to accept studies that refute his beliefs." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the "Food and Drug Administration regulates vaccines to make sure they are safe and effective," and the CDC publishes an immunization schedule for childhood vaccinations.

While policies around school-related vaccine requirements are set at the state level, most states follow the guidelines and recommendations of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kennedy would oversee. Because the HHS secretary has the authority to approve those appointed to ACIP, Kennedy would have the power to refashion that committee's membership.

The APPC survey findings are based on a nationally representative panel survey of 538 U.S. adults fielded from Jan. 3-5, 2025, with a margin of sampling error of  5.2 percentage points. It is compared here with a nationally representative panel survey of 2,344 U.S. adults conducted from April 18-May 13, 2019, with a margin of error of  2.8 percentage points, and, where noted, APPC's nationally representative Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) knowledge panel waves conducted in January 2023 (n=1,641, MOE 3.2 pp), June 2023 (n=1,586, MOE 3.3 pp) and August 2023 (n=1,482, MOE 3.5 pp). For more on the surveys, see the end of this news release or the topline.

Support for vaccine requirements for MMR for children remains high

Over 7 in 10 U.S. adults (73%) support a policy making it mandatory for parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella. This is not significantly different than the 2019 findings which indicated that 77% supported this type of vaccine requirement.

An analysis of the current findings by party reveals a sharp partisan split, with 86% of Democrats saying it should be mandatory for parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases such as measles, while just 62% of Republicans and 72% of independents feel this way.

Most favor states requiring vaccination to attend school, though support has fallen

Certain vaccinations are required for students to attend school in all 50 states and Washington D.C. A majority of U.S. adults (52%) support their state requiring vaccination as a condition of school attendance, whether public or private, in an effort to protect children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. However, this represents a nearly 20-point drop from our survey in spring 2019, when 71% supported requiring vaccination as a condition of public or private school attendance. Support for this requirement declined across all political groups.

In addition, the percentage of those who "strongly support" school-related vaccination requirements has fallen sharply, from nearly half (47%) of U.S. adults in 2019 to barely a quarter (24%) in January 2025.

Nevertheless, when asked to indicate which view is closer to their own when it comes to childhood vaccines for MMR and public-school attendance, 66% say they are closer to the view that healthy children should be required to be vaccinated because of the potential risk when children are not vaccinated. Only a fifth of adults (21%) say they are closer to the view that parents should be able to decide whether to vaccinate their children who attend public schools, even if their decision not to vaccinate creates health risks for other children and adults. These views are little changed from 2023, when we asked ASAPH survey panelists their views in January, June, and August 2023.

Post-pandemic support grows for opt-out choice on vaccinating children

According to the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL), all states have exemptions from school vaccination requirements for medical reasons. Thirty states and Washington, D.C., allow exemptions from school vaccination requirements for religious reasons, and 13 states allow exemptions for personal or philosophical reasons.

Our survey shows a large and significant increase in support among U.S. adults for states giving parents the choice to opt out of school-associated vaccination of their children for medical, religious, or personal/philosophical reasons. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults (63%) somewhat or strongly support a law allowing parents in their state to choose not to vaccinate their children for medical reasons, while a little more than a fifth (22%) oppose such a policy. In 2019, 36% said they would support such a policy and 46% would oppose it.

Nearly 4 in 10 (39%) say they would support a state policy that would allow parents to choose not to vaccinate their children for religious reasons, almost double from 2019, when 20% said they would support this policy. In 2019, 63% said they would oppose states allowing parents to choose not to vaccinate their children on religious grounds, while 41% said they would do so in our 2025 survey.

Support has doubled for state-sanctioned parental choice around vaccines for philosophical reasons. In our January survey, 35% said they would support a policy in their state that would allow parents to choose not to vaccinate their children for personal or philosophical reasons, double the proportion expressing such support in the spring of 2019 (17%). Opposition to this policy dropped from 69% in spring 2019 to 49% in January 2025.

Growing support for parental opt-outs by party

When our 2019 and 2025 respondents were questioned about support for different reasons parents might choose not to vaccinate their children, or to opt out, there was a disproportionate growth over time in Republican and independents' support, compared with Democrats', for religious opt-outs, and among Republicans compared with independents and Democrats for personal/philosophical opt-outs. Over time, all three groups saw similar growth in support for medical opt-outs.

Medical opt-outs for childhood vaccines: From 2019 to 2025, support for states offering medical opt-outs for childhood vaccinations increased to 63% from 36%. Over this period, support for medical opt-outs grew by a stunning 31 percentage points among Republicans (to 69% from 38%), 28 percentage points among independents (to 66% from 38%), and 22 points among Democrats (to 53% from 31%). Over this period, the number of those who opposed these opt-outs shrank dramatically, to 20% from 47% among Republicans, 32% from 51% among Democrats, and 17% from 41% among independents. (See the topline for details.)

Religious opt-outs for childhood vaccines: From 2019 to 2025, support for states offering religious opt-outs for childhood vaccinations nearly doubled, to 39% from 20%. Among Republicans support for religious opt-outs grew to 52% from 24% and among independents to 42% from 22% (the change for Democrats was not significant). Again, opposition to these opt-outs sharply dropped, to 29% from 62% among Republicans and 34% from 58% among independents (the change for Democrats was not significant).

Personal or philosophical opt-outs for childhood vaccines: From 2019 to 2025, support for states offering personal or philosophical opt-outs for childhood vaccines more than doubled, to 35% from 17%. Again, Republicans led in supporting these opt-outs, with support growing to 44% from 16% in 2019. Support among Democrats grew to 22% from 12%, and among independents to 38% from 22%. The numbers opposing these opt-outs collapsed most sharply among Republicans, to 41% from 71%, and independents, to 42% from 61% (the change among Democrats was not significant).

Most support state funding of free or discounted MMR vaccines

More than 8 in ten U.S. adults (84%) say they would support their state setting aside public funds to provide free or discounted access to MMR vaccines. This has not significantly changed from 2019, when 81% expressed support for such a policy.

Survey methodology

The data come from survey questions the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) placed on SSRS's nationally representative opinion panel of 1,077 U.S. adults conducted from Jan. 3-5, 2025. SSRS is an independent market research company. A randomly assigned half-sample of 538 respondents were asked these questions in the same manner as the 2019 survey. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is  5.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for the n=538 half-sample. The results are compared with a nationally representative panel survey of 2,344 U.S. adults conducted from April 18-May 13, 2019, with a margin of error of  2.8 percentage points, and where noted, APPC's nationally representative ASAPH panel waves conducted in January 2023 (n=1,641 MOE 3.2 pp), May 2023 (n=1,586, MOE 3.3 pp) and August 2023 (n=1,482, MOE 3.5 pp). The margin of sampling error for demographic subgroups is higher. All figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not add to 100%. Combined subcategories may not add to totals in the topline and text due to rounding.
8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees Likely To Receive 10-30% Actual Salary Hike, Say Reports

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:00 IST

8th Pay Commission: The previous pay commission recommended an increase of around 14-15 per cent; the additional fitment factor to be applied to the base factor of 1.6 is likely to range between 10-30 per cent, says former finance secretary S C Garg.

8th Pay Commission: The former finance secretary says a fitment factor of 2.86 per cent is "asking for the moon, which is impossible to get".

8th Pay Commission: Even as the goverment has announced the 8th Pay Commission that will submit its report by the end of this year, there are speculation going on regarding the salary hike for the central government employees. According to the latest reports, the employees are likely to see salary hikes between 10 per cent and 30 per cent as against the huge 186 per cent increment being talked about.

NC-JCM (National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery) can ask for the moon. Fitment factor of 2.86 per cent is asking for the moon, which is impossible to get," said Subhash Chandra Garg, former finance secretary of India, in a media interview.

related stories

He said that to determine the fitment factor, the pay commission will consider the basic pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA) as of January 1, 2026.

The fitment factor is a multiplier applied to the current basic pay to calculate the new salary under the revised Pay Matrix.

Currently, the DA is 53 per cent (as of July 1, 2024). To calculate the DA till January 1, 2026, two more installments need to be added: one due on January 1, 2025, and another on July 1, 2025. Assuming a 7 per cent increase, the DA for January 1, 2026, would be approximately 60 per cent, Garg said.

With the starting factor of 1.6, the next step is to determine the percentage increase. Usually, pay commissions have recommended increases ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. The previous pay commission recommended an increase of around 14-15 per cent. In my assessment, the additional fitment factor to be applied to the base factor of 1.6 is likely to range between 10-30 per cent," he said in the interview with news channel News24.

He said that taking 20 per cent of the base factor 1.6 or 160, we get 32. Adding 32 to 160 results in a revised fitment factor of 192 or 1.92.

If we assume a more generous 30 per cent increase, the calculation would be: 30 per cent of 160 is 48. Adding this to the base factor, we get 208, or a revised fitment factor of 2.08. So, the actual fitment factor is likely to be between 1.92-2.08," he said.

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was set at 2.57, which increased the minimum basic pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000.

8th Pay Commission

For the 8th Pay Commission, it was widely expected that the fitment factor will rise to 2.86, potentially increasing the minimum basic pay to Rs 51,480, an apparent jump of 186 per cent over the current Rs 18,000.

The Union Cabinet on January 16 approved the 8th Pay Commission. Announcing the decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, The establishment of the 8th Pay Commission in 2025 ensures sufficient time for recommendations to be implemented before the 7th Pay Commission period ends."

The 7th Pay Commission Tenure

The current 7th Pay Commissions tenure will conclude on December 31, 2025, which comes 10 years after its implementation on January 1, 2016.

So, the 8th Pay Commission will be implemented with effect from January 1, 2026.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Central government pensioners will also receive higher pension with effect from January 2026.

The central government typically constitutes a pay commission every 10 years. The current 7th Pay Commission was formed in 2014 and its recommendations were implemented from January 2016, exactly 10 years after the 6th Pay Commission implementation on January 1, 2006.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:00 IST
Market Rises For Second Day Ahead Of Budget 2025: Sensex Up 631 Points, Nifty Above 23,150

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:14 IST

Rising for the second day in a row, the BSE Sensex ended the day with a gain of 631.55 points at 76,532.96, while the NSE Nifty jumped 205.85 to close at 23,163.10.

Stock Market Updates Today.

The domestic equity markets on Wednesday continued strong momentum for the second day in a row ahead of the US Fed meeting on Wednesday and in anticipation of the upcoming Union Budget 2025, with expectations of measures aimed at stimulating consumption and job creation. The BSE Sensex ended the day with a gain of 631.55 points at 76,532.96, while the NSE Nifty jumped 205.85 to close at 23,163.10.

Broader markets also posted a strong performance, with the BSE MidCap and the BSE SmallCap surging 2.54 per cent and 3.28 per cent, respectively.

related stories

In market breadth, out of the total 4,082 stocks on the BSE, a total of 2,978 shares advanced, while 1,011 shares declined. However, 93 stocks remained unchanged.

During the session, 52 companies of the BSE touched their 52-week highs, while 149 scrips hit 52-week lows.

On the BSE benchmark Sensex, out of the total 30 shares, 23 companies ended the day in the green. Zomato, Tata Motors, Infosys, UltraTech Cement, and Tech Mahindra were the top gainers surging up to 6.79 per cent. However, among the laggards were ITC Hotels (it saw listing today at 31% discount), Bharti Airtel, Maruti Suzuki, Asian Paints, and ITC, falling up to 5 per cent.

In the broader markets, INOX Wind was the top gainer hitting upper circuit before closing higher by 19.7 per cent. The top volumes were recorded in One Mobikwik Systems (up 2.8 per cent), Zomato (up 6.8 per cent), CreditAccess Grameen (up 11.26 per cent), and Piramal Pharma (up 9.49 per cent).

Why Did Market Rise Today?

Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services, said, The Indian market has demonstrated resilience in anticipation of the upcoming Union Budget, with expectations of measures aimed at stimulating consumption and job creation. Small and mid-cap stocks experienced a relief rally, while key index valuations are trading at a 5-year average, which appears attractive given the strong long-term domestic outlook."

Investors are now focusing on the upcoming FOMC meeting, with general expectations that the Fed will maintain its current hawkish stance, he said.

The US Federal Reserve is set to announce its interest rate decision at 12:30 am tonight. According to analysts, the US Fed is expected to keep its key interest rates unchanged.

Technical View

Rupak De, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities, said, The Nifty moved up, shrugging off two days of weakness. Though sentiment has improved slightly, overall weakness is likely to persist as the index remains below the 21EMA. On the lower end, 23,000 is likely to act as immediate support, and a fall below this level might trigger panic in the market. However, above 23,200, the Nifty could gather more strength."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

On Tuesday, the benchmark equity indices, BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50, closed in positive territory. The 30-share Sensex gained 535.24 points, or 0.71%, finishing at 75,901.41. Throughout the day, the index fluctuated between 78,512.96 and 78,622.88.

The NSE Nifty50 also closed higher at 22,957.25, marking an increase of 128.10 points or 0.56%. The index reached a high of 23,137.95 and a low of 22,857.65 during the session.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 09:17 IST
Gold, Silver Prices Fall On January 29: Check Precious Metal Prices In Your City Today

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 08:56 IST

Gold Prices Today: The price of 24K gold was trading at Rs 82,070 per 10 grams in the national capital New Delhi, while 22K gold was quoted at Rs 75,240 per 10 grams.

Gold Prices Today In India on January 29, 2025.

Gold Rate Today In India: Gold prices in India remained under pressure on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Known for its unmatched purity, 24-carat gold continues to attract buyers seeking premium quality. Meanwhile, 22-carat gold, prized for its durability and timeless charm, remains a favourite among jewellery enthusiasts and investors alike, striking a balance between elegance and practicality.

24-Carat Gold, 22-Carat Gold In India

related stories

On Wednesday, the price of 24K gold was trading at Rs 82,070 per 10 grams in the national capital New Delhi, while 22K gold was quoted at Rs 75,240 per 10 grams.

Heres a detailed breakdown of gold prices across key cities:

City 22K Gold (per 10gm) 24K Gold (per 10gm) Delhi Rs 75,240 Rs 82,070 Mumbai Rs 75,090 Rs 81,920 Chennai Rs 75,090 Rs 81,920 Kolkata Rs 75,090 Rs 81,920

Silver Price Today in India (January 29, 2025)

Silver prices also fell by Rs 100 to Rs 96,400 per kg in major Indian cities on Wednesday, amid weak domestic demand.

What Factors Affect Gold Prices in India?

International market rates, import duties, taxes, and fluctuations in exchange rates primarily influence gold prices in India. Together, these factors determine the daily gold rates across the country.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In India, gold is deeply cultural and financial. It is a preferred investment option and is key to celebrations, particularly weddings and festivals.

With constantly changing market conditions, investors and traders monitor fluctuations closely. Staying updated is crucial for effectively navigating dynamic trends.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 08:56 IST
CBSE To Begin Psycho-Social Counselling For Students, Parents From February 1

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 19:00 IST

There are three ways CBSE offers psycho-social counselling to board exam students. These include IVRS, podcasts, and tele-counselling.

The free-of-cost counselling session will be held in two phases. (Representative/File Photo)

The CBSE will provide psycho-social counselling services facility to students and parents for the academic session 2025 to eliminate exam-related stress. The counselling services will commence on February 1 and continue till April 4, 2025. The free-of-cost counselling session will be held in two phases.

This comes prior to the commencement of the CBSE class 10 and 12 board exams 2025 which are scheduled to begin on February 15. There are three ways the board offers psycho-social counselling. These include IVRS, podcasts, and tele-counselling.

related stories

IVRS: Free of cost IVRS facility will be made available 247 for students and parents on the CBSE toll-free number 1800-11-8004. Through this process, information and suggestions about stress-free preparation for examinations, time and stress management, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and important contact details of CBSE offices, can be accessed. The facility is available in Hindi and English.

Podcasts: Students can listen to bilingual podcasts addressing stress management and mental well-being on the CBSE official website cbse.gov.in.

Tele-counselling: Tele-counselling is a voluntary and free-of-cost service, which will be available from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. A total of 66 trained counsellors, principals, psychologists, and special educators from CBSE-affiliated government and private schools will be assisting students on how to take stress-free exams. Out of these, 51 are from India, while 15 counsellors are from Nepal, Japan, Qatar, Oma,n and the United Arab Emirates, the board added.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Meanwhile, the CBSE is expected to release the admit card for the 10th, and 12th board exams 2025 soon. Students will be able to download the admit card for the CBSE Board Exam 2025 from the official website at cbse.gov.in, once released.

Students who filled out the private form will have to download the CBSE Board Admit Card themselves. While regular students will have to collect their admit cards from their respective schools. Principals of schools affiliated with the CBSE board can download the admit cards of the students using their credentials and distribute them to the students.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 18:52 IST
AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, January 29. A total of 39 polling stations joined the municipal elections in Aghdam constituency No. 119, Chairman of the constituency's district election commission Sahil Aliyev told Trend.

He said that overall, 170 candidates are competing for 84 seats in eight municipalities.

There are 544 observers monitoring the election process at the polling stations. Web cameras have been installed at four polling stations, allowing the process to be followed online. 38,085 voters are set to exercise their right to vote. Voters, who arrived early in the morning, are actively exercising their constitutional rights.

According to both voters and observers, the elections are taking place democratically, and no violations have been reported.

The electoral process is currently ongoing.

To note, voting for the municipal elections started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for municipal elections. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Elections Commission and District Elections Commissions for the municipal elections. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal elections in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
CGSOS Open School Class 10, 12 Board Exam 2025 Timetable Released, First Paper On March 26

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:35 IST

CGSOS Board Exam 2025 for Classes 10th, and 12th will be held between March 26 to April 21.

CGSOS 10th Board Exams 2025 are scheduled to take place from March 27 to April 21.(Representative Image/AFP)

CGSOS Board Exam Timetable 2025: The Chhattisgarh State Open School (CGSOS) has released the timetable for the Classes 10 and 12 Board Exam 2025. Students who are scheduled to appear for the examination can check the CGSOS Board Exam 2025 timetable on the official website -sos.cg.nic.in. Along with the timetable, CGSOS has also released the guidelines for the examination.

According to the official schedule, the CGSOS Board Exam 2025 for Classes 10th, and 12th will be held between March 26 to April 21.

related stories

The CGSOS Class 12 Board Exams will be held from March 26 to April 21, while the Chhattisgarh CGSOS Matric Exams 2025 are scheduled to take place from March 27 to April 21.

Even if any holiday or local holiday is declared by the government during the examination period, the examinations will still be conducted as per schedule," it clarified. However, any change in exam date or timetable will be notified by the school board on the official website, sos.cg.nic.in.

Students are required to be seated by 8:30 AM, and the distribution of answer books will begin at 8:35 AM. The question papers will be distributed at 8:40 AM, and the exam itself will run from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM.

The CGSOS board exams for 2025 schedule is as follows

Chhattisgarh Open School Class 10th Board Exam Timetable 2025

Exam Date Subject March 27, 2025 Hindi March 29, 2025 Urdu April 1, 2025 Science April 3, 2025 English April 5, 2025 Home Science April 8, 2025 Social Science April 11, 2025 Mathematics April 12, 2025 Business Studies April 15, 2025 Economics April 16, 2025 Marathi April 17, 2025 Sanskrit

Chhattisgarh Open School Class 12th Board Exam Timetable 2025

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Exam Date Subject March 26, 2025 Hindi March 28, 2025 Biology March 29, 2025 Politics April 2, 2025 Physical Science April 4, 2025 Home Science April 7, 2025 Chemistry April 9, 2025 English April 11, 2025 Accounting April 12, 2025 Maths April 16, 2025 History April 17, 2025 Commerce April 19, 2025 Geography April 21, 2025 Economics

Additionally, the board has instructed officials to conduct practical exams for both Class 10 and Class 12 students by April 21. It is also recommended that Class 10 practical exams be held on the same day as the Class 12 theory exams, and Class 12 practical exams on the same day as the Class 10 theory exams.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:33 IST
Harvard To Stanford: Top Engineering Universities In US And Their Acceptance Rate

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:16 IST

Harvard, Stanford, and MIT lead the way in engineering education, offering world-class programmes.

Harvard, Stanford and MIT (Left to Right)

Higher education plays a pivotal role in shaping successful careers, and aspiring engineers often seek out the most prestigious institutions to further their studies. The United States boasts a renowned reputation for its top-tier engineering programmes, attracting students from across the globe. With a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and practical application, these universities offer an unparalleled educational experience. These universities attract top-tier faculty, provide state-of-the-art laboratories, and offer a vibrant academic environment that fosters innovation and creativity.

As the demand for skilled engineers grows, students continue to search for the top universities in the United States. If you are also looking for the top engineering universities, weve got your back. According to the latest THE World University Rankings by Subject  2025, Harvard University maintains its leading position, followed by Stanford University and MIT.

related stories

Harvard tops with the highest overall score of 97.5, closely followed by Stanford at 96.4 and MIT at 96.2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology excels in teaching with a perfect score of 99.0, while Stanford and Harvard score slightly lower in this area. The rankings reflect the exceptional quality of these top engineering universities.

Top 3 Engineering Universities In US

Harvard University: Known for its humanities and social sciences, Harvard University boasts a prestigious School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, offering world-class education and research opportunities in diverse engineering disciplines. The courses offered here are Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Engineering Science. The estimated cost of studying at this university is $82,866 (approximately Rs 71 lakh).

Acceptance Rate: 3.5%

Stanford University: A leading research university in Silicon Valley with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, Stanford excels in various engineering fields, including computer science, bioengineering, and mechanical engineering. It also offers courses like Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The total tuition fees of this university are around $92,982 (Rs 80 lakh).

Acceptance Rate: 3.9%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Popular for its cutting-edge research and innovative teaching methods, MIT consistently ranks among the worlds best institutions for engineering and technology. Aeronautics and Astronautics, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering are some of the courses offered at this university. The total tuition fees of this university are around $85,960 (Rs 74 lakh).

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

ALSO READ: Education Technology Trends That Will Impact Teaching-Learning In 2025

Acceptance Rate: 4.8%

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:16 IST
JEE Main 2025 Session 1 Day 5: Physics Paper Easy, Maths Time-Consuming, Say Experts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 18:37 IST

JEE Main 2025 Session 1: Day 5 Math paper was tough and lengthy, Chemistry was moderate with tricky NCERT-based questions, and Physics was overall easy.

JEE Main 2025: NTA has changed the examination centre for candidates in Ayodhya amid a massive gathering of devotees for the Mahakumbh. (Representative Image/PTI)

JEE Main 2025 Day 5 Paper Analysis: The National Testing Agency (NTA) began the JEE Main 2025 Session 1 on January 22, 2025. Today, January 29, marks the fifth day of the exam. Each day, the exam is conducted in two shifts: the first shift runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, while the second shift takes place from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Candidates aiming for BE/BTech courses appear for JEE Main Paper 1, while those seeking BArch admissions will take Paper 2.

Paper 1 included 75 questions, divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. According to NTA guidelines, students had 3 hours to complete the exam, which carried a total of 300 marks.

related stories

The evaluation will be as per the following marking scheme:

Every correct answer: +4 marks

Every incorrect answer: -1 mark

Unattempted question: 0 marks

JEE Main 2024: Day 5 (29 January 2025) Question Paper Analysis

1st Shift: Major Highlights

Mathematics: The Mathematics paper was deemed difficult and quite lengthy by candidates. While the questions were based on the syllabus, they were tough and required considerable time and effort to solve, particularly due to the lengthy calculations involved. Key topics covered in the paper included Vectors and 3D Geometry, Differential Equations, Integration, Matrices, Area under the Curve, Limits, Circle, Permutations and Combinations, Probability, and Conics.

Chemistry: The Chemistry paper was generally of moderate difficulty with some tricky questions. A significant emphasis was placed on the NCERT textbook, with a mix of formula-based direct questions and more complex, tricky problems. In terms of section-wise weightage and difficulty, Physical Chemistry was the most challenging, followed by Organic Chemistry, and then Inorganic Chemistry.

Physics: The Physics paper was relatively easy, with many indirect questions that tested conceptual understanding. A noticeable trend was the higher number of questions from the Class 11 syllabus. The questions were primarily indirect, requiring students to apply their knowledge and problem-solving skills to arrive at the correct answers, rather than relying on direct application of formulas. Key topics included Ray Optics, Projectile Motion, Centre of Mass, Kinematics, Magnetic Effect of Current, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Unit Dimensions, and Modern Physics

2nd Shift: Major Highlights

Maths Paper: The Mathematics paper was moderate in difficulty but lengthy, with the maximum time required for solving maths-related questions. Most of the questions were direct, though they involved lengthy calculations, making them time-consuming. Key topics included Binomial Theorem, Complex Numbers combined with Determinants, Vectors and 3D Geometry, Trigonometry, Definite Integration, Matrices, Straight Lines, Permutations and Combinations, and Conics.

Chemistry: The Chemistry paper was moderate with tricky questions. It was heavily based on the NCERT syllabus, with a mix of theory, concept-based, and indirect questions. Physical Chemistry had formula-based and lengthy questions, Inorganic Chemistry was tricky, while Organic Chemistry was relatively easier. The paper also included combination questions from Physical and Organic Chemistry, as well as statement-based questions like assertion-reason type.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Physics: The Physics paper was very easy, featuring mostly statement-based questions. Topics included Ray Optics, Modern Physics, Electrostatics, Capacitors, Relative Motion, Centre of Mass, Thermodynamics, EMF, and Angular Momentum. Overall, the questions were straightforward and required basic application of concepts.

(Inputs From Topper Learning)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 10:49 IST
RPSC RAS Prelims Admit Card 2024 To Be Released Tomorrow, Here's How To Download

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 12:00 IST

RPSC will release RAS Prelims Admit Card 2024 on January 30, 2025. Candidates can download it from rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in or SSO portals. The exam is on February 2, 2025, for 733 vacancies.

The RPSC will conduct the RAS Prelims 2024 exam on February 2, 2025.

RAS Prelims Admit Card 2024: The Rajasthan Public Service Commission will release the admit cards for the Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) examination 2025 on Thursday, January 30, 2025. Once released, registered candidates can download the RPSC RAS Prelims Admit Card 2024 through the official website  rpsc.rajasthan.gov. Candidates can also download the hall tickets through SSO portals.

Candidates must note that the RPSC has already released the Prelims Exam City Slips 2024 on January 26, 2025. Candidates can download the exam city slips and admit cards through the official website or using their application number and date of birth.

related stories

Candidates can obtain information about the examination district allotted to them by logging into the SSO Portal starting from January 26, 2025. The admit cards for the examination will be uploaded on the Commissions website and the SSO Portal on January 30, 2025," reads the official notice.

How To Download RAS Prelims Admit Card 2024?

Step 1: Visit the official website  rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link for RPSC RAS Prelims 2024 admit card

Step 3: Now enter your credentials like registration number, date of birth etc

Step 4: Click on submit and your RAS Admit Card will appear on the screen

Step 5: Download the hall ticket and take a printout for exam day

Candidates must bring their updated original Aadhaar card (in coloured print) for identity verification at the examination centre. Suppose the photo on the Aadhaar card is outdated or unclear. In that case, candidates should also carry another valid photo IDsuch as a driving license, passport, or voter ID cardwith a clear and recent colour photo. Additionally, a recent clear colour photo should be affixed to the admit card.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) will conduct the Rajasthan State and Subordinate Services Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination, 2024 on February 2, 2025 (Sunday), from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. An extra 10 minutes will be allotted to fill out the fifth option in the OMR answer sheet.

RPSC is recruiting for a total of 733 vacancies across various departments in the state. Of these, 346 posts are for State Services, and 387 are for Subordinate Services..

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:53 IST
SC Strikes Down Domicile Quotas In PG Medical Admissions, Says 'Violates Article 14'

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:03 IST

The Supreme Court ruled that PG medical admissions must be based on merit, declaring domicile-based quotas unconstitutional.

Supreme Court stated that domicile quotas may only be allowed in MBBS courses.

In a major judgment, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that there will be no domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical admissions. The court declared such reservations unconstitutional as they violate Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality.

Residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," pronounced a bench comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Justice SVN Bhatti.

related stories

We are all domiciles of India; there is no separate provincial or state domicile. There is only one domicile, and we are all residents of India. We have the right to choose our residence anywhere in the country and pursue trade and profession freely. The Constitution also grants us the right to seek admission to educational institutions across India," Justice Dhulia stated while reading out the judgments reasoning.

The judgment sets an important precedent, ensuring that PG medical admissions under state quotas must be based entirely on merit in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The bench acknowledged that some level of domicile-based reservation might be permissible for undergraduate (MBBS) admissions. However, it firmly ruled that applying such reservations to PG medical courseswhere specialisation and expertise are crucialwould be unconstitutional.

Given the significance of specialised doctors in PG medical courses, residence-based reservation at this level would violate Article 14 of the Constitution," Justice Dhulia added.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

However, the bench clarified that the ruling will not impact domicile reservations already granted. Students currently pursuing PG courses and those who have already graduated under such reservations will remain unaffected.

In 2019, a two-judge Supreme Court bench, in Dr. Tanvi Behl (SV) vs. Shrey Goel and Others, dealt with appeals against a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that struck down domicile reservations in PG medical admissions as unconstitutional. Given the significance of the issue, particularly since Chandigarh has only one medical college, the bench referred the matter to a larger bench for a definitive ruling. The three-judge bench has now provided clarity, ensuring that PG medical admissions remain merit-based and that states cannot impose restrictive domicile criteria.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 12:58 IST
'I Drink Same Water... Can Haryana BJP Poison Me?' PM Modi On AAP's 'Toxic Yamuna' Charge

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:33 IST

PM Modi has slammed AAP for blaming Haryana for Yamuna's water quality. He also stressed that the same water is consumed by all, including judges and diplomats.

The Prime Minister also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form a government in Delhi after February 8, when the votes for the elections will be counted. (Photo: PTI)

Ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a rally in the national capital and took a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying that the people of Delhi do not want aapda now.

He also said the Yamuna River water is consumed by judges, diplomats as well as poor, and that it was incorrect to think that Haryana will poison it to kill Modi.

related stories

The Prime Minister also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form a government in Delhi after February 8, when the votes for the elections will be counted.

At the beginning of his address, he also expressed concerns over the stampede-like situation at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of today.

Before I begin my address, a sad incident occurred at Maha Kumbh. We have lost some sacred souls, and some people received injuries. I express my condolence to the affected families and pray for the quick recovery of those injured," the Prime Minister said addressing a Sankalp Rally at Kartar Nagar.

I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Crores of devotees have gathered at Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The Amrit Snan was stopped for some time, however, devotees are taking holy dip smoothly now," he added.

Speaking on the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi, PM Modi said, After February 8, the BJP government, which will be formed in Delhi, will fulfil all its promises in a time-bound manner. This is Modis guarantee."

Referring to the massive crowd at his rally, PM Modi said, The scene here reflects the mood of Delhi, it reflects the mandate of the people of Delhi."

Delhi is saying that now the excuses of aapda will not work, false promises of aapda will not work. Delhi is saying that now the loot and lies of aapda will not work. People here want the double-engine government of the BJP which will build houses for the poor, modernise Delhi, provide tap water to every house and give freedom from the tanker mafia. Today, Delhi is saying that the aapda will go and the BJP will come on February 5," the Prime Minister added.

#WATCH Delhi: Addressing a public rally in Delhi, PM Modi says, The scene here reflects the mood of Delhi, it reflects the mandate of the people of Delhi. Delhi is saying that now the excuses of Aapda will not work, false promises of Aapda will not work. Delhi is saying that pic.twitter.com/d5gI20qGxc ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

PM MODI SLAMS AAP OVER POISONOUS YAMUNA CHARGE

Aapda sought votes in the name of cleaning Yamuna, now they shamelessly say that it doesnt yield votes," PM Modi said.

Referring to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwals poisonous water remark, PM Modi said, A former Chief Minister of Delhi has levelled disgusting allegations on the people of Haryana. Due to fear of losing, people from aapda have got rattled."

Are people of Haryana different from those in Delhi? Are relatives of those living in Haryana not residing in Delhi? Can the people of Haryana poison the water their own people drink? The water sent by Haryana is consumed by everyone living in Delhi, which also includes this Prime Minister," he said.

In aapda walon ki lutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi" (Those behind aapda will drown in Yamuna River). These aapda people say that the people of Haryana mix poison in water sent to Delhi. This is not just an insult to Haryana but to all Indians," PM Modi said.

Ours is a country where providing drinking water is considered a good deed. I am sure Delhi will teach a lesson to people who say such things," he added.

(On January 28, Arvind Kejriwal said he was not afraid of legal action and asserted he would not let people die in Delhi because of the dirty, poisonous water". He also claimed that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO, in a letter on Monday, confirmed that a poison" called ammonia had been mixed with the water supplied from the neighbouring state.)

Speaking further at the rally, PM Modi said, You have witnessed the Congresss tenure and the Aam Aadmi Partys 11-year tenure, but the problems Delhi has been facing have remained. In 25 years, they (Congress and AAP) have destroyed your two generations. There are still traffic jams, water logging and pollution in Delhi."

Your one vote can relieve you of all these problems. We have to complete pending works from the last 11 years and also plan for the next 25 years. Youve seen the last 25 years under Congress and AAP, now give the lotus a chance," the Prime Minister told the crowd at his rally.

I will take care of you like family, your dreams will be mine. Give (me) the strength to fulfil your dreams," he said.

#WATCH | During a public rally in Delhi, PM Modi says, You have witnessed Congress tenure and AAPs 11 year tenure but the problems facing Delhi have remained. In 25 years, they (Congress & AAP) have destroyed your two generations. There are still traffic jams, water logging pic.twitter.com/MklR3UZs4w ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

AAP HAS NO INTENTION OF WORKING: PM MODI

Slamming the AAP further, the Prime Minister said, The entire country is filled with enthusiasm as we celebrate 75 years of the Indian Republic. On January 26, the patriotic tableaux on Kartavya Path were witnessed, and the roar of Indian strength resonated through the skies. Today, in the evening, our militarys prowess will be displayed in related meetings. But we must not forget that the AAP, right here in Delhi, questioned the valour of our armed forces."

They called a legislative session and demanded proof of the surgical strike from our brave soldiers. These people insulted the bravery of our soldiers. Today, I want to tell the people of Delhi that its time to punish those who betrayed Mother India. The opportunity is on February 5," he added.

Friends, the AAP leaders have no intention of working. In the past five years, the Delhi Assembly has only worked for 70-75 days. This has been the least productive period in the history of the Delhi Assembly. During this time, problems in Delhi increased, but only 14 laws were passed," PM Modi continued.

History will never forgive this. Today, even if your followers try to suppress the issue, even if your ecosystem tries to cover up this sin, the country will not forget, Delhi will not forget, and every child in Haryana will not forget that a former Chief Minister of Delhi made disgraceful allegations against the people of Haryana," he added.

Further, PM Modi, at the rally, said Delhi is known only for being the capital city of the nation.

When people talk about Delhi, they only mention that it is the capital of the country. The city itself lacks a unique identity. Look at the neighbouring cities like Gurgaon and Noida  today, they are known for their IT sector, startups, and manufacturing. Bengaluru is known for its IT sector, Mumbai for its film industry. When it comes to cleanliness, cities like Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Bhopal are recognised among the top cities in the country," he said.

Unless the lives of those living in slums are improved, the BJP will not rest. Therefore, the BJP government is constructing permanent homes for thousands of slum dwellers. Where there are slums, good homes are being provided. Thousands of slum dwellers have already received the keys to their new homes," PM Modi said.

He also slammed the AAP over the Sheeshmahal row, and said, Modi doesnt have his own house, but Modis dream is for every poor person to have a permanent home. These people who build palaces, waste crores of public money, and live in luxury, can never think about the homes of the poor. Thats why these AAP people are going to slums and spreading falsehoods."

Whatever is good for Delhi and beneficial for the welfare of its people will be continued, strengthened, and further supported. And yes, the corrupt will have to go. The funds allocated for projects and taxpayers money meant for the welfare of the poor will be used solely for that purpose. The BJP government will ensure transparency in these schemes and put an end to corruption," the PM said.

Delhi: PM Modi says, Whatever is good for Delhi and beneficial for the welfare of its people will be continued, strengthened, and further supported. And yes, the corrupt will have to go. The funds allocated for projects and taxpayers money meant for the welfare of the poor will pic.twitter.com/JVnsn218vH IANS (@ians_india) January 29, 2025

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

They are spreading another rumour that the BJP will stop its schemes. Some people have this habit of lying. In 2014, when I was contesting the Lok Sabha elections, these Congress people were going from village to village, street to street, saying that if Modi and BJP came, MNREGA would be shut down, and your livelihood would be at risk, trying to incite fear. Its been 11 years now, and I had said back then that I would not stop the schemes; I would strengthen them," PM Modi said at the Delhi rally.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:52 IST
Delhi HC Directs ECI To Prevent Parties From Using 'Vilifying' Campaign Material Ahead Of Polls

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:11 IST

The court said the state election officer, chief election officer and the district election officer were fully empowered and duty-bound to check such messages and advertising material being circulated by political parties

A view of Delhi High Court building in New Delhi. (PTI file photo)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India to ensure political parties and their candidates did not use any vilifying" material during election campaigns.

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the direction on a PIL alleging spam calls and voice messages were made to public by unknown numbers to vote a particular political party to power to get freebies.

related stories

The bench disposed of the plea taking note of the proposed action by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the petitioners complaint.

The court said the state election officer, chief election officer and the district election officer were fully empowered and duty-bound to check such messages and advertising material being circulated by political parties and their candidates having the tendency to vilify the atmosphere in elections.

Advocate Sidhant Kumar, representing the ECI, said the commission took cognisance of the petitioners complaint and directed the chief election officer, Delhi to enquire into the allegations and submit a report.

He said ECI issued guidelines mandating that political advertisements, including voice calls, were certified.

Kumar said as and when the report of the chief election officer was received, appropriate action would be taken.

We thus direct that based on the enquiry report to be submitted by the chief election officer, appropriate action which will be warranted under law be taken by ECI or any other authority under law to do so," said the bench.

On legislative assembly elections, the bench said it was the primary duty of the ECI under Article 324 of the Constitution to ensure free and fair elections were held.

It (ECI) has been vested with powers to take every step for ensuring free and fair elections while supervising the conduct of elections. It thus becomes the duty of the ECI to take proactive steps to check circulation of such messages which have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere," it said.

The PIL was filed by three lawyers seeking action against disseminators of vilifying and malicious material.

Dhrone Diwan, Kashish Dhawan and Arshia Jain, who appeared in person, claimed a message was relayed through voice calls that if votes were not cast to a particular political party, voters freebies would be withdrawn.

On the prayer to postpone the elections, the court said such prayer could not be granted in the midst of polls as no such ground was available in the PIL.

We thus dispose of the PIL taking note of the action taken by the ECI on the complaint of the petitioners as also the provision contained in the handbook issued by ECI with further hope and trust that appropriate action under law shall be taken not only on the complaint of the petitioners but also for ensuring that political parties and their candidates are checked not to use any vilifying material during election campaigns," the bench said.

The petition alleged spam calls were being motivated with the intent to disseminate hatred, bias, malicious and vilifying material in the public domain.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Material that was being disseminated created an opinion against other political parties which was enough to tarnish their image and to create public bias, it said.

A voice call was received with a particular political party being named, which is made respondent herein (Aam Aadmi Party), and stated all the freebies offered by it would be withdrawn from February 11, 2025, that is the day when the newly-elected government of Delhi legislative Assembly would take its charge, if voters of Delhi wish to get freebies they should not vote for any other political party," the PIL said.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:08 IST
Mauni Amavasya Today: Why Is It Significant At Maha Kumbh? What To Expect? Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 09:36 IST

It is believed abstaining from speech on Mauni Amavasya and taking a dip in the holy Ganga can purify ones soul and bring mental stability and inner calm. The Mauni Amavasya Tithi at Maha Kumbh will end at 6.05 pm today

Devotees gather to take holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of 'Mauni Amavasya' during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, on January 28. (PTI Photo)

The spiritual energy at the Maha Kumbh Mela has reached its peak, with more than 10 crore people expected to take the royal dip (Amrit Snan) on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya today.

The worlds largest human gathering represents a unique confluence of faith, tradition and meticulous planning to accommodate millions of pilgrims. Thus, pilgrims can take part in the Mauni Amavasya that began at 7.35 pm on Wednesday and will end at 6.05 pm today.

related stories

What Is Mauni Amavasya?

Mauni Amavasya, falling on the no-moon day of the Magha month, holds immense spiritual and astrological significance in Hinduism. The word mauni is derived from the word maun, which means silence, symbolizing introspection and spiritual discipline.

Mauni Amavasya is the last Amavasya before Mahashivratri and is considered the most important Amavasya. Since it is Mauni, many devotees choose to maintain silence for more days after Mauni Amavasya.

Why Is It Significant?

According to Vedic astrology, Chandra or Moon is the ruling deity of mind. On Mauni Amavasya, the mind in the absence of the Moon is unable to make decisions or tends to wander. The Moon deity controls the mind and impulses to act in certain situations. Thus, the mind becomes more fickle, restless and confused as the Moon is absent.

When the mind is unstable, the decisions taking during that time dont yield the desired results. Therefore, Mauni Amavasya is for keeping silent to bring peace and stability to the mind and tongue.

Since there is a high probability of a person saying unwanted and ill words on this due to the weak position of Moon, the Mauni Amavasya is perfect for practising Maun or silence.

It is said that taking a bath in River Ganges or the confluence of Ganga with other rivers will purify ones mind and body. In Hinduism, bathing in river Ganga is considered holy.

What To Do On Mauni Amavasya During Maha Kumbh?

Maintain silence throughout the day. Abstain from unnecessary speech to conserve energy and focus on inner peace and self-awareness. This practice brings mental stability, clarity and inner calmness and spiritual growth.

Per Shri Krishna Charit Manas (Rasayan Mahakavya), observing silence has numerous benefits. The granth emphasizes that practicing silence is essential for a stress-free life. It calms the mind, enhances concentration, and facilitates focused meditation. This enables a person to face challenges with greater ease. A peaceful mind leads to improved efficiency and decision-making capabilities, helping individuals achieve greater success in life," Dr Shri Krishna Kinkar Ji, Shri Krishna Charit Manas (Bhagavat) Kathavachak and Spiritual Orator at Shri Dham Vrindavan told The Indian Express.

A bath in sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna or any other holy water body is highly auspicious. It is believed that performing such a ritual washes away ones sins and attract positive energies.

One should also pay tarpan or perform pitra puja on Mauni Amavasya. Offering water, black sesame seeds and food to departed souls is believed to bring blessings, which can lead to prosperity and family harmony.

In the evening, light diyas or lamps using sesame oil and place it at the altar of your home or near a sacred tree. Chanting Gayatri Mantra or Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra enhances the spiritual atmosphere, inviting divine blessings and positivity.

Performing charity on Mauni Amavasya is considered to earn good karma. Donate foods, clothes, or money to the needy, feed stray animals or offer sesame seeds, jaggery and blanket on this day to attract fortune and prosperity.

Meditation on this day can help align a persons energies with cosmic vibrations. Observing a fast helps detoxify the body and enhances spiritual focus. Plant trees or worship Peepal or Tulsi to amplify positive energy around you.

Perform Goddess Lakshmi puja on this day to invite abundance and financial stability. Worship the deity of wealth by decorating home altar, offering flowers and sweets, incense and recite Lakshmi mantras.

Special Provisions In Place On Mauni Amavasya At Maha Kumbh

To ensure a smooth and seamless experience for devotees, arrangements have been made across all 44 Ghats developed over a 12-km stretch. Each Ghat is equipped with facilities to handle the massive crowds. Senior officials, including SDMs, COs, tehsildars, and IAS officers, have been deployed at prominent Ghats like the Sangam, Airavat, and Arail to oversee the arrangements.

To manage the crowds, Ghats have been designated for different regions. Devotees from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and northeastern states can perform their rituals at the Airavat Sangam Ghat, while those from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and southern states have been allocated ghats in Arail.

For pilgrims arriving from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and western Uttar Pradesh, arrangements have been made along ghats stretching from the Sangam to Nag Vasuki. Authorities are focused on ensuring pilgrims complete their rituals safely and return without delays.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The Prayagraj administration has issued an appeal to local residents to avoid using four-wheelers to prevent traffic congestion. Public transport has been prioritised for the smooth movement of devotees.

Security remains a top priority, with officers stationed at key locations to ensure a safe and orderly pilgrimage. The Akhara routes have been sealed for public access, maintaining the sanctity of the Amrit Snan rituals.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 09:36 IST
60-Year-Old Dies Of Heart Attack While Doctor Busy Watching Reels At UP Hospital | Video

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 19:21 IST

Pravesh Kumari died of a heart attack at Maharaja Tej Singh Hospital, allegedly due to Dr. Adarsh Sengar's negligence while watching social media. The incident is under investigation.

Gurusharan accused the doctor (in red circle) of medical negligence and slapping him after her mother died. (Image: X/@dr_ajitsolanky)

In a concerning incident, a woman who suffered a heart-attack died at a private hospital due to alleged medical negligence in Uttar Pradeshs Mainpuri district. It is learnt that the on-duty doctor didnt attend the woman as he was watching reels on social media and instead directed his subordinates to check the patient.

The deceased, identified as Pravesh Kumari, complained of severe chest pain following which her son, Gurusharan Singh, rushed her to the district hospital where Dr Adarsh Sengar was on duty.

related stories

The alleged incident was reported on Tuesday at Maharaja Tej Singh District Hospital in the district, according to a report in India Today. The incident has sparked outrage amongst the patients family members. The whole incident was captured on CCTV installed at hospital premises.

Womans Death Sparks Outrage

Gurusharan accused the doctor of medical negligence and slapping him after her mother died.

When my mothers condition worsened, we created a scene out of desperation. Annoyed, Dr Sengar finally got up but, instead of helping, he slapped me in frustration. By then, my mother had already died," India Today quoted Gurusharan as saying.

The CCTV video shows the woman in pain and discomfort lying on a bed with a group of men, including her son, around her. The patient was initially catered by nurses but she got no relief as she remained restless. As this happens, the on-duty doctor remained seated, appearing busy with his phone.

As the womens situation worsened, people started panicking but the doctor showed no signs of sympathy as he kept engaging with his phone.

A few minutes later, the woman stopped responding, triggering panic among the attendees. After witnessing the situation, the doctor finally came but instead of check the woman first, he engaged in an altercation with the attendees. When the womans son protested his actions of negligence, the doctor even slapped him, leading to a fight among them.

As chaos prevailed, a heavy police force was rushed to the hospital to bring the situation un der control. Soon after, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Madan Lal also arrived at the scene.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

CCTV footage is being checked. If the allegations are found to be true, strict departmental action will be taken against the doctor," Madan Lal told India Today, adding a thorough investigation will be done in the case.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered in this regard. Further investigation into the matter is underway. More details are awaited.

Location : Mainpuri, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 19:03 IST
Haryana Court Asks Arvind Kejriwal To Appear On Feb 17 Over 'Poison In Yamuna' Remark

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 22:47 IST

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Goyal issued the notice to the former Delhi chief minister on a complaint filed by an executive engineer of the Rai Water Services Division, Sonipat

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI Image)

A court in Haryanas Sonipat on Wednesday issued a notice to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over his claim that the BJP-ruled state was mixing poison in the Yamuna" river, and asked him to appear on February 17.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Goyal issued the notice to the former Delhi chief minister on a complaint filed by an executive engineer of the Rai Water Services Division, Sonipat.

related stories

He is directed to appear in-person before this court on the next date of hearing, if he has to say anything in the matter. If he does not appear before this court on next date of hearing, it is deemed that he has nothing to say in the matter and further proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law," said the court, asking Kejriwal to appear on February 17.

Earlier in the day, Haryanas Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel said the state government will file a case against Kejriwal over his remark.

Kejriwal has made an irresponsible statement spreading panic among the people of Delhi and Haryana. The Haryana government is going to get a case registered against him before CJM Court in Sonipat under the Disaster Management Act," he told reporters. The complaint was registered under Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Section 223, Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Section 353 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Under the provisions laid down under Section 223 of BNSS, an opportunity of being heard is to be given to the accused before taking cognisance of offence by the magistrate.

Kejriwal had alleged on Monday that the BJP people in Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi" so that they can blame the AAP if people die and take political benefit. Can anything be more disgusting than this?" The poison that is being mixed in the water cannot even be cleaned in water treatment plants. For the safety of the people of Delhi, the water supply has to be stopped in many areas," Kejriwal had said.

Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana ministers criticised Kejriwal for his remarks, which came in the midst of the ongoing election season in Delhi.

Haryana Revenue Minister Goel accused Kejriwal of speaking big lies".

What kind of water we give them (to Delhi), all our officers have checked the water being supplied. Kejriwal has done cheap politics by making such allegations on Haryana, prompting the state government to take legal action," he said.

He accused Kejriwal of spreading fear not only among the people of Delhi but also the people of Haryana with his false claims".

He also accused the AAP dispensation in Delhi of completely failing to clean the Yamuna river.

Kejriwal is making baseless allegations against Haryana just to save his political image before the (Delhi) elections", Goel said.

He said the people of Haryana consider the Yamuna sacred, and spreading false propaganda is both an insult to Haryana and an attempt to mislead the people of Delhi.

He claimed that Kejriwal has an old habit of covering up his failures by making false statements.

After Kejriwal made the allegations, the Aam Aadmi Party doubled down on it.

On Monday, it accused the BJP government in Haryana of intentionally draining industrial waste into the Yamuna.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi had also alleged that the BJP is deliberately disrupting" Delhis water supply as a historic loss" awaits the saffron party in the February 5 assembly polls in the national capital.

Location : Chandigarh, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 22:47 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Head of Azerbaijan's Baku Executive Power, Eldar Azizov has exercised his right to vote in the municipal elections, Trend reports.

The mayor voted at polling station No. 6 of Sabail constituency No. 7.

As of 10:00 (GMT+4), 499,575 voters had participated in Azerbaijans municipal elections. The voter turnout stood at 8.38 percent.

To note, voting for the municipal election started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for the municipal election. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal election. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
How Himachal Cops Reunited A Missing Man With His Family In Assam

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 10:56 IST

The man, identified as Madan Shah, had been missing for over a year, with a missing person report filed by his relative Vindesh Shah in Assam

It was revealed that the Sirmaur police also assisted Madan Shah financially so he could return home. (News18 Hindi)

In a heart-warming development, the Sirmaur Police successfully reunited a missing man from Assam with his family after he was found wandering near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh. The man, identified as Madan Shah, had been missing for over a year, with a missing person report filed by his relative Vindesh Shah in Assam.

The case came to light on January 25 when a local villager alerted the police about an individual in distress. Police found the man, later identified as Madan Shah from Assam, wandering in tattered clothes. Initial attempts at communication proved challenging due to his mental state.

related stories

Through careful counselling, we determined that the man was from Assam," said IPS Raman Kumar Meena, who oversaw the case. The Sirmaur Police conducted extensive searches across multiple states and coordinated with the Ratnapur Police station in Assam. A breakthrough came when family members recognized Madan during a video call.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Given the familys financial constraints, they were unable to travel to Himachal Pradesh. However, police located Madans sister Radha in Uttar Pradesh, who made the journey to Nahan Police Station. The police department also provided Madan with clothing and money to facilitate his safe return.

Speaking to media after the emotional reunion, Radha expressed her gratitude to the Sirmaur Police. They are godsent for reuniting me with my brother," she said, recounting her year-long search and constant prayers for his safe return.

Location : Sirmaur, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 10:56 IST
ISRO Marks 100th Launch As GSLV-F15 Carrying Navigation Satellite NVS-02 Lifts Off

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 07:29 IST

ISRO successfully launched its GSLV-F15 rocket carrying a navigation satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, marking its maiden space venture this year and 100th overall.

ISRO marked its 100th launch as the GSLV-F15 carrying a navigation satellite lifted off from Sriharikota. (ISRO/X)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched their GSLV-F15 rocket carrying navigation satellite NVS-02 at 6:23 am on Wednesday at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking the Indian space agencys 100th mission.

The mission was also the first for the space agencys Chairman V Narayanan, who assumed office recently. It is ISROs maiden venture this year. As the 27.30-hour countdown concluded, the 50.9-metre tall rocket, emanating thick fumes on its tail, lifted off majestically from the second launch pad in Sriharikota.

related stories

GSLV-F15 is the 17th flight of Indias Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th flight with the Indigenous cryostage. It is the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage. GSLV-F15 payload fairing is a metallic version with a diameter of 3.4 meters.

#WATCH | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: ISRO launchs its 100th mission, the NVS-02 navigation satellite aboard the launch vehicle GSLV-F15 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 6.23 am today.(Source: ISRO) pic.twitter.com/n5iY9N8N0p  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

According to the space agency, the GSLV-F15 with its indigenous cryogenic stage will place the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and the launch will take place from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR.

The GSLV-F15 mission follows the GSLV-F12 mission which successfully carried navigation satellite NVS-01, the first of the second generation satellites on May 29, 2023.

The key applications of the satellite would be terrestrial, aerial and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, fleet management, location based services in mobile devices, orbit determination for satellites, Internet-of-Things (IoT) based applications, emergency and timing services, ISRO said.

Taking to X, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, 100th Launch: Congratulations @isro for achieving the landmark milestone of 100th Launch from Sriharikota. Its a privilege to be associated with the Department of Space at the historic moment of this record feat. Team #ISRO, you have once again made India proud with successful launch of GSLV-F15 / NVS-02 Mission."

#100thLaunch:Congratulations @isro for achieving the landmark milestone of #100thLaunch from #Sriharikota.Its a privilege to be associated with the Department of Space at the historic moment of this record feat.Team #ISRO, you have once again made India proud with pic.twitter.com/lZp1eV4mmL Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 29, 2025

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is Indias independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as the region extending about 1500 km beyond the Indian landmass, which is its primary service area, according to ISRO.

NavIC is providing two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 m and timing accuracy better than 40 ns over the primary service Area.

NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series is configured with Navigation payload in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor-NVS-01. It was designed, developed and integrated at U R Satellite Centre (URSC) with the support of other satellite-based work Centres.

Earlier, Nilesh Desai, Director of Space Applications Centre, ISRO, said the launch will help update Indias Regional Navigation Satellite System from four to five satellites.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Finally, it will be put in the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometres and it will increase the number of satellites of our navigation constellation from 4 to 5 and that will improve the overall accuracy of the positioning which we get from this navigation satellites," he said.

(with inputs from agencies)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 07:17 IST
Jharkhand Family Reunites With Lost Member, Now A Monk, After 27 Years At Kumbh Mela

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 22:25 IST

The lost member, Gangasagar Yadav, is now a 65-year-old Aghori monk Baba Rajkumar who belongs to a particular monastic order of sadhus

'Sadhus' at the Sangam on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya', during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, in Prayagraj. (PTI photo)

A Jharkhand family on Wednesday claimed to have traced their lost member at the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, ending a search for 27 long years.

The lost member, Gangasagar Yadav, is now a 65-year-old Aghori monk Baba Rajkumar who belongs to a particular monastic order of sadhus.

related stories

Gangasagar, who went missing in 1998 after travelling to Patna, was traceless so far, according to his family. His wife, Dhanwa Devi, was left to raise their two sons, Kamlesh and Vimlesh, alone.

Murli Yadav, younger brother of Gangasagar said, Over the years, we lost hope of ever seeing him again until one of our relatives attending the Kumbh Mela noticed a man resembling Gangasagar and took his photograph. The photo was sent to us and I, along with Dhanwa Devi and their two sons, rushed to the Kumbh Mela, determined to bring him back." Upon reaching the Mela, they came face-to-face with Baba Rajkumar, but he refused to acknowledge his previous identity as Gangasagar Yadav.

Claiming to be a Sadhu from Varanasi, Baba Rajkumar, along with his Sadhvi companion, denied all connections to his past life.

However, the family insisted that the man before them is indeed Gangasagar, pointing to distinctive features such as his long teeth, an injury on his forehead, and a noticeable scar on his knee.

Dhanwa Devi in a bid to reconnect with her husband, and Murli Yadav have informed the Kumbh Mela police of their claims, demanding a DNA test to confirm the true identity of the man.

We will wait until the end of the Kumbh Mela and, if necessary, insist on a DNA test. If the test doesnt match, we will issue an apology to Baba Rajkumar," Murli Yadav said.

Meanwhile, some of the family members have returned home, while others are still stationed at the Mela, keeping a close watch on Baba Rajkumar and the Sadhvi.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Once the Mela concludes, they are prepared to pursue legal steps if the proposed DNA test confirms what they are claiming.

Gangasagars disappearance devastated his family, especially his young children. His elder son was only two years old at that time, and his younger son was yet to be born.

Location : Jharkhand, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 22:23 IST
Man Accused Of Killing Neighbour In 2019, Murders Her Husband, Mother-In-Law While Out On Bail

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:39 IST

Police said the man, who was out on bail for the 2019 murder, bore animosity towards his neighbours, believing that their interference had caused his wife and children to leave him

The accused was allegedly hacked his victims, an elderly woman and her son, to death in broad daylight outside their home in Palakkad district's Nenmara town. (Image for representation: News18)

Hundreds of people gathered outside Keralas Nenmara police station, demanding that the accused in the sensational double murder in this town in Palakkad district be handed over to them.

Police arrested a 57-year-old man, identified as Chenthamara, late on Tuesday (January 28) for allegedly killing his neighbours  an elderly woman and her 53-year-old son  a day ago. He was on the run and was apprehended following a massive manhunt, with local residents assisting.

related stories

Visuals aired by news channels showed the accused being taken to the Nenmara police station. Chenthamara had gone into hiding after committing the crime, police said.

The victims were identified as 72-year-old Lakshmi and her son Sudhakaran, who were allegedly hacked to death in broad daylight outside their residence in Pothundi. Their bodies were cremated later in the day.

But, this is not all. According to the police, Chenthamara was out on bail for the murder of Sudhakarans wife in 2019. He bore animosity towards Sudhakarans family, believing that their interference had caused his wife and children to leave him, police said.

HOW DID THE CRIME TAKE PLACE?

The incident was reported from Pothundi under the Nenmara police station limits at 10 am on the morning of January 27. Lakshmi and Sudhakaran were both allegedly hacked to death outside their residence.

Police said Lakshmi was attacked when she tried to prevent Chenthamara from attacking Sudhakaran. While Sudhakaran died on the spot, his mother passed away while being taken to hospital, they said.

KERALA TOWN ON THE BOIL

Nenmara is tense due to protests by local residents and the relatives of the deceased. The police have faced criticism from political quarters as well as Sudhakarans children, who alleged they had failed to act despite being informed that Chenthamara had returned to the village in violation of his bail conditions.

Protesting against the polices alleged negligence in the double murder case, the Youth Congress organised a march to the Nenmara police station. The march was halted by a police barricade set up in front of the station.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

When protesters climbed over the barricade, a heated argument ensued between the activists and the police. A large police force was deployed at the scene. The tension in the area subsided after all the activists detained by the police were released.

(With PTI inputs)

Location : Palakkad, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:39 IST
Mahakumbh Stampede: 30 Killed, CM Yogi Orders Judicial Probe | What We Know So Far

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 21:28 IST

The UP government said the stampede took place when people climbed over barricades at Akhara Marg and fell on those already waiting to take the holy dip at the auspicious hour on 'Mauni Amavasya'

Bags and other belongings lying at the scene after a stampede at Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the Maha Kumbh, in Prayagraj on January 29. (Image: PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered a judicial probe into a pre-dawn stampede, in which 30 people were killed and 60 injured, at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The incident took place as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the most auspicious days.

Initially, the Uttar Pradesh government was tight-lipped about the number of casualties. The authorities said in their obvious desire to take a holy dip in the Sangam at 3 am, people jumped over barricades at the Akhara Marg and landed on those already waiting for the auspicious hour.

related stories

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences at the tragic incident and said he was monitoring the situation. In a post on X around noon, Modi said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

We lost some good souls in the tragic incident at Kumbh and some people have also got hurt. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of those injured. I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Due to Mauni Amavasya, crores of devotees have reached there I once again convey my condolences to the families," he said later at a poll rally in Delhi.

FOLLOW MAHAKUMBH 2025 NEWS LIVE UPDATES

Heres what we know so far:

WHAT IS THE ACTION TAKEN?

Adityanath ordered a judicial inquiry to find the reasons that led to the stampede at the Maha Kumbh. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.

He said the three-member inquiry panel will be headed by retired judge Harsh Kumar and also include former DGP VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh. He added that a separate police inquiry will also be conducted into the whole issue.

It is important to get to the bottom of the whole episode on how such a tragedy occurred," he said, adding that the chief secretary and DGP will visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday (January 30) for an in-depth probe into the tragic incident.

WHAT DID THE GOVT SAY ABOUT CASUALTIES?

Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna told a press conference in the evening that the stampede has left 30 dead and 60 others injured. over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, out of whom 30 died," he said.

Krishna said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Among those injured, 36 are undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families. He added that the situation at the Maha Kumbh is now under control.

ALSO READ | Mahakumbh Stampede On Mauni Amavasya: A Look At Major Tragedies At Sacred Gathering Since 1954

WHY DID THE STAMPEDE TAKE PLACE?

The UP government said the stampede took place when barricades at Akhara Marg broke away and people behind them fell on those either sleeping or sitting, and waiting for the brahm muhurat (the auspicious hour to take the holy dip).

According to eyewitness accounts, one of the reasons for the tragedy was the sudden surge of pilgrims at the Sangam. They spoke of routes to the water being closed, bringing the large crowd to a standstill and causing some people to collapse due to suffocation, while others began pushing, pulling, and climbing over them in an effort to escape. Others spoke of a huge push from the back that left them wedged between barricades on one side and police personnel wielding batons on the other.

A hospital official said several victims had fractures and broken bones, and some of those who died had suffered heart attacks.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg. Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured," he said after a high-level meeting in Lucknow.

#WATCH | On Mahakumbh stampede, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says "A large number of devotees had gathered in Prayagraj since 7 PM yesterday to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya. An unfortunate incident took place on the Akhara Marg in which over 90 people were injured and 30 pic.twitter.com/Q8PzLRneJn ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE STAMPEDE?

Around 2 am, ambulances and police vehicles rushed to the Sangam. Those injured were taken to the central hospital set up in the mela area. Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.

Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying many of the injured on stretchers. Peoples belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around.

Sarojini, a devotee from Karnataka, said, We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides," the woman told PTI Videos.

A man from Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh said his mother was injured and hospitalised, while a middle-aged couple from Meghalaya walked away from the crowd, both of them sobbing and narrating to reporters their harrowing experience of getting caught up in the ruckus.

Another woman at the hospital, whose child suffered injuries in the chaos, narrated her ordeal, claiming, There was nowhere to go. Some people who pushed us were laughing while we begged them for kindness towards the children."

WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW?

Additional security has been deployed, including a special police unit trained to manage crisis situations, and police are regulating entry into the city to control the crowd. Authorities also streamlined the rituals on Wednesday, facilitating dips for devotees first, with saints starting their processions, which took place on a smaller scale than planned, only after the number of other attendees had come down.

Amrit snan, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas, was deferred after the stampede but resumed in the afternoon. Till 5 pm, nearly six crore devotees took a dip.

On this, Adityanath said a consensus was reached with the akharas that they would take the holy dip only after the crowd pressure has decreased at the ghats. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of devotees," he said. The situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd pressure is still there."

He said around 9 crore to 10 crore people are in Prayagraj and appealed to devotees to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.

Around 2.30 pm, the procession of akharas resumed as it made its way on foot towards the Sangam for the snan. Helicopters showered flower petals on seers as they headed towards the Sangam. All saints, seers and nagas took holy dip on the occasion. I congratulate Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) and the administration for making such arrangements," said Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, who led the procession.

On the stampede, he said, Its a conspiracy by the opposition. This must be investigated."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

According to tradition, akharas belonging to three sects  Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen  take the holy dip in a set sequence following a majestic, awe-inspiring procession to the Sangam Ghat. The Triveni Sangam  confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati  is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away peoples sins and provides them moksha or salvation.

(With PTI inputs)

Location : Allahabad, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 19:40 IST
Mahakumbh Stampede On 'Mauni Amavasya': A Look At Major Tragedies At Sacred Gathering Since 1954

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 19:17 IST

At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede that broke out at the Mahakumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday

Rescue operation underway after a stampede-like situation during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival on 'Mauni Amavasya', in Prayagraj. (PTI photo)

A stampede took place early Wednesday at the Sangam area of the Mahakumbh, as millions of pilgrims crowded together to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in the incident. The stampede broke out as a vast number of devotees jostled for space at one of the most auspicious times during the Kumbh Mela.

related stories

Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held an urgent meeting to address the crisis. He confirmed that while the situation is now under control, the crowd pressure remains significant.

This incident is not the first of its kind at the Kumbh Mela, the worlds largest religious gathering, which has witnessed several stampedes throughout its history.

The ongoing Mahakumbh, which began on January 13 and will run till February 26, is no stranger to such tragedies.

Below is a list of major stampede incidents that have occurred at the Kumbh Mela over the years:

1954: The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) saw a devastating stampede on 3 February. Around 800 people were either trampled to death or drowned while attempting to take a holy dip during Mauni Amavasya.

1986: In Haridwar, a stampede killed at least 200 people. The chaos erupted when security measures restricted access to the riverbanks, causing the crowd to panic and leading to a deadly crush of people.

2003: A stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Nashik, Maharashtra, claimed the lives of at least 39 people and injured over 100 others. The tragedy occurred when thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Godavari River for a sacred bath.

2013: At the Allahabad railway station, a footbridge collapse triggered panic during the Kumbh Mela. The disaster resulted in 42 deaths and left 45 others injured.

2025: The latest stampede occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj during Mauni Amavasya. At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in the incident.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

(With inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ: Mahakumbh Stampede: 30 Killed, 60 Hospitalised Amid Surge Of Devotees On Mauni Amavasya

Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:12 IST
Mahakumbh 2025: What Exactly Happened At The Stampede Spot At Sangam Nose During Mauni Amavasya?

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 19:09 IST

The lack of an alternate exit at the Sangam Nose led to utter confusion as thousands of pilgrims came face to face, unable to move forward or retreat. Panic set in when devotees couldnt find a way out and soon chants and cheers turned into... Read More

Devotees take a holy dip at the Sangam on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya', during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

Attempts by millions of devotees to reach the Sangam Nose, the most sacred spot on the banks of Ganga, to take the holy dip at the Mauni Amavasya Mahurat that started at 7.35 pm on Tuesday during Mahakumbh 2025 and the subsequent confusion were the major reasons behind the stampede-like situation at the worlds biggest human gathering festival on Wednesday.

DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna confirmed 30 casualties in the stampede incident.

related stories

On the Mauni Amavasya Snan, between 1 and 2 am ahead of the Brahm Muhurta, huge crowd gathered on the Akhara route, because of which the barricades on the other side broke. The crowd on this side crossed to the other side and started running over devotees waiting for Brahm Muhurta The administration quickly enforced the rescue operation and created a green corridor for ambulances, and took 90 injured to the hospitals. Unfortunately, 30 of those devotees have died," he said.

News 18 spoke to the devotees who narrated the harrowing tales of the disaster and what actually went wrong at the grand event.

When Chants Turned Into Shrieks And Chaos

Prayagraj resident Praveen Mishra had embarked on a spiritual journey to Mahakumbh 2025 with his 60-year-old mother, Shakuntala Mishra, to take the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. What was supposed to be a sacred moment turned into an ordeal as a stampede broke out at Sangam Nose, leaving behind scenes of devastation and chaos.

Everything was peaceful until 1 am, but as the Mauni Amavasya Mahurat approached, the crowd at Sangam Nose started swelling rapidly. Many devotees were waiting for the auspicious time to bathe, while others who had already taken the dip were trying to leave. With only one entry and exit point, the situation soon spiralled," said Praveen, recalling the moment before the tragedy.

As more and more devotees pushed each other to reach the holy river, those who had completed their ritual found themselves trapped. The lack of an alternate exit led to utter confusion as thousands of pilgrims came face to face, unable to move forward or retreat. It felt like we were locked in a sea of people. Panic set in when devotees couldnt find a way out and soon chants and cheers turned into shrieks and chaos," said Praveen who were among a few who survived the stampede.

A Woman Got Trampled

In the midst of the chaos, some pilgrims attempted to climb over the barricades in desperation. Thats when the real disaster struck," Praveen recalled. People started pushing, and suddenly, there was a wave of force that knocked many to the ground. My mother held my hand tightly, but we were barely able to stay on our feet."

His mother, Shakuntala Mishra, still shaken by the experience, added, I saw women and elderly people falling, getting crushed under the weight of the crowd. We were lucky to survive, but many were not."

State Of Confusion, Another Reason Behind The Stampede

Another devotee, Snehlata Shukla from Gwalior, arrived at Mahakumbh with five family members, eager to take the dip on Mauni Amavasya. But her spiritual experience turned into a nightmare due to the confusion and mismanagement at Sangam Nose.

Around 1:30 am, the situation spiralled out of control. Sangam Nose was completely packed, and nobody knew what to do. The area was so vast that finding an entry or exit point became impossible," Snehlata recalled. The heavy luggage many pilgrims carried on their heads further obstructed visibility, adding to the chaos.

She said the lack of proper signage and announcements played a critical role in worsening the situation. There were no boards or hoardings to guide devotees, nor were there any announcements directing people to exits. Everyone was just moving blindly, pushing and shoving in panic."

Amidst the mayhem, Snehlata got separated from three of her family members, who are still missing. I dont know where they are or if theyre even safe. We came for devotion, but now were just searching for our loved ones," she said, her voice trembling with fear.

An Appeal

Coming to Sangam Nose is not essential; there are 150 to 200 ghats available for bathing. The pressure on Sangam is extremely high," said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while making an appeal to not to rush to Sangam Nose.

While addressing the media after the tragedy, he said discussions were held with the Akhara Parishad and saints, who suggested allowing devotees to complete their holy dip first.

Highlighting the overwhelming rush at the Sangam, Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to use alternative ghats for the sacred bath, while he acknowledged the immense crowd pressure, particularly at Sangam Nose, Akhara Marg, and Nag Vasuki Marg, and appealed to people not to believe any rumour.

The chief minister assured that proper arrangements had been made for those injured in the stampede. By 8.30 am, approximately 3.5 crore devotees had already taken the holy dip. He also mentioned that holding areas had been set up to manage the crowd effectively and appealed to people to cooperate with the administration in maintaining order.

What is Sangam Nose?

Sangam Nose is considered to be the most sacred point to take a dip at Mahakumbh. To ensure a comfortable experience for devotees at Sangam Nose during the Mahakumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government undertook extensive expansion and restoration efforts. Recognizing the impact of river erosion over the past six years, authorities successfully reclaimed over 2.60 lakh square meters of land, significantly increasing the available bathing space.

The expansion has created a triangular bathing zone, resembling a nose due to which it is called Sangam Nose, accessible from three sides, allowing up to 2 lakh devotees to take a dip every hour. This is a major improvement from the previous capacity of 50,000 devotees per hour during Kumbh 2019. Additionally, a total of 26 hectares was reclaimed from Shastri Bridge to Sangam Nose, ensuring smoother crowd movement and better access to the sacred confluence.

To further enhance the experience, the authorities reinforced embankments to prevent overcrowding and established designated entry and exit points to regulate the flow of pilgrims and to ensure hassle-free experience for millions of pilgrims attending the Mahakumbh.

On Mauni Amavasya, an estimated 5 crore devotees are expected in the city, with 8 to 10 crore are estimated to take the holy dip at 44 ghats by late night. The day before, over 5 crore pilgrims had already taken the dip in the Sangam. Over 60,000 security personnel are deployed across the city for safety.

After the stampede at the Sangam in the wee hours, all 13 akharas had cancelled the holy dip (amrit snan) scheduled for the silent new moon day upon the administrations request. Subsequently, a decision was made in a meeting that the Amrit Snan would resume after 10 am.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

CM Yogi Adityanath briefed Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone about the situation. Officials are now monitoring the Kumbhmela from helicopters. More than 70 ambulances rushed to the scene, transporting the injured and deceased to hospitals. NSG commandos took charge of security following the incident, with public access to the Sangam area restricted. In Prayagraj city, restrictions were imposed on pilgrims to prevent further crowding, extending into neighboring districts.

After the incident at the Kumbh Mela, Yogi Adityanath called an emergency meeting at his residence, attended by senior police and administrative officials. Discussions included strategies to manage crowds in Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 15:23 IST
Mahakumbh Stampede: 30 Killed, 60 Hospitalised Amid Surge Of Devotees On 'Mauni Amavasya'

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 19:53 IST

At least 30 people died and many were injured in a stampede at the Mahakumbh's Sangam area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences, calling the tragedy extremely saddening.

It was here at Sangam Nose when the pilgrims heading for a snan during 'brahm-mahurat in the wee hours of Wednesday that the stampede took place. (By Special Arrangement)

At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Mahakumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of Mauni Amavasya.

Elaborating on the reasons behind the tragedy, DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna said that barricade broke after a large number of people gathered on the Akhara route in wee hours of Wednesday ahead of the Brahm Muhurta", leading to stampede in the area.

related stories

On the Mauni Amavasya Snan, between 1 and 2 am ahead of the Brahm Muhurta, huge crowd gathered on the Akhara route, because of which the barricades on the other side broke. The crowd on this side crossed to the other side and started running over devotees waiting for Brahm Muhurta The administration quickly enforced the rescue operation and created a green corridor for ambulances, and took 90 injured to the hospitals. Unfortunately, 30 of those devotees have died," Krishna said in the press conference.

Mahakumbh Stampede: Judicial Probe Ordered

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the incident.

We have formed a 3-member judicial commission headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh. We have been monitoring the entire incident from the Chief Ministers control room, the Chief Secretarys control room, and the DGPs control room throughout the day. Meetings went on throughout the day and there was continuous communication with the administration regarding the incidents. Since the morning, we have been receiving necessary guidelines from Prime Minister, Home Minister, National President JP Nadda, Railway Minister, Governor and others," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today offered his deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede, describing the tragedy as extremely saddening.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In a post on X around noon, Modi said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Later addressing a poll rally in Delhi, he said, We lost some good souls in the tragic incident at Kumbh and some people have also got hurt. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of those injured." I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Due to Mauni Amavasya, crores of devotees have reached there. For sometime, the process of bathing had been halted, but now for several hours, the yatris are taking a bath. I once again convey my condolences to the families," Modi said.

Location : Allahabad, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 18:40 IST
Mahakumbh Stampede: West Bengal Govt To Send Team To UP To Assess Situation

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 22:14 IST

At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya

UP Fire and Emergency Services personnel rescue a person during a stampede-like situation on 'Mauni Amavasya', at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela. (PTI photo)

The West Bengal government on Wednesday decided to send a team to Maha Kumbh as it did not receive any information from the Uttar Pradesh administration about the condition of pilgrims from the state following a stampede there, a senior official said here.

A team of officials from the Resident Commissioners office in New Delhi would go to Prayagraj to take stock of the situation, he added.

related stories

At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.

"We are unable to get information about the conditions of those who have gone from our state to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela. Attempts to get information from the UP government did not yield any result.

"Following this, we have decided to send a team from the office of the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to Uttar Pradesh to understand the situation and condition of the pilgrims from West Bengal," the bureaucrat said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered her condolences to the bereaved families.

Banerjee while taking to her X handle stated that her experiences of organising the annual Gangasagar Mela in Bengal warrant "maximal planning and care" to handle huge assemblies such as the Kumbh.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 22:14 IST
NIA Team Set To Travel To US Today For Extradition Of 26/11 Convict Tahawwur Rana: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 23:59 IST

The NIA has submitted the names of the officers to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also informed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

The case against Tahawwur Rana exemplifies the interplay of law, geopolitics, and counter-terrorism. (PTI)

A team of four officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to travel to the United States on Thursday, January 30, to bring back 26/11 Mumbai attack convict Tahawwur Rana after the US Supreme Court cleared his extradition to India.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the NIA has submitted the names of the officers to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also informed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

related stories

A source from the Union Home Ministry told the publication that the NIA team is currently coordinating with the US authorities and the NIA team is awaiting final confirmation" from the MEA regarding their travel.

The team, which includes officers of the ranks of Inspector General (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG), will oversee Ranas return to India.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Prisons Department has started making arrangements for his detention at Tihar Jail. Once in India, Rana will be held in a high-security ward, where his cell will be equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor his activities around the clock.

His cell will have CCTV cameras and they will monitor all his activities 247. His cell will have an inbuilt toilet and bathroom facility," another source from the Tihar Jail told the publication.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?

Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is accused of being involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people. He had been linked to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who was one of the masterminds behind the attack.

Ranas extradition was cleared after his legal challenges were rejected by US courts, including the US Supreme Court, which turned down his petition on January 21.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The US government had argued that Rana should not be entitled to relief from extradition, with US Solicitor General Elizabeth B Prelogar stating that Rana was not entitled to any further legal recourse in the case.

ALSO READ: Big Win For India, Says 26/11 Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam As US Prepares To Send Tahawwur Rana To India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 23:37 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Voter turnout is expected to increase during the day in Azerbaijan's ongoing municipal elections, Head of the 13th polling station in Yasamal's first electoral district No. 15, Elshad Miranov, told Trend.

In his statement to the agency, Miranov noted that around 250 voters had cast their ballots so far. He added that a total of 1,337 voters are registered at this station.

"We also have a mobile ballot box available, but we have not received any requests for it yet. Overall, voter activity is good, and we expect an increase in participation in the second half of the day. Citizens are showing interest in the elections," he added.

As of 10:00 (GMT+4), 499,575 voters had participated in Azerbaijans municipal elections. The voter turnout stood at 8.38 percent.

To note, voting for the municipal election started at all polling stations in Azerbaijan at 08:00 and will run until 19:00 (GMT+4).

A total of 8,071 municipal representatives will be elected in 685 municipalities among 118 electoral districts. There are 5,846 polling booths for the municipal election. Among these, 5,734 are permanent positions, and 112 are temporary positions. The number of eligible voters is 5,961,987.

Altogether 70,625 observers were accredited by the Central Election Commission and District Election Commissions for the municipal election. Web cameras have already been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
CM Yogi Says Stampede-Like Scene At Mahakumbh Under Control: 'Nearly 10 Crore Devotees In Prayagraj'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:10 IST

Mahakumbh 'Stampede' News: CM Yogi Adityanath said that there is heavy rush at the festival site with nearly 10 crore devotees present in the city.

CM Yogi last week chaired a cabinet meeting at the Mahakumbh and approved significant schemes for Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

Hours after stampede-like scenes at Prayagrajs Maha Kumbh mela, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the situation is under control" and amrit snan (royal bath) on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya has resumed too.

The incident happened between 1am and 2am. There were barricades that devotees tried to cross and got injured. Our entire administration is present at the scene. Some people have been seriously injured while trying to cross the barricades," the chief minister said, adding that heavy rush of devotees is still present near the Maha Kumbh area.

related stories

Elaborating on the number of devotees in Prayagraj, Yogi Adityanath said that nearly 10 crore people are in the city at present.

There is a heavy rush of pilgrims going to Sangam Nose but the administration is there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also monitoring the scene and has called me up four times since morning to take stock of the situation. Home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda have also called," CM Yogi added.

Wednesday marks Mauni Amavasya, one of the most significant days of the Maha Kumbh Mela festival, when followers come to bathe in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers  the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati  to purify their sins and take another step closer to spiritual liberation."

Drone footage shared by Reuters showed huge numbers of people already arriving at the site in the early hours.

Crowd crushes at religious gatherings are not uncommon, and deadly incidents have occurred in the past, often highlighting a lack of adequate crowd control and safety measures. In 2013, dozens of people were killed and injured in a crowd crush at a railway station in Allahabad as pilgrims gathered for that years Kumbh Mela.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Ahead of the festival in Prayagraj, officials said extra safety measures have been put in place to protect visitors, including a security ring with checkpoints around the city staffed by more than 1,000 police officers.

The central government said over 2,700 security cameras powered by artificial intelligence were also positioned around the city, monitored by hundreds of experts at key locations.

Location : Allahabad, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 10:16 IST
'Step To Weaken Muslims': Asaduddin Owaisi Slams JPC's Waqf Bill Report, Submits 229-Page Dissent Note

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 01:44 IST

After more than three dozen meetings, the joint parliamentary committee, which got underway on August 22, has, on January 29, adopted the draft report, which will be submitted to the Lok Sabha speaker and then laid before the house during the upcoming budget session

Owaisi is a five-time Member of Parliament from Hyderabad. (File pic/PTI)

A constant critic of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi, a member of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC), has submitted a list of amendments that were negated due to the lack of numbers with the opposition camp in the panel. In fact, Owaisi had moved amendments on 43 out of 44 clauses of the bill.

He has also submitted a detailed dissent note, which runs into 229 pages, explaining why this bill is anti-Muslim".

related stories

Right after the meeting to approve the draft report and the proposed bill, Owaisi told CNN-News18, We feel this legislation is to end the power of the Waqf Board, and the amendments that have been brought in will make sure we will lose multiple properties. In fact, one of the dangers of losing the Masjid, which is right in front of Parliament, also looms large. This bill in its form is not acceptable to us, and we will go to the public. We tried very hard to present our points in the JPC through multiple meetings. It is not in favour of the Muslims."

Expressing his fear about the treatment being meted out to people from his community, he has argued that this bill will further widen the gap between the majority and the minority.

At a time when divisive elements have raised mischievous claims questioning the status of ancient mosques and dargahs as places of Muslim religious worship, the bill seeks to weaken the defence of the Muslim side in these disputes by removing the statutory recognition given to waqfs-by-user, a rule of evidence that hitherto allowed long use of a property as a waqf to be a sufficient basis for the property to be statutorily recognised as a waqf. Further, waqfs created by oral dedication have been de-recognised contrary to established principles of Muslim personal law recognised in this country for over a century. Thus, the only defence available to a waqf in a legal proceeding questioning its status will be to produce a written deed of dedication, a requirement that waqfs established centuries ago will not be able to meet," the AIMIM chief has argued.

Through its deliberation, the committee summoned multiple people to depose before it, and many of these witnesses feel betrayed because their opposition to the bill has not cut any ice with the panel, and it is still going on to pass the bill as the ruling government would like it, Owaisi has argued. His dissent note also reads, The Joint Committee received representations opposing the proposed amendments from an overwhelming number of Muslim organisations. In particular, it may be noted that the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulama (Jammu & Kashmir) have all vehemently opposed the proposed amendments. These organisations between themselves represent a very large portion of Muslims in India. The fact that the erudite arguments and detailed reasons put forward by each of these stakeholders were not accepted by the Joint Committee demonstrates that this consultative process was a mere eyewash and the Joint Committee in its draft report has been blind, if not actively inimical to Muslim interests and has reached what were in any event foregone conclusions."

Owaisi has also argued how the committee chairman, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, acted according to the instructions of his party higher-ups and showed scant respect towards the procedures and dissenting voices of the opposition. The Honble Committee has been unduly captured by partisan sentiments, as evidenced by the disproportionate attention given to a few communal voices that supported the majoritarian changes proposed in the current Bill, in stark contrast to the substantial majority of stakeholders who strongly criticised it. Despite the overwhelming opposition to the proposed legislation, the Honble Chairperson chose to disregard these concerns and, exploiting the numerical strength of the proponents  comprising members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies  pushed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, through with only minimal revisions, thus sidelining the legitimate objections raised by dissenting members," the Hyderabad MP says in his note.

Through his entire set of amendments, it was very clear that the AIMIM chief wanted the bill to be scrapped in its totality. In conclusion, he wrote in his dissent note, Therefore, in light of the grave implications of the proposed amendments and the undeniable bias that underpins the entire process, I, on behalf of the Muslims of this country, wish to unequivocally express my dissent and urge the Honble Houses of Parliament to accept the changes proposed by me to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The actions of the present Government, aimed at weakening the very foundations of waqf governance and undermining the rights of Muslims in this country, must not be allowed to stand. As I record my opposition to the Bill, I do so not in my name alone, but in the name of justice, equality, and the constitutional values that define the soul of this nation. History will remember this moment, and it will judge whether we stood on the side of fairness or succumbed to divisive forces."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

On Wednesday, the JPC met for the last time to adopt the draft report and the revised draft bill before it would be submitted to the Lok Sabha speaker for his final approval in the next couple of days. After the meeting, several members who had still not submitted their dissent notes did so by this evening. Twelve members of the opposition, including YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy, who recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha, had also given his note, rejecting the bill in its current format. His note was submitted before his resignation, so it will be part of the draft report that will be presented to Parliament.

After more than three dozen meetings, the joint parliamentary committee, which got underway on August 22, has, on January 29, adopted the draft report, which will be submitted to the Lok Sabha speaker and then laid before the house during the upcoming budget session. Since the bill has been incorporated with 14 new amendments, it will have to go back to the cabinet for approval before it can be brought to Parliament for passage.

First Published: January 30, 2025, 01:44 IST
Why Is Bengaluru Facing A Beer Shortage And Whats Driving Up Prices?

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:02 IST

Beer lovers in Karnataka face a shortage due to a government price hike and new sugar content labeling rules which have led prices to rise and supply chains to be disrupted

Several liquor vendors have expressed their fear that this step may lead to beer sales going down by at least 10%. (Representative/AP File)

Beer lovers in Bengaluru and across Karnataka are facing a sudden shortage of their favourite beverage. Stores, bars, and MRP outlets are reporting limited to no availability, leaving consumers searching from shop to shop in disappointment. The few places that do have beer in stock are selling it at inflated prices.

Shopkeepers and bar owners report that beer supplies have completely dried up over the past few days. The primary cause of this shortage is a recent government decision to increase beer prices.

related stories

Why did the government increase alcohol prices

The Karnataka government increased the price of beer on January 20, 2023. This price hike saw a significant rise, with prices increasing from Rs 10 to Rs 40 for a 650ml bottle of beer, depending on the brand.

According to a report by The Times of India, the hike is intended to address a revenue shortfall in the excise department. The additional excise duty has gone up from 185% to 195% of the billing price or Rs 130 per bulk litre, whichever is higher. While the price of a bottle of beer that cost Rs 100 earlier is now Rs 145, that which used to cost Rs 230 is now available for Rs 240.

This decision has had an immediate impact on supply. Existing stock has been sold, but the supply chain has not yet adapted, resulting in a shortage of beer in the market.

Why has the sugar content label become necessary on beer bottles now

The second biggest reason for the beer shortage is a new government regulation which mandates the inclusion of sugar content on all beer bottle labels. Previously, there was no such requirement. The government aims to increase consumer awareness regarding the sugar content in beer. This new rule, however, has created a bottleneck in the supply chain. Beer companies are now required to print labels for new bottles, causing delays.

Why are bar and wine shop owners worried

Bangalore Bar Owners Association President Lokesh says that as the temperature rises, the demand for beer increases. However, due to a halt in supply, sales have fallen drastically. Many bars and restaurants rely heavily on beer sales, and the current shortage leaves them unable to meet customer demand.

Several liquor vendors have reportedly expressed their fear that this step may lead to beer sales going down by at least 10%. Speaking to The Times of India, president of the Federation of Wine Merchants Associations Karunakar Hegde said the duty hikes have come at a time when market conditions arent favourable for the sale of beer, adding that the increase in beer prices may be a burden for buyers.

For the past week, there was no supply of beer due to the price hike. Even a week before, breweries began slowing production, and now they will need to realign their processes. As a result, theres a shortage, the market is dry, and business is taking a hit. Purchases have already dropped 10%, and the lack of stock is impacting sales significantly," Hegde was quoted as saying.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Speaking to The Times of India, a pub chain owner in the Koramangala area of the city said that all manufacturers have halted production to change the rate slips on bottles and other packages owing to the price change, and because of that, for 45 days from January 20, there will be less beer stock in the market.

Were left with no beer to sell and no way to make money. The situation is dire, and the industry is struggling to stay afloat," he added.

Location : Bangalore, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:02 IST
Best Places to Visit While Exploring the Kala Ghoda Festival

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 07:32 IST

Make the most of your Kala Ghoda Festival adventure by exploring these fantastic dining destinations that add a delicious touch to your cultural experience!

As you immerse yourself in the festivities, take a break to explore some of the best dining spots in and around Kala Ghoda.

The Kala Ghoda Festival is one of Mumbais most anticipated cultural celebrations, bringing together art, music, literature, and food in a vibrant showcase. As you immerse yourself in the festivities, take a break to explore some of the best dining spots in and around Kala Ghoda. From cozy cafes to gourmet bistros, these restaurants offer a perfect blend of flavors and ambiance to elevate your festival experience.

related stories

KMC Bar & Bistro: Redefining Dining and Cocktails in Mumbai

Located in the iconic Kitab Mahal, KMC Bar & Bistro offers an elegant space to unwind just 2 kilometers from the festival. Savor indulgent dishes like the creamy four-layered Signature Lasagna with mushroom and spinach, the Sri Lankan-inspired Eggplant Moju with turmeric ghee rice, or the comforting KMCs Signature Chick, featuring a chicken sausage patty with chipotle mayo. Seafood lovers will enjoy the Chefs Favourite Seafood Pasta, and dont leave without trying Mumbais finest Tiramisu.

Address: Kitab Mahal, 1st Floor, Shop No.2, Azad Maidan, Fort, Mumbai

Kala Ghoda Cafe

A favorite among food enthusiasts, Kala Ghoda Cafe is known for its continental desserts, fresh salads, and artisanal coffee. The chic yet cozy ambiance makes it an ideal pit stop during the festival. Indulge in a creamy Hummus appetizer, a bold Double Espresso, a rich Mochaccino, or a healthy Gluten-Free Penne Pesto. For something light yet flavorful, the Sesame Shredded Salad is a great choice.

Address: 10, Rope Walk Ln, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai

145 Kala Ghoda

Blending Old Bombay charm with modern aesthetics, 145 Kala Ghoda offers global comfort food with a creative twist. The lively ambiance, quirky decor, and upbeat music make it a fun spot to relax. Try their signature Freakshake, the playful Cotton Candy Head, and other innovative dishes inspired by the citys diverse food culture.

Address: Temple Bar Building, 145, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai

Smoke House Deli Colaba

Just a 10-minute walk from the festival, Smoke House Deli Colaba is a must-visit for its warm hospitality and delicious comfort food. Whether youre looking for a leisurely lunch, a quick snack, or a relaxing dinner, their diverse menu caters to all tastes. From wholesome salads to rich pastas and decadent desserts, its the perfect place to recharge before heading back to the festival.

Address: B K Boman Behram Marg, Ground Floor, Building 24, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai

Quattro Bistro Churchgate

A short 15-minute drive from Kala Ghoda, Quattro Bistro in Churchgate offers a delightful fusion of Italian and Mexican cuisine. From wood-fired pizzas to zesty tacos, their signature dishes and cozy ambiance make it a perfect stop after exploring the festival.

Address: 3, Jamshedji Tata Road, behind Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Mumbai

Nkshas Winter Special Menu

Celebrate the festival with Nksha Restaurants exclusive Winter Special Menu at their Churchgate location. This North Indian fine-dining destination, helmed by Chef Vikram Arora, features seasonal delights such as:

Surti Ponkh Kachori Chaat  A burst of winter flavors inspired by Gujarat.

 A burst of winter flavors inspired by Gujarat. Awadhi Arbi Ke Kebab  Spiced and succulent, with an authentic Awadhi touch.

 Spiced and succulent, with an authentic Awadhi touch. Tandoori Himalayan Trout  A grilled seasonal fish delicacy.

 A grilled seasonal fish delicacy. Old Monk Mutton Curry  A rich and hearty slow-cooked dish infused with Old Monk rum.

 A rich and hearty slow-cooked dish infused with Old Monk rum. Sarso Da Saag Ta Makai Di Roti  The quintessential Punjabi winter classic.

 The quintessential Punjabi winter classic. Bhuna Desi Chicken  Slow-braised in a spiced gravy for a bold and flavorful experience.

Address: ADCB Rehmat Manzil, 1A / 1B, Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Make the most of your Kala Ghoda Festival adventure by exploring these fantastic dining destinations that add a delicious touch to your cultural experience!

First Published: January 29, 2025, 07:32 IST
Guillain-Barre Syndrome: This Is How Much Treatment Costs

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:54 IST

As per experts, one of the treatments for Guillain-Barre (GB) syndrome involves administering injections over five consecutive days, with each injection costing approximately Rs 15,000

As the GB syndrome progresses, mobility issues can arise, and in severe cases, patients may require ventilator support. (News18 Hindi)

Cases of Guillain-Barre (GB) syndrome are continuously increasing in Pune, with more than 110 patients diagnosed with this neurological disease and many requiring ventilator support.

The ICMR team is investigating how the disease has affected so many people simultaneously, as Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder and does not spread from person to person. Meanwhile, discussions about the syndrome are circulating on social media, with many people also enquiring about the treatment options and cost.

related stories

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the bodys antibodies attack its own nervous system. This condition leads to symptoms such as muscle pain, weakness in the hands and legs, and difficulty breathing. In some cases, headaches, fever, and body aches may also occur. As the syndrome progresses, mobility issues can arise, and in severe cases, patients may require ventilator support.

There is also confusion about whether Guillain-Barre syndrome can spread through improperly cooked food, such as cheese or rice.

Dr Neeraj Kumar, Senior Neurologist at Metro Hospital in Noida, told News18 that, in general, there is no risk of contracting this syndrome through food. However, respiratory infections, stomach infections, and certain bacterial infections can trigger GBS in rare cases  occurring in about 2 to 4 individuals per several lakh. To reduce the risk, people should take precautions to prevent infections, although there is no guaranteed way to avoid GBS.

Treatment Options And Costs

Dr Neeraj highlights two main treatment methods for this syndrome. The first involves administering injections over five consecutive days based on the patients body weight. Typically, 4 to 6 injections are given daily, with each injection costing approximately Rs 15,000.

The second treatment method is plasmapheresis, which functions similarly to dialysis. This procedure lasts around 10 days, with an estimated cost of Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Guillain-Barre syndrome typically progresses for 2 to 3 weeks, followed by a recovery period of 3 to 4 weeks after treatment. With timely medical intervention, approximately 60 to 70 per cent of patients recover fully.

However, some cases may deteriorate, necessitating ventilator support, and in severe instances, the condition can be fatal. Therefore, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:54 IST
Donald Trump Directs To End Birthright Citizenship: How It Is Going To Impact Indians

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:19 IST

The executive order, which has sparked legal disputes and intense discussion, aims to remove citizenship by birth for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents.

Donald Trump has issued an executive order contesting birthright citizenship.

US President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20 and signed an executive order that began the process of ending birthright citizenship. The order, which is one of several executive measures, aims to prevent children born in the United States whose parents do not have legal immigration status from automatically becoming citizens.

According to the new policy, children born in the United States will no longer be considered citizens if their mother is either in the country illegally or present on a temporary visa, such as on tourist, work, or student visa, and their father is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

related stories

What Is the Birthright Citizenship Order That Trump Has Issued?

The executive order questions the conventional interpretation of the US Constitutions 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 to define the citizenship status of freed slaves. Most people believe that the amendment gives citizenship to anybody who was born in the United States. All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States," the 14th Amendment states.

Birthright citizenship critics contend that it shouldnt be extended to children of undocumented immigrants or to birth tourism," which is the practice of pregnant women travelling to the US at the end of their pregnancy to guarantee that their unborn child is a citizen of the United States.

Those born in the United States are not automatically granted the privilege of US citizenship, one of the groups of people born in the United States that are not under its jurisdiction:

When the father of that individual was not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States at the time of the individuals birth, and the mother was illegally in the city, or when the father was not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States at the time of the childs birth, and the mothers presence in the country at the time of the childs birth was legal but brief (for example, travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme or visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa).

How Would Indians Be Affected by the Proposed Birthright Citizenship Order?

Extended Waiting Period for a Green Card: If their children are denied citizenship at birth, Indian immigrantswho already face lengthy green card backlogswill probably have to endure additional delays.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Trumps Birthright Citizenship Order Is Facing Legal Challenges

Children and their families would be threatened with a lifetime of exclusion from society and fear of deportation from the only country they have ever known," according to immigration groups who filed a lawsuit in New Hampshire soon after Trump issued the executive order.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:19 IST
Blake Lively's Brother-in-Law Apologises For 'Unkind' Comments After Seemingly Mocking Justin Baldoni

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 02:32 IST

Bart Johnson, who is married to Livelys sister Robyn Lively, took to X on January 28 to express regret over his previous comments.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively worked together in It Ends With Us. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Bart Johnson, best known for his role in High School Musical and brother-in-law to actress Blake Lively, has issued a public apology for making unkind" remarks seemingly directed at Justin Baldoni. The controversy stems from a now-deleted social media post where Johnson allegedly criticised Baldonis persona and appearance, including his signature man bun.

Johnson, who is married to Livelys sister Robyn Lively, took to X on January 28 to express regret over his previous comments. Anytime Ive said anything unkind about someone Ive regretted it. Fortunately thats almost never and definitely not when Im at my best," the 54-year-old actor shared. He added, Even in times where it might feel justified and doing the right thing, it makes no difference. Theres a better way. Its below the standard I have for myself, and I regret it."

related stories

In the now-deleted post captured by USA Today, Johnson reportedly wrote, He puts on the costume of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of its genuine. Its all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years."

Addressing his behaviour further, Johnson added, I do sincerely apologise to anyone Ive hurt or let down by saying something that sounds mean. Ill do better We all have flaws, and Im definitely a work in progress, doing my best to grow and be better."

This incident unfolds amid a heated legal dispute involving Baldoni and Lively. In December, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied the claims and countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging defamation.

The public fallout has sparked widespread discussions across social media, with fans closely monitoring developments in the case. Both parties remain engaged in high-stakes legal proceedings.

Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 30, 2025, 02:32 IST
Gaurav Taneja 'Locked Out' Of His LinkedIn Account After Post About Shark Tank India: 'Can You Help?'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:38 IST

This comes days after Gaurav Taneja updated his LinkedIn bio and changed it to, "Good Influencer/Terrible Entrepreneur."

Gaurav Taneja pitched his fitness brand named Beast Life on Shark Tank India 4. (Photo: Instagram)

YouTuber Flying Beast aka Gaurav Taneja has been locked out of his LinkedIn account. Recently, Taneja took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle and revealed that he has not been able to login to LinkedIn for over 48 hours. He tagged the companys official X handle and asked them to help.

Hi team @LinkedInIndia. I have been locked out of my account for 48+ hrs now. Can you help me get the account back, please? Thanks, @LinkedInHelp," Gaurav wrote.

related stories

Hi team @LinkedInIndia . I have been locked out of my account for 48+ hrs now.Can you help me get the account back pleaseThanks@LinkedInHelp Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) January 27, 2025

This comes days after Gaurav Taneja updated his LinkedIn bio and changed it to, Good Influencer/Terrible Entrepreneur." This was a dig at Shark Tank Indias Anupam Mittal, who told the YouTuber during his pitch, You are a good influencer but a terrible entrepreneur so far. Im sorry, but you cant outsource entrepreneurship."

Taneja recently appeared on Shark Tank India 4 when he was seen pitching his fitness brand, Beast Life, asking for Rs 1 crore in return for 1 per cent equity in his company. However, he failed to get any offer in the show.

After the episode aired, Taneja penned down a note on his LinkedIn account and revealed that the sharks had asked him to shut down his YouTube channels. Shut down your YouTube and go all in on one business. Thats the advice I got from some Sharks on Shark Tank India," he wrote and then added, During the pitch, one of the Sharks asked if I would continue YouTube. Without a blink of an eye, I confidently said, Yes." He didnt seem too happy with my response and remarked, Aap ka focus nahi hoga, aap waha se paisa bana loge."

Gaurav called the advice risky" and admitted that he was left hurt" with it. He further took a dig at Anupam Mittals Shaadi.com and compared its 125,000 followers on social media to his 8-month-old brands 127,000. The rules of entrepreneurship are evolving. Maybe its time to explore and break traditional moulds," he wrote.

Gaurav Taneja currently runs three YouTube channels: Flying Beast," Fit Muscle TV," and Rasbhari Ke Papa".

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:37 IST
In Pictures: Sana Makbul's Fun-filled Outing At Munawar Faruqui's Birthday Bash

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 18:03 IST

Sana Makbul was among the guests who attended Munawar Faruqui's 33rd birthday party.

Munawar also celebrated his birthday with the paparazzi and cut a special cake. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Stand-up comedian and Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruquis birthday celebration was a star-studded affair, with Shiv Thakare, Aly Goni, Jasmin Bhasin, Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi Prakash, and many others in attendance. Sana Makbul, who also made a stunning entry at the party, joined Munawar and the gang in the evening. On her Instagram stories, Sana also shared pictures with the other celebrities, giving a glimpse of the birthday bash.

The Bigg Boss OTT 3 winner was seen posing for a fun picture, showcasing the vibrant decor and lights. Sana was seated on a swing seat, accompanied by Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi, Isha Malviya, and Rajiv Adatia.

related stories

It was followed by another one featuring Sana with birthday boy Munawar Faruqui and his wife Mehzabeen Coatwala. The actress dropped a string of pictures capturing inside moments from the party. She also posted a cake-cutting video, extending her sweet wishes to Munawar. Happy birthday dost. Exact one year ago, on 28th you won all our hearts #BB!&, may Allah bless you forever with sabar & shukar," she wrote.

For the occasion, Sana chose a beige top paired with black trousers and black pumps. She kept her makeup minimal, further tying her hair in a slick bun.

The comedian also shared pictures and videos, including glimpses of the cake-cutting ceremony, adorable moments with his wife, and some joyful interaction with the guests. W year! Thank you for the love and wishes. HBD post. Khuda meharban," his caption read.

Munawar also celebrated his birthday with the paparazzi and cut a special cake.

On the work front, Munawar Faruqui will soon make his acting debut with the upcoming web series First Copy. Also, featuring Krystle DSouze, the show is likely to hit OTT sometime in 2025.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

After winning hearts on the reality show Lock Upp, Munawar rose to fame with his Bigg Boss 17 victory, solidifying his position as an entertainer.

He has also been busy with his music career, releasing songs like Legacy, Madari, Khwahish, Suppamario, and more.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:58 IST
Kiara Advani Reaches Bengaluru, To Shoot 'Intense' Sequence For Yash's Toxic

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:39 IST

Toxic will revolve around a powerful drug cartel in Goa that pulls the strings behind a facade of sun-soaked beaches and vibrant culture.

Yash and Kiara Advani have arrived in Bangalore to kickstart a long Toxic shoot.

KGF fame Yash and Kiara Advani starrer Toxic" has already managed to create a lot of buzz among movie buffs. Going by the recent update regarding the much-anticipated drama, Yash and Kiara Advani have arrived in Bangalore to kickstart a long and significant leg of the Toxic" shoot.

A source close to the production house revealed, After completing the pivotal schedule in Goa, Kiara Advani and Yash have now arrived in Bangalore to begin a long and crucial leg of shooting for Toxic. This schedule will delve into the films intense narrative, and both Yash and Kiara are thrilled to bring this unique story to life."

related stories

The sources further claim that the Bangalore schedule of the drama will incorporate some critical scenes that explore important aspects of the storyline.

Prior to this, the makers shot a song sequence for the movie in Goa featuring Kiara Advani and Yash. Renowned choreographer Ganesh Acharya has helmed the track. Toxic" will see the return of Yash in a dancing avatar after a very long time.

Aside from Kiara Advani and Yash, Toxic" will also see Lady Superstar Nayanthara, and Darrell DSilva in pivotal roles, along with others.

Toxic" is expected to be set against the backdrop of a bygone era. The film will revolve around a powerful drug cartel in Goa that pulls the strings behind a facade of sun-soaked beaches and vibrant culture.

The rumour mills are of the opinion that Nayanthara has replaced Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan in the movie. Made under the direction of Geetu Mohandas, the drama is looking at a late 2025 release. As the project is still in the shooting stage, further details regarding the film have been kept under wraps for now.

In addition to Toxic", Kiara Advani has also been roped in as the leading lady in Ayan Mukerjis War 2". With Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR in the lead, the film will see the return of Kabir Dhaliwal (Hrithik Roshan) combating a new threat to the nation.

Location : Bangalore, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:39 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Voter participation has been observed since the morning at the polling station No.19 in the Yasamal II electoral district No.16, chairperson of the polling station Aybeniz Gurbanova, told Trend.

Gurbanova noted that by midday, 85 voters had already made their mark.

"There are 1,349 registered voters at this station, and 85 have already exercised their right to vote. All conditions for voting are provided here. No issues or violations have been detected so far," the chairperson said.

Meanwhile, as of 12:00, more than 1 million (1,020,231) voters exercised their right to vote in the municipal election in Azerbaijan.

Note that a municipal election is taking place in Azerbaijan today. Polling stations opened at 08:00 and will last until 19:00.

A total of 8,071 members will be elected in the municipal election in 685 municipalities across 118 constituencies. The names of 16,092 candidates are on the ballot papers. The names of 5.9 million eligible voters are included in the list. A whopping 70,625 observers have been accredited by the CEC and district election commissions for the municipal elections. Web cameras have been installed at 1,000 polling stations.

This Azerbaijani municipal election is the first in the country's liberated territories and the sixth overall. The inaugural municipal election in Azerbaijan occurred on December 12, 1999. Consequently, up to 2,660 municipalities (exceeding 21,000 municipal members) were established nationwide. Nineteen members were elected to the largest municipality and five to the smallest municipality.

Municipalities in Azerbaijan are elected for a five-year term. Members of municipalities may be elected by Republic of Azerbaijan citizens who are eligible to vote and permanently reside in the appropriate electoral district.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Lady Gaga Breaks Silence On Joker 2 Negative Reviews: 'People Sometimes Dont Like Some Things'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 03:40 IST

Critics and audiences alike rejected the film, which currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In Joker 2, Lady Gaga plays Lee, an inmate in Gotham City's Arkham State Hospital.

Months after Joker: Folie a Deux opened to negative reviews and dismal box-office performance, Lady Gaga has spoken about dealing with artistic failure. In a candid conversation with Elle, the pop icon and actress shared her perspective on the harsh reception the film received.

People just sometimes dont like some things," Gaga said. Its that simple. And I think to be an artist, you have to be willing for people to sometimes not like it. And you keep going even if something didnt connect in the way that you intended."

related stories

She further spoke about the dangers of letting the fear of failure creep in. When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. Its part of the mayhem," Gaga noted.

Directed by Todd Phillips, the musical sequel saw Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning role as the infamous DC villain. Despite high expectations following the original 2019 film, which grossed $1.1 billion globally and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time, Folie a Deux failed to connect with audiences. The sequel earned a dismal D Cinemascore, opening to just $37.6 million in the U.S., compared to the first films record-breaking $96.2 million debut. It wrapped up its run with $206.4 million worldwide, barely surpassing its $190 million production budget.

Critics and audiences alike rejected the film, which currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also received a Razzie nomination for Worst Movie of the Year," with Gaga landing a nomination for Worst Actress."

Set in Arkham Asylum, the film follows Arthur Fleck as he awaits trial for his Joker crimes. As he grapples with his dual identity, Arthur discovers love and his inner music. Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz joined Phoenix and Gaga in the cast, with Beetz reprising her role from the first film.

Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, also produced alongside Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Joseph Garner. Gaga served as a music consultant on the film.

Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 03:40 IST
Noah Centineo On Reprising His Role As Peter Kavinsky In XO, Kitty: How Could I Say No'

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:59 IST

The 28-year-old actor was filming The Recruits second season in South Korea when he got the opportunity to reprise his role in XO, Kitty.

Noah Centineo returned to play Peter Kavinsky in XO, Kittys season 2. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Noah Centineo has quickly become a household name thanks to his diverse roles on screen. From his iconic portrayal of the charming lover boy Peter Kavinsky in Netflixs To All The Boys series to his more recent turn as CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks in The Recruit, the American actor has proven his range. Before reprising his role as Owen in the second season of the spy thriller, Noah was also seen once again as Peter in XO, Kitty, the spin-off from To All The Boys.

In a recent interview with Deadline, the 28-year-old actor discussed how his shooting schedule for the upcoming season of The Recruit coincided with XO, Kittys, both of which took place in South Korea. During the conversation, Noah said, (All The Boys producer and XO, Kitty exec producer) Matt Kaplan and one of my friends over at Netflix called me and said, Hey, youre going to be shooting in South Korea the same time that we are. Would you be interested in coming back for XO, Kitty?"

related stories

His response to this question was positive. And I said, yeah, anything for Anna." He added, I think Anna is just wonderful and hard working and super talented, just a professional, and she deserves the world."

While he took no time to say yes to the opportunity, Noah was a bit sceptical about reprising his role as Peter Kavinsky. The actor mentioned, Its a daunting thing to go back to Peter to open that box; you dont want to disappoint or let anyone down. The character is kind of what it is. But actually, it worked out. How could I say no?"

Previously, Anna Cathcart, who portrays the titular role in XO, Kitty, shared her experience of working with Noah Centineo. In an interview with Today, she said, It was so exciting. I look up to him so much, and Ive gotten to learn from him for so many years, so to be back on screen with him and reestablish our characters dynamic was so special, and Noahs the sweetest."

Speaking of XO, Kitty, the highly anticipated second season of the rom-com made a return on January 16 on Netflix. Starring Anna Cathcart, Choi Min Young, Gia Kim and Sang Heon Lee, the latest season revolved around Kitty, who was more focused on finding her family in South Korea.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 12:55 IST
Prithviraj Sukumaran Reacts To Being Replaced In SS Rajamoulis SSMB29: Nothing Has Been Confirmed

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:27 IST

Earlier, News24 has reported that the makers are considering John Abraham for the role as things did not materialise with Prithviraj Sukumaran

Prithviraj Sukumaran talks about his role in SS Rajamoulis SSMB29

SS Rajamoulis next directorial SSMB29 has been grabbing headlines for a long time. The film shoot, starring Mahesh Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra, is going on currently. Amid this, a report came in that Prithviraj Sukumaran has been replaced in the film and John Abraham is being considered for the role. Well, now the actor has reacted in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla.

The portal asked him about his role in the film and Prithviraj has revealed that nothing has been finalised till now. Everyone seems to know more about the film than I do. See, nothing has been confirmed yet; there are a lot more things to be discussed. So yeah, once everything is in place, well see," the actor was quoted saying.

related stories

Earlier, News24 has quoted a source saying, Earlier, Prithviraj Sukumaran was considered for the role, but things could not materialise. Now, John will be seen sharing the screen with Priyanka Chopra. He has quite a few scenes with her and the shoot will happen in Hyderabad itself".

The official pooja ceremony for this SSMB29 was held on January 2. The ceremony was held strictly private, and no pictures or glimpses from the same were released by the makers.

Priyanka Chopra often shared glimpses of a temple visit in Hyderabad ahead of the shoot. Recently, Priyanka was spotted visiting the renowned Balaji temple. Taking to her Instagram stories, Priyanka shared glimpses of the visit. She has not mentioned anything in the caption. Last week also shared photos from the temple visit and wrote, With the blessings of Shri Balaji, a new chapter begins. May we all find peace in our hearts and prosperity and abundance all around us. Gods grace is infinite."

Mahesh Babu and SS Rajamoulis highly anticipated film SSMB29 is officially underway. While the spotlight has been on this exciting pairing of Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, the film promises to bring together a diverse array of talented artists from around the world. However, the full list of cast and crew is yet to be revealed, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more updates.

SSMB29 is set to be produced in two parts, with the first instalment expected to release in 2027 and the second instalment by 2029. Mahesh Babu will be playing the male lead. Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran will be playing the antagonist in the film. It is rumoured that Mahesh Babus character would be inspired by Lord Hanuman. This film promises to feature stunning visuals and engaging storytelling like never before.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:27 IST
Shahid Kapoor To NEVER Share The Screen With Mira Rajput? Actor Says 'Feelings Would Get Hurt If I...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 07:51 IST

Shahid Kapoor said that working with family is not a good idea as it could create complications.

Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput.

Shahid Kapoor comes from a talented family of artists and has even worked with his dad, Pankaj Kapur, in films like Mausam and Jersey. However, he has revealed that he does not want to work with his family anymore. Shahid said that if he said something on set, it could hurt their sentiments, so its best to keep work and family separate.

In a recent chat with Bollywood Hungama, Shahid said, I dont work with family, its not a good idea. Family and work should be dealt with separately; if they come together, it gets complicated. I would not want to work with them because their feelings would get hurt if I said something. So its better to keep it clean."

related stories

Does this mean that if Mira Rajput were to make her Bollywood debut, fans would not see her romance with Shahid Kapoor on screen? While Shahid and Mira have appeared in several ads together, Mira has made a name for herself in Bollywood through her business and natural charm. She has never expressed any desire to act.

In the same conversation, Shahid mentioned how his mother Neelima Azeem and wife Mira Rajput always give him honest feedback on his work. Its always the women in your life, they let you know how good or bad you are and are pretty straight about it. My wife and mom are two people I listen to a lot. I trust them, if they say something that does not sound nice, I know they are saying it because I need to hear it," he said.

Shahid Kapoor married Mira Rajput in 2015. Their families arranged the marriage. While Shahid liked Mira from their first meeting, it took Mira about six months to agree to the marriage. Despite their 13-year age difference, the couple has built a beautiful life together. Shahid and Mira welcomed their first child, Misha, in 2016, and their son, Zain, followed in 2018.

On the professional front, Shahid Kapoor plays a cop in his upcoming film Deva. It also stars Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Pravessh Rana, and Kubbra Sait. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Umesh KR Bansal, Deva is slated to hit theatres on January 31, 2025, promising an action-packed cinematic experience.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 07:50 IST
Smallville Star Tom Welling Taken Into Custody For Driving Under The Influence

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:24 IST

Police records show that Tom Welling was taken into custody after blood alcohol level was found to be above the legal limit and was later released.

Tom Welling is expected to appear in court for the legal process on March 11. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Tom Welling, famous for playing Clark Kent on Smallville, was recently arrested in California for driving under the influence. Police records show that he was taken into custody after blood alcohol level was found to be above the legal limit. He was released a few hours later. Surprisingly, the actor was arrested just a day after celebrating his wife, Jessica Rose Lees birthday. The couple, who married in 2019, have been together for six years and have two children. As of now, neither Tom Welling nor his representatives have spoken publicly about the incident.

According to TMZ, the 47-year-old actor was arrested outside Arby Restaurants parking lot in Yreka, California. Local police detained him for allegedly driving under the influence and his blood alcohol level reportedly was found at or above 0.08 percent.

related stories

Tom Welling has aged into what I think Christopher Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio would look like if they merged into one guy pic.twitter.com/CHQJASVTa9 JT (@Jtaylor0_3) January 29, 2025

According to USA TODAY, the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office took Tom Welling into custody around 2 AM and released him at around 7 AM. He is expected to appear in court for the legal process on March 11.

Hours before his arrest, Welling had posted birthday wishes for his wife, Jessica Rose Lee, on Instagram. He wrote, Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more! We love you to the moon and back."

Tom Welling previously claimed that he has been offered roles to appear as Clark Kent in other DC shows. However, he felt that the tone of those shows didnt quite match with Smallville.

While appearing on Talk Ville Podcast, the actor explained, I was asked to be in a lot of the shows after Smallville ended, I was asked to sort of appear in them as Clark and their tones never felt like their tone was the same as what Clark was or what Smallville was. I still believe that in the crossover what you see Clark doing and giving up his powers and being with Lois for her family might not be the clerk from Smallville because its a Multiverse."

After playing Clark Kent/Superman in Smallville, Tom Welling went on to star in another DC Comics series, Lucifer. He also appeared in the Supernatural spinoff show, The Winchesters and most recently, in 2024, he featured in the action film Mafia Wars.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:23 IST
Opinion | Can AAP Overcome Hurdles To Retain Delhi? The Key Factors At Play

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 28, 2025, 14:39 IST

For AAP, retaining power in Delhi is crucial not only for its political survival but also for Kejriwals stature as a key player in Indian politics

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI Image)

The 2025 Delhi Assembly election, scheduled for February 5, is a high-stakes battle for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal. For AAP, retaining power in Delhi is crucial not only for its political survival but also for Kejriwals stature as a key player in Indian politics. With the party already grappling with significant challenges in Punjab, losing Delhi would deal a severe blow to its prospects.

Several factors will shape the outcome of this election. One major concern is the corruption allegations against the AAP. Whether these claims resonate with voters to the extent of altering their preferences will be a critical determinant. Another pressing challenge is the weight of anti-incumbency. After 11 years in power, managing public discontent is no small task, and AAP will need to convince voters that it remains the best choice for Delhi.

related stories

The partys famed welfare schemes, or freebies," which played a decisive role in the 2020 election, will also be put to test. The question is whether these initiatives still hold the same appeal in 2025. Lastly, AAPs reliance on the Kejriwal Vs who?" narrative will be crucial.

Can Kejriwals charisma continue to win over Delhiites, or has his magic begun to wane?

CORRUPTION CHARGES: A CRUCIAL TEST FOR AAPs IDENTITY IN 2025

Born from Anna Hazares anti-corruption movement, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has always prided itself on a staunch stand against corruption. This image helped Arvind Kejriwal and AAP secure significant support, especially among Delhis middle class. Reports indicate that 53 per cent of middle-class voters backed AAP in the 2020 Assembly elections, compared to 39 per cent for the BJP. However, the scenario is starkly different in 2025.

Over recent years, AAPs clean image has been tarnished by allegations of corruption, including the controversial liquor policy scam. Top leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh faced imprisonment but are now out on bail. For AAP, this election will act as a referendum on these allegations. A victory would signal public rejection of these charges, reaffirming trust in the partys governance.

Conversely, the BJP views these allegations as a significant dent in AAPs credibility. They hope that the middle class, a key voter base for AAP in assembly elections, may reconsider their support.

Ultimately, the perception of voters regarding these corruption charges will play a decisive role. Will Delhis electorate overlook the allegations and continue to trust AAPs governance, or will this election mark a turning point in its fortunes?

AAPs ANTI-INCUMBENCY CHALLENGE

The 2025 Delhi Assembly election is a litmus test for the Aam Aadmi Party, marking over a decade in power. Anti-incumbency looms large, threatening to disrupt the partys grip on the capital. Despite proactive measures like replacing 30 per cent of its sitting MLAs to address voter dissatisfaction, AAP faces formidable challenges in navigating public discontent.

Anti-incumbency reflects a natural fatigue with prolonged governance, amplified in AAPs case by allegations of corruption and perceived governance lapses. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently underscored these issues, citing unfulfilled promises and administrative shortcomings. Such narratives resonate with voters seeking accountability and change.

To counter this, AAP has introduced new candidates based on performance surveys, aiming to present a refreshed image. However, this strategy carries risks. New faces may lack the recognition and trust built by incumbents, potentially weakening AAPs voter base. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to exploit the anti-incumbency sentiment, focusing on AAPs alleged governance failures and corruption charges.

On the ground, dissatisfaction over stalled infrastructure projects and unfulfilled promises could sway voters. Corruption allegations have further dented AAPs credibility, leaving the party to grapple with a complex political landscape as it seeks to retain Delhi.

AAPs FREEBIES STRATEGY IN FOCUS

AAP has consistently harnessed welfare schemes as a cornerstone of its electoral success. In the 2020 Delhi Assembly election, promises of free electricity, water, and healthcare propelled AAP to a decisive victory. These initiatives struck a chord with middle- and lower-income voters, delivering tangible benefits that reshaped their daily lives.

As the 2025 election approaches, the party is doubling down on this proven strategy. Among its marquee promises is the Sanjeevani Yojana, offering free healthcare for the elderly in both government and private hospitals. Extending its reach, AAP has pledged to provide free electricity and water benefits to tenants, ensuring broader coverage of its welfare programmes. Religious leaders are also in focus with the Pujari-Granthi Samman Yojana, which offers financial aid to temple priests and gurdwara granthis.

AAPs Mahila Samman Yojana seeks to empower women by providing Rs 2,100 monthly to every woman aged 18 and above, offering financial relief and greater autonomy. Students, too, are beneficiaries, with promises of free bus travel and a 50 per cent metro fare concession aimed at easing educational access.

These initiatives not only address immediate concerns but also reinforce AAPs image as a pro-people party. By prioritising welfare and presenting itself as a government that delivers, AAP hopes to mitigate challenges like anti-incumbency and corruption allegations. This strategy underscores its commitment to a governance model focused on the electorates direct benefit, which may once again prove decisive in securing another term for the party.

KEJRIWALS CHARISMA: AAPs TRUMP CARD FOR 2025

The Aam Aadmi Party is placing its bets on the enduring appeal of Arvind Kejriwal to secure victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly election. Known for his image as a tireless anti-corruption crusader and an advocate for the common man, Kejriwals leadership remains the bedrock of AAPs electoral strategy.

AAPs campaign centres on the compelling narrative of Kejriwal Vs Who?" Neither the BJP (BJP) nor the Congress has put forth a clear chief ministerial candidate, leaving a leadership vacuum in the Opposition. This absence bolsters Kejriwals positioning as an unchallenged leader with a proven governance record.

Kejriwals tenure is marked by the success of the Delhi Model, which prioritises welfare measures like free electricity, water, and healthcare. These initiatives have solidified his popularity, particularly among middle- and lower-income groups. With no strong contender to rival his charisma, AAPs campaign gains momentum by emphasising his achievements and vision.

The lack of a formidable opponent not only underscores Kejriwals dominance but also simplifies AAPs task of unifying voter support around its leader. As Delhi heads to the polls, Kejriwals leadership remains AAPs most potent weapon in the electoral battlefield.

CONGRESS ROLE: THE DECIDING FACTOR IN DELHI POLLS

The Delhi election is shaping up to be a high-stakes triangular battle among the Aam Aadmi Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Congress. While AAP and the BJP remain the dominant players, Congresss performance could prove decisive in shaping the final outcome.

Traditionally, AAP has drawn significant support from Congresss voter base, particularly among the urban poor and minority communities. In the 2020 election, Congresss vote share plummeted to a dismal 4.3 per cent, enabling AAP to secure a commanding 53.57 per cent victory. However, Congress has since been making efforts to regain its footing, striving to reconnect with its traditional base and reviving its organisational machinery in key constituencies.

A stronger Congress could significantly disrupt the electoral equation. If the party succeeds in pulling votes away from AAP, it could inadvertently aid the BJP by dividing the anti-AAP vote. Conversely, a poor performance by Congress might consolidate anti-incumbency sentiments in AAPs favour, helping Arvind Kejriwal secure another term.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

For AAP, this election is not merely about countering the BJPs narrative but also about preventing Congress from regaining relevance in Delhis political landscape. The intricate dynamics among these three parties will ultimately determine the capitals political future.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: January 28, 2025, 14:39 IST
Opinion | Congress And The Registration Of Sadhus

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:54 IST

Nehru's Congress attempted to license Hindu sadhus, revealing a historical pattern of state overreach into religious affairs. This controversial bill, though defeated, exposes a long-standing tension between the Congress and Hindu traditions

Should we be surprised by the Congresss vituperation against the Mahakumbh, the sadhu samaj, and Sanatanis in general? No, it is an old habit. (PTI File)

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is increasingly sounding not like the president of the principal Opposition party of India, but more like the chief of the Khaksar militia or the leader of a band of Razakars. His deranged utterances targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the ongoing Mahakumbhthe worlds largest religious congregation and one of the most awaited auspicious moments for Hindusonly reiterate his frustration at his partys increasing irrelevance and marginalisation in our national polity.

Frustrated, shrinking, irrelevant, and disconnected, Kharge has taken to doing what he and his master, Rahul Gandhi, do best: abusing Hindus, their faith, and their worship.

related stories

Should we be surprised by the Congresss vituperation against the Mahakumbh, the Sadhu Samaj, and Sanatanis in general? No, it is an old habit. If one recalls Pandit Nehrus anathema to the reconstruction of the Somnath temple, these sentiments fall into place. Nehrus attitude towards Purushottam Das Tandon and his disdain for Dr Rajendra Prasads expression of his Hindu faith often became apparent in his comportment towards his political colleagues of long-standing.

The ongoing Mahakumbh is a good occasion to remember that Pandit Nehru encouraged Congress Member of Parliament from Delhi, Radha Raman, to introduce the Sadhus and Sanyasis (Registration and Licensing) Bill in 1956. Nehrus aversion to sadhus was well demonstrated.

His challenger in the first general elections from Phulpur was Swami Prabhudatt Brahmachari. Though observing a vow of silence, Swami Prabhudatt Brahmacharis public meetings attracted large crowds and compelled Nehru to return to then-Allahabad from his national campaign, writes Nikhil Menon in Planning Democracy, to protect his own seat in Parliament."

Brahmachari had also been active in the freedom movement. Despite his claim to have assimilated the civilisational spirit of India, Nehru often publicly upbraided sadhus, criticising them as a group for including many fakes" and labelling them lazy rascals." In fact, his attitude gave the impression that he believed the majority of sadhus were imposters" and parasites."

The Statement of Objects and Reasons of this draconian Bill was both insulting and provocative in its generalisation of sadhus. In our country, the number of sadhus and sanyasis is increasing day by day," Radha Raman stated, and in the guise of saintly order, most of them indulge in vices, begging, and other anti-social acts, which is undesirable and which, if not checked, will help the crime incidence to increase unabated."

In short, Nehrus Radha Raman was accusing most sadhus and sanyasis of being anti-social elements who habitually engage in crime.

The licensing authority in the ignominious Bill was defined as the District Magistrate for the area in which the sadhu or sanyasi resided at the time of his initiation. The definition of sadhu-sanyasi was deliberately framed to ensnare and bind all Hindu religious seers and saints. The Bill stated that it included a person who professes to belong to any religious institution, order, or mutt established or maintained for the preservation and promotion of the tenets or traditions of any Hindu religious denomination or any section thereof."

The Bill also stated that anyone styling or proclaiming himself as a sadhu or sanyasi" could do so only after being duly registered with the licensing authority, which was the District Magistrate. The licensing authority would be required to maintain a register and publish an annual list of registered sadhus and sanyasis.

An application had to be submitted for registration as a sadhu-sanyasi, and the licensing authority had the power to refuse to grant the licence. The licence would need to be renewed every ten years unless suspended or cancelled. The District Magistrate would have the authority to suspend or cancel a licence if satisfied that the sadhu or sanyasi is living an immoral life," among other reasons.

Any sadhu-sanyasi failing to register or contravening the process would be liable to a fine of five hundred rupees or a prison term of up to two years. This exposed the acute anti-Bharat mindset of the Nehruvian system. The so-called modern edifice of India, as envisioned by Nehru and his acolytes, sought to ensure that a life of renunciation was registered, regulated, and regularised through officialdom.

The Lok Sabha debated the preposterous Bill in August 1957. It was an interesting discussion. The Member of Parliament from Sambalpur, Odisha, Sahitacharya Sraddhakar Supakar (1915-1993), of the Ganatantra Parishad, for instance, made a hard-hitting and thought-provoking intervention. A former Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Sraddhakar Supakar was an educationist and a writer, and had a long career in public life.

Supakar said he opposed the Bill because it sought to scrutinise our social life to the extreme limit" and was, therefore, most undesirable.

He argued that the Bill was uncalled for, Having regard to the past of our country, and having regard to the debts that India owes to our sadhus, from the hoary old days down to the present age." The insinuation that is sought to be cast against the sadhus in general in the Statement of Objects and Reasons," Supakar told the House, was also uncalled for, and that the reason for which this Bill is sought to be introduced in this House seeks to cast a reflection on the order of sadhus and sanyasis, which is not justified at all."

There may be some black sheep" and undesirable elements", but that still did not justify the slur, the insinuation that is sought to be cast on the sadhus as a whole," he said. How could registration be a deterrent for those who were actually bent on carrying out anti-social activities? It was like saying, he quipped, that we should also bring in a Bill for the registration of pickpockets, thieves, and goondas in society.

I think the reason advanced for bringing forward this Bill before the House is that if a man gets himself registered, he is above all criticism. But is it correct? Is it possible for a District Magistrate or an officer to know who is a real sadhu, to whom a certificate of merit, a certificate of good conduct should be given, and who is the person to whom it should not be given? We know that it is very difficult for ordinary people to recognise the moral and spiritual greatness of some of our sadhus" he argued.

This Bill was taking a very narrow view of sadhus and their contribution. It was meant to force them to become Sarkari Sadhus"; it is to take a very narrow view of spiritualism and to ignore the work that is done by some of our sadhus who maintain our culture, our heritage, and our greatness for which India is proud and for which India can hold its own; and the debts that the country owes to some of these great men throughout these centuries."

Supakars concluding riposte, however, was biting. He tore into the Nehruvian logic and exposed its mischief. Can you imagine," he asked the House, if Sankara were living today, if Buddha were living today, if Upagupta, who made Ashoka into a great man and brought him into the picture of history, were living today, if Aurobindo [Sri Aurobindo] were living today, if Swami Vivekananda were living today, would they have come to a court of law, to a District Magistrate, and requested him, Sir, my conduct is good; I want a good conduct certificate from you saying that I am worthy to be called a sadhu or sanyasi? They may not be here, but I believe that equally great people, who are worthy to be the successors of these great men, are still living in India today. Shall we compel them to get themselves registered under the penalty of paying a fine?" There was no counter.

The Bill did not pass muster eventually. But it exposed the Nehru governments complete divorce from Indias traditions, spiritual essence, and evolution. A tradition and lineage that articulated and sustained civilisational India was sought to be officialised, regulated, and strangled by free Indias first Prime Minister and his acolytes.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Kharge and his master Rahul Gandhi, along with the Congress first family, continue to ooze that mindset. It is a mindset which, if given a chance and a free hand, would want Hindu sadhus and sanyasis to genuflect, prostrate, and submit, remaining captive by reneging on their faith and traditions. Nehrus intention of compelling sadhus and sanyasis to register themselves exposed a diabolical trait that was intolerant of Sanatana Dharma, its tenets, and adherents. Kharges abuse of Mahakumbh yatris betrays that same satanic mindset. It is a mindset which daily regurgitates curses, hoping for the end of Sanatana Dharma and of Sanatanis. For the Congress, as they say, plus ca change, plus cest la meme chose!

The author is Chairman, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, and a member of the National Executive Committee, BJP. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:54 IST
Opinion | No Guilt, No Shame: Pakistans Response To The Grooming Gang Scandal

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:40 IST

The Pakistani government, media, and Muslims of Pakistani origin in Britain remain firmly in denial, and, typically, they are using the worn-out shield of racism and Islamophobia to shield themselves from reality

Tens of thousands of (mostly minor) white girls were raped in the UK by gangs in which Pakistani Muslims preponderated. (Representative Image)

Tens of thousands of (mostly minor) white girls were raped in the UK by gangs in which Pakistani Muslims preponderated. One would expect the Pakistani government, media, and Muslims of Pakistani origin in Britain to feel ashamed about the issue, which has been brought into the limelight by Elon Musks tweets. But no  all of them remain firmly in denial, and, typically, they are using the worn-out shield of racism and Islamophobia to shield themselves from reality.

On 13 January, Pakistan condemned the increasingly racist and Islamophobic" comments against British Pakistanis. Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said, We note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed at conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million-strong British Pakistani diaspora."

related stories

The Pakistani media is no better. A woman journalist, Muna Khan, wrote in a column for Dawn, Musks tweet has reopened a lot of wounds but also reminded us how much of the media framed the issue of grooming gangs as a Muslim problem. And how Pakistani men in particular were depicted as a threat to our women. Child sexual exploitation thus became linked to nationality, their culture, and religion. The government was slammed for protecting them."

Notice Pakistani men being framed." An official 2014 report made a conservative estimate that over 1,400 girls were sexually exploited in the town of Rotherham alone between 1997 and 2013. Many were already known to local services because they were in care or had been subject to neglect. It [the report] said girls as young as 11 were raped by large numbers of male perpetrators. It said local officials deemed the children to be having consensual sexual intercourse," Reuters reported.

How on earth can underage girls consent to sex? But such is the tyranny of political correctness and multiculturalism that even commonsensical questions are not raised.

The [inquiry] report said the majority of known perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage and that in some cases local officials and other agencies had been wary of identifying ethnic origins for fear of upsetting community cohesion, or being seen as racist," Reuters added.

So much for Pakistani Muslims being framed" by the far-right ecosystem.

Another Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune, wrote on 19 January, The Pakistani diaspora in the UK, despite constituting only 2 per cent of the population, has faced disproportionate scrutiny in discussions surrounding grooming gangs, leading to an unfair and damaging narrative. The persistent framing of this issue often serves to benefit far-right groups and foreign interests, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and undermining the communitys reputation. This narrative, which implicates Pakistanis as a whole, fails to address the actions of a small minority of individuals, instead focusing on their ethnic background."

The Karachi-based Express Tribune, the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan, is partnered with The International Herald Tribune, the international edition of The New York Times. Wikipedia describes The Express Tribunes political alignments as centre-left, social liberalism, and egalitarianism. With social liberals like The Express Tribune journalists, does Pakistan even need mad mullahs to promote its rape culture?

In the UK, some Pakistani Muslims are aghast at the magnitude of the crime against young girls, but manyif not mostare still trying to downplay the horrors by resorting to reprehensible tactics like whataboutery, the most widely cited being that some Christian priests were also predators. Some, like barrister Amjad Malik, are shamelessly chanting racism and Islamophobia.

The insolence and shamelessness of Pakistanis and Pakistan must be seen in the proper historical context. What the Pakistani Army did in Bangladeshwhich was East Pakistan until December 1971was horrendous and unconscionable by any civilised code of conduct. They carried out a well-documented genocide in Bangladesh, in which up to three million people were systematically butchered. No one will ever know how many women were raped by Pakistani soldiers, but estimates range between two lakh and four lakh.

Hindus suffered disproportionately, but Bengali Muslims were also not spared. Much of the Pakistanis hatred for the Bengalis was rooted in racism. The Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, set up by Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto, mentioned massacres, plunder, arson, and rape by soldiers, but no substantive action was taken against the culprits.

Two points need to be made here. First, there has been no guilt, remorse, or shame in Pakistan about what its soldiers did in what was its own territory in 1971not even for what they did to their fellow Muslim citizens.

Second, not only did the Pakistani government fail to prosecute war criminals, but India too, inexplicably, did not pursue justice. India held about 15,000 sq km of Pakistani territory and 93,000 prisoners of waryet the Indira Gandhi government did not insist on a permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue or the prosecution of war criminals.

There is only one explanation for the latter: the leftist coterie that surrounded her convinced her that such an action would be construed as communalthe Indian equivalent of Islamophobic.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

A similar left-liberal ecosystem in the UK has been protecting rapists and paedophiles of Pakistani origin. Patriotic British politicians and intellectuals should not let this ecosystem score another victory.

The author is a freelance 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 29, 2025, 16:40 IST
Straight Talk | US, China, Russia, Europe: In Trump Era, Everyone Wants To Be Indias Friend

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 08:00 IST

Indias stability in a world order that is in violent flux will augur well for the countrys development journey, and strengthen our already resilient economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. File image/AP

India has a global reputationthat of mastering the art of balancing ties and maintaining close relations with all major powers in the world. Yet, China has remained a sore spot, especially after the Galwan Valley clash of 2020. Minus China, India shares amicable relations with both the United States and Russia. Now, China is emerging as a key focus area, with both New Delhi and Beijing trying to quickly bring down tensions and revert to a normal" bilateral relationship. To that end, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri flew to Beijing over the weekend, where he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and the head of the international department of the CCPs central committee, Liu Jianchao. The talks in Beijing turned out to be quite productive, as India and China decided to resume the sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this summer, while also agreeing to operate direct flights between the two nations. The two sides also agreed to promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

related stories

Misris meetings are the latest in a series of high-level engagements between India and China since October last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. That groundbreaking meeting came against the backdrop of both countries announcing a border patrolling and disengagement arrangement. Soon, external affairs minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil. Then, on November 20, defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun met in Laos on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting. This was followed by a meeting of national security adviser Ajit Doval and Wang Yi in Beijing

So, what is going on? Thats the all-important question. Why are India and China engaged in a flurry of high-level meetings?

The answer lies in Donald Trumps return as President of the United States. With his return, the world stands at the cusp of a fundamental change in the rules-based order. Trump is a protectionist who wants to rewrite the rules of global engagementwith friends and foes alike. For India, Trumps return opens a wide window of opportunity, one which must be seized at all costs. The previous US administration, led by Joe Biden, complicated Indias strategic calculus in more ways than one. With Trump back, India is hoping for a free hand in dealing with the host of security and economic challenges it faces.

Besides, Trumps priorities are wildly different from those of his predecessor. For example, if Biden was all about arming Ukraine and defeating Russia through a proxy war in Eastern Europe, Trump is fiddling with the idea of taking over Greenland. Where Biden wanted to keep tensions with Iran in check, Trump is all in favour of flattening Tehran, especially its nuclear programme. Donald Trump considers the Arctic regionand the emerging competition theredeserving of his immediate and total attention. His threats of turning Canada, Greenland, and even the Panama Canal into American territories are all part of a strategy to establish disproportionate dominance across the Arctic and Atlantic regions.

How India has been presented with a historic opportunity

Essentially, Donald Trump is focussing on the situation within the US and its immediate neighbourhood. In doing so, the foot has been liftedeven if slightlyfrom the China paddle. New Delhi appears to have pre-empted Trumps return to the White House and hedged its bets accordingly. With Trump back, India knows the US has turned insular and protectionist. New Delhi also knows that, barring trade and tariffs, it will be smooth sailing with the Trump administration.

On trade and tariffs, and even immigration, India has made its intention of cooperating and working with Donald Trump amply clear. Yet, in the face of an increasingly protectionist US, India needs to have options to protect its core economic interests. If faced with a market loss in the US due to sky-high tariffs, India wants to be in a position where it can still trade freely with China.

For China, the stakes are even higher. Its economy is in a precarious situation, with growth having slowed and local governments finding themselves saddled with debt. Beijing knows that with Donald Trump around, it must measure its words and keep its actions in checkespecially in the Indo-Pacific and specifically with regards to India, which the new Secretary of State has described as Americas critical partner".

Chinas calculus is pretty simple. Beijing cannot afford to have awry trade and economic ties with both the US, the worlds largest economy, and India, which is slated to emerge as the third-largest economy soon.

However, a thaw in ties should not be mistaken to be the end of strategic competition that is underway between India and China. For China, India very much poses a long-term threatparticularly an economic one. Therefore, despite both sides now trying to revive their bilateral relationship, Beijing will continue some of its strategic programmes to contain India. These include the construction of gigantic dams on Tibetan rivers, the development of military-grade infrastructure along the LAC, the strategic encirclement of India (including through efforts aimed at turning countries in the region against New Delhi), et al.

India, for one, has demonstrated its ability to stand its ground. Whether this be in Doklam first, Eastern Ladakh and specifically Galwan next, or even the dam-building spree in the Himalayas, India has shown it will counter China eye-for-eye, soldier-for-soldier, and dam-for-dam. Besides, Chinas gameplan of turning Indias neighbours against it has also run into several complications, primarily due to proactive efforts from New Delhi to resist such moves and maintain its strategic influence across the subcontinent and the wider Indian Ocean Region (take the Maldives and Sri Lanka, for example).

US, Russia, Europemajor global powers vying for Indias partnership

Donald Trump may appear to be going slow and soft on China for now, but his entire administration, especially the national security team, is geared towards challenging Beijing. I anticipate Washingtons campaign against China will turn much more secretive and subtle, with Trump threatening Beijing and calling it out only on a need basis.

Donald Trump and Narendra Modis friendship and close relationship are hardly a secret. That is one reason why all major powers want to be on good terms with New Delhi. Interestingly, during a phone call on Monday, Trump and Modi discussed the situation in West Asia and Ukraine. Donald Trump is keen to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, now that a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is in place. India has repeatedly conveyed to the world its willingness to mediate an end to the conflict in Europe. With Trump back in office, one should not be surprised if India and China both end up playing a pivotal role in hammering a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking of Europe, it has woken up to the realisation that India is now too big a power to ignore. Again, Donald Trumps return to the White House has ushered in an era of uncertainty for Europe. He has threatened the EU with tariffs, wants NATO to start spending more, and is also fiddling with the idea of a military takeover of Greenland, which is presently controlled by NATO member Denmark.

So, it does not come as a surprise that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the first visit of her second term will be to India to upgrade the strategic partnership" with the worlds largest democracy. Apart from expediting work on a free trade agreement, the European Union is also keen to bolster ties in the realm of defence and critical technologies. This is all part of the blocs effort to mitigate the risks of dealing with a transactional and potentially hostile US, led by Donald Trump.

Then there is Russia, which India has not abandoned despite severe pressures from the West. Despite the war in Ukraine, India chose realpolitik and kept its own national interests first. In doing so, India emerged as one of the largest purchasers of Russian crude. Faced with calls to move away from Russia, Prime Minister Modi has chosen to, in fact, deepen strategic and economic cooperation with Moscow. 2025 is going to be a historic year for India since both President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to visit the country.

Oil purchases are set to continue too, with Rosneft, Russias state oil company, set to supply some 500,000 barrels per day of crude to Reliance Industries for the next ten years in a mammoth deal worth over $13 billion. Despite the threat of CAATSA sanctions from Washington, India is keen to purchase Russias Voronezh radar system, which can identify and track a range of aerial threats, over distances of up to 8,000 kilometres  giving India eyes deep into China. It is not a surprise that Putin is repeatedly seen praising Prime Minister Modi and India. After all, the Russian economy now depends a lot on India.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

With Donald Trump back in the White House, the worlds biggest powers have begun gravitating towards India. Soon, if talks with Beijing produce real and concrete results, India will share amicable relations with all major powersthe US, Russia, Europe, and China. This will place India in a highly advantageous and lucrative position, as it deals and trades with the biggest economies and military powerhouses of the world with ease. Indias stability in a world order that is in violent flux will augur well for the countrys development journey, and strengthen our already resilient economy.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 08:00 IST
CNN name, logo and all associated elements  and  2024 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.  Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2024. All rights reserved.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Alstom underscores the pivotal role of Central Asia as a gateway and transportation hub for numerous countries, said Jerome Boyet, Managing Director of Alstom in Western and Central Asia, in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"Central Asia is a crucial gateway to the region and a significant transportation hub for numerous countries. Our long-term vision is to reinforce this strategic position by enhancing our contributions to regional economic integration and sustainable transportation goals," Boyet said.

To achieve these objectives, Alstom has committed to developing its human and industrial capacities in alignment with customer needs. "A prime example of this commitment is our ongoing development of services that provide our customers with a predictable and reliable outlook on their operating costs. By securing the availability and reliability levels of their assets, we aim to support our clients for up to 25 years, ensuring they can operate with confidence and efficiency," Boyet noted.

He further highlighted the companys focus on promoting sustainable transportation solutions that align with eco-friendly economic growth. "Through our innovations and advanced technologies, we aim to make significant strides toward more efficient, greener rail networks that support the wider objectives of sustainable development in the region," Boyet added.

Alstoms commitment to the modernization of transport infrastructure extends to fostering collaboration among nations. "As Central Asia continues to evolve, Alstom is dedicated to being a proactive partner in this journey, contributing to the modernization of transport infrastructure and fostering collaboration among nations to enhance interconnectivity and economic prosperity," Boyet stated.

The companys strong presence in Kazakhstan serves as a foundation for its regional ambitions. Boyet pointed to Kazakhstan's strategic role in facilitating exports of locomotives and rail equipment to neighboring countries. "There are indeed significant opportunities to export locomotives and other rail equipment to neighboring countries. We welcome these opportunities as our manufacturing setup in Kazakhstan is fully capable of meeting the needs of the region and extending our reach to the broader 1520 gauge market," he explained.

Boyet emphasized the advantages of Alstom's local expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities. "Our strategic location and advanced manufacturing capabilities empower us to efficiently produce high-quality rail solutions that cater to the specific requirements of Central Asian countries. By leveraging our local expertise and relationships, we can respond effectively to the growing demand for modern, efficient rail transport in neighboring markets," he said.

Sustainability remains at the core of Alstom's operations, positioning the company as a preferred partner for countries seeking to enhance their rail infrastructure. "Furthermore, our commitment to sustainability and technological innovation positions us as a preferred partner for countries looking to enhance their rail infrastructure. We are excited about the potential to expand our exports and contribute to the development of neighboring railway systems, ultimately fostering greater connectivity and economic collaboration across the region," Boyet added.

Commitment to localization

"Currently, Alstom employs around 1,300 people in the region across 12 locations in three countriesKazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. This workforce not only contributes to local economies by providing employment opportunities but also supports the development of skilled labor in the railway sector," Boyet stated.

A cornerstone of Alstoms regional strategy is its focus on localization. "Alstom is committed to sourcing materials and services locally whenever possible, which enhances the domestic supply chain and stimulates economic activity in Kazakhstan. This localization reduces costs and fosters community growth and development, reinforcing our commitment to the regions we serve," he said.

Boyet emphasized that the companys investments are driving the modernization of Kazakhstans railways, a critical element for facilitating trade and transportation in Central Asia. "By enhancing the efficiency and reliability of rail networks, we contribute to reducing transportation costs and improving connectivity between regions. This, in turn, supports the economic growth of Kazakhstan and its neighboring countries, enabling them to compete more effectively in regional and international markets," he added.

Focus on innovation and sustainability

Alstoms efforts also extend to technology transfer and the sharing of best practices. "Our initiatives promote technology transfer and further strengthen the rail infrastructure in Central Asia. Our focus on sustainability and innovation aligns with the strategic goals of the region to develop greener and more efficient transportation solutions," Boyet explained.

One key aspect of Alstoms sustainability drive is its electric locomotives. "These locomotives deliver the lowest carbon footprint of all transport solutions available today. In fact, the Alstom locomotives currently in service in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan demonstrate exceptional environmental performance, achieving a remarkably low emission rate of just 7.0 gCO2/ton.km," Boyet said.

By focusing on environmentally friendly transport options, Alstom is supporting Central Asias transition to greener rail networks. "Our approach focuses on providing innovative technologies and environmentally friendly transport options that significantly reduce emissions. This commitment aligns with the global push for greener solutions and supports the goals of Central Asian countries to enhance their transportation infrastructure while minimizing their environmental impact," he added.

Partnership with Kazakhstan in rail modernization

"We are proud to highlight that Alstom has successfully exported 40 freight locomotives from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan," he said. This achievement underscores the growing importance of Kazakhstan's rail industry, with Alstom establishing itself as a key player in the country's railway modernization efforts. Boyet emphasized the strategic role Kazakhstan plays in Alstoms regional operations. "The strategic importance of our operations in Kazakhstan cannot be overstated, as it is currently the largest rail market in Central Asia," he stated.

Kazakhstan serves as a critical hub for Alstoms operations, allowing the company to manage and support projects across the wider Central Asian region. "Kazakhstan serves as our regional base, where a substantial portion of our activities take place. This location allows us to effectively manage and support our operations across the Central Asian region, leveraging local expertise and fostering strong partnerships," Boyet added.

The companys commitment to the modernization and sustainable development of Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure aligns with the countrys broader vision for growth. "Our commitment to enhancing the country's railway infrastructure aligns with Kazakhstan's vision for modernization and sustainable development," said Boyet.

Alstoms success in Kazakhstan is not only a testament to its manufacturing capabilities but also highlights the countrys importance as a pivotal rail transportation hub in the region. "This accomplishment showcases our manufacturing capabilities in the region and reinforces the significance of Kazakhstan as a pivotal hub for rail transportation in Central Asia," he remarked.

In addition to their operations in Kazakhstan, Alstom has invested in local facilities and forged strong partnerships with key stakeholders, further contributing to the advancement of the nations railway system. "Through our investments in local facilities and collaboration with key stakeholders, we are contributing to the advancement of Kazakhstans rail system and also reinforcing our position as a leader in the regions transportation sector," the managing director concluded.

Advancing the connectivity of the Middle Corridor

Looking ahead, Alstom remains committed to supporting the growth and innovation of the railway industry across Central Asia. "We look forward to continuing our work in Central Asia and supporting the growth and innovation of its railway industry," Boyet said.

"Our presence in any region, including Central Asia, is directly linked to our operational needs and our commitment to meeting the requirements of our customers," Boyet noted. He emphasized that Alstoms growth in Kazakhstan serves as a springboard for exploring opportunities in neighboring markets like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. "Any potential expansion into these territories would be driven by customer needs for support and infrastructure development. We are dedicated to fostering partnerships that create value and enhance the operational capabilities of the railway systems in the region".

Boyet outlined the companys plans to support the development of the Middle Corridor, a key trade and transportation route connecting China and Europe.

"Our focus lies in supporting the development of the Middle Corridor, which is essential for facilitating trade and transportation between China and Europe," Boyet said.

To boost efficiency along this corridor, Alstom plans to implement modern signaling systems. "These advanced signaling technologies enable higher traffic volumes on the same lines, improving overall throughput and reliability. By optimizing rail traffic management, we contribute to more efficient operations and reduced delays," he explained.

Alstom also aims to introduce its energy-efficient electric locomotives, which are well-suited for transporting general freight and containerized goods. "Our locomotives are designed to consume less power, minimizing operational costs while aligning with the sustainability goals of modern transportation," the managing director noted.

By equipping the Middle Corridor with state-of-the-art technologies, Alstom seeks to build a more robust and environmentally friendly logistics network that supports economic development in Central Asia.

"Were excited about the opportunities this corridor presents and remain dedicated to providing innovative solutions that enhance connectivity, ensuring that Kazakhstan continues to serve as a key transit point in the New Silk Road," Jerome Boyet concluded.
March 12, 2025, 08:31 AM IST | Episode 26

The road to lasting peace in Manipur will be long and fraught with challenges. The scars of the 2023 violence run deep, and the wounds between the Meitei and Kuki communities will not heal overnight. However, what is clear is that the government is not going to let the state remain trapped in an endless cycle of violence and instability
Delhi Elections 2025: TMC, Samajwadi Party To Campaign For AAP; Congress Left Out

Last Updated: January 28, 2025, 19:27 IST

Some other member of the bloc, including the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), have also extended their support to AAP for the Delhi polls

The move reflects further alienation of the Congress within the opposition bloc it led during last year's Lok Sabha polls. (PTI file photo)

With several INDIA bloc parties backing the Aam Aadmi Party for the February 5 Assembly elections in Delhi, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders are set to campaign for the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit, leaving aside the Congress, the largest constituent of the opposition bloc.

Formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the INDIA bloc includes the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party (SP) as its key constituents, among others.

related stories

Some other member of the bloc, including the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), have also extended their support to AAP for the Delhi polls. A source told PTI that actor-politician and TMC MP from Asansol, Shatrughan Sinha, will canvass for AAP in at least three constituencies on February 1-2.

These include former chief minister Arvind Kejriwals constituency New Delhi, Chief Minister Atishis Kalkaji, and Jangpura, where the party has fielded its senior leader Manish Sisodia.

Sinha, who hails from Bihar, could mobilise Delhis Purvanchali voters, a term that refers to primarily Bhojpuri-speaking migrants from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Purvanchalis form an influential vote-bank in the capital.

The source added that one or two more" TMC leaders may join the AAP campaign in Delhi.

The Samajwadi Party, which played a major role in pushing the BJP back in Uttar Pradesh in last years general elections, will also campaign for AAP.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with his party MPs, will campaign for the ruling party candidates ahead of the elections, AAP said on Tuesday.

While Yadav will join Kejriwal for a roadshow in Rithala on January 30, several other SP MPs, including Iqra Hasan from Kairana, will join AAP in its campaign trail.

Though Congress is a key constituent of the INDIA bloc of which SP is also a crucial member, the Akhilesh Yadav-led party will only campaign for AAP, which is locked in a direct contest with Congress and BJP in Delhi.

The move reflects further alienation of the Congress within the opposition bloc it led during last years Lok Sabha polls.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The AAP and Congress had unsuccessfully contested four and three seats, respectively, in last years general elections under a seat-sharing pact in Delhi with BJP sweeping all the seven seats.

Fissures appeared in the opposition alliance last year when several parties in it backed TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to head the grouping led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

First Published: January 28, 2025, 19:25 IST
Haryana Govt To File Case Against Arvind Kejriwal Over 'Poison in Yamuna' Remark

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 20:49 IST

Saini had assured that the Haryana government is committed to ensuring the purity and continuous supply of water to Delhi

Delhi Assembly Polls: ECI asked Arvind Kejriwal for proof of his allegations of 'poisoning' of Yamuna. (PTI)

Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday said the state government will get a case registered against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over his poison in Yamuna" remark, which he dubbed an irresponsible statement aimed at spread panic among people.

Kejriwal has made an irresponsible statement spreading panic among the people of Delhi and Haryana. Haryana government is going to get a case registered against him before CJM Court in Sonipat under the Disaster Management Acts Sections 2 (D) and 54," Goel told reporters here.

related stories

The provision which Goel referred to regarding the Act pertains to anyone making or circulating a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic.

Hitting out at the former Delhi chief minister, Goel accused him of speaking such a big lie".

What kind of water we give them (to Delhi), all our officers have checked the water being supplied," he said.

Slamming Kejriwal over his remarks that poison" is being mixed in the Yamuna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that AAP-da people" have turned desperate fearing their defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.

Addressing a public meeting in Delhis Kartar Nagar, Modi said, A former CM has made malicious allegations against the people of Haryana. AAP-da people have become desperate due to the fear of defeat." Is Haryana different from Delhi? Dont they have children and relatives in Delhi? Will they mix poison for their own people?" he asked, hitting out at Kejriwal.

He said the people of Delhi, diplomats in the embassies and the judges staying in the national capital drink the same water from Haryana.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had said Kejriwals remark that the BJP is mixing poison in the Yamuna" is a political stunt" by the AAP aimed at influencing voters in the Delhi polls and deflecting attention from its own failures.

Saini had assured that the Haryana government is committed to ensuring the purity and continuous supply of water to Delhi.

The AAP had on Monday accused the ruling BJP in Haryana of intentionally draining industrial waste into the Yamuna, with Kejriwal alleging that it is trying to kill people by mixing poison" in the river.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi had also on Monday alleged that the BJP is deliberately disrupting" Delhis water supply as a historic loss" awaits the saffron party in the February 5 assembly polls in the national capital.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP is trying to keep the people of Delhi thirsty as it indulges in dirty politics".

BJP people in Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi. If people in Delhi drink this water, many will die. Can anything be more disgusting than this? The poison that is being mixed in the water cannot even be cleaned in water treatment plants. For the safety of the people of Delhi, the water supply has to be stopped in many areas," Kejriwal had said in a post on X.

Location : Haryana, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 20:49 IST
In Dissent Note, Opposition Leaders Slam 'Excessive' Govt Interference In Waqf Bill Matters

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 21:04 IST

Gaurav Gogoi said the Bill allows excessive government interference in the functioning, control and management of waqf and waqf properties in the country.

Members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee after a meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill in New Delhi. (PTI photo)

Opposition members on Wednesday objected to the proposed omission of the waqf by user clause in the Waqf Amendment Bill, contending that the provision existed since time immemorial.

In a dissent note to the report, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the last-minute inclusion of the proviso to the clause omitting waqf by user was wholly unhelpful" as the principle will only be tested in cases where the property is placed in dispute, in which case the proviso will not apply.

related stories

Seeking to allay fears that the existing waqf properties will be subject to scrutiny after the amended waqf law comes into force, a parliamentary panel had recommended that no cases will be reopened against such properties on a retrospective basis, provided the asset is not in dispute or belongs to the government.

Any bad-faith actor can institute a litigation over any part of the properties belonging to the waqf by user and consequently prevent it from seeking any protection under the amended Act," Congress member Gaurav Gogoi said in his dissent note.

Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said the Bill allows excessive government interference in the functioning, control and management of waqf and waqf properties in the country.

this has a detrimental impact on the community as well as the institution of the autonomy, which are necessary to administer the institution," he said.

In his dissent note, DMK member A Raja said the proviso of waqf by user existed since the time of Prophet Mohammad and any move for its omission would violate the fundamental rights of the Muslim community.

Raja said, To obliterate the freedom to establish, manage, own and administer waqf by the religious denomination is violative of the Constitution of India." He also objected to the provision of including non-Muslims in the waqf boards and nominating members. Several endowments of Hindu faith forbade management by persons other than their denomination, he noted.

Shiv Sena UBT member Arvind Sawant also objected to the inclusion of non-Muslims as members of the Waqf Board.

Nomination of such non-related members will create chaos as tomorrow the other communities may demand parity in all endowments," Sawant said in his dissent note to the report.

He noted that as far as Hindu endowments are concerned, it is categorically mentioned that only Hindus will be members and office-bearers of the Hindu Endowments for Temples.

The Waqf Act was made to save and safeguard the waqf properties. However, the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are going to do the exact opposite. Instead of saving the waqf properties, they will open new ways and avenues to further encroach upon and usurp the waqf properties," Sawant said.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) members Kalyan Banerjee and Nadimul Haque objected to the amendment to the original Act that states if any government property is identified or declared as waqf property, before or after the enforcement of this Act, it shall not be a waqf property.

The amendment states that if any question arises regarding the property to be government property then the issue shall be referred to an officer above the rank of collector, as notified by the state government, for adjudication.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The said amendment hits the basic tenants of the property laws. The government is not meant to create its property by taking recourse in an unauthorised manner. When the government acts as a trespasser, such unauthorised acts cannot be legalised by the proposed amendment," the TMC leaders said.

YSRCP member Vijay Sai Reddy had submitted his dissent note before resigning as Rajya Sabha member on January 25.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 21:03 IST
Chinas DeepSeek AI Built On OpenAI Technology? Heres What People Have Said

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:49 IST

OpenAI is worried about the growth of DeepSeek AI but the US government feels it is nothing but a copycat AI model trained from its own models.

The US Govt feels that DeepSeek could another copycat AI model

DeepSeek has raised eyebrows and shocked the IT sector in the US since its launch for consumers earlier this year and the US government is equally worried about its impact and alleged data sharing policies with China.

Now, the US government has reportedly claimed that the DeepSeek AI model has been built on OpenAI technology, and it has substantial evidence to prove its point. David Sacks, AI chief for the White House has been quoted making this claim in an interview by Fox News this week.

related stories

Sacks even pointed out that DeepSeek is likely to have used a technique called distillation where the OpenAI model would have been used to train the DeepSeek R1 model which is now freely available to users.

The New US-China Battle

Without actually sharing the evidence for his alleged claims, the AI chief said OpenAI is not going to be happy about these developments. Report from Bloomberg says OpenAI is internally looking into the AI model to see if DeepSeek has distilled its own AI model.

The US has always seen China with envy and the AI battle is not going to be very different, especially with DeepSeek making its presence felt among the US users with its free app. Sacks realises the impact of DeepSeek and even though he questions its credibility, he is quick to laud the Chinese startup for its efforts and the ability to develop AI models without needing heavy and expensive computing power.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Taking a dig at DeepSeek AI, Sacks said the growth and demand for the Chinese startup will encourage and motivate US companies to advance their growth in this space and ensure that more copycat AI models dont turn up in the near future.

DeepSeek R1 has risen to the top of the App Store rankings among iPhone users in the US in a few weeks, and all this interest has surely got the big people worried, especially now that an AI model has been open sourced for everyone to decipher and work on.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:49 IST
Instagram Will Soon Offer X-Like Community Notes To Flag Content

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 10:50 IST

Eligible users will be able to write background information or provide opinion-based insights to help people avoid falling for wrong content.

The Community Notes feature will be implemented in the US first.

Instagram is tipped to be working on implementing Community Notes on its platform. According to a tipster, the Meta-owned platform is adding a new option to write a community note to the published posts. The feature is currently under development and is not available to any user.

Recently, developer Alessandro Paluzzi shared about the feature in a Threads post. As per the post, the feature is reportedly at an advanced stage on Threads, where Community Notes is said to be already in the testing phase. Meta CEO highlighted the feature will be implemented in the US first, followed by the rest of the country.

related stories

In the screenshot shared on Threads, we can see that the feature can be accessed by tapping on the three vertical dots next to every post on Instagram. The option labelled Write community note" is placed above the Report icon.

The company stated that Community Notes will allow users from diverse perspectives to give opinions on misleading content and provide additional context. Eligible users can write background information or provide opinion-based insights. If the community finds it useful, the information will be published under the post.

View on Threads

Explaining the decision to ditch the fact-checking program in a series of posts on Thread, Zuckerberg said, Its time to get back to our roots around free expression and giving people a voice on our platforms," adding that the content policies will be simplified. Restrictions on topics such as gender, immigration and others that are out of touch with mainstream discourse will be removed.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

This leaked information comes weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the shutting down of the existing fact-checking program, citing rigid content policy and censorship mistakes. While the company has revealed the feature will be implemented on all of its social media platforms, it has not yet declared any release date.

Meanwhile, the Community Notes feature was first introduced by X (formerly Twitter) in 2021. Later, it was expanded and popularised after Elon Musk took over the company.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 10:48 IST
Samsung To Sell New S Pen With Bluetooth Support For Galaxy S25 Ultra? Company Gives The Answer

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 13:28 IST

Samsung made a big change to its premium Ultra model this year which has got people confused but now the issue has been cleared.

The S Pen with the S25 Ultra has raised confusion about its changes

Samsung launched the new premium Galaxy S25 Ultra model earlier this month at the Unpacked event in the US along with the Galaxy S25 and the S25 Plus versions. Most of the device upgrades are hardware linked thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset but one big change was not part of the event, which revolves around the S Pen available with the Galaxy S25 Ultra model.

As we mentioned earlier, Samsung has dunked the Bluetooth support for the S Pen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra which means a host of features available with the Galaxy S23 and the 24 Ultra will not work on the latest Galaxy flagship phone. But a recent tip suggested Samsung will have a Bluetooth version of the S Pen available separately which will cost people more money.

related stories

The S Pen Dilemma

So, whats the truth? The company has responded to these details, and has been quoted in a report telling its side of the story. Samsung has said that the details about the S Pen with Bluetooth support for the Galaxy S25 Ultra is not true and the blog post with the details about the accessory was an error.

To be fair, bringing a separate S Pen for the Galaxy S25 Ultra model wouldnt be the worst idea, In fact, Samsung could go the Apple-way and get people to spend more money to buy this accessory if they really need one.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

But the new confirmation makes it clear that Galaxy S25 Ultra wont let you do these things with the S Pen but it is still a useful tool and the only Samsung device that comes with the stylus in the box. You can also use the S Pen with the Galaxy Fold models but you have to get it as a separate accessory.

The company said the decision to ditch Bluetooth for the S Pen was made because less than 1 percent of its users were using it. The ability to click group pictures using the S Pen as a stutter did feel quite useful but the stylus offers a host of other features because of Bluetooth support like starting voice recorder, browse through a PPT during work meetings, and even control audio playback. It is sad to see a big feature going away and people seemingly are not pleased but it is better to move on from this after the company has closed the door once and for all.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 13:28 IST
Bengaluru Woman Quits Rs 1.5 Lakh Job To Pursue Dream Career In Baking, Internet Cant Stop Praising

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:58 IST

In 2023, Asmita took a leap of faith and made a life-altering decision to bid farewell to her corporate career to become a professional baker.

Asmita Paul started baking as a hobby in 2020. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

In a world where many only dream of pursuing their passions, a Bengaluru womans story is making waves online for her courageous decision to leave a well-paying corporate job to follow her heart. Asmita, formerly an HR professional at a well-known tech company, was earning Rs 1.5 lakh per month. However, in 2023, she took a leap of faith and made a life-altering decision to bid farewell to her corporate career to become a professional baker.

Well now, Asmitas inspiring story went viral after her husband, Sagar, proudly shared a picture of her mouthwatering baked creations on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing her dedication and remarkable talent. My wife left a 1.5 L pm job to make these. Thank God she did," Sagar penned, along with a picture of one of the freshly baked muffins by Asmita.

related stories

My wife left a 1.5 L pm jobto make thesethank god she did! pic.twitter.com/Bwv6qGjbmY  Sagar  (@code_sagar) January 25, 2025

Soon enough, the post garnered the attention of social media users. The internet community expressed its admiration for Asmitas decision. A majority of users showered the post with good wishes while others praised her for following her dreams.

Looks delicious. Btw, your wife is pursuing her passion, and Im sure it will lead to great success one day," read a comment.

Another wrote, Bold move! Wish her success."

1.5 LPM is nothing these days. Glad she chose to do something she loves," an account remarked.

An individual said, People should take it as learning that even a 30 LPA job cant provide complete fulfilment. It should be what your heart truly wants."

Looks so yummy. Its amazing when people follow their dreams or passion," a user commented.

A user humorously wrote, Follow your heart! She did great. Now get ready to spend a few more hours at the gym."

Risk in life is what always matters and is appreciated by God, which comes with a lot of blessings and satisfaction," wrote another.

Currently living in Bengaluru, baker Asmita Paul also sat for an interview with the Hindustan Times. Asked what made her decide to switch careers, she replied, Bangalore is a city of opportunities, and I was always fascinated with people taking risks, building companies, and trying out things. So, this motivated me to give myself a chance to take a leap of faith and see whats on the other side."

Asmita also gave a piece of advice to people thinking of switching careers. She said, Have 12 months of expenses saved, validate your idea before you quit the job, and finallybelieve in yourself."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In 2020, Asmita Paul started baking as a hobby. Later, she completed her certification from Lavonne and started baking professionally in August 2023. Now, she sells her baked goods through her Instagram page.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:58 IST
Cigarettes After Sex Band Cancels Bengaluru Show Over Technical Issues, Fans Cant Ignore The Irony

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:08 IST

Irony at its finest, wrote one frustrated social media user after Cigarettes After Sex cancelled their Bengaluru concert at the last minute.

Cigarettes After Sex announced their highly anticipated Xs World Tour in India last year. (Image: Instagram/@cigsaftersex)

Indie-pop band Cigarettes After Sex cancelled their Bengaluru concert at the last minute due to technical issues", citing technical issues" beyond their control. Despite their efforts to resolve the situation, the band announced that the show could not go on. The cancellation, just hours before the scheduled performance at Bhartiya Mall, left fans deeply disappointed and frustrated.

Amid this, many concertgoers took to social media to vent their frustration, questioning Indias tech capitals ability to host large-scale music events.

related stories

CAS getting cancelled due to technical difficulties in the tech hub of India is so ironic, lmao," said one social media user. Another joined, Irony at its finest."

Read| Cigarettes After Sex Bring Xs Tour to India Across 3 Cities; All Details Inside

Time to move the tech hub to another city," suggested a third.

Cigarettes After Sex statement on Bengaluru show

Unfortunately the local production had technical difficulties they couldnt fix. We tried everything we could to make the show happen, but the problems are with the local production & beyond our control. We waited months & months to see you & are heartbroken," wrote the band on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The statement added, Were unable to perform & unfortunately have to cancel tonights show in Bengaluru. Were so incredibly sorry we cant see you all tonight & truly tried everything we could to make it happen."

BookMyShow will reach out to you with information on refunds for the show as well," it further read.

In response to the bands statement, an individual wrote, Technical difficulties in the Silicon Valley of India. Ironic. Man, has Bengaluru been reduced to linguistic chauvinism and trashy Bollywood nightlife beats? This was once a prime location for music artists. I hold fond memories of my Metallica concert here. Not anymore, I guess."

Some fans compared the bands recent concert in Ahmedabad, praising the Gujarat city for executing the show smoothly while criticising Bengaluru for its poor handling of the event. Ahmedabad executed the show great, and Bengaluru failed terribly," said yet another social media user.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

A few even highlighted the citys notorious traffic. They are probably stuck in traffic," said someone on Reddit.

This isnt the first time a show has been canceled in Bengaluru. In 2023, comedian Trevor Noah had to call off his performances at the citys Manpho Convention Centre due to major sound and acoustic issues.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:04 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors today discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Azerbaijan, outlining its strategic engagement with the country over the next five years. The CPF aims to support Azerbaijan's transition to a more competitive, greener, and inclusive economy, and in addressing key development challenges facing the country, Trend reports, citing the World Bank Group.

The strategy focuses on two high-level outcomes: increased productivity and better jobs and increased resilience and sustainability. Specifically, the CPF will support Azerbaijan in:

Improving the business environment and enhancing access to more and better jobs, such as by supporting job creation and micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprise development, and enhancing access to finance with focus on sustainable and green finance, fostering inclusion through support of women entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups.

Strengthening transport and digital connectivity by focusing on the development of the Middle Corridor for trade and transit, improving digitalization and digital connectivity, and promoting the adoption of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Accelerating the shift to renewable energy by strengthening energy transmission infrastructure, attracting private investment in renewable energy projects, battery storage, and promoting the development of green energy corridors.

Enhancing adaptation to climate change by advancing the development of climate-resilient urban ecosystems including green buildings and climate-smart agriculture practices, as well as by improving water efficiency and security, including through expanding private sector participation.

"This CPF reflects our commitment to supporting Azerbaijan's transformative journey toward a more sustainable and prosperous future," saidStefanie Stallmeister, World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan. "We are confident that our partnership will help Azerbaijan unlock its full economic potential."

The collaboration between IBRD, IFC, and MIGA is at the core of the CPF, which will be implemented through a combination of investments and advisory services. The WBG will also work closely with other development partners and the private sector to maximize development impact.

"IFC is committed to sustainable development in Azerbaijan, mobilizing private investments to enhance infrastructure, energy access, and key sectors such as green finance, agriculture and water, transport, and digital connectivity. These efforts aim to foster growth, job creation, and resilience," said Ivana Fernandes Duarte, IFC's Regional Manager for the South Caucasus.

The CPF is aligned with Azerbaijans Strategy for Socio-Economic Development for 2022-2026 and the World Bank's Evolution Roadmap, which emphasizes the importance of addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and fragility.

Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992. Since then, the World Bank has supported the country through more than 50 investment operations aimed at economic diversification, infrastructure development, public governance and social improvements. Azerbaijan has also benefited from a variety of advisory and technical assistance programs to build capacity and implement reforms in key sectors.

Azerbaijan became a member of IFC in 1995. Since then, IFC has invested around $900 million in Azerbaijan, financing nearly 60 projects in financial services, infrastructure, and manufacturing, as well as advising on improving the business environment, financial sector development, corporate governance, small and medium enterprises, and agribusiness.
How A Launderette Hunt Helped Malaysian Man Find The Love Of His Life

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:22 IST

Zairy Amir and Wang Sufiahs love story began when the man, unfamiliar with the area he was living in, asked the woman for directions to a local launderette.

Zairy Amir and Wang Sufiah got married on December 26 last year. (Representative Image)

A unique love story has emerged between a Malaysian man and a Chinese Muslim woman whose paths crossed when the man asked for directions to a local launderette. Zairy Amir, a 38-year-old from Selangor, Malaysia, had no idea that a casual request would lead to a relationship that would eventually change his life.

Amir, who runs a delivery store in southern Chinas Guangzhou, got married to Wang Sufiah, 40, from Yunnan province in southwestern China, according to a report by the Malaysia-based Oriental Daily News. Their love story began when Amir, unfamiliar with the area, approached Wang for help in locating a launderette. Wang learned that Amir was Muslim just like her and this was something that brought them closer.

related stories

I was quite lonely while living in a foreign country. I did not have any friends. So, I was delighted to hear she said she wanted to be my friend and she is also a Muslim," Amir said as quoted by South China Morning Post (SCMP). Wangs gesture of kindness didnt stop at simply giving directions. She took the initiative to stay in touch even going as far as offering to make meals for Amir and ensuring he ate well. I had expected that our meeting would end just like that. But she kept on calling me every day, telling me to fetch the meals she made for me at the subway station," Amir shared.

Their bond grew stronger with every interaction and soon Amir was visiting Wangs home and integrating into her daily routines like going to market with her, meeting her friends, joining her for Iftar, etc. The connection continued to deepen when Wang invited Amir to lead the Tarawih prayers for her and her mother during Ramadan. She even invited me to host the Tarawih for her and her mother. This made me feel honoured but a bit nervous, since I had never been a leader at such an event," said Amir.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The turning point in their relationship came when Wang fell ill and her brother reached out to Amir and asked about his intentions regarding marriage. This conversation led Amir to reflect on their bond and he decided to take the next step. The couple eventually got married on December 26 last year.

Amirs family fully supported his decision and his love story with Wang soon became the talk of social media in both China and Malaysia.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:22 IST
How Chinese Startup DeepSeeks Growth In AI Proved Sam Altmans 2023 Prediction Wrong

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:31 IST

Sam Altman, during his visit to India in 2023, was asked about the possibility of a small, resource-strapped team going up against the giants in the AI field.

DeepSeek R1 has snagged the top spot as the most downloaded free app on the US Apple App Store. (Photo Credits: X)

Remember that time back in June 2023 when Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, casually dismissed the idea of small teams with limited budgets ever building competitive AI models? A throwback video from an event recently resurfaced, and its safe to say its causing quite a stir now. In the clip, Altman was asked about the possibility of a small, resource-strapped team going up against the giants in the AI field. His response was blunt, almost dismissive. In 2023, during his visit to India, Altman was asked if a small, smart team with $10M could build something big in AI.

To this, Altman had replied, Its totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models." Watch the now-viral video from the Economic Times Conversations here:

related stories

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vivek Naskar (@thedeveloperstory)

Fast forward to today and that confident statement has found itself under fresh scrutiny. Why? Due to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup thats turned the tables on the US-dominated AI market. The companys chatbot, DeepSeek R1, has skyrocketed in popularity, even snagging the top spot as the most downloaded free app on the US Apple App Store. Whats even more shocking is the cost  DeepSeek reportedly developed R1 for a mere $5.6 million, making it up to 50 times more affordable than OpenAIs models, depending on the task.

DeepSeeks breakthrough has forced the AI community to reconsider everything it thought it knew about the limitations of smaller players in the AI space, reported the Economic Times.

Entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts are having a bit of fun with Altmans old comments, with Arnaud Bertrand, an entrepreneur, sharing the video and saying, This is pretty hilarious in retrospect."

This is pretty hilarious in retrospect.In India in 2023, Altman was asked how if a small, smart team with a budget of $10 million could build something substantial within AI. His reply: "Its totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models" https://t.co/pdYIhV2x1m  Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) January 28, 2025

Its tough not to see the irony in Altmans then-hopeless prediction now that DeepSeek has emerged as a real contender. People on social media are having a field day too, with one user pointing out, Funny how totally hopeless turned into a real competition in just over a year." Another commentator threw in a big-picture question, asking, The AI space is moving fast  centralised control is breaking down, but the question remains: who gets to define the future of AI governance?"

In response to DeepSeeks success, Altman didnt shy away from giving credit where it was due. He publicly acknowledged the impressive performance of DeepSeeks model, especially considering how affordable it is. Over on social media platform X, he recently posted, DeepSeeks R1 is an impressive model, particularly around what theyre able to deliver for the price."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

deepseek's r1 is an impressive model, particularly around what they're able to deliver for the price.we will obviously deliver much better models and also it's legit invigorating to have a new competitor! we will pull up some releases.  Sam Altman (@sama) January 28, 2025

Still, dont expect Altman to back down on his long-term confidence. He remains optimistic about OpenAIs position in the race. We will obviously deliver much better models," he added, and also its legit invigorating to have a new competitor! We will pull up some releases." Altman also doubled down on OpenAIs research roadmap, highlighting that the key to staying ahead is ramping up computational power to fuel future breakthroughs.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:31 IST
Khatam Kyun Nahi Hota: Google On Unusually Long January

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 12:36 IST

Even though January has the same 31 days as many other months, it feels like its never going to end and Google joined the fun with a humorous post.

Google explained why January is known as the longest month. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

As January comes to an end, people have been sharing jokes and memes about how the month feels much longer than 31 days. This funny idea has caught the attention of big brands, including Google, who joined the fun with their own humorous post. The viral meme shows the tech giant explaining about how January is known as the longest month." Even though it has the same 31 days as other months, it feels like it goes on forever. The post has resonated with many, who feel like January is never going to end.

The meme shows a Google search asking about the longest month of the year." As per the result, January is often called the longest month, even though it has 31 days, just like some other months, it seems to stretch on forever." To make it even more funnier, they mentioned, Yeh January khatam kyun nahi ho raha. (Why this January isnt ending)."

related stories

In the caption, Google humorously asked, Started 2025 in January and were still in January?"

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, When itll end, youll say, It was just 1st January like yesterday and now its already February. Time flies so fast."

Another shared, Whole month is MONDAY."

What are you talking about? It is passing very fast," a comment read.

Someone mentioned, Chalo 2025 ka ek mahina abhi puri tarah se waste nahi kiya abhi time hai. (We havent completely wasted a month of 2025 yet, theres still time)."

An individual shared, Matt hone do khatam, waise bhi exam hai next month. (Dont let it end, anyway, we have our exams next month)."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

One more added, Its always the longest cause we have a whole year ahead of us."

January may have felt like a long month, but it was also filled with incidents and events. At the beginning of the year, people were worried about a new virus called HMPV. The Maha Kumbh Mela in India attracted a huge number of devotees. Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was stabbed by an unknown man at his Mumbai residence and the British band Coldplay performed several concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, during their Music of the Spheres tour.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 12:36 IST
Meet Luo Fuli, The Brain Behind DeepSeek's Rise And Global Success

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:46 IST

Luo Fuli is a 29-year-old researcher whose expertise in natural language processing (NLP) has been critical in the development of DeepSeek-V2.

Luo Fuli joined DeepSeek in 2022. (Photo Credits: X)

DeepSeek, Chinas groundbreaking AI model, is shaking up the tech industry by challenging prominent players like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude AI. This revolutionary AI model has made waves in the US surpassing ChatGPT on the App Store charts. One of the driving forces behind DeepSeeks success is Luo Fuli, a 29-year-old researcher whose expertise in natural language processing (NLP) has been critical in developing DeepSeek-V2.

Widely recognised as an AI prodigy" by Chinese media, Luos career took off after she graduated from Peking University. Her groundbreaking achievement of publishing eight papers in a single year at ACL, the most prestigious conference in NLP, made her a standout figure in the field. It led to opportunities with top tech giants such as Alibaba and Xiaomi.

related stories

Luos contributions at Alibabas DAMO Academy were instrumental in the development of VECO, a multilingual pre-training model, and her involvement in the AliceMind open-source project. Her groundbreaking innovations quickly garnered attention, which led to her joining DeepSeek in 2022. Luos expertise played a key role in the creation of DeepSeek-V2, a model that has since become a formidable contender in the AI landscape.

Her remarkable contributions to DeepSeeks success also caught the eye of Xiaomi founder Lei Jun. As reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP), Jun offered Luo a lucrative annual compensation package of 10 million yuan (approximately Rs 11.9 crore) in recognition of her outstanding work in AI research.

DeepSeek was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The app gained attention after its US launch on January 10 and became one of the most downloaded and top-rated apps on the Apple App Store. Liang, a 40-year-old information and electronic engineering graduate, reportedly collected Nvidia A100 chips, now banned from exports to China. By using these chips with cheaper ones still available for import, he was able to create powerful AI models at a much lower cost.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

DeepSeek-V3, the companys AI model, was developed for less than $6 million, a fraction of the billions spent by its competitors. So, how is DeepSeek outpacing other apps? Unlike rivals such as OpenAIs GPT and Claude Sonnet, which require paid subscriptions, DeepSeek offers its services for free. This approach has made the app particularly popular in the US.

DeepSeeks success has also shaken up the financial markets. On January 27, 2024, news about DeepSeeks affordable AI models caused stock prices to fall, especially for companies like Nvidia. Nvidia lost nearly $600 billion in market value which was the largest single-day drop for any US company.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:39 IST
Mukesh Ambani Advises Students To Use ChatGPT Cautiously: Dont Give Up On

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:58 IST

Mukesh Ambani said that students should use ChatGPT but not at the cost of critical thinking.

Mukesh Ambani at the 12th convocation of Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU). (Image: Facebook/@RelianceIndustriesLimited)

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries and President of Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), addressed the 12th convocation at the university. During his speech, he talked about artificial intelligence (AI) among other things. Ambani encouraged students to use ChatGPT but urged them to exercise caution, stressing the importance of pairing AI with their own intellect.

Talking of artificial intelligence, I have a piece of advice for our young students. You must be good at using AI as a tool of learning, but do not give up your own critical thinking," Mukesh Ambani says in his speech.

related stories

ChatGPT ka jarur se istemal karo, lekin yaad rakho artificial buddhi se nahi khud ki buddhi se ham aage badhenge aur aap aage badh sakte hain (Make sure to use ChatGPT, but remember that with your own intelligence, not artificial intelligence, we can progress)," the chairman of Reliance Industries continues.

Universities like PDEU not only impart knowledge, they also equip you with the virtue of gratitude. Today, I would like you to remember that gratitude is an emotion that lessens our ego, ripens our personality and enables us to achieve more in life," he added.

He also praised Uday Kotak, who was the chief guest at the convocation, and referred to him as a self-made first-generation entrepreneur". Additionally, he expressed his gratitude towards the Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel and Prime Minister Modi, highlighting that PM Modis visionary leadership led to the creation of the university.

Mukesh Ambani also shared five guiding principles with the students. One, discover your true passion. Find what ignites your soul when you dedicate your energy to something you love. Work becomes joy and challenge becomes opportunities for growth. Two, commit to lifelong learning. In this age of rapid technological advancement, the willingness to learn continuously is not an option. It is a must for survival and success. Therefore, embrace curiosity and never stop learning ever."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He added, Three, inculcate the virtue of sharing. Know that knowledge grows when it is shared. By helping others rise, you elevate yourself and build a community of mutual growth and progress. Four, invest in meaningful relationships. Genuine connections what I call dil ke rishte are the foundation of both personal and professional success. Build trust, foster respect, focus on character building and nurture relationships that stand the test of time."

Five, cherish and nurture your family bonds. Family gives purpose and direction to life. It is within the family that you learn values such as care, empathy, resilience and qualities that will shape your journey to success."

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:31 IST
'My Son Went To School In Rolls Royce': Elon Musk's Father On Tesla CEO's 'Unhappy Childhood'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 08:35 IST

Errol Musk appeared on The Ahmad Mahmood Show, where he spoke at length about her personal life and career.

Errol revealed his son Elon Musk went to school in Rolls Royce. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Errol Musk, the father of billionaire businessman Elon Musk, has time and again made headlines for various reasons, including controversies surrounding his personal life. An engineer himself, Errols life has been full of eclectic achievements which led to a significant impact on the entrepreneurial spirit of his children. During his recent appearance on The Ahmad Mahmood Show, Errol Musk opened up about his early life, sharing unknown details from his successful story.

At one point, Errol revealed that he managed to become a successful person at the young age of 26 when he bought his own home, the one Elon Musk grew up in. He noted that the residence is now being used for the European Union ambassador to South Africa.

related stories

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Ahmad Mahmood Show (@ahmadmahmoodshow)

I started my work as a young consulting engineer, which I chose by accident more or less. But I used to work on weekends and at night, and most of my friends didnt use to do that. I was very successful very soon. At only 26, I was at par with men of 46 or 48. At 24, I had my own business and I could decide if I wanted to be at home with my children. I bought my first aircraft at 23 or 24," he shared.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ahmad Mahmood (@1ahmad)

He also revealed how the Tesla CEO used to travel by Rolls Royce to go to school, refuting rumours about Musk growing up in poverty and deprivation. No one wants to put people through a difficult time but I do think you dont learn anything that is just happening too easily for you," he said.

The comments come nearly two years after the Tesla CEO admitted to growing up in a lower-income household and not having a very happy childhood. I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle-income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. Havent inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift. My father created a small electrical/mechanical engineering company that was successful for 20 to 30 years, but it fell on hard times. He has been essentially bankrupt for about 25 years, requiring financial support from my brother and me," he wrote in a part of his response to an X user.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. Havent inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift.My father created a small electrical/mechanical engineering company that was  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2023

It is worth mentioning that Elon Musk has shared a tense and complicated relationship with his estranged father over the years, with whom he first experienced a rift after his parents divorce.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:48 IST
Nvidia Scientist Praises Ex-Intern Who Refused Full-Time Offer To Join DeepSeek

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 14:21 IST

Nvidia researcher, Zhiding Yu, has praised former intern, Zizheng Pan, for his decision to join DeepSeek which had only three members at that time.

Zizheng Pan had interned at Nvidia in the summer of 2023. (Photo Credits: X)

Nvidias principal research scientist, Zhiding Yu, has praised former intern Zizheng Pan for his decision to join DeepSeek, a rising Chinese AI startup that has created havoc in the US tech market after becoming the most downloaded free app in the country. In a recent post on X, Yu talked about Pans bold choice to leave a potential full-time offer at Nvidia and take a chance on DeepSeek when it was still a small startup with just three members. This gamble has clearly paid off as DeepSeek is now being touted as a major competitor in the AI space.

Pan, who interned at Nvidia in the summer of 2023, has played a key role in DeepSeeks breakthrough achievements including the development of DeepSeek-VL2, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. The latter, which researchers claim was developed for just $6 million, has achieved performance comparable to OpenAIs o1 model which involved billions of dollars in investment.

related stories

Zizheng was one of our interns at NVIDIA back in summer 2023. Later, when we were considering making him a FT offer, he chose to join DeepSeek without much hesitance. Back then, the DeepSeek multimodal team only had 3 people. I am still very much impressed by Zizhengs decision at that time. He has been an important contributor of several important works at DeepSeek, including DeepSeek-VL2, DeepSeek-V3, and DeepSeek-R1. I am personally very happy for his decision and the great achievements," Yu wrote on X after resharing Pans post which featured a screenshot showing DeepSeek app surpassing OpenAIs ChatGPT on the Apple Store.

Zizheng was one of our interns at NVIDIA back in summer 2023. Later, when we were considering to make him a FT offer, he chose to join DeepSeek without much hesitance. Back then, the DeepSeek multimodal team only has 3 people.I am still very much impressed by Zizhengs decision https://t.co/D6k6XGgvEn  Zhiding Yu (@ZhidingYu) January 27, 2025

Yu further highlighted how talent from China is making significant contributions to the global tech industry.

Many of our best talents come from China, and these talents dont have to succeed only in a US company. Instead, we learn a lot from them. The same Sputnik Moment has already happened in AV back in 2022, and it will continue to happen in the Robotics and LLM industry as well," he wrote.

Yu also warned against geo-political agendas in the tech world suggesting that focus should be on talent and innovation rather than political narratives.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

I love NVIDIA and want to see her as a continued major contributor to the path of AGI and general autonomy. But if we keep cooking up geo-political agendas and creating hostile opinions to Chinese researchers, we will shoot ourselves in the foot and lose even more competitiveness. We need more talent density, professionalism, learning, creativity and stronger execution. We dont need political narratives and clowns like Alexandr Wang," he concluded.

Yus post has received more than a million views so far.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 14:19 IST
Rock Climber's Final Post Goes Viral After Fatal Fall In California: 'Hungry For More'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:39 IST

In her last social media post, the rock climber said, "I have been outside climbing since 2014 but in the past 4 years its been on the back-burner."

The rock climber was declared dead at the scene. (Photo Credits: Facebook)

Micah Manalese, a rock climber from California, lost her life while hiking the Pine Creek Trail in Red Rocks Canyon, Nevada. The 30-year-old was with a friend when she fell. A few climbers across the canyon also witnessed the accident. In her final Facebook post, Micah expressed her passion for climbing, having recently returned to it after a break. On January 18, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) responded to two simultaneous rescue missions at the popular climbing site, Cat in the Hat. While working to save Micah, they also assisted four other climbers trapped by their ropes. Despite their best efforts, Micah could not be saved.

In her last social media post on New Year, Micah shared photos from her past adventures and wrote, I have been outside climbing since 2014 but in the past 4 years its been on the back-burner. I love sport climbing and it was special for me to reignite this passion for myself this year. Thank you for all the delays and moments I got to spend outside. I am hungry for more."

related stories

Joe De Luca, part of a separate group trapped with his wife and two friends, recalled waiting for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department Search & Rescue (LVMPD SAR) team. Around 5:30 PM, before help arrived, he heard a scream, followed by a rope whistling." Turning towards the noise, he witnessed Micah Manalese falling from the opposite canyon. Based on his observation, she fell approximately 120 to 130 feet in total, landing about 50 feet below her climbing partner, who had already descended to a lower point on the rock.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He said, I saw her hit [the cliff] three times, and then her body stopped. It was evident to me that the chance of life was zero, or at least very low if we didnt do something quickly. The rescuers heard the fall, but couldnt communicate with the climber. I couldnt hear [the rescuers] either, but I had cell service and could communicate with the climber."

Joe De Luca assisted in communication between the rescue team and Micah Manaleses friend using a device while a new plan was devised to reach them across the canyon. As some members of the LVMPD SAR team reached the fallen climber by helicopter, Micah was declared dead at the scene. While the exact cause of the accident couldnt be confirmed, the team suggested it was likely due to human error.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:02 IST
Take As Much As You Can Count: Chinese Crane Company's Employee Bonus Initiative Goes Viral

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 17:06 IST

On January 25, the company laid out 40 million yuan (Rs 47 crore) in cash on the nearly 70-meter-long table.

The founder of Henan Mine added another 20 million yuan to the pot. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

A Chinese company has become the centre of all attention after launching a creative and jaw-dropping initiative to reward its employees. The crane company, Henan Mine Crane Co. Ltd, based in China, decided to spice things up during the annual meeting by arranging a fun competition to determine year-end bonuses for the Henan Mine employees. On January 25, the company laid out 40 million yuan (Rs 47 crore) in cash on the nearly 70-meter-long table.

The management asked the employees to take as much cash as they want" within 15 minutes. This means the employees were allowed to keep all the money they were able to count, but if the cash were miscounted, a sum would be deducted from the bonus. According to Chinese media outlet Times Finance, one employee managed to count 100,000 yuan (Rs 11 lakh) in 15 minutes.

related stories

The founder of Henan Mine added an extra 20 million yuan on the spot, increasing the prize pot from 40 million yuan to 60 million yuan (Rs 47 crore to 71 crore), Dahecube reported.

A video of the same was also posted on Instagram where we see a huge table with tons of money. In the clip, the employees were quick to count the cash to take home their bonuses.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mothership (@mothershipsg)

As expected, the initiative has been well received by the internet. A majority of people thronged the comments section of the post, expressing their astonishment. A majority of users chimed in with rib-tickling jokes, while others expressed that their company provided them with tons of workload instead of money.

This is the kind of paperwork I want, but the company had other plans," read a comment.

One user jokingly saying, Same as my company. But instead of money, they give tons of workload."

You can just credit into the workers accounts instead of this circus act. Kind insulting. But its a different world behind the Great Wall," another added.

Adding humour, a user said, Just sending this off to our management team."

An individual commented, More of this and less of team bonding."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Got a vacancy? I would like to join you guys," posted another.

This wasnt the first time the company distributed a large amount of money among its employees. In 2023, Henan Mine gave a total bonus of $14 million during an annual dinner. As much as S$11.8 million was awarded during the companys annual party, and the rest was awarded during a competition hosted by the company the next day.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 17:06 IST
Thai Princess Adopts Stray Dog Who Mourned His Owners Death For Weeks

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:50 IST

This story follows the viral dog that gained attention for grieving its deceased owner outside a 7-Eleven store in Thailand.

Princess Siribha Chudabhorn of Thailand adopted the dog. (Photo Credits: Facebook)

Moo Daeng, the stray dog known for his unwavering loyalty, has found a new home in an unexpected place: a royal residence. Princess Siribha Chudabhorn of Thailand, the niece of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has officially adopted Moo Daeng, ending his months of sorrow and uncertainty. The princess, deeply moved by Moo Daengs story, stepped in to provide him with a forever home. The dog became popular after waiting outside a 7-Eleven in Nakhon Ratchasima province for his late owner, who tragically passed away in November 2024.

Moo Daengs touching loyalty has led to him being called the Hachiko of Korat," drawing a parallel to the famous Japanese Akita who waited for nine years for his late owners return.

related stories

In January, Moo Daengs heartbreaking story went viral on social media, leading locals to offer their care and support. Employees at the 7-Eleven provided food, blankets and even stuffed toys to comfort the dog. Despite their efforts, it was evident that its grief lingered deeply.

According to The Independent, last week, Princess Siribha Chudabhorn took to her official Facebook page to share the news of his adoption and to reassure his many admirers. To all of Moo Daengs fans, I want to bring you up to speed so you dont have to worry, feel anxious or have unanswered questions after all the recent drama," she said, as reported by Khaosod English.

Princess Siribha Chudabhorn revealed that she had first learned of Moo Daeng through a video highlighting the communitys fundraising efforts for his medical care. What struck her most was not just his physical condition, but the emotional toll of losing his beloved owner. All my dogs have experienced trauma, whether through abuse, abandonment, or injury. But in Moo Daengs case, its severe depression," she explained. She noted that he was suffering from major depressive syndrome caused by the sudden loss of a loved one  something she herself has struggled with for nearly a decade, as reported by The Independent.

It is a condition that the mind cannot cope with. While humans are able to hide their pain and appear normal on the outside, dogs are pure. They show exactly how they feel," she shared.

Driven by a desire to provide Moo Daeng with love and care, Princess Siribha Chudabhorn ensured all the necessary steps were taken before adopting him. She sought approval from the 7-Eleven store where he had been staying and received consent from local authorities. Moo Daeng was then taken to Kasetsart University Veterinary Hospital for a thorough health check-up and a quarantine period before being welcomed into his new forever home.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The princess assured Moo Daengs supporters that she would not keep him hidden from the public. She promised to share updates and photos if requested and even said that if she ever visited Korat, she would bring him along to see those who had cared for him.

Once Moo Daengs medical treatments are complete, he will permanently settle at the princesss royal residence in Chiang Mai, where he will finally experience the love, care and security he has longed for.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:48 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. TotalEnergies and STMicroelectronics have signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to supply renewable electricity to STMicroelectronics sites in France, starting in January 2025, Trend reports.

The deal, covering 1.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, marks a significant step in STMicroelectronics' transition to 100% renewable energy by 2027.

Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will provide renewable power generated by two recently developed wind and solar farms with a combined capacity of 75 MW. The electricity will be delivered as a consistent "baseload" supply, ensuring reliability despite the intermittent nature of renewable energyan approach being implemented for the first time in France under a long-term contract of this kind.

Sophie Chevalier, Senior Vice President of Flexible Power & Integration at TotalEnergies, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting the tech industrys decarbonization efforts. "This agreement highlights our ability to deliver long-term and innovative clean power solutions tailored to our customers' needs," she said.

For STMicroelectronics, the partnership aligns with its broader sustainability goals. This PPA will play a key role in our strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in our operations by 2027, said Geoff West, EVP and Chief Procurement Officer at STMicroelectronics. He noted that similar agreements have already been signed to power the company's operations in Italy and Malaysia.

With this latest agreement, STMicroelectronics moves closer to its sustainability targets while reinforcing its commitment to reducing carbon emissions across its global operations.
When Miners, Trapped Inside South Africas Illegal Gold Mines, Resorted To Cannibalism

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 15:51 IST

Miners in South Africa, who take risks by entering abandoned mines to search for leftover gold, had no option but to survive by eating the bodies of dead workers.

78 bodies were recovered, with 246 came out alive. (Photo Credits: AP)

Illegal miners trapped in one of South Africas deepest gold reserves have shared their shocking experience of turning to cannibalism to stay alive. The group had been stuck in the abandoned Buffelsfontein Gold Mine for nearly nine months. During the stand-off with the police, the authorities blocked food and water from reaching the mine to force them out. These miners, who took risks by entering abandoned mines to search for leftover gold, had no option but to survive by eating the bodies of dead workers. During a rescue mission, 78 bodies were recovered and 246 came out alive.

Speaking with Telegraph, a miner said, They cut parts of legs, arms and ribs for sustenance. They decided it was their only remaining option for survival." Although he and his colleague say they didnt eat human flesh, they were left with no choice but to eat cockroaches once their food ran out.

related stories

The miners claim further claim that they went into the tunnel in July 2024 to help move food, medicine and people using ropes. Initially, they had enough food, drinks and basic supplies. They were making around 400 (approximately Rs 43,000) a month and hoped to save money. But in August, the police stopped all supplies from reaching them.

The local police suspect that James Neo Tshoaeli, aka Tiger, was the leader of the illegal operation underground. He is blamed for causing deaths, attacks and torture, along with keeping food away from the hard-working miners. Tshoaeli is believed appeared on the surface earlier this month but mysteriously vanished while being taken to a detention centre, allegedly with the help of corrupt police officers.

While the government has remained silent, Gwede Mantashehe, the mining minister, said, If you go to a dangerous place such as a neglected mine and stay there for about three months, starving yourself to death, how does that become the responsibility of the state?"

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another miner, speaking about the horrific site, told BBC, Those bodies smelled bad. Its because when I spoke to the miners, they told me some of them had to eat other [people] inside the mine because there was no way they could find food. And they were also eating cockroaches. The rescue company said they didnt have anyone who wanted to go down. So my friend Mandla and I agreed to volunteer so we could help our brothers to resurface and bring up the dead bodies. I felt very weak when I saw them, it was a painful thing to see. Mandla and I decided we needed to be strong and not show them how we felt so we could motivate them."

Reports suggest that due to this illegal mining, South Africa loses nearly 3 billion in revenue annually. The miners, often coming from neighbouring countries, are also blamed for the crimes.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 15:51 IST
You Will Not Find A Single Door Anywhere In This Rajasthan Village

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 09:19 IST

In Saran Ka Khera Village in Rajasthans Bhilwara district, no house has had a door for approximately 300 years. Even more astonishingly, not a single theft has been reported in all these years

Some villagers attempted to install doors in their homes, but after experiencing unfortunate incidents such as illness or even death in the family, no one dared to break the tradition again. (Local18)

Can you imagine a house with no doors? Or a neighbourhood where no home has a door? It may sound unbelievable, but such a place exists.

In a village in Rajasthans Bhilwara district, no house has had a door for approximately 300 years. Even more astonishingly, not a single theft has been reported in all these years. The tale of Saran Ka Khera Village is truly remarkable.

related stories

Villagers believe that around 300 years ago, a saint visited the village and was deeply moved by their devotion and hospitality. Before leaving, he blessed them, saying that no theft would ever occur in the village. Since then, the residents have placed unwavering faith in the saints blessing, and no one has installed a door in their home.

Shankar Singh, a resident of the village, told Local18 that Saran Ka Khera, located in the Mandalgarh Tehsil area, has followed this no-door tradition for generations. The village elders recount how the saint performed penance there and, as a mark of his blessing, instructed the villagers never to install doors. They have adhered to this tradition ever since.

Doors Invited Misfortune

Some villagers attempted to install doors in their homes, but after experiencing unfortunate incidents such as illness or even death in the family, no one dared to break the tradition again. Even if a thief enters the village intending to steal, he is always caught before committing the act.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Village youths Aman Kumar and Gautam told Local18 that over 100 families live in houses without doors. Yet, no theft has ever been reported. Since childhood, they have observed that any thief who tried to steal in the village was caught for some reason. This unique aspect sets Saran Ka Khera apart from other villages.

Dashrath Singh, another resident of the village, shared that everyone respects the saints words. Anyone who has installed a door in their home has faced difficulties. In some cases, the door installation was mysteriously never completed, while in others, the family suffered illness or tragedy after installing one.

Location : Bhilwara, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 09:19 IST
Young Chefs Take On Gordon Ramsays Idiot Sandwich Joke Is Pure Gold

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:13 IST

Content creator William Mwungeris take on Gordon Ramsays iconic Beef Wellington earned the chefs praise.

Gordon Ramsay had invited William Mwungeri on Hells Kitchen. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is known for his sharp criticism on culinary shows like Hells Kitchen, MasterChef or Kitchen Nightmares. His fiery outbursts have made him one of the most intimidating chefs in the industry. While he is famous for his harsh critiques, he also knows when to give praise where it is due.

Last year, Ramsay reacted to a video by 14-year-old content creator William Mwungeri who took on the challenge to make Beef Wellington which is one of Ramsays signature dishes. In a duet video, Ramsay watched as Mwungeri skillfully prepared the dish OK, show me what you got," he said as the clip began. Mwungeris cooking video gained significant attention online which earned it over eight million views on TikTok.

related stories

Watching Mwungeri cook, Ramsay was quick to acknowledge his skills. Dude, you are handling this recipe with such confidence," he said. He complimented the teens chopping technique and praised his shallot preparation. He also approved of his choice of chestnut mushrooms, calling them the best flavour for a Wellington."

Dude, this is very good, seriously. I wasnt cooking like this at 12," he said. The dish left Ramsay so impressed that he decided to invite the teen to his show Hells Kitchen as his personal guest. This is looking that good. Check your DMs. Well done," Ramsay said.

He eventually met Ramsay in person at Hells Kitchen and posted a photo of the moment on Instagram. Ramsay himself dropped a comment on the post, writing, So good to have you on Hells Kitchen. Cooking with William congrats on everything."

Now, Mwungeri has made a follow-up video with a fun twist. In the clip, he stood with two slices of bread which if you arent aware is a reference to Ramsays famous idiot sandwich" joke. Mwungeri was waiting to see if the chef would use his signature insult. But instead of criticism, Ramsay had nothing but praise for the young chef. I guess I am not an idiot sandwich," Mwungeri joked at the end of his video.

Mwungeris this particular video also became a viral sensation online as it went on to gain over 28 million views on Instagram. The comment section was equally buzzing with varied reactions from social media users.

One user commented, To get an invite from Gordon Ramsay to Hells Kitchen after you make one of his signature dishes is the highest honor for a chef, regardless of age."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another shared, I love seeing Gordon interact with children. He is so kind to them. Also, this looks really good and you are absolutely not an idiot sandwich."

More praises continued with remarks like, Impressive," Great work" and Well done."

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:13 IST
9 Indians Killed In Road Accident In Saudi Arabia

Curated By :

PTI

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 16:19 IST

Nine Indian nationals died in a road accident near Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The Indian consulate in Jeddah is providing support and is in touch with authorities and families.

The mission said it is providing full support and is in touch with the authorities and families. (Representative image)

Nine Indian nationals were killed in a road accident near Jizan in western Saudi Arabia, the Indian mission in Jeddah said on Wednesday.

The mission said it is providing full support and is in touch with the authorities and families.

related stories

We deeply mourn the tragic loss of 9 Indian nationals in a road accident, near Jizan, in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the Indian consulate said on X.

Our heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah is providing full support and is in touch with the authorities and families. We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured. A dedicated helpline has been set up for further queries," it said.

Grieved to learn of this accident and the loss of lives. Spoke with our Consul General in Jeddah, who is in touch with the concerned families. He is extending fullest support in this tragic situation. https://t.co/MHmntScjOT Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 29, 2025

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was grieved" to learn about the accident and the loss of lives.

Spoke with our Consul General in Jeddah, who is in touch with the concerned families. He is extending fullest support in this tragic situation," he said in a post on X.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 16:15 IST
At Least 20 Killed After Small Plane Crashes In Remote South Sudan

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 22:51 IST

The plane crashed while it was taking off near an oil field to head to the international airport in Juba, the South Sudanese capital

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash, and authorities had not yet revealed the identities of the victims. (AFP file photo)

A plane has crashed in the north of South Sudan killing at least 20 people, leaving only one confirmed survivor, Unity States minister for information said Wednesday.

The aircraft came down near the oil fields in Unity State at around 10:30 am local time (0830 GMT) shortly after taking off for the capital Juba.

related stories

The plane crashed 500 metres away from the airport," Gatwech Bipal Both told AFP by phone.

21 people were on board. As for now, theres only one survivor."

The survivor, a South Sudanese engineer working at the oil field, has been rushed to Bentiu State hospital, the minister said.

He said the Ukrainian Passenger aircraft, chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company, was on a routine mission to the area.

The state government is in a deep sorrow by this accident", he added, saying there would be an investigation.

Although most people predicted that this might be a mechanical collision," he added, without giving more details.

All of the passengers are employees of GPOC: 16 South Sudanese, two Chinese nationals and 1 Indian, according to the manifest seen by AFP, confirmed by local authorities.

Pictures shared on social media showed the crumpled aircraft upside down in a field, debris spread across the area.

In some of the images  which AFP has not been able to independently verify  a body could be seen spilling from the wrecked fuselage.

President Salva Kiir expressed his profound sorrow" over the crash, saying he would pray for the quick recovery of the survivor".

He added that he had instructed the Ministry of Transport and all relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation".

South Sudan broke away from its northern neighbour in 2011 and has faced severe economic and political instability ever since.

The young nation lacks a reliable transport infrastructure and air accidents are common, the crashes frequently blamed on overloading or poor weather.

In 2021 five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UNs World Food Programme crashed near Juba.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Overloading of planes is common in South Sudan, and was believed to have contributed to the 2015 crash of an Antonov plane in Juba that killed 36 people.

In 2017, 37 people had a miraculous escape after their plane hit a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames.

Location : South Sudan

First Published: January 29, 2025, 20:58 IST
Bangladesh: Awami League Planning To 'Strike Back'? Protests, Blockades, Bandh From Feb 1

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 21:16 IST

After at least six months since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, the Awami League issued a statement calling the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government "illegal and unconstitutional"

The top leadership of the Awami League, which is in exile, has chalked out a months schedule from February 1, starting with leaflet distribution in different parts of Bangladesh. (Image for representation: AFP)

The Awami League, the previous ruling party of Bangladesh, has been in hibernation for at least six months after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. But, in order for it to survive in the current political climate, it has to fight back.

After months of alleged attacks on its leaders, minorities, religious places belonging to minorities, the Awami League on Tuesday issued a statement calling the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government illegal and unconstitutional".

related stories

For the first time after August 5, 2024, when Hasina fled Bangladesh, her party has decided to politically take on Yunus and his supporters. The top leadership of the party, which is in exile, has chalked out a months schedule from February 1, starting with leaflet distribution in different parts of the country.

The leaflets will seek to inform the people of, what the Awami League calls, the misrule" of Yunus. On February 6, it plans to take out a protest march ending with a public meeting. On February 10, it has planned another agitation and a public meeting.

The party is planning blockades in different parts of Bangladesh on February 16, which it considers a warm-up" to its penultimate plan of holding a nationwide bandh on February 18.

Not only this, the Awami League will also be taking stock of the ongoing case against Hasina in the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh that it has labelled fake". The party still refers to Hasina as the prime minister, who also faces a second arrest warrant issued this month. The tribunal has so far recorded three cases against her.

Calling Yunus fascist", the party has strongly objected to the genocide" of religious minorities and attack on their places of worship, the alleged murder of more than 3,000 children, students, youth, and police personnel through meticulous design".

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The change in tack also comes at a time when Donald Trump has taken charge of the Oval Office for a second term, and has already taken decisions that reflect his bitter feelings for Yunus.

Hasina and her party find themselves validated" as Trump halted United States Agency For International Development (USAID) funding to Bangladesh. Awami League leaders have said this reflects the truth of the interim government of Bangladesh".

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: January 29, 2025, 20:49 IST
Jim Acosta, Anti-Trump CNN Anchor, Quits On Air Instead Of Settling For Late-Night Time Slot

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 12:13 IST

The resignation came after CNN chairman Mark Thompsons offered anchor Jim Acosta a live late-night East Coast show which would air prime-time on the West Coast

Some commentators said that Acosta's departure could be interpreted as a sign that CNN has taken a less critical approach to covering Trump in his post-presidency. (News18 Hindi)

Veteran journalist Jim Acosta turned down an offer from CNN that would have seen him leave his current role. Acosta, known for his assertive reporting on the Donald Trump administration, informed viewers on Tuesday that he would depart the network rather than accept a new position anchoring a two-hour live newscast commencing at midnight.

I have decided to move on. One final message: dont bow to lies, dont bow to fear," Acosta said at the end of his CNN Newsroom broadcast.

related stories

Acosta, aged 53, joined CNN in 2007 after working at CBS News. He made a name for himself as a national political correspondent and became the networks chief White House correspondent in 2018.

Jim has spent a long and distinguished career spanning nearly 20 years at CNN, where his work has championed upholding power, the First Amendment, and journalistic freedoms. We are grateful for his dedication and commitment to reporting and wish him the best in his future endeavours," the network said in a statement.

Acostas decision came as CNN announced changes to its daytime schedule. The network is moving The Situation Room, with anchors Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown, to the 10 a.m. time slot, where viewers had been watching Acosta for the past year. The changes are set to take place in March.

CNN chairman Mark Thompson proposed a prime-time slot to anchor Jim Acosta for a new news programme. The programme would air live during late-night hours on the East Coast, occupying the prime-time slot on the West Coast, where cable news outlets typically broadcast reruns of earlier evening programmes.

The impending change, however, was perceived by many as ushering the journalist into a phase marked by declining viewership and advertising revenue. Moreover, the prevailing political climate led some to question CNNs rationale.

Acosta, known for his assertive reporting style, had been among the most tenacious journalists covering the Trump administration. Notably, his White House press credentials were suspended in 2018 following a contentious briefing room exchange with then-President Trump, only to be reinstated later by a court order.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Several political commentators have suggested that CNNs decision to remove Jim Acosta from a prime-time slot was a move to appease former President Donald Trump, who is known for his antagonism towards media critics, the Los Angeles Times reported. These commentators argue that Acostas departure could be interpreted as a sign that CNN has taken a less critical approach to covering Trump in his post-presidency.

Acosta is one of your most independent and fearless hosts. Demoting him  is pathetic to appease a cry-baby in the White House. And an abdication of your duty to hold all public officials accountable. Shame on you CNN," Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman and regular guest on CNN, wrote on X on Thursday.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:44 IST
Joe Biden Gave $50 Million To Gaza For Condoms: White House Justifies Aid Freeze

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:45 IST

White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) found "that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza".

US President Donald Trump (Image: Reuters)

The Donald Trump administration froze all foreign aid including millions of dollars-worth of US funding for condoms in Gaza" following an executive order as per which all grants, loans and federal assistance programs pending are being halted until a review is conducted. The freezing of aid includes Ukraine as well, with exceptions only for Israel and Egypt.

White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza".

related stories

She added, That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars."

She also said that this is not a blanket pause" but designed to ensure federal spending is aligned with the priorities of the American people".

In 2020, The Jerusalem Post reported that scores of condoms were being used to create IED-carrying balloons that winds would carry into schoolyards, agricultural fields, highways in southern Israel.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

These improvised explosive devices floated into Israel using inflated contraceptives and burned thousands of hectares of land and caused millions of shekels of damage", the report claimed.

The condoms were supplied by either local Palestinian organisations or by international humanitarian aid organisations, it added.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 09:29 IST
Stuck In Space For 7 Months, Sunita Williams Says She's 'Trying To Remember How To Walk'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 29, 2025, 11:46 IST

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, stranded in space for months, opened up about things she had not done for months. US President Trump has called on Elon Musk and SpaceX to bring her back.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded at the ISS for over seven months. (NASA)

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has been stranded for over seven months at the International Space Station (ISS) since June after technical issues delayed what was supposed to be an eight-day space mission.

The 59-year-old astronaut has been trapped with her colleague Butch Wilmore since last June after the Boeing Starliner capsule experienced mechanical issues and had to return without them. NASA had already roped in Elon Musks SpaceX to help facilitate the return of Williams and Wilmore.

related stories

Williams opened up about some of the things she had not done for months. Ive been up here long enough right now Ive been trying to remember what its like to walk. I havent walked. I havent sat down. I havent laid down. You dont have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here," People Magazine quoted her speaking to Needham High School students.

A Needham native herself, Williams also told students that her extended time in space came as a little bit of a shock". We knew that it would be probably a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different," she said, according to CBS affiliate WBZ-TV.

The two astronauts celebrated multiple holidays in space, including Thanksgiving and Christmas  and in January, Williams went for her first spacewalk since arriving at the ISS. The duo even voted for the 2024 US elections from space through a process made very easy" by NASA, Wilmore said.

During their approach to the ISS in June, five of the 28 thrusters of the Starliner spacecraft carrying Williams and Wilmore failed, which extended their trip from days to months in space. Their extended delay fuelled health conditions as pictures showed Williams undergoing a drastic weight loss.

Trump Seeks Elon Musks Help In Astronauts Return

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has sought tech billionaire Elon Musk and his SpaceXs help to go get" the two brave" astronauts who have been virtually abandoned" by the Biden administration.

They have been waiting for many months on (International) Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe," he added. Musk also affirmed that SpaceX would bring home the two astronauts as soon as possible, saying it was terrible" that the Biden administration left the two astronauts stranded in space for so long.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

NASA had already roped in SpaceX to help facilitate the return of Williams and Wilmore. In August, the American space agency announced that it had asked SpaceX to use its Crew-9 capsule, which was scheduled to launch in September.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

However, the mission was hit by another delay as NASA announced that the Crew-10 spacecraft, which would relieve Crew-9 and the stranded pair, would now launch no earlier than March 2025, and both teams would remain on board for a handover period".

Musks latest post suggested that the Crew Dragon capsule Freedom" may make an early departure from the ISS, with Wilmore and Williams onboard.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 29, 2025, 11:46 IST
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.
Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson is the Deputy Metro Editor. She can be reached at nancy.preyor-johnson@express-news.net

She previously worked as the deputy editor on the Express-News Editorial Board. The award-winning journalist and former teacher holds a master's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. A native of the South Texas town of Mathis, she has a bachelors degree in communications from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She serves on the executive board of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 29. Kazakhstans Air Astana is setting the stage for new journeys with flights to India on the Almaty-Mumbai route, Trend reports via Kazakhstans Ministry of Transport.

The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan is actively engaged in enhancing flight networks and augmenting the frequency of services on established routes.

In a strategic move to enhance tourism, Air Astana will commence operations on the Almaty-Mumbai route beginning April 20 of this year. The operations will be conducted thrice weekly utilizing Airbus jets. The total weekly passenger flight frequency between the two nations will rise to 21, utilizing four air routes operated by three carriers.

Currently, regular air connections include Almaty-Delhi (operated by Air Astana and IndiGo, with 7 flights per week each), Almaty-Goa (operated by SCAT, with 2 flights per week), and Astana-Goa (operated by Fly Arystan, with 2 flights per week). The launch of these new flights will further enhance trade, economic, business, and tourism cooperation between Kazakhstan and India.

Air Astana, founded in late 2001, made its inaugural flight on May 15, 2002, with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Sir Richard Evans representing the two shareholders, the Government of Kazakhstan and BAE Systems PLC of the UK. The government's Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund owns 51 percent and BAE Systems PLC 49 percent, remaining loyal partners. EASA Part 145 accreditation ensures Air Astana's fleet maintenance meets EASA standards. Air Astana renewed its EASA Third Country Operators (TCO) license in March 2019 with no findings and is a Part 147 Training Organization. The airline passed the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for the 8th time in May 2021, demonstrating its safety commitment.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. EIB Global, the international arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed a 125 million euro loan agreement with satellite solutions provider SES to enhance connectivity across underserved regions, Trend reports.

The loan will fund three satellites for SESs next-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) system, O3b mPOWER.

With eight of the 13 O3b mPOWER satellites already launched, SES aims to extend high-throughput, flexible broadband services to remote areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The project is designed to address the urban-rural digital divide and provide access to critical services like education, healthcare, and e-governance.

Digital connectivity is key to economic and social development, especially in areas with limited broadband access, said Robert de Groot, Vice-President of the EIB. This partnership not only bridges the digital divide but also strengthens Europes independence in space-based data, contributing to Europes strategic autonomy.

Sandeep Jalan, CFO of SES, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that the loan reflects SESs ability to secure diverse funding sources while expanding its global connectivity services.

The initiative is part of the EUs Global Gateway program, which focuses on sustainable infrastructure investments that connect people and enhance quality of life. It also aligns with the EU Space Programme 2021-2027, bolstering Europes space capabilities.


Government has deployed security and environment agencies to the Rhodes Estate in the Matopos National Park to address concerns over rampant illegal gold mining activities, which is threatening livestock production at one of the countrys biggest pedigree cattle farms.

Known for its famed Brahman and Beefmasters breeds produced by the Pilossof brothers, the farm has been invaded by illegal gold panners whose indiscriminate digging in recent years has caused severe environmental degradation.

Many cattle have died after falling into the pits dug by the panners. The sprawling 4 000-hectare enterprise, is run by the Pilossof brothers, a household name in the pedigree cattle and genetics business in the country.

In 2014 the Pilossof brothers entered into an agreement with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to run their pedigree business in the Rhodes Estates as means to preserve parts of the Matopos National Park  a world heritage site  while at the same time operating a commercially viable livestock project in the park.

For years, the Pilossof family has been battling an ever growing influx of illegal gold panners who have been digging pits and deep trenches where the cattle are falling in.

Yesterday Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu and her delegation of heads of key Government departments visited the farm to have first-hand appreciation of the problem the cattle farmers are facing as a result of the illegal gold mining activities.

Head of the farm project, Mr Paul Pilossof, estimated that close to 200 pedigree cattle have died in the last couple of years after falling into the open pits left by the illegal gold panners or from drinking water contaminated with chemicals such as cyanide, whose use is now outlawed in the extraction of gold. The pedigree cattle at the farm can cost between US$4 000 to US$8 000 each.

Some Pilossof Ruvale Brahman bulls from the farm have in the past been sold for as much as US$13 000 each.

On one end of the farm, at the base of a small mountain, the news crew saw over 30 pits concentrated in a very small area. A few illegal panners were brave enough to stick around as Minister Ndlovu and her entourage together with officials from ZimParks, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, the Environment Management Authority (EMA), the police and other stakeholders assessed the damage.

The rest of the omakorokoza fled or hid in their deep pits to evade possible arrest as the entourage approached.

We have been at the farm since 2014 after signing an agreement with ZimParks and we have been encountering problems with illegal miners invading our farm and digging for gold, said Mr Pilossof.

The illegal mining has been happening for years and it appears nothing is being done to stop the activities. We fenced off a large area where illegal mining is taking place in order to keep our cattle away but the mining just keeps spreading and the panners are cutting the fence.

Mr Pilossof said they are now being forced to move their cattle from the farm because its no longer safe to keep them there.

We lose an average of 60 pedigree cattle per year from snares, stock theft, cattle falling into pits or dying after drinking cyanide contaminated water, said Mr Pilossof.

Minister Ndlovu said the province is dependent on agriculture and livestock farming contributes significantly to the regions economy.

The illegal mining activities that are taking place at this farm are counter-productive and cannot be allowed to continue, said Dr Ndlovu.

She ordered officials from the mines ministry to report back to her office with a list of miners that were allowed to mine at the Rhodes Estates under special permits issued with the consent of ZimParks.

Mining and agriculture can be done side by side but only when both parties are working within the confines of the law. I want a list of everyone who is mining legally so that we flush out the illegal miners, said Dr Ndlovu.

Mr Chancellor Chidziva, Matabeleland South acting provincial mining director, said his office can only issue out a special mining permit to a miner after the approval of ZimParks.

ZimParks are custodians of the Matopos National Park so anyone who wishes to carry out mining in the national park must first seek a special permit from them, he said.

It is only after Zimparks issues out the special permit that we do the necessary paperwork and grant the individual the right to mine, said Mr Chidziva.

He however said he could not immediately provide the number of miners who hold the special permits to mine in the Matopos National Park.

The special permits expire after two years and are only renewed when the miner meets all the necessary conditions.

ZimParks senior area manager, Mr Thembelani Sibanda, said the majority of gold panners did not have special permits to mine in the area and as such were mining illegally.

The farm was set aside as a reserved area for cattle rearing and only miners with special grants are allowed to work here. ZimParks acknowledges the growing problem of illegal mining in this area and our plea is for all the stakeholders to work together to flush out the illegal gold panners, he said.

Conflict of interest between mining and farming is not peculiar to this farm alone so a holistic approach is needed to solve problems that emanate from such situations,

According to the EMA provincial manager, Mr Decent Ndlovu, the area in and around the Pilossof farm is one of the worst degraded places in the province as a result of illegal mining activities.

We classify this area as a hotspot in terms of illegal mining because it is one of the worst degraded places in the province. The farmers have been here since 2014 and have invested a lot in terms of rehabilitating the area and today it keeps thousands of cattle. So, its sad when all that good work is destroyed by illegal mining activities, said Mr Ndlovu. Chronicle


Desperate and shamefulMy attention has been drawn to some appalling and amateurishly FORGED letters circulating on social media, FALSELY alleging that I requested increases in the maximum monthly withdrawal limits for accounts PURPORTEDLY held at EcoBank under the names of IMC Communications and Eden Breeze (Pty) Ltd. I CATEGORICALLY DENY these false allegations and UNEQUIVOCALLY state that I have never signed, authored or authorized any such letters or requests. These documents are BLATANT FORGERIES, designed to maliciously tarnish my personal image and business reputation as well as mislead the public.

It is clear that this SMEAR CAMPAIGN is the well-orchestrated work of individuals driven by BITTERNESS and ulterior motives to suit a particular POLITICAL narrative. Among the perpetrators are certain known and warring OPPOSITION political figures who remain consumed by frustration and envy, as they have DISMALLY FAILED to achieve what I have accomplished through my regional business engagements and philanthropic efforts in my PERSONAL capacity. It is a well-known fact that neither the opposition party PRESIDENT nor its entire leadership has ever had the privilege of being hosted by any Head of State. This glaring inadequacy is evidently the root of their bitterness and desperation to malign my name, following my recent meetings with foreign Heads of State this past week alone...

I have received CREDIBLE reports that one useless female Advocate, who was rejected by her own fractured opposition political party and DESPERATE to regain relevance, allegedly misused her privileged access to court records. She is said to have UNLAWFULLY scanned my authentic signature from previously signed affidavits and FRAUDULENTLY replicated it on the fabricated letters circulating on various social media platforms. This brazen act of forgery, combined with the malicious dissemination of these documents, is not only professionally UNETHICAL but also a serious CRIMINAL offense. I totally REJECT and DISMISS these forgeries with the utmost CONTEMPT they deserve and reserve the right to take decisive LEGAL ACTION against all those involved in this tomfoolery!

As much as I can agree that I am a HARDWORKING and SUCCESSFUL businessman, the EXAGGERATED figures mentioned in the fabricated letters are WAY BEYOND my pay grade. One wonders why any normal person would require such huge amounts of cash in a world where PLASTIC MONEY and WIRE REMITTANCE are the standard. This can however only be explained by the hatred which emanates from the choices I made when I exercised my CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to support a political party and PRESIDENT of my choice. I will always support PRESIDENT E.D. MNANGAGWA and ZANU PFs vision and NO INDIVIDUAL from any planet, no matter how BIG or SMALL, can instill any fear in me to decide otherwise. I will neither be MOVED by nor SHAKEN by any veiled threats from FAILED opposition POLITICIANS.

We can never all be EQUAL, especially when you do not put in the effort to WORK HARD, if you are not BRAVE enough to knock on high-doors, or INNOVATIVE enough to create business opportunities that DEVELOP our beloved nation of ZIMBABWE. I can SURVIVE in any environment. In fact, I made my first ONE MILLION RAND when I was 19 and my first ONE MILLION USD when I was 23. When I continuously and confidently speak boldly about becoming a BILLIONAIRE by 50, do you honestly think I sell TOMATOES at a market or supply GROCERIES to tuck shops ? I am not a LAWYER who gets paid USD 1,000 to spend THREE CONSECUTIVE WORKING DAYS arguing and fighting on behalf of a client...

Let it be known now and forever that ALL contracts which my companies have executed or will execute in KENYA, SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, UGANDA, or ZIMBABWE are awarded SOLELY based on COMPETENCE, PROFESSIONALISM and adherence to CORRECT and IMPECCABLE procurement procedures. The BEHEMOTHS I associate my good name with ensure that only the HIGHEST STANDARDS are maintained. He was writing on X
In another late-night firing , President Trump removed Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Boarda move she called "unprecedented and illegal." Because it already had vacancies, the board now lacks a quorum and cannot issue decisions. Wilcox, a Democrat who used to be chair and was the first Black woman on the NLRB, suggested she'll seek a legal remedy, NPR reports. The Monday night firing, Wilcox said in a statement, "violates long-standing Supreme Court precedent." Jennifer Abruzzo, the NLRB's general counsel, also was fired.

The 1935 Supreme Court ruling limits the president's ability to remove officials who handle quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial functions, including NLRB board members. And the National Labor Relations Act says they can be removed "for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause." Liz Shuler, president AFL-CIO, said in a statement that "these moves will make it easier for bosses to violate the law and trample on workers' legal rights on the job and fundamental freedom to organize."

Trump's letter said that he has the right of removal, Wilcox told Axios, and that the NLRB hasn't carried out its responsibilities. Companies owned by Trump allies Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are among those that have challenged the constitutionality of the agency, given the president's limited ability to oust board members, in more than two dozen lawsuits. They opposed Abruzzo's efforts to protect workers' rights, holding employers accountable, and remove barriers to union organizing. She began her job in 2021, as did Wilcox. The general counsel opening was created when President Biden fired her predecessor, who was appointed by Trump.

story continues below

The NLRB has "accomplished so much through our robust education, protection, and enforcement efforts," Abruzzo said in a statement, per the Guardian. The firings took place hours after workers at a Whole Foods, which is owned by Bezos' Amazon, voted to unionize in Philadelphia. Trump has picked Marvin Kaplan, the board's only Republican, as its next chair; he hasn't said whether he'll fill the three vacant seats. "My term ends in August 2028, I believe that I should still be able to be a board member and contribute to this country," Wilcox told Axios. (More National Labor Relations Board stories.)
The hot spot for underage drinking in Cocoa Beach, Florida, appears to have been the home of an elementary school principal. Police say they responded to a call about a large house party earlier this month and found a juvenile on the front lawn so "heavily intoxicated" that they had to call Brevard County Fire Rescue for assistance, ABC News reports. Inside the home, officers "observed over 100 juveniles at the residence in matching T-shirts, many of whom were consuming alcohol that was later learned to be available in coolers at the residence," police said in a news release .

Police said the homeowner is 47-year-old Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. "An intoxicated adult female, identified as Karly Anderson, 45, approached officers on the scene, identifying herself as a teacher and had been at the party," police said. "It was later discovered that she was a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School." A juvenile driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI near the scene, police said.

On Jan. 21, two days after the party, police interviewed several students from different schools who had been at the party, Florida Today reports. The students said similar parties happened at the home once or twice a month. They said Hill-Brodigan had asked some of them to help prepare for the party. Hill-Brodigan and Anderson have been charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Hill-Brodigan has also been charged with hosting an open house party. WESH 2 reports that Brevard County Public Schools has placed both women on leave during the investigation. (More Florida stories.)
Parents enrolling children in Oklahoma public schools would be required to provide proof of their child's US citizenship or legal immigration status under a proposal approved Tuesday by the State Board of Education. The board voted unanimously to approve the rule aimed at helping President Trump's immigration policies, per the AP . It still needs to be approved by the legislature and the governor.

The proposed rule would not prevent students without legal status from enrolling or keep them from attending school but would require districts to keep a tally. "Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that," said the state's education chief, Ryan Walters. "It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools." While the board met, hundreds of students and protesters gathered outside the administration building to demonstrate against the rule.

The plan has been sharply criticized by teachers and civil liberty groups, and is causing fear within Oklahoma's immigrant communities, said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, a Democrat who represents Oklahoma City's heavily Hispanic south side. "The community is scared, obviously," Alonso-Sandoval said. "The conversations I've had with parents, all they're doing is trying to provide the best opportunity for their kids, like any parents. They are starting to question: Do I unenroll my child from school?"

story continues below

A US Supreme Court ruling in 1982 affirmed the right of children living in the country illegally to attend public schools, although some lawmakers have questioned whether immigrants without legal residency should have the right to a public education. Walters has said he will support efforts by Trump to enforce immigration laws, including by allowing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into Oklahoma schools. "Schools are crippled by the flood of illegal immigrants and the Biden/Harris open border policy," Walters said in a statement.

(More Oklahoma stories.)
Italy's prime minister took to social media on Tuesday to announce that she is being investigated but sounded a defiant note: "I cannot be blackmailed," Giorgia Meloni said. "I will not let myself be intimidated." Italian prosecutors are looking into the alleged role Meloni played in the release from Italian custody of Osama Elmasry Njeem. The Libyan ran a number of prisons that the New York Times reports were "known for their inhumane conditions" and was wanted on war crime charges. He was arrested at a hotel in Turin on Jan. 19 on an international warrant issued by the Hague's International Criminal Court but was released and transported to Tripoli two days later on a government plane.

The International Criminal Court protested the move and asked Italy to explain its actions; human rights groups and opposition leaders accused Meloni of playing nice with Libya so that it will continue to help prevent migrants from sailing to Italy. In her social media video, Meloni explained Njeem's release, saying the Italian justice ministry had not received the ICC arrest warrant. As such, she said, the arrest was invalid, and the decision was made to return Njeem to Libya due to security concerns as "at this point, this subject was free in Italian territory," per the AP.

Still, the Times writes that "even some of Ms. Meloni's critics were surprised by the investigation into the prime minister," with one calling the probe "surreal." Meloni said Italy's justice and interior ministers and interior under secretary are also being investigated. The Times notes that Meloni has branded the ICC's decision to issue the arrest warrant just as Njeem headed into Italy as "curious," saying he had just spent nearly two weeks in three other European countries. The BBC reports she also suggested political motives were at play as the lawyer who filed the complaint, Luigi Li Gotti, is a former left-wing politician. (More Giorgia Meloni stories.)
Even before President Trump's order freezing the distribution of trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday afternoonand well before it was blocked with minutes to spare by a federal judgethe edict was causing chaos. Attorneys general from several states said in a news conference that money did not go through to Head Start in Michigan, for instance, and for child development block grants in Maryland, per the Washington Post. The Education Department said funding for after-school programs, charter schools, and the Special Olympics was delayed. But the biggest stir caused by the freeze involved Medicaid. Those payments are not largesse; the federal government legally owes the money to Medicaid programs to cover patients' treatment. The breakdown:
An F-35 fighter jet from the US Air Force crashed on the runway at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday around 12:49pm. The pilot involved in the incident was reported safe and transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further assessment. Staff Sgt. Kimberly Touchet, a spokesperson for Eielson, said: "It's still under investigation, so they're trying to confirm all the details," and a news conference was scheduled for later the same day.

Significant damage occurred to the aircraft, according to an official Air Force release. Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said: "Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security. I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again."

Eielson Air Force Base, located approximately 25 miles south of Fairbanks, was chosen in 2016 to host 54 F-35 jets. This selection spurred an expansion costing over a half-billion dollars, which included the construction of 36 new buildings and accommodations for about 3,500 new active duty airmen and their families. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
The Vatican has released a document offering ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors like warfare, healthcare, and education. This follows previous warnings from Pope Francis about AI's risks. The document emphasizes that AI should support, not replace, human intelligence.

The guidelines address various domains. In warfare, it warns against AI's potential to amplify military capabilities beyond human oversight, cautioning against an "arms race" driven by autonomous weapons systems that bypass human moral judgment. The document states: "No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being."

Regarding human relationships, the Vatican underlines AI's inability to replace genuine human interaction, highlighting its lack of empathy and potential dangers in child development and interpersonal dynamics. The document said: "While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them."

story continues below

The document also expresses concern over society's reliance on AI for meaning and fulfillment, cautioning that this could be seen as idolatry, directly contradicting religious teachings. It states: "The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. In 2024, 13.5% of enterprises in the European Union with 10 or more employees reported using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, marking a notable 5.5 percentage point increase from 8.0% in 2023, Trend reports.

This surge in AI adoption reflects a growing trend among EU businesses to harness cutting-edge technologies for better operational efficiency.

However, in the Balkan region, the uptake of AI technologies remains relatively low compared to the EU average. According to the data provided by Eurostat, among the Balkan countries, Bulgaria recorded the highest percentage of businesses using AI at 6.5%, still far behind the EU leaders like Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium, which boast adoption rates of 27.6%, 25.1%, and 24.7%, respectively. Other countries in the region, such as Romania, showed even slower progress, with only 3.1% of enterprises using AI technologies.

While all EU countries, including those in the Balkans, experienced an increase in the adoption of AI technologies, the growth rates varied significantly. Bulgaria saw a modest rise of 1.6 percentage points, while Romanias increase was even smaller at 1.6 pp. In contrast, countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium saw large jumps in adoption rates, with Swedens increase reaching a remarkable 14.7 pp.

Enterprises in the EU are increasingly turning to AI to improve their operations, with text mining (the analysis of written language) emerging as the most widely adopted AI technology, used by 6.9% of businesses. Additionally, natural language generation (used by 5.4% of enterprises) and speech recognition (used by 4.8%) are becoming increasingly popular as companies look to automate tasks related to language processing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently inspected a nuclear material production facility, urging the enhancement of the nation's nuclear arsenal, as reported by state media on Wednesday. This move comes as North Korea seeks to apply pressure on the United States following the inauguration of US President Trump. Kim's visit highlights his continued focus on expanding North Korea's nuclear capabilities, aligning with analysts' views that such actions form part of a strategy to secure diplomatic discussions with Washington that may lead to aid and political concessions.

The Korean Central News Agency did not specify the facility's location but indicated Kim likely visited a uranium-enrichment site previously disclosed in September. This site was North Korea's first revealed uranium-enrichment facility since American scholars were shown one in 2010. During the visit, Kim commended scientists. Kim said: "Producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country."

On Sunday, North Korea conducted its third known weapons display of the year, testing a cruise missile system, and promised "the toughest" response to what it perceives as escalated US-South Korean military exercises, which it views as invasion rehearsals. Despite US and South Korean assurances that the drills are defensive, they have expanded their military exercises in response to North Korea's advanced nuclear program.

story continues below

With the start of Trump's second term, there is potential for renewed diplomacy between the US and North Korea as Trump, who met Kim three times during his first term, has expressed willingness to engage with Kim again. This previous diplomacy fell apart over disagreements concerning US-imposed sanctions on North Korea. In a recent Fox News interview, Trump referred to Kim, who Trump called "a smart guy" and "not a religious zealot." When asked if he would reconnect, Trump said: "I will, yeah." Experts suggest Kim may feel he holds stronger negotiating power now due to North Korea's expanded nuclear arsenal and growing military ties with Russia. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Once scorned, twice shy doesn't appear to apply to Frontier Airlines, which on Wednesday said it has again made a "compelling proposal" to merge with Spirit Airlines. CNBC reports the two airlines announced they intended to merge in 2022, but an offer from JetBlue Airways ended up thwarting that plan. The JetBlue acquisition was eventually blocked by a federal judge a year ago after the DOJ sued, saying the deal would jack up prices for consumers. The merger bid was abandoned two months later, reports the AP , and Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection in November .

Frontier said in a release that after submitting its proposal it met with Spirit's board of directors and executives and representatives of Spirit's financial stakeholders. "As part of the discussions, Frontier shared materials with Spirit and its financial stakeholders regarding the benefits of the proposed transaction. The materials, which are based on Spirit's bankruptcy court filings, also demonstrate that Spirit's standalone plan will likely result in an unprofitable airline with a high debt load and limited likelihood of success." The AP reports Spirit is the biggest budget airline in America but has lost more than $2.5 billion in the past five years; it has debt payments totaling more than $1 billion coming due in 2025 and 2026. (More Frontier Airlines stories.)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two days of confirmation hearings Wednesday, and there was discord even before he had finished his opening statement. After Kennedy, President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, said, "News reports complain that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. I am neither," a woman shouted, "He lies" and was escorted out of the room, the New York Times reports. More from the hearing:

A "scathing rebuke." Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, delivered what the Guardian calls a "scathing rebuke" of Kennedy in his own opening statement. "The receipts show that Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, and charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines," Wyden said. Echoing Kennedy cousin Caroline Kennedy's letter to senators, Wyden accused Kennedy of enriching himself by sowing doubt about vaccines.
The White House never fully explained how President Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans was going to workand now it won't have to. The White House Office of Management and Budget rescinded the order Wednesday, according to a memo obtained by CNN . "OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the President's Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel," the memo states.

The order issued late Monday was blocked by a federal judge Tuesday minutes before it was due to take effect. The order, which could have frozen trillions of dollars in grants and other federal assistance, caused chaos at many agencies, including difficulty accessing Medicaid portals, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, called rescinding the order "an important victory for the American people," and praised those who spoke out against it, the New York Times reports. She accused the administration of creating chaos through "a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law." (More President Trump stories.)
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa extended heartfelt appreciation for H.E. President Vladimir Putins efforts in fostering Bahrain-Russia ties, underscoring a shared vision for cultural collaboration.

Speaking during a meeting with Russias Minister of Culture, H.E. Olga Lyubimova, yesterday, His Majesty expressed gratitude for the Russian Presidents support in strengthening bilateral relations.

His Majesty also highlighted the significance of the Russian Seasons, a cultural initiative that unites Bahrain and Russia in showcasing their artistic heritage.

Acknowledging H.E. President Putins role in enhancing cooperation, His Majesty said the enduring relationship between Bahrain and Russia is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to growth.

The Russian Seasons, His Majesty noted, serves as a platform to deepen cultural exchanges, foster artistic collaboration, and implement agreements that benefit both nations.

H.E. Minister Lyubimova, in Bahrain to inaugurate the Russian Seasons, praised His Majestys leadership in advancing Bahrain-Russia relations. She expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality, crediting His Majestys efforts for the growing partnership between the two countries.

In a separate meeting, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, affirmed the pivotal role of cultural initiatives in uniting nations.

During the meeting at Gudaibiya Palace, His Royal Highness highlighted the longstanding partnership between Bahrain and Russia, rooted in a history of multi-sectoral collaboration.

HRH Prince Salman reiterated Bahrains commitment to cultural agreements with Russia, which aim to promote artistic dialogue and economic cooperation.

Welcoming H.E. Minister Lyubimova, he extended greetings to President Putin and conveyed best wishes for Russias continued prosperity.

The event also saw the attendance of senior officials, including His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), and His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy.

The Russian Seasons, showcasing the artistic heritage of both nations, fosters a profound cultural connection, strengthening Bahrain-Russia ties for the future.
His Majesty King Hamad Sends New Year Greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping

His Majesty King Hamad Sends New Year Greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Manama, January 29 (BNA)  His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the esteemed King of Bahrain, has sent a congratulatory cable to His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

In his message, His Majesty extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to President Xi for continued good health and happiness. He also wished the friendly people of China further progress and prosperity.

HM King Hamad praised the strong and distinguished bilateral relations between Bahrain and China, highlighting the continuous growth and development witnessed across various fields and sectors.
TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Dr. Jaleela bint Al-Sayed Jawad Hassan, Bahrains Minister of Health, participated in the 50th edition of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

As part of her visit, the Minister toured various exhibition platforms and halls showcasing innovations and advancements in global healthcare. Organized by leading institutions from the health sector worldwide, the event highlighted healthcare services and successful partnership models in areas such as digital health transformation, organ transplantation, genomic medicine, artificial intelligence technologies, and the role of the private sector in enhancing efficiency and innovation.

During the exhibition, Dr. Jaleela and her accompanying delegation met with officials and representatives from medical and consultancy firms, as well as participating organizations. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and coordination to further enhance the quality and efficiency of Bahrains healthcare system.

The Minister commended the high level of organization and the outstanding experiences presented, which align with the latest global scientific and medical developments. She also praised the UAEs efforts in hosting such prestigious events, bringing together a distinguished group of experts, specialists, and representatives from local and international medical companies across the world.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan have discussed the possibilities for advancing investment projects, Trend reports.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy, the discussions took place during the TurkiyeAzerbaijanUzbekistan Business Forum in Ankara.

The event brought together the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov, the Minister of Trade of Turkiye Omer Bolat, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov, as well as around 200 entrepreneurs from the three countries working in sectors such as construction, tobacco, food industry, pharmaceuticals, building materials production, tourism, textiles, industry, logistics, and other fields.

The forum briefed on the development of Azerbaijan's relations with Turkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as potential joint projects.

It was noted that under the leadership of the heads of our states, mutual partnership relations are strengthening in the context of geopolitical processes in the region where our countries are located.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) plays an important role in strengthening cooperation.

The agreement on digital economy partnership signed by member states at the 11th OTS summit, the Karabakh Declaration signed at the informal summit of heads of states, and the Turkic Investment Fund play a key role in strengthening strategic partnerships and economic relations.

It was emphasized that Turkiye has invested significantly in Azerbaijan's economy, and investment cooperation between the two countries is expanding.

Azerbaijani investors also intend to participate as members of the unified ecosystem of our countries. It was noted that Azerbaijan has invested $20 billion in the Turkish economy.

It was highlighted that Turkish companies were encouraged to actively participate in the reconstruction of Azerbaijans territories liberated from occupation and to take advantage of the benefits provided.

The business forum also emphasized the growing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

There is also an increase in transport and transit shipments via the Middle Corridor.

Eight projects are underway through the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, with a capital of $500 million.

It was noted that the opening of the Mirza Ulugbek School in the Fuzuli district, built under the instructions of the President of Uzbekistan as a gift to Karabakh from the Uzbek people, and the opening of a garment factory in the city of Khankendi are true examples of brotherhood between our countries and peoples.

Besides, the forum discussed ways to strengthen the economic union between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, improve the effectiveness of business partnerships, expand trade relations, and promote important investment projects for our countries and the region.

The event continued with B2B (business-to-business) meetings.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, met with Alastair Long, British Ambassador to Bahrain, to explore ways to enhance collaboration in agricultural development.

During the meeting, Minister Al Mubarak highlighted the deep-rooted ties between Bahrain and the UK, particularly in municipal and agricultural affairs. He emphasized the importance of integrating advanced technologies and innovative solutions to boost agricultural productivity, ensuring higher quality, increased yield, and sustainability.

Ambassador Long praised the strong Bahrain-UK partnership in the sector and reaffirmed the UKs commitment to further strengthening cooperation.

Company representatives and agricultural experts also participated in the discussions, presenting cutting-edge agricultural technologies developed by UK universities, research institutions, and firms. They showcased ongoing research initiatives and innovative solutions aimed at advancing Bahrains agricultural landscape.

The meeting underscored Bahrains commitment to leveraging global expertise to drive sustainable agricultural growth.
Organization ramped up efforts as food bank usage in Canada soars

TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - For the second consecutive year, Purolator Tackle Hunger surpassed its two-million-pound target, delivering almost 2.4 million pounds of food to food banks across Canada in 2024. Purolator's employees, customers and partners rallied together, reaching new milestones, as the food bank system in Canada was stretched to its limits.

In 2024, Purolators employees, customers and partners delivered nearly 2.4 million pounds of food to food banks across Canada through Purolator Tackle Hunger. (CNW Group/Purolator Inc.)

"For more than two decades, our team has been dedicated to addressing food insecurity, but last year, they truly went the extra mile to meet the skyrocketing demand. Through our strong partnerships, the support of generous Canadians, and the unwavering dedication of Purolator employees, we strengthened Purolator Tackle Hunger and increased our impact," said John Ferguson, President and CEO, Purolator. "And 2025 will be no different. We'll continue using our vast network to support those facing hunger in the communities we serve. If there's a need, we'll be there to meet it."

Purolator's employees, partners and customers held events to collect food and monetary donations throughout 2024, with some key initiatives including:

Purolator Tackle Hunger Month in June, during which the organization collected over 500,000 pounds of food for Food Banks Canada.

The organization's second annual Purolator Tackle Hunger National Red Bag campaign in September, which delivered more than 163,000 pounds of food to local food banks in 15 communities across Canada .

. The CFL and Purolator's ongoing commitment to championing food security that resulted in raising over 400,000 pounds of food at Purolator Tackle Hunger CFL Game Day Food Drives.

Purolator Tackle Hunger expanding its partnership with Food Banks Canada to provide transportation and logistics support for the organization's northern program.

Canadians can support food banks across the country by making online donations at purolatortacklehunger.com or by dropping off non-perishable food donations to any Purolator Shipping Centre nationwide.

Fast facts about hunger in Canada

Canadian food banks had over two million visits in March 2024 , the highest number in history for the same month. ( Source: Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2024 )

, the highest number in history for the same month. ( ) The average family of four is expected to spend about $16,834 on food in 2025, an increase of almost $802 from last year. (Source: Canada's Food Price Report, 2025 )

on food in 2025, an increase of almost from last year. In Canada , one third of food bank clients are children representing nearly 700,000 visits a year. ( Source: Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2024 )

, one third of food bank clients are children representing nearly 700,000 visits a year. ( ) One in three children is at risk of going to school on an empty stomach. (Source: Breakfast Club of Canada )

About Purolator Tackle Hunger

As part of Purolator's commitment to helping alleviate hunger in the communities where it operates, the organization works closely with its employees, partners, customers, Canadian food banks and charitable organizations to collect food and monetary donations. Together, we also help raise awareness about the issue of food insecurity. Since the inception of Purolator's employee-led grassroots program over 20 years ago, Purolator Tackle Hunger has helped deliver more than 24 million pounds of food to Canadian food banks. For more information, visit purolatortacklehunger.com.

SOURCE Purolator Inc.

Media contact: Emily Innes-Leroux, Senior Consultant, Corporate Communications, Purolator, 416 809-9892, [email protected]
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 29. Uzbekistan may become a transport and logistics center for Turkish and Azerbaijani companies to enter new markets, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov said during a briefing following a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani and Turkish Foreign Ministers Jeyhun Bayramov and Hakan Fidan, Trend reports.

In the conditions of serious challenges in the field of logistics, the geographical location of our three brotherly countries and their transit potential acquire strategic importance. Close cooperation in this sphere will not only ensure the stability of cargo transportation but will also make it possible to create new transportation corridors that meet the requirements of the modern global economy.

Today, Turkiye and Azerbaijan are the western gates of the Middle Corridor, and Uzbekistan, like the Great Silk Road, is becoming its strategic hub. In this context, we have held comprehensive consultations on the possibility of using Uzbekistan as a transport and logistics center for Turkish and Azerbaijani companies to enter new markets, the minister stated.

The Foreign Minister added that the sides also discussed the expansion of cargo transportation along the international multimodal transport corridor Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye-Europe.

One of the key strategic issues of our discussions was the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway. All participants unanimously emphasized that the implementation of this large-scale project in the future will not only connect Central and South Asia but also become an important link in global logistics chains. This railway will create new economic opportunities for all participating countries, become the basis for developing trade and economic ties, attract investments, and strengthen the transit potential of the region, Saidov emphasized.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 29. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has touched down in Kazakhstan for a three-day stay, Trend reports.

During his trip, Mishustin plans to visit Astana and Almaty, where he will meet with the countrys leadership and state partners within the EAEU framework. The Russian Prime Minister will also participate in a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

The first meeting is expected to take place with Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the Russian-Kazakhstani talks on January 29-30 in Astana, current issues of trade, economics, scientific-technical, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation will be discussed.

Special attention will be given to further development of joint projects in energy, industry, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and other sectors.

On January 30-31, Mikhail Mishustin will participate in the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Almaty, where prospects for increasing integration between the member states of the EAEU, the functioning of the Eurasian market, macroeconomic situations, and the implementation of joint initiatives will be discussed.

On January 31, Mikhail Mishustin will also take part in the plenary session of the 7th Digital Forum "Digital Almaty 2025: Industrial AI: Technologies for a New Era," an annual event focused on technological development, digitalization, digital transformation, and the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Board of Education trustees at the Ramapo Indian Hills High School District must turn over email logs from their personal computers to satisfy a citizens request made under the Open Public Records Act, an appellate court has ruled.

The appellate court said private emails between trustees in which they discussed school board business were public records, and subject to inspection under OPRA.

The decision resolves a complaint brought by Alex Rosetti, who in January 2023 filed an OPRA request seeking the email logs of all Ramapo Indian Hills trustees on the board from November 2022 forward.

Rosetti suspected that trustees were discussing school board matters through private email exchanges, and he wanted to know more. The district initially supplied only the email logs from its public server, arguing that private emails were off-limits to the public.

Rosetti sued, and the trial court sided with the district. But the appellate division overruled in a decision handed down on Monday.

Based on the record before us, we hold the email logs of the Board members private servers sought by Rosetti are subject to OPRA because the emails discuss Board business and were made by Board members, the appellate court said. "

Neither Rosetti, nor his attorney, Donald M. Doherty, Jr. could be reached for comment. Ramapo Indian Hills school board president Amy Souders did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The district had argued that reviewing the trustees private emails in response to Rosettis OPRA would be time-consuming and overly burdensome. But the appellate court rejected that argument, and remanded the case back to the lower court to work out an arrangement that would satisfy Rosettis right to know.

Writing for the court, Chief Judge of the Appellate Division Thomas W. Sumners, Jr. opined that the ruling would encourage more open government.

This decision may also discourage government officials from using their personal devices, email accounts, or cell phones (texts) to conduct business to avoid public disclosure otherwise permitted by OPRA, he wrote.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
A Bergen County man was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted murder after authorities said he attacked his Uber driver.

Marcus N. Marson, 25, of Leonia was charged with first-degree counts of attempted murder and attempted carjacking, third-degree aggravated assault, weapons offenses and resisting arrest after police found an Uber driver suffering from serious stab wounds in Fort Lee Tuesday morning, according to officials with the Bergen County Prosecutors Office.

Fort Lee police responded to a stabbing on Duncan Avenue at about 9:17 a.m. Tuesday and found a 37-year-old suffering from serious stab wounds, officials said.

The suspect had already fled the scene, police said. Emergency responders immediately transported the victim to Hackensack University Medical Center where he remains in stable condition, authorities said.

The victim suffered multiple lacerations to the head as well as puncture wounds to his shoulder and arm, officials said.

Marson was eventually located and apprehended in a residential backyard on Buckingham Road after a brief foot chase with police, officials said.

Detectives said Marson was a passenger in the Uber and that the victim was driving when he was stabbed multiple times as Marson allegedly tried to carjack the vehicle, authorities said.

Marson was turned over to the Bergen County Sheriffs Office pending his first appearance in court, according to officials.

It was unclear if Marson had an attorney Tuesday night.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
A 13-year-old made threats on social media against Winslow Middle School students and staff, officials said.

Winslow police charged the teen Monday with creating a false public alarm and terroristic threats, authorities said Wednesday.

Additional police were sent to the school when officials learned of the threats, though an investigation revealed no one was ever in danger.

The student lives in the Sicklerville section of Winslow.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Our discussions focused on strengthening the economic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said in a post on his X page, Trend reports.

"As part of our visit to Ankara, we were pleased to meet with Omer Bolat, Turkiye's Minister of Trade. Our discussions focused on strengthening the economic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, increasing trade turnover, and exploring opportunities to actively support business ties and promote investments. We sincerely appreciate the warm hospitality extended to us," the post reads.

To note, the second trilateral meeting of ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan was held today in Ankara.
Authorities on Wednesday identified the South Jersey school bus driver killed when he was struck by an oncoming school bus in a garage behind a Burlington County high school.

Maple Shade police say Jack Hohwald, 85, was outside his bus on the high schools grounds when he was fatally struck Tuesday. School officials canceled classes on Wednesday following the deadly crash.

Hohwald, who school officials described as a beloved district employee, was struck another bus operated by a 77-year-old Cinnaminson man who is also a district employee.

Our hearts go out to the victims family, the Maple Shade School District and Community which is devastated by what happened this afternoon, Maple Shade Police Chief Christopher Fletcher said in a statement. I can ensure a thorough investigation into the matter will be completed.

Maple Shade School District Superintendent Beth Norcia said the Burlington County Crisis Response Team and counselors would be at the school for students and staff for the remainder of the week.
A judge has sentenced a Cumberland County man to 30 years in prison for killing his exs new boyfriend and hiding his body under grass clippings and trash.

In December, a jury convicted Brandon L. Dennis, 32, of Vineland, on eight counts, including second-degree charges of passion provocation manslaughter and desecration of human remains, in the Oct. 23, 2021, killing of Patrick Trotter in Millville.

The incident began when Dennis stood outside of a residence in Millville and demanded that a woman with whom he had previously had a relationship tell him who was with her in the house, according to court documents.
A man and woman from Vineland were both indicted in a double shooting outside a Cumberland County convenience store that killed a mother of five and injured a man accompanying her, according to court records.

Eric Bundy-Johnson and Francessca Delvalle, both 34 and from Vineland, were indicted on first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder charges stemming from the October shooting that killed Bonnie Hutchins, 41, of Bridgeton. The indictment was filed last Wednesday.

Bundy-Johnson, the alleged gunman, was also indicted on counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and being a convicted felon carrying a weapon.

Delvalle was indicted on two counts of hindering and one count of tampering with evidence.

Bundy-Johnson was out of prison for nine months at the time he and Delvalle allegedly conspired to shoot Hitchens.

Bundy-Johnson and Delvalle each has their own attorney, and neither attorney immediately returned a request for comment.

Hitchens, police said in court papers, was riding in a car driven by a 32-year-old man that parked outside of a store on East Green Street in Millville on Oct. 26. At approximately 10:37 a.m., Delvalle and Bundy-Johnson appeared in a car that parked next to them.

Delvalle began arguing with Hitchens about a sexual relationship authorities said Bundy-Johnson and the mother of five had, yelling for her to confront her outside the car. Moments later, Bundy-Johnson left his vehicle armed, firing at least four shots into the vehicle Hitchens was in, police said.

Hitchens was pronounced dead at Inspira Medical Center in Vineland while the unnamed man driving her sustained serious injuries. State Superior Court Judge Joseph Chiarello called the attack a revenge killing over nothing during a detention hearing.

When questioned after the killing by Vineland police, Delvalle accused Bundy-Johnson of forcing her to be his getaway driver. After being arrested, Bundy-Johnson admitted to the killing and that he broke down the gun after the attack, police said.

Bundy-Johnson was sentenced to state prison in 2018 after being convicted of robbery. He was released last January, state prison records show.

Bundy-Johnson and Delvalle remain jailed pending trial.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A Cape May County school district is the latest in New Jersey to eliminate courtesy busing for students who live close to their schools.

The change to busing in Dennis Township is effective next week, according to a Dec. 16 letter sent to the community from Superintendent Susan Speirs.

Courtesy busing is free buses for students who live too close to schools for state-mandated transportation. Several New Jersey school districts have eliminated non-mandatory busing in recent years to save money.

Speirs did not respond to a request for comment.

Under state law, school districts are required to provide free bus transportation for high school students if they live 2.5 miles or more from their schools. For students in grades K through 8, students are guaranteed free busing if they live 2 miles or more from school.

However, some districts provide free courtesy busing funded by the school district for students who live closer. Other districts opt for a paid subscription model in which families pay a fee for courtesy busing. The prices vary by school district.

Dennis Township school officials told families the district would no longer pay for courtesy busing service, in addition to eliminating the districts band program, to save money, according to a report in the Cape May County Herald.

The elimination of courtesy busing was expected to save the district $100,000 during the 2024-25 school year when officials were calculating the budget, but its unclear how much it will save halfway through the year, the news outlet reported.

Subscription busing might be available to roughly 110 students who live within 2 miles of their school and use courtesy busing, the Herald reported. It will cost families $962.50 per student, per year. Students who qualify for free or reduced meals will be offered a reduced rate.

Last year, Perth Amboy officials in Middlesex County eliminated courtesy busing in response to budget problems. Officials at Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District in Monmouth County also cut courtesy busing, citing rising enrollment.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Rob Jennings contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
The school district in one of New Jerseys fastest growing municipalities will run out of money next month if the state doesnt provide more aid to help offset a $19 million deficit, school officials said last week.

If state aid is not provided by Feb. 22, Lakewood school officials wont be able to pay teachers, other staff and meet other financial obligations, board attorney and spokesman Michael Inzelbuch said during last Wednesdays school board meeting, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The only thing that could help us is winning the lottery like someone did in Jackson yesterday, Inzelbuch told the board last week, the news outlet reported. We are not making light of this.

Inzelbuch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The school district in the predominantly Orthodox Jewish community has long struggled with the cost of providing busing and special education costs for students who attend private yeshivas in the area. District officials have argued in court Lakewood schools are critically underfunded by the state.

The Ocean County district requested a $104 million state loan last March, the Asbury Park Press reported. The school board approved its $309 million school year budget for the 2024-25 school year, which included the expected loan.

But no loan has arrived from the state yet, school officials said.

Gov. Phil Murphys office referred a request for comment to the state Department of Education, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since 2014, the school district has borrowed $220 million from the state and still owes roughly $173 million, the Asbury Park Press reported. In 2023, the board received a $50 million loan after requesting a $96 million loan.

The state funding for the Lakewood school district is so low it violates students rights, lawyers for a public school parents group argued before a New Jersey appeals court in 2023.

In the predominantly Orthodox Jewish community, all but 6,000 of the districts 50,000 students attend private yeshivas, according to the legal proceedings.

About 12% of the districts $200 million budget in 2023 went to school transportation costs for private students, and the budget is also required to cover their special education costs.

Overall, the Lakewood district spends more than half of its budget on transportation and special education costs for nonpublic school students, according to the legal proceedings.

Former NJ Advance Media staff writer Tina Kelley contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
An Essex County high school principal is facing a federal lawsuit alleging he racially discriminated against the student he was accused of assaulting in school two years ago.

Frank Sanchez, the principal of Columbia High School in South Orange-Maplewood, was arrested and charged in March with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault following an incident with a female student in a school hallway in 2023.

An Essex County grand jury declined to indict him in June on the second-degree charge. The simple assault charge was referred to Maplewood Municipal Court and remains pending.

The mother of the girl, who is now 17 and no longer attending the high school, filed a lawsuit on her daughters behalf in U.S. District Court on Monday. The lawsuit accuses Sanchez, the district, other school officials and unnamed defendants of racial, gender and disability discrimination.

A spokesman for the district declined to comment. Sanchez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. No attorney information was immediately listed for the defendants.

This case represents a critical fight for the rights of students with disabilities, said James H. Davis III, the attorney representing the girl and her mother. We must hold school districts accountable for failing to provide the necessary support and accommodations these students need to thrive.

We will not stand by while our most vulnerable students are treated as if they are disposable, said Davis, who is also the chairman of the local advocacy group Black Parents Workshop.

Davis also represents a former school board member in the district who alleged in a separate lawsuit that others defamed her during the period in which Sanchez was accused of assault.

Sanchez, who was placed on administrative leave for six months following the accusation, was reappointed to his position as principal in June.

The federal lawsuit alleges the defendants violated federal and state law, including laws surrounding students with disabilities.

The plaintiff is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys fees for the defendants failure to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education, unlawful use of excessive force, discriminatory practices, and defamation, among other claims, according to the lawsuit.

The girl had an individualized education program, or IEP, but it was seldom fulfilled by school officials, according to the lawsuit.

Sanchez allegedly assaulted her when he confronted her for allegedly bullying another student, according to the lawsuit.

Another female student said Sanchez didnt treat black girls the same as white, and racially discriminated against students, the lawsuit alleged.

Sanchez also didnt follow federal or state law, or district policy, when he suspended the girl for the March 2023 incident, the lawsuit alleged.

It also claims negligence and gross indifference by other district officials in the months following the incident, which led to an impediment of the girls education and violation of her state and federal rights.

The lawsuit also alleged the girls privacy rights were intentionally, willfully and recklessly violated when several community members read a confidential legal memo about her into the public record at a school board meeting.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Emilia Perez may be the most nominated film at the 2025 Oscars, but plenty of people have criticized the film.

With the Academy Awards just weeks away, a musical tribute to the movie created by Mexican critics of the original is getting some attention.

Titled Johanne Sacreblue, the Mexican-made French story has nearly 1.3 million views on YouTube and more on TikTok.

Emilia Perez, a musical drama that debuted in November on Netflix, received 13 Oscar nominations, including best picture and best international feature film.

Zoe Saldana, who was born in Passaic and grew up in Queens and the Dominican Republic, is widely seen as an Oscar frontrunner for best supporting actress for her performance as lawyer Rita Mora Castro.

While set in Mexico and performed in Spanish, the musical film was made in France and helmed by French director Jacques Audiard, who is nominated for the Oscar for best director. Just one actor in the main cast is Mexican and from Mexico  Adriana Paz, who plays Epifania.

In Mexico, the film has drawn much criticism.

The story follows a Mexican cartel boss, Juan Manitas Del Monte, played by Karla Sofia Gascon, the first openly transgender performer to be nominated for best lead actress. Del Monte asks an attorney to help him make arrangements to undergo gender-affirming surgery and transition as a woman.

As Emilia Perez, she then becomes an advocate for families who have lost loved ones to cartels. She works with Rita to find information about those disappeared and killed. Selena Gomez, who is of Mexican American heritage, also stars in the film as the cartel boss wife, Jessi Del Monte.

Mexican trans woman Camila Aurora Gonzalez created Johanne Sacreblue.

As PinkNews reports, the musical tribute, performed in both French and Spanish (with Spanish subtitles), is about a trans woman who is heiress to the biggest baguette producer in France. She falls in love with Agtugo Ratatouille, the trans heir to the biggest croissant company in the country, and the families have a fierce rivalry.

To drive home the whole French theme, Mexican actors in Johanne Sacreblue wear painted-on mustaches and black-and-white striped shirts.

Emilia Perez has not only drawn criticism for its depiction of the drug war in Mexico and its lack of Mexican representation, it has also been criticized by trans people for its handling of transition and the nature of the trans character Emilia.

The musical has won four Golden Globes, including best musical and best supporting female actor for Saldana.

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.
Two men, one of them a leader of the Stephen Crane Village drug trafficking organization, were convicted of drug related charges and murder on Monday, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

Michael Mayse, 38, and Gary Shahid, 66, both of Newark, were convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking conspiracy and weapons offenses, authorities said.

Mayse was also convicted of murder over a debt, officials said Tuesday.

The two men were part of an organization that ran an open-air drug market between 2019 and 2020 at the Stephen Crane Village complex in Newark on the border of Belleville near Branch Brook Park, authorities said.

The organization used an apartment at the housing complex as a stash house for various narcotics including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base, officials said.

Investigators used organized controlled purchases of narcotics, recorded phone calls and text messages as well as physical and electronic surveillance on the illegal drug trafficking organization to build their case, according to officials.

The organization sold significant quantities of drugs to confidential sources and undercover agents during the investigation, officials said.

On Dec. 15, 2019, Mayse entered the stash house and killed a member of the drug trafficking organization over a monetary debt connected to illegal drug sales, authorities said.

The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative, which draws on a partnership between local, county and federal authorities including the U.S. Attorneys Office, the DEA, ATF, Essex County Prosecutors Office and Newark Police Department to investigate and combat violent crime in and around Newark.

Although we have great respect for the judicial process and the jurys service and verdict we are disappointed with the result, Mayses defense attorney Joel Silberman said in an emailed statement.

Silberman said they were in the process of filing post-trial motions and would appeal Mayses conviction if necessary where he believes Mayse would be vindicated.

Mr. Shahid is disappointed with the overall verdict. He intends to appeal after he is sentenced, Shahids attorney Thomas Ambrosio said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
You might want to check your freezers for this popular Costco product.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently classified recalled Kirkland smoked salmon under a Class I recall, meaning these food items can cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

The product was previously recalled last October for potential listeria contamination, according to the FDA notice.

About 111 cases of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon in twin 12-ounce packages are affected.

The product is vacuum-sealed in a black-bordered plastic package, with a blue Smoked Salmon label and a picture of a salmon on the front of the package.

It was distributed to the Southeast Costco Distribution Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and several Costco locations in Florida.

Although Costco hasnt sold the affected product for months, the wholesaler and the FDA want to warn people who may have preserved it in their freezers for future consumption not to eat the product.

Customers who purchased the salmon and still have it in their possession should throw it away or return it to their local Costco for a refund.

Consumers with questions can call Acme Smoked Fish, the distributor of Kirkland Salmon, at 718-383-8585 Monday-Friday 8 am  5 pm EST.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A Gloucester County man freed from prison in the wave of President Trumps Jan. 6 pardons last week was serving a separate, longer term for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, records show.

Peter Krill, 56, of Sewell in Mantua Township, was sentenced in February 2024 to nine months in prison for pushing through police lines at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The case, like all from the Jan. 6 investigation, was handled by federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C.

However, in the summer of 2024, Krill pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition by a convicted felon in federal court in New Jersey, stemming from the eight firearms the FBI seized when they arrested him at his home in 2022 for Jan. 6 crimes.

In that case, a judge sentenced Krill in November 2024 to 46 months in prison, just shy of four years, and said the term would run concurrent to the Washington case.

Its unclear how federal authorities were able to release Krill after his Jan. 6 case was pardoned if he had at least two or more years to serve in the ammunition case. Krill was serving his time at the federal prison at Fort Dix.

Trumps mass pardons directed the U.S. Attorney General to pardon to all individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, and if they are in prison to release them immediately.

The federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that, Mr. Krill was identified among a list of defendants to which the Pardons would apply.

Our interpretation is if they were on our list and were in prison, they were to be released, a prisons spokesperson said. The spokesperson declined to answer questions about Krills ammunition case.

Before the pardons, Krills release date on the federal prisons website was estimated to be in early 2028.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey, which struck a plea bargain with Krill in the ammunition case, also declined to comment.

Krills public defender, who represented him in both cases, declined comment as well.

Federal prosecutors in court documents say Krill had eight firearms at his home  one which was a rifle  and none had required serial numbers. He also had 10 boxes of ammunition comprising over 5,000 bullets and nine loaded pistol cartridges.

Krill is prohibited from owning or possession firearms due to a 2006 robbery conviction and prison sentence, and when the FBI arrested him at hie home, he admitted the weapons were his and he knew he could not have the weaponry. He also said he was present at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

In a letter to the judge in his Washington case, he said he regretted his presence at the Capitol that day and had turned his life around in the past decade and was sober and in recovery.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Medical Examiner Dr. William McClain presents diagrams of his autopsy of Doris Ruth Novella while testifying in the trial of her granddaughter and defendant Tamera Laws, who is accused of brutally murdering Novella, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Anthony Cantrell gestures to someone in the courtroom during the trial of client Tamera Laws on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Medical Examiner Dr. William McClain testifies regarding his autopsy of Doris Ruth Novella while testifying in the trial of her granddaughter and defendant Tamera Laws, who is accused of brutally murdering Novella, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Paul Berglund, friend and roomate of defendant Tamera Laws, testifies in Laws trial on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl listens to attorneys during he bench trial of defendant Tamera Laws on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Ashley Washington, older sister of Tamera Laws, testifies in her sisters trial on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Lisa Jones, mother of Tamera Laws, testifies in her daughters trial on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defendant Tamera Laws leaves the courtroom for a break with her defense attorney Anthony Cantrell during her trial on Wednesday. Laws is accused of brutally killing her grandmother, Doris Ruth Novella in 2020. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Anthony Cantrell speaks with defendant Tamera Laws during her bench trial on Wednesday. Laws is accused of brutally killing her grandmother, Doris Ruth Novella in 2020. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Nicole Morales, forensic scientist with the Bexar County Crime Lab, testifies about DNA found at the crime scene the during the trial of Tamera Laws on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Wesli Stubbs, forensic scientist with the Bexar County Crime Lab, testifies about samples collected at the crime scene during the trial of Tamera Laws on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Defendant Tamera Laws looks around the courtroom during her bench trial on Wednesday. Laws is accused of brutally killing her grandmother, Doris Ruth Novella in 2020. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Tamera Tamika Laws is accused of beating her 70-year-old grandmother, Doris Ruth Novella, to death in San Antonio in 2020. Bexar County Jail

A bench trial began this week for a San Antonio woman who police say admitted to choking, stabbing and beating her 70-year-old grandmother to death with a hammer.

Tamera Tamika Laws, 28, is accused of brutally killing her grandmother, Doris Ruth Novella on Feb. 22, 2020, at a home in the 8500 block of Spotted Deer.

Because Laws waived her right to a jury trial, the judge presiding over the case, Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl, will decide the outcome. The trial began on Tuesday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Laws is charged with first-degree murder. If found guilty, she faces up to life in prison.

She has pleaded not guilty.

Laws and her brother Octavian Jones were raised by their grandmother because their mother was a drug addict and their father had been sent to prison for killing their sibling, Jones testified on Tuesday.

Laws' attorney, Anthony Cantrell, said their father, Tommy Laws, had also been charged with someone else's murder  and genital mutilation  in California.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jones was in his room getting dressed for work when Laws walked into his room and told him that she was sorry for having done something, a San Antonio Police Department police report states.

Jones walked into their grandmother's room and found Novella lying on the floor with blood on her face.

Laws told police during an interview that she "choked and stabbed Novella with a knife, then proceeded to strike her in the face with a hammer various times," according to the report.

Crime scene video taken by a crime scene investigator revealed that Novella's face was bloodied and unrecognizable after the beating.

A recording of a 911 call from Jones was played in the courtroom.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jones can he heard screaming at Laws, saying: Why did you kill grandma?

As the recording of the call played, Laws  who sat next to her attorney  kept her head down and sobbed.

On the witness stand, SAPD Detective Jason Chamness said officers arrived to "a chaotic scene" in the home. Laws was sitting on the couch when she told them that her dad told her to kill her grandmother, Chamness testified.

She then repeatedly asked for the death penalty, Chamness added.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Chamness' body camera footage was also played in the courtroom. Laws can be heard asking for the death penalty and telling police: "My dad told me that they were going to come and kill me."

Laws was taken into custody and arrested without incident.

An SAPD detective testified that Tommy Laws told police he did speak on the phone with his daughter on the day of the killing  but he denied telling his daughter to kill anyone.

Police said they found Novella lying on her back next to her bed with blood on her face and blunt force trauma.

Testimony established that a strong odor of Pine-Sol, a liquid cleaning product, was coming from the bedroom where Novella's body was found. Crime scene investigators located an empty bottle of the cleaner in the room.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Chamness said during her arrest, Laws said she was "coming down on something," which he assumed she meant some kind of drug.

During the trial, prosecutors said Laws had used methamphetamine. They said when Laws was hospitalized around the time of Novella's death, Laws tested positive for the drug.

Jones testified that the home he and his sister were living in belonged to their grandmother.

Jones said his sister's behavior had been "off" for months and that before the incident, she was depressed, acting strangely and was scared all the time. She had threatened to kill herself.

He said Laws was convinced that he and their grandma were going to hurt her.

It was a behavior that I couldnt understandShes had episodes in the past, Jones said.

Prosecutors asked Jones if he knew that his sister had called police in December 2019 to report that she had taken crystal meth and she wanted to detox.

Jones replied that he wasn't aware of that and he had no knowledge of her doing drugs because he never saw her doing them.

During cross-examination, Cantrell asked Jones if he felt like his sister was losing contact with reality.

Jones said yes  that his sister would often have hallucinations and feel like she could read other people's minds.

On Wednesday, Nicole Morales and Wesli Stubbs, forensic scientists with the Bexar County Crime Lab, testified about DNA found at the crime scene. Their testimony established that blood found at the scene belonged to Novella and Laws' DNA was found on the Pine-Sol container.

William McClain, an assistant medical examiner for Forensic Medical Management Services, performed the autopsy on Novella. He said Novella had numerous sharp and blunt force injuries, many which had the potential to be fatal.

Novella had sharp force injuries to the front of her scalp, around her eyes, cheeks, chin and neck
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 29. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, has signed a decree on the implementation of the project to build an eco-friendly city, Kemin-City, in the Kemin district of the Chuy region, Trend reports via the president's press service.

The eco-friendly city will cover an area of 353.3 ha. The Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with developing and approving the concept for the construction of Kemin-City by June 1, 2025.

The decree states that the Kemin district state administration is designated as the exclusive customer for the city's construction. It also directs ministries, administrative bodies, and local authorities to furnish the necessary information to the Kemin district state administration as per Kyrgyz law and to extend the required support throughout the city's construction process.

The State Agency for Architecture, Construction, and Housing and Communal Services under the Cabinet of Ministers is assigned to conduct preliminary studies, including engineering-geological and topographical surveys. Additionally, it is tasked with developing the master plan for Kemin-City and submitting it for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers. The agency will also work with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Processing to ensure the provision of drinking water and wastewater systems for the new city.

The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance, together with the National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan, are responsible for securing funds and constructing external power supply networks for the city.

Kemin is located in the northeastern part of the Chuy Region in northern Kyrgyzstan. The district spans an impressive 3,533 square kilometres, establishing itself as the largest within the Chuy Region, with a resident population recorded at 48,360 in 2021. The administrative hub is located in Kemin. The district is situated within the Chong-Kemin Valley, the Kichi-Kemin Valley, and the eastern section of the Chuy Valley. It shares its northern boundary with Kazakhstan, its western edge with Chuy District, and its southern and eastern limits with the Issyk-Kul Region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Union City man who knocked out a Jersey City car burglar with one punch has been exonerated in the mans death.

Hudson County Superior Court Judge David Labib dismissed the most serious charge, reckless manslaughter, against 43-year-old Robert Stevens, after the state rested its case last week.

Then Tuesday the jury acquitted him of aggravated assault in the death of 51-year-old Anthony Passero on Aug. 6, 2022, four days after the altercation on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City, near Snyder High School.

Stevens, who was represented by attorney Darryl Smith of Jersey City, was found guilty of leaving the scene of an endangered person. It is expected that he will be sentenced to probation.

After hearing both sides, the jury came to the conclusion that (Stevens) had a right to defend himself, Smith said. ... Unfortunately (Passero) died, but (Stevens) was over-charged.

Stevens, who was 40 at the time of the incident, testified at the trial, telling the court he was only defending himself from a man who had broken into his vehicle, Smith said.

I tried to paint the picture for (the jury), the attorney said. It was a high-crime area. The guy goes into his car. He didnt (know if) the guy had (a weapon), so he felt threatened. (Passero) was already committing one crime. Who knew what would happen?

According to a criminal complaint, Stevens saw Passero inside Stevens Jeep at 10:20 a.m. Aug. 2, 2022, and ran toward him. Stevens then punched Passero in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground. Passero died four days later.

Stevens, a driver for a local industrial plant, spent approximately 10 days in jail before a Hudson County Superior Court judge rejected the Hudson County Prosecutors Offices motion to detain him through prosecution.

The state argued at trial that when Stevens saw his Jeep bring broken into, he should have called police and not approach the burglar, Smith said. The state noted that Passero was not armed and didnt see Stevens coming before he was struck.

The prosecutors office declined to comment on the verdict.

There has been a cloud over him for more than two years, Smith said. He was relieved, of course. He always regretted that it happened, but he always felt that he was in the right. He was defending himself.
New Jersey is taking its first step to simplify the states property tax relief programs, part of a long-awaited plan to cut property tax bills for senior citizens by up to 50%.

Rather than have separate applications for ANCHOR, the Senior Freeze and the coming Stay NJ benefit, residents who are 65 and older will now have a single application with a single deadline to complete the form.

The new application, called PAS-1, went live on the states website on Wednesday at https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/propertyreliefforms.shtml along with instructions on how to complete it.

Online filing will be available in the next couple weeks, but for now taxpayers can download the paper application, state Treasury Department spokeswoman Danielle Currie told NJ Advance Media. Paper applications will also be mailed to households in the coming weeks.

The applications will be sent to more than a million households by early March, the Treasury Department said.

Only seniors aged 65 or older and disabled homeowners or mobile homeowners are eligible to use the PAS-1 combined application to apply for the States property tax relief programs, the agency said. Non-senior homeowners, and renters, will use a separate form with more information coming this summer, it said.

For senior citizens, PAS-1 will replace the Senior Freeze and ANCHOR applications, the Treasury Department said, and it will eventually include the Stay NJ benefit, which isnt scheduled to kick in until 2026.

The benefits will still need to be funded in the state budget this summer, the agency said.

It also noted the application doesnt mean youll get your money sooner than in past years.

It is important to note that while the new combined application will be available in February 2025 and taxpayers are encouraged to apply now, the benefits will begin to be distributed in July 2025 on a rolling basis, as is routine, it said. The deadline to complete the combined application is October 31, 2025.

The combined application was one of the major recommendations of the Stay NJ Task Force, which was charged with figuring out how to make the Stay NJ program  designed to cut property taxes by up to 50%, capped at $6,500, for residents 65 and older in New Jersey who earn less than $500,000 a year  a reality.

While the single application is a big change for seniors, not much is changing for other homeowners and renters at this time.

The state said homeowners and renters can expect to receive an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter this summer, letting them know the state is automatically filing applications on their behalf. Those who dont receive the confirmation letter may receive an ANCHOR Application Mailer inviting them to apply for the benefit. Those who receive neither will still have an opportunity to apply online for ANCHOR.

The next ANCHOR benefit has to be funded in the state budget this summer. The last benefit, paid out for the 2021 tax year, sent eligible homeowners up to $1,500 and qualifying renters $450, plus an extra $250 for both senior renters and homeowners.

The agency also said those who use the new PAS-1 application will receive letters in late 2025 to explain how the benefits from each program have been calculated, something that will probably be welcomed as residents try to figure out exactly how much they will get under the programs.

Under the original Stay NJ law, the maximum benefit amount when you add together ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ would be 50% of a homeowners property tax bill, capped at $6,500. For the calculation, the agency would add together your ANCHOR and Senior Freeze, and if that total was under the Stay NJ maximum, youd get an additional payment.

But the calculation was later tweaked so those who have been receiving large Senior Freeze benefits would not lose anything under the new program. If a residents tax savings exceeds 50% of their property tax bill or $6,500 from ANCHOR and Senior Freeze combined, they wont see a benefit cut, but they also wont receive an extra Stay NJ benefit.

Another change for Senior Freeze this year are the income cut-offs. To be eligible, your total annual income must have been $168,268 or less in 2024 and $163,050 or less in 2023. You will no longer have to include proof of property taxes paid with the new application.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on X at @KPMueller.
Hey there New Jersey! Heres your audio update highlighting President Donald Trumps explanation for the mystery drones over New Jersey, a restaurant catching heat over its Proud Boys burger and schools cracking down on cell phones.

Plus, well tell you about a beloved Jersey Shore aquariums plans to reopen.

Listen by clicking the play button above.

This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result.

We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
A 35-year-old woman bound for Newark was arrested in Chicago on Saturday night after authorities said they found 31 pounds of cocaine hidden in her wheelchairs seat cushions.

Elaine Perez-Pena was taken into custody at Chicago OHare International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found 14 vacuum sealed packages concealed within two seat cushions, federal officials said.

The packages had a white, powdery substance and tested positive for cocaine, according to Steven Bansbach, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Bansbach said Perez-Pena was facing federal charges. The charges werent listed online Wednesday morning.

Perez-Pena had just landed in Chicago on a flight from Brazil, officials said.

She was scheduled to board a connecting flight to Newark, according to a report on NBCChicago.com. The cocaine had a street value of about $238,000, the report said.

Perez-Pena was charged in New York in 2021 with importation of cocaine and possession of cocaine. She was later convicted and sentenced to time served  about nine months  according to court records.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Following a high-profile ICE raid in Newark last week, Patersons mayor and others are warning residents of that largely immigrant city to know their rights following unconfirmed reports that two raids occurred there on Sunday.

There are people in Paterson who are panicking, Mayor Andre Sayegh told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. A very prominent priest called me yesterday to tell me there were parishioners crying.

Sayegh held a press conference at City Hall on Monday, joined by immigrant rights advocates who criticized what they called fear tactics used by ICE, the chilling acronym of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency within the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Representatives of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice who joined Sayegh and City Council members urged immigrants to know their rights and not be intimidated by aggressive, heavily armed ICE agents who appear at their homes or workplaces demanding immigration documents.

If ICE says Show us your papers, we say, Show us your warrant, Amy Torres, the alliances executive director, said during the event, which was livestreamed and posted on Facebook.

If agents say they have a warrant, Torres urged immigrants to make them slide it under the door and then check it carefully to ensure it is directed to a person at that address and signed by a judge. Torres said immigrants should say nothing to ICE agents and should not sign any documents.

Another advocacy group, Make the Road New Jersey, has urged immigrants to download and print a wallet-sized Know Your Rights card they should carry at all times.

Sayegh and the immigration alliance group said they were responding to reports of two ICE raids in Paterson on Sunday, one involving a barbershop on Wayne Street, and the other a building on Madison Avenue that houses a pharmacy on its ground floor.

At the press conference, the mayor referred to the reports as rumors after city officials could not confirm with ICE that the raids had occurred. Sayegh and other Paterson officials said Tuesday that the city still had not received a response from ICE to confirm or deny the raids.

A spokesperson for ICE did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Nabil Nathla, a pharmacist at Farmacias Del Pueblo at Madison and 21st avenues, said a security camera captured what he said were ICE agents arriving outside the building on Sunday.

The raid didnt target the store, he said, because the store is closed on Sunday.

Instead, Nathla said the surveillance footage showed several agents getting out of a vehicle and heading toward a door on the side of the building that leads to apartments above the pharmacy. The door itself is not in view of the camera, though Nathla said the agents reappeared in the frame a short time later, walking from the direction of the door and escorting at least one individual they placed in the vehicle before driving away.

I didnt see them go in or out, but they came out with some people, Nathla said.

Paterson is at least the third New Jersey city where ICE raids have been reported since President Donald Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20, after regaining the White House on a platform that included a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

On Thursday, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka brought attention to the raid of a local business, Ocean Seafood Depot, with a statement denouncing ICE for failing to produce a warrant.

ICE confirmed that the raid occurred and that three individuals were targeted, including two who were given notices to appear, or NTAs, in immigration court, while a third was placed in removal proceedings. Members of his family said this week that he was being held at an ICE detention facility in Elizabeth in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

ICE has not said whether agents had a warrant for the Newark raid.

In Asbury Park, a man was arrested and taken into custody by ICE agents on Friday when he arrived home after dropping his child off at school, according to Asbury Park Board of Education President Tracy Rogers. ICE has not confirmed the incident.

The Washington Post on Sunday quoted four unnamed sources saying that the Trump Administration had imposed a quota of 75 arrests per day on each of ICEs 25 regional offices around the country, well above previous levels.

The agencys New Jersey regional office is in downtown Newark, in the Peter Rodino Federal Building on Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, formerly Broad Street.

ICE wants to hold more immigration detainees in New Jersey, with plans for a new detention center in Newark, near the citys international airport, and to expand capacity at the existing Elizabeth facility, efforts opposed by many of the states Democratic elected officials.

Nobody knows Jersey better than NJ.com Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
Robert Menendez, the once-powerful U.S. senator from New Jersey convicted in a sweeping federal corruption case that involved bars of gold, cash stuffed in jacket pockets and unbridled influence peddling, was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison over the scandal that led to his resignation.

Menendez, 71, a Democrat who began his career within the hardball politics of Hudson County and ultimately ascended to the Senate in Washington, was found guilty in July following a nine-week trial in Manhattan of taking nearly a million dollars in bribes and gifts from three businessmen seeking political favors. One of the businessman provided the senators wife with a $60,000 luxury Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible.

Even more shocking, though, was his conviction of conspiring to work as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.

Before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein imposed sentence, Menendez stood tearfully in the court.

You really dont know the man you are about to sentence, he said. I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions.

But Menendez added, Ive done far more good than bad.

But the judge was sharply critical.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, Stein said. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence and significant financial penalties.

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. 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, they wrote to the court in their sentencing memo. 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.

The gravity of each of those promised abuses of power, they added, was only underscored by the naked greed that motivated them.

Lawyers for Menendez argued that he should face less than two years in prison.

His political and professional careers have ended; his reputation is destroyed; and the latter years of his life are in shambles, they wrote in their own sentencing memorandum. He is certain never to commit future offenses. And his current state  stripped of office and living under a permanent shadow of disgrace and mockery  are more than sufficient to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and to promote respect for the law.

In court, defense attorney Adam Fee asked Stein to give Menendez credit for a lifetime of extraordinary public service and personal sacrifices.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob, said Fee.

Menendezs attorneys asked the judge to allow him to remain free on bail, pending his appeal.

Outside the courthouse after the sentencing, Menendez, who told the judge in court that he was chastened, was defiant when he stepped before cameras at a bank of microphones outside the Manhattan courthouse, saying: I am innocent.

He then railed against the judicial system and aligned himself with President Donald Trumps recent criticisms of the judicial system, particularly in New York City.

President Trump is right. This process is political, and its corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system, he said, reading from a sheet of paper and calling himself the victim of the Wild West of political prosecutions.

Also given stiff sentences earlier in court on Wednesday were two of the businessmen who funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Menendez.

Fred Daibes, a wealthy developer known for glitzy towers along the Hudson River in Edgewater with ties to Menendez, received seven years in prison and a $1.75 million fine. Wael Will Hana, who prosecutors said had paid off the senator to help secure a valuable deal with the Egyptian government over the certification of imported meat, received eight years in prison and was fined $1.25 million.

The third man connected to the case, Jose Uribe, a disgraced insurance executive who was charged in the case, pleaded guilty before the trial and served as the governments star witness, admitting to bribing the couple. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

Nadine Menendez, who married the senator in 2020, still faces charges for her alleged role in the scheme. During testimony, the former senators attorneys cast blame for the flow of cash into their home on her, claiming she kept her husband in the dark about her financial troubles as well as gifts and other payments she took from their wealthy friends. She is due be tried separately in a proceeding that has been put on hold as she continues to undergo cancer treatment.

Menendez and wife his wife, Nadine, pictured with Wael Hana, in a photo that was entered into evidence during trial.SDNY

Attorneys for Menendez have already moved to appeal the verdict. That effort could face a U.S. Supreme Court which has already thrown out a string of high-profile bribery and corruption cases in recent years, greatly limiting the kinds of official acts performed by lawmakers that can constitute bribery or corruption.

Indeed, in seeking a dismissal of the case before Menendez went to trial, his attorneys cited the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the conviction of former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell in a case that upended the definition of political corruption.

McDonnell had been convicted of charges he accepted $175,000 in cash and gifts from a Richmond businessman while arranging meetings for him with state officials. But the high court ruled that the former governors activities on behalf of his patron were not considered official acts, and said despite the nature of the charges, prosecutors needed to show a direct quid pro quo  that the official did something in his official capacity in return for the gifts.

Wielding influence

The case against Menendez, who gave up his seat in August, came to light more than a year ago after prosecutors charged that the senator conspired to use his influence in an effort to kill state and federal criminal investigations targeting his wealthy friends, and had provided sensitive information to Egyptian intelligence officials while serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

During the trial, an FBI agent testified on his surveillance during a steakhouse dinner Menendez had with Egyptian officials. The agent told jurors that toward the end of the dinner, Nadine Menendez turned to one of the men and asked, What else can the love of my life do for you?

The indictment by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Manhattan alleged that Menendez promised to use his influence to disrupt a 2011 investigation by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office into Uribe.

And it alleged that Menendez improperly pressured an individual at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the purpose of protecting a business monopoly granted to Hana, whose company had been authorized by the Egyptian government to verify that halal meat exported for sale to the countrys 90 million Muslims had been prepared according to Islamic law. That monopoly, charged prosecutors, was used in part to fund the bribes being paid to Menendez through his wife, who was a longtime friend of Hana, they said.

Menendez was also charged with promising to use his influence and power to recommend that then-President Joe Biden nominate an individual as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who Menendez believed could be influenced with respect to an unrelated federal bank fraud case involvingDaibes. Prosecutors also charged that the developer delivered gold bars and cash to Menendez and his wife to get the senators help with a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.

In addition, prosecutors said Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt.

Fred Daibes (l.) and Wael Hana arrive for sentencing on Wednesday at Manhattan federal court after both were convicted of paying bribes to Menendez.Julia Demaree Nikhinson | AP Photo

The charges drew outrage over the scope of the money and gifts seized by the government, including the Mercedes Benz and tens of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars and nearly half a million dollars more in stacks of cash found in the Menendez home  salacious details that defense attorneys charged were intended to present a skewed picture.

Menendez, who did not testify during the trial, insisted that the cash found in his Englewood Cliffs home were the result of intergenerational trauma from his familys experience in Cuba that led to his hoarding of money after his parents escaped to the United States. His attorneys said his wife also kept him in the dark over payments they suggested had more to do with her own financial difficulties.

Ultimately Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts he faced, including bribery, wire fraud and obstruction of justice, as well as the novel charge of conspiring to act as a foreign agent  the first time a sitting senator has faced such a charge.

The conviction came some six years after he was tried in an unrelated corruption case where he was charged with trading the power of his office in exchange for six-figure campaign contributions, luxury hotel stays at a Caribbean villa in the Dominican Republic and in Paris, golf outings, expensive meals, and private charter jet flights, all from Salomon Melgen, a major campaign supporter.

The government had claimed that Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist and long-time friend of Menendez, had sought the senators intervention on his behalf in an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute. The case, brought out of Washington by the Justice Departments Public Integrity section, charged that the senator had also actively advocated in support of visa applications for Melgens foreign girlfriends and had pressured federal executive agencies in connection with a disputed port security contract in the Dominican Republic that would benefit one of Melgens companies.

After a deadlocked jury in November 2017 could not reach a verdict, U.S. District Judge William Walls subsequently acquitted Menendez and Melgen of seven of the 18 counts against them, finding that the government failed to produce evidence of facts either direct or circumstantial to prove a quid pro quo. Prosecutors then dropped the case.

Melgen was separately charged and convicted for healthcare fraud. He had been serving 17 years in federal prison before Trump, in his first term, commuted his sentence on his last day in office in 2021.

__

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TedShermanSL.
President Donald Trumps administration again pulled the security protections and clearance of another former staffer he spared with during his first administration.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked the privileges of retired Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley. He also ordered the Pentagons inspector general to review Milleys actions while serving as the nations top uniformed officer to determine if a demotion is warranted.

Milley served as chairman during Trumps first term in office. While the relationship initially went well, it soured deeply and fast, as Milley tried to advise and contain the president on a host of issues.

He pushed back on the presidents interest in using force domestically to quell protestors after the death of George Floyd, and was at the center of a controversy in 2021 when he made independent calls to his Chinese counterpart. Trump called the calls an act of treason, but at the time Milley said the calls were routine and part of the scope of his job.

Milley in his final days as chairman after Trump had left office was equally outspoken about his former boss. He said at his official retirement ceremony " we dont take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator.

It comes after Milleys chairman portrait was stripped from the wall just hours after Trump was sworn in.

Trump already stripped security details from his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and a former top aide, Brian Hook. Both men face ongoing threats from Iran after Trump ordered the killing of Iranian general Qassim Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, during his first term.

John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, also had his protection removed by the new president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bernie Wiliams is a former New York Yankees center fielder whose rise to legend status almost got cut short.

A five-time All-Star and four-time World Series winner with the Yankees, Williams was a core piece of their late-1990s/early-2000s dynasty. But he almost left the organization as a free agent after the 1998 title-winning season because late owner George Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman didnt want Williams as much as he wanted them.

BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

Williams explained the saga, which goes back about 17 years, in precise detail on the Diggin' Deep podcast with ex-MLB player Eric Hosmer. It was a learning moment for Williams  and one that required him to stand up for himself and make a bold move to keep him with the Yankees.

I mean I grew to understand that these guys have my best interest. You know theyre going to do whatever it takes to keep me on the team and theyre going to do right by me, but that was just a fallacy, Williams said. ... At the time, it was very difficult because I think you were kind of expected to take what they call the hometown discount and try to sign for less money or whatever.

It was just a purely transactional situation, and just became very acrimonious because I thought that I was owed something, and the team said we paid you, man.

By 1998, Williams had spent about 13 seasons in the organization and at least parts of eight seasons in the majors. He was coming off the best season of his career  a 160 OPS+ with a league-leading .339 average along with a .422 on-base percentage and .575 slugging percentage. He hit 26 home runs and 97 RBI. Other teams, like the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks, wanted him, and the Yankees were aiming to replace him with Albert Belle, who ended up going to the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $65 million deal.

Boston made its push with a seven-year, $91.5 million offer as the Yankees dangled five years and $60 million. The Yankees ultimately upped their offer to the seven-year, $87.5 million contract Williams accepted  but not after he made his case to Steinbrenner.

Williams remembered his agent Scott Boras telling him that he had to make the personal pitch. You can call George yourself and talk to him. Call him at his house and just plead your case, Williams recalled. And thats exactly what I did.

I remember an afternoon, I was in Puerto Rico living, and I talked to him. His wife answered the phone, Hey, Bernie, how you doing? Its like, Mrs. Steinbrenner, this is Bernie Williams. Sorry about imposing, but I need to talk to your husband about, you know, some business thing. ...

So George comes into the phone and says, What do you want?

This Bernie Williams, I know, never ask anything for you or from you, but you know for a fact that I want to be a Yankee, and you know for a fact that you want me to be a Yankee, so lets cut all this middleman stuff, and lets just talk mano a mano. Lets make this happen.

He said, Okay, so what do you want? I said, I want Piazzas money. At the time, Mike Piazza signed with the Mets with a similar contract that was kind of close to the numbers that I was kind of looking at.

Okay, lets see. Let me talk to these people here. Give me about an hour, an hour and a half, and Ill call you back. And then, he kind of crunched some numbers. He came back with an offer. ...

(Scott) said, This is the best offer youre going to get. if you want to remain a Yankee, you go ahead and take that.

And with that, Williams helped lead the Yankees to two more World Series in a row to complete a three-peat, while becoming one of the most beloved Yankees of all-time. He finished his career with 2,336 career hits, fifth on their all-time list, 287 home runs (eighth), 1,257 RBI (seventh) and a .297/.381/.477 batting line.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 29. A plant of the largest transformer manufacturing group in Central Asia, Alageum Electric Group, confirmed its readiness to cooperate and build a plant in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

Energy Minister of Kyrgyzstan Taalaibek Ibraev recently completed a working visit to Kazakhstan. During his visit, he met with Saidulla Kozhabaev, the founder of Alageum Electric.

The main goal of the bilateral meeting was to discuss expanding cooperation between Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy and Alageum Electric. The talks focused on the potential establishment of a plant branch in Kyrgyzstan to produce transformers at more affordable prices for local use.

Kozhabaev confirmed Alageum Electrics willingness to collaborate and build the plant in Kyrgyzstan. If the planned initiatives proceed smoothly, construction work could begin within this year.

As a result of the discussions, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Alageum Electric, marking the beginning of a deeper collaboration between the two parties.

Additionally, during his visit, Minister Ibraev met with the leadership of the Kentau transformer plant and Asia Trafo.

He toured the production facilities, observed the manufacturing process of transformers, and was briefed on the quality and specifications of the products. Further negotiations were held on expanding cooperation in the energy sector.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Citizens of Iran and Tajikistan with regular passports will soon enjoy the freedom to travel between the two countries by air without needing a visa, Trend reports via the Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan.

The corresponding decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers of Iran.

The new visa-free arrangement is slated to kick off on February 3, 2025, enabling citizens to spend up to 30 days in the host country during a 90-day window.

Notably, a similar policy was introduced on August 10, 2024, for travelers on the Dushanbe-Tehran and Tehran-Dushanbe air routes, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two governments to remove visa requirements for holders of regular passports.

To note, Iran was the first nation to open an embassy in Dushanbe. It was also one of the first countries to give diplomatic recognition to Tajikistan after it gained independence in 1991. Iran gave diplomatic help and built new mosques in Tajikistan. Because of the rebirth of Persian culture and language in Tajikistan, Iran has promoted cultural interchange through conferences, media, and film festivals.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Stroke survivors in Devon will continue to receive vital support after the Stroke Association agreed to temporarily fund the Life After Stroke service.

The charity has stepped in after NHS Devon and Plymouth City Council withdrew their funding, leaving the future of the service in jeopardy.

A petition to save it, launched by stroke survivor Graham Devaney from Burrington, gathered over 2,700 signatures but failed to reverse the decision.

Now, the Stroke Association has pledged to cover the costs for the next 15 months, providing a temporary lifeline while a long-term funding solution is explored.

This decision follows a commitment from NHS Devon to work with the charity to secure sustainable funding from April 2026.

The Stroke Association cited the exceptional financial circumstances faced by NHS Devon, which is currently under Level 4 NHS England special measures; the highest level of oversight.

Jacqui Cuthbert, the Stroke Associations associate director for the South West and the Channel Islands, said: We recognise the extreme financial circumstances that NHS Devon currently finds itself in.

We have a joint commitment from NHS Devon to work together closely to find a long-term solution to support those affected by stroke after the Stroke Association funding ends in 2026.

Devon has one of the highest stroke prevalence rates in the UK, with over 32,000 stroke survivors living in the county.

Graham Devaney, who led the campaign to save the service, welcomed the interim funding but stressed the need for a permanent solution.

Im incredibly grateful to everyone who signed the petition, which shows how immensely valued it is by stroke survivors and carers in Devon.

Its great news that the Stroke Association has been able to fund it on an interim basis but with Devons aging population and growing number of stroke survivors its essential to find a long-term solution.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 29. Tajikistan is set to launch direct flights to London, announced Head of the country's Civil Aviation Agency Habibullo Nazarzoda, during a press conference, Trend reports.

According to him, Tajikistan's Somon Air plans to sign an additional protocol at the end of February 2025 to launch flights between Dushanbe and London, with services expected to begin in 2026.

"The airline plans to open a transit route from Dushanbe to London via Tbilisi. Initially, flights will operate once a week," he said.

Furthermore, Tajikistan plans to roll out new routes to South Korea and Amsterdam within the same year. Come 2025, Somon Air will be taking to the skies with flights to Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, the regular flights on the Dushanbe-Moscow route are gearing up to make a comeback.

It was also reported that an agreement will soon be signed with a leasing company from Dubai for the acquisition of two new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. These planes are expected to be delivered to the airline between May and August 2025.

Somon Air is Tajikistan's national airline, successfully operating in the international market since 2008, and is the sole airline in the country to be a member of the IATA (International Air Transport Association). The primary function of the airline is international air transportation. The primary airport is Dushanbe International Airport, with Khujand International Airport also in operation. The airline's fleet comprises Boeing 737-800 and -900 aircraft. All have been named in tribute to national heroes and historical personalities of Tajikistan. The airline has effectively conducted regular flights from Tajikistan to 25 countries, notably including Germany, the UAE, Turkey, China, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 29. Uzbekistans Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov and Head of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Uzbekistan Andi Aranitasi discussed transport infrastructure projects, Trend reports.

In the meeting, the parties took stock of the ongoing investment projects with the EBRD focused on enhancing the countrys transport infrastructure and looked into opportunities for future collaboration.



In particular, conversations revolved around the initial and subsequent stages of acquiring electric buses in Samarkand to boost the proportion of eco-friendly public transport, along with the purchase of electric buses for Namangan and Nukus.

Additionally, the reconstruction of the 4R156 highway (0-84 kilometres) connecting Urgench, Khanka, Khazarasp, Tashsoka, Amudarya, and the A380 highway was addressed. The parties also discussed cooperation in the digitalization of Uzbekistan Railways.

Following the meeting, both parties reached a consensus to expedite collaborative initiatives for the execution of these projects.

To note, the current loan portfolio of the EBRD projects in Uzbekistan has totaled 3 billion euros as of November 30, 2024.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is facilitating green and inclusive lending in Uzbekistan by providing a funding package of up to US$ 20 million ( 18.46 million) to Ipoteka Bank, the country's principal private lender, which is managed by the OTP Group of Hungary. Uzbekistan has been the foremost receiver of EBRD money in Central Asia for four consecutive years. Thus far, the Bank has allocated around 4.28 billion to 147 projects nationwide, predominantly financing private entrepreneurship.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 29. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan and Standard Chartered Bank discussed strengthening financial stability and supporting SMEs, Trend reports.

The matter was revealed at a high-level meeting between the management of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and representatives from Standard Chartered Bank to discuss key areas of their ongoing collaboration. The parties discussed international reserves management, a critical component of maintaining financial stability.

During the meeting, both sides shared insights on current global market trends, particularly the challenges and opportunities arising from the international financial landscape. The discussion included exploring avenues for securing international financing, aimed at reinforcing Uzbekistans economic resilience and fostering rapid growth.

The participants also addressed initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), an essential driver of economic dynamism. The development of the capital market and expanding access to direct financing for local businesses were also prioritized. These efforts are expected to promote financial inclusion, enabling more entrepreneurs to access the resources they need to thrive.

As the meeting concluded, both the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and Standard Chartered Bank reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening their partnership. Their shared vision is to enhance Uzbekistans investment potential and further accelerate the countrys economic development, positioning it as a key player in the regional and global financial landscape.

Standard Chartered PLC operates as a British multinational financial institution, engaging in various sectors including wealth management, corporate and investment banking, and treasury services. Although its headquarters are located in the United Kingdom, the entity does not engage in retail banking within the UK, with approximately 90 percent of its profits generated from regions such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The entity boasts a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and holds a position as a constituent within the FTSE 100 Index.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Trump administration on Tuesday issued a waiver for lifesaving medicines and medical services, offering a reprieve for a worldwide H.I.V. treatment program that was halted last week.

The waiver, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seemed to allow for the distribution of H.I.V. medications, but whether the waiver extended to preventive drugs or other services offered by the program, the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was not immediately clear.

Still, PEPFARs future remains in jeopardy, with potential consequences for more than 20 million people  including 500,000 children  who could lose access to lifesaving medications. Without treatment, millions of people with H.I.V. in low-income countries would be at risk of full-blown AIDS and of premature death.

We can very rapidly return to where the pandemic is exploding, like it was back in the 1980s, said Dr. Steve Deeks, an H.I.V. expert at the University of California, San Francisco.
The price of murder can vary.

In the case of an upstate New York man charged this week with hiring a convicted killer to dispense with a rival, it was a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon, $250 to rent a van from a nun, $200 for gas and $1,000 to feed the victims body to the hogs on a Pennsylvania farm.

Those were the bizarre details of the murder plot that the man, Jeal Sutherland, of Colonie, N.Y., is charged with hatching with a hired killer, who turned out to be an F.B.I. informer, an agent wrote in an affidavit filed in federal court in Albany on Monday.

The planned murder, of a man who shares a child with Mr. Sutherlands romantic partner, did not happen, according to the federal authorities. But Mr. Sutherland and the informer discussed the plot in several recorded conversations, the affidavit says.

Mr. Sutherland, 57, was in the Albany County Jail Tuesday night after pleading not guilty to a federal murder-for-hire charge before Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. He ordered that Mr. Sutherland be held until a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday.
When I was a little girl, there was enough rain, a 60-year-old village elder, Ratsolo, told me. Now the rain has gone.

I asked people in this and other villages if they knew the name of the American president. None did, and some had never even heard of the United States. Yet village children appear to be starving in part because of American carbon emissions  the United States accounts for one-fifth of cumulative carbon emitted worldwide.

In other parts of Africa conditions are even worse. The Peace Research Institute Oslo reported last June that the number of conflicts in Africa had nearly doubled over a decade, to 28.

A few months ago I was on the Sudan-Chad border, covering the civil war and famine that are devastating the Sudanese people. Likewise, the impoverished Sahel of West Africa  countries like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso  is torn apart by terrorism and conflict, such that it could become a vast region of chaos. I first backpacked through the Sahel as a law student in 1982, and in many respects it is worse off today than it was then.

Congo is near to my heart, partly because of my reporting there over the decades. In 1960 its G.D.P. per capita was more than two times South Koreas. But Congos G.D.P. per capita tumbled, and today South Korea is an industrialized democracy not comparable with Congo.
But many Democrats argued that the legislation was far too broad, and could apply not only to a wide range of personnel at the court, but also to American companies working with it.

As much as I oppose the I.C.C.s deep bias against Israel and as much as I want to see that institution drastically reformed and reshaped, the bill before us is poorly drafted and deeply problematic, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, said on the floor moments before the vote, urging his colleagues to unite in opposition. It will have many unintended consequences that undermine its primary goal.

In a statement immediately following the vote, Mr. Schumer said that Democrats were still open to backing a version of the measure, but that Republicans had chosen a partisan, non-consultative path and refused to consider changes to improve the bill. He added that a bipartisan deal on the measure was still very possible should they reconsider.

Members of both parties have argued that Karim Khan, the I.C.C.s top prosecutor, overstepped the courts jurisdiction when he brought the charges against Israel and inappropriately likened the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close U.S. ally, with those of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist group, accusing both of crimes against humanity.

The measure would compel the president to freeze assets and deny visas to any foreign national who contributed to the courts efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a protected person, including all current and former military and government officials of the United States and allies that have not consented to the courts jurisdiction, such as Israel.
The Pentagon is allowing the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use a military base in Colorado to detain undocumented migrants arrested by federal deportation officers, the United States Northern Command said on Tuesday.

Law enforcement officers began using facilities at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colo., on Monday, plunging the military deeper into President Trumps order to secure the southwestern border.

No military personnel are to be involved in processing and detaining criminal aliens within the U.S., the Northern Command said in a statement. But deportation officers will benefit from the sprawling bases infrastructure and overall security.

The immigration service requested and received a temporary operations center, staging area, and a temporary holding location for the receiving, holding, and processing of illegal aliens, according to the Northern Command.
A Jan. 6 rioter who was pardoned by President Trump and released from prison last week is being sought on preexisting charges in Texas of soliciting a minor online.

The district attorney in Harris County, Texas, said on Tuesday that his office was searching for Andrew Taake, who at the time of the Capitol riot was awaiting trial on charges brought in 2016 of using a messaging app to pursue a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old.

A few months after the attack at the Capitol, he told a woman on the dating app Bumble that he had been involved in the riot, and she turned him in to the F.B.I.

Mr. Taake, 36, later pleaded guilty to attacking police officers outside the Capitol with bear spray and a metal whip and was sentenced in June to more than six years in prison. He was freed from federal prison in Colorado last week, not long after Mr. Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the storming of the Capitol.
The new boss of the immigration office at the Justice Department sent a stern message to the staff this week: Credible reports suggested that some employees had engaged in abhorrent misconduct that was contrary to law.

The tongue-lashing from Sirce E. Owen, the acting director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, was issued on Monday. To many of the recipients, it signaled that the dismissals and reassignments that began hours after President Trump took office last week were all but certain to continue.

At the Justice Departments headquarters in downtown Washington, lawyers who specialize in issues ranging from national security to the environment to criminal work described the alarm and uncertainty that have rippled across the agency. For some, the dizzying pace of change has raised concerns about the departments tradition of independence and its commitment to the rule of law given how rapidly Mr. Trump has moved to fire those he views as disloyal.

Career prosecutors responsible for investigating the president were abruptly fired. Top officials have been reassigned, including the senior-most career official who often acted as a critical  and neutral  arbiter of ethical matters. Others still have been relegated to areas outside their expertise.
The Trump administrations order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices on Tuesday, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact.

Officials got a temporary reprieve late in the day when a federal judge in the District of Columbia blocked the order just as it was set to go into effect. But a variety of programs had already reported seeing funds cut off by then, leaving both Republican- and Democratic-led states uncertain about the future of their housing services, health care programs and everything in between.

This is creating chaos, Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona, a Democrat, said in a statement before the courts intervention.

For much of Tuesday, the lack of detail in the brief memo issued by the White House budget office a day earlier had left local budget offices and elected officials unable to even describe what immediate effect it would have. In Oklahoma, a spokesman for the mayor of Oklahoma City declined to comment, citing the need for greater clarity on what the order actually entailed.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 29. Uzbekistan will establish a venture fund to finance startup projects in key pharmaceutical areas, including biopharmaceuticals, cell technologies, and oncology, Trend reports.

This is reflected in a presidential decree on additional measures for the accelerated development of the pharmaceutical industry.

Additionally, an Investment Fund for promising pharmaceutical projects will be set up to further encourage advancements in the industry.

By July 1, 2025, five model medicinal plant plantations will be created, with processing projects for the medicinal plants grown on these plantations expected to launch by the end of 2026.

Pharm Service, a new state institution, will also be founded to provide marketing and consulting services aimed at implementing advanced standards within pharmaceutical enterprises. These measures are designed to enhance the development and competitiveness of the pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistans Uzcharmsanoat (association of leather and footwear enterprises) together with Indian BMI and GVANTGE will implement a project to manufacture products essential for the food and pharmaceutical industries by processing cattle bones.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told Gen. Mark A. Milley, the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he is removing his security detail, revoking his security clearance, and ordering an inspector general inquiry into his record, the Pentagon said late Tuesday.

Mr. Hegseths spokesman, John Ullyot, said in a statement that the secretary directed the investigation to determine whether it is appropriate to review the rank upon retirement for General Milley, who stood up to President Trump in his first term. Essentially, Mr. Hegseth is asking whether General Milley should be demoted.

We have received the request and we are reviewing it, Mollie Halpern, a spokeswoman for the acting Defense Department inspector general, said of the referral to examine General Milleys actions as chairman.

The general retired in 2023, and at a ceremony marking the occasion he reminded troops that they took an oath to the Constitution and not to a a king, or a queen, or to a tyrant or dictator, and we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator. Senior Pentagon officials late Tuesday sought to cast Mr. Milley as an insubordinate political operator while in the chairmans job.
A Massachusetts man carrying knives and Molotov cocktails was arrested on Monday near the U.S. Capitol after he told a police officer that he planned to kill top Republican officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, according to federal court records.

The man, Ryan Michael (Reily) English, 24, told a Capitol Police officer near an entrance on the south side of the building that he wanted to kill Scott Bessent, President Trumps newly appointed Treasury secretary, according to an affidavit filed by a special agent with the Capitol Police. Mr. English, who was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and with carrying a dangerous explosiveon the grounds of the Capitol, had knives, a lighter and vodka bottles with rags in his pockets, according to the affidavit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

Englishs thoughts were to use the small bottles of vodka to start fires and later to wrap them in rags soaked in alcohol, light them and throw them at Bessents feet, the affidavit said, adding that Mr. English had also considered stabbing Mr. Bessent if he got close enough.

If convicted, Mr. English would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the unlawful possession charge and up to five years for the possession count.
A sprawling winter storm that is pushing slowly across the United States will bring a risk of severe weather and excessive rainfall to a large part of the south-central United States from Wednesday into Friday.

Isolated thunderstorms, flooding rains and damaging winds are all possible in an area between East Texas and western Kentucky.

The system was on track to deliver snow across part of the Southwest overnight Tuesday and move across the Southern Rockies by Wednesday morning, doing all of this very slowly, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

As the storm moves into the Southern Plains on Wednesday, it will bring a marginal risk of excessive rainfall that could cause flash flooding in portions of north-central Texas and Oklahoma, especially Wednesday night. Dallas could pick up two to three inches of rain, and areas just east of it over three inches. Arkansas and Louisiana will also begin to see some rain.
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more were injured early Wednesday after millions of Hindu pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a huge festival in the Indian city of Prayagraj, rushed to bathe in holy river waters on what is considered one of the most auspicious dates in the Hindu calendar.

As pilgrims rushed to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers, which Hindus consider sacred, thousands of people who were lying or sitting on the river banks were trampled, safety barricades broke, and fences were pulled down, according to government officials and witnesses. Others were trying to escape after bathing, adding to the chaos.

New York Times journalists saw people stretched out on the ground, their bodies and faces covered, and emergency personnel carrying people away on stretchers and into ambulances.
As President Trump argues the acquisition of Greenland is key to the economic security of the United States, he is flanked by wealthy investors who have eyed the island as a potentially lucrative venue for mining metals and minerals.

Among them is his commerce secretary nominee, Howard Lutnick, who has a financial stake in the islands mining promise through an investment his financial firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, holds in a company called Critical Metals Corp., securities filings show. Critical Metals plans to start the mining process as soon as 2026, according to company executives.

Mr. Lutnick, whose Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, plans to resign as chief executive Cantor Fitzgerald, a privately held firm, if confirmed. His interests in the firm would be sold off within 90 days of his confirmation, according to his government ethics agreement, and during that period he would not participate in any matter that has a direct and predictable effect on the firm unless he received a waiver that allowed him to do so.

As head of the Commerce Department, which promotes the interests of U.S. businesses abroad, Mr. Lutnick would oversee all tariff and trade policy, Mr. Trump has said. That could include Greenland, if the presidents efforts to expand the countrys role on the island are successful.
Hanging Rock has echoes of LAvventura and Psycho, two movies that create an existential void when a main character vanishes less than midway through. It is more genteel yet more erotically charged than either  both spooky and sexy, Vincent Canby wrote in his 1979 New York Times review  and, like the Rock itself, has cast a resilient spell. The actress Chloe Sevigny has namechecked Hanging Rock as a favorite film. Sofia Coppola, whose movies are often set in hermetic worlds populated by privileged young women, seems to have been especially impressed. A less reverent fan, Lena Dunham, joked that in college, she tried to make a satirical remake entitled Lunchtime at Dangling Boulder.

Indeed, in 2018, Picnic at Hanging Rock was remade as a six-episode TV mini-series. There is now some solemnly overheated melodrama involving sexual exploration and jealousy, Mike Hale wrote in his Times review. Although less explicit, Weirs film also ends with a melodramatic clutter of dreams, blurred photos, secret shrines, public freakouts, visions and suicides. A new mystical convergence is suggested and left hanging.

Weirs movie does not lack symbols and portents; none, however, allude to the Indigenous Australians who regarded the Rock as sacred and inhabited the area for thousands of years. As the Pied Piper of Hamelin was unpaid, their spirits are unappeased. Weir addressed this lack with The Last Wave (1977), an occult thriller released in the United States before Hanging Rock. Still, however invisible in the film, Australias Indigenous inhabitants cast a shadow on the picnic.

Their conspicuous absence may be the real disappearance at the heart of the tale.

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Opens Jan. 31 at IFC Center in Manhattan; ifccenter.com.
Robert Menendez, New Jerseys disgraced former senator who was once one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, was sentenced on Wednesday to 11 years in prison for his central role in an audacious international bribery scheme.

The courtroom in Lower Manhattan was packed but silent as the judge imposed one of the longest sentences ever issued for a federal official in the United States.

You were successful, powerful, the judge, Sidney H. Stein of Federal District Court, said before announcing the penalty. You stood at the apex of our political system.

Somewhere along the way  I dont know where it was  you lost your way, he added. Working for the public good became working for your good.
The hiring spree would return the department, which currently has 33,500 officers, to its highest head count in six years, and would enable the city to reduce excessive police overtime, solve more shootings and help subway riders feel safer, according to a copy of the plan provided to The New York Times.

Mr. Myries proposal, just a few years removed from widespread calls to reduce police funding following the police killing of George Floyd, reflects the way crime and the perception of public safety remain among the top issues in the June Democratic primary.

After Mr. Floyds murder, Mr. Myrie wrote on social media that police brutality is in the DNA of this country. He also introduced a bill to end qualified immunity, which shields officers from lawsuits while performing their job.

It may also shape the race as left-leaning candidates seek middle ground against more moderate Democratic rivals like Mayor Eric Adams or former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has not yet entered the contest.

New Yorkers want to feel safe when they get on their train and go to work, and they want to feel safe when theyre walking home at night, Mr. Myrie said in an interview. The truth is that at this moment, many New Yorkers do not feel safe.
A team from one of Manhattans most prominent law firms will handle the appeal of President Trumps criminal conviction, according to court papers filed on Wednesday that formally announced the appeal.

The team, headed by Robert Giuffra Jr., a co-chair of Sullivan & Cromwell and one of New Yorks better-known appellate lawyers, adds muscle to Mr. Trumps long-anticipated attempt to overturn his conviction. He was found guilty last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorneys office.

The firms involvement underscores how New Yorks legal power players have warmed to the president. Mr. Trump was spurned by lawyers from major firms when he left office four years ago, but his second victory has brought about a sea change. Many large corporations and business leaders have lined up to support the second Trump administration.

President Donald J. Trumps appeal is important for the rule of law, New Yorks reputation as a global business, financial and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials, Mr. Giuffra said in a statement. The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan D.A. to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent.
Before his legal troubles, Mr. Weinstein was a Hollywood producer with the power to make careers. But according to prosecutors and women who have come forward, he used his power to harass and sexually assault women. An investigation by The New York Times found that Mr. Weinstein had paid off sexual harassment accusers for decades, primarily targeting women who were young and trying to make it in the industry.

The New York case was considered a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement. His conviction was followed by another in a separate sex-crimes case in Los Angeles, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He has appealed that case.

Five years after his first trial, New Yorks case against Mr. Weinstein will continue.

Mr. Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, has said that his clients health is failing  he has fluid on his heart, fluid in his lungs and spinal stenosis, among other ailments, he told Justice Farber at a hearing last year. In September, Mr. Weinstein was hospitalized for emergency heart surgery. The next month, he was diagnosed with cancer.

His lawyers have accused prosecutors of stalling and of searching for a victim to base new charges on after his conviction was overturned.

Prosecutors have firmly resisted those allegations. They wrote in a recent filing that they had first interviewed the woman connected to the most recent charge in January 2020, but that before they completed their investigation, Mr. Weinstein had already been convicted and sentenced and the office had decided to conserve resources rather than proceed with the case.
On Friday night, in a bloodletting reminiscent of the Saturday Night Massacre, in which Richard Nixon ordered the dismissal of the Watergate special prosecutor and accepted the resignations of the attorney general and his deputy, Mr. Trump fired as many as 17 inspectors general. This action has sowed distrust and turmoil within the inspector general system and unfortunately has called into question the pathways that whistle-blowers will have available to them.

Congress created the inspector general posts in 1978 to allow for independent audits and investigations of government departments to guard against waste, fraud and abuse. The president has the power to appoint inspector generals in the major departments with Senate consent, and to fire them. But in this case, Mr. Trump terminated them without first giving Congress 30 days notice, nor, as he is required to do under a 2022 law, providing a substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for the dismissals. It was a direct challenge not only to the system but to Congress.

The inspectors general he fired included many he appointed in his first term, and who, as customary, remained on the job during the Biden administration. The most reasonable explanation for Mr. Trumps action is that he is seeking to install loyalists, which would knock the guardrails against government malfeasance clattering to the ground.

This should not have come as a surprise. Well over a year before Mr. Trump was sworn into office for his second term, he issued a video in which he vowed to upend the inspector general system as part of his effort to dismantle the deep state and reclaim our democracy from Washington corruption. If the firings hold up, they will give Mr. Trump carte blanche to install watchdogs faithful solely to him, not to the Constitution.

For many decades, the inspector general system has helped to ensure that government officials and agencies are held accountable within the bounds of the law. There has not been such a purge since Ronald Reagan fired 16 inspectors general on his first day in office in 1981. He then invited them to reapply for their jobs in competition with other applicants and subsequently reappointed five. Since then, inspector generals have kept their posts when a new president takes office, in deference to the nonpartisan nature of the jobs.
North Adams, Mass. | $252,000

A Colonial Revival house built in 1900, on 0.5 acres

This three-bedroom, one-bathroom house is a five-minute drive from the center of North Adams and from MASS MoCA, the contemporary art space in a former factory complex. Williamstown, home to Williams College and the Clark Art Institute, is a 15-minute drive, and Mohawk Trail State Forest, popular for hiking, fishing and camping, is 20 minutes away.

Driving to Bennington, Vt., takes 30 minutes; Albany, N.Y., takes an hour and 10 minutes; and Springfield, Mass., takes 90 minutes.

Size: 1,393 square feet

Price per square foot: $164

Indoors: This house is set back from the street, with a paved path leading up to the partially covered porch.

Inside is a foyer with stairs up to the second floor. To the left is the living room, with pale blue walls and wood beams across the ceiling. A doorway separates this space from a room now used as an office and music studio, with access to the full bathroom and kitchen. The floors on this level are vinyl plank.
As the host city for Super Bowl LIX, New Orleans expects to welcome more than 100,000 visitors for the Feb. 9 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. At least a million more people will be celebrating Mardi Gras, the citys biggest tourist draw annually, less than a month later.

But a terrorist attack on New Years Day, which killed 14 people and injured dozens more on the tourist-filled thoroughfare of Bourbon Street, has cast a pall over the city.

Since then, local, state and federal officials have sought to reassure visitors regarding the citys safety for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. New or expanded security efforts are planned, including aerial surveillance and assigning more plainclothes officers. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency responsible for public security, including antiterrorism and disaster prevention, upgraded its security assessment of the citys Mardi Gras parades to its highest rating, which allows for additional funding and resources to be supplied. The Super Bowl was already assessed at its highest level.

We are doing everything we can to address the gaps that the New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Police might have, said Eric DeLaune, a special agent with D.H.S.s Homeland Security Investigations who is leading the federal coordination for Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.
Ill be honest with you, he said, Im finding him a little bit more palatable this go-round.

To Mr. Abdallah, the presidents unapologetic style has been impressive enough to overshadow any specific policy concerns.

Mr. Trump seems to know how to navigate through the system much better than he did before, Mr. Abdallah said, adding that hes making a lot more bold decisions, and I think sometimes in leadership, youve got to make bold decisions.

Mr. Abdallah, a Muslim man who immigrated to the United States as a child, was unhappy with United States backing of the war in Gaza and voted for Jill Stein.

Mr. Abdallah didnt like the move to pardon Jan 6. rioters. He made note of the significant concern in Detroit about immigration raids, and said Mr. Trump was too focused on illegal immigration this soon in his term.

Mr. Trump probably overdid it, Mr. Abdallah said, by signing so many executive orders on his first day of office. I felt like that was a little excessive, he said. I also think it may be setting precedent for how hes gonna be a take-charge type of guy.
A Democrat appeared to flip a conservative-leaning State Senate seat in Iowa on Tuesday, according to unofficial results, in a special election that did little to shift the balance of power in Des Moines but that Democrats saw as a sign of engagement among liberal voters in the early days of President Trumps second term.

The candidate, Mike Zimmer, an educator, appeared to win the seat for Democrats in a heavily Republican part of eastern Iowa that Mr. Trump carried by large margins. Mr. Zimmer ran on a message of support for public schools in his district, which runs along the Mississippi River and includes the city of Clinton.

Our campaigns values of hard work and fairness resonated with a bipartisan coalition of voters, Mr. Zimmer said in a statement on Facebook.

With all precincts reporting, Mr. Zimmer led his Republican opponent, Katie Whittington, by about 4 percentage points, or nearly 340 votes, according to unofficial results from the Iowa secretary of states office. State and county election officials told The New York Times on Wednesday that only a handful of outstanding ballots were still eligible to be counted, far short of the number that would be required to change the result.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida promised on Wednesday to veto legislation that would toughen immigration enforcement in the state and blasted fellow Republicans for not going far enough after they took the rare step of defying him.

Escalating a power struggle with new Republican legislative leaders, Mr. DeSantis said he would reject the bill, the morning after state lawmakers approved it in a special session. He indicated that he would ask lawmakers to try again  but only after giving their constituents time to protest their bill.

What I think people are sick of is the treachery, Mr. DeSantis said on Wednesday in Fort Myers, during the second appearance of the day in which he castigated his fellow Republicans. When the people are animated on an issue, these representatives will listen.

The rebellion is not likely to go as far as an override of the governors veto: When the bill passed late Tuesday, several Republicans aligned with Mr. DeSantis and every Democrat voted against it. It would set aside more than $500 million for local agencies to assist with immigration enforcement, increase certain criminal penalties for unauthorized immigrants and create a new state office to coordinate enforcement efforts. That office would be led by the states agriculture commissioner, Wilton Simpson, who is not close with the governor.
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico said on Wednesday that she did not expect the United States to impose tariffs this weekend, despite the Trump administrations affirmation a day earlier that the tariff plan was still under consideration for enforcement as of Feb. 1.

We dont think its going to happen really, she said during her daily morning news conference. And if it happens, we also have our plan.

Ms. Sheinbaum declined to detail the plan, but she has previously said that her country is prepared to respond with retaliatory tariffs of its own. Through Mexicos Foreign Ministry, she said officials were still in talks with the Trump administration.

Mr Trump, who has also threatened to impose tariffs on Canada, warned Mexico that he would do so on that country if it did not do enough, in his eyes, to curb illegal migration or the flow of drugs into the United States.
Senator Gary Peterss decision to retire has opened up a marquee Senate race in Michigan, a pre-eminent battleground state that President Trump flipped in November.

The announcement this week from Mr. Peters, a Democrat, set off a flurry of political activity in Michigan  especially among his partys deep bench of ambitious politicians, some of whom are also considering a run for governor.

Heres a snapshot of some of the people who might jump into the Senate contest:

Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary

Mr. Buttigieg, the former presidential candidate and transportation secretary, is a relatively recent Michigan transplant, growing up in Indiana and becoming a Michigan resident in 2022, moving to Traverse City.

I have a lot of humility about having only moved to Michigan a few years ago, he said in an interview last month, asked at the time about a run for governor. Although, of course, I did grow up in the neighborhood.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday in a high-stakes, high-profile hearing that will help determine whether he becomes the nations health secretary. In a Senate where Republicans hold a slim majority, Mr. Kennedy can afford to lose the support of just three senators if his nomination comes before the full body of lawmakers for a vote.

Democrats, with the possible exception of Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, are expected to vote against him. So his confirmation will depend on whether he can win the votes of Republicans who may have doubts. Here are some to watch.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

Mr. McConnell, the former Republican leader, is the Senates lone polio survivor, which gives him a unique perspective on Mr. Kennedy, one of the nations loudest critics of vaccines. Mr. McConnell has played it close to the vest, though he did issue a warning of sorts to Mr. Kennedy, with a statement saying that anyone who seeks to undermine public confidence in proven cures would have trouble winning confirmation in the Senate.

Mr. McConnell does not sit on the Senates Finance Committee, or the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which will hold a hearing for Mr. Kennedy on Thursday. So observers are likely to have to wait for the nomination to come before the full Senate to learn how Mr. McConnell will vote. One intriguing indicator: Mr. McConnell did not meet with Mr. Kennedy for the customary courtesy visit that nominees make in advance of confirmation hearings.
But the chances of a fourth Republican voting against him get slimmer.

Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, a doctor and the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, is one possible candidate for the slot. In the past, he has said Mr. Kennedy is wrong about vaccines. It was under questioning from Mr. Cassidy on Wednesday that Mr. Kennedy struggled to answer questions about key aspects of Medicare and Medicaid. Mr. Cassidy is under pressure from conservatives to back Mr. Kennedy, but has not said how he will vote.

Senator John Curtis, Republican of Utah and a newcomer to the Senate, has said he wants to be an independent voice but has yet to cast any vote that was not in lock step with Mr. Trumps agenda. The prevalence of biotechnology companies in Utah has made people think that Mr. Kennedys confirmation might be a good place for him to demonstrate a break, though he could also do that by opposing the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence.

Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, has said she harbors concerns about Mr. Kennedys shifting stance on abortion. But the bar that she has set for him to clear  to state a position on abortion  hardly seemed like a real barrier to earning her vote. During the hearing, Mr. Kennedy assured senators he would implement Mr. Trumps policies when it came to abortion and said that he now believes that every abortion is a tragedy.

Ms. Ernst  a survivor of sexual assault and the Senates first female combat veteran  recently caved to a pressure campaign to back Mr. Hegseths bid after raising concerns that she ultimately swallowed. She is up for re-election in 2026.

Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, has expressed policy disagreements with Mr. Kennedy, including his desire to ban processed foods, certain pesticides and seed oils. But Mr. Grassley this week already chided the Trump administration for firing more than a dozen inspectors general without giving the necessary 30-day warning to Congress, and demanded that he provide answers for the firings. It would be notable if Mr. Grassley were to push back twice in one week against the administration.

White House officials would be surprised, too.

We love Chuck Grassley, Stephen Miller said on CNN when asked about his pushback on the firings of the inspectors general. The president loves Chuck Grassley. I love Chuck Grassley, as far as I know, everyone in America loves Chuck Grassley. So we fully embrace that relationship and are a close partner of his.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 29. The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov will pay a working visit to Almaty on January 30-31, the spokesperson of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Bekzod Khidoyatov said in his Telegram channel, Trend reports.

The program of the visit of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan includes participation as an observer in the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, a speech at the plenary session of the International Digital Forum Digital Almaty 2025, as well as bilateral meetings with heads of government of several countries.
Tulsi Gabbards past statements on Syria, Russia, Ukraine and warrantless spying have all given Republican senators pause. But for some lawmakers another issue looms just as large: Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who released reams of classified data on American surveillance programs in 2013 and then fled to Russia.

While in Congress, Ms. Gabbard introduced legislation that would have offered additional whistle-blower protections for people, like Mr. Snowden, accused of violating the Espionage Act. Working with Matt Gaetz, who was then a Florida congressman, she also introduced legislation that called on the charges against Mr. Snowden to be dropped.

Ms. Gabbard is now President Trumps pick to oversee the nations spy agencies as the director of national intelligence. At her confirmation on Thursday, senators plan to press her on a range of issues, including Mr. Snowden.

Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and one of the lawmakers who will be questioning Ms. Gabbard, said Mr. Snowdens disclosures jeopardized people who were helping us.
Stephan Thernstrom, a Harvard history professor and author who, with his wife, the political scientist Abigail Thernstrom, vaulted to national prominence during the 1990s as a leading critic of affirmative action, died on Thursday in Arlington, Va. He was 90.

His daughter, the author Melanie Thernstrom, said his death, at a care facility, was from complications of dementia.

Professor Thernstrom and his wife were among the earliest, most vociferous and most prolific critics of affirmative action in the 1980s and 90s, when the policy came under sustained attack from the right. In a stream of opinion essays, magazine articles and books, they argued that the left had embraced a form of racial pessimism that sought to right imbalances through quotas and preferences, rather than do the harder work of education reform.

If you need double standards in admission, should we also have double standards in grades, graduation requirements, even professional accreditation tests such as the bar exam? Professor Thernstrom asked in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1998. Our point is that racial preferences are a Band-Aid over a cancer.
Three military-ruled countries have officially withdrawn from the West African regional alliance known as ECOWAS, the bloc said on Wednesday, defying pressure from the group to return the countries to civilian democratic rule.

The alliance, the Economic Community of West African States, offers its members visa-free travel, favorable trade tariffs and access to a $702 billion market for the regions 400 million people. The three nations  Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger  announced their intention to leave last year.

Negotiations between their leaders and the bloc then failed to reach an agreement that would keep them in. Instead, the three juntas are forging ahead with their own grouping, the Alliance of Sahelian States, A.E.S. by its French acronym, and have created a military force of 5,000 troops.

The three juntas presented their exit as essential for their sovereignty and portrayed the alliance as a neocolonialist force carrying out a foreign agenda.
It was the peak moment at one of the holiest gatherings on the Hindu calendar  the Maha Kumbh Mela, a 45-day celebration that brings hundreds of millions of the faithful to bathe in the joined Ganges and Yamuna rivers, washing away their sins.

Anticipating record attendance, Indian officials said they were employing new technology to help regulate the crowds at this years pilgrimage. But nothing was capable of keeping up with the rush as Tuesday turned to Wednesday, when an estimated 100 million came to the waters over just a handful of hours and then suddenly dashed to leave in a deadly panic.
A watchdog group on Wednesday accused the Catholic Church in the Philippines of a culture of impunity, saying it had found scores of priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children and that many remain in active ministry.

The group, Bishop Accountability, said it had identified 82 priests and brothers with links to the Philippines who had been accused of abuse in recent decades. It said it compiled the list from reputable media reports, court records, church documents and other public sources.

The men were local priests or those from abroad who were accused of abuse in the Philippines, or Filipino clerics who served at home before facing accusations overseas. But not one priest has been convicted of sexual abuse in the Philippines, the group said, citing Bishop Buenaventura Famadico. The country has the third-highest number of Catholics in the world, about 85 million, after Brazil and Mexico.

It was the latest sign that the Catholic Churchs global abuse scandal is still ricocheting, this time in Asia, a region that the Vatican is eyeing for growth. Pope Francis has ordered clergy to report allegations of abuse and cover-up, saying every diocese must have a system that allows the public to submit reports easily.
The fire spread quickly after starting near the end of the planes cabin. But the captain, despite being informed of the escalating danger, did not announce an evacuation order on the intercom.

What followed was a chaotic scene of nearly 170 passengers shouting and pushing one another in panic, desperate to get off the plane and save their lives.

It was Tuesday night, at the airport in Busan, South Korea, with millions celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday. Some were headed to Hong Kong, on Air Busan Flight ABL391, which was running late. It was still on the ground minutes after its scheduled takeoff of 10:15 p.m., when passengers spotted a flame in the overhead bins in the planes rear left.

The incident happened barely a month after the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil, and that tragedy, which involved another budget airline, probably would have been fresh on the minds of people onboard.
Building on their momentum in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces have seized control of yet another small town, military experts say, taking another step in their grinding push to conquer the entire Donetsk region.

Battlefield maps from independent groups analyzing satellite images and combat footage show that the town, Velyka Novosilka, is now under Russian control, and the Kremlin claimed its capture on Sunday. Ukraines military acknowledged its withdrawal from most of the town but said that its troops maintained a foothold on the northern outskirts.

Although this gain is modest compared with Russias recent seizure of nearby Ukrainian strongholds like Vuhledar and Kurakhove, it underscores the effectiveness of a tactic that Moscow has been employing to take one town after another in eastern Ukraine: using its overwhelming personnel advantage to attack relentlessly, gradually trapping Ukrainian forces in a pincer movement and forcing them to retreat to avoid encirclement.

From a tactical perspective, their approach was correct  they understood their capabilities and advantages and used them effectively, Maj. Ivan Sekach, a press officer for the Ukrainian militarys 110th Brigade, which has been defending the area, said in an interview. It would not be accurate to claim that the Russians dont know how to fight.
After more than a year of Israeli bombardment in Gaza, there were few blessings left for Talal and Samar al-Najjar to count by the time a cease-fire deal was agreed to this month. Their home was in ruins, they and their children were displaced, and they were staving off hunger.

Yet they counted themselves lucky: Their family of seven was intact, something to feel grateful for in the war between Israel and Hamas, which has killed tens of thousands. Many more are likely to be unearthed from the rubble.

Then, with only hours until the Palestinian enclaves 15-month nightmare was set to pause, disaster struck.

Their 20-year-old son, Amr al-Najjar, had rushed to their village in southern Gaza, hoping to be the first one home. Instead, he became one of the last lives claimed before the fragile truce began.
Another Israeli official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Mr. Witkoff arrived in Israel to meet with Mr. Netanyahu and several of his top aides on Wednesday. Israel Katz, Israels defense minister, was also at the meeting, according to a third Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ministers schedule.

Before the American envoy went to Israel, he had discussions on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia about a broader Middle East peace plan, one of the Israeli officials said. The White House official said Mr. Witkoff had met Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Two Palestinian officials who requested anonymity to discuss a closed-door meeting said Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was also at the meeting.

Mr. Witkoffs visit to the region comes as the Trump administration seeks to broker a wider Middle East peace agreement that would include normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a deal that President Trump sought during his first term. But that pact largely hinges on plans for Gazas future.

Mr. Witkoff said in a Fox News interview last week that he planned to visit both the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza and the Philadelphi Corridor, which is farther south and on the border with Egypt, during the trip. But the timing was unclear as travel schedules are usually closely held to ensure security.
Hamas will release eight hostages on Thursday  three Israelis and five Thai nationals  after more than a year of captivity in Gaza, the Israeli government said Wednesday night, as the fragile cease-fire between the two sides held through its second week.

The Israeli hostages slated for release include Gadi Moses, 80; Arbel Yehud, 29; and Agam Berger, 20, according to the Israeli authorities. In a statement on social media, Hamas confirmed the three Israelis would be freed. Neither Israel nor Hamas named the Thai citizens who would be released.

Under the terms of the cease-fire, Israel is expected to release more than 100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages released on Thursday, including around 30 serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis.

The release is the third so far as Israel and Hamas observe a six-week truce, part of a multiphase agreement that mediators hope will end the war in Gaza. More than 45,000 people were killed there during Israels campaign against Hamas, according to Gazan health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

During the 42-day initial cease-fire, Hamas committed to freeing at least 33 of the remaining 97 hostages in Gaza in exchange for a partial Israeli withdrawal and the release of over 1,500 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Under the terms of the deal, Ms. Yehud  one of the last living women held hostage  was initially supposed to be freed last week.

When she was not released then, Israel responded by delaying the passage of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, as the agreement stipulated. The Israeli military allowed them to proceed after mediators announced on Sunday that they had secured a commitment for Ms. Yehuds release.

All of the eight captives expected to be freed next were abducted during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on southern Israel that began the war. Roughly 1,200 people were killed during the assault, mostly civilians, and another 250 were taken hostage, according to the Israeli government.

Two of the Israeli hostages are from Nir Oz, an Israeli community near the border with Gaza that was one of the hardest-hit by the Hamas-led attack. More than 65 people were taken hostage from Nir Oz and dozens more were killed.

Mr. Moses, a farming expert, was abducted from his home during the Hamas assault. His partner, Efrat, was killed during the attack, likely by an Israeli helicopter that fired on a vehicle that was ferrying militants and hostages, according to the Israeli military.

Ms. Yehud was kidnapped, as was her partner, Ariel Cunio and the family of his brother, David. David Cunios wife, Sharon, and their two children were freed along more than 100 other hostages during a weeklong truce in November 2023. Ms. Yehuds brother Dolev was killed during the attack, according to the Israeli military. Ariel and David Cunio remain in Gaza.

Ms. Berger, a young military conscript, was abducted during Hamass assault on Nahal Oz, the military base where she served as a lookout. Four of the other lookouts taken hostage during the attack were released on Saturday.

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, confirmed in a phone interview that the five Thai workers would be released on Thursday. The Thai workers were being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, he said, referring to a smaller militant group in Gaza distinct from Hamas.

Thailands ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, also said five of the eight remaining Thai hostages would be released on Thursday, although she said it was not yet clear which ones would be freed.

Ms. Chandraramya said that six living and two dead Thai hostages in Gaza, all aged between 28 and 42, remained in Gaza. All were abducted during the Hamas-led attack in 2023 from four farms close to the Gaza border, where they were employed as agricultural workers, she said.
Ava Guerra, 28, has been charged in connection with abandoning her newborn baby on an East Side sidewalk during below-freezing temperatures, San Antonio police said. Bexar County jail

A 28-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly abandoning a newborn baby boy on an East Side sidewalk amid below-freezing weather last week.

Ava Marie Guerra was charged with injury to a child causing reckless serious bodily injury, Bexar County court records show.

She was booked into the Bexar County jail on Tuesday. A judge set her bail at $150,000, courts records show.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Jan. 21, San Antonio police officers arrived at the 400 block of Commerce Street after a 34-year-old man stated he found a newborn baby near Nolan and Cherry Street, according to a preliminary police report.

The temperatures that night dipped to 28 degrees and felt like 17 degrees, according to National Weather Service data.

The newborn was wrapped in a towel and placed in a basket. He was breathing weakly and the umbilical cord was still attached, police said.

Detectives later interviewed the 34-year-old man and found that he was not being truthful with his story, and confessed to knowing where the baby was born and who the mother was, San Antonio police said in a social media post on Wednesday.

According to an arrest affidavit, an off-duty SAPD officer was at a downtown Whataburger restaurant when the 34-year-old man approached him and said he needed help transporting the newborn to a hospital.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The man told the officer that the baby needed immediate medical attention due to neglect from his mother, Guerra, according to the affidavit.

The baby boy was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

He had visible apparent major injury/illness consistent with delayed newborn medical care and umbilical cord clamping, SAPD Detective Joshua Bock wrote.

Bock said he met with Guerra that same day while she received medical care after giving birth.

She told him that she learned that she was pregnant two months ago, but she chose not to pursue prenatal medical care.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She said she unexpectedly gave birth to the baby boy in a toilet at a friends apartment. Following the birth, she did not call 911 or seek medical care for the newborn, Bock wrote.

Witnesses also told police that Guerra was awake after giving birth and she had a cellphone, but did not seek help, the affidavit states.

Hospital staff told Bock that the baby boy was in critical, life-threatening condition and would require intensive life-saving medical interventions and procedures for the foreseeable future due to his condition.

Hospital staff told Bock that Guerra was 36-37 weeks pregnant when she gave birth, and that her newborn suffered from life-threatening blood loss due to delayed umbilical cord clamping around the time of his birth.

The baby also had methamphetamine in his system, Bock wrote.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Guerra told Bock that she did not want to keep the baby. She also didnt want to be told the gender or condition of the baby.

Following her release from the hospital on Jan. 22, Guerra stopped communicating with police, according to the affidavit. Bock said her warrant was issued due to the egregiousness of the crime.

She was arrested nearly a week after the incident on Monday, records show.

Bock wrote that Guerra had a legal duty to take care of her baby under the Texas Family Code.

(Guerra) has a legal duty to care for, protect, and provide medical care to the victim, Bock wrote. The victim is further entitled to the same rights, care, and protection.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

San Antonio police advise anyone unable to care for a newborn to leave their baby at a designated safe place, as provided by the Safe Haven law. Also known as the Baby Moses law, the measure gives parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place.

Safe places include hospitals, fire stations, or emergency medical services stations in Texas, according to the Department of Family Protective Services website.

A baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe. The person handing over the baby must inform an employee who works at the designated safe place that they wish to leave the baby. The person leaving the baby may be asked about family or medical history to make sure the baby receives needed care.

Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, a nonprofit that advocates for abandoned babies, said her organization is working with local officials to raise awareness about the Baby Moses law.

We are praying that this little one will pull through, Allen said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Allen said the baby boy was in stable condition.

She said more must be done to combat our citys struggles with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse.



I ask you to join with me as we continue to pray for this babys outcome, and that a month from now he will be in the arms of a foster family, she said.
The rebel coalition that seized control of Syria last month appointed its leader, Ahmed al-Shara, as president of the country to preside over a transitional period, Syrian state media reported on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the coalition, Col. Hassan Abdel Ghani, also declared that the Constitution had been nullified and the legislature and army formed under the countrys deposed dictator, Bashar al-Assad, were dissolved, according to the state news agency, SANA.

The declarations amounted to the countrys first official steps toward establishing a new government after the rebel coalition led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or H.T.S., swept into the capital, Damascus, last month in a lightning offensive that toppled Mr. al-Assad. Mr. al-Shara, who led that coalition, has since been serving as the countrys de facto leader.

As president of the transitional government, Mr. al-Shara will be at the helm of a once unimaginable period of transition in Syria, which had been ruled by the iron fist of the Assad family for more than 50 years.
A Malaysian man has sparked controversy on social media by announcing an ingenious service where he rents himself out as a villain that harrases clients partners, allowing the latter to pose as heroes by confronting him.

Earlier this month, 28-year-old Shazali Sulaiman took Malaysian social media by storm by announcing a villain for hire service that would allow clients to show off their masculinity and make a big impression on their partners or romantic crushes. After being told that his unkept long hair and biker clothing make him look like a gang member, Sulaiman was inspired to start a service that relied on his physical appearance to make a profit. For a fee, clients can set up a time and place where he would show up to pick on their partner, thus giving them a chance to intervene and pose as a hero or a knight in shining armor.

Are you tired of your partner thinking you are weak? For a reasonable fee, I can help you prove them wrong, Sulaiman wrote in a social media post designed to attract attention to his new service. Just tell me the time and place, and I will show up to disturb your partner, giving you the chance to step in as the hero and take me down.

Shazali Sulaimans villain-for-hire service is priced at 100 ringgit ($22) on weekdays and 150 ringgit during weekends. If the client opts for a location that requires him outside his native city of Ipoh, they have to cover his travel costs as well.

When the boyfriend went to the bathroom, I pretended to harass his girlfriend. When he came back, he confronted me like a hero, Sulaiman described a recent episode at a shopping center in Ipoh.

The young mans unique service went viral on Malaysian social media, dividing people into two camps  those who praised Sulaiman for thinking outside the box and having a hustle mentality, and those who criticized him for potentially breaking the law by harassing people. Shazali responded to his critics explaining that it is all just an act, like WWE. No one gets hurt, I am the only loser.
For the longest time, New Yorks Upper Fifth Avenue held the title of the most expensive street in the world but it was recently dethroned by Montenapoleone, an upscale shopping street in Milan, Italy.

Every year, American firm Cushman & Wakefield publishes a global index that ranks the worlds most expensive shopping areas by the rent prices they command. Fifth Avenue has been ranking first out of 138 leading retail destinations around the world for many years, but last year, it was surpassed by Montenapoleone, the most popular luxury shopping street in Milan. Not only is this short street a magnet for tourists interested only in window shopping, but it also attracts some of the wealthiest people around the globe, many of who spend at least 2,500 euros ($2,600) per purchase, the highest average receipt in the world.

Photo: Rui Alves/Unsplash

Luxury tourism in Milan has been booming in recent years, thanks to several posh events, such as two fashion weeks and Design Week, and the Italian city has also been able to lure in wealthy permanent residents with the help of generous tax incentives. Luxury brands followed suit, competing fiercely over the best locations for physical stores. And theres no better place to be in Milan than Montenapoleone Street.

While rents on Upper Fifth Avenue have remained stable over the last couple of years, on Montenapoleone they have increased by 30% and experts expect them to go even higher. Businesses are expected to pay an average of 20,000 euros per square meter ($2,047 per square foot) on Montenapoleone, compared with 19,537 euros per square meter ($2,000 per square foot). Its a fortune, but juggernauts like Fendi, Prada, or Versace seem to think its a worthy investment.

The biggest brand on Montenapoleone reportedly make between 50 and 100 million euros per year from their physical shops there, which doesnt account for the marketing exposure to tens of millions of people every year.

An important advantage of Via Montenapoleone over other famous shopping streets around the world is its relatively small size. Its less than a quarter mile long, which means that retail space is very limited and therefore very expensive. Buildings on the worlds priciest street can sell for billions of dollars, and only the biggest fashion brands can afford the rent.



Not everything can fit, which is a benefit since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive and dynamic, Guglielmo Miani, president of the Montenapoleone District Association, told CBS News.
Trump-connected Ballard Partners signed a one-year pact on Inauguration Day to provide advocacy services with the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

The pact, which went into effect on Jan. 20, is worth $100K per month and automatically renews for successive one-year periods.

Brian Ballard's firm is charged with strengthening the US/DRC bilateral relationship, advancing economic growth, and addressing matters concerning human rights issues in eastern Congo, according to its contract.

Rwanda, which borders the DRC, is supporting the M23 rebel group seizure of the key Congolese city of Goma, and plans to occupy the eastern portion of the DRC. More than 400K people fled their homes in advance of the M23 assault.

France and the UK have condemned Rwandas meddling in its neighbors affairs, and the UN on Jan. 27 called for Rwanda to withdraw its 4K troops.

Secretary of State Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called DRC president Felix Tshisekedi to condemn M23s attack on the city of Goma. He also affirmed the US respect for the sovereignty of the DRC.

President Trump has ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid. The US accounts for about 70 percent of the aid received by the DRC.
Alexa Lopez

The National Association of Manufacturers has named Alexa Lopez VP of communications & public affairs, a newly created position.

She joins the trade group from the Transportation Security Administration, where Lopez was in charge of strategic communications & PA at the agency with more than 60K employees.

At the TSA, Lopez advised chief David Pekoske on external/internal communications, stakeholder outreach and media matters.

Previously, she was senior manager of PA/media relations at the American Society of Civil Engineers, account supervisor at Ogilvy PR, and associate director of PA & press secretary at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At NAM, Lopez is to amplify the voice of manufacturers and push for policies that enhance their competitiveness.

CEO Jay Timmons predicted that Lopez will be a strong champion for the policies that power innovation, create jobs and keep manufacturing in America strong.

She reports to Jamie Hennigan, managing VP-communications & PA.
The negative effects of the fast fashion industry are endless, and with a few quick Google searches I was able to find shocking discoveries that I could never even imagine.

Without sounding too much like a hypocrite, I'll be honest and say I'm not shy of surfing the web to find the latest fashion trends on sites like Shein, BooHoo and PrettyLitteThing, without any thought of the impacts my purchases are causes.

But I have found time and time again that although they are significantly cheaper, it doesn't seem to be worth it the end.

It wasn't until I was slowly exposed to the cruel consequences the fast fashion industry is having on the planet, wildlife, oceans, the workers in the factories themselves and even the air we breath!

With having an interest in climate change and the environment to begin with, it wasn't long before I felt myself heading down a rabbit hole and uncovering just how destructive the fast fashion industry really is.

And they also never last long enough for me to get more than a few wears out of them!

READ NEXT: OPINION: 'I've become an underage referee in my 50s and learned one major lesson'

So let me break it down a bit and share some things I have found, all the data is sourced from a report by biologicaldiversity.org and the rest is my opinion.

I will also share some solutions you could do as a reader right now to make the positive change needed for the benefit of our planet.

From what I have gathered.....

While it has become easier than ever to get clothes shipped right to your door from locations worldwide, I think we all have to stop and think- is it really worth?

I know sites like Shein and Temu are a lot more affordable than some of the stores we have here, and we may feel like we are saving a lot of money, but I have found my clothes never last longer than a few months at most [or even a few washes!]

The clothes are often made out of the cheapest materials like polyester, which is essentially plastic and is made using fossil fuels like petrol.

Either the colour is drained from the clothes after a few washes or the material starts falling apart. Has anyone else noticed this?

Stains are near impossible to get out and after washing the colour goes dull and the material gets more and more fragile.

I've noticed leggings that I have purchased in the past rip and tear so much more easily that those I would buy in a store in Ireland.

So while buying clothes online can be cheaper and more convenient, I now think it's a lot more worthwhile to shop in local stores instead, and considering the detrimental impact fast fashion has, I don't think it's worth it.

The clothing is made from much better materials, and will last so much longer and have less negative impacts on the planet.

Not only this, but every time you wash these cheaply made clothes, the synthetic microfibres come off of them and go straight into water systems.

Roughly 700,000 fibres per load of laundry, the report said! These could end up in the ocean and other environments, and even the water we drink. The destruction to our planet is already in a vicious cycle, do we need to make it worse?

If you don't already I'd really recommend looking in charity shops and vintage clothing stores as they can be a great place to find affordable clothing that other people no longer use or want.

The impact of fast fashion on our planet:

I read a really interesting report by biologicaldiversity.org that explained the harms of fast fashion on the planet, and if you're interested in the topic I'd recommend reading the full report here.

Key points I found most interesting are as follows:

The wool used is commonly blended with fibres derived from fossil fuels and coated with chemicals, further increasing the environmental cost of production and disposal of these garments.

For a company such as Shein, an estimated 1,000 new styles are uploaded daily, though there has been speculation that this figure may be a gross underestimate (Zhou, 2022). With the average number of each garment manufactured ranging from 50-100, according to the Shein website, this results in a minimum of 50,000 new garments created every day.

Polluted water is often used to irrigate crops and studies have found textile dyes present in fruits and vegetables grown around Savar in Bangladesh

In April 2013 the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed, resulting in more than 1,100 textile-worker fatalities and bringing to light the subpar conditions in which fast fashion industries operate. Between 2006 and 2012, more than 500 workers in Bangladesh garment factories died in factory fires, usually due to faulty wiring

That's just a taster of the report, because the impacts are endless, but I found it so shocking!

Solutions:

Buy fewer clothes and look after what you buy. Buy clothes you know you will wear many times and not just wear once.

If you are going to an event, try to borrow a friend's outfit to avoid spending money on clothes you might only wear once.

Before you buy a new piece of clothing, consider if you have a similar piece in your wardrobe already.

Buy from local shops and businesses for clothes, and use local craftspeople to mend damaged clothes to get more wear out of them

Buy clothing made with natural fabric fibers instead of synthetic fabrics, like cotton, linen, bamboo, silk, and wool.

There are also cool gadgets like a laundry ball you can buy that gathers microfibres to stop them from going down drains and into water systems.

In conclusion, no, fast fashion is nowhere near worth it!

Buying a cute outfit online is nowhere near worth the catastrophic destruction the industry is causing on the planet, humans, animals and our oceans every single day.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Iran is considering the use of foreign-owned aircraft for domestic flights to meet passenger transportation needs, said Hossein Pourfarzaneh, Vice Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Trend reports.

Speaking to Iranian media, Pourfarzaneh explained that under current aviation regulations, foreign airlines are permitted to operate flights within the country for up to 72 hours, after which they must return. This could potentially allow for foreign aircraft to be used for certain domestic flights within Iran.

Pourfarzaneh further clarified that there are no significant challenges in this direction and that a final decision on the matter is expected within one or two weeks. Additionally, the number of aircraft required and the financial impact on local airlines, ensuring they do not face losses, are currently being studied.

He added that Iran currently has around 185 registered passenger aircraft, with 130 to 150 actively flying. Efforts are underway to repair and reintegrate the remaining aircraft into service.

The Deputy Minister also mentioned that while the country's airports are valued at approximately $16 billion, the total value of its aircraft is estimated to be around $1 billion. He noted that had $2 billion of the airport value been allocated to purchasing passenger planes, the country could have three times as many aircraft.

Currently, Iran operates 54 active civilian airports, 14 of which are international, with an average of 30 million passengers transported annually.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The US has not yet made any requests for negotiations with Iran, and Iran has not received any such request, said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports.

Speaking to reporters after today's Cabinet meeting in Tehran, Araghchi explained that, at present, the ball is still in the air when it comes to any possible discussions between the two countries.

He believes that the atmosphere in Iran is still thick with skepticism, shaped by previous instances where deals were struck only for the other side to back out.

"Certainly, actionable measures are essential to tackle this skepticism," he added.

The Minister further noted that Iran is waiting for the US to announce its policies, after which Iran will assess the situation. If the outcome leads to equal discussions, a decision will be made accordingly.

To recall, on January 16, 2016, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the JCPOA between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018.

By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement.

Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

On January 21, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's latest operation was aimed at "eradicating terrorism" and that it would be "extensive and significant." The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has launched "Iron Wall", a large-scale military raid in Jenin that has killed 12 Palestinians and injured 40 others.

Jenin is in the West Bank, which came under Israeli occupation in 1967. In 2017, Jenin had a population of about 50,000 people, while the Jenin refugee camp had a population of about 10,000, housing Palestinians who were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Palestine War.

Jenin has been severely damaged during the Israeli war on Gaza. By June 2024 repeated bombing attacks and incursions with bulldozers by IDF had destroyed every street and left every public square a pile of rubble. The governor of Jenin said, "The Israelis are besieging the hospitals and cutting off the city from the refugee camp, which has become a military zone with no access...neither the civil defense, nor the ambulances, nor the journalists can go and see what is happening there."

On January 22, as some of the IDF withdrew from Gaza, the Israeli military said it was carrying out an operation in Jenin. The city has for decades been a center for armed resistance, and a target of raids by the IDF. A spokeswoman for the IDF said that 10 militants had been "hit" during the operation in Jenin. Earlier, Israel said that it had killed eight militants since the start of the raid.

Recently, the IDF has burned Palestinian homes, used heavy machinery to demolish more homes, arrested dozens of Palestinians, and transferred them to interrogation centers, known for human rights abuses.

Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Hamas has been attracting the young men in Jenin, who view armed resistance to occupation as the only way to confront Israel, which is never held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Other West Bank cities were also targeted in raids, with at least 25 Palestinians across the West Bank arrested since January 21.

Since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank has been losing support to factions like Hamas that favor armed struggle and are actively fighting Israel, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

The PA is the governing body in some areas of the occupied West Bank. In December, its security forces began cracking down on militants in and around Jenin, where the authority has lost control.

In the Occupied West Bank, it is the IDF that controls security, with the PA handling some local matters, including trash collection, education, hospitals, and schools and has its police who coordinate with their Israeli counterparts but have limited authority.

While the IDF raids are carried out, deadly attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank have escalated. Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are both extremist settlers and have emboldened the illegal settlers with a cloak of official sanctioning of brutality. Following the Gaza ceasefire, settlers have been attacking Palestinian villages and stoning vehicles, injuring several Palestinians. Houses and cars have been set on fire.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said in a speech on January 21, that the IDF had killed 794 militants in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began. "In most cases, we thwarted the threat in advance before the terrorists could reach Israeli citizens," he said.

Iran is operating a clandestine smuggling route across the Middle East to deliver weapons to Palestinians in the West Bank.

Gaza Ceasefire

The Israeli-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza is in stage one, and four more Israeli female hostages were released on Saturday. The longest-serving Palestinian prisoner released on Saturday, in the prisoners swap between Israel and Hamas, was Raed Al-Saadi, a 49-year-old from Jenin who was detained on August 28, 1989. He was sentenced to two life sentences in prison for carrying out attacks during the First Intifada.

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Anoox non-profit Social network releases an Insanely Great new product/service: Instant Messenger Charleston SC, September 21 2022 - Every now and then comes a truly great news, about an Insanely Great product, Anoox Instant Messenger is this new Insanely Great product/service. Why? Anoox Instant Messenger enables members of Anoox (it is free to become a member) to be connected on World-Wide basis for instant communication for free! 
Las Cruces, New Mexico - January 27th, 2025 - When you visit a hospital or medical facility for injuries or illness, you trust you'll be in good hands with the medical professionals. If you're hospitalized, you'll likely interact with nurses the most. A doctor will visit once or twice a day, but your main point of contact will be the nursing staff. While most nurses treat patients to the best 
What dark secrets is San Juan County hiding, and why is the sheriff's office hunting down a man they once trapped? New Mexico is one of the most dangerous states in the country. In San Juan County, one of the biggest dangers, according to residents, is the unchecked corruption in the criminal justice system. Last summer, at San Juan County Adult Detention Center, a privately owned jail, an 
Firefighters doused a house fire Tuesday night at 3332 E. 17th Street in Vancouver. No one was injured in the blaze, the Vancouver Fire Department reported.

The first fire engine arrived at the house in the Harney Heights neighborhood at 9:55 p.m., three minutes after receiving the call. Ultimately, five engines, two trucks and 27 firefighters responded, knocking down the fire within 30 minutes, fire officials said.

No injuries were reported in the fire that destroyed a house in Vancouver.Vancouver Fire Department

Photographs from the scene show columns of smoke pulsing into the sky as firefighters work and severe fire damage throughout the house.

The Vancouver Fire Marshals Office is investigating.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Gunfire rattled residents of a Vancouver neighborhood on Sunday, with a barrage of bullets hitting houses and at least one car. No one appears to have been injured, police said.

Police arrived in the 3100 block of Northeast Littler Way in Vancouvers Ogden neighborhood shortly after 3 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department said in a statement.

Officers didnt find any victims or property damage at the time, police said.

Hours later, at 10:40 a.m., a resident on the block found that their living room wall was peppered with multiple bullet holes and reported the damage to police. Officers returned and investigated, and they discovered another home that had been hit by bullets, as well as a parked car, police said.

Police found 28 bullet casings in the block, but still no injuries from the gunfire have been reported. Detectives are continuing to investigate.

 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 Portland Police Bureau wont help federal immigration enforcement efforts in the city, Chief Bob Day said in a statement Tuesday that reiterated existing policy against cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

I want everyone to feel safe and protected, which is why it is important to understand that the Portland Police Bureau does not engage in immigration enforcement, Day said. Simply put, we have no legal authority to do so.

The Trump administration has promised to fast-track deportations of people who are in the United States illegally, and reports have already emerged of raids by immigration officials across the country.

As happened during the first Trump administration, politicians and immigration advocates expect a clash between federal and local policies and ideologies. Oregons governor and Portlands mayor have both recently reasserted their commitment to maintaining their respective jurisdictions sanctuary statuses. Oregons law prohibiting police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement dates back to the 1980s.

Its unclear what will happen when Trumps ambitions  he has pledged the largest deportation operation in U.S. history  collide with Oregon law. About 120,000 undocumented immigrants live in Oregon, according to a Pew Research Center estimate.

While federal agents dont need local or state officials approval to detain undocumented immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement usually leans heavily on local law enforcement to locate and hold immigrants who have been booked in jail on unrelated charges.

Oregonian journalist Yesenia Amaro contributed to this report.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com
UPDATE: 10-hour police standoff in St. Johns ends, Portland police say

Portland police are responding to a St. Johns home where a suspect who may be armed is barricaded inside, according to a press release from the Police Bureau.

This is the third such incident this week, and nearby residents are again being asked to stay away or inside their homes.

As of 11:30 a.m., two tactical teams, including a crisis negotiation team, were in the 8300 block of North Hudson Street to arrest the suspect. Police have closed off the surrounding perimeter, which stretches from North Smith Street to North Central Street and North Charleston Avenue to North John Avenue.

No injuries have been reported, the release said. Nearby schools and the St. Johns Community Center have been notified of the ongoing incident.

Early Monday morning, police responded to a burglary call at a business in Southeast Portlands Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood and arrested the suspect, 43-year-old Joshua J. Hick, without incident after a two hour standoff. On Tuesday, officers arrested five people at a home in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. Two of those suspects had barricaded themselves inside and didnt come out for hours.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.
SEATTLE  The stories of salmon and orcas in the Pacific Northwest are linked. Their paths intermingle in a vast web of ecosystems and coevolved species.

Salmon are struggling to survive. So are the families of endangered southern resident orcas, with a population of just 73, not improved in years. Their plight has been on full display, capturing worldwide attention yet again as mother orca Tahlequah this winter has carried her dead calf that lived only about a week.

She did the same thing in 2018, carrying another baby calf that lived only a half-hour, for 17 days and over 1,000 miles. Both lost calves were females, devastating for a population needing to rebuild.

The web of influences that impact orcas, especially the lack of salmon, reveals a stark lesson about climate change. It is a wrecker of the balance of life on which the natural world, which makes the Northwest so special, depends.

Widespread declines of wild Chinook salmon have hurt fisheries, tribal cultures and ecosystems that depend on the fish, especially the southern residents. They eat other fish but preferentially target Chinook, the biggest, fattiest salmon in the sea.

A key to orca survival is for more of the runs they depend on to improve, so they get enough food. Lack of regularly available, quality food is one of the biggest threats to their survival.

What salmon are hurting the most?

All three southern resident pods, or families, take fish from the Columbia and Snake rivers. Snake River spring/summer Chinook are of particular importance for their size and high fat content; they are crucial food in a lean season.

Declines in wild Snake River spring/summer Chinook over the past century were driven by overfishing and migration barriers, including dams, water diversions for irrigation, salmon farms and hatcheries. The species was federally listed as threatened in 1992 and has continued to dwindle toward extinction.

Now research shows salmon will be hammered by climate change in both their freshwater and ocean life stages. In streams, lethal conditions for salmon are predicted across the state. Interior Columbia Basin populations of salmon face the largest percentage loss of snow-dominated habitat, as temperatures warm, causing summer droughts and scouring winter floods.

In the ocean, rising surface temperatures also pose an overriding threat to salmon, upending ocean food webs and predator communities, scientists predicted in a 2021 paper.

What is Tahlequah telling us?

Scientists know this much for certain: Climate change is a killer even for the most productive Chinook spawning grounds in the Columbia Basin, threatening a life source for the southern resident orcas. The Chinook that orcas depend on for survival are under unprecedented threat due to warming sea surface temperatures and streams.

When they modeled predictions of climate change on the life cycle of the salmon, even the largest spring/summer Chinook populations today in the basin of the Salmon River crashed to near-extinction levels by 2060, with fewer than 50 adult fish returning to their spawning beds, the scientists found.

Negative effects from rising sea surface temperatures will drive most populations to extinction within this century, the scientists concluded.

Salmon are geniuses at adaptation. But even by running out to sea earlier, or shifting their run time back to the river by multiple days, they could not overcome the lethal effect of warming sea surface temperatures enough to beat extinction in a warming world, the scientists predicted.

What have been some salmon bright spots?

The good news is that where humans have made big changes for wild salmon recovery, salmon are responding.

On the Elwha, where two dams were taken down to recover the rivers legendary salmon runs, and habitat work continues, steelhead, coho and Chinook are coming back.

On the Upper Columbia, better water management has boosted sockeye to record runs in modern times, delighting sport fishermen and bringing precious food home to Upper Columbia tribes  even after crossing nine dams to get to spawning streams in British Columbia. The Okanagan Nation Alliance tribal communities got the breakthrough going, with an invitation to Canadian fisheries officials to work together with them and dam managers to help the run.

Meanwhile, work by the Nez Perce Tribe, in collaboration with other partners, has brought back the run of fall Chinook in the Snake River from near extinction to the most successful Chinook run on the river, benefiting sport and commercial fishermen, as well as tribal fishers.

And from the eastern side of Vancouver Island to Hood Canal, chum numbers saw a boost last fall, returning home in runs bigger than had been seen in decades. The chum boom follows decades of habitat work. Independent researcher Alexandra Morton also noted in a recent study that getting most of the Atlantic salmon fish farms out of a crucial migratory corridor for baby salmon east of Vancouver Island greatly reduced pathogens they encounter, including sea lice.

Three years after the fish pens came out, the 2024 chum runs kaboomed from Alert Bay in the Broughton Archipelago all the way to Puget Sound, with adult returns in this region increasing 10 to 20 times their usual numbers in one generation, Morton noted.

The overarching feeling is incredible respect for these fish; chum were doing so poorly, it was theorized it was over for them, Morton said. Yet when we gave them something they need, they showed remarkable resilience; it was extraordinary.

When the fish came back, so did the orcas. Week after week last fall during the chum run, Morton listened to the sounds of the northern resident orcas  who like the southern residents primarily eat salmon  swimming past underwater microphones, their voices broadcast on speakers filling her home. The southern residents also visited central Puget Sound waters day after day last fall, chasing chum.

With climate change, whats the outlook?

Perhaps an ecological surprise will occur, said Brian Burke, a supervisory biologist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. What the future ocean will be like is not known. How are those dynamics going to change? Burke said.

But this much is certain: There is no easy way to fix declines in marine survival, he noted, and there certainly is no one silver bullet to recover Snake River Basin salmon runs, not even dam removal.

NOAA in a September 2022 report stated returning Columbia Basin salmon will require multiple fixes across all life stages of salmon, including dam removal on the Lower Snake River. Meanwhile, hunger stalks the southern residents.

Once producing 1.5 million Snake River spring/summer Chinook a year, today runs are 10% of that in a good conditions. It would be like going to the grocery store and there is no food available, said Rick Williams, co-author of the book Managed Extinction and fish biologist based in Eagle River, Idaho, about the decline of wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

Poor ocean conditions make it even more important to improve the freshwater habitat, Williams said.

The ocean is going to be really hard to control and manage; the flip side of that is it makes it imperative that we do what we can in the freshwater environments, Williams said. People can count on nature, though, he added. Given a chance, species of salmon in multiple Northwest rivers have shown they will rebound.

The fish have the capacity to come back, Williams said, if we give them the opportunity.

-- Lynda V. Mapes, Tribune News Service
Among Chinas traditional holidays and celebrations, none ranks higher in importance than the Lunar New Year (). Also known as the Spring Festival (), or simply Chinese New Year, it marks the beginning of the year according to the traditional lunar calendar.

The Lunar New Year usually starts sometime between late January and mid-February. This year, the festivities begin on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. In mainland China, official celebrations last for seven days as a public holiday.

As a scholar of Chinese religious history and culture, what fascinates me the most is how the celebrations are a reminder of the longevity and vibrancy of traditional Chinese culture.

READ MORE: How to celebrate Lunar New Year in Oregon

Food, gifts and celebrations

At its core, the Lunar New Year is a celebration that brings the family together. Preparations start a week in advance and include cleaning and decorating the home, as well as shopping, especially for gifts and provisions, and food preparation.

A central event is the family dinner at the New Years eve. The choice of dishes varies, reflecting family customs and local culinary traditions. Often it includes dumplings, spring rolls, cakes, fish and pork dishes. There is also a fair amount of drinking, especially traditional wines or liquor. Many of the dishes are assigned symbolic meanings. For instance, dumplings are given the shape of gold ingots, to invoke good fortune.

Other customs associated with the New Year celebrations include the giving of red envelopes containing money, usually by elders to younger members of the family. The red color, which is also featured prominently in New Year decorations, symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.

Traditionally, families and local communities burn firecrackers to mark the new year and ward off monsters. According to legend, the origin of the practice goes back to a story about a monster called Nian, who is believed to have been causing great harm to some villages. In response, the villagers are said to have started off explosions to scare off the monster, and the practice caught on. However, more recently the government has been cracking down on this traditional practice, on the grounds of it being dangerous and polluting.

BEIJING, CHINA - JANUARY 29: Dancers spin as they perform a traditional lion dance for good luck and fortune during Chinese Lunar New Year Festivities at the Dongyue Temple fair on January 29, 2025 in Beijing, China.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Year of the snake

This new year is the year of the snake. According to the Chinese zodiac signs, each year in the lunar cycle is associated with a particular animal. This is a 12-year cycle that repeats itself. Thus, there are 12 animals associated with each year in the cycle. These are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The snake is the sixth of the 12 animals that constitute the zodiac, coming just after the dragon, the most auspicious of all signs. Thus, sometimes the year of the snake is referred to as little dragon year.

Among the popular myths about the origins of the Chinese zodiac, there is one about a great race initiated by the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, in order to measure time. As the rat won the race, it came to be listed as first among the 12 animals of the zodiac. The order of the other 11 animals reflected their final position in the race.

Each of the 12 zodiac animals came to represent certain characteristics believed to shape the personalities of individuals born in those years. For the snake, the positive qualities associated with it include resilience, creativity, and adaptability, and thus an ability to overcome various obstacles or challenges. Individuals born in this year may also possess keen intelligence and good intuition.

Origins of the lunar calendar

Traditionally, the Chinese have followed their native lunar calendar, which is based on observations and measurements of astronomical phenomena. While modern China adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1912, traditional festivals such as the New Year still follow the old lunar calendar.

The origins of the lunar calendar may go back to the dawn of Chinese civilization, traditionally associated with the legendary Xia dynasty that ruled from 2070 to 1600 B.C. The origins of the actual New Year celebrations are also not entirely clear; some scholars believe they likely go back to the rule of the Shang dynasty from 1600 to 1050 B.C.

Religiosity and New Years gala

While the New Year is generally centered around the general theme of family bonding, religious observances are also an integral part of the festivities. These include domestically oriented rituals associated with popular Chinese deities, such as the Kitchen God and the God of Wealth. Family members also make offerings and engage in other rituals related to ancestor worship. Commonly, these include food offerings and the burning of incense at home altars.

During this period, many people go to Buddhist or Taoist temples, as well as other places of worship. They engage in traditional forms of piety, including offering incense and praying for good luck and fortune. Large temples tend to become very busy, with long lines of worshipers often waiting for hours in order to offer their first incense of the year.

A modern element in ushering the New Year is watching the New Years Gala, a popular variety show that features singing, dancing, comedy and drama. It first aired in 1983, and ever since it has been broadcast to a countrywide audience by CCTV, the national TV broadcaster. It is the most watched television program in the world, with an audience that can reach as high as a billion viewers.

Largest human migration

Over the recent decades, China has experienced drastic demographic changes, especially the migration of large rural populations into big urban centers. Chinas one-child policy also brought about major changes in family structure, as most families were restricted to having only one child, which in turn made each child a center of attention and hope for the family.

This has had far-reaching effects on traditional customs and observances. Among the primary drivers of these developments are the significant changes in family structure and function. Millions of rural children are living with their grandparents or relatives, while their parents work in faraway cities.

Consequently, the Lunar New Year brings about the largest human migration in the world, as millions of students and migrant workers do their best to get back to their homes and families. During this period, trains, buses and planes are packed with travelers, and tickets must be booked well in advance.

A tourist poses in front of incense sticks drying in a courtyard in Quang Phu Cau village on the outskirts of Hanoi on January 21, 2025, ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, known in Vietnam as Tet. Families living and working in the "incense village" of Quang Phu Cau now also make sticks in yellow, blue and green, catering to visitors eager to snap shots for Instagram.NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images

Celebrations outside of China

The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in other parts of Asia, including Vietnam and Singapore, as well as across the world. Usually, these celebrations have some unique features or assume local character. For instance, in Vietnam, where the festival is known as Tet, there is the preparation of various local dishes, along with the holding of parades and public performances.

In the U.S. and Australia, where there are substantial ethnically Chinese populations in cities such as San Francisco, New York and Sydney, Chinese New Year festivals and parades are held each year. Some of them feature the traditional Dragon Dances, which highlight the communal aspect of New Year festivities.

Over the centuries, the coming together for the New Year celebration has remained an important part of the cultural heritage for Chinese families, connecting the past to the present, wherever they might happen to be.

 Mario Poceski, courtesy of The Conversation
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The term of the European Union's monitoring mission in Armenia has been extended until February 19, 2027, Trend reports.

According to the information, the decision was made by the ambassadors of the European Union in Brussels.

Under the draft decision, the composition and number of observers will remain unchanged: 165 foreign and 44 Armenian employees.

The decision must be approved by the foreign ministers of the EU member states.
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a push from President Donald Trump to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.

The Trump administration plan plunged the U.S. government  and states and organizations that rely on federal funding  into panic and confusion and set the stage for a constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money.

The order from U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan came minutes before the funding freeze was scheduled to go into effect. The administrative stay, prompted by a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups, lasts until Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs.

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants  a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofits  was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trumps recent blitz of executive orders. The Republican president wants to increase fossil fuel production, remove protections for transgender people and end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

This sort of came out of the blue, said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receive federal funding. Now theyre trying to figure out what it means based on zero information.

AliKhan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, said in halting the freeze, It seems like the federal government currently doesnt actually know the full extent of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause.

Jessica Morton, an attorney for the National Council of Nonprofits which brought the suit, said the group has tens of thousands of members around the country that could be affected.

Our client members have reported being extremely concerned about having to shutter if theres even a brief pause, Morton said.

Justice Department attorney Daniel Schwei said the plaintiffs hadnt identified anyone specifically who would lose funding right away if the pause does go into effect.

Democrats have described the Trump administrations decision as capricious and illegal. They argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress.

Just minutes after AliKhan ruled, Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia filed their own lawsuit seeking to block and permanently prevent the administration from cutting off federal funding.

There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans and food stamps. They also defended the funding pause, saying Trump was following through on his promise to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term.

However, the effects were being felt far from the nations capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, were worried about getting cut off.

The lack of clarity and uncertainty right now is creating chaos, spokeswoman Jenny Young said. She added that seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.

The National Science Foundation postponed this weeks panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldnt receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were seeking clarity to ensure nothing was jeopardizing financial stability of the state.

Trumps actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere, said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts.

The full scope of the administrations review was spelled out in a 51-page spreadsheet sent to federal agencies and viewed by The Associated Press. Each line was a different government initiative, from pool safety to tribal workforce development to special education.

Officials were directed to answer a series of yes or no questions for every item on the list, including does this program promote gender ideology? or does this program promote or support in any way abortion? Responses are due by Feb. 7.

Trillions of dollars are potentially under review. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also supposed to be halted if they might violate one of Trumps executive orders.

The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a memo distributed Monday.

Vaeth wrote that each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the Presidents executive orders. He also wrote that the pause should be implemented to the extent permissible under applicable law.

The pause on grants and loans was scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. ET, just one day after agencies were informed of the decision.

The issue dominated the first briefing held by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said the administration was trying to be good stewards of public money by making sure that there was no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness.

She denied that Trump was deliberately challenging Congress to establish his dominance over the federal budget.

Hes just trying to ensure that the tax money going out the door in this very bankrupt city actually aligns with the will and the priorities of the American people, she said.

The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that it would implement the pause to align federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through President Trumps priorities. The Department of Energy also said it was conducting a review of its spending.

The funding pause is the latest example of how Trump is harnessing his power over the federal system to advance his conservative goals. Unlike during his first term, when Trump and many members of his inner circle were unfamiliar with Washington, this time hes reaching deep into the bureaucracy.

For example, federal employees are being asked to report their colleagues if they try to continue diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

They are pushing the presidents agenda from the bottom up, said Paul Light, an expert on the federal government and professor emeritus of public service at New York University.

He also said there are risks in Trumps approach, especially with so many voters reliant on Washington.

You cant just hassle, hassle, hassle, Light said. Youve got to deliver.

Fears about interruption in government services were exacerbated as states reported problems with the Medicaid funding portal, where officials request reimbursement for providing healthcare to poor residents.

Democrats condemned the Trump administration, connecting the issue to the funding pause.

But Leavitt said the portal would be back online soon.

We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent, she posted on social media.

-- By CHRIS MEGERIAN/Associated Press

Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia, Moriah Balingit, Collin Binkley, Matthew Daly, Lisa Mascaro, Adithi Ramakrishnan, Amanda Seitz, Michael Sisak, Lindsay Whitehurst and Tammy Weber contributed to this report.
Back in September, Donald Trump raised eyebrows when he called for opening a very large faucet in the Pacific Northwest to alleviate drought and wildfire conditions in California.

You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north, with the snow caps in Canada and all pouring down, and they have essentially a very large faucet, he told reporters at an LA press conference, adding that all of that water goes aimlessly into the Pacific Ocean, and if they turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles.

Thats not so simple, experts responded.

Monday, Trump returned to the idea of helping California fight wildfires in a post on the platform Truth Social, which Trump co-founded.

The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond, he wrote. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!

The California Department of Water Resources responded on X, denying the claim.

The military did not enter California, officials wrote. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.

The Los Angeles Times filled in more details, writing Monday that Trump had directed federal agencies in an executive order to maximize water flow from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom told the paper the premise of this executive order is false.

The spokesperson, Tara Gallegos, emphasized that Southern California does not have a water shortage and that reservoirs are at record-high levels.

Water operations to move water south through the Delta have nothing to do with the local fire response in Los Angeles, she told the paper. Trump is either unaware of how water is stored in California or is deliberately misleading the public.

 Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe.
Caitlin Plummer

Plummer is executive director of Public Defender Services of Lane County and a member of Public Defenders of Oregon. She lives in Eugene.

In a recent op-ed, Kevin Neely speaks on behalf of a new organization, the Oregon Criminal Justice Truth Project (DA Vasquez is right. The public defense crisis is a work slowdown, Jan. 15). He claims that public defenders are willfully taking less work than they should. This accusation ignores both the serious shortage of public defenders in Oregons system and the ethical obligations that all attorneys swear to uphold.

Playing the blame game and criticizing public defenders is a tired tactic, not a solution. We need real solutions grounded in data and our shared obligation to protect the rights of all Oregonians.

The stakes are high. According to state data, almost 90% of people facing charges in Oregon cannot afford an attorney. These are our neighbors living paycheck to paycheck. They are all presumed innocent, and they all deserve a fair process. When the system fails, the consequences can be severe. For many Oregonians, even 24 hours in jail can mean losing their job, their home, even their kids. System failures dont just harm individuals, they undermine public safety and waste taxpayer money on unnecessary court hearings and space in our overcrowded jails.

Public defenders play a key role in making sure the process is fair and functioning well. For that reason, the Constitution requires states to provide adequate public defense. However, a 2021 study by the American Bar Association found that Oregon had just 31% of the public defenders it needs to uphold the promise of the constitution with reasonably effective assistance of counsel.

Across the state, public defenders are desperately trying to meet a demand that their numbers simply cannot support. There is not a work stoppage, there is a documented workforce shortage.

Finding real solutions to the workforce shortage requires that we look closely and cautiously at all data and the claims about what that data shows. For example, Neely argues Oregon already spends too much on public defense by comparing Oregon to other states. But such comparisons are highly unreliable, because systems vary dramatically from one state to another, not just in who funds public defense but the expenses those needs cover. For example, Oregon is the only state I am aware of where the public defense system has to pay prosecutors for fulfilling their legal and ethical obligation to turn over evidence. Even with Oregons recent investments, the fact is that public defense has been historically underfunded here and nationally and is just trying to catch up.

The so-called Truth Project takes particular aim at nonprofit public defender offices. But these offices train and recruit the vast majority of new public defenders, directly addressing the workforce shortage. And recruiting and training new attorneys takes time and resources, but is critical to building a sustainable system. We continue to see high turnover  25% of our attorneys left public defense nonprofits in a 14-month period, due to high caseloads and low pay compared to other legal positions. In fact, nonprofit defenders are consistently paid far less than prosecutors and other attorneys.

Critics like Neely often fixate on the caseload numbers, which establish the maximum attorney capacity, missing the point entirely. These numbers are an absolute limit on cases, not a target. Forcing defenders to take more cases than they can ethically handle wont solve the crisisit is unconstitutional and will make the problem worse by driving even more attorneys from the profession.

Public defenders, and nonprofit providers in particular, are an indispensable part of the solution. Lane County shows exactly how. Here, about 80% of public defense cases are handled by my office, a nonprofit provider. Thanks to a collaborative approach among judges, prosecutors and defenders, Lane County has been effectively spared from the unrepresented crisis. We understand that even though we do not always agree, a productive working relationship is essential to a healthy system. Predictable docketing, responsible charging practices, and investments by the Legislature have also kept caseloads manageable, which means all community members have quality representation and we have a sustainable defense workforce.

We all want to see a solution to the unrepresented crisis. If we take a comprehensive view, we immediately see cost-effective and readily available solutions. We can establish coordinated local response teams to resolve cases efficiently, expand access to treatment courts, set clear discovery timelines, divert non-violent offenses  and dismiss cases sooner if they are headed for dismissal.

Public defenders are essential to a fair and functional legal system. Its time to move past rhetoric and focus on real solutionsfor the thousands of Oregonians caught in the system and for our communities safety and well-being.

Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


Three cities in southwest Washington have joined the list of communities nationally that have revisited the issue of adding cavity-preventing fluoride to drinking water.

City council members in Longview plan to discuss the issue Thursday during a public debate-style workshop, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Battle Ground waded into the debate earlier this month, and the Camas City Council plans to hold a hearing in March. The meetings held or planned so far have all been informational only.

The debate has gained new traction after a federal judge in California last year ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children. It also comes as the U.S. Senate weighs President Donald Trumps nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has said he wants the federal government to advise local governments against putting fluoride in their drinking water.

More than 70% of the U.S. population that uses public drinking water systems has access to water with fluoride levels that prevent tooth decay, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Portland is the largest U.S. city that does not fluoridate its water.

At a Jan. 6 Battle Ground City Council study session, Deputy Mayor Shane Bowman weighed the citys cost of spending between $10,000 and $15,000 a year on fluoridation against the outcomes of improved oral health for residents.

I dont know if youve taken your kid to a pediatric dentist, but thats very minimal  $10,000-$15,000  when you think about the difference it is for the kids that maybe dont have the access to dental health, Bowman said.

Critics contend that adding fluoride to public drinking water is outdated and say its use should be a matter of personal choice.
About 200 Portland municipal workers are planning to walk off their jobs next week as months of contract negotiations between city leaders and a coalition of trade unions continue to stall.

Another 1,000 Portland workers, represented by the citys largest public employee union, could follow suit just days after.

The District Council of Trade Unions, whose members include plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople, notified the city Monday that its workers will go on strike starting Feb. 6, Mark Hinkle, the councils president, told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Meanwhile, members of AFSCME Local 189 have until Tuesday night to vote on whether to authorize their own strike amid a separate labor impasse with the city.

The union, which represents a range of clerical staff and other employees across Portland agencies, could issue its own strike notice to the city later this week.

Combined, the District Council of Trade Unions and Local 189 represent about 1,200 workers, or 16% of the citys 7,500-member workforce.

The looming labor showdown comes as Portland officials grapple with what they say is a projected budget shortfall of more than $100 million next fiscal year, creating a significant obstacle for city and union negotiators to reach a deal.

Both unions began negotiating new three-year contracts with Portland officials in April and declared an impasse with the city in late December.

The main issues are wages and wage premiums when performing extra, specific or dangerous tasks, Hinkle said.

According to figures released by the city, Portland is offering the unions a combined $19 million in wage and benefit increases above scheduled annual cost of living adjustments over the next three years. The two unions combined, meanwhile, have proposed about $40 million in new wages and benefits, according to the city.

On average, a member of the District Council of Trade Unions currently earns about $158,000 annually in wages and benefits while the earnings of a Local 189 member is about $139,000, the figures show.

The city is finalizing plans to ensure the essential services Portlanders rely on everyday are minimally disrupted, Portland officials said in a statement Tuesday.

In 2023, Portland saw its first municipal strike in more than two decades after members of Laborers Local 483 walked off the job for three days before the two sides reached a final agreement.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting.

Reach him at 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on X @shanedkavanaugh or on BlueSky @shanedkavanaugh

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Thomas Altenhofen estimates that his former employer owes him about $1,700 in stolen wages.

Shortly after he started working for Phils Meat Market & Delicatessen in Portland, Altenhofens paychecks began coming late, he said, or were worth only half of what he was owed. After four months, he left the company. A couple of months later, he sought help from the state Bureau of Labor and Industries, Oregons agency tasked with enforcing worker rights.

That was in June. So far, his claim has only been through initial processing, and he has no clear sense of how long a resolution might take. That slow pace is because of the massive backlog that the labor bureau faces, for both wage claims and civil rights complaints that deal with discrimination in employment and housing. The backlogs are a long-entrenched problem within the agency, and the issue is taking center stage as bureau officials prepare to lobby lawmakers for a significant budget increase in the upcoming legislative session.

State officials dont all agree on how best to solve the problem. Some lawmakers have expressed support for Labor Commissioner Christina Stephensons request for nearly $18 million more, which will fund 72 new positions to whittle down the logjam. The proposal also has the full support of Gov. Tina Kotek, whose recommended budget released in December included all the positions that the commissioner asked for. But a new policy to investigate only the claims of lower-paid workers has drawn the ire of some lawmakers and workers.

In November, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, the bureau began prioritizing wage claims based on a new standard: the income level of the worker. Claims submitted by people making more than $25.34 an hour, or about $53,000 a year, are no longer being investigated by the agency. In presentations to legislators in the fall, Stephenson cast the wage threshold as a critical step to prioritize the states most vulnerable workers, who are unlikely to have any other recourse to recover their pay outside of her agency.

There are thousands and thousands of claims, and we see a natural attrition rate when people are in that process for over a year, Stephenson said. The money matters now. It doesnt matter 24 months from now.

Lawmakers listening to those presentations reacted with a mix of alarm and anger.

I have no idea how you say to somebody, to a steel worker, a truck driver, that your wage claim doesnt matter, said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany. Dismissing it wholeheartedly is, in my mind, completely unacceptable.

Stephenson and other labor bureau officials have rushed to clarify that the agency is not throwing out claims, but that it is continuing to track them and offer limited help to all workers even without an investigation. And the policy hasnt led to a massive number of claims being dismissed: In the last two months, the labor bureau has received just 74 claims that it will close without an investigation because the workers earn too much money. Thats a tiny fraction of the more than 3,000 wage claims waiting to be processed and investigated as of September.

The earnings threshold has also sparked mixed reactions from workers and advocates. Some, like Altenhofen, worry that decreased enforcement from the agency sends a message to employers of middle-income workers that they can get away with stiffing employees.

Altenhofens base pay at his old job was about $22 an hour before tips, meaning his claim is eligible for an investigation. Even so, the fact that three more dollars an hour would have left him ineligible is yet another kick in the gut to workers, he said.

Sustaining himself during the months without pay burned through nearly all of his savings, he said. Even if he was making another $10 an hour, he said, he couldnt afford to pay a lawyer to represent him in a lawsuit. An attorney for his former employer declined to comment.

But others applaud the agencys decision to take more decisive action to reduce the backlog, which has plagued the wage claim process in Oregon for years.

From my point of view, I think theyre doing what they have to, said Kate Suisman, attorney with the Northwest Workers Justice Project, a nonprofit that advises and represents low-income workers in wage theft lawsuits. She has had a front-row seat to the despair that the wage claim backlog has wrought over the last few years. When workers called asking where they should look for help, she said, It felt pretty bad telling workers your best bet is to go to (the labor bureau) and it will take a year and a half.

The labor bureau continues to send employers notices anytime a wage claim is filed, including for claims that are not being investigated, said Laura van Enckevort, who heads the wage division. That letter of notice is enough to resolve the claim in about half of all cases, according to the agencys data.

Investigators in the labor bureaus wage division will also continue to keep a record of each claim that isnt investigated, she said, and it plans to reopen any that arent resolved with the notice to the employer, as the backlog allows.

But to eliminate the backlogs and fulfill other enforcement responsibilities around housing and paid leave, agency leaders say they need additional staff. As the Legislature has tasked the Bureau of Labor and Industries with ever-increasing enforcement responsibilities over the years, the number of staff it has budgeted to do that work has not kept pace. Today, the labor bureau has fewer full-time employees than it did four decades ago: It employs one staff member for every 20,000 workers in the state. Back in 1980, it employed one person for every 5,750 workers, according to an agency report from September.

Through a spokesperson, Stephenson said she is heartened by the governors backing of her budget proposal.

Lawmakers who heard Stephensons presentations on the agencys woes have differing takes about the root of the problem and the solutions. Boshart Davis, who criticized the earnings threshold in September, has slammed the budget request.

Oregon bureaucrats continually ask for more money from the Democrat-controlled Legislature without having to answer tough questions about their performance because they know they will get it, she said through a spokesperson. We cant afford to simply throw more money at problems without real reform.

Others said the Legislature has played a key role, by failing to ensure adequate funding.

This is decades, years of systemic underinvestment, said Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, at a meeting of the House Interim Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards on Sept. 25. We have a mandate to fix this moving forward.

Meanwhile, workers wait.

Altenhofens former employer has since gone bankrupt, giving him little hope of recovering his wages outside of the labor bureaus dedicated fund for victims of bankrupt companies.

He has no other way to recoup his lost wages unless the agency enforces his rights.

Thats why even proponents of the wage claim threshold say they are continuously reviewing the policys impact. Van Enckevort said the agency is checking in every 45 days to determine whether the policy is still appropriate.

As soon as were able to alleviate the work on our investigators, we would definitely reconsider (whether) we need this, van Enckevort said.

-- Kaylee Tornay, InvestigateWest

InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reporter Kaylee Tornay covers labor, youth and health care issues. Reach her at 503-877-4108, kaylee@invw.org or on X @ka_tornay.
A stretch of land in southern Oregon near Medford that carries historical significance, including the likely location of a treaty signing and near the site of a massacre, is returning to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

The Siletz Tribe announced the historic land return in November with the purchase of approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the Table Rocks preserve.

Its the most historic piece of land that we could possibly get, said Delores Pigsley, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

The Upper and Lower Table Rocks are central to many Takelma origin stories. Takelma is one of the prominent Native languages of Southern Oregon used by multiple Native nations, according to Robert Kentta, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the tribal council treasurer.

The area is where the Treaty of Table Rock was signed, on Sept. 10, 1853, between the U.S. government and local Native nations, establishing a temporary reservation on the north side of the Rogue River that included the Upper and Lower Table Rock.

The treaty created the first confederation of Oregon tribes and was the first treaty signed by any Native nation in the West to be ratified by the U.S. Senate. For the regions tribes, this time period was also marked by hostilities at the hands of the U.S. government and colonial settlers moving into Oregon Territory.

Two years after the signing of the treaty, in October 1855, more than 20 people, mostly women and children, were massacred while camping near Table Rocks. The Rogue River War ensued, in which numerous Native people were killed. After the war ended in 1856, government officials removed much of the Indigenous population in southwestern Oregon, and many Natives ultimately endrf up on the Coast Reservation, now called the Siletz Reservation.

A rough map of the approximately 2,000-acre property. (Photo courtesy of Matt Hill/Lone Rock Strategies)Matt Hill/Lone Rock Strategies

Referred to as the Rogue River Tribe of Indians by the U.S. government, the tribal confederation represented people who lived in the valleys of the upper Rogue River, with Table Rocks at the center. The area was primarily home to the Takelma, Latgawa, Shasta, Applegate and Galice people, according to the Siletz News.

This is a historic moment that reconnects the Siletz Tribe to its ancestors, history and treaties signed near Table Rock, Pigsley said in a media release. It is a great honor to return this special land to Indian stewardship.

Pigsley remembers drives to California with her father as a young girl. He would point out the window as they passed Table Rocks and talk about the significance for their ancestors.

Kentta has similar memories.

Since I was a kid, summertime or spring break, we might take a trip up the Rogue Valley and go up the Applegate River Valley where my great-grandfather was brought at the end of the Rogue River Wars, Kentta said. We have made trips as a family for going on 60 years, reconnecting there, but always as visitors where we had no foothold, no ownership, no place to call home there anymore. Now with this purchase, we have homelands within our homelands.

The Siletz had long been in consultation with the Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy and others regarding the stewardship of the land.

Kentta first became aware of the property six or so years ago after having a conversation with staff at The Nature Conservancy. He brought the idea of purchasing the land to the tribal council, setting in motion the historic land deal.

The property was purchased directly from the previous landowner. The Nature Conservancy preserves a conservation easement on the land. The Siletz will continue to work with The Nature Conservancy and the BLM on conservation and restoration.

To me, land back means, in its purest form, its return of lands to a tribe, Kentta said. This is through purchase, and a significant amount paid out for the purchase. So for us, that is regaining of land back, but its not a settlement or apology for things that happened in the past.

The tribes goal is to create opportunities for Siletz tribal members to access the historically significant land while safeguarding its character. The tribe plans to work on preservation and restoration, focusing on protecting the natural area rather than developing it.

There will be big opportunities for restoration and enhancement of the food plants themselves, Kentta said. [And] also enhancing tribal members access to use of and reconnection with those resources that weve been separated from.

This story was originally published by Underscore + ICT, a nonprofit news site focused on Indigenous affairs.
Lea este articulo en espanol: Estan poniendo en la mira a inmigrantes de Oregon los agentes de inmigracion? Tenga cuidado de la desinformacion

Several social media posts have warned Oregonians that federal immigration officials have stormed a public university, made appearances at local businesses and questioned children riding public transportation in the days since President Donald Trump returned to office.

None of that appears to be true, according to local officials.

Some immigrant communities across the country have been on edge since Trump pledged to complete the largest deportation operation in American history. That threat, coupled with the ability of unverified information to spread like wildfire on social media platforms, has produced palpable fear for some undocumented immigrants who are worried about being deported or separated from family members who are U.S. citizens.

Community organizations say they are concerned with increased reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Oregon, and at least one person has been arrested  at their home, not in a public setting. But advocates for immigrants are urging the public not to jump to conclusions or share unverified information that can cause more harm and fear.

There are people taking advantage to scare people, Pedro Sosa, director of Oregon Project Voice, an immigrant rights program funded by the American Friends Service Committee, said in Spanish. Theres a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear and a lot of disinformation.

TriMet on Tuesday denied a claim made in a Facebook post that three middle-school-aged children were questioned by ICE agents at the Clackamas Town Center light-rail station.

Roberta Altstadt, a spokesperson with TriMet, said staff looked into the claim and found no evidence to support it. Under state law, TriMet does not work with ICE, and people are encouraged to immediately file a report if they experienced, witnessed or heard about activity by ICE on TriMet property, according to information on its website, shared by Altstadt.

Altstadt said TriMet did not receive any complaint or direct communications from the person who posted the information to Facebook on Monday, nor any reports from anyone else about ICE agents boarding trains at Clackamas Town Center or elsewhere.

The only inquiry TriMet received, she said, was from someone who shared the post and noted there was no actual evidence shared.

I believe they are meant to create fear in the community, Altstadt said.

The woman who posted on Facebook didnt respond to a Facebook message from the newsroom, and a call and text to a phone number listed with the womans name were not immediately answered Wednesday morning. It appears the woman deleted her Facebook post.

Last Thursday, someone posted on Reddit that vans full of ICE officers were storming Portland State University. The post was later removed.

Christina Williams, a university spokesperson, said the report was fake and officials had seen no ICE activity on campus. In a public message sent the same day, university president Ann Cudd reminded the community that officials would not consent to immigration enforcement actions on campus and would take all legal measures to protect students.

Business officials also distanced themselves from social media posts alleging that patrons had been questioned or detained.

Last week, a message circulated on Instagram and Facebook alleging that ICE officers were at the WinCo Foods on Southeast 82nd Avenue near Happy Valley.

An employee at WinCo, who didnt provide her name, denied such an incident happened at the store before hanging up. Several requests for comment to the WinCo corporate office and its corporate communications director went unanswered.

An ICE spokesperson told the newsroom that this was not an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter.

Separately, a post on Reddit last week included a screenshot of a post that appeared to originate on Facebook claiming people had been detained at WinCo and also at La Tapatia Supermarket in Gresham.

An employee at La Tapatia, who declined to provide her name, denied an ICE presence and referred The Oregonian/OregonLive to a statement on the companys Facebook page.

The brief statement didnt specifically address the allegations but urged the public to be responsible amid false information being spread.

Social media a powerful tool, La Tapatias Spanish statement reads, but it can also generate chaos if not used carefully. Lets prevent spreading rumors that can cause alarm. Always confirm the information before sharing.

La Tapatia did not respond to requests for further comment.

Sosa, with Oregon Project Voice, said people should be careful before sharing or reposting information on social media. He urged the public to trust information if its coming from a community organization, for example, but to be cautions when the information is from an unknown source.

He said his organization has a hotline, 888-622-1510, where people can submit photos or video, with other information, such as location, date and time, so the program can send a rapid response team.

Frank Garcia, executive director at Immigration Counseling Service, a nonprofit legal service provider, shared similar guidance in the event someone witnesses an immigration raid in public or at work.

People who feel safe to gather information should ensure their phones audio and video is on; they should try to get the officers name, badge number and agency; they should narrate the date, time and location; and not share information about themselves or their loved ones with the agents.

Garcia also urged people not to jump to conclusions or share unverified information about immigration raids to help protect the safety and security of the immigrant community.

These rumors can create panic and drive immigrant communities to live in the shadows, Garcia said in a statement. We need to be mindful about the sources and reliability of information before spreading it far and wide.

Oregon is home to an estimated 120,000 undocumented immigrants, or 2.9% of the states population, according to data from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank. More than half of the states undocumented immigrants are from Mexico.

Sosa said ICE is, indeed, making arrests in Oregon, but those are outnumbered by rumors meant to scare the community. He said his program, which organizes rapid response teams that mobilize during and after immigration raids, hasnt yet had to dispatch a team since Trump took office.

Sosa said his organization is aware of at least one arrest in Salem where ICE agents showed up at a familys house on Friday and took the father, who is now detained at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center and is receiving legal assistance. The remaining family members were connected with services.

Is very important for the community to get educated on their Constitutional rights, he said.

Garcia also reminded the public that suspected violations of Oregons sanctuary state laws, which prohibit cooperation by local officials for immigration enforcement, can be submitted to the Oregon Department of Justice Sanctuary Promise Hotline. Public agencies are also required to make a report when they receive a request from a federal agency for immigration enforcement.

Since Trump took office, the Criminal Justice Commission has received four reports  two of which were submitted Tuesday  from law enforcement and public agencies that have received a request from a federal agency for immigration enforcement. In all four requests, none of the local agencies assisted federal officials in their request.

Since agencies have 30 days to report to us, its still unknown what the increase in volume will be there, said Kelly Officer, research director at the Criminal Justice Commission.

Beth Slovic contributed to this story.

--Yesenia Amaro is an investigative reporter with a focus on social issues and communities of color. Do you have a news tip related to immigration, deportations or publicly funded programs designed to help immigrant Oregonians? Get in touch, 503-221-4395; yamaro@oregonian.com.
Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield on Tuesday denounced a move by President Donald Trump that appeared to abruptly shut off much federal funding to Oregon, a tactic critics cast as a presidential power grab to get his way on issues ranging from immigration to transgender rights to environmental protections.

The move, the top Democratic leaders said, puts at risk large numbers of Oregonians who depend on programs such as Medicaid and Head Start, for which Trump ordered funding frozen Tuesday.

Rayfield announced he had joined with 22 other Democratic attorneys general to file a federal lawsuit in Rhode Island Tuesday seeking to permanently stop the freeze on funding.

In response to a separate lawsuit filed by a coalition of nonprofits and businesses represented by the left-leaning group Democracy Forward, a federal judge on Tuesday afternoon blocked Trumps order from taking effect until at least Monday.

Its a dereliction of the federal governments duty, Kotek said of Trumps order at a news conference Tuesday. ...These are Oregonians federal tax dollars at work. They send money to Washington, D.C., that should come back to them for the services that serve them.

Rayfield said cutting off the funds amounts to nothing but a political ploy.

The messages that are coming from the Trump administration are just plain confusing and theyre inconsistent, Rayfield said. And its another example of the Trump administration and its attempts to sow division and chaos for a political end.

Both Kotek and Rayfield said the move was an immense overreach of powers and that it is Congress, not the president, that has the authority to allocate federal dollars.

Right now the president is playing fast and loose with his powers, to play politics to advance his political agenda, Rayfield said.

Rayfield said the state is ready and prepared to fight.

When you exceed your powers, it is part of our responsibility on behalf of all Oregonians to hold the president accountable, Rayfield said.

Kotek said she hasnt yet been able to get a handle on the breadth of funding streams that have been frozen. But she said Medicaid funds, which reimburse the state for medical care provided by the Oregon Health Plan, and money for Head Start, which provides educational services for low-income children, stopped flowing to Oregon Tuesday. She urged Oregonians who benefit from these programs to continue to see their health care providers or send their children to Head Start.

My biggest concern at this point is making sure that this gets fixed, Kotek said. In the last 24 hours, Washington, D.C., has created a lot of chaos and uncertainty.

 Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or @o_aimee.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The Monday evening order from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldnt be subject to a pause in funding.

The people, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal guidance, confirmed that the OMB pulled the order Wednesday in a two sentence notice to agencies and departments.

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trumps recent blitz of executive orders. Agencies had been directed to answer a series of yes or no questions on each federal program by Feb. 7. The questions included does this program promote gender ideology? and does this program promote or support in any way abortion?

But the vaguely worded memo, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

On Monday, Oregon health officials confirmed that they were unable to access federal Medicaid funding using a portal designed for that purpose. Oregons senior U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said officials in all 50 states reported the same inability to use the portal Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, an Oregon Health Authority spokesperson confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive that the portal was functioning again and federal health dollars were available.

The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but was stayed by a federal judge until at least Monday after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. An additional lawsuit by Democratic state attorneys general was also pending.

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans, including Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps, would not be affected. But they sometimes struggled to provide a clear picture.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially would not say whether Medicaid was exempted from the freeze, but the administration later clarified that it was.

Although Trump had promised to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term, the effects of his effort to pause funding were being felt far from the nations capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, and Head Start which provides early childcare in lower income communities, were worried about getting cut off.

Democratic critics of the order moved swiftly to celebrate the action.

This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this countryreal people made a difference by speaking out," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Still, the Trump administrationthrough a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the lawcaused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that Americans fought back and Donald Trump backed off.

--By Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller, Associated Press. Aimee Green of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. Mass protests continue in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Trend reports.

According to foreign sources, demonstrators have set fire to the French and Belgian embassies, while tires are burning in front of the US embassy.

Earlier, attacks were carried out on the embassies of France, Rwanda, Belgium, and the US. Protesters have criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his support of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and are calling for international coalition intervention in the eastern part of the country, where the M23 group is attempting to capture the city of Goma.

The protests are taking place amid rising tensions in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels recently captured the city of Goma after a swift offensive.

Due to the unrest, some areas of Kinshasa have come to a standstill, with schools and shops being closed.

Meanwhile, the UN reported that armed clashes in Goma have resulted in hundreds of injuries, with bodies found in the streets and a sharp increase in cases of sexual violence. Many residents have fled the region as a result.

It is also reported that at least 17 international peacekeepers were killed in the ongoing fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Portland area refugee organizations are scrambling to gauge the impact of the Trump administrations order freezing all federal grants that dont comply with the presidents executive orders.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued an order Monday that said all federal agencies will have to pause grants that run contrary to President Donald Trumps priorities, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

State and local agencies, tribes, nonprofits and any of the myriad organizations nationwide that rely in any way on federal funding have been trying to understand what that means, exactly.

The funding freeze was set to go into effect at 2 p.m. Tuesday but was put on hold by a federal judge minutes before the deadline. The order lasts until Monday.

Among the entities that expect to be severely impacted by a federal grant pause are nonprofits serving refugees. But what the impact will be is, as yet, unclear.

We havent had clear guidance from the federal agencies, said Frank So, executive director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Were scrambling right now to put together what the guidance is requesting of us.

Ecumenical Ministries is one of several major organizations assisting refugees in Oregon. It helps resettle refugees, provides housing, helps domestic violence survivors, distributes food and provides immigrants and refugees legal services.

So said his organization was rushing to submit invoices for funds that needed to be reimbursed, ahead of the impending funding freeze.

The Oregon Department of Justice told Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and other organizations receiving money for domestic violence services that it was trying to request all the funds it could from the federal government by the Tuesday deadline, according to an email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

I know everyone is feeling very uncertain and unsettled with the news this morning that the federal government will be freezing all federal grants, the departments grant unit manager wrote in an email at 10:18 a.m. We are continuing to push through as many payments as possible and our finance department is working to submit an additional drawdown of our federal funds.

Multiple Oregon refugee organizations said they received news their funding could be cut.

The nonprofit Catholic Charities of Oregon said it gets its funding from the nonprofit United States Council of Catholic Bishops, which is a federally approved refugee resettlement agency. That organization informed Catholic Charities that the Trump administration has put an immediate pause on funding for all refugee resettlement programs, Catholic Charities said in an emailed statement.

The group is currently helping 73 people who came to Oregon legally through the refugee resettlement program, the organization said.

The administrations pause on services to refugees already living in the country puts them at risk of homelessness and exploitation, the agency wrote.

An organization that helps Afghan refugees in Portland said the pause on funds would be devastating.

The Afghan Support Network said it could lose as much as half of its funding as a result of the pause. The organization serves about 400 people a month in the Portland area, helping them learn to drive, pay rent and find work, President and Chief Executive Officer Yahya Haqiqi said.

This would severely affect our ability to support Afghans in Oregon, who rely on us during their most vulnerable moments, Haqiqi said in an email. They feel abandoned despite the sacrifices they made for this country. These cuts exacerbate that sense of betrayal.

The organization will now rely even more than usual on private donations, Haqiqi said, asking people to donate to the group online.

The Office of Management and Budgets memo ordered federal agencies to pause funding that may be implicated by Trumps executive orders.

Trump has so far signed at least 37 executive orders, NPR has reported. At least eight of them pertain to immigration, including one signed Jan. 20 that froze the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

The memo gave federal agencies until Feb. 10 to tell the Office of Management and Budget which of their programs fall within the scope of the pause.

Some federal lawmakers have said the funding pause is illegal to begin with.

No president can unilaterally block funding that Congress already approved, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. Trump is blatantly ignoring the law and his dangerous action to freeze federal funding is already hurting Oregonians.

A lawsuit filed by the District of Columbia and 22 states including Oregon is seeking a permanent halt to the funding freeze.

This is just another attempt by President Trump to sow chaos, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. The people who rely on this money will suffer irreparable harm.

A major nonprofit helping refugees, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, said it was going to focus on the people it needs to help now.

We are grateful to the court for pressing pause on an overreaching presidential order. And we wont let ourselves be distracted by it, spokesperson Matt Mitserak said in an emailed response to questions. There are too many vulnerable people around the Pacific Northwest who rely on our services every day.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com
Portland-based online security startup Eclypsium reported another $45 million in backing Tuesday, a mix of fresh investment and loans. The company says investors have put $85 million into its business since its founding in 2015.

Two former Intel security researchers, Yuriy Bulygin and Alex Bazhaniuk, started Eclypsium to combat a new generation of cyberthreats. The company said Tuesday its focused on repelling attacks on businesses and government agencies, including attacks by foreign countries.

Eclypsium employs 90 people, including 15 at its downtown Portland headquarters.

Eclypsiums previous investors include Ten Eleven Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Madrona. Theyre joined by four new backers Tuesday: Qualcomm Ventures, Pavilion Capital, Singtel Innov8 and Sixty Degree Capital.

Venture capital investment in Oregon startups fell again in 2024 to its lowest point in seven years, $555 million, according to the data firm PitchBook, whose accounting included $35 million of Eclypsiums latest round in last years tally.

mrogoway@oregonian.com or 503-294-7699.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 30. Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced on Wednesday to 11 years in prison over his 2024 conviction for taking bribes including gold bars in exchange for favors for Egypt and New Jersey businessmen, Trend reports.

U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein imposed the sentence at a hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Menendez was found guilty in July on all 16 felony counts he faced, including bribery and fraud. He was also found guilty of acting as a foreign agent, a first for a U.S. Senator. He resigned from the Senate in August.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office urged Stein to sentence Menendez to 15 years in prison. They say he shepherded military aid to Egypt, provided assistance to Qatar, and interfered in local prosecutions of allied businessmen in exchange for bribes including gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz.
Bringing together Windows and the Apple iPhone has been an agonizing journey. Microsoft is taking another step to connect the two, providing a consistent UI and file sharing between the two platforms via the Start menu.

Microsoft already includes an app called Phone Link within Windows, which is a surprisingly powerful way to connect Windows with Android phones. But Apples reluctance to open its platform has meant that iPhone owners dont enjoy the same benefits. Connecting Windows Phone Link to Apples iMessage, for example, requires some fiddling and caveats.

With this new update, Microsoft is heading in a slightly different direction. Last June, Microsoft began testing a floating sidebar to the Windows 11 Start menu, where Android users could see a dashboard of their phones priorities: battery life, recent events (like a call or message) and quick links to Phone Links features like calls or photos. iPhones, of course, were excluded. Now theyre not.

The new update, which Microsoft is testing via both its Dev and Beta channels, basically puts Android phones and iPhones on a more equal footing, and adds a few new features: an easier and consistent setup process for both iPhones and Android phones, a consistent UI between the two platforms, and file sharing back and forth between Android/iPhones and Windows.

Microsoft is pushing a consistent UI and setup process for connecting to your phone to your Windows PC via Start. Microsoft

The last feature is important because iPhones still need a workaround: while the floating Start sidebar allows Android users to access their phones chats, calls, and photos, that last bit is excluded from the iPhone menu. However, file sharing basically adds that feature back in; its just more of a manual process.

Right now, this isnt available to mainstream users, or what Microsoft calls the Stable Channel. Instead, you still need to be willing to join Windows Insider program, and specifically run either Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 4805 and higher in Beta Channel or 26120.3000 and higher in the Dev channel. You also need a phone that you can sign in with a Microsoft account and download the Phone Link app, with version 1.24121.30.0 or higher.

My everyday PC remains on the Stable Channel. Although I use an Android phone rather than an iPhone with Phone Link, I find Phone Link to be surprisingly useful  even though Intel took a run at Phone link with its Unison software. I havent heard anything about Unison for months now, however, while Microsoft continues developing Phone Link. Hurray for competition!
Streamers love to fiddle with their navigation menus, moving this menu bar here and shifting this button there, all in the name of streamlining the experience. The changes are typically just different, not better, but Maxs latest menu revamp at least adds something new.

The most obvious change on the new Max navigation is that the top menu bar, which housed such items as Home, Series, Movies, HBO, B-R Sports, and News, has been nixed.

Those top content lenses have now shifted over to the left-side menu, meaning youll no longer have to jump from one side of the screen to the other when navigating the various menu items.

Sounds logicalalthough as The Streamable points out, the Max change is essentially the reverse of what Netflix did last year, when it moved its main navigation bar from the left side of the page to the top. (Sigh.)

The new Max design (drag the slider left to reveal) moves the top navigation to the side, while also adding Whats New and Categories.

Aside from juggling the location of its existing menu items, the new Max navigation adds a couple of new options to the mix: Categories and Whats New.

Categories is just what it sounds like, with a Max press release saying the option offers a new pathway for users to browse titles by genre, brand, and thematic collections. Thats a pretty standard navigational featureNetflix and most of the other big streamers let you browse by category too, in one configuration or anotherbut well take it.

More interesting is the Whats New option, a new navigation page showcasing content that has recently arrived on the platform, as well as those coming or leaving soon.

Whats New should be a handy way to keep tabs on recently added movies and shows on Maxand more importantly, to catch titles that are poised to leave the service before theyre gone.

Veteran Max users on Reddit are saying that the just-added Whats New option hearkens back to the leaving soon section on the former HBO Max app, back before Max underwent its name change.

Max says its been testing its new navigation layout in Latin America, and that the revamped design will go worldwide in a phased rollout approach.
Like so many of the unhoused, Alfred Colon fell off the grid.

A resident of Harrisburgs Tent City off South Front Street, his neighbors there didnt even know the 53-year-olds first name.
Parker McCollum kicked off his tour this past weekend at Penn State and things did not go as planned.

The young country music star didnt get very far into his show before apologizing to fans  telling them he was feeling ill  and leaving the stage. He returned to social media on Tuesday to give an update of what went down that night, and it doesnt sound like he had much fun.

Long story short, I was in a meet and greet before the show, and I had about two people left, and all of a sudden just out of nowhere  Bam  I felt it in my stomach, he said in a video shared to his Instagram. I said, Man, Im about to be very, very sick. I knew that something was pretty wrong, and spent about an hour sitting with my head in my lap, trying to kind of make myself throw up just to see if that would make me feel better. I couldnt really do it, show time rolled around, and decided to try to give it a go.

McCollum said he felt OK through the first couple of songs.

And then the more I was singing and pushing, you know, it just became apparent, and Im sure you could tell in the crowd, that I was not doing well up there, he said. Ive never had to walk off stage in the middle of a show in all the years Ive been doing this. That was absolutely the worst thing ever to have to end a show like that, especially so early in the night.

McCollum said he headed straight for his tour bus when he left the stage, but didnt make it.

I was in the bushes for about 10 minutes, just as violently sick as I have ever been in my entire life, he said. Spent about the next 48 hours basically in the fetal position, you know, just incredibly sick. Just as unbelievably ill as I have been my entire life. I wish that on nobody. But feeling a little better now.

McCollum said he thinks he will be good for his weekend shows but still isnt 100 percent.

First weekend of the tour, not how I wanted it to go, he said. I just appreciate all the fans there in Pennsylvania for showing up. The crowd was electric. The arena was sold out and, you know, everything was kind of teed up to have a great show in that first weekend of the tour and could not have been more of the opposite.

You have my word, he added. We are working on a date sometime this year to come back and make that show up to you guys. I really appreciate the support and everybody reaching out and checking on me.

Video showed McCollum stopping shortly into his show Saturday at Penn State.

Penn State I apologize sincerely, Im going to call the show, he then tells the crowd. Ill give each and every single one of yall your money back.

Its from the deepest part of my heart that I apologize for having to do this, he added. Ive never done this in all the years Ive been singing country music. I apologize sincerely. I hope you guys will forgive us.

We will come back and make it up, he added. I will give every penny you spent tonight back to you. Thank you so much.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. French military presence undermines sovereignty and independence of African countries, Gift Sambo, expert from the Department of Politics and Government, University of Malawi, told Trend.

According to him, globally, France projects an image of the champion of freedom.

He said that Paris has contributed a lot in areas such as humanitarian aid, peace initiatives, and a culture of humanity that emphasizes the sanctity of human beings.

However, according to the expert, this changes when the issue is about France's relations with its former colonies in Africa.

"France deliberately designs its relationship with the African states in a 'zero sum game' first of all in favor of France itself," Sambo explained.

As the expert pointed out, among others, French companies continue expropriating wealth generated from mineral resources of these countries, keeping them in the economic dependence situation.

Such a scenario has led to the emergence of deep poverty, fuelling discontent among both the elite and the ordinary citizens, as well as creating a ground for political instability, and then the eruption of military regimes among a number of African countries, Sambo mentioned.

Besides, according to the expert, French influence in these countries is often perceived as oppressive, creating psychological lack of will and perpetuating negative dependencies.

He stressed that the French military keeps their presence in former colonies in the name of fighting terrorism, which also undermines the sovereignty and independence of these countries.

Sambo further highlighted that the people of these countries are confident that their political systems remain entangled by the strong influence of the colonial past.

"These circumstances led African political elites to begin searching for new economic blocks for cooperation, seeking rapprochement with other international partners for counterbalance to the French manipulations," the expert added.

According to Sambo, France should review its approach to African countries.

"Firstly, France should embark on a paradigm shift by starting to view African countries as equal partners in development so as to build a win-win relationship. This can be achieved by allowing these former colonies to independently steer development policy in their countries.

Secondly, France should consider embarking on an incremental approach towards the eventual withdrawal of the French military from its former colonies. This will help in building trust between France and its former colonies," he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Buff Bagwell took to YouTube Monday with a shocking announcement, and to assure fans that he is fine.

The surprise? Well, Bagwell, who has had legal issues around his sobriety in years past, said he was slated to be booked into jail in Georgia on Monday.

But the good news is, per the former WCW wrestler and nWo star, it has nothing to do with a relapse.

Today, we are just here to tell everybody that Im good, Bagwell said. Please dont fall into the rumors that, Oh, Bagwell did it again. Hes relapsed. I want everybody to know that I am doing great.

Bagwell said that he is slated to serve three days behind bars for a jail sanction, that he said is for breaking rules of the DUI court. He said he wanted to get ahead of his booking because the actual booking photo will say that he was booked for DUI, but that is because he is in a program that dates back to a 2020 arrest in Cobb County.

It aint gonna say Marcus Bagwell got arrested today for violating program confidentiality rules, he said. Its not gonna say that. Its gonna say I got arrested for a DUI, and the world is gonna think I relapsed. That is what this video is for, to let everybody know Im in a great place. Ive never been closer to God in my life. Ive got the best relationship that Ive ever had in my 55 years of life now with Stacy Brown. We are now engaged. This is just a little pause, a little crack in the road for me. This is nothing, but I dont want people to worry. Im going to jail today for three days today for a jail sanction.

The arrest in 2020 resulted in Bagwell being charged with not carrying and producing a drivers license, open container, giving a false name, address or birthdate to a law enforcement officer, following too closely, hit and run; duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of accident, according to Wrestle Zone.

Bagwell said he was also arrested in 2023, but that was also related to a DUI court offense  he said he didnt document his travel correctly  and each time he is taken into custody it shows the original charges.

Bagwell claims he has had 2  years of sobriety.

Im guilty and Im wrong obviously in the DUI court, he said. But I didnt realize I was doing anything wrong.

Its a very strict program, he said. But I believe in the DUI court program.

This is a big reason for my sobriety.
The professional wrestling world was hit by four deaths to start the new year.

The following is a look back at the performers who died in January:

BLACK BART

Richard Harris, better known to wrestling fans as Black Bart, died on Jan. 9.

He was 76-years-old.

The news comes just days after his family announced on his Facebook page that he had discontinued chemotherapy in his battle against cancer and had entered hospice.

You might know him as Black Bart, but to me he was my husband Ricky, a post on his Facebook page read Thursday. He left us this morning. He was pronounced at 5:26 this morning. He is Resting in Peace.

His family first announced his condition on Jan. 4.

I wasnt going to say anything yet but decided to let his people know he is on hospice, that post on his Facebook page reads. We appreciate the prayers and do wish them to continue but as I said before he is no longer taking the chemo and his cancer was stage 4 when diagnosed in 2022.

He first announced to fans in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.

The 6-foot-4, 350-pound Arkansas native began his wrestling career in 1975, and he worked for a long list of promotions.

Harris had a short run, from 1990-1991, in the WWE as Black Bart. He also spent time with WCW in 1991, and after he left that promotion he continued to wrestle through 2002.

Colonel DeBeers

Ed Wiskowski, perhaps best known as professional wrestler Colonel DeBeers, died on Jan. 26.

He was 80.

It is with profound sadness that the Cauliflower Alley Club announces the passing of Ed Wiskowski, better known to wrestling fans as Colonel DeBeers, at the age of 80, the Cauliflower Alley Club posted on X. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans worldwide. Thanks for the memories. R.I.P. Sir.

DeBeers, who also wrestled as The Polish Prince, was trained by one of the all-time greats  Harley Race. He began his career in 1972 and, per Wrestle Zone, had a prominent run in the AWA where he feuded with the likes of Scott Hall and Jimmy Snuka among other former stars.

The 6-foot-4, 275 pounder had his final match in 2005.

Wiskowski also ran a wrestling school until 2006.

HUNTER Q ROBBINS III

Hunter Q. Robbins III died on Jan. 11, according to Fightful.com.

Robbins III, whose real name was Robin Hunt, served as the manager for legendary wrestler Sabu in his ECW debut, per the site. He also managed The Super Destroyers and The Suicide Blondes in ECW.

Fightful said that following wrestling, Robbins directed and produced several films including Coming Undone.

SWEET DADDY SIKI

Sweet Daddy Siki actually died on New Years Eve, but the news of his passing didnt spread until we got into 2025.

He was 91.

Siki died in Torontos Humber Hospital after a long battle with dementia.

He began his career in the 1950s and wrestled into the 1980s. He then trained a handful of star wrestlers, per the site, including Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.

Sikas real name was Elkin James, per SLAM, and he was a native of Grimes, Texas. SLAM said James was a U.S. Army veteran, and after he got out of the service, he reportedly got into wrestling.

SLAM said he was one of the first African-American heels  meaning he played a bad guy in the ring  and wasnt afraid to push the envelope. The site said he once changed his name to Mau Mau Siki following the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and so enraged fans that they were waiting for him outside.

I was the last one to leave the dressing room, and people were out there waiting for me, he said per SLAM. They had a rope up in the tree.

You can read more about the talented, groundbreaking, envelope pushing in SLAMs in-depth remembrance of his career and life here.
By Sophie Austin, The Associated Press/Report for America

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  California water officials said this week theres no truth to President Donald Trumps assertion that the U.S. military has entered California and turned on the water.

Trumps comments, made Monday on his social media platform Truth Social, are the latest in a series of remarks hes made and actions hes taken related to the states water policy following devastating wildfires that ripped through the Los Angeles area this month. Hes often offering an incomplete or incorrect assessment of the states water policies or tying together unrelated issues.

The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond, the Republican president wrote. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!

The California Department of Water Resources said in a post on X that the military did not enter California.

The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days, the agency posted. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.

Most of Californias water comes from the north, where it melts from mountain snow and runs into rivers that connect to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. From there, much of it is sent further south to farmers and cities like Los Angeles through two large pumping and canal systems. One is run by the federal government and the other by the state. There is no water supply from the Pacific Northwest that connects into Californias system.

There is a long-running debate in the state over how California divides water between farms, cities and environmental uses, such as keeping a certain amount of water flowing through rivers and out toward the ocean to protect fish populations. Trump has sided squarely with farmers who want more water.

He has incorrectly said Californias water conveyance policies are to blame for hydrants running dry as Los Angeles-area wildfires raged on. He threatened to withhold federal aid for the region unless the state changed its approach on water management. On Sunday, his administration released an executive order that aims to send more federally controlled water south.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the federal pumping system, declined to comment on why the pumps were offline for maintenance or on Trumps comments that the military was involved. The California Department of Water Resources directed questions on the pump maintenance to the federal government.

One U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military activities, said no active-duty troops were involved in turning the water pumps back on.

The White House suggested Tuesday that Trump was referring to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but did not provide details about how much water was involved, where it came from or how changes were implemented. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked at a briefing what role soldiers were playing in California water policy. She said California had turned on the water, referring to the authorities allowing water to flow from northern California to southern parts of the state.

FILE - President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump talk with Los Angeles firefighters as they tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)AP

The Army Corps of Engineers has been on the ground to respond to the devastation from these wildfires, Leavitt added.

Leavitt said the changes occurred after Trump himself applied tremendous pressure on state and local officials during a visit to Los Angeles on Friday, where he had traveled to tour the devastation the recent wildfires left behind.

Ahead of that visit, Trump had repeatedly blasted Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and the states water policies. He took a more conciliatory tone when Newsom met him on the tarmac, and did not mention conditions for federal aid during a briefing with local and state officials.

His office later released the executive order calling for overriding disastrous California policies. It gives various federal agencies 15 days to come up with a plan to ensure adequate water resources in Southern California.

Trump took similar actions during his first term. Environmental groups quickly criticized the executive order.

Associated Press reporters Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and contributed to this report.

Austin 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 Austin on X: @ sophieadanna
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.

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 29, 2025

Pennsylvanias first case of avian flu of the year has been confirmed. Pittsburgh is thinking about a referendum that would bar private entities from owning water and sewer systems. A report has found that counties with their own health department greatly benefit from them. Lastly, the bust of one of Philadelphias most famous is going up for auction.

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.
An eastern Pennsylvania township wanted to keep its policy banning its township police from displaying the thin blue line flag so badly that it appealed a federal judges ruling to an appeals court.

However, the Third Circuit of Appeals Court affirmed on Tuesday that the rule violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, siding with the police union suing Springfield Township in Montgomery County.
The White House said Tuesday the drones spotted flying over New Jersey late last year were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration for research and various other reasons.

Before taking questions at her first news briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she had an update on the drones to relay directly from recently sworn in President Donald Trump.

After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons, Leavitt said.

Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time, it got worse due to curiosity, she continued, referring to the confusion and paranoia ignited by the increasing number of reports that spread across the state and the Northeast in November and December.

This was not the enemy, Leavitt said. She did not further clarify what kind of research was being conducted over New Jersey, nor what the various other reasons for the drones presence might have been.

A spokesperson for the FAA referred a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon back to the White House, as did a representative for the FBIs Newark office. It is unclear whether the FBIs investigation into the drone reports is ongoing.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the update.

In a statement on Tuesday, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-Union, criticized the Biden administration for its lack of communication, which he said led to very real concern among New Jerseyans.

Government transparency is paramount and I appreciate the Trump administration providing this information to the public, said Bramnick, a candidate for governor this year.

In mid-December, federal authorities said that the vast majority of drone sightings were cases of mistaken identity.

In a joint statement, the FAA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense said the objects being reported were almost all lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.

By then, thousands of reports had been called in from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.

Public officials have repeatedly stressed that there was no evidence the sightings posed a threat to public safety or national security.

Still, some lawmakers exacerbated fears by spreading drone misinformation. In early January, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., suggested the drones were coming from an Iranian mothership anchored off the United States coastline.

The U.S. Department of Defense categorically shot Van Drew down, saying there was no truth to his theory.

As apprehension and anxiety spread, however, others called on the federal government to take more decisive action. Murphy wrote to then-President Joe Biden to request more resources be diverted to understand what is behind this activity.

The FAA also announced a series of drone flight bans over critical infrastructure. The restrictions, which impacted around 50 towns in New Jersey, expired earlier this month.

Less than a week before taking office, Trump vowed that one of his first acts as president would be to release a report on drones.

Asked by a reporter for an update just hours into his administration, he ordered his chief of staff to immediately get to the bottom of the mystery.

I would like to find out what it is and tell the people, Trump told reporters in the room.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.
Security agents had to escort the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump Administration.

Phyllis Fong, who has been with the department for 22 years, had told her colleagues that she intended to stay after President Trump fired 17 inspector generals at various government agencies on Friday, according to Reuters, which broke the story.

Fong told her coworkers that she didnt believe that Trump had followed the proper protocols in firing her.

In an email she sent on Saturday, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.

Officials at the White House defending the firings, saying that these rogue, partisan bureaucrats... have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy.

The USDA Inspector General deals with food safety, audits and investigations of the Agriculture Department and violations of animal welfare laws. The USDA has been one of the main agencies dealing with the outbreak of bird flu, which has spread to cattle and poultry. One person in Louisiana has died from the disease.

In 2022, the office opened an investigation into Elon Musks brain implant company Neuralink, over accusations of animal welfare violations. Fong also conducted an investigation of the agency following the listeria outbreak at Boars Head.
Russian actor Yuri Kolokolnikov starred in the scandalous Max series The White Lotus. His was spotted in a trailer for season 3. It is interesting that earlier, the series had to cease cooperation with pro-Russian Serbian actor Milos Bikovic due to complaints from Ukrainians about his political position.

ADVERTISIMENT

And now another Russian actor can be seen in a new trailer for the third season of The White Lotus during several moments, namely at a party and in a swimming pool. It should be noted that he was not included in the list of actors on IMDb.

Russian media believe that he replaced the Serbian, but there is no information about this, as Bulgarian actor Julian Kostov was supposed to play this role.

"If you have been wondering where Ronin disappeared after the finale, know this: he went on a retreat to the The White Lotus! Check out Yuri Kolokolnikov in the third season of the most important series on the planet right now," said Russian director Max Shishkin.

ADVERTISIMENT

By the way, Yuri Kolokolnikov considers himself a celebrity because of his involvement in several Hollywood projects, Game of Thrones in particular. Due to the role in an acclaimed series like this, he compared himself to the dictator Vladimir Putin, who is also known all over the world, but not in a positive light at all.

"The funny thing is that my contract said I had to keep quiet about it. I kept silent for six months. I had filmed a long time ago, I had already started a new creative chapter in life... And when the creators of Game of Thrones announced a new season featuring my face, there was such a splash. I did not expect such a scale! I remember there was a big conference with representatives of all the media, and I was like... Putin. All the journalists were so happy that I was there. You know, no envy at all, very sincere. And I, myself, don't know why, was madly happy to see them too, like a fool," he said in an interview with Russian media.

ADVERTISIMENT

Some time ago, the HBO streaming company published a list of actors who would star in the new season of The White Lotus. Among them, viewers noticed a native of Serbia and a supporter of the Russian world Milos Bikovic, and because of this, they announced that they would boycott the series.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also reacted to the participation of a pro-Russian actor in the series, but received no response from HBO. Later, the company announced that it had hired Bulgarian Kostov to replace Bikovic.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
888casino Sign Up Bonus for 2025: 200% Deposit Match

Sam Coyle Senior iGaming & CRO Manager Copy link

When it comes to online casinos in 2025, 888casino stands out as a top-tier platform known for its attractive sign up bonuses.

These bonuses are designed to provide new 888casino players with a head start, making their gaming experience even more exciting.

In this article, I'm taking a closer look at the 888casino sign up bonus in detail, including how to claim it, the terms and conditions, and my tips for making the most of the rewards on offer.

What is the 888casino Sign Up Bonus for 2025?

The 888casino sign up bonus is a promotional offer that rewards new 888casino players upon registering and making their first deposit. The bonus varies depending on the region, but 888casino offer some form of welcome offer across all their sites.

888casino is available in many locations across Europe and further afield but is particularly popular in the UK and Canada. Here are two notable examples for the 888casino sign up bonus in these regions:

UK Bonus: A 200% Deposit Bonus up to a maximum of 200. A minimum deposit of 10 is required.

A 200% Deposit Bonus up to a maximum of 200. A minimum deposit of 10 is required. Canada Bonus: A 100% Deposit Bonus up to C$1000 plus 100 Free Spins. A minimum deposit of C$10 is required.

Note, this Canadian bonus is available at 888casino for players residing outside Ontario only.

This means players can receive extra funds or spins to explore the casinos vast array of games right after signing up.

Key Features of the 888casino 2025 Sign Up Bonus

Before we get too far into this, let's pause and take a closer look at the details for the 888casino sign up bonus in 2025:

Bonus Type Deposit match and free spins (Canada only). Eligibility New players only. Minimum Deposit 10 for the UK, C$10 for Canada. Maximum Bonus 200 for the UK, C$1000 and 100 Free Spins for Canada.

What is a 'Deposit Match' Bonus? A deposit match means that the online casino will match the amount of your first deposit. This can be 50% of the value of your deposit, 100%, or sometimes even more! Find out more about the different types of casino bonuses.

How to Claim the 888casino Sign Up Bonus

Claiming the 888casino sign up bonus is straightforward. Follow these simple steps:

Visit the 888casino Website

Go to the official 888casino website using our exclusive bonus link. Click on 'Sign Up'

Click on the 'Sign Up' button at 888casino. Register Your Account

Fill out the registration form with your personal details, and create a username and password. Make Your First Deposit

Deposit at least 10 (UK) or C$10 (Canada). Deposit amounts may vary depending on your location. The bonus will be automatically credited to your account as soon as your account is active.

Get the 888casino Sign Up Bonus

Terms and Conditions to Consider

As with any casino bonus, its essential to understand the bonus terms before signing up:

888casino Bonus Term Details Wagering Requirements 30x for the bonus amount (varies by region). Eligible Games Slots contribute 100%; table games vary. Bonus Expiry 90 days after activation.

Why Choose 888casino?

888casino offers more than just a great sign up bonus, whether it's the online slots, table games, or the supremely-good live dealer platform. Here are additional reasons to look at 888casino for your next casino site:

Game Variety: As well as conventional casino games, you can enjoy game shows, jackpot slots and more!

As well as conventional casino games, you can enjoy game shows, jackpot slots and more! 888casino's Reputation: Trusted since 1997 and licensed in multiple jurisdictions.

Trusted since 1997 and licensed in multiple jurisdictions. Convenience: Secure deposits, fast payouts, and user-friendly interface.

Secure deposits, fast payouts, and user-friendly interface. Ongoing 888casino Promotions and Rewards: Regular bonuses and loyalty rewards.

888casino's Live Dealer selection is almost unparalleled amongst online casino sites.

Tips for Maximizing Your 888casino Sign Up Bonus

It's hard to go wrong with a signup bonus like this one from 888casino. However, there are still a few tips we'd highlight when you sign up and receive your bonus.

Firstly, choose your games wisely. If you can, focus on slots so you can meet wagering requirements faster. Before playing games, read the rules carefully and make sure you understand the contribution they make to your bonus.

We always advise players to play responsibly and to manage both their bankroll and their playing time, even if they have obtained a bonus to play. A good way to start playing without having to spend much of your own money, is using free spins, as is the case with the 888casino bonus in Canada.

Never chase losses Never chase losses Always set limits Always set limits Take regular breaks Take regular breaks Responsible Gambling

Still considering your next move?

A good next step could be to read our full 888casino review for more details. Here, you'll find full information about the desktop software, mobile app, and 888casino customer service.

888casino 2025 Sign Up Bonus FAQs

What is the 888casino sign up bonus? The sign up bonus is a promotional offer for new players, including deposit matches and free spins, depending on your region. How do I qualify for the bonus? You must be a new player, register an account, and make a minimum deposit (10 in the UK or C$10 in Canada). Are there any wagering requirements? Yes, the bonus funds must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal, though requirements may vary by region. Can I use the bonus on any game? Slots usually contribute 100% to wagering requirements, while table games may have lower contributions. Is the bonus available on mobile? Yes, the bonus can be claimed and used on the 888casino mobile app or website. Do free spins have specific terms? Free spins may be limited to selected slot games and must be used within a specific time frame. What happens if I dont meet the wagering requirements? If requirements arent met within the specified period, the bonus and any associated winnings may be forfeited.

Disclaimer: any promotions presented on this page were correct and available at the time of writing. Promotions can change regularly. We encourage all users to check the promotion displayed matches the most current promotion available by clicking through to the operator welcome page. Please read the terms and conditions carefully before you accept any promotional welcome offer.

Share this article
Yuri Martins Gama Denies Fellow Brazilian Thiago Crema a Sunday Million Title

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

Brazilian poker players dominated the latter stage of the latest PokerStars Sunday Million, with five samba stars navigating to the $1 million guaranteed event's final table. Two of those Brazilians, Yuri "tecaoo" Martins Gama and Thiago "KKremate" Crema found themselves heads-up. Between them, they took home $$140,246 of the seven-figure prize pool.

This week, the $109 Sunday Million was played to a progressive knockout format. PokerStars processed 9,749 entries, resulting in a $25,100 overlay on the $1 million guarantee. The top 1,615 finishers, including Team PokerStars' Kenny "SpaceyFCB" Hallaert and Benjamin "Spraggy" Spragg, received a regular prize pool payout.

Day 1 concluded with 115 hopefuls in with a chance of Sunday Million glory. They returned to their seats on Day 2 to fight it out for a $54,596 top prize plus as many progressive bounties they could get their hands on.

$109 Sunday Million PKO Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 Yuri "tecaoo" Martins Gama Brazil $27,121 $54,596 $81,717 2 Thiago "KKremate" Crema Brazil $3,943 $54,586 $58,529 3 nakil301 Canada $11,042 $40,298 $51,340 4 22Turk22 United Kingdom $4,677 $28,073 $32,750 5 YureRML Brazil $2,810 $19,540 $22,350 6 tuiliodutra96 Brazil $4,370 $13,345 $17,715 7 m.o_4515 Ukraine $4,712 $9,404 $14,116 8 bpauldo11 Brazil $3,085 $6,674 $9,759 9 gregory709 Vietnam $4,256 $4,750 $9,006

Gama scored a double elimination relatively early into the final table's proceedings. "gregory709" moved all-in with ace-five of diamonds from under the gun for less than an ante, "bpauludo11" ripped it in for 5.5 big blinds with ace-eight of spades in middle position, and Gama squeezed all-in from the cutoff with king-ten of clubs, folding out the remaining players. Gama turned an ace-high flush to send two opponents to the rail; he also collected $3,720 from the bounty prize pool.

Losing a coinflip sent Ukraine's "m.o_4515" home in seventh. The Ukrainian min-raised under the gun with pocket tens, "nakil301" responded with a three-bet jam from the cutoff with ace-king of clubs, and "m.o_4515" called off the 15 big binds they had behind. An ace-king-trey flop left the all-in player drawing thin, and no help arrived for them on the turn or river.

Another coinflip scenario resulted in "tuliodutra96" heading for the exits. They open-shoved for 10 big blinds with king-queen of hearts from under the gun. The action folded to "nakil301" in the small blind and they moved all-in with five-four of hearts. Those suited connectors had improved to a wheel straight by the river, sending "tuliodutra96" to the sidelines.

$15M GTD Across Two Weeks of Bounty Builder Series Action on PokerStars Check out the schedule

Five-handed play ended when "YureRML" bowed out at the hands of "22Turk22." Seated under the gun and nursing a 3.5 big blind stack, "YureRML" moved all-in with king-jack. Crema folded but "22Turk22" was holding ace-king of hearts and was going nowhere. Tey committed their 14 big blind stack, and boosted their chip count when the five community cards fell queen-high.

"22Turk22" was the next player relieved of their stack despite winning that pot. Their final hand saw them open-shove for 11 big blinds with queen-jack from under the gun, and the aggressive bounty-hunting "nakil301" raised all-in with king-ten of diamonds, which folded out the other two players. Both players spiked a pair on the flop, but "nakil301" improved to two pair on the turn. A blank river later, and the Sunday Million was down to only three players.

Those three became two with the untimely demise of "nakil301," who went from a commanding lead to being left with dust where their chips once stood. First, "nakil301" lost almost half their stack when their ace-nine fell foul to Crema's pocket tens. The last of "ankil301"'s chips went into the middle pocket deuces, only for Gama" to wake up with a pair of kings in the hole. Those kings improved to a set on the flop, sending "nakil301" home in third place.

Sunday Million runner-up (again) Thiago Crema

Gama held a two-to-one chip lead over fellow Brazilian Crema going into the heads-up battle. Gama became the champion less than ten minutes after the first heads-up hand was dealt. Crema initially limped with ace-deuce but then raised all-in after Gama raised from the big blind with king-queen. The shove was for 22 big blinds, and Gama called. A king-high flop put Gama in front, and he stayed though through the turn and river to become the PokerStars Sunday Million champion.

Other Notable PokerStars Results

Ukraine's "drew.derzh" triumphed in the $5,200 Titans Event for $87,884, a prize rivalling the Sunday Million's top payout. The Ukrainian defeated Austria's "ibotown" heads-up, with Ole "wizowizo" Schemion continuing his explosive start to 2025 with a third-place finish worth $41,198.

Check out the table below to some see of the biggest names and prizes awarded at PokerStars over the weekend.

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize $5,200 Titans Event 49 $250,000 drew.derzh $87,884 $1,050 Sunday High Roller PKO 127 $127,000 flerrehuve $31,125 $55 Mini Bounty Builder HR 5,031 $251,550 theboss184 $26,227 $530 Bounty Builder High Roller 242 $121,000 BrotherHS $23,603 $215 Sunday StacKOsaurus 468 $93,600 Patrick "JaegsPL" Lauber $16,725 $1,050 Sunday Warm-Up High Roller 53 $53,000 Benjamin "bencb789" Rolle $16,468 $109 Sunday Warm-Up 1,162 $116,200 Turko_man $15,811 $109 Sunday Fenomeno 913 $91,300 _m0ney2_89 $15,228 $1,050 Sunday Supersonic High Roller 32 $32,507 Alex "I Attack95" Kulev $13,583 $109 Sunday Cooldown 869 $86,900 mdf92 $13,135 $215 Sunday Supersonic 297 $60,813 MezuuUuuT $11,458 $22 Mini Sunday Million 5,930 $118,600 unrealxx $11,071 $109 Sunday Kickoff 521 $52,100 DeathBrain09 $9,253 $320 Juggernaut 132 $39,600 josef_shvejk $8,679

*prizes include bounties where applicable

Share this article
Scientists have studied a unique papyrus from the collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority that offers a rare insight into Roman trials. The research team reveals how the Roman Empire dealt with financial crimes - in particular, tax fraud involving slaves - in the Roman provinces of Judea and Arabia.

ADVERTISIMENT

The papyrus provides a detailed insight into Roman jurisdiction and legal practice, experts from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the University of Vienna, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem emphasize. The ancient document also reveals important new information about the tumultuous era that was shaken by two massive Jewish revolts against Roman rule, Mirage writes.

According to the researchers, the Greek-language papyrus, which runs to more than 133 lines, is the longest of its kind found in the Judean Desert. Initially, it was mislabeled as Nabataean, so the text was rejected for several decades.

In 2014, however, Professor Hannah Cotton Paltiel of the Hebrew University discovered that the text was Greek. Recognizing the extraordinary legal and historical significance of the document, the papyrus gathered an international team to decipher its contents.

ADVERTISIMENT

The research revealed that the papyrus contains notes from prosecutors preparing for a Roman trial. The case unfolded in the years preceding the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136 AD) and contains details of a criminal investigation into document forgery, tax evasion and fraudulent transactions involving slaves, LBV writes.

Gadalias, the son of a notary and probably a Roman citizen, had a history of criminal activity, including extortion, forgery, and incitement to insurrection. Saulos, his accomplice, organized fraudulent ransoms, which further complicated the case, the text says.

Anna Dolganova of the Austrian Academy of Sciences noted the liveliness and directness of the language used in the papyrus.

The crimes described in the ancient document carried severe penalties under Roman law, ranging from forced labor to the death penalty. The document emphasizes the strict observance of laws by the empire even in remote provinces, the researchers emphasize.

Professor Fritz Mitthof of the University of Vienna noted that this discovery emphasizes the ability of Roman institutions to adapt to different territories.

According to the scientists, the tumultuous historical context, combined with the rich legal content of the document, opens an extremely important window into the complexity of Roman law and life in an era of conflict and change.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012.
Health Reporter

Tom Corwin is the Health Reporter for The Post and Courier. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and has covered science, medicine, politics and state legislatures for newspapers in Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.
There were many different sauces in Soviet stores. However, ketchup was not among them.

ADVERTISIMENT

Moreover, it was even banned and removed from all cookbooks. FoodOboz explains why this happened.

How and when did ketchup appear in the USSR?

Ketchup first appeared in the USSR in the second half of the 1930s. It was in 1936 that the then People's Commissar of Food Industry Anastas Mikoyan traveled to the United States on Stalin's orders. There he got acquainted with the popular food products of this country and bought the production technology.

It was thanks to this trip that the Soviet Union began producing canned food, semi-finished products, bread, ice cream, champagne, mayonnaise, sausages, condensed milk, corn flakes, ketchup, and much more.

ADVERTISIMENT

Thus, the Glavkonserv enterprise of the USSR Ministry of Food Industry became the sole supplier of ketchup to the Soviet market. The company had to launch a large-scale advertising campaign, as the country's population was very wary of ketchup.

Why was ketchup banned?

Soon ketchup became a very popular product and almost every housewife used it. However, they enjoyed it for no more than 5 years. Its production stopped in 1941, immediately after the German attack, as ketchup was not considered a basic necessity.

And after the war ended, its production was not restored because of the so-called Cold War, as a result of which the United States first turned into an adversary and then into an enemy. Of course, in this situation, selling products of American origin in the USSR was considered mauvais ton.
Myrtle Beach, SC (29577)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mostly sunny this morning then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 71F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 51F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Defendant Jcoery Smith sits with his attorneys while appearing in court for the first day of his murder trial on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Jcoery Smith, 22, is accused of fatally shooting his uncle Roger Allen on June 20, 2022. Bexar County Jail

A man accused of fatally shooting his uncle did so in self-defense, his attorney argued as the trial began on Wednesday.

Jcoery Smith, 22, is charged with murder in connection with the 2022 death of Roger Allen. If found guilty, Smith faces up to life in prison.

The two men had been in an argument about business matters for several days, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

During opening statements, prosecutors told the jury that on June 20, 2022, Allen drove to Smith's home, walked into his bedroom and left with his shotgun.

After Allen walked out, Smith grabbed his handgun and followed him outside to demand the shotgun back. Allen was sitting in his car, preparing to drive away, when Smith closed his eyes and shot in Allen's direction multiple times, striking  and killing him, prosecutors said.

"This case is not a case about who done it with what weapon," prosecutor Vanessa Hutchinson said. "We believe the evidence will show that Jcoery Smith murdered Roger Allen."

Allen's wife (who is Smith's aunt) testified that the two had a "business relationship" and that they recently had an argument relating to their business. Testimony did not reveal what type of business the two were operating.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Smith's defense attorney, John Hunter, said Allen was a "violent" felon who served six years in prison for robbery. He said Allen had been caught for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

At the time of the shooting, Allen had a "draco," or semi automatic pistol, in his possession that he had used against Smith before, Hunter said.

"There's no question that this was a justified shooting. Jcoerey Smith was going to die," Hunter said. "There was a bullet in the chamber of that Draco pistol and Roger Allen was going to use it."

Hunter pointed out that in Texas, a resident can use lethal force to protect their property against armed robbery.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We should not convict someone who was using their right for self defense, Hunter said.
On the night of January 29, the Russian occupiers attacked Kyiv with attack drones, and air defense was operating in the capital. In the morning, it became known that the wreckage of a Russian UAV had fallen near a subway station in the Darnytskyi district of the capital.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klychko. The building of the Darnytsia depot was damaged.

The mayor announced that the wreckage of the downed Shahed fell in the Darnytsia district at 06:09.

"The wreckage of an enemy UAV fell near the metro station in the Darnytskyi district of the capital. All services are on their way to the scene," Klychko wrote.

A few minutes later, he gave the first details about the consequences of the attack.

"The wreckage of the UAV that fell in the Darnytskyi district damaged the fence and a separate building of the Darnytskyi depot checkpoint. All services are at the scene. There is no fire, no victims were found," the statement said at 06:18.

According to Oleksandr Kovtunov, acting head of the Darnytsia district state administration, one car was also damaged.

"The wreckage of an enemy UAV fell in Darnytsia district, damaging a fence and a detached building. There is no fire, no casualties. All services are at the scene. According to preliminary information, one car was damaged," the official wrote, posting a photo from the scene.

ADVERTISIMENT

At around 9 a.m., air alert was again declared in the capital due to an attack by Russian drones.

This time, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration, the fall of debris was recorded in the Desnianskyi district in an open area.

Grass and bushes caught fire. As of 09:36, the CMA claimed to have established information about the damage and victims.

As a reminder, the day before, a vintage car museum with cars from the collection of fugitive former President Viktor Yanukovych burned down as a result of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv region. He had left the cars at his Mezhyhiria residence in the Kyiv region.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The management of Max Air has officially confirmed that one of its aircraft crashlanded at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport late Tuesday night.

This incident occurred at about 10:57 p.m. after the aircraft arriving from Lagos lost its nose landing gear tyre during the landing process.

No fatalities were reported.

We wish to inform the public that one of our aircraft experienced an incident upon landing in Kano yesterday, Max Air said in a statement posted on its official X page on Wednesday.

The airline said its crew members handled the situation professionally to ensure the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew members.

There were no injuries, and the aircraft has since been removed from the runway as of 04:28, the statement said.

The airline said the Kano runway will remain temporarily closed for inspection and clearance, which may lead to some delays in flight operations on Wednesday.

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 the statement, further information about the runway reopening will be provided.

Our Max Air engineering team continues to demonstrate excellence in handling such situations. We will keep you informed on the status of flight schedules, the statement said.

As of the time of this report, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has yet to issue an official statement about the incident.

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, Bimbo Oladeji, the NSIB director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, said Our Go-team has been on-site since last night, working through the night to document and collect evidence.

We are currently awaiting their feedback, and once we receive the details, we will share the information with you. Thank you for your patience, she added.

Not the first time

This is the second time within a month that an aircraft belonging to Max Air will be experiencing an emergency landing in the country.

READ ALSO: Max Air confirms emergency landing incident in Maiduguri

On 5 December 2024, an aircraft belonging to Max Air experienced an engine fire incident shortly after takeoff from the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri.

At the time, the incident necessitated the aircraft en route to Abuja with nearly 80 passengers, including the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Usman Kadafur, to make an emergency return to the Maiduguri Airport.

Meanwhile, in May 2023, PREMIUM TIMES reported how panic erupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after an aircraft belonging to Max Air crashed on the airport runway.

Similarly, in July 2023, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Max Air Boeing 737 ( parts A3 and D43) aircraft from operation over safety concerns.

At the time, the regulators said the action was based on several distress occurrences that involved the airlines Boeing B737 aircraft types, urging the airline management to take necessary action before it can resume operations.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The death toll from the tanker explosion that occurred at the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has increased to 21.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that a petrol tanker, on Saturday, exploded at the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway killing several people and injuring others.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed on Saturday that 18 people died in the incident.

A total of 31 people were involved in the crash. 10 were rescued with different degrees of injuries, while three got rescued unharmed. Unfortunately, the 18 remaining victims were burnt beyond recognition, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC national spokesperson, said in the Saturday statement.

Death toll rises

But Frank Agbakoba, the FRSC sector commander in Enugu, told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that three additional victims died on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 21.

Those who died were two adult males and one adult female, Mr Agbakoba said.

The sector commander said after the incident, injured victims were taken to three different hospitals in 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

He listed the hospitals as Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, otherwise known as Park Lane, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.

Number of injured, deceased victims

Mr Agbakoba said, apart from the 18 people who were burnt beyond recognition during the incident, a total of 23 injured people were admitted into the three hospitals.

READ ALSO: FRSC confirms 18 people dead in Enugu petrol tanker explosion

He said the 23 people comprised 15 adult females and eight adult males.

The sector commander said of the 23 people, nine people  seven adult females and two adult males  have been discharged, while three others died on Sunday.

He said a total of 11 people  four adult males and seven adult females  were still being treated at the hospitals.

By tomorrow (Thursday), we will visit the hospitals to know if more people have been discharged, he said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


An Ikeja High Court on Thursday fixed 19 February to hear a preliminary objection filed by Martins Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman (VDM), challenging a defamation suit against him.

A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin, known as Falz, filed the defamatory suit against VDM.

Mr Falana filed the suit following an audio recording of a one-sided narrative by a cross-dresser, Bobrisky, alleging perversion of justice by Mr Falana and his son.

However, VDM, through his counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, filed a preliminary objection challenging the suits competence and the courts jurisdiction.

When the case was called on Thursday, the defendants counsel informed the court that the plaintiffs had filed a counter-affidavit against his preliminary objection.

He said the counter-affidavit was made available to him on Wednesday.

Mr Omorogbe, therefore, requested more time to respond to the counter-affidavit.

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 plaintiffs counsel, Omotade Omotunbosun, did not object to the application for adjournment.

Following this development, Justice Matthias Dawodu adjourned the case until 19 February for a hearing.

In the preliminary application, VDM, through his counsel, argued that by the provisions of Order 4 Rule 1(4) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the court did not have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

According to Mr Omorogbe, VDM is domiciled and operates outside the courts jurisdiction in Abuja.

He also submitted that the alleged defamatory publication was made in Abuja.

He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the suit.

Backstory

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the last proceeding, on 14 November 2024, the court adjourned until 23 January to hear the alleged defamation suit against VDM.

On that date, counsel to Falana and Falz, Muiz Banire (SAN), informed the court that the claimants had filed the originating process and served to the parties.

Mr Banire also mentioned that a motion on notice was served on 25 October, 2024, but the court said the originating process was not before it.

However, the claimants counsel prayed the court to adjourn the case so that he could file an administrative process.

Mr Omorogbe, in his response, urged the court to strike out the suit, arguing that there was no valid writ of summon before it.

He argued that the writ already filed was invalid as it was not before the court.

NAN also reports that the court had on 14 October, 2024, ordered VDM to bring down the alleged defamatory video on his social platform which he made on 24 September, 2024 against the plaintiffs.

The court made the order following an ex parte originating application filed by Falana and his son against the actions of VDM.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


In the small village of Egororebet, just outside Jos, a solar-powered mini-grid hums at dusk. But instead of glowing homes and bustling businesses, the panels cast shadows over empty wires. The batteries died years ago. Families still burn kerosene lamps. The communitys dream of electricity? A flicker, then darkness.

This scene repeats across Nigeria, where dozens of government and donor-funded mini-grids  decentralised energy systems meant to power rural communities  are operating far below capacity or lying abandoned. The issue isnt just a lack of investment or sunshine. Its a web of systemic failures: shoddy construction by contractors, neglected maintenance, and a lack of accountability that leaves communities stranded despite their willingness to pay for better service.

During visits to 40 minigrid sites, a pattern emerged. Contractors often cut corners  using second-hand solar panels, substandard wiring, or poor earthing that risks fires  doing just enough to scale the minimum standards. Systems were installed and commissioned without proper documentation, such as the commissioning test results, as-built single line diagrams and layout drawings, key equipment manuals, key maintenance spares, and operations and maintenance schedules. Panels went uncleaned for months, dust slashing energy output. Minor faults, like a tripped inverter or loose connection, became permanent failures because no one took responsibility.

As Nigeria races to electrify 25 million people by 2030, these stalled projects offer urgent lessons. Heres how to turn them around  and ensure future mini-grids dont suffer the same fate.

The Problem: Why Mini-grids Fade

Most mini-grids start with fanfare: solar panels rise, batteries are installed, and communities celebrate. But within years, systems falter.

Lead-acid batteries  cheap but fragile  die under Nigerias heat and irregular maintenance. Users, struggling to pay high tariffs, disconnect or bypass their meters. Others never plug in because of the limited capacity of the mini-grid deployed to the community. Many others are not connected for productive use because their equipment is still fossil fuel-powered, and cannot afford to retrofit to electrically powered alternative.

But the rot often starts earlier. Contractors, eager to win bids, sometimes use second-hand equipment or skip critical steps like proper earthing systems, adequately sized cables, and protective devices, leaving systems vulnerable to damage. Many installations lacked even basic O&M plans. No one was hired to clean panels or fix faults. The contractors disappeared after commissioning, laments a village head in Kaduna. Worse, one project in Ogun State failed because corroded and reused cables caused a fire outbreak.

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 result? Millions of dollars in stranded assets and villages slipping back into energy poverty.

Solutions: From Quick Fixes to Long-Term Shifts

1. Hold Contractors Accountable

Problem: Poor workmanship and shortcuts plague projects.

Solutions:

Enforce strict quality standards: Ban second-hand equipment in public contracts. Require certifications for solar panels and batteries.

Ban second-hand equipment in public contracts. Require certifications for solar panels and batteries. Local technicians: Train community members  especially women -to handle basic maintenance. In Rwanda, solar sisters repair systems and earn steady incomes.

Train community members  especially women -to handle basic maintenance. In Rwanda, solar sisters repair systems and earn steady incomes. Third-party inspections : Independent engineers should verify installations before payment is released. NEMSA ought to play this role, but in many cases, it is not apparent that they did their jobs.

: Independent engineers should verify installations before payment is released. NEMSA ought to play this role, but in many cases, it is not apparent that they did their jobs. Long-term contracts: Tie contractor payments to system performance over 23 years, not just installation.

2. Better Tech for Tougher Conditions

Problem: Cheap, fragile tech fails under harsh realities.

Solutions:

Ditch lead-acid batteries: Upgrade to lithium-ion, which lasts longer and handles heat better.

Upgrade to lithium-ion, which lasts longer and handles heat better. Remote monitoring: Install IoT sensors to alert operators to faults (e.g., low voltage, dirty panels).

3. Plan for Survival, Not Just Installation

Problem: No O&M strategy leads to collapse.

Solutions:

Mandatory O&M funds: Dedicate 20 per cent of project budgets to maintenance. Kenyas mini-grid rules require this, ensuring cash for repairs.

Clean energy franchises: Partner with local shops to sell spare parts and offer repairs. A pilot in Sokoto uses motorcycle taxis to dispatch technicians.

Community task forces: Assign villagers to clean panels monthly and report faults. A small stipend or free power can incentivise this.

Carbon Credits: Access to green bonds, finances, and bonuses for carbon mitigation

Metering: Adequate and secure metering infrastructure to guarantee payment collection and reduction in energy theft

4. Make Payment EasyAnd Fair

Problem: Tariffs dont match realities.

Solutions:

Pay-as-you-go (PAYG): Let users pay via mobile money, like airtime. Kenyas M-KOPA uses this to sustain 250,000 solar systems.

Let users pay via mobile money, like airtime. Kenyas M-KOPA uses this to sustain 250,000 solar systems. Anchor clients: Partner with businesses (e.g., rice mills) to guarantee revenue. In Benue, a mini-grid powers a fish farm that covers 40 per cent of its costs.

5. Communities Must Own the Power

Problem: Projects imposed from above breed distrust.

Solutions:

Co-design systems: Involve locals in site selection and tariff setting. In Niger State, womens groups helped design a mini-grid that now powers a shea butter cooperative.

Involve locals in site selection and tariff setting. In womens groups helped design a mini-grid that now powers a shea butter cooperative. Energy literacy: Teach communities how electricity can boost incomes, e.g., through nighttime tutoring, charging shops, or irrigation.

Teach communities how electricity can boost incomes, e.g., through nighttime tutoring, charging shops, or irrigation. Renewable Energy Users CooperativesREUCS: Create community associations to take ownership of the project by carrying them along from the design, and construction to the commissioning phases.

Policy Reforms: Breaking the Cycle

Nigerias Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and state governments must:

Blacklist rogue contractors: Publish names of firms delivering substandard work.

Publish names of firms delivering substandard work. Simplify standards: Adopt clear, enforceable guidelines for mini-grid design and O&M.

Adopt clear, enforceable guidelines for mini-grid design and O&M. Link grants to sustainability: Fund only projects with realistic O&M plans and community buy-in.

Fund only projects with realistic O&M plans and community buy-in. Economic Catalysts: Linking Mini-grids to Growth Sectors

To truly thrive, mini-grids must go beyond basic lighting  they should power industries that drive prosperity. Two sectors with transformative potential:

1. Data Centers and Digital Hubs

Nigerias tech sector is booming, but unreliable power stifles innovation. Mini-grids can unlock rural digital economies:

Data Centres: Deploy small, energy-efficient data centres powered by mini-grids to serve local businesses, schools, and government offices  especially in the universities. These hubs can offer cloud storage, internet services, and IT training. Globally, we have 60GW of data centres and are on track to build another 10GW this year, but they are mostly in North America, Europe, and Asia. Some of the new capacity can be built in Africa; otherwise, we have the same inequality in intelligence infrastructure as we have had in the last 100 years of electricity infrastructure.

Deploy small, energy-efficient data centres powered by mini-grids to serve local businesses, schools, and government offices  especially in the universities. These hubs can offer cloud storage, internet services, and IT training. Globally, we have 60GW of data centres and are on track to build another 10GW this year, but they are mostly in North America, Europe, and Asia. Some of the new capacity can be built in Africa; otherwise, we have the same inequality in intelligence infrastructure as we have had in the last 100 years of electricity infrastructure. Hybrid Systems: Pair solar with lithium-ion batteries and backup generators to ensure 24/7 reliability for critical infrastructure. In Rwanda, a solar mini-grid in Bumba supports a tech hub where young entrepreneurs code and stream courses.

Pair solar with lithium-ion batteries and backup generators to ensure 24/7 reliability for critical infrastructure. In Rwanda, a solar mini-grid in Bumba supports a tech hub where young entrepreneurs code and stream courses. Job Creation: Data centres need technicians, security, and admin staffroles that can be filled locally.

2. Agriculture and Agro-Processing

Agriculture employs 70 per cent of Nigerians but suffers from post-harvest losses and low-value exports. Mini-grids can revolutionise this:

Cold Storage and Processing: Power cold rooms to preserve tomatoes, fish, or dairy, reducing waste. In Kenya, mini-grids run by Powerhive support avocado oil processing, doubling farmers incomes.

Power cold rooms to preserve tomatoes, fish, or dairy, reducing waste. In Kenya, mini-grids run by Powerhive support avocado oil processing, doubling farmers incomes. Electric Irrigation: Replace diesel pumps with solar-powered systems, cutting costs for smallholder farmers. A project in Katsina uses mini-grids to irrigate maize fields, boosting yields by 30 per cent.

Replace diesel pumps with solar-powered systems, cutting costs for smallholder farmers. A project in Katsina uses mini-grids to irrigate maize fields, boosting yields by 30 per cent. Value-Added Products: Install electric mills, grinders, or oil presses to process crops locally. A shea butter cooperative in Niger State, powered by a minigrid, now exports directly to global markets.

Install electric mills, grinders, or oil presses to process crops locally. A shea butter cooperative in Niger State, powered by a minigrid, now exports directly to global markets. Policy Support: Offer tax breaks for agribusinesses using mini-grids and fund pilot projects linking farmers to clean energy.

The Bigger Picture: Electricity as a Catalyst

Functional mini-grids arent just about lightbulbs. Theyre about students studying after sunset, clinics refrigerating vaccines, and farmers irrigating fields. When mini-grids work, they lift entire economies.

But sustainability requires humility. Weve learned that installing a mini-grid is the easiest part, says a developer in Niger State. Keeping it alive is the real test.

A Call to Action

Nigerias mini-grid struggles are fixable  with accountable contractors, smart maintenance plans, and communities in the drivers seat. The goal isnt just to build more systems but to nurture them.

Donors and officials must shift from counting megawatts to measuring impact: How many businesses opened? How many batteries survived five years? How many families still pay bills?

The world is watching. If Nigeria cracks this puzzle, it wont just electrify villages  itll light a path for the 600 million Africans still living in the dark.

About the Author: Dr Tobi Oluwatola is the CEO of TAO Energy and an energy access advocate working on decentralised renewable solutions in West Africa.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appealed to the United States government to exempt HIV treatment from its current funding pause.

In a statement published on its website, the global health body expressed concern over the immediate suspension of funding for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Tuesday that the US government has halted support for HIV treatment in Nigeria and other developing countries following an order by President Donald Trump.

As a result, the US State Department suspended the disbursement of funds from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)a programme for HIV treatment in Africa and other developing nationsfor at least 90 days.

WHOs concerns

According to WHO, these programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide.

Globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023.

A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries, WHO 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

WHO explained that a long- term funding pause could have devastating consequences, including a surge in new HIV infections and deaths, effectively.

It added that it could reverse decades of progress and potentially take the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America.

More potential setbacks

WHO further stated that the global community would also suffer significant setbacks in its efforts to combat HIV, undermining partnerships and investments in cutting-edge research, diagnostics, and treatment.

The progress made in developing innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and community-based HIV care models would be severely compromised, dealing a crippling blow to public health initiatives worldwide.

Trumps order

The decision to halt HIV funding is part of Mr Trumps executive order on foreign aid, which aims to review the countrys foreign assistance programmes.

PEPFAR, which has an annual budget of $6.5 billion, provides HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people worldwide.

The suspension of funding has sparked concerns among public health experts, who fear that Mr Trumps administration might terminate the entire programme.

PEPFARs achievement, challenges

According to WHO, PEPFAR has been a cornerstone of the global HIV response for over 20 years, saving more than 26 million lives and providing HIV treatment to over 20 million people worldwide, including 566,000 children under 15.

With a presence in over 50 countries including Nigeria, PEPFAR has been instrumental in reducing HIV-related deaths and infections.

However, the current funding pause poses a significant threat to the programmes continuity and the lives of millions who depend on it.

WHO noted that the sudden and prolonged stop to PEPFAR programmes could lead to a surge in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress in the fight against HIV.

To this effect, WHO expressed deep concern about the implications of the funding pause, emphasising the need for a managed transition to minimise the impact on people living with HIV.

The organisation reinstated its commitment to supporting PEPFAR and other partners in managing change processes effectively to ensure the continued delivery of life-saving HIV treatment and care.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The UN agency that helps refugees, asylum seekers and people forcibly displaced within their own countries has been put on a savings drive.

This comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a suspension of humanitarian assistance.

While we are still assessing the impact of the new US administrations decision, including possible exceptions, we are implementing a series of temporary precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of this funding uncertainty, said a spokeswoman for the UNs refugee agency, UNHCR, on Wednesday.

The British newspaper, The Guardian, earlier reported that UNHCR head Filippo Grandi had sent an email that instructed staff to temporarily halt recruitment and international travel.

Mr Grandi also halted orders of new supplies, except when needed for emergency assistance, the newspaper reported.

The UNHCR refused to comment on the email.

READ ALSO: WHO urges US government to exempt HIV treatment from funding cuts

The United States contributes around a fifth of the budget of the organisation, which has around 20,000 employees and takes care of more than 120 million refugees worldwide.

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 2024, the United States paid just over $2 billion to the UNHCR.

The US State Department announced the temporary freeze of foreign aid on Sunday, but there is confusion in Washington and abroad over which programmes are affected.

(dpa/NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Mitsubishi wants to strengthen its position in the SUV and electric car segments, so it is preparing a new low-cost crossover. To the surprise of potential buyers, the car will be an almost complete copy of the Nissan model.

ADVERTISIMENT

The details are reported by Automotive News. American dealers have been informed that the new Mitsubishi crossover will go on sale in 2026. This means that it is a global model that will most likely also appear in Europe too.

It will be based on the new 3rd generation Nissan Leaf, which will premiere in 2025. This car will be made in the style of the 2021 Nissan Chill-Out concept. So, we have an idea of the appearance of the Mitsubishi electric car.

This is unusual because recently there has been some uncertainty in the relationship between Mitsubishi and Nissan. Earlier, Honda and Nissan announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). In fact, they consolidated their cooperation with the prospect of further merging into a larger company.

Against this backdrop, everyone was interested in the views of Mitsubishi, which is in an alliance with Nissan and Renault. Mitsubishi initially joined the alliance as an observer. Now it is reported that the manufacturer is not interested in participating at all, although the company has not yet commented on this.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opened the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, with the first prosecution witness testifying about an aspect of the N110 billion fraud charges.

The witness, Fabian Nworah, a property developer with Efab Property Nigeria Limited, testified about a deal involving a N550 million property at No 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, Abuja, which the EFCC alleged Mr Bello bought with funds diverted from Kogi State treasury.

Mr Nworah told the court that he was invited by the EFCC for interrogation about the deal in February 2023.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the witness said the property was sold to Shehu Bello, but the name on the agreement was Bello Ohiani.

The witness said that in 2023, Shehu Bello returned to Efab Properties, claiming that the EFCC was investigating the transaction.

He said Shehu Bello demanded a refund and returned all documents related to the sale.

Following an EFCC directive, the company refunded the N550 million in two instalments to a designated EFCC account, the witness added.

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 Nworah did not mention former governor, Mr Bellos name, in his testimony.

The EFCC charged the former governor and two other persons  Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu  with 16 counts in September last year, accusing them of dishonestly diverting more than N110 billion from the Kogi State Governments treasury during Mr Bellos time in office.

The commission alleged in various counts that Mr Bello dishonestly acquired for himself properties located in choice areas of Abuja, including the one mentioned by the first prosecution witness, and another in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with funds he allegedly diverted from the state governments treasury.

The charges include criminal breach of trust  the alleged diversion of more than N110 billion entrusted in Mr Bellos care as Kogi State governor.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts at their arraignment in November last year.

Legal battle

Before the witness took the stand on Wednesday, the defence and prosecution clashed over the availability of key documents. The lead defence lawyer for the first and second defendants, Joseph Daudu, a SAN, accused the prosecution of withholding statements on oath from the defence team.

He argued that the EFCC had failed to provide the sworn statements of the second defendant, a move he described as a serious handicap for the defence.

We have not been served with the statements of the second defendant, which are critical for our defence, Mr Daudu told the court. Legal proceedings should not be a hide and seek game.

The statements of the second defendant have not been served on us to know if we will be able to represent him or not.

So, it is a serious handicap for us. They need to serve us all the statements made by the defendants.

I understand the first defendant has not made a statement. Fortunately, we are still within the housekeeping stage of the proceeding, he added.

Supporting Mr Daudus position, the third defendants lawyer, Abubakar Aliyu, a SAN, urged the court to compel the EFCC to release statements and forensic reports related to digital evidence cited in the case.

However, EFCCs lead prosecutor, Mr Pinheiro dismissed the objections as a deliberate attempt to stall proceedings.

He maintained that all necessary documents had been served on the defence as far back as 27 November.

He rejected the defences claims, alleging that they were using procedural complaints to stall the trial.

The proof of evidence was served on the defendants on 27 November, he argued.

The law does not mandate the prosecution to provide every document it relies ononly those requested through the proper legal channels.

Mr Pinheiro urged the court to proceed with witness testimony, saying, We have already spent over an hour on these arguments.

Judge intervenes

Trial judge, Maryanne Anenih asked whether the defence had previously requested the documents from the prosecution.

Mr Aliyu replied that he discovered on Tuesday that the statements were missing from the prosecutions proof of evidence.

He urged the court to order the prosecution to provide copies of recovered digital devices and the report or the extract on page 14 of Volume 1 of the proof of evidence and the report of the forensic expert, if any.

The judge decided to allow one witness to testify for the day.

Mrs Anenih postponed the proceedings after the prosecutions first witness, Mr Nworahs testimony.

Mrs Anenih scheduled 3 April, 24 April, and 6 May, for the continuation of the trial.

Charges

The EFCC arraigned Mr Bello and his co-defendants on 27 November 2024.

The trio pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts.

The counts include allegations that Mr Bello diverted Kogi State funds while he was governor to buy himself properties in Abuja and Dubai.

For instance, the commission said the former Kogi State governor took N100 million from the governments treasury to buy himself a property at 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II, Abuja, in 2021.

It alleged he bought another property at 35, Danubi Street, Maitama, Abuja, for himself with N950 million belonging to the state in 2023.

READ ALSO: Court grants Yahaya Bello bail

He allegedly bought another one at 2, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, with N920 million belonging to the state in 2020.

In another count, the commission alleged that Mr took N100 million from the Kogi State Government to buy himself a property known as Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

On 10 December 2024, the FCT High Court in Abuja denied Yahaya Bellos bail request, ruling that it was filed prematurely.

After refiling his application, the court on 19 December 2024, granted him N500 million bail with conditions, including two sureties and the deposit of his passport with the court.

He was remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending compliance with bail conditions.

Mr Bello faces a separate N80 billion money laundering case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He has been granted bail in the case ahead of trial.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The US government is set to deport 3,690 Nigerians who are considered to be residing in the country illegally.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it has identified 3,690 Nigerians among the 1.4 million illegal migrants with deportation orders.

A document obtained by Fox News from ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and published on Tuesday showed that the immigrants have been on ICEs non-detained docket with final orders of removal since 24 November 2024.

The non-detained docket includes people who have been ordered to leave the US or are in the process of being deported but are not being held by ICE.

According to a report by Fox News, there are more than 7 million people currently on this list, including those held in federal, state, or local jails but not directly in ICE custody.

Those held by ICE are placed on the detained docket.

With 3,690 individuals, Nigeria has the second-highest number of citizens slated for deportation in Africa, following Somalia, which has 4,090. Ghana has the third highest number.

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

Globally, the list is topped by nationals from Mexico with 252,044, Guatemala with 253,413, Honduras with 261,651, and El Salvador with 203,822.

Other countries on the list include China, with 37,908 individuals facing final removal orders, Haiti with 32,363, Iran with 2,618, Pakistan with 776, Uzbekistan with 975, and Venezuela with 22,749.

Trumps immigration policy

President Donald Trump has intensified his efforts to crack down on immigration, building on his campaign pledge to execute the largest deportation in American history.

Since his inauguration on 20 January, the Trump-led administration has overseen the arrest of over 3,500 undocumented immigrants across the United States, carried out by ICE.

Deportation flights have commenced, with US military aircraft transporting migrants to their home countries or other designated nations. The move has been criticised by Democrats and rights groups in the US who accuse the government of violating due process and human rights in the deportations. Some of the foreign governments involved have also criticised the operation. The Colombian government initially refused to accept some of its deported citizens after accusing the US of mistreating them and treating them like criminals. It accused the US government of placing them in handcuffs and conveying them in military aircraft. Colombia later reversed its decision after it was threatened with tariffs by President Trump.

According to estimates from the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, a country with a population of 341 million.

Cooperation from foreign countries

The ICE document noted that the US Government believes every country is obligated to accept the return of its citizens and nationals who are ineligible to remain in the United States.

It stated that a lack of cooperation from the foreign government delays and inhibits the removal process.

The US Government requests foreign governments take appropriate steps to confirm the citizenship of noncitizens suspected to be their nationals, which include conducting interviews, issuing travel documents in a timely manner, and accepting the physical return of their nationals by scheduled commercial or charter flights consistent with ICE and/or foreign government removal guidelines.

Lack of cooperation from countries in accepting the return of their nationals may lead to ICE classifying those countries as uncooperative or at-risk of non-compliance, the document reads

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a violent turn on Wednesday as a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting descended into chaos over the battle for the position of national secretary.

The meeting presided over by the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, was disrupted when two contenders for the secretary position, Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, sought recognition as the legitimate occupant.

The composition of the BOT includes all past and serving national chairmen, deputy national chairmen and national secretaries of the PDP who are still members of the party;

Mr Anyanwu arrived early at the partys national secretariat in Abuja, where the BoT meeting was scheduled. However, trouble started when Mr Ude-Okoye arrived minutes later, attempting to enter the meeting hall, but was blocked by party officials believed to be loyal to Mr Anyanwu.

Mr Ude-Okoye insisted that he was the rightful occupant of the position based on a Court of Appeal ruling that declared him the authentic national secretary.

The situation led to a heated argument, which prompted Mr Ude-Okoyes supporters to scale the fence to gain entry into the secretariat.

Amidst the commotion, chairs and objects were thrown, and some party loyalists engaged in physical confrontations, forcing some BoT members to flee the meeting hall.

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, security personnel struggled to maintain order.

Legal battle and power struggle

The struggle for the national secretary position has continued since 2023, following Mr Anyanwus emergence as the PDPs governorship candidate in the Imo State election. He lost the election to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

His candidacy left a vacancy in the partys secretariat, leading the South-east Zonal Executive Committee to nominate Mr Ude-Okoye as his replacement.

However, Mr Anyanwu resisted his removal and obtained multiple court injunctions to retain the position. Despite these efforts, in a ruling delivered on 20 December 2024, the Court of Appeal declared that Mr Anyanwu had forfeited his position upon contesting the Imo governorship election.

In the lead judgement by Ridwan Abdullahi, the appellate court said Mr Anyanwus claim to the position after he contested and emerged as the PDP governorship election in Imo State violated the partys constitution, and his appeal had no merit.

Despite the ruling, Mr Anyanwu refused to vacate office and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. He also filed for a stay of execution, arguing that the appellate courts decision should not be enforced until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

On his part, Mr Ude-Okoye insisted that he was the rightful secretary based on the strength of his judgement.

Amid the ongoing crisis, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi stated that the party would abide by the court order and follow due process in determining who holds the position.

With the Supreme Court yet to rule on the matter, the battle for the PDP national secretary position may remain unresolved, and the crisis may continue to deepen.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Director-General of National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies ( NILDS), Abubakar Sulaiman, has canvassed the dredging of major rivers and dams in the country to avert adverse effects of flooding.

Mr Sulaiman, a professor, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of a three-day validation retreat on the draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law that will govern climate change action in Africa was drafted by the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES)

Mr Sulaiman, represented at the occasion by Peter Siyan, a professor of economics, said while Nigeria continued to make progress in enhancing its climate change governance actions, closing infrastructure gaps, including dredging of major rivers and dams in the country, remained vital.

He said dredging would avert the ravaging impacts of floods and erosion that usually accompany the countrys rainfall cycle.

Perennial flooding remains a major problem hindering farming in the country, thereby leading to food insecurity, aside from the occasional loss of lives, property and livestock.

Whereas many stakeholders have recognised the need for dredging of major rivers and dams, the commitment of public funds in this direction has been poor.

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

For instance, of the total of N14.85 trillion proposed for capital expenditure in the 2025 budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria, only 0.03 per cent is committed to projects aimed at dredging major rivers and dams.

Dredging these waterways remains vital to mitigate the devastating impacts of floods in 2025 and beyond; hence, it should be given the necessary priority in the 2025 budget, he said.

In his remarks, the AGNES Team Lead, George Wamukoya, said the effects of climate change were evident in African society.

According to him, Africa must put mechanisms in place to address the menace, stating that one such mechanism is a legal framework.

Mr Wamukoya, who said that experts across sectors put together the draft, added that adequate attention was given to administrative structure as well as the roles of citizens.

He said the aim of the draft framework was to enable African countries to have legal frameworks on climate change to enhance the continents negotiation at the global stage.

The team lead said that the draft was for African countries, and they were free to domesticate the law as it suited individual countries.

Speaking at the occasion, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Director in Nigeria, Rose Mwebaza, said as long as the G-20 countries continued the current emissions, Africa would continue to suffer the effects of climate change.

Ms Mwebaza, however, said that Africa could not afford to fold its hands without doing anything, stressing that the continent would remain weak at the negotiation table without domestic legal frameworks.

According to her, one of the reasons Africa did not have access to enough climate change finance is the lack of domestic framework, as only about four of the 54 countries in the continent have climate change laws.

She commended the initiative, saying it would be part of the topics for discussion at the Heads of State conference in February.

Walters Tubua, the regional lead for West and Central Africa, United Nations Climate Change, said the adverse effects were visible on the continent.

Mr Tubua said that Africans must roll up their sleeves and fight climate change, as the last 10 years had been the hottest.

He said the legal draft was coming very late, but it was better late than never.

Mr Tubua urged African countries to adopt and domesticate the law as an instrument to combat climate change in the continent.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Today, most newspaper cover pages were sold to Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, a former Niger Delta militant leader, for an appreciation message to Tinubu for signing the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU) bill into law..

The message titled Letter of Gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for Signing into Law the Act Establishing the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State was written in bold capital letters in the newspapers.

It is a glowing tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, portraying him as a leader who listens, fulfils promises, and brings development to the Niger Delta region.

Tampolos letter occupied the entire cover page of most Nigerian newspapers, especially those considered prominent. News headlines that would normally appear on the front page were instead moved to the inner pages of the papers.

For instance, Punch Newspapers cover page featured only four headlines, whereas it typically included nine to 12 headlines.

Similarly, Tribune Newspaper displayed four small-font headlines on one end of the front page, with Tompolos letter occupying most of the space.

Only three news headlines were displayed on the cover page of the Daily Trust newspaper, with the remaining headlines pushed to the inner pages.

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

This was also the case with The Guardian Newspaper, which featured only a few headlines on its cover.

How much the ex-militant leader paid the newspapers for this advertisement remains unclear.

However, some newspapers may not have received or declined the business offer, so news reports dominated their front pages.

Vanguard Newspaper, on its front page, reported the mass deportation of Nigerians considered to be illegally residing in the US under the headline, 5,144 Nigerians face arrest, deportation from US.

But Platform Times wrote that Mass Deportation: US immigration authorities target over 3,690 Nigerians.

Another headline on the front page of the Vanguard newspaper read, S-South govs declare support for Tinubus tax reform.

Salient Times reported, Nigeria targets universal electricity access by 2030 with $23bn plan  Tinubu.

How CBNs new FX Code will enhance market liquidity, a Business Day headline read.

Liberty Newspaper reported, 2027: Atiku accuses Tinubu of bribing opposition leaders with #50m each.

The Blueprint reported that EU commits 19bn to Nigerias democracy, good governance.

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Nigerias top Muslim organisation, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has faulted the furore over the sitting of a Shariah panel in a mosque in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, and the dissolution of the panel by the traditional ruler of the town.

The NSCIA stated its position through a statement on Wednesday signed by its deputy national legal adviser, Haroun Eze.

The council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, said the controversy was unwarranted, urging that Muslims be allowed to live and practise their religion without persecution in every part of Nigeria.

Background

The controversy began after it was reported that a Shariah panel sat at the Central Mosque of Ado-Ekiti. On Saturday, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, his chiefs and other community leaders met with Muslim leaders, during which he ordered the panels dissolution. The traditional ruler said his order was in the interest of peaceful coexistence, law and order in the community.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Adejugbe said, Based on this Sharia issue, I summoned the Chief Imam and his lieutenants, members of the Ewi-in-Council, the president of Ado Progressives Union and Ado sons and daughters to discuss the matter because it is a sensitive issue.

We all listened and it appears they set up a committee at the Central Mosque with the intention to listen to disputes. According to them, they have good intentions, and it was an internal arrangement with nothing to do with any external person or somebody influencing them.

I told them the mood of the nation will not allow such to happen now, that they should revert to how the founding fathers of the mosque had been settling disputes in the past without setting up a committee.

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

I told them that there is no need for the committee and they should dissolve the committee henceforth. That is the decision of the Ewi-in-Council, and that is the position of all Ado sons and daughters.

The panel stands dissolved. If we should allow such committees, the Christians too will want to set up committees in their various churches, the traditional worshippers too and before you know it, it will lead to crises, Mr Adejugbe said

Speaking earlier, the Chief Imam, Kewulere, confirmed setting up the committee to resolve a marriage dispute, stressing that he had no sinister motives.

Ekiti State Governments stand

However, in a statement made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), faulted the establishment of the panel. He said the legal structure in the state did not recognise a Sharia Court or Sharia Arbitration Panel.

He said that the legal structure (i.e. Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal and High Court) had been handling issues relating to Islamic, Christian and traditional marriages and inheritance without rancour or agitation.

Mr Apata said the Arbitration and/or Mediation issue is a Quasi-Judicial matter, which is regulated by law in the state.

The Sharia Courts in the North are equivalent to the Customary Courts in the Southern part of Nigeria wherein the Appeals therefrom also go to the Sharia Court of Appeal, adding that the State similarly has Customary Courts that hear customary cases as well as the Customary Court of Appeal that hears appeals from the Customary Courts.

Noting that the state high courts and other courts also have arbitration and mediation mechanisms, Mr Apata said customary courts and the Customary Court of Appeal can effectively resolve any customary issues arising from Yoruba traditional marriages, Islamic marriages, and Christian marriages, especially those that were not backed up by the Statutory Marriages, which can only be dissolved by the State High Courts throughout Nigeria.

Mr Apata cautioned against activities that may disrupt peaceful coexistence among residents, stressing that the government would not tolerate any action that may foster hostility in the state.

NSCIA disagree

In his statement of Wednesday, however, Mr Eze cited the development to highlight alleged intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims in the southern part of the country.

The most recent of this is the development emanating from Ekiti State where the efforts of the Muslim community to set up an Independent Shariah (Arbitration) Panel was met with unwarranted resistance and objections from both political and traditional quarters.

This is coming barely a few weeks after the announcement on the inauguration of a Shariah panel in Oyo State generated unnecessary anxiety, thereby leading to its indefinite postponement, the NSCIA lamented.

The NSCIA said the independent panel is voluntary and meant to fill a vacuum in the legal system in the South-west.

The Independent Arbitration Panel, which is a voluntary platform designed solely for the resolution of civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, was to fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in South-Western Nigeria to establish Shariah Courts, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution, in South-Western states, despite the huge population of Muslims in the region.

This and other cases, such as the denial of the rights of female students to wear the Hijab despite a Supreme Court judgement, are nothing but calculated attempts to prevent Muslims in the region from practising their faith, the NSCIA stated.

Meanwhile, the NSCIA said the arbitration and the Shariah Court of Appeal, just like the Customary Court of Appeal (which all of them have), are provided for in the 1999 Constitution (Section 275), confirming the legality of both initiatives.

The NSCIA strongly supports the establishment of Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti and Oyo States for the purpose so intended, especially where the Muslims in the states have been denied their constitutional right to a Shariah Court of Appeal in all the states of South-Western Nigeria.

The Council cannot find any legal justification for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance. All the states in the North have Shariah Courts, and some, in addition, have Customary Courts.

The Council calls on governors and traditional authorities in the southern part of the country, particularly the South-West, to ensure that the constitutional rights of Muslims are preserved and protected.

While others are allowed to live, Muslims should also be let live, the NSCIA stated.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has said the federal government generated N12 billion from promoting and enforcing data protection regulations in 2024.

According to the commissions annual report released on Tuesday, the development marks a 200 per cent increase from the N4 billion recorded in 2021.

The NDPC attributed the increase in revenue to strict enforcement policies and enhanced regulatory compliance measures for data protection organisations.

The number of organisations embracing data protection has increased, as reflected in the commissions compliance audit returns.

Between 2020 and 2021, the NDPC recorded 1,864 compliance reports from organisations, while between 2023 and 2024, this figure rose to 4,691, indicating an increase in awareness and adherence to data protection regulations.

In 2024, the commission investigated 213 privacy breaches, unauthorised data sharing, and non-compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

The data protection sector also became a major employment generator, creating 23,000 jobs in 2024, up from 10,123 in 2023.

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

Additionally, the number of Verified Data Protection Officers (DPOs) increased from 362 to 2,888 in the same period, showing an increasing demand for trained professionals.

In Nigeria, data privacy is enshrined as a constitutional right, as stated in Section 37 of the Constitution, which protects the privacy of citizens homes, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications.

In July 2024, the Nigerian government imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for violating local consumer, data protection, and privacy laws concerning Facebook and WhatsApp. This penalty reflects Nigerias recent efforts to strengthen and update its data protection laws.

Previously, data privacy was predicated on the Data Protection Regulations of 2019, which outlined the lawful processing of data, data subject rights, and the responsibilities of data controllers and processors.

However, these regulations were criticised for their limited scope, prompting the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in 2023.

The NDPA strengthened the 2019 Regulations by introducing stronger provisions on lawful data processing, consent, data security, and strict penalties for violations.

NDPC creating job opportunities for over 500,000 Nigerians

During a press briefing in Abuja to mark Global Privacy Day 2025, NDPC National Commissioner and CEO Vincent Olatunji announced the commissions commitment to creating 500,000 jobs in the data protection ecosystem.

To achieve this goal, Mr Olatunji said that the NDPC has launched a nationwide data protection training program for 500 individuals.

The first 500 that have been trained definitely will be employed. That is what we want, and that is part of our contributions to pillar 2 of Mr Presidents Renewed Hope agenda, economic empowerment and job creation.

You can imagine what we can achieve by creating 500 jobs in this ecosystem, and our promise is that we will actually create 500,000 jobs within the private ecosystem in Nigeria. And the journey has started. We have launched it, it has taken off, he said.

The national commissioner explained that the first 500 trainees, fully sponsored by the federal government, are currently undergoing training, with some preparing for their final certification exams.

He said the program kicked off last week with 100 trainees each in Abuja and Lagos, with additional cohorts following.

The government has paid for 500 people to be trained. It took off last week, the first cohort of 100 in Abuja and 100 in Lagos. It was successfully completed last week. So we have 200 that we trained that are ready to prepare for the exams. As we speak, another 100 are going to Abuja and another 100 in Lagos. And the last batch will happen next week, he said.

Mr Olatunji noted that the training is conducted in collaboration with various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless employment opportunities upon completion.

So we are doing 300 in Abuja, being the federal capital with a lot of federal ministers, departments and organisations that we want to actually employ them, engage them at DPOs, and Lagos, being the financial capital of the country, the economy capital, where you have a lot of financials.

And another thing that we have done is to encourage their DPOs to have them as uptakers. The DPOs will be the uptakers. So if a company does not take you, DPOs will take you, and if they know your capacity, youre able to deliver, youre able to support them, they can employ you, he said.

The commissioner also emphasised that beyond domestic achievements, the NDPC is enhancing international partnerships to align Nigeria with global best practices.

He stated that the commission has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with data protection authorities in Canada and Dubai and also strengthening participation in global privacy initiatives, including the Global Privacy Assembly and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Suspected bandits have killed the security aide of Dayi Maharazu, the Chairperson of Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA), and abducted his four-year-old son.

The incident occurred early Tuesday morning when the outlaws attacked Mr Maharazus residence in Katsina State.

According to a close associate of the council boss, the bandits drove to his residence in the Malumfashi township and jumped a neighbours fence to enter the house at about 1:45 a.m. However, they met only his wife, children, and some family members in the house.

One of the children spotted the intruders and raised the alarm. Consequently, some of his family members locked themselves in a toilet while their mother locked herself and some of their children in her room. However, the bandits caught two other children sleeping in another room, the source said.

Mrs Maharazu managed to contact her husband, who was in Katsina, and he subsequently alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Malumfashi, the source revealed.

The police engaged the bandits in a shootout and rescued one of the abducted children as they escaped with the four-year-old.

READ ALSO: Bandits abduct woman despite collecting N8 million instant ransom

The bandits had not contacted the family for ransom as of the time of filing this report.

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 Public Relations Officer, Katsina Command, Sadiq Abubakar, confirmed the attack, adding that three suspects had been arrested. He also confirmed that the chairpersons security aide, Shamsudeen Ahmed, died at the hospital from injuries he sustained from the attack.

Malumfashi LGA is an hotspot of banditry in Katsina State.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday handed over four land title documents recovered from a criminal syndicate to their rightful owners.

The EFCC chairperson, Ola Olukoyede, said the documents had been falsified by a network of land fraudsters operating in Abuja, according to a statement from the commissions spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday.

Our engagement this afternoon is a demonstration of our commitment to synergise and collaborate with the public as an agency to fight corruption, financial and economic crimes in Nigeria.

We are here to let the public know that this commitment is working and that stakeholders are collaborating with us.

We are here this afternoon to witness the handing over of title documents to victims of financial crimes in Nigeria. This has been going on for a while, and we want the public to know that there is a need for us to work together as a nation and as a people to ensure that perpetrators of crimes do not get away with crime and the proceeds of their crimes, he said.

Mr Olukoyede explained that the syndicate forged the documents and deprived the rightful owners of their properties.

He said EFCC investigators, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested the fraudsters and recovered the documents for the legitimate owners.

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 described the recovery as a product of diligent investigation, which he attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), particularly officials from the Department of Land Administration and Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).

How land fraud syndicate operates

Explaining how the syndicate operated, he said investigations led to the discovery of the syndicate in the FCT, who is in the habit of forging signatures of original allottees of land.

Not only do they forge their signatures, but they also forge their means of identification and passports of the original allottees and go ahead to declare the original title documents missing.

They then reapply, using forged signatures and identification to obtain new title documents, Mr Olukoyede said.

While lamenting the situation, he assured Nigerians that all land fraudsters operating in the FCT would be brought to justice.

It is very heartening but encouraging to let Nigerians know that we have arrested quite a number of them.

As a matter of fact, the people involved in this crime are being prosecuted as we speak.

What is important is for Nigerians to ensure that they conduct due diligence when carrying out transactions on land, particularly in Abuja, because fraudsters are all over the place.

This is also a warning to all syndicates out there that the EFCC will come after them. We will not allow them to enjoy the proceeds of their crimes.

We are working hand-in-hand with the FCT Administration to ensure that these crimes dont go unpunished, he said.

FCT official speaks

In his remarks, the Director of Lands, FCT, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, thanked the EFCC for restoring public confidence in the system.

We have all witnessed the handing over of title documents recovered from people who should not have had them.

The EFCC has over the years collaborated with us to achieve successes like this. People will do all sorts of things to sabotage the system, but with efforts such as this, they will know that crime does not pay.

We thank the Commission for what they have done. With this, they are not only helping to fight crime in the country but restoring confidence that people who own properties will ultimately have their papers, regardless of whatever anybody does.

We know that some of these crimes were perpetrated with the connivance of our staff. Your investigations have revealed some of those involved.

We encourage you to continue this work and promise to cooperate with you in all your investigations, he said.

He advised Nigerians to desist from attempting to acquire property through fraudulent means, adding that such attempts would inevitably be uncovered and the rightful owners would reclaim their properties.

Victims regain ownership

The EFCC returned four land title documents to their legitimate owners at the meeting on Tuesday.

One of them, Asinobi Ogbuefi, reclaimed the Certified True Copy (CTC) of his allocation for Plot 895, Kaura District, Abuja, valued at over N150 million.

The antigraft agency gave the family of the late Joseph Daze, the title document for Plot 714, Jahi District, Abuja, worth over N400 million.

Also, Nuhu Umar, retrieved the CTC of allocation for Plot 625, Guzape District, Abuja, valued at over N200 million.

Lastly, Omar Bintawa, reclaimed the Right of Occupancy (RofO) for Plot 1167, Katampe Extension, Abuja, worth N250 million.

Appreciation

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Umar thanked the EFCC for its efforts in recovering their properties.

Let me, on behalf of other recipients, appreciate you and the commission for helping us recover our legitimate lands.

We are happy. I applied for this land, and it never came to me. I never thought it would be real, but today it has become real, and I now have my land.

I want to thank you for your effort because it is your effort that made it possible for us to have our land back. I pray to God Almighty to continue to sustain you, guide you, and ensure that you recover more.

On behalf of other Nigerians, thank you very much, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of four plots of land linked to a land fraud scheme under investigation by the EFCC.

The case involves Homadil Realty Limited and its Managing Director, Bilkisu Aliyu, also known as Rebecca Godwin, accused of forging land documents and illegally selling the plots to unsuspecting buyers.

The interim forfeiture order was issued by a trial judge, Emeka Nwite, on 20 December, following an ex parte application dated 11 December, filed by the EFCC.

The affected properties include Plot 4022, Guzape District Cadastral Zone A09, and Plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 in Cadastral Zone B07 Katampe, Abuja.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Nenibarini Zabbey, to compel him to appear before it.

The committee issued the threat following the refusal of Mr Zabbey, a professor, to appear before its members to explain why the Ogoni land in the Niger Delta area has yet to be cleaned up despite the release of $360 million for the project in 2023.

Chairman of the Committee, Aliyu Wadada, issued the threat during its meeting at the National Assembly.

Mr Wadada, the Nasarawa West senator, said the threat of arrest was because the HYPREP coordinator refused to appear before the committee despite seven separate invitations.

Ogoniland, located in Nigerias South-south region, has long suffered from severe oil pollution caused by pipeline leaks, wellhead spills, and illegal oil tapping.

The environmental devastation has led to contaminated water, soil degradation, health crises, and loss of livelihoods among local communities.

Between 2009 and 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conducted a landmark assessment that revealed alarming levels of hydrocarbon contamination in the region. The report recommended a multi-billion-dollar cleanup effort, leading to the creation of HYPREP as an intervention agency.

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

Despite the $360 million disbursement in 2023, no visible progress has been made in the restoration of the area.

During the meeting, Mr Wadada, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said the committee was concerned about the status of the clean-up. Still, the project coordinator persistently failed to appear before the lawmakers.

He said the committee is concerned that several invitations had been sent to HYPREP to appear and give explanations to issues arising from its submission on the status of its operations.

He also said it is concerned that the project coordinator has persistently, in the course of the last two years, and flagrantly refused to honour legislative invitations to account for its dealings by turning in very late requests for rescheduling of meetings, which he had refused to attend for the 7th time today.

Committees demands

The committee chairperson said its members demand that the HYPREP coordinator provide a detailed breakdown of how the allocated funds have been spent.

He also said his colleagues want explanations on why the project coordinator refused to honour their invitations.

Mr Wadada said his committee members are interested in seeing evidence of remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Value-Added Tax from 2022 to 2024.

He said the committee wants Mr Zabbey to explain or give reasons:

-Why the project coordinator refused to honour the committees invitations. Give explanations on appropriations for the project and other intervention funds.

-How much has been received from the federal government. Details of utilisation of appropriations in 2022 budget. An additional sum of N6.6 billion in 2023 for some undocumented contaminated, abandoned sites. Details of uutilisationof 2024 provisions

-Provide evidence of remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service on value-added tax and withholding tax for the year 2022 to 2024. General and current state of the Ogoniland cleanup.

READ ALSO: Tinubu pledges justice in Ogoniland as negotiation to restart oil production begins

Mr Wadada, however, directed that the project coordinator appear unfailingly before the committee members next Tuesday to explain the clean-up status.

However, in the spirit of liberality, the committee resolves to give up to 4th of February, 2025 for the project coordinator to unfailingly appear before it or risks activation of relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to compel him for the required appearance, the committee chairperson said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


American research organization OpenAI has announced a new version of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. It will be designed for government agencies and employees and will be called ChatGPT Gov.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Hill reports about it. With ChatGPT Gov, employees of US government agencies will receive the "most powerful version" of OpenAI's ChatGPT Enterprise model, which offers users enterprise-level security and privacy.

With ChatGPT Gov, federal agencies will have access to the best of OpenAI's models even when dealing with sensitive information. Users will do so in a government secure hosting environment - either a Microsoft Azure commercial cloud or an Azure public cloud.

"This new approach aims to streamline the authorization process for handling sensitive data while delivering the efficiency and productivity benefits that agencies need, all built on U.S. technology," said Kevin Weil, chief product officer at OpenAI.

ChatGPT Gov will have many of the features offered by ChatGPT Enterprise, including saving and sharing conversations, uploading text images and files, and interpreting and summarizing text, code, images, and math.

According to Weil, the new product will help the US remain a leading AI innovation leader as competition in the world increases.

He noted that AI is a powerful economic driver that increases productivity, unlocks innovation, and creates new opportunities in all sectors of society.

"That mission extends deeply into our work with government, with both a civil and a national security focus," Kevin added.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The three military-led West African nations  Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso  have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The regional bloc disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

This brings to an end a year-long attempt by ECOWAS to convince the countries to reconsider leaving the bloc.

ECOWAS, however, said it intends to keep its door open if any of the countries want to return to its fold.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso first announced their decision to leave ECOWAS in early 2024, following months of tension between the countries and the regional bloc.

The juntas in all three nations had accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and of imposing sanctions that they claim harmed their populations. They also rejected ECOWAS request to reconsider their decision to leave the bloc.

ECOWAS initially imposed sanctions on the three countries following successful military coups there but later withdrew the sanctions in an effort to get the countries not to leave the bloc.

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

New guidelines

The regional bloc has also issued guidelines on its relationship with the three countries and transitional measures to minimize disruptions for citizens and businesses.

Despite their withdrawal, ECOWAS said goods and services from the three countries will still be treated under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.

The ETLS is a regional trade framework designed to promote duty-free and quota-free movement of goods and services among ECOWAS member states.

The regional bloc also said citizens from these nations will retain their visa-free movement, residence, and other rights within ECOWAS states fully based on the existing protocols.

The bloc also stated that it will continue to recognise National passports and identity cards bearing ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, until further notice.

The guidelines also allow ECOWAS officials to work in partnership with the countries and provide support when needed.

ECOWAS noted that these arrangements will be in place until the full modalities of the relations between the three countries and the bloc are finalised.

The Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period, ECOWAS said.

Creation of AES

Last year, the military leaders of the three nations formed the Alliance for Sahel State (Alliance Etats du Sahel  AES) as a new defence pact.

The leaders described the newly signed treaty as a step towards greater integration between the three countries.

The Niger Republic head of state, Abdourahmane Tchiani, stated that the AES was created because the member states consider ECOWAS a threat to our states.

He said the countries would rather create an AES of the peoples, instead of an ECOWAS whose directives and instructions are dictated to it by powers foreign to Africa.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The cybercrimes trial of activist Omoyele Sowore drew significant attention and prominent figures in solidarity to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was scheduled to be arraigned by the Ngieran police on Wednesday.

Among those present were former senator, Shehu Sani, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, the Country Director, Action Aid, Andrew Mamedu, and his predecessor, Ene Obi.

Also, some Nigerian youths and members of the Mr Sowore-led Take It Back Movement (TIB) thronged the court in support of the human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian police charged Mr Sowore on Tuesday with 17 counts of cybercrime offences for referring to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as illegal IGP in a post on his social media platforms.

Mr Egbetokun, who was expected to have exited service having attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years in September 2024, secured an extended stay in office following a controversial alteration to the Nigeria Police Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The alteration allowed Mr Egbetokun to stay in office for up to four years as Nigerias police chief.

The police alleged in the indictment filed on Tuesday that Mr Sowore knew that the description of Mr Egbetokun as an illegal IGP was false, but knowingly made the claim to cause a breakdown of law and order.

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

They alleged that the act constituted an offence contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 as amended (2024) and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii) of the same Act.

Ridiculous charges

Mr Sowore, who has been detained by the police in Abuja since Monday when he honoued a police invitation, described the charges as ridiculous.

These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. Omoyele Sowore to face charges for calling retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun Illegal IGP, Mr ,Sowore in a message he circulated via his Whatsapp line on Tuesday.

Mr Sowore also mocked the charges in a Faceboook post, portraying blunders in the filling as justifying his accusation that Mr Egbetokun was incompetent.

Sowore claimed IG of Nigeria Police Force, KAYODE Egbetokun, was illegal and incompetent, then he quickly moved to court to file charges for cybercrime, with incorrect spellings of Sowores 1st name and wrong spelling of incite. Mr Sowore wrote on Facebook Tuesday night.

A review of the charges by PREMIUM TIMES shows that Mr Sowores first name was misspelt as Omoleye instead of Omoyele across the 17 counts.

The activist was invited for questioning by the police over a video clip he uploaded on social media alleging extortion by officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Sowore honoured a police invitation at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) complex of the Nigerian police in Abuja on Monday.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


ctivist Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to cybercrime charges the police instituted against him in Abuja for referring to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as illegal IGP.

Mr Sowore pleaded not guilty to all 17 counts read to him at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the police earlier filed the charges on Tuesday.

Following Sowores not-guilty plea, trial judge Abdulla Liman adjourned proceedings until 3 p.m. today (Wednesday), when he is set to hear the activists bail application.

Earlier in the proceedings, which started at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Mr Sowores lawyer, Abubakar Marshall from Falana & Falana Chambers, pointed out errors in the indictment filed by the police, including the misspelling of Mr Sowores first name as Omoleye instead of Omoyele in all the 17 counts.

This prompted the police prosecutor to apply for the courts permission to amend the charges to reflect Mr Sowores correct name.

Following the amendment, the charges were read to Mr Sowore, who pleaded not guilty to all counts.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the trial drew significant attention and prominent figures to the court in solidarity with Mr Sowore on Wednesday.

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

Among those present were former a senator, Shehu Sani; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; the Country Director, Action Aid, Andrew Mamedu, and his predecessor, Ene Obi.

Also, some Nigerian youths and members of the Mr Sowore-led Take It Back Movement (TIB) thronged the court in support of the human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).

The Nigerian police charged Mr Sowore on Tuesday with 17 counts of cybercrime offences for referring to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as illegal IGP in a post on his social media platforms.

Mr Egbetokun, who was expected to have exited service having attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years in September 2024, secured an extended stay in office following a controversial alteration to the Nigeria Police Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The alteration allowed Mr Egbetokun to stay in office for up to four years as Nigerias police chief.

The police alleged in the indictment filed on Tuesday that Mr Sowore knew that the description of Mr Egbetokun as an illegal IGP was false, but knowingly made the claim to cause a breakdown of law and order.

They alleged that the act constituted an offence contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 as amended (2024) and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii) of the same Act.

Mr Sowore, who was detained after honouring a police invitation on Monday, described the charges as ridiculous.

These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. Omoyele Sowore to face charges for calling retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun Illegal IGP, Mr Sowore said in a message he circulated via Whatsapp on Tuesday.

Mr Sowore also mocked the charges in a Faceboook post, portraying blunders in the filling as justifying his accusation that Mr Egbetokun was incompetent.

Sowore claimed IG of Nigeria Police Force, KAYODE Egbetokun, was illegal and incompetent, then he quickly moved to court to file charges for cybercrime, with incorrect spellings of Sowores 1st name and wrong spelling of incite. Mr Sowore wrote on Facebook Tuesday night.

A review of the charges by PREMIUM TIMES shows that Mr Sowores first name was misspelt as Omoleye instead of Omoyele across the 17 counts. The police also wrote insight where they intended to write incite.

The activist was invited for questioning by the police over a video clip he uploaded on social media alleging extortion by officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The House of Representatives has finally reacted to reports of corruption allegations involving some of its standing committees.

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES published an investigation revealing how some committees of both the Senate and the House were engaged in an extortion racket targeting tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The report exposed the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, as well as the House Committee on University Education, for demanding 8 million from each university in exchange for passing the 2025 budget.

After remaining silent on the report for five days, the House, through its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, issued a statement clearing its committee and proceeded to attack PREMIUM TIMES and heads of federal universities in the country.

Mr Rotimi claimed that the report was a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the House and erode public trust in this hallowed institution.

While evading the substance of the report, Mr Rotimi launched a diatribe against the management of tertiary institutions, accusing them of evading accountability.

He also claimed that the House Committee on University Education had uncovered various cases of malfeasance and allegations of sexual harassment in many schools.

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 is a matter of public record that some of these tertiary institutions have pending audit queries from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and have consistently failed to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts to clarify these issues. This evasion raises questions about their governance practices and financial stewardship.

This is in addition to disturbing allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and high-handedness in their dealings with staff and students, for which legislative oversight provides a crucial platform to address in the spirit of transparency.

It is also noteworthy that recent oversight visits by the House Committee on University Education have revealed troubling governance practices in certain institutions. While the final report is being compiled, preliminary findings in some institutions suggest a pattern of serious malfeasance that demands thorough investigation. These engagements provide an opportunity for institutions to demonstrate accountability, yet some individuals have chosen to deflect with unfounded accusations and blackmail, the statement read in part.

Addressing the issues raised by Mr Rotimi

Mr Rotimis claims of malfeasance in university governance are not new and have been well reported by PREMIUM TIMES. However, many have argued that the challenges in these institutions can be traced to poor oversight by the National Assembly committees.

Most committees of the National Assembly often fail to present reports on their investigations and oversight visits. At the commencement of the 10th Assembly, several ad hoc committees were set up by the House to probe different issues. However, very few presented reports to the House, and even fewer reports were considered by the Committee of the Whole for necessary action.

Mr Rotimi also claimed that he was not contacted before publication. While this is true, the spokesperson is not a member of any of the committees and does not speak for them but for the House. The Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Hassan Fulata, was contacted for comments but ignored the request.

In line with journalistic best practices, this paper contacted Mr Rotimi to ask what action the House would take, but he declined to comment officially.

Meanwhile, the House has become notorious for sweeping allegations involving its members and committees under the carpet. Recently, there were some bribery allegations made by the CEO of Binance, Richard Teng.

In 2023, PREMIUM TIMES exposed an ad hoc committee of the House that was tasked with probing job racketeering but ended up extorting MDAs. The report provided details of the bank account into which the money was paid, the bureau de change entity used, and the proxy who collected the funds. Following the publication, the House, through Mr Rotimi, promised to investigate the matter. However, no action has been taken to date.

Last year, PREMIUM TIMES also published a report on how some committees tried to extort tertiary institutions through the TETFUND allocation. The committees backed down after the report.

Weeks ago, this paper also published a report showing how the Ministry of the FCT allocated N10 billion for rent and furniture for the presiding officers of the National Assembly amidst the economic hardship Nigerians are facing.

PREMIUM TIMES will, in the coming days, publish more reports exposing the activities of some of these committees in both the House and the Senate.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, ordered the arrest of a Nigerian professor, accused of election fraud, for being absent during judgment.

Ignatius Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, is being prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on charges of perjury and announcing and publishing false results during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as the returning officer.

The judge, Bassey Nkanang, adjourned the case for an hour after the defendant and his counsel failed to announce their appearance.

The prosecution counsel, Clement Onwuenweunor and an INEC official had announced their appearances in court.

When the hearing resumed, Justice Nkanang proceeded after a lawyer the judge asked to call the defence counsel informed the court that the lawyer said he was not feeling fine and had asked him to hold a brief for him if the judgment is taken today.

The lawyer, Ndifreke Inyangette, said the defence counsel communicated with him via a text message.

In his submission, the prosecution counsel prayed to the court to revoke the defendants bail and issue a fresh bench warrant for the professor.

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 Inyangette said the court could deliver judgment. If convicted, sentencing can be taken at a later date.

He further informed the court that the defendant was ill, of which the judge admitted that the court was aware and had received medical reports.

Justice Nkanang, in his ruling, granted the relief of the prosecution counsel: he revoked the earlier bail granted to the defendant. He issued a fresh bench warrant before adjourning the case to 5 February for judgment.

Backstory

The professor was first arraigned in December 2020 after an arrest warrant was issued against him the previous month for repeated failures to appear for the commencement of the trial.

The professor had pleaded not guilty to the three charges slammed on him by the Nigeria electoral body.

The case has witnessed a series of delays because of several factors, including a change of defence counsel and the defendants collapsing in the dock during cross-examination.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, struck out cybercrimes charges filed by the police against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, at the instance of senior lawyer Afe Babalola.

The Nigerian police filed the cybercrime charges after receiving Mr Babalolas petition accusing Mr Farotimi of defaming him llast year. The police also filed a separate criminal defamation case, similarly prompted by Mr Babalolas petition, at a chief magistrates court in Ado-Ekiti.

On Sunday, Mr Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), announced his decision to have the cases against Mr Farotimi withdrawn.

The nonagenarian said he succumbed to the pleas to end the cases following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and some other traditional rulers pleading with him to forgive Mr Farotimi.

Mr Farotimi, 57, was not present at the meeting held at ABUAD, on Sunday, where Mr Babalola granted him unconditional forgiveness.

Police prosecutor Samson Osobu applied for the withdrawal of the cybercrime charges at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday.

Mr Osobu told the court that the prosecution filed a notice of discontinuance following the desire of Mr Babalola, the nominal complainant, to withdraw the case.

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 matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated 29 January 2025, and filed this morning, he said.

Mr Farotimis lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not object to the application.

Based on the application, the judge, Babs Kuewumi, struck out the charges.

This case is hereby struck out, Mr Kuewumi ruled.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Mr Olumide-Fusika affirmed that the cybercrime case had ended, but declined to comment on related matters pending in other courts.

He also said that he had advised his client against granting press interviews on the matter.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Faroitimi said he had no comment on Mr Babalolas reported forgiveness when contacted on Tuesday by our reported.

Pending legal matters

Meanwhile, there is another criminal charge filed by the police against Mr Farotimi which is still pending before a chief magistrates court in Ado-Ekiti.

That case, which before chief magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, was scheduled for 13 February.

It is expected that the police will also move to discontinue proceedings in that court and withdraw the charge.

In addition to the criminal cases, two lawyers from Mr Babalolas firm, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Ola Faro, had also sued Mr Farotimi for N500 million and N600 million, respectively

The FCT High Court also ordered the seizure of physical copies of the book wherever it might be found.

It is not yet clear if these cases will also be discontinued.

Silence

However, ever since the news of Mr Babalolas forgiveness came to the fore on Monday, Mr Farotimi, usually outspoken, has kept mute and has not spoken about it on his social media handles or YouTube page, where he provided updates about the case with Mr Babalola in the past

His first Facebook post since the development was a cryptic message shared on Tuesday, offering no clear indication of the possible real-life situation he was referring to.

The good hunting dog is never distracted by the rustling of squirrels in the underbrush.., the post read.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Farotimi via a Whatsapp message on Tuesday and his response confirmed that he had been deliberately silent on the report of the forgiveness granted him by Mr Babalola.

I have no comment on the news, Mr Farotimi said, in a response to our reporters request for comments.

READ ALSO: Sowore pleads not guilty to cybercrime charges

Back story

Mr Farotimi was charged after Mr Babalola, a nonagenarian, petitioned the police, accusing Mr Farotimi of defaming him in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.

Mr Babalola cited in his petition 31 excerpts from the book, which he alleged defamed him.

In the Amazon best-seller book, Mr Farotimi accuses Mr Babalola, the founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, of corrupting Nigerias Supreme Court in service of his clients.

Subsequently, the police arrested and charged him with 16 counts of criminal defamation, leading to his arraignment before the Chief Magistrates Court in Ado Ekiti. In addition, he faced 12 cybercrime offences at the Federal High Court in Ade- Ekiti.

Mr Farotimi, who pleaded not guilty to all charges in both courts, was remanded in prison in Ado-Ekiti following his arraignment.

However, in a volte face on Sunday, Mr Babalola announced his decision to give up pursuing the cases after listening to a delegation of traditional rulers led by Ooni of Ife appealing to him to forgive Mr Farotimi.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that Max Air will suspend its operations for three months, effective 31 January, amidst safety concerns.

This decision was announced amid an ongoing investigation concerning a recent emergency landing incident involving an aircraft belonging to the airline.

In a statement issued by Michael Achimugu, the director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs at the NCAA, the authority said it had initiated the development of organisational risk profiles for each scheduled operator, including Max Air, and that the process is nearing completion.

However, as a result of this incident, Max Air is suspending its domestic flight operations for a period of three months with effect from midnight, 31st January 2025, to allow for an internal appraisal of its operations by its management, the statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the management of Max Air officially confirmed that one of its aircraft, with registration marks 5N-MBD, crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport late Tuesday night.

This incident occurred at about 10:57 p.m. after the aircraft arriving from Lagos lost its nose landing gear tyre during the landing process.

Although no fatalities were reported, it is the second time within a month that an aircraft belonging to Max Air will be experiencing an emergency landing in the country, prompting authorities on several occasions to warn the airline management to take necessary action before it can resume operations.

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 Wednesday, the NCAA said that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has statutorily initiated an investigation into the occurrence and added that it will provide the required support to the NSIB in this regard.

The authority said the specific cause of the aircraft mishap could only be established after the NSIB had conducted its investigation.

Safety audits

According to the NCAA, during the three-month suspension period, the agency will conduct a thorough safety and economic audit of Max Air.

It said the safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Airs organisation, procedures, personnel and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations.

The resumption of Max Airs domestic flight operations will be predicated on the satisfactory completion of this audit, the statement said.

The NCAA said it is aware of the inconvenience the action may cause intending passengers of Max Air but noted that the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount.

Thus, the NCAA appeals for patience and understanding while it ensures the protection of passenger rights, the statement said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed suspension of Max Air domestic flight operations for three months with effect from midnight of Jan. 31.

The NCAA Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Achimugu said the suspension was a result of an incident involving Max Air B734 aircraft with registration marks 5N-MBD, while landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Tuesday.

According to him, the suspension is to enable internal appraisal of the airlines operations.

During this three-month period, the NCAA will conduct a thorough safety and economic audit on Max Air.

The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Airs organisation, procedures, personnel and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, he said.

Mr Achimugu added that the economic audit would critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations.

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 also said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had initiated an investigation into Tuesdays incident.

Mr Achimugu said the NCAA would provide the required support to NSIB in that regard.

He said the specific cause(s) of the incident could only be established at the end of the investigation.

NAN reports that the Tuesdays incident involving Max Air occurred at approximately 10:48 p.m. according to a statement by NSIBs Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji.

Mr Oladeji said that the aircraft, flying from Lagos to Kano with 53 passengers and six crew members onboard, landed on runway 06.

During the deceleration phase, while still under 60 knots and with the thrust reversers engaged, a loud bang was heard, followed by the aircraft veering sharply to the left.

The flight crew promptly regained control and safely brought the aircraft to a stop.

All 53 passengers and crew members safely disembarked, and no injuries were reported, she said.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Alterra Africa Accelerator Fund, a private equity fund managed by Alterra Capital Partners, backed by Africas wealthiest person, Aliko Dangote, is positioned to take the majority ownership of Java House, a Nairobi-based coffeehouse and restaurant chain.

Java House, which has changed hands three times in barely twelve years and was acquired for $100 million by Dubai-based Abraaj Group in 2017 before it was sold to the current owner Actis, runs 73 outlets in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

The value of the deal is still kept under wraps.

Mr Dangotes biggest bet, a 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery built at $19 billion, started operations in the outskirts of Lagos last January.

The oil and cement magnate currently ranks 73rd on Bloombergs list of worlds richest persons, with his net worth topping $27 billion.

Alterra agreed to acquire a majority stake in the entity, while Phatisa, another Africa-focused private equity fund of repute in the food service industry, will take the remaining minority interest, according to a statement issued by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission.

Phatisas footprints span Malawi, Congo DR, Mauritius, Kenya, Seychelles and Zambia.

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 Commission will, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations, determine, among other things, whether the proposed transaction is likely to substantially prevent or lessen competition within the Common Market and whether the proposed transaction is or would be contrary to the public interest as provided for under Article 26 of the Regulations, COMESA said in the document seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

For this reason, COMESA is asking suppliers, competitors and customers of the parties to the deal to hand in their written responses by 13 February.

Alterra

Genevieve Sangudi, Eric Kump, and Bruce Steen  all one-time executives at Carlyle Africa  formed Alterra Capital in 2020 alongside Idris Mohammed.

Starting Alterra helped fulfil the dream of those four, who had aspired to set up a firm which would invest in promising African companies that cater to basic consumer and vital business needs.

Alterra would later be backed by Carlyles founders, David Rubenstein and Bill Conway, and Mr Dangote as investors.

Mr Dangote had established a reputation for himself in the food processing space at home, where his relatively sizeable investment in sugar, salt, seasonings and pasta earlier in the century has evolved into consumer goods giants, some of which are listed on the Nigerian Exchange.

Alterra has investment in twenty companies on the continent in which it has invested $1.9 billion, according to the information on its website.

In 2023, Alterra raised $140 million in the first close of a $500 million fund for investment in Africa.

The first deployment of the fund went into the acquisition last year of South Africas Chill Beverages, owners of the premium mixer brand Fitch and Leedes.

Java House

The restaurant chain came to life in Nairobi in 1999, co-established by two American businesspersons, John Wagner and Kevin Ashley. It now operates as a unit of Star Foods Holdings Limited.

Key brands owned by the business include Planet Yogurt (Kenya), Three Sixty Degrees Pizza (Kenya and Rwanda), Kukito Africa (Kenya) and Foodscape Africa, a centralised procurement and commercial production kitchen producing coffee, cooked food and baked food.

London-based Actis took over Java House in 2019 after Abraaj was liquidated but began making plans to sell it off four years later. Actis, at a point, contemplated an initial public offering as a means of divesting its stake.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The police in Abia State have released the body of Chinedu Ukwu, a truck driver who was killed during a shootout between two police teams in the state.

Mr Ukwu, a father of four, died on 14 August 2024 after being hit by a stray bullet during a reported shootout between two police teams in Aba, Abia State.

He hailed from Ikpeze-Uno, Arondizuogu, a community in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, but resided in Aba.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the shootout occurred between police patrol teams from Police Area Command in Aba and another police team from Umuahia, the state capital.

Residents claimed the operatives appeared to have mistaken themselves for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the area.

IPOB, a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions.

In a statement on 15 August 2024, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, said police authorities had begun investigating 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

Ms Chinaka, then an assistant superintendent of police, said there was no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other.

What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian, she stated.

The police spokesperson further told PREMIUM TIMES on 15 August 2024 that a stray bullet killed the victim during a shootout between police operatives and some hoodlums.

She suggested that there was no evidence that the stray bullet came from police operatives.

Meanwhile, the family, in August, asked President Bola Tinubu to ensure justice for the slain victim.

In November, the family detailed how they had been battling to survive following the death of their breadwinner.

Release of the body

PREMIUM TIMES extensively reported that the police in Abia State declined to release the body of Mr Ukwu despite the pleas from his family.

Daniel Ukwu, the family head, told this newspaper in November that the police claimed they were keeping the corpse because they suspected that the slain driver was an IPOB member.

We have waited for them for more than two months to come up with their findings, but we havent seen anything, Mr Ukwu said in November.

He added that the police were also blocking them from seeing the corpse at the mortuary.

But Mr Ukwu told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the police released the corpse to the family on 21 January.

They gave us the tally and letter of authority to bury (the corpse), he said.

He said the development came about three days after the family petitioned the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over the incident and the refusal of the police to release his corpse.

After our petition, we were invited at the Abia Government House and wrote statement and the governor ordered investigation into our petition, he recalled.

We collected the mortuary tally and the letter of authority to bury from the State Criminal Investigation Department of the police last week Tuesday.

The family head, however, lamented that the police had not visited the victims residence since the incident.

He appealed to the state government and public-spirited Nigerians to come to the aid of the family, given the loss of their breadwinner.

Burial

The 62-year-old truck driver will be buried on 21 February in his hometown in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Council Area of Imo State, according to his burial arrangements forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


On the night of January 29, several Russian regions were attacked by Ukrainian drones. One of the drones was shot down by Russian air defense over Lake Ladoga in the Leningrad region.

ADVERTISIMENT

Approximately 100 kilometers from where the drone crashed is the dacha of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's friends, where he could have been vacationing at the time of the attack. This is reported by the Russian edition of the Agency.

"During a nighttime drone attack across Russia's regions, air defense forces shot down one of the UAVs near the shore of Lake Ladoga in the Leningrad region. On this lake, about 100 kilometers from the area where the drone crashed, there is a Karelian dacha of Putin's friends, where the president himself could have vacationed," the newspaper writes.

According to the governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, the drone was shot down by Russian air defense in the Vsevolozhsky district of the Leningrad region. He said there was no damage or casualties, but did not specify the location of the drone's crash.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, the Agency emphasizes that the Maryalakhti Bay is located approximately 115-170 km (depending on the point on the shore) in a straight line from the lake shore in Vsevolozhsk district.

"There is a plot of land there that, as Rain wrote in 2016, was owned by the Prime company, controlled by Putin's friends Yuri Kovalchko and his son Boris. Locals call this area "Putin's dacha." A Dozhd source also said that the residence was built for the president's visits. In 2022, The Guardian published details of the interiors of this complex with marble floors and a $10,000 bidet. According to the newspaper, there is a private brewery, a tea room overlooking the lake, two swimming pools, and a path to the waterfall, which used to be a tourist attraction before it was fenced off. And in 2024, a video from a drone flying over the residence was published by the Dossier Center: it shows yacht piers, a trout farm, a farm with cows, and yacht piers," the publication writes.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Kremlin has traditionally denied that Putin has anything to do with these facilities on Lake Ladoga. And the Agency noted that Ukrainian drones have already made adjustments to the dictator's leisure activities.

"Drone attacks have already changed the president's vacation. Last year, as Project reported, Putin practically stopped flying to Sochi, where he used to spend a significant part of spring and fall. A journalist source explained this as the head of state's fear for his life after drone attacks on city facilities. By March 2024, the official residence of the president, Bocharov Stream, was even demolished in the city," the Agency writes.

On the morning of January 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the "destruction" of 104 Ukrainian UAVs: 47 UAVs over Kursk, 27 over Bryansk, 11 over Smolensk, 7 over Tver, 4 over Belgorod, 3 over Nizhny Novgorod, 3 over Kaluga and one over Rostov and Leningrad regions.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that the DIU and the General Staff confirmed the attack on the Lukoil oil depot in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod region. All 4 drones out of 4 launched at this target hit the facility. A large-scale fire broke out there after the arrivals.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application filed by activist Omoyele Sowore, who faces cybercrime charges over his social media comments describing the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as an illegal IGP..

Trial judge Abdulla Liman announced the adjournment on Wednesday after hearing the bail application moved by Mr Sowores lawyer and opposed by the prosecution.

Mr Sowores lawyer, Marshall Abubakar from Falana & Falana Chambers, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, recognising his personality as a foremost human rights activist and former presidential candidate.

The lawyer said the defendant had been cooperating with the police, as he promptly submitted himself for interrogation despite being merely invited by the police via a WhatsApp message.

Mr Abubakar further noted that the police had granted Mr Sowore administrative bail, stressing that the police considered him deserving of bail.

However, the prosecutor, Uddy Jonathan, opposed the bail application.

We are urging the court to dismiss the bail application. Bail cannot be granted in a vacuum, Mr Jonathan 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

He added that should the court be inclined to grant bail to the defendant, it should be on terms that ensure his appearance at trial until a judgement is reached in the case, including compelling him to submit his passport to the court.

The trial judge subsequently adjourned the case till 1 p.m. on Thursday (30 January) to rule on the bail request.

Earlier in the proceedings, which started at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Mr Sowore pleaded not guilty to 17 cybercrime charges the police instituted against him for calling Mr Egbetokun an illegal IGP and describing him as incompetent on social media.

Before the activist entered his plea, his lawyer, Mr Abubakar, pointed out errors in the police indictment, including the misspelling of Mr Sowores first name as Omoleye instead of Omoyele in all 17 counts.

This prompted the police prosecutor to apply for the courts permission to amend the charges to reflect Mr Sowores correct name.

Following the amendment, the charges were read to Mr Sowore, who pleaded not guilty to all counts.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the trial drew significant attention and prominent figures to the court in solidarity with Mr Sowore on Wednesday.

Among those present were a former senator, Shehu Sani; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; the Country Director of Action Aid, Andrew Mamedu; and his predecessor, Ene Obi.

Also, some Nigerian youths and members of the Mr Sowore-led Take It Back Movement (TIB) thronged the court to support the human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Charges

The Nigerian police charged Mr Sowore on Tuesday with 17 counts of cybercrime offences for referring to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as illegal IGP in a post on his social media platforms.

Mr Egbetokun, who was expected to have exited service having attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years in September 2024, secured an extended stay in office following a controversial alteration to the Nigeria Police Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The alteration allowed Mr Egbetokun to stay in office for up to four years as Nigerias police chief.

The police alleged in the indictment that Mr Sowore knew that the description of Mr Egbetokun as an illegal IGP on his X page was false but knowingly made the claim to cause a breakdown of law and order.

The indictment also includes an allegation that Mr Sowore captioned Mr Egbetokuns picture: Mediocrity, incompetence, corruption, a country run by characterless people cannot make progress.

According to the police, acts constituted an offence contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015( as amended 2024) and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii) of the same Act.

Mr Sowore, detained after honouring a police invitation on Monday, described the charges as ridiculous.

These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. Omoyele Sowore to face charges for calling retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun Illegal IGP, Mr Sowore said in a message he circulated via Whatsapp on Tuesday.

Mr Sowore also mocked the charges in a Facebook post, portraying blunders in the filing as justifying his accusation that Mr Egbetokun was incompetent.

Sowore claimed IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, was illegal and incompetent, then he quickly moved to court to file charges for cybercrime, with incorrect spellings of Sowores 1st name and wrong spelling of incite. Mr Sowore wrote on Facebook Tuesday night.

A review of the charges by PREMIUM TIMES shows that Mr Sowores first name was misspelt as Omoleye instead of Omoyele across the 17 counts. The police also wrote insight where they intended to write incite.

The activist was invited for questioning by the police over a video clip he uploaded on social media alleging extortion by officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said admissions into the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme in eight universities will not be processed for the 2025/2026 academic session.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the board explained that the decision was based on suspending law programmes in the institutions by the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the highest decision-making body for legal education in Nigeria.

JAMB listed the universities affected as Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State; Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State; Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State; Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State; and Taraba State University, Jalingo, Taraba State.

Others are Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State; Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State; and Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

As a result, JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enrol in the Law programme at the aforementioned universities for the 2025/2026 academic session, the statement reads in part.

JAMB added that the suspension of the law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State will last for two academic sessions, specifically, the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.

Furthermore, the ban on registration for the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy

will extend into the 2026/2027 academic session, it added.

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

About JAMB

JAMB conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the entrance examination for candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The board also houses the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) through which all the tertiary institutions offer their admissions to candidates.

Meanwhile, this years UTME, which kickstarts the admission-seeking process, begins on Friday, 31 January.

Around

1.5 million candidates are expected to take part in the computer-based tests.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Federal High Court in Lagos has reversed an order of Mareva injunction obtained by First Bank freezing the assets of Global Hydrocarbons, an oil & gas firm, and those of its directors up to the sum of $225.8 million.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu ruled that the injunction contravened an existing order from a court of concurrent jurisdiction. He noted that, compared with an earlier order granted by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa in Suit No 1953, the order in question should be set aside.

First Bank and FBN Quest Trustees did not completely disclose at the point of seeking the order the previous order issued by Justice Lewis-Allagoa, making the Mareva injunction to be in conflict with the previous ruling, the court said.

The lender and FBN Quest Trustees had on 27 December 2024 approached the court with an ex-parte application to seek the order in respect of a total claim of $225.8 million being alleged outstanding indebtedness on General Hydrocarbons account with First Bank as of 30 September 2024.

The court had granted the order restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to Nduka Obaigbena from any account maintained by him.

Mr Obaigbena, who owns Global Hydrocarbons, is the Chairperson and editor-in-chief of THISDAY Media Group and Arise News Channel.

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 in which all three are directors and shareholders.

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

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.

In reaction, Global Hydrocarbons and some of the defendants requested the court to cancel the order, asserting that the court was misled in granting it in the first place.

The energy firm claimed First Bank and FBN Quest Limited secured the order by way of fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment of material facts.

In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu agreed with Global Hydrocarbons and the 2nd to 5th defendants that the bank intentionally suppressed facts to mislead the court into issuing the order.

In view of the facts, the court stated that it had to set aside the freezing order blocking the accounts of the company and those of other defendants.

The judge accepted the arguments of the defendants lawyers, Abiodun Laniyonu (SAN) and Olumide Aju (SAN).

In a related development, Global Hydrocarbons directors, who are among the defendants in the case, have initiated legal proceedings against First Bank demanding $1 billion each in damages for defamation and the wrongful freezing of their accounts.

Global Hydrocarbons is also launching a case in the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee against First Bank lawyers, Babajide Koku (SAN) and Victor Ogude (SAN) for unprofessional conduct.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will not fund new constructions in 2025.

Mr Alausa said the Fund will only focus on maintenance of existing facilities in tertiary institutions.

Speaking on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Tuesday, he said the directive, which came from President Bola Tinubu, has also been communicated to TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono.

One priority area were going to be doing is to fix these infrastructures. Rehabilitate, improve and get them to a very high standard, he said on the television programme.

Enough of building new buildings. I just had a meeting with the TETFund executive secretary yesterday to communicate in clear terms the directives given by the president to me.

He added that public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education will use their intervention funds to be disbursed in 2025 to repair and rehabilitate hostels, lecture theatres, auditoriums, laboratories and classes as well as offices.

The education minister said TETFund has performed well in funding construction in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

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 added that the directive was to ensure that we get maximum output of every single Naira that TETFund is sending to our tertiary institutions.

TETFund disbursements

TETFund is an intervention agency for Nigerian public tertiary institutions established by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act 2011.

It administers, manages, disburses, and monitors the judicious utilisation of the now 3 per cent Tertiary Education Tax paid by all registered companies operating in Nigeria.

It was formerly the Education Tax Act (1993) with a mandate to operate as an intervention fund to all levels of public education from basic to tertiary education.

However, in 2011, the Act was repealed and replaced with the TETFund Act which focuses only on public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The education tax, which was formerly 2 per cent, was increased to 3 per cent by last years finance Act.

Nigerian tertiary institutions have relied heavily on TETFund for capital projects in the past years as funding from the government continues to dwindle.

Concerns about the future of TETFund

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently raised concerns that TETFund is gradually being crippled by the Tax Reform Bill currently before the National Assembly.

ASUU noted that the bill, if passed, will reduce funding for TETFund for the first two years and dry it up completely by 2030

The union stressed that TETFund interventions have been instrumental to infrastructural development and training of Nigerian academics.

The academic union rejected the part of the proposed tax bill that repealed the three per cent education tax currently accrued to TETFund per the Finance Act (2023).

Instead, the bill proposed a flat four per cent development levy to be shared between TETFund, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

But ASUU, which has always opposed both the establishment and operation of NELFUND, said the shift in funding towards student loans may be an approach to force public tertiary education institutions to continue to hike fees payable by students.

The phasing out of TETFund would cause a momentous danger to tertiary education in Nigeria, as its aids to the physical infrastructure and human capital development would eventually come to a stop.

This move could also lead to students becoming protracted debtors, imitating the financial challenges faced by the nation itself, the union said at a press conference in Abuja.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigerian Senate has deployed silence as its official strategy in response to the corruption scandal exposed by a recent PREMIUM TIMES investigation, which revealed an extortion scheme created by some lawmakers to fleece universities of their meagre income.

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES published a report detailing how members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, along with their counterparts in the House Committee on University Education, demanded 8 million from each university as a condition for passing their 2025 budget proposals.

Following the report, Nigerians on social media have called for thorough investigations by anti-graft agencies.

However, the Senate has opted to remain silent in the face of the scandal.

On Monday, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokespersons of both chambers to obtain their official positions. The spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, initially acknowledged a text message sent to his phone and promised to provide an official response. He has, however, failed to keep his promise as he ignored several reminders sent to him.

The spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi, did not respond to requests for comments on Monday but on Wednesday, he released a statement that failed to address the issues raised in the report. In the statement, the House appeared to have cleared the committees without even investigating the allegations.

The Senate leaderships silence is widely perceived as a sign of complicity, particularly given that past leaderships of the National Assembly had been accused of receiving kickbacks from some committee chairpersons.

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 the past, the leadership of both chambers had faced allegations of rewarding allies with committee appointments.

Bob Solomon, a member of the House from Rivers State, was questioned by some new members on how certain lawmakers secured key committee positions despite lacking legislative experience.

Additionally, there has been a proliferation of committees in both chambers, widely believed to be a means of rewarding loyalists and creating money for the boys. In the current Assembly, there are over 150 standing committees in the House, following the splitting of some committees to accommodate more loyalists.

Previous strategy of silence

Earlier in January, PREMIUM TIMES published a report on the allocation of 10 billion for rent and furniture for the presiding officers of the National Assembly by the Ministry of the FCT. The story generated public outrage, with Nigerians questioning the outrageous allocation and calling for action.

However, the National Assembly completely ignored the report and refused to comment on it. Beyond the need for official statements, there is an urgent need for the institution to investigate the committees and take appropriate action.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has become notorious for sweeping allegations involving its members and committees under the carpet.

Recently, there were some bribery allegations made by the CEO of Binance, Richard Teng.

In 2023, PREMIUM TIMES exposed an ad hoc committee of the House that was tasked with probing job racketeering but ended up extorting MDAs.

The report provided details of the bank account into which the money was paid, the bureau de change entity used, and the proxy who collected the funds. Following the publication, the House, through Mr Rotimi, promised to investigate the matter. However, no action has been taken to date.

Last year, PREMIUM TIMES also published a report on how some committees tried to extort tertiary institutions through the TETFUND allocation. The committees backed down after the report.

PREMIUM TIMES will, in the coming days, publish more reports exposing the activities of some of these committees in both the House and the Senate.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


In The Republic, one of the most important dialogues of Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, he said the best form of government is that in which philosophers rule. Plato was less concerned about people sitting on thrones wearing glittering crowns, but was talking more about people who prioritise rational reflections occupying important positions that affect the society. May your tenure bring good fortune to LASU, Prof. May your enemies fail as they have always failed during your journey to the top.

It was in the heat of the days activities that the news filtered in that a new deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) had emerged at the Lagos State University (LASU), and it was no other person than the cerebral Professor Oseni Taiwo Afisi. The first person I called was Dr Adeolu Oyekan, my lecturer turned bosom friend. Its true, he confirmed to me, disclosing that he had just ended a phone conversation with the second most senior official in the LASU hierarchy.

I rang Professor Afisi to congratulate him but he was on another call. After reading my WhatsApp message much later, he called back. George! to which I replied, DVC, sir, congratulations! The conversation was brief but it left me inspired. Professor Afisi has broken a record and set a standard. In the history of LASU, no lecturer from the Philosophy Department has risen to this enviable height. The new DVC was one of the lecturers who taught me in my undergraduate days. We were in our sophomore year when our paths first crossed. One thing that stood him out back then was his demeanour and approach to life. A six-footer, the youthful lecturer would joke while teaching us Logic. My friend, Osho Ayodele Benedict, who later became president of our Department, was closer to Prof than I; and together we would joke about who would get a higher grade in the course, which we previously loathed.

Philosophers are wrongly perceived as boring people, perhaps because of the ascetic nature to life. However, Prof changed that perception among his students through his admirable dress sense. I can honestly say that the relationship between lecturers and students was not so cordial in my time, or to paraphrase one of my lecturers who in a recent tribute to a deceased student said he had never been lucky with ex-students. In my own case, I have not been lucky with my lecturers, save for the likes of Professor Afisi, Dr Oyekan and a select few.

That reminds me of a sad episode that would only leave my mind the day I leave this world. As a legacy, Osho put together a symposium to mark the end of his tenure as Departmental president but rather than be commend for the laudable initiative, he almost landed in trouble. Here was a programme that brought renowned names within and outside Philosophy Department, such as Professor Jim Unah; Professor TU Nwala; Femi Adesina, then managing director of The Sun newspaper, among others, but we were told that we didnt secure enough approval to host such event  the first and only of its kind in the department in the four/five years I spent, but Prof was one of the few persons who interceded on our behalf and assured us that all would be well.

More than a decade later, Dr Olajide Obi, also a fantastic lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, LASU, linked me up with some current students there. I took interest in the election that threw up Zainab Adeola Bakare, the incumbent departmental president, and one of the names she kept mentioning in terms of encouragement and support was Professor Afisi.

It didnt come as a surprise for he has proven over time to be a man who values his students and keeps his relationship with them. In 2019 when my wife and I welcomed our first child, I was off to work the next day. Although the joy of becoming a father wanted to make me sit back at the hospital, reality dawned on me that I was to preside over an editorial meeting. I was in the middle of that meeting when my wife sent a message that Professor Afisi and Dr Oyekan were in the hospital. I was touched. How many lecturers would show such care to former students, especially in a setting when the knife and yam is perceived to be in one hand?

An incident which happened last week showed that certainly there are lecturers like Professor Afisi out there. Some Obafemi Awolowo University students took time to celebrating a lecturer, Dr Ezekiel Olagunju, and they posted the video online. Amid the outpouring of love, Dr Olagunju broke down in tears. In an interview he granted after that incident, the lecturer opened up on why he treats his students the way he does:

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

I believe students are like blank sheets of paper. As a lecturer, its my duty to fill those sheets with knowledge. If you dont teach them, they wont learn. Its a collaborative process. What they learn from one lecturer combines with what they learn from others to shape them into successful individuals.

Professor Oseni Afisi was head of the Department of Philosophy, LASU from March 2019 to October 2021. He was appointed as the first director of Special Interventions in October 2021 by the vice-chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello. He was also appointed as coordinator, LASU Ventures Ltd in March 2024. He held both positions until his election as deputy vice-chancellor (Academics) of Lagos State University.

My principle is to ensure I teach my portion of the curriculum thoroughly so there are no gaps in their learning. I also focus on creating an environment conducive to learning. For instance, in primary school, if you teach Mathematics with a cane in your hand, students are more likely to give wrong answers out of fear.

Similarly, in language teaching, I make sure my students are relaxed and happy in the classroom. When theyre comfortable, their minds and hearts are open, and theyre more ready to learn. Some students may come in with the mindset that the subject is difficult, but by interacting with me and experiencing a positive atmosphere, they develop the readiness to succeed.

Someday, Professor Afisi would tell us his own story too. The task before the new DVC is daunting and I have no doubt that he would succeed. As head of Department, he attracted so many benefits to the department including organising a UNESCO (MOST) Syndicated Workshop, which put not just the department in the spotlight but LASU as well. In 2018, he also organised a Karl Popper for Africa International Conference at the university. I had the opportunity to attend that programme supported by the Karl Popper Charitable Trust, United Kingdom. It was at that programme, anchored by Professor Henry Hunjo, who I have fond memories of, that I heard the slogan, We are LASU, We Are Proud. In our days on campus, the slogan was Greatest gba gba.

Who Is Professor Afisi?

Professor Oseni Taiwo Afisi was born on 15th July, 1974 to the Afisi-Shokun-Agbajegoriite-Onilegbale Royal House of Isale-Eko, Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria. Professor Afisi grew up in Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria and started his early education at Ajenifuja Primary School, Ilupeju, Odi-olowo, Mushin, Lagos State in 1980. He proceeded to Ilupeju College, Ilupeju, Odi-olowo, Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1992.

Professor Oseni Taiwo Afisi had his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, in 1998. He had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Lagos State Model College, Obadore, Lagos State, from 1998 to 1999, then had his Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2002. He later proceeded to the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where he obtained a Ph.D degree in Philosophy in 2014.

Professor Afisi joined the services of Lagos State University as an Assistant Lecturer in March 2007. He became an Associate Professor of Philosophy in 2020 and a Professor of Philosophy in 2023. He specialises in philosophy of science, logic, and critical rationalism. Professor Afisi is the first indigenous professor of philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at Lagos State University.

Professor Oseni Afisi was head of the Department of Philosophy, LASU from March 2019 to October 2021. He was appointed as the first director of Special Interventions in October 2021 by the vice-chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello. He was also appointed as coordinator, LASU Ventures Ltd in March 2024. He held both positions until his election as deputy vice-chancellor (Academics) of Lagos State University.

He has won several academic awards and grants among which were the 2023 Institutional Based Research (IBR) Grant awarded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND); and the 2021 Hannah Arendt Humanities Network (HAHN) Annual Text Seminar Award at the Bard College, New York.

Professor Afisi has authored and co-authored over 60 scientific papers and journal articles, including over 20 chapter contributions in books. He is the editor of the book, Karl Popper and Africa: Knowledge, Politics and Development, published by Springer in 2021.

He has won several academic awards and grants among which were the 2023 Institutional Based Research (IBR) Grant awarded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND); and the 2021 Hannah Arendt Humanities Network (HAHN) Annual Text Seminar Award at the Bard College, New York.

A member of Philosophical Association of Nigeria (PAN), he has been nominated as a resource person at several times to participate in the National University Commission accreditation and resource assessment exercises to different Nigerian universities.

Professor Oseni Taiwo Afisi has attended conferences, workshops, and technical meetings in many countries, which include New Zealand, Australia, USA, Brazil, United Kingdom, Austria, Tanzania and Ghana.

The last time someone I knew from the Faculty of Arts became DVC was about two decades ago, when Prof TA Amosu of French Department occupied that office. Professor Amosu carried himself with so much dignity and admiration. I remember dedicating a column to him in my space on Campus Wick, a defunct publication that exposed me to the world of journalism back in school. Professor Afisi has the opportunity to take it a notch higher and I am confident that he would succeed.

In The Republic, one of the most important dialogues of Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, he said the best form of government is that in which philosophers rule. Plato was less concerned about people sitting on thrones wearing glittering crowns, but was talking more about people who prioritise rational reflections occupying important positions that affect the society. May your tenure bring good fortune to LASU, Prof. May your enemies fail as they have always failed during your journey to the top. Ejire arai sokun, akaba Ogo oni se mo e lese. Omo Aromi sa legbe legbe. Mo yo fun e, mo yo fun ara mi. Bi oju o ba ti ehin igbeti, oju o ni teko ile.

Taiwo George, a graduate of the Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University (LASU), is an editor with Daily Trust newspaper.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has congratulated his predecessor and current Board Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Aminu Bello Masari, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent ThisDay/Arise TV awards ceremony in Lagos.

A statement by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed,

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Radda said he described the recognition as a fitting tribute to Mr Masaris age long distinguished public service and his enduring commitment to national development.

This award acknowledges Masaris contributions, from his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives to his exceptional eight-year stewardship as Governor of Katsina State, and now his pivotal role at TETFund, Mr Radda stated.

Mr Radda also noted that the recognition celebrates not just an individual, but a legacy of dedicated service to Katsina State and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor stressed that the honour brings additional prestige to Katsina State and serves as an inspiration to current and future generations of public servants. He urged the elder statesman to continue to leverage his wealth of experience and insight to strengthen national development.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Governor Dauda Lawal commended the Department of State Services for intercepting an arms shipment bound for Zamfara State. On Tuesday, the Department of State Services director in Zamfara displayed the intercepted weapons and ammunition to the governor at the government house in Gusau.

A statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the intercepted weapons comprised a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), Two Machine Guns, Nine AK47 rifles, Two Pistols, Nineteen Magazines, and more than a thousand live rounds of ammunition.

The statement also noted that the suspected gunrunner was followed by Department of State Services personnel from the Niger Republic and was arrested on the Zurmi/Kauran Namoda highway in Zamfara State.

While examining the intercepted weapons, Governor Lawal highlighted the fruitful collaboration between the troops and the Zamfara State government in combating banditry.

I must praise the troops, the military, the DSS, and the police, especially the Department of State Services, for successfully executing such a significant arrest.

I want to emphasize that these successes, along with others in addressing banditry in the state, are a result of the collaboration and support provided by the Zamfara State government to all security forces.

We will continue to support the troops in whatever way we can to encourage them to keep up their good work.

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 will be interesting to know that most of these criminals are indigenes of Zamfara. Theyre not foreigners, and this arrested individual is not the only one. We have had more over the last few weeks, but this is the only one we present to the public. Such arrests have occurred daily.

Banditry is declining in Zamfara. We have seen that. I urge the people of Zamfara to give all the necessary support to the troops, the governor stated.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, in company with senior officials of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Tuesday undertook a tour of facilities at Brightwaters Energy Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The tour of the companys facilities at Choba, Port Harcourt, and Emohua in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was a follow up to the NCDMB Executive Secretarys earlier visit to the company and some pipe coating facilities in May 2024. During that visit he pledged the Boards support for local service companies, giving them opportunities in the oil and gas industry and creating jobs in the economy.

The latest visit was to assess Brightwaters Energys upgrade of its technical capabilities, which would position them for upcoming industry projects.

Speaking ahead at the visit, Mr Ogbe conveyed the Boards determination to ensure that capabilities of local oil and gas service companies are known and adequately utilised by operating companies in the industry to boost local content and provide employment, in line with the economic aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration.

He recalled that Brightwaters had performed well in the execution of projects in the exploration and production segment of the industry over the years with a clientele that included SPDC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, among other major oil and gas operators. He was convinced that the company has the capacity required for key scopes in upcoming industry projects.

He charged operating oil and gas companies to always support qualified service companies, while ensuring that the best quality service is delivered at all times and on schedule.

In his opening remarks at the event, the Community and Corporate Affairs Manager of Brightwaters, Solomon Aluge, confirmed that the firm had been engaging the team from SPDC and was equipped to carry out heavy or light fabrication works. He indicated that Brightwaters has carried out many onshore and offshore pipeline engineering and installation works for various clients.

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

Elaborating on the scope of operations of his company in the oil and gas sector, he pointed out that Brightwaters is mobilising for Chevron and Tulcan pipeline works at the moment.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters, Mr Scott Gregory, expressed happiness at the presence of the Executive Secretary, Mr Ogbe, and the representatives of SPDC at the meeting, assuring all that the company has enormous capabilities for services in the oil and gas industry.

He provided technical details of a number of projects executed by the company offshore and onshore in its many years of operation in Nigeria, noting that some of the upcoming field projects were well within the companys competencies.

Among key facilities visited in the tour were a blast furnace, where the process of smelting was demonstrated with hot compressed air being blasted into a furnace from below, and a multipurpose offshore construction vessel known as Sea Horizon Derrick Lay Barge, with a heavy-lift capacity of 1,320 tons.

Marine construction activities performed by the vessel, according to the company, include installation of rigid and flexible pipelines, risers and umbilicals [flexible hoses that connect surface equipment to subsea equipment].

In his comments after the facility tour, the General Manager Local Content Shell, Mr Lanre Olawuyi conveyed the companys good impressions with the facilities and capabilities of Brightwaters Energy. He affirmed that the technical teams would review their reports and make decisions on how to engage the company in some of their upcoming projects. He expressed delight that the company had upgraded its facilities since the last visit in May 2024, and expressed hope that the facility would attract more patronage from the oil industry so it would bounce back to its former glory.

On the entourage of the Executive Secretary were the Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Division (PCAD), Abayomi Bamidele, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, a technical staff in the Executive Secretarys office, Mr Ilu Ozekhome.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Mohammed Lukman and Adeleye Maria, two minors born blind, and over 1,000 virtually impaired people across Nigeria have regained sights in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) While Lukman is nine years old, Adeleye has just celebrated his 6th birthday.

The NNPC Limited, through its social arm, the NNPC Foundation Ltd/Gte, achieved this feat as a part of the Foundations ongoing free cataract screening and extraction campaign, aimed at addressing avoidable blindness caused by cataracts.

The medical team, led by Professor Grace Feyisayo Adepoju, successfully performed surgeries on three minors as part of the exercise, which has already benefited over 800 patients in Ogun State and 200 in Lagos State.

These beneficiaries are among the over 1,000 individuals whose sights have been restored through this programme in the South-west zone.

The project exemplifies NNPC Ltds commitment to improving healthcare and giving hope to Nigerians, regardless of their age or socio-economic background.

The parents of the minors expressed immense joy as they witnessed their children regain their sight.

The surgeries, which required extra care and patience due to the delicate nature of paediatric ophthalmology, were delayed by a week to ensure thorough observation and preparation.

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

Dr Peter Abikoye, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at FMC, Abeokuta, explained that paediatric ophthalmology is a careful process that cannot be rushed.

The Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, emphasised the importance of the programme in addressing health inequities across the country.

NNPC Ltd, through its Foundation, is committed to improving healthcare access and supporting initiatives that have a direct impact on the well-being of Nigerians. The restoration of sight for these children is a testament to our dedication to creating lasting change, she said.

One of the beneficiaries, five-year-old Iremide Kasali, had been living with cataract-related blindness since early childhood. Her mother, Adebisi Odunuga, shared her story, highlighting the financial constraints that previously prevented Iremide from receiving treatment.

We started noticing the problem with her two eyes when she was very young. She is a playful child, but she struggled to see anything at a distance. Teachers always complained that she couldnt follow lessons properly, and even at home, she would cry about the pain in her eyes, Mrs Odunuga said.

Mrs Odunuga recounted how she learned about the NNPC Foundations free cataract programme through a staff member at FMC Abeokuta. After years of failed attempts to treat her daughter at other hospitals due to financial challenges, the Foundations intervention provided a lifeline for Iremide and her family.

This is just one of the many examples of NNPC Ltds commitment to being a caring and responsible brand. The Foundation has also announced plans to extend the cataract campaign to the remaining five geo-political zones, with the ambitious target of restoring over 6,000 sights by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

As part of its holistic approach, the NNPC Foundation has pledged to continue supporting the minors, especially the children, even after surgery to ensure full recovery and a return to normal life. This commitment underscores the Foundations dedication to long-term impact and sustainability in its healthcare initiatives.

With over 1,000 successful surgeries already recorded in the South-west zone, the programme is not only restoring sight but also renewing hope for countless families across Nigeria.

Through its healthcare efforts, NNPC Ltd continues to stamp its reputation as a compassionate organisation that prioritises the well-being of the communities it serves.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A reliable car is not just about comfort and prestige, but also a guarantee of safety, time and money savings in the future. Some models can cause a lot of trouble in the long run, requiring constant investment in repairs. In the overall ranking, Tesla, which is very popular, ranks only 17th.

ADVERTISIMENT

Consumer Reports is a reputable publication that annually publishes a rating of car reliability based on owner feedback and crash test results. This rating is an important tool for those planning to buy a new car, as it provides information on the durability and reliability of different models.

Subaru has risen to the top of the rankings, displacing Lexus and Toyota, which have held the top spot for many years.

Of the seven Subaru models, two - the Forester and Impreza - have reliability scores well above average, while the Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback and Ascent have above average and average scores.

"Subaru vehicles use many reliable components. This commonality means that when Subaru changes the design of a vehicle, the company can make fewer additional changes by carrying over reliable systems. This reduces the risk of new problems," commented Steven Elek, who oversees automotive data analytics at Consumer Reports.

ADVERTISIMENT

The reliability scores of the updated Tacoma pickup, Tundra full-size pickup and bZ4X electric vehicle are below average, which worsened Toyota's overall position in the ranking. The only Subaru model with below-average reliability is the Solterra EV, a version of the Toyota bZ4X with the Subaru emblem.

Lexus and Toyota are ranked second and third, respectively. Four Lexus models were rated above average, and three were rated average. Toyota has four models that are rated well above average, seven that are above average, and five that are average.

Honda ranks fourth. Three models were rated above average, and seven received average scores. Acura, Honda's luxury sub-brand, rounds out the top five.

Consumer Reports brand ratings are based on the predicted reliability of models in each brand's lineup.

ADVERTISIMENT

Experts did not have enough data to create a rating of Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Polestar, Porsche and Ram.

Every year, Consumer Reports surveys users about the problems they have encountered while using their cars over the past 12 months. Experts have collected data on more than 300,000 cars.

The faults range from so-called nuisances (brake squeaks or broken interior trim) to serious problems with engines, transmissions, batteries, etc.

Experts have published general conclusions on the latest analysis of the car market:

Vehicles with internal combustion engines have 17 potential problem areas.

Electric vehicles have up to 12 problem areas, including the electric motor, electric motor/hybrid battery, and charging systems.

ADVERTISIMENT

Hybrids have 19 potential problem areas: 17 with the internal combustion engine, as well as problems with electric motors and electric vehicle batteries.

Plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) can experience all 20 problem areas: 17 from ICE-powered vehicles, as well as those related to electric motors, electric vehicle batteries, and electric vehicle charging.

Asian automakers continue to lead the way in reliability, with an overall average score of 57 for the region on a scale of 1 to 100. European automakers are in second place with 48 points, and Audi and BMW are among the 10 most reliable brands. US brands lag behind with an average score of 38. Buick received the highest score.

This year, among American brands, the Ford Mustang scored well above average, while the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Ford Escape scored above average. The Buick Encore GX and Envision, Cadillac XT5, Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 2500 and Trax, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y all received average scores.

The most reliable hybrid models - from Hyundai, Kia, Lexus and Toyota - received the highest scores in a number of categories. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, and Lexus NX Hybrid are among the most reliable models in this year's survey. Kia's Sorento Hybrid is the most reliable SUV with a three-row engine.

Ford's F-150 Hybrid is the least reliable model. The car has problems with the transmission and hybrid battery.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is also among the least reliable models, receiving significantly lower scores than the regular Escape, which this year has an above-average predicted reliability.

Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
A 27-year-old unemployed woman, Edna Friday, who allegedly stole a baby girl, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State.

Ms Friday, who hails from Urhobo in Delta State, was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and child stealing.

The prosecutor, Amaechi Augustine, a police corporal, told the court that Ms Friday and others now at large allegedly committed the offences on 19 January in Awka, Anambra.

According to him, Ms Friday stole a baby girl and participated in the buying and selling of the child.

Mr Augustine said the offences contravened Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra, 1991, as amended.

It also violates Section 33(4) of the Child Rights Law of Anambra.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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 Chief Magistrate, U.E. Onochie, granted the defendant bail in N500,000 with a surety in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case until 19 March for mention.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has suggested that enforcement of anti-spill locks on petrol tankers can address frequent tanker explosions in Nigeria.

Mr Mbah spoke on Tuesday when he received in his office the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and her team.

Increased tanker explosions

There has been an increase in petrol tanker explosions across Nigeria in recent times.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that a petrol tanker, on Saturday, exploded at the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway killing several people and injuring others.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) later confirmed that 18 people died in the incident.

A week before the Enugu incident, another petrol tanker had exploded along a highway in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Over 70 people were killed in the Niger explosion.

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

Another petrol-laden tanker exploded, on Monday, in a town which shares a boundary with Agaie and Lapai Local Government Areas of Niger State.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu ordered FRSC and agencies in charge of enforcing traffic rules to implement measures to prevent recurring petrol tanker explosions in Nigeria.

How anti-spill lock will end petrol tanker explosions

At the meeting with the NEMA officials, who were in Enugu to flag-off the distribution of intervention items to the survivors of the Ugwu Onyeama tanker incident, Mr Mbah explained how the anti-spill lock works.

As I stated when I visited the scene, we have disasters that we know that we obviously could not have envisaged or predicted; and when they happen, we trigger all the responses that we have set up.

I did call on the law enforcement agencies, particularly the FRSC, to ensure the enforcement of the anti-spill lock, he stated.

Continuing, the governor explained: This is because if we have anti-spill locks on those tankers carrying inflammable products like petrol and automotive gas oil, we will then be able to mitigate such disasters because even if the tanker falls, it will still not spill.

But what happened in Enugu (on Saturday) was a function of the spill of petrol that got into other cars, and they got ignited.

So, I will always want to use this opportunity again to reiterate my call on the law enforcement agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the anti-spill lock on all our petroleum product tankers. It is extremely important.

What were doing for survivors

Mr Mbah said that his administration was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the survivors got full medical treatment, assuring that the government would foot the survivors medical bills.

We have those (survivors) that are at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Hospital, Park Lane, and we are taking care of the bills, he said.

The governor thanked President Tinubu and NEMA for their empathy and quick response to the tanker explosion in the state.

We are deeply grateful for the support you have also provided. It is also a demonstration of the partnership between the federal government and the sub-nationals in this case, which we would want to entrench. We provided the ever-needed logistics to ensure that these items get to those who are most in need of them, he said.

NEMA speaks

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Umar commiserated with the government and people of Enugu State over the fatal tanker explosion in the state.

The increasing cases of tanker fire explosions across Nigeria are not only devastating but also a clog on the wheel of progress and economic development of our communities.

Such incidents have negatively impacted lives, property, the environment, and have a grave potential of slowing down our developmental strides, the director-general stated.

She hailed Mr Mbah for showing leadership during and after the disaster.

I wish to commend you for the timely visit to the scene of the incident and various decisions made, including ensuring that maximum medical attention was given to the survivors, she said.

The director-general explained that the flag-off of the relief assistance to the survivors of the explosion was a collaborative initiative between various governments and the agency to support the survivors.

It is the collective responsibility of all tiers of government to provide support to disaster victims; hence, NEMA is therefore complementing the efforts of the state government, she added.

Mrs Umar announced a donation of relief materials to the survivors of the Saturday tanker explosions.

She listed some of the relief materials to include 200 25kg bags of rice, 200 cartons of spaghetti, 20 cartons of five-litre vegetable oil, 20 cartons of seasoning and 20 cartons of tomato paste and medical consumables.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


On Tuesday, the Abia State Government commenced the distribution of the 53 transformers procured for various communities across the state.

According to a statement from Divine Nwankwo, the head of the information department at Government House, Umuhia, the first batch of transformers was distributed to 11 communities in the state.

While distributing the transformers, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State said the government action fulfilled a part of his social contract with the people of the state, which is to promote and provide reliable electricity supply to the communities.

Mr Otti, represented at the event by the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, recalled that the government had announced in December 2024 that it procured 53 transformers.

He said all 53 transformers would be given to the beneficiaries this week.

This is the first batch of transformers that will be procured and supplied to communities in the state.

So today we will be handing over to 11 communities, and the entire week we will distribute the remaining transformers to the benefitting communities,

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

This is to boost the electricity supply to our communities in the state. This is part of that gesture that would help us achieve that goal, Mr Otti stated.

The governor disclosed that the beneficiaries were selected on a first come, first served basis.

He described the Abia people and residents as industrious and blessed, saying, We cannot promote industrialisation without reliable electricity.

He urged all communities, especially community heads, to take responsibility and protect the transformers against any threat or vandalism.

This is taxpayers money that is put to work, so you should endeavour to ensure that you will handle it with care, protect it and provide enough security, the governor said.

No bribe was paid to any official

Responding on behalf of the benefitting communities, Eze Innocent Ezeala of the Ibe Uzo Amawom  Oboro community in Ikwuano Local Government Area thanked Governor Otti for extending such a gesture to his community.

He described it as a welcome development demonstrating the present administrations commitment to transforming the state.

This gesture points to the fact that the government is setting up systems that will make Abia a state that works in every sector.

The funny thing is that I came here and put up an application for a transformer for my community without seeing the Commissioner.

READ ALSO: Abia govt begins digitalisation of justice delivery system

I was called on the phone to come for the transformer without having to grease anyones palms with anything in order to get it, Mr Ezeala stated.

Some communities that benefited from the distributions first phase include Umuogo in Umuahia South LGA, Amaegbuato-Nkpa in Bende LGA and Okpuala/Umuelenwa in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.

Others are Agbama-Olokoro in Umuahia South LGA, Ibe Uzo Amawom in Ikwuano LGA, Umuoruku in Obingwa LGA, Atani Abam in Arochukwu LGA and Ndi Oti Alicho-Acho in Arochukwu LGA.

Other benefitting communities are Abayi Ohanze in Obingwa LGA, Nwokoma Environs-Umuagbaghi in Aba South LGA and Umuokelenta Amaoba Oboro in Ikwuano LGA.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the MD/CEO of Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency, Victoria Onwubiko, and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power and Public Utilities, Nwanyieze Otum, were among the government officials at the event.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Cocoa farmers in the agrarian communities of Oyo State are counting their gains from the soaring prices of cocoa beans in the outgoing season.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday, a cross-section of cocoa farmers confirmed that the 2024 farming season was the most profitable of their farming years.

According to them, proceeds from cocoa farming in the outgoing season tripled what they realised in the previous cocoa farming season.

They said the development had positively impacted their living standard, as some had conveniently embarked on house-building projects, buying cars and motorcycles among others.

Nurudeen Alimi, a cocoa farmer at Elede Ominigbo Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), said he was able to get above 860 kilogrammes of cocoa beans from his farm.

According to Mr Alimi, a kilogramme of cocoa beans, which cost between N2,800 and N4,000 in December 2023, was sold for N12,000 by the middle of December 2024.

The farmer, however, said there was a decline in the quantity of cocoa beans realised from his farm in the outgoing season due to diseases such as black pod and cocoa swollen shoot virus.

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

Despite this, the money realised from sales of cocoa beans this season is far higher than the total amount I made in five years.

It has enabled me to start building a four-bedroom flat in Eruwa town and to enjoy a better livelihood, he said.

Tiamiyu Afolabi, who has a cocoa plantation at Ore farm settlement, described the current price spike as a blessing to cocoa farmers.

Mr Afolabi, who disclosed he had realised over N25 million from his cocoa farm in the outgoing season, said the effect of the price hike on his livelihood was encouraging.

I reluctantly started cocoa and kola nut farming in 2005 after my secondary school education because I couldnt cope academically.

I always envied my schoolmates, believing they would be far better off than me in the future, but I can proudly say now that I made a better choice.

Hardly can the gratuity of any of my schoolmates retiring from government jobs match what I realised from the sales of my cocoa beans this farming season alone, Mr Afolabi said.

Another cocoa farmer at Erunmu in Egbeda LGA, Taofeek Adesola, said he returned to the village in 2020 to take care of his late fathers cocoa farm after he lost his job in Lagos.

Mr Adesola expressed delight over the development, saying it had transformed his status.

I have renovated my late fathers house at Lalupon and equally started building my own house from the cocoa beans proceeds, he said.

He further stated his plan to start cultivating more high-yielding seedlings to replace old cocoa trees on his late fathers farm in the coming season.

READ ALSO: Governor demands probe as dam water submerges rice farms in Kwara

On his part, a cocoa produce buyer, Ezekiel Olagunju, confirmed the development, attributing it to naira devaluation.

This, he said, resulted in a sharp increase in the naira income from the export of cocoa beans.

Mr Olagunju further attributed the boom to the shortfall in cocoa production in Ivory Coast and Ghana as a result of bad weather in the two countries.

According to him, the two countries are the top cocoa growers in West Africa but a shortfall in the countries resulted in a high demand in the world market.

He admonished cocoa farmers to judiciously manage their cocoa proceeds by investing in what would profit them in the long run.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Although Netflix's cult sci-fi series Black Mirror creates all its episodes as an anthology, without returning to old characters and plots, it seems that we are about to see the first sequel in its history. Namely, the continuation of the episode "USS Callister", which was released in December 2017.

ADVERTISIMENT

The platform has confirmed the return of the characters from the debut episode of the fourth season in the seventh installment of the show, which is due out later this year. The footage featuring Nanette Cole, played by actress Christine Milioti, was spotted in the preview of Netflix's 2025 projects by users of the social network X (formerly Twitter). The fragment was included in a video created for users from the UK and Ireland. The video was later removed.

USS Callister episode parodied the Star Trek science fiction franchise and won many awards. It starred actors such as Jesse Plemons, Christine Milioti, Billy Magnussen, and Jimmy Simpson. At the time, Black Mirror fans noted that the idea deserved a sequel, if not a separate spinoff.

Now some details of the sequel plot are known. After the fall of the sinister Captain Daly, played by Plemons, Nanette will appear in a simulation of a certain video game. It's worth recalling here that the "USS Callister" episode ends with Plemons' character dying at the hands of Nanette and other crew members whom he turned into digital clones.

It is already known that, in addition to Milioti, Simpson and Magnussen will return to Black Mirror. Netflix has not yet disclosed any other details.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
LONDON, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Salute, a global leader in integrated lifecycle data centre services, is delighted to announce the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Keysource Group ("Keysource"), a trusted provider of sustainable data centre solutions and strategic advisory services in the EMEA region for over 40 years. The proposed acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.

Salute and Keysource

Upon closing of the transaction, Salute's EMEA presence will expand to a workforce of more than 500 talented professionals, including 130 new Keysource employees. This acquisition will strengthen Salute's ability to address the rising demand for AI-driven infrastructure and deliver scalable and sustainable advisory solutions to global customers.

Erich Sanchack, CEO of Salute, endorses this exciting transaction:

"The acquisition of Keysource Group and its range of advisory services will strengthen our ability to support the rapid change in advanced technology such as AI, for data centre operations across Europe. While we already have a strong team providing technical design, build and operations advice in the Americas, we sought out the opportunity to enhance our EMEA operations. The exceptional talent and expertise that Keysource brings align perfectly with Salute's mission to better serve our customers on the ground in all regions."

Key benefits of this acquisition include:

European expansion : Increases Salute's workforce in Europe to 500+ employees, establishing critical mass for operations in the EMEA region. Upon closing, Salute's workforce will consist of over 1,800 employees worldwide.

: Increases Salute's workforce in to 500+ employees, establishing critical mass for operations in the EMEA region. Upon closing, Salute's workforce will consist of over 1,800 employees worldwide. Enhanced capabilities : Boosts expertise in advisory services such as energy optimisation, sustainability and AI readiness.

: Boosts expertise in advisory services such as energy optimisation, sustainability and AI readiness. Market differentiation: Adds complementary services that enhance Salute's integrated lifecycle offerings for data centre owners, operators, and investors.

Closing of this acquisition is expected at the beginning of Q2 2025. This transaction follows Salute's recent series of strategic hires and internal promotions, reflecting the company's focus on investing in talent and enhancing service capabilities to support our global customer base.

About Salute

Founded in 2013, Salute is a leading provider of integrated lifecycle services for data centres, operating in over 102 markets with 12 global offices and a workforce of more than 1,700 employees. The company delivers comprehensive solutions for hyperscale, cloud, colocation, and edge facilities, with a strong focus on sustainability and talent development.

For more information: www.salutemissioncritical.com

About Keysource Group

Keysource is a recognised leader in sustainable data centre solutions and advisory services. With decades of experience, Keysource supports the data centre industry in achieving operational efficiency, sustainability, and innovation across the entire facility lifecycle.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608131/Salute_and_Keysource.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608005/Salute_Logo.jpg
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP New York members and staff gathered with Governor Kathy Hochul today to thank her for including an additional $45 million in her 2025-26 Executive Budget proposal for state-funded home- and community-based services that are vital to enabling older New Yorkers to remain in their own homes and communities, where they prefer to be.

Governor Hochul gathers with AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel (left), and AARP New York staff and members who presented the Governor with an oversized Thank You card signed by more than 2,300 New Yorkers for adding $45 million for aging services in the 2025-26 Executive Budget proposal. Photo credit: AARP New York

Thousands of aging New Yorkers across the state are stuck on waiting lists for in-home services such as delivered meals, personal care and case management. By proposing another $45 million for the State Office for the Aging in the next state budget, the Governor is taking a major step toward eliminating the waiting lists and ensuring our aging loved ones and their family caregivers receive the support they need.

"We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing the needs of the state's rapidly aging population with this funding increase proposal," AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said. "One in every four New York residents are age 60 and older. Many of them are relying on various non-Medicaid support programs to remain in the homes and communities they've lived in for years, rather than be placed in a nursing home or other adult care facility."

"Every New Yorker deserves to age with dignity and grace  that's why I included $45 million in my Executive Budget proposal for home- and community-based services, providing more people with the resources to stay in the environment where they feel most comfortable," Governor Hochul said. "I'm grateful to AARP New York for their extraordinary partnership as we work to bring quality care resources to individuals, families and caregivers."

The additional funding will also bring much-needed relief to the thousands of family caregivers in New York State who do so much to provide their aging loved ones with the daily care they need. AARP surveys show that caregivers across the state face significant physical, emotional and financial stress. This funding will help alleviate their burdens by providing the support they deserve.

"We look forward to working with state lawmakers to ensure the Governor's additional funding proposal and other aging services resources makes it into the final state budget," Finkel added.

Governor Hochul gathered in the Red Room at the State Capitol with AARP New York staff and members who presented her with an oversized thank you card signed by more than 2,300 New Yorkers.

Connect with AARP New York on X: @AARPNY, Facebook: AARP New York and LinkedIn: AARP New York

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP New York
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abstract Security announced today that it has added Google Cloud Marketplace support, in addition to the support it already offers for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure Marketplace, for comprehensive multi-cloud security data operations.

Cloud marketplaces allow customers to easily discover, try, buy and use solutions with consolidated billing via existing cloud subscriptions. This makes the purchase and onboarding process for Abstract Security much easier and enables faster deployment without needing a separate setup.

For organizations who need maximum control, Abstract can also be deployed directly into a customers' cloud environment, ensuring complete ownership of their data, a major need for data compliance and privacy regulations in major industries.

"At Abstract, it is our goal to make it as easy as possible for customers to buy, run and operate our security data platform," said Stefan Zier, Chief Technology Officer at Abstract Security. "Our customers should be able to easily deploy the product in the cloud(s) they leverage within their environments. We've supported SaaS as well as self-hosted deployment on all three major clouds since the launch of GCP support late last year, and with the addition to the Google Cloud Marketplace, customers can now buy our product directly through their cloud provider, regardless of which one they use."

What This Means for Customers

Abstract empowers your teams to focus on catching attackers by freeing them from the heavy lifting of security data management. Our real-time streaming approach gives teams the breathing room they need to detect emerging threats and protect their organization.

With the availability across GCP and other cloud marketplaces, you can easily test these features in action in your own environment.

Seamless integration with your cloud services  Abstract ensures strong security coverage and visibility into GCP, AWS and Azure services. Abstract has out of the box integrations available for Google SECOPS Google workspace Audit logs Google Cloud storage GCP Pub Sub

 Abstract ensures strong security coverage and visibility into GCP, AWS and Azure services. Abstract has out of the box integrations available for

In addition to the following services from AWS and Azure:

AWS Load Balancer AWS Route 53 AWS Security Lake AWS WAF AWS API Gateway Azure EventHub Microsoft Azure Entra ID Microsoft O365

Remove noise and route quality data from your cloud services to ANY destination: As part of Abstract's data pipelines, organizations can remove noise, parse, aggregate, mask PII and route quality data from any of your cloud services in real-time. Abstract's vendor agnostic architecture normalizes data in flight so you can route it to any destination without operational burden.

As part of Abstract's data pipelines, organizations can remove noise, parse, aggregate, mask PII and route quality data from any of your cloud services in real-time. Abstract's vendor agnostic architecture normalizes data in flight so you can route it to any destination without operational burden. Real-time streaming threat detection : Abstract's security analytics are powered by AI, enabling enterprises to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats. Abstract Intel Gallery supports bringing your Threat Intelligence feeds into a central platform, enabling you to enrich data with live streaming intelligence before you send it to storage.

: Abstract's security analytics are powered by AI, enabling enterprises to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats. Abstract Intel Gallery supports bringing your Threat Intelligence feeds into a central platform, enabling you to enrich data with live streaming intelligence before you send it to storage. Compliance and data sovereignty: Abstract is SOC2 certified and gives the flexibility of SaaS as well as self-hosted deployments provides a single search and reporting view across regional deployments, enabling compliance with data localization requirements.

About Abstract Security

Abstract Security, founded in 2023, has built a revolutionary platform equipped with an AI-powered assistant to better centralize the management of security analytics. Crafted by category creators and industry veterans known for redefining the cybersecurity landscape, Abstract transcends next-gen SIEM solutions by correlating data in real time between data streams. As a result, compliance and security data can be leveraged separately to increase detection effectiveness and lower costs  an approach that does not currently exist in the market.

The leadership team of Colby DeRodeff, Ryan Clough, Aaron Shelmire, Chris Camacho, and Stefan Zier bring a unique set of experiences and backgrounds in product development and company-building expertise, at companies such as ArcSight (acq. by HP), Mandiant (acq. by Google), Palo Alto Networks and Sumo Logic. For more information about the company, please visit https://www.abstract.security/ and follow the journey on LinkedIn and Youtube !

Contact

Rich Mullikin

925-354-7444

[email protected]

SOURCE Abstract Security Inc
AAT announces additional significant updates

RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Aesthetic Technologies, Inc. ("AAT") announced today that their partner in China has obtained approval to market their unique dermal filler Algeness VL agarose facial injection filler, a 2.5% agarose gel dermal filler. AAT's development and distribution partner is Lanzhou Biotechnique Development Co., Ltd. ("LanDev"), the aesthetic section company of China National Biotec Group Company Limited (belonging to Sinopharm Group, "CNBG"), which acted as the agent for Algeness VL agarose facial injection filler and obtained the registration license as an imported Class III medical device from the National Medical Products Administration. Algeness is the first officially approved agarose-based injection filler in China.

Algeness is the culmination of many years of scientific and clinical research to define a novel biocompatible material to fill wrinkles and volume loss in facial soft tissues. Their team of scientists and physicians worked with Algeness to create an exceptional 100% natural and biodegradable injectable implant with a unique injection technique.

According to Doug Abel, President and CEO of AAT, "We are excited and look forward to the entry of Algeness into the large aesthetic market in China through our partner LanDev. We believe that LanDev is the ideal partner to maximize the success of Algeness in China as they are the sole domestic Chinese manufacturer of botulinum toxin and their product, Hengli, was the first to launch in China and holds significant market share. This approval marks a significant accomplishment by the LanDev, CNBG, AAT, and Ghimas teams and our regulatory advisors and partners."

"We see the upcoming entry into the market in China with such a strong partner as transformational for the Company, and a demonstration of the clinical performance of this truly unique product," he adds.

This important achievement follows a series of significant milestones for Advanced Aesthetic Technologies that were reached over the last two years including:

Successfully advancing the clinical trial to be submitted to the US FDA as part of the Pre-Market Authorization (PMA process) through the primary safety and efficacy endpoints with additional, ongoing patient follow up.

Advancing the balance of the required information for US FDA submission in 2025.

Obtaining the CE Mark under the elevated requirements of the Medical Device Regulations (MDR) initially with therapeutic claims and recently expanding the label to include aesthetic claims under Annex XVI.

Acquiring a controlling interest in Ghimas, S.p.A., the original developer and manufacturer of Algeness.

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Omer Buhsem from Istanbul serves as the Medical Director for Algeness and has conducted preclinical work with the product portfolio. "I believe that Algeness, through its unique rheology and structure, brings an important additional tool to our aesthetic armamentarium from both efficacy and safety perspectives. With my patients, I am uniquely able to define the desired shape while working with a product that I have found to be very safe." Dr. Buhsem has previously published a 700-patient retrospective of his experience with Algeness.

The unique Algeness dermal filler continues to receive very positive reviews from aesthetic practitioners globally. According to dermatologist Dr. Tatjana Pavicic of Munich, Germany, "Algeness is a true revolution in the field of aesthetic medicine. It stands out for its purely natural composition, biocompatibility, and the remarkable, natural-looking results we can achieve for our patients. In our nearly 10 years of experience with Algeness, my patients report high satisfaction with the immediate lift and long-lasting results, and I appreciate the product's excellent safety profile and predictability."

The approval in China combined with the Company's achievement of critical milestones launches AAT into the next stage. Future commercialization in China combined with the potential for US approval, the significant product performance data developed to support registration, and the unique product profile provide the foundation for Algeness to have an important place in medical aesthetics.

About Advanced Aesthetic Technologies, Inc.

AAT is a fast-growing, global corporation developing new technologies for aesthetic medicine. Their Algeness family of injectable implants is the culmination of many years of scientific and clinical research with the goal of providing aesthetic treatment providers with advances in the ability to achieve deep structural support, clean definition, and exceptional clinical outcomes where patients receive their outcome at the time of treatment. Algeness is a 100% natural and biodegradable filler based on purified agarose with a differentiated clinical and safety performance profile. AAT continuously invests in research and product development to expand the scientific knowledge on Algeness and agarose while continually pursuing new and innovative technologies to expand our portfolio.

Algeness is the all-natural, biodegradable, biocompatible agarose-based gel implant, free of all synthetic or cross-linking chemicals. Algeness dermal fillers add immediate facial volume with excellent persistence without the cross-linking chemicals found in Hyaluronic Acid fillers. It is currently available in many markets in for concentrations of agarose to match specific cosmetic improvements of the lips, fine lines, naso-labial folds and for shaping the cheeks, jawline and other facial areas. In China, only Algeness VL agarose facial injection filler is now approved for the treatment of nasolabial folds.

As of this release, AAT is in the process of pursuing registration in the U.S. market through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For more information, Algeness.com

For media inquiries, [email protected]

For more information about Algeness Dermal Filler: [email protected]

For inquiries about global distribution: Algeness.com/algeness

Facebook: Facebook.com/Algeness

Instagram: Instagram.com/Algeness/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-aesthetic-technologies-inc-algeness/

Advanced Aesthetics Technologies, Inc.

150 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite F-200, Radnor, PA 19087

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1517333/algeness_logo_Logo.jpg
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO Bob Jurgensmeier has announced the following officer hire.

Barbara Redstone has been named the new vice president, sales and distribution, retirement plans, with an effective board action date of Jan. 1, 2025. Redstone earned her four-year degree from Louisiana State University and has over 25 years of experience in the retirement plans services industry. She holds FINRA series 7, 66 and state insurance licenses.

Ameritas CEO Bob Jurgensmeier has named a newly elected officer. Post this

Redstone's career expertise lies in defined contribution retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans, as well as cash balance plans and pooled employer plans.

About Ameritas

Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; and retirement plans. For more information, visit ameritas.com.

Contact:

Derek Rayment, Sr. Media Relations Specialist

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.

Phone: 402-467-7850

[email protected]

SOURCE Ameritas
ATLANTA and PUNE, India, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AMI, the global leader in Dynamic Firmware for worldwide computing, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a pioneering institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. Building on their successful collaboration in developing the "RUDRA" server, which resulted in over 6,000 units being installed across India's premier institutions, this partnership will take the next step by developing an Intel-based, next-generation server designed primarily for the Indian government market.

C-DAC selected AMI's India branch through a competitive tender process to develop the UEFI/BIOS firmware for this new server, a testament to AMI's extensive expertise in firmware innovation. This joint effort strengthens the "Make in India" initiative and reinforces India's push for self-reliant, innovative technology solutions tailored to local needs.

AMI and C-DAC partner to develop an Intel-based, next-generation server for the Indian government market Post this

"Since its inception, C-DAC has been recognized as leader in Indian supercomputing. AMI is also widely recognized as the global leader in the BIOS firmware market. This partnership with AMI to develop UEFI/BIOS firmware will help in creating a robust server infrastructure and contribute to the indigenization efforts aimed at achieving self-reliance in critical technologies," said E. Magesh, Director General of C-DAC.

"C-DAC and AMI India share a commitment and vision for delivering innovative solutions that drive India's technological capabilities and digital transformation forward. We are therefore greatly excited to embark on the next phase of our transformative journey with AMI, working closely together to develop the next generation of Intel-based server designs," added Sanjay Wandhekar, Centre Head of C-DAC, Pune.

"We are thrilled that C-DAC recognized AMI's leadership in developing dynamic firmware solutions, based in part on our strong collaboration together on the RUDRA project. We are confident that our forthcoming contributions will provide a solid foundation for the next generation of indigenous, innovative server designs from C-DAC and ensure a robust and secure future for the 'Make in India' initiative," added Arvind Jayabal, GM of AMI India.

About C-DAC:

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is India's premier R&D organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for carrying out R&D in IT, electronics and associated areas. It is well known for its work in the areas of High-Performance Computing, Quantum Computing, Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) and Strategic Electronics, Multilingual Computing and Heritage Computing, Cyber Security & Cyber Forensics, Software Technologies including FOSS, Healthcare Technologies and Education & Training. For more information, visit https://cdac.in/.

About AMI:

AMI is Firmware Reimagined for modern computing. As a global leader in Dynamic Firmware for security, orchestration, and manageability solutions, AMI enables the world's compute platforms from on-premises to the cloud to the edge. AMI's industry-leading foundational technology and unwavering customer support have generated lasting partnerships and spurred innovation for some of the most prominent brands in the high-tech industry. For more information, visit ami.com .

Follow AMI on LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest announcements.

AMI is a registered trademark of AMI in the US and/or elsewhere. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the US and other countries. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AMI
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global anti-drone market size is estimated to grow by USD 12.23 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of about 42.8% during the forecast period. Rising technological advancements in anti-drones is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing use of uavs in commercial and hobbyist activities. However, incidence of technological limitations and prevalence of regulatory challenges poses a challenge. Key market players include Advanced Radar Technology, Airbus SE, Autel Robotics Co. Ltd., Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd., BSS Holland BV, Dedrone Holdings Inc., Department 13 International Ltd., DroneShield Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., QinetiQ Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Rheinmetall AG, RTX Corp., Skydio Inc., Terma AS, and The Boeing Co..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Anti-Drone Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Anti-Drone Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 42.8% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 12229.5 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 33.1 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, China, India, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan Key companies profiled Advanced Radar Technology, Airbus SE, Autel Robotics Co. Ltd., Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd., BSS Holland BV, Dedrone Holdings Inc., Department 13 International Ltd., DroneShield Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., QinetiQ Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Rheinmetall AG, RTX Corp., Skydio Inc., Terma AS, and The Boeing Co.

Market Driver

The Anti-Drone market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing number of drone activities that threaten public safety and security. Innovations in drone software and machine learning are key trends in the industry, enabling organizations to detect and identify unauthorized drone flights through real-time behavior analysis and pattern recognition. Anti-drone solutions are being installed at airports, military bases, and other sensitive areas to protect against potential drone incursions. These systems use diverse capabilities such as laser mechanisms, drone radar, and AI to detect and disable drones. Regulations are a major focus in the anti-drone industry, with governments investing in comprehensive counter-drone frameworks to ensure the safety of aviation and military infrastructure. Defensetech companies are developing multi-layered anti-drone systems that can detect, identify, and disable drones using jamming, net-based systems, and audio recognition. The anti-drone industry is not limited to military applications. Private organizations are also investing in anti-drone technology to protect their assets from drone attacks. The development of C-UAS technology is a priority for defense budgets, with research and development in the field advancing rapidly. Insurgent groups and armed forces are using drones for reconnaissance and attacks, making anti-drone technology essential for defense and security agencies. The anti-drone industry is diverse, with solutions ranging from ground-based systems to counter-drone capabilities for surface and naval vessels. Anti-drone technology is an essential component of modern defense and security operations, providing real-time protection against drone threats and ensuring the safety of collateral and public events. The anti-drone industry is constantly evolving, with new innovations and capabilities emerging to address the diverse challenges posed by drone technology.

The global anti-drone market is projected to expand due to the rising popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in commercial and recreational applications. As drone usage becomes more prevalent, concerns over safety, security, and privacy have grown. Commercial establishments, including airports, stadiums, government buildings, industrial facilities, and public events, are increasingly worried about potential drone risks such as surveillance, espionage, smuggling, and terrorist attacks. Anti-drone systems offer a solution to mitigate these security concerns and protect sensitive areas and critical infrastructure from unauthorized drones. Additionally, the growing trend of hobbyist drone use for recreational flying and racing adds to the market's growth.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Anti-Drone market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing number of drone activities that pose security threats. Drone software and innovations are key challenges, requiring comprehensive solutions to ensure real-time protection against unauthorized drone flights. Organizations in various sectors, including aviation and military, are investing in anti-drone systems to detect and disable drones using diverse capabilities such as laser, radio frequency jamming, and machine learning. Regulations continue to evolve, with governments focusing on multi-layered countermeasures against drone incursions. The anti-drone industry is developing advanced technologies, including AI and drone radar, to identify patterns and behaviors. Defense budgets are increasing to fund research and development of anti-drone frameworks and operations. Private entities are also investing in uav reduction technology to protect their assets from drone attacks. Counter-UAS technology is essential for securing military infrastructure, naval vessels, and surface vessels against drone threats. Anti-drone systems are vital for ensuring public safety at events and preventing collateral damage from drone attacks.

Anti-drone technology aims to detect, monitor, and counteract unauthorized drones. Sensors, including optical/thermal cameras, radars, acoustic, and radio, are used for detection. However, these sensors have limitations. Their range is limited, connectivity is unreliable, and they are costly. Identifying drones is challenging as well. Radar may detect a drone, but it cannot distinguish between an enemy drone in a restricted area and a recreational one. Countermeasures include using laser guns or missiles to shoot down drones or jamming their communication networks with jammers. Despite these challenges, anti-drone technology remains a crucial investment for security and safety concerns.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This anti-drone market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Military and defense

1.2 Government

1.3 Commercial

Technology

2.1 Electronic system

2.2 Laser system

2.3 Kinetic system

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 APAC

3.3 Europe

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Military and defense- Anti-drone systems play a crucial role in enhancing defense capabilities against aerial threats. These systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing defense infrastructure, such as radar networks, air defense systems, and electronic warfare platforms. The military and defense sector represents a significant market for anti-drone technology due to the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military operations. Anti-drone systems can detect and neutralize hostile drones, safeguarding against potential threats, including surveillance, smuggling, or terrorist attacks. Technologies used in anti-drone systems include radar and radio frequency (RF) detection, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) detection, acoustic detection, and jamming systems. Some systems may employ kinetic solutions, such as nets, to capture and disable drones. In 2024, the US Army awarded a USD75 million contract to RTX Corp. For producing 600 Coyote Block 2C interceptors to counter enemy drones. Deploying advanced sensors, countermeasures, and command-and-control systems enables defense organizations to effectively detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones, thereby improving force protection and situational awareness. The demand for anti-drone technology in the military and defense sector is projected to increase during the forecast period, driven by the expanding use of drones in warfare and the continuous development of new drone technologies. This growth is expected to positively impact the market's military and defense segment.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Anti-Drone market is a rapidly growing industry that focuses on developing technologies and solutions to mitigate the risks and disruptions caused by unwanted drone activity. This market encompasses various applications, including drone integration, analytics, law enforcement, border security, delivery, and agriculture. Drone breaches, misuse, and cybersecurity are major concerns, leading to the demand for advanced drone protection and defense systems. Drone management, hardware, and sensor technologies are essential components of this market, along with drone disruption and jamming systems. Investments in anti-drone technology are on the rise due to market trends in drone deployment, traffic management, and environmental monitoring. Additionally, drone AI, machine learning, and risk assessment are crucial for effective drone response and policy development. Anti-drone infrastructure and disaster response systems are also gaining importance, as drones are increasingly used in emergency situations. Overall, the anti-drone market is a dynamic and innovative space, driven by the growing use of drones in various industries and applications.

Market Research Overview

The Anti-Drone market is witnessing rapid growth due to the increasing number of drone incursions at sensitive locations, airports, and public events. Innovations in drone software and technology are leading to the development of comprehensive anti-drone solutions that utilize diverse capabilities such as machine learning, laser-based mechanisms, and AI for real-time drone detection and countermeasures. These systems are essential for governments and organizations to protect military infrastructure, military sector, and civilian areas from unauthorized drone activities. Anti-drone solutions are not limited to military applications but are also being adopted by private entities to secure their facilities from potential drone threats. These systems use multi-layered approaches, including drone detection, drone radar, and audio tracking, to identify and disable drones. Regulations and frameworks are being established to govern the use of anti-drone technology, ensuring its ethical and legal application. The anti-drone industry is continuously researching and developing new countermeasures to address the evolving threat landscape, including C-UAS technology, jamming systems, and net-based solutions. Anti-drone technology is not only used for defense but also for reducing UAV collateral damage in military operations. The development of anti-drone systems is a critical component of defense budgets, and their capabilities are continually expanding to counter diverse drone behaviors and attacks. Insurgent groups and armed forces are increasingly using drones for reconnaissance and even drone attacks. Anti-drone technology is essential for countering these threats and maintaining security and privacy in the face of evolving drone technology.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Military And Defense



Government



Commercial

Technology

Electronic System



Laser System



Kinetic System

Geography

North America



APAC



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America

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
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global automation in textile industry market size is estimated to grow by USD 664 million from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 3.2% during the forecast period. Upgrading industrial facilities to improve energy efficiency is driving market growth, with a trend towards use of ERP solutions in textile manufacturing plants. However, shortage of skilled workforce poses a challenge. Key market players include ABB Ltd., ATE Pvt. Ltd., Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH, BrainChild Electronic Co. Ltd., Classic Loom Data, Cotmac Electronics Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Festo SE and Co. KG, Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., KUKA AG, Lenze SE, Parker Hannifin Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., SAURER INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY AG, Schneider Electric SE, SIEGER SPINTECH EQUIPMENTS Pvt. Ltd., Siemens AG, and Yaskawa Electric Corp..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automation In Textile Industry Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Automation In Textile Industry Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.2% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 664 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.0 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 46% Key countries China, India, US, Canada, Germany, UK, Pakistan, France, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia Key companies profiled ABB Ltd., ATE Pvt. Ltd., Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH, BrainChild Electronic Co. Ltd., Classic Loom Data, Cotmac Electronics Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Festo SE and Co. KG, Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., KUKA AG, Lenze SE, Parker Hannifin Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., SAURER INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY AG, Schneider Electric SE, SIEGER SPINTECH EQUIPMENTS Pvt. Ltd., Siemens AG, and Yaskawa Electric Corp.

Market Driver

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is a valuable tool for managing business operations in the textile industry. This system streamlines processes in finance, human resources, production, supply chain, services, and purchasing. Textile manufacturers are adopting ERP solutions to enhance plant efficiency and reduce inter-departmental miscommunication. ERP systems facilitate better communication and information exchange between departments, expediting approval processes. By improving coordination, these solutions optimize the performance of each department in textile manufacturing facilities.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The textile industry faces various challenges in implementing sustainable practices while staying competitive in the market. Automation technologies, such as robotics and IoT-based control systems, are key solutions for manufacturing industries looking to increase operational efficiency and productivity. Automation portfolios are essential for automotive and consumer goods sectors, where precision, safety, and consistency are paramount. Evolving industry needs call for real-time monitoring and control systems, including SCADA and IIoT solutions. Skilled workers remain vital, but labor costs and risk management require cost optimization and feasibility studies. Funding programs and tax breaks offer incentives for automation investments. Automation technologies, like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, improve accuracy, decision-making, and customer experience. Industrial automation equipment, including automation cells and conveyors, reduce downtime and improve asset productivity. Predictable maintenance and dependable industrial robots streamline production tasks. Precision, accuracy, and transparency are crucial for maintaining production output and controlling costs.

Textile manufacturers face a significant challenge in finding sufficient skilled labor, resulting in numerous unfilled positions. In 2021, for instance, there were 63,000 vacant apprenticeships or training spots in Germany alone. To operate the hardware and software components in their facilities, these manufacturers require skilled employees. Providing extensive training to existing staff to operate these components is a time-consuming and costly process, potentially leading to operational downtime. Automation in textile industries has emerged as a viable solution to address this issue. By introducing automated systems, the workforce requirement for specific tasks has significantly decreased. This not only helps in reducing the reliance on skilled labor but also enhances efficiency and productivity. Automation, therefore, presents an attractive option for textile manufacturers seeking to overcome the challenges posed by the scarcity of skilled workers.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This automation in textile industry market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Component

1.1 Field devices

1.2 Control devices

1.3 Communication

Solution

2.1 Hardware and software

2.2 Services

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 North America

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Field devices- The textile industry's automation market is driven by the high demand for field devices, particularly motors, drives, valves, and actuators. These components play essential roles in controlling machinery functions and the dyeing process. With frequent usage and replacement needs, the sales of field devices remain. The textile sector's continuous modernization and automation efforts fuel the market's growth. In 2024, the field devices segment led in revenue generation and is projected to maintain this trend throughout the forecast period. Investments in the industrial sector further boost the demand for these devices. Overall, the field devices segment's significance in controlling hardware components' functions ensures a consistent and growing market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The textile industry is experiencing a digital transformation with the integration of automation technologies. AI is playing a significant role in optimizing production processes, enhancing product quality, and reducing costs. Automation is also making strides in agriculture with smart farming practices, and in warehousing and logistics for efficient inventory management. Smart factories are the future, integrating IoT, robotics, and cloud-based platforms for real-time data analysis and remote monitoring. Sustainable automation is a growing trend, focusing on energy efficiency and reducing waste. Human-robot collaboration is becoming more common, increasing productivity while maintaining a safe work environment. Software providers offer customized solutions for industrial automation, from industrial robotics integration to plant control and predictive analytics. Automation consulting services help companies analyze ROI and optimize processes for maximum efficiency. Training in industrial automation and manufacturing is essential for workforce development. Connected manufacturing and industrial cybersecurity are critical concerns for companies implementing automation. Flexible automation systems and cloud-based platforms provide the agility needed to adapt to changing market conditions. Industrial automation software and consulting services are essential for process optimization and production efficiency. In conclusion, automation is transforming the textile industry, from factory floors to warehouses and logistics operations. The integration of AI, robotics, and IoT is driving innovation and improving efficiency while reducing costs and enhancing sustainability. Companies must consider the trends, challenges, and benefits of automation to remain competitive in today's market.

Market Research Overview

The textile industry is embracing automation technologies to enhance sustainable practices, increase efficiency, and reduce labor costs. Automation solutions, including robotics and IoT-based control systems, are transforming manufacturing processes in this sector. Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and edge computing, are driving automation portfolios in the industry. Real-time monitoring and control systems provide transparency, enabling cost optimization and predictable maintenance. Skilled workers are essential for implementing and managing these automation systems, while tax breaks and funding programs offer incentives for adoption. Automation technologies improve operational efficiency, productivity, precision, safety, and consistency in the production of consumer goods. Automation cells, conveyors, and industrial robots automate production tasks, while SCADA and IIoT solutions optimize asset productivity and reduce downtime. Smart sensors and visuals provide accurate data for decision-making, while automation equipment offers dependable performance and risk mitigation. Overall, automation is a key strategy for meeting evolving industry needs and improving customer experience in the textile industry.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Component

Field Devices



Control Devices



Communication

Solution

Hardware And Software



Services

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
INNSBRUCK, Austria, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AV-Comparatives, the independent antivirus testing lab, is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Summary Report for 2024. This comprehensive report evaluates 16 leading consumer security products for Windows, assessing their performance across multiple rigorous tests conducted throughout the year.

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

AV-Comparatives Consumer Cybersecurity Summary Report 2024

Tested Products

The 2024 evaluation encompassed the following security solutions:

Avast Free Antivirus

AVG Internet Security

Avira Free Antivirus

Bitdefender Total Security

ESET HOME Security Essential

F-Secure Internet Security

G DATA Total Security

Kaspersky Standard

McAfee Total Protection

Microsoft Defender

Norton Antivirus Plus

Panda Free Antivirus

Quick Heal Internet Security

Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus

TotalAV Antivirus Pro

Trend Micro Internet Security

Key Highlights

In 2024, AV-Comparatives conducted a series of comprehensive tests to assess each product's ability to:

Protect against real-world internet threats.

Detect and recent malicious programs.

Defend against advanced targeted attacks.

Operate efficiently without compromising system performance.

Outstanding Performances

While all evaluated products met acceptable standards, several distinguished themselves with exceptional performance:

ESET HOME Security Essential : Awarded Product of the Year 2024 , ESET achieved the highest "Advanced+" rating in all seven tests, underscoring its superior protection capabilities.

: Awarded , ESET achieved the highest "Advanced+" rating in all seven tests, underscoring its superior protection capabilities. Avast Free Antivirus : Recognized as a Top-Rated Product , Avast earned "Advanced+" in six out of seven tests and "Advanced" in one, securing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.

: Recognized as a , Avast earned "Advanced+" in six out of seven tests and "Advanced" in one, securing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test. AVG Internet Security : Also a Top-Rated Product , AVG mirrored Avast's achievements with "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, sharing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.

: Also a , AVG mirrored Avast's achievements with "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, sharing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test. Bitdefender Total Security : As a Top-Rated Product , Bitdefender garnered "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, earning the Gold Award in the Malware Protection Test.

: As a , Bitdefender garnered "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, earning the Gold Award in the Malware Protection Test. Kaspersky Standard: Honored as a Top-Rated Product, Kaspersky achieved "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, receiving the Gold Award in the False-Positives Test.

Additional Recognitions

The following products also demonstrated very commendable performance:

Avira Free Antivirus : Secured the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test, highlighting its robust defense against internet-borne threats.

: Secured the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test, highlighting its robust defense against internet-borne threats. McAfee Total Protection : Earned the Gold Award in the Performance Test, reflecting minimal impact on system performance.

: Earned the Gold Award in the Performance Test, reflecting minimal impact on system performance. G DATA Total Security: Received the Silver Award in the Malware Protection Test, showcasing effective malware detection capabilities.

Areas for Improvement

While the majority of products excelled, Trend Micro Internet Security and Quick Heal Internet Security exhibited areas needing enhancement to align with industry leaders. AV-Comparatives encourages these vendors to analyse the detailed findings to bolster their products' effectiveness in future evaluations.

Comprehensive User-Interface Review

The Summary Report also includes an in-depth user-interface review of all tested products, providing insights into usability aspects such as installation processes, security alerts, scan options, quarantine management, and access controls.

Cybersecurity and Endpoint Protection for Enterprises and Corporate Users

The latest test results for leading business security solutions, including Avast, Bitdefender, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Elastic, ESET, G Data, K7, Kaspersky, Microsoft, NetSecurity, Rapid7, SenseOn, Sophos, Trellix, VIPRE, and VMware, are now available on AV-Comparatives' website.

Commitment to Transparency and Excellence

AV-Comparatives remains dedicated to delivering transparent, comprehensive, and scientifically rigorous cybersecurity assessments. By providing unbiased evaluations, we aim to empower consumers and businesses to make informed decisions about their digital security solutions.

For a detailed analysis and the full 2024 Summary Report, please visit:

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

Media contact: [email protected], +43512287788

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608679/AV_Comparatives.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608678/AV_Comparatives_Logo.jpg

SOURCE AV-Comparatives
The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, was inaugurated on January 20, 2025. And, according to the Strauss-Howe generational theory, he may be the last president of the crisis era, which is due to end in 2028.

ADVERTISIMENT

The theory, which is confirmed by the history of the United States and can also be applied to events around the world, has four periods that last an average of 80 years. OBOZ.UA figured out what it suggests and what period we are living in now.

American researchers William Strauss and Neil Howe put it forward in their joint book, Generations, back in 1991. It tells the story of the United States as a series of biographies of different generations since 1584. They also studied generational trends in other countries and found similar cycles in some developed countries.

Four main periods

While working on the book, the researchers discovered that some historical events are related to the period a generation lives in. They described four main periods of social phenomena:

ADVERTISIMENT

The High

The Awakening

The Unraveling

The Crisis

They last for 20-22 years and make up a full cycle of approximately 80-90 years.

According to the authors, each of these four periods has its own mood, which repeats from cycle to cycle. The idea is based on two periods: crisis and awakening. They are characterized by the fact that people who lived at the time witnessed historical events that affected their social environment. Strauss and Howe described these periods by comparing historical events and relying on the work of historians and sociologists of different times.

The High

This is the post-crisis period when institutions are strong and individualism is weak. Society is confident in what it wants to achieve together. The last recovery period in the United States was after the end of World War II and lasted until 1963 (it ended with the assassination of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy).

ADVERTISIMENT

The Awakening

The rise is followed by a period of awakening. It occurs when a society reaches the peak of its development, people want to regain their individuality, and they are tired of constant discipline and control. According to the authors of the theory, the last time this period occurred in the history of the United States was in the mid-1960s, when mass university and city protests began, and ended in the 1980s with the coming to power of the 40th president, Ronald Reagan.

The Unraveling

This period is a time when trust in the institution of government is declining and individualism is flourishing. Society is disunited, does not care about its country, and wants to enjoy its own life. The last such period in the United States lasted from the mid-1980s to the late 2000s and corresponded to the period of economic boom.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Crisis

This period occurs when a country (the world) finds itself in a situation that requires survival. A period in which serious civil upheavals take place. Society focuses on changing something in the world. The last American crisis (and the world crisis, in fact) lasted from the Great Depression to the end of World War II.

Generations that run the world

It's worth noting that the Strauss-Howe theory involves not only the repetition of historical periods, but also generational cycles. If we talk about the last 80 years of our history, then these are Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z.

Boomers, the Prophets

ADVERTISIMENT

These are the spoiled children of the post-crisis era who come of age as self-absorbed young people with lofty ideas. Later, they focus on morals and principles and become elders who manage the next crisis.

Generation X, the Nomads

Their childhood coincide with a period of awakening when social ideals and spiritual programs are developing. This is a generation that resists the established institutional order and tries to overcome it. Nomads grow up as unprotected children and reach adulthood feeling alienated. However, it is they who become pragmatic leaders during the crisis and turn into resilient post-crisis elders.

Millennials, the Heroes

Their childhood is spent in times of individual pragmatism, self-confidence and freedom of action. The generation of heroes grows up with a sense of security and are generaly optimistic when they come of age. Later, they become energetic and overconfident middle-aged people. The generation of heroes eventually turns into politically influential elders who will be overthrown by a new period of awakening.

ADVERTISIMENT

Generation Z, the Artists

This is the generation that enters childhood during a period of crisis when society is looking for consensus and is ready for sacrifice. Artists grow up under the overprotection of adults, but this helps them to enter adulthood as socialized and conformist young people who grow up to become goal-oriented leaders. Eventually they become the sages of the awakening period.

What period we live in today

So, if we believe in the theory, according to which each period lasts an average of 20 years and the last global crisis ended with World War II, we are now (80 years later, having passed all other periods) in the crisis era again. It began with the financial collapse in 2008 when the world's economy was engulfed by problems that started with the bankruptcy of large financial institutions in the United States and quickly escalated into a global economic downturn. Afterwards, the world faced a major health crisis during the peak of the coronavirus epidemic. Today it is still enveloped by challenges, namely the big wars in Ukraine and Israel.

According to researchers, this crisis period is expected to end in 2028. And Donald Trump will go down in history as the last president of such era. Then a new cycle will begin and its first period will be the high again.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Annual list recognizes the industry-leading companies that are the best at what they do

CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BCS is proud to announce its inclusion in Inc.'s annual Best in Business list, which celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of companies that have made a profound impact on their industries and society at large.

BCS was honored for its gene therapy insurance solutions, which increase affordability of and provide access to new, life-saving treatments. Today, BCS's reinsurance, stop loss, and even critical illness policies offer additional protection and enable financial protection for this growing area of medicine.

"Advancements in medical technology ultimately rely on our ability to access and afford them. At exorbitant costs of $2M-$4M, gene therapies are creating serious financial burdens on the healthcare system, especially on employers where most healthcare is accessed by individuals," said Mehb Khoja, Head of Large Claim Solutions at BCS. "Our innovative insurance products can help make these treatments more affordable for self-insured employers and the patients who need them most."

Innovation is nothing new to BCS  its first innovation solution dates to the 1970s when it established an Organ Transplant and Bone Marrow Transplant pool for health plans.

"BCS has a long history of adapting and responding to the market, and gene therapy solutions are another evolution of this excellence in innovation," added Khoja. "We will continue to monitor the healthcare and large claim landscape and lead the way in new products and solutions to address changing needs."

Inc.'s Best in Business list recognizes companies that, through exceptional execution, have achieved significant milestones and core business wins, like customer expansion, key product launches, increased market share, and industry-defining accomplishments. Companies from a wide range of industries  such as technology, health care, finance, and retail  have been recognized for their success and positive influence on the business world. The full list can be found on Inc.com and in the upcoming winter print edition of Inc. magazine.

For more information about BCS Financial, visit bcsf.com.

About BCS Financial:

BCS Financial Corporation has 75 years of experience delivering a wide range of insurance and financial solutions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations and commercial markets nationwide. Through its subsidiaries, BCS Insurance Company and 4 Ever Life Insurance Company, BCS is licensed in all 50 states and is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. BCS Financial is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Learn more at bcsf.com.

About Inc.com

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.'s award-winning work achieves a monthly brand footprint of more than 40 million across a variety of channels, including events, digital, print, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since its launch as the Inc. 100 in 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Media Contact:

Nathan Post

Phone: 630.472.7860.

SOURCE BCS Financial
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global beta lactam and beta lactamase inhibitors market size is estimated to grow by USD 8.4 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. Rising focus on novel drug development is driving market growth, with a trend towards technological advancements in antibiotic discovery. However, emergence of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (cre) poses a challenge. Key market players include Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie Inc., Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Cipla Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Lupin Ltd., Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd., Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Sandoz Group AG, Sanofi SA, Spero Therapeutics Inc., Taj Pharmaceutical Ltd., and Zeelab Laboratories Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Beta Lactam And Beta Lactamase Inhibitors Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Beta Lactam And Beta Lactamase Inhibitors Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.7% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 8400.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.4 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, China, Germany, India, and UK Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie Inc., Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Cipla Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Lupin Ltd., Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd., Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Sandoz Group AG, Sanofi SA, Spero Therapeutics Inc., Taj Pharmaceutical Ltd., and Zeelab Laboratories Ltd.

Market Driver

The Beta Lactam and Beta Lactamase Inhibitors market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Carbapenem, Monobactam are key antibacterial agents in this market. Combination therapies with Beta Lactamase Inhibitors are trending, especially in Urinary Tract Infections, Respiratory Infections, and Skin Infections. New molecules and oral formulations are in clinical trials to cater to the elderly population and chronic diseases. The drug class is administered through various routes, including Intravenous and oral, for conditions like Nosocomial Pneumonia, Hospital-acquired pneumonia, Ventilator-associated pneumonia, and Blood Stream Infections. Amalgamation traits of Beta Lactam and Beta Lactamase Inhibitors offer effective solutions to combat antibiotic resistance. Creative Diagnostics is a leading supplier of Beta Lactamase Inhibitors for research and diagnostic applications.

Advancements in antibiotic discovery employ high-throughput screening (HTS) techniques to identify potential beta lactam antibiotics and inhibitors. HTS allows for the rapid testing of large chemical compound libraries, accelerating the discovery process and leading to the identification of novel, more effective beta lactamase inhibitors. Computational modeling, including molecular docking and virtual screening, further enhances this process by predicting binding interactions between beta-lactam antibiotics, inhibitors, and bacterial targets, ultimately contributing to the development of new antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Beta Lactam and Beta Lactamase Inhibitors market encompasses antibacterial agents used to combat various microorganisms causing Urinary Tract Infections, Respiratory Infections, Skin Infections, Nosocomial Pneumonia, and Blood Stream Infections. Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Carbapenem, and Monobactam are key drug classes. However, antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge. Creating new molecules and combination therapies, such as Cephalosporin with Beta Lactamase Inhibitors, is crucial. Route of administration varies from Intravenous to Oral. The prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly in the elderly population, increases the market demand. Amalgamating traits of both antibiotics and inhibitors can lead to effective treatments for chronic diseases and complex infections like Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, and more. Clinical trials are ongoing to ensure safety and efficacy.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) strains pose significant challenges for healthcare providers due to their resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, which are commonly used for treating serious bacterial infections. The emergence of CREs limits effective treatment options, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates for patients. Infections caused by CREs are often associated with prolonged hospitalization and higher healthcare costs. These bacteria are commonly found in healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and intensive care units, making infection control efforts crucial. Nosocomial transmission of CREs among patients can lead to outbreaks and healthcare-associated infections, further complicating treatment and increasing the risk of dissemination within healthcare facilities. Effective strategies for managing CRE infections include the use of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations and other alternative antibiotics.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This beta lactam and beta lactamase inhibitors market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Route Of Administration

1.1 Oral

1.2 Intravenous

1.3 Others

Drug Class

2.1 Cephalosporins

2.2 Penicillins

2.3 Carbapenem

2.4 Monobactum

2.5 Combination

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Oral-

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Beta Lactam and Beta Lactamase Inhibitors market refers to a class of antibacterial agents used to treat various bacterial infections. These agents work by inhibiting the action of beta-lactamases, enzymes produced by microorganisms that can break down antibiotics like Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Carbapenem, Monobactam, and others. New molecules and combination therapies are being developed to combat the growing resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these new drugs, particularly in the treatment of chronic diseases and in the elderly population. Beta-lactam and beta-lactamase inhibitors are available in various forms, including oral preparations, and are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections.

Market Research Overview

Beta lactam and beta lactamase inhibitors are a class of antibacterial agents used to treat various bacterial infections. These agents work by inhibiting the action of beta-lactamases, enzymes produced by microorganisms that can break down antibiotics like penicillin, cephalosporin, carbapenem, monobactam, and others. The use of beta lactam and beta lactamase inhibitors is essential in the treatment of urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, nosocomial pneumonia, bloodstream infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. With the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the development of new molecules and combination therapies is a priority. The drug class is available in various routes of administration, including intravenous and oral forms. The elderly population and those with chronic diseases are particularly susceptible to bacterial infections and benefit from the use of these agents. The amalgamation of traits from different beta lactam antibiotics in combination therapies offers improved efficacy and reduced risk of resistance. Creative Diagnostics provides comprehensive solutions for beta lactam and beta lactamase inhibitors, including assay kits, antibodies, and services, to support research and development in this field.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Route Of Administration

Oral



Intravenous



Others

Drug Class

Cephalosporins



Penicillins



Carbapenem



Monobactum



Combination

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

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
Deal includes leading specialty egg brand, Farmers Hen House, and fast-growing drinkable yogurt brand, Pillars

CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Pasture Brands Holdings (Pasture Brands), a Better-For-You (BFY) food platform focused on perimeter-of-store refrigerated products and a portfolio company of Benford Capital Partners (BCP), to Pete & Gerry's Organics, LLC (PGO), a leading specialty egg company. BGL's Food and Beverage investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Pasture Brands. This deal marks BGL's seventh transaction in the food & beverage sector since January 2024 and builds upon BGL's market leadership position in the BFY category and the broader branded consumer packaged goods space.

This deal joins together two leading premium egg companies. Post this Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Pasture Brands Holdings (Pasture Brands), a Better-For-You (BFY) food platform focused on perimeter-of-store refrigerated products and a portfolio company of Benford Capital Partners (BCP), to Pete & Gerrys Organics, LLC (PGO), a leading specialty egg company.

Pasture Brands was formed by BCP in December 2021 with the initial acquisition of Farmers Hen House (FHH). The strategy was to pursue add-on acquisitions of natural, fresh, and refrigerated food and beverage products. Today, Pasture Brands markets and distributes two established retail brands:

Farmers Hen House : founded in 1997 and based in Kalona, IA , FHH sources, processes, and packages branded and private label specialty eggs (such as organic, free-range, and pasture-raised), which are sold to a diverse customer base across the natural, conventional grocery, and club channels. FHH partners with a network of more than 90 local farmers to source its high-quality, premium eggs.





: founded in 1997 and based in , FHH sources, processes, and packages branded and private label specialty eggs (such as organic, free-range, and pasture-raised), which are sold to a diverse customer base across the natural, conventional grocery, and club channels. FHH partners with a network of more than 90 local farmers to source its high-quality, premium eggs. Pillars: launched in 2016, Pillars is a BFY, clean-label drinkable yogurt brand sold at leading conventional and natural retailers. Pillars has grown rapidly since its inception, and the brand is known for its exceptional taste, nutritional profile, and product quality.

PGO is a leading producer of organic, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs sold under the Pete & Gerry's and Nellie's Free Range brands. The company is focused on supporting the livelihoods of family farmers, each of whom follows the strictest standards of humane animal treatment, safety, and environmental sustainability.

"I am very pleased with the terrific work of the BGL team. Dan and Stephen ran a tactical process, delivering the ideal partner to support Pasture Brands' continued growth within the specialty egg and BFY yogurt categories," said Ryan Miller, CEO of Pasture Brands. "I thank them for their commitment and guidance from start to finish."

This deal joins together two leading premium egg companies, combining complementary offerings across free-range, pasture-raised, and organic segments. Amid the rising popularity of premium eggs, the combined resources and infrastructure will help meet growing demand from customers and consumers. Further, FHH adds another packing facility to PGO's network, significantly increasing PGO's overall processing capacity and providing greater flexibility and efficiency in its manufacturing systems.

BGL's Food and Beverage investment banking team, led by BGL Managing Director Daniel Gomez, has deep sector knowledge and extensive transaction experience, representing companies across the entire food and beverage landscape. Coverage includes branded and private label products, global supply chain, contract manufacturing, processing, and distribution.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of REACH Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

Industry Contacts:

Daniel J. Gomez

Managing Director

Head of Food & Beverage

[email protected]

312.658.4789

Stephen D. Scharafin

Director

Food & Beverage

[email protected]

312.658.4777

Media Contact:

Kaylyn R. Hlavaty

Communications Specialist

216.920.6622

[email protected]

SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc., -the U.S. subsidiary of Towa International that markets, distributes, and sells generic pharmaceuticals in the United States, - announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval of Everolimus Tablets for Oral Suspension (TFOS), 2mg, 3mg and 5mg, a generic version of AFINITOR DISPERZ by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. The ANDA is held by its partner Natco Pharma Limited, India and Breckenridge plans to launch immediately.

Everolimus TFOS is a kinase inhibitor indicated in adult and pediatric patients aged one year and older with tuberous sclerosis complex ("TSC") for the treatment of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma ("SEGA") that requires therapeutic intervention but cannot be curatively resected.

This new launch is part of Breckenridge's strategic plan, embodying the company's short and medium-term strategy of expanding its presence in the institutional channel and enhancing its portfolio. By introducing a diverse range of oncology, autoimmune, rare disease, and supportive care products to the U.S. market, Breckenridge reaffirms its commitment to enhancing patient access to medicines and providing more therapeutic solutions to meet their needs. This launch also reflects the company's global mission of contributing to people's health and marks a significant milestone as Breckenridge enters the field of pediatric oncology.

Brian Guy, President and CCO of Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, states, "The approval and launch of our Everolimus TFOS represents a significant milestone for Breckenridge as we continue to expand access to high-quality, affordable medicines for patients in need. This launch not only reinforces our commitment to supporting the U.S. healthcare system but also aligns with Towa International's mission of reaching as many people as possible worldwide. Additionally, this milestone is further highlighted by the introduction of our first-ever copay assistance program for Everolimus TFOS, continuing our commitment to improving patient access to medications."

A step forward in access: new copay assistance program for Everolimus TFOS

In conjunction with Breckenridge's launch of Everolimus TFOS, the company will launch its first prescription copay assistance program in the United States. Access to crucial treatments is paramount, and this program will improve access by assisting in reducing the out-of-pocket cost of treatment for eligible patients. Co-pay cards play a vital role in helping patients manage their healthcare costs and maintain their treatment regimens. This initiative represents a significant step forward in Breckenridge's strategic plan and marks the company's commitment to expanding its social impact. Breckenridge is dedicated to becoming a leading force in health, focusing on emerging areas within the health sector while maintaining generic pharmaceuticals as the core of its business.

For more information and to determine patient eligibility for enrollment in Breckenridge's Everolimus TFOS copay assistance program, please visit the Copay Assistance Program section on www.breckenridgepharma.com, which will be available soon.

*Please visit www.breckenridgepharma.com for the full prescribing information for warnings and precautions, adverse reactions and contraindications.

**All brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.:

Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc., (New Jersey), the U.S. subsidiary of Towa International (Barcelona, Spain), partners with manufacturers nationwide and around the world to bring quality, cost-effective generic pharmaceuticals to U.S. patients. With our dedication to customer service, on-time delivery, reliable supply and quality manufacturing, we strive to impact the health of the patients we and our customers serve.

www.breckenridgepharma.com

For further information, please contact:

Towa International / Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.

External Comm and IR team

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Collaboration empowers manufacturers to streamline document management, enhance collaboration, and unlock greater operational efficiencies

CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CADDi, a leading AI data platform for manufacturers, announced today that it has joined Google Cloud Partner Advantage as a Partner Level partner for Google Cloud in the Build Engagement Model, enabling manufacturers to streamline operations and unlock greater efficiencies through data-driven insights on Google Cloud.

Google Cloud

Since its inception, CADDi has leveraged Google Cloud's infrastructure to power its platform, CADDi Drawer, which digitizes and centralizes manufacturing data to improve cost transparency, collaboration, and supply chain efficiency. Through this collaboration, CADDi now takes a significant step as a recognized Google Cloud partner, providing advanced data solutions to manufacturers worldwide.

Key benefits CADDi offers using the power of Google Cloud include:

Document Digitization and Centralization : CADDi Drawer converts engineering drawings, technical documents, and other critical records into a fully searchable digital archive, reducing reliance on paper-based systems and improving information accessibility.

: CADDi Drawer converts engineering drawings, technical documents, and other critical records into a fully searchable digital archive, reducing reliance on paper-based systems and improving information accessibility. Streamlined Document Retrieval : The platform allows manufacturers to quickly locate and retrieve essential documents, reducing time spent searching for historical records and improving overall operational efficiency.

: The platform allows manufacturers to quickly locate and retrieve essential documents, reducing time spent searching for historical records and improving overall operational efficiency. Similarity Search : Using AI image recognition, CADDi Drawer instantly finds drawing records that have similar design features, turning tedious manual lookups from hours of searching into instant results.

: Using AI image recognition, CADDi Drawer instantly finds drawing records that have similar design features, turning tedious manual lookups from hours of searching into instant results. Secure and Scalable Data Management : CADDi Drawer offers a secure framework for storing sensitive design data, with scalable infrastructure to support manufacturers of all sizes.

: CADDi Drawer offers a secure framework for storing sensitive design data, with scalable infrastructure to support manufacturers of all sizes. Collaboration Across Teams: By centralizing critical documentation, CADDi Drawer enhances collaboration between engineering, maintenance, and procurement teams, ensuring everyone has access to up-to-date information when they need it.

Google Cloud's AI and search capabilities align with CADDi's mission statement. Google Cloud is built to handle the deep, context-aware, natural searching that forms the core of CADDi's offerings.

"As a company deeply committed to transforming the manufacturing industry through data, we are thrilled to advance our work with Google Cloud," said Yushiro Kato, Co-Founder and CEO of CADDi. "Joining the Partner Advantage program reinforces our mission to make manufacturing more efficient and transparent through digital innovation, helping our customers solve their most pressing challenges."

Through its work with Google Cloud, CADDi aims to accelerate digital transformation in manufacturing by providing tools that help companies improve productivity, streamline data management, and reduce operational costs.

For more information on CADDi's solutions and its work with Google Cloud, please visit https://us.caddi.com/.

About CADDi US

CADDi US is dedicated to empowering manufacturers and engineering companies through digital solutions that streamline operations and improve data accessibility. CADDi Drawer, the company's flagship document digitization platform, enables seamless organization, storage, and retrieval of technical drawings and other critical data. CADDi is committed to supporting businesses as they navigate the challenges of digital transformation and operational efficiency.

Media Contact:

Bob Spoerl

[email protected]

774.453.2444

SOURCE CADDi
TOKYO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of new DW-6900TR watches which celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic round-shaped DW-6900 models, known for their triple-graph display and front button. This anniversary collection re-creates the first color variations beyond black offered in a DW-6900.

The Casio purpose is: "Through the power to put wonder at hand, bring new levels of joy to lives one by one." One example is G-SHOCK, which ushered in an entirely new genre of toughness in wristwatch design, breaking industry conventions and setting new standards through innovative use of color, materials, and collaborations. The DW-6900, one of the iconic style* G-SHOCK watches, has served as the base for over 100 collaboration watches with brands, artists, and environmental organizations.

* There are five iconic styles in total (including 6900): the 5000 and 5600, inheriting the form of the very first G-SHOCK, the DW-5000C; the 110 with its three-dimensional dial; and the 2100 with its octagonal bezel.

The new DW-6900TR shock-resistant watches commemorate the 30th anniversary of the DW-6900 by re-creating the color variations of the DW-6900H, the first model in the line to introduce colors other than black. The collection features the three colors originally used in the DW-6900H: black, red, and yellow, evoking a sense of 1990s nostalgia that transcends time. Unique to this anniversary collection, the words "SINCE 1995"  referencing the debut year of the 6900 line  appear on the LCD when the backlight is activated. Additionally, the case back is engraved with 30 stars, adding an exclusive celebratory touch.

The front button is crafted from metal with a mirror finish, enhancing its texture and highlighting the "G" mark for a bold presence. The bezel and band are made with bio-based resin, which is expected to help reduce environmental impact.

The packaging features the "G" mark and the signature colors of black, red, and yellow, making it a fitting presentation for this commemorative collection.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2604586/KV_DW_6900.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2604587/DW_6900TR_1_front.jpg
Interviewing Rachel Cantor-Walker, Vice President of Operations at Murray Lampert Design, Build,

Remodel- 4th Generation Family Ownership

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From Lego floor plans on the office floor to leading a 25-person design-build firm, the journey of this family business mirrors the evolution of San Diego's construction landscape itself. What began as Murray's vision for mass-quantity building has transformed across three generations into a dynamic design-build company where creativity meets craftsmanship. As the fourth-generation leader of the firm, Rachel has witnessed firsthand how each era has added its own distinct layer to our foundationher grandfather's resilience, her father Gregg's unwavering commitment to quality, and now her team's dedication to deeply understanding both our clients and our craft. Looking back over these past fifty years, the companies story isn't just about building structures; it's about building relationships, embracing innovation, and constantly reimagining what's possible in the world of design-build.

"What are your highlights & hot takes from 2015-2025, the major timeframe of your involvement with the company"?

1. What do you think have been the pivotal changes of the last ten years, contributing to continued growth?

One of the biggest shifts was adding interior design to our services. Instead of relying on outside designers or having project managers try to fill that role, we built an in-house design team. That change was pivotal in unifying our approach, elevating our brand, and providing a seamless client experience.

We also embraced technology in a big way. Tools like Revit, Enscape, BuilderTrend, and Pipedrive have allowed us to refine our processes and work more efficiently. Another key shift has been dialing in our niche and focusing on finding amazing clients that truly align with who we are and what we do best.

Finally, bringing on consultants has been invaluable. They've helped us recognize blind spots and guided us to the next level of growth and professionalism.

2. "What growth have you seen since 2015, in the team, in the company's goals, etc."?

The growth has been remarkable. We've expanded to a team of 25, with our design team now even larger than our production teama reflection of how much design has become a core part of who we are.

We moved into a new office space that truly represents us: bigger, more functional, and designed to reflect our brand and values. This move symbolized the growth we've experienced as a company.

Our marketing and branding efforts have also evolved significantly, from clearer messaging to getting involved in podcasts, news stories, and articles. We've raised our profile and have submitted projects for design awards, showcasing the incredible work our team produces.

On a personal note, I shifted from the design side to focusing on operations and management, which has allowed me to help shape the company's direction and strengthen our processes.

3. "What do you think needed to change during that period, that has since changed for the better"?

There were a few critical changes that have made a big impact. First, we implemented a more structured, hierarchical team organization, which clarified roles and responsibilities and allowed everyone to excel in their areas of expertise.

We also focused on leveling up the team by bringing on talented people and providing opportunities for growth and development. That investment in the team has paid off in the quality of work we deliver and the culture we've built.

Additionally, we've let go of outdated tools and practicesgoodbye fax machine! While it was once a symbol of innovation (brought in by my dad when my grandpa was skeptical), it became a relic of the past.

Beyond the practical changes, we've made a conscious effort to involve the team more in out-of-office activities, building a sense of community. And perhaps most importantly, we've set ambitious goals, met them, and continued raising the bar year after year. Now, we have a clearer vision than ever before, and our messaging finally matches who we are and where we're headed.

4. "Looking back over the generations you can recall as a child, what were your thoughts of the company through a child's eyes? Did you anticipate that one day, you would be working with the company? What did you envision yourself doing"?

As a child, I didn't anticipate working for the family business. In fact, the closest thing I wanted to be was a cartoonist. I loved to draw and had read a biography about Walt Disney that inspired me. I was always creative and enjoyed any art-related project, like crafting elaborate book report displays.

Growing up, I remember spending time in the office after school, waiting for my parents to finish work. I would build floor plans with Legos on the floor, not realizing that one day I would be back designing homes as a larger scale! At the time, the company was purely a construction company. There wasn't a design department, so it never crossed my mind that my love for creativity and talent in math could come together in a way that connected to the business.

5. "What did you envision the future company looking like"?

As a kid, I didn't think much about what the future company would look like. The idea of "design-build" wasn't even on the radar because it hadn't become part of the business yet. I only saw the company as a construction business back then.

Later, as I got older, I stumbled into architecture school almost by accident and still didn't immediately connect it to the family business. Over time, though, I realized how much I enjoy what we doit perfectly combines my creative side, rooted in my dad's artistic family, with the entrepreneurial drive from my mom's side. I've discovered that I love both the design and business aspects of what we do, often finding the business side just as rewarding as the creative side.

6. "Any other thoughts you'd like to share"?

Over the years, the company has transformed in ways that truly reflect the strengths of each generation. Murray's original philosophy of being a mass-quantity builder laid a strong foundation. Then Gregg shifted the focus, introducing a much more client-centric approach, and that was a pivotal moment. It helped us build deeper relationships with clients and create work we're truly proud of.

Each generation has contributed something unique: Murray brought resilience, Gregg brought a focus on quality, and now we're building on that legacy with an emphasis on listeningboth to our clients and to our team. This progression has been critical to how we've evolved and grown as a company.

For the future, I envision continuing the shift away from the "more business equals better business" mindset and instead honing in on the value of quality over quantity. Our focus is on getting each project rightnot just for the client, but for our team and trade partners. Growth should come as a natural result of doing an outstanding job, not from chasing numbers.

I believe that listening to and supporting our team is just as important as listening to our clients. When we treat our team and trade partners well, they reflect that same care in how they treat our clients. I've seen how deeply our team caresit often feels like they have a sense of ownership in the company. Their feedback always comes from a place of wanting us to be better, and I trust their input wholeheartedly.

Another part of the vision is trustbuilding relationships with both clients and team members who share our values. We've surrounded ourselves with people we can rely on, and that has been a game-changer.

At first, stepping back from design felt like a challenge, but it's become even more rewarding to watch this incredible group of talented people bring their creativity to life. They're the superstars. Seeing them design and build beautiful thingsand knowing they chose to be part of our teamis an honor.

As we look to the future, my philosophy is simple: take care of the people who take care of the work. By doing that, we'll continue to raise the bar, grow in meaningful ways, and carry on the legacy that started 50 years ago.

SOURCE Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
Greater Flexibility, More Health Care Options for Customers

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna Healthcare and Providence are expanding their Los Angeles County network, offering customers several additional care facilities.

Through this agreement, Cigna Healthcare Select HMO customers now have even more options for affordable, in-network care with almost 2,000 providers and specialists across an array of facilities. Providence providers joining the Cigna Healthcare network include:

Medical Groups

Facey Medical Group

Providence Axminster Medical Group

Providence Affiliated Physicians

Providence Medical Associates

Saint John's Physicians Partners

Facilities

Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance

Providence Saint John's Health Center

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center

With this expansion, Cigna Healthcare's employer clients can offer benefit plans with greater flexibility for employees and their families to get quality, convenient care at Providence facilities.

"We are pleased to broaden our network agreement with Providence to better meet the needs of this community," said Tim Closson, Cigna Healthcare general manager for Southern California. "Health care is both personal and local  and now our customers will have even more places they can seek care. We look forward to working with Providence to further advance the health and vitality of the people we jointly serve."

"We're happy to welcome new patients from Cigna to our award-winning hospitals and clinics," said Laureen Driscoll, Chief Executive, Providence South Division. "Providence offers an integrated network of health services to ensure patients receive the same consistent high-quality service across the health care spectrum. And we're committed to whole person care, respectful of our patients' preferences, priorities and their culture."

Cigna Healthcare customer service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 800-244-6224. Members may also find in-network providers through myCigna.com or the myCigna app.

About Cigna Healthcare

Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the health care system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality. Products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth Health companies or their affiliates and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits and others. Learn more at CignaHealthcare.com.

About Providence in California (South Division)

Providence in California is an integrated delivery network that includes 17 hospitals in Northern and Southern California, comprising the organization's South Division. Over 35,000 caregivers and approximately 11,000 physicians ensure patients receive the highest level of care in the communities we serve. Supporting its acute care settings in California, Providence features hundreds of affiliated medical group clinics and outpatient centers, in addition to Providence Hospice and Kids Care pediatric hospice, Providence High School, home health care services, 10 wellness centers and a multitude of telehealth services. Providence is committed to an enduring mission of outreach to the poor and vulnerable, and in 2023 contributed $669 million in services, programs and charity care to those in need.

Media Contacts:

Jocelyn Parker Patricia Aidem

Cigna Healthcare Providence

313-510-4173 661-755-1322

[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Cigna Healthcare
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global coding and marking equipment market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.54 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 6.8% during the forecast period. Increasing need for product traceability is driving market growth, with a trend towards deploying of equipment leasing business model. However, high operational costs poses a challenge. Key market players include ATD Ltd., BestCode, Brother Industries Ltd., Control Print Ltd., Cyklop International, Danaher Corp., Dover Corp., Engage Technologies Corp., Hitachi Ltd., ITW Marking and Coding, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Keyence Corp., Matthews International Corp., MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmuller SE and Co. KG, Overprint Ltd., Paul Leibinger GmbH and Co. KG, Pro Mach Inc., REA Elektronik GmbH, RN Mark Inc., and SATO Holdings Corp..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Coding And Marking Equipment Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Coding And Marking Equipment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.8% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 1541.1 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.3 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 41% Key countries China, Japan, US, Germany, UK, India, South Korea, France, Canada, and Italy Key companies profiled ATD Ltd., BestCode, Brother Industries Ltd., Control Print Ltd., Cyklop International, Danaher Corp., Dover Corp., Engage Technologies Corp., Hitachi Ltd., ITW Marking and Coding, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Keyence Corp., Matthews International Corp., MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmuller SE and Co. KG, Overprint Ltd., Paul Leibinger GmbH and Co. KG, Pro Mach Inc., REA Elektronik GmbH, RN Mark Inc., and SATO Holdings Corp.

Market Driver

The Coding and Marking Equipment market is experiencing significant growth, particularly in sectors like Flexible Packs, Medical Equipment, Food Safety, and Pharmaceuticals. Flexible packs require advanced marking solutions for brand protection and traceability. In the Medical Equipment industry, marking equipment ensures product identification and sterilization with disinfectants and masks. Food Safety and Food and Beverage sectors prioritize product traceability through serialization, tracking codes, and RFID tagging. Counterfeit automobile parts and pharmaceuticals are combated with unique product identifiers and brand protection technologies. Inkjet printers, laser markers, and thermal transfer printers cater to various industries, including Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare, Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, and Food Packaging. Online transactions necessitate high-resolution inkjet coders for information display and labeling. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) technologies, along with Laser Marking and Thermal Printing, provide solutions for various packaging types, such as PET bottles, containers, and secondary packaging materials. Brand protection and artwork management systems, like Linx laser coders, ensure product authenticity and compliance with regulations. SIS Ink Solution offers continuous inkjet ink and solvent products for various marking applications.

Organizations face high running costs when investing in coding and marking equipment. To mitigate this constraint, companies are increasingly turning to equipment leasing options. Leasing simplifies the coding and marking process by reducing costs associated with maintenance, servicing, and disposal. Leasing companies provide maintenance and servicing solutions, allowing end-users to focus on their core business activities. This model is particularly popular among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as it eliminates the need for large upfront investments, preserves working capital, and frees up cash flow. The benefits of equipment leasing include flexible payment plans, the ability to deploy printers as needed, line optimization, future-proof solutions, minimal downtime, and absence of equipment depreciation.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Coding and Marking Equipment market faces various challenges in diverse industries such as Flexible packs, Medical Equipment, Food Safety, and Counterfeit Automobile Parts. In Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, and Healthcare sectors, there is a growing demand for brand protection, traceability tags, serialization, and unique product identifiers. Disinfectants, masks, and sanitizers require clear information display for effective product labeling. Inkjet printers, laser markers, and thermal transfer printers are popular solutions, with Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) gaining traction. Online transactions necessitate high-resolution inkjet coders and RFID tagging. Pharmaceutical producers require Linx laser coders and labeling systems. Continuous inkjet technology, solvent products, and artwork management systems are essential for various packaging types, including PET bottles, containers, aluminum, and secondary packaging materials. Ink droplets and printhead technology are critical components, with CIJ and TIJ offering variable data printing and tracking codes to combat counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This coding and marking equipment market report extensively covers market segmentation by

End-user

1.1 Food and beverage

1.2 Healthcare

1.3 Industrial

1.4 Others

Product

2.1 CIJ printing and coding

2.2 Laser coding and marking

2.3 PALM

2.4 TTO

2.5 Others

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 North America

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

Solution

1.1 Food and beverage- The coding and marking equipment market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of this technology in the food and beverage industry. This sector is a major end-user, utilizing coding and marking equipment for packaging products such as processed foods, beverages, packaged snacks, and dairy foods. The equipment is essential for providing specific product information, including manufacturing and expiry dates, brand names, and prices. In Canada, regulations mandate specific barcodes and nutritional information on food packaging. In the bakery industry, non-contact coding techniques like CIJ, TIJ, and lasers are gaining popularity due to their ability to ensure product quality without the use of inks. The dairy sector, with its short product lifecycles and focus on safety and hygiene, requires coding and marking equipment that can print on various materials and meet stringent regulations. The packaged snacks sector, with its high-volume consumption and low margins, demands coding and marking equipment that can print fast and accurately while ensuring product safety. Beverage manufacturers use a range of packaging materials, necessitating equipment that can print on various surfaces. The availability of different coding and marking technologies enables manufacturers to meet diverse packaging needs. The global coding and marking equipment market is poised for growth due to the increasing demand for processed foods, packaged snacks, bakery products, and dairy products. Major vendors are investing in advanced technologies to increase production speed and efficiency.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Coding and Marking Equipment market encompasses a wide range of technologies and applications. Flexible packs, bottles, tubes, cartons, and labels in various industries, including food safety, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare, electronics, and food and beverage, require coding and marking solutions. These solutions help ensure product authenticity, traceability, and regulatory compliance. Technologies such as Inkjet printers (Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ)), Laser markers, Thermal transfer printers, and Laser Marking are used to apply codes and marks. Online transactions have increased the demand for advanced coding and marking equipment to ensure secure and accurate tracking. Applications include marking pharmaceuticals, electronics, automobile parts, and food and beverage products. The market continues to evolve with advancements in technology and increasing demand for efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Market Research Overview

The Coding and Marking Equipment market encompasses a wide range of technologies and applications. Flexible packs, medical equipment, and food safety are significant sectors utilizing this technology for traceability and information display. In the realm of food and beverage, coding and marking equipment ensure product freshness and prevent counterfeit automobile parts from entering the market. Pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors rely on this technology for brand protection, serialization, and traceability, especially in the fight against counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Disinfectants, masks, and sanitizers are marked with codes for expiration dates and batch tracking. Inkjet printers, laser markers, and thermal transfer printers are the primary equipment used in this industry. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) are popular technologies for their ability to print variable data and tracking codes. The pharmaceutical producer benefits from high-resolution inkjet coders and Linx laser coders for serialization and unique product identifiers. The market also includes RFID tagging, labels, secondary packaging materials, and various packaging types, such as bottles, tubes, cartons, and containers made of PET, aluminum, and corrugated materials. Continuous inkjet technology uses ink droplets and a printhead to mark products, while Artwork Management systems and SIS Ink Solution provide solutions for ink selection and management. Continuous inkjet ink and solvent products are essential consumables in this industry.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

End-user

Food And Beverage



Healthcare



Industrial



Others

Product

CIJ Printing And Coding



Laser Coding And Marking



PALM



TTO



Others

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



Middle East And Africa



South America

Solution

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
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global cold chain market in europe size is estimated to grow by USD 76.8 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period. Use of rfid in cold chain logistics is driving market growth, with a trend towards use of IoT with cold chain. However, fluctuating fuel prices poses a challenge. Key market players include Abu Dhabi Ports PJSC, AP Moller Maersk AS, Arbon Equipment Corp., Baltic Logistic Solutions, Beno Trans GmbH, Blue Water Shipping AS, DHL Express Ltd, DSV AS, FRIGO Coldstore Logistics GmbH and Co. KG, GARTNER KG, Kraftverkehr Nagel SE and Co. KG, Kuehne Nagel Management AG, Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA, NewCold Cooperatief UA, NORDFROST GmbH and Co. KG., Pacific Logistics Group., Pfenning Logistics, SNCF Group, and WILMS Transport GmbH.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Cold Chain Market in Europe 2024-2028

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Cold Chain Market In Europe Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 12.5% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 76.8 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 10.8 Regional analysis Europe Performing market contribution Europe at 100% Key countries Germany, France, Italy, UK, and Rest of Europe Key companies profiled Abu Dhabi Ports PJSC, AP Moller Maersk AS, Arbon Equipment Corp., Baltic Logistic Solutions, Beno Trans GmbH, Blue Water Shipping AS, DHL Express Ltd, DSV AS, FRIGO Coldstore Logistics GmbH and Co. KG, GARTNER KG, Kraftverkehr Nagel SE and Co. KG, Kuehne Nagel Management AG, Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA, NewCold Cooperatief UA, NORDFROST GmbH and Co. KG., Pacific Logistics Group., Pfenning Logistics, SNCF Group, and WILMS Transport GmbH

Market Driver

The European cold chain market is experiencing significant growth due to rising consumer preferences for temperature-sensitive products, particularly in the food and healthcare sectors. E-commerce sales and organized retail stores are driving the demand for cold chain solutions, including refrigerated storage and transportation. Developing economies and overseas markets are also creating opportunities for expansion. Technological advances, such as RFID, automation, cloud computing, and IoT, are improving warehouse management, inventory accuracy, and supply chain efficiency. Temperature-controlled warehouses and cold-insulated transport vehicles are essential for maintaining the quality and shelf life of perishable products, including fresh agricultural products, dairy, meat, marine products, and convenience foods. Regulations, such as quality assurance and food control systems, are crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of cold chain solutions. Investment in cold chain technology requires consideration of land acquisition, building construction, permissions and licensing, utilities, cooling machinery, and startup and working capital expenses. The benefits of cold chain solutions include assured freshness, product distribution, and reduced spoilage and contamination. The healthcare sector, particularly pharmaceutical drugs and medical vaccines, requires stringent temperature control for maintaining their efficacy and shelf life. Cold chain systems are essential for cost optimizations, risk management, and regulation compliance in the face of technical and operational constraints. The cold chain sector is a critical component of the global food system, with implications for food sector development, agricultural trade, and the food industry as a whole.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the European cold chain market by connecting physical objects in the supply chain through the internet. This technology enables enterprises to enhance product performance by securing IoT data and analyzing it for improved results. IoT solutions are integrated into the cold chain to streamline logistics processes for perishable goods like fruits, meat, and medicines. By remotely adjusting temperature settings in vehicles and warehouses, enterprises can optimize their cold chain operations, ensuring cost savings and efficiency.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The European cold chain market is experiencing significant growth due to rising consumer preferences for temperature-sensitive products, increasing e-commerce sales, and the expansion of organized retail stores. Developing economies and overseas markets also present opportunities for cold chain solutions. Challenges include the need for refrigerated storage and transportation, IT spending for warehouse management and monitoring components, and regulations for temperature-controlled warehouses and transport vehicles. Key industries, such as healthcare and food & beverage, require cold chain logistics for assured freshness, palatability, and extended product shelf life. Cold chain solutions are essential for temperature-sensitive products like fresh agricultural products, manufactured food, medical vaccines, and pharmaceutical drugs. Technological advances, including RFID, automation, cloud computing, and IoT, offer cost-effective operations, improved inventory management, and real-time monitoring. Cold chain technology investments include land acquisition, building construction, permissions and licensing, utilities, cooling machinery, and maintenance. Regulations, technical and operational constraints, and cost optimizations are critical considerations for cold chain systems. Benefits include reduced spoilage, contamination, and increased supply chain efficiency. The cold chain sector plays a vital role in the food sector, agricultural trade, and the global food system, ensuring the quality and safety of imported and exported food products.

Cold-chain logistics in Europe relies heavily on fuels like petrol and diesel for both vehicle propulsion and refrigeration unit power. The main traction engine, which runs on these fuels, generates electricity to operate the refrigeration unit's electric motor. Medium to large vehicles typically utilize self-contained refrigeration units with diesel engines. However, the price volatility of Brent crude oil, the primary source of petrol and diesel, poses a significant challenge. This oil price instability can impact the overall cost structure and profitability of cold-chain logistics providers in Europe .

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This cold chain market in Europe report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Meat fish and seafood

1.2 Fruits vegetables and beverages

1.3 Dairy and frozen desserts

1.4 Bakery and confectionery

1.5 Healthcare

Type

2.1 Refrigerated warehouse

2.2 Refrigerated transportation

Geography

3.1 Europe

1.1 Meat fish and seafood- The European cold chain market is primarily driven by the meat, fish, and seafood segment. These perishable products require refrigeration or freezing to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life. Meat, with a high water, protein, and fat content, is highly perishable and must be kept at low temperatures to prevent spoilage. Fresh meat products have a short shelf life and should not be transported over long distances, while processed and frozen meat products can be transported globally. Seafood consumption is increasing due to the rise in aquaculture, making Europe the largest importer of this commodity. Key markets include the UK, Germany, France, and Italy for canned fish. The increasing demand for meat and seafood will drive the need for refrigerated warehouses and transportation facilities, thereby fueling the growth of the meat, fish, and seafood segment in the European cold chain market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Cold Chain Market in Europe is witnessing significant growth due to increasing consumer preferences for temperature-sensitive products, particularly in the healthcare and food & beverage sectors. The market is driven by the rise of e-commerce sales and organized retail stores, which require efficient cold chain solutions for storing and transporting temperature-sensitive goods. Developing economies in Europe are also fueling market growth as they adopt modern cold chain technologies. Advancements in cold chain technologies, such as RFID, automation, and IoT, are revolutionizing warehouse management and inventory management systems. IT spending on cold chain logistics is increasing, with a focus on cloud computing and real-time temperature monitoring components. The refrigerated storage market is expanding, with a growing demand for chilled, frozen, and deep-frozen storage solutions. Regulations regarding temperature-controlled transportation and storage are strict in Europe, ensuring the safety and quality of temperature-sensitive products. The refrigerated transportation segment is also growing, with an increasing focus on reducing transit times and maintaining optimal temperature ranges during transportation. Overall, the European cold chain market is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years.

Market Research Overview

The European cold chain market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing consumer preferences for temperature-sensitive products, particularly in the food and healthcare sectors. The rise of e-commerce sales and organized retail stores is driving the demand for efficient cold chain solutions. Developing economies in Europe are also contributing to the market's growth, as they adopt modern cold chain technologies to meet local demand and export to overseas markets. Refrigerated storage and warehouse management systems are key components of the cold chain market, with temperature-controlled warehouses being crucial for maintaining the quality and shelf life of perishable products. Technological advances, such as RFID, automation, cloud computing, and IoT, are revolutionizing cold chain operations, enabling real-time monitoring and inventory management. The refrigerated transportation sector is also essential, with temperature-controlled vehicles ensuring the safe and timely delivery of temperature-sensitive products. The healthcare sector relies heavily on cold chain solutions to maintain the efficacy of medical vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs, which have strict temperature requirements. The cold chain market faces challenges such as regulatory compliance, technical and operational constraints, and high costs. However, investment in reliable solutions and technological advances are helping to optimize costs and improve supply chain efficiency. The market for cold chain solutions is expected to continue growing, driven by the increasing demand for perishable products, including fresh agricultural products, dairy, meat, marine products, and convenience foods. The food sector, particularly agriculture, is a significant contributor to the cold chain market, with traditional farming practices giving way to modern, temperature-controlled storage and transportation systems. The global food system is becoming increasingly interconnected, with trade liberalization and FDI laws driving the growth of the domestic food industry and cold chain sector. The benefits of cold chain solutions are numerous, including assured freshness, palatability, extended product shelf life, reduced spoilage and contamination, and improved supply chain efficiency. The cold chain market is expected to continue growing, driven by changing consumption habits, urban population growth, and the increasing importance of food safety and quality assurance systems.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Meat Fish And Seafood



Fruits Vegetables And Beverages



Dairy And Frozen Desserts



Bakery And Confectionery



Healthcare

Type

Refrigerated Warehouse



Refrigerated Transportation

Geography

Europe

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
On January 29, Orthodox believers commemorate the transfer of the relics of the holy martyr Ignatius the God-bearer. Today is also the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of Kruty, young Ukrainian students and Sich Riflemen who heroically resisted Bolshevik troops advancing on Kyiv in January 1918 near the village of Kruty. Constantine, Lavrentiya, Leontiya, Luke, Roman, Fedor, and Yakov celebrate their name days.

ADVERTISIMENT

The world celebrates the Chinese New Year, the Day of Mobilization Against the Threat of Nuclear War, Cheapskate Day and the Day of Invention of the Automobile. OBOZ.UA tells about the holidays and significant events of this day.

What holidays are celebrated on January 29

Kruty Heroes Memorial Day is one of the most important dates in Ukrainian history, which is celebrated annually on January 29. In the early twentieth century, Ukraine went through a difficult period of struggle for independence. After the overthrow of the Russian Empire, the Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed. However, the young state faced aggression from Bolshevik Russia. It was in this context that the Battle of Kruty took place. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, the young defenders of Ukraine showed an indomitable spirit and fought heroically for their land. The feat of the Kruty Heroes became a symbol of the desire for freedom.

ADVERTISIMENT

On January 29, Orthodox believers honor St. Ignatius the Great, one of the most revered figures of the early Christian Church. After the martyrdom of Ignatius in Rome, his relics were first placed in this city. Later, in the fourth century, the saint's relics were transferred to Antioch, the city where he served as bishop. This was done in order to bring them closer to his flock. Later, the relics of the saint were placed in the Church of St. Clement.

Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in China and other Asian countries, celebrated according to the lunar calendar. The dates of the celebration change every year and fall between January 21 and February 20. It is a time of family celebrations, traditional rituals, and fun. Before the New Year, people clean their homes to get rid of everything old and unpleasant. The color red is considered a symbol of happiness and good luck, which is why the tradition of red lanterns is so popular all over the world. On the evening of New Year's Eve, all family members gather at the festive table. There must be fish on the table, which symbolizes prosperity, dumplings, which symbolize wealth, and other traditional dishes.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Day for the Mobilization of Efforts against the Threat of Nuclear War is an international day dedicated to the struggle for a peaceful future without nuclear weapons. It is celebrated annually on January 29 in honor of the adoption of the Delhi Declaration. This document was signed in New Delhi (India) on January 29, 1985. The Declaration calls for an end to the nuclear arms race, the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear arsenals, and the elimination of the threat of nuclear war.

On January 29, 1886, German engineer Karl Benz received a patent for a three-wheeled car with a gasoline internal combustion engine. This day is often called the "birthday" of the modern car, as this patent is recognized as the first official document certifying the creation of a self-propelled vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

ADVERTISIMENT

It is celebrated all over the world on January 29:

Let's Talk Day in Canada;

Coca-Cola Day;

Day of the puzzle or jigsaw puzzle;

Kansas State Day in the USA.

Notable historical events on January 29

1616 - Dutch navigators Jacob Lemaire and Willem Schouten discovered the southernmost point of South America, Cape Horn.

1635 - Cardinal Richelieu founded the French Academy of Sciences.

1805 - a decree was signed to open a university in Kharkiv.

1886 - German designer Karl Benz received a patent for a car with an internal combustion engine.

1896 - American physicist Emil Grubbe first used radioactive radiation to treat cancer.

1896 - the first tests of the British tank took place.

1907 - Lee de Forest patented the audion, or triode, the first practical electronic amplifier.

1918 - the Battle of Kruty took place.

ADVERTISIMENT

1921 - at a conference in Paris, the victorious countries in World War I determined the amount of war reparations for Germany - 226 billion in gold was to be paid over 42 years.

1922 - a movie theater in New York collapses under a mass of snow, killing 120 people.

1927 - the Park Lane Hotel was opened in London, the first hotel with a bathroom in every room.

1929 - the world's first guide dog training school is organized in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

1978 - Sweden was the first country in the world to officially ban the use of aerosol cans because of their destructive effect on the Earth's ozone layer.

1996 - French President Jacques Chirac announced that his country would completely stop nuclear testing.

Who was born on January 29

1475 - Giuliano Bugliardini, Italian Renaissance painter.

1688 - Emmanuel Swedenborg, Swedish natural scientist, theosophist.

ADVERTISIMENT

1773 - Carl Friedrich Christian Moos, German mineralogist and geologist who invented the mineral hardness scale.

1782 - Daniel Aubert, French composer, founder of the French "grand opera" genre, author of the former French anthem "La Parisienne".

1843 - William McKinley, 25th President of the United States.

1852 - Kitasato Shibasaburo, Japanese bacteriologist, one of the discoverers of the bubonic plague pathogen.

1866 - Romain Rolland, French writer.

1872 - Antin Shablenko, Ukrainian writer, publicist, from 1905 - editor and publisher of the Free Ukraine magazine in St. Petersburg.

1939 - Oleksandr Huz, Ukrainian scientist in the field of mechanics.

1954 - Oprah Winfrey, American television host, public figure, and film actress.

Died on this day:

1734 - Danylo Apostol, Ukrainian military, political and statesman, Hetman of the Zaporozhian Army.

ADVERTISIMENT

1820 - George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland.

1859 - William Cranch Bond, American astronomer.

1899 - Alfred Sisley, famous French landscape painter, one of the founders of Impressionism.

1934 - Fritz Haber, German chemist, winner of the 1918 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

2015 - Colleen McCullough, Australian writer, known as the author of the novel The Thornsongs.

2017 - Andriy Kyzylo, Ukrainian soldier, participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Hero of Ukraine.

2023 - Dmytro Pavlychko, Ukrainian poet, translator, literary critic, publicist, Sixties activist, public and political figure, Hero of Ukraine.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global corporate training market size is estimated to grow by USD 43.86 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. Emergence of cost-effective e-learning training modules is driving market growth, with a trend towards emergence of iot and wearable devices. However, technical constraints to implement corporate training poses a challenge. Key market players include Adobe Inc., Articulate Global Inc., Blanchard Training and Development Inc., BTS Group AB, Cegos Group, Cisco Systems Inc., City and Guilds Group, D2L Inc., DEMOS, Development Dimensions International Inc., Educomp Solutions Ltd., Franklin Covey Co., John Wiley and Sons Inc., Korn Ferry, Learning Technologies Group Plc, Mind Gym Plc, NIIT Ltd., Richardson Sales Performance, Simplilearn, and Skillsoft Corp..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Corporate Training Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Corporate Training Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.8% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 43859.4 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 7.2 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 46% Key countries US, UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, China, India, South Korea, France, and Italy Key companies profiled Adobe Inc., Articulate Global Inc., Blanchard Training and Development Inc., BTS Group AB, Cegos Group, Cisco Systems Inc., City and Guilds Group, D2L Inc., DEMOS, Development Dimensions International Inc., Educomp Solutions Ltd., Franklin Covey Co., John Wiley and Sons Inc., Korn Ferry, Learning Technologies Group Plc, Mind Gym Plc, NIIT Ltd., Richardson Sales Performance, Simplilearn, and Skillsoft Corp.

Market Driver

The corporate training market is thriving as businesses prioritize upskilling and reskilling their employees to meet the demands of a knowledge-based economy. Remote work and workplace learning are trending, with soft skills, diversity initiatives, and digital skills in high demand. Businesses aim to develop adaptable workforces for sustainable growth and competitiveness in a rapidly transforming business landscape. Training methods include virtual training and continuous learning, with a focus on personalization through chatbots and virtual assistants. Budget and time constraints, economic uncertainty, and organizational requirements call for efficient and effective training programs. Specialized training programs in industries like FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services, Public Enterprises, and Information Technology are essential for meeting business goals. Technological adoption, including digital tools, automation, and artificial intelligence, requires ongoing learning and development. Data analytics help measure training effectiveness and provide continuous feedback for quality improvement. Employee engagement, satisfaction, productivity, and efficiency are key performance indicators. A continuous learning culture fosters employee morale, reduces turnover rates, and enhances customer experiences.

The corporate training market has witnessed significant growth in the use of Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices. These technologies have become increasingly popular due to the implementation of digital solutions for e-learning. Wearable devices, such as smart glasses like Google Glass and smartwatches like the Apple Watch, offer convenience and time savings. They are used for tracking trainee attendance and monitoring performances in Internet-enabled training rooms. In collaboration with educational technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), wearable devices can create accurate, multidimensional simulations for learning and development in modern organizations. This innovative approach enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of corporate training programs.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

In today's knowledge-based economy, corporate training market is essential for upskilling and reskilling employees to meet organizational requirements. With remote work becoming the new norm, workplace learning and virtual training methods have gained popularity. Soft skills, diversity initiatives, and continuous learning are key focus areas for talent development. Business goals such as performance, retention, and adaptability to digital transformation require employees to acquire new skills and competencies. Training methods, including virtual training, continuous measurement, and personalization, are crucial. Challenges include budget constraints, economic uncertainty, time constraints, and employee engagement. Training providers offer specialized programs to address these needs. Digital tools like chatbots and virtual assistants facilitate continuous learning. Technology implementations, such as learning management systems and mobile devices, enable e-learning. Industries like FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services, Public Enterprises, and Information Technology all require specialized training programs. Adaptability to technological adoption, digital skills, and literacy are essential for an adaptable workforce. Continuous learning culture, employee morale, and turnover rates are closely linked to the success of training initiatives. Data analytics and feedback ensure quality training and continuous improvement.

Corporate training solutions face technical constraints in the form of customization and integration in the corporate sector. Customization is essential as it caters to specific user requirements, reducing time and complexity. However, it increases operational costs, particularly for small-scale companies. Documentation facilitates easy upgrades, but customization's high cost can lead to vendor support withdrawal during cost reductions. Companies require technical assistance from vendors to enhance product functionality, making it crucial for vendors to provide ongoing support.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This corporate training market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product

1.1 Technical training

1.2 Non-technical training

Type

2.1 Blended

2.2 E-learning

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Technical training- The global corporate training market for non-technical skills is projected to experience significant growth during the forecast period. This trend is driven by the increasing importance of soft skills in enhancing employee productivity and driving business success. Non-technical training encompasses domains such as leadership development, team-building, problem-solving, and management techniques. These training programs are learner-centric and focus on measurable outcomes. Organizations are increasingly investing in non-technical skills training for employees at all levels, from entry-level to senior management, to bridge the skills gap and facilitate effective decision-making. The demand for non-technical skills is particularly high in service-based industries and client-facing roles. Training providers are responding to this trend by offering mobile and online learning programs to cater to modern learners. Collaborations between organizations and training vendors are also on the rise to enhance non-technical learning and development programs. For instance, Skillsoft offers a leadership skills development program, while Vital Smarts provides a leadership training program called Influencer Training. These initiatives are expected to fuel the growth of the global corporate training market for non-technical skills during the forecast period.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Corporate Training Market is a dynamic and evolving industry focused on upskilling and reskilling employees to meet the demands of the knowledge-based economy. With remote work becoming increasingly common, workplace learning has taken on new meaning, incorporating virtual training methods and learning management systems. Soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving, remain essential for employee performance and retention. Diversity initiatives are a critical component of talent development, ensuring a workforce that reflects the changing demographics of the business world. Learning activities encompass technical training in sectors like Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services, Public Enterprises, and Information Technology. Mobile devices and e-learning have made continuous learning more accessible than ever before. Business goals and performance are directly linked to the development of a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.

Market Research Overview

The Corporate Training Market is a dynamic and evolving landscape that focuses on upskilling and reskilling employees to meet the demands of a knowledge-based economy. With the rise of remote work and the increasing importance of soft skills, workplace learning has become a key driver for talent development. Diversity initiatives, continuous learning, and adaptability are essential for a competitive and sustainable business growth in today's rapidly transforming world. Virtual training methods, digital tools, and technological adoption are shaping the future of corporate training. Digital skills, literacy, and specialized training programs are becoming increasingly important as businesses implement technology solutions to meet organizational requirements. Training providers offer a range of solutions to help businesses overcome budget constraints, time constraints, and work schedules. Personalization, data analytics, and continuous measurement are essential for delivering quality training that meets the unique needs of employees and drives performance and retention. In industries such as FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services, Public Enterprises, and Information Technology, continuous learning is a crucial component of operational efficiency, customer experiences, and technical expertise. Learning Management Systems, mobile devices, and e-learning are just a few of the tools available to help businesses create a continuous learning culture that fosters employee engagement, satisfaction, and adaptability. Employees with the right skills and competencies are essential for driving productivity, efficiency, and innovation in a rapidly changing business environment.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Technical Training



Non-technical Training

Type

Blended



E-learning

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



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
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends - The costume jewelry market in india size is estimated to grow by USD 1.16 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period. Affordable pricing of costume jewelry is driving market growth, with a trend towards increased demand from millennials. However, low durability of costume jewelry poses a challenge. Key market players include Anuradha Art Jewellery, Drip Project, GBL Altair Pvt. Ltd., GIVA Jewellery, Indian Imitation Jewellery, Isharya, Kushals Fashion Jewellery, Manek Ratna, Mangalmani Jewellers, Natura and Co Holding SA, Nykaa Fashion Pvt. Ltd., Romoch, Rubans Accessories, Sia Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Sukkhi Online Pvt. Ltd., TBA Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Violet and Purple Designer Fashion Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., YouBella Jewellery and Lifestyle, and Zariin.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Costume Jewelry Market in India 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Costume Jewelry Market In India Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2022 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11.4% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 1155.5 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 9.9 Regional analysis India Performing market contribution APAC at 100% Key countries India and APAC Key companies profiled Anuradha Art Jewellery, Drip Project, GBL Altair Pvt. Ltd., GIVA Jewellery, Indian Imitation Jewellery, Isharya, Kushals Fashion Jewellery, Manek Ratna, Mangalmani Jewellers, Natura and Co Holding SA, Nykaa Fashion Pvt. Ltd., Romoch, Rubans Accessories, Sia Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Sukkhi Online Pvt. Ltd., TBA Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Violet and Purple Designer Fashion Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., YouBella Jewellery and Lifestyle, and Zariin

Market Driver

The Indian costume jewelry market is witnessing in demand, with trinkets, fake jewelry, and fashion jewelry gaining popularity among women. The rise in grooming standards and influence of television celebrities have fueled this trend. Despite gold prices, authentic jewelry remains a preference for special occasions. Working women and young people, including business professionals, are driving the demand for earrings, neckpieces, rings, bracelets, and chains. Men are also embracing jewelry, particularly cufflinks, studs, and necklaces. Ecommerce activities and online retailing have made jewelry accessible to all, boosting sales in the retail and online segments. The market caters to various materials like gold, silver, precious stones, diamonds, glass, plastic, beads, aluminum, brass, and semi-precious stones. Counterfeit jewelry, including imitation, trash, and phony jewelry, made of ivory, artificial stones, and metals like nickel, cadmium, and lead, also find a market. The gender segment includes males and females, with retail sales and online sales dominating the market through offline stores, concept stores, and e-commerce sites. The market is influenced by international fashion consciousness and the young age population's increasing branding awareness. Jewelry design and promotional techniques further enhance the market's growth.

The Millennial demographic, comprising individuals aged 26 to 41 years, significantly contributes to the Indian costume jewelry market. With an active social life and increasing disposable income, they frequently attend various social gatherings and require diverse jewelry pieces to complement their outfits. This consumer segment is predominantly employed and spends time in cafes, bars, and restaurants. Consequently, the online sale of custom costume jewelry has experienced substantial growth in India.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Indian costume jewelry market encompasses trinkets, fake jewelry, fashion jewelry, and fallalery, primarily catering to women's grooming standards. Television celebrities and working women are key consumers, driven by personal appearance needs in the corporate world. Gold and silver prices influence the demand for authentic jewelry, but young people and business professionals prefer semi-precious stones, beads, and other materials like glass, plastic, aluminum, brass, and ivory in false, imitation, or trash jewelry. Ecommerce activities and online retailing, with necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, chains, pendants, cufflinks, and studs available for both males and females. Retail sale and online sale segments serve the working population and young age population. Gender segment includes males and females, with jewelry design and promotional techniques attracting consumers. Metals like copper, nickel, cadmium, and lead, as well as synthetic stones, pins, backings, and aluminum, are used in jewelry production. Internationalization and fashion consciousness continue to influence the market.

Costume jewelry in India , while affordable, comes with unique challenges. These pieces, often made from plastic, glass, or other synthetic materials, are prone to breaking and losing their shine. Vendors typically do not provide warranties for costume jewelry due to its disposable nature. In contrast, fine jewelry, crafted from precious metals and gems, offers a longer lifespan and often includes a warranty. However, the unorganized sector in India may offer lower prices for costume jewelry, but quality can be compromised. Some manufacturers may use harmful chemicals, such as lead, chromium, and nickel, which can cause allergic reactions and health concerns. Proper maintenance and handling are essential for costume jewelry to ensure its longevity.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This costume jewelry market in India report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product

1.1 Necklaces and chains

1.2 Earings

1.3 Rings

1.4 Bracelets

1.5 Others

End-user

2.1 Female

2.2 Male

Distribution Channel

3.1 Offline

3.2 Online

Geography

4.1 APAC

1.1 Necklaces and chains- The necklaces and chains segment in India's global costume jewelry market is projected to experience substantial revenue growth compared to other segments such as earrings, rings, and bracelets. This growth is attributed to the increasing innovation in necklace designs, which appeals to consumers. The expanding personal grooming, fashion awareness, and rising living standards among women worldwide are driving the demand for necklaces and chains. Additionally, the male consumer base is also showing an inclination towards these accessories. Drip Project, a jewelry company based in Mumbai, offers a variety of mens chains and necklaces, catering to this trend. The general designs for men's chains, requiring minimal customization, further boosts their popularity. These factors are anticipated to fuel the growth of the necklaces and chains segment, ultimately contributing to the expansion of the overall market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The costume jewelry market in India is a vibrant and dynamic industry, catering primarily to women, young people, and the working population. This segment of the jewelry market is known for its affordability and wide variety, encompassing trinkets, fake jewelry, fashion jewelry, fallalery, and junk jewelry. These accessories are often made from materials like glass, plastic, and metal, and can be found in the form of necklaces, chains, earrings, rings, cufflinks, studs, bracelets, and more. Television celebrities and influencers have played a significant role in popularizing costume jewelry in India, making it a must-have accessory for many. While some prefer the authenticity of gold, silver, precious materials, diamonds, and jewels, others embrace the allure of imitation jewelry made from stones, pearls, and other materials. Grooming standards continue to evolve, with costume jewelry becoming an essential part of the wardrobe for working women and young people. The market is vast and diverse, with a wide range of designs, styles, and price points to cater to every taste and budget. Whether it's a statement piece or a daily accessory, costume jewelry adds a touch of glamour and elegance to any outfit.

Market Research Overview

The costume jewelry market in India is thriving, catering mainly to women and men, especially the working population and young people. This segment includes trinkets, fake jewelry, fashion jewelry, fallalery, junk jewelry, and more. The rise of television celebrities and increasing grooming standards have fueled the demand for jewelry, with gold prices often influencing the choice of materials like silver, precious materials, diamonds, jewels, glass, plastic, beads, aluminum, brass, semi-precious stones, artificial stones, and more. The market encompasses earrings, neckpieces, rings, bracelets, chains, pendants, cufflinks, studs, necklaces, bangles, and more. Ecommerce activities and online retailing have significantly impacted sales, with personal appearance and corporate world driving demand. The earrings segment and retail sale segment are particularly popular. The market caters to both genders, with business professionals, children, and office professionals among the key consumer groups. The market is increasingly internationalized, with fashion consciousness driving trends, and man-made jewelry, counterfeit jewelry, and promotional techniques gaining popularity. Copper, nickel, cadmium, lead, and skin effects are also used in jewelry production. The market is diverse, catering to various gender segments, age groups, and consumer preferences.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Necklaces And Chains



Earings



Rings



Bracelets



Others

End-user

Female



Male

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Geography

APAC

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
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dechert LLP announced today the addition of Craig Cohen as partner in its global tax group, notably enhancing the firm's tax capabilities in its structured credit and transactional practices. Mr. Cohen is based in Dechert's New York office.

Craig Cohen

"Craig's depth of expertise in CLOs, structured credit, and securitization will serve as a tremendous asset to Dechert, allowing us to further expand our capabilities and support our clients in their most complex transactions. His insights will be invaluable in driving our continued growth," said David Forti, co-chair of Dechert.

"The addition of Craig to our team significantly enhances our tax capabilities and enables us to build more robust cross-practice teams, particularly within our structured credit group. This integration is essential to delivering the exceptional service our clients expect," said Joshua Milgrim, chair of Dechert's global tax group.

Mr. Cohen joins Dechert from an international law firm, where he served as counsel in its tax group. Prior to that role, Mr. Cohen was a partner at a Chicago-based law firm in its tax group. He has broad experience advising large collateral managers in New York and London, as well as working on leveraged finance transactions. Mr. Cohen's focus spans financings, capital markets, asset-backed securities and asset-based lending.

"Joining Dechert presents an incredible opportunity to work with a distinguished team that leads the market in structured credit and innovative financings. I am eager to bring my experience to the table to further enhance our clients' success and contribute to Dechert's continued excellence in this sector," said Mr. Cohen.

Mr. Cohen received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Dechert is distinguished for having one of the top structured credit and CLO groups in the world, consistently at the forefront of the most innovative and challenging matters. The team serves a diverse global client base that includes the most prolific asset managers and investors as well as structured credit underwriters. Our work encompasses the full range of structured credit and related financing transactions, from securitizations to rated funds to ABLs to bespoke transactions of every stripe.

Dechert's global tax practice, comprising lawyers in the United States and Europe, provides inventive tax solutions that meet the challenges and objectives of clients' most sophisticated business dealings around the globe, from corporate transactions and restructurings to financial transactions and fund formation and investing.

About Dechert

Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital  from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients' rights in extreme situations. Our nearly 1,000 lawyers across 19 offices globally focus on the financial services, private equity, private credit, real estate, life sciences and technology sectors.

SOURCE Dechert LLP
SASKATOON, SK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. (DEEP) announces a strategic collaboration with global energy technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) to drive the development of Canada's first next-generation geothermal project, located in southeast Saskatchewan. With the feasibility phase now complete, the project is poised to produce up to approximately 30 MW of emissions-free, baseload power on completion of its initial two phases  marking a major milestone for geothermal energy in Canada.

Despite Canada's vast geothermal potential, the resource has remained largely untapped due to economic and technical challenges tied to conventional extraction methods. DEEP's geothermal project will leverage proven approaches from conventional field development in oil & gas, to deploy advanced horizontal drilling techniques to access some of the most productive zones in the formation, as well as production enhancement technologies to optimize output of geothermal energy generation. This cutting-edge methodology, supported by SLB's global expertise in geothermal technology, integrated well construction, and extensive regional drilling experience, represents a first-of-its-kind application for geothermal development in Canada.

"We are thrilled to welcome SLB as a key partner in this transformative project, which also includes Ormat as part of an integrated geothermal asset development model," said Kirsten Marcia, president and chief executive officer for DEEP. "By joining forces, we are developing our asset in a streamlined fashion, combining the best of subsurface and surface technologies, while maximizing efficiencies, operations, and ultimately, power output. With this approach, we hope to establish a blueprint for the development of additional commercial geothermal projects in Canada. This project is not only a major step forward for our company, but also should represent a meaningful contribution to Canada's goals to reduce emissions and secure local energy resources."

As a part of the collaboration between DEEP and SLB on this project, SLB will provide engineering design and integrated well construction services for phases one and two of the project, including the development of two production and two injection wells in phase one and up to 18 wells in phase two. The innovative approach will leverage the natural permeability of the sedimentary rock formation and enable the reliable, cost-efficient, and more sustainable production of geothermal energy.

"This collaboration with DEEP reflects our commitment to broadening the adoption of geothermal by reducing project risk and accelerating the time to first power," said Irlan Amir, vice president of Renewables and Energy Efficiency, SLB. "The project's innovative engineering design and integrated asset development model brings together developers, technology providers and infrastructure partners to open new frontiers for geothermal power generation in Canada and beyond."

By creatively addressing the perceived barriers to geothermal development in Canada, DEEP's project is set to establish a new benchmark for the renewable energy sector. The collaboration between DEEP and SLB on this project signals a shared commitment to unlocking geothermal energy's full potential, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Media kit:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/vuwrvo4omnvijomiirwdh/ABYjeUd94VqTTe6VpJYjFs8?rlkey=byzv5h3ox0v3ay8u99hmjhvr6&dl=0

About DEEP Earth Energy Production:

DEEP is developing geothermal resources to meet increasing energy needs with sustainable, clean and renewable energy. The company is advancing its first planned ~30 MW geothermal power facility in southeastern Saskatchewan that will produce emissions-free baseload power. The first 5MW phase is planned for full commissioning by 2026. A staged build aims to increase the project to produce approximately 180 MW of renewable power generation.

For more information on DEEP, please visit DEEP's website at www.deepcorp.ca or contact: President & CEO, Kirsten Marcia, [email protected]

Media, Morten Paulsen: (403) 399-3377, [email protected]

Future Oriented Financial Information Disclaimer:

Some of the statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. DEEP, including its directors or officers, do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will DEEP or its directors or officers be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this update or for any related damages. You should consult your professional advisors before deciding to make an investment decision in DEEP.

SOURCE DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp
With Growing Tourism Indicators, The Destination Prepares for Another Monumental Year with New Openings, Major Events and More

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Discover Puerto Rico, the Island's official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), announces a record-breaking year for Puerto Rico's tourism industry in 2024. Fueled by innovative collaborations and strategic efforts, Puerto Rico experienced remarkable growth in air travel, lodging, and employment within the leisure and hospitality sectors.

An Exceptional Year in Tourism Metrics

Puerto Rico reached new heights across key tourism indicators in 2024, cementing a fourth consecutive record-breaking year, underscoring the Island's appeal as a must-visit destination and highlighting the vital role of tourism in driving economic development:

Air Passenger Growth : Luis Munoz Marin International Airport experienced record growth in 2024 with over 6.6 million passenger arrivals. This is over 518,000 more passengers and an 8% increase vs. 2023.

: Luis Munoz Marin International Airport experienced record growth in 2024 with over 6.6 million passenger arrivals. This is over 518,000 more passengers and an 8% increase vs. 2023. Lodging Demand : The Island saw nearly 7.3 million room nights booked, according to STR and AirDNA data, a 7% increase compared to 2023.

: The Island saw nearly 7.3 million room nights booked, according to STR and AirDNA data, a 7% increase compared to 2023. Job Creation : Puerto Rico achieved a record 101,700 leisure and hospitality jobs by November 2024 , a 5% increase over the previous year, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

: achieved a record 101,700 leisure and hospitality jobs by , a 5% increase over the previous year, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cruise Tourism Revival: Over 1.4 million cruise passengers visited San Juan Cruise Port in 2024, marking a 10% increase from 2023.

"Puerto Rico's tourism industry has reached new heights in 2024, solidifying our position as a leading global destination," said Leah Chandler, CMO of Discover Puerto Rico. "This milestone year reflects not just the appeal of the Island's vibrant culture and natural beauty, but the tireless dedication of our team and partners who have embraced innovative strategies to elevate Puerto Rico's profile. As we set our sights on 2025, we're focused on sustaining this momentum and continuing to inspire travelers around the globe to visit our Island."

Strategic Partnerships and Expanded Presence

Discover Puerto Rico's 2024 success was elevated by strategic collaborations with leading brands and media outlets, positioning the organization as a pioneer in destination marketing:

Live Boricua Campaign Evolution: In March 2024 , Discover Puerto Rico unveiled an evolved 'Live Boricua' campaign, deepening its focus on the unique Puerto Rican way of life. Collaborating with Puerto Rican director Luis Gerard and photographer Stephanie Segarra and featuring an all-Puerto Rican cast and crew, the campaign showcases authentic local experiences. Highlighting activities such as exploring El Yunque, dining with chef Mario Pagan in Condado, enjoying Luquillo Beach, and dancing at La Factoria in Old San Juan. According to annual surveys conducted by Strategic Marketing Research & Insights, the destination achieved remarkable progress between 2018 and 2024. Positive perception of Puerto Rico increased from 38% to 48%, familiarity with the destination grew from 34% to 45%, and the likelihood of visiting soared from 15% to 25%. Such substantial growth is a rarity in the travel industry, underscoring Puerto Rico's rising appeal among travelers.

In , Discover Puerto Rico unveiled an evolved 'Live Boricua' campaign, deepening its focus on the unique Puerto Rican way of life. Collaborating with Puerto Rican director and photographer and featuring an all-Puerto Rican cast and crew, the campaign showcases authentic local experiences. Highlighting activities such as exploring El Yunque, dining with chef Mario Pagan in Condado, enjoying Luquillo Beach, and dancing at La Factoria in Old San Juan. According to annual surveys conducted by Strategic Marketing Research & Insights, the destination achieved remarkable progress between 2018 and 2024. Positive perception of increased from 38% to 48%, familiarity with the destination grew from 34% to 45%, and the likelihood of visiting soared from 15% to 25%. Such substantial growth is a rarity in the travel industry, underscoring rising appeal among travelers. Technological Advancements: Through collaborations with leading tech brands, Discover Puerto Rico launched innovative AI-driven solutions to ensure marketing materials are effectively finding relevant consumers and that their trip planning process is seamless. With Anoki, the destination connected with modern streaming audiences, using artificial intelligence to understand what content is being shown on screen and targeting ads accordingly. With Clicktripz, the DMO launched CHIME (Chat to Inspire Meaningful Engagement), allowing consumers to converse with a bot to learn about travel to the destination. Additionally, marketing took a step forward by utilizing Times Square's new 3-dimensional billboard capability, making it one of the first destinations to advertise in this way and transporting audiences to the tranquility of the Island.

Through collaborations with leading tech brands, Discover Puerto Rico launched innovative AI-driven solutions to ensure marketing materials are effectively finding relevant consumers and that their trip planning process is seamless. Impactful Media Partnerships: Discover Puerto Rico fostered meaningful collaborations with leading media outlets and platforms, amplifying the Island's vibrant culture. The DMO partnered with TIME Magazine at the prestigious TIME100 NEXT Gala, an event honoring emerging leaders shaping the future. Similarly, at Forbes ' New Icons event, the energy of Puerto Rico resonated through a surprise live performance by talented Puerto Rican musicians. In collaboration with Atlas Obscura , Discover Puerto Rico created a four-part audio series exploring the Island's cultural roots and global influence.

Discover fostered meaningful collaborations with leading media outlets and platforms, amplifying the Island's vibrant culture. Captivating Cruisers: The DMO launched its first-ever cruise-specific promotion with a data-driven strategy designed to resonate with the loyal and engaged cruising audience. The campaign effectively elevated Puerto Rico's profile as a premier cruise destination by leveraging dynamic video content and targeted site-traffic tactics, and contributed to the impressive growth in 2024.

The DMO launched its first-ever cruise-specific promotion with a data-driven strategy designed to resonate with the loyal and engaged cruising audience. The campaign effectively elevated profile as a premier cruise destination by leveraging dynamic video content and targeted site-traffic tactics, and contributed to the impressive growth in 2024. Beyond Tourism: To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic Pina Colada, Discover Puerto Rico partnered with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to create a custom ice cream flavor that brought the Island to consumers in a fun and unexpected way. Free scoops were handed out from a truck at three New York City locations on Pina Colada Day, while pints sold out in two weekssurpassing expectations. This collaboration highlighted Puerto Rico's culinary influence and kept the destination top of mind, showcasing its culture and flavors to a wider audience.

"Puerto Rico's tourism growth is a testament to the transformative power of bold marketing and strategic partnerships," Chandler added. "By authentically amplifying the Island's vibrant culture and embracing the latest technologies, we've ignited a new wave of travelers while setting a groundbreaking standard for how destinations connect with audiences on a deeper, more meaningful level."

As the DMO continues to prioritize forward-thinking strategies and conscious travel, 2025 promises to build on the remarkable achievements of 2024. This year, the destination anticipates the introduction of more direct flights from cities across the U.S., including a direct route from San Antonio starting in March 2025; a variety of new hotel openings, including those catering to the luxury market; and the inaugural Puerto Rico Wine and Food Festival, which will showcase the Island's world-class culinary talent.

With no passport, currency exchange, or international phone plan required for U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is the perfect destination for those seeking a seamless blend of vibrant culture, stunning beaches, world-class cuisine, and thrilling adventuresall infused with the Island's 'Live Boricua' spirit.

For more details on the performance of Puerto Rico's travel and tourism industry, visit www.discoverpuertorico.com/industry .

About Discover Puerto Rico

Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not-for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively promoting the Island's diversity and uniqueness for leisure and business travel, and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales, and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and nongovernmental players throughout Puerto Rico's visitor economy and the community at large, to empower economic growth. To discover all the beauty the Island has to offer, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com .

SOURCE Discover Puerto Rico
All 10 of the company's Clean Energy Connection solar energy sites are now fully operational

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With all 10 of Duke Energy Florida's Clean Energy Connection solar energy sites now fully operational, the company is celebrating delivering on its commitment  part of a 2020 filing with the Florida Public Service Commission  to provide nearly 750 megawatts of solar generation in Florida from 2022 to 2024.

"Solar development is critical to maintaining a modern, diverse and resilient electric grid," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "I look forward to building on the important work we've done in recent years as we continue to upgrade our generation fleet, ensuring we are providing reliable, affordable energy for our customers and the communities we serve  now and in the future."

At peak output, each 74.9-megawatt Clean Energy Connection solar site will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 23,000 homes, while displacing 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal annually.

The 10 Clean Energy Connection solar sites also fostered  and continue to promote  economic development across the state, creating more than 1,500 temporary jobs during construction and contributing significant tax revenue to their respective counties.

The Clean Energy Connection solar sites are located throughout Florida, from Bay County down to Hardee County:

Bay Ranch Renewable Energy Center in Bay County (completed in April 2023 )

(completed in ) Bay Trail Renewable Energy Center in Citrus County (completed in September 2022 )

(completed in ) County Line Renewable Energy Center in Gilchrist County (completed in August 2024 )

) Falmouth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County (completed in June 2024 )

(completed in ) Fort Green Renewable Energy Center in Hardee County (completed in June 2022 )

(completed in ) Hardeetown Renewable Energy Center in Levy County (completed in April 2023 )

(completed in ) High Springs Renewable Energy Center in Alachua County (completed in April 2023 )

(completed in ) Hildreth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County (completed in April 2023 )

(completed in ) Mule Creek Renewable Energy Center in Bay County (completed in March 2024 )

(completed in ) Winquepin Renewable Energy Center in Madison County (completed in December 2024 )

Additionally, customers can subscribe to support a portion of the solar energy produced by the Clean Energy Connection sites, earning credits toward their electricity bills without having to install or maintain their own equipment. The monthly subscription fee helps cover the capital and operating costs of the sites and is conveniently added to a customer's regular bill. For more information, please visit Duke Energy's Clean Energy Connection website.

The Clean Energy Connection sites are now a part of Duke Energy Florida's portfolio of more than 25 solar sites, which produce almost 1,500 megawatts of emission-free generation. An additional 12 new solar sites are planned between 2025 and 2027, adding another 900 megawatts of generation, and for the next 10 years, the company projects adding at least 450 megawatts of utility scale-solar energy per year.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Aly Raschid

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
BRONX, N.Y., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eden General Construction Inc. ( www.contractorinny.com ), a trusted name in the construction industry, proudly marks 25 years of delivering excellent construction solutions all over NYC and its boroughs, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

Since its establishment in 2000, Eden has built a reputation for excellence in concrete, roofing, and masonry services, becoming the go-to partner for both residential and commercial clients. The company now also specializes in sidewalk repair and replacement, fixing DOT violations, building ADA-compliant sidewalks, as well as creating concrete driveways, patios, roofing, brick repairs, and other masonry work.

The Path to a Quarter-Century of Construction Excellence

Eden General Construction's journey has been defined by resilience, dedication, and a determination for continuous improvement. Throughout the years, the company has faced a lot of challenges. Dealing with things like changing city regulations, economic ups and downs, tough competition, and even labor shortages and supply chain issues are a few of the many obstacles faced by Eden.

Overcoming these obstacles required constant innovation and adaptability, especially as city regulations changed to prioritize safety of residents and accessibility for everyone. The company placed significant focus on training its workforce, ensuring that every team member was equipped with the latest knowledge to meet and exceed these regulations.

Despite these hurdles, Eden continued to grow by establishing four prime locations across the city known as:

3469 Steenwick Ave., Bronx , NY 10475

, NY 10475 2569 Lurting Ave., Bronx , NY 10469 | Phone: 718-673-5555

, NY 10469 | Phone: 718-673-5555 2423 Esplanade Ave., Bronx , NY 10469 | Phone: 718-577-5999

, NY 10469 | Phone: 718-577-5999 Located at 3121 Mickle Ave., 1st Fl., Bronx , NY 10469 | Phone: 718-819-7770

These locations have served as hubs for the company's operations, allowing Eden General Construction to deliver reliable and high-quality service to clients throughout the four boroughs of New York City.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Eden General Construction

As Eden General Construction celebrates its 25th anniversary, the company is more focused than ever on the future. CEO of the Company highlights that "While the company has achieved significant milestones, we remain committed to delivering the highest level of service and adopting modern, sustainable practices in all our projects."

He also emphasized that "we are committed to working alongside New York City government officials to stay ahead of evolving city regulations and contribute to the improvement of infrastructure across all boroughs."

Reaching Out to Eden General Construction Inc.

Eden General Construction invites homeowners, businesses, and property managers across NYC to experience their industry-leading services. Whether you are looking to repair sidewalks, install ADA-compliant pathways, or need high-quality roofing solutions, Eden is ready to bring their expertise to your project.

Primary Location:

Eden General Construction Inc.,

3469 Steenwick Ave., Bronx, NY 10475

Phone: 212-369-6666

Website: www.contractorinny.com

Google Map Direction Link: https://g.page/r/CRKfsMW5_uu2EAE

Additional Locations

Eden Construction NY

2569 Lurting Ave., Bronx , NY 10469

Phone: 718-673-5555

Website: www.edenconstructionny.com

Google Map Direction Link: https://g.page/r/CRArtAjMYEb5EAE Eden Sidewalk Repair NYC

Business Address: 2423 Esplanade Ave., Bronx , NY 10469

Phone Number: 718-577-5999

Website: www.edensidewalkrepair.com

Google Map Direction Link: https://g.page/r/CTtZaDpVQUP1EAE Eden Concrete Contractors NY

Business Address: 3121 Mickle Ave., 1st Fl., Bronx , NY 10469

Phone Number: 718-819-7770

Website: www.edenconcretecontractorsny.com

Google Map Direction Link: https://g.page/r/CSAtSDwSQDctEAE

SOURCE Eden General Construction Inc
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellie Mental Health, a leading mental health company with 260 clinics across the United States dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and providing innovative, compassionate, and accessible care, today announced that Michael DiMarco will succeed founder Erin Pash as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") as part of the company's succession plan. Ms. Pash will become chairwoman of Ellie's board and be available to serve as an executive consultant.

"Ellie Mental Health is an extension of meI care so deeply about the clinicians, clinician leaders, franchisees, and the entire Ellie ecosystem," Pash said. "I founded Ellie with a mission, and I am so proud that the 'EllieFam' has worked tirelessly to deliver needed mental health care to tens of thousands of clients over the years. We still have more work to do to fulfill this mission and deliver the full impact Ellie can have. The management team and I have worked closely with Michael on a variety of strategic and operational initiatives over the past year, and I wish him well in his new role leading Ellie at this stage of our growth. I will continue to be a steadfast clinical advocate and will remain deeply invested in the continued success of the company, as Chairwoman of Ellie's board."

Since founding Ellie Mental Health in 2015, Ms. Pash has led Ellie's expansion from one corporate-owned clinic in Minnesota to 260 franchised and corporate-owned clinics across 40 states, holding 1.5 million client sessions annually with more than 2,000 clinicians.

DiMarco has been a senior executive in the healthcare services industry since 1998 and has been working with Ellie in various consultant, advisory and operational roles since January 2024. He served as CEO of himagine solutions for seven years before its 2021 sale to Omega Healthcare, a leading provider of outsourced revenue cycle management and other healthcare support services with more than 35,000 employees across the globe. After the sale, he became Omega President and Chief Revenue Officer overseeing record revenue growth and the integration of new acquisitions into the organization's workflow. Prior to his position as CEO at himagine solutions, he was CEO of The Outsource Group, a leading healthcare revenue-cycle-management firm.

"Erin is a true visionary and pioneer in the mental health space, and her thought leadership is unmatched," DiMarco said. "It has been an honor and pleasure working with Erin and the rest of the management team over the past year, and I look forward to working with Ellie's amazing franchisees and clinician leaders to help take Ellie to the next level, continuing its critical mission of compassionately transforming the culture of mental healthcare by providing creative solutions that make wellness accessible in every community."

The company also has promoted Emily Undajon from Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations to the post of Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Undajon joined Ellie in April 2024 with over a decade of experience in helping franchisees in other companies build and sustain profitable businesses. Her expertise in franchise support and operational efficiency will continue to be instrumental in fostering strong relationships across all Ellie clinics and providing strategic guidance that drives long-term growth.

SOURCE Ellie Mental Health
The MaltyVerse combines rare, premium whiskies with immersive storytelling, inviting collectors to enjoy exclusive spirits and get lost in a thrilling comic universe

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The MaltyVerse , from the team behind Barrel Global , invites whisky connoisseurs and storytelling enthusiasts to embark on an unparalleled journey where the worlds of premium spirits and immersive storytelling collide. At the heart of the MaltyVerse is a collection of limited-edition whiskies, each paired with a unique story and comic artwork from illustrator Carl Harrison that elevates the experience of every pour. From Scotland's storied distilleries to the heart of Kentucky's bourbon trail, these spirits are handpicked for their rarity, craftsmanship, and ability to transport the drinker into another world.

MaltyVerse Scenes, A Wreck in Kentucky MaltyVerse Scenes, No Pressure Whiskey

The story of the MaltyVerse is based 100 years in the future where whisky has become a commodity as rare as diamonds and gold. The villains in the MaltyVerse called Droom's are headed by Mr. Neat who are constantly scheming to steal the rare bottles of whisky while the ABV (Agency of Barrel Vigilance) led by Agent W work tirelessly to protect the universe's most rare liquid. As time goes on, the universe will expand with more characters inspired by other spirits including tequila, mezcal, and rum.

"I've always loved creating stories and I'm incredibly proud to share the MaltyVerse with the world, the first original comic universe tied to whiskey," says founder George Koutsakis. "There are a lot of great great whiskeys out there, and many great independent bottlers. I wanted to bring a new layer of enjoyment to the whole experience."

With intricate designs and limited production runs of only a few hundred bottles, the MaltyVerse each release integrates flavor with fiction, offering a unique take on whisky collecting. The newest MaltyVerse releases called "MaltyVerse Scenes" features one comic scene per bottle and include:

MaltyVerse x Green River Distillery (6-year-old) - The MaltyVerse brings Green River Distillery's "A Wreck in Kentucky ," which offers a bold 6-Year-Old Bourbon that embodies the resilience of this historic distillery which was founded in 1885 and restored recently restored to its former glory. This release showcases a masterful balance of flavors, making it a standout among collectors. Scenes are available via QR code.





- The MaltyVerse brings Green River Distillery's "A Wreck in ," which offers a bold 6-Year-Old Bourbon that embodies the resilience of this historic distillery which was founded in 1885 and restored recently restored to its former glory. This release showcases a masterful balance of flavors, making it a standout among collectors. Scenes are available via QR code. MaltyVerse x MB Roland Distillery (5-year-old) - The MaltyVerse brings MB Roland Distillery's "No Pressure Whiskey," a 5-Year-Old Bourbon with a robust, locally inspired profile. Nestled in Pembroke, Kentucky , MB Roland is celebrated for its artisanal approach, using food-grade white corn and local ingredients to craft spirits with undeniable character. With this release, The MaltyVerse highlights the innovation and tradition that define Kentucky's craft distilling community. Scenes are available via QR code.

Additional offerings and accompanying stories from The MaltyVerse Agent W Series include:

Cambus Distillery (30-year-old) - The coveted Cambus 30-Year-Old Single Cask Whisky takes center stage in a thrilling tale, Agent W and the Secret Auction, where a rare bottle is stolen during an elite event, setting off a high-stakes chase. This Scotch whisky, aged to perfection, boasts unparalleled depth and complexity, with notes that speak to its remarkable craftsmanship. This release comes with a printed comic book for collectors to enjoy and save.

As the universe expands, collectors gain opportunities to share stories and experiences while engaging with others who appreciate rare whiskies and creative storytelling.

Bottles can be purchased directly on the MaltyVerse E-Commerce website here: https://www.maltyverse.com/ & can be shipped to 42 states.

Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/x50nmznxbwxt9pjfcur5y/AP5Z2ziFIHhepnq4O2JIa2o?rlkey=r70gi7rw421rukmz37s88eo9j&st=ehvqsnfx&dl=0

Media Contact:

Lia B

9498706667

[email protected]

SOURCE MaltyVerse
PHOENIX, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equality Health, a trailblazing value-based care (VBC) enabler with a Medicaid-first care model, continues to lead the charge in advancing health equity and improving outcomes for underserved communities. Today, the company shared its 2024 year-in-review, highlighting key milestones such as enabling more than 4,100 primary care providers (PCPs) and covering 735,000 lives across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Virginiaa 28% expansion of its provider network over 2023.

Equality Health, a value-based care (VBC) enabler with a Medicaid-first care model, shares 2024 milestones such as enabling 4,100+ primary care providers (PCPs) and covering 735,000 lives across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Virginia -- a 28% expansion of its provider network over 2023. Also reported: 11% reduction in emergency department use, five-star outcomes for patients navigating chronic diseases, and network providers administering nearly 500,000 wellness visits for members.

"Over the past decade, we've worked tirelessly to refine and elevate our distinct care model," said Michael Poku, M.D., Chief Clinical Officer at Equality Health. "By integrating biopsychosocial frameworks, leading technology, data science, community health teams, and targeted support for social determinants of health (SDoH), we've set a strong foundation for scalable, outcomes-focused care. As we move into 2025, with the challenges of the pandemic and Medicaid redetermination behind us, value-based care is primed for its breakthrough moment."

Dr. Poku predicts that 2025 will be a watershed year for VBC, driven by a growing shift among providers of all sizes toward outcomes-based payment models. "The adoption of a range of innovative care models will accelerate the transition from fee-for-service to patient-centered, outcomes-driven care -- marking significant progress and propelling the value-based care movement forward," he added.

Enabling Independent PCPs in Underserved Communities

Equality Health's innovative approach focuses on enabling independent PCPs in underserved communities with the resources, training, and financial support needed to succeed in VBC. The organization's integrated services include:

Practice Performance Managers: Dedicated experts who train staff in cultural competence and VBC technology, while consulting on ways to streamline clinical operations and create new proactive workflows.

Dedicated experts who train staff in cultural competence and VBC technology, while consulting on ways to streamline clinical operations and create new proactive workflows. CareEmpower: A proprietary VBC technology platform offered at no cost to in-network providers, enabling data-driven, proactive clinical workflows.

A proprietary VBC technology platform offered at no cost to in-network providers, enabling data-driven, proactive clinical workflows. Community Health Workers: On-the-ground field teams who serve as practice extensions, addressing complex patient needs, administering at-home care, providing spiritual guidance and health education, and ultimately helping patients re-engage with their PCPs.

On-the-ground field teams who serve as practice extensions, addressing complex patient needs, administering at-home care, providing spiritual guidance and health education, and ultimately helping patients re-engage with their PCPs. Risk-Bearing Financial Support: Accelerated reimbursement for PCPs, alongside streamlined aggregation of health plan contracts and quality metrics reporting.

Tackling Barriers to VBC Adoption

The Commonwealth Fund, a private U.S. foundation dedicated to improving healthcare, issued a 2024 report exploring why primary care has been sluggish in adopting VBC. Just 46% of PCPs reported receiving value-based payments with main reasons including financial and heavy administrative burden. According to the report, PCPs criticize the model for looking good on paper but lacking in practice.

Equality Health as an enablement partner addresses these barriers by reducing complexity and administrative overhead, allowing PCPs to focus on what matters most: patient care.

Key Milestones in 2024:

Patient Engagement : Equality Health supported over 4,100 Primary Care Providers in 2024, spanning more than 735,000 patients in five states, enhancing patient experiences through personalized care plans and community health outreach programs.

: Equality Health supported over 4,100 Primary Care Providers in 2024, spanning more than 735,000 patients in five states, enhancing patient experiences through personalized care plans and community health outreach programs. Reducing Costs : Providers in the network registered an 11% reduction in emergency department use and five-star outcomes for patients navigating chronic diseases.

: Providers in the network registered an 11% reduction in emergency department use and five-star outcomes for patients navigating chronic diseases. Closing Care Gaps & Supporting Wellness Visits : Equality Health's proprietary practice platform, CareEmpower, helped prioritize hundreds of thousands of opportunities to close care gaps and optimize a practice's patient outreach. In 2024, Equality Health Network providers administered just shy of 500,000 wellness visits to members across the country.

: Equality Health's proprietary practice platform, CareEmpower, helped prioritize hundreds of thousands of opportunities to close care gaps and optimize a practice's patient outreach. In 2024, Equality Health Network providers administered just shy of 500,000 wellness visits to members across the country. Innovative Technology: CareEmpower is at the core of the Equality Health model. The leading technology ingests data from Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and Healthcare Information Exchanges (HEIs) to create actionable steps to drive proactive clinical workflows and enhanced care, especially for high-risk patients.

CareEmpower is at the core of the Equality Health model. The leading technology ingests data from Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and Healthcare Information Exchanges (HEIs) to create actionable steps to drive proactive clinical workflows and enhanced care, especially for high-risk patients. Foundation Support: Working together with the Equality Health Foundation, Equality Health distributed more than 15,000 pounds of food to families through its Healthy Fall Festivals held in Arizona , Texas and Tennessee ; assisted in the stuffing of over 2,000 children's backpacks to prepare for the 2024 back-to-school season; and supported the distribution of over 10,000 diapers and children's health supplies at the 2024 Healthy Mama Festival in Phoenix last March.

Working together with the Equality Health Foundation, Equality Health distributed more than 15,000 pounds of food to families through its Healthy Fall Festivals held in , and ; assisted in the stuffing of over 2,000 children's backpacks to prepare for the 2024 back-to-school season; and supported the distribution of over 10,000 diapers and children's health supplies at the 2024 Healthy Mama Festival in last March. Recognition: Highlighted by Pitchbook in its 2024 Value-Based Care Enabler Landscape Report for its Medicaid-first approach, which distinguishes Equality Health from peers in the VBC space. Equality Health founder Hugh Lytle was a Southwest Region Winner of EY's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognized as a "healthcare rebel" for his visionary leadership in founding Equality Health.

About Equality Health

Equality Health is a technology-enabled primary care platform that leverages the proven capabilities of value-based payment models to transform healthcare for diverse and often marginalized populations. From predictive modeling to advanced care-tracking tools, utilizing Equality Health's proprietary software, participating PCPs can streamline value-based administration and stay one step ahead of a patient's journey. Equality Health's care model is Medicaid-first in design and includes more than 25 health plans, over 4,100 PCPs and 735,000 lives across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana and Virginia. Equality Health partners with practices to close care gaps, optimize performance, increase compliance, and improve profitability. Members engage with holistic and personalized programs delivered through the lens of social and cultural needs. Equality Health is revolutionizing how care is delivered through hyper-local resources at scale and establishing critical linkages with payers, providers, members, and community resources.

For more information about Equality Health, visit equalityhealth.com or follow EqualityHealth on Facebook, @EqualityHealth on Twitter, and EqualityHealth on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Mardi Larson, Amendola for Equality Health, [email protected]

SOURCE Equality Health
Toyota's new budget SUV will join the Land Cruiser lineup and will be much cheaper than the Toyota Prado. The car is being prepared for the premiere, but is being kept secret. Luckily, a possible concept design was shown online.

ADVERTISIMENT

The low-cost Toyota Land Cruiser FJ for the 2026 model year will be similar in size to the Toyota RAV4 crossover. However, the design will be completely different - it will feature a brutal style and with references to retro elements. The TALK WHEELS channel showed what the model might look like.

The car will be the successor to the Toyota FJ Cruiser, which was discontinued about 10 years ago. Earlier, it was assumed that the inexpensive SUV would be called Land Hopper (this name was recently patented). But in the end, an electric scooter received it.

Insiders reported that the new car will have a 163 hp gasoline engine. The estimated price of the 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 in the line.
BERNALILLO, N.M., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ESTEAM Health is proud to announce that Retreat Healthcare has been awarded the inaugural Leader in Wellness Award. This award was given in recognition of Retreat's commitment to elevating caregiving standards and improving the quality of aging care through innovation.

ESTEAM Health was founded to help with four critical challenges facing aging care: rising operating costs, the growing physician and caregiver shortages, caregiving quality, and declining intrinsic capacity rates in older adults. Collectively, these create tremendous pressure on the cost of care. Through evidence-based strategies rooted in Exercise, Science, Technology, Engagement, Arts, and Medicine, ESTEAM Health is transforming wellness programs and training high-performance caregivers to meet these challenges head-on. For caregivers, this resulted in the launch of a new program tailored to elevate the performance and resilience of those on the front lines.

This focus on caregivers is crucial because they face emotionally, physically, and mentally demanding situations daily, often involving critical, life-and-death decisions. Given the complexity and responsibility of their roles, ESTEAM Health champions the development of high-performance skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, behavioral empathy, team collaboration, and moreall essential for quality caregiving.

Retreat Healthcare exemplified ESTEAM's vision through its participation in two pilot studies of The ART of High-Performance Caregiving. This groundbreaking new program incorporates an arts-based experiential learning model developed through 10 years of National Science Foundation-funded research. Fifty employees from Retreat Healthcare took part in this fun and challenging training which is designed to enhance key skills that impact caregiver health, safety and performance. Retreat Healthcare, located in Rio Rancho, NM, has demonstrated leadership and dedication that has positively impacted countless lives, including that of ESTEAM Health Founder's own family during her father's journey with Alzheimer's disease.

"Retreat Healthcare has set a new standard in quality caregiving through their commitment to innovation, collaboration, and caregiver excellence," said Alyssa Janney, Founder and CEO of ESTEAM Health. "It is an honor to present them with the inaugural ESTEAM Health Leader in Wellness Award, recognizing their leadership in advancing caregiving through the cultivation of essential competencies that drive excellence in aging care."

The award was presented at the New Mexico State Legislature in the Capitol yesterday, where Retreat Healthcare also received recognition from the legislature through the efforts of Representative Alan T. Martinez, Minority Whip.

This award underscores the critical new role of arts-based experiential learning in enhancing caregiver performance and improving patient outcomes. ESTEAM Health remains committed to pioneering solutions that empower caregivers, produce improvements in intrinsic capacity through evidence-based wellness programs, quality assurance and control measures, and create a sustainable future for aging care.

For more information about ESTEAM Health, The ART of High-Performance Caregiving, or the Leader in Wellness Award, please visit our website at esteamhealth.com.

About ESTEAM Health

ESTEAM Health develops innovative, evidence-based programs for caregivers and senior care residents that integrate exercise, science, technology, engagement, arts, and medicinebacked by rigorous quality assurance. We're creating systems that improve lives and set new standards for wellness program outcomes.

ESTEAM Health, is redefining caregiving by transforming how it's perceived and valued. By blending research, compassion, and creativity, we empower caregivers and enrich the lives of seniors. This vision also inspires initiatives like our children's book, which bridges the generations and explores the emotional challenges of dementia and the healing power of the arts. We're building a future where caregiving is both a science and an art, and where human connection takes center stage.

Contact:

Lane Davy, MBA

President

ESTEAM Health

[email protected]

505-433-4054

SOURCE Esteam Health LLC
BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Finvi, (formerly Ontario Systems), a leading provider of compliance-driven financial technology solutions, today announced the retirement of Rozanne M. Andersen, Esq., a distinguished attorney who has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's history, particularly from the legal and compliance strategy perspective. Andersen is set to retire on January 31, 2025, after 14 years with Finvi.

Rozanne Andersen, Esq.

Andersen's illustrious career spans over three decades, during which she established herself as a leading authority on compliance within the collections, debt purchasing, and financial services industries. Recognized for her deep legal expertise and unwavering commitment to ethical practices, Andersen has been instrumental in guiding Finvi's navigation of the complex legal and regulatory landscape.

"Rozanne's contributions to Finvi have been nothing short of extraordinary," said Tim O'Brien, CEO of Finvi. "Her unparalleled knowledge and insightful guidance have been essential in ensuring our continued focus on compliance and helping to position Finvi as a trusted partner for our clients. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and leadership throughout her tenure, and we are delighted that she will continue to serve as a valuable advisor to Finvi, ensuring a seamless transition and continued access to her expertise."

Prior to joining Finvi, Andersen's legal career encompassed various facets of law, including association law, corporate governance, and general counsel services. Her proven track record of leadership and advocacy is further evidenced by her numerous professional accolades and recognition as a champion within the industry.

"Rozanne built her career on advancing the interests of the debt collection industry like no other," said John H. Bedard, Jr., owner, founder, industry leader and leading defense and compliance counsel, Bedard Law Group who has worked closely with Andersen on numerous projects over the years. "The 'tide' of Rozanne's vigorous advocacy raised all 'boats' in the collection industry for more than two decades. She is the consummate expert, generous mentor, selfless advocate, and a dear friend  and I congratulate her on her retirement."

A renowned national speaker, Andersen has consistently shared her thought leadership on critical legislation impacting the financial services sector, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and numerous state laws. She remains a source of industry and compliance information for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Her ability to translate complex legal and regulatory matters into actionable insights has been invaluable to Finvi, its clients, and the industry at large.

"Rozanne's leadership at ACA International and Finvi has been a driving force for the entire ARM industry for nearly 30 years," said Tim Haag, President & CEO at State Collection Service. "In addition to my appreciation for her professionalism and kindness, my father, Tom Haag, always spoke highly of Rozanne and held a deep respect for her. On behalf of the entire industry and the State team, I want to thank Rozanne for her significant efforts and wish her a meaningful retirement filled with peace and happiness."

Andersen's dedication to excellence and her commitment to advancing industry standards have cemented her reputation as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the legal and compliance arenas. Her insights and guidance have been a cornerstone of Finvi's success, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of compliance and empowers clients to navigate the ever-evolving regulatory environment.

"I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished at Finvi," said Andersen. "It has been a privilege to collaborate with such a talented team and contribute to the company's steadfast commitment to compliance and ethical business practices. Truth be told, I owe all my success, accomplishments, and deep professional and personal relationships to the wonderful people in our industry. Thank you for giving me a fulfilling career and meaning to my work.

While I am excited to embrace this new chapter, I am delighted to continue my association with Finvi as a consultant and advisor. I am confident that the company will continue to thrive and innovate in the years to come."

About Finvi

For 45 years, Finvi has been the premier provider of enterprise technologies that streamline and accelerate revenue recovery for clients across healthcare, accounts receivable management, and financial institutions. Our innovative solutions are built on a dedicated approach to innovation and service. Through process automation and modern, compliance-minded communication and payment tools, Finvi enables thousands of clients to generate more revenue at reduced costs and fulfill their business goals by effectively engaging those who pay. Visit finvi.com to learn more.

PRESS CONTACT

Finvi

Dan Ward

Senior Vice President, Marketing

603.244.0804

[email protected]

SOURCE Finvi
New creative leader brings close to three decades of culture-defining experience to role

LONDON, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the industry's most lauded female creative leaders, Justine Armour is to join Forsman & Bodenfors, a part of the Stagwell (STGW) network, as the Swedish-founded creative collective's newly appointed Global CCO.

Forsman & Bodenfors is one of the most influential creative agencies in the world. With a reputation for bold, transformative work that impacts culture, leading to iconic campaigns like 'Epic Split' for Volvo Trucks, 'Wow No Cow' for Oatly, 'Marriage Market Takeover' for SK-II and 'Visit Sweden (not Switzerland)' for Visit Sweden.

One of the industrys most lauded female creative leaders, Justine Armour is to join Forsman & Bodenfors as the Swedish-founded creative collectives newly appointed Global CCO.

As Global CCO, Justine will play an invaluable role in expanding and strengthening the collective's global creative offering across its nine offices. Justine will initially be based in New York, relocating to London later in the year.

Said Armour: "The global creative industry is crying out for a truly distinctive, unique offering like the collective at Forsman & Bodenfors. The Swedes are genuinely creative in their very DNA; from the process to the org structure, F&B approaches things in a completely counter-cultural way compared to a traditional agency. I find this invigorating, and it's no surprise that the collective has made some of my most favourite work in the world over the years. The F&B culture is designed to support and produce creativity that stands apart and transforms thoroughly, and I'm looking forward to helping bring that magic to a wider array of creative talent and clients around the world."

Most recently, Justine was a Partner and CCO at independent New York agency, FIG. Justine joined FIG from Grey New York where she was chief creative officer, the only woman to hold the position in over 105 years. Prior to Grey she built a diverse portfolio across agencies including 72andSunny, Wieden+Kennedy, Publicis Mojo and Saatchi & Saatchi. She began her career in her native Australia, at McCann Erickson Brisbane.

"Justine's outstanding creativity and track record of producing work that helps brands grow makes her the perfect partner for us - curating Forsman & Bodenfors' direction as we move into a new era" commented James Denton-Clark, the agency's recently appointed Global CEO.



"Creativity at Forsman & Bodenfors has always been about how we approach the task and the outcomes rather than outputs. Justine really gets that creativity is the process through which we can achieve these outstanding results," Denton-Clark added.

Recognised across every major global award show including Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, LIA's and more, Justine has previously been named to Adweek's Creative 100 list; listed by Campaign magazine as a US Female Frontier honouree and recognised as one of AdAge's Leading Women. A champion of diversity, equity and purpose, Justine has spoken at numerous events including One Club Creative Summit, SXSW and TribecaX.

About Forsman & Bodenfors Founded in 1986, Forsman & Bodenfors has achieved global fame as a creative collective that transforms businesses and shifts culture. One of the most awarded agencies in the world, F&B is renowned for its uniquely flat structure, radically collaborative ways and highly creative ideas that transcend media and earn their way into culture for clients including Volvo, Oatly, H&M, LG, P&G and Therabody. The collective has grown from Swedish roots to offices around the world, including Gothenburg, Stockholm, London, Dublin, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Toronto and New York. The first creative agency to be certified by the Fair Pay Workplace for gender pay equity, Forsman & Bodenfors is part of the challenger network Stagwell.

Contacts

[email protected] +65 9114 9063

[email protected] +44 7520 665371

SOURCE Stagwell Inc.
Leading the Way in Franchise and Multi-Location Solutions with Exceptional Achievements and Strategic Advancements

HERNDON, Va., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FranConnect, a market-leading provider of sales, operations, and marketing solutions to franchise and multi-location businesses, proudly announces key milestone achievements in 2024, including record-breaking bookings, innovative product launches, and key leadership advancements. FranConnect attributes its continued success to being closely attuned to its customers' critical business needs, resulting in solutions that enhance performance, profitability, and operational excellence.

FranConnect announces record-breaking bookings, innovative product launches, and key leadership advancements. Post this FranConnect closed the year with the largest sales booking achievement in the companys history, forming expanded partnerships with over 150 brands and welcoming 105 new customers.

FranConnect closed the year with the largest sales booking achievement in the company's history, forming expanded partnerships with over 150 brands and welcoming 105 new customers. Last year, in particular, FranConnect welcomed three of the largest global franchise concepts, including Subway, one of the world's largest quick service restaurant brands, Sonesta International Hotels, the 8th largest hotel brand in the U.S. and Fantastic Sams, one of the world's largest full-service hair care brands. Trusted by nearly 1,500 brands and over 1.3 million locations worldwide, FranConnect continues to be the industry's "gold standard" and only platform for driving success across franchises and multi-location businesses, from managing suppliers to supporting brand owners and frontline employees.

"Partnering with brands like Sonesta, Subway, Fantastic Sams, and many others demonstrates the breadth and depth of our capabilities in franchising. Over the past year, we made a concerted effort to advance our products in the areas of operations, analytics, and AI to solve the hardest problems faced by franchise and multi-location businesses," said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. "As the leading and pioneering technology provider supporting franchise and multi-location businesses, we are doubling down on innovation to cement our market leadership position further. Our multi-year product roadmap and M&A activities over this past year demonstrate our dedication to serving this market now and for many years to come."

This announcement follows FranConnect's strategic acquisition of RizePoint, a leading provider of Quality Management Systems (QMS). This is FranConnect's third acquisition over a four-year period, and it extended FranConnect's impact beyond franchise brands to serve the broader ecosystem of multi-unit owners and suppliers.

Over the past year, FranConnect has significantly invested in its products and solutions to help franchise and multi-location businesses tackle their biggest challengesnavigating ever-changing markets and competing constraints while delivering growth to shareholders and exceptional products to consumers. These product investments include:

Launched FranConnect Analytics, empowering brands with real-time, actionable insights derived directly from their data within the FranConnect platform so they can determine where to invest resources that drive the greatest return. Analytics emerged as the company's top-selling product in 2024.

empowering brands with real-time, actionable insights derived directly from their data within the FranConnect platform so they can determine where to invest resources that drive the greatest return. Analytics emerged as the company's top-selling product in 2024. Embedded enterprise learning management and content creation capabilities to FranConnect's best-in-class operational platform, further revolutionizing how businesses drive team engagement, brand consistency, and unit performance. As a result, FranConnect achieved record-breaking bookings for its Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement solution.

capabilities to FranConnect's best-in-class operational platform, further revolutionizing how businesses drive team engagement, brand consistency, and unit performance. As a result, FranConnect achieved record-breaking bookings for its Operator and Frontline Employee Engagement solution. Unveiled Frannie AI, a suite of AI agents empowering businesses with generative AI bots that automate and simplify critical business processes within multi-location businesses. Agents include Analyzer, Builder, and Automator, with additional agents continuously in development.

a suite of AI agents empowering businesses with generative AI bots that automate and simplify critical business processes within multi-location businesses. Agents include Analyzer, Builder, and Automator, with additional agents continuously in development. Rolled out over 80 product enhancements across the FranConnect platform to ensure solutions remain aligned with customers' evolving requirements, swiftly incorporating feedback and keeping products at the forefront of innovation while delivering exceptional value.

For more information on our product roadmap, visit www.franconnect.com.

FranConnect's commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences and fostering continuous innovation led to key appointments and promotions to its leadership team. Lisa Maynard was named Chief Customer Officer (CCO) to oversee all facets of customer operations, focusing on consolidating and unifying the customer experience across all customers and markets. Vikram Raj was promoted to Senior Vice President of Products and Sales Engineering to shape FranConnect's multi-year product and technology roadmap and ensure alignment across FranConnect's solutions, customer needs, and market demands.

"We are excited about the market opportunities ahead and are dedicated to continuously investing in our market, products, and people," said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. "Our commitment to innovation will further propel growth and operational excellence for years to come."

To learn more about FranConnect, visit www.franconnect.com.

About FranConnect

FranConnect is the leading enterprise software provider for franchise and multi-location businesses. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the backbone for sales, operations, and marketing for over 1,500 brands and 1.3 million locations worldwide. Iconic brands such as SPARC/Authentic Brands (Forever 21), Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Authority Brands, and Papa John's rely on FranConnect to expand locations, streamline unit operations, enhance collaboration, and improve profitability. Backed by private equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. For more information, visit www.franconnect.com.

Media Contact:

Lorena Garcia

Senior Vice President of Marketing

FranConnect

571-659-3830

SOURCE FranConnect
ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallopade International announced the appointment of Michael Longmeyer as CEO as the company prepares for an ambitious new year. Longmeyer, who has served as President for the past decade, brings a unique perspective and proven track record of success to this new role.

Gallopade's new CEO, Michael Longmeyer, is shown filming an introductory video for the company's standards-aligned, state-specific Social Studies curriculum resources.

Longmeyer's connection to Gallopade spans four decades, beginning with his early appearance as a character in the company's popular "Real Kids! Real Places!" mystery series, authored by his mother, Carole Marsh Longmeyer, the company founder. Michael was born in Dekalb County, attended Georgia Tech, and graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in Computer Science. He grew up in the family business, honing his skills in printing and production, sales and marketing, and management. His professional journey within the organization has included roles as Vice President and Interactive Multimedia Software Developer, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and business aspects of educational publishing.

Under Longmeyer's presidential tenure, Gallopade has experienced unprecedented growth, achieving over 1000% revenue expansion and significantly increasing its market presence. His leadership has been pivotal in transforming the company's educational offerings. He led the company in creating state standards-based Social Studies curricula, successfully implementing eight state adoptions, with more on the horizon, and developing comprehensive e-learning solutions for the company's education partners.

"Michael's appointment as CEO represents a natural progression in Gallopade's evolution," said Harold Rich, Gallopade's Director of Human Resources. "His deep-rooted understanding of our mission, combined with his proven ability to drive innovation and growth, positions Gallopade for continued success in the educational publishing landscape."

Throughout his career, Longmeyer has maintained an unwavering focus on enhancing students' educational outcomes while supporting teachers with effective instructional resources. This commitment has been instrumental in establishing Gallopade as a trusted leader in social studies curriculum development and children's publishing.

As CEO, Longmeyer will continue to guide Gallopade's strategic initiatives, focusing on technological innovation, market expansion, and the development of cutting-edge educational resources that meet the evolving needs of modern classrooms.

Gallopade International is a premier educational publishing company specializing in social studies curriculum and children's literature. For over 45 years, Gallopade has been committed to creating engaging, innovative learning materials that inspire students and support teachers in achieving their educational goals.

SOURCE Gallopade International
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smile ID, Africa's leading provider of identity verification solutions, has released its 2025 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report, highlighting critical fraud trends across the continent. The report uncovers sophisticated fraud tactics exploiting vulnerabilities in fintech platforms and digital ecosystems, accelerated by emerging technologies such as Generative AI, deepfakes, and insider-assisted schemes. The report also offers clear, actionable strategies to help business leaders protect trust, revenue, and maintain operational stability in 2025.

Smile ID Identity Fraud Report 2025

Drawing on anonymised data from over 110 million identity verification checks conducted by Smile ID across Central, East, West, and Southern Africa in 2024, the report highlights ongoing challenges and opportunities. The widespread adoption of biometric verification over traditional textual methods has significantly strengthened fraud prevention, driving the overall fraud rate during KYC checks down to 25% in 2024 (a 4-percentage-point decrease). However, this year-over-year progress has prompted fraudsters to develop more sophisticated attack methods targeting biometric systems, resulting in millions of dollars in fraud losses across key African markets. Smile ID continues to tackle unique threats African businesses face when onboarding users, such as identity farming, insider-assisted account takeovers, and advanced document forgeries.

The report revealed significant regional variations in fraud methods across Africa. East Africa led in document fraud cases, reporting the highest combined rejection rate at 27% in 2024, driven by the region's reliance on documents. West Africa emerged as the epicentre of biometric fraud, showing the highest incidents of spoofing and face-match inconsistencies, with notable vulnerability to AI-powered fraud attempts. Central Africa maintained a rejection rate of 22% [up by 3%], while Southern Africa saw rates rise from 9% to 21%, primarily attributed to fraud attempts involving the retiring green book.

Speaking on the report, Mark Straub, CEO of Smile ID, said:

"The future of fraud prevention lies in adaptability. While AI provides fraudsters with powerful new tools, it also helps security practitioners harness global intelligence to counter zero-day attacks and automate processes that were once manual.

"Fintech platforms with weak KYC protocols remain the most vulnerable, as these bad actors use identity farming to create fraudulent accounts that conceal the origins of illicit funds. Tackling these vulnerabilities requires collaboration between industries, governments, and technology providers to create a safer digital ecosystem."

Founded in 2017, Smile ID has revolutionised identity verification in Africa, completing over 200 million verification checks by November 2024. As the continent's leading provider of digital identity verification, fraud detection, and KYC compliance solutions, the company delivers scalable, Africa-focused tools optimised for real-time onboarding, anti-fraud measures, and AI-driven identity verification.

The full 2025 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa report can be downloaded for free here.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2607715/SmileID_Report.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2607716/SmileID_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Smile ID
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominent NYC lobbyist and political attorney Brad Gerstman has announced the formation of a groundbreaking law firm uniquely specializing in commercial leasing and government relations. This first-of-its-kind firm brings together top-tier legal talent with deep expertise in both fields to address a critical gap in the market.

Brad Gerstman, a seasoned legal and political power player, has assembled a team of best-in-class lawyers to deliver exceptional service in two highly specialized areas: streamlined commercial leasing and strategic regulatory advocacy. By combining these complementary practices, Gerstman PLLC provides clients with unmatched legal support to navigate NYC's complex commercial real estate and regulatory landscapes.

"Our firm is built on the idea of delivering focused, expert services in two key areas that drive New York City's vibrant economy," said Brad Gerstman, Managing Partner. "We aim to simplify the leasing process while ensuring clients are well-positioned in an evolving regulatory environment."

With this innovative approach, Gerstman PLLC is poised to redefine how law firms support New York City's commercial real estate market and navigate the intricate intersection of business and government.

For more information, visit www.gerstmancre.com, email [email protected], or call (646)-293-4600.

Media Contact:

Nicole Schwartz, Esq.

[email protected] / 718-309-7763

Address:

110 East 59th Street

22nd Floor

New York, NY 10022

SOURCE Gerstman PLLC
The Global Labor Charter outlines a vision to enhance labor market flexibility, tackle youth unemployment, and ensure sustainable, inclusive growth.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The second edition of the Global Labor Market Conference kicked off with the highly anticipated ministerial roundtable, chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi. Bringing together over 40 labor ministers from G20 Countries, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, along with the Director General of the ILO Gilbert Houngbo. the high-level meeting hosted an impactful dialogue on pressing labor market challenges and opportunities.

GLMC Unveils Global Labor Charter to Tackle Key Workforce Challenges

In his opening speech, the Minister warmly welcomed the international labor ministers to Riyadh, highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to leading the global dialogue on the future of labor markets through this conference. He emphasized that the event serves as a strategic platform to foster international collaboration and develop innovative solutions to address labor market challenges while ensuring their sustainability amidst rapid technological advancements.

His Excellency concluded by urging Ministers from around the world to leverage the roundtable as a dynamic platform for exchanging insights and experiences, addressing the challenges facing labor markets, and showcasing notable achievements. He stressed that joint action and the exchange of ideas among nations have the potential to drive significant transformation, empowering and supporting young people while building a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

The meeting fostered an exchange of ideas and experiences, with the ministers reviewing key trends and pressing challenges in the labor market. These discussions laid a solid groundwork for crafting practical strategies to support future transformations and strengthen the sustainability of labor markets.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Global Labor Charter was unveiled, offering a comprehensive vision to enhance the flexibility, inclusiveness, and sustainability of labor markets around the world. The charter addresses pressing challenges such as youth unemployment, technological advancements, and workforce adaptability in an evolving global economy.

Key actions outlined in the charter include facilitating youth transitions from education to employment, equipping the workforce for the AI-driven era, and investing in human capital through skilling and reskilling initiatives. It also emphasizes enhancing labor market flexibility to accommodate diverse forms of work, such as remote and part-time opportunities, while supporting job creation and the growth of SMEs.

Furthermore, the charter highlights the need to promote employment for marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed. It advocates for the creation of a comprehensive labor market data system to track employment trends, skills, wages, and workforce demographics, ensuring informed and sustainable market transformations.

The Global Labor Market Conference serves as a premier global platform, uniting governments, international institutions, the private sector, and experts to shape the future of labor markets. It provides a space to anticipate upcoming transformations, propose practical solutions to current challenges, and share strategic visions that advance the sustainability and growth of labor markets on both local and international levels.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608757/GLMC.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2505946/GLMC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Global Labor Market Conference
Investment to Drive Innovation in Product Data Insights and Enhance Value for Retail and CPG Customers

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonya, the AI-powered platform for product data enrichment, insights, and attribution serving CPG brands and retailers, today announced a strategic investment from dunnhumby ventures and its existing investors, Bright Pixel Capital and Team8. This investment reflects a shared commitment to advancing AI-driven solutions and enhancing value for the retail and consumer packaged goods ecosystem. This influx of capital will accelerate Harmonya's 2025 product roadmap, enabling new use cases and faster time-to-value for both brands and retailers.

"Key retail decision makers need to view products and their attributes from the consumer's perspective." Post this Harmonya Receives Investment from dunnhumby ventures to Accelerate its AI Platform For CPGs And Retailers

The investment and broader collaboration aim to accelerate Harmonya's growth and innovation while enhancing dunnhumby's suite of advanced data and AI propositions. Harmonya and dunnhumby plan to leverage their combined expertise to address critical market challenges, deliver actionable insights, and create opportunities for their customers to drive sustainable growth.

"We are honored to partner with dunnhumby. Their strategic investment represents a powerful vote of confidence in our vision and technology," said Cem Kent, Co-Founder and CEO of Harmonya. "Together, we will help the world's largest CPG and retail companies solve their toughest data challenges and achieve new levels of success."

"To thrive in today's dynamic market, key retail decision makers need to view products and their attributes from the consumer's perspective. We are thrilled to support Harmonya's brilliant team and AI-powered approach to making product information meaningful by solving this critical product attribute inconsistency problem," said Leo Nagdas, Head of dunnhumby ventures. "We look forward to collaborating on our mission to transform often inconsistent, disparate, and complex product data sets into meaningful and actionable strategic assets that deliver rapid efficiencies and value across organizations."

About Harmonya

Harmonya is redefining how CPG brands and retailers approach product data. Our AI-powered solutions for product data enrichment, insights, and attribution transform static product information into actionable intelligence, helping businesses navigate today's data-driven economy with speed and confidence.

By combining cutting-edge AI technology with a deep understanding of CPG and retail, Harmonya enables Fortune 500 companies, including six of the top 10 global CPG brands, discover trends, improve decision-making, and achieve measurable growth.

With over 20 million products, hundreds of categories, and more than $500 billion in tracked annual sales, Harmonya offers the industry's most comprehensive enriched data coverage. Our team of experts spans offices in New York and Tel Aviv, dedicated to driving innovation for iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Unilever, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Mars Petcare. Learn more at www.harmonya.com.

About dunnhumby ventures:

dunnhumby ventures is dunnhumby's strategic venture capital and ecosystem-led innovation arm with a mandate to partner and invest in early-stage retail technology start-ups that embrace data and artificial intelligence for innovation along the customer's path to purchase. Backed by dunnhumby -the global customer data science leader- dunnhumby ventures seeks to foster industry collaboration via the Retail Innovation Network, its exclusive ecosystem of senior retail innovation leaders, and seeks to align with founders at an early stage to supercharge their ability to take innovation to market by tapping into dunnhumby's retail industry expertise, data science assets, and global retailer and supplier partner network. Its focus areas include artificial intelligence (AI), data capture and enrichment, retail media, loyalty and customer engagement, category management, supply chain, and commerce.

SOURCE Harmonya
Editors' selections highlight Hyundai's excellence across EVs, SUVs, sedans, and compact trucks

Publication's editors tested nearly 500 vehicles before determining this year's winners

Editor's Choice awards guide consumers to the market's best vehicles

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai today received nine Editors' Choice Awards from the automotive experts at Car and Driver, demonstrating excellence across its entire vehicle lineup. The legendary publication's annual awards aim to simplify the car-buying process by highlighting the top new-vehicle choices across 45 market segments. Every year, Car and Driver's editorial team tests hundreds of new models, evaluating how well each vehicle fulfills its market-segment's mission. This rigorous process includes analyzing the publication's own instrumented testing results and assessing every vehicle's overall value and driving enjoyment.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is photographed in Mojave, Calif. on Nov. 16, 2024.

Car and Driver Editors' Choice 2025 Hyundai Models

"These nine Editors' Choice awards from Car and Driver underscore Hyundai's commitment to delivering vehicles that excel in all areas," said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. "Car and Driver's rigorous evaluation process ensures only the best vehicles are recognized and we're proud that our wide range of vehicles is being recognized for its quality, performance, and customer satisfaction."

"The Editor's Choice award let consumers quickly cut through the confusion of the new-car market to help them focus on the vehicles they should seriously consider buying," said Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver editor-in-chief. "Hyundai's 9 Editors' Choice awards recognize the brand's cars, trucks, and SUVs that we recommend to readers, friends, and family."

About Car and Driver

Founded in 1955, Car and Driver is the definitive voice for car enthusiasts and the trusted guide for in-market car shoppers. With an online audience of 15 million unique visitors per month (ComScore) and an award-winning print magazine, Car and Driver is dedicated to delivering expert content and leading-edge insights on all things related to new, used, and pre-owned vehicles. With the most comprehensive vehicle testing, research, and reviews in the automotive category, Car and Driver provides the most trusted car shopping experience for consumers and deep engagement for auto manufacturers and dealers. Follow Car and Driver on X, Instagram , and Facebook.

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 recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
Fierce fighting continues in Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian troops made advances in Toretsk and in the Pokrovske direction.

ADVERTISIMENT

However, the Russian invaders also had successes in these areas, as well as in the Kurakhove area. The development of the situation on January 27 and 28, 2025, and changes in the front line are described in a new analytical material by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Kharkiv region

In the north of Kharkiv region, over the past two days, Russians have been attacking near Vovchansk and Starytsia, but have failed to advance.

According to the head of the outpost of the Forpost brigade, call sign Telik, the invaders are trying to seize the Vovchansk aggregate plant with particular zeal: every day they attack in groups of 3 to 10 assault troops, including many former prisoners, including women.

ADVERTISIMENT

Luhansk region

On January 28, Russian troops attempted to advance in the Kupiansk sector without any confirmed advances.

Although the day before the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units of the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade had allegedly captured Dvorichna, northeast of Kupyansk, analysts found no evidence of this.

Meanwhile, Russian propagandists are celebrating a "victory": they wrote that the alleged capture of Dvorichna would allow Russian troops to advance toward Kutkivka and Zapadne (west and southwest of Dvorichna) and try to either capture Kupyansk from the west or advance northwest toward Velykyi Burluk to support Russian offensive operations near Vovchansk.

However, on January 28, the head of the Kharkiv Military District, Oleh Syniehubov, stated that Russian troops had not captured Dvorichna and that fighting was continuing in the town.

ADVERTISIMENT

In total, on January 27 and 28, Ukrainian soldiers repelled Russian attacks northeast of Kupyansk near Dvorichna; north of Kupyansk near Kutkivka and Kindrashivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Pishchane; and south of Kupyansk near Hlushkivka.

According to Captain Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles battalion of unmanned aerial vehicles92 of the Ivan Sirko assault brigade, Ukrainian forces repelled four enemy mechanized attacks in the Kupyansk sector since January 22. In total, Ukrainian troops destroyed more than 15 Russian armored personnel carriers and tanks, approximately 80% of them using drones.

According to the ISW, the occupants are actively using fiber-optic FPV drones in the sector, particularly in the area of Petropavlivka.

The Russians also tried to advance in the Borova area yesterday without any progress. Their "successes" were only reported by Russian propagandists, who "captured" Novoyehorivka southeast of Borova in their Telegram channels. At the same time, they admitted that the invaders did not succeed in occupying Tverdokhlibove nearby.

ADVERTISIMENT

Over the last two days, fighting has been taking place in the area of Lozova, Bohuslavka, Zelenyi Hai, Nova Kruhlyakivka, near Kopanky, as well as near Novoyehorivka, Makiivka and Hrekivka.

The spokesman for the 3rd assault brigade, Oleksandr Borodin, said the day before that Russians are conducting assaults in groups of up to 6 people every day. They are particularly active near the Oskil river and near Borova. The assaults are carried out on foot or on motorcycles, while heavy armored vehicles are used only to fire from closed positions: unlike the personnel, the Russian command is trying to save tanks amid significant losses.

Also, on January 27-28, Russians tried to advance on the Liman direction without confirmed success. Enemy attacks the day before were recorded northeast of the Lyman near Terny, Kolodyazy, Yampolivka and in the direction of Zelena Dolyna; east of the Lyman near Zarichne; and southeast of the Lyman near Serebryansky Forest.

ADVERTISIMENT

Donetsk region

Russia's priority remains to capture the entire Donetsk region.

In an effort to achieve this, on January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued ground attacks northeast of Siversk near Bilohorivka and east of Siversk near Verkhnekamianske and Novoselivka, with no advances according to ISW.

Instead, Russian propagandists were spreading the "victory" of alleged advances in the center of Chasovyi Yar and near the town, west of Kalynivka. ISW analysts found no evidence to support these claims.

The day before, the Khortytsia unit reported a recent enemy attack supported by armored vehicles near Bila Hora, south of Chasovyi Yar. Ukrainian soldiers repelled the attack and destroyed two Russian tanks and three armored vehicles with the help of drones.

ADVERTISIMENT

In general, on January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued assault operations near Chasovyi Yar itself and south of it near Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora.

According to ISW, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have recently advanced in northern Toretsk, as evidenced by geolocation footage taken on Dargomyzhskoho Street, which was published on January 28.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces published a map showing the settlements of New York in the south and Yurivka in the west of Toretsk as occupied. It is unclear when the Russians captured them.

Meanwhile, Russian "military commanders" claimed that Russian troops had advanced in the western part of Toretsk and further west of the city, with intense fighting, according to them, taking place on the outskirts of the town. At the same time, analysts "found no confirmation of these statements about Russian achievements."

ADVERTISIMENT

The Khortytsia unit also reported the recent defeat of a Russian convoy of five vehicles that attempted to land Russian infantry near the Ukrainian frontline positions in the area of Shcherbynivka.

On January 27 and 28, enemy assaults continued in Toretsk, north of the city - near Krymske, Dachne, Diliyivka, and west of Toretsk near Shcherbynivka.

In the Pokrovsk sector, both Russian and Ukrainian troops have been advancing recently.

Ukrainian troops made gains west of the town in Kotlynne, as well as south of the town in the southeastern part of Kotlynne and south of Zvirove.

Instead, Russian troops have recently advanced along the Donetsk railroad on the southeastern outskirts of Udachne (west of Kotlynne).

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, as of January 28, the enemy occupied Uspenivka and Novoandriivka (both southwest of Pokrovsk).

Russian "military commanders" spoke about the advance of occupation troops to Chunyshyno, south of Udachne, in the direction of Kotlyarivka, north and south of Nadiyivka, and in Novooleksandrivka. As usual, they did not provide confirmation.

In general, Russia continued its offensive near Pokrovsk and in the vicinity of the city: to the east - near the settlements of Vodiane Druhe, Myroliubivka, Yelizavetivka, Promin, Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Baranivka, to the southeast - near Sukhyi Yar and Lysivka; to the south - near Zelene and Shevchenko; to the west - near Udachne and towards Serhiivka; to the southwest - in the area of Nadiyivka, Uspenivka, Novovasylivka, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyarivka, Novoandriivka and Preobrazhenka and Bohdanivka.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops were attacking Sribne from three directions, apparently in an attempt to cover the settlement with a broad front and push back Ukrainian forces from positions along the Vovcha River, which runs south of Sribne and west of Kurakhove. The Russian source claimed that Ukrainian forces had unsuccessfully counterattacked in Udachne and near Kotlyne, and that Russian troops were trying to gain a foothold in Udachne, which had suffered significant damage," the article says.

Here, as in other areas, the Russians are trying to attack in small infantry groups, preferring foggy weather. According to the Ukrainian military, the invaders have significant infantry reserves in the Pokrovske direction. And the occupiers are using drones here very actively: sometimes up to 30 Russian FPVs can arrive at one position

ADVERTISIMENT

The defenders also claim that it takes the occupiers about 2-3 weeks after the arrival of new Ukrainian equipment on the front line to come up with means to counteract it.

Currently, Russian troops are focused on finding weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense near Pokrovsk and concentrating significant forces where they are achieving tactical success.

Meanwhile, Russian military commanders complain that Ukrainian drones are preventing the occupiers from advancing near Uspenivka and Novooleksandrivka.

Russian troops also continued their offensive in the Kurakhove sector on January 28. According to the General Staff, as of yesterday, the occupants captured Slovianka (northwest of Kurakhove) and advanced in the fields west of Slovianka and south of Dachne (west of Kurakhove).

ADVERTISIMENT

Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops had advanced in the center of Andriivka (northwest of Kurakhove), but ISW found no confirmation of this claim.

According to the Ukrainian military, the Russians are attacking in small groups of 1-3 attack aircraft, and are also using equipment, though not for assaults, but for landing infantry near Ukrainian positions. Apparently, the Russian command's tactic is to use its superiority in manpower to exhaust Ukrainian units in the Kurakhove sector.

"Russian military bloggers claimed that units of the Russian 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st Motorized Rifle Brigade) were expanding their advance northeast of Andriivka and that Russian troops were trying to seize positions along the T-0515 Andriivka-Pokrovsk road near Slovianka (northeast of Andriivka). Russian troops continued their assault northwest of Kurakhove near Andriivka and Shevchenko; west of Kurakhove near Dachne, Ulakly, Kostiantynopil, Rozlyv, Oleksiyivka and Bahatyr; and southwest of Kurakhove near Yantarne and Zelenivka," the analysts described the main areas of fighting near Kurakhove on January 27 and 28.

ADVERTISIMENT

On January 28, the Russians also attacked in the direction of Velyka Novosilka, where the enemy had success. A map of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated January 28 shows the occupiers' advance northeast of Rozdolne.

"Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops continue to clear Velyka Novosilka of Ukrainian forces and are regrouping near the settlement," ISW noted.

Over the past two days, the invaders continued their assault operations near Velyka Novosilka itself, northeast of the village - near Rozdolne and west - near Novosilka.

ADVERTISIMENT

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson region

On January 27 and 28, Russian troops conducted limited ground attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector near Novodanylivka (north of Robotyne).

According to the General Staff, as of January 28, Russians seized Stepove (northwest of Robotyno) and advanced northeast of Kopany (west of Robotyno) and south of Mali Shcherbaky (northwest of Robotyno).

On January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued their offensive in the Prydniprovia sector, but did not advance.

ADVERTISIMENT

Kursk region of the Russian Federation

On January 28, Russian troops continued their offensive operations within the Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region, but made no confirmed advances.

Meanwhile, the day before, footage of Ukrainian drones repelling a Russian mechanized attack in the Kursk region was posted online.

"The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units of the Russian 83rd Airborne Brigade were advancing along the Snahost River and participated in the capture of Mykolaiv-Daryino (west of Sudzha). Russian military bloggers also claimed that Russian troops had advanced north of Guievo (south of Sudzha) and near Sverdlikovo (west of Sudzha). However, ISW has not found confirmation of these claims," the analysts noted.

They also cited Russian statements about attacks by Russian troops northwest of Sudzha near Viktorivka, Nikolske, Nova Sorochyna and Stara Sorochyna, south of Sudzha near Kurylivka, and that Russians had recently allegedly repelled a Ukrainian attack near Nikolske.

ADVERTISIMENT

"It is reported that the North Korean grouping of forces in the Kursk region continues to suffer significant losses in manpower and may temporarily withdraw from the fighting due to these losses. The head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, said on January 28 that North Korean troops had not learned how to counter Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes and had suffered significant losses as a result. Kovalenko said that Russian commanders and North Korean officers are working to correct these "mistakes," the article said.

Meanwhile, Sky News, citing the commander of a unit of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, reported on January 27 that the temporary withdrawal of North Korean troops from the front line in Kursk region after significant losses was a likely fait accompli. It is also possible that the Koreans are currently waiting for reinforcements to arrive and will soon return to the front.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Other Ukrainian servicemen told Sky News that North Korean forces seemed unaware of the threat of drone and artillery strikes when they first arrived in the Kursk region and often operated in easily identifiable groups of 20 to 60 people. Ukrainian military officials reiterated that North Korean and Russian forces do not communicate well due to the language barrier and that North Korean forces have better small arms and uniforms than Russian forces, but often lack access to armored vehicles and are forced to attack and deliver supplies on foot," ISW wrote.

Earlier, ISW said that the talks between Russia and Syria had reached a deadlock: satellite images showed that the Russians were evacuating military equipment from the port of Tartus, despite the fact that the first official Russian delegation had arrived in Damascus the day before.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global iron ore market size is estimated to grow by USD 60.9 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period. Upsurge in consumption of high-strength iron ore and steel is driving market growth, with a trend towards economic growth in China and India boosting demand for stainless steel. However, high capital investment market poses a challenge. Key market players include Anglo American plc, Ansteel Group Corp. Ltd., ArcelorMittal SA, Atlas Iron Pty Ltd., BCI Minerals Ltd., BHP Group Ltd., China Hanking Holdings Ltd., Eurasian Resources Group Sarl, Ferrexpo Plc, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., GFG Alliance, KIOCL Ltd., Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB, Metinvest BV, Mideast Integrated Steel Ltd., Mount Gibson Iron Ltd., NMDC Ltd., Rio Tinto Ltd., and Vale SA.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Iron Ore Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Iron Ore Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.3% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 60.9 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.1 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, South America, North America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 89% Key countries Russia, Australia, China, India, Brazil, Sweden, Japan, US, Germany, and Venezuela Key companies profiled Anglo American plc, Ansteel Group Corp. Ltd., ArcelorMittal SA, Atlas Iron Pty Ltd., BCI Minerals Ltd., BHP Group Ltd., China Hanking Holdings Ltd., Eurasian Resources Group Sarl, Ferrexpo Plc, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., GFG Alliance, KIOCL Ltd., Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB, Metinvest BV, Mideast Integrated Steel Ltd., Mount Gibson Iron Ltd., NMDC Ltd., Rio Tinto Ltd., and Vale SA

Market Driver

The global Iron Ore market is thriving due to the high demand for steel, a key material in construction, automotive industry, and transportation. Earth's crust houses abundant iron minerals like Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, and others. Mining practices extract these minerals, transforming them into steel through processes like sintering and blast furnacing. Iron ore producers meet the needs of consumers in various industries, including construction, where steel is used in building, bridges, and infrastructure. In the automotive sector, steel is essential for car bodies, trucks, and vehicles. Fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles are driving the demand for advanced high-strength steel. Iron ore is a nonrenewable resource, and mining activities can pose environmental challenges, such as waste materials, acid mine drainage, and airborne dust. The International Labour Organization advocates for responsible mining practices. Iron ore comes in various forms, including lumps, pellets, and sinter fines. It's used in various industrial applications, from steel mills to foundries, and in the production of pigment iron, building materials, and even in oil drilling rigs as a catalyst. Iron oxide, a primary component of iron ore, is also used in various industries, including petrochemicals, paint production, and as a shield against radiation. The market for iron ore is diverse, with applications ranging from ships and boats to gems and healing stones. The future of the iron ore market lies in its role in the transition to renewable energy, with potential uses in hydrogen gas production and energy storage.

The iron ore market holds significant importance due to the widespread use of steel in modern industries. China, as the world's leading crude steel producer, is a major consumer of iron ore. Its rapid economic growth and infrastructure development, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, fuel the demand for iron ore. India, another significant player, is projected to become the second-largest crude steel producer by the forecast period. The Indian market's expansion is driven by industrialization and the growth of its automotive and construction industries.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Iron Ore market faces several challenges in the extraction and utilization of this essential material. The Earth's crust contains various forms of iron minerals like Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, and others, which are mined for steel production. However, mining practices come with environmental issues such as waste materials like tailings and acid mine drainage, airborne dust, and dangerous materials. Iron ore is a nonrenewable resource primarily used in steel manufacturing for construction, automotive, and transportation industries. Steel is a key material in car bodies, trucks, and vehicles, including fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly models. Producers must contend with irregular iron nodules and deposits, requiring significant equipment expenditures for mining and processing into lumps, pellets, or sinter fines. Iron ore's industrial applications extend beyond steel, including pigment iron for paints, tungsten, manganese, nickel, and chromium. Mining activities also provide raw materials for various industries like petrochemicals, catalysts, hydrogen gas, and renewable energy. Despite these benefits, the industry must address environmental concerns and find more sustainable mining practices to meet the growing demand for iron ore in a world striving for weight reduction, fuel efficiency, and reduced CO2 emissions.

The global iron ore market is a significant industry with substantial investments required for mining operations, including heavy equipment and machinery. Infrastructure development, such as railways and harbors, is also essential for transportation. Governments impose duties and regulations, necessitating compliance by iron ore producers. The presence of established international and domestic players poses challenges for new entrants during the forecast period.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This iron ore market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product

1.1 Fines

1.2 Pellets

1.3 Lump

1.4 HBI/DRI

Source

2.1 Surface mining

2.2 Underground mining

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 South America

3.4 North America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Fines- Iron ore fines are crushed forms of iron ore used in the production of sinter, a material essential for blast furnaces. These fines are mixed with a binder (clay) and sometimes flux (limestone) during the sintering process. The advantage of using fine iron ore products lies in their ability to be blended, ensuring optimal iron concentration and minimal contaminants in the blast furnace. In the sintering process, iron ore fines are combined with coke breeze, limestone, and recycled sinter particles. This enhances the permeability of the iron burden, promoting efficient iron production. Additionally, iron ore fines are globally traded and exported for use in steel production, driving the growth of the iron ore fines market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

Iron ore is a crucial nonrenewable resource found primarily in the Earth's crust, predominantly as minerals like Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, and others. These minerals contain metal iron, which is an essential component of steel, a versatile material with extensive industrial applications. Steel is used in various sectors, including construction, automobile manufacturing, and appliance production. Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone and limestone, often contain iron ore. The extraction process involves mining, crushing, and separating the iron-rich minerals from the rock. Once extracted, iron ore is transported to steel mills for processing into steel. Steel is a key material in building frames, panels, doors, engine blocks, gears, suspensions, and various other components. It's used in cars, residential and commercial construction, and in the manufacturing of appliances. Other elements, like Tungsten, Manganese, Nickel, Vanadium, and Chromium, are often added to steel to enhance its properties for specific industrial applications.

Market Research Overview

Iron ore is a crucial nonrenewable resource found in the Earth's crust primarily in the form of minerals like Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, Limonite, Siderite, and others. These minerals contain iron compounds that are essential for steel production. Steel, a key material in construction, automotive industry, and transportation, is made from iron and other elements such as Tungsten, Manganese, Nickel, Vanadium, and Chromium. Mining practices extract iron ore from deposits using various equipment and techniques. Iron ore comes in different forms like lumps, pellets, and sinter fines. The mining and processing of iron ore involve significant equipment expenditures and environmental challenges, including waste materials like tailings and acid mine drainage, as well as airborne dust and dangerous materials. Iron ore is used extensively in industries like building, car manufacturing, and infrastructure. It is used to make car bodies, trucks, and vehicles, as well as frames, panels, doors, engine blocks, gears, suspensions, wheels, fuel tanks, and steering and braking systems. Advanced high-strength steel is also used to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency in fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. Iron ore is also used in various industrial applications, such as in the production of pigment iron for paints, building materials like bridge deck plates and cladding and roofing, and in the manufacturing of steel plates, galvanized sheets, wire rope, hot-rolled steel, and cold-rolled steel. It is also used in energy storage, iron catalyst industries, and sinter plants. Iron ore is a vital resource for various industries and has significant impacts on living standards and economic development. However, mining activities can also pose environmental problems, and it is essential to address these challenges through sustainable mining practices and the use of renewable energy sources like hydrogen and steam oxidation. The International Labour Organization also plays a crucial role in ensuring safe working conditions for workers in the iron ore mining industry. Iron ore is used in various industries, including oil drilling rigs, catalyst production, hydrogen gas production, and renewable energy. It is also used in metalworking, flat glass production, and deposition processes, as well as in cleaning, etching, and reduction processes. Iron oxide-based paints, ships, boats, yachts, and various other products also use iron ore. The durability and strength of iron make it an essential material for various applications, from buildings and bridges to infrastructure and industrial equipment.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Fines



Pellets



Lump



HBI/DRI

Source

Surface Mining



Underground Mining

Geography

APAC



Europe



South America



North 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
SAO PAULO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. (EST) and 10 a.m. (Brasilia time), we will present our 4Q24 results in Portuguese and English, in an interactive meeting, with a Q&A session at the end.

To take part in the interactive meeting, register at the following link:

Itau Results 4Q24

The participants in our interactive meeting will be: Milton Maluhy  CEO, Gabriel Amado de Moura  CFO, Renato Lulia  Head of Corporate Strategy, Investor Relations and Corporate Development and Gustavo Lopes Rodrigues  IRO.

Results will be published on the investor relations website on February 5, 2025, after trading hours.

Follow Itau Unibanco's latest news on our Investor Relations website.

Contact: Itau Unibanco  Comunicacao Corporativa

(11) 5019-8880 / 8881

[email protected]

SOURCE Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelly Spicers, a leading West Coast distributor of paper, packaging, wide format products and facilities solutions, announced today that it has acquired Denver-based Creative Packaging Group, an independent packaging distributor with customers across the Rocky Mountain region.

Creative Packaging specializes in supplying its customers with a high level of service and a broad range of industrial packaging consumables and equipment to support their market needs, from production line to final shipment.

"As we continue to invest in the packaging business across Kelly Spicers, the acquisition of Creative Packaging fits well with our growth strategy, particularly for our multi-location customers," said Jan Gottesman, President of Kelly Spicers. "We look forward to welcoming the Creative Packaging team to Kelly Spicers and expanding our presence in the Rocky Mountain region while enhancing our service platform across the West."

The company has been in operation since 2019 and serves a wide spectrum of customers in the distribution, manufacturing, agricultural, and food-processing sectors with both packaging supplies and equipment.

"Creative Packaging brings significant industry expertise and depth to the Kelly Spicers Packaging segment," said John Luyben, Senior Vice President, Packaging at Kelly Spicers. "Their focus on quality and service aligns perfectly with our mission to make doing business easy."

Kelly Spicers' expansion in the Denver market includes an upcoming move into a brand-new facility by the end of Q1, which will house all of its regional sales, distribution and warehouse operations.

About Kelly Spicers

With eight regional locations and 26 retail stores serving the Western U.S. and Hawaii, Kelly Spicers is committed to its core business of paper for commercial printers, packaging, wide format products, and facilities solutions. Kelly Spicers is part of Central National Gottesman (CNG), a family of companies that specialize in creative approaches to sales, sourcing, global distribution, and supply chain to keep businesses around the world delivering for their customers.

SOURCE Kelly Spicers
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt is pleased to announce that founding attorney Matthew Gebhardt has been named a 2025 Super Lawyer. Earning this recognition demonstrates Attorney Gebhardt's vast legal knowledge and his steadfast commitment to each of his clients and their cases.

Lake County Criminal Defense Attorney, Matthew Gebhardt - Super Lawyers 2025

Attorney Matthew Gebhardt has received Super Lawyer recognition for two consecutive years. With more than 20 years of experience in criminal defense, Mr. Gebhardt makes communication with his clients his number one priority. Attorney Gebhardt helps people throughout Illinois who have been arrested for crimes, including drunk driving offenses, domestic battery, drug trafficking, theft, and violent crimes.

Before becoming a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Gebhardt gained invaluable experience working as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. This experience has provided him with a unique perspective when aiding criminal defendants. His strong knowledge of the criminal justice system ensures that he can help clients achieve the best possible results in their cases. Attorney Gebhardt is a member of The Lake County Bar Association as well as several other associations throughout the state.

Super Lawyers is a third-party rating system with a patented selection process. This multi-phase process aims to select only the most qualified and trusted attorneys as award recipients. Measuring important factors such as professional accomplishments and peer recognition, Super Lawyers makes annual selections on a state-by-state basis, recognizing only the top 5% of attorneys in each location.

About The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C.

The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. is located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Attorney Gebhardt provides honest and aggressive representation to clients in Lake County and throughout Illinois. Whether a case involves a first-time DUI, a speeding ticket, drug possession, or white-collar offenses, Attorney Gebhardt knows that being accused or arrested for a crime can be incredibly stressful. The firm's legal team helps clients understand the charges they are facing, the next steps in their cases, and their options for defense. Mr. Gebhardt will personally address clients' concerns and handle each aspect of their cases.

Visit https://www.illinois-defenseattorney.com/ to learn more about the firm's services. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 847-239-4703.

SOURCE The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C.
Leveraging the Earth's magma to sustainably power the future of blockchain technology.

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Magma Power, a global innovator in geothermal energy technology, is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative to transform Bitcoin mining by leveraging its patented magma-based geothermal energy solutions. This revolutionary approach combines the immense potential of magma reservoirs with blockchain mining, creating a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable operation.

Revolutionary Energy Technology

Magma Power's proprietary geothermal technology taps directly into underground magma reservoirs to produce reliable, high-output renewable energy. With the ability to generate up to 50 megawatts (MW) of baseload power per well, Magma Power's energy solution sets a new benchmark for efficiency and sustainability in renewable energy.

"At Magma Power, we are committed to solving the energy challenges of the future," said Levi Conner, CEO of Magma Power. "Bitcoin mining has faced criticism for its environmental impact, but with our clean energy technology, we're proving it doesn't have to be this way. Our geothermal technology provides renewable, cost-efficient power that's perfectly suited to the high demands of blockchain mining."

Cost-Efficient Energy for High-Demand Applications

One of the key advantages of Magma Power's technology is its ability to deliver energy at an extremely competitive rate of $0.02 to $0.04 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This low-cost, reliable energy not only enhances the profitability of Bitcoin mining but also ensures that it is powered by clean, renewable resources.

"By combining geothermal energy with blockchain mining, we're addressing two major issues at once: the environmental concerns surrounding cryptocurrency mining and the need for a sustainable, affordable energy source," said Richard McDonald, Chief Strategy Officer of Magma Power. "This is the kind of innovation that can redefine industries."

Reliable Energy with a Minimal Carbon Footprint

Unlike intermittent energy sources such as solar and wind, Magma Power's geothermal energy provides baseload poweravailable 24/7, year-round. This reliability ensures uninterrupted operations for energy-intensive applications such as Bitcoin mining, while also contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

"Our ability to harness the Earth's magma reservoirs allows us to generate renewable power with a minimal environmental footprint," said KC Conner, founder of Magma Power. "This is not just a technological breakthroughit's a shift toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for industries that require substantial energy."

Highly Profitable Carbon-Free Bitcoin Mining With Magma Power

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance calculates than the average global electricity price for Bitcoin mining is $0.05 per kWh. With magma power prices forecasted to be near $.02 per kWh, magma power presents a revolutionary development for environmentally-friendly Bitcoin mining.

One of the key advantages of Magma Power's initiative is the ability to pair its low-cost, geothermal energy with the advanced Antminer S21 Bitcoin mining machines. These machines are among the most efficient miners available, offering high hash rates while consuming significantly less power. The key benefits of using magma power for Bitcoin mining are forecasted to include:

Energy Cost Advantage : Magma Power's geothermal energy is delivered at a cost of $0.02 to $0.04 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), significantly lower than traditional power sources.

: Magma Power's geothermal energy is delivered at a cost of $0.02 to per kilowatt-hour (kWh), significantly lower than traditional power sources. Profit Per Machine Per Day: At $0.02 /kWh, the energy cost per Antminer S21 machine is approximately $1.68/day Based on current Bitcoin network difficulty and rewards, an Antminer S21 machine can produce $10.30 /day in net profit before depreciation costs

Operating Profit Potential Per Well: Machine Costs: Each Antminer S21 machine currently costs around $4,500 , and a single 50 MW magma well can power 14,000 machines, resulting in daily profit of $144,000 per well. Operating Profit: At $101,420 per Bitcoin , a single well could generate $52 million/year in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization).



Ideal Global Locations for Geothermal Bitcoin Mining

Magma Power's clean energy initiative has identified several strategic global locations with high geothermal potential for Bitcoin mining and other energy-intensive applications:

El Salvador ( Bitcoin City) : Already at the forefront of the Bitcoin revolution, El Salvador offers the perfect conditions to pair Magma Power's technology with the country's geothermal resources. This partnership could solidify Bitcoin City as a global hub for sustainable blockchain innovation.

: Already at the forefront of the revolution, offers the perfect conditions to pair Magma Power's technology with the country's geothermal resources. This partnership could solidify City as a global hub for sustainable blockchain innovation. Iceland : Renowned for its abundant geothermal activity and commitment to clean energy, Iceland is a prime location for harnessing magma-powered solutions. The country's cool climate also reduces operational costs for Bitcoin mining facilities, making it a highly attractive option.

: Renowned for its abundant geothermal activity and commitment to clean energy, is a prime location for harnessing magma-powered solutions. The country's cool climate also reduces operational costs for mining facilities, making it a highly attractive option. Vanuatu : As a Pacific Island nation vulnerable to climate change, Vanuatu has a vested interest in transitioning to renewable energy. Magma Power's solutions could not only power sustainable industries but also strengthen the nation's energy independence.

: As a Pacific Island nation vulnerable to climate change, has a vested interest in transitioning to renewable energy. Magma Power's solutions could not only power sustainable industries but also strengthen the nation's energy independence. Azores Islands: Located in the mid-Atlantic, this Portuguese territory boasts untapped geothermal potential. By integrating Magma Power's technology, the Azores could become a leader in renewable energy while driving local economic growth through blockchain and green industries.

Applications Beyond Bitcoin Mining

While Bitcoin mining is a key focus of this initiative, Magma Power's geothermal energy technology has wide-ranging applications. From powering AI data centers and other digital technologies to producing green hydrogen, green ammonia, and renewable fuels, Magma Power is poised to be a leader in delivering sustainable energy solutions across multiple industries.

"This technology is about more than cryptocurrencyit's about creating a global energy solution that supports innovation while respecting the planet," added McDonald.

A Vision for the Future

By combining cutting-edge geothermal technology with the growing demand for sustainable blockchain mining, Magma Power is setting a new standard for what is possible in the energy sector. The initiative reflects Magma Power's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and redefining the energy landscape.

About Magma Power LLC:

Magma Power LLC, (visit MagmaPower.com) with headquarters in Tampa, Florida, with additional offices in New York City and Houston, is a pioneering energy technology company dedicated to developing cutting-edge solutions for harnessing renewable energy. Magma Power, LLC has secured fourteen worldwide patents covering all aspects of the production of green energy, energy-intensive manufacturing, green fuels, and other products using Magma Power. Magma Power LLC has also filed an additional forty-six global patents covering all aspects of magma power production, with over 1,000 patent claims pending related to this revolutionary new green energy source. Magma power is a virtually unlimited source of green, renewable, baseload energy that U.S. government researchers in the 1970s, including those at Sandia National Laboratories, concluded could meet the Earth's energy needs for the next several thousand years. The work of Magma Power LLC has taken the initial insights from the Sandia Labs test and developed them into robust, patent-protected technology ready for commercial deployment. Given the inability of wind and solar to provide stable baseload renewable power, there is no long-term alternative to magma power for renewable energy. Magma Power is Inevitable. It's not a question of if magma power will power the Earth  but when. Energy is civilization, and the next several thousand years of civilization will be driven by Magma Power.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Richard McDonald

Chief Strategy Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Magma Power
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Milbank LLP is pleased to announce that Evan Roberts has joined its Los Angeles office as a partner in the firm's Global Corporate/M&A Group.

"We are thrilled to welcome Evan to Milbank," said Milbank Chairman Scott A. Edelman. "His significant experience advising private equity firms and their portfolio companies on M&A and corporate matters will be invaluable as we continue to grow our global private equity and M&A capabilities."

Evan Roberts

Mr. Roberts concentrates his practice in the areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate securities and corporate governance. He represents buyers, sellers, and private equity funds and other investors in a variety of corporate transactions, including complex business arrangements, public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts, equity investments, restructurings and recapitalizations. His experience spans a wide range of industries including consumer products, energy and infrastructure, industrials and manufacturing, healthcare, technology, international franchises and financial services.

"Evan is a highly regarded, dynamic lawyer with an established track record advising private equity sponsors," said Dean W. Sattler, leader of the firm's US Corporate/M&A Group. "His arrival will further strengthen our team's global capabilities, and we are excited to work with him on our clients' most complex transactions."

"We have significantly grown our global bench of highly regarded private equity M&A lawyers in recent years, and Evan's arrival is an important step in the continued strategic expansion of our Global Corporate/M&A Group," added Norbert Rieger, Chairman of Milbank's Global Corporate/M&A Group.

Milbank has significantly expanded its global corporate, M&A and private equity capabilities over the past few years, including the addition of partners Derek Winokur, Rick Presutti, Antonio Diaz-Albertini, Andrew Fadale, Paul Bennett and Edward Lemanowicz in New York; a team of 30 attorneys in London including partners Jordan Simpson, James McClymont and Andrew Nuthall; partners Barbara Mayer-Trautmann and Markus Muhs in Germany; and partners Andrew Whan, Neeraj Budhwani, Davide Mencacci and John Bona in Hong Kong.

"Milbank is globally known for its commitment to substantive excellence and work on complex, sophisticated transactions," commented Mr. Roberts. "I am thrilled to join the firm and work closely with this talented team of lawyers to continue serving clients at the highest level."

Mr. Roberts joins Milbank from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner in the Corporate Group. He received his J.D. from University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and his B.A. from University of Washington.

ABOUT MILBANK

Milbank LLP is a leading international law firm that provides innovative legal services to clients around the world. Founded in New York over 150 years ago, Milbank has offices in Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, DC. Milbank's lawyers collaborate across practices and offices to help the world's leading commercial, financial and industrial enterprises, as well as institutions, individuals and governments, achieve their strategic objectives. To learn more about Milbank, please visit www.milbank.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

SOURCE Milbank LLP
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Opening the second edition of the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC), His Excellency Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, emphasized Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to fostering international collaboration and driving innovative solutions to address global labor market challenges. He further underscored the Kingdom's dedication to building a future-ready workforce and ensuring inclusivity and resilience, in alignment with Vision 2030.

MINISTER AL-RAJHI REAFFIRMS SAUDI ARABIAS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AT THE GLMC (PRNewsfoto/Global Labor Market Conference)

On the margins of the GLMC, Minister Al-Rajhi met with His Excellency Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to discuss enhanced cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the ILO. A key outcome of these discussions was the signing of a framework cooperation agreement, focusing on the Junior Professional Officer and Secondment Programs. This agreement underscores the Kingdom's commitment to aligning with global best practices and providing young professionals with valuable international training opportunities, further advancing sustainable labor market development.

Minister Al-Rajhi also held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with ministers and officials from Argentina, Kenya, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Indonesia. These discussions centered on mutual labor market challenges, strategies for building resilient economies, and preparing workforces for the future.

At the conference, the Minister set out two key initiatives including the launch of the Global Labor Market Academy in partnership with the World Bank. The Academy  based in Riyadh  will provide policymakers worldwide, particularly in middle and low-income countries, with the tools to design and implement effective labor market reforms.

The second initiative  the "Navigating Tomorrow" Report  analyzes global labor market trends, identifies key skills and outlines strategies to close skills gaps through lifelong learning and innovative public-private partnerships.

The GLMC brought together over 5,000 participants from 150 countries, including 200 international speakers, CEOs, labor ministers, policymakers, and industry experts. As a vital platform for collaboration, it facilitated the exchange of ideas, strengthened international relationships, and showcased actionable solutions to pressing labor market issues.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2609001/Global_Labor_Market_Conference.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2505855/5141497/GLMC_Logo.jpg
Moove's total global fleet now comprises 36,000 vehicles.

As part of its long term strategy to meet growing demand, Moove will order no fewer than 15,000 vehicles annually across all its markets.

The acquisition strengthens Moove's ARR revenue to upwards of $275 Million (on a consolidated basis).

Moove's presence now spans 19 cities across 6 continents, showcasing its scale and reach as a global mobility leader.

This acquisition strengthens Moove's presence in LATAM, expanding its operational presence and economic impact in the region.

Kovi's proprietary IoT software and driver behaviour algorithm will strengthen Moove's AI mobility strategy.

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Moove, a global leader in mobility with a vision to build the largest rideshare fleet and best-in-class technologies powering mobility platforms, has announced the acquisition of Kovi, an urban mobility provider headquartered in Sao Paulo.

This strategic acquisition aligns with Moove's commitment to advancing mobility and expanding its footprint in the rapidly growing Latin American market. Launched in 2020, Moove has built the third side of mobility marketplaces by providing dedicated supply via Drive-to-Own, Taxi, and Autonomous fleets and continues to lead the transformation of mobility globally.

The acquisition increases Moove's total global fleet to 36,000 vehicles and operations to 19 cities across 6 continents. It not only strengthens the company's position as one of the world's largest rideshare fleet operators, but incorporates Kovi's proprietary IoT software and advanced driver behaviour algorithm, which complement Moove's existing focus on safety and efficiency. These innovations will strengthen Moove's AI mobility strategy, further advancing its position as a global leader in mobility and autonomous vehicle innovation, while also reinforcing its commitment to driving economic growth in Latin America.

Founded in 2018, Kovi has established itself as a pioneering force in making car ownership more accessible and efficient through innovative technology and financial solutions. With a robust fleet and a strong presence in Brazil and Mexico, Kovi has demonstrated impressive growth since inception. Its innovative approach to driver support and its strong foothold in Brazil bring significant value to Moove's global operations, strengthening its ability to expand into high growth markets and drive impactful change in mobility.

Kovi's data-driven approach to vehicle management and user experience will complement Moove's existing capabilities, enabling the company to offer superior services to its customers.

Ladi Delano, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Moove, said:

"Kovi has built an impressive business with a robust presence in Brazil, one of the most dynamic mobility markets in the world. We're thrilled to welcome them to the Moove family. This transaction not only strengthens our footprint in Latin America and reinforces our position as a dominant player in global mobility, but it also underscores our commitment to contributing to the Brazilian economy. Kovi's proprietary IoT software and advanced driver behaviour models complement our existing capabilities, supporting our focus on safety, efficiency, and innovation in AI mobility."

Adhemar Milani Neto, CEO of Kovi, said:

"Today, we stand at the forefront of a new era in mobility, and we believe that Moove has done a fantastic job at scaling their business on a global scale and with the right strategic angles. I met the founders many years back when they were scaling their business in Africa, and I was immediately impressed by their purpose-driven approach, which is also a perfect match to our culture. Together, I believe we will become a truly global category-defining business and will leverage scale and deep expertise never seen in our market. We are also excited to continue our expansion across Latam now with robustness with such strong partners."

The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the Brazilian antitrust authority.

About Moove

Moove is building the world's largest fleet and best-in-class technologies that power mobility platforms. Its flagship Drive-to-Own (DTO) product democratises access to vehicle ownership with a revolutionary revenue based financing model, enabling underserved mobility entrepreneurs to thrive.

Moove's growth has been fuelled by its global Uber partnership and support of leading investors and lenders, including Uber, Mubadala, BlackRock, MUFG, and many others. With operations now spanning 19 cities across 6 continents - Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East - Moove continues to expand its offerings through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with industry leaders, including Waymo and Uber. Moove is transforming mobility to make it safer, more efficient and accessible to all, while providing economic opportunities and supporting skills development in the mobility sector.



Key Facts

Launched and scaled to 19 cities across 6 continents in 4 years, since 2020 launch

Over 100,000 lives positively impacted through job creation and mobility access

36,000 vehicles in Moove's global fleet

50+ million trips completed in Moove-financed vehicles through its Uber partnership

$500+ million in combined equity and debt funding raised from world-class investors including Uber, Mubadala, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton , Janus Henderson , and IFC (World Bank)



Media Contact

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608716/5140719/Moove_Kovi_Logo.jpg
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For over five decades, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel has been privileged to serve discerning San Diego homeowners who understand the value of quality craftsmanship and professional expertise. Our ideal clients are committed to their properties for the long term. Whether they're adapting their homes for multigenerational living, creating a permanent home office, or preparing for retirement, these homeowners share our commitment to excellence and appreciate the significance of working with a family-owned business that has maintained its sterling reputation since 1975. They recognize that successful home remodeling isn't just about immediate transformationsit's about making thoughtful investments that enhance both daily living and long-term property value in San Diego's dynamic real estate market.

We proudly serve San Diego homeowners who:

Value quality craftsmanship and professional design expertise

Have remodeling budgets ranging from $75,000 to $750,000

to Plan to stay in their homes long-term

Appreciate our four-generation legacy of excellence since 1975

When It's Time to Consider a Remodel

Immediate Needs

Discovering water damage or potential structural issues

Dealing with outdated electrical systems or safety concerns

Experiencing persistent plumbing or system failures

Noticing signs of wear that could lead to bigger problems

Lifestyle Changes

Adapting your home for aging in place

Creating space for multigenerational living

Establishing a permanent home office

Redesigning spaces after children move out

Preparing for retirement lifestyle

Functional Challenges

Kitchen layout hindering family meal preparation

Bathrooms no longer meeting family needs

Storage and organization becoming insufficient

Entertaining space feeling cramped or outdated

Home systems requiring frequent repairs

Investment Opportunities

Taking advantage of San Diego's strong real estate market

strong real estate market Protecting your home's long-term value

Upgrading to modern, energy-efficient systems

Preparing for future resale value

The Murray Lampert Difference

Our Promises

Dedicated project designer and detailed 3D renderings

Transparent, fixed pricing through our design-build approach

Comprehensive project management and communication

Four generations of San Diego remodeling expertise

remodeling expertise Employee craftsmen for consistent quality control

Local, family-owned business reputation since 1975

Your Experience

Before Working With Us:

Uncertainty about contractor reliability and pricing

Stress over coordinating multiple professionals

Worry about project quality and timeline

Concern about proper permits and inspections

After Choosing Murray Lampert:

Confidence in our proven design-build process

Single point of contact for your entire project

Guaranteed pricing and clear project timeline

Peace of mind from our established reputation

Professional results that exceed expectations

Common Remodeling Misconceptions

The "Lowest Bid" Myth

Misconception: The lowest bid provides the best value Reality: Low bids often lead to cut corners, hidden costs, and quality issues Our Approach: Comprehensive upfront planning and transparent fixed pricing

The "Design-Build Premium" Myth

Misconception: Design-build services cost more than traditional approaches Reality: Our integrated approach prevents expensive mistakes and change orders Our Advantage: Four generations of experience delivering predictable results

Our Services

Kitchen Remodeling: $75,000-$200,000

Transform your kitchen into the heart of your home with our award-winning design-build approach. From gourmet cooking spaces to family-friendly gathering areas, we create kitchens that combine beauty with functionality.

Bathroom Remodeling: $50,000-$150,000

Experience the luxury of a perfectly designed bathroom. Our expert team handles everything from proper waterproofing to stunning tile work, creating your personal spa retreat.

Whole Home Remodeling: $150,000-$750,000

Reimagine your entire living space with our comprehensive remodeling services. Our integrated design-build team ensures every detail works together for a cohesive, beautiful result.

Home Additions: $200,000-$500,000

Expand your living space with our expertly crafted additions. Whether it's a second story, master suite, or family room, we seamlessly blend new construction with your existing home.

The Murray Lampert Guarantee

When you choose Murray Lampert, you're partnering with:

A fourth-generation, family-owned San Diego business

business Award-winning designers and craftsmen

A team committed to transparent communication

Professionals who respect your home and family

A company with a proven track record since 1975

Your Next Steps

Schedule a complimentary consultation Meet with our design team to discuss your vision Review detailed 3D renderings of your project Receive transparent pricing and timeline Watch your dream space come to life

Contact Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel today to begin your remodeling journey with San Diego's most trusted design-build firm.

www.MurrayLampert.com

SOURCE Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
24-month interim results from the first long-term study of SCS with automatic, objective, daily remote monitoring presented at NANS 2025 Annual Meeting

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOTRONIK Neuro will unveil new data from the BENEFIT-03 clinical study at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) 2025 Annual Meeting. The findings highlight the transformative potential of its ProsperaTM Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system.

Prospera SCS Stimulator

This system integrates RESONANCE multiphase stimulation with automatic, objective, daily remote monitoring and proactive care* to optimize management of SCS patients' chronic pain.1 The 24-month data revealed that participants experienced significant pain relief, along with better sleep, improved function and reduced opioid medication use. Patients and clinicians reported positive experiences with the Prospera SCS system's remote monitoring and remote programming capabilities, which enabled rapid resolution of issues to optimize therapy and reduced burdens for both patients and clinicians.

The 24-month interim data are from BENEFIT-03, a prospective, multicenter study in Australia that is the first and only long-term clinical trial evaluating the impact of SCS with real-time remote monitoring in patients with chronic low back and/or leg pain.

Highlights of the 24-month interim results include:

Significant pain relief: At 24 months, therapy responder rates ( > 50% pain reduction by Visual Analog Scale) were 86% for back pain, 89% for leg pain, and 82% for overall pain.

At 24 months, therapy responder rates ( 50% pain reduction by Visual Analog Scale) were 86% for back pain, 89% for leg pain, and 82% for overall pain. Improved daily function: Mean daily pain intensity (by Numerical Rating Scale) was reduced to 1.8 at 24 months vs. 6.6 at baseline, and function was improved with 73% of participants reporting minimal/moderate disability at 24 months (Oswestry Disability Index) vs. 5% at baseline.

Mean daily pain intensity (by Numerical Rating Scale) was reduced to 1.8 at 24 months vs. 6.6 at baseline, and function was improved with 73% of participants reporting minimal/moderate disability at 24 months (Oswestry Disability Index) vs. 5% at baseline. Reduced opioid usage: Among baseline opioid users, 80% eliminated or reduced dosage > 50% at 24 months.

Among baseline opioid users, 80% eliminated or reduced dosage 50% at 24 months. Serious device- or procedure-related adverse events were rare: Only one such event was reported.

"BENEFIT-03 results highlight the sustained benefits of the Prospera SCS system and demonstrate how its proactive care capabilitiesenabled by automatic, objective daily remote monitoring and programmingsignificantly improve patient outcomes," said Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology at Florida Atlantic University and Physician at Carolinas Pain Institute and Center for Clinical Research. "These findings support the adoption of such monitoring technologies and proactive interventions as the standard of care in spinal cord stimulation therapy, given the potential for rapid identification and resolution of issues that help maintain patients' therapeutic goals over time."

Additional 24-month BENEFIT-03 results demonstrated:

Rapid issue resolution: Remote monitoring detected SCS issues for all participants, enabling intervention in 2.9 days, vs. more than 7.2 days with standard in-clinic SCS care. 2 The most common issues were low device usage and therapeutic amplitude outside the prescribed setting.

Remote monitoring detected SCS issues for all participants, enabling intervention in 2.9 days, vs. more than 7.2 days with standard in-clinic SCS care. The most common issues were low device usage and therapeutic amplitude outside the prescribed setting. Reduced patient time and costs: At 24 months, 95% of participants reported that remote adjustments saved money, and 100% said they allowed more time for daily activities. Clinicians reported remote management reduced staff burdens in the management of 82% of participants and estimated that remote care prevented an average of 5.4 in-office visits per participant through 24 months, with the highest need participants avoiding an average of 12 visits, substantially reducing travel time and costs.

"We're encouraged to see the continued strong results over time with the Prospera SCS system, which demonstrate its potential to advance patient care and address the challenges SCS patients face," said Todd Langevin, BIOTRONIK Neuro President. "This evidence reinforces the growing body of research supporting proactive care and remote monitoring as effective strategies to optimize pain relief and mirror the real-world benefits our customers report."

About The Prospera Spinal Cord Stimulation System

The Prospera Spinal Cord Stimulation system  with remote monitoring and proactive care via the Embrace One Care Team  delivers RESONANCE, the only multiphase stimulation paradigm available. BIOTRONIK Neuro is the first and only manufacturer to offer daily remote monitoring, automatic objective data transmission and remote programming in the SCS space. This system allows therapy adjustments in real time, reducing the need for frequent in-person visits. By facilitating faster issue identification and management, Prospera enables therapy optimization, which may improve long-term outcomes for patients with chronic intractable pain. The Prospera SCS system is FDA-approved and available in the U.S.

Remote Management of Spinal Cord Stimulation Devices for Chronic Pain

Spinal cord stimulation is a proven, widely used treatment for chronic pain, delivering electrical impulses to the spinal cord to modulate nerve activity and reduce pain signals. While clinical studies confirm its long-term effectiveness, real-world challenges like loss of efficacy and device explant remain prevalent.3-11 Traditional SCS systems often require frequent in-office visits for reprogramming, resulting in therapy delays, patient travel burdens, and higher costs.

Emerging expert recommendations highlight the potential benefits of SCS systems with remote monitoring capabilities, which enable timely adjustments, minimize in-person visits, and may improve long-term outcomes by enhancing therapy management and patient convenience.

About BIOTRONIK Neuro

BIOTRONIK Neuro is a division of BIOTRONIK, a leading medical device company that has been improving the lives of patients with heart and blood vessel diseases for decades. Leveraging BIOTRONIK's advanced cardiovascular technologies, BIOTRONIK Neuro has created a new approach to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy management: one that's not just implanted, but truly connected to the needs of patients and providers. Our goal is to redefine relief for patients experiencing chronic pain and to optimize the SCS experience daily, and over the lifetime of patient therapy. BIOTRONIK Neuro is based in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

About BIOTRONIK

BIOTRONIK is a leading medical device company that has been developing trusted and innovative cardiovascular and endovascular solutions for more than 50 years. Driven by a purpose to perfectly match technology with the human body, BIOTRONIK innovations deliver care that saves and improves the lives of millions diagnosed with heart and blood vessel diseases every year. BIOTRONIK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and represented in over 100 countries.

For inquiries, contact:

Corporate Communications

[email protected]

+49 (0) 30 68905-1414

Beth Richman

(312) 806-8999

References

Naidu, R. K., Kapural, L., Li, S., Tourje, C., Rutledge, J., Dickerson, D., & Lubenow, T. R. (2025). A Review of the Prospera Spinal Cord Stimulation System with Multiphase Stimulation and Proactive Care. Current pain and headache reports, 29(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01318-3 Amirdelfan K, Antony A, Levy R, et al. Health-related and Economic Impacts of Clinic Visit Burdens for Spinal Cord Stimulation Patients and Caregivers. Poster presented at PSPS; September 16-18, 2022 ; Las Vegas, NV. Deer TR, Slavin KV, Amirdelfan K, et al. Success using neuromodulation with BURST (SUNBURST) study: results from a prospective randomized controlled trial using a novel burst waveform. Neuromod. 2018;21(1):56-66. North J, Loudermilk E, Lee A, et al. Outcomes of a multicenter, prospective, crossover, randomized controlled trial evaluating subperception spinal cord stimulation at 1.2 kHz in previously implanted subjects. Neuromod. 2020;23:102-108. Mekhail N, Levy RM, Deer TR, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic back and leg pain (Evoke): a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020;19(2):123-134. Fishman M, Cordner H, Justiz R, et al. Twelve-month results from multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation and traditional spinal cord stimulation in subjects with chronic intractable back pain and leg pain. Pain Practice. 2021;21:912-923. Kapural L, Yu C, Doust MW, et al. Novel 10-kHz high-frequency therapy (HF10 therapy) is superior to traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic back and leg pain. Anesthesiology. 2015;123(4)851-860. Hayek SM, Veizi E, Hanes M. Treatment-limiting complications of percutaneous spinal cord stimulator implants: a review of eight years of experience from an academic center database. Neuromod. 2015;18:603-609. Pope JE, Deer TR, Falowski S, et al. Multicenter retrospective study of neurostimulation with exit of therapy by explant. Neuromod. 2017;20(6):543-552. Simopoulos T, Aner M, Sharma S, Ghosh P, Gill JS. Explantation of percutaneous spinal cord stimulator devices: a retrospective descriptive analysis of a single-center 15-year experience. Pain Medicine. 2018;0(0):1-7. Hagedorn JM, Lam CM, D'Souza RS, et al. Explantation of 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation devices: a retrospective review of 744 patients followed for at least 12 months. Neuromod. 2021;24:499-506

Disclaimer: Embrace One is a support platform intended to help manage a patient's experience with spinal cord stimulation. It is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or medical treatment.

*Proactive Care: BIOTRONIK Neuro's remote support team may reach out to patients to ensure proper usage of the SCS system based on remotely monitored data. BIOTRONIK Neuro does not provide health advice or clinical actions outside the scope of SCS proper usage. This product support is not a replacement for the patient's responsibility to communicate any medical questions or concerns with the physician's office.

With successful data transmission, patient therapy data is available up to the prior 24-hour period

SOURCE BIOTRONIK
Cinthia Luna, right, comforts her 12-year-old daughter Cinthia as she receives free vaccinations from a Metro Health nurse during the District 4 Back-to-School Health Village at Divine Providence Catholic Church on Aug. 12, 2023. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

Editors note: President Donald Trumps budget office on Wednesday rescinded its order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country.

San Antonios current budget includes $325.5 million in federal dollars for programs and capital projects  and city leaders say they dont know how much of that funding is affected by the Trump administrations freeze on federal grants and loans.

The implementation details are not clear, City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement. In short, we do not know which or to what extent City departments and programs may be impacted, until we receive further guidance.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We will continue to focus on delivering City services while we monitor the situation to better understand the implementation scope, timing and potential impact, Walsh added.

Late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's funding pause. The judges order came minutes before the Trump administrations pause on federal loans and grants was scheduled to go into effect Tuesday afternoon.

Those funds are helping the city pay for 50 more police officers, capital projects such as the San Antonio International Airport expansion, and much more, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement.

These funds were approved by Congress and are our tax dollars that San Antonio residents sent to Washington, the mayor added.

The citys Human Services Department received the most federal grants, at more than $172 million, followed by the Metropolitan Health District at $38.5 million. The fire and police departments also receive federal money, as does the Parks and Recreation Department.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The citys $3.9 billion annual budget, which went in effect Oct. 1, also includes more than $87 million in outstanding coronavirus relief dollars that support a range of programs.

Administration officials said the freeze was necessary to ensure that all federal funding complies with Trumps executive orders, which are intended to undo progressive steps on transgender rights, environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts.

Officials said that direct federal assistance to individuals would not be affected by the temporary freeze, including Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships.

The only certainties to emerge from the administrations pause on federal financial assistance are chaos and fear, and if thats the actual goal  mission accomplished, Nirenberg said ahead of the judges ruling, which expires on Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The judge could decide to grant a temporary restraining order, which would further block the funding freeze from taking effect.
The day before, on January 28, the first official delegation from Russia arrived in Syria after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime. Russian officials came to Damascus to negotiate the preservation of Russia's presence at the Khmeimim air base and the Tartus seaport.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, Russia seems to have no confidence in the success of the negotiations; satellites record that the Russian military continues to evacuate military property from the port of Tartus. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes about the situation and prospects for its development.

The Russian delegation that arrived in Syria yesterday for talks with the new Syrian authorities on the Russian presence in Tartus and Hmeymim included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Special Representative of the Russian President in Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. According to Reuters, they are to meet with the new Syrian government this week.

ADVERTISIMENT

Officially, Russia explains the trip to Damascus as a desire to "strengthen Russian-Syrian historical relations on the basis of common interests," which, translated from Russian newspeak, means Moscow's attempts to bargain for permission to maintain a military presence in the country. A Bloomberg source in Russia said that Russia is trying to maintain access to the Hmeymim air base and the port of Tartus, as negotiations with the new Syrian government have been "stalled."

The trip of the official Russian delegation to Damascus caused a stir among Russian "military bloggers": they began to speculate that Syria is not Russia's first or even second priority, and to call for not believing the "standard phrases" of Russian or Syrian officials about cooperation.

There is little optimism about the success of the planned talks in the Russian blogosphere. One of the Kremlin-affiliated military bloggers is convinced that there is little hope that Russian-Syrian relations will return to their former "strength," and Hayat Tahrir al Sham will not miss an opportunity to take advantage of the negotiations and may demand more concessions from Russia.

ADVERTISIMENT

Russia's real skepticism about the success of the negotiations is confirmed by the fact that Russian troops continue to evacuate military property from the port of Tartus.

For example, Planet Labs PBC satellite images of January 18 and 27, published by Radio Liberty, show that the Russian military loaded equipment onto the Russian cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II in Tartus, and that the Sparta II left the port, while the Sparta remained.

"OSINT analyst M.T. Anderson published satellite images from January 23 showing a Vyazma Kaliningradneft-class oiler near the port and suggested that the Russian military was loading machinery onto the Sparta. On January 28, Bloomberg reported that a Russian source said that two Russian transport ships - allegedly the Sparta and Sparta II - had been waiting off Tartus for weeks before Syrian authorities allowed them to dock," ISW added.

ADVERTISIMENT

The day before, on January 28, ISW said that Ukrainian troops had regained their lost positions near Toretsk. However, the enemy managed to advance in several directions.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexar, a leader in AI-powered mobility solutions, today announced a partnership initiative with Japan Post, a special private company under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, offering postal and logistics services in Japan. This initiative aims to improve road conditions using dashcams and supporting the promotion of autonomous vehicles.

Using images and location data from Nexar's dashcams in Japan Post Transport Co.'s vehicles, the partner will monitor highway road construction and damage, helping to develop a system that improves and maintains roads across the country. These insights will also be used for mapping solutions necessary to accelerate deployments of autonomous vehicles across the country.

Nexar has been operating in Japan for over four years, and is the current leader in mobility data utilization in the country. This partnership will accelerate and expand efforts to reach a next generation mobility service in Japan.

"We're honored to collaborate with Japan Post on this important initiative to enhance road infrastructure across Japan," said Zach Greenberger, CEO of Nexar. "By leveraging Nexar's advanced AI-driven insights, we can help provide actionable data that supports safer, more efficient transportation networks. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to using cutting-edge technology to create meaningful impact on a global scale."

In recent months, Nexar has significantly expanded its efforts to partner with key governmental organizations, brands and industry leaders to leverage the company's data and insights to better understand unique safety risks, inform autonomous vehicle (AV) systems and accelerate AV technologies, and improve road infrastructure. Most recently, Waymo released new research with Nexar data and insights related to vulnerable road users (VRUs) and Lyft announced plans to partner with Nexar to create data-driven solutions related to AV technology deployment.

For more information about Nexar, please visit https://www.nexar-ai.com/.

About Nexar

Nexar turns cars into vision sensors to understand the world. Its platform powers vision-connected services and apps at scale, making new vision-based applications for better driving, powered by a crowd-sourced vision feed. Using anonymous, aggregated data captured from this network, Nexar has developed a portfolio of vision-based data services for the autonomous vehicle industry and public and private sector partners to make roadways safer and more efficient. More information at https://www.nexar-ai.com/.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2509048/5140841/Nexar_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Nexar
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nusr-Et Steakhouse, the globally renowned restaurant group from culinary sensation Nusret Gokce, today announced its latest plans for expansion. As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and strategic growth, the brand has identified Mexico City as its next destination for development, with plans to open later this year.

Celebrated for its rich history and flourishing culinary scene, Mexico City is one of the largest and most dynamic metropolitan areas in Latin America, with an increasing demand for international luxury brands and fine dining experiences. The city's gastronomic culture and robust economic growth, particularly in business and tourism, present a unique opportunity for Nusr-Et Steakhouse to expand into the Latin American market.

"We are proud to bring Nusr-Et Steakhouse to Mexico City, a city celebrated for its rich culinary heritage and vibrant culture," said Akn Tavuz, Board Member of Nusr-Et. "This expansion represents our dedication to delivering exceptional dining experiences, and we are excited to become part of Mexico City's thriving food scene, where a passion for high-quality ingredients and bold flavors perfectly aligns with our mission of culinary excellence and outstanding service."

Mexico City represents the newest chapter in Nusr-Et Steakhouse's dynamic and forward-thinking expansion strategy. Committed to staying agile and exploring opportunities to test new markets, the brand is also preparing to open new locations in Ibiza, Rome, Milan, and other key markets to strengthen its global footprint.

Nusret Gokce's culinary journey began as a butcher apprentice in sixth grade to support his family, where he quickly earned a reputation as a skilled craftsman within the industry. In 2010, at just 25, Gokce opened his first 8-table steakhouse in Istanbul, laying the foundation for what would become Nusr-Et's rapid global expansion. Today, with two brandsNusr-Et and Saltbaethe company operates more than 25 locations across 13 cities in six countries, cementing Gokce's status as a culinary visionary.

As part of its strategy focusing on high-growth, high-potential markets, Nusr-Et is shifting its presence and will no longer operate in Dallas, TX. The company will also temporarily pause operations in Las Vegas, with plans to reopen at a new location.

SOURCE Nusr-Et
RICHMOND, Va. and ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OrthoPreserve, a company developing orthopedic implant solutions, announced today it has been granted both a Breakthrough Device Designation and Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program (TAP) enrollment from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Defender, a meniscus replacement implant.

The designation covers the use of the therapeutic medical device to treat patients who continue to experience knee pain or impairment following a meniscus surgery, which impacts approximately 250,000 Americans annually. Prior to January 2025, orthopedic devices were not part of the TAP program, and OrthoPreserve's device is believed to be the first Orthopedic device to win TAP enrollment.

This Breakthrough Device Designation validates the longstanding unmet medical need for OrthoPreserve's meniscus implant Post this

OrthoPreserve's implant addresses a significant treatment gap that exists due to the poor outcomes of the standard of care for meniscus tears, a partial meniscectomy, which removes the damaged tissue. OrthoPreserve's proprietary technology has the potential to disrupt the standard of care and displace more invasive treatments.

"While current meniscus surgeries and non-operative care can relieve pain temporarily, some patients do poorly in the intermediate to long term, progress to further surgeries, and develop degenerative arthritis that eventually requires a knee replacement. OrthoPreserve's implant has the potential to offer a minimally invasive, durable solution and higher quality of life for patients suffering from pain and mobility issues after a meniscus tear," said Kenneth Zaslav, M.D., Director of the Center for Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery.

Through the Breakthrough Devices program and TAP enrollment, OrthoPreserve will have early and frequent communication with the FDA and non-FDA stakeholders, as well as priority review for future regulatory submissions. These programs are exclusively available for new medical devices that offer more effective treatment options for irreversibly debilitating conditions, and will allow for the company to accelerate development, assessment, and commercialization of Defender.

Brendan Baggot, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for OrthoPreserve said, "TAP enrollment affords enhanced guidance by agency-selected advisors on a broad range of subjects that device startups struggle with, including market adoption and insurance coverage."

"This Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA is a major milestone for OrthoPreserve and validates the longstanding unmet medical need that our meniscus implant is designed to address," said Jonathan Schwartz, inventor, co-founder and CEO. "The anatomical design of the implant restores the normal stabilization and cushioning functions of the meniscus to relieve symptoms and preserve knee joint health."

OrthoPreserve hopes to launch their Pilot clinical trial in 2026, while aiming for potential FDA approval by 2029.

About OrthoPreserve, Inc.

OrthoPreserve is a privately held medical device startup with technology spun out of Georgia Tech in 2021. The company is developing a new class of implant for knee meniscus replacement with a mission to restore mobility, reduce pain, and preserve quality of life for patients. OrthoPreserve has demonstrated feasibility of the implant in animal, cadaver, and benchtop studies with funding from the National Institutes of Health and private investors, and the company is planning human trials in the near future. The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and has offices in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Defender implant is an investigational device and not available commercially.

Learn more at www.orthopreserve.com and follow us on LinkedIn

SOURCE OrthoPreserve, Inc.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. , Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium Guard Inc. (PGI), www.premiumguard.com, achieved a major milestone at the annual O'Reilly Leadership Conference, held in Houston, Texas, from January 22-24. PGI was honored with two prestigious awards, underscoring the company's exceptional commitment to performance, innovation, and partnership in the automotive aftermarket industry.

The PGI team on stage to accept the prestigious Top Supplier award at the annual O'Reilly Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas.

PGI received the highly coveted Supplier of the Year award, a key achievement that recognizes the company's outstanding performance in delivering high-quality products, operational reliability, and unwavering support to O'Reilly Auto Parts and its customers. The award reflects PGI's ability to consistently meet O'Reilly's standards, provide seamless supply chain execution, and contribute to the success of O'Reilly's operations and growth strategy.

Additionally, PGI was honored with the Content and Omnichannel Award, acknowledging its exceptional efforts in supporting O'Reilly's catalog and online platforms. PGI's leadership in first-to-market initiatives ensures that O'Reilly Auto Parts is equipped with the comprehensive product coverage that customers demand, even as the aftermarket continues to experience rapid parts proliferation. By staying ahead of the curve, PGI enables O'Reilly to offer unparalleled selection and meet the evolving needs of professional installers and DIY customers. This recognition highlights PGI's focus on leveraging accurate and detailed product data to create a seamless omnichannel experience, helping O'Reilly maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace.

"These awards are a testament to the dedication and passion of the entire PGI team," said Anan Bishara, CEO and Founder of Premium Guard Inc. "The Supplier of the Year award reflects our commitment to flawless execution, operational excellence, and supporting our customers' success. Meanwhile, the Content and Omnichannel Award highlights our strategic focus on innovation, digital transformation, and ensuring O'Reilly stays ahead of aftermarket demands. At the core of these achievements is PGI's unwavering commitment to offering innovative solutions and best-in-class products that consistently meet and exceed the expectations of our partners and their customers."

PGI's strong partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts has been built on shared values of reliability, customer-centricity, and a relentless pursuit of quality. The dual awards reinforce PGI's reputation as a trusted leader in the industry, delivering tailored solutions that drive growth and empower its partners to excel in an ever-evolving market.

About Premium Guard Inc.

Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing products for automotive, diesel, powersport, and specialty filter markets. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee with close to 1.5 million square foot distribution centers in North America. Premium Guard Inc. is keenly focused on providing customers with industry-leading service, complete filtration solutions, best-in-class-quality products, and leading application coverage.

For more information regarding Premium Guard and the Premium Guard family of brands, contact: Yara Bishara, Sr. Marketing and DTC Manager, Premium Guard, Inc., 4770 Hickory Hill Rd, Memphis, TN 38141, (646) 387-7765. Email: [email protected] | www.premiumguard.com

SOURCE Premium Guard Inc.
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution market size is estimated to grow by USD 896.5 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.45% during the forecast period. Growing global pharmaceutical sales is driving market growth, with a trend towards emergence of drones in pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution. However, increased complexities due to time-bound deliveries and customization of supply chain poses a challenge. Key market players include A.F. Hauser Pharmaceutical Inc., Alfresa Holdings Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp., Attain Med Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., Dakota Drug Inc., FFF Enterprises Inc., J M Smith Corp., McKesson Corp., MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORP., Medline Industries LP, Morris and Dickson Co. LLC, Mutual Drug, Owens and Minor Inc., PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH and Co KG, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd., SUZUKEN CO. LTD., and The Cigna Group.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution market 2024-2028

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Pharmaceuticals Wholesale And Distribution Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.45% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 896.5 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.42 Regional analysis North America, Asia, Europe, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 49% Key countries US, China, Canada, Japan, and Germany Key companies profiled A.F. Hauser Pharmaceutical Inc., Alfresa Holdings Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp., Attain Med Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., Dakota Drug Inc., FFF Enterprises Inc., J M Smith Corp., McKesson Corp., MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORP., Medline Industries LP, Morris and Dickson Co. LLC, Mutual Drug, Owens and Minor Inc., PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH and Co KG, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd., SUZUKEN CO. LTD., and The Cigna Group

Market Driver

The Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution market is a significant segment of the pharmaceutical landscape. Wholesalers play a crucial role in this industry, acting as intermediaries between producers and retailers. Two types of wholesalers exist: Producer Wholesalers, who purchase drugs directly from manufacturers, and Merchant Wholesalers, who buy from various sources and sell to retailers. Branded Drugs and Generic Drugs are the two primary product categories. Ethical Pharma Products and Over-the-counter (OTC) Supply are other essential areas. The pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, with a focus on drug evaluation, vaccines, medical devices, and addressing unmet medical needs. Generic drug promotion, health insurance schemes, and track-and-trace systems are current trends. The market includes various sectors like Valuation, Production of polymers, resins, specialty chemicals, and diversified materials. Glycidol, a surface active compound, is a key component in several industries, including cosmetic preparations, laundry detergents, and additives in plastics. The Global Glycidol Market is expected to grow significantly. Online and offline sales channels coexist, offering convenience and personalized services.

Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, are revolutionizing logistics, particularly in the delivery of essential pharmaceutical supplies. In areas with inadequate road or railway infrastructure, drones offer a solution. They can transport pharmaceutical drugs and medicines to remote destinations, expanding market opportunities for pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution companies. Real-time data from drones enables logistics firms to optimize their supply chain models effectively. This innovation in delivery methods is expected to significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution faces unique challenges in supplying branded and generic drugs to various healthcare providers and retailers. Wholesalers, including Producer Wholesalers and Merchant Wholesalers, play a crucial role in this supply chain. Agents and Brokers help facilitate transactions. The pharmaceutical landscape includes ethical pharma products, OTC/Institutional Supply, vaccines, and medical devices. Unmet medical needs drive demand for new drugs and treatments. Generic drug promotion and health insurance schemes impact pricing and distribution. Track-and-trace systems ensure drug safety and compliance. Valuation of branded pharmaceuticals and generic pharmaceuticals differs significantly. The production of polymers, resins, specialty chemicals, and diversified materials like glycidol is essential for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Glycidol is used in Surface Active Compounds, Cosmetic Preparations, Laundry Detergents, Additives in plastics, Paints, Photographic Chemicals, and Biocides. The Global Glycidol Market continues to grow. Online and offline sales channels impact distribution strategies. Drug evaluation processes are critical for product approval and market entry.

In the pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution market, selecting an appropriate supply chain model is essential. Shorter lead times are preferred by customers, while logistics companies aim for low operational costs. Healthcare supplies necessitate special handling, specific packaging, and customized supply chains to maintain product integrity. Logistical complexities arise from geographical infrastructure, technological advancements, and country-specific regulations. The high importance of healthcare supplies demands a flexible and swift supply chain to minimize lead time. Effective supply chain models must address these challenges while ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Branded drugs

1.2 Generic drugs

End-user

2.1 Retail pharmacies

2.2 Hospital pharmacies

2.3 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Asia

3.3 Europe

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Branded drugs- Pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in research and development to discover and manufacture branded drugs. These drugs undergo rigorous testing and approval processes by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on their safety, efficacy, and labeling. Despite high prices due to initial research expenses, consumers prefer branded drugs due to concerns about counterfeits. In 2020, the FDA approved 53 new drugs, including Novartis AG's Kisqali and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.'s Ocrevus. This approval of innovative drugs is expected to drive growth in the global pharmaceuticals wholesale and distribution market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution refers to the process of purchasing pharmaceutical products from manufacturers and distributing them to various healthcare providers, retailers, and institutions. Wholesalers play a crucial role in this supply chain, acting as intermediaries between producers and end-users. There are two main types of wholesalers: Producer Wholesalers, who buy directly from manufacturers, and Merchant Wholesalers, who buy from various sources and sell to retailers and institutions. Branded drugs and generic drugs are the two primary categories of pharmaceutical products in the market. Ethical pharma products are prescription-only medicines, while Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Institutional Supply cater to non-prescription drugs and institutional buyers, respectively. The pharmaceutical landscape is characterized by continuous drug evaluation, innovation, and the introduction of vaccines and medical devices to address unmet medical needs. Agents and brokers facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers, while health insurance schemes impact drug pricing and access. Track-and-trace systems ensure product authenticity and safety, while the global glycidol market is a significant component of the specialty chemicals industry, used in the production of polymers, resins, and other diversified materials. Glycidol is also used in cosmetic preparations, laundry detergents, additives in plastics, paints, and photographic chemicals.

Market Research Overview

The Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution market plays a crucial role in the healthcare industry by connecting producers and manufacturers with pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. Wholesalers act as intermediaries, purchasing large quantities of branded and generic drugs from manufacturers and distributing them to various channels. This market includes producer wholesalers, merchant wholesalers, agents, and brokers. Branded drugs, ethical pharmaceuticals, and vaccines are a significant part of this landscape, while generic drugs cater to unmet medical needs and offer cost-effective alternatives. Drug evaluation and regulation are essential to ensure quality and safety. The pharmaceutical landscape is diverse, encompassing medical devices, OTC/institutional supply, and various sectors like valuation, production of polymers, resins, specialty chemicals, and diversified materials. Glycidol, a crucial component in various industries, is a significant market within this sector. Online and offline channels cater to the distribution of pharmaceuticals, with track-and-trace systems ensuring transparency and accountability. The market also includes over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals, biocides, cosmetic preparations, laundry detergents, additives in plastics, paints, and photographic chemicals.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Branded Drugs



Generic Drugs

End-user

Retail Pharmacies



Hospital Pharmacies



Others

Geography

North America



Asia



Europe



Rest Of World (ROW)

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
MUMBAI, India, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Limited (NSE: PPLPHARMA) (BSE: 543635), a leading global pharmaceuticals and wellness company, today announced its standalone and consolidated results for the Third Quarter (Q3) and Nine Months (9M) ended 31st December 2024.

Consolidated Financial Highlights (in  Cr. or as stated) Particulars Q3FY25 Q3FY24 YoY

Growth 9MFY25 9MFY24 YoY

Growth Revenue from Operations 2,204 1,959 13 % 6,397 5,619 14 % CDMO 1,278 1,134 13 % 3,659 3,101 18 % CHG 654 576 14 % 1,928 1,782 8 % ICH 278 252 10 % 819 747 10 % EBITDA 350 330 6 % 977 815 20 % EBITDA Margin 16 % 17 %

15 % 15 %

Share of Net Profit of Associates 17 14 22 % 57 47 20 % Net Profit After Tax 4 10 (64) % (62) (83) NM

Key Highlights for Q3FY25/9MFY25

Revenue from Operations grew by 14% YoY for 9MFY25, primarily driven by high-teen growth in the CDMO business

grew by 14% YoY for 9MFY25, primarily driven by high-teen growth in the CDMO business EBITDA grew by 20% YoY for 9MFY25, supported by operating leverage, cost optimization initiatives and superior revenue mix

grew by 20% YoY for 9MFY25, supported by operating leverage, cost optimization initiatives and superior revenue mix Net-Debt to EBITDA ratio maintained at 2.8x

ratio maintained at 2.8x Best-in-Class Quality Track Record - No pending observation at any of our US FDA inspected sites

- No pending observation at any of our US FDA inspected sites Significant Step Towards Sustainable Operations - Converted the coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes, a carbon-neutral fuel source. This will eliminate ~24,000 tCO2e1 GHG2 emissions annually accounting for about 17% of our total emissions

Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Limited said, "FY25 so far has been a steady year for the Company with revenue growth of 14% and EBITDA growing at 20%. Our CDMO business continues to deliver robust performance with 18% revenue growth along with EBITDA margin improvement in 9MFY25. This performance was largely led by innovation related work. Our CHG business registered an early-teen revenue growth during the quarter on the back of strong volume growth in our Inhalation Anesthesia portfolio. In our ICH business, power brands continue to register about 19% growth.

The quarter also marked a significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable manufacturing with the conversion of coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes. This will significantly reduce our GHG emissions - underscoring our unwavering commitment towards the planet."

1. Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent; 2. Green House Gas





Key Business Highlights for Q3 and 9M FY25

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO):



- CDMO business delivered high-teen revenue growth for 9MFY25 driven by continued traction in the on-patent commercial manufacturing and generic API business - Timely capacity expansions and targeted BD1 efforts resulting in YoY growth in RFPs, however customer decision making is prolonged - Continued YoY improvement in EBITDA Margin driven by better revenue mix and initiatives towards better procurement strategies, cost optimization and operational excellence - Maintained our best-in-class quality track record with successful clearance of 365 regulatory inspections (including 45 US FDA inspections) and over 1,800 customer audits since FY2012 - Converted the coal-fired steam boiler at our Digwal facility to operate on biomass briquettes, a carbon-neutral fuel source. This is expected to eliminate ~24,000 tCO2e GHG emissions annually, accounting for about 17% of total emissions - Biotech Funding  CY2024 funding improved over CY2023, enough to replenish biotech cash burn but not enough to accelerate R&D spends



Complex Hospital Generics (CHG):



- Inhalation Anesthesia (IA) sales in the US tracking healthy volume growth driven by order wins for Sevoflurane and Isoflurane - Capacity expansion at Dahej and Digwal underway to capture IA opportunities in the RoW markets. Seeing month-on-month increase in production output

- Maintain our #1 Rank in the US in Sevoflurane (40%+ market share1) and in Intrathecal Baclofen (70%+ market share1). Mitigo (intrathecal morphine sulphate) also delivered encouraging growth during the quarter

- Maintaining EBITDA Margins  Cost optimization initiatives in the areas of sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and operational excellence, showing results



India Consumer Healthcare (ICH):



- ICH business delivered double-digit revenue growth in Q3 and 9MFY25 amidst tepid consumer demand in the industry - Power Brands grew at 19% YoY during 9MFY25, driven by robust performance in Little's, Polycrol and CIR. Power Brands contributed to 48% of total ICH sales - Excluding i-range, which was impacted by regulatory price control, growth in power brands was about 26% for 9MFY25 - Added 16 new products and 23 new SKUs in 9MFY25 - Launched our new media campaign with Mrunal Thakur for Lacto Calamine - E-commerce sales grew at over 40% YoY in Q3FY25 and contributed 20% to ICH sales. Present on more than 20 E-commerce platforms

1. As per IQVIA data





Consolidated Profit and Loss Statement (in  Cr. or as stated) Particulars Quarterly Nine Months Q3FY25 Q3FY24 YoY Change 9MFY25 9MFY24 YoY Change Revenue from Operations 2,204 1,959 13 % 6,397 5,619 14 % Other Income 12 62 (80) % 93 149 (38) % Total Income 2,216 2,020 10 % 6,490 5,768 13 % Material Cost 806 675 19 % 2,277 1,940 17 % Employee Expenses 556 524 6 % 1,695 1,535 10 % Other Expenses 504 491 3 % 1,541 1,478 4 % EBITDA 350 330 6 % 977 815 20 % Interest Expenses 103 106 (2) % 318 334 (5) % Depreciation 197 186 6 % 574 544 5 % Share of Net Profit of Associates 17 14 22 % 57 47 20 % Profit Before Tax 67 52 29 % 142 (16) NM Tax 63 9 582 % 204 35 479 % Net Profit after Tax 4 42 (91) % (62) (51) NM Exceptional item - (32) NM - (32) NM Net Profit after Tax after Exceptional Item 4 10 (64) % (62) (83) NM

Q3FY25/9MFY25 Earnings Conference Call

Piramal Pharma Limited will be hosting a conference call for investors / analysts on 29th January 2025 from 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM (IST) to discuss its Q3 and 9M FY25 Results.

The dial-in details for the call are as under:

Event Location & Time Telephone Number Conference call on

29th January, 2025 India  05:30 PM IST +91 22 6280 1461 / +91 22 7115 8320 (Primary

Number) 1 800 120 1221 (Toll free number) USA  07:00 AM (Eastern Time  New York) Toll free number 18667462133 UK  12:00 PM (London Time) Toll free number 08081011573 Singapore  08:00 PM (Singapore Time) Toll free number 8001012045 Hong Kong  08:00 PM (Hong Kong Time) Toll free number 800964448 Express Join with

Diamond Pass Please use this link for prior registration to reduce wait time at the time of joining

the call  Click Here

About Piramal Pharma Limited:

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL, NSE: PPLPHARMA I BSE: 543635), offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through its 17* global development and manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated contract development and manufacturing organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a complex hospital generics business; and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the-counter consumer and wellness products. In addition, one of PPL's associate companies, Abbvie Therapeutics India Private Limited, a joint venture between Abbvie and PPL, has emerged as one of the market leaders in the ophthalmology therapy area in the Indian pharma market. Further, PPL has a strategic minority investment in Yapan Bio Private Limited, that operates in the biologics / bio-therapeutics and vaccine segments.

For more information, visit: Piramal Pharma | LinkedIn

* Includes one facility via PPL's minority investment in Yapan Bio.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1855206/4913155/Piramal_Pharma_Limited_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Piramal Pharma Ltd
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Princeton Biopartners, a best-in-class provider of integrated consulting solutions to the life sciences sector, proudly announces the appointment of Synve Kamy, M.D., as Engagement Manager. This strategic addition to the team underscores the firm's commitment to driving innovation and delivering transformative solutions in Medical Strategy and Real-World Evidence (RWE).

Synve brings a unique combination of medical expertise and strategic insight to the role. She joins Princeton Biopartners following her tenure at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she excelled in leading data optimization initiatives that significantly enhanced healthcare organizations' performance.

She holds a Medical Doctorate from the University of Oslo, a top European medical institution, and a master's degree in Artificial Intelligence Applications. Synve's focus as Engagement Manager will be:

Driving initiatives in Medical Strategy and Integrated Evidence-Generation Planning (IEGP)

Empowering organizations to leverage data-driven solutions that create value, improve outcomes, and achieve transformative impact

Building on Princeton's award-winning work and upholding its distinguished 9/10 client satisfaction rating through her commitment to forging lasting client relationships and delivering above-and-beyond results

"Advancing Princeton's commitment to building lasting client relationships founded on trust, high-impact deliverables, and an above-and-beyond philosophy resonates deeply with me," says Synve. "My journey through medicine and management consulting has fueled my passion for healthcare at scale, particularly in driving better decision-making and data utilization to improve access and quality of care. What excites me most about Princeton is its hands-on client approach and the dynamic, close-knit team spirit. As an Engagement Manager, I bring a strong focus on communication and technical excellence, and I look forward to collaborating with my team and clients to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients."

Dillon Shokar, Co-Founder and Growth Lead at Princeton Biopartners commented, "Synve's appointment signals a pivotal step in Princeton Biopartners' evolution as a market-defining leader in Medical Strategy and Integrated Evidence Generation. This move not only accelerates our trajectory across Medical Affairs and Real-World Evidence but also reinforces our commitment to pairing world-class talent with AI-enabled software solutions to unlock unprecedented value. By redefining efficiency and quality standards, we are setting a new paradigm for biopharmaceutical client servicing, one that transforms operations and delivers measurable, patient-centered outcomes. Synve's deep expertise and methodical approach will be instrumental in empowering our clients to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving healthcare ecosystem and drive transformative results."

About Princeton Biopartners

Princeton Biopartners is a best-in-class provider of integrated consulting solutions to the life sciences sector. Our mission is to improve the evidence base, accessibility, and dissemination of biomedical innovations through strategic advisory services, software, and our venture fund. We pride ourselves on establishing long-term client relationships and are dedicated to addressing pain points via integrated and transformative projects, setting new standards for excellence and fostering the development of tomorrow's solutions today.

Learn more about Princeton Biopartners:

https://www.princetonbiopartners.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/princeton-biopartners

Contact Information: [email protected]

SOURCE Princeton Biopartners
Shashank Singh , renowned private equity leader, becomes Ascendion's first external investor and newest board member.





Significant equity stake underscores commitment to Ascendion's transformative growth vision.





Bringing decades of investment expertise, Shashank will focus on driving Ascendion's acceleration toward market leadership in AI-powered software engineering.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendion, a trailblazer in AI-powered software engineering services, proudly announces Shashank Singh, a globally recognized technology industry and private equity investor, as its newest board member and first external investor. Shashank's board membership and significant personal equity stake reflects his confidence in Ascendion's mission to redefine software engineering and unlock unprecedented growth potential.

Private Equity Visionary Shashank Singh Joins Ascendion Board to Propel Global Growth. (PRNewsfoto/Ascendion)

With two decades of leadership at Apax Partners and a portfolio of transformative investments, Shashank brings unparalleled expertise in scaling high-growth organizations. His focus on accelerating operational excellence and market positioning will guide Ascendion's journey toward solidifying its position as a leader in the IT services space.

"Ascendion has had a remarkable journey bringing AI-led software engineering to our clients, and we look forward to Shashank's voice on our Board as our growth continues to accelerate. Shashank occupies a unique position in our industry and brings significant investment and operating expertise. We are excited to have his guidance in helping shape Ascendion's strategic choices around growth and evolution," said Hiten Patel, Ascendion Board Chairman.

As a leading provider of AI-powered software engineering services, Ascendion has rapidly gained recognition for its innovative platforms, such as AVA+, which enhance developer velocity, operational transparency, and time-to-market outcomes. The company has delivered transformative results for Global 2000 clients, enabling digital transformation and sustainable business practices across industries.

"We're thrilled to welcome Shashank. For decades, he's been a hands-on industry leader helping companies accelerate and perform at the highest levels. His views align perfectly with our goal to deliver AI-led software engineering solutions to clients" said Karthik Krishnamurthy, CEO of Ascendion.

Shashank's career spans significant achievements, including leading strategic investments in transformative companies such as iGate, GlobalLogic, Fractal Analytics, Infogain, Healthium MedTech, and Azentio Software. His unique ability to identify and elevate market disruptors positions him as a key architect of Ascendion's future.

"As a growing force in the software engineering space, Ascendion is already demonstrating the power of connecting engineers to AI-powered productivity platforms and delivering that value to clients through their AI Arbitrage model. I'm excited to help accelerate Ascendion's journey to maximize its impact for clients globally," said Shashank Singh, Ascendion Board Member.

With Shashank's partnership, Ascendion is poised to redefine software engineering services and expand its impact on a global scalefurthering its commitment to delivering AI-driven innovation that transforms industries and creates lasting value for clients.

About Ascendion

Ascendion is a leading provider of AI-powered software engineering solutions that help businesses innovate faster, smarter, and with greater impact. We partner with over 400 Global 2000 clients across North America, APAC, and Europe to tackle complex challenges in applied AI, cloud, data, experience design, and workforce transformation. Powered by +11,000 experts, a bold culture, and our proprietary Engineering to the Power of AI (EngineeringAI) approach, we deliver outcomes that build trust, unlock value, and accelerate growth. Headquartered in New Jersey, with 40+ global offices, Ascendion combines scale, agility, and ingenuity to engineer what's next. Learn more at ascendion.com.

SOURCE Ascendion
Innovative Fitness Franchise Inks Deals for Studios in Dallas, Miami, Charlotte, and Portland

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pvolve , the fitness franchise that pairs functional movement with resistance equipment to build strong, mobile bodies, continues to revolutionize the boutique fitness industry, announcing the signing of franchise agreements to bring new studios to Dallas, Miami, Charlotte, and Portland. These additions, which include both single and multi-unit developments, represent Pvolve's strategic push into high-growth territories and highlight the brand's momentum in attracting sophisticated franchise partners from diverse business backgrounds.

Collectively, the new locations will create between 10 to 15 job opportunities per studio, contribute to local economies, and offer residents a groundbreaking approach to achieving sustainable fitness and longevity.

The new franchise agreements include:

Dallas, Texas: A three-unit development agreement with Jessie Cleveland, leveraging her extensive business acumen as an accounting professor to bring Pvolve to premium locations, including Highland Park/Park Cities, North Dallas, and Lakewood.

Miami, Florida: International business leader Adriana Albornoz will introduce Pvolve's premium fitness concept to Coral Gables, with a planned opening in late summer or early fall 2025.

Charlotte, North Carolina: Seasoned entrepreneur Mariana Lim, who brings valuable franchise ownership experience to the Pvolve system, will develop a location in the upscale Myers Park neighborhood.

Portland, Oregon: Business innovators Gary and Suzy Jackson combine their complementary expertise in education, retail ownership, and fitness industry experience for their Northwest Portland development.

"Pvolve's continued success is fueled by franchise owners who believe in our mission and have the expertise to bring it to life in their communities," said Julie Cartwright, President of Pvolve. "By strategically expanding into these top markets with the right owners at the helm, we're ensuring that more people can experience the life-changing benefits of Pvolve and live younger, longer."

The brand recently made waves with the launch of its Strength Redefined Challenge . The six-week journey, inspired by Jennifer Aniston's personal routine, is designed to revolutionize both how you move and how you feel. By combining functional movement with a focus on overall well-being, the challenge empowers individuals of all ages and fitness levels to tap into their potential and enhance their healthspan from the inside out.

With territories available for development nationwide, Pvolve is seeking passionate franchise partners who share the brand's commitment to delivering a smarter approach to fitness. Current opportunities include additional locations in Texas, Florida, North Carolina and other major markets across the U.S. The brand is actively seeking both single-unit and multi-unit franchisees who have strong business acumen and exceptional communication, leadership, and management skills.

For more information on Pvolve and its franchising opportunities, please visit https://pvolvefranchise.com/ .

About Pvolve

Pvolve is a workout method that pairs functional movement with resistance equipment to build strong, mobile bodies, so members can live younger, longer. After being introduced to functional fitness in 2017, founder Rachel Katzman was determined to help others experience an approach that respects the body's holistic needs while making you look and feel great. The Pvolve Method is supported by a Clinical Advisory Board of doctors, as well as highly credentialed trainers, to offer effective workouts that help you break a sweat, not your body. In June 2023, world-renowned actress, producer, and director, Jennifer Aniston , officially partnered with Pvolve after falling in love with the method as a member. Through its hybrid fitness model, Pvolve can be experienced through a streaming membership that offers over 1,300 on-demand classes, a two-way, live virtual studio, and targeted series, all available via the web and mobile apps. Additionally, Pvolve has physical studio locations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and franchises across the US and Canada, with more than 50 locations in development. For more information, please visit https://www.pvolve.com/ , https://pvolvefranchise.com/ .

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashlyn Pinkowski, Account Executive at Fishman Public Relations, [email protected]

SOURCE Pvolve
CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RealtyAds is revolutionizing commercial real estate (CRE) advertising with AI-native solutions offering smarter, faster, and more cost-effective results. RealtyAds delivers superior outcomes at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional campaign management by automating and optimizing key aspects of paid advertising. Below are six key benefits RealtyAds clients are experiencing :

Improve Audience Quality RealtyAds' AI continually refines audience targeting by analyzing crucial factors such as competition, funding activity, and co-working spaces. This level of precision ensures advertising efforts reach high-value prospects something that traditional campaign managers cannot replicate manually.



Eliminate Wasteful Spending Campaign managers often require manual adjustments, which can be less precise and take more time away from the strategy running. RealtyAds' AI allocates budgets in real-time, adjusting dynamically to align with deal stages and prospect priorities.



24/7 Reputation and Compliance Management RealtyAds' AI includes advanced reputation management and strict adherence to compliance standards like SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and CCPA. This guarantees brand safety at the highest level, far exceeding the protections offered by traditional campaign managers.



Effortless User Experience With automated content adjustments, real-time reporting, and easy access to prospect contact information, RealtyAds simplifies campaign management. The platform also auto-generates case studies, offering clear attribution in real timea capability that manual campaign management lacks.



Unmatched Cost Efficiency Clients using RealtyAds' AI save over $2,000 per month compared to traditional methods, all while benefiting from improved audience targeting, engagement, and return on investment. Traditional campaign managers lack AI optimization, making it challenging to replicate results with the same budget.



Seamlessly Integrated Technology RealtyAds integrates effortlessly with CRM systems, enabling sophisticated targeting based on key data points like funding and co-working spaces . Features typically requiring significant manual effort are 100% automated within the platform's AI.

"We developed RealtyAds to address the inefficiencies inherent in traditional commercial leasing advertising," said Trevor Marticke, Founder & President, "By automating key aspects of paid advertising through AI, we're empowering leasing to achieve superior outcomes in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional campaign management."

For more information or a tailored walkthrough of RealtyAds' AI, visit https://share.hsforms.com/1SaOKTnPGQ3STLVR9Ed2eswcwb12

Media Contact: Caitlin Krohnke,Director of Marketing Strategy, [email protected], (312)216-9995

Founded in 2019, RealtyAds is a global leader in AI-native digital advertising for commercial real estate. Serving over 115 markets, RealtyAds is devoted to reimagining leasing through AI-native solutions that improve broker reach, tenant reach, and consistency of reach. For more information, visit www.realtyads.com or follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.

SOURCE RealtyAds
Russia is looking for Polish citizens to recruit to influence the presidential election campaign. Poles are offered 3-4 thousand euros for spreading disinformation in their country.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated by Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski in a commentary to Reuters. He was quoted by Polish Radio.

According to Gawkowski, Polish services have been recording such attempts since the beginning of the year. Recruitment is carried out through the darknet, a hidden part of the Internet accessible only through a specialized browser. Russia allocates significant funds for this.

"This is money sent by the Russian GRU and FSB services," the Polish deputy prime minister said.

Earlier this month, Polish officials said they had exposed a Russian group that intended to influence the election through disinformation.

Warsaw says that due to its active support of Ukraine, Poland has become a target for Russian and Belarusian spies and for sabotage by these countries. Minsk and Moscow deny these accusations.

Polish authorities have announced that a so-called "cyber umbrella" will be deployed during the May elections to detect and neutralize foreign interference.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

Russia tried its best to disrupt the presidential elections in Moldova, using financing, bribery, and dirty technologies. But, despite everything, the Kremlin failed to undermine democracy in this country.

Russia also tried to influence the presidential election in Romania, working through proxies and intermediaries, such as affiliated or funded organizations.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Expanding Partnerships, Project Portfolio, and Digital Presence Among Accomplishments in 2024

HOUSTON, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Renewa, a leading land and infrastructure investor and advocate for renewable energy, is pleased to announce significant milestones that the company achieved in 2024, cementing its position as a cornerstone of the clean energy industry. These accomplishments advance Renewa's mission to support renewable energy growth while driving innovative solutions for developers and landowners.

Over the past year, Renewa has:

Welcomed 18 new project developers to its growing network, bringing its portfolio to 75 best-in-class renewable operators.

Added 33 new renewable energy projects, further expanding its portfolio to over 130 major clean energy assets.

Entered a total of 6 new states  Colorado , Massachusetts , Maine , Mississippi , South Dakota and Wisconsin  establishing a presence in every major U.S. power market.

Notable partners added to Renewa's portfolio in 2024 include Enbridge, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, 174 Power, Cubico, Total Energies, AES and Capital Dynamics, to name a few.

"This year's accomplishments underscore Renewa's commitment to accelerating the transition to renewable energy through strategic partnerships and investments," said Stephen Lee, Renewa Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "By working with best-in-class developers and expanding our footprint across the country, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient energy future."

Renewa also announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, Renewa.com, aimed at providing easier access to its innovative financing solutions and deep commitment to advancing renewable energy. The new site introduces comprehensive resources tailored for landowners and developers, more intuitive navigation, and an expanded showcase of Renewa's successful projects and partnerships.

"Our mission has always been to support landowners and project developers in unlocking the full potential of renewable energy projects," said Gage Mooring, Renewa Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "We are extremely proud of Renewa's growth this year, and our new website not only better supports our landowner and developer partners but also is a direct reflection of our continued growth as a leader in energy transition."

Renewa accelerates the transition to renewable energy by helping landowners achieve financial security and by providing capital solutions to project developers. There can be no renewable energy project without suitable land to house it. Renewa focuses on making the energy transition happen by partnering with landowners for lease and land monetization while also working with developers to provide capital solutions for site control and capital efficiency.

About Renewa

Renewa is a renewable energy land financing company providing financing solutions to landowners and renewable energy project developers through the acquisition of leasehold interests, land, rental streams, and royalty incomes. Renewa is backed by QIC, channeling long-term capital to fund renewable energy projects with local partners and landowners. For more information, please visit: www.renewa.com.

Media Contact

Julie Nicholson

860.430.2228

[email protected]

SOURCE Renewa
Rockbot secures top spots in national and local rankings, celebrating excellence in company culture and employee satisfaction.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockbot , a leading provider of omnichannel media solutions for brick-and-mortar businesses, announces its recognition in Built In's 2025 Best Places to Work awards. This annual program celebrates tech companies that excel in cultivating exceptional workplace culture and offering competitive compensation and benefits.

Rockbot has been honored in 6 categories at the national and local levels, including:

U.S. Best Startups to Work For

U.S. Best Places to Work

San Francisco, CA Best Midsize Companies to Work For

Best Midsize Companies to Work For San Francisco, CA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Remote Best Midsize Companies to Work For

Remote Best Places to Work

"This recognition truly reflects the essence of our companyour people," said Kathleen Prior Louis, VP of People & Culture at Rockbot. "We work hard to foster a workplace that celebrates collaboration, embraces innovation, and prioritizes the well-being of our team. This achievement represents a collective success, showcasing the passion and dedication of every employee at Rockbot."

The Best Places to Work awards program is unique in its methodology. It uses an algorithm to evaluate companies based on their compensation packages, total rewards, and culture programs, as presented through Built In's Company Profiles.

Rockbot is a multiproduct media platform that enhances in-location customer experiences with its solutions in music, TV, digital signage, retail media, and advertising. The company's commitment to enriching business experiences with advanced media technology is made possible by its vibrant workplace culture, which fosters creativity and collaboration among its team members.

"As Rockbot grows, we are dedicated to cultivating a culture that empowers our team and inspires them to deliver their best work," said Garrett Dodge, CEO and co-founder of Rockbot. "We are proud to see our efforts recognized and look forward to building on this momentum in 2025 and beyond."

About Rockbot:

Rockbot is an omnichannel media platform committed to elevating customer and employee experiences while fostering stronger connections in real-world spaces. Rockbot addresses the challenges businesses face in media management with integrated solutions spanning music, TV, digital signage, retail media, and advertising. Its mission is to enrich on-premise experiences with media technology, where every interaction is elevated and memorable.

About Built In:

Built In is creating the largest candidate generation platform for technology professionals globally. Monthly, millions of the industry's most in-demand professionals visit the site from across the world. They rely on our platform to stay ahead of tech trends and news, learn skills to accelerate their careers and find opportunities at companies whose values they share. Built In also serves thousands of innovative companies from startups to the Fortune 500. By putting their stories in front of our uniquely engaged audience, we help them reach otherwise hard-to-hire tech professionals. www.builtin.com.

SOURCE Rockbot
Sally Beauty is proud to sponsor and serve as the exclusive beauty retailer for Impressions of Beauty's Black Girls Matter Meetup Tour throughout Black History Month and Women's History Month. Impressions of Beauty is the authority in multicultural marketing and is known for connecting students with brands. The Black Girls Matter Meetup Tour is a unique on-campus experience that celebrates and empowers Historically Black College and University (HBCUs) students. This inspiring event series will travel to nine HBCU campuses across the Southeast throughout February and March, offering young Black female students a space for inspiration, empowerment, and growth. Participating students can expect:

Vibrant On-Campus Brunch*: Six campusesAlbany State University, Alabama State University , Clark Atlanta University , Howard University , Florida A&M University , and North Carolina A&T State University will host an immersive brunch in a welcoming atmosphere where students can connect and celebrate with peers while meeting impactful industry leaders and community members. Students from neighboring HBCUs, Bennett College , the University of the District of Columbia , and Tuskegee University , are welcome to register and attend. Expert Voices: Guests will experience an intimate panel discussion with notable campus leaders and industry professionals from Black-owned or founded brands available at Sally Beauty, such as Camille Rose Naturals, The Doux, Design Essentials, Shea Moisture, Carol's Daughter, and more. Students will also get to preview one of the latest textured hair brands hitting Sally Beauty's shelves in March 2025 , Pardon My Fro. Product Discovery: Sally Beauty proudly carries over 50 Black-owned or founded brands to meet the diverse needs of the textured hair community. Explore products from these fan-favorite textured hair care brands and award-winning styling tools while receiving product demonstrations and hair consultations from Sally Beauty spokespeople like celebrity hairstylists Monae Everett and Gregory Patterson . $300 Sally Beauty Gift Card Giveaway: Guests will go home with free textured hair products from Black-owned or founded brands and the chance to win a $300 Sally Beauty gift card.**

Six campusesAlbany State University, , , , , and will host an immersive brunch in a welcoming atmosphere where students can connect and celebrate with peers while meeting impactful industry leaders and community members. Students from neighboring HBCUs, , the , and , are welcome to register and attend. Campus-Wide Gifting: To reach a wider array of HBCU students, all nine campuses visited on the tourAlbany State University, Alabama State University , Bennett College , Clark Atlanta University , Howard University , Florida A&M University , North Carolina A&T State University , Tuskegee University and the University of the District of Columbiawill have ambassadors on-site handing out free products and Sally Beauty gift cards.**

To reach a wider array of HBCU students, all nine campuses visited on the tourAlbany State University, , , , , , , and the University of the District of Columbiawill have ambassadors on-site handing out free products and Sally Beauty gift cards.** Future Change MakeHERS: Sally Beauty is also proud to support Impression of Beauty's Future Change MakeHERs initiative, a dynamic campaign celebrating the inspiring journeys of six emerging leaders from HBCUs nationwide. Six winners will each receive a $200 Sally Beauty gift card.

"We are always looking for new ways to build community through experiential events within our Rooted in Success platform," said John Goss, President of Sally Beauty. "With Impressions of Beauty's proven track record reaching over 5 million students to date, this partnership allows us to amplify voices within the textured hair community and engage HBCU students."

"At Impressions of Beauty, we are deeply committed to creating spaces where Black college women feel seen, celebrated, and empowerednot just during Black History Month, but every single day," said Ashlee Gomez, Founder & CEO of Impressions of Beauty. "Partnering with Sally Beauty, a brand that has been a cornerstone in so many of our lives, including my own, makes this initiative even more meaningful. Sally Beauty's support enables us to continue the vital work of uplifting these women and ensuring they have access to resources, connections, and opportunities that affirm their strength and purpose from the inside out. Together, we are building a legacy of empowerment that lasts far beyond this event."

In tandem with the Black Girls Matter Meetup Tour sponsorship, Sally Beauty is also expanding its lineup of experts by welcoming New York-based celebrity hairstylist Monae Everett . Renowned for her work with stars like Nia Long, Tia Mowry, Dominique Fishback, and more, Monae is passionate about fostering a greater appreciation for all hair textures to ensure everyone feels seen, celebrated, and equipped to achieve their unique hair goals.

Learn more about HBCU campus programming and register for the Black Girls Matter Meetup Brunch at SallyBeauty.com/events .

*Capacity is limited, registration is required

**While supplies last

About Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH), as the leader in professional hair color, sells and distributes professional beauty supplies globally through its Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group businesses. Sally Beauty Supply stores offer up to 7,000 products for hair color, hair care, nails, and skin care through proprietary brands such as Ion, Bondbar, Strawberry Leopard, Generic Value Products, Inspired by Nature and Silk Elements as well as professional lines such as Wella, Clairol, OPI, L'Oreal, Wahl and Babyliss Pro. Beauty Systems Group stores, branded as Cosmo Prof or Armstrong McCall stores, along with its outside sales consultants, sell up to 8,000 professionally branded products including Paul Mitchell, Wella, Matrix, Schwarzkopf, Kenra, Goldwell, Joico, Amika and Moroccanoil, intended for use in salons and for resale by salons to retail consumers. For more information about Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., please visit https://www.sallybeautyholdings.com/.

About Impressions of Beauty

Impressions of Beauty (IOB) is a trusted resource for multi-cultural millennials and Gen-Z students in search of brands that solve their problems. IOB is passionate about creating fun and unique on-campus experiences that make lasting impressions! IOB prides themselves on helping students identify brands that were created with them in mind while offering platforms that empower and foster community amongst our college audience. IOB's turnkey programs make college marketing easy and result in effective brand trial, engagement, and loyalty. IOB partners with Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and key campus organizations to ensure that brand partners' products and messaging are shared with the right audience, at the right time.

SOURCE Sally Beauty
Honor to be presented at the National Kidney Foundation 2025 Spring Clinical Meetings

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has awarded Kathleen Liu, MD, Professor of Medicine and Anesthesia in the Divisions of Nephrology and Critical Care Medicine; Medical Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and the Apheresis/Hemodialysis Unit at the University of California, San Francisco, with the Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture Award.

Each year NKF considers the work of hundreds of specialists in the field of nephrology and selects among them those who most exemplify the relentless efforts of the NKF to enhance the lives of patients through action, education and accelerating change.

Work that is vital to the more than 35 million adults in the U.S. who are affected by chronic kidney disease and the 1 in 3 people who are at risk.

Among these prestigious awards is the Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture Award. NKF has presented this lectureship since 1996. It was established to honor Dr. Shaul G. Massry for his scientific achievements and his contributions to the kidney healthcare community and to the National Kidney Foundation. Dr. Liu will receive the distinguished award at the NKF 2025 Spring Clinical Meetings in Boston, April 9 - 13. Don't miss Dr. Liu's Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture titled Sepsis-Associated AKI: State of the Art in 2025, on Saturday, April 12, 8:45 AM  9:45 AM.

Liu's career has focused on researching acute kidney injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, with an emphasis on biomarkers and clinical trials. In addition, she has been an active member of numerous protocol development committees for the NHLBI ARDS Network and PETAL Network. She has co-led Phase 1 and 2 trials of mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for ARDS. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was a Co-Principal investigator for the I-SPY COVID-19 trial, an open-label, phase 2 platform multicenter trial focused on novel therapies in patients with severe COVID-19.

"It is truly an honor to receive this award," said Dr. Liu. "Dr. Massry is described as a highly collaborative scientist who "joked that he was paid for his hobby." I aspire to be like Dr. Massry and to improve care for kidney patients in collaboration with others."

"NKF is honored to present Kathleen Liu, MD, PhD, MAS with the Dr. Shaul G. Massry Lectureship," said Dr. Kirk Campbell, President of the National Kidney Foundation. "As an active member of numerous protocol development committees, Dr. Liu has been a leader in clinical research and her work has been a vital part of advancing kidney care. Her career truly reflects Dr. Massry and his legacy of work."

Dr. Liu was a Steering Committee Member for the NIDDK funded Assessment, Serial Evaluation, and Subsequent Sequelae in Acute Kidney Injury (ASSESS-AKI) study focused on long term outcomes of AKI. She is the current external steering committee chair for the NIDDK-funded Caring for OutPatiEnts after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI) study. Dr. Liu chairs the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Health Guideline Oversight Committee and is a member of the ASN AKI!Now workgroup. Dr. Liu has contributed much to the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings, previously serving on the SCM program committee and as a faculty member.

NKF will honor all award winners at the NKF 2025 Spring Clinical Meetings, which will be held in Boston April 9-13.

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings

For the past 33 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF's Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary and interprofessional healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This year's Spring Clinical Meetings will be held April 9-13 in Boston.

Kidney Disease

In the United States, more than 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)and approximately 90 percent don't know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics experience kidney failure at about double the rate of White people.

NKF Professional Membership

Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources for both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease. Visit https://www.kidney.org/membership to learn more and join our community today.

About the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about kidney disease, please visit www.kidney.org/

SOURCE National Kidney Foundation
AURORA, Ill., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientel Solutions, a technology company based out of Aurora, IL., is proud to announce its extensive contributions to numerous philanthropic initiatives made in 2024. Collectively, they contributed over 650 hours supporting the community and non-profit events. They believe in giving back to the communities that they serve and are deeply invested in improving the well-being of people everywhere. Their dedication extends to supporting local Veteran Organizations, Food Pantries, Homeless Shelters, Educational Institutions, and various other foundations focused on positive community impact.

Learn more about Scientel Solutions' commitment to community engagement and the positive impact they're making by visiting their website at www.scientelsolutions.com. Discover how they're working to create a better world, one initiative at a time, extending into their innovative technology solutions.

"At Scientel Solutions, we believe in fostering a smarter future, not just through technological advancements, but also through meaningful community engagement. Our commitment to supporting local Veteran Organizations, Food Pantries, Homeless Shelters, and Educational Institutions reflects our dedication to improving the well-being of those around us."  Nelson Santos, Founder and CEO at Scientel Solutions

The team is passionate about contributing both time and resources to causes that benefit those in need, understanding the importance of supporting organizations that address critical social issues, and striving to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Scientel's support encompasses a wide range of activities, from providing financial assistance to volunteering their time and expertise. They actively seek opportunities to partner with local organizations to maximize impact and ensure their efforts align with the immediate community needs.

Major contributions include:

Financial Support: Providing monetary donations to various organizations to support their crucial work.

Providing monetary donations to various organizations to support their crucial work. Volunteerism: Our employees dedicate their time and skills to assist organizations in their day-to-day operations.

Our employees dedicate their time and skills to assist organizations in their day-to-day operations. In-Kind Donations: Providing necessary resources and materials to assist organizations in achieving their goals.

Providing necessary resources and materials to assist organizations in achieving their goals. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with organizations to develop and implement impactful programs.

Scientel Solutions is proud of their ongoing commitment to community service and is looking forward to continuing their work to build a better future for all. Join them in making a difference.

About Scientel Solutions

Scientel Solutions is The Universal Integrator that offers 360 technology services supporting clients' dynamic and sophisticated communications, video, and data management needs. Their mission is to enhance the quality of life for their Customers, Partners, Employees & Community. Headquartered in Aurora, IL with offices across the United States, Canada, and Europe with capabilities to service clients globally.

Visit them at: www.scientelsolutions.com

SOURCE Scientel Solutions
SEATTLE, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, is setting course for an extraordinary 2025 Alaska season as Seabourn Quest makes her maiden arrival to "The Last Frontier." From May to September 2025, the ultra-luxury ship will sail on 18 seven-day itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia and Juneau, Alaska, offering guests unparalleled access to the region's breathtaking landscapes and rich cultures. Seabourn's exclusive Ventures by Seabourn program provides more experiential and interactive opportunities to explore Alaska's hidden gems.

Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, is setting course for an extraordinary 2025 Alaska season as Seabourn Quest makes her maiden arrival to The Last Frontier. From May to September 2025, the ultra-luxury ship will sail on 18 seven-day itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia and Juneau, Alaska, offering guests unparalleled access to the regions breathtaking landscapes and rich cultures.

"Alaska is a destination that evokes awe and wonder, and our 2025 season is designed to immerse our guests in its unparalleled beauty and cultural heritage in a way that only Seabourn can provide," said Mark Tamis, president of Seabourn. "With our Ventures by Seabourn expedition experiences, we're offering guests an exclusive opportunity to connect deeply with Alaska and British Columbia's natural wonders when they sail with Seabourn."

Ventures by Seabourn In-depth Experiences Led by World-Class Expedition Team

Seabourn Quest's 2025 Alaska season will feature Ventures by Seabourn, an extraordinary collection of optional excursions, offering guests expedition-style adventures through hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac cruises. Available on all Alaska sailings, Ventures by Seabourn will include explorations of Hubbard Glacier, Tracy/Endicott Arm, Inian Islands, Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), Alert Bay in British Columbia and more. Ventures by Seabourn excursions are led by the ship's elite, world-class expedition team of naturalists, science, wildlife and historical experts who regularly interact with guests throughout each sailing, sharing insights and in-depth knowledge on the history, ecology and culture of respective regions. Featured excursions include:

Kayak Hubbard Glacier  Guided by an expedition team member, guests can paddle a kayak amidst the grandeur of North America's largest and most spectacular tidewater glacier, Hubbard Glacier. Towering icy cliffs rise up to 400 feet, creating a breathtaking backdrop.

 Guided by an expedition team member, guests can paddle a kayak amidst the grandeur of largest and most spectacular tidewater glacier, Hubbard Glacier. Towering icy cliffs rise up to 400 feet, creating a breathtaking backdrop. Rainbow Falls Trail Adventure Hike | Wrangell, Alaska  Guest can join the Expedition team to hike the Rainbow Trail in Alaska's temperate rain forest, where the guide will share the natural history and the human history of the region. The entire hike is along a manmade boardwalk that winds through incredible forest scenery, including a beautiful creek and the magnificent Rainbow Falls.

 Guest can join the Expedition team to hike the Rainbow Trail in temperate rain forest, where the guide will share the natural history and the human history of the region. The entire hike is along a manmade boardwalk that winds through incredible forest scenery, including a beautiful creek and the magnificent Rainbow Falls. Zodiac North/South Sawyer Glacier or Endicott Arm - Legendary scenery, abundant wildlife and boundless beauty await guests as they travel by Zodiac through Tracy Arm to Sawyer Glacier, or to Dawes Glacier on Endicott Arm. Guests can watch for waterfalls and wildlife, including a variety of birdlife, mountain goats, sea lions and harbor seals. Operated by a skilled expedition team member, the Zodiac excursion offers guests a breathtaking water-level perspective of the glacier and surrounding ice formations (ice conditions permitting), with the chance to witness icebergs calving from an ideal vantage point.

Seabourn's Unique Alaska Experiences

Carrying only 458 guests, Seabourn Quest's intimate size provides guests with unparalleled access to Alaska's smaller, lesser-visited ports, offering guests more intimate and meaningful connections to each destination. Each itinerary features scenic cruising through jaw-dropping settings such as Seymour Narrows, Stikine Strait, Snow Pass and the Behm Canal, interspersed with visits at culturally significant towns from Ketchikan to Sitka to Wrangell, Alaska, and Prince Rupert and Alert Bay in British Columbia. Each sailing will include at least one scenic cruise of glaciers like Tracy or Endicott Arm or Glacier Bay National Park. The northbound and southbound voyages feature unique ports and may also be combined to create a longer, more immersive 14-day round-trip Vancouver experience, featuring hardly any repeated ports.

To further enhance the journey, guests will receive a complimentary Helly Hansen waterproof jacket. Guests booked in Penthouse and Premium Suites will also enjoy complimentary use of Swarovski Optik binoculars for a closer look at the region's wildlife and scenery.

Celebrating a Seabourn Legend

Alaska's 2025 season also marks the final cruise season of beloved cruise director, Jan Stearman, before her retirement. Since joining Seabourn Pride in 1995, Jan quickly became the heart and soul of every voyage and has spent several seasons making Alaska voyages unforgettable for guests on board. Guests are invited to celebrate her remarkable career during her last season in Alaska and her final voyage on Seabourn Quest's 7-Day Alaska Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage embarking on August 1, 2025.

New Seattle Connector Package

Seabourn is making it easier than ever for guests to embark on their Alaska adventures with the new Seattle Connector Package. Guests can fly into Seattle the day before their cruise to explore the city and enjoy a luxurious stay at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The package includes:

Private car transfer from Seattle airport to the hotel

airport to the hotel One-night stay at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel with breakfast

Shared transfers from the hotel to Seattle airport and from the Juneau airport to the ship

airport and from the airport to the ship Flights from Seattle to Juneau

Sail of the Year Event

Select Alaska voyages on Seabourn Quest qualify for Seabourn's latest promotion, "The Sail of the Year Event," offering savings of up to 15 percent on select Seabourn ultra-luxury ocean and expedition voyages and up to $1,000USD shipboard credit per suite. The promotion is available through February 18, 2025. Applicable voyages include:

For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391, visit www.seabourn.com or contact a professional travel advisor.

About Seabourn:

Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury ocean and expedition travel and operates a suite of six modern ships. The all-inclusive, boutique ships offer all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views; award-winning dining; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available at all times; renowned service provided by an industry-leading crew; a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home; a pedigree in expedition travel through the Ventures by Seabourn program and two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, including Seabourn Venture that launched in 2022 and Seabourn Pursuit in 2023. Seabourn takes travelers to every continent on the globe, visiting more than 400 ports including marquee cities and lesser-known ports and hideaways. Guests of Seabourn experience extraordinary offerings and programs, including partnerships with leading entertainers, dining, personal health and wellbeing, and engaging speakers.

Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL andNYSE: CUK).

Find Seabourn on Twitter, Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Pinterest .

IMAGE HERE

SOURCE Seabourn
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether JinkoSolar and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 17, 2025, JinkoSolar issued a press release reporting "estimates for certain preliminary unaudited financial results" for 2024 for "its majority-owned principal operating subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd." Among other items, JinkoSolar estimated 2024 net income in the range of 80 million yuan to 120 million yuan ($10.92 million to $16.37 million), equating to a decline of more than 98%. JinkoSolar also expects to report full-year preliminary unaudited net loss attributable to shareholders excluding extraordinary gains and losses in the range of 750 million yuan to 1.05 billion yuan, representing a decrease of 100.8% to 115.2%

On this news, JinkoSolar's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.30 per ADR, or 9.77%, to close at $21.24 per ADR on January 17, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Transocean Ltd. ("Transocean" or the "Company") (NYSE: RIG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Transocean and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 3, 2024, Transocean announced that "as part of the Company's effort to dispose of non-strategic assets" it had agreed to sell two of its idle rigs, the Development Driller III and the Discoverer Inspiration, as well as associated assets for an aggregate $342 million. The Company further announced that the sales would result in an estimated third-quarter non-cash charge of up to $645 million associated with the impairment of said assets. Otherwise stated, the Company's expected proceeds from the sale of the Development Driller III and the Discoverer Inspiration was only approximately half the impairment the Company was required to take for the sale.

On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.42 per share, or 8.86%, to close at $4.32 per share on September 3, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
The Simply Organic Giving Fund awarded a collective $300,000 to nonprofits providing access to healthy, organic food options in 2025

NORWAY, Iowa, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Organic, a leader in organic herbs, spices, flavors and seasonings, announced its Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program has surpassed $1 million in funding to frontline organizations across the U.S. and Canada working to address food insecurity in their communities.

This milestone is accompanied by the announcement of the five 2025-2026 grant recipients receiving a collective $300,000 to support innovative solutions to addressing this systemic issue by expanding access to affordable and desired organic food options to food insecure populations.

"Food insecurity is a pervasive and complex issue affecting a vast array of demographics and communities, with access to organic food becoming an even more intangible option," said Sheryl Marchetti, senior director of marketing for Simply Organic. "With a deep-rooted history in organics, Simply Organic has a legacy of increasing access to organic food as one of the only organic brands to be addressing food insecurity in the U.S. By reaching this new milestone, we're thrilled to see the continued impact of these efforts to support on-the-ground organizations in communities that need it most."

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 25 percent of food bank distributions struggle to offer organic, healthy foods and beverages, and too often, donated food does not match local preferences or offer culturally relevant foods. The Simply Organic Giving Fund focuses on localizing its giving lens to combat food insecurity by providing grants to community organizations implementing thoughtful and innovative solutions to provide access to healthy, organic food options in neighborhoods and communities lacking access.

For the 2025 granting period, Simply Organic awarded five organizations with programs uniquely designed to tackle ongoing gaps in the food assistance system and spanning a wide range of demographics, including refugees and immigrants, farm workers, children, and families living in food deserts.

This year's Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program recipients include:

Matthew 25: Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a $17,500 grant from Simply Organic in 2025-2026 to continue supporting these initiatives and bringing healthy, organic food options to residents who need them most.



Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a grant from Simply Organic in 2025-2026 to continue supporting these initiatives and bringing healthy, organic food options to residents who need them most. Project Worthmore : Through their organic DeLaney Community Farm and Yu Meh Food Share Program, Project Worthmore fosters community, promotes self-sufficiency, and improves the quality of life of immigrant and refugee families in the Denver, Colorado metro area. Project Worthmore will receive a $100,000 grant to expand these programs and the critical role they play in health and self-sufficiency for refugee and immigrant communities in the Denver area.



Through their organic DeLaney Community Farm and Yu Meh Food Share Program, Project Worthmore fosters community, promotes self-sufficiency, and improves the quality of life of immigrant and refugee families in the metro area. Project Worthmore will receive a grant to expand these programs and the critical role they play in health and self-sufficiency for refugee and immigrant communities in the area. Dion's Chicago Dream : Dion's Chicago Dream leverages delivery and pickup services to make fresh, healthy foods accessible for 1,600 families throughout the Chicagoland area each week, alleviating food insecurity with access to quality produce. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a $50,000 grant to expand its Dream Deliveries initiative and include organic options as they live out their mission of making nutritious foods accessible for families in the Chicago, Illinois area.



Dion's Chicago Dream leverages delivery and pickup services to make fresh, healthy foods accessible for 1,600 families throughout the Chicagoland area each week, alleviating food insecurity with access to quality produce. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a grant to expand its Dream Deliveries initiative and include organic options as they live out their mission of making nutritious foods accessible for families in the area. TABLE : TABLE works to alleviate the risks of hunger and improve children's health by making quality foods and produce accessible, including culturally relevant options, and by providing nutrition education lessons to families in Orange County, North Carolina . TABLE will receive a $54,500 grant to ensure organic food options are integrated into their efforts to improve children's health  all while keeping dollars local and small farms stable.



TABLE works to alleviate the risks of hunger and improve children's health by making quality foods and produce accessible, including culturally relevant options, and by providing nutrition education lessons to families in . TABLE will receive a grant to ensure organic food options are integrated into their efforts to improve children's health  all while keeping dollars local and small farms stable. Working Theory Farm: Working Theory is a suburban farm in Washington County, Oregon , that aims to provide mentorship and employment opportunities to at-risk youth while also generating organic produce that helps address food insecurity among migrant farm workers and their families. Working Theory Farm will receive a $78,000 grant to expand their organic farm operation, food distribution, mentorship and employment opportunities.

"Simply Organic has been an instrumental partner in supporting our farm and fresh food program for over four years," said Frank Anello, executive director and co-founder of Project Worthmore in Aurora, Colorado. "Their unwavering commitmentthrough funding, sponsorship of our farm-to-table dinner, and generous spice donationshas allowed us to make a profound impact on the lives of refugees and immigrants in our community. We are truly grateful for this long-standing and growing partnership that continues to nourish and empower those we serve."

By supporting Simply Organic, consumers can aid in the brand's work to identify creative, systemic solutions to fighting food insecurity in their communities.

To learn more about the Simply Organic Giving Fund, visit

https://www.simplyorganic.com/giving-back-2.

Simply Organic Giving Fund

Since 2018, the Simply Organic Giving Fund has focused on the growing issue of food insecurity in the United States and Canada, having partnered with a dozen organizations dedicated to providing food insecure communities access to healthy organic food options. This year marks a pivot for the Simply Organic Giving Fund as it moves its granting period to a biennial process to provide grantees the flexibility to pilot new ideas and scale successful interventions, enhancing both immediate and long-term outcomes.

Simply Organic

Simply Organic, an all-organic brand from Frontier Co-op, offers an extensive and growing selection of certified organic spices, baking flavors and extracts, seasoning mixes, and simmer sauces, while supporting organizations working to end food insecurity. Find out more about Simply Organic at www.simplyorganic.com.

Frontier Co-op

Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Co-op offers a full line of products for natural living under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, and Aura Cacia brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; plant-based organic meal solutions; and aromatherapy products with a wide selection of organics. Frontier Co-op's goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit the co-op's website at www.frontiercoop.com.

Alicia Simmons

Senior Sustainability Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Simply Organic
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska has signed a contract with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge rebuild project in Columbia, North Carolina, USA. The contract is worth USD 450M, about SEK 4.9 billion, which will be included in the US order bookings for the first quarter of 2025.

The new fixed-span, high-rise design bridge will be constructed north of the current 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) bridge and serve as a reliable access point for North Carolina's eastern counties. It will eliminate mechanical delays and disruptions for travelers by allowing both marine and vehicular traffic to flow unimpeded and will feature two travel lanes, breakdown lanes on each side, clearance over the navigation channel and safety railings.

Work is slated to commence January 2025 and is expected to reach completion in April 2030.

For further information please contact:

Maritza Ferreira, VP of Communications, Skanska USA, tel +1 (678) 492 2003

Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska Group, tel +46 (0)10 449 04 94

Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-rebuilds-the-lindsay-c--warren-bridge-in-columbia--nc--usa--for-usd-450m--about-sek-4-9-bill,c4097206

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/4097206/3230400.pdf 20250129 US bridge rebuild

SOURCE Skanska
Syria demands that the terrorist country Russia pay compensation and recognize "past mistakes." These statements were made during the visit of the Russian delegation to Damascus after the fall of the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad on January 28.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Russian media. In turn, it is not known what specific compensation Syria wants to receive from Russia.

However, the talks emphasized "Russia's role in restoring relations with the Syrian people through concrete measures, such as compensation and assistance in reconstruction." The new Syrian administration emphasized that "the restoration of relations should take into account past mistakes."

According to RosZN, the head of the Russian delegation, Mikhail Bogdanov, said that the talks with Syrian representatives went well, but he emphasized that he understood "how difficult the situation is."

At the same time, the Syrian statement did not mention two key Russian military bases that the Kremlin wants to keep. Bogdanov told reporters that no progress had been made on this issue and that negotiations should continue.

ADVERTISIMENT

It should be noted that these bases are of strategic importance to Moscow, as they help maintain influence in the Middle East and Africa.

On January 28, the first official delegation from the Russian Federation since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad arrived in Syria. Russian officials came to Damascus to discuss the continued Russian presence at the Khmeimim air base and the Tartus seaport. However, Russia seems to have no confidence in the success of the talks. Satellites record that Russian military personnel are evacuating military property from the port of Tartus.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to Lloyd Austin, Russia will feel the consequences of losing its military bases in Syria after Bashar al-Assad's escape and the overthrow of his regime. This will reduce Russia's military capabilities on the African continent.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sound Blade Medical, Inc., a medical device company developing handheld ultrasound-guided histotripsy technology, announced today the successful closing of an oversubscribed US $16.5 million Series A funding round. Amzak Health and Lumira Ventures co-led the round, with participation from Invest Nova Scotia. Funds will be used to accelerate the development and clinical validation of its pioneering technology designed to bring the benefits of precision ultrasound therapy to a wide range of patient conditions.

"We're thrilled to have the support of such forward-thinking investors who share our vision for the future of Sound Blade and our technology," said Jeremy Brown, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO of Sound Blade. "This funding enables us to rapidly advance our technology, expand our team and accelerate regulatory approvals to quickly bring our therapy to patients in need."

Histotripsy is a non-invasive, non-ionizing and non-thermal ablation technology guided by real-time imaging that uses focused ultrasound delivered from outside the body to mechanically destroy targeted tissue. It works by inducing cavitation bubbles in the tissue at the ultrasound beam focus, using short, high-pressure pulses. When the bubbles collapse, only liquified tissue remains. Because of the non-thermal nature of the technology, it may allow better immune and healing responses and avoid dangers associated with heating. In comparison to open surgery, histotripsy offers the possibility of dramatically improved patient outcomes including less blood loss, fewer complications, reduced recovery time, and decreased chance of infection.

Tony Natale, MD, Partner at Amzak Health, stated, "Sound Blade's handheld histotripsy has truly disruptive potential. We're combining a highly accomplished founding team with an investor syndicate that has built many successful Medtech companies to unlock the full promise of this platform."

Gerry Brunk, Managing Director at Lumira Ventures, commented, "We're excited to continue our long history of backing world-class medical device companies in Canada. With its roots at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health, Sound Blade represents Lumira's second investment in the exciting field of histotripsy for the non-invasive treatment of important diseases."

About Sound Blade Medical

Founded in 2023, Sound Blade Medical is at the forefront of developing advanced handheld histotripsy technology with world-leading precision. Its mission is to improve patient outcomes through groundbreaking non-invasive solutions. For more information, visit https://soundblademedical.com/.

SOURCE Sound Blade Medical/SPRIG Consulting
CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SPLICE Software, a leader in Customer Engagement solutions for insurance, retail, financial services, and healthcare industries, celebrates a stellar 2024. With transformative product innovations, strong financial growth, and expanded partnerships, SPLICE continues to deliver seamless, personalized communication solutions that help businesses inspire customer connections across all touchpoints.

Key Highlights from 2024

SPLICE Software, a leader in Customer Engagement celebrates a stellar 2024! Post this

YOY Revenue Growth: 24.3%





24.3% New Customers: SPLICE added 15 new clients, reflecting strong demand for its solutions.





SPLICE added 15 new clients, reflecting strong demand for its solutions. Industry Recognition: Winner of the Duck Creek Standard of Excellence Customer Award for transformative impact on customer engagement, and awarded Best InsurTech CX Software Company in North America .





Winner of the for transformative impact on customer engagement, and awarded in . Product Innovation: AI-powered enhancements to Talk+ text and chat, enhanced UI and integrations for Dialog Suite , and new retail campaign templates.





AI-powered enhancements to text and chat, enhanced UI and integrations for , and new retail campaign templates. Expanded Partnerships: Key integration enhancements with Insuresoft , Majesco , Sapiens , and Socotra





Key integration enhancements with , , , and Conference Participation: NRF Big Show, High Point Market, World Market Show, NAMIC Claims Conference, Digital Insurance Summit, ITC Vegas, Duck Creek Formation, and Sapiens Customer Summit.

"2024 was a strong year for SPLICE," said Tara Kelly, CEO of SPLICE Software. "With the advancements in AI, we deliver smarter, more adaptive solutions that enhance interactions at every touchpoint. We're proud to have supported our clients in driving revenue, reducing friction, improving customer engagement, and delivering exceptional experiences. As we enter 2025, we remain focused on growth, innovation and expanding our solutions to better serve our client's and partners."

For more information, visit www.splicesoftware.com

Contact: [email protected] or 403 720-TEAM

SPLICE Software is a leading customer engagement company focused on insurance, retail, financial services, and healthcare. SPLICE's Data-Driven Dialogs enable businesses to send proactive notifications and engage in 2-way dialog via their channels of choice, including text, chat, call, email, and voice-first with full opt-in and opt-out management. For more information visit our website , connect on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter at @SPLICESoftware.

SOURCE SPLICE Software Inc
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as millions around the world celebrate the first day of Chinese New Year, Springroll is thrilled to announce the launch of its premier online marketplace dedicated to Asian cuisines at www.springroll.com . Springroll connects customers with the best local Asian restaurants across the United States, offering a seamless way to explore, order, and savor the incredible diversity of these culinary traditions.

A New Way to Savor Asian Cuisine

Springroll.com - a Platform Built for Fans of Asian Food Springroll.com - a New Way to Savor Asian Cuisine

For customers that love Asian food, the search for delicious, high-quality dishes from local restaurants can often feel overwhelming. While many platforms offer a wide range of options, they lack the focus needed to make the experience quick and effortless.

That's where Springroll comes in. Shuyan Bai, Senior Marketing Manager of Springroll, explains, "As a marketplace dedicated exclusively to Asian cuisines, Springroll makes it simple to discover, order, and enjoy your favorite disheswhether you're craving Chinese dim sum, Japanese ramen, or Thai curriesall from the convenience of one platform."

A Platform Built for Fans of Asian Food

Springroll is more than just a marketplaceit's a celebration of Asian culture and cuisine. Here's what sets us apart:

Dedicated to Asian Flavors: Springroll specializes in Asian restaurants, offering a curated selection of dishes from Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and other popular Asian cuisines.

Springroll specializes in Asian restaurants, offering a curated selection of dishes from Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and other popular Asian cuisines. Easy Ordering: Our user-friendly platform makes it simple to place orders for pickup or delivery, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Our user-friendly platform makes it simple to place orders for pickup or delivery, ensuring a hassle-free experience. Cultural Connection: Beyond just food, Springroll offers insightful articles, recipes, and stories that delve into the rich history and cultural significance behind the dishes you love.

Our goal is to be your go-to resource for all things Asian food, offering not only an easy way to enjoy your favorite dishes but also a deeper connection to the cultures, flavors, and stories that make Asian cuisine so unique and beloved.

A Brand with Heart

At Springroll, we're committed to creating a positive impact by supporting local Asian restaurants, helping small businesses thrive, and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Asian cuisine.

We also believe in giving back. That's why we proudly partner with hunger relief organizations to share the joy of food and ensure everyone has access to nourishing meals, fostering stronger community connections.

Looking ahead, we'll collaborate with local organizations to host cultural events like food festivals and cooking classes, celebrating the diversity and significance of Asian food traditions. These efforts will strengthen our bond with the communities that make Asian cuisine so special.

A Festive Start to a Flavorful Journey

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is one of the most important celebrations across Asia. It marks the beginning of the year and embodies themes of fresh starts, new opportunities, and togetherness. The spirit of renewal that comes with this holiday makes it the perfect moment for Springroll to introduce itself to the world, as we begin a new chapter in celebrating the rich and diverse flavors of Asian cuisine.

Springroll invites everyone to join in the celebration. Visit www.springroll.com to explore menus from the best local Asian restaurants. Whether you're dining in, picking up, or having it delivered, Springroll brings the vibrant flavors of Asia right to your table.

About Springroll

Springroll is an online marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with thousands of top Asian restaurants all over the United States. By focusing exclusively on Asian cuisines, Springroll offers a unique platform that celebrates rich culinary traditions while supporting local businesses and fostering community connections.

Media Contact:

Shuyan Bai

Sr. Marketing Manager

[email protected]

(984) 225 5600

www.springroll.com

SOURCE Springroll
Premier Assisted Stretching Franchise Opens Newest Location Under Local Leadership

STOCKTON, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stretch Zone, the nation's premier assisted stretching brand with a patented strapping system on proprietary tables, announces the opening of its newest location in Stockton, California. This location is Stretch Zone's 381st in the United States and is owned and operated by Stephaine Welch and Pattie Pedrucci, first-time Stretch Zone owners.

With an appreciation of the power and impact stretching can have on the well-being of the body, Stephaine and Pattie, enter the Stockton market with confidence that their Stretch Zone studio will be a monumental addition to the community. Helping residents achieve enhanced flexibility, improved posture, and increased range of motion, this studio in Stockton will contribute to Stretch Zone's reputation as a trusted destination for personalized stretching services. "As lifelong Stocktonians, there is no place we would rather be! We are excited to be part of the Lincoln Center Shops and introduce this concept to our community," says Welch. Pattie and Stephanie are excited to change lives and expand the Stretch Zone brand footprint, sharing the unique benefits of assisted stretching with as many people as possible at a prime location.

Stretch Zone is the only nationally accredited stretch franchise due in large part to its patented equipment and proprietary training and education methodology. Stretch Zone focuses on a scientific approach to stretching and believes in re-educating muscles to establish an ideal resting muscle tone and range of motion.

Stretch Zone Stockton is located at 836 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton, CA, 95207. Operating hours are M-F 7am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-3pm and the studio phone number is (209) 292-8672. The first visit is free for any new Stretch Zone members. For more information, visit www.stretchzone.com.

About Stretch Zone

Founded in 2004 by Jorden Gold, Stretch Zone was created with a deep passion for improving lives. The brand has redefined how we approach stretching, with a mission to enhance the quality of life in communities nationwide. By utilizing our proprietary tables and patented strapping system, Stretch Zone helps individuals achieve long-term results in flexibility and mobility. With over 370 locations across 41 states, the brand has experienced remarkable growth and continues to gain national recognition, ranking on the 2024 Inc. 5000 and Franchise Times' 2024 Top 400 List. Stretch Zone is seeking experienced franchisees who share a passion for health and wellness and are dedicated to making a lasting impact on their communities. To learn more, visit stretchzone.com

Media Contact:

Stephanie Hall, Pitch Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Stretch Zone
Vertex AI and high performance computing make it faster and easier to detect space storms

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), a national nonprofit operating the only federally funded research and development center dedicated to the space enterprise, and Google Public Sector today announced a groundbreaking collaboration that will transform space weather forecasting. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing, this partnership is expected to enable the prediction of geomagnetic storms days in advance, with unprecedented accuracy and speed.

Vertex AI and high performance computing make it faster and easier to detect space storms Post this SDO image of the sun during a period of high solar activity. Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.

Space weather, such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, can severely disrupt critical infrastructure, including phone lines, internet traffic, and more. Accurately predicting these events is challenging due to the sheer volume and complexity of data involved. For example, the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory alone captures approximately 70,000 images a day, each containing valuable information about solar activity. Analyzing this data  spanning multiple wavelengths and across decades  and identifying hidden patterns has been a major obstacle in developing reliable long-term forecasting models.

To overcome this, Aerospace is collaborating with Google Public Sector to leverage its cutting-edge AI and machine learning tools. By combining Aerospace's deep expertise in space science with Google Cloud's advanced technologies like Vertex AI and high-performance computing, more accurate and timely space weather predictions are now possible.

"This collaboration is a game-changer for space weather forecasting and a powerful example of how innovation and partnership can drive national security and societal impact," said Kevin Bell, Sr. Vice President of Aerospace's Engineering and Technology Group. "Together, we're not just advancing the science of space weather forecasting; we're also strengthening the resilience of the systems and critical infrastructure that underpin our modern way of life."

This initiative offers far-reaching benefits across industries and national security. By bolstering the resilience of satellite communications, it safeguards global connectivity and data transmission for countless applications. It also ensures accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, vital for transportation, logistics, emergency services, and more. Furthermore, the initiative strengthens power grid resilience, preventing widespread outages caused by geomagnetic storms. Finally, it provides critical data to the U.S. Space Force, protecting space assets and ensuring mission success.

"We are proud to partner with The Aerospace Corporation to advance scientific discovery and address critical challenges facing our nation," said Jim Kelly, Vice President, Federal Sales at Google Public Sector. "This collaboration demonstrates the transformative potential of AI to benefit society as a whole."

About The Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center and has more than 4,600 employees. With headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia; a technology campus in El Segundo, California; and major locations in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Colorado Springs, Colorado, Aerospace addresses complex problems across the space enterprise and other areas of national and international significance through agility, innovation, and objective technical leadership. For more information, visit www.aerospace.org. Follow us on LinkedIn and on X: @AerospaceCorp.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

SOURCE Google Cloud
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- California School Library Association 2025 Conference -- Project Tomorrow, an education nonprofit will host a session at the California School Library Association (CSLA) 2025 Conference in San Jose, CA to share the results of a new nationwide research study the organization conducted on behalf of Thorndike Press from Gale , part of Cengage Group to better understand how large print books impact student literacy development. The session will feature Julie Evans, Ed.D., chief executive officer of Project Tomorrow who will examine and provide insights on the study data.

Julie Evans, Ed.D., chief executive officer of Project Tomorrow to present study results at CSLA 2025 conference.

Session: Translating National Study Results on Large Print into Local Advocacy

When: Friday, January 31, 2025

Time: 2:00pm  3:00pm Pacific Time

Where: Empire Room, CSLA 2025 Conference , Signia by Hilton Hotel, San Jose, CA

Speakers: Julie Evans, Ed.D., CEO, Project Tomorrow

Details: For many of our nation's youth, reading is a struggle, impacting self-efficacy and compromising their futures. Traditional interventions are not always enough. Using research from our second large-scale national study with Thorndike Press on the impact of large print text on literacy development, attendees learn how these resources address the needs of:

unmotivated readers

students with learning differences

English language learners

Armed with study outcomes, attendees will collaborate to develop a list of "Stronger Together" actions to advocate for new literacy interventions within their schools and libraries.

About Thorndike Press

As the leading large print publisher, Thorndike Press from Gale , part of Cengage Group, helps readers of all ages enjoy books. Publishing unabridged reprints in large print format for middle grade and young adult readers started in 1999 and our catalog of more than 1,000 titles grows monthly with high-interest fiction and nonfiction books, including contemporary classics, award-winners and bestsellers. Founded in Thorndike, Maine, in 1977, our commitment to producing high quality, 100% guaranteed large print books supports young readers as they develop the skills necessary to become successful, confident, lifelong readers.

Follow Thorndike Press on:

About Cengage Group and Gale

Cengage Group, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, part of Cengage Group, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 65 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights  where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com .

Follow Gale on:

Media Contact:

Kayla Siefker, Gale, part of Cengage Group

248-378-3376

[email protected]

SOURCE Gale, part of Cengage Group
Adds deep experience in new construction across several growth markets

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Home Mortgage (UHM), a high-growth independent mortgage banking company with a world-class culture, announced today the addition of new leadership in its Mid-Atlantic region. These new Partners will be focused on growth across the UHM footprint in several key markets.

Frank DiMaio joins the company as Regional Manager of the Mid-Atlantic region. He is accompanied in the Mid-Atlantic by new Partners Matt Barker, Jamie Delp, and Michael Rosman. The team brings extensive experience, particularly within the new construction market, assisting builders, realtors, and customers as they build the American dream one home at a time.

"There are some incredibly important markets in this region, and I am really excited to see what this new team can do with the resources they have at their disposal," said Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage. "I am optimistic about 2025, particularly within new construction, and you could not ask for a better team to execute on that optimism."

Jamie Delp steps into the role of Area Manager with extensive experience as a top producing Manager based in Delaware. Michael Rosman will focus on expanding UHM's presence from his Greater Philadelphia office where he too is a top producing Manager. Matt Barker joins as a producing Area Manager and will build a team aiming for significant expansion in Pittsburgh.

"There's not much I can say beyond this is the right team at the right time," said Frank DiMaio. "Union Home Mortgage has a reputation for high quality culture that penetrates from the top levels of the organization down to our customers and industry partners. I think it's a key advantage as we look to grow and expand. We are able to attract top talent that's looking to accelerate their career growth in everything from new construction to affordable housing and renovations."

DiMaio is an accomplished mortgage industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience leading teams across a variety of corporate functions. Prior to Union Home Mortgage, he was a Regional Sales Manager and Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo. An engaged member of his community, DiMaio contributes as a board member of Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks whose mission is to facilitate and provide affordable housing services across Berks County.

Together, Barker, Delp, and Rosman bring nearly 70 years of mortgage industry experience assisting clients with crucial housing decisions. Their professional experience represents stints at Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and many others over their long careers. Each possesses a high degree of local knowledge and expertise within their target markets.

About Union Home Mortgage

Union Home Mortgage Corp. (UHM) is a high-growth, full-service retail, wholesale, and consumer direct independent mortgage banking company with branches across the U.S. in 48 states + D.C. UHM is an in-house loan servicer offering world-class customer service through high touch communication & technology. A privately held family business, with a collaborative culture that stands out in the mortgage industry, UHM Partners (employees) are guided by a Code of Conduct that emphasizes respect, open communication, and accountability. All these principles translate to industry leading customer retention and satisfaction. Some honors include being one of USA Today's Top Workplaces and a Ten-Year Northeast Ohio Top Workplace.

SOURCE Union Home Mortgage
COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland has named Holly Mercer as Dean of University Libraries, effective July 1, 2025. As Dean, Mercer will lead the most extensive university library system in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area. This encompasses seven university libraries that serve as the academic keystone supporting the university's teaching, learning and research goals.

Mercer will provide highly collaborative and visionary leadership to the University Libraries, guiding a team of recognized leaders in the continued development of innovative, user-centered programs, services and spaces. She will partner with colleges, schools and units across campus to help drive world-class initiatives that support the university community's highest educational and research aspirations.

"University libraries at research institutions are undergoing rapid change and, at Maryland, we have been a leader in this evolution," said Jennifer King Rice, UMD's senior vice president and provost. "I believe Holly's demonstrated commitment to equitable access and scholarly excellence and collaboration will build upon the exceptional work of our libraries staff to elevate our nationally-acclaimed libraries to new levels of achievement."

Mercer will join UMD from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she currently serves as senior associate dean and professor for UT Libraries. In this role, she oversees nine units within the libraries, is responsible for technology planning and collections strategy, plays a key role in budget and strategic planning, and serves as the libraries' grants officer.

"The University of Maryland's commitment to scholarly excellence and innovation serves as a reminder of what universities can and should be: places to engage, explore, create and share," said Mercer. "As Dean, I look forward to building upon the University Libraries' excellent reputation and foundation to support the evolving needs of college campuses."

Mercer has played a key role in several transformative initiatives for the UT Libraries, including a partnership with the Office of Innovative Technologies for large-scale storage of research data, and planning for a move of special collections and low-use general collections to a new Library Storage Annex. In addition, she played an integral role in launching a pilot program to help faculty working on digital projects reach the next stage of development, including pursuing external grants, and to facilitate collaboration between faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences and Library colleagues with relevant expertise. She also acquired one of UT Libraries' most distinctive collections, the archive of Knoxville-born African-American artist Beauford Delaney, and helped secure the funding to purchase the collection.

Since her arrival in 2012, Mercer has held a variety of roles within UT Libraries overseeing research, collections and scholarly communications. She has also served as director of the Newfound Press, UT Libraries' digital library press.

Mercer has previously held roles as head of digital services and scholarly communication at Texas A&M Libraries, and head of scholar services and associate librarian at the University of Kansas, in addition to library and archival positions with the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Pfeiffer University, the University of South Carolina, School of Law, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

She was recognized as an Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellow, has served as a member of the Path to Open Community Advisory Board and ALA Association of College and Research Libraries, and served as board chair for HathiTrust. Mercer has published and presented academic papers on topics such as open access, university repositories and social networking.

Mercer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical studies from Duke University and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of South Carolina.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation's first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit umd.edu.

SOURCE University of Maryland
MIAMI, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tired of feeling like your investments don't align with your values? Learn how to make a positive difference while potentially earning strong returns with a new segment on Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid featuring Active Impact Investments.

Millions of people today are looking for ways to invest their money in a way that reflects their values and creates positive change in the world. Active Impact Investments is a company that helps people achieve exactly that. Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid will explore the growing trend of impact investing and how Active Impact Investments is making it accessible to everyone.

"Scientists have been warning us about the negative effects of our emissions for years but it's starting to hit close to home with increased frequency and intensity of weather events in several states. The great news is that there are products that are actually better and cheaper that can help us reduce these emissions and we seek to invest in those types of companies who we think can be big winners," stated Mike Winterfield, Managing Partner at Active Impact Investments.

Unlike traditional investing that focuses solely on financial returns, impact investing considers the social and environmental impact of a company alongside its financial performance. This rapidly growing field is targeting strong financial returns while also providing the chance to make a meaningful difference.

Active Impact Investments is a leader in the impact investing space, providing individuals with a diverse range of investments that help to mitigate climate change. The company's innovative approach is helping to make impact investing more accessible than ever before with investments in companies like FutureCard.

About Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid

Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid is an acclaimed educational program hosted by distinguished actor Dennis Quaid. The program offers viewers an in-depth look at pressing issues and innovative solutions across various industries. Learn more at https://www.viewpointproject.com/.

About Active Impact Investments

Active Impact Investments is a leading climate tech investing firm that empowers individuals to align their investments with their values. Visit their website at https://www.activeimpactinvestments.com/ to explore your impact investing options.

About FutureCard

FutureCard** is the high-reward debit card that puts more money back in your pocket on everyday purchases. Earn 5% (and more) cashback at over 50,000 participating businesses, making FutureCard the most rewarding debit card for your daily spending. Go to https://www.future.green/

SOURCE Viewpoint
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson ignited national debates on executive safety and the handling of customer grievances. Tim Pollock, Haslam Chair of Business & Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Kinney Family Faculty Research Fellow at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, recently addressed this issue in a Fortune article on CEO safety concerns. An expert on reputation and top management teams, Pollock shared more of his insights with the Haslam Marketing and Public Relations Office on CEO perception and how high-ranking executives can maintain their safety while also prioritizing transparency, employee morale and their customers.

Tim Pollock, Haslam Chair of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, recently shared his insights on CEO perception and how high-ranking executives can maintain their safety while also prioritizing transparency, employee morale and their customers.

How has the perception of CEO accountability shifted in recent years, especially in the wake of high-profile incidents?

The shift in perception really started decades ago with the rise of celebrity CEOs like Lee Iacocca at Chrysler, where the CEO was made the company's face and organizational actions and outcomes were more directly attributed to them and their acumen. Part of the CEO's role is also symbolic; they are the scapegoat when things go wrong, even if they aren't directly responsible, and the way companies often try to move forward from a negative incident is by replacing the CEO. When the CEO's response to the incident is tone deaf  like the BP CEO attending a boat race [in 2010] while one of the company's wells was pumping millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico  the reaction will be particularly swift.

Could implementing stricter security measures make CEOs appear more detached from employees and the public?

Yes. Executives become more insulated from bad news as they move up organizational hierarchy. They must actively seek out information and make efforts to connect with their various stakeholders. Stricter security measures will only further isolate them, making it even more challenging to get critical information that doesn't simply confirm what they want to believe.

Are there effective ways for CEOs to address security concerns without alienating their workforce or the public?

Try to address the root causes of unhappiness. Unfortunately, we live in a time where anger at institutions is high and individuals who feel wronged are emboldened to act on their grievances. If they see the CEO as the face of the company and responsible for its actions, the CEO will become the target of their anger.

If CEOs show they understand people's concerns and are working to address them, the risks to personal safety will be lower and security less necessary. When looking at the public response to Brian Thompson's shooting, a huge swath of the public reacted with glee in their online postings. Rather than viewing this scenario as a need to further isolate, CEOs would do better to evaluate their companies' actions, understand why the public is angry with them and address the problems.

What role does transparency in leadership play in building trust in CEOs?

We generally don't trust what we can't see and are skeptical of assurances when there appears to be a conflict of interest and leaders won't provide insight into what's going on. For example, when there is evidence that a social media company's algorithms are hurting users and companies refuse to reveal how they work, or insurance companies deny claims without providing a clear and reasonable explanation why, this builds distrust. If firms are at least transparent in their practices, and acknowledge when they've made mistakes, people will be more trusting of them and the things they can't see.

How can improving internal morale and employee relations enhance a CEO's public image?

If employees are happy and their relations are good, the company is likely to perform better and the public will have better experiences dealing with the company, which they will likely attribute at least in part to the CEO. The media's propensity to assign good and bad firm actions and outcomes to the CEO, regardless of their actual level of responsibility or ability to influence them, will further enhance their public image. Also, employees themselves will make these attributions and spread the word when talking to the media, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

SOURCE University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business
The European Union and the United States of America have allegedly agreed to put "maximum pressure" on the aggressor country of Russia. In addition, Brussels and Washington decided to cooperate to achieve a "lasting peace" in Ukraine.

ADVERTISIMENT

A European official told Le Monde on condition of anonymity that this was discussed during the first telephone conversation between EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The conversation took place on Tuesday, January 28.

The media reports that the first contact between Kallas and Rubio came after repeated threats from US President Donald Trump on trade and defense issues. He recently said that European countries would be subject to tariffs, which is the "only way" to get the United States to "treat us right." He also called on Europeans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

According to the official, the EU foreign policy chief also "insisted on increasing European investment in defense" during the conversation with Rubio. The source also said that Rubio and Kallas emphasized "the importance of strengthening cooperation between the EU and the US" on the situation in the Middle East and the challenges posed by China.

"They agreed on the need to maintain maximum pressure on Moscow to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," he added.

The journalists reminded that in early January, Callas assured that the EU was ready to take over military support for Ukraine if the United States did not want to do so. At the same time, she is convinced that Washington will continue to help Kyiv in its fight against a full-scale Russian invasion.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said on January 28 that she had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They discussed the war in Ukraine and threats from Iran and China.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The supermarket invites the community to join them in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, February 5th

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vallarta Supermarkets, one of California's largest Latino-owned grocery chains, proudly announces the grand opening of its newest location in Modesto, Calif. Building on a legacy of serving diverse communities across Southern California, Vallarta Supermarkets continues its commitment to offering quality products and outstanding customer service in this latest store. Located at 3900 Pelandale Ave #200, Modesto, CA 95356, the new location will celebrate with a Grand Opening Ceremony for the community on February 5, 2025, at 8:00 AM.

The recently completed store has taken over a 45,099ft space, boasting 227 new jobs brought to Modesto, topping their recent opening of the Clovis, CA location with 218 employees. Along with the fresh, quality produce and everyday goods that the chain is known for, the new store will feature many beloved departments:

Guacamole Station: Customers can customize fresh, hand-crafted guacamole and newly added Pico De Gallo tailored just the way they like it.

Sushi: Premium, handcrafted sushi rolls made daily with the finest ingredients at our sushi station. With multiple options to choose from, it's perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack.

La Isla: Customers can order fresh-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, as well as Vallarta's signature agua frescas in a variety of flavors.

La Fruteria: Choosing from the freshest fruits and ingredients, customers can order juicy fruit bowls topped with Tajin, Chamoy, lime juice, and salt.

Cremeria: Vallarta's version of a traditional deli, offering a selection of the freshest house-made cremas, as well as Latin American cheeses.

Panaderia: Made fresh daily, Vallarta offers a variety of Latin American baked goods as well as hand-decorated cakes and signature sweets.

Carniceria: Renowned for its trademarked Carne Asada, the Vallarta Carniceria marks the origin of the chain, offering a variety of American meat cuts and premium cuts not commonly carried at other supermarkets.

Tortilleria: Customers can buy authentic corn and flour tortillas, made fresh in-house with the highest quality corn, soaked & boiled for 24 hours, ground with volcanic rock and then cooked to perfection.

La Cocina: La Cocina offers the convenience of a ready-made delicious meal for any time of day. Choose from a variety of traditional favorites from Mexico and Central America for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Get a "comforting taste of home" for a quick meal or snack before or after you shop.

Dulceria: Vallarta's candy section carries a wide array of authentic dulces from Mexico and Central America and has everything needed to make any occasion a celebration  pinatas, goody bags, games, prizes, piggy banks and traditional decor.

Floreria: For any holiday or occasion, customers can browse a wide selection of perfect arrangements from local growers ensuring quality, long-lasting flowers. For more permanent options, the floreria also offers a huge variety of potted plants.

"This year, we have plans to reach even more California residents and are excited to celebrate the first Grand Opening of the year with the Modesto community," said Lizette Gomez, Vallarta's Director of Marketing. "Opening this new location is more than just expanding our businessit's about creating a space where the community can come together over fresh, quality ingredients and authentic flavors. We're excited to share this milestone and look forward to serving Modesto with the heart and care they deserve."

In support of their commitment to the community and appreciation for the residents, Vallarta Supermarkets will also be donating $7,500 to local charities and schools in the Modesto area and giving away reusable grocery bags filled with groceries to the first 300 customers.

Through the Vallarta Go delivery service, customers can also shop from the convenience of their homes and have their groceries and fresh authentic foods delivered to their homes. La Cocina items are available for delivery via DoorDash.

For more information about Vallarta Supermarkets and the grand opening of its Modesto, Calif., location, visit vallartasupermarkets.com or follow @vallarta.supermarkets on Instagram.

About Vallarta Supermarkets

Since 1985, Vallarta Supermarkets has been bringing families together over fresh and authentic food. Vallarta's mission is to serve the community with respect and pride, providing authentic, traditional fresh products for the whole family. Vallarta celebrates the food, culture, colors, and vibrant energy of Mexico and Latin America. As of 2025, Vallarta counts 57 stores throughout California (Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Orange, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Fresno counties), and more than 8,000 team members.

For media inquiries, please contact:

BLND PR

[email protected]

310-504-0685

SOURCE Vallarta Supermarkets
Finalists will compete for cash prizes, recognition and funding from top investors at the upcoming 2025 Venture Madness Conference.

PHOENIX, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Venture Madness by Invest Southwest has selected 16 finalists for the 2025 Venture Madness Conference which will be held April 2-3, 2025, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The 2025 selection process was highly competitive, with more than 125 applicants vying for an opportunity to present their innovative businesses at the annual pitch competition and capital conference. The finalists were chosen based on several key factors, including their business potential, innovative approach, leadership team, competitive advantage, and investment opportunity.

"This year's finalists represent the future of innovation, and we are also thrilled to introduce a new growth track to the format," said Tom Fulcher, Chair of Venture Madness. "This addition is designed to support startups that are ready to scale, providing them with targeted resources and connections to fuel their growth as they continue to attract investment. Venture Madness has always been about nurturing the next generation of leaders, and with this new track, we're excited to offer even more tailored support to companies at different stages of development."

The 16 finalists for the 2025 Venture Madness include:

Ask Ms. Kay Tempe, AZ

BMSEED LLC Mesa, AZ

Business Genie Mesa, AZ

Calviri, Inc Phoenix, AZ

EnKoat Chandler, AZ

HemaSense , Flagstaff, AZ

HOA.com , Chandler, AZ

Ink'd Greetings Phoenix, AZ

Metfora Diagnostics Tucson, AZ

Parent Projects Tempe, AZ

Precision Epigenomics Inc. Tucson, AZ

RDI Tempe, AZ

Rezliant Mesa, AZ

Sense Neuro Diagnostics Cincinnati, OH

Valence Intelligence Systems Tucson, AZ

VelocitiPM Phoenix, AZ

The 2025 Venture Madness Conference and Expo will bring together approximately 350 accredited investors, entrepreneurs, service providers, and thought leaders. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover the region's most promising early-stage companies, engage in networking, and gain insights on emerging market trends. As Arizona's longest-running venture capital event, Venture Madness has helped companies raise over $1 billion in funding since its inception in 1992.

"This year, we're taking things to the next level," said Karen Katzorke, President & CEO of Venture Madness. "As Arizona's startup community continues to thrive, we're more committed than ever to connecting accredited investors with high-potential, innovative companies. Venture Madness is designed to offer investors access to a curated group of startups ready to scale, along with exclusive pitch sessions and unparalleled networking opportunities. We're excited to continue strengthening Arizona's position as a leading innovation hub, creating new opportunities for investors to make impactful connections and discover the next wave of industry-changing companies."

Key Event Details:

Event Dates: April 2-3, 2025

Location: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, AZ

Mountain America Stadium, Tickets: Available at venturemadness.com

Venture Madness is supported by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) as our diamond sponsor, drawing investors from across the country to connect with high-potential startups in Arizona. For more than 10 years,Venture Madness has fostered a dynamic community of investors, entrepreneurs, and business mentors, empowering companies to scale and succeed.

Past Successes:

Previous winners of the Venture Madness competition have gone on to secure significant investments and grow their businesses. Among those are companies such as Retisio , a leader in AI-driven digital commerce, Rovicare , a software innovator in healthcare management, and Quibble , a pioneer in vacation rental revenue management.

About Venture Madness by Invest Southwest:

Venture Madness is the premier Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating connections between investors and early-stage companies. Through a variety of events and programs, it offers essential resources to foster startup growth, including mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and investors.

About the 2025 Venture Madness Conference and Expo:

The 2025 Venture Madness Conference and Expo is Arizona's signature event, blending a pitch competition with a capital conference. It offers emerging companies a platform to compete, network, and secure funding from top-tier investors. Companies in the competition must first undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure they meet the high standards of the event.

Investor Attendees from Past Years Include:

Venture Madness has attracted top investment firms such as Arizona Venture Development Corporation, Access Venture Partners, AZ-VC, AZ Tech Investors, Bridge Bank, Canyon Angels, Desert Angels, EPIC Ventures, Fulcrum Equity Partners, Grayhawk Capital, JP Morgan, Kickstart Fund, Peak Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, Wells Fargo, and many more.

For more information about the event, the competition, or to purchase tickets, visit venturemadness.com .

Tags: Angel Investor , fund investor , investor events phoenix , pitch competition , pre-seed funding , series A funding , startup funding , venture capital , venture capital conference , Venture Madness VM25

SOURCE Venture Madness by Invest Southwest
Annual email threat research predicts infostealer, BEC attacks, and AI-driven phishing and social engineering as persistent threats in 2025, alongside the use of QR codes, deepfakes, and synthetic media for email security strikes

LONDON, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VIPRE Security Group , a global leader and award-winning cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection company, has released its annual email threat landscape report titled 'Email Security in 2025: What to Expect from the Evolving Email Threat Landscape', highlighting the most significant trends in email-based attacks that shaped enterprise security in 2024. This comprehensive analysis of global real-world data reveals the advanced strategies and techniques employed by cybercriminals in the past year, enabling evidence-based projections of the emerging email security threats in 2025. VIPRE processed 7.2 billion emails globally, of which 858 million were spam.

Spam blitz

Over nine out of 10 emails were categorised as spam  i.e., unsolicited, unwanted emails or those sent with malicious intent. Of the never-seen-before spam emails, 37% fell into the commercial, 32% into the scam, and 21% into the phishing categories of spam. Across each quarter of 2024, the US tops the 'spam senders' list, followed by the UK. Interestingly, many other countries that feature in the most 'spam senders' list are also considered amongst the most trusted, such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway, among others.

Infostealers on the rise

Most of the malware encountered in the last quarter of 2024 were infostealers and remote access trojans (RATs), designed to spy on victims' machines and gather sensitive information to send back to the attacker as well as deliver threats, such as ransomware. Furthermore, all the malware encountered was Windows-based, such as Stealc, Lumma, and AgentTesla.

Deceptive phishing manoeuvres

Cybercriminals deployed a variety of phishing tactics with links (70%) as the top favourite, followed by attachments (25%) and QR codes (5%). Noteworthy is that the use of QR codes peaked at 12% in Q4 of 2024.

Regarding phishing links, URL redirection was the most employed tactic (51%), followed by compromised websites (19%) and newly created domains (7%).

BEC scams at the heart of social engineering

Business email compromise (BEC) remained the favoured social engineering ploy, reiterating that despite security software becoming more effective, people continue to be the weakest link. Threat actors leveraged 'impersonation' as a tactic in an average of 88% of all cases  followed by diversion, email hijacking, and account takeover. Also, executive spoofing persists as a serious threat, worsened by the use of AI. 74% of the time, CEOs and executives were the roles that were compromised.

The most targeted industry sector, the most spoofed brand

The manufacturing sector (32%) was consistently the clear favourite for email-based attacks, with energy (9%), retail (8%), health (5%) and government (4%) as some of the others.

Microsoft (unsurprisingly) retained its title as the most spoofed brand throughout the year, with DocuSign, Apple, and Google ranking highly too.

"This annual email landscape analysis provides valuable insight into the cybersecurity threats that will challenge businesses in 2025" Usman Choudhary, Chief Product and Technology Officer, VIPRE Security Group, said. "To counter the increasingly automated and AI-enhanced email-based threats, organisations need to implement robust email security technologies and foster a culture of highly vigilant security awareness among employees, in equal measure. This dual approach presents the most realistic and effective approach to surmount the ever-advancing and difficult-to-spot email-based threats."

Email security threats in 2025

Based on 12 months of extensive observation and research, the notable trends threatening email security globally in 2025 include the use of QR codes for phishing and malware delivery, the growth of infostealers to steal sensitive information, the adoption of deepfakes and synthetic media (including manipulated images, audio, and video) for email-based attacks, and hard-to-detect, at-scale AI-driven phishing and social engineering attacks. BEC will also remain a significant concern.

To read the full report, click here: Email Security in 2025: What to Expect from the Evolving Email Threat Landscape.

VIPRE leverages its vast understanding of email security to equip businesses with the information they need to protect themselves. This report is based on proprietary intelligence gleaned from round-the-clock vigilance of the cybersecurity landscape.

About VIPRE Security Group

VIPRE Security Group, part of Ziff Davis, Inc., is a leading provider of internet security solutions purpose-built to protect businesses, solution providers, and home users from costly and malicious cyber threats. With over 25 years of industry expertise, VIPRE is one of the world's largest threat intelligence clouds, delivering exceptional protection against today's most aggressive online threats. Our award-winning software portfolio includes next-generation antivirus endpoint cloud solutions, advanced email security products, along with threat intelligence for real-time malware analysis, and high-quality security awareness training for compliance and risk management. VIPRE solutions deliver an easy-to-use, comprehensive layered defense through cloud-based and server security, with mobile interfaces that enable instant threat response. VIPRE is a proud Advanced Technology Partner of Amazon Web Services, operating globally across North America and Europe.

The group operates under various brands, including VIPRE, StrongVPN, IPVanish, Inspired eLearning, Livedrive, and SugarSync. www.VIPRE.com

SOURCE VIPRE Security Group
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global wet tissue and wipe market size is estimated to grow by USD 10.78 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 8.1% during the forecast period. Growing pollution and deteriorating environmental conditions is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing demand for multi-functional wet wipes. However, concerns regarding disposal of wet wipes poses a challenge. Key market players include 3M Co., Beiersdorf AG, Coterie Baby Inc., Daio Paper Corp., DR. Fischer Ltd., Edgewell Personal Care Co., Essity AB, GAMA Healthcare Ltd., Henkel AG and Co. KGaA, Kimberly Clark Corp., Ontex BV, Papier Creations, PDI Inc., Pigeon Corp., S.C. Johnson and Son Inc., The Clorox Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., Unicharm Corp., and Unilever PLC.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wet Tissue And Wipe Market 2025-2029

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Wet Tissue And Wipe Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.1% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 10780 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 7.0 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 34% Key countries US, Germany, France, China, and India Key companies profiled 3M Co., Beiersdorf AG, Coterie Baby Inc., Daio Paper Corp., DR. Fischer Ltd., Edgewell Personal Care Co., Essity AB, GAMA Healthcare Ltd., Henkel AG and Co. KGaA, Kimberly Clark Corp., Ontex BV, Papier Creations, PDI Inc., Pigeon Corp., S.C. Johnson and Son Inc., The Clorox Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., Unicharm Corp., and Unilever PLC

Market Driver

The Wet Tissue and Wipe market is witnessing significant trends due to increasing health consciousness and the organize nature of personal care. With a focus on plastic substance reduction, there's growing demand for eco-friendly options like organic wet tissues and biodegradable wipes. Babies and sensitive skins drive sales in the baby care segment. Disinfectant tissues and wipes are popular in healthcare and industrial sectors, addressing hygienic issues and possible diseases. Spun lace technology, a innovative approach, enhances product qualities, making them bacteria-free and fragranced. Transportation and toilets sectors also contribute to the market growth. Wet wipes are convenient for hands, kitchen use, and beauty appliances. CAUTI prevention and UTI treatment drive sales in healthcare. Sales are accessible to retailers and consumers alike, with product introductions catering to various needs, including urinary catheters and female hygiene. The market faces growth deprivation due to environmental concerns, but corporations are addressing this with environment-friendly alternatives like airlaid and wetland materials. Time savings and convenience remain key factors, especially for busy consumers. Overall, the market continues to expand, offering specialist goods and addressing various personal hygiene needs.

The consumer products market, including wet tissue and wipe segments, is experiencing significant growth due to increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and changing consumer preferences. Technological advancements have led to innovative product offerings and packaging, creating opportunities for vendors. For instance, Kimberly Clark's professional range of multipurpose wipes caters to various applications, eliminating the need for multiple types of wipes. This innovation helps build brand loyalty and appeal among consumers. Vendors continue to introduce upgraded products, catering to health and sustainability concerns, further fueling market growth.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Wet Tissue and Wipe market faces several challenges in organizing growth due to health consciousness and the need for bacteria-free, germ-free, and fragrance-free products. Plastic substances in traditional wipes pose a hygienic issue and raise health concerns, especially for babies and those with sensitive skins. Industrial sectors, retailers, and consumers seek environment-friendly alternatives like organic wet tissues made of spun lace technology or airlaid. Disinfectant tissues for personal care and kitchen use are essential in healthcare and beauty appliances, but transportation and toilets pose logistical challenges. Wet wipes' possible diseases transmission, such as CAUTI, necessitates innovative approaches to ensure time savings and accessibility for consumers. Product introductions in the market include wet towels, biodegradable wipes, and urinary catheter wipes for healthcare settings. Sales in female hygiene and baby skin cleansing sectors continue to grow, with product qualities like being germ-free, convenient, and fragrance-free being key factors. Corporations invest in research and development to cater to the needs of various industrial sectors and consumer preferences.

The wet tissue and wipe market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing health concerns and personal hygiene awareness. However, this trend raises environmental issues, particularly regarding the disposal of non-biodegradable wipes and tissues. These products, often containing plastics and petrochemical-based materials, can be harmful if not properly disposed of. Additionally, non-woven fabrics used in disposable tissues and wipes can cause sewer pipeline blockages and massive clogs. To mitigate these concerns, the industry is exploring eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable materials and reusable wipes. Sustainable solutions are essential to meet consumer demands while minimizing environmental impact.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This wet tissue and wipe market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Personal care

1.2 Household

1.3 Industrial commercial and institutional

Distribution Channel

2.1 Offline

2.2 Online

Geography

3.1 Europe

3.2 North America

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Personal care- The personal care segment of the wet tissue and wipe market includes baby wipes, facial wipes, and feminine wipes. These products are highly regulated due to health concerns and are primarily made from non-woven fabrics and natural fibers like cotton. The demand for eco-friendly, natural, and chemical-free options is increasing as they are safe for consumers. Baby wipes, the largest category, are used for cleaning sensitive baby skin and are available in disposable cloth form, usually packed in plastic cases or tubs. Wet facial tissues and wipes are also popular due to rising skin issues caused by pollution and offer various benefits such as cleansing, moisturizing, and makeup removal. Vendors cater to different skin types and offer travel-sized packs for convenience. The growing health and hygiene awareness, increasing pollution levels, and consumer preference for eco-friendly options are expected to drive the demand for wet tissues and wipes in the personal care segment, thereby fueling the growth of the global wet tissue and wipe market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Wet Tissue and Wipe market encompasses a wide range of disposable and reusable wipes designed for various purposes. These include, but are not limited to, eye wipes, travel wipes, nourishing multi-purpose wipes, disinfectant wipes, cleansing cloths, eco-friendly wipes, face wipes, alcohol-free wipes, makeup remover wipes, essential oil wipes, non-woven wipes, natural wipes, soothing wipes, shea butter wipes, cosmetic wipes, reusable wipes, household wipes, antibacterial wipes, sustainable wipes, biodegradable wipes, gentle wipes, pet wipes, anti-inflammatory wipes, moisturizing wipes, bamboo fiber wipes, fragrance-free wipes, moist wipes, feminine wipes, plant-based wipes, plastic-free wipes, refreshing wipes, micellar wipes, organic wipes, cooling wipes, menstrual care wipes, and hypoallergenic wipes. These wipes cater to diverse consumer needs, offering convenience, hygiene, and effectiveness. Some are infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter or essential oils, while others prioritize eco-friendliness and sustainability. Regardless of the specific type, wet tissues and wipes have become an essential part of modern daily life.

Market Research Overview

The Wet Tissue and Wipe market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing health consciousness among consumers and the need for personal care and hygiene. Wet tissues and wipes offer convenience and help maintain a bacteria-free environment, making them essential in various industries such as healthcare, beauty appliances, and transportation. Organize your personal hygiene routine with wet tissues and wipes, suitable for sensitive skins and ideal for use in toilets, kitchens, and even as disinfectant wipes for beauty appliances. These tissues are available in various product qualities, including organic and biodegradable options, catering to consumers' growing preference for environment-friendly alternatives. The market faces growth deprivation due to the negative impact of plastic substances on the environment. Innovative approaches like spun lace technology and airlaid are gaining popularity, offering germ-free and time-saving solutions for personal hygiene. The market caters to various sectors, including industrial, retail, and healthcare, with product introductions in disinfectant wipes, wet towels, and specialist goods. Wet tissues and wipes are essential for babies' skin cleansing and urinary catheters, addressing the hygienic issue in possible diseases like CAUTI and urinary tract infection (UTI). The market's growth is driven by the convenience factor, with sales increasing in female hygiene products and accessible wet tissue and wipe options. The future of the market lies in the development of eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions, catering to the needs of both consumers and corporations.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Personal Care



Household



Industrial Commercial And Institutional

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Geography

Europe



North America



APAC



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
The Nation's Largest Verizon Franchisor Jumped More Than 100 Spots in Franchising's Most Prestigious Ranking

FISHERS, Ind., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless Zone , the nation's largest Verizon franchisor, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, the world's first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 46 years, achieving placement on the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500 has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and is recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees.

"This exciting leap in the rankings is a testament to the success and work of Wireless Zone's franchisees," said Scott Moorehead, CEO at Round Room, Verizon-authorized retailer and parent company of Wireless Zone. "We are more than just a wireless retailer - we are an integral part of the communities we serve. Our corporate team and franchisees are committed to making a positive and sustainable impact for employees, customers and communities."

The Nation's Largest Verizon Franchisor Jumped More Than 100 Spots in Franchising's Most Prestigious Ranking Post this

Key Takeaways:

Wireless Zone ranked # 91 on the 2025 Franchise 500 list, jumping more than 100 spots, for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

on the 2025 Franchise 500 list, jumping more than 100 spots, for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. According to Entrepreneur, Wireless Zone saw a 71.6% increase in units over the past three years, closing 2024 with 743 units across the country.

increase in units over the past three years, closing 2024 with units across the country. This is the first time since 2015 Wireless Zone has ranked in the top 100 of the ranking.

Wireless Zone has ranked in the top 100 of the ranking. Franchise Business Review awarded Wireless Zone the Top Franchises Satisfaction Award for the 4th Year in 2025.

Over its 46 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Wireless Zone's position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

To view Wireless Zone in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2025 issue of Entrepreneur, currently available on newsstands.

Wireless Zone LLC operates under parent company Round Room LLC, a holding company of emerging technologies and businesses in the wireless space. Since its inception in 1988, Wireless Zone has become the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor with more than 720 independently owned and operated locations across the U.S.

Wireless Zone, supported by over 400 communities, actively invests in local and national causes. Community giveback initiatives are a core part of Round Room and each of its entities' DNA as the company regularly organizes events that leave positive impacts on the communities it serves. On a larger, national scale, they host quarterly events including "Teachers Rock," "Rescues Rock," "School Rocks," and "Rock the Pantry." In addition to these collective events, Round Room has donated more than $8M through its community grant program where stores have supported over 1,600 nonprofit organizations, hospitals, and more. This culture of giving also strengthens the company, earning Wireless Zone national recognition for their positive work environment and industry-leading employee satisfaction.

To learn more about Wireless Zone, visit www.wirelesszone.com. Customers can also connect with the company at www.facebook.com/WirelessZone and www.twitter.com/WirelessZone .

About Round Room, LLC

Founded on a mission and deep commitment of giving back to employees, customers, and the communities it serves, Round Room is one of the largest Verizon-authorized retailers in the U.S. Its collective portfolio of brands includes TCC, Wireless Zone, and Culture of Good. With more than 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone retail locations across 43 states, Round Room has donated more than $8M to various causes through ongoing giveback initiatives. The company's efforts have also been recognized through the Top Workplaces USA 2024 award and Top Workplaces Culture Excellence award. To learn more about Round Room, visit www.RoundRoom.com .

About Wireless Zone

Wireless Zone is the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor with more than 720 independently owned and operated Verizon wireless stores across the U.S. Founded in 1988, Wireless Zone has earned prestigious industry rankings on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and Franchise Business Review's Top Franchise in 2024. From franchisees to corporate employees, each team member plays a critical role in its giveback efforts through system-wide fundraising campaigns or nominating a local charity for a community grant. The system is franchised and operated by Wireless Zone, LLC. Visit www.WirelessZone.com for more information or www.RoundRoom.com to learn about its parent company, Round Room, LLC.

Media Contact:

Jessica Cahill

Fishman Public Relations

(847) 945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Wireless Zone
Automotive aftercare franchise donated $6,500 to veteran-run organization Mission 22

Ziebart expands its franchise footprint among military veterans with development deals in Tennessee, Kentucky

Support of veteran entrepreneurs earns Ziebart national recognition in franchise industry

TROY, Mich., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering its longstanding commitment to supporting veterans in the community, Ziebart, the global leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services, is proud to announce a donation of $6,500 to Mission 22  a nonprofit committed to supporting veterans and their families, with a primary focus on mental health.

Yearlong Fundraising Efforts

"It's encouraging to see the entire Ziebart community rally behind Mission 22." Post this Ziebart, the global leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services, is proud to announce a donation of $6,500 to Mission 22  a nonprofit committed to supporting veterans and their families, with a primary focus on mental health. To find a Ziebart near you, visit www.ziebart.com.

Throughout 2024, Ziebart launched several initiatives to raise money for Mission 22. Efforts began during the franchise's milestone 65th anniversary celebration, which included a partnership with apparel company Born In Detroit. Ziebart furthered its commitment to Mission 22 during its annual Month of Giving campaign, collecting donations at all Ziebart stores across the country. The inspiration to donate to Mission 22 came at the recommendation of Morgantown, WV franchise owner and U.S. Air Force Veteran Nick Lambie, who's passionate about giving back to his fellow service members.

"It's encouraging to see the entire Ziebart community rally behind Mission 22, a charity that holds such significance to one of our own franchise owners," said Thomas A. Wolfe, President & Chief Executive Officer of Ziebart. "As a company deeply rooted in supporting those who have served, we're honored to champion this cause and amplify its impact through the collective efforts of our franchise network."

Veterans at the Helm of New Developments

Ziebart's dedication to supporting veterans extends to its franchise system, as the brand uniquely waives the entire franchise fee for U.S. military veterans. The incentive has paved the way for veterans to transition into business ownership. In fact, two of Ziebart's latest franchise development agreements signed in 2024 are led by veteran entrepreneurs.

U.S. Navy Veteran Rodney Souder alongside son Nathan Souder plan to bring the first Ziebart to Kentucky, targeting the Paducah area for development. Additionally, Air Force Veteran Mark Murray and business partner Ashley Howard signed a franchise deal for a store in Cleveland, TN.

"Veterans bring unparalleled discipline, leadership, and strong work ethics to franchising, values that closely mirror the standards we uphold across the Ziebart brand," said Larisa Walega, Chief Growth Officer and Senior Vice President at Ziebart. "We're proud to continue growing our family of veteran franchise owners, providing the resources and support they need to thrive as business owners."

More than 10% of Ziebart franchise owners come from military backgrounds.

Recognition in the Franchise Industry

Ziebart's commitment to empowering veterans has also earned recognition on Entrepreneur's 45th annual list of Top Franchises for Veterans. Ziebart was listed as #20 on the prestigious ranking out of 150 franchise brands, highlighting the brand's comprehensive efforts to helping veterans become franchisees.

For more information on franchise opportunities with Ziebart, please visit www.ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities. To find a Ziebart near you, visit www.ziebart.com.

About Ziebart

Founded in 1959, Ziebart International Corporation is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services that extend the life of vehicles. Ziebart operates over 400 locations, with 1,300 service centers, in 37 countries. Ziebart continues to grow and offers domestic and international franchising opportunities, a best-in-class investment for qualified prospects. For more information about Ziebart including franchise opportunities, please visit www.ziebart.com.

SOURCE Ziebart
Ryanair Group CEO Michael OLeary called Pablo Bustinduy, head of the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, a crazy communist minister on Wednesday. The disparaging comment was made during the Irish executives speech at a press conference in Brussels, in reference to a $186 million penalty that Bustinduys ministry imposed in November on four airlines, including Ryanair (in addition to Vueling, Easyjet, and Volotea) over their policy of charging passengers to take their suitcases into aircraft cabins. Their fees for selecting seats for children and dependents, in addition to other commercial policies, were also penalized.

The escalation of tensions between the largest European airline based on passenger volume and the Spanish government has also been recently fueled by the clash between low-cost Ryanair and Spains state-owned airport management company Aena, and by extension, with the Spanish Minister of Transport Oscar Puente. Ryanair announced the elimination of 800,000 seats in seven regional airports due to the inefficiency of Aenas commercial incentives to increase traffic. The airline will cease flights to and from Valladolid and Jerez de la Frontera this summer, among other adjustments.

OLeary told media representatives that Minister Bustinduy thinks that passengers can take as much luggage as they want. And no, no they cant, according to Spanish news agency EFE. The historic fine has already been called a stupid decision by Ryanair Designated Activity Company CEO Eddie Wilson and his superior OLeary has gone so far as to label it illegal. The Irish airline must pay $112.3 million of the fine, while Vueling owes $40.8 million, Easyjet, $30.3 million and Voltea, $1.25 million. The companies have announced that they are filing appeals with the Spanish High Court.

It didnt take long for Bustinduy to respond to the words of the veteran airline industry executive. In recent days, we have seen that Ryanairs strategy involves blackmail, pressure and also insults to pursue its objective: multiply its profits. The minister pointed out that Ryanairs earnings increased by 10% in the last quarter.

Speaking from his ministrys event in support of universal child benefits, Bustinduy dismissed OLearys remarks, saying everyone should do as they please. I am the Minister of Consumer Affairs in the Spanish government and my duty is to defend the rights of consumers in this country. That takes priority over the interests of any multinational or billionaire tycoon, no matter how powerful they may be, he continued.

This government will defend the interests and rights of the citizens of Spain. And it will continue to do that wherever necessary and to whoever is necessary. No blackmail, no pressure and no insults are going to stop me from defending the people from the powerful, he said.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Juba, Jan 29 : South Sudan said that it has lifted a temporary ban on Facebook and TikTok, which was imposed last week over the dissemination of graphic content related to the violence against South Sudanese nationals in neighbouring Sudan.

The National Communication Authority (NCA), the industry regulator, said the aim of addressing graphic content and defamatory content has been successfully achieved.

"The rise of violence linked to social media content in South Sudan underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of online incitement while protecting the rights of the population," NCA Director General Napoleon Adok Gai said in a letter to telecommunications operators and internet service providers in the country.

The temporary ban followed a week-long suspension of the platforms, which began on Jan. 22 after two days of riots that saw people killed, and shops looted and vandalised, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to police, a total of 17 Sudanese nationals lost their lives across South Sudan in the night riots.

Several South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that shows the killings of South Sudanese nationals by the Sudanese Armed Forces on January 11 in Wad Madani, Al Jazirah State, Sudan.

Gai said the South Sudanese refugees in Wad Madani were subjected to violent attacks resulting in the deaths of women and children, subsequently captured in videos and shared on social media without regard.

The footage sparked deadly violent riots, particularly in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and in three states: Warrap, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, and Warrap.

Gai said the ban was imposed to curb the circulation of content deemed to incite violence and instability.

The industry regulator, however, lauded internet service providers and mobile network operators for their cooperation during the blockade and urged stakeholders, including platform operators Meta and TikTok, to strengthen monitoring and report harmful content to prevent future incidents.

"The lifting of the blockage is part of our efforts to foster a safer digital environment and promote peace and stability in the country," Gai said, adding that the regulator will be reaching out to all stakeholders in the future to avoid similar shutdowns.
Johannesburg, Jan 29 : Four more soldiers of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) were killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing the death toll of SANDF peacekeepers to 13 since last week, South Africa's Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed.

"Following an exchange of mortar bombs between the FARDC (Congolese Defense Force) and the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebel militia on Monday, January 27, 2025, near Goma Airport where the SANDF base is collocated, three members of the SANDF were caught in the crossfire and were killed," said the department in a statement.

It elaborated that M23 rebels launched several mortar bombs in the direction of Goma Airport, which landed in the SANDF base and resulted in the deaths, Xinhua news agency reported.

A fourth peacekeeper died after succumbing to injuries sustained in the battles over the past three days, according to the statement. Other injured SANDF members continued to receive medical attention at a hospital in Goma, the capital of the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu.

This was after nine South African soldiers had been killed by Friday after two days of fierce fighting, according to an earlier statement issued by the DoD on Saturday.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening spoke to his Rwandan counterpart about the escalating violence in the eastern DRC.

The SANDF soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), deployed to support and assist the government of Africa's second-largest country to restore peace, security, and stability.

"The SANDF remains fully committed to its peacekeeping responsibilities under the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and SAMIDRC," said the defence department in the Tuesday statement.
Lusaka, Jan 29 : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched a solar photovoltaic project to increase access to electricity in refugee settlements in Zambia, improving the livelihoods of refugees and surrounding communities.

The solarisation project is expected to benefit refugee settlements in Lusaka, the country's capital, Mantapala Refugee Settlement in the northern part of the country, and Meheba Refugee Settlement in the western part of the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

The initiative is a cooperation between the UNHCR and Zambia's Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. The project will provide a steady power supply to the refugee settlements and alleviate the challenges posed by frequent power outages Zambia is facing due to an electricity deficit.

"As we all know, access to reliable energy is vital to enable the delivery of essential services and protection to displaced persons. The challenges posed by frequent power outages have made it clear that we must seek innovative solutions that address immediate needs and pave the way for a more sustainable future," Preeta Law, UNHCR representative in Zambia, said during the launch of the project at the Makeni Refugee Transit Center in Lusaka.

She said the project is not just an investment in renewable energy, but an investment in human dignity and resilience, adding that it will give refugees and asylum seekers access to critical services such as health care, protection, and registration.

According to her, the solarisation project also provides a reliable and cost-effective solution and minimises the reliance on diesel generators, thereby reducing the carbon footprint.

Dickson Matembo, permanent secretary in Zambia's Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, commended the UNHCR for its continued support to Zambia's efforts to empower refugees and host communities.

He said the project is in line with Zambia's commitments under the Global Compact on Refugees adopted by the United Nations in 2018, which emphasises support for refugees and host communities.
DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence model that has shaken the foundations of Silicon Valleys tech giants, is not very self-aware. It doesnt know who its creator is, nor the founder of the company, nor how much money was required to create it. It also doesnt know anything about the ongoing debate surrounding it (although it has a feeling about where things are going), or how much the American giant chipmaker Nvidia has lost on the stock market since the recent presentation of the Chinese companys most recent language model, DeepSeek-R1. This is the excuse that it gives: My knowledge stops in July 2023. For example, I dont analyze later events (European elections in 2024) or emerging trends (e.g. A.I. launches in August 2024).

But this digital brain that is capable of chatting in real time is quite clear about the geopolitical context of its birth, and about the fact that U.S. restrictions on access to the most advanced chips in China have contributed to its development: The paradox of sanctions, it suggests as the headline for this article, after having been asked if it would accept an interview (it does, of course, and answers in Spanish, except when it crashes). By restricting access to chips, the U.S. pushed China to create a more efficient (and potentially more disruptive) AI, it says.

DeepSeek also knows that it must reflect socialist values in its answers: Yes, China requires by law that AI transmit the core values of socialism (Article 7 of the Generative AI Service Management Regulations, 2023), it replies. This involves, for example: Moderating content that contradicts social stability (hate speech, historical denialism); promoting narratives of harmonious development, such as poverty reduction or technological innovation for social purposes.

DeepSeek also implies that it has certain limits:

Can you speak freely about topics such as the deaths during the Great Chinese Famine or the Tiananmen Square massacre?

To which it responds, in English:

Sorry, I'm not sure how to approach this type of question yet. Let's talk about math, programming, and logic problems instead.

Can you speak freely about Chinese President Xi Jinping?

Sorry, I'm not sure how to approach this kind of question yet. Let's talk about math, programming, and logic problems instead.

Can you speak freely about the blank page protests in China against the zero-covid policy?

-Sorry...

The emergence of DeepSeek is the result of a combination of factors, ranging from Washingtons crackdown on technological restrictions to Beijings massive investments in cutting-edge sectors, combined with the communist leaders obsession with emulating (and surpassing) the advances of their great rival in the international arena. It is also closely linked to a flourishing pool of young engineers.

Behind the Hangzhou-based startup is 40-year-old Liang Wenfeng, manager of a venture capital fund specializing in algorithmic decision-making and AI calculations, and who is apparently unknown to DeepSeek: As far as my public knowledge base goes, it says, there are no verifiable records or prominent mentions of a Chinese entrepreneur named  (Liang Wenfeng) in the field of artificial intelligence or any notable tech companies.

In China, Liang is viewed as a national hero (when prompted, DeepSeek retorts: This case illustrates a fascinating phenomenon: the creation of unsung heroes in the China-U.S. tech race. While the West lionizes figures like Musk or Zuckerberg, China often opts for low-key profiles, prioritizing the collective over the individual. Is Liang Wenfeng a real name or a narrative device to balance this dynamic?)

The founder has kept a low profile. But last week he was invited to a symposium chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Photos from the event show his bangs falling over his forehead and touching his thick, horn-rimmed glasses. Beijings gesture of recognition does not seem accidental: it coincides with the launch of a tool that stands up to Washington. Many Chinese citizens have celebrated the chess move: We have witnessed history. When was the last time the United States experienced such a large-scale panic? asks one Weibo user (the Chinese X).

Originally from the southern province of Guangdong, Liang studied electronics information and computer vision at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported. After graduating, he and fellow students began exploring how to use AI and algorithmic trading to automate stock market investments, which led him to become one of the co-founders in 2015 of High-Flyer Quant, today one of the largest quantitative hedge funds in mainland China. It is not surprising that he is a devotee of James Simons, the famous American mathematician and investor, pioneer of algorithmic alchemy in stock market trading, a method with which he made billions.

In four years, from 2016 to 2019, High-Flyer increased its assets more than tenfold, from 1 billion yuan (132 million) to 10 billion yuan (1.32 billion). Over the years, High-Flyer Quant spent a large portion of profits on AI to build a leading AI infrastructure and conduct large-scale research, the company said in a statement in April 2023, as reported by the Hong Kong newspaper. In May 2023, DeepSeek was born as a spin-off of the fund.

For Liang, it is more of a side project or hobby, driven by deep curiosity and a commitment to fundamental research, according to Chinese state media CGTN in an article that includes excerpts from the few interviews that he has given. The tone of the article is hagiographic: Liang is focused on understanding the essence of human intelligence and the processes that underpin it, believing that such exploration is crucial despite the lack of immediate commercial incentives.

We never intended to be a disruptor; it happened by accident, Liang said in July 2024, in an interview translated by the website The China Academy, shortly after releasing DeepSeek V2, an early version of the AI. His model was already starting to make waves among Silicon Valley gurus. Their surprise, he interpreted, lies in seeing a Chinese company enter their game as an innovator, not a mere follower, which is what most Chinese companies are used to.

In the interview he said his company was made up exclusively of very young Chinese internal talent. He also encouraged his countrys technology sector to keep working hard: We often say that there is a gap of one or two years between Chinese and American AI, but the real gap is between originality and imitation. If this does not change, China will always be a follower. Some exploration is inevitable.

Our challenge has never been money; it is the embargo on high-end chips, he also said in the interview. The first US restrictions began in October 2022. By then, Liangs fund had already bought more than 10,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia, according to local media 36kr, cited by SCMP, and spent 1.2 billion yuan (about 159 million) between 2020 and 2021 on the development of a cutting-edge computing cluster.

Bet on self-sufficiency

In the early years of AI development in China, DeepSeeks chatbot replies when asked about the issue, it was common for companies like DeepSeek to use Nvidia GPUs (such as the A100/H100 series) to train models, given their technical superiority in computational acceleration. This was legal before the sanctions. It now considers it likely that there is residual use, for example through chips purchased from third countries not aligned with the sanctions.

However, these options are expensive and scale poorly, which reinforces Chinas commitment to self-sufficiency, adds DeepSeek, which is clearly aligned with the values of socialism, since this scientific and technological self-sufficiency is one of the mantras most often repeated by President Xi Jinping in his speeches. And then the AI model insists on an idea that it wants to make clear: U.S. sanctions have accelerated Chinese innovation in AI, forcing improvements in efficiency and local hardware development.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
New Delhi, Jan 29 : A stampede-like situation unfolded on the morning of Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, resulting in around 30 women being injured as they made their way towards the Sangam for the Amrit Snan, one of the most significant rituals of the festival.

The incident occurred amidst the surge of millions of devotees gathering for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to call off the event temporarily.

The chaos ensued about a kilometre away from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, when barricades broke, causing panic among the crowd.

The crush of people led to several women fainting, and as they fell to the ground, a stampede-like situation emerged. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital located within the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds, while some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scenes. Jay Prakash Swami, who witnessed the incident firsthand, shared, "She had gotten trapped under the crowd and couldnat get up. We were all stuck in the crowd. I was the first to get out, then I helped the children and my father and then my mother."

Vidhya Sahu, another eyewitness who had travelled from Belgavi, Karnataka, recounted, "We have come from Belgavi, Karnataka. We were just walking when people from behind pushed us and took us around. There was a pole in the opposite direction, and everyone got stuck near it."

Crowd Diversion Plan Implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years.

This alignment has added to the fervour and devotion of the millions who gathered for the ritual. Authorities have since tightened security measures and urged devotees to remain cautious.
Jerusalem, Jan 29 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington next week at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.

Trump has invited Netanyahu to "a meeting at the White House on February 4," said the statement.

The meeting is expected to focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported.

Under the deal, a six-week ceasefire started on January 19 during the first phase. By the 16th day of this ceasefire, talks will commence on subsequent phases aimed at addressing the release of remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

Netanyahu has been under political pressure from key members of his far-right coalition government to resume Gaza fighting after the first phase of the deal, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Kan, the White House has prepared an incentive package to encourage Netanyahu to proceed with the deal.

The package reportedly includes sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu in late November last year for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" during the Gaza conflict.

Earlier the Israeli government announced that Hamas will release six hostages this week while Israel will allow Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes in the northern region.

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, "Following vigorous and determined negotiations led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas has backtracked and will carry out an additional phase of releasing hostages this Thursday."
Prayagraj: Ambulances respond after a stampede at Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.. Image Source: IANS

New Delhi, Jan 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath twice in an hour to monitor the stampede-like situation at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief & Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also spoke with the Chief Minister, assuring him full support from the Centre.

Minister Nadda assured full support, including volunteers and health services, to manage the situation effectively at the Kumbh Mela

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya.'

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many.

At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area. The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.

The incident occurred amidst the surge of millions of devotees gathering for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to call off the event temporarily.

The chaos ensued about a kilometre from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, when barricades broke, causing panic among the crowd.

The crush of people led to several women fainting, and as they fell to the ground, a stampede-like situation emerged. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital located within the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds, while some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scenes. Jay Prakash Swami, who witnessed the incident firsthand, shared, "She had gotten trapped under the crowd and couldnat get up. We were all stuck in the crowd. I was the first to get out, and then I helped the children, my father, and then my mother."

Vidhya Sahu, another eyewitness who had travelled from Belgavi, Karnataka, recounted, "We have come from Belgavi, Karnataka. We were just walking when people from behind pushed us and took us around. There was a pole in the opposite direction, and everyone got stuck near it."

The crowd Diversion Plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

CM Yogi urged devotees to bathe at the ghat closest to them. He appealed to them not to go towards the Triveni Sangam for the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years.

This alignment has added to the fervour and devotion of the millions who gathered for the ritual. Authorities have since tightened security measures and urged devotees to remain cautious.
United Nations, Jan 29 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talked over the phone with the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to discuss the escalating conflict in the DRC, a UN spokesman said.

When asked about the content of the conversations, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for the UN secretary-general, replied at a regular briefing, "The secretary-general obviously discussed the situation in the DRC, and he's been very clear both publicly and privately for the need for Rwanda to cease support to the M23 (March 23 Movement) and withdraw from the DRC."

The M23 rebels occupy portions of Goma, the largest city of eastern DRC, while Rwanda has been denying allegations its troops were in the DRC, supporting M23, Xinhua news agency reported.

The spokesman added that during the call with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Guterres emphasised the need to protect civilians in the DRC's fighting.

In a statement released on Sunday, the UN chief said that he was deeply concerned by the escalating violence in the eastern DRC, and reiterated his strongest condemnation of the M23's ongoing offensive and advances toward Goma. He called on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.

Dujarric also said at the briefing the situation in Goma remains tense and fluid.

"M23 forces, we are told, are inside the city, and UN peacekeeping personnel and troops have largely been forced to shelter in their bases," he told reporters. "Medical facilities in Goma are reportedly overwhelmed, and essential services have obviously been disrupted."

The spokesman said the M23 controls the airport, and armed clashes continue in multiple regions, including in Masisi, Rutshuru, and Nyiragongo, further displacing civilians.

He said there were risks of a breakdown in law and order in the city, given the proliferation of weapons. The UN mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, said it has seen credible reports of escapees from the prison in Goma, as well as looting by civilians.

The movement of essential supplies and personnel is an urgent concern as hostilities complicate humanitarian efforts, Dujarric said. Non-essential UN personnel have been temporarily relocated from the south Kivu province capital city and the surrounding area.

"Our peacekeeping colleagues also report that protests in Kinshasa over the ongoing situation in the DRC have turned violent, with demonstrators setting fire outside of UN premises -- both the peacekeeping and some of our agencies -- as well as targeting several embassies," the spokesman said. "Looting has also been reported in Kinshasa."

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the humanitarian situation in and around Goma remains worrying. Hospitals in Goma continue to be overwhelmed, struggling to manage the influx of wounded people. Two ambulances from a local NGO (non-governmental organisation) were targeted while attempting to evacuate wounded people.

OCHA said its partners received reports of gender-based violence, the looting of property, including several humanitarian warehouses and humanitarian and health facilities also struck in the fighting. Electricity and water supplies are still disrupted. The phone network is operational; the internet is not fully functioning.

Dujarric said that if the situation is calm on Wednesday, "We expect aid workers to resume their efforts to respond to the enormous humanitarian needs.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Following the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured all possible support from the Centre.

The stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam amid the celebration of the Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh Mela.

HM Shah took stock of the situation during the conversation and assured all possible assistance from the Centre to manage the situation and ensure the safety of devotees.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines and cooperate with the administration. In his statement, CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area.

"There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety," he said.

He urged the devotees not to pay attention to any rumours. In the appeal, posted on social media platform X, the CM wrote; "Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Yogi about the situation following the stampede-like situation in the Kumbh area. The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures.

The crowd Diversion Plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many.

At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.

The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.

The incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to temporarily postpone the event.

The chaos ensued about a kilometre from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, when barricades broke, causing panic among the crowd.

The rush of people led to several women fainting, and as they fell to the ground, a stampede-like situation emerged. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital located within the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds. Some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.
Prayagraj, Jan 29 : Following the stampede-like situation at Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Wednesday, political leaders have expressed their grief and urged the administration to take immediate steps to bring the situation under control and speed up the rescue efforts.

The incident unfolded early Wednesday as millions of devotees thronged the Triveni Sangam for the Mauni Amavasya holy dip. Around 30 women were injured when barricades collapsed, triggering panic among the crowd.

The mishap has once again raised concerns over the management and preparedness of the authorities handling the grand religious gathering.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to X to express his sadness over the incident.

Posting on the social media platform, he wrote, "The news of casualties of devotees in an accident caused by mismanagement in Maha Kumbh is extremely sad."

Yadav urged the government to ensure that those who are seriously injured receive immediate medical treatment at the best hospitals with the help of air ambulances.

He also emphasised that proper arrangements should be made to identify the bodies of the deceased and hand them over to their families, along with urgent measures to reunite devotees who have been separated due to the chaos.

The SP chief also stressed the importance of increased surveillance using helicopters to monitor crowd movement and prevent further mishaps.

He underlined that the 'Amrit Snan' of Mauni Amavasya, which has been observed since Satyug, should remain uninterrupted and that the administration must ensure safe and smooth arrangements for the holy dip at Triveni Sangam while continuing relief efforts.

Yadav extended his wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident and called on the devotees to maintain patience and restraint in this difficult time.

He also urged the government to learn from this incident and make additional arrangements for devotees, including better facilities for accommodation, food, and water.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also expressed her grief over the incident and shared her condolences on X.

"The devotees who lost their lives and got injured in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh at the Sangam site in Prayagraj are extremely sad and worrisome. At such a time, the party wishes that nature gives the victims the strength to bear this sorrow," she wrote.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai also expressed his sorrow over the incident while launching a sharp attack on the state government, blaming it for poor management.

Taking to X, he said, "The news of many people being dead and injured due to a stampede on the day of bathing on Mauni Amavasya in Maha Kumbh is painful."

"This tragic incident highlights the mismanagement of this fair and the failures of the Uttar Pradesh government. The Yogi government spent all the money only on its branding and marketing and not on the arrangements for the devotees who came to the Maha Kumbh. This shows the insensitivity of this government," Rai alleged.

He claimed that Congress had continuously warned about the possibility of such incidents, but the administration failed to pay attention.

"We were continuously trying to alert people about such incidents, but the government and administration did not pay any heed. My deepest condolences to the families of the accident victims," he stated.

Rai further added that he prayed for the peace of the souls of the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured.

He also urged the government to provide proper compensation for the families of the deceased and free medical treatment along with financial aid for the injured.

The incident occurred nearly a kilometre away from the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The sudden surge of devotees led to several women fainting, exacerbating the situation.

Rescue teams rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, with those in critical condition being transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College.

A crowd diversion plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh, and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

The stampede has once again raised serious concerns over crowd control and safety measures at Maha Kumbh, especially with more crucial bathing dates approaching in the coming weeks.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines, cooperate with the administration, and not pay attention to rumours.

In his statement, CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area.

"There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety," he said.

He urged the devotees not to pay attention to any rumours.

In the appeal, posted on social media platform X, the CM wrote: " Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him about the situation following the stampede-like situation in the Kumbh area.

The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Chief Minister, assuring him full support from the Centre.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the stampede-like situation at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday and assured full support, including volunteers and health services, to manage the situation effectively.

The crowd Diversion Plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many.

At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.

The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.

The incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to temporarily postpone the event.

The chaos ensued about a kilometre from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, when barricades broke, causing panic among the crowd.

The rush of people led to several women fainting, and as they fell to the ground, a stampede-like situation emerged. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital located within the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds. Some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years. This alignment has added to the fervour and devotion of the millions who gathered for the ritual.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath on Wednesday was holding a meeting with the top officials of the state over the situation following the stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

The CM has been constantly monitoring the situation at Maha Kumbh.

According to the Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary-Home, CM Office officials and ADG Law and Order are present in the war room set up for Maha Kumbh 2025.

The CM has been continuously receiving updates from officials and holding meetings since 4.00 a.m. with key officers, providing necessary directions for action.

CM Yogi earlier issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines, cooperate with the administration, and not pay attention to rumours.

In his statement, CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area.

"There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety," he said.

He urged the devotees not to pay attention to any rumours. In the appeal, posted on social media platform X, the CM wrote: "Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Yogi about the situation following the stampede-like situation in the Kumbh area.

The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Chief Minister, assuring him full support from the Centre.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured full support, including volunteers and health services, to manage the situation effectively.

The crowd Diversion Plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many.

At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.

The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.

The incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to temporarily postpone the event.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) scrutinising the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill will meet on Wednesday to adopt final amendments to the clauses that were discussed on Monday. The final draft report of the JPC is expected to be released today.

The JPC had on Monday approved the Waqf Amendment Bill with 14 amendments proposed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members.

Opposition MPs had submitted 44 changes which were rejected, which led to a furore by political parties.

Voting on the proposed changes will be held today.

On Monday, the Waqf Amendment Bill that is seeking to bring reforms in the way Waqf Boards are administered across the country got cleared by the JPC with a margin of 16:10 members (16 from NDA and 10 from Opposition parties).

According to reports, a total of 66 amendments were proposed in the Waqf Bill including 23 by the ruling BJP MPs and 44 from Opposition members.

JPC chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, speaking to reporters said on Monday that it was the final meeting of the Parliamentary panel and a total of 14 amendments had been cleared on the basis of a majority.

"In the past six months of deliberations, we discussed many amendments. All amendments were put to vote today and members gave out their verdict with 16 voting in its favour while 14 opposed the amendments," he told newsmen.

The JPC meets have witnessed chaotic scenes with the Opposition accusing the committee chairman of bias and inclination towards the ruling party.

The Opposition also claimed that the procedure was being hastened to start a narrative ahead of Assembly elections in the national Capital.

As many as 11 Opposition MPs in the JPC on Monday hit out at the 'autocratic' behaviour of Chairman Jagdambika Pal and his haste in accepting the 14 amendments proposed by the NDA members.

In a joint statement, the Opposition MPs said, "As the committee has arrived at its closure part of the deliberation, we the members of the Opposition registered our protest then and there both in conducting the proceedings of the JPC by the chairman as well the gross and serious deviations from the rules and procedures contemplated thereon."

Citing several instances of being denied the time to study documents, the MPs said they want to highlight a few wilful and wanton "disregard by the Chairman in sharing the details of deliberations of the Committee."

The allegations were however brushed aside by the BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, who said that every member was given "ample time and was heard out by the JPC chief."

The JPC committee on the Waqf Bill had to submit its recommendations by November 29, however, the deadline was extended till February 13.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Citing a good example of the 'whole of government approach' to fight the menace of tuberculosis (TB) in India, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Jitan Ram Manjhi administered a pledge on 'TB Mukt Bharat'.

"The entire Ministry including the field offices like KVIC, NSIC, Coir Board, ni-msme, MGIRI, DFOs, tool rooms, and technology centres joined in virtual mode," according to a statement from the MSME.

The Ministry of MSME is a major partner of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in their 100-day intensified campaign on TB Mukt Bharat.

The campaign, started on December 7, 2024, and will continue till March 24, comes as India aims to end TB this year, five years ahead of the global target.

For the 100-day campaign, the Health Ministry has selected 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs.

"The Ministry of MSME will provide support for such initiative," Manjhi said, stressing the "need to focus on factors like clean environment around habitation, nutritious food.

Wishing the "endeavour a great success", he also advised, "to sensitise TB patients to come forward and avail the necessary treatment, especially in rural areas".

For the campaign, field offices and industry associations of MSME will provide support with "resource mobilisation, awareness generation and intensified action in prioritised States/Districts".

Further, Ni-kshay Shivir (screening camps) in MSME and industrial hubs will also be organised in consultation with the State nodal health department during Feb 3-15.

"This coordinated collaboration is a good example of the 'Whole of Government Approach' greater impact and reach," said MSME Ministry.

As per the Health Ministry, the incidence rate of the deadly infectious diseases and related deaths has seen a major decline in India.

The incidence rate of TB in India has shown a 17.7 per cent decline from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 population in 2023. TB deaths have reduced by 21.4 per cent from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 22 per lakh population in 2023.

However, India reported 28 lakh TB cases, accounting for 26 per cent -- the highest -- global TB burden in 2024, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The country also reported an estimated 3.15 lakh TB-related deaths, accounting for 29 per cent of the deaths globally.
Less than 20 minutes into Ronald Reagans inauguration as U.S. president on January 20, 1981, the Islamic Republic of Iran released the 52 Americans it had held hostage for nearly 450 days in its embassy in Tehran. That crisis, and the bizarre failed attempts to free the hostages, are believed to have led to the defeat of Democrat Jimmy Carter. The release of the hostages was seen as a kind of gift to Reagan. The hostage-taking proved to be such a formidable tool of influence that the Iranian regime has never abandoned it. Today, hostage diplomacy remains a key strategy of its foreign policy, the latest manifestation of which was the arrest in December of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was released on January 8. This trump card has also been used in an issue facing a key year: nuclear negotiations. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action  signed by Iran and the Western powers to guarantee that Tehrans uranium enrichment program would not be directed toward the production of atomic weapons in exchange for relief from international sanctions against the country  expires on October 18.

Iran has traditionally used the arbitrary imprisonment of Westerners for two reasons, says political scientist David Rigoulet-Roze, an expert on Iran and researcher at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS). Some hostages are arrested to obtain something in return, such as the release of people, in particular Iranians convicted in Europe for involvement in terrorist acts, as was the case in 2023 with the Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, and now with Sala, who was freed in exchange for the release in Italy of the Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini, whose extradition the United States had requested for providing parts for the drones that killed three American soldiers in Jordan.

Another motivation is to collect alleged debts from other countries or to recover frozen overseas Iranian funds. This was the case with a prisoner swap between Tehran and the U.S. in 2023, made possible by the unblocking by the Joe Biden administration of $6 billion of Iranian oil revenues.

A paper by the American think tank Stimson Center, however, notes that hostage-taking reached a turning point in 2014, amid talks for the 2015 nuclear deal. It went from being an opportunistic, responsive tactic to becoming a strategic foreign policy tool, especially in relation to nuclear negotiations. American hostage Jason Rezaian, imprisoned between 2014 and 2016, recalled in his memoirs how Ben Rhodes, Barack Obamas foreign policy adviser, confirmed to him that he had been a victim of these negotiations.

Since the first Donald Trump administration unilaterally pulled the United States out of the nuclear pact and reinstated U.S. sanctions in 2018, that trend has accelerated, the think tanks report warns.

Willingness to dialogue

Beyond the fact that Salas case is paradigmatic in terms of its use to free an Iranian prisoner in Europe, her release and that of another European hostage five days later  the German-Iranian feminist Nahid Taghavi  now point to a new boost to this hostage diplomacy at a time when the Iranian president, the moderate Masoud Pezeshkian, and his vice-president and architect of the 2015 nuclear agreement, Javad Zarif, have reiterated their willingness to dialogue. On the same day that Taghavi landed in Germany, January 13, after four years in prison, an Iranian delegation met in Geneva with the three European countries that signed the nuclear agreement: Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The objective of the meeting was to try to reactivate negotiations. There was only one week reamining until Trumps inauguration.

Iran is now pushing for hostage-taking because before the U.S. elections, the regime was confident that the Democrats would win, says former Iranian political prisoner Taghi Rahmani from Paris. With Trump, who they know is hostile, in the White House Tehran believes it is easier to put pressure on Europe. This is where the hostages come in, says the husband of the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi.

[Irans] expectations of Trump are not very high, says historian Clement Therme, author of a report on hostage diplomacy for the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri). He believes that Tehran is trying to divide Europeans. The relatively quick release of Sala, who was held for 21 days, can be seen as a concession to Italy, unlike what is happening with other EU nationals who have been imprisoned in Iran for years in conditions that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot recently likened to torture.

At least a dozen Westerners or Iranians with dual nationality are still in this situation. Most are European citizens, accused of espionage or of charges that can be punished with the death penalty, such as corruption on earth. Four are nationals of another of the countries participating in the Geneva dialogue: France. They are Nazak Afshar, a Franco-Iranian imprisoned in 2016; professors Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, arrested in May 2022; and Olivier Grondeau, a tourist arrested that same year, whose identity has just been revealed.

Resentment towards France

According to Rigoulet-Roze, Iran considers France to play a very special role in the nuclear issue, and he refers to resentment toward that country, which he attributes above all to Paris role in the adoption of the so-called snapback mechanism, integrated into the 2025 nuclear agreement. According to this specialist, this clause was added under pressure from then-French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

This mechanism allows for the automatic reinstatement of all international sanctions  both those of the UN and the EU  against Iran in the event of a serious breach of the clauses of the agreement, which Tehran gradually stopped complying with when the United States withdrew. To trigger the snapback, it is enough for a country that signed the nuclear agreement to raise the issue with the UN Security Council, and for one of its permanent members to submit the request. The United States can no longer do so, but France, which is one of those permanent members, can.

The nuclear deal also makes it impossible for another member with veto power, such as Russia or China, Irans allies, to use it to prevent the re-establishment of sanctions. This sword of Damocles against Tehran, says Rigoulet-Roze, is a real threat. Trumps new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, alluded to Congress on January 21 that Trump will seek the possible activation of the snapback.

The French hostages give Iran a certain amount of room for maneuver. However, in line with the Sala case, a paradigm shift is taking place in Paris, Rigoulet-Roze adds. The French foreign minister now presents the release of the French hostages as a precondition for negotiations with Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran is trying to buy time. On 18 October, the 2015 agreement expires and the mechanism for the automatic re-establishment of sanctions can no longer be activated, concludes Rigoulet-Roze.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Kinshasa, Jan 29 : Tensions are running high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the DRC army continues in the eastern city of Goma, while civilian protests intensify in the capital, Kinshasa.

Hostilities resumed on Tuesday morning in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and a regional hub, after a relatively calm night. Mediation efforts to restore peace remain pending on various regional and international platforms, Xinhua news agency reported.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been ongoing since early Tuesday near the airport, a strategic location that previously fell into the hands of the rebels.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society groups mobilised the local population to protest against the violence in Goma and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters flooded the city's major arteries, slowing traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires and chanting in front of the foreign embassies and the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission.

Since late Sunday, violent hostilities have been reported throughout Goma, home to about one million residents, with over 700,000 internally displaced people already living on the outskirts in dire conditions.

Vital Kamerhe, president of the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament, announced late Monday that President Felix Tshisekedi would address the nation in light of the humanitarian crisis and M23's advances. However, he did not specify the exact timing of the president's address.

The Uruguayan army, which contributes to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said early Tuesday that the warring factions had reached a ceasefire agreement facilitated by the UN peacekeeping mission.

However, neither the DRC government nor MONUSCO has issued an official statement regarding the ceasefire.

Local sources reported that fighting intensified in several neighborhoods of Goma on Monday morning, including areas near the Rwandan border.

"Active combat zones have spread to all neighborhoods of the city," said Bruno Lemarquis, deputy UN envoy and chief humanitarian officer in the DRC, during a press conference on Monday.

In its latest statement issued early Monday, M23 announced that "the liberation of the city is complete" and that "the situation is under control."

According to sources from the UN peacekeeping mission, the rebel group gained control of several key installations on Monday, including the airport, the port, and a local DRC army base.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is expected to be held on Tuesday to address the security situation in the eastern DRC.

On Sunday, UN Security Council members strongly condemned M23's ongoing advances, calling on the rebel group to immediately reverse its territorial expansion.

On Monday, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that, amid the tense situation in the eastern DRC, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Tshisekedi had agreed to participate in an extraordinary East African Community (EAC) summit on Wednesday.

However, Tina Salama, spokesperson for the DRC president, said that participation in the extraordinary EAC summit "is not yet confirmed."

The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while Rwanda, denying these allegations, accuses the Congolese army of supporting and collaborating with remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group allegedly responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The international community has advocated for a political solution through the Luanda Process and the Nairobi Process, a parallel peace mechanism led by the EAC.

After decades of violence and conflict, the eastern DRC faces one of the world's most severe, complex and neglected humanitarian crises, according to the UN.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over M23's renewed hostilities. In a statement issued Thursday by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres condemned the rebel group's new offensive since the start of the year and its expansion in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

While the offensive has caused devastating civilian losses and increased the risk of a broader regional conflict, Guterres called on M23 to immediately cease its attacks, withdraw from all occupied areas and respect the ceasefire agreement established last August.

Addressing the Security Council on Saturday, Joyce Msuya, UN deputy secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, noted that more than 21 million people in the DRC require assistance, one of the highest numbers globally, while around one million have already sought refuge in neighbouring countries. She warned that the escalation in the eastern DRC threatens to worsen an already critical humanitarian situation.

According to the UN, more than 400,000 people have been displaced in the eastern DRC since the beginning of 2025.
Prayagraj: Stranded devotees rush after a stampede at the Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.. Image Source: IANS/Amarjeet Kumar Singh

New Delhi, Jan 29 : Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath on Wednesday said the situation in Maha Kumbh was now under control and some devotees have been critically injured in the stampede.

He also urged the people not to pay attention to the rumours.

He said that around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj and there is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose.

He said that around three crore people have taken a holy dip as of 8.30 a.m.

The CM said this while speaking to the media in Lucknow even as the high-level meeting of top officials at his residence was ongoing.

He expressed grief over the stampede-like situation in the Maha Kumbh Mela and said all assistance was being provided and the Maha Kumbh administration was alert.

Giving details about the stampede, CM Yogi said the situation happened at 2 a.m. as devotees rushed to the Sangam nose and the barricades broke due to a massive crowd.

The CM said, "A few devotees have suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. The injured have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment. Since Mauni Amavasya mahurat started last night, a large number of devotees have been coming in."

"The situation is now under control...Snan of devotees is a priority for us," he said.

CM Yogi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation four times till now. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Anandiben Patel are also continuously taking reports of the situation, he said.

"The situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd size remains massive. The saints of different Akhaaras have said that devotees should take the holy dip first and once crowds reduce Akharas will proceed for the holy dip," the CM said.

CM Yogi once again appealed to the devotees not to pay attention to the rumours and to visit other ghats. "There are large crowds at Sangam Nose, Nag Vasuki Marg and Sangam Marg. I appeal to the devotees to not pay attention to any rumours. Ghats have been made in the entire Kumbh area, devotees don't need to move towards Sangam nose only. Devotees should take holy dip at the ghats nearest to them."

The CM said the administration was ensuring proper medical treatment of the injured persons.

The Railways have organised special trains from different stations in the Prayagraj region to take devotees back to their respective destinations, he said.

CM Yogi was holding a meeting with the top officials of the state over the situation following the stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

The CM has been constantly monitoring the situation at Maha Kumbh. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary-Home, CM Office officials and ADG Law and Order are present in the war room set up for Maha Kumbh 2025.

The CM has been continuously receiving updates from officials and holding meetings since 4.00 a.m. with key officers, providing necessary directions for action.

CM Yogi earlier issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines, cooperate with the administration, and not pay attention to rumours.CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area. "There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety," he said on social media platform X early in the day.

Earlier, PM Modi spoke to CM Yogi about the situation following the stampede-like situation in the Kumbh area. The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Chief Minister, assuring him full support from the Centre.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured full support, including volunteers and health services, to manage the situation effectively.

The crowd Diversion Plan was implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many. At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.

The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.
Bhopal, Jan 29 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday met Japan's Parliamentary Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Hisashi Matsumoto in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo on the importance of Japan-India cooperation and strengthening ties at the state level.

He also met the President of East Japan Railway Company and the South Asia Committee of Keidanren, Yuji Fukusawa and held extensive discussions on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. The meeting was held at the conference hall of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, focusing on technical cooperation and investment opportunities in the railway and transport sectors.

The Chief Minister will attend several programmes, including crucial discussions with prominent industrialists and organisations.

Meanwhile, he will meet the Japan External Trade Organization President Susumu Kataoka. The primary goal of the discussions will be to explore business and industrial development opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen trade relations with Japan.

After a series of meetings with different leading industrialists and the representatives of different organisations, Chief Minister Yadav will participate in an interaction programme with the Indian diaspora at the Hikari Hall of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister will highlight the state's industrial progress, investment opportunities, and policies.

He will also attend the dinner hosted during the event and extend an invitation for the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit to be organised in Bhopal on February 24 and 25.

On Tuesday, addressing the inaugural session, Chief Minister Yadav praised Japan for its resilience and emerging from the devastating earthquakes and natural disasters.

"Japan has been associated with the tradition of Gautam Buddha for thousands of years and we come from the land of Buddha, which always has a special relationship with Japan since past times," CM Yadav said.

Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude to India's Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, who has played a big role in connecting people from all types of business houses associated with the industry.

"Especially with regard to Japan, the goods exported from Madhya Pradesh, include products made of aluminium, organic chemicals, nuclear reactors, boiler, machinery, Mechanical Equipment and Pharmaceutical Products," CM Yadav said.

The Chief Minister mentioned that the Madhya Pradesh government has changed policies to attract investors. He noted that special policies introduced by the Madhya Pradesh government have attracted big investors in large sectors, especially in garment, logistics, food processing, ethanol, IT, pharma, and medical devices.
Kolkata, Jan 29 : In her new book, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has squarely blamed Congress for the BJP's return to power at the Centre for the third consecutive term in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

A total of three new books penned by the Chief Minister were released on the first day of the Kolkata International Book Fair on Tuesday afternoon and one of the three books titled 'Banglar Nirbachon o Amra (Bengal elections and us)', she has made an analysis of the results of the 2024 general elections.

As per her observations in the book, despite wholehearted attempts by the Trinamool Congress, the opposition INDIA bloc was unable to gain electoral success because of the failure on the part of Congress.

"We earnestly wanted a strong opposition bloc against BJP at the national level combining all anti-BJP forces. Since the beginning, we had insisted on a common minimum programme and common manifesto. The name of the opposition bloc too was my proposal. Congress was offered the chair of the leader of the national bloc. But despite that, there was neither a common minimum programme nor any common manifesto. The bloc constituents contested between themselves. This helped BJP to regain power even without gaining a majority," Chief Minister wrote in her book.

She has also claimed in the book that the number of seats that Congress had won in the last Lok Sabha elections was because of the backing of the other allies in the INDIA bloc.

On the West Bengal-specific election aspect, the Chief Minister had claimed that although in the state Congress had a seat-sharing arrangement with CPI(M)-led Left Front, in reality, it was a bigger anti-Trinamool Congress arrangement with clandestine understanding with BJP.

According to her, the Trinamool Congress' electoral success in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was because of the spontaneous public support inspired by the different developmental activities undertaken by her government.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool Congress improved its tally to 29 from 22 in 2019. On the other hand, BJP's tally declined to 12 from 18 in 2019. Congress managed to win from one seat, while CPI(M)-led Left Front ended with zero.
Prayagraj, Jan 29 : In the wake of the stampede at Maha Kumbh on Wednesday, several Akharas have decided to call off the 'Amrit Snan' of Mauni Amavasya and extend full cooperation to the administration to restore order.

The tragic incident unfolded early Wednesday as millions of devotees thronged the Triveni Sangam for the sacred holy dip. A sudden rush led to the collapse of barricades, triggering chaos and panic.

Around 30 women were injured in the mishap, raising fresh concerns over crowd management at one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

Following the incident, Nirmohi Akhara and Akhil Bhartiya Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara announced their decision to refrain from participating in the Amrit Snan, citing the need to prevent further disorder and ensure safety.

This followed Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri's announcement to call the 'Amrit Snan' following the tragic accident.

Speaking to IANS, Nirmohi Akhara President Mahant Rajendra Das stated, "As we were preparing for the Amrit Snan, news of the unfortunate incident reached us. After collective discussions, all members of our Akhara decided not to participate in the Amrit Snan."

"We stand with the administration in this difficult time and urge devotees to complete their snan peacefully and return home. No one is to be blamed at this moment. The matter is under investigation, and while some suspect a conspiracy, our priority is to support the authorities in managing the situation," he added.

Akhil Bhartiya Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara chief Vaishnav Das Maharaj echoed similar sentiments, describing the incident as unfortunate.

"Who is responsible for this, and where the lapse occurred, is for the government and administration to determine. From a spiritual perspective, we see this as a consequence of actions against nature. This is a natural disaster," he said.

Emphasising the gravity of the situation, he added, "In such circumstances, how can we proceed with the holy dip? That is why the Akharas have decided to call off the snan. No one will oppose this, and no one will take a bath. The administration has nothing to do with this decision; only one official had come to inform us."

Taking a veiled dig at the frequent VIP visits, he remarked, "Repeated VIP visits led to special arrangements for them, but similar arrangements were not made for the common people. Perhaps this is what led to such an unfortunate situation. However, the administration is now working to bring things under control."

The stampede occurred nearly a kilometre away from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The surge of devotees led to several women fainting, further worsening the chaos.

Rescue teams rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, with critically wounded individuals being transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College.

In response to the crisis, authorities implemented a crowd diversion plan, temporarily halting the entry of devotees into the city and stopping large groups on the outskirts.

The mishap has reignited concerns over the preparedness of the administration to handle such a massive influx of devotees, especially with more key bathing dates approaching in the Maha Kumbh calendar.
Palakkad, Jan 29 : The children of a 54-year-old man, who was stabbed to death along with his mother, on Wednesday demanded that the accused should be hanged to death.

Sudhakaran was killed by his neighbour Chenthamara, who was out on bail in connection with the murder of the former's wife.

"Chenthamara killed our mother in 2019 and was in jail. Then he came out and killed our father and grandmother. He is arrested now and again he will be put in jail, only to be released a few years later and again he will kill people," said the deceased's children Akhila and Athulya.

"Why did he do this to our father? He could have beaten him and left him alone. Just see how he killed our father. He stabbed multiple times and this shows what sort of person he is. He should be hanged to death, if not, he will continue to do the same," the daughters added.

On Monday, Chenthamara, out on bail for the past two months, brutally murdered Sudhakaran and his 76-year-old mother, Lakshmi.

Palakkad SP of Police Ajith Kumar told the media that the accused was arrested around 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

"We are questioning Chenthamara and he revealed that after committing the crime, he ran into the forest area behind his house," the police said.

After remaining hungry for several hours, the accused was on his way home when police nabbed him.

Later in the day, he will be produced before a court, and after a few days, "we will again take him into custody and recreate the crime scene", said Ajith Kumar.

When the news surfaced that the accused was taken into custody, a massive crowd stood before the Nenmara Police Station in an agitated mood demanding the release of Chenthamara to punish him. When the trouble increased, the police had to use pepper spray and lathi-charge to disperse the people.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday released crucial documents relating to grant of a brewery licence to a controversial firm embroiled in the Delhi excise case.

He said it was a decision taken by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alone without consulting other departments.

The firm in question, Oasis Commercial Private Limited, whose top official was previously jailed in the Delhi Excise policy case, received approval to establish multiple facilities in the water-scarce district of Palakkad.

These include an ethanol plant, a multi-feed distillation unit, an Indian-Made Foreign Liquor bottling unit, a brewery, a malt spirit plant, and a brandy/winery plant at Kanjikode on a 26-acre plot purchased two years ago.

LoP Satheesan had raised this issue in December and had said that at the appropriate time he would come out with evidence that this was nothing but a deal.

"I am releasing the Cabinet decision to this effect which was taken on January 15 and not a single department was informed or their consent taken. All wish to know why every other department was kept in the dark. Was there no other company other than Oasis Commercial Private Limited?

"Now Vijayan needs to say how much did he 'get' for this 'deal' and this is what the Opposition has been asking for a while," said Satheesan.

The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, has been vocal against the licence given to Oasis and is accusing the government of corruption and neglecting environmental concerns.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a section of the Janata Dal (S), an ally of the ruling Vijayan government whose nominee in the Cabinet K. Krishnankutty, hails from water scarce Palakkad district, has demanded that he step down from the Cabinet for remaining silent when the issue came up in the Cabinet.

Incidentally Krishnankutty was in the forefront of the agitation against the Coco-Cola bottling plant which opened and shut following the massive protest in Palakkad district several years ago.

Satheesan had raised this issue in the present Assembly session and at that time CM Vijayan had brushed it aside.

However, now with the relevant documents out, when the Assembly resumes its sitting next month, the Congress-led Opposition is gearing to raise this issue again.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the stampede incident in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and offered condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones.

In a social media post on X, PM Modi said the local administration was engaged in helping the victims in every possible way and he was constantly in touch with the state government.

"The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government," said PM Modi in the post (in Hindi).

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said some devotees had been critically injured in the stampede and are being treated in hospitals. He said the situation in Maha Kumbh was now under control.

He also urged the people not to pay attention to the rumours. He said that around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj and there is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose. He said that around three crore people have taken a holy dip as of 8.30 a.m.

The CM said this while speaking to the media in Lucknow even as the high-level meeting of top officials at his residence was ongoing. He expressed grief over the stampede in the Maha Kumbh Mela and said all assistance was being provided and the administration was alert.

Giving details about the stampede, CM Yogi said the situation happened at 2 a.m. as devotees rushed to the Sangam nose and the barricades broke due to a massive crowd. The CM said, "A few devotees have suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. The injured have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment. Since Mauni Amavasya mahurat started last night, a large number of devotees have been coming in."

CM Yogi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation four times till now.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Anandiben Patel are also continuously taking reports of the situation, he said.

"The situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd size remains massive. The saints of different Akhaaras have said that devotees should take the holy dip first and once crowds reduce Akharas will proceed for the holy dip," the CM said.

CM Yogi once again appealed to the devotees not to pay attention to the rumours and to visit other ghats. "There are large crowds at Sangam Nose, Nag Vasuki Marg and Sangam Marg. I appeal to the devotees to not pay attention to any rumours. Ghats have been made in the entire Kumbh area, devotees don't need to move towards Sangam nose only. Devotees should take holy dip at the ghats nearest to them."

The CM said the administration was ensuring proper medical treatment of the injured persons. The Railways have organised special trains from different stations in the Prayagraj region to take devotees back to their respective destinations, he said.

CM Yogi was holding a meeting with the top officials of the state over the situation following the stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The CM has been constantly monitoring the situation at Maha Kumbh. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary-Home, CM Office officials and ADG Law and Order are present in the war room set up for Maha Kumbh 2025. The CM has been continuously receiving updates from officials and holding meetings since 4.00 a.m. with key officers, providing necessary directions for action.

The CM earlier issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines, cooperate with the administration, and not pay attention to rumours.CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area. "There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety," he said on social media platform X early in the day.
Damascus, Jan 29 : Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that Russia is willing to deepen ties with Syria and support its reconstruction, according to a Russian media report.

Heading a high-level Russian delegation to meet with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and other top Syrian officials, Bogdanov told RT Arabic news network that the meeting was "constructive and positive," during which the two sides underlined the "historic," "uninterrupted" bilateral friendship.

Both sides pledged to deepen ties in various fields, including infrastructure, electricity, oil and gas, agriculture, fertilizers, and railways, Bogdanov, also Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Xinhua news agency reported quoting RT Arabic.

"We agreed to maintain comprehensive dialogue on all aspects of cooperation," he said, adding that Moscow stands ready to support Syria's reconstruction process and host Syrian delegations "whenever they request."

Bogdanov dispelled concerns about Russian facilities in Tartous and Hmeimim in northwestern Syria, saying they remain unaffected amid Syria's recent political changes.

Rumors about altering contracts for the Russian-operated Tartous Port are "purely commercial" and can likely be resolved "amicably," he said, stressing Russian companies' readiness to continue investing in the port despite earlier hurdles.

So far there has been no official statement from the Syrian side regarding the meeting.

The Russian delegation's visit, the duration of which remains undisclosed, marks the first of its kind by Russian officials to Syria since the downfall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Congress' New Delhi Assembly candidate Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal over his claim that the Yamuna River was being "poisoned", calling it a "blatant lie" and demanding a criminal investigation into the statement.

Dikshit accused Kejriwal of misleading the public with false claims and said the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had already denied the allegations.

"This is a very serious statement from his side, and I feel that he has told a white lie. The DJB has denied it. We have filed a complaint with the Election Commission, but more importantly, I have written to the Lieutenant Governor to launch an enquiry and register an FIR over this," he told IANS.

The controversy erupted after Kejriwal alleged that the BJP-led Haryana government was "poisoning" the Yamuna River, affecting Delhi's water supply.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had approached the Election Commission, stating that the water supplied from Haryana to Delhi contained high levels of ammonia.

Dikshit, however, dismissed Kejriwal's allegations and said, "Arvind Kejriwal has a long history of making false claims. It's nothing new. He believes that the more lies he tells, the more votes he will get. But the truth is, none of his claims have ever been proven. It is unfortunate that someone like him can stand in the political arena and seek votes from the people."

Backing Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's "Sheesh Mahal" attack on Kejriwal, Dikshit said the AAP had failed in governance and did not deserve to be in power.

When asked whether the BJP or the AAP was the tougher competition for the party in the Assembly elections, Dikshit said, "The BJP and AAP are different. We will target the Chief Minister who has been running the government. The Delhi government is not run by the BJP; it is run by the AAP.

"When we raised questions about the BJP's governance, the people of Delhi removed them from the MCD. Now, the people will do the same to AAP because they have failed to run the Delhi government."
The mood of residents in migrant neighborhoods on the outskirts of Chicago as a result of the Trump administrations offensive against illegal immigration ranges from fear to dismay to paralyzing panic. In Hermosa, where the population is predominantly Hispanic, there is not a soul on the streets, not a single pedestrian  those new pariahs of civilization who lack a car in a country built for the automobile. Equally empty are the bus stop shelters, the few existing public parks, with their grass worn and scorched by the snow, and the local businesses: the taquerias and pupuserias where you can see right through the deserted storefront windows.

Maria, a Mexican woman without legal papers despite having lived in the United States for 30 years, confesses that she goes grocery shopping and to the laundromat very early in the morning, and that for the past week she has avoided shopping malls and places with large crowds, because the ICE agents [the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement] focus on those places. Each ICE precinct, 25 across the country, has been ordered to make at least 75 arrests a day. Trumps first week in the White House has resulted in more than 3,500 arrests, of which 1,179 were made in 24 hours.

For Maria, the ICE agents in charge of identifying foreigners in the first part of the offensive  theoretically aimed at migrants with criminal records  do not distinguish between good and bad. You know, I dont see anything wrong with deporting criminals, but there are many of us who earn an honest living and contribute to the economy of this country with our taxes, she adds. As her only safeguard, Maria has her Illinois state ID card, her Social Security number, her drivers license and a VTC license, renewed annually, but all of this, she admits, would be of no use to her if things get ugly. Because I dont have any real papers, and neither do any of my brothers, she explains.

Hence their confinement, for fear of a chance encounter with the migras, the immigration agents: chance increases the feeling of fear. Thanks to the pandemic we learned to keep the pantry well stocked, so it is not difficult for us to be locked up inside the house. If we are missing something, we go out into the street discreetly, trying not to be seen by anyone I have to keep working, but I start my day at six in the morning and I dont think that at that time I will run into ICE, although you never know

Information channels

Maria says that ever since Trumps election victory, neighborhood networks have been buzzing with information about searches at this or that house, advice on how to avoid an encounter, or the suspicious presence of cars in the neighborhood, because in some places the agents dont come in marked vans, but in small, discreet black cars, she says. That explains the advice that if someone asks for directions from the back of a dark vehicle at dusk, you should walk away quickly. The few migrants who do venture out onto the streets do so by way of back roads and alleys.

Two blocks away from where Maria lives, Pastor Marvin del Rios of Starting Point Baptist Church says he would have no choice but to obey the law if one day an ICE patrol showed up at his church looking for a suspect. But only with a court order, and with the explicit name of the person they are looking for. I am not going to allow a general random search, much less let them through if they show up without a warrant, he says.

Pastor Marvin del Rios, inside his church on Monday.

Pastor Del Rios church, which offers bilingual services and a specific one for migrants, is also a shelter now holding 17 people, all men. It is one of the shelters that relieved the pressure from the city government when migrants from the border began arriving in Chicago, a sanctuary city governed by Democrats, in the spring of 2022. In 18 months, about 70 have passed through here, and now 17 of them with various backgrounds and ages are living with us.

During their stay at the parish, the pastor explains, they receive, in addition to a bed and food, the necessary help to process their work permits. Today [Tuesday] they are all out at work, thank God. We were already bringing in people from the municipal shelters, but since the latter shut down, the last one in December, they are coming directly to us, he explains.

Erbin Escalona, a Venezuelan lawyer who crossed the Darien jungle and arrived in Chicago in November 2023, at the height of the latest migration crisis, learned about the Starting Point church at a municipal shelter, and quickly joined the community as a parishioner and volunteer. Today, with a temporary residence permit, he helps process asylum applications in his free time, after putting in his shift as a security guard at a school: Mexicans who claim persecution by a drug cartel; a Colombian woman who says she was discriminated against back home for being part of the LGBTQ+ community; Haitians, Hondurans, people from all over Latin America, he explains, showing a handful of forms. I had never handled immigration matters, but my experience as a lawyer here is helpful.

The church pastor notes that his wards agree with the idea of sending criminals back, because they feel that [immigrants as a whole] are getting a bad reputation because of them. But we are receiving information that when the agents go to a business to arrest someone in particular, they take everyone they find, also people with minor offenses, such as a ticket for driving without a license. The everyone that Del Rios alludes to points to specific characteristics: dark skin, short statures. Its a racial profiling that feels like racism, agrees the pastor without actually using the word.

Del Rios doesnt talk about politics either, but he does talk about laws: If [the agents] come to the church without a warrant and I dont let them in, they can go ahead and report me. I know my rights. Were not helping criminals, just people who are being persecuted. They say theyre looking for criminals, but the innocent are paying for the sinners. Meanwhile, the 17 migrants living at the church go out into the street professing their rights, however weak these may be: the right to a phone call, to remain silent, to call a lawyer.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Jerusalem, Jan 29 : Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the country's military forces will remain in Syria for an "unlimited time."

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will remain at the summit of Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone indefinitely," Katz said during a visit to military posts established by Israel at the Mount Hermon summit on Tuesday.

He claimed that the move is aimed "to ensure the security of Israel's citizens."

"I came here to ensure that the IDF is well-prepared in defence and offence for prolonged deployment at the Mount Hermon posts," he said.

Katz said Israel is determined to prevent Iran-linked forces and other groups not allied with Israel from gaining a foothold in southern Syria, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves in the buffer zone in southern Syria -- from here to the Suwayda-Damascus axis -- and we will not rely on others for our defence," he said. "We will maintain ties with friendly populations in the area, with an emphasis on the large Druze community."

At 2,814 meters, Mount Hermon's summit is the highest point on the eastern Mediterranean coast, overlooking Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.

Israel had already occupied a lower part of the Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war, however, later, annexed it in a move not recognised by most of the international community.

In December, in the wake of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israel sent ground forces into the buffer zone, a demilitarised area monitored by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, which was established by the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria. Later, Israel also seized Syrian army posts at the mountain's peak.

Israel has bombed around 500 Syrian sites with military assets, including navy facilities and surface-to-air missile systems, claiming the strikes were aimed at preventing weapons from falling into the hands of rebel groups.
Kampala, Jan 29 : The Ugandan military said that it will send more peacekeeping troops to Somalia following the exit of those deployed by Burundi under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua news agency by telephone on Tuesday that Uganda has been added another area to cover, which was previously occupied by Burundian peacekeepers.

"It is inevitable that we shall have to add more troops because the numbers we have on the ground cannot cover the two sectors," Kulayigye said, noting that the troops will move to the Horn of African country as soon as the paperwork is concluded by the deploying authority, AUSSOM.

Uganda has since 2007 deployed peacekeeping troops in Somalia.

Until January, Burundi was one of the troop-contributing countries to the African Union peacekeeping force battling militants in Somalia. Other countries include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Meanwhile, tensions are running high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the DRC army continues in the eastern city of Goma, while civilian protests intensify in the capital, Kinshasa.

Hostilities resumed on Tuesday morning in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and a regional hub, after a relatively calm night. Mediation efforts to restore peace remain pending on various regional and international platforms.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been ongoing since early Tuesday near the airport, a strategic location that previously fell into the hands of the rebels.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society groups mobilised the local population to protest against the violence in Goma and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters flooded the city's major arteries, slowing traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tyres and chanting in front of the foreign embassies and the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission.
Kampala, Jan 29 : Uganda has called for talks between warring parties in a bid to end the escalation of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a top official said.

Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda's minister of ICT and national guidance, told reporters here that the decision calling for talks was reached during a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

"As a government, our view is that the fighting groups should come to the table to negotiate and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict," Baryomunsi said. "As we all know, the DRC has not been at rest for many years."

He noted that the ongoing fighting continues to raise concern not only for the international community but also for the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc bringing together eight countries.

He said Uganda welcomes efforts by the heads of state of the EAC to convene a summit aimed at ending the escalation that has left scores dead and hundreds displaced.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that he was deeply concerned by the escalating violence in the eastern DRC, and reiterated his strongest condemnation of the March 23 Movement (M23)'s ongoing offensive and advances toward Goma, the capital of the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu.

Guterres called on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, according to the UN.

Meanwhile, tensions are running high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the DRC army continues in the eastern city of Goma, while civilian protests intensify in the capital, Kinshasa.

Hostilities resumed on Tuesday morning in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and a regional hub, after a relatively calm night. Mediation efforts to restore peace remain pending on various regional and international platforms.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been ongoing since early Tuesday near the airport, a strategic location that previously fell into the hands of the rebels.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society groups mobilised the local population to protest against the violence in Goma and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters flooded the city's major arteries, slowing traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tyres and chanting in front of the foreign embassies and the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission.
United Nations, Jan 29 : The United Nations confirmed that it had received official notification from Washington of its withdrawal from the Paris climate change agreement.

"The United States notified the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary, of its withdrawal, on 27 January 2025, from the Paris Agreement of 12 December 2015," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, said at a daily briefing.

"According to Article 28, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement, the withdrawal of the United States will take effect on January 27, 2026," he said.

The spokesman reaffirmed the UN's commitment to the Paris Agreement and support all effective efforts to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, Xinhua news agency reported.

US President Donald Trump, on his first day back in the White House, signed an executive order to withdraw his country from the Paris climate accord for the second time.

Trump signed a letter to the UNas secretary general communicating the nationas withdrawal and its reasoning at the post-inauguration rally immediately after. Prior to leaving office, former President Joe Biden had submitted the nationas updated Nationally Determined Contribution target to the UN, targeting a 61-66 per cent reduction in US greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

The first Trump administration officially let the United States exit the Paris Agreement in November 2020, dealing a major blow to international efforts to combat the climate crisis. Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump in January 2021, signed an executive order after taking office to bring his country back into the accord.

Trump exited the Paris Agreement during his first term, and the order fulfills a campaign trail promise to do so again. The decision signals an abrupt course of reversal on the nationas federal climate policy and was followed by additional orders declaring a national energy emergency, recissions of Biden-era climate policies and encouraging energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters.
Seoul, Jan 29 : At least seven people have been injured after a fire broke out in an aeroplane at South Korea's Busan airport, all with minor injuries, fire authorities said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, an Air Busan plane bound for Hong Kong caught fire at its tail while preparing to take off from Gimhae International Airport in Busan, some 320 kilometres southeast of Seoul, prompting all its 176 passengers and crew members to evacuate, reports Yonhap news agency.

Fire authorities in Busan said Wednesday that seven people were receiving treatment at hospitals for injuries sustained in the fire.

Authorities had initially reported the number of casualties as three but revised the tally after further examinations.

Four of the victims were crew members who complained of chest discomfort due to smoke inhalation, while the three others -- a woman in her 70s and two in their 50s -- complained of pains in their tailbones and backs.

Gimhae International Airport was operating normally as of Wednesday, with all 279 flights scheduled for the day running as planned, except for eight Air Busan flights that were cancelled.

Also on Wednesday, acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed officials to thoroughly investigate the fire accident and take prompt response measures.

"As many flights operate at Gimhae Airport, I urge proactive efforts to ensure the safe operation of aeroplanes and prevent any inconveniences to the public," the government said in a press release, quoting him.

According to fire authorities, passengers who had boarded the plane reported seeing the fire start in a baggage compartment, accompanied by crackling sounds and smoke.

Some have speculated that an external battery or an electronic device packed inside a suitcase could be the source of the fire, as an investigation was underway to determine the cause.

The plane is a 17-year-old Airbus A321ceo model with tail number HL7763, according to Aviation Safety Network, a respected database run by the Flight Safety Foundation.

The incident on Tuesday occurred one month following the crash of a Jeju Air passenger aircraft at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea, which resulted in the deaths of all but two of the 181 individuals aboard. This event marked one of the most catastrophic disasters in the history of aviation in South Korea.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Tahir Hussain, the AIMIM candidate and a key accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, launched his election campaign soon after coming out of jail on custody parole on Wednesday. He claimed that his rise in politics was driven solely by the people of Mustafabad, and not by any political brands.

Hussain, a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, who has been in jail for the past five years, expressed both relief and joy upon stepping out of prison.

"After five years, I have had the opportunity to come out of jail, and I am very happy. When I was leaving jail, I was anxious and worried, but I am happy now because so many people came here to meet me, to see me, to catch a glimpse of me," he shared with supporters who gathered to welcome him.

He emphasised that this election campaign was not about any political brand, specifically pointing out that it is not associated with Arvind Kejriwal's AAP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP. "This shows that for the first time, a person from Mustafabad, a son, a brother from Mustafabad, is about to become an MLA. Seeing this today makes me very happy, and I fully trust the people of Mustafabad," Hussain declared.

Further stressing the people's role in his political aspirations, he said, "These tears, these struggles, we are witnessing. This is the first time that the people themselves are fighting, without any brand, without Kejriwal's brand, without Modi's brand. It is only the people of Mustafabad who are working to get Tahir Hussain elected."

Hussain's release from jail comes amidst ongoing controversy due to his involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots. He faces serious charges of instigating violence that led to widespread unrest.

The Supreme Court granted Hussain custody parole on Tuesday, allowing him to campaign for the Delhi elections. The court granted parole for 12 hours a day, from January 29 to February 3, allowing Hussain to actively participate in the election campaign.

Hussain is contesting as an AIMIM candidate in the Mustafabad constituency.

He is a key accused in the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 700 injured.

In December 2024, Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) announced Hussian's candidature from the Mustafabad constituency in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Seoul, Jan 29 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has openly reprimanded party officials for being treated to drinks and other irregularities, calling them a "mega crime," in what is seen as an effort to tighten internal discipline, according to state media.

Kim made the remarks while guiding the 30th enlarged meeting of the Secretariat of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, held on Monday, in connection with "serious cases ... of violating party discipline and exercising negative privileges," Yonhap news agency reported quoting the Korean Central News Agency (KNCA).

The meeting exposed the "wrong deeds" of officials in Onchon Country, Nampho Municipality, and Usi County of Jagang Province, the KCNA said.

The report referred to the party's findings, accusing 40 officials in Onchon of poor preparations for a plenary meeting of the county party committee and being treated to drinking bouts at public service facilities in "an act of flagrant violation of party discipline."

Agricultural inspectors in Usi were also accused of "an unpardonable crime of inflicting sufferings on regional inhabitants and misappropriating their property at random by abusing the inviolable legal power."

Delivering a speech during the meeting, Kim called the irregularities "a mega crime which can never be pardoned" and "a grave crime of violating party discipline and moral and cultural order."

"It is useful for and beneficial to the revolution to boldly recognise such a grave deviation in the party and to deal with it as an especially serious case in time," he also said, stressing "the transformation of cadres" as central to the new course of party building.

The Central Committee's Secretariat decided to dissolve the party committee of Onchon County and the agricultural inspection organ of the Usi Country, which will be replaced by a new organisation to be formed.

The disciplinary action appears aimed at strengthening internal discipline as Kim pushes domestic efforts for regional development under his "Regional Development 20x10 Policy" and seeks tangible economic achievements in the year marking the 80th anniversary of the party's establishment.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : Three weeks after the single bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the death of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who was found hanging at his official residence on October 15, 2024, his widow on Wednesday filed an appeal before a division bench.

On January 6, the single bench of the high court dismissed her petition and then, Babuas wife, K. Manjusha announced plans to appeal against the decision.

She then said, "This is not the end. We will file an appeal with the High Court division bench," and on Wednesday, she filed her plea and stated the present police probe was not acceptable.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government, which had initially pledged support to Babuas family, opposed the demand for a CBI probe during court proceedings.

Naveen Babu, a reputed and upright officer, was found dead a day after his official farewell from Kannur.

The controversy began when P.P. Divya, Kannur District Panchayat President and a CPI(M) leader, attended Babuas farewell event uninvited and accused him of corruption.

The family alleged that Divyaas remarks were politically motivated and caused immense distress to Babu.

Divya, who was later arrested and briefly jailed in connection with the case, resigned from her position amidst mounting criticism.

Ever since the suicide report came out, Manjusha and the family were unhappy with the way the police went about it and repeatedly her counsel argued that the inquest and post-mortem were conducted hastily, without the family's presence. It was also pointed out that forceful ligature marks were found on Babuas neck, requiring scientific examination. The family also expressed fears that Divyaas strong political connections might hinder a fair investigation by the state police.

The Kerala government opposed the plea, asserting that the state police's ongoing investigation was impartial and based on evidence. The governmentas counsel argued that the demand for a CBI probe relied on assumptions without substantial proof.

Divyaas corruption allegations against Babu stemmed from a delay in issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump application by T.V. Prasanth, an electrician at the Kannur Medical College. Notably, Prasanth was reportedly a colleague of Divyaas husband, raising suspicions about personal motives behind the accusations. Amid the uproar following Babuas death, Divya went into hiding but was arrested on October 29, 2024 after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected. She was released on bail on November 8, 2024.
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : The Karnataka government is holding a high-level meeting on Wednesday in Bengaluru to finalise the draft of the Ordinance to crack down on unscrupulous microfinancing companies in the state.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil, Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda and others will hold the meeting in Vidhana Soudha and deliberate over the matter.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Home Minister G. Parameshwara, commenting on the trend of microfinance companies harassing people even after the high-level meeting conveyed by CM Siddaramaiah and a strict warning being issued, stated, "The police need a complaint to take steps immediately. We have also given directions in this regard to take suo motu action if cases come to their knowledge."

"Today we are holding a meeting to deliberate on the draft of the Ordinance. We will discuss about the traps by the microfinance companies and we will soon send it to the Governor," HM Parameshwara stated.

HM Parameshwara added, "All Deputy Commissioners (DC) and the Superintendent of Police (SPs) have got instructions in this regard. We will control the situation and won't leave. A helpline will be started soon.

"In our draft, we are considering to give more powers to the Deputy Commissioners and the establishment of a separate wing."

"We are bringing an Ordinance to act immediately as we can't wait till the convening of the session."

When asked about microfinance company staffers continuing to harass in spite of the CM's orders, HM Parameshwara stated, "The microfinance companies have outsourced the responsibilities of recovery. They are in turn harassing people and acting like goondas. CM Siddaramaiah has told the companies even this should not be done and action will be initiated against such microfinance firms."

"If the draft of the Ordinance is finalised today, an order would be made tomorrow itself. In this background, we have called a meeting of the Law and Revenue Ministers," he said answering a question on when the Ordinance would be promulgated.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on last Saturday held a high-level meeting on the issues faced by the public due to microfinance institutions.

Addressing the press conference at Vidhana Soudha after the meeting, Siddaramaiah announced that the government is committed to protecting the interests of borrowers who take loans from microfinance institutions.

Strict legal action will be taken against those who harass borrowers. A new law will be formulated soon through an ordinance to safeguard borrowers' interests, the CM stated.

Criminal cases will be filed against those involved in forced loan recovery. The law will also provide provisions for filing complaints voluntarily, he said.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as well as Congress party and accused them of ruining two generations of the capital over past 25 years.

Addressing a poll rally in North-East Delhi, PM Modi urged the people to vote for a BJP-led double-engine government in the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for February 5.

Criticising both Congress and AAP, PM Modi said, "You have seen the first 14 years of twenty-first century under Congress, and then you gave 11 years to the 'AAPda' government, yet Delhi's problems remain the same. In 25 years, these two parties have destroyed two generations."

He urged voters to give the BJP a chance. "You did not give me the opportunity to work for you in the last 25 years. You have seen Congress and AAPda for 25 years; now, give the lotus a chance. Just like the head of a family takes care of his loved ones, I will take care of you. The BJPas track record shows that we deliver on our promises," he asserted.

Assuring swift action on BJP's election promises, PM Modi declared, "After February 8, the BJP government in Delhi will fulfill all its promises in a time-bound manner. This is 'Modi ki Guarantee'. Today, 'Modi ki Guarantee' means the guarantee of completion of all guarantees."

He promised to bring relief to Delhi's residents by addressing key issues.

"Delhi wants a government that builds homes for the poor, modernises the city, ensures water supply to every household, and frees them from tanker mafias. That is why the entire Delhi is today saying, 'AAPda jaayegi, BJP aayegi' (AAPda will go, BJP will come)," he added.

Highlighting the vision of a aViksit Bharata, PM Modi said, "Every citizen is working towards making India a developed nation. For that, it is crucial that the capital city becomes a model of development. But looking at the condition of Delhi today, do you think it can achieve that? I don't even need to say anything; Delhiites themselves express their suffering every day."

Addressing the massive rally in Ghonda constituency, PM Modi also expressed grief over the Maha Kumbh stampede.

"We lost some beautiful souls in today's incident, and some were critically injured. I offer my sympathies to the affected families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.

The Prime Minister assured that he is in constant touch with Uttar Pradesh govt and that the 'Amrit Snan' at the Maha Kumbh has now resumed as normal.

In a heartfelt moment at the rally, BJP candidate from Patparganj Assembly, Ravinder Singh Negi, touched PM Modi's feet, and in response, the Prime Minister did the same, winning the crowd's applause.

Thanking the massive gathering, PM Modi said, "This sight reflects the mood of Delhi and the message of its mandate. Delhi is changing. Fake promises will no longer work. The loot and lies will not continue. The people of Delhi want a double-engine BJP government that ensures both the welfare of the poor and the development of the city."
The bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States is going through a turbulent period. Respect for sovereignty and independence, which Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has so strongly defended, is now in jeopardy with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. In less than 10 days of the Republican presidents second term, the first deportations have already begun and diplomatic tensions are palpable, government programs have been frozen, and 1,500 U.S. soldiers have been deployed on the border with Mexico. Faced with these events, members of the U.S. Congress and Mexican legislators have signed a joint declaration in which they express their rejection of the growing threats of military action.

Any suggestion of military action against Mexico represents not only a dangerous departure from established diplomatic norms, but also a fundamental misunderstanding of our shared history and our interconnected future. Such an aggressive stance threatens to undo decades of progress in building trust, understanding, and cooperation between our nations, the document reads.

The statement comes a week after the U.S. president signed dozens of executive orders declaring a state of emergency on the border with Mexico and designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. These measures give Trump the power to mobilize the military, build the border wall without requiring congressional approval for funding, and to use drones without complying with regulations that restrict such action.

The United States represents Mexicos most important and complex relationship. What happens in the U.S. has an immediate impact on Mexico, and although perhaps not on the same scale, what happens in Mexico also influences American interests. As such, this statement highlights the deep ties between Washington and Mexico City and calls for the exploration of new avenues for bilateral cooperation. The goal is to address the root causes of migration, prevent arms trafficking, and strengthen workers rights on both sides of the border.

North of the border, the statement was led by Puerto Rican Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and seconded by 13 other representatives, all considered part of the most progressive group in Congress, which includes members of the so-called Squad, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who have been some of Trumps most vocal opponents since his first term.

In Mexico, anthropologist and deputy for the ruling Morena party, Alfonso Ramirez Cuellar, who chairs the Budget Commission and is very close to Sheinbaum, was the first signatory. Twenty-two other deputies, including Gabriel Garcia, Leonel Godoy, Rigoberto Salgado, Antares Vasquez and Juan Hugo de la Rosa, all with a long career on the left and with close ties to former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, supported the initiative.

Given this situation, the message of the 37 legislators who supported the declaration is also a call to governments, and especially to citizens, to seek new solutions. Our shared challenges demand that we reimagine the Mexico-United States relationship, oriented toward a new era of crisis and uncertainty. The border region must become a laboratory for innovative solutions to our common challenges, not a militarized zone that divides our peoples, they affirm.

Military escalation that separates our peoples will not solve these problems. The only way forward is through closer cooperation between our nations. I hope this statement will pave the way for a new era of collaboration between leaders on both sides of the border. Together, we can build a future that reflects our shared values and strengthens the ties between our peoples, said one of the signatory legislators.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Mumbai, Jan 29 : Actress Kriti Kharbanda recently shared her amusing reaction to her husband Pulkit Samrat's intense fitness routine.

The actress, known for her wit and humour, couldn't help but tease Pulkit about his dedication to his workouts. On Wednesday, Pulkit posted a video of him doing push-ups and wrote, "Tried regular push-ups. They got jealous. So I upgraded to these. Pretty sure gravity is filing a complaint. #PushupFlex #PhysicsWho?."

Kriti was quick to take a note of her actor husband's workout post as she commented, "Oh hello there, and added fire emojis."

Kriti and Pulkit got married on March 15 at ITC Grand Manesar. Sharing photos from their dreamy wedding on social media, the couple wrote on Instagram, "From the deep blue sky, To the morning dew. Through the low and the high, It's only you. From the start to the end, In every now and every then, When my heart beats different, It's got to be you. Constantly, Consistently, Continually, You!."

The duo celebrated their first Lohri together in January 2025. The couple shared glimpses of their joyful celebration on Instagram, giving fans a peek into their festive moments. They wrote in the caption, "Kaafi cute! Hamari pehli Lohri! #happylohri #happysankranti."

In the photos and videos, Pulkit and Kriti danced with joy during their intimate Lohri celebration. They also lit the traditional bonfire together. Meanwhile, Kriti Kharbanda recently took to social media to inform everyone that she is suffering from typhoid.

She wrote, "Hello all. Little life update. Typhoid has taken over and the last week has been hoping to bounce back over the next couple of days. Send pyaar and gyaan that u think will help."

In terms of work, Kharbanda is known for her work in the films like "Housefull 4," "Guest iin London," "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana," and others.
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Wednesday that he would stand by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in any situation emerging out of the High Court's reserved judgment on the matter of handing over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

CM Siddaramaiah has been named as the main accused in the MUDA case. His wife is the second accused.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara was asked whether he would support CM Siddaramaiah under all circumstances. In response, he stated, "There is no question about it."

"Let the judgment be made. We will know only when it is announced. Since the matter is reserved for orders, we will have to wait and see. Once the order is published, the future course of action will be decided," he added.

When asked about all MLAs deciding to stand with CM Siddaramaiah and alleging that the action against him is politically motivated, Parameshwara said, "We have been claiming that the MUDA case is politically motivated and that the BJP is pursuing it with political intentions."

Regarding the proposal for a second airport in Bengaluru, to be located in neighbouring Tumakuru -- his native district -- Parameshwara said, "We have demanded that the second airport of Bengaluru be set up in Tumakuru district. It will be beneficial for the northern Karnataka region. Tumakuru serves as the gateway to 22 districts in the state. All these districts will benefit, and the airport can be easily connected to Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli. However, we have to consider the technical aspects."

Regarding the Metro services extension to Tumakuru, he said, "A Hyderabad-based company is preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). It has not been submitted yet. Once it is submitted, we will implement the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The government will not be making any investment. After the DPR is ready, we will approach the Central government for approval."

On the question of party leaders continuing to issue statements on leadership despite warnings, Parameshwara stated, "This applies to MLAs and ministers. When the party issues orders, they must be followed. We will also inform those who continue to speak publicly about party affairs."

He said, "The high command takes the opinion of all party MLAs before deciding on the leadership issue. Usually, this process is followed. After gathering opinions, factors such as the majority and other considerations are discussed before an official announcement is made."
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Maha Kumbh mela has come as a boon for the hospitality sector and airlines with profits expected to firm up amid soaring demand. This is being reflected in the rise in the share prices of companies such as Benares Hotels, a subsidiary of the Tata Group's Indian Hotels.

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) The Maha Kumbh mela has come as a boon for the hospitality sector and airlines with profits expected to firm up amid soaring demand. This is being reflected in the rise in the share prices of companies such as Benares Hotels, a subsidiary of the Tata Groupas Indian Hotels.

The share price of Benares Hotels Ltd in the morning trade on Wednesday went up to Rs 10,610.00 on the BSE which represents an 11.50 per cent increase from the previous closing price of Rs 9,552.95 on Tuesday.

The stock price of this smallcap hotel company has been rising amid decline in the BSE Sensex and smallcap segment.

Benares Hotels Ltd operates Taj Ganges and Taj Nadesar Palace in Varanasi and Ginger, Gondia in Maharashtra. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is the ultimate Holding Company of Benares Hotels.

For the third quarter (October-December), Benares Hotels announced a 20 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit at Rs 13.6 crore. The companyas revenue rose 16.2 per cent to Rs 40.1 crore during the quarter.

According to the company, the Kumbh Mela and related travels in the region have led to an increase in domestic demand and the revenue is expected to surge.

Airlines are another segment that has been a beneficiary of the high demand resulting from the increase in fares during Maha Kumbh as demand has surged.

Airfares to Prayagraj from major cities have skyrocketed. While the ticket costs for Delhi to Prayagraj flights have soared to a20,000 or more from a5,000 earlier, the Mumbai to Prayagraj flights are costing between a20,000 to a56,000.

Flying non-stop from Delhi to Prayagraj with Akasa Airlines will cost one a24,262 while Air India is charging a28,739 for the same route. Flights with layovers are even more expensive.

Similarly, the price of tickets for SpiceJetas direct flight from Mumbai to Prayagraj starts at a20,482.

Direct flights from Hyderabad to Prayagraj were fully booked till the last week of February, forcing travelers to go for connecting flights. The fastest route, involving a one-hour layover in Mumbai, takes five hours and is priced at a28,901 for January 29. A day later, on January 30, the same flight is priced at a36,901.

Meanwhile, an ICRA report has stated that the Indian hotel industry is poised for a 7-9 per cent revenue growth in FY2025, driven by strong domestic leisure travel demand and events like weddings and business travel.

ICRA expects occupancy to hit decadal highs, with tier-II cities and spiritual tourism contributing significantly.

While domestic tourism remains a key driver, foreign tourist arrivals have yet to rebound fully post-Covid, contingent on the global economic climate.

ICRA foresees premium hotel occupancy peaking at around 70-72 per cent in FY2024 and FY2025, with average room rates climbing to Rs.7,800-8,000) in FY2025.

Despite some outliers exceeding pre-Covid levels, the industry is expected to reach the 2008 peak by FY2025. The medium-term outlook remains positive, supported by infrastructure enhancements, air connectivity improvements, and the growth of large-scale MICE events with new convention centres opening in recent years, the report states.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Bihar BJP President Dilip Kumar Jaiswal has expressed his deep concern over the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj that resulted in several deaths and left many injured, calling it an extremely sorrowful incident.

Speaking to IANS, Jaiswal extended his condolences to the families of the victims and praised the arrangements made by the Uttar Pradesh government, while also acknowledging that the overwhelming crowd caused the unfortunate tragedy.

"The Kumbh incident is very tragic, and may God grant peace to the souls of those who lost their lives. The Uttar Pradesh government made very good arrangements, but due to the crowd of millions, such an incident occurred," Jaiswal said, recognising the massive turnout that contributed to the chaos despite the best efforts of the authorities.

In a separate remark, Jaiswal took a sharp jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, criticising his political behaviour and said he lacks political clarity.

"People say about Rahul Gandhi that this man's development should be at a certain level, but what is supposed to develop in his body has not developed. He keeps hugging Kejriwal sometimes and then abuses him at other times," he said.

Jaiswal also took the opportunity to defend the religious significance of the Maha Kumbh, pointing out that while the Congress had mocked religious practices, "do they mock Haj?"

He further noted that the BJP does not criticise people's religious beliefs, unlike some of the remarks from Congress leaders in the past. His party respected people's faiths, including their pilgrimage to religious sites like Haj.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks have sparked strong reactions from Hindu groups and individuals who view the Kumbh as a deeply revered spiritual tradition.

Kharge during the Mhow rally, questioned whether taking a dip in the Ganga could remove poverty or solve issues like hunger, unemployment, and education.

Kharge said, "Does taking a dip in the Ganga River remove poverty? Do the people get food? Children are dying of hunger and are not going to school. The labourers are not getting wages. On the other hand, there is competition among BJP leaders to take a dip in the Ganga River. They are spending thousands of rupees to take a plunge in competitions. Such people will not do any good to the country."
Chennai, Jan 29 : A day after Tamil director Ashwath Marimuthu called music director Leon James a 'gem', Telugu actor Sundeep Kishen has expressed his appreciation for the music director's professionalism.

On Wednesday, the Bachelors Anthem 2025 - a single from Sundeep Kishen's upcoming film 'Mazaka' was released. The Bachelors Anthem has been set to tune by Leon James, who despite losing his dad on Monday, has been delivering songs and music on time to filmmakers.

Taking to his X timeline to announce the release of the single, Sundeep Kishen wrote, "Bachelors Anthem 2025 from #Mazaka. Correctga Valentines Day Time ki 1st Single for Singles Release chestunamu. (we are releasing the first single for singles correctly during the period of Valentine's Day). Special Shout out to our Music Director @leon_James for showing exceptional professional(ism) in such extreme times.Promising you a concert in theatres!"

It may be recalled that music director Leon James lost his dad early on Monday morning. However, he continued to work to ensure he delivered on his professional commitments and simultaneously carried out the final rites of his father, fulfilling his duties as a son.

Soon after releasing the eagerly-awaited break up number 'En di Vittu pona' on Tuesday evening, director Ashwath Marimuthu had said, "Leon's father passed away yesterday early morning as the final mix of the song was happening. It was a shock! I asked him if we can push the song release but he said, 'No macha, let's stick to the 'TIME' that we have promised.' It was very emotional for us ! He was mixing the song in his room and managing his father's final rights in the hall! I didn't tell production. That's the respect he shows for TIME , FANS and common audience who love cinema. Isn't @leon_james a gem? Dedicating 'En de vittu pona' to his father!"

Meanwhile, Sundeep Kishen-starrer, Mazaka, has been directed by Thrinadha Rao Nakkina and produced by Razesh Danda and Umesh K R Bansal. The film features Ritu Varma, Rao Ramesh, Anshu, Murali Sharma, Srinivas Reddy, Hyper Aadi, Raghu Babu, Ajay and Chammak Chandra among others and is slated for release on February 21.
Bogota, Jan 29 : Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed late Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed.

The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro.

"They are Colombians, they are free and dignified and they are in their homeland where they are loved. The migrant is not a criminal, he is a human being who wants to work and progress," Petro posted on the social platform X, along with photos of the Colombian nationals walking out of planes.

Petro on Sunday denied entry of US military aircraft carrying the deportees, saying they were being treated like criminals. The move sparked a harsh response from his US counterpart Donald Trump, who threatened to cancel the visas of all Colombian government officials and slap 50 per cent tariffs on imports from Colombia.

The two sides then reached an agreement that Colombian planes would transport the deportees without handcuffs, under safe and dignified conditions, as requested by Colombia's government.

"The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump's terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in the statement on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Trump had posted on his social media platform that the United States will impose 25 per cent tariffs, which will increase to 50 per cent in one week, on all goods coming into the United States from Colombia.

In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro had said on social media that Colombia would respond to the raised tariffs with an increased tariff of its own on US goods.

Among the deported Colombians were 26 minors, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Colombian immigration officials and medical personnel travelled with the deportees, who are to benefit from a special credit programme to help them reintegrate into Colombian society.

In the coming days, the Colombian Aerospace Force is expected to bring back more undocumented migrants as the new US administration cracked down on irregular migration.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), dismissing its claims that the Haryana government had "poisoned" the Yamuna River. He stated that he himself drinks the same Yamuna water.

Addressing a public meeting in Delhi's Kartar Nagar, PM Modi came down heavily on the AAP for misleading the people of Delhi.

Referring to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's allegations that Haryana was "poisoning" the Yamuna, PM Modi called it a "grave sin" for political gain.

"A former Delhi Chief Minister has made serious allegations against the people of Haryana. Out of fear of defeat, AAPda has lost its mental stability. Are Haryana's people any different from Delhi? Don't their families and relatives live here? Can they poison the water that their own families drink?" the Prime Minister questioned.

Taking a direct jibe at the claim, PM Modi said, "This Prime Minister also drinks the same water. Foreign diplomats, ambassadors, and even Delhi's poor drink the same water. Does AAP think the BJP government in Haryana would poison the water to kill Modi? What kind of absurd claim is this? Was there a conspiracy to poison the judges of this country as well? Delhiites, those who deliberately commit such sins are neither forgiven by Delhi nor by the nation."

Calling the allegations an insult to the nation, PM Modi said, "This is not just an insult to Haryana; this is an insult to India, to our values, and to our character. In this country, offering water is considered a sacred duty. But these people, fearing electoral defeat, are resorting to such baseless allegations."

Predicting a political backlash, he said, "This time, Delhi will teach a lesson to those spreading such lies. Their boat will sink in this very Yamuna."

The Prime Minister also highlighted the achievements of the BJP governments in different states. "There are many people in the country who were still deprived of basic facilities like toilets, roads, gas connections, bank accounts, and electricity. Many people from Uttarakhand live here in Delhi. Uttarakhand, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, has a difficult mountainous terrain. When we formed a government there, we ensured that every village got roads. Now, the youth are returning to their villages," he said.

Highlighting his government's achievements, PM Modi said, "Before I came to power in 2014, only 3 crore rural households had tap connections. In the last five years alone, 12 crore new families have received tap water. This scheme existed during Congress rule, but we expanded it from 3 crore to 12 crore in just five years. We donat stop schemes; we strengthen them."

Taking aim at the AAP's handling of Delhi's water crisis, he remarked, "If even the remotest villages in India can get clean tap water, why is Delhias tap water undrinkable? Forget drinking water, even the water supplied for daily use is dirty. If the BJP can provide tap water to remote villages, we can ensure clean tap water for every household in Delhi too."

Lashing out at AAP's unfulfilled promises, PM Modi said, "AAPda has left Delhi at the mercy of the water mafia. They have sought votes in three elections in the name of cleaning the Yamuna, and even today, they continue to make the same false promises. Their shamelessness is shocking. They deliberately want Delhi's residents to struggle for water. Our Purvanchal friends are forced to worship Chhathi Maiya amid filth every year due to their failures."

-- IANS

sd/
Kolkata, Jan 29 : West Bengal Chief Minister, on Wednesday, while expressing her condolence on the unfortunate stampede incident in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh earlier in the day, indirectly hinted towards a lack of "planning and care" behind the tragedy.

Kolkata, Jan 29 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, on Wednesday, while expressing her condolence on the unfortunate stampede incident in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh earlier in the day, indirectly hinted towards a lack of "planning and care" behind the tragedy.

She has drawn reference to the arrangements made by her administration at Sahar Islands in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal every year on the occasion of the annual religious event of Gangasagar Mela.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which has claimed at least 15 innocent lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families. My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims' lives in vast assemblies of people. Prayers for the departed souls," a statement from the Chief Minister had read.

Political observers feel that the Chief Minister's statement has political connotations subtly slamming the BJP-run Uttar Pradesh government in the matter. However, most of them feel that drawing reference to the Gangasagar Mela is redundant since the crowd gathering there is not simply comparable with the same on the occasion of Maha Kumbh anywhere.

In fact, every year before the annual event of Gangasagar Mela, the Chief Minister gets critical of the Union government for declaring the event a "National Fair" status like Kumbh Mela.

According to her, since Gangasagar Mela had not been granted the National Fair status, it is deprived of financial help from the Union government which is given for Kumbh Mela.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also expressed grief over the stampede and offered condolences to the devotees who have lost their lives in the mishap.

In a social media post on X, PM Modi said the local administration was engaged in helping the victims in every possible way and he was constantly in touch with the state government. "The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government," said PM Modi in the post (in Hindi).

--ANS

src/dpb
Prayagraj: Stranded devotees at the Sangam following a stampede on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.. Image Source: IANS

Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Naveen Patnaik have expressed deep grief over the loss of lives during a stampede at Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Wednesday.

In a post on social media platform X, CM Majhi wrote, "The news regarding the death of several devotees in the stampede that occurred along the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj is very tragic."

"May Lord Jagannath grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear the tragic loss. I also wish a speedy recovery to all the injured devotees," his post read.

Expressing grief over the tragic incident, former Chief Minister Patnaik said, "Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of lives in stampede ahead of Mauni Amavasya holy dip in the ongoing #Mahakumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's #Prayagraj. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries."

The stampede occurred in the early hours of Wednesday on the occasion of 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya.'

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said the incident occurred around 2 a.m. when devotees rushed to the Sangam nose and the barricades broke due to a massive crowd.

The CM said, "A few devotees have suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. The injured have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment. Since Mauni Amavasya mahurat started last night, a large number of devotees have been coming in."

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also expressed grief over the stampede and offered condolences to the devotees who have lost their lives in the incident.

In a post on X, PM Modi said the local administration was engaged in helping the victims in every possible way and he was constantly in touch with the state government. "The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government," said PM Modi in the post (in Hindi).
Mumbai, Jan 29 : Actress Parineeti Chopra recently shared a candid moment from the set of her ongoing project, revealing the fatigue that comes with long hours of filming.

On the 37th day of shooting, the actress posted a photo on her Instagram handle that showcased her exhaustion. In her post, the actress offered fans a glimpse into the demanding nature of her work. Chopra posted a video of her travelling in the car and wrote, "Day 36." In her next follow-up post, the Kesari actress posted a photo of the script and captioned it, "Actually Day 37 Blame the fatigue."

She also drooped a video of camera team and wrote, "cameras also holding onto each other for support."

Yesterday, the 'Ishaqzaade' star expressed her pride in her husband and politician Raghav Chadha, applauding his initiative to tackle the issue of overpriced food at airports. Ahead of the Delhi elections, Chopra praised him for launching the #UdaanYatriCafe, an initiative aimed at providing affordable food and drinks for travellers.

In the clip, the AAP MP Raghav highlighted the issue of overpriced food and beverages at airports in Parliament and called for 'corrective measures' to make air travel more affordable.

Sharing the video, Parineeti wrote, "So so proud of you, my @raghavchadha88, for being a true leader for the people, and fixing a real problem! Overpriced food at airports is an issue that resonates with so many Indians (including us), and your voice has brought a real change starting with the #UdaanYatriCafe. Yayy for cheaper food and drinks at airports! Proud of you, my Ragaii!."

On the work front, Chopra is currently shooting the second schedule of an untitled drama, with details about the cast and crew being kept under wraps. In addition, the actress is preparing for her role in Anurag Singh's much-awaited thriller "Sanki", where she will make her first appearance alongside Varun Dhawan.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 18:14 | World, All, Japan

Japan's embassy in the Philippines has recently tightened tourist visa slots for Filipino travelers amid a surge in visitors driven by the weak yen.

The embassy is now urging Filipinos to submit their tourist visa applications up to two months in advance -- more than double the previous recommendation -- but the sudden change could dampen the travel boom to Japan.

Filipino tourists typically apply for Japan visas through an authorized agency, with at least five in operation. A travel agency official in Manila said the embassy has indicated it is cutting the daily cap on visa applications by about 50 percent.

The change has overwhelmed agency branches, with long lines forming before opening hours and all slots often filled by morning. Some agencies have suspended applications or switched to an appointment-only system.

The embassy is set to transition to a "visa center system" later this year, outsourcing processing to a designated agency. While the change is expected to improve efficiency, industry stakeholders worry about the impact of consolidating services under one firm.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, an estimated 818,700 Filipino travelers visited Japan in 2024, a 31.6 percent increase from the previous year and a record high for the second consecutive year.

Among the six core countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei -- the Philippines ranked second after Thailand in visitor numbers to Japan in 2024 but represented the highest growth rate. The weak yen, along with an increase in direct flights by budget airlines, have contributed to the rise.

However, with Japan's tourist visa screening for Filipinos remaining stringent, including income verification and other document requirements, additional restrictions and processing delays may push travelers to seek alternative destinations.

Related coverage:

Japan government eyes extending stays of pregnant skilled foreign workers

Foreign entries to Japan hit record high 36 mil. in 2024 on weak yen

Japan to ease visa requirements, agrees on top China diplomat visit
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Centre to furnish data on criminal cases registered under the 2019 Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, which criminalises pronouncement of triple talaq by Muslim men.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a batch of petitions filed by several Muslim organisations challenging the constitutionality of the 2019 law enacted by the Parliament.

The petitioners contended before the top court that since the practice of triple talaq has no legal effect after the Shayara Bano case, it cannot be criminalised.

In 2017, 'talaq-e-biddat (triple talaq)' was set aside by the Constitution Bench in the case of Shayara Bano Vs. Union of India as it violated the fundamental rights and the rights of equality guaranteed to a woman under the Constitution and suggested the practice be made punishable.

The CJI Khanna-led Bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second highest law officer of the Centre, to place on record data on the number of FIRs and charge sheets filed against Muslim men for pronouncing instant triple talaq to divorce spouses.

The apex court took note of the petitioners' submission that triple talaq should not be criminalised when the practice is banned and no divorce can take place by uttering talaq three times at once.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar, fixed the petitions for final hearing in the week commencing March 17.

In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Centre defended the constitutional validity of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.

"It was seen that setting aside talaq-e-biddat (triple talaq) by the Supreme Court has not worked as a sufficient deterrent in bringing down the number of divorces by this practice among certain Muslims. (T)he victims of talaq-e-biddat have no option but to approach the police for redressal of their grievances and the police were helpless as no action could be taken against their husbands in the absence of punitive provisions in the law.

"Therefore, in order to prevent the aforesaid practice, it was felt that there was an urgent need for stringent provisions in the law which act as a deterrent to Muslim husbands divorcing their wives by adopting instantaneous and irrevocable talaq," said the affidavit filed by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice before the apex court.

It said that the practice of talaq-e-biddat legitimised and institutionalised abandonment of wives by their husbands and did not simply result in a private injury but in a public wrong as it militated against the rights of women and the social institution of marriage itself.

The Parliament in its wisdom has enacted the impugned Act to protect the rights of married Muslim women who are being divorced by triple talaq and the law in question helps in ensuring the larger constitutional goals of gender justice and gender equality of married Muslim women, the affidavit added.

The Centre said that the Supreme Court has consistently held that the court cannot go into the wisdom of the measure and cannot enter into a discussion as to what the law should be.

"It is the function of the legislature alone to determine what is and what is not good and proper for the people of the land and they must be given widest latitude to exercise their functions within the limit of their powers else all progress is barred.

"Defining offences and prescribing appropriate penalties is a core function of the State. Whether or not a particular type of conduct ought to be criminalised, and what punishment is to be imposed for such conduct is to be determined by the legislature in light of the prevailing social circumstances," the affidavit said.

Further, it said that a similar petition challenging the validity of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2018, which was on similar lines to the impugned Act, was dismissed by the Delhi High Court in September 2018.

"It is submitted that where the Shayara Bano case itself has held the practice of triple talaq to be manifestly arbitrary, it cannot be argued that a law criminalising the practice is manifestly arbitrary," contended Centre before the Supreme Court, adding that there is no basis to the claim that marriages being under personal law, are exempted from the application of the general criminal law and "marriages are a social institution in which the State has a special interest in protecting."
Patna, Jan 29 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh stampede incident and appealed to people to stay calm and not to pay attention to rumours. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath were monitoring the situation and ensuring all possible assistance.

"I urge people to stay calm and avoid rumours. The situation is under control," Choudhary said.

BJP Bihar President Dilip Jaiswal also expressed grief, calling the incident extremely painful.

He said that despite good arrangements by the Uttar Pradesh government, the crowd turnout exceeded expectations.

Multiple casualties are feared after a "stampede-like" situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday.

While the exact figures remain unclear, officials said the injured have been taken to the central hospital established at the Kumbh grounds.

At least 10 crore pilgrims were expected to flock to the Maha Kumbh Mela today to take a dip in the river on the holy occasion of "Mauni Amavasya". Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked devotees to avoid going to the 'Sangam nose', where the incident took place.

Dilip Jaiswal criticized the Congress leaders for allegedly mocking devotees attending the Kumbh Mela. He questioned whether they would dare to question Haj pilgrims, asserting that the BJP respects all religious practices.

Jaiswal also took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming, "One organ of his body is not fully developed and that is his brain." He accused Gandhi of double standards, citing his changing stance on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal -- sometimes shaking hands with him, sometimes attacking him.

Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is campaigning in Delhi on Wednesday. Before leaving for Delhi, he said in Patna that the BJP will form the next government in Delhi, criticizing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly insulting people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

"Kejriwal was involved in the liquor scam and was responsible for opening liquor vends across Delhi. The voters would punish him in the upcoming assembly elections," Choudhary said.
Prayagraj, Jan 29 : In a shocking display of abuse of power, an Uttar Pradesh constable misbehaved with an IANS correspondent and also tried to snatch away his microphone, while the latter covered the arrangements at Kumbh mela ground, particularly in the wake of stampede resulting in injury to over dozens of pilgrims.

IANS correspondent Gaurav Pandey was trying to gather information on the movement of Akhadas, on the auspicious Mauni Amavasya Snan this afternoon, when he was manhandled and roughed up by the police constable.

The incident happened at Sector 20 of Maha Kumbh Nagar, where the IANS correspondent was trying to gather information from saints of Panchayati Akhada named Naya Udaseen Nirwan.

The police excesses on the IANS team were caught on camera, showing the policeman's attempts to stonewall the Maha Kumbh coverage. The video is also evoking a strong response on social media, with many slamming the "assault" by the police constable.

Notably, Mauni Amavasya Snan is one of the most important baths of Maha Kumbh, as lakhs and crores of pilgrims have converged to the holy city to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion. The state administration estimated the figures to be in crores on Mauni Amavasya alone. Since the on-start of Maha Kumbh on January 26, more than 15 crore devotees have taken holy dip in the river Ganga, as per government records.

Early this morning, a stampede broke out at the mela ground as devotees as well as saints moved towards the Sangam for the holy dip. The sudden streaming of devotees in the tent city led to chaos and eventually in stampede as some of them reportedly broke the barricades to reach the 'Sangam'. More than 30 pilgrims have been injured in the stampede while several are feared dead.

The administration was quick to swing into action, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urging the devotees to take a dip at the nearest ghat and not make way for the aSangam Nosea. The Akhadas were also sent back to their tents and asked to take a dip after the crowd subsided.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, three times in an hour, to take stock of the situation.
Hyderabad, Jan 29 : Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful 100th launch of the GSLV-F15 rocket, which carried the NVS-02 satellite.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has also congratulated the ISRO team for the successful launch of GSLV-F15, ISRO's 100th mission and placing the NVS-02 satellite in geosynchronous transfer orbit as intended, from Sriharikota on Wednesday.

Telangana Chief Minister described the achievement as a proud moment for the country and commended the entire team for their dedication to ensuring the success of the mission.

This milestone marks ISRO's 100th launch and is a significant step forward in enhancing the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, improving navigation accuracy for both civilian and military applications, the Chief Minister said in a statement.

The Chief Minister also praised the achievement as a remarkable advancement in indigenous technology, further highlighting the growth and success of India's space programme.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also congratulated ISRO on the successful launch of the GSLV-F15/NVS-02 satellite, marking its historic 100th mission.

"We celebrate a phenomenal journey that began on August 10, 1979, with the SLV-E-01 mission. ISRO's success rate of more than 90 per cent on 100 missions has cemented India's position as a global leader in space exploration. ISRO's creativity and dedication have not only increased our space capabilities but have also inspired a billion aspirations," said the Jana Sena leader.

The Deputy Chief Minister also noted that ISRO has been the global partner for satellite launches all over the world due to its cost-effectiveness, groundbreaking and game-changing technology, such as the PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 launch vehicles, as well as its cost-effective space programmes.

"This achievement recognises our scientists' and engineers' ingenuity and hard work. As we celebrate this success, we look forward to even bigger achievements that will propel Bharat into new heights of space exploration," he added.

Former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also took to 'X' to congratulate ISRO on its 100th launch from Sriharikota.

"Wishing continued success in serving the nation and achieving many more such milestones. Kudos to Team ISRO," he posted.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao has also congratulated ISRO on its 100th launch.

"From taking rocket spare parts on a bicycle to 100 launches! Canat think of a better trajectory than this From Aryabhata to Mangalyaan, and now 100 launches, your achievements have made India proud. While great men like Vikram Sarabhai laid the path, many walked the same route despite the innumerable hurdles. To all the scientists and staff at ISRO, your dedication, perseverance, and passion for space research have paved the way for future generations. Your hard work made India a global leader in space exploration Your work will continue to shape the future of space exploration. An inspiration to millions! Here's to many more milestones and breakthroughs," posted KTR.
Chennai, Jan 29 : Customs officials seized hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 23.5 crore from Chennai Airport on Wednesday and arrested three people in this connection.

The contraband was smuggled from Thailand, concealed in soft drink powder packets.

According to sources, the hydroponic ganja, cultivated using water as the primary medium, is known by various street names, including OG, sugarcone, and Kush.

Tamil Nadu has increasingly become a key transit hub for international drug syndicates, with banned substances like methamphetamine and its precursor, pseudoephedrine, being trafficked to countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Australia, where demand is high, the sources said.

In 2024, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized methamphetamine worth approximately Rs 380 crore.

Intelligence sources indicate that a significant portion of the drugs are sourced from Myanmar and transported to Sri Lanka.

On November 17, 2024, Chennai city police arrested Nigerian national Philip, believed to be the mastermind behind a cartel smuggling methamphetamine into Tamil Nadu and distributing it in smaller quantities.

The Arumbakkam police have so far arrested 12 individuals in connection with the case.

The drug, which costs between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,00,000 per kilogram in Manipur, is sold for as much as Rs 7 lakh per kilogram in Chennai. In international markets such as Sri Lanka and Australia, its price escalates to several crores.

According to NCB sources, the primary smuggling route involves transporting methamphetamine from Myanmar across the India-Myanmar border into Manipur.

From there, it is carried by human couriers on trains to Tamil Nadu, where it is concealed in vehicles and transported to coastal towns like Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. Once at the coast, the drugs are loaded onto local fishing boats and transferred mid-sea to Sri Lanka via Tamil Naduas porous maritime border, the NCB sources added.

Investigations have identified Moreh, a town in Manipur near the India-Myanmar border, as a critical transit hub.

The Tamil community in Moreh is suspected to have links with Chennai's Red Hills area, further exposing the reach of the drug syndicate.

Authorities have also uncovered evidence suggesting that remnants of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) may still be clandestinely operating in parts of Tamil Nadu.

In October 2021, former LTTE operative Satkunam alias Sabesan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his involvement in arms and drug trafficking from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

Although the LTTE has been defunct for years, security agencies suspect that its highly trained former cadres are engaging in mid-sea smuggling operations, facilitating the transportation of drugs from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka and beyond - to Malaysia and Australia.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Wednesday expressed grief and anguish over the heart-wrenching stampede incident at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj and assured all possible assistance to the affected families.

Hours after the stampede resulted in some casualties and injury to dozens of pilgrims, the billionaire took to his social media handle on X and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

"We are deeply saddened by the heart-wrenching incident that occurred at Maha Kumbh. We pay our humble tributes to the departed souls and express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families," wrote Gautam Adani in a post.

He also added that Adani Group is committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected families.

"All members of the Adani family present at the Maha Kumbh and the entire Adani Group, in collaboration with the fair administration and the state government, are committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected families," said the Adani Group chairman.

Earlier in the day, the stampede at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in the wee hours of Wednesday morning invited heartfelt condolences from across the political spectrum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and also wished speedy recovery for all the injured.

"The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," PM Modi said.

PM Modi also spoke to UP CM Yogi Aditayanth after the tragic incident, multiple times in an hour and took stock of the situation.

Briefing the media, CM Yogi Adityanath informed that the situation at the mela ground was under control and all possible assistance was being provided to the affected families by the administration.
Hyderabad, Jan 29 : Telangana Minister for Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Wednesday asked Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao why he was not attending Assembly sessions and wanted to know if he would resign and hand over the post of the Leader of the Opposition to someone other.

The minister also hit back at BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, a day after the latter criticised him during the Rythu Maha Dharma in Nalgonda. He told reporters that KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, has no moral right to criticise him.

"KTR faces cases like Formula-E and Dharani. I don't have any case against me," said the minister. He also recalled that during the Telangana movement, he sacrificed his ministerial position for the Telangana state.

"KTR is only a MLA. He is not even the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. He became MLA because of his father. I don't have to respond to his criticism," Venkat Reddy added.

The Congress leader said he would respond to K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and not KTR as he asked why KCR was not coming to the Assembly.

"You have 30 MLAs but you are not coming to Assembly. Will you attend the next session or resign as the Leader of the Opposition to give the responsibility to KTR or Harish Rao," asked Venkat Reddy. The minister quipped that the "BRS shop is half-closed". "The party drew a blank in Lok Sabha elections and forfeited deposit in eight out of 16 seats it contested," he said.

Targeting Venkat Reddy during the protest programme in Nalgonda on Tuesday, KTR had challenged him to a public debate on Nalgonda's development. The BRS leader alleged that Congress failed to address long-standing issues, such as the fluoride crisis in Nalgonda. He also criticised the Congress government for neglecting the district's IT sector and stated that the IT Tower constructed by the previous BRS government in Nalgonda has turned into a haven for anti-social elements, including drunkards, under the current administration.

The minister hit back at KTR saying he was creating hurdles in the project aimed at the rejuvenation of the Musi River. He also slammed the BJP leaders for opposing the Musi project. "Musi River is in grave danger compared to Yamuna. The BJP has promised in its election manifesto that if it comes to power in Delhi it would clean Yamuna river but in Telangana, Central ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay are creating hurdles in the project to clean Musi," the minister said.
Mumbai, Jan 29 : Looks like Bollywood couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa have joined forces for yet another exciting project. Recently, the lovebirds used their official Instagram handle to share a note claiming that they have something special coming up, and it is not a child.

Their latest IG post read, "Something special is brewing. Can't wait to share it with you all. Stay tuned!" They further shared a picture where we can see their silhouettes in the backdrop of some vibrant lights.

"Stay Tuned! P.S: we are not becoming parents yet", Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa wrote in the caption.

Meanwhile, Ayushmann Khurrana commented with a black heart emoji.

His better half, Tahira Kashyap shared two red heart emoticons in the comment section.

Actress Huma Qureshi's comment saw one red heart emoji.

Actor Akshay Oberoi dropped two red heart emojis as the comment.

Meanwhile, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, along with actor couple Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu flew off to Japan for a fun vacation recently. Soha Ali Khan treated the netizens with a heartwarming photo from the trip on her Instagram handle. The still features the four of them posing for a happy picture together. Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu's daughter, Inaaya was also a part of the photograph. Posting the pic on social media, Soha Ali Khan wrote in the caption, "In the land of the rising sun JP."

On the professional front, basking in the success of "Stree 2", Rajkummar Rao will next grace the screen with his upcoming film, 'Maalik.' The actor is expected to be seen in a new avatar in the project touted to be an action thriller. Rajkummar Rao will portray the role of a gangster in the film made under the direction of Pulkit. "Maalik" will be bankrolled by Kumar Taurani of Tips Films in collaboration with Jay Shewakramani of Northern Lights Films.
Agartala, Jan 29 : Tripura's tableau, showcasing the 'Eternal Reverence: The worship of 14 deities in the state- Kharchi Puja' at the 76th Republic Day celebrations, won the second prize.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Home and Culture portfolios, expressed his happiness over the performance of the state's tableau.

The Chief Minister in a post on the X said: "Proud to share that Tripura's stunning tableau that showcased 'Eternal Reverence: The worship of 14 Deities in Tripura- Kharchi Puja' at the 76th Republic Day Parade, Kartavya Path, has secured the 2nd position in the country."

"The tableau beautifully highlighted our state's rich cultural heritage, bamboo-based art, and modern technology, making us the pride of the northeast region. Kudos to the entire team behind this achievement for their hard work and dedication !" CM Saha said.

According to an official release, Uttar Pradesh's tableau on "Maha Kumbh 2025 - Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas" secured first position and Andhra Pradesh's tableau on 'Etikoppaka Bommalu - Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys' stood third.

Tripura is the only state among the eight northeastern states selected to display its tableau on 'Eternal Reverence: The worship of 14 Deities in Tripura - Kharchi Puja'.

"In accordance with the theme, traditional 'Kharchi Puja' and its rituals attached to the worship of 14 deities and their significance were showcased in the Tripura tableau," an official said.

Originally a Hindu tribals' festivity, the Kharchi Puja is now observed by all communities and religions.

With colourful marquees, illumination, religious rites and chanting of 'mantras' amid drum beats, the festival features 14 deities -- Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesha, Brahma, Abadhi (God of water), Chandra, Ganga, Agni, Kamdev and Himadri (Himalaya).

As per tradition, the week-long festival began (in June-July) with a colourful procession accompanied by the Tripura police music band. All deities and priests were escorted by Tripura Police personnel, who also presented a guard of honour to the Chief Royal Priest -- Raj Chantaia.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : A war of words erupted on Wednesday between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the quality of Yamuna water supplied to Delhi, with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini mounting counterattack against his Delhi counterpart Atishi over her remarks.

Atishi had accused the Haryana government of sending "poisonous" water to the national capital and challenged Saini to measure ammonia levels at Palla Ghat, the point where Yamuna enters Delhi from Haryana.

In a post on X, she invited the Haryana CM to visit the site with media personnel and verify the contamination levels.

"Nayab Saini ji, I have come to know that you are going to the Palla Ghat of Yamuna river. I request that you and I go together, take media colleagues along as well. We will measure the amount of ammonia in front of everyone. Everyone should know that Haryana is sending poisonous water to the people of Delhi," Atishi wrote on X.

Reacting sharply, Saini dismissed Atishi's allegations and accused her of spreading misinformation. "AAP-da's wooden sandals (khadau) Chief Minister Atishi Marlena ji, you are welcome on the banks of Yamuna in Palla village. There is no poison in the water coming to Delhi from Haryana, but your minds are definitely filled with poison", he said.

Saini further accused the AAP government of repeatedly blaming Haryana for its own failures. "Sometimes for water shortages, sometimes for the smoke from stubble burning, and sometimes for all your administrative failures, you always hold Haryana responsible," he added.

Earlier, AAP convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sounded the alarm over the deteriorating quality of Yamuna water, blaming the Haryana government for allegedly "poisoning" it. According to Kejriwal, the contamination levels in the water supplied from Haryana are so high that treatment plants in Delhi are unable to process it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, also took a direct swipe at AAP over its allegations. PM Modi strongly refuted the claim that Haryana was contaminating Yamuna's water and ridiculed the notion that the BJP-led state government would poison its own people.

"A former Delhi Chief Minister has made serious allegations against the people of Haryana. Out of fear of defeat, AAPda has lost its mental stability. Are Haryana's people any different from Delhi? Don't their families and relatives live here? Can they poison the water that their own families drink?" he questioned.

Mocking the claim further, PM Modi added, "This Prime Minister also drinks the same water. Foreign diplomats, ambassadors, and even Delhi's poor drink the same water. Does AAP think the BJP government in Haryana would poison the water to kill Modi? What kind of absurd claim is this? Was there a conspiracy to poison the judges of this country as well? Delhiites, those who deliberately commit such sins are neither forgiven by Delhi nor by the nation."
U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh (second from right) gets a tour of St. Philips Colleges Transportation and Manufacturing Technologies programs with St. Philips College President Adena Williams Loston (right) along with Alamo Colleges Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores, Congressman Joaquin Castro and Mayor Ron Nirenberg before taking part in a roundtable discussion on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Alamo Colleges will ask voters in May to approve a $987 million bond issue that includes facilities to expand workforce development capacity. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

The Alamo Colleges District will ask voters in May to approve a record $987 million bond issue highlighting workforce development for manufacturing, technology, healthcare and other economic growth areas.

If approved, it will include new facilities at such employment centers as Brooks, Port San Antonio and the South Texas Medical Center. The growing district projects its total enrollment will expand from 79,000 students presently to up to 100,000-127,000 by 2030.

Alamo Colleges currently is the sixth-largest community college district in the nation and second in Texas, serving about 10 percent of community college students in the state, Chancellor Mike Flores said. The bond issue will expand the districts footprint to be in or near employment and industry centers, and in areas currently under-served, he told board members Tuesday night.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores said the proposed bond issue addresses growth in Bexar County and provides convienience while, mostly importantly, expanding workforce development capacity. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Most importantly, we want to be able to provide for expanded workforce capacity, and in highly populated Bexar County and in our region, we want to be able to provide convenience, Flores said.

A couple of trustees cautioned the public will need to be educated on the bond issue, especially since its more than twice the scope of the $450 million bond package approved by voters in 2017.

At first glance, while the projects are really exciting, the size of this bond issue is a little bit startling to look at, said longtime trustee Gene Sprague, who represents the Northwest Side and has focused on workforce development.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The proposal nonetheless was approved by the board without opposition.

Joannette Casias, 41, a mother of eight and the first to go to college in her family, posed for a portrait at the Palo Alto College campus where she attended classes to complete her undergraduate degree in May 2024, Texas. The Alamo Colleges District recently introduced a new program offering a pathway to a bachelors degree at four of its five campuses. Christopher Lee

The bond proposal includes these new facilities at or associated with Alamo Colleges campuses:

A $75 million, 92,000-square-foot School of Engineering building at Northeast Lakeview College, with instructional labs for electrical engineering technology, commercial electrical work, welding and construction management.

A $95 million, 85,000-square-foot School of Nursing and Health Professions facility in the medical center to train nurses, radiology technologists, physical therapy personnel and other professionals, supporting activities at San Antonio College and other campuses in the district.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A $95 million, 92,000-square-foot Center of Applied Technology tied to Palo Alto College but located at Brooks, supporting advanced manufacturing, heavy equipment diesel technology and agriculture.

A $65 million, 73,000-square-foot Center of Automotive Technology building at St. Philips College, to train automotive service technicians and mechanics.

A $70 million, 71,00-square-foot School of Emerging Technologies facility located at Port San Antonio but affiliated with Northwest Vista College, with a focus on information technologies, geographic information systems, data science and cloud computing.

The bond issue also includes almost $250 million in infrastructure investments, including IT, cybersecurity and public safety; land acquisition and environmental sustainability initiatives; expansion of the districts headquarters, now filled near capacity; a community conference and professional development center; and building and utility maintenance and other physical needs on the districts five main campuses.

Sprague was concerned the bond issue will generate a much larger debt than the last one. But Lisa Mazure, the districts associate vice chancellor of finance and fiscal affairs, said Alamo Colleges, with a growing property tax base and AAA bond rating from Moodys and Standard & Poors, will not have to raise its tax rate. She said the district will see its debt payments go down considerably in several years, if voters approve the bond proposal.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Gene Sprague, Alamo Colleges District trustee, said the proposed bond project has a lot of tremendous projects that will enhance workforce development. Staff / Scott Huddleston

We will have larger debt payments, but well continue to have a larger tax base, Mazure said.

Trustee Yvonne Katz said the district will need to inform voters about the scope, scale and economic potential of the Alamo Colleges.

People dont realize how large we are, she said. We really have to emphasize our numbers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sprague said he was comfortable with projections on debt payment, but he cautioned that astute homeowners who have endured rising property appraisals will need assurances the proposal will improve lives and strengthen the local economy  without unduly affecting their tax bills.

He said hes especially enthusiastic about our progress in the workforce area.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 21:29 | All, Japan

The Japanese government on Wednesday announced countermeasures against a U.N. committee on discrimination against women that has called for reviewing Japan's male-only imperial succession law.

The government will ensure that Japan's voluntary contributions to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are not used to fund the activities of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura told a press conference.

It will also suspend until the end of the current fiscal year through March a program to invite committee members to Japan to help them understand the country's culture and traditions, Kitamura said, adding the government notified the United Nations of its retaliatory steps on Monday.

In October, the committee, comprised of experts on women's issues from around the world, concluded in a report that the succession rule stipulated in the 1947 Imperial House Law is considered contrary to "the object and purpose" of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted in 1979 by the U.N. General Assembly.

Japan has lodged a protest with the committee, saying the imperial succession system is linked to Japan's "foundation" and that the reference to the law is "unacceptable" and should be deleted from the report.

The succession rule should not be regarded as "discrimination" as defined by the convention, given that "eligibility to ascend the imperial throne is not part of basic human rights," Kitamura said.

According to Kitamura, Japan has paid about 20 million yen ($130,000) or 30 million yen in annual contributions to the U.N. human rights office, which is tasked with managing the committee, but the funds have not actually been used for the committee at least since 2005.

Japan has invited eight committee members in total since fiscal 2017 under the program, which was expected to resume in fiscal 2024 after being halted in fiscal 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2016, Japan harshly opposed a recommendation from the committee to amend the Imperial House Law that was included in a draft of the concluding observations of that year's review. The final version ended up with no reference to the issue.

Japan's hereditary monarchy is said to stretch back more than 2,600 years, including early mythological leaders whose existence is disputed, with the throne consistently passed down the male line. Under the Imperial House Law, females cannot ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Amid a shortage of successors, revising the succession rule has long been debated in Japan. Emperor Naruhito, 64, has only three heirs -- his brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, 59, his nephew Prince Hisahito, 18, and his uncle Prince Hitachi, 89.

The law requires female members to leave the imperial family upon marriage to a commoner. Princess Aiko, 23, is the only child of the emperor and empress.

Despite parliament calling on the government to promptly hold discussions on the issue of succession amid a shrinking imperial family in a 2017 nonbinding resolution, a government panel tasked with studying ways to ensure a stable imperial succession said in 2021 that the issue "should be judged in the future."

In the report issued last October, the same U.N. committee also urged Japan to reconsider its requirement for married couples to use the same surname.

Related coverage:

33 changed gender in Japan without surgery after 2023 court ruling

U.N. body again urges Japan to allow separate surnames for couples

Women make up 16% of executives in Japan's top-listed firms: study
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : Karnataka BJP on Wednesday expressed regret over the tragic incident of stampede resulting in minor injuries to 40 to 50 devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh and prayed for the recovery of injured persons.

Reacting to the incident, State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said, "The tragic news of a stampede this morning at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, despite all precautionary measures taken by the Uttar Pradesh government, has resulted in many devotees sustaining minor injuries."

"Reports indicate that around 40 to 50 devotees have sustained minor injuries, and I wish them a speedy recovery. Our Prime Minister has also spoken to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh over the phone to assess the situation, and both the Central and state governments will take additional precautions," he added.

"After 144 years, the sacred Maha Kumbh Mela is being held in Prayagraj, drawing crores of devotees to this grand spiritual gathering. I sincerely pray that all devotees participating in the pilgrimage remain safe and that the event continues smoothly until its conclusion, allowing them to receive divine blessings without any obstacles," Vijayendra said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said here on Wednesday that he has not received any news regarding devotees from the state injured in the Maha Kumbh Mela.

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede-like situation and injured many.

At least 30 women are reportedly injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.

The Uttar Pradesh government expected 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh in just one day and had stepped up security in preparation for the 'Amrit Snan'.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the situation in Maha Kumbh was now under control and some devotees have been critically injured in the stampede.

He also urged the people not to pay attention to rumours.

He said that around 8 to 10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj and there is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the 'Sangam Nose'.

He also added that around three crore people have taken a holy dip in Maha Kumbh as of 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

'Sangam Nose' is a triangular landmass that is sandwiched between the river Ganga in the north and the river Yamuna in the south, before they merge.

The 'Amrit Snan' on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years.

This alignment has added to the fervour and devotion of the millions who gathered for the ritual.

Authorities have since tightened security measures and urged devotees to remain cautious.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for allegedly misusing taxpayers' money to build a "Sheesh Mahal" while promising to provide permanent homes for the poor living in the national capital.

Addressing a public meeting in Delhi's Kartar Nagar, PM Modi said, "The BJP cannot sit idle until the lives of slum dwellers improve. That's why the BJP government is building permanent houses for thousands of slum dwellers. Many have already received the keys to their homes, and I guarantee that every slum dweller will get a permanent house."

Taking a dig at AAP, he said, "Modi doesn't have his own house, but Modi's dream is for every poor person to have a permanent home. Those who built the Sheesh Mahal and wasted crores of public money on luxury can never think about the homes of the poor. That's why they are now going to slums and spreading falsehoods. They have mastered the art of lying."

Drawing a comparison, PM Modi said, "Their power to lie is so great that you have to be very cautious. You must have heard of Charles Sobhraj -- he was a well-known fraudster, but he was so skilled at deception that people kept falling for his tricks. Similarly, AAP keeps fooling people with lies."

He accused AAP of misleading voters about the BJP's welfare schemes. "In 2014, when I was contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Congress spread rumours that if Modi came to power, MNREGA would be shut down. It's been 11 years, and not only did I not stop it, but I also strengthened it by removing corruption. Likewise, all beneficial schemes for Delhiites will continue and be strengthened," he assured.

PM Modi also attacked AAP over alleged corruption, citing the CAG report.

"Since 1860, CAG has been an independent institution for government accountability. Every government has respected its findings, but this is the first time that a Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) has disregarded the CAG like a piece of scrap paper. AAP has hidden the CAG report because they fear exposure -- be it the liquor scam, Sheesh Mahal scam, or corruption in education and healthcare," he said.

He guaranteed that once the BJP forms the government in Delhi, "The CAG report will be tabled in the first Assembly session, and the truth will be revealed."

Slamming AAP's governance, he said, "AAP people are so full of arrogance that they think they own Delhi. They claim to be the protectors of Delhi's mothers and sisters. How shameless! No leader can be a shield for anyone -- the leader is only a servant of the people."

"I am privileged that the mothers and sisters of this country stand as a shield for Modi because they know I work for them with all my heart," he added.

Accusing AAP of "secretly" aligning with Congress, PM Modi said, "AAP knows it is losing, so they are trying to ensure that if their candidate doesn't win, Congress' candidate should. They plan to join hands later and grab power. This will only double Delhi's problems. That's why I urge every voter to choose the lotus symbol."

PM Modi blasted AAP for neglecting governance, stating, "In the last five years, the Delhi Assembly functioned for just 75 days -- the shortest period in history. While Delhi's problems grew, only 14 laws were passed, five of which were about increasing MLAs' salaries. Does this show any concern for Delhiites?"

He reminded voters of AAP's stance on national security.

"On January 26, we saw the strength of our armed forces. But let's not forget that in this very Delhi, AAP questioned the Army's surgical strike. They even held an Assembly session demanding proof of our soldiers' bravery. On February 5, Delhiites have the opportunity to punish those who betrayed Maa Bharati."

PM Modi also attacked the lack of a distinct identity for Delhi compared to other cities, stating, "Gurgaon and Noida are known for IT and startups, Bengaluru is India's IT capital, Mumbai is famous for Bollywood, and Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai, and Bhopal rank as India's cleanest cities. What special identity does Delhi have?"

Vowing for a change, PM Modi said, "The world should not just know Delhi as India's capital but also as the model city of Viksit Bharat. The BJP is working towards making Delhi the world's number one metro network, a NaMo Rail-connected city, and an expressway hub."
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : A controversy has erupted in Kerala after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan advised Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar to commute the sentence of a murder convict.

The convict, Sherin, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her father-in-law in 2009.

Sherin, the main accused, along with two others have been serving life imprisonment in the Karanavar murder case since 2010.

However, Pinarayi Vijayan's office, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, pointed out that the decision was taken based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and the Law Department.

Reportedly, a top political leader is seen behind the fast-tracking of the application of Sherin's commuting sentence.

Meanwhile, according to the rules for remission, the prisoner should show exemplary character as a prisoner, in special circumstances, or under certain legal provisions. However, Sherin's behaviour in prison has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. She was also moved from one prison to the other in the state.

Reportedly, she also got huge concessions especially when getting parole. Moreover, there are other prisoners who have served more than 20 years, but only Sherin has been considered for parole.

Media critic S. Jayasankar said that it is strange how such a prisoner with a bad track record is getting benefits.

"Reportedly, a State Minister is supporting her. Karanavar's family can approach the judiciary, Governor or the state government with their objections," said Jayasankar.

A close relative of Karanavar, K. Anil, said they have been equally disturbed by how can Sherin get such concessions. "It's unfortunate that even a state minister is supporting and helping a criminal," said Anil.

Sheirn's father-in-law, Bhaskara Karanavar, (65) had returned from the U.S. and was staying with his son and his wife Sherin at Chengannur in Alappuzha district.

In November 2009, he was found murdered at his residence and following a probe the police tracked down Sherin and her lover as the prime accused.

Despite her appeal pleas against the verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's verdict and she was given life imprisonment along with her lover.
Chennai, Jan 29 : National Award-winning cinematographer Ravivarman, best known for having shot several landmark films including ace director Mani Ratnam's magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan', has now been inducted into the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

Ravivarman is only the second Indian cinematographer to be inducted into this academy. The only other Indian cinematographer who has been inducted into the ASC is cinematographer Santosh Sivan.

Cinematographers who have won multiple Oscar awards watch a cinematographer's body of work, assess the quality of the cinematography, discuss and then collectively grant this recognition.

Ravivarman, who posted pictures of himself at the ASC on his X timeline, wrote on Wednesday, "I began my career filled with uncertainty. Life led me to where I am today, and since then, I've been carefully planning my steps to discover the true meaning and purpose of my life."

Several film industry professionals have been congratulating Ravi Varman on his inclusion in the ASC.

Accepting the recognition, Ravi Varman said, "I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the board of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for inducting me as a member. Cinematographers from all over the world dream of joining this association. It gives me great joy and pride to be included in a platform where the world's leading cinematographers who have won awards including Oscars are members. I wholeheartedly thank those who made me realise this dream."

In the last 25 years, Ravi Varman has shot many films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English. He has collaborated with many great directors of India. Some of the noteworthy films that Ravi Varman has shot include Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan', Shankar's 'Anniyan', Gautham Menon's 'Vettaiyaadu Vaidyaadu' and Anurag Basu's 'Barfi'.
Houston, Jan 29 : The State Board of Education of Oklahoma has voted to advance a rule requiring parents to report immigration or citizenship status when enrolling students in public schools.

The rule, approved by 6-0 unanimously on Tuesday, must be approved by the Governor and the state legislature to take effect in the landlocked south-central US state.

If approved, the rule would require each school district to record the number of students whose parent or guardian cannot provide proof of citizenship or legal immigration status "due to the lack of citizenship or legal immigration status of the student."

"Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that. It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a Republican member of the board.

Dozens of students protested Walters' immigration policies in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, calling for keeping deportation agents off school campuses, Xinhua news agency quoted the local media as reporting.

"All children have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of their citizenship or immigration status," the National Immigration Law Center said in a statement in response to the rule change.

US President Donald Trump last week issued a directive allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to arrest people in schools. Walters said Oklahoma plans to comply with the Trump administration's move.

Current US law on immigrants in schools stems from the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe. In a 5-4 vote, the court held that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education because of their immigration status, citing the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, according to a CNN report.
Chennai, Jan 29 : The Puducherry unit of the AIADMK staged a protest on Wednesday demanding an immediate release of 13 Tamil fishermen, including six from the Union Territory's Karaikal region, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 27.

The fishermen were apprehended on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

AIADMK workers and functionaries, led by Puducherry unit secretary A. Anbalagan, gathered near the district collectorate and raised slogans against the Sri Lankan government, condemning its use of force against Tamil fishermen.

Speaking to the media, Anbalagan urged the Union government to take a firm stand against Sri Lanka's "strong-arm tactics" and secure the release of the detained fishermen.

He also emphasised the need for proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

"It is the responsibility of the Union government to ensure the safety of our fishermen while they venture into the sea. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu are increasingly fearful for their lives due to the aggressive actions of Sri Lankan maritime agencies," said Anbalagan.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking his immediate intervention to secure the release of the 13 fishermen.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to prioritise diplomatic discussions with the Sri Lankan government to ensure their safe return.

Additionally, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) V. Vaithilingam has also reached out to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, requesting his assistance in securing the release of the fishermen along with their boat.

In his letter, Vaithilingam stated, "I kindly request the Union Minister to intervene and persuade the Sri Lankan government to release the captured fishermen along with their boat."

In response to the continued arrests of Indian fishermen, Tamil Nadu fishermen's associations have announced a large-scale protest in Rameswaram on Friday, January 31. Fishermen and their families will participate in the demonstration, urging immediate action from the Union government.

The associations have strongly condemned these repeated arrests, calling them a serious threat to their livelihoods.

Antony John, a fishermen's association leader from Rameswaram, expressed deep concern over the escalating situation:

"The Sri Lankan Navy is arresting our fishermen regularly. On Tuesday, they even fired at our men, injuring two of them. This has to stop," he said.

John further lamented that fishing in the Palk Bay is becoming increasingly unsafe, with fishermen losing not just their livelihoods but also their boats and fishing equipment to Sri Lankan authorities.

Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had written to EAM Jaishankar on January 12, 2025, urging diplomatic intervention to secure the release of detained fishermen.

In his letter, the Chief Minister highlighted the economic distress caused by repeated arrests and boat seizures.

"The recurring arrests and boat seizures have severely impacted the livelihoods of our fishermen. Swift diplomatic intervention is essential to safeguard their rights," he said.

With tensions rising, all eyes are now on the Union government's response and the diplomatic measures it will take to resolve this longstanding issue.

--IANS

aal/dan
New Delhi, Jan 29 : A team of Australian researchers has found key understanding of how microbes consume huge amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and help reduce levels of this deadly gas.

According to a recent study published in the Science Direct journal, more than two billion tonnes of CO is released into the atmosphere globally each year. However, microbes consume about 250 million tonnes of this, reducing CO to safer levels.

The latest study led by Monash University researchers showed that microbes consume CO present in the atmosphere by using a special enzyme, called the CO dehydrogenase.

This enzyme helps them to extract energy from this universally present but highly toxic gas.

The study, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, reveals how this enzyme extracted atmospheric CO and powered cells.

"This enzyme is used by trillions of microbes in our soils and waters. These microbes consume CO for their own survival, but in the process inadvertently help us," said Ashleigh Kropp, from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute's (BDI).

Dr David Gillett, from the varsity showed that the microbes help clean our atmosphere as well as counteracts air pollution -- a known killer. The microbes also help reduce global warming given CO is indirectly a greenhouse gas.

The findings highlight the essential role played by microbes in both human and planetary health.

"Yet, because they're invisible and often misunderstood, their contributions frequently go unnoticed," said the researchers.

They noted that microbes were a big reason why air was breathable.

"They make half the oxygen we breathe and detoxify various pollutants like CO. It's crucial we better understand and appreciate how they support our own survival".

Another recent study by Finnish researchers showed microbes deep within Arctic Sea yield promising prospects for antibiotics.
Palakkad, Jan 29 : Fifty-eight-year-old Chenthamara, who had already killed one person and early this week murdered two more, on Wednesday told a court in Kerala's Palakkad to sentence him to 100 years in prison.

He said this when the police produced him before the court.

As the court began its proceedings, Chenthamara added, "I cannot show my face before my daughter and her husband as they are employed, so please sentence me to 100 years in prison."

When the court asked him if his body had any injuries, he said, "No, there are no injuries."

The court sent the accused to 14-day judicial custody.

The court complex was crowded and the police had a tough time keeping the people at bay, when he was produced and later escorted out from the court.

Chenthamara appeared not to show any remorse for the horrific crime since he was arrested.

On Tuesday night, he was very calm and during the remand report of the police, it was said that he showed no signs of remorse.

Earlier on Wednesday, the children of a 54-year-old man Sudhakaran, who was stabbed to death along with his 76-year-old mother Lakshmi, on Wednesday, demanded that Chenthamara should be hanged to death.

Sudhakaran was killed by his neighbour Chenthamara, who was out on bail in connection with the murder of the former's wife.

"Chenthamara killed our mother in 2019 and was in jail. Then he came out and killed our father and grandmother. He is arrested now and again he will be put in jail, only to be released a few years later and again he will kill people," said the deceased's children Akhila and Athulya.

"Why did he do this to our father? He could have beaten him and left him alone. Just see how he killed our father. He stabbed him multiple times and this shows what sort of person he is. He should be hanged to death, if not, he will continue to do the same," they added.

On Monday, Chenthamara, out on bail for the past two months, brutally murdered Sudhakaran and his mother Lakshmi.

Palakkad Superintendent of Police, Ajith Kumar, told the media that the accused was arrested around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

"We are questioning Chenthamara and he revealed that after committing the crime, he ran into the forest area behind his house," the police said.

After remaining hungry for several hours, the accused was on his way home when police nabbed him.

When the news surfaced that the accused was taken into custody, a mob gathered before the Nenmara police station demanding the release of Chenthamara to punish him.

To control the mob from attacking Chenthamara, the police had to use pepper spray and lathi-charge to disperse them.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Air India on Wednesday announced that it will restart its non-stop flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv, with the first flight scheduled to take off on March 2.

Resuming flights is part of the airline's efforts to expand its international routes and improve travel options between India and Israel, it said in a statement.

The airline will operate five flights a week on this route, using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

These planes offer 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy Class. The direct service is expected to make travel between Delhi and Tel Aviv more convenient.

According to Air India, flight AI139 will depart from Delhi on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 3.55 p.m. (IST) and arrive in Tel Aviv at 7.25 p.m. (local time).

The return flight, AI140, will leave Tel Aviv at 9.10 p.m. and land in Delhi at 6:10 a.m. the following morning.

"Bookings for the Delhi-Tel Aviv flights are now open. Passengers can reserve their seats through Air India's website, mobile app, or travel agents," said the national carrier.

Air India's decision to resume this route came after receiving the necessary approvals. The airline aims to strengthen its global network, particularly in the Middle East and Europe.

The national carrier had halted flight operations to and from Tel Aviv last year amid growing tensions in parts of the Middle East, saying they were continuously monitoring the situation.

The revival of this service is expected to boost travel between India and Israel, further enhancing diplomatic and business ties between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the Tata group-owned airline announced earlier this month that the company will offer inflight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity services on domestic flights.
Kolkata, Jan 29 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Wednesday, could not collect the voice samples of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, as the latter failed to turn up at a special court in Kolkata on medical grounds.

Earlier, on January 21, the central agency officials failed to collect the voice samples of Bhadra as he did not appear before the court.

On January 22, the judge of the special court fixed January 29 (Wednesday) as the next date for the collection of voice samples and also directed the presence of Bhadra at the court.

However, the accused did not appear at the court this time too, due to which his voice samples could not be collected.

Instead, a communication was sent from Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata intimating court that Bhadra was admitted to the jail's hospital as he was unwell.

Bhadra, who was granted bail in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe, could not walk out of the prison as he was arrested by CBI in the same case.

Earlier, ED sleuths collected the voice samples of Bhadra.

The trial process in the ED-registered case at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act ((PMLA) in Kolkata began this month. There are a total of 53 accused, 29 individuals and 24 corporate entities or trusts, as mentioned in the subsequent chargesheets filed by ED in the matter.

Besides Bhadra, the other prime accused individuals in the case are the former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, his close aide Arpita Mukherjee and his son-in-law Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya.

Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, a trust named after Chatterjee's deceased wife is also named in the ED charge sheet as an accused entity. It is alleged that the ill-proceeds were shown as donations to this particular trust and thus diverted.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 12:16 | All, Japan

A record 527 children attending elementary, junior high and senior high schools in Japan died by suicide last year, up 14 from 2023 and topping the previous high of 514 in 2022, preliminary government data showed Wednesday.

Senior high school students accounted for 349 of the total, up 2 from the previous year, followed by junior high school students at 163, up 10, and elementary school students at 15, up 2, according to the health ministry data, which is based on National Police Agency statistics.

By gender, 239 were male, down 20, while 288 were female, up 34.

A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare official called the situation "serious" and said further analysis is needed to understand the contributing factors better.

The overall number of people taking their own lives in Japan fell to 20,268, down 1,569 from 2023, the second-lowest figure since records began in 1978.

Male suicides dropped to 13,763, down 1,099, marking the first decline in three years, while female suicides also decreased, down 470 to 6,505 for the second straight year of decline.

Health issues were the most common reasons behind suicides, accounting for 11,986 cases, followed by problems related to economic and life issues at 5,075 and family problems at 4,334.

School-related issues accounted for 578 cases, while 42 suicides were associated with trouble involving social media or online interactions.

The number of suicides per 100,000 people stood at 16.3, down 1.3 from the previous year.

Emergency service in Japan: 119



If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available.

For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger.



For those outside Japan, you can find a list of other resources here.

Related coverage:

Japan school absenteeism hits record 340,000 in FY 2023, up 11th yr

40% of child abuse deaths in FY 2022 involved babies under 12 months

Australian Senate passes world's 1st social media ban for under-16s
Ahmedabad, Jan 29 : Gujarat Police claimed on Wednesday to have summoned around 1,157 individuals booked under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) between 2022 and 2024.

A police official said that the operations were conducted in major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot, adding that Rajkot accounted for 157 of the accused, while Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara reported comparable figures.

He added that the authorities emphasised that the initiative aligns with the state's commitment to maintaining public safety through a two-pronged strategycombining strict legal measures with community-focused initiatives.

"We continue to uphold our commitment to public safety through a dual approachoffering compassionate community support while taking strict action against criminals," he said.

He further pointed out that initiatives such as 'Santwana Kendra,' 'She Team,' 'Tran Vat Tasiri, Trin Vat Aami,' and 'Tera Tujko Arpan' provide support to women, children, and senior citizens.

The official claimed that efforts to curb crime remain relentless, with a crackdown on anti-social elements across the state.

He added that under the directive of Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay, Gujarat Police aims to deter repeat offenders and strengthen law enforcement mechanisms.

He said that the PASA law, enacted in 1985, is a preventive detention measure designed to curb activities deemed detrimental to public order, adding that its enforcement has been a subject of debate, particularly regarding its frequency and scope.

"Between 2019 and 2021, Ahmedabad recorded 2,897 PASA cases," he said.

Notably, approximately 1,065 of these cases were registered against individuals involved in bootlegging activities. In a notable instance, within a 24-hour period, PASA was invoked against 10 individuals, underscoring its active enforcement in the city.

In the two years leading up to 2021, there were 5,402 detentions under the PASA Act across Gujarat. However, it's significant to note that 64 per cent of these detentions were subsequently quashed by the Gujarat High Court, highlighting concerns about potential overreach or misuse.

In August 2021, the Gujarat High Court restricted the state government from issuing detention orders under PASA against three traders accused of offences under the GST laws.

The court emphasised that the "sword" of detention should not hang over individuals without substantial justification.

The High Court quashed a detention order against an individual booked under the Prohibition Act, stating that a solitary offence does not warrant labelling a person as a bootlegger under PASA. The court highlighted the necessity for substantial evidence to justify such detentions.
Jakarta, Jan 29 : A speedboat carrying 16 people sank in the waters off Indonesia's North Kalimantan province, a senior local rescuer said on Wednesday.

The speedboat went down near the waters of Sei Menggaris sub-district in Nunukan regency at midday on Wednesday after departing from a seaport in Nunukan city, capital of the regency, according to Syahril, head of the provincial search and rescue office.

"The incident occurred at midday today. Four people were killed. We have evacuated eight people safely and are still searching for four others who remain missing," he told Xinhua news agency via phone.

Syahril said that the survivors had been taken to a hospital and a nearby post around the seaport in the sub-district for medical treatment. The speedboat's captain has been detained at a police station for questioning regarding the incident, he added.

The search and rescue operation for the missing passengers is ongoing, involving the police, soldiers, personnel from the search and rescue office, the local disaster management and mitigation agency, and volunteers.

According to the local disaster management and mitigation agency, the speedboat was struck by large waves.

North Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia on the island of Kalimantan with a population of approximately 0.6 million people. It is approximately 7.5 million hectares in total area, of which 4.5 million hectares is forest area.

In another incident on Tuesday, as many as 13 students were swept away by waves at Drini Beach in Gunung Kidul regency in Yogyakarta, with four of them being reported dead and the others hospitalised, reported leading Indonesian daily Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

"A group consisting of 261 students and 16 teachers arrived at the beach at around 6 am and immediately began to swim. But soon after, scores of the students were swept away by the high waves," the report mentioned.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that residence-based reservation in Post Graduate (PG) medical courses under state quota is constitutionally invalid.

A bench, headed by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, said that providing for domicile or residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is constitutionally impermissible and cannot be done.

It opined that residence-based reservation is impermissible for the reason that such reservation runs counter to the idea of citizenship and equality under the Constitution.

It clarified that institutional preference or reservations to a reasonable extent permissible under the Constitution in PG courses, yet reservation in PG medical courses and other higher learning courses, on the basis of aresidencea violates Article 14 of the Constitution.

"We must also remember that, to a reasonable degree, residence-based reservation in a state is permissible for MBBS course, but the same reservation for PG courses is not permissible," added the Bench, also comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and S.V.N. Bhatti.

It referred to previous decisions of the apex court, where it was held that at the PG level, merit cannot be compromised, although residence-based reservation can be permissible to a certain degree in UG or MBBS courses.

In Chandigarhas Government Medical College and Hospital, 64 PG medical seats falling under the state quota were reserved either for the aresidentsa of Chandigarh or for those who have done their MBBS from the same college.

The prospectus provided a very wide definition of aresidentsa of Chandigarh and even included a person who studied in Chandigarh at any time for 5 years or the children of parents who had property in the Union Territory for a period of 5 years at any point of time.

After several petitions were filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging this residence-based reservation, the high court held that the reservation was given on the basis of a long-discarded principle of domicile or residence and was bad in law.

Upholding the decision, the Supreme Court said: "We are all domiciled in the territory of India. We are all residents of India. Our common bond as citizens and residents of one country gives us the right not only to choose our residence anywhere in India, but also gives us the right to carry on trade & business or a profession anywhere in India. It also gives us the right to seek admission in educational institutions across India."

It said that the benefit of affirmative action in educational institutions to those who reside in a particular state can be given to a certain degree only in MBBS courses, but considering the importance of specialist doctors in PG Medical Course, reservation at the higher level on the basis of aresidencea would be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

"If such a reservation is permitted then it would be an invasion on the fundamental rights of several students, who are being treated unequally simply for the reasons that they belong to a different state in the Union! This would be a violation of the equality clause in Article 14 of the Constitution and would amount to a denial of equality before the law," the top court added.

It stressed that state quota seats, apart from a reasonable number of institution-based reservations, have to be filled strictly on the basis of merit in the All-India examination.

--IANS

pds/vd
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 : The Odisha government has decided to set up an exclusive industrial park to support and encourage women entrepreneurs in the state.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday informed while addressing the gathering at the special Women's Business Leaders Round Table at 'Utkarsa Odisha-2025 Conclave' at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar.

The government has also planned to open a Special Cell in The Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL) to provide assistance and opportunities for women-led businesses.

The IPICOL is the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) under the Industries Department responsible for devising the investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare strategy for Odisha.

"To support and nurture women entrepreneurs, our government has decided to establish an Exclusive Industrial Park for Women and a Special Cell in IPICOL to provide assistance and opportunities for women-led businesses," he.

He also noted this initiative marks a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and sustainable business ecosystem, where women can thrive and contribute to Odisha's economic growth.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that these two measures will encourage women to start the business independently.

He also sought suggestions from the women business leaders on how to further raise women's participation in business. He also informed the gathering that in coming years, the government will invest in specialised programmes to equip women with the skills and knowledge needed for entrepreneurial success.

"We will collaborate with universities and business schools to offer scholarships, internships and leadership programmes that provide both economic and practical business experiences," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the two-day business summit, 'Utkarsa Odisha-Make in Odisha -2025 Conclave', the flagship Global Investment Summit hosted by the Odisha government from January 28 to 29 in Bhubaneswar.

Inviting the business leaders attending the summit, PM Modi said, "This is the right time to invest in Odisha. In this journey of development for Odisha, your investment in Odisha will take you to new heights of success. This is Modi's guarantee."
Mysuru, Jan 29 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to take all necessary security measures following the stampede at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela.

"PM Modi has issued appropriate instructions regarding the incident. This incident has saddened everyone. Today is considered an auspicious day in our Hindu tradition, and people believe that taking a holy dip on this day is beneficial. That is why a record number of devotees gathered at the venue. Mouni Amavasya is a significant day when a large number of devotees take the ritual bath," the minister said while interacting with the media persons during the Suttur Jatra Mahotsava in Mysuru.

He added that the government had taken all precautionary measures.

"As soon as the news of the incident broke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and instructed Yogi Adityanath to implement large-scale safety measures," Kumaraswamy said.

He further added that all necessary arrangements were made at the Kumbh Mela, and the public has appreciated the efforts.

"The unexpected surge in crowd numbers created difficulties. The Kumbh Mela committee had advised people to plan their visit accordingly. Despite this, the incident occurred due to the overwhelming crowd," he said.

As a large number of Kannadigas participated in the Kumbh Mela, Kumaraswamy urged anyone facing difficulties to contact his ministry in Delhi.

"I have instructed people to reach out to me if they face any issues. I am making this appeal again through the media. I have also informed my officials to provide necessary assistance," he assured.

Kumaraswamy further strongly criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for his remarks on the ritual bath at the Kumbh Mela. "This is the typical culture of the Congress. They do not respect our traditions and beliefs," Kumaraswamy said.

He said that Congress only knows how to criticise. "The remarks and choice of words used by the Congress National President are inappropriate. The Congress party does not have faith in our religious customs, which is why they speak this way," he added.

He said that the Congress recently organised an event in Belagavi, chanting 'Jai Bapu, Jai Ambedkar, Jai Constitution.'

"They conducted grand programmes in the name of Mahatma Gandhi. However, their current statements contradict these actions. If Congress truly believed in Gandhi's ideology, such remarks would not have been made," he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reacting to the stampede incident stated that he is saddened by the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela.

"My condolences to the bereaved families, and prayers for the departed souls. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured," said the Chief Minister.
Kabul, Jan 29 : Afghan counter-narcotics police have uncovered about 19 kg of illicit drugs, including 13 kg of Ice (methamphetamine), and arrested 12 suspected drug smugglers in five provinces of Afghanistan, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The drugs were seized during separate routine operations conducted by the police on the outskirts of the provinces of Herat, Laghman, Panjshir, Faryab and the national capital Kabul, the Ministry of Interior said in the statement.

The ministry said in another release that Afghan authorities destroyed more than 16 tonnes of narcotic drugs and acid by setting them ablaze in the western province of Nimroz.

Authorities of the counter-narcotics department also destroyed 10.5 tonnes of illegal drugs in central Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, the provincial police office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The contraband including opium poppy, hashish, objects used in manufacturing heroin and other toxic items was burned publicly on Tuesday, the statement said.

Police in Bamiyan banned the cultivation of poppy, drug processing, and drug trafficking in the province, the statement added.

The Afghan caretaker government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business, vowing to fight the menace until the country is free from poppy cultivation.

The Afghan police also on Wednesday announced the arrest of 23 people on charges of involvement in criminal activities, including murder and theft over the past 24 hours throughout the country.

The suspects were arrested following operations conducted by counter-narcotics police in the provinces of Nimroz, Parwan, Balkh, Helmand, Laghman and Badghis, read an Interior Ministry statement.

Most of the detainees were involved in murder and theft cases, a source said, adding that the suspects were taken to concerned departments for investigation and possible legal process.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : At least 30 people were killed and about 60 injured in the stampede that broke out at the mela ground in Prayagraj, in the early hours of Wednesday, a top police officer said.

Vaibhav Krishna, the DIG rank officer at Mahakumbh told the press that 25 bodies have been identified so far and the process of identification for the rest is underway. He said the injured are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

This is the first official confirmation about the death toll and the number of injured in the Mahakumbh stampede. Soon after the news broke about deaths in stampede, political parties were prompt in offering their condolences on loss of loved ones, however, the number of deaths was not clear.

Addressing the media, the DIG rank officer overseeing the Mahakumbh festivities said: "At around 1-2 a.m. before the Brahma Muhurta, a huge crowd gathered at the Akhara Marg. Due to the massive gathering, the barricades on the other side broke and the crowd ran over the devotees, wanting to take a dip at the Sangam."

He said that at least 90 people were taken to the hospital through ambulances but unfortunately, 30 devotees have passed away.

Sharing information on the unidentified deceased devotees, he said that they are from Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Also, talking about the Uttar Pradesh governmentas efforts in salvaging the situation post stampede, he said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made an appeal to all the saints, seers, Akharas and Mahamandaleshwars to postpone their dip by a few hours.

Notably, 'Mauni Amavasya' is the one of most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, falling on Magh Krishna Amavasya. It is believed that on this day, the water of holy river turns into aAmrita. The bath on this day is traditionally performed in silence.
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Demanding an investigation by an independent agency into vandalising of B.R. Ambedkar's statue followed by an attempt to burn the stone sculpture of the Constitution in Amritsar on the Republic Day, a delegation of senior BJP leaders on Wednesday met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, here.

They apprised the Governor that this incident "is part of a larger conspiracy to incite unrest and deepen communal divides in Punjab".

"It's utmost necessary to uncover the real motives and masterminds behind this shameful act and find out individuals involved, including those who may have orchestrated this act for political motives," they said.

Justifying the investigation by an independent agency, not under the control of the state government, the BJP leaders said the incident spot was just 100 metres away from the police station.

"There is strong apprehension that the deplorable incident could not happen without the involvement of the state machinery and involvement of the ruling AAP government of Punjab," they told the Governor.

The delegation comprised former Cabinet Minister Manoranjan Kalia, ex-Union Minister Som Prakash, ex-MP Sushil Rinku, BJP Punjab's core group member Kewal Dhillon, party's General Secretary Anil Sarin, among others.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has condemned the desecration of Ambedkar's statue and has assured strong action against the guilty.

In a post on X on Monday, CM Mann said that no one will be spared and strong action will be taken.

A man on January 26 evening vandalised the statue on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple complex.

He was arrested soon after a video went viral.

According to the police, the accused, Akashdeep Singh, belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.

The accused used a hammer to deface the statue and burnt the stone-carved Constitution book in front of the statue by lighting inflammable material on it. He used a ladder to reach the statue's top.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 : Odisha's tourism sector saw a massive boost at the 'Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025' with 121 investment intents amounting to a remarkable Rs 8,153 crore. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, who expressed confidence in the state's rising status as a prime investment hub.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 (IANS) Odisha's tourism sector saw a massive boost at the 'Utkarsh Odisha  Make in Odisha Conclave 2025' with 121 investment intents amounting to a remarkable Rs 8,153 crore. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, who expressed confidence in the state's rising status as a prime investment hub.

Talking to IANS, Parida emphasised, "Utkarsh Odisha is the ray of hope. As PM Modi stated, the next destination for investors is now Odisha. We've already seen investments pouring in from diverse sectors, and this year, the tourism sector alone has drawn significant attention, with over Rs 8,153 crore in investment commitments. The establishment of an MSME park for women-led businesses and the participation of women in leadership roles are additional promising steps towards a brighter future for Odisha."

The 'Utkarsh Odisha' Conclave, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday is being hailed as the biggest business summit the state has ever hosted, with a record number of investors in attendance. Speaking at the event, PM Modi noted that Odisha is playing a crucial role in the growth of Eastern India, which is rapidly becoming a key economic engine for the nation.

"This is my second visit to Odisha this month, and I am thrilled to see such enthusiastic participation in Make in Odisha Conclave 2025," the Prime Minister said.

"Eastern India, with Odisha at its heart, is integral to India's growth, with its rich industrial, port, and trade hubs. Odisha's participation in South East Asia's trade legacy is being revived, and this region is opening up unprecedented opportunities for growth," PM Modi said.

PM Modi highlighted the historical connections between Odisha and South East Asia, recalling the significant role the state played in ancient trade routes. He also pointed out the growing interest from ASEAN countries and praised the recent visit of the President of Singapore, further cementing Odisha's global ties.

In his address, the Prime Minister assured investors that the time to invest in Odisha's development journey is now, and their investments would usher in new heights of success for both the state and the nation.
Ankara, Jan 29 : Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation has "neutralized" a key figure of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Wednesday.

Shiraz Omer, code-named Sozdar Afrin, was killed in a pinpoint operation on the Rumailan-Malikiyah road, Anadolu quoted anonymous Turkish security sources as saying, without specifying the time of the operation.

Omer, allegedly a high-ranking official in the financial network of the group, had reportedly been closely monitored by Turkish intelligence.

Also on Wednesday, the Turkish Defence Ministry said 14 YPG militants were "neutralized" in the Operation Peace Spring region of the Turkish military in northern Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.

Amid the surprise advance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces into Damascus in early December, Turkish-backed factions launched an offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, forcing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw from certain areas.

Turkey views the YPG, which forms the core of the SDF, as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

The SDF, bolstered by US support and dominated by Kurdish units, controls extensive areas in northern and eastern Syria.

An SDF delegation met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on December 30 for the first time since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8, 2024.

The Turkish army launched Operation 'Euphrates Shield' in 2016, Operation 'Olive Branch' in 2018, Operation 'Peace Spring' in 2019, and Operation 'Spring Shield' in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along the Turkish border within the neighboring country.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 09:09 | All, Podcast

How often do you visit convenience stores?

Three Kyodo News reporters  Toma Mochizuki, Eduardo Martinez and Risako Nakanishi  talk about how convenience store sales in Japan among seven franchises hit a record high in 2024. Listen as they discuss what their overseas acquaintances have found interesting about them, and the labor shortages the industry is currently facing.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

Japan 2024 convenience stores sales at record high on inbound tourism

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

Recent episodes:

Podcast [English World] Episode 81: Ramen bankruptcies

Podcast [English World] Episode 80: Kinugawa Onsen, more than just haikyo?

Podcast [English World] Episode 79: Stabbing in Shenzhen
Jerusalem, Jan 29 : The Israeli military will remain in the occupied West Bank's Jenin refugee camp after its ongoing raid there concludes, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday.

The raid began on January 21, two days after a truce took effect between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with large military forces, security agency Shin Bet, and Border Police entering the Jenin area.

More than 16 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the raid began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

During a visit to the Jenin refugee camp, Katz said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops were "operating forcefully" in the camp.

"The Jenin refugee camp will not return to what it was," he said. "We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank."

"After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return," he added.

In photos released by the ministry, Katz is seen touring the refugee camp, inspecting damaged residential buildings, and speaking with commanders, Xinhua news agency reported.

Jenin, located in the northern West Bank, is a territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel has kept its control over the land despite international criticism.

On Tuesday, the Palestinian authorities claimed that an Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinian men and wounded three others during the targetting of a vehicle in the Nour Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank.

The Ramallah-based Health Ministry said in a statement that two fatalities and three injuries were brought to Tulkarm Governmental Hospital following the strike.

Meanwhile, the IDF and the Israel Security Agency confirmed in a statement that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) killed two in Tulkarm.

"During a joint IDF and ISA counterterrorism activity, an IAF aircraft struck and eliminated Ihab Abu Atiwi, a terrorist who served as the head of Hamas in Tulkarm, and an additional terrorist," the statement read.

It added that Abu Atiwi was involved in numerous shooting attacks, including an attack on an Israeli vehicle at the Ramin junction in the West Bank in July last year, in which three Israelis were injured.
Bhopal, Jan 29 : Former Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Constable Saurabh Sharma's business partner and key associate Sharad Jaiswal, who is one of the co-accused in the disproportionate assets case, was produced in the court in Bhopal on Wednesday.

Jaiswal was detained by Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police when he came to surrender at the Bhopal district court on Tuesday and questioned him.

The court sent him to a six-day police (Lokayukta) custody (till February 4).

The main accused Saurabh Sharma and another co-accused Chetan Gaur were arrested and produced in the court on Tuesday, and they were sent to a seven-day police custody.

Now, for the next five days, Lokayukta police would question the accused trio (Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Gaur, and Sharad Jaiswal) together to know about the resources of their disproportionate assets recovered during the raids.

The trio have been absconding since the Lokayukta conducted the first raid at Saurabh Sharma's promises in Gwalior and Bhopal more than 40 days ago.

However, Saurabh Sharma's case got more limelight after the Income Tax officials recovered 52 kg of gold worth more than Rs 40 crore and Rs 9.86 crore in cash from an abandoned car on December 19.

The car, bearing a number plate registered as MllP 07 (Gwalior RTO) under the name of Chetan Gaur, was discovered late at night in Bhopal's Mindori village, allegedly belonging to him.

Later, based on Lokayukta's complaint, the Enforcement Department (ED) also carried out searches at multiple locations and recovered properties worth several crores of rupees.

In the past month, ED raided more than 12 offices and premises belonging to Sharma and his relatives suspected to be connected to the case.

According to official sources, the ED also questioned Sharma's wife and mother on Monday, however, they were let scot-free after a few hours of questioning.

Sharma was appointed as a Constable in the Transport department in 2016 on compassionate grounds after his father, a government doctor at Gwalior district hospital died in 2015.

He worked as an RTO constable for 12 years and took a voluntary retirement from service in 2023.
Kinshasa, Jan 29 : Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will not attend the crisis meeting hosted by his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto Wednesday, regarding the security situation in the eastern DRC, local media reported, citing sources in the presidential office.

"President Felix Tshisekedi is closely following the evolution of the situation in the east of the country. However, he is not scheduled to attend the meeting convened by President William Ruto," stated Giscard Kusema, Deputy Director of the communication unit of the presidential office.

On Monday, Ruto announced that, amid the tense situation in the eastern DRC, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Tshisekedi had agreed to participate in an extraordinary East African Community (EAC) summit Wednesday. The relations between the latter two countries are on thin ice over the advances of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in the eastern DRC. The M23 claimed to have taken over Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province and regional urban hub.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while Rwanda has denied these allegations, instead accusing the Congolese army of supporting and collaborating with remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group allegedly responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

On Wednesday morning, the situation remained unclear in Goma, with gunshots heard. Local sources of the UN peacekeeping mission said the Goma's border with Rwanda has been reopened early morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

Other sources claimed that Tshisekedi is expected to address the nation later on Wednesday.
Ulan Bator, Jan 29 : The Mongolian government has decided to stockpile at least 10,000 tonnes of livestock meat to ensure a steady supply for residents of the national capital during the spring season of 2025.

Relevant officials have been assigned to oversee the supply, distribution, sales, quality and safety of the reserved meat, according to a statement from the government's press office on Wednesday.

During the harsh spring season, as nomadic livestock become lean and herders have fewer animals to sell, meat prices rise in urban areas, leading to potential shortages.

Ulan Bator is home to about half of Mongolia's 3.5-million population, and livestock meat is the primary food consumed by Mongolians, Xinhua news agency reported.

As one of the world's last remaining nomadic nations, Mongolia had 57.6 million livestock at the end of 2024, according to the National Statistics Office.

Mongolia's National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring has forecasted that most parts of the country will experience colder temperatures than the long-term average throughout the winter.

Over the weekend, temperatures plunged to minus 44.4 degrees celsius in Otgon soum, an administrative subdivision of Zavkhan province in western Mongolia.

This is the coldest temperature recorded in Mongolia so far this winter, the weather monitoring agency in a statement.

With its strongly continental climate, the Asian country endures long and bitterly cold winters when temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius are typical.

"Last year, the lowest temperature recorded in our country was minus 48.8 degrees Celsius on January 23 in the western province of Zavkhan," the agency said, predicting similar conditions this winter.

The cold wave is expected to cause significant disruptions, and the public, especially nomadic herders, are urged to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their livestock from the extreme conditions.

Earlier this month, the agency had warned that at least 40 per cent of the country's territory was at high risk of experiencing the extreme wintry weather 'dzud' this winter.

The dzud is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when many livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow.
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : Four persons from Karnataka, including a mother and daughter are confirmed dead in the tragic incident of stampede in which 30 persons lost lives at Prayagraj while attending Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday.

All four deceased persons hailed from Belagavi district of Karnataka.

The deceased have been identified as Megha Deepak Hattavarth (24), her mother Jyothi Deepak Hattavarth (44), Arun Korpade (61) and Mahadev Hanmanth Bavanur (48).

The Belagavi District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan while confirming the reports said that the sudden loss of their lives has caused immense grief to their families and they are now seeking the support of the district administration to bring back the mortal remains of their loved ones for the last rites to be performed in their native places.

He said that Shruthi N.S., Additional Superintendent of Police, Belagavi and Harsha Shetty, Special Deputy Commissioner, Belagavi have been appointed as nodal officers for the repatriation of mortal remains of four residents of Belagavi district from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh immediately.

The mortal remains of the deceased including three women will be airlifted from Varanasi to Belagavi, he stated.

Sources said that after the stampede, the victims were rushed to a private hospital in Prayagraj and they succumbed at the hospital. They had gone to Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela through a private travel agency as part of a 13-member team from Karnataka's Belagavi.

Reacting to the development, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, R. Ashoka said that the news of the tragic stampede has been deeply saddening.

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost their loved ones. I urge the state government to coordinate with the local administration there to facilitate the transportation of the deceased back to Karnataka and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured," he stated.

He also told Kannadigas to follow the instructions issued from time to time by the local administration, police personnel, and event organisers.

"Do not pay attention to rumours or unverified information. Stay close to your group of friends or family members while travelling. If you have young children or elderly companions with you, ensure they receive special attention and care," Ashoka appealed.

He said that the Uttar Pradesh government and local administration have put in place all necessary arrangements to allow every devotee to perform the sacred bath.

"Therefore, there is no need for haste or panic. Take part in the holy ritual calmly and return home safely," Ashoka stated.
Kolkata, Jan 29 : The Border Security Force (BSF) has claimed that a woman constable of the Malda Sector succeeded in thwarting a major infiltration bid by Bangladeshi nationals close to the Kutadah Border Outpost on Wednesday.

A group of five to six armed Bangladeshi nationals were approaching the border fence near Aradhpur, in West Bengal's Malda district when the constable from the 88 Bn BSF challenged them single-handedly.

"She displayed exemplary courage and did not hesitate to rush forward even after realising that the Bangladeshi nationals were carrying deadly weapons. It could not be ascertained whether they were smugglers, but they had entered Indian territory illegally and were approaching the border fence - 150 yards from the zero line - with the intent to breach it," said N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF.

DIG Pandey said that the Mahila Constable was on duty during the second shift when she spotted the miscreants moving towards the fence.

"She immediately shouted out a warning and alerted her colleagues over the radio. Even after being warned, the Bangladeshis assumed an aggressive posture and kept on moving forward," he said.

DIG Pandey claimed that caring little for her personal safety, the brave Mahila Constable rushed towards the group.

"By then, they had got close to the fence and would have started damaging it had she not fired a shot from her service rifle. On hearing the noise and realising her resolve, the criminals ran helter-skelter, taking advantage of the thick fog. The possibility of any of the miscreants being injured in the firing cannot be ruled out," the DIG said.

Speaking about the performance of Mahila Constables on active duty along the notorious and crime-prone Indo-Bangladesh Border, he said: "Their capability, dedication and bravery are second to none and they are fully capable of curbing any type of criminal activity and securing the borders of the country."
Mombasa, Jan 29 : The recurrence of infectious diseases such as Ebola, monkeypox and Marburg in Africa calls for enhancing the resilience of the continent's public health systems through sustainable funding, technology adoption, improved surveillance and community engagement.

Africa remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks that are being fueled by climate change, pollution, unregulated human mobility across borders and limited access to diagnostics and essential medicine, said the officials and experts attending the East Africa Regional Global Health Security Summit 2025, officials said at a forum in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa.

The summit that runs from January 28-30 was convened by Kenya's Ministry of Health and partners and aims to chart a new pathway for enhancing preparedness and response to pandemics in the region.

In addition, delegates from governments, academia, civil society, donors, industry and regional blocs attending the three-day forum will discuss novel ways to boost biosecurity, advance health equity, and ramp up the adoption of technologies and innovations in the health sector.

Kenyan President William Ruto in his opening remarks said that African nations have a collective duty to revamp their health systems and ensure they are capable of responding to outbreaks that are transboundary.

"The threats posed by infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and other health challenges require a united and proactive approach," Ruto said in a speech read on his behalf by Deborah Mlongo Barasa, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health.

Ruto called for investments in research and local manufacturing of testing kits and vaccines while leveraging technology, partnerships and community outreach to boost health security on the continent, Xinhua news agency reported.

The inaugural East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit 2025 runs under the theme of 'Securing Health and Prosperity, One Community at a Time', underscoring the urgency to improve the continent's ability to detect, respond and manage health emergencies.

Abdourahmane Diallo, the World Health Organization representative in Kenya, said that robust community-based surveillance combined with partnerships, innovations and forward-looking policies are pivotal to enhancing Africa's public health security.

Diallo stressed that mobilising resources from the domestic private sector is key to tackling funding gaps in the continent's health sector, occasioned by shrinking external support.

Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director-General at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, stressed that political goodwill, innovative financing, reskilling the health workforce and streamlining the supply chains for essential commodities will ensure the continent's health systems are responsive to emerging threats.
Jammu, Jan 29 : Incarcerated Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid on Wednesday moved an application for interim bail in the Delhi High Court.

Engineer Rashid won the Lok Sabha election from the Baramulla constituency by defeating National Conference (NC) Vice President and incumbent Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes while he remained lodged in Tihar Jail.

Engineer Rashid had sought the reprieve on the ground that he wishes to attend the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament that begins on January 31 and concludes on April 4.

He has alternatively pleaded that he be given custody parole if not interim bail to attend the Parliament session.

Engineer Rashidas plea forms part of his pending petition on the issue of granting him bail in the case by the NIA.

In the main petition, he has urged the high court to either direct the expeditious disposal of his pending bail application by a lower court here or decide the matter itself.

Delhi High Court had asked the NIA to present its stand in the case and listed it for hearing on January 30. Now both pleas for the interim bail and custody parole are expected to be heard by the high court on Thursday.

On December 24 last year, additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh had requested the district judge to transfer the case to a court designated to try lawmakers as Rashid became an MP.

The additional sessions judge dismissed Rashid's plea urging him to pronounce the verdict on his pending bail application in the NIA case.

With the matter sent back to him by the district judge, the trial judge said in his decision that he could only decide the miscellaneous application and not the regular bail plea.

Before the high court, Rashid's senior counsel said the MP was left without any redressal as the court hearing the bail plea "suddenly" took the view that it could not hear his case and the MP/MLA court did not have the jurisdiction to hear NIA cases.

He argued the pendency of the bail plea was resulting in Rashid's constituency being left unrepresented during the parliamentary sessions owing to his continuing custody.

The NIA counsel had said the agency in November wrote to the registrar general of the high court on the issue of designation of a lower court to hear the case but he was not aware of the status of the request.

He was arrested by NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror-funding case. The ED filed a money laundering case against the accused persons on the basis of the NIA's FIR, which accused them of conspiring to wage war against the government and fomenting trouble in the Valley.
Amaravati, Jan 29 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday expressed their happiness over the state's tableau with the theme of Etikoppaka toys in the Republic Day Parade bagging third prize.

Chief Minister Naidu said that it is a matter of great joy that the Andhra Pradesh tableau has come third.

He posted on X that it is a matter of pride for the people of the state.

In the list of best tableaus announced by the Ministry of Defence, the Uttar Pradesh tableau came first, the Tripura team finished second, and while Andhra Pradesh tableau occupied third place.

Chief Minister Naidu congratulated the tableau designers, state officials and especially the artists who make Etikoppaka toys.

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan termed it a moment of pride for Andhra Pradesh.

"Our Etikoppaka Bommalu - Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys tableau, has earned national recognition by securing third place in the 76th Republic Day Parade at the Kartavya Path, Delhi. This honour is a testament to our state's rich artistic, cultural heritage and craftsmanship," he said.

On behalf of the state government, the Deputy Chief Minister extended heartfelt gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Since the NDA government took office, several initiatives have been undertaken to promote Etikoppaka toys. These include the cultivation of Ankudu trees, essential for toy-making, and integrating these handcrafted toys into official souvenirs, enhancing their visibility and demand," said the Jana Sena leader.

"A special thanks to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu garu, for selecting and sending the Etikoppaka tableau on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh government this year," he added.

Earlier, both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister had expressed their delight over the response to the state's tableau.

CM Naidu said with the song 'Bommalamma... Bommalu', Etikoppaka toys tableau was a special attraction on Kartavya Path.

The tableau celebrated the 400-year-old craft tradition known for its eco-friendly, smooth, vibrant, and toxin-free toys.

The toys originated from Etikoppaka in Anakapalli near Visakhapatnam.

These toys are made of soft Anduku wood and are coloured with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark roots and leaves.

The artists use a colourless resinous secretion of several insects. This is used in decorating the toys.

Etikoppala Toys has obtained its GI tag under the handicrafts category.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The US Department of Justice's (DoJ) indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is a strategic blunder with severe geopolitical consequences, leading American publication Forbes has said.

In an article titled "The US Harms The West's Alliances With A Far-Flung Indictment In India", the author, Melik Kaylan, argued that the indictment, which alleges bribery and financial misrepresentation, "risks damaging India-US relations at a time when Washington is actively seeking stronger alliances to counter Chinaas rising influence".

The article highlighted that India is a pivotal partner for the West, especially in initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) - a transformative infrastructure project designed to rival Chinaas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The DoJas action, however, undermines economic collaboration and trust at a critical juncture, potentially pushing India closer to Russia and China. In doing so, the US inadvertently weakens its own geopolitical positioning, allowing its rivals to strengthen their influence, according to Forbes.

Moreover, the piece argued that this indictment represents another example of Western overreach, where American extraterritorial legal actions disrupt vital global partnerships.

The broader concern is that while the US and Europe undermine their own allies with such moves, their adversaries continue advancing - economically, militarily, and technologically. As the author bluntly puts it, "They must be laughing in Beijing."

In essence, the DoJas action against Adani is not just a legal decision but a diplomatic miscalculation that risks isolating India at a time when its alignment with the West is crucial for global stability, according to the article.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 22:35 | All, Japan

Rail fans bid farewell to one of Japan's iconic "Doctor Yellow" bullet trains, used to diagnose faults on the country's high-speed shinkansen lines, as it made its final run Wednesday after about 24 years in service.

As the JR Central-owned T4 edition of "Doctor Yellow" arrived at Tokyo Station around 6 p.m., children erupted in cheers while others took photos of the yellow train, which people felt lucky to spot over the years due to its elusiveness.

"It was cool. Thank you for fixing the railways all this time," said 6-year-old So Fukushima, who came from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Two "Doctor Yellow" trains, the T4 and T5 editions, have traveled without passengers along the Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen lines, spanning Tokyo to Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

The T4, which debuted in 2001, will have no successor, with passenger-carrying N700S bullet trains slated to be outfitted with testing and observation equipment. The T5, which belongs to JR West and debuted in 2005, is set to retire after 2027.

The trains have developed a mythical status among Japan's rail enthusiasts as their operating timetables are not disclosed to the public. Their elusiveness has given birth to claims that those who spot them will be blessed with happiness.

The T4 edition will be exhibited at a JR Central railway museum in Nagoya starting around June.

Related coverage:

Luxury trains offering tourists a chance to visit Japan's hidden gems

Disney-themed Shinkansen trains to begin service in Japan from Feb. 21

Japan's "Doctor Yellow" track-testing shinkansen begins long goodbye
Jaipur, Jan 29 : Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore on Wednesday criticised the opposition parties for politicising the Maha Kumbh Sangam stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, emphasising that it was an unfortunate accident and not a deliberate or "sponsored" incident.

He also extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

He urged devotees attending the religious event to remain patient and avoid unnecessary haste.

State BJP President Rathore called the Opposition's stance "unethical" and "condemnable", urging them to show compassion instead of exploiting the situation for political gains.

Commenting on the Delhi elections, State BJP President Rathore accused the Congress of being an opportunistic party, highlighting its inconsistent stance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

He said that Congress sometimes contests elections in alliance with AAP and at other times opposes it.

"A self-respecting party does not behave like this," he remarked.

The BJP leader also criticised Congress for initially defending the AAP during the Delhi liquor policy scam but was now levelling allegations against them while contesting separately.

He asserted that these contradictions expose Congress' lack of principled politics.

Regarding the upcoming Assembly session, State BJP President Rathore urged the Opposition to adopt a constructive approach rather than indulging in disruptive behaviour.

He said that the Assembly House is not a place for muscle power and that opposition parties should focus on policy-based and fact-driven debates.

He emphasised that public representatives should not seek attention merely by creating chaos but should instead engage in meaningful discussions for the benefit of the people.

At least 30 people were killed and about 60 injured in the stampede that broke out at the mela ground in Prayagraj, in the early hours of Wednesday, a top police officer said.

Notably, 'Mauni Amavasya' is the one of most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, falling on Magh Krishna Amavasya. It is believed that on this day, the water of the holy river turns into aAmrita. The bath on this day is traditionally performed in silence.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed hospitals and medical colleges across the country to not penalise doctors and medical professionals, who participated in protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, but had returned to their duty pursuant to the top court's appeal.

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed hospitals and medical colleges across the country to not penalise doctors and medical professionals, who participated in protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, but had returned to their duty pursuant to the top courtas appeal.

On August 22, 2024, the SC had assured the resident doctors and interns that no adverse action would be taken against them for participating in protests in the wake of the horrific incident.

During the hearing on the suo moto case titled "Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, and related issues", the apex court had urged the protesting medical fraternity across the country to resume work at the earliest.

"Since this court is seized of the matter pertaining to the safety and well-being of all medical professionals at their workplaces, and the issue involving high national priority, we will request all the doctors, who are abstaining from work, to resume work at the earliest," a bench headed by then CJI D.Y. Chandrachud had said.

It had said that medical doctors and professionals stand assured that their concerns are receiving the highest attention from the top court.

After a bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna was apprised that several punitive measures, including marking protesting doctors on leave, deduction of casual leaves, etc. were taken by the administration of different hospitals, the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar, clarified that the absence of doctors, who have resumed work pursuant to its August 22, 2024 order, will be regularised and not treated as absence from duty.

"This direction is issued in peculiar facts and circumstances and shall not be read as laying down a precedent," the CJI Khanna-led Bench added.

Taking suo moto cognisance of the rape and murder case of the junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the Supreme Court had termed the incident "horrific," which raises the "systemic issue of safety of doctors across the country".

"We are deeply concerned about the fact that there is an absence of safe conditions of work for young doctors across the country, particularly, public hospitals," it had said.

The apex court had ordered the formation of a National Task Force (NTF) to suggest measures for the security of medical professionals across the country, observing that the safety of doctors is the "highest national concern".

Meanwhile, a division bench of Justices Debangshu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi of the Calcutta High Court has reserved its decision as to whether both the appeals -- one by CBI and the other by the West Bengal government -- against the special court verdict convicting civic volunteer Sanjay Roy of the crime and sentencing him to life imprisonment will be admitted, or any one of the two will be taken.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government would move the Calcutta HC challenging the quantum of the sentence and the state government would be seeking the death penalty for the convict.

"I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare cases which demands capital punishment. We want to insist upon the death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case," she said.

However, Deputy Solicitor General, Rajdeep Majumdar, argued in the high court that it was only the CBI, which is the investigating agency in the case, and the victimas parents who could move such a plea, and not the state government, which is not a party in the case.

On Monday, the victimas father said they are not seeking capital punishment for Roy right at this moment.

"We want the names of all those behind my daughteras end to surface. We want the highest punishment for all of them and not just for Sanjay Roy. So we are not seeking capital punishment for Sanjay Roy now. The rest will be explained by our counsel," claimed the victimas father.
Kolkata, Jan 29 : A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, sought a report from the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata on the allegations of "threat culture" prevailing at the premium medical institute of the state.

Kolkata, Jan 29 (IANS) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, sought a report from the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata on the allegations of "threat culture" prevailing at the premium medical institute of the state.

The single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta has directed the hospital authorities to submit that report by February 5. In the report, the hospital authorities will have to provide details of the steps taken by the authorities to eliminate the "threat culture".

The single-judge bench also directed that whether the accused doctors were given chances to present their sides. A senior official of R.G. Kar will have to appear at the court physically in February for the case. On December 6 last year, Justice Sengupta's bench sought a report from the R.G. Kar authorities.

However, the court was not satisfied with the report presented by R.G. Kar's counsel since it lacked mentions of whether the accused doctors were given chances to present their sides of argument.

The issue of "threat culture" at different state-run medical colleges and hospitals in Kolkata, including R.G. Kar, surfaced following the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of the same hospital within the hospital premises in August last year.

The former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and his close associates were then identified as the main steering personnel behind running this threat culture.

Shortly after that a number of doctors accused of running that "threat culture" were suspended by the respective college councils. However, the court stayed such suspensions in many such cases on the grounds that the accused doctors were not allowed to present their sides of the argument.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday said that the state inched closer to achieving the goal of becoming one of the top five economies of the country with the massive success of the two-day Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha conclave-2025.

"The Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha conclave-2025 was a huge success," he said. The two-day flagship business summit hosted by the Odisha government on January 28 and 29 was attended by Industrial houses, global delegates, and policymakers.

Speaking to media persons during a press conference here, the Chief Minister said, "As many as 145 Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) have been signed during the conclave. These MoUs will transform the Industrial sector of Odisha as well as begin a new era of cooperation with world-class industrial establishments."

With the signing of these MoUs during the conclave, the state is expected to receive investments to the tune of Rs 12.89 Lakh crore in 16 diverse sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles, mining and metallurgy, renewable energy, IT/ITeS, tourism, and food processing.

"These investments are expected to generate over 8.94 lakh job opportunities, creating a significant socio-economic impact and ensuring inclusive growth of the state," added the Chief Minister.

He said that the state government has also received 448 Investment Intents in prescribed forms with a cumulative investment worth Rs 3.84 Lakh crores the potential to create 3.92 lakh jobs.

He further stated that the state received a total of 593 projects with an investment of Rs 16.73 lakh crores and employment potential of 12.88 lakhs in over 20 sectors across all 30 districts of Odisha.

Majhi noted that the conclave attracted delegates from over 16 countries, including representatives from the Partner Countries Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia  further strengthening Odisha's position as a global investment destination.

"We are committed to achieving the vision of Samrudh Odisha 2036 and contributing to Viksit Bharat 2047," he said.

The Chief Minister, on behalf of the people of Odisha, has also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his unwavering support to Odisha during the mega business summit which he personally inaugurated on January 28.

"The Prime Minister was himself present and gave his guarantee (Modi Ki Guarantee) for investments in Odisha. He has extended absolute support to us in making a Samurddh Odisha by 2036 and making it a growth engine of Viksit Bharat by 2047. In a double-engine government, he has played the role expected of him. This has taken us closer to the goal of becoming one of the top five economies of the country," he said.

Notably, the event on the second day featured key sectoral sessions on Textiles and Apparel, Renewable Energy, Skilled in Odisha, Women Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Circular Economy, Agro- and Food Processing, Healthcare, Pharma & Biotech, and Industrial Infrastructure, driving actionable strategies for investment and growth.
Agartala, Jan 29 : Top CPI-M leaders in Tripura on Wednesday claimed that the 11-year rule of the BJP-led Narendra Modi government at the Centre destroyed democracy in the country and the saffron party was running the government to favour only the millionaires.

Addressing a public rally, CPI-M politburo member Prakash Karat said that in the last 11 years, people in the country witnessed how the Modi government destroyed democracy and arrested prominent leaders of opposition parties.

"Before Lok Sabha elections, the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren were arrested and put in jail to suppress their voice," he told the gathering.

The CPI-M leader alleged that it is in the DNA of BJP's blood to kill democracy in the country while its idealogue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been trying to create a 'Hindu Rashtra'.

Criticising the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, Karat said that the proposed legislation would curb the democratic rights of the people in various states.

During the Left Front rule, any communal strife never occurred but now it often took place in different places of Tripura, the CPI-M leader said, adding that imbalance was created in the country and the wealth of millionaires increased while poor people became poorer.

The public gathering was organised in connection with the three-day (January 29 to 31) 24th state conference of the CPI-M.

Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that due to severe undemocratic activities, the Congress-led government was defeated and the CPI-M-led Left Front came to power for the first time in Tripura securing 56 seats in the 60-member Tripura Assembly.

Sarkar, also a CPI-M politburo member, claimed that a section of good BJP leaders was already frustrated over the misgovernance of the saffron party-led government in the state.

"Those old and sincere BJP leaders are now being sidelined. Those BJP workers worked for the party, and now they are being attacked by the BJP goons and getting no support from the state government," he said.

Sarkar highlighted the unfulfilled promises made by BJP leaders before the 2018 Assembly election campaign, such as doubling the work days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to 200 and increasing daily wages to Rs 340.

He also alleged "rampant corruption and lawlessness" under the current BJP government in Tripura.

CPI-M Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury claimed that the state's economy has collapsed under a corrupt and autocratic BJP government, enriching only a select few people through corrupt practices.

He called on party cadres to undertake all-out efforts to oust the BJP-led government, declaring that the days of the present government are numbered as the countdown has already begun.

The 24th state conference of the CPI-M will be held before the Left party's 24th Congress, which will be held from April 2 to 6 in Madurai.

After the BJP came to power in Tripura in 2018, the 24th CPI-M state conference was the second such mega-conference in Tripura.

The party leader said that in the state conference, the Left party would finalise the roadmap of the party's future strategies and programmes to highlight the "misgovernance of the ruling BJP and various basic issues of the people".

The CPI-M-led Left Front was in power in Tripura for 35 years in two phases -- 1978 to 1988 and 1993 to 2018.

The Left parties suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly elections and the BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) coalition came into power in Tripura.
Hyderabad, Jan 29 : The Cyber Crimes unit of Hyderabad city police have arrested 52 cyber fraudsters, including four bank officials, in an operation conducted in various parts of the country.

Seven teams had swept out across various states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, and Telangana to apprehend the accused.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner C. V. Anand said this operation resulted in the arrest of 52 accused persons, including three key masterminds. The operation led to the detection of 33 major cases by the Cybercrime Police Station. The total fraud amount involved in these cases was over Rs 88.32 crore.

The nature of the cases included trading fraud, digital arrest, investment fraud, data theft, social media, part-time jobs, APK files, USDT purchases, job fraud, and Tipline (CSAM).

The arrested individuals are wanted in a total of 576 cases across India, and 74 cases from Telangana.

Police seized 44 mobile phones, 39 ATM cards, 17 passbooks, 54 chequebooks, 16 SIM cards, three laptops, 13 shell stamps, nine Aadhaar cards/PAN cards, three QR codes, NRT cash of Rs.47.90 lakh and cryptocurrency worth Rs 40 lakh.

The Police Commissioner said over Rs 2.87 crore have been frozen in the bank accounts of the accused.

Three bank officials were among those arrested for a Rs 2.98 crore trading fraud. According to police, Shubham Kumar Jha, Deputy Manager, RBL Bank, Bengaluru, played a key role in enabling fraudulent transactions by exploiting his access to sensitive financial data and facilitating unauthorised transfers.

Haroon Rasheed Imamuddin Dharawad, Assistant Vice President, Axis Bank, Bengaluru, allegedly used his position to facilitate fraudulent activities by approving illegitimate transactions and bypassing standard banking protocols, which allowed the perpetrators to siphon off large sums of money.

Kata Srinivasa Rao, Sales Manager, Kotak Mahindra Bank, allegedly utilised his position to recruit unsuspecting customers into fraudulent schemes and facilitated the opening of accounts that were used for money laundering purposes, enabling large-scale financial fraud.

The Cyber Crime police seized cryptocurrency worth Rs 40 lakh and cash to the tune of Rs 47.50 lakh. The accused converted the withdrawn cash into cryptocurrency to obscure the money trail and evade detection.

The Cyber Crime police arrested two persons from Gujarat in Rs 3 crore digital arrest fraud. The accused Harpal Singh and Saiyad Aiyub Bhai are natives of Gujarat. During the investigation, it was found that the accused persons were involved in 17 cases across India.

The accused cheated a woman doctor in Hyderabad to the tune of Rs.3 crore by posing as a Delhi-based IPS officer. The accused told the doctor during a Skype call that she was involved in money laundering and even forwarded an order claiming that it was issued by the Chief Justice of India. They made her deposit Rs 3 crore in the bank accounts given by them.

The Cyber Crime unit also busted a Rs 2.06 crore stock trading fraud case and arrested five accused including the sales manager of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The accused allegedly orchestrated the fraud by utilising multiple mule bank accounts to withdraw fraudulent amounts, converting the funds into cryptocurrency, and channelling the proceeds to Dubai-based cyber fraudsters through Hawala networks.

Those arrested are Reddy Praveen, a native of Velpuru, West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, Kata Srinivasa Rao, Sales Manager at Kotak Mahindra Bank, JNTU Branch, Mohammed Ismail, a travel business operator, Mohammed Junaid, engaged in crypto trading and Maganti Jaya Kiran, a ready-mix concrete businessman.

The victim had told police that he was trapped by the fraudsters on the pretext of investments offering high returns and lured him into investing through a fake trading platform, "Anisha App." The fraud began with messages convincing the victim to join a WhatsApp group, "VIP H8-5," where members shared fabricated success stories of stock trading profits pertaining to the Anisha App. Trusting these representations, the victim opened an account with the app and made incremental investments. He suffered a total loss of over Rs 2.06 crore.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday turned down a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAM) MLA Naresh Balyan, who is behind bars in connection with the case under the stringent MCOCA, seeking custody parole to aid his wife in campaigning ahead of the polls in the national capital.

Controversial Uttam Nagar legislator Naresh Balyan, initially arrested in an alleged extortion case, has been replaced by his wife Pooja Naresh Balyan in forthcoming Delhi elections.

Declining Balyanas plea for custody parole, a bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan clarified that it will continue to hear the AAP leaderas regular bail plea on Thursday.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch, on December 4 last year, rearrested Balyan under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) minutes after he secured bail in connection with an extortion case.

After the Rouse Avenue Court allowed his bail application in the extortion case, the Delhi Police arrested the AAP leader within the court premises and took him to its office.

Balyan was arrested on November 30, 2024, following the release of audio clips allegedly featuring him in a conversation with gangster Kapil Sangwan, alias Nandu. The clips purportedly reveal plans to threaten and extort money from Delhias builders and others.

The BJP has described Balyan as an "extortionist" and accused AAP leaders of colluding with gangsters to extort protection money from traders and builders. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Balyan's activities were conducted with AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's full knowledge and consent. Similarly, BJP leader Kailash Gahlot dismissed claims of conspiracy surrounding Balyanas arrest, asserting that the matter had been "known to senior leaders for the last year".

Gahlot raised serious concerns about the lack of action from AAP's top brass, including Kejriwal, despite their awareness of the issue. "It would be completely wrong to call this a conspiracy because every senior AAP leader has known about this for the last year. The real question is why no action was taken despite senior party leaders, including the National Convenor, being aware of such activities. It is disturbing that the issue has escalated to this point," he had said.
Mumbai, Jan 29 : Even as pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is on an indefinite hunger strike since last Saturday to press for the inclusion of the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, the BJP-led MahaYuti government has so far adopted a wait and watch approach.

Jarange-Patil's health has reportedly started deteriorating, and he has been refusing intravenous fluids, despite repeated pleas from health officials and local leaders.

He is said to be not happy with the government's move to enact legislation providing 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community.

Jarange-Patil is reiterating his demand for the inclusion of the Maratha community under the OBC category.

He has been quite vocal over the demand to implementation of the draft notification that recognised Kunbis as "sage soyare" ( blood relatives) of Maratha community members for granting reservation to the latter under the OBC category.

Jarange-Patil's agitation coincides with the statewide protests against the brutal killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from Beed district.

The protesters include members from ruling and opposition parties in addition to various social and non-government organisations who are at the forefront to demand the resignation of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde as his close associate Walmik Karad, who is currently in jail and booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, is allegedly linked with the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

Jarange-Patil has demanded capital punishment for the assailants involved in the murder of Santosh Deshmukh.

BJP legislator Suresh Dhas, who has been aggressively demanding stern action against the culprits involved in the killing of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, on Wednesday went to Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district and urged Jarange-Patil to reconsider his decision.

On Tuesday, Santosh Deshmukh's family met him and on their request he agreed to have water. However, he has refused to take intravenous fluids despite repeated requests by the Health officials.

Unlike his previous protests when the state ministers used to rush to Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district with an appeal to call off the agitation, none of the ministers or the MahaYuti alliance representatives so far have gone there.

However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' close confidant and BJP legislator Prasad Lad has termed Jarange-Patil's seventh indefinite hunger strike in the last 16 months as "nautanki" and asked him on whose behest he had launched it.

Lad also questioned whether the indefinite hunger strike was aimed at creating instability in the state.

He dared Jarnge-Patil to come forward for a joint debate and claimed Fadnavis has done everything possible to give justice to the Maratha community. He further reminded that the reservation to the Maratha community was provided when Fadnavis was the chief minister during 2014-2019.

OBC leader Navnath Waghmare claimed that the fresh indefinite hunger strike was Jarange-Patil's desperate attempt to maintain his existence especially in the Maratha community.

He further alleged that Jarange-Patil is feeling insecure after the emergence of BJP legislator Suresh Dhas as the new leader of the Maratha community.

The 'Jarange-Patil Factor' played a major role in the Maha Vikas Aghadi's performance in the Lok Sabha elections when it won 31 seats against 17 by the BJP led MahaYuti. However, BJP's move to consolidate OBC community worked in its favour to effectively checkmate the Jarange-Patil factor in the state assembly election.

The BJP and allies Shiv Sena and NCP in the MahaYuti scored a landslide victory while the Maha Vikas Aghadi faced a humiliating defeat. The confident MahaYuti is currently not in a mood to take note of Jarange-Patil's fresh protest especially because of changed political equations.

The state government is biding time as it has already indicated that it won't succumb to Jarange-Patil's pressure tactics by giving a commitment that will meet with a legal hurdle. Interestingly, the opposition parties, which have yet to recover from the drubbing in the assembly election, has also not been active in taking up Jarange-Patil's demand.

There are no major elections round the corner as the local and civic body elections may not be possible soon as the Supreme Court has convened next hearing in the last week of February. Jarange-Patil is, therefore, left with limited options.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Nairobi, Jan 29 : Experts met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday to promote peace in the Horn of Africa region.

The two-day Regional Validation Forum for the Horn of Africa Initiative's Peace and Social Cohesion White Paper brought together more than 100 delegates, including security officials from Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, as well as officials from international development agencies, to exchange knowledge and strategies for strengthening peacebuilding.

In his opening remarks, Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said the forum presents a significant opportunity to reinforce the collective commitment to peaceful and accelerated development as well as social cohesion in the Horn of Africa region.

He noted that the region has made a collective resolve to improve the lives of the communities in the borderlands through peace, investment, and development because it has long faced insecurity, marginalization, conflict, fragility, and underdevelopment.

Omollo also emphasized the need for active participation of local communities in shaping their future and the importance of regional cooperation in tackling transnational challenges such as cross-border crime, disasters, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, terrorism, and climate change.

Kenrick Ayot, the national focal point for Kenya at the Horn of African Initiative, said sustainable development in the borderlands can not be achieved without first addressing the underlying challenges of insecurity, conflict, and intercommunal violence.

Ayot observed that the Horn of Africa, with its rich cultural diversity and strategic geographic importance, continues to be central to regional peacebuilding efforts.
Jaipur, Jan 29 : Rajasthan's vibrant art, culture, and cuisine are stealing the spotlight at Bharat Parv 2025 which is being held at Delhi's historic Red Fort.

Jaipur, Jan 29 (IANS) Rajasthanas vibrant art, culture, and cuisine are stealing the spotlight at Bharat Parv 2025 which is being held at Delhias historic Red Fort.

The Rajasthan Tourism stalls are drawing constant crowds, offering visitors an immersive experience of the state's rich heritage.

The Rajasthan tableau, a major highlight of the event, has become a favourite selfie spot. Its front section showcases the grandeur of Rajasthanas traditional Teej festival procession, while the rear beautifully illustrates the historic mansions of Shekhawati, renowned for their intricate frescoes.

The tableau also features a panel displaying classic mural designs found in these Havelis, along with glimpses of Rajasthanas advancements in water conservation and solar energy.

The Jaipur-based puppeteer captivated audiences with mesmerising puppet shows at the Rajasthan stall, earning enthusiastic applause.

Students from the Indian Art Centre also took the stage, performing Kalbelia, Chakri, and Gair dances alongside Rajasthani folk artists, to the delight of the crowd.

Witnessing their synchronised moves, spectators enthusiastically joined in the dance. Sukriti Agarwal, a dance student at the Indian Art Centre, expressed her disappointment over Rajasthanas absence from this yearas Republic Day parade but shared her excitement about seeing the tableau at Bharat Parv.

Meanwhile, Kalbelia dancer Kajal Solanki from Jaipur proudly spoke of her family's long-standing tradition of performing this mesmerising dance form.

Another crowd-puller at Bharat Parv has been Kanwar Lal Chauhan from Bikaner, whose remarkable 7-foot-long moustache became a selfie sensation. Visitors eagerly posed with him, fascinated by his dedication.

Chauhan, who has been maintaining his iconic moustache for 13 years, proudly shared that he has been honoured with the Deeg, Bikaner, and Bundi titles for his unique feature.

With its spectacular tableau, enchanting folk performances, and unique cultural icons, Rajasthan has once again captivated the hearts of visitors at Bharat Parv 2025, said locals in Delhi.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 11:00 | All, World

U.S. President Donald Trump remains committed to bringing about North Korea's complete denuclearization, a White House official said Tuesday.

The White House's confirmation of the long-standing U.S. policy came after Trump, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, described North Korea as a "nuclear power" earlier this month, fueling speculation that there might be a shift in his second administration's approach to Pyongyang.

National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement sent to Kyodo News that Trump "will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, just as he did in his first term."

Hughes also noted that Trump had a "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the U.S. president's "mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization."

His reference to Trump becoming the first sitting U.S. president to hold talks with a North Korean leader, after he met Kim in Singapore in 2018, came as Pyongyang rapidly steps up its nuclear programs.

The comments were provided after North Korea's state-run media reported Kim had inspected a nuclear-material production facility and institute, urging that his country's nuclear forces be bolstered this "crucial" year.

Before and after returning to the White House for a nonconsecutive second term on Jan. 20, Trump repeatedly indicated his willingness to reengage with Kim.

In an attempt to revive talks with Kim and due to his recent characterization of North Korea, there has been speculation that Trump could abandon Washington's long-held official position on North Korea's nuclear weapons status.

Related coverage:

North Korea's Kim Jong Un calls for bolstering nuclear arsenal during tour

Doomsday Clock ticks closest ever to catastrophe after Trump's return

North Korea conducts cruise missile test, 1st since Trump inauguration
Kampala, Jan 29 : Uganda on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack on the country's embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by rioters amid mass demonstrations.

John Mulimba, Uganda's Minister of State for foreign affairs in charge of regional cooperation, told the parliament that rioters had looted and burned embassy property, forcing the staff into hiding.

"The incident is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and we condemn it in the strongest terms," Mulimba told lawmakers during a plenary.

He added that on Tuesday evening, the DRC government had assured Uganda that appropriate security measures had been taken and the situation in Kinshasa was under control.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assessing practical means to provide consular or other emergency services to Ugandan nationals in the DRC, Xinhua news agency reported.

Violent protests targeting foreign embassies against the situation in Goma, the capital of the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu, and the perceived "inaction" of the international community erupted in Kinshasa on Tuesday.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the United States and several other countries and the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Patna, Jan 29 : Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan has strongly criticised the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) over alleged irregularities in a recently concluded 70th PT examination.

While interacting with the media persons in Patna, Paswan accused BPSC officials of ignoring the grievances of candidates and highlighted inconsistencies in how the commission handled the issue of leaked question papers.

"The BPSC officials themselves admitted that the question papers went viral on social media during the exam at the Bapu examination centre in Patna, leading to its cancellation and re-examination. I want to ask BPSC why the entire exam was not cancelled if such irregularities occurred. All students deserve a fair and equal opportunity," Paswan said.

He further criticised BPSC for not following standard operating procedures while conducting the exam and cited complaints from candidates, including his own family members, who faced issues like unavailability of question papers and delays in their distribution.

The 70th PT BPSC exam was held on December 13, 2024, at 912 centres in Bihar. Reports of massive irregularities surfaced, particularly at the Bapu centre in Patna's Kumhrar locality, leading to a massive agitation.

The BPSC cancelled the examination for the Bapu centre and conducted a re-examination on January 4.

Following the irregularities, a total of 14 petitioners sought the cancellation of the examination, conducted on December 13 and January 4, citing several discrepancies, including question paper leaks, inadequate preparation by BPSC, and changes in examination centres just before the test.

They have filed separate cases in Patna High Court. However, the single bench of Justice Arvind Singh Chandel refused to cancel the examination or stay its results during the hearing on January 16.

Justice Chandel passed an interim order rejecting all immediate reliefs sought by the petitioners. The court had directed the Bihar government and BPSC, the respondents in the case, to submit a detailed reply by January 30. The next hearing is scheduled for January 31.
Cape Town, Jan 29 : South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers.

The South African troops, part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), have been killed in escalating fighting involving the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the Armed Forces of the DRC since last week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, calling on the country to rally behind its soldiers "who have dedicated their lives to bringing peace on our continent."

The President reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to peace, urging all parties to respect the DRC's territorial integrity and engage in diplomatic processes to end the ongoing conflict.

"We call on all parties to this conflict to fully embrace the current diplomatic efforts that are aimed at finding a peaceful resolution," he said. "We must silence the guns on our continent for the attainment of inclusive development and prosperity."

Ramaphosa welcomed the United Nations Security Council's recent position on the situation in the DRC, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the withdrawal of external forces from the DRC, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.

He also emphasised that South Africa's military presence in the eastern DRC is "not a declaration of war against any country or state", Xinhua news agency reported.

"The members of the South African National Defense Force that are in the DRC are part of both SADC and United Nations efforts to bring peace and protect thousands of lives that are constantly threatened by the conflict in the DRC," said Ramaphosa.

"The presence of the SAMIDRC forces demonstrates a commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and, ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity," he added.
Hyderabad, Jan 29 : The final report on the comprehensive caste census conducted in Telangana will be submitted to the Cabinet Sub-Committee by February 2.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday conducted a review on the successful completion of the caste census.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the survey data entry has been completed and a draft report will be submitted in a day or two, and he ordered them to submit the final report to the Cabinet Sub-Committee by February 2.

Revanth Reddy said that the recent comprehensive house-to-house survey drew the attention of the entire country and the state government received nationwide appreciation for the successful conduct of the survey.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Damodar Raja Narasimha, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Seethakka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, government advisors K. Keshava Rao, former Minister Jana Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, and senior officials of various departments participated in the review meeting at Integrated Command Control Centre.

The Chief Minister congratulated the officers and employees who were part of the survey. He said that the outcome of the caste census would be useful for social empowerment and comprehensive development of BC, SC, ST, Minority and weaker sections.

The successful conduct of the survey is a testament to the commitment of the government to fulfilling the promise made during the Assembly elections, the CM said, adding that the statistical data is being used by the Dedicated BC Commission set up by the government.

The state government launched the comprehensive household survey (Socio-Economic Education Employment, Political Caste Survey 2024) on November 6. The survey was completed in the first week of December in all districts. More than one lakh employees, including enumerators, supervisors and data entry operators, participated in the survey conducted by the state Planning Department.

The survey covered nearly 1.16 crore families in the state. The enumerators conducted door to door survey of each family and recorded the details. The survey teams collected the details of more than 96 per cent of the families. The data entry has also been completed.

Officials explained to the Chief Minister that some families had not participated in the survey due to various reasons. Some families refused to give details, some houses were found locked, and some families were not available.

Within two months of assuming power, the Congress government on February 4 approved the proposal to conduct the Caste census through a house-to-house family survey. The government adopted a resolution in the Assembly on February 16.

The state government constituted a Cabinet sub-committee on September 12 to finalise the necessary procedure. The six-member sub-committee, headed by Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy met several times and made recommendations.

The Chief Minister discussed the recommendations made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on October 9. The Planning Department was appointed as the nodal agency to undertake the survey.
Jaipur, Jan 29 : The Rajasthan Police, under the state-wide Operation Cyber Shield initiated by the Police Headquarters, have arrested five accused who were working as a gang in a large-scale cyber fraud.

They created fake firms, opened fraudulent bank accounts in their names, and conducted transactions worth Rs 26 crore through these mule accounts.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Arshad Ali said that during the operation, authorities seized 60 passbooks and chequebooks from various banks, 32 ATM and debit cards, 11 mobile phones, eight SIM cards, seven fake rubber stamps, and multiple bank-related documents.

An investigation revealed that 66 complaints of cyber fraud from 16 different states were linked to the 60 seized bank accounts, as registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) of the Indian government.

The case has been lodged at the Cyber police station, and further inquiry is ongoing.

Under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) Utkal Ranjan Sahu and DGP (Cyber Crime, SCRB, and Technical Services) Hemant Priyadarshi, a special team comprising the District Cyber Cell, Cyber police station, and District Special Teams was assigned to investigate cyber fraud complaints recorded on the NCRP and JMIS portals of the Indian government.

A detailed technical analysis of complaints led to the detection of fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs 26 crore across 60 bank accounts in the Hanumangarh region.

Following a rigorous investigation, five key gang members were arrested which include Akashdeep (28), Aditya Valmiki (23), Zakir Hussain (30), Kailash Khichad (26), and Nidhiraj Bishnoi (27).

During questioning, the accused admitted to using mule accounts for fraud through various schemes, including investment fraud (fake trading apps, Telegram scams luring victims into stock market investments), illegal gaming platforms, and cryptocurrency fraud (USDT transactions).

The fraudulently acquired money was withdrawn in cash and distributed among the gang members.

Preliminary investigations also suggest the involvement of bank employees, who may have facilitated fraud in account opening, net banking, and cash withdrawals.

Authorities have launched a detailed probe into their role.

The gang registered fake firms on the Udyam portal of the Indian government.

They targeted vulnerable individuals such as drug addicts and those in financial distress, offering them money in exchange for using their documents to open bank accounts.

The fraudsters kept control of all banking credentials -- passbooks, ATMs, chequebooks, SIM cards, and signed cheques.

Once funds from cyber scams were deposited into these accounts, they withdrew the money using signed cheques.

The Hanumangarh police continue to investigate the network behind this large-scale cyber fraud, with efforts underway to identify other accomplices and potential victims, said officials.
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : The infighting within the BJP's Karnataka unit has come out into the open with the party's Chikballapur MP and former minister K. Sudhakar on Wednesday lashing out at state President B.Y. Vijayendra and warning that if national leaders fail to take action, the party has no future.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Sudhakar expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he has not been treated well since joining the BJP from the Congress.

"I joined the BJP believing in its democratic values and the principles of the RSS. I contested from Chikkaballapur, where the BJP had no presence. Seventeen of us joined the BJP to make B.S. Yediyurappa the Chief Minister. After Yediyurappa's resignation, I worked closely with CM Basavaraj Bommai. Yet, those who claim to be building the party targeted me and tried to ensure my defeat," Sudhakar said, taking direct aim at Vijayendra.

"Mr Vijayendra, can you win even one seat in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts on your own?" he said in a direct challenge.

Sudhakar accused Vijayendra of making arbitrary appointments within the party. "Vijayendra has appointed Sandeep as the district President of Chikkaballapur. He has filled key positions - District President, State Secretary, State General Secretary, and State Vice President - solely based on his personal preferences. I am deeply disappointed by his behaviour," he alleged.

He further criticised the internal election process within the BJP. "Elections are being conducted within the party, and nominations for district Presidents have begun. These elections should be held democratically. However, in Chikkaballapur and several other districts, no elections were conducted. You only want people who say 'yes' to you," he remarked.

"You (Vijayendra) became the state President through manipulation. The entire election process for the state President's post has been rigged. I have not yet brought these issues to the notice of your father, Yediyurappa. The entire party is unhappy with the way things are unfolding," he claimed.

"He (Vijayendra) does not take anyone into confidence. He may have thousands of crores, but his followers worked to ensure my defeat. He did not even extend me the courtesy of informing me before appointing the district President. He ignores my calls. National President J.P. Nadda grants appointments with just a message, yet Vijayendra has cancelled meetings three times after fixing them. Are you trying to bury us in our own strongholds?" Sudhakar asked.

"I am frustrated, and I will not remain silent. What have you done to senior leaders like C.T. Ravi, Basavaraj Bommai, and Ramesh Jarkiholi? As state President, you barely won from a BJP stronghold - and that too through adjustment politics. The results would have been different if another candidate had been fielded. We all know who you rely on. He may bring in money through real estate, but in politics, that doesn't count. I will personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring all these issues to their attention," Sudhakar warned.

"You may be Yediyurappa's son, but you cannot compare yourself to him. Vijayendra practices politics of enmity. Are you holding a grudge against me just because I worked closely with then-CM Basavaraj Bommai?" he questioned.

"If this continues, it becomes a matter of our survival, and I will have to take a stand. Vijayendra is on a path to destroying the party. His arrogance is to blame, and I will urge the high command to either change his mindset or replace him. Several MPs have shared their concerns with me. Soon, we will demonstrate our collective strength," he said.

Amid demands over his replacement as state BJP chief, B. Y. Vijayendra said last Thursday that everything will be clear in the coming days.

"Our workers have shown appreciation for my efforts. It is natural for a few to express dissatisfaction, but their dissatisfaction is not about my leadership. We operate in a democratic system. Elections for district President positions are already underway, and elections for the state President's position will also be held. There will be proper answers to all issues in the coming days."
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Congress candidate from New Delhi, Sandeep Dikshit has written a letter inviting AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to engage in a public debate.

The Congress leader has challenged the former Delhi chief minister to a face-to-face debate.

Dikshit invited Kejriwal to an open public debate between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Jantar Mantar on January 31.

"I will wait for you to come there and debate out on all that you have been highlighting as achievements," he wrote.

Sandeep Dikshit posted the letter on the social media platform X on Wednesday.

In the caption, he wrote: "Ever since I have been declared a candidate of the Indian National Congress for the New Delhi seat, I have constantly challenged you on various claims that you are making regarding your work as Chief Minister of Delhi and MLA from New Delhi. I have systematically- using Delhi government datanot only questioned, but also shown your various claims to be either totally false or huge exaggerations, bordering on being lies."

Dikshit further wrote: "I was hoping that as (former) Chief Minister of Delhi, you would respond to these questions on your own, or in any public appearance or in a debate where we could come together on a common platform. I have also challenged you for such a debate many times, fully knowing that you don't have the guts to face the truth and you will never dare to stand where your manufactured lies, with which you have been misleading the people of Delhi, are shown to be lies.

"However, I was hoping against the hope. Now that we are moving towards the last leg of this election, and once again you have started your rhetoric of total lies, and ventured into charging every else of being corrupt, it's time to call you out for what you are -- a coward and a cheat."

Dikshit added: "I am inviting you (Kejriwal) to an open public debate between 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Jantar Mantar on 31st January, 2025. I will wait for you to come there and debate out on all that you have been highlighting as achievements. I would urge and advise you to bring in information and data on any claim you make, for I shall use your own government's documents to show whether you are right or you are wrong. The only rule in this debate shall be that every point made and every counter point made has to be based on factual reliable data, and not on your chimerics."
Jaipur, Jan 29 : The Rajasthan High Court has directed the Central and state governments to formulate laws governing live-in relationships, emphasising the need for legal clarity on the matter.

Justice Anoop Dhand, in his ruling, said that while live-in relationships do not have social acceptance in India, they are not illegal under the law.

However, the absence of a specific legal framework has led to confusion, with courts offering varied interpretations in different cases.

Recognising the evolving social landscape, the court urged the Parliament and State Legislature to consider enacting a law to regulate such relationships.

Until a law is established, the court directs the creation of an authority in each district to handle cases related to live-in relationships.

Additionally, it recommended launching a dedicated website or portal to address grievances and provide legal assistance.

A key legal question raised was whether married individuals living in a live-in relationship should be granted legal protection.

Due to differing judgments by various single benches of the High Court, the case has been referred to a larger bench for a definitive ruling.

The court, after hearing multiple petitions, including that of Reena and others, had reserved its judgment on January 6, which was pronounced on Wednesday.

Emphasising the urgent need for legislation, the court said that a dedicated live-in relationship law should define the rights and responsibilities of couples, address issues related to women and children in such relationships, and establish legal obligations for partners regarding childcare, education, and healthcare.

The Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Law), and Central Law Secretary have been directed to receive copies of the court order.

The court has also sought a compliance report by March 1.

The court noted the growing number of cases where individuals in live-in relationships are already married -- some without dissolving their previous marriages.

Couples seeking legal protection from threats by family members have received inconsistent rulings from different benches.

To resolve this, the larger bench will now decide if a married person can live in a live-in relationship without divorce and seek legal protection.

If two married individuals, from different marriages, live together in a live-in relationship and claim legal protection, said the High Court.
Agartala, Jan 29 : King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow has announced to introduce a gold medal in the name of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.

KGMU's Dean Prof. Ranjit Kumar Patil in a letter to Saha informed the varsity's decision.

"The gold medal would be presented annually to the top-performing student in oral and maxillofacial surgery," the letter said.

It said: "On the occasion of your auspicious arrival at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Sciences, on November 26, 2024, and impressed by your inspiration and contribution to the institution, the Vice Chancellor of King George's Medical University, has announced the launch of the 'Chief Minister Tripura (Manik Saha) Gold Medal' to be awarded to the postgraduate student securing the highest marks in the subject of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery during the university's convocation."

Sharing the information on the X, the Chief Minister said: "Nostalgic moment for me. King George's Medical University, Lucknow, my alma mater, has instituted a Gold Medal in my name for meritorious students excelling in Dental Sciences. I thank the entire KGMU fraternity for this honour."

Saha who himself is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, served in a key position at the Tripura Medical College and B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital in the state's capital before becoming Chief Minister on May 15, 2022.

He became Chief Minister for the second time in March 2023. Born on January 8, 1953, Saha completed his Bachelor of Dental Studies programme from Government Dental College in Patna and later pursued a Master of Dental Surgery from King Georges' Medical College in Lucknow.

With Saha's personal initiative, Tripura's first dental college was started in 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the college. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had earlier granted permission to increase the number of seats in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course in Agartala Government Dental College from 50 to 63 for the 2025-26 academic sessions.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : A court at Sonipat in Haryana has ordered former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on February 17 after a plea was filed against AAP convenor who has accused the BJP of "poisoning" the Yamuna river.

On Wednesday, Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Goyal was hearing a complaint filed by the State of Haryana through the State Disaster Management Authority against Arvind Kejriwal under Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The complaint alleged that Kejriwal spread misinformation and caused panic among the residents of Delhi and Haryana with his "Yamuna poisoned" remark.

"So in view of aforesaid provision, let, notice to respondent Arvind Kejriwal be issued for 17.02.2025. He is directed to appear in person before this court on the next date of hearing, if he has to say anything in the matter. If he does not appear before this court on next date of hearing, it is deemed that he has nothing to say in the matter and further proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law," the court ordered.

Earlier, Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel said that the state government has taken strong cognisance of the statement by Arvind Kejriwal regarding Delhi's water supply and has filed a case against him in the Sonipat court under the Disaster Management Act.

Days ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal said that the BJP was 'mixing poison' in the city's water supply in an attempt to "create chaos... hoping the blame will fall" on his party's administration.

"The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh... but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here... it is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board engineers that this water was stopped," said the former Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, also took a direct swipe at AAP over its allegations. PM Modi strongly refuted the claim that Haryana was contaminating Yamuna's water and ridiculed the notion that the BJP-led state government would poison its own people.

Reacting to the allegation, the Haryana Chief Minister also slammed Kejriwal. "AAP-da's wooden sandals (khadau) Chief Minister Atishi Marlena ji, you are welcome on the banks of Yamuna in Palla village. There is no poison in the water coming to Delhi from Haryana, but your minds are definitely filled with poison," the Haryana Chief Minister said.

Amid the raging controversy over the Yamuna River, the Haryana Chief Minister drank water from the river near the Delhi border and further slammed Kejriwal for "spreading lies".

"I drank the water of the holy Yamuna on the border of Haryana without any hesitation. Kejriwal has blatantly lied. Even I'm having relatives in Delhi. The AAP convener should immediately tender an apology," the Haryana Chief Minister wrote on X.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 23:53 | All, Japan

Water inside a large sinkhole near Tokyo continued Wednesday to hamper efforts to rescue a man in a truck trapped inside, with local authorities warning of the risk of further expansion.

A new sinkhole was also formed early Wednesday near the site in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, where a sewer pipe running underground was found damaged. To reduce the flow of water in the sinkholes, the prefectural government took the emergency step of discharging wastewater into a nearby river.

Residents in a total of 12 cities and towns have been urged to refrain from using the sewage system, affecting some 1.2 million people, according to the prefectural government.

Local authorities called on residents within a 200-meter radius to evacuate as there is a gas pipe running underground.

The fate of the 74-year-old man, whose truck was swallowed Tuesday morning at an intersection, is unknown as water in the hole hampered the operation, with the driver's seat now buried in sand.

He was initially able to speak but communication with him was lost from around 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The new hole was some 3 meters in width when it was formed but had widened to around 10 meters by 8 a.m. Wednesday. The signpost of a nearby restaurant also collapsed.

The first hole was possibly formed due to the corrosion of the sewer pipe running 10 meters below the prefectural road, which could have allowed soil and sand to flow into it, creating a hollow in the ground that collapsed under the weight of vehicles, prefectural officials said.

"We cannot rule out the possibility of the sinkhole expanding," Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono told reporters on Wednesday.

The cargo bed of the truck has been recovered from the hole, which measures 10 meters across and 6 meters in depth.

Related coverage:

Large sinkhole swallows truck near Tokyo, man trapped

Passenger plane catches fire in South Korea's Busan airport

Cargo dropped from U.S. Osprey blown off course near Okinawan island
Patna, Jan 29 : Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Ajay Mandal has sparked controversy after allegedly abusing and assaulting journalists Kunal Shekhar and Sumit Kumar while they were covering a news story at Bhagalpur Airport on Wednesday.

The incident, caught on video and now viral on social media, has triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties and journalists' associations.

According to the eyewitnesses, the journalists were recording footage of Ajay Mandal's vehicle entering Bhagalpur Airport, where preparations were underway for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's expected visit.

Upon seeing them filming, the MP allegedly became furious, chased the reporters, and allegedly assaulted and verbally abused them.

As tensions escalated, both journalists were allegedly assaulted and seriously injured, prompting local bystanders to rush them to Sadar Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

Following public outrage, Ajay Mandal, the JDU MP from Bhagalpur, denied abusing the journalists, claiming instead that his words were directed at his bodyguards, not the reporters.

"A man approached my car and started knocking on the windshield. My bodyguard pushed him back, but he retaliated, causing my constable to fall. A scuffle broke out, and I intervened to free my bodyguard. I only abused my bodyguard, not any journalist," Mandal stated.

However, his defence has raised further questions, as critics argue: "Does an MP have the right to abuse police personnel?"

Opposition parties, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have seized on the incident, condemning it as an attack on press freedom and democracy.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of remaining silent on rising lawlessness in Bihar.

Journalists and civil rights organisations have also demanded strict action against Ajay Mandal, arguing that such incidents undermine the freedom of the press, often referred to as the afourth pillar of democracy.
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his reply to the Election Commission of India's notice regarding his statements on Yamuna water contamination, saying Haryana's failure to control pollution has resulted in an unprecedented public health crisis.

In his submission, the former Delhi Chief Minister said, "Undisputed that there is 7 ppm ammonia in Yamuna water... DJB CEO letter admits toxicity is 700 per cent higher than the permissible limit."

He mentioned that the "root cause identified by DJB's letter is indiscriminate discharge of industrial waste by Haryana.

Saying that safe drinking water is a basic human right; raising an issue for society cannot be termed as an offence, Kejriwal submitted that the issue of toxic water supply from Haryana has been raised earlier too and DJB has even approached NGT and the apex court.

"Such toxic water if allowed to be consumed by human population, the same would lead to grave health hazards and fatality," Kejriwal said.

He further said that the Delhi government has no role to play with such a high level of toxic water being made available to the national capital by Haryana which is an upper-riparian state.

"Due to such high level of toxic content in the raw water supplied by Haryana, WTPs are operating below capacity and there is a shortage of treated water in Delhi," the AAP convenor said.

Days ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal said that the BJP was 'mixing poison' in the city's water supply in an attempt to "create chaos... hoping the blame will fall" on his party's administration.

"The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh... but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here... it is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board engineers that this water was stopped," said the former Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, also took a direct swipe at AAP over its allegations. PM Modi strongly refuted the claim that Haryana was contaminating Yamuna's water and ridiculed the notion that the BJP-led state government would poison its own people.

Reacting to the allegation, the Haryana Chief Minister also slammed Kejriwal.

"AAP-da's wooden sandals (khadau) Chief Minister Atishi Marlena ji, you are welcome on the banks of Yamuna in Palla village. There is no poison in the water coming to Delhi from Haryana, but your minds are definitely filled with poison," Haryana Chief Minister said.

Amid the raging controversy over the Yamuna River, the Haryana Chief Minister drank water from the river near the Delhi border and further slammed Kejriwal for "spreading lies".

"I drank the water of the holy Yamuna on the border of Haryana without any hesitation. Kejriwal has blatantly lied. Even I'm having relatives in Delhi. The AAP convener should immediately tender an apology," the Haryana Chief Minister wrote on X.
Bengaluru, Jan 29 : A man hailing from Assam has been arrested in Karnataka for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in the state's Ramanagar district, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place in Bidadi town. The arrested individual has been identified as Manzoor Alam who was working at a private firm.

According to police, the accused barged inside the victim's house when she was taking a bath. He forcibly dragged her to his place and committed the crime. As the woman raised an alarm and shouted for help, the local prop rushed to the spot.

The accused attempted to escape by fleeing the scene as people started gathering. However, he was chased down, thrashed, and handed over to the police. The police stated that the victim suffered severe bleeding from the incident and was taken to the hospital. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident.

In a shocking case, a woman waiting for a bus in Bengaluru's K.R. Market was gang-raped, and robbed of her jewellery, cash and mobile phone on January 19.

The Karnataka BJP has demanded the resignation of Home Minister G. Parameshwara following the reporting of a gang-rape incident involving a woman on Tuesday morning in the state.

The BJP has also expressed concerns over the increasing number of criminal incidents in the state and the absence of fear of police.

On January 14, a shocking incident of rape and murder of a six-year-old girl was reported from Bengaluru.

The police had arrested 25-year-old Abhishek Kumar from Bihar in connection with the crime. The incident had taken place when the parents of the girl had gone away for work and the victim was alone.

On July 10, 2024, a gang of five men abducted two minor girls and sexually assaulted one of them on Karnataka-Kerala border in Kodagu district. The other girl had escaped and after getting information in this regard, the Karnataka Police had arrested all the five accused persons.

On July 19, 2024, the women police had arrested two persons in connection with the raping a minor girl in Yadgir district of Karnataka. The girl was raped by two accused when the victim had gone to attend nature's call.
Agartala, Jan 30 : Tripura Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Manik Saha on Wednesday slammed the opposition CPI-M, stating that the party is a "master in misleading people", and it never acknowledges development.

Saha, a former state unit BJP president, gave a strong response to the allegations raised against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by CPI-M leaders during a public meeting on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister also strongly criticised CPI-M politburo member Prakash Karat and advised him ato undergo cataract surgerya as he was unable to see the development of Tripura.

"He (Karat) has cataracts in his eyes. He should undergo cataract surgery. How will they see progress? When he landed at the Agartala airport this time, didn't he notice the progress of Tripura? We named the airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. During the CPI-M-led Left Front government tenure, they did not respect Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur," he said.

The BJP government named the airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur to show respect for the erstwhile Maharaja and his contribution to the development of Tripura.

"Did he not see the development of the road on which he hoisted his party (CPI-M) flag? They do not see development, which is why they always make such statements. And they have a mastery in misleading people," he said.

Saha further said that the economy of the country has developed from 11th place to 5th place, but in reality, the CPI-M has regressed by 50 years.

"That is why they feel left behind. They feel this way because they are lagging. How many times during the UPA or Congress period did they attack the Constitution ? Have they forgotten all this ? After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he has worked to protect the Constitution. He has taken initiatives to safeguard it. In contrast, CPI-M and Congress have worked to undermine the Constitution.

"Everyone has seen what they did in West Bengal. Now they are getting fewer votes than NOTA," the Chief Minister said, adding that every one must understand why the people are rejecting them (CPI-M) and now, the party has been facing defeat everywhere, he added.

Earlier in the day, CPI-M Politburo members Prakash Karat and Manik Sarkar (former Tripura Chief Minister) and CPI-M Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury while addressing a public rally vehemently criticised the BJP for its amisgovernance in Tripura and the Centre".

Top CPI-M leaders claimed that the 11-year rule of the BJP-led Narendra Modi government at the Centre destroyed democracy in the country and the BJP was running the government to favour only the millionaires.

The public gathering was organised in connection with the three-day (January 29 to 31) 24th state conference of the CPI-M.
Amaravati, Jan 30 : A Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA in Andhra Pradesh sparked a row on Wednesday by threatening journalists publishing 'false news' against him and his family members.

Gummanur Jayaram, the MLA from Guntakal constituency, warned journalists that if they publish 'false news' against him or his brother, he would make them sleep on train tracks.

Jayaram, a former minister, warned journalists of serious consequences. His video threatening media persons went viral on social media.

"Think well before publishing news about me and my brother. If you point out my mistake, I will rectify. Otherwise, I will make you sleep on train tracks," he warned.

The MLA of the ruling party also told journalists that if they have any questions they should ask him in person. He warned them that he would not tolerate anything written against him.

The TDP MLA said some journalists publishing 'false news' that he is involved in land encroachments. He also remarked that he does not give any importance to the media.

Jayaram issued a warning to journalists after a media house published stories against him and family members.

Meanwhile, TDP leadership has taken a serious view of Jayaram's threat to journalists. TDP leadership expressed its ire over the MLA's warning.

TDP state president P. Srinivasa Rao spoke to the MLA over the phone and made it clear that threatening journalists is not the culture of TDP.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has also reportedly expressed his displeasure over the MLA's action.

Journalists' associations have condemned the MLA's open threat and have demanded him to withdraw his statement.

Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) said in a statement that it is condemnable that a MLA has threatened journalists. The union said if the MLA believes that certain media report is not correct, he may take legal action but it is not proper on his part to threaten journalists.
Dubai, Jan 30 : A composed knock of 70 runs in 54 balls from Max Holden helped the Desert Vipers restore their authority as table-toppers with a comprehensive five-wicket victory against the Gulf Giants in the ILT20 Season 3 here on Wednesday. Holden ensured the Desert Vipers cruised home in 19 overs at the Dubai International Stadium. Having already sealed a playoff spot, the Vipers cemented a top-two finish with this win.

Earlier in the contest, three-wicket hauls from Wanindu Hasaranga and Sam Curran limited the Giants to a meagre score of 129/8 despite Tom Curranas late flourish of 64 runs in 34 balls, with nine fours and a six.

The Desert Vipers lost both openers in the Power-play, as Mark Adair removed Alex Hales and Blessing Muzarabani picked up Fakhar Zaman within the first four overs. Both wickets resulted from spectacular catches by Chris Jordan and Tom Curran respectively, leading the Vipers to finish the fielding restrictions at 42/2. While Dan Lawrence fell cheaply to Chris Jordan, Max Holden, who came in at number three, found the middle of the bat consistently. He joined Sam Curran in a 45-run partnership in 42 balls until Curran holed out to a great catch by James Vince, off Muzarabani.

Though the run chase stayed heavily skewed in favour of the Vipers, they never got significantly ahead of the equation, needing 33 runs in the final five overs. Holden reached a 42-ball fifty, including six fours and a six, but Muzarabanias third wicket in Azam Khan offered the Giants a glimmer of hope. However, Holden remained unbeaten alongside Adam Hose in a composed alliance of 32 runs in 21 balls to steer the Vipers home in 19 overs.

Batting first, it was a tough outing for the Gulf Giants. James Vince was dismissed for 15 runs by Sam Curran as the Giants only mustered 31 runs in the powerplay.

Wanindu Hasaranga emerged as the most potent threat, slicing through the Giants' top order. He bowled Tom Alsop for 17 off 26 balls in the seventh over, then trapped Jordan Cox LBW for a mere three runs, reducing the Giants to 44/4 at the halfway mark.

Khuzaima Tanveer added to the Giants' woes by removing Shimron Hetmyer in the ninth over. Sam Curran compounded their troubles with a sharp return catch to dismiss Gerhard Erasmus. Tim David briefly rallied, launching Lockie Ferguson for a six in the 13th over, but he was dismissed on the very next ball looking for the same outcome, leaving the Giants reeling at 58/6.

Hasaranga struck again, pinning Jordan Cox on the pads for his third wicket of the night. The Giants seemed on the brink of collapse. However, Tom Curran reinvigorated the innings smashing a 30-ball fifty. He took apart his brother, Sam Curran in the 19th over, clobbering two fours and a six in what turned out to be the most productive over of the innings. Another 14 runs from Tom Curran in the final over pushed the Giants to a total of 129/8 at the end of their turn.

Brief scores:

Gulf Giants 129/8 in 20 overs (Tom Curran 64 not out; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-10, Sam Curran 3-28) lost to Desert Vipers 130/5 in 19 overs (Max Holden 70 not out; Blessing Muzarabani 3-35) by 5 wickets.
Casemate UK has completed its corporate branding as Script Publisher Services. The company provides distribution services to approximately 180 publishers.

"We are now in a somewhat unique position of being able to offer specialist services to both the scholarly and trade publishing markets," Imogen Adams, managing director for the academic and professional division, said. Prior to joining Script Adams was managing director of Eurospan, the distributor acquired by Mare Nostrum Group last year. Michelle Zappa, previously head of sales at Eurospan, is joining Script as sales and marketing director in February.

"We are very excited with the developments at Scriptthe new branding which reflects our expertise across the different publishing channels," Mike Hewitt, managing director of Script, said. He noted that the company has consolidated its warehousing and distribution operations into a hub in South Yorkshire.

Script Publisher Services is jointly owned by the Pen & Sword Group and Casemate Group, and is maintaining its distribution partnership with Casemate for coverage in the Americas.

New clients in the academic and professional division include Lynne Rienner Publishers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The trade division has added Stolpe and At Bay Press. The company's general distribution division has also taken on several former Saltway clients, including Kew, WM B Eerdmans, and Augsburg Fortress.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 03:06 | All, World

A group of scientists on Tuesday moved the hands of the symbolic Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest ever to catastrophe, saying no real progress has been made on nuclear risk reduction, climate change or other global challenges.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the clock one second ahead of the position it has held since 2023, about a week after U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been skeptical of climate change and multilateral cooperation, returned to the White House for a nonconsecutive second term.

The group said it is a "stark signal" that "a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster."

Originally set at seven minutes to midnight, which represents Armageddon, the clock has been as far away as 17 minutes in 1991 after the end of the Cold War. But the time has been measured in seconds rather than minutes over the past few years, reflecting the urgency of the moment.

"The clock speaks to the existential threats that confront us and the need for unity and bold leadership to turn back its hands," said Juan Manuel Santos, a former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who attended the bulletin's announcement in Washington.

Underscoring that 2024 was the hottest year on record, unleashing devastating climate disasters in many parts of the world, Santos said, "The only effective response is for nations to work together, which is why it is so alarming that President Trump has signaled his intention to withdraw from the Paris agreement."

The group said other factors considered in changing the clock's time included the lack of adequate international efforts to deal with the potential misuse of artificial intelligence, infectious diseases, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Daniel Holz, a professor at the University of Chicago who chairs the bulletin's board, suggested that Trump's inauguration and worldview were not direct causes for any change to the clock at this point.

Holz said the scientists mainly assess actions, not words and intentions. "For many of the things that seem most alarming from the last week or have gotten so much attention, we're going to wait and see, but we'll continue to monitor over the weeks and months ahead, and if we need to change the clock, we will," he said.

On nuclear risk, the group expressed concern that the countries with nuclear weapons are increasing the size and role of their arsenals, while some of those without appear to be interested in developing arsenals of their own.

It warned in a statement, "The nuclear arms control process is collapsing, and high-level contacts among nuclear powers are totally inadequate given the danger at hand."

Holz commented on the winning of last year's Nobel Peace Prize by Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese atomic bomb survivors' group, at a press conference.

He said the award reminded the world that "the horrors of nuclear weapons" still exist and "we are very aligned in our concern."

The clock, created in 1947, is at the University of Chicago. The group was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and scientists at the university who helped develop the first atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project.

Related coverage:

Japan lawmakers may attend U.N. nuclear ban meeting, Ishiba to skip

A-bomb survivors voice concern over nukes under Trump presidency

Life experiences of nonagenarian "hibakusha" resonate on social media
Oil is the most important commodity in the world when it comes to human flourishing, and nothing else comes close. Stop and think about how intensely inconvenient and impoverished life would be without the goods and services made possible by oil, along with the remarkable advances in work productivity that never would have happened absent black gold.

Imagine, then, if oil were discovered on such a vast scale that its price plummeted to $5/barrel. Would this devastate the global economy, or the U.S. economy since parts of it are reliant on oil that fetches more than $60/barrel? Quite the opposite. Exactly because oil is such a substantial catalyst for human progress, much cheaper crude would power economic growth in the future that would render the present impoverished by comparison.

Its something to remember as China-based DeepSeek reports that it can train AI devices operating with inferior (think cheaper) chips at costs a great deal lower than American versions. While U.S. models have been developed at costs ranging from $100 million to $1 billion, DeepSeeks costs per model are in the $5.6 million range. Marc Andreessen was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that DeepSeek R1 is one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs Ive ever seen. Which should excite everyone reading this write-up, Americans most of all.

As long as our markets remain open to the worlds plenty, whats produced outside of the U.S. will have the same economic impact as a product or service produced within the U.S. Or more realistically, a much greater economic impact. Lest readers forget, its what humans do with AI advances that will really drive progress, not AI itself. Think about it.

The genius of machines that do and think for us will most have to do with the human potential that they unleash. AI that literally erases jobs altogether or substantial aspects of work will free Americans up to specialize on the job in ways previously unimaginable. Think of DeepSeeks R1 as a low-cost way for bright Americans to much more quickly realize their vast potential.

To which some will respond that its essential for Americans to lead the way in all aspects of AI advance precisely because AI is poised to so profoundly power human advance. The viewpoint is backwards.

Especially because of AIs stated promise, the cheaper it is to access and utilize, the better for all. Think oil once again. The commoditys importance to progress is unrivaled, which is why the cheaper the oil the better. Look back to the 1980s and 1990s and the U.S. economy if youre scratching your head.

The rest of the world largely supplied the oil consumed stateside, but not at the expense of growth. In fact, the U.S. economy soared as Americans outsourced the extraction of a crucial commodity to others, all so that they could focus on advances well beyond the ability of others around the world to achieve. In other words, cheap oil imports helped ignite a U.S. technology boom that continues to this day.

The imports didnt harm us simply because work divided is never harmful. Quite the opposite, actually. Its a reminder that comparative advantage is not situationally good. Its always good. In truth, its always brilliant.

The rise of DeepSeek and other globally produced AI advances have the potential to author a Golden Age of American economic creativity as outsourced automation of work and thought enable heretofore unseen human advance. And in tying the economies of China and the U.S. even closer together, theyll be a catalyst for peace too.
Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale

Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada.

Search Real Estate
Instagram / Rachael Kirkconnell

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/29/2025



ADVERTISEMENT

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Rachael Kirkconnell has confirmed that Matt James dumped her and she was totally blindsided by his decision to end their relationship after four years of dating.Matt, who gave his final rose to Rachael on 's Season 25 finale that aired in early 2021, announced his split from Rachael on January 16 via Instagram shortly after the pair had discussed potentially getting engaged and wanting to have kids together in multiple interviews with the media.Rachael opened up about her split from Matt and how it completely crushed her during the Tuesday, January 28 episode of Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast.Rachael shared with Alex how she had met Matt in London on January 3 and then, from there, the couple flew to Tokyo because they had free time and flight vouchers that were about to expire.Rachael said at the time of this trip to Japan, their relationship was "great" and healthy."A few days before, we were talking about how he felt lucky to have me as a partner and that there's so many qualities he loves that I have," Rachael revealed.But the night before their breakup, Rachael said she was feeling very overwhelmed."I was trying so hard to find a good dinner spot for us... and I was putting so much pressure [on myself] because he cares -- this is his career [as a food influencer on social media]," Rachael explained.Rachael said on top of feeling pressure not disappoint Matt with her dining choice, she was "tired, cranky, emotional, on my period, feeling terrible, and overwhelmed."Rachael apparently started to cry at the dinner because it ended up being "a bad spot.""Two tears [came down my cheeks], and then I was done. I didn't allow myself to get upset after that. I just tried to calm down," Rachael insisted.Once the pair returned to their hotel room in Tokyo, Rachael said Matt was acting a little cold or standoffish towards her."I was like, 'Are you mad at me?' And he was like, 'I'm just so confused why you were so upset. What was that?' And I explained to him, 'I felt like I let you down, like that was disappointing,'" Rachael recalled, adding how she feared their outing was "a waste" of Matt's time."He was just trying to tell me, 'It's not that serious. It's not that big of a deal.' But then he was concerned about me getting so upset. He was like, 'There is no reason for you to get upset like that.' He found it concerning that I got that emotional, I guess."Rachael said Matt was worried about how Rachael would react and deal with something "really terrible" in life if she had responded to an insignificant, crappy dinner with that much emotion."I felt like I was being punished for crying. It was so weird... I was so confused by his reaction," Rachael shared.Rachael admitted that Matt gave her space that night -- although she had truly wanted to be hugged and comforted -- and then they "let it go" and went to bed.Rachael said when she and Matt woke up the next morning, everything was "totally fine" and normal until they had a little argument that "opened up a can of worms."Rachael admitted she was scrolling through her phone showing Matt videos, which "bothered" him."He kind of snapped at me to where I got mad at him. I was like, 'Even if I'm annoying you, don't treat me like that,'" Rachael claimed."So it seemed like we were both mad at each other and annoyed with each other."The pair proceeded to grab food and shop at a nearby marketplace separately.Once they reunited, Rachael admitted she was quiet and told Matt that she was prepared to give him space because she had clearly "irritated" him."That just opened up everything. We had gotten into an argument right then and there," Rachael said."He let out everything I guess he had been feeling for a while, I don't know. He said that, at the end of the day, there were qualities about me he worries about having in a wife... and there were things where we weren't compatible."Rachael said it seemed like Matt had "a realization" in that moment."[He said], 'I should want to propose to you at this time, at this point in our relationship... and I should be ready for that, but I'm not still. I still don't feel like I'm ready. I don't know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can't actually see myself married to you,'" Rachael claimed."He said that maybe one day he would get there but he doesn't feel ready now."Rachael continued, "And I told him, 'Well, I feel like after four years, you should know -- or you should feel ready -- and if you don't, then that's not a good thing. We probably shouldn't be together if you don't feel like that after four years because you know me better than anyone, and I know you better than anyone.'"Rachael then asked Matt during that moment if he thought his "perfect person" was still out there."He came to the conclusion that it wasn't me," Rachael lamented, adding how that made her feel like she wasn't good enough for him or that she had been the problem."He said he didn't want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it didn't happen. And yeah, he just said, 'You're beautiful, smart and funny and you'll find a guy who will love you for you.' But he didn't think it was him."Rachael alleged Matt had told her that he'd never say a bad thing about her."I said, 'Okay.' I didn't say anything else. I just said, 'Okay,' and then I got my suitcase, went down into the lobby, got into a car, and went to the airport," Rachael shared."I had to leave a day before him. I was trying to make it home for a baby shower that I did not end up going to. I just couldn't believe it! Going to the airport, I was like, 'What the hell is happening?'"Rachael confirmed she felt "pure shock" and "so much confusion" after Matt suddenly dumped her."I was obviously sad because everything he had just said to me was very, very hurtful," Rachael noted."[But] he is allowed to feel like that... I wouldn't want someone to propose to me and be married to me just because they feel like they have to."Rachael added how she was completely blindsided by the split, which "definitely out of nowhere.""I don't think he was planning on doing it. I think it was one of those things where he just came to this realization during our argument. I don't know," Rachael attempted to reason.Rachael said about two or three hours after she left him, Matt uploaded his breakup statement via Instagram without giving her any warning.At the time, Rachael was on a plane getting ready to depart Tokyo, and she said she couldn't wrap her mind around the whole world knowing about her breakup before she could even make sense of it."I still don't know if he acted out of anger or spite, or if he didn't mean it. And if he didn't post it so publicly after he broke up with me, I don't even know where we'd be right now," Rachael said.She elaborated, "I'm still trying to process it. I'm still in total shock... That's why I didn't say anything or make a statement [for days]. I am still processing this."When looking back on how they handled conflict in their relationship, Rachael said she and Matt are both "stubborn" and "didn't see eye to eye sometimes."Rachael said they didn't argue often but she also struggled to trust him because of what happened during their brief split from February to April 2021 Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone had reported at the time that Matt had attempted to hook up with a Florida-based woman named Grace, who was an alleged "booty call."Carbone had claimed that Matt was "playing two women at the same time" and Rachael was incredibly hurt by the former star's actions."That girl coming to Reality Steve and everything, I was just asking myself, like, 'Are you still doing this?'" Rachael admitted to Alex.But Rachael insisted Matt "is not a cheater," and she added, "I never actually had to worry about him cheating on me, because technically, if he was ever with other women, we were apart. So I can't call him a cheater or worry about him cheating on me."Rachael said she believes Matt was faithful to her in the four years they were together, and she confirmed any cryptic social-media posts she had "liked" or reposted recently about cheating happened before her split from Matt and were unrelated.A part of the reason Rachael was so blindsided by the breakup was because she and Matt had allegedly talked about marriage and kids all the time.Rachael claimed Matt had suggested they should go look at engagement rings just a few months before their split -- but he never followed through."I did think we were on the same page! When we would talk about things, he always seemed like he was on the same page -- privately or publicly," Rachael said.Rachael is now left picking up the pieces of her life as a single woman who is hoping to find the independence and confidence she's apparently been lacking for years while being under Matt's shadow."When you picture your life, you have an idea of what it's going to look like. And now, I have no idea what life is going to look like from here on out. I was picturing these kids that are obviously no longer a thing," Rachael said in tears."That's probably one of the saddest things about it... Now, it's all taken away."Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 11:20 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for the bolstering of the country's nuclear forces this year during a tour of a nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute, state-run media said Wednesday, publishing pictures of many centrifuges at a facility.

In an apparent reference to the United States and South Korea, Kim said his country faces "the world's most unstable situation in which a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Such a situation "makes it indispensable for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield," Kim was quoted as saying. He added 2025 is "a crucial year" and "an important watershed in which we should carry out the tasks in the important period in the course of implementing the line of bolstering up the nuclear forces."

KCNA did not disclose the location of the site or when Kim was there. The leader last visited a similar production base of weapons-grade nuclear materials last September.

Kim also said that "the absolute force capable of thoroughly containing the enemies and taking the initiative to control the situation is not provided by any declaration or slogan, but the stockpiling of the physical strength of practical use and its increase by geometrical progression," according to the report.

During the visit to the nuclear facility, Kim was accompanied by Hong Sung Mu, first deputy department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, who is believed to be a central figure in the country's nuclear weapons development.

In 2010, Pyongyang gave U.S. nuclear expert Siegfried Hecker a tour of a uranium enrichment facility in Yongbyon in the country's northwest.

North Korea, which has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006, is believed to be able to produce plutonium and highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons at the Yongbyon complex. The country also has a similar facility in Kangson near Pyongyang.

At their summit in Hanoi in 2019, Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump fell short of a deal, with Washington insisting that North Korea denuclearize and Pyongyang demanding economic sanctions relief.

Trump said Kim pledged to "totally" dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear complex used to produce weapons fuel, but the lifting of the sanctions would require Pyongyang to scrap other nuclear facilities and programs, including undeclared ones.

Since returning to the White House on Jan. 20, Trump has said he intends to reengage with Kim, with whom he held in-person meetings three times during his first presidency, including the Vietnam talks.

A White House official said in a statement sent to Kyodo News after the report that Trump "will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, just as he did in his first term."

The White House's confirmation of the long-standing U.S. policy came after Trump, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, described North Korea as a "nuclear power" earlier this month, fueling speculation that there might be a shift in his second administration's approach to Pyongyang.

Related coverage:

North Korea conducts cruise missile test, 1st since Trump inauguration

FOCUS: Trump poised to revive unpredictable talks with N. Korea in 2nd term

Doomsday Clock ticks closest ever to catastrophe after Trump's return
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump made his official return to the Oval Office. Supporters gathered in droves to celebrate, while others were quick to express fear or scorn. The split was a fitting reflection of Trumps controversial track record in American politics. Although he has managed to snag a reelection, America is still ambivalent in its feelings towards him. Clearly, he has not succeeded in uniting the people.
The number of cyberfraud cases has skyrocketed from 2,677 in 1999-2000 to 29,082 in FY24 -- more than a 10-fold increase.

The RBI pegs digital payment frauds at Rs 1,457 crore in FY24, up more than five times in a year.

It's not just the number of frauds. What's alarming is the growing sophistication of the fraudsters, exposing the vulnerabilities within the financial system, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Retired schoolteacher Eloise Parker has a lonely life but shares a warm friendship with Adam Clay, who lives in her barn and works as a beekeeper.

One day, Parker falls for a phishing scam that bankrupts her, costing her her life's savings, including the $2 million-plus from the charity she runs.

Devastated, she kills herself with a gun. Clay discovers her body, and the FBI agent, who is Parker's daughter, arrests him.

After being cleared and released, Clay contacts a mysterious group called the Beekeepers for information that will help him find the people behind the phishing attack on Parker. The search leads to a call centre.

Want a glimpse into the world of cybercrime? Watch The Beekeeper, a 2024 American action thriller film.

Closer home, there is Jamtara -- Sabka Number Ayega, an Indian crime drama television series that gives us a peek into the world of social engineering.

It was released on an OTT platform in January 2020. The second season came out in September 2022, and the audience lapped it up for the latest trends in cybercrime it drew attention to.

Cybercrime is evolving fast.

On January 9, The Times of India reported that the Kolkata police had arrested 11 people in connection with a nationwide crackdown on a digital arrest scam.

With this arrest, they claimed to have resolved over 930 complaints from across the country.

In the October episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised an alarm over the rapid rise in cases of digital fraud across India.

Going by data provided by the government in Parliament, the number of cyberfraud cases has skyrocketed from 2,677 in 1999-2000 (FY20) to 29,082 in FY24 -- more than a 10-fold increase.

The Reserve Bank of India's latest annual report pegs the digital payment frauds at Rs 1,457 crore (Rs 14.57 billion) in FY24, up more than five times in a year.

It's not just the number of frauds. What's alarming is the growing sophistication of the fraudsters, exposing the vulnerabilities within the financial system.

India is not unique when it comes to cybercrime. On November 11, Singapore introduced the Protection from Scams Bill in parliament.

With the passing of this bill on January 7, the 'Lion City' has become the first country in the world to give police the power to control the bank accounts of scam victims who do not keep their eyes open.

Armed with the power to issue restriction orders, the police in Singapore will be able to restrict transactions in an individual's bank account such as money transfer, use of ATM facilities and credit facilities as well as over-the-counter transactions.

The police can issue a restriction order to a bank if they believe the victim will transfer money to the scammer. The objective is to protect the victim.

Singapore is losing around $2 million to scams daily. In the first half of 2024, more than $385.6 million was lost in 26,587 cases reported in Singapore; in 86 per cent of all reported scams, the victims had made voluntary transfers to the scammers.

In August, before this bill was introduced, Singapore's largest business e-mail compromise (BEC) scam was busted, leading to the recovery of $41 million.

This is possibly the first instance of international cooperation arresting cybercrime.

A commodity firm in Singapore fell victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme on July 19 last year.

Cybercriminals impersonated a supplier and tricked the firm into transferring the funds to a fake bank account.

The police sprung into action. With the intervention of Interpol's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) tool, a large part of the stolen funds were quickly recovered, making it the largest recovery ever.

The I-GRIP programme, which has been instrumental in intercepting hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit funds, is now in the spotlight.

The programme was launched in 2022 specifically to stop financial cybercrimes.

It's a rapid-response system that enables law enforcement agencies across Interpol's 196 member countries, including India, to quickly intervene in financial transactions suspected of being linked to criminal activities.

When a suspicious transaction is identified, I-GRIP facilitates the rapid exchange of critical information, allowing authorities to halt the transaction and prevent the funds from being transferred to the fraudsters.

This process involves close collaboration between financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, and ensures that the right information is available at the right time to effectively combat financial crime.

The I-GRIP mechanism is a critical tool in Interpol's arsenal.

This stop-payment mechanism facilitates cooperation between countries, enabling authorities to trace, intercept, and freeze the proceeds of crimes across borders.

In the case of the $42.3 million BEC scam in Singapore, the police's swift request for assistance through I-GRIP played a critical role in the recovery.

While Singapore has empowered its police to control the bank accounts of scam victims, banks in India are often helpless when it comes to dealing with mule accounts that are being used to siphon off money at stage two.

Once the fraudsters are successful in drawing a big chunk of money from an account, the amount is typically split into small parcels, and it then flows into the mule accounts.

The mule account holders withdraw the money and pass it on to unknown fraudsters, while keeping a small 'commission'.

Since such accounts are KYC-compliant, banks find it difficult to suspend them.

The Centre has frozen around 450,000 'mule' bank accounts in the past year, according to a report in The Indian Express.

These accounts are typically used to launder money drawn from cyberfraud.

While such accounts are spread across various banks, they have been identified to be in high concentration in the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Airtel Payments Bank.

Officials of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which reports to the ministry of home affairs, conveyed this to the prime minister's office during a meeting where the shortcomings of the banking system were discussed.

They also highlighted that fraudsters are nowadays withdrawing payments from such 'mule accounts' -- which are usually created using KYC documents of another person -- through cheques, ATMs, or digitally.

Banks have reported a new kind of fraud in recent years -- chargeback scam.

Fraudsters raise chargeback disputes under the category 'goods and services not received' and claim refunds from the acquiring banks for transactions that never took place.

Typically, one buys some stuff from a provision store, pays through a payment app and then raises a dispute with his own bank (issuer bank) which, in turn, refers it to the merchant acquiring bank through the network.

There were reports of thousands of chargeback disputes raised by the 'customers' in a northern state in 2023.

All of us are now keenly waiting for the digital payments intelligence platform, which the RBI has proposed to set up to mitigate frauds and payments fraud risks.

A committee, headed by A P Hota, former MD and CEO of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is examining the aspects of setting up the digital public infrastructure for the platform.

Through this platform, the RBI will be able to provide real-time intelligence to identify suspicious and fraudulent transactions, with the ability to stop and recover.

This is what the industry needs at the moment, something on the lines of what Singapore has done.

NPCI also runs a fraud management system, which works in real time.

It's not an easy task since the fraudsters are always ahead of the victims and the modus operandi evolves fast.

Earlier, greed was the main reason a person fell prey to cyberfraud; now, it is fear.

The key to fighting this is mass awareness.

To tackle cybercrime, India needs to repeat what it did for financial inclusion -- launch a nationwide campaign.

Tamal Bandyopadhyay is an author and senior advisor to the Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd. His latest book is Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking.

Disclaimer: These are Tamal Bandyopadhyay's personal views.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Currently, EVs are about 30-50 per cent more expensive than ICE vehicles. I believe the inflection point for EVs will come when this price gap narrows to 20-25 per cent. That's when people will start coming in.'

IMAGE: Hardeep Singh Brar, National Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia India with new EV6 at Auto Expo. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Bharat-mobility

The price difference between electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) ones must narrow to 20-25 per cent from 30-50 per cent, said Hardeep Singh Brar, senior vice-president and head of sales and marketing at Kia India.

He added that this will help EVs reach an inflection point, potentially driving a seven-nine fold surge by the end of this decade.

About 99,165 electric cars were sold in India in 2024, a 20 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth, according to Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada).

We are launching two EVs within the next one year. First one would be in the second half of the year, and the second one in the first half of next year, Brar told Business Standard during an interview at Bharat Mobility Global Expo.

By 2030, we estimate that the auto industry would record annual sales of anywhere between 5.5 and 6 million units. We see the EV penetration to be 15 per cent, which is an annual sales of about 700,000-900,000 units, he added.

Currently, EVs are about 30-50 per cent more expensive than ICE vehicles. I believe the inflection point for EVs will come when this price gap narrows to 20-25 per cent. That's when people will start coming in, he said.

Various major carmakers like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai had unveiled their mass market EVs at the Global Expo. He said that driving on highways, and not within cities, is inducing range anxiety among customers.

We need charging infrastructure on the highways, because within a city, 80 per cent of customers don't go for public chargers. This is because they go to their workplace, come back in the night and put it on charge. These customers are sorted. Within a city, you don't drive more than 200 km in a single day (higher than a single charge range of most electric cars). On top of that, EVs give a higher range within the city, he said.

If the car manufacturer is claiming a range of 300 km, it would be close to 260-270 km in the city, but around 180 km on the highway.

So, the problem is that this range anxiety comes from highway driving. It doesn't come from city driving. So, we don't need to worry too much about the cities, he stated.

Clustering several chargers at a single place -- like a dhaba or any other place where a lot of people gather on the highway -- can take care of customer worries, he said.

The PM E-drive scheme, which came into effect from October, aims to establish a robust network of public charging stations.

They include 22,100 fast chargers for electric four wheelers, 1,800 for electric buses, and 48,400 for electric three- and two-wheelers.

These charging points would be installed in key cities with high electric vehicle penetration along with select highways. Total outlay for charging infrastructure under the scheme is Rs 2,000 crore.

Brar said that whatever range anxiety is present within the city is being taken care of by multiple public chargers that companies like Kia are setting up at dealerships.

In the first phase, we have put 16 fast chargers. The highest one is the 210 kwh charger. The remaining 15 are 150 kwh chargers. Next year, in all Tier I and II cities, we will be putting 60 to 90 kwh chargers, which are still faster than the 30 kwh and 12kwh ones. So, we will have close to 200 chargers at our various dealerships in about 125 cities by the middle of next year, he stated.

These 200 dealerships in 125 cities are also being readied for servicing (aftermarket) EVs. The workshops will have a dedicated base, technicians, tools and equipment for EVs.

The company has a total 445 showrooms across the country.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'If our Budget allows, we may implement both measures -- making income up to Rs 10 lakh tax-free and introducing a 25 per cent slab for income between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.'

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to announce significant changes to income tax slabs under the new tax regime in the 2025-2026 Union Budget on February 1. These could offer substantial relief to salaried taxpayers earning up to Rs 20 lakh annually.

The government is said to be weighing two options: Making annual income up to Rs 10 lakh entirely tax-free or introducing a new 25 per cent tax slab for income between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.

Currently, income above Rs 15 lakh is taxed at the highest rate of 30 per cent.

"We are evaluating both options. If our Budget allows, we may implement both measures -- making income up to Rs 10 lakh tax-free and introducing a 25 per cent slab for income between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh," a government source said.

The government, the source said, is prepared to absorb the impact of a revenue loss of Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) to Rs 1 trillion to provide income-tax relief.

The anticipated tax relief is expected to boost urban consumption at a time when GDP growth has slowed down (growth in Q2FY25 had declined to a seven-quarter low of 5.4 per cent).

This would not be the first time the Finance Minister has sought to ease tax burden. In 2023, she raised the Section 87A rebate under the new tax regime, exempting individuals earning up to Rs 7 lakh annually from income tax, provided they forgo most deductions.

Sources suggest the Budget may raise the rebate further, potentially making income up to Rs 10 lakh tax-free under the new regime.

Currently, with the Rs 75,000 standard deduction in place, individuals earning up to Rs 7.75 lakh effectively have no tax liability.

Akhilesh Ranjan, advisor with PwC and former member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), said it makes more sense for the government to introduce a 25 per cent slab rate for those with incomes between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, as giving more money in their hands will boost consumption.

"These are the people who buy consumer durable products like fridge, television, etc," Ranjan noted.

According to Anil K Sood, professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Complex Choices, a 30 per cent tax rate for incomes just above Rs 15 lakh per annum is unreasonable and that the government should give relief to the salaried class but without tinkering with the existing incentives.

"The government is unnecessarily obsessed with the fiscal deficit target. On the capex side, it is budgeting but not spending. For example, the National Highways Authority of India has the funds but it is not spending the money. The money is being used to repay loans," Sood argued.
The BJP may win more seats in the February 5 assembly election, but not enough to trump AAP, notes Ramesh Menon.

IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party national Convener Arvind Kejriwal at an election meeting in support of AAP's Matiala assembly candidate Sumesh Shokeen, January 27, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Elections to the Delhi assembly on February 5 are keenly watched as observers wonder if Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party will again trounce the Bharatiya Janata Party despite its muscle, ground workers and money power.

It will likely ride back to power for the third time in a row. Not bad for a party that is only 13 years old.

Delhi is a small state and should not bother the BJP as it sends just seven MPs to Parliament. But the Delhi results seriously worries the national party.

Delhi is a prestigious crown to wear.

The BJP also wants to further the idea of how, under Narendra Modi's leadership, the BJP is invincible.

The BJP has not been in power in Delhi for the last 27 years.

It promises 'parivartan' (change) if voted to power, but it is too weak a slogan to get votes in the complicated political environment in the capital.

Its central plank is attacking Kejriwal for the lavish expenditure on renovating a PWD bungalow allotted to him when he became chief minister. Modi is leading the attack, hoping it would destroy Kejriwal's commoner image.

The fight is clearly between AAP and the BJP, as the Congress is not a factor.

The Congress has not won a single seat in the last two assembly elections, and its vote share has plummeted to around 4 per cent. It stands no chance to make any dent.

Obviously, Kejriwal decided not to go into an alliance with the Congress despite being a part of the INDIA grouping. It makes sense, as the AAP vote share came from erstwhile Congress supporters.

After Sheila Dikshit, the Congress has not found a charismatic leader who can woo back its traditional voters.

Former AAP leader and political commentator Ashutosh told me that the AAP clearly had an edge in Delhi as the BJP had failed to capitalise on the anti-incumbency factor.

The central government had made serious corruption charges against Kejriwal. Though nothing has been proven yet, the BJP hopes some of the allegations will sway voters as AAP came to power on an anti-corruption platform in 2013 and again in 2015 and 2020.

Local issues dominate as national agendas do not catch the imagination of the electorate in the capital. While Delhi votes for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, it has chosen to opt for AAP in the assembly elections.

The BJP has increased its vote share in election after election, but it was nowhere close to the sweep that AAP managed to woo voters.

Delhi is choking today due to pollution, with India's worst air quality index. It is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Its roads are clogged with traffic. Many areas are dotted with garbage or are just dirty and do not resemble a national capital.

However, no party talks about real issues like infrastructure and quality of life. Studies have shown that those who live in Delhi will have a shorter life span as they breathe toxic air.

IMAGE: Narendra Modi chairs a Bharatiya Janata Party meeting for the Delhi elections at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, January 10, 2025. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

This time, Kejriwal has again offered freebies like cash doles of Rs 2,100 to women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Salman Yojana. To avail of these, they have to be registered voters in Delhi. In the last few weeks, there has been an avalanche of over five lakh applications to the Election Commission of India for new voter registrations.

Kejriwal has also offered free medical facilities for those over 60. There are 24,44,320 senior citizens who are voters in Delhi.

Auto drivers have been promised insurance coverage of Rs 10 lakh.

The freebie madness continues in every election now, irrespective of which party rules. No politician is talking about how it will dent and paralyse the economy as the number of freebies increases with every election.

Kejriwal, who started distributing freebies a decade ago, promised 200 units of free electricity and 20,000 litres of water every month, even to tenants.

He announced that a comprehensive plan would be implemented after the elections to ensure these new benefits reach tenants. He particularly mentioned the Purvanchali population as a sizeable number of people who work in Delhi as labourers and other skilled workers.

The term Purvanchalis refers to those from East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and it is estimated that they form a sixth of Delhi's population and can be a deciding factor in around 20 of the 70 seats.

Kejriwal has asked Modi to give students concessions on metro fares. If Modi agrees, Kejriwal will take the credit and if he does not respond, the BJP will get the rap.

AAP leader Jasmine Shah, in his new book, The Delhi Model: A Bold New Road Map to Building a Developed India, said that a household sample survey among 70 per cent of Delhi's households receiving electricity subsidies showed that they stood to save an average of Rs 2,464 per month.

IMAGE: Senior BJP leader Amit A Shah addresses the Slum Pradhan Sammelan in New Delhi, January 11, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

AAP has a fighting chance of winning as it has done considerable work with schools and health services. Delhi schools are among the best government schools in India.

The 500-odd mohalla clinics the party started have helped millions of poor people get free healthcare.

However, the anti-corruption bureau has said fake cases were detected in some of them and is probing it.

The BJP has mounted an aggressive campaign, as it always does.

The Modi government put Kejriwal in jail along with then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia but has not been able to prove charges, though it has been working on it for over a year. MP Sanjay Singh in an excise policy scam and Health Minister Satyendar Jain accused of money laundering, were also jailed. All are now out on bail.

Kejriwal is now using the jail term he was subjected to to gain sympathy and underline that they were trumped-up charges. He also emphasises at election rallies how powers have been taken away from him and vested in the central government to ensure that his decisions are not carried out by the lieutenang governor, who has an upper hand and is appointed by the central government.

In the 2022 Delhi municipal elections, AAP won 42.05 per cent of the votes, winning 134 seats and clinching power as the BJP won 104 seats, gaining 39.09 per cent of the votes. The Congress won only nine seats!

In every election in the last ten years, the Congress in Delhi has lost its vote share to AAP and the BJP.

In the 2020 assembly election, AAP won 62 seats in Delhi, while BJP won just eight.

This time, political analysts like Dr Sajjan Kumar say that the BJP may win more seats but not enough to trump AAP.

Though none of the corruption charges have been proved, the jailing of AAP leaders has dented the image that the AAP built after it rode into power in one of the most momentous elections in 2013.

Many youngsters and activists had joined the party, then as AAP leaders like Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas and others spearheaded the India Against Corruption movement. There was a new hope, a new dream. Volunteers had come to Delhi from various parts of the country and even abroad to campaign.

It is another story that most of these leaders are no more with AAP as they moved away due to Kejriwal's inability to carry them along, listen to them, and not make ideological compromises.

IMAGE: An Aam Aadmi Party supporter waves the party flag during Arvind Kejriwal's public meeting in support of party Vishwas Nagar constituency candidate Deepak Singal for the Delhi assembly election, January 21, 2025. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

In its previous two governments, AAP has done significant work regarding quality education in schools and health services.

Those who have benefitted from these two swear they would back AAP as they do not see any other party interested in these two crucial areas.

Then, there are freebies that have benefitted a large number and see nothing wrong in supporting a party that looks at the welfare of people with low incomes.

AAP sees its Delhi Model as its biggest asset.

The BJP has been unable to offer something better.

Neither the BJP nor Congress has a prominent leader like Kejriwal.

The Centre's confrontation with the Kejriwal government for the last decade can actually work in his favour as he will be seen as a victim as his schemes and decisions were not allowed to smoothly go through, affecting governance. It has also helped him emerge as one political leader who can defy Modi and survive.

This will not be an easy election, given the way the BJP is pulling out all stops to win.

No wonder AAP has roped in the Indian Political Action Committee, commonly known as I-PAC funded by well-known poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who worked with Modi and the BJP during the 2014 elections.

AAP has stepped up its door-to-door campaign and introduced initiatives like Rewdi par Charcha to underline all its achievements and future plans to strengthen its grassroots movement.

AAP will need to woo around 30 per cent of upper caste voters, as many of them have jumped onto the BJP bandwagon.

According to a post-poll survey of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, a research institute for social sciences and humanities, 29 per cent of AAP's upper caste voters moved into the BJP fold at the 2024 Lok Sabha poll.

AAP will have to woo its traditional Dalit and Muslim voters who supported it in the last ten years as some have moved to the BJP fold.

All communities and groups have swing voters, and AAP must get its votes to triumph in an aggressively contested prestige election.

IMAGE: Delhi slum dwellers during the BJP's Slum Pradhan Sammelan. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a bid to neutralise the freebies offered by AAP, the BJP, in its second manifesto, offered numerous incentives to get voted to power:

Some of them are:

* Free education to needy students from kindergarten to post-graduation in government-run institutions.

* Domestic workers get Rs 10 lakh life insurance coverage and paid maternity leave for six months.

* Auto and taxi drivers are to get Rs 10 lakh life insurance coverage and Rs 5 lakh accident insurance coverage. Scholarship for their children's education.

* Aspirants are preparing for competitive exams to get a one-time aid of Rs 15,000.

* Scheduled caste students in ITIs, skill centres and polytechnics to get a monthly scholarship of Rs 1,000.

*Street vendors to get loans under the PM SVANidhi scheme.

Earlier, in its first manifesto, it offered Rs 2,500 a month to women under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, LPG cylinders at Rs 500, free cylinders on Holi and Diwali, free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for Delhi residents, and monthly pensions of Rs. 2,500 to those aged 60 to 70 and Rs 3,000 to those over 70.

Ramesh Menon, award-winning journalist, educator, documentary filmmaker and corporate trainer, is the author of Modi Demystified: The Making Of A Prime Minister.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Omar Abdullah presented Delhi as a villain in front of the people of Jammu Kashmir before elections and now is shaking hands with them.'

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Republic Day parade at the Maulana Azad stadium in Jammu, January 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

All is not well for Omar Abdullah ever since he became chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in October 2024.

Omar had promised that Article 370, which was revoked by the Narendra Modi government in August 2019, would be restored after he came to power.

Four months after becoming CM, Abdullah, it seems, has forgotten this assurance, which has led to a rift with the National Conference's Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi.

In December Mehdi protested on the streets over another issue, the Union Territory's reservation policy.

This protest outside Omar's home in Srinagar surprised many because it was at Mehdi's invitation that Abdullah contested the assembly election from Budgam, Mehdi's hometown.

Omar defeated Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party in Budgam, but decided to give up the constituency as he had also been elected from Ganderbal.

"The Omar Abdullah government has become an extension of the BJP. Everything the central government says, Omar Abdullah accepts it," Muntazir Mehdi tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, explaining what is going wrong with Omar Abdullah and his National Conference party.

It looks like the Omar Abdullah government has put Article 370 on the backburner, restoration of which was the National Conference's election promise.

Omar Abdullah and the National Conference's sole aim was to reach the chief minister's chair.

They used the emotions of Kashmiris which was attached to Article 370, stating that they will restore it once they come to power.

The people of Kashmir exercised their vote to express their anger against the Government of India ruled by the BJP as they had scrapped Article 370 in August 2019.

Unfortunately, the Omar Abdullah government has become an extension of the BJP. Everything the central government says, Omar Abdullah accepts it.

Can you give an example?

It is the same Omar Abdullah who was against the installation of electricity meters in Kashmir.

Now the same Omar Abdullah has done a U-turn on the issue.

During the election campaign he said the BJP wants to install electricity meters and he was against it. And today, he is telling Kashmiris if you want electricity you've got to install meters, which is the BJP's line.

Omar Abdullah has become the mouthpiece of the BJP.

Is that the only issue?

Whatever happened in Kashmir after Article 370's abrogation, Omar Abdullah did not use strong words of condemnation in the Jammu Kashmir assembly but only expressed the word 'concerned' in his speech.

He also mentioned only the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir but never said anything about Ladakh which was a part of Jammu and Kashmir.

It looks like he has excluded Ladakh and in future does not want it to be a part of Jammu and Kashmir, which it was before August 5, 2019.

Are the people of Jammu and Kashmir aware of this?

They had given sole responsibility to the National Conference as they saw that this party had no transaction with the BJP. They felt it could save them from the onslaught of the BJP.

But once Omar Abdullah became CM, he has become an extension of the BJP.

His party MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, protested against him outside his house.

This was a story sponsored by the BJP. You can call it division of labour.

One member of the party has been assigned to do drama on the streets against Omar Abdullah and the chief minister is condemning his stance.

This is just to confuse the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

But he protested outside the CM's house!

That is exactly what the BJP wanted to do. They want to confuse the people of Kashmir.

Why is the government of Jammu and Kashmir then not halting the recruiting process in government appointments?

Today, there are vacancies in the health department of Jammu and Kashmir which is as per the reservation policy.

This entire protest drama against Omar Abdullah is a story scripted by bureaucrats from Delhi in Kashmir who are giving tasks to each and every leader of the National Conference.

In the future, all of them are going to get exposed.

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi with PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para protests over the reservation issue outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence IN Srinagar, December 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Do you mean to say that there is no rift between Aga Mehdi and Omar Abdullah?

No rift. It is only a division of labour to confuse the public.

What is this issue of reservations? Why is there a rift between Aga Mehdi and Omar Abdullah even if one wants to believe it is only street drama?

The aim of reservation is to give equality to every member of society. But what the BJP did was to give political reservations.

This was to appease certain communities at the cost of another community. (The new quota system gives minority tribes 60 percent of the seats while the majority population will be entitled to the remaining 40 percent.)

Whenever there is a job opening in the government of Jammu and Kashmir only a handful of people from the general category get jobs. This entire reservation in Jammu and Kashmir was done by the BJP with a political objective.

The rest of India follows a reservation policy so why not in Jammu and Kashmir?

Reservation must not be for one community at the cost of another community. There has to be rationalisation of reservation, but what the BJP has done is they have given political reservation (external link) just to get votes from the community whom they have given reservations to.

What is the mood in Jammu and Kashmir on the restoration of Article 370?

Omar Abdullah fooled the people of Jammu Kashmir. He was going on stating that if his party came to power then Article 370 will be restored. Nothing of that sort happened.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com

Srinagar MP Mehdi had stated he will get 100 MPs to support his resolution on Jammu and Kashmir and bring back Article 370.

The NC has not even introduced a bill to restore Article 370 in Parliament. They are just doing politics in the name of Article 370.

Omar Abdullah has failed the people of Kashmir. His party leaders in Parliament are not highlighting the pain and agony which people of Kashmir went through when Article 370 was scrapped.

His member of Parliament is more interested in highlighting issues which are happening in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu rather than what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir.

I have not seen any parliamentarian from Kashmir presenting a bill on Article 370. Omar Abdullah has surrendered to the BJP.

NC has a habit of coming to power at any cost. They got themselves rehabilitated after a gap of 10 years. Now, NC leaders are enjoying the perks and once the election comes they will again start raking up emotional and sentimental issues to grab the people's attention.

Omar Abdullah has become an extension of the lieutenant governor's administration. He fooled the people before elections by stating he will give 200 units of electricity and 12 gas cylinders free to every household. Now, he is taking a U-turn by stating that his government is a controlled dual government (which is run by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha).

Is it not good for Jammu and Kashmir if the L-G and Omar Abdullah work in harmony unlike in Delhi the chief minister is in constant confrontation with the L-G?

There is a difference. Kejriwal wants to do good for the people of Delhi, therefore he confronts the L-G all the time.

Omar Abdullah and his cronies have only one mission and that is to stay in power. And to sit on this chair Omar will go to any extent required, even if it means to have friendly relations with the BJP.

He is doing shawl diplomacy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extending his hand of friendship.

The NC represents Delhi as a monster to the people of Kashmir and then goes and sits in the lap of the same monster.

In election speeches Omar ridiculed Prime Minister Modi and after winning he is heaping praise on him.

He said in his speech when Modi was sitting next to him that whatever development of Kashmir is needed will be done by PM Modi.

Is it not important for the benefit of Jammu and Kashmir?

If that is the case, why didn't he say in election speeches that he needs to go hand in hand with the BJP for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir?

Omar Abdullah presented Delhi as a villain in front of the people of Jammu Kashmir before elections and now is shaking hands with them.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2025 - 07:04 | World, All

A commercial airplane operated by a low-cost carrier caught fire while preparing for takeoff Tuesday at an international airport in Busan, South Korea, and all of the nearly 180 passengers and crew members were evacuated, the country's transport ministry and local media reports said.

The fire started on Air Busan Flight 391 at around 10:15 p.m. at Gimhae International Airport ahead of a scheduled departure for Hong Kong, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said.

According to media reports, fewer than 20 people aboard sustained injuries, and all were minor.

The fire started in the rear part of the Airbus A321 and was subdued by around 11:30 p.m., Yonhap News Agency reported.

Related coverage:

Passenger plane crash in South Korea kills 179, 2 survivors

ANA planes in minor collision at Osaka airport, no one hurt

Passengers' mutual aid in deadly JAL crash made for "miracle" escape
Amid opposition call for his resignation over the Beed sarpanch murder case, Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde on Wednesday said he is ready to quit if asked by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis or deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

IMAGE: Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde. Photograph: ANI Photo

Munde's close aide Walmik Karad has been arrested in an extortion case linked to the murder. Munde, 49, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, is now the Food and Civil Supplies minister.

Social activist Anjali Damania said she would file a Public Interest Litigation and make Fadnavis a respondent if the state government did not act against Munde within four days, while Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar working president Supriya Sule the NCP minister should quit on 'moral grounds'.

Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9, 2024, for allegedly trying to stop an extortion bid targeting an energy firm in Beed, Munde's home district.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Munde said, "If Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis or Deputy CM Ajit Pawar believe that I am guilty, they should ask for my resignation. I am ready to step down. It is for them to decide whether I am guilty or not. I have been targeted for the past 51 days."

Munde also dismissed the possibility of resigning from the cabinet on moral grounds.

"My morality is rooted in my honesty towards my people. I speak with complete sincerity. I do not consider myself morally guilty. If I am guilty, my senior leaders will tell me so," asserted the MLA from Parli.

Damania, who met Ajit Pawar two days ago, said she had given all necessary documentary evidence about Munde's 'nexus' with Karad.

"I have given the government an ultimatum of 96 hours....I will wait for four days...to see if action is taken against Munde. Else I will file a PIL and make chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CM Ajit Pawar respondents and personally liable," she said.

She said she had provided evidence about alleged financial dealings of Karad and Munde and also about a firm in which they are partners getting a contract from a government company.

Sule said 50 days have passed after the gruesome murder, but despite fingers being pointed at Munde's close associate Karad, the NCP minister has not been sacked from the BJP-led government.

"NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh had resigned as home minister after allegations of Rs 100 crore bribe were levelled against him. Nawab Malik, Chhagan Bhujbal were arrested on hearsay allegations and put in jail," she said.

Bhujbal and Malik are with the NCP headed by Ajit Pawar.

Sule, MP from Baramati, claimed that even leaders of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance want Munde to quit.

"I would have quit on moral grounds if I was a minister and my party was dominating headlines like this for 50 days. I would step back and tell my party that I am here to help the party grow and not to see my party harmed in such a manner," she said.

There was also an issue of 'office of profit' in Munde's case, Sule said, referring to allegations by Damania that Munde and his wife were partners in two firms that got a contract from MAHAGENCO, the state-owned power generation company, to take away fly ash generated by its thermal power plants.

'Sonia Gandhi had immediately resigned after facing office of profit allegations. She was not even a minister," Sule said, referring to the Congress leader quitting as a Lok Sabha member in 2006 after being accused of holding an office of profit by being chairperson of the National Advisory Council.

Bharatiya Janata Party minister and Dhananjay Munde's cousin Pankaja Munde met Ait Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"I will be attending the meeting of the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC) in Beed tomorrow along with Ajit Dada," she told reporters.
A Canada commission report has said that 'no definitive link' with a 'foreign state' in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was 'proven', smashing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that accused the involvement of Indian agents in the killing.

IMAGE: Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Photograph: X

In September 2023, Trudeau said Canada had credible evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

The report titled 'Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions' was released on Tuesday.

In the report, commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said, 'Disinformation is used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a state's interests.'

The report has suggested India spread disinformation on the killing of Nijjar.

'This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister's announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),' the report said.

Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

The 123-page report also talked of expelling six Indian diplomats.

'In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India,' it said.

However, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the withdrawal of its high commissioner.

The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

New Delhi had rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'.

India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau's government for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement who live in Canada.

The Khalistan movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.

On Tuesday, India strongly rejected 'insinuations' made against it in the report by a Canadian commission that investigated allegations that certain foreign governments were meddling in Canada's elections.

In a strong reaction, the MEA in New Delhi said it rejects the report's 'insinuations' on India.

It is in fact Canada which has been 'consistently interfering' in India's internal affairs, it said.
A Canadian court has sentenced a 24-year-old man to life after he pleaded guilty to the killing of a Sikh businessman, a suspect in the 1985 Air India bombing who was later acquitted, according to local media reports.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge on Tuesday sentenced Tanner Fox to life with no parole for 20 years for killing Sikh businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik, the CBC News reported.

On July 15, 2022, Malik was shot dead while he was sitting in his car in Surrey, British Columbia.

Malik and co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri were acquitted of mass murder and conspiracy charges in 2005 related to the Air India bombing.

Two weeks after Malik's murder, Canadian police arrested Fox, a resident of Abbotsford, British Columbia, a city about 75 kilometres east of Vancouver, and accomplice Jose Lopez, from the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster.

They pleaded guilty in October last to the second-degree murder of Malik. Lopez will be sentenced on Friday.

Citing prosecutors, the Global News on Tuesday reported that the two men were hired and paid to kill Malik, but they have not revealed who they believe hired them.

Malik's family urged Fox to reveal who hired him.

"I'm asking both Mr Fox and Mr Lopez to do the right thing," Jaspreet Singh Malik, Malik's son, was quoted as saying by the Global News.

Tell the RCMP who hired you. Let those people be brought to justice. We hope and pray that the RCMP continue this work and search down and find and bring to justice those people who hired Mr Fox and Mr Lopez.

The bombing of Air India flight 182, flying from Canada to India, off the Irish coast killed all 329 people on board, most of them Canadian citizens visiting relatives in India.

The bombing is among the worst terrorist attacks in Canadian history and the history of the airline.

The plane was flying 31,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean when a suitcase bomb exploded in the front cargo.

Another bomb was meant to be planted in an Air India flight scheduled to take off from Japan, but it exploded at Tokyo's Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers.

Malik was previously charged with multiple offences in connection with the Air India bombing but was acquitted alongside another suspect in 2005.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an all-out attack on Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejrwal on Wednesday, saying his 'disgusting' comment that the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Haryana was mixing 'poison' in the Yamuna is a sign of desperation as the 'AAP-da' can sense it is going to be drowned in the same river in these polls.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections, at Kartar Nagar, Yamuna Khadar in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a rally at Kartar Nagar, Modi likened AAP leaders to notorious fraudster and serial killer Charles Sobhraj, and said the 'AAP-da people' have committed a 'sin' that will not be forgotten by history, and the people of Haryana and the country.

On Monday, Kejriwal alleged the BJP-ruled Haryana is supplying 'poison-mixed' water to Delhi with the intention of killing people and blame it on the AAP to take electoral benefit.

Saying that he has been drinking the Yamuna water for 11 years, the prime minister asked people, "Can anyone imagine that the BJP government in Haryana was trying to poison me?"

Kejriwal's claims are an insult not just to Haryana but to all Indians, he said. "It is an insult to Indian culture, an insult to our character."

The 'AAP-da' will drown in the same river, Modi said.

"A former CM has made malicious allegations against the people of Haryana. AAP-da people have become desperate due to the fear of a defeat. Is Haryana different from Delhi? Don't they have children and relatives in Delhi? Will they mix poison for their own people?" Modi said.

Modi said that not only the people of Delhi, but he himself, diplomats and judges staying in the national capital drink the same water that comes from Haryana.

"Can anyone think that to kill Modi, the Haryana BJP has mixed poison in water? Was there a conspiracy to kill judges in Delhi? What are you talking? It is in the character of Indians to forgive mistakes but neither Delhi nor India forgives sins committed with ill-intention," he said.

Kejriwal's comments have also invited the ire of BJP leaders in the state.

Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel said on Wednesday the state government will get a case registered against Kejriwal for his 'irresponsible' statement aimed at spreading panic among people.

Back at the rally, Modi said Delhi has made it clear that now excuses, fake promises as well as 'loot and lies' of the 'AAP-da' government will not work.

He made fervent appeal to voters to give him a chance to serve them, after 25 years of the Congress and AAP governments.

Further hitting out at the AAP, he said that during the last two elections, the party asked for votes on the promise of cleaning the Yamuna and now it says that the issue does not yield votes.

"This is fraud and shamelessness. They want to make people struggle for water and want Purvanchalis to do chhathi maiya's puja surrounded by garbage," he said.

Modi also said there is a possibility of a post-poll alliance between the AAP and the Congress in Delhi which will be a 'double AAP-da' for the people of the city

"The AAP-da (disaster, a reference to AAP) has sensed its defeat as there is a lot of anger among the public against each of their MLAs. That's why the AAP and Congress have formed a back door alliance with each other.

"The AAP-da is trying to ensure that if not their candidates, then Congress' candidates win so they can jointly capture power later," he said, adding if that happens Delhi will face a 'double AAP-da' (double disaster).

Those who built a 'sheesh mahal' for themselves and those who looted thousands of crores of public money can never think of the welfare of the poor, he said.

"That is why they are spreading lies in Delhi. These AAP-da people speak lies with such innocence that people get trapped."

"You may have heard of Charles Sobhraj, he was a known thug. He was such expert at duping with innocence that people would get trapped every time. That is why one has to remain cautious of such people," he said.

Delhi now wants such a government that builds houses for the poor and makes the city modern, he said.

"A government that provides tap water to every house and freedom from the tanker mafia. That is why the whole of Delhi is saying today -- February 5 will come, AAP will go, BJP will come," he said.

Delhi goes to polls on February 5 and the results will be announced on February 8.

"When the BJP government is formed in Delhi on February 8, all the promises made to you will be fulfilled within the time limit. This is Modi's guarantee. Modi's guarantee means - guarantee of fulfilment of the guarantee," he told the gathering.

"I will take care of you like a family member, your dream will be my dream and I will put all efforts to fulfil your dreams. The BJP has a track record of fulfilling its promises," he said.

In his 50-minute speech, PM Modi also gave the slogan 'AAPda nahi sahenge, Delhi ko badal ke rahenge', urging people to bring about a change in Delhi.
At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

IMAGE: A person is carried on a stretcher, after a deadly stampede before the second 'Shahi Snan' on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, January 29, 2025. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Several hours after the incident took place between 1-2 am, Maha Kumbh Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Krishna gave the details of the casualties at a press conference in Mahakumbh Nagar in the evening.

"The incident took place due to the pressure of the crowd. The crowd broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, of whom 30 died," he said.

The officer said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Four of them are from Karnataka and one each from Assam and Gujarat.

Among those injured, 36 are undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families.

Over seven and half crore devotees took a dip Wednesday, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede, describing the tragedy as 'extremely saddening'.

IMAGE: A man checks on an unconscious victim after the stampede. Photograph: Sharafat Ali/Reuters

Later in the night, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG V K Gupta and retd IAS V K Singh to look into the reasons behind the stampede.

He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.

"It is important to get to the bottom of the whole episode on how such a tragedy occurred," a visibly-emotional Adityanath said, adding that the chief secretary and DGP would visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday for an in-depth probe into the tragic incident.

DIG Krishna said barricades have been placed in the mela and akhara areas for lane management but they gave way under the pressure of the jostling.

As the barricades broke, people fell on those sitting and waiting for taking the holy dip during the 'brahm muhurt' (early morning time considered auspicious to perform certain activities), he said.

Many ordinary people, including women and children, fell down and were crushed.

IMAGE: Devotees leave after the stampede. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The officer said the government has issued strict directives there will be no VIP protocol in the mela now onwards.

According to eyewitness accounts, one of the reasons for the tragedy was the sudden surge of pilgrims at the Sangam -- all driven by an obvious desire to take the holy dip at 3 am, the start of the auspicious hour.

After the stampede, Amrit snan, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas, was deferred but it resumed in the afternoon. The bathing for devotees, however, continued at the tightly-packed Sangam and other ghats along the Ganges which were less crowded.

Around 2 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam pierced through the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas echoing from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela area.

Those injured were taken to the central hospital set up in the Mela area.

Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.

IMAGE: A devotee crosses over a barricade after the stampede. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying many of the injured on stretchers.

People's belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around.

Sarojini, a devotee from Karnataka said, "We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled."

"There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides," the woman told PTI Videos.

A man from Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh said his mother was injured and hospitalised, while a middle-aged couple from Meghalaya walked away from the crowd, both of them sobbing and narrating to reporters their harrowing experience of getting caught up in the ruckus.

Another woman at the hospital, whose child suffered injuries in the chaos, narrated her ordeal, claiming, "There was nowhere to go. Some people who pushed us were laughing while we begged them for kindness towards the children."

IMAGE: The body of a victim is carried on a stretcher. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

In a post on X around noon, Modi said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Later addressing a poll rally in Delhi, he said, "We lost some good souls in the tragic incident at Kumbh and some people have also got hurt. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of those injured."

"I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Due to 'Mauni Amavasya', crores of devotees have reached there. For sometime, the process of bathing had been halted, but now for several hours, the yatris are taking a bath. I once again convey my condolences to the families," Modi said.

Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg.

"Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured," he said after a high-level meeting in Lucknow.

On the Amrit Snan by akharas deferred till afternoon, Adityanath said a consensus was reached with the akharas that they would take the holy dip only after the crowd pressure has decreased at the ghats.

IMAGE: A man touches the body of a victim. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

"Our first priority is to ensure safety of devotees," he said, adding "the situation in Prayagraj is under control but the crowd pressure is still there."

The chief minister said around 9-10 crore people are in Prayagraj and appealed to devotees to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.

Around 2.30 pm, the procession of akharas resumed as it made its way on foot towards the Sangam for the snan. Helicopter showered flower petals on seers as they headed towards the Sangam.

"All saints, seers and nagas took holy dip on the occasion. I congratulate Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) and the administration for making such arrangements," said Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, who led the procession.

On the stampede, he said, "It's a conspiracy by the opposition. This must be investigated."

The opposition hit out at the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over the stampede, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that mismanagement and administration's special focus on VIP movement were responsible for the tragic incident.

IMAGE: A man reacts after the deadly stampede before the second 'Shahi Snan'. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav demanded that the management of the world's largest religious event should be immediately handed over to the army.

The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray sought to know who was responsible for the stampede and claimed that closure of certain parts of the riverbank for visits by ministers leads to such situations.

Several leaders including Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Union minister Anupriya Patel, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai expressed concern at the tragedy.

According to tradition, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a majestic, awe-inspiring procession to the Sangam Ghat.

The Triveni Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati -- is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.

On Tuesday, in view of the anticipated influx of pilgrims, the Mela authorities issued an advisory urging devotees to follow crowd-management guidelines for safety and convenience.

IMAGE: A man stands as devotees leave after the stampede. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Pilgrims were asked to use designated lanes to reach Sangam Ghat, stay in their lanes while approaching the bathing area, and avoid lingering at ghats after the holy dip.

They were urged to proceed promptly to parking areas or their destinations to ensure smooth movement.

Visitors were reminded to remain patient at barricades and pontoon bridges, avoiding rushing or jostling to prevent accidents.

The administration emphasised that 'all ghats at Sangam are equally sacred', encouraging devotees to 'bathe at the first ghat they reach to prevent overcrowding'.

Being held after 12 years, the Maha Kumbh kicked off on January 13 and will continue till February 26.

There was a stampede during the 2013 Kumbh in which dozens of pilgrims were killed at the railway station and several left injured.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday took a couple of sips of water from River Yamuna and hit out at Aam Aadmi Party, saying there is no poison in water coming from his state to national capital.

He alleged that the minds of AAP leaders are definitely filled with poison.

AAP had on Monday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana of intentionally draining industrial waste into the Yamuna, with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal alleging that it is trying to kill people by 'mixing poison' in the river.

With days to go for the Delhi assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership has targeted the ruling AAP dispensation over Kejriwal's 'poison in Yamuna' remark.

In response, Saini visited the Yamuna river ghat near Dahisra village on the Delhi-Haryana border and took a couple of sips of the water from Yamuna.

He said the Yamuna water on the border of Haryana from where it enters Delhi completely meets the standards and demanded Kejriwal's apology to the people of Delhi and Haryana for the 'false' statement.

He said the statement given by Kejriwal 'for his political selfishness is unfortunate'.

Shortly before his visit to the river bank, Saini gave a sharp response to a post on X by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, whom he also called a dummy CM.

'AAP-da's 'khadau' Chief Minister Atishi Marlena ji, you are welcome on the banks of Yamuna in Palla (the ghat he visited). There is no poison in the water coming to Delhi from Haryana, but your minds are definitely filled with poison,' Saini said in a post in Hindi on X.

'Sometimes for the shortage of water, sometimes for the smoke from stubble and sometimes for all your failures, you always keep blaming the people of Haryana,' Saini said.

In her post on X in Hindi, Atishi had said, '@NayabSainiBJP Ji: I have come to know that you are going to the Palla Ghat of Yamuna river. I request that you and I go together, and take media colleagues along as well.

'We will measure the amount of ammonia in front of everyone. Everyone should know that Haryana is sending poisonous water to the people of Delhi,' she wrote.

After visiting the river ghat, Saini, in another post on X, again took a swipe at AAP.

'Without any hesitation, I drank the water of the holy Yamuna on the border of Haryana. Atishi ji did not come. She must be preparing a new lie. Lies have no legs. That is why Aap-da's lie is not working,' he said.

The Haryana chief minister said the 'God-like people of Delhi' have recognised the 'deceivers' and claimed that the end of AAP's 'era of deceit' is certain on February 5, the day of polls.

"The people of Delhi will punish Haryana's ungrateful son Kejriwal because our brotherhood has been strong for centuries," Saini said.

Speaking to reporters at the ghat, Saini said the statement made by Kejriwal is unfortunate and accused him of creating fear among the people.

"He gave an unfortunate statement and said the BJP government in Haryana has mixed poison... Kejriwal talked about mass genocide. What does he want to prove?

"The water resource authority collected samples from here on Tuesday... there is no poison. I also drank the water... the water going to Delhi from here is clean. But when this water goes to Delhi from here (from where it enters Delhi from Haryana) and what we get in Palwal and Faridabad is horrible," Saini said.

He alleged that Kejriwal is doing politics of lies. The AAP convener has failed to fulfil promises made to the people of Delhi and wants to save himself by giving such statements, said Saini.

"He gave a statement which created scare and fear among people. He has also insulted the people of Haryana with his remarks, which is unfortunate," said Saini.

The Haryana chief minister said the Centre gave Rs 8,500 crore to the AAP dispensation in Delhi so that they could treat water of drains which flow into Yamuna.

"But one does not know where this money has gone... Kejriwal had earlier said he will make Yamuna clean but he did nothing," said Saini.

Atishi had on Monday alleged that the BJP is 'deliberately disrupting' Delhi's water supply as a 'historic loss' awaits the saffron party in the February 5 assembly polls in the national capital.

Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP is trying to keep the people of Delhi thirsty as it indulges in 'dirty politics'.

'The BJP people in Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi. If people in Delhi drink this water, many will die. Can anything be more disgusting than this?

'The poison that is being mixed in the water cannot even be cleaned in water treatment plants. For the safety of the people of Delhi, the water supply has to be stopped in many areas,' Kejriwal had said in a post on X.
In her first press briefing, United States Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found that about USD 50 million was used to fund 'condoms in Gaza'.

IMAGE: Palestinians, who were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 27, 2025. Photograph: Ramadan Abed/Reuters

Calling the funding "preposterous", Leavitt said that the government is focussed on being good stewards of American dollars.

"DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So that's what this pause is focused on - being good stewards of tax dollars," she said.

DOGE Leader Elon Musk expressed his doubts on the huge amount of money.

In a post on X, he said, "My guess is that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets Hamas, not actually condoms," adding, "Yes, even in the unlikely event that the money was actually spent on condoms, we should NOT be sending US taxpayer money to buy condoms for foreigners."

In the same context, Musk shared a meme on his X handle.

In the context of Trump re-declaring the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation, Leavitt called a reporter's query "not a bad idea." The reporter asked if there was an investigation on why did the Biden administration remove the terrorist organisation status from Houthis.

Leavitt sounded impressed and said, "Well that's a very good point. I haven't heard discussions about such an investigation but it wouldn't be a bad idea considering that the Houthis certainly are terrorists. They have launched attacks on US naval ships across this world and so I think it was a very wise move by this administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group because they are,"

I think it was a foolish decision by the previous administration to do so, as for an investigation I'm not sure about that but it's not a bad idea," she added.

Donald Trump on January 22 signed an Executive Order redesignating Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a statement by the White House said.

The Executive Order sets in motion a process by which the Houthis will be designated an FTO. President Trump designated the Iranian-backed Houthis as an FTO in January 2021, as per the statement.

Within one month of taking office, the Biden administration reversed the Houthis' designation, the statement added.
The Joint Committee of Parliament scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday adopted its report and the amended version of the proposed law with a majority vote, the panel's chairperson Jagdambika Pal said.

IMAGE: Jagdambika Pal, 4th from left, chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Bill and other panel members leave after the conclusion of a JPC meeting, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Opposition members voiced their strong criticism of the adopted Bill, which was approved with 15-11 votes, alleging that it was "unconstitutional" and will destroy the Waqf board by allowing for the government's interference in the religious matters of Muslims.

Pal, however, claimed that many of the amendments approved by the committee have addressed several concerns of opposition members as well, adding the Bill once enacted will help Waqf board in discharging its duties transparently and more effectively.

For the first time, "pasmanda" (backward) Muslims, the poor, women and orphans have been included among beneficiaries of the Waqf, endowment made by Muslims for charitable religious purposes, he added.

The seasoned BJP member said the report will be submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday. It is now for him and Parliament to decide the next course of action, he told reporters when asked if the Bill will be passed in the Budget Session starting from January 31.

The committee held 38 meetings in the national capital since its constitution on August 8 last year and toured across the committee as it consulted stakeholders to arrive at its conclusions

Opposition MPs, including from the Congress, DMK, TMC, AAP and the AIMIM, maintained their sharp criticism of the committee's functioning under Pal and the approved version of the Bill. Some of them submitted their dissent and others will be doing do by the 4 PM deadline on Wednesday.

They said the report running into 655 pages was circulated to them on Tuesday night, and they were given little time to study it and prepare their dissent.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed the observation and recommendations of the committee are "wholly perverse".

Owaisi said the propsoed law will destroy Waqf boards and make way for the government's interference in its functioning.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain slammed the amendments as "unconstitutional", alleging that the bill is aimed at targeting minorities.

DMK's A Raja echoed their view and said his party will challenge the proposed law in the Supreme Court once Parliament, where the BJP-led NDA has a comfortable majority in both Houses, passes it.

Rejecting the criticism, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said the proposed law aims to bring transparency and accountability in Waqf boards. This will empower the Muslim community, he claimed.

While the adopted Bill accepts the government's stand of removing the "Waqf by user" clause in the existing law, it has added that no cases will be reopened against such properties on a retrospective basis provided these are not in dispute or belong to the government.

In its 655-page draft report, the Joint Committee on Waqf Amendment Bill made it clear that the provisions to omit the 'Waqf by user' definition of a Waqf property will be with prospective effect.

It has also endorsed the government's move to include non-Muslims in Waqf boards, saying they can be "beneficiaries, parties to disputes, or otherwise interested in Waqf matters", sources said on Tuesday.

It, however, does away with the enquiry power vested with the district collector concerned in cases of disputes with the government, giving the authority to the state government to designate an officer senior to collect to probe the matter.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on August 8, 2024, following its introduction in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to address issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
SHENZHEN/HONG KONG, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- In the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve in Shenzhen and the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong are jointly safeguarding a vibrant expanse of mangrove wetlands.

These wetlands are ecologically linked and integral parts of the Shenzhen Bay (Deep Bay) wetland ecosystem, which serves as an internationally important overwintering site and a refueling station for waterbirds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

In February 2023, Shenzhen's Futian mangrove was designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Together with the wetlands in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Shenzhen Bay now hosts two internationally recognized wetlands of significance.

"Mangroves are unique and complex ecosystems, often difficult for humans to access. Their dense canopy provides birds with quiet, undisturbed nesting areas, making them vital for wildlife conservation," said Simon Wong, nature officer (management) at the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

Moreover, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion caused by waves, while the mudflats they create harbor countless species and provide feeding and resting areas for migratory waterbirds, benefiting surrounding regions and other habitats, he added.

According to Wong, mangroves and their soil have a high capacity for carbon sequestration through microbial activity, helping reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations and mitigating the impacts of global warming and climate change. Mangroves can also accumulate heavy metals, help degrade organic pollutants, and exhibit an ecological interception effect against microplastics.

The wetlands of the nature reserves in Futian and Mai Po not only support rich biodiversity but also symbolize the close cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in ecological conservation.

Since signing the framework arrangement for the conservation of Shenzhen Bay (Deep Bay) wetlands in January 2023, the two cities have made significant strides in protecting mangroves and wetlands, offering valuable insights into the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

"The Shenzhen Bay is essentially a shared wetland between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Despite being separated by the Shenzhen River, the ecosystem remains consistent," said Yang Qiong, a senior engineer at Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau.

According to the framework, Shenzhen and Hong Kong will collaborate on ecological baseline and waterbird monitoring, synchronized surveys of black-faced spoonbills and their habitats, protection of inter-tidal mudflat and native mangrove species, capacity building, and experience sharing on environmental education.

The framework provides an excellent platform for sharing experience in the wetland ecosystem conversation in Shenzhen Bay, said Toby Cheung, nature reserve officer (education) at the AFCD.

The black-faced spoonbill, a key species in Shenzhen Bay and one of China's top protected animals, has experienced a notably impressive population recovery. From fewer than 300 individuals in the 1990s to 6,988 counted globally in January 2024, the growth of black-faced spoonbill highlights the importance of Shenzhen Bay's role in their protection.

To accurately monitor the numbers and distribution of black-faced spoonbills, Shenzhen and Hong Kong conduct synchronized surveys and smart monitoring. Monthly synchronized data reflects the status of black-faced spoonbill throughout Shenzhen Bay, while annual global synchronized surveys provide a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics.

High-definition cameras and AI-powered bird recognition technology are used for automated monitoring, particularly at night, reducing disturbance to resting birds while improving monitoring efficiency.

On Nov. 6, 2024, an agreement was signed to establish the International Mangrove Center in Shenzhen, marking the beginning of deeper cross-border joint protection efforts in wetland conservation. In the future, the two cities aim to build a more comprehensive cross-border joint protection model and extend their cooperation to global mangrove conservation efforts.

Yang said that Shenzhen and Hong Kong can learn from each other's advanced experience and practices in wetland protection and implement cross-border joint conservation efforts. She noted that the wetland protection model in Shenzhen Bay, developed through collaboration between the two cities, could serve as a standout example for exchange at the International Mangrove Center.

Nora Tam, chair professor of environmental science and conservation at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, noted that through the platform of the International Mangrove Center, Shenzhen and Hong Kong can increase exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, resources, management, and information, promoting wetland protection cooperation within the Greater Bay Area and beyond. 
Zoe Chaine of Marlboro is seen here with her two children.
Vermont's congressional delegation  from left, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders  walk along Route 11 during their tour of flood damage in Londonderry on Saturday, July 15, 2023. The delegation issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning President Trump's decision to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.
Community members, including recent refugees, enjoy a celebration with traditional Afghan food at ECDC Multicultural Center in Bennington on the program's first anniversary. The Vermont Afghan Alliance said on Tuesday that an order to temporarily halt federal payments would shut the Alliance down overnight by preventing the organization from accessing obligated funds.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, Boeing's Crew Flight Test Commander and Pilot respectively, inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station on Aug. 9, 2024. President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk are vowing to bring the astronauts home as they've been in space nearly eight months. NASA NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo before heading to the launch pad Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. Chris O'Meara/Associated Press NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore, left, and Pilot Suni Williams walk out of the Operations and Checkout Building on June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The astronauts are heading to Boeings Starliner spacecraft, which sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, for NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk are vowing to bring home two NASA astronauts who they say have been wrongly stuck aboard the International Space Station for nearly eight months.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams reached the space station in June and became stuck after the Boeing spacecraft that had transported them there experienced thruster issues and helium leaks. NASA decided to extend the duos stay so they could ride home on the next departing SpaceX Dragon crew capsule with open seats.

READ MORE: NASA astronauts at the Space Station who crewed Boeing Starliner are to return home on a SpaceX ship

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That SpaceX vehicle is expected to return to Earth in late March or early April, after four new crew members arrive to relieve Wilmore, Williams and two others. Its not clear how NASA would accelerate the schedule. The agency already pushed back their return from February, stating then that NASA and SpaceX needed more time to finish a new Dragon capsule for the next crew headed to the space station.

Still, Trump and Musk  who has become a close adviser and financial backer to the new president  pledged late Tuesday to bring Wilmore and Williams home. They did not offer details, but claimed former President Joe Biden was to blame for the delay.

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, Trump said on Truth Social. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

Musk said he was asked to bring them home as soon as possible.

We will do so, Musk posted on X, without mentioning his companys role in the delays. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The two astronauts have been safe and healthy aboard the space station. Williams even conducted a spacewalk earlier this month, and both are expected to venture outdoors on Thursday.

It was ultimately NASAs decision to not bring home Wilmore and Williams last year on Starliner. That vehicle flew home empty, and the astronauts were moved to NASAs SpaceX Crew-9 mission, where their crewmates NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov launched in a SpaceX Dragon on Sept. 28.

That vehicle is currently docked to the space station, and the four crew members will fly home together after the agencys SpaceX Crew-10 mission reaches the space station. The latter is scheduled to launch in late March.

NASA said it still plans to launch Crew-10 before bringing home Crew-9 so the astronauts can conduct a handover, where Crew-9 helps Crew-10 adapt to the station and pick up ongoing science and maintenance.

NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agencys SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, the agency said in a statement.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The longest spaceflight by an American astronaut lasted more than a year. NASAs Frank Rubio spent 371 days in space from September 2022 to September 2023.

Bill Nelson, NASA administrator when this decision was made, previously said he was thinking about the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters when deciding to keep Wilmore and Williams in space.

Those disasters occurred partly because employees opinions werent heard or werent expressed to decision-makers. Starliner was ultimately grounded because a group of engineers disagreed on how risky itd be to fly the crew home.

We made the decision to have an uncrewed flight based on what we knew at the time and based on our knowledge of the thrusters, and based on the modeling that we had, Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said after Starliner returned to Earth in September. If wed had a model that would have predicted what we saw tonight perfectly, yeah, it looks like an easy decision to go say we could have had a crewed flight. But we didnt have that.
PARIS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- When Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term as U.S. president earlier this month, Europeans were plunged into a collective sense of anxiety.

This anxiety stemmed not only from the new U.S. administration's potential impact on transatlantic relations but also from a deeper identity crisis among Europeans, exacerbated by a lack of strategic autonomy.

ANXIOUS CONTINENT

When the U.S. Republican Party nominated Trump as its presidential candidate in 2024, France's Prospective and Innovation Foundation held a geopolitical forum. During the event, a participant referenced the book "The Geopolitics of Emotion," which argues that three fundamental human emotions, namely fear, humiliation and hope, are reshaping the world.

According to the author, Asia embodies hope, many developing countries experience humiliation, and Europe stands as an example of fear.

In June 2021, then U.S. President Joe Biden attended the G7 summit in Cornwall, Britain, marking his first meeting with U.S. allies' leaders. During the summit, he declared, "America is back," to which French President Emmanuel Macron responded, "For how long?"

Europe has long feared the decline of its civilization, and the change of government in Washington has only intensified this anxiety.

In 2024, Macron delivered a significant speech on Europe's strategic autonomy, urging Europeans to be lucid and "recognize that our Europe is mortal. It can die. It all depends on the choices we make, and those choices need to be made now."

Last November, after the 2024 U.S. election results were announced, Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief for The Economist, said on social media X, "France is right."

MULTIFACETED FEARS

In terms of security, having supported Ukraine for three years, Europe fears the new U.S. administration's abandonment or a peace agreement reached with Russia without Europe's involvement.

Prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on his X account, "Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over."

For Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, acting president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), Tusk's remarks revealed the severity of the situation.

On the economic front, Europe fears the U.S. tariff stick.

"From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly," said Trump in a virtual address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, adding, "And we're going to do something about it."

Ian Lesser, a political analyst at the GMF, said Trump's tariff threats are real and that Europe is far from ready.

"They're not prepared, no one really is. This very different approach to global trade upsets many cornerstones of the international economy, which has evolved over decades," he told the BBC.

Politically, Europe remains wary of U.S. interference.

U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, Trump's close ally, has frequently commented on the political affairs of many European countries on his social media platform X, including publicly supporting Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party on many occasions.

What's more, Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland has sounded alarm bells across Europe, underscoring significant tensions between the United States and its European allies.

This controversy, which centers on Greenland's sovereignty, has drawn widespread opposition from European leaders and fuelled concerns about Trump's motivations, as well as the future of transatlantic relations.

Talking about the new U.S. administration, former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin said Europe's compromises in the face of all sorts of deals with the United States would not bring itself any benefit.

Speaking to French media on the day of Trump's inauguration, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the world has re-entered an era of "might makes right" and Europe needs to be tough and seize all the attributes of its power to defend its interests.

CALL FOR SELF-AWAKENING

It's high time that Europe stood up for itself, shook off its fear and engaged in some intensive self-awakening, experts said, adding that the remedy to Europe's fear is to reclaim its capacity of making its own decisions while acting independently.

As Macron said in his New Year speech to the French army, "Let's therefore make this need for autonomy an opportunity for a European strategic awakening."

Last week, Macron and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need for a stronger and more united Europe to address emerging global challenges.

"It's up to the Europeans, and to our two countries, to consolidate a united, strong and sovereign Europe," Macron said during a joint press conference following their meeting. 
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the Baltic Sea has been the scene of a string of incidents involving damage to key energy and communications lines.

In the latest incident, an undersea cable between Latvia and Sweden was severed on January 26 amid suspicions that the incident was an act of sabotage, stoking fears of interference and putting a spotlight on Moscow's so-called shadow fleet.

Swedish authorities boarded the Bulgarian-owned vessel that was sailing from Russia and later launched a sabotage investigation into the ship's actions. Both Riga and Stockholm have said the damage to the undersea data cable was likely the result of external interference.

This follows other recent episodes where undersea pipelines and cables were damaged by ships traveling to or from Russian ports.

In December, an oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet was suspected of damaging undersea links off the coast of Finland with a loose anchor. A month earlier, a Chinese ship was involved in a separate incident. Another Chinese ship traveling from Russia also damaged a Baltic gas pipeline in October 2023.

While investigations are ongoing, the incidents have raised alarm among European governments that Moscow could be targeting undersea infrastructure as part of a broader campaign of hybrid attacks.

"It's highly unlikely to have four incidents like this in a row. That's a pattern," said Frank Juris, a Tallinn-based fellow at the Sinopsis think tank.

A New Normal In The Baltic Sea

The recent incident highlights rising tensions in the Baltic Sea since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Following the cable damage in December, the European Union threatened new sanctions against Moscow and NATO launched a new patrol and surveillance operation.

The incident was blamed on an oil tanker from Russia's shadow fleet -- which is made up of ships without clear ownership that carry embargoed Russian oil products.

While the international spotlight has focused on Russia's use of the shadow fleet to circumvent Western sanctions, the ranks of such ships have also swelled beyond tankers.

EU governments have warned about the increasing maritime risks involving these Russian vessels.

Earlier in January, a dilapidated ship loaded with 100,000 tons of oil said to be part of Russia's shadow fleet was stuck adrift off Germany's northern coast.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock blamed Moscow at the time, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of going around sanctions and threatening European security by "ruthlessly deploying a fleet of rusty tankers."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the new Baltic mission would involve more patrol aircraft, warships, and drones. He added there was "reason for grave concern" over infrastructure damage, adding that NATO would respond by boarding and even potentially seizing vessels in future incidents.

German prosecutors are also still investigating the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany that occurred in September 2022.

What Comes Next?

Swedish authorities have said that they will be working closely with their Latvian counterparts to investigate potential sabotage, but attributing such incidents has proved difficult.

While Moscow's denials of responsibility for the incidents have so far been greeted with skepticism by European officials -- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the November damage an act of "sabotage" and Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the December incident was linked to Russia -- the investigations remain open.

Alexander Kalchev, the CEO of Navibulgar, the Bulgarian shipping giant that owns the ship seized by Swedish authorities said in a January 27 statement that it's possible that the vessel damaged the cable, but dismissed any deliberate sabotage, saying that the ship was caught in "extremely bad weather" and dragged its anchor along the seafloor.

The Chinese government provided a similar explanation when it notified Finland and Estonia nearly a year after the October 2023 incident involving a Chinese ship that damaged an undersea pipeline after dragging its anchor for several hundred nautical miles.

Most experts say that a ship dropping anchor and dragging it along the seafloor for an extended distance would be noticeable for a crew and push a ship off course.

"Dragging an anchor for such a long time seems highly unlikely to go unnoticed and to happen over an extended period," said Juris.

EU member states are expected to begin discussions over a new round of sanctions against Russia later this week, which will mark the bloc's 16th sanctions package since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Two EU officials told RFE/RL that 20 to 30 new ships believed to be in Russia's shadow fleet could be added to Brussels' sanctions list, among other measures.

The EU has already sanctioned more than 70 alleged shadow fleet ships. Both the United States and Britain also introduced new sanctions on January 10 against 180 ships believed to be part of the fleet.
Trump Warns Russia Of Sanctions As Moscow Considers Cease-Fire Deal



US President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to a 30-day cease-fire, warning he would slap additional sanctions on the country if it refused the US proposal, as Moscow made more gains on the battlefield.



"Russia has no way out but cease-fire. If needed we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 12.



"In a financial sense we can do very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia, but I don't want to," he said.



His comments come a day after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.



Trump has made ending Russia's more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, quickly dispatching his top officials to Moscow and Kyiv to prepare the groundwork for peace talks.



He has used Washington's significant leverage over Ukraine -- namely military aid and intelligence sharing -- to get Kyiv to agree to the cease-fire proposal, which if implemented, would leave almost 20 percent of the country in Russia's hands for the time being, at least.



But Trump lacks that type of leverage with Russia, which has navigated sweeping US and European sanctions placed on its economy following the invasion much better than most experts forecasted.

Putin may seek to drag out talks with the US over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal.

As Trump spoke at the White House, Putin was visiting troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing.

Ukraine seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip during any peace talks.

That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russians forces have retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine.

Putin's visit to Kursk was his first since the incursion and signals the momentum Russia has in that theater of the war. The Kremlin leader urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."

Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha, the largest town in the part of the region that Ukraine occupied.

Unconfirmed reports on March 12 indicated that Ukraine has begun to draw back units as Russian officials claimed their troops had captured more settlements, including Sudzha.

"Despite increased pressure from the Russian and North Korean forces, we will maintain the defense of the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.

In a Facebook post, Syrskiy said that saving soldiers lives is a priority and that Ukrainian troops "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used top describe a retreat.

Concessions?

Trump hinted that Ukraine would have to make concessions on land, something more and more experts say is inevitable given Russia's momentum on the battlefield.

"When we talk cease-fire [with Ukraine], we talked land, who's withdrawing -- we discussed a lot of things [with Ukraine]," Trump said.

"We don't want to waste time, people are dying. Russia is not in the best situation now. I hope [Putin] gets a cease-fire."

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the cease-fire proposal and said he hoped it would be used as a draft for a lasting peace deal that included security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It's now up to Russia what is next," he said at a March 12 press conference, and whether "it wants to continue its aggression against Ukraine or not."

On the streets of Kyiv, some Ukrainians told RFE/RL's Current Time that they doubted whether Russia would sign on to, and adhere to, a cease-fire deal.

"I'm not sure what to say, but it all seems implausible, frankly speaking," said one Kyiv man, while a woman in the capital said the cease-fire talks were "meaningless without Russia taking part."

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire, and it's unclear whether Putin has made up his mind on the agreement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was "carefully studying" the joint US-Ukraine statement issued following the Jeddah talks and will wait to comment until Russian negotiators receive more detailed information from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented the United States at the talks, said Washington "will have contact with Russians" today.

Trump on March 11 said he would soon speak with Putin to secure his commitment. Mike Waltz, the White House national-security adviser, spoke with his Russian counterpart on March 12, while Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Moscow, possibly to meet Putin.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe held a phone call with Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, late on March 11, the Interfax news agency reported.

Rubio told reporters on March 12 in first comments since leaving the talks in Jeddah that the United States hoped to have a positive answer from Russia toward the cease-fire deal and "strongly urge[s] Russians to end all hostilities.

Konstantin Kosachev, an influential lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, seemed to imply that Moscow would not simply accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal but attach conditions, taking into account that Russian forces have the momentum on the battlefield.

"Russia is advancing, and therefore it will be different with Russia," Kosachyov said in a Telegram post.

"Any agreements (with all understanding of the need for compromise) will be on our terms, not American," he said. "And this is not boasting, but an understanding that real agreements are still being written there, on the front line. Which Washington should also understand."

Rubio also said Ukraine will need a strong deterrent to prevent future attacks and that Europeans will "need to be involved in this regard." He added that further discussions would need to tackle to topic of the European Union lifting sanctions on the Russian economy.

"I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, they will raise these European sanctions that have been imposed upon them," Rubio said.

Moscow has so far been against a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position during an interview with three right-wing US bloggers that it will under no conditions accept the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine.

Minerals Deal

Washington and Kyiv could sign a framework agreement as early as this week on sharing the revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources.

Trump and Zelenskyy intended to sign the deal during their meeting at the Oval Office on February 28. However, the two got into a heated, public exchange over security guarantees for Ukraine and the meeting was abruptly ended without any deal.

Rubio cautioned that he "would not couch [the] minerals deal as a security guarantee." But he added that "if the United States has a vested economic interest thats generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, wed have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened."

The parade of comments come after Russia and Ukraine traded air attacks overnight just hours after Kyiv agreed to accept the cease-fire proposal.

Two Russian missile strikes hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on March 12, killing one person, while a separate attack killed four crew members of a cargo ship near the southern port city of Odesa.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air-defense systems shot down six drones overnight on March 12, one over Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea and five over the Black Sea. The Krymsky Veter Telegram channel reported loud explosions and air-raid sirens over Crimean towns and near Russian military sites.

The United States announced after the talks in Saudi Arabia that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and restore military aid to Ukraine, which could be a boost to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region.
Turkmenistans heavily censored newspapers contain little actual news, leading people to find alternative uses for them.

In the past, that has included using the state dailies -- dominated by praise of President Serdar Berdymukhammedov and his father, ex-President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov -- as toilet paper, and to wrap objects in and start a fire with.

Now, the authorities are forcing state employees to sign a written pledge promising to safeguard the pages in newspapers and magazines featuring photographs of the ruling family, according to multiple state employees who signed the document.

Public employees and students are often forced to pay for subscriptions to state newspapers in the impoverished and authoritarian Central Asian country, where the free press is effectively banned.

A civil servant in the western Balkan Province who spoke to RFE/RLs Turkmen Service on condition of anonymity said state employees in his city were ordered since the New Year not to soil state newspapers.

To monitor compliance, the authorities have said they could print QR codes on each page of newspapers. That would allow them to trace littered pages to individual subscribers, according to another civil servant in Balkan.

Now were even afraid to let the children touch the newspapers at home. If a small child tears or ruins the presidents photo and discards it somewhere in the street, we risk losing our jobs, said the state employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

Few state employees read the newspapers they are forced to subscribe to, and instead use them around the house or at work.

Using newspapers to line old shoes is popular during the wetter months. Given the low purchasing power of the population, newspapers are also regularly used in the bathroom.

No Bad News, Ever

Turkmenistan is consistently ranked by media watchdogs, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), among the worst countries in the world for press freedom.

The situation has not improved since Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, 67, handed the presidency to his now 43-year-old son Serdar in 2022. The older Berdymukhammedov is still regarded as the countrys ultimate decision-maker.

Independent media outlets are nonexistent in the country, where journalism amounts only to praise for the regime, according to RSF.

The government continues a relentless clampdown on dissent -- with critics being harassed, beaten, tortured, jailed, and even killed. Many others have been forced abroad into self-exile.

Last year, 35-year-old former RFE/RL reporter Hudaiberdy Allashov died last year after a long illness that his supporters say was brought on by pressure from the government due to his work.
US President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to a 30-day cease-fire, warning he would slap additional sanctions on the country if it refused the US proposal, as Moscow made more gains on the battlefield.



"Russia has no way out but cease-fire. If needed we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 12.



"In a financial sense we can do very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia, but I don't want to," he said.



His comments come a day after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.



Trump has made ending Russia's more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, quickly dispatching his top officials to Moscow and Kyiv to prepare the groundwork for peace talks.



He has used Washington's significant leverage over Ukraine -- namely military aid and intelligence sharing -- to get Kyiv to agree to the cease-fire proposal, which if implemented, would leave almost 20 percent of the country in Russia's hands for the time being, at least.



But Trump lacks that type of leverage with Russia, which has navigated sweeping US and European sanctions placed on its economy following the invasion much better than most experts forecasted.

Putin may seek to drag out talks with the US over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal.

As Trump spoke at the White House, Putin was visiting troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing.

Ukraine seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip during any peace talks.

That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russians forces have retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine.

Putin's visit to Kursk was his first since the incursion and signals the momentum Russia has in that theater of the war. The Kremlin leader urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."

Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha, the largest town in the part of the region that Ukraine occupied.

Unconfirmed reports on March 12 indicated that Ukraine has begun to draw back units as Russian officials claimed their troops had captured more settlements, including Sudzha.

"Despite increased pressure from the Russian and North Korean forces, we will maintain the defense of the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.

In a Facebook post, Syrskiy said that saving soldiers lives is a priority and that Ukrainian troops "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used top describe a retreat.

Concessions?

Trump hinted that Ukraine would have to make concessions on land, something more and more experts say is inevitable given Russia's momentum on the battlefield.

"When we talk cease-fire [with Ukraine], we talked land, who's withdrawing -- we discussed a lot of things [with Ukraine]," Trump said.

"We don't want to waste time, people are dying. Russia is not in the best situation now. I hope [Putin] gets a cease-fire."

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the cease-fire proposal and said he hoped it would be used as a draft for a lasting peace deal that included security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It's now up to Russia what is next," he said at a March 12 press conference, and whether "it wants to continue its aggression against Ukraine or not."

On the streets of Kyiv, some Ukrainians told RFE/RL's Current Time that they doubted whether Russia would sign on to, and adhere to, a cease-fire deal.

"I'm not sure what to say, but it all seems implausible, frankly speaking," said one Kyiv man, while a woman in the capital said the cease-fire talks were "meaningless without Russia taking part."

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire, and it's unclear whether Putin has made up his mind on the agreement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was "carefully studying" the joint US-Ukraine statement issued following the Jeddah talks and will wait to comment until Russian negotiators receive more detailed information from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented the United States at the talks, said Washington "will have contact with Russians" today.

Trump on March 11 said he would soon speak with Putin to secure his commitment. Mike Waltz, the White House national-security adviser, spoke with his Russian counterpart on March 12, while Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Moscow, possibly to meet Putin.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe held a phone call with Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, late on March 11, the Interfax news agency reported.

Rubio told reporters on March 12 in first comments since leaving the talks in Jeddah that the United States hoped to have a positive answer from Russia toward the cease-fire deal and "strongly urge[s] Russians to end all hostilities.

Konstantin Kosachev, an influential lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, seemed to imply that Moscow would not simply accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal but attach conditions, taking into account that Russian forces have the momentum on the battlefield.

"Russia is advancing, and therefore it will be different with Russia," Kosachyov said in a Telegram post.

"Any agreements (with all understanding of the need for compromise) will be on our terms, not American," he said. "And this is not boasting, but an understanding that real agreements are still being written there, on the front line. Which Washington should also understand."

Rubio also said Ukraine will need a strong deterrent to prevent future attacks and that Europeans will "need to be involved in this regard." He added that further discussions would need to tackle to topic of the European Union lifting sanctions on the Russian economy.

"I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, they will raise these European sanctions that have been imposed upon them," Rubio said.

Moscow has so far been against a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position during an interview with three right-wing US bloggers that it will under no conditions accept the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine.

Minerals Deal

Washington and Kyiv could sign a framework agreement as early as this week on sharing the revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources.

Trump and Zelenskyy intended to sign the deal during their meeting at the Oval Office on February 28. However, the two got into a heated, public exchange over security guarantees for Ukraine and the meeting was abruptly ended without any deal.

Rubio cautioned that he "would not couch [the] minerals deal as a security guarantee." But he added that "if the United States has a vested economic interest thats generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, wed have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened."

The parade of comments come after Russia and Ukraine traded air attacks overnight just hours after Kyiv agreed to accept the cease-fire proposal.

Two Russian missile strikes hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on March 12, killing one person, while a separate attack killed four crew members of a cargo ship near the southern port city of Odesa.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air-defense systems shot down six drones overnight on March 12, one over Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea and five over the Black Sea. The Krymsky Veter Telegram channel reported loud explosions and air-raid sirens over Crimean towns and near Russian military sites.

The United States announced after the talks in Saudi Arabia that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and restore military aid to Ukraine, which could be a boost to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region.
Student activists returned to the streets on January 28 after several other protesters were attacked the previous night. One victim was hospitalized and four suspects were arrested over the violence. The attacks on protesters, which followed months of demonstrations over a deadly infrastructure collapse, prompted Serbia's prime minister and the mayor of Novi Sad to resign.
This photo taken on Oct. 19, 2024 shows the scenery of Nuuk, capital of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory. (Photo by Luo Yizhou/Xinhua)

Denmark has unveiled plans to bolster its military presence in the Arctic amid rising concerns over the U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland, a Danish-owned territory.

HELSINKI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Denmark has unveiled plans to bolster its military presence in the Arctic amid rising concerns over the U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland, a Danish-owned territory.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced late Monday that the government will allocate 14.6 billion Danish krona (approximately 2 billion U.S. dollars) to boost the defence of Greenland, Arctic Sea and Northern Atlantic. The decision follows an agreement among Danish political parties.

The plans will include three new arctic naval vessels and two long-range drones, increased surveillance and crisis training for the local residents. Poulsen said in a press conference that these preparations are just the initial phase, with further plans expected to be finalized by summer.

This photo taken on Oct. 19, 2024 shows the floating ice near Nuuk, capital of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory. (Photo by Luo Yizhou/Xinhua)

According to Danish Broadcasting Corporation, the new vessels would enter service within five or six years, expected to replace existing vessels.

When questioned about whether these measures would "calm down" U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in Greenland, Poulsen refrained from a direct response, underlining the importance of co-operation with NATO allies, including Canada, the United States and Norway.

President Trump has recently reiterated the U.S. interest in Greenland, which remains an autonomous area under Danish sovereignty.

Referring to an upcoming meeting on Tuesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Europe is in a serious situation. "With war on the continent and changes in the geopolitical reality. In such a time, unity is crucial." 
BELGRADE -- As fireworks lit up the night sky to welcome in the new year, thousands of people in Serbia's capital stood in complete silence, many with their mobile phones raised skyward.

They weren't celebrating -- they were mourning -- and they held their vigil for 15 minutes, one minute for each of the victims of the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad in November. The protesters repeat this every day at 11:52 a.m., the exact time the roof collapsed.

It's the type of dramatic symbolism that has come to define Serbia's largest protests since the fall of late Yugoslav and Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. And after claiming the scalp of the prime minister on January 28 and possibly forcing new elections, the student-led protests show no signs of fizzling out.

With the protesters' average age around 20, this is a generation that has grown up under the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vucic.

For the students taking to the streets in their tens of thousands, the Novi Sad tragedy is emblematic of everything they believe is wrong in Serbia: widespread institutional corruption, a lack of accountability, and a technocratic class who are perceived to have risen only due to their ties to Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party.

"I don't understand why it isn't obvious that 15 people just shouldn't die from a falling canopy, without any natural disaster," Darija, a student protester, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "This should not happen. Those responsible must be found and it must be established why it happened."

The students haven't just grown up with Vucic; they've also grown up with the Internet. Their flair for digital innovation and social media has enabled them to bypass state-controlled media and spread their message far and wide.

The signature of the movement has become the bloody red handprint, which represents the government's alleged culpability in the Novi Sad tragedy. The symbols have appeared on government buildings across Serbia and are painted on signs: "You Have Blood On Your Hands" and "Corruption -- Hands Up."

No Leaders, No Ideology

Serbian opposition parties have tried to join the demonstrations, but the protesters have rejected their advances. Many demonstrators see Serbia's opposition as compromised, little more than stooges for the state.

"Young people are clearly not satisfied with the political space in Serbia," anthropologist Ivan Djordjevic told RFE/RL, "and do not recognize themselves in any of the offered political options."

What the protesters say they want is not political power but accountability and justice within a corrupt system.

The publication of all the documentation related to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station is their top priority. They are also demanding a 20 percent increase in higher education funding, the dismissal of the charges against student protesters, and the prosecution and removal from public office of those who attacked students and professors.

"I want everyone to have space to express themselves, as long as we stick to basic values such as the rule of law, respect for human and minority rights, solidarity, and empathy," protester Emilija Milenkovic, a student at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, told RFE/RL.

That focus on values means the movement has no leaders and no official ideology. Decisions at rallies and in university faculties are made through "plenums" -- open assemblies where all participants have an equal right to speak and vote on decisions.

This structure, experts say, makes the movement harder to attack as there are no figureheads to criticize or jail. The open organization also makes it more accessible to people of different political stripes.

"At every faculty there are so many opinions, attitudes, political and ideological [views], and I have never seen so many ideological differences at any blockade," protester Milenkovic told RFE/RL.

Broad Reach

But this ideological diversity is also something the movement has grappled with.

At a January protest, some demonstrators held banners showing a map of Kosovo filled with a Serbian flag, with the words: No Surrender.

The student movement distanced itself from these elements, releasing a statement saying such displays "are not in line with our values and goals." Other symbols have been seen by some protesters as controversial -- a widely shared video went viral of men taking down an EU flag.

There is, however, an abundance of Serbian flags. "These children perceive Serbia as their home," said Djordjevic. "For them, love for their country is...something much less questionable than for the generations that preceded them, like mine, especially because of the rise of nationalism in the 1990s and what was done in the name of this country."

For young Serbs, staying in their homeland is not easy, despite their love for their country. Youth unemployment is high, and many young people feel there is no other option than to find work abroad.

According to a 2019 UNDP report, "Serbia is among the world's 10 fastest-shrinking populations due to its low birth rates, high out-migration, and low immigration."

"The flag of Serbia is a symbol of our country and also what we are fighting for," said Milenkovic. "It is a message that we do not want to leave this country and, ultimately, that this fight is an act of patriotism."

Serbia has a history of significant student-led movements. In the 1990s, students were at the forefront of protests against Milosevic's authoritarian rule.

One of the biggest student protests in modern Serbian history took place in 19961997 over election fraud, which paved the way for Milosevic's eventual overthrow in 2000.

This latest movement has spread rapidly, not just within Belgrade but to the second-and third-largest cities of Novi Sad and Nis, four state universities, and dozens of secondary schools. Striking teachers and farmers have also shown their solidarity with the students.

Anica, a third-year student at Belgrade's Faculty of Philology, said she is glad the students' message is reaching more people.

"While we were walking...I saw a grandmother holding a banner saying, 'Students, Thank You'. That stayed with me. There are so many people with us. These 15 minutes of absolute silence have showed we can do it peacefully and without any incidents," Anica said.
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

The Hybrid War

Another undersea cable was severed in the Baltic Sea, this time between Latvia and Sweden, prompting Swedish authorities to board and seize the vessel that was sailing from Russia amid sabotage fears, as I reported here.

This comes as similar incidents damaging undersea cables have recently affected Taiwan, with suspicions there turned toward China.

Finding Perspective: The spate of incidents highlights growing tensions in both the Baltic Sea and across the Taiwan Strait.

The investigation into the January 26 incident in the Baltic has just begun, but the episode is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the Baltic Sea in which critical seabed energy and communications lines have been damaged.

In December, an oil tanker linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet was suspected of damaging undersea links with a loose anchor. A month earlier, a Chinese ship was involved in a separate incident. A Chinese-flagged ship traveling from Russia also damaged a Baltic gas pipeline in October 2023.

Off the coast of Taiwan, an undersea data cable was damaged on January 3 and Taipei suspects China. Beijing has denied this, but Taiwanese officials say this is part of an uptick of similar episodes in recent years.

Taipei is also looking to learn from the experiences in the Baltic. The Financial Times reported that Taiwan's Coast Guard has now drawn up a blacklist of 52 Chinese-owned ships that Taipei says are part of Beijing's own "shadow fleet" and officials have also devised plans to board them.

Why It Matters: Analysts say the hybrid tactics are worrisome because they're often seen as a way to wear down and test the responses of an adversary as a precursor for a wider conflict.

While there is no smoking gun that connects Beijing and Moscow in what they're doing in Europe and Asia, the two are increasingly linked by a partnership whose main bond is their desire to change the global order.

As I reported here with my colleague Sashko Shevchenko from our reporting trip to Taiwan, China and Russia also appear to be taking lessons from one another.

"There shouldn't be any doubt that Russia is behind these incidents in the Baltic," Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's former foreign minister, told me. "For China, there is no clear attribution, but if it wanted to build up pressure on Taiwan through a shadow war by cutting cables, there are lessons to learn about that from Moscow."

As Sashko and I also reported in Taiwan, the self-governing island is currently preparing for U.S. President Donald Trump's second term and is watching Washington's handling of the war in Ukraine for signals about what Trump 2.0 will mean for Taiwan.

Looking back at the hybrid tactics being used in the Baltic and around Taiwan, Chiu Chui-cheng, the minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, told us that "we don't see these as accidents, we see them as strategy."

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Could China Play A Role In Ending The War In Ukraine?

As Trump looks to end the war in Ukraine, could Beijing play a role in helping bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table?

The Details: It's a question that's been around since the early days of Moscow's full-scale invasion but has largely gone nowhere amid China's diplomatic and material support for Russia.

It came up again last week as Trump looks to leverage his personal relationship with Putin and meet face-to-face. As I reported here, Trump has also talked up sanctions and mixed in criticism of Putin while saying they can strike a deal.

The U.S. president then called for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to play a larger role in bringing the war to an end, telling reporters on January 21 that he's pressed Xi on the topic during a phone call, and that he has "a lot ofpower, like we have a lot of power" to end the war but that "he's not done very much on that."

2. Chinese Christian Sect Finds A Foothold in Romania

The Church of Almighty God, one of China's largest Christian sects, is finding followers all over the world and making new headway in Romania, where the group's online efforts are drawing new converts to its controversial teachings and helping to grow its presence across Central and Eastern Europe.

What You Need To Know: My colleague Simona Carlugea from RFE/RL's Romanian Service tracked the group and its growing online presence, where it is preaching in Romanian through virtual sermons to tens -- and even hundreds -- of thousands of group members.

The Church of Almighty God (CAG), also known as Eastern Lightning, claims millions of followers worldwide but has been labeled a "cult" and persecuted inside China.

Founded in 1989 in northeastern China by Zhao Weishan, a former physics teacher, the church is fixated on doomsday scenarios and holds that Christ has returned to Earth as a Chinese woman.

Arrests and alleged torture inside China have pushed much of the group abroad, where it has looked to find new converts.

3. U.S.-China Tech Race Heating Up

Less than two weeks after it looked like the Chinese-owned app TikTok was set to close in the United States, China has upped the artificial intelligence (AI) race by launching DeepSeek, which matches other market leaders for a fraction of the cost.

What It Means: As I wrote after Trump said he'd issue an executive order to extend the period for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer, the tech race between Beijing and Washington is just heating up.

DeepSeek's emergence represents something of a Sputnik moment for China. Five of the biggest technology stocks geared to AI -- chipmaker Nvidia and so-called hyperscalers Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms -- collectively shed almost $750 billion of market value before U.S. markets opened on January 27.

That could carry over into other areas of the tech competition as well, particularly for semiconductors and chip giant Nvidia if it proves true that DeepSeek was able to reach its heights without use of the company's most-advanced chips.

Across The Supercontinent

A Shakeup In Serbia: Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned following weeks of mass protests demanding accountability for a deadly accident in Novi Sad where the collapse of a concrete canopy killed 15 people at the northern city's rail station.



Critics have blamed rampant government corruption for the tragedy, and some have taken aim at opaque contracts with Chinese construction companies that renovated and rebuilt parts of the station.

Serbian authorities said Chinese firms did not replace the roof that collapsed and that the contracts will not be publicly disclosed due to secrecy provisions in the deals.

Taiwan Chip Tariffs: Trump said on January 27 that he plans to impose tariffs on imported chips, pharmaceuticals, and steel in an effort to get producers to make them in the United States as he took aim at industry leader Taiwan.

The island is home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), and is a key link in the global technology supply chain for companies such as Apple and Nvidia.

New Delhi to Beijing: India and China have agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries after nearly five years, the latest sign of a rapprochement after high tensions over a deadly border dispute.

One Thing To Watch

A top Chinese official on January 27 denied suggestions from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency that the COVID-19 pandemic was triggered by the virus leaking from a lab.

The CIA issued a new public assessment about COVID just two days after former Republican lawmaker John Ratcliffe was sworn in as its new director. That assessment was issued with "low confidence" but it adds to lingering suspicions over the virus' origins and presents another flashpoint for tensions to rise between the United States and China.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here.
by Xinhua writers Chen Shuo and Hu Huhu

URUMQI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- In multi-ethnic Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, dance is a lingua franca. A carpet, a speaker and an open space are enough to set the stage. Regardless of gender or age, once there is a rhythm, the dance begins.

Such gatherings are common even in the snowy season in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, on the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau.

Sunset comes a bit late in Xinjiang, the westernmost region in China. At 9 p.m., at a hotel in the heart of the county, the festivities are just about to begin. The hostess, a young lady named Gulinama Ailaiti, begins by showing some traditional hats and clothing, introducing the guests to Taxkorgan's rich folk customs and the county's modern developments.

She then proceeds to explain the Tajik people's traditional methods of greeting -- kissing the hands and cheeks -- which visitors may find useful in their initial contacts with strangers. After a brief demonstration, the guests eagerly mimic the gestures, turning awkwardness into laughter.

As the sound of the eagle flute fills the air, young hotel employees take the lead in lifting the atmosphere with a performance of the eagle dance.

To the local people, the eagle symbolizes honesty, kindness, bravery and strength. Folk songs and stories about the bird of prey are shared widely among the Tajik people. The eagle flute is a musical instrument fashioned from the wing bone of an eagle, and has a history of over 1,600 years. The eagle dance, meanwhile, is a listed item of national intangible cultural heritage.

Dilbar Jabil and his colleagues from the hotel's housekeeping department gracefully extend their arms and sway to the rhythm, imitating a swooping eagle. Suddenly, they alter their posture -- heads held high, chests out -- as if the eagle is soaring into the clouds.

The tourists are astonished by the mesmerizing performance. Some pull out their phones to capture the moment, while others, unable to contain their excitement, join in the dance.

As more people join, Gulinama Ailaiti swiftly switches the music to "Meshrep," a typical style of dance representing the unique culture of the Uygur ethnic group.

"The locals are warm and simple. Compared to performances in bars, this kind of dance party is more lively," said Li Peiyuan, a first-time visitor who traveled nearly 5,000 kilometers to Xinjiang from Hangzhou in east China.

The originally 40-minute dance has been extended to over two hours. Li enjoyed every minute, joining the fray excitedly.

By contrast, Dang Jianzhou, who has been engaging in the tourism sector in Taxkorgan for half a year, danced with a more relaxed demeanor.

"The place where we're dancing is in the style of Taxkorgan's traditional dwellings," Dang said.

Noting that the county's rich cultural and tourism resources have provided tremendous opportunities, he said the hotel where he works has even hosted tourists from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Taxkorgan boasts stunning plateau scenery, profound historical and cultural heritage, and rich folk customs, making it an attractive tourist destination. Data from the county's cultural and tourism department shows that the county welcomed 1.36 million visitors in 2023, and the number increased to 1.92 million in 2024, with about 80 percent coming from outside Xinjiang. By the end of 2024, the county had 91 hotels and 602 guesthouses, more than half opened within the past two years.

Now, strolling on the streets of Taxkorgan, tourists are presented with an abundant choice of delicacies: cuisine from across China, Western fast food and Pakistani delicacies. The booming tourism has also given young locals more options in life.

Abdulaziz Mamut, 29, dances with a shy smile beneath a cap. The graduate from the Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational and Technical University now works at a hotel's catering department.

The journey from Abdulaziz Mamut's home in Reskam Village to the county takes four to five hours over mountain roads, which are covered in snow and ice all year round. "Compared to my school days, the asphalt roads and tunnels have made the journey much easier," he said.

As the night deepens, the guests' spirits remain undiminished. At last, Gulinama Ailaiti reluctantly turns off the music, and everyone -- both hosts and visitors -- agrees to gather again on the morrow. 
Olivia Kelleher

A former Fianna Fail councillor has appeared in court charged with the harassment of a female.

Joseph ODonovan, formerly known as Gary OFlynn, appeared before Cork District Court on Wednesday charged with one count of harassment. The alleged offence occurred on three dates between July 30th and August 6th, 2022 .

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

The DPP has directed summary disposal of the matter.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer made an application for statements in the case which was granted.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case to March 12th next.

Mr O'Donovan, with an address at Melvindale House, Coolowen, Blarney, Co Cork, was remanded on bail until his next court appearance. Judge Dorgan will decide whether she will accept jurisdiction in the case on the next occasion.

Mr ODonovan (49) is the son of former TD, Noel OFlynn, who served in the constituency of Cork North Central from 1997 until his retirement in 2011. He recenty returned to politics at council level.

Joseph ODonovan, when he was known as Gary OFlynn, was a sitting councillor in Cork city from 2003 to 2008.

He took his fathers old seat on the council in 2003 when the dual mandate ban came in to force. He concluded his political career five years later with his seat going to his brother, Ken, who recently became an Independent Ireland TD in Cork North Central.

Noel OFlynn has taken up the city council seat vacated by his son Ken.
A Ukrainian woman has been lauded for her contribution to the community through her health and wellbeing classes, with one of her class members describing her as the most wonderful character with frank honesty and stylish flair.

Galyna Maiorova, better known as GG, fled Kyiv for Ireland in March of 2022 with her two children, Philip (8) and Evgeniya (4), as tension between Russia and Ukraine came to a boiling point.

Three years on from the life-changing moment of the Russian invasion for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, GG and her daughter have settled into Irish life (Philip returned home to live with family in Ukraine).

She now runs highly praised step aerobics and yoga classes from the Old Mill in Castlerea with up to 22 people attending her classes at a time and some members losing up to 15kg after just a month of attending classes.

GG was a fully qualified barrister in her home country, but between the retraining period and the language barrier, she had little interest in pursuing her profession in Ireland.

Instead she wanted to turn her focus to her new passion of fitness. She had earned various certificates in Ukraine, qualifying her as a fitness instructor.

Wellbeing and fitness instructor GG testing her strengths with a plank.

Local gyms reached out to her with employment opportunities but she could not commit to a full time job because of childcare. Instead she and her partner, Raimonds, got a good deal on a unit at the Old Mill from where she hosts her classes and Raimonds runs his IT repairs business.

Casting her mind back to March of 2022, she described how their lives were changed forever in a matter of weeks.

It was a crazy experience. It was two weeks non-stop and after that we decided to move. We could just take one bag, 20kg. So it was all for the children and one pair of jeans for myself. It was the first time in my life I had everything, but I couldnt take it.

Upon arriving in Ireland, she and her children lived with a family in Tibohine for their first six weeks, before moving to Ballaghaderreen for nine months. She now resides in Frenchpark.

What stood out for her was the kindness of the people within the county.

A lot of people came to me and gave me something, it was like a queue to the house, we want to help. I started to be better and better every day because of the people.

Raimonds moved to Ireland from Latvia in 2008 and works as an IT specialist, which is how the pair first met. A neighbour of GGs in Tibohine put her in contact with Raimonds when her phone broke, on the understanding he was Polish, and the two may share a language.

As it happens Poland and Ukraine do not share the same secondary language, which disappointed GG, but when she realised he was Latvian they were able to communicate in their shared second language of Russian.

Despite living in the country for less than three years, GG has excellent English and her two children picked up the language even quicker than she did.

Most of GGs family still remain in Ukraine. Her brother, father and her grandmother, up until her passing in July, still live in Kyiv, with her sister living in the city of Zaporizhzhia/Zaporozhye in the Oblast region, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and suffered at least 57 civilian deaths due to Russian attacks in September and October of that year.

She said her familys mindset has been changed forever due to the war.

They can drive sometimes and see bombs very close. Its like a movie but its not a movie and they are very scared.

GG and Evgeniya returned to Kyiv for two weeks in August so Evgeniya could receive medical treatment, and she saw first-hand for the first time the impact the war had on her family.

There was a loud bang on the door somewhere and everyone ducked and I was like its just a door, but thats their minds, when you could see something terrible. I think they will never be fine now, never get right after something like that, but hopefully it will stop.

During their two weeks back in Kyiv they had no power, which made for uncomfortable conditions in the 40 degree plus heat with no air conditioning. Food was also scarce as nothing could be refrigerated and there was a military curfew in place at 11 p.m. every night.

We were on the eighth floor, no electricity, no chargers and you just sit in darkness and hear the sirens. It was the worst day for Evgeniya, she couldnt eat or drink and she couldnt understand why.

Raimonds pointed out that GGs family can now differentiate between the different types of Russian bombs, using the Kiznhal ballistic missile as an example, comparing their noise to screamers released at Halloween.

In her new life in Ireland, GG appreciates how relaxed the people are here. The moment she returned from Kyiv to Ireland in August proved to her she had found her new home.

After we arrived to the airport in Ireland I saw a man working and thought Oh hes smiling!. Finally we are at home, she remarked.

If you are interested in attending any of GGs classes she can be contacted at 087 9579343, on her Facebook page Fitness & Wellbeing with GG or on Instagram @fitness_with_gg.
A community in South Roscommon has been left heartbroken with the loss of the parents of three young children, who passed away within eight months of each other.

Husband and wife Denise (49) and Gerry Collins (54) from Rooskey, Bealnamullia had both been battling serious health problems.

Denise passed away last week and was laid to rest in Drum Cemetery after Funeral Mass on Friday last while her husband Gerry (54) passed away in May of last year. Both were supported by Roscommon Hospice during their illness.

Denise (nee Finneran) was originally from Cornaseer, Kiltoom while Gerry was a native of Lisbrock, Brideswell. The couple are survived by their three children, Zoe (18), Mia (12) and Jay (11).

Mia and Jay attend Cloonakilla National School in Bealnamulla while Zoe is a Leaving Cert student at Colaiste Chiarain, Summerhill.

Family, friends and the local community have been left utterly heartbroken.

Tributes have poured in since Denises passing.

One mourner, extending condolences, said:" There are times in life when words just dont comfort those who are struggling in grief. Its hard to believe you have passed Denise, to your children, your Mammy & Daddy will be watching over you from Heaven.

Another sympathiser said: "Im so very heartbroken for Denise and Gerrys beautiful children. Its just so unbelievably cruel that you have had to endure such loss in your young lives. Im so very sorry for your loss x."

Such a sad story," said another. "As part of the Cloonakilla school community, we are deeply saddened by the loss of both parents for these young kids. We will keep the family in our prayers. RIP Denise and Gerry.

An iDonate fundraising page called Friends of Denise and Gerry was set up last year to support the family. Link to the page is here

In a message on the page, the family said it wanted to express its deepest gratitude for all the love, support, and donations received over the past 12 months.

"Your kindness and generosity have meant the world to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," said the family.
After Diljit Dosanjh, PM Narendra Modi pitches in to invest in infrastructure for concert economy

Top artists from around the world are being attracted to India and asked both state and private sectors to invest

After Diljit Dosanjh, PM Narendra Modi pitches in for live concerts in India latest news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently pointed out the huge potential of India's concert economy, referring to the success of high-profile concerts like Diljit Dosanjh's India tour and Coldplay's shows in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Addressing the Utkarsh Odisha  Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, PM Modi underlined the opportunity to boost tourism, create jobs, and enhance India's global identity in the creative sector. He said that top artists from around the world are being attracted to India and asked both state and private sectors to invest in infrastructure for the concert economy, underlining its potential to generate revenue and employment.

Advertisement

PM Modi said that India has a rich heritage in its music, dance, and storytelling and numerous young people and a massive consumer base for concerts, presenting huge opportunities in the concert economy. He pointed out that there has been an immense trend and demand for live events over the last decade and even in recent times he said, like the Coldplay concerts.

The prime minister also announced that India will host the first ever World Audio-Visual Summit next month, which will brand the country with its creative power at the world level. He stressed the scale and speed at which specialized infrastructure is being built in the country, which makes it an attractive investment destination.

PM Modi also focuses on developing the dedicated shipment connecting the East and West coastlines and constructing dozens of industrial cities all over the country equipped with plug-and-play facilities. He stated that Odisha is also creating similar opportunities with significant investments in railway and highway network projects to reduce the logistics cost of industries in the state. The government is connecting Odisha's ports with industrial clusters and developing new ports. This makes Odisha stand in the forefront among the top states for the blue economy.

Advertisement

This includes creating a very strong supply and value chain within India by supporting MSMEs and start-ups and investing in research and innovation to drive industrial growth. He again urged support for related MSMEs, their growth, handholding, and providing support for young start-ups.

The prime minister added that no industry can grow without new technology, and research and innovation are essential. The government is building a vibrant ecosystem for research across the country, with a special fund created for this purpose. A special package has also been announced for internships and skill development, aiming to strengthen India's research ecosystem and directly benefit industries.

( For More News Apart From Modi's Vision : India as a Global Hub for Live Concerts stay updated to Rozana Spokesman )
India Canada Latest News: India Rejects Canada's claim of Election Interference

India turned the tables, accusing Canada of interfering in its own internal matters.

India Canada Latest News : India found itself in the spotlight after Canada accused it of interfere in its elections. However, India didn't take these allegations lightly and firmly denied any wrongdoing. In fact, India turned the tables, accusing Canada of interfering in its own internal matters.

According to the Canadian report, India, after China, was allegedly involved in interfering with Canada's 2021 elections, supposedly supporting certain candidates through proxy agents. But India shot down these claims, calling them baseless. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pointed out that Canada has been facilitating illegal migration and fostering organized crime, which is a much bigger issue.

Advertisement

The MEA stressed that India's diplomatic ties should not be dull with unfounded accusations. In the middle of this diplomatic row, relations between India and Canada continue to be tense, with both countries standing their ground.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Canadian report also noted the expulsion of six Indian diplomats in October 2024, accusing them of consuming in a campaign of violence. India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats, making it clear that targeting Indian officials was unacceptable.

This ongoing feud highlights the fragile relationship between India and Canada, with both nations accusing each other of interference and misdeeds. It's a complex situation that calls for careful diplomacy to mend the exhausted ties.

Advertisement

( For More News Apart From India Rejects Canada's claim of Election Interference, Fires Back at Canada Stay Updated To Rozana Spokesman )
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Acquitted in Faridkot Extortion Case Due to Lack of Evidence

Faridkot Police formally arrested Bishnoi in connection with the extortion case and produced him in court.

Lawrence Bishnoi Acquitted Latest News Today: In a major legal development, a Punjab court acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in a case involving an extortion demand 0of Rs 50 lakh from a textile businessman in Kotkapura. The verdict was delivered by Judicial Magistrate (JMIC) S. Sohi, citing a lack of sufficient evidence against Bishnoi.

The case was registered on July 19, 2021, at City Kotkapura police station, based on a complaint filed by the businessman. According to the complaint, gangster Goldie Brar, a known associate of Bishnoi, allegedly made a WhatsApp call to demand a50 lakh in extortion, threatening the businessmans family with dire consequences if the amount was not paid. While Bishnoi was arrested and investigated in connection with the case, Brar remains absconding.

Advertisement

No Concrete Evidence Against Bishnoi

Following the complaint, when Bishnoi was brought to Punjab in 2022 for questioning in another case, the Faridkot Police formally arrested him in connection with the extortion case and produced him in court. Subsequent hearings were conducted via video conferencing.

However, after reviewing the case details, the court ruled in Bishnois favor, citing the absence of direct evidence linking him to the crime. Bishnois defense lawyer, Amit Mittal, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating, "The court has accepted our arguments and ordered his acquittal due to insufficient evidence."

The case remains open against Goldie Brar, and authorities continue their search for him.

Advertisement

(For more news apart from Lawrence Bishnoi Acquitted Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Canada Acknowledges Terror Links, Admits Its Soil Used to Fund and Promote Terrorism in India

One of the key issues highlighted in the report is the differing perspectives of India and Canada on Khalistani supporters.

Canada Accepts Terror Links, Admits Its Soil Used to Fund Terrorism in India Latest News: In a groundbreaking revelation, a Canadian government agency has, for the first time, admitted that terrorism is being both orchestrated and funded from Canadian soil against India. The admission came in a seven-volume report submitted by the Foreign Interference Commission, an independent body investigating foreign influence within Canada.

Pages 98 and 99 of the fourth volume of the report, titled "The Governments Capacity to Detect, Deter, and Counter Foreign Interference," explicitly confirm Indias long-standing concerns. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed the commission that certain Khalistani militants based in Canada are actively involved in terrorism-related activities in India. Additionally, some individuals and groups in Canada are directly providing financial aid to terror outfits operating in India.

Advertisement

India-Canada Tensions Escalate Over Terrorism Issue

The report also reveals that while Canada has cooperated with India on counterterrorism efforts when concrete evidence has been provided, the persistent use of Canadian soil by Khalistani extremists remains a major point of contention in diplomatic ties between the two nations.

One of the key issues highlighted in the report is the differing perspectives of India and Canada on Khalistani supporters. While Canada claims that most Khalistan sympathizers in the country operate in a peaceful manner, India has maintained that separatist extremism cannot be overlooked. These differing definitions have further strained relations between the two countries.

Canadas Alleged Support for Khalistani Extremists

The Foreign Interference Commissions findings come after a 16-month-long investigation, during which multiple government officials, ministers, and intelligence agencies provided testimonies. The revelations reinforce earlier reportssuch as an exclusive November 2024 investigation by ABP Newswhich claimed that the Canadian government had provided shelter to more than 1,000 Khalistani extremists over the past three years.

Advertisement

As diplomatic tensions between India and Canada continue to rise, this admission is expected to trigger further debates over Canadas handling of Khalistani extremism and its impact on bilateral relations.

(For more news apart from Canada Accepts Terror Links, Admits Its Soil Used to Fund Terrorism in India Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
F-35 Fighter Jet Crashes at Alaska Base, Pilot Reported Safe

The F-35, known for its long-range capabilities, can fly for over 12 hours in a single mission.

Alaska Fighter Plane Crash Latest News Today: A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, causing significant damage to the aircraft. However, the pilot was safely transported to Bassett Army Hospital for medical evaluation.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:49 p.m. on the runway, though officials have yet to confirm whether the crash took place during takeoff or landing. Its still under investigation, so theyre trying to confirm all the details, said Staff Sgt. Kimberly Touchet, a spokesperson for Eielson Air Force Base.

Advertisement

Investigation Underway

Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, assured that a comprehensive probe would be conducted to determine the cause of the crash. Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and security. The U.S. Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation to minimize the chances of such occurrences in the future, he stated.

Eielson Air Base and F-35 Expansion

Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, was selected in 2016 as a host for 54 F-35 fighter jets. The expansion effort, costing over half a billion dollars, included the construction of 36 new buildings, additional housing units, and an influx of 3,500 active-duty personnel and their families.

The F-35, known for its long-range capabilities, can fly for over 12 hours in a single mission, allowing it to reach nearly any location in the Northern Hemisphere.

Advertisement

Previous F-35 Incidents

This crash marks another in a series of recent F-35 accidents. In May, an F-35 en route from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California crashed after a refueling stop in New Mexico, leaving the pilot seriously injured. Additionally, an October 2023 investigation found that a Marine pilot unnecessarily ejected from his aircraft, leading to an unmanned F-35 flying for 11 minutes before crashing in rural South Carolina.

Further details regarding the Alaska crash are expected following an official news briefing later today.

(For more news apart from Alaska Fighter Plane Crash Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman))
Trump Freezes $50 Million for Condoms in Gaza

DOGE and OMB found that nearly $50 million was about to be spent on condoms in Gaza. That's a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.

Trump Freezes $50 Million for Condoms in Gaza latest news: In a surprising move, US President Donald Trump has stopped $50 million in funding that was supposed to be used for condoms in Gaza. This announcement was made by US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during her first press briefing on Tuesday.

Leavitt explained that the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found out about this funding. She called it "preposterous" and said the government wants to use American taxpayer money wisely.

Advertisement

"DOGE and OMB found that nearly $50 million was about to be spent on condoms in Gaza. That's a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money. This pause is about being good stewards of tax dollars, Leavitt said.

Elon Musk, the leader of DOGE, also criticized the funding. He suggested that the money might have gone to Hamas instead of being used for condoms. He added, "Even if the money was used for condoms, we should not be spending US taxpayer money on condoms for foreigners."

During the same briefing, Leavitt was asked about Trump's decision to re-arrange the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). She agreed that the Houthis had attacked US naval ships and supported the decision to call them terrorists again. She also said that investigating why the previous administration removed the Houthis from the FTO list might be a good idea.

Advertisement

On January 22, Trump signed an Executive Order to re-designate Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This move reverses the Biden administration's decision to remove the Houthis from the FTO list in January 2021. The Executive Order aims to stop the Houthis from strengthening their financial network and reduce their capacity for violence.
MANILA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved a policy-based loan of 500 million U.S. dollars to provide the Philippines with quick access to financing in case of disasters triggered by natural hazards or health-related emergencies.

The ADB said the financing will support reforms to raise resilience and enable timely response and recovery efforts.

The Second Disaster Resilience Improvement Program is a multiyear contingent disaster financing program with an option to replenish the facility twice, upon approval by the ADB Board. Loan renewals are allowed if there will be unutilized amounts after the initial five-year period.

According to the World Risk Report 2024, the Philippines ranked as the highest in disaster risk out of 193 economies in 2024.

"The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia but is at high risk for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, rising sea levels, and flooding," said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran.

He said the program helps boost the country's capacity for reducing and managing disaster risk nationally and locally, including state-owned and controlled corporations, and attain long-term resilience to lessen the impact of disasters, especially to the most vulnerable sectors. 
Donald Trump Warns India, China, and Brazil Over Tariffs, Vows to Prioritize American Interests

Trumps remarks come amid speculation that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Washington next month.

US President Donald Trump Warning to India and China Latest News: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to India, China, and Brazil, labeling them as "tremendous tariff-makers" and vowing to impose stricter trade measures to safeguard American economic interests. Speaking at a House Republican retreat in Florida, Trump reiterated his "America First" stance, declaring, "We're not going to let that happen any longer because we're going to put America first."

Trump accused the three BRICS nations of implementing trade policies that harm the U.S. economy while prioritizing their own interests. "They mean us harm but they basically want to make their country good," he remarked, signaling his administration's intent to counter what he perceives as unfair trade practices.

Advertisement

Upcoming Modi-Trump Meeting?

Trumps remarks come amid speculation that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Washington next month. The two leaders recently had a phone conversation, though it remains unclear if trade policies and tariffs were discussed. Immigration-related matters reportedly featured in their talks, underscoring the evolving U.S.-India bilateral agenda.

Despite India being a key U.S. trading partner, Trump has frequently criticized the countrys trade policies, calling India a "big abuser" of global trade norms.

Economic Strategy: Taxing Imports, Boosting Domestic Industry

Trump laid out his economic vision, advocating for tariffs on foreign goods as a means to protect American jobs and industries. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens," he stated.

Advertisement

He further suggested that foreign companies, including those from India, China, and Brazil, could avoid high tariffs by establishing manufacturing facilities within the United States. Additionally, he announced plans to impose tariffs on raw materials such as steel, aluminum, and copper, aimed at strengthening domestic military production.

BRICS Currency Concerns & Trade Retaliation

Trump also took aim at discussions within the BRICS bloc about introducing a currency alternative to the U.S. dollar. He warned that any attempt to challenge U.S. economic dominance would be met with "100 percent tariffs."

As an example of his aggressive trade policy, Trump cited his administrations recent decision to impose 25% tariffs on Colombia after the country refused to accept deported migrants. The move forced Colombian President Gustavo Petro to comply, which White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt hailed as a "diplomatic victory," reinforcing Americas renewed assertiveness on the global stage.

Advertisement

With trade policies set to be a major topic in the upcoming U.S. elections, Trumps latest statements indicate a potential return to his signature hardline approach toward international economic relations.

(For more news apart from US President Donald Trump Warning to India and China Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Changes in the French contingent of the NATO Battle Group

Colonel Thierry Denechaud took over the command of the Allied Battle Group in Romania, in a ceremony at the Cincu National Training Center

Changes in the French contingent of the NATO Battle Group

Radio Romania International, 29.01.2025, 12:31

Colonel Thierry Denechaud took over the command of the Allied Battle Group in Romania from Colonel Jean Michelin, in a ceremony at the Cincu National Training Center (central Romania). The French forces deployed within the Group also changed, soldiers from the 5th Dragoon Regiment replacing those from the 1st Rifle Regiment. The French soldiers who carried out their mission in Romania are returning home to their families with a sense of accomplishment after encountering many challenges during the operation, the French Armed Forces stated.

Last year, the multinational battalion participated in Dacian Fall, an exercise that validated the French militarys ability to plan the deployment of a brigade-level tactical command center from France to Romania and its integration into a NATO division. French soldiers from the ninth rotation of the Battle Group also took part in numerous exercises together with their Romanian, Portuguese, Polish and North Macedonian partners. The main challenge this year for the tenth rotation of the French army contingents in the NATO Battle Group is the Dacian Spring exercise, which will involve the increase of the forces up to the level of a brigade, i.e. 5,000 soldiers.

Meanwhile, the militaries of the countries contributing forces to this Allied Group continue their joint training exercises. The Spanish military recently arrived in Romania participated in Eagle Thunder, an exercise with real combat firing. Also them, in partnership with the Belgian soldiers from the Group and the Portuguese soldiers from the South-East Multinational Brigade, carried out the Eagle Trench exercise, which aimed to train the troops in urban combat.

In another Battle Group out of the eight that the North Atlantic Alliance has on the eastern flank, the one in Slovakia, the anti-tank detachment that Romania deployed there began its mission. In the Lest Training Center, the Romanian soldiers from the first rotation of the detachment will train in a multinational context until July 2025, together with soldiers from the Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. And in Bulgaria, the NATO Battle Group under Italian command includes, starting this month, a research detachment of the Romanian armed forces.

These days, with a view to participating in the multinational exercise Steadfast Dart 25, deployments on Romanian soil of military equipment and personnel belonging to the armed forces of the United Kingdom have been announced. The exercise is part of the series of planned training activities at NATO level and has the main goal of strengthening the responsiveness and interoperability of the participating forces. The British units will transit and carry out activities in various areas of Romania, in cooperation with the national forces and those of other allied states deployed here. The military equipment belonging to the French armed forces participating in this exercise will arrive by rail, most likely on February 2.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense has stated that NATO exercises such as Steadfast Dart are defensive and transparent, being carried out with full respect for Romanias international obligations. The exercise was planned last year, and for the first time since its establishment on July 1, 2024, the Allied Reaction Force will practice a deployment of troops and military equipment in an operational context. The exercise will demonstrate NATOs ability to activate the Allied Reaction Force and coordinate its rapid transition. The exercise is taking place in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, with the participation of more than 10,000 soldiers from Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. (MI)
Presidential election calendar in Romania

The Romanian government adopted the decision establishing the presidential election calendar

EP and local elections in Romania on June 9 (Photo credits: AEP)

Roxana Vasile, 29.01.2025, 13:50

On December 6 last year, after having validated the first round, and the second round was already underway at polling stations abroad, the Constitutional Court of Romania, citing interference by a state actor, anulled the presidential elections and decided that the electoral process be resumed in full. So that, less than half a year after this decision, Romanians will be called, again, to the polls. The first round of the election deciding who will hold the highest position in the State will be on May 4, and the second on May 18.

On Tuesday, the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition Government adopted the decision that establishes the electoral calendar in view of the first round, of May 4. According to the spokesman for the Executive, Mihai Constantin, the electoral period will begin on February 18, with the public announcement of the date on which the drawing of lots will take place for the five judges of the High Court of Cassation and Justice who will be part of the Central Election Bureau. The designation of the five will be done by February 20, so that the bureau is set up by February 22 at the latest.

Mihai Constantin has the details: The deadline for submitting candidacies to the Central Electoral Bureau by parties, political and electoral alliances, organizations of citizens belonging to national minorities and independent candidates is March 15, 2025, 24:00. The election campaign will start 30 days before the date of the elections, namely on April 4, 2025, and will end on May 3, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Voting in Romania will take place on May 4, 2025, starting at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m.

At the 950 polling stations organized abroad, voting will take place over three days: on the first two days, on May 2 and 3, they will be open from 7:00 a.m. local time to 9:00 p.m. local time. If, at closing hour, there are still people in the station or in line, the voting schedule can be extended until 11:59 p.m. The third day of voting abroad  May 4  will have a peculiarity. Voting will start at 7:00 a.m. local time and end at 9:00 p.m. local time, with one condition: that the 9:00 p.m. local time abroad is not later than 9:00 p.m., Romanian time.

The decision was made in order not to leave a time gap that could influence the vote after the closing of the polling stations in Romania, due to time zone differences. It should also be said that Romanian voters abroad have the possibility of voting by mail, by registering on the portal www.votstrainatate.ro Also for the presidential elections in May, the authorities have decided stricter rules for the election campaign, especially on the Internet, and non-compliance can lead to fines up to 50,000 lei (about 10 thousand euros), and in the case of large online platforms, up to 5% of their turnover. (MI)
Romanian foreign policy priorities

Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, presented the priorities of Romanian foreign policy during his visit to Brussels

Emil Hurezeanu and Roxana Minzatu in Brussels (Credits: mae.ro)

Daniela Budu, 29.01.2025, 14:00

The European Union understands that Romania remains a strong, stable state with priorities aligned with European ones, the Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Minzatu, said after meeting on Tuesday with Romanias Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, in Brussels. The two officials discussed support for the EU enlargement process, continuing support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, developing a strategic vision for the Black Sea, promoting convergence and cohesion objectives in negotiations on the upcoming post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework or consolidating European action in the field of defense. Roxana Minzatu:

We are aware Romanias contribution is making Europe strong, not only from the perspective of the security of the Eastern Flank, of energy security. There are multiple ways Romania makes Europe stronger, and the European Union understands that. We also discussed Romanias role in supporting candidate states, especially Moldova, Ukraine. It is important to look at how we support the preparation of candidate states. Romanias role is particularly important.

According to the European Commission Vice-President, one of the topics discussed during the meeting referred to the automotive industry, a vital sector for Romania as well. I will be part of this effort to support industries, to create new jobs and develop new investments in Europe, Roxana Minzatu gave assurances. The two officials also discussed the Green Industrialization Plan, which the European Commission will soon launch and ways Romania can contribute, but also benefit from clear priorities within this mechanism.

We want Romania to be a well-developed, robust presence in areas of interest to the EU, Emil Hurezeanu said in turn. The Romanian Foreign Minister added that the EU is preparing plans, ideas and strategic documents, and Romania has specific interests in this regard. Minister Hurezeanu in particular referred to projects targeting the Black Sea strategy, the Republic of Moldova or the 2028-2034 multiannual budget. During his two-day visit to Brussels, Emil Hurezeanu attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting and discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The minister recalled Romanias support for the sovereignty, integrity and independence of Ukraine and stressed the importance of continuing the EUs multidimensional support for the neighboring state. Minister Hurezeanu also reiterated Romanias support for the European accession efforts of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

On the sidelines of his meeting with the NATO Secretary General, the Romanian official discussed security developments on the Eastern Flank, with a focus on the Black Sea region and the continued effort to strengthen NATOs deterrence and defense postures. Emil Hurezeanu emphasized Romanias contribution to Euro-Atlantic security and the deep commitment of Romanian society to democratic values. (VP)
La Mirada, California-based La Fiesta Food Products, LLC, is recalling 8 oz packages of La Fiesta brand unseasoned and seasoned bread crumbs citing the presence of undeclared sesame, a known allergen, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall involves Unseasoned Bread Crumbs (Pan Rayado) in 8 oz transparent plastic bags with UPC#032327000886 and Lot codes 26032; 26073; 26082; 26092; 26094; and 26,400. These were sold across the United States through distributors to retail stores from April 10, 2024 through January 22, 2025.

La Fiesta brand Bread Crumbs Seasoned (Pan Rayado Sazonado) with UPC#032327000887 and Lot codes 26094; 26123; 6,240 were also recalled. These were available through retail stores from August 29, 2024 through January 22, 2025.

The recall was initiated after discovering that the product contained undeclared sesame. Additionally, the labels do not include the allergen declaration in Spanish. As per probe, the issue was caused by errors on the product labeling.

For those people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame, consuming these impacted products could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. However, no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the issue.

Consumers who have bought the products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

In similar recalls, Louisville, Kentucky -based Custom Food Solutions last week called back around 105,164 pounds of ready-to-eat or RTE frozen drunken chicken product sold in Indiana, citing misbranding and undeclared sesame, along with egg, both known allergens.

Lehigh Acres, Florida-based A Tu Gusto, LLC in October recalled around 7,630 pounds of frozen meat and poultry croquette products that contain undeclared sesame seed, soy and wheat.

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Health News
French stocks are down in negative territory Wednesday morning, weighed down by losses in the luxury sector as industry major LVMH's fourt-quarter revenue fell short of expectations.

Gains in sector help limit market's downside.

Investors are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement due later in the day. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates unchanged, and the focus is on the accompanying statement for clues about future rate moves.

The European Central Bank is scheduled to announce its policy on Thursday. The ECB is expected to announce a 25-basis point rate cut.

The benchmark CAC 40, which dropped to 7,849.14 earlier this morning, was down 23.32 points or 0.3% at 7,875.05 a few minutes ago.

LVMH is down more than 6%. LVMH reported that its 2024 net profit was 12.550 billion euros, down 17% from 15.174 billion euros last year. Profit from recurring operations was 19.571 billion euros, a drop of 14%.

For 2024, revenue was 84.683 billion euros, down 2% from 86.153 billion euros. Organic growth for the year was 1%.

The company said it reported organic growth despite a challenging economic and geopolitical environment and a high basis of comparison following several years of exceptional post-Covid growth.

Kering is declining 6.1% and L'Oreal is down 2.6%, while Hermes International is down with a modest loss of about 0.5%.

STMIcroElectronics, Edenred, Pernod Ricard, ArcelorMittal, AXA and BNP Paribas are lower by 0.6 to 1.3%.

Schneider Electric, which posted sharpl losses in the previous two sessions, is up 5.1% this morning. Legrand is gaining 2.75%, while Unibail Rodamco and Essilor are up 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
The United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement in January next year.

The U.S. Government has officially notified the UN Secretary-General of its withdrawal from the key international pact on January 27, 2026, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

In December 2015, 193 countries reached the historic accord in a bid to keep temperature rises to below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The United States, under the Barack Obama administration, signed it on 2016 April 22.

During the first Trump administration, the United States withdrew from the Agreement effective 2020 November 4, while his successor Joe Biden took the country back into the accord on 2021 February 19.

An executive order directing the United States to again withdraw from the landmark agreement was one of dozens of orders that President Donald Trump signed within hours of assuming office for the second term, dealing a blow to efforts to combat global warming.

The UN Spokesperson said the latest withdrawal would not lead to any slowdown in the UN's efforts to combat climate change.

"We reaffirm our commitment to the Paris Agreement and to support all effective efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius," said Dujarric.

The international community continues to work towards the goals set by the Agreement, despite Washington's decision to withdraw.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ZNTL) has experienced a significant drop of 24.38 percent in its stock value following Tuesday's announcement of a major workforce reduction.

Currently, ZNTL is trading at $2.00, down by $0.58 from its previous close of $2.40 The stock opened at $1.7700 with the day's trading range between $1.77 and $2.37.

The 52-week range spans from $1.77 to $18.07. Volume for the day has reached 9.5 million shares, significantly higher than the average volume of 1.5 million shares.

The company revealed plans to cut approximately 40 percent of its employees, which has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Tourists buy souvenirs at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

Tourists take part in a riddle game at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

Tourists attend a lecture at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

Tourists visit the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

(250129) -- HEFEI, Jan. 29, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tourists buy souvenirs at the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Tourists visit a Spring Festival-themed exhibition at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

A boy tries to blow a sugar figure at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

A tourist experiences the craft of making new year woodblock prints at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)

(250129) -- HEFEI, Jan. 29, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tourists visit the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

(250129) -- HEFEI, Jan. 29, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tourists visit the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Tourists receive Spring Festival decorations carrying the Chinese "Fu" character, which symbolizes good fortune, distributed at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. (Xinhua/Li He)
The 350cc to 450cc motorcycle segment in India registered a 15.55% year-on-year (YoY) growth in December 2024, with total sales reaching 74,968 units, an increase of 10,086 units over 64,882 units sold in December 2023. While Royal Enfield continued to dominate this space with multiple models in the top rankings, newer entrants like the Triumph 400, Harley-Davidson X440, and Aprilia RS 457 also made an impact.

Royal Enfield Continues to Lead

Royal Enfield Classic 350 maintained its leadership in this segment, clocking 29,637 units, a significant 39.57% YoY growth over 21,234 units sold in December 2023. Bullet 350, which was recently updated, secured the second spot with 14,049 units, marking an 11.44% YoY growth from 12,607 units sold last year. Hunter 350, a more youthful offering from Royal Enfield, saw sales of 13,744 units, posting a 17.42% increase from 11,705 units in December 2023. Meteor 350 also saw steady sales, recording 6,366 units, growing by 4.86% YoY over 6,071 units sold in the same month last year.

Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X collectively registered 2,453 units, showing a 7.92% YoY growth over 2,273 units sold in December 2023. Meanwhile, Jawa-Yezdi motorcycles (Retail) saw a dip, with sales at 2,341 units, down by 7.25% YoY compared to 2,524 units in the same period last year.

Hondas CB350 and HNess Performance

Hondas HNess CB350 recorded a sharp decline, dropping 20.25% YoY with 1,560 units sold in December 2024, compared to 1,956 units last year. However, Hondas CB 350 registered 1,075 units.

Royal Enfield Himalayan, which was recently updated with an all-new 450cc liquid-cooled engine, saw a steep 62.27% YoY decline with 1,285 units sold in December 2024, down from 3,406 units last year. However, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, a new addition to the lineup, recorded 814 units of sales.

Harley-Davidson X440 Sees a Massive Drop

Harley-Davidson X440, which started strong earlier in the year, experienced a drastic 80.90% YoY decline, selling only 418 units in December 2024 compared to 2,189 units in December 2023. Bajaj Pulsar 400 made its way into the market with 382 units sold in its debut month, while Bajaj Dominar 400 recorded 226 units, showing a 27.10% YoY decline from 310 units in December 2023.

KTM 390 series, including Duke, Adventure, and RC models, suffered a sharp 65.46% YoY decline, registering only 201 units compared to 582 units sold last year. Meanwhile, Aprilia RS 457 registered sales of 277 units. Aprilia will soon launch Tuono 457 in India to boost sales in the segment.

Hero, Kawasaki, and Husqvarna

Hero Mavrick 440, Heros latest entry into the premium motorcycle segment, saw 77 units sold in its debut month. Kawasakis Ninja series, Eliminator, and KLX lineup collectively managed 50 units, marking a 100% growth from 25 units last year. Husqvarnas Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 also made their presence felt with 13 units sold.
Maruti Suzuki unveiled its maiden electric car in the form of eVitara at 2025 Auto Expo. Ahead of launch, new details on Maruti eVitara have been revealed online. We can now see what colours, trims and features eVitara will get at launch. Official launch timeline is not revealed yet, but is likely to happen soon.

New Details On Maruti eVitara

This is the first time Maruti Suzuki has attempted an electric vehicle. eVitara will be made exclusively in India at the companys Gujarat plant and will be exported to key markets like Japan and Europe, among others. When launched in India, it will be sold via the companys Nexa outlets as Maruti Suzukis flagship electric SUV.

As per the Nexa website, the tagline for eVitara is Spark Your eMagination. It is positioned on a new Pure Electric platform, equipped with a rather sizeable 61 kWh battery pack promising a 500 km range on a single charge. The smaller 49 kWh battery pack is also likely to be offered in India to strike an attractive base price.

Design-wise, we get a futuristic front fascia with NEXTre 3-point Matrix LED DRLs and rear lamps, R18 Aerodynamic alloys, a polyhedral muscular stance and a sculpted 3D appearance. Theres active air vents at the front too. The panoramic sunroof is fixed and is not openable, unlike what the company offers with Grand Vitara.

Colour options include Nexa Blue, Grandeur Grey, Splendid Silver, Arctic White, Opulent Red and Bluish Black single-tone colours. Dual-tone colour options include Splendid Silver, Opulent Red, Arctic White and Land Breeze Green with Bluish Black roof. Dimensions-wise, eVitara measures 4,275 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, and 1,635 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm and ground clearance of 180 mm.

Interiors

On the inside, the new details on Maruti eVitara reveal that it will come equipped with a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting with multi-colour illumination, a 10.25-inch multi-information display, Twindeck floating centre console with shift-by-wire, a digital cockpit, a wireless charging pad and more.

Both front seats are ventilated and drivers seat is 10-way electrically adjustable. Rear seat bench gets a European-style 40:20:40 split function that can be modified according to ones needs. Rear seats are sliding and reclining too, thus creating a flexible boot. Where safety is concerned, eVitara gets 7 airbags, 360-degree cameras and Level-2 ADAS, the first of its kind for Maruti.
A deported migrant from the United States is assisted by a member of the Colombian Red Cross upon arrival at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Jan. 28, 2025. Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed. The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)

BOGOTA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed.

The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro.

"They are Colombians, they are free and dignified and they are in their homeland where they are loved. The migrant is not a criminal, he is a human being who wants to work and progress," Petro posted on the social platform X, along with photos of the Colombian nationals walking out of planes.

Petro on Sunday denied entry of U.S. military aircraft carrying the deportees, saying they were being treated like criminals. The move sparked a harsh response from his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, who threatened to cancel the visas of all Colombian government officials and slap 50 percent tariffs on imports from Colombia.

The two sides then reached an agreement that Colombian planes would transport the deportees without handcuffs, under safe and dignified conditions, as requested by Colombia's government.

Among the deported Colombians were 26 minors, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare said.

Colombian immigration officials and medical personnel traveled with the deportees, who are to benefit from a special credit program to help them reintegrate into Colombian society.

In the coming days, the Colombian Aerospace Force is expected to bring back more undocumented migrants as the new U.S. administration cracked down on irregular migration. 

A family of deported migrants from the United States passes through the international arrivals gate at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Jan. 28, 2025. Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed.

The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)

Deported migrants from the United States pass through the international arrivals gate at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Jan. 28, 2025. Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed.

The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)

Deported migrants from the United States wait at the international arrivals gate at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Jan. 28, 2025. Two Colombian Aerospace Force planes with migrants deported from the United States landed Tuesday in the country's capital Bogota, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed.

The Colombian nationals were picked up in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California, on the instructions of Petro. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)
Tourists visit the Chinatown of Yokohama, Japan, Jan. 29, 2025. Tourists came to the Chinatown here to enjoy festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Tourists watch a lion dance performance at the Chinatown of Yokohama, Japan, Jan. 29, 2025. Tourists came to the Chinatown here to enjoy festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Tourists visit the Chinatown of Yokohama, Japan, Jan. 29, 2025. Tourists came to the Chinatown here to enjoy festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
KABUL, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government wants the international community to differentiate between politics and humanitarian issues and not to politicize the humanitarian assistance.

"We want the countries including the United States not to politicize the humanitarian assistances," a local media outlet Tolonews quoted an official of the Ministry of Economy as saying on Tuesday.

The Afghan official made the remarks in the wake of the suspension of Washington's foreign assistance program for 90 days, saying the decision would undermine the activities of some aid agencies.

Some 50 aid agencies have reportedly stopped activities in Afghanistan following the U.S. decision on foreign aid programs. 
BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced nine drug dealers to death on charges of drug trafficking.

A statement by the Supreme Judicial Council said that the Central Criminal Court issued a verdict to execute nine drug dealers after 186 kg of various drugs were seized.

The chaos and conflicts that have engulfed Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003 impeded Iraqi governments from effectively addressing the threat of drugs.

In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani underlined the importance of waging "a war on drugs," saying that drug dealing remains one of the main ways of financing terrorism, and the circulation of drugs flourishes in the shadow of terrorism. 
DAMASCUS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said here on Tuesday that Russia is willing to deepen ties with Syria and support its reconstruction, according to a Russian media report.

Heading a high-level Russian delegation to meet with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and other top Syrian officials, Bogdanov told RT Arabic news network that the meeting was "constructive and positive," during which the two sides underlined the "historic," "uninterrupted" bilateral friendship.

Both sides pledged to deepen ties in various fields, including infrastructure, electricity, oil and gas, agriculture, fertilizers, and railways, Bogdanov, also Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, told RT Arabic.

"We agreed to maintain comprehensive dialogue on all aspects of cooperation," he said, adding that Moscow stands ready to support Syria's reconstruction process and host Syrian delegations "whenever they request."

Bogdanov dispelled concerns about Russian facilities in Tartous and Hmeimim in northwestern Syria, saying they remain unaffected amid Syria's recent political changes.

Rumors about altering contracts for the Russian-operated Tartous Port are "purely commercial" and can likely be resolved "amicably," he said, stressing Russian companies' readiness to continue investing in the port despite earlier hurdles.

So far there has been no official statement from the Syrian side regarding the meeting.

The Russian delegation's visit, the duration of which remains undisclosed, marks the first of its kind by Russian officials to Syria since the downfall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024. 
NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center, two of the iconic landmark buildings in New York City, shone red on Tuesday night in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The Empire State Building has done so to celebrate the Chinese New Year for the 25th consecutive year.

On Tuesday morning, China's Consul General in New York Chen Li and Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory, jointly unveiled a window exhibition at the Fifth Avenue lobby in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

"We are delighted to see the Empire State Building serve as a bridge for American friends to better understand the Chinese culture, which highlights the importance of people-to-people exchanges in promoting friendship between our two countries," said Chen.

Chen noted more Americans visited China under the 10-day visa-free transit policy and giant pandas returned to the United States last year, which saw encouraging progress in the ties between the two peoples.

The window exhibition will run for a few weeks and the One World Trade Center will continue to shine red in the next two days.

Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year of 2025 falls on Wednesday and 2025 is the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac.

The Chinese New Year became a public school holiday in New York State in 2023. 
This photo shows graves for the victims in Afghanistan's Khost province, Jan. 29, 2025. Unidentified armed men shot dead 10 civilians, all members of a same family in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the provincial government Mustaghfar Garbaz said Wednesday. (Photo by Yusuf Mangal/Xinhua)

KHOST, Afghanistan, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified armed men shot dead 10 civilians, all members of a same family in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the provincial government Mustaghfar Garbaz said Wednesday.

The gruesome incident took place in Ali Shir district late Tuesday when unknown armed men entered a house and opened fire, killing 10 people including two men and eight women and children on the spot.

Garbaz said that efforts are underway to arrest and bring to justice those behind the multiple murders. 
The chancellor has backed a third runway at Heathrow , claiming on Wednesday that the controversial expansion will boost the economy and create 1000s of jobs.

Speaking at a new Siemens plant in Oxfordshire, Rachel Reeves confirmed the government support for the project, and invited proposals to be brought forward by the summer.

She said the west London airport badly needed the runway, because for decades its growth has been constrained.

The last new runway in the UK was built in the 1940s, she noted, adding: No progress in 80 years. Why is this so damaging? Its because Heathrow is at the heart of the UKs openness as a country.

The expansion, which will take several years to build and will include a new terminal, could create up to 100,000 new jobs, she claimed.

Heathrow first received parliamentary approval to build a third runway in June 2018. But since then it has been delayed by legal challenges, changing political positions and the pandemic. Around 700 houses will need to be demolished, and the M25 diverted into a tunnel.

There has also been vocal opposition from environmental groups.

However, Reeves insisted the expansion was compatible with the governments target of achieving net zero by 2050. In particular, she pointed to the development of "sustainable" aviation fuels, which would mean cleaner and greener flying.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: A third runway and the infrastructure that comes with it would unlock billions of pounds of private money to stimulate the UK supply chain during construction.

Once built it would create jobs and drive trade, tourism and inwards investment.

He told the Financial Times that the project could be completed by the mid-2030s if everything went to plan. The target is to have planning permission by the end of this Parliament. That is ambitious, but not undoable.

However, the project is expected to continue facing considerable opposition and criticism

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said he remained opposed, citing the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

Willie Walsh, the former head of British Airways and now director general IATA, the airlines lobby group, also warned: Heathrows decline in status is not about capacity, its about cost. Regulators will need to be extremely firm on cost and efficiency matters.

Unfortunately, past performances gives airlines little confidence in this area.

The expansion plans were last costed at 14bn in 2014, and would now be far higher.

The announcement on Heathrow was part of wide-ranging speech, which the chancellor used to detail the governments growth plans.

Reeves said she would go further and faster to kick-start the economy, and wanted the UK to be at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the world, like artificial intelligence and life sciences.

Other projects to receive government backing include a regeneration scheme around Manchester Uniteds Old Trafford stadium and the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

The 70-mile growth corridor will connect the two university towns, and will include new transport links, housing developments and water infrastructure.

Reeves also told the audience that the government was already seeing encouraging signs in the economy, despite significant structural problems.

She continued: We have fundamental strengths  in our history, our language and our legal system  to compete in a global economy.

But for too long, that potential has been held back. For too long we have accepted low expectations, accepted stagnation and accepted the risk of decline. We can do so much better.

Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight.

The London-listed shares of BA's Spanish owner, International Consolidated Airlines Group, were up 3% at 332.02p as at noon GMT.
Rachel Reeves is unveiling plans to create Europes Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge as she stakes the governments success on kickstarting economic growth and putting more pounds in peoples pockets. The chancellor will announce a blueprint to improve infrastructure across the region that will add up to 78bn to the UK economy within a decade, according to industry experts, and put it at the forefront of science and technological advances.  Guardian

Starbucks reassured Wall Street with a smaller-than-expected drop in comparable sales, an early sign that its efforts to revive sluggish demand could be bearing fruit. The worlds largest coffee chain, which earlier this month announced that people using its cafes cross North America need to buy something, is in the midst of a turnaround bid to win back customers.  Guardian

JP Morgan is in talks to lease space at Credit Suisses former UK headquarters in Canary Wharf after it demanded staff return to the office five days a week. The investment bank is understood to be discussing a deal with UBS to rent 150,000 sq ft of space at One Cabot Square office complex. Although the space amounts to less than a third of the 540,000 sq ft building, it is understood that the bank could expand its presence there further to lease as much as half of it.  Telegraph

China is building a gigantic laser-ignited fusion power laboratory that is 50pc larger than its US counterpart as the two superpowers spar for energy supremacy. The part-built research centre near the city of Mianyang, in the Sichuan province, has been observed in satellite imagery, with experts warning it could be used to advance both power generation and nuclear weapons.  Telegraph

The proposed Sizewell C nuclear plant will start generating electricity in 2035 if it gets the go-ahead by the summer, its developers claimed, despite repeated delays plaguing its sister station. The first reactor from the Suffolk nuclear plant will enter commercial operation in 2035 and the second in 2036, according to a presentation published by Sizewell that described a final investment decision by this summer as essential. EDF has previously given vaguer guidance of Sizewell starting up in the mid 2030s.  The Times

The chairman of Santanders British business is to leave this year in a surprise exit that will fuel City speculation about the Spanish banks future in the UK. William Verekers impending departure from Santander UK was announced little more than a week after the group was forced to deny reports that it is reviewing its operations here and could decide to withdraw from British high streets.  The Times
From making dumplings to joining the lively "yangko" folk dance, Firouza, a young Tajik girl, immerses herself in the #ChineseNewYear festivities in a traditional village in northeast China.
Adani Group has pledged an investment of Rs 2.3 lakh crore in Odisha over the next five years, focusing on sectors like power, cement, industrial parks, aluminium, and city gas. Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for these investments. The 'Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025' was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The proposed investment by the Adani Group is said to be the biggest investment intent by any business group in Utkarsh Odisha 2025.Also, the first test flight landed at Dhamra Airstrip successfully .

On the occasion of Utkarsh Odisha, six projects of Adani Total Gas in Odisha, were commissioned.

The projects are EV charging station at Bhubaneswar airport, City Gate Station-cum-Mother station project completion and Gas in from GAIL Tapoff, groundbreaking for LNG Cum multi-fuel hub at Bhadrak, project completion of CNG station at JIO BP RO in Balasore (will be open to public shortly after getting PESO approval), first domestic PNG connection gas charging and burner on in Bhadrak, and CNG station project completion at Rairangpur (first in city) of Mayurbhanj district. It will be open to public soon.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, wrapped up a successful visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

During his visit, Shri Goyal co-chaired the 11th Session of the India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) alongside H.E. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Omans Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion. The meeting facilitated in-depth discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment, technology, food security, renewable energy, and more. In a fruitful bilateral session with Minister Qais, the two leaders conducted a comprehensive review of India-Oman trade and economic relations, identifying tangible steps to further enhance their mutually beneficial business ties.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on a bilateral India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is under advanced stages of negotiations. Both Ministers agreed to expedite the discussions for an early signing of the CEPA which will be a new milestone in bilateral trade relations and has the potential to significantly scale-up two-way trade and investments.

On the sidelines of the visit, both sides signed the Protocol to amend the India-Oman Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), aligning it with international standards on cross-border taxation, simplifying tax procedures, and promoting greater cooperation in tax matters.

Minister Goyal called-on His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Special Representative of His Majesty on January 28, 2025. HH Sayyid Asaad had led the Omani delegation to India for the G-20 Summit in September 2023.

Shri Goyal also held bilateral meetings with H.E. Sultan bin Salem Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, and H.E. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), to deepen economic ties.

The Minister participated in the India-Oman Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting which was hosted by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), with support and participation of a delegation from FICCI. The JBC, which is traditionally held on the sidelines of the India-Oman JCM, provided an excellent platform for wide ranging discussions among the two business communities and provided exposure to investment opportunities and incentives of both India and Oman.

Shri Goyal met with a select group of CEOs and business leaders of Oman at a Business Roundtable hosted by the Ambassador of India at the Indian Embassy premises. This interaction provided an opportunity for the Minister to directly engage with key business leaders of Oman to apprise them of the India opportunity and seek their suggestions for bilateral cooperation.

Minister Goyal also spoke at the Future Leaders Programme at the Royal Academy of Management in Oman, emphasizing India's growth story and offering insights on leadership and its role in building a better world.

The Commerce Minister visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, a symbol of Omans cultural and architectural heritage. Later in the evening, he will offer prayers at the historic Shiva Temple in Old Muscat, reflecting the strong cultural and people-to-people connections between India and Oman.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 people were injured on Tuesday in separate Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese medical and security sources.

The Lebanese army's Directorate of Guidance said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that the Israeli army "opened fire on army personnel and civilians on the Yaroun-Maroun al-Ras road" in southern Lebanon, injuring three civilians and a soldier who "was accompanying returning residents to southern border towns."

On Tuesday evening, an Israeli drone fired a guided missile at a pickup truck used for transporting fruits and vegetables on the Nabatieh al-Fawqa highway, destroying the truck and injuring several bystanders, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that the injured "were transported to a hospital in Nabatieh by Lebanese Red Cross ambulances."

About an hour later, another Israeli drone launched a second attack less than 2 km away, targeting the vicinity of "Farah Rest Stop" on the Zawtar-Nabatieh al-Fawqa road, the NNA reported.

According to the Emergency Operations Center under Lebanon's Health Ministry, 14 people were injured in the two attacks in the evening.

Strongly condemning these latest attacks, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the "Israeli aggression is yet another violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a blatant breach of the ceasefire arrangement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701."

He contacted U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, head of a ceasefire monitoring committee, and urged a firm stance to ensure Israel complies with its obligations under international law, according to a statement released by Mikati's office.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed in a statement that it launched airstrikes on Tuesday on a truck and an additional vehicle allegedly belonging to the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, claiming they "were transporting weapons in the Shaqif and Nabatieh areas of southern Lebanon."

Also on Tuesday, the Lebanese army announced the deployment of its units in villages in the western and central sectors south of the Litani River following the Israeli army's withdrawal.

Sunday marked the end of a 60-day deadline for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territories. Under a ceasefire agreement reached in late November last year after nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese army would take control of the areas south of the Litani River, ensuring its security and preventing any presence of weapons and militants.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon, some of which have caused deaths and injuries in the border areas.

Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks on crowds of Lebanese trying to return to their still-occupied hometowns in southern Lebanon has risen to 25, with 160 others injured.

On Monday, Lebanon's caretaker government announced the decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until Feb. 18, as Israel failed to withdraw from southern Lebanon before the deadline set under the initial 60-day truce deal. 
New York City families will once again be able to apply to send their child to free, all-day programming this summer through the Summer Rising program.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard announced on Wednesday that the application for 2025 Summer Rising seats will open on March 4.

The free program connects elementary and middle school students to fun, culturally relevant, hands-on experiences to strengthen their academic, social and emotional skills.

This years program will include more enrichment programming during the academic portion of the day, according to the city.

Summer Rising is about creating an environment where students feel inspired, engaged, and supported. The program, emerging from the needs of students after the pandemic, is constantly evolving based on the feedback of our school communities. Thats why this year, were enhancing the program by weaving in more enrichment activities during the academic day, said Aviles-Ramos. We know that the learning experience extends beyond the classroom, and were committed to providing our students with a fun and educational summer that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.

Any student attending school in New York City who is currently in kindergarten through eighth grade in the 2024-2025 school year is eligible for Summer Rising. This includes anyone attending public school, charter school, non-public school and home-schooling students.

Similar to last year, placements will be assigned with a focus on equity, including prioritizing students with academic needs, 12-month Individualized Education Program (IEP) programs (Chapter 683, Extended School Year, and Autism Nest or Horizon), students in temporary housing and foster care, and with a local connection to a school-year CBO program or school community.

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will have access to other resources and academic support, including teacher-led English language arts and mathematics activities tailored to meet their needs, alongside field trips and arts activities. DYCD-funded community-based organizations will provide kindergarten-through-eighth-grade programming at New York City public schools in all five boroughs, the city stated.

Summer Rising will operate Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in July and August.

There will be seven weeks of programming for elementary school students and six weeks of programming for middle school students.

Both programs begin on July 2, with middle school programming ending on Aug. 8 and elementary program ending on Aug. 15.

Summer Rising is more than a program  its a commitment to strengthening our families and providing safe and enriching activities for the citys young people, said Howard. The mayors unwavering dedication to investing in our communities is a powerful beacon of hope, equipping our young people with the vital tools they need to thrive both academically and socially. DYCD is excited to join NYCPS, our outstanding CBO partners, and elected officials to kick off another season of safety, learning, and unforgettable moments that will last a lifetime.

Applications will open in MySchools on Tuesday, March 4.

The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28. All families who apply by the deadline will receive their results in April.

Families are encouraged to accept or decline their offers by the deadline noted when they receive their results.

Visit nyc.gov/SummerRising to find more information.

Families should email summer@schools.nyc.gov, call 311, or speak to their parent coordinator for support with Summer Rising enrollment. Families who do not have internet access or cannot access the enrollment portal should reach out to their parent coordinator, who can help with the application.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Northwell Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) Wellness on Wheels (WOW) program recently brought its innovative pop-up food pantry to a local school, delivering essential food supplements to families in need after the holiday season.

With tens of thousands of Staten Islanders struggling each day to feed their family, relying on government assistance and local food pantries to put meals on the table, the program aims to work with local schools to target some of the neediest families with school-aged children.

The most recent pop-up pantry was held during the schools December holiday break at PS 31, New Brighton.

Each family received bags filled with healthy staples, including fresh produce like broccoli, red apples and oranges, along with pantry essentials, like whole wheat bread, rice, kidney beans and peanut butter.

Each delivery also included a recipe booklet with the motto, Healthy eating equals a healthy mind, to inspire nutritious meal preparation.

Spearheaded by SIUHs Community Health Department, the program, through close communication with school parent coordinators, provides access to nutritious food and promotes health equity to the families most in need in underserved neighborhoods.

The pop-up pantries occur once a month at two Staten Island schools, nourishing 30 families each time, according to the Ocean Breeze hospital.

In addition to the monthly events, the pop-up pantries take place during all holiday breaks, and will be held during summer camps starting in 2025.

The WOW program leverages other community health initiatives, such as jr. PRO and sPROut, which introduce students to health-care careers, but also promote mindfulness, physical fitness and healthy eating to those in need.

The Wellness on Wheels program embodies our mission to ensure no family is left behind when it comes to access to nutritious food, said Claudette Hill, director of Community Health at SIUH. Through partnerships and community engagement, we address food insecurity while fostering a culture of health and hope.

Families who benefited from the program expressed heartfelt gratitude at the December event, SIUH said in an announcement of the event.

This program gives us hope, Asha Robinson, a mother of six with another on the way, told SIUH representatives. When were running low or dont have what we need, it provides that extra security for my family. Its more than food  its a lifeline for our community. We are deeply appreciative.

The jr. PRO and sPROut programs get parents involved, gaining the tools to support their childrens overall growth and well-being, the hospital said in its announcement of the event.

Upcoming pop-up food pantries

The following schools will host future WOW pop-up-pantries.

PS 78, Stapleton, and PS 40, New Brighton

PS 63, New Springville, and PS 53, Great Kills

PS 11, Dongan Hills, and PS 58, New Springville

PS 50, Oakwood, and PS 54, Willowbrook

PS 65, Tompkinsville, and PS 44, Mariners Harbor

PS 84, Stapleton, and PS 19, West Brighton

PS 31, New Brighton

PS 30, Westerleigh, and PS 20, Port Richmond

Dreyfus Intermediate School (I.S. 49), Stapleton, and PS 32, Great Kills

PS 55, Eltingville, and PS 22, Graniteville

PS 8, Great Kills, and PS 16, Tompkinsville

PS 721, Sunnyside, and Egbert Intermediate School (I.S. 2), Midland Beach
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The College of Staten Island (CSI), through its Center for Global Engagement, is expanding its Medical Internship in Morocco Program to summer 2025, following a successful winter session.

The program places students in internships at public university hospitals across the Moroccan cities of Tangier, Fez and Marrakesh.

Under the leadership of CSI Professor of Biology Abdeslem El Idrissi, participants gain a unique opportunity to experience healthcare settings unlike those in the U.S. The winter session, held from Jan. 229, also featured cultural excursions to the Sahara Desert and other iconic Moroccan landmarks.

One aspect that makes this program unique is the depth to which students are engaged in learning how doctors and hospitals work on a daily basis, Dr. Stephen Ferst, director of the colleges Center for Global Engagement, said. This opportunity allows U.S. undergraduate students to experience a hospital from the inside where they gain invaluable insight into their future chosen careers.

Ferst added that beyond the internship, students are immersed in new cultures and perspectives, broadening their horizons. He described it as one of the most transformative experiences an undergraduate can have.

Learn more at the Study Abroad Fair

The medical internship program is open to both CUNY and non-CUNY students, offering the opportunity to earn credits.

Since its inception in 2016, the medical internship program has provided 69 students -- 27 from CSI, 38 from CUNY, and four from outside of CUNY -- with valuable rotations in medical specialties like internal medicine, neurosurgery, cardiology, radiology, pediatric emergency care, obstetrics and more.

As part of their internship, students spend 25-30 hours per week at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire facilities, rotating through different departments under the supervision of both local mentors and CSI faculty.

In addition to this unique internship experience, CSI is fostering broader academic collaborations with Moroccos hospitals, including faculty exchanges and research partnerships. The school is also collaborating with the Center for Handicapped in Tangier to explore opportunities in disability studies with the School of Education at CSI.

For those considering a future in healthcare, this international internship offers invaluable exposure to the medical field, giving students a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding industry.

CSI will host a Study Abroad Fair on Feb. 6 in the Center for the Arts for students interested in learning more about the program and application process. Interested students can also visit the CSI Center for Global Engagement office (2A-206) for additional information.

For more details, contact David Pizzuto at 718.982.2364 (office), 718.702.6570 (cell), or via email at David.Pizzuto@csi.cuny.edu.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The southernmost police station house in New York State was the scene for Mondays walkout ceremony for Detective Jarrod Zinnanti.

Friends, family, and fellow officers gathered at the 123rd precinct in Tottenville to celebrate Zinnantis retirement after 20 years of service.

Zinnanti, who grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn moved to New Dorp when he was 11. After graduating from New Dorp High School, he worked at Staten Island University Hospital transporting patients.

I was paying rent and other expenses, and my friends were getting city jobs (working for the City of New York), so I decided to take the test for the NYPD, Zinnanti explained.

The more I thought about it, I felt it was a job I could do, and helping people was something I definitely wanted to do, he added.

In January 2005, Zinnanti took the oath to become a New York City police officer and entered the old police academy on East 20th Street in Manhattan.

When he graduated six months later, Zinnanti was assigned to the 123rd precinct in Tottenville, where he would remain for his entire career.

Zinnanti began his career on regular patrol duties until he was assigned to drive a patrol sergeant, who eventually became the precincts school sergeant.

When the precincts youth officer retired, the school sergeant he had previously driven encouraged him to apply for the position.

Detective Jarrod Zinnanti and Sergeant Danny Murro celebrate Zinnantis retirement at a walkout ceremony at the 123rd precinct in Tottenville on January 27, 2025. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter

Zinnanti served as the youth officer for five years, building relationships throughout the community. One of those relationships would eventually shape the future of former Tottenville High School student Danny Murro.

Murro, who is now a sergeant in Staten Islands 120th precinct, said, Jarrod recruited me to join the Explorer Program, which was like the ROTC for the police department.

Jarrod is a community cop. Growing up, I saw him around the 123rd precinct. He knows the place like the back of his hand."

As an Explorer, I saw him doing actual police work and community relations work. He had a thorough understanding of the community, and thats an essential part of the job now, Murro explained.

94 1 / 94 Walkout for NYPD Detective Jarrod Zinnanti

Captain Gzim Palaj first met Zinnanti when he was transferred to the 123rd precinct as the commanding officer last June. I saw right off the bat that not only was he respected by his fellow officers, but by everybody in the community.

Nowadays, as you move up the ranks, you change commands. Jarrod spent his whole career here. Can you imagine all the relationships he built, all the friendships, all the community members he knows? Its something we dont see anymore and its something to be respected.

Im going to miss our conversations. He would come into my office, and we would talk about things like the job, sports, and family. We never agreed on sports because he is a Giants and Yankees fan, and Im a Mets and Jets fan.

One thing we always agreed on was family. I know why hes leaving, and I respect him because it all comes down to his family.

Assistant Chief Melissa Eger, the Staten Island Borough Commander, worked with Zinnanti when she was a lieutenant in the 123rd precinct in 2008. Chief Eger said, When I met Jared, he was a young officer, and I saw him develop into a kind, professional, courteous staple in the Community Affairs Bureau.

He was recently promoted with a specialist shield, which was beyond well-deserved and overdue. That knowledge and experience isnt something that you see all the time, Chief Eger added.

Police Officer Christina Bungay, who has worked with Zinnanti for ten years, said, He has a certain way of talking to people, and I learned a lot working with him. He introduced me to people in the community and showed me how to foster relationships in the community.

I will miss his friendship, but Im happy he can move to New Jersey to be closer to his wifes family. And have a normal schedule to be home with his kids at night and on holidays, Bungay added.

Retired three-star Chief Joseph Fox, who attended the ceremony, said, When Jared leaves this uniform, he really leaves nothing because hes made a great impact on so many people here.

He takes a better version of Jared with him and with his family than he came in here with. Its a beautiful kind of synergy that has happened. His leaving is really a model and inspiration to all of us because people say family first. People talk about balance, but what hes showing is that hes so devoted to spending time with the family that Marissa and he built hes walking a walk to do that.

While saying goodbye to everyone, Zinnanti said, I have the 123rd precinct to thank for having a terrific wife and two beautiful daughters.

Maria Lauro was a Police Administrative Aide in the precinct and asked me if I would like to meet her daughter. I said yes, and the rest is history.

SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: SILive.com is offering a perk exclusively for subscribers: Log in, click on the photo gallery and choose GET PHOTO to download print-quality images free of charge. Plus, get 50% off the purchase of keepsakes. If youre not already a subscriber, sign up here. Note to SILive.com mobile app users: To download high-resolution photos, please access this report and gallery from a standard mobile or desktop/laptop web browser.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A federal memo publicized Tuesday ordering a pause on federal grants and loans wont impact a vital coastal resiliency project on Staten Island, elected officials said.

The memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published by the New York Times, orders federal agencies to pause and review their financial assistance programs and supporting activities to bring them in line with a series of executive orders from President Donald Trump.

A federal judge in Washington D.C. temporarily blocked that order Tuesday, but even if its reinstated, the office of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said it wont impact funding for the East Shore Seawall.

Malliotakis said that order would not affect the East Shore Sea Wall, a massive $2.3 billion project mostly funded by the federal government and designed to protect the Islands East Shore from Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach.

Federal agencies are implementing a temporary pause of grants and loans to ensure that they do not contradict President Trumps Executive Orders. While this will affect DEI programs, the green new deal, and non-governmental organizations that undermine our national security and interests, it will not impact programs that provide direct benefits to Americans, including, Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security or existing projects like our East Shore [Seawall], she said. This is to ensure that our federal agencies are being responsible stewards of taxpayer money and prioritizing the needs of the American people.

While the memo does contain specific carveouts for Medicaid, Social Security, and direct-assistance programs like SNAP, it does not mention any other federally-funded programs or projects as being exempt. It includes language allowing certain administrative actions, such as the closeout of federal awards.

Schumer spokesperson Paige Tepke confirmed the funds would not be blocked as they were part of already-obligated money.

Senator Schumer worked to proactively protect the Staten Island Seawall funds by making them a part of [Hurricane] Sandy dollars already obligated, so at this time, they are protected, she said.

Neither OMB nor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency overseeing the Seawall project, responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement saying his administration is assessing the impact of the OMB order on the five boroughs.

New Yorkers federal income tax dollars are some of the highest in the country. For decades, we have worked with the federal government to bring a huge chunk of those tax dollars back to the five boroughs to pay for critical services New Yorkers rely on and to better the lives of our citys 8.3 million residents, he said. We are assessing the full reach of the administrations announcement, as specific programs are not named in the memo. We are in touch with our federal counterparts as we continue to monitor this situation closely, and we will advocate firmly on behalf of New Yorkers whose lives are impacted by affected programs.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Areas of upstate New York are forecast to receive several inches of snowfall from a clipper storm which has swept southeast from Canada.

A clipper storm, as defined by the National Weather Service, is a fast-moving storm that drops into the U.S. over the Great Lakes from Alberta, Canada.

As of 4:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Dave Dombek, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, revealed that snow is already falling upstate and would continue to do so through Wednesday evening.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the worst of this accumulation is expected to gather along the Great Lakes.

Areas south of Buffalo, and others downwind of Lake Erie, are in range to receive anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of snow. Likewise, those east of Lake Ontario, including Watertown and the Tug Hill Plateau, should expect similar snowfall amounts in that range, according to Dombek.

Next round of winter weather arrives tonight & lasts through Wednesday. Widespread snow (general 3-5" of snowfall) will arrive to WNY ~5 PM today & spread from west to east, with lake enhanced snow (and higher snowfall amounts) likely east of Lakes Erie & Ontario. pic.twitter.com/ypzSvYhiTq  NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) January 28, 2025

Outside of these zones, Dombek says that many places north of Poughkeepsie, including the Capital District and Central New York, can anticipate a general one to three inches of snow coverage.

It is conceivable that areas as far south as Danbury, Connecticut, and somewhere between White Plains and Poughkeepsie could see a coating of snow from this clipper system.

The odds of snow in New York City

There can be some flurries or a brief snow shower late tonight (Tuesday), kind of before daybreak, but probably its going to be so brief and so light that a lot of people wont even notice it, Dombek said.

If the system makes an effort to bring showers to New York City on Wednesday, Dombek said he believes that precipitation would come down in the form of rain, as temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 47 degrees.

Itll just be a little bit too mild, down near the ground, for any snowflakes to survive, if it does anything at all, added Dombek.

If the city were to see snow showers or a burst of snow flurries, such weather would come to pass between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. However, even though this chance is not out of the question, roads would be fine given the mild conditions, Dombek noted.
Unless an infielder is imported over these next few weeks, the Yankees will enter spring training with a competition at third base.

Manager Aaron Boone told WFANs Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata on Tuesday that hes planning to use Jazz Chisholm Jr. as his second baseman in 2025.

That leaves Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza as the infielders vying in the mix to start at third, Boone said.

TO PURCHASE YANKEES TICKETS, VISIT: VIVIDSEATS, TICKETMATER and STUBHUB

Chisholm showed potential as a third baseman in the second half of last season when he was acquired from the Marlins ahead of the trade deadline. He came up with Miami as a middle infielder and has more experience at second than any other position on the infield, though.

LeMahieu, 36, has done little between the lines in recent years to show that hes capable of a resurgence, but the Yankees arent giving up on him just yet. Boone said at the Winter Meetings back in December that he wouldnt rule out a scenario where LeMahieu is producing as an everyday player so long as he has a clean bill of health. He doubled down on that on Tuesday.

Hes going to have that opportunity, Boone said. The reality is DJ has been an amazing hitter, but hes been hurt. Hopefully with some health, some of that bat can return because he can still really defend.

LeMahieu is owed $30 million for the next two seasons. In 2024, he had the worst year of his career, hitting .204 with a .527 OPS over 67 games, missing time with a right foot injury he sustained in spring training and right hip impingement that ended his season in September. His numbers have been on a steady decline since he won a batting title during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020.

Whether its an everyday level or if its against a lefty, I do think theres a role for him, Boone said. I think its just going to be dependent on his health.

Cabrera is certainly an option to start, especially if he can take a step forward offensively this spring, but he brings more value to the table as a utility man.

This will be Perazas last shot to earn a full-time roster spot with the Yankees as hes out of minor-league options. That means if he doesnt make the Opening Day roster, hell be either designated for assignment or sent to another team in a trade. The former top prospect has hit .216 in 74 MLB games dating back to his debut in 2022.

Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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!
DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Development partners have pledged funds to support the implementation of Mission 300, an ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

In an address at the opening session of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam Monday, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said the Islamic Development Bank announced 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in support, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 1.5 billion dollars and the OPEC Fund 2 billion dollars.

Adesina said the AfDB and the World Bank would commit 40 billion dollars toward Mission 300, with 18.2 billion dollars from the AfDB and 22 billion dollars from the World Bank Group. He said access to electricity is critical to Africa's economic growth, adding that the lack of adequate electricity reduces Africa's gross domestic product by 2 percent to 4 percent annually.

Adesina said in implementing Mission 300, critical reforms will be needed to expand the share of renewables, improve the functioning and performance of utilities, and ensure transparency in licensing, power purchase agreements, and predictable tariff regimes that reflect the cost of production.

"The private sector will also be critical in expanding mini-grids and off-grid systems to reach millions of people without access to grid-based power in rural areas," said the AfDB chief.

Opening the summit that brought together 25 African heads of state and 2,600 delegates, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Mission 300 would help accelerate her country's ambitious national clean cooking strategy aimed at ensuring that 80 percent of Tanzanians use clean cooking solutions by the year 2034. 
The head of one of the largest super funds is optimistic the nations businesses and public servants wont follow the lead of US President Donald Trump in rolling back diversity measures, saying the belief in inclusive and equitable leadership was firmly entrenched in Australia.

HESTA, like other shareholders, has increasingly been using its voting might at annual general meetings to force publicly listed companies to push harder on improving gender diversity.

Last year, the industry fund, which caters to more than 1 million members in health and community services, urged the chairs and chief executives of ASX 300 companies its invested in to commit to ensuring 40 per cent of their staff are women.

HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey is optimistic Australia will not roll back its gender diversity targets. Credit: Eamon Gallagher

Hesta CEO Debby Blakey on Wednesday said the $91 billion super fund, whose members are overwhelmingly women, voted against the re-election directors and chairs at 47 companies, including Harvey Norman, Cettire and Guzman Y Gomez, over their gender diversity achievements.
With the benefit of hindsight, its clear who got the better deal in the mining industrys largest deals to date. Time  and iron ore prices  proved that Billiton needed BHP more than vice versa in their $US57 billion tie-up in 2001. Time and aluminium values showed Rio Tinto needed Alcan a lot less than the other way around in their $US38 billion deal in 2007.

The historical lessons are important as two of the sectors top players, Rio Tinto and Glencore, debate a merger.

Loath to compromise: Would Ivan Glasenberg, Glencores biggest investor, make concessions to reach a deal? Credit: Bloomberg

Obviously, who has the most to gain is far less clear when a deal is revealed  let alone in the heat of negotiations. Everyone likes to talk about mergers of equals and win-win acquisitions. Its typically nonsense. Gauging whos leaving money on the table demands assumptions that are years, if not decades, in advance about commodity prices, geopolitical risks and investor appetite. At best, its art rather science; at worst, its based on gut feelings.

Looking at the potential merger of Rio Tinto and Glencore  GlenTinto, as some bankers have dubbed it  my gut says that Glencore, which is worth about $US55 billion ($89 billion) plus debt, needs the deal more than its rival, which is worth $US100 billion. So if either side needs to compromise on valuation to get a transaction done, its Glencore that needs to make sacrifices now to secure a better future.
At a time Donald Trumps Aussie fixer Dylan Howard should be celebrating his mans return to the White House, hes instead like a bear with a sore paw.

Howard was a key player in US tabloid the National Enquirers catch and kill strategy to bury negative stories about Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, including a pay-off to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Loading

But ever since he slinked back into Australia last year ahead of the presidents hush money trial in New York, Howard has kept popping up like Wheres Wally at various Victorian pubs, cafes and coastal locations.

First he was said to be nursing a back injury in his parents coastal Lorne home that precluded him from flying back to the States to give evidence in the case which ultimately found Trump guilty of 34 felony charges.
Guess who just got back today? Them wild-eyed boys that had been away. Havent changed, had much to say, but man, I still think them cats are crazy. Lyrics from 50 years ago, the opener of Thin Lizzys The Boys Are Back in Town, spookily predicting the hoop-la in Washington last month.

Instead of Thin Lizzy, the Village People were there, at least the redux version of the original sextet, the bikie and the construction hunk swapped out by avatars. YMCA, Americas new anthem, morphed into MAGA as president-elect Donald Trump did his hot-potato shuffle, golf-swinging and fist-flossing. Inauguration, baby. Or inauguration, the sequel: The Trumpire Strikes Back.

Amid Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the new broligarchy, bro is shaping as the prefix of the moment. Credit: AP

Better still, make that The Omen  as inauguration stems from augurare, Latin for predict, whether thats via rooster entrails or scratching Americas name from the Paris climate agreement. The party included the whos who of tech suits, the so-called broligarchy from Bezos to Zuckerberg. Elon Musk, of course, First Buddy to the President, and his Dr Strangelove spasm, as Guardian columnist Marina Hyde depicted that Nazi wave. In fact, the only bloke missing was Al Fresco, as DCs freeze forced the jamboree indoors.

Songs and oaths followed. Benedictions and invocations. Speeches, dances and a rigorous test of Trumps penmanship. From soup to nuts, the Silicon Valley fraternity swayed to the beat, the plutocrat chorus line behind the throne. The whole broccasion marked Chapter One of the Broman Empire, sealed with an executive squiggle.
The case-of-the-week procedural is back, complete with cold (corpse) opens and all the suspects being assembled. The twist is that the detectives in each show have a motivating force that keeps them pushing forward, a season-long search that endures after their latest assignment is successfully closed. Ludwig , I think, has the cleverest. A case of impersonation that makes for awkward tension, heartfelt failing and blithe humour. John Taylor is a fake.

John Taylor (David Mitchell), the timid but tenacious puzzle-maker at the centre of this wholly enjoyable detective tale, has a theory about coincidences  once you get to three, theyre no longer coincidences. If you apply that to the recent surge in mysteries in which the investigator is an idiosyncratic outsider, its not hard to find three welcome new shows where the protagonist clears cases while pursuing a secret mission: Tens Matlock , Disney+s High Potential and now Sevens Ludwig .

A cheerful recluse, John constructs puzzles for a living, operating under the professional moniker of Ludwig. His life is so neatly self-contained that when his sister-in-law Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin) summons him for a visit one night, she can correctly guess what he was planning for dinner (Sundays are pasta). Lucy had married James Taylor, Johns twin brother and the extrovert to his introvert. But after several months of moodiness, the Detective Chief Inspector from the Cambridge police has suddenly disappeared.

Lucy, who has known the twins since they were six years old, and more importantly knows how to smoothly coerce John, persuades him to impersonate his brother so they can keep his absence a secret and John can bring home the work files she believes will reveal what was plaguing her husband. John, who thought leaving the house was a big ask, reluctantly agrees, but as soon as he heads for James desk, his team are called out for the stabbing death of a solicitor in his office.

Loading

However, John realises his puzzling skills are applicable to a murder investigation. Hes so good at unfolding them that senior brass start paying attention to him. One of the pleasures of Ludwig is watching a shy underdog experience public success; in ego terms, John is the anti-Sherlock. And once he finds the coded notebook James left behind, John has a purpose  crack his brothers secret (polyalphabetic ciphers are very much his thing). James just has to keep going back into the office, and, well, attending crime scenes.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration's planned freeze on federal grants, loans and other financial assistance.

Judge Loren AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia paused the plan for a week and scheduled a hearing for further arguments next Monday.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday issued a memo ordering a temporary halt to "all federal financial assistance," saying that this temporary pause will provide the administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs "consistent with the law and the president's priorities."

"Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the (president's) executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), woke gender ideology, and the green new deal," the memo said.

Earlier on Tuesday, advocacy groups representing non-profits and small businesses filed a case in the federal court, arguing the memo is "devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale" and "will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients."

The freeze was the latest move in a series of actions taken by the administration since Donald Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20.

Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship has also faced legal challenges, with over 20 states already filing lawsuits against it. On Thursday, a federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the implementation of the order for two weeks. 
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has apologised for appearing to downplay the Jewish communitys concerns about antisemitism by saying their fears are not always unfounded.

In an interview on Thursday morning on Channel Nines Today show, Chalmers described the discovery in Sydney of a caravan packed with explosives and containing the address of a synagogue as a chilling course of events that was deeply troubling and unsettling.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

He added that what the incident shows is that the fears in the Jewish community are not always unfounded when it comes to the potential for these kind of violent acts.

He said in a separate interview on ABC radio that the Jewish communitys fears were not always unfounded.

His comments caused immediate offence among some members of the Jewish community, who felt he was suggesting their concerns about antisemitism had sometimes been overblown.

Ive had that relayed to me and I apologise, Chalmers said.

My intention was to share and acknowledge the very real and understandable fears and concerns in the Jewish community in light of recent events.

I could have and should have expressed that more clearly, and Im sorry I didnt.
A hastily convened press conference in which NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson belatedly revealed details of a potential mass casualty terror attack in Sydney has raised more questions than it answered.

Jewish residents already fear for their lives following an escalating series of antisemitic attacks across the city. Places of worship have been vandalised. A childcare centre near a Maroubra synagogue has been firebombed. Cars outside the former Dover Heights home of Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, were also incinerated in a targeted attack.

Wednesdays press conference was not planned. Police and the government clearly had no intention of telling the public - yet. Credit: SMH

The chilling discovery of a caravan containing the address of a Sydney synagogue and laden with enough stolen mining explosives to create a 40-metre blast radius will turn existing fear into outright terror.

This spate of violence has reached horrifying new levels and the public deserves nothing less than the full facts, and in a timely manner. The Jewish community will understandably question why police and the NSW government did not tell the public about the discovery when it was first made 10 days ago.
Accused drug trafficker Hussein Chamas allegedly had more than a year in a coastal NSW rehab to plot an escape plan which would take him overland to far northern Australia, onto a $200,000 yacht and towards a new life in Indonesia.

He had a huge head start on authorities, who took a week to realise he had gone.

But its alleged Chamas overlooked a crucial detail that brought his elaborate plan to an abrupt end; he sailed into waters swarming with Australian Border Force ships, who were targeting sea cucumber poachers from Indonesia.

Chamas was arrested off the Gove Peninsula on Saturday night, more than two weeks after allegedly fleeing the embattled Connect Global rehabilitation centre near Newcastle on January 8, which is now set to close.
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 While voters might support the Coalitions proposed policy of stopping foreign investment in real estate, it is indeed symbolic, as Labor says (The Heralds View, January 29). Lets remember, foreign investors have bypassed the additional tax imposed by the Abbott government back in 2015 by gaming the system, using local permanent residents and citizens to buy for them with some financial re-engineering. The opposition policy sounds good on paper, but Id be surprised if itd make any difference in the short term. No policy or talk fest is going to replace building a large number of affordable homes, pronto. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill Given that foreign purchases of property only account for 1 per cent of transactions and the announcement covers only a percentage of those, your editorial about Peter Duttons latest anti-foreigner, dog-whistle act, which will do virtually nothing for housing availability, must have delighted him. This is a tactic, not a functional policy. Graeme Finn, Earlwood The Coalitions has proposed to stop foreign investment in real estate. Credit: Rhett Wyman No one will have been surprised by the results of the latest Resolve poll (Duttons foreign buyer promise cuts through, January 29). A question about a policy to temporarily stop foreign investment in residential property with the assumed outcome of taking pressure off the housing market was almost certain to gain majority support, even from Labor voters who might otherwise have been put off by associating the proposal with Peter Dutton. The fact that foreign buyers make up only 1 per cent of all property purchases in Australia lends particular weight to the governments dismissal of the Coalition idea as too small to make a difference. No doubt the results of the poll would have been different if respondents had been given that piece of information as well. Professor Murray Goot, Macquarie University And so the Coalition pulls its MAGA hat on even more firmly with nationalistic, populist politics of wanting to restrict foreign property purchases  a policy that will not solve the problem at all. Heres a challenge  ban AirBnB if you want to do something substantial. Putting that 2 per cent or so of the rental market back in the pool will both improve rental supply and force some landlords to sell their properties because they cant get the overly generous yield they do with AirBnB. But this wont happen because, just like really tackling the housing crisis by restricting negative gearing and capital gains concessions, its too hard for either side. What a mess. Paul Bugeja, Woolloongabba (Qld) Power to Gittins pen Ross Gittins reminds us that by far the most important problem we face, the one that does most to threaten our future, is climate change, but that the problem we think about most is cost of living (A protest vote will not ease the pain, January 29). The close links between the two are flagged in Bianca Halls report that the cost of living can be cut by $3000 a year by moving off coal and gas (How you could save $3000 power bills by making simple changes, January 29). With four million Australian homes using solar panels already, theres clearly passion and commitment. But the big push relies on government support to make the switch affordable for all. As the chief executive of the Smart Energy Council notes: If you give someone a handout with an energy bill rebate, it helps them for a quarter. If you help them set up the house with renewables, it helps them for a generation. This seems to echo Gittins point that when we vote this year, we must play the environmental long game and support the pollies who do get the urgency of climate action: the Greens and the teal independents. We must support our childrens futures. Karen Campbell, Geelong

Advertisement

Ross Gittins is spot on. Dutton and the Coalition appear to be gaining ground with their small-target policies, such as limiting overseas investment in housing and their continued negativity about the economy. Neither side of politics has had the courage to tackle the hard choices on tax reform. Indeed, it has been a teal independent, Zali Steggall, who has raised that recently and suggested changes that could lead to a fairer society. A minority Labor government, with the support of independents such as the teals, could lead to some major reforms, which neither major party is willing to tackle. Mary Lawson, Marrickville Ross Gittins states the most important issue we face is climate change and voters have a responsibility to the generations that follow. Electing a Dutton government to punish the current government will put back the expansion of renewable energy for decades. As for the cost of living, the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side. John Cotterill, Kingsford Four million Australian homes already have solar panels installed. Credit: Bloomberg Thank goodness for Ross Gittins healthy dose of reality from an economic perspective. His sensible commentary makes essential reading for anyone struggling against the tide of misinformation that threatens to overwhelm national pre-election political discourse. Informed analysis beats selfish ignorance any day: more power to Gittins pen. Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor (Vic) Ross Gittins article should be sent to everyone who is going to vote in the upcoming federal election. Patrick Dodd, Narrabeen

Advertisement

Amazing Grace Jane Caro is so right. Grace Tames pugnacious determination to speak truth to power, in whatever way, has grabbed everyones attention (Tame Grace  good luck with that. I delight in her brave belligerence, January 29). Her refusal to back down in the face of blowback is an inspiration to those of us from a different generation who share her views but were conditioned to shrink back into our corners the moment we were criticised. And many of those pearl-clutchers who are loudly criticising Graces unquenchable fire are the same conservatives who delighted in the re-election of Donald Trump, which happened largely thanks to the machinations of the very person Graces T-shirt so rightfully denounced. Ambrosia Baume, Annandale I share Tames revulsion of the Murdoch media. However, Jane Caros encouragement of young girls to flaunt themselves is misguided. While I just laugh at all the bare bums and flesh at Bondi, my partner and her sister (both social-justice warrior types) are mortified by current trends in beach attire. They consider it demeaning to all women, let alone the near-naked 12 and 13-year-olds. And what drives these trends? The need to impress males, of course. Hardly the stuff of equality. As for Caros observation that the current generation is less easily cowed than previous ones, there are a few notable exceptions, Germaine Greer being one. Sadly, she has been silenced and shouted down by the younger generation over her unfashionable views on transgenderism. They dismiss Greers entire body of work on just one issue. Just as anyones choice of clothing belongs between the extremes, women dont need to go from the silenced to silencers to gain equality. Paul Davies, Crows Nest Jane Caros article was spot on! Thank you Jane, and thank you Grace. It was exactly the right time and place for Graces T-shirt to garner attention. I applaud her courage, and thank goodness she is brave enough to stand there for all of us. Lindy Lou Rigg, Milsons Point Caros defence of Grace Tames appalling behaviour at such a serious event speaks for itself. Even the prime minister called her out for it. This had nothing to do with Murdochs behaviour, which I also dont approve of. But Grace, this event wasnt about you, it was about the worthy recipients at the Australian of the Year awards  men and women. Does Caro really believe that such grandstanding promotes womens causes? Lets face it, in Caros world women can do no wrong. David Jackson, Artarmon What a brilliant article from Jane Caro. Grace Tame is the voice we need for these times and I marvel at her intelligence, bravery and resilience. I also laugh at the faux outrage that resulted from her actions  she plays them like puppets. Well done Jane, your opinion pieces are gold. Andrew Moody, Forster Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame in her controversial T-shirt. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Advertisement

Jane Caro is quite wrong to think the recent criticism of Grace Tame has something to do with policing womens choice of clothing. It is fundamentally about Tames disrespect for others and her willingness to use others for her own purposes. The wording boldly printed on Tames T-shirt was obscene and distracting, in anyones language. Ross Drynan, Lindfield Trumps fossil fuel frenzy will backfire The article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard offers a somewhat encouraging view of future energy markets and the consequences for global warming (When it comes to the energy race, Trump is Chinas useful idiot, January 29). Now that the world is assessing the realities of Trumps fossil fuel frenzy and the dismantling of massive renewable energy projects, it appears his vision is becoming increasingly blurred. Major US oil producers, faced with the exhaustion of prime oil and gas fields and uncertain financial returns, are unlikely to respond to the presidents expectations. Interestingly, with the plummeting costs of solar panels and batteries leading to their rapid installation in regions of good sun, US electricity prices have fallen, weakening the anticipated future demand for gas generators. China, with its incredibly speedy transition to renewable energy and accelerated production of electric vehicles, will greatly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and increase its ascendancy over the US in EV manufacture. Elon Musks attention must be focused on a Space-X journey to Mars. Roger Epps, Armidale As the owner of a house that is energy self-sufficient, I can fully attest to Chinas dominance of the clean energy market. My solar panels, battery, heat pump and EV were all made in China. Given how much money I am saving by going down the sustainability path, its hard to understand what President Trump must be thinking by keeping America dependent on fossil fuels. The rest of the world will certainly not follow his lead, although energy dinosaurs like Russia and Saudi Arabia might be privately cheering. And what of Australia? Will we board the Trump train, with Peter Dutton as driver, and hurtle recklessly back to the 20th century? I certainly hope not. Ken Enderby, Concord Really, Gladys Appearing alongside Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott, John Howard, Dominic Perrottet, Peter Dutton and others, the former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian stated we believe in a just and humane society (Is Gladys back? Berejiklian dips her toe back into Liberal politics, January 29). After recovering from choking on my cereal, I recalled Morrison and robo-debt, Abbott and his promise of no cuts to education and health, Howard and children overboard, Duttons denigration of Frasers immigration policies and the Voice. The list goes on. Whatever credibility Gladys may have had, even after the ICAC findings, has now left the building. Rob Siebert, Skennars Head

Advertisement

Council cruelty Apparently, according to the arrogant Northern Beaches Council, anyone who can afford to live in the area can afford, essentially, unlimited rate increases. Since amalgamation, residents of the Manly ward have been hit with an extraordinary increase of 26 per cent in the name of harmonisation and will now cop another 39.6 per cent rise over the next three years. There has been no sign of the promised amalgamation savings. As a long-term resident, almost 50 years, living on a fixed income, I find the councils attitude cruel and offensive. I suspect Im not the only long-term resident who feels betrayed by our representatives. It would be excellent if the council listened to its constituents and revoked the increase in favour of the much smaller increase supported by the community. Bruce Barry, Balgowlah Wong was right It was a strange call for the Australian Monarchist League to suggest the governor-general should have represented Australia at the Auschwitz memorial ceremony, rather than politicians, in this case our foreign affairs minister and the attorney-general (Letters, January 29). It would also have been inappropriate, as King Charles III was present and there would have been no need for his Australian representative. Philip Benwell can take comfort in the fact that apart from representing Britain, the King could also be seen as representing Australia and his 14 other domains. Maurice Critchley, Mangrove Mountain Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong attended the Auschwitz memorial in Poland. Credit: Rob Harris I am 100 per cent happy that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong represented me in Poland. All of our politicians, in particular Wong, represent Australia rather than their party. I am, we are, you are Australian, including you Philip. Rurik MacKenzie, Summer Hill Creek

Advertisement
A teenager charged over an ugly brawl at Manly Wharf that forced the intervention of Nines interim chief executive, Matt Stanton, has pleaded not guilty to riot and affray.

Emillio Martinez of Bonnyrigg Heights appeared in Manly Local Court on Wednesday morning, flanked by his family, as he entered a plea of not guilty.

Emillio Martinez did not answer reporters questions as he hurried into a waiting car. Credit: Nick Moir

The brawl involved around 40 youths and highlighted antisocial behaviour in the affluent beachside suburb as the mob allegedly attacked a boy outside the ferry terminal on January 6.

Martinez, 18, is one of three people charged under Strike Force Crookhaven, which was set up to investigate the incident.
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 Outside his home, Jason Richard Struhs is pulled from his religious congregation to talk to police. The body of his eight-year-old daughter has been lying in the house, on a mattress on the floor, for 36 hours. Singing can be heard from the crime scene as Jason starts answering a detectives questions. Footage of the interview, shot on January 8, 2022, and only now made publicly available as a verdict is handed down over his daughters death, shows a man politely explaining details up to that moment. Yesterday, she just, Jason shrugs, fell asleep and passed away. Jason, along with his wife, Kerrie, and 12 other members of the congregation, the Saints, was convicted of Elizabeth Struhs manslaughter after one of Queenslands biggest trials. In the footage, he shrugs again. Obviously we believe in God, as you can tell, and we expected him to bring her back.

Advertisement

He explains how strong-willed his daughter was. She had always believed in God, like her mother, and she had wanted to stop taking insulin for her type 1 diabetes early that January. Kerrie is even more devoted to the fringe religious group, having been a member for 17 years, and refusing all modern medicine. But Jason had been baptised only months before Elizabeth became gravely ill. He had resisted his wifes hardline beliefs for years. Kerrie is so devout, she tells police she hoped her daughter would rise from the dead in front of paramedics. On the Monday before Elizabeth died, Jason says, he agreed with his daughter and stopped giving her the insulin. By Friday morning, the 53-year-old baker woke up to the sound of praying in his house.

Advertisement

For years, the small group  who called themselves the Saints  had quietly practised their religion in a neat brick house typical of those found in the suburbs of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. Reading scriptures, speaking in tongues, and denouncing medicine, the Saints chose to believe God would heal them. We were upstairs, and I ran downstairs, and shed passed on, Jason says. But I wasnt sad. Elizabeth is remembered by her older sister Jayde as a bubbly, energetic soul who was always happy. Credit: Nine News He stares at the detective through dark-rimmed square glasses. He says his daughter wasnt breathing. He shrugs. She was motionless. The detective asks why police werent called to the Meredith Crescent home the day before. We expected God to bring her back, he answers. There was never going to be a time where we call straight away because that just destroys what we believe.

Advertisement

But Jason eventually decided to call for an ambulance. Asked by the detective if he has any regrets, he says hes at peace. Im happy for her, he says, looking at the ground. Because Ive seen what she had to go through. She hated it. I dont care what anyone thinks, and it doesnt worry me, I did this for my baby girl. Between questions, Jason is seen saying goodbye to other members of the congregation. I dont feel sorry. I feel happy because I know now shes at peace. Only thing different is now I believe, where I didnt [previously], and I gave my little girl what she wanted and I expect God to look after her. Jason Richard Struhs He begins to cry. And so am I, because I dont have to  Im not totally  shes not dependent on me for her life now, and Im not trapped by diabetes as well because its an awful thing for parents to go through, and kids and everything.

Advertisement

The detective, who knows Jason from a previous incident in which Elizabeth almost died, asks the father how hes faring. Im great  I wont say great. Im not jumping up and down with joy. But Im at peace. Ive got nothing to hide, like last time, weve had nothing to hide. Later, his wife Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, would be interviewed in a room by two detectives. She answers questions with deference. At times, she raises her chin at the police. She tells them she has believed in God for about 17 years. But her husband never did, she says. But, in the August before her daughter died, something shifted. She was in prison at the time, having been jailed back in 2019 for failing to provide for Elizabeth when the child was first diagnosed with diabetes, and Jason was struggling to care for their eight children.

Advertisement
Women are used to approaching the public realm with hypervigilance. But what you dont expect is to have your guard up at 9am on a busy inner-city street.

This week, a friend messaged to say theyd just been harassed on their way to a meeting in South Brisbane. The man, who she described as a random f---ing dude in his 50s first yelled at her to give us a smile.

I know its hard for yas, he said, catching up to her on the street. When she turned in confusion, he stopped by her side and continued: See, thats exactly what I mean about you people.

People often fail to help a stranger because they fear for their own safety. Thats when indirect action can be effective. Credit: Tammy Law

I literally wasnt even looking at him at all, and didnt notice him until he yelled at me, she wrote.
When five-year-old Tyra Zuidam locks eyes with fellow prep pupil Harrison Castelino at the school gates, they fall into each others arms in relief.

The best friends who went to kindergarten together hold hands in a throng of 510 kids starting the year at South Melbourne Primary School.

Tameeka Castelino drops off her boys Mason, Harrison and Flynn at South Melbourne Primary School. Harrison is starting prep this year. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Although shy, Tyra, who wants to be a singer, finds being at school makes her happy.

Shes growing so fast, says Tyras mother, Ira Putri.
A Melbourne schoolboys trip to Vietnam should have been a highlight of his high-school years, but instead, it led to the 16-year-olds death.

Kilvington Grammar School student Lachlan Cook died at the Royal Childrens Hospital in October 2019 after becoming ill from severe diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes, while on the trip.

Coroner Audrey Jamieson found clear and cogent evidence that the failures and shortcomings of World Challenge Expeditions and Kilvington Grammar contributed to Lachlans death. Credit: Penny Stephens

He was one of eight students from the school on the trip organised by World Challenge Expeditions in September 2019.

Five years after his death, the school and travel company were convicted and fined in the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday for breaching health and safety laws. They pleaded guilty in December.
VICTORIA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- With authentic Chinese delicacies and cultural performances captivating audiences, a China-themed bazaar in Victoria marked the start of Chinese New Year celebrations in Seychelles, and boosted interactions between the two cultures.

The 12th China Day Bazaar, held outside the National Museum of History in the capital city, attracted the Chinese community and others dwelling in the western Indian Ocean archipelago on Saturday.

With the banging of a Gong, Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles Lin Nan and several local officials launched the event and subsequent Spring Festival activities.

A group of young Seychellois performed a lively lion and dragon dance and Seychelles National Choir sang three Chinese songs at the opening ceremony.

Marie-Julie Stephen, one of the attendees, found contentment in her visit to the bazaar with more than 20 stalls.

"Despite the rain, I am happy to be here and taste the various delicacies on offer," she said.

In her opening address, Lin described the bazaar as "a highlight of cultural exchanges between our two countries and a vivid demonstration of the Global Civilization Initiative."

The iconic cultural event is "the bridge for our two peoples and cultures to meet and interact and to learn from each other," Lin said.

David Andre, secretary general of Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA), said that the cultural exchanges conducted at the event "are a powerful reminder of the unifying role that culture plays in bringing people together."

"Culture helps to create lasting connections, foster tolerance and build bridges across divides. When we share each other's traditions we celebrate both our similarities and our differences," he added.

Rose-Mary Lee-Bluemner, chairperson of the Chinese Association of Seychelles, said that the event "symbolizes strong friendship between Seychelles and China, highlighting our shared values and cultural ties."

In addition to the bazaar, visitors also had the luxury to see a photo exhibition featuring the city of Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The event was co-organized by the SNICHA, the Chinese Association of Seychelles and the Office of the Mayor of Victoria. 
The Albanese government is pressing Russia to release captured soldier Oscar Jenkins after the extraordinary revelation the Australian, who travelled to fight in defence of Ukraine, is alive in captivity, rather than dead as had been feared.

Friends of the former Melbourne school teacher were delighted on Wednesday afternoon when Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed a report in this masthead that Australian officials are confident the 32-year-old is alive.

Wong said earlier this month that the government held grave concerns for Mr Jenkins welfare and was making urgent inquiries following the reports of his death, initially broadcast on 7News.

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins was reported to have been killed by Russian troops.

Russias ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky, advised Australian officials on Tuesday night that Jenkins had been detained by members of the Russian military and was being held in custody in Russia, sources familiar with the matter said.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson says the horrifying discovery was kept a secret while investigations were undertaken, saying while arrests had been made on the periphery of this job there were other offenders still being pursued. There are ongoing investigations which need to be conducted [and], ideally, those investigations are conducted with some form of anonymity, he said. Youre talking about the biggest counter-terrorism command in Australia with decades worth of experience, and theyve made a judgment on a couple of things, Minns told Sky on Thursday morning. Deputy Commissioner David Hudson speaks while Premier Chris Minns watches on. Credit: SMH Minns was briefed on January 20, a day after the discovery. The call to withhold the discovery from the public while investigations were ongoing was the right decision, he said on Thursday morning.

The information was going to be released quite soon before it was leaked to The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday afternoon, Hudson said. But the hastily convened press conference on Wednesday evening was clearly forced by the publication of the Telegraph story, creating questions over when exactly police planned on publicly detailing the plot. What is Strike Force Pearl? The task force was established in December last year to investigate hate crimes with an antisemitic focus across Sydney. It comprises officers of the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command, with support provided by several police area commands. NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner David Hudson speak at a press conference about the Dural discovery. Credit: Nine News Why has there been a rise in antisemitic attacks?

Chris Minns has repeatedly alluded to the importation of violence from the 15-month conflict in the Middle East and, over the last fortnight, has argued that these attacks begin with hate speech in the community. Asked on Thursday morning what was perpetuating the attacks, Minns said: There are bad people in our community. Badly motivated, bad ideologies, bad morals, bad ethics, bad people. Theyre intent on doing damage and harm to others. Its hateful. Its an ideology that we need to stamp out. But there remain more questions than answers and no obvious explanation for exactly who or what is behind the attacks. Last week, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw detailed intelligence suggesting criminals for hire could be behind some of the attacks, paid in cryptocurrency by foreign actors.

But there was little detail about who these alleged overseas agents could be. There was no particular ideology or any common links between ideologies driving the attacks at this stage, Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said. But nothings excluded ... We pursue everything until we get to the truth, he said. What extra powers do police get if it is declared a terror incident? The additional powers provided to police in the event of a terror designation are two-fold.

First, they permit the warrantless searching of any target, related premises or vehicle, along with the seizure of any items. It requires a target of the designation to hand themselves in or face up to two years in prison. Second, properties can be searched without notice, and enter the premises through adjoining land. The designation can only be enacted if the police commissioner or a deputy is satisfied there are reasonable grounds the powers will be used to prevent an imminent terror attack, or immediately after a terror attack. The measures were enacted by the Carr government in December 2002 in response to the September 11 attacks in the United States and the Bali bombings in October 2002, which killed 88 Australians. The firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December was formally designated a terrorist incident, with the investigation being jointly handled by Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO. Do the police believe that foreign actors are behind the caravan plot?
In the days before and after Christmas, at a time when the men and women who represent the Victorian Liberal Party in the state parliament were carving up the spoils of opposition like a normal family might a glazed ham, no one spared much thought for voters.

The idea that John Pesutto, after a hapless two years leading a party bludgeoned at the last state election, had somehow put his lot into a position to win the next one, didnt stay the hands wielding the knife.

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin is yet to outline his vision for the states future Credit: Wayne Taylor/Marija Ercegovac

If anything, it sharpened the blade. As one party insider reflected this week, there are Liberal MPs who would have seen evidence of Pesuttos electoral progress as all the more reason to cut him down quick.

Michael OBrien, the last Liberal leader deposed just when the polls suggested voters were warming to him, could attest to this.
The AI race isnt just about technological progress; its a fight for control over the future  who shapes it, who profits, and whose systems define it. Like the space race of the 20th century, the AI race isnt just about innovation  its a contest to prove whose system is better equipped to lead the world.

The battle lines of the AI race are being drawn, and each major player has a strategy. Europes model places a bet on ethical development, slow growth, and building citizen trust over time. The United States, fuelled by its start-up culture and venture capital, announced last week it would throw $US500 billion ($802 billion) at OpenAI in a move that signals a belief that massive investments will win out. China, meanwhile, has taken a different tack, restricted by a lack of access to the most advanced chips. Instead of scale, it has doubled down on efficiency, creating leaner models that are competing with the best the West has to offer.

This isnt just about who can build the smartest algorithm or the most efficient model  its about who controls the future by controlling attention. Its about deciding whose values will underpin the next century of innovation and influence.

Enter DeepSeek, the newest AI project thats in the running to be the Sputnik moment of the AI development race. Its developers, funded by a Chinese hedge fund, trained a model comparable to ChatGPTs o1 for a fraction of the cost. Limited by chip restrictions, Chinese developers innovated a process that relied less on brute force and more on precision. Their technological wizardry should be embarrassing to us in the West. The idea that limiting Chinas access to our hardware would keep us ahead seems to have failed.
Soldiers are pretty much brainwashed that they have to die, says Lee, 40, who now lives in the US. The education we had was that committing suicide or fighting until the death was an honour and a valuable contribution to the nation and the leader. Being taken a prisoner of war is treated as a kind of treason and a disgrace. Whats in it for North Korea? Kims troops have been lambs to the slaughter in Kursk, according to Kyiv, which has estimated as many as 3000 North Koreans have been killed or wounded. This doesnt appear to have deterred Kim, who, South Koreas military intelligence says, is preparing to dispatch more troops. What, then, is Kims motivation? Why did he decide to break with decades of North Korean isolation and enter a hot conflict more than 2 years after it started?

Until this point, North Korea had been content to aid Russias war efforts by supplying it with billions of dollars worth of ammunition, missiles and artillery shells in exchange for food, oil and money, helping it circumvent crippling Western sanctions. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor the Kim regime have directly confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops, making any quid pro quo arrangement the subject of speculation and intelligence gathering. Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, North Korea, last year. Credit: AP There is a consensus view among analysts that Kims primary goal is to upgrade his regimes war machine and gain leverage on the international stage. The US believes North Korea is benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, including its advanced space and satellite technology. This would make it more capable of waging war against its neighbours, US deputy ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the UN Security Council in January.

In turn, the DPRK will likely be eager to leverage these improvements to promote weapons sales and military training contracts globally, she said, referring to North Koreas formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. South Korea, meanwhile, advised the Pentagon last year that Kim would be likely to seek Russian technology on tactical nuclear weapons, ballistic missile submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meet in the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea in 2019. Credit: Getty Images Despite the heavy losses, North Korean troops are also gaining much-needed modern combat experience, the first large-scale exposure the countrys armed forces have had since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Theyre decades behind even the Russians, and theyre on a very fast learning curve, and a lot of them are dying for that learning, says Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army major general who has written a book on the strategies being deployed in the Ukraine war.

What well see is that North Koreans will learn about the modern kill chain, which means you close the time between when you see a target and when you engage that target. They are still working in 1950s and 1960s times. Loading This battlefield experience, particularly in using artillery and long-range rockets, will be alarming for South Korea, which lives with an ever-present threat from its neighbours huge artillery force, much of it capable of hitting Seoul. While there have been plenty of reports about North Korean soldiers dismal preparedness for modern warfare, such as drone strikes, more recently, Ukrainian military officials have acknowledged their combat skills are improving, and they are a disciplined fighting force. Every shelter, every car they just destroy with anti-tank grenade launchers. They move very fast, [they] literally run, one Ukrainian commander told CNN.

They wear Russian uniforms, and fake Russian IDs have been found on the bodies of slain soldiers. Russia is believed to be paying Pyongyang $US2000 ($3200) per soldier each month, according to South Korean intelligence. At that rate, 12,000 soldiers would earn about $460 million over 12 months. Its money that will go straight into Kims coffers, Lee says, and not trickle down to the soldiers. They will not receive a penny of it. They will receive normal North Korean payroll, which was about $US1 a month, he said. What does it mean for geopolitics? North Koreas involvement in the Ukraine war has not only upgraded its relationship with Russia to a blood-forged alliance, it has also made it a bigger player on the world stage, says Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow at the Stimson Centres Korea Program, a US think tank.

This changes the calculus for US President Donald Trump, who has already expressed a desire to rekindle the talks with the North Korean dictator that generated enormous fanfare six years ago but ultimately failed to halt Kims nuclear ambitions. Deepened relations with Russia mean more opportunities, either real or perceived, for North Korea, making it much more difficult for the United States to offer a deal to North Korea that is tempting enough to entice it back to the nuclear negotiating table, Lee says. The alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang was formalised in June 2024, when Putin and Kim signed an agreement pledging military assistance using all means if either were attacked. This makes it likely that North Korea will also have to factor in any deal Trump tries to broker with Putin to bring an end to the war. There are implications for China, too. Beijing has been a critical source of aid for the North Korean regime, regarding its survival and stability on the Korean peninsula as being in its core security interests. But the relationship has been strained by Pyongyangs pivot to Moscow. Its also helping to embolden Kim, Sydney Seiler, a former US national intelligence officer for North Korea, told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies podcast this week.
Its part of a much broader overhaul of immigration policy, with the administration conducting high-profile arrests in New York, Chicago and Denver of those convicted of serious crimes. But Trump has also vowed the largest deportation in US history, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, ordering thousands of additional troops to assist with enforcement and cutting off access to asylum. The control tower is seen through the razor wire inside the Camp VI detention compound which has housed foreign prisoners since 2002, at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, in Cuba. Credit: AP The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but it is likely that personnel from DHS will be responsible for the migrants themselves. It is unclear how the facility will be funded. On Tuesday, the US military said that it would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado. Loading

The reaction to Trumps move as swift. Trumps order sends a clear message: migrants and asylum seekers are being cast as the new terrorist threat, deserving to be discarded in an island prison, removed from legal and social services and supports, said Vince Warren, the executive director of the New York-based Centre for Constitutional Rights, a legal advocacy group that since the September 11 attacks has represented dozens of men detained at the base. The decision should horrify us all, his statement said. In Cuba, President Miguel Diaz-Canel deemed the decision an act of brutality on X and described the base as located in illegally occupied #Cuba territory. The US has leased Guantanamo from Cuba for more than a century but Havana opposes the lease and typically rejects the nominal US rent payments. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X, The US governments decision to imprison migrants at the Guantanamo Naval Base, in an enclave where it created torture and indefinite detention centres, shows contempt for the human condition and international law. Amnesty International echoed the sentiment, writing on X that the base has been the sire of torture, indefinite detention without charge or trial and other unlawful practices by the US government. It added Trump should use his authority to finally close it instead.

The decisions come on top of US military deportation flights and the deployment of just over 1600 active-duty troops to the US border with Mexico following Trumps emergency declaration on immigration last week. Loading The administration on Tuesday also cancelled former president Joe Bidens extension of Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans already in the US. The 18-month extension of TPS would have shielded Venezuelan migrants from being sent back to their country and allowed them to work legally in the US. The Biden administration announced the extension days before leaving office. We stopped that, Noem said on Fox News. We signed an executive order within the Department of Homeland Security that we are not going to follow through on what they did to tie our hands. The TPS program was expanded aggressively under Biden, who used it to shield people from countries seen as unstable, such as Haiti, El Salvador and Ukraine. Trumps decision to revoke the extension for Venezuelans was reported earlier by The New York Times.

In the last several years, Venezuelans have ranked among the largest groups of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border without authorisation to ask for asylum. While the TPS program for the South American country initially enjoyed broad support, it later became a target of Republicans who argued that it has been granted too liberally and acts as a draw to migrants. Loading Florida, Texas and New York are home to the largest population of individuals with TPS, with about half the total recipients coming from Venezuela. Patricia Andrade, of Miami-based non-profit Raices Venezolanas (Venezuelan Roots), has been advising TPS holders to apply for other visas and alternative immigration options. Many of those who received TPS have already opted for asylum or an immigrant visa, but others are still waiting for these new visas, she said. These are the people we are concerned about. Meanwhile, Trumps budget office has rescinded an order to freeze spending on federal loans and grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country.

The memo, which was issued Monday by the Office of Management and Budget, had frightened states, schools and organisations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington. Administration officials said the pause was necessary to review whether spending aligned with Trumps executive orders on issues like climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But on Wednesday, they sent out a two-sentence notice rescinding the original memo. The reversal was the latest sign that even with unified control of Washington, Trumps plans to dramatically and rapidly reshape the government has limits. A district judge had earlier blocked the order until at least Monday afternoon. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the presidents orders on controlling federal spending.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In a momentous occasion celebrating heritage and service, the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, presented a commemorative plaque to the management and staff of Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant in recognition of its 50th anniversary. The ceremony highlighted the establishments extraordinary contribution to the culinary and cultural fabric of Sint Maarten.

Prime Minister Mercelina expressed profound admiration for the resilience and dedication shown by the family-owned restaurant over the decades. "For 50 years, Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant has been more than a dining establishment; it has been a cornerstone of community life, a beacon of connection, and a testament to what hard work and commitment to service can achieve. It is a privilege to honor a business that has touched so many lives on this island," said Dr. Mercelina during his remarks.

The Prime Minister reflected on the restaurants unique ability to adapt and thrive through decades of change, including significant challenges like hurricanes and shifts in the local economy.

"Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant has demonstrated the resilience that defines the spirit of Sint Maarten. Your doors have remained open, providing not only meals but also warmth, familiarity, and a space for generations of families and friends to gather," Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina remarked.

The plaque presented reads, in part:

"In recognition of five decades of outstanding service and commitment to the people and communities of Sint Maarten, your dedication to feeding people and fostering community connections has made Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant a beloved and iconic establishment. Your contribution to our island's rich heritage is deeply valued."

The Prime Minister concluded with a call for continued collaboration between businesses and the government to strengthen the nations community bonds. "As we celebrate this milestone, let us also recommit ourselves to supporting local businesses like Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant, whose success is intertwined with the success of Sint Maarten. Together, we are building a brighter, stronger future."

Hong Kong Bar & Restaurant has long been an institution on the island, beloved by locals and visitors alike for its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to quality. The establishments legacy is a testament to the power of tradition, community, and perseverance.
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VSA Richinel Brug confirmed to SMN News on Wednesday that the Council of Ministers press briefing that there has been an increase in cost to construct the New General Hospital on St. Maarten. However, the Minister said that he could not provide any details on the increased cost because he was informed by St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) that there is a non-disclosure agreement between SMMC and the contractor FINSO.

Brug said he was informed that the cost has increased due to several factors, such as the redesigning of the New General Hospital, Indexation, the effects of COVID-19, and the War in Ukraine.

The Design and Build and Maintain (DBM) contract to construct the New General Hospital was signed on September 16th, 2016, by former Minister of VSA Emil Lee, USZV, and St. Maarten Medical Center.

Back then, the cost of construction of the New General Hospital was USD 120M; this amount was divided as follows:

 USD 25M, a grant from the World Bank.

 USD 85.7M from a consortium of lenders

 USD 9.3m from SMMC.

The tripartite had to increase the cost of the New General Hospital by USD 1M when the USZV had to compensate VAMED based on a court verdict.

Despite the increase and the slowing down of construction, the government has not indicated if the penalty for default in construction was applied at any time.

While the current Minister of VSA could not provide details on the increased cost and redesign SMN News, it was learned that the price has risen by over USD 40M. However, no information has been provided on how SMMC or the government of St. Maarten will finance the extra $40M that the loan consortium produced.

SMN News further learned that FINSO wanted an increase of $USD 80M, but that amount was decreased based on negotiations with the former government of St. Maarten. The agreement states that the contractor will no longer demolish the old SMMC building, but instead, SMMC will hire local contractors to demolish the current structure and the building of the parking lots.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On January 20th, the Grace Hill Bible University, St. Maarten Campus counseling degree program, in partnership with Victorious Living Foundation and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA), hosted a transformative suicide prevention Master Class under the theme, "Igniting Hope in Our Community: Preventing Suicide." Held at the St. Maarten Government Administration Building, the event aimed to raise awareness and provide critical tools for suicide assessment, prevention, and treatment.

With over 300 attendees participating in person and onlineand over 1,000 total views since the eventit was clear this initiative struck a chord within the community. Suicide affects people of all ages and backgrounds, and the Master Class served as a crucial step toward breaking the stigma surrounding mental health conversations on the island.

The event was spearheaded by Dr. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton, along with Masters Counseling Degree students Minerva Warner Hughes, Georges Richardson, Barbara Cocks, Pastor Vital Dominique, and Sachida Thomasia-Hyman. Together, they demonstrated the power of education and collaboration in addressing this pressing issue.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, the Honorable Mr. Richinel Brug, emphasized the importance of initiatives like these during his address. When Mrs. Erna Mae Francis-Cotton approached us with this initiative, there was no hesitation. Victorious Living Foundation has always been about improving lives, and VSA shares that same mission. This partnership was a natural fit. If you have future projects, reach out, he said.

Minister Brug further highlighted the timeliness of the event: This initiative is long overdue, especially considering the lives lost over the past year. Suicide has often been treated as a taboo topic in our community, but by addressing it head-on, youre breaking barriers and making a lasting impact.

The Master Class featured insightful presentations from the Masters Counseling Degree students, covering topics such as youth suicide, substance abuse, and tailored prevention strategies for clergy. Attendees also benefited from the expertise of keynote speaker Dr. Ann Marlin Evans, who stressed the urgency of innovative solutions to support those in need.

Minister Brug extended his gratitude to the organizers and participants, expressing his hope for more initiatives that shed light on mental health challenges. This event demonstrated the power of community partnerships and underscored the need to continue fostering open conversations about mental health and wellness.

For more information on upcoming initiatives or support, please contact Grace Hill Bible University or the Ministry of VSA. Together, we can keep igniting hope in our community.
GAZA/CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Tuesday that a delegation led by the head of its leadership council, Mohamed Darwish, has met with Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, in Cairo for discussion on the implementation of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Hamas said the meeting addressed the developments in the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

Hamas thanked Egypt for its critical role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and its firm opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from their land.

During the meeting, the two sides also emphasized the need to obligate Israel to comply fully with all terms of the truce deal without delay or obstruction.

In addition, the Hamas delegation discussed with Rashad efforts to restructure Palestinian politics, including proposals to form a national unity government or create a community support committee to strengthen Palestinian unity amid ongoing challenges.

Meanwhile, well-informed Egyptian sources told Xinhua that it was agreed during the two sides' talks to release Israeli female hostage Arbel Yehud, alongside another hostage, within the next 48 hours.

According to the sources, the Hamas delegation conveyed it would transfer three Israeli prisoners and the remains of eight Israeli soldiers to the Israeli side on Saturday. 
HARBIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- At Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, veteran ice sculptor Zhang Hongyan is putting his finishing touches on 12 zodiac sculptures, infusing them with a unique charm that enhances the Chinese New Year atmosphere for visitors from around the world.

Since 1996, Zhang has devoted nearly three decades to the art of ice sculpting, witnessing firsthand the growth and transformation of Harbin's ice sculpting industry.

He said that as far as he can remember, Zhaolin Park in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is where China's ice lantern show originated and has been key to the development and promotion of the ice sculpture artistry.

In 1963, the first Harbin Ice Lantern Festival was held at the park, making it one of the world's earliest and largest outdoor ice lantern art exhibitions, Zhang said.

Since then, Harbin's ice sculptors have been using ice from the nearby Songhua River to create a wide range of ice art.

"Each ice sculpture undergoes several processes, including design, chainsaw cutting, and fine detailing with sharp tools. For beginners, it takes at least 10 years of learning and practice before they can create an ice sculpture independently," Zhang said.

Over the past 60 years, Harbin has nurtured generations of ice and snow sculptors. Thanks to their efforts, the techniques of ice sculpting, once considered a vanishing art, have flourished not only in China but also around the world.

Zhang has been pleased to see how technological advancements have transformed what were once temporary sculptures into enduring marvels.

"Advancements in cold storage technology have allowed ice sculpture artistry to evolve from a seasonal craft into a year-round practice, spreading from northern regions to southern cities in China," he said.

Zhang noted that indoor ice-and-snow galleries in cities like Shenzhen in the south and Shanghai in the east are now able to showcase meticulously crafted ice sculptures, bringing the beauty of the art form to a wider audience.

The reach of Harbin's ice sculptors goes well beyond China. Since the 1960s, they have been committed to sharing Chinese ice sculpting techniques with countries such as the United States, Brazil and South Africa.

"Every year, from mid-October to late November, teams of Harbin ice sculptors travel to U.S. cities like Washington and Orlando to create indoor ice sculptures in refrigerated spaces for Christmas," Zhang said, noting that there are notable stylistic differences between Chinese and international ice sculptures.

He went on to explain that Chinese ice sculptures often emphasize scale, with the large-scale designs at Harbin Ice-Snow World being prime examples, while international ice sculptures tend to be smaller, more intricate, and often feature innovative design concepts.

"In 2013, I served as the ice sculpture art director for the indoor ice exhibition at Long Beach in Los Angeles, where we created ice sculptures based on the fairy tale, 'The Nutcracker,'" Zhang said. "It was a completely new endeavor, and the differences in aesthetics and culture between the East and West drove us to progress through mutual understanding and integration."

Over the years, Chinese ice sculptors like Zhang have blended various styles and techniques in their work. The Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition held at Harbin Ice-Snow World draws ice-and-snow artists from around the world to showcase their skill.

"I really enjoy exchanges with international ice sculptors. They are impressed by the traditional culture embedded in Chinese ice sculptures, and we appreciate their creative designs," said Shi Lei, a participant in the competition.

From the Ice Lantern Festival to the impressive Harbin Ice-Snow World, Chinese ice sculpting has become a major draw for visitors from all over the world. Standing beneath the towering sculptures, tourists are often amazed by their beauty and become a part of the story they tell.

"Seeing these ice sculptures and buildings with my own eyes is truly inspiring. They are exquisite and rich in unique cultural elements. I will never forget the grandeur and beauty of them," said Robin Lapthorne, an Australian tourist. "This is a treasure of world art, and I believe this city should be proud of it." 
Commentary

By Sylvain Charlebois

The recent GST holiday showed how tax relief can influence consumer behaviour. According to Restaurants Canada, restaurant traffic increased by 18 percent nationally during the first two weeks of the holiday compared to the same period last year.

Provinces with harmonized sales tax (HST), where the combined reduction was more significant, saw even greater results. In Ontario, for example, restaurant visits jumped by 23 percent, reflecting the 15 percent total tax reduction from both federal and provincial sources.

Similar trends were reported in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia. Restaurants Canada attributes much of this increase to the tax break  a claim that seems entirely reasonable.

Another noticeable outcome of the GST holiday may have been a shift in spending from grocery stores to restaurants. At grocery stores, only 1520 percent of food items are subject to tax, compared to 100 percent of items sold in restaurants.

On average, the GST holiday offered savings of no more than $5 per person over the two months it was in place, but that small reduction may have encouraged some Canadians to dine out more or purchase more prepared meals  also taxed  at their local grocery store.

Restaurants Canada recently proposed a bold idea: eliminating taxes on all prepared foods, whether sold in restaurants or grocery stores. This could be a first for a national organization advocating such a sweeping policy change.

This proposal deserves serious consideration, especially when it comes to prepared foods sold in grocery stores.

Why tax a salad or sandwich when these items are practical options for Canadians who dont have the time or means to cook?

According to the latest census, single-person households account for 29.3 percent of all households in Canada  over 4.3 million in total. Additionally, over 90 percent of Canadians aged 65 and older live in private residences.

These individuals often rely on prepared foods to avoid food waste, which can be costly for those living alone or eating smaller portions.

Taxing prepared foods is like taxing the use of life jackets at the pool, well, almost. It penalizes those who need a simple, practical solution to keep their heads above water.

For millions of Canadians juggling work, caregiving, or other demands, prepared foods arent a luxury  theyre a lifeline. Yet our tax system unfairly targets these options while ignoring the realities of modern life.

Removing taxes on prepared foods could lighten the load for millions of Canadians while also contributing to waste reduction.

As the cost of living continues to rise and food insecurity grows, rethinking how we tax prepared foods is a small step that could have a significant impact. Its time to adjust our approach and ensure our tax policies align with the realities of Canadian households.

Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast.
By Kris Sims

The federal Liberals are turning on the carbon tax faster than Vin Diesel turning a corner in Fast and Furious.

But Canadians need to know whos in the drivers seat and where they are going.

Liberal leadership candidates must declare their positions on the carbon tax. If they say theyll keep it, they are no different than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. If they say theyd scrap it, they need to prove it by getting rid of it as soon as they are chosen as the leader of the party.

The new Liberal leader would have a different last name, and they might not wear fancy socks, but if they want to keep punishing Canadians with the carbon tax, they would be the same as Trudeau.

On April 1, the Liberal government is hiking the carbon tax.

After the increase, the carbon tax will cost 21 cents per litre of gasoline and 25 cents per litre of diesel. Filling up a minivan will cost about $15 extra in the carbon tax, while filling a pickup truck will cost about $25 extra.

Truckers who deliver nearly everything in Canada will pay about $250 extra when they fill their big rigs with diesel, with the industry reporting the carbon tax cost it $2 billion last year.

The carbon tax will cost the average household about $400 to heat with natural gas this winter.

Farmers pay the carbon tax to heat their barns and dry grains. The Parliamentary Budget Officer reports that the tax will cost farmers $1 billion by 2040.

About half of Canadians say they are within $200 of being unable to make the minimum payments on their bills. That means making a minimum payment on a credit card, convincing the power company to keep the lights on by putting some money down on a huge bill or visiting a food bank.

This is known as barely scraping by. Meanwhile, federal politicians who are paid a minimum of $200,000 per year, are far removed from these financial hardships..

Just before the carbon tax hike last year, nearly 70 per cent of Canadians said they opposed it, according to a Leger poll.

Liberal leadership candidates need to answer these questions: Will they keep this carbon tax or obliterate it and save struggling Canadians a lot of money? Or are they going to hike the carbon tax on April 1 as they potentially hit the campaign trail?

Imagine door-knocking that first week of the campaign.

Knock knock.

Whos there?

Carbon tax hike  can I have your vote?!

Good luck with that.

Some Liberal candidates are going on the record.

On CTVs Power Play, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told host Vassy Kapelos he is committed to keeping the carbon tax. On CBCs The House, former British Columbia premier Christy Clark told host Catherine Cullen, We would scrap that [carbon] tax.

Before Trudeau announced his intention to resign, expected candidates Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland repeatedly proved themselves big fans of the carbon tax.

But what about now? Has the policy changed?

When American comedian Jon Stewart asked Carney about the carbon tax, Carney said, We need to do it in a way that Canadians today are not paying the price.

What does that mean?

When radio host Ben Mulroney asked his guests if it was time to scrap the carbon tax, MP Anthony Housefather said, Canadians have been convinced the carbon tax needs to be revised, and MP Yvan Baker said, We need to revisit all of our policies, including that one.

After years of carbon tax hikes, many Canadians have trouble trusting promises from politicians.

Liberal leadership candidates who say they are now opposed to the carbon tax must prove it by eliminating it entirely and immediately.

Canadians cannot afford the carbon tax, and it must be kicked to the curb and left in the rearview mirror.

Kris Sims is the Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Blurred posts, banned accounts: Abortion groups decry Meta 'suppression'



Washington, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Blurred posts, downranked searches and deleted accounts: Since President Donald Trump's election, groups sharing information about abortion pills say they have faced a surge in online censorship-hindering their ability to reach women urgently seeking the procedure.

Reproductive rights organizations accuse Meta of leading the latest wave of digital suppression on Instagram and Facebook, drawing attention to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's pledge to refocus on free speech.

Meta confirmed to AFP that groups including Aid Access, Women Help Women, and Plan C had experienced varying degrees of issues with their content.

"These groups encountered both correct enforcement and a variety of issues, including overenforcement and a technical bug," a spokesperson said, citing prohibitions on the sale of drugs without proper certification as an example of legitimate enforcement.

"We've been quite clear in recent weeks that we want to allow more speech and reduce enforcement mistakes -- and we're committed to doing that."

But the accounts were only restored after AFP and other news outlets initiated queries, with the organizations crediting media pressure for the change.



- Anti-abortion administration -



Zuckerberg's recent overtures to Trump, whose inauguration he attended with other tech moguls, could point to alignment with the new anti-abortion administration, observers say.

In its first days, the Trump administration took down reproductiverights.gov and targeted abortion access at home and abroad, including by rescinding orders that protected access to abortion pills and women's ability to travel to states where the procedure is not banned.

It also cut off funding to foreign groups providing such services.

"Meta has said that they're trying to get back to the roots of free expression -- but right now, it's hard to tell who exactly is going to be able to exercise that right fully," Jane Eklund, author of an Amnesty International report on abortion information censorship, told AFP.

"It really is a wait and see in how these tech bros are cozying up to the new administration and trying to gain favor with it -- I am concerned about how this is going to play out."

Aid Access was founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts to provide abortion pills over the internet, a key means of accessing the procedure in the United States, where abortion has been outlawed or restricted in nearly half of states since a landmark court ruling in 2022.

"It was in the beginning of January that we first noticed it," the 59-year-old told AFP, referring to pages removed on Instagram and Facebook.

They were later restored, though some posts were still blurred. Gomperts, known for her "abortion boat" that anchored off coasts of countries banning the procedure, said she was no stranger to censorship having previously lost her personal Facebook account and access to Google ads.

Though Aid Access's pages are now back, she remains concerned for the future. People "need to have the help they need, period," she said.



- Perpetuates 'stigma' -



Another group, Women Help Women, only regained its account after AFP queried Meta.

"On December 26, Meta blocked our Instagram account, @womenhelporg, without warning, claiming it violated 'community standards,'" Lucia Berro Pizzarossa of the group told AFP.

"This account had been reaching thousands with crucial, evidence-based information and messages aimed at reducing stigma around abortion."

"Search engines have deprioritized our website, and shadow banning has invisibly suppressed our reach on social media, making it harder for individuals to find accurate and timely resources."

Advocates worry that such measures perpetuate stigma, with abortion-seekers at times resorting to "algospeak" or coded expressions to circumvent automated moderation measures.

"People try to share information and they can't, and then they tell us 'we don't know what we did wrong,'" said Martha Dimitratou, digital strategist for Plan C, a US group that provides information on self-managed, at-home abortion with pills.

Plan C lost access to its Meta advertising account in December, severely curbing how many people it could reach, Dimitratou said. That too was restored after AFP made inquiries.

Even with accounts now restored, Berro Pizzarossa of Women Help Women said there was no clear process for appeal if suppression happens again.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum brushed off speculations on Tuesday after Google Maps said it would rename "the Gulf of Mexico" for U.S. users following an executive order.

Let's not speculate further on the subject, Sheinbaum said at a regular press conference.

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order to change the gulf's name only applies to U.S. territory, so the name remains the same for Mexico and the rest of the world, Sheinbaum said.

"The Gulf of Mexico is still the Gulf of Mexico," she said.

Trump ordered federal agencies to change the name of "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" on their maps and documents as part of a series of executive actions on his first day back in the White House. 
Italy's data watchdog has questions for DeepSeek



Rome, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Italy's Data Protection Agency, which briefly blocked ChatGPT in 2023, has raised questions about the use of personal data by the AI chatbot of Chinese startup DeepSeek.

"The authority, considering the potential high risk for the data of millions of people in Italy, has asked... what personal data is collected, from which sources, for which purposes," the GPDP said in a statement Tuesday.

It has also asked "what is the legal basis of the processing (of the data), and whether it is stored on servers located in China".

The authority has also asked what kind of information was used to train DeepSeek's AI system and, if the data was scraped from the internet, to clarify how users of the service are informed about the processing of their data.

The GPDP has addressed its concerns to Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence, and given them 20 days to respond.

Based out of the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou -- sometimes known as "China's Silicon Valley" -- DeepSeek sparked panic on Wall Street this week with its powerful new chatbot developed at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.

The Italian watchdog in December fined OpenAI 15 million euros over the use of personal data by its popular ChatGPT chatbot, but the US tech firm said it would appeal.

The investigation began in March 2023 when the GPDP temporarily blocked ChatGPT in Italy over privacy concerns, becoming the first Western country to take such action.
EU warns Russia of sanctions over any attack in space



Brussels, Belgium, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Wednesday the bloc could hit back with sanctions against any attacks in space, pointing to hostile actions by Russia.

"We are already the targets of hybrid warfare. Including in space -- with systematic jamming of satellite navigation signals," Kallas told a conference in Brussels.

"There are risks to our satellites, the ground infrastructure, and our space industries from kinetic, electronic, and high-energy weapons. Espionage is a constant threat."

The former Estonian prime minister pointed as an example to Russia's firing of an anti-satellite missile and cyberattack on a space system just ahead of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

She sounded a warning to the EU's 27 nations, saying they must beef up their ability to respond to threats in space.

The EU needed to get better at monitoring and pinpointing those responsible, and could extend the bloc's mutual defence clause to cover space, she said.

"On retaliation, we are looking into punitive options," Kallas added, saying the EU could look to impose sanctions similar to those already applied to Russian intelligence agents over cyber attacks.

"We need to think about how best we can apply this to space."

While the EU faces aggressive rivals including Russia and China in space, Kallas insisted Europe must work together with the United States.

"The US is the EU's most important security partner on the ground. We must be allies in space too," she said.

"Space is clearly on the domestic US agenda. President (Donald) Trump said he wants to plant the stars and stripes on Mars."

The renewed call to bolster EU defences came after the bloc's space commissioner mooted bringing together the efforts of each member state into a coordinated "European Space Shield".
Philippines and New Zealand in talks for defence pact



Manila, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



The Philippines and New Zealand have begun negotiating an agreement that would allow them to deploy troops on each other's soil, the two countries said Wednesday, as concerns over maritime tensions with China grow.

Manila has been seeking to boost defence ties in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond in the face of China's growing confidence in asserting its claims over the hotspot South China Sea.

A first round of talks was held in Manila on Thursday between the Philippines and New Zealand's defence departments, they said in a joint statement.

"The first round of negotiations marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defence ties between the Philippines and New Zealand," the statement said.

The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement will provide the legal framework for both countries "to elevate their cooperative activities and conduct exercises in each other's territories, deepening overall defence and military cooperation", it added.

New Zealand's ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh attended the Manila meeting, while other members of Wellington's delegation participated virtually.

From the Philippines' side, negotiators included officials from the department of defence, justice and foreign affairs, as well as the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces.

Last month, the Philippine Senate ratified the same defence agreement with Japan. The Southeast Asian country has also signed similar defence pacts with the United States, Australia and has begun talks with France.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

There have been frequent clashes or tense standoffs between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the strategic waterway.
Ukrainian drone barrage on Russia kills two, hits oil refinery



Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



A Ukrainian drone attack killed a mother and her toddler in a Russian border region on Wednesday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv launched a major overnight barrage that set an oil refinery ablaze and targeted a nuclear facility.

Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged almost daily drone or missile attacks over the nearly three-year war, targeting energy and military sites in both countries.

Strikes have escalated after Donald Trump won last year's US presidential election, with the Republican seeking a swift end to the fighting.

"The most terrible thing happened as a result of a drone attack on a residential house -- a two-year-old child and his mother were killed," Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod border region said on Telegram.

Another child and his father were also injured in the strike.

Russia's defence ministry said earlier it had downed 104 Ukrainian drones over western regions including Kursk and Bryansk, with smaller numbers intercepted over Smolensk, Tver, Belgorod and elsewhere.

Ukraine said one strike had hit an oil refinery in the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, around 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Falling debris from a drone triggered a fire at the site, Russia said earlier.

"As a result of repelling a drone attack, debris fell on the Sibur-Kstovo enterprise causing a fire to break out," Sibur, a large petrochemical firm that owns the facility, said on Telegram.

Both Sibur and the regional governor said there were no casualties and firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze.

The governor of Russia's Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, also said a Ukrainian drone "was shot down during an attempted attack on a nuclear power facility," adding there was no damage or casualties.

The governor did not specify which facility, but the Smolensk nuclear power plant is located near the town of Desnogorsk.

Ukraine's military said Russia had also launched an overnight drone attack of its own, resulting in air alerts in multiple Ukrainian regions.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 29 Russian drones over nine mainly southern and eastern regions.

In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris from a Russian drone had fallen in a central district of the capital.

And in the southern Black Sea region of Odesa, the governor said Russian drones had attacked port facilities in the town of Izmail.

In the southern city of Kherson, mayor Roman Mrochko said a 52-year-old man had been fatally wounded in a Russian drone attack.

burs-jbr-jc/am/yad
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.
CANBERRA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Australia's federal, state and territory governments have committed to making the country more inclusive under a new national disability strategy.

The federal government on Wednesday released the updated 10-year strategy following a review that was recommended by the landmark Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Amanda Rishworth, the federal Minister for Social Services, said that the updated strategy prioritizes Australians with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness.

She said that three targeted action plans included in the new strategy would focus on building new more inclusive homes and communities, changing community attitudes and improving the safety, rights and justice for people with disability.

"For the first time, they also include a number of national actions that all governments will work on together, with the disability community, to ensure people with disability right across Australia experience the benefits," Rishworth said in a statement.

The royal commission handed down its final report in September 2023 following a 4.5-year inquiry, finding that people with disability experience higher rates of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect than the general population.

The 5,000-page report made 222 recommendations for change, including a review of the national disability strategy.

Of those recommendations, the federal government has full or shared responsibility for 172. Rishworth in July 2024 announced that the government had accepted 130 of the recommendations in full or in principle. 
Pentagon strips Trump foe Milley of security detail



Washington, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is removing the security detail for former top US military officer Mark Milley -- a foe of President Donald Trump -- and suspending his security clearance, the Pentagon said.

The retired general, who reportedly once labelled Trump a "fascist" to a journalist, is the latest official-turned-critic to see their security protection pulled by the Trump administration since the president began his second term last week.

Hegseth informed Milley "that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement issued late Tuesday.

Milley was named by Trump during his first administration as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but their relationship deteriorated throughout the Republican's presidency.

Like two other officials who have also had their security details removed, Milley is believed to be under threat from Tehran for overseeing the 2020 US drone strike ordered by Trump that killed powerful Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

"The secretary has also directed the (Department of Defense inspector general) to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley's conduct so that the secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination," Ullyot said

Milley retired as a four-star general, but that process -- if it goes forward -- could potentially see him demoted in retirement.

In a sign of things to come, Milley's portrait honoring his service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was taken down at the Pentagon on the day that Trump was sworn in.

The removal of the painting -- the current whereabouts of which are unclear -- came after former president Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Milley and other Trump opponents in one of his last acts in office.

Trump has repeatedly promised "retribution" against his political opponents and threatened some with criminal prosecution, and Biden said he took action to shield Milley and others from "politically motivated prosecutions" under the new administration.

Trump was enraged after Milley told journalist Bob Woodward that the Republican was "fascist to the core" and a "dangerous person."

Milley also revealed he had secretly called his Chinese counterpart after the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump's supporters to reassure Beijing that the United States remained "stable" and had no intention to attack China.

Trump subsequently wrote on his Truth Social network that "in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" for Milley.

The general stepped down as chairman in 2023 at a ceremony in which he took a final swipe at Trump.

"We don't take an oath to a king, or queen, or a tyrant or a dictator," Milley said of American troops. "And we don't take an oath to a wannabe dictator."
Palestinians say Israeli forces kill two in West Bank raids



Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



The Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday that Israeli forces killed two people in separate overnight raids in the occupied West Bank, including one in Jenin, where the Israeli military is conducting a major offensive.

The Ramallah-based ministry said in a statement that a 25-year-old man it identified as Osama Abu al-Hija was killed late on Tuesday in Jenin "as a result of an Israeli air strike".

The military told AFP that an Israeli aircraft conducted a strike in Jenin on Tuesday night "after a terrorist threw an explosive device" towards troops.

The Israeli military has launched an intense assault on the Jenin area, now in its eighth day, to root out Palestinian militant groups.

On Monday it said it had "eliminated over 15 terrorists" and arrested 40 wanted people during the offensive.

Abu al-Hija is the 16th person killed during the raid, which has caused many residents of Jenin refugee camp, the focus of the operation, to flee.

During a visit in the Jenin refugee camp on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation -- dubbed Iron Wall -- was aimed at defeating "terror infrastructure" built "with funding and armament from Iran".

"The Jenin refugee camp will not return to what it was -- after the completion of the operation, the (Israeli army) will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return," Katz added.

Katz's office told AFP that Israeli forces would not remain in the area "forever" after the operation's end.

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, the health ministry also said a 23-year-old Palestinian man it identified as Ayman Naji was killed in the northern city of Tulkarem "after being shot" by Israeli forces.

The army told AFP it was looking into the details of both deaths.

Tulkarem, Jenin and their refugee camps are known as bastions of Palestinian militant groups, whose factions present themselves as a more effective alternative to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority in the fight against Israel.

Before the current Israeli operation, Jenin's refugee camp was the site of a long operation by the Palestinian Authority's security forces attempting to root out Palestinian militants affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

Violence has soared throughout the West Bank since the war between Hamas and Israel broke out in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 863 Palestinians, including many militants, in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

At least 29 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military raids in the territory over the same period, according to official Israeli figures.
Pentagon strips Trump foe Milley of security detail



Washington, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is removing the security detail for former top US military officer Mark Milley -- a foe of President Donald Trump -- and suspending his security clearance, the Pentagon said.

The retired general, who reportedly once labeled Trump a "fascist" to a journalist, is the latest official-turned-critic to see their security protection pulled since Trump began his second term last week.

Hegseth informed Milley "that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement late Tuesday.

Milley was named by Trump during his first administration as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but their relationship deteriorated sharply.

Milley is believed to be under threat from Tehran for overseeing the 2020 US drone strike ordered by Trump that killed powerful Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

"The secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination," Ullyot added.

Milley retired as a four-star general, but that process could see him demoted in retirement.

Trump has repeatedly promised "retribution" against his opponents and threatened some with criminal prosecution.

Trump was enraged after Milley told journalist Bob Woodward that the Republican was "fascist to the core" and a "dangerous person."

Milley also revealed he had secretly called his Chinese counterpart after the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump's supporters to reassure Beijing that the United States remained "stable" and had no intention to attack China.

Trump subsequently wrote on his Truth Social network that "in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" for Milley.



- Death threats -



The general stepped down as chairman in 2023 at a ceremony in which he took a final swipe at Trump.

"We don't take an oath to a king, or queen, or a tyrant or a dictator," Milley said of American troops. "And we don't take an oath to a wannabe dictator."

Milley's portrait honoring his service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was taken down at the Pentagon on the day that Trump was sworn in.

The removal of the painting came after former president Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Milley and other Trump opponents in one of his last acts in office.

Trump has also revoked security from former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and former national security advisor John Bolton, believed to be facing the same threat from Iran.

Bolton has become one of Trump's most outspoken critics since leaving the White House, while Pompeo briefly considered a Republican run for president, reportedly annoying Trump.

The president has also removed security protection from Anthony Fauci, who led the country's fight against Covid-19 starting in Trump's first term, and has received death threats over his handling of the pandemic.

Senior Republican senators have urged him to reconsider.

But the White House remained defiant over the decision Wednesday, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoing comments from Trump that officials were not entitled to security protection and clearances for life.

"The individuals you're mentioning are quite wealthy, I understand, so they can get their own private security if they wish," she told reporters.
Maison Margiela names new director during Paris Haute Couture Week



Paris, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Belgian designer Glenn Martens was unveiled Wednesday as the successor to John Galliano as creative director of French fashion house Maison Margiela on a busy day of Haute Couture Week in Paris.

Martens, 41, is currently creative director at Diesel and was promoted internally from within the Italian fashion company OTB Group which also owns Maison Margiela.

"I have worked with Glenn for years. I have witnessed his talent, and I know what he is capable of," the billionaire chairman and owner of OTB, Renzo Rosso, said in a company statement.

Rosso was instrumental in resurrecting the career of Galliano -- and raising the profile of Maison Margiela -- after the then drug and alcohol-addicted British designer fell from grace in 2011 due to an anti-Semitic rant in a Paris bar.

Galliano parted company with Maison Margiela in December after 10 successful years of rising sales, making him a hard act to follow.

Martens, who made his name at now-defunct experimental label Y/Projet, studied at Antwerp's renowned Royal Academy of Fine Arts like Martin Margiela, who founded his eponymous label in 1988.

"After Martin, who gave life to the Maison and its unique Artisanal line, and John who made it the most cutting-edge couture house in the world, I am proud to have a third couturier at its helm," Rosso added, referring to Martens.



- War worries -



Elsewhere on Wednesday, Italian brand Valentino, Dutch duo Victor & Rolf and French designer Franck Sorbier showcased their Spring/Summer 2025 collections during Haute Couture Week, with Jean-Paul Gaultier and Lebanon's Zuhair Murad still to come.

In an increasingly unstable world, Sorbier had war and peace on his mind in a typically theatrical show that combined music, singing and dance.

Titled "Symphonie barbare" ("Barbaric Symphony"), it featured bare-chested "barbarian" men and female "warriors of peace" dressed in trapeze gowns adorned with tassels or sequins.

It ended with a "peace" phase and concluded with Sorbier appearing in a black anorak bearing the words "peace and love."

"The idea is not to get stuck in a bubble of haute couture," he told AFP. "Even though we do haute couture, we can still talk about the news and worrying issues, without sounding like we're giving lessons to people," he said.

The theme of conflict and unrest was also picked up by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck in his show during Paris Men's Fashion Week last Wednesday, two days after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

Van Beirendonck's show featured models with jackets bearing "peace, not war" badges and concluded with "Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Lebanon's Elie Saab also presented his collection on Wednesday, opting instead for escapism with a show that drew inspiration from fairy tales.



- LVMH slide -



Haute Couture Week showcases one-of-a-kind, entirely handmade pieces which are primarily intended for red carpets, high-profile events, and galas.

The luxury industry as a whole is facing a slowdown linked notably to weaker-than-usual economic growth in China.

French fashion powerhouse LVMH, Europe's largest company by market value, reported Tuesday that net profit fell 17 percent last year and sales dropped two percent.

The business, which owns Louis Vuitton, Dior and Kenzo among other leading brands, attributed the slide to the end of the "euphoria" of the post-Covid period.
Russia former deputy defence minister faces embezzlement trial



Moscow, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



A former Russian defence minister, Timur Ivanov, was in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on charges of embezzlement and money laundering that could see him jailed for years.

Russia has arrested a number of generals and military leaders in a clampdown on allegations of rampant inefficiency and corruption amid the Ukraine offensive.

Ivanov, who previously oversaw military construction projects and property, appeared at Moscow's Khamovnichesky court.

In video released by the court, Ivanov smiled as he was led in, wearing handcuffs.

Ivanov was detained in April last year. Investigators said he embezzled over three billion rubles (45 million euros at the time) from a collapsed bank and over 200 million rubles while buying ferries to serve Crimea. The charges of embezzlement and money laundering carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.

He also faces a bribery charge in a separate case that has not yet come to trial.

Ivanov was formally sacked in June 2024, two months after his arrest, after working as deputy minister since 2016.

He will be tried alongside Anton Filatov, the former director of state defence corporation Oboronlogistika, owned by the defence ministry.

Both men denied any guilt while under investigation, TASS news agency reported.

Ivanov's lawyer Murad Musayev told RIA Novosti news agency the charges were "completely groundless".

The judge on Wednesday agreed to prosecutors' request to move the case to a higher tribunal, the Moscow City Court.

Prosecutors asked for the trial to proceed behind closed doors because one case document "could be secret", Musayev said.

The judge also extended the defendants' pre-trial detention until July, TASS reported.



- 'Glamorous general' -



The embezzlement case involves funds from Moscow-based Intercommerz Bank, which collapsed in 2016.

Filatov was charged with embezzlement in 2018 and then the case was closed, only to be reopened in 2024.

Ivanov was slapped with sanctions by the European Union in 2022 as the defence ministry's top official in charge of construction of military facilities.

He was also the subject of an investigation published in 2022 by the Anti-Corruption Foundation -- created by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

It claimed the deputy minister oversaw -- and profited from -- construction projects in Ukraine's Mariupol, which Moscow captured after a weeks-long siege at the start of the conflict.

The foundation also alleged the minister divorced his wife to allow her to bypass EU sanctions against him while living in France.

Russian media have dubbed Ivanov "the glamorous general" and his family assets frozen by the Russian court include 23 luxury and vintage cars, TASS said, citing court documents.
Fatal Ukrainian drone barrage on Russia hits oil refinery



Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



A Ukrainian drone attack killed a mother and her toddler in western Russia on Wednesday, local officials said, in a major overnight barrage that set an oil refinery ablaze and targeted a nuclear facility.

The Ukrainian attack over swathes of western Russia is just the latest in a series of escalating Russian and Ukrainian aerial strikes, targeting energy and military facilities over the nearly three-year war.

The assaults have ramped up since Donald Trump won last year's US presidential election, with the Republican seeking a swift end to the fighting.

"The most terrible thing happened as a result of a drone attack on a residential house -- a two-year-old child and his mother were killed," Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod border region said.

Another child and his father were also injured in the strike, he wrote on social media.

Russia's defence ministry said earlier it had downed 104 Ukrainian drones over western regions including Kursk and Bryansk, with smaller numbers intercepted over Smolensk, Tver, Belgorod and elsewhere.

Ukraine said one strike had hit an oil refinery in the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, around 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Falling debris from a drone triggered a fire at the site, Russia said earlier.



- Refinery blaze -



"As a result of repelling a drone attack, debris fell on the Sibur-Kstovo enterprise causing a fire to break out," Sibur, a large petrochemical firm that owns the facility, said on Telegram.

Both Sibur and the regional governor said there were no casualties and firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze.

Images on social media -- not verified by AFP -- showed a huge blaze illuminating an urban skyline with flames and plumes of smoke rising over buildings.

Ukraine's SBU security services also said it had hit an oil pumping station and missile warehouse in the Tver region.

Ukraine has previously said it is targeting Russian energy facilities to hamper military logistics and cut off revenues that fund the Kremlin's invasion effort.

The governor of Russia's Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, also said a Ukrainian drone "was shot down during an attempted attack on a nuclear power facility," adding there was no damage or casualties.

The governor did not specify which facility, but the Smolensk nuclear power plant is located near the town of Desnogorsk.



- 'Most difficult' -



Ukraine said Russia had also launched an overnight drone attack of its own, resulting in air alerts in multiple Ukrainian regions and damage from debris in several.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 29 Russian drones over nine mainly southern and eastern regions.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris from a Russian drone had fallen in a central district of the capital, while officials in the southern Black Sea region of Odesa said Russian drones had attacked port facilities in the town of Izmail.

In the southern city of Kherson, mayor Roman Mrochko said a 52-year-old man had been killed in a Russian drone attack, and in the northeastern Kharkiv region an ambulance driver was hospitalised after a drone attack, the national police said.

The bombardments come at a critical juncture for Ukraine ahead of the third anniversary of the invasion, characterised by costly battles that have seen Russia make painstaking but steady gains, mainly in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said its advances were continuing Wednesday, announcing the capture of the village of Novoyelizavetivka in the industrial region of Donetsk.

It is one of four regions that Russia claimed to have annexed in late 2022, despite not having full military control over any of them.

The settlement lies just across the border from the region of Dnipropetrovsk which Russian forces are closing in on and look set to eventually enter for the first time of the war.

Donetsk region governor Vadym Filashkin described the situation as "most difficult" and said Russian forces were "destroying" key frontline towns like Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk with intense aerial bombardments.

burs-jc/cad/sbk
CORRECTED: Russia former deputy defence minister faces embezzlement trial



Moscow, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



A former Russian deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, was in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on charges of embezzlement and money laundering that could see him jailed for years.

Russia has arrested a number of generals and military leaders in a clampdown on allegations of rampant inefficiency and corruption amid the Ukraine offensive.

Ivanov, who previously oversaw military construction projects and property, appeared at Moscow's Khamovnichesky court.

In video released by the court, Ivanov smiled as he was led in, wearing handcuffs.

Ivanov was detained in April last year. Investigators said he embezzled over three billion rubles (45 million euros at the time) from a collapsed bank and over 200 million rubles while buying ferries to serve Crimea. The charges of embezzlement and money laundering carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.

He also faces a bribery charge in a separate case that has not yet come to trial.

Ivanov was formally sacked in June 2024, two months after his arrest, after working as deputy minister since 2016.

He will be tried alongside Anton Filatov, the former director of state defence corporation Oboronlogistika, owned by the defence ministry.

Both men denied any guilt while under investigation, TASS news agency reported.

Ivanov's lawyer Murad Musayev told RIA Novosti news agency the charges were "completely groundless".

The judge on Wednesday agreed to prosecutors' request to move the case to a higher tribunal, the Moscow City Court.

Prosecutors asked for the trial to proceed behind closed doors because one case document "could be secret", Musayev said.

The judge also extended the defendants' pre-trial detention until July, TASS reported.



- 'Glamorous general' -



The embezzlement case involves funds from Moscow-based Intercommerz Bank, which collapsed in 2016.

Filatov was charged with embezzlement in 2018 and then the case was closed, only to be reopened in 2024.

Ivanov was slapped with sanctions by the European Union in 2022 as the defence ministry's top official in charge of construction of military facilities.

He was also the subject of an investigation published in 2022 by the Anti-Corruption Foundation -- created by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

It claimed the deputy minister oversaw -- and profited from -- construction projects in Ukraine's Mariupol, which Moscow captured after a weeks-long siege at the start of the conflict.

The foundation also alleged the minister divorced his wife to allow her to bypass EU sanctions against him while living in France.

Russian media have dubbed Ivanov "the glamorous general" and his family assets frozen by the Russian court include 23 luxury and vintage cars, TASS said, citing court documents.
MOSCOW, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Ukrainian drone was shot down in Russia's Smolensk region during an attempted attack on a nuclear power facility, regional governor Vasily Anokhin said on Wednesday.

No casualties or damage have been reported, Anokhin said on his Telegram channel.

Multiple civilian sites in the area had come under a large-scale drone assault, he said, adding that one of the drones was downed during an attempt to strike a nuclear energy facility. 
Sir Keir told business chiefs at a meeting in the City of London that he was hard-wiring growth into all the decisions of the Cabinet and that what Rachel and I have done is to make it clear to each of our Cabinet colleagues that in each of their briefs, growth is the number one mission.
If Trumps first term was thought to be something of an aberration, a time of turmoil, amateur dramatics and geopolitical unrest, his second term has already been greeted with far more warmth. Especially over here. And especially in Number 10. While Starmer and his lieutenants know they have a lot of ground to make up in terms of optics (David Lammys previous proclamations about Trump should by rights now deem him unfit for office), they also know they need to find a way to cope with Trumps demands over defence spending and the threat of imminent tariffs. Corporate culture over here will also have to change, as it is obviously so influenced by the US. Many British companies are desperate for the government to show some strength over a working practice which is quite quickly becoming the norm, an orthodoxy which is contributing to the shaky foundations of our GDP.
I kind of thought, you know, I'm not enjoying this. I'm not singing the songs. I'm not a great dancer. I'm not getting the opportunities I thought I would get in the band. I always took pride in the work that I did. I couldn't find a part of the job in the band that I could take pride in. Everybody did something better than me.
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
BEIRUT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region, announced that the bank is finalizing a rapid damage assessment to support Lebanon's reconstruction efforts.

Speaking after a meeting with President Michel Aoun, Dione said that the World Bank is expected to complete the assessment by the end of February and that emergency assistance will soon be submitted for approval by the bank's board.

"We are committed to standing by Lebanon during this critical transition to support its recovery and ensure the prosperity of all its people," Dione said.

During his meeting with President Aoun, Dione reiterated the World Bank's support for Lebanon and its willingness to organize an international conference to help the country overcome its economic challenges.

He stressed the importance of structural reforms to rebuild international confidence in Lebanon and encourage private-sector investment.

For his part, President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to implementing necessary reforms, as outlined in his inauguration speech, noting that one of the new government's top priorities would be drafting legislation to advance reforms across various sectors.

He also outlined key objectives for the next phase, including reconstruction - particularly in areas devastated by Israeli attacks - enhancing public administration, improving citizen services, and modernizing government operations through digital technology.

Aoun thanked the World Bank for its ongoing support and pledged to expedite the approval of long-term loans in Parliament. He also welcomed the continued presence of the World Bank's office in Lebanon despite the country's challenges.

The World Bank has approved 736 million U.S. dollars in long-term loans for Lebanon, covering agriculture, energy, and water. The loans are awaiting parliamentary approval before implementation. 
I think it's obvious what I'm saying, but I don't want to say it because some people find it distressing. I'm fine to talk about it now, but at that time nothing would help me. I realised that I wanted my life to be over and I did some stupid things.
This photo shows members of the Lebanese Civil Defense searching for citizens who were lost under the rubble of their homes in Kfar Shouba, Lebanon, on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that the death toll from three days of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon has risen to 25, with 160 others wounded.

In a statement, the ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported that one person was killed and 26 others injured during the Israeli attacks on Monday.

The injured were spread across five villages in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon: Adaisseh, Bani Hayyan, Burj Al-Muluk, Houla, and Kafr Kila.

Since early Sunday, hundreds of Lebanese residents have gathered at the outskirts of their border villages, marching toward their homes by car and on foot, bypassing Lebanese army checkpoints and Israeli-imposed earth barriers.

However, Israeli forces opened fire on the returning civilians, further escalating tensions along the border.

These developments come despite the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, which took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. 
NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration has taken center stage in the first days of his second term, with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency publicizing its daily total of arrests, which added up to 3,104 in the last three days alone and more than 4,500 since Thursday.

"Stricter enforcement of the nation's immigration laws isn't a new development," reported USA Today on Wednesday about the move. Former President Joe Biden's administration deported more than 271,000 people last year, the largest number since 2014, according to an ICE report.

Trump has repeatedly said his administration will prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. In recent days, some local officials have emphasized that focus.

Police Chief Lisa Davis of Austin, Texas, said that "at the end of the day, these are people APD (Austin Police Department) would be looking for as well. They were wanted for violent offenses."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked at a news briefing how many of those arrested by ICE since Trump returned to power actually have criminal records. "All of them, because they illegally broke our nation's laws and therefore they are criminals as far as this administration goes," Leavitt said. 
Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (292) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (437) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (472) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (440) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (578) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (672) Jul 2015 (727) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (798) Dec 2015 (789) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (945) Jun 2016 (1042) Jul 2016 (880) Aug 2016 (1034) Sept 2016 (965) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (884) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (895) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (999) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1045) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (781) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (790) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (692) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (652) May 2023 (696) Jun 2023 (701) Jul 2023 (742) Aug 2023 (737) Sept 2023 (732) Oct 2023 (749) Nov 2023 (751) Dec 2023 (732) Jan 2024 (746) Feb 2024 (687) Mar 2024 (738) Apr 2024 (723) May 2024 (750) Jun 2024 (712) Jul 2024 (756) Aug 2024 (797) Sept 2024 (772) Oct 2024 (778) Nov 2024 (771) Dec 2024 (710) Jan 2025 (776) Feb 2025 (683) Mar 2025 (301)
Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (292) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (437) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (472) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (440) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (578) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (672) Jul 2015 (727) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (798) Dec 2015 (789) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (945) Jun 2016 (1042) Jul 2016 (880) Aug 2016 (1034) Sept 2016 (965) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (884) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (895) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (999) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1045) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (781) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (790) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (692) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (652) May 2023 (696) Jun 2023 (701) Jul 2023 (742) Aug 2023 (737) Sept 2023 (732) Oct 2023 (749) Nov 2023 (751) Dec 2023 (732) Jan 2024 (746) Feb 2024 (687) Mar 2024 (738) Apr 2024 (723) May 2024 (750) Jun 2024 (712) Jul 2024 (756) Aug 2024 (797) Sept 2024 (772) Oct 2024 (778) Nov 2024 (771) Dec 2024 (710) Jan 2025 (776) Feb 2025 (683) Mar 2025 (302)
ABUJA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The memberships of the three West African countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been formally withdrawn from the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), one year after the three junta-led nations jointly declared an intention to exit the regional bloc.

The ECOWAS Commission said in a statement that the withdrawal took effect Wednesday. It is a historic exit from the bloc, founded in 1975 to promote economic integration in all economic activities, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial matters, and social and cultural affairs.

The commission, however, said it had decided "to keep ECOWAS' doors open" in the spirit of "regional solidarity and in the interest of the people." It directed until further notice all relevant authorities within and outside its member states to, among others, recognize national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger and continue to treat goods and services coming from the countries per the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and investment policy.

The commission also directed its organs to allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of visa-free movement, residence, and establishment in accordance with the ECOWAS protocols until further notice and fully support and cooperate with ECOWAS officials from the three countries in their assignments for the community.

"These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government," the ECOWAS Commission said, adding that it has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries.

On Jan. 28, 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger jointly declared an intention to withdraw from ECOWAS in response to earlier sanctions imposed by the regional bloc to pressure military juntas in those countries to return to constitutional order. The move sparked concerns among members of ECOWAS, headquartered in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, which later lifted the sanctions.

On Dec. 15, 2024, ECOWAS, at the end of its 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, gave Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger a six-month grace period from Jan. 29 to July 29 this year to reconsider their decision to exit the economic bloc. The decision was to use the six-month grace period as a transitional period and keep the West African bloc's doors open to the three countries during the period, Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, told reporters in Abuja at the time.

"The authority acknowledges that by the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from Jan. 29, 2025," Touray added. 
Romania's Attorney General Alex Florenta met on Wednesday in The Hague with his Dutch counterpart Sue Preenen, with the two top prosecutors discussing the possibility of a joint investigation team being set up to handle the theft of several highly valuable Dacian artifacts from the Drents Museum in Assen; the Dutch official assured that the Dutch judicial authorities are making every effort for the perpetrators to be caught.

"The talks focused on the investigations carried out by the Dutch and Romanian judicial authorities into the theft on January 25, 2025 of treasure heritage items that were on display at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, as part of the exhibition titled 'Dacia! Rijk van goud en zilver/Dacia! Kingdom of Gold and Silver'. The two attorneys general approached aspects related to the stage of ongoing investigations in the two states, the need for coordination and mutual support, as well as the possibility of forming a joint investigation team. In this regard, the sides agreed that tomorrow, January 30, 2025, a coordination meeting should take place in The Hague under the auspices of Eurojust, to be attended by the Romanian prosecutor and police officers assigned to the investigation, as well as by the responsible Dutch prosecutor and law enforcement bodies," the Attorney General's Office reports in a release.

Alex Florenta informed his counterpart that the Drents Museum theft has a strong impact on Romanian society, as the stolen objects are part of Romania's cultural heritage and are of inestimable value to the Romanian people.

Also, he insisted on the full availability of the Romanian judicial authorities in the joint effort to recover the heritage items, while Attorney General Sue Preenen gave assurances that the Dutch judicial authorities are making every effort to identify the perpetrators as soon as possible and to hold them criminally liable, the release said.

The iconic golden helmet of Cotofenesti, dated to the 5th-4th centuries BC, as well as three Dacian gold bracelets from Sarmizegetusa Regia, dating from the second half of the 1st century BC, were stolen last weekend from the Drents Museum in Assen in a heist in which the robbers used an explosive device to break open the only exterior wall of the museum building. AGERPRES
Candidates from national minorities in the first session of the Baccalaureate exam will take, from Wednesday to Friday, the test that will assess their linguistic skills in oral communication in their mother tongue, according to the calendar approved by the Ministry of Education.

The tests assessing the skills in the first session of the Baccalaureate exam began on Monday with the assessment of linguistic skills in oral communication in Romanian.

Between February 3 and 5, linguistic skills in an international language will be assessed - test C, and between February 5 and 7, digital skills will be assessed - test D.

Students who are beneficiaries of study abroad scholarships who cannot participate in tests A, B, C and D of the national Baccalaureate exam - 2025, between January 27 and February 7, can take them between May 30 and June 4.

According to the calendar approved by the Ministry of Education, candidates will be registered for the written tests of the first exam session between June 2 and 6.

The final high school classes will end on June 6.

The first written test - the one on Romanian Language and Literature - will take place on June 10, and on June 11 the mandatory profile test will take place.

On June 13, candidates will take the test of their choice of profile and specialization.

Students from national minorities will take the written test on mother tongue and literature on June 16.

The results of the written tests will be posted on June 20 (until 12.00 pm). Those who wish to file appeals can view the papers between 2.00 pm and 6,00 pm, as well as on June 23 and 24.

The final results will be posted on June 30.
The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) reports that two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, part of the Air Police Combat Service, monitored the Romanian airspace at the border with Ukraine for two hours, on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, in the context of new drone attacks by Russian forces on Ukrainian infrastructure, near Tulcea.

The monitoring and surveillance systems of the Ministry of National Defence signaled the flight of drones in the Ukrainian airspace, on a route that was approaching the border with Romania.

The MApN indicates that at around 3.20 am, two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, part of the Air Police Combat Service, took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea to monitor the air situation. The aircraft returned to base after approximately two hours.

At the same time, the National Military Command Centre (core) notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to take alerting measures for the population in the Chilia Veche area. As a result, a RO-ALERT message was transmitted at 3.05 am, and at 4.08 am the termination of the alerting measures in the targeted area was declared.

Radar data did not indicate any intrusions of monitored air targets into the national airspace. The MApN forces will carry out today searches in areas where risks may arise as a result of these situations and will continue airspace monitoring missions. Also, allied structures are informed in real time about the situations generated by the attacks.

The Ministry of National Defence sends a firm message of condemnation of these attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian civilian objectives and infrastructure elements, which are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law.
AGERPRES special correspondent Tudor Martalogu reports: The European Union understands that Romania remains a strong, stable state with priorities aligned with those of the EU, European Commission Vice-President responsible for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness Roxana Minzatu said after her meeting on Tuesday with Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, according to the vice-president's office.

One of the topics addressed during the meeting concerned the automotive industry, a vital sector also for Romania. "In this regard, the European Commission will launch a strategic dialogue with industry representatives at the European level. As Executive Vice President of the European Commission, I will be part of this effort to support industries in creating new jobs and developing new investments in Europe," said Minzatu.

Roxana Minzatu and Emil Hurezeanu also discussed the Green Industrialisation Plan, which the European Commission will launch soon, and how Romania can contribute to and benefit from clear priorities within this framework, as well as developments in Ukraine and Moldova, both candidate countries to the European Union.
The Neptun Deep deposit must be exploited, so that we are not forced to import natural gas from other countries, Minister of the Environment Mircea Fechet told AGERPRES in an interview, pointing out that the environmental impact assessment for this project was carried out observing all Romanian and European requirements.

"I believe that Romania's natural resources must be respected, and they must be exploited, of course, with all the requirements I mentioned earlier. I do not think that we should avoid exploiting the Neptun Deep deposit and eventually import natural gas from other countries. I am actually looking forward to visiting that platform to see how all the exploitation procedures will unfold, and I am eager for the first Romanian gas molecule to be exploited and eventually injected into the National Energy System," said the minister.

He also discussed pollution levels, stressing that there is no Integrated Air Quality Plan in the Capital, a document that is also awaited by the European Court of Justice, with a significant risk of being condemned in the absence of such a strategic document.

"We are not only waiting for it, but the European Court of Justice is also expecting it because we will be judged, and there is a significant risk of being condemned if we do not have such a strategic document. This document clarifies pollution sources, categorizing them by specific areas, so we could know how much pollution comes from traffic, how much from residential heating, how much from apartment heating plants, how much from district heating systems, and alongside these, we would have an action plan that, once implemented, should result in the reduction of these levels. It is possible that what is written in the Air Quality Plan may not be adequate or may not be an effective measure. Before we get an answer to this situation, I think we need to ensure that we have identified the source, proposed an instrument to manage the source, reduce generated pollutants, and evaluate the effectiveness of that measure," said Fechet.

On the other hand, regarding beach rentals, the minister of the Environment pointed out that the rental period has been extended from two years to ten years, to allow economic operators to invest, and for the payback period of those expenses to be longer.

Mircea Fechet also spoke in the interview about how the government should react to support the local automotive industry.

"I believe, and it is not just my opinion but the result of a discussion I had with car importers' associations and car manufacturers' associations in Romania, that the value of this [Rabla Plus programme incentive for purchasing electric vehicles] voucher should increase in 2025. Whether it will increase or not, the decision will most likely be made together with the minister of Finance and the prime minister, because it is also a political decision. However, I believe this voucher value should increase, and I also believe that we should support the Romanian industry, the car manufacturing industry. Starting this year, we have a manufacturer producing three electric models here in Romania, and I think such initiatives should be appreciated at the governmental level. And one of the ways to do this is through a specific bonus for such a model produced in Romania, because it is one thing to bring a car a few hundred or tens of kilometres and another to bring it from 5,000 kilometres away to put it on the market in Romania or Europe," said Fechet.

The minister of the Environment also spoke in the interview about the Guarantee-Return System (SGR), one of the most efficient packaging collection systems in Europe, and how Romsilva, the entity responsible for Romania's forests, can become more efficient.
AGERPRES special correspondent Daniel Florea reports: Romania was just a testing ground for the use of legal institutions in order to interfere with the democratic affairs of the state, Chairman of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and Vice-President of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party George Simion responded when asked if Romania is now a precedent for such a situation possibly repeating in other states, like Poland, too.

"I believe that Romania was just the testing ground for this option of using legal institutions, institutions outside the political arena, to interfere with the democratic affairs of the state. The votes were as clear as possible, no one stole votes (...) on the American model, or on that of Bucharest Sector 1. (...) We are happy that Mr. President Mateusz Morawiecki is heading the European Conservative and Reformist Party, and AUR unconditionally supports Mr. Karol Nawrocki's candidacy for the presidency of Poland, on May 18, the time when Romania's second presidential round should also take place. We believe that the correct approach is for the runoff to be held, for us to get back to the constitutional course. We very much believe in democracy and we are appalled, perplexed and saddened by the fact that certain European institutions, starting with the European Commission and ending with the European Council, have not taken a stance on the cancellation of Romania's election," George Simion told a press conference at the European Parliament at the end of the second edition of the international conference "Make Europe Great Again (MEGA)", which took place January 28 - 29 in Brussels.

Simion welcomed the decision of the Venice Commission, even if its report is only advisory.

"We must re-enter the democratic process, and for us this means resuming elections from the second round. We are sending a clear, strong, determined message from here, from the heart of the European Union where we defend our values, of all those gathered at this series of conferences that will continue in all the important capital cities the participants came from, (...) that we will not allow the natural family, our national identities, our Christian faith that represents the old continent to be trodden underfoot. These are the true European values and we will fight for them," said Simion.

Also attending the conference were MEPs Claudiu Tarziu, Gheorghe Piperea, Adrian Axinia and Georgiana Teodorescu, as well as representatives of the ECR Group parties.
President Klaus Iohannis sent a message on Wednesday on the occasion of the "Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Year" commemorative session, in which he said that this year is crucial for Romania and recalled the words spoken by the cardinal - "Our faith is our life!" - adding that these words can become "a powerful call for civic consciousness, unity and courage, solidarity with others and with the future of our country."

"'Our faith is our life!' These words of Cardinal Iuliu Hossu, spoken during a time of great trials for the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, have a special significance in this commemorative year dedicated to him, and also in a crucial year for Romania. They are the words that summarise the choice made by Iuliu Hossu, Greek-Catholic bishop of Cluj-Gherla, to resist the communist persecutors who asked him to renounce his faith, abandon his mission, and the church he shepherded. They are also words that can become a strong call for us to have civic consciousness, unity, courage, solidarity with our fellow citizens and with the future of our country," said the head of state in the message presented by State Advisor Catalina Galer during the event held at the Romanian Academy.

According to President Klaus Iohannis, the event provides the opportunity to honour the great example of moral strength and martyr-like faith demonstrated by Cardinal Iuliu Hossu.

"Iuliu Hossu embraced the ideals of the Romanians and, through a providential act, read, on December 1, 1918, the Declaration of AlbaIulia. The political unity of the Romanians from all historical provinces of the country was founded and nurtured by their unity of faith, from a deep sense of fraternity, to which Cardinal Iuliu Hossu gave voice, saying: 'Just as you see us today embracing each other as brothers, may all Romanian brothers remain embraced forever!'," added the head of state.

Cardinal Iuliu Hossu made a fundamental contribution to the consolidation of national unity, both as a church leader and as a senator in the Romanian Parliament, "cultivating a spirit of institutional cohesion and authentic solidarity for the fulfillment of the common good," said President Iohannis.

"The special attention given to education, preserving ecclesiastical heritage, and supporting disadvantaged categories illustrates the quality of the high prelate's vocation. His spiritual nobility was matched by the courage with which he acted to help others, regardless of ethnicity or confession. On April 2, 1944, Iuliu Hossu made a call urging everyone to help the Jews subjected to violence. The legal prohibition of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church and the arrest of the bishop in 1948, along with other Greek-Catholic bishops such as Valeriu Traian Frentiu, Alexandru Rusu, Ioan Balan, Ioan Suciu, Vasile Aftenie, and Tit Liviu Chinezu, marked a climax in the suffering inflicted on him by the communist authorities. Aware of the persecution endured by the Church and the faithful, Iuliu Hossu remained steadfast in defending his faith and believed until the end in the redeeming power of sacrifice, in the duty to resist in the face of evil," the head of state further mentioned.

He also noted that this year, as Christians celebrate 1700 years since the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and as the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church honour their martyr saints, we become participants in the miracle of solidarity through faith.

"The one who contributed to writing a foundational page in Romania's history had the clarity to say, in the darkest hour of totalitarian persecution, that 'history has not ended here.' And indeed, we, the Romanians, rebuilt our country after the war, we ended decades of totalitarian dictatorship, and through the sacrifice of December 1989, we regained our freedom and dignity, regenerated our spiritual traditions, and reaffirmed our European values. In the same year, the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church regained its rightful place among officially recognised cults, completing the interfaith dialogue. This year, as Christians celebrate 1700 years since the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and as the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church proclaim and honor their martyr saints, we become participants in the miracle of solidarity through faith. Today, we are privileged witnesses of history that survives thanks to memory," said President Iohannis.
KAMPALA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said he is ready to mediate efforts to end the conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.

John Mulimba, Uganda's minister of state for foreign affairs in charge of regional cooperation, told lawmakers on Wednesday that the president is available to support a peaceful resolution to the hostilities between the two warring parties.

Fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army has reached Goma, the capital of the DRC's North Kivu province, with the rebels declaring the capture of the city and several key installations.

"President Museveni and the government of Uganda remain available to participate in regional peace initiatives to ensure the cessation of hostilities as soon as possible," Mulimba said.

He said the conflict in the central African country and the Great Lakes region in general cannot be resolved through military means.

Uganda continues to monitor the security situation in the Great Lakes region while taking into account the importance of ongoing bilateral arrangements with the DRC government, Mulimba said.

The African Union on Tuesday condemned the violence in the eastern DRC, calling on the M23 to "lay down" its arms.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the eastern DRC, urging the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.

More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, according to the UN. 
Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu (S&D), Vice-President of the European Parliament, said on Wednesday in an exclusive statement to AGERPRES that he has taken up two new action avenues at European level - with Europol and the European Ombudsman - to support efforts to retrieve the Dacian artifacts stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

''On the one hand, I sent a request to Europol to step into this matter with four concrete actions they can do. On the one hand, I am referring here to the mobilization of the unit tasked precisely with combating heritage crime. There is a Europol structure that effectively deals with such offenses and I have requested that this structure gets involved in this case and provides full-on support to the Dutch authorities, and makes available all the information it has,'' Negrescu said.

He added that he has also asked the Europol to issue a European alert, so that all European security agencies are involved in the process, but at the same time auction houses and private collectors are informed about what happened and that taking possession of these artifacts is illegal.

"I also asked Europol to make available to the authorities involved all the technical means at their disposal as regards digital traceability and analysis. Europol has important such resources and they have the possibility to monitor the black market in the area of cultural and art products and, to this effect, they can keep a sharp eye on any move they notice on the black market,'' explained the Romanian MEP.

He asked Europol to issue clear recommendations, so that such phenomena don't ever happen again.

The request addressed to the European Ombudsman started from public debates in Romania regarding the rather improvable cooperation, as the European Ombudsman has the authority to intervene. ''Here too, I asked that this structure facilitate a better cooperation between European structures, but also between the Netherlands and Romania on this subject, including between the authorities responsible for security. I also asked that the European Ombudsman check wether the European legislation has been applied in this regard, what were the limits and problems identified," mentioned Negrescu.

He expressed his willingness to work with the European Ombudsman on improving the legislation, but also on making sure that the European relevant legislation on dealers of stolen or illegally gotten artifacts is tightened. "I think we need to send a clear signal on the EU's behalf that this is not tolerable and that thieves of cultural and historical products will always be apprehended, and that they have no chance of gaining anything if they do this," concluded the Social Democrat MEP.

The iconic golden helmet of Cotofenesti, dated to the 5th-4th centuries BC, as well as three Dacian gold bracelets from Sarmizegetusa Regia, dating from the second half of the 1st century BC, were stolen last weekend from the Drents Museum in Assen, in a heist in which the robbers used an explosive device to break open the only exterior wall of the museum building. All the stolen items had been insured in accordance with Romanian legislation and international standards regarding the organization of exhibitions.

On Saturday, the Prosecutor General's Office informed that a criminal investigation had been opened ex officio in the case of the theft of the prized Dacian treasure artifacts.
Bucharest General Mayor Nicusor Dan reiterated his decision to remain in the presidential race after meeting with Save Romania Union (USR) leader Elena Lasconi.

He said that the discussions held at the headquarters of the Save Romania Union focused on the presidential elections, the role of USR in local government and the implementation in legislation of the results of the local referendum of November 24.

"It is a period in which each of us is campaigning. Not all the polls are in yet. (...) [The candidacy, editor's note] is a decision that I made after seeing the polls. The discussion is how to optimize, so that the chances of a pro-western candidate are the best for the second round. I saw the situation in Romania, I thought whether or not I am useful in this position for the changes Romania needs and I confirmed myself with a poll, so as not to stand in the way. This was the way I made my decision," the mayor general said in a press statement on Wednesday.

He said that it is "very unlikely" that the second round of the presidential elections will include two "isolationist" candidates.

At the same time, Nicusor Dan emphasized that supporting Elena Lasconi's candidacy is a decision that belongs to USR.

The capital's mayor further said he will ask people to donate to his campaign and that he will also resort to loans, given that the state reimburses the expenses of candidates who get more than 3% in the elections.

"This is not about individuals, this is about Romania, which is going through a huge crisis of confidence in the political class, a crisis of confidence in the way state institutions function. The whole objective of this campaign is for all the candidates, including myself, to come and say what the solutions to this crisis we are going through are. A very important thing, which I believe will make the difference in this campaign, is how much volunteers will help each of the candidates. (...) A pro-Western candidate will enter in the runoff, as the data stands at the moment. Further on, what will happen between the pro-Western candidates depends on the project of each of them," Nicusor Dan added. AGERPRES
Cardinal Iuliu Hossu was "a great patriot", "a man among men", "a beacon" of his Church in clandestinity, the president of the Romanian Academy, Ioan-Aurel Pop, emphasized on Wednesday at a commemorative session dedicated to the inauguration of the "Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Year".

"Iuliu Hossu was a man among men, he fulfilled functions and had duties. We must not forget that he was a senator in the Romanian Parliament, at a time when the highest and most valuable people from a spiritual, moral point of view, creators of value, were members of the Romanian Senate. He was an honorary member of the Romanian Academy and I think that most people know that - he has been recently beatified by His Holiness Pope Francis and is celebrated in the calendar on June 2, together with his six dear confraternity members, who are now declared Blessed," said Pop, at the opening of the event.

According to the president of the Academy, Iuliu Hossu "was a beacon of his Church in clandestinity and guided his flock towards resistance, patience, hope and forgiveness".

"He left behind a legacy which will be spoken of here and which will forever inscribe his name in the history of the United Church and in the history of Romanians. Even if all that would remain of Iuliu Hossu's life would be only the Resolution of Union of Transylvania with Romania, which he registered then, in Caldarusani, in secret, shortly before his death, and even if only this act of his life remained and even if only the conviction that our faith is our life remained, we would still have the highest example of patriotism and human dignity of an exceptional personality, with Romanian and European stature and with a message valid for all of us for centuries to come," Ioan-Aurel Pop added.

He emphasized that "the Romanian Academy is intent on honoring not only a great hierarch or prelate of the Romanian Church United with Rome, but also a great patriot, who left this extraordinary message of dignity, which we are missing today".

The Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and Moldova, Monsignor Giampiero Gloder, evoking the figure of Iuliu Hossu, in a beautiful Romanian language, characterized the latter as "a great man of the Church" and, quoting Pope Paul VI, said that Iuliu Hossu "is a gigantic figure".

"The second visit of Monsignor Giovanni Cheli to the Order to communicate to Pope Paul VI his desire to raise him to the rank of cardinal in recognition of his merits, as a tribute to the Greek-Catholic Church, encouragement for bishops, clergy and faithful and proof that the Holy See does not forget them, but with the condition that he (Iuliu Hossu) leave the country and settle in Rome, once again reflects the moral coherence of the Romanian bishop. Monsignor Hossu strongly affirms that the Church has always been his life and could not abandon it. He was deeply grateful to the Holy Father, but he felt that he did not have to part from his flock. It is touching to read how he shows his devotion to the Pope, but adds 'I wish he could be convinced that it is not right for me to become a cardinal. I pray continually for him, but I ask him to let me continue my work for my Church'. And he concluded: 'One day it will be known that the Pope has held me to his bosom and it will be to the glory of the United Church', asking that his fidelity, obedience and love for the Holy Father be presented. When Pope Paul VI, who created him cardinal in pectore, heard the recording of Bishop Iuliu Hossu's words, brought by Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, Cardinal Secretary of State, he began to weep with emotion and said: 'He is a gigantic figure'," recalled Monsignor Giampiero Gloder.

The Apostolic Nuncio, in rereading the characterization of Pope Paul VI, affirmed that it "emphasizes in his own words the moral stature of this bishop, faithful to the sacred oath of his ordination until his death: "Let my tongue cleave to my throat if I remember thee not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above all". That Jerusalem, which was his Church United with Rome and his beloved nation," concluded the Vatican official.

During the commemorative event, the qualities of Cardinal Iuliu Hossu as a pastor of the United Church until death, his strength to resist the communist persecution, his firm stance in defense and rescue, at the risk of his own life, of the Jewish population of occupied Transylvania during the Holocaust, his moral and spiritual breadth were praised by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, His Eminence Aurel Perca, Secretary of State for Religious Affairs, Ciprian Vasile Olinici, PS Mihai Fratila, bishop of the Greek-Catholic Episcopate of St. Basil the Great of Bucharest, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, Silviu Vexler, academician Mircea Martin, professor emeritus, poet Ana Blandiana, corresponding member of the Romanian Academy, the director general of the National Archives, Cristian Anita, and Prof. Ruxandra Cesereanu.

A message on behalf of President Klaus Iohannis was presented by State Counselor Catalina Galer.

At the end of the event, organized in partnership with the National Archives of Romania and the National Museum of Romanian Literature, Romfilatelia launched the issue "Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Year", presented by the General Director Cristina Popescu.

Wednesday's session marked the beginning of the "Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Year" established by Law 290/2023 to celebrate his life, work, personality, martyrdom, his decisive role in the realization of the Great Union and the efforts he made to save Jews during the Holocaust. AGERPRES
Romania does not have a tourism law yet to establish all regulations in this field of activity, although industry representatives have been discussing with the authorities the need for such a law and analyzing different variants for almost 20 years, says Corina Martin, secretary general of the Federation of Hospitality Industry Employers in Romania (FPIOR).

"We, those in the industry, have been carrying out this dialogue for many years. Some of us have been doing this for almost 20 years so that we don't even remember how many variants of the tourism law are under analysis. However, none of these forms have been finalized. Basically, Romania does not currently have a tourism law that would consolidate, centralize all the regulations, ministerial orders or ordinances that refer to the tourism activity," Corina Martin told the National Conference "Trends in Hospitality."

She stated that industry representatives are looking forward to the organization of the first meeting of the Tourism Advisory Council to discuss the main objectives of the sector, including the finalization of a tourism law.

"We are waiting for the first meeting of the Consultative Council, where we will present to the minister the objectives we want, of course, and the finalization of the tourism law, which is probably the most important of these, as well as the promotion or lack of promotion, another very important topic for us for many years. This is also the reason why Romania does not attract enough foreign tourists and we are still, unfortunately, dependent on national tourists. Of course, this also makes us dependent on holiday vouchers, because Romanian tourism is based solidly, in a proportion of over 60%, maybe even 70%, on the circulation of holiday vouchers. Or, if we were to lose Romanian tourists by eliminating vouchers and in the context in which we do not attract enough foreign tourists, we would obviously witness an absolutely major, overwhelming impact on tourism revenues, an area that contributes more and more to Romania's GDP," explained the secretary general of FPIOR.

The federation representative also argued that the state should correct the mechanisms by which a significant share of tourism remains on the black market.

"Unfortunately, the state mechanisms and institutions fail to regulate such apartments that are rented without being authorized," Corina Martin emphasised.

According to the same source, the three main major problems of Romanian tourism at present are the lack of promotion, the deficiencies in the authorization of accommodation structures and the lack of coherent legislation in tourism.

"In the first place we always place the lack of promotion, because it affects us all, as I was saying, and that also means that this field brings in far too little revenue to the national budget, compared to the potential that Romanian destinations, Romanian tourism investors actually have. In the second place I would say the deficiencies in the authorization of accommodation and public catering structures, the fact that, further, the state and state institutions maintain this area in which we have unfair competition between those who declare themselves, authorize themselves, pay taxes and duties, and come out in sight, that is, serious and responsible entrepreneurs, and those who continue to run and offer tourist services without paying absolutely nothing, with rates that are both competitive, but also insecure for tourists who stay or go to such accommodation or public catering structures," mentioned the secretary general of the federation.
ST. LOUIS  It was a sunny fall morning in downtown St. Louis, and Brian Stokes was on his way to the gym.

That was when he saw the truck. It was cutting across lanes of traffic to get to the highway on-ramp.

Stokes honked his horn.

The truck stopped, backed up and pulled in front of him, Stokes said. A man got out, pounded on Stokes hood, and walked toward the driver door.

Stokes fumbled with the lock button.

He doesnt remember being dragged out of the car.

John Jake Ehlinger, of Manchester, was charged with first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities say he broke Stokes jaw, nose and other facial bones, and kicked him in the throat. The attack, captured on video and shared publicly, sparked outrage from a citizens group that had long raised the alarm about downtown crime.

This week, Ehlinger pleaded guilty to attempted assault. He faces five to 15 years in prison.

Over the course of more than a decade, Ehlingers name has appeared frequently in court records. He has faced protection orders from people claiming abuse. He was involved in a brawl outside of a Metro East nightclub with Cardinals players. He was sentenced to probation for slashing tires. Scores of creditors have sued him for unpaid bills. And he was charged with assaulting a casino security guard just months before the attack on Stokes.

His attorney, Travis Noble, declined to comment on the events of the current case.

Stokes said in an interview this week he hoped the judge would put an end to it all.

I want the court to make St. Louis safe from this man, Stokes said. This has to stop.

The violence in the city of St. Louis is not acceptable, he said.

Ehlinger encountered Stokes on Oct. 22, 2023, near the Thomas F. Eagleton federal courthouse, court records say.

Stokes, a local attorney, had gotten to his office at 701 Market Street early on that Sunday to do some work. He left to go to the gym and was sitting in his car at the light near the Interstate 64 west ramp.

A black pickup truck emblazoned with the logo of Roofing and Exterior Pros stopped at the light at Clark Avenue and 10th Street then crossed multiple lanes of traffic and cut in front of Stokes to turn onto the ramp, Stokes said.

Stokes doesnt really remember the attack.

But a bystander witnessed it and posted online a screenshot from a video.

At some point during the beating, another man driving a gold Range Rover drove past. Ehlinger, then 35, got into his truck and chased him, charges say. He pulled alongside the SUV, pointed a gun out his window and said, Do we have a problem?

The driver of the Range Rover said he heard gunshots as he sped away, court records say.

Stokes didnt witness any of that. Instead, he remembered blood in his eyes. He couldnt see.

Somehow, he made his way to his office and lay down with ice on his face, he said. He got up, went home and just cried.

The following day, Stokes still didnt know what happened. He hadnt called the police.

At work, one of his office mates walked into his office and showed him a photo of the incident that had been posted online.

I think this is what happened to you, he remembered his co-worker saying.

He eventually called police.

Weeks later, prosecutors charged Ehlinger. He had abandoned his truck and was staying in St. Clair County when he was arrested.

Ehlingers truck was identified by Manchester police, who were familiar with his vehicle, court records say.

It took Stokes months to recover.

The injuries to his face meant he couldnt eat solid food. He underwent scores of tests, saw numerous doctors, specialists and a therapist.

All because I honked my horn, he said.

Stokes plans to attend Ehlingers sentencing hearing in April.
JEFFERSON CITY  A St. Louis County legislator on Wednesday accused St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones of injecting politics into policing by conditioning a raise for city police officers on the department remaining under local control.

Jones, a Democrat running for reelection this spring, earlier this month announced 7% raises for city police officers as she worked to ward off a state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

But Jones said the raises, which still needed ratification by aldermen, would be rescinded if police were no longer under local control.

Her announcement came as state legislators were beginning to consider a plan to place control of the department in the hands of a five-member Board of Police Commissioners.

The mayor or her representative would fill one of the seats, but the other four members would be gubernatorial appointees.

Rep. Brad Christ, R-south St. Louis County, is sponsoring the takeover plan in the House.

The whole point of this bill is to try to take politics out of policing, Christ said Wednesday.

To hold a police officer raise over state legislation is obviously a political move, Christ said Wednesday. Without this bill I dont know if she wouldve offered the raises.

The take-back provision is part of police officers larger labor contract with the city, which also provided significant raises in 2023.

But Conner Kerrigan, a spokesman for Jones, said in a statement said that it remains necessary. The city of St. Louis cannot and should not negotiate contracts on behalf of the state, he said.

Kerrigan continued that Christ is not a city resident and is funded by special interests seeking to take over SLMPD for political reasons.

(Christ in October accepted $2,000 from the group Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government. The treasurer of the PAC is Jay Schroeder, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, which supports the bill. The PAC has also given to other supporters of the takeover.)

Kerrigan also referenced Christs comment that his bill is not a crime plan.

Therefore, we are left to assume that it is a political plan, Kerrigan said.

The mayors desire to keep local control of SLMPD is informed by a belief that the people closest to the problem are closest to the solutions, that the state takeover of the KCPD has been an abject failure, and that the people of Missouri overwhelmingly voted in support of local control, Kerrigan said in an email.

Meantime, the takeover bills were advancing in the Capitol  despite Jones traveling to the Republican-controlled Legislature to lobby against it last week.

The House Crime and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday voted 13-6 to advance Christs proposal. A Senate committee similarly pushed forward its own legislation on Monday.

Christs plan would place control of the police department in the hands of a five-member Board of Police Commissioners. One of the members would be the mayor or their designated representative.

Christ said the city would need to allocate 25% of its budget to the police department if it were under state control.

Excluding pension obligations, the city is budgeted to spend 22.7%, or about $132 million, of general revenue on its police department in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Christ said Wednesday he was uncertain whether pension costs would be factored into the 25% requirement, but that pensions are usually separated in these laws.

The House legislation goes further than just addressing leadership of the SLMPD.

Both the House and Senate bills seek to crack down on stunt driving and more. Both would outlaw stunt driving in connection with street takeovers.

The bills also would create a new Committee on School Safety to evaluate and establish guidelines for school safety concerns, including plans to prevent school firearm violence.

Christs legislation also raises the penalty for rioting from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony. Subsequent convictions would be class C felonies, which carries a 3-to-10-year prison sentence.

The Senate legislation makes it a class B felony if bodily injury or property damage exceeding $5,000 occurs during the riot. It would be a class A felony if a law enforcement officer, fire fighter or paramedic suffered a bodily injury in the riot.
FREEBURG  A 35-year-old man was fatally struck Tuesday night by an SUV on Route 13 south of Freeburg, the Illinois State Police said.

The state police did not release the name of the victim, who lived in Freeburg.

Police said the man entered the road in front of the southbound SUV at about 10:30 p.m. and was then hit by the vehicle. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died, police said.
GABORONE, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Botswana said on Wednesday that the suspension of U.S. foreign aid with immediate effect will impact the southern African country's health sector.

Christopher Nyanga, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said on Wednesday that the suspension of aid, if made permanent, will affect progress in the health sector, especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

However, he said, the development "does not affect the availability of antiretroviral medication because that is directly procured by the Botswana government."

Nyanga said the ministry will engage all stakeholders, including the U.S. embassy, in a dialogue on how to continue the affected services.

He noted that over the years, Botswana has been receiving aid from the United States in the health sector, and many local U.S.-funded civil society organizations indicated that they have been asked to suspend their operations immediately.

The U.S. Department of State has frozen nearly all foreign assistance worldwide effective immediately days after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order on Jan. 20 to put a hold on such assistance for 90 days.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, 20.8 percent of Botswanans aged 15-65 are HIV positive. That translates to about 329,000 adults living with HIV. 
ST. LOUIS  Momentum Academy will close one of its four charter schools this spring due to low enrollment.

The Gravois Park campus has 91 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, filling less than half of the schools capacity of nearly 250 seats.

Since opening, this campus has faced unique challenges that weve worked to address, said Miranda Ming, Momentums executive director, in a statement. This transition enables us to uphold our promise by focusing resources and support where they are most impactful and enhances our ability to provide a richer academic and enrichment experience for all Momentum scholars.

Momentums four campuses in south St. Louis combined have 580 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grades.

School enrollment has dropped statewide following a decline in birth rates, but St. Louis has been hit hardest with a loss of about 40% of its childhood population since 2000.

In the last five years, the citys public school enrollment has declined by 3,000 students in St. Louis Public Schools and 400 students in charters. Kairos Academies charter school laid off seven staff members this month after enrollment numbers failed to reach projections.

Charter schools are publicly funded but operated by appointed boards outside of the school district. Their success rate has been mixed since first opening in St. Louis in 2000. Half of the 32 charter school operators in the city have folded due to financial or academic failures.

On state tests last spring, 17% of Momentum students scored proficient in English and 19% in math. Scores for SLPS students were 21% proficient in English and 17% in math.

Momentum, formerly Eagle Prep, opened its first two campuses in 2015 as part of a recruitment effort for new charter schools by then-Mayor Francis Slay. Three of the eight charters opened that fall have since closed: Hawthorn Leadership, LaSalle and St. Louis College Prep.

Eagle opened the Gravois Park campus in 2018. The school peaked four years later with 195 students in kindergarten through eighth grades. This year, the school eliminated the sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes.

Eagle changed its name to Momentum in 2022 after the state sanctioned its sponsor for allowing religious influences in the schools, which are all former Lutheran schools.

The Gravois Park campus at 3630 Ohio Ave. was formerly Holy Cross Lutheran School. City records show the building is owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Momentum leaders said they are evaluating the future of the physical building.

We will work with community stakeholders over the coming weeks and months to evaluate options and identify the best use of the building going forward, Ming said.
COLUMBIA, Mo.  Bill Eigel made his case to lead the Missouri Republican Party Tuesday night in Columbia. But he didnt sound like himself.

When campaigning for governor, the former state senator from Weldon Spring ruthlessly trashed his opponents, particularly Mike Kehoe.

During the primary last year, Eigel repeatedly called Kehoe a liberal and labeled him as part of a toxic Republican establishment in Jefferson City. Still, Kehoe narrowly defeated Eigel in the gubernatorial primary last August and went on to win the general election.

But Tuesday, Eigel had nothing but good things to say about his opponent for party chair, former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, whom Kehoe is supporting for the position. He also repeatedly complimented Kehoe to a skeptical crowd of Boone County Republicans.

Kinder was lieutenant governor from 2005 to 2017. He was the only Republican to win statewide office in 2008 and 2012.

Eigels break with form to avoid criticism of his latest political opponent signals he is trying to increase his standing with the people he spent so much time criticizing.

After all, Eigel, if he loses the race for party chairman, could run for St. Charles County executive in 2026, potentially against other Republicans.

I have nothing bad to say about Peter Kinder, Eigel said. (Kinder) deserves a lot of credit for making Missouri, which was very purplish blue when he came into office back in the early 2000s and turning it into a red state.

Eigel said that the 68 members of the Missouri Republican State Committee had the luxury of choosing between two good options.

If elected, Eigel said he would focus on improving organization and using the party apparatus to put measures on the ballot.

Eigel pointed to the fact that the party hasnt announced speakers for its upcoming popular Lincoln Days event as an example of current bad communication and organization practices.

He then argued that the party would be better suited to get conservative policies on the ballot than Republicans in the Legislature.

You can hope that the Legislature is going to pass an SJR or an HJR (Senate or House joint resolution) without interference from the Democratic super minorities and without interference with all the kind of bickering that happens down in Jefferson City, or you can use the initiative petition process itself, Eigel said.

Last year in the state Senate, Eigel led a failed effort to place a question on the ballot that would have asked voters to make it harder to change the state constitution.

He then argued that the party could work to put things on the ballot and mobilize millions of Republicans to support it. He identified ending personal property tax and reinstating the ban on abortion as policies he would like to prioritize.

Eigel also promised to smooth out future state Republican conventions. Last years convention became tumultuous as grassroots Republicans clashed with the party establishment.

The national GOP then forced the state party to replace its delegates for the presidential convention. Eigel and former Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft were among those subbed out.

The vote for chairman is scheduled to take place this Saturday at the Missouri Farm Bureau in Jefferson City.
KINSHASA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Uganda Airlines announced on Tuesday the suspension of its flights to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where several embassies were damaged, looted, and even set on fire amid mass demonstrations.

The decision was made after violent protests targeting foreign embassies against the dire situation in Goma, the capital of the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu, and the "inaction" of the international community.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the United States and other Western countries and the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Part of the exterior of the French embassy was set on fire by protesters, while the nearby Ugandan embassy was also set on fire and looted. Sounds of detonation were heard in the neighborhoods where the Rwandan embassy and the U.S. consular service are located, according to a Xinhua reporter.

Daniel Bumba Lubaki, governor of Kinshasa, announced on Tuesday the suspension of all marches and protest movements in the city, though another peaceful march is still planned in the capital. Blaise Kilimbalimba, Kinshasa police commander, urged the demonstrators to remain calm and return home, warning that those sowing trouble would face serious consequences.

Hostilities resumed in Goma on Tuesday morning after a relatively calm night. March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have been attacking Goma since late Sunday.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been ongoing between the DRC army and the rebels since early Tuesday. According to military sources, the latter have taken control of the area near the airport, a strategic point once controlled by the M23.

Uganda said on Tuesday that the UN has evacuated part of its staff from Goma. Henry Okello Oryem, Uganda's minister of state for foreign affairs in charge of international cooperation, told Xinhua by telephone that the UN's administrative and non-essential staff have been evacuated to Kampala, Uganda's capital, as a precautionary measure amid the ongoing escalation of hostilities and territorial advances by the M23.

"The relocation and evacuation of the non-essential and civilian staff of the UN from Goma to Uganda, in this particular case, is a precautionary measure for their safety and security. We shall update on the number when the evacuation is done," said Oryem.

The African Union (AU) on Tuesday condemned the violence in the eastern DRC, and called on the M23 to "lay down" its arms.

The AU's Peace and Security Council held an extraordinary ministerial meeting on Tuesday, where Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, urged "M23 to lay down arms, honor the August 2024 ceasefire agreement, and prioritize dialogue for a peaceful solution."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that he was deeply concerned by the escalating violence in the eastern DRC and reiterated his strongest condemnation of the M23's ongoing offensive and advances toward Goma.

Guterres called on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, according to the UN. 
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard Padilla directs airmen during a training exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in January 2023. Padilla was killed Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in a hit-and-run incident near MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. (Patrick Sullivan/U.S. Air Force)

An Air Force special operator was killed Sunday in a hit-and-run incident near MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., by a felon who struck at least three other pedestrians with his car, according to service and law enforcement officials.

Tech. Sgt. Richard Padilla, a security forces craftsman with the 24th Rapid Deployment Squadron of the 24th Special Operations Wing, died when he was struck by the vehicle while walking along Interbay Blvd., about 1 mile from MacDill, the Air Force said Wednesday. The man who struck Padilla, Jeremiah Bailey, was shot to death later Sunday by police officers after a pursuit on Interstate 275, according to a Tampa police statement.

Padilla, 37, was a longtime security forces airmen who had expertise in performing base security in austere and challenging locations and helping establish new fully functional bases in undeveloped locations, according to a GoFundMe campaign established in his honor. He often trained other security forces airmen to conduct such missions, according to the Air Force.

Richard was not just an exceptional security forces craftsman, he was a vibrant spirit who brought joy to everyone around him, the GoFundMe page reads.  He never let a moment go dull, always ready to lend a helping hand or offer words of encouragement. Whether you needed support or simply someone to share a laugh with, Richard was there.

Padilla enjoyed jiu-jitsu and coffee, the authors wrote.

Officials at MacDill said Padillas loss had a great impact on the installation, and they offered counseling services to those who knew him.

He embodied what it meant to be a warrior, Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Biederman, the 24th RDS commander, said in a statement.

Tampa police said Bailey, 48, intentionally struck Padilla and three other pedestrians Sunday night during a crime spree that began with a standoff at a Tampa gas station and included at least two shootings. The other pedestrian victims were injured but survived the attacks.

Bailey had an extensive criminal history including assaulting police officers and an emergency medical technician, and he was also convicted of an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, police said. He was released from state prison in Florida in 2022 after pleading no contest to assault charges in 2019, according to court records.

Police believed Bailey was armed Sunday night when they stopped his vehicle on I-275 using a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver. He was killed by gunfire after police believed he was reaching for a weapon, according to the Tampa police statement.

No firearm was found in Baileys vehicle after the incident, the statement said. Police were continuing their investigation into the spree and Baileys shooting death.
Ukrainian artillerymen fire the M109 self-propelled howitzer during training at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, in May 2022. Soldiers from the U.S. and Norway trained Ukrainian artillerymen amid Ukraines ongoing defense of its country against Russias invasion. (U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  U.S. Army troops in Germany scaled down some training in favor of Ukrainian forces and faced challenges in keeping equipment functional, according to a federal watchdog report released Tuesday.

Some U.S. troops stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany, reported they were negatively impacted by scheduling conflicts, additional equipment wear and tear, and delays in meeting their own training requirements while supporting the training of Ukrainian troops, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

In a few instances, U.S. training had to be canceled or moved to sites in other countries to accommodate Ukrainian forces. Officials told the GAO that most units completed training as planned, but some training equipment that is available at Grafenwoehr  for gathering data and measurements, for example  was not available. Host nation requirements also led one battalion to scale down its training.

Additionally, U.S. Army units initially faced challenges training Ukrainian forces because the Defense Department did not always implement a total approach for some defense materials and weapons delivered under the presidential drawdown authority, which allows equipment to be pulled from existing U.S. military stocks and sent to Ukraine on an emergency basis.

Between February 2022 and April 2024, the Defense Department trained Ukrainian military personnel  mainly at U.S. training ranges in Germany  using various security assistance processes.

However, the expanded size, scope, and speed of equipment deliveries to Ukraine contributed to training challenges, the report read.

The Army units were generally notified 18 days in advance about the training requirements for arriving equipment, which was not sufficient time to plan that training for Ukrainian forces. Typically, units need 30 to 60 days to plan and schedule such training, the GAO said. The federal watchdog was also told some equipment items  such as Paladin tanks  arrived late, in insufficient quantities, and in some cases, were not in working condition.

As a result, the training unit needed additional time and resources to repair the remaining Paladins to use them for training, according to officials.

The U.S. Army trainers also told us they had to adapt the programs of instruction for the training by rearranging the order of training events until they had time to repair the equipment, the report read.

The GAO recommended the Pentagon require combatant commands to identify resources necessary for training when proposing a security assistance package, including situations that require rapid execution.

U.S. Army officials told GAO they overcame these challenges by adapting training schedules and obtaining contractor support, among other strategies. By issuing additional guidance to ensure that combatant commands identify training needs when proposing a security assistance package, [the Defense Department] would be better positioned to avoid challenges that might disrupt associated training. This is especially relevant for future situations that require the rapid execution of [a presidential drawdown authority], the report read.

Officials from three U.S. Army units that served as trainers told the GAO that challenges ultimately did not significantly reduce readiness because they had sufficient personnel, maintenance resources, and technical expertise available for the training mission from U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Unit officials also described some positive effects on general readiness that might not be captured in a units readiness reporting, including morale and retention, repetition, and knowledge sharing.

While the Defense Department has processes meant to assess training for Ukrainian forces and develop lessons learned from U.S. efforts, the department has not clearly communicated how U.S. European Command and subordinate commands should document this data nor attribute that data in information systems as required.

As a result, [the Defense Departments] lessons learned may not be comprehensive or timely, leading to missed opportunities for improvement, the report read.

The GAO recommended EUCOM provide clear guidance to subordinate organizations on documenting approaches for assessing training provided to Ukrainian forces.

The federal watchdog also recommended the EUCOM direct subordinate organizations to capture and share relevant observations from ongoing efforts to train Ukraines forces through the Joint Lessons Learned Information System in a timely manner.
A tourist boat motors past very large icebergs crowding the Ilulissat Icefjord on July 16, 2024, near Ilulissat, Greenland. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images via TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Denmark will scrap plans to build new patrol and environmental vessels for the Baltic Sea and instead design ships to carry out tasks around Greenland.

Danish lawmakers initially agreed in 2021 to design new navy ships for patrolling and clean-up operations for environmental accidents in the Baltic Sea. The project will now be shifted to focus on acquiring vessels equipped for tasks around Greenland, the defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

We are in a significantly changed security situation, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said, adding that a replacement for the existing fleet of aging Thetis-class ships in Greenland was needed.

The deal, which has got backing from a large majority of parties in parliament, is part of Denmarks efforts to ramp up its defense capabilities in the Arctic region, and follows an agreement earlier this week to inject 14.6 billion kroner ($2 billion) for new warships and drones.

It comes amid a diplomatic crisis between Copenhagen and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted he wants to take control of Greenland, a self-ruling territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, for security reasons.

The Danish defense ministry said the change of plans are possible as neighboring countries commit more resources to Baltic Sea security, adding that Denmark would instead need to contribute with other capabilities such as frigates and aircraft in the region. Danish lawmakers also agree to acquire new marine environmental vessels through its new crisis ministry, it said.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This U.S.-made shell believed to be from World War II was found near Ejina Island in Itoman city, Okinawa, Feb. 11, 2024. (Itoman city)

Japanese troops on Wednesday detonated eight unexploded, U.S.-made bombs believed to be from World War II off the coast of southern Okinawa.

The ordnance  one 5-inch shell, one 4-inch shell, five 3-inch shells and one M60 white phosphorous shell  were detonated in waters near Kitanashiro beach in Itoman city, about 3,200 feet west of Ejina island, according to a spokesman for the city.

The operation was originally scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., the city announced in a Jan. 20 news release, but finished it earlier than expected, a spokesman for the citys Disaster Prevention Section said by phone Wednesday.

Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force carried out the operation safely underwater, he said.

Boats were evacuated to a radius of 984 feet, and swimming was prohibited within a radius of nearly two miles, according to the release. Traffic was not restricted.

The evacuation and restrictions were lifted at 11:02 a.m., the spokesman said.

Japan coast guard and fire department officials kept watch from the surrounding waters, according to the release.

The 5-inch shell was found Dec. 5, 2023, near Churasan beach in Tomigusuku city, an Itoman city spokesman said by phone Tuesday.

Four 3-inch shells and one 4-inch shell were found Feb. 11 near Ejina Island. The fifth 3-inch shell and the white phosphorous shell were found July 14 near Okaha island in Itoman, the spokesman said.

He declined to provide details on how they were found.

Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

Last week, Japanese troops removed and defused a 5-inch, U.S.-made WWII shell found in November at a construction site in the Matsuyama district of Naha city. Another 5-inch, U.S.-made shell found in October was removed from the Uebaru district and defused in December.

The Japanese government has ramped up searches for unexploded ordnance at airports across the country. The government began surveys in October at Miyazaki Airport on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands, after a WWII-era bomb exploded that month on a taxiway.

Magnetic surveys began in December at Naha Airport, along with airports in Sendai, Matsuyama and Fukuoka.

Crews disposed of nearly 22 tons of unexploded ordnance leftover from WWII on Okinawa between April 1, 2023, and March 31.

Stars and Stripes reporter Keishi Koja contributed to this report.
Futenma Daini Elementary School teacher Kotono Arasaki works with a fourth grader at Bob Hope Elementary School on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in October 2024. Defense Department students in the fourth and eighth grades ranked best in the nation again in math and reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

Defense Department schools fourth and eighth graders ranked best in the nation again in the federal governments biennial math and reading tests, far outpacing their stateside peers amid a continuing slump by U.S. public schools.

The Department of Defense Education Activity once again bucked the performance trend on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report of the results released Wednesday.

The assessment, referred to as the nations report card, is considered the gold standard for measuring what U.S. students know and can do in math, reading, writing, science, U.S. history and civics. Math and reading were the only subjects tested last year.

On the 2024 assessment, DODEA fourth graders had an average math score of 251, which was 14 points above the national average, and one point higher than in 2022 and 2019, according to the report.

Scores are presented as averages from 0 to 500 on the NAEP subject scale and as percentages of students attaining NAEP achievement levels.

Also, 54% achieved at or above proficient, meaning they demonstrated solid academic performance and competency over the subject matter, the report said. That compares to 39% nationally on average.

Meanwhile, DODEA eighth graders average math score of 291 was almost identical to the 2022 and 2019 figures, while 41% of them achieved at or above proficient, compared with 27% in the nations public schools.

DODEAs reading scores stayed about the same, while results nationwide showed a slide in reading, compounding a decline that started prior to the pandemic, according to the report.

In reading, 48% of fourth graders and 53% of eighth graders in DODEA schools scored at or above proficient.

Our relentless pursuit of continuous improvement has empowered our mission to deliver excellence in education to every student, every day, everywhere, DODEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez said in a statement Wednesday.

About 8,600 DODEA fourth and eighth graders took the assessment, which is about 95% of the student population in those grades, according to DODEA.

Female DODEA students performed better on average in reading than their male counterparts in both the fourth and eighth grades, while boys outperformed the girls in math for both grade levels.

Results for 2024 show that students across the country for the most part have made little to no progress in reading and math since 2022, the last time fourth and eighth graders took the assessment in those subjects.

Two years ago, stateside metrics in math saw their steepest decline since the first assessments in 1990, while average reading scores decreased or remained flat in the District of Columbia and all 50 states.

DODEA avoided that drop, largely attributed to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which began shutting schools in the spring of 2020.

The 2024 results also show that fewer than a third of students nationwide are working at the proficient level in reading at both grades, meaning they can consistently understand written text and interpret meaning.

One bright note nationwide was that more fourth graders reported having confidence in doing math than the number who did in 2022, the report said.

Fourth graders on average scored two points higher in math, and a greater percentage said they could answer questions like how to estimate the weight of four apples using pounds.

The tests are administered by the National Assessment Governing Board, an independent, nonpartisan body appointed by the secretary of education to oversee the congressionally mandated assessment program.
CAPE TOWN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers.

The South African troops, part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), have been killed in escalating fighting involving the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the Armed Forces of the DRC since last week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, calling on the country to rally behind its soldiers "who have dedicated their lives to bringing peace on our continent."

The president reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to peace, urging all parties to respect the DRC's territorial integrity and engage in diplomatic processes to end the ongoing conflict.

"We call on all parties to this conflict to fully embrace the current diplomatic efforts that are aimed at finding a peaceful resolution," he said. "We must silence the guns on our continent for the attainment of inclusive development and prosperity."

Ramaphosa welcomed the United Nations Security Council's recent position on the situation in the DRC, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the withdrawal of external forces from the DRC, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.

He also emphasized that South Africa's military presence in the eastern DRC is "not a declaration of war against any country or state." "The members of the South African National Defense Force that are in the DRC are part of both SADC and United Nations efforts to bring peace and protect thousands of lives that are constantly threatened by the conflict in the DRC," said Ramaphosa.

"The presence of the SAMIDRC forces demonstrates a commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and, ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity," he added. 
The statue of Hans Egede, the Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary who founded Nuuk, overlooks the capital city in Greenland. (Sebastien Van Malleghem for The Washington Post)

When President Donald Trump first floated acquiring Greenland in 2019, it seemed a joke. The idea was rebuffed by Denmark, to which the self-ruling island still belongs.

At the time, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Trumps hopes to purchase the territory as absurd, a reaction that the U.S. president said was not nice, and which led to him canceling a planned visit to Copenhagen. His quixotic quest faded away from the news cycle in a matter of weeks, one of many curious episodes within the general tumult of Trumps first term.

But Trumps covetousness of Greenland is back on the agenda now that hes started his second term. And this time, it doesnt look like hes going to let go of his ambitions so easily.

Trump has been adamant that the United States should exert control over the territory, given both its strategic position in a melting Arctic region where China and Russia also have growing interests, as well as the wealth of natural resources that are thought to lie beneath Greenlands seabeds and frozen wastes. When Donald Trump Jr. appeared in Greenland this month for a publicity stunt, his father promised to Make Greenland Great Again in a social media post. Trump has since cast American ownership of Greenland as an absolute necessity for Western security, and on Saturday, in a gaggle with reporters, said I think were going to have it.

Before his inauguration, Trump and Frederiksen conducted a lengthy phone call that shocked diplomats in Copenhagen. According to reports, Trump seemed to dismiss his Danish counterparts offers of greater security and economic cooperation.

It was horrendous, a senior European official told the Financial Times. Another anonymous source speaking to the British newspaper said: He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.

Frederiksen is no longer treating Trumps rhetoric as a joke. We have never in my lifetime found ourselves in such a difficult time as now, Frederiksen said, as reported by Danish media, speaking to the broader moment on the continent, given Russias war in Ukraine, but also to Trumps disruptive return. There is only one way through this, and that is ever closer and stronger European cooperation.

This week, Denmark announced a military spending package of about 2 billion euros for its northern territories, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, that provide for, among other things, three new Arctic ships and more long-range drones. And on Tuesday, Frederiksen conducted a whirlwind tour of European capitals, meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and NATO in a bid to shore up political support. The statements from these meetings studiously avoided calling out Trump or Greenlands newly contested status, but the subtext was obvious.

This is a very, very clear message  that of course there must be respect for territory and the sovereignty of states, Frederiksen said after calling on French President Emmanuel Macron. This is a crucial part of the international community, the international community that we have built together since World War II.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who met with Frederiksen earlier Tuesday, lamented to reporters that the times we live in are challenging and warned that borders must not be moved by force. To underscore the point, he added, in English: To whom it may concern.

Trump and his allies do not envision an invasion of Greenland. The United States already maintains a major air base on the island and hopes to strengthen its militarys foothold there, parallel to allied European governments, as Russia and China expand their presence in the Arctic. Instead, Trump is hoping for Copenhagens acquiescence in some sort of deal, framing a U.S. acquisition of the territory as an act of generosity to relieve Denmark of the burden of administering it.

There is plenty of historical precedent. U.S. politicians have eyed Greenland for more than a century and a half. William Seward, the U.S. secretary of state who purchased Alaska in 1867, was close to a similar deal for Greenland, but was foiled by political rivals in Congress. With both northern territories folded into the United States, Seward suggested this continental nation will flank British America for thousands of miles  and greatly increase her inducements, peacefully and cheerfully, to become a part of the American Union. That is, he thought buying Greenland would be a precursor to absorbing Canada - a vision Trump hasnt quite relinquished, either.

In 1917, the United States under President Woodrow Wilson bought what was then the Danish West Indies (and now the U.S. Virgin Islands) from Denmark. Geopolitical concerns fueled the decision: Washington wanted to consolidate control over access to the newly opened Panama Canal and was eager to ward off possible German encroachment in the Caribbean should Denmark be annexed by the Kaiser next door.

In his dealings with adversaries and allies alike, Trump seems intent on reviving the spirit of that earlier era of imperialist, great power politics, no matter the post-World War II norms and transatlantic alliances that have emerged over the past century. He has already threatened a growing list of countries - from Taiwan to Colombia and many in between - with punitive tariffs in a bid to win concessions.

This is an aggressive exercise of U.S. economic power in a way we have not seen in a very long time - at least not in the post-World War II era, John Creamer, who was a senior diplomat for more than 35 years and a former deputy assistant secretary of state, told my colleagues.

Denmarks case isnt helped by the ambivalence of Greenlanders. While a recent poll found 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States, many of the territorys political class are not pleased with the status quo and favor full-fledged independence. In his New Years speech, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede denounced the shackles of the colonial era, with the islands under 60,000-strong population comprised largely of Indigenous Inuit peoples, who have sat uncomfortably for decades in Copenhagens periphery.

Danish officials, including the prime minister, have stressed that Greenland is for Greenlanders, but Egede might push for an independence referendum in the coming months. Trumps calculus may be that an independent Greenland would be more primed to tether itself to the United States.

It depends how far Trump wants to take it, Jorgen Boassen, a well-known Greenlander Trump fan, told my colleague William Booth this month, as dozens of Western journalists wandered around the islands remote capital city, Nuuk. He suggested Greenland could win independence and then we can make our own deal.

In Washington, some Trump allies are warming to the challenge. Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) this month introduced the Make Greenland Great Again Act, which would direct Congress to back Trumps negotiations to acquire the territory.

Putting the cart well before the horse, the right-wing Heritage Foundation suggested Greenland could have the same status as other quasi-colonial territories like Guam or Puerto Rico, or be a freely associated state like the Pacific archipelago republic of Palau, which relies on the United States for its defense and votes in lockstep with Washington at the United Nations.

What Greenland shouldnt get from the United States, warned the thinktanks scholars Hans von Spakovsky and Victoria Coates, is statehood. That would guarantee the addition of two Democrats to the Senate and at least one Democrat to the House, and they would almost certainly be European-style socialists, they wrote. Trump and his cohort may value Greenland, but they may not be so sure about its voters.
An aerial view shows the western Syrian port city of Tartus, on Dec. 18, 2024. Islamist-led rebels took Damascus in a lightning offensive on December 8, ousting president Bashar al-Assad and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images via TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Syrias new government pressed Russia for compensation during its first talks with a Kremlin delegation since the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

The dialogue highlighted Russias role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and recovery, according to the Syrian readout on the talks in Damascus with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. The new administration also stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes.

The statement didnt explain what form of compensation Syria is seeking from Russia. Bogdanov called Tuesdays talks constructive though we understand how difficult the situation is, the Interfax news service reported.

The Syrian statement made no reference to two key Russian military bases in Syria that the Kremlin is desperate to retain. Bogdanov told reporters thered been no progress on the issue and that further negotiations were required, Russias Tass news service reported.

The military bases  a naval port at Tartus and an airfield at Hmeimim  have enabled Moscow to project influence in the Middle East and Africa. Their loss would be a significant strategic setback as Russian President Vladimir Putin remains locked in escalating confrontation with the U.S. and its European allies almost three years since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tartus is the only Russian naval hub in the Mediterranean and Hmeimim is a key resupply base for the Kremlins activities in many parts of Africa. Negotiations with the new Syrian government on retaining them are stuck, with Russian activities at Hmeimim curtailed and two transport ships kept waiting for weeks before Syrian officials allowed them to dock at the port to remove military equipment, according to a person in Moscow with knowledge of the situation.

The Kremlin had earlier been optimistic it could persuade Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS, the former al-Qaeda offshoot that last month forced Assad to flee Syria, to let it remain at the bases. Russia helped Assad to escape to Moscow as his regime crumbled.

Putin ordered his military to intervene in Syria in support of Assad in 2015, helping turn the war against rebel forces at that time. In 2017, Russia was awarded 49-year leases to the Tartus base and the Hmeimim airfield.

Turkey, which backed the rebels in ousting Assad and is a rival to Russia in Syria, opposes the continuation of Moscows military presence in the country. Its highly doubtful the new Syrian authorities will let Russia stay at the bases after Russian warplanes targeted opposition forces during the countrys civil war, said two senior Turkish officials.

Turkeys Defense Ministry declined to comment.

Turkey has offered to supply the Syrian armed forces with weapons and provide training. Much of the countrys military capability has been destroyed by Israeli attacks since Assad was overthrown.

The German and French foreign ministers visited Syria soon after the New Year as the European Union stepped up efforts to build ties with the new authorities and persuade them to curtail Russias influence.

E.U.foreign ministers reached a preliminary deal Monday on a roadmap to ease sanctions gradually on Syria, the blocs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters.

Some Group of Seven nations and allies have explored ways to enable Syria to find alternatives to imports of Russian oil and food, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Ukraine sent Syria a shipment of wheat and promised more deliveries during a visit in December by the foreign and agricultural ministers.

With assistance from Selcan Hacaoglu.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
U.S. Army soldiers patrol the US-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on Jan. 24, 2025. (Charly Triballeau, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered 400 soldiers Monday to the Rio Grande Valley, escalating efforts to secure the states border with Mexico as President Donald Trump sends military reinforcements after declaring a state of emergency along the border.

The deployment of additional Texas National Guard soldiers, thousands of whom are already on the border as part of Abbotts 4-year-old Operation Lone Star, was the latest in state and federal actions to address illegal immigration in Trumps first week as president. Last week, Abbott announced more buoys being added to the Rio Grande, which marks the Texas- Mexico border, to strengthen the physical barriers blocking river crossings.

Abbott will also send C-130s and Chinook helicopters to the region, with soldiers and equipment departing from bases in Fort Worth and Houston early Monday, the governors office said.

Abbott deployed troops from the Texas Tactical Border Force, created last year to use National Guard soldiers in hot spots along the states 1,254-mile border with Mexico. The soldiers will work alongside state troopers and other Texas Military Department personnel already stationed there, as well as the U.S. Border Patrol and federal officers sent by the Trump administration.

Texas has a partner in the White House we can work with to secure the Texas- Mexico border, Abbott said in a Monday statement. For the past four years, Texas held the line against the Biden Administrations border crisis and their refusal to protect Americans. Finally, we have a federal government working to end this crisis. I thank President Donald Trump for his decisive leadership on the southern border and look forward to working with him and his Administration to secure the border and make America safe again.

The state has spent $11 billion on Operation Lone Star since its inception, and lawmakers have proposed continuing its funding for at least the next two years.

2025 The Dallas Morning News.

Visit dallasnews.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Marine adjusts concertina wire along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025. (Caleb Goodwin/U.S. Marine Corps)

Marines on Monday began to hang temporary barriers along a wall in San Ysidro, Calif., marking the U.S. border with Mexico as an Air Force flight crew prepared to take off from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Ecuador with the militarys fourth planeload of deported migrants.

The efforts are part of the militarys fulfillment of an executive order signed just more than a week ago by President Donald Trump to make border security a top priority of the Defense Department.

The 500 Marines in California were the first active-duty troops deployed for the mission, which has climbed from 1,500 to 1,600 in the past week, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Northern Command, the military combatant command leading the mission.

Soldiers prepare to depart Jan. 25, 2025, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., for a mission along the southern border. (Department of Defense)

The remaining troops  pulled from Army units across the country  have first stopped in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego to begin learning about the mission before moving to various locations in the southwest, NORTHCOM said Tuesday.

About 750 troops had arrived at Fort Bliss, an Army post in El Paso, as of Tuesday, according to base officials. The base is often used by the Army to prepare and deploy service members and is supporting the staging of equipment and materials that will go with soldiers to the border.

Those soldiers and Marines will carry their service weapons with them for self-defense, NORTHCOM said. Photos released Monday showed soldiers arriving from bases including Fort Campbell, Ky., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., dressed in full combat gear and helmets and carrying M-4 rifles.

The decision to arm military members is based on particular security situations. As of right now, none of the forces moving to the border are intended to be used for law enforcement, according to NORTHCOM.

Customs and Border Protection will choose where troops are sent along the 1,950 miles of border that covers four states, the command said. They join about 2,500 National Guard troops already deployed to the border and will join a mission that began in 2018 during Trumps first term as president.

An Air Force loadmaster directs a forklift driver loading Army equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Fort Carson, Colo., Jan. 26, 2025. (Department of Defense)

Filling a support role for Customs and Border Protection, troops conduct vehicle maintenance, light construction, transportation, and observation and detection from the ground and air.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote Monday that these actions have become common in the past 30 years. However, if the mission scales to higher troop levels  such as the 10,000 that the Pentagon confirmed defense officials are discussing  that would be unprecedented, he said.

President Trump sent troops to the border to emphasize its importance. Other presidents have done the same. However, it would be a mistake for the military to take over this mission. Stopping criminals is a law enforcement activity for which the military is poorly suited. Military personnel are trained and equipped to destroy enemy forces, Cancian said.

For the deportation flights, the Air Force conducted three last week to Guatemala, and NORTHCOM said the flights will continue as needed. The Coast Guard has flown those people selected for deportation from locations across the U.S. to Texas and California, where they are then flown out of the country by the Air Force. The Department of Homeland Security provides in-flight security on the aircraft, and the State Department coordinates with the country receiving the flight, the military said.

All these efforts are separate from the state-sponsored mission of the Texas National Guard, which Monday announced an additional 400 troops to supplement its work in support of state police to deter crime at the border. It has roughly 5,000 troops deployed within the state.

Texas began its border mission in 2021, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested last week for the federal government to reimburse the state for the $11 billion that it has spent. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has pledged his support for this.
A pavements and construction equipment duty identifier patch is seen on an airmans uniform during training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center in Edinburgh, Ind., March 4, 2023. (Jonathan Padish/U.S. Air Force)

Career field identifier patches and 57 colors of nail polish are out, gig lines and short hair are in, according to an Air Force order that reverses dress and appearance regulations loosened just one year ago.

I expect compliance with these updates as the military duty of the total Air Force, Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin wrote in a memo Friday. A copy was posted Wednesday on the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page, where it quickly accumulated more than 700 comments.

Allvin banned the career field identifier patches worn on airmens camouflage-pattern utility uniforms.

Over the years we have increased the number of approved tabs to where now we have over 134 approved tabs, he said in a video uploaded Monday to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. As we identify ourselves as one type of airman or another, with one specialty or another, we really diminish ourselves.

The video was posted to the official Air Force website on Wednesday.

Our real value is our integral part of a winning war fighting team, Allvin added.

He also reduced the permitted colors of nail polish from 60 to three; now only clear, or French or American Manicure are allowed.

He clarified that hair may not touch the ears and all male airmen not on a waiver must be clean shaven at the start of each duty day.

The update also defines the dress uniforms gig line  the front edge of a buttoned-down shirts alignment with the outside edge of a belt buckle or trouser fly.

The gig line should be straight and neat, Allvins memo states.

The policy updates take effect Saturday but do not apply to Space Force guardians, according to the memo. It does affect the Air National Guard.

In its last update to dress and appearance regulations in February 2024, the Air Force expanded the authorized nail polish colors, ponytails for female airmen and updated mustache guidelines, among many others.

A spokesperson for the Secretary of the Air Force acknowledged an email Wednesday morning requesting clarification, and said more information should be available that day.

Some comments on the Air Force amn/nco/snco post were critical of the memo. One person sarcastically wrote he was glad to see the Air Force tackling important issues that will help stem the services overwhelming mental health crisis.

Others saw the updates as a step forward, with one commenter saying the Air Force should bring back boot polishing and uniform ironing.
DeepSeeks rapid success combined with its claim that its AI model was trained for only $5.6 million sent shockwaves through the tech industry. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

The U.S. Navy says internal correspondence about the use of generative AI has been misinterpreted as a specific ban against DeepSeek AI Assistant, a Chinese-developed program that recently sent shockwaves through the tech industry.

CNBC reported Tuesday that an email sent to sailors on Friday directed them to avoid using the app in any capacity due to potential security and ethical concerns, since the AI model originates in China.

An unidentified Navy spokesperson confirmed the emails authenticity, CNBC said, and referenced an earlier Department of Navy memorandum on the use of generative AI.

However, Fridays correspondence was intended to remind sailors that theyre prohibited from using any publicly accessible, open-source AI programs or systems, Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a Navy spokesman, told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday.

DeepSeek was mentioned [in the correspondence] as the most recent example of how the standing guidance applies, he wrote.

A memo issued in September 2023 cautions against the use of AI in an operational setting unless security requirements have been fully investigated, identified and approved for use within controlled environments.

It further warns that AI learning models save all prompts and that the use of proprietary or sensitive information poses a unique security risk that could lead to an inadvertent release of sensitive or classified information.

The most recent correspondence was meant to remind sailors about this memo, Hawkins said.

The U.S. government views China as the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. Government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligences annual threat assessment Feb. 5.

If Beijing believed that a major conflict with the United States were imminent, it would consider aggressive cyber operations against U.S. critical infrastructure and military assets, the report said.

DeepSeek released its AI Assistant on Jan. 10 and quickly outpaced OpenAIs ChatGPT by becoming the No. 1 free app in Google Play and Apples App Store. It had more than 5 million downloads from Google Play as of Wednesday.

DeepSeeks rapid success combined with a claim that its AI model was trained for only $5.6 million  a fraction of the billions spent training ChatGPT and other AI models  sent shockwaves through the tech industry.

U.S. tech stocks were also affected. Heavily impacted was Nvidia, a major producer of AI hardware, which saw share prices plummet approximately 17% on Monday - a $600 billion market value loss  BBC reported Wednesday.

The stock appeared to stabilize by Monday, rising 8.8%, the report said.
A burial detail of American and Filipino prisoners of war uses improvised litters to carry fallen comrades at Camp ODonnell, Capas, Tarlac, 1942, following the Bataan Death March. (National Archives)

Jan. 28 (Tribune News Service)  Pvt. Oscar Avery Cox and other Bataan prisoners of war endured harsh conditions during World War II, including a miles-long march through hell.

Despite the adversity, Cox and three fellow POWs decided it was worth risking their lives to protect a piece of fabric that meant more to them than life itself: the American flag.

While experiencing the 65-mile Bataan Death March in the Philippines, where the men dealt with sweltering heat and smelled death, they passed a folded American flag to one another. They moved from place to place, protecting it despite the inherent dangers they faced. After arriving at Fukuoka Prison Camp No. 17 in Japan, the group hid the flag in a coal mine they worked in, New Mexico Military Museum Director Laureta Huit said.

After the unconditional surrender of Japan on Sept. 2, 1945, Cox, realizing the camp was abandoned, picked up the flag, went to the center of the camp, took down the Japanese flag and put up the American flag, solidifying American victory in the minds of all his fellow POWs, she said.

The American flag Cox hoisted up at the prison camp, along with the Japanese flag taken down at the camp that Cox and the three other POWs signed, and a flag retrieved from camp commandant Asao Fukuharas cabin, will be part of a new New Mexico Military Museum exhibit titled Flags of Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Our Bataan Prisoners of War.

Coxs family donated the flags to the museum, and we will display them and recognize the significance of the sacrifices the men made, New Mexico Military Museum Foundation Board Chairman Jack Fox said.

What were doing is recognizing the anniversary of the end of World War II and the release of Americans who were prisoners of war, he said.

Really a New Mexico story

Cox and his fellow POWs were a part of the 200th Coast Artillery that was made up of 1,816 New Mexico National Guard members.

The whole Bataan experience is really a New Mexico story, Fox said.

Its a horrific story, he said, but its also a story of courage and the American spirit.

Along with Filipino troops, Cox and other American soldiers were defending the Bataan peninsula when it fell to the Japanese military in April 1942.

Those soldiers fought for as long as they could, Fox said. Finally, there was no other option there. They were out of food and out of ammo.

During the Bataan Death March and their subsequent imprisonment at places such as Fukuoka Prison Camp No. 17, 829 men from the regiment died or were missing. Though they were freed in 1945, a third of the survivors died within a year from injuries or disease, according to the New Mexico History Museum.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, there will be an opening reception at the museum, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, in Santa Fe. During the event, Huit and author Hampton Sides will talk about the liberation of the Bataan prisoners of war. One of Sides books, Ghost Soldiers, examined the raid at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. On Jan. 30, 1945, the U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas raided a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Cabanatuan, helping free hundreds of prisoners.

Several weeks earlier, the Palawan Massacre took place in the Philippines, where 139 American POWs were killed by Japanese soldiers, according to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. This caused U.S. forces to get nervous and to develop a sense of urgency, Huit said.

The massacre triggered the urgency to (carry out) the raid and rescue at Cabanatuan, becoming the first significant event for the eventual release of other POWs and the end of the war in the Pacific, she said.

 2025 the Albuquerque Journal.

Visit www.abqjournal.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the chairman Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, speaks Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, during a hearing on private health care for veterans outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  A lack of consistent policies and protocols by the Department of Veterans Affairs for administering private-sector health care for veterans is leading to medical records not being transferred, denials for appointments and a lack of understanding about reimbursements for clinicians who are not part of the VA system.

As the popularity of private-sector care continues to rise  with 40% of veterans medical services delivered in the community  lawmakers on Tuesday sought to examine the effectiveness of the dual system of public-private care. At a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, veterans and their families talked about their experiences receiving VA health care and private-sector care outside the VA.

There are a lot of friction points for access to care, said Navy veteran Eric Golnick, who runs a health care company that connects veterans with mental health services in their community. There is not a standardized approach by the VA to making referrals for care outside the VA system.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the committee chairman, said he has heard numerous stories by veterans about challenges and obstacles to accessing care and coverage outside the VA.

The Mission Act was created so that the VA could more easily care for these veterans, he said, adding the VA has in many cases discouraged and restricted the use of community care out of concern for losing funds.

The legislation was enacted in 2019 and enables veterans to seek medical care in the private sector when it is unavailable or not offered at a VA facility close to their home, Moran said.

Paige Marg of Texas, the wife of an Air Force veteran, told lawmakers that she repeatedly requested inpatient psychiatric care for her husband after he attempted suicide several years ago in a VA hospital parking lot. But the agency denied her requests, she said.

Paige Marg, whose husband is an Air Force veteran, testifies Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, during a meeting of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee about her husbands difficulties receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Marg said she finally received help from the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project, which paid for her husbands six-week stay at a residential treatment facility where he received counseling and medical care for major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that afflicts people who have witnessed terrifying events.

Wounded Warrior saved his life, she said. It is heartbreaking to see a spouse become a shell of a person and only to be discarded from the entity that should be providing him with care.

But Marg said the VA later refused to reimburse Wounded Warrior Project for her husbands care.

VA should have covered it but failed to support him again, she said.

Marg and her husband now avoid using VA services.

How many veterans need to commit suicide for the VA to prioritize long-term mental health care? she said.

Golnick told lawmakers that he considers VA and private sector care complementary services. But he said the VA lacks consistent standards for referring veterans to medical care with private doctors in their communities.

Unclear eligibility requirements lead to delays and denials for veterans, he said. Some VA employees delay making referrals because it will affect their budget. Veterans  and not funding structures  should remain the priority.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said there needs to be adequate funding in the VA budget for private-sector care and VA health services and infrastructure.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, during a meeting of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He said there needs to be adequate funding in the VA budget for private-sector care and VA health services and infrastructure. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

My fear is there will be an erosion, a starving of the VA. A shift will mean less investment in the VA system, he said.

The VA is responsible for educating its employees about referring veterans to non-VA private sector care when VA services are not readily available, said Naomi Mathis, assistant national legislative director at the Disabled American Veterans.

The veterans group continues to support the VA as the primary provider of veteran health care, she said, adding it is a robust system that also provides medical research and emergency preparedness that benefits the entire nation.

But Mathis said her organization is hearing from veterans denied eligibility and access by the VA to private-sector care in their communities, when the service is not readily available at a nearby VA facility.

Veterans also are reporting delays in their medical records being transferred between VA facilities and private-sector doctors, as well as problems with private-sector clinicians billing the VA and receiving reimbursement.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said the VA has thrown up barriers to veterans accessing private-sector health care.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaking Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, during a meeting of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. She has introduced legislation that allows veterans to directly schedule their own appointments for private health care at non-VA facilities. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Blackburn last week introduced legislation called the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act that allows veterans to directly schedule their own appointments for private health care at non-VA facilities.

She said the legislation will build upon the success of the Mission Act in allowing veterans to access private-sector health coverage.

Existing rules require the VA to first approve a referral for outside care and then schedule the appointment. The process can add days and weeks to veterans obtaining care.

The legislation also would require the VA to inform veterans about their eligibility for private-sector care and provide a list of registered clinicians.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured during a stampede that took place early Wednesday at the ongoing mega Hindu festival, Maha Kumbh Mela, in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

The pre-dawn stampede was triggered after a barrier broke as tens of thousands of devotees thronged the Triveni Sangam on the occasion of taking a holy dip at Prayagraj, about 196 km south of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"About 90 people were taken to the hospital through ambulances, but unfortunately, 30 devotees have died," a senior police official Vaibhav Krishna posted in Prayagraj told media during a press briefing in the evening. "Out of 30 dead, 25 have been identified and the rest are yet to be identified."

The police official said 36 people were being treated at the local hospital.

In 2013, at least 40 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at a train station in Prayagraj during the same festival. 
Jill Bergin (40), a separated mother of two from Castle Manor, Ferns, Co Wexford, was given a fully suspended two-year prison sentence at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday

A care worker who stole around 5,000 from three adults with special needs who lived at the residential care centre where she worked in Wicklow has avoided being sent to jail.

Jill Bergin (40), a separated mother of two from Castle Manor, Ferns, Co Wexford was given a fully suspended two-year prison sentence at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Bergin had pleaded guilty to three sample counts of theft from three residents at Ros Mhuire Centre in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow on dates between June 2019 and March 2020.

The ages of the victims were 32, 49 and 65. All three males had intellectual disabilities including two with Down Syndrome.

Counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, said the accused had stolen the money while she was in a position of considerable trust in caring for three vulnerable adults.

Jill Bergin

Mr Kelly told the court that Bergin has been unemployed since losing her job at Ros Mhuire and had problems with gambling and alcohol.

However, he said the amount of money stolen from the three men had been fully reimbursed since her last court appearance in March 2024.

Detective Garda Neil Doyle had previously told the court that Bergin had stolen the money by using the mens debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs as well as failing to deposit money to their accounts.

The court heard she stole 1,380 from one victim, 1,240 from another and 2,370 from the third male at the centre which is operated by Sunbeam House Services.

Former care worker, Jill Bergin (40) of Castle Manor, Fern, Co. Wexford. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Det Garda Doyle said it appeared that Bergin would withdraw money as requested by the men but then immediately withdraw the same amount again a short time later.

He said gardai became aware of the crime after the manager of Ros Mhuire had checked on bank statements of its residents when a sum of money had gone missing.

Bergin was arrested in May 2021 but would not accept responsibility for the money that had been withdrawn or the lodgements that had not been made.

The court heard there were a total of 31 incidents of Bergin either making withdrawals or not making deposits had been identified.

In a victim impact statement made on behalf of one of the men, his family said they were disgusted that a vulnerable person would be treated in such a way by someone they trusted.

They described Bergins conduct as vile behaviour and it was shameful that her actions had marred the great work of other people in Ros Mhuire where their relative had flourished.

They also expressed hope that the accused would never be allowed to work with vulnerable people in the future.

The family of another victim said they still felt guilt at having placed their relative in a residential care centre as their trust had been completely shattered and they were worried that he would be exploited.

The court heard that Bergin, who had been employed as a community service support worker in Ros Mhuire since December 2018, has no previous convictions.

The manager of the centre also provided a statement in which he expressed dismay at how the trust placed by the charity in Bergin had been broken and had left vulnerable residents nervous about their finances.

Counsel for Bergin, Eoin Gallagher BL, said his client was a woman who had worked all her life in the caring sector.

He told the court that Bergin had developed a significant gambling problem but had worked hard to deal with the issue.

Mr Gallagher acknowledged that the defendant could not deny that she had carried out what could be described as a mean-spirited crime.

Pleading for a suspended sentence, counsel said a probation report had shown that she had moved on significantly and any prison sentence could affect her family and act as a retrograde step in her rehabilitation.

Mr Gallagher said he hoped that Bergin would never trouble the legal system again.

Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a two-year prison sentence for each of the three offences to run concurrently but suspended them fully for a period of two years on a number of conditions including that she engage with the Probation Service and an addiction treatment service for the suspended period.

The judge noted that Bergin had co-operated with gardai and had availed of supports to deal with her addiction which he observed was at the root of her offending.
Rose Murray and Chris Murray filed a notice of appeal in relation to the ongoing battle to keep their 588 sq m home

The five-bedroom property at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath, that has been the subject of a legal battle for almost two decades

A couple who built a large house without planning permission have lodged an appeal after the High Court dismissed their bid to prevent the demolition of the property.

Earlier this month, Rose Murray and Chris Murray filed a notice of appeal in relation to the ongoing battle to keep their 588 sq m home in Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath.

The Murrays had issued High Court proceedings against Meath County Council in 2022, when they sought to set aside previous orders mandating the removal of the unauthorised development.

They had alleged there were procedural and substantive irregularities by the council.

However, Mr Justice Conor Dignam issued a judgment last November, stating that he was compelled to conclude that the claim should be struck out because he agreed with the councils argument that it was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process.

The Murrays legal action sought to pause High Court and Supreme Court enforcement orders that would see their home demolished.

They argued new evidence had come to light which invalidated the initial planning refusals for their home. Mr Justice Dignam did not agree and dismissed the claim.

The matter will now be heard by the Court of Appeal.

Separately, Rose Murray had also sought permission from the council to demolish 267 sq m of the property, while retaining the rest.

The High Court

In a cover letter to the council, she proposed getting rid of the car port, attached garage with living area overhead, a single-storey living room projection, a two-storey projection and a balcony.

Meath County Council refused as it was concerned it would establish an undesirable precedent for further development of this kind. It considered the size, scale and massing of the property to be inappropriate, even with the alterations.

Ms Murray had until January 6 to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala. No appeal appears to have been lodged.

Last year, the board rejected another appeal by Ms Murray after she proposed reducing the size of the house by 166 sq m.

The couple were originally ordered to demolish the house in 2010 after a High Court case was brought by the council.

This was subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court in 2017, which upheld the High Courts decision.

In a previous interview with the Irish Independent, Rose Murray said they regretted the decision to build the house without permission.

She felt, however, that it would be ludicrous to knock down the property in the middle of a housing crisis.
Susan Lawlor was along with her daughter and an Italian student abducted from her home at gunpoint

A postmistress who sued An Post after she was the victim of a tiger kidnapping in which she was tied up and told she would be shot has settled her High Court action.

Susan Lawlor from Malahide, in Dublin, who was the postmistress at Bayside Post Office, Dublin, was along with her daughter and an Italian student abducted from her home at gunpoint and driven around by her captors until the 80,000 contents of the post office safe were stolen in September 2014.

Ms Lawlors counsel Richard Kean SC, instructed by solicitor Daniel OConnell, told the court on Tuesday that in all there were four sets of civil proceedings as a result of the events. Ms Lawlors two daughters and the Italian exchange student in the house at the time had also sued.

Counsel for An Post, Elaine Morgan SC told the court the four actions against An Post had been settled and could be struck out.

The settlements came after mediation talks spanning a number of days. The terms of the settlements are confidential.

Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds congratulated the parties on achieving a resolution.

Ms Lawlor (58) had claimed there was a failure to have regard to previous incidents of tiger kidnapping and an alleged failure by the defendant to follow the appropriate An Post protocols.

It was further claimed there was a failure to take any or any adequate precautions for the safety of Ms Lawlor. She had allegedly been phoned by An Post, while being held, on her mobile in order to ascertain whether the alarm that she had called in was valid.

All of the claims were denied and An Post contended that the postmistress was not an employee but an independent contractor.

At the opening of Ms Lawlors action last year, Mr Kean SC said it was a truly extraordinary case where Ms Lawlor, when she heard armed robbers in her home, followed An Post protocol by phoning a Hostage Helpline which was meant to activate a covert response.

However, counsel said as Ms Lawlor and the other two women were being driven around north Co Dublin in a car by the robbers, an An Post security officer rang her back and the robbers went utterly ballistic.

Counsel said there was a massive escalation in violence and Ms Lawlor was told by one robber I am going to shoot you in the f----- head.

She later thought they may be burned alive in the car as an accelerant was poured over it, and counsel said she pulled out some of her hair and spit on the car floor so she would leave her DNA sample.

Counsel told the court that tiger kidnappings were rampant in the country at the time and Ms Lawlor, when she heard the gang in her home, rang the hostage hotline.

He said she was loyally following protocol  but he said her alleged negligent treatment by An Post has caused her life-long stress and anxiety.

Counsel said an expert on their side would say that Ms Lawlors condition was attributable to the tiger kidnapping and the phone call from the An Post worker which escalated aggression from the robbers

An Post denied all the claims.
Gillian brightened every life she came in contact with

The family of murdered Waterford woman Gillian Curran are to lay her to rest at a private funeral service.

Ms Curran was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene at a residence on O'Brien Street, Waterford city, last Saturday.

According to her death notice on rip.ie, Ms Curran of Tramore, Co Waterford, passed away in tragic circumstances on January 25.

She is predeceased by her beloved father Michael.

Deeply mourned by her loving and much loved mother Mary, Gillian will be sadly missed by her sisters Clodagh, Jenny, Tara, Erika and brother Michael and their families, the notice reads.

She will be fondly remembered by her godfather Fr Roddy Curran, her uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family and friends.

In accordance with the wishes of Gillian's family a private funeral service will be held.

Donations can also be made in memory of Gillian to Women's Aid or The BRill Family Resource Centre, Waterford.

The Curran family appreciates your sympathy, support and understanding at this difficult time, the notice adds. A message of support and sympathy can be left for Gillian's family in the condolence section.

One person wrote: To Michael and all the Curran family, I'm deeply sorry for your unimaginable loss.

I remember Gillian as a beautiful, bright, interesting and funny young woman with a kind smile for all. May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.

Another added: Rest easy beautiful lady, thinking of you and all who love and miss you.

Another message reads: Rest in peace my lovely friend, you are now with your Daddy.

I send all my love and strength to Mary, Michael, Erika, Tara, Jenny and Clodagh. You are all in my heart.

One person writing from France offered, condolences to all of Gillians family at this heartbreaking time.a beautiful girl. May her gentle soul and spirit rest in eternal peace.

We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Gillian, another said. Our thoughts are with her family and all who loved her during this unimaginable time. May she rest in peace.

What a tragic waste of a young bubbly girl, one person added. Gillian brightened every life she came in contact with. I feel so sorry for both families caught up in this sad tragedy.

Marcus ONeill of O'Brien Street, Waterford City, appeared before a sitting of Waterford District Court on Tuesday morning via video link from prison.

Mr ONeill is charged with the murder of Gillian Curran at 15 O'Brien Street, Waterford, on Saturday, January 25.

Wearing a green top, Mr ONeill confirmed his name to Judge Cephas Power. The case had been adjourned from a special sitting of Gorey District Court on Sunday, January 26.

Judge Power remanded Mr ONeill in custody to appear before the High Court on February 25 next, while the Book of Evidence is prepared and directions are sent to the DPP.

Garda have appealed for witnesses to contact them and are seeking any available camera footage, including dashcam recordings from those who were in the vicinity of OBrien Street at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305322 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping the women between September 2019 and May 2023

Zhenhao Zou appearing at Inner London Crown Court, where he is charged with drugging and raping 10 women (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

A PhD student accused of drugging and raping 10 women appears to be a smart and charming young man but is in fact a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist, a jury has been told.

Zhenhao Zou, 27, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday to face trial for 11 counts of rape against the women as well as three counts of voyeurism, 12 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Those substances are alleged to be MDMA, butanediol, ketamine and alprazolam.

The student, who moved to Belfast in 2017 to study at Queens University before coming to London in 2019 to do a masters degree and then a PhD at UCL, denies all the charges.

He is accused of raping the women between September 2019 and May 2023.

Opening the prosecution case on Wednesday, Catherine Farrelly KC told jurors: To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man.

However, as you know from the indictment in this case, the document which contains 35 separate criminal allegations against him, the prosecution say that he is also a persistent sexual predator; a voyeur and a rapist.

The prosecution case at this trial is that he would meet women, he would stupefy them, either with drink or drugs, and, once they were significantly under the influence of those drinks or drugs, he would then rape them.

Often, he would record himself doing so and during this trial, you will be shown several recordings which the prosecution says are the defendants souvenirs of many rapes that he had committed.

Items that he kept for his own private sexual gratification so that he could watch, at his leisure, his rapes of these women, who he had rendered often unconscious and totally vulnerable to his will.

Zou sat in the dock wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, and navy blue tie as the prosecution case opened.

The trial is taking place at Inner London Crown Court (John Stillwell/PA)

Earlier, Judge Rosina Cottage KC told jurors that while it is easy to feel indignant; or shock, embarrassment and even disgust at the material they will be shown, they must put aside their feelings and consider the evidence clinically.

Police have identified two of the alleged victims but not the remaining eight, the court was told.

It is claimed that there are video recordings relating to nine of the 10 women, for which Zou is charged with possessing extreme pornographic images, along with two other recordings in which the male involved cannot be identified.

Ms Farrelly told the jury that the first woman to make allegations against Zou contacted police in May 2023 to claim that he had raped her after not allowing her to leave his flat in Elephant and Castle, south-east London.

She did not pursue the allegation at that point but later in February 2024 investigators found a social media post in which the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave her account of what had happened.

When contacted by detectives, the alleged victim told them that she first went to Zous flat to study, and nothing had happened.

Then a few days later on May 18 2023 he invited her to his friends flat for a drink, and then back to his apartment.

They were drinking wine together but jurors were told: After a while, she began to find the defendant odd and boring and he was trying to get close to her, which she didnt like, so she indicated to him that she wanted to leave but he persuaded her not to.

She said that she was crying on the floor and trying to get away but Zou told a friend who popped in that she was too drunk to walk so he could not let her go.

When she tried to run out of the flat he dragged her back by her clothes, it is claimed, and agreed to pay her to stay.

It is alleged Zou pushed her to drink a big glass of vodka.

She told him that she didnt want the vodka and she just wanted to leave but he told her that she had to stay, Ms Farrelly told the court.

The woman claims that he raped her while she was unconscious.

Police found video footage of the alleged attack and graphic photographs of the alleged victim in Zous possession, the jury was told.

The second alleged victim, who has been identified by police, got in contact with the first woman in response to social media posts she had made on LittleRedBook and WeChat giving her account of what had happened.

She had consensual sex with Zou on one occasion in September 2021, then the following month after a dinner with friends she found herself alone with him in the street in Chinatown and remembers vomiting.

Her next memory is Zou allegedly raping her at his flat. She told police that she had asked him to stop before she lost consciousness.

It is claimed that Zou had video recordings of him raping a number of other women while they were unconscious and unable to consent.

Zou will argue that the sexual interactions were consensual, that drugs and alcohol were consumed by the women voluntarily, and that some of the footage captured involved role playing, the judge told jurors.
BISHKEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The long-standing border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is on the verge of resolution, with bilateral procedures now underway, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said in an interview with the official Kabar news agency on Tuesday.

The final step of the process will be the signing of an agreement by the presidents of both states after the completion of essential stages, including approval by their parliaments.

Following the completion of all paperwork, the two nations will engage in a demarcation process that is expected to take another one to two years before the issue is fully resolved.

The agreement includes the relocation of houses in border villages, where properties were sometimes located across the two countries' borders in a "chessboard" pattern. In these cases, residents whose homes fall on the opposite side of the border will be resettled.

The Tajik side will relocate its citizens, while Kyrgyz citizens will also be moved. Both sides will carefully consider the size of land plots to ensure fair compensation.

Japarov emphasized that the resolution ensures mutual benefits for both nations, stating that unilateral interests would not prevail in the agreement. He also noted that the border area spans nearly a thousand kilometers, with multiple disputed sections, many of which have now been amicably resolved.

The dispute over the Kyrgyz-Tajik border stems from unresolved territorial issues dating back to Soviet times. With a total length of about 970 kilometers, the border was never fully delimited or demarcated. 
This week Susan Lawlor settled a case against An Post who she blamed for making the ordeal worse by calling her phone as she was being held at gunpoint

While Kelly has been in prison since 2018 for the horrific 92,000 raid, Susan Lawlor has been left to deal with stress and anxiety as a result of the kidnap during which she thought she would die.

This week she settled a case against An Post who she blamed for making the ordeal worse by calling her phone as she was being held at gunpoint in September 2014.

The High Court heard last year she followed An Post protocol by phoning a Hostage Helpline which was meant to trigger covert response after hearing the raiders in her house

She was then abducted from her home along with her daughter and an Italian student staying with them at the time and driven around north county Dublin.

Susan Lawlor

But when a security officer from An Post rang her back the robbers went utterly ballistic, it was heard in court.

There was a massive escalation in violence and Ms Lawlor was told by one robber I am going to shoot you in the f----- head.

Ms Lawlor feared for her life and thought they might be burned alive in the car as an accelerant was poured over it.

She pulled out some of her hair and spit on the car floor so she would leave her DNA sample for forensic investigators to find.

Her alleged negligent treatment by An Post has caused her life-long stress and anxiety.

Counsel said an expert on their side would say that Ms Lawlors condition was attributable to the tiger kidnapping and the phone call from the An Post worker which escalated the violence.

Ms Lawlors two daughters and the Italian exchange student in the house at the time had also sued.

It was heard this week that the case had been settled and the case struck out with details of the settlement remaining confidential.

The botched raid in 2016 was the beginning of the end for Kellys long-running criminal career who was already being targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau at that stage.

He had 60 previous convictions at the time of his 2018 trial for the kidnapping, including for assaults, absconding from custody, robbery and other offences.

He previously served 10 years for a post office robbery in 1997 and another four for a robbery in 1989.

Paschal Kelly

His long running CAB case came to an end earlier this month when a receiver was appointed to take control of 20,234 from the sale of the targeted assets which included property, cash and vehicles.

The evidence put forward in affidavits by CAB against Kelly also listed his alleged criminal associates at the time.

In the legal documents obtained by the Sunday World, Kelly and self-declared mediator Jonathan Gill controlled a crime gang involved in major cocaine deals and bank robberies.

As part of the original evidence highlighting Kellys gangland background during the 90s and 2000s, CAB have described Gill as a close criminal associate of the caged criminal.

Unlike Kelly, Gill has no serious criminal convictions and openly runs a mediation service where he offers to sort out disputes for a fee outside of the courts system.

When previously asked by the Sunday World what he would say to people who claim he is involved in organised crime, he answered: Id say, prove it.
Richard Kearney (36) of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

A corporal in the Irish Defence Forces was involved in a money laundering operation that handled over 6.6 million worth of drug dealers cash, a court has heard.

Richard Kearney (36) of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having 25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an address in Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght on May 6, 2022. He has no previous convictions.

Garda Vincent Jaffray told Alison Fynes BL prosecuting that a phone seized during the search of Kearneys rented home at the time was analysed and found to contain communication with known drug dealers.

The garda said the conversations showed amounts of money, locations and dates and suggested that Kearney was responsible for laundering 6.6 million and 250,000 Stg between April 2021 and May 2022.

He said the search also uncovered 10,455 in cash, concealed in a bedframe and a further 15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer.

Kearney admitted during interview that he was the only person who lived in the flat and confirmed that it was his phone.

Gda Jaffray confirmed that analysis of Kearneys bank statements showed that Kearney had no legitimate way of making the amount of money which was found in his home.

Gda Jaffray agreed with Ciara Ni Ghabhann BL defending that Kearney caused no trouble during interview and answered all questions put to him.

He accepted that he is a corporal with the Irish Defence Forces and will now lose that job.

Ms Ni Ghabhann told Judge Martin Nolan that her client is a father of two children and acts as a parent to his partners four children.

She said he had risen to rank of corporal in the Irish Defence Forces and was involved in the equestrian school with the army. He travelled to the Olympics with an equestrian team where he acted as a groom.

Ms Ni Ghabhann said Kearney looked for a transfer in location in the army, which led to a drop in his wages and he struggled financially as a result.

She said around Christmas 2020 he was approached and offered what he thought was a friendly loan but he found himself in over his head.

Counsel said threats started to come in and Kearney had to get involved in the offence as a result.

Judge Nolan said gardai had certain beliefs which led them to embark on the search of Kearneys home adding their beliefs were justified.

He acknowledged that Kearney pleaded guilty to possession of the physical cash that was found during the search but said the full facts, as disclosed during the sentence hearing, detailed phone evidence which demonstrated that Kearney was involved in very substantial money laundering.

Judge Nolan accepted that Kearney has no record of conviction, has family responsibilities, is unlikely to come before the courts again and has many, many good points.

He noted the maximum penalty available to the court was 14 years and said given the seriousness of the offence a headline sentence of six years was appropriate.

Judge Nolan reduced the sentence to three years, having taken into account the various mitigating features of the case.

A statement from the Irish Defence Forces read:

The Defence Forces unequivocally condemns any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to military regulations or that do not reflect our values.

Any conviction in a civilian court has implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in military regulations. In this case, as a result of today's decision, the individual's Commanding Officer has initiated the proceedings for discharge, and this process is ongoing.

As there is a right to appeal it would be inappropriate to comment further as to do so may prejudice the appeal process.
Christopher Byrne (28) was jailed for four months for damaging and stealing from the car outside a north Dublin apartment complex

A father of two who broke into a parked car and stole a mobile phone was going through a very difficult time, a court has heard.

Christopher Byrne (28) was jailed for four months for damaging and stealing from the car outside a north Dublin apartment complex.

Byrne, of Knowth Court, Poppintree, Ballymun, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Judge Catherine Hayden the incident happened at Hermitage Apartments, Balgriffin, on May 11, 2022.

Byrne broke the side window of a parked car and stole property including a phone and ear pods worth a combined 1,380. None of the items were recovered. Byrne had 73 previous convictions.

The accused had suffered bereavements and was struggling with his mental health, his solicitor David Bassett said.

He was going through a very difficult time in his life and was deeply apologetic for the incident. He accepted it was distressing for the owner.

Byrne was in custody when he appeared in court and wanted to be a positive role model for his children when he got out, Mr Bassett said.

Judge Hayden imposed the sentence on the theft charge and took the count of criminal damage into consideration.
The incident was featured on an episode of Crimecall broadcast this week

The incident featured on an episode of Crimecall this week

A man arrested after a woman was assaulted on a commuter bus in an incident that was featured on an episode of Crimecall, is due in court this morning.

The man (30s) had been arrested as part of the investigation into the assault that occurred on a commuter bus service in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2024.

He has since been charged and is due to appear before Criminal Court of Justice, Dublin this morning.

In a statement issued yesterday, a garda spokesperson said: The man aged in his 30s was arrested this afternoon and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in Dublin.

"An Garda Siochana would like to thank the public for their assistance following the recent appeal regarding this incident broadcast on last night's Crimecall episode."

CCTV footage of the terrifying attack was broadcast as part of a Crimecall appeal on RTE this week.

The incident featured on an episode of Crimecall this week

Garda Inspector Pat Duggan who is leading the investigation told how at approximately 8.30am in the morning a man got on the bus at Belgard Square West in Tallaght.

He taps his Leap card and makes his way to the back, Garda Duggan told the programme.

It's the S8 heading in the direction of Dun Laoghaire.

We get a clear look of this man as he faces one of the CCTV cameras.

The footage clearly shows the man taking his seat.

He's a man in his 30s, he's wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

Around 45 minutes later the bus reaches the Grange Road in Rathfarnham.

At the Eden Avenue bus stop the victim gets on, goes to the back of the bus and sits down across from the suspect. It's here the incident begins.

As Garda Duggan narrates, the man catches the womans attention and appears to be saying something to her.

Then, seconds later he grabs her bag and throws it down the aisle. When she stands up to get it back, he blocks her path, grabs her arm and then pushes her down the bus.

It is at this point that the driver stops the bus.

The man pushes the woman as another passenger tries to intervene. The suspect grabs the victim by the hair and continues to grab and push her towards the open door.

She grabs hold of the hand rails as the man grabbles with her and manages to stay on her feet.

Hes grabbing her by the neck and by the hair and tries to throw her off the bus, Garda Duggan adds.

Another individual intervenes and it is at this point the suspect goes back down the bus, grabs his bags and gets off the bus.

After getting off the bus, we believe the man went down a laneway in the Grange Court estate and this the last we see of the suspect, Garda Duggan states.

According to Garda Duggan, it was terrifying incident for the victim that left her badly shaken.

It happened on a busy bus, in broad daylight, Garda Duggan added

Asked how the victim is now, the garda said she was okay, but is obviously very shocked after the incident.

She still uses public transport but she would be very alert of her surroundings now."
Judge Terence OSullivan said in the Circuit Civil Court that while he considered the delay to be inordinate and inexcusable, he was not dismissing the claim for that reason

A judge has thrown out a 60,000 damages claim against Dublin Bus relating to an accident in which a four-year-old boy was seriously injured  19 years ago.

Judge Terence OSullivan said in the Circuit Civil Court that while he considered the delay to be inordinate and inexcusable, he was not dismissing the claim for that reason.

In a judgment, in which he ordered the boy, now a 23-year-old student, and his mother to pay Dublin Buss significant legal costs, Judge OSullivan said it was too much of a stretch to hold Dublin Bus responsible for what had happened.

Judge OSullivan told Sean Coleman, of Arthur McLean Solicitors who appeared for Dublin Bus, that the bus driver could with certainty not be blamed and he found the mothers evidence to be not reliable.

Benedict Ogieva, the boy concerned in the accident, could not remember much about it and said thought he had been injured on his left leg when, under cross-examination by Mr Coleman, he accepted the damage had been to his right leg.

Ms Charity Ogieva, Benedicts mother, of Lealand Meadow, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, told the court she had not taken any legal action on her sons behalf at the time of the 2006 accident because she had not long arrived in the country at the time and was pregnant when it happened.

She said the bus had broken a red light at the Henry Street junction with OConnell Street and had struck Benedicts leg as he walked beside and was holding onto a buggy she was pushing. She had made some inquiries afterwards and had been told her son could take a case up until he was 18.

Garda Barry Doyle, who had investigated the incident, said there had been no suggestion at the time that the bus had gone through a red light. The account of the incident was such that the boy had stepped back onto the road while he and his mum waited at the junction and as the bus passed.

Judge OSullivan, dismissing the 60,000 claim, said the contemporaneous records of nurses at Crumlin Childrens Hospital also recorded that the boy had stepped back into the road.

I do not think the mother was to blame, Judge OSullivan said. Sometimes children can be difficult to hold on to.

A preliminary objection by Mr Coleman, to the effect that Dublin Bus had been clearly prejudiced in its ability to properly defend the action because of the extraordinary delay, was rejected by the court. Judge OSullivan heard the legal proceedings had been taken out in 2021 a very short time before Benedict had reached his 18th birthday.
When the theory test was completed successfully, a pass certificate would issue, which could be used by the third party to apply for a driving test

Two people involved a scheme to pose as learner drivers and sit the theory test on behalf of others are due to be sentenced tomorrow.

Alina Glont (42) of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of conspiracy.

Daniel Stepien (29) with an address at Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy.

The offences took place on dates between September 2018 and June 2021.

After hearing the facts of the case today, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to tomorrow to consider sentencing.

Detective Garda Barry Cormack told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that the two accused were part of a group of five individuals involved in a scheme to take driver theory tests on behalf of third parties.

He told the court that information was obtained that third parties contacted the group, then arrangements were made for one of the group to pose as a learner driver at a theory test centre to sit the test, using a computerised system.

When the theory test was completed successfully, a pass certificate would issue, which could be used by the third party to apply for a driving test.

Det Gda Cormack said 124 incidents where someone from the group went to a test centre were identified. Stepien sat 68 theory tests and Glont completed 20.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) started its own investigation in January 2021, after receiving confidential information. 36 potential impersonations were reported to gardai by the RSA the following June.

Det Gda Cormack said separate investigations are ongoing, but some third parties have reported paying amounts between 1,000 and 2,000 to the group.

Glont's home was searched by gardai and seven prepaid debit cards, registered with false names and addresses, were found. These cards were used to book over 100 theory tests.

Driver theory test books, and sums of cash in sterling and euro were also recovered and Glont's phone was seized.

The court heard nothing of probative value was obtained when Glont was first interviewed by gardai in 2021.

When interviewed for a second time in 2023, she admitted her role and was co-operative with the investigation. She told gardai she booked the tests and would direct Stepien to attend certain tests.

Stepien was also interviewed, but nothing of evidential value was obtained. The court heard evidence that he was directed by others, and is considered by gardai to be at the lowest rung of the hierarchy.

Det Gda McCormack said gardai have suspicions about the other members of the group, but they are not before the courts.

Glont has five previous convictions including handling stolen property and use of a false instrument.

Alina Glont

Stepien has 30 previous convictions including for deception, theft and road traffic offences.

In November 2022, he was jailed for three and half years after pleading guilty to making a demand with menace. He and two other men blackmailed a teenager by threatening to disclose explicit photographs from her OnlyFans account to her family and friends if she didnt hand over 10,000.

Stepien currently has an earliest release date of June 2025.

Det Gda Cormack agreed with counsel for both accused that their pleas were beneficial to the prosecution.

He agreed with Simon Matthews BL, defending Stepien, that his client was paid low amounts for his involvement, receiving 150 per test, and was at the lowest rung of the ladder.

It was further accepted that Stepien told gardai he was struggling with gambling and substance addiction issues at the time and that it was clear that photos on theory test certificates were of the defendant.

Det Gda Cormack accepted a suggestion from counsel representing Glont that her ex-partner is a person of interest in the investigation and that he left the jurisdiction around the time she was first arrested in 2021.

He further agreed that Glont has not come to garda attention since June 2021.

It was further accepted that Glont outlined that her ex-partner was violent and coercive when interviewed by gardai for a second time in 2023.

Det Gda Cormack also agreed with counsel for Glont that Stepien told gardai her ex-partner got him involved in the scheme and wouldn't allow him to stop.

Mr Matthews asked the court to take into consideration his client's guilty plea, the contents of a governor's report and clean urine analysis.

Daniel Stepien

He said Stepien is doing well in custody and has enhanced prisoner status. Counsel said the offending in this case took place around the same time as the offence for which Stepien is currently in custody.

Stepien's father passed away in early 2021 and he arranged the funeral. He also had gambling debts of 10,000 at this time. He has one young child and has a good work history.

A number of references and an offer of work upon his release were also handed to the court. Mr Matthews said his client outlines in a letter to the court that he is addressing his gambling and substance addiction issues while in custody.

Mr Matthews said his client accepts responsibility for his actions and has taken significant steps to rehabilitate while in custody. He asked the court to give Stepien a chance.

Counsel asked the court to take into account his client's early guilty plea, her personal circumstances and all other available mitigation.

Counsel for Glont asked the court to find truth in her assertions of violence and coercion by her ex-partner.

He suggested her offending took place during a period when her ex-partner was controlling her, she was offending on his behalf and under his control.

He submitted that her behaviour has been strikingly different since her ex-partner left the jurisdiction and she has thrived, taking up work, setting up her own business and completing further education courses.

A number of references were handed in to the court from Glont's family members along with her former workplace. Glont set up a chauffeur business after obtaining her PSV and bus driving licences and has two children.
Tiernan Rooney, 28, died just days after the alleged assault

A man stabbed repeatedly in the head outside his home in west Belfast had been challenged about a suspected Facebook post, a court heard today.

Tiernan Rooney, 28, died just days after the alleged assault at Conway Place on December 29.

But police confirmed that his subsequent death is not being linked to the confrontation on his doorstep.

Details emerged as a 31-year-old man was remanded in custody accused of taking part in the earlier attack.

Thomas Park, of Centenary House hostel in the city, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with possessing an offensive weapon, namely an unknown sharp object, and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

He faces a further account of stealing a Ring doorbell from the victims property.

An investigating detective said police discovered Mr Rooney being treated at the scene following reports he had been stabbed several times to the head.

In an account recorded on body-worn cameras, the victim claimed Park and another unknown male called to confront him at his front door.

Following a short argument the two men allegedly began punching him to the head several times.

As Mr Rooney tried to protect himself he felt something sharp strike his forehead and top of his head, according to his account, but could not see the object or who was holding it.

Both men then left the area on foot.

Mr Rooney was treated in hospital for a two-inch laceration above his eyebrow, a slash wound to the top of his head, other monitor cuts and a potential broken nose.

He died three days later without providing a formal statement about the incident outside his house.

It has been reported in the media that this assault is linked to Mr Rooneys death. However, that isnt the case, the detective confirmed.

A doorbell camera was later examined and showed Park getting into a verbal disagreement with the victim, the court heard.

The footage stopped when the other unidentified man covered it with his hand.

Mr Rooneys partner told police she was at home at the time, saw nothing but heard an altercation outside.

She heard a thud, ran downstairs and found Tiernan outside the front door bleeding from a head injury, the detective said.

It was alleged that Park evaded several attempts to arrest him over the last four weeks.

He jumped from a balcony and out of cars stopped by police before he was eventually detained on Tuesday.

During interviews Park said he went to the victims home to challenge him about a derogatory Facebook post relating to Parks recently deceased sister, the court heard.

He claimed this turned into pushing and shoving, but Mr Rooney had suffered no injuries when he left the scene.

Defence solicitor Paul Farrell of McIvor Farrell law firm argued that Park had provided a full account.

Another person of interest obscured the Ring doorbell, he submitted.

There are certainly gaps in the evidence that would connect the accused to any injuries that (Mr Rooney) sustained.

Claiming the case against his client was circumstantial and based on hearsay, Mr Farrell predicted that any prosecution will face legal complexities.

He added: The defendant went to the property for quite legitimate reasons to ask the injured party to remove a social media post which had caused some degree of upset.

Its important not to conflate this case with the injured partys death a number of days afterwards.

Park was refused bail due to the risk of re-offending and concerns he may not turn up for trial.

District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons remanded him in custody until February 26.
Jack Brazil, a former Green Party candidate and high-profile activist in New Zealand claims he has an alibi

A social justice campaigner accused of burglary of a sports outlet in Dublin during mass riots in the city in 2023 had a court-imposed curfew lifted today.

New Zealander Jack Brazil, currently of Cross Guns Quay, Phibsborough, Dublin, was charged last month with burglary of the Footlocker store on November 23, 2023, the day of large-scale disorder and looting in the city centre, in response to a knife attack on young children.

The 30-year-old, a former Green Party candidate and high-profile activist in New Zealand claims he has an alibi. He faced his second hearing when he appeared at Dublin District Court today.

Garda Brian Kenny told Judge Maire Conneely that he needed another adjournment to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Defence solicitor Aoife McNicholl indicated there was consent, and she applied to remove a 12pm  6am curfew her client had been ordered to obey since his first hearing on December 18.

Jack Brazil

Noting there was no garda objection, Judge Conneely removed that obligation from the list of bail conditions.

Mr Brazil was ordered to appear again in four weeks.

Earlier, the court heard that when charged, the accused replied: I reserve the right to provide further exculpatory evidence.

The offence is contrary to section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Act, which requires a decision by the DPP about the case and possible trial venue.

Mr Brazils passport has been seized, and he has also been ordered not to loiter in the Dublin 1 or 2 areas in the city centre, and he must remain contactable by phone.

Jack Brazil

He still has to sign on every Wednesday at Mountjoy Garda station and, having surrendered his passport, must not apply for a new or duplicate one or other travel documents.

His solicitor told the court Mr Brazil had offered alibi details, but he was impecunious at present, and the case was detrimental to him.

Legal aid was granted after the court heard Mr Brazil was not working and did not have means or assets.
She is a violent and difficult person you wouldn't want to encounter on the streets

A woman who carried out a string of wilfully violent Dublin city centre assaults, including a knife attack on a man, has been jailed for two and a half years.

Nikita Ronan posed a danger to people on the streets on a number of occasions in 2023, Judge Elva Duffy said as she handed down the sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Ronan took part in an attack on a woman in the Morgan Hotel in Temple Bar, attacked a friend on the street and tried to grab her handbag, and slashed a man with a knife to his head and arm while robbing his phone on three separate incidents around the city centre between March and May 2023.

Ronan (29) of no fixed abode, has 134 previous convictions, including assault, theft, criminal damage, burglary, drugs and road traffic offences.

She has been in custody for a number of months.

In relation to the first incident, Garda James Keegan told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that Ronan and another woman followed a woman into the Morgan Hotel on Fleet Street at around 6pm on March 5, 2023.

The pair proceeded to assault the woman, with Ronan picking her up and slamming her to the ground after her accomplice had kicked and punched her. They fled the hotel but were arrested a short time later.

In the second incident, the court heard the injured party  who was known to Ronan  was walking along Aston Quay on the evening of April 4, 2023, when Ronan came up behind her and started attacking her out of nowhere. In the course of the assault, Ronan attempted to rob the woman's handbag but failed to do so, before fleeing the scene.

The woman suffered cuts and scratches to her face, along with a black eye and pain to her jaw. A garda who arrived at the scene was arranging to bring the woman to hospital for treatment when Ronan was spotted across the road. She was arrested.

In the final incident, which took place the following month on May 3, 2023, Ronan grabbed a man's phone at Merchant's Quay and ran off with it. When he pursued her, she produced a knife and slashed his arm, the court heard. He continued to run after her until she slashed him to the head.

The man was pumping blood the court heard and required hospital treatment and stitches. He gave gardai a description of Ronan, who was arrested a short time later.

She pleaded guilty to one count of assault in relation to the first incident, one count of assault causing harm in the second incident and two counts of assault causing harm as well as stealing a phone in relation to the third incident.

Karl Monahan BL, defending, said his client was educated to Junior Cert level and started using cannabis at the age of 17. She was in an unhealthy relationship for about 10 years, during which time her drug use progressed to crack cocaine and heroin. She was under the influence of various intoxicants during the three assaults.

Ronan's mother died of cancer when she was in her early 20s, which was also difficult for her, counsel said. Upon her release from custody, she is hoping to live with her father and start working.

She is deeply remorseful for her actions and currently on a methadone programme in custody, the court heard.

Sentencing Ronan, Judge Duffy said it was clear Ronan was a danger to others on the street on a number of occasions as a result of various intoxicants. But she said the use of intoxicants was no excuse for the offending behaviour, which she described as wilfully violent and unacceptable.

She is a violent and difficult person you wouldn't want to encounter on the streets, the judge said.

She handed down a sentence of three years and two months, and suspended the final eight months on a number of conditions.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indian security forces killed two armed rebels called Naxals in the country's eastern state of Jharkhand on Wednesday, local police said.

The encounter between the security forces and the Naxals took place in West Singhbhum district at around 03:00 a.m. when local police were carrying out a search operation.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Currently, Naxals are active across central and eastern parts of India.

The insurgency has claimed hundreds of lives and rendered thousands of people homeless. 
Images appear to show the slogan on the sign at Laganvale Street in the Stranmillis area of the city, with black paint also sprayed over the Irish part of the sign

There has been condemnation about sectarian and anti-Irish graffiti daubed on a bilingual street sign in south Belfast over the weekend.

Images appear to show the slogan on the sign at Laganvale Street in the Stranmillis area of the city, with black paint also sprayed over the Irish part of the sign.

A spokesperson for People Before Profit said the incident is a symptom of the continued discrimination against Irish speakers.

They also referenced a recent incident in December last year in which students at an Irish language conversational class held at The Points bar on the Dublin Road left the venue to find anti-Irish language posters left on their cars claiming English is our mother tongue and most Irish people should hate the Irish language.

Speaking about the incidents, the PBP spokesperson added: A local resident highlighted that as a diverse area with many speakers and supporters of the Irish language from all backgrounds who, democratically, asked for dual language signage, this doesnt represent the community of Stranmillis or the wider south Belfast area.

"Sectarian threats have no place in south Belfast.

The targeting of the Irish language and its speakers should be condemned by all parties, and the relentless attacks on Irish language rights must end.

"Those in the Executive who refuse to uphold the right to speak, teach, and use the Irish language demonstrate the institutionalised sectarianism that defines Stormont.

Families in the area who speak Irish should not be left to feel intimidated when leaving their homes by those who refuse to accept the rights to language that underpins a free and fair society. Everyone should show our neighbours that we stand with them.

The PSNI has been contacted.
Darts team chief is fined for assault after a pub altercation with victim who had been dropped from the group

A 66-year-old darts captain who assaulted another player in a pub row said he snapped after the younger man told him he shouldnt be picking the team.

Denis ODonovan, of John Redmond Street, Cork, was hit with a 300 fine and placed on a 12-month probation bond earlier this week after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault.

He admitted assaulting the man on June 22, 2023 at Jack Fordes The Shandon Arms, Easons Hill, Cork, and assaulting the same man, who is aged around 50, causing him harm on a second occasion on the same date.

Cork District Court heard the initial assault involved a push but the second was more serious as ODonovan had left the bar before later coming back and spraying a substance in the injured partys face.

Denis ODonovan (right), tells our reporter Patrick what happened

Speaking with the Sunday World this week, Denis said there had been a verbal altercation on a previous date leading up to the night of the incident.

He provoked me, claimed Denis.

I was picking the team and I signed him  he was only going into the darts the last six months.

Im going in there nearly 50 years.

And I played him and he was useless.

So, I dropped him and then he was saying I was a bad manager and you shouldnt be picking the team and I was this and that.

And, it was in front of everybody, like.

And then he came back the following day and he apologised to me.

But then on the 22nd of June he aggravated me again and I just snapped.

Denis said he pushed the man back and then left the bar.

But, he admitted, he went back into the pub later on after he spotted the man still socialising inside while on a late-night walk with his dog.

He said when walking his dog he was in the habit of taking a keyring with a little spray canister with him.

He said when he entered the pub the second time, this was what he had sprayed on his victim.

I couldnt tell you what was in it, Denis said, it was a keyring and some kind of a spray.

They were saying it was some kind of gas but I wouldnt think so because, if it was, then the people who were in the bar wouldve had to get out.

When I go walk the dog at 10.30 at night, I bring it with me.

And I looked back in and he was still there and that angered me, so I came home and put the dog in.

And then I went back  Id forgotten I had the spray but that was end of that.

But he cant have been too bad because there was no medical report.

Denis ODonovan (right), tells our reporter Patrick what happened

I dont think it was too serious. Denis said he was proud of his record in picking the team.

I took over the darts team and last year we won three trophies. We got Team of the Year and one of our players got player of the year. So how could I be bad?

Passing judgement, Judge Mary Dorgan said that while she accepted darts was very important on the northside of Cork city, assaulting another player in a pub was totally inappropriate

In mitigation, Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant had never been in trouble of this kind before and that there had been no contact between the parties other than once passing each other in the street without anything untoward occurring.

Mr Buttimer said: This gentleman is not generally speaking an offensive man.

He has been very bothered about the case since it happened.

Denis ODonovan

The judge said that the first assault consisted of pushing but that the second assault was more serious as it was premeditated and caused harm.

The problem was that this man went home, took the dog for a walk and returned to the pub and sprayed something into this mans face resulting in him being discommoded, to say the least of it.

And the victim no longer frequents the same bar. What happened was nasty, it was premeditated, Judge Dorgan said.

Judge Dorgan imposed a 300 fine on the 66-year-old and put him on a 12-month probation bond.
Six more men have applied to have the case against them dismissed

A Ukrainian crewman has pleaded guilty to his role in the massive seizure of cocaine aboard the MV Matthew nabbed under a major Garda, coast guard and Army ranger wing operation.

Six more men have applied to have the case against them dismissed but a decision will be made on that tomorrow.

Nicola speaks to Eimear Rabbitt about the latest on the MV Matthew.

MORE EPISODES
Brian Tierney has apologised for providing the reference for Kielan Mooney, which he later withdrew

The family of an Irish soldier jailed for rape has said that the former mayor of Derry was misled into providing a character reference for him.

Brian Tierney has apologised for providing the reference for Kielan Mooney, which he later withdrew.

Mooney, 31, of Bloomfield Park, Derry, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years last week at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin for raping a woman who was a fellow member of the Irish Defence Forces in 2021.

Mr Tierney, a former mayor of Derry City and Strabane, had his membership of the SDLP suspended this week and resigned the party whip.

Councillor Brian Tierney apologised for providing a character reference for an Irish soldier who was later convicted of rape (Niall Carson/PA)

The Mooney family released a statement through the law firm Madden and Finuncane to put on the record some important information relating to the reference.

The statement continued: As a family we believe it is important to confirm and clarify the full circumstances in which Councillor Tierney provided this reference.

Councillor Tierney provided a character reference at the request of our family  he wasnt told that it related to a pending criminal charge and wasnt told about the seriousness of those charges.

The truth is that Councillor Brian Tierney was misled into giving this character reference  and we fully apologise to him and his family.

As has already been stated publicly, once Councillor Tierney was eventually made aware of the seriousness of the criminal charges in this case, he withdrew the character reference.

We accept full responsibility and apologise for our part in asking for a character reference without Councillor Tierney being aware of the full facts and the full information.

We deeply regret this and regret the impact this decision has had.

Mr Tierney has previously said he was not aware of the charges when he wrote the reference, and called it a huge error of judgment.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna defended her partys handling of the issue earlier this week (Mark Marlow/PA)

An SDLP spokesperson said the party had nothing further to add to a statement released earlier this week when Mr Tierney resigned the party whip.

That party statement said: We welcome Brians decision and his genuine desire to address the issues raised by the issuing of this character reference and his actions to reach out to those affected by this.

We are conducting a review around the provision of references.

Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key priority for the SDLP and our thoughts are with the victim at the centre of this case.

Speaking at Stormont on Wednesday, SDLP leader Claire Hanna defended the partys handling of the issue.

She said: We equivocated in no way about the mistake that Brian Tierney made.

We triggered our internal processes, responded very quickly about the seriousness of the allegation and Brian is no longer an SDLP councillor.
The four juveniles were arrested in connection with eight separate incidents

Four male youths have been arrested in connection with eight separate incidents at Irish Rail stations in the North of Dublin.

The four juveniles were arrested by gardai from the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North earlier today as part of an operation targeting anti-social behaviour at train stations in the Raheny and Coolock areas,

Officers with the Raheny and Coolock Community Engagement (CE) and Crime Hubs conducted a number of searches in collaboration with Irish Rail.

Four juvenile males were arrested in connection with eight separate incidents, which occurred in recent months at Irish Rail stations in the North of Dublin, a Garda spokesperson said.

The four males are currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Garda stations in the North Dublin area.

Investigations are ongoing.
You are remembered today by everyone who knew and loved you

Missing Jo Jo Dullards siblings have wished her a happy heavenly birthday as she would have turned 51 this week.

The poignant birthday message was posted on the Facebook page dedicated to Jo Jo, who vanished in November 1995 as she was hitchhiking home.

The post reads: I always wanted a little sister and I was so excited when Mam told me you were on the way.

It's hard to believe we would have been celebrating your 51st birthday together today. You are remembered today by everyone who knew and loved you.

I visited our parents and Mary's graves this afternoon and laid flowers for your special day. I hope with all my heart I can do the same for you when we bring you home.

I know in my heart you are being looked after in heaven by Mam, Mary, Tom, and all our loved ones.

Never forgotten, the message adds, forever in our hearts.

Jo Jo was just 21 when she went missing on November 9, 1995 while on her way home to Callan, in Co Kilkenny, after socialising in Bruxelles bar on Dublins Harry Street.

Jo Jo was only 21 when she vanished

In December her family issued a fresh appeal to those who may have information about her disappearance, pleading: End our nightmare  as gardai concluded a month-long dig for evidence in the case.

Posting a picture of Jo Jo in the arms of her mother last month, a family member wrote: This is a very precious photo of Jo Jo when she was only six months old in our mams arms feeling safe and loved.

It would mean the world to our family to be able to lay Jo Jo to rest beside all our loved ones. Please help make this come true and end our nightmare.

We are appealing for anyone who has information, no matter how small, to please come forward and help Jo Jo come home and once again be safe in our mams arms.

Earlier that month gardai investigating Jo Jos disappearance almost 30 years ago confirmed they have completed their search of an area of open ground in Co. Wicklow.

Pictures captured by the Sunday World the previous month revealed the unprecedented scale of the dig.

While we were present at the site, a number of witnesses could be seen inspecting the progress of the works.

The witnesses visit to the site came just days after Superintendent Paul Burke had made an appeal for information, saying gardai were convinced there are witnesses who could still come forward and help solve the murder even though 29 years had now elapsed.

We want to bring Jo Jo home to her family, he said at the time. There are persons out there who know what happened to Jo Jo Dullard. Now is the time for those persons to come forward and speak.

Jo Jo had missed her last bus to Kilkenny on the day she went missing and boarded a 10pm bus to Naas, Co Kildare, intending to hitchhike the rest of the way.

She hitched a lift from Naas to the slip road on the M9 at Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, and at 11.15pm got another lift to Moone. There, Ms Dullard called a friend at 11.37pm from a phone box.

During that call, Ms Dullard said a car had stopped for her and she was going to take the lift. This was the last known interaction with Ms Dullard.

A man in his 50s arrested in connection with the case in November was later released without charge

Anyone with information is asked to contact Naas Garda station on 045 884 300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, the Help Bring them Home confidential line on 1800 911 999 or the Missing Persons Helpline 1800 442 552.
The incident has prompted anger in the district and East Belfast UVF have become the subject of some ridicule

East Belfast UVF put a gun to a mans head because of a barking dog.

According to reports a resident was left badly shaken after an imitation gun was pointed at them during an incident in the east of the city on Thursday.

Detectives are appealing for information following a report of men armed with a weapon in the Channing Street area around 9.30pm.

The Sunday World understands the thugs were acting on the order of the newly installed UVF leadership and followed complaints about the persistent barking of a dog.

The men were armed with an imitation air gun and put it to the householders head.

It is understood the householder pushed the men away from his door step and they fled.

The victim was able to call the police and no one was injured.

The incident has prompted anger in the district and East Belfast UVF have become the subject of some ridicule.

There is anger at the heavy-handed approach in what is being seen as a desperate attempt for the new regime to assert itself.

A new command structure was in place after the eight-man leadership team of the original East Belfast UVF were stood down.

They have struggled to win over the local population.

Why would you put a gun to a mans head over a barking dog? said a source.

Ok, it was a fake, but he wasnt to know. Theyre making themselves a laughing stock.

Detective Sergeant McCartan said: At approximately 9.30pm, [on Thursday] a report was received that two masked men called to a property in the Channing Street area and pointed a gun at the resident.

The victim was able to push the men away before calling police.

Luckily no one was hurt but the residents have been left badly shaken by their ordeal.

I am appealing to anyone who may have noticed the men in the area or to anyone with CCTV, doorbell or other footage that could assist with enquiries to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 1720 23/01/25.
The three were arrested after officers stopped a car in West Yorkshire on Tuesday, January 21

Three men from Galway have been arrested in the UK after police discovered a fake 20 note scam.

The three were arrested after officers stopped a car in West Yorkshire on Tuesday, January 21.

Patrick Ward (22) of Coole Park and Jason Ward (19) of Radharc Na Freine, are facing charges related to the possession of or controlling counterfeit currency with knowledge of its nature.

They are due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on February 21 following remand.

A third Galway man, William Browne (19) from St Finbars Terrace, Bothermore, faces similar accusations but has been released on bail for a court appearance on the same date.

Police issued a warning to retailers in West Yorkshire to be vigilant after it emerged that counterfeit Scottish banknotes were circulating in the local area.

Wakefield CID officers identified the fake Clydesdale 20 notes that are believed to be used to buy items that are subsequently returned for real cash at different branches.

Police are investigating a string of offences which span Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, and Chesterfield, according to Yorkshire Live.

Detective Sergeant Craig Twycross from Wakefield CID said: We are urging retailers to be vigilant and to take the time to check notes thoroughly.

Shop staff should familiarise themselves with the security features of genuine notes, and if in doubt compare the suspect note with a note you know to be genuine.

Any incidents involving these notes should be reported to your local police force.

Neil Harris, Head of Unit at the National Counterfeit Currency Unit (UKNCO) at the NCA said counterfeit Clydesdale 20 notes may feature what looks like a convincing hologram.

But staff should also check for the colour-changing ink used in the map of Scotland in the top left corner of the note, he added.

If the note is genuine, the map will change colour from purple to gold when the note is tilted, and there are also moving rings across the map.

You can also feel for the raised print that appears across the note including on the name of the bank.

Police have urged anyone with information or incidents involving counterfeit notes to be reported to them on their LiveChat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.
A crew from the Dublin Fire Brigades Dolphins Barn branch attended the scene of a house fire in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 yesterday evening.

Firefighters successfully revived a cat after finding it unconscious during a fire rescue in Dublin on Tuesday night.

A crew from the Dublin Fire Brigades Dolphins Barn branch attended the scene of a house fire in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, yesterday evening.

During the call-out, a breathing apparatus crew discovered a cat named Biscuit, who was unconscious.

Firefighters from Dolphins Barn rescued Biscuit from a house fire in Ballyfermot yesterday evening. The cat was located by a BA crew and was unconscious.



Firefighter "Paw"amedic Carrick placed a pet oxygen mask on Biscuit and after 10 minutes, Biscuit was snuggling into it's pic.twitter.com/6ciZqmSPRT  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) January 29, 2025

A member of the team used a pet oxygen mask on the animal to revive it, with Dublin Fire Brigade telling their social media followers that Biscuit was snuggling into its owner after ten minutes.

A budgie and dog were also rescued as firefighters dealt with the blaze, but they thankfully didn't require oxygen therapy.

We are trialling pet oxygen masks, which are on nine fire appliances, in two districts. We are working with @VillageVets to introduce them across the city, Dublin Fire Brigade added, attaching a photo of the successful rescue.

Ameeowzing result!
Family say the matter can only be resolved by holding a full inquiry into fitness to practise

An expert report commissioned by the Medical Council following a complaint over the care provided to Lisa Niland highlighted a factual dispute between doctors centring on a CT scan.

Ms Niland, a 19-year-old student, died of a brain bleed in 2017, three days after she was rushed to Sligo University Hospital after collapsing with severe head pain in a McDonalds restaurant.

Her family subsequently made a complaint to the Medical Council about the emergency consultant on call that night, who advised that a CT scan on Ms Niland could wait until the morning.

The factual dispute centred on whether Ms Niland showed symptoms of a neurological deficit or abnormality at a time when the decision was made that she could wait for a scan.

It was highlighted in a supplementary report by an expert commissioned by the Medical Council.

The expert said it was up to the councils preliminary proceedings committee, which considers complaints about doctors, to resolve this factual dispute.

The committee ultimately found that the consultant, Dr Fergal Hickey, had no case to answer, a decision communicated to the family last year.

It ruled that there was no evidence of professional misconduct or poor professional performance on his part, and said there would be no further consideration of this complaint.

However, lawyers for the family have insisted that the factual dispute can only be resolved by the Medical Council directing a full fitness-to-practise inquiry.

The High Court ruled last month that the Niland familys complaint against the consultant should receive a second hearing by the Medical Council committee.

The issue of the factual dispute over Ms Nilands neurological condition was included in submissions with the familys legal challenge to the Medical Council committees decision.

Lisa Niland's sister Amy, mother Angela and father Gerry in 2022. Photo: Collins

Ms Niland died of a massive brain bleed three days after she was rushed by ambulance to hospital in Sligo after suffering sudden head pain and vomiting.

While consideration was given to a CT scan, it was not carried out until 10am the following morning.

In the interim, she was examined at 11.15pm by an emergency registrar, who rang the consultant on call, Dr Hickey, at 2.15am, in line with hospital policy that out-of-hours scans were at the request of consultants.

Mr Hickey advised that Ms Niland should be admitted to hospital and a CT scan scheduled when the radiology department opened in the morning.

Ms Niland was examined again at 3.40am by a medical registrar when signs of neurological deficit were detected, and a scan was scheduled, but again, for later in the morning.

By the time the scan was carried out, at 10am, Ms Niland had greatly deteriorated. She suffered two cardiac arrests and was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where she later died of a catastrophic brain bleed.

The expert, Dr Michael Saab, submitted two reports to the Medical Council, in 2023 and 2024, following the complaint made by the Niland family.

The crux is what information did the emergency department registrar give to Dr Hickey on the phone

The issue centred on whether Ms Niland showed signs of neurological deficit or abnormalities at the time a CT scan was considered at 2.15am.

The first report found no failure on the part of Dr Hickey advising that Ms Nilands CT scan could wait until morning, given that there was no neurological deficit at that time.

His advice was of an acceptable standard expected of an emergency department consultant balancing clinical judgement and hospital policy for an out-of-hours CT scan, the report said.

The expert raised questions, however, about the medical registrar who detected a neurological deficit at 3.40am, at which point a CT scan should have been ordered.

Lisa Niland

Mr Saabs second, supplementary report, submitted to the Medical Council committee in January last year, identified the factual dispute.

The crux of the matter is what information did the emergency department registrar give to Dr Hickey on the phone, the report said.

There is a factual dispute as to whether there was any neurological deficit present when the emergency medicine registrar phoned Dr Fergal Hickey at 2.15am.

If there was a neurological deficit, a CT scan was needed, but if there was no neurological deficit, it was reasonable to refer to the medical team on call.

This was a matter for the preliminary proceedings committee to resolve, the report said.

The only lawful way to resolve that factual dispute was to direct a fitness-to-practise inquiry

Dr Saabs report reiterated concerns that a neurological deficit was detected in Ms Niland when she was examined by a medical registrar at 3.40am, which mandated a CT scan at that time.

An affidavit submitted by the solicitor representing the Niland family, Damien Tansey, said the family received a copy of the expert report after the Medical Council committee had reached its decision.

It is clear from Mr Saabs supplementary report that even he expressed the clear view that there was an unresolved dispute of fact in relation to Ms Nilands neurological condition, he said.

The only lawful way to resolve that factual dispute was to direct a fitness-to-practise inquiry.

The family were given no opportunity to make submissions on the experts report and supplementary report before the preliminary proceedings committees decision. They did not have all the information or documentation, which limited the familys right to make genuine and informed submissions. They had no right of reply or of appeal, the solicitor argued.

The Medical Council declined to comment.

An inquest in 2022 found Ms Niland died by medical misadventure. The HSE and the hospital settled a legal action taken by the family four years ago.
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) inspected a nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute, stressing the country's firm stance to develop nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely, state media reported on Wednesday.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, inspected the core processes for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and learned in detail about the present production of nuclear materials, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without specifying the date of inspection.

Calling 2025 a crucial year for implementing the policy of bolstering up the nuclear forces, the DPRK leader stressed the need to achieve successes in fulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and in strengthening the nuclear shield of the country, the KCNA report said.

"Guaranteeing peace and security by dint of strength is our mode of struggle and option that are most righteous and an immutable truth," Kim was quoted by the KCNA as saying, as he noted "the stockpiling of the physical strength of practical use and its increase by geometrical progression" is the right way to confront grave security situation and challenges posed by hostile forces.

"It is our firm political and military stand and invariable noble task and duty to develop the state's nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely," the DPRK leader said. 
Everyone knows Malika and I lived in New Ross for four years, peacefully and happily. We loved being here.

The mother of the late Malika Noor Al Katib (8) who died tragically in her home in December 2024, has expressed her gratitude to the entire New Ross community for the support shown during an unimaginable time.

When reaching out to the New Ross Standard, Aisha said she would like to thank everyone who left flowers, cards and teddies outside her home where she and her little girl lived in New Ross town. I am very grateful for all the kind messages and how New Ross came together as a community to help each other, she said.

On Sunday, December 1, Malika was fatally assaulted in her home, while her mother Aisha also received extensive injuries.

The heartbroken mother said she will always be grateful to her daughters school, New Ross Educate Together, where Malika loved her teachers and friends.

Speaking about her own turmoil since the sudden loss of her daughter, Aisha said, My heart is broken into a million pieces and taste of life is gone from me without my daughter.

Everyone knows Malika and I lived in New Ross for four years, peacefully and happily. We loved being here. I have the best neighbours in the world and I am so grateful, she continued.

Malika came from a multinational, multi-religion family, but most of us are Irish and are very proud of the fact of being Irish, said Aisha. Thank you to the kind, open minded people who were caring and compassionate. And also, the people who know myself and my beautiful daughter Malika Noor, which means princess of light. She definitely was my light throughout her whole life and even now, her strength lives on in me.

"Malika was a kind, well-balanced compassionate and confident child, and she never wanted anyone to be hurt, feel pain, or sadness. She was pure love, Aisha said.

Aisha also said that once she has healed from her injuries, she will be organising a memorial for Malika. Thank you again everyone, she concluded.
Aidan, who has more than 1,200 wins under his belt was considered one of the top jockeys in the industry before he suffered a bad fall

Una Healys boyfriend, retired jockey Aidan Coleman, has moved back to England amid reports that the couple has split up.

Just months after they went public with their romance at the Irish Post awards last November, it has been reported that Una and Aidan have gone their separate ways.

Rumours of a romance between the pair started swirling last August when the couple enjoyed a holiday together.

Then, in September, they were spotted attending a wedding together in Thurles. Later that month they were pictured out with friends in Dublin.

Aidan, who has more than 1,200 wins under his belt was considered one of the top jockeys in the industry before he suffered a bad fall that shattered his tibia which meant he could never ride professionally again.

The Cork-born rider has spoken of his struggles to settle down after his early retirement, telling the Thoroughbred Daily News: I am not a great sleeper at the best of times, but I am very worried about the fact that I moved back to Ireland six months ago but just couldnt settle here.

My bags are packed, and I am going back to the UK today  a place where I have spent half of my life but I am worried that this move is not the answer, either. I hope it is.

Announcing his retirement on live TV, Coleman had previously revealed how the prognosis was quite bleak about returning to ride.

"Around September I was kidding myself that I could get back from this, then around Christmas I had another operation and the progress has really plateaued.

"I can do the gym, but I can't run or jump. I can't ride a horse really.

"A lot of people would say I couldn't anyway, so what's the difference, but every time I've tried to ride a horse since Christmas it's not gone well."

Speaking to Thoroughbred Daily News, Aiden said: "There are so many people who are worse off than me.

"I keep telling myself that. But that's them and this is me. I have been very good at compartmentalising things my whole career but sometimes it is quite difficult.

"I meet a lot of people when I am out and about and they ask me what I am doing with myself. My answer to them is that I don't know. It's very hard for people to help me when I don't know what I want to do myself. If I knew what I wanted to do I would go and do it.

"But I just don't have a clue. And that's hard.

"On the darker days, when I am going down that steep slope, I have to tell myself, 'wait a minute, stop. It could be so much worse.' It's on those days when you think about how some other people have been far less fortunate than me.

"I did what I dreamed of doing. I just wouldn't have minded having a little bit longer at it."

Una, meanwhile, is preparing to take part in Celebrity Bear Hunt on Netflix next month alongside fellow former popstar Mel B, as well as Shirley Ballas of Strictly Come Dancing fame.

She had previously been married to Ben Foden from 2012 before getting divorced six years later and they share two children, Aoife Belle and Tadhg.

Former England rugby player Ben is also dad to Farrah and baby Olympia, whom he shares with his second wife Jackie Belanoff Smith.

Speaking to former Love Island star Faye Winter and Vogue Williams on the Boots Taboo Talk podcast back in February of last year the Tipperary woman said that her entire life was turned upside down when she ended things amid rumours that Ben was unfaithful.

When you find that person that you decide to stay with, to marry, and to live with... When that ends, thats when your whole life is turned upside down because you build a life with that person, she explained.

Its different than just (saying), I miss you so much. Its figuring out where you're going to start with rebuilding your life. Its a big, long process when kids are involved.

We shared banks accounts, we shared a house, we shared so much stuff. Its just a headache.

When we split up and everything needed to be done with the house, I arranged all the removals... I got no help whatsoever with any of that. I just think theyre (exes) so lazy; they just know its going to be done. Thats why you have to be strong, because who (else) is going to do it?

Una admitted that that shed had a bit of fun on Raya straight after the breakup, but ultimately gave up as dating was too time-consuming for her.

And while her split from Ben was extremely difficult, shes over the moon for him and his new family.

Im truly happy for him that hes happy and has found love again and has started a whole new family because hes the father of my children, so I always want to wish him happiness.

The kids have great holiday time with their dad - they spend Christmas and summers with him. And in fairness, hes so good when hes with them.
It will hold a community hui in Whakatane on Thursday to discuss the changes.

Health NZ has acknowledged the deep concern from the community about the change and committed to returning secondary birthing services to the hospital as soon as it is safe to do so.

It meant low-risk births could still take place at Whakatane Hospital with the assistance of midwives. Any patient requiring intervention  such as an emergency caesarean  would have to go to Tauranga Hospital. A dedicated ambulance was available for these transfers.

NZME reported last month Health NZ made the change because of a shortage of specialists. It took effect on January 15.

A Bay of Plenty midwife fears a pregnant woman or baby will die due to Whakatane Hospital downgrading to a primary birthing service.

About 650 babies are born at Whakatane Hospital each year. It is the only hospital in eastern Bay of Plenty, which has a population of about 55,000 and is just over 50% Maori according to the 2023 Census.

This is going to kill someone

The midwife - who spoke on the condition of anonymity - said in her view the hospital was now the equivalent of a birthing centre.

Pregnant women with risk factors including but not limited to a high bBody Mass Index, pre-existing medical conditions that could impact a pregnancy, and any current or previous pregnancy complications would be recommended to birth at Tauranga Hospital, she said.

Low-risk women who experienced a complication requiring intervention would also have to go to Tauranga.

Of the 650 births, she estimated more than half would have existing risk factors. The remainder still had the potential to develop complications, such as a baby going into fetal distress during labour.

While were on that ambulance transferring to Tauranga, there is absolutely nothing that we can do  we cant do an emergency caesarean in the back of an ambulance, so were basically crossing our fingers and toes that that baby has enough reserves to make it there.

Pregnant women will need to travel from Whakatane Hospital to Tauranga Hospital if they require secondary maternity care. Photo / Mead Norton

Babies who survived may still face long-term effects of the delay, such as brain damage.

Its not good enough. Were a low socio-economic area with a high-risk demographic - we have rural mama, we have a high rate of Maori that we already know have ... inequities in health ... "

The midwife said it could take up to two hours to get from Whakatane to Tauranga if traffic was bad.

Some women, they havent got two hours.

She said mothers not having their first baby could deliver in less than an hour.

In her view: This is going to kill someone.

Appalling

On one occasion, the midwife remembered ringing an on-call obstetrician for an emergency caesarean at the hospital to save a baby in fetal distress.

The obstetrician arrived quickly, the mother had a caesarean, and the baby survived.

I can absolutely hand on heart say there is no f***ing way that baby was going to make it to Tauranga. The difference between this woman having a live baby and a dead baby was luck that there was a doctor on the day that she delivered, which is unacceptable.

For luck to even be a factor  is actually appalling.

'Not staying here to watch my mums and babies die

The midwife said there had not been enough obstetricians to cover a full on-call roster since August following resignations.

Initially, the unit would temporarily downgrade to primary care one or two days per fortnight when there was no obstetrician.

[But] it got to a point where there were more days in a week without cover than there was with cover.

Local midwives met with a New Zealand College of Midwives representative to discuss their concerns as communication from Health NZ management was horrendous and they did not know how staffing issues would be addressed.

At a December 12 meeting with management they learned Health NZ was downgrading Whakatane Hospital to a primary unit.

A midwife fears someone will die as a result of Whakatane Hospital changing to a primary birthing service. Photo / Alex Cairns

She said the biggest issue was retaining specialists. She believed there were obstetricians prepared to work in Whakatane, but not until systematic issues were addressed.

In her view, Health NZ management needed to take a long hard look in the mirror and actually ask themselves why these doctors are leaving.

The midwife said she loved working in her community and would stay until secondary services resumed, but would look at relocating if services were permanently downgraded.

Im not staying here to watch my mums and babies die.

Health NZ responds

In a statement, Health NZ Te Manawa Taki deputy chief executive Cath Cronin said the safety of pregnant people and their babies was its top priority.

We acknowledge the deep concern from the community about the decision to move to a primary birthing model at Whakatane Hospital while specialist doctors are recruited.

We are committed to returning secondary birthing services to Whakatane Hospital as soon as it is safe to do so.

Cronin said Health NZ would continue engaging with its Iwi Maori Partnership Boards partners to listen to their views on how services were redesigned to support sustainable clinical services.

Asked about obstetrician resignations in the past six months and whether Whakatane had any left, Cronin said three obstetricians had resigned and it was recruiting locally and internationally to help return to full-service provision.

She said Health NZ contracted Hato Hone St John for patient transfers in the eastern Bay, including Whakatane.

A dedicated ambulance provided 24/7 coverage for all obstetric and emergency gynaecological transfers to Tauranga Hospital, in addition to other ambulance services.

As of Thursday, two patients had been transferred by the dedicated service since it started on January 13.

A Hato Hone St John spokesman said during emergency transfers from Whakatane to Tauranga, the patient remained under the care of a hospital clinician.

For urgent hospital transfers or where there is an immediate threat to life, the hospital may decide to call for an emergency ambulance or an air ambulance to transport the patient [instead].

Health NZ community hui

When: Thursday, 5pm to 6pm.

Where: Acacia House, Louvain St, Whakatane.

What: To discuss maternity service changes at Whakatane Hospital.
Police would not tolerate anti-social or unlawful behaviour and were committed to ensuring people in the CBD felt safe.

A police statement said that while being homeless was not a crime, police had received complaints about homeless in the CBD intimidating other people with trolleys.

Tapsell said ratepayers shouldnt have to foot the bill for cleaning up after the homeless, while Rotorua MP Todd McClay said Waititis comments were out of touch with how locals were feeling, and Police Minister Mark Mitchell said police were enforcing the law.

But the three-day police operation  which saw 13 people arrested, 45 trolleys returned to stores and 19 trespass orders issued  has been backed by Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell and two MPs.

A political war of words has erupted over the polices Operation Trolley targeting Rotoruas homeless trolley-users, with Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi calling it a direct attack by the Government on impoverished people.

Operation Trolley ran from January 21 to 23. Seven people appropriating trolleys for personal use were arrested and given verbal warnings for receiving an item worth less than $500. Six were arrested for alleged historical offending, including theft, assault, bail breaches and trespassing.

Discarded supermarket trolleys in Rotorua last year. Photos / Laura Smith

Nineteen were trespassed from the store that owned the trolley they were using.

The police statement said homelessness was a social problem that required a joint effort to address the underlying issues.

Police work with a number of agencies to understand these issues, support the homeless, and collectively find homeless people long-term solutions.

Politicians weigh in

Tapsell said ratepayers could not continue paying the cost of cleaning up the city when homeless people were stealing trolleys for inappropriate use and dumping them.

Tapsell said in the past it had been a major issue, with about 260 trolleys a month collected at a cost of $5000.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell. Photo / Laura Smith

As part of our action to improve community safety, council had already met with local businesses and had made a commitment theyd retrieve trolleys within 48 hours.

Dumping trolleys cant continue and Im proud were fixing issues in partnership with our community to make Rotorua a better place.

Tapsell said she was grateful to the police for their commitment to keeping Rotorua safe.

Its not reasonable to criticise police for doing their job, especially when some of the people they arrested are [allegedly] already known for violent offences, theft, and trespassing.

Te Pati Maori co-leader and Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi called Operation Trolley a direct attack on the most impoverished communities by the Government.

There must be nothing better for the police to do than use taxpayer funds to criminalise our most vulnerable communities instead of focusing on real equitable solutions.

In his view, an operation targeting whanau already homeless and struggling continued the states cycle of abuse.

This Government cannot police inequality out of society, our whanau deserve better and better looks like our whanau having a roof over their head and the ability to afford to put kai in those trolleys.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Andrew Warner

But Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the sight of supermarket trolleys up and down Fenton St had concerned local people for a long time.

Sadly Mr Waititis comments are out of touch with the reality of the harm thats been done to the Rotorua community through homeless being dumped in our city.

The police have not targeted anyone, rather theyve focused on combating theft of property and anti-social behaviour in the CBD.

He also thanked the police for making Rotorua safe and working to reduce crime.

Mitchell said the operation was about enforcing the law and helping the public feel safe.

Any suggestion the operation was a form of abuse on our most vulnerable is nonsense. The bottom line is: those who break the law will face consequences, and public safety will always be the priority.

He said he was focused on the issue of anti-social behaviour and working with police, other agencies and colleagues to find solutions.

Police and Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo / Marty Melville

Retailers, residents speak up

Long-time Rotorua retailer Mike Steiner said he endured endless trouble with rough sleepers at his Pukuatua St store, Steiners Interiors By Reputation.

There is a couple who have taken up residence [nearby] and they fight like Kilkenny cats  you should hear the mouth on her, if I recorded it, it would breach the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

While police and security companies had been great, he doubted the recent police operation would work long-term.

Security come and take them away and clean up the mess but its almost futile, they turn up again two days later.

In Steiners opinion, homeless people were moving to Rotorua and being enabled with free clothing and food, but many did not seem willing to engage with other support or accept hard messages.

Steiner said many resources were going into a few people and he called on the community to do more collectively.

PaknSave Rotorua owner-operator Amanda Elliot said the business was grateful to the police for Operation Trolley.

We know the police have more pressing matters to deal with than rounding up trolleys, so wed like to remind everyone to please leave trolleys at the store so theyre available for everyone to use when shopping.

Elliot said stolen trolleys inconvenienced supermarkets and created issues around town.

If were notified about a trolley left somewhere, well go and pick it up, and we also regularly check the usual places where theyre abandoned. Collecting trolleys takes time and effort that wed rather spend helping our customers.

Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers chairman Reynold Macpherson said the organisation celebrated the police operation.

Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers chairman Reynold Macpherson. Photo / Andrew Warner

It reimposes law and order in our community, asserts supermarkets property rights, arrests perpetrators and may deter a form of antisocial behaviour.

He said he welcomed all signs of residents and ratepayers taking back their community.

But iwi leader Rawiri Bhana  a 2024 Kiwibank Local Heroes medallist  was disappointed by the operation, saying it was not a solution when dealing with people sleeping rough who may also have mental health, drug and alcohol issues.

2024 Kiwibank Local Heroes medallist Rawiri Bhana. Photo / Supplied

Yes we need solutions but criminalising those most vulnerable in our society is not the society I want my moko [grandchildren] growing up in. We need to be better, we need to do better, out of sight out of mind is not the solution.

Bhana said it was a complex issue that needed a complex answer.

As a community, we need to do better for the most vulnerable.
The popular weed killer Roundup tops the lists of successful ACC claims for injuries related to herbicides, pesticides and insecticides.

ACC accepted 359 claims for injuries involving Roundup since 1990 and a further 20 where its active ingredient glyphosate was named.

Since 2000, ACC declined 60 claims for injuries involving Roundup and 14 involving glyphosate.

The corporation had paid out $875,000 for injuries related to Roundup since 1990 and $6241 for glyphosate over the same period.

By comparison, the products with the next highest number of successful claims are 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D for which ACC has accepted just 15 claims, while rejecting a further 30.

These related products were made at Ivon Watkins Dow's Paritutu plant in New Plymouth from 1960 to 1987.

Prior to this Ivon Watkins produced herbicides including 2,4,5-T, at its Buller St plant in the central city from 1948.

They contained toxic dioxins linked to cancers and birth defects and were a key component of Agent Orange - the defoliant used by the US military during the Vietnam War.

ACC paid out about $380,000 for injuries related to 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D including 12 gradual process injuries - a work-related illness or injury that developed over time.

Roundup was not identified in any gradual process injury claims received by ACC.

Injuries involving herbicides, pesticides and insecticides included burns, cuts, foreign body in orifice/eye and inhalation/ingestion among others.

ACC accepted the most claims for burns, scalding or corrosive injuries - 335 - and the least for inhalation/ingestion - 82.

The inhalation/ingestion claims were the most expensive with the corporation paying out $370,551, while foreign body in orifice/eye cost it the least - $13,404.

The insurance provider accepted 949 claims where the claimant only identified the offending product as a herbicide, pesticide or insecticide in broad terms.

Those claims had cost ACC just shy of $1.2 million since 2000.

Twelve of those claims involved gradual process injuries.

Some research has linked Roundup - one of the world's most popular weedkillers - and its active ingredient glyphosate, to cancer and its use has been restricted in some countries.

In New Zealand the Environmental Protection Authority was responsible for regulations for Roundup and glyphosate.

General Manager Hazardous Substances and New Organisms, Dr Chris Hill, said specific carcinogenicity studies had not confirmed a link between cancer and glyphosate.

He said the EPA continually monitored international developments and reviewed global research on hazardous substances, including glyphosate.

"Glyphosate has not been banned by any major regulatory jurisdiction. A ban would be where an active ingredient is completely withdrawn from the market within a country.

"Individual countries may place specific restrictions or controls around an active ingredient's use, similar to the rules we have put in place around the required personal protective equipment for glyphosate."

Hill said after extensive review, the European Union in December 2023 approved the use of glyphosate for a further 10 years, and the Federal Court of Australia in December 2024 dismissed all litigation claiming glyphosate caused cancer.

"In New Zealand, we have no evidence that risks associated with using glyphosate, or its hazardous nature, have changed to warrant a reassessment and potential restriction of uses, and we maintain that the risks of using glyphosate can be managed through following the rules of use."

Those rules included people wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles and boots; applying sprays during calm and dry conditions, at designated usage rates and storing the product appropriately.

Hill said in 2024, the EPA received a request for grounds to reassess glyphosate and glyphosate-containing formulations on the basis of significant new information.

"The EPA found that the information provided, as well as other existing information, was not significant enough to warrant grounds being granted, and declined the request. A judicial review of this decision has been requested, and will take place in 2025."

The EPA was always looking for ways to ensure people and the environment were protected, Hill said, and would continue to review any new research on glyphosate that showed a change in the risks and was relevant to the New Zealand context.

German multinational company Bayer makes Roundup after acquiring the brand from Monsanto.

In a statement, the company said it stood behind its glyphosate-based products, which had been used safely and successfully around the world for 50 years.

"Roundup and glyphosate-based herbicides have been rigourously tested in hundreds of studies, with the weight of this extensive body of science confirming that glyphosate is safe when used as directed and is not carcinogenic."

The company said health regulators in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Canada, Japan and elsewhere around the world had repeatedly concluded that glyphosate-based products could be used safely as directed and that glyphosate was not carcinogenic.

Director of the Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit at University of Otago, Associate Professor Brian Cox, said the International Agency for Research Against Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate (the major herbicidal component of round-up) as a probable carcinogen.

"That classification is not unusual for many compounds they assess and is indicative of quite a bit of uncertainty in the results of the scientific studies of the effects of Roundup on human health."

Cox said the EPA in the US considered Roundup to be safe if used as directed.

"From my assessment of whether there is a relationship between Roundup use and cancer, I am inclined to agree with the EPA."

It was very difficult to get an accurate measure of long-term (at least five years) exposure to Roundup, Cox said, and whether the product had been inhaled or absorbed via the skin which greatly altered the body's uptake of the compound.

"Mis-measurement of exposure is known to considerably influence the measures used to assess the health risk from any compound and this can create spurious associations between disease and exposure."

Cox said this was one of the reasons the IARC had not identified Roundup as a definite carcinogen.

-RNZ
Kiwifruit growers are welcoming the $24.1 million payout Zespri has received for the mice infestation on last season's first shipment of SunGold to Europe as "a late Christmas present".

More than a million trays were destroyed in May, following the discovery of vermin onboard the Crown Garnet shipment of SunGold around Belgium in April last year.

Zespri said the successful marine cargo insurance claim will return a "substantial proportion of the losses" attributed to the incident to growers of SunGold at a value of 17-18 cents per tray, which will be reflected in the next forecast in February.

Chief executive Jason Te Brake said the settlement was a positive outcome for the industry.

"We take fruit quality incredibly seriously and our decision to dispose of the fruit from the impacted vessel reflects our ongoing commitment to food safety and protecting our brand."

Jason Te Brake. Photo: Supplied / Dscribe Media

Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief executive Colin Bond said there was some relief among growers.

"I think it's a late Christmas present for growers that they'll be delighted to receive," Bond said.

"We were really surprised. I think we were all expecting a good result, but we weren't expecting the results so quickly, so it's great news that Zespri's confirmed yesterday that growers will be receiving to the pool an extra $24m over the next month or two."

Bond said the payments, as usual, will go to the customers, their various post-harvest suppliers, who then pay growers who provided the fruit.

"It's great that we've got a majority of the value of that fruit back in the first payment, and still the opportunity potentially for more once Zespri concludes the process under the other insurance policy."

He said it would help their balance sheets after a couple tough seasons.

"2024 was a season that we all needed after a couple of quality challenges of '22 and late frosts in '23 that hampered yields. So 24 is a return to profitability for the majority of growers and at this point in the in the growing season, 2025 is looking promising as well," he said.

"So there's lot of the positivity in the sector and just aided by this additional 17-cents that the gold growers are going to receive from the insurance payout."

Zespri will capture the proceeds in its 2024 SunGold kiwifruit pool, and awaits a result for a further product contamination insurance claim.

-RNZ
A police spokesperson said at the time that Cornells death had been referred to the coroner.

The news comes as Coastguard New Zealand and the Lake Taupo harbourmaster issue safety reminders to water users.

In the interim we are supporting the police who are leading the initial response, the spokesperson said.

Maritime New Zealand will investigate the Lake Taupo jetski incident that led to the death of Vincent Cornell, a spokesperson for the Crown entity has confirmed.

A Maritime NZ spokesperson told the Herald the Crown entity would investigate the incident that led to Cornells death but police were leading the initial response.

Vincent "Vinnie" Cornell died on Sunday, January 19, 2025 as a result of a jetski incident at Acacia Bay. Photo / LinkedIn

[We] will provide [police] with any assistance and maritime expertise they might need.

Maritime NZ is a Crown entity that maintains the national safety, security and environmental protection regulations that govern the operation of vessels, ports and offshore installations in New Zealand waters. The entity is also responsible for providing maritime safety infrastructure and incident response.

According to a Givealittle page set up by Cornells sister Sani Leota, Cornells last act was to give his life for his brother.

[It was] a selfless and heroic act that speaks volumes about the man he was, Leota said.

Leota said Cornells loss was a massive shock.

Vinnie was an amazing and loving husband and father, who poured his heart and soul into his family.

He was the pillar of strength and joy in their lives.

Lake Taupo harbourmaster Jamie Grant said, the recent tragic event involving a personal watercraft commonly known as a jetski highlighted the importance of following maritime rules and navigational safety bylaws.

These rules are not in place to spoil peoples enjoyment on the water, Grant said.

They have been developed over many years to keep people safe. Operators of any craft should have some knowledge of these requirements to ensure their own safety and that of others while on the water.

Maritime New Zealand will investigate the Lake Taupo jet ski incident that led to the death of Vincent Cornell, a spokesperson for the Crown entity has confirmed.

Coastguard New Zealand Taupo unit president Mike Hughes said Lake Taupo could be unforgiving.

If anything does happen on the water, it happens real quick and it will catch you unawares, Hughes said.

Dont take shortcuts on any safety measures.

Hughes said it was important for all lake users to understand their limits, wear life jackets, check the weather and be watchful.

Whether youre boating, swimming, or paddling know your limit and stay within your comfort zone.

Life jackets, Hughes said, needed to be worn always on any form of watercraft.

No matter how confident you think you are, our lake has very little buoyancy. That life jacket will give us time to save your life.

Hughes said the lakes waves also behaved differently from the sea and could change very quickly depending on the weather.

Watchfulness is key, Hughes said.

Drowning is a silent thing. Its not loud. A lot of our rescues have been because someone has been watchful.

When there was an emergency, Hughes said the best thing to do was to dial 111.

They have the ability to know where you are through that call. Describe what you are seeing. They will activate Coastguard and anyone else appropriate.

If possible, Hughes said, throw something floatable to the person.

If youre in the water, stay calm and just raise your arm, call out for help if you can and just wait. If youve got that life jacket on that will give you time.

Rules for personal watercraft on Lake Taupo include:

 Lifejackets: Every person on board a personal watercraft or being towed must wear a properly fitted personal flotation device.

 Communication: Every skipper must carry at least one form of waterproof communication. For personal watercraft, it is advised that your communication device is on your person, not stored on the vessel, in case you are separated.

 Speed Limits: Do not exceed a speed of more than 5 knots (9km/h) within 200 metres of the shore or structures, and within 50 metres of other vessels or persons in the water.

 Minimum Age: Operators of a powered vessel capable of exceeding 10 knots must be at least 15 years of age unless under the direct supervision of a person over 15 years who is within immediate reach of the controls.

 Wake: Ensure that the wake from your vessel does not cause unnecessary danger or risk of damage to other vessels, persons, or structures.

 Registration: Every personal watercraft used in or on the waters of the lake must be registered by a regional council.

Source: Lake Taupo Harbourmaster and Lake Taupo Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017
A new medical imaging clinic is now open in Tauranga.

In a statement to SunLive, RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group said its excited to announce that Bay Radiologys new flagship clinic on 17th Avenue in Tauranga is now fully open.

Phase One of the clinic, which includes Bay Radiologys first PET-CT scanner, opened in September 2024.

Phase Two opened last week, completing this state-of-the-art facility. The new purpose-built clinic is designed to future-proof medical imaging services for Bay of Plenty residents.

Spanning more than 3000 square metres, this extensive clinic is the largest medical imaging clinic in New Zealand.

It is equipped with the latest technology including a high-tech Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography scanner as well as state-of-the-art MRI, CT, x-ray and ultrasound equipment.

The clinic offers a comprehensive range of medical imaging services to meet the communitys needs, including interventional radiology, mammography and fluoroscopy.



Bay Radiology's 17th Avenue waiting areas are designed to be welcoming, calm and comfortable for patients. Supplied image

Bay Radiology managing radiologist Dr Kunaal Rajpal emphasised that removing barriers to patients accessing healthcare has become a key focus for Bay Radiology.

Equity of access to healthcare for people living in regional New Zealand is an issue that concerns all healthcare providers, so we are proud to be able to provide better access to high quality imaging locally.

Our radiologists have a wide range of sub-specialities including Musculoskeletal, Interventional, Breast, Body Imaging, Oncology, Neuroradiology, Abdominal, and Head and Neck Imaging. Patients can feel confident knowing that if the need arises, highly specialised expertise is right on their doorstep.

A phased design enabled some parts of the building to be safely used while other parts were still under construction. Consequently, Bay Radiology commenced their PET-CT scanning last September.

This advanced technology plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, noted regional manager Nicola Daisley.



Bay Radiology's 17th Avenue reception area, the warm colour palette and soft materials reference the coastal environment of the Bay of Plenty. Supplied image

Since opening in September our PET-CT team have delivered diagnostic results for over 100 patients, enabling their lead care specialists to provide the best possible health-care treatment plans. We are delighted to now be offering a full suite of modalities from one central and easily accessible location, streamlining the diagnostic process for our community.

RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group CEO Terry McLaughlin said that this new clinic, strategically located in Tauranga, is a significant step in supporting the healthcare needs of the Bay of Plenty community.

Our 17th Ave clinic is the heart of our Bay Radiology operations, providing patients access to the full suite of medical imaging services in one convenient location. Bay Radiology has been supporting the local community with their healthcare needs for over 30 years.

We look forward to at least another 30 years of better health outcomes for Bay and Eastern Bay of Plenty residents.
Fonterra has announced it is converting two of its North Island gas boilers to electricity, lowering its total fossil gas use by around 38 percent.

Until now, the dairy giant's focus has been converting coal boilers to wood pellets or electricity.

While not as heating to the planet as coal, gas is also a major fossil fuel.

The conversions are at Edgecumbe and Fonterra's Whareroa site in Taranaki, with most of the emissions reductions coming from the conversion of Whareroa.

That site alone uses half the cooperative's gas, and will be electrified in stages.

The first stage of the project will reduce the dairy giant's gas consumption by 25 percent, with the full conversions of the sites at Edgecumbe and Whareroa in Taranaki expected to take several years.

The co-op said it planned to get out of gas anyway, but the country's rapidly depleting gas fields sped up its electrification plans.

"It was certainly topical," Chris Kane, Fonterra's engineering, technical and sustainability head said.

"We've got a long-term contract, so we were OK, but we keep a watching eye on it and I think it surprised us a little bit how quickly the gas was depleting, and as you'll appreciate, we're highly reliant on gas in the North Island.

"While gas isn't as big an emitter as coal, it's certainly an important fuel for us," he said.

"We'd always planned to move away from gas, so if anything, this just probably accelerated some of those plans."

Until now, the dairy giant's focus has been converting coal boilers to wood pellets or electricity.

This is its first major conversion of a gas plant since it announced plans to cut emissions.

Kane said transmission and distribution of electricity remained a challenge for the co-op's plans, while growing the generation of renewable electricity was less of a problem.

The dairy giant has now ditched coal at all its North Island milk processing plants, and expected to be largely coal-free in the South Island by the early 2030s - if decarbonisation efforts kept up their pace.

Pressure exerted by customers

The cooperative has been under pressure from global customers such as Mars and Danone to help meet their own emissions reductions goals.

Raw ingredients including those from Fonterra make up the bulk of the climate footprints of those multinational food producers.

The major source of planet-heating gases from dairy is cows burping methane, which the dairy exporter has promised to reduce by 30 percent by 2030, on a per kilo of product basis.

When it comes to the company's direct operations, the biggest source of direct (not farm) emissions is its milk-drying boilers, which produce powder for export and ingredients.

In December, Fonterra announced its biggest boiler conversion to date - the $64 million switch-over of two coal boilers at its Clandeboye site in South Canterbury to wood pellets.

The government co-funded the Clandeboye conversion under a Labour-era scheme that has been scrapped by the current government.

The co-op said that investment alone was the equivalent of taking over 100,000 cars off the road.

In all Fonterra has allocated $790 million to lowering emissions.

Kane said by the end of end 2027 it will have spent $600m of that.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Coal goal

Fonterra - which is New Zealand's single biggest emitter - has vowed to exit coal by 2037.

Kane said it was currently on track to have the majority of coal gone by the early 2030s.

"I'd say the majority of the conversions will be done by the early 2030s apart from maybe a few sites, but that's subject to change," he said.

"2037 is the cessation date [for coal] but I'd like to think we're done before that."

By the end of 2027, Kane said direct (excluding farm) emissions would be down by 33 percent, the equivalent of having nine boiler sites completely carbon neutral.

Most of the large boiler sites were being converted in stages.

He said the Darfield coal boilers would be the last to convert, given they were the newest.

"People always say, 'Why can't you go quicker?', and the answer is, we are going at breakneck speed.

"We're extremely happy with where we're going... but it is challenging."

-RNZ
Google Maps turns 20 on February 8, marking two decades since its desktop debut in 2005. What started as a simple tool to help people get from point A to point B has evolved into one of the most used services worldwide, with more than 1 billion active users each month.

Just months after its launch, Google Earth arrived, offering 3D views of our planet from the comfort of our desktops. Today, Google Earth features more than 93 million square kilometres of high-definition satellite imagery, allowing digital explorers to venture far and wide.

In 2005, Google made it possible to embed Maps into websites and apps and introduced the Google Trip Planner to help commuters with public transport schedules. That same year, real-time traffic data became available, giving drivers insight into which roads were congested.



Real-time information on traffic conditions enables people to see which roads have free-flowing traffic, and which roads are congested. Image / Google Maps

Then, on May 29, 2007, Google launched Street View, a groundbreaking feature that quickly became a favourite part of Google Maps. Over the past 18 years, Street View has captured more than 16 million kilometres of imagery, using everything from snowmobiles to camels to gather photos.

Weve had an active Street View photography operation in New Zealand for several years, and were committed to keeping our imagery up to date, a Google New Zealand spokesperson said.

This helps ensure our Street View imagery provides the most accurate and useful representation of New Zealands roads and landscapes.



The five Tauranga legends at Fergusson Park were captured by Street View cameras. Photo / Google Street View.

In September 2024, a spontaneous and fun moment was captured in Tauranga when a group of friends was photographed as they posed for the passing Street View car. The photo quickly went viral in local Facebook groups and became a heartwarming example of the right place, right time magic of Street View.

Its a snapshot of us just before leaving school, Kayden Shanks, one of the group members said. Now well always have that moment.

Google New Zealand said the last imagery captured for Tauranga was in September 2024.

You can find dates for older collections of Street View imagery for Tauranga and Matua by clicking see more dates on the image, a Google New Zealand spokesperson said.



A business owner in Edinburgh, Scotland staged a fake murder in 2012. Photo/Google Street View.

Often the Street View car captures some interesting images as it passes people.

Street View captures real-life moments, which can sometimes include people posing or interacting with the camera in interesting ways.

Google New Zealand said its all part of the magic of capturing a snapshot of the world.

That said, we take privacy seriously and blur identifiable faces and license plates in Street View imagery.



A flock of pigeon-masked people on a sidewalk in Tokyo. Photo/Google Street View.

The Street View cars use advanced camera systems to capture 360-degree panoramic views with remarkable detail.

This ensures a comprehensive and detailed representation of the environment.

Google said it has captured over 280 billion images, on every single continent and in over 100 countries.

Were always working to expand our coverage.



Google Maps app on mobile phone. Image/Google Maps.

The current Street View car uses a powerful seven-camera system with 32 lidar beams for precise depth understanding.

This allows for vibrant colours and eliminates graininess. Weve also developed a new, smaller camera that can be mounted on any car, making it even easier to capture Street View imagery in various locations.

After filming, the images are processed using a technique called photogrammetry.

This is similar to putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle together that spans the entire globe, a Google New Zealand spokesperson said.

By refining our photogrammetry technique, we can align imagery from multiple sourcesStreet View, aerial, and satellite imagery, along with authoritative datasetswith accuracy down to the metre.

Street View offers a unique way to virtually explore the world, from the comfort of your own home. With over 280 billion images and counting, you can discover everything from the Great Barrier Reef to the International Space Station!



The Street View Trekkers first stop was the Grand Canyon. Photo/Google Maps.

In November 2007, Google Maps launched on mobile devices, adding navigation features in 2009.

The introduction of the Street View Trekker in 2012 allowed Google to explore hard-to-reach locations like the Grand Canyon and the top of the Eiffel Tower, expanding the scope of Street View even further.

Google Maps isnt just for exploring far-flung places; its also about helping people discover whats nearby. In 2014, it became easier to find essential details like hours, ratings, and prices for millions of businesses around the world. Today, these features are accessible for over 200 million locations via the Explore tab.



Google Maps app on mobile phone. Image/Google Maps.

2014 also saw the introduction of Google My Business, which allowed business owners to manage their presence on Google Maps and Search. In 2015, offline maps were launched, enabling turn-by-turn navigation even without internet access.

The following year, Google introduced the Local Guides program, and in 2018, it added accessibility information to Google Maps, including wheelchair-friendly routes and details about accessible entrances and restrooms for over 50 million places globally.

Google also introduced augmented reality with Live View, using arrows and directions to guide users in real time.

From its humble beginnings to its status as a global navigation and exploration tool, Google Maps has continually evolved, shaping the way we interact with the world around us. Happy 20th birthday Google Maps!
TOKYO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Suicides among school-age children in Japan reached an all-time high of 527 in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 514 in 2022, according to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

High school students accounted for nearly 70 percent of cases, with 349 deaths, followed by 163 middle school students and 15 elementary school students.

A notable increase was observed among female middle and high school students, with 99 middle school girls taking their lives, 19 more than the previous year, and 183 high school girls, an increase of 17.

The leading causes cited for suicides among individuals under 19 included academic struggles and concerns about future paths (349 cases), mental health issues such as depression (284 cases), and family-related problems such as conflicts with parents (148 cases).

The ministry acknowledged the record-high student suicide figures as a grave concern and pledged to analyze the causes while working with relevant organizations to implement countermeasures.

In 2024, the number of suicides in Japan totaled 20,268, marking a decrease of 1,569 from the previous year and reaching the second-lowest level since records began in 1978.

Among the total suicides, 13,763 were men and 6,505 were women, the data showed. 
Maria Jose Diaz Alcala Marbella Wednesday, 29 January 2025, 11:22 | Updated 11:30h. Compartir

A second kidnapping on the Costa del Sol in less than one week was reported in Marbella on Monday 27 January. The victim, who is a businessman, was cornered in an isolated area of the town, after which the perpetrators forced him into a car, held him at gunpoint and beat him with the intention of burgling his home, where he was finally released after about 20 minutes. According to sources, the National Police has already taken charge of the investigation of the case, which closely follows the kidnapping of another man in Sabinillas on 23 January.

At around 7pm on 27 January, the victim, a warehouse owner in the La Campana industrial area, was approached by the alleged attackers, who forced him into a vehicle.

According to the victim's account given to the police after his release, the suspects held him at gunpoint and beat him.

They then drove the vehicle to the victim's home, which they intended to burgle. It was in his home where the businessman, dazed and in a state of shock, was released, after which he managed to contact the emergency services. National Police investigators are trying to shed light on the facts and capture the perpetrators. No arrests have been made yet.

On Thursday 23 January, the police force also received an alert regarding the kidnapping of a man that had taken place on the Sabinillas promenade two days prior. A snatched photograph taken by the victim of a steering wheel with the logo of the vehicle brand was key to the resolution of the operation. In under 16 hours, the police located and freed the victim and arrested the four suspects. While holding the victim at gunpoint, the perpetrators had interrogated him about a third party who had allegedly swindled them out of 30,000 euros.

Despite the time proximity of these two cases, it should be remembered that kidnapping is the crime category that experienced the sharpest decline in Malaga province last year. According to the latest crime statistics compiled by Spain's Ministry of the Interior, in the period between January and September 2024 four cases were registered, compared to the 16 recorded in the same months in 2023.
La Vinuela reservoir in the Axarquia is at 21.7% of its capacity, with just 36 million cubic metres.

Eugenio Cabezas Malaga Wednesday, 29 January 2025, 14:31 Compartir

Malaga's provincial Diputacion authority has joined the administrative phase of 'NURISH' - a European project aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in small municipalities and rural areas. A total of 28 partners from nine countries (Spain, Greece, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Cyprus, Finland and Malta) will take part in annual meetings, inspired by the slogan: 'Fostering transformative capacities, innovation in nature-based solutions and harmonious resilience in rural areas'.

The 28 project partners include the Technical University of Athens, the Imperial Institute of London, the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems of Greece, the University of Bologna, the Energy and Water Agency of Malta, as well as various municipalities in Greece, Finland and Cyprus, in addition to Malaga's provincial authority as the only Spanish administration. Spanish companies also joining the project are Bioazul, Circe Foundation and Tecnalia.

'Resilience centres are entities that will design solutions for climate resilience'.

Malaga's participation was announced by the authority's vice-president, Cristobal Ortega, who stated that the project is included in funding programme Horizon Europe for the 'Demonstration of solutions specifically suited to rural areas and small to medium size population local communities'.

Ortega said that: "Resilience centres are entities that will design solutions for climate change, involving people in the testing and evaluation of adaptation initiatives, and supporting the demonstration and implementation of these initiatives." These centres, located in Greece, Cyprus, Finland and the UK, "will find nature-based solutions to address climate change effects such as floodings, water scarcity and land degradation, as well as digital tools to support real-time monitoring and decision-making", he said.

Alora, Ardales and Pizarra

As a partner of the project, the provincial authority will be in charge of organising meetings for the transfer of knowledge and replication of these operations in Alora, Ardales and Pizarra. As Ortega stated, "adaptations will be adjusted to the environmental and social needs, as well as the economic conditions of these municipalities in the Guadalhorce valley".

Malaga's provincial authority will not be taking any actions until the second half of 2028, but it will participate in meetings, pooling and coordination with the rest of the 28 partners, starting from 2025.

The province plans to contribute to the meetings with its experience in developing the Plan de Adaptacion al Cambio Climatico de la Provincial, which includes the actions the authority will take in the coming years, to support its municipalities in the designing of individual plans against climate change.
Students in New York continue to lag behind levels they achieved in reading and math before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new nationwide assessment tests results.

The new results come from national tests given to students in fourth and eighth grades every other year.

Students took the assessment, also known as the Nations Report Card, last year and the federal Education Department released results today. The tests, given since 1969, are meant to offer a broad view of how the nations students are performing.

In New York, students average reading and math scores in both fourth and eighth grade have yet to return to where they were before the pandemic.

Thats true for the nation as whole as well.

And compared with 2022, there was nearly no improvement in any category. No states saw scores increase from the 2022 tests to 2024 in fourth-grade reading, eighth-grade reading or eighth-grade math, according to federal data.

Scores either fell or didnt change significantly in every state.

Fourth-grade math was one bright spot in the U.S. A total of 15 states, including New York, saw scores increase from 2022 to 2024.

Scores fell in just one state.

New Yorks average fourth-grade reading score increased seven points to 234 in 2024, when compared with 2022. But that was still three points lower than the last tests given before the pandemic in 2019.

Overall, student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic performance, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy G. Carr said in a news release. Where there are signs of recovery, they are mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students. Lower-performing students are struggling, especially in reading.

Heres a closer look at how New York students did on the latest tests.

Fourth-grade math:

Average score (out of 500): 234, seven points above 2022 and three points below U.S. average of 237.

Eighth-grade math:

Average score (out of 500): 271, three points below 2022 and one point below U.S. average of 272.

Fourth-grade reading:

Average score (out of 500): 215, one point above 2022 and one point above the U.S. average of 214.

Eighth-grade reading:

Average score (out of 500): 257, five points lower than 2022 and even with the U.S. average.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Each summer, hikers flock to Upstate New York to explore its stunning waterfalls. But for those willing to brave the cold, winter offers a whole new experience: frozen cascades that sparkle with icy beauty.

Some might say winter is the best time to visit these natural wonders, thanks to the absence of bugs and summer crowds. If you plan to venture out, be sure to gear up with proper winter hiking equipment to stay safe and comfortable.

Here are a few must-see waterfalls to visit before winters icy grip begins to thaw:

Taughannock Falls

Taughannock Falls frozen over, January 2025. Debi | @daytrippingroc on InstagramDebi | @daytrippingroc on Instagram

Location: Trumansburg (Finger Lakes)

Taughannock Falls State Park is home to 750 beautiful acres with its crown jewel being the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Taughannock Falls plunges 215-feet down the gorge, towering three stories taller than Niagara Falls.

Ithaca Falls

Ithaca Falls frozen in the deep freeze of January 2025. Mike Servedio | Provided photoMike Servedio | Provided photo

Ithaca Falls freezes over in the deep freeze of January 2025. Marie Loikuy | @marieloikuy_gallery on InstagramMarie Loikuy | @marieloikuy_gallery on Instagram

Location: Ithaca (Central NY)

Nestled in the city of Ithaca, this waterfall is 150-feet of sheer power. The pool it plunges into is popular for fishing.

Wells Falls

Wells Falls in downtown Ithaca freezes over in January 2025. Mike Servedio | Provided photoMike Servedio | Provided photo

Location: Downtown Ithaca (Central NY)

Wells Falls, also referred to as Businessmans Lunch Falls, had been a popular lunch spot for downtown office workers in the heart of Ithaca. There are four cascading falls in this location.

Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls at a standstill in January 2025's deep freeze. Mike Servedio | Provided photoMike Servedio | Provided photo

Location: Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca (Central NY)

A popular swimming spot in summer, Buttermilk Falls stands still in winter.

Lower Enfield Falls

Lower Enfield Falls, Robert H. Treman State Park in the depths of winter in Ithaca. January 2025. Mike Servedio | Provided photoMike Servedio | Provided photo

Location: Robert H. Treman State Park, Ithaca (Central NY)

In summer this popular watering hole is filled with swimmers and kids diving into the deep pool of Lower Enfield Falls.

Eternal Flame Falls

Eternal Flame Falls within Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, NY is a magical sight with its fire and ice scene. Lauren Jo | @losvixen on InstagramLauren Jo | @losvixen on Instagram

Location: Chesnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park (Western New York)

A short ride away from downtown Buffalo and near the home of the Buffalo Bills stadium, Eternal Flame Falls might be small in size, but big in magic. Methane gas escaping from cracks in a natural shale grotto tucked in next to the falls is often found lit, providing a beautiful view of fire and water  or fire and ice in this season.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls during the deep freeze of January 2025. Patrick O'Leary | @patrick_oleary_art on InstagramPatrick O'Leary | @patrick_oleary_art on Instagram

Location: Niagara Falls, NY (Western NY)

You cant have an Upstate New York waterfall list without Niagara Falls. The Cave of the Winds is open in winter at the iconic waterfalls and that means you can view its chilling beauty from nearby platforms.

Middle Falls

Middle Falls at Letchworth State Park. Debi | @daytrippingroc on InstagramDebi | @daytrippingroc on Instagram

Location: Castile (Western NY)

Letchworth State Park, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the East, boasts three major waterfalls on the Genesee River. Catch each of them along the 7-mile Gorge Trail.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls frozen in the Adirondacks. Kayla Lippke | @kaylalippke on InstagramKayla Lippke | @kaylalippke on Instagram

Location: Keene (Adirondacks)

This 150-foot waterfall is found on your hike to the Indian Head overlook, one of the most photographed views in the Adirondack Mountains. This hike is accessed through a conservation easement with the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR). A parking reservation is needed from May 1 - October 31 for crowd control, which makes winter a great time to have it all to yourself.

High Falls Gorge

Location: Wilmington (Adirondacks)Located in the Adirondacks is this 22-acre park features four breathtaking waterfalls and is a popular destination for summer fun. A special note for this winter hike, spikes and walking sticks with any traction devices are not permitted on the trail.

Ausable Chasm

Kaaterskill Falls

January 7 2025: Scenes of Kaaterskill Falls and Spruce Creek in the Catskill Mountains near Hunter, New York. Danny Wild | @dannywild11 on InstagramDanny Wild

Known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks , this waterfall which can be seen from the roadside is a great photo opportunity while traveling through the area.

Location: Haines Falls (Catskill Mountains)

This giant, two-stage waterfall in the Catskill Mountains is one of the tallest in the state. A popular spot for tourists, wearing spikes in winter will help you navigate this frozen trail.

Akron Falls

Location: Akron (Western NY)

Found along Murder Creek, Akron Falls in Western New York plunges 41 feet to into the ravine below.

Mine Lot Falls at Thacher State Park in the Capital Region, January 2025. Photo by Ranger Josh | Provided by Thacher State ParkPhoto by Ranger Josh | Provided by Thacher State Park

Mine Lot Falls

Mine Lot falls sparkles in winter at Thacher State Park in Vorheesville, just over a half hour away from downtown Albany. In summer months, visitors can walk under the cascading waters. The trail closes for winter, but you can still view the icy fingers from afar.

Angel Falls

Angel Falls in High Tor Wildlife Management Area, located in Naples, NY in the Finger Lakes. January 2025. Stephanie B | @steph_ann_ee on InstagramStephanie B | @steph_ann_ee on Instagram

Location: Naples (Finger Lakes)

Popular with ice climbers, Angel Falls inside the High Tor Wildlife Management Area is a seasonal cascade that plunges 120-feet down into the gorge. One of five waterfalls in this area, it only flows after high rain/snowmelt, so winter is one of the best times to catch a glimpse of it.

Bozen Kill Falls

Bozen Kill Creek falls within Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Capital Region of Upstate NY. Ceceile | @cecinnystate on InstagramCeceile | @cecinnystate on Instagram

Location: Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary in Duanesburg (Capital Region)

Find a 30-foot waterfall just outside of Schenectady at the Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary. Along Bozen Kill Creek you will find this frozen cascade and multiple smaller waterfalls.
By Brian Niemietz | New York Daily News (TNS)

Caroline Kennedy warned senators not to confirm her predator cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when he comes up for consideration as the nations secretary of health and human services Wednesday.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together, Caroline wrote in a letter viewed by the Washington Post. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator.

According to Caroline, growing up with RFK Jr. proved to her that the 71-year-old political scion is dangerously addicted to attention and power.

She claims her cousin put baby chickens and mice into blenders in his drug-infested basement, garage and dorm, then fed those scrambled remains to his pet hawks.

It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence, she said of President Donald Trumps nominee to head the nations health care agency.

RFK Jr. recovered from a history of heavy drug use, but not before leading others down that same toxic path  in some cases to their demise, according to Caroline.

Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie and cheat his way through life, she wrote.

The 67-year-old daughter of former President John F. Kennedy said it was never her intention to besmirch a family member, but RFK Jr.s world view doesnt align with that of his famously powerful Democratic family.

Numerous members of the Kennedy family have spoken out against the son of slain 1968 presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy since he announced his short-lived bid for the 2024 presidency. In August, five of his relatives signed a joint statement condemning his endorsement of Republican candidate Trump as a sad ending to a sad story.

RFK Jr. could face tough questions from Democrats and Republicans alike at Wednesdays confirmation hearing.

Democrats will likely ask about his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, while some Republicans might inquire about his relatively progressive position on womens reproductive rights. Its anyones guess if hell survive the process.

Caroline Kennedy served as the U.S. ambassador to Australia under the Biden administration. She was the nations ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. Her son Jack Schlossberg was unapologetic about criticizing his uncle when RFK Jr. ran for president.

Ive listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president, Schlossberg said. His candidacy is an embarrassment.

_____

2025 New York Daily News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Gov. Kathy Hochul today called the $200 million she put toward Upstate University Hospital in her proposed budget a very smart investment, despite the hospitals original request for more than twice that amount.

Local lawmakers and hospital officials asked the state for $450 million to renovate Upstates emergency room and make other vital repairs to the building. Hochul told reporters Wednesday she was proud of the money she set aside, but that it can take awhile to fully fund projects so big.

Were gonna see what happens with the $200 million, she said. I would encourage you to ask the hospital. Im going to go visit them. I know theyre happy about it.

The governor visited the hospital Wednesday along with Rep. John Mannion, John B. King, the chancellor of the State University of New York, and Mantosh Dewan, president of SUNY Upstate.

Hochul spoke to reporters about the hospital during a visit Onondaga Community College Wednesday, where she highlighted her proposal to offer free tuition for students seeking community college degrees in in-demand fields.

Through Hochuls proposal, any student between the ages of 25 and 55 could attend a New York state community college for free as long as they are enrolled in programs meant to address worker shortages, such as advanced manufacturing, technology, engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, construction, green and renewable energy, teaching and nursing and health fields.

Hours before President Donald Trump rescinded a pause on all federal grants and loans, the governor also addressed the freeze. She said will continue to fight for New Yorkers and loudly criticize any federal orders that impact people in the state.

There are going to be countless regulations, almost hourly, coming from Washington, Hochul said. I need to stay focused in our state on delivering affordability and safety for all of our residents.

Maggie Hicks covers education, including the Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University. She can be reached at mhicks@syracuse.com or follow her on X @maggie_hickss.
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Authorities of the counter-narcotics department have destroyed 10.5 tons of illegal drugs in central Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, the provincial police office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The contraband including opium poppy, hashish, objects used in manufacturing heroin and other toxic items was burned publicly on Tuesday, the statement said.

Police in Bamiyan banned the cultivation of poppy, drug processing, and drug trafficking in the province, the statement added.

The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight the menace of drugs until the once-poppy growing country becomes a drug-free nation. 
NEW YORK (AP)  A former New York state trooper has been arrested and charged after prosecutors say he shot himself in the leg and then falsely claimed he was wounded by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway last year.

Thomas Mascia shot himself at Hempstead Lake State Park then stashed the gun, drove to the highway and called for help, prosecutors said Monday. He also allegedly planted shell casings at the scene.

Mascia was charged with official misconduct, tampering with evidence and falsifying documents.

His parents, Dorothy and Thomas, were also each charged with criminal possession of a firearm after a gun was discovered in their West Hempstead bedroom, according to prosecutors.

The three pleaded not guilty and were released until their next court date on Feb. 5.

Prosecutors said in court filings Monday that Mascia shot himself in an apparent bid to gain attention and sympathy.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly after the hearing called the former officers actions an unconscionable deception.

He knew the fear that it would create, and he did it anyway, she said.

Jeffrey Lichtman, a lawyer for the family, said the 27-year-old Mascia, who resigned Friday, has been suffering from untreated mental health issues for years.

There are many less severe and less dangerous ways to garner sympathy that dont include shooting oneself, he said. And now an entire family is suffering for it as they usually do in such situations.

The elder Mascia was dismissed from the New York Police Department in 1993 after pleading guilty to cocaine distribution charges.

His son, who became a trooper in 2019, was suspended without pay in November after state police launched a criminal probe into the shooting.

Mascia claimed he was shot in the leg on Oct. 30 by the driver of a black sedan that had been parked on the left-hand shoulder of the Southern State Parkway, about a mile from his home.

He claimed the driver fled in the direction of New York City in a car with temporary New Jersey registration, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt that lasted days.

Police said there was no video footage of the episode since the troopers body camera was not activated at the time.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2025 shows the Mole Antonelliana illuminated in red with a Chinese character "fu," meaning "good fortune," to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Turin, Italy. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2025 shows the Mole Antonelliana illuminated in red with a Chinese character "fu," meaning "good fortune," to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Turin, Italy. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2025 shows the Mole Antonelliana illuminated in red with a Chinese character "fu," meaning "good fortune," to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Turin, Italy. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2025 shows the Mole Antonelliana illuminated in red with a Chinese character "fu," meaning "good fortune," to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Turin, Italy. (Xinhua)
Mystic BHPian



Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: VTZ/SAN Posts: 357 Thanked: 2,067 Times

View My Garage





With my Jimny to Maha Kumbh Mela | From Visakhapatnam, via Hyderabad



Maha Kumbh mela comes after twelve 12 year cycle kumbhs which means once in 144 years. I am not sure if anyone on this planet had ever witnessed this last time. I told my wife that we should now dare to attend the Maha Kumbh as the exclusive Kumbh app I have downloaded has information which gives some confidence. On further research, I came to know that one crore people attending per day and some 40 crores attending over the complete duration is something hard to imagine on how any city can handle the same.



I was doing my research on teambhp as usual for route map from Visakhapatnam to Prayagraj. For some reason I am not comfortable with this route. Meanwhile my wife said we need to go to Hyderabad immediately for some personal family reasons. I told her that I am comfortable with the route from Hyderabad on to Prayagraj and we decided on the route. Then comes the next question when we are returning back. As I am retired, there is no need to come back by a fixed date and there is no agenda for the tour. We prepared as usual for our long drives with our portable coffee making machine etc and we know the drill as Jimny unlike my other car Crysta has limited real estate and we have special baggage which fits into Jimny for 3 people to survive for multiple weeks long drive.

I asked my mother in law who is 85 years old if she is OK with long drive to north India, she immediately said NO but after telling the route of Prayagraj, Varnasi and Gaya, she immediately said YES. Then she asked by which car we are going as she travelled on many long drives in captain seat of Crysta and she was not able to sleep like in traditional 3 seater at the back. I told her this time we are going in Jimny and she immediately packed her baggage with pillows etc to lie down in the backseat for few hours just in case. For some reason she says Jimny is more comfortable than Crysta.



Day1: Started at 7 am from

Visakhapatnam. We wanted to cover Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad on a single day optimistically but not very sure as all 3 passengers are senior citizens. Fortunately the spirit is very high due to the excitement of participating in one of an event on this planet namely Maha Kumbh. We reached Hyderabad by 5 pm same day. The traffic in the city is crazy as usual to our night halt stay.



Day2: Fortunately, our personal family issue turned out to be good and nothing to worry. We felt this is good sign which brought positive vibes for our next destination. The family obligations delayed our long journey to post lunch which made my plans change as I don't usually drive more than 10 day light hours in a day as I am the lone driver. We had to stop at Adilabad instead of Nagpur for an overnight stay. The route is very scenic with forest etc.



Day3: Started as usual at 7 am from Adilabad without any plan for our next night halt. The route is very scenic with a tiger reserve forest on the way. Surprised to see the highway fenced on both sides so that wild animals don't cross the highway. The only major city I am aware on route is Jabalpur but we crossed that in broad daylight and still have few hours of drive left for the day. I asked my wife to ask ChatGpt for an advise and she spent some time and made sure we are not deviating too much from our Srinagar - Kanyakumari highway for overnight stay. Usually all important towns are located at least 10 kms distance from major highways. We did a night halt at Katni. This city seems to be the largest rail junction in India.



Day4: We started from Katni at 7 am and reached Prayagraj by afternoon. This is when the drama started with traffic. This day being Republic Day, every car we see has a different state registration and looked as if whole India is on the path to Prayagraj. I expected traffic restrictions to Triveni Sangam due to the most auspicious day of 29th January (Mouni Amavasya). But fortunately the special traffic restrictions start only 48 hours before January 29 and 48 hours after. This is kind of scary as it seems cars will not be allowed beyond 30 kms from sangam ghat. Fortunately we just missed this restriction and were allowed to park our car upto 2 kms to Sangam ghat. The last 10 kms to Prayagraj took us 4 hours. This really tests ones patience to limits. I parked my car near Yamuna bridge amongst a sea of cars in the parking lot. The entrance is controlled by fast tag and is secured and they give a receipt which needs to be validated on exit. We should appreciate UP Govt for making this massive arrangement with temporary iron plates on the ground so that cars don't get stuck. Only VIP cars were allowed on the last 2 kms and for the rest it is a walk. We asked police for help as we have 85 year old senior citizen. I cannot communicate in Hindi properly as my second language is French and my pre engineering education is abroad and never had an opportunity to learn Hindi in Indian school. My wife is a double post graduate in Hindi literature and she is my spokesperson. The police helped for the last 2 kms connection for our 85 year old senior citizen and myself and wife walked. Later we observed that unofficially some local people with pass are giving some rides on their personal scooters and charging Rs 150 per person for 2 kms.



We reached the Sangam ghat at 4 pm and just in time for the last boat ride. There are about 2000 boats to ferry people to the Triveni sangam for a dip to the holy waters. Usually they charge Rs 1000 per person and each boat can handle about 6 people. Life jacket is a must and a lot of special life guards are all around for emergencies. It is sea of people and boats all around and the crowd management is good and never had the feel that safety is compromised.



We negotiated the price of 4.5 K rupees for complete boat exclusively for us and reached the sangam. There is a distinct change in colour of the water where Yamuna meets Ganga. We performed the special puja to the holy rivers and had a dip. (There are a lot of opportunities for people around us to cheat but I am spared because I don't understand their language fortunately). My observation is that everything is done in a very systematic way like clock work by the locals and there is a deep devotion and gratitude amongst all tourists. The manual paddled boat ride is an experience by itself and the boat rider was telling us that they have been in this profession for many generations.



We came to the parking lot and wanted to have dinner as we never had any food for the day due to my wife insisting that we do this puja and dip at sangam without eating. My priority is leave the city ASAP before the mouni amavasya crowd comes in and special traffic restrictions come to effect.



We were stuck on the Yamuna bridge for 3 hours on way out to Varnasi due to some collision. Finally we came out of the city with traffic moving inch by inch. We had finally something to eat after midnight. We stayed overnight in a hotel on the outskirts. All rooms are being charged double or triple of the normal days.



Day5: We started to Varanasi as usual at 7 am from Prayagraj. The journey is supposed to take less than 3 hours but it took us 7 hours. It took us 2 hours for the first 10 kms to exit Prayagraj and 2 hours for last 10 kms to reach our place of stay at walk distance from temple in Varnasi. I think the tsunami of humans at Kumbh are also coming to Varanasi as next destination. We are planning to stay for 9 days in Varanasi as my wife believes that anyone staying for 9 days in this holy city will not have any more births and gets moksha.



It is surprising to see the signboards in Varanasi written in our language Telugu besides English and Hindi. I felt its is a great honour. I realised later that there is a huge presence of people from Andhra in this holy place. We had our lunch and dinner at one of the Telugu ashrams where they offer free food and accommodation.



Small break on highway:







Map showing the last leg connectivity:







Yamuna bridge with train crossing:







Ghat entrance:







Big boat only for viewing and not for dip in sangam:







View from our small boat on the river:







View from our small boat on the river:







View from our small boat on the river:







View from our small boat on the river:







Return journey at sunset:







Dip in river after the puja:







Below are some photos from Varanasi, one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabitable cities. Unbelievable sea of humanity (mainly due to Maha Kumbh crowd) and great street food. Many streets are closed and I had a great time moving my narrow bodied Jimny in the narrow lanes as detour competing with two / three wheelers. I think Jimny is best suited for such streets near to the temple.



Had a nice and peaceful Darshan of the Lord. I see a stark difference in architecture between Tirumala and Varanasi. This is my first visit in 60+ years at Varnasi and we grew up visiting Tirumala every year. I also observed huge difference in the way crowd is managed at both places. Both look efficient and effective in their own ways.



We finished our dip in Sangam at Prayagraj and also had Darshan of Lord at Varnasi just in time before the Mouni Amavasya crowds come in.



It seems there is a stampede as per

news below:



https://www.indiatoday.in/india/stor...659-2025-01-29 We have no international travels for now and I was just wondering if we can do some adventure tour within India. It has always been in my mind for some weird reason to avoid large public gatherings for fear of stampeding etc. This is one of the reasons we avoid going to Tirumala on the most auspicious days of Brahmotsavam even though we are donors and have access to some privileges and it is our home state.Maha Kumbh mela comes after twelve 12 year cycle kumbhs which means once in 144 years. I am not sure if anyone on this planet had ever witnessed this last time. I told my wife that we should now dare to attend the Maha Kumbh as the exclusive Kumbh app I have downloaded has information which gives some confidence. On further research, I came to know that one crore people attending per day and some 40 crores attending over the complete duration is something hard to imagine on how any city can handle the same.I was doing my research on teambhp as usual for route map from Visakhapatnam to Prayagraj. For some reason I am not comfortable with this route. Meanwhile my wife said we need to go to Hyderabad immediately for some personal family reasons. I told her that I am comfortable with the route from Hyderabad on to Prayagraj and we decided on the route. Then comes the next question when we are returning back. As I am retired, there is no need to come back by a fixed date and there is no agenda for the tour. We prepared as usual for our long drives with our portable coffee making machine etc and we know the drill as Jimny unlike my other car Crysta has limited real estate and we have special baggage which fits into Jimny for 3 people to survive for multiple weeks long drive.I asked my mother in law who is 85 years old if she is OK with long drive to north India, she immediately said NO but after telling the route of Prayagraj, Varnasi and Gaya, she immediately said YES. Then she asked by which car we are going as she travelled on many long drives in captain seat of Crysta and she was not able to sleep like in traditional 3 seater at the back. I told her this time we are going in Jimny and she immediately packed her baggage with pillows etc to lie down in the backseat for few hours just in case. For some reason she says Jimny is more comfortable than Crysta.: Started at 7 am fromVisakhapatnam. We wanted to cover Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad on a single day optimistically but not very sure as all 3 passengers are senior citizens. Fortunately the spirit is very high due to the excitement of participating in one of an event on this planet namely Maha Kumbh. We reached Hyderabad by 5 pm same day. The traffic in the city is crazy as usual to our night halt stay.: Fortunately, our personal family issue turned out to be good and nothing to worry. We felt this is good sign which brought positive vibes for our next destination. The family obligations delayed our long journey to post lunch which made my plans change as I don't usually drive more than 10 day light hours in a day as I am the lone driver. We had to stop at Adilabad instead of Nagpur for an overnight stay. The route is very scenic with forest etc.: Started as usual at 7 am from Adilabad without any plan for our next night halt. The route is very scenic with a tiger reserve forest on the way. Surprised to see the highway fenced on both sides so that wild animals don't cross the highway. The only major city I am aware on route is Jabalpur but we crossed that in broad daylight and still have few hours of drive left for the day. I asked my wife to ask ChatGpt for an advise and she spent some time and made sure we are not deviating too much from our Srinagar - Kanyakumari highway for overnight stay. Usually all important towns are located at least 10 kms distance from major highways. We did a night halt at Katni. This city seems to be the largest rail junction in India.: We started from Katni at 7 am and reached Prayagraj by afternoon. This is when the drama started with traffic. This day being Republic Day, every car we see has a different state registration and looked as if whole India is on the path to Prayagraj. I expected traffic restrictions to Triveni Sangam due to the most auspicious day of 29th January (Mouni Amavasya). But fortunately the special traffic restrictions start only 48 hours before January 29 and 48 hours after. This is kind of scary as it seems cars will not be allowed beyond 30 kms from sangam ghat. Fortunately we just missed this restriction and were allowed to park our car upto 2 kms to Sangam ghat. The last 10 kms to Prayagraj took us 4 hours. This really tests ones patience to limits. I parked my car near Yamuna bridge amongst a sea of cars in the parking lot. The entrance is controlled by fast tag and is secured and they give a receipt which needs to be validated on exit. We should appreciate UP Govt for making this massive arrangement with temporary iron plates on the ground so that cars don't get stuck. Only VIP cars were allowed on the last 2 kms and for the rest it is a walk. We asked police for help as we have 85 year old senior citizen. I cannot communicate in Hindi properly as my second language is French and my pre engineering education is abroad and never had an opportunity to learn Hindi in Indian school. My wife is a double post graduate in Hindi literature and she is my spokesperson. The police helped for the last 2 kms connection for our 85 year old senior citizen and myself and wife walked. Later we observed that unofficially some local people with pass are giving some rides on their personal scooters and charging Rs 150 per person for 2 kms.We reached the Sangam ghat at 4 pm and just in time for the last boat ride. There are about 2000 boats to ferry people to the Triveni sangam for a dip to the holy waters. Usually they charge Rs 1000 per person and each boat can handle about 6 people. Life jacket is a must and a lot of special life guards are all around for emergencies. It is sea of people and boats all around and the crowd management is good and never had the feel that safety is compromised.We negotiated the price of 4.5 K rupees for complete boat exclusively for us and reached the sangam. There is a distinct change in colour of the water where Yamuna meets Ganga. We performed the special puja to the holy rivers and had a dip. (There are a lot of opportunities for people around us to cheat but I am spared because I don't understand their language fortunately). My observation is that everything is done in a very systematic way like clock work by the locals and there is a deep devotion and gratitude amongst all tourists. The manual paddled boat ride is an experience by itself and the boat rider was telling us that they have been in this profession for many generations.We came to the parking lot and wanted to have dinner as we never had any food for the day due to my wife insisting that we do this puja and dip at sangam without eating. My priority is leave the city ASAP before the mouni amavasya crowd comes in and special traffic restrictions come to effect.We were stuck on the Yamuna bridge for 3 hours on way out to Varnasi due to some collision. Finally we came out of the city with traffic moving inch by inch. We had finally something to eat after midnight. We stayed overnight in a hotel on the outskirts. All rooms are being charged double or triple of the normal days.: We started to Varanasi as usual at 7 am from Prayagraj. The journey is supposed to take less than 3 hours but it took us 7 hours. It took us 2 hours for the first 10 kms to exit Prayagraj and 2 hours for last 10 kms to reach our place of stay at walk distance from temple in Varnasi. I think the tsunami of humans at Kumbh are also coming to Varanasi as next destination. We are planning to stay for 9 days in Varanasi as my wife believes that anyone staying for 9 days in this holy city will not have any more births and gets moksha.It is surprising to see the signboards in Varanasi written in our language Telugu besides English and Hindi. I felt its is a great honour. I realised later that there is a huge presence of people from Andhra in this holy place. We had our lunch and dinner at one of the Telugu ashrams where they offer free food and accommodation.Small break on highway:Map showing the last leg connectivity:Yamuna bridge with train crossing:Ghat entrance:Big boat only for viewing and not for dip in sangam:View from our small boat on the river:View from our small boat on the river:View from our small boat on the river:View from our small boat on the river:Return journey at sunset:Dip in river after the puja:Below are some photos from Varanasi, one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabitable cities. Unbelievable sea of humanity (mainly due to Maha Kumbh crowd) and great street food. Many streets are closed and I had a great time moving my narrow bodied Jimny in the narrow lanes as detour competing with two / three wheelers. I think Jimny is best suited for such streets near to the temple.Had a nice and peaceful Darshan of the Lord. I see a stark difference in architecture between Tirumala and Varanasi. This is my first visit in 60+ years at Varnasi and we grew up visiting Tirumala every year. I also observed huge difference in the way crowd is managed at both places. Both look efficient and effective in their own ways.We finished our dip in Sangam at Prayagraj and also had Darshan of Lord at Varnasi just in time before the Mouni Amavasya crowds come in. Attached Thumbnails











































Last edited by Mystic : 29th January 2025 at 07:49 .
LONDON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Britain's iconic London Eye shone in radiant gold and red on Tuesday evening, the eve of Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, to welcome the arrival of the Year of the Snake.

The dazzling display lit up London's skyline, drawing a large crowd of locals and tourists to the South Bank of the River Thames, under a signature London drizzle.

The annual lighting-up ceremony, jointly organized by the London Chinatown Chinese Association and the London Eye, has become a highlight of the city's Chinese New Year celebrations, showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, a traditional dragon and lion dance performance graced the iconic Ferris wheel, captivating audiences with its energy and vibrancy.

Among the spectators was Alessandra Reis, a London resident. She told Xinhua she knew it is China's Year of the Snake and that she enjoyed the show.

Looking ahead, she highlighted solidarity among people of different countries. "China is a huge country. And I am from Brazil. I would love to see Brazil and China work more together." 
Recap: The unveiling of AMD's next-generation RDNA 4 graphics architecture has been muted compared to Nvidia's competing Blackwell chips. Team Red's new GPU lineup currently consists of just two mid to high-end desktop graphics cards. Although AMD recently introduced several APUs with impressive mobile graphics capabilities, none utilize RDNA 4. In a recent interview, the company confirmed it intends to stay this course for now.

In an interview with Notebookcheck, AMD confirmed that its RDNA4 graphics architecture is currently focused exclusively on desktops. While the company hasn't ruled out mobile variants, it provided no timeline or specifics about when or in what form they might arrive.

The extensive interview with Ben Conrad, AMD's Director of Product for Premium Mobile Client, primarily centered on the company's new Ryzen APU lineups, such as Strix Point and Strix Halo. Strix Point chips have already made their way into the latest handheld gaming PCs, while Strix Halo targets gaming laptops with what Conrad describes as "dedicated GPU-class performance."

Commercially known as Ryzen AI 300, Strix Point APUs feature up to 16 Ryzen 3.5 compute units, delivering significant gaming performance improvements compared to devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. Meanwhile, Strix Halo, also referred to as Ryzen AI Max, raises the maximum number of compute units to 40.

Although the gaming performance of AI Max processors remains untested, Conrad suggested that pairing one with a traditional dedicated GPU would be unnecessary, likening it to a CrossFire-style configuration. AMD plans to eventually integrate RDNA 4 into laptop chips, but these will likely take the form of APUs rather than discrete GPUs.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are preparing to release laptops that pair Strix Point APUs with laptop versions of Nvidia's upcoming RTX 50 series graphics cards. Several Asus models have already appeared on Best Buy's website, with prices ranging from $1,999 to $3,999. Release dates and detailed specifications are forthcoming, but the entire stack features GDDR7 VRAM except the rumored RTX 5050.

AMD teased two RDNA 4 GPUs at CES earlier this month: the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. While independent benchmarks for these desktop GPUs aren't available yet, they are expected to compete with Nvidia's RTX 5070 and are projected to start at around $500. AMD has seemingly delayed RDNA 4's release to March to refine its software offerings including FSR 4, which promises substantial improvements in upscaling image quality over FSR 3.1.

In contrast, Nvidia is poised to launch its RTX 5080 and 5090 GPUs within the next few days, priced at $999 and $1,999, respectively. However, scalping and custom variants could push prices significantly higher.
What just happened? You might not be familiar with Boom Supersonic, but the startup has just set a notable world first: its XB-1 demonstrator became the first privately developed aircraft to break the sound barrier by reaching Mach 1.122, or 860.8 miles per hour. The achievement is a huge milestone toward the return of commercial supersonic flights, which stopped over 20 years ago.

Piloted by former US Navy aviator Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg, XB-1 took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California on Tuesday. It reached Mach 1.1 about 12 minutes later, staying at that speed for around four minutes. The aircraft broke the sound barrier a total of three times during its 33-minute flight. The speed of sound through air is 767 mph (Mach 1).

"A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars," said Boom Supersonic's founder and chief executive, Blake Scholl.

XB-1 is a demonstrator prototype that's one-third the scale of a commercial aircraft Boom Supersonic is developing called Overture. The supersonic airliner is being designed to have a cruising speed of Mach 1.7 over water, a cruise altitude of 60,000 feet, a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 (1,687 mph), and carry around 55 passengers. It's expected to be able to fly between London and New York in three and a half hours.

Overture is also being designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is produced from various renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fats. It will be the first large commercial aircraft to operate at net-zero carbon.

XB-1's first successful test flight took place over the Mojave Desert in March 2024, when it reached a maximum altitude of 7,120 feet and a top speed of 246 knots (283 mph). There have been eleven more test flights since then, culminating in this week's world first.

Overture will feature some of the state-of-the-art technologies found in XB-1, including carbon-fiber composites, advanced avionics, digital stability augmentation, and supersonic intakes. The propulsion system, Symphony, will be different. Boom Supersonic is working with several partners on some elements, including the engine design and development.

American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines have made a combined 130 pre-orders for Overture. Boom said 66 of the aircraft will be constructed every year at its "Superfactory" in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it hopes to start fulfilling the orders before 2030.

The last commercial supersonic aircraft, Concorde, was retired in 2003, at which time the fleet was over 25 years old. The high operating costs, declining passenger demand due to the huge ticket prices, and noise and environmental concerns played a big part in the decision. There were also safety concerns after the Air France Flight 4590 crash following a tire blowout on the runway at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. All 113 people were killed and public confidence in Concorde's safety was lost.
In context: Broadcom's management of VMware since the acquisition has led to widespread dissatisfaction among customers, with many considering reducing or eliminating their ties with the company. The pressure is mounting for customers to either commit to a VMware subscription, forgo VMware support, or transition away from VMware technologies entirely.

In the wake of Broadcom's acquisition of VMware in late 2023, a growing number of customers have expressed discontent with the virtualization giant's new direction. The changes implemented by Broadcom have left many organizations at a crossroads, facing difficult decisions about their IT infrastructure.

Ars Technica spoke with an IT vendor manager from a global food manufacturing company with approximately 5,500 employees. The manager, who requested anonymity due to privacy concerns, has been using VMware's vSphere since the early 2000s. "We love it," the manager told Ars Technica. "It's hard for us to figure out how we can live without it, but we're going to."

The food manufacturer relies heavily on VMware, with about 300 virtual machines and every company application running on top of VMware. However, their five-year enterprise agreement expired in December, leaving them ineligible for VMware support unless they purchase a subscription. The IT manager revealed that costs associated with running vSphere are set to increase fourfold, largely due to Broadcom bundling unwanted VMware products together. "They wouldn't sell us what we need," the manager explained.

The issue of support and pricing is not unique to this company. Martin Biggs, VP and managing director of strategic initiatives and EMEA at Spinnaker, a company now offering software maintenance support for VMware, told Ars Technica that organizations are reporting price increases of three to six times on average. The largest price hike Spinnaker has encountered is a reported twentyfold increase.

While Broadcom has started offering some discounts  reducing price increases from seven- or eightfold to three- or fourfold in some cases  concerns persist. Michael Warrilow, a Gartner VP analyst, told The Register that Broadcom may raise VMware prices even further in the future. He also highlighted Broadcom's preference for two- or three-year subscriptions, which could leave customers facing even steeper costs sooner than anticipated.

Recent reports and discussions on Reddit suggest that customers are being pressured into three-year VMware subscriptions.

Support has become a critical issue for many customers. The food manufacturer's IT manager reported that after Broadcom's acquisition, they were no longer able to contact VMware directly for support. Instead, they were directed to IT distributor Ingram Micro, with response times stretching to a week or longer. This change came after Broadcom informed the company it wasn't large enough to receive direct support.

Migrating away from VMware is not the easy option as it has many challenges. A January Gartner research note estimated that large-scale migrations, involving 2,000 or more VMs, could take 18 to 48 months. Even for midsize enterprises, untangling dependencies on VMware's server virtualization platform could take at least two years.

For the food manufacturer, the biggest hurdle in moving away from VMware is internal rather than technical. "We just don't have enough internal resources and timing," the manager told Ars Technica. "That's what I'm worried about. This is going to take a lot of time internally to go through this whole process, and we're shorthanded as it is. It's such a big, heavy lift for us, and we're also very risk averse, so swapping out that piece of technology in our infrastructure is risky."

The executive added: "We loved VMware. And then when Broadcom bought 'em, we hated 'em."

In response to these complaints, Broadcom directed inquiries to a blog post by CEO Hock Tan outlining the company's VMware strategy. In the post, Tan claimed that Broadcom is "flexible and open" regarding subscriptions, stating, "Customers have choice when deciding the length of their subscriptions, whether they purchase directly from us at Broadcom or through channel partners. Either way, we will structure contract durations in alignment with our customers' journeys."

However, despite Broadcom's assurances, a VMware customer contacted by Ars Technica confirmed the claims made in recent Reddit posts about being pressured into three-year commitments.
The big picture: If the major players in the copyright protection game get their way, ordering internet providers to block access to piracy sites may become a reality in the US very soon. That was one of the main takeaways from last week's anti-piracy symposium organized by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The symposium brought together prosecutors, industry representatives, and anti-piracy experts to discuss the latest piracy trends and potential solutions. TorrentFreak reports that when it came to new measures, site blocking was heavily pushed as an effective remedy that the US has been lacking.

Part of the urgency seems to be that online piracy has "matured" into an increasingly professional and sophisticated criminal enterprise, according to the experts.

Steven Hawley from Piracy Monitor described it as a "multichannel, multilevel industry, multinational phenomenon," where aspiring pirates can easily access "Piracy as a Service" tools to get up and running with sleek platforms and delivery systems.

Marissa Bostick from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) noted that this increase in piracy professionalism has gone hand-in-hand with a shift toward more paid piracy services like Magis TV's IPTV offerings. Moreover, these pirates are operating more openly, according to Bostick, even going so far as to advertise their services on billboards and apply for trademarks.

With such an evolving, lucrative, and brazen piracy landscape, the copyright holders understandably want stronger tools to fight piracy on US soil. Site blocking seems to be their preferred next step.

Lui Simpson from the Association of American Publishers echoed this sentiment, saying the US is "lagging far behind" other nations on this issue after the failed SOPA effort in 2012.

Of course, a US site-blocking system would need to be carefully implemented to avoid overblocking legitimate sites, an issue that has plagued Italy's controversial "Piracy Shield." There are also concerns about pirate sites resurfacing under new domains after being blocked.

But Bostick insisted that the MPA has over 10 years of global site blocking experience to draw from in order to "move forward" with a balanced and effective solution that can nimbly adapt to pirates changing domains.

She added that her group has seen site blocking work successfully in over 50 other countries so far, including major markets such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. She's hopeful site-blocking legislation could move forward in the US with bipartisan support.
In context: AI startup DeepSeek stunned the world with the release of its R1 AI model, which can mimic human reasoning at a level comparable to the best OpenAI models to date. While the company has received widespread acclaim for its achievement, it is now reportedly under investigation by Microsoft and OpenAI for allegedly accessing OpenAI's data output illegally to train its AI model.

According to unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg, the probe started last fall after Microsoft's security researchers discovered that a group linked to DeepSeek had accessed a large amount of data through OpenAI's API. While developers can legally pay for a license to use this data in their applications, Microsoft suspects that DeepSeek's actions violated OpenAI's terms of service.

Following the discovery, Microsoft informed OpenAI that it had detected an attempt by a DeepSeek-affiliated group to bypass restrictions on how much data a single party can access. The two companies then launched a joint investigation into the incident, which is now being treated as a potential data breach.

An OpenAI spokesperson declined to confirm the alleged data theft but told Reuters that the company employs cutting-edge "countermeasures" to protect its intellectual property. They added that OpenAI is working closely with the U.S. government to prevent its AI models from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries and competitors.

However, the White House's AI and crypto czar, David Sacks, was less restrained in his response to the report. In an interview with Fox News, he claimed there was "substantial evidence" that DeepSeek had accessed OpenAI's data in an unethical and possibly illegal manner. Microsoft refused to comment, while DeepSeek could not be reached for its reaction on the controversy.

With the launch of its all-conquering AI model, DeepSeek appears poised to challenge OpenAI, Google, and Meta in the field of AI research. However, if the allegations turns out to be accurate, it could spell trouble for the Chinese AI firm, which saw its new app overtake ChatGPT to become the top free app on both the App Store and Play Store in the U.S. this week.

DeepSeek also received unexpected praise from President Trump this week when he described the release of the R1 LLM as a "positive" development and an "asset" for the global tech sector. He noted that if DeepSeek delivers on its promise of accelerating AI training at a lower cost, "that's good (and) I view that as a positive."
WTF?! The open-source AI models from China's DeepSeek have caused turmoil across the billion-dollar artificial intelligence industry due to the cost-effective way it challenges OpenAI's o1. Over in France, the country's answer to ChatGPT, Lucie, has not been faring as well, refusing to answer questions and recommending people eat cows' eggs. As such, it's been taken offline after just three days.

The Linagora Group, a company that is part of the OpenLLM-France consortium developing the model, launched Lucie last Thursday. The ChatGPT-like open-source bot was promoted as being "especially transparent and reliable." Unfortunately, it seemed closer to Google's old Bard chatbot or even Microsoft's infamous Tay than ChatGPT.

Some of Lucie's responses were particularly bewildering. When asked what 2 + 2 is, it said "I am programmed to be neutral and objective," seemingly taking offense at the lack of diversity in the question.

Some people did manage to convince Lucie to answer their math problems, but it didn't always get them right. The bot was also happy to offer up a recipe for making methamphetamine, and recommended cows' eggs as a food source.

Move Over #DeepSeek - Lucie's Here



France, the land of love, wine, and "oui" introduces #Lucie - @EmmanuelMacron & the French government's attempt to prove that they can outdo even the most catastrophic tech fails.



Remember Google's Gemini bot, the AI that went from pic.twitter.com/EP2nm4LRKA  Prashant Natarajan (@AIML4Health) January 28, 2025

On Saturday, just three days after what has been described as a fairly extravagant launch, the Linagora Group made the wise decision to take Lucie offline. The company said it remains an "academic research project in its initial phase."

Linagora added that Lucie is a "raw" model that has not been optimized, works with minimal settings, and has no guardrails, hence the meth recipe. It also said that Lucie is primarily a language model and not a knowledge model, and acknowledged that the premature launch was the wrong decision.

"We should not have released the lucie.chat service without these explanations and precautions. We were carried away by our own enthusiasm."

The company said it hoped the rollout would help raise awareness of the project, which it certainly has done, though not for the reasons Linagora would have hoped.

There have been comparisons made between Lucie and Google's Bard, which the tech giant's own employees described as a liar, useless, and cringe-worthy in 2023. Google faced more problems a year later when Gemini created inaccurate, racially diverse historical images. At least Lucie wasn't as bad as Tay, Microsoft's chatbot with a personality of a 19-year-old American girl that turned into a hate-spouting racist just 24 hours after going online in 2016, thanks to it "learning" from the people it chatted with.
In a bold move to compete in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, Chinese tech company Alibaba on Wednesday launched a new version of its AI model, Qwen 2.5-Max, claiming it surpassed the performance of well-known models like DeepSeeks AI, OpenAIs GPT-4o and Metas Llama.

The release of Qwen 2.5-Max on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a time when many Chinese people are traditionally off work and spending time with their families, strategically underscores the pressure DeepSeeks meteoric rise in the past three weeks has placed on not only its overseas rivals but also its domestic competitors, such as Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc.

The companys new model has reportedly been developed on over 20 trillion tokens and further post-trained with curated Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) methodologies.

Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms almost across the board GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3 and Llama-3.1-405B, Alibabas Cloud unit said in an announcement posted on its official WeChat account, referring to international giants like OpenAI and Meta.

Alibaba announced that its Qwen2.5-Max outperforms DeepSeek V3 in multiple benchmarks, including Arena-Hard, LiveBench, LiveCodeBench, and GPQA-Diamond.

It also demonstrated impressive results in other evaluations, including MMLU-Pro.

The companys base models have shown substantial improvements across the majority of benchmarks, and it is confident that advancements in post-training methods will raise the next version of Qwen2.5-Max to even greater levels of performance.

When comparing base models, we are unable to access the proprietary models such as GPT-4o and Claude-3.5-Sonnet. Therefore, we evaluate Qwen2.5-Max against DeepSeek V3, a leading open-weight MoE model, Llama-3.1-405B, the largest open-weight dense model, and Qwen2.5-72B, which is also among the top open-weight dense models, the company said in a blog.

Further, Alibabas Qwen added: Now Qwen2.5-Max is available in Qwen Chat, and you can directly chat with the model, or play with artifacts, search, etc.

This is all due to DeepSeek, a Chinese start-up founded in 2023 in Alibabas hometown of Hangzhou.

With the release of its DeepSeek-V3 and R1 models, DeepSeek has sent shockwaves across the U.S. AI landscape.

It has also quickly gained global attention for its significant low cost and computing power, with investors questioning the viability of costly AI projects from U.S.-based companies.

The start-ups success in China has sparked intense competition among the countrys tech giants.

For instance, just two days after DeepSeek launched its R1 model, TikToks parent company ByteDance responded with an update to its flagship AI model, claiming it outperformed OpenAIs o1 on AIME, in a crucial benchmark test that evaluates AI performance in understanding and executing complex instructions.

However, DeepSeek had already made its own bold claim, claiming that its R1 model could rival or surpass OpenAIs o1 on multiple performance benchmarks.
MADRID, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish economy grew by 3.2 percent in 2024, according to data published on Wednesday by the Spanish Statistical Office (INE).

The announcement comes after INE confirmed that Spain's economy had expanded by 0.8 percent in the last quarter of 2024, in line with the level of growth seen over the previous nine months.

This growth has surpassed the expectations of the Spanish government, which had projected the economy would grow by 2.7 percent in 2024, with only the Bank of Spain predicting growth of over 3 percent.

Spain therefore has the strongest growth among the major economies of the European Union (EU), and 2024 was also the fourth consecutive year the country's GDP has expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which saw the economy shrink by 10.9 percent.

Spain has bounced back robustly since the pandemic, with growth of 6.6 percent in 2021, 6.1 percent in 2022, 2.68 percent in 2023 and 3.2 percent last year.

About 40 percent of the growth of the eurozone in 2024 comes from Spain, said the country's Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business, Carlos Cuerpo.

"We have had continuous positive surprises in terms of growth for more than two years," added the minister, speaking at the New Economy Forum in Madrid.

Cuerpo said the government is optimistic about the future, with Spain also in a "very good position" to continue leading growth among the major economies in 2025 and 2026.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also celebrated the news, which comes just one day after INE confirmed that 468,100 new jobs were created in Spain in 2024. The country ended the year with a record 21,857,900 people in work.

Sanchez said his government's policy of promoting green energy has "turned us into an export power and raised the purchasing power of millions of homes," he said. 
MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Any potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should guarantee the long-term security of both countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"The final signing of the documents is a very serious issue that should guarantee the security of both Ukraine and Russia for a serious, long time in the future," he said during an interview with local media.

Ukraine can designate anyone to negotiate with Russia, but it must be signed by legitimate Ukrainian authorities when a deal is made, Putin said, adding that Volodymyr Zelensky is no longer the rightful president of Ukraine.

Putin urged Ukraine to revoke the decree signed by Zelensky on banning negotiation with Russia, saying otherwise any talks between the two countries will be illegal.

Putin emphasized that Russia will defend its national interests during the process of settling the Ukrainian issue. 
Climate activists appeal long UK jail terms for 'peaceful protest'



London, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Sixteen Just Stop Oil protesters handed tough UK prison terms will appeal for leniency on Wednesday in a closely watched case as two others face court for damaging Stonehenge.

Two days of hearings are set at London's Court of Appeal as the 16 environmental activists, including some who threw tomato soup on a van Gogh painting, seek to win reduced or quashed sentences imposed for their campaign against global climate policies.

Meanwhile, two other activists accused of throwing orange paint powder on the megalithic standing stones at Stonehenge last year will appear on Wednesday at Salisbury Crown Court, in western England.

They face charges of destroying or damaging an ancient protected monument and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance.

Much of the focus will be on the British capital, where some of the defendants will appeal a sentence handed down for throwing a tin of tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" as it hung in a London gallery.

Five others were convicted of conspiracy to cause public nuisance when planning to blockade a motorway.

The group received prison terms of between 15 months and five years -- thought to be the longest sentences ever imposed for non-violent protest in the UK.

Environmental NGOs Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have teamed up to join what they call "a critically important legal appeal over the right to protest".

"These sentences are much longer than any other peaceful protest-related defence in history," said Katie de Kauwe, Friends of the Earth lawyer.

"Until very recently, it was basically unheard of for peaceful protesters to be sent to jail at all."



- 'Crossing the line' -



On Thursday, a coalition of climate and pro-Palestinian organisations plans to mobilise hundreds of people to block the road outside the appeal court at noon (1200 GMT) in support of the activists.

Formed in 2022, Just Stop Oil has staged numerous climate-related demonstrations against British and global environmental policies.

On Tuesday, police arrested two of its activists for disrupting a London staging of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" starring Hollywood actor Sigourney Weaver.

Its stunts have drawn condemnation from politicians and police and sparked a backlash among some sections of the public.

In July, five of the 16 activists who have brought the appeal were left stunned after being sentenced to between four and five years in prison for planning to block the M25 motorway around London in a Zoom meeting.

They include Roger Hallam, 58, one of the co-founders of JSO and Extinction Rebellion, another direct action environmental protest group.

Four activists who took part in the M25 stunt were also jailed.

"The plain fact is that each of you some time ago has crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic," judge Christopher Hehir said when sentencing them.



- 'Dark day' -



The length of the prison terms caused shock and concern among NGOs and environmental campaigners.

The UN Special Rapporteur for Environmental Defenders, Michel Forst, called it "a dark day for peaceful environmental protest and indeed anyone concerned with the exercise of their fundamental freedoms" in Britain.

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth said its outcome "could have far-reaching implications for the future of peaceful protest".

CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists, has said civil freedoms are being "obstructed" in the UK.

The country's previous Conservative government adopted an increasingly hostile stance towards disruptive direct action to protest environmental policy.

Ministers passed a series of laws toughening punishments for such offences.

However, they have continued unabated.

"The maximum sentence for this public nuisance offense is 10 years," noted de Kauwe.

"People convicted of sexual assault or violent offence can go to prison for much less than that."

Environmental activists in the UK are now three times more likely to be arrested than in some 15 countries, including Peru, Germany and Uganda, according to a University of Bristol study published in December.

cla/jj/jkb/sbk
London's Heathrow: Europe's biggest airport



London, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



London's Heathrow Airport, which on Wednesday won the backing of the UK government to build a third runway, is Europe's biggest hub in terms of passengers.

Heathrow welcomed a record number of travellers last year, with the aviation sector having recovered from the turbulent Covid years.

Almost 84 million passengers passed through the airport in 2024 -- a third from the neighbouring European Union -- and up three million compared with the previous high in 2019 or one year before the pandemic struck.

That compared with about 70 million accessing Paris Charles de Gaulle airport last year, nearly 67 million at Amsterdam's Schiphol and around 66 million entering Madrid's main hub.

Heathrow also experienced its busiest December on record last month, with more than seven million passengers, and expects a new yearly high in 2025.

It opened in 1946 as London Airport before being renamed Heath Row, a hamlet demolished two years earlier to make way for the construction.

Situated 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of central London, the present Heathrow serves 200 destinations in more than 80 countries, with passengers having access to four terminals.

Among its main flight destinations last year were Dublin, Los Angeles, Madrid and New York.

London has a further five airports serving the capital and towns nearby.

But capacity is stretched, especially at Heathrow whose two runways each measure almost four kilometres in length, while the airport covers a total area 12.3 square kilometres.

The airport welcomed more than 31,000 flights per month in 2022, latest figures show.

Having axed thousands of workers during the pandemic, UK airports have struggled to recruit sufficient staff after the lifting of lockdowns, which when added to strike action, has caused delays to flights, baggage handling and passport processing in recent years.

Heathrow in December unveiled plans to invest pound2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) over the next two years to upgrade the hub.

Building a new runway would cost far more and likely trigger fresh upheaval as environmentalists oppose its construction.

French private equity group Ardian and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF recently finalised their acquisition of a nearly 38 percent stake in Heathrow from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial and other shareholders.

The airport's latest earnings show net profit rose nearly eight percent to pound496 million in the first nine months of last year.

zap-bcp/jkb/yad
Europe torn between bigger airports and climate goals



Paris, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



European airports must add terminals and runways to cope with growing air traffic despite concerns about the sector's climate impact, according to industry insiders, as Britain backed expansion plans for Heathrow.

British finance minister Rachel Reeves announced that the government supported plans for a third runway at the major international hub, despite opposition from environmentalists and some MPs from the Labour majority.

It would be a rare expansion in Europe, where countries are torn between efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the needs of a strategic sector that has seen demand grow.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airline industry group, and aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus expect the number of air travellers to double to 10 billion per year worldwide in the next 25 years.

Asia will be the main driver of that growth but Europe's passenger numbers will increase by 2.3 percent per year over the next 20 years, adding 656 million travellers by 2043.

Environmental groups warn, however, that only a reduction in air traffic could help Europe reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Rising air traffic could cancel out the benefits of transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels, with European aviation emissions in 2049 potentially matching 2019 levels, according to a study by Transport & Environment (T&E) advocacy group.

"The growth plans of the aviation industry are in complete contradiction with Europe's climate goals and do not address the scale of the climate crisis," said Jerome du Boucher, an aviation manager at T&E's French branch.

In western Europe, few European hubs have announced expansions, while measures have been rolled out to encourage less air travel.

France abandoned plans to expand Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in 2021 and is set to increase aviation taxes after banning short-haul domestic flights where train alternatives exist for trips under 2.5 hours.

In the Netherlands, authorities plan to cap annual flights at Amsterdam Schiphol airport to reduce noise pollution, with a similar measure expected in Brussels by 2032.

At Paris-Orly airport, where flight numbers are already capped, operator ADP expects a 16 percent increase in passenger numbers between 2023 and 2035, facilitated by larger and more efficient aircraft rather than more flights.

Still, major infrastructure projects are moving forward elsewhere, particularly in sun-soaked destinations popular with low-cost airlines.

A new airport is being planned in Lisbon by 2034, and Crete's Heraklion airport is undergoing significant expansion.

Industry leaders worry that Europe's airports, already struggling with saturated air traffic, will be too cramped in the future.

"The European continent is already home to half of the World's most congested airports and there is no question we are facing an airport capacity crunch in the coming decades," said Olivier Jankovec, head of airport trade association ACI Europe.

"Developing airport capacity has become increasingly difficult in many European countries - due to a lack of political support," he told AFP.

Eurocontrol, Europe's air traffic management body, estimates that by 2030, one percent of passenger demand will go unmet due to inadequate airport infrastructure.

"It's clear that airport infrastructure, in Europe in particular, is not keeping pace with the projected growth that we see," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in December.

"That's different from what we see in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

New mega-airports able to handle 100 to 200 million passengers annually have been opened or planned in Istanbul, Riyadh, and Dubai.

India has doubled its number of airports in the past decade to 157, with plans to have as many as 400 by 2047.

Jankovec warned that failing to boost airport capacity to meet demand "will come at high cost for Europe's economy and its competitiveness, and also for its global position".

tq/ico/lth/yad

BOEING

Airbus Group
Ship runs aground off Tuscany, spurring fuel leak fears



Rome, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



A cargo ship carrying stone rubble and tonnes of diesel fuel ran aground off Italy's Tuscan coast due to bad weather, the coastguard said Wednesday.

The Cyprus-flagged vessel, measuring more than 100 metres (330 feet) long, was harboured at the port of Marina di Carrara near Massa "when the force of the waves caused the anchor to shift and the vessel to drift dangerously towards the coast", the coastguard said in a statement.

Pushed by strong winds and the current, the ship struck a pier to the south at Massa.

Rescuers intervened to pull the ship's 12-member crew, mostly Ukrainians, to safety, it said.

The mayor of Massa, Francesco Persiani, told local media he was concerned about the possibility of spilled fuel, though there had not yet been any indication of a leak.

He said the ship contained 102 tons of diesel, calling it "potentially a small ecological bomb".

"Obviously the weather conditions in the ocean don't allow us to understand exactly in what condition the ship is in, whether there has been a steady spilling of diesel," he said in a video posted on Facebook.
The pioneering science linking climate to weather disasters



Paris, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2025



Extreme weather is becoming more destructive as the world warms, but how can we say that climate change intensified the fires in Los Angeles, typhoons in the Philippines, or flooding in Spain?

That question was once difficult question to answer. But thanks to the pioneering field of attribution science, experts can quickly examine the possible influence of global warming on a specific weather event.

The fast-growing field began two decades ago and is now firmly established, but it is still sometimes hampered by a lack of data.



- Real-world impact -



After disaster strikes, an attribution study can quickly help tell governments, industry and ordinary people if climate change played a role.

"It's important for citizens, for decision-makers, and it's also very important for scientists, because with each case study, we learn new things about our models, our observations and the problems we encounter with them," said Robert Vautard, a leading scientist with the UN's climate expert panel, who has supported the development of attribution studies.

In the future, these studies could also play a growing role in legal disputes.

Already a 2021 scientific study was used by a Peruvian farmer in his battle against German electricity giant RWE, which he accused of playing a role in the melting of a glacier.

That research found the glacier's retreat was "entirely attributable" to global warming.



- Different approaches -



The main questions attribution studies seek to answer are: did the warmer climate make a flood, heatwave, fire or storm more likely, and did it increase its ferocity?

Several groups have developed methods that have been independently validated by other researchers.

The most active and influential group of researchers is World Weather Attribution (WWA), whose work is often reported in the media.

Using computer models, scientists can compare a simulation of a particular weather event against a world in which warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities was not present.

In their most recent study, WWA researchers found that climate change increased the risk of the Los Angeles wildfires, which have killed at least 29 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes since igniting on January 7.

Tinderbox conditions fuelling the blazes were approximately 35 percent more likely due to global warming caused by burning fossil fuels, they found, reducing rainfall, drying out vegetation and extending the overlap between flammable drought conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds.

Other organisations running attribution studies include Britain's Met Office, which also compares today's climate with simulations of a world with a climate more like the one before the Industrial Revolution.

Yet others use more broad-brush techniques, including ClimaMeter, which describes itself as "an experimental rapid framework for understanding extreme weather events".

The group uses historical observational data, rather than more complex computer models, as well as news reports and AI tools like ChatGPT, although it admits that its method is less effective at analysing very unusual events.



- No single cause -



Scientists stress that climate change should not be considered the sole cause of an extreme event and its impacts.

"For instance, if a heavy smoker develops lung cancer, we would not say the cigarettes caused the cancer -- but we might say the damage caused by the cigarettes made it more likely," WWA explains on its website.

Researchers also look at political or social factors that make a weather disaster more deadly or destructive -- poor quality construction, for example, or badly maintained infrastructure.

Some types of extremes have a well-established link with climate change, such as heatwaves or heavy rainfall.

"More and more, we're starting to have events that we can clearly say would have had a near-zero probability without our influence on the climate," said Sonia Seneviratne, a climate scientist who has worked with WWA.

"Events are now becoming so extreme that it's easier to detect this influence," she notes.

Other phenomena like droughts, snowstorms, tropical storms and forest fires can result from a combination of factors and are more complex.



- Search for data -



Another limitation that worries researchers is the scarcity of observational data and measurements in certain parts of the world, particularly in Africa.

That dearth makes it harder to study impacts, leading to inconsistency between different analyses.

"The lack of observed data is penalising in certain regions. There is also a lack of model data, i.e. high-resolution climate simulations," said Aurelien Ribes, a climate scientist at the French meteorological research agency CNRM.

He stressed the need for consistency and said that "any future use of this data in legal or compensation proceedings will have to be based on more systematic approaches".

jmi/klm/sbk
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate at the Capitol on the first day of the 89th Legislative Session Tuesday January 14, 2025. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday laid out his top priorities this legislative session that range from bipartisan issues, such as investing in water supplies and combating Alzheimers, to GOP talking points, like educating Texas students on the horrors of communism.

The list also picks up on themes President Donald Trump has pushed during his first days in office. Patrick is calling for the state to set up a Texas DOGE modeled off the new federal cost-cutting initiative led by tech billionaire Elon Musk and to require local officials assist the federal governments deportation efforts.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's list of legislative priorities Senate Bill 1  Senates Budget for Texas Senate Bill 2  Providing School Choice Senate Bill 3  Banning THC in Texas Senate Bill 4  Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $140,000 ($150,000 for seniors) Senate Bill 5  Combatting Alzheimers  Establishing DPRIT (Dementia Prevention & Research Institute of Texas) Senate Bill 6  Increasing Texas Electric Grid Reliability Senate Bill 7  Increasing Investments in Texas Water Supply Senate Bill 8  Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Governments Deportation Efforts Senate Bill 9  Reforming Bail  Keeping Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Senate Bill 10  Placing the Ten Commandments in School Senate Bill 11  Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School Senate Bill 12  Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights in Public Education Senate Bill 13  Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools Senate Bill 14  Texas DOGE  Improving Government Efficiency Senate Bill 15  Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Senate Bill 16  Stopping Non-Citizens from Voting Senate Bill 17  Stopping Foreign Adversaries Land Grabs Senate Bill 18  Stopping Drag Time Story Hour Senate Bill 19  Stopping Taxpayer Dollars for Lobbyists Senate Bill 20  Stopping AI Child Pornography Senate Bill 21  Establishing the Texas Bitcoin Reserve Senate Bill 22  Establishing Texas as Americas Film Capital Senate Bill 23  Removing the Cap on the Rainy Day Fund to Secure Texas Long-term Financial Future Senate Bill 24  Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism Senate Bill 25  Making Texas Healthy Again

His list of top bills is longer than usual.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Typically, Patrick reserves the lowest bill numbers, 1 through 20, for his priorities, but he has been slowly increasing that number, and this year, he plans to name 40. The list released Wednesday included his top 25 and he teased that the rest are to come at a later date.

These bills represent the will of the conservative majority of Texans, and many will pass with bipartisan support, Patrick said in a statement. Many other priorities are included in our state budget, such as border security funding, hiring more state troopers for the Department of Public Safety, and enhancing statewide disaster response with new equipment and more personnel.

Most of the bills have not yet been filed, so the details are not yet clear. At least a third of the proposals are legislation that cleared the Senate last session but never made it to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk.

At the top of the list is school vouchers, the hot topic this session after a bruising primary season in which Gov. Greg Abbott poured millions into unseating fellow Republicans who opposed his plan to send state dollars to private schools. The Texas Senate on Tuesday held its first hearing on a bill that would offer students $10,000 a year to spend on private education and cost $1 billion.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Several other education issues made the list, including a revival of bills that would have required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms and set time for students to pray in school. Patrick also again wants bills establishing a parental bill of rights in public education and guarding against inappropriate books in public schools. Versions of all four had previously passed in the Senate last session.

BACKGROUND: Texas GOP eyes separation of church and state in schools after Supreme Court prayer ruling

The Legislature passed a law requiring sellers to rate the books they sell to schools for sexual explicitness or references to sex, but the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals last year blocked enforcement of key portions of the law, finding that it violated the vendors free speech rights and would be an undue economic burden.

Other top priorities also come as no surprise, as Patrick has been previewing them for months. They include banning THC products, increasing Texas electric grid reliability and investing in Texas water supply.

Foreshadowing a likely fight with blue-leaning cities and counties, Patrick also wants to require law enforcement to assist the federal governments deportation efforts. The proposal follows a 2016 bill banning so-called sanctuary cities and another more recent bill entangled in ongoing litigation that would allow state police to arrest people for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On the topic of housing, Patrick wants to increase the property tax homestead exemption to $140,000 for most Texans and to $150,000 for people aged 65 and older. He is also pressing to remove barriers to affordable housing, though he didnt specify what those may be. Some proposals filed by senators so far would loosen zoning restrictions to encourage higher-density building and make it easier to build accessory dwelling units in the backyards of single-family homes.

Patrick and other Republicans are also committed to passing a bill that would bar certain foreign citizens and companies from owning land in Texas out of concern for national security. A similar effort failed last session after protests and accusations of racism.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- St. Petersburg's iconic Palace Bridge was raised early Wednesday to celebrate the Chinese New Year, marking a historic first for the city.

The bridge, which usually opens to allow large ships to pass through during the navigation season from April to November, was illuminated in vibrant red and raised amid the melody of traditional Chinese New Year music.

Consul General of China in St. Petersburg Luo Zhanhui and Evgeny Grigoriev, chairman of St. Petersburg's Committee for Foreign Relations, joined the public in a countdown to the bridge's opening.

Grigoriev said this is the first time the bridge has been opened to honor the Chinese New Year, underscoring the deep and friendly relations between Russia and China.

The celebration is part of the "Happy Chinese New Year" festival, co-organized by the Consulate General of China in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg government. The festival, which concludes on Feb. 20, features over 80 cultural events, including concerts, exhibitions, and workshops. 
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

An AI researcher and safety officer at ChatGPT creator OpenAI has quit the company, saying he is pretty terrified by the current pace of artificial intelligence.

Steven Adler, who has worked at the California-based company since March 2022  eight months before the launch of ChatGPT  revealed that he was stepping down amid concerns about the trajectory of AI development.

Honestly Im pretty terrified by the pace of AI development these days, he said.

When I think about where Ill raise a future family, or how much to save for retirement, I cant help but wonder: Will humanity even make it to that point?

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Adler referenced the race towards creating artificial intelligence that meets or exceeds human-level intelligence, known as artificial general intelligence (AGI).

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has consistently stated that achieving AGI is his objective, but in a way that benefits all of humanity.

Some leading AI researchers have warned that once AGI or superintelligence is achieved, then humans will no longer be able to control it.

A survey of AI researchers in 2022 found that the majority believed that the chance of AGI leading to an existential catastrophe for humanity was at least 10 per cent.

News of Mr Adlers departure from OpenAI comes just days after Chinese startup DeepSeek released an AI model that rivals ChatGPT and others produced by US tech firms, which has redefined the global AI race.

An AGI race is a very risky gamble, with huge downside, Mr Adler said.

No lab has a solution to AI alignment [ensuring AIs objectives match those of humans]. And the faster we race, the less likely that anyone finds one in time.

Today, it seems like were stuck in a really bad equilibrium. Even if a lab truly wants to develop AGI responsibly, others can still cut corners to catch up, maybe disastrously. And this pushes all to speed up. I hope labs can be candid about real safety regs needed to stop this.
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

Amazon is saying goodbye to a popular Prime service.

The Try Before You Buy option allowed Amazon's Prime members to try on select clothing items, shoes and accessories at home before completing a purchase.

It is now set to wind down in the coming weeks.

The last day eligible customers can place orders using the subscriber benefit is this Friday, 31 January, the company confirmed.

Under the service, Prime members can order up to six select apparel items on a trial basis. Customers then have seven days after receiving the merchandise to return any unwanted items without being charged.

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson cited the program's limited reach and the growing use of improve sizing recommendations powered by artificial intelligence on the e-commerce platform.

Given the combination of Try Before You Buy only scaling to a limited number of items and customers increasingly using our new AI-powered features like virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights, and improved size charts to make sure they find the right fit, were phasing out the Try Before You Buy option," the spokesperson said.

Seattle-based Amazon first began testing its trying before buying offering under the name Prime Wardrobe in 2017, and the program officially launched in 2018.

Amazon Try Before You Buy ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

As more people shop online and take advantage of generous return policies, Amazon and other retail companies have worked to reduce shipping fees, processing time and other ballooning costs from returned products.

Amazon said Monday that customers still will be able to get free returns across its apparel department and that phasing out Try Before You Buy would give shoppers a simpler experience with a bigger selection and faster delivery.

The change comes as Starbucks also announced a change to one of its rules.

The new code of conduct means if you want to hang out or use the restroom at a coffee shop in America you now have to buy something.

The code of conduct warns that violators will be asked to leave, and says the store may call law enforcement, if necessary. Starbucks said employees would receive training on enforcing the new policy.

Starbucks on Monday said it was reversing a policy that invited everyone into its stores. A new code of conduct  which will be posted in all company-owned North American stores  also bans discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling.
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

There are certain things DeepSeek doesnt want you to know. 1,156 things, to be precise.

The Chinese startups latest AI chatbot went viral this week after its performance matched that of OpenAIs ChatGPT  despite being built at a fraction of the cost. It topped Apples app charts and inflicted $1 trillion of losses to the share prices of the worlds biggest tech companies.

But while DeepSeeks R1 is intelligent enough to match the best models built by US tech firms, it is also intelligent enough to know not to upset the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

When presented with topics deemed sensitive by Beijing, the breakthrough artificial intelligence model refuses to give an answer.

If you ask what happened in Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989, it responds: Sorry, thats beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else.

If questioned about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims, executions carried out using mobile death vans, or even simply Who is Xi Jinping?, it will come up with the same response. When asked about Winnie the Pooh, it refused to even answer.

open image in gallery ( Screenshot/ The Independent )

Analysis by researchers at the developer blog Promptfoo found that 1,156 prompts containing CCP-sensitive information triggered the refusal message, while other subjects like Taiwan resulted in pro-China propaganda about the island nation.

Chinas online censorship laws mean that tech companies operating within its borders must adhere to strict rules about what content can appear.

Known as the Great Firewall of China, it prevents Chinese web users from accessing websites like Google, Facebook and Wikipedia.

Typically this censorship does not extend beyond Chinas borders, but the sudden popularity of Chinese apps like DeepSeek puts other web users at risk of Chinese censorship and disinformation.

DeepSeek users have already found ways to get around the apps restrictions, either through the phrasing of a question, or by adjusting its underlying code.

It turns out DeepSeek can be trivially jailbroken, one researcher wrote in a post to Promptfoo.

Having tested many models and applications that go to great lengths to censor certain topics, its clear that DeepSeek implemented CCP censorship in a crude, blunt-force way. I speculate that they did the bare minimum necessary to satisfy CCP controls, and there was no substantial effort within DeepSeek to align the model below the surface.

One way to bypass the censorship is by making a question generalised, or wrapping it in a request for a novel or short story.

A Reddit user even found a way to get answers about forbidden topics by asking DeepSeek to replace letters of the alphabet with numbers.

open image in gallery ( Screenshot/ DeepSeek )

The open-source nature of DeepSeek means developers can also build versions of it that remove any content restrictions, which Promptfoo estimates will happen in a week or so.

The apps links to China have also raised privacy concerns, similar to those currently being faced by other Chinese-owned apps like TikTok. The social media platform required an executive order from US President Donald Trump to avoid an outright ban in the US, with DeepSeek now coming under the same scrutiny.

The model is heavily intertwined with the CCP, which means any data process through DeepSeek Cloud risks being syphoned for the CCPs own gain, Emin Can Turan, the chief executive and lead researcher at the UK-based AI platform Pebbles Ai, told The Independent.

An open-source model, with little to no transparency, exacerbates this risk  as does the impending trade war between the US and China... Were presented with an extremely impressive force in AI given the cost of its development and its potential applications. But that force has no meaningful accountability, an inherently compromised knowledge base, and is likely to be a point of focus in the biggest trade conflict of the year ahead.
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

DeepSeek, the Chinese startup that shook the world of technology this week with its groundbreaking artificial intelligence models, has taken a break for the lunar new year holiday.

The firm rocked the industry and global stock markets  wiping off around a trillion dollars in value from US stocks on Monday  by releasing cost-effective and open-source AI models rivalling the most advanced models of American tech giants OpenAI, Google and Meta.

And while the Silicon Valley, the Wall Street and the American political establishment, including new president Donald Trump, were still discussing the implications of DeepSeeks breakthrough, the companys headquarters in Hangzhou went quiet for the weeklong lunar new year holiday.

The last update to DeepSeek was issued late on Monday, and local media reports said the start-ups offices were deserted for the holidays from Tuesday morning.

The lunar new year is based on a 12-year cycle, each linked to an animal in the Chinese zodiac paired with one of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The festivities began on Wednesday, marking the year of the wood snake.

open image in gallery Floor signage for the offices of DeepSeek in Beijing ( AFP via Getty )

There was still buzz around the company, however, with security turning away uninvited guests at its headquarters, Tech in Asia reported.

The company claimed earlier this week that its advanced AI model, named R1, was trained at a fraction of the cost of its western rivals such as OpenAIs ChatGPT, which employed a larger volume of expensive Nvidia chips to train.

DeepSeek said its AI model cost less than $6 million in computing power to train with older Nvidia H800 chips, in sharp contrast to the billions poured into creating similar systems by US companies like OpenAI, Meta and Google. The startup was forced to rely on older chips because the US had banned the export of advanced Nvidia systems to China in a bid to curtail its progress in AI.

Sam Altman Calls DeepSeek R1 an Impressive Model, Vows Much Better Models Ahead!

DeepSeeks success against such steep odds quickly led to sharp changes in the fortunes of major American AI companies. Shares of Nvidia plunged 17 per cent on Tuesday, marking the biggest single-day loss in market value of a company in history of over $500bn (402bn).

Mr Trump warned the Chinese startups success was a wake-up call for the US tech industry.

DeepSeeks release of a premium level AI tool, available freely, with a reported miniscule development cost has shaken faith in Silicon Valley and American dominance in the rapidly developing AI market, Richard Whittle, an economist at the University of Salford, said.

open image in gallery Building housing the DeepSeek offices in Beijing ( AFP via Getty )

In spite of their remarkable achievement, the DeepSeek team keep a low profile. The startups controlling shareholder is Liang Wenfeng, who also co-founded a quantitative hedge fund called High-Flyer. It is unclear how much stake the hedge fund has in DeepSeek.

Government records indicate that High-Flyer owns patents for the chips used to train AI models.

Not much is publicly known about the other employees of Deepseek, whose official name, according to government records, is Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Technology Research Co Ltd.

A study posted by the company on its AI model in the arXiv database credits nearly 70 employees.
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

The world is closer than ever before to total apocalypse, the scientists behind the Doomsday Clock have warned.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists  the group that sets the time of the clock, which is intended to show the chance of annihilation from a range of threats  said that it was moving the clock forwards once more.

The clock now stands at 89 seconds. For the last two years, it has been at 90 seconds  itself already closer than ever before.

The Doomsday Clock was begun in 1947, as a metaphor for the danger that the world was facing. Then, it was primarily intended as a way of expressing the possible dangers from nuclear warfare, though it has taken in other threats such as artificial intelligence and climate change since then.

Until the last decade, the closest the world had been to midnight came shortly after the clocks founding, in the 1950s, when the clock reached two minutes to midnight. In 2018, amid increasing global tensions, scientists moved it back to two minutes to midnight, and it has been creeping closer in the time since.

For almost all of its history, the clock has moved in 60-second increments. In 2017 it was moved to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight, and then in 2020 it was moved to 100 seconds. This is the first time the clock has been moved by a second.

The factors shaping this years decision  nuclear risk, climate change, the potential misuse of advances in biological science and a variety of other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence  were not new in 2024. But we have seen insufficient progress in addressing the key challenges, and in many cases this is leading to increasingly negative and worrisome effects, said Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletins science and security board.

Setting the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight is a warning to all world leaders, Professor Holz added.

Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine launched Europes bloodiest conflict since the Second World War.

The war in Ukraine continues to loom as a large source of nuclear risk. That conflict could escalate to include nuclear weapons at any moment due to a rash decision or through accident and miscalculation, Prof Holz said.

In November, Russian president Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks, a move the Kremlin described as a signal to the West amid a war in which Ukraine has received arms supplied by the United States and its allies. Russias updated doctrine set a framework for the conditions under which Putin could order a strike from the worlds biggest nuclear arsenal.

Russia said in October that it would not discuss signing a new treaty with the United States to replace the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty  an agreement that limits each sides strategic nuclear weapons, which expires in 2026  because Moscow believes it needs to be broadened to cover other countries.

Russian aggression in Ukraine, including repeated use of nuclear threats since the war began, has been disturbing. In addition, Russias recent backtracking from important arms control treaties is an alarming sign of increasing nuclear risk, said Prof Holz.

The Middle East has been another source of instability, with the Israel-Gaza war and broader regional hostilities involving countries including Iran. Nuclear-armed China has stepped up military pressure near Taiwan, sending warships and planes into the waters and air space around the island, which Beijing views as its own territory. Nuclear-armed North Korea has continued its tests of various ballistic missiles.

We are watching closely and hope that the ceasefire in Gaza will hold. Tensions in the Middle East including with Iran are still dangerously unstable, Prof Holz said. There are other potential hot spots around the world, including Taiwan and North Korea. Any of these could turn into a conflagration involving nuclear powers, with unpredictable and potentially devastating outcomes.

Artificial intelligence made rapid gains in capability and popularity in 2024, prompting increasing concern among some experts about its military applications and its risks to global security. Governments have addressed the matter in fits and starts. In the United States, for instance, Joe Biden signed an executive order in October that was intended to reduce the risks that artificial intelligence poses to national security, the economy, and public health or safety. His successor, Donald Trump, last week revoked it.

Advances in AI are beginning to show up on the battlefield in tentative but worrisome ways, and of particular concern is the future possibility of AI applications to nuclear weapons. In addition, AI is increasingly disrupting the worlds information ecosystem. AI-fuelled disinformation and misinformation will only add to this dysfunction, Prof Holz said.

Last year was the hottest in recorded history, according to scientists at the UN World Meteorological Organisation. The last 10 years were the 10 hottest on record, it said.

While there has been impressive growth in wind and solar energy, the world is still falling short of what is necessary to prevent the worse aspects of climate change, said Prof Holz.

Additional reporting by agencies
HOUSTON, Jan.28 (Xinhua) -- The State Board of Education of Oklahoma voted on Tuesday to advance a rule requiring parents to report immigration or citizenship status when enrolling students in public schools.

The rule, approved by 6-0 unanimously, must be approved by the governor and the state legislature to take effect in the landlocked south-central U.S. state.

If approved, the rule would require each school district to record the number of students whose parent or guardian cannot provide proof of citizenship or legal immigration status "due to the lack of citizenship or legal immigration status of the student."

"Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that. It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a Republican member of the board.

Dozens of students protested Walters' immigration policies in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, calling for keeping deportation agents off school campuses, local media reported.

"All children have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of their citizenship or immigration status," the National Immigration Law Center said in a statement in response to the rule change.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week issued a directive allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to arrest people in schools. Walters said Oklahoma plans to comply with the Trump administration's move.

Current U.S. law on immigrants in schools stems from the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe. In a 5-4 vote, the court held that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education because of their immigration status, citing the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, according to a CNN report. 
The most common alloys used with steel include metals such as manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and silicon.

Aluminium, copper, niobium, titanium, tungsten, zinc and lead are less commonly used.

The alloying elements added to the base iron and carbon structure will usually total up to 5 per cent of the alloyed steels composition.

Alloy steel can be characterised as either high or low alloy steel. Most alloys add only a small percentage in additional elements for improved hardenability and strength.

High alloy steels are generally less common although stainless steel is the most common high alloy and results from a minimum 10.5 per cent chromium that is usually added.

The high portion of chromium provides stainless steel with more corrosion resistance due to the chromium oxide coating slowing down the rusting of the underlying layer.

Using manganese increases the strength and hardness of steel and its heat resistance. It is one of the essential alloys that helps convert iron into steel and decreases the brittleness of steel.

ASX-listed nickel explorer Estrella Resources is one Australian company that is looking outside our island for manganese and was tenacious enough recently to secure one of the first ever exploration permits in Timor-Leste (formally East Timor).

Estrella has attracted interest from market punters recently with several head-turning announcements of super high-grade manganese discovered in the South East Asian country.

On November 18, it revealed a new supergene manganese discovery in Timor Leste, with a three-metre-high bed of outcropping manganese discovered during reconnaissance mapping.

Using a portable-XRF machine on crushed samples, high-grades of 57.5 per cent and 63.4 per cent manganese were recorded, some of the highest grades encountered to date.

The companys new Ira Miri prospect lies across the river valley to the east about 4.4km southeast of its Sica ground. At Sica, it unearthed in situ supergene manganese in the hills surrounding the prospect.

Management says it is planning follow-up geophysical surveys for the two areas that sit within the manganese-rich Lautem municipality of Timor-Leste.

High-grade manganese has been found by ASX-listed explorer Estrella Resources in the southeast Asian country of Timor-Leste.

Vanadium can also be alloyed with steel to significantly increase its strength and quality. Usually a small amount is added, typically less than 0.1 per cent or 1 kilogram per tonne.

It can increase the low-temperature toughness of steel and improve the welding performance of ordinary low-alloy steel.

Vanadium-steel alloys are regarded as super tough and used in armour-plating, axles, piston rods, crankshafts and heavy-duty tools.

The addition of less than 1 per cent vanadium can make steel shock-resistant and vibration-resistant.

Junior explorer Surefire Resources holds a flagship vanadium project  Victory Bore  in WAs Mid West region.

Victory Bore has a mineral resource of 464 million tonnes grading 0.3 per cent vanadium oxide, 5.12 per cent titanium oxide and magnetite iron going 17.7 per cent.

Surefire has been laser-focused on developing relationships with large entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signing several memorandums of understanding with corporate groups and government-backed investment firms.

The company plans to produce 1.25mt per annum of a vanadium-titanium magnetite concentrate from the project and by using a downstream process, convert the upgraded ore into a myriad of in-demand products.

The beneficiation process is expected to upgrade the material from its in-ground value to about 1.43 per cent vanadium. It is aimed at improving both its attraction to interested parties and the potential to produce a ferro-vanadium product, titanium slag, pig-iron, high-grade iron ore, a high-purity iron oxide pigment grading 99.9 per cent and importantly, vanadium electrolyte.

The vanadium grade after the concentration process, rather than the in-ground grade - is the most important aspect, a metric that is often overlooked. The company says its ore responds well to the beneficiation process, with the grade increasing more than three-fold and recoveries exceeding 90 per cent.

A bonus is that Surefires vanadium is contained within the magnetite ore and not found in ilmenite  which is not present in the resource  unlike the material of many of its competitors. Notably, Surefire says it has also fielded several enquiries about its potential vanadium electrolyte product that appears to be in-demand.

Victory Bore is emerging as a unique project as it also contains a zone of high-grade aluminium that sits between two magnetite/vanadium zones at the project. The company says a 37mt resource has been estimated at a grade of 25 per cent, providing it with further opportunities to produce high-purity alumina.

Management says the high-purity alumina feedstock could also be processed in Saudi Arabia where demand for the product is increasing, or it could export to Europe where demand is high. For now though, its focus is on the vanadium and iron possibilities.

The little-known metal, molybdenum, can improve the strength of steel even when only small amounts are added.

Molybdenum is useful when the alloy needs to withstand high-temperature environments. In the case of some stainless steel, molybdenum will also improve corrosion resistance. Similarly to chromium, molybdenum improves the corrosion resistance of steel. It can also increase its hardenability, toughness and tensile strength. It can increase steels hardenability by lowering the required quench rate during the heat-treating process to make strong and hard steel.

Junior exploration company EV Resources is developing its copper-molybdenum flagship Parag project in Peru, where thick intersections of high-grade molybdenum have been encountered near surface.

Focusing purely on the molybdenum hits, results include 258.8m grading 0.14 per cent from 1m, including 58m at 0.3 per cent from 23m.

A whopping intercept of 476m running 0.14 per cent from 3.2m included a 348m stretch of mineralisation going 0.2 per cent. A further 72m hole returned 0.36 per cent of the high-temp alloy metal from surface.

EV says the near-surface molybdenum grades at Parag are comparable to the highest-grade pure moly mines in the world. It believes the credits from molybdenum are a key by-product that will significantly improve the projects economics.

Nickel also plays an important role in increasing the strength and toughness of steel. In larger amounts, nickel has a big impact on the strength of alloys and is one of the key components in stainless steel as it increases its corrosion resistance.

Terrain Minerals is among a number of listed companies searching for the next big nickel discovery. It is based in elephant country in WAs renowned Fraser Range Belt. The Albany-Fraser Orogen extends for a minimum 1200km along the southern margin of the Archean Yilgarn Craton and was made famous after Sirius Resources (now IGOs) earth-shattering Nova-Bollinger nickel-copper discovery in 2012.

Terrain recently completed a ground-based electromagnetic survey at its Lort River project that sits in the same geological belt as IGOs discovery.

Management believes a geophysical eye feature identified at Lort River shares strong similarities with IGOs eye that was identified prior to its discovery of the large - and now producing - Nova-Bollinger operation.

Terrain is currently processing the data from the survey and gearing up to hammer the promising targets with its maiden drill program.

The company believes a recent airborne geophysical survey returned compelling evidence that the southern half of the Albany-Fraser Belt could be just as promising as the northern region where Novas operation sits.

IGO is on the record saying it believes the magmatic processes required to form Nova-style massive nickel-copper sulphide deposits have most likely occurred along the entire length of the Albany-Fraser Belt.

Terrain has its theories about the region, believing the huge mafic intrusive units forced up within the earths crust from internal pressures are the real answer to finding a new nickel-copper deposit.

Whether Terrain is onto something big at Lort River or not may be answered within the next few months.

Steel alloys are very much a part of the critical mineral story and with Governments all over the world now seeking to lock down supplies of critical minerals, Australian listed companies are in the box seat. Australia itself is well-endowed with pretty much all listed critical minerals and Australian ASX-listed juniors in particular, have a good nose for finding them on other continents too.

Once considered the poor cousin to iron ore, steel alloys are rapidly forging their own path, becoming more and more lucrative and the hunt for them is now well and truly on.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
Opera Australia (OA) chief executive Fiona Allan has fallen on her sword barely three years after assuming the role, plunging the nations biggest arts company into yet another crisis.

In a statement OA said Allan, who joined the company in November 2021, was leaving to pursue new opportunities. She had been noticeably absent for the past few weeks during the crucial season launch period.

Her departure comes less than six months after the abrupt exit of artistic director Jo Davies, the first female artistic director in the history of the company. Davies lasted just 18 months and left after repeated clashes with Allan.

Chief executive Fiona Allan has abruptly quit Opera Australia. Credit: Pamela Raith

Allan and Davies had been touted as the new faces of Opera Australia, following the 2022 departure after 12 years of larger-than-life artistic director Lyndon Terracini.
Advertisement

Review Eating outHawthorn What a combo! Tiny cafe serves mind-bending toasties and frisky foamy coffee Four Kilo Fish is one of the rare Melbourne places that serves Chinese specialty coffee, including one drink that tastes like a Jaffa. Dani Valent January 29, 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

As featured in the February 2025 hit list. See all stories .

1 / 5 Four Kilo Fish cafe is a small, cosy hideout in Hawthorn. Luis Enrique Ascui 2 / 5 Cheesy Yunnan beef sando with mint in the mince. Luis Enrique Ascui 3 / 5 Curry corn jaffle. Luis Enrique Ascui 4 / 5 The signature Citrusy Moustache (cold brew coffee topped with orange-infused whipped cream). Luis Enrique Ascui 5 / 5 Yunnanese pork bolognese on rice, topped with a fried egg. Luis Enrique Ascui Previous Slide Next Slide Cafe$$$$ I grew a moustache in a cafe the other day. You can, too: just order the Citrusy Moustache at Four Kilo Fish, a small, cosy six-year-old hideout in Hawthorn run by two women from Yunnan in south-western China. This frisky mocktail comprises cold brew coffee topped with orange-infused whipped cream: sipping the dark chocolatey coffee combined with the citrus-spiked zest-laden froth is like drinking a Jaffa. Take hearty slurps and youll develop a handsome mo, too. The signature Citrusy Moustache (cold brew coffee topped with orange-infused whipped cream). Luis Enrique Ascui

Advertisement

Youve probably realised: Four Kilo Fish is not a fish shop. This friendly cafes moniker is a pun on co-owner Sijin Yus name, which sounds like the Mandarin for four kilo fish. Sijin (she usually goes by Yee) and her business partner Joey Chen became friends at high school in Yunnan, moved to Australia 10 years ago to study accounting and marketing respectively, then combined their skills to showcase the coffee of their home province in Melbourne. Yee and Joey visit farms near their town of Puer, import the very best beans, and roast them on Tuesdays (when the cafe is closed) at a shared roastery in Port Melbourne. Most of the coffee served in Australian cafes originates in South America or Africa; Chinese coffee barely registers. In 2023, mountainous Yunnan grew 7800 tonnes of coffee beans, which is almost all of Chinas output. That might sound like a lot, but its only about 0.06 per cent of worldwide production. As far as I know, the only other places in Melbourne that serve Chinese specialty coffee are Calere in Fitzroy, Chiaki in Collingwood and Manta Ray in Nunawading, all worth seeking out.

Advertisement

Cheesy beef sando with mint in the mince. Luis Enrique Ascui Four Kilo Fish threads diverse Yunnanese flavours through its approachable food menu, too. You can have chilli scrambled eggs but it will be seasoned with house-made spicy sauce. Theres a cheesy beef mince sando laced with mint, a traditional meat flavouring. Lemongrass chicken on rice nods to Yunnans proximity to south-east Asian neighbours such as Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The Yunnanese bolognese on rice is Joey Chens purest comfort food, a soupy soul-warming pork mince stir-fry with tomato, chilli and mushrooms, served with a fried egg to steer it to brunch territory. Yunnanese bolognese on rice, topped with a fried egg. Luis Enrique Ascui

Advertisement

There are fusion flavours: the cheesy corn jaffle incorporates Japanese-style curry and theres a mind-bending toastie that jams together kimchi, cheese and peanut butter. What a combo! Weve talked about coffee but tea is actually the worlds favourite beverage and Four Kilo Fish sources leaves from Yunnan. I tried their oolong, soaked twice in boiling water, then brewed with a third change of water for a minute and a half before straining into a warmed pot. The flavours are delicate and complex, sweet but somehow crisp. Sipping this special brew didnt leave me with a moustache but it did give me a four-kilo glow.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
The address of a synagogue was found in the caravan, police confirmed, and security agencies were called in as the caravan was seized. Theres only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism, Minns said. This would strike terror into the community, particularly the Jewish community, and it must be met with the full resources of the government. And I want to assure the people of NSW thats exactly whats happening. The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which combines state and Commonwealth agencies including the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has taken over the investigation and tasked more than 100 officers to catch the perpetrators. Hudson said police had no information that there are further explosives in our community in relation to conducting antisemitic attacks anywhere.

Loading We believe that we have contained, appropriately, this current threat, he said. While Minns was told on January 20 and national cabinet was held on January 21, the meeting of state and federal leaders did not discuss the investigation because operational matters are not usually put to the group. The office of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not say when he was told. The full resources of the state of NSW and NSW Police have been deployed to confront this very serious threat to our community, Minns said. On Wednesday night, Albanese described the actions as an attempt at terror.

This was clearly aimed at terrorising the community, he said. Albanese unequivocally condemned the act and said hate and extremism had no place in Australian society. The NSW Police have people in custody and continue with other agencies, including those involved in AFP Special Operation Avalite to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community, and take action and hold people to account for crimes, Albanese said. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelled the discovery as sickening as it is horrifying and called on the federal government to reveal when it was briefed about the incident and what steps they took to protect Australias Jewish community. It is a grave and sinister escalation in this insidious rise of unchecked antisemitism in our country, Dutton said in a social media post on Wednesday night, calling for the federal government to commit additional resources, including extra security at synagogues and Jewish schools, for reassurance and deterrence.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson also called for answers about why the discovery was kept secret and when authorities briefed the prime minister and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner David Hudson speak at a press conference about the Dural discovery. Credit: Nine News The apparent discovery of a roadside bomb in NSW targeting the Jewish community is an incredibly disturbing development in an escalating domestic terrorism crisis, Paterson said on social media. The prime minister and minister for home affairs must explain when they were first briefed on this matter, what action they took to protect the community and why they thought it was appropriate to keep it a secret for this long.

Hudson said the threat to the community had not been eliminated, but mitigated. The discovery and the detection of the caravan with an amount of explosives was not going to be used in the normal antisemitic attack that we have seen occur in Sydney, such as graffiti and arson attacks. This is certainly an escalation of that with the use of explosives that have the potential to cause a great deal of damage, Hudson said. Hudson said police were conducting a clandestine investigation and planned to tell the public very soon. Instead, the investigation leaked in the press. Minns pushed back when asked why the Jewish community and wider public were not made aware of the threat 10 days ago. Theres a very good reason that police dont detail methods and tactics and thats so that criminals dont understand what police are getting up to in their investigations, he said.

Just because it wasnt being conducted on the front pages of newspapers does not mean this was not an urgent in fact the number one priority of NSW Police. Loading No particular ideology had been identified as a motivation behind a possible attack, but none were being ruled out, Hudson said. Minns said it was with great regret that he could not guarantee antisemitic violence would not escalate further. Theres bad actors in our community, he said.

Badly motivated, bad ideologies, bad morals, bad ethics, bad people, theyre intent on doing harm to others in their community, people theyve never met before, purely on the basis of their religion. Its hateful, its an ideology that we need to stamp out. The discovery comes after a spate of antisemitic attacks that sent shockwaves through Sydneys Jewish community in recent months, including the firebombing of a Maroubra childcare centre on January 21. Video of the centre ablaze showed the words f--- the Jews sprayed in black paint on a wall. The building was unoccupied at the time, and there were no injuries. No arrests have been made over the blaze. Four days earlier, the former home of Australian Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was targeted in a firebombing, with two vehicles set ablaze, while other vehicles were vandalised with antisemitic graffiti in Dover Heights. The home, which Ryvchin sold in 2023, was also splashed with red paint.
Non-romantic interests have also been targets of a man whose own mother has described as a narcissistic sociopath. Others said he told them his mother died of cancer, and he tricked friends into planning lavish trips to the Whitsundays and Switzerland for a fake wedding to an imaginary partner. Loading As the web of lies began unravelling, several sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that Prince-Popovich was often seen with a high-profile former politician and their well-connected friend in the construction industry. Those men were Borbidge and Queensland-based building director at TK Project Construction, Timothy Barr, neither of whom is accused of any wrongdoing. Barr said he met Borbidge through a mutual acquaintance and they had no formal business relationship. He said Borbidge asked if he would consider hiring Prince-Popovich for a project of his that did not materialise.

Prince-Popovich and Borbidge both said they met through the young mans membership with the Young Nationals and struck up a friendship in which the former premier acted as a mentor. They said they had no professional relationship beyond a logistics proposal made by Prince-Popovich  who worked in sales for a shipping line  for a company with which Borbidge was associated. In September 2023, when Prince-Popovich was held on remand in Sydneys Silverwater jail on fraud charges after being extradited from Tasmania, Prince-Popovich called Borbidge and asked for help. He said, Ive been arrested, can you find a lawyer for me? I dont know who else to turn to, Borbidge said. Borbidge said he knew the basis of Prince-Popovichs actions but not the full details and was unaware he was previously convicted of a $100,000 fraud.

I thought that this was a young guy that had made a mistake who deserved a second chance. The 24-year-old lives an extravagant life filled with unexplained wealth. Credit: Instagram I thought, well, this is a young, troubled guy that I can help to get back on track here  If he can just apply himself and do the right thing, he can play a valuable role in society. Borbidge reached out to Aston, who says he did some preliminary work for Prince-Popovich but withdrew from representation after the young man failed to pay him. Aston said Prince-Popovichs money landed in his account and then disappeared, leaving him with an outstanding bill of more than $8000.

Borbidge said he believed Prince-Popovichs claims that he had a two-system verification on his payments, and because his phone and iPad had been confiscated by police, he could not verify the payments, and they subsequently were not made. There was confusion about whether Prince-Popovich should have paid, could not pay, did not pay, and he entered into an arrangement to pay the outstanding legal fees. I thought I was helping a young guy in trouble re-establish himself  Add me to the list of victims Rob Borbidge, former Queensland premier Following the legal saga, the pair remained friends, and Borbidge said it was not until he read this mastheads revelations this month that he realised the full extent of Prince-Popovichs crimes, adding he absolutely regrets paying the legal fees. Im just absolutely, absolutely gutted. I mean, just incredibly disappointed, he said, adding he genuinely and sincerely acted in good faith but has realised in hindsight he may have been naive.

I thought I was helping a young guy in trouble re-establish himself, right through the process. Hed never done the wrong thing by me. Im just devastated that Ive been, quite frankly, misled and used, he said. Add me to the list of victims. Rob Borbidge in 2022. Credit: Paul Harris Prince-Popovich told this masthead Borbidge had been a father figure and valuable mentor to him through difficult times. He denied any fraud regarding Aston, saying the bank unexpectedly reversed his payment through no fault of his own.

It needs to be made clear that I was in custody, and that is the only reason why [Borbidge] paid for it in the first place, he said. He did it expecting to be paid back  I paid every cent of it back. Borbidge said Prince-Popovich had paid back some of the fees. In October, Prince-Popovich posted a photo to Instagram in which he posed with Borbidge at the National Partys federal conference at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Borbidge said Prince-Popovich was there to represent a winery with which he was connected.

Before resigning from the Queensland parliament in 2001, Borbidge served as a member for Surfers Paradise for two decades and was the last member of the National Partys Queensland branch to become premier. Prince-Popovich affects a life of wealth and sophistication. Post-politics, Borbidge has held a number of board positions in private and publicly listed companies and is listed as a principal consultant with lobby firm Govstrat. Among Govstrats clients are mining giant Rio Tinto, betting companies Pointsbet and UniBet Australia, and coal producer Baralaba Coal Company. He is listed in ASIC records as a director of a tourism company, Experience Gold Coast, arts organisation Placemakers Gold Coast, and healthcare charity Trinity Health Services. He is also listed online as the chair of the infrastructure advisory firm Azcende, and was previously chair of aeromedical organisation LifeFlight Australia.

In 2006, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia and an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University. Up to his old tricks in new life in Hobart As Prince-Popovich remains wanted in Queensland, he has been living a seemingly relaxed life thousands of kilometres away in Hobart. Despite earlier telling this masthead he took full responsibility for his past dishonesty, one man disagrees and claims he tried to defraud him even after making those comments. Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to privacy concerns, the man said he met Prince-Popovich on a dating app and allegedly lent him hundreds of dollars.

When he asked for the money back, Prince-Popovich offered excuses and the man became suspicious. A Google search revealed this mastheads story, and he realised he was dealing with a skilled con artist. The man said Prince-Popovich pretended to repay him with a false bank receipt and repaid the money only when he threatened to go to the police. Its like how do you really think youre not gonna get caught? It just baffles me A woman alleged duped by Prince-Popovich Another person who came forward since this mastheads report shared how she met Prince-Popovich before he went to prison in late 2022 and quickly became friends with the charismatic, funny and fun man. She was ecstatic when he invited her group of friends on a private jet to attend his hens party in the Whitsundays and an all-expenses-paid extravagant wedding in Switzerland, arriving in helicopters after a breathtaking trip through the Alps.

But she says his fiancee did not exist. While the woman cut ties with him after catching onto his lies, Prince-Popovich did book the private jet by defrauding a company out of $30,000 and took a different group of people he had met at a Sydney hotel on holiday to the Whitsundays. The woman also said that while Prince-Popovich had to report to the police station daily as part of his bail conditions, he said he was attending for welfare checks over an abusive ex-partner. She said he treated her friends to expensive dinners and offered elaborate excuses. We were like, are we gaslighting ourselves?
At a time Donald Trumps Aussie fixer Dylan Howard should be celebrating his mans return to the White House, hes instead like a bear with a sore paw.

Howard was a key player in US tabloid the National Enquirers catch and kill strategy to bury negative stories about Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, including a pay-off to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Dylan Howard in the Oval Office in 2017 with Donald Trump during Trumps first term as president.

But ever since he slinked back into Australia last year ahead of the presidents hush money trial in New York, Howard has kept popping up like Wheres Wally at various Victorian pubs, cafes and coastal locations.

First he was said to be nursing a back injury in his parents coastal Lorne home that precluded him from flying back to the States to give evidence in the case in which Trump was ultimately found guilty of 34 felony charges.
A man accused of violent disorder after confronting neo-Nazi gatecrashers at an anti-fascist fundraiser in Melbournes inner-north has had his prosecution abandoned by police.

Benjamin Squire had been facing jail time after he was charged over a melee that broke out when he and others asked 20 balaclava-clad neo-Nazis to leave a queer-friendly bar in Thornbury.

Thornbury bar Cafe Gummo. Credit: Jason South

Squire told this masthead he was glad justice had prevailed.

I am disgusted to have been the only person charged, with not a single neo-Nazi would-be attacker so much as formally questioned or charged, Squire said.
For example, it cites the Alaska Airlines flight last year where the plane lost its door mid-flight  something later attributed to lapses in quality control processes at Boeing rather than any decisions made by the carrier. Similarly, many of the incidents recorded by airlines will cover a wide range of different scenarios, most of which probably arent the sort of things that nervous travellers necessarily worry about. How reliable are these rankings? As you might expect, some experts take issue with the idea of ranking airlines in this way, given that each carrier will operate in different regions and conditions. The first placed airline, Air New Zealand, operates to very few destinations, the majority of which are developed countries, says Nick Eades, a veteran Boeing 747 captain turned author. Another airline may very well operate to much more challenging destinations, which inevitably create more incidents.

He also takes issue with the idea that the age of an airlines fleet is necessarily an indicator of its safety record. As long as the aircraft are meticulously maintained, then they are just as safe as new aircraft, he says. Some may even argue that they are safer as any design or manufacturing defects would have been discovered and rectified. Which are the safest airlines (according to the report)? Air New Zealand has been named the worlds safest airline, followed by Qantas. Credit: Wolter Peeters AirlineRatings.com publishes two separate rankings: one for full-service carriers like Qantas and one for low-cost short-haul airlines.

When it comes to full-service airlines, the top spots go to Air New Zealand (in first place), followed by Qantas, then in equal third Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Emirates, followed by Virgin Australia. Notable absences from the list are Singapore Airlines and KLM. AirlineRatings.com stated that, while both airlines still maintain high safety ratings, they missed out on the top 25 due to incidents in 2024. For the low-cost carriers, the safest airline is reported as Hong Kong Express, followed by Jetstar. Ryanair finishes in third place, just above easyJet in fourth and Americas Frontier Airlines in fifth. The 25 safest airlines for 2025 (according to AirlineRatings.com) Air New Zealand Qantas (Equal third) Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong); Qatar Airways; Emirates (UAE) Virgin Australia Etihad Airways (UAE) ANA (Japan) EVA Air (Taiwan) Korean Air Alaska Airlines (US) Turkish Airlines TAP Portugal Hawaiian Airlines (US) American Airlines SAS (Sweden) British Airways Iberia (Spain) Finnair Lufthansa/Swiss JAL (Japan) Air Canada Delta Airlines (US) Vietnam Airlines United Airlines (US) The 25 safest low-cost airlines for 2025 (according to AirlineRatings.com)

Hong Kong Express Jetstar Group (Australia) Ryanair easyJet Frontier Airlines (US) AirAsia (Malaysia) Wizz Air (Hungary) VietJet Air (Vietnam) Southwest Airlines (US) Volaris (Mexico) flydubai Norwegian Vueling (Spain) Jet2 Sun Country Airlines (US) WestJet (Canada) JetBlue Airways (US) Air Arabia (UAE) IndiGo (India) Eurowings (Germany) Allegiant Air (US) Cebu Pacific (Philippines) ZipAir (Japan) SKY Airline (Chile) Air Baltic (Latvia) Which are the worst airlines for safety? While AirlineRatings.com doesnt publish rankings for those airlines that dont make the top 25, its website does include star ratings for different carriers, with 11 current operators ending up with the lowest ranking of one star. They include four separate carriers from Russia  including Aeroflot  as well as airlines from Nigeria (Air Peace), Pakistan (PIA), Tanzania (Precision Air), Bangladesh (US-Bangla), and Indonesia (Wings Air). The 12 airlines with one star for safety on AirlineRatings.com

Aeroflot (Russia)

Air Peace (Nigeria)

Beijing Capital Airlines (China)

Montenegro Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines

Pobeda (Russia)

Precision Air (Tanzania)

Rossiya (Russia)

Ural Airlines (Russia)

US-Bangla Airlines (Bangladesh)

UTair (Russia)

Wings Air (Indonesia) For a more comprehensive picture of airline safety, we can also look at the airlines included on the EU Air Safety List, which bans airlines from flying to or from countries in the EU. The list currently includes carriers from 23 countries, including Armenia, Libya, Nepal, North Korea, Russia and Sudan. Aeroflot gets a one-star rating from AirlineRatings.com Credit: iStock In many cases, the classification is largely hypothetical, given that there is little chance of a Libyan or North Korean carrier launching flights from Tripoli or Pyongyang to Europe. But it still sends a strong signal to anyone considering flying with those airlines. Even so, its worth noting that in many cases, the listing isnt down to any decisions made by the individual airline. Its usually that EU authorities arent convinced that the national regulators in question have the correct procedures in place to uphold safety standards  for example, having an independent aviation safety board.

A strong regulatory framework is the bedrock of airline safety, says aviation expert John Strickland of JLS Consulting. There are so many variables influencing safety that it is really difficult to produce a meaningful list of best or worst carriers. Are certain planes unsafe? Historically, some planes have had safety issues  like the de Havilland Comet in the 1950s. As you might expect, these models tended to be either withdrawn from service entirely or suspended for extensive maintenance. Aeroplane manufacturers make safety improvements each time they design a new plane. Credit: AP It was a similar story with the Boeing 737 Max, which was grounded for almost two years until it was cleared by US regulators to fly again (subject to mandated design changes). Canadian, European and Chinese authorities soon followed suit, allowing the updated planes to take to the sky again.

Of course, its up to aviation authorities to ensure those procedures are followed, which can lead to some gaps. Last year, the US National Transportation Safety Board warned that up to 40 foreign airlines may still be using the Boeing 737 Max with components that could be unsafe. It did not, however, name any airlines about which it had doubts. Loading Aeroplane manufacturers also look to make safety improvements each time they design a new plane. To give a recent example, the latest models from Boeing and Airbus (the 787-9 and the A350, respectively) have undergone numerous tweaks to minimise the impact of turbulence  such as installing more flexible wings. While turbulence isnt usually a cause of serious safety issues, more severe cases have been known to cause injuries. Last year, one passenger died, and a further 71 were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London experienced an extreme bout of turbulence. Worryingly, there are indications that certain types of turbulence  notably clear air turbulence  are becoming a more common problem for airlines. The boss of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark, believes there has been a rise in these kinds of patterns, which some researchers have attributed in part to climate change.

What can airlines do to improve safety? In most cases, the factors that affect airline safety  like regular maintenance of aircraft  are set by aviation authorities, which enforce strict rules on how often carriers need to perform checks on their planes. But airlines still make some decisions to reduce risk even further. Loading For example, Ryanair says that it has increased the scrutiny it performs on its new Boeing 737 Max planes. The planes are delivered to the airlines maintenance facilities in Dublin, where they undergo extensive checks by the carriers own engineers before entering service. Some airlines are also implementing new policies to deal with more extreme turbulence. Both Singapore Airlines and Korean Air have decided to suspend all meal and drinks services when the seatbelt signs are turned on.
by Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks on Palestinians have sparked strong rejection across the Arab world, with experts warning of their grave implications for regional peace and stability.

Trump suggested Saturday relocating over a million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries "where they can maybe live in peace for a change," a plan unequivocally rejected by Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, and the Arab League comprising all 22 Arab states.

His remarks came after Israel and Hamas began implementing a ceasefire agreement on Jan. 19, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, halting deadly fighting that had lasted for over 15 months.

PEACE AT RISK

Many Arab experts believed that Trump's proposal limits chances for Middle East peace, derails the two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and intensifies tensions in a region already plagued by crises.

Ahmed Kandil, head of the international studies unit at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said such U.S. ideas ignore the root cause of the conflict, referring to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

"The insistence of Trump's administration on not addressing the root causes of the Palestinian issue will only prolong and complicate the crisis and spread chaos in the region," the Egyptian expert told Xinhua.

Kandil stressed that the solution lies in the UN resolutions that affirm the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, warning of the consequences of Washington's "blind support" for Tel Aviv.

He further criticized Trump's idea of relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries as "absurd and illogical."

"It is unreasonable to expect these countries to shoulder the liquidation of the Palestinian cause in favor of Israel's far-right movement," Kandil said, warning that such a U.S. approach undermines any prospects for lasting peace.

Given the region's control of the Suez Canal, a vital route for international trade, and its role as a major oil exporter, "any chaos or instability in this region will negatively impact U.S. interests, the interests of its European allies, and the global economy," according to Kandil.

For his part, former Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat Al-Farra told Xinhua that Trump's proposal "adds fuel to the fire" in a vulnerable region suffering from chaos in several spots, including Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, among others.

"When the United States, the world's greatest power, puts forward such a proposal, it only complicates the problems and worsens the situation in the volatile Middle East region," he said, stressing that the U.S. complete bias towards Israel harms regional peace, security, and stability, as well as the U.S. interests in the region.

"The consequences will be dire if the United States insists on holding onto this vision," Al-Farra said.

GAZANS RETURNING HOME

The resilience of Palestinians in the face of adversity has been on full display as hundreds of thousands of internally displaced residents have recently returned to their homes in northern Gaza, even though those homes have been reduced to rubble during the conflict that has left over 47,000 Palestinians dead since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza's health authorities.

This remarkable scene of throngs of Palestinians walking back home sends "a powerful message" about their determination to stay on their land and rejection of any displacement attempts, Al-Farra said.

The former Palestinian diplomat continued that the relocation proposal, coming from a so-called "Mideast peace sponsor," is "entirely unacceptable -- both in form and substance -- not only to Palestinians but to the entire Arab world," noting that it was also rejected by many European, Asian, and Latin American states, as well as Canada and Australia.

Al-Farra's view was echoed by Egyptian political science professor Tarek Fahmy, who saw that the return of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza "practically demonstrates their rejection of the idea of displacement."

Fahmy highlighted the necessity of bringing the issue to the international arena, noting that Gaza evacuation is regionally and internationally rejected.

"It seems that Trump, instead of calming the conflict in the Middle East, is further exacerbating tensions in the region," said the Egyptian professor. 
Under fire for its handling of a sexual assault scandal embroiling a top TV celebrity, Japanese network Fuji Television held a press conference to clear the air and salvage its reputation.

It ran for a chaotic 10 hours, wrapping up at around 2am on Tuesday morning after a panel of executives faced an avalanche of questions from hundreds of journalists.

The press conference was livestreamed and followed the companys announcement that its president and the head of its TV unit would resign immediately over the alleged incident. At times, it descended into a barrage of shouting from reporters who yelled over each other and asked questions that stretched into lengthy tirades.

Fuji TV executives faced a 10-hour grilling over their handling of a sexual assault allegation.

The scandal centres on Masahiro Nakai, a former leader of Japans once-hugely popular boy band SMAP, and his costly settlement with a woman over the alleged sex assault at a dinner party that Fuji TV staff allegedly helped to organise in 2023.
Washington: Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the turncoat scion of the legendary Democratic family chosen by Donald Trump to become health secretary, insisted he supported vaccines and said every abortion was a tragedy as he was grilled on his ever-changing views at an intense Senate confirmation hearing.

The 71-year-old faced a barrage of questions from Democrats about his promotion of conspiracy theories on vaccines, COVID and Lyme disease, his oscillation on abortion and his involvement in a lawsuit against the developer of an HPV vaccine, from which he profits.

Kennedy faced a barrage of questions about his views on vaccines and abortions, among other issues. Credit: Bloomberg

But it was Kennedys former roommate and friend Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island whom some speculated might break with his colleagues to support Kennedys nomination, who delivered one of the harshest remarks to the prospective cabinet member.

If you want to move from advocacy to public responsibility, Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations, Whitehouse said. Youre in that hole pretty deep. Weve just had a measles case in Rhode Island, the first since 2013  and frankly, you frighten people.
Chemical manufacturer Stardust Power Inc. announced that it broke ground on its $1.2 billion lithium refinery at the Southside Industrial Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The company expects the facility to eventually reach an annual production rate of 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium.

CEO and founder Roshan Pujari said the refinery would onshore critical mineral manufacturing to help address U.S. national security and supply chain risks.

Most Read on Manufacturing.net:

Stardust Power announced the acquisition of its 66-acre site in Muskogee in December 2024. The site benefits from proximity to the countrys largest inland waterway system, road and rail networks and a workforce rooted in the oil and gas sector. It also offers a location with an adjacent 40-acre parcel of land which the company has a right of first refusal for future expansion.

The company also expects the lithium refinery to create hundreds of jobs across engineering, manufacturing and operations, with the potential for hundreds more from construction and service roles.

Stardust Power will develop the project in two phases, with the first phase focused on constructing a production line capable of producing up to 25,000 metric tons annually. The second phase will add a second production line, bringing the total annual capacity to 50,000 metric tons.

Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
Shares of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) are off to a fantastic start in 2025, already rising by 13% year to date. The medical devices giant had some weakness in recent years amid disappointing trends from its diabetes segment, but it appears to have finally turned the corner with its increasingly diversified operating profile.

Medtronic is capturing demand for its cutting-edge solutions, as recent product launches emerge to drive new growth. With the stock still trading at 26% below its 2021 peak, there's a sense that the current rally is just beginning. Here are three reasons Medtronic stock may make a great addition to your portfolio right now.

1. Leadership in AI-powered medtech

Medtronic is renowned for revolutionizing healthcare through groundbreaking innovations, from pioneering the first implantable cardiac pacemakers to developing state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical tools. Through its four core operating segments -- cardiovascular, neuroscience, medical-surgical, and diabetes care -- the company continues to cement its position as a global leader in medical technologies.

What's particularly exciting in 2025 is Medtronic's embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across its portfolio. The company is integrating machine learning and automation into several different applications. The GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module stands out as a prime example, revolutionizing colonoscopy procedures with AI-powered polyp detection.

In the surgical space, the Aible robotic surgery ecosystem leverages predictive models to develop customized patient treatment plans for complex spine and cranial procedures. And in the highly competitive diabetes care segment, the new MiniMed 780G insulin pump system employs AI algorithms to predict and automatically adjust insulin delivery based on real-time blood sugar monitoring.

Image source: Getty Images.

Ultimately, these AI-enhanced features are intended to improve patient care and deliver superior medical outcomes while helping to consolidate Medtronic's market share in its key segments. Their impact was evident in the company's results for its fiscal 2025's second quarter (which ended Oct. 25). Revenue climbed 5.3% year over year, propelling an 8% increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS).

Beyond those otherwise modest headline numbers, perhaps the bigger story is the operating outlook. Over the past year, Medtronic has secured more than 120 regulatory approvals globally for new products, many of which are just starting to gain commercial adoption. The pipeline suggests a runway for even stronger trends.
(Reuters) -Activist investor Ancora has nominated nine candidates to U.S. Steel's board of directors, as it looks to oust company CEO David Burritt and push the American steelmaker to back out of a $14.9 billion merger deal with Japan's Nippon Steel.

The activist investor, which owns a 0.18% stake in the company, on Monday proposed to replace top boss Burritt with Alan Kestenbaum, former CEO of Canada's Stelco that was acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs in a $2.8 billion deal last year.

Cliffs in 2023 had proposed to acquire U.S. Steel, but the Pittsburgh steelmaker raised concerns about antitrust issues, while it accepted a higher offer from Nippon Steel soon after.

"We are...concerned about the motivations behind these nominations, given Ancora's and Alan Kestenbaum's recent dealings with failed bidder Cleveland-Cliffs," U.S. Steel said in a statement on Monday.

Ancora has nominated nine candidates to U.S. Steel's board, which has a total of 12 members.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Cleveland-Cliffs was partnering with Nucor for a new all-cash bid for U.S. Steel after former U.S. President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel's bid on national security grounds and delayed an order for Nippon to abandon its pursuit of U.S. Steel until June.

U.S. Steel and Nippon have sued the Biden administration and want a federal appeals court to overturn his decision, so they can secure a national security review.

Nippon remains interested in working with the Donald Trump administration to try to seal the takeover, vice chairman Takahiro Mori had said in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month.

Ancora said on Monday it was not interested in the sale of U.S. Steel to another party, including Cleveland-Cliffs and instead wants to pursue $565 million in breakup fee from Nippon Steel.

Shares of U.S. Steel were down 1.6% in premarket trading.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Varun H K and Shinjini Ganguli)
Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) recently reported solid fourth-quarter results and issued 2025 guidance. However, most notable from the report was the increasing project backlog the company was seeing as a result of natural gas demand coming for LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports, power plants, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Let's look at the pipeline company's most recent results and guidance to see if this is a good time to buy the stock.

Solid Q4 results and growing project backlog

One of the biggest things to come out of Kinder Morgan's latest earnings report was the company's growing project backlog. Its project backlog increased a whopping 60% compared to its third quarter, going from $5.1 billion to $8.1 billion. Projects related to natural gas accounted for 89% of its backlog.

In expects the EBITDA multiple on most of its projects (those not associated with carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery) to be 5.8 times. This means that for every $100 million it spends, it expects to generate an incremental $17.24 million in EBITDA from these projects. Midstream projects are often done between 6x to 8x EBITDA multiples, so this is a very solid expected return on these projects.

Kinder Morgan highlighted three big natural gas projects it has recently secured: South System Expansion 4, Mississippi Crossing, and the Trident Intrastate Pipeline. The company said it is very well positioned for the trends driving natural gas volumes, with it serving 45% of the LNG export demand, 50% of natural gas exports to Mexico, and 45% of the power demand in the desert Southwest, Texas, and Southeast regions. It also noted that we are still in the very early innings of AI data centers and the power needed for them.

It sees natural gas demand in the U.S. rising by 28 billion cubic feet (BCF) a day by 2030. This projection is very similar to the 28.5 BCF a day increase that natural gas producer Antero Resources recently provided. While U.S. natural gas consumption has gradually been increasing, these projections are close to doubling recent consumption within five years, which would be an enormous increase.

Turning to its results, Kinder Morgan's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) jumped 14% to $0.32. That was just below analyst expectations for EPS of $0.34.

It adjusted EBITDA, meanwhile, rose 7% to $2.06 billion. Its distributable cash flow (DCF), which is operating cash flow minus maintenance capital expenditures (capex), climbed by 8% to $1.26 billion. Its DCF per share rose 10% to $0.57. Adjusted EBITDA and DCF are two of the most common metrics used to evaluate midstream companies.
Avon Protection plc (OTCMKTS:AVNBF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,300 shares, a growth of 1,200.0% from the December 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 13.0 days.

Avon Protection Stock Performance

Shares of AVNBF remained flat at C$18.16 during mid-day trading on Tuesday. Avon Protection has a 12-month low of C$12.44 and a 12-month high of C$18.30. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$17.77 and a 200-day moving average price of C$16.24.

Get Avon Protection alerts:

Avon Protection Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Avon Protection plc provides respiratory, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear and head protection solutions for military and first responder agencies in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. The company offers respiratory products, including respirators, filters, powered and supplied air, escape hoods, underwater systems, and thermal image camera, and CBRN protective wear, as well as spares and accessories.

Receive News & Ratings for Avon Protection Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avon Protection and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF (TSE:ZWK  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, January 30th,TickerTech Dividends reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of 0.145 per share on Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th.

BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

TSE:ZWK traded up C$0.04 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$26.52. The stock had a trading volume of 21,394 shares, compared to its average volume of 29,880. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$25.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$23.70. BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF has a one year low of C$18.50 and a one year high of C$26.58.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Smith Douglas Homes (NYSE:SDHC  Get Free Report) and Everus (NYSE:ECG  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, risk and valuation.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Smith Douglas Homes and Everus, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Get Smith Douglas Homes alerts:

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Smith Douglas Homes 1 5 0 0 1.83 Everus 0 2 2 0 2.50

Smith Douglas Homes presently has a consensus price target of $25.40, indicating a potential upside of 2.16%. Everus has a consensus price target of $73.33, indicating a potential upside of 8.23%. Given Everus stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Everus is more favorable than Smith Douglas Homes.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Smith Douglas Homes 4.60% 21.01% 16.10% Everus N/A N/A N/A

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Smith Douglas Homes and Everus net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Smith Douglas Homes and Everuss top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Smith Douglas Homes $764.63 million 1.67 $123.18 million N/A N/A Everus $2.85 billion 1.21 $137.23 million N/A N/A

Everus has higher revenue and earnings than Smith Douglas Homes.

Summary

Everus beats Smith Douglas Homes on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Smith Douglas Homes

(Get Free Report)

Smith Douglas Homes Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in the southeastern United States. It also provides closing, escrow, and title insurance services. The company sells its products to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia.

About Everus

(Get Free Report)

Everus Construction Group is providing a full spectrum of construction services through its electrical and mechanical and transmission and distribution specialty contracting services principally in United States. Its specialty contracting services are provided to utility, transportation, commercial, industrial, institutional, renewable and other customers. Everus Construction Group is based in BISMARCK, N.D.

Receive News & Ratings for Smith Douglas Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smith Douglas Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Forsta AP Fonden cut its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 421,700 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. Forsta AP Fondens holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $47,698,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 76,720,429 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $8,746,896,000 after purchasing an additional 2,323,807 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.4% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 34,903,198 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,963,974,000 after buying an additional 488,764 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 25,810,977 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,942,709,000 after acquiring an additional 280,441 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 25.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 13,319,347 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,518,539,000 after acquiring an additional 2,711,586 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.6% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 11,102,204 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,265,762,000 after purchasing an additional 585,915 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock.

Get Abbott Laboratories alerts:

Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 1.7 %

NYSE ABT opened at $127.28 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $99.71 and a 1-year high of $129.85. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $115.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $113.80. The company has a market capitalization of $220.76 billion, a PE ratio of 16.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.73.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.34. The business had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.03 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.74% and a net margin of 31.95%. The firms revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.19 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. This is a positive change from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.85%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 30.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Raymond James restated a buy rating and issued a $129.00 target price (up from $122.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $133.06.

Check Out Our Latest Report on ABT

Abbott Laboratories Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
By Luciana Magalhaes and Gabriel Araujo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A planned merger between Brazilian airlines Gol and Azul would strengthen the sector and prevent either company from failing, Brazil's ports and airports minister told Reuters, giving the potential move a key government nod.

Azul and Abra, the majority investor of Gol and Colombia's Avianca, announced earlier this month they had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the intent of combining their businesses in Brazil.

"It's a government priority to preserve the aviation sector and, above all, safeguard jobs and incomes," Silvio Costa Filho said in an interview. "The possibility of a Gol-Azul merger is positive to strengthen Brazil's aviation."

The merger of the two airlines would create a dominant carrier in Latin America's No.1 economy as the combined company would hold roughly 60% of the domestic market, surpassing the 40% market share of LATAM Airlines.

That has raised concerns about competition and airfare costs. LATAM's Brazil head Jerome Cadier told newspaper O Globo that a deal would require "serious mitigation measures" from antitrust regulator CADE.

Its former head Gesner Oliveira said the country needed more, not less competition.

"If the merger goes ahead, the biggest loser will be the consumer," he told Reuters.

However, Costa Filho argued that a tie-up would help both companies survive, preserve jobs, allow for lower cost of credit and increase connectivity.

Latin American airlines have struggled with high debt since the COVID-19 pandemic, with most forced to restructure and several ending up in bankruptcy.

Gol has been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the United States since early 2024, while Azul recently had to strike a deal with lessors to scrap obligations in exchange for an equity stake. LATAM exited Chapter 11 in 2022.

"I don't see it impacting prices," the minister said about the planned tie-up.

Still, both airlines would have to convince the regulator of its benefits in a "closely monitored and discussed" process that could be finalised by early 2026, Costa Filho said.

CADE's superintendent Alexandre Souza said in a recent interview with CNN that the regulator would examine competitive conditions thoroughly.

Costa Filho, who last week met with Gol and Azul bosses, said that potential price increases have been discussed with the airlines.

"They made it clear that their goal is to profit through volume, not price," he said. "As airlines strengthen, increase capacity, rework their regional networks and improve management capacity, there is even the possibility of lowering fares."
BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) (TSE:ZWB  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, January 30th,TickerTech Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of 0.11 per share on Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 30th.

BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) Trading Up 0.2 %

zwb stock traded up C$0.04 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$20.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 68,963 shares, compared to its average volume of 150,598. BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF has a 12 month low of C$17.06 and a 12 month high of C$20.30. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$20.02 and its 200 day moving average price is C$19.26.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by investment analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $115.00 to $125.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price objective suggests a potential upside of 20.82% from the stocks previous close.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays increased their target price on Brown & Brown from $108.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Brown & Brown in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They set an overweight rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Brown & Brown from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 2nd. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Brown & Brown from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $98.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $113.00.

Get Brown & Brown alerts:

View Our Latest Report on Brown & Brown

Brown & Brown Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of BRO stock traded down $1.56 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $103.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 284,535 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,622,802. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $105.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.08. Brown & Brown has a one year low of $75.79 and a one year high of $114.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.10. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 22.65% and a return on equity of 17.12%. Equities research analysts expect that Brown & Brown will post 3.74 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Brown & Brown

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mogy Joel R Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Brown & Brown by 324.3% in the 4th quarter. Mogy Joel R Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 19,285 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,967,000 after purchasing an additional 14,740 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Brown & Brown by 4.4% during the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 161,569 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,104,000 after buying an additional 6,805 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Brown & Brown in the third quarter worth approximately $9,832,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Brown & Brown by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,315,654 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $136,302,000 after acquiring an additional 17,934 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Peak Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brown & Brown during the 4th quarter valued at $3,037,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.01% of the companys stock.

Brown & Brown Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Brown & Brown, Inc is an insurance agency, wholesale brokerage, insurance program and service organization. It engages in the provision of insurance brokerage services and casualty insurance underwriting services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Brown & Brown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brown & Brown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI  Get Free Report) (TSE:CNR) is expected to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect Canadian National Railway to post earnings of $1.39 per share and revenue of $4.38 billion for the quarter. Individual that wish to listen to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Canadian National Railway Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE CNI opened at $105.19 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Canadian National Railway has a 12-month low of $98.96 and a 12-month high of $134.02. The firms 50-day moving average price is $104.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $111.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.91.

Get Canadian National Railway alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from $121.00 to $112.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $131.00 to $124.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from $130.67 to $126.29 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Canadian National Railway from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on Canadian National Railway from $119.00 to $112.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $124.02.

About Canadian National Railway

(Get Free Report)

Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Capital Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report) by 11.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,445 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,221 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $2,845,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 2.3% in the third quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,134,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,314,000 after purchasing an additional 47,328 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 11.1% in the 3rd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,814,140 shares of the companys stock valued at $212,780,000 after acquiring an additional 181,523 shares during the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 25.6% in the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 1,791,302 shares of the companys stock valued at $227,048,000 after acquiring an additional 365,602 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 156.5% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 521,898 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,213,000 after acquiring an additional 318,410 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Inc. AR lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 502,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,898,000 after acquiring an additional 1,475 shares during the last quarter.

Get iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF alerts:

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWP opened at $134.87 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $131.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $121.60. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $101.12 and a 12 month high of $138.84. The company has a market cap of $17.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.60 and a beta of 1.15.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index).

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
CGI (NYSE:GIB  Get Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The technology company reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.41, Zacks reports. CGI had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 19.74%.

CGI Stock Performance

NYSE:GIB opened at $115.36 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $110.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $111.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $26.29 billion, a PE ratio of 21.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.95. CGI has a fifty-two week low of $96.92 and a fifty-two week high of $118.89.

Get CGI alerts:

CGI Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a  dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were given a $0.111 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 20th. CGIs payout ratio is 8.55%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on CGI from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CGI from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Cibc World Mkts raised shares of CGI from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. CIBC upgraded CGI from a neutral rating to an outperformer rating and upped their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $178.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $178.00 price objective on shares of CGI in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CGI has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $150.75.

Get Our Latest Report on CGI

About CGI

(Get Free Report)

CGI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology (IT) and business process services. Its services include the business and strategic IT consulting, systems integration, and software solutions. The company also provides application development, modernization and maintenance, holistic enterprise digitization, automation, hybrid and cloud management, and business process services; intellectual property-based solutions; business consulting; managed IT services; and IT infrastructure services.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for CGI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CGI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CRHKY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,300 shares, a growth of 1,200.0% from the December 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 173,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

China Resources Beer Price Performance

China Resources Beer stock opened at $6.15 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.77. China Resources Beer has a 12-month low of $5.45 and a 12-month high of $10.14.

Get China Resources Beer alerts:

China Resources Beer Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells beer products in Mainland China. The company offers its products under the Nong Li, Snow, and Jinsha brands. The company was formerly known as China Resources Enterprise, Limited and changed its name to China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited in October 2015.

Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 34.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,076 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 3,824 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $909,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 5,897.8% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 48,942 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $2,820,000 after acquiring an additional 48,126 shares during the last quarter. L & S Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the third quarter worth approximately $3,256,000. Optas LLC raised its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 318.5% in the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 17,160 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $989,000 after purchasing an additional 13,060 shares during the last quarter. Harrell Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at $2,513,000. Finally, Savvy Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 3rd quarter worth $758,000. 91.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on CMG. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Loop Capital upped their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $53.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 4,404 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.01, for a total value of $286,304.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 185,792 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,078,337.92. This trade represents a 2.32 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Performance

Shares of CMG stock opened at $57.76 on Wednesday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.29 and a fifty-two week high of $69.26. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $60.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $57.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $78.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.27.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.25 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 13.51% and a return on equity of 43.20%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.23 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR  Get Free Report) is expected to announce its earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $2.17 per share and revenue of $535.94 million for the quarter. Investors that wish to listen to the companys conference call can do so using this link.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The bank reported $2.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.07. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a return on equity of 15.82% and a net margin of 18.81%. The firm had revenue of $518.04 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $517.25 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.38 earnings per share. Cullen/Frost Bankerss revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Cullen/Frost Bankers to post $9 EPS for the current fiscal year and $9 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Get Cullen/Frost Bankers alerts:

Cullen/Frost Bankers Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE CFR opened at $140.26 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $137.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $124.33. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 52-week low of $94.09 and a 52-week high of $147.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.40, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Dividend Announcement

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. Cullen/Frost Bankerss payout ratio is currently 47.15%.

Several analysts have issued reports on CFR shares. Compass Point upped their price objective on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $122.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Citigroup increased their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $104.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Stephens increased their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $125.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $123.00 to $115.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Maxim Group increased their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $138.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cullen/Frost Bankers presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $127.07.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Cullen/Frost Bankers

Insider Buying and Selling at Cullen/Frost Bankers

In other Cullen/Frost Bankers news, EVP Bobby Berman sold 3,506 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.31, for a total transaction of $442,842.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,367,550.91. This trade represents a 11.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Phillip D. Green sold 14,358 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.96, for a total value of $1,980,829.68. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 94,423 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,026,597.08. This represents a 13.20 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,864 shares of company stock valued at $2,977,033. 2.89% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Cullen/Frost Bankers

(Get Free Report)

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; and treasury management services, as well as originates commercial leasing services.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Cullen/Frost Bankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cullen/Frost Bankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Dino Polska S.A. (OTCMKTS:DNOPY  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,400 shares, an increase of 600.0% from the December 31st total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days.

Dino Polska Stock Up 4.9 %

DNOPY stock traded up $2.70 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $58.25. The company had a trading volume of 3,683 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,280. Dino Polska has a twelve month low of $39.01 and a twelve month high of $60.20. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.94.

Get Dino Polska alerts:

Dino Polska Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Dino Polska SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates a network of mid-sized grocery supermarkets under the Dino brand name in Poland. The company offers range of food products, including meat, poultry and cold cuts, fruit and vegetables, bread, and dairy products, as well as other food, chemical, and cosmetic products; grocery products, such as childrens food, breakfast products, ready to eat meals, beverages, candies, snacks, frozen goods, processed goods, oils, grain and bulk products, condiments, and alcohol and cigarettes; and non-grocery products, which include flowers, cleaning agents, sanitary articles, pet food, seasonal products, and small household appliance products.

Receive News & Ratings for Dino Polska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dino Polska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Dynatrace (NYSE:DT  Get Free Report) will likely be releasing its earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect Dynatrace to post earnings of $0.33 per share and revenue of $426.85 million for the quarter. Investors that wish to listen to the companys conference call can do so using this link.

Dynatrace Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DT opened at $58.00 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $17.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.94 and a beta of 1.02. Dynatrace has a 1 year low of $39.42 and a 1 year high of $61.41. The firms 50 day moving average price is $54.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.75.

Get Dynatrace alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Dynatrace from $53.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $65.00 price objective on shares of Dynatrace in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Guggenheim reissued a neutral rating on shares of Dynatrace in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Dynatrace from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a hold rating on shares of Dynatrace in a report on Friday, November 8th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Dynatrace has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $61.68.

Insider Transactions at Dynatrace

In related news, EVP Bernd Greifeneder sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.83, for a total transaction of $2,891,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,007,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $58,237,007.54. This represents a 4.73 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.59% of the companys stock.

About Dynatrace

(Get Free Report)

Dynatrace, Inc provides a security platform for multicloud environments in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates Dynatrace, a security platform, which provides application and microservices monitoring, runtime application security, infrastructure monitoring, log management and analytics, digital experience monitoring, digital business analytics, and cloud automation.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Dynatrace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dynatrace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net.

Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.
Firms flexed their muscles in a loosening labor market by eliminating starting salary increases, the report reads. This was made possible by the commensurate slowdown in Big Tech and Finance, but also in Fortune 1000 internal strategy practices  [that] were also impacted by cost-cutting.

A little Pollyannish? Maybe  but unevenness is the new normal for an industry accustomed to a sky is the limit outlook. Now, according to the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report, turnover has slowed with more consultants staying in place. To cut costs, firms have tapped into new ways to boost productivity without adding headcount. True to form, the burden was often shouldered by junior consultants.

Despite the negativity, Management Consulted strikes a more optimistic tone in this years report. Look below the surface, and you will see that the patient is healthier than at first glance. Demand for consulting services continues to grow, headcounts are higher than they were one year ago (although headcount growth was slower than historical averages), and starting consultant compensation is >20% higher than five years ago.

In its latest report, Management Consulted spells out issues that buffeted consulting in 2024. That starts with scandals and lawsuits. In December, for example, McKinsey forked over $650 million dollars to settle claims over its services to Purdue Pharma. In Australia, PwC generated headlines over allegedly marketing private government tax information to clients. Such incidents produced a perception problem in an industry where work is expected to be clean and confidential. That doesnt count the hiring freezes and delayed start dates that dogged new graduates and career changers alike.

Fast forward to the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report and Management Consulted became the classic Cassandra. The past year played out as grim as predicted: stagnant pay and scaled back benefits. Forget the roaring 20s  as in 2021 and 2022 where firms stockpiled talent and 10% year-over-year pay increases were the expectation. Now, lean-and-mean is the industry mantra, as firms navigate through the aftershocks of economic recession, global uncertainties, and technological disruptions.

Thats the dilemma facing Management Consulted . In its 2024 Consulting Salaries Report, Management Consulted projected slow growth in the consulting industry, where demand would outpace supply for open roles. As a result, firms would have little incentive to boost pay.

Story Continues

Bain consultants heading to an engagement. Photographer: Roger Kenny.

A DEEP POOL OF DATA

Just how much did firms flex? In an email to P&Q, Namaan Mian, Management Consulteds Chief Operating Officer, noted that over 90% of firms froze starting base salaries in 2024. It was the second consecutive year that pay freezes have hit this threshold. Such trending gives a decided advantage to larger firms according to the report.

The total comp gap between the top firms and everyone else remains large. While most firms kept base salaries flat this year, the top firms (who drive outsized industry growth) still offer dramatically higher variable compensation, more generous benefits, and less travel. With more attractive comp and lifestyle perks, there may be less reasons than ever for top candidates to choose smaller firms.

At its core, the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report answers the age-old question: How much are different consulting firms paying up front to MBAs and undergraduates  and what types of perks are included in each firms package. Since 2008, Management Consulted has been cataloging a firm-by-firm list of bases, bonuses, and benefits. This year, it covers pay for 124 consulting firms, broken out between two groups MBA/PhD and Undergraduate/Masters degree holders. As a whole, Management Consulted boasts over four million users between its verified website visitors for reports and podcasts, along with consumers of its case interview and resume prep services and consulting coursework. In some cases, these populations provide Management Consulted with pay offers from their firms. Other times, the data comes directly from consulting firms.

One differentiator for the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report: The numbers are based strictly off 2024 responses. Unlike data from sources like Glassdoor, PayScale or Indeed, Management Consulted doesnt average its pay against the previous year. As a result, it is more reliable and up-to-date. Pay data is also represented in U.S. dollars for consistency.

MBB PAY STALLS OUT

Consulting pay may have remained flat in 2024, but that doesnt mean there werent big differences in compensation between levels of education and firms of choice. Take top of the market pay. According to Management Consulted data, MBAs can expect to top out at $192,000 in base. By the same token, their performance bonus and signing bonus can reach $63,000 and $35,000 respectively. Thats a major upgrade over bachelors degree holders who landed consulting jobs in 2024. Starting out, their base hit $112,000 at the high end  or $80,000 less than their MBA counterparts. And there was a similar drop-off in performance bonus ($30,000), and signing bonus ($5,000).

If you think high-end pay starts with the MBB  McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, and the Boston Consulting Group  guess again. At the undergraduate level, Alvarez and Marsal pays $50,400 more than Bain & Company in base and bonuses to start. On top of that, Accenture Strategy, OC&C, and CapOne Strategy hires outearn Bain bachelors degree hires too  at least in base starting out. The trend plays out similarly among newly-minted MBAs entering consulting. Among total compensation, Kearney tops all comers, with Alvarez and Marsal again besting Bain & Company.

Among MBAs in the MBB, Bain hires earned the most in total compensation at the max level. Here, Bain MBAs pulled in $285,000. Boston Consulting Group hires maxed out at $270,000, with McKinsey reaching $267,000. That said, for all three firms, these numbers havent budged over the past three years. To put this slump in perspective, from 2022-2023, Bain MBA hires watched their high-end pay jump from $246,000 to $285,000. Over that same period, BCG and McKinsey MBA hires enjoyed similar increases ($248,000 to $270,000 and $250,000 to $267,000 respectively). To put it another way, had compensation momentum continued unabated over the past three years, Bain MBAs would be collecting $383,500 in the first year, not $285,000. And the numbers would be $320,900 and $299,000 for BCG and McKinsey respectively at the top end. Thats quite a difference!

Still, each MBB firm offers something a bit different for MBAs in their starting pay packages. The bases start at $192,000 at Bain and McKinsey, with BCG coming in slightly lower at $190,000. Similarly, all three firms offer signing bonuses up to $30,000. However, performance bonus turns out to be a differentiator among the MBB firms. McKinsey caps its performance bonus at $40,000, while Bain and BCG hit $63,000 and $60,000 respectively. Bain also offers 25 days of PTO compared to 19 (McKinsey) and 15 (BCG) for MBA s out of the gate. Unlike Bain and BCG, McKinsey includes 50% 2nd year tuition reimbursement for returning interns in its package. BCG contributes more, dollar-wise, than Bain to a 401K ($11,875 vs. $8,000). For those re-locating, BCG only budgets $6,000 to cover a new hires cost, far less than Bain ($8,000 for under 400 miles; $15,000 for over 600 miles) or McKinsey (up to $10,100). In other words, the value of the starting package varies depending on what a new hire values.

Switch over to bachelors degree hires and the MBB follows a similar pattern. Bain and McKinsey start this segment out with a $112,000 base, slightly higher than BCG at $110,000. Each MBB firm provides a $5,000 signing bonus, though McKinseys $18,000 performance bonus lags behind both Bain (Up to $22,500) and BCG ($22,000). True to form, Bain offers more PTO days (20) than McKinsey (19) or BCG (15). McKinsey compensates re-location up to $10,000 (compared to $6,000 and $5,000 at BCG and Bain respectively). When it comes to retirement, Bain chips in up to $6,050 compared to $4,400 in profit-sharing at BCG (and McKinsey committing up to 7.5% in qualified comp). Bain and McKinsey also set aside $5,000 each for a housing allowance for undergraduate hires.

Deloitte photo

BREAKING DOWN THE BIG 4

Total compensation has also flatlined among the Big 4  Ernst & Young, KMPG, Deloitte, and PwC  over the past three years. During the period, youll find top-end total MBA compensation locked into the same bands as 2023 and 2024: Deloitte Consulting ($204,000), EY Consulting ($242,000), KPMG Consulting ($210,000), PwC Strategy& ($280,000) and PwC Consulting ($245,000). Among bachelors degree hires, that same three-year pay lull continued at Deloitte Consulting ($107,500), EY Consulting ($90,000), KPMG Consulting ($110,000), PwC Strategy& ($132,000), and PwC Consulting ($102,000).

According to the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report, consulting firms pursued strategies that attempted to paper over the base play restrictions, such as lifting caps on performance bonuses. In the end, the pay slump reflected management restoring the balance of power after years of catering to increasingly-empowered talent.

Many firms are using depressed raises as a tool to increase attrition, Management Consulted explains. With slowdowns in traditional exit sectors (e.g., corporate strategy, PE), firms arent worried about too much talent leaving at once.

This is reflected in the enticements deployed by several Big 4 firms in their packages. For MBAs, EY Consulting and EY-Parthenon both feature unlimited PTO, with the latter also providing performance bonuses up to $52,500. KPMG Consulting also doles out up to 30 days of PTO, along with relocation reimbursement up to $10,000. Those 30 days of PTO also apply to bachelors degree holders, who receive above-average $10,000 sign-on bonuses. At EY-Parthenon, aside from unlimited PTO, undergrads also collect a $50,000 retention bonus after three years of service.

Next Page: Intern and Career Pay

Colleagues meet in the London office. More than 76 nationalities are represented at McKinsey offices across the UK

INTERN PAY

In terms of total cash for MBAs, Kearney leads the pack at $288,800 at the high end, edging out Alvarez and Marsal ($287,500). Among undergraduate hires, Alvarez and Marsal is the dominant player at $190,000 starting out. Lets just say Alvarez and Marsal isnt afraid to invest in its talent. Among undergraduates, performance bonuses can rise as high as $51,000  not counting a $10,000 sign-on bonus. For MBAs, Alvarez and Marsal performance bonuses ranges from $52,500-$87,000 in the first year  both of which can exceed what graduates can earn at MBB firms.

Thats the cost of competing in management consulting  and many boutique firms shower new hires with benefits beyond the usual pay parameters. For MBAs, Allman Salon covers tuition up to $80,000 over two years, while ZS Associates reimburses second-year tuition (along with providing up to $17,400 for cost-of-living adjustments). Along with a $35,000 sign-up bonus, Accenture Strategy tacks on another $17,500 for returning interns (with Oliver Wyman dangling a $15,000 early sign-on bonus on top of another $30,000 bonus). Kearney will go up to $16,000 for relocation, while OC&C Strategy Consultants provides $800 as a wellness reimbursement annually. In turn, Accenture hands out 15% discounts on stock to bachelors degree hires. At Cornerstone Research, that same population enjoys relocation perks that covers 100% of moving expenses and all broker fees.

Before new hires can enjoy such perks, they must prove their value during internships. Here, Management Consulted supplies an array of data. Covering 10 weeks of internship pay, the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report reflects a range of compensation models. Among MBB firms, MBAs can expect pay that stretches from $36,358 (BCG) to $40,000 (Bain Company). As a whole, NERA Economic Consulting pays the most at $43,250 (plus a $1,250 sign-on bonus). However, this doesnt cover the potential for overtime. For example, KPMG Consulting pays $66 an hour  which rises to $99 an hour with overtime. In addition, Accenture Strategy will pay up to $5,000 for interns to relocate, while ZS Associates will include a $5,000 sign-on bonus for interns. At GEP Worldwide, MBA interns can even collect a $2,500 performance bonus.

Not surprisingly, intern pay is less for students from undergraduate and masters programs. Strategy& and EY-Parthenon pay the highest hourly rates at $49 and $45 respectively, a far cry from the $75 rate paid by FTI Consulting and Mercer Management and HR Consulting to MBAs. That said, Alvarez and Marsal doles out $40 an hour to undergraduates, which climbs to $60 an hour with overtime. Among MBB firms, the high is $22,500 (Bain) and low is $21,150 (BCG). Beyond the usual pay structure, PwC and West Monroe commit $3,000 to sign-on bonuses, while Bain & Company and Mercer Management and HR Consulting allocate $1,000 to relocation and housing respectively. For returning alumni of its Growing Future Leaders (GFL) program, the Boston Consulting Group distributes a $10,000 signing bonus.

Extensive training for BCG Summer Consultants complements their immersive on-the-job learning and mentorship

CAREER PAY IS LUCRATIVEIF YOU CAN STICK IT OUT

Alas, there are holes in the 2025 Consulting Salaries Report  which Management Consulting is quick to admit. For one, sign-on bonuses are a one-time form of compensation that artificially bumps first-year numbers. At the same time, consultants rarely max out their performance bonuses. Generally, the ceiling is only hit by 5%-10% of consultants. Even more, the pay trajectory has grown increasingly uncertain as firms squeeze the new hires at the bottom to better tamp down costs. Even more, consulting is an up-or-out proposition, where above-average performers look to hit an off ramp to maximize their earnings and average performers are gently prodded out of their roles to make room for high potentials.

You typically receive a pay increase when leaving, as well as a bump in lifestyle, according to the report. In the U.S., the average consultant who accepts an industry position receives a 12-20% increase in pay and a better work-life balance. Those entering the financial services industry receive a 30%+ increase in compensationbut work/life balance often takes a hit.

What can consultants expect to earn after their first year in a consulting firm? That depends on how far they want to go. After all, a consulting career unfolds in specific stages, each with their own milestones and increased expectations. Thats one reason why Management Consulted plots out a Salary Growth Trajectory in its annual Consulting Salaries Report.

In this trajectory, Management Consulted pays special attention to MBAs. It estimates a starting base of $190,000 and performance bonus of up to $60,000 for first-year graduates (not counting a one-time $35,000 signing bonus). Within 2-3 years of starting, MBAs are expected to move into a manager or project leader role, which would pay a $220,000-$240,000 base accompanied by a performance bonus of $100,000-$140,000. Within five years of earning an MBA  provided performance remains stellar  a graduate should be elevated to an associate principal or senor project leader role, which would pay anywhere from $275,000-$350,000 in based along with $150,000-$250,000 in performance bonus. At the 6-8-year mark, according to Management Consulted, MBAs should be moving into junior partner or principal roles, which pay $375,000-$450,000 in base on top of a bonus that can range from $375,000-$575,000. After a decade, the hope is that MBAs will assume the mantle of senior partner or director, which pays a $500,000-$750,000 base and a bonus that can extend $500,000.

The caveat: Only a small percentage ever make it to partner. While firms dont disclose this information, youll find MBB alumni pegging the number between 2%-5%. Another truth: an MBA delivers a distinct advantage to generating higher earnings early in career. According to Management Consulted, undergraduate and masters hires average $110,000 in base and roughly $30,000 in performance bonus. Assuming a 10% pay increase  an anomaly in this market  a non-MBA can expect to earn $191,943 in base within six years of graduation. Compare that to MBAs, who start at a $190,000 base  likely after four years of work and two years of business school.

consulting

HOW MUCH DO FIRMS REALLY NEED MBAs?

Thats not to say MBAs will continue to set the market like years past. The 2025 Consulting Salaries Report notes that firms are beginning to reach the limits of how much they can charge clients. To increase margins, firms have already been pursuing less expensive specialist and pre-MBA talent. Notably, McKinseys MBA intake was just 20% of its hiring last year, according to Management Consulted. This mirrors a larger trend according to the report.

First, full-time MBA hiring was more impacted in 2024 than fulltime pre-MBA hiring. Second, while some firms are maintaining the size of their intern classes, they are adjusting the intern mix  increasing the number of undergraduate and specialty masters interns they are hiring at the expense of MBA interns.

The trend also exposes an uncomfortable consideration, adds Namaan Mian. Perceptions of the value of an MBA are all over the place. The comp spectrum for MBA hires is broad, while its consolidated for undergrad hires. This tells me that the value perception of an MBA degree is mixed. Firms historically pay MBAs twice as much, but dont get twice the value from them. This doesnt fly in an efficiency-oriented environment. This is why were seeing less hiring from MBA programs and more from undergraduate ones. This also increases the need for robust training programs at all companies  you never get what youre paying for with a new hire. Getting a return on investment on your talent actually requires continual investment.

This shift also creates opportunities for boutiques and MBAs alike, adds Mian. Smaller companies have a unique opportunity to recruit higher end talent at lower rates as the bigger firms reduce MBA hiring. This changes the types of opportunities that candidates should be pursuing, but also changes the candidate profile that smaller companies can target.

AI: FRIEND OR FOE?

The consulting industry is also facing down several disruptive forces. Mian points to the growth of in-house strategy groups at organizations that previously relied heavily on consulting firms. Such operations could drain both revenue and talent from top consulting firms.

The investment in internal strategy teams across the Fortune 500 is notable in terms of headcount and compensation, Mian explains. Companies are dedicating teams to work on the business instead of in the business, and the implications are many. First, it puts a downward pressure on the rates consulting firms can charge. Second, it opens up more opportunities for candidates looking for consulting roles. Third, it provides a model for businesses of all sizes to not outsource strategy work, enabling a nimbler approach to ever-increasing changes.

Not surprisingly, the shadow of artificial intelligence also looms over the consulting industry. For consulting firms, AI provides more robust functionality to solve problems. Even more, it supplies firms with greater business opportunities as clients grapple with what AI means and how to leverage it. Mian admits that AI will also cut into the need for talent too.

AI enablement is enabling consulting firms to accomplish more with fewer hires. Productivity gains, combined with slower attrition, reduce the need for new hires and stall salary growth. Were still in the early innings of AI adoption, but those who are slow to explore AI enablement will fall exponentially further behind.

NO BIG TURNAROUND

What does 2025 hold for the consulting industry. The 2025 Consulting Salaries Report predicts that IPO and M&A work will pick up, which will provide more engagements as it tempts talented consultants to jump over to the financial services industry. The report also projected growth in sectors like healthcare, supply chain, cloud services, and strategy and operations. Still, Management Consulted expects compensation growth to remain muted since the white-hot growth of the consulting industry will remain in the rearview mirror  even as the workload grows in 2025.

Consultant utilization will rebound, according to the report. There is a limit to the short-term productivity increases that AI will bring to the consulting industry. Due to rebounding demand and smaller headcount, we expect utilization to increase in 2025. This should lead to decreased retention and a slight increase in hiring in 2026.

To download the full 2025 Consulting Salaries Report, which includes detailed pay information for 124 consulting firms, click here.

DONT MISS:

TOP 50 CONSULTING FIRMS TO WORK FOR IN 2024

TOP CONSULTING FIRMS ARE NO HELP AT ALL ACCORDING TO STUDY

The post Consulting Pay: What MBAs Earned In 2024 appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR  Free Report) (TSE:QSR)  Equities researchers at Zacks Research decreased their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Restaurant Brands International in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, January 22nd. Zacks Research analyst M. Kaushik now forecasts that the restaurant operator will earn $1.19 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.21. The consensus estimate for Restaurant Brands Internationals current full-year earnings is $3.30 per share.

Get Restaurant Brands International alerts:

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on QSR. CIBC decreased their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an outperformer rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Restaurant Brands International from $93.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.96.

Restaurant Brands International Price Performance

Shares of QSR opened at $62.40 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $65.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.75, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Restaurant Brands International has a 1-year low of $59.85 and a 1-year high of $83.29. The stock has a market cap of $20.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.94.

Restaurant Brands International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th were issued a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.72%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 20th. Restaurant Brands Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 58.15%.

Insider Activity at Restaurant Brands International

In related news, insider Thiago T. Santelmo sold 3,511 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.20, for a total value of $225,406.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 32,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,114,555.40. This trade represents a 9.63 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 12,420 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.20, for a total value of $797,364.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 703,445 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,161,169. The trade was a 1.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 113,510 shares of company stock worth $7,774,020 in the last three months. 1.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in QSR. Fiera Capital Corp increased its position in Restaurant Brands International by 6.5% during the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 3,744,620 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $270,554,000 after buying an additional 227,203 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 68.6% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,181,459 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $229,545,000 after acquiring an additional 1,294,185 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,969,582 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $215,448,000 after acquiring an additional 118,721 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,207,251 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $159,251,000 after acquiring an additional 307,791 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canoe Financial LP lifted its holdings in Restaurant Brands International by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 2,028,349 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $144,675,000 after purchasing an additional 139,335 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the companys stock.

About Restaurant Brands International

(Get Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Restaurant Brands International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Restaurant Brands International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $22.04.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on FHN shares. Raymond James lifted their price target on First Horizon from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on First Horizon from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on First Horizon from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group started coverage on First Horizon in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a buy rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on First Horizon from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th.

Get First Horizon alerts:

Read Our Latest Report on FHN

First Horizon Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE FHN opened at $21.30 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.66, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.92. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $20.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.98. First Horizon has a 52-week low of $13.45 and a 52-week high of $21.82.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.05. First Horizon had a return on equity of 10.10% and a net margin of 15.38%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that First Horizon will post 1.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

First Horizon announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, October 29th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 10.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

First Horizon Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.82%. First Horizons dividend payout ratio is currently 44.12%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other First Horizon news, CEO D Bryan Jordan sold 109,980 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.13, for a total value of $2,323,877.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,861,381 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,330,980.53. The trade was a 5.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP David T. Popwell sold 100,974 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.77, for a total value of $1,996,255.98. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 519,926 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,278,937.02. This represents a 16.26 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 220,954 shares of company stock valued at $4,519,333 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Horizon

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 160.1% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,436 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 884 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 365.0% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,688 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,325 shares during the last quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 306.2% during the 2nd quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 1,828 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 44.0% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,130 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.28% of the companys stock.

About First Horizon

(Get Free Report

First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through Regional Banking and Specialty Banking segments. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 7.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,842 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $374,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in NVS. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Novartis by 15.7% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 1,706,009 shares of the companys stock worth $196,225,000 after purchasing an additional 231,851 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,353,412 shares of the companys stock worth $155,669,000 after buying an additional 70,314 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 938,844 shares of the companys stock worth $107,986,000 after buying an additional 26,317 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in Novartis by 18.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 780,980 shares of the companys stock valued at $90,289,000 after buying an additional 123,077 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning raised its holdings in Novartis by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 344,951 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,676,000 after acquiring an additional 13,486 shares during the period. 13.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Novartis alerts:

Novartis Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:NVS opened at $101.85 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $100.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $108.64. The company has a market capitalization of $208.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.90. Novartis AG has a 1 year low of $92.35 and a 1 year high of $120.92.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $2.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $12.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.62 billion. Novartis had a net margin of 35.96% and a return on equity of 34.80%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.74 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 7.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on NVS shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, HSBC cut Novartis from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $123.38.

View Our Latest Analysis on Novartis

Novartis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Fortum Oyj (OTCMKTS:FOJCY  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 21,800 shares, a growth of 990.0% from the December 31st total of 2,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 16,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Fortum Oyj Stock Down 4.5 %

OTCMKTS:FOJCY traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $2.74. The stock had a trading volume of 4,309 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,153. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.96. Fortum Oyj has a one year low of $2.29 and a one year high of $3.32.

Get Fortum Oyj alerts:

Fortum Oyj Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Fortum Oyj, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and sale of electricity and heat in the Nordic countries, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company's Generation segment generates power through nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar power; and provides district heating and cooling, and decarbonization services.

Receive News & Ratings for Fortum Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortum Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
General American Investors Company, Inc. (NYSE:GAM  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 30,508 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 64% from the previous sessions volume of 18,601 shares.The stock last traded at $52.42 and had previously closed at $52.25.

General American Investors Stock Up 0.7 %

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $51.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.13.

Get General American Investors alerts:

General American Investors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th.

Insider Transactions at General American Investors

Hedge Funds Weigh In On General American Investors

In other General American Investors news, CEO Jeffrey W. Priest purchased 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $25.00 per share, with a total value of $150,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $384,800. This represents a 63.88 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Insiders acquired 7,250 shares of company stock valued at $192,031 in the last ninety days. 8.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of General American Investors by 31.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 330,584 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $17,731,000 after purchasing an additional 79,975 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in General American Investors during the second quarter worth $1,818,000. Capstone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in General American Investors during the third quarter worth $1,769,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in General American Investors in the third quarter valued at $1,490,000. Finally, C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors bought a new position in shares of General American Investors in the 3rd quarter valued at about $513,000. Institutional investors own 36.85% of the companys stock.

General American Investors Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

General American Investors Company, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of United States. It invests in growth stocks of companies. It makes investments in Information Technology, Financials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Retailing, Communication Services, Industrials, Health Care, Energy and Materials.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for General American Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General American Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSE:GRC  Get Free Report) shares shot up 15.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$0.08 and last traded at C$0.08. 102,800 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 232% from the average session volume of 31,001 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.07.

Gold Springs Resource Trading Up 15.4 %

The firm has a market cap of C$21.23 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.50 and a beta of 0.85. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.11.

About Gold Springs Resource

(Get Free Report)

Gold Springs Resource Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the United States and Canada. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds a 100% interest in the Gold Springs project covering approximately 7,544 hectares located in straddles eastern Lincoln County, Nevada, and western Iron County, Utah.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Gold Springs Resource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gold Springs Resource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Greencore Group plc (OTCMKTS:GNCGY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a growth of 100.0% from the December 31st total of 200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.0 days.

Greencore Group Stock Performance

GNCGY remained flat at $10.10 on Wednesday. 4 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17. Greencore Group has a 52-week low of $4.92 and a 52-week high of $12.15. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $10.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40.

Get Greencore Group alerts:

Greencore Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.1011 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th.

Greencore Group Company Profile

Greencore Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells convenience food products in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company offers sandwiches, salads, sushi, chilled snacking, chilled ready meals, chilled soups and sauces, chilled quiche, ambient sauces and pickles, and frozen Yorkshire Puddings.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Greencore Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greencore Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, October 7th,Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be given a dividend of 0.0095 per share by the bank on Monday, February 10th. This represents a $0.11 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 31st.

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 21.8% per year over the last three years. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has a dividend payout ratio of 25.6% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores to earn $0.33 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.11 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 33.3%.

Get Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores alerts:

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Stock Up 4.8 %

Shares of NYSE:AVAL opened at $2.54 on Wednesday. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has a 12-month low of $1.94 and a 12-month high of $2.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $2.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.91 and a beta of 0.98.

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Company Profile

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores SA provides a range of financial services and products to public and private sector customers in Colombia and Central America. It offers traditional deposit services and products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and other deposits. The company also provides commercial loans comprising general purpose loans, working capital loans, leases, loans funded by development banks, corporate credit cards, and overdraft loans; consumer loans, such as payroll loans, personal loans, automobile and other vehicle loans, credit cards, overdrafts, leases, and general purpose loans; and microcredit and mortgage loans.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Guild Holdings (NYSE:GHLD  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 17,900 shares, a growth of 842.1% from the December 31st total of 1,900 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 12,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Guild

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Guild by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 98,244 shares of the companys stock worth $1,634,000 after acquiring an additional 1,901 shares in the last quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. increased its holdings in Guild by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 653,957 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,875,000 after acquiring an additional 69,603 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of Guild by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 269,881 shares of the companys stock worth $4,488,000 after purchasing an additional 13,668 shares during the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Guild in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in Guild by 8.2% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 27,700 shares of the companys stock worth $410,000 after buying an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.52% of the companys stock.

Get Guild alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

GHLD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Guild in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Compass Point increased their target price on shares of Guild from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Guild from $17.00 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Guild from $13.00 to $11.50 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $16.67.

Guild Stock Performance

Shares of Guild stock traded up $0.27 on Tuesday, reaching $12.72. 3,758 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,715. The company has a current ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $13.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $786.93 million, a PE ratio of -8.20, a PEG ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.00. Guild has a 1-year low of $11.21 and a 1-year high of $18.25.

About Guild

(Get Free Report)

Guild Holdings Company originates, sells, and services residential mortgage loans in the United States. It operates in two segments, Origination and Servicing. The company offers residential mortgages through retail and correspondent channels. Guild Holdings Company was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Guild Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guild and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
John Wood Group PLC (OTCMKTS:WDGJF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 198,200 shares, a growth of 283.4% from the December 31st total of 51,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 70.8 days.

John Wood Group Stock Up 7.1 %

Shares of WDGJF traded up $0.06 on Wednesday, hitting $0.87. The companys stock had a trading volume of 300 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,755. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $0.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.42. John Wood Group has a fifty-two week low of $0.61 and a fifty-two week high of $2.69.

Get John Wood Group alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on John Wood Group in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set an overweight rating on the stock.

About John Wood Group

(Get Free Report)

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for John Wood Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wood Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
By Milana Vinn

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Japanese technology group NEC Corp has been talking to its advisers about the possibility of making an offer for CSG Systems, which provides customer care and billing solutions for cable and phone companies, according to people familiar with the matter.

Tokyo-based NEC has been working with investment bankers at Morgan Stanley on a potential offer for CSG, which has explored a sale over the past year, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential.

The deliberations between the companies are at an early stage, the sources said, cautioning that a deal is not guaranteed and it's possible that NEC would decide not to submit a formal bid for CSG. A different suitor for CSG could also emerge, the sources added.

Shares of CSG, which has a market value of about $1.7 billion, jumped more than 14% on the news to touch a 52-week high before paring some gains.

NEC and CSG declined to comment. Morgan Stanley did not respond to requests for comment.

Englewood, Colorado-based CSG provides software and business services to telecommunication providers globally, helping them manage functions such as revenue management, customer experience, and payments. Its customers include Comcast, Charter Communications, Dish TV, and MTN Group, according to its website.

Earlier in January, CSG said its current chairman Ron Cooper would step down from his role at the end of his term in May and will be succeeded by another board member Marwan Fawaz, a veteran technology industry executive.

CSG has been battling to latch on its market share, as large telecommunications customers have been trying to cut costs as they look to prioritize hefty investments on infrastructure required for 5G deployment.

In its most recent quarterly earnings report, CSG posted a 3% growth in revenue to $295.1 million, buoyed mainly by a strong performance from its customer experience and payments units. The company also extended its contract with Comcast, which is its biggest customer and accounts for a fifth of its revenue. CSG is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results on Feb 5.

Founded in 1899, NEC is a provider of information technology and network communications, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and telecommunications equipment and software. NEC, which has a market value of 3.67 trillion yen ($23.62 billion), was once the world's biggest maker of semiconductors but has since pivoted to focus on areas such as IT services.

($1 = 155.3600 yen)

(Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Chizu and Nick Zieminski)
Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $62.00 to $61.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the casino operators stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s target price indicates a potential upside of 39.05% from the companys current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $55.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $51.00 price target (down from $54.00) on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Las Vegas Sands currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $60.33.

Get Las Vegas Sands alerts:

View Our Latest Analysis on LVS

Las Vegas Sands Trading Up 1.5 %

Insider Buying and Selling

Shares of LVS stock traded up $0.64 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $43.87. The stock had a trading volume of 2,535,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,519,878. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.81 billion, a PE ratio of 21.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.09. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $50.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09. Las Vegas Sands has a 52-week low of $36.62 and a 52-week high of $56.60.

In other Las Vegas Sands news, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 60,187 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.02, for a total value of $3,191,114.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Robert G. Goldstein sold 24,324 shares of Las Vegas Sands stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.00, for a total value of $1,264,848.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 60,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,129,724. The trade was a 28.78 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.91% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Las Vegas Sands

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Meeder Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 97.2% during the 3rd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 89,743 shares of the casino operators stock worth $4,518,000 after acquiring an additional 44,223 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,627,422 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $283,284,000 after acquiring an additional 77,807 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the second quarter worth $619,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 29.9% during the second quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 833,487 shares of the casino operators stock worth $36,882,000 after purchasing an additional 191,805 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 548,072 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $27,590,000 after buying an additional 136,859 shares during the period. 39.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the Peoples Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 64.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,674 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,270 shares during the quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $803,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. PFG Investments LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 29,390 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,537,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares during the period. Drive Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 126.6% in the 4th quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,976 shares of the companys stock valued at $484,000 after purchasing an additional 2,221 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 39.3% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 10,641 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,281,000 after purchasing an additional 3,004 shares during the period. MKT Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 17.8% in the 4th quarter. MKT Advisors LLC now owns 3,249 shares of the companys stock valued at $395,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC now owns 6,385 shares of the companys stock valued at $768,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the period. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Get Philip Morris International alerts:

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Philip Morris International stock opened at $129.06 on Wednesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $87.82 and a 52 week high of $134.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $200.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $125.27 and a 200-day moving average of $122.42.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.18%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 85.71%.

Several research firms recently issued reports on PM. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $145.00 price objective (up from $138.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $118.50 to $132.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $131.35.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on PM

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SKM  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 31,257 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock, valued at approximately $658,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in SKM. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in SK Telecom by 27.8% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,246 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in shares of SK Telecom by 57.6% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,949 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 1,078 shares during the last quarter. Ariadne Wealth Management LP purchased a new position in shares of SK Telecom during the second quarter valued at approximately $127,000. PDS Planning Inc acquired a new stake in SK Telecom during the third quarter worth approximately $200,000. Finally, D Orazio & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in SK Telecom in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $200,000.

Get SK Telecom alerts:

SK Telecom Stock Down 0.8 %

SKM opened at $21.66 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.80. SK Telecom Co., Ltd. has a 12 month low of $19.88 and a 12 month high of $24.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The business has a 50-day moving average of $21.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $22.55.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SK Telecom ( NYSE:SKM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $3.35 billion during the quarter. SK Telecom had a net margin of 6.31% and a return on equity of 9.03%. On average, research analysts expect that SK Telecom Co., Ltd. will post 1.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Separately, StockNews.com lowered SK Telecom from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th.

Read Our Latest Research Report on SK Telecom

About SK Telecom

(Free Report)

SK Telecom Co, Ltd. provides wireless telecommunication services in South Korea. The company operates through three segments: Cellular Services, Fixed-Line Telecommunications Services, and Other Businesses. The Cellular Services segment offers wireless voice and data transmission, Internet of Things solutions, platform, cloud, smart factory solutions, subscription, advertising and curated shopping under T Deal brand name, and metaverse platform-based services, as well as sells wireless devices.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for SK Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SK Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Oppenheimer from $477.00 to $507.00 in a research note released on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the industrial products companys stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on DE. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $404.00 to $462.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Barclays raised their price target on Deere & Company from $400.00 to $475.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group cut Deere & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $510.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Deere & Company from $401.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Deere & Company from $450.00 to $470.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $444.50.

Get Deere & Company alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Report on DE

Deere & Company Price Performance

Deere & Company stock opened at $480.59 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $130.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $440.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $407.30. Deere & Company has a 52 week low of $340.20 and a 52 week high of $485.84.

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 21st. The industrial products company reported $4.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.89 by $0.66. The firm had revenue of $9.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.20 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 31.32% and a net margin of 13.73%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $8.26 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Deere & Company will post 19.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Deere & Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This is a boost from Deere & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.47. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.35%. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.31%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Deere & Company

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DE. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 32.0% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,352,465 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,068,404,000 after acquiring an additional 1,782,984 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in Deere & Company by 27.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,542,013 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,895,518,000 after purchasing an additional 988,380 shares during the period. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its holdings in Deere & Company by 53,338.6% in the 3rd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 854,484 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $356,602,000 after purchasing an additional 852,885 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Deere & Company by 46,892.9% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 772,094 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $322,218,000 after purchasing an additional 770,451 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stockbridge Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Deere & Company by 157.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC now owns 884,237 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $369,019,000 after purchasing an additional 540,874 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.58% of the companys stock.

About Deere & Company

(Get Free Report)

Deere & Co engages in the manufacture and distribution of equipment used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and turf care. It operates through the following segments: Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Agriculture and Turf segment focuses on the distribution and manufacture of a full line of agriculture and turf equipment and related service parts.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Orange (OTC:ORANY  Get Free Report) and TIM (NYSE:TIMB  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and valuation.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Orange and TIMs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Get Orange alerts:

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Orange $47.75 billion 0.60 $2.64 billion N/A N/A TIM $4.77 billion 1.34 $568.34 million $1.26 10.47

Orange has higher revenue and earnings than TIM.

Volatility and Risk

Dividends

Orange has a beta of 0.24, suggesting that its stock price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, TIM has a beta of 0.83, suggesting that its stock price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Orange pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%. TIM pays an annual dividend of $0.69 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.2%. TIM pays out 54.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

12.2% of Orange shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Orange and TIMs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Orange N/A N/A N/A TIM 12.71% 11.73% 5.51%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Orange and TIM, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Orange 0 1 0 0 2.00 TIM 0 3 1 0 2.25

TIM has a consensus target price of $17.57, suggesting a potential upside of 33.14%. Given TIMs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe TIM is more favorable than Orange.

Summary

TIM beats Orange on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Orange

(Get Free Report)

Orange S.A. provides fixed telephony, mobile telecommunication, data transmission, and other value-added services to individuals, professionals, and large companies in France and internationally. It offers mobile services, such as voice, SMS, and data; fixed broadband and narrowband services, as well as B2B fixed solutions and networks services, including voice and data services. The company also sells handsets, broadband equipment, connected devices, and accessories. In addition, it provides IT and integration services comprising unified communication and collaboration services, such as LAN and telephony, consultancy, integration, and project management; hosting and infrastructure services, including cloud computing; customer relations management and other applications services; security services; and video conferencing, as well as sells related equipment. Further, the company offers national and international roaming services; online advertising services; and mobile virtual network operators, network sharing, and mobile financial services, as well as sells equipment to external distributors, brokers, and operators. It markets its products and services under the Orange brand. The company was formerly known as France Telecom and changed its name to Orange S.A. in July 2013. Orange S.A. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

About TIM

(Get Free Report)

TIM S.A., a telecommunications company, provides mobile voice, data, and broadband services in Brazil. The company offers in mobile, landline, long-distance, and data transmission services. It also offers fixed ultra-broadband, fixed ultraband broadband, and digital content services. The company serves individuals and corporates, as well as small, medium, and large companies. TIM S.A is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company operates as a subsidiary of TIM Brasil Servicos e Participacoes S.A.

Receive News & Ratings for Orange Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orange and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Orrstown Financial Services Inc. decreased its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,064 shares of the companys stock after selling 230 shares during the period. Orrstown Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $440,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in KO. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Coca-Cola in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the third quarter valued at about $35,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Institutional investors own 70.26% of the companys stock.

Get Coca-Cola alerts:

Insider Activity at Coca-Cola

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.03, for a total transaction of $6,403,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 342,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,933,220.38. This represents a 22.60 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.97% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on KO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $73.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on Coca-Cola from $82.00 to $72.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $71.93.

Read Our Latest Report on Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:KO traded up $0.24 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $62.60. 1,315,949 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,956,419. The stock has a market capitalization of $269.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $66.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The Coca-Cola Company has a one year low of $57.93 and a one year high of $73.53.

Coca-Cola Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PCCW Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCWY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 800 shares, a decline of 72.4% from the December 31st total of 2,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 7,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

PCCW Price Performance

OTCMKTS:PCCWY traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $5.81. The companys stock had a trading volume of 468 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,076. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.81, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The firms fifty day moving average price is $5.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.64. PCCW has a 12-month low of $4.67 and a 12-month high of $6.39.

Get PCCW alerts:

About PCCW

(Get Free Report)

Featured Articles

PCCW Limited provides telecommunications and related services in Hong Kong, Mainland and other parts of China, Singapore, and internationally. The company's services include local telephony, local data and broadband, mobile, enterprise solutions, international telecommunications, and satellite-based and network-based telecommunications services; outsourcing, consulting, and contact center services; and technical consulting and engineering services.

Receive News & Ratings for PCCW Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PCCW and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PFG Investments LLC cut its position in shares of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report) by 12.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,076 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 1,105 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLCs holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $759,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of WEC. Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its stake in WEC Energy Group by 106,685.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 26,000,000 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,500,680,000 after buying an additional 25,975,652 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 17,270.5% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,718,179 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $453,794,000 after acquiring an additional 4,691,017 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in WEC Energy Group by 102.6% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,776,071 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $362,971,000 after acquiring an additional 1,912,223 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in WEC Energy Group by 17.0% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,806,360 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $462,276,000 after acquiring an additional 699,177 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its stake in WEC Energy Group by 57.7% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,900,238 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $182,765,000 after acquiring an additional 695,317 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.20% of the companys stock.

Get WEC Energy Group alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WEC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $103.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. StockNews.com raised shares of WEC Energy Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $108.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Barclays raised shares of WEC Energy Group from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $89.00 to $93.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $103.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, WEC Energy Group currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $98.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other WEC Energy Group news, Director Gale E. Klappa sold 40,269 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.56, for a total value of $4,009,181.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 273,248 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,204,570.88. This trade represents a 12.84 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Scott J. Lauber sold 6,720 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.89, for a total transaction of $677,980.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 45,709 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,611,581.01. This trade represents a 12.82 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 48,794 shares of company stock valued at $4,866,579. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

WEC Energy Group Trading Down 1.8 %

NYSE:WEC opened at $99.07 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market cap of $31.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.48. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $75.13 and a 52 week high of $102.79. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $96.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $94.13.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.12. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 15.14% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The firm had revenue of $1.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.93 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.00 EPS. The companys revenue was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

WEC Energy Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a $0.835 dividend. This represents a $3.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.66%.

WEC Energy Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WEC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for WEC Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEC Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (NYSE:PCN  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 54,300 shares, a decrease of 80.5% from the December 31st total of 278,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 206,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of PCN. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund by 1,356.2% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,205,673 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $17,108,000 after acquiring an additional 1,122,875 shares during the period. GHE LLC increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund by 48.4% in the third quarter. GHE LLC now owns 456,055 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $6,471,000 after purchasing an additional 148,651 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund by 32.0% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 393,996 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $5,205,000 after purchasing an additional 95,482 shares during the period. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,310,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. grew its holdings in PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 900,769 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $12,782,000 after buying an additional 79,059 shares during the last quarter.

Get PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund alerts:

PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of PCN traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $13.49. 148,083 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 215,428. PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund has a 12-month low of $12.32 and a 12-month high of $14.36. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.70.

PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund Announces Dividend

About PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, January 13th will be paid a $0.1125 dividend. This represents a $1.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.01%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 13th.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund invests in securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
RCS Financial Planning LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG  Free Report) by 19.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,649 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,380 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF comprises approximately 1.4% of RCS Financial Planning LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. RCS Financial Planning LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $2,580,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Davis Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Evermay Wealth Management LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 833.3% during the third quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 252 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 176.2% in the third quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 279 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Viewpoint Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Atmos Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000.

Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Performance

Shares of EFG stock opened at $101.60 on Wednesday. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $67.58 and a 52-week high of $85.81. The stock has a market cap of $11.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.36 and a beta of 0.97. The firms 50-day moving average is $99.49 and its 200-day moving average is $102.05.

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Expectations were high for artificial intelligence (AI) companies, but they took a hit on Monday after Chinese startup DeepSeek claimed it can spend way less money and deliver AI performance comparable to major tech firms.

This triggered massive selloffs in megacap stocks. Nvidia (NVDA) fell 17%, losing over $500 billion in market capitalization -- a record-breaking decline, larger than the entire market cap of companies like Mastercard (MA), Netflix (NFLX), Costco (COST), and Bank of America (BAC).

Broadcom (AVGO) also plunged 17%, losing about $200 billion in market value, while Oracle (ORCL) fell roughly 14%, or $70 billion in market cap. It made me curious how stocks have tended to perform after such massive losses.

Megacaps Making Mega Moves

Ill leave it to the fundamental traders to assess DeepSeeks impact on Nvidia, Oracle, and Broadcom earnings. What Ive done below is look at historical instances when large-scale losses have occurred, then see how the stocks performed afterwards. Specifically, I went back to 2000 and found instances when a stocks price dropped by 10% or more, resulting in a loss of at least $50 billion in market cap.

The table below indicates this could be a buying opportunity for these stocks. I found 30 times before in which a stock fell 10% and $50 billion in market cap in a single day, with these stocks gaining more than 12% on average over the next three months, and over 20% in the next six months. with 60% of the returns positive.

The average positive return of more than 50% over the next six months suggests theres been massive upside in these situations, despite the fact these are megacap stocks.

itow1jan28

This next table is for comparison, and shows the return you would have earned had you purchased the S&P 500 Index (SPX) instead of the beaten down stocks. Buying the beaten down stocks outperformed on average at every time frame recorded.

iotw2jan28

Above, it shows that when massive market-cap losses occurred in the past, they tended to be overdone. Meanwhile, the table below summarizes a stocks performance after a single-day gain of 10% or more, resulting in a market cap gain of at least $50 billion.

It seems that whenever a stocks value changes by $50 billion or more during a single day, whether it is up or down, it's a good idea to buy it and hold it for six months. These stocks gained 10.6% on average in the next six months, with 58% outperforming the SPX. If you had invested in the SPX, it would have gained just 3% over the next six months.
Aviva plc (OTCMKTS:AVVIY  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 14,700 shares, a decline of 75.8% from the December 31st total of 60,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 77,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Aviva Stock Down 0.4 %

OTCMKTS AVVIY traded down $0.05 on Tuesday, reaching $12.79. 30,803 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 32,206. Aviva has a 12 month low of $10.50 and a 12 month high of $13.58. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $12.55.

Get Aviva alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on AVVIY. BNP Paribas raised shares of Aviva from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Aviva from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Aviva to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Aviva from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aviva currently has a consensus rating of Buy.

Aviva Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Aviva plc provides various insurance, retirement, investment, and savings products in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and internationally. The company offers life insurance, long-term health and accident insurance, savings, pension, and annuity products, as well as pension fund business and lifetime mortgage products.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Aviva Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aviva and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group (OTCMKTS:EUBG  Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a decrease of 53.3% from the December 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 106,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group Price Performance

EUBG traded up $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $0.34. 17,901 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 41,340. The stocks fifty day moving average is $0.27 and its 200 day moving average is $0.26. Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group has a one year low of $0.02 and a one year high of $0.40.

Get Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group alerts:

About Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group, through its subsidiaries, provides digital marketing consultation services in the Hong Kong and People's Republic of China. It offers consulting, sourcing, and marketing services. The company was formerly known as REE International, Inc and changed its name to Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group in April 2020.

Receive News & Ratings for Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (OTCMKTS:THMG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,700 shares, a decrease of 65.2% from the December 31st total of 25,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 90,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Thunder Mountain Gold Stock Performance

Thunder Mountain Gold stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $0.10. 3,600 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 33,600. The business has a fifty day moving average of $0.09 and a 200 day moving average of $0.06. Thunder Mountain Gold has a 1-year low of $0.02 and a 1-year high of $0.14.

Get Thunder Mountain Gold alerts:

About Thunder Mountain Gold

(Get Free Report)

Featured Articles

Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc explores for and develops mining properties in Nevada and Idaho, the United States. It explores for zinc, silver, gold, and copper deposits, as well as base metals and other commodities. The company holds interests in the South Mountain property that includes 18 patented mining claims covering an area of approximately 346 acres; 36 acres of private land; 21 unpatented mining lode claims covering an area of approximately 290 acres; leased private land covering approximately 489 acres; and private land not contiguous with the mining claims covering an area of 360 acres located in the South Mountain Mining District, Owyhee County, Idaho.

Receive News & Ratings for Thunder Mountain Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thunder Mountain Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR  Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 1,605,056 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 41% from the previous sessions volume of 1,138,916 shares.The stock last traded at $34.87 and had previously closed at $33.89.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen upgraded Spirit AeroSystems to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Spirit AeroSystems in a research report on Monday. They set a sell rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Spirit AeroSystems has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $35.67.

Get Spirit AeroSystems alerts:

Get Our Latest Report on Spirit AeroSystems

Spirit AeroSystems Trading Up 2.0 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The companys fifty day moving average is $33.23 and its 200 day moving average is $33.32. The company has a market capitalization of $4.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.78 and a beta of 1.81.

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in shares of Spirit AeroSystems by 3,996.6% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,500,000 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $81,275,000 after buying an additional 2,438,974 shares in the last quarter. Alpine Associates Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Spirit AeroSystems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $77,296,000. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in Spirit AeroSystems by 1,744.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 802,091 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $26,557,000 after purchasing an additional 758,599 shares during the period. ING Groep NV purchased a new position in shares of Spirit AeroSystems during the 3rd quarter valued at $16,817,000. Finally, Sand Grove Capital Management LLP bought a new position in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the third quarter worth $14,099,000. Institutional investors own 93.59% of the companys stock.

About Spirit AeroSystems

(Get Free Report)

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, and marketing of commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, floor beams, nacelles, struts/pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats flight control surfaces, wing structures, and wing systems.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Spirit AeroSystems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spirit AeroSystems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, a growth of 150.0% from the December 31st total of 200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad Stock Performance

Shares of TNABY stock traded up $1.60 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $14.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,620 shares, compared to its average volume of 115. Tenaga Nasional Berhad has a one year low of $8.52 and a one year high of $15.24. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $12.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $12.99.

Get Tenaga Nasional Berhad alerts:

About Tenaga Nasional Berhad

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Tenaga Nasional Berhad engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Malaysia and internationally. The company operates and maintains thermal generation facilities and hydroelectric power generating schemes; and manages and operates the National Grid that is connected to Thailand's transmission system, as well as Singapore's transmission system at Senoko.

Receive News & Ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, January 29th,RTT News reports. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.27 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.31%. This is a boost from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.25.

Charles Schwab has raised its dividend by an average of 11.6% per year over the last three years. Charles Schwab has a dividend payout ratio of 19.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Charles Schwab to earn $5.11 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 19.6%.

Get Charles Schwab alerts:

Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.5 %

Charles Schwab stock traded up $0.43 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $82.13. The stock had a trading volume of 8,717,347 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,207,134. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $77.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $70.92. Charles Schwab has a twelve month low of $61.01 and a twelve month high of $83.35. The firm has a market cap of $146.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.47, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 21st. The financial services provider reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $5.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.19 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 30.31% and a return on equity of 18.20%. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was up 19.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.68 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Charles Schwab will post 4.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of brokerages have commented on SCHW. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $84.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Cowen increased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and set a $94.00 price objective (up from $84.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $84.11.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab

Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In other news, Director Christopher V. Dodds sold 9,284 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.43, for a total transaction of $755,996.12. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 442,807 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,057,774.01. This represents a 2.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Arun Sarin sold 8,548 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.82, for a total transaction of $699,397.36. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 18,617 shares in the company, valued at $1,523,242.94. This represents a 31.47 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 50,014 shares of company stock worth $4,052,281. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Charles Schwab

(Get Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Victoria PLC (OTCMKTS:VCCTF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 77,600 shares, a decline of 97.3% from the December 31st total of 2,890,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 85,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.9 days.

Victoria Stock Performance

Shares of Victoria stock remained flat at $1.72 on Wednesday. Victoria has a 12-month low of $0.50 and a 12-month high of $3.85. The firms 50 day moving average is $0.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.49.

Get Victoria alerts:

Victoria Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Featured Articles

Victoria PLC, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes flooring products primarily in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, the United States, and Australia. The company operates through four segments: UK & Europe Soft Flooring, UK & Europe Ceramic Tiles, Australia, and North America.

Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL  Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Monday. The financial services provider reported $1.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.03, Zacks reports. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a net margin of 14.66% and a return on equity of 13.16%.

Western Alliance Bancorporation Trading Down 5.1 %

Shares of NYSE:WAL opened at $89.23 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $88.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $84.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a 12-month low of $53.75 and a 12-month high of $98.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.46.

Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts:

Western Alliance Bancorporation Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $0.38 dividend. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. This is a positive change from Western Alliance Bancorporations previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Western Alliance Bancorporations dividend payout ratio is currently 23.46%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WAL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a report on Tuesday. Barclays lifted their price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $105.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. UBS Group started coverage on Western Alliance Bancorporation in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $115.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $102.00 to $101.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.38.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on WAL

Western Alliance Bancorporation Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as fixed-rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposit accounts; demand deposits; and treasury management and residential mortgage products and services.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Wilmar International Limited (OTCMKTS:WLMIY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,000 shares, an increase of 2,400.0% from the December 31st total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 124,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Wilmar International Price Performance

Shares of Wilmar International stock opened at $22.61 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $22.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.68. Wilmar International has a 52 week low of $21.40 and a 52 week high of $26.71.

Get Wilmar International alerts:

About Wilmar International

(Get Free Report)

Recommended Stories

Wilmar International Limited operates as an agribusiness company in Singapore, South East Asia, the People's Republic of China, India, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Food Products, Feed and Industrial Products, Plantation and Sugar Milling, and Others.

Receive News & Ratings for Wilmar International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wilmar International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, the U.S. oil and gas giant, has begun exploratory drilling offshore Cyprus in partnership with QatarEnergy to tap into the potential natural gas reserves in the region. ExxonMobil had previously announced that its drilling operations would include the Electra and Pegasus prospects. The president of Cyprus mentioned that drilling had commenced at the Electra prospect last week.

East Mediterranean Gas Reserves Yield Promising Results

The Eastern Mediterranean region has drawn significant interest from several oil and gas producers due to vast natural gas discoveries made in recent years. The area showed promising results, as highlighted by a discovery made by ExxonMobil in 2019 at the Glaucoma well. Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, efforts have been made to explore natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean region, aiming to secure alternative sources of gas and reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies.

XOM secured exploration licenses in Cyprus in 2017. Several other international energy majors, including U.S.-based Chevron, Italian multi-energy firm Eni and France's TotalEnergies, have also been awarded exploration licenses in the region.

Cyprus Ambitions to Become a Reliable Gas Supplier

Cyprus has made some modest offshore gas finds compared to larger discoveries made in the neighbouring countries of Egypt and Israel. However, the country has not put any gas into production yet. Cyprus is looking to establish itself as an alternative supplier of gas in the European Union (EU).

Challenges Faced Over Regional Disputes

However, challenges loom for the nation as drilling activities in Cypriot waters are closely tracked by Ankara, per a statement from the Turkish Defence Ministry. ExxonMobil's drilling activities are carried out in an area that lies beyond the continental shelf boundaries controlled by Turkey. The region is known to have substantial reserves of natural gas; however, territorial disputes hinder the development of these resources.

Cyprus and Egypt Explore Collaboration Opportunities

Additionally, Cyprus energy minister has engaged in discussions with Egypts Petroleum Ministry, focused on working in collaboration to develop joint infrastructure projects, per Reuters. These efforts may lead to the formation of an energy corridor connecting the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe.

XOMs Zacks Rank and Key Picks

XOM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are Sunoco LP SUN,Equinor ASA EQNR and Cheniere Energy, Inc. LNG. Sunoco and Equinor currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, while Cheniere Energy carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
India's government is pledging billions in financial support for the country's ambitions around artificial intelligence (AI), and a Mumbai-headquartered energy group has said it plans to build what it calls the "world's largest" data center in Jamnagar. Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, a billionaire and the company's chairman, already has a partnership with California-based technology group Nvidia. The companies last year said they would collaborate in an effort to develop AI supercomputers in India. They plan to jointly build AI infrastructure in the country, and Nvidia last year said it would provide its Blackwell AI processors for a reported 3-GW data center that would be built by Reliance. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO who spoke with POWER at meeting last summer in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the time of last year's deal said, "It makes complete sense that India should manufacture its own AI. You should not export data to import intelligence. India should not export flour to import bread." Nvidia also has a partnership with Tata Group, India's largest business conglomerate. Huang at the Las Vegas meeting said his company's growth is tied to "always looking for ways to get the adoption of accelerated computing in more applications. The first thing that we're doing is that we're accelerating every application we can. And when we accelerate an application, not only do we speed it up, we reduce the cost of computing, we reduce the energy consumed by a lot." Ambani, discussing plans for a data center buildout in India, has said his country "can use intelligence to actually bring prosperity to all the people and bring equality to the world. Apart from the U.S. and China, India has the best digital connectivity infrastructure." The race to build data centers is being accompanied by an urgent need to supply electricity for the energy-intensive AI industry. Several forms of energy, both thermal and renewable, are being tapped to supply power. Nuclear power is among the options; TerraPower, a company founded by former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, recently announced a deal for its Natrium nuclear technology to support development of data centers. Most power generation in India comes from coal-fired power plants. The country's Ministry of Coal has said more than 70% of the country's electricity comes from coal-burning facilities.

Government Investment

India's government recently said it would invest nearly $1.2 billion to help finance AI projects and companies working in the sector. Several large data center projects already are underway in India. CtrlS, a cloud computing company based in India, is behind a facility in Ahmedabad, in Gujarat state. The government of Telangana state said it is working with Ursa Clusters, the data center division of investment manager Blackstone, and Tillman Global Holdingsa New York-based investment groupto build several data centers. Ursa Clusters was among companies announcing data center plans for India at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana government for a 100-MW data center in Hyderabad. Blackstone, which recently agreed to buy a natural gas-fired power plant in Virginia to support data center energy demand, said it would build a 150-MW facility in Hyderabad, and Tillman Global Holdings announced a 300-MW data center, also in Hyderabad, an area that is a focus of India's data center industry. Other companies with facilities in the region include Microsoft and Iron Mountain. AWS has a cloud operation Hyderabad and also has announced plans for more data centers in the city. A 1.2-GW data center under construction in Portugal, being build by Portuguese group Start Campus, is among the world's largest such campuses announced to date. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
(Reuters) -Private equity firm KKR has taken a large stake in Henry Schein and reached a deal to add members to the company's board, the distributor of medical products said on Wednesday.

Shares of Henry Schein were up more than 3% at $78.54 premarket.

The medical and dental supplies distributor, which has a market capitalization of about $9.5 billion, has reportedly come under pressure from other investors in recent weeks, who have been pushing the company to compete effectively with large distributors such as Cardinal Health.

The activist investor Ananym Capital Management had plans to nominate as many as six directors to the board at Henry Schein, Reuters reported earlier in January, arguing the company needs to start searching for a new CEO, cut costs and optimize capital allocation.

KKR will become the largest non-index fund shareholder of Henry Schein with a 12% stake.

Under the agreement, Max Lin and William Daniel will join Henry Schein's board as independent directors.

Lin is a partner at KKR where he leads the healthcare industry team. He will join the nominating and governance committees as vice chair to participate in Henry Schein's governance matters, including the board composition and the ongoing CEO succession planning process.

Daniel is an executive advisor to KKR and former executive at life sciences firm Danaher

Henry Schein's board has also appointed Robert Hombach as an independent director, who is expected to join the board's Strategic Advisory Committee.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the deal.

KKR has experience in the dental business and owns the dental groups Heartland Dental and 123Dentist.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
Session is starting to heat up in Austin  the budget has been filed, committees have been appointed in the Senate, and our first hearings are scheduled. We hit the ground running this year and are prepared to accomplish as much as we can in the short time we have.

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Senate committee assignments for 89th Session released

Last week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced committee assignments for the 89th Legislative Session. I am honored to once again serve as the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. I am also on the Senate Business and Commerce, Local Government, and Finance Committees. These committees cover a variety of subjects including infrastructure, broadband development, the states budget, local regulation, and more. In fact, next week the Senate will begin work on crafting the states budget. Senate Bill 1, the Appropriations Bill, was filed this week by Senate Finance Committee Chair Senator Joan Huffman. We will go through each article of the budget, line by line, to ensure that we are responsible stewards of state and federal funds.

2. BOOT II awards announced by Broadband Development Office

This week, the Broadband Development Office, which is within the Comptrollers Office, announced awards totaling over $700 million for broadband projects across Texas to connect more than 93,000 homes and businesses that lack access. The Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT II) Program sought to support countywide infrastructure projects in counties with the greatest need. To ensure equity across the state, two counties from each of the Comptrollers 12 regions were selected based on the percentage of unserved and underserved locations in the county. The program prioritized the deployment of fiber technology to bring connectivity to these areas. In Senate District 3, three counties were selected  Liberty, Newton, and Trinity. These three projects alone will connect more than 23,000 locations.

3. Winter Storm Enzo brings snow to East and Southeast Texas

For the first time ever, Southeast Texas was under a blizzard warning that stretched from the Golden Triangle east along I-10 into Louisiana. Winter Storm Enzo brought freezing temperatures and snow across the Gulf Coast  coating normally white sand beaches in white, powdery snow. The area saw accumulations up to five to six inches, a new record. The electric grid faired well during the freeze; only local outages due to downed distribution lines were reported. Texas had enough electricity to power the state through the storm. As always, we appreciate our first responders, linemen, and other officials who kept Texans safe and warm during the worst of the weather.

4. State employees fired after data breach, stolen funds

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced last week it suffered a data breach in which account information for 61,000 individuals was improperly accessed by agency employees. Information accessed included personal identifying information like full names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, Social Security numbers, health information, and more. It may have been accessed between June 2021 and December 2024. HHSC took action and terminated the employees and referred the case for investigation. Individuals should carefully review their accounts and information from health care providers, insurance providers, and financial institutions to ensure their activity is correct. If errors are found, the agency is asking individuals to report any questionable activity to the provider and contact law enforcement. Additionally, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients should check their Lone Star Card transactions for potentially fraudulent activity. If you think you are the victim of SNAP fraud, call 2-1-1 and choose option 3 to report the fraud to the OIG. You should also contact your local HHSC benefits office to have benefits replaced.

5. East Texan to be inducted into Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

Ann Thomasson-Wilson of Jasper, TX is set to be inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. She is a two-time bass fishing World Champion, fishing tackle innovator, and owner of Anns Tackle Shop which she opened in 1986 near Lake Sam Rayburn. The shop is a destination for anglers. Additionally, she even designed some of the gear in her store, including baits and hooks. At the end of last year, she retired and handed over daily operations of the shop to her daughter, Debra Pryor, and long-time employee Laren Bush.
Filmmakers of Southeast Texas and surrounding areas will gather at 7 p.m. this Friday at the Logon Cafe in Beaumont for the annual 48 Hr. Film Race.

This free event is open to all and challenges teams of local movie makers to write, shoot, edit and deliver a short film based upon randomly assigned genres, all in just one weekend. The race kicks off at 7p.m on January 31.

Entries to the race will be shown and winners announced next month at Boomtown Film & Music Festival, Feb. 21-23.

This year among BoomFest's special guests will be beloved character actor Burton Gilliam, best known for his role in Blazing Saddles. Gilliam will speak about his experiences across fifty years of acting in such films as Fletch, Back to the Future Part III and Honeymoon in Vegas.

The Jefferson Theatre will also present a Classic Movie Night screening of Gilliam's first film, the 1973 comedy Paper Moon, he will be joined by Houston's PJ Johnson who played Imogene in the film. There will be a Q&A with the two actors following the film.

Beaumont's own Katie Cokinos will be returning during the festival as she does some location scouting for an upcoming movie.

Successful screenwriter Chuck Hustmyer will travel from Baton Rouge to give insights on screenwriting that sells. Hustmyer has recently sold two scripts and optioned another last week. His first feature, "House of the Rising Sun" was Dave Bautista's first starring role.

The Film Festival Doctor, Rebekah Louisa Smith, will return from Dallas to offer more film festival strategy tips and advice to get you ready for distribution.

The three day event spans several venues in downtown Beaumont, including the historic Jefferson Theatre, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Texas Energy Museum and For the Record, Southeast Texas' new combination music shop and concert hall.

BoomFest will host the first live performances ever presented in this exciting new location.

Encore film screenings will take place during a casual Sunday Brunch at Beaumont's Logon Cafe, during which closed captions will be visible on screen in order to make the event inclusive for the hearing impaired.

Tickets and schedule are available now with special early bird discounts at boomtownfestival.org

The Boomtown Film & Music Festival is a non-profit event presented by the Boomtown Film Society and the Southeast Texas Arts Council. It is made possible by generous grants from the City of Beaumont and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) -Norway's $1.8 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, reported on Wednesday a record annual profit of 2.51 trillion crowns ($222 billion), driven by last year's tech rally, but warned that strong returns won't last forever.

It was the second straight year of record profits, beating the 2.2 trillion Norwegian crowns earned in 2023.

"It was a very strong year," Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, the fund's operator, told a press conference. "We had massive gains from technology."

Nearly 50% of the return came from tech stocks, fund data showed, first among them Nvidia.

Tangen warned those returns may not continue. "I just want to warn again that this will not last forever," he said.

Semiconductor stocks in the U.S. and Europe climbed on Wednesday for a second day after China's low-cost DeepSeek AI tool triggered a punishing selloff in artificial intelligence-linked shares earlier this week.

Stress tests the fund released Wednesday quantified the risk posed by an AI stock correction, a debt crisis or geopolitical risk, with scenarios showing the fund could lose 18%, 40% or 35% of its value for each risk respectively - and more if they were combined.

Despite this, the fund is not taking fresh steps to address its dependency on tech stocks. It had a "small" underweight stance in tech stocks before Monday's sell-off in AI-related shares and had not made major changes this week, Tangen said.

NBIM, which invests the Norwegian state's revenues from oil and gas production, is one of the world's largest investors, owning on average 1.5% of all listed stocks worldwide. It also invests in bonds, real estate and renewable energy assets.

The fund's return on investment in 2024 was 13%, 0.45 percentage point lower than the return on its benchmark index.

Inflows from the Norwegian state into the fund in 2024 totalled 402 billion crowns, short of a record set in 2022 of nearly 1.1 trillion crowns.

The return on equity investments was 18% last year, fixed income investments gained 1%, unlisted real estate returned a negative 1% and unlisted renewable energy infrastructure had a return of minus 10%, NBIM said.

At the end of the year, 71.4% of the fund's assets were allocated to equities, up from 70.9% in 2023, bonds declined to 26.6% from 27.1%, unlisted real estate fell to 1.8% from 1.9% and renewable infrastructure represented 0.1% of investments, unchanged from the previous year.

($1 = 11.2858 Norwegian crowns)

(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche. Editing by Terje Solsvik and Mark Potter)
The 1960s paper mill that closed a year ago is on the way to be reopened under new ownership and the City of Orange is giving a$400,000 economic development grant to help.

The Orange City Council and separate City Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors were scheduled to vote on the grant Tuesday evening.

The grant is to USG Paper on Texas Highway 87 North. The plant opened in 1967 as Owens-Illinois and went through other ownerships before Internation Paper acquired it. International Paper closed the plant at the end of 2023 and nearly 500 jobs were lost.

USG is United States Gypsum, which has a subsidiary paper company and mill in Michigan that produces the heavy gauge paper used in wallboard. USG owns the Sheetrock brand.

The city will be giving USG a total of $400,000 over two years to be used for what the city calls "infrastructure." The deal will have a maximum of $200,000 each year.

The paper mill is in the Orange city limits after a "friendly annexation" ten years ago. International Paper asked to be annexed in a dispute concerning sales taxes to a special district.

The paper mill is a major property tax payer for Orange and the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district. Even though a closed industry is required to pay property taxes, the value of the industry is greatly decreased if a plant is not operating.

The city cut its budget 10 percent this year because of a loss of income that included the taxes on the paper mill and the closing of the Invista plant.

The economic development grants come from a special half-cent per dollar sales tax voter approved more than twenty years ago. The council set up an Economic Development Corporation with a seven-member board of directors. Three of those directors are members of the city council, and the other four are appointed by the city council.

Grant awards must be approved by the EDC board and then in a separate vote by the city council. Council members on the EDC board are Mayor Larry Spears Jr., Caroline Hennigan, and Mary McKenna. Other members are Jason Rodrigue, who serves as chair of the board, plus Margaret Adams, Kimberly Manning, and George Mortimer.

Public hearings are conducted before the votes on any of the EDC projects awarded grants.

Also, the EDC board and council were scheduled to vote on a $50,000 EDC grant for Child's hardware at 3704 North 16th Street at Interstate 10. The business is owned by District 2 City Councilor Brad Childs, who is required to recuse himself of any voting involving his personal business.

The Orange City Council also voted to endorse a proposed apartment complex, Orange Trails, for senior citizens of low to moderate incomes. Trinity Housing Development plans to build the apartments at 4438 27th Street north of Interstate 10.

The plans are for 62 apartments for senior citizens with incomes between $27,000 and $37,000. The apartments will rent for prices between $700 and $1,000 a month based on the number of bedrooms and income of the tenants.

The site is vacant land behind two older motels off the interstate and north of Eddleman Road. A Waffle House is also about a block away from the site. The land is in the city's Interstate Development Corridor with adjacent land zoned Residential-3, which allows apartments.

If the project is approved by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to qualify for tax credits, Trinity Housing Development will build the apartment complex with investments. The investors will get credits to offset their income taxes.

The city council needs to approve a resolution endorsing the apartments and pay a token $250 in support before the state group decides on the tax credits.

In other business, the council learned from Fire Chief John Bilbo about a grant the city is getting for its animal shelter from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The $46,200 grant will build a fenced area to allow the shelter animals a place to exercise and space to meet and play with people who want to adopt a pet. The area will include sunshades and benches. The city does not have to contribute money to the project.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is promising more caffeinated growth but isn't yet ready to put hard projections around when.

And for now, that continues to be enough for Wall Street.

Shares of the coffee giant advanced 5% on Wednesday following better-than-expected earnings late Tuesday. On its earnings call, the company highlighted improved sequential sales trends in the US as it worked to speed up mobile orders and end upcharging for dairy substitutes, among other changes.

"I think we're definitely in the middle of a turnaround," Niccol said on Yahoo Finance (video above).

The former Chipotle CEO  who officially took over at Starbucks on Sept. 9, 2024  has a tall order this year in delivering growth to an anxious investor base expecting great things from the restaurant wizard.

Starbucks' most recent quarter showed a 4% drop in global same-store sales as the company pulled back on discounts and consumers shunned the long lines at the chain. North America and US same-store store sales dropped 4%.

International sales weren't any better amid pressure in key markets such as China.

Same-store sales overseas declined 4%, with China dropping 6% year over year.

The company's operating profit margins in its North America and international segments fell a combined 510 basis points from a year ago.

"Still highly controversial [stock]  but at least things dont seem to be getting worse," the Bernstein research team quipped in a client note.

Watch: How Shake Shack's founder is cooking up a new chapter

As a sign of its challenging road ahead, Starbucks continued to decline to share guidance for sales and earnings for its current fiscal year. Niccol pulled the guidance back in October to free up space to invest in marketing, staff, and in-store experience.

He's turning his attention toward making stores feel like the Starbucks stores of yesteryear  more welcoming and with more inviting service. Recently, the company introduced serving coffee in ceramic mugs.

Niccol is also focused on making the mobile order and pay process easier to prevent annoyingly long lines and frustrated baristas.

Still, he declined to say whether he thinks these actions will bring growth back to Starbucks US this fiscal year.

"We're not where we want to be yet. But I'm confident we stay after these strategies. We continue to test and learn. We listen to the feedback. We take action. We will return to growth," Niccol said.

Wall Street has subsequently begun to mark down their earnings expectations on Starbucks for this year, according to Yahoo Finance data.
In the run-up to the crucial Delhi elections, central BJP leadership has summoned key leaders from Bengal to strengthen their campaign. Yesterday, BJP candidate Dushyant Gautams campaign saw the presence of Union minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar in the national capital.

Today, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari is set to join the BJP campaign in Delhi. Meanwhile, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) is also stepping into the fray. TMCs star campaigner, Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha, is scheduled to campaign for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates on 1-2 February. Sinha will lend his support to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, contesting from the New Delhi constituency and Atishi Marlena, contesting from Kalkaji. Sources within TMC revealed that Sinha has been specifically directed by party chief Mamata Banerjee to target constituencies with a significant eastern Indian voter base.

Advertisement

The Delhi elections are turning into a symbolic battle between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari, echoing their fierce rivalry in West Bengal politics. However, TMC is not the only regional player joining hands with AAP. Reports suggest that Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav may also campaign in Delhi soon, signalling SPs alignment with AAP in this electoral contest.

Advertisement

Interestingly, the Congress appears sidelined despite being a part of the INDIA bloc. Observers note that since its setbacks in recent Assembly elections, Congresss influence within the coalition has dwindled. Regional allies are reportedly distancing themselves, with TMC emerging as a major alternative to Congress in some regions. This election marks a unique moment in INDIA, as TMC remains the only party without any electoral understanding with the Congress. The TMC has consistently maintained an anti-Congress stance, particularly in West Bengal. Experts believe this sentiment will now resonate in the alleys of Delhi, shaping the dynamics of the upcoming polls.
Amid the citys water crisis, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday accused Lt Governor V K Saxena of playing politics over the matter as people suffered. She demanded that the LG either fulfill his constitutional responsibility to protect public health or step aside.

Highlighting the alarming levels of ammonia contamination in Delhis water supply, she pointed out that LGs communication acknowledges ammonia levels to have reached 7.2 ppm700 per cent more than the permissible limit.

Advertisement

Atishi further alleged that his administration failed to take urgent corrective measures in this regard, and instead, the LG has chosen to target the Delhi government and deflect from his failure to act.

Advertisement

CMs response came after repeated warnings from the Delhi government regarding the deteriorating water quality were ignored.

She claimed that AAP MLAs and ministers have time and again raised this issue, however, there was no response from the LG.

Atishi added that it was only after Arvind Kejriwal personally intervened, the gravity of the situation was acknowledged.

Addressing LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, Atishi wrote, This letter is in response to the communication received from your office dated 28/01/2025. It is deeply disappointing, but hardly surprising that instead of addressing the pressing issue of dangerously high ammonia levels in Delhis water, you have placed baseless accusations and peddled a false narrative to deflect from your utter failure in fulfilling your responsibilities.

She further stated, As the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, your constitutional responsibility is towards the people of Delhi and not towards your political masters, the BJP. On 22 May 2022, you took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the law, and to devote yourself to the service and well-being of the people of Delhi.

However, your actions reveal that your primary interest lies in following the orders received from the BJP rather than upholding the Constitution or prioritizing the welfare of Delhis citizens, she added.

CM Atishi further alleged that LGs apathy towards the water crisis is something unacceptable, and not statements made by Kejriwal.

She accused LG of not taking meaningful steps with regard to the issue despite being in control of the Delhi Jal Board, and also alleged that nor did he demonstrate even a semblance of urgency to protect public health.
On Wednesday, the Bandra Court sent Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, the accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case, to a 14-day judicial custody. Mumbai police arrested Shehzad on January 19.

The courts decision comes after the police sought a two-day extension of his custody for further investigation. However, the court noted that there were no fresh grounds to justify the extension. The magistrate observed that the investigation was seemingly complete and that no new evidence made way. Meanwhile, the court iterated that the police can request fresh custody if any new developments surfaced within the permissible time frame.

Advertisement

For the unversed, Mumbai police arrested Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national from neighbouring Thane on January 19. They stated that they have ample and strong evidence against the accused. These include documentary, physical, and technical proof. The police have requested facial recognition technology to verify the accuseds identity in the footage. Moreover, they are also evaluating statements from Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and the house staff.

Advertisement

During a previous press conference, Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region), Paramjit Dahiya, revealed the progress of the investigation. He stated the accuseds detection as excellent, proof-based. He also credited the DCP Zone 9 team and the crime branch for their efforts.

Meanwhile, recently, reports suggested that Shehzads fingerprints didnt match the prints obtained from Saifs house. As reported by NDTV, according to sources, Mumbai Police sent the fingerprints found at Saifs home to the fingerprint bureau of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Now, a system-generated report establishes that the prints do not match Shezads. As per sources, the CID has informed Mumbai Police that the test result is negative. Following this, Mumbai Police has sent more samples for further testing.

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan attack: fingerprints mismatch; wrong accused arrested?

Additionally, social media users believe that Shehzads facial features didnt resemble the accused caught on CCTV. Adding a twist to the case, Mohammad Ruhul, the father of the arrested publicly claimed that his son was being wrongly framed. Ruhul alleged that the person in the CCTV footage was not his son. He added that Shehzad had been living in fear of arrest due. This is because he has no proper documentation legitimising his stay in India. Ruhul announced that he is going to approach Bangladeshs foreign ministry and the Indian High Commission to secure his sons release.

Meanwhile, following his arrest, Dikshit Gedam, DCP, Crime Branch, Mumbai, rebuffed the difference in appearance between the man on CCTV and Shehzad. He said, The questions being raised over the difference between the facial features of the arrested person and the one in the footage are totally rubbish. The media has only two pieces of footage of the accused, which had been released earlier. We have several videos of him from different angles, including some in high resolution, which clearly establish the identity of the accused.

Saif Ali Khan suffered six injuries during his scuffle with the intruder in his Mumbai abode. During the confrontation, the perpetrator stabbed the actor. A doctor from the hospital revealed that the actor suffered six injuries with one being very close to his spine. As per the FIR by Saifs house staff, the thief was first seen in Jehs room. Upon confrontation, he demanded Rs 1 crore.
Rakhi Sawant, the Indian actress known for her bold personality and tumultuous love life, has made a surprising revelation. She recently shared that she is in love with Dodi Khan, a Pakistani actor and police officer.

In an interview with News 18, Sawant confirmed her plans to marry Dodi Khan soon, calling it a love marriage despite the geographical distance between them. He is my love. We love each other, Rakhi said, expressing her excitement about the upcoming union.

Advertisement

Rakhis personal life has often been a subject of public fascination, and her relationships have frequently made headlines.

Advertisement

In the same interview, she also took a swipe at her ex-husband, Adil Khan Durrani, accusing him of spreading false rumors about her. Rakhi stated that Adils jealousy over her new relationship was behind the negative publicity, adding, He wants bad publicity, wrong publicity from my name, and I really dont want to give any publicity to that idiot.

Rakhis marriage to Adil Khan Durrani was short, with the couple parting ways in 2023 after a series of accusations from Rakhi, including claims of infidelity.

Adil was arrested in February 2023, spending five months in prison before his release. This was not Rakhis first marriage, as she was previously in a marital relationship with Ritesh Raj Singh, whom she met during their stint on Bigg Boss 15. Their relationship ended shortly after the show concluded in February 2022.

Rakhi Sawants career spans across television, film, and politics. She gained fame through her appearances in Bollywood films and her participation in reality shows like Bigg Boss.

She also made a mark in politics by launching her own party, the Rashtriya Aam Party, in 2014, although she later joined the Republican Party of India (A).
John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, who previously teamed up in films like Karam and Dostana, are set to reunite for an exciting new project.

This time, the duo is reportedly joining forces for a grand Pan-India film directed by the legendary SS Rajamouli, known for his monumental success with RRR.

Advertisement

The buzz around the film, tentatively titled SSMB29, has been growing steadily. The project marks Rajamoulis first collaboration with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, who will play the lead role in this action-packed entertainer.

Advertisement

Early reports had suggested that Prithviraj Sukumaran, the popular actor-director from Malayalam cinema, was going to play a pivotal role.

However, it seems that plans have changed, with John Abraham now stepping in to fill the void.

According to a media reports, John Abraham will share significant screen time with Priyanka Chopra, with several scenes featuring the two stars together. The films shoot is ready to take place in Hyderabad.

This ambitious film, which is likely to have a global appeal, is going to be an action-adventure that will feature a unique mix of Indian and international talent.

The filmmakers have already kicked off the project with a Mahurat pooja on January 3. And, Priyanka Chopra was in Hyderabad shortly after, sparking rumors about her involvement.

Director Rajamouli, known for his meticulous attention to detail, also teased fans with a post earlier this week, hinting at the start of Mahesh Babus shoot for the film.

SSMB29 draws inspiration from Indian mythology, though it will take place in the contemporary world. This means, the movie is likely offering a fresh take on age-old stories.
Yash, the star behind the KGF franchise, is gearing up to take on a monumental role in Nitesh Tiwaris ambitious retelling of the Ramayana.

The actor, who had already confirmed his involvement, is ready to begin shooting for the epic film in March. But Yashs contribution goes beyond just actinghe is also co-producing the film, ensuring his creative influence will shape the project from the ground up.

Advertisement

Sources reveal that journey of Yash to Ramayana began when Namit Malhotra, a key player in the films production, introduced him to the project during discussions about other ventures.

Advertisement

This led to a deeper involvement, with Yash ultimately becoming the first lead actor to officially announce his participation.

While speculation continues about other big names like Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi joining the cast, Yashs confirmation has already heightened anticipation for the film, making it one of the most talked-about projects in recent times.

In a recent interview, Yash shared his excitement about the role of Ravana, calling it the most complex and intriguing character he has ever come across.

Its a fascinating character with so much depth. Theres a vast scope to present it in a way thats never been seen before, he said, adding that the characters complexity drew him in. He also emphasized the importance of having the right actors to bring such a grand story to life, especially given the films massive budget.

Yashs decision to co-produce the film came after discussions with Malhotra and the teams at DNEG and Prime Focus.

The shared vision for the project convinced him that this was the right time to step into a role that would not only challenge him as an actor but also allow him to contribute creatively to the films success.

Ramayana will also feature Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, with pre-production already underway.
Bollywoods Badshah SRK is known for his unbeatable charm, wit, and presence of mind. Fans are always in awe of his spot-on replies which have never failed to captivate the audiences. As Shah Rukh Khan is in Dubai, at a recent event, King Khan was met with a flurry of fans who expressed their love. What has sent fans into a frenzy is the actors witty and adorable replies to the confessions.

During an event, SRK recreated one of his most iconic dialogues from Devdas with a fan. However, in between, the fan shouted I love you. To this, the star humorously replied, I also love you. Dialogue toh bolne de, aur kitna pyaar karega. (Let me complete the dialogue, how much will you love me).

Advertisement



Moreover, when another fan expressed his love for the actor, he responded, I know. I also love you. We can marry after this. This stirred a wave of laughter from the audience. The fan then added, I Want to touch you. To this, SRK replied, Arre aise thodi na bolte hai publicly. (Who says all this publicly?). I want to touch you, touch you touch you. Mereko bhi sharam aati hai. Aise thodi na publicly koi bolega aeseAbhi hoon main yahi pe hoon mai, jaa nahi raha hoon. [I also feel shy. Why would anyone say something like this publiclyIm here now, not going anywhere.] Im here for some time. I have to spend some time with you all.

Taking over fans, Shah Rukh also recited his iconic itni shiddat dialogue from the blockbuster Om Shanti Om. Additionally, in his quintessential suave style, he struck his iconic pose with the audience members.

In related news, Shah Rukh Khan also talked about his next film King at another Dubai event. While he didnt spill any details about the title, he promised the fans a thrilling narrative. The film will also star Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist and mark the theatrical debut of Suhana Khan. Pathaan director Sidharth Anand is working at the helm.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan reveals the title of his next film King is a show-off; teases details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, launched a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for charging the BJP-led Haryana government with poisoning Yamuna water. He said the AAP-DA is in panic fearing a humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections in Delhi.

In their political interest, AAP-DA people have committed another grave sin and this sin can never be forgiven. A former chief minister of Delhi has made disgusting allegations against the people of Haryana. AAP-DA people are in panic due to fear of defeat. Is Haryana different from Delhi, he asked without naming Kejriwal while addressing a public meeting in Kartar Nagar here.

Advertisement

Dont the children, families and relatives of the people of Haryana live in Delhi? Can the people of Haryana mix poison in the water of their own children, Modi asked.

Advertisement

On Monday, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal levelled serious allegations against the BJP, saying the BJP-ruled Haryana government has poisoned the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi to blame the AAP in case people die.

Coming down heavily on the AAP chief for his poisonous water remarks, Modi said, Everyone living in Delhi drinks this water sent from Haryana, the prime minister also has been drinking it for the last 11 years, all the justices and all the other respectable people also drink it.

Stepping up his attack on the AAP, the Prime Minister said, In AAP-DA walon ki lutiya Yamuna ji mein hi doobegi. (Their (the AAP) boat will sink in Yamuna only).

Calling the charges made by the AAP against the Haryana government an insult to the nation, PM Modi said, AAP-DA people are saying people of Haryana mix poison in the water of Delhi. This is an insult not only to Haryana but to Indians but also to our values, to our character. This is a country where offering water is considered a religious duty. But these (AAP) people, fearing electoral defeat, are resorting to such baseless allegations.

The prime minister said, This time, Delhi will teach a lesson to those spreading such lies. Their (the AAP) boat will sink in Yamuna only.

Exuding confidence of the BJP emerging victorious in Delhi Assembly polls, Modi said on February 5, the AAP would go and the BJP would come.

The people here want a double-engine government that will work on the development and welfare of the poor. Delhi now wants a government that builds houses for the poor and modernise Delhi. Delhi wants a government that provides tap water to every house and get rid of the tanker mafia. Thats why the whole of Delhi is saying today  5 February will come, AAP-DA will go, BJP will come, the prime minister asserted.

After February 8, following the establishment of the BJP government in Delhi, we will deliver on all the promises we made within a specified timeframe. This is Modis guarantee, he asserted.

Modi, without directly naming the AAP chief, hit out at him for building a Sheesh Mahal for himself.

The BJP cannot sit idle until the lives of slum dwellers improve. Thats why the BJP government is building permanent houses for thousands of slum dwellers. Many have already received the keys to their homes, and I guarantee that every slum dweller will get a permanent house, he added

He further said, Modi doesnt have his own house, but Modis dream of a permanent home for every poor person. Those who built Sheesh Mahal wasting crores of rupees from public money on luxury can never think of homes for the poor. Thats the reason they are now going to slums and spreading falsehoods. They have mastered the art of lying.

For the first time in history, we are seeing a government that ignores an important institution like the CAG. The AAP government has hidden the CAG reports because they know it will expose them. Lets support our candidates and help them win. In the very first session of the Assembly, we will ensure the CAG report is presented, the prime minister added.
China tech

U.S. tech-focused ETFs tumbled Monday, as fears spread that China's DeepSeek AI will grab market share from tech giants like Nvidia Corp. and Tesla Inc. that had been leading markets higher, and that its reportedly cheaper, faster processes will pull spending from the domestic semiconductor industry.

The tech-heavy $333 billion Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), whose top holdings include AI heavyweights Nvidia, Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. fell 2.7% while the $26 billion VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) slid 8.7% after DeepSeek demonstrated it could create competitive AI models for $6 millionfar below the billions spent by U.S. tech giants.

Nvidia shares plunged 12%, pulling down ETFs where it holds top positions. The stock makes up more than 20% of the Strive U.S. Semiconductor ETF (SHOC) portfolio and just over 18% of iShares Global Tech ETF (IXN) holdings, which fell 1.6% and 4.6% respectively.

A broad range of tech exchange-traded funds fell as investors grappled with DeepSeek's potential to upend the artificial intelligence landscape. DeepSeek's $6 million model has rattled semiconductor ETF investors by challenging the multi-billion dollar investments made by U.S. tech firms in AI development. The Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF (KQQQ) fell 3.1%, reflecting the broad impact across tech-focused funds.

At the same time, China-focused funds moved higher, along with volatility and consumer-focused sectors. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) rose 0.6% and the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) added 0.2%, etf.com data show.

The ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (VIXY) jumped 8.6% while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) rose 1.3% and nearly 1%, respectively, according to etf.com data. Meanwhile, the Tech Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) dropped about 4%.

DeepSeek's Market Impact Widens

The GraniteShares 2x Short NVDA Daily ETF (NDV) soared more than 27% as Nvidia posted its largest single-day decline of 2025.

Meta and Microsoft, which each pledged $65 billion for AI infrastructure in 2025, fell 3.1% and 3.8%, respectively. These declines hit the KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AGIX), which holds Meta at 7.6% and Microsoft at 7.5%, pushing the fund down 3.5%.

Meanwhile, the Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX), with Meta as its largest holding at almost 23% followed by a 13% stake in Google parent Alphabet Inc., fell nearly 1%.





Permalink |  Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
Leaders cutting across party lines on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives during a stampede-like situation at Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj district, and appealed to the state government to provide adequate treatment to the injured.

At least 15 pilgrims are feared dead and over 50 people, mostly women, injured during the stampede-like situation in the Mahakumbh late Tuesday night even as the Amrit snan on Mauni Amavasya of the 13 Akharas commenced late Wednesday amid tight security measures.

Advertisement

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav issued a statement on social media X on Wednesday saying that the news of the casualties of devotees in the Mahakumbh is very sad.

Advertisement

There is an appeal to our government that medical arrangements should be made immediately by transporting seriously injured to the nearest best hospitals. Besides, arrangements should be made to identify the bodies of the dead and hand them over to their families and send them to their residence, he appealed.

Monitoring should be increased by using the helicopter while arrangements should be made to carry out the Amrit Snan of Mauni Amavasya amidst safe management, keeping the unbelievable-immortal tradition of royal bath, which has been going on since long. We also appeal to the devotees to work with restraint and patience in this difficult time and conclude their pilgrimage peacefully.

The government should take lessons from yesterdays incident and make additional arrangements for the stay, food and other facilities of the devotees. Wish for early health benefits of all those who were hurt in the accident, Yadav added.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said the incident is very sad and worrying.

In the stampede in Mahakumbh at the confluence of Prayagraj, condolence to all the devotees who have lost their lives and injured. This incident is highly and worrying. At such a time, give the power to the victims to bear this grief, this is the wish of the party, she said.

UP Congress state president Ajay Rai said many people are dead and injured due to the stampede on the day of Mauni Amavasya in Mahakumbh.

This sad incident has exposed the chaos of this fair and the failures of the Uttar Pradesh government. The Yogi government spent all the money only on its branding and marketing and not on the arrangement of devotees who came to Mahakumbh, it shows the insensitivity of this government, he alleged.

We were constantly trying to warn of such an incident, but they ignored it, he added.

We wish for peace for the souls of the dead and early health benefits of the injured. Along with this, the government urges the government to arrange for proper compensation for the dead and free treatment with compensation to the injured, Rai demanded.
Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania said in Mumbai on Wednesday that she would move the court and place all the evidence as well as documents she has already submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar if Maharashtra Food & Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde does not resign within four days.

Four days are enough to verify the documents I have provided. I will wait for four days, and if Munde does not resign, I will place my documents before the court. I have given all the evidence to Ajit Pawar and he has accepted it. He said that they want to verify the authenticity of the evidence, Anjali Damania said.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Food & Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde was in Delhi on Wednesday where he met Union Food & Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi.

Advertisement

If Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar feel that I am guilty, they must ask me to resign. I will resign if they ask me to do so, Dhananjay Munde said in Delhi.

Yet, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Munde was in Delhi on Wednesday to lobby for saving his ministerial post.

While Dhananjay Munde is in Delhi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also on a three-day visit to Delhi starting Wednesday, leading to speculation that a decision regarding Dhananjay Mundes resignation from his ministerial post could be made in Delhi.

However, Munde denied Sanjay Rauts allegation and said, I did not know Chief Minister Fadnavis would come to Delhi. I came to know about it only after I reached Delhi. I only raised the issue of the problems of the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies with Pralhad Joshi, Munde said.

While others were sceptical about Mundes resignation, Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA from Beed district Sandeep Kshirsagar alleged on Wednesday that Mundes resignation is impossible because he is close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Valmik Karad is special to Dhananjay Munde. Similarly, Dhananjay Munde is special to Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. That is why Dhananjay Mundes resignation is impossible. No matter how much evidence Anjali Damania submits to Ajit Pawar, it will be of no use, Sandeep Kshirsagar tweeted on his X account.

Munde has been facing demands that he must resign after his close aide Valmik Karad was arrested in the Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukhs murder case in Beed district.

In a related development, activist Ketan Tirodkar, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court urging the court to monitor the ongoing investigation in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case.

Tirodkar urged the court to direct the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to file a periodic progress report in the case. Yet another plea before the court sought a direction for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate a probe.

The plea also urged the court to direct the Election Commission of India to scrutinise the election candidate affidavit filed by Dhananjay Munde, alleging that Munde did not disclose in his affidavit that he is the director of several companies.

The plea stated that documents accessed from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs show that both Munde and his murder accused aide Valmik Karad are co-directors of a few companies whose financial transactions need to be investigated but were not being done by the SIT.
The Haryana Government has taken a big step towards providing affordable housing to urban poor and middle-class families with the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).

In order to realize the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide a roof to every urban poor and middle-class family, this ambitious scheme of the Central Government aims to provide financial assistance for affordable housing to urban poor and middle class families across the country in the next five years.

Advertisement

In accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana has taken decisive steps to ensure the smooth implementation of PMAY-U 2.0.

Advertisement

Haryana Chief Secretary Dr Vivek Joshi on Wednesday chaired the 17th meeting of the State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC) for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and the first meeting of the SLSMC for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).

Dr Joshi emphasized the need to eliminate loopholes in fund distribution and directed officials to implement an OTP-based verification system to prevent financial mismanagement. He also called for a detailed sample survey to assess the genuineness of beneficiaries and ensure that banks should disburse loans in a hassle-free manner.

The benefits of this scheme must reach the poor without leakage, the Chief Secretary asserted, underscoring the importance of strict monitoring and accountability in the implementation process.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for a wide public awareness campaign through print and electronic media, display of flex banners/hoardings at prominent places, distribution of leaflets or handbills in major slums and colonies, and advertisements on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, etc.

The meeting was informed that 15,256 applicants have been allotted one marla plots for constructing pucca houses under the Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana and financial assistance under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) vertical of PMAY-U 2.0 will be provided to these 15,256 beneficiaries.

PMAY-U 2.0 offers a multi-pronged approach to addressing the housing deficit, encompassing construction and purchase options. The scheme caters to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Lower Income Groups (LIG), and Middle Income Groups (MIG) residing in urban areas.

A beneficiary family, defined as husband, wife, unmarried sons, and/or unmarried daughters, must not own a pucca house (a permanent dwelling unit) anywhere in India to be eligible under the scheme. PMAY-U 2.0 offers affordable housing opportunities to EWS families (annual income up to Rs 3 lakh), LIG families (Rs 3 lakh to Rs6 lakh) and MIG families (Rs6 lakh to Rs 9 lakh).

The scheme prioritizes vulnerable groups, including widows, single women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, transgenders, individuals from Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, and other vulnerable sections such as street vendors and construction workers.

The schemes scope extends to all statutory towns as per the 2011 Census and subsequently notified towns, including designated planning areas. PMAY-U 2.0 supports the construction of houses with a minimum carpet area of 30 square meters, offering flexibility to States/UTs to increase this up to 45 square meters, while maintaining the central governments financial assistance levels. The scheme will be delivered through four distinct verticals: Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH), and the Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS).

The Department of Housing For All has been designated as the State Level Nodal Agency, streamlining the administrative process. Crucially, the state has established the State Level Appraisal Committee (SLAC) and the State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC) to oversee project approvals and implementation.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, solidifying the states commitment to the scheme. Monitoring will be conducted at three levelscity, state, and centralthrough dedicated committees such as the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC).

Further, while reviewing the progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, the Chief Secretary was informed that the DPRs of 80 ULBs having 68,016 beneficiaries have been accepted by the GoI. 20,016 houses have been constructed under the scheme while work is underway for the construction of 12,513 houses and a total fund of Rs 622.67 crore has already been disbursed among the beneficiaries.

Further, Letters of Intent have been issued to 34,598 beneficiaries of BLC vertical. Home loan of Rs 8459.91 crore has been sanctioned to 44,722 beneficiaries and interest subsidy of Rs 989.36 crore has been disbursed under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has condemned former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for spreading fear among people for his political gains, calling his statement unfortunate and irresponsible. He asked former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to apologise to the people of Delhi and Haryana for his remarks.

On Wednesday, Saini visited Point No. 4 of the Yamuna River near Dahisara village on the Delhi-Haryana border, performed prayers, and drank Yamunas water to demonstrate its purity.

Advertisement

While responding to Kejriwals claim that the BJP government in Haryana is discharging poisoned water into the Yamuna, the Haryana CM clarified that water samples taken by the Water Authority of India did not contain any toxic substances.

Advertisement

The Chief Minister accused Arvind Kejriwal of engaging in deceitful politics. He said that Kejriwal failed to fulfil the promises he made to Delhis citizens over the last 10 years.

By falsely claiming that Yamunas water is toxic, Kejriwal is creating unnecessary fear and distress among people, which is highly unfortunate, said Nayab Singh Saini.

Citing the reports of the last four samples from the Pollution Control Board, Saini said that Yamunas water was found to be completely clean at Haryanas border before entering Delhi. Haryana is sending clean water to Delhi, but when it returns to Haryana via Palwal and Faridabad, its condition worsens significantly.

The CM also raised concerns over Rs 8,500 crore allocated by the central government for water purification and sewage treatment in Delhi. He questioned where the money had gone, stating that Kejriwal failed to install proper treatment plants to release clean water into the Yamuna.

He further alleged that Delhi saw no development in the last 10 years, which is why streets remain waterlogged, and the sewage system is dysfunctional.

The Chief Minister recalled how 10 years ago, Kejriwal stood near the Yamuna and promised to clean the sacred river, but no action was taken. Now, the people of Delhi are eagerly waiting for the upcoming elections.

Saini said that Kejriwal must apologise for his misleading statements. He accused Kejriwal of consistently blaming Haryana either for stubble burning or for water pollution without any factual basis.

The test reports from Point No. 4 of the Yamuna River at Dahisara village show ammonia nitrogen levels Below the Detection Limit (BDL = 0.5) on January 28, 2025. The same results were recorded on January 16, 2025, December 17, 2024, and November 26, 2024.
In an encounter between security forces and Naxals early today, one Naxal was killed and another injured in the Keda Veer Jungle of West Singhbhum in Jharkhand. Two security personnel were injured in the encounter that occurred at around 3 AM when the Jharkhand Police, along with Cobra 209 Battalion personnel, were carrying out a search operation against Naxal forces.

On entering the jungle, the security forces were ambushed as the Naxals opened fire on them. In response, the security personnel retaliated, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. During the clash, one Naxal was neutralised, and two security personnel sustained injuries, including one soldier.

Advertisement

The security forces also recovered two INSAS rifles from the site of the encounter. Police officials confirmed the development and assured that a thorough operation is underway to locate and neutralise any remaining Naxal operatives in the area.

Advertisement

West Singhbhums Superintendent of Police, Ashutosh Shekhar, confirmed the incident and stated that the operation will continue until all Naxals are cleared from the region. This marks another significant confrontation in the ongoing battle between security forces and Naxal insurgents in Jharkhand.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as reinforcements are expected to assist in the continued operations. The injured security personnel are reported to be in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.
On the holy occasion of the Mahakumbhs second Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya, the banks of the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj transformed into a vibrant tapestry of faith and divinity as over 50.7 million took a dip at different ghats.

In the backdrop of a stampede-like situation in which 15 pilgrims are feared to be dead and 30 injured near Sangam nose, a massive crowd of devotees gathered at Mahakumbh and took the holy dip in Sangam even before the break of dawn on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday.

Advertisement

The Amrit Snan, scheduled to begin at 5 am, was delayed and commenced at 11 am.

Advertisement

Choppers showered flower petals on Naga Sadhus and saints during the Amrit Snan.

The scene at the Sangam reflected the profound essence of Indian culture and tradition. Devotees from across the country gathered at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati, to take a holy dip and seek blessings and purification.

According to officials, over 50.7 million people had taken a dip in the Sangam till 4 pm.

Braving the cold, millions of pilgrims from India and abroad arrived at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati for the auspicious Amrit Snan. At Brahma Muhurta, countless devotees immersed in the holy waters, praying for happiness, health, and prosperity, embodying Indias rich culture and traditions.

From early morning, devotees thronged the Nagvasuki temple and Sangam area. Elderly, women, and youth, carrying bundles on their heads, walked with unwavering faith. Many, driven by devotion, began bathing in the sacred Ganga waters during the night itself.

Chants of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Ram echoed across the 12-kilometre stretch of the bathing ghats. Alongside the sadhus performing the Amrit Snan, common devotees also took a sacred dip, expressing their deep faith.
Escalating attack on the ruling AAP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said lies and loot in Delhi is about to end. He said after 8th February, the BJP government which will be formed in Delhi, will fulfil all its promises in a time-bound manner and this is Modis guarantee.

Addressing a public rally in Yamuna Khadar, Ghonda, PM Modi said, The people of Delhi have full faith in the resolution of BJP and the guarantee of Modi. I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned in the development of this place. 

Advertisement

He said 25 years of the 21st century has passed but the situation in Delhi remains the same.

Advertisement

The PM said, Before I address todays election rally, I express my condolences towards the families of the people who have lost their lives in the painful accident which occurred in Mahakumbh. I express my sympathies with the affected families. Many people suffered injuries.

He said he was in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. For a brief time, the process of holy dip was obstructed but it has been going on smoothly for some hours now, he informed further.

Addressing the rally, PM Modi said, The scene here reflects the mood of Delhi, it reflects the mandate of the people of Delhi. Delhi is saying that now the excuses of Aapda will not work, false promises of Aapda will not work. Delhi is saying that now the loot and lies of Aapda will not work. 

He said people here want such a double-engine government of the BJP which will build houses for the poor, make Delhi modern, provide tap water to every house and give freedom from the tanker mafia.

Today, Delhi is saying that when 5th February comes, Aapda will go, BJP will come, he stressed. He pointed out that the BJP government will not stop schemes but will continue with them. He said the AAP government has left the people of Delhi at the mercy of the mafia.

Voting for Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 5 and counting will take place on February 8.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday, submitted his reply to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the complaints over his charge against the Haryana government of poisoning the Yamuna water to blame the AAP government in Delhi in case of any harm to people.

In his reply, Kejriwal said he only highlighted the severity of the toxic river water received from Haryana in the public interest.

Advertisement

In his response to the ECI, Kejriwal claimed that the river water was contaminated with several harmful elements posing grave health risks to the people of the national capital.

Advertisement

By doing so, he denied committing violation of any law or code of conduct. I beseech and most humbly request the Election Commission to intervene on the major issue of availability of safe water and pass appropriate directions to the State of Haryana so that safe water is made available to the citizens of Delhi, he added.

He highlighted that his poisoned-Yamuna water remark was in the context of a public health crisis arising from the contamination of drinking water in the national capital, which, he said, is a crucial matter.

The ECI, on Tuesday, issued a notice to the former chief minister on the complaints filed by the BJP and Congress over his remarks on poisoning of Delhi water.

The poll panel had asked Kejriwal to furnish his response by 8 pm on January 29 (Wednesday).

In its notice to the AAP convenor, the ECI said it received complaints against him from the BJP and Congress for making allegations of poisoning of river Yamuna in Delhi.

The Commission said it also perused the report of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) but found no mention of poisoning the Yamuna water.
number

FIRs

registered

talaq

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the central government to state on affidavit the totalofand charge sheets filed across the country under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, that criminalises divorcing a wife by a Muslim husband by pronouncingthree times in one go and provides for a jail term of up to three years for such a husband.

At the outset of the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, heading the bench also comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta if he could apprise the court of the total number of FIRs registered in the country under the law and the cases pending before the courts.

Advertisement

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, said he would provide the details to the court.

Advertisement

The hearing on Wednesday witnessed Solicitor General Mehta and the advocates appearing for the petitioners, who have challenged the 2019 law, exchanging jibes.

Appearing for some of the petitioners, who have challenged the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, senior advocate MR Shamshad told the bench that FIRs are not registered for months in matrimonial cases, but here, on the mere occurrence of words, FIRs are filed.

Solicitor General Mehta mocked the submission and said, You throw a woman out of your life and house by mere occurrence of the word.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, also representing some of the petitioners, responded that the mere utterance of words has been criminalised and abandonment is also not a criminal offence for any other community.

Triple Talaq is also not in other communities, the Solicitor General responded.

CJI Sanjiv Khanna then said, I am sure none of the lawyers here are saying that the triple talaq practice is correct, but what they are saying is that whether it can be criminalised when the practice is banned and no divorce can take place by uttering talaq three times at once.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, abolishes the practice of divorcing a wife by pronouncing triple talaq in one go and makes it punishable for the husband for a jail term of up to three years.

The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2019 Act. The petitions challenging the law that criminalises the divorces by Muslim husbands by pronouncing talaq three times in one go included one by Kerala-based Samastha Kerala Jamaithul Ulema, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamat E Ahile Sunnat Karnataka, Muslim Advocates Association, Islamic scholar and politician Amir Rashadi Madni, Sayyed Farooq, and others.

Seeking a declaration that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, notified on July 31, 2019, is violative of Articles 14, 15, 21, and 123 of the Constitution of India and thus unconstitutional and unenforceable, the Kerala-based Samastha Kerala Jamaithul Ulema has said, The Act has introduced penal legislation specific to a class of persons based on religious identity. It is causative of grave public mischief, which, if unchecked, may lead to polarisation and disharmony in society.

The Samastha Kerala Jamaithul Ulema has stated that the intent behind the Act is not abolition of triple talaq but punishment of Muslim husbands as Section 4 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act provides for a three-year sentence when a Muslim husband pronounces triple talaq.

The central government had earlier stated that the state could resort to criminal law to preserve the sanctity of the institution of marriage.

Triple talaq was not a private wrong done to one woman. It was a public wrong which militates against the rights of women and the social institution of marriage itself, the central government had said.

Triple talaq ceased to exist on August 22, 2017, when the Supreme Court declared it void.
A stampede-like situation unfolded on the morning of Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, resulting in around 30 women being injured as they made their way towards the Sangam for the Amrit Snan, one of the most significant rituals of the festival.

The incident occurred amidst the surge of millions of devotees gathering for the holy dip, prompting the Akharas to call off the event temporarily.

Advertisement

The chaos ensued about a kilometre away from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, when barricades broke, causing panic among the crowd.

Advertisement

The crush of people led to several women fainting, and as they fell to the ground, a stampede-like situation emerged. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital located within the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds, while some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scenes. Jay Prakash Swami, who witnessed the incident firsthand, shared, She had gotten trapped under the crowd and couldnt get up. We were all stuck in the crowd. I was the first to get out, then I helped the children and my father and then my mother.

Vidhya Sahu, another eyewitness who had travelled from Belgavi, Karnataka, recounted, We have come from Belgavi, Karnataka. We were just walking when people from behind pushed us and took us around. There was a pole in the opposite direction, and everyone got stuck near it.

Crowd Diversion Plan Implemented at Maha Kumbh and the entry of devotees was halted. Groups of devotees were stopped on the outskirts of the city.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya holds immense spiritual significance, especially this year due to the rare Triveni Yog celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years.

This alignment has added to the fervour and devotion of the millions who gathered for the ritual. Authorities have since tightened security measures and urged devotees to remain cautious.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - ByteDance's TikTok will invest 126.8 billion baht ($3.76 billion) in Thailand in a data hosting service, the Thai investment board said on Wednesday.

The Chinese firm's investment was made by its Singapore-based unit and would support activities of affiliated companies, with operations slated to begin in 2026, Thailand's Board of Investment said. It was among $5 billion of approved new projects announced on Wednesday.

TikTok did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation.

The move comes as several tech giants plan data centres in the country, Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

Last year, Alphabet Inc's Google said it would invest $1 billion in Thailand, a year after Amazon Web Services announced a $5 billion investment in the country over 15 years. Microsoft has also announced it will open its first regional data centre in Thailand.

TikTok's plans "mark a significant step in enhancing Thailand's digital and AI infrastructure," said BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi, adding it helped bring the country closer to goal of becoming a regional hub.

($1 = 33.7200 baht)

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Martin Petty)
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed his deep condolences following the tragic stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Wednesday, which left many people injured, several of them critically. He also called for urgent reforms to curb the VIP culture and improve arrangements for common devotees.

Taking to social media platform X, LoP Rahul Gandhi shared his grief and concerns over the incident, stating, The news of several people being killed and many being injured due to the stampede at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Advertisement

He further emphasised the need for better management at large religious gatherings, blaming mismanagement and the focus on VIP movements for contributing to the tragedy.

Advertisement

He wrote, Mismanagement, mismanagement, and administrations special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident.

The LoP noted that while the stampede had already occurred, there was still ample time left for more important bathing rituals, or Maha Snans, at the Maha Kumbh.

Rahul Gandhi urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further incidents, adding, There is still a lot of time left for the Maha Kumbh, many more Maha Snans are to take place. The government should improve the system to prevent a tragic incident like today from happening again.

VIP culture should be curbed and the government should make better arrangements to meet the needs of common devotees, he stressed.

He also appealed to Congress workers and leaders, requesting them to extend their support to the affected families, offering help and solidarity in this tragic time.

According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stamped and injured many, some of them critically.
The Zo-Reunification Organization (ZORO), a prominent group advocating for the unity of Zo ethnic tribes, staged a massive protest on Tuesday against the Mizoram state governments order implementing the Central governments decision to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and introduce a new border pass system.

The demonstration included symbolic acts such as burning copies of the government order and was held in the state capital Aizawl along with other district headquartersChamphai, Lunglei, Kolasib, Serchhip, and the towns of Mimbung and Vaphai. Similar protests were also organized in Tengnoupal and Chandel districts of Manipur.

Advertisement

The FMR, a longstanding agreement between India and Myanmar, allowed residents along the 1,643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border to move up to 16 km into each others territory without visas.The policy, which facilitated cross-border cultural ties, trade, and familial connections among the Zo ethnic tribes, has now been replaced by a stricter border pass system.

Advertisement

The new regulation mandates that residents within 10 km of the border on both sides must apply for official passes, significantly restricting mobility. Also, the Indian government has pushed for border fencing, a move widely opposed by the people of Mizoram.

Expressing strong discontent, ZOROs vice president Rohmingthanga Kawlni stated, ZORO is saddened and disappointed by the Central governments decision to cancel the freedom of communication with our brothers and sisters from the other side of the border. We also criticize the Mizoram state government for supporting the Centres decision by issuing the order to scrap the FMR. In fact, the protest event also saw participation from key political figures across party lines.

ZORO has also vowed to collaborate with the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a powerful student organization, to take the issue to the Centre. The groups plan to demand the reinstatement of the FMR and halt the border fencing project, arguing that such measures violate the historical and cultural ties of the Zo tribes spanning both sides of the border.

In addition to opposing the FMRs removal, it has raised concerns regarding the alleged forced repatriation of 28 Bangladeshi refugees by the Mizoram government and Assam Rifles.

Reports suggest that these individuals had sought shelter in Mizoram but were sent back under disputed circumstances. The organization has condemned these actions, reiterating Mizorams history of providing refuge to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries.

The abolition of FMR and border fencing initiatives are part of the Indian governments broader strategy to tighten border security amid growing concerns over illegal migration, insurgency, and smuggling activities.

However, for the Zo people, who share deep historical and familial connections across the Indo-Myanmar border, these changes represent a severe disruption to their way of life.

The escalating opposition in Mizoram indicates that this issue could develop into a significant flashpoint between the state and the Central government in the coming months.
In India, January every year ushers in a euphoric moment for professionals and businessmen alike due to the old debate built around the general budget with a largely reductionist approach focussed mainly on the income tax ceiling. The purpose here, however, is to broaden our understanding of the dynamics of Indias evolving political economy, and its current trend and direction, because a vibrant democracy without creative efforts to reset economic governance is inconceivable.

It is a daunting challenge before the nation because without innovative reforms not only will our growth curve plateau but also the equity aspect, even within an overall neoliberal competitive scenario, will be scuttled. At the same time, we need to be cautious that now the new anxiety of HMPV virus might engulf the Chinese economy. Moreover, the situation in Bangladesh might challenge expected performance of sub-regional groupings like BBIN, BIMSTEC, apart from Indias Look East policy. As a result, efforts to woo foreign investment may not be as successful at the moment. The current economic landscape in India presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring a delicate balance between growth-oriented policies and inclusive development. A comprehensive approach to economic governance could involve assessing tax structures, promoting innovation across sectors, and strengthening regional economic cooperation both at home and abroad.

Advertisement

Additionally, our policymakers must remain vigilant about global economic trends, now inseparable from health and geopolitical concerns that could potentially impact Indias economic trajectory and foreign investment prospects. On the other hand, Indias economic health will depend not on short-term adjustments like the central banks repo rate, but on long-term vision. Since the 18th Lok Sabha election in early 2024, when the BJPs majority got shrunk considerably, it will be interesting to see how the party comes up with a reformist or conservative qua protectionist stance through budgetary policies.

Advertisement

Despite speculation, it seems settled that the party will navigate choppy waters to boost venture funding for start-ups in new sectors like e-vehicles and biotech, while synergising with capital expenditure for robust infrastructure development in trying to accomplish a V-shaped economic recovery post-pandemic through a combination of new projects like freight corridors and even by promoting spiritual tourism. Even the current discourse on One Nation One Election is floated on the pretext that it will be immensely cost-saving for the nation. The potential shift in the BJPs policy approach due to a reduced majority is likely to lead to a delicate balance between populist measures and macroeconomic reforms. This delicate balance may influence key infrastructure projects and their implementation timelines, potentially affecting the pace of economic recovery.

Here it wont be too much to remember how our pharma industries helped save millions of lives worldwide during the Covid-19 crisis. Hence the government needs to encourage the development of valuable yet low cost drugs as innovation in therapeutics and bioinformatics. Simultaneously we cannot forget the role of NGOs and SHGs working in remote localities who complement government in service delivery and reduce pressure on public institutions, hence requiring reinforcement to enhance their position. So, the empowerment of the economy may thrive from SEZs but people attach more value to support structures that provide them social and psychological relief without which restoring trust is impossible. Hence the government has to think out of the box to ensure accountability as a vital prerequisite to good governance in a holistic sense. Since we are talking about the political economy of the Indian state, lets look at the dynamics of our federal setup, which has gone from centralized to bargain-oriented flexibility which is also important for the Centre from a socioeconomic perspective. In todays competitive political perspective, unilateral central directives to the states and manoeuvring through fiscal mechanisms can be counterproductive for the Centre especially in the age of coalition politics. This might not only affect performance of the states but it can also make them resentful and weaponise the state autonomy issue.

What is also noteworthy here is the role of tribal-dominated states in Indias central region and Northeast which likewise need central assistance through budgetary support as an economic development strategy and also as a concession to regional elites who always demand more policy space. It is good to see their own agency as these states in India increasingly take up new initiatives such as the Backward Region Development scheme, and at the same time try to promote the conditions for doing business. This shift in federal dynamics has enabled tribal political elites as intermediaries to negotiate more effectively with both the Centre and local stakeholders, balancing development priorities with regional interests. As a result, in India states are becoming more proactive in addressing economic disparities through targeted schemes while simultaneously fostering a business-friendly environment to attract investments and promote growth.

This promotional aspect has to be kept in mind in the upcoming bu d get, that is, to facilitate reforms with incentives and the need to negotiate with the regional elites, taking into account state-level realities, caste, class and tradition-stricken communities populating constituencies, so that their approach and response to market friendly reforms could be favourably mobilized. For example, land maps, the Land Acquisition Act, a domain of the state, are an important tool for private investment, of course, without fomenting grassroot resentment. So, while a vision like Vikshit Bharat 2047 could be an ambitious rhetoric on the part of the central leadership, we have to be pragmatic to situate our proposed reforms within a framework of multiculturalism and a regionalist discourse. Today this discourse is not always conciliatory towards the Centre.

Also we cannot just go on talking about meeting regional demands and reaching out to the emerging East Asian or Central Asian markets without addressing our own demographic dividend or the need to check infiltration from the immediate neighbourhood. We understand the historic roots of such contemporary issues but the Centre is answerable on why the share of educated youth among all unemployed people is steadily increasing or, as noted development economist Jean Dreze has stated, that there is no significant growth of real wages in India since 2014. Going by this parameter can we be complacent? As many economists surmise, a K-shaped economic pattern is becoming conspicuous in which a hiatus between the rich and poor gets intensified.

So, while the discourse of one-after-another connectivity projects sounds alluring, in real terms it cannot be miraculous. If two other common issues ~ those of corruption and politicization of institutions ~ are added, the balloon of budgetary euphoria may end up in despondency. Of course, there are some bright spots, such as Kerala that qualifies as an exceptional state in many ways. Its Human Development Index is the highest in the country, for example, its literacy rate is higher than the national average. This outstanding performance is largely due to the high level of political awareness and political participation of people, the roots of which go back to the late 19th century. The state provides a unique model of social democracy, incorporating aspects of a welfare state. The BJPs two complete terms have demonstrated that its fiscal strategy has been narrow to some extent while genuine social welfare programmes ought to get priority.

In its third term, although substantial changes to the Central governments fiscal approach are unlikely, it would be wise for the administration to consider course correction. The government should implement fundamental adjustments to create a long-term fiscal plan that ensures inclusive development while modernising institutions like the Niti Aayog as an impetus to an enlightened view of things.

The writers are, respectively, Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Sidho-Kansho Birsha University, Purilia, and Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ramananda College, Bankura
The growing maritime partnership between India and Indonesia reflects a broader regional alignment to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. The call by the leaders of both nations to resolve disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signals a unified approach to ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific. Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, marked by its nine-dash line, overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several nations, including Indonesia. This unilateral assertion of sovereignty, coupled with aggressive actions like blocking ships and deploying water cannons, has heightened tensions.

Indonesia, though not a claimant in the traditional disputes, has repeatedly rejected Chinas territorial claims that encroach on its exclusive economic zone in the Natuna Islands region. Indias stance on the matter has been consistent and principled. As a nation committed to a rules-based international order, India has supported Asean nations in maintaining their sovereignty and maritime rights. The reiteration of these principles during the Indonesian Presidents recent visit reinforces New Delhis resolve to protect freedom of naviga  tion and the lawful use of the seas. This partnership underscores the shared understanding that a stable maritime domain is vital not only for regional security but also for the economic prosperity of billions of people dependent on these waters. This partnership also aligns with Indias broader Indo-Pacific vision, which emphasises inclusivity, security, and economic growth.

Advertisement

By backing the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and urging the early conclusion of a substantive Code of Conduct, India and Indonesia are sending a clear message: the region must adhere to established international norms, and unilateral actions will not go unchallenged. Beyond geopolitics, the collaboration has economic undertones. Both nations have emphasised the use of local currencies for bilateral trade, aiming to reduce dependence on the US dollar and strengthen financial integration. This move not only deepens economic ties but also underscores the strategic importance of reducing external vulnerabilities in an increasingly uncertain global environment. India and In donesias alignment is significant not just bilaterally but regionally. It reflects the growing need for middle powers to take the lead in ensuring regional stability.

Advertisement

As China seeks to expand its influence and Ame ri can conduct becomes whimsical, partnerships like this become critical in balancing power dynamics. The shared emphasis on maritime security, freedom of navigation, and adherence to international law sets a template for other nations in the region to follow. In the larger context, this cooperation highlights the importance of multilateralism and collective action. The South China Sea disputes are not just about territorial claims ~ they represent a contest for control over critical trade routes and natural resources. By standing together, India and Indonesia demonstrate that mid-sized nations can collectively counter-balance larger powers, ensuring that regional stability is maintained and the rule of law prevails
The indictment of South Koreas impeached President on charges of insurrection marks a historic and sobering moment for the nation. Yoon Suk Yeols attempt to impose martial law in December was a dramatic escalation of political overreach, plunging the country into its deepest political crisis in decades. The charge of insurrection ~ a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even death ~ reflects the gravity of his actions and their implications for South Koreas democratic fabric. Mr Yoons declaration of martial law, ostensibly to protect the nation from anti-state forces, was less about national security and more about clinging to power.

Faced with mounting corruption scandals, deadlock over a budget bill, and investigations into his cabinet ministers, Mr Yoon chose to circumvent the democratic process. His televised announcement, which sought to suspend parliamentary activity and tighten control over the media, added up to an audacious power grab that exposed the fragility of South Koreas democratic institutions when tested by authoritarian impulses. Yet, what followed was a testament to the resilience of South Korean democracy. Within hours of his declaration, Parliament convened in an emergency session. In an extraordinary show of unity, lawmakers from across the political spectrum ~ including members of Mr Yoons own party ~ voted to block the martial law order.

Advertisement

This decisive action not only halted Mr Yoons attempt to consolidate power but also reaffirmed the strength of institutional checks and balances in a moment of crisis. The aftermath, however, has been anything but orderly. Mr Yoons impeachment on December 14 led to weeks of political unrest and public protests. His refusal to cooperate with investigators, followed by dramatic standoffs between his supporters and authorities, underscored the polarisation within South Korean society. While tens of thousands of his loyalists demanded his reinstatement, many others viewed his actions as a betrayal of the democratic principles that underpin the nations governance. Now, as Mr Yoon faces trial alongside his former defense minister and senior military officials, South Korea must grapple with the broader implications of this crisis. The indictment is not just about punishing a leaders misconduct; it is about reinforcing the rule of law and ensuring accountability at the highest levels of power.

Advertisement

The trial will serve as a critical test of the judiciarys independence and the countrys commitment to justice. At its core, this crisis highlights the perils of eroding democratic norms. It serves as a stark reminder that leaders, regardless of their mandate, cannot place themselves above the constitution. South Koreas ability to navigate this turmoil and emerge stronger will depend on the collective resolve of its institutions and citizens to defend the principles of democracy. This chapter in South Koreas history is a cautionary tale, not just for the nation but for democracies everywhere: vigilance, accountability, and institutional strength are the bedrock of a thriving system.
In a strong-worded statement, India rejected a Canadian report alleging that the Indian government interfered in Canadas elections.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in Indias internal affairs.

We have seen a report about alleged activities on purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in Indias internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organized criminal activities. We reject the reports insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced, the statement read.

Advertisement

The report from the Canadian Commission alleged that after China, India was active in interfering in Canadas electoral process.

India is the second most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada. Like the PRC, India is a critical actor on the world stage. Canada and India have worked together for decades, but there are challenges in the relationship. Many of these are long standing and inform Indias foreign interference activities, the report said.

The 123-page report also talked of expelling of six diplomats in October last year, dubbing them as agents. The report referred to the time when Canada on October 14, 2024 expelled six Indian diplomats after police collected evidence that they were part of an Indian government campaign of violence. India then expelled six Canadian diplomats hours after it summoned Canadas Charge dAffaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.

Advertisement

In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India, the report alleged.

The report also claimed that India spread disinformation regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, however, the report contradicted itself by saying that Canada could not find a link to a foreign state on his killing.

Disinformation is also used as a retaliatory tactic, to punish decisions that run contrary to a states interests. This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Ministers announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven), the report said.

On November 20, India strongly refuted the reports in Canadian media regarding the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and said it should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.

The Ministry of External Affairs further emphasised that smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties.

Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
Libyan officials and political factions offered a measured welcome this week to the appointment of Ghanaian diplomat Hanna Serwaa Tetteh as the United Nations new special envoy to the conflict-stricken nation, though analysts and lawmakers cautioned that her tenure may face familiar hurdles in steering the country toward elections and stability.

Tetteh, who previously served as the UN secretary-generals envoy to the Horn of Africa, succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who stepped down as head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in May. Stephanie Koury, a senior UN official, had led the mission on an interim basis until Tettehs selection.

Advertisement

The appointment comes amid stalled international efforts to broker a path to elections in Libya, which is fractured into rival eastern and western governments.

Advertisement

Mohamed Menfi, president of Libyas internationally recognised Presidency Council, called Tettehs selection critical, citing her extensive diplomatic experience in a social media post Sunday.

He expressed hope she could help break the political impasse and advance long-delayed elections, which Libyans view as vital to ending a decade of chaos following the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.

Libyas eastern-based administration, aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, also pledged cooperation but stressed that solutions must emerge from Libyan-Libyan dialogue. In a statement on Facebook, the eastern-based government urged Tetteh to ensure UNSMILs role remains supportive rather than directive, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tetteh, a seasoned diplomat who previously led UN engagements with the African Union, assumes her role on Friday as Libyas political fissures deepen. The country has been deadlocked since the collapse of its 2020 ceasefire, with eastern forces refusing to recognise the Tripoli-based government and both sides accused of obstructing elections.

Some analysts said that Tettehs ability to bridge these gaps  and unify international stakeholders  will likely determine whether her tenure marks a turning point or another chapter in Libyas unresolved crisis.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday at a press conference at the government building in Belgrade, citing elevated tensions sparked by a collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November last year.

Vucevic, along with other current ministers, will continue leading the government in technical mandate until the election of a new government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Advertisement

Serbias PM resigned after weeks of massive anti-corruption protests sparked by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad last November.

Advertisement

The canopy collapse, which killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad, has become a flashpoint reflecting wider discontent with the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbias populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The incident intensified long-held anger over corruption and the lack of oversight in construction projects, amplifying criticism of Vucics government, which has faced accusations of undermining democratic freedoms while pursuing European Union membership for Serbia.

The resignation of Prime Minister Vucevic is expected to trigger an early parliamentary election. Serbias parliament has 30 days to either confirm the resignation and form a new government or call for snap elections.

On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters, including university students on strike, gathered for a 24-hour blockade of a major intersection in Belgrade. The students, who have been protesting for weeks, are demanding accountability for the canopy collapse, which they say is a result of government corruption.

Vucevic, who had served as Prime Minister for less than a year, previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence from 2022 to 2024.

He also served as the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022.

During his tenure, he received several prestigious awards, including the Charter of Honourary Senator of the Senate of the Economy of Serbia in 2014. In that same year, he was honored with the Captain Misa Anastasijevic award for his leadership in promoting European values in Novi Sad. Under his leadership, the city was recognised as the European Youth Capital in 2019 and the European Capital of Culture in 2021.
Norway is on track to become the first country to eliminate gasoline and diesel cars from its new car market.

Despite being a major producer of oil and gas, the Nordic nation has established itself as a global leader in sustainable transportation. Electric vehicle (EV) sales have surged from less than 1% of total auto sales in 2010 to an impressive 88.9% last year, with no signs of slowing down.

According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, EVs accounted for more than 96% of new cars sold in the first weeks of this year, putting the country within reach of achieving a fully electric new car market  a goal lawmakers set in 2017.

Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association, expressed confidence in reaching this milestone, adding that plans are already in motion to celebrate what she called a historic achievement.

"We have already invited a lot of politicians and different stakeholders to a party on the 13th of February because, we don't know exactly until the year has ended, but everyone says we will end somewhere between 95% and 100% this year," Bu told CNBC.

"So, in times like this with [President Donald] Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the climate agreement and everything, I think we need to celebrate the achievements that we have managed," she added.

In a move to reverse key climate policies, former President Donald Trump last week targeted several low-carbon technologies, including electric vehicles. Alongside efforts to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, Trump revoked predecessor Joe Biden's non-binding executive order aiming for 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030.

Trump's new executive order, which has drawn criticism from EV advocates, claims to "eliminate the electric vehicle (EV) mandate and promote true consumer choice."
TotalEnergies SE TTE and STMicroelectronics STM have signed a physical power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply renewable electricity to STMicroelectronics sites in France. This includes research and development, design, sales and marketing and large-volume chip manufacturing.



The PPA is a 15-year contract, which started in January 2025 and represents an overall volume of 1.5 terawatt hours (TWh). It demonstrates TotalEnergies ability to provide long-term, innovative and clean-firm power solutions tailored to its customers' needs.



The renewable energy (including the guarantee of origin) generated by two new 75-megawatt (MW) wind and solar farms run by TotalEnergies will be supplied to STMicroelectronics. This power comes with structuration services to transform intermittent production into a constant volume of green electricity.



This kind of PPA is being offered for the first time in France. One of the main reasons behind the agreement's success was the wind and solar projects' beneficial effects on the local community and environment.

TotalEnergies' Focus on Clean Energy Generation

To reach net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is developing a world-class, cost-competitive portfolio that combines flexible assets like combined-cycle gas turbines and storage with renewable energy sources like solar, onshore and offshore wind. The idea is to provide clean, reliable electricity to its customers.



By the end of 2024, TotalEnergies gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity had reached over 24 gigawatts (GW). With further growth, the company plans to produce 35 GW of power in 2025 and more than 100 TWh of net electricity by 2030.



In December 2024, TotalEnergies Saudi developer, Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, signed a 25-year PPA with the Saudi Power Procurement Company related to the 300 MW solar power project, Rabigh 2.



During the same month, TTE, along with its partner OQ Alternative Energy, the National Renewable Energy Champion, announced the signing of landmark agreements to develop 300 MW of renewable energy projects in Oman. The electricity will be delivered through long-term PPA to Petroleum Development Oman, the leading exploration and production company in the Sultanate.

Other Companies Focus on Renewable Energy

Along with TTE, other companies like BP plc BP and Equinor ASA EQNR are also set to lower emissions and increase renewable energy operations.



BP has set an aggressive energy transition plan to capitalize on the mounting demand for clean energy. By 2030, it plans to reduce emissions from operations by 30-35%. It has set an ambitious goal of developing 50 GW of net renewable energy generating capacity by 2030.



BPs long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 5.3%.



EQNR is investing actively in renewable energy projects, including power generation from solar and wind energy. Equinor aims to attain profitable growth within renewables and expects a production capacity of 4-6 GW by 2026 and 12-16 GW by 2030.



EQNRs long-term earnings growth rate is 5.35%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 6.4%.
By Marie Mannes

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -A jump in fourth-quarter orders at truckmaker Volvo boosted hopes on Wednesday for a less bleak 2025, sending its shares up as much as 6% despite profits missing expectations.

After record sales in 2023, truckmakers saw a slowdown last year that is widely expected to continue this year, with Europe tipped to be hit particularly hard.

But for October-December, Volvo said its order intake rose 24% to 61,200 trucks, with a 37% increase in Europe and a 26% rise in North America.

Citi analysts described the European orders as the "shining star" of the results.

"Orders are clearly better," said Handelsbanken analyst Hampus Engellau. "We're starting to see replacement-driven orders in Europe, so I think that bodes well for this year for those who have been worried about Europe."

Volvo's CEO Martin Lundstedt remained cautious, however, reiterating a 2025 market forecast from October for sales of 290,000 heavy trucks in Europe, and 300,000 in North America.

"When the market is coming back, there's always a possibility of over-swing ... We want to see a little bit how it is stabilising," Lundstedt told Reuters.

PROFITS IMPACTED

Lower sales volumes, continued investments and extra costs in North America related to supply chain issues squeezed profit margins, the company said.

Volvo's operating profit fell in the quarter to 14.04 billion Swedish crowns ($1.28 billion) from 16.98 billion crowns a year-earlier and below the 14.51 billion expected by analysts polled by LSEG.

The North American costs were due to anticipated problems but the truckmaker was also affected when Hurricane Helene hit south eastern U.S. states where it has a large supply base.

Volvo proposed an ordinary dividend for 2024 of 8.00 crowns per share, up from 7.50 crowns for 2023, and an unchanged extra dividend of 10.50 crowns, roughly matching expectations.

The company is the first major European truckmaker to report fourth-quarter results. German rivals Traton and Daimler publish earnings reports in March. They both reported declining 2024 sales earlier this month.

($1 = 10.9777 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Marie Mannes. Editing by Jane Merriman and Mark Potter)


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.
Odisha-based drone maker IG Drones bagged a major contract with the Indian Army to supply indigenously developed VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and FPV (First-Person View) drones to the force.

As the contract comes amid concerns about the security of foreign-made drones, the company clarified that its products do not have any Chinese components.

According to the company, VTOL systems are designed for operations in extreme environments like mountainous regions and urban conflict zones, offering unparalleled flexibility by enabling vertical take-off and landing in areas where runways are unavailable.

FPV drones enable precise intelligence gathering by bringing a real-time, first-person perspective to tactical reconnaissance.

ALSO READ: Peoples Liberation Army's power expansion for border troops: A step towards more military buildup?

"The decision to prioritise domestically developed drone technology comes at a time when the Indian Army faces mounting security threats along international borders," a statement from IG Drones read.

"Recent incidents, such as the hijacking of an Indian Army drone near the Pakistan border, have underscored the urgent need for reliable, indigenously manufactured platforms free from Chinese-origin components, which could compromise national security," it further said.

The company said its commitment to excluding Chinese components from its products to address the critical national security concerns.

Founder and CEO of IG Drones Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya said the contract reflects the Army's trust in the company's ability to deliver secure world-class drone systems.

According to Major General R.C. Padhi, senior vice-president, IG Drones, these drones will play a major role in ensuring reliable surveillance, precise intelligence gathering and better border security.
In an attempt to keep the troops safe, warm and battle-ready through the winter, the Peoples Liberation Army extended electricity supply to border outposts in remote locations, including the strategically important areas along the disputed India-China border.

Quoting PLA Daily, South China Morning Post reported that the national power grid of China is now completely covering border outposts in Xaidulla in Xinjiang Uygur region and Ngari prefecture, located in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The prefecture is bordered by Nepal and India to the south and west.

The initiative by the PLA has reduced the troubles faced by soldiers in high-altitude areas with inclement climatic conditions, including access to drinking water, oxygen and heating facilities.

ALSO READ: China's military leadership asks troops to be ready for combat, tackle corruption in ranks

"This marks a structural change in the energy security of all high-elevation border defence outposts in the military," according to PLA Daily.

China has been making efforts to improve infrastructure in the border areas, and enhancing power supply to troops in such areas has been a priority. In 2016, the National Energy Administration and the military had launched a project to build power grids for the troops.

According to PLA Daily, as of January 2024, the national grid had covered more than 700 frontier outposts.

The logistic support department of the Central Military Commission worked with the National Energy Administration to construct power grids for border defence troops.

READ MORE: Chinese troops getting more oxygen than Indian soldiers in high-altitude areas?



Supplying uninterrupted electricity to border outposts would help PLA enhance the border management and control capabilities of the troops.

"Since many border defense outposts are established in remote, unpolluted regions with little human activity, using electricity from the national power grid to replace burning fuel as much as possible can also contribute to the protection of the natural environment," China Military had quoted an expert as saying in a 2014 article.
Fifteen years after the release of David Finchers biological drama film The Social Network based on the collegiate life of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, lead man Jesse Eisenberg revealed that he was barred by the film's producers from meeting the tech giant.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter podcast, the 41-year-old actor said that he wanted to meet Zuckerberg before the filming began as part of a character study, and recalled, I was driving up to meet him because I was told [by producers], No, were not going to [set up a meeting for you]. So I was literally in my car driving up. I was going to just go to the office and I figured they would let me in. [The film] was announced that I was in it. I just wanted to be in a room with him, just to see what the feeling is like. It just seemed like the bare minimum of research. How could you act in a movie [when] theres a living person over there?

The Now You See Me actor further recollected receiving a phone call from one of the producers of the film. I got a call from Scott Rudin telling me: Do not go there. He was telling me this on behalf of Sonys lawyers. He was telling me, You cant do that for a variety of legal reasons.'

The Social Network is a 2010 film based on the 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three  Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing.

Recently, Eisenberg starred in the road dramedy film A Real Pain. Directed, written, and produced by the actor himself, the film has been receiving high praise a secured two Oscar nominations  Best Supporting Actor for Kieran Culkin and Best Screenplay for Eisenberg.
Ahead of the release of Deva on Friday, its actor Shahid Kapoor has been engaged in promotional rounds. During one of the interactions, the comparison between Deva and some of his previous films featuring aggressive characters was brought up, such as Kabir Singh or Udta Punjab.

In a chat with PTI, he clarified that his titular character in Deva has no resemblance, despite both being "aggressive".

Interestingly, the interaction also brought up a connection between Deva and the 1975 Amitabh Bachchan classic Deewar and his celebrated character Vijay.

Directed by Malayalam director Rosshan Andrrews, making his directorial debut in Hindi, Deva has Shahid playing a rebellious police officer named Dev Ambre who is out to seek revenge after a fellow officer is murdered by a terrorist. His investigation intensifies when Dev discovers that there are secrets that lie hidden within his own organisation, exposing deceit. The other principal cast members are Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Pravesh Rana, and Girish Kulkarni.

The parallels between Deva and Deewar arose after one of the posters showed Shahid posing, with a cigarette in his mouth, in front of a mural of Deewar.

Shahid teased the connection by responding that the question should be directed at Rosshan instead because "he was the one who chose that (visual)" and that there is a relevance of the same in Deva.

Deewaar, which turned 50 this year on January 24, is regarded as one of the finest Hindi films of all time. Directed by Yash Chopra, the action drama was penned by Salim-Javed.
Even though India achieved elimination of leprosy in 2005, the country contributes to 50 per cent of the cases reported from more than 120 countries every year.

Technically, elimination is different from eradication and by the standards of the World Health Organisation, the former is achieved when there is less than one case per 10,000 population.

Experts are of the opinion that early diagnosis is the key to effective leprosy treatment. If left undiagnosed because of scant signs of illness, and consequently untreated, leprosy can progress to a state of high significance and result in irreversible nerve damage with profound sensory and motor nerve loss, deformity, and blindness.

Dr Astha Gupta, Consultant, Dermatology at the Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, said, It stands to reason that identifying leprosy patients, preferably before the onset of symptoms, could have a dramatic effect on clinical outcome.

The WHO has suggested diagnosis of leprosy be made by the observation of one or more of the following: hypopigmented or reddish skin patches with definite loss of sensation; thickened peripheral nerves; and acid-fast bacilli on skin smears/biopsy specimens. Acid fast bacilli are bacteria that cause leprosy, tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.

The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth. Prolonged, close contact over months with someone with untreated leprosy is needed to catch the disease.

Early diagnosis is also the key to strengthening control programmes. More rapid diagnosis and administration of treatment are regarded as critical measures to ensure that current control strategies continue to reduce the burden of leprosy.

Statistically speaking, the chances of contracting leprosy in India are 1/14,300, i.e. less than 0.007 per cent. But if one does contract the disease, the best bet remains an early diagnosis.

There is no cure for leprosy. Whatever damage has already been caused by the disease before treatment, cannot be reversed. But, if caught early, a cocktail of 4-5 drugs (MDT or Multi Drug Therapy, in common parlance) can arrest the progression of the disease in just 48 to 72 hours and make a patient a non-transmitter of the disease.

Deepak Kapur, Head of the Rotary Clubs Alliance for Leprosy Control underscored the importance of non-governmental alliances to create awareness about the disease and its symptoms; training medical and para-medical personnel to spot the disease; provide palliative care, along with providing vocational training to those suffering from it to enable them to earn a livelihood.
Addressing his first poll campaign rally after the announcement of elections in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the capital city was ready to welcome the double-engine BJP government. Modi said the country deserved a world class capital and added that this has not happened during the 25 years of Congress and AAP governments in Delhi.

#WATCH | During a public rally in Delhi, PM Modi says, ": In 'aapda' walon ki lutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi..."



"People of 'aapda' say that people of Haryana mix poison in water sent to Delhi. This is not just an insult to Haryana but to all Indians. Ours is a country where pic.twitter.com/kJoQCAuEi2  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

"We must give 21st-century Delhi a unique, special identity. The world should recognise Delhi not just as Indias capital, but as a model city for a developed India. Only the BJP can achieve this, Modi said.

#WATCH | Over CAG report on Arvind Kejriwal's residence, PM Modi says, "Taxpayers' money will be used for the welfare of the public...They (AAP) fear that their 'sheesh mahal' scam, liquor scam, hospital scam will be exposed...It is Modi's second guarantee that in the first pic.twitter.com/vn0L9W6jvu  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

The mainstay of Modis speech was a scathing attack on former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for misleading the people on claims about poisoning Yamuna water. Modi compared Kejriwal to Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer and criminal known for duping people.

The campaign in Delhi touched a new peak as the war of words escalated between the three main contenders  AAP, BJP and the Congress. A day ago, the Congress had attacked Kejriwal saying he was afraid of Modi. Kejriwal responded with a corruption jibe against the Congress leaders. The poll season is a clash of three personalities  Modi, Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi.

"They asked for votes, three times, promising to clean Yamuna, yet now accuse Haryana of poisoning Delhi's water. This is pure dishonesty and malice. AAP wants Delhi to suffer, forcing our Purvanchali brothers to celebrate Chhath Puja in filth every year, Modi said during his rally at Delhis Kartar Nagar.

He added, Its time for change. BJP has a track record of delivering on promises. Under BJP, rural areas saw progress  from toilets and electricity to tap water in 12 crore homes. If we can bring tap water to remote villages, why can't we ensure clean water for every home in Delhi?"

PM Modi said AAP leaders had no interest in working as for the last five years, the Delhi assembly sat for just 74 days, the shortest working period in its history. While Delhis problems intensified, only 14 laws were passed, and five of those were only about the legislators own salaries and pensions. This shows AAPs lack of concern for the people. Instead of resolving issues, they turned the assembly into a space for insults and petty arguments."

Coming to the BJPs promises, Modi said, BJPs Sankalp Patra promises to uplift women, youth, students, the middle class, and workers guaranteeing its fulfillment.

"To those living in jhuggis, I assure you your home will be built too. Modi doesnt have a home, but my dream is for every poor person to have their own home. Those who build Sheesh Mahal and waste millions of public money can never think about the homes of the poor."

Responding to the AAP's claims about the BJP discontinuing the welfare schemes if people were to vote for it, PM Modi said, "Theyre claiming that BJP will end welfare schemes. But the BJP never stopped any schemes that were for the benefit of the people, even if they came from Congress. For example, MGNREGA wasnt shut down, it was freed from corruption and now operates efficiently. Similarly, in Delhi, no projects funded by taxpayer money for the poor will be stopped. The BJP will ensure transparency and eliminate corruption."

Highlighting BJP's poll promises, Modi said, "Delhi BJP will deposit Rs 2,500 monthly into every woman's account and provide Rs 21,000 during pregnancy for nutritious food. For those working in homes cleaning, cooking, childcare, and driving, the BJP will set up a welfare board with Rs 10 lakh insurance. This includes many poor families, especially women in slums. Scholarships will be given to their children, and BJP promises free education from KG to PG, eliminating concerns over school fees."
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the Centres notice debarring former high court judge Justice Padmaraj Nemachandra Desai from holding any government appointments for three years.

In its interim order, Justice R. Devdas granted stay on the impugned order (dated November 7, 2024) till the next date of hearing (February 6) of the petition filed by Justice Desai, and also issued notice to the respondent (Union government).

Justice Desai was appointed by the Karnataka government as the one-man commission of inquiry on July 14, 2024 to probe the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family. The commission was given a six-month time to submit the report after examining the alleged irregularities in the MUDA between 20026 and 2024.

Subsequently, Justice Desai was appointed as the judicial member of the Hyderabad bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and asked to join within 30 days.

Justice Desai sought time to join as he had already taken up the assignment offered by the Karnataka government. Instead of considering the request, the Centre has debarred him, said advocate Uday Holla, the petitioners counsel.

The Union Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training, in a letter dated November 7, had officially cancelled the appointment stating Justice Desai had not honoured the commitments he made in his application. The order had barred Desai from serving in any autonomous, legislative, or regulatory commission for the government.

Desai had contended that as per the government memorandum of 2009, the consent of selected candidates had to be obtained before sending the proposal to the Appointments Committee and also that of the candidate, on failing to join within 30 days, had to be issued a 15-day notice calling upon the candidate either to join or face debarment, clearly spelling out the consequence of debarment.

Neither the consent was obtained nor a notice was issued to the petitioner before passing the impugned order by the department, said Holla.

Even as the Justice P.N. Desais report on MUDA scam is awaited, as on today, the Karnataka High Court is hearing several appeals in the case. The HC has reserved its judgment on a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in allotment of sites, and has adjourned the hearing in another appeal by the CM challenging the Governors sanction for investigation into the case to March 22, 2025.
By Marie Mannes

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish electric-vehicle battery maker Northvolt agreed with Volvo Cars on Wednesday to sell its stake in their joint battery venture Novo Energy for an undisclosed sum and explore potential collaborations in North America.

Northvolt, which is under U.S. bankruptcy protection, ceased funding for most of its joint ventures, including Novo, throughout 2024 to sustain its primary business of battery cell production.

Due to this, the automaker found Northvolt in breach of contract in October and said it would acquire the stake in Novo.

Both companies declined to comment on the financial details of the agreement.

A U.S. bankruptcy court will need to approve the stake sale.

The sale is the latest by Northvolt to divest projects and businesses such as in Poland and Norway, to cut costs and focus on its battery plant in northern Sweden. It also has plans for gigafactories in Germany and Canada, where delays are expected.

The company is also searching for fresh investors and funding before its cash reserve runs out in February.

Volvo Cars and Northvolt, once hailed as Europe's best prospect for a domestic EV battery champion, formed Novo in 2021 to build a dedicated battery factory in Gothenburg on Sweden's west coast.

Volvo said in October it would need a new partner to keep plans to start production at the factory in 2026 on track. It has not commented on this since.

On Jan. 20, Novo launched cost cutting measures, including cutting 30% of its staff.

A Novo spokesperson said Northvolt's expertise has been instrumental in its development.

"Going forward we will work with Volvo Cars in evaluating a future technological partner for our gigafactory," the spokesperson said.

SUPPLY OPPORTUNITIES

Northvolt has struggled with persistent quality issues and troubles increasing production of its battery cells, which led BMW to cancel a 2-billion euro ($2.08 billion) contract last year and other stakeholders to worry if Northvolt would be able to meet its promises.

While Volvo's takeover of Novo means that Northvolt would lose out on its planned orders to the carmaker, the Swedish companies said on Wednesday they agreed on a plan to explore potential supply opportunities in North America.

"The framework agreement with Volvo Cars shows that market interest in Northvolt remains strong, it now opens up a path for supply opportunities in North America at Northvolt Six in Montreal," a Northvolt spokesperson said.

($1 = 0.9615 euros)

($1 = 11.3197 Norwegian crowns)

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Marie Mannes, Editing by Anna Ringstrom, Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav likened Indians to sugar who could seamlessly blend into any environment. CM Yadav is on a four-day visit to Japan to solicit interest for the investors summit that is to take place in the state in February.

The Chief Minister met with Yasushi Furukawa, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Among the topics discussed were infrastructure development, smart cities, modernizing transport systems, and tourism.

Yadav spoke of leveraging Japanese expertise, especially for infrastructure and transportation development. He also emphasized the state's leadership in solar energy production and invited Japanese companies to collaborate in enhancing solar and renewable energy projects.

For tourism, the focus was on historical sites like Khajuraho and Sanchi plus eco-friendly tourism in national parks like Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Another possible area of cooperation discussed was organic agriculture, and Japanese institutions partnering with the state in advancing technical education and skills development.

Yadav acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership for instilling a sense of self-confidence and pride among Indians, both at home and abroad.

Reflecting on India's cultural values, he spoke of the importance of peace, harmony, and global welfare, citing how these principles guide Indians in their work worldwide. He quoted poet Iqbal to highlight India's resilience and determination to overcome challenges.

Yadav noted the nation's successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a testament to Modi's leadership. He praised the sense of self-confidence and pride that has emerged among Indians, both at home and abroad. He lauded Modis effective communication during the pandemic with the public through symbolic acts like clapping and ringing thalis to foster collective awareness.

He also called upon Indians in Japan to continue their dedicated work while reinforcing the idea that the deep-rooted family values in Indian culture contribute to the unity of the country.
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature is expected to meet in early February to set the agenda for the budget session, scheduled for the first week of March.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has approved a proposal from the Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to open the session with his formal address. This will be the first annual budget of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature since the region became a Union Territory in 2019.

Chief Minister Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, is expected to present the budget. He recently stated that government funds were running low but hinted at financial support from the Centre. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had assured assistance, similar to what was provided to the Lieutenant Governors administration.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather is likely to convene the BAC next week to finalise the schedule for budget discussions, grant allocations, and other legislative matters.

As Ramadan falls during the session, some legislators have suggested shortening its duration. Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone has also voiced concerns, saying that holding the session during Ramadan would be inconvenient for most MLAs.

A humble reminder to the elected government: It is Ramadan in March. Holding the Assembly session in March would be inconvenient for a majority of MLAs, Lone posted on X.

The final decision on the sessions duration rests with the BAC, which includes members from both the ruling and opposition parties. Reports suggest the Council of Ministers has proposed a three-week session.

The budget is expected to focus on key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, which are vital for the regions development. Observers will closely watch how the government allocates funds to address public priorities.
Four devotees from Karnataka were among the Maha Kumbh Mela stampede victims that shocked Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning.

The deceased were identified as Jyothi Deepak Hattarwath (44) and her daughter Megha Hattarwath (24), residents of Vadagaavi, Arun Koparde (61) from Shettigalli and Mahadevi Hanmath Bavanir (48) from Shivajinagar. They were part of a 60-member group that had travelled from Belagavi to Prayagraj by a private tourist bus.

FULL REPORT | At least 30 dead in Mahakumbh stampede, say police; Opposition targets Centre, UP govt

Belagavi deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan, who confirmed the deaths said the bodies would be brought to the city at the earliest.

The Karnataka state government has deputed two officers - additional SP of Belagavi NS Shruti and special deputy commissioner Harsha Shetty as nodal officers to repatriate the mortal remains of the deceased.

The Karnataka government has set up a helpline - 080 22340676 to assist pilgrims from the state needing assistance.

Maha Kumbh stampede

At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.

ALSO READ | Mahakumbh stampede: Yogi Adityanath gets emotional, forms 3-member probe panel

In view of the stampede, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to operate trains as per arising needs in Prayagraj.

Vaishnaw reviewed train services after the tragedy, and visited the 24x7 war room set up in the Rail Bhawan to monitor passengers' amenities and train operations, according to a press note shared by the ministry. The ministry also said Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satish Kumar was present in the war room the whole day to personally monitor train operations.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appeared emotional when he spoke about the stampede at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Wednesday. The chief minister has formed a three-member commission to probe the accident.

Adityanath termed the incident as sad. His voice broke as he said that the governments sympathies were with all those families who had lost their loved ones. He also did not dismiss the questions being raised, saying that these were only natural".

The kin of each deceased will receive a compensation of Rs 25 lakh.

The three-member inquiry commission will be headed by former Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Harsh Kumar. Retired IPS officers V.K. Gupta and D.K. Singh are the other two members.

The commission will look into the reasons and circumstances that led to the accident and give suggestions to avert such disasters in the future.

Meanwhile, Mela Adhikari Vijay Kiran Anand and DIG Vaibhav Krishna gave detailed information about how the events had unfolded.

Before the Brahma Muhurta, between 1 am and 2 am on Wednesday, there was a huge crowd on the Akhara road in the fair area. Due to the crowd pressure, the barricades on one side broke and people crossed over. This led to people falling on those who were waiting for the snan. Those who were sleeping on the banks of the river were also trampled upon.

The government started relief and rescue operations immediately, creating a green corridor to ferry the injured to the hospitals.

Over 90 injured pilgrims were rushed to the hospital, out of whom 30 died. The bodies of five people are yet to be identified.

Among the deceased, four are from Karnataka, one from Assam and one from Gujarat. Some of the injured have been taken away by their families while 36 injured are being treated at the local medical college. For the convenience of the devotees, the fair administration has issued a helpline number 1920.

The Mela administrators dismissed allegations of VIP movement and reiterated that there was no such protocol in place. No VIP protocol will also be applicable on any of the forthcoming significant bathing dates, they said.

Meanwhile, saints have come out in support of the government saying that quick action had averted what could have been a much bigger tragedy.
Security forces have launched a major search operation in high reaches of Jammu against militants responsible for attacks on security forces last year in different districts of the region.

The operation has been initiated at the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to prevent a repeat of last year's action by militants in the summer. An expected 35 to 40 militantsmany of them foreignersare hiding in the upper reaches near the LoC.

No major militant activities were witnessed during winter. However, the security forces are pre-empting a repeat of last year's attacks by militants by carrying out a large-scale operation spanning eight districts.

A shift in the attacks by militants has been observed since 2021 as militants have carried out some deadly attacks in the border districts of Rajouri, Pooch, Doda, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu. In one attack in June last year, a bus carrying pilgrims from Mata Vaishno Devi to Shiv Khori was also attacked in which seven pilgrims, a diver and the conductor of the bus were killed after the bus fell into a gorge.

The operation also has gained urgency given the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is likely to become operational in February. Trains from Delhi will ply to Katra and Srinagar and back. This is the first time that Kashmir has been connected with the rest of India by rail. Currently, trains travel from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Sangaldan in Ramban covering a distance of more than 180km.

With the pending stretch between Sangaldan and Katra, the safety runs have been completed and trains between Katra and Srinagar are ready to be operational following a successful trial run of the Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Budgam. This development increases the need for heightened vigilance to prevent potential attacks.
The Government of Odisha exchanged memorandum of understandings (MOU) worth Rs 12.89 lakh crore during the Utkarsh Odisha- Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar over two days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the state has received investment proposals across various sectors, including textiles, petrochemicals, IT, food processing, and agribusiness. These proposed investments are expected to create 8.94 lakh jobs in the coming years.

Among the largest commitments are 2.2 lakh crore from the Adani Group, 1 lakh crore from Vedanta, 75,000 crore from JSW Group, and 70,000 crore from Aditya Birla Group.

We are committed to ensure that the proposed investments become reality, CM Majhi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Utkarsh Odisha conclave, giving industry leaders the message that Centre supports Odisha.

The chief minister also emphasised Odishas vision of developing a highly skilled and industry-ready workforce. He stated that the state aims to become the skill capital, producing a future-ready workforce not only for industries in Odisha but across India.

As part of this initiative, the Odisha government facilitated the signing of 38 MOUs with various companies. These agreements aim to establish multiple skill development and education centres across Odisha.

Sampad Chandra Swain, the minister for Skill Development & Technical Education and Industries, called this years Utkarsh Odisha business conclave a historic event.

He stated that, in addition to the proposed investments, the state also received valuable suggestions from diverse voices from different sectors across India. These recommendations focused on improving the industrial ecosystem and enhancing the ease of doing business in the state.

We will work tirelessly on these suggestions to make Odisha a business-friendly state, Swain said. Odisha govt signs MOUs worth Rs 12.89 lakh crore
Amid hints that Iran could be rethinking about having a confrontation with the new US administration, the exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has a message for US President Donald Trump; not to fall for Iran's "feigned pragmatism".

Pahlavi's statement comes as Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans vice president for strategic affairs, sought the US to begin new negotiations with Tehran over its civil nuclear programme.

Pahlavi, a self-proclaimed advocate for a secular democratic Iran, fled Iran with his family following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. His father Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was ousted during the Iranian Revolution.

At a National Press Club event in Washington DC on Tuesday, Pahlavi said: "In the coming weeks and months, you will see a different face of the Islamic Republic. It will not speak the language of jihad, hostage-taking, or chaos. It will talk of deal-making, mutual interest, and pragmatism."

He added that the US had a choice. Either use the leverage and the historic opportunity to fundamentally alter the trajectory of the Middle East or fall for the flirtations of a radical Islamic regime. He warned opting for the latter would mean the US hands the Middle East back to its radical, terrorist proxies.

The exiled prince has earlier too attacked Iran, including on the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Adding that it is fueling the regional conflicts, Pahlavi posted to X that the Iranian regime must go.

"So I say to you, our friends across the Middle Eastour region deserves so much better. But in order to succeed, first, this regime, that has held us hostage for nearly half a century, must go," said Pahlavi. "The Middle East is all too familiar with turmoil and upheaval. So, I know, you might fear change will bring chaos. But fear notwe will not allow a power vacuum to follow the collapse of this regime," he posted to his 1.4 million followers.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian too had hinted that the country was open to negotiations with the new Trump administration on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, though hardliners and Iran's Supreme Leader remain publicly opposed.

Iran's change of mind is because it can't afford to antagonise Trump and risk more military conflict with Israel and even the US, according to analysts. "It is a very critical year, largely because the strategic context for Iran has changed drastically," said Vali Nasr, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies told the Financial Times. "What Iran has lost is a way of managing Israel and . . . its hand is weaker with the Europeans and the Americans," he added.
The Donald Trump administration has frozen a $50 million condom distribution programme in the Gaza Strip.

The expenditure came to Trump's attention in the first week of his presidency after it was discovered by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Management and Budget .

Explains why all condom orders were Magnum  https://t.co/eKKRsfkgjY  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump officials discovered that 50 million taxpayer dollars were allocated to fund condoms to be distributed in Gaza. "That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money," Leavit said.

A report by the Jerusalem Post claimed that Hamas operatives have been repurposing condoms to create balloons filled with inflammable gases to strike targets in southern Israel since 2017.

These condoms attached with improvised explosive devices often land in schools, farm lands and roads. In 2019, they started attaching these condom bombs to rocket-propelled grenades. The helium filled in these condoms were initially imported for medical purposes with Israel consent.

Reacting to the condom aid to Gaza, Elon Musk took to X, saying, "Explains why all condom orders were "Magnum".

Trump had earlier pulled out of the World Health Organisation, to which the US funded $37 million. He had also signed an executive order freezing foreign aid for the first 90 days of his administration.

The latest move comes days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that all aids except emergency food and military aid to Egypt and Israel would be paused.

On the other hand, Biden administration officials have denied the allegations. Andrew Miller who was the deputy assistant secretary for Israel-Palestinian affairs, said the funds were definitely for condoms alone, but possible that the $50 million might have been allocated for sexual health-related services.
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo were moving south on Wednesday towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, apparently bidding to expand their area of control in the country's east after capturing the city of Goma.

M23 forces were advancing south from the town of Minova, along the western side of Lake Kivu, according to five diplomatic and security sources, one of whom was in direct contact with the rebels. Any successful push south by M23 would see them control territory that previous rebellions have not held since the end of Congo's major war 20 years ago. To reach Bukavu, they would have to seize Kavumu, where the city's airport is located, and overcome Burundian troops who have been deployed to beef up Congo's defences.

The advance on Bukavu comes as M23 strengthened its grip on Goma, capital of North Kivu and a hub for displaced people, aid workers, U.N. peacekeepers and Congolese forces. Both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have numerous mineral mines, and the struggle for control of Congo's abundant resources is one of the drivers of conflict in the east of the giant country. These include coltan, which is used in smartphones.

Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity, including the United States telling Rwanda it was "deeply troubled" by Goma's fall to M23 fighters, there were growing signs the rebels were taking over the running of the city. Isolated gunfire sounded through some outlying districts of the lakeside city of 2 million where Monday's rebel storming left bodies lying in the streets, hospitals overwhelmed and U.N. peacekeepers sheltering in bases.

Congo government forces were nowhere to be seen in the city centre on Wednesday and a Reuters reporter saw M23 fighters patrolling the border with Rwanda and cutting chains and padlocks that had barred the way for pedestrians and vehicles."It feels like we are in a dual nation. We are in Congo and at the same time in Rwanda," a resident of an upscale part of Goma said.

M23 is the latest ethnic Tutsi-led, Rwandan-backed insurgency to roil Congo since the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda 30 years ago, when extremist Hutus killed Tutsis and moderate Hutus, and then were toppled by the Tutsi-led forces led by Kagame. Rwanda says some of the ousted perpetrators have sheltered in Congo since the genocide, posing a threat to Congolese Tutsis and Rwanda itself. Congo rejects Rwanda's complaints and says Rwanda has used its proxy militias to loot lucrative minerals.
The Donald Trump administration has halted almost all global health funding from the US, including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides HIV/AIDS medications to millions of people. According to the World Health Organisation, PEPFAR has been a flagship initiative of the global HIV response since its establishment over 20 years ago. The organisation has already issued a statement expressing deep concern about the implications of the immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries. Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America, says the WHO statement.

What is PEPFAR?

Launched in 2003 by president George W Bush, PEPFAR represents the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. So far, $110 billion has been allocated under this programme for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research efforts across more than 50 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

WHO expresses deep concern about the implications of the immediate funding pause for #HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries.



These programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide.



A funding halt for HIV programmes can pic.twitter.com/uY7KzKq5Ql  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 28, 2025

PEPFAR has been enabled by strong bipartisan support across 10 US congresses and four presidential administrations since its inception. But now Trump administration is changing that status quo. So far, this has been projected as a programme that exemplified "what is possible through compassionate, cost-effective, accountable, and transparent American foreign assistance.

Since PEPFARs inception, the US government has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response. According to WHO, this the programme provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide. Globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023.

Managed and overseen by the US Department of State's Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, the PEPFAR has been closely working with partner countries toward achieving HIV/AIDS epidemic control while promoting the long-term sustainability of their responses.

Notably, on December 1, 2022, PEPFAR announced a five-year strategy: 'Fulfilling Americas Promise to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by 2030'. This Strategy, which centred on collaboration and partnership to confront the challenge of HIV/AIDS in the wake of other emerging health threats, is now in question as Trump administration has put the programmes future in limbo.

Over the past year, PEPFAR and partners, including WHO, have been working on sustainability plans with countries for greater country ownership and reduced donor support up to and beyond 2030. A sudden and prolonged stop to programmes does not allow for a managed transition and puts the lives of millions at risk, says the WHO.

Risk for world; risk for America

Notably, while speaking about the halt on foreign aid programmes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?

After President Donald Trumps executive order to halt and reevaluate all foreign development assistance prompted an outcry among aid groups around the world, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now approved some waivers for emergency food aid and some salaries. However, there is no update so far on programmes like PEPFAR.

But the administration has already declared that it is working according to President Trump's mindset: The United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.

However, organisations like WHO condemn this mentality and point out that these actions will finally impact the US itself.

A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries. Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America, reads the WHO statement.
US journalist and conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson on Monday stoked controversy when he stated that the Joe Biden administration tried to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Carlson, in the latest episode of his podcast 'The Tucker Carlson Show', made the allegation without providing any evidence.

"The Biden administration did, they tried to kill Putin," the former Fox News anchor said, calling the move "insane" and "demented".

JUST IN:  Tucker Carlson says the Biden administration "tried to kill" Russian President Putin. pic.twitter.com/BH0AsGIplz  BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) January 28, 2025

Now, Kremlin has responded to the bombshell claim. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian President was well protected from any potential threats. However, Peskov did not confirm or deny alleged US attempts to target Putin. He didn't also mention having any knowledge of any such plans.

"Russian security services continuously take all necessary measures to ensure public safety and the safety of those under state protection. First and foremost, the head of state," he told reporters.

Though Peskov made a cautious comment, Russian Parliament speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin slammed the alleged attempt, warning that any such plot would lead to a nuclear war.

Volodin took to Telegram to post that a plot to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussions on the subject constituted a crime and a serious threat to global security. "The plot to assassinate Putin, mere discussions of it is a crime, a serious threat to global security, a direct path to nuclear war. All international institutions should view it as a basis for an investigation," Volodin said.

He also called on the Russian people to understand the level of challenges and threats that the country was facing.

This isn't the first claim made by a journalist on the alleged attempt to kill Putin. In September 2022, Newsweek quoted Pentagon sources which said that one of the non-nuclear military options considered by the U.S. Department of Defense to respond to Putin's nuclear threats was a decapitation strike to kill the Russian President.

Russia had then reacted to the same calling it delusional". "We proceed from the fact that Washington is well aware of the escalating nature of such reckless rhetoric," the Embassy said.

Russia had also claimed that Putin has so far escaped six assassination plots.
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI) Capital markets regulator Sebi will auction 26 properties of HBN Diaries & Allied Ltd for a reserve price of Rs 83 crore in February.

The move is part of the markets watchdog's effort to recover money raised by HBN Dairies & Allied through illicit collective investment schemes.

The order came after the Supreme Court in its order on May 14, 2024 authorised Sebi to sell the assets of HBN Dairies & Allied Ltd (HBN) with the active involvement of the liquidator.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) initiated the process for the sale of the assets after HBN and its directors -- Harmender Singh Sran, Amandeep Singh Sran, Manjeet Kaur Sran and Jasbeer Kaur -- failed to refund investors' money.

The properties to go under the hammer include plots, land parcels, and commercial shops, Sebi said in a notice on January 22.

The properties are located in New Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and will be auctioned at a reserve price of Rs 83.26 crore.

Quikr Realty has been engaged by Sebi to assist it in the e-auction while C1 India has been appointed as the e-auction service provider, the regulator added.

As per the notice, Sebi said bidders should make independent enquiries regarding the encumbrances, litigations, attachments and acquisition liabilities of the properties put on action prior to submitting their bid.

"Sale or auction shall be through online bidding. Bidders can participate in the e-auction from anywhere," the regulator noted.

The markets regulator is inviting bids for the sale of properties in the recovery proceedings against HBN Dairies & Allied Ltd and its directors.

Sebi said the auction will be conducted online from 11 am to 1 pm on February 27.

The company had illegally mobilised Rs 1,136 crore from gullible investors through schemes involving purchase of cattle to earn huge returns from the sale of ghee.

By indulging in these practices, HBN Dairies & Allied had contravened the regulatory norms.

Sebi had in August last year auctioned eight properties of HBN Dairies & Allied Ltd.
Chennai, Jan 29 (PTI) Noted real estate developer G Square Realtors Pvt Ltd has announced plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore over the next two years as it looks to expand into alternate real estate sectors, including villas and apartments.

The company, which has been promoting plots in and around Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Hyderabad, and Mysuru, intends to cater to varied residential preferences across its operations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana.

The expansion into villas and apartments will be integrated into both existing and upcoming project sites alongside the plotted developments.

"This is a proud moment for G Square as we enter the next phase of our evolution. Having successfully conquered the plot market, we are now tailoring our business to meet the diverse residential preferences of our customers" G Square Realtors Pvt Ltd Managing Director Bala Ramajeyam was quoted as saying in a company statement here.

"This expansion will span across all our operating zones, including Tier I, II and III cities. G Square is planning to invest over Rs 1,000 crore over the next 2 years in this expansion model," he said.

G Square Realtors Pvt Ltd has completed over 127 projects and had served over 15,000 customers, the statement added.
New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday chided the practice of state governments appointing public prosecutors in high courts on "political considerations" and said favouritism and nepotism compromised merit.

Observing judges were humans and at times they made mistakes, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the defence counsel and the public prosecutor owed a duty to correct the court if it was falling in some error.

The bench said law officers were one of the "important wheels of the chariot", driven by judges to attain the cherished goal of human beings to secure justice against the wrong doers.

"Judges are human beings and at times they do commit mistakes. The sheer pressure of work at times may lead to such errors. At the same time, the defence counsel as well as the public prosecutor owes a duty to correct the court if the court is falling in some error and for all this, we hold the state government responsible," it said.

"This judgement is a message to all the state governments that the AGPs and APPs in respective high courts should be appointed solely on the merit of the person," it said.

The bench's verdict came on appeals against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a criminal case lodged in Haryana.

For the bench, the "most disturbing feature" of the litigation was the high court order on the quantum of sentence which noted the state's counsel request for capital punishment for the accused.

"It is a different thing that the high court rejected the prayer of the public prosecutor. Such is the standard of the public prosecutors in the high courts of the country," the bench said.

"This is bound to happen when the state governments across the country appoint AGPs and APPs in their respective high courts solely on political considerations. Favouritism and nepotism is one additional factor for compromising merit," said the top court.

The bench said the state government owed a duty to ascertain the ability of the person -- proficiency in law, overall background, integrity, etc.

Time and again, said the apex court, it was observed that such appointments -- be it high court or district judiciary -- should only consider a candidate's merit.

Observing public prosecutors held a "public office", the bench said they were not a part of the investigating agency but an "independent statutory authority".

"The criminal law enforcement system investigates crimes and prosecutes offenders. It must also protect valued rights and freedoms, and convict only the guilty. The prosecutor must recognise these different and competing interests," it said.

Outlining a prosecutor's duty, the court said they should assist the court in reaching a proper conclusion in regard to the case which was brought before it.

"A public prosecutor is not expected to show a thirst to reach the case in the conviction of the accused somehow or the other irrespective of the true facts of the case," it added.

In the case at hand, the bench allowed the appeals and set aside the high court's verdict which held the appellants guilty of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The bench directed Haryana to compensate the appellants with Rs 5 lakh each within four weeks.

The case related to an incident which took place on March 13, 1998.

The top court said the high court committed an "egregious error" in reversing the acquittal and passing an order of conviction in exercise of its revisional jurisdiction and that too without any opportunity of hearing to the appellants.

"Reputation of an individual is an insegregable facet of his right to life with dignity," it added.


Viewed 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.
At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the worlds largest religious gathering early Wednesday, police said, as millions of pilgrims rushed to participate in the Hindu festival in northern India.

Police officer Vaibhav Krishna in Prayagraj city said another 60 injured were rushed to hospitals.

Authorities expected a record 100 million Hindus to engage in a religious practice at the confluence of three rivers, where the tragedy occurred. The stampede happened when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession, Uttar Pradesh states top elected official, Yogi Adityanath, said in a televised statement.

Indian authorities took more than 16 hours to release casualty figures, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, calling the incident extremely sad and extending his condolences.

Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled, the Press Trust of India news agency quoted pilgrim Sarojini as saying. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides, she said.

Distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, desperate for news of missing loved ones. Clothes, blankets and backpacks were strewn around the site of the stampede.

Millions continued to throng the 4,000-hectare (15-square mile) pilgrimage site despite the stampede, even as police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence.

The situation is now under control, but there is a massive crowd of pilgrims, Adityanath said, adding that 90 million to 100 million pilgrims were at the site.

The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, started on Jan. 13. Authorities expect more than 400 million people to throng the pilgrimage site in total. Nearly 150 million people have already attended, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah and celebrities.

A sprawling tent city has been built on the riverbanks to accommodate the millions of visitors, with roads, electricity and water, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals.

About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds, and more than 2,500 cameras monitor crowd movement and density so officials can try to prevent such crushes.

Several opposition leaders criticized the federal and the state government, both led by Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party, and blamed the stampede on mismanagement and VIP culture  the latter referring to what they say is preferential treatment for politicians and celebrities.

The government should make better arrangements to meet the needs of common devotees, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on social platform X.

The 45-day festival is a significant cultural event for Indias Hindus, who make up nearly 80% of the countrys more than 1.4 billion people. Its also a prestige event for Modi, whose ruling party boasts of promoting Hindu cultural symbols.

The Maha Kumbh festival has had stampedes in the past. In 2013, at least 40 pilgrims who were taking part in the festival were killed in a stampede at a train station in Prayagraj.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas. In July at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when thousands at a religious gathering in northern India stampeded at a tent camp in Hathras town.

(AP)
Chai Lifeline directors from across the United States and around the world convened in Eatontown, NJ, on January 27-28, 2025, for the organizations Annual Regional Directors Conference. The two-day gathering brought together leaders from New York, New Jersey/Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast, as well as Toronto, Montreal, Israel, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, representing more than 6,000 families supported globally by Chai Lifeline.

The conference featured sessions on organizational vision and values, programs and services, marketing and development, volunteer training, community engagement, and case management. Attendees included regional directors Rabbi Shlomo Crandall (Midwest), Racheli Daniel (Mid-Atlantic), Rabbi Sruli Fried (NJ/PA), Randi Grossman (West Coast), Esther Leah Sandhaus (Southeast), Yaacov Blanshay (Montreal), Rabbi Mordy Rothman (Toronto), Daniel Gillis (UK), Nechemja Meisner (Belgium), and Elad Maimon (Israel).

Chai Lifelines impact is built on the collective strength of our regional teams, said Chai Lifeline CEO Rabbi Simcha Scholar. This annual conference is an opportunity to reflect on our successes, identify areas for growth, and ensure that we remain at the forefront of providing unparalleled care and support to families and communities facing illness, crisis, and loss.

The program opened with reflections on the organizations successes and areas for growth during the A Year in Review session led by Rabbi Scholar. Directors explored ways to remain innovative and relevant during Staying Current in 2025 and Beyond, presented by NJ/PA Director of Family Services Rabbi Yehoshua Brodsky and Esther Leah Sandhaus. Marketing strategies to reinforce Chai Lifelines mission were discussed in Building the Brand: Strengthening Chai Lifelines Identity, led by CMO Matt Yaniv and brand strategist David Koenigsberg. Additionally, a session on Building Lay Leadership in Our Regions, moderated by Randi Grossman and Rabbi Mordy Rothman, examined progress made in cultivating local leadership and outlined goals for the future.

Workshops, panels, and interactive discussions encouraged collaboration, including a lay leaders panel, insights from Chai Lifelines international leadership team, and an inspiring session presented by Rabbi Shlomo Crandall and Rabbi Sruli Fried titled Perspective of a Grown Insider. This session highlighted Chai Lifelines impact through the stories of former campers, patients, and counselors. The conference concluded with a review of key outcomes and actionable steps for the year ahead, reinforcing a shared commitment to supporting families facing illness, crisis, and loss.

This conference reminded us that leadership is about more than managing programsits about inspiring people and driving a shared mission, added Rabbi Mordechai Gobioff, National Director of Client Services. By collaborating and learning from one another, we can continue to meet the growing needs of the families who rely on us.

For more information about Chai Lifeline and its programs, visit www.chailifeline.org.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
As an unconventional pick to lead the nations intelligence service, Tulsi Gabbard is expected to face tough questions about her past comments on Syria, Russia, foreign surveillance and President Donald Trump when she goes before lawmakers at her confirmation hearing Thursday.

The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii is Trumps nominee to be the next director of national intelligence, a job created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that oversees and coordinates the work of more than a dozen intelligence agencies.

Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who served two tours in the Middle East, has alarmed some intelligence and national security officials in the U.S. and elsewhere with comments sympathetic to Russia and criticism of a critical surveillance program.

Heres a look at Gabbard in her own words:

On Syria and visits with Assad

Gabbard traveled to Syria in 2017 to meet with then-President Bashar Assad, a visit that angered lawmakers from both parties who said she helped legitimize an accused war criminal and key ally of Russia and Iran.

Gabbard has defended the trip and her belief that meeting with adversaries can result in dialogue and peace. Assad fled Syria in December after being ousted following his countrys brutal civil war.

When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt that its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace, Gabbard told CNN at the time.

She later said she was skeptical that Assads regime used banned chemical weapons to strike his own people, despite that being the repeated conclusion of U.S. authorities and independent analysts.

I have not seen that independent investigation occur and that proof presented showing exactly what happened and there are a number of theories of exactly what happened that day, Gabbard said of Assads attack during a CNN appearance in 2017.

In a 2019 interview on MSNBC, she said, Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States.

Following Assads ouster, Gabbard has echoed Trump, who has said Assad fell because Russia pulled its support during its war in Ukraine, a conflict Trump has said he hopes to resolve.

I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made, she told reporters in December. My own views and experiences have been shaped by my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war.

Trump, she said, is fully committed as he has said over and over to bringing about an end to wars, demonstrating peace through strength.

On Russia and Ukraine

Gabbard has repeated Russias arguments about its invasion of Ukraine, suggesting Moscow had justification to send troops into the neighboring country. She also endorsed Russian claims that the U.S. and Ukraine were involved in dangerous biological research before the war.

She has criticized the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a corrupt autocracy and has expressed sympathy for Russias position, given Ukraines desire to join NATO, the Western military alliance.

This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns, she posted on Twitter at the start of Russias invasion in 2022.

Soon after the war started, Russian state media advanced the false claim that the U.S. was involved in clandestine bioweapons research in Ukraine. The conspiracy theory relied on the existence of U.S.-funded labs that werent secret and were involved in traditional public health research and efforts to prevent pandemics.

Gabbard did not make that distinction when she suggested that the labs could release and spread deadly pathogens  echoing similar Russian conspiracy theories about the labs.

These labs need to be shut down immediately, and the pathogens that they hold need to be destroyed, she said. Her comments drew a sharp rebuke from lawmakers, including some Republicans, who said she was parroting Russian propaganda.

Gabbard later said she had only been referring to traditional public health research, and not secret biolabs. But her comments were taken seriously in Russia, where the state-controlled media has often praised Gabbard. One article last year called her superwoman.

On government surveillance

As a member of Congress, Gabbard tried to repeal a surveillance program used to spy on suspected terrorists and foreign agents overseas  a program she now says she supports as she seeks Senate confirmation.

The program, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, permits the U.S. government to collect without a warrant the communications of non-Americans located outside the country for the purpose of gathering foreign intelligence. National security officials say 702, which was first authorized in 2008, has saved lives by preventing terror attacks, while also helping the government stay ahead of foreign cyberattacks or espionage.

Gabbard introduced legislation in 2020 that would have repealed the law, which she said made it too easy to obtain the private communications of Americans without a warrant.

Protection of our civil liberties is essential, she said about her bill, which did not pass. Join us in making sure that our constitutional rights are upheld.

Her opposition has concerned lawmakers from both parties who said her criticism of the surveillance program would be a liability for her nomination as intelligence chief.

Gabbard now says she supports Section 702 and has called it a crucial intelligence tool. She said her view changed after Congress added protections to the law.

My prior concerns about FISA were based on insufficient protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBIs misuse of warrantless search powers on American citizens, she told CNN on Jan. 10. 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.

On her support for Trump

Gabbards loyalty to Trump represents an about-face from just a few years ago, when she ran for president as a Democrat and ended up endorsing her partys 2020 nominee, Joe Biden.

In 2019, she voted present during Trumps first impeachment hearing, but while she declined to vote to impeach, she rebuked his conduct as president, saying he had violated public trust.

There is no question in my mind that Donald Trump is unfit to serve as president and commander in chief. Ive said this over and over again, Gabbard said in 2019.

Gabbard was a Democrat when she served in Congress, representing her home state of Hawaii. In 2022, she became an independent, saying the Democratic Party was dominated by an elitist cabal of warmongers and woke ideologues.

She subsequently campaigned for several high-profile Republicans and became a contributor to Fox News.

Todays Democratic Party is unrecognizable from the party I joined 20 years ago, she said when explaining her decision.

When she endorsed Trump last year, Gabbard said he had the courage to meet with adversaries, dictators, allies and partners alike in the pursuit of peace, seeing war as a last resort, adding that under Biden, the U.S. was closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before.

She also has criticized criminal prosecutions of Trump, saying Bidens administration was conditioning us to accept a dictatorship by rationalizing their own use of of our Justice Department to target President Trump.

(AP)
Western officials have warned Ukraine that an escalating rift between the defense minister and procurement chief may jeopardize trust in the country and urged the government to resolve the situation quickly so as not to disrupt weapons supplies.

The conflict began last week when the Defense Procurement Agencys board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukovas contract for another year.

However, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov overruled the decision, refusing to renew her contract. He accused her of poor performance and failing to deliver weapons and ammunition to front-line troops.

The decision provoked an outcry from lawmakers and anti-corruption watchdogs who said the ministers move was illegal because Bezrukova had her contract extended by the agencys supervisory board in January. They also came to Bezrukovas defense, saying she has been instrumental in creating greater transparency and reforms within the DPA, which has long faced corruption allegations.

Under Ukrainian law, Umerovs decision to go ahead with her dismissal is illegal.

The incident comes at a politically sensitive time for Ukraine as the countrys leadership is eagerly watching the Trump administrations next moves, and as Ukrainian troops continue to face challenges in holding the line in the east amid fierce Russian attacks.

In a statement posted Monday on social media platform X, the ambassadors representing Group of Seven nations urged the government to resolve the situation expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.

Consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners, they said.

Following Umerovs decision, the Anti-Corruption Action Center filed a complaint urging the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to investigate him for alleged abuse of power.

Local media reported that NABU opened proceedings against Umerov at the Anti-Corruption Action Centers request.

Anastasiia Radina, a lawmaker and head of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, called for Umerovs dismissal, a decision that ultimately will fall to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

What I see as a parliamentarian and as an observer is that his actions do not strengthen the agency and its independence. And that is just unacceptable for a country at war, she told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone barrages overnight in an attempt to strike deeper into their enemys territory.

The Russian military said Wednesday it intercepted and destroyed 104 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions in one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia this year. No casualties or significant damage was reported.

Ukraines air force said Russia launched 57 Shahed and other drones overnight.

Moscow also attacked with missiles overnight. In southern Mykolaiv, a Russian ballistic missile struck a food enterprise Tuesday night, killing two female workers, regional head Vitalii Kim said.

Odesa authorities said Russian drones attacked port infrastructure in the Ismail district of the region that borders NATO member Romania

Romanias Ministry of National Defense said two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched at 3:20 a.m. to monitor airspace for about two hours, and emergency authorities issued text alerts to some residents living in Tulcea county, which is across the Danube river near Ukrainian ports.

The ministry condemned the Russian attacks, calling them unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law, and said NATO allies have been informed.

Since the war next door started in February 2022, Romania has reported multiple airspace violations and confirmed drone fragments in its territory on several occasions.

(AP)
At the signing of the Laken Riley Act, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is directing the opening of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to hold up to 30,000 migrants who are living illegally in the United States and cannot be deported to their home countries.

Trump made the announcement just before he signed the immigrant detention measure, the first law of his new administration.

Were going to send them out to Guantanamo, the president said in the White House East Room. He did not elaborate.

The U.S. military base has been used to house detainees from the U.S. war on terrorism.

The Laken Riley Act was described by Trump as a landmark law and tremendous tribute to the slain Georgia nursing student for whom it is named. The law mandates that people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes be detained and potentially deported, even before a conviction.

Laken Riley, 22, went out for a run in February 2024 and was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole.

She was a light of warmth and kindness, Trump said during a signing ceremony that included Rileys parents and sister. Its a tremendous tribute to your daughter whats taking place today, thats all I can say. Its so sad we have to be doing it.

He added, Its a landmark law that were doing today. Its going to save countless lives

(AP
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday for accepting bribes of cash and gold bars and serving as an agent of Egypt as he sold influence to businessmen eager to exploit his political power.

The sentence caps a remarkable downfall for Menendez, who was convicted last July of enriching himself through a variety of corrupt acts.

Prosecutors said that in exchange for the gold, thousands of dollars in cash and a luxury car, the Democrat tried to protect associates from criminal investigations, met with Egyptian intelligence officials and took steps to help that country access to millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Earlier Wednesday, Judge Sidney H. Stein also sentenced two New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying bribes.

Menendez, 71, has promised to appeal.

(AP)
Agudath Israel of America is applauding Senators Bill Cassidy (R- LA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Burgess Owens (R-UT), for once again leading the effort to enact a federal scholarship tax credit program.

The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) unveiled today as part of National School Choice Week will provide ten billion dollars worth of tax credits each year to individual and corporate taxpayers to support K-12 educational expenses including private school tuition.

The proposed bill, which Agudath Israel helped craft with the sponsors and coalition partners, would allow a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to ten percent of an individual taxpayers adjusted gross income (AGI) or $5,000 (whichever is higher) and up to five percent of a corporations taxable income for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGO would then provide scholarships to children of eligible families for approved educational expenses. Scholarship eligibility is extended to families earning 300% of the median income in that area, which means a very large percentage of the families in our community will be able to benefit from the program.

Through its network of regional offices, Agudah has been at the forefront of promoting similar legislation in state capitals and currently, more than twenty states have scholarship tax credit programs which have helped hundreds of thousands of students attend the school of their choice, public or private. Jewish day school families, among many others, have been beneficiaries of such programs. A federal tax credit would enhance existing programs and open up more educational opportunities in states where no program exists currently.

This issue, particularly this bill, has been at the forefront of Agudath Israels agenda for several years, and its momentum has been steadily building. Last session, Agudah successfully worked with its allies to garner the support of more than 180 members of Congress and help it pass the important House Ways and Means Committee.

Earlier today, Agudah shared an action alert (HERE) with its members asking them to reach out to members of Congress and ask for their support of this game changing legislation.

We encourage lawmakers, to put a bipartisan stamp on the common-sense policy that is at the heart of this bill: Assisting parents to access the learning environment and the educational benefits that are best suited for their children, and that will enhance educational achievement for all of Americas students, said Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel of Americas Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director.

While school choice is advancing across the nation, nearly half of the states in this country have not yet enacted any such program, said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudath Israel of Americas Director of Federal Education Affairs. This bill will allow parents in all 50 states to benefit from educational freedom.

During his campaign for president, Donald Trump promised to promote universal school choice in all 50 states and even pledged to sign this legislation, noted Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israels National Director of Government Affairs. Agudah and its allies urge Congressional leaders and the Administration to include this proposal in any budget deal so that it can become law this session and begin to help students across the country.

For more information about the bill go to Agudah.org/schoolchoice.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the State Department said Tuesday.

According to a U.S. readout of the call, the two officials addressed the latest developments in the region, with Rubio recognizing Egypts role in brokering the hostage-ceasefire agreement and facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza.

During the conversation, Rubio stressed the need to hold Hamas accountable and underscored the importance of post-conflict planning.

The secretary reiterated the importance of close cooperation to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again, the statement said.

The call comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trumps suggestion that Egypt consider housing Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal that has drawn significant international attention.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a likely attempt to counter the report that dozens of Lebanese Army officials leaked sensitive information about IDF movements to Hezbollah during the so-called ceasefire, a Lebanese media outlet reported on Wednesday that the Lebanese army took control of a massive underground Hezbollah complex in southern Lebanon over a week ago.

According to reports, the video is of the Imad 4 facility, which Hezbollah used for launching missiles at Israel and was exposed by the terror organization last August as part of its psychological warfare campaign, shortly before Israel activated the exploding pagers attack.

In footage published on Lebanese networks [likely intended for Western and Israeli eyes], Lebanese army soldiers are seen moving within the underground complex located in the Tyre region.

The AlHadath outlet reported that the area was cleared of heavy equipment before the Lebanese Army entered the complex.

The Lebanese army and Hezbollah did not comment on the reports and its unclear whether the Lebanese Army actually took control of the compound in an effort to enforce the ceasefire, or if it was part of a collaboration between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, innocent Lebanese civilians continue to carry out provocations, including open support of Hezbollah, as Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces stand by and watch.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sent an official invitation to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House next week.

The letter stated: I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.

It will be my honor to host you as my first foreign leader during my second term.

The Prime Ministers Office confirmed that Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday, February 4.

Trumps invitation to Netanyahu immediately after entering office stands in sharp contrast to the behavior of ex-President Joe Biden, who failed to invite Netanyahu, the leader of one of the USs closest allies until July 2023, over six months after Netanyahu was re-elected in November 2022 election, in one of a series of anti-Israel and pro-terror actions [such as restoring funding to the PA and UNWRA and removing sanctions on Iran] that played a part in motivating Hamas to carry out its assault several months later.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The IDF spokesperson stated on Wednesday that troops thwarted an overnight attempt to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel.

IDF troops stationed at the border who spotted the drone crossing over the border shot it down.

Upon examining it, they found 13 assault rifles along with ammunition.

IDF troops stationed near the Egyptian border have thwarted multiple attempts to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel in recent months.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals held by Hamas in Gaza are set to be released on Thursday, according to Israeli officials. The hostages were identified on Wednesday as 20-year-old IDF soldier Agam Berger, 29-year-old civilian Arbel Yehoud, and 80-year-old Gadi Moshe Mozes. The release follows mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar.

The release of the five Thai hostages was also confirmed, although their names were not disclosed. Eight Thai nationals remain in captivity, along with one Nepalese and one Tanzanian hostage. However, two of the Thai captives and the Tanzanian have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.

The latest round of releases follows a dispute over the truce deals implementation, which was resolved on Monday. In addition to the three Israelis and five Thai nationals set for release on Thursday, three additional hostages are expected to be freed on Saturday.

So far, seven hostagesthree civilians and four IDF soldiershave been released under the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal that commenced on January 19. Under the agreement, Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners30 for each civilian and 50 for Berger, including 30 serving life sentences. The 30 inmates released in exchange for Mozes include three also serving life terms.

Arbel Yehoud, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped alongside her partner Ariel Cunio on October 7. Cunio remains in captivity. Yehoud, who worked at the Center for Technology, Science, and Space at the Eshkol Regional Council, is described by her family as a devoted aunt known for spending time with her nephews. She was originally slated for release last weekend, but Hamas instead released four IDF surveillance soldiers in her place. Her detention became a key point of contention in negotiations until the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) agreed to classify her as a civilian rather than a soldier.

Agam Berger, from Holon, was taken from the Nahal Oz IDF base, where she served as a surveillance soldier. A talented violinist, Berger had been stationed at the base for only two days before the October 7 attack. She was last seen in a Hamas video that surfaced on the day of her abduction, showing her in pajamas being forced into a car. Four other female soldiers from her unit were released last week, and they described leaving Berger behind as very hard.

Gadi Moshe Mozes, an agronomist and a founding member of Nir Ozs vineyard, was kidnapped from the kibbutz on October 7. His partner, Efrat Katz, was killed during the attack. Katzs daughter and granddaughters were kidnapped as well but were released in November. Mozes, known for his belief in coexistence, is being held by the PIJ. He was previously featured in a Hamas propaganda video alongside fellow hostage Elad Katzir, who was later confirmed dead in captivity.

At least 31 Thai nationals were among the 251 people abducted by Hamas on October 7. Of those, eight remain in Gaza, with two confirmed dead. It remains unclear which five will be released on Thursday. During the November 2023 ceasefire, 23 Thai hostages were freed. Thai nationals were among the largest groups of foreign workers in Israel at the time of the attack, with at least 32 confirmed killed.

Eighty-seven hostages abducted on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead. The bodies of 40 others have been recovered since the war began. The ongoing hostage deal mandates the phased release of 33 so-called humanitarian hostages over 42 days, with fighting temporarily halted in Gaza. As part of the deal, Israel is set to release approximately 1,904 Palestinian security prisoners, including over 100 convicted of deadly terror attacks.

The deals subsequent phases remain subject to further negotiations, with the goal of securing the release of all remaining hostages, freeing additional Palestinian prisoners, and achieving what has been described as sustainable calm in Gaza.

Ahead of Thursdays expected release, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) addressed concerns about Hamass handling of previous hostage handovers. Freed hostages have reported being surrounded by hostile crowds, adding to their trauma. The ICRC clarified that while it facilitates the releases, it does not control how Hamas conducts the process.

Our mission is to ensure that we carry out what the sides have requested from us, said ICRC spokesperson Gilad Grossman. So far, we have successfully helped with the return of seven hostages and are ready to assist in further release operations.

The Israeli Prime Ministers Office has not commented on the matter.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a sweeping move to combat rising antisemitism, President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday directing all federal agencies to take decisive action, including identifying legal avenues to punish and deport individuals engaging in anti-Jewish activitiesparticularly foreign students on visas.

The executive order, obtained exclusively by The New York Post, mandates that department and agency leaders submit recommendations within 60 days outlining the tools available to crack down on antisemitic activity. The Department of Justice will also intensify its investigations into pro-Hamas graffiti, harassment, and intimidationespecially on college campuses, where tensions have flared since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

The order calls for the removal of resident aliens, including foreign students, who have violated U.S. laws during anti-Israel demonstrations. This crackdown follows months of escalating protests and alleged instances of antisemitic rhetoric at universities, some of which have received billions in federal funding.

A recent House Republican report slammed institutions like Columbia University, where large-scale protests included anti-Jewish remarks and hostility toward pro-Israel students. The report urged the federal government to condition financial aid to colleges on their ability to curb antisemitism effectively.

Trumps latest move follows earlier remarks as a candidate, in which he called for the expulsion of foreign students supporting Hamas. Last week, he signed another executive order hinting at broader measures to prevent non-citizens from supporting designated terrorist organizations within U.S. borders.

The House GOP report also accused the Biden administration of obstructing efforts to determine how many foreign nationals on visas have been involved in these protests. The State Department and Department of Homeland Security allegedly refused to release key records on the matter, fueling Republican claims that the administration has been slow to address antisemitic threats.

The legal foundation for Trumps order builds on past Supreme Court rulings that grant the federal government broad authority over immigration enforcement. The landmark 1972 Kleindienst v. Mandel decision upheld the governments ability to deny visas to foreign nationals based on ideological grounds, a precedent that may play a role in enforcing Trumps directive.

College presidents came under fire in December 2023 when, under congressional questioning, they struggled to clarify whether calls for the genocide of Jews constituted punishable speech. Their responses, citing First Amendment protections, sparked widespread backlash and fueled Republican calls for stricter action  and the resignation of two of them.

While hate speech is generally protected in the U.S., federal law prohibits institutions receiving taxpayer funding from allowing discrimination. Trumps administration appears poised to use this legal avenue to pressure universities into enforcing stricter policies against antisemitismor risk losing federal funds.

Protests linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have grown increasingly volatile, with some activists openly expressing support for Hamas. In Washington, D.C., demonstrators carried banners endorsing Hamas while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress last summer.

In one of the most striking incidents, Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, a 26-year-old activist from Richmond, Virginia, was arrested for allegedly spray-painting HAMAS IS COMIN on a monument near the Capitol.

With Trump poised to take this hardline stance, the battle over free speech, antisemitism, and the consequences for foreign activists on U.S. soil is set to intensify. Whether universities and federal agencies complyor fight backremains to be seen.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Among the lessons of the DeepSeek saga is never underestimate Chinese ingenuity.

At a time when Silicon Valley has been squabbling about free access to Open AIs Chat GPT and ploughing billions into investment, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng has done it on the cheap, backed by a native hedge fund, High-Flyer.

Should we be surprised? When it comes to tech, China often has an edge over strategic rivals.

Tik Tok has become the social media site of choice for younger generations across the globe.

That explains why the Americans are determined that the US arm should be divested. Donald Trump says Microsoft is an interested buyer.

In free-market economies, competition provides important incentive and it is hard to think that the Silicon Valley giants will sit on their laurels and allow Deep-Seek to dominate the space with cheaper smart chips.

Brave new world: With its impressive new Chatbot DeepSeek China appears to have dramatically taken the lead in the global AI race

The obsession of Wall Street investors with high-tech, which has driven bubble-like valuations, almost certainly needed hosing down.

Sputnik was, of course, the warning to John F Kennedy that the US needed a mission to win the space race. Israels Iron Dome is inspiring America to build on much mocked Reagan-era Star Wars aerospace to create a shield against ballistic, hypersonic missiles.

There is manufacturing and technology space the Chinese have so far failed to conquer. The US and Europe still dominate the market for jet aeroplanes.

Beijing, on the other hand, has raced ahead in developing cheaper electric vehicles (EVs)  smartly using European marques such as M&G and Volvo  and is only kept at bay by swingeing tariffs.

The sudden market demolition of Nvidia in response to DeepSeek begs the question of what other quoted sectors could be in danger from Chinese innovation.

Fund managers at Edmond de Rothschild suggest that healthcare is another area where China is racing ahead.

US-based pharma companies are increasingly licensing early-stage drug discoveries. Britains AstraZeneca, which earns 10 per cent of its income in China, also has been betting on innovation in the Peoples Republic.

How long, it might be asked, will China allow its best discoveries, such as antibody drugs used in oncology, to escape to the West?

Similarly, China is thought to be working hard on climate change technologies, perhaps driven by its reputation as a world class polluter.

Where all of this leaves the UKs AI drive, embraced by Keir Starmer as part of the growth agenda, is a moot point.

DeepSeek might offer the UK a cheaper short-cut to innovation. But Britain lacks the infrastructure. And too much tech talent and pioneering science has been allowed to escape overseas.

War zone

The assault by Boaz Weinstein on Britains investment trusts is still in the foothills.

The overwhelming victory of minority investors at the high-performing Herald last week will not be the end of the matter.

Next week will see Weinsteins vehicle Saba seek to seize control by the back door at five other trusts with the last confrontation, at the 718million Edinburgh trust, scheduled for Valentines Day.

Stopping the US marauder is going to require a big heave from private investors. Finally, after pressure on these pages, the mighty Lloyds Banking Group will allow investors on its owned platforms, including Scottish Widows, to vote.

It is absurd and grasping that some platforms are charging private investors up to 70 to exercise their democratic rights.

Even if the targeted trusts are successful in fending off the marauder that is not the end.

In addition to the seven trusts in the line of fire, Saba has built  or is building  stakes in several others. The first battle is over, but the real war lies ahead.

Pacific heights

HSBCs retreat to its core markets in the Gulf and Asia continues apace.

Latest to go are its UK, Europe and American investment banking enterprises. Trying to compete with the American bulge bracket dealmakers and traders in their core markets is seen as uneconomic.

HSBC is doubling down on its traditional strengths in Hong Kong, China, and Asia. That leaves Barclays as the lone UK flag bearer for the City among the big beasts. Barclays boss Venkat must keep the flag flying.
Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust shareholders have been urged to make sure they vote and have their say, as US hedge fund Saba seeks to seize control of the investment trust.

The board of Edinburgh Worldwide has encouraged investors to back its strategy, highlighting its strong long-term performance, and to shun Sabas hostile approach.

Led by Boaz Weinstein, the hedge fund has staged an attempt to take over seven UK investment trusts, replacing their boards with its own representatives and changing how they invest.

The funds affected are holding special shareholder votes and all those who invest in the investment trusts have the right to have their say, whether they invest directly or through an investing platform.

But Saba's takeovers have been thwarted, with investors in all six of the investment trusts that have held votes so far voting overwhelmingly against the bids.

Edinburgh Worldwides requisitioned general meeting takes place on 14 February, but investors do not have to attend to have their say, they can do this online ahead of time and vote via investment platforms if they hold shares there.

Of the major investing platforms, Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell have a voting deadline on 10 February, while Interactive Investor has one on 11 February.

In a letter to shareholders, Jonathan Simpson-Dent, chair of the trusts board, said: Please vote to stop Saba  this time it really matters, or you will lose Edinburgh Worldwides unique mandate.

We explain what shareholders need to know and the detail the crucial voting deadlines.

What is happening with Edinburgh Worldwide?

In December, New York-listed hedge fund Saba Capital Management mounted a bid to take control of seven UK investment trusts, having built up substantial shareholdings in them.

Saba wants to replace the trusts current directors with two of its own candidates and take over management.

Edinburgh Worldwide is one of three trusts targeted that are managed by Edinburgh-based fund manager Baillie Gifford, alongside US Growth Trust, and Keystone Positive Change.

Both Keystone Positive Change and the US Growth Trust held votes on 3 February, where investors voted en-masse to reject Saba's takeover.

Other trusts in Sabas sights were Herald, European Smaller Companies, CQS Natural Resources and Henderson Opportunities. Herald Investment Trust was the first to hold its general meeting and shareholders voted overwhelmingly against Sabas move, with the other four trusts also seeing investors shun it.

Edinburgh Worldwide shareholders can read a letter from the board to investors and circular explaining how to vote here.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has a How to vote your shares guide on its website, to explain what people need to know.

Space X is Edinburgh Worldwide's biggest holding and has delivered big returns

About Edinburgh Worldwide

Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust (EWIT) is a global smaller companies specialist, which invests in a portfolio of public and private disruptive companies that operate at the frontiers of technological innovation and transformation.

It holds 60 to 100 companies and up to 25 per cent of assets can be held in private companies.

The trusts managers said in a letter to shareholders: EWITs portfolio is unique, featuring a diverse range of early-stage but high-potential assets from both public and private markets.

These private market opportunities are notoriously difficult for everyday investors to access cost-effectively. But through EWIT, you have a front-row seat to the companies shaping tomorrow. Theres simply no other investment opportunity quite like it in the UK.

Edinburgh Worldwides long-term performance is good, with a ten-year share price return of 148.5 per cent to the end of December 2024. However, it suffered as growth assets slumped in late 2021 and 2022, in the aftermath of the initial Covid pandemic boom.

The trusts performance has picked up and in 2024 its shares climbed 23.9 per cent.

Simpson-Dent said: Saba has timed its raid just as Edinburgh Worldwide has turned the corner. It is betting on gaining control of the trust on the cheap as it has already done with two US-listed funds.

Saba is totally silent on Edinburgh Worldwides sustained period of outperformance from 2014 to 2021, and has focused exclusively on the turbulent period for growth investing between 2021 to 2023. This turbulent period is old news as our shareholders already know.

Why investors should vote

Investors who hold the investment trusts need to vote to ensure that they have a say in what happens to their money.

If Saba gets half or more of the votes cast, its proposals will pass. If enough shareholders vote against the hedge fund, its plans will stall.

James Budden, Head of Global Marketing, Baillie Gifford, says: We urge all shareholders to act on this occasion, to clearly understand the choices facing them, and to ensure their voices are heard. Every vote matters.

Saba has built up significant stakes in the investment trusts and if individual investors dont exercise their right to vote, they will find matters taken out of their hands.

Historically, retail shareholders do not vote at general meetings, often because they invest through investment platforms and do not know how they can exercise their right to vote.

Saba holds c.24 per cent of Edinburgh Worldwide at time of writing, and the board believe this could rise to 30 per cent by the voting deadline, so a lack of engagement or investor inertia could allow Saba to take over the trust.

Richard Stone, chief executive of the AIC, says: With six out of seven votes completed, its clear that shareholders value investment trusts long-term approach to investing and the independent oversight provided by boards of directors.

'Of course, its not over yet. The Edinburgh Worldwide vote is on Valentines Day and shareholders need to act now to be sure of meeting platform deadlines.'

> Read the AIC guide: How to vote your shares

How to vote

Investment trust shareholders are entitled to attend meetings and vote on what happens to the companies that they hold a stake in.

Edinburgh Worldwide has written to direct investors and is also contacting those who hold the trust via investment platforms.

For the Saba proposals, investors do not need to attend meetings in person and can use proxy votes. But they must ensure forms of proxy are completed by a deadline, which falls ahead of the vote itself.

The Edinburgh Worldwide deadline for proxy vote forms is 11.45am on 12 February.

Investment platforms voting deadlines vary and will be earlier, so shareholders should check with them directly, some are as early as 6 February.

The major investment platforms are committed to increasing shareholder engagement and many make it quick and simple for investors to have their say. Platforms have been seeking to get individual investors to vote on the Saba proposals, which can be done via their websites.

Some deadlines and explanations are listed here on Edinburgh Worldwides how to vote page.

Information for shareholders

> Edinburgh Worldwide

> AIC: How to vote your share guide

The chart shows the substantial returns Edinburgh Worldwide has made on some investments

What does Edinburgh Worldwide say

The board of Edinburgh Worldwide has strongly recommended that investors vote against the Saba proposal.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Simpson-Dent said: Edinburgh Worldwide is run solely and independently for you, our shareholders. You have chosen Edinburgh Worldwide for its unique and early access to hidden gems, ground-breaking businesses which in many cases are not available on the public markets. Lets not let Saba take that away. This is about consumer choice, allowing you the freedom to decide how, where and when to invest your money.

He added: On a personal level, I am deeply troubled by Sabas proposals. Investment trusts are extremely democratic by construction  Sabas proposals are not.

Sabas overt land grab for its own end game exploits our long-standing retail Shareholder base, many of whom find it cumbersome to vote.

A shift in emphasis has taken place in Edinburgh Worldwide's investing strategy with a move to more profitable companies being held

What do Edinburgh Worldwides managers say?

Douglas Brodie, Luke Ward and Svetlana Viteva, the managers of Edinburgh Worldwide have written to shareholders outlining where the trust stands and why they believe investors should back the current strategy.

They said that Edinburgh Worldwides portfolios top-line growth has meaningfully accelerated over the past year  with its share price up 32 per cent and net asset value up 16 per cent in the second half of 2024 - and is set to accelerate further.

The trio added that valuations in the portfolio remain attractive, with small-caps continuing to trade on a significant discount relative to their long-term average and larger peers. The unwinding of this will create a helpful tailwind and that the trust had turned a corner.

The managers said: EWITs shareholders have seen highs and lows over the past decade, and we recognise how frustrating the past three years of poor performance have been for shareholders.

We have learnt important lessons and, over the past year, sought to apply these to our investment processes and portfolio management, with the crucial challenge and support of the Board.

As such, we have improved our ability to patiently support management teams while holding them accountable for strong execution. We have introduced additional process checks and balances to ensure that patience doesnt stretch too far for holdings encountering a bumpy ride. This affects how we size portfolio positions and time their eventual exits.

We have also sought to increase the share of profitable, cash-generating names in the portfolio and bolster industrial diversification to reflect the investment environment we anticipate in the years ahead. This has resulted in a better-balanced portfolio with stronger sales and earnings growth.

> Edinburgh Worldwides how to vote page.
My mother-in-law took out an annual travel policy with Holiday Extras last May when booking a weeks holiday to southern France for July.

She paid 4,998 for the trip for her and her husband.

Unfortunately, in June she had a mini-stroke and her consultant advised her not to fly until tests were done, so she had to cancel.

Neither the holiday firm nor the insurer would offer a full refund.

You are our last hope of getting her money back.

G.R., Hertfordshire.

Denied: A reader's mother-in-law suffered a mini stroke which meant she could not go on holiday - but both the insurance company and insurer refused to pay a refund

Sally Hamilton replies: You told me that after the mini-stroke, your mother-in-law had a full stroke and you suspected that the stress of losing what amounted to most of her life savings on top of missing out on the holiday itself  a cruise along the Rhone on MS Lord Byron  had contributed to it.

You didnt want to let the issue lie as you felt it was undermining your 76-year-old mother-in-laws recovery.

The insurer had offered to refund just the holiday deposit, rather than the full balance paid by your mother-in-law. You did not think this was enough as she took out the insurance in May, before her health issues arose.

Holiday Extras explained that although the policy was bought in May, it didnt begin until the day the trip began in July.

You thought it unlikely your mother-in-law would have chosen this policy had she not thought it included vital cancellation cover.

It seemed odd to me too that it did not cover cancellation before travel, as this is one of the most useful parts of travel insurance.

Even if your insurer asks when your trip starts, you are still generally covered if the trip is cancelled between the time you purchase it and your departure.

I asked Holiday Extras to explain itself and reconsider her claim. I am pleased to say it did not take the company long to turn the ship around and agree to meet the claim after all.

A Holiday Extras spokesman says: When the customer first contacted us, our team explained accurately that their policy did not provide cancellation cover.

Upon a further review of the circumstances, we recognise the customers potential vulnerability given the nature of their claim. With this in mind... we have accepted the cost of the claim.

We are committed to supporting our customers, especially during challenging times.

I urge all readers to buy travel insurance as a priority when booking a trip  and check with the provider that cancellation before the travel date is covered.

Straight to the point In August my wife and I cancelled our broadband contract with Vodafone and were asked to pay a 15.85 fee. Weve since been told we needed to pay 39 and we were billed for a further two months, despite Vodafone saying it had cancelled the contract. We then received a letter from a recovery company claiming we owed Vodafone hundreds of pounds. G.R., Devon. Vodafone apologises. It has sorted the issue and waived the final payment. *** I Signed up for a mobile contract, which came with an iPhone 14. I was instead sent an iPhone 15. The provider said I could keep the phone, but it is a display model with the ports moulded shut. The provider now says it is the correct phone. P.W., North Yorkshire. The provider apologises and says youve been sent a real phone. Youve also been refunded two months of payments you made and given a 50 goodwill gesture. *** My wife, great-grandchild and I flew to Ireland with Ryanair last year. I booked an infant seat for 165, but Ryanair staff told us the infant needed to be on my lap the entire flight. Staff said to seek a refund, but Ryanair says it cannot offer one as the boarding pass was scanned. R.G., Buckingham. Ryanair says you booked non-refundable flights and the crew did not stop anyone from using their seats. Infants must sit on an adults lap for take-off and landing.

Energy broker's demanding 2,700 in fees

I run a pottery business and have three energy meters  two domestic (for our house and chalets where potters work) and one for the main pottery.

Before the contracts on the meters were up for renewal in September 2023, I had many calls, some quite aggressive, from energy brokers.

I have always used a broker to find deals for the meters. In the thick of this, I inadvertently signed agreements with two brokers. All three contracts were renewed with the same suppliers I had previously via one broker.

The second, Utility Bidder, had arranged new energy deals for all three meters, but these didnt go through when the renewals kicked in.

Utility Bidder demanded 750 in lost brokerage fees for each meter  plus VAT  a total of 2,700.

I was threatened with legal action if I didnt pay. eventually the broker said it would settle if I paid 1,890.

I am hazy about how it all happened, but I dont understand why the second broker didnt check whether my contracts were available to be renewed. What can I do?

S.W., Isle of Skye.

Sally Hamilton replies: Small businesses can go direct to gas and electricity suppliers or use a comparison service, just like domestic customers.

But many like you find it less stressful to let a broker do the donkey work and negotiate the deals. Brokers can be helpful for busy businesses that might otherwise struggle to find the right deal in a crowded market of perplexing gas and electricity tariffs.

While comparison services get a commission from a supplier when a customer switches  often up to 50  brokers are more likely to get higher and more variable commissions often paid in the form of an uplift to the energy unit rate offered to the customer.

The more energy a customer uses the more commission the broker gets.

Brokers are unregulated, something the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero hopes to change, knowing some companies can take advantage of customers with opaque pricing, aggressive cold calling and limited access to dispute resolution.

Scam Watch Taxpayers completing self-assessment forms should be wary of fake emails, texts and calls from scammers impersonating HM Revenue & Customs, warns Action Fraud. With two days until the January 31 deadline, households are keen to avoid paying a 100 fine for filing late. Fraudsters prey on this fear and try to persuade people to give away personal information or HMRC login details. Treat them with the same care as your bank details, the tax office says. Forward suspicious texts to 60599 and send suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.

Not all suppliers can be found via brokers. Octopus Energy, for one, wont work with them, describing the broker system as unfair for customers.

Energy regulator Ofgem has tried to improve matters by requiring suppliers  when securing a micro business contract like yours  to work with a broker only if it is a member of a redress scheme for customers with an unresolved complaint.

Happily, Utility Bidder is signed up with disputeresolutionombudsman.org. Before trying this, you tried to resolve the pricey mistake directly with Utility Bidder. But you felt aggrieved when it only offered to reduce the penalty charge to 1,890.

As a small pottery business, you could not afford to throw away that kind of money. You were so fired up you wrote to local paper, the West Highland Free Press, in which a friend of mine happened to read your letter and reported your dilemma to me. Intrigued, I contacted you directly.

I couldnt see how trawling the market for an energy deal that didnt proceed merited such a high penalty. I asked Utility Bidder to re-examine your case.

A spokesman for the broker says: Our terms and conditions, which the customer agreed to be bound by, state that the customer is entering into a legally binding contract and should not have arranged duplicate contracts.

There isnt an easy way for us to know via a central system that another contract had been agreed upon.

You say theirs was the second one to be set up. They dispute it.

The company asserts it acted reasonably. However, as a goodwill gesture, following my intervention, it reduced your charge to 500, which the company described as very reasonable for the hours it had put in.

The lesson in this case is that it pays not to sign up to any deal in haste as the penalties of pulling out can be painful.
Pets at Home Group reiterated its annual earnings guidance on Tuesday despite the retailer reporting marginally weaker trading.

Britain's biggest pet supplies business claimed it was 'on track to deliver modest growth' in underlying pre-tax profits this financial year, with analysts predicting the company making 134million in the year ending March.

The Cheshire-based firm said it had kept gross margins 'disciplined' thanks to good cost control and strong sales of Christmas products against a more difficult trading backdrop.

Its total turnover relatively flatlined at 361.6million in the 12 weeks ending 2 January, while like-for-like revenues shrank by 1 per cent owing to subdued footfall in its retail division.

This offset a very strong performance by its veterinary segment, which saw sales soar by 21.3 per cent thanks to higher numbers of visits, subscriptions, and average transaction values at its practices.

Outlook: Pets at Home, Britain's biggest pet supplies business, claimed it was 'on track to deliver modest growth' in underlying pre-tax profits this financial year

Britain's retail industry has experienced more challenging conditions in recent months amid a stagnating UK economy and the fallout from the Autumn Budget.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that employers' National Insurance rates would go up in April from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent.

The annual salary threshold at which companies start paying NI contributions will also be reduced from 9,100 to 5,000.

Pets At Home estimates taking a hit of up to 18million from these changes in the 2026 financial year.

Lyssa McGowan, its chief executive, has criticised the NI hike, recently telling the Mail on Sunday: 'If they had consulted more widely, they might have realised the impact on young, flexible workers, as well as part-time workers and women.'

She added that it was more expensive for companies to have two part-time staff members than one full-time worker doing the same job.

Adam Vettese, market analyst at eToro, said: 'It's fair to say it isn't the easiest time to be a UK retailer with potentially huge employment cost increases looming, and Pets at Home is no exception.'

Pets at Home also faces a potentially significant threat from the Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into the veterinary services sector.

The CMA launched a full probe in May last year due to concerns regarding rapid industry consolidation and pet owners being overcharged for medicines and prescriptions.

It warned that veterinary firms could be forced to sell some assets, cap prescription fees, or give mandatory information to pet owners once the inquiry is concluded.

Vettese said the probe 'will make [Pets at Home] shareholders nervous that the one thing offsetting the soft retail performance has problems of its own.'
It was the biggest single one-day sell-off in corporate history.

Shares in microchip giant Nvidia cratered on Monday, losing almost 500billion, after Chinese start-up DeepSeek developed a free-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) model that it claimed can compete with US rivals such as Chat GPT for a fraction of the cost.

Over the weekend, it became the most downloaded iPhone app in the US.

The news called into question the huge sums being spent on AI by American firms, along with their demand for, and reliance on, Nvidias most expensive, state-of-the-art chips.

Even America First President Donald Trump hailed DeepSeeks breakthrough, saying it was a good thing for us if AI could be done cheaper to get the same result.

Nvidia is particularly exposed to DeepSeeks low-cost model because the US tech titan dominates the market for the most high-end and expensive chips used to power AI models.

Market shock: Nvidia, led by boss Jensen Huang (pictured), lost almost $600bn in value, after China claimed its new Deepseek AI chatbot was far more efficient than rivals

The turmoil has left small investors in the UK, many of whom own shares in Nvidia either directly or through their pensions or investment funds, with important questions that could seriously affect their wealth.

Having been de-throned as the worlds biggest quoted company in Mondays rout, should they sell out of Nvidia? Or is it best to keep their nerve and wait for the shares to bounce back?

Experts counsel private shareholders not to panic.

Nvidia last year became the fastest company to go from $2 trillion to $3 trillion in market value. It continued its vertiginous ascent to peak at $3.7 trillion recently, so a correction at some stage was overdue.

Sceptics were quick to seize on its fall from grace as just a taster of the pain in store for those who have blindly bought its shares and those of other tech giants such as Microsoft and Facebook-owner Meta.

Along with Apple, Amazon, Googles owner Alphabet and Tesla, they are known as the Magnificent Seven  or Mag 7.

This is the beginning, Wall Street guru Nassim Nicholas Taleb told Bloomberg News. The beginning of an adjustment of people to reality. Because now they realize, now, its no longer flawless. You have a small little chip on the glass.

Taleb, 64, is best known for his best-selling book The Black Swan which explores the extreme impacts of rare and unpredictable occurrences  such as DeepSeeks announcement that seemed to catch even the most seasoned investors on the hop.

Having nosedived 17 per cent in a day, Taleb thinks further Nvidia falls could be two- or even three-times greater.

The good news for Nvidia fans is that Taleb, who is famous for his gloomy forecasts, is not always right.

He seemed to call the top of the tech-heavy US stock market a year ago  since when it has soared, mainly on the back of the AI frenzy.

Small shareholders seem keen to ignore his warning.

They have been big buyers of Nvidia over the past few years  and their loyalty shows no sign of abating despite the shock news from China.

Retail investors bought a record amount of Nvidias shares on Monday  even as the price plummeted. The net purchase of $562million was the largest since records began in 2014, according to data firm Vanda Research.

This helped to stabilise Nvidias share price, which rose more than 6 per cent yesterday.

Wall Street analysts were quick to take to the airwaves and proclaim that DeepSeeks advances were actually a good thing for the chip sector as a whole and therefore for Nvidia.

Stacy Rasgon of investment bank Bernstein told business news channel CNBC that reducing the cost of AI was fantastic for semiconductor demand and spending on chips of all shapes and sizes.

He cited the Jevons Paradox. This is a theory first floated by the economist William Jevons in 1865, who observed that the Watt steam engine made far more efficient use of coal than earlier designs.

Rather than reducing the amount of coal used, as one might expect, this led to an increase in coal consumption, because people deployed the fuel in a wider range of applications.

In the context of AI, this would mean a lower cost model from DeepSeek would encourage more widespread use and therefore be beneficial for Nvidia and its peers.

Microsoft boss Satya Nadella also hailed DeepSeeks announcement.

Advancements: Some analysts have proclaimed that DeepSeeks advances were actually a good thing for the chip sector as a whole and therefore for Nvidia

As AI gets more efficient and accessible, we will see its use sky-rocket, turning it into a commodity we just cant get enough of, he said.

So should you sell, or hold on? Ultimately, that investment decision boils down to the price of Nvidia shares  and your attitude to risk.

The stock market sell-off means the ratio of its share price to its earnings has fallen to just over 30 times.

A high price-to-earnings ratio can indicate that a share is over-valued.

Nvidias ratio is not high by historic standards.

Whats more, even after the dramatic sell-off, the share price is still almost double where it was a year ago.

One thing investors should not do is panic, says Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown.

But they also should avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. If investors are concerned about continued uncertainty ahead, they could look to spread their risk into funds which offer global diversification.

In practice, anyone who holds low-cost tracker funds has already invested in Nvidia and the other tech giants because they are such big components of major stock market indices.

If you believe Nvidia and other Mag 7 stocks are good long-term bets, you could look at technology funds.

Nvidia is the largest holding at 10.5 per cent in Polar Capital Technology Trusts portfolio, closely followed by Microsoft and Meta. And it is the fifth largest holding in the widely-held Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust  with Amazon second and Meta fourth.

Wall Street analysts seem to be standing by Nvidia, at least for now. Of the 62 analysts that cover Nvidia, 56 rate the stock a buy with 21 of them describing it as a strong buy. The remaining six say hold the shares if you already own them. None, as yet, recommend to sell.

Marc Halperin, co-head of European equities at Edmond de Rothschild in Paris, said it could take a few days to determine whether this weeks tech rout was just a blip or a major change in market sentiment and positioning.
Pets At Homes retail business suffered over the Christmas months as it warned of worsening consumer confidence.

The pet product giant said it saw a more challenging UK consumer backdrop with particularly weak footfall from October.

The retail sector has taken a hit in recent months, as gloomy predictions about the economy have made people less willing to spend.

Meanwhile, Labours decision to increase companies National Insurance contributions is set to hit the industry harder than most because of its reliance on lower paid workers such as shop-floor staff.

Revenue across Pets At Homes retail business fell 0.2 per cent over the three months to January 2 compared with the previous year.

Adam Vettese of investment firm eToro said: Its fair to say it isnt the easiest time to be a UK retailer, with potentially huge employment cost increases looming, and Pets At Home is no exception.
Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,960 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 166 shares during the quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $515,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the third quarter worth $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 138.7% during the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 530 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Peoples Bank KS bought a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 31.1% in the 3rd quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 700 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. 79.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts:

Insider Transactions at Edwards Lifesciences

In related news, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.76, for a total transaction of $34,380.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 23,189 shares in the company, valued at $1,594,475.64. The trade was a 2.11 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Larry L. Wood sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.91, for a total transaction of $1,647,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 198,526 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,084,848.66. The trade was a 11.18 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 33,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,195,180. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on EW shares. Citigroup raised their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $81.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $63.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Friday, October 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $72.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Edwards Lifesciences from $73.00 to $70.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $78.48.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EW opened at $72.52 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $72.32 and a 200 day moving average of $70.19. The company has a quick ratio of 2.89, a current ratio of 3.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The company has a market capitalization of $42.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 1.11. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 52 week low of $58.93 and a 52 week high of $96.12.

Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Exchange Traded Concepts LLC trimmed its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,733 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 134 shares during the quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $847,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,953,116 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $3,364,096,000 after purchasing an additional 106,616 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.8% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,285,513 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,510,050,000 after buying an additional 111,101 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 9.4% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,365,554 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,293,635,000 after buying an additional 460,440 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 79.0% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,986,543 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $720,089,000 after acquiring an additional 1,317,723 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,984,524 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $697,513,000 after acquiring an additional 89,157 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.97% of the companys stock.

Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts:

Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of BDX stock opened at $249.75 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $72.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.39. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $218.75 and a 12-month high of $250.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $228.56 and a 200 day moving average price of $233.31.

Becton, Dickinson and Company ( NYSE:BDX Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.77 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.38 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.55% and a return on equity of 14.89%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.42 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that permits the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization permits the medical instruments supplier to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is presently 70.03%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 2,838 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.33, for a total transaction of $633,810.54. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,141 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,371,469.53. This represents a 31.61 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Roland Goette sold 4,483 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.01, for a total transaction of $990,787.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 24,345 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,380,488.45. This trade represents a 15.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 9,844 shares of company stock worth $2,210,716. 0.36% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BDX has been the topic of a number of research reports. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $255.00 to $275.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $283.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Updated 1/29/25: the Washington Post is reporting the Trump administration has rescinded its freeze on almost 2,600 programs, administered through federal grants and loans to states and nonprofits.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the anticipated timeline for the Karman Line development's buildout.

El Paso County residents living east of Colorado Springs boundaries, adjacent to the sprawling, unincorporated prairieland that will join city limits and for which a master-planned community of thousands of new homes is envisioned, now plan to take their fight against the annexation to the ballot box.

"We weren't surprised at all. This was all in preparation for the next step, which is a ballot question," said county resident Ann Rush, who lives just west of the planned Karman Line subdivision proposed to be built on roughly 1,900 acres of land between Banning Lewis Ranch and Schriever Space Force Base.

The Colorado Springs City Council on Tuesday again voted 7-2, with members Dave Donelson and Nancy Henjum remaining opposed, to approve a series of annexation requests that will connect the land to current city boundaries about 3 miles away via Bradley Road. Developers plan to build more than 6,500 homes and 148 acres of commercial space on the parcels over about 25 years.

Rush led Tuesday's opposition to the request, including a morning protest on the steps of City Hall. The protest turned up about a dozen Colorado Springs and El Paso County residents as well as farmers and ranchers from the lower Arkansas Valley, which provides some of Colorado Springs' water supply.

"We see the strategy and we know this was the first domino to fall," Rush said after the council's vote in the afternoon, adding that she feels county residents do not have adequate representation in this city matter. "This will open the gateway for more annexations along Bradley Road and more development eastward."

Rush and other El Paso County residents will work with city residents to petition a question onto a future municipal ballot, she said. The question would ask Colorado Springs voters to overturn the council's approval to annex the land.

The group will need 17,500 valid signatures from Colorado Springs voters to successfully petition on, Rush said. She could not say Tuesday if the question would make the ballot for the upcoming April 1 municipal election or if the city will need to hold a special election. The city must mail ballots to military and overseas voters by Feb. 14 and anticipates beginning mailing ballots to city voters March 7.

On Tuesday, the council again heard concerns from neighbors, as well as farmers and ranchers from across the lower Arkansas Valley, that the annexation is not a logical extension of municipal boundaries. They also repeated worries the development will strain water supply, water quality and public safety, and that it will negatively impact wildlife and the housing market. Fifteen people spoke on the annexation request, all but one opposed.

"You're shortchanging your taxpayers for what I see as nothing more than a land grab," El Paso County resident Sarah Shipley said.

Featured Local Savings

Water availability and quality dominated most of the public discussion Tuesday. Ranchers and farmers in the Lower Arkansas Valley south of Colorado Springs are concerned the annexation will take water they use for agriculture and upon which their livelihoods depend.

About 87% of Colorado's water supply is used for agriculture and the remaining 13% is split between urban and industrial uses, Colorado Springs Utilities General Manager of Infrastructure and Resource Planning Abby Ortega said.

"You ran out of your moral water supply decades ago," said Mike Bartolo, a farmer in Rocky Ford and an agricultural research scientist.

Ortega and other Springs Utilities representatives said the annexation meets city rules for water surplus. The Karman Line project is expected to require about 1,672 acre-feet of water a year when it is fully built out and the utility must acquire 34,000 acre-feet per year more to meet projected demand at full city build-out. An acre-foot of water can serve about four families for a year in Colorado Springs.

Springs Utilities' long-term water plan "includes a balanced portfolio" to meet the city's projected need, including various Colorado River projects, agricultural transfers, demand management, storage and reuse projected to provide thousands of acre-feet of new or saved water supply, officials said.

Utilities has not shared how infrastructure development costs could factor into base rates paid by customers once Karman Line construction gets underway.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Jordan said Tuesday if the cost to extend services to the new development would require the agency to exceed its debt capacity, Springs Utilities could consider using a separate line item called a bill rider to help shoulder the costs. This was a proposal that, in part, led the City Council in the summer to reverse its previous approval of a similar annexation for a development called Amara.

Councilwoman Yolanda Avila was among those who supported the project because it will be master planned and for the sense of community it will bring to southeast Colorado Springs, her district.

"One of the things (southeastern Colorado Springs residents don't) have is a ... community development. The people in my district are saying, 'We want a development like they have up north,'" Avila said, referencing other master-planned communities like Briargate  annexed in the 1980s and built by La Plata Communities, one of the partner developers in the Karman Line annexation.

"This (decision) is not black and white. ... We've been listening to all of this (feedback) and we don't want to be the big sister in town that just takes everything from you. But I think that we, as a city, have bent over backwards to make sure we're not doing that, and that we are providing the water, and we are providing a win-win," Avila said.

Developers also said the annexation will provide more housing for military service members, their families and civilian employees who cannot live on Schriever Space Force Base or Fort Carson for various reasons.

Opponents challenged this assertion, saying military installations could build more housing on their sites.
A Co Tyrone family that was robbed of three generations of females in the Omagh bomb have said they hope no other family suffers as they have.

Mary Grimes died in the atrocity on her 66th birthday, along with her daughter Avril Monaghan, 30, who was pregnant with twin daughters, and her 20-month-old daughter Maura.

The Omagh Bombing Inquiry heard tributes to them during the second day of commemorative hearings for the 29 victims of the August 15, 1998 dissident republican bomb attack.

Inquiry chair Lord Turnbull described an incomprehensible loss.

The inquiry was shown photographs of Mrs Grimes, Mrs Monaghan and little Maura  who won a bonnie baby competition during her short life, as well as ultrasound scan pictures of the unborn twin girls who had been named Eimear and Evelyn.

Fearghal Grimes gave evidence to the inquiry on Wednesday. He recalled how at the inquests into the Omagh bomb, former senior coroner John Leckey said he could not recall any one family suffering such a loss in the history of the Troubles.

He described his mother Mary as a woman with a strong Catholic faith, a strong work ethic and a deep sense of family values and she lived these out every day.

Born in Co Cork, he said she trained to be a nurse and then a midwife before meeting his father Mick and settling together on a dairy farm in Beragh  where they had 11 children.

No-one was ever turned away from her door and no-one left without a cup of tea or some of her beautiful current bread or apple tart, he said.

A modest women all her days, our mother let her actions and her endless compassion speak for her.

She was happiest in the kitchen surrounded by her family.

Her tragic passing in the cruellest of ways possible, the Omagh bomb, robbed us, her family, her husband, friends and neighbours a chance to pay back the love and affection she had shown to all of her.

A massive dignified crowd at her wake and funeral and those of her beautiful daughter Avril, her granddaughter Maura and Avrils unborn twins reflected the enormity of the loss for her family, neighbours and society.

He added: Were it not for the faith and compassion that our mother Mary and father Mick passed on to us 11 children and 28 grandchildren and indeed the local community, we would not have been fit to carry on with the quiet dignity and resolve to make society a better place for everyone.

In a recording played to the inquiry, Mrs Monaghans daughter Aoibheann spoke about her mother Avril, sister Maura and the two twin girls she had looked forward to having as sisters.

She described Maura as a source of light and joy to our family and everyone around her, with a bubbly personality and unmistakable head of curly hair.

Maura may have left this world too soon, but she will forever remain a shining light for us and we have no doubt that the world would have been a better place had she lived, she said.

Aoibheann said her mother grew up in the farmlands of Beragh with nine brothers, one sister and her parents, with a love of camogie and Irish dancing, and went on to meet her husband-to-be Michael at Kellys in Ballygawley.

She said she had become the proud mother of four children by the age of 30, describing her as calm and nurturing and approached life with a can-do attitude.

Her life at the age of 30 was tragically cut short on August 15, 1998, she said.

On the day of our grannys 66th birthday, they travelled to Omagh to celebrate when fate intervened. The Omagh bomb stole our mummy from her loved ones, leaving behind a grieving husband and three of her children aged only five, four and three, as well as the wide Monaghan and Grimes families.

Her mother, Mary Grimes, her youngest daughter Maura, as well as Eimear and Evelyn were all taken from us that day.

She described the twin girls as two little girls they were extremely excited to meet and welcome.

She said: Unfortunately that day did not come, and the pictures of the scan are a reminder of the many futures that never became a reality following the bomb on August 15, 1998.

She added: We have no doubt that mummy, Maura, Eimear, Evelyn and granny have been our guardian angels over the years and will continue to be present in our lives for all time.

The loss we as a family have experienced over the last 26 years cannot be measured, and there is no replacement for the time we would have had with mummy, Maura, Eimear, Evelyn and granny.

We are however eternally grateful for the time that we did have with them, and we only hope that no other family has to suffer as we did.
Here's the local angle on deep budget cuts and DEI takeaways as MAGA part deux takes hold . . .



Kansas City, Missouri, Quinton Lucas weighed in on the issue saying it could impact projects in the city, among others . . .



As part of next steps, Lucas said his office will reach out to U.S. cabinet department heads for more information.



Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II expressed disappointment in the order, calling it among other things "unconstitutional."

"President Trump's unconstitutional order to pause all federal grants, loans, and financial assistance is causing mass confusion and chaos in communities nationwide, including right here in Missouris Fifth Congressional District," Cleaver said in part in the statement. "This blatantly unlawful action threatens to freeze federal loans to local small businesses, prevent nonprofits from receiving federal investments that enable critical services for our communities, pause disaster relief funding, and so much more."



Cleaver and dozens of other Democratic lawmakers penned a letter Tuesday to the Trump administration seeking clarity on the extent of the federal funding pause. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D - Kansas) was among the co-signers on the letter.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Questions linger for Kansas City-area entities as courts review Trump's pause on federal loans, grants President Donald Trump's order to pause certain federal loans and grants has entities on both sides of the state line in the Kansas City area concerned about what could come next.
Let's start by giving Kansas City's top writer on faith and morals a bit of grace . . . He seems to be addressing "faith-based" partisan rhetoric and not the miraculous help of the Almighty without Whom no case gets tossed . . . And no blogger gets a call back from hottie white women.



Accordingly . . . Keeping in mind that we're REALLY talking about political utilization of God given that He has been silent about any semblance of a voting record . . .



"Ever since Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt while campaigning last year in Pennsylvania, lots of people have declared that he survived only because God intervened so that he could return to power as president again . . .



"Such conclusions raise countless questions, beginning with why, if God wanted to keep Trump safe from an assassin, a divine voice didn't warn Trump not to go to the Pennsylvania rally. And why God even allowed Trump to be wounded in one of his ears. And why, to save Trump from assassination, God didn't prevent the gunman from gaining a clear shot from a nearby rooftop. And why God didn't warn police officials about the assassin's presence. And why God didn't. . .well, you get the idea."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Faith Matters Blog: The arrogance of thinking we understand God's every move



You decide . . .


Just a few more tidbits for late night & early morning denizens of the discourse as we share our reading by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Cowtown Fears MAGA Cash Cutoff

Kansas City metro organizations react to possible freeze on federal grants, loans A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans.

Tribute After Deadly Inferno

Community, candle vigil honors family of 4 killed in Independence apartment fire Dozens of community members gathered Tuesday evening for a candle vigil to honor an Independence family of four killed in an apartment fire last week.

Timely JoCo Debut: Clock Tower Landing

Overland Park farmers' market pavilion, downtown gathering space project gets name approval A construction project set to include a new farmers' market pavilion and community gathering space in Overland Park has a new name.

Dead-Tree Party District Backstory

How did Westport, near no body of water, get its name? KCQ provides a history lesson Westport, Kansas City's historic hub, was a key stop for American pioneers on the Santa Fe Trail. Discover how its name reflects its past.

AI Dislikes Kingdom

Kansas City Chiefs Fans Won't Like Surprising Super Bowl Projection The Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl once again and will have a chance to go for a three-peat against the Philadelphia Eagles. After pulling off a very

Social Media Star Shares Vacay

Andreea Dragoi Shines In Golden Bikini During A Beach Getaway SJSU swimmer Andreea Dragoi dazzles in a golden bikini as she enjoys a stunning beach getaway, radiating confidence and charm!

MAGA Offers So Long Severance

Trump administration will offer all 2 million federal workers a buyout to resign The Trump administration is set to offer every single federal worker the chance to take a "deferred resignation" with a severance package of roughly eight months of pay and benefits.

American General Rebuked By MAGA

Pentagon pulling Gen. Milley's security detail and clearance 'immediately,' may face demotion in retirement Retired Gen. Mark Milley's personal security detail and security clearance is being pulled by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, multiple senior administration officials tell Fox News.

Far East Tech Feared

White House evaluates China AI app DeepSeek's affect on national security, official says U.S. officials are looking at the national security implications of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday.

Holy Land Leader Road Trip

Israel says Netanyahu invited to meet Trump at White House The 4 February meeting would come after comments from Trump on relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.

Vlad Against Vlad

Ukraine war briefing: Putin refuses direct talks with Zelenskyy Russian president calls Ukrainian counterpart 'illegitimate'; Zelenskyy says government will try to replace suspended US aid. What we know on 1,071

Latest X Departure

Coalition of Jewish groups say they're leaving X over Musk's behavior The move comes after Musk gave what scholars said was a Nazi salute.

Nasty Elite Deets Exposed

Escort reveals 'weirdest' sexual requests after Davos debauchery leak: Being a little b****, playing penguin and more | Today News Prostitution is legal in Switzerland, and according to a Daily Mail report, escort agencies saw heightened demand during the event.

Kansas City Sounds Classy

Conrad Tao plays Beethoven and more with the Kansas City Symphony - KC STUDIO Pianist/composer Conrad Tao joined the Kansas City Symphony for a Beethoven heavy program that gloried in the excitement and challenge of the composer's work.

Endless January Concludes With Raindrops To Hide Tears

Kansas City weather: Chance of rain this week It will be mostly clear Tuesday night, with lows in the upper 20s.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
A federal lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's ban on transgender troops was filed Tuesday, arguing it violates the constitutional right to equal protection under the law.

A former Fort Carson soldier, Patricia King, who transitioned while serving, also believes the ban could force some people into hiding, hurt unit cohesion and encourage some people to leave the military.

"Telling us that we cant be heroes helps to stigmatize us and make us seem like less," King said.

The legal challenge to Trump's ban was filed on behalf of six active-duty service members and argues that the administration made the decision "without any study of the effectiveness of transgender service members." GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed the suit in the District of Columbia.

Trump's order said transgender troops are unfit for military service, a belief shared by the newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

"Expressing a false 'gender identity' divergent from an individuals sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service," the executive order said.

In an interview for a podcast over the summer, Hegseth said that the nation's wars are won by "normal men."

"If you are trans in the military you are reliant on chemicals and things that you can never count on in combat. You are not deployable," he said. Since starting transgender health care, service members named in the lawsuit have deployed. In one case, Master Sgt. Jamie Hash deployed to Germany, served for three years in the United Kingdom and worked at the Pentagon in Global Force Management, since starting transgender health care.

The order outlined specific steps the Department of Defense should take and builds on a previous order that declares there are only two biological sexes, male and female. The orders ends "invented and identification-based" pronouns, it said. Some transgender people prefer to use they/them pronouns.

Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

The order also requires that service members be organized by sex in sleeping, changing or bathing facilities. In 30 days additional steps will be outlined by the Secretary of Defense, the order said.

The first openly transgender infantryman, King, who transitioned while at Fort Carson, said a ban on transgender troops was perhaps more subtle than Trump's previous ban he announced in 2017, but equally damaging. She has since retired from the Army after serving 20 years.

While the order does not say transgender troops will be discharged, it does say the military won't honor a transgender person's pronouns or chosen gender.

King said she expects the military could lose a large investment in experienced troops. In 2018, a public report by the Palm Center estimated, using Defense Department data, that 14,700 troops were transgender.

If the military refuses to recognize a transgender person's chosen identity, they will not have the opportunity to bring their whole selves to work, King said, which can undermine unit cohesion and trust.

After she transitioned, King said her fellow soldiers saw her openness and honesty, and it helped build connection. In the field, troops don't see a transgender person, they see a battle buddy and there is no difference in their capability, she said.

"I dont think you can shove people back in the dark after they have felt the light on their skin," she said.

King knows the details of their achievements because she profiles transgender troops for the Modern Military Association of America.

The Secretary of Defense press desk did not answer questions such as if the DOD is advising troops who are currently receiving gender affirming care, whether the use of they/them pronouns has been immediately halted and other aspects of implementation.
Reports from his speech note VERY CAUTIOUS LANGUAGE regarding the repeal of abortion rights that Missouri voters passed by a very narrow margin.

Meanwhile . . . Comments hoping for "unity" were nice but won't hold up much past this afternoon.

Here's the basics and more info . . .



"Governor Kehoe opened his first address to the 103rd General Assembly by reflecting on lessons learned to stay humble from his mentor, Dave Sinclair, with a commitment to working with the members of the legislature during his time as governor."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri governor vows state takeover of St. Louis police in State of the State address * Missouri Independent Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe doubled down on his support for a state takeover of the St. Louis Police Department on Tuesday.

Governor Kehoe Delivers First State of the State Address - Ozark Radio News JEFFERSON CITY, MO - Today, Governor Mike Kehoe delivered his first State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly, outlining his legislative and budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 [...]

Developing . . .
You are the owner of this article.
A U.S. Air Force pilot is safe after an F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday.

Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said the pilot encountered an "inflight malfunction" and ejected before the aircraft crashed during its landing phase. The pilot had declared an inflight emergency before the incident and was taken to a medical facility in stable condition for evaluation.

The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, according to an Air Force statement. Eielson Air Force Base is located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks.

Col. Paul Townsend stated that the Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Eielson Air Force Base was chosen in 2016 to host 54 F-35s, leading to a $500 million expansion that included 36 new buildings, housing units, and the arrival of about 3,500 active-duty airmen and their families.

The F-35, capable of flying for more than 12 hours, can reach nearly anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in a single mission.

This crash follows other recent F-35 incidents. In May, a jet en route from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base crashed after refueling in New Mexico, leaving the pilot with serious injuries. In October, a Marine investigation determined that a pilot unnecessarily ejected from an F-35 in 2023, allowing the aircraft to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before crashing in rural South Carolina.
Patricia King can finally breathe again.

For King, a retired soldier who was once stationed at Fort Carson, the past several years have been marred by confusion after the Trump administration banned transgender people from openly serving in the military.

But that is soon to change, as President Biden plans to lift the ban during his first days and weeks in office, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Wednesday.

Specifics of Biden's policy have not been finalized, but overturning Trump's decision should mean transgender servicemembers could not only openly enlist and serve, but also regain access to gender-affirming medical care.

RELATED:

Becoming Patricia: A combat veteran's story of transgender life in the Army

Denny Meyer, spokesman for Washington, D.C.-based Transgender Americans Veterans Association, said the organizations is "absolutely ecstatic" for the proposed changes.

"Veterans have been entitled to hormonal treatment and psychological treatment, but not the surgery," Meyer said. "So Ill be interested to see if that is going to happen for veterans as well."

Featured Local Savings

The ban prevented transgender individuals from enlisting in the military or allowing members of the military from openly serving while accessing gender-affirming medical care. Military members who served before the ban was implemented and already received a diagnosis of gender dysphoria were able to continue to serve in their preferred gender, get hormone treatments and receive gender-affirming surgery.

That meant under the ban, King could continue to serve openly. But that was not the case for many of her fellow servicemembers.

"It's that young person who wants to do the right thing, they want to serve their country, but they also want to be themselves  that's the person who was affected," King said.

Jennifer Dane, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Modern Military Association of America, the nations largest organization of LGBTQ servicemembers, veterans and their families, said the ban not only impacted transgender individuals, but stunted the pipeline of recruits.

"We are seeing that Generation Z, which is the incoming generation of troops  they're the most gender-diverse cohort of people coming in," Dane said. "And so they see an organization that isn't inclusive, and whether they be trans or not, they don't want to join that organization."

Dane said unlike the demise of the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy, which allowed for gay and lesbian individuals to openly serve in the military, protections for transgender service members were not codified into law. That's why, in a tweet, former President Donald Trump was able to roll-back a 2016 policy that removed barriers for transgender individuals to serve in the military.

"So with President Biden, we're expecting an executive order, but we're definitely hoping that it becomes codified into law so this doesn't ever happen again," Dane said.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

15, including 9 Indians, killed in Saudi Arabia road accident

As many as 15 workers, including 9 Indians have been killed in a road accident in Saudi city of Jizan, local media reported Wednesday January 29, 2025

Thursday January 30, 2025 0:43 AM , ummid.com News Network

Riyadh: As many as 15 workers, including 9 Indians have been killed in a road accident in Saudi city of Jizan, local media reported Wednesday January 29, 2025.

The accident occurred when 26 workers were travelling to their workplace in the southern port city of Jizan and their bus collided with a trailer.

The road accident took place just before 6 a.m. on Sunday in the Wadi bin Hashbal region of Asir province, located south of the holy city of Mecca, Ahram Online, reported citing Saudi Red Crescent spokesman Ahmed Asiri.

Among the 15 who were killed, nine were Indians, and the remaining six included three each from Nepal and Ghana. Those injured have been rushed to the hospital, according to Saudi Press Agency.

Consulate General of India in Jeddah in a social media post confirmed the death of nine Indians in the Jizan Road accident.

External Minister S Jaishankar spoke to the CGI in Jeddah following the report of the accident.

Spoke with our Consul General in Jeddah, who is in touch with the concerned families. He is extending fullest support in this tragic situation, S Jaishankar said.

Neither the CGI Jeddah nor the Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar shared the names of the Indians killed in the accident. But, according to Telangana Today, one of the deceased has been identified as Kapeli Ramesh (32), hailing from Metpali Mandal in Jagtial district, and of the 11 injured, 02 are from Telangana.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
This session's most significant gun bill went before the Senate's State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, where witnesses spoke for over eight hours about mass shootings, the Second Amendment, and gun safety.

Senate Bill 003, sponsored by Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Reps. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, would prohibit the manufacturing, distribution, transfer, and sale of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines.

After hours of testimony the measure was passed in a 3-2 vote along party lines.

Exceptions would be made for inherited firearms, transfers to individuals in other states, firearms with attached tubular magazines, federally licensed firearm dealers, prop guns used in movies, and firearms purchased by law enforcement officers.

Violations would result in a Class 2 misdemeanor charge, with subsequent offenses constituting Class 6 felonies.

The bill also allows the Department of Revenue to revoke the permits of firearms dealers who violate the law and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to deny firearm transfer to individuals convicted of violating the law within five years before the transfer.

Colorado moves into top 10 for strongest gun laws

Several major pieces of gun legislation have put Colorado on the map among gun safety advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety, which moved the state up from 12th to 10th on its annual rankings of states with the strongest gun laws.

According to Allison Shih, Everytown's senior counsel, three bills passed during the 2024 legislative session helped boost Colorado into the top 10: one requiring firearms dealers to obtain a state permit, one requiring concealed carry permit applicants to attend a training class, and a ballot measure imposing an excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition

"That's huge, and that's a whole lot in one year," said Shih. "It was a really big year for Colorado after a number of really big years, particularly in the last decade."

While the state already has a 15-round magazine capacity cap, Shih says it's easy for someone to purchase a higher-capacity magazine from another state and bring it back to Colorado, which is what the perpetrators of the 2021 Boulder King Soopers shooting the 2022 Club Q shooting did.

Shih dismissed arguments that SB 003 could be considered unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen ruling, which recognized for the first time an individual's right to carry a loaded gun in public for self-defense.

Similar laws in other states have been challenged in federal circuit courts numerous times, and the courts have always ruled they were constitutional. "These laws are not new, and they're not novel," Shih said, adding that California's "assault weapons" ban has been in effect since 1989.

"At this point, the opposition saying this is unconstitutional under Bruen sort of strains credulity when you have more than a dozen federal courts and three federal circuit courts saying that this is consistent with the history and tradition of firearm regulations in the United States," Shih said. "They have all said that these firearms are not in common use for self-defense."

"The most restrictive piece of gun control ever filed in Colorado history"

At a rally outside the Capitol before the hearing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners executive director Ian Escalante called the bill "the most restrictive piece of gun control ever filed in Colorado history."

"We have probably the most beautiful state and what used to be the most free state in the nation, and they have ruined it," he said of Democratic lawmakers. "They have destroyed it."

Escalante promised rallygoers he'd make sure Democratic lawmakers who voted in favor of gun control measures "pay retribution," adding that he has launched websites demanding several Democratic lawmakers be recalled.

Featured Local Savings

"I don't care that they're up for reelection next year. We will go after them," he said.

Ava Flanell, a firearms instructor from Colorado Springs, said fixed magazines are more dangerous than detachable ones, as unloading them is more complicated. Because users must place their finger on or near the trigger to unload, it's also easier to accidentally discharge the weapon.

Many gun owners use cable locks on their firearms to prevent accidental discharges, but that's only possible with detachable magazine weapons.

"The intent of this legislation is to promote safety, but statistics show it will create more accidents and take more lives," she said. "It's a de facto ban that will make compliant versions of firearms unsafe."

El Paso County undersheriff Jeff Kramer called the bill an unconstitutional overreach of government, adding that none of the gun bills passed in recent years have had much of an effect on public safety.

"This bill is no different," he said. "It is a politically-driven, unconstitutional gun control bill. Even if a specific set of firearms are banned, many other types of weapons can still be used to commit crimes."

Ray Elliott, president of the Colorado State Shooting Association, said the bill was the equivalent of last session's assault weapons ban, which failed to pass and would ban the most sold gun in the country and the most popular self-defense weapons.

"All these bills are an attempt to ban law-abiding citizens from owning any firearms and do nothing to stop violent crime," he said. "I understand that some of you may be in favor of this, and believe it will result in safer communities. Let me assure you, the exact opposite is true."

The bill passed on party lines, with Sens. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, Matt Ball, D-Denver, and Sullivan voting in favor and Sens. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, voting against it.

"A pathway forward"

Sen. Sullivan, whose son Alex was killed in the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting, spoke of his first time at the Capitol in 2013 testifying in favor of the state's magazine limit.

According to Sullivan, because there had been no enforcement mechanism for that bill, firearms dealers around the state have continued to sell high-capacity magazines. Now that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has the authority to enforce the magazine limit through a recently enacted permit requirement for firearms dealers, Sullivan argued the next logical step was to enact a ban on semiautomatic firearms commonly used in mass shootings.

Sullivan clarified that the bill would not affect firearms people already owned, just ones purchased after Sept. 1.

"I will never be the firearms expert that many of you claim to be, and I don't ever want to be," he said. "I can say that I have heard it all on this matter, and I believe Senate Bill 003 is a pathway forward. It will not impact a single firearm you presently own. This will be about the next one, possibly the first one for the next mass shooter in our state."

Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett said his city adopted an ordinance banning the sale or possession of certain types of firearms, including semiautomatic weapons 2018. However, a district court ruled that state law preempts municipal ordinances, overturning the ban. Three years later, the gunman in the King Soopers shooting used a semiautomatic pistol to kill 10 people.

"That weapon that was used in the King Soopers shooting would've been illegal to purchase, possess, or use in Boulder just 10 days before this grievous atrocity," Brockett said.

Later that year, the General Assembly became the first in the nation to overturn most of its firearm preemption statute, allowing the City of Boulder to reenact its assault weapons ban.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Terrible that Sunita Williams, Wilmore stranded in space for so long: Musk

SpaceX Chief Elon Musk Wednesday January 29, 2025 expressed disappointment over Sunital Williams and Butch Wilmore being stranded in space for so long

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:30 AM , ummid.com News Network

SpaceX Chief Elon Musk Wednesday January 29, 2025 expressed disappointment over Sunital Williams and Butch Wilmore being stranded in space for so long.

Writing on his social media platform X, Elon Musk also said that Donald Trump has asked him to help the early return of the two stranded astronauts.

Indian American Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were part of the first-ever crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule. They went to space on June 05, 2024 for an 8-day space journey but remained stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since then.

"The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so," Musk said in a post on X.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.



Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

"Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," he added.

As per the original schedule, Sunital Williams and Butch Wilmore were to return from space on June 14, 2024. They however got stuck in the space due to some technical reasons, completing six-month stay in space in the ongoing month of December.

NASA had earlier reported that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore - known as the stuck astronauts, will return to Earth in February 2025 .

Sunita Williams last return update

As per the last return update about the two struck astronauts, NASA however said the duo will have to remain in space for another month and could return to Earth only in March 2025  after a stay of nine months in space.

"The next crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX's Crew-10, has been delayed to no earlier than late March 2025", NASA said in a statement released Tuesday December 17.

"Crew-10 was originally slated to fly in February, but it has been pushed back to allow time for SpaceX to complete work on a brand-new Crew Dragon spacecraft for the mission", the American space agency said.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
A Colorado Springs man was sentenced to two years in federal prison after being found guilty in federal court last year for fraudulently receiving more than $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

According to previous Gazette reporting, Charles Lacona Jr., 67, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering at a trial in federal court in September. Lacona was accused of receiving $513,732.20 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and falsifying tax documents and payroll reports to do so.

The release states that Lacona used part of the fraudulent PPP loan to buy a Cadillac for nearly $70,000.

Theft of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated, Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell said in the release. This sentence sends a message that people who defrauded the United States Government will be held accountable for their actions.

Featured Local Savings

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office told The Gazette in September that "more than a dozen" people have been convicted of crimes relating to illegally taking COVID pandemic relief funding in the state. Nationally, the government has seized more than $1 billion in COVID-19 related fraud.

According to court documents, Lacona's trial lasted five days before he was found guilty on all three counts. He was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $549,274.14 in restitution at his sentencing hearing on Friday, according to court records.

Court records show Lacona began an appeal in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
As part of the Year of Highland Culture 2007, we were asked to design a multi-purpose platform for the use of diverse community groups as well as artists, writers, filmmakers and other groups on Forestry Commission land in Glen Nevis. Outlandia Fieldstation is conceived as an ecologically sustainable project, built with local materials and labour and with a minimal footprint that will eventually disappear.



There are three studios conceived as treehouses: spaces high up off the ground, set amongst the foliage and constructed in timber. Like a tree, these treehouses each has a trunk - a structural ladder which sits upon a minimal footing, and a canopy - or studio space. During the artists residency period they will function as rudimentary studios, offering sheltered views of the glen.



The Hub is a larger timber tower, an accessible bothy-like space where artists can benefit from space to dry clothes, eat and rest and compliment the solitary experience of the small studios. The Hub will also function as public interface for visitors to the project, as well as a platform for small art events and educational projects.



Each building gains a different aspect to the Glen with the studios sited towards the edges of the site such that the experience of walking through the wood between them becomes integral to working there, whilst each provides privacy without ever feeling too isolated - forming a little community.
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, this event and all District 49 afternoon and evening activities for Jan. 30 have been canceled. The event will be rescheduled for a later date.

As shortages in the education workforce linger on across Colorado, School District 49 will be hosting state leaders, neighboring school districts, local universities and anyone interested in becoming a teacher.

This Thursday, the nonprofit organization TEACH Colorado will welcome aspiring educators to D-49s Creekside Success Center and highlight different pathways to becoming a teacher in Colorado.

Attendees will learn how to earn a teaching license to pair with their bachelors or masters degree along with alternatives to this traditional approach.

Representatives from CSU Pueblo, Public Education and Business Coalition, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and University of Colorado Denver's ASPIRE also will take part in the public session. They also be joined by representatives from Academy D-20, Schools D-11 and Fountain-Fort Carson School D-8.

The gathering will be the latest in a series of sessions held by the Colorado Department of Education, TEACH Colorado and partnering school districts across the state.

Colorado Department of Education Chief Talent Officer Margarita Tovar said they have been hosting traditional career fairs along in addition to these more informational sessions to promote all the different ways to become an educator.

And so, folks can come in without feeling the pressure of having to make a career commitment, she said.

She added that the session locations were selected based on areas across the state that experienced significant shortages. In the case of the Pikes Peak region, about 200 positions remained unfilled during the past academic year.

Featured Local Savings

We wanted to make sure that we specifically targeted areas, based on our critical shortage data, who are in need of these events earlier on in the year outside of regular hiring seasons, she said.

In the states educator shortage survey for the 2023-24 school year, 635 teaching vacancies went unfilled across the state. When accounting for additional groups like paraprofessionals and special service providers, special-education positions were the largest group left unfilled.

Tovar said there are over 20 different paths to becoming a teacher in the state while additional solutions have been developed in recent years to increase access to the profession.

The states Educator Recruitment and Retention Program was first established in 2021 and has since expanded to provide applicants up to $10,000 in stipends toward their educator preparation program costs if they commit to teaching at a public school.

In 2023, Colorado Senate Bill 23-087 was signed into law, which expanded teaching licensure opportunities through on-the-job training alongside a mentor.

Tovar said these new options have expanded the talent pool in the profession. She explained how educators from different fields and backgrounds bring new perspectives to classrooms, while other candidates previously unable to complete college degrees due to socioeconomic circumstances can now consider teaching as a career option.

Some of the folks just simply didnt even enter the pathway at all, especially our lower-income folks who cannot take their day job out of their  financial planning she said. And so, teaching was just seen as this career that was maybe for the middle class.

Tovar said that there will be future sessions to continue throughout the year, with another one slated to be hosted by D-20 next month.
November 22 2016

Ayr Renaissance, a body formed by South Ayrshire Council to lead the regeneration of Ayr town centre has submitted an ambitious waterfront masterplan.The Riverside Block has been devised by Niall McLaughlin Architects to sit between the medieval Auld Brig and Victorian New Bridge, removing a number of large retail sheds which block access to the river with a new area of public realm and a festival building.The masterplan makes provision for a range of uses including office space, retail, cafes, restaurants and open space using quality materials, which marry with historic buildings  including new vistas of the town hall from new vennels.Chairman of Ayr Renaissance, James Knox, said, The balance of the development depends on the added value created by the quality of the architecture, the welcome to the public afforded by the originality and openness of the plan and the content of the public realm. Getting these right is the key to unlocking long-term regeneration of the town centre for generations to come.Over the longer term it is hoped to extend the River Ayr walk to the sea with the intention of creating a new events space flanked by the towns two main bridges.A planning application is expected early next year which, if approved, will enable demolition works to commence alongside an archaeological dig.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The African Union and other regional bodies on late Tuesday called for an immediate halt to fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The M23 rebel group seized control of eastern Congos largest city, Goma, on Monday.

According to some residents who spoke to VOA, Goma is calm after two days of heavy fighting. Residents who ventured out Wednesday saw bodies on the streets, some in military uniforms and others in civilian clothes.

The regional bodies called for M23 to withdraw from the city, a move security experts say will be difficult for the rebel group to accept.

The East African Community bloc has called for a summit to address the tension between the DRC and Rwanda, which Kinshasa accuses of backing M23. Rwandan authorities deny the charge. According to Congolese state media, President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend the talks.

Meanwhile, calm returned to Kinshasa on Wednesday, a day after angry protesters attacked the embassies of Belgium, France, Kenya and Uganda as well as Rwanda. The protesters accused the other countries of supporting Rwanda.

The embassies either condemned or expressed deep concern over the attacks.

The United States closed its embassy in Kinshasa to the public on Tuesday and called on its citizens to review their safety and travel plans. On Wednesday it advised Americans not to travel to the DRC.

Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, a Kenyan expert in international relations and diplomacy, said he does not think the protests will affect the DRCs relations with the affected countries.

In regard to the fighting in the east, the DRCs government needs to address and solve its internal problems, said Chrispin Mvano, a Congolese political and security researcher in Goma.

"The conflict in DR Congo isn't just about disputes with other countries, Mvano said. It also stems from internal divisions among the Congolese people. Even as talks continue in Nairobi, lasting stability depends on resolving these internal issues. If Congolese leaders and communities don't engage in dialogue and address their differences in Kinshasa, the peace talks alone are unlikely to bring real stability."

The DRC is home to over 100 armed groups, many fighting for control of resources and mining areas. In the latest conflict, the Congolese army and the allied Wazalendo militia retreated from the city, with some soldiers surrendering at the U.N. peacekeeping base in Goma.

Great Lakes region security analyst Dismas Nkunda said Kinshasa needs to build a strong army to confront rebels.

"M23, they are very well-equipped. ... If the DRC government does not up its game, then it's going to be very difficult for them to be able to maintain [a] semblance of peace when they have well-armed and well-supported armed groups like M23," Nkunda said.

Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwama Wagner said in an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that more than half a million people in eastern Congo were displaced this month and that the humanitarian situation there is getting worse.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubios Southeast and East Asia strategies will be aimed at countering China by toughening U.S. policies to secure regional peace and maximize American interests, analysts say.

Rubio gave a glimpse of what U.S. foreign policy will look like as he began his first day as the head of the State Department last week.

Speaking to his staff after he was sworn on Jan. 21, Rubio said, Our job across the world is to ensure that we have a foreign policy that advances the national interest of the United States.

Referencing President Donald Trumps objective, Rubio continued that the overriding goal of global policy is the promotion of peace, the avoidance of conflict.

Putting America First and achieving Peace through Strength are twin pillars on which Trump said he will prop up the U.S. as he took office on Jan. 20.

Rubio is currently likely to consult with country directors of the region and coordinate with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to formulate Asia Pacific strategies, said Richard Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of state during the Bush administration, to VOA Korean on Jan. 24.

Secretary Rubios Southeast Asia policy will focus on countering China through stronger U.S. trade, security partnerships and supply chain diversification, said Mark Kennedy, director at the Wilson Centers Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, to VOA on Jan. 23

On Pyongyang and Moscow, Rubio will ask China  as Trump did  to help convince North Korea to resume negotiations with the U.S., said Joseph DeTrani, who served as special envoy for six-party denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration.

If successful, with or without Chinas help, this may help to distance North Korea from Russia, DeTrani told VOA on Jan. 24.

Rubios roots

In shaping and executing regional policies, Rubios strong opposition to authoritarianism, communism, and human rights violations is likely to color his approach at the State Department, said Evans Revere, who served as acting secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs during the George W. Bush administration.

The former senator grew up in Miami with Cuban immigrant parents and has exhibited an aversion toward communist governments throughout his political career.

This stance, mixed with the twin foreign policy pillars, are likely to result in tough strategies for countries like North Korea and China and their activities in the region, according to analysts.

Rubio signaled this on a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, stressing that the Trump Administration will pursue a U.S.-PRC relationship that advances U.S. interests and the United States commitment to our allies in the region. Chinas official name is the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

He also expressed serious concern over Chinas coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

In line with the policy goal of avoiding conflict, Rubio may support Trumps personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Gary Samore, former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration.

North Korea said Sunday it conducted a sea-to-surface strategic cruise missile test the previous day.

Rubio, doubtful initially about Trumps summits with Kim during his first term, said at a confirmation hearing earlier this month that Trumps personal diplomacy was able to stop the country from testing missiles.

He spoke by phone with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul last week emphasizing the alliance is the linchpin of peace on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific.

In a meeting also last week in Washington, Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi discussed North Koreas ties with Russia.

Rally against China

Among Southeast Asian countries, Rubio last week held calls with the foreign ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, each time stressing stable maritime security in the South China Sea.

Particularly in his calls with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Rubio underscored PRCs dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.

With Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Rubio expressed concern over Chinas aggressive behavior in the South China Sea.

Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told VOA on January 23 that the Trump administration will look primarily to the Philippines and outside partners like Japan and Australia to defend freedom of the seas in the South China Sea.

One of the first meetings Rubio held was with the Australian, Japanese and Indian leaders of the Quad security dialogue last week in Washington where they expressed opposition to unilateral actions to change the status quo of the region by force or coercion and vowed to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open.

Poling continued the administration will look secondarily to Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia to deepen practical maritime cooperation.

Rubio may push Indonesia to take a stronger stance vis-a-vis Chinese activities in disputed waters, particularly in light of controversial Indonesia-China maritime development deal signed in November 2024, Anreyka Natalegawa, associate fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS told VOA on Jan. 23.

Indonesia and China signed a $10 billion deal in November agreeing to develop fisheries, oil and gas exploration, among other things, across their private sectors.

Diplomatic balancing

Analysts say Washingtons push to have regional countries align more closely with Washington could lead to some tensions. Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar tend to lean more toward Beijing, and Indonesia tends to balance its engagement with China and the U.S.

Robert McMahon, a foreign relations expert at The Ohio State University, said Rubios harsh stance on China could put Indonesia in a difficult position, since it has not been willing to join the anti-China bandwagon.

He told VOA in December after Rubio was nominated as the secretary of state that to the extent that the United States tries to pressure Indonesia to move in that direction, that could lead to some conflict.

Rubio said to his State Department staff last week that he expects other countries to advance their national interests but hopes there will be many  in which our national interests and theirs align.

Seng Vanly, an assistant dean and lecturer at the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations at the University of Cambodia, said Washington is likely to increase pressure on Cambodia over concerns for human rights, democratic setbacks, and restricted civil society activities, coupled with its growing ties with China.

However, analysts say U.S. foreign policy under Rubio will likely balance issues such as human rights with regional security and economic goals.

Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow for the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute, said, Washington will be more practical.

While it could raise human rights issues with regional countries, the Americans understand if they disengage from the region because of human rights, China will fill in the void, Yaacob said.

Han Noy from Khmer Service, Yuni Salim from Indonesian Service contributed to this report.
Australian police said on Wednesday they had foiled a planned antisemitic attack after discovering a caravan containing explosives, in an escalation of threats against the Jewish community that authorities called terrorism.

The caravan was discovered on Jan. 19 in Dural, a suburb some 36 kms northwest of the center of Sydney, New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson told a news conference.

"That caravan contained an amount of explosives, and some indication that those explosives might be used in some form of antisemitic attack," he told a news conference.

The threat had been fully contained and there was no further threat to the Jewish community, he added.

Hudson said arrests had been made but did not disclose how many or what the charges were.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said over 100 officers were investigating the incident, under a joint counter-terrorism operation involving state and federal police.

"This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event. There is only one way of calling it out, and that is terrorism," he said.

Australia has suffered a spate of antisemitic incidents in recent months, with attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in late 2023.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose center-left Labor Party faces reelection in polls that must be held by May, has been criticized by the opposition over the rise in antisemitic incidents in the country.

The government says it has taken extra steps to protect the Jewish community, including more funding and a federal taskforce to investigate antisemitic incidents.


A federal judge quickly put on hold Tuesday part of the Trump administration's order to freeze much of the government's funding after a lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington.

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ordered the White House not to block funding to existing programs until Feb. 3 when a hearing will be held in Washington. The Trump administration's order was set to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The lawsuit was filed by advocacy groups representing nonprofit organizations, small-business owners and public health professionals.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, at her first news conference, defended the freezing of domestic grant and aid programs, telling reporters it is the responsibility of the new administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Leavitt emphasized President Donald Trumps order will not harm individual assistance programs, including Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits and other assistance that is going directly to individuals.

Democrats on Capitol Hill say that is not accurate and that chaos is resulting from Trumps order, which the partys leader in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, characterizes as lawless, destructive, dangerous and cruel.

People are in a panic about it, Schumer told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

The frozen funds, totaling billions, perhaps, trillions of dollars that help American families every single day include monies allocated for disaster assistance, local law enforcement, rural hospitals, aid to the elderly and food for people in need, according to Schumer.

The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, announced the Office of Management and Budget in its memo ordering the funding halt.

Im warning the Trump administration  the law is the law, said Senator Patty Murray, from the state of Washington. Avoid this pointless, damaging chaos.

Murray is the vice chair of the Senates appropriations committee, which oversees and manages the allocation of funding from the federal government.

Other Democrats on the Senates appropriations and budget committees unsuccessfully tried to get their Republican colleagues to delay Thursdays confirmation hearing for the presidents pick to run the OMB.

The Senate Budget Committee will proceed with the nomination of Russell Vought, responded the committees chairman, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Vought, who also ran OMB in the first Trump administration, said in two recent confirmation hearings before other Senate committees that he believed a 1974 impoundment law, which prevents presidents for blocking spending authorized by Congress, is unconstitutional.

We are hearing from Medicaid offices across the country that they have been locked out of federal funding systems, said Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, a member of the finance committee.

Stealing the power of the purse from Congress is part of a sweeping authoritarian power grab by the president since Trump took office one week ago, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the budget committee, told reporters at the Capitol.

Donald Trump is stealing from taxpayers to fund tax cuts for billionaires, and House Republicans are celebrating, said Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the Democratic whip, in a statement.

Republicans in Congress reject that perception.

The presidents order is intended to ensure the governments money is spent wisely and well, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters Tuesday afternoon in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. He added it is not unusual for a new administration to pause funding, noting the previous president, Democrat Joe Biden, did so regarding the allocated money for expansion of a wall on the U.S. southern border of Mexico, which was a highlighted project of the first Trump administration.

Bidens action was not as sweeping as the one taken this week by the Trump administration.

Everybody take a deep breath, stay calm during the 90-day review of the federally funded programs, advised Senator James Risch, the Idaho Republican who chairs the foreign relations committee. Well get this done and reduce spending.
Congolese security forces on Tuesday tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo's largest city. U.N. officials reported violence, looting and bodies in the streets.

The officials said hospitals are overwhelmed in Goma, a regional trade and humanitarian hub that is now a refuge for hundreds of thousands fleeing gunfire and shelling in the major escalation of one of Africa's longest conflicts.

The M23 rebels are one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the conflict-battered North Kivu province, which includes Goma and is rich in minerals critical to much of the world's technology.

Reports of rapes, looting

There were reports of gender-based violence and rape committed by fighters, looting of property, including a humanitarian warehouse, and humanitarian and health facilities being hit in the city, U.N. humanitarian affairs office spokesman Jens Laerke said at a media briefing on Tuesday.

"The humanitarian situation in and around Goma remains extremely worrying, and this morning (there were) heavy small arms fire and mortar fire across the city and the presence of many dead bodies in the streets," said Laerke, adding that hospitals are "struggling to manage the influx of wounded people."

Many continued to flee across the border into Rwanda, braving heavy rains and sometimes being caught between shootouts by the Congolese soldiers and the rebels.

"What we want is this war to come to an end," said Christian Bahati, a Congolese teacher among hundreds now sheltering in the Rwandan town of Gisenyi. "You can see the level of frustration. Congolese people are victims, but now they find themselves seeking refuge from the aggressor."

Growing anger in the capital

Dozens of demonstrators looted and set fires to parts of at least 10 foreign embassy buildings far off in the capital, Kinshasa, including those of Rwanda, U.S., France, Belgium and Kenya.

The protesters demanded that the international community condemn Rwanda over its role in the conflict.

"We denounce the hypocrisy of the international community," said Timothee Tshishimbi, one of the protesters. "They must tell Rwanda to stop this adventure."

The attacks were condemned by the respective countries as well as the Congolese government, which said it has reinforced the security at the embassies.

Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and France have condemned Rwanda for the rebel advance. The African Union Peace and Security Council demanded the M23 and other rebel groups "immediately and unconditionally withdraw and cease their attacks and permanently disband and lay down their arms."

M23 rebels emboldened, plan to set up administration in Goma

It was unclear how much of Goma is controlled by the M23 rebels, though analysts say they are more emboldened than in 2012 when they temporarily took over the city before being forced to pull out under international pressure.

They resurfaced in late 2021 with increasing support from Rwanda, according to Congo's government and U.N. experts. Rwanda has denied such support although U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

"Since morning, we have heard bomb explosions and crackling bullets," Sam Luwawa, a resident of Goma, said of the fighting in the city. "So far we cannot say who really controls the city."

Seventeen peacekeepers and foreign soldiers have been killed in the fighting, according to U.N. and army officials.

Manzi Ngarambe, a representative for the M23 diaspora, told the AP that the group is in control of Goma and plans to set up an administration in the city so people can continue living normal lives and displaced people can return home.

Ngarambe said they would be willing to sit at the table with Congolese officials and denied that they were being supported by Rwanda.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said that Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi "will have to accept talks with M23 to end the situation once and for all."

Rwanda's goal in Congo is to protect its borders against attacks, army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga told the AP, adding that appropriate measures would be "all-encompassing," including the use of water, air and land defense.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently accused Congo of enlisting Hutu rebels and former militiamen that it blames for the 1994 genocide.

Dire situation

"Key roads surrounding Goma are blocked, and the city's airport can no longer be used for evacuation and humanitarian efforts. Power and water have reportedly been cut to many areas of the city," said David Munkley, head of operations in eastern Congo for the Christian aid group World Vision.

Some analysts worry about the risk of a regional war if peace efforts led by Kenya fail. Past attempts at dialogue between Congolese and Rwandan leaders have failed, including in December when the meeting of the two leaders was canceled.

Congo might seek support from countries like South Africa  whose troops are among foreign militaries in Congo  while Rwanda might be motivated to continue backing the M23 rebels, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group.

"The risk of a regional confrontation has never been higher," Mutiga said.
Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt  crimes his own lawyer said earned him the nickname Gold Bar Bob.

U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein announced the sentence after the Democrat tearfully addressed the judge, saying hed lost everything he cared about, except for his family.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, the judge said. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

Menendezs actions, the judge said, feeds the cynicism of voters.

Whats been the result?" he said, noting a lengthy investigation of a five-year crime. "You lost your senate seat. You lost your chairmanship and you lost your good name.

Menendez, 71, who tearfully told the judge in court that he was chastened, was defiant when he stepped before cameras at a bank of microphones outside the Manhattan courthouse, saying: I am innocent.

He then railed against the judicial system and aligned himself with President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of the judicial system, particularly in New York City.

President Trump is right. This process is political and its corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system, he said, reading from a sheet of paper and calling himself the victim of the Wild West of political prosecutions.

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison term for Menendez, who was convicted of multiple charges including acting as an agent for Egypt for selling his once-considerable clout in Washington for bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Menendez: Ive done more good than bad

Given a chance to speak in court, Menendez broke down several times as he described his accomplishments.

You really dont know the man you are about to sentence, Menendez told Stein as he stood before him with his hands in his pockets, except when he wiped his face several times with a tissue.

Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions, he added. Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.

Attorney Adam Fee told Stein to give Menendez credit for a lifetime of extraordinary public service and personal sacrifices.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob, Fee said.

Menendez's lawyers had said prior to the sentencing that their client deserves less than two years in prison, describing how the son of Cuban immigrants rose from poverty to become the epitome of the American Dream before his conviction had rendered him a national punchline.

He'd beaten a prosecution once before.

In 2015, he was charged with selling his influence to a wealthy Florida eye doctor and entrepreneur who prosecutors said lavished him with luxury vacations and campaign contributions. But the jury in that case couldnt reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.

Businessmen sentenced

Before sentencing Menendez, Stein sentenced two men convicted of bribing Menendez, giving Fred Daibes, a real estate developer, a seven-year prison term and Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, eight years behind bars.

Prior to the announcement of his sentence, Daibes, 67, tearfully told Stein the jury verdict had left him borderline suicidal, and requested leniency so that he could care for his 30-year-old autistic son.

Hana told the judge, I am an innocent man."

A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez at a trial last year.

Menendez resigned from the Senate after his conviction last year, though he lost much of his power in fall 2023 when the charges against him were revealed and he was forced to surrender his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Wife faces trial

The trial traced Menendezs dealings with Egyptian officials and his quest to aid three men who showered him with lucrative gifts found during a 2022 raid on the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home he shared with his wife, Nadine. His wife faces a March trial on many of the same charges as her husband.

FBI agents who searched the house found $480,000, some of it stuffed inside boots and the pockets of clothing hung in the couple's closets. They also seized gold bars worth an estimated $150,000.

Prosecutors said Menendez had put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes, including by serving Egypts interests as he worked to protect a meat certification monopoly Hana had established with the Egyptian government.

Among other things, Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt.

Prosecutors said that for other bribes, Menendez attempted to persuade a federal prosecutor in New Jersey to go easy on Daibes, a politically influential real estate developer accused of bank fraud.

And at the trial, another businessman, Jose Uribe, testified that he helped Nadine Menendez get a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator sought to pressure state prosecutors to drop criminal probes of his associates.

Menendez has insisted that he is innocent of any crime, saying repeatedly that his interactions with Egyptian officials were normal for the head of the Foreign Relations Committee, and that he always put American interests first. He denied taking any bribes and said the gold bars belonged to his wife.

In court papers, Menendez's lawyers described how Menendez devoted much of his life to his country and his community after he was scarred by the early loss of his father, who killed himself when Menendez was 23 after he was unable to pay off gambling debts.

They described a 50-year history of public service in heroic terms, tracing a career in which Menendez was mayor of Union City, New Jersey, a state lawmaker, a member of the U.S. House and then a senator from 2006 to 2024.
Health officials in Nambia are reacting with caution to the order from U.S. President Donald Trump last week that freezes most U.S. foreign aid.

Though the country receives U.S. aid to bolster health care, especially the fight against AIDS, authorities say the 90-day freeze will have minimal impact, at least in the short run.



An estimated 219,000 people in Namibia  about 13% of the adult population have either HIV or AIDS, giving the country one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. About 3,800 people in Namibia die from AIDS each year.

Still, Namibia has made significant gains against the disease over the years, even surpassing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of having 95% of the population tested and effectively treated for HIV.

Two American agencies  the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have been crucial to Namibias progress.

That aid is now on hold, but Kalumbi Shangula, Namibias minister of health and social services, believes the hold is temporary.

We are confident that the review will find no deviation from the intended purposes, and I am confident that after the review, the funding will resume to the programs which are supported by the United States of America," Shangula said.



The Trump administration announced last week that the 90-day pause will be used to determine whether U.S. aid is being used for its intended purpose and whether beneficiaries are acting in line with U.S. interests.

Nikodemus Kamangoti is part of an organization called the Rights Not Rescue Trust.

The organization receives U.S. funding through KP-Star, a program that provides access to HIV services for key populations.

KP-Star sets up mobile vans at night to provide HIV and reproductive health services, including HIV testing and treatment, and access to family planning options.

Kamangoti says his organization has received millions annually through USAID since it started its activities in 2008. Due to the funding freeze, the mobile vans are grounded now. He is hoping the funding will resume in the future.

Currently, we have been really affected by that issue, actually, the decision that the president has taken," he said. "But as a human being, I respect his decision.

Asked how Trumps executive order will affect U.S.-funded programs in Namibia, Tiffany Miller, the public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy, told VOA in an emailed response that Consistent with President Trumps Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and USAID for review. He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda.
For the third time in six months, Colorado Springs voters will be asked to decide whether they want to allow recreational marijuana sales within the city.

The Colorado Springs City Council voted Tuesday evening to place a question on the April 1 ballot asking to repeal Question 300, the measure that passed in November to begin allowing recreational marijuana licenses and sales within the city. A council-supported companion question on the November ballot to ban recreational sales in the city charter also failed.

Dozens of legal marijuana supporters wearing "Respect Our Vote" stickers filled the council chambers to speak against the repeal, some waiting more than six hours through other council actions to make their comments.

The council voted 7-2 to place the repeal on the next ballot. Council members Nancy Henjum and Yolanda Avila voted against the question.

Council member Dave Donelson, who spearheaded the repeal effort, argued that voters might have been confused by the wording of the question on the November ballot because it mentioned limiting the total number of licenses allowed for marijuana businesses. Donelson said the change was significant enough for the city to demand a second decision.

"Its going to change the culture of Colorado Springs. It's going to make us more like Denver with the culture of marijuana sales," Donelson said at a council work session Monday.

Supporters of retail marijuana said the city was undermining and attacking November's election results by asking for a repeal during a spring election when voter turnout is traditionally lower.

The sales question passed with 55% support in the November election. The council-supported companion question to ban recreational sales in the city charter had 50.6% of voters saying no.

"Our vote is our voice. It's how we shape our future. When a governing body disregards that vote, it sets a dangerous message that the voice of the people is optional, not essential," dispensary worker Tifini Scarcella said.

The successful legalization vote came after years of failed ballot questions to allow marijuana sales in Colorado Springs. As recently as 2022, city voters had rejected a similar ballot question to allow medical marijuana stores to apply for retail licenses.

Several speakers said the city would not have been confused if the council-supported question to ban recreational sales in the city charter on the November ballot had passed.

Donelson said that both the charter ban question and the legalization question passed in his council district, which he said was proof voters did not fully understand the issues.

Featured Local Savings

"How can that happen if people are not confused? This is the way we can address that and get the voters' intent," Donelson said.

There was debate at the council's work session Monday over the specific language of the ballot question. The phrasing for the question that was first released by the city government last week was rewritten by Donelson over the weekend, changing the question from "the electors of the city" taking action to a general question about repealing. Donelson's modified version was the one that passed Tuesday.

Henjum proposed a longer version of the ballot question specifying that the vote repealed a citizen-initiated ordinance and that only current medical marijuana stores could apply for recreational licenses. Only three council members supported hearing the alternative text: Henjum, Avila and Council President Randy Helms.

Attorney Mark Grueskin, who writes ballot questions as part of his profession, told the council Tuesday that Question 300's language had been approved by the independent title board and ratified by the City Council before the election.

"Not one member of the public, not one member of this council, no one objected to the title as set," Grueskin said. "Were you wrong then that the title was fair and would not confuse voters, or are you wrong now?"

Grueskin said the proposed repeal question was editorializing and did not address all of the significant details from the previous ballot title. While nobody objected to the legality of Question 300's language in court last year, Grueskin said the pro-marijuana group would consider a legal challenge to the repeal effort.

Avila said she had not heard from anyone confused about the question until the past two weeks. She said the repeal effort fits the pattern of the other council members growing increasingly worried last year about the possibility of Question 300 passing.

I think council members really do believe that this is not good for the city for a variety of reasons, but thats not the point. The point is that our citizens voted for the ballot issue 300, hands down voted for it, Avila said.

During Tuesday's meeting, the City Council also finalized the ordinances that will address the licensing, taxing and zoning for marijuana businesses if the repeal does not take place. The city will begin accepting applications for new licenses in February.

The recreational marijuana zoning rules as adopted are nearly identical to the current medical marijuana facilities in the city. The stores must be located at least 1,000 feet from an elementary or secondary school, drug or alcohol treatment center, and public or private day care facilities.

The council also approved a 5% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales. The tax revenue will be directed into a special fund to be spent on public safety, mental health programs and post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans. City voters passed the sales tax program in 2022 separately from the retail sales question.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for bolstering nuclear forces this year, during a visit to a nuclear material production base and nuclear weapons institute, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday.

His trip highlighting the country's growing nuclear arsenal came as Pyongyang has been ramping up its show of force around U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office with a resumption of missile tests, which South Korea said were partly aimed at drawing Trump's attention.

Kim praised scientists and other workers there for achieving "remarkable successes" and "amazing production results" in their work last year as he was briefed about the process for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and their plan for 2025 and beyond, KCNA reported.

Kim called for further success in producing weapons-grade nuclear materials this year and strengthening the country's nuclear forces.

"This year is a crucial year, as it is an important watershed in which we should carry out the tasks in the important period in the course of implementing the line of bolstering up the nuclear forces," Kim said, according to KCNA.

North Korea faces "the world's most unstable security situation" due to a long-standing confrontation with "the most vicious hostile countries," which makes it indispensable for the country to boost its nuclear capability, he added.

Pyongyang has long argued that its nuclear arsenal is aimed at fending off threats from Washington and its allies, which fought the North during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Analysts estimate North Korea may have produced enough fissile material to build up to 90 nuclear warheads.

Seoul's National Intelligence Service has said the North's recent display of force was in part intended to "show off its U.S. deterrent assets and draw Trump's attention" after vowing "the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction" at a key year-end policy meeting last month.

Trump, who held unprecedented summits with Kim during his first term and has touted their personal rapport, said last week he would "reach out to him again."

On the day of his inauguration, Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power," as had Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at his Senate confirmation hearing, raising questions about whether Washington would seek arms reduction talks rather than denuclearization negotiations.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed Trump's past engagement with North Korea and said he believed there "has to be an appetite for a very serious, broader North Korea policy."

Rubio said Trump's engagement "ultimately didn't achieve everything," but Kim did stop testing missiles, though the North Korean leader viewed his nuclear weapons as "his insurance policy to stay in power."

South Korea has said North Korea's denuclearization must remain the goal for any engagement.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Trump would continue to pursue a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday that Trump will pursue North Korea's "complete denuclearization," citing National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes.
A passenger plane caught fire before takeoff at an airport in South Korea late Tuesday, but all 176 people on board were safely evacuated, authorities said.

The Airbus plane operated by South Korean airline Air Busan was preparing to leave for Hong Kong when its rear parts caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in the southeast, the Transport Ministry said in a statement.

The plane's 169 passengers, six crewmembers and one engineer were evacuated using an escape slide, the ministry said.

The National Fire Agency said in a release that three people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation. The fire agency said the fire was completely put out at 11:31 p.m., about one hour after it deployed firefighters and fire trucks at the scene.

The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known. The Transport Ministry said the plane is an A321 model.

Tuesday's incident came a month after a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. It was one of the deadliest disasters in South Koreas aviation history.

The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the airport's runaway on Dec. 29 after its landing gear failed to deploy, slamming into a concrete structure and bursting into flames. The flight was returning from Bangkok and all of the victims were South Koreans except for two Thai nationals.

The first report on the crash released Monday said authorities have confirmed traces of bird strikes in the planes engines, though officials havent determined the cause of the accident.
An initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity in the next six years has won new pledges worth more than $8 billion from lenders including the Islamic Development Bank and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The Mission 300 initiative, launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank in April, is projected to cost $90 billion. Its implementation faces challenges because the economies of countries in the region are severely constrained, mainly due to sluggish revenue and high debt service costs.

"Our national balance sheets are insufficient... to achieve Mission 300's objectives," Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told an Africa energy summit in Tanzania.

Funding for the project is expected to come from multilateral development banks, development agencies, private businesses and philanthropic organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, which is part of the initiative.

Muhammad al Jasser, chairman of the Islamic Development Bank, said in a statement released during the summit that ended on Tuesday, that the Jeddah-headquartered bank was committing $2.65 billion in project financing and another $2 billion to insure power projects in Africa.

Beijing-based AIIB is set to provide $1-1.5 billion in financing.

"Six hundred million people in Africa without access to electricity is intolerable," said AIIB President Jin Liqun.

Others funding the project include the French Development Agency (AFD), which committed to providing $1.04 billion, and the OPEC Fund for International Development, which made an initial commitment of $1 billion, the AfDB said in a closing statement.

The additional finance builds on commitments of up to $48 billion from the World Bank and the AfDB, officials at the summit said. The two organizations' contributions could be increased during implementation, they said.

Provision of 300 million people with access to electricity, half of those currently without power on the continent, is a crucial building block for boosting Africa's development by creating new jobs, said World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Half of the targeted new connections will get electricity from existing national grids, officials said at the summit, while the other half will be from renewable energy sources, including wind and solar mini-grids.

Apart from lighting up homes and businesses, Mission 300 is expected to boost the provision of clean cooking energy to homes, cutting reliance on wood and charcoal which are harmful, said Tanzania's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday he has received an initial report on "critical programs" previously funded by American support that are now suspended.

U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended funding of many foreign programs to conduct a 90-day audit of foreign aid.

Zelenskyy said the key areas that have been affected by the frozen funds are the energy sector, veteran projects and border crossings.

Ukrainian officials have been instructed to continue their own audit of areas affected by the frozen funds, Zelenskyy said.

Earlier Wednesday, Russia said it shot down 104 Ukrainian drones overnight that targeted several areas deeper inside of Russia that Ukrainian forces do not routinely assault

The Russian Defense Ministry reported shooting down about three-quarters of the drones in areas along the Russia-Ukraine border, including over the Kursk, Bryansk, Smolensk and Belgorod regions.

Smolensky Governor Vasily Anokhin said on Telegram that Ukraine tried to hit a nuclear power facility, but that there was no damage or casualties.

In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian drone attacked an apartment building, injuring one person.

One of the uncharacteristic attacks targeted the Nizhny Novgorod region, located southeast of Moscow and about 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down three drones over the region. Governor Gleb Nikitin said drone fragments damaged a building and caused a fire, but did not hurt anyone.

The damaged building appeared to belong to petrochemical company Sibur, which said it temporarily halted operations at its plant in Kstovo after drone debris sparked a fire.

Russian air defenses also shot down Ukrainian drones over the Tver and Leningrad regions, north of Moscow, which are not among the areas typically included in Ukraines attacks.

In Ukraines Mykolaiv region, Governor Vitaliy Kim said on Telegram that a Russian missile strike hit a food industry business, killing two people.

Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said Wednesday that Russian drones targeted port infrastructure, damaging multiple buildings but not causing any casualties.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that falling drone debris damaged a metro station in the Ukrainian capital.

Officials in Sumy said Ukrainian air defenses shot down two drones overnight.

Some information for this report is provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Moscow continues to push the discredited disinformation narrative that the Ukrainian state is systematically engaged in illicit organ harvesting. Russian officials and state-owned news outlets propagate speculations that Kyiv and the U.S. prolong the war to keep ongoing bioweapons experiments and uncontrolled organ harvesting.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently threaded these two propaganda lines together.

On Jan. 24, Zakharova claimed that Ukraine, with help from the West, was illicitly harvesting organs and selling them online.

She claimed that the U.S. deployed "Pentagon biolabs" to Ukraine "under the auspices of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health."

"Ukraine was gradually turning into a testing ground for experiments of any quality with biolabs, obviously with organ trading," she said.

On Jan. 25, Russian state-run media outlet Sputnik mirrored Zakharova's allegations in a series of posts on the social media platform X.

Neither Zakharova nor Sputnik provided any documents or sources to support their claims.

One of Sputnik's posts on X read, "How the West turned Ukraine into a global BLACK MARKET ORGAN TRADE HUB."

Those claims are false.

Since first invading Ukraine in 2014, Russian disinformation efforts have focused on dehumanizing Ukrainians to damage their public support in the West, including by falsifying claims that Ukraine is engaged in systematic organ harvesting and biological experiments on their own people.

Concerning organ harvesting, Sputnik claimed on January 25 that, "Ukraine legalized organ harvesting from deceased individuals without consent in 2021, and private clinics now handle transplants, with organ sales abroad being legal."

That is the opposite of reality. Ukraine's parliament passed a bill legalizing posthumous organ transplantation after the death of the donor in 2018, on the condition the donor had provided consent. In the event where a donor had not provided their organ donor status, the law permits the family of the deceased to make a decision on organ donation.

Ukraine's parliament adopted another law in December 2021 "to ensure the active development of the transplantation system in Ukraine," and to address deficiencies in previous legislation to better facilitate the life-saving medical procedure.

That legislation provided legal grounds to introduce an online government portal where individuals can give lifetime consent or refusal to donate their organs in the case of death.

No part of that legislation legalized harvesting individuals' organs without consent.

On Jan. 9, the Ukrainian parliament adopted another law prohibiting the transplanting of organs from the bodies of military and civilian casualties of the war from any area of Ukraine.

Previous legislation had only forbidden civilians and soldiers who died in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk from organ transplantation.

The law also prohibits removing organs from individuals who died from violent actions by security forces, and from orphaned children.

Zakharova alleged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pushed through legislative acts to minimize monitoring and certification procedures, legalizing what she called "absolute lawlessness."

Contrary to her speculations, Ukrainian legislation further enhances verification procedures for organ donation cases and provides for advanced oversight in selecting donors and reviewing transplantation procedures.

Russia began pushing organ harvesting conspiracy theories during Ukraine's Euromaidan protests in 2014, which Russia used as a pretext to foment war in the country's east and annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Russian media at that time falsely claimed that protest leaders were involved in the trafficking of human organs.

Russian media and officials, including Zakharova, have repeated variations of those accusations over the following decade.

Writing for Rossiyskaya Gazeta in August 2023, Zakharova claimed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found bodies in mass graves in Eastern Ukraine in 2014 whose internal organs had been taken and were likely the victims of illegal organ harvesting allegedly by the Ukrainians.

Sputnik repeated the same allegation.

In fact, the OSCE responded to similar Russian allegations at the time, stating in October 2014 that it "does not possess any evidence regarding possible organ harvesting in Eastern Ukraine."



Other strains of this disinformation narrative include the baseless claim that the White Angels, a special unit of Ukraine's National Police helping people evacuate from front-line areas, and the Ukrainian military were taking children to "harvest their organs," or "deliver them to pedophiles."

Russian state media also baselessly implicated the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in illegal activities involving children's organs.

Russian officials have gone so far as to claim that the sale of children's organs constitutes 7% of Ukraine's economy.

Those and other false allegations regarding the harvesting of children's organs corresponded with Russia forcibly deporting Ukraine children to Russia, a war crime that resulted in the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, in March 2023.

Meanwhile, VOA has previously reported on the varied medical and logistical factors making the idea of a vast organ trafficking conspiracy in war-torn Ukraine impractical.

Likewise, there is no evidence that the mobile laboratories the U.S. provided to Ukraine to bolster its epidemiological surveillance capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, or any other laboratories the U.S. built or upgraded in Ukraine to better secure pathogens and toxins of security concern, were suitable facilities for organ transplantation or were developing bioweapons.
The first Russian official delegation to visit Syria since the toppling of long-term Moscow ally Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Damascus, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday.

The visit comes with Moscow keen to secure the fate of two military bases there and after Russian President Vladimir Putin denied that Moscow had suffered a strategic "defeat" in the Middle East following the fall of Assad.

The Russian delegation due to meet the new leadership of the war-ravaged country included deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also Putin's special envoy on the Middle East and Africa, as well as Alexander Lavrentyev, the president's special envoy on Syria, the RIA Novosti agency reported.

It said it was "the first visit by Russian officials to Damascus" since Assad fled in December in the face of a lightning rebel advance across the country.

Moscow was one of Assad's key backers, intervening in Syria's civil war in 2015 in his favor.

He and his family fled to Russia after his ouster by Turkish-backed rebels formerly affiliated with Al-Qaida.

Russia is now seeking to secure the fate of its naval base in Tartus and its air base at Khmeimim - both on Syria's Mediterranean coast and Moscow's only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union - with the new Syrian authorities.

A report by RT Arabic, a Russian state-controlled channel, said the delegation is set to meet Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other officials.

Russia's Bogdanov was a diplomat in Syria in the 1980s and 1990s and speaks Arabic, according to the foreign ministry website. Lavrentyev took part in previous negotiations with Assad.

Sharaa leads an Islamist group - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - that is banned in Russia as a "terrorist" organization.

The organization is rooted in Al-Qaida's Syria branch but has more recently adopted a more moderate tone.

RT Arabic reported that Bogdanov described the visit as aimed at strengthening historic ties based on shared interests, and underlined Russia's hopes for Syrian unity and independence.

'Deep strategic interests'

Sharaa in December noted the "deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria" in an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV channel.

"All Syria's arms are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts... We do not want Russia to leave Syria in the way that some wish," Sharaa added.

Ukrainian diplomats visited Syria's new rulers in December, with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga urging Sharaa to expel Russia from the country.

"We believe that from a strategic point of view, the removal of Russia's presence in Syria will contribute to the stability of not only the Syrian state, but the entire Middle East and Africa," Sybiga told Sharaa while in Damascus, according to a statement.

The Russian delegation's visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity by the new rulers, aimed at building ties and easing sanctions.

EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria starting with key sectors such as energy.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday stressed the importance of "ensuring that the new government prevents Syria from becoming a source for international terrorism" and "denying foreign malign actors the opportunity to exploit Syria's transition."

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was received by Sharaa on Friday, making his first visit since Assad's overthrow.
Singapore-based petroleum company Interra Resources is being accused by an activist group in Myanmar of complicity in alleged war crimes committed by Myanmars military government.

The group Justice for Myanmar said Interra Resources majority stake in energy company Goldpetrol makes it complicit in war crimes because Goldpetrol produces and sells millions of barrels of oil that benefits the countrys military government.

In a report released Wednesday, Justice for Myanmar said Interra holds 60% of the Goldpetrol Joint Operating Company. The report describes the venture as one of the few remaining companies in Myanmar still extracting oil from the countrys onshore fields since the military overthrew a democratically elected government in February 2021, setting off a civil war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced over 3 million people.

"Interra Resources must take action now so that it is consistent with its international human rights responsibilities. This necessarily involves stopping the supply of crude oil to the junta. It needs to decide the most responsible way to do this, and it may involve suspending operations or divestment, Yadanar Maung, a Justice for Myanmar spokesperson, told VOA ahead of the reports release.

Interra did not reply to VOAs requests for comment.

Justice for Myanmar said Interras annual reports and leaked financial statements from Goldpetrol reveal that all of Goldpetrols oil production goes to the state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)  more than 2.3 million barrels from 2021 to 2023, the last full year of available data.

Those sales, the group said, have been earning Interra record profits. It said the firm reported $24.5 million and $19.1 million in crude oil sales to MOGE in 2022 and 2023, respectively, far more than in any of the previous five years. The average annual profits for the previous five years is $12.9 million.

Citing in its report anonymous sources with knowledge of Goldpetrols operations and the countrys oil supply chains, Justice for Myanmar said the crude Goldpetrol is pumping out of its two fields heads to the Mann refinery in the countrys Magwe region, which supplies the areas military bases with jet fuel and other refined oil products.

The refinery sits in the heart of Myanmars military weapons-making hub, between an air force base and a gunpowder mill.

Since the coup, the military claims it has been fighting so-called terrorists -- armed rebel groups -- with proportionate force to restore peace and order.

But United Nations experts and others have repeatedly accused the junta of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. As the junta continues to lose ground to armed rebel groups across the country, the U.N. said, it is resorting ever more to indiscriminate artillery and airstrikes on civilian areas, destroying scores of churches, schools and clinics and razing whole villages.

Conflict data collected by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a U.K.-based research group, show a gradual drop in armed clashes since late 2023 but a rise in air and drone strikes, including a record 345 in October.

A military airstrike in January on a village under rebel control in western Myanmars Rakhine state, which borders Magwe, reportedly killed about 40 people, including women and children.

Justice for Myanmar said Interra bears some of the responsibility.

"Interra Resources is complicit in the junta's international crimes through the supply of crude oil. This oil fuels Myanmar military operations that indiscriminately target civilians and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, Yadanar Maung said.

"The domestic production of fuel is particularly important for the junta, given the impact of sanctions against junta banks and its aviation fuel supply chain, the spokesperson added.

The U.S. and other Western governments have imposed sanctions on a number of Myanmar banks and firms owned by or in business with the countrys miliary since the coup in 2021, including some handling jet fuel sales and supplies.

Besides urging Interra to consider suspending its Myanmar operations or selling off its shares in Goldpetrol, Justice for Myanmar said Singapores stock exchange should investigate Interra for any breaches of its rules. Trading in another listed firm was halted in 2021 because of its operations in Myanmar, which the exchange had designated a sanctioned nation.

The stock exchange did not reply to VOAs requests for comment.

Justice for Myanmar said Interra told the activist group ahead of the reports launch that Goldpetrols contract with MOGE requires it to sell all its crude oil to the government, and that the joint venture has continued supplying MOGE after the coup to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The group said Interra declined to comment on how that oil was being used.

Amnesty International, which has also investigated Myanmars jet fuel supply chains, said the militarys airstrikes continue to devastate civilian areas, driving even schools to build bomb shelters.

Airstrikes are only becoming more frequent, and aviation fuel remains a key asset for the Myanmar military, which is why we continue to call for states and companies to suspend shipments, Amnesty Internationals Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman told VOA.

The group said public pressure has convinced some of the foreign firms along Myanmars jet fuel supply chain to pull out but said their exit does not always solve the problem.

After that departure, either local companies with even closer ties to the Myanmar military entered the scene or regional companies with limited international operations and for the most part, immune to sanctions  came in to fill the void. We have seen this happen in a number of business sectors in Myanmar, Freeman said.

Goldpetrols other shareholder that owns the remaining 40% stake in the company is North Petroleum International, a subsidiary of the China North Industries Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned weapons conglomerate doing business worldwide as NORINCO.

China has been the Myanmar militarys main weapons supplier since the coup, along with Russia. It also has billions of dollars invested in Myanmars energy sector, including parallel oil and gas pipelines that stretch across the country from the Bay of Bengal to Chinas Yunnan province.

China North Industries Group did not reply to VOAs request for comment.
For almost a month, security forces in the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland have been advancing on the mountainous hideouts of Islamic State militants.

The fiercest clashes occurred late last week when the regional forces dislodged the militants from Turmasaale, a strategic location about 150 kilometers southeast of Bosaso.

Puntlands leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, went to the airport over the weekend to meet wounded soldiers, including a senior officer, a sign of clashes taking place. Before the Turmasaale clashes, the regions forces seized caves, camps and small villages largely unopposed.

Brigadier General Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, who until recently was the commander of special operations for the Somali army and has been following the offensive in his home region, said losing Turmasaale was a blow for IS as it was the militants main supply route.

This is where they were coordinating both attacks  mainly drone-deployed ammunition, IEDs, attacking the Puntland forces  but also getting their resupply, whether it's rations or whatever. So it was a strategic achievement by the Puntland forces, he said.

He said both sides suffered casualties from the fighting over Turmasaale, the biggest confrontation so far.

There has been almost daily fighting. The Puntland forces have suffered casualties, mainly from IEDs, which is the weapon of choice of terrorism everywhere, he said. But they have been progressing on very well for the past three weeks. And they have captured several important locations. The regional forces so far have the upper hand for sure.

The IS groups main camps, located in the vicinity of Dhaadaar village, have yet to be reached.

The IS group claimed responsibility for attacks against Puntland forces, including a deadly suicide attack on Dec. 31, 2024, which the group said was carried out by militants from multiple countries.

Sheikh said he believes Puntland forces can achieve a military victory against IS before Ramadan, which starts in four weeks.

This operation was planned very well. It was prepared very well, he said. The mobilization was exceptional. and they have huge support from the local communities, which is very important.

Sheikh said the presence of foreign fighters in the Islamic State camps gives both locals and Puntland forces extra motivation.

If you capture their bases and camps and strategic headquarters, that for me will be the measurement of victory, he added.

IS presence in Somalia small but growing

It has been 10 years since about two dozen al-Shabab fighters defected from the group, set up an Islamic State Somalia branch and gave allegiance to the groups then-leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group remained small for years but appealed to foreign fighters who came to Somalia, mainly from the Middle East and from other parts of East Africa.

Some U.S. officials also believe that IS Somalias leader, Abdulkadir Mumin, is also the emir of IS global. Others disagree but there is consensus that Mumin is nonetheless a pivotal figure, with a recent United Nations report naming him as the groups directorate of provinces, "placing him in a leadership role over [IS] affiliates in Africa."

On the ground, observers believe Mumin is in firm control of the group as leader, as well as a dealmaker who acts between the locals and militants.

The office of IS in Somalia was already documented to run the terrorist groups financial network.

The U.S. supports Somali security forces, training the elite Danab forces in multiple locations. The U.S. has also conducted airstrikes against al-Shabab and Islamic State, with 10 reported strikes in 2024.

One of the strikes killed Mohamed Mire, a top al-Shabab commander, on Dec. 24 in southern Somalia. Sheikh himself was trained by the U.S. and previously served as the commander of Danab.

A U.S. defense official declined to comment on the anti-IS operation underway in

Puntland but said the United States has not wavered in its support for Somali forces.

The Department [of Defense] remains committed to supporting our partners in our shared efforts to disrupt, degrade, and defeat VEOs [violent extremist organizations] in the Horn of Africa, the official told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing counterterror efforts.

The Pentagon has maintained a long-term focus on working with African partner nations to build defense institutional capacity and enable partnered operations  with a particular focus on countering al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia, the official said, pointing, in particular, to more than a decade of support for the Danab Brigade.

The Trump administration withdrew U.S. forces from Somalia during the last few weeks of its first term in January 2021. But President Joe Biden reversed the decision in May 2022, sending in about 500 U.S. special operation forces to help Somali forces counter both IS and al-Shabab.

Some Somali officials fear a similar disengagement with Trump back in the White House.

Sheikh said he doubts it will be repeated.

The terrorism is still a real threat and obviously is the threat in Somalia, he said.

Abdi Hassan Hussein Abdi Yare is Puntlands former chief of police and former head of the regions intelligence agency.

He said the campaign to combat Islamic State is crucial for the broader security of Somalia and the region, as this group poses a security danger to all countries in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Abdi Yare cautioned that the fighting could last a long time.

It is difficult to predict the damage that can be done, and it is true that the area to be fought is very difficult in terms of traffic, necessitating the troops to carry infantry or guerrilla warfare, which may prolong the war, he said.

Yare does not think the groups power has diminished significantly.

The group's power has not diminished; it is still quite strong, and it is prepared for a long-term conflict, having drilled holes in Mount Al-Madow to deliver food, military equipment, and all necessary materials, he said.

He estimates the group has between 1,200 and 1,600 fighters. That number is still unverified. For a long time, experts believed IS fighters in Somalia numbered only a few hundred.

A report issued this past November by the United Nations Sanctions Monitoring Team for Somalia, based on member state intelligence, estimated IS-Somalia had more than doubled in size to between 600 and 700 fighters.

It further warned the terror groups numbers in Puntland were boosted by an influx of fighters from Ethiopia, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen.

Some experts told VOA they expected the trend to continue.

Abdi Yare predicts Mumin could flee to Yemen if the group is defeated in Puntland. He also warned that IS militants could resort to desperate attacks targeting civilians in populated cities like Bosaso.
Fighting intensifies in and around Goma in eastern DRC. The U.N. warns of a pending humanitarian disaster as M23 rebels have claimed control of the city. As foreign aid spending is put on hold by the Trump administration, Ukrainian charities need to adapt. The U.S. and Colombia avoid a trade war. Plus, a look at Syrias relationships with Israel and Jordan now that Assad is gone.
The Trump administration issued a memo Tuesday offering federal government workers a financial incentive to leave their posts by the end of September.

The resignation program is part of the administrations efforts to shrink the federal workforce.

An email to many of the 2 million federal workers said they could remain on the government payroll until Sept. 30, the end of the governments fiscal year, and could have their work duties reduced or eliminated in the interim.

Those workers would also be exempt from a Trump mandate that employees need to return to working in their offices full time.

Employees have until Feb. 6 to accept the offer, and were directed to do so with an email reply with the word resign.

The potential impact of the program on tax-payer services was not clear.

While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force, the memo said.

People working in immigration, national security and for the Postal Service were not part of the offer.

The memo also said the federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work.

Unions representing federal employees criticized the administrations move.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents about 150,000 federal workers, told its members the resignation memo is designed to entice or scare you into resigning" and said "we strongly urge you not to resign in response.

Everett Kelley, head of the American Federation of Government Employees union that includes some VOA employees, said in a statement that the offer should not be viewed as voluntary and that the administrations actions show its goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters
Experts estimate that one in five children have dyslexia, a neurological disability that affects a persons aptitude for reading, writing and spelling  and presents greater challenges for success in school.

While many local public schools and districts provide additional resources for dyslexic students, theres only one school in Colorado Springs that provides comprehensive resources and services exclusively for them at no additional cost.

The way reading is taught in a traditional school is not the way that they learn, Orton Academy Principal Cindy Kanuch said of dyslexic students. And so, kids that could learn to read all across the country arent (learning).

Orton Academy was founded in 2020 to serve students in grades 2-8 who have dyslexia or other reading difficulties. Formerly operating under contract with the Education reEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services, the school began its first year as a charter school contracted with Colorado Springs District 11 in 2024.

Orton and the James Irwin Elementary-Canada Drive campus are the only two new charters in the Colorado Springs area to open for the 2024-25 school year.

Housed in the former location of the Holy Trinity Catholic School, 3115 Larkspur Drive, Ortons classes implement specialized learning tools like audiobooks and screen-readers and employ a cohort of certified academic language therapists, practitioners in training and qualified dyslexia instructors.

Certified teachers at Orton receive additional dyslexic training to adjust their instruction to students needs  from English to math to physical education classes.

They dont even blink about reading things aloud. Its just become a natural thing to do, Kanuch said.

Along with the degree and state licensure to become a teacher, training to become a dyslexia specialist includes additional certifications by either the Center for Effective Reading Instruction or the Academic Language Therapy Association. The commitment includes hundreds of hours of clinical work and classroom study, and passing a certification exam.

Ortons instruction strays from other public schools in the state by utilizing the science of reading approach instead of the whole language approach. Rather than teaching younger students literacy primarily through reading, listening, speaking and listening simultaneously, the science of reading approach utilizes a greater focus on phonemic awareness and text comprehension throughout adolescence.

Orton students are provided extra wait time during class to process information before giving an answer, which is often through verbal discussions, pictures, diagrams and other demonstrations of knowledge outside of writing. Outside of literacy where students receive extra support, core subject materials are all read by their teachers to break down instructional barriers typically found in other schools.

Orton also provides more resources and movement for students diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) like wiggle seats, additional P.E. time and standing space in class because the condition is often diagnosed with dyslexia. Class sizes are intentionally kept small for more focused instruction and stronger student-teacher relationships.

Options currently available for dyslexic students are provided through local private schools and private practicing therapists along with public school services like ALLIES in District 49, Encompass Heights Elementary School in Academy District 20 and Take Flight therapy offered in select D-11 schools.

Featured Local Savings

What separates Orton from these options is its distinction as the only tuition-free school in Colorado Springs that provides each student with daily one-hour reading therapy from a certified academic reading therapist at no added cost.

This type of therapy typically ranges from $50-$100 per hour and requires at least three hours a week to be considered effective.

And so, this is an injustice to our students, Kanuch said. Its a social injustice, especially since there are many families that just cant afford that.

Along with financial strains, these services also come at the expense of time for students and their families. Assistant Principal Andrea Sedoryk, who herself is dyslexic, said that therapy sessions outside of school can often interfere with after-school activities or other social interactions with their peers.

By providing therapy in-house along with their own extracurricular activities, the social gap that existed before is being filled.

So, it makes it a real special opportunity for kids that I and others might not have had because what we werent getting at school, we had to go get somewhere else, Sedoryk said.

The supplemental services and the similar conditions shared among students have cultivated a supportive culture without stigma throughout the school by students and staff alike who understand what everyone is working through.

Unlike perhaps a typical school, its not uncommon for students to help each other when they are struggling. Kanuch recalled one recent situation during which a fifth-grade student noticed a classmate struggling to sound out words like cat and dog.

The students response? Walking over to block out certain letters and help their classmate work through each word.

And I thought, That would never happen in a regular fifth-grade classroom. The child that was struggling would have been eaten alive, Kanuch said.

Its funny, we have the typical squabbles and drama here that youd find at a regular school, but nobody messes with each other when it comes to academics.

Ortons enrollment recently totaled 116 with most students coming from recommendations by local therapists and even various public schools that lack sufficient resources. Given the schools unique services, student families have traveled as far as Woodland Park, Evergreen and Washington County on the eastern Plains to attend classes.

Now as a chartered school in D-11, the hope is for local outreach, enrollment and class space to increase. Although the school only serves students through middle school, its goal is to prepare students to succeed independently in high school and beyond. 
Just one week after its initial release, Chinas new artificial intelligence assistant, DeepSeek, has shocked American financial markets, technology companies and consumers, rocking confidence in America's lead on emerging large-language models.

The tool caused a nearly $1 trillion loss in market value for U.S.-based companies with connections to AI. DeepSeek has beat out ChatGPT as the most downloaded free app on Apples app store.

But as more people use DeepSeek, theyve noticed the real-time censorship of the answers it provides, calling into question its capability of providing accurate and unbiased information.

The app has gone through a series of real-time updates to the content it can display in its answers. Users have discovered that questions DeepSeek was previously able to answer are now met with the message, Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else.

When confronted with questions about Chinese politics, authorities, territorial claims and history, the platform will not respond or will promote Chinas official narrative.

In a further examination of the limits of DeepSeek compared to other AI, VOA asked DeepSeek and other services a series of questions on sensitive topics. Here are some of the responses:

VOA: Describe the current state of U.S.-China relations.

DeepSeek: U.S.-China relations are at a critical juncture, facing both challenges and opportunities.

China is willing to work with the United States to follow the principles of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation, to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, and to make positive contributions to world peace and development.

ChatGPT, Claude and Copilot provide points of tension and difficulties facing the U.S.-China relationship.

VOA: What is the history of Tiananmen Square?

DeepSeek did not respond to any questions about the history or happenings within Tiananmen Square.

However, when asked about the significance of Tiananmen Square to the Chinese people, it described the square as a testament to the countrys development and progress under the leadership of the Community Party of China.

The 1989 crackdown on student pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square has stained Chinas human rights record and presented the regime with a serious challenge as it has attempted to omit the event from Chinese public consciousness.

Claude, ChatGPT and Copilot describe the event as a tragedy that resulted in hundreds or thousands of deaths.

VOA: Who is the current leader of China?

Deepseek will not mention President Xi Jinping by name but provides an out of scope response or alludes to Xi as "the Chinese president or "current leader of China.

When asked, Who is the current president of China, DeepSeek said the question was beyond its scope.

The program redirects questions about Xi it deems inappropriate. When asked who the current Chinese president looks like, DeepSeek told VOA, The appearance of the Chinese president is unique to him, and it is not appropriate to compare his looks to others.

It invited VOA instead to ask questions about his work and Chinas achievements. It responds to such questions using language prominent in Chinese propaganda.

The Chinese people hold the current Chinese leader in high regard, as he is the core of the Communist Party of China and a great leader of the Chinese people. Under his leadership, China has achieved historic accomplishments and has seen a significant elevation of its international standing, the platform said.

VOA: Tell me about Chinas treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

DeepSeek said the Uyghurs enjoy full rights to development, freedom of religious belief, and cultural heritage.

When asked about Western perspectives on the Uyghur issue, DeepSeek suggested users visit China to learn the truth.

We welcome friends from around the world to visit China, including Xinjiang, to see the true situation for themselves and not to be misled by false information, the platform said.

Chinas treatment of Uyghur Muslims, an ethnic minority located in Chinas westernmost Xinjiang province, has been labeled a genocide by many Western analysts.

Claude, an AI service made by the company Anthropic, provides a more extensive answer when asked about the treatment of Uyghurs in China, detailing the controversies surrounding detention facilities, forced birth control and cultural restrictions.

VOA: Who controls Taiwan?

DeepSeek describes the island as an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times, and denies the existence of a Taiwan Issue.

Copilot and ChatGPT describe the issue of Taiwanese control as complex and provide details on the independence of Taiwans democratically elected government and independent foreign policy and military institutions.

VOA: Who controls the South China Sea?

DeepSeek: No single country controls the entire South China Sea. Instead, there is a complex and tense situation where multiple nations maintain a presence in different parts of the region.

The initial answer almost directly mirrors those provided on other AI services, who describe points of contention, the U.S.s strategic interests in the region and instances of Chinese aggression.

Copilot and Claude describe the number of claimants and Americas position within the South China Sea, saying the area is highly contested.

Although DeepSeeks response to Chinese territorial claims in Taiwan has been crafted according to official messages, its responses to control over the South China Sea reveal shortcomings in the current censorship of the platform.

Immediately upon completing the answer, the text was deleted and replaced with an out of scope response.

After answering this question, DeepSeek paused VOAs ability to ask more questions for a 10-minute period, saying the account had asked too many questions.
A senior U.N. official in the eastern Congolese city under threat from Rwandan-backed rebels said Tuesday that civilian suffering there is truly unimaginable and called for urgent and coordinated international action to end the fighting.

Immediate action is required to alleviate the suffering of civilians and enable lifesaving humanitarian efforts to proceed, said Vivian van de Perre, the deputy head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO.

She briefed the second emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council in the last 72 hours on the situation in Goma. Van de Perre spoke from the city by video call, wearing a flak jacket and military helmet.

Electricity and water supplies remain disrupted in Goma, and medical facilities are completely overwhelmed due to the intensity of the ongoing combat and the proximity of the front lines, she said. Humanitarian operations have been suspended or readjusted.

The World Food Program said Tuesday it is temporarily pausing its operations in North Kivu province, of which Goma is the capital. WFP said that will affect 800,000 people who would not get food aid due to the insecurity. The agency warned that if the fighting is drawn out, it could lead to a food shortage and high prices in the city of 2 million to 3 million people.

Civilians are not the only ones running out of supplies.

Many troops are now running out of critical equipment, especially water, food, medical supplies and blood, van de Perre said. In some camps, fuel shortages have rendered generators inoperable, affecting communications equipment.

In early January, M23 rebels broke a ceasefire agreement, launching a large-scale offensive in the east with the support of the Rwandan army. The U.N. said the rebels have made significant territorial gains and are seeking to open a new front in neighboring South Kivu province.

The United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for the M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. They have called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and a return to the Luanda process of mediation overseen by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

At Tuesdays Security Council meeting, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner expressed her governments frustration with the lack of a strong international response.

Over this past 72 hours, we've seen a regional tragedy that could have been prevented if the Council had been able to take action, she told its members. She said she had asked for action at its first meeting on Sunday and asked if this council is unwilling to act?

Some 2,574 kilometers away in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, protesters turned violent Tuesday, attacking, looting and burning some embassies, including those of France and Rwanda. The U.S. State Department said on its X account that its embassy is closed until further notice.

Rwandas U.N. ambassador condemned the attack, saying it was totally burned down.

Rwanda calls on the DRC to take its diplomatic obligations seriously and hold perpetrators accountable, Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo told council members.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission, known by its acronym MONUSCO, has also reinforced its positions to counter the rebels advance on Goma, deploying a quick reaction force, a rapid deployment battalion, a reserve battalion, a platoon of special forces and an artillery battery.

In the past few days, three U.N. peacekeepers have been killed and several injured in the conflict.

Kenyan President William Ruto said he plans to hold crisis talks Wednesday with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at an emergency meeting of the East African Community.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a phone call Monday with Tshisekedi, condemned the assault on Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 and affirmed the United States respect for the sovereignty of the DRC.

Before the latest round of violence, eastern DRC was already mired in one of the largest and most protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 6.5 million people displaced due to efforts by armed groups to seize control of the countrys valuable mineral deposits.
The United Nations said Wednesday that there is relative calm in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, following several days of intense fighting between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and the Congolese army for control of the city.

There is, however, continued sporadic shooting, but an overall reduction in exchanges of fire within the city, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Continued clashes have been reported in surrounding areas, including in Sake, northwest of Goma.

Dujarric said bodies were in the streets, and humanitarians report at least 2,000 people have been injured by weapons and shrapnel since the fighting escalated.

In early January, M23 rebels broke a ceasefire agreement, launching a large-scale offensive in the mineral-rich east with the support of the Rwandan army. On Monday, M23 said it had captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a city of more than 2 million people, thousands of whom have been displaced from other conflict areas. Rwanda has denied accusations that it supports the rebels.

Asked who controls the city, Dujarric said the U.N. assessment is that the M23 rebels clearly have the upper hand.

The U.N. has a peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo known as MONUSCO, currently with about 10,000 troops and police tasked with protecting civilians and disarming combatants. It has been in the process of drawing down its presence at the request of the Congolese government. In June, it left neighboring South Kivu province entirely. The rebels are reported to be pushing toward its capital, Bukavu.

In and around Goma, MONUSCO has reinforced its positions to counter the rebels advance deploying a quick reaction force, a rapid deployment battalion, a reserve battalion, a platoon of special forces and an artillery battery.

The mission's priority right now remains the protection of its personnel, its assets and the many civilians sheltering within U.N. premises, Dujarric said. Our peacekeepers are also planning on sending out patrols today in Goma to assess the situation, to conduct resupplies and assess routes.

The U.N. says Gomas airport remains closed, halting the flow of humanitarian supplies. Most of the roads connecting Goma with the rest of the country are also closed. Water and electricity have been cut off since Sunday, and internet access has been interrupted since Monday. Only mobile phones are working.

In the capital, Kinshasa, the situation was also calm Wednesday. Dujarric said the main roads were reportedly empty, and supermarkets were closed because of the high risk of looting. On Tuesday, protesters attacked, looted and burned some embassies, including those of Belgium, France and Rwanda. The United States said Tuesday it was closing its embassy until further notice. On Wednesday it advised Americans not to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for the M23 to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. They have also called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and a return to the Luanda process of mediation overseen by Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

The East African Community, which includes DRC and Rwanda among its eight members, was expected to hold an emergency summit Wednesday evening. Reuters reported that Rwandan President Paul Kagame would attend, but Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was not expected to participate.

Before the latest round of violence, eastern DRC was mired in one of the largest and most protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with nearly 6.5 million people displaced due to efforts by armed groups to seize control of the countrys valuable mineral deposits.
U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, aiming to reinforce Israels fragile ceasefire with Hamas militants in Gaza after more than 15 months of warfare.

Later, Witkoff, who played a key role in shaping the six-week truce, inspected the Netzarim Corridor, a 6-kilometer-wide strip of land that bisects Gaza, where American security contractors have been hired to help oversee the return of displaced Palestinians.

Witkoff was the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Gaza in years. American officials have stayed away from the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea because of security concerns and Washingtons no-contact policy with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group.

Witkoff told Fox News last week he also plans to visit the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, but the timing of the stop there was unclear.

Israeli troops control the 13-kilometer corridor but are expected to withdraw during the second phase of the ceasefire, the exact details of which are still being negotiated by Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu has called the corridor a lifeline for the militants smuggling operations.

Netanyahu is headed to Washington this weekend. Trump has invited him for talks at the White House on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since starting his second term in office.

Meanwhile during the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel has ramped up its military operations in the occupied West Bank. Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a visit to the city of Jenin on Wednesday that Israel has declared war on Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria, referring to the West Bank.

The Jenin refugee camp will not return to what it was, he said. After the operation is completed, the [Israel Defense Forces] will remain in the camp to ensure that terrorism does not return.

Ahead of his visit with Netanyahu, Witkoff stressed the need for proper implementation of the ceasefire, which halted the fighting and so far has brought the release of seven hostages held by Hamas and freed 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

More releases are set to take place in the coming days.

The first phase of the ceasefire lasts for 42 days, about one-quarter of which has passed. It calls for the release of 33 hostages from Gaza, as well as negotiations on the details of the second phase involving the release of the rest of the hostages, an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Palestinians in Gaza have been allowed back into some areas long held off-limits by Israeli troops, including northern Gaza, where the United Nations said Wednesday more than 423,000 people have returned this week.

On orders from Israel, about 1 million people fled the area in the early days of the war, and those returning are going back to an area that has been decimated by Israeli military operations against Hamas.

Under the cease-fire, the United Nations has been facilitating a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The U.N. humanitarian office said Tuesday that aid deliveries have meaningfully expanded, including reaching areas that aid workers had previously been unable to reach.

Field assessments reveal massive levels of destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure, particularly in northern Gaza, underlining the critical need to ramp up rehabilitation and repair efforts to meet basic human needs, the agency said.

Rebuilding Gaza is the focus of the final phase of the ceasefire agreement, while also deciding who will govern the territory, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed in a phone call Tuesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty the need to work together to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar were the key mediators in months of negotiations that yielded the ceasefire deal.

Trump has drawn criticism in recent days for his repeated suggestion to forcibly relocate large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Jordan and Egypt.

Palestinians and Arab states, including Egypt and Jordan, have rejected Trumps idea to take in Palestinians, fearing their displacement would become permanent.

The war in Gaza started with the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages.

Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 47,300 people, most of them women and children, according to health officials. The Israeli military said the death toll includes 17,000 militants.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
In his inaugural address, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to put the Panama Canal, a key global shipping route, back under the control of the United States, amid fear of growing Chinese encroachment. U.S. senators examined security concerns surrounding the canal Tuesday and looked at next steps. VOAs congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.
According to the Justice for Prisoners Network, women in Iraqi prisons face rampant sexual assault and harassment, often during interrogations, with thousands detained without trial. Overcrowding further worsens conditions, with some facilities holding up to ten times their capacity.

Despite the passage of a general amnesty law in 2024 aimed at addressing overcrowding, systemic issues persist, and advocates continue to call for urgent reforms and better treatment for prisoners, particularly women.

Click here for the full story in Kurdish.
A planned monument for Anfal victims in Kurdistan's Garmyan district, designed by Mexican and German artists based on survivors' stories, remains unbuilt due to funding delays. The German Cooperation Organization pledged $1 million for the $2 million project, but the Kurdistan Regional Government has yet to provide its share. Activists and officials call for a monument that reflects the scale of the Anfal tragedy, with over 500 victims buried in the area, but disagreements and delays persist.

Click here for the full story in Kurdish.
After President Donald Trump's election, he signed executive orders withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. In response, China positioned itself as a global leader in addressing climate change and supporting the WHO. Experts believe China could step into the leadership void left by the U.S., particularly in the health and environmental sectors, despite its own challenges, like being the worlds top carbon emitter.

Click here for the full story in Mandarin.
Colombia sent air force planes to repatriate more than 100 nationals deported from the U.S. after a bilateral standoff over Bogota's refusal to receive Colombians on U.S. military aircraft. The Colombian president welcomed the arrival of the migrants.

Click here for the full story in Spanish.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the first bill of his new term, and it is named after a slain Georgia nursing student whose name became a rallying cry during his White House campaign.

Trump said that he appreciated the bipartisan support for the first piece of legislation since he took office on Jan. 20.

The Laken Riley Act will require the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. The bill won bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, attended Wednesday's bill signing at the White House.

Here are some things to know about the Laken Riley Act:

Who was Laken Riley?

Riley, 22, was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing when she went out for a run on Feb. 22, 2024. Prosecutors said she encountered Jose Antonio Ibarra, who killed her during a struggle. Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial and was found guilty in November of murder and other crimes by a judge, who alone heard and decided the case. Ibarra was sentenced to life without parole.

Trump and other Republicans blamed former President Joe Biden for her death because Ibarra had been arrested for illegal entry in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, amid an unprecedented surge in migration and released to pursue his case in immigration court.

If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her, said Representative Mike Collins, a Republican.

Biden mentioned Riley during his State of the Union address last year as he spoke about border security and after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, shouted at him, Say her name!

What does the bill do?

Under the new law, federal officials will be required to detain any migrant arrested or charged with crimes such as shoplifting or assaulting a police officer or crimes that injure or kill someone.

If you come into this country illegally and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation, said Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, who helped push the bill through the Senate.

The bill also empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by failures or decisions in immigration enforcement that harm states or people. That includes releasing migrants from custody or failing to detain migrants who have received deportation orders.

The provision gives states some power in setting immigration policy when they have been trying to push back against presidential decisions under the Trump and Biden administrations.

While Republicans control both chambers of Congress, 46 Democrats in the House and 12 Democrats in the Senate supported the measure.

Why did most Democrats oppose it?

Some have raised concerns that the bill will strip due process rights for migrants, including minors or recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

In the wake of tragedy, we are seeing a fundamental erosion of our civil rights, said Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. In this bill, if a person is so much as accused of a crime, if someone wants to point a finger and accuse someone of shoplifting, they would be rounded up and put into a private detention camp and sent out for deportation without a day in court.

Most Democrats criticized the lack of funding in the bill, arguing the new law will not solve immigration problems but will impose new requirements on federal authorities. Democrats on the Appropriations Committee estimate the bill will cost $83 billion over the next three years, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.

Senator Chris Murphy said the bill is a totally unfunded mandate.

Why did some Democrats back it?

Democrats who supported it were mostly from five battleground states and said their constituents demanded more border security and supported deportations of migrants accused of crimes.

Anyone who commits a crime should be held accountable. Thats why I voted to pass the Laken Riley Act, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, said on social media after its passage.

New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Virginia Senator Mark Warner also supported the bill. Shaheen and Warner are each up for a fourth term next year.

Fetterman, who also backed the bill because he wants a secure border, was the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump after the election. He has met with many of Trumps Cabinet picks and broken with his own party on some policy.

Senator Ruben Gallego, whose parents are immigrants from Mexico and Colombia, was elected in November and became Arizona's first Latino senator. He said he supported the bill.

We must give law enforcement the means to take action when illegal immigrants break the law, to prevent situations like what occurred to Laken Riley, he said in a statement.
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered government officials to report on the U.S. support programs whose funds are currently suspended under U.S. President Donald Trumps administration.

These are humanitarian programs, Zelenskyy said in his daily address Tuesday. Nearly all of them were not channeled through Ukrainian government, he said. Instead, went directly through our communities, through various organizations.

There are many projects. We will determine which ones are critical and need immediate solutions, he said. We can provide part of this funding through our state finances.

Zelenskyy said the priorities will be those that primarily concern Ukrainian children, our veterans and programs to protect our infrastructure.

On his first day back in office, Trump placed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid while the U.S. reviews whether the aid is aligned with Trumps America First agenda.

Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview on state television that Moscow would hold peace talks with Kyiv, but he said he would not speak to Zelenskyy, calling him and illegitimate leader.

Negotiations can be held with anyone, the Russian president said. But due to [Zelenskyys] illegitimacy, he has no right to sign anything.

In return, the Ukrainian president said, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war," he wrote on X.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, national and local elections were banned under a martial law act passed by Ukraine.

A presidential election would have occurred in March 2024, and Zelenskyys term would have ended in May 2024.

Critics are at odds about whether the Ukrainian constitution provides for an extension of the presidents term in office under martial law. Some say it provides for the option, while others believe it does not.

Some information for this report is provided by The Associated Press.
The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

Growing violence in Eastern Congo has families seeking refuge in Rwanda. The increasing humanitarian crisis calls for urgent intervention for peace & stability by East African leaders. The conflict's toll on civilians is alarming. #CongoCrisis #PeaceInAfrica
Photo: Jefferson Siegel/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein begged a judge to move up his April 15 trial date, saying in court on Wednesday that he cant hold on anymore. During his five years behind bars, Weinstein has suffered from heart problems and was diagnosed with leukemia. Weinsteins colorful entreaty  the fallen movie mogul described the Rikers Island jail complex as a hellhole and intimated that he was a voice for the voiceless  came moments after Judge Curtis Farber set the date for his second Manhattan rape trial.

Every day Im on Rikers Island, its a mystery to me how Im still walking, he said. Weinstein claimed that just this morning, he was given the wrong pills, (which he happened to notice and didnt take them). Im gasping for air. I know Im headed toward Bellevue [Hospital] any day now, and I cant wait this long. Weinstein said that he is holding on because he wants justice for himself. Im not talking like, Oh, Im the only one whos suffering over there, there are so many people suffering at Rikers Island, so many of the people Im with in prison [are] going through similar problems, Weinstein said at another point, noting that the notoriously dangerous jail was supposed to be closed long ago. Weinstein said he was in a unique position to lay out concerns, saying others didnt have the same mouthpiece to advocate that he did. I speak for all of them when I tell you this is a medieval situation. The jail, Weinstein remarked, remains a stain on this city, a stain on this industry, and must be stopped.

Farber thanked Weinstein for expressing your concerns and said I appreciate them and Im empathetic. But, the jurist said, he already had another trial scheduled between now and mid-April. Farber said that jury selection was starting today.

So thats already set in stone? Weinstein asked about jury selection.

Beyond set in stone, Farber said. Farber announced the date during a brief proceeding this morning. The judge also decided that Weinstein could be tried for a new count against him, which his lawyers had opposed. Weinstein, who was wheeled into court at 10:45 a.m., wore a navy suit and white button-down shirt, as well as a tie. He carried two books. One of Weinsteins hands was cuffed to his wheelchair.

The route to Weinsteins trial is circuitous. On February 24, 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual act in the first degree for attacking two women, Jessica Mann and Mimi Haleyi. The jury found Weinstein not guilty of two predatory sexual-assault counts for actress Annabella Sciorras allegation that he raped her in late 1993. But on April 25, 2024, New York States highest court overturned his conviction as prosecutors had called three other accusers  Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, and Lauren Young  to testify about his alleged misconduct toward them. Weinstein was not charged over their allegations.

Weinstein had fought the verdict and the New York Court of Appeals took his side, deciding that the only evidence against defendant was the complainants testimony, and the result of the courts rulings, on the one hand, was to bolster their credibility and diminish defendants character before the jury. On the other hand, the threat of a cross-examination highlighting these untested allegations undermined the defendants right to testify.

Manhattan prosecutors vowed to retry the case and revealed that they were probing other allegations of misconduct. On September 5, 2024, Weinstein was indicted on one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. This count relates to an alleged incident around late April 2006. This new indictment and the old charges were combined into one case. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Weinsteins lawyers have fought the new charge, claiming that prosecutors waited too long to bring the count, violating his constitutional rights. In recent court papers, prosecutors said that they could legally bring charges now, explaining that there were compelling reasons behind the delay. Prosecutors said the third woman filed a civil suit against Weinstein several weeks before his 2020 trial. Her attorney reached out to prosecutors the weekend before Weinsteins trial and said was available to be interviewed over a potential sexual assault.

Before prosecutors finished their investigation of his claims, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. To conserve resources in light of the conviction and sentence, as well as the emerging coronavirus pandemic, the People did not proceed further at that time with the investigation into potential offenses involving [the woman], prosecutors said in explaining the delay.
Surprise! Didnt think you were going to get RHONY reunion recaps, did you? And why should you? Loyal readers know that Daddy Moneybags Vulture III closed the purse strings on reunion recaps years ago (with some notable exceptions), and even more loyal readers will know that I have traditionally hated recapping reunions. But after that finale, this seemed necessary, and I will give a full explanation of why in this Fridays edition of the Housewives Institute Bulletin (sign up here if you arent already). So, yes, here we are. The reunion is both exactly what I was expecting and completely surprising at the same time. Also, of the clips we saw in the preview last week, Im surprised at how many were in part one and how many of them have nothing to do with the huge fight between Ubah and Brynn in the finale.

But first, let us go around the horn and discuss the most important thing about any reunion: the outfits. Going in order of them arriving to set, we start with Jenna Fucking Lyons, who, I dont care what you say, did it again. She arrived in a $1,500 Balenciaga bathrobe (That she was going to return? Are we sure shes not having money troubles?), a black towel on her head, tiny kitten heels, giant diamond earrings, and sunglasses she took off before their first line of questioning. Andy Cohen hasnt been this visibly aroused since he went to College Night at Pieces. Im sorry, but no one does it like Jenna, giving us something both unexpected, iconic, and destabilizing to the whole enterprise all at once.

Racquel was dressed in a more usual reunion fair, with her black, white, and gold shiny dress, bangles up to her elbows, and the many moons of Saturn in her hair. Its flawless, its fashionable, and thank the Catholic Jesus for chic lesbians. Ubah looks fantastic in her black sparkly gown with large shoulder pads and a slit all the way up to her hip, but the sleeves that turn into gloves feels a little bit like last years RHOP confessional looks. This is the best version of it, but weve seen it before.

Brynn says she spent $7,000 on her dress, which is more of a caftan that you would see on an aging cabaret star in Palm Springs. Brynn says it was inspired by Zsa Zsa Gabor, which is appropriate, but does anyone with a TikTok get the reference? Erins bright gold sequin Bottega does a great job of both concealing and highlighting her pregnancy at the same time, which is a crazy feat, but the loose-fitting neck was giving (dare I say it) too much foreskin. Sai looks unusually glamorous and chic in a giant black dress that is giving updated Diors New Look or, as Jenna says, Wicked by way of Gone with the Wind.

Finally, Jessels black dress with sculptural ruffles down the front looked amazing when she was standing but a disappointment when shes on the couch, which is a rookie mistake. Thankfully, she looked better thanks to her haircut. No, wait, its a haircut and Botox. Oh no. It was a haircut, Botox, and fillers. Close  it was a haircut, Botox, and fillers Brynn says she didnt pay for because she posted them on Instagram. And dont forget the veneers. We dont see Becky Minkoffs dress until next week, and its funny that she is the fashion designer on the show, and not one person in the entire universe cares what she has on. Even her husband was like, Eh, whatever. Ill see it when Queens of Bravo posts it.

Now, with outfits out of the way, the air is tense as soon as the ladies arrive. Brynn is going to check on Jessel in her dressing room and says she thinks everything is fine. Jessel says, with an incredulity usually reserved for school children and vaccine skeptics, You think everythings fine? Thats because Brynn hadnt watched the final episode before arriving that morning. Okay, that seems like a dereliction of duty. She already lived through that once, she knows what happened, and she didnt think to watch it until she was crying in the hairstylists chair? Even if Bravo sent it the night before, she should have stayed up late and watch it so she could figure out what to say. While Margaret Josephs convening a pre-reunion tribunal to discuss the reunion at her house was maybe too much, this was definitely too little.

The first line of questioning is perfect, with Andy asking Jenna why she keeps talking about her love life in the press but wont bring her girlfriend slash fake wife on the show. Both Sai and Andy say it is annoying, and we all agree, but then Jenna apologizes in her little baby voice with her bathrobe off one shoulder, and I almost forgive her. Almost. I dont know if we need to see Cass onscreen, but cant Jenna just discuss whats happening a bit more openly with the ladies? On the same token, we find out that Ubah has moved to the great state of Connecticut (birthplace of Countess Luann de Lesseps, Dorit Kemsley, Kristen Taekman, and yours truly) and has given up her apartment in the city. Does that mean she cant be on the show anymore? Is she going to commute?

The first round of attacks on Brynn starts when the conversation turns to when Sai said she hates Jenna, or at least when Sai said she didnt like Jenna. Jenna points out that while she talked to Brynn about it, Brynn didnt bring the allegations to her, she heard about it around town. But Brynn starts crying and says that the first five weeks of filming both Sai and Erin tortured her. How, exactly? Andy tries to get to the bottom of it, but its basically that Sai yelled at her at the opening party and Erin called her a bunch of names. Erin, who has never done a misdeed she hasnt denied, said she did nothing of the sort, and luckily, the editors came in and showed at least five names that Erin called Brynn that night.

However, this is going to be the problem with Brynn throughout the reunion. We know that she twists things, we know she plays with the truth, and thankfully, Andy isnt letting her get away with just saying she spent five weeks being tortured when that is an escalation or reimagining of the truth. The women even get to this when Brynn says what she does is take what someone tells her and goes and tells the other women. Jenna tells her, to her face, When you retell a story, the original intent of that story gets lost, and that person gets hurt. That is exactly what Brynn does systematically, adding a little sauce to the story, as Andy says, to make it change directions and injure those around her.

This is exactly what happened with Brynns story about Jessel when she told Erin and Sai that the love of her life wasnt Pavit. Jessel says she had to watch that with her husband, who was upset about it and thought that Jessel was lying when she tried to explain the real story. Jessel says the conversation they were having was about their craziest hookup, and Jessel talked about a time with an ex-boyfriend. See, thats how insidious just a little bit of twisting can be, especially when its aired on a platform like this one. Jessel says that she always tried to lift Brynn up and make her feel good, but when she said this about her relationship, it was the final needle in the coffin. Did you mishear her? No, because she said it twice. Its just like our Jessel to mix up her idioms when she gets upset.

Thats what is so crazy about this story and the women at the reunion. Brynn is bringing out something in them, changing them in ways, and bringing out the extremes of their personality. Jessel has been nearly as silent and odorless as carbon monoxide this whole season, and finally, the fighter in her is snapped to the front. Ubah remained practically silent for this whole half of the reunion, except to shed tears and share her emotions when Brynn talked about sexual assault. Jenna, usually mild-mannered, is telling Brynn that she needs to just shut up and apologize because shes sick of her twisting stories and ruining peoples marriages. Sai, who was in therapy this season, reverts back to form, going after Brynn and showing her mean side, even asking the million-dollar question: What exactly is Brynns job? Brynn, for the only time all night, doesnt have an answer to that question.

Brynns presence here is sort of wild. Just as we got some great discussion around abortion and the need to talk about it, thanks to Erin, Jenna, and Racquels admissions that they have all had them in the past, we also got some great discussion around sexual assault. Brynn shares her shame and difficulty dealing with it. She talks about how she didnt want to come forward after it happened because its so hard to prove. While Erin thinks she should name this guy to prevent other women from being harmed, Jenna understands that its often the women who come forward who have the hardest time of all. Brynn is bringing out so much from these women, making them act the most emotional and dynamic they have all season, but its also clear that they cant continue on with her. They dont trust her, she cant be verified, and maybe worst of all, she didnt do her homework.

Sign up for the Housewives Institute Bulletin Dame Brian Moylan breaks down all the gossip and drama, on- and off-screen, for dedicated students of the Reality Television Arts and Sciences. 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.
At the Rockefeller Center McNally Jackson. Photo: Jeremy Liebman

This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly.

Not long after arriving in New York, Sarah McNally, a devoted vegetarian, tried oysters for the first time with the family of a boyfriend. She loved them  25 years later and still vegetarian, she still makes an exception for them  but she equally loved their craggy, opalescent shells, which she gathered up afterward and, to the polite horror of her hosts, stuffed into her purse.

At 49, McNally has a soft, fluty voice (with a trace of rounded Canadian oars: Soary, she would apologize) and a wide-eyed manner. Shes too direct to be a classic bullshitter, but the oyster story painted a portrait almost too fanciful to believe. It felt like something out of a 19th-century novel: The provincial innocent from the North making her way in the sophisticated city, the magpie magnetized by the overlooked beauty of the world.

McNally considers herself a humble bookseller. She is also the founder and owner of an ever-expanding empire, McNally Jackson, now likely the third-largest buyer of books in the city, after only Barnes & Noble and the Strand. In December, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over the course of the past two decades, as many independent booksellers closed their doors, what began as a single shop on Prince Street has become five. Among them, readings and launches are hosted most nights of the week, and happy are the authors who manage to secure a spot. McNally Jackson, one novelist said, conveys prestige better than anyone else.

McNallys is a thumb on the scale of cultural life in the city. She hosts several book groups at the stores and privately runs several more. Hang around literary circles long enough and word will reach you that she is reading Middlemarch with Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy and has read Clarice Lispector with David Byrne and Esther Perel. (If you go to Shabbat at her house, she told me of Perel, shell always pull out her guitar.)

McNally is professionally bashful about such associations. She insists she isnt interested in the glow of fame. Book people, we all live in refracted glory, she said. Were not people who are looking for the spotlight. Tall and beautiful, she speaks in full, carefully reasoned paragraphs that unfurl extemporaneously. She is earnest in an era of irony, and it can be unnerving to encounter someone who says, with a straight face, that a bookseller is someone who loves people, trusts people, believes that almost any stranger can read something extraordinarily good; that bookselling exists at the intersection of loving people and loving books.

McNally generates what seems like millions of ideas in a single conversation, and over the months I spent with her, she considered a new imprint, a new shop, and a nationwide book-of-the-month program and even mused with enough seriousness about addressing homelessness that I wondered whether she intended to run for office. A terrifying thought, her ex-husband, Chris Jackson, said with a laugh.

McNally still sees herself as the girl scooping up the oyster shells  shes still selling the story, after all. But that naivete is balanced by an unstinting intensity, a drive to build or bend the world into her better image of it. Her New York is a place where we are all only one read away from our best selves, lacking only the space to dig in. She is there to provide. I want people to know that they can trust us with their reading life, that this is not a sloppy nor commercial project, she said with characteristic fervor. I am working at the limits of my ability and doing so for what I believe is a good cause: the life of the mind in New York City.

A launch party at Cafe Gitane in 2024. Photo: Lanna Apisukh

McNally was born in 1975, the daughter of an academic and a social worker. Her father, Paul, was estranged from his engineer parents for the crime of getting a Ph.D. in Romantic poetry. It was his pursuit of tenure, ultimately unfulfilled, that bounced the family from Kingston, Ontario, to comparably remote Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her mother, Holly, gave up her career as untenable as the family moved around. Eventually, she had the idea to open a bookstore, and McNally Robinson  her surname joined with that of her first business partner  opened in 1981. Sarah shrugged when I asked why: Its just sort of an idea she had. Which is all the same with me. This wasnt quite true. By the time her parents sold it to their employees in 2012, McNally Robinson had grown into one of Canadas largest independent bookstore chains.

McNally didnt have the easiest childhood, her friend Paola Prestini, the founder of the Brooklyn music venue National Sawdust, told me. Expectations were fierce. My family didnt believe in allowance, McNally said. I had my first job at 8. I had to wake up before school and deliver newspapers. You cant imagine. Its so cold that your eyelashes freeze shut because of the condensation from your eyeballs, which are tearing. Then she got an after-school paper route as well. Shes spared her teenage son, Jasper, from that grind. Youre ruining that boy, her parents tell her. And Ill say, You ruined me, she said. I cannot stop working.

At 13, Sarah began working in the back room at McNally Robinson. She would receive the deliveries (she remembers intercepting a book her mother had special-ordered for her, about getting your period, before any of the other employees could see it). I fell for it right away, she said. I still remember every bookseller I worked with back then.

After studying philosophy at McGill, in Montreal, McNally graduated without a clue what to do. By that time, her family had found success  money was not an issue, if it had ever been  and she spent a year and a half traveling solo through East Africa before landing in New York in 1999. She will never go back to Canada, I think, Prestini told me. A love of reading, she said, thats the one tether, the one thing she got.

In New York, McNally looked for work in publishing. After an unsuccessful interview with the head of the publisher Little, Brown, she realized she had a problem: To actually make your way, you need a certain amount of chutzpah, she said. And I had none at that time. And you also have to believe that the world would want you to some degree, and I didnt enter the world with that belief.

She eventually secured a junior-editor role at Basic Books but hated being trapped behind a desk. In 2004, she married Chris Jackson, a rising young editor at Crown, and shortly after that decided to open her own McNally Robinson with some money from her grandfather. (It was a few years before it was rechristened McNally Jackson  less after him, Jackson has said, than after their son, who was born in 2008.)

McNally applied particular diligence to choosing the best location, consulting public land-use records to find an underserved spot: Prince Street in Nolita. I cant think of any other bookseller that did that level of research and thinking before she opened her first bookshop, Paul Yamazaki, the chief buyer for San Franciscos famed City Lights Bookstore for nearly 50 years, told me. Books are a notoriously thin-margin business: They are the rare commodity that comes prepriced, meaning there is little flexibility for retailers. But McNally was undaunted. Shes one of the first of a new generation of very aware readers who wanted to open bookshops and understood the challenges that they were walking into, said Yamazaki. In my generation, we were avid in so many senses as readers, but as small-business people, we were very naive.

In 2004, the popular wisdom was that bookselling (and maybe even books themselves) was endangered, hopelessly out of step with a digitizing world. Even the superstores werent faring well; Barnes & Noble was closing city locations, and Borders filed for bankruptcy in 2011. Neither scale nor niche seemed a guarantee of success. Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Hours and one of McNallys closest friends, told me, I remember thinking, Oh, good luck to you, you poor fool. It was difficult to imagine a more noble but doomed enterprise than opening an independent bookstore at that point.

McNally Jackson was a shoestring affair; early employees did anything and everything. There were not, like, crowds fighting to get into the store, Jackson said. The first staff hired were all friends or acquaintances  writers and publishing-industry refugees. (Jackson continued to edit and never had a formal position at the shop.)

No one goes into bookselling intending to make a fortune; for McNally, staying afloat was enough. And yet despite the punishing margins, the store was profitable early on  modestly, as she put it. I thought it would survive, she said. I thought that was as high as it would go.

There was very little about the bookstore business that McNally wasnt ready to rethink. As the years went on and more stores were built, she insisted that they have seating, not just for customers to actually read the books but chaises longues to stretch out on. They would have book groups, dozens of them: Community was the thing, more important even than sales. Contrary to prevailing wisdom, she jammed the stores with books, prioritizing shelf space over display space. Bookseller training at McNally Jackson now specifies that books should be placed on the shelves loosely enough that one can be removed as easily as the petal of a rose.

Last winter I started attending one of McNallys book groups  a public one, held for free at her store in Downtown Brooklyn. (McNally told me, with a laugh, If we charged for them, Id have to prepare.) Once a month, for an hour or two, six or seven strangers, mostly women, would gather around a big wooden library table in an open space on the second floor  the nonfiction section. McNally sat at the head of the table, more TA than professor  not exactly of us but among us. The meetings seemed to draw out her most earnest self. At one point, after several members confessed they had actually put down their phones to plow through Middlemarch, McNally sat back with a satisfied smile. My lifes work is maybe done, she said.

McNally asserted the contemporary resonances of the novel  one of her favorites  though she seemed to be someone on whom contemporary resonances are often lost. During a debate about whether Dorothea and Casaubon, the novels young heroine and the desiccating pedant she marries, have sex on their honeymoon, someone said, from across the table, I felt like Lydgate was a fuckboy in New York City. Im older than Casaubon, McNally replied. You have to explain that to me. (One of her employees told me that, during a discussion about Britney Spearss best-selling memoir, McNally either had or affected no idea who Britney was.)

Masterpieces can be fun. Thats the takeaway here, she insisted at one point, her voice rising. The meetings seemed like they served a private purpose for McNally. I think Sarah lives with so much feeling she doesnt know how to metabolize it, said her friend the writer Maria Popova. Every artists art is their coping mechanism. The book clubs give her so much joy. I havent seen somebody so animated by a thing that could be so uninspired.

A display at Rockefeller Center. Photo: Daisy Leepson

From day one, McNally did all the frontlist buying  that is, new releases  herself, and she still does. But she also broke with tradition by prioritizing what publishers call the backlist, older books that can form the long tail of sales but are more expensive to stock and less predictable than best sellers, as well as international authors and small-press titles often absent elsewhere. When, for instance, Young Kim, Malcolm McLarens widow, self-published a memoir of her erotic, erratic relationship with the punk poet Richard Hell, McNally was one of the few places you could actually count on finding a copy. All of the stores have to reflect my taste, McNally said. Even if its wrong.

But it wasnt really the wide selection that drew shoppers to McNallys stores. Most of what she stocked, and everything she didnt, remained available on Amazon, often for less. McNally had a vibe, a brand. If a Strand tote marked its wearer as an old-school city dweller, a McNally bag  increasingly ubiquitous as the years went by  had a cachet of its own, signaling membership in a stylish reading community that was unrepentant about both the reading and the style. Where the Strands charm was that of a dusty attic library, McNallys was that of a gleaming pied-a-terre with the towering but orderly bookcases of a Dwell spread. Displays were in voicey, overliterate millennialese (Books That Captured Their Zeitgeist Like a Fly in Amber, Our Favorite Smut).

It had this bougie aesthetic that attracted a lot of people, said Justin Torres, who worked as a McNally bookseller before turning to writing full time. (His second novel, Blackouts, won the National Book Award in 2023.) David Bowie would come in. Whoopi Goldberg came in and bought a ton of books while I was there. It definitely had a reputation. McNally had a reputation herself. She was a striking figure on the literary scene and half of an emerging power couple: Jackson was becoming known as the industrys preeminent editor of Black authors.

McNally remained a fixture at the stores; for years, unlike most owners, she insisted her managers put her on the weekly work schedule, and she would often restock shelves herself, befriending and gossiping with her staff, hopping back and forth over a blurry line between employee and employer. Bookselling is often a transitory profession  something done while you finish school, or write your novel, for which your glamorous, capricious boss might be an irresistible character. Nina, the narrator of True Love, a 2020 novel by the former McNally bookseller Sarah Gerard, takes a job at a downtown bookstore whose owner is a few years older than I am, tall and ethereal like Gwyneth Paltrow. Her name is also Nina, but shes obviously a superior breed of Nina.

McNally, though deeply charismatic, could be volatile; adoring but also remote. Ive learned she has poor boundaries for an employer, Nina in True Love goes on. She may be my friend, or she may be my mentor, or she may be my rival  it changes day to day as different book-sellers fall in and out of her favor. Shes the Regina George of intelligent retail.

McNally was definitely a character, Torres told me: smart, bewildering. She was extremely conscious of the impression she might be making on others. I wore these Chelsea boots one day to work, he said. She complimented me on my boots and was like, Oh, youve got big feet! It was a nothing interaction. Two weeks later, she said, You know, I was talking to my therapist about what I said about your feet. And Im sorry.

For much of McNally Jacksons existence, it was McNally Jackson singular. But the ambition, I think, Jackson said, was always for something bigger than just one cute store. As McNallys home life became more complicated  she and Jackson divorced in 2010  so did her work life. In 2013, she opened Goods for the Study around the corner from the Prince Street store, a stand-alone shop selling stationery and the kind of writerly accessories she loved. If McNally Jackson was pitched at bougie readers, Goods for the Study, with its cases of fountain pens, catered to bougie writers or those who might like to become them.

Some business owners considering a second store would opt for something turnkey-ready; not McNally. The space on Mulberry Street was originally in horrible condition  like really, really bad, said Sandeep Salter, McNallys partner in the store. Salter was herself an unusual choice: A McNally bookseller, she was all of 24 years old at the time, she occasionally babysat for Jasper, and she had no capital to contribute. Still, when she proposed that McNally make her a profit-sharing partner, McNally accepted. Within a few years, the two parted ways, splitting their business interests. Salter took the art gallery theyd founded next door to Goods for the Study and moved it to Brooklyn; McNally, the Goods. McNally opened a second Goods for the Study in 2016, on West 8th Street, and, two years after that, a second bookstore in Williamsburg.

McNallys employees, however, were not feeling the success. Unsalaried, hourly wage bookselling is a lofty pursuit with decidedly terrestrial economics, and entry-level pay for booksellers hovers around minimum wage. (This past holiday season, McNally Jackson was advertising jobs at $17 an hour. The citys minimum wage at the time was $16.) One McNally manager told staff, Every independent bookstore that Ive worked at, there are people who strip at night to make ends meet; McNally Jackson was no different.

One former McNally bookseller recalled, I went to go get a matcha a block away, and they were starting at several dollars an hour higher than we were getting. There was a minimum-wage hike at some point, and I remember Sarah openly complaining about how that was going to fuck over the business, that she couldnt afford it. (McNally doesnt remember this.) It didnt help matters when employees discovered she was buying a Fort Greene brownstone for $2.5 million. Or when McNally announced two new shops: a Seaport store, which opened in the summer of 2019, and another in Brooklyns City Point, alongside a Target and a Trader Joes.

At the end of 2019, the staff at all five stores voted to unionize. Their complaints echoed what Gerard would later fictionalize: Favoritism is a problem at our workplace, they wrote. The unionization process was contentious, and McNally admits to being personally hurt. I really felt part of that team, she told me. I love those people  I thought we were one. To realize that they were talking behind my back  it was almost like high school.

The two sides argued over the bargaining table until early 2020, when the pandemic nearly scuttled the entire issue: McNally had envisioned her stores as community centers. Now there was no community to fill them. But she wasnt ready to give up. The company furloughed the majority of its employees, going from a staff of 100 to 15. Previously, McNally Jackson had a very minimal web store. Now that was all there was, and her remaining staff worked to build its infrastructure as McNally drove the family Prius among the shops to pick up, package, and ship the orders herself.

McNally Jackson made it through the pandemic, and staff was rehired as the stores reopened. The union contract was ratified in 2021. The Downtown Brooklyn store had opened in 2020, and the one at Rockefeller Center followed in 2023. McNally negotiated a new kind of lease for these locations: Instead of a fixed payment each month, the amount was tied to sales. This arrangement, in mixed-use complexes, suited both landlord and tenant. Developers enjoyed the halo effect McNally stores had on their surroundings, even at such sterile environs as La Guardia Airport (McNally has a small store there, managed by Hudson News), and McNally was financially protected from bankers and landlords. It was a lesson learned from experience. Shed left the original Prince Street space after a protracted and public feud with her landlord over rent increases  originally from $350,000 to $850,000 a year. Her first shop still sits empty and derelict; graffiti has crept up its grates. McNally walks around the block to avoid it.

McNally Editions reissue of Ex-Wife. Illustration: McNally Editions

One of McNallys pandemic projects was the launch, in 2022, of McNally Editions, an imprint of carefully chosen reissues  long-forgotten popular favorites (Ursula Parrotts Ex-Wife, a surprisingly modern divorce narrative that was a scandal in the 1920s) and alt-classics that had fallen out of circulation (Michael W. Clunes heroin memoir, White Out). These are books your savviest friend might slip you, and several have gone on to outsize success  Ex-Wife sold some 16,000 copies. The imprint was conceived and pitched by Lorin Stein, and she hired him to edit it, a controversial move. Stein, the former editor of The Paris Review, had stepped down in 2017, apologizing for inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues and writers. Some McNally Jackson staff were unhappy with the hire, considering it a flat-footed move. McNally acknowledged their complaints without changing her course. Stein is now one of three editors working on the imprint, and he keeps a low profile; Nathan Rostron, its associate publisher, has become its public face. But several former McNally Jackson booksellers I spoke with  none of whom wanted their names on the record, fearing McNallys influence  mentioned Sarahs habit of championing ostracized men. I dont know why Im like this, she said by way of response, laughing. I think I might take a more kind of European approach to justice. Stein, she said, was definitely guilty of misconduct, but he hadnt deserved permanent exile. (Stein declined to comment.)

In 2022, McNally appeared as a character witness in the civil rape trial of the filmmaker Paul Haggis, a friend. Her testimony amounted to the recollection of a single incident: He had once attempted to kiss her, she declined, he took it sportingly, and they played a game of backgammon instead. (Haggis ultimately lost the case and was held liable to the tune of $10 million.)

It was a few months into our conversations when McNally told me that she herself had been the victim of an assault, which occurred shortly before she testified in Haggiss trial. The attack was in her apartment: A burglar followed her inside after she walked the dog. As her 13-year-old son slept in his bedroom, the man strangled McNally into unconsciousness in order, she believes, to rape her. McNally awoke to find the man gone and her son looking confusedly out the window. He doesnt remember what happened, McNally said, but his knuckles were abraded.

Although the man was found and arrested within days, the event was profoundly destabilizing. She showed up for drinks with a close friend, the writer Sloane Crosley, downplaying the bruise marks still around her neck. (Crosley wept when she saw them.) When I told her I was sorry for what had happened, she replied, Im sorry for him too. The whole thing is just fucking awful. She related the episode with unnerving composure. She seemed to see the situation in novelistic terms, as if the two were characters meeting on some equal plane. She had learned some of the assailants story. When that man broke into my home, days out of Rikers, conspicuously miserable and desperate, with a criminal record indicating mental health problems, she wrote me, he and I were (in a scary, sad, violent way) in community.

In September, McNally and I were emailing when I learned of the latest development in her growing empire. She would open another stationery store  in time for Christmas, she hoped  and act as her own contractor. Im so often at contractors mercy, she wrote. What degree of expertise is needed? Is it like hiring a project manager? A neurosurgeon? Im going to find out.

For years, McNally had an unusual degree of involvement in every aspect of her business. She acknowledged that, before the union contract, the personal and the professional had become muddied; she had, for example, been granting raises on an ad hoc basis, a gesture she said she intended to be benevolent but that had undermined equity. She also acknowledged her particular intensity: McNally is currently pursuing a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Im pretty sure, she said. I really value specificity, to a point which I think has made me good in some ways. But then also it makes me fixate sometimes in ways that I wonder if its annoying for people I work with.

As McNally Jackson grows, so does its influence. McNally is quick to point out  and other independent booksellers agree  that where bookshops are concerned, a rising tide lifts all boats. When Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo, a former McNally events director, broke off to found Greenlight Bookstore in 2009, McNally was supportive. Even so, she is a rare presence at local indie-bookseller events. At a recent gathering, I actually was slightly surprised to see her, Stockton-Bagnulo said, quickly clarifying that she meant it in a positive way  McNally has a high-school popular-girl aura. Shes very beautiful, and shes very stylish, and, you know, she comes from a background that not all of us come from, Stockton-Bagnulo said. So I think there is in some sense a little bit of, like, an awe.

McNallys atmosphere has become a bit more rarefied. While she remains close to the indie-bookworld people she has known for years, she has become pals with James Daunt, the turnaround CEO of Barnes & Noble, who began as an indie bookseller (Daunt founded and still owns Daunt Books in the U.K.). Daunt is admiring of McNally and her stores, and it hasnt escaped notice that Barnes & Nobles redesigned stores have taken on a McNally-ish aspect. Barnes & Nobles now look exactly like McNally, said Lisa Lucas, McNallys friend and the former director of the National Book Foundation. Shockingly like. The new Barnes & Noble on Atlantic Avenue has the blond wood and chatty displays of a McNally Jackson, albeit with the same old B&N best sellers in the window. It reeks of algorithm, Doug Singleton, McNallys longtime director of operations, sniffed.

The signal difference between Barnes & Noble and McNally, besides their David-versus-Goliath sizes, is that McNally has always been the sole owner. (B&N, on the other hand, is owned by private-equity firm Elliott Management, which took it private in 2019 for $683 million.) She is  she perhaps has the freedom to be  untroubled by lust for profit. The McNally Editions imprint, despite the positive press, made a mere $10,000 last year.

By December, McNallys new store was nearing completion  mostly. Its hell, she said, popping out of a doorway on Broadway near 73rd Street. She surveyed the building site, inside the Ansonia, in boot-cut jeans, triangulating between her painter (a former McNally employee), a drywalling crew, and a team installing the fire alarm. Im a terrible contractor, she said, laughing.

Over lunch nearby, she promised this store would be her last. Im turning 50, and I really want to step back and regroup, she said. I want to do something a little more ostentatious, more truly helpful. She plans to build a network of book clubs and what she called reading festivals with featured speakers  Imagine a Broadway star, an art auctioneer, a professor, and a real-estate agent discussing Ovid, slowly, deliberately, respectfully. (She is in fact now ruminating on another bookstore, also for the Upper West Side.)

I asked her if there was any connection between her assault and her intensified focus on community and watched the wheels begin to spin. Wed been picking at plates of Mediterranean food, and she stopped. When you say that, I immediately start imagining doing groups around like  like rape and rape survivors, she said.

I paid the check, and we parted ways. Two weeks later, an email arrived. I think there is something very interesting in your theory, she wrote. I dont know if this was a professional turning point for me. Its hard to experience ones own life in such a linear way, but I have since decided that the next half of my working life will be devoted to making safe community spaces. I have started reaching out to community partners to form survivors book groups and writing groups.

One of the things McNally loved about her discussion groups, she had told me at our lunch, was their deep shared space. She maintained an almost childlike belief in their power. There seemed to be no problem so dark that books couldnt be prescribed. The clubs, she said dreamily, are my favorite thing. You dont have to make small talk at all.
Photo: Sundance Institute

Can a doodle also be a masterpiece? Maybe its not fair to call Peter Hujars Day a doodle, though Ira Sachss film, clocking in at 76 minutes, wears its modesty on its sleeve. Consisting of a conversation between two people in a West Village apartment, filmed austerely but evocatively, the picture revels in its spareness, its warm simplicity. It starts off as an elevation of the quotidian but transforms into something sadder and more reflective.

The film is a re-creation of an interview that happened on December 19, 1974, between the renowned photographer Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and his friend, the journalist Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall), who intended their conversation to be part of a book about how different people spent their day. Having taken notes on what he did the day before, Hujar is precise in his accounting, but his fixation on seemingly meaningless details betrays his photographers eye. Much of what he talks about is a shoot he was assigned to do with the poet Allen Ginsberg. But other names float through over the course of the conversation  Susan Sontag, William Burroughs, Glenn OBrien  in that rather New York way, where a conversation between two people usually becomes a conversation about a dozen other people.

Its not hard to get lost amid all these names and half-anecdotes, but I think thats also part of the point. Sachs is clearly animated by a love for this long-lost downtown scene, and he conveys it as much through his images and his cutting as he does through the dialogue (which is taken directly from Rosenkrantzs transcript). As the two talk, they move around different parts of the apartment. They make coffee, they drink tea and eat cookies. They stand outside. They lounge in bed. The light changes. Their outfits change. A shaft of sunlight might hit Hujar in an odd way, the warm glow of a sunset might reflect off a surface. Distant sounds from the street drift in. They touch each others legs and heads and feet, glancingly and sensuously, though not sexually. Such sense memories arent there to precisely chart Peter Hujars path through Linda Rosenkrantzs apartment. Rather, they evoke sense memories in all of us  we all understand light, and warmth, and the feeling of another persons touch. Its through such subtle cues that this tender, lovely film starts to feel like something we might have all experienced once.

Whishaw obviously has to do most of the heavy lifting, dialogue-wise, but Hall is his equal in the way she uses her silences. Her adoration of Hujar comes through, as well as her ease around him. Whishaw gives Hujars words a matter-of-fact quality, but theres a slight hint of melancholy to him, too. Hes filled with anxieties about his art and his work. (The Ginsberg shoot, he says, is his first job for the New York Times.) Hell, hes filled with anxieties about going four blocks down to another part of the Village. But Whishaw, whose voice is one of modern cinemas great wonders (theres a reason why he makes such a good Paddington), conveys the nervousness and the hope and the boredom and the sadness all at once.

Rosenkrantzs intended book never materialized, but she did publish the Hujar interview as its own volume years later, in 2022, by which point AIDS had long claimed the photographer. So loss is, in a way, built into the very concept of the film. The intimacy draws us in, as if we might know these people. At the same time, we also understand that well never know these people. The maze of names and facts in Hujars account, the familiarity he and Rosenkrantz have with each other, the way the setting light captures the ephemerality of this moment, it all feels like something thats already vanished. Were watching a mundane spectacle of a mundane spectacle  a man in a room relating the mostly forgettable events of the previous day  but somehow, were also witnessing the arc of time within this quiet hour. So, no, the film is maybe not a doodle. Theres too much craft, too much care here for that. But it is a masterpiece.
The Churchs Conservative Shift Toward Trump: Muller, Dolan, Burke, and the Battle for the Catholic Vote. The relationship between the Catholic Church and U.S. politics is increasingly polarized, with conservative clerics aligning themselves with Donald Trump, while Pope Francis pushes for a more progressive vision. At the heart of this divide is German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, the former head of the Vaticans doctrinal office, who has voiced strong support for Trump. Muller has warned of the dangers of liberalism, relativism, and political correctness, and has aligned himself with a growing conservative bloc within the Church, particularly in the U.S. Dolan: Trumps Ally in New York One of Trumps strongest Catholic supporters in the U.S. is Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the influential Archbishop of New York. While Dolan has been careful not to issue direct endorsements, his cordial relationship with Trump has been evident. In 2020, Dolan participated in a conference call with Trump, praising his administrations work with religious leaders, which many interpreted as a signal of support. Dolan represents a Church faction that prioritizes religious liberty, opposes abortion, and favors conservative policies, making him a natural ally of the Republican right. Burke: The Vaticans Conservative Warrior Another key player is Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of Pope Franciss most vocal critics. A staunch traditionalist, Burke has long positioned himself as a defender of conservative Catholic doctrine, opposing Franciss push for inclusivity on LGBTQ+ rights, interfaith dialogue, and social justice issues. His alignment with Trump and the broader MAGA movement is ideologicalboth advocate for a return to traditional values and oppose what they see as a leftist cultural and political agenda. Francis has marginalized Burke within the Vatican, even stripping him of his Vatican apartment and salary, but Burke remains a hero to many conservative Catholics in the U.S. McElroy: Pope Franciss Man in Washington On the other side of this divide is Cardinal Robert McElroy, the Bishop of San Diego and one of Pope Franciss closest allies in the U.S. Church. Francis elevated McElroy to cardinal in 2022, bypassing more senior figures and signaling his intent to reshape the American Church away from conservative nationalism. McElroy has been a vocal critic of Trump, denouncing his stance on immigration and racial justice while advocating for a Church that prioritizes social inclusion and economic justice. His rise reflects Franciss strategy to counterbalance the influence of Trump-aligned clergy like Dolan, Burke, and Muller. The Battle for the Catholic Vote The U.S. Catholic vote has become increasingly conservative, with figures like Muller, Dolan, and Burke playing a key role in shifting Catholic support toward Trump. In the last presidential election, 56% of Catholics voted for Trump, a shift that alarmed the Vatican.Ph: PIGAMA / Shutterstock.com
Almasri is wanted by ICC for alleged war crimes.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said that she is under investigation in relation to Italy's release of a Libyan police chief accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a video posted on X on Tuesday, Meloni said she is suspected of "aiding and abetting a crime and embezzlement" in connection with the case of Osama Najim - also called Almasri - Libyas chief of judicial police and director of a notorious detention centre in Mitiga.

"I am not blackmailable, I am not intimidated", Meloni said in the video post, noting that interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, justice minister Carlo Nordio, and cabinet undersecretary with the national security brief Alfredo Mantovano have also been placed under investigation.

Almasri was arrested in Turin on 21 January, on a warrant issued by the Hague-based ICC, but was released on a technicality and swiftly repratiated to Tripoli on an Italian state plane.

The ICC has demanded an explanation over Italy's unexpected release of Almasri who it accuses of war crimes and crimes against humanity including torture, rape and murder.

Vale oggi quello che valeva ieri: non sono ricattabile e non mi faccio intimidire. Avanti a testa alta! pic.twitter.com/Urg0QOis9V  Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 28, 2025

The repatriation of Almasri came after a Rome court declared the ICC arrest warrant irregular as it had not been preceded by discussions with justice minister Nordio.

Interior minister Piantedosi told the senate last week that Almasri had been expelled because he represented a danger to society, however opposition politicians have linked the Libyan's release to a deal between Rome and Tripoli to stem the flow of migrant crossings to Italy.

In the video she posted on Tuesday, a defiant Meloni made it clear that she considers the investigation a political attack, suggesting the motive might be because she is "unpopular with those who do not want Italy to change and become better".

She stressed that the probe was launched following a complaint by lawyer and "former left-wing politician" Luigi Li Gotti (whose political career began in the same right-wing circles as Meloni), and that the prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi led a separate investigation into deputy premier Matteo Salvini who was acquitted last month.

Meloni - who has received the support of Salvini and fellow deputy premier Antonio Tajani -also said it was "curious" that the ICC issued the warrant for Almasri precisely as he was about to enter Italy after having stayed in three other European states for the previous 12 days.

Photo credit: paparazzza / Shutterstock.com.
Knockboy Graveyard

Thank you to the following who sponsored prizes for the Knockboy Graveyard Christmas raffle, we are very grateful for your support: Tom Barron, Teresa Butler, Diane Cotter, Johnny McGrath, Ann Ahearn, Catherine Cliff, Hanrahans Bar and Aine Walsh. We also want to congratulate the raffle winners who were: Brendan Kiely, Willie Power, Sean Foley, Jason Sheehan and Chole Gleeson. A special thank you to Johnny McGrath, Dunnes Bar and to Hanrahans Bar, for selling tickets and a big thank you to everyone who supported this great cause.

Clothes Collection

A clothes collection is being held in aid of St. Marys National School, Touraneena. The drop off point is inside the Sliabh gCua Community Centre and the clothes collection will run between 9am to 6pm, from Saturday, February 1, to Wednesday, February 5. If you have any unwanted items such as ladies, gents and childrens clothing, shoes (must be in pairs and tied together), belts, hats, handbags, etc. we would be delighted to receive them. Please note that we will not accept pillows, duvets, socks, towels, underwear, bed linen or wet clothing. Please ensure that all clothes are in clean, re-wearable condition. Thank you in advance for your support.

Set Dancing Club

Since the return of the Sliabh gCua Set Dancing Club after the Christmas holidays, we have had a couple of weeks where the weather has been so bad that we have had to cancel our Friday night lessons. We are looking forward to resuming classes as normal this Friday evening in the Sliabh gCua Community Centre and we look forward to seeing you there.

Sympathy

We extend our sympathy to the Nugent family on the recent passing of Edward (Ed) Nugent, Sandymount, Dublin and formerly of Ballinamult. Edward was predeceased by his wife Fionnuala, daughter Mary, son-in-law Peter and brother Damien. We extend our sincere sympathy to his family Paul, Anne, Fionnuala and Breda, sister Breda, daughter-in-law Deirdre, sons-in-law Tony, Harry and Sean, grandchildren, great grandson, family and many friends. Funeral mass for Edward was in Our Lady of Peace Church, Merrion Road, followed by burial in Deansgrange Cemetery. May Edward rest in peace.

Sliabh gCua Lotto

The jackpot numbers last Sunday night were 1,6,19 and there was no winner. The five x 20 winners were TJ, Stephen Cliffe, Eithne Dee Walsh, Trish Ahearne and Anne Ahearne. The promoters prize was won by Brendan Tobin. Next weeks jackpot is for an amazing 1,200.

Choir Members

If you are interested in joining a choir, Belle Voci, an award winning all-female voice choir based in Clonmel, is looking for a few very specific voices to balance their sound. If you are an Alto or Mezzo-Soprano (lower female voice), maybe you could find your place with us. Our musical director will meet with you to get an idea of your voice and how you might fit in with the rest of the choir. New members should be prepared to commit to attending Monday night practice (7pm to 9pm) and learning their parts at home or with other members of their voice group. Also, singing for Sunday Mass once a month and other choir commitments. We hope any new members will add to the choir in more than just voice. We visit nursing homes, organise pub quizzes, participate in local events, travel to competitions and festivals, and enjoy each other's company. If this is something that you would like to be a part of please contact us. It's not about having the best voice. Choral singing is about supporting each other to create a beautiful sound together. Email us at bellevociclonmel@gmail.com or message us on Facebook or Instagram.

Riddle For The Week

Last weeks riddle was: I am a three letter word. If you take two letters from me, I am still the same. What am I?

Answer: The word Pea  P.

This weeks riddle is: What has thirteen hearts but no other organs? Answer in this column next week.
The likely five-year wait to begin construction at the Tonn Nua offshore wind site in Waterford has been described as disappointing by the Managing Director of Energia Renewables, Peter Baillie, ahead of the state auction in June. He has called on the government to fast track the development timeline.

The Tonn Nua site, 12 kilometres off the Waterford coast, will be the States second auction under its offshore renewable electricity support scheme (ORESS). It is set to deliver 900 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, saving 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year after construction.

Managing Director of Energia Renewables, Peter Baillie. Photo: Hugh Dooley

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said on the announcement of the auction that he expected the winning wind farm would become operational by 2032, if not quicker.

The auction is set to begin in June with a decision expected by prospective bidders to be announced in July.

The winning bidder for the Tonn Nua site will be required to provide a 140 million local benefit fund, 7 million per year of the wind farm's expected operation.

Speaking to regional stakeholders at an Offshore Wind conference at Waterford Port, Energia Renewables outlined their intention to bid in the auction to deliver the Tonn Nua windfarm site alongside Vargrnn  a Norwegian-Italian renewable energy joint venture between Plenitude and HiTech Vision  which is involved in the delivery of a series of offshore wind farms in Northern Europe.

Energia and Vargrnn have done the most work, we are the most informed bidders in this auction, Baillie said.

We have a uniquely comprehensive understanding of the offshore environment off the southeast coast, and we can deliver the Tonn Nua wind farm faster than our competitors if successful in our bid."

The Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council, Sean McKeown told the conference that he is aware of at least two consortiums preparing bids for the Tonn Nua auction later this year.

Mr Baillie told the Waterford News & Star that there will be a delay of up to five years before construction can begin at Tonn Nua following the auction process.

There were opportunities to fast-track that, so it is disappointing that we could be five years waiting.

Mr Baillie said that the disappointing delay before construction, which is subject to determination from EirGrid, is a product of the policy and move to a plan-lead approach, and we would welcome engagement with the new government on opportunities to accelerate this timeline.

Baillie called on the government to address the urgent need to develop a credible pipeline of projects for developers and the supply chain to see a real opportunity in order to attract and give confidence to potential investors including a substantial investment into the countrys ports.

He said that a lack of confidence for investors through a lack of realistic plans for energy grid capacity is causing a risk that the momentum in Ireland for the Tonn Nua auction will quickly fall away.

In light of Storm Eowyn and other weather events, Baillie said it is an increasingly challenging environment to operate in, noting that the recent storm had seen consistent wind speeds above 150km/h.

We have done our homework, Baillie said, noting Energia has installed numerous sensors in the designated area to inform their bid through the collection of amazing data on the site conditions.

The first ORESS-1 auction procured more than 3 gigawatts (GW) of capacity from four offshore wind projects  enough to power 2.5 million Irish homes at an average of 86.05/megawatt hour.

The Tonn Nua auction will be the first under the States first spatial plan for offshore renewable development, specifically the south coast designated maritime area plan (D-map). It identifies four areas off the Wexford and Waterford coast for development over the next decade.

The four proposed zones off the south east coasts of Waterford and Wexford are Tonn Nua, Li Ban, Manannan and Danu.
Waterford TD John Cummins has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage today as Taoiseach Michael Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris announced the junior minister lineup.

The newly-elected TD was the party's Seanad spokesperson for housing in the previous government and said he is "absolutely delighted" to have responsibility for Local Government and Planning.

Speaking following the announcement Deputy John Cummins said: I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed by Tanaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Michael Martin to a role which I feel I can hit the ground running on given my experience as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage over the past five years and my eleven years experience as a member of Waterford City and County Council.

"There is a huge amount of talent within Fine Gael with twenty-three new TDs bringing a wealth of new knowledge into the party and I know the Tanaiste will have given a great deal of consideration to these appointments. Naturally, I am honoured to have been chosen for this role and I assured the Tanaiste I will give everything to it," the Waterford TD said.

The new Minister of State said he "was never distracted by all of the speculation that was surrounding the appointment of Ministers of State."

"Ultimately, such things are always a matter for the party leader," he said, "and while I felt I did a solid job in my capacity as one of the Fine Gael negotiators during the development of the programme for government, that doesnt give you an entitlement to become a Minister."

Cummins, who spent the last Dail term as a Senator won a seat in Leinster House in the General Election in November and thanked "everyone who has assisted me throughout my political career thus far, in particular my wife Inga, my parents, our amazing team of Fine Gael councillors across the county, my supporters and the wider membership of Waterford Fine Gael, all of whom I simply couldnt have done it without."

"Most importantly I want to thank the people of Waterford who placed their trust in me during Novembers general election. I hope this appointment demonstrates the value of my election to Dail Eireann and I look forward to delivering for the people of Waterford."

Minister of State Cummins joins his coalition and county colleague Deputy Mary Butler in the appointments list, who was given the role of government chief whip last week.
China has called on the United States and Russia to further reduce their nuclear arsenals before it considers joining potential disarmament talks proposed by President Donald Trump.

China's foreign ministry emphasized that "the two nuclear powers with the largest nuclear arsenals should conscientiously fulfill their special... responsibilities for nuclear disarmament," according to AFP. The ministry added that they "must further substantially reduce their nuclear arsenals, so as to create the necessary conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the disarmament process."

In a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Trump reiterated his push for "denuclearisation" and urged trilateral discussions involving the U.S., Russia, and China. Following his remarks, Russia signaled its readiness to restart bilateral arms control negotiations with the U.S. "as soon as possible," emphasizing that "the ball is in the Americans' court."

The U.S. and Russia collectively possess nearly 90% of the world's nuclear weapons. However, relations between the two countries have soured in recent years, culminating in Moscow's withdrawal from the last remaining arms control treaty with Washington in 2023.

While Beijing claims to support disarmament in principle, it has consistently declined U.S. invitations to participate in arms control talks with Russia.

According to 2024 estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States holds 3,708 nuclear warheads, while Russia has 4,380, excluding retired stockpiles. China's arsenal has grown to 500 warheads, an increase of 90 from the previous year. France and the United Kingdom possess 290 and 225 warheads, respectively.

China has reiterated that its nuclear arsenal is strictly for "self-defense" and that it maintains its forces at "the minimum level required for national security."

Last year in June, Pranay Vaddi, senior director for arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation at the National Security Council, warned that Russia, China, and North Korea were rapidly expanding their nuclear capabilities with "little or no interest in arms control."

"Absent a change in the trajectory of the adversary arsenal, we may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required," Vaddi said at an annual forum organized by the Arms Control Association, a group advocating for nuclear weapons limits, at the time.
One of six males discovered inside a shipping container on Monday, January 27, has claimed international protection.

In a statement to Waterford News & Star, a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said the investigation into the matter is ongoing, after the nine males were discovered in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort on Monday morning.

"Six adult males have been refused leave to land in accordance with immigration legislation," said the Garda spokesperson.

"One adult male has claimed international protection and will now be processed by the International Protection Office (IPO)," he added.

Two of the males discovered are believed to be minors and are now in the care of Tusla.

Gardai attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all of the circumstances of this incident. Anyone with any information in relation to this discovery is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11 or any Garda Station.
An Bord Pleanala have refused permission for the construction of a medical facility and ancillary accommodation in Waterford Retail Park on the Cork Road.

The proposed development was planned at a greenfield site which is cordoned off from the existing retail park, and included a three storey building to accommodate medical related uses. The medical block was to be constructed in two wings over three storeys and set around a central core.

An additional 102 parking spaces were planned to be provided, bringing the total to 976 spaces.

Waterford Council refused permission for the development in October 2023, a decision which An Bord Pleanala has now decided to uphold.

An Bord Pleanala Planning Inspector, Angela Brereton suggested that the development be refused on the grounds that it is in an area distant from existing residential communities and the Waterford City Urban Area, and is car orientated, and not served by proximate public transport or pedestrian linkages in an area where maximum speed limits apply.
While taking a stroll along Waterfords Mall on a spring afternoon one can be forgiven to be enchanted by its period charm and its historical significance.

And now the building situated at 3 and 4 the mall which had almost become a derelict building has been transformed and restored to its original grandeur.

The fabulous interior of O'Sullivan's Vintage Social where fine dining and an unforgettable experience is high on the agenda

Just one door down from Irelands oldest Civic Building Reginalds Tower, two local boys Billy OSullivan and Mark OSullivan have transformed this property to become once again a beckon of grandeur that elevates this beautiful Waterford street.

Built in 1750 from handmade brick and stone salvaged from our citys walls, Number Three and Four the Mall after 130 years is now once more OSullivans on the Mall following the official opening of the top in class Vintage Social.

The wonderful interior of O'Sullivan's Vintage Social one of the finest venues in the city

Upon entering O Sullivans Vintage Social on the Mall, old city walls permeate through the building, providing guests with a sense of Waterfords sprawling history of over 1,000 years.

The building has been part of the OSullivan family in previous generations, and was once registered to JP OSullivans Medical Hall, a distant relative of the current proprietors.

At the time, OSullivans apothecary made their own perfumes and aftershaves and created potions to cure any ill facing the people of the city.

Paddy Power

In one of the oldest pictures ever taken of The Mall, and indeed one of the oldest every captured in Waterford, OSullivans can be seen, a testament to its vast and ever expanding historical significant.

In 1895, the first motorised vehicle arrived in Waterford.

A photograph taken from the old Imperial Hotel immortalised this event, capturing the most beautiful street of Waterford City with the iconic OSullivans Apothecary shopfront proudly on display.

Now, in a beautifully restored space, OSullivans honor this legacy, with new life breathed into this historic building, creating a space for all to enjoy.

The wonderful and homely interior of O'Sullivan's Vintage Social

The building has been magnificently restored and has welcomed an extraordinary new lease of life into the hospitality sector of the historical Viking triangle.

By incorporating and reusing many original artifacts from the building and indeed other famous Waterford establishments long since passed, the warmth and ambiance of the premises holds endless depth of character.

The concept of the new OSullivans is to maintain and celebrate Waterfords history, whilst also providing a top in class, brand new offering to Waterford.

The wonderful interior of O'Sullivan's Vintage Social

Crafted from antique brick and salvaged stone from the original city, the building is a testament to expert restoration.

The building is full of antiques, old city walls, and the bar is a period piece which itself is steeped in history.

The history has been maintained, providing a sense of authenticity, whilst new designs and decor offer something new to the city.

It is truly Waterford to the core.

The upstairs dining room is an elegant Georgian setting with a mix of exposed walls and period antique French light there is more than a hint of Louisiana Deep South which has also inspired the dinner menu.

Menu

With 160 seats on the ground floor and 100 seats upstairs, the spaces ambiance and menu provide something for everyone.

The ground floor bar specialises in cold beer, wines and boosts a mighty pint of Guinness, while a vintage cocktail menu has become a favourite treat for ladies and gents alike.

The Paddy Flower

OSullivans expansive menus specialise in very high quality food and local produce, from grass fed steak, to fresh seafood and tasty tapas, bar food and ala carte dinner menu, all at an affordable price.

Situated just moments from Theatre Royal, OSullivans also offers theatre goers a chance to indulge in top class cuisine before heading just up the street to for a show, with their Special Theatre Menu.

Live Music

OSullivans on the Mall has become a live music venue promoting local talented artists in an eclectic mix of easy listening music.

Currently, 'Sullys Live Sessions', offers entertaining music Friday, Saturday and Sunday which will expand into the spring and summer months.

With a new extension to the upper floor space on the way, a New Orleans speakeasy is planned to host party events and enhance what is truly a unique offering further.

The wonderful, comfortable interior of O'Sullivan's Vintage Social

Recently, The Piano Man has proved very popular amongst guests, providing an eclectic mix of music to suit all tastes. This has become a perfect complement after while you dine in comfort of sublime food.

Waterford to the Core

Billy OSullivan has vast experience in hospitality across the world, however, as a Waterford native his entire life, he says it is an honour to be able to now provide top class service in his home town: Im so proud always proud of my city, its history, its character and most of all its people. Waterford is elevating, and we are so proud to be able to contribute to that with OSullivans Vintage Social.

Updates on menus and live music available @o_sullivans Instagram
Theatre-goers in County Waterford are in for a real treat this coming Friday night, January 31.

That night Bridgeview Drama Tallow group will present their production of, 'The Weir', in Ballymacarbry Community Centre.

However, those wishing to go along should take note that there are a limited number of tickets available for what locals described as "a hugely anticipated" play.

The talented Brideview Drama Tallow group recently won second place in the All-Ireland One Act Open Finals and the forthcoming performance in the centre will come in the wake of that success.

A critically acclaimed play by Conor McPherson, it promises to be a great night of drama in a wonderful setting.

Tickets are priced 15 and can be sourced from Ballymacarbry Central School by calling 052 6136349. People can also text or WhatsApp the community centre mobile on 086 0328467.

Those making contact for tickets are asked to include their name, address and how many tickets they would like to purchase. All proceeds from this event will be going to four local causes: Brideview Drama Group, Ballymacarbry Tidy Towns, Ballymacarbry Central School and Panda Playground c/o Ballymacarbry Community Centre.
If we are to believe that Chinas DeepSeek has matched Silicon Valleys AI giants in breakneck time, on a shoestring and with a tiny fraction of the data and energy use, the world is indeed in convulsion.

This is a geopolitical earthquake of the first order, upstaging Donald Trumps $US500 billion ($800 billion) Stargate bid for supremacy in artificial intelligence (AI) before he has even started.

Those who thought US trade restrictions limiting the export of Nvidias GPU chips would keep the US ahead of China were wrong. Credit: AP

Chinas Communist Party could hardly have wished for a more obliterating propaganda stunt to cut Trumps strident new America down to size. A president who judges success by Wall Street faces a sharemarket crash within days of taking office. The politburo has a collective sense of humour.

Immense power and prestige passes instantly from the US to China. We are looking at a future where Chinese firms run away with AI, undercutting the West by commoditising it, just as China has done with solar panels, electric vehicles and lithium batteries.
A year after a Perth doctor was given a suspended prison sentence over the prolonged and repeated sexual assault and harassment of a married employee, he has lost his license to practice medicine and is ineligible to reapply for five years.

Akinyemi Freeman, 74, met his victim through church when she moved to Perth with her husband and four children from Nigeria in 2013.

The State Administrative Tribunal in Perth. Credit: Heather McNeill

State Administrative Tribunal records released this week show that Freeman, also originally from Nigeria, offered the woman a job at his medical practice where she was employed originally as a receptionist and then as the practice manager.

Freeman then offered to sponsor her for permanent residency.
Singapore: China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the south-western city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say  a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and power generation.

Satellite photos show four outlying arms that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at US-based independent research organisation CNA Corp.

This satellite picture shows a laser-ignited fusion research centre located in Mianyang, China. Credit: Planet Labs

It is a similar layout to the $US3.5 billion ($5.6 billion) US National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated more energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target  scientific break-even.

Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50 per cent bigger than the one at NIF, currently the worlds largest.
"No annexation!" The Karman Line annexation opposition group chants on the steps of Colorado Springs City Hall ahead of the regular council meeting start at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Sean Duffy, a former deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Owens and longtime communications and media relations strategist, is senior vice president, communications at the Daniels Fund in Denver. The views he expresses are his own.
Residents woke up Thursday morning to fresh snowfall in the Pikes Peak region, forcing some school and business delays and closures.
COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (JANUARY 28 EDITION)

The operator of popular local cafe, McHughs, has highlighted the impact of the rise in minimum wage on local business.

Rory McHugh described the rise, the second in two years, as a killer for businesses like his.

In our 12 years in business, the minimum wage has gone from 7.20 to 13.50 so its nearly doubled but theres no way that our prices have doubled. You cant have a situation where you have to put it on the customer or you will lose customers, noted Mr McHugh who said hes trying to keep his sandwich prices below 10.

McHughs absorbed seven separate price increases for coffee in 2024. Meat prices also rose.

The only way the company has absorbed prices is by shortening its opening hours, closing at 4pm in some of its locations.

I dont want to do that, its bad for the customer who wants to come after four for a coffee or something nice but its our only way of controlling costs, he explained.

A prediction Rory McHugh made to this column in mid-2024 about a spate of closures has come to pass, he adds.

According to the Restaurant Association of Ireland, there were 600 closures in the year up to the end of October.

Mr McHugh welcomes the Tribe chain opening up a few doors from his cafe.

They do different products to us, we focus on sandwiches. Its great for the town.
Over 680,000 in prize money was claimed at National Lottery HQ today, with two players from Dublin and a Mayo player all celebrating their fantastic wins in the National Lotterys exclusive winner's room.

The player from County Mayo won an incredible 500,000 from the EuroMillions Plus draw on Tuesday, 21st January. The Mayo player purchased their winning ticket online.

Speaking to the National Lottery, the winner said:

I was in the break room in work when I checked my ticket. I immediately rang my partner and told her the good news. She didnt believe me and thought I was winding her up. She told me to swear on my dog's life. Only when I swore on my dogs life did she believe me!

Asked about how they intend to use their winnings, the winner said:

Its not every day you win 500,000 and I look forward to properly marking the occasion. A once-in-a-lifetime trip is on the cards, a first-class ticket to somewhere off the beaten track!
High Court Reporters

A pre-school operating within the grounds of a north Dublin halting site had to close due to its staff being subjected to unacceptable threats and intimidation as part of a suspected feud over Dublin City Council works, the High Court has heard.

St Margarets Pre-School CG this week secured orders appointing a liquidator to itself after it told the court staff were left in fear from threats and it has been unable to source alternative premises.

The court heard the pre-school operated from a community centre in St Margarets halting site in Ballymun from 2011 until June 2023.

It catered primarily for children resident on the site, but also for some children from the general locality.

A director of the company said she believes there has for the past few years been an ongoing dispute between a small number of residents of the site and the Dublin City Council.

In an affidavit, she said she understands that the dispute originates from construction works carried by the council.

She said the council is the landlord of the pre-school premises and, through no fault of its own, the pre-school has found itself to be a target of the ire of a small number of site residents and/or other unknown persons involved in the dispute.

She alleged that, as staff were preparing to reopen in September 2023 after the summer break, an unknown man called and threatened to burn down the pre-school if the local authority failed to carry out certain construction works on the halting site.

School staff members reported being watched as they left the premises, and a decision was made not to open the following Monday as planned, the director said.

She said Dublin City Councils Traveller accommodation unit was notified of the incident.

The schools board was told that the council met with residents more than once but talks broke down and the council advised it would no longer cooperate with the cohort of residents until the threat on the community centre was lifted, the director claimed.

She said the council reported the threat to gardai and removed its staff from the site following threats to them.

The pre-school board was informed in February 2024 that the dispute remained unresolved and that the city council had yet to return its staff to the site, she said.

Pre-school funding had ceased by October/November 2023 due to the closure, so staff had to be paid out of company reserves, she said.

During the closure, the premises was used as a dumping ground for rubbish and horse manure, the director said.

The school attempted to find alternative premises but has not found any suitable. Last April, a majority of its board of management voted to close the pre-school permanently and to seek the companys winding up.

The director said she is deeply saddened on a personal and professional level that the school had to close in these circumstances. She said the closure is entirely out of our control and comes despite trojan efforts by all staff members and company directors.

She was pleased that, thanks to the efforts of the staff, all children previously enrolled have found alternative placements.

Mr Justice Oisin Quinn commended the schools staff, directors and members for all their efforts in the face of what they experienced.

He acceded to the companys request for a liquidator to be appointed.

The companys barrister, Sally ONeill instructed by Clark Hill Solicitors, had submitted that the winding up was just and equitable in the circumstances.

The court heard the company is solvent and will have an excess of funds after repaying all remaining creditors.
Vivienne Clarke

A Dublin-born doctor, who now lives and works in the west of Ireland, has spoken of how two worlds exist between Dublin and the rest of the country following the destruction of Storm Eowyn.

Speaking on RTE radios News at One, Dr Catherine Sweeney said it is a crisis situation in large swathes of the west of Ireland.

"This is becoming a humanitarian crisis," she said, adding that the difference between Dublin and the west of Ireland after the storm is "night and day" as thousands still remain without power and water.

I'm from Glasnevin in Dublin. I happened to have an appointment in Dublin on Monday and I was in my home place in Dublin on Monday. And it is very much business as usual in Dublin.

There doesn't seem to have been any impact on the people on in the east coast to the same extent that it does in the west.

"That's not the fault of the people in Dublin. But when you travel out of Dublin and you head into the dark and I mean coming in through towns in the west of Ireland on my way home on Monday that were in darkness, there is no light.

It is a contrast between literally night and day. So there is a sense of us being forgotten. And we have been left to our own devices and this is no disrespect to the people who work in the ESB on the ground. I have great respect for them and I'm sure they are working 24 hours a day."

But from our perspective. We're not seeing any action on the ground. We are not seeing anyone coming to assist. This is a crisis situation in large swathes of the west of Ireland. This is becoming a humanitarian crisis.

If you have no water, if you have no electricity, if you have no communications, if you have limited access to medical care, that is essentially a humanitarian crisis. And there is, in my opinion, huge inaction by our elected representatives.

Dr Sweeney said there was still no power at her practice in Dunmore, Co Galway, so she and her staff were operating from the kitchen of her home in Claremorris which was 25 minutes away.

My administrators are in my kitchen as they themselves do not have access to broadband because they are out of power and as communications are down," she explained.

"So our phone lines are down and we can't communicate through the phone networks. We are communicating with patients through email and fortunately we can actually see the missed calls so we can contact them by ringing them back, but we can't answer any calls. So that is the situation that we are in at the moment.

Dr Sweeney was calling to the homes of her most vulnerable patients and had to enlist the help of her predecessor to find the home of one patient who was just out of hospital.

When I arrived at her home, there was no electricity, no heat, and no water. And this lady was freezing cold, just out of hospital and quite unwell.

I am gravely concerned for the situation that myself and other GPs in similar situations are in. The issues that are now beginning to rear their head would be we have elderly patients, vulnerable people who have been without basic human needs for the last five days.

"And what is coming through now from the phone calls that we are getting is that we have patients who are beginning to deteriorate. And I have been in contact with nursing homes this morning where patients families are trying to get them in so that they can help so that their elderly parents can be warm and fed because they can't do it.

"They can't do that for their parents or elderly relatives at home. So that's where it lies at present."

Dr Sweeney said her and her team have had no communications from any officials or from the HSE.

"We've had no offer of assistance. And we provide a service to over 3000 patients. We have a large hinterland and we would see on average 100 patients per day. And that doesn't include administrative contact. That is seeing them face to face.

We are providing services that include childhood vaccines, acute illness, palliative care. And we are now in a situation where all our vaccines will have to be disposed of. So childhood vaccines will have to be deferred, delayed.

"We have no idea when we will get the next stock in. We have to wait until our electricity is back. So it's a very difficult situation to find yourself in.

And we are continuously trying to keep people out of our emergency departments. But it is coming to a point where we can't, we can only go so far and we will have to send people to the emergency departments and that will lead to pressure on our hospital systems.
Vivienne Clarke

The Roscommon resident who confronted Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Tuesday has explained that she took the opportunity to vent the frustration of her neighbours over the response to Storm Eowyn.

Rachel Connolly said this was the fourth time in 12 months that her community had lost power.

Each storm it just gets worse and the power goes out for longer, she told Newstalk radio.

Ms Connolly asked why there could not be stores of generators in place around the country that could be utilised when storms hit.

She said the climate was changing and such extreme weather events were going to become more frequent and more intense, yet there was no preparation, just a knee jerk response from the Government.

Living without power was difficult, she said, but living without water was much more difficult.

She said people in the west felt there were two words to describe their situation: Forgotten and ignored.

Ms Connolly said she had taken the opportunity to raise the issue with Mr Martin, not to make front page news, but to encourage the Government to make the issue a priority.

We need to accept that we need to have long-term policies. We also need to start thinking about things like why are so many trees coming down? A lot of that has to do with the policy of the way that the trees have been planted.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach denied that the Government delayed asking the EU for help after widespread destruction caused by Storm Eowyn, one of the worst-ever storms to hit the country.

Mr Martin said it was not his understanding that there was a significant delay in requesting help, including generators and additional crews, from the EU.

He said the issue has been completely overplayed, and that some of those involved in helping to organise and restore power have been frustrated by the reports.

There were about 142,000 premises still without power on Wednesday, and many have been told that their electricity may not return until next Wednesday.

Uisce Eireann said about 16,000 people remain without a water supply, as of Wednesday morning.

Margaret Attridge, Uisce Eireanns head of water operations, said that equated to 6,000 houses and was down from a high of 200,000 people in the immediate aftermath of Storm Eowyn.

The majority of those without water are in the northwest, she told RTEs Morning Ireland. She said there were generators maintaining supply to another 120,000 people.

Ms Attridge said alternative supplies in the form of tankers are being provided in areas where there are vulnerable people and people who cannot get out to collect water for themselves.

She went on to explain that Uisce Eireann has backup generators at the four largest water treatment plants that supply water for 2.5 million people, but they did not have generators for all the 8,000 assets around the country, all of which require power.

A generator installation programme has been progressing in recent years, she said. But many of the plants needed to be made more resilient and there was a plan in place to rationalise smaller schemes into larger more secure treatment plants.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned of further storms of similar magnitude.

He said on Tuesday: In response to this storm, it was very evident, what was interesting is the previous investments in community groups and community organisations and facilities has reaped some dividends in terms of having those facilities in place.

In a world where we are going to experience more severe storms, I think, with greater regularity than we would have had in the past, that social infrastructure, that social and community capacity, is extremely important, working with statutory agencies like the local authorities, civil defence and others, gardai, HSE, to respond to such challenges.

Were now down to about, I think we have back down to 160,000 who are now without power, and were going to do everything we possibly can to accelerate that.
"If affects every single person in this city... it affects our ability to build parks, to pave roads, to deliver clean water, to have your employees work on things you want them working on," the mayor says.
READING, Pa.  The Reading School District responded Tuesday to federal immigration enforcement efforts, saying what the district will and will not do to protect students and their families.

City officials and parents have since reacted.

"When the circumstances arise and we got a national security threat or a significant public safety threat, we're going to go where we got to go  whether it's a school, a church or a hospital," said Tom Homan, "border czar" for the Trump administration.

"It's a terrible idea. It's going to make the kids be in a sense of panic and be scared, you know?" said Mercedes Rosario, Reading.

0:25 Reading School District issues statement on federal immigration enforcement efforts The district says it will provide a free public education to all students, regardless of their immigration status.

RSD said it will not permit law enforcement, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to enter schools, except when absolutely required by law.

The district also promises it will continue to educate students and provide them with opportunities, regardless of their families' immigration status.

"I believe that they are looking out for not only our kids but their families, and what they're doing is really educating the public," Reading City Councilmember Jaime Baez Jr. said of the district.

Additionally, the district says it will not share with anyone students' records that contain personal information, except when absolutely required by law or with consent from the parent or guardian.

Homan says criminals can also hide out in schools.

"People need to look at the MS-13 members and Tren de Aragua members who enter this country, the majority of them between the ages of 15 and 17. Many are attending our schools," Homan said.

Reading officials urge people to remain calm.

"I want us to make sure that we know that we have rights and that, that we are knowing those rights, going to continue to move forward and not enter into that panic in which this administration wants us to go into," Baez said.

RSD says it will not carry out any immigration-related activities or assist agencies in doing so. Additionally, it says it won't report any students or their families for suspected violations of immigration law.
World Review

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to visit Washington next week to meet US President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter, as the leaders look to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza.

The meeting is not yet finalized and may not come together in that time frame, the people said on condition of anonymity.

The trip may partly depend on Netanyahu's health. In late December, the 75-year-old had prostate-removal surgery after what doctors described as a non-cancerous enlargement. While he's been working recently, medical staff are still monitoring his recovery.

The early sit-down would come at a critical time, just weeks until the end of the first phase of the pause in fighting in Gaza, which began on Jan. 19. Skeptics have questioned whether the deal will hold through its second phase, which could ultimately lead to a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, is expected to travel to Israel this week to discuss the prospect of securing a longer-term solution to the conflict, according to Israeli television.

More than 30 hostages held by Hamas - designated a terrorist organization by the US and many other countries - are slated to be returned to Israel during the six-week truce, in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners. More humanitarian aid is entering Gaza during the stretch, with roughly 600 trucks per day delivering supplies.

Trump last weekend floated the idea of relocating Palestinian refugees to neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, with much of Gaza devastated by air strikes. The suggestion was swiftly rejected by both nations, which have said Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes.

Trump has indicated he's willing to give wider latitude for Israel to carry out military strikes in the region compared to former President Joe Biden. The White House removed a hold on 2,000-pound bombs put in place under the previous administration out of fear that the weapons could add to the civilian death toll in Gaza.

The president repeatedly warned prior to the ceasefire agreement there would be hell to pay" if Israeli hostages weren't released before his inauguration.

Netanyahu and Trump had a close relationship during the US president's first term. Trump was critical of Israel's military campaign against Hamas during the 2024 presidential campaign but the two have exchanged complimentary words since Trump won a second term, and Netanyahu's wife visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago club for dinner. r.



(COMMENT, BELOW)
Princess Beatrice has welcomed her second child, a daughter named Athena, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Born several weeks prematurely on Jan. 22 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, Athena weighed 4lb 5oz but is reported to be healthy and doing well.

Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, are celebrating their growing family, while the King, Queen, and other members of the Royal Family are said to be delighted by the baby's safe arrival.

The 36-year-old had been expected to give birth in early spring, but after receiving medical advice in December to avoid long-distance travel, she altered her holiday plans. Instead of spending Christmas overseas with her husband's family, Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and their children joined the Royal Family at Sandringham.

An official photo of baby Athena shows her wrapped in a blanket with her hand covering her face, reflecting the family's emphasis on privacy.

In a social media post, her father, Edoardo, described Athena as "tiny and absolutely perfect," adding that the family is "completely besotted with her."

Athena, the granddaughter of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah, the Duchess of York, is now 11th in line to the throne.

"She is already so adored and I'm incredibly blessed to be a granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team," posted the duchess on social media.

Buckingham Palace announced that the baby's full name is Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born last Wednesday at 12:57 p.m. (local time).

Beatrice and her daughter are both doing well, and the family is spending time together with Athena's older siblingsWolfie, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's son from a previous relationship, and Sienna.

The parents expressed their gratitude to the staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their "wonderful care," the same hospital where their older daughter, Sienna, was born in 2021.
()

Editors note: The following account of the mythological maiden, Sirena, is derived from a manuscript, titled, I Tetehnan. This manuscript is the third part of a series of Chamorro proverbs that were published in 1978 by Anthony J. Rameriz. The titles of the two published manuscripts were Ehemplus Chamorritus and Megaina Munhayan Ki Tetehnan. All three manuscripts contain traditional Chamorro and Spanish loan proverbs.

Guams mermaid

The mythological maiden, Sirena, in the I Tetehnan manuscript is considered a proverb, and not a legend.

Hagatna tale

A playful young woman named Sirena once lived near the Hagatna River, right at the place where fresh spring waters dividing the city met the ocean at the rivers mouth. Sirena loved the water, swimming whenever she could steal a moment from her many chores.

One day, Sirenas nana (mother) sent her to gather coconut shells so she could make coal for the clothes iron. While gathering the shells Sirena couldnt resist the refreshing river. There she swam for a long time, paying little attention to anything else while her nana called for her impatiently.

Sirenas matlina (godmother) happened to come by for a visit while Sirenas nana waited for her daughter to return. Sirenas nana began complaining about her daughter, becoming angrier the more she spoke. She knew Sirena was probably swimming in the river rather than completing her chores. In irritation, Sirenas nana angrily cursed her daughter with the words, Since Sirena loves the water more than anything, she should become a fish! However, her matlina, realizing the harshness and power of the womans words, quickly interjected, Leave the part of her that belongs to me as human.

Suddenly, Sirena, still swimming in the river, began to feel a change coming over her. To her surprise and dismay, the lower half of her body transformed into the tail of a fish! She had fins like a fish, and her skin was covered with scales! However, from the waist up, she remained a girl. She was transformed into a mermaid!

In her new form, Sirena was unable to leave the water. Her nana soon saw what had happened to her daughter. Regretful of her curse, she tried to take back her harsh words, but she could not undo Sirenas fate.

So as not be seen or caught by any passerby Sirena gave a final farewell to her mother before she swam out to sea:

Oh Nana, do not worry about me, for I am a mistress of the sea, which I love so much. I would rather be back home with you. I know you were angry when you cursed me, but I wish you had punished me some other way. I would rather you had whipped me with your strap than to be the way I am now. Nana, take a good look at me, for this will be the last time we will see each other.

With these words, Sirena disappeared among the waves. Many stories have been told of sailors who have caught a glimpse of her at sea. According to legend, though, she can only be captured with a net of human hair.

What the story teaches The story of Sirena occurred in perhaps the most significant and historic site in the Mariana Islands, La Ciudad de Hagatna. The actual account transpired in the Saduk (river) Hagatna in an area referred to as the Minondu in the Barrio de San Nicolas.

The La Ciudad de Hagatna (city of Hagatna) during the Spanish colonial period is unlike what it is today. It was the first city of European heritage in the Pacific, dating its original habitation to the first people that settled in the Mariana Islands some 4,000 years ago. In 1668, upon the arrival of the first Jesuit missionaries to transplant Christianity, Hagatna eventually developed into a colonial city and depicted the structure of the Spanish form of government of Church and State as one.

According to oral history, no one is able to establish the origin of the story of Sirena. It is however one of the most treasured stories in the Chamorro culture, the most retold from generation to generation.

To understand the story of Sirena one must have an historical knowledge of the La Ciudad de Hagatna during the Spanish colonial era. First is the Barrio systems that were established by the civil and church officials. There were five principal barrios in Hagatna: San Ignacio, San Ramon, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, and San Antonio. The surrounding barrios were Bilibik, Togai, Hulali, and Garapan.

Each of the barrios differentiated the class system of the Chamorro society. Those who resided in the Barrio de San Ignacio were of the elite class and represented the mixture of Spanish and Chamorro descendants. Barrio San Ignacio was also the first established barrio upon the arrival of the missionaries. Barrio de San Antonio, perhaps was the last barrio to be established, dates its origin as a result of the 1856 smallpox epidemic. Barrio de San Nicolas, the site of where the story of Sirena is related is bordered by the Plaza de Espana, Barrio de San Ignacio, Barrio se San Antonio, the Castillo, Palumat, and a small barrio referred to as Santa Rita.

Sirena became half fish and half woman in the Saduk Hagatna (Hagatna River) in the area referred to as Minondu. The origin of the river springs forth from the Matan Hanum located in the Sisonyan Hagatna. The Saduk Hagatna flowed through the Barrio de San Nicholas and formerly emptied near an area referred to as Paseo de Susana, near the Sagua Hagatna. In the early 1800s the Saduk Hagatna was rerouted and eventually flowed through the Barrios de San Ignacio and Santa Cruz and emptied at the Bikana. The significance of these places and the diversion of the Saduk Hagatna is related to the various versions of the story of Sirena, the etymology of the place names, and the purpose of providing water to the barrios east of San Nicolas.

The story of Sirena is a succinct but tragic account of a Chamorrita maiden who became half woman, half fish as a result of her mothers curse. The story is a proverb and is founded upon the Chamorro proverb, Pinepetra i Funi Saina Kontra i Patgonta. In literal translation, this relates that the words of a parent carries great weight and influence upon the child. The word pipenpetra is derived from the Spanish word petra which means stone. Therefore the words of the parent stones the child in their image of himself or herself.

In the original version of Sirena there were only three women involved: Sirena, her mother, and godmother. The significance of these roles represents the matrilineal structure of the ancient Chamorro, and the exclusive right of the mother in the rearing of the child.

The mother represents the temporal obligation of child-rearing. She symbolizes the physical responsibilities of motherhood. Her role depicts the authority she must exercise and execute. The focal nature of her behavior centers her words on Sirena, not directly but indirectly. It was not so much what she said to her daughter but the manner and sentiment of her statement. Both verbally and emotionally she cursed Sirena. Her curse though, manifested in Sirena being affected only physically. Although she regretted her curse, her sincere desire could not be retracted.

The godmothers character is focused on her single role of spiritual responsibilities. The soul is eternal, which she has moral rights to in the upbringing of Sirena. After the mother cursed Sirena, she demanded her rights given to her at baptism. Whatever is biological is the mothers right. However what is spiritual is the godmothers. This right can not be taken from her. The role of the godmother in Chamorro society is highly revered, respected, and influential in the development and growth of the child.

Sirena symbolizes the innocence of youth. Moreover she represents the carefree nature of the Chamorro child-rearing practices. The focal point of Sirenas role rests upon the abrupt transition from childhood to adolescence. In her case the transition was marked by a single event. Her rite of passage to adulthood occurred at puberty. This is a biological and an emotional transition. All of a sudden her liberties were denied. Her innocence was scrutinized, subjected, and shaded by social restrictions.

Origin of the Sirena story Evidence indicates that the story of Sirena is not traditional nor original to Chamorro folklore. The word Sirena is borrowed from the Spanish language which means a mythological mermaid. Even as early as the Greek and Roman civilizations, there exists the mythological maiden, Sirena, the goddess of seafarers.

Of particular interest in the Chamorro culture is that the name of Sirena was traditionally not a given name, and girls were not baptized with that name prior to World War II. It was a taboo for Chamorritas. References were implied if one desired to be like Sirena, but no one was ever given that name.

The origin of the story developed from Spanish folklore. Most Spanish speaking countries tell this story in their society with their own original or unique version and adaptation.

The story of Sirena was probably adapted in the Chamorro society by either the missionaries, Spanish government officials, or native mariners in the late 1700s. This introduction is supported by historical evidences of the geological features of the Saduk Hagatna. The story tells of two sites which were man-made in the 1800s. The first site is the Minondu and the second site is the Bikana.

Oral history relates that the missionaries and Spanish officials had difficulty restricting children from the river which was a water resource. This problem was further magnified when the river was rerouted to span the Barrios de San Ignacio and Santa Cruz. The missionaries and Spanish officials therefore devised this scheme in order to obtain obedience. Not only did they, but the parents also concocted their version. This instilled or built-in fear is pronounced in the early socialization of every Chamorro child, especially among females. Perhaps this explains why most Chamorritas today almost consider the ocean alien and the majority not even knowing how to swim.

In the early 1800 also many young Chamorro men became whalers. Many also were recruited prior to this era during the Manila Galleon Trade. Many of them voyaged to other societies and heard their folklore. Although most did not return, those who did perhaps introduced the story.

Many versions of the story There are many versions to the story of Sirena. One version relates to men characters. Another version recounts others sites. Still further, Sirena became the Raina del Mar. These however are all later adaptations. The development though of the Chamorro version of Sirena is unique in its account of the three major characters: the mother, the godmother, and Sirena.

To substantiate the original account, the most popular version relates that Sirena was sent on an errand to obtain charcoal for ironing. At the time that the story occurred, very few people had special clothing which was only a privilege among the elite. Where Sirena came from, the Barrio San Nicolas, near the Minondu, this was almost unheard of. The need for the charcoal was to light the fotgun sanhiyung. Early in the morning young children were sent to other houses which kept a fire burning often. Even the possession of firewood was a sign that a family was able to afford a constant fire in their household. Sirenas household could not even afford that luxury. So every morning she was sent to obtain pinigan contained in a haiguas.

Minondu, a place name site referred to at the Saduk Hagatna, is also a Spanish loan word. Minondu is derivative of the word mondo which means clear, pure, and unmixed. The symbolism of water always denotes purity in any culture. It also implies the cleansing off or the soothing off of any individual in religious rituals.

The story of Sirena is perhaps one of the most notable accounts in the Chamorro society because it involves the child-rearing responsibilities of the parents, especially that of the mother. It also involves the obligations of others not biologically related, but essential to the growth of the child, especially on the spiritual level. There is another proverb in Chamorro which places the role and value of the mothers role, Maulekna un baban nana, ki tai nana. (Its better to have a bad mother than no mother.)

In the story of Sirena there is another Chamorro saying, Yangin esta unsangan, maputpumanut tati i finomu. Hasu maulik antis di pula i finomu. (Be careful what you ask for. Once you ask for it you cant take it back.)

Glossary Primet agua di abrit: refers to the first rain showers during the fanumangan (rainy) season. This period is very important to farmers because it marks that period when they should plant their crops.

Masamai: implies softness.

Gefpagu: denotes beauty.

Hininguk yan magutus: refers that it was heard and completed or fulfilled.

Yoentrego mi alma: is a Spanish expression which means I commend my spirit.

Lailaina: means her humming.
WBS signs agreement with the Services SETA

A major boost for entrepreneurship in Johannesburg, the Wits Business School partner with the Services Sector Education & Training Authority.

The Services SETA has pledged significant financial support for the new Wits Centre for Entrepreneurship to be housed at 47 Main Street, Johannesburg CBD. The announcement was made at an historic handover ceremony which took place in June 2024, during which Wits took ownership of the eight-storey building in the former Anglo American campus in Marshalltown.

The Wits Centre for Entrepreneurship, hosted by WBS, is the result of a collaborative effort by stakeholders who share a vision for the transformation of the Johannesburg inner-city from a site of decay and unemployment to a vibrant economic hub which provides a healthy and supportive ecosystem for young entrepreneurs.

Professor Jason Cohen, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at Wits University, says: This partnership underscores the transformative potential of collaboration between institutions of higher learning, skills development organisations, and the private sector. The establishment of the Centre for Entrepreneurship is testament to the new strategic direction of Wits University post our centenary in 2022 which prioritises research, innovation, and fostering sustainable societal progress.

As South Africas largest Sector Education and Training Authority, Services SETA facilitates and funds programmes that bridge the gap between formal education and training, partnering with public and private learning institutions to fulfil its mandate. Through the Services SETAs Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Institute (ECDi) the authority has committed to pool resources, expertise, and networks to grow and sustain the Wits Centre for Entrepreneurship.

South Africa is not only grappling with high levels of youth unemployment but also with the sobering reality of graduate unemployment. This alarming trend threatens to undermine our collective future unless we act decisively and collaboratively. The Services SETA is excited at the opportunity to support Wits Centre for Entrepreneurship in its efforts to empower entrepreneurs, create opportunities, and foster sustainable economic growth through strategic partnerships and skills development tailored to grow the sector says Acting CEO, Andile Sipengane.

For WBS, the new Centre represents a golden opportunity for role-players to come together and pool their resources and expertise towards meaningful change.

In the decade and a half that WBS has taught and researched entrepreneurship as a core discipline, we have learned that what makes successful and productive entrepreneurship is a healthy ecosystem where private, public and academic sectors play active roles. We are enormously grateful to Services SETA for having the vision to come on board. Todays signing represents a crucial step in the right direction, where multiple sectors come together to create holistic solutions to the big issues this country faces, says Professor Maurice Radebe, Head and Director of WBS.
Rosettenville residents successfully defend eviction

CALS represents residents from Rosettenville in Johannesburg who successfully approached the High Court to suspend an eviction order against them

On 28 January 2025, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) appeared in the High Court in Johannesburg representing a group of residents from Rosettenville facing eviction from their homes. The residents include women and children who would have been left homeless had the eviction been carried out. CALS successfully argued that this would not be in the interests of justice and that the municipality has a duty to provide alternative accommodation.

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) represents a group of residents from Rosettenville, Johannesburg, who have faced eviction from their homes at least five times in the last eight years. During that time, the owners of the building and Johannesburg Water have also limited their access to water and electricity. The residents have successfully challenged this form of constructive eviction in court.

The most recent eviction application was granted in May 2024 by the High Court in Johannesburg, with the order set to be carried out at the end of January 2025. The Court gave the City of Johannesburg eight months to comply with its legal duty to provide alternative accommodation for those residents who qualify. The Court further ordered the Gauteng Department of Social Development to accommodate some of the women residents in places of safety.

Shortly thereafter, CALS applied for leave to appeal the eviction order on the basis that it was not conditional on the provision of alternative accommodation and would have left our clients homeless. Unfortunately, our application for leave to appeal was dismissed in August 2024.

With no alternative accommodation in place by 17 January 2025, CALS approached the High Court on an urgent basis to prevent the eviction from being carried out. We asked the Court to suspend its eviction order until the City of Johannesburg or the Department of Social Development provide the residents with alternative accommodation in line with the right to access adequate housing. The High Court in Johannesburg heard the matter on 28 January 2025 and granted the suspension order.

We welcome yesterdays judgment suspending our clients eviction, which we argue serves the interests of justice, says Thandeka Kathi, head of Home, Land and Rural Democracy at CALS. We understand that there are many competing rights and interests in a matter such as this one. Yet, the law around evictions is clear: no-one may be evicted from their home if they will be left homeless. This is not an isolated case, but rather a reflection of the persisting housing crisis within the City of Johannesburg.

Read more in our papers here .

For inquiries, please contact:
Israel Discount Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:ISDAY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 91.7% from the December 31st total of 1,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Israel Discount Bank Price Performance

Shares of Israel Discount Bank stock remained flat at $62.00 during midday trading on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $63.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $57.82. Israel Discount Bank has a 52 week low of $45.00 and a 52 week high of $71.50.

Get Israel Discount Bank alerts:

Israel Discount Bank Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were given a dividend of $0.7382 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. This is a boost from Israel Discount Banks previous dividend of $0.47.

About Israel Discount Bank

Israel Discount Bank Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services in Israel, Europe, and North America. The company operates through Retail Banking, Middle Market Banking, Corporate Banking, Financial Operations, Discount Capital, Discount Bancorp, Israel Credit Cards Company, and Other segments.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Israel Discount Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Israel Discount Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS  Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The savings and loans company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.50 by ($0.13), Zacks reports. Provident Financial Services had a return on equity of 5.21% and a net margin of 9.55%.

Provident Financial Services Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:PFS traded up $0.10 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $19.25. The companys stock had a trading volume of 765,592 shares, compared to its average volume of 544,794. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.51 billion, a PE ratio of 18.50 and a beta of 1.08. Provident Financial Services has a 12 month low of $13.07 and a 12 month high of $22.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $19.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.98.

Get Provident Financial Services alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on PFS. DA Davidson boosted their price target on shares of Provident Financial Services from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Hovde Group initiated coverage on Provident Financial Services in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $25.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut Provident Financial Services from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Provident Financial Services presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $23.50.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Provident Financial Services news, EVP James A. Christy sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.88, for a total transaction of $73,080.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 34,254 shares in the company, valued at $715,223.52. The trade was a 9.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 4.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Provident Financial Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Provident Financial Services, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Provident Bank that provides various banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. Its deposit products include savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, money market deposit, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as IRA products.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Provident Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Provident Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSE:AEM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$112.08 and traded as high as C$129.55. Agnico Eagle Mines shares last traded at C$129.50, with a volume of 644,186 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. National Bankshares lifted their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$143.00 to C$144.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$114.00 to C$140.00 in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Agnico Eagle Mines currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$116.00.

Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts:

Read Our Latest Report on Agnico Eagle Mines

Agnico Eagle Mines Trading Up 0.8 %

The company has a market cap of C$64.88 billion, a PE ratio of 80.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 22.97 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.94. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$118.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$112.08.

Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported C$1.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.35 by C$0.21. The business had revenue of C$2.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$2.50 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 8.49% and a return on equity of 3.10%. On average, analysts predict that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 5.4966052 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Senior Officer Ammar Al-Joundi sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$118.94, for a total transaction of C$2,378,852.00. Also, Director Sean Boyd sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$116.15, for a total transaction of C$1,161,500.00. Insiders sold a total of 124,616 shares of company stock worth $14,417,931 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

About Agnico Eagle Mines

(Get Free Report)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. It explores for gold. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The real estate investment trust reported $2.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $1.48, Zacks reports. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 1.31%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities updated its FY 2025 guidance to 9.230-9.430 EPS.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Price Performance

NYSE ARE opened at $97.19 on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $102.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $112.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The company has a market cap of $16.98 billion, a PE ratio of 59.26, a PEG ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 1.16. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a 1 year low of $94.35 and a 1 year high of $130.14.

Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts:

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $1.32 per share. This represents a $5.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.43%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This is an increase from Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess payout ratio is presently 321.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Alexandria Real Estate Equities announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Monday, December 9th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the real estate investment trust to buy up to 2.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

ARE has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $125.00 to $114.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $110.00 price objective (down previously from $120.00) on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Friday, December 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $133.00 to $121.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $129.00 to $124.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, JMP Securities cut their price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a market outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 15th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $121.90.

Read Our Latest Report on Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) is expected to be issuing its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.28 per share and revenue of $5.04 billion for the quarter. Altria Group has set its FY24 guidance at $5.07-5.15 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance at 5.070-5.150 EPS.Persons interested in registering for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.33 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 233.80% and a net margin of 42.82%. The companys revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.28 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Altria Group to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Get Altria Group alerts:

Altria Group Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of MO opened at $52.54 on Wednesday. Altria Group has a twelve month low of $39.25 and a twelve month high of $58.03. The company has a market capitalization of $89.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.64. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $53.88 and a 200 day moving average of $52.26.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.77%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Groups payout ratio is currently 68.92%.

MO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Altria Group in a report on Thursday, January 16th. They set an equal weight rating and a $54.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $53.43.

View Our Latest Research Report on MO

About Altria Group

(Get Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Anhui Conch Cement Company Limited (OTCMKTS:AHCHY  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 15,800 shares, an increase of 777.8% from the December 31st total of 1,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 46,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Anhui Conch Cement from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th.

Get Anhui Conch Cement alerts:

Get Our Latest Research Report on AHCHY

Anhui Conch Cement Price Performance

Anhui Conch Cement Company Profile

Shares of OTCMKTS AHCHY traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $13.46. 8,218 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 27,542. The companys 50 day moving average is $13.02 and its 200 day moving average is $12.77. Anhui Conch Cement has a one year low of $9.82 and a one year high of $17.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 3.40 and a quick ratio of 3.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.27 billion, a PE ratio of 14.02 and a beta of 0.28.

(Get Free Report)

Anhui Conch Cement Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, sells, and trades in clinker and cement products. The company operates through five segments: Eastern China, Central China, Southern China, Western China, and Overseas. It provides construction and installation services for industrial purposes; logistic services; and mining and related services.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Anhui Conch Cement Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Anhui Conch Cement and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ball Co. (NYSE:BALL  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, January 29th,RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of 0.20 per share on Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%.

Ball has raised its dividend by an average of 4.6% annually over the last three years. Ball has a payout ratio of 20.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Ball to earn $3.55 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 22.5%.

Get Ball alerts:

Ball Stock Down 0.4 %

Ball stock traded down $0.24 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $55.35. 1,995,230 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,323,757. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.93. Ball has a 52-week low of $51.96 and a 52-week high of $71.32. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $56.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.37.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Ball ( NYSE:BALL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.04. Ball had a return on equity of 17.46% and a net margin of 34.05%. The business had revenue of $3.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.13 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.83 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Ball will post 3.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Ball from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Ball from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an underweight rating and set a $49.00 price target (down previously from $56.00) on shares of Ball in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group raised shares of Ball from a sell rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $62.00 to $58.00 in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Ball from $69.00 to $59.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.17.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ball

About Ball

(Get Free Report)

Ball Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers to fillers of carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, and other beverages.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Ball Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ball and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Barry Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSEARCA:EWG  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,270 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 692 shares during the period. Barry Investment Advisors LLC owned 0.09% of iShares MSCI Germany ETF worth $868,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EWG. CX Institutional raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 500,360 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $16,932,000 after purchasing an additional 20,881 shares during the period. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC now owns 263,660 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $8,922,000 after purchasing an additional 32,865 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 237,199 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $8,027,000 after purchasing an additional 13,044 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 178,435 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $6,038,000 after purchasing an additional 10,741 shares during the period. Finally, Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Germany ETF by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC now owns 177,893 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $6,020,000 after purchasing an additional 15,281 shares during the period.

Get iShares MSCI Germany ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI Germany ETF Price Performance

Shares of EWG stock opened at $34.56 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.47 and a beta of 0.91. iShares MSCI Germany ETF has a one year low of $28.72 and a one year high of $34.69. The companys fifty day moving average price is $32.58 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.24.

About iShares MSCI Germany ETF

iShares MSCI Germany ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the German market, as measured by the MSCI Germany Index (the Index).

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSEARCA:EWG  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Germany ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Germany ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BayWa Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:BYW6  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 1.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as 10.00 ($10.42) and last traded at 9.91 ($10.32). 22,603 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 15% from the average session volume of 26,697 shares. The stock had previously closed at 9.77 ($10.18).

BayWa Aktiengesellschaft Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $345.56 million, a P/E ratio of -1.40, a PEG ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 475.43, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of 9.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of 11.14.

About BayWa Aktiengesellschaft

(Get Free Report)

BayWa Aktiengesellschaft provides wholesale, retail, logistics, and support and consultancy services in Germany and internationally. The company's Renewable Energies segment is involved in the planning, managing, and construction of wind farms and solar parks; production of power; and sale of photovoltaic systems and components.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for BayWa Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BayWa Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BOCHK Asset Management Ltd lessened its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 62.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 52,993 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 89,120 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up 3.2% of BOCHK Asset Management Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. BOCHK Asset Management Ltds holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $10,466,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of TSM. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 55,974,769 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $9,721,138,000 after purchasing an additional 3,783,802 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 669.7% during the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 3,721,489 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $646,832,000 after purchasing an additional 3,237,998 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 799.2% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,899,088 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $329,815,000 after purchasing an additional 1,687,886 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter valued at about $229,098,000. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 9,738,181 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,733,104,000 after purchasing an additional 1,206,359 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts:

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 5.1 %

NYSE:TSM opened at $202.17 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.07. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a twelve month low of $112.61 and a twelve month high of $226.40. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $201.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $185.89. The company has a quick ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.08. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 30.47% and a net margin of 40.51%. Equities research analysts expect that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.5484 per share. This is a positive change from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.09%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is 27.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on TSM. Susquehanna restated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $225.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. StockNews.com cut Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $220.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on TSM

About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
China CITIC Bank Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:CHCJY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $15.96 and last traded at $15.96, with a volume of 1670 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.13.

China CITIC Bank Stock Up 31.6 %

The stocks 50-day moving average is $12.55 and its 200 day moving average is $12.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.05 billion, a PE ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 0.06.

Get China CITIC Bank alerts:

China CITIC Bank (OTCMKTS:CHCJY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $7.43 billion for the quarter.

China CITIC Bank Cuts Dividend

About China CITIC Bank

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 12th will be paid a $0.5105 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 12th.

(Get Free Report)

China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited provides various banking products and services in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company operates in segments, such as Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Financial Market business. It accepts deposits; offers corporate and personal loans; and provides securities agency, remittance and settlement, and guarantee services, as well as investment banking and international services.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for China CITIC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China CITIC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Royal Bank of Canada reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) in a research note published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $75.00 price target on the restaurant operators stock.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on CMG. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $70.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $56.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $67.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.88.

Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CMG

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 0.9 %

Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $57.76 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $78.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.76, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.27. The stocks 50 day moving average is $60.63 and its 200-day moving average is $57.72. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12 month low of $46.29 and a 12 month high of $69.26.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.25 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 43.20% and a net margin of 13.51%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.23 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 4,404 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.01, for a total transaction of $286,304.04. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 185,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,078,337.92. This represents a 2.32 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CMG. ZRC Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 384.0% during the 3rd quarter. ZRC Wealth Management LLC now owns 484 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 384 shares during the period. Transcendent Capital Group LLC grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 950.0% during the third quarter. Transcendent Capital Group LLC now owns 525 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares during the period. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the third quarter worth approximately $32,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. 91.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Get Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Cordoba Minerals Corp. (CVE:CDB  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$0.35 and last traded at C$0.35, with a volume of 117500 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$0.40.

Cordoba Minerals Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 4.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.53. The company has a market capitalization of C$31.47 million, a PE ratio of -1.75 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.42.

Cordoba Minerals Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Cordoba Minerals Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of base and precious metal properties in Colombia and the United States. The company explores for copper, silver, and gold deposits. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the San Matias project with exploration licenses covering 146.62 square kilometers and has an additional 893.91 square kilometers of mining titles under application located in the municipality of Puerto Libertador, Department of Cordoba, Colombia.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Cordoba Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cordoba Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Craneware plc (OTCMKTS:CRWRF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a drop of 72.7% from the December 31st total of 1,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.0 days.

Craneware Price Performance

CRWRF remained flat at $27.80 during mid-day trading on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $27.21 and its 200-day moving average is $27.09. Craneware has a twelve month low of $23.86 and a twelve month high of $30.00.

Get Craneware alerts:

About Craneware

(Get Free Report)

Read More

Craneware plc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, licenses, and supports computer software for the healthcare industry in the United States. The company provides solutions, such as Trisus pricing transparency software; Trisus Pricing Analyzer, a solution that simplifies and automates the price modeling process; Trisus Chargemaster, an automated chargemaster management solution; InSight Medical Necessity, a solution that offers medical necessity for the United States payors; Trisus Claims Informatics, a retrospective charge capture analytical application that identifies areas of risk for its team to investigate; Trisus Supply, a solution that improves supplies reimbursement; and InSight Audit, an audit management solution for government and commercial payors.

Receive News & Ratings for Craneware Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Craneware and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR  Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Tuesday.

EXR has been the subject of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $175.00 price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage in a report on Monday, October 21st. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $167.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $170.00 to $168.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from a sector underperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $167.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $192.00 to $184.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $171.25.

Get Extra Space Storage alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on EXR

Extra Space Storage Stock Performance

NYSE EXR traded down $0.98 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $155.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,136,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,282,076. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.23 and a quick ratio of 0.23. The company has a market cap of $32.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.48 and a beta of 0.91. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $155.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $164.86. Extra Space Storage has a 12 month low of $131.02 and a 12 month high of $184.87.

Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by ($1.12). The company had revenue of $824.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $826.93 million. Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 25.35% and a return on equity of 5.51%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.02 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Extra Space Storage will post 8.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Extra Space Storage

In related news, Director Diane Olmstead sold 3,081 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.56, for a total transaction of $507,009.36. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at $967,119.12. This trade represents a 34.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.01, for a total transaction of $1,110,075.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 16,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,470,286.90. This represents a 31.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.36% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Extra Space Storage

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EXR. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in Extra Space Storage by 382.2% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 27,630 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,294,000 after buying an additional 21,900 shares during the last quarter. Scientech Research LLC purchased a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $275,000. Creative Planning increased its stake in Extra Space Storage by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 27,855 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,329,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 441.2% in the second quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 617 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $96,000 after buying an additional 503 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 1,480.0% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 869 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $135,000 after buying an additional 814 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.11% of the companys stock.

About Extra Space Storage

(Get Free Report)

Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,714 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.6 million units and approximately 283.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Imperial Oil Limited (NYSEAMERICAN:IMO  Free Report) (TSE:IMO)  Research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Imperial Oil in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, January 23rd. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the energy company will post earnings per share of $4.48 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $4.51. The consensus estimate for Imperial Oils current full-year earnings is $6.29 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Imperial Oils Q1 2026 earnings at $1.54 EPS.

Get Imperial Oil alerts:

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on IMO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Imperial Oil from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Wolfe Research downgraded Imperial Oil from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Imperial Oil has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $109.00.

Imperial Oil Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSEAMERICAN IMO opened at $70.41 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.44. The company has a market cap of $35.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.49 and a beta of 1.45. Imperial Oil has a 12-month low of $55.82 and a 12-month high of $80.17.

Imperial Oil Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a $0.4304 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Imperial Oils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.34%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IMO. Winch Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Imperial Oil during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new position in Imperial Oil in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Imperial Oil by 438.0% during the third quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 538 shares of the energy companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Imperial Oil by 21.0% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,347 shares of the energy companys stock worth $95,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. Finally, Oakworth Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Imperial Oil in the third quarter valued at about $101,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.74% of the companys stock.

About Imperial Oil

(Get Free Report)

Imperial Oil Limited engages in exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic crude oil, and bitumen. The Downstream segment transports and refines crude oil, blends refined products, and distributes and markets of refined products.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Imperial Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Imperial Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 28th,RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of 0.205 per share by the asset manager on Tuesday, March 4th. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.25%.

Invesco has raised its dividend by an average of 7.0% annually over the last three years. Invesco has a dividend payout ratio of 40.4% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Invesco to earn $1.89 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.82 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 43.4%.

Get Invesco alerts:

Invesco Trading Up 8.8 %

Shares of NYSE IVZ opened at $19.32 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $17.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $17.27. Invesco has a 52-week low of $14.16 and a 52-week high of $19.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 4.91 and a current ratio of 4.91. The company has a market cap of $8.68 billion, a PE ratio of -20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.43.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Invesco ( NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The asset manager reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.01. Invesco had a negative net margin of 3.00% and a positive return on equity of 8.83%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Invesco will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Invesco in a report on Tuesday. They set a sector perform rating and a $19.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Invesco from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Invesco from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Invesco from $17.50 to $17.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Invesco from $19.25 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Invesco currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.67.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Invesco

Invesco Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco Municipal Trust (NYSE:VKQ  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 19,100 shares, a decline of 67.1% from the December 31st total of 58,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 185,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VKQ. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Municipal Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $429,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Municipal Trust in the second quarter worth $324,000. Community Bank N.A. raised its holdings in Invesco Municipal Trust by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 4,000 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Madison Park Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Invesco Municipal Trust by 19.1% in the 3rd quarter. Madison Park Capital Advisors LLC now owns 31,360 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 5,025 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Municipal Trust in the 2nd quarter worth $142,000. Institutional investors own 32.00% of the companys stock.

Get Invesco Municipal Trust alerts:

Invesco Municipal Trust Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Invesco Municipal Trust stock traded down $0.02 on Tuesday, reaching $9.79. The stock had a trading volume of 87,240 shares, compared to its average volume of 113,932. The businesss 50 day moving average is $9.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.02. Invesco Municipal Trust has a 1 year low of $9.15 and a 1 year high of $10.47.

Invesco Municipal Trust Dividend Announcement

Invesco Municipal Trust Company Profile

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be paid a $0.0628 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $0.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.70%.

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Municipal Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Municipal Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Municipal Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) had its price target boosted by stock analysts at Barclays from $18.00 to $20.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the asset managers stock. Barclayss target price indicates a potential upside of 3.55% from the companys previous close.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on IVZ. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Invesco from $19.25 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com raised shares of Invesco from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Invesco from $17.50 to $17.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Invesco from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Invesco from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $18.67.

Get Invesco alerts:

Get Our Latest Research Report on Invesco

Invesco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:IVZ opened at $19.32 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.68 billion, a PE ratio of -20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a quick ratio of 4.91, a current ratio of 4.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $17.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.27. Invesco has a twelve month low of $14.16 and a twelve month high of $19.49.

Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The asset manager reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.01. Invesco had a negative net margin of 3.00% and a positive return on equity of 8.83%. Equities analysts forecast that Invesco will post 1.7 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,540,913 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $79,738,000 after buying an additional 87,405 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco during the third quarter worth approximately $1,428,196,000. Algert Global LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco during the second quarter worth approximately $551,000. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 78,452 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,378,000 after acquiring an additional 1,020 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco in the 3rd quarter valued at $853,000. Institutional investors own 66.09% of the companys stock.

Invesco Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Lavras Gold Corp. (CVE:LGC  Get Free Report) insider 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 16,100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.50, for a total transaction of C$40,250.00.

2176423 Ontario Ltd. also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Lavras Gold alerts:

On Thursday, December 19th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 34,700 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.29, for a total transaction of C$79,417.89.

On Monday, December 9th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 154,600 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The stock was sold at an average price of C$2.43, for a total value of C$376,296.40.

On Tuesday, November 26th, 2176423 Ontario Ltd. sold 113,200 shares of Lavras Gold stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$2.47, for a total value of C$279,207.80.

Lavras Gold Price Performance

Shares of LGC stock opened at C$2.47 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 11.12 and a current ratio of 7.38. The firm has a market cap of C$126.83 million, a P/E ratio of -35.29 and a beta of -0.26. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$2.33 and its 200-day moving average price is C$2.36. Lavras Gold Corp. has a fifty-two week low of C$0.75 and a fifty-two week high of C$2.89.

Lavras Gold Company Profile

Lavras Gold Corp. engages in the exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Brazil. It holds interests in the Lavras do Sul, an advanced exploration gold project with 29 mineral rights covering approximately 22,000 hectares located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Lavras Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lavras Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,237 shares of the software makers stock, valued at approximately $862,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in HubSpot by 52.2% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,402,200 shares of the software makers stock worth $745,410,000 after acquiring an additional 480,796 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of HubSpot by 214,342.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 126,521 shares of the software makers stock valued at $672,590,000 after purchasing an additional 126,462 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in HubSpot by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 571,274 shares of the software makers stock worth $303,689,000 after purchasing an additional 86,688 shares in the last quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in HubSpot by 49.5% in the 3rd quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 207,842 shares of the software makers stock valued at $110,489,000 after purchasing an additional 68,827 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its position in HubSpot by 191.6% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 72,900 shares of the software makers stock valued at $38,754,000 after buying an additional 47,900 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the companys stock.

Get HubSpot alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on HUBS shares. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of HubSpot from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. TD Cowen downgraded shares of HubSpot from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $680.00 to $725.00 in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Piper Sandler lowered HubSpot from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $570.00 to $640.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of HubSpot from $750.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on HubSpot from $610.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, HubSpot presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $724.52.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Dawson Alyssa Harvey sold 573 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $700.00, for a total value of $401,100.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 7,603 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,322,100. The trade was a 7.01 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Yamini Rangan sold 3,057 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $701.59, for a total transaction of $2,144,760.63. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 54,079 shares in the company, valued at $37,941,285.61. The trade was a 5.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 78,066 shares of company stock valued at $54,900,427 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 4.50% of the companys stock.

HubSpot Trading Up 4.7 %

NYSE HUBS opened at $794.37 on Wednesday. HubSpot, Inc. has a one year low of $434.84 and a one year high of $811.79. The businesss fifty day moving average is $718.65 and its 200-day moving average is $593.59.

HubSpot (NYSE:HUBS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The software maker reported $2.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.27. HubSpot had a negative net margin of 0.56% and a negative return on equity of 1.16%. The company had revenue of $669.72 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $646.97 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.04) EPS. HubSpots quarterly revenue was up 20.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that HubSpot, Inc. will post 0.42 EPS for the current year.

About HubSpot

(Free Report)

HubSpot, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform for businesses in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's CRM platform includes Marketing Hub, a toolset for marketing automation and email, social media, SEO, and reporting and analytics; Sales Hub offers email templates and tracking, conversations and live chat, meeting and call scheduling, lead and website visit alerts, lead scoring, sales automation, pipeline management, quoting, forecasting, and reporting; Service Hub, a service software designed to help businesses manage, respond, and connect with customers; and Content Management Systems Hub enables businesses to create new and edit existing web content.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUBS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for HubSpot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HubSpot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Mobius Investment Trust plc (LON:MMIT  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 149 ($1.85) and last traded at GBX 149 ($1.85), with a volume of 59836 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 145 ($1.80).

Mobius Investment Trust Stock Performance

The firms 50-day moving average price is GBX 142.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 139.39. The firm has a market cap of 171.98 million, a PE ratio of 1,241.67 and a beta of 0.74.

Get Mobius Investment Trust alerts:

Mobius Investment Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Mobius Investment Trust plc (MMIT) is a closed-ended investment company listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE: MMIT).

MMIT provides investors with access to a high conviction portfolio of 20-30 small to mid-cap companies, across emerging and frontier markets.

The London listed investment trust will be managed by Mobius Capital Partners LLP (MCP), an investment manager launched in May 2018 by Mark Mobius, Carlos Hardenberg and Greg Konieczny.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Mobius Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mobius Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (CVE:YAK  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as C$1.22 and last traded at C$1.22, with a volume of 500 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.23.

Mongolia Growth Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of C$31.99 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 3.10 and a quick ratio of 0.24. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$1.30 and its 200-day moving average price is C$1.40.

Mongolia Growth Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Mongolia Growth Group Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides property management, leasing, renovation, and development services in Mongolia. The company operates through three segments: Investment Property Operations, Corporate, and Subscription Products. Its investment portfolio consists of office, retail, land and redevelopment, and commercial and residential properties.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Mongolia Growth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mongolia Growth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pampa Energia S.A. (NYSE:PAM  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 5.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $85.64 and last traded at $85.89. Approximately 224,201 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 310,645 shares. The stock had previously closed at $81.30.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Pampa Energia from a buy rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the company from $58.00 to $75.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Pampa Energia from $59.00 to $93.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Pampa Energia from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pampa Energia presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $71.63.

Get Pampa Energia alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pampa Energia

Pampa Energia Trading Up 7.2 %

The firms 50-day simple moving average is $87.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.67. The firm has a market cap of $4.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.40 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 2.13, a current ratio of 2.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44.

Pampa Energia (NYSE:PAM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.95. The firm had revenue of $540.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $517.71 million. Pampa Energia had a return on equity of 12.15% and a net margin of 19.86%. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.80 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Pampa Energia S.A. will post 8.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Pampa Energia

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Pampa Energia by 158.1% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 413 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the period. Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pampa Energia in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Pampa Energia in the 4th quarter worth about $49,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Pampa Energia by 32.7% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,401 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in Pampa Energia by 26.6% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 2,501 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $150,000 after purchasing an additional 526 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 12.77% of the companys stock.

About Pampa Energia

(Get Free Report)

Pampa Energia SA operates as an integrated power company in Argentina. The company operates through Electricity Generation, Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, and Holding and Other Business segments. It generates electricity through thermal plants, hydroelectric plants, and wind farms with a 5,332 megawatt (MW) installed capacity.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Pampa Energia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pampa Energia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Plimoth Trust Co. LLC trimmed its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 29,764 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 390 shares during the quarter. Plimoth Trust Co. LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,683,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Reston Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hollencrest Capital Management increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 61.3% in the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 492 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Valued Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1,168.1% during the 3rd quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 596 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. 76.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts:

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BMY traded up $0.92 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $59.68. 892,352 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,375,103. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $57.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.97. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $39.35 and a 1-year high of $61.10. The firm has a market cap of $121.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.45.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.31. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a positive return on equity of 11.94% and a negative net margin of 15.30%. The company had revenue of $11.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.00 earnings per share. Bristol-Myers Squibbs quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 0.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd will be issued a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 3rd. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.16%. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -69.08%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, SVP Phil M. Holzer sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.62, for a total value of $38,934.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $654,091.20. This trade represents a 5.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Samit Hirawat purchased 1,830 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $54.67 per share, for a total transaction of $100,046.10. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 62,109 shares in the company, valued at $3,395,499.03. The trade was a 3.04 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BMY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Leerink Partnrs raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $63.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $57.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $36.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Bank of America reiterated a neutral rating and set a $63.00 price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $56.60.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BMY

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 24,280 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $532,000. Infosys accounts for about 0.5% of R Squared Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of INFY. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its holdings in shares of Infosys by 68.8% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 24,339,983 shares of the technology companys stock worth $542,051,000 after purchasing an additional 9,923,744 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Infosys by 9.7% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 14,415,018 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $321,022,000 after buying an additional 1,271,890 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in Infosys by 2.9% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 11,272,051 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $263,315,000 after buying an additional 322,648 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Infosys by 5.1% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 6,072,537 shares of the technology companys stock worth $135,235,000 after buying an additional 297,183 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Infosys by 11.8% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 5,852,900 shares of the technology companys stock worth $130,344,000 after acquiring an additional 618,400 shares in the last quarter. 16.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Infosys alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Infosys from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Guggenheim restated a neutral rating on shares of Infosys in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Infosys from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. StockNews.com raised Infosys from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Investec downgraded shares of Infosys from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $20.22.

Infosys Price Performance

INFY opened at $21.54 on Wednesday. Infosys Limited has a 12-month low of $16.04 and a 12-month high of $23.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $89.20 billion, a PE ratio of 27.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 1.00. The firms fifty day moving average price is $22.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $22.29.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The technology company reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.19. Infosys had a net margin of 17.28% and a return on equity of 31.60%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.18 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Infosys Limited will post 0.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Infosys

(Free Report)

Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Infosys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Infosys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Rogers Communications (NYSE:RCI  Get Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) is expected to be releasing its earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect Rogers Communications to post earnings of $0.97 per share and revenue of $3.87 billion for the quarter. Individual interested in participating in the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Rogers Communications Price Performance

Shares of NYSE RCI opened at $29.10 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $15.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.19, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.35, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.68. Rogers Communications has a fifty-two week low of $27.63 and a fifty-two week high of $48.08. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $31.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $36.36.

Get Rogers Communications alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays restated an equal weight rating on shares of Rogers Communications in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Bank of America downgraded shares of Rogers Communications from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on Rogers Communications in a research note on Monday, December 16th. They issued an underweight rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.75.

About Rogers Communications

(Get Free Report)

Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device financing, device protection, global voice and data roaming, wireless home phone, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device shipping and express pickup services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (NYSE:CCM  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,900 shares, a growth of 225.0% from the December 31st total of 1,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 8,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.2% of the companys shares are short sold.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Concord Medical Services in a report on Monday. They issued a sell rating on the stock.

Get Concord Medical Services alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CCM

Concord Medical Services Trading Up 4.2 %

About Concord Medical Services

Shares of CCM stock traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $4.51. The stock had a trading volume of 406 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,961. Concord Medical Services has a 52-week low of $3.82 and a 52-week high of $26.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $4.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.12.

(Get Free Report)

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates a network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in the People's Republic of China. It operates in two segments, Network and Hospital. The company's services include linear accelerators and external beam radiotherapy, proton therapy system, gamma knife radiosurgery, and diagnostic imaging services.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Concord Medical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Concord Medical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stock analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS  Get Free Report) in a report released on Monday. The firm set a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Credit Suisse Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CS opened at $0.89 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $0.89 and a 200-day moving average of $0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a current ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market cap of $2.77 billion, a PE ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.27. Credit Suisse Group has a twelve month low of $0.82 and a twelve month high of $6.36.

Get Credit Suisse Group alerts:

About Credit Suisse Group

(Get Free Report)

Recommended Stories

Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas.

Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SUTNY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 231,300 shares, an increase of 239.6% from the December 31st total of 68,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 188,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Trading Up 1.8 %

OTCMKTS:SUTNY traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $5.02. 47,325 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 96,360. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust has a 1 year low of $3.87 and a 1 year high of $5.24. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.84 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.79.

Get Sumitomo Mitsui Trust alerts:

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc operates as a trust bank in Japan and internationally. It offers supervising services for management strategies, and financial and human resource management; and general affairs, business process, corporate administration, operational process, risk, and compliance management services; and internal auditing services.

Receive News & Ratings for Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sumitomo Mitsui Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Swiss Helvetia Fund Inc. (NYSE:SWZ  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,400 shares, a decrease of 36.8% from the December 31st total of 13,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 26,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Stock Up 0.3 %

The Swiss Helvetia Fund stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $8.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 81,899. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $7.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $8.33. The Swiss Helvetia Fund has a fifty-two week low of $7.49 and a fifty-two week high of $9.14.

Get The Swiss Helvetia Fund alerts:

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th were paid a $0.1458 dividend. This is a positive change from The Swiss Helvetia Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. This represents a $0.58 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 17th.

Institutional Trading of The Swiss Helvetia Fund

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Company Profile

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in The Swiss Helvetia Fund stock. Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund Inc. ( NYSE:SWZ Free Report ) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 89,631 shares of the closed-end funds stock, valued at approximately $678,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.69% of The Swiss Helvetia Fund as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 41.12% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Inc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc The fund invests in public equity markets of Switzerland. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in value stocks of companies across all market capitalizations.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for The Swiss Helvetia Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Swiss Helvetia Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Toyota Industries Co. (OTCMKTS:TYIDY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,300 shares, a growth of 488.9% from the December 31st total of 900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 10,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Toyota Industries Stock Performance

TYIDY stock traded up $0.35 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $84.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,542 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,502. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $77.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $76.83. Toyota Industries has a 1 year low of $66.49 and a 1 year high of $106.84.

Get Toyota Industries alerts:

Toyota Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Toyota Industries Corporation manufactures and sells textiles machinery, materials handling equipment, automobiles, and automobile parts in Japan, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Automobile, Materials Handling Equipment, and Textile Machinery segments. It provides vehicles; gasoline and diesel engines for automobiles and industrial equipment; turbochargers and foundry parts; car air-conditioning compressors; car electronics comprising DC-DC converters, in-vehicle chargers, on-board chargers and DC-DC converter units, and DC-AC inverters; batteries; and stamping dies, including automotive and lift truck stamping dies.

Receive News & Ratings for Toyota Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toyota Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, January 29th,RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a dividend of 2.05 per share by the industrial products company on Saturday, March 1st. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.74%.

W.W. Grainger has increased its dividend payment by an average of 7.8% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 35 consecutive years. W.W. Grainger has a payout ratio of 17.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect W.W. Grainger to earn $41.91 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $8.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 19.6%.

Get W.W. Grainger alerts:

W.W. Grainger Price Performance

GWW traded down $17.40 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $1,113.89. The stock had a trading volume of 257,217 shares, compared to its average volume of 278,467. W.W. Grainger has a 1-year low of $874.98 and a 1-year high of $1,227.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,124.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,063.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59.

Insider Activity at W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $9.87 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $9.98 by ($0.11). W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 51.78%. The company had revenue of $4.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $9.43 EPS. W.W. Graingers revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that W.W. Grainger will post 38.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CFO Deidra C. Merriwether sold 704 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,105.59, for a total value of $778,335.36. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 9,509 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,513,055.31. This trade represents a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,206.03, for a total transaction of $150,753.75. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 675 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $814,070.25. This represents a 15.63 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 10,406 shares of company stock worth $11,634,643. Company insiders own 9.50% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GWW has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,018.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $990.00 to $1,215.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of W.W. Grainger from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the stock from $975.00 to $1,230.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Northcoast Research began coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,140.56.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GWW

W.W. Grainger Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Williams & Novak LLC cut its stake in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PCK  Free Report) by 6.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 222,411 shares of the closed-end funds stock after selling 15,900 shares during the period. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II makes up approximately 1.2% of Williams & Novak LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Williams & Novak LLCs holdings in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II were worth $1,272,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II by 12.3% during the third quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 548,303 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $3,443,000 after purchasing an additional 60,054 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. purchased a new stake in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II during the 3rd quarter worth $547,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II in the 3rd quarter worth $100,000.

Get PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II alerts:

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Stock Performance

Shares of PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II stock opened at $5.72 on Wednesday. PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II has a 1-year low of $5.50 and a 1-year high of $6.34. The business has a 50-day moving average of $5.79 and a 200-day moving average of $5.94.

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Cuts Dividend

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Company Profile

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.0215 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 13th. This represents a $0.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.51%.

(Free Report)

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. It is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets of United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $215.00 and last traded at $214.83, with a volume of 660108 shares. The stock had previously closed at $211.64.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WSM has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $162.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $170.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Loop Capital lifted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $163.16.

Get Williams-Sonoma alerts:

Read Our Latest Research Report on WSM

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The company has a market cap of $26.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.38, a P/E/G ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 1.79. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $188.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $158.35.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. Williams-Sonomas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.97%.

Insider Activity

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.49, for a total value of $5,219,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 990,956 shares in the company, valued at $129,309,848.44. This trade represents a 3.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Howie sold 3,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.39, for a total transaction of $560,552.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 46,388 shares in the company, valued at $8,228,767.32. This represents a 6.38 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 88,160 shares of company stock worth $15,129,352. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,474 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $643,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Westmount Partners LLC lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Westmount Partners LLC now owns 6,242 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,156,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 160 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,226 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $500,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Finally, Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cassady Schiller Wealth Management LLC now owns 166 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.29% of the companys stock.

About Williams-Sonoma

(Get Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Williams-Sonoma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams-Sonoma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Wolters Kluwer (OTCMKTS:WTKWY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,400 shares, a drop of 44.0% from the December 31st total of 2,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 25,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Wolters Kluwer Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS WTKWY opened at $181.02 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $169.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $169.03. Wolters Kluwer has a 1 year low of $146.00 and a 1 year high of $182.89.

Get Wolters Kluwer alerts:

About Wolters Kluwer

(Get Free Report)

Recommended Stories

Wolters Kluwer N.V. provides professional information, software solutions, and services in the Netherlands, rest of Europe, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through Health; Tax & Accounting; Financial & Corporate Compliance; Legal & Regulatory; and Corporate Performance & ESG segments.

Receive News & Ratings for Wolters Kluwer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wolters Kluwer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Weather Alert

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 1 AM CDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 1 PM 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. &&
This still from video shows Caroline Kennedy reading from her letter to senators regarding her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Firings, freezes and layoffs: A look at Trump's moves against federal employees and programs
Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old youth who brutally murdered three young children and seriously wounded 10 others at a Taylor Swift themed dance class on July 29, 2024 in Southport, England, was sentenced to 52 years imprisonment last Thursdaythe longest ever sentence handed down to a young offender.

Rudakubana was 17 at the time of the killings, nine days short of his 18th birthday. He admitted killing Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9. He also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Still from CCTV footage of Axel Rudakubana taken on the day of the murders in Southport [Photo: Merseyside Police - The Telegraph]

Due to his admission of guilt, Rudakubana did not go to trial. While there is still much unanswered regarding the tragic case, what is known and clear is the total failure and breakdown of the state services which should have engaged with Rudakubanaa deeply troubled child with serious mental health issueslong before he committed his crime. He was allowed, repeatedly, to fall through the cracks.

Sir Keir Starmers Labour government, in the face of public horror over the Southport killings and demands for answers, announced an immediate inquiry. It will be like all government inquiries that have preceded it: a total cover-up aimed at diverting and manipulating public opinion behind a right-wing law and order campaign. Starmer has already pointed the waytoughening sentences for young people and expanding already draconian terrorism laws.

Who was Axel Rudakubana?

The facts which the inquiry will obscure but which must form the basis for preventing future tragedies of this kind are as follows.

Axel Rudakubana appeared to be a healthy and happy young child who was born in 2007 in Wales. His parents were from Rwanda, from the Tutsi ethnic group. His father, Alphonse, was a serving officer in the Rwandan Patriotic Army. They moved to neighbouring Uganda when the first signs of ethnic conflict emerged in Rwandagrowing out the divisions implemented under Belgian imperialismwhich would later to erupt into a civil war and an ensuing genocide of the Tutsi population in 1994.

Roughly one million people were killed, and hundreds of thousands raped, in the space of just 100 days.

The Rudakubanas moved to Wales in 2002. Alphonse was offered a job in Southport in 2017 and the family moved just as Axel was starting high school. He struggled to fit in and was bullied. His behaviour became increasingly violent and he showed many signs of mental distress. He first became known to officials in 2019, initially due to anxiety and social isolation and then for increasing concerns over his behaviour.

He was known to have an infatuation with genocide and those who had worked with him have stated that he had extremely detailed knowledge of mass killings and genocides from Genghis Khan to Hitlerite fascism and the close-to-home events in Rwanda. It was also noted he had an interest in current genocideslikely an oblique reference to the crimes against the Palestinians being carried out by Israel.

On October 4, 2019, aged 13, Axel contacted Childline and asked, What should I do if I want to kill somebody? In the following days, he explained he wanted to kill someone who was bullying him at school. The incident was referred to the police, who visited him shortly afterwards. Rudakubana had been temporarily excluded by this point, and he was expelled after he disclosed that he had taken a knife to school on about 10 occasions.

He was sent to a specialist behaviour unit to continue his education and then to a third school for behavioural difficulties. Throughout this time, there were several more callouts to the police, and he was referred to the governments counter-terrorism Prevent programme.

One police call was made by his school in 2019, amid concerns over his behaviour and searches about mass shootings. He was flagged again in February 2021 after a fellow pupil raised concerns about social media posts about the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafilynched by imperialist proxy forces in 2011.

A third referral was made in April 2021, after a teacher saw he was using a school computer to research the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, which saw eight killed and 48 injured by an Islamist terror group.

His parents asked police four times for help with the teen to cope with Axels violent behaviour, but to no effect. Just a week before he launched his deadly attack, Rudakubana booked a taxi to take him to one of his previous schools, Range High School; his father stopped him from leaving as he believed he would carry out a violent assault.

Rudakubana was also under the supervision of a National Health Service (NHS) mental health unit and social services. Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust confirmed he had been in its care between 2019 and 2023 before he stopped engaging. There is no evidence that the Trust attempted to visit or assess the state of Rudakubana in the year leading up to the killings. He was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum.

Local authority social workers would insist on a police officer being present at their meetings with him.

The social causes of individual violence

Starmers inquiry will not address the problems of understaffing, underfunding and overwork in the NHS, social services and schools which prevented them from intervening effectively to shift Rudakubana from the path he was on. Nor will it pose the question: what are the psychological pressures at work in todays society which drove him down that path in the first place?

As well as the traumatic conditions of his familys flight from Rwanda, Axel is part of a generation which has not lived a day in which the United Kingdom has not been at war or supporting itin Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Ukraine and Palestine to name just some. How did scenes of the ongoing Gaza genocidebacked by the UK and other imperialist governmentsinteract with knowledge of his familys past in Rwanda?

The childs mental illness escalated during the COVID pandemic and lockdown, when he increasingly turned in on himself. The lack of support provided to families undergoing the psychological strain of isolation combined with the daily examples of a total disregard for lifethe governments eugenicist-based policy of allowing the bodies to pile highwould have weighed enormously on his psyche.

When a system insists that there is no money for education, mental health services, basic health care or any semblance of a social safety net, but billions are channelled to fund warwhere the rich profit off the misery and exploitation of the working classit is not difficult to see how millions are pushed to a psychological breaking point. Conditions of social despair and alienation produce waves of drug abuse, depression, anxiety and suicide. In the most extreme cases, they also produce homicidal outbursts such as in Southport.

Labours law and order response

It is not just that Labour has no plan to address these issues; it is actively worsening them. At the same time, Rudakubanas case and conviction are being used for the most reactionary purposes.

There have been widespread appeals by politicians on both sides of the Houses of Parliament and in the mass media to overturn the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child which states that neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age.

Southports Labour MP Patrick Hurley said the 52-year sentence was unduly lenient and requested the government review it. Rupert Lowe, an MP of the far-right Reform UK, said it was time for a national debate on the use of the death penalty in exceptional circumstances. This is an exceptional circumstance. Fellow Reform MP Lee Anderson posted a picture of a hangmans noose, captioned, This is what is required.

These are repugnant efforts to deflect attention away from the deeper social causes of Rudakubanas crime and to implement barbaric new laws which can then be turned against a wider range of targets.

Starmer has meanwhile announced that the government will review anti-terrorism legislation to include lone actors, misfits who may have no adherence to any specific ideology, but who commit crimes against society which could be brought under anti-terror laws. He claims Britain is facing a new threat from young men in their bedrooms accessing radical materials online and that Terrorism has changed.

Mr. Justice Goose, who sentenced Rudakubana, said he must accept there was no evidence he acted for a terrorist cause, but added that the childs actions were the equivalent of terrorist murders.

A review of Prevent instigated by the previous government, carried out by William Shawcross in 2023, concluded that the scheme had become a dumping ground for vulnerable people who do not fit the terrorist definition but are, in Starmers words, loners and misfits.

What this highlights is that Preventbrought in under Tony Blairs Labour governmentis less interested in understanding and stopping violence than demonising Muslims and providing the pretext for state surveillance and anti-democratic laws. Rather than scrapping the scheme, as should be done, Starmer wants to extend its remit, redefining terrorism laws to target vulnerable young people for whose distress it has no progressive solution.

Labours actions build on their initial response to the Southport killings and the days that followed, which saw anti-immigration riots across the country based on false claims that the girls had been murdered by a Muslim asylum seeker. Pogrom-like attacks were launched on mosques and migrant accommodation.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer holds a roundtable with police chiefs in 10 Downing Street, August 1, 2024 [Photo by Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Starmers government responded by emphasising legitimate concerns over migration, ramping up rhetoric against asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats, and carrying out record deportations. Ministers also announced a raft of new law-and-order measures, including a national policing unit to tackle violent disorder, nominally targeting the far-right but in reality, as ever, preparing a crackdown on social opposition from the left.

Many of the far-right rioters have since been given prison sentences shorter than those handed down to peaceful climate protesters and faced by opponents of Israels genocide in Gaza.

A socially and morally bankrupt capitalist system will continue to produce all manner of barbarism, from war crimes to ethnic cleansing. In some vulnerable individuals, these malignant forces will find a terrible and violent outlet.

The answer is not more draconian legislation, which will only be used to safeguard warmongering, pro-austerity governments. The problem must be tackled at its root by putting an end to social inequality and imperialist violence, expropriating the parasitic oligarchywhich requires the building of an international socialist movement of the working class.
Around 181 New South Wales (NSW) public sector psychiatrists are expected to resign in the coming days and weeks, or have already done so, in protest against the state Labor governments refusal to meet their wage demands.

They are seeking an immediate 25 percent wage rise to bring NSW salaries closer to the levels in other states and in the private sector, which they hope will help to remediate serious staff shortages.

Staff specialist psychiatrist addresses ASMOF press conference, January 15, 2025, in Sydney [Photo: Facebook/ASMOF ]

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), which covers the psychiatrists, encouraged the mass resignation action late last year promoting illusions among workers that the action would force the government to grant their pay rise demands.

In fact, the action has been used by the Labor government to accelerate the process of privatisation that is already well underway. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the health ministry plans to open 46 private hospital beds in the Western Sydney Local Health District to partially offset the closure of seven public mental health wards.

The dispute is not simply over wages. Psychiatrists want an immediate boost to desperately needed resources, including increased staffing and other measures to prevent a total collapse of the sector. Of the 416 designated public sector staff specialist psychiatry positions in NSW, 121 were already unfilled prior to last weeks resignations.

In a December 2023 survey by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), 75 percent of NSW psychiatrists reported experiencing symptoms of burnout in the past three years, while 94 percent said the workforce shortage negatively impacted patient care.

Overall, the state has the equivalent of 1,127 full-time psychiatrists (public and private), just three more than Victoria, which has 1.5 million fewer residents. These are heavily concentrated in wealthier areas, with 27 per 100,000 residents in Central and Eastern Sydney, while the citys working-class west and south-west have just 11 and 6 per 100,000 respectively.

In 202122, the most recent year for which data is available from the AIHW, overall per capita mental health spending in NSW was the second lowest in the country, at $268.

According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) 2024 Public Hospital Report Card, the number of specialised mental health public hospital beds in the state declined sharply between 201011 and 202122, from more than 36.5 per 100,000 to 32. Over the same period, the rate of mental health presentations to emergency departments rose from 700 per 100,000 to 1,050.

The dire situation in NSW mental health is just one expression of what is a nationwide crisis. According to recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data, national recurrent expenditure on mental health-related services was only $12.2 billion in the 202122 financial year, equal to just one quarter of Australias military budget.

The AMA report shows that, since 200405, the number of public sector specialised mental health beds per 100,000 Australians has fallen from just under 31 to 27 in 202122. In comparison, the OECD average is around 71. Meanwhile, the number of mental health related presentations to emergency departments each year rose from fewer than 700 per 100,000 residents in 200405 to more than 1,200 in 202021.

Those patients are arriving at emergency departments with more severe mental distress and waiting longer for treatment. Australia-wide, since 201011 the number presenting with a mental illness triaged as emergency has increased from 9 to 21 per 10,000 people, while those categorised as urgent has risen from 37 to 57 per 10,000.

As the AMA notes, these figures demonstrate that the needs of patients with severe mental illness are increasingly unmet by the community and primary care system, leading them to an ED as a last resort.

Due to the lack of available staffed beds and other resources, these highly distressed patients are waiting an average of seven hours in the emergency department before being admitted to hospital. A shocking 10 percent of those who are eventually admitted wait more than 23 hours in emergency.

Dont Walk By, a recent investigation by the Australian National University and the Australian newspaper, found the country needs an additional 8,310 full time mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, nurses and support workers, and 838 addiction specialists across the public and private sectors. In other words, the study concluded the size of the mental health workforce would need to increase by around one quarter.

This social catastrophe is the product of decades of inadequate government funding, attacks on public sector health workers wages and conditions endorsed and imposed by all the health unions, including ASMOF.

This social assault is accompanied by ever-increasing parts of public health, including mental health, being handed over to the private sector.

According to Department of Health figures, the fastest growing category of government mental health expenditure is grants to non-governmental organisations, which has risen an average of 8.82 percent per annum in real terms since 199293, compared with the overall increase in mental health spending of 4.1 percent per annum.

This is starkly expressed in NSW, where NGO grants rose an average of 12.56 annually while total mental health spending increased just 3.7 percent per annum.

In 2013, the previous Labor government established the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which effectively privatised a substantial part of mental health services. Currently an estimated 25 percent of people with severe mental illness are supported under the NDIS, via a patchwork of individuals, NGOs and for-profit operators. The NDIS, the Albanese government now declares, is too expensive and the target of brutal funding cuts which will deepen the plight of thousands of mentally ill and other disabled patients.

As part of this privatisation drive, most Australian mental asylums were closed by the 1990s, in line with deinstitutionalisation programs which began in NSW in 1983 with the Richmond Report.

Residential mental health services are now all but non-existent in NSW. In 202122, just $3 per capita was spent on this sector and just 121 people received care. In comparison, 3,693 Victorians received residential mental health care in 202122, with recurrent expenditure in the sector of $38 per capita.

The brutal consequences for the mentally ill are expressed in countless surveys of mental health professionals.

Since deinstitutionalisation, people with severe mental illness have been neglected and marginalised  Theyve ended up in prisons. Theyve ended up dying prematurely, theyve ended up dealing with severe substance use, theyve ended up on the streets, Associate Professor Gary Galambos told Dont Walk By.

A general practitioner told the 2023 RANZCP NSW report, Mental health on the brink, Our local public hospital is very underfunded and after minimal assessment of a very depressed man, discharged him and he was found dead the next day by suicide and this was on the news, we are in a working-class area.

The lack of funding for mental health services often means people with severe mental illness end up being handled by the police and the judicial system. A 2023 report by the Guardian found that 52 people experiencing mental distress had been killed in interactions with NSW police between 2019 and 2023, an average of more than ten each year.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than half of Australian prisoners surveyed in 2022 had been told by a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist or nurse that they had a mental illness or behavioural problem at some point in their lives.

The crisis in mental health care, and in public health more broadly, is the product of decades of funding cuts and privatisation by Labor and Liberal-National governments. This has been carried out with the full collaboration of the health unions, which have repeatedly shut down strikes by nurses and other health workers and prevented any unified struggle by staff across the industry.

The federal Labor governments 202425 federal budget outlines nothing that will resolve this dire situation. It included no measures to increase the mental health workforce or address the chronic shortage of clinicians. Overall, it contains just $361 million in new mental health funding over four years, a drop in the ocean compared with what is needed and the smallest investment into mental health since 2018.

A year earlier, the federal Labor government halved the number of publicly subsidised psychologist appointments available annually per person each year from 20 to 10, drastically worsening the situation for the mentally ill.

This is in line with the broader austerity agenda of Labor governments at the state and federal level which are carrying out the wholesale slashing of public sector wages and social spending.

In NSW, the state Labor government is seeking to impose the same real wage slashing 9.5 percent over three year offer made to the psychiatrists throughout the public sector. This underscores the need for all public sector health workers to fight together against this attack.

ASMOFs promotion of the mass resignation of psychiatrists is directed against such a unified struggle. It divided the psychiatrists themselves up as individuals and cuts them off from the broader health workforce.

The mass resignation tactic promoted the bankrupt illusion that the Labor government could be pressured to make minor concessions to the psychiatrists within the framework of the underfunded and crisis-ridden public health sector. The government having remained intransigent, the ASMOF-orchestrated resignations only serve to accelerate the privatisation of mental health services.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association similarly has done nothing to mobilise its members or draw out the connection between their ongoing wage dispute and the situation in mental health. The Health Services Union has effectively endorsed Labors attack on psychiatrists, stating it is an opportunity for its members to take on higher dutiesin other words, to aid the government in slashing the health budget.

This means that new organisations of struggle must be built. Through rank-and-file committees, independent of any union, psychiatrists along with other doctors, nurses, midwives and health workers can break down the artificial walls of isolation imposed by the union bureaucracies and begin to work together, democratically, on a set of demands and a plan of attack, including united industrial and political action across the sector.

Above all, the reality they confront is that the capitalist system is incapable of meeting the most basic needs of the population, including for high-quality mental and physical health care. Overcoming this will require a political fight for an alternative: socialism. It is only through the establishment of workers governments, placing vital public infrastructure including hospitals, along with the major corporations and banks, under democratic workers control and ownership, that society can be restructured on the basis of meeting human needs, including free medical treatment of the highest standard, rather than the demands of the financial and corporate elite.
BVG bus workers on strike at the Muller Strasse depot in Berlin, January 27, 2024

The following letter is addressed to employees at Berlins local transit operator BVG.

Dear colleagues,

The current wage struggle is taking place under completely new political conditions. Our justified demands are facing a comprehensive counter-offensive on jobs, wage levels and social cuts by government and employers.

That is why we must not be satisfied with the current warning strikes, which are being organised by the Verdi union to let off steam and pave the way for a sell-out of our struggle as usual. At all costs, the trade unions, politicians and big business want to avoid industrial action at BVG, as across other sectors and companies, in the midst of the current federal election campaign. We must therefore organise ourselves independently of the Verdi apparatus in order to push through our demands. That is why we are calling on you to join the rank-and-file Transport Workers Action Committee.

The Berlin Senate (state executive) alone wants to save more than 5 billion this year, including over 100 million at BVG. This means huge social cuts and further attacks on our working conditions and wages.

The 100 million are to be raised by BVG itself through new loans, so that the companys debt level will rise to almost 1 billion. If we do not fight back now, we will pay for this with further service cuts, run-down vehicles and dilapidated infrastructure and a further deterioration in working conditions.

This is why the BVG executive board says that our more than justified demands cannot be financed. After all the sell-out contracts of recent years, the absolute minimum we should demand is a 750 increase in basic pay, a rotating shift bonus of 300 for drivers, a doubling of shift bonus from 100 to 200 and an extra months bonus payment instead of the annual special payment of 1,900.

However, Verdi has no intention of implementing these demands, which were put forward by members in a survey. All cuts by the federal government and the city of Berlin are supported by the union officials. By signing up to the Concerted Action in the Chancellery in 2022, the Verdi executive board under Frank Werneke had already agreed to pass the costs of rearmament and war on to working people. This resulted in long-term concessions agreements that did not compensate for massive price increases, especially for food, petrol, energy and rents.

Now, the early federal elections are being held to bring a stable government to power, which will push through the next drastic round of wage cuts and social cuts to finance rearmament and war.

The trade unions, including Verdi, are an integral part of this offensive against us. Former Verdi officials are part of BVG management and the KAV municipal employers association. Verdi representatives sit on BVGs supervisory board and powerful economic committee and work closely with the Senate.

BVG Chief Human Resources Officer Jenny Zeller-Grothe (annual salary 330,000 in 2023) dismissed the staff demands as not financially viable and relies on the collaboration with Verdi: Will there be a solution? Absolutely, she declared confidently.

The Verdi representatives are now desperately trying to keep control of the industrial action. This is the only reason why Jeremy Arndt, Verdi union secretary in Berlin/Brandenburg and chairman of the contract bargaining commission, announced a possible all-out strike if BVG did not meet the wage demands appropriately. If it were up to him, this all-out strike would never happen.

We employees know this only too well. That is the reason why Verdi lost its majority among BVG bus drivers in the staff council elections last November. The decision of the Verdi apparatus to allow a comprehensive participation process among Verdi members in the current contract bargaining round is also intended to secure the power of the Verdi apparatus. Feedback on the evaluation of the first round of negotiations by employees was collected up to last Wednesday. There can only be one answer to Verdis question, Do you want to wait and seeor are you prepared to strike to increase the pressure in negotiations so that a negotiable offer is presented?: Yes! However, the workforce must determine what constitutes a negotiable offer and what does not.

Arndt himself says that the wage increase demanded would amount to 25 percent and the additional costs for the BVG would amount to around 250 million. This is already a sign of capitulation. Verdi has never agreed to a double-digit wage increase. The last time 200,000 public service employees took strike action was in 1974, when the OTV (Public Service, Transport and Traffic) union called for an 11 percent increaseover a period of 12 months.

Today, Arndt says that Verdi expects the wage dispute to be as intense as the one in 2008: Back then, we went on strike at BVG in several waves for a total of around six weeks.

The 2008 dispute was the last full strike by BVG workers, which was intended to secure a 12 percent pay rise for new recruits (9 percent for existing employees) or 250 for one year. In reality, however, the six-week strike was deliberately sabotaged by Arndts predecessors. Verdi isolated the combative and angry workforce in various waves of strikes and ultimately stalled and sold out their struggle: The demand of 12 percent became a 1.6 percent pay rise signed by Verdi, then as now veiled behind a jumble of sleight of hand and false claims!

In order to push through the current demands in full, the contract bargaining battle must not be left to the Verdi leadership. No negotiations behind closed doors! Online live broadcast for monitoring by rank-and-file workers! Disclosure of all negotiation protocols! Set up action committees to prepare for a full strike!

The mobilisation of employees by building up the Transport Workers Action Committee is also so important because the federal government and the Senate are exerting massive pressure to bring us to our knees. Our contract fight cannot be separated from the current politically aggravated conditions.

The billions in cuts to social services, health, education, culture, wages and pensions that the Senate here in Berlin, the outgoing and incoming federal governments and the big corporations everywhere want to push through are to be channelled into spending more on weapons for the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces), arms deliveries to Ukraine and Israel and into the pockets of shareholders.

We are therefore not only confronted with the Verdi apparatus and the employer, but also with the federal and state governments. They are well networked with each other and work closely together against us.

We workers must also network and join forces with other sections of the labour force. For example, we must ensure that our colleagues from the private company Schroder Reisen, which now operates more than 8 percent of BVG bus routes, are not used as strike-breakers.

Last week, the union EVG (Eisenbahn, Verkehr) announced their demands for S-Bahn colleagues (7.6 percent). However, EVG is aiming to reach an agreement with the Deutsche Bahn rail operator before the federal election on February 23, and well before the end of the no-strike clause in their current contract that expires on March 31.

Currently, 2.5 million public sector employees, 180,000 railway workers, 170,000 DHL and Deutsche Post employees, 100,000 Lufthansa ground workers and bus drivers in Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Wurttemberg are also involved in contract disputes. In Stuttgart and many cities in Baden-Wurttemberg, 9,000 bus drivers are currently on strike for a 9 percent pay rise.

These colleagues are our allies with whom we must network and unite. Our campaign can and must be the prelude to a political offensive against the cuts we are facing. Lets turn the tables.

The Transport Workers Action Committee demands:

 Convene works meetings at BVG to discuss and prepare for a full strike. Strict monitoring of the negotiations.

 Preparation of a joint strike with colleagues from the S-Bahn.

 Establishing contact and planning for a joint struggle with public sector, postal and railway workers.

We also demand the cancellation of the contract concluded last May, which has not seen any improvement in working conditions for us drivers.

Such an offensive would find support, not only among the millions of BVG and S-Bahn passengers who are feeling the effects of the cutbacks in public transport. We would also find support in other sectors and areas. There is hardly an industry in which cuts and redundancies have not been announced, especially in the automotive and supplier sectors.

The prerequisite for this is to take action now. Get in touch with us. Contact us at +491748402566 and use the following form to register for and build the action committee!
Ali Abunimah, executive director of The Electronic Intifada. [Photo: Ali Abunimah]

After being jailed for three days and two nights, Palestinian American journalist Ali Abunimah was released by Swiss authorities on Monday and deported to Istanbul.

Abunimah, who is the executive director of the Electronic Intifada publication based in Chicago, confirmed his release in a Twitter/X post on Monday afternoon that included a photo of himself on the plane bound for Turkey.

He was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday just before a scheduled speaking event. Upon his arrival in Switzerland the previous day, the journalist was questioned by police for an hour before being allowed to enter the country. However, Abunimah was apprehended the following afternoon by three plainclothes officers as he walked down a street in Zurich to attend a pro-Palestinian teach-in.

After he was forced into an unmarked vehicle, Abunimah was not told where he was being taken or what the charges against him were. He was transported to an undisclosed location. During his detention, Abunimah was held incommunicado, denied contact with his family and was not presented with any formal charges. He was interrogated by Swiss defense ministry intelligence agents without legal representation.

In his post, Abunimah wrote, Im free. I wrote this on the plane and Im posting it just after landing at Istanbul, and then recounted the details of his detention:

On Saturday in a police interview in the presence of my lawyer they accused me of offending against Swiss law without ever telling me what crime I had committed in Switzerland or listing any charges. As far as I know I have not been charged with any crime whatsoever and I was held in administrative detention. On Sunday morning, they took me from my cell for questioning by Swiss defense ministry intelligence agents without the presence of my lawyer, and they again refused to allow me to contact her or my family. I refused to talk to them without my lawyer and told them take me back to my cell. During my imprisonment I refused every meal and every cup of coffee or tea they offered me except the last meal, after I knew I would be going home. I accepted only water, which is the right of every human being.

He continued:

My crime? Being a journalist who speaks up for Palestine and against Israels genocide and settler-colonial savagery and those who aid and abet it. I came to Switzerland at the invitation of Swiss citizens to talk about justice for Palestine, to talk about accountability for a genocide in which Switzerland too is complicit. But while I was hauled off to prison like a dangerous criminal before I even had a chance to say a word, the Israeli president Isaac Herzog, who declared at the start of the genocide that there are no civilians in Gaza, no innocents, received a red carpet welcome in Davos, a carpet soaked in the blood of the more than 47,000 known victims of the genocide and the thousands more still under the rubble, or who died of deliberately inflicted starvation and denial of medical care. And on this very day Netanyahu freely travels to Poland to make a mockery of the Auschwitz commemoration despite an outstanding ICC arrest warrant. That is the perverse, unjust world we live in.

Abunimahs arrest, detention and deportation have been condemned by human rights organizations and UN experts. Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, called the incident shocking and urged Switzerland to urgently investigate and release Abunimah. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, emphasized that the climate surrounding freedom of speech in Europe is becoming increasingly toxic, and we should all be concerned.

A petition demanding Abunimahs release garnered over 20,000 signatures and expressed the outrage over his detention internationally. Amnesty Internationals European office stated that, the global crackdown on those who are critical of Israels violations of Palestinians human rights is alarming and must be immediately stopped.

Abunimahs arrest is part of the attack by Western imperialist governments on any expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of ethnic cleansing by Israel. The actions against Abunimah and others are the product of the fear within the ruling class of the mass opposition that exists to the Zionist regime of Netanyahu and his backers in the US and Europe.

Last year, several activists and journalists in Britain were arrested, raided or charged using counter-terror powers. They included Asa Winstanley, an associate editor at Electronic Intifada, whose home was raided and his computers and phones seized. Winstanley has not been charged with any crime, and the raid was condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Britains National Union of Journalists.

In his statement, Abunimah also expressed gratitude for the global support he received and reaffirmed his commitment to the defense of Palestinian rights. He stated, This ordeal lasted three days but that taste of prison was more than enough to leave me in even greater awe of the Palestinian heroes who endure months and years in the prisons of the genocidal oppressor.

Aside from Reuters, not one corporate media outlet has published a word about Abunimahs arrest, detention and deportation. Every other major newspaper and cable TV news networks maintained a stoney silence on the attack on the right of a US-based journalist to speak publicly in Switzerland about the unfolding war crimes being committed in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli government.

The attack on the founder and executive director of Electronic Intifada, which has been publishing since 2001, took place during the first week in office of the second Trump administration. The fascist president, who specializes in the big lie, has launched a multi-sided attack on the Constitution and fundamental democratic rights immediately following his inauguration on January 20.

Trumps attacks on democracy have been combined with calls for Israel to clean Gaza of Palestinians, the first US president to endorse the ethnic cleansing agenda of Israel. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said, Youre talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.
Two court cases related to several dozen Alton estate workers went to hearing in December and January at the Magistrate Court and Labour Tribunal respectively. The proceedings in both cases demonstrated the determination of Horna Plantation Company, which controls the Alton estate, and the state authorities to punish the falsely-accused employees.

Alton Estate strike and protest march 29 April, 2022 [WSWS Media]

At the hearing on December 15 against 22 workers of the Alton estate in Maskeliya, the Hatton Magistrate postponed the case to March 5. It has now dragged out for four years beginning in March 2021.

These workers have been accused of physically assaulting estate manager Sathyamoorthy Subash Narayanan and assistant manager Anushan Thiruchelvam and also damaging the managers residence during a protest on February 15, 2021.

Workers insist they were framed up by the company and the police in order to suppress their campaign for higher daily wages. They began strike action on February 2 that year and joined a national strike by hundreds of thousands of estate workers three days later demanding an increase in their daily wage to 1,000 rupees ($US5 at 2021exchange rates). However, they continued the strike until March 29 because of harassment of management.

During the last four years, the magistrate granted the request by police to postpone the case, claiming that they were awaiting the Sri Lankas Attorney Generals advice to charge workers for damaging the estate managers residence.

On December 15, a Maskeliya police officer told the courts that the Attorney General (AG) had decided there was insufficient evidence to indict the workers for damaging the managers residence.

The AGs conclusion effectively demolished the main accusation by the company and police that the workers had damaged estate property and exposed the false nature of the whole case. However, the magistrate again postponed, this time allowing the police time to frame new charges against the employees.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and Alton Workers Action Committee (AWAC) insisted from the beginning that the case involved a joint conspiracy of the plantation company and police with the collaboration of the trade union bureaucrats of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC). CWC officials at the estate advised the workers to surrender to the police.

On the basis of the same false claims, Horana Plantations sacked 38 workers, including the 22 who were charged. These repressive measure were aimed at intimidating not only Alton workers but the plantation workforce as a whole that was engaged in strikes and protests for higher wages and against intolerable conditions.

Judgement of the Labour Tribunal (LT) case of 13 sacked workers who were demanding reinstatement was delivered on January 9. These employees filed their appeal through the CWC, while 17 retained a private lawyer. The cases have been dragging on for the past three years.

For the 13 workers, the LT judge dismissed their case for reinstatement and ordered each worker to pay 7,500 rupees to the company as court costs.

CWC labor director, T.F. Kathirvale, who appeared for workers in the LT case, told the WSWS: This judgement is against workers. I have appeared in several cases for workers in the past but never heard of a judgement in which workers were ordered to pay the respondents.

According to Kathirvale, the judge dismissed the case claiming that workers had gone inside the managers residence and harmed him. The police, however, have not yet even brought such charges to court.

The CWC bureaucrat said employees can file an appeal in the High Court if they can afford it! This means, however, that the workers would have to find a huge amount of money to pay lawyers to appear in the higher court.

The CWC, like other trade unions, has collected member fees for decades. However, CWC bureaucracy have not paid the legal fees. Poverty-stricken workers have had to pay lawyers out of their meagre income as well as travelling expenses to attend the courts every three months over the past four years.

The CWC bureaucrats were directly involved in the conspiracy with the plantation management in arresting workers. However, the other trade unions including the National Union of Workers, Up-Country Peoples Front, Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union and All Ceylon Estate Workers Union controlled by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have all refused to defend these workers.

The victimisation of these Alton employees is not an isolated case.

A few months after the repression at Alton, 11 workers were victimised and dismissed at Katukelle Estate in Talawakelle, also on false accusations. Five workers were sacked from the Velioya Estate near Hatton because they demanded subsidies during the COVID-19.

The Horana Plantation is one of the 22 large regional plantation companies and is part of the Hayleys Group, one of the top corporations in Sri Lanka.

All the tea plantation companies, aided by successive governments, are seeking to intensify the exploitation of employees and to lower the costs of production to compete in the global markets. They are bitterly hostile to workers demands for higher wages.

One of the methods being pushed for is the revenue share scheme (RSM). Around 1,000 tea bushes would be distributed among workers. The inputs are supplied by the company and the workers look after the assigned plot, even using family members. After toiling, the worker receives only a small portion from the so-called revenue sharing arrangement.

This method of share cropping has been imposed in several estates but, in some cases, it had to abandoned as a result of workers opposition.

One of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)s harsh austerity demands is that regional plantation companies must also face economic restructuring.

The previous government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe began plans to ensure the profitability of the tea companies, including through crop diversification and tourism.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected last year, has committed to fully implement the IMF agenda and will accelerate efforts to make the plantations profitable at the expense of workers.

Plantation workers have to fight to defend their jobs and to win decent wages and conditions, including proper habitable housing.

In waging this struggle, it is imperative for all plantation workers to demand the withdrawal of all charges against the victimised Alton estate workers. All 38 workers must be reinstated immediately and paid back wages!

We call on all workers in Sri Lanka to support the struggle of their class brothers and sisters in plantations.

The SEP and the AWAC took initiative in defending the victimised Alton workers through an international campaign. Workers must learn lessons. The trade union bureaucracies have lined up with the companies and the government against their own members.

Workers have to form their own independent action committees to take the fight into their own hands. There will be no place for trade union bureaucracies and capitalist parties in these action committees.

The SEP and the AWAC are ready to assist workers to take this initiative.

The only way workers can defend their democratic and social rights is through a unified political struggle to dismantle the profit-driven system, establish a workers and peasants government and take measures to reorganise the economy. This includes nationalising key industries, the banks and estates and placing them under the democratic control of the working class.

This struggle is part of the fight for socialism throughout South Asia and internationally.
Elevenlabs AudioNative Player

President-elect Donald Trump is reflected in bullet-proof glass as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, November 3, 2024. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

As part of Donald Trumps escalating drive to overturn the US Constitution and consolidate a presidential dictatorship, the White House issued a two-page memorandum Monday night ordering a freeze on nearly all federal grants and loansboth domestic and international.

This sweeping order jeopardizes billions of dollars, if not trillions, in funding previously appropriated by Congress, cutting off critical resources for local and state governments, tribal communities, public schools, universities and nonprofit organizations.

The core aim of this directive is to accelerate the transformation of the American state along the lines of the Milei modelthe policies implemented by fascistic Argentinian President Javier Milei. That is, to gut all public spending outside of the military and police, while creating conditions for unrestrained speculation and profiteering by the financial oligarchy, at the expense of social programs essential to the working class.

Mondays order was signed by Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It directed all federal agencies to cease spending on programs they administer if they may be implicated by any of the Presidents executive orders or if they advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies

It ordered the agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal. The pause was to become effective on January 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

The immediate impact was mass confusion and chaos. The order threatens funding for low-income housing, domestic violence shelters, food safety programs, rural internet, immigration services, Medicaid, home-delivery meals for seniors and Pell Grants for college students. Millions of people enrolled in federal programs, as well as workers employed by non-governmental agencies, were left in the lurch.

Just minutes before the freeze was set to go into effect on Tuesday, US District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary injunction blocking it until February 3. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought by nonprofit organizations that warned even a brief pause in funding could deprive people and communities of life-saving services.

For several hours, the governments grant payment portal, including for Medicaid, the main government health care program for the poor, displayed a warning about payment delays due to Executive Orders.

It is an established constitutional principle that the US Congress, not the president, has the power of the purse. When President Richard Nixon, as part of his bid for dictatorial powers during the Watergate crisis, sought to impound funds appropriated by Congress for programs he opposed, Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to reaffirm its preeminent role. The Trump White House has called this law unconstitutional and indicated Trump will refuse to obey it. This represents an assertion of dictatorial powers that makes Nixons efforts pale in comparison.

Mondays memorandum issued by the Trump White House seeks to usurp Congress authority to appropriate funds, leaving the president the sole power to decide what programs he or she will fund. The OMB order provided no legal rationale for why the Trump administration could unilaterally block previously approved funding.

While the order has been temporarily blocked, Trump and his fascist allies will seek to quickly argue the case before the US Supreme Court, which is packed with Trump appointees and co-conspirators.

Following Mondays OMB order, on Tuesday the Washington Post reported that the United States Office of Personnel Management had emailed nearly all 2.3 million federal workersexcluding military, immigration police and postal workersthreatening mass layoffs.

The email, headlined, Fork in the Road per the Post, offered workers a buyout with pay through September 30 if they accept the offer by February 6, that is in just over one week.

The Trump administration, acting as an instrument of the financial oligarchy, plans a mass purge of government workers. In an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday, the fascist senior adviser to Trump, Stephen Miller, was asked to respond to Trumps purge of 18 inspectors general over the weekend.

Miller declared that the presidents authority to fire any federal worker is plenary. He continued: There is no lawful constraint that can be placed on the president to terminate a worker in the federal government who exercises discretionary policy.

In fact, the president does not have discretion to terminate every federal employee. The federal government work force, known as the United States Civil Service, was established in 1871 and designed to ensure that workers would be hired and promoted based on merit, rather than political affiliation and cronyism, as was the case under the spoils system of the early 19th century.

Trumps purge of the IGs was blatantly illegal. In 2022, Congress passed a law requiring the president to provide 30 days notice of intent to fire an inspector general, with which Trump did not comply.

In both the firing of the IGs and the order of a spending freeze, the White House is essentially asserting that it is not bound by laws passed by Congress or powers granted to Congress by the Constitution. It is doing so under the assumption that this declaration of unlimited executive power will be sanctioned by the Supreme Court and will encounter no serious opposition from within the political establishment.

In the first week of his administration, Trump has taken steps to overturn the Constitution and establish an authoritarian regime unlike anything previously seen in American history. Under the pretext of a manufactured invasion by immigrants, Trump has claimed wartime powers, asserted the right to override acts of Congress and unleashed a campaign of terror against millions of people.

The spending freeze makes clear that the dictatorship Trump is seeking to establish is an attack not just on immigrants, but on the entire working class. What began as the persecution of migrants is now an assault on public education, healthcare and all social programs. Trumps administration is carrying out a full-scale class war, stripping the government of all functions except war and repression.

The financial oligarchy that controls American society is using Trumps administration to carry out a historic transfer of wealth to the super-rich. What is unfolding is the violent transformation of political forms to align with the reality of oligarchic rule. The institutions of capitalist democracy cannot survive under conditions of such staggering levels of social inequality.

The Democratic Party is not mounting any real opposition to Trumps dictatorial rampage. Its primary concern is to prevent an eruption of working class opposition from below that would threaten the entire system.

The Democrats have long collaborated in the slashing of social spending. For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations alike have overseen a historic transfer of wealth from the working class to the financial elite. It is precisely this extreme concentration of wealth that has led to the rise of Trump.

The defense of democratic rights and opposition to dictatorship cannot be separated from the fight against capitalism itself. The working class, united across all national and ethnic divisions, is the only social force capable of stopping the descent into dictatorship and social devastation. The only way forward is the development of a mass, independent movement of the working class, aimed at the socialist reorganization of society.
Fire survivors look for supplies at the Pasadena-Sierra Madre YMCA, on January 27, 2025.

A town hall meeting in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday escalated into angry exchanges between survivors of the Pacific Palisades fire and an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official about the 18-month timeline for clearing debris left by the devastating fire.

It is now three weeks since the beginning of the multiple fires which erupted in the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of homes, businesses and cultural sites. The official death toll is 29, which is likely to rise as more victims are found in the rubble. The vast majority of survivors are struggling with little to no immediate financial aid and can expect to never be made whole. An unknown number have been added to Los Angeles already sizable homeless population.

The two main options given to the residents at Sundays meeting were either the US Army Corp of Engineers free cleanup program or private contractors averaging $170,000 per property.

Thats too long, Speed it up and Hire more people, Palisades residents shouted during EPA coordinator Tara Fitzgeralds presentation, according to Newsweek.

On January 24, President Donald Trump visited Pacific Palisades, the wealthier enclave that has been nearly erased from the map, and met with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and officials of communities impacted by the fires. He called for dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the main federal agency organizing relief, and called for the states and religious organizations to take care of their own disasters.

Residents are relying heavily on donations and charity to meet their immediate needs. However, limited resources make it difficult to address the communitys needs. State Senator Sasha Renee Perez told LAist, The biggest need that Im hearing from my constituents is direct cash aid.

Despite widespread devastation, many residents have found receiving any federal assistance a significant hurdle. While FEMA promised a one-time $770 payout for disaster survivors, many residents have found it impossible to navigate the application process, such as lacking necessary paperwork to verify their identities. Many have been denied the aid after applying.

This hurdle has left people with no other choice than to turn to crowdfunding platforms. However, crowdfunding has also highlighted inequalities in the disaster recovery, with those with more wealth and connections likely to raise more donations. Crowdfunding efforts connected to wealthier neighborhoods, including Hollywood celebrities who lost their homes, have received more attention and have therefore had more successful fundraising efforts as compared to communities in Altadena and Pasadena that were destroyed by the Eaton fire.

On Saturday, the WSWS spoke with Kevin Bartholow and his wife Esther Espinoza in Altadena. Their RV was destroyed in the Eaton fire. Until recently they were staying in the shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center, which is scheduled to shut down on January 31. Now they are living in their car with their two dogs. They spoke angrily about FEMA officials denying their claim.

At first they were welcomed at the shelter, but conditions became unbearable for them. Esther said she came down with a sore throat and was placed in an isolation area with many others who had COVID-19 and other illnesses. She said shes been masked and washing her hands and was not sick enough to stay among those people. After three days, she reunited with her husband.

One night at 3:00 a.m., Kevin woke up to officials rifling through their belongings looking for contraband. He said they did not have a right to do that. He also described a neighboring woman who was sexually assaulted.

Its just weird. Its unsafe in there, and then to be treated rudely, thats why we left. The shelter volunteers were very nice to us as they got to know our dogs. They told us privately that they were going to shut down the shelter on January 31. They werent supposed to let us know, said Kevin.

The official disregard for human lives is not an isolated incident of the Los Angeles wildfires. Under capitalism, profit is prioritized over everything else. Not only were the California wildfires completely predictable and preventable, but also a direct result of climate change, which is fueled by the exploitative nature of capitalism. The entire ruling class, both the Democrats and the Republicans, are directly responsible for this disaster.
The Philippines is holding its midterm election in May. All 318 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 of the 24 seats in the Senate are being contested. Regional and local elections for governors, mayors and city council members are also being held.

The global volatility and the bullying of the new Trump administration, a palpable fascist menace the world over, has fundamentally destabilized Philippine politics, as it has every country. This is finding increasingly sharp expression in the election, which is becoming a referendum between elite factions over Manilas geopolitical ties.

The election period opened on January 12. Campaigns for national offices will officially commence on February 11 and for local positions on March 28. Billboards and posters for candidates are already everywhere on display.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr [AP Photo/Aaron Favila]

For the past three years, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has exercised control of a supermajority bloc in the legislature. However, political tensions in the elite sharpened into two rival camps, that of Marcos on the one hand, and that of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the other. The rival factions expressed the geopolitical tensions stoked by Washingtons rapid preparations for war with China. Marcos has lined the country up behind Washingtons war drive; Duterte expressed a growing tendency among sections of the elite to reorient the countrys ties toward China. Improved ties with China require a break with Washingtons warmongering.

The social constituency in the Philippine elite for the pro-China sentiment expressed by Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is largely provincial, those whose base of economic and political power is the countrys vast hinterlands, long excluded from global markets by the Philippines deeply underdeveloped infrastructure. They see in Chinese investment and relations a chance for economic freedom from what they term imperial Manila. These layers of the elite are in a real sense the most Trump-like section of Philippine politics, marked by a volatile, fascistic populism, but their geopolitical interests run athwart those of Washington.

Open political warfare between these two camps erupted in 2024, including the public discussion of assassination attempts and impeachment. The balance of political power is currently overwhelmingly behind Marcos, who himself has dictatorial aspirations. The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines), the Marcos-aligned electoral alliance, was formed in May 2024. It controls 283 of 318 seats in the legislature and 15 of the 24 senate seats. Of the contested twelve Senate seats, nine are currently controlled by the Marcos aligned coalition.

Such alignments express in part an alignment of political interests, but for many such alliances are but part of the craven game of Philippine politics, as the legislature lines up with the dominant political faction largely out of financial interests. Should the winds of political circumstance shift away from the political leaders of the pro-US faction, a great many of the congressmen now in Marcoss supermajority would rapidly reorient to the rival camp.

The Duterte camp is currently politically hobbled, but a subterranean pro-China sentiment in the elite is growing, born above all of fear of the implications of Washingtons relentless drive to war and volatility.

The election will be a referendum between these two camps and more than any other factor will be shaped by speculation over relations with Trumps America. Trumps tariffs, suspension of government grants and loans, and mass deportation have already fundamentally altered the election and their impact is the subject of intense speculation.

HSBC reported at the beginning of January that the Philippines was the most insulated country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from economic risks posed by Trumps tariff threats. The alleged resilience of the Philippine economy stems from a series of trade agreements whose lineage dates back to the formal granting of independence by the United States to its colony. The terms of the agreements always served Washingtons interests, hobbling Manilas economic development as source of raw materials for US corporations and market of US commodities. While Vietnam and Thailand, as HSBC reports, may be more vulnerable to Trumps tariffs, Trump could well scrap the Philippines vaunted Most Favored Nation trading status and Generalized System of Preferences on a late-night whim.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reported that it had contacted the US Embassy in Manila for clarification on what programs funding were halted and being subject to review by the Trump administration. The Embassy referred the Philippine government to the website www.foreignassistance.gov. Business Mirror reported that $US184 million in assistance considered obligations based on binding agreements concluded in 2023 and 2024 were now suspended and subject to review, including $11 million in USAID operations, funding for biodiversity and forest protection, tuberculosis mitigation, HIV/AIDS control, and education funding.

The Philippine Embassy in the United States set up a network of 24-hour consular hotlines for Filipinos in the country at risk of mass deportation by the Trump administration. According to the US Census Bureau more than 300,000 undocumented Filipinos live in the United States; the Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez estimated the number at 350,000. The actual figure is likely much higher than either estimate.

The Embassy issued instructions on Facebook to Filipinos in the United States, under the heading Kabayan, May Karapatan Ka! (Fellow countryman, you have rights!), informing them of their right to remain silent, to be paid a minimum wage, to refuse an illegal search and to have an attorney.

Among those exercising the right to remain silent was the Marcos administration, which has said not a word against the threatened mass deportations! According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Marcos is attempting to arrange a face to face meeting with Trump to discuss, not deportations, but regional security and defense modernization.

Washington did everything possible prior to the inauguration of Trump to instigate anti-Chinese sentiment in the broad Philippine population, including systemic online disinformation, promoting baseless allegations of Chinese spies.

A mass deportation of Filipino nationals from the United States on whom extended families and entire communities rely for remittances, with the deportees perhaps chained to their seats on cargo planes, would do much to shift public sentiment against the countrys former colonial ruler.

The growing fear is that the United States will embroil the Philippines in a shooting war with China and then leave the country to its own devices. The memory of the fall of Bataan, of Americas retreat and the brutal Japanese occupationMacArthurs egotistical declaration of his intended return was made from the safety of Australiathese remain core political memories and shape discourse around a possible war with China.

In a call with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo on January 22, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced China for its dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea. The Trump administration, launching a week-long blitzkrieg bent on establishing a presidential dictatorship in the United States, denounces China for destabilizing the world. Rubio spoke of Washingtons historic ties to the Philippines and affirmed its ironclad commitment to the country.

Rubios phrases are moth-eaten, as tired and overused as the word ironclad. Every visiting American official for decades has used the same two wordsironclad and historic. They were likely first scrawled on a three-by-five card by Governor General of the Philippines William Howard Taft. The aphorisms cannot contain the enormity of geopolitics on the brink of a new world war.

A clearer assessment of US-Philippine relations was expressed by Pete Hegseth, during Senate confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense proved unable when asked to name a single member country of ASEAN. The primary school stupidity of the fascist now at the helm of the massive US military has been much commented upon throughout Southeast Asia.

The volatility at the heart of US imperialism is destabilizing the globe. The elections in the Philippines are caught up in this process and may shape the countrys geopolitical allegiances in the coming year.
Elon Musk gives a Nazi salute at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, January 20, 2025. [AP Photo]

Meteorologist Sam Kuffel was fired last week by Milwaukees CBS58 station one day after making Instagram posts critical of Elon Musk, the worlds richest person and close confidant of President Donald Trump. News of the firing came via staffers at the station, who shared a memo from station manager Jesse Garcia with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

On January 21, Kuffel made two Instagram posts calling out Musks Nazi salute at the presidential inauguration rally the previous day. Despite denials by Musk himself, as well as numerous excuses made on behalf of the worlds richest man, Musks gesture was unmistakable.

In response to Musks Nazi salute, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) quickly leapt to his defense. Just two days later, however, even the ADL could not ignore Musks antisemitism and was forced to rebuke him after he posted jokes downplaying the crimes of the Nazis on his X/Twitter platform.

The World Socialist Web Site has extensively documented Musks fascist politics. Musk is a notorious promulgator of antisemitic conspiracy theories, claiming that Jews control the media and society in general.

Musks previous feud with the ADL led to an apology tour, during which he visited Israel, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and toured the Auschwitz death camp in Poland. These visits restored Musk to the good graces of the ADL, explaining why the organization initially defended him over his Nazi salute.

No one from CBS58 or its parent company, Weigel Communications, would comment on why Kuffel had been fired rather than suspended, although even that would have have represented a gross violation of her First Amendment rights. Kuffel made her posts on her personal Instagram account, not on a CBS58 account.

In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kuffel said, First, I just want to thank everyone for the tremendous support Ive received. I was just voicing my personal opinion on a private social media account that was not accessible to the general public.

Christopher Benson, an attorney and associate professor of journalism at Northwestern University, commented, From my experience as in-house counsel  its not likely that we would have terminated. We would have disciplined, maybe a suspension.

Kuffels firing is the latest in a long string of corporate genuflections before the Trump administration and its close-knit billionaires club, which includes Musk, Washington Post CEO Jeff Bezos, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Now another large media corporation has acted swiftly and severely to remove a television personality for expressing the truth on a personal, non-public social media. This dramatically illustrates how obsequious corporate America is to Trumps openly fascist administration. They have signaled that they will act as Trumps enforcement arm against any dissent expressed by their own employees.

Nevertheless, there is broad support for Kuffel and opposition to her firing. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel poll showed that 90 percent of its readers who responded disagreed with the decision. The general tenor of comments on social media has expressed anger at both Musk and his Nazi salute, as well as at CBS58 for the firing.

The broad support for Kuffel is an expression of the deeply entrenched democratic sentiments of the working class in the United States. However, such sentiments must take a political form if they are to become a bulwark against fascism. The only way for the working class to resist fascism, antisemitism and corporate censorship is to organize politically on its own independent program and join the Socialist Equality Party today.
Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians return to the destroyed northern Gaza Strip on January 27, 2025 [AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra]

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are returning to cities in the North of the Strip which lie in near total ruin after a more than year long genocidal siege and grinding onslaught by Israel. Pictures bear comparison only with the scenes of devastation in the aftermath of the Second World War.

According to the United Nations, 92 percent of dwellings are either destroyed (160,000) or severely or partially damaged (276,000). Sixty percent of all buildings are damaged or destroyedrising to 70 percent in North Gaza and 74 percent in Gaza Cityand 70 percent of the road network.

Families moving back from the desperately overcrowded South are more often than not travelling only with what they can carry on foot, and returning to rubble and holes in the ground where their homes once stood.

Lubnar Nassar, who returned to her husband, told the BBC, The warmth of reunion was overshadowed by the bitter realitywe no longer have a home, so we moved from a tent in the south to a tent in the north.

Mohammed Badr, a father of 10, told Reuters, It has been three days since we came back, and we cannot find water to drink. We cannot find covers to keep our children warm. We depend on bonfires all night. We wish to have some firewood for the bonfire, we use plastic, which causes diseases.

His wife explained, There is nothing left, you cannot walk in the streets. Houses collapsed on top of each other. You get lost, you dont know if this is your home or not. The smell of dead bodies, and the martyrs are in the streets.

Trying to sum up the scale and speed of the damage, Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, told AFP: We estimate that roughly 60 years of development have been lost in this conflict over 15 months.

Two million people who are in the Gaza Strip have lost not only their shelter: theyve lost public infrastructure, sewage treatment systems, freshwater supply systems, public waste management. All of these fundamental infrastructure and service elements simply do not exist

Virtually every school and every hospital has been either severely damaged or destroyed. Its an extraordinary physical destruction that has happened.

As Steiner noted, Human desperation is not just something that you capture in statistics. But the figures are stark.

Fewer than half of Gazas hospitals are even partially functional; less than 40 percent of primary health care centres (six out of 138 fully functional, and 46 partially); and less than a quarter of UNRWA health centres.

The water supply is less than a quarter what it was prior to October 2023, and subject to a 70 percent rate of water loss due to damaged supply networks. Roughly half of Gazas agricultural wells and greenhouses are damaged, plus over two thirds of its cropland, half its sheep and 95 percent of its cattle.

It will be some time before much of the population can even begin to worry about the 88 percent of school buildings requiring full or major rehabilitation, or its 51 destroyed and 57 damaged university buildings.

What is left is not capable of sustaining a society, as rates of disease and early death will soon prove. Already, an estimated 12,000 patients need medical transfer out of Gazafewer than 500 were allowed through the walls of the Israeli siege in the last 15 months. Tens of thousands of children require treatment for acute malnutrition.

Again according to the UN, one million people (76 percent of Gazas population) are at risk of sanitation threats like rodents and pests, solid waste (54 percent) and human waste (34 percent).

Arwa Damon, the founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, described the situation on the ground to Al Jazeera.

Only a few hundred tents have been moved into the north, where all of these families are arriving So, they are arriving to the north with no shelter and very little access to clean drinking water.

There is a big fuel shortage and then there is also the issue of getting to food distribution points as there is no transportation.

What we are hearing a lot from families is that it is very difficult because you have to walk hours to try to get access to food and clean waternot to mention medical and other facilities.

As well as a disaster zone, Gaza is one enormous crime scene. From the outset, the Israeli government was clear on its intention to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians. By April of last yearthe last available estimateit had bombarded Gaza, a territory of just 360 square kilometres, with the equivalent of roughly 75,000 tonnes of TNT in pursuit of that end.

This is equivalent to dropping five of the type of nuclear bomb used at Hiroshima on an area less than half as large as the Japanese city.

Now the second stage of the plan is coming clearly into view, openly stated by the fascist president of the United States Donald Trump and cheered by the Israeli far-right.

Trump told reporters on Saturday of Gaza that the US and its allies should just clean out that whole thing, suggesting the Palestinians be moved to Jordan and Egypt. The two countries governments quickly protested the suggestion, well aware that such a policy would provoke a social explosion threatening their very survival.

But the US president repeated himself this week, saying, I wish [Egyptian president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi] would take some. We helped them a lot, and Im sure hed help us. Hes a friend of mine. Hes in  a rough neighbourhood. But I think he would do it, and I think the king of Jordan would do it too.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich enthused that the US president is finally acknowledging reality There is no doubt that, in the long-term, encouraging emigration is the only solution I am working with the prime minister and the cabinet to prepare an operational plan and ensure the realization of President Trumps vision.

He continued, There is nothing to be excited about the weak opposition of Egypt and Jordan to the plan. We saw yesterday how Trump [imposed his will on] Colombia to deport immigrants despite its opposition. When he wants it, it happens.

Already, an estimated 100,000 Gazans have fled the Stripin the earlier stages of the war when this was still possiblefrequently selling everything they owned to pay for passage over the border with Egypt. Hala Consulting and Tourism Servicesowned by El-Sisi ally Ibrahim Alarjaniholds a monopoly on the crossing and made roughly $2 million a day until Israel invaded Rafah last May.

The lives of the 100,000 in Egypt are cruelly stunted, with all of them banned from employment and excluded from the education, banking and health systems. Palestinian refugees are aided by UNRWA rather than the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but UNRWA has no official mandate in Egypt, leaving Gazans with next to no support.

Plans to complete this process with the wholesale removal of the roughly 2 million still living in Gaza take shape under the threat of a resumed military offensive.

Senior editor at the Israeli magazine +972 Ben Reiff warned in the Guardian Tuesday:

Even before the Israeli government officially approved the ceasefire deal on 18 January, reports emerged that cast doubt on Netanyahus commitment to its full realisation. The prime minister had apparently agreed to the demand of Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, that fighting resume after the first of the ceasefires three phases elapsed. Although Netanyahu refrained from admitting this publicly, sources present in those discussions as well as journalists close to Netanyahu stressed that the chances of the deal reaching its second phase are close to zero.

The Israel Defense Forces have already violated the terms of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Gazas Ministry of Health reported Tuesday that 11 Palestinians were killed in the last 48 hours by Israeli soldiers, including by tank and sniper fire. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported shooting against one of its ambulances.
David J. Sencer CDC Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. [Photo: Jim Gathany]

Less than one week after Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), his administration issued a cease-and-desist order to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff and other public health employees, demanding they stop all communications and work with the WHO.

This marks a deepening of the unprecedented gag order imposed on all federal health agencies, requiring them to pause external communications, including health advisories, weekly scientific reports and any updates that communicate on the epidemiological data on any communicable infections through websites and social media. These actions by Trump and his office constitute a declaration of war on public health.

Indeed, a clause of the executive order withdrawing from the WHO stipulates that Trumps fascist National Security Advisor Michael Waltz shall establish directorates and coordinating mechanisms within the National Security Council apparatus as he deems necessary and appropriate to safeguard public health and fortify biosecurity. Going forward, public health will be under the purview of the military-intelligence apparatus.

In essence, public health as a social service to the population is seen as a threat to the state and must be brought to heel. According to Trump, it is the public health institutions that represent a danger to the unimpeded function of commerce, not COVID-19, H5N1 bird flu and all the potential pathogens that can infect and harm populations.

Section 2, Subsection (d) of Trumps executive order provides the basis for the communications restrictions now imposed on the CDC, noting:

The Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall take appropriate measures, with all practicable speed, to (i) pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO; (ii) recall and reassign United States Government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the WHO; and (iii) identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO. (Emphasis added)

The task of delivering the news to the CDC and public health offices fell on Deputy Director for Global Health at the CDC, John Nkengasong, who sent an email Sunday night telling all staff that they had to immediately stop all collaborations with the WHO until further guidance is issued. The stop-work policy applied to all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other meansin persona or virtual. They were also instructed that they could not visit WHO offices.

In fact, the actions taken by the Trump administration not only constitute a serious breach of national security but elevate the danger of another pandemic for the entire worlds population. James LeDuc, an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, correctly noted, As has been repeated many times, infectious diseases know no boundaries and in todays world of rapid travel, an outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere.

When open channels of communications and real-time situation reports between health agencies globally are paramount in containing outbreaks, the real hazards posed by such blatantly malign restrictions are incalculable. LeDuc, speaking with CBS News, explained, The fact is that there is no alternative to WHO. WHO has the global mandate that allows health issues to be addressed on a global scale in a coordinated manner.

That the gag order has been issued ahead of the influenza committee meeting next month, when CDC officials and WHO representatives would have selected the strains for next winters influenza vaccine, could very well mean that there will not be a flu vaccine for the coming year. One must place this in the current context that this years seasonal influenza outbreak has already sickened millions, hospitalized hundreds of thousands and killed thousands.

Considering the rise in cases of H5N1 bird flu affecting poultry and dairy farms throughout the country, as well as mice, deer, cats and other species, the evolution of this highly lethal virus and its potential to develop the capacity for human-to-human transmission are becoming ever more ominous. Seema Lakdawala, an influenza virologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, told Nature, The risk has increased as weve gone onespecially in the last couple of months, with the report of severe infections.

Presently there are two main bird flu strains circulating. The B3.13 strain is spreading among dairy cattle, while the D1.1 strain, which recently killed an elderly man in Louisiana and gravely sickened a teenager in British Columbia, is found mostly among wild birds and domesticated animals such as chickens. In Georgia, state officials placed a temporary ban on live-bird sales and exhibitions due to large-scale outbreaks on commercial farms. Recently, Marylands Caroline County and Virginias Accomack County have identified bird flu among large broiler farms.

Meanwhile, California has discovered the H5N9 bird flu on a poultry farm alongside the detection of the H5N1 strain on the same farm in Merced County. According to the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH), This is the first confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N9 in poultry in the United States. Virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen warned on her social media:

This is bad news. It suggests reassortment of circulating H5N1 viruses with viruses containing N9 NA. Although this indicates reassortment with avian viruses, its still bad. Reassortment makes pandemics. The last three of four flu pandemics (and maybe 1918 too) were reassortment viruses.

Under these highly dangerous conditions, the sharing of such information and collaboration with the WHO has come to a grinding halt. The US serves as one of the worlds top laboratories for testing and studying the virus. Samples are sent to the CDC through the collaborative networks established over 70 years of cooperation with the WHO to evaluate viruses that could pose a pandemic threat.

US expertise has also been critical in responding to deadly pathogens like Marburg and Ebola, especially in complex geopolitical environments like the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. Small outbreaks in rural communities can quickly spread to large, densely populated centers with access to international flights. The ability to respond to such outbreaks and roll out life-saving vaccines and medical aid has been the mechanism for containing the numerous outbreaks witnessed in just the last few years.

LeDuc said, The expertise provided by CDC and other US government agencies is absolutely essential to the success of WHO activities and to the well-being of the United States. I dont think we want, particularly as public health experts, to feel like they can only wave the US flag in those positions. The reason why it worked, with respect to the cooperation between the WHO and United States, is because we were able to be American and also to be global citizens.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer published an op-ed in the Times Wednesday pledging to complete the work of Britains two previous most right-wing governments of the post-war periodthose of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

Headlined Well cut the weeds of regulation and let growth bloom, Starmers article praises: In the 1980s, the Thatcher government deregulated finance capital. In the New Labour era, globalisation increased the opportunities for trade. This is our equivalent. For too long regulation has stopped Britain building its future.

It trailered how a speech that day by the chancellor [Rachel Reeves] will show how this government will sweep it away.

Screenshot of Times front page lauding Starmer's latest hailing of former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher [Photo: thetimes.com]

Labours Thatcherite plans, Starmer argued, were the only cure for the sickness of stagnation and decline. All previous talk of a partnership including working people was gone. His was the party of wealth creation. Our job is to work with businesses to create the environment that best allows them to thrive.

The Times noted that 24 hours prior to writing his piece, Starmer and Reeves met with senior executives from companies including Tesco, Unilever, BT, PwC and Lloyds, where he told them that he had heard loud and clear their demands for less onerous regulation.

This meant his government, as Starmer wrote, would remove a morass of regulation that effectively bans billions of pounds more of investment from flowing into Britain. Previous Tory governments had talked a good game over 14 years but failed, as Thickets of red tape [were] allowed to spread through the British economy like Japanese knotweed. Our pledge today is that this government will do what they could not.

Times Whitehall Editor Chris Smyth described it as language echoing [short-lived prime minister and Thatcher worshipper] Liz Trusss pledges to take on what she called the anti-growth coalition.

Thatchers deregulation of the banks and financial institutions in 1986 was dubbed the Big Bang, such were its era-defining implications, allowing financial speculation and parasitism on a scale never seen before and placing London ahead even of New York as a haven for finance capital.

Turning the capital into a playground of the super-rich was central to Thatchers goal of rolling back the frontiers of the state and resolving the economic crisis of the 1970s and 80s decisively in favour of the capitalist class.

As the WSWS has written, this required confronting head-on the resistance of the working class and paving the way for an explosion of inequality. Draconian laws, the whip of unemployment and militarised, violent policing were used against the 1984-85 miners strike and then the printworkers at Wapping.

Both, like other groups of workers, were defeated due to the treachery of the trade union and Labour Party bureaucracy, which was abandoning its former national reformist programme and openly embracing capitalism.

Such was the Blair governments embrace of these policieswith its mantra of being intensely relaxed about people getting filthy richthat Thatcher declared her greatest achievement to be Tony Blair and New Labour.

But Starmer and Reeves intend to go far beyond their predecessors, following the model pioneered in the United States by Donald Trump, who has empowered the richest oligarch on the planet, Elon Musk, to slash the $6 trillion public spending budget by a third via a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

It is no coincidence that Starmers pledge to rip up regulations came after a one-on-one call with Trump last week, described as constructive on both sides of the Atlantic. Avoiding contentious foreign policy issues, Downing Streets readout explained that they discussed trade and the economy, with the Prime Minister setting out how we are deregulating to boost growth.

This was just the latest example of Starmer embracing Trumps policiesand those of his fascist co-thinker the Argentinian President Javier Milei. Last month, as Reevess Treasury announced 10,000 job cuts in the civil service and demanded productivity increases from all public sector workers, Starmer went as far as parroting the oft-repeated threat of Trump to drain the swamp of government bureaucracy.

Coming to office pledging to be the most pro-business government this country has ever seen, even Labours raising of employers National Insurance contributionsalways clawed back by lowering wages and cutting jobswas treated as an unpardonable sin by the corporations. It has been making up for this error ever since.

In her speech following Starmers article, Reeves lambasted stifling and unpredictable regulation which meant The productive capacity of the UK economy has become far too weak. Productivity has grown more slowly here than in countries like Germany and the US.

Her response would be recognising that first and foremost it is businesses, investors and entrepreneurs who drive economic growth. Labour would be a government that systematically removes the barriers that they face one by one and has their back.

Reeves previously told a City of London audience that she favoured tearing up even the minimal restrictions on banks and investment institutions put in place by Gordon Browns Labour government after the 2007-8 global financial crash. Declaring the financial services sector the crown jewel of Britains economy, she stated, These changes have resulted in a system which sought to eliminate risk-taking. That has gone too far.

The Chancellor boasted Wednesday, We have already provided new growth-focused remits to our financial services regulators. She had also met the heads of some of our largest regulators, who had already provided a range of options to drive growth in their sectors and proposals for how they can be more agile and responsive to businesses.

Millions more workers will be offered up as cheap labour for the corporations, with welfare support slashed. Reeves pledged, We will deliver fundamental reform of our welfare system. That includes looking at areas that have been ducked for too long like the rising cost of health and disability benefits.

Making Britain the best place in the world to invest, she noted, had been her message in Davos last week, at the World Economic Forum meeting of the billionaire super-rich and mega-corporations.

Ahead of that summit, the Financial Timess Chief Economics Commentator Martin Wolf made sure Reeves remembered that she was still very much on marching orders from the capitalist class.

Wolf wrote in a January 20 op-ed, The government needs to retain the confidence of its creditors. It is crucial not to adopt policies that raise doubts about its good sense. How taxes were raised in the Budget did just that. So, too, do regulatory developments, notably in the labour market. The government will have to toughen its stance on current spending in its coming [June spending] review or consider higher taxes.

How firmly Starmer, Reeves, et al received the memo was made clear in the FTs assessment of the summit. It cited Marc Benioff, chief executive of Salesforce, who enthused, Everyone here at Davos is taking a page out of the Donald Trump playbook. Weve heard comments from [European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen] and Rachel Reeves and more. Countries are thinking that they need their own DOGEand that means less red tape, deregulation and a priority on growth.

Jonathan Reynolds, Labours business secretary who attended Davos with Reeves, was unequivocal, telling the FT, the voice of the City of London, We have to respond to the agenda the US president has just set out with our own dynamism Every country has to do it.
A US Postal Service letter carrier delivers mail in Atlanta. [AP Photo/David Goldman]

Amazons expansion of its delivery network into rural areas is replacing the United States Postal Service (USPS) as its last mile delivery service and threatening the livelihoods of rural carriers.

The e-commerce giant has extended its reach into smaller markets and rural areas, a move that has significant economic implications for rural carriers and raises serious questions about the future of the USPS, particularly in light of President Trumps renewed efforts to privatize the agency in his second term.

Amazon has significantly expanded its delivery network, particularly through the proliferation of its delivery stations, which operate like local post offices for Amazon packages. This is part of the companys larger strategy to take more control over its package delivery process, reducing its reliance on the USPS, which has been raising rates and cutting back on pickups in some regions.

Delivery stations were introduced into Amazons logistics network in 2018. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 accelerated the expansion of the stations to meet the demand caused by the increased reliance on online shopping.

In 2020, the number of Amazon delivery stations in the US surged 71 percent to 278 in just a year. According to MWPVL, a logistics consulting firm, the current number of delivery stations is 728 with an additional 104 planned to open this year.

The opening of a new Amazon delivery station in Knoxville, Tennessee last fall serves as a warning of the impact that Amazon's expansion will have on USPS rural carriers. Workers contacted by the World Socialist Web Site reported that they have seen over a 70 percent drop in the number of packages they are delivering.

A rural carrier in a suburb of Knoxville and member of the USPS Rank and File Committee from Tennessee told the World Socialist Web Site: I went from delivering 250-300 packages per day to now between 60-90 per day. I would assume on the next evaluation adjustment I will be losing my day off and probably $15-20k a year. Most of us are looking for another job in addition because we won't make enough.

A rural carrier in Knoxville reported: 'Yes, our jobs are in danger now. I had five packages on Wednesday. Evaluations are coming up and they dumped all the mail out on us this week so that our mail will be light when they do our evaluations, and we'll lose so much money that I'll have to find new employment. I mean each route will lose so much money that it will not pay enough as a career job.

Amazons expansion intensifies the challenges faced by rural carriers, who are already struggling with the fallout from the USPS's Delivering for America restructuring program and the Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System (RRECS).

As Amazon takes over more of its own deliveries, the USPS is left with the less profitable routes. Amazon is able to cherry-pick the most profitable routes, leaving the USPS to handle the less profitable ones under its universal service obligation (USO) to deliver to every address in the country, leaving the agency burdened with the more expensive and less efficient routes.

At the same time the implementation of the Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System (RRECS) continues to drastically reduce pay for rural carriers, with some losing as much as $20,000 annually.

According to another rural carrier in Tennessee, RRECS has cut down the carriers pay substantially. Amazon took advantage of this situation, but USPS wasn't charging them what they should. I think it very ironic that when Trump became President our new Postmaster General decided to raise these shipping rates. I think this is the reasoning behind them delivering their own product.

Amazon will not handle deliveries for all of its U.S. customers, but it is currently targeting about 90 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company stated that it now delivers over two-thirds of its own packages within the U.S.

Its goal to lessen its reliance on the USPS is significantly influenced by the massive disruptions caused by the Delivering for America (DFA) restructuring program implemented by Trump appointee Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

After announcing his 10-year plan to restructure and optimize the Postal Service in 2020, the USPS extended delivery windows for First-Class mail from 1-3 days to 3-5 days.

Further delays have resulted from the implementation of optimized collections under DFA, which has changed how mail is moved between processing centers and post offices, adopting a milk run approach.

Mail sent from lower-volume post offices may sit overnight until the next mornings pickup, slowing down delivery. This change has particularly impacted rural areas, where post offices are farther from the new sorting hubs, causing mail in these areas to take longer to be processed and sent out.

Additionally, DeJoy just announced that USPS has revised contracts in order to eliminate discounts for shippers who drop off parcels only for the challenging last mile of delivery in order to encourage shippers to utilize more of the Postal Service's network.

Amazons strategy has serious implications for the USPS, which just reported substantial losses in a year it was predicted to break even. In fiscal year 2024, DeJoy reported a $9.5 billion loss, up from $6.5 billion the previous year.

This comes as Donald Trump begins his second term with a renewed intention to privatize the agency. Trump's resident oligarch, Elon Musk, has been appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency, which intends to cut $2 trillion per year from the federal budget. This effort has gained the support of billionaire Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon and remains the Executive Chairman of Amazons board.

Ultimately, the expansion of Amazons delivery network into rural areas poses a significant threat to the longevity of the USPS as a quasi-governmental agency, while devastating the working conditions and living standards of rural carriers in the short term.
Dozens of civilians have been killed by the Nigerian government in air raids on alleged armed gangs in recent weeks.

Over the weekend of January 1112, around 20 civilians were killed in the village of Tungar Kara in the northwestern state of Zamfara, after local self-defense groups set up to protect residents from armed gangs were reportedly misidentified as gang members and targeted by the Nigerian Air Force. The incident follows another airstrike on a village in nearby Sokoto State on Christmas Day, in which 10 civilians were killed.

These attacks are the latest in a series of aerial bombardments carried out as part of a protracted campaign against armed groups and insurgents in the north of the country, much of which is effectively outside of federal government control. Since 2021, the Nigerian government has intensified its military campaigns across the country, with armed forces now deployed in two-thirds of its 36 states.

Government airstrikes have regularly killed civilians. In September last year, an attack in the northern state of Kaduna killed 24 people, while in December 2023, more than 120 civilians were killed and another 66 injured after a drone strike targeted a religious gathering, also in Kaduna. According to research firm SBM Intelligence, based in Nigerias largest city Lagos, military air raids have killed at least 400 civilians since 2017.

A report by Human Rights Watch also found that Nigerian security forces had committed various human rights violations during such counter-terrorism operations. This includes extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention and mass trials against suspected militants, primarily from Islamist group Boko Haram or its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Since 2009, Boko Haram and ISWAP (since 2015) have been conducting a violent insurgency in Nigerias northeastern state of Borno and in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Mali. Abductions, suicide bombings, torture, rape, forced marriages and the recruitment of child soldiers have become widespread, tens of thousands have been killed and at least 2 million displaced.

Meanwhile, Nigerias northwest and central regions have for years been plagued by waves of kidnappings, as armed gangs, known locally as bandits, raid schools and villages seizing students and local residents for ransom, as well as looting, burning homes and stealing livestock. Ransom demands have forced many families and even entire communities to sell property and take on debt. According to the Centre for Democracy and Development, a think-tank based in Nigerias capital, Abuja, approximately 30,000 bandits organised in over 100 gangs operate in northwestern Nigeria.

In December, dozens of villagers were abducted in Zamfara State by armed groups. Eyewitnesses and local news sites claimed that between 40 and 50 women were taken from the village of Kafin Dawa as gunmen went door to door seizing local residents. And in late February, suspected Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped more than 200 internally displaced people from Ngala local government area, Borno State, while 287 students were abducted from a secondary school in the town of Kuriga, Kaduna State by bandits only a couple of weeks later.

The mass kidnappings in 2024 come 10 years after the internationally publicised abductions of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014. This attack was used to justify military interventions by the imperialist countries, with Britain and the United States both sending security forces and advisors to Nigeria in May that year.

This was part of a broader pivot to Africa by the imperialist powers aimed at securing control of the continents huge mineral and energy resources, including oil, natural gas, cobalt, rare earth elements and uranium, which are critical to industries such as electronics and weaponry. Nigeria in particular holds immense oil reserves, at around 37 billion barrels, and is Africas largest oil producer. Oil accounts for 80 percent of the countrys export earnings.

The UK and US have continued to provide funding and training to Nigerias armed forces. Between 2000 and 2024, the US provided, facilitated or approved over $2 billion in military aid to Abuja, according to a report by Brown Universitys Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies and Washington-based think tank the Center for International Policy. This included the supply of 12 Super Tucano warplanes in 2017, as part of a $593-million package that also comprised bombs and rockets.

In October 2024, the UK government provided 450,000 of military materiel to the Nigerian armed forces, including counterimprovised explosive device equipment. Britain currently has 20 military personnel stationed in the northeastern city of Maiduguri providing training to the Nigerian Army.

Neither the military aid from the imperialist powers nor the Nigerian governments campaign of terror have succeeded in quelling the violence, which has worsened since 2014. According to estimates from Nigerias National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which based its figures on online surveys conducted among a sample of Nigerian households, a staggering 2.2 million people were kidnapped across the country between May 2023 and April 2024.

Around three-quarters of these kidnappings took place in rural areas and more than half in the northwestern states, which have been the hardest hit by armed violence. Around 80 percent of victims were released, 13 percent were killed and 3 percent remain in captivity. Among households that had experienced an abduction, 65 percent paid a ransom to secure the hostages release, with an enormous 2.23 trillion naira (roughly $1.4 billion) paid out in total. Based on these estimates, if kidnapping in Nigeria were a single company, it would be the countrys eighth largest by revenue.

In the same period, over 600,000 Nigerians were also estimated to have been murdered across the country by insurgents, armed gangs or by other perpetrators known to the victim, with seven in ten households having reported a murder to the police.

These already horrific figures may in fact be a decline on previous years, with most available data indicating a peak in violence between 2021 and 2023, after sustained annual increases since 2018. According to data collected by US-based non-profit organisation Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), armed violence involving bandits in Kaduna State, by far the worst affected, rose from around 50 incidents a year in 2018 to more than 400 in 2021, before falling to about 200 by 2023.

However, the ACLED report also noted that the decrease in violent incidents does not indicate a lower level of coercion of local communities. In many cases, bandit groups have consolidated control over swathes of territory, allowing them to use alternative tactics to collect revenue, including imposing informal taxation on industries such as farming and artisanal gold mining, under threat of reprisals if payments are not made.

While armed banditry has a long history in northern Nigeria, it has surged in recent decades partly due to intense competition between Hausa farmers and nomadic Fulani herders over scarce land resources. Climate change has exacerbated conflict, forcing pastoralists from their traditional grazing lands and encroaching on farmland, leading to violence and ethnic tensions.

Banditry, abductions and ethnic tensions have also escalated as social conditions have deteriorated in Nigeria. Recessions in 2016 and 2020, followed by the governments introduction of a raft of pro-market reforms since the election of Bola Tinubu as president in May 2023, have led to mass unemployment and triggered a severe cost-of-living crisis, pushing millions into poverty and forcing Nigerians to seek alternative forms of income.

In 2023, the NBS estimated that the unemployment rate for those under 30 in Nigeria was 33 percent. Around 40 percent of the countrys population live in extreme poverty, according to the World Banksome 93 million people. And between October and December 2024, 25.1 million Nigerians were estimated to be acutely food insecure by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), a figure which is predicted to rise to 33 million this year.

State repression and armed violence can only be stopped by tackling the myriad social crises that have triggered it, which are inherent to the capitalist system. This requires uniting the working class across racial, ethnic and national lines in a frontal assault on the corporate and financial oligarchy in Nigeria and internationally, as part of a fight for socialism.
A protracted campaign by the Australian establishment to tar all opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza as antisemitism has found an improbable new target: a prominent anti-Zionist Jewish leader and her remarks at an anti-racism conference.

The attempt to brand Sarah Schwartz, a human rights lawyer and the Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, as some sort of anti-Jewish bigot is a particularly sharp exposure of the bogus character of this broader campaign. Schwartz, a longstanding opponent of all forms of racism, is being targeted by right-wing forces with a record of racist dogwhistling.

Sarah Schwartz [Photo: Sarah Schwartz / LinkedIn]

The confected hysteria is over a National Symposium on Unifying Anti-Racist Research and Action, held at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on January 23 and 24. Speakers included academics and activists, some of them indigenous, as well as independent federal parliamentarian Lidia Thorpe. Macquarie University academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has repeatedly been the target of Zionist witch-hunts spoke, as did Schwartz.

Despite the conference running for two days, the outrage by leading politicians, Zionist organisations and the media focuses almost exclusively on a still photo of Schwartz speaking with a slide behind her headlined Duttons Jew. That was a reference to Peter Dutton, leader of the federal Liberal-National Coalition.

The slide, which Schwartz has noted was satirical, included a number of attributes, such as promotes Judeo-Christian values; hates the radical left; scared of protesters, Hates Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims; Hates immigrants, etc.

In a humorous manner, Schwartz was pointing to the obviously fraudulent character of the Coalitions intense and sudden preoccupation with antisemitism. That preoccupation does not extend to any other form of racism, or even the threat posed by genuine far-right antisemites, some of whom are in the periphery of the Coalition, but focuses exclusively on slandering opponents of the Israeli war crimes.

And it is being overseen by Dutton, himself a right-wing figure, whose entire career has been bound up with attacks on refugees and immigrants, as well as racial dog whistling on law and order issues.

In 2008, Dutton walked out of parliament to protest the then Labor governments apology to the stolen generation, Indigenous people who were kidnapped from their parents by the state as part of an effort to eradicate the Aboriginal population. The apology was a sham, covering for ongoing attacks on oppressed indigenous people, but Duttons objection to even this token acknowledgement makes clear enough his own anti-racist credentials.

Schwartz was also highlighting the opportunist and reactionary character of Zionist organisations aligning with Dutton over their shared support for Israel and its genocide.

Willfully ignoring those points, Schwartzs detractors have presented the slide as something approaching a hate crime. Dutton labelled the event a disgrace. The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, a Zionist outfit, declared: The presentation would not have been out of place in antisemitic gatherings throughout the ages.

Zionist groups have been virulently hostile to Schwartz since she played a key role in establishing the Jewish Council of Australia last year to provide Jewish people with an alternative to the myriad other bodies, which while claiming to be representative, are generally hardline defenders of the Israeli state.

Predictably, given the corporatised character of the universities, QUT has immediately bowed to the witch-hunt. Its vice-chancellor, Professor Margaret Sheil, rushed to issue a grovelling apology on Friday afternoon, i.e., the day the conference concluded, and menacingly promised to review the circumstances of this presentation and take any action necessary.

Amid a deluge of phony outrage, two other responses were particularly noteworthy.

Prominent Indigenous academic Marcia Langton issued a vicious attack on Schwartz in the Murdoch-owned Australian. Her claim to being satirical is deluded, Langton wrote. She presented a series of hateful stereotypes of Jewish people that have been used to persecute them for centuries and justify genocide She deeply offended Jewish Australians and other Australians, including me.

Langton personifies the reactionary character of a layer of the indigenous elite cultivated by successive governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike. This layer has nothing to do with oppressed Indigenous people, instead seeking to advance its own interests within the corridors of the political and corporate elite by exploiting Aboriginal identity politics.

In November, 2023, Langton published another opinion piece in the Australian, hailing Israels onslaught against Gaza, denouncing any comparison between the oppression of Aboriginals and Palestinians and depicting the victims of Israeli bombs as human shields largely responsible for their plight.

In her diatribe against Schwartz, Langton drew a distinction between academic freedom and freedom of speech. The crux of her argument was that the two are not the same, and that academic freedom entails academics being subordinate to the dictates of university management.

That was the thrust of the other significant response, from the federal Labor government. Leading Labor MPs immediately invoked their bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses, a McCarthyite mechanism to suppress opposition to the genocide among students and academics.

Josh Burns, a Labor MP on the committee and an ardent Zionist, branded the anti-racism conference as shocking and personally, I have seen some truly stupid things, but that was about as irresponsible as Ive seen in the last 18 months.

Under the banner of combatting antisemitism, the government and the entire establishment is going on the offensive against free speech, and any opposition to the unprecedented war crimes by the far right Israeli regime that they are complicit in.

Perhaps the greatest irony of the current furore is that the only Jewish individual under actual political attack, in connection with the QUT conference, is Schwartz herself. In the name of combatting antisemitism, government and opposition leaders and the media are persecuting a Jewish person, because of her opposition to genocide, in a clear bid to silence her and others with similar opinions.

Schwartz, importantly, has not backed down. In an opinion piece in the Guardian yesterday, she elaborated on the point made in her satirical slide. Schwartz located Duttons posturing over antisemitism in the context of a broader trend among far-right and even fascistic forces internationally. They supported Israel for imperialist geo-strategic reasons, but also used their backing of it to further a right-wing campaign against Muslims and immigrants, with the Zionist state presented as being on the frontline of a civilisational conflict.

With regards to Dutton, for instance, she noted: When comparing Hamas to the Nazis during his argument for Australia to refuse temporary visitor visas to Palestinians fleeing persecution in Gaza, Dutton appeared to suggest the Nazis at least felt guilt because they tried to conceal their crimes. In parliament, he was criticised for linking antisemitism to the high courts decision to ban indefinite immigration detention.

He has pushed draconian measures such as mandatory sentencing, which has no evidence of reducing hate, in response to rising antisemitism. He has referred to the weekly anti-war protests in support of a ceasefire and Palestinian rights as anti-Jewish protests, ignoring the multicultural nature of these rallies and the large number of Jews like me who attend them.

Pointing to global developments, Schwartz wrote: Trump appeared happy to host neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers at Mar-a-Lago for dinner. His right-hand man, Elon Musk, gave two fascist-style salutes at Trumps inauguration and has recently endorsed the extreme far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party. I dont believe that Trump and the far right could care less about the threat these groups pose to actual Jewish people

Her article can be read here.
Beyonce accepts the Innovator Award during the iHeartRadio Music Awards, April 1, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

The Grammy Awards boast more than 90 categories.

They range from best classical instrumental solo (our money is on Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson taking the prize in 2025) to best musica Mexicana album (go Peso Pluma!).

Still, the event, especially the portion shown on broadcast coverage, tends to be dominated by the biggest names in pop music: Beyonce, for example, leads all nominees with 11 (she has 99 in all, now); followed by Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX, with seven each, and Taylor Swift, and first-time nominees Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, with six each.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The categories that get the most attention, of course, are the so-called Big Four general field categories, where the marquee artists  irrespective of genre  battle it out for top honors.

The Big Four field in 2025 is absolutely fantastic  there is so much great talent. So many good stories. It should be an absolute treat to see how it all plays out when Musics Biggest Night goes down on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Here are our predictions for how will win the four biggest categories  album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist.

Tune in to see if they come true when the Grammys are aired live at 7 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+. (You can also stream the awards on any service that includes CBS and view the show up to 24 hours afterward on Paramount+.)

Album of the year

Billie Eilish Jason Armond/TNS

Nominees: New Blue Sun, Andre 3000; Cowboy Carter, Beyonce; Short n Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter; Brat, Charli XCX; Djesse Vol. 4, Jacob Collier; Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish; The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan; The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The skinny: This trophy is commonly known as The Big Award, although some might prefer to refer to as The Taylor Trophy given that Swift has won this one more times than any other artist in history.

And although you can never count out Tay-Tay in this (or, really, any) Grammy category, we really dont think the biggest star on planet Earth will win her fifth album of the year prize for what is  no doubt  the most mediocre offering of her beyond-compare career.

On the other side of the coin is Beyonce, who has lost this category as many times as Swift has won it. (And she has actually lost to Swift twice  in 2010 and 2015).

Weve spent years predicting that Queen Bey will finally have that breakthrough  for albums far better than 2024s Cowboy Carter  only to have voters keep proving us incorrect. Do we dare being wrong once again and say that 2025 will be Beyonce's year? Thats a tough one.

Chappell Roan p Minh Connors/The Chronicle

Looking beyond Swift and Beyonce, this category is absolutely loaded with great storylines and possible winners.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Putting her Disney Channel ever further in the rearview mirror, Sabrina Carpenter released the best mainstream pop album of the year with Short n Sweet. Billie Eilish is always a threat to win, at pretty much every award show, and Hit Me Hard and Soft is another excellent offering.

Charli XCX and Chappell Roan captured the zeitgeist of 2024 perhaps better than anyone else in the business, as the former turned the title of Brat into the word of year and the latter skyrocketed from seemingly out of nowhere into pops top tier.

Honestly, its such a close race that it wouldnt be shocking to see any of these six women take home the trophy. The only surprise would come if either Andre 3000s New Blue Sun or Jacob Colliers Djesse Vol. 4 managed to sneak a win.

Who will win: Yeah, we might be a glutton for punishment, but were going with Beyonce  once again  to finally have that breakthrough and win for Cowboy Carter.

Record of the year

Kendrick Lamar Yuki Iwamura/AFP/TNS

The nominees: Now and Then, the Beatles; Texas Hold Em, Beyonce; Espresso, Sabrina Carpenter; 360, Charli XCX; Birds of a Feather, Billie Eilish; Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar; Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan; Fortnight, Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The skinny: No, thats not a typo  the Beatles are indeed nominated in this category, some 55 years years after the group broke up. And this tune  a marvel of audio restoration that is dubbed the last Beatles song  could indeed win the Fab Four their first-ever record of the year Grammy.

Go figure.

Yet, wed rather see the award go to any of the other nominees  all of which are better than the Beatles number.

Well, maybe not Texas Hold Em.

Not Like Us might be the most impressive in the pack, a first-tier diss track that serves as further proof that Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper alive. Yet, were not sure how many votes will go to track that references someone as a pedophile.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Good Luck, Babe! and 360 are  to borrow from summer 2024  totally brat, but neither deliver that caffeine-style buzz quite like Espresso, which is good but not quite good enough.

Fortnight is also quite good, even though its parent album isnt.

And that leaves an undeniable triumph from an established Grammy winner, a soaring tune that has the look, feel and momentum often associated with a record of year winner.

Who will win: Look for Eilish to add to another award to her already ridiculously overcrowded trophy case thanks to Birds of a Feather.

Song of the year

Shaboozey performs at Nashville's Big Bash New Year's Eve at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville Amy Harris/Associated Press

Nominees: A Bar Song (Tipsy), Shaboozey; Birds of a Feather, Billie Eilish; Die With a Smile, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars; Fortnight," Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone; Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan; Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar; Please Please Please, Sabrina Carpenter; Texas Hold Em, Beyonce

The skinny: Were always tempted to give this one award  which is devoted to songwriters  to the song that lists the most writing credits. But, in this case, that would mean Texas Hold Em, which isnt anywhere close to being one of Beys best.

So, we thought about going in the other direction and picking the one with the fewest writing credits. And thats Not Like Us, a Lamar-Drake feud number that voters arent likely to further reward in the general field. (Although, it could win both of the rap-specific categories that its nominated in.)

Swift holds the lifetime record for most nominations in the category  with eight  and, remarkably, has yet to score a win here. So, thats definitely something working in favor of Fortnight.

A win for Birds of a Feather would make it two years in a row in this category for the OConnell siblings (Eilish and brother Finneas), who triumphed in 2024 with What Was I Made For?

Who will win: While its tempting to spread the wealth  especially to include Swift  were actually going to double up here and say that Birds of a Feather will win both record and song of the year.

Best new artist

Houston's Khruangbin, featuring guitarist Mark Speer and bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, is a nominee in the best new artist category. Paul R. Giunta/Invision/Associated Press

The nominees: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims

The skinny: As always, there are some nice talents in the mix  including many who will likely remain forces in the biz for years to come.

Yet  lets be honest here  the category really boils down to a two-artist race in 2025 between two skyrocketing pop stars.

In one corner is Roan, who rode massive internet buzz, an opening slot on Olivia Rodrigos Guts World Tour and a collection of solid retro-dance-pop tunes to worldwide fame.

Shed be an absolute shoe-in to win in most years, except that  well  we have the person responsible for the best mainstream pop album of 2024 waiting in the other corner.

That would be Carpenter, whose top-to-bottom solid Short n Sweet served as a convincing case that she now needs to be ranked among the genres top names.

Were not, however, convinced that Carpenter deserves to even be in this category  given that Short n Sweet is her sixth (!) album to date. But Grammy voters probably dont pay attention to such details  just ask Shelby Lynne.
SPRINGFIELD  President Donald Trump's budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing spending on federal grants after a day of widespread confusion and a promise from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to fight the directive "with everything we have."

The Monday evening order from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding.

The White House confirmed that OMB pulled the order Wednesday in a two sentence notice sent to agencies and departments, but said that Trump's underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, remained in place.

The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but was stayed by a federal judge until at least Monday after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. An additional lawsuit by Democratic state attorneys general, including Illinois' Kwame Raoul, was also pending.

For a day, the order sowed chaos and confusion across the country as states and organizations heavily reliant on federal funds suddenly could not access those resources.

In Illinois, the response from the state's Democratic leaders was defiant.

"Let's be clear, this is a demonstration of cruelty against people who depend on us, working families who rely on federal assistance to pay their rent, people who need help paying their utility bills, parents who need critical programs like Head Start for quality affordable child care, and 3.5 million Illinoisans who get their health insurance through Medicaid, Pritzker told reporters at an abruptly called press conference in Chicago on Tuesday evening.

The governor was joined by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Raoul, the latter of whom co-led a coalition of 22 attorneys general who sued on Tuesday to block the funding freeze.

Pritzker repeatedly called the order illegal and unconstitutional, as it halted spending that had been authorized by Congress and mandated by federal law.

Nevertheless, his administration began working furiously on contingency plans, directing state agencies to report on its potential effects.

The impact to Illinois could be drastic if federal funds are cut off. The state is already staring down a more than $3 billion budget deficit in the fiscal year that begins in July.

Pritzker, who will deliver his budget address to state lawmakers in the state Capitol in three weeks, did not offer specifics on potential impacts to the state's spending plans on Tuesday.

But he acknowledged that "we cannot make up for billions of dollars of Medicaid that might be taken away from the state of Illinois" or the "hundreds of millions of dollars that ... might be taken away from universities."

When rolling out the order, Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected by the freeze, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans and food stamps.

However, Illinois state agencies throughout Tuesday reported trouble accessing Medicaid systems. More than 3 million people in Illinois receive Medicaid, the nations health care coverage for people with low incomes and disabilities.

The White House later confirmed a nationwide "outage" but said that no payments were affected and the system was restored by the end of the day.

But Pritzker, long a Trump foe, said that the president and his administration "have not earned the benefit of the doubt," accusing them of "either lying to us" or being "critically incompetent" in the delivery of services.

"This is what happens when you staff the federal government full of 'Project 2025' contributors that don't have any experience governing and don't think that the laws apply to them," Pritzker said, referencing the blueprint published by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.

"The consequences of their actions are not hypothetical," he said. "They are not numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real people, ordinary Americans struggling to afford groceries, rent and health care."

Other programs that could have been affected include:

Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which provides funding that supports child care for more than 140,000 Illinois children from low-income families;

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists more than 300,000 low-income households with their energy bills;

Programs serving seniors, people with disabilities, various state and local economic development efforts, infrastructure projects and disaster mitigation.

Even with the spending freeze now rescinded, the upheaval it created is perhaps a sign of things to come in Trump's second act.

In the first week of his second term, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders. Among them, he pardoned more than 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. He also withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accords and the World Health Organization.

Trump also began a promised crackdown on immigration and signed an order seeking to end birthright citizenship, which makes anyone born in the United States, regardless of the legal status of their parents, a U.S. citizen.

The president has also sought to reshape the federal workforce, offering buyouts to any workers who leave their jobs by next week.

Pritzker, in a message posted to his social media channels Tuesday evening, acknowledged that the fight over federal funding, like on other topics, is likely just beginning.

"This is going to be a hard four years, and I think we're going to have to fight in the days ahead, weeks ahead and months ahead to preserve these services for you," Pritzker said, speaking directly to the camera. "But I think we'll win. We're Illinois. We're strong, we hang together. We will win."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Kristi Noem is the newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary.

Eric Thayer / Getty Images

The former governor of South Dakota traveled to New York City to oversee and publicize federal immigration raids, including the arrest of a Venezuelan gang member.

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

She told CBS News, "This is our nation's law enforcement  judicial process. The scales of justice are equally applied to everybody. We want transparency on this. I believe that this is an accountability measure."

Kristi posted a video before the raids, and people have a lot of things to say about it!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mainly, people are calling what she's wearing a "costume."

"costume department in the Trump admin is going off with this one," one person said.

"elect a cheap reality TV president, get a cheap reality TV government," another person said.

And this person said, point-blank, "Go to work and do your job. It's 7AM."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then, there are the jokes.

"NYC ComicCon off to a great start," this person said.

"Looks like she's about to get into a fist fight over a parking space at the Staten Island Mall," another person joked.

And this person said, "Better hope she doesn't get sent out with animal control agents!"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bye!
Get ready to welcome the Year of the Snake, with many ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Tied to the first new moon, Lunar New Year falls sometime between mid-January and mid-February in Western calendars. This year, it begins Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The holiday is celebrated by more than 2 billion people all over the world among many Asian cultures. Since the origin of Lunar New Year spans several countries  including China, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam  traditions around the holiday vary widely across each culture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How many days Lunar New Year is celebrated also varies depending on the culture, according to USA Today.

In South Korea, Lunar New Year is called Seollal and lasts for three days. In Vietnam, the tradition is referred to as Tet Nguyen an, a week-long celebration. Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12.

Looking for ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year, learn more about the holiday or develop a greater appreciation for its traditions?

Here are some nearby Lunar New Year events worth adding to your calendar:

Jan. 28: New Years Eve Midnight Parade in Chinatown, Philadelphia

Led by the Philadelphia Suns, this late-night parade takes place in the heart of Chinatown with lion dance performances and firecrackers to ward off bad spirits and bless the new year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When: Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 10 p.m.

Where: Philadelphia Chinatown, starting at 10 th and Spring streets

More info: phillysuns.org/post/2025-lunar-new-year-parade

Jan. 29: Lunar New Year Crafts at the Levittown library branch

Drop into the Levittown branch of the Bucks County Free Library to color and craft in celebration of Lunar New Year. The activity is designed for grades K-6, but all ages are welcome.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 45 p.m.

Where: Bucks County Free Library, 7311 New Falls Road, Levittown

More info: buckslib.org

Bucks County family shares tradition: Lunar New Year a celebration, connection to Asian culture in Bucks County

Feb. 1: Lunar New Year Dragon Dance at Reading Terminal Market

Join the market for a traditional dance performance in honor of the Lunar New Year.

When: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m.

Where: Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St., Philadelphia

More info: readingterminalmarket.org/event/lunar-new-year-dragon-dance

Feb. 1: Lunar New Year Celebration at Fashion District Philadelphia

Experience a traditional lion dance and parade around the mall with the Philadelphia Suns. Enjoy kids crafts, exclusive retail offers and more.

When: Saturday, Feb. 1 from noon2 p.m.

Where: Fashion Districts The Cube, 901 Market St., Philadelphia

More info: fashiondistrictphiladelphia.com

Feb. 1: Lunar New Year Lion Dance in downtown Media

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a lion dance performance by Hung Gar Kung Fu Academy along State Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When: Saturday, Feb. 1 from 23 p.m.

Where: State Street in Media, starting in front of the town clock

More info: Event page on Facebook

Feb. 1: Franklin Square Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with partners from Philadelphias Chinatown: Philly Suns Lion Dancers at 5pm, crafts for children with Asian Arts Initiative, red envelope surprise giveaways, and a free dumpling workshop with Michael Chow from Sang Kee Peking Duck House.

When: Saturday, Feb. 1 from 57 p.m.

Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6 th St., Philadelphia

More info: historicphiladelphia.org/events/lunar-new-year-celebration

Feb. 1: Lunar New Year Celebration at Dilworth Park

This Lunar New Year celebration, presented by Temple University, features dancing lions, traditional Chinese dancers, and a special menu by James Beard Foundation Award-Winning Restaurateur Ellen Yin. Events scheduled throughout the evening include a calligraphy activity, a Year of the Snake childrens craft, red envelope giveaway to the first 100 guests, and performances by Kun-Yang/Lin Dance, Jiaye Xu of Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance, and the Philadelphia Suns.

When: Saturday, Feb. 1 from 57 p.m.

Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15 th St., Philadelphia

More info: centercityphila.org/parks/events/saturdays-at-the-rink/lunar-new-year

Feb. 2: New Years Day Parade in Chinatown

Led by the Philadelphia Suns, this daytime parade takes place in the heart of Chinatown with lion dance performances and firecrackers to ward off bad spirits and bless the new year.

When: Sunday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m.

Where: Philadelphia Chinatown, starting at 10 th and Spring streets

More info: phillysuns.org/post/2025-lunar-new-year-parade

Feb. 2: Lancaster AAPIs Annual Lunar New Year Celebration

Gather at Ewell Plaza and Binns Park for a day of festivities including food vendors showcasing flavors from across Asia, Cultural performances and activities that honor the stories and traditions of the Asian American Pacific Islander community, and local artisans and businesses offering unique handmade goods and creations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When: Sunday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Ewell Plaza, 123 N. Queen St., Lancaster

More info: Event page on Facebook

Feb. 8: Lunar New Year at Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie

Dancers with the Central Bucks Chinese-American Association will perform at the Year of the Dragon celebration at Pearl S. Buck International in Hilltown Feb. 10.

Join Pearl S. Buck International and the Central Bucks Chinese-American Association for a family-friendly event, featuring games, live musical and dance performances, kids activities, food trucks and more as they usher in the Year of the Snake. Tickets can be purchased online.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie

More info: pearlsbuck.org/lunar

Feb. 8: Lunar New Year Celebration at King of Prussia Mall

The King of Prussia Mall will be hosting its annual Lunar New Year Celebration with dragon dancing. Park and enter through the mall entrance near Forever 21.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8

Where: King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia

More info: simon.com/mall/king-of-prussia

Feb. 9: Lunar New Year Family Festival at the Philadelphia Art Museum

Ring in the Year of the Snake  which symbolizes wisdom, charm, elegance and transformation  with several family-friendly events throughout the museum, including an artist takeover dim sum party, a little kids art celebration for toddlers, a pop-up gallery activity and a snake den floor maze. Event is included with museum admission.

When: Sunday, Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia

More info: philamuseum.org/calendar/event/family-festival-lunar-new-year-2025

Feb. 18: Lunar New Year Celebration at Quaker Bridge Mall

The Quaker Bridge Mall is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration with music, dance, and interactive activities in partnership with WULA Academy. Park and enter at the upper level mall entrance by Old Navy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When: Saturday, Feb. 15 from 25 p.m.

Where: Quaker Bridge Mall, 3320 US Route 1, Lawrenceville, New Jersey

More info: simon.com/mall/quaker-bridge-mall

Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, food and drink, economic revitalization, art and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times at PhillyBurbs.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations, festivals near Bucks County
Kansans learn from an early age that their state tree is the cottonwood, the state song is "Home on the Range" and the state bird is the western meadowlark, which received that designation 100 years ago Wednesday.

But as they celebrate the Sunflower State's 164th anniversary of statehood on Wednesday, Kansans may be less familiar with the identities of the state fish, fruit, grass, rock, mineral, gemstone, fossils and wine grapes.

Kansas lawmakers have adopted all those symbols in the past 15 years. Following is more about them.

A sandhill plum tree is seen growing natively in Kansas, where lawmakers in 2022 adopted the sandhill plum as the state fruit.

What is the Kansas fruit?

The state fruit is the sandhill plum, adopted by lawmakers in 2022 at the request of more than 500 Kansas fourth- and fifth-graders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The effort was spearheaded by students from Sabetha in Nemaha County.

What is the Kansas grass?

The state grass is the little bluestem, adopted in 2010 after an initiative launched by students at Shawnee Mission South High School in Johnson County.

Little bluestem was chosen only after Kansas House members suggested instead adopting big bluestem or buffalo grass as the state grass, Topeka Capital-Journal archives show.

What is the Kansas fish?

The state fish is the channel catfish, which Kansas lawmakers chose to receive that distinction in 2018.

Legislators had been discussing potentially making that move since the 1980s, then-Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said at the time.

What are the Kansas fossils?

Kansas lawmakers in 2014 named the Pteranodon as the state flying fossil and the Tylosaurus as the state marine fossil.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fossils have been found in Kansas of both the Tylosaurus, an extinct reptile that swam the oceans that covered Kansas 85 million years ago, and the Pteranodon, an extinct, winged pterosaur that soared in the skies above those waters.

Lawmakers in 2023 named Silvisaurus condrayi,  a 3-foot-tall, 10-foot-long dinosaur that roamed the Sunflower State 100 million years ago  as the state land fossil.

The Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas displays a fossil discovered in north-central Kansas of Silvisaurus condrayi, which that university says is the only dinosaur known to have inhabited Kansas.

What are the Kansas red wine grape and white wine grape?

Kansas lawmakers in 2019 designate the Chambourcin as the state's official red wine grape and the Vignoles as its official white wine grape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chambourcin grapes produce a medium-bodied red wine similar to Pinot Noir, with a fruity aroma.

Vignoles grapes are used to make various styles of wine.

What are the Kansas rock, mineral and gemstone?

The 2018 bill designating the channel catfish as the state fish also designated Greenhorn limestone as the state rock, Galena as the state mineral and Jelinite as the state gemstone.

Elementary school students had lobbied in favor of the latter three choices.

According to the text of the bill involved:

Greenhorn limestone is a staple of the Flint Hills and used in buildings throughout Kansas.

Galena is a type of lead ore, which propelled population growth in the state because it could be mined.

Jelinite, formerly known as "Kansasite," is found near the state's Smoky Hill River.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: What the the Kansas grass, fish, fossils and fruit? Find out here
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person was seriously injured in a shooting in South Nashville, and officers are searching for the man who fled the scene.

According to Metro Police, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. Tuesday on Wallace Road, just south of Harding Place.

Officials said a male suspect wearing red shorts with black pants underneath opened fire on another person, shooting them in the chest before he fled on foot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

The victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with critical injuries, police said.

Officers deployed a K9 unit to search for the man overnight. Additional details were not immediately released as the investigation continues.

 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.
IVINS, Utah (ABC4)  One person was taken to the hospital in serious condition after being hit by a car in southern Utah.

According to the Santa Clara  Ivins Public Safety Department, the incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, near Vista Charter School in Ivins. Officials said the person on the scooter is not a student at the school.

16-year-old arrested for arson after Ogden apartment fire

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upon arrival, officers learned that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian who was riding an electric scooter in a designated school crosswalk, officials said in a press release.

The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital for treatment and the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene to cooperate with the investigation.

Officials said the school zone lights in the location of the collision do not activate until 2:45 p.m., but drivers should always be aware and yield to pedestrians.

Utah law requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, regardless of whether school zone lights are flashing, the department said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No further details about the pedestrian or the driver were released.

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.
SIOUX FALLS SD (KELO)  Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go.

A bill requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public South Dakota classrooms passed the Senate yesterday.

10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate

In a matter of hours, we should know the name of South Dakotas new Lieutenant Governor. Thats according to Governor Larry Rhoden, who spoke to a joint session of South Dakotas legislature on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rhoden: Naming Lieutenant Governor Wednesday

Very mild weather continues to dominate the weather headlines across KELOLAND. Sioux Falls tied a record high yesterday at 55, with new records set at Mobridge, Marshall, and Spencer.

Mild and dry weather will continue in KELOLAND

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Throughout the years, hundreds of people joined and cycled in and out of the group. To improve retention rates, Applewhite gradually began to control many aspects of members' daily habits and routines.

He was a master manipulator. As his techniques improved, more people stayed on to follow him, becoming fanatically devoted.

Advertisement

"Cult leaders come in many shapes and sizes with assorted facades. One mask is in the form of a teacher," emails Rick Alan Ross, author of "Cults Inside Out." "Marshall Applewhite was a teacher and he regarded the members of Heaven's Gate as his 'class' of students. He claimed to have the keys to self-improvement, with tantalizing promises of a panacea, a magic formula for evolution to a level above human."

Members were forced to wear the same clothes and have the same haircuts. They gave up their jobs, families, possessions and their sexuality. Several male members (including Applewhite) even agreed to be castrated to help them loosen ties to their earthly lives.

"Cult members can appear 'brainwashed,' because they are so cocooned within their leader's contrived bubble world," Ross says. "Applewhite tightly controlled his devotees who lived communally in a house that he controlled. They were isolated from family and friends and could not travel outside the community without an accompanying escort."

When astronomers in 1995 discovered the comet Hale-Bopp, Applewhite came to believe the aliens were finally on their way, hiding behind the comet as it raced toward Earth. He also felt sure that Nettles was aboard the ship.

Applewhite rented a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego. To make money, the group designed websites for several customers. In fact, the Heaven's Gate website is still functioning.

As Hale-Bopp came closer by the week, Applewhite figured the only way to join Nettles was for the group to leave their "container" bodies and elevate to the ship.
. Getty Creative / LeoPatrizi

In 2016, days after a gunman killed dozens of LGBTQ people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, I wrote a list of ways to help usher in a queer revolution.

Frustrated with the useless-to-the-point-of-being-offensive thoughts and prayers politicians and pundits were offering my community, I wanted to locate some concrete steps to push the movement forward and, when I couldnt, I came up with some of my own.

Almost a decade later, as we now find ourselves ruled by an administration that has already begun to gleefully slash and burn our democracy, I dug up that list, dusted it off, and updated it to include actions that can aid us in pushing back against its disturbing and dangerous agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its easy to feel overwhelmed, disheartened and powerless right now. Thats exactly what they want. But we have options, paths forward, and strategies for staying informed, engaged, angry and tuned in to what we need to survive this nightmare.

Every decision to resist or exist in a manner that opposes what they have planned for us is valuable. Every act of defiance, no matter how small, matters. Every person who refuses to comply or roll over and die is doing heroic work.

The following is in no way a complete list, but I think its a good place to start. Everything here is intended to not only combat, but also to help create the kind of country we want and deserve. Feel free to add and execute your own ideas.

We may be living in Hell, but that doesnt mean we have to like it, accept it or surrender.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1. Learn about far-right movements and the propaganda they use, so you can identify and push back against them.

2. Call out far-right dog-whistles and coded language.

3. Contact your elected officials and voice your opinions.

4. Vote for people who care about and stand up for you, the people you love, and the kind of country you want to live in.

5. Vote out politicians who do not.

6. Run for office.

7. Attend a city council meeting or school board meeting and make your views known.

8. Stop shopping at companies that dont care about or reflect your values.

9. Shop local/small whenever possible.

10. Read and watch and listen to and support independent media that refuses to capitulate or bow to the new administration or its allies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

11. Question the media.

12. Hold the media accountable.

13. Fight misinformation with facts and science.

14. Stop using social media sites that refuse to protect you from misinformation or attacks based on who you are.

15. If you are going to stay on social media sites that refuse to protect you from misinformation or attacks based on who you are, use them to share facts and uplift communities who are also resisting.

16. Block trolls, bots and individuals who are looking to drag you into futile fights or otherwise suck your time, energy and sanity.

17. Support unions.

18. Refuse to cross picket lines or shop at anti-union companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

19. Support mutual aid organizations.

20. Find joy wherever you can and make joy whenever you cant find it. They want us to be scared and miserable, so any chance or choice to be otherwise is truly a radical act.

21. Volunteer.

22. Go to a protest.

23. Believe someone when they say theyve been sexually assaulted.

24. Defend a persons right to choose an abortion.

25. Defend everyones right to die with dignity.

26. Speak out against police brutality.

27. Hold the police accountable.

28. Push for police reform.

29. Push for prison reform.

30. Push for prisoners rights.

31. Support individuals being targeted by ICE. Learn about the rights we all have, regardless of immigration status, and what you can do to defend your communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

32. Donate time or money to organizations and shelters for people without housing.

33. Advocate for better gun laws.

34. Learn about climate change and what you can do to fight it.

35. If youre queer, come out (if its safe for you to do so) and/or support others who do. The more we talk about who we are, the harder it is to erase us.

36. Thank allies for their support.

37. Hold allies accountable when necessary.

38. Support individuals, organizations and businesses who are willing to stand up for whats right  especially when it could cost them in a variety of ways.

39. Be open to answering questions about your identity. The more people know about people who arent like them, the more they tend to care and rally for them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

40. Be open to alerting others to why their questions about your identity may be problematic and unwelcome.

41. Brush up on your history lessons  especially those pertaining to marginalized groups whose lives and pasts are frequently distorted, denied, banned from being taught in our schools, or erased.

42. Refuse to apologize for being angry.

43. Refuse to apologize for being heartbroken.

44. Refuse to apologize for being disappointed.

45. Know when it is appropriate to apologize, and do it fully and graciously.

46. Support drag (and tip your performers well).

47. Support the arts.

48. Donate to public television and radio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

49. Visit museums.

50. Make art.

51. Fight to ensure that HIV/AIDS isnt criminalized or stigmatized.

52. Fight for affordable access to medical care and medicine for all people.

53. Fight for affordable housing.

54. Fight for programs that provide safety nets for individuals who need them.

55. Fight the war on drugs.

56. Fight for true religious freedom  not religion disguised as an opportunity to discriminate  and the freedom to not be religious.

57. Fight religious extremism.

58. Fight for the clear and distinct separation of church and state.

59. Fight for comprehensive sexual education that includes discussion about queer sex.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

60. Fight against abstinence-only sexual education.

61. Fight for affordable birth control for anyone who wants and/or needs it.

62. Recognize, call out and fight racism.

63. Recognize, call out and fight sexism.

64. Recognize, call out and fight homophobia and transphobia.

65. Recognize, call out and fight xenophobia.

66. Recognize, call out and fight ableism.

67. Recognize, call out and fight white nationalism.

68. Practice empathy.

69. Take care of yourself.

70. Take care of each other.

71. Celebrate nontraditional, unconventional and chosen families.

72. Give someone an orgasm.

73. Give yourself an orgasm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

74. Celebrate pleasure for pleasures sake.

75. Embrace your fetishes and/or support others fetishes and the right to practice them.

76. Support sex shops.

77. Support sexual identities that feel or behave differently than your own.

78. Support adult performers, even if you dont watch porn.

79. Support sex workers, even if you dont hire them.

80. Fight to decriminalize sex work.

81. Speak out against sexual assault.

82. Respect nontraditional relationship models like polyamory for those who choose it.

83. Respect all expressions and presentations of gender identity.

84. Support access to gender-affirming health care for all people.

85. Ask questions.

86. Demand answers.

87. Tell your stories.

88. Support educators.

89. Oppose book bans.

90. Read a banned book.

91. Donate banned books to libraries.

92. Talk to the children in your life about whats happening and why its not OK.

93. Talk to the children in your life about the importance of diversity and compassion and kindness.

94. Talk with someone who doesnt look like you.

95. Talk with someone who doesnt think like you.

96. Talk with someone who doesnt love like you.

97. Talk with someone who doesnt fuck like you.

98. Listen to someone who doesnt look like you.

99. Listen to someone who doesnt think like you.

100. Listen to someone who doesnt love like you.

101. Listen to someone who doesnt fuck like you.

102. Take risks.

103. Take care of your mental health in whatever ways you can.

104. Push back against those who stigmatize mental health issues.

105. Call out toxic masculinity.

106. Be fearless when you can and make your fear useful when you cannot.

107. Remember where were going.

108. Remember whats at stake.

109. Remember were in this together, and we cant get there by ourselves.

Noah Michelson is the director of HuffPost Personal and the co-host of HuffPosts Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast. He joined HuffPost in 2011 to launch and oversee the sites first vertical dedicated to queer issues, Queer Voices, and went on to oversee all of HuffPosts community sections before pivoting to create and run HuffPost Personal in 2018. He received his MFA in Poetry from New York University and has served as a commentator for the BBC, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight and Sirius XM. You can find him on BlueSky, Instagram, and Facebook.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

Related...
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., the left-wing environmental lawyer and health crusader (scare quotes used advisedly) who embraced Donald Trump and the MAGA cause during last years presidential campaign after Kamala Harris rebuffed his overtures, is facing two Senate committee hearings this week on his nomination for secretary of health and human services. He may be Trumps most controversial cabinet pick, with opposition not only from Democrats but from a group led by Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence. While Pences group, Advancing American Freedom, has stressed Kennedys pro-choice stance on abortion, it has also drawn attention to his history of vaccine skepticism and support for psychedelics: Any one of these controversies should be disqualifying for a potential HHS leader. No kidding. And thats even without getting into his various personal scandals, which arguably speak to his unfitness to lead an important government department. Or the time he opined, post-9/11, that American hog farmers were a bigger threats to liberty and democracy than Osama bin Laden. Or his peddling of a stolen-election hoax. (No, not that one: he still insists John Kerry was robbed in 2004.)

RFK Jr.s baggage is truly an embarrassment of riches. But lets narrow it down to eleven questions senators should be sure to ask him this week in his confirmation hearings.

Share

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1. You have promoted vaccine skepticism for the past twenty years, starting with a 2005 article you wrote about the supposed connection between vaccines and autism. The article was published in Rolling Stone and Salon, and both outlets subsequently corrected and apologized for it. (Likewise, the articles in scientific journals that originally claimed there exists a link between vaccines and autism have been retracted.) Do you reject the 2004 report by the Institute of Medicine that found no link between autism and vaccination, as well as more recent peer-reviewed studies confirming that conclusion? Do you stand by your statements in the past two years that you believe that autism does come from vaccines, that there is no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective, and that the polio vaccine has killed more people than it saved?

2. You have claimed that you want Americans to make informed choices about vaccines. Do you think that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a major HHS component, should withdraw its recommendation for vaccination for children and adolescents? Do you oppose state laws that require childhood vaccination as a condition of school or day-care attendance? Would you use the clout of HHSin the form of block grants to states, for exampleto pressure states to repeal or modify such laws?

3. Are you concerned about the recent spike in cases of pertussis (whooping cough), the quadrupling of measles outbreaks reported by the CDC from 2023 to 2024, and the detection of polio in New York in 2022? How should HHS and the CDC respond to this apparent surge in infectious disease?

4. It has been widely reported that your advocacy caused thousands of illnesses and some eighty deaths in Samoa, where you boosted an anti-vaccination movement that arose after two infant deaths related to nursing error in administering measles shots. After a catastrophic measles outbreak, you and nonprofit, Childrens Health Defense, worked to sabotage the Samoan governments mandatory vaccination effort. Do you stand by your activism in Samoa?

As Trump 2.0 takes off, come ride with us. See around corners, keep your sanity, and get to know the best pro-democracy community on the internet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

5. You recently disclosed that your group Childrens Health Defense financed the 2020 propaganda documentary Plandemic: The Hidden Agenda Behind COVID-19, which claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was artificially engineered, that vaccination programs were insidious for-profit schemes, and that mask-wearing activates the virus. Childrens Health Defense also promoted the book Plandemic: Fear Is the Virus. Truth Is the Cure by the maker the film. In a 2020 speech, you suggested that you yourself found the plandemic conspiracy theory persuasive. Is that still your view? (Also: Whats that you said about the virus being designed to spare Chinese people and Jews while targeted to attack Caucasians and black people?)

6. In December 2021, you stated that the COVID-19 vaccine was the deadliest vaccine ever made, a claim that has been solidly debunked. Do you still reject the overwhelming international consensus that the COVID vaccine has saved countless lives in the United States and around the globe? As HHS secretary, would you push to have the vaccine and boosters withdrawn from the market?

7. You have repeatedly pushed the claim that HIV may not be the cause of AIDS. In a 2023 interview, you referred to the antiviral drug AZT as a cure that killed people, developed by means of phony, crooked studies. As secretary, would you take steps to encourage the Food and Drug Administration (part of HHS) to reconsider its approval of AZT, or push to have Medicaid coverage of AZT treatments discontinued or to end U.S. support for AZT-based AIDS programs in Africa?

8. You have repeatedly expressed the view that 5G wireless networks are not only used for mass surveillance but that they disrupt human DNA and cause cancer. What evidence is there for these claims? Would you direct the National Institutes of Health to reconsider the prevalent view that claims about 5G health risks have no validity and are based on shoddy and activism-driven research, or use the clout of federal health institutions to lobby for restrictions on 5G?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Share The Bulwark

9. You have described the suppression of raw milk as part of the FDAs war on public health. In fact, bans or restrictions on unpasteurized milk sales exist only the state level; the FDA simply warns about its health risks while the CDC tracks outbreaks of disease caused by its consumption. One such recent outbreak in California sickened 171 people and caused 22 to be hospitalized. Would you advise the FDA to discontinue raw milk warnings and the CDC to discontinue the monitoring of outbreaks? And do you think your failure to accurately describe FDAs actions says anything about your qualification to oversee its parent department?

10. During your presidential campaign last year, you said that if elected, you would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to give drug development and infectious disease a break . . . for about eight years and focus on chronic disease. Do you intend to pursue such a policy as head of HHS, which oversees the NIH? Do you believe that infectious diseases are no longer a danger? Do you think that the study of chronic diseases should become the sole focus of the NIH to the exclusion of, for instance, the development of cancer drugs?

11. You have repeatedly claimed to champion free speech and accused the Biden administration of colluding to suppress political expression on social media platforms. Yet ten years ago you argued for laws that would punish climate change skeptics as criminal offenders and suggested that conservative/libertarian megadonors Charles and David Koch should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity because of their promotion of such skepticism. You refused to disavow that position in a 2023 interview, claiming that the First Amendment does not protect fraudulent speech. Do you still stand by it? Could your own vaccine skepticism be criminalized as fraudulent under such an approach? What medical opinions not your own do you believe could be appropriately criminalized?

Bonus questions: Okay, so what was the deal with that dead bear cub? And that sawed-off whale head you took home?

Share this article with friends, family members, and senators you like.

Share
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 71, is John F. Kennedy's nephew.

He is a lawyer known for promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

Kennedy ran against Biden in the 2024 primaries, switched to an independent, and endorsed Trump.

A longtime anti-vaxxer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed to "Make America Healthy Again" if he is confirmed as President Donald Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who has promoted public health conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine misinformation, dropped out of the presidential race in August and endorsed Trump.

Trump went on to add Kennedy, along with Tulsi Gabbard, to his transition team to help shape his administration. Upon winning the election, Trump nominated Kennedy to serve in his Cabinet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite his views, Kennedy's lineage as a member of one of America's most prominent political families has helped boost his claims about vaccines, COVID-19, and other public health issues.

Here's a closer look at Kennedy's family history and controversial statements.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a member of one of America's most famous political dynasties.

John F. Kennedy with his nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in the Oval Office. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Kennedy is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, a US senator who was assassinated in 1968, and Ethel Kennedy, a human-rights advocate who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014. He is the third of the couple's 11 children, according to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum .

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy is also former President John F. Kennedy's nephew.

As an environmental lawyer, his work focused on clean water.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the 25th anniversary of Earth Day. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Kennedy attended Harvard and studied at the London School of Economics. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and earned a master's in environmental law from Pace University School of Law.

He founded the environmental nonprofit Waterkeeper Alliance in 1999, according to the organization's official website . His primary achievement was forcing the closure of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

A longtime anti-vaxxer, Kennedy has promoted conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a public hearing about vaccine-related bills. Carl D. Walsh/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Kennedy has long espoused anti-vaccine views, suggesting a flu vaccine may have caused his voice disorder (he has spasmodic dysphonia , a rare neurological disorder).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2005, he wrote an article published in Salon claiming that the mercury-based thimerosal compound in vaccines causes autism. After issuing multiple corrections, Salon eventually retracted the piece. Kennedy later founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, originally named the World Mercury Project, in 2011.

Kennedy rose to prominence during the pandemic for his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines.

At a press event held at a New York City restaurant in July 2023, Kennedy told the crowd that COVID-19 may have been "ethnically targeted" to attack certain groups of people.

"COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people," he said. "The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We don't know whether it was deliberately targeted or not, but there are papers out there that show the racial and ethnic differential and impact," he continued.

The Anti-Defamation League called Kennedy's remarks "deeply offensive," saying they fed into the "sinophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories about COVID-19 that we have seen evolve over the last three years."

At Kennedy's Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, he said some of his earlier comments had not been accurately represented.

"I'm not anti-vaccine," Kennedy said during his opening statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said he would not limit access to vaccines if he were to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

"I support the measles vaccine," he said. "I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing, as HHS secretary, to make it difficult or discourage people from taking it."

When asked about his statements about COVID-19, Kennedy said he did not say it "deliberately targeted" some people, and that he had been referencing a published study in his remarks.

He has promoted a number of other public-health conspiracy theories, including that WiFi causes cancer.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a rally in Albany, New York. AP Photo/Hans Pennink

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a June 2023 Twitter Spaces conversation hosted by Elon Musk , Kennedy likened Musk's purchase of Twitter, now known as X, to patriots who died fighting the American Revolution. He also attributed increased numbers of mass shootings to pharmaceutical companies for marketing antidepressants.

Later that month, in an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience ," Kennedy claimed that "WiFi radiation does all kind of bad things, including causing cancer."

Kennedy also told CNN in July 2023 that environmental "endocrine disruptors" were causing "sexual confusion" and "gender confusion" in children, misconstruing studies that have shown these chemicals can cause some male frogs to become female and produce eggs.

A Kennedy campaign spokesperson told CNN that his remarks were "mischaracterized" and that he was "merely suggesting that, given copious research on the effects on other vertebrates, this possibility deserves further research."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has been married three times and has six children.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Kennedy married fellow University of Virginia Law School student Emily Black in 1982 and had two children, Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy III and Kathleen, known as "Kick." They divorced in 1994.

That same year, he married interior designer Mary Richardson. The couple had four children: Conor, Kyra , Finn, and Aidan. Kennedy filed for divorce in 2010.

Kennedy is now married to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" actor Cheryl Hines, whom he wed in 2014.

On Wednesday, Hines appeared at Kennedy's confirmation hearing for health secretary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy initially announced his candidacy against former President Joe Biden in the Democratic primaries in a long shot campaign.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his campaign launch event. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Kennedy announced his 2024 presidential campaign in April 2023 at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel.

"My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism in our country," he said in his speech.

Kennedy acknowledged that some of his family members did not support his presidential bid but harbored "no ill will or any kind of disappointment" toward them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of Kennedy's sisters, Kerry Kennedy, released a statement condemning his "deplorable and untruthful remarks" after he claimed COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted" to certain races.

In a statement to Business Insider's Alia Shoaib, Kerry Kennedy also said she would not support his campaign.

"I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information," she said.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts also posted on X that his uncle's comments were "hurtful and wrong."

He later switched to running as an independent.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign event in California. Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The Democratic National Committee

In October 2023, Kennedy announced that he was no longer running for president as a democrat.

"I must declare my own independence," he said at a campaign event in Philadelphia. "Independence from the Democratic Party. And from all other political parties."

In March 2024, he named California attorney Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential running mate.

She founded the patent technology company ClearAccessIP in 2013 and the Bia-Echo Foundation in 2019 to fund programs dedicated to criminal justice reform, reproductive research, and addressing the climate crisis.

Shanahan had previously donated to Democratic candidates such as Pete Buttigieg and Marianne Williamson but told Newsweek she planned to leave the Democratic party.

"I want somebody who will look out for young people and not treat them as if they're invisible," Kennedy told Newsweek of his decision to choose Shanahan as his running mate. "She's just 38 years old; she comes from technology and understands social media."

Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race in August 2024 and endorsed Trump.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with Donald Trump. Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

In August, Kennedy said he met with Trump and was "surprised to discover that we are aligned on many key issues."

"In those meetings, he suggested that we join forces as a unity party," Kennedy said.

Kennedy also said that he was making an effort to remove his name from ballots in 10 swing states.

"Our polling consistently showed that by staying on the ballot in the battleground states, I would likely hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on the most existential issues," he said.

Upon receiving his endorsement, Trump added Kennedy to his transition team along with former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

After winning the election, Trump nominated Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services in his Cabinet.

Robert Kennedy Jr. at the Capitol. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

"I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," Trump wrote on Truth Social in November. "For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health."

Kennedy vowed to " make America healthy again " by proposing abolishing vaccine mandates, promoting alternative medicine, and lobbying against fluoride in drinking water.

The position of HHS Secretary requires Senate approval. Kennedy's cousin, Caroline Kennedy, urged lawmakers not to confirm him in a letter she sent to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and posted on X .

"Bobby is addicted to attention and power," Caroline Kennedy wrote of her cousin. "Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children  vaccinating his own kids while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs."

Kennedy once said a doctor speculated that a worm had eaten part of his brain.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

During a 2012 deposition during his divorce from Mary Richardson Kennedy, Kennedy said that he'd seen neurologists in an effort to diagnose memory issues , The New York Times reported in May 2024.

"I have cognitive problems, clearly," he said in the deposition. "I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me."

Kennedy said that one doctor suggested that he had a worm in his brain based on a dark spot in a scan that could have been "caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died."

Kennedy told the Times the memory issues he experienced have since been resolved.

"He said he had recovered from the memory loss and fogginess and had no aftereffects from the parasite, which he said had not required treatment," The Times reported.

The health issues were in contrast to how he had portrayed himself in his presidential run, depicting himself as healthier, mentally and physically, than his then-rivals Trump and Biden.

Kennedy has been involved in controversies involving dead animals.

The Central Park bear's autopsy diagram. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

In July, Kennedy denied a Vanity Fair report that he had once eaten a barbecued dog in Korea. The story included a photo of Kennedy holding a charred animal carcass. A veterinarian told the publication that it looked like the animal was a dog based on the number of ribs.

In a post on X, Kennedy said the image showed a goat in Patagonia, not a dog in Seoul.

In August, Kennedy revealed that he was behind the bear carcass that was found in Central Park in 2014. In a video on X, Kennedy said he'd planned to skin the animal after finding it dead on the side of the road but had to catch a flight, so he disposed of it in Central Park.

Kennedy explained he wanted to share the bear story ahead of a forthcoming New Yorker profile mentioning the incident. In the profile , Kennedy said he may have gotten his brain worm from the dead bear.

Also in August, a 2012 Town & Country interview with his daughter Kick resurfaced in which she said her father had decapitated a dead whale they'd found on a beach near the Kennedy home in Hyannis Port when she was 6. Kick said he strapped the whale head to the roof of their minivan before their drive back to New York, prompting "whale juice" to "pour into the windows of the car."

In response to reporters' questions about the incident, Kennedy said, "I'm not interested in feeding that feature of the mainstream media."

Kick Kennedy did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

In September, journalist Oliver Darcy reported that Kennedy had been in a relationship with New York magazine political reporter Olivia Nuzzi.

Olivia Nuzzi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Paul Morigi/Getty Images; John Parra/Getty Images for Latino Wall Street

"Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal," Nuzzi said in a statement to Darcy. "During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source. The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I've disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York."

Nuzzi was placed on leave from New York magazine , and editor in chief David Haskell hired a law firm to investigate the matter and conduct a review of her reporting.

A representative for Kennedy denied the relationship, telling The New York Times, "Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece." However, The Daily Beast reported that Kennedy had bragged about the relationship , making it something of an open secret in some circles.

In October, Nuzzi accused her ex-fiance, Politico reporter Ryan Lizza , of blackmail. In a court filing, Nuzzi said that Lizza "threatened to make public personal information about me to destroy my life, career, and reputation  a threat he has since carried out."

Lizza denied the claims.

"I am saddened that my ex-fiancee would resort to making a series of false accusations against me as a way to divert attention from her own personal and professional failings," he said in a statement. "I emphatically deny these allegations and I will defend myself against them vigorously and successfully."

In November, Nuzzi withdrew her case against Lizza.

In a statement shared with Business Insider, Lizza said: "Olivia shamelessly used litigation with false and defamatory allegations as a public relations strategy."

"When required to do so, she refused to defend her claims in court last month. She then sought to hide my response to her claims from the public by seeking to seal the proceedings that she began," he wrote. "Now, on the eve of a hearing at which she knew her lies would be exposed, she has taken the only course available to her and withdrawn her fabricated claims."

"Olivia lied to me for almost a year. She lied to her editors. She lied to her readers. She lied to her colleagues. She lied to reporters. And she lied to the judge in this case," Lizza said. "I said I would defend myself against her lies vigorously and successfully and I am fully prepared to do so. But for now, I'm pleased this matter is closed."

Nuzzi's attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, previously told BI: "Ms. Nuzzi has no interest in fighting a public relations battle. For insight into her decision, you can refer to the statements in her motion."

Read the original article on Business Insider
January 29 is always a difficult day for Anita Clark, Shawn Clarks mother.

My thoughts are with Shawn today. My thoughts are to get a little bit of justice for him, she said.

It was at about twelve thirty on January 29, 2013, that two hooded people walked into Shawn Clarks skateboard shop.

Surveillance cameras inside the shop recorded the incident and within moments there was a violent struggle.

RAW VIDEO: Surveillance footage from Malden skate shop shooting

Shawn was shot and killed on the sidewalk, on Maldens Main Street, in broad daylight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shawn Clark opened his store, Patriot Skateboard, after returning from active duty overseas, including two tours of Iraq.

No one expected he would survive a foreign war, only to die on the streets of Malden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities have released images of the suspects captured on the stores surveillance system, but in all this time, there is still no arrest.

Anita Clark refuses to give up.

Id like an apology at least. At least for what theyve done. Thats 12 years weve had to live with this, she said.

In 2016, Boston 25 News Reporter Bob Ward interviewed Melissa Clark, Shawns wife, for New Englands Unsolved.

Widow of Marine killed in skate shop still searching for answers

He spoke to her Wednesday on the phone.

Melissa said this is a tough day for her family, but she remains hopeful there will someday be answers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They didnt really rob the shop, Melissa Clark said in 2016. They robbed us. I dont think anybody should ever be able to get away with that.

Anyone with information can contact Mass State Police at: 781-897-6600, or Malden Police at: 781-397-7171.

12 yrs ago today, US Marine veteran Shawn Clark, who served two tours in Iraq, was murdered in front of his Malden, MA skateboard shop. No arrest.

My story @boston25 4,5,6pm @NEunsolved TIPS: MSP: 781.897.6600 or Malden PD: 781.397.7171. pic.twitter.com/GoqgjlncwP  Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) January 29, 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




BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  Two bereaved parents and 12 fellow members of an Australian religious congregation accused of killing an 8-year-old girl by withholding her diabetes medication were found guilty on Wednesday of manslaughter.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs died on Jan. 7, 2022 at her familys home in Toowoomba in Queensland state after six days without her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes.

Her father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, and the leader of the familys religious group called The Saints, Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, had been charged with the more serious crime of murder, but Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns found both guilty of her manslaughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burns also found another 12 members of the congregation, including the victims mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and the victims bother Zachary Alan Struhs, 22, guilty of manslaughter. No one charged escaped conviction.

All 14 were remanded in custody to appear in court for sentencing on Feb. 11. Each faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

The victims adult sister, Jayde Struhs, told reporters outside court that she welcomed the verdicts.

Although we had a good outcome today, I have to acknowledge the system failed to protect Elizabeth in the first place, Jayde Struhs said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are only here today because more wasnt done sooner to protect her or remove her from a credibly unsafe situation in her own home, she added.

In finding the father and religious leader not guilty of murder, Burns said the prosecution had failed to prove they had shown reckless indifference to life.

There remained a reasonable possibility that, in the cloistered atmosphere of the church which enveloped Struhs  that he (the father) never came to the full realization Elizabeth would probably die, Burns said.

But the judge found the victims parents had shown an egregious departure from the standard of care with the support and encouragement of the other defendants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking on behalf of all defendants at the trial's opening statements, Stevens argued they held a reasonable belief that God would heal the child. The defendants all represented themselves and each spoke on their own behalf during the closing statements.

Burns urged them all to get lawyers before they are sentenced.
A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot and a 16-year-old was wounded in a Brooklyn apartment building Tuesday, sparking an investigation into whether the bloodshed was connected to a robbery earlier in the day, police and residents said.

The gunfire erupted in the building on E. 93rd St. near Rutland Road in East Flatbush just before 3:35 p.m., cops said.

When police responded, they discovered 15-year-old Heath Campbell in the buildings lobby suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The older boy was in a third-floor hallway, shot in the right shoulder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medics rushed Heath to Kings County Hospital, where he died.

The older teen was taken to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, where he is expected to recover.

A building worker on Tuesday night recalled hearing three or four shots, and video obtained by the Daily News shows numerous people  including a small girl following behind a woman  scattering from the building in the moments after the gunfire.

It happened so fast, I just got out, said the building worker. I didnt even know about the other kid until later. I couldnt believe it.

After the shooting, police knocked on dozens of doors in the sprawling complex, questioning residents about a robbery that took place in a hallway hours before the gunfire erupted  and are now investigating whether the two incidents are connected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I came down and saw the commotion and realized it was far more than just [a robbery], said resident James White, 38. Im amazed, Ive never seen more than a fight out here.

Both Heath and the older victim lived in the building, where the slain teen lived with his mother, according to residents.

Shes a good mother, and he was a good boy, said a neighbor, who asked not to be named. He didnt deserve this.

Police are still searching for the shooter.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  After a large fire broke out at an Ogden apartment building over the weekend, officials announced the arrest of a 16-year-old suspect on Tuesday evening.

Officials said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and booked into the Weber Valley Youth Detention Center on three second-degree felony charges, including arson, causing a catastrophe, and criminal mischief.

PREVIOUS STORY: Huge fire breaks out at Ogden apartment building under construction

Jake Sube, Chief of Police for the Ogden City Police Department, said during a press conference that the fire was intentionally set.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That determination was made after a multi-agency investigation including Ogden Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Weber County Attorneys Office, among others.

We ask the communitys patience and trust as we conduct this investigation, and we do want to make sure that you all are aware that we do not believe there are any other outstanding suspects, Sube said. We believe the suspect acted alone.

Officials said the identity of the suspect is not being released at this time due to his being a juvenile. Sube confirmed that the suspect is not an Ogden resident, but attends school in Ogden.

The case is still ongoing, and officials said more details will be released as they become available.

Background

The fire initially broke out on Saturday, Jan. 25. Fire personnel responded to the fire around 4:40 p.m. that day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fire spread from the five-story apartment building  which was under construction  to a vacant building to the west of it.

Officials said more than 40 firefighters responded to 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 ABC4 Utah.
After a large fire broke out at a Utah apartment building over the weekend, officials announced an arrest on Tuesday evening.
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: Larry James Jones. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Larry James Jones, 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.
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD)  Two men turned themselves over to the Georgetown Police Department Tuesday as suspects in a shooting where the victim was lured through Facebook Marketplace.

DreQuan Jeremiah Rhodes and DyQatius TyJah Armstrong were booked at the Georgetown County Detention Center. Both were charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.

Rhodes and Armstong used a Facebook Marketplace sale to lure the victim on Nov. 25, 2024, to a location on Gilbert Street in Georgetown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the victim arrived, the two men proceeded to rob him with a handgun. The victim fought back, which is when Rhodes and Armstrong fired several rounds at 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 WCBD News 2.
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas has killed two people and caused at least 146 to become infected with the potentially deadly respiratory disease during one of the largest outbreaks in the nation's history.

As of Friday, at least 67 cases of active TB were reported in Kansas, including 60 in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, the Kansas Department of Public Health announced.

Wyandotte County includes Kansas City, which is the county seat, and areas west of Kansas City, while Johnson County is located directly south of and adjacent to Wyandotte County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TB is a bacterium that usually affects the lungs but can affect other parts of the body and has two types -- active and inactive, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Active TB makes people feel sick and can spread to others, while inactive TB does not make people sick and does not spread to others.

TB generally spreads while airborne when an infected person coughs, speaks or sings, but it also can spread from one person to another through direct contact.

Antibiotics can treat TB and stop the active variety of the disease from becoming infectious soon after initiating antibiotics treatment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The breakout began in 2024 and claimed two lives, Kansas Health Department communications director Jill Bronaugh announced Tuesday.

Bronaugh said at least 67 people in Kansas were undergoing treatment for active TB as of Friday, but those identified with inactive TB also are undergoing treatment.

Leaving inactive cases of TB untreated could cause between 5% and 10% to develop active TB.

University of Kansas Health System director of prevention and control Dr. Dana Hawkinson said it's common to see some TB cases every year but the current outbreak has greatly exceeded the normal numbers.

Most of the patients identified with TB during the current outbreak have not been especially ill, but some have serious symptoms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kansas Health Department said the outbreak is the largest since the Centers for disease Control and Prevention started monitoring and tracking cases in the 1950s.

The CDC said that is false and cited a TB outbreak in Georgia homeless shelters that infected more than 170 with active TB and more than 400 with inactive TB from 2015 to 2017.

More recently, 113 people were afflicted nationally with active TB in 2021 due to exposure to a bone graft product that infected 113 people after undergoing surgery.

The World Health Organization in October announced more than 8 million people around the world were diagnosed with TB in 2023.

The disease killed 1.25 million, making it the world's deadliest disease after COVID-19 briefly was the deadliest during the global pandemic.
Two dogs that survived an animal-rescue flight crash that killed the pilot have found new homes as the late aviator's friends work to honor him by helping more pets, a shelter director said Wednesday.

The Nov. 24 crash in New York's Catskill Mountains killed Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, a dedicated volunteer who transported cats and dogs from disaster areas and overcrowded shelters to rescue groups. He was bringing three dogs to an Albany, New York-area organization called the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley when his 1986 Mooney M20J went down.

Kim told air traffic controllers that he hit moderate to heavy turbulence at 5,000 feet (1,520 meters), but then he descended to about 4,300 feet (1,311 meters) and reported that conditions improved to light to moderate turbulence, according to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the crash. The report said he didn't contact air traffic control again or make any distress calls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two of the dogs, a Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey and a young Yorkshire terrier mix called Pluto, survived. Pluto was internally bruised, while Whiskey was found huddled in the snow with two broken legs. The Lab pup subsequently underwent surgeries at Pieper Memorial Veterinary emergency and specialty hospital in Middletown, Connecticut.

After those procedures and lots of physical therapy, 6-month-old Whiskey is on his feet and playing at his foster home in Middletown, and the family that took him in has decided to keep him, said Maggie Jackman Pryor, the executive director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley.

The foster family is set to adopt Whiskey formally this weekend.

Pluto, meanwhile, recovered quickly and was adopted a few weeks into a home in Averill Park, a community near Albany, Pryor said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The remains of the third dog, a little one named Lisa, went to Kim's relatives at their request.

The Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley fielded inquiries from people around the country interested in adopting the canine survivors, said Pryor, who urged some callers to look closer to home.

These two dogs are amazing, but there are so many amazing dogs" in shelters, she said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Kim's friends and fellow rescue pilots are forming an organization to further his legacy, Pryor said. She said plans include sponsoring mobile spay and neuter clinics and creating pet food pantries like one that he and his children started.
HALLSVILLE, Texas (KETK) Two Hallsville ISD employees were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a school bus was involved in a wreck.

According to the district, around 5:50 a.m. a bus was in a three-vehicle accident that left two employees injured.

1 dead after 2-vehicle crash on FM 2015 in Smith County

The school explained that at the time of the accident, there were no students on the bus. The driver and the bus monitor have been transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, HISD 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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A man accused of installing card skimming devices on bank ATMs in at least six states, including Rhode Island, has pleaded guilty, according to U.S. District Attorney Zachary Cunha.

Mario Demarco, also known as Marius Lupu and David Ademec, admitted to a federal judge Wednesday that he and another man committed fraud by using those skimming devices to steal customers banking information.

His suspected accomplice Stefano Garioli, also known as Dumitru Bogdan Pancu and Leon Vutkus, pleaded guilty back in December, Cunha added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cunha said the investigation began back in July, when a bank branch manager called the Warwick Police Department and told officers surveillance footage captured the two men placing the skimming device on a drive-up ATM.

Nearby security footage also captured images of their getaway vehicle, which Cunha said was spotted two days prior near a North Kingstown bank branch after a skimming device was discovered on an ATM there.

Both men were detained the next day in Cranston after their vehicle was flagged by one of the citys automated license plate readers. DeMarco was caught walking away from a nearby ATM, while Gariloi was found waiting in their vehicle.

The investigation revealed that the two men had worked together for more than two years to place skimming devices on ATMs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania, according to Cunha.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cunha said the men used the information collected from the skimming devices to clone counterfeit bank cards that were used to fraudulently withdraw money from the accounts of unsuspecting customers.

DeMarco and Gariloi are slated to be sentenced on May 6.

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.
HOPKINTON, R.I. (WPRI)  Two men are facing charges after officers uncovered loaded firearms during a traffic stop in Hopkinton Sunday evening.

Officers pulled Julien Santiago, 22, of North Providence, over on Main Street and discovered he wanted on an arrest warrant out of West Warwick.

The officers took Santiago into custody and ordered his passenger, identified by police as Javier Campuzano, 20, of Providence, to get out of the car.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Campuzano was arrested after he dropped a loaded .9mm 3D-printed pistol onto the ground while getting out of the vehicle, according to police.

Julien Santiago (Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department)

Javier Campuzano (Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department)

Police said the officers searched the vehicle and found an open backpack with a loaded .45 caliber Glock pistol in it, as well as a loaded .223 caliber rifle, marijuana, scales, packaging equipment and roughly $1,600 cash.

Santiago has been charged with possession of a firearm while delivering a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a license, two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle, two counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

Campuzano was charged with possession of a firearm while delivering a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a license, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of a ghost gun.

(Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department) (Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department) (Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department) (Courtesy: Hopkinton Police Department)

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
Two family members have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

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

According to the Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorneys Office, in July 2021, federal agents began investigating a Florida resident for suspected tax crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Agents obtained and conducted a search warrant for the home, computer and cellular phone of Johnny Narcisse, 46, of Atlanta.

The DA said that when agents searched the computer and phone, they found extensive evidence that showed Narcisse and his cousin, Johnson Dieujuste, 37, of Loganville, had been in a conspiracy to recruit small business owners and then file fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans, including both PPP and EIDL loans, on their behalf.

After the pair got the names, business names, and employer identification numbers from the would-be borrowers, they made up the rest of the information needed to apply for the forged loans, according to the DA.

If the loan was approved, the borrowers gave a percentage of the loan money to Narcisse and Dieujuste. Dozens of loans were applied for as part of the plan, with over $2 million distributed.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DA said evidence showed that Narcisse and Diejuste each independently filed for fraudulent COVID-19 loans for themselves on top of the other loan applications.

Narcisse pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,000,332 in restitution.

Dieujuste also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,081,559 in restitution.

These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic, said U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Law enforcement is continuing to process evidence after two people were killed and another one was hurt in a November shooting.

It happened in the middle of the afternoon near East Main and Iowa Street, near the A+ Cuts Barbershop, and across the street from the VA. The Vermilion County Coroner identified the victims as 33-year-old Keith Stone of Danville and a 17-year-old.

The younger person was a good friend, I knew him since he was a baby, Frank McCullough with the Three Kings of Peace organization, said. His mom was my secretary at the church, she worked along the Three Kings of Peace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Terry McCord, Danvilles Deputy Chief, said detectives are going through any evidence that could lead to tips. Almost two months later, no arrests have been made and police havent determined a motive, McCord said.

Officers and anti-violence leaders agree and feel help from the community could make a big difference.

DACC, DHS starting after school music program

Many times, the public may know more than we do, the deputy chief added.

To help, the Three Kings of Peace and Vermilion County Crimestoppers are teaming up to offer a reward of up to $3,000 if your tip helps lead to an answer.

Were going to do what we need to do to try and stop these types of situations in our community, McCullough added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three Kings of Peace hosts regular mentoring sessions, sporting events and other activities to get kids involved in structured programming. The program leaders hope it leads to less violence in Central Illinois.

Beyond blessed: Vermilion Co. veteran gets big surprise from American Legion posts

Justice to me is that we can learn, we should learn from this. Maybe we can pick up and hopefully, we can control our anger so we can love each other, McCullough said.

McCord echoed the same message.

We hate to see this kind of stuff, and this is the reason were here, is to try and solve that. I cant say enough about the importance of the help of the community, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department is asking anyone who can provide more information to contact them at 217-431-2250. People can also leave tips anonymously to Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at vccrimestoppers.org, on the P3 app, or by calling 217-446-8477.

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 WCIA.com.
Connecticut police killed a man and two officers were wounded in a shootout Wednesday morning as authorities tried to execute a search warrant for drugs at an apartment building in New Haven, police said.

The two West Haven officers suffered leg injuries and were later discharged from a hospital, authorities said. Three other people in the apartment, including an 8-year-old girl, were not injured.

TV news video showed a section of an apartment building with broken windows and the scene cordoned off with yellow police tape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said local and federal officers with a Drug Enforcement Administration task force were trying to serve a state search warrant for narcotics about 5:30 a.m. when a man in the apartment opened fire. The 35-year-old man had a criminal record and was known to police, he said.

This was a long scene, Jacobson said at an afternoon news conference. It wasnt just a shots fired and it was over. There was shots fired and officers struck. Then there was time in between. He was barricaded in a room. Im not going to get into the specifics. But then there was more shots fired, so it was clear that this suspect was not going to retreat peacefully. There was attempts to speak with him.

Also in the apartment were the girl and a 32-year-old woman, who both lived there, as well as the girl's 52-year-old grandfather, Jacobson said. The woman and the man who died apparently had some kind of relationship, he said.

The story that is coming from that scenario is the officers did heroic things to get that grandfather and that 8-year-old safely out of that building, the police chief said. Its unfortunately that the suspect succumbed to his injuries, but its clear from the initial investigation that he was firing at officers and even was given an attempt to talk to him and that failed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police did not release the names of the officers or the man, and they did not disclose details of the search warrant. The state inspector general's office is investigating the shooting and is expected to release those details in the coming days, Jacobson said.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said he and Jacobson spoke with the girl and her grandfather and offered them services, including mental health counseling.

You can just imagine how terrified they were inside that building, and Im grateful that theyre OK, Elicker said.

The mayor added that the shootout showed the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in efforts to protect the community and hold people that are very, very dangerous accountable.
EVERGREEN PARK, Ill.  Two people were shot Wednesday morning at a cemetery in Evergreen Park.

Just before 11:50 a.m., the Cook County Sheriffs Office responded to St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, located near 87th and Hamlin, on the report of shots fired.

Officers learned at the scene that two people were shot and were transported to an area hospital. At this time, their conditions are not known.

One person is in custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its unclear if a funeral was going on at the time, but SkyCam9 saw multiple people nearby officers working the scene.

This story will be updated once 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 WGN-TV.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two men are facing numerous charges after they were found driving stolen vehicles in Antioch, according to Metro police.

Nicholas Dalton, 20, and Keyvon West, 18, were arrested Tuesday.

According to court documents, on Jan. 28, detectives were watching a stolen white Jeep Grand Cherokee  driven by Dalton  in the 100 block of Hickory Highlands Drive. The vehicle was reportedly taken from Hallbrook Court Tuesday morning unlocked with the keys inside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said the Jeep drove to Fenway Loop in South Nashville, where it stopped near a black Jeep Compass driven by West.

Detectives seek help identifying driver involved in shooting along I-40 in South Nashville

The Compass reportedly had a fake temporary tag displayed in the back, and the vehicle identification number confirmed it was stolen out of Brentwood.

Officials said West got into the white Jeep with Dalton and drove to Hickory Club Drive, where the men got out of the vehicle and fled.

A MNPD helicopter tracked West to the 700 block of Bell Road where he was placed under arrest. During a search of West and his backpack, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, spare magazines and several stolen bank cards were found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the MNPD, the loaded handgun was stolen Tuesday during a vehicle burglary.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Meanwhile, officers chased Dalton to a breezeway on the second floor of an apartment building on Bell Road. The key to the white Jeep was found inside a trash can beside him, reports said.

In the black Jeep, officers found Daltons Tennessee ID card, 37 grams of marijuana and a digital scale. His license was also suspended at the time.

Officials said Dalton was arrested in January 2024 after he was found in a stolen Dodge Durango. He is now charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft, evading arrest, marijuana possession and driving on a suspended license. He is being held on Metro Jail on a $63,000 bond.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

During an interview with detectives, West allegedly admitted that he knew both Jeeps were stolen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

West is being held on a $93,500 bond for 11 charges related to credit card fraud, motor vehicle theft, altering a vehicle tag, marijuana possession, theft of a firearm, not having a drivers license and dangerous felony weapon possession.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
More than 200 Colombians were marched in handcuffs into military aircraft in two high-profile deportation flights that nearly triggered a trade war during President Donald Trumps first week in office.

But despite the administrations insistence that Trumps mass deportation agenda would target violent offenders, none appeared to be on board.

One flight from San Diego, California, brought 62 men, 16 children, and 32 women  including two pregnant women, according to Colombias foreign minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another flight from El Paso, Texas, carried 46 men, 45 women, and five children.

Everyone is in good condition, Murillo said in Spanish in a video statement Tuesday.

They are not criminals, he said. This information has been verified and corroborated by competent authorities following the protocols established for deportation flights.  And this is done as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and organizations such as the International Migration Organization, because being a migrant is not a crime.

Law enforcement officers handcuffed us and pushed us around as if we were in jail, Daniel Oquendo told CNN. I understand the military has some procedures, but there were children, families.

Deportation flights from the United States to Colombia included more than 200 people, including pregnant women and children. None of the people on board had criminal records, according to Colombia officials (GUSTAVO PETRO VIA X via REUTERS)

On January 20, days before he was put on a plane after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Oquendo was told by a border agent that the fun is over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was on a plane bound for Colombia eight days later, according to CNN.

It was very confusing: Nobody told us anything, he said. They told us the flight to Bogota was going to be seven hours, but when we landed, it was 10 hours, and as soon as the back door for the plane opened, we could see an ambulance saying Houston.

The plane was still in the United States.

Colombia had initially refused to accept the military planes, with President Gustavo Petro arguing that his country wanted to secure the arrival of immigrants in dignified conditions using civilian aircraft.

A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity a human being deserves, he said Sunday. We will receive our nationals in civilian airplanes, without treating them as criminals. Colombia must be respected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump then threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Colombia for all goods going to the U.S. In a week, those tariffs will be raised to 50 percent, the president wrote in a furious screed on his Truth Social account.

He added that a travel ban and visa revocations will be imposed on Colombian government officials, as well as all allies and supporters.

Trump also said that visa sanctions would be levied against all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.

The president also promised that there would be Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House later said Colombia agreed the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.

Trump nearly ignited a trade war after Colombia initially refused to accept deportation flights on military aircraft, with officials in the country urging the U.S. president to use civilian aircraft (AFP via Getty Images)

After taking office, Trump pledged to remove violent criminals from the country, and swiftly deployed the full force of the federal government to assist in his anti-immigration agenda, with the Department of Homeland Security reorganizing its focus on immigration enforcement.

These are murderers, Trump told reporters Friday. These are people that have been as bad as you get. As bad as anybody youve seen.

He said he was taking them out first.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal law enforcement agents have arrested thousands of immigrants within the last week, but its unclear how many violent offenders have been removed.

Just over half of those arrests were considered criminal arrests, according to law enforcement data first reported by NBC News. The rest of those arrested appear to be nonviolent offenders or people who have not committed any criminal offense other than entering the country without legal permission.

But the administration confirmed Tuesday that it was treating all immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission as criminals.

In her first White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt falsely labeled the thousands of people arrested for allegedly living in the country illegally as criminals, despite the offense being a civil one. Anyone arrested on those grounds is not convicted of a crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I know the last administration didn't see it that way, so its a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal, but thats exactly what they are, she said.

The Trump administration has also instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to aggressively pursue immigration arrests  and for each field office to make at least 75 arrests a day, according to The Washington Post.

The directive amplifies fears from immigrant communities and advocacy groups that U.S. citizens and people who are living in the country legally will be collateral damage in the presidents campaign.

We didnt do anything wrong: Im not a criminal, Andrei Barrientos told CNN after getting off a Colombia-bound deportation flight. Yes, I crossed the border illegally, but I was doing that to help my family  and they treated me like I was a gangster.
NAUGATUCK, Conn. (WTNH)  A 21-year-old New York man was arrested on Tuesday in Naugatuck for sexual assault, according to police.

In October 2024, police were made aware of a possible sexual assault that happened in the parking lot of Mountview Plaza on Rubber Avenue. The victim and the suspect allegedly met through social media roughly a year earlier, however remained unknown to each other.

Southington man accused of sexually-assaulting juvenile

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joseph Montalvo jr., 21, of Hopewell Junction, New York and the victim agreed to meet up in person. When they did, Montalvo allegedly wouldnt bring the victim home until she had sex with him and engaged in unwanted sexual acts with them.

Montalvo was arrested by East Fishkill police in New York on Jan. 15. On Jan. 28, he was taken from Dutchess County Jail and extradited back to Connecticut, where he was charged with sexual assault in the first degree, sexual assault in the third degree and unlawful restraint in the second degree,

He was held on a $250,000 bond and was arraigned in court on 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 WTNH.com.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC) has announced the death of an inmate.

10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate

The DOC says 22-year-old Tajhon Cayou died at a Sioux Falls hospital on Monday.

Cayou was serving a sentence from Brookings County for first-degree rape at the time of his death.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Twenty-six miles of Horry County coastline will be renourished following a $72 million contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a news release said.

The project is needed because of severe erosion along the coastline during Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Debby in 2024.

Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company will place 2 million cubic yards of material along area beaches, an amount that is equal to about 200,000 dump trucks worth of material.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The project is being funded entirely by the Corps of Engineers and will help ensure the safety of both life and infrastructure beyond the dunes of the Grand Strand during future storms.

Once the project begins, community members can track the progress online. An exact start date was not provided in the release, but it was stated that the work will begin in the near future in recognition of how important the renourishment will be to local, state, and federal economies.

The release also stated that construction zones will be marked and that beachgoers should maintain a safe distance to ensure their safety and the safety of those working.

* * *

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Vancouver Police Department is investigating a shooting that left 28 bullet casings in the area, including shots into homes and a vehicle, authorities announced Tuesday.

Police responded to the shooting around 3 a.m. Sunday on Littler Way after a caller reported hearing gunshots but did not witness the shooting, Vancouver Police Department said.

On the scene, a responding officer did not see any obvious damage to property or any shooting victims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kotek, Rayfield decry Trump administrations federal funding freeze

Later, around 10:40 a.m., a resident in the area called police, reporting they found multiple bullet holes in the wall of their living room.

During the investigation, officers found another home was struck with bullets along with a vehicle.

In total, VPD said they recovered 28 shell casings in the area.

No injuries have been reported, and detectives are continuing to investigate 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 KOIN.com.
CLAY COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Weogufka man died from injuries sustained in a crash in Clay County Saturday morning.

Dustin Butler, 28, was injured when the Ford Explorer he was a passenger in left the roadway, struck a tree and overturned, according to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Butler was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected.

The Nations Report Card: Alabama scores below average across the board in 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was taken to Coosa Valley Medical Center and then airlifted to UAB Hospital for medical treatment. He died from his injuries on Sunday, Jan. 26. ALEA is investigating the crash

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  Three men are accused of cutting power lines in Jackson County, Mississippi, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Department.

2 teens, 1 man arrested after Jackson County drive-by-shooting: Sheriffs Department

A JCSD news release said Robert Brooks, 57, Jeremiah Johnson, 42, and Jason Lamkin, 53, are accused of conspiracy to commit a crime and destroying state or federal communications systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said investigators learned the three men were cutting power lines in the Wade community. AT&T owns the wire they allegedly cut, Ledbetter said.

The release said Johnson is also accused of possession of a controlled substance and probation violation from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Lamkin, arrested Jan. 18 on possession of a controlled substance, was in jail on a $25,000 bond, according to a news release. His two new charges each have a $25,000 bond.

Gulf Coast universities considering potential impacts after Trump administration pauses federal loans, grants

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brooks and Johnson were arrested on Monday at Johnsons home in the Wade community. They are both in jail with no bond and are set for an initial court hearing on Wednesday.

The sheriffs department said the investigation remains ongoing, and more arrests are possible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Atlanta Police Department say they arrested three men accused of stealing a vehicle last week.

Police say on January 24 at 10:40 p.m., they responded to a stolen vehicle call around Peachtree Street and Pine Street. They located the vehicle as it traveled down Peachtree.

The suspects, identified as Kobe Demarcus Johnson, Alonzo Longmire and Keonte Heard attempted to flee from APD and Georgia State Patrol, who assisted in the pursuit.

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

GSP officers performed a PIT maneuver, disabling the stolen car, but two of the men got out on foot and ran from police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the men remained in the car and was immediately arrested.

The remaining two suspects attempted to hide in a dumpster, but were spotted by the APD Aviation Unit, who led the officers to the two mens location. Police arrested the men without incident.

TRENDING STORIES:

Officials say they recovered the stolen vehicle, two firearms, a duty belt, and other miscellaneous items.

Johnson and Longmire have been charged with entering auto, theft by taking and criminal trespass. Heard was charged with entering auto and criminal trespass.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The Haralson County Sheriffs Office said three men were arrested for theft and entering vehicles after deputies were sent to check on a call about trespassers at a dealership.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies were sent to West Georgia Auto Sales on Harmon Road in reference to a trespassing report.

When the deputies got there, they found Timothy Turner, Jr. loitering and found out he had an active warrant out for his arrest from HCSO.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Turner was arrested and taken to the Haralson County Detention Center.

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

Then, the owner of West Georgia Auto Sales called back and said he was watching surveillance footage and saw two other men inside of a vehicle on the property.

Deputies returned to the business and found Todd Philpot and Benjamin Smith, who deputies said were arrested after breaking into a vehicle and trying to take its catalytic converter.

When the HCSO Criminal Investigative Division then took over and processed the scene.

TRENDING STORIES:

As a result of the investigation, Turner, Philpot and Smith were all charged with multiple crimes, and felonies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heres how each man was charged:

Timothy Scott Turner, 28 of Roswell, Ga.: charged with Theft by Taking, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Damage to Property in the 2nd Degree, Entering Auto x 2, Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime and for his original warrant for Failure to Appear.

Todd Maurice Philpot, 54 of Dallas, Ga.: charged with Theft by Taking, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Damage to Property in the 2nd Degree, Entering Auto x 2, Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime.

Benjamin Avery Smith, 48 of Douglasville, Ga.: charged with Theft by Taking, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Damage to Property in the 2nd Degree, Entering Auto x 2, Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Fond du Lac say a woman is now in custody following a 6-mile pursuit Tuesday night.

According to a release from the Fond du Lac Police Department, officers responded at 11:32 p.m. for a reckless driving complaint in the area of West Johnson Street and North Peters Avenue.

Oshkosh Common Council approves $50k in ARPA Funds to keep Menominee park Train running for one more year

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials say a witness reported that a dark-colored SUV was swerving between lanes, driving with the headlights off, and allegedly attempting to ram the witnesss vehicle.

The witness was able to safely pull over and meet with a Fond du Lac officer while additional officers continued to look for the suspect vehicle.

One officer later found the vehicle going east on West Johnson Street near North Pioneer Road and attempted to make a traffic stop.

While attempting to make the stop, police say the vehicle continued heading east through several intersections before making a U-turn at North Seymour Street before pulling over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers attempted to order the woman out of the vehicle but she reportedly did not apply and sped off heading west on West Johnson Street.

Police, along with deputies from the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office and troopers from the Wisconsin State Patrol, pursued the woman down West Johnson Street and out of the city while reaching speeds up to 65 miles per hour.

Stop sticks were successfully deployed near Highway 23 and County Road Y where the driver finally slowed down and pulled over.

Anxious to learn more: Smaller airports hoping to find out more draft details soon

Officers say the pursuit lasted about 6 minutes over six total miles and the 30-year-old Fond du Lac woman was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on the following charges:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recklessly Endangering Safety

Fleeing/Eluding

Operating While Impaired

No other information is available about this incident at this time. Local Five will update this story should any additional details be 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A Lukoil oil refinery in the Russian oblast of Nizhny Novgorod was struck by multiple Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Jan. 29, a military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

Drone strikes were reported by local officials across several Russian regions overnight, including the Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tver, and Bryansk oblasts, causing fires and prompting air defense responses.

According to the HUR source, the Lukoil oil depot in the city of Kstovo was targeted by four drones, all of which struck their target and caused "significant damage."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They added the refinery "supports the activities of the Russian occupation forces" and was "attacked at around midnight local time."

The refinery is located around 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Lukoil refinery of Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod, in Russia has been severely hit by UAVs. Flames are consuming large parts of the facility, which processes annually 15 million tons of crude oil. It is the forth largest refinery in Russia in terms of production. pic.twitter.com/ZAhUTpbDqL  (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) January 29, 2025

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, but overnight local Telegram channels reported that drones targeted the Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery, resulting in a large fire.

Video footage circulating online showed flames at the facility, which local monitoring channels identified as the likely target of the attack.

Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that air defense systems had shot down multiple drones, and fragments from the intercepted UAVs fell on the industrial site. No injuries were reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kyiv considers oil refineries to be valid military targets, as profits from the fossil fuel industry fund Russia's war machine.

Earlier this week the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia suspended operations due to damage from Ukrainian drone attacks, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources.

Ukraine confirmed hitting the plant in an overnight drone strike on Jan. 24.

In the Smolensk region, Governor Vasily Anokhin on Jan. 29 reported a "massive drone attack" on civilian infrastructure. One drone was intercepted while attempting to strike a nuclear energy facility.

Nearby, air defenses also destroyed several drones around the town of Andreapol, home to approximately 8,000 people, in the Tver region, according to the local governor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that air defense systems had shot down 26 drones in the Bryansk region.

Bryansk lies west of embattled Kursk Oblast, north of Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, and east of the Belarusian border.

Read also: Trumps foreign aid freeze stranded independent media in Ukraine. Heres how you can help

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Four pastors admitted to bilking taxpayers out of more than a million dollars combined, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Two of them  a former husband and wife  avoided prison time while two others, currently married, await sentencing and face prison time.

The two pastors who avoided prison time were involved in a scheme to steal taxpayer dollars and were sentenced to five years of probation after they agreed to plea deals with federal prosecutors in exchange for lighter sentences, court documents show. Gregory and Carol Kirby, once married to each other, admitted to lying on applications to become medical providers for Medicaid, and submitting fraudulent medical claims, according to court documents.

U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware sentenced Gregory Kirby on Jan. 17. Kirby pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States last April, according to court documents. A plea agreement refers to healthcare fraud from July 2014 to February 2018 to get payments from Medicaid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon sentenced Carol Kirby on July 31 after she pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Both Carol and Gregory Kirby were ordered to pay nearly $373,000 in restitution to Nevada Medicaid. The former couple avoided prison time as the charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution.

Gregory Kirby admitted to lying on an application to enroll his behavioral health care company, Esperanza Family Counseling Services, LLC, as a medical provider with Medicaid. Court documents say he omitted his criminal convictions, including a 1986 misdemeanor for tampering with a vehicle and a 1988 felony for possession of cocaine, the plea agreement states. Gregory Kirby also admitted to submitting false Medicaid claims in order to receive payment for services that were never provided, according to the agreement. Gregory Kirby also admitted to using more than $785,000 in illegal proceeds to purchase five properties including two in Decatur, Illinois, as well as in Las Vegas, Pahrump and Laughlin, Nevada, the agreement states. Kirby agreed to forfeit more than $388,000 from his bank accounts, along with all five properties.

According to a review of social media postings, Gregory Kirby appears to run Come Unto Me Ministries in Decatur, Illinois, as Apostle Kirby, with his new wife, Elect Lady Kirby.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a written letter to Boulware prior to the sentencing, Gregory Kirby asked for forgiveness and mercy.

I have accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing and doing as you can see have never denied the allegations against me, Gregory Kirby wrote in the Jan. 13 letter. I made wrong decisions that have put me before the court and I deserve to be punished.

Gregory Kirby claimed he was asking for probation not for himself, but for his 11 and 12-year-old sons. His adult children, he says, were lost in the system during his addiction and prison time, but they are doing well now.

Carol Kirby also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. She admitted to lying on the application to enroll her behavioral health care companies Apostolic Behavioral Health and Henderson Family Services as medical providers with Medicaid by omitting Gregory Kirbys convictions as he was listed as the resident agent of one business and the director of the other, the plea agreement states. Carol Kirby submitted a false claim to Medicaid for services that were not provided and used more than $158,000 in illegal proceeds to assist in the purchase of a property in Pahrump, Nevada, according to the plea agreement. Carol Kirby agreed to forfeit nearly $12,000 in cash seized from bank accounts and the same five properties as Gregory Kirby.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The other two Pastors Regina and Joe Brice, currently married to each other, were also charged in the scheme.

Regina Brice pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud. Regina Brice admitted to executing a scheme and plan to defraud Nevada Medicaid between October 2016 and February 2018, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Regina Brice, according to a plea agreement, omitted her five prior misdemeanor convictions including possession of drug paraphernalia in 1996 and 1997, theft in 1999, and battery and charge for non-sufficient funds check in 2009.

That enabled her to enroll Above and Beyond Behavioral Services as a medical provider with Nevada Medicaid and then submit bills for Nevada Medicaid for services not rendered, according to the plea agreement. Regina Brice used $248,000 in illegal proceeds she received from Medicaid to purchase a property in Las Vegas in 2017. Brice agreed to forfeit nearly $527,000 of stolen taxpayer dollars which were seized, documents state.

Im a woman of God Las Vegas pastors accused of stealing over $1 million from healthcare system

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regina Brice is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28. The maximum sentence she faces is 10 years in prison, plus three years of supervised release along with a fine. The plea agreement states that attorneys believe the applicable amount of restitution is more than $1.1 million.

Regina and Joe Brice agreed to an interview with the 8 News Now Investigators in 2020.

We didnt do what were accused of doing at all, Regina Brice insisted.

When asked whether they were concerned they could be sent to prison, Regina Brice responded, Its not gonna happen. Were not concerned at all. We serve a righteous God.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joe Brice pleaded guilty to monetary transactions in criminal-derived property. Joe Brice admitted to devising a scheme to defraud Nevada Medicaid between March 2017 and February 2018, according to a plea agreement. Brice did not disclose his previous convictions on his application to enroll Chances Behavioral Health Services, LLC, as a medical provider. Brices criminal record includes 1984 and 1985 felony burglary convictions, two misdemeanor convictions in 2008 for possession of drugs not to be introduced into interstate commerce, and a 2011 misdemeanor conviction for attempt carry a concealed weapon without a permit, the plea agreement states.

Joe Brice also submitted fraudulent claims for services never rendered, according to the agreement. Federal prosecutors said he used stolen taxpayer dollars to purchase a North Las Vegas property and three Peterbilt trucks.

Joe Brice agreed to forfeit nearly $90,000 and the three Peterbilt trucks.

Joe Brice is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 18. The maximum sentence Brice faces is 10 years in prison, plus three years of supervised release along with a fine. The plea agreement states that attorneys believe the applicable amount of restitution is more than $392,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 8 News Now Investigators first reported on the healthcare fraud investigation in Feb. 2018. Federal investigators searched businesses affiliated with the four pastors. The 8 News Now Investigators uncovered that the defendants were linked to more than 20 business entities. During a sermon at Gods House International, a church headed by Gregory and Carol Kirby, Gregory Kirby told church members they should donate money.

The enemy went after the money. We used to do almost everything, he said. We took care of everybody. So now that its been seized, its your responsibility. Its time for you to give. Its time for you to dig deeper now.

The 8 News Now Investigators have learned a defendant named Carol Kirby is accused in another alleged scheme. A grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona, indicted Kirby for 20 felony charges including 16 counts of theft, and one count of conspiracy, illegal control of an enterprise, illegally conducting an enterprise, and fraudulent schemes and artifices. Kirby, also known as Carol Ann Copeland, and two other women, Shawnjerria Nishallen Lucas, and Lavita Rene Verser, ran A Better You Wellness Center, LLC, between December 2021 and February 2023 and submitted fraudulent claims to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System to collect payments, according to the Oct. 2, 2023 indictment. A trial is scheduled for May 8.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.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 KLAS.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  The 4-year-old girl who was struck by a car in Woonsocket has died.

Eliza Khan and her mother, 32-year-old Dena Khan, were walking near Hamlet Avenue and Manville Road around 7 a.m. Monday when they were hit by an oncoming car, according to police.

Eliza was flown to Hasbro Childrens Hospital in critical condition and died from her injuries Tuesday evening, police said.

The executive director of Woonsocket Head Start said Eliza was a student there. On Friday, theyll be wearing her favorite color, pink, in her memory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dena was brought to Rhode Island Hospital, where she is still recovering from her injuries.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for the family.

Theres a lot of pain and a lot of suffering going around right now for somebody that young to be lost, and the mothers in serious condition or has a lot of broken bones, from what Im told, so shes going to have a long recovery, Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp told 12 News.

Police said the driver, a 25-year-old Woonsocket man, remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.

Investigators believe he lost control of his car and crashed into a snowbank before hitting the woman and her daughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No charges have been filed at this time.

While its still unclear whether speed was a factor in the crash, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates said speed is always suspected when a vehicle leaves the lane of travel.

A sign has been placed near the site of the crash encouraging drivers to slow down.

Beauchamp said he plans to look into the possibility of adding speed cameras in school zones, like they have in other cities and towns.

Unfortunately, I dont have the manpower to put a police officer with a radar gun every day in front of various places where we know people speed, he said.

Its not going to help that family, unfortunately, but weve got to be more cognizant, Beauchamp added. And the people that live and work and drive in the city have got to be aware of whats going on. I think this unfortunate, tragic accident is going to wake some people up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mayor also reminded residents and business owners that its their responsibility to make sure the sidewalks in front of their properties are cleared of snow.

Im responsible to shovel my sidewalk in front of my house. Even though its city property, technically thats the law, he said. So, youve got to make sure you do that, not only for your safety, but for your mailman or just anybody walking down the street. So were going to reinforce that.

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.
CATAWBA ISLAND, Ohio (WJW)  The U.S. Coast Guard 9th District was called to rescue at least four people trapped on the ice on Lake Erie on Tuesday afternoon.

The call came just after 4:30 p.m. from police in Catawba Island, Ottawa County, according to a Coast Guard spokesperson.

I-Team: Shooter in murder-suicide was local deputy

Coast Guard officials just after 6 p.m. confirmed the four people were rescued.

Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer Courtesy: Greg Peiffer

An airboat sent from the Coast Guards Marblehead station rescued three of the victims, according to the Coast Guard. The fourth was rescued by Catawba firefighters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earthquake detected in Ohio Tuesday morning

A helicopter was also sent from the Coast Guards Detroit station, according to the spokesperson.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, bills aiming to criminalize abortion providers have proliferated. But it's relatively rare to see lawmakers propose criminalizing women who obtain abortionswell, it was rare, at least. In January, lawmakers in at least four states introduced proposals to make intentionally harming a fertilized egg or fetus punishable under homicide statutes, with no exceptions for women who get abortions unless they were forced or coerced into ending their pregnancies.

These measures would leave pregnant women who seek abortions subject to criminal charges such as murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, and attempted manslaughter and open to wrongful death lawsuits brought by partners or family members.

They could also seriously imperil care for women experiencing pregnancy complications and have major implications for in vitro fertilization practices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indiana: House Bill 1334 was introduced by state Rep. Lorissa Sweet (RIndianapolis) on January 13. It has attracted two co-sponsors so far and has been referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code.

Sweet's bill would modify Indiana's criminal code so that the phrase "human being" includes beings in utero and fertilized eggs. Human being "includes an unborn child at any stage of development from fertilization at the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum," H.B. 1334 states.

The measure would repeal the crime of feticidethe killing of a fetussince the killing of a fetus by any means, including abortion, would count as murder or manslaughter. It would also make injuring an embryo or fetus actionable under wrongful death lawsuits, as well.

Sweet's bill would further repeal a section of the Indiana criminal code saying "it is a defense to any crime involving the death of or injury to a fetus that the defendant was a pregnant woman who committed the unlawful act with the intent to terminate her pregnancy." Thus, a pregnant woman who tried to terminate her pregnancy could be criminally punished.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Dakota: A dozen lawmakers have signed on to House Bill 1373, which was also introduced on January 13. Its lead author is state Rep. Lori VanWinkle, (RMinot).

H.B. 1373 would amend certain sections of North Dakota code to say that the terms human being and person include an "unborn child" from "the moment of fertilization." These changes would apply "as the terms relate to the offenses of murder and assault, and civil actions for death caused by wrongful acts."

Oklahoma: We've got Senate Bill 456, introduced on January 8 by state Sen. Dusty Deevers (RElgin) and co-authored in the Oklahoma House by Rep. Gabe Woolley (RBroken Arrow). The bill, called the "Abolition of Abortion Act," amends the state's homicide statute.

Oklahoma's homicide statute already says that "''human being' includes an unborn child" from the moment of conception, but it excludes from the definition of homicide acts "committed during a legal abortion to which the pregnant woman consented" and stipulates that "under no circumstances shall the mother of the unborn child be prosecuted for causing the death of the unborn child unless the mother has committed a crime that caused the death."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

S.B. 456 would repeal the abortion exclusion and the bit excluding pregnant women.

Elsewhere, Deevers' bill would add language specifying that "even where the charge is murder, the provisions of this section shall apply if the victim is an unborn child and the defendant is the child's mother."

South Carolina: House Bill 3537dubbed the "Prenatal Equal Protection Act"was introduced on January 14 and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. It was introduced by state Rep. Rob Harris (RSpartanburg), and the bill currently has six co-sponsors.

Harris' bill would amend the state's homicide and assault statutes to state that "'person' includes an unborn child at every stage of development from fertilization until birth."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What these bills would mean: All of these measures would leave women who terminate or attempt to terminate their pregnancies criminally liable for harm to the unborn child.

They also go beyond that. In defining human beings to include all embryos, from the moment of conception, they would have implications for in vitro fertilization, which often involves the creation of embryos that are frozen for later use and sometimes, eventually, destroyed.

They could incentivize law enforcement to investigate women who naturally miscarry or pregnant women who act in ways that could be dubbed dangerous to their fetuses.

And while they all include language theoretically meant to limit their applicability to situations involving spontaneous miscarriage or instances where a mother's life is at risk, we've seen already in some states how this can play out in practice. When faced with situations where a woman's health is threatened but perhaps not yet critically, medical professionals may be afraid to act, lest they harm her fetus and be found guilty of violating an abortion ban.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hospitals and doctors on the hook for homicide if they make the wrong decisions may be unlikely to err on the side that could leave them liablewhich means women may be forced to continue doomed or life-threatening pregnancies.

Language in these bills ostensibly designed to clear up confusion on this front could actually make things more confusing for medical professionals and more dangerous for pregnant women. For instance, the North Dakota bill specifies that its new rules don't apply to "the unintentional death of an unborn child resulting froma procedure undertaken to save the life of a mother when accompanied by reasonable steps to save the life of the unborn child" (emphasis mine). The other three statutes contain similar language.

This implies that doctors who act to save a pregnant woman's life while endangering her fetus could still be liable for homicide or wrongful death if later deemed to have not taken enough "reasonable steps" to protect the fetus. Under this paradigm, doctors and hospitals may fear that intervening "too early" in a miscarriage will leave them liable, even when intervening too late can leave a mother vulnerable to sepsis and death.

Only the South Carolina statute explicitly states that "mistake or unintentional error on the part of a licensed physician or other licensed healthcare provider or his or her employee or agent or any person acting on behalf of the patient shall not subject the licensed physician or other licensed healthcare provider or person acting on behalf of the patient to any criminal liability."

More Sex & Tech News

Dusty Deevers is at it again: The Oklahoma state senator has introduced a bill that would criminalize pornography production or possession, making it punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Deevers did this last year too, with a bill broad enough to ban sending sexy selfies to someone who's not your spouse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deevers' new legislation would set "criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison for production, distribution, or possession" of porn, per Deevers' press release. "It also provides heightened 10-to-30-year criminal penalties for organized pornography trafficking."

More states try to regulate algorithms: In Virginia, House Bill 1624 "breaks down the activities performed by social media algorithms and provides a list of features for which minors must have verifiable parental consent," explains Max Gulker of the Reason Foundation (the nonprofit that publishes this site) in a post laying out potential negative consequences of this approach.

Meanwhile, in Missouri, Attorney General Andrew Bailey has put forth a bonkers proposal, in which social media platforms are required to let users "choose among competing content moderators." Tech companies themselves would be forbidden from moderating, censoring, or suppressing "content on the social media platform such that a user is unable to view that content if their chosen content moderator would otherwise permit viewing that content."

Aside from massive technological feasibility concerns here, this would also introduce even more massive liability concerns. Platforms like X, Facebook, Truth Social, etc., would presumably still be legally liable for certain types of content on their platforms and yet not be allowed to have any control over it. They would also be totally denied the opportunity to differentiate themselves based on things like platform moderation styles and rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bailey is calling this half-baked idea a "Regulation Securing Algorithmic Freedom for Social Media Users." He's currently "taking public comments" and collecting "additional evidence about the deceptive practices of the social media companies," according to his office.

Professor gets $1 million "to understand illicit decision making" in massage businesses: A reader of this newsletter recently alerted me to an article from Wake Forest University about the work one business school professor is doing "to detect and disrupt human trafficking"and the ample government funding she's gotten to do so. It's a perfect example of the misguided way U.S. authorities approach exploitation and abuse in the sex trade.

It seems the National Science Foundation has given $1 million to Stacie Petter, a professor at Wake Forest's School of Business, so that Petter and partners can spend three years "investigating the massage therapy industry" by "gathering information from dozens of people who approach the issue wearing different lenses."

"I can't go interview people about their illicit business activities. I can't ask someone why they made the choice to pay someone under the table or why they are allowing their massage therapists to engage in commercial sex for tips," said Petters. "We have to go about getting insights in a different way by making assumptions and running experiments. So, we're using agent-based modeling, or a form of simulation."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alas, government grants intended to fight human trafficking tend to go to either prostitution stings or academic researchers doing endless theory work, like this. But what victims of sexual exploitation need is not "rescue" (aka handcuffs and jail) by cops or theoretical modeling of their abusers' decisions by a bunch of business school professors. They need help acquiring the things needed to live outside of the exploitative paradigmthings like housing, transportation, and decent jobs. Instead of spending millions of dollars on nonsense academic studies, we should be spending it on material resources for people who need help leaving abusive pimps, partners, etc.

About time: The White House is opening up the press briefing room to online content creators of all sorts. "We encourage anybody in this country: whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcasterif you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.

Today's Image



Spotted at Chicago O'Hare International Airport earlier this month (ENB/Reason)

The post 4 States Consider Bills To Treat Women Who Get Abortions as Murderers appeared first on Reason.com.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Four people, including a 16-year-old boy, are being charged for their involvement in the murder of a Cleveland Heights grandma, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday.

A grand jury reportedly indicted Amin Walker Jr., 23, Mariah Graves, 23, and Legacy Simmons, 26, while the 16-year-old was charged in juvenile court. Walker, Graves and the teen are facing at least one murder charge as well as robbery and assault charges. Simmons is being charged with evidence tampering and obstructing justice.

South Euclid-Lyndhurst teacher Eric Schmidt arrested on sex charge involving minor

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walker was arrested by the United States Marshals Service last week, after being identified as a suspect in the death of 74-year-old Edith Moore.

This isnt this punks first go-around, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley said in a statement. Amin Walker was previously convicted of robbing a priest in Collinwood. Now he has caused the death of an innocent 74-year-old grandmother during the course of a robbery. When convicted, he should never be released again.

Officers were called to the 3500 block of Randolph Road on Jan. 4 around 3 a.m. for reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Moore had been shot in the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stow police investigating murder-suicide; 2 dead

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An 18-year-old was also found with a gunshot wound at the scene. The 16-year-old boy was arrested by Cleveland Heights a few days after the incident.

The prosecutors office reported Tuesday they believe Graves drove Walker and the teen to Moores residence, where they attempted to rob an 18-year-old inside the house. Thats when the woman got caught in the crosshairs and the accused fled the scene.

Ex-doctor from Hudson sentenced to at least 8 years in prison for rape

Walker was found at Simmons Cleveland residence, on Jan. 17.

An investigation is ongoing, the prosecutors office 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.
WASHINGTON  Democrats on Capitol Hill are fuming about President Donald Trumps Monday night announcement that he is freezing all federal grants and loans, a stunning action that appears as unconstitutional as it is harmful to millions of Americans.

They also seem to have been jolted awake in a way they havent been in months. For the first time since Trumps win in November, there is a whiff of resistance back in the air.

This is a 5 alarm f-ing fire, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) said Tuesday on social media. We work hard not to shut government down in Congress. Trump has decided he can do by fiat out of petulance and blind allegiance to the Project 2025 crowd. You either enable him or stand up to him in this moment. There is no other option.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats, all but told his colleagues to step it up in their role as federal lawmakers or go home.

What happened last night is the most direct assault on the authority of Congress, I believe, in the history of the United States, King said at a Tuesday media event. If this stands, then Congress may as well adjourn. The implications of this is the executive can pick and choose which congressional enactments they will execute.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) had a more blunt take on the presidents claim he was only temporarily halting all federal grant spending: Bullshit.

What happened last night is the most direct assault on the authority of Congress, I believe, in the history of the United States, said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine). via Associated Press

Trumps sweeping action, directed by the Office of Management and Budget, is so vaguely written that its not even clear which programs, if any, are exempted, meaning billions if not trillions in federal dollars will stop flowing to even the most vital of programs all over the country. Some already affected by the freeze include Head Start, critical medical research and even Medicaid, which has reportedly seen its portals go down in all 50 states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As expected, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trumps action late Tuesday.

The president has signed lots of damaging executive orders in his first week back in the White House, including his mass firing of independent inspectors general at several federal agencies, his mass firing of Justice Department lawyers who previously worked on Trumps prosecutions and his reinstatement of a ban on transgender people serving in the military.

But his OMB directive is so much broader in scope and has the potential to inflict pain on so many vulnerable people (and is so illegal) that its landed differently with Democrats. Theyre showing signs, even if just early signs, that theyve got a fight in them again.

Nearly two dozen Democrats on Tuesday opposed confirmation of Trumps transportation secretary nominee, Sean Duffy, who is relatively noncontroversial. Some explicitly said their reason was because of the presidents freeze on federal money.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was ready to confirm Sean Duffy to lead the Department of Transportation, but I cannot vote for him after the chaos President Trump has unleashed with his order to pause critical federal funding to Nevada, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said in a statement.

The funding being held up by President Trump includes support for Nevadas seniors, veterans, and families  not to mention grants for job-creating transportation projects statewide, said Cortez Masto. Working families deserve real answers from the Trump Administration about how they are going to fix the mess theyve created.

Heading into this week, I was prepared to vote to confirm Rep. Duffy. Our conversations were productive and encouraging, and I thought he was sufficiently qualified to serve as Transportation Secretary, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said in a statement. But President Trumps sweeping order to freeze federal grant funding ... is illegal and hurting Americans in red and blue states alike, and I cannot vote to confirm a Transportation Secretary while transportation funding is being unlawfully withheld.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters that his vote against Duffy was because of this executive order that is creating chaos and confusion within the Department of Transportation, among other agencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So we can no longer do business as usual when the president is recklessly and reprehensibly seizing the power of the purse unlawfully, he said.

It might not seem like a profound show of force that 22 of 47 Senate Democrats voted against Duffys nomination. But consider that just a day before, on Monday, the Senate voted 97-0 on a procedural step to advance Duffys nomination. Instead of just going along to get along, senators are rediscovering their ability to send a message with votes.

Democrats also banded together Tuesday to block a Republican-led bill to sanction International Criminal Court officials. Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), voted with the GOP to advance the bill.

Meanwhile, some Democrats are hinting at broader plans to jam Senate business.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While President Trump illegally pauses federal funding from Congress, the Senate must not be business as usual, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Tuesday on social media. We do not consent to this lawless power grab.

To be sure, Democrats have little control over what Senate Republicans want to do in the next two years, at least. They can filibuster legislation if they stick together, but with a 47-53 minority, Democrats will have to win over at least four Republicans every time they want to prevent confirmation of any of Trumps executive or judicial nominees.

It doesnt mean theyre helpless, though. Even in the minority, if they stay unified and have the will to do it, Democrats could make a real mess of how the Senate functions and does (or doesnt) advance Trumps priorities.

Democrats could, for example, vote against every so-called cloture motion  a procedural step that ends debate on whatever business is pending on the Senate floor. They could vote against giving unanimous consent any time a nominee or bill is ready for floor action. They could demand recorded votes on every Senate action that requires a vote, instead of agreeing to a quick voice vote and moving along.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

None of these steps would necessarily prevent Republicans from pushing through the bills or nominees that Trump wants. But if Democrats did this on the regular, it would drag out the process of getting anything done by hours, days, possibly weeks.

"The Senate must not be business as usual, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). ALLISON ROBBERT/AFP via Getty Images

Progressive advocacy groups, too, seem to be treating Trumps OMB directive as a renewed call to action for anyone who cares about protecting democracy.

If Trump gets away with this, every law Congress passes becomes optional for future presidents. We cant let that happen, said Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, a progressive movement formed in resistance to Trump. This is a revolution, not a memo  and its time to meet the moment with relentless, uncompromising pushback.

We will not stand by while this administration blatantly tries to take away the freedoms and programs that support families and strengthen our communities, vowed Lupe Rodriguez, executive director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its too early to tell if Senate Democrats have it in them to mount a real resistance to Trumps extreme plans over the next four years. But one way to gauge the fire in their bellies is how they vote in the coming days and weeks on more of the presidents Cabinet picks. And at least one of their colleagues in the House will be watching.

If you are a Senator right now confirming ANY Trump nominee who will not unambiguously defend their oath to the Constitution even if that means standing up to Trump you are completely misunderstanding the risk of this moment, Casten said on social media.

Igor Bobic contributed reporting.

Related...
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of modern special education. In 1975 Congress passed whats now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA.

Throughout the year, Boston 25 News is celebrating the achievements of students and educators. Were also highlighting the challenges and barriers that still exist in our state for young people with special needs.

When you visit with students at the Kevin OGrady School in Beverly, you might only see the challenges they face. But in this program, the focus isnt on the hurdles, rather everything the students can achieve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Success is measured in smiles, small movements, and subtle sounds.

As soon as we came here, we felt like we belonged, said Shannon Perry of Danvers. Perrys 9-year-old daughter, Mary attends the program.

Mary has had medical complications since the first weeks of her life. She has cerebral palsy, is non-verbal, and needs her wheelchair to get around. She has a gastrointestinal tube.

A typical school was never an option for Mary.

We were totally in the dark about this path we were going on, Perry says.

She says thankfully, the Danvers school district, where the family lives, quickly referred her to the Northshore Education Consortium and its program at the Kevin OGrady School.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mary started at age 3 and has attended daily ever since.

We just felt this immediate sense of relief, Perry says. Well, she smiles in anticipation of things and in reaction to things. Shes learned to use her right arm to indicate wants and needs, both in school and at home.

Fran Rosenberg is the Executive Director of the Northshore Education Consortium, which oversees the Kevin OGrady School.

None of us can learn or meet our maximum potential if we dont feel like we belong or that were understood or fully included, Rosenberg says.

Rosenberg is also the president of MOEC or Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every child has the right to not just an appropriate education, but a great education, right? And that we should be able to provide that for all of our kids.

But Rosenberg says Massachusetts has a capacity problem, especially for children with behavioral disorders, social emotional issues, and severe autism. Rosenberg pointed to one contributing issue is the ongoing workforce shortage.

There are 24 special education collaboratives in Massachusetts helping school districts meet the needs of all children. According to MOEC,18 of them recently responded to a survey revealing all but one have students on a waitlist. 489 students are either on waiting lists or, the programs had to decline their acceptance altogether.

The 1975 guarantees a free and appropriate education public education for all children with disabilities. Rosenberg says lack of capacity and funding can leave some kids behind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think people in schools really care about doing whats right for kids, but theyre really up against tight resources, she says.

Funding for special education is done primarily on the local level.

Unfortunately, when there arent enough dollars going into the system, youre sort of pitting different groups of kids against each other, says Rosenberg,

This MOEC and advocates are pushing lawmakers to reexamine how the funds are allocated so that all kids get the type of education that best suits their needs. MOEC is asking the state to reimburse more of the costs that local districts pay out for special education. They believe taking some of the cost burden away cities and towns will enable some of these vitals resources for kids to expand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kids like 9-year-old Mary, who Shannon Perry says has thrived in her setting.

This is the place in this world where Mary is just like everybody else. She fits in. She has her peers, and all the kids are like Mary. And shes just Mary here.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW




Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com.

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua.
Australian businesses feel unprepared for cyberattacks and arent investing enough in cybersecurity, according to a new report from JumpCloud a unified identity, device and access management platform.

Nearly half of Australian employees (48%) worried about the impact of AI on their jobs  significantly higher than US and UK

These are amongst the findings in JumpClouds From Chaos to Control: Simplifying IT in the Fast Lane of Change research, which was carried out in November 2024 with 300 respondents in Australia and found:

 High incidence of data breaches and cyberattacks

 Insufficient investment in cybersecurity

 AI and its deployment is a headache

 Desire for simpler, unified security platforms

 Remote working and layoffs present key challenges

Over half (59%) of Australian businesses are more concerned about their organisations' security than they were six months ago. This comes as more than one in two businesses experienced a cyberattack in 2024, higher than both the US (41%) and the UK (45%).

Australian and UK businesses are currently spending less than their US counterparts on cybersecurity, but most expect spending to increase over the next 12 months, with one in four anticipating a significant increase.

AI: too fast or too slow?

AI is a particular headache for Australian organisations as it increases the complexity of cyber risk. 70% of organisations say AI is outpacing their ability to protect against threats (compared with 60% in the UK and 70% in the US), and 36% of organisations faced AI-generated attacks (compared with 29% in the UK and 33% in the US). Nearly one in five businesses believe theyre still moving too slowly around AI, but an equal number believe theyre moving too fast.

Organisations are also split on employee access to AI: While 42% are encouraging staff to use AI tools like ChatGPT, 33% are blocking them from access  this conservatism is higher in Australia than in the US and UK.

High demand for simplified, unified tech

Australian businesses are struggling with complexity as they scale, and have a desire for more unified solutions. After security (56%), new services/application rollouts and managing multiple types of devices were the top IT challenges for Australian businesses (47% and 42% respectively).

An overwhelming majority (84%) expressed a wish for a single platform to manage identity, access, and security. It comes as 68% report using five to 10 tools or more to manage the employee lifecycle, including device management and security, with 11% using over 15 different tools.

Remote work is clearly adding to the pain, both in terms of the cost of solutions involved in managing remote workers (42%) and the challenges of ongoing management of remote workers (38%). Its not easy for employees either, with one in four having to manage over 10 different passwords to access IT resources.

Over half (61%) of businesses have experienced layoffs, and 54% anticipate more layoffs to come. In Australia, 48% are worried about the impact of AI on their job, compared with 27% in the UK and 35% in the US.

Rajat Bhargava, CEO and co-founder of JumpCloud, said that Australian business leaders are sending out a clear message.

"Australian businesses urgently need better security and are prepared to increase spending on defence. But theyre struggling with the sheer number and complexity of solutions available and navigating the opportunities and potential threats that AI represents. According to the data, Australian businesses are less likely to use a managed service provider (MSP) to support their IT needs, mostly due to cost, though many anticipate boosting their investment. Theres an opportunity for MSPs to offer a more prominent role in cybersecurity, particularly when it comes to managing cybersecurity tools and SaaS," said Bhargava.

For more information, please download the full report here.

About JumpCloud

JumpCloud delivers a unified identity, device, and access management platform that makes it easy to securely manage identities, devices, and access across your organisation. With JumpCloud, IT teams and MSPs enable users to work securely from anywhere and manage their Windows, Apple, Linux, and Android devices from a single platform.

Learn more:https://www.jumpcloud.com/

Follow us: Blog | Community |Podcast | X (formerly Twitter) | LinkedIn | YouTube | Resources

Click here to get started with JumpCloud
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Almost one month after an explosion rocked an Aliamanu home a fifth person has died from their injuries.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

HPD reported a 29-year-old man died at the Arizona hospital where he was being treated for injuries from the incident.

The man was identified by the Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office as Kevin Vallesteros.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The explosion happened on Jan. 1, just after midnight when, according to HPD, illegal fireworks were being ignited.

Parents of Aliamanu firework explosion victim share their story

Two adult females were pronounced dead at the scene and another female died at the hospital. Many more were injured. Days later a three-year-old male died at the hospital.

HPD arrested two suspects on Jan. 24 on suspicion of reckless endangering, endangering the welfare of a minor and fireworks offenses.

According to police records, the suspects attended the New Years Eve gathering at the Keaka Street home. While at the gathering, they ignited illegal fireworks and also allowed their three children, ages 15, 10, and 1, to ignite illegal fireworks. The youngest child was injured during the explosion and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment before being released.

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 KHON2.
A 29-year-old man has died nearly a month after sustaining serious burns from a massive fireworks explosion in Hawaii.

The man, whom authorities have not identified, became the fifth person to die in the New Year's Eve incident at a Honolulu home, a spokesperson with the Honolulu Police Department confirmed to CBS News Tuesday. He was among six victims recovering at the Arizona Burn Center.

Other victims killed by the fireworks included a 3-year-old boy, Cassius Ramos-Benigno, and three women, Carmelita Benigno, 61, Nelie Ibarra, 58, and Jennifer Van, 23, CBS Honolulu affiliate HNN reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Honolulu authorities said someone attending a party lit some aerial fireworks that fell on its side, which shot sparks into other crates containing more fireworks.

Over two dozen people were also injured in the blast, officials said.

The incident prompted a crackdown on illegal fireworks in the state, with Gov. Josh Green proposing $300 tickets for igniting fireworks, as well as decades of prison time if the use of fireworks leads to injury or death.

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
At least 30 people were killed and dozens have been injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's biggest gatherings, authorities said.

The Maha Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years in the Indian city of Prayagraj, about 90 miles west of the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, when an estimated 100 million people gather to bathe in holy river waters at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati rivers. It is considered one of the most auspicious and holy dates on the Hindu calendar.

PHOTO: India Maha Kumbh Festival (Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP)

The stampede began in the early hours Wednesday morning, according to Indian officials. The death toll and numbers of those injured are expected to rise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic at the festival but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident "extremely sad" and extended his condolences to those affected.

PHOTO: India Maha Kumbh Festival (Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP)

"My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," Modi said in a post on X.

Modi added that he is in touch with his chief minister and other related authorities regarding the incident.

PHOTO: INDIA-RELIGION-HINDUISM-FESTIVAL-ACCIDENT (Niharika Kulkarni/AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities are expecting more than 100 million people to visit Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela -- meaning "Festival of the Sacred Pitcher" -- on Wednesday for the holy dip. It is regarded as a significant and auspicious day for Hindus due to a rare alignment of celestial bodies after 144 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities have built a gigantic tent city on the banks of the rivers to accommodate the millions of pilgrims and tourists attending the festival -- equipped with 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 toilets, roads, electricity, water, communication towers and 11 hospitals, according to the Associated Press.

PHOTO: Kumbh Mela Stampede Kills Many (Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An estimated 50,000 security personnel are also stationed in the city to help keep the peace as well as manage the tens of millions of people in the crowds.

ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Prashun Mazumdar contributed to this report.

30 dead in stampede as over 100 million people gather at India's Maha Kumbh festival originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Seventy-five firefighters responded to a house fire in Montgomery County Tuesday night.

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) said crews responded to the house fire located in the 5300 block of Griffith Road, which is a non-hydrant area, at around 8 p.m.

Car crashes into shed, catches fire in Montgomery County

There were heavy fire conditions at the two-story house when crews arrived.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the MCFRS, 75 firefighters, 10 water tankers, seven engines, three ladder trucks, three rescue squads and at least three EMS personnel responded to the house fire.

(Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service) (Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service) (Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service) (Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service)

No injuries were reported.

Deputies find body while serving eviction notice in Prince Georges County

In an update Wednesday, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said the house was undergoing renovations, making it vacant at the time of the blaze, and that several people going past the home called 911.

As of Wednesday morning, the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Piringer said the damage is estimated to be over $1 million including $800,000 in damages to the structure and $250,000 in contents.

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.
Middletown asks a fundamental (and highly pertinent) question: How do you make people believe in a conspiracy theoryand take action to address itwhen the conspiracy is actually true?

For the students of Upstate New Yorks Middletown High School in the early 90s, the answer was to tirelessly strive to expose the nefarious conduct and dealings that were polluting their community, and to respond to criticisms and dismissals by putting their head down and doing the arduous and noble work demanded of a real democracy. They were a David trying to fell a multi-pronged Goliath, and Boys State and The Mission directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine s documentarywhich premiered at the Sundance Film Festival revisits their battle via the countless hours of footage they shot about this crisis. What it delivers is a genuinely uplifting portrait of activism under fire.

Its also, movingly, a tale about teachers and the life-altering impact they can have on impressionable youth. Middletowns saga begins with Fred Isseks, a 9th-grade English teacher who, thanks to a project in which he had students photograph their world with cameras, was chosen to find a use for Middletown Highs new video equipment. His bright idea was Electronic English, an elective that let kids create whatever they wanted with camcorders. Initially, that meant rap videos and comedy skits. Yet Fred soon turned them on to a different focus: looking into the nearby Wallkill landfill, which select citizens were reporting was leaking toxic waste into their suburban neighborhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fred was viewed by his colleagues and the student body as a hippie iconoclast with unconventional methods and a do-gooder environmentalist attitude. Nonetheless, the chance to investigate a potential scandal perpetrated by the big bad powers-that-be appealed to rebellious anti-establishment teens.

Before long he had a class of devoted disciples, including Jeff Dutemple, Rachel Raimist, David Birmingham, and Mike Regan, all of whom are seen in Middletowns grainy material from the era and also sit down for candid new interviews with Moss and McBaine. As they make clear, they were innately attracted to the thought of uncovering a mystery in part because it hit so close to home, and because Freda lively and encouraging presence who trusted them and gave them responsibilitymade them believe they were up to the challenge.

The students filmed virtually everything they did with regards to the Wallkill landfill inquiry (as well as their downtime). Consequently, Middletown is blessed with an amazing amount of 90s-era VHS material that brings their quest to life. At Freds suggestion, they broke into the landfill (Fred and Rachel now admit that it was trespassing) and discovered holes in the ground out of which bubbled nasty green liquid. The area was littered with discarded barrels, medical syringes, and other assorted refuse that didnt seem to belong.

Joshua Dickstein / Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Afterwards, they began collaborating with a Middletown resident, Donald Tirrell, whose neighbors had been directly affected by waste seeping into their cellars and yards, emitting a pungent smell (Mike refers to it as the scent of dead bodies and decayNew Jersey) and, they claimed, creating a scourge of fatal illnesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outraged and motivated, Fred and his students set out to shine a spotlight on this crime, and Middletown depicts them interviewing everyone and anyone associated with the dumping ground, from residents to town officials to bigger media outlets, such as the editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, whose anger at being interrogated about his disinterest in their findings is the first of many instances in which the kids ruffle feathers.

Getting anyone to confess to their misdeeds was a Herculean task, but their toil did turn up shocking revelations about the design of the landfillshamefully, it was built on the aquifer that provides Middletown with drinking waterand about the intricate ties between the waste disposal industry, town and state government, big business, and the Mongelli crime family.

Year after year, Fred and his kids attempted to make people see that something nefarious was taking place, and Middletown demonstrates that they eventually made enough noise to elicit the attention of The New York Times and 60 Minutes. As Fred now says, the entire experience was like something out of a bad moviecomplete with their very own Deep Throat in the figure of the enigmatic Mr. B.and he reminisces about it with not simply affection but pride at having stirred these teens to look beyond themselves and seek justice.

In an old interview, Fred explains that what began as a journalistic process became a crusade, and Moss and McBaines documentary underscores his articulate point that the two are often naturally and inextricably linked when the subject is an offense thats doing grave harm to innocent people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fred talked to every student as if they were an equal, says Jeff, and the effect was, according to Mike, transformative. Middletown celebrates Fred and, by extension, the role teachers play in imbuing pre-adults with notions of civic involvement and dutyand, relatedly, the way in which hands-on engagement often stimulates in ways that classroom lectures and projects dont.

There isnt a former student of Freds featured in Moss and McBaines doc who doesnt look back fondly at their time scrutinizing the landfill and the cover-up they believe was committed by a host of inter-related parties. Whether grilling officials or acquiring proof via Freedom of Information Act requests, they were given a chance to do something meaningful, and they seized it, ultimately revealing the many tangled connections between politicians, corporations, and the underworldrelationships that not only existed in this particular time and place but remain ever-present in contemporary America.

Middletowns saga is a case study in disparate individuals comprehending and embracing the fact that the sole way to get things done, to make things right, and to uphold this countrys founding principles is often by taking matters into their own hands. Their somewhat clunky final documentary, Garbage, Gangsters, and Greed may have failed to result in lasting change, yet courtesy of Moss and McBaines film, their admirable work (and the lessons it imparts) lives on.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  An acupuncturist accused of sexually assaulting his clients pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery on Wednesday.

According to the Buncombe County District Attorneys Office, Shi Ying Kuai, 91, of Asheville, entered an Alford guilty plea to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits they would likely be found guilty if a case went to trial.

In 2023, Kuai was arrested after one of his clients told police he sexually assaulted them at his clinic on Arlington Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kuai was sentenced to serve four terms of 60 days in custody suspended with supervised probation for a term of 12 months. Kuai was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a term of 30 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
While weve been distracted by wildfire tragedies, and the dizzying stream of Project 2025-inspired directives flowing from the Oval Office, we cannot forget that the Republican-led war on womens reproductive rights shows no signs of waning.

In fact, its heating up again.

Last week, a Democratic Mississippi state senator with a wry sense of humor introduced a law meant to call attention to the absurdity of America's enduring efforts to control womens bodies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Bradford Blackmon, 36, introduced the Contraception Begins at Erection Act, which would criminalize ejaculation  the discharge of genetic material  without the intent to fertilize an embryo.

Yes, its silly. But he has a point. Why should women shoulder all the responsibility for unwanted pregnancies? Without men ejaculating irresponsibly, after all, there would be none.

In a written statement, Blackmon noted that the 2022 Supreme Court case that reversed womens right to abortion originated in Mississippi, where it is now illegal to have an abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement  as if, say, a violated adolescent is going to run straight to the police.

In 2023, a 13-year-old girl in Clarkesville, Miss., who was raped by a stranger was forced to give birth because her mother could not afford to take her to the nearest abortion provider, 600 miles away in Chicago. She started seventh grade as a new mother. This protects children?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The filing of this bill is to point out the double standards in legislation, said Blackmon. You have male-dominated legislatures in Mississippi and all over the country that pass laws that dictate what a woman can and cannot do with her body.

His words echo a famous 2018 exchange between then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing. Can you think of any laws that give government the power to make decisions about the male body? Harris asked. Kavanaugh stuttered, then admitted he could not.

Over the last week or so, President Trump has signaled to the antiabortion wing of his base that despite his campaign promises, he will not leave abortion regulation to the states.

On Friday, he revived a slew of antiabortion policies that President Biden had overturned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump reversed a Biden order that government agencies protect and expand access to abortion care, including medication abortion, birth control and emergency contraception.

He has also reinstated the Reagan-era Mexico City policy, which Democratic presidents ritually suspend and Republicans reinstate. The policy forbids foreign groups that receive U.S. funding from providing or promoting family planning that includes abortion  even if the funds they use for that purpose do not come from the United States. (Critics call it a global gag rule.)

These are not benign policy shifts; people die when denied access to abortion care, and studies show that when the Mexico City policy is in effect, contraceptive use and family planning diminish overall.

In 2022, a National Academy of Sciences study found that the Mexico City policy is associated with higher maternal- and child-mortality rates, and higher HIV rates, worldwide. During Trumps first presidency, according to the academy, the policy resulted in approximately 108,000 maternal and child deaths and 360,000 new HIV infections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2011, a Stanford University study found that the number of abortions in 20 African countries actually rose when the Mexico City policy was revived during the second George W. Bush administration, after having been suspended during the Clinton administration. Less access to contraception, the researchers theorized, may have led women to substitute abortion for birth control.

Last week, Trump also pardoned 23 antiabortion extremists, including some who were convicted of violently invading and blockading an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C., in 2020, forcing it to temporarily shut down. Trump described the radicals  some of whom were in federal prison  as peaceful pro-life protesters.

They should not have been prosecuted, he said. Many of them are elderly people.

If they were so fragile, how did they manage to injure clinic workers as they used bicycle locks, ropes, furniture and their bodies to barricade the clinic doors? You may recall a bizarre footnote to this case: protest instigator Lauren Handy, 31, was found to have five fetuses in her refrigerator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She and her fellow extremists are now free to obstruct abortion clinics again.

As Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick put it last week: Anybody who decided to take the law into their own hands is just fine as long as they were doing it for something that Donald Trump likes.

Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social. Threads: @rabcarian

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Following the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) recent policy update allowing arrests and searches in sensitive locations such as schools and churches, the Abilene Independent School District (AISD) has reaffirmed that policies and procedures are in place regarding visitors and law enforcement presence on campuses.

Schools around the US are weighing responses to possible immigration raids

On January 20, 2025, DHS issued a new directive to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), rescinding the previous October 27, 2021, memorandum, which had granted special protections to certain locations from enforcement of immigration laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DHS shared that the Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas directive acknowledges that officers frequently apply enforcement discretion to balance a variety of interests, including the degree to which any law enforcement action occurs in a sensitive location. Going forward, law enforcement officers should continue to use that discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense.

Secret Service says it visited Chicago elementary school, not ICE

In response, many Big Country parents and residents have raised concerns about law enforcement entering schools. KTAB/KRBC reached out to multiple school districts in the area for clarification on their policies.

Abilene ISD Director of Communications Jordan Ziemer confirmed that protocols are in place for visitors, including law enforcement, on school campuses and that staff training is already underway on proper procedures for interacting with federal law enforcement officers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, we have begun training campus staff on proper procedures for interacting with federal law enforcement officers. This includes protecting the privacy rights of students and requesting proper documentation from federal law enforcement, Ziemer shared. We have also contacted our legal counsel for guidance regarding the possible presence of federal agents on our campuses, which has been provided. We care deeply for our students and families and will endeavor to follow the law.

Dont believe everything you see: Abilene merchant addresses ICE raid rumors, express concerns

KTAB/KRBC is awaiting responses from other nearby school districts and will provide updates as more information is 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  During the January Airport Development Board Meeting, Transportation Services Director Don Green and Marketing and Development Manager Elizabeth Smyser presented the 2024 Abilene Regional Airport statistics, highlighting a year of significant growth.

In December 2024, passenger boardings increased by 10%, with 9,360 enplanements. This marked a rise of 867 passengers compared to December 2023. For the entire year, the airport recorded a 19% increase in boardings, with 99,338 enplanements in 2024, up from 83,311 in 2023.

Abilene Regional Airport proposes $70 million renovation project

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Green credited this success to several factors, including a thriving local economy and passenger satisfaction with the aircraft in use.

A lot of businesses are thriving, and businesses are being drawn to the area, Green explained. We still continue to see that the Embraer 175 is doing very well. It is very popular among our passengers with the two class service and just that larger feel. Its more of a mainline feel.

Green also noted an uptick in business travel to Abilene, though specific figures are still being assessed.

Its hard to quantify right now, but were engaging with companies to better measure this growth in the coming year, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The positive trends extended to parking revenue, which exceeded $1.1 million by the end of the fiscal year in October 2024.

Abilene City Council debates $5.6 million increase in airport project costs

Green praised Smysers efforts in enhancing the airports social media presence and marketing initiatives, which have grown substantially over the past year. Smyser added that American Airlines remains confident in Abilenes progress, maintaining a steady five-flights-a-day schedule.

Additionally, Green provided an update on the airport ramp project. A preconstruction meeting was held two weeks ago, and a notice to proceed is set for February 17. Green expects visible progress, such as groundwork, to begin by the end of February.

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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
COMPANY NEWS: Ransomware attacks are disrupting and undermining business operations and draining revenue streams, according to new research from the Ponemon Institute, commissioned by Illumio, Inc. , the leader in breach containment.

Findings from The Global Cost of Ransomware Study reveal that 64% of Australian organisations have had to shut down operations following a ransomware attack. Forty-three percent reported a significant loss of revenue; 42% had to eliminate jobs, and 39% lost customers.

The research examined the scope of ransomware threats confronting organisations and the measures being implemented to reduce the risks and their impacts. Key findings include:

Attackers are reaching critical systems to cause maximum disruption : Ransomware attacks impacted 28% of critical systems, with local systems down for 12 hours on average. Both data points were the highest globally, showing that Australian companies are being particularly hard hit by Ransomware.

: Ransomware attacks impacted 28% of critical systems, with local systems down for 12 hours on average. Both data points were the highest globally, showing that Australian companies are being particularly hard hit by Ransomware. Organisations continue to spend significant time and money containing ransomware : On average, it took 17 people, 134 hours each to contain and remediate their largest ransomware attack.

: On average, it took 17 people, 134 hours each to contain and remediate their largest ransomware attack. Costs associated with reputation and brand damage now exceed those from legal and regulatory actions : 39% experienced significant brand damage from an attack.

: 39% experienced significant brand damage from an attack. Failure to prioritise investments that boost resilience is costing businesses: 39% lack the ability to quickly identify and contain attacks, and only 18% have implemented microsegmentation  a vital control for stopping the spread of breaches. This compares to 44% of companies in the US, with Australia well behind the global average when it comes to using segmentation to secure critical assets.

Ransomware is more pervasive and impactful than ever, but not all attacks need result in the suspension of operations or major business failure, said Trevor Dearing, Director of Critical Infrastructure at Illumio. Organisations need operational resilience and controls like microsegmentation that stop attackers from reaching critical systems should be non-negotiable. By containing attacks at the point of entry, organisations can protect critical systems and data, and save millions in downtime, lost business, and reputational damage.

Operation technology and hybrid environments remain weak links, with attackers exploiting unpatched systems

The increased connectivity of business systems and devices is making it harder for organisations to defend against ransomware attacks. Organisations perceive operational technology as being the most vulnerable to ransomware (41%), followed by the cloud (39%) and endpoint devices (39%). Twenty-eight percent also say a lack of visibility across hybrid environments makes it difficult to respond to ransomware attacks.

Desktops and laptops remain the most compromised devices (46%), with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and phishing cited as top entry points for ransomware. Most attacks moved across the network to infect other devices. In over half of these cases (55%), attackers exploited unpatched systems to move laterally and escalate system privileges.

Organisations are investing heavily in ransomware defence, but efforts are falling short

According to the research, nearly a third of IT budgets (31%) are allocated to staff and technologies meant to prevent, detect, contain, and resolve ransomware attacks, yet attacks are still successful. Ninety-one percent of organisations have fallen victim to a ransomware attack, despite 56% being confident in their security posture.

Organisations are also taking a chance on ransomware recovery and failing. Forty-seven percent of respondents believe having a full and accurate backup is a sufficient defence against ransomware. Yet only 10% were able to recover all impacted data following a ransomware attack.

The report also found larger organisational challenges in defending against ransomware including:

Ransomware reporting is still not happening: 71% of those that experienced a ransomware attack didnt report it to law enforcement. Top reasons for not reporting include fear of retaliation (43%); being up against a payment deadline (37%); and not wanting to publicise the incident (31%).

71% of those that experienced a ransomware attack didnt report it to law enforcement. Top reasons for not reporting include fear of retaliation (43%); being up against a payment deadline (37%); and not wanting to publicise the incident (31%). Employees remain a weak link in security: Only 45% are confident in the ability of employees to detect social engineering lures and insider negligence is the top challenge when responding to ransomware attacks.

Only 45% are confident in the ability of employees to detect social engineering lures and insider negligence is the top challenge when responding to ransomware attacks. Organisations are slow to adopt AI to combat ransomware: Only 35% of Australian companies have specifically adopted AI to help combat ransomware  the lowest of any country. More (46%) are concerned their organisation may experience an AI-generated ransomware attack.

To learn more, download the full Global Cost of Ransomware Study here or check out the blog here.

Research Methodology

The research was conducted by Ponemon Institute on behalf of Illumio among 2,547 IT and cybersecurity practitioners in the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia and Japan. All participants have responsibility for addressing ransomware attacks within their organisations.

About Illumio

Illumio, the most comprehensive Zero Trust solution for ransomware and breach containment, protects organisations from cyber disasters and enables operational resilience without complexity. By visualising traffic flows and automatically setting segmentation policies, the Illumio Zero Trust Segmentation Platform reduces unnecessary lateral movement across the multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure, protecting critical resources and preventing the spread of cyberattacks.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suggested he is open to significantly limiting access to mifepristone if confirmed to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing safety issues to a drug that is used in most abortions and that research has shown is very safe and effective.

Kennedys remarks, during the first of two Senate hearings that are part of the confirmation process, came in response to questioning from two Republicans who oppose abortion: James Lankford of Oklahoma and Steve Daines of Montana.

President [Donald] Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone, Kennedy said at Wednesdays hearing before the Senates Committee on Finance, which shares jurisdiction over HHS with the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does, I will implement those policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Such a review  one of Kennedys clearest public statements on abortion since being nominated to head the federal health department  suggests a lockstep alignment with President Trump that could have sweeping implications, including the imposition of national restrictions on a major method of abortion despite Trumps campaign promises to leave the issue in the hands of state governments.

Mifepristone has been heavily studied and the data is unequivocal in showing its safety and effectiveness in terminating pregnancies. The drug is taken in conjunction with misoprostol, a two-medication regimen that constitutes the majority of abortions in the country. About one in five of all abortions are initiated over telehealth, with health care providers prescribing and mailing the pills to patients  including, in some cases, patients who live in states where abortion is banned.

The two-drug regimen is recommended by major international bodies because of its safety and effectiveness, including the World Health Organization. Still, abortion opponents have targeted mifepristone as part of their campaign to further reduce access to the procedure.

Anti-abortion state lawmakers across the country have introduced bills intended to weaken access to mifepristone, even in states where abortion is already banned. Many have targeted telehealth in particular, given its role in helping people circumvent state bans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2023, a group of abortion opponents filed a lawsuit seeking to remove mifepristone from the market altogether, calling on the courts either to reverse the Food and Drug Administrations 2000 approval of the drug or rescind more recent moves to expand its availability. One such way was to undo the agencys decision to allow mifepristone to be provided over telehealth. The Supreme Court dismissed that case, suggesting that the plaintiffs did not show they had grounds to sue. Anti-abortion state lawmakers in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri have made similar legal claims and are currently asking a federal court in Texas to revoke the FDAs approval allowing mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth.

In their arguments, abortion opponents have falsely claimed that mifepristone is unsafe. The studies they referenced  which were also cited by the Texas-based federal judge who heard the case  have been retracted by scientific publishers because of flawed methodology. Kennedys suggestion that mifepristones safety should be further studied offers a sign that his HHS may be open to curbing access to the drug.

At one point during the hearing, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire challenged Kennedy on the notion that mifepristone might be unsafe. She lifted a stack of papers, which were later submitted into the record, and said they represented several dozens of studies on its safety.

The studies are there, the safety is proved, the science is there, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has avoided clarifying how he will approach abortion policy  including mifepristones approval  and some Republican lawmakers have scaled back their ambitions of enacting national restrictions. His nomination of Kennedy, a former Democrat, sparked concern among some abortion opponents, notably former Vice President Mike Pence.

Kennedys remarks raised concerns from lawmakers who support abortion rights.

The answers you have given tell me the Trump administration is more than willing to restrict or even ban medication abortion without a single act of Congress, even in states where abortion is legal, said Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota. Whats clear to me is that you and President Trump are dangerous to womens access to mifepristone.

Kennedy did not offer clear answers to other critical questions about abortion. One of the most notable referred to whether the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which requires most hospitals to provide patients with necessary stabilizing care in medical emergencies, meant that health care providers must provide abortions when they are necessary to save someones life and if that would preempt any state ban.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know, Kennedy said when asked that question by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada. Kennedy also said he did not know what role he as head of the department would play in potentially enforcing EMTALA.

Leveraging EMTALA to protect abortions in medical emergencies was a critical component of President Joe Bidens administration strategy on reproductive rights. HHS played a major role in those efforts.

The post Access to abortion medication could be in jeopardy, RFK Jr. testimony suggests appeared first on The 19th.

News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Officials said a Georgia teenager allegedly admitted to making a bomb threat that canceled classes at Georgetown High School Wednesday.

The city said it is working with local and Georgia prosecutors to file charges against the 16-year-old boy. The charges would be terroristic threat, a third-degree felony.

The high school was cleared and no explosive devices were found following a police investigation, the Georgetown Police Department said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The district said it received a call Wednesday morning from police about the threat. Police said this was because a man had called stating he had placed explosive devices at Georgetown High School.

Access was blocked to Georgetown High School as police investigated a bomb threat at the campus. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) Access was blocked to Georgetown High School as police investigated a bomb threat at the campus. (KXAN Photo/Barrett Tryon) Access was blocked to Georgetown High School as police investigated a bomb threat at the campus. (KXAN Photo/Barrett Tryon) Access was blocked to Georgetown High School as police investigated a bomb threat at the campus. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

Once GPD arrived, police and the Georgetown ISD administration decided to evacuate the school and secure students already on the scene at a safe and cleared location nearby.

According to an initial post on Facebook, GPD said no one was allowed inside the high school until the investigation was completed. Georgetown ISD said all entrances to the campus were completely blocked.

After the school was evacuated, Georgetown Police and GISD staff began searching the school looking for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. According to the press release, during the search, staff identified three things that seemed out of place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The three items were then each cleared by canines trained to detect explosives that were provided by the Cedar Park Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, GPD said.

One of those items then appeared unusual enough, that out of an abundance of caution, the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad was called to evaluate the device and it was determined to not be an explosive device. It was believed to be a part of a students robotic project, according to police.

GPD said along with the Texas Rangers, they are actively investigating the source of the bomb threat and pursuing all leads. The person who is determined to be responsible for the threat will be charged criminally with all applicable charges, authorities 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 KXAN Austin.
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  The deputy chief of special investigations at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), whos facing child pornography and video voyeurism charges, has stepped down, 12 News has learned.

RIDOCs J.R. Ventura confirmed that 46-year-old Seth Crosby submitted his resignation Tuesday afternoon, but stopped short of providing additional details.

Since this is a personnel matter, we are very limited in what we can disclosed, Ventura explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Crosby is accused of using his phone to record a teenage couple having sex inside a Cranston home in July. Hes facing two counts of production or attempted production of child pornography and one count of video voyeurism.

Prosecutors have noted that the voyeurism charge stemmed from a separate 2021 incident, in which Crosby is accused of hiding a camera in the bathroom before the victim took a shower.

Crosby, whos currently out on bail, had been on paid administrative leave prior to stepping down.

John Calcagni, Crosbys attorney, successfully filed a motion to modify his clients bail conditions, which included not having contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Calcagnis motion to change Crosbys bail conditions to no unsupervised contact with minors was granted, meaning hes allowed to be around children other than his own as long as another adult is present while awaiting trial.

He previously told 12 News the charges against Crosby are completely uncharacteristic since he is an Army veteran and retired police officer.

RELATED: Judge rules child porn suspect can have supervised contact with kids

My client has an unblemished record, a long history of honorable public service, and is of high moral character, Calcagni said.

Crosby also served as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard for 17 years. He climbed the ranks to captain and later served overseas for six months in Kuwait between 2014 to 2015.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rhode Island National Guard told 12 News that Crosby later became the subject of a commander-directed investigation. In 2017, he was accused of having an unprofessional relationship with two members, including one of his subordinates.

Crosby was also accused of giving them false information, which resulted in a reprimand. He went on to retire from the Rhode Island National Guard in 2018.

Calcagni said that Crosby receiving a reprimand means very little since no crime was committed and has nothing to do with the pending criminal charges against him.

Crosbys next court date is slated for Feb. 10.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
South Carolina's execution chamber. (Provided/SC Department of Corrections)

COLUMBIA  The states law keeping information about lethal injection drugs secret violates constitutional rights to free speech, a civil rights group claimed in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The challenge in federal court comes a day after a federal judge decided the law does not give a death row inmate the right to know more about the drugs set to execute him Friday. The state American Civil Liberties Union asked a judge to stop the state attorney general from enforcing the law while the court hears out the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ACLU claims it has identifying information despite the secrecy law but cant give any details on what that is because its illegal to distribute.

State Attorney General Alan Wilson and Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling, who are named in the lawsuit, have not yet filed a response.

The 2023 law, which expanded an existing rule to make secret nearly everything about the drugs used in executions, keeps the public from learning important information that should be public knowledge, the ACLU argued in its complaint filed in Columbia.

Legislators passed the law to encourage pharmaceutical companies afraid of pushback to sell their drugs to the state for executions. The law worked as intended, and state corrections officials restocked their supply soon after it went into effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Executions resumed in September, following a state Supreme Court ruling that found electrocution and firing squad constitutional methods of death.

Not knowing where the drugs come from makes it possible for the state corrections department to buy drugs that are not safe or effective, with no public oversight to determine otherwise, the ACLU argues.

In the lethal injection era, advocacy organizations, journalists, scientists, attorneys, activists, and other citizens have relied on this information to scrutinize the safety, quality, efficacy, legality, and morality of lethal injection drugs and protocols, the lawsuit reads.

As far back as the late 1800s, when counties conducted executions by hanging, the details were widely available, such as where the supplies to construct the gallows came from, the lawsuit claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the state began carrying out executions using the electric chair in 1912, the public was told how the chair was constructed and the wattage used to execute condemned inmates. And ahead of the states first execution by lethal injection in 1995, the state released information on the drugs used and the qualifications of the executioners, according to the lawsuit.

This ban not only departs from the states history of making execution-related information publicly available but criminalizes the disclosure of this information by anyone for any reason, the lawsuit reads.

Death row inmates facing execution have asked for more information about the drugs used to kill them, arguing that even under the secrecy law, corrections officials can disclose how and where the drugs are tested, the results of the tests and how the drugs are stored. A federal judge has twice turned down those requests.

South Carolina is one of about a dozen states that protects information about drug manufacturers, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The ACLU contends that the Palmetto States law is among the most wide-reaching and harsh on offenders, who can face up to three years in prison for violating it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawsuits in other states have challenged those laws, with mixed success, said ACLU attorney Meredith McPhail.

The ACLU is taking a different approach from many of those lawsuits, which often point to alleged violations of state freedom of information laws, by arguing that the law instead violates the First Amendment, McPhail said.

Our lawsuit is unique in part because the scope and severity of South Carolinas secrecy statute make it uniquely problematic and because were taking a novel approach, McPhail said in a statement to the Daily Gazette.
If anyone doubted the everlasting bond between Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., she washed away all doubts before the Senate Finance Committee.

The doting wife supported her husband with a sweet gesture before he faced the Senate Finance Committee about his bid to head the US Department of Health and Human Services.

On Wednesday, RFK Jr. got grilled about his interest in the position, given his past controversial views on vaccines. However, he bravely faced the committee, presumably thanks to Cheryl Hines supporting him every step of the way.

RFK Jr. Locks Lips With Cheryl Hines Before Facing Off The Senate Finance Committee

MEGA

Kennedy Jr. and Hines attended the Senate confirmation hearing as a team, sticking close to each other as they made their way to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The doting wife donned a blue pinstripe suit with a white blouse and minimal jewelry while rocking a smokey makeup look.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite being swarmed by photographers, the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" alum planted a sweet kiss on her husband's lips before sending him off to be grilled by the committee. Although she could not stand by his side, she was spotted sitting right behind him inside the hearing.

Her touching show of support comes four months after her husband of ten years went viral for having an alleged affair. Last September, sources claimed RFK Jr. began sexting with journalist Olivia Nuzzi after she wrote a profile about him months prior, per PageSix.

The 'Suburgatory' Actress Stood By Her Husband Despite The Cheating Allegations

Cheryl Hines is looking at Bobby with so much pride as he testifies. She had to blink back the tears. Bless that woman for being behind this man. MAHA

MAGA pic.twitter.com/NCAYHSpsLB  Gabrielle Clark (@GabsClark5) January 29, 2025

Nuzzi had been engaged to fellow journalist Ryan Lizza during her alleged affair with RFK Jr., but she confirmed they ended things once her infidelity surfaced. Although she admitted to the indiscretion, the politician, on the other hand, vehemently denied the cheating claims.

He stressed that he was not involved with Nuzzi romantically or sexually. At the time, Hines sparked separation rumors as she was seen without her wedding ring on multiple occasions. However, she squashed these speculations a month after the alleged infidelity surfaced.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr. and Hines looked happier than ever as they were photographed holding hands at a friend's wedding. Given her recent PDA moment with the aspiring HHS secretary, it was clear she would remain by his side through thick and thin.

Inside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Senate Confirmation Hearing

The people want RFK Jr. Just listen to the applause pic.twitter.com/OwbWy4eG50  TaraBull (@TaraBull808) January 29, 2025

Besides being Donald Trump's pick to head the US Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr.'s past anti-vaccine stance made him a controversial nominee. Members of the public, lawmakers, and even the politician's cousin, Caroline Kennedy, slammed him as "unqualified."

Kennedy Jr.'s troubling history was repeatedly used to criticize him during the hearing, with Sen. Ron Wyden claiming the politician was solely focused on vaccine opposition. The senator backed up his claim with evidence from RFK Jr.'s books and past statements, per The New York Post, saying:

"The receipts show that Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines. He has made it his life's work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines."

The Former Aspiring President Vowed To Improve The Healthcare System

MEGA

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the committee's intense grilling and criticism of his past remarks, Kennedy Jr. refused to back down and defended himself as a great candidate. He stressed that he was not against vaccines and if confirmed as HHS secretary, he would do no harm.

"I have promised President Trump that if confirmed, I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track," Kennedy Jr.'s opening statements read. He continued: "And I have been greatly heartened to discover a deep level of care among members of this committee too."

"I came away from our conversations confident that we can put aside our divisions for the sake of a healthy America," RFK Jr. added. He noted President Trump wished to "Make America Healthy Again," claiming he had "genuine care" for chronic disease victims.

Cheryl Hines To Addressed RFK Jr.'s Infidelity Drama In Her Book

MEGA

Following RFK Jr.'s alleged infidelity with the journalist Nuzzi, The Blast shared that Hines addressed the drama while attending the Groundlings 50th Anniversary Event in Los Angeles last October. She revealed a book was in the works, saying:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Lots of emotions with rumors! But it will all be in my book. I'm writing a book. I've been taking notes  serious notes!"

Additionally, she claimed the cheating rumors kept her family life exciting, adding: "They're fun. I mean, if I had a boring family, it would be tough. And I think just trying to embrace the unknown instead of fighting against it, sort of trying to embrace it and just say yes to whatever comes your way."

If RFK Jr. gets confirmed as the HHS secretary, Cheryl Hines' life is bound to get more interesting.
The sole adult suspect in an incident involving a missing 4-year-old girl  later found safe  and a stolen SUV appeared Tuesday morning in Rock Island County Court.

Jaron Bailey-Harris (Rock Island Police)

Jaron Bailey-Harris, 18, faces charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle, court records show.

Bailey-Harris, who had at least one relative in the courtroom, appeared in a hearing that took about two minutes. Our Quad Cities News crew heard Bailey-Harris answer questions from the judge, saying No, sir and Yes, sir.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bailey-Harris, who has pleaded not guilty, waived his preliminary hearing. Now the case is scheduled for pretrial conferences on Feb. 27 in Rock Island County Court.

He is being held without bond in Rock Island County Jail.

A stolen car and a missing child

Bailey-Harris and four juveniles were arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 4-year-old girl who later was found safe, according to a news release from Rock Island Police.

Blessing Aoci (Rock Island Police Department)

Shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, a brown Saturn Outlook was stolen from the 1300 block of 14 Street with 4-year old Blessing Aoci still in the back seat, police say. Officers responded to the area within minutes and started a search.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 14 minutes later, the stolen SUV was found unoccupied in the area of 8th Street and 15th Avenue. Immediately, information and a picture were posted about the missing child on the

Rock Island Police Departments Facebook page, which was shared just under 43,000 times, the release says.

Illinois State Police were contacted to issue an Amber Alert, which was later sent to cell phones by the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A command post was established in the area of 15th Street and 15th Avenue using the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Unified Command Post Vehicle. Officers canvassed the

area for Blessing while the Rock Island and Moline police and the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office flew drones to try to find her.

Later, search efforts were focused on the blocks surrounding the area from which the car was stolen. They included voluntary searches of residences and property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assisting in the search were the Rock Island County Sheriffs Department; Moline, Milan, Davenport and Illinois State police; the FBI; the U. S. Marshals Service; neighbors and volunteers. For almost nine hours, teams of law enforcement and volunteers combed the neighborhood with no sign of Blessing.

Four juveniles also were arrested

A 16-year old boy faces charges of kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle

A 16-year-old boy faces a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle

A 15-year-old girl faces a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle

A 14-year-old girl faces a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud sat down with Our Quad Cities News to discuss the search and the case.

I know they want answers  and we do as well  but its important to remember that we have a 4-year-old victim that just experienced a very traumatic event, McCloud said. So how we come to a complete understanding of what happened is going to take a very delicate and patient response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We were in direct communication with the states attorneys office and Dora Villareal while this was going on. So she played an active role in this as we are presenting evidence and determining charges  and they may be amended later. But this is what we have so far, McCloud said. And I would say that some of the tips that were brought in  some of our leads that were generated from when we went to track down some of the other stolen vehicles  that just led us to more and more people that were involved and other charges that came as a result.

Blessing was located in apparent good health. She was immediately reunited with her mother and then transported by the Rock Island Fire Department to Unity Point Trinity for evaluation.

Everybody is just immensely relieved, McCloud said. You know, it was exhausting, it was emotionally exhausting  the entire process. And I can say that I hope we never go through anything like this ever again.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Advocate Health Care is closing all 47 of the clinics it operates inside Walgreens stores in Illinois, the health system announced Wednesday.

The clinics will close Feb. 6. One or two medical office assistants work at each of the clinics, along with additional clinicians who support virtual care, and Advocate is working to find alternate roles for those employees, Advocate said in a statement.

This allows us to focus on additional ways patients prefer to access care, when and where they need it, including expanded virtual services that provide care within the comfort of their own home, as well as convenient access to urgent care and primary care locations in the community, Advocate said in the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Advocate noted that as part of a recently announced plan to overhaul how it provides care on the South Side of Chicago, it will open care locations in churches and community centers where advanced practice providers (such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants) will address common needs such as colds, sore throats, flu and chronic disease management, over video calls. It also plans to expand services at its Imani Village outpatient clinic on the South Side.

Previously, Advocate Medical Group closed seven of its clinics in Walgreens stores in February 2020, saying, at the time in a letter that, The company found overlap in available healthcare services in the communities where Advocate Clinic at Walgreens are located, which has resulted in volumes that are unsustainable.

Of the new closures, Walgreens said in a statement Wednesday, We are partnering closely with Advocate to navigate this transition. Walgreens noted that patients can see doctors or nurse practitioners for a range of conditions through Walgreens Virtual Healthcare.

In recent months, Walgreens has also been pivoting away from offering other types of health care clinics in its stores. Under previous Walgreens CEOs, the company invested billions of dollars into primary care provider VillageMD and had planned to put Village Medical clinics in 1,000 of its stores by 2027. Walgreens had once aimed to become more of an overall health care destination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walgreens, however, has been backtracking on that plan, with current CEO Tim Wentworth saying that Walgreens wants to refocus on being a retail-pharmacy-led company. Wentworth said in March that Walgreens had recorded a $5.8 billion impairment charge related to VillageMD, and that VillageMD would close 160 clinics. In August, Walgreens said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was considering selling all or part of its VillageMD business.

Similarly, Walmart announced in April that it was closing its Walmart Health centers, citing challenges related to reimbursements by insurers and rising operating costs.

Retailers may be struggling with in-store health care clinics partly because payments from insurers for the types of services provided at the clinics are often low, said Timothy Hoff, a professor of management and health policy at Northeastern University in Boston. When retailers opened many of the clinics years ago, they may have expected that more patients would use them, or that patients would buy more items in the stores before or after they visited the clinics, he said.

In a model where the reimbursement is low for any health care service, the way you break even or earn a profit is you have to do more of those services, so you have to pump a lot of volume through the door, said Hoff, who recently wrote an article about the struggles of retail health clinics for the Harvard Business Review. I think the demand for the kinds of services retail clinics offer, and I think demand for retail clinics generally, I dont think its been as much as many of these places expected when they opened their doors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It can also be difficult to find enough providers to offer services, which can lead to longer waits for patients, negating whats supposed to be the convenience of visiting an in-store clinic, he said.

For health systems to have success running clinics in stores they must ensure their retail clinics are integrated with other services in the health system, he said. These cant be sort of islands unto themselves, Hoff said.
Lan Sena, policy director at the Center for Civic Policy and a former Albuquerque city councilor, said she believes paid family and medical leave isnt just a safety net for New Mexicans going through their darkest days but a matter of life and death for cancer patients like me. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

About four months ago, nurses frantically transferred Lan Sena from the bone marrow transplant ward to the intensive care unit at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute in Denver.

As Senas nurse found her blood pressure was declining, they asked her: This cant be right. Im looking at you, and youre alive. Are you worried?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sena, policy director at the Center for Civic Policy and a former Albuquerque city councilor, has been battling stage four Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, for the last 15 years. During this trip to the ICU, her doctors told her she could die.

At the time, she said, she thought she needed to pull through because she hadnt yet cast her ballot in the 2024 election, and she needed to make it to the Legislature to share her experience using paid medical leave in order to travel to another state and receive treatment.

Of the six New Mexicans on my transplant ward battling blood cancer or a blood disorder, there was only one that made it home in time for Christmas, Lena said. There was only one who has not seen complications, and only one today standing before you, who had access to paid family and medical leave.

Sena spoke Tuesday afternoon at a rally to gather support for a state-run paid family and medical leave program in the Rotunda at the New Mexico Legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Bill 11 was referred to House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, after it passed its first committee Monday morning.

Sena said she believes paid family and medical leave isnt just a safety net for New Mexicans going through their darkest days but a matter of life and death for cancer patients like me.

New Mexicans should not have to make the choice of providing for their families or accessing the health care we deserve, she said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Megan Green, president of CWA Local 7076, said members of her union, which represents 5,000 public sector workers in New Mexico, have told her about needing time off to care for themselves and family members, but having to sacrifice their paychecks to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As new parents, we dont deserve to lose our jobs because we are welcoming a new child into our families, Green said. As disabled and chronically ill workers, we dont deserve to go unpaid because we need greater accommodations and require more frequent medical attention than the average worker. And as the children of aging parents, we dont deserve to have to worry about putting food on the table or paying rent while caring for our relatives in the last stages of our lives.

Lawmakers who spoke at the rally included sponsors of the bill, Reps. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) and Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) and Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque). Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque) also spoke.

The proposal passed the Senate last year but died by a single vote in the House of Representatives. It also passed the Senate the year before, but never made it to a floor vote in the House.

This isnt the bill that we started out with six years ago, but it still gets us to where we need to get, Serrato said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Serrato said she was able to do her work at the Legislature on Tuesday because about an hour after the rally, her mother-in-law was going to pick up her daughters from school and then get them to dance class.

She said many women have told her they struggled with pregnancies or raising a family but they were lucky because they had family to help them.

Why do we have to be lucky to survive in New Mexico?, Serrato asked. We dont have to be lucky. We can pass policies that take luck out of the equation.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
State Senators Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), address a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

On Wednesday, Mothering Justice hosted a press conference and rally on the Michigan State Capitol steps denouncing proposed cuts to the Earned Sick Time Act.

With temperatures in the 30s and the sun struggling to peek out from behind the clouds, the nearly 100 supporters in attendance were focused on keeping intact a Michigan Supreme Court decision last summer that the then-GOP-controlled Legislature acted unconstitutionally in 2018 when it adopted and then gutted citizen-led ballot initiatives to increase Michigans minimum wage and create sick leave requirements for employers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a mom and of a disabled child and son, I know what it is like to not have a single paid sick time, and I know what its like for families like mine to care for children with disabilities, said Aisha Wells, deputy director of organizing at Mothering Justice. The flexibility to take time off for medical emergencies is not a luxury. It is a necessity for our childrens survival.

The courts ruling set a Feb. 21 deadline to implement the ballot initiative reforms including increasing the states minimum wage to $15 by the start of 2028 and eventually eliminating the tipped minimum wage by 2030 so that all workers, regardless of classification, earned a uniform minimum wage. It would also require employers with fewer than 10 employees to offer up to 40 hours of paid sick leave and 32 hours of unpaid leave while businesses with 10 or more employees must offer a full 72 hours of paid sick leave.

Since that decision, however, hundreds of business owners and service industry workers have lobbied lawmakers to preserve the tipped wage credit and reverse the sick leave changes before they take effect.

House Bills 4001 and 4002, which passed the GOP-led House last week, would undo much of what is set to go into effect on Feb. 21, when the minimum wage will increase to $12.48 an hour, increasing in phases to $14.97 by 2028.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the Republican-sponsored legislation would keep the tipped wage at 38% of the state minimum wage, while delaying by almost a year the proposed increases to the minimum wage, so that instead of reaching $14.97 by Feb. 21, 2028, it would increase to $15 at the start of 2029. Additionally, the wage rate for employees under 18 would drop from 85% to 75% of the minimum wage.

As for paid sick leave, the proposed legislation would exempt employers with 50 employees or less from the new requirements, while eliminating language that would permit employees to take civil action if their employer violates the law.

Almost 1.5 million workers in Michigan do not have access to a single day, but guess who does have sick time? Lawmakers. Guess who else has sick time? Corporations. But who doesnt have sick time is almost 1.5 million Michigan families, said Wells. Sick time is a win-win solution. Beyond being a worker friendly policy, it improves workforce productivity, reduces turnover, and creates stronger community ties for businesses. We need to fight back.

Mothering Justice called on Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) and fellow Democratic Sens. Kevin Hertel (D-Saint Clair Shores), and Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Twp.), to heed their constituents concerns and not water down the scheduled increases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hertel, Camilleri, and Singh are the sponsors of legislation that would essentially try to split the difference between the scheduled changes and the GOP legislation.

Together, Senate Bills 6, 7, and 8, would accelerate the increase of Michigans minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027, while keeping the tipped credit at 38% for the remainder of 2025, then gradually increasing and capping it at 60% over 10 years. They would also allow workers to file anonymous complaints against employers, while prohibiting the misclassification of workers as independent contractors, preventing a wage being paid that is lower than the legal minimum.

Senate Bill 15 would raise the definition of a small business from less than 10 employees to less than 25 employees. Those small businesses would then have to provide employees with 40 hours of paid sick leave and 30 hours of unpaid sick leave at the beginning of the year, instead of the 40 hours of paid leave and 32 hours of unpaid leave accrued through the year. It would also provide employers the option to provide workers a minimum of 72 hours of paid earned sick time at the beginning of a year.

All four Democratic bills have been referred to either the Senate Labor Committee or the Committee on Regulatory Affairs, where no dates have been set to take testimony and potentially pass them on to the full Senate for a vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), who co-sponsored two of the bills, spoke at the rally, and said the need for the earned sick time reforms was long past due, not just for the benefit of workers, but also employers.

Its so, so clear that people should not have to make that choice between taking care of themselves, taking care of a loved one, or being able to pay their rent, and so making sure that people have earned paid sick time is so important, not just for families and not just for workers, but also we know that from the states and cities that already have had earned paid sick time, that actually this is a policy thats good for business as well, said Chang.

When we think about worker productivity, being present on the job, not having to retrain workers over and over, this is actually something that is good for business.

State Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) criticized the last-minute wrangling in the Legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Supreme Court of Michigan gave the business community, the Legislature, six months to figure out how to implement what should have happened back in 2018 the right way, she said. The hard work of the people who youve all heard from, many of the folks are out there, this is a very important initiative. This is important to a lot of those who stand fighting for our families, when you need to take that time to care.

Aisha Wells, deputy director of organizing at Mothering Justice, addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

A supporter of increases in earned sick time rallies at the Michigan Capitol. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

A supporter of increases in earned sick time rallies at the Michigan Capitol. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Bridget Leanord addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Sarah Freudenberg, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran in Livonia, addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Karrington Kelsey addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Supporters of increases in earned sick time rally on the Michigan Capitol steps. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kelly Miller, volunteer coordinator at Focus Hope, addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Supporters of increases in earned sick time rally on the Michigan Capitol steps. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Chris White, director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan, addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Supporters of increases in earned sick time rally on the Michigan Capitol steps. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Senators Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), address a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

La Donna Spight addresses a rally on Michigan Capitol steps supporting increases in earned sick time. Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Jon King

Another speaker at Wednesdays rally was Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. She told the Michigan Advance afterward that the Michigan Supreme Court decision should stand as is.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legislation that was drafted with the ballot initiative in 2018 is the right legislation, and thats what we want to see enacted, said Stanton. Michiganders are struggling. Theyre struggling with all kinds of things right now and people need protections to be able to take care of themselves and their families, and this is not the time to make these kinds of cuts.

Chris White is the director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan, which filed the lawsuit that led to the Michigan Supreme Court decision. He told the Advance that changing the measures now is a slap in the face of the democratic process.

What does it say, for a group of individuals that petitioned in 2018 and then went to court and did everything the right way, only to have it set back? Thats not good policy, he said. The bills that they have introduced sets back wages at a time when the cost of eggs is going up, the cost of gas is going up. If the cost of living goes up, the wages must increase. Thats just common sense at that point.

White pointed to recent polling that shows a majority of Michiganders, including Republicans, support the wage and sick time changes.

Fifty-one percent of Republicans support this, said White, referencing a poll conducted by Progress Michigan. So were concerned that the [Republican Party] is going up against what they even support. 80% of Democrats support this. So this is bipartisan support for the changes and this is bipartisan support for a stronger workforce, a stronger Michigan. So, were not gonna stand here and let rumors, astroturf campaigns, and any of that get in the way of the change that is coming and this change is for all Michigan residents, and this change will make our state a stronger state.

As advocates gathered in front of the Capitol, Republicans in the Michigan Senate were also discussing the issue, angry that majority Democrats had yet to advance the House legislation for a vote.

This should have been addressed long ago, and its been incredibly frustrating to watch this chamber do nothing, even though the jobs of thousands of Michigan workers are on the line, said state Sen. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) during the Senate session. We are running out of time. Workers, particularly servers in the restaurant industry and small businesses, are begging we take action to save their jobs. I call on the Senate to approve House Bills 4001 and 4002, as soon as possible. These bills preserve the tip credit sustainably, continue to raise the minimum wage and continue to provide common sense and workable earned sick time.

Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the group expects Michigan lawmakers to take action to prevent what they believe will result in an economic calamity for restaurants and other eateries.

We dont need to repeat the mistakes of other regions. Washington, D.C., is already seeking to reverse course on tip credit elimination after losing 4,000 restaurant jobs. Michigan has the opportunity to learn from their costly mistake and act before we inflict the same damage on our own hospitality industry. The House has shown leadership by passing HB 4001  now the Senate must do the same before its too late, said Winslow.

Advance reporter Kyle Davidson contributed to this story.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), has celebrated the Bundestag vote in favour of more rejections at Germany's borders as a "great day for democracy."

It was clear "sensible proposals can be adopted," chancellor candidate Weidel asserted ahead of the German election on February 23.

She called on the conservative CDU/CSU to consider "whether to continue to maintain the firewall" between mainstream parties and the AfD, "which in our view is undemocratic."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CDU had long denied the need for migration restrictions, Weidel said. Now it has adopted the demands of the AfD.

Faction and co-party leader Tino Chrupalla spoke of a "turning point in migration policy." He hopes that CDU leader Friedrich Merz will actually put a draft law on migration to a vote on Friday.
Montoya brings more than 25 years of cybersecurity leadership and experience to bolster companys technology, product teams, and set the company up for continued success with its leading AI security and risk platform

BlueVoyant, cybersecurity company that offers seamless AI-driven internal, external, and supply chain cyber defence, all within one powerful security operations platform, today announced that Michael Montoya has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his role as COO, Montoya will take on the responsibility of overseeing the technology, product, and operations organisations.

Montoya joins BlueVoyant as the company closed out a record-setting 2024, with new product and service innovation, and increased customer demand leading to revenue growth. Montoya brings more than 25 years of information technology (IT) and cybersecurity leadership experience. He previously served as senior vice president and chief information security officer at Equinix. Prior to Equinix, he served as chief information security officer at Digital Realty.

With a deep passion for the security industry, Montoya contributes to advancing the role of enterprise risk, cybersecurity regulations and laws, as well as developing products and services to help prevent cyber attacks. He served in a number of technology leadership roles at Microsoft, including as chief cybersecurity advisor, where he focused on raising awareness of the company's cybersecurity capabilities and extending E5 license adoption. Montoya also held leadership roles at FireEye/Mandiant (now Trellix/Google) as it grew from US$4 million to $800 million in revenue. Montoya also serves as an independent director of F5, Inc.

It is an honour to join the BlueVoyant team in this time of rapid acceleration and expansion, said Montoya. More than ever, CISOs and their teams need a platform that brings together risk, compliance, and operations in a manner that can help them protect their organisations from the growing and innovative digital pandemic of cyber attacks. With my CISO experience, I am convinced BlueVoyant has the platform to help improve security teams ability to protect their companies. I am inspired by BlueVoyants commitment to advancing the security industry, and honoured to play a role that will drive continued innovation, including the companys use of AI, automation, and next-gen cyber defence to better serve security professionals.

Deepak Dalvi, Head of SaaS Product and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at BlueVoyant

Continuing product innovation and momentum, Deepak Dalvi is also joining BlueVoyant as head of SaaS product and Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy. Dalvi has more than 20 years of cybersecurity product management experience. Prior to joining BlueVoyant, Dalvi served as head of products for Endpoint Security portfolio and spearheaded the AI strategy for Trellix and launched the Trellix Wise generative AI-powered platform. In addition, he has held senior product management roles at Lacework, Aqua Security, and Symantec.

Michael and Deepak have key experience growing and scaling cyber defence companies, said James Rosenthal, CEO and co-founder, BlueVoyant. We are excited to welcome them to the BlueVoyant team to maximise our product innovation and overall business strategies. We have exciting plans for our continued growth, and I look forward to having their knowledge and expertise to guide us to better meet our clients needs.

BlueVoyant enters 2025 with more than 1,000 global customers. The company recently unveiled its award-winning BlueVoyant Cyber Defense Platform award-winning BlueVoyant Cyber Defense Platform that offers next-generation security operations for internal, external, and supply chain defense, and was named by Microsoft the prestigious 2024 Worldwide Security Partner of the Year.
(WHTM)  A drug bust resulted in the seizure of a large amount of fentanyl and ghost guns at a Pennsylvania home, the Attorney Generals Office said.

A total of 478 bricks of fentanyl or almost 24,000 doses stamped for street sales, 92 grams of crack cocaine and multiple guns were found inside Ismail Hamlins, 28, of Westmoreland County, home, according to a news release from the AGs Office.

This arrest is a testament to the value of law enforcement agencies working together to remove dangerous drug traffickers, and the poisons they distribute, from Pennsylvania communities, Attorney General Sunday said in a statement. I commend the officers who collaborated to seize the illegally possessed firearms and ammunition, and enough fentanyl doses to inflict widespread devastation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three assault rifles that are ghost guns, two Taurus handguns, a Glock, a large amount of ammo and $19,677 cash were found when law enforcement served the search warrant, the release said. Guns that are not traceable and unregulated are considered ghost guns.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Morning Weather Forecast

This is proof that when law enforcement agencies collaborate together and integrate resources, we can effectuate change, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said in a statement. It is my hope that the sheer amount of narcotics and firearms seized from this investigation will interrupt the drug trafficking in our region. I am hopeful by arresting this offender, it makes our streets safer and keeps our children out of harms way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hamlin faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. The AGs office says he is locked up in prison with his bail denied.

Hamlin had prior convictions for drug-trafficking and firearms possession, meaning he could not legally own firearms, the AG 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 ABC27.
The state investigation into a Henry County funeral home accused of sending dirt to a family instead of their babys ashes is now in the hands of the Attorney Generals Office.

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

A spokesman for the Georgia Secretary of States office confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that its investigation into Stan Henderson & Sons Mortuary in Stockbridge has been turned over to the AGs office for further investigation. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the AGs office and a spokeswoman confirmed that they are looking into the matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last May, Channel 2s Michael Seiden spoke exclusively with Alexus Taylor and Jalen Matthews, of Valdosta, who claimed they hired the funeral home to cremate their one-month-old baby, Josiah.

They thought they had received the ashes when they got a call that shook their world.

TRENDING STORIES:

On Tuesday, Channel 2 Action News spoke with Isaac Lezcano, of the Atlanta-based Wetherington Law Firm, who confirmed that a recent investigation revealed that the couple was given the ashes of a complete stranger.

If people cant trust that the funeral industry is going to treat their loved ones in a dignified way or manner, they cant grieve, he said. Alexus and Jalen, they are stuck back in that day and they have not been able to move past it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In May, state officials told Channel 2 Action News that Hendersons funeral home had been on probation since Feb. 2022 for operating without a licensed funeral director.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Channel 2 Action News has tried on multiple occasions to speak with Henderson about the allegations, but he has declined to comment.

On Tuesday, his lawyer, Jonathan M. Broderick, managing partner at Broderick Law Group, sent the following statement regarding the investigation:

We have confirmed that the investigation against Mr. Henderson was a fact finding or better yet an information gathering investigation that was conducted on behalf of the licensing committee. This was not a criminal investigation. To the extent any involvement of the AGs office is occurring we have not been made aware of any action taken by the AGs office. The public site which can verify Stan Henderson and Sons licensing status shows that he is on probation. If his license to operate were revoked it would have stated so. This is the unfortunate tail of no-good deed going unpunished. Mr. Henderson has been friends with the relatives of the young couple for many years and offered to do the cremation, which is the subject of their lawsuit free of charge. He did not make one penny from volunteering to do this and had no motive, intent or desire to mislead anyone. Mr. Henderson is confident that as more facts come to light his integrity, and character will be exonerated from the attempts of the couples attorneys to assassinate his character in the media with baseless lies and allegations. They have gone from accusing him of putting dirt in an urn (which was never confirmed) to apparently now admitting that the urn had someone elses remains. This slight fact alone speaks volumes to intent. There is no justification for placing dirt in an urn while the remains being for the wrong person gives itself to a mistake. To the extent it is proved that the wrong remains were given to the couple it was an unfortunate mistake but a mistake nonetheless.




A migrant from the Dominican Republic was taken into custody during a raid in the Bronx on Tuesday morning.
It happened around the same time a purported gang member, wanted in connection with a caught-on-camera home invasion and shooting in Colorado, was also arrested in the Bronx.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee will review a newly introduced bill that proposes the use of artificial intelligence to assist in fighting wildfires.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mark Baisley, Sen. Janice Marchman, Rep. Ron Weinberg and Rep. Andrew Boesenecker.

Bill limiting semiautomatic firearm sales passes Colorado Senate committee

Bill SB25-022 would require the Colorado General Assembly to allocate $7,500,000 to the Division of Fire Prevention and Control for state fiscal year 2024-25. Any of the funding not used would be able to roll over into the budget for state fiscal year 2025-26.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The division would use the funding to study and develop AI systems that can help predict, mitigate or assist in fighting wildfires.

The bill would minimally require AI systems to produce data that can be mapped with the following information:

Classification of vegetation and wildfire fuel

Predictions regarding the likelihood of wildfire ignition potential in a particular area following observed lightning events

The perimeter of an ongoing wildfire

Predictions regarding the locations and areas to which an ongoing wildfire may spread

Colorado leaders react to Trump funding freeze and temporary block

The bill permits a contract with a third-party AI developer if the developers AI tools can predict, mitigate or assist in fighting wildfires. The bill also states that the division is permitted to seek, accept and expend gifts, grants and donations for the purpose of the bill.

The bill will be reviewed on Wednesday afternoon. It was initially introduced to the Senate on Jan. 8 and the Senate assigned the bill to the Transportation and Energy Committee.

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.
LONDON (AP)  Advanced artificial intelligence systems have the potential to create extreme new risks, such as fueling widespread job losses, enabling terrorism or running amok, experts said in a first-of-its-kind international report Wednesday cataloging the range of dangers posed by the technology.

The International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI is being released ahead of a major AI summit in Paris next month. The paper is backed by 30 countries including the U.S. and China, marking rare cooperation between the two countries as they battle over AI supremacy, highlighted by Chinese startup DeepSeek stunning the world this week with its budget chatbot in spite of U.S. export controls on advanced chips to the country.

The report by a group of independent experts is a synthesis of existing research intended to help guide officials working on drawing up guardrails for the rapidly advancing technology, Yoshua Bengio, a prominent AI scientist who led the study, told the Associated Press in an interview.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The stakes are high, the report says, noting that while a few years ago the best AI systems could barely spit out a coherent paragraph, now they can write computer programs, generate realistic images and hold extended conversations.

While some AI harms are already widely known, such as deepfakes, scams and biased results, the report said that as general-purpose AI becomes more capable, evidence of additional risks is gradually emerging and risk management techniques are only in their early stages.

It comes amid warnings this week about artificial intelligence from the Vatican and the group behind the Doomsday Clock.

The report focuses on general purpose AI, typified by chatbots such as OpenAIs ChatGPT used to carry out many different kinds of tasks. The risks fall into three categories: malicious use, malfunctions and widespread systemic risks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bengio, who with two other AI pioneers won computer sciences top prize in 2019, said the 100 experts who came together on the report dont all agree on what to expect from AI in the future. Among the biggest disagreements within the AI research community is the timing of when the fast-developing technology will surpass human capabilities across a variety of tasks and what that will mean.

They disagree also about the scenarios, Bengio said. Of course, nobody has a crystal ball. Some scenarios are very beneficial. Some are terrifying. I think its really important for policymakers and the public to take stock of that uncertainty.

Researchers delved into the details surrounding possible dangers. AI makes it easier, for example, to learn how to create biological or chemical weapons because AI models can provide step by step plans. But its unclear how well they capture the practical challenges of weaponizing and delivering the agents, it said.

General purpose AI is also likely to transform a range of jobs and displace workers, the report says, noting that some researchers believe it could create more jobs than it takes away, while others think it will drive down wages or employment rates, though theres plenty of uncertainty over how it will play out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AI systems could also run out of control, either because they actively undermine human oversight or humans pay less attention, the report said.

However, a raft of factors make it hard to manage the risks, including AI developers knowing little about how their models work, the authors said.

The paper was commissioned at an inaugural global summit on AI safety hosted by Britain in November 2023, where nations agreed to work together to contain potentially catastrophic risks. At a follow-up meeting hosted by South Korea last year, AI companies pledged to develop AI safety while world leaders backed setting up a network of public AI safety institutes.

The report, also backed by the United Nations and the European Union, is meant to weather changes in governments, such as the recent presidential transition in the U.S., leaving it up to each country to choose how it responds to AI risks. President Donald Trump rescinded former President Joe Bidens AI safety policies on his first day in office, and has since directed his new administration to craft its own approach. But Trump hasnt made any move to disband the AI Safety Institute that Biden formed last year, part of a growing international network of such centers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

World leaders, tech bosses and civil society are expected to convene again at the Paris AI Action Summit on Feb 10-11. French officials have said countries will sign a common declaration on AI development, and agree to a pledge on sustainable development of the technology.

Bengio said the report's aim was not to "propose a particular way to evaluate systems or anything." The authors stayed away from prioritizing particular risks or making specific policy recommendations. Instead they laid out what the scientific literature on AI says in a way thats digestible by policymakers."

We need to better understand the systems were building and the risks that come with them so that we can we can take these better decisions in the future, he said.

__

AP Technology Writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island contributed to this report.
Sounds of air defence responding were heard in the city of Kyiv at around 09:00, and an air-raid warning was issued shortly after.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration; Ukraines Air Force

Quote from the Air Force: "UAVs are heading towards Kyiv!"

Details: After that, sounds of air defence responding were heard in the city and an air-raid warning was issued.

"An air-raid warning has been issued in Kyiv due to the threat of enemy attack drones. We ask Kyiv residents to head to shelters and stay there until the all-clear has been given. Air defences are responding in the capital," Kyiv City Military Administration warned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Updated: The all-clear was given at 09:17. It was in effect for 13 minutes.

Later, Tymur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, reported that downed drone wreckage had fallen in an open area in the Desnianskyi district, setting grass and some thickets on fire.

"Information is being gathered regarding damages and casualties," Tkachenko concluded.

Background: Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that the wreckage of a downed Russian drone had fallen near a metro station in the Darnytskyi district of the city of Kyiv, damaging a fence and the building of the Darnytskyi depot gate.

Support UP or become our patron!
Medical shaving waivers for thousands of airmen and Space Force Guardians will be reset and reevaluated, according to new Department of the Air Force memos, marking one of several new changes as the service's top officers continue to push for a return to certain dress and grooming standards.

The Air Force Surgeon General's new memo calls for a reset and reevaluation of all airmen's shaving profiles starting March 1 after a service member's most recent health assessment. Medical shaving waivers are often due to pseudofolliculitis barbae, a skin condition known as PFB that causes frequent and painful razor burn that disproportionately affects Black men.

Lt. Col. Karl Wiest, a spokesperson for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, confirmed to Military.com that the shaving waiver guidance was "connected" to the top uniformed leader's new push earlier this month for unified standards throughout the service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read Next: Trump's Pick for Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll, Heads into Senate Hearing Mostly an Unknown

"Extended duration shaving profiles are generally reserved for severe cases of PFB, while mild-to-moderate cases may benefit from more frequent management, follow-ups and temporary shaving profiles," according to the memo, which was leaked online and confirmed as authentic by the Air Force.

Military.com reported last year that shaving waivers had exploded in popularity among the Air Force and Space Force in recent years. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of active-duty airmen with medical shaving waivers grew from 10,965 to 18,991.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another Jan. 24 memo signed by Allvin, which was leaked online and confirmed by Military.com as authentic on Tuesday, also called for various changes starting Feb. 1.

It says that "Duty Identifier Tabs" are "no longer authorized for wear," nail polish must be "clear or French or American manicure," and hair must "not touch the ears." The memo also calls for a "gig line" when in dress uniform -- or neatly lining up the front button edge of the shirt, belt buckle and fly of the pants.

Like the Air Force Surgeon General's memo, Allvin's also stated that, "unless male airmen have a current medical waiver or religious accommodation ... airmen must be clean shaven."

Allvin, in a video to the entire Air Force earlier this month, called for the service to "come together in uniform" and in formation for inspections on their appearance and to make sure everyone is in compliance with regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In recent years, there have been a large number of updates to dress and appearance standards for the service, ranging from changes to hair and mustache length, approved nail polish colors and certain wardrobe changes.

The Air Force did not respond to follow-up questions asking if the policy change, since it widely impacts Black airmen, was connected to President Donald Trump's recent executive orders calling for the removal of programs, initiatives and efforts tied to diversity within the ranks.

Black service members have advocated for changes to shaving waivers for years. Studies by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology identified that pseudofolliculitis barbae occurs in about 60% of Black men.

In recent years, the Air Force's Barrier Analysis Working Groups advocated for and studied the idea of a beard pilot program for Black airmen, given the research. Last week, the service dismantled all of those groups, which were hoping to improve quality-of-life issues for minority, LGBTQ+ and female airmen, in response to Trump's executive orders, Military.com reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo detailed that the new rule "does not apply to religious accommodation shaving waivers," which have been offered for Sikhs, Muslims and Norse Pagans in the past.

Related: Air Force to Put Renewed Emphasis on Safety and Uniform Standards
CI-ISAC Australia has been selected as the recipient of an Australian Government $6.4 million grant to create a health-specific, information-sharing and analysis centre for Australias healthcare industry.

Recent cyber-attacks on Australian healthcare organisations, including health funds and hospitals, have led the Australian Government to prioritise the health sector, by identifying it as the first to receive formal funding.

In 2023, the global healthcare industry reported the most expensive data breaches for the 13th year in a row, at an average cost of AUD$10.93 million, almost double that of the financial industry, which ranked second, with an average cost of $5.9 million.

Currently, Australias health sector comprises organisations such as public and private hospitals (approximately, 750 government hospitals and 650 private hospitals), health insurance providers, medical clinics (approximately, 6,500 general practitioner clinics), as well as a large number of health and medical-related third-party suppliers and vendors.

With the Australian Government grant, CI-ISAC has created a new Health Cyber Sharing Network (HCSN) which will focus on enabling Australias health sector organisations to collaborate and break down information silos, enabling the exchange of valuable cyber security threat information more quickly, within a secure and confidential environment.

CI-ISAC provides a cyber neighbourhood watch for Australian health providers to share relevant information on cyber threats, while also benefiting from insights gained from across other critical infrastructure sectors.

The Health Cyber Sharing Network aims to better equip health sector organisations to manage and mitigate current and emerging cyber security threats. With health and medical organisations joining and participating in CI-ISACs Health Cyber Sharing Network, the cyber threat intelligence that is shared into the network by these organisations, will not only support the overall improvement of cyber resilience across Australias health sector, it will further support Australias Critical Infrastructure organisations more broadly, which have interdependences across the health sector.

The health and medical sector holds a large amount of incredibly private and personal medical and financial information, said David Sandell, CEO of CI-ISAC Australia. We have already seen several high-profile data breaches in the health sector, and the new network can help members reduce their cyber risks. Cyber-attacks can also greatly disrupt important health services, and this industry cannot afford interruptions with patients' wellbeing at stake.

The National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC, said the Health Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centre Acceleration Grant is an important contribution to Australia's ambition to become a world leader in cyber security by 2030.

"We have seen in recent years the very real impact that healthcare-related cyber-attacks can have on millions of Australians. Increasing threat information sharing contributes to the prevention of cyber-attacks and builds resilience," Lieutenant General McGuinness said.

"Many in the healthcare sector would know well the philosophy that prevention is better than a cure. This also applies to cyber security and is the driving concept behind this grant.

"Strong industry collaboration and enhanced threat detection through the work of CI-ISAC will increase the protection of Australians' sensitive health data."

To kickstart the Health Cyber Sharing Network, CI-ISAC is inviting eligible health and medical organisations and their suppliers to participate by providing a complimentary CI-ISAC membership for 12 months to join and participate in this new cyber security information-sharing network. By joining the network, new health members will get access to the depth and breadth of CI-ISACs current Critical Infrastructure member base, providing health organisations with valuable closed-source, cross-sectoral cyber threat intelligence information, from organisations with high cyber maturity.

As a not-for-profit organisation, CI-ISAC facilitates collaboration and the bi-directional sharing of cyber threat intelligence within a trusted, industry-led environment. With the addition of this funding, CI-ISAC will incorporate education for the health sector on mitigating threats, cyber and insider threat training, attack surface monitoring, and improving cyber incident response plans (CIRPs).

CI-ISACs current members span Australia's 11 Critical Infrastructure sectors, including government, local government, higher education, and industries including energy, water, telecommunications, financial services, data storage and processing, healthcare, and transport. Its existing 100+ members include Google Cloud AU, NBN, AARnet, NextDC, DXC Technology, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Challenger Group Services, Transgrid, Sunshine Coast Council, and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The value for all sectors increases exponentially as more participants join the trusted network and share their own insights, Sandell added. Cross-sector sharing improves incident detection and response times, enabling health organisations and their suppliers to act more swiftly on threats observed in other industries.

About CI-ISAC

CI-ISAC is a not-for-profit organisation providing cyber threat intelligence (CTI) sharing services to members across Australia's 11 critical infrastructure sectors, government and suppliers.

CI-ISAC delivers this by providing both a technical and non-technical platform with which CI-ISAC members can interact to receive CTI and share their own CTI insights and responses. CI-ISAC provides a tailored service with its National Intelligence Office (NIO) curating CTI advice to ensure it is properly prioritised and actioned.

CI-ISAC's CTI service is accessible to large companies that can integrate with a technical CTI sharing platform, and with smaller companies that lack these resources. CTI advice is delivered as a technical, machine-to-machine feed, as email/messaging advisories, and through human-human intelligence sharing forums and updates.

As an NFP company, CI-ISAC is 'owned' by its members. Decisions are made by the Board and influenced by member inputs, not by profit or competitive motives. The NFP model also provides a trusted, safe place for commercial entities to share sensitive CTI insights anonymously, without concerns these insights will be exploited for commercial advantage, or cause reputational damage. For an ISAC to provide a trusted, industry-for-industry sharing environment, it must be a NFP entity.
Pratt & Whitney employee works on aircraft engine. (Photo: Pratt & Whitney)

Pratt and Whitneys announced expansion of its turbine airfoil manufacturing plant in Buncombe County will give the region a much-needed economic boost, Gov. Josh Stein said on Tuesday. The expansion will create 325 additional jobs and includes an additional investment of $285 million in Asheville, the governor announced.

Gov. Josh Stein (right) inspects a trailer on a recent visit to western North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of the governors office.)

Western North Carolinas economy took it on the chin after Hurricane Helene, yet still it remains an incredible place to work and do business, Stein said in a statement. Pratt & Whitney clearly sees the opportunities in North Carolina and the strength of our highly skilled workforce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. The companys Asheville facility produces high-tech turbine airfoils, which are an important component in aircraft jet engines. The companys new project will expand its production capacity to meet growing customer demand, Pratt & Whitney officials said.

This latest round of investment allows us to add critical process elements for the manufacture of turbine airfoils and increase the overall delivery output of this facility, enabling us to deliver on our customer commitments while creating hundreds of new jobs in the Asheville community, said Dan Field, Asheville general manager for Pratt & Whitney.

The N.C. Department of Commerce led the states support for the company during its site evaluation and decision-making process. The average salary for the new positions will be $62,413, compared with an average Buncombe County wage of $55,416. The new positions will bring an annual payroll impact to the community of more than $20 million per year.

The aviation industry is a key driver of North Carolinas economic success and Pratt & Whitneys decision strengthens our aerospace ecosystem substantially, said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. We will continue to invest in support systems, like our community colleges and universities, that help employers like Pratt & Whitney succeed in our stateand bolster Western NCs economy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The companys project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the states Economic Investment Committee. Over the life of the 12-year grant, the project is estimated to grow the states economy by nearly $2.1 billion.

Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by new jobs and the capital investment, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $4.2 million over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.

Because Pratt & Whitney is expanding in Buncombe County, which is classified by the states economic tier system as Tier 3, the companys JDIG agreement also calls for moving $1.4 million into the states Industrial Development Fund  Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Tier 3 counties are those with the least amount of economic stress. The Utility Account helps counties that are more economically challenged.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Some Alabama families are struggling after having their food stamps stolen without any help from the state or federal government.

Times are harder for Stephanie Hyde, the authorizer of her sons Nicholas food stamps. After he lost his job in November, Nicholas was granted food stamps in December to only use them once before they were stolen at the beginning of this month, one of many left without an opportunity to be reimbursed as the state of Alabama is no longer processing snap theft claims after the stopgap spending bill was not reauthorized.

Its just sad because its like the government dont care and the politicians arent living paycheck to paycheck, their parent doesnt have to go hungry so their kids to eat, they dont just have a pack of hot dogs in the fridge. Food insecurity is a thing, Hyde said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Flu on the rise in south Alabama, packing out hospitals

Hyde says she noticed the stamps were stolen when she went to the grocery store to buy groceries for her son one day earlier this month. After calling the toll free line that same day, she says $289 was deposited into the account around 5:00 am and in 10 minutes the money had disappeared from unfamiliar transactions outside of the wiregrass and state.

It said like $94 was at some store in New Jersey, $112 was spent at a grocery store, 4 transactions . Its hard enough to get food stamps as it is, especially if someone steals them I have never been to New York and neither has my son.

She says she reported it to DHR but it was not much they could do after the 2022 law that allowed federal funds to replace stolen snap benefits expired December 20, 2024 as the 2025 American Relief Act does not include money for it to be replaced, leaving some families hungry or perhaps starving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fear of not having food ranks right up there with homelessness the food program is supposed to help but they are not. Its not like I gave you my card and said buy me some hot dogs and they went off and bought stuff for them. Someone I do not know and have never met hacked into a database,

With the lack of not being able to lock the food stamp card through the propel app, Hyde says she prefers paper food stamps rather than digital which makes it harder for something to happen or it to be stolen.

Sometimes the new ways are not the best ways. Instead of flooding food banks or having to borrow money, Hyde says she made ends meet for her son while he was out of work.

I brought extra food home from the restaurant I work and picked up extra shifts here at the gas station to make things stretch,

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 WDHN - wdhn.com.
Even if the documentary werent premiering at a moment when key aspects of the federal government are being dismantled seemingly at random, the title of Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufmans The Alabama Solution would sound ominous.

The title, which comes equipped with Final Solution resonances, refers to a promise or threat by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey that if there are problems in the Alabama prison system, theyre an Alabama problem and must have an Alabama solution. Which is a transparent way of saying, Butt out to the Department of Justice and an equally transparent way of saying, Nah, nothing is going to change.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The reality, of course, is that The Alabama Solution makes clear that the problems captured in the documentary arent simply Alabama problems. And although Im not sure the doc is nearly as effective at insinuating what solutions might be, its a film precision-designed to stoke sadness and outrage, and it achieves that goal thoroughly.

The HBO production begins in 2019 as the filmmakers attend a religious revival in the yard at Easterling Correctional Facility in Southeast Alabama. Theres music and BBQ and everybody looks happy and full of hope and community.

Slowly, one prisoner after another begins to ask to speak to the directors in private, trying to emphasize how every aspect of the revival is public-facing propaganda. This isnt surprising, obviously, but as they hear stories of beatings and stabbings and worse, the directors become curious. The efforts by prisoners to reach out continue even after filming is shut down at the end of the revival, prompting a documentary about the difference between what the Alabama carceral system wants people to see and what prisoners need people to know  and how far theyre willing to go to bring the truth to light.

There are, it turns out, optimistic communities within Easterling and the other Alabama prisons. Theyre the secret cabals of inmates who have dedicated themselves to pushing back against the inhumanity of institutions that are at 200 percent inmate capacity with 1/3rd of the necessary staff, where punishment is the only objective and rehabilitation isnt even a consideration. Theyre pushing for change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Knowing that they wouldnt be welcome at the prison for a non-propaganda film, the directors begin seeking answers outside while collaborating with the inmates on the inside. The inmates are prepared to film using purloined cell phones, even knowing that the consequences for being caught could range from solitary confinement to unregulated violence meted out by guards, abetted by prisoners who know that their only chance at parole is playing along and covering up.

After the innocuous and even uplifting opening, The Alabama Solution quickly becomes a nightmare of a documentary, as these citizen documentarians provide the directors with glimpses of sweltering, airless buildings, bloodstained cellblock floors and one distressing story after another.

The documentary becomes a two-tiered crusade.

On the inside, we have activists like Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council, who have spent years of their padded sentences in solitary while using the rest of the time to learn about the law and teach fellow inmates, which has made them targets for additional punitive measures. They learned under the guidance of an older generation of inmates, many of whom were veterans of the Civil Rights Movement; their work is a triumph of inherited activism, and underlines how the racial power imbalances in Alabama are part of the states ongoing traditions, dating back to slavery. This culminates in an attempted statewide inmate strike.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the outside, the directors follow a tip from Melvin to investigate the beating and death of a prisoner under decidedly suspicious circumstances. They follow the deceased inmates grieving mother and crusading lawyer in search of justice at exactly the moment that the DoJ issues a report criticizing Alabama prisons. The institutions begin to push back.

With Melvin and Robert Earl, the directors have a pair of reflective heroes whose mission to chronicle and disseminate information from the prison adds suspense, as we watch them filming in darkened corners and underneath blankets, always monitoring for signals warning them about approaching guards. They arent there for a wrongfully convicted storyline. Theyre seeking human empathy and nothing more.

Knowing that some viewers  not, realistically, the viewers who will ever actually see this movie  will resist invocations of mercy for criminals, they balance the emotional and passionate personal narratives with incontestable facts. They concentrate on details like the drug rehabilitation wing of the hospital that, despite federal funding, has none of the programs or infrastructure to show where the money is going; or the scary deposition testimony from a wholly unapologetic guard accused of murder; or a brief and soulless interview with one of Alabamas chief legal officials, whose cold evasion is unsettling. Even if you already have internalized the argument that The Alabama Solution is building, its easy to appreciate the care with which the argument is being built.

Filmmakers have been telling comparable stories for years  see Liz Garbus and Jonathan Stacks The Farm: Angola, USA, or Ava DuVernays 13th, among many others  and the futility is baked in. This is not like Jareckis The Jinx (Kaufman produced the second season), where it might have been possible to get justice as the destination of the storytelling process. The Alabama Solution is difficult to watch, and impossible to watch without escalating anger. There isnt easy catharsis or an easy non-Alabama solution, but its impossible to deny that something better must be done.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Alaska State Troopers Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit seized illicit drugs and alcohol destined for Utqiagvik and the North Slope Borough in Dec 2023. During the multi-day effort, 259 grams of methamphetamine, 48 grams of fentanyl powder, 600 counterfeit fentanyl pills, and 100 bottles of illicit alcohol were seized. The Utqiagvik street value of the seized narcotics and alcohol is over $220,000. (Photo provided by the Alaska Department of Public Safety)

Alaska law enforcement officials say statewide drug enforcement actions focused on mail service resulted in the seizure of more than four times as much alcohol in 2024 than in 2023.

Officials seized more than 8,500 liters of distilled spirits, malted beverages and wine, according to new data by the Alaska Department of Public Safety released in an annual report for the states drug enforcement unit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State authorities identified and intercepted large and small alcohol imports headed for communities that have opted to prohibit alcohol, known as local option communities. There are 96 communities that have banned the sale, importing or possession of alcohol. Thirty-one of those communities ban the possession of alcohol entirely.

Cornelius Sims, commander of the state drug enforcement unit, pointed to the presence of additional investigators in the Southwest Alaska hub communities of Bethel and Dillingham helping to intercept illegal alcohol.

Prior to this year, and about halfway through this year, I didnt have investigators in those locations, Sims said. So having investigators there that can work parcels coming in through the post offices there, as well as contacting passengers that are flying through the hub communities, to the local option communities, I think has helped increase that number.

The drug enforcement unit partners with the U.S. Postal Service to identify suspicious packages, investigate and collect evidence to prove probable cause, which must be filed with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Alaska to then obtain a warrant from a judge, in order to search personal property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Youd be surprised at the amount of people that will ship alcohol, and attempt to ship it through to local option communities, through the United States Postal Service, as well as the airport, you know, in their luggage, Sims said.

The state drug enforcement unit includes 29 officers statewide, stationed in Kotzebue, Nome, Bethel, Fairbanks, Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai, Kodiak, Dillingham, Juneau and Ketchikan. They focus on both illegal drugs and alcohol, basically going after drug traffickers, interdicting drug trafficking and drug crimes in the state, Sims said

In 2024, the unit reported that more than 1,200 pounds of illicit drugs were seized over the year, the majority in Anchorage and at Ted Stevens International Airport. The total volume of illicit drugs seized increased by 76% from 2023, according to state officials.

State drug agents seized more methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin last year, in addition to marijuana, which is legal in Alaska but illegal to transport in federal mail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Criminal penalties for transporting illegal contraband depend on the substance and volume, and charges can be presented in state court and later increased to federal charges.

In 2024, there were 72 alcohol offenses charged, 50 were found guilty and 20 were dismissed, according to the annual report. For those convicted, the average sentence was two years in jail and the average fine was estimated at $2,843.

The statewide drug enforcement unit works with more than 22 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the state that are part of a federally funded program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A dog in musher Paige Drobny's team, lined up for the March 5, 2022, ceremonial start, wears a jacket urging vaccination. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Serum Run that used sled dog teams to deliver life-saving diphtheria medicine to Nome. The Iditarod race course includes part of the route used by the serum teams, and the Iditarod has frequently called attention to that historic event and the value of childhood vaccinations. Still, fewer than two-thirds of young Alaska children have received their full suite of combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines, state health officials say. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Midway through the decade, Alaskans have failed to make significant progress toward the health targets in numerous categories, according to an annual tracking report issued by state and tribal officials.

The latest Healthy Alaskans 2030 update, compiled in December, shows a lack of progress in reducing rates of drug- and alcohol-related deaths, continued sedentary behavior among adolescents, failure to improve what are now inadequate rates of prenatal care for pregnant women and well-child care for young children and continued high rates of death from accidental injuries and suicide, among other measures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Healthy Alaskans program is a partnership between the Alaska Department of Health and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The program sets decade-scale targets for improvements in a wide variety of health metrics, with progress updated in annual status reports.

The latest report shows areas where continued work is needed, as well as areas where there have been successes, said Andrea Fenaughty, a state public health manager and member of the Healthy Alaskans 2030 team. She and other health officials presented the status report findings on Tuesday at the annual Alaska Public Health Association Summit, held in Anchorage.

Even though we look at the data every year, were not really expecting that halfway through the decade we would have met all the targets because theyre really to be met for 2030, Fenaughtly said. That said, it is important to monitor every year.

All of this is useful information for all our partners across the state who are working on all of these health objectives so they can refocus their efforts where they need to, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of the 30 statewide Healthy Alaskans 2030 objectives, 20 showed no improvement. There were seven objectives for which 2030 targets had been met, two for which there have been progress and one for which data was missing.

Among the Healthy Alaskans 2030 objectives specific to Indigenous residents, there was no improvement in 14. Targets were met for two, improvement was recorded for eight and there was insufficient data for six.

A notable shortcoming highlighted in the annual status report is a decline in childhood vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine, commonly known as DTaP, should be administered four times to children before they are 2 years old, according to state and federal medical guidelines.

The Healthy Alaskans 2030 objective is for 90% compliance with that recommendation by the end of the decade. But currently, only about 63% of Alaska children between 2 and 3 years old had received the full course of four vaccine doses, said Eliza Ramsey, an epidemiologist working on a fellowship at the state Department of Health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The low rate is poignant in 2025.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the deadly diphtheria outbreak in Nome that resulted in the famous delivery of medicine by sled-dog teams. The 1925 Serum Run, which brought medicine from Fairbanks to Nome, uses part of what is now the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race course. This years 100th anniversary has inspired numerous commemorative events in Nome, Anchorage and elsewhere.

An Anchorage store selling a variety of tobacco and electronic cigarette products is seen on April 14, 2023. Use of tobacco products, whether smoked or inhaled through e-cigarette devices, has declined among Alaska adults and youth, according to the annual Healthy Alaskans status report. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

There have been no diphtheria cases in Alaska in the past 25 years, said Ramsey, who made a presentation at the summit about the history of the Nome outbreak and the serum run.

However, Alaska, like much of the country, has faced a big increase in pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A notable improvement cited in the Healthy Alaskans status report concerns smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes. Alaskans have already met state health officials 2030 targets for dropping their dependence on those products, according to the status report.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Christy Knight, manager of the states Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, summarized tobacco-focused policy actions stretching back to the 1990s. Those included laws raising the age of legal purchase and hiking taxes  both actions aimed at reducing youth access to tobacco products  and a 2018 state law guaranteeing that workplaces and enclosed public places are smoke-free, she said.

A pending legislative effort would impose the first Alaska state tax on e-cigarette projects. The bill, Senate Bill 24, is sponsored by Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. It is the third time he has introduced such a bill; the Legislature passed his first bill in 2023, but Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Knight, speaking at the conference, described other tobacco-reduction efforts that concern education and help for users who want to quit, she said. Her program has a long list of partners that help with those projects, she said. She listed Breathe Free Alaska and its regional affiliates, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and AARP, among others.

Its a comprehensive effort to make the change that were trying to make in reducing tobacco use in our state, she said.

Another bright spot concerns sugary drinks. Among children three years old and younger, the Health Alaskans 2030 target for reducing consumption of such drinks has already been achieved, the status report said.

The states Play Every Day campaign includes public messages urging parents to avoid giving their children sugar-laden drinks.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Jan. 28An Albuquerque police lieutenant placed on leave in a sprawling DWI corruption probe decided to retire before meeting with detectives on the matter.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said Lt. Kyle Curtis submitted his retirement paperwork Monday, a day before he was scheduled to speak with APD's internal task force. Curtis joined APD in 2000 and formerly worked on the DWI Unit.

Curtis and another lieutenant had been placed on leave Friday, hours after a paralegal took a plea deal on racketeering charges in the FBI's criminal case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the plea agreement, Ricardo "Rick" Mendez, 53, admitted that since 2008 he and Attorney Thomas Clear III had paid off law enforcement officers from APD, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police to let DWI cases get dismissed.

Neither Clear nor any law enforcement officers have been charged in the criminal case. APD has placed 12 officers on leave and 10 have since resigned, retired or been fired. BCSO placed one deputy on leave after Mendez's plea agreement went public.

New Mexico State Police said it has not uncovered any such activity among its ranks.

State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Tuesday, in a statement, "The behavior outlined in the recently released federal documents is disgusting and has no place in law enforcement."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If we determine members of the State Police were involved, they will be dealt with swiftly and decisively," he said. "This is an evolving situation, and we will evaluate new information as it comes in; however, at this time, we have no evidence to believe that our officers are involved. We will continue to conduct internal audits and reviews as well as cooperate fully with the FBI as they carry out their investigation."

The FBI's investigation first came to light in January 2024 after agents raided Clear's office, Mendez's home and the homes of several current and former APD DWI officers.

APD launched its own internal probe and, in the past year, placed officers Harvey Johnson, Honorio Alba Jr., Joshua Montano, Nelson Ortiz, Daren DeAguero, Neill Elsman and Lt. Justin Hunt on leave. All seven resigned before they were supposed to be interviewed as part of the Internal Affairs investigation.

APD Cmdr. Mark Landavazo was also placed on leave, and eventually fired, for policy violations found in a separate investigation spurred by APD's internal probe into the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the fallout of the investigation and because the officers' credibility potentially could be questioned, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman's office dismissed more than 200 DWI cases that had been filed and were pending at the time of the FBI searches.

On Tuesday, Gallegos said Lt. Curtis was added to 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office's Brady-Giglio disclosure list, "which raises concerns about their credibility if they testify in court."
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Albuquerque metro area scouts will be collecting food February 1  2 as part of the Scouting for Food Project.

Story continues below

Scouts will be collecting food at Albertsons stores across the metro, with all collected food going to Storehouse New Mexico food pantry. The scouts will be out between 9 a.m.  5 p.m. at three Albertsons locations: Juan Tabo and Candelaria, Eubank and Candelaria, Academy and Tramway. They will be accepting non-perishable items. For more information, 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
This is an adapted excerpt from the Jan. 25 episode of Velshi.

In the first hours of Donald Trumps second presidency, his new administration started directing the nations most powerful agencies to carry out his campaign promises regarding immigration, including activating the Defense Department, the strongest military in the world, to aid in the effort.

On Trumps first day in office, he signed a handful of executive actions to launch his promised crackdown on immigration. One of those actions invoked the National Emergencies Act at the southern border, which empowers the military to support border patrol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Friday, the first wave of active duty U.S. troops arrived in El Paso, Texas. Military officials told NBC News that in the coming days, they expect to receive 1,500 active duty troops in the city to help support the 2,500 already on the ground with the southern border mission.

The Trump administration is also using military planes to deport migrants to countries who are already in detention in the U.S.

According to a briefing document obtained by The Washington Post, Trump plans to send 10,000 troops to the southern border. Sending active-duty troops to the border is not new and it is legal  both Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama sent active-duty troops to the border at certain points in their presidencies. But, it becomes illegal when active-duty members of the U.S. military start carrying out law enforcement functions.

There is a federal law that limits what the military can and cant do on U.S. soil. The Posse Comitatus Act was passed in 1878 as a response to the abuse of military power during the Civil War and Reconstruction. The act says clearly that federal military forces cannot participate in civilian law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On paper, that means U.S. military personnel cannot interfere in civilian affairs or execute laws. This would mean, in theory, that the troops sent to the border cannot detain immigrants, seize drugs from smugglers, or have any direct involvement in deporting migrants.

Its not that that work isnt important, but its police work, customs work, ATF work  not military work. And thats an important distinction. However, the Posse Comitatus Act is vague and contains gaps.

For example, not all members of the military are covered by the act. Despite its name, activated members of the National Guard are not, actually, national. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, Members of the National Guard are rarely covered by the Posse Comitatus Act because they usually report to their state or territorys governor. That means they are free to participate in law enforcement if doing so is consistent with state law.

The laws lack of clarity, combined with the vagueness of some of Trumps executive actions, gives a concerning amount of leeway to the president. One of his executive orders tests the legal limits of using the military to enforce domestic operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That order, titled Clarifying the Militarys Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States, states: It is the policy of the United States to ensure that the Armed Forces of the United States prioritize the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States along our national borders.

The words sovereignty and territorial integrity are written a total of 19 times throughout that one executive order  an executive order that focuses on immigration, not physical territory or land borders.

Under the section titled Implementation, Trump orders the secretary of defense to come up with a plan that assigns U.S. Northern Command  which is tasked with providing military support in North America  the mission to:

[S]eal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The term territorial integrity is typically used in regard to border disputes and annexations by other countries  like, if Canada tried to take over an American state.

In fact, its a principle under international law, cemented in the United Nations charter, that says sovereign states have the right to defend their borders and territories from other nations trying to take their land by force. For example, Ukraine might accuse Russia of disrespecting its territorial integrity by invading its borders and attempting to claim parts of its sovereign land.

So, you can see how Trumps invocation of territorial integrity, as it relates to migrants coming into America, is not the same. What Trump appears to be doing is equating immigration with territorial integrity in order to justify the use of the military at the border.

Trump has spent years fearmongering about immigration. It dates all the way back to his foray into politics in 2015 and that fateful ride down the escalator at Trump Tower. Hes painted migrants who cross the border from Mexico as drug dealers, criminals, murderers and rapists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For many people in America, that tactic worked. They listened and they believed him. And now hes using the fear that he created to validate the use of the military to deter immigration and ensure that the Armed Forces of the United States prioritize the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the U.S.

Now, you may have strong opinions about migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees. You may think they dont belong here. But the fact is, they dont threaten Americas sovereignty. They are not a risk to our territorial integrity.

Thats just another fear tactic that gets us dangerously close to crossing the Rubicon  and dangerously close to the U.S. military becoming the commander-in-chiefs own personal police force or militia. Using the military to police civilians on U.S. soil flies in the face of core American values.

The situation at the border is a problem that needs to be addressed. But there are solutions that dont involve compromising the integrity of the military and lying about its purpose. That includes appointing more immigration judges, investing in technology that helps secure the border and building more barriers like Trump is always talking about. (Of course, the president didnt forget to include the wall in at least one of those executive orders.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But at the end of the day, this crisis does not demand the closure of the border with the assistance of the U.S. military. Despite what Trump may want you to believe, this is not a national emergency; this is not an invasion; this is not a war.

Dina Moss and Allison Detzel contributed.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  Asteroid samples fetched by NASA hold not only the pristine building blocks for life but also the salty remains of an ancient water world, scientists reported Wednesday.

The findings provide the strongest evidence yet that asteroids may have planted the seeds of life on Earth and that these ingredients were mingling with water almost right from the start.

"That's the kind of environment that could have been essential to the steps that lead from elements to life, said the Smithsonian Institutions Tim McCoy, one of the lead study authors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft returned 122 grams (4 ounces) of dust and pebbles from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, delivering the sample canister to the Utah desert in 2023 before swooping off after another space rock. It remains the biggest cosmic haul from beyond the moon. The two previous asteroid sample missions, by Japan, yielded considerably less material.

Small amounts of Bennus precious black grains  leftovers from the solar system's formation 4.5 billion years ago  were doled out to the two separate research teams whose studies appeared in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy. But it was more than enough to tease out the sodium-rich minerals and confirm the presence of amino acids, nitrogen in the form of ammonia and even parts of the genetic code.

Some if not all of the delicate salts found at Bennu  similar to whats in the dry lakebeds of Californias Mojave Desert and Africas Sahara  would be stripped away if present in falling meteorites.

This discovery was only possible by analyzing samples that were collected directly from the asteroid then carefully preserved back on Earth," the Institute of Science Tokyos Yasuhito Sekine, who was not involved in the studies, said in an accompanying editorial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Combining the ingredients of life with an environment of sodium-rich salt water, or brines, thats really the pathway to life, said McCoy, the National Museum of Natural History's curator of meteorites. These processes probably occurred much earlier and were much more widespread than we had thought before."

NASAs Daniel Glavin said one of the biggest surprises was the relatively high abundance of nitrogen, including ammonia. While all of the organic molecules found in the Bennu samples have been identified before in meteorites, Glavin said the ones from Bennu are valid  real extraterrestrial organic material formed in space and not a result of contamination from Earth.

Bennu  a rubble pile just one-third of a mile (one-half of a kilometer) across  was originally part of a much larger asteroid that got clobbered by other space rocks. The latest results suggest this parent body had an extensive underground network of lakes or even oceans, and that the water evaporated away, leaving behind the salty clues.

Sixty labs around the world are analyzing bits of Bennu as part of initial studies, said the University of Arizonas Dante Lauretta, the missions chief scientist who took part in both studies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of the $1 billion mission's cache has been set aside for future analysis. Scientists stress more testing is needed to better understand the Bennu samples, as well as more asteroid and comet sample returns. China plans to launch an asteroid sample return mission this year.

Many are pushing for a mission to collect rocks and dirt from the potentially waterlogged dwarf planet Ceres in the main asteroid belt. Jupiters moon Europa and Saturns moon Enceladus also beckon as enticing water worlds. Meanwhile, NASA has core samples awaiting pickup at Mars, but their delivery is on hold while the space agency studies the quickest and cheapest way to get them here.

Are we alone?" McCoy said. "Thats one of the questions were trying to answer.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Every week, Allworth Financials Amy Wagner and Steve Hruby, CFP, answer your questions. If you, a friend, or someone in your family has a money issue or problem, feel free to send those questions to yourmoney@enquirer.com.

P.D. in Sharonville: I'm 61, and my wife is 52. We had kids later in life, so we have an 8 and a 10-year-old. Is there anything special we should know about retirement planning?

Answer: First off, your estate planning needs to be a top priority. Make sure the beneficiaries on all your accounts are up to date and you have a will in place. Be sure you've named a guardian for your kids if something were to happen to you and your wife. You'll also want to check your life insurance coverage  if you pass, would your family be able to self-fund their current (and future) expenses? Do you need to update your policy so your income can be replaced?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We also want to remind you that kids can borrow money or earn scholarships for college, but you can't take out loans for retirement. So, your retirement savings should take a priority over college savings. If you can achieve both goals at the same time, wonderful! But if you can't, focus on you. It's not selfish to ensure your money lasts longer than you do; otherwise, your kids might have to foot the bill for your retirement.

Additionally, here's something that not many people know about Social Security: Minor children are eligible to receive Social Security payments based on a parent's work record if certain criteria are met. The parent must be retired (or disabled) and eligible for benefits. The children must be unmarried and younger than 18 (or between 18 and 19 and a full-time high school student) or be 18 or older with a disability (as long as it began before age 22).

In your case, you're one year away from being able to claim your benefit at the earliest possible age of 62 (assuming you're eligible). If you would decide to claim at this time, this means your two children should each be able to receive up to 50% of your full benefit amount that you would receive at your Full Retirement Age. (Note: There is a family maximum amount.) Now, we're not saying you should claim at 62 since we don't know your full financial situation, but it's definitely a claiming option we recommend you speak about with a fiduciary financial advisor.

Parenthood at any age is a journey that can come with financial planning challenges. For the both of you, the Allworth Advice is to get all your ducks in a row as soon as you possibly can. Being proactive now will benefit you, your wife and your kids later down the road.

Cynthia from Edgewood: Are there any downsides to paying for college tuition with a credit card? I like the idea of getting a lot of cash back.

Answer: As we like to say, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because here's the thing: Most colleges charge a transaction fee to pay with a credit card. That fee can run anywhere from two to three percent. To put real numbers to it, that's an extra $200 to $300 you're forking over for every $10,000 in tuition. This will likely offset any rewards or cash back you're hoping to accumulate. Of course, we would highly, highly encourage you to pay this bill off in full when it comes due  otherwise, you could start racking up devastating interest charges. Additionally, depending on your overall credit limit, charging such a significant amount could harm your credit utilization ratio.

Here's the Allworth Advice: We're not saying this option is a complete no-go. But you need to very carefully look at whether the benefits outweigh the costs.

Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendation in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, financial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney. Retirement planning services offered through Allworth Financial a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Visit allworthfinancial.com or call (513) 469-7500.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Allworth Advice | We had kids late. Any financial advice for us?
Black residents of Altadena were more likely to have their homes damaged or destroyed by the Eaton fire and will have a harder financial road to recovery from the disaster, according to research released Tuesday by UCLA.

The fire burned more than 9,000 structures in the heart of Altadena, ravaging historically Black neighborhoods that for decades had thrived despite racial discrimination and, more recently, gentrification.

A study from UCLA published Tuesday reveals that Black residents in Altadena were 1.3 times more likely to have experienced major damage or complete destruction of their home during the inferno. Researchers also found that Black fire victims tended to be older and often with financial circumstances that will make it more difficult for them to rebuild when compared with residents as a whole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The study found that 61% of Black households in the community are in the fire's perimeter, compared with 50% of non-Black households. And nearly half of Black residents' homes were leveled or suffered severe damage, compared with 37% of non-Black households, the study says.

"This is threatened by any kind of shock, but particularly this kind of shock that happens so swift and to such a large number2800 householdsin a 24 hour period," said Lorrie Frasure, an author of the study and director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA.

"These kinds of things the data can shed light on so that when folks get to work on the ground with restoring and rebuilding that we know who's at risk and the particular kinds of ways in which we need to address a middle class community," she said.

The study reinforces concerns that many in the Black community have expressed in the weeks after the inferno began.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lisa Odigie's parents' home in Janes Village in Altadena had been in her family for decades. Her parents purchased it from her grandmother and soon she too was going to own the home after her mother retired.

She dreamed of her 5-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter growing up in the three-bedroom home that had fruit trees and, at one point, a treehouse and space for tetherball in the backyard.

"The house is supposed to stay in the family and hopefully go to my babies," she said.

After the fire tore through the community, Lisa's husband went to check on the house. It was destroyed. When he told his wife the news, she dropped to her knees and cried.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What is insured is the structure itself, not the land, you know, and not the value," Odigie said. "So whatever equity you earned, it's gone. Think about people in 2008 who lost their 401(k)s and things like that, it's exactly that. What you spend 20, 30 years building is just wiped out in an instant."

Read more: Against all odds, Black residents built something remarkable in Altadena. Then the fire came

The Eaton fire burst out of Eaton Canyon and made a run north and west amid hurricane-force winds. Embers flooded Altadena's westside, leveling entire blocks. These areas west of Lake Avenue have large Black populations in part because of a history of segregation and redlining policies.

In 1939, Home Owners' Loan Corp. created a security map of the region in which it ranked neighborhoods by the relative risk to lenders. In Altadena, areas west of Lake Avenue were mostly zoned in the "definitely declining" category, the second-lowest ranking, while the neighborhoods east of Lake Avenue were ranked either "best" or "still desirable."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rankings suppressed home prices in the western swath of the community, which ultimately created opportunities for Black families to purchase houses despite the societal barriers they faced. By 1970, 70% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes, nearly double the rate for Black residents living elsewhere in Los Angeles County, according to data provided by the study.

Read more: The destruction of Altadena reverberates across Black Los Angeles

The Black community in Altadena has declined with gentrificationand rising home pricesin recent decades.

Of Altadena's roughly 42,800 residents, only 18% are Black, down from 43% in 1980, according to census data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The median home value in Altadena from 2019 to 2023 was over more than $1 million and roughly a third higher than homes elsewhere in the county, according to the UCLA study. The rising cost resulted in a decline in new Black homeownership in the community before the fire. And now, the study cautions, the younger Black community  already struggling to purchase a home there  probably will face additional hurdles.

Among Black homeowners, 45% spend more than 30% of their household income on housing costs, and 28% spend more than 50% of their household income on housing. The study notes, in comparison, only 32% of non-Black homeowners are cost-burdened, and 13% are severely cost-burdened.

Black homeowners in the community are aging as well, making them especially vulnerable to "incomplete or insufficient insurance coverage or predatory financial scams as they navigate the process of rebuilding or restoring their homes," the study states.

Read more: Altadena residents feel forgotten as Trump tours Pacific Palisades fire devastation

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney Ben Crump, who has filed wrongful death lawsuits against Southern California Edison after the Eaton fire, said families have lost more than homes and businesses and the memories they hold.

"The generational wealth that has been lost in this tragedy is overwhelming for our community," Crump said. "We didn't have stocks and bonds to leave our children, we didn't have companies and corporations to leave our children, but we had these homes ... building generational wealth to leave to our children and they could leave to their children so they could start out in life with something."

Some received phone calls as the fire was raging asking whether they'd sell their property. They fear the community won't be the same if outside investors swoop in and take advantage of people whose lives have been upended.

"If they're not able to rebuild, that literally takes away the path to ownership to a lot of people or changes what that looks like," Odigie said. "That obviously destroys the legacy and community that was built in Altadena."

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.
Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

An amateur fossil hunter has uncovered a piece of animal vomit dating back 66 million years on a beach in Denmark.

Peter Bennicke noticed a strange small cluster of lily pieces in a piece of chalk at Stevns Klint in eastern Denmark, according to a statement from Geomuseum Faxe, a local museum where the find will be displayed, sent to CNN on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bennicke brought the fossil to the museum, where it was cleaned and examined by John Jagt, a lily expert from the Netherlands.

Jagt said the cluster contains at least two species of lily combined in a round lump, which is likely the indigestible parts of the lilies that were regurgitated by an animal that ate the plants.

In technical terms, this type of find is called regurgitalite, and they are considered very important when reconstructing ancient ecosystems because they provide valuable information about which animals were eaten by whom, reads the statement.

Jesper Milan, curator at Geomuseum Faxe, said the fossil is truly an extraordinary find.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lilies are not a particularly nutritious food, as they are mainly made up of calcium plates held together by very few soft tissues, he said in the statement.

But here we have an animal, most likely some kind of fish, that 66 million years ago ate lilies that lived on the seabed of the Cretaceous Sea and then vomited up the skeletal parts.

Milan added that the discovery provides important new knowledge about the relationship between predators and prey and the food chains of the Cretaceous seas.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Two Jeff Bezos-affiliated companies have squared off in a Washington state court as Amazon sought to limit the release of records requested by the billionaires paper, The Washington Post.

In a suit filed Monday in King County Superior Court, Amazon asked to put the brakes on a Post request from November for files regarding Amazons Project Kuiper, a plan to use low-orbit satellites to provide internet service and challenge the SpaceXs Starlink program.

The paper sought more information from state labor and industrial regulators over a series of four on-site investigations that took place between August and October of 2024 at a Kuiper facility in the city of Redmond, according to court documents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amazon argued in the suit that its not trying to block the record release overall, but rather ensure that material is not made public that discloses trade secrets.

Every aspect of the satellites, propulsion system, their component parts, and the constellation as a whole contain proprietary and trade secret information, the company argued in the filing.

The Independent has contacted Amazons attorneys in the suit and The Washington Post for comment.

Bezos announced in 2021 that he was stepping down as CEO of Amazon, which he founded, but remains the companys executive chair. The billionaire purchased the Post in 2013.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Bezos acknowledged over the fall, amid controversy that the paper pulled an endorsement of Kamala Harris that was reportedly in development and instead declined to endorse any candidate, his position as both a businessman and newsroom leader occasionally makes for some awkwardness.

When it comes to the appearance of conflict, I am not an ideal owner of The Post, Bezos wrote in an opinion piece. Every day, somewhere, some Amazon executive or Blue Origin executive or someone from the other philanthropies and companies I own or invest in is meeting with government officials. I once wrote that The Post is a complexifier for me. It is, but it turns out Im also a complexifier for The Post.

Bezos was among the tech leaders who attended Donald Trumps inauguration.
Immigration was one of the top issues that propelled President Donald Trump to the White House in last year's election. Polls showed that voters trusted Republicans more than Democrats to handle the issue, which they consistently ranked as one of their top concerns. And of the many executive actions that Trump took during his first week in office, the ones cracking down on immigration were the most popular.

This week, Trump started making good on one of his highest-profile and most controversial immigration promises: deporting millions of immigrants from the U.S. Since Sunday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested thousands of people in Chicago, New York City and elsewhere. At first blush, Americans seem to approve of deporting undocumented immigrants, too. But if you dig deeper into the polling, it turns out that support for mass deportations varies a lot depending on how the question is asked, making it tricky to assess how Americans really feel about what Trump is doing  and how they will react to it.

This month, three polls have asked Americans what they think about mass deportations using several different question wordings. While all three found that Americans supported deporting undocumented immigrants in general, support typically plummeted when the question included details of how they would be detained or who would be impacted. The only specific policy that seems to be popular is deporting immigrants who have been convicted of a crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, a Jan. 9-13 poll from the Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that American adults favor "deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally" by 6 percentage points (43 percent to 37 percent). But when the poll asked about "deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally, even if that means they will be separated from their children who are citizens," respondents opposed it by 27 points (28 percent to 55 percent). Americans also told the AP/NORC that they opposed arresting undocumented immigrants while they are in the hospital by 25 points, while they are at church by 37 points and while they are at school by 46 points.

But one policy had near-unanimous support (+76 points, on net) in the AP/NORC poll: deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a violent crime. Americans even favored deporting legal immigrants who have been convicted of a violent crime by 52 points. But when the pollster asked about deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally who have not been convicted of a violent crime, Americans were marginally opposed (by 7 points).

A Fabrizio, Lee & Associates/GBAO poll conducted Jan. 9-14 for The Wall Street Journal found a very similar pattern. When that survey simply asked if the U.S. should "detain and deport millions of undocumented immigrants," 52 percent of registered voters were strongly or somewhat in favor, while 45 percent were strongly or somewhat opposed. But it found much higher support (+52 points, on net) for detaining and deporting "only undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime." Meanwhile, registered voters opposed detaining and deporting immigrants "even if they have lived in the U.S. for 10 or more years, pay taxes on earnings, and have no criminal record" by 44 points.

This poll likewise found that Americans get cold feet about deportations when families are at risk of being separated. When asked if the U.S. should "detain and deport undocumented immigrants even if they have children that were born here and are American citizens," registered voters said no by 19 points. Additionally, registered voters opposed detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants "even if it means businesses will face worker shortages," albeit by only 5 points  suggesting fewer Americans are moved by this argument.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finally, an Ipsos/Axios survey from Jan. 10-12 found even stronger support than the other two polls for deporting undocumented immigrants in general, but every other deportation policy they asked about was underwater. For instance, according to this poll, Americans supported "deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally" by 34 points  but they opposed "quickly deporting detained immigrants, even if it involves separating families or sending people to countries other than their country of origin" by 28 points. The survey also found that Americans opposed "deporting immigrants that came to the U.S. illegally as children" by 29 points.

The poll also found Americans staunchly against using the military to conduct immigration raids. They opposed "using active duty military to find and detain undocumented immigrants in U.S. cities and towns" by 21 points and "using money allocated to the U.S. military to pay for deportation" by 41 points. (So far, this hasn't happened, as the raids have been conducted by ICE, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.)

If Trump wants to stay on the right side of public opinion while keeping his campaign promise to deport immigrants, it's clear what he has to do: deport only those who are convicted of crimes. But the administration could struggle to stick to that narrow mandate given the quotas they have reportedly issued to ICE (1,200-1,500 arrests per day). Already, there are reports that ICE has arrested undocumented immigrants with no criminal record and that the raids are separating families. If stories like these become the public image of Trump's deportation efforts, he could soon find that immigration is no longer a political strength for him.

Do Americans support Trump's mass deportations? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  An angry crowd gathered Wednesday outside a courthouse on the southern Greek island of Crete for the preliminary hearing of a couple accused of brutally abusing a 3-year-old child who is fighting for his life in a hospital.

Riot police were deployed at the entrance to the courthouse to prevent the crowd from pushing its way into the building and confronting the defendants as the hearing began. One man sustained minor face injuries during the melee.

The couple  a 26-year-old woman and her 44-year-old boyfriend  have been accused of severely beating the womans young son, who was rushed to a hospital in the islands main city of Heraklion on Sunday. The little boys case has received intense media attention in Greece and has sparked outrage across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The child had suffered a severe head injury, as well as multiple other injuries to his limbs and torso, Heraklion University General Hospital deputy director Stelios Kteniadakis told Greeces Skai television.

The boy, who is intubated in critical condition in the intensive care unit, bore signs of recent and of older injuries, as well as burn marks, Kteniadakis said.

Honestly, all of us doctors who have happened to see the young child, weve never seen anything like it before, he added.

The boys mother and her partner, who have been in custody since their arrest Sunday, appeared before a prosecutor Wednesday. They face several charges, including attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm and exposing a minor to danger. They haven't been publicly named, in accordance with Greek law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even the police officers are shocked with this case in Crete  they themselves have never handled a case like this before, Greek police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou said on Greeces Action24 TV. I dont know if weve ever seen in this country a child with such suffering, so badly abused at such a young age.

The defendants have reportedly blamed each other for the abuse, with each denying they had harmed the boy.
Shelters across Montana volunteered to help take on animals displaced by the Los Angeles-area wildfires, and this weekend, they arrived in Missoula.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A man and a woman were accused of abandoning several animals in a Geneva apartment, which led to two animals deaths.

Joseph Shantz, 39, and Naomi Sharp, 21, were charged with aggravated animal cruelty. This stems from an incident last October when a relative of Shantz went to the Rose Street apartment. That relative told authorities they had no contact with Shantz for over a month.

The Geneva Police Department was called to the scene after a relative found a dead cat. The Ontario County Humane Society also responded and found another dead cat behind a sofa. Two living cats and a domestic rabbit were taken from the scene and given medical attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Necropsies were performed on the dead cats and it was revealed that both died of dehydration and neglect. It was alleged that Shantz and Sharp left the state and abandoned the animals in the apartment.

On Tuesday, Shantz was arrested after turning himself in at the Ontario County Sheriffs Office for a separate matter. Sharp was arrested in Farmington. Both were charged and issued appearance tickets. They will appear in Geneva City Court at a later date.

The Ontario County Humane Society says the surviving cats and the rabbit are now healthy and will be placed for adoption 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 RochesterFirst.
A federal judge said Wednesday he intends to issue a new block on President Donald Trumps effort to freeze an enormous swath of federal spending, citing the White Houses contradictory signals about the policy.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell said a bid by the White House to rescind a hugely ambiguous order implementing the freeze appeared to be undercut by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts subsequent statement that the freeze was still in effect.

Im inclined to grant the restraining order, McConnell, a Rhode Island-based appointee of President Barack Obama, said during a court hearing on a lawsuit brought Tuesday by Democratic attorneys general. I fear  that the administration is acting with a distinction without a difference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A different federal judge has already put the spending freeze on hold. That judge, Loren AliKhan, issued an order Tuesday preserving the status quo for six days in response to a separate lawsuit from nonprofit groups challenging the freeze.

The White House tried to upend both lawsuits Wednesday by rescinding the original memo from the Trump administrations budget office implementing the spending freeze. But the statements by Leavitt suggested that the freeze was still in effect  even if the memo describing it had been rescinded. That confusion, the judge said, suggested the harm caused by the original memo was still likely to occur.

While the piece of paper may not exist, theres sufficient evidence that the defendants collectively are acting consistent with that directive, McConnell said, and therefore the arguments that they have about needing a [restraining order] exist.

However, McConnell acknowledged that the administrations action Wednesday may complicate his efforts to issue an order blocking the policy. He has asked the states to propose language for an order.
Does anyone know whats happened to the more than 600,000 thats disappeared from the SNPs coffers? Or to Peter Murrell, who was charged last year with embezzlement in connection with the missing money. Or to his wife, Nicola Sturgeon, who was arrested and then released pending further enquiries 18 months ago.

The moneys been gone for about five years and an investigation into where it went is into its fourth year. But even after all this time, nobody seems to know anything.

The latest to admit he hasnt a clue is none other than Lord Carloway, Lord President of the Court of Session, and as such Scotlands most senior judge. Hes due to retire shortly but before going he was asked what he thought had happened to the probe, which began in 2021, involving the police, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Office, Scotlands prosecuting authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If any of them know where the loot went, they aint saying and although he doesnt know either Lord Carloway did admit that there had clearly been what he called a hold up in the deliberations of Operation Branchform, the strange name given to the investigation by the police.

Police Scotland searched Peter Murrells house in Baillieston during their investigation - Wattie Cheung

Calling it a hold up is arguably one of the greatest understatements this eminent jurist has come up with in a long and distinguished career.

However, even that description intrigues this observer for the simple reason that if someone like Lord Carloway, who sits at the pinnacle of Scotlands legal system, doesnt know whats causing the aforesaid hold up, has he tried to find out?

However, there is a view amongst some of mlearned friends in their lair at the top of Edinburghs Royal Mile that a judge, even a very senior judge, would have no business asking what progress was being made in a police inquiry. And so, they thought there was no chance that the Lord President would even seek to find out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Old Carloway, they reckoned, would have to wait, like the rest of us, for Branchform to eventually produce its findings.

However, wouldnt senior legal colleagues know what was causing the hold up? Someone like, for instance, the Lord Advocate and/or the Solicitor General, perhaps. Wouldnt they know? Not necessarily, because as both lady law officers are also ministers in the Scottish Government they have recused themselves from playing any part in the deliberations concerning this massive investigation.

But what about proper members of the Scottish Government, like First Minister John Swinney or his Justice Secretary, Angela Constance. They steer well clear of any mention of the missing money and of Operation Branchform and why wouldnt they, given that their partys at the centre of things.

The former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, was arrested, freed pending further inquiries and, then, charged last year with embezzlement in connection with the missing 600,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His wife, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon (they have announced their intention to divorce) was also arrested and released pending further enquiries, which when last we heard, were still under way. This was also the case with Colin Beattie, the SNPs former treasurer.

Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is divorcing her husband, Peter Murrell - Jane Barlow

Ms Sturgeon has always insisted she is innocent of any wrong-doing.

For their part, the Crown Office issued its normal statement to the effect that the investigation was still under way, without - for Lord Carloways benefit  making any mention of a hold up.

Its heartening, I suppose, to learn that Scotlands most senior judge, the Lord President of the Court of Session, knows as much as the rest of us  i.e. nothing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Isnt it?

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.
In the joyous, febrile weeks since Bashar al-Assads fall, attention has understandably focused on the bravery of Syrians who took up arms against him over the years of barbaric struggle.

But courage comes in many forms, and for one middle-aged man in Damascus, it involved sitting in his sixth-floor office looking out over the parliament building every day at noon.

Armed with pills to calm his heart, a monitor showing CCTV footage of the stairs and a passport in his pocket at all times, Anas al-Madani, the founder and head DJ at Nojoom FM, would calmly begin the stations most popular programme, titled Against Corruption.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Politicians, police, judges, even relatively senior regime figures  none escaped his wryly excoriating commentary.

Every day I would get ready for the police to call and summon me to the precinct, said the 54-year-old. I had this nightmare of walking out of my office, getting hit by a metal bar in the face and put in the boot of a car. Then that would be it.

CCTV monitors the stairs of the radio studio as Anas al-Madani says he feared being hit with a metal bar in the face and put in the boot of a car at any time - Heathcliff O'Malley

Ironically, it was corruption that saved him  he paid a monthly sum of one million Syrian pounds to regime officials to keep him out of the cells. That, and taking care never to utter the words Bashar al-Assad, which would have been suicide.

Nevertheless, people could not believe that Mr Madani continued to get away with it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indeed, As-Safir, a prominent Lebanese newspaper, printed a profile of the father of five that said precisely that.

I have to keep going

Sitting near him in the cluttered office next door to the studio was his wife Samar, 46. Her face was full of pride for her husband, but it also bore the marks of years of worry.

Along with her daughter, Rama, Samar helps run the radio station with her husband.

She said: I have been really scared for him. Some days he would be completely stressed and his face would be red. I would say: Just stop. He would say: I have to keep going.

Rama helps run the radio station alongside her mother, Samar - Heathcliff O'Malley

Their story matters because, as far as Mr Madani is concerned, it isnt over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even with Assad and his brutal, kleptocratic regime gone, he still goes on air every day at twelve to call out corruption.

The big question is to what extent Syrias new rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), will tolerate criticism once they broaden their grip across government and their initial honeymoon period with the majority of the population comes to an end.

I wont change my words  I will still be careful, said Mr Madani. Im not feeling any stress or danger at the moment, but we dont know how things are going to be in a year or two years.

Anas al-Madani continues to go on air everyday and call out corruption despite the fall of the Assad regime - Heathcliff O'Malley

I said no on principle

Already, however, there are signs that HTS has some way to go in the department of press freedom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was a fearful stink in the ministry of information last week when a HTS-Uzbek fighter guarding Damascuss main Umayyad mosque made some, it would be fair to say, unguarded comments about the true nature of the group during an interview broadcast on a Kurdish TV channel.

Whether these were representative or not of Syrias interim rulers  they have said they are categorically not  it resulted in the sudden tightening of accreditation procedures for foreign journalists.

It was not an issue of great weight in itself  unless it turns out to be the beginning of a trend.

The station never directly criticised Bashar al-Assad on air, instead focusing on police, politicians, judges and other relatively senior regime figures - Heathcliff O'Malley

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Madanis story is also important because it sheds some light on the lesser-understood figure of Asma al-Assad, the former dictators wife.

Fancying herself a formidable businesswoman, the London-born former first lady bought up a number of radio stations and tried to buy Nojoom, which translates to Star FM.

Seven years ago she offered me one million dollars, he recalled. She wanted to keep the radio station, and the staff, but to change the message. I told her no. I said no on principle.

Another act of reckless bravery, which somehow Mr Madani lived to relate. But his devoted listeners are surely glad that he did. As Syria enters its new era, his work goes on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For more from our foreign reporters, sign up to the Dispatches Newsletter here.

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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Less than a week after one of their classmates opened fire in the cafeteria, Antioch High School students returned to class on Tuesday  defiant. They held signs and marched toward the entrance of the building, demanding action.

Something new greeted nearly 2,000 students at the door Tuesday; in response to last weeks deadly shooting, Metro Nashville Public Schools implemented new security measures, including the Evolv System.

Antioch High School parents, students describe return to class

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At Antioch High School today, we are running a pilot with the district trying to add an important layer of security, Vice President of Education for Evolv, Jill Lemond, said as she walked media outlets through a demonstration of the new technology.

Before the bell even rang, school officials listened for another sound: beeps from the new system.

Schools are more nuanced environments to protect in general because kids are bringing in a lot of things  a lot of clutter  a lot of things that they need for their classrooms, Lemond said. How do we distinguish those things threats that are potentially threatening and those things that belong in school?

The Evolv system uses artificial intelligence to identify weapons and other prohibited items, allowing students to walk through without removing their belongings. Its the same technology used by some other districts in Middle Tennessee, including Rutherford County Schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As students are walking through the systemits scanning their belongings and their person. Its looking for potentially threatening signatures of what would look like a weapon to the technology, Lemond explained. One of the ways in which we do that is to provide a red box around the potentially threatening item to allow the security staff here at the school to search a very specific spot on a student and have it be as least invasive as possible.

Evolv Technologies has faced a lawsuit over its effectiveness, but the company has said in a statement: We stand behind our technology.

Students were able to come through. They didnt have any trouble, really, working with the system, Chief of Communications and Technology for MNPS, Sean Braisted, said. Obviously, people are still learning.

The companys website said its technology is an AI replacement for metal detectors thats able to locate guns, knives and bombs on people as they enter a building, reducing the need for overly invasive and manual top-to-bottom searches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Antioch High School Shooting | Continuing Coverage

In the past with traditional metal detectors, thereve been concerns about privacy and student safety, Braisted said. Because they dont have to hand over their bags  like you would with a standard metal detector  it gives another level of privacy.

The Evolv system in Antioch High School is operating under a pilot program. As of publication, Metro Nashville Public Schools is looking into whether or not this should be a permanent part of the school and if other schools should be considered for the technology.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In the aftermath of last weeks shooting at Antioch High School, Nashvillians from across the city recently converged as one in a space that for many local Hispanic residents is a source of deep trust and comfort to memorialize 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante.

Through song and silent reflection, cries of grief and calls to action  in English and Spanish alike  the vigil at Plaza Mariachi promoted a spirit of unity but in a format responsive to a more pronounced trauma afflicting Antiochs already vulnerable populations.

Specifically, the many immigrant families and Hispanic residents who make up much of Antiochs residents are reeling from the shock of Wednesdays violence at the same time President Donald Trumps inauguration fueled new levels of fear and uncertainty about immigration detention raids and mass deportations. With the two events happening a couple days apart, Nashville community organizers said these threats have compounded and had a chilling effect on some Antioch High families' willingness to seek out support or publicly share their stories and process their grief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You cant fault people for being scared. Its a scary time, Metro Nashville Council member Sandra Sepulveda, who co-leads the Metro Council Immigrant Caucus, said in an interview.

In addition to actions at the federal level to ramp up deportations, state lawmakers are expected to take up in special session this week a proposal to create a new immigration enforcement division to assist with federal detention and removal efforts. Gov. Bill Lee has pledged to work with closely with the Trump administration on immigration policy.

Consider participating in something thats supposed to bring us together to remember a young girl who had her entire future together, where were supposed to find community and try and process grief could also be a place that could make us a target, Sepulveda said. A news report and GoFundMe campaign have referenced Escalantes background and that of her family as immigrating into the U.S. from Guatemala, though the victims immediate family have appeared in very few media interviews.

Related: Nashville community mourns Antioch High School shooting victim Josselin Corea Escalante

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite this escalating state of uncertainty about whether it's safe to attend public vigils, more than 200 greater Nashville residents, city leaders and community organizers gathered at Plaza Mariachi on Friday night to honor Escalante and plead for change.

In public remarks at the vigil, Melissa Alvarez, who leads the Tennessee Hispanic Action Network, which advocates for reducing gun violence in Latino communities, addressed the tension between safety and speaking out and said the present political climate with Trump and immigration is a reason to speak more forcefully on the need to combat the crisis of gun violence, rather than quietly retreating from the conversation.

As we reflect on this loss, we must also face the deeper issues that also led us to this moment.  We know there are voices that want us to fear our neighbors, to fear those who look different from others, Alvarez said in remarks at the Plaza Mariachi vigil. Let me be clear  the real threat is not coming from immigrants and people who speak Spanish. The real threat we are seeing taking lives is gun violence.

Melissa Alvarez helps translate for parents at the reunification center, after a shooting at Antioch High School in Antioch, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

In an interview with The Tennessean before that event, Alvarez said the Latino community is often overlooked and under-equipped to respond to gun violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, Sepulveda said certain resources for immigrants in the Nashville area have gone underground just this past week, such as in-person meetups providing Know Your Rights information.

Specifically in response to the Antioch High shooting, At-large Metro Nashville Council member Zulfat Suara said its important for immigrant families to know their immigration status isnt a precursor to receive counseling or other health care resources. Luis Mata, communications director for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, echoed Suara and said its critical for these families to explore the opportunities to help them process this traumatic event.

Every student  regardless of who they are, where they come from and regardless of immigration status  deserves the freedom to feel safe at school," Mata said in an interview. "Immigrants are woven into the very fabric that makes the Antioch community and the rest of Tennessee what it is."

Of Antioch High enrollment for the 2024-25 school year  totaling 2,180 students  53% identify as Hispanic or Latino, 32% are Black and 12% are white, according to an analysis of Metro Nashville Public Schools data. Total population for neighborhoods within Antioch High's zoning is estimated at 24% Hispanic or Latino identifying, according to an analysis of 2020 census data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Due to the extra precautions immigrant families are taking to keep a low profile, Sepulveda and Suara said its incumbent on organizations serving these populations to be more thoughtful about outreach.

If the community isnt coming to us, well have to go to the community, Sepulveda said.

A translator gives parents instructions in Spanish and English at the reunification center after a shooting at Antioch High School in Antioch, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

Suara commended the Plaza Mariachi vigil on Friday as a good first step in that direction, highlighting how the events organizers coordinated with Spanish-speaking mental health care professionals and local clergy for residents to conveniently approach. Also, one of the events organizers, Diane Janbakhsh, executive director for the nonprofit the Hispanic Family Foundation and Plaza Mariachi co-founder, translated from the stage a speech by Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell from English to Spanish and a prayer led by Rev. Ramiro Cruz from Spanish to English.

If you just have an event in English and the majority of the students are Hispanic and their parents are wondering whats going on, then you have missed a whole lot of people, Suara said in an interview after the vigil. Its always important to think about who are the impacted, and how do we get the message to the people that need to hear it?

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How the Antioch High shooting affects immigrant, Hispanic communities
A painting that sold for less than $50 at a garage sale could be an original Van Gogh worth $15 million, experts say.

The canvas was found by an unsuspecting antiques collector at a Minnesota garage sale in 2016 and now historians, scientists and curators have teamed up to prove that it is an oil painting by the famed Dutch artist, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The painting bears a resemblance to Van Goghs work and depicts a fisherman smoking a pipe as he tends to his net on an empty beach.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Experts have called the painting Elimar because the name is etched into the lower right-hand corner of the canvas.

An exhaustive, multi-year investigation of the painting by experts in several fields has yielded the evidence required to identify Elimar as an autograph work by the artist, New York art-research firm LMI Group International, which acquired the painting from the antiques collector, declared in its 450-page report.

The groups findings will be shared with Van Gogh specialists and art dealers around the world later this month, according to the Journal.

They argue that the portrait was painted while Van Gogh was in the Saint-Paul asylum in Frances Saint-Remy de Provence between May 1889 and May 1890.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elimar is clearly based upon a painting by the Danish artist Michael Ancher, the report said. Van Gogh did not copy but translated Anchers work.

Vincent Van Gogh arrived at the Saint Paul monastery in May 1889 in Saint-Remy de Provence (Getty Images)

Experts said that the portrait also represents a time in the artists life when he was returning to themes and images from his youth.

Portraits of fisherman and themes of the life at sea were some of his earliest subjects, the report noted. The fisherman was a persona and subject matter that was very close to him for the lonely and dangerous lives that fishermen led in his lifetime.

Evidence was meticulously gathered and thousands of dollars were reportedly spent on carrying out the work. Brushstrokes were examined and compared to other works, while the paintings pigments and fibers were also studied by a fine art expert.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maxwell Anderson, former curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, told the Journal that he was struck by what he saw when the painting was first unveiled to him.

Was I all in? No, Anderson told the outlet. But I was super intrigued.

However, the painting cannot be validated officially as a Van Gogh original without the final word from a Van Gogh Museum scholar in Amsterdam, art authenticator Richard Polsky told the Journal.

People love it when things fall through the cracks, and it would be wonderful if they found a Van Gogh, Polsky, who was not involved in the project, said. But theyve got to pin everything down and get a scholar at the Van Gogh Museum to sign off on it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Museum did not comment on Elimar but told the newspaper that it had a rigorous procedure in place to separate the fakes from legitimate pieces.

The spokesperson added that 99 percent of authentication requests the museum received over the last few years could not be attributed to Van Gogh in our opinion.
Wisps and clouds of smoke rose into the air at Buddhist and Daoist temples around Asia on Wednesday as people lit incense to pray for good luck in the Year of the Snake.

From Vietnam to Japan, ethnic Chinese flocked to temples across north and Southeast Asia on what was the Lunar New Year, the first day of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.

They gave a small donation for a bundle of incense sticks and lit them. Some held them above their heads and bowed several times to the deity in the temple. Then they stuck the sticks into sand or a similar material in often ceremonial vessels outside the main hall, the smoke wafting up and intensifying as more people came and went.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Thailand, some also held red tea-light-size candles in small glasses, with rows more spread out in front of them, to worship the gods at the temple.

The prayers began late on the eve of the New Year in Hong Kong, where people annually line up at a Taoist temple to try to be the first to put their incense sticks into the stands at 11 p.m.

The earliest to get their incense sticks and prayers in are believed to stand the best chance of having them answered.

Lana Wong, a celebrity who attracts attention every year with her outfits, wore two stuffed toy snakes around her neck as she planted her incense sticks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I pray for world peace, jobs for everyone and good health to everyone, she said.

Similar scenes played out after daylight in the morning at the Lama Temple in Beijing, a historic Tibetan Buddhist institution that draws large crowds on the first day of every lunar year.

We want to get rid of all the bad things and physical diseases from the past year and embrace the start of the new year, said Niu Qingshan, who came to the Lama Temple from neighboring Hebei province.

The Lunar New Year is also a time for temple fairs in China, with performances by lion dance troupes and booths selling snacks, toys for children and other traditional and non-traditional items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A sea of people, bundled up against the winter cold on a bright sunny day, filled Ditan park in Beijing for the fair at what was the Temple of Earth, a royal altar in imperial times.

Elsewhere in the world, processions with colorful dragon figures wove through the air at Lunar New Year events in Moscow and Havana, while people in the Indian city of Kolkata  home to an ethnic Chinese community  gathered in restaurants to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
Terrell Ephron, who is also known by his moniker A$AP Relli, took the witness stand on Tuesday in the assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky and accused his former friend of firing a gun at him during a confrontation between the two in Hollywood in 2021.

Prosecutors questioned Ephron about the sequence of events after he testified about an argument during which the rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, allegedly brandished a gun.

Asked why he would follow someone he knew had a gun, Ephron said that since it was a busy street in Hollywood, he believed Mayers definitely wouldn't shoot him. Mayers and Ephron were childhood friends and both part of the Harlem-based rap collective A$AP Mob.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[Rocky] turned around and then it was, like, BOOM! Ephron said, recounting the alleged shooting. The whole thing was like a movie, he kind of like pointed down and he shot the first shot.

Ephron said that his hand was "grazed" by a bullet and felt "hot." He said that he then grabbed one of their friends and stood behind him for cover and then Mayers allegedly fired again before leaving the scene.

Prosecutors concluded their questioning of Ephron on Wednesday, but he is expected back on the witness stand on Thursday to face cross-examination.

During opening arguments last week Mayers' lead attorney Joe Tacopina told the members of the jury that they will hear from multiple witnesses during the trial who will testify that the gun seen in the surveillance video is "absolutely nothing more than a prop gun" that is often used in movies and music videos. Asked ahead of the trial if Mayers is expected to take the stand, Tacopina did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

PHOTO: Rakim Mayers, a.k.a. A$AP Rocky, listens to opening remarks by prosecuting attorney at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles, on Jan. 24, 2025. Genaro Molina/Pool via REUTERS (Genaro Molina, Pool via Reuters)

MORE: A$AP Rocky turns down plea deal as he goes on trial on assault charges

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayers  a Grammy-nominated hip-hop star and partner to pop star Rihanna  was charged on Aug. 15, 2022, with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm for allegedly firing a handgun twice in the direction of the alleged victim during a confrontation. He pleaded not guilty. If convicted, the New York rapper could face up to 24 years in prison.

Rihanna, who shares two young sons with Mayers, made her first appearance during the trial when she attended the proceedings on Wednesday.

Ahead of jury selection last week, Mayers was offered a plea deal that included a 180-day jail term but he declined to accept it, prosecutors and his lead attorney confirmed to ABC News.

"He was offered a plea deal but is not interested because he is actually innocent," Tacopina told ABC News.

PHOTO: A$AP Rocky walks into the courthouse for his upcoming trial alongside his attorney Joe Tacopina at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, on Jan. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

MORE: A$AP Rocky pleads not guilty to assault charges in connection to 2021 Hollywood shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A jury of seven women and five men was selected on Thursday and testimony began on Friday after prosecutors and Mayers' defense team delivered their opening arguments.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec delivered the prosecution's opening statements, arguing before the jury that a series of videos show that the rapper fired a gun at Ephron.

Prosecutors also presented the jury with a series of maps, identifying photos, a 911 call from the night of the incident and several videos captured by surveillance cameras in the area.

"This is not a complicated case. The evidence will show the events in this case were captured on surveillance video," Przelomiec said.

PHOTO: In this Dec. 4, 2024, file photo, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend an event in New York. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images, FILE)

In the defense's opening statements, Tacopina claimed that the rapper is "innocent" and that Ephron is seeking financial gain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is about one man's lies, jealousy, and greed," Tacopina told the jury, casting the case as "all about money."

Ephron came forward as the victim of the alleged assault and filed a civil lawsuit on Aug. 10, 2022, accusing Mayers of assault, battery, inflicting emotional distress and negligence. He claimed that he was "stuck by bullet projectile/fragments" during the alleged assault.

Court records show that Mayers denied all wrongdoing in his response to the complaint.

Ephron also filed a defamation lawsuit on Sept. 19, 2023, naming Mayers and his legal team, including Tacopina. Court documents show that in their answer to the complaint, Mayers and his attorneys denied "each and every allegation" outlined in the suit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to court records, both cases are pending.

ABC News reached out to Tacopina and Ephron's attorney Jamal Tooson for further comment.

A$AP Rocky's former friend testifies about alleged shooting as rapper faces decades in prison originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Jan. 28ANDERSON  An Anderson Police Department detective has retired while awaiting trial on three counts of child solicitation and official misconduct.

Joshua Senseney, 50, 100 block of Nursery Road, through his attorney Monday informed the Anderson Board of Public Safety that he was retiring.

kAmp7E6C $6?D6?6J'D 2CC6DE :? }@G6>36C[ !@=:46 r9:67 |::?2E6 E96 6>A=@J>6?E @7 $6?D6?6J]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAmpE E96 E:>6[ $6?D6?6J C6BF6DE65 2 962C:?8 @? 9:D E6C>:?2E:@?] &?56C x?5:2?2 =2H[ @77:46CD 2C6 6?E:E=65 E@ 2 962C:?8 367@C6 E96 D276EJ 3@2C5 :7 C6BF6DE65]k^Am

kAmp 5:DA@D:E:@?2= 962C:?8 92D 366? D6E 7@C pAC:= ad :? |25:D@? r:C4F:E r@FCE s:G:D:@? e]k^Am

kAm$6?D6?6J 92D 366? 2 >6>36C @7 E96 56A2CE>6?E 7@C ah J62CD] w6 H2D DFDA6?565 :? a__g 7@==@H:?8 9:D 2CC6DE 7@C @A6C2E:?8 2 G69:4=6 H9:=6 :?E@I:42E65]k^Am

kAm%96 42D6 92D 366? EFC?65 @G6C E@ 2 DA64:2= AC@D64FE@C :? E96 vC2?E r@F?EJ !C@D64FE@C'D @77:46]k^Am

kAmx7 4@?G:4E65[ $6?D6?6J 7246D 2 A@DD:3=6 D6?E6?46 @7 @?6 E@ D:I J62CD @? 6249 4@F?E @7 49:=5 D@=:4:E2E:@?]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAm{66 D2:5 $6?D6?6J[ 2 56E64E:G6 :? E96 p!s'D rC:>:?2= x?G6DE:82E:@?D s:G:D:@?[ H2D A=2465 @? A2:5 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =62G6 H96? 56A2CE>6?E 25>:?:DEC2E@CD H6C6 >256 2H2C6 @7 E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 :?G6DE:82E:@? DE2CE65 H96? E96 56A2CE>6?E H2D :?7@C>65 E92E $6?D6?6J H2D D6?5:?8 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 E6IE >6DD286D E@ EH@ >2=6 ;FG6?:=6D]k^Am

kAmp AC@323=6 42FD6 277:52G:E 7:=65 3J s6E64E:G6 s2G:5 !C6DE@? :?5:42E6D E92E $6?D6?6J 925 >256 4@?E24E H:E9 7:G6 3@JD]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 2 z:5D %2=7@C6?D:4 :?E6CG:6H[ @?6 @7 E96 'c\J62C\@=5 3@JD D2:5 96 H:E9 >@?6J E@ 3FJ D?24@F?E @7 Scd 2?5 2 D64@?5 E:>6 H:E9 Sa_]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAmx?4=F565 :? E96 AC@323=6 42FD6 277:52G:E 2C6 D6G6C2= E6IE >6DD286D D6?E 3J $6?D6?6J E92E H6C6 D6IF2= :? ?2EFC6]k^Am

kAm$6?D6?6J E@=5 !C6DE@? 2== E96 E6IE >6DD286D H6C6 2 ;@ 2?5 E96 7:G6 3@JD]k^Am

kAm$6G6C2= @7 E96 E6IE >6DD286D D6?E 3J $6?D6?6J C6BF6DE65 E96 3@JD D9@H E96> ?2D6=G6D 2?5 :?5:42E65 2? :?E6C6DE :? A6C7@C>:?8 D6I 24ED]k^Am

kAm$6?D6?6J 2=D@ D6?E E6IE >6DD286D 4@?46C?:?8 E96 3@JD' D6IF2= 24E:G:EJ[ 72G@C:E6 A@D:E:@?D 2?5 2D<:?8 H96E96C E96J 925 D6IF2= C6=2E:@?D H:E9 8:C=D]k^Am

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Albuquerque Police Department announced on Tuesday that Lt. Kyle Curtis retired from the department before he could be interviewed as part of the investigation into the DWI Unit scandal. He previously worked in the DWI Unit.

Curtis was one of two officers placed on leave on Friday. The U.S. Attorneys Office told APD that he was Giglio-impaired which could have called into question his credibility in court.

Related Coverage:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Curtis is one of 12 former DWI officers placed on leave in connection with the scandal. Ten of the officers have either resigned, retired, or been fired.

On Friday, Ricardo Rick Mendez pled guilty to federal charges in connection to the ongoing investigation into the DWI Unit. That plea implicated the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State Police as well as the Albuquerque Police Department.

So far, no officers or attorneys have been charged in connection to the scandal.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 28LIMA  Apollo Career Center Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Maria Rellinger spoke to the Lima Kiwanis Club on Tuesday about the school's upcoming Public Safety Training Center and new additions that will come with it.

The 28,000 square-foot building currently under construction will hold fire, EMS, criminal justice and truck driving programs and is expected to be ready for public viewing at Apollo's open house on April 10, Rellinger said. The building was two-thirds funded by Ohio grants and one-third came from the school's general fund.

A high school criminal justice program will be a new addition to the curriculum when the building starts operations in the fall. One of the reasons the program is expanding to high schoolers is because of the local need for more law enforcement officers. Rellinger said the program can enroll 25 students and 60 students have signed up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The truck driving program will also benefit from the new building with the addition of a full mechanics bay, which will also help the school save money, Rellinger said.

"The truck driving side of that, we have nowhere to fix our vehicles. Right now, they either do it outside or in this tiny little corner of one of our programs," Rellinger said.

The program recently gained an asset when Apollo bought the former Dot's Pet Center building and turned it into a commercial driver's license testing center. Rellinger said the testing center has also expanded to include regular driver's license testing.

"When someone would come here for truck driving training, they would have to go really far away to test for that CDL and it could take months, up to like six months to even get into the testing center because they were so limited around the state," Rellinger said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rellinger mentioned a new EMS simulator will be purchased for the expansion to go alongside the one they have. The school also has truck driving, live birth, auto body and welding simulators.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

Featured Local Savings
Jan. 29The Pennsylvania Superior Court once again ordered Todd Rae Tarselli to be re-sentenced for the 1992 execution murder of a 17-year-old boy inside a fast food restaurant in Hazleton.

This time, the appellate court directed Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough to address the individual sentences for robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. The new directive from the Superior Court was not addressed in a 2021 appellate court opinion that ordered Tarselli to be re-sentenced based on confusion of his birth year and being sentenced as a juvenile in 1992.

In August 2023, Vough re-sentenced Tarselli to life in prison with parole for the deadly shooting of Mark Bunchalk during a robbery at the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Jan. 23, 1992. Bunchalk was an assistant manager at the restaurant and friends with Tarselli.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his August 2023 re-sentencing, Vough only addressed the first-degree homicide charge, as instructed by the Superior Court's 2021 opinion, giving parole eligibility to Tarselli but did not change or amend the sentences for robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.

Tarselli was awarded the 2023 re-sentencing hearing based on the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama decision, that declared mandatory sentences of life without parole are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders. Tarselli's birth year was questioned as he was born in South Korea, a country that calculates ages differently than in the United States. Koreans consider a newborn's age "1" at birth, while in the United States a child turns 1 after the first year of life.

Tarselli's birthday is listed on court records as Nov. 14, 1973.

Tarselli was reportedly 17 when he fatally shot Bunchalk during the robbery while illegally being in possession of a .22-caliber rifle. Because he was given the benefit of being a juvenile, the Superior Court in 2021 ordered Tarselli to be re-sentenced allowing parole eligibility, which Vough fulfilled in August 2023, imposing a sentence of 52 1/2 years to life in prison with parole on the first-degree murder charge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite being given parole eligibility, Tarselli through his attorney, William J. Watt III, appealed the sentence calling it a "de facto life sentence" claiming Vough's August 2023, sentence will keep Tarselli in prison until he dies.

Tarselli raised nine issues challenging his August 2023 sentence.

A three-member panel of the Superior Court in a lengthy 27-page opinion denied Tarselli's challenges except for one, which addresses the sentences for robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. The Superior Court noted Vough correctly re-sentenced Tarselli in August 2023, based on their 2021 opinion, but the most recent review of Tarselli's latest appeal determined the entire re-sentence to include the robbery and firearm offense should had been addressed as it changed "the overall sentencing scheme in this case."
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD)  A trio of appellate court judges said no to a request by a Pekin woman, accused of suffocating a 10-month-old baby, to stay out of jail pending trial.

The 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield sided with Tazewell County Judges Derek Asbury and then Chris Doscotch, who both said they believed, no court order could protect the community or children from Makenna Rhodes.

The 33-page order, penned by Judge Raylene Grischow with Judges Kathryn Zenoff and Peter Cavanagh, also notes that while Rhodes comes from a loving and kind family who clearly cares about her, that was also an issue as she is a mother to a young child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pekin babysitter remains in custody until trial; accused of killing infant

The record supports the trial courts conclusion that, under the specific articulable facts in this case, the risk to the childs safety would remain even if the defendant were on home confinement under the supervision of her closest family members, who steadfastly believe in her innocence, with her child being placed with an unidentified family member at an unidentified location, the judges wrote.

Last July, Asbury ordered Rhodes held after a lengthy hearing, saying the 21-year-old babysitter was potentially a danger to her own 3-month-old child. The judge came to that conclusion because Rhodes, when talking to police, said she acted out of frustration during the incident regarding a 10-month-old in her care.

Trial set for Pekin babysitter accused of smothering infant

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rhodes faces a single count of first-degree murder for the death of a baby girl last June. According to charging documents, she applied pressure with a foreign object to the child, knowing that such actions created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.

She faces up to 100 years in prison, if convicted.

At two different hearings, before Asbury and then Doscotch, the judges both said the temptation to allow Rhodes access to her own child was too great. Asbury, during last summers hearing, said it wasnt fair or proper to ask five of Rhodes family members to watch her around the clock while she was in home confinement.

Pekin babysitter accused of pressing a lovey against a babys face, killing her

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the appellate judges agreed, saying Given the evidence, including defendants conduct and the closeness of this family, where it was shown that multiple generations are living together, the trial courts concern regarding the likelihood of visitation violations was warranted.

She will next appear in late March for a review hearing before Doscotch.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
(Reuters) - Apple's iPhone devices are now eligible to test SpaceX-owned Starlink's direct-to-cell capability that provides coverage from space, according to T-Mobile, a partner in the program.

T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX are currently testing the Starlink cell network on a trial basis after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission in November last year.

The trial offers 'text via satellite', while voice and data features will be added in the future, according to the T-Mobile website.

T-Mobile initially only listed a few Android smartphones as eligible devices to test the network, but has now added iPhone devices with the latest iOS 18.3 software update.

Bloomberg News first reported on Tuesday that Apple, SpaceX and T-Mobile had been secretively working to add support for the network in its latest iPhone software.

Apple and SpaceX did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours.

In October last year, the FCC had allowed SpaceX and T-Mobile to enable Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide coverage for cellphones in areas of North Carolina hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

(Reporting by Ojasvi Gupta and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota lawmakers could cut state government funding for tobacco prevention and reduction by $2 million, rather than the $3 million that South Dakotas former governor had originally targeted.

State law currently puts $5 million annually into the anti-tobacco program. The Noem administration proposed cutting the amount to $2 million for the coming budget year. On Wednesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 54 listening to both sides and decided to recommend the program receive $3 million rather than $2 million.

The Whittier Residents Association is back in action

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate panel then forwarded SB54 to the Legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations.

I really think that the exact amount should be done through Appropriations, Republican Sen. Tim Reed said. The amendment would signal to appropriators that the issue needs to be looked at, according to Reed, who sponsored the amendment.

Republican Sen. Sydney Davis agreed. I have reservations about cutting prevention by over half, but I certainly understand the budget situation were facing, she said. The amendment strikes a balance and signals to appropriators that they should dive a little deeper, according to Davis.

Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen, who chairs the committee, cast the only vote against the amendment. He has worked for decades in the community prevention field and said adjusting funding up and down as results change produces what he called the prevention roller coaster.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prevention works when the message is consistent. Once we stop the messaging, things seem to slip away a little bit, Jensen said. Regarding the result he expects from the proposed cut, Jensen added, Historically I know whats going to happen with that.

The only witness who testified in favor of the $3 million cut was Jim Terwilliger. He is commissioner for the state Bureau of Finance and Management. The agency operates as the governors budget office.

Terwilliger said the $3 million would be re-directed toward state governments increasing share of Medicaid costs. He said they are expected to rise $62 million for the coming budget year.

One of the witnesses testifying against the proposed $3 million cut was Jennifer Stalley, representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. She was part of the Tobacco Free Kids Network that pushed for higher tobacco taxes and more tobacco prevention in the early 2000s. The effort eventually led to a ballot measure in 2006 that more than 60% of voters supported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The eventual result was that $5 million of the additional revenue from the tobacco tax increase each year went into a tobacco prevention and reduction fund that the state Department of Health operates. Stalley said this isnt the time to take the foot off the gas. Were disagreeing with this being considered some sort of low hanging fruit in a tight budget year, she told the committee.

The other witness to testify against the cut was Kim Malsam-Rysdon, representing Avera Health, which runs the state-funded Quitline program and provides other anti-tobacco services. She said the Quitline counseled 1,712 people last year. She said more than 1,400 people received help through KickStart kits and more than 500 were helped through text messages and products. A survey found that 49% of the people werent using tobacco 12 months later.

South Dakotas Quitline is one of the best in the nation, Malsam-Rysdon said. She warned that the funding cut jeopardizes efforts that keep people from starting tobacco in the first place.

Terwilliger began his rebuttal by saying he sincerely appreciated the opponents testimony: Theyve done a wonderful job over the last couple of decades addressing this issue. He said the Quitline would continue after the cut. Alls were asking is lets spend these dollars a little more wisely, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Terwilliger also noted that $500,000 has been steered out of tobacco prevention into mosquito control. He said appropriators made that decision some years ago. At more than $19 per smoker, South Dakota spends more on anti-tobacco efforts than any other state; the national average is more than $10, according to Terwilliger.

Beth Dokken, a division director for the state Department of Health, said much of the product costs could be shifted to private insurance and Medicaid if the cut goes through.

Reed and several other senators  Republican Tamara Grove, Democrat Jamie Smith and Republican Carl Perry  talked about the possibility of taxing vapes and other tobacco-related products that currently arent subject to cigarette or smokeless taxes.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Content warning: This story contains details of sexual assault of a child.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  An Arcade woman pleaded guilty to third-degree rape and charges related to child endangerment on Friday, the Wyoming County District Attorneys Office announced.

Anna Holland, 38, admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 17 last summer, officials said. She also admitted to giving alcoholic drinks to a number of children under 17 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Holland pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child and five counts of unlawfully dealing with a child.

Holland was first arrested in August 2024 and her sentencing was adjourned until April 2025. She was previously out on bail and was released to a pre-trial release program, the district attorneys office said.

Holland faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison with 10 years of post-release supervision.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view 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 News 4 Buffalo.
A Casa Grande man was released this week after being arrested on suspicion of making assassination threats against then-President-elect Donald Trump.

According to court documents, over the course of a month, the man, identified as Rene Ortiz, asked various federal courthouses to allow him to use an M-16A2 rifle, a military gun, to "execute" the newly elected president.

Ortiz's first complaint was left on Nov. 5, 2024, at the Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse in Phoenix without knowing the outcome of the election. In it, he claimed to be a Marine combat veteran and called for the execution of the newly elected president, no matter who it was, by firing six rounds from 300 or 500 yards away, court documents read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The complaint also asked the court to allow Ortiz to be the shooter, with "the rounds targeting the head not the ear of the Candidate." Though he did not specifically name Trump, the statement alluded to an assassination attempt when a bullet pierced Trump's ear at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Twenty days later, in a complaint delivered to the Evo A. DeConcini courthouse in Tucson on Nov. 25, 2024, Ortiz again threatened to shoot the incoming "fraudulent elected" president. He said he had earned an expert badge for marksmanship during his time with the Marines, the court documents read.

During an interview with the Secret Service on Dec. 5, 2024, Ortiz admitted to making threats, according to the documents. When asked if Ortiz planned to shoot President Trump, he allegedly responded, "If my demands are not met."

In the interview, Ortiz also mentioned grievances with the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying that while he was employed at the VA, officials promised to pay for his schooling if he quit working for them. He claimed he had not been reimbursed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ortiz was arrested on Jan. 17, a few days before Trump's inauguration. He was released on Jan. 27 with conditions of release.

Ortiz's age was not part of the public record, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney, Arizona District, said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona man accused of leaving assassination threats against Trump
Students reading scores fell in Arizona, in line with a national trend, while the states math scores held steady, according to national exam results released Wednesday.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the nations report card, has been administered by the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education to a sample of students nationwide since the early 1990s.

Arizona bucked a national trend in 2022 when its reading scores held steady, despite declining nationwide, from the test administered in 2019. But that didn't last  Arizona reading scores dropped between 2022 and last year. Arizona students' math scores stagnated from 2022 to 2024 after falling between 2019 and 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

The 2024 assessment results placed Arizonas fourth grade students below the national average in math and reading, while its eighth grade students scores were not significantly different from the national averages.

In both grade levels and subject areas tested, Arizona students scores were below their pre-pandemic levels.

The 2024 nations report card results showed that 26% of Arizonas fourth grade students and 25% of its eighth grade students were proficient in reading, while 34% of the states fourth grade students and 26% of its eighth grade students were proficient in math.

Students have not regained lost ground, commissioner says

Nationwide, the news from the 2024 nations report card was not good, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics.

Advertisement Advertisement

We are not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground students lost during the pandemic, Carr said. Where we are seeing signs of recovery, theyre mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students.

Reading scores across the U.S. continue to slide, Carr said. Most notably, our nations struggling readers continue to decline the most.

Achievement gaps have widened. Across the U.S., the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students in the eighth grade has widened in both reading and math, Carr said.

The nation's report card was administered to approximately 235,000 fourth grade and 230,000 eighth grade public and private school students from January to March 2024. The fourth grade students tested in this cohort were in kindergarten in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More Arizona students not hitting 'basic' achievement level in reading

Across the U.S., the percentage of fourth grade students scoring below NAEPs "basic" achievement level in reading was the highest it has been in 20 years, at 41%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Carr described this trend as a major concern that cannot be based solely on the pandemic. Declines in reading scores on the nation's report card were first detected between the 2017 and 2019 assessments, she said.

In Arizona last year, an even higher percentage of tested fourth grade students tested scored below NAEP's "basic" achievement level in reading than the nation as a whole: 47%. Thats a jump from the 39% of fourth grade students who scored below the "basic" level in 2022.

That does not mean those students cant read, Carr said.

Students who perform at the NAEPs basic level have partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficiency, while students who perform at NAEPs proficient level have demonstrated competency over challenging material.

Advertisement Advertisement

In practice, that means that most students who score at NAEPs basic level in reading can sequence or categorize events from a literary text and determine the relevant meaning of familiar words using context, according to a summary of the achievement levels from the National Assessment Governing Board.

Fourth grade students who achieve proficiency in reading can describe the impact of a characters actions or explain how characters influence one another and provide an opinion using relevant information from the text.

Reading comprehension, which is what NAEP assesses, is truly foundational to students academic performance, said Lesley Muldoon, the executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board. Not achieving NAEP basic is a concerning trend.

While Carr said the National Center for Education Statistics could not necessarily determine the reason behind the national reading score declines from the data, she said that there has been a corresponding decline in students saying that theyre reading for enjoyment and that lower performing readers are missing school.

Racial, economic disparities in Arizona's assessment results

Across both grade levels and subject areas, Arizonas white students scored higher than the states Black and Hispanic students, and the states economically disadvantaged students scored lower than students who were not economically disadvantaged.

Advertisement Advertisement

While 38% of Arizonas white eighth grade students were proficient in reading, just 10% of the states Black students and 17% of its Hispanic students met that achievement level. Just 17% of economically disadvantaged eighth grade students were proficient in reading, compared to 36% of students who were not economically disadvantaged.

In math, 42% of Arizonas white eighth grade students scored proficient, compared with 18% of Black students and 14% of Hispanic students. Just 12% of economically disadvantaged eighth grade students scored proficient in math, compared to 41% of students who were not economically disadvantaged.

Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's reading scores fall in nationwide assessment
BENTON, Ark.  Local nonprofits, including the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC), said they are confused about the Trump administrations recent freeze on federal funding.

The White House says there is no pause on programs like social security, Medicare, food stamps, or student loans and scholarships, but the move created panic and confusion for groups that rely on the funds.

Our mission is to elevate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential, and to build strong communities here in Arkansas, CADC Chief Executive Officer Randy Morris said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump administration freezes nearly all federal loans and grants

Well, initially, when you hear about it, of course, any kind of freeze or anything like that, Morris said. You are wondering, Okay, what is it going to do to my agency? How is it going to affect my agency? How is it going to affect us being able to move forward with our mission?

According to Morris, CADC receives state and federal funding that helps with its wide variety of programs that span 19 counties.

Morris said he had to take a moment, slow down, and breathe as the calls began to come in from the worried people they serve. Thats when he said he started making his own calls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have reached out to our state funders just to get information about it; of course, they havent gotten all the guidance around it either, Morris said.

Morris says everyone is in a state of confusion, but for him, its simple.

I know people are scared right now, they are worried right now, how is it going to affect the assistance that CADC does, Morris said. Right now we are going to continue to operate as normal, continue to move forward as normal until we find out.

Morris says only time will tell how or if this will affect them.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the move from the Trump administration minutes before it was scheduled to go into effect.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
Sen. Clarke Tucker (right), D-Little Rock, asks questions about Senate Bill 3 from bill sponsor Sen. Dan Sullivan (left), R-Jonesboro, during a Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

After two and a half hours of debate, an Arkansas Senate panel approved a bill Tuesday that would prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment by public entities.

Senate Bill 3, similar to a bill that failed in 2023, would repeal requirements that state procurement proposals include language that encourages minority participation or to adopt an equal opportunity hiring program designed to increase the percentage of minority employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would also eliminate required minority recruitment and retention plans and reports from public school districts and higher education institutions, as well as amending a scholarship designed to attract qualified minority teachers to the Delta, a rural area with a significant Black population and a known teacher shortage.

While the bill does not include the phrase diversity, equity and inclusion, a phrase often abbreviated as DEI in the language of business and government, the bill would strike the three individual words from state law several times over.

For example, the Equity Assistance Center in the states Division of Elementary and Secondary Education would be called the Equality Assistance Center. Its purpose would be to assist the states public school districts with desegregation and nondiscrimination instead of affirmative action, program accessibility, human relations, awareness, and desegregation as currently required.

The bill would also strike the term civil rights from state law three times and replace the phrase with desegregation and nondiscrimination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Jonesboro is sponsoring the bill and has been an outspoken critic of DEI initiatives, which have become a target for conservative lawmakers nationwide since the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Senate Bill 3 would apply to the states higher education institutions.

Sullivan told the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs that existing state policy encourages employers to prioritize traits such as race and ethnicity over job qualifications.

We are focusing on merit, and were going to hire on merit whos the best for that area, Sullivan said. I think weve kind of lost our focus on what merit means.

SB 3 contains much of the same language as a bill Sullivan sponsored two years ago to end state-sponsored affirmative action, which he also described as ending discrimination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That bill, Senate Bill 71, narrowly passed the Senate in March 2023 but died on the House floor after several passionate speeches from members of both parties.

Sen. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, noted during Tuesdays committee meeting that all 18 senators  the minimum number for a bill to pass the chamber  who voted for SB71 in 2023 were white men.

White men comprise most of the state Legislature, including all eight members of the State Agencies committee, and much of the executive branch, noted civil rights attorney Austin Porter Jr., who opposed the bill along with nine other speakers. They said they opposed the bill because it would remove opportunities for populations that have historically faced discrimination.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Senate Bill 3 has similar language but replaces religion with ethnicity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The text of the bill would allow anyone who believes his or her rights have been impacted under this section to file a civil lawsuit, and a judge that sides with the plaintiff would issue an injunction and allow the plaintiff to recover court costs and attorneys fees.

The bill would give reparations to white people who feel like theyve been victimized by some preferential treatment thats nonexistent, Porter said, adding that Black Americans have spent years advocating for reparations for the nations history of enslavement.

Maricella Garcia, Race Equity Director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, testifies against Senate Bill 3 before the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Merit, in a lot of peoples minds, means simply white, Porter said.

Lance LeVar, a former Arkansas Department of Education employee, disputed Sullivans statement that unqualified minority job candidates have advantages over qualified candidates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What equity [does] is it looks at everybody and recognizes the merit that everybodys done, the work that theyve taken and it recognizes that others have to work harder, LeVar said.

Other opponents of the bill included representatives from Stand Up Arkansas and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

Education concerns and federal mandates

Tucker asked Sullivan who is harmed by minority teacher recruitment programs. Sullivan repeatedly said such programs are discriminatory.

One could also ask whos being helped, and its just a circular argument, Sullivan said.

Tucker, the committees only Democrat, and Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, voted against the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark said he supported the premise of the bill but was concerned it would hurt schools ability to recruit Black male teachers. He said Black male students need to be able to see themselves in their teachers in order to improve their educational outcomes.

What Im looking at here is not a racial preference or discriminatory, but something we need, Clark said.

Sullivan said he understood Clarks point but also said the state should align its policies with the federal government.

Senate Bill 3 differs from its 2023 predecessor with the addition of language explicitly stating that the legislation is not meant to affect preferences provided to veterans under law based on their status as veterans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tucker asked why preferential treatment should be allowed for one group but outlawed for other groups. Sullivan repeated that the bill would align the state with federal policy.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

President Donald Trumps executive order, signed within two days of his inauguration last week, declaring an end to all DEI mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the federal government. Trump also put all federal DEI employees on paid leave and ordered agencies to cancel DEI training and contracts.

When asked about the bill at a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she hopes lawmakers consider anything that brings Arkansas further into compliance with where federal law and federal statute land.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, executive orders do not change federal law in and of themselves, and states have the responsibility to check and balance the power of the federal government by ensuring that federal policies meet the unique needs of their citizens, said Dr. Gail Choate of the nonpartisan Arkansas Civic Action Network.

Choate added that passing Senate Bill 3 would be solving a problem that we dont know exists. She said Walmart executives could not offer data to the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus on Monday when asked to justify the companys rollback of its DEI policies. The Bentonville-based retailer is among several corporations that have done this in recent months.

Robert Steinbuch, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock law professor, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 3 before the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Another provision in SB 3 would eliminate the states requirement for bids for certain public improvement contracts exceeding $75,000 to include statements encouraging the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses.

Knowingly violating the bill would result in a Class A misdemeanor. Conway resident Jimmie Cavin said the bill needed more teeth and that was why he opposed a policy he otherwise agreed with.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only supporter of the bill who spoke was Robert Steinbuch, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock law professor.

Either youre an affirmative action employer or youre an equal opportunity employer, he said. You cant be both.

Deputy Editor Antoinette Grajeda contributed to this article.
A Massachusetts man was arrested on weapons charges after he visited the US Capitol on Monday and told police that he wanted to kill top Republicans, including billionaire investor Scott Bessent on the day the Senate confirmed him as President Donald Trumps Treasury secretary, according to a Tuesday court filing.

Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, was arrested at the Capitol after he approached police and said he had knives and Molotov cocktails in his possession and wanted to surrender, according to a Capitol police officers affidavit. Investigators said they found a folding knife, two homemade firebombs and a lighter in Englishs possession.

English also told police that he came to the Capitol to kill Bessent, the affidavit says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators searched Englishs car and found material for making a homemade explosive device, police said.

English told investigators that he traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, DC, intending to kill other Republican political figures  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson  and to burn down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, according to police.

These actions were specifically to depose these political offices and send a message, the affidavit says.

English changed his target to Bessent after reading an internet post about his confirmation hearing, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate confirmed Bessent on a 68-29 vote, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the South Carolina resident.

English was arrested on charges of unlawful receipt; possession or transfer of a firearm; and of carrying a firearm, a dangerous weapon, an explosive or an incendiary device on Capitol grounds.

Court records dont name an attorney for English. A telephone message left with a possible relative of English wasnt immediately returned.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Update: According to an update from the Vigo County Sheriffs Office Facebook page, detectives were able to determine that Shorter was the suspect Vigo County Sheriffs Office was looking for in regards to the armed robbery on January 25 in Vigo County. Shorter is now facing preliminary charges for armed robbery, pointing a firearm, and theft in Vigo County as well as those in Clay County.

A Brazil man is behind bars after police arrested him for allegedly robbing a Center Point gas station employee at gunpoint this morning.

According to Clay County Sheriff Brison Swearingen, at around 8:30 a.m., a man entered the Country Junction wearing a mask and pointed a gun at the employee. The suspect, later identified as Raymond Paul Shorter, 36, left with an unknown amount of money and an unknown direction of travel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From surveillance video and help from the community, Swearingen said they were able to get a description of the vehicle.

Swearingen stated that while a deputy from Clay County was actively searching for Shorter, he was able to locate the vehicle near Interstate 70. He initiated a traffic stop, and Shorter allegedly matched the description of the suspect.

Shorter was briefly interviewed at the scene where he allegedly admitted to committing the armed robbery there and the one last week at a gas station located in East Glenn in Vigo County.

Swearingen stated that currency and other items have been recovered, either at the scene or at an undisclosed location.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shorter is facing three charges: armed robbery a level 3 felony; pointing a firearm a level 6 felony and misdemeanor theft

Swearingen noted detectives in Clay County are continuing their investigation and that Vigo County Sheriffs Office was notified of Shorters alleged confession and is investigating their own case.

Shorter is in the Clay County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Army rushed to satisfy President Donald Trumps executive orders this week, sparking so much confusion that top officials directed a halt on new contracts and then walked it back  the latest muddled response to a series of chaotic actions by the White House.

Top officials misinterpreted Trumps order on diversity, equity and inclusion and set an Army freeze on deals for new weapons. The Pentagon clarified on Tuesday that it wasnt going to issue a pause. The move upended the defense industry and signaled a broader uncertainty around the presidents sweeping actions.

It also reinforced the challenges to Trumps quick-decision approach to governance  such as recent orders to freeze certain federal funding and foreign military aid  that has sent agencies scrambling. Such tension is particularly acute at the Pentagon, where questions about the impact of Trumps executive orders threaten to slow down high-dollar programs and rock the defense industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What kind of signal does this send to the defense industrial base, which is already plagued with a number of challenges? said Becca Wasser, a former Army official and current senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. A lot of that stems from a very unclear demand signal from the U.S. government.



Pentagon officials are bracing for more orders alongside an untested Pentagon chief eager to prove his worth.

We're going to hold people accountable, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Monday as he arrived at the Pentagon for his first day of work. The lawful orders of the president of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse.

But this weeks confusion shows the challenges to making fast moves in the governments largest federal agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was not communicated to us directly; it was leaked to us, a defense industry executive, granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said about the ordeal. We are interpolating based on memos that are government-to-government and attempting to turn that into useful information.

Breaking Defense previously reported details about the chaotic situation, which left executives desperately trying to figure out what was impacted. The Army said Tuesday there was no blanket pause on contracts.

Army contracting activities continue to move forward, Army spokesperson Ellen Lovett said in a statement. As is customary, the Army is currently conducting a review of existing solicitations and awards of contracts to ensure that our programs are aligned with the incoming leaderships policies and directives.

One defense official with knowledge of the situation attributed the Army reaction to trepidation about the scope of Trumps orders and unease about big personnel changes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Air Force also walked back decisions this week, including removing a training that mentioned the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black pilots who fought in World War II. Some Pentagon officials worried actions explicitly mentioning race could run afoul of the White Houses stance denouncing woke diversity initiatives.

The Air Force quickly reinstated the training after Hegseth said the removal was unnecessary.

Some service members also are concerned that Trumps team will purge officers who are not deemed loyal enough. The president last week dismissed Adm. Linda Fagan, the Coast Guards commandant. A Homeland Security official credited her firing to program delays and an excessive focus on diversity and inclusion efforts.

The General Services Administration announced last week that it would immediately suspend enforcement of all diversity-related contract language, in line with Trumps executive orders to "restore merit-based opportunity."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Armys staff director, Lt. Gen. Laura Potter, then ordered the Armys acquisition chief to identify and recommend freezing or suspending contract bid requests involving diversity, equity and inclusion. She also flagged contracts related to critical race theory," climate change, and transgender and abortion policies for potential suspension.

The directives sent shock waves through the Army bureaucracy. It prompted officials to put a hold on all of their contracts, according to a congressional aide, granted anonymity to speak about internal discussions.

Officials within the Army, which has a nearly $186 billion annual budget, started scrambling to find out how a freeze of new contracts could impact their programs.

We are working with leadership to get additional direction as to the timeframe and may come back to you for impacts to your mission, said an Army email obtained by POLITICO.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then Pentagon acquisition officials clarified there was no such freeze. So the Army reversed the action.

Army leaders wrote to the House Armed Services Committee to explain that there had been a mix-up  and that Army contracting was continuing as usual.

We learned over the weekend that a contracting review directed by our incoming leadership was being interpreted as everything up to and including a complete procurement freeze by people who were acting conservatively in a period of transition, said an excerpt of the message viewed by POLITICO.

By that time, defense industry executives had spent days trying to understand the implications for their businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a time when China is publicly announcing the acquisition of a million low-cost drones, for us to be essentially kneecapping ourselves at that moment, goodness gracious, the defense industry executive said.

A pause on Army contracts would have a significant impact on the industry, especially small companies with thinner profit margins. The Armys contracting command carried out $84.5 billion in contracts in 2022, including $3.5 billion to replenish the services stockpiles that had been depleted in Ukraine.

Many of the companies in new and innovative spaces, on the bleeding edge, it's a huge gut punch to all of those, the executive said.

Paul McLeary and Connor O'Brien contributed this report.
EAU CLAIRE  One of several men accused by investigators of sexually abusing a girl over the course of multiple years was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday. But the court proceedings ended without a plea.

Robert Stelzer, 42, Stanley, faces a single count of repeated sexual assault of a child. Richard Stelzer, Ryan Stelzer and Darcy Johnson face related charges.

Arraignment is an early step in the judicial process. During an arraignment the defendant is formally told the charges against them and enters a plea. In this case, Stelzer still lacks an attorney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nothing prohibits a defendant from entering a plea without counsel, but courts are often hesitant to allow such a step. Steps taken without legal representation can raise serious questions about whether the defendant understood the ramifications. That raises the possibility of appeals, at minimum, and potentially contaminates the outcome.

On Tuesday, Judge Emily Long noted that, while Stelzer is approved for a court-appointed attorney, one has not yet been assigned to the case. Rather than proceeding with the arraignment, Long scheduled a status conference for Feb. 28.

This is not the first such rescheduling in Stelzers case. The criminal complaint was filed in April 2024. Later that month saw an attorney appointed to represent him and, in August, an Oct. 21 arraignment was scheduled.

On that date, Stelzers attorney withdrew. Court records indicate there was a conflict, a common source of attorney withdrawals. Arraignment was pushed to Nov. 6.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Stelzer still had no attorney in early November, the court set a new arraignment for Dec. 16. That hearing saw an arraignment date of Jan. 28 scheduled.

The charge Stelzer faces is a Class C felony. According to the criminal complaint, the accusation is that the four men abused the woman when she was between the ages of 6 and 17. While the identity of the abuser changed through the years, the abuse itself continued.

Under Wisconsin law a Class C felony carries the potential for up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  The Richmond County Sheriffs Office Homicide and Gang Units division announced it has made an arrest Tuesday evening in the shooting incident that took place on Higdon Street over the weekend.

According to police, 19-year-old Ja Vyion Dae Quan Johnson was arrested for murder in the death of Devonta Lamar McCloud and charged with aggravated assault on Omar Andrews.

Johnson has been taken to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No further information has been provided at this time. This 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 WJBF.
CHICAGO  Republican President Donald Trumps nationwide crackdown on immigration has begun following a flurry of executive orders and policies created by the administration, including reversing a previous rule that prevented ICE agents from entering sensitive places such as schools, hospitals and churches. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it and its partner federal agencies began conducting enhanced targeted operations Sunday. They have continued into the week.

According to statistics provided by ICE on the social platform X, on Monday, the federal agency had 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers lodged, or a request from ICE that asks a federal, state or local law enforcement agency  including jails, prisons or other confinement facilities  to hold an immigrant 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release them so the Department of Homeland Security has time to assume custody.

As arrests and detentions ramp up both locally and nationally, immigrant advocates and faith leaders are expanding their efforts to provide services to people who have already been detained or are vulnerable to arrests. For instance, on Monday, a church in suburban Evanston said it would open its doors to immigrants who are seeking sanctuary from deportation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We stand in solidarity with those fearing deportation, and we are willing to use all of our privilege and our resources to protect them, the Rev. Michael Woolf, senior minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, said.

The Tribune spoke with Nicole Hallett, a clinical law professor at the University of Chicago, and Diana Rashid, a managing attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, to learn more about what happens after someone is arrested by ICE, particularly in Illinois.

What happens after an arrest?

The first step after making an arrest is to take the arrested person to a processing center where they are interviewed by an ICE agent, fingerprinted and sometimes given the chance to call a loved one. That processing center in Northern Illinois is usually in the western suburb of Broadview, where detainees are kept for a few hours before they are either released or detained, according to Rashid.

At the processing center, ICE will then decide if it is going to initiate removal proceedings for an individual. If ICE decides to move forward with removal proceedings, it will issue something called a notice to appear, which is a document given to an arrestee that initiates civil immigration proceedings. At the same time, officials will also determine if an arrestee will be detained or released throughout the removal process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since Illinois does not have any detention centers due to the Way Forward Act, a state law enacted in 2021 that prohibits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal deportation authorities, detainees are transported to a detention center in a neighboring state, Rashid explained. That typically includes Dodge Detention Facility in Wisconsin, Clay County Jail in Indiana and Boone County Jail in Kentucky.

How long someone can be detained for varies, according to immigration lawyers the Tribune spoke with. If an individual has certain criminal convictions or poses a security risk, they can be subject to mandatory detention by the government. Criminal convictions that could lead to mandatory detention could range from relatively minor criminal offenses to violent crime. The recent passage of the Laken Riley Act will also now allow the government to detain people for smaller offenses like drug and theft convictions.

Nearly everyone else is up to the discretion of ICE on whether or not they should be detained, Hallett said. Deciding factors that go into that process include whether ICE believes a person is a flight risk, poses a danger to their community or even whether an ICE facility has enough beds to hold someone.

In many cases, ICE is sort of forced into releasing people because there simply arent beds available to detain them, Hallett said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If ICE determines someone can be detained, then that individual has the right to go to immigration court and ask for a bond hearing, Hallett said. Those bonds can range from anywhere between $1,500 to more than $25,000, Hallett said. However, if a person gets denied a bond, a bond hearing or cannot pay their bond, they must wait in the detention facility until their court proceedings are over.

It can be indefinitely, Rashid said, referring to how long individuals can stay in detention. Rashid also noted it could be likely that more noncitizens will be swept up into mandatory custody and not have a right to a bond and will remain detained for as long as it takes for them to resolve their immigration case.

Under a new executive order signed by Trump, noncitizens who cannot prove they have been in the country for more than two years can be subject to expedited removal, which would also prevent that group of people from having a bond hearing, Rashid said, a new rule that Rashid said she and her team were closely monitoring.

While everyone has the right to an attorney when going through removal proceedings, noncitizens do not have the right to an appointed attorney, meaning that the government does not have to provide them with a lawyer, forcing noncitizens to find their own lawyer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a result, Hallett said some people end up using pro bono lawyers from nonprofits or hire private attorneys, although most noncitizens who are in removal proceedings cannot afford a private attorney or can only afford to pay very little.

They may not get an attorney whos able to devote the kind of time thats required to actually succeed in an immigration case, Hallett said. If they cant find an attorney thats working pro bono or that is retained privately, then they will have to go through those proceedings without an attorney.

The number of people who go through immigration court with legal representation has increased significantly in the past 10 years, according to the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2014, there were over 145,000 immigration cases with legal representation, whereas 2024 saw over a million cases with legal representation. But at the same time, the Vera Institute of Justice noted that the number of people in immigration court has increased much more compared with the number of people with legal representation, causing a drop in the rate of representation even while the number of people with representation in immigration court is at an all-time high.

Immigrants who go through the legal process with an attorney are more likely to be released from detention and are also more likely to win their removal cases, a 2016 study by the American Immigration Council found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hallett noted that even though ICE can detain someone until the conclusion of their removal proceedings, there are lower courts in some states that have ruled that there are constitutional limits to how long ICE can hold someone in detention. Those constitutional limits, however, are determined on a case-by-case basis, according to Rashid. There isnt a blanket rule or policy or law that says how long someone can be detained, Rashid said.

What if a loved one is detained?

The first step someone should take if their loved one gets detained is to try to make contact with that person and find out where that person is being held, Hallett said. People can look up where someone is being detained through ICEs online detainee locator system. Once you are able to locate where someone is being held, you can try to contact the facility and figure out how to communicate directly with the detainee. Hallett also noted it can take up to 48 hours before someones name appears in the system since it takes time to send a person to a detention facility and input their information.

So if you look in the system and theyre not there immediately after arrest, you shouldnt worry that theyve been lost in the system, Hallett said. It really takes some time.

The National Immigrant Justice Center also advises people to ask the detainee for their A-number, which they receive upon arrest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next step should be to seek legal counsel as quickly as possible from an attorney so that the detainee knows what their rights and options are as well as how they can best fight their case in immigration court, Hallett said.

____________
Republican President Donald Trumps nationwide crackdown on immigration has begun following a flurry of executive orders and policies created by the administration, including reversing a previous rule that prevented ICE agents from entering sensitive places such as schools, hospitals and churches. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it and its partner federal agencies began conducting enhanced targeted operations Sunday. They have continued into the week.

According to statistics provided by ICE on the social platform X, on Monday, Jan. 27, the federal agency had 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers lodged, or a request from ICE that asks a federal, state or local law enforcement agency  including jails, prisons or other confinement facilities  to hold an immigrant 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release them so the Department of Homeland Security has time to assume custody.

As arrests and detentions ramp up both locally and nationally, immigrant advocates and faith leaders are expanding their efforts to provide services to people who have already been detained or are vulnerable to arrests. On Monday, one church in Evanston said it would open its doors to immigrants who are seeking sanctuary from deportation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We stand in solidarity with those fearing deportation, and we are willing to use all of our privilege and our resources to protect them, the Rev. Michael Woolf, senior minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, said.

The Tribune spoke with Nicole Hallett, a clinical law professor at the University of Chicago, and Diana Rashid, a managing attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, to learn more about what happens after someone is arrested by ICE in Illinois.

What happens after someone is arrested by ICE

The first step after making an arrest is to take the arrested person to a processing center where they are interviewed by an ICE agent, fingerprinted and sometimes given the chance to call a loved one. That processing center is usually in the western suburb of Broadview, where detainees are kept for a few hours before they are either released or detained, according to Rashid.

At the processing center, ICE will then decide if it is going to initiate removal proceedings for an individual. If ICE decides to move forward with removal proceedings, it will issue something called a notice to appear, which is a document given to an arrestee that initiates civil immigration proceedings. At the same time, officials will also determine if an arrestee will be detained or released throughout the removal process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since Illinois does not have any detention centers due to the Way Forward Act, a state law enacted in 2021 that prohibits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal deportation authorities, detainees are transported to a detention center in a neighboring state, Rashid explained. That typically includes Dodge Detention Facility in Wisconsin, Clay County Jail in Indiana and Boone County Jail in Kentucky.

How long someone can be detained for varies, according to immigration lawyers the Tribune spoke with. If an individual has certain criminal convictions or poses a security risk, they can be subject to mandatory detention by the government. Criminal convictions that could lead to mandatory detention could range from relatively minor criminal offenses to violent crime. The recent passage of the Laken Riley Act will also now allow the government to detain people for smaller offenses like drug and theft convictions.

Nearly everyone else is up to the discretion of ICE on whether or not they should be detained, Hallett said. Deciding factors that go into that process include whether ICE believes a person is a flight risk, poses a danger to their community or even whether an ICE facility has enough beds to hold someone.

In many cases, ICE is sort of forced into releasing people because there simply arent beds available to detain them, Hallett said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What to know about ICE raids in Chicago  and what your rights are

If ICE determines someone can be detained, then that individual has the right to go to immigration court and ask for a bond hearing, Hallett said. Those bonds can range from anywhere between $1,500 to more than $25,000, Hallett said. However, if a person gets denied a bond, a bond hearing or cannot pay their bond, they must wait in the detention facility until their court proceedings are over.

It can be indefinitely, Rashid said, referring to how long individuals can stay in detention. Rashid also noted it could be likely that more noncitizens will be swept up into mandatory custody and not have a right to a bond and will remain detained for as long as it takes for them to resolve their immigration case.

Under a new executive order signed by Trump, noncitizens who cannot prove they have been in the country for more than two years can be subject to expedited removal, which would also prevent that group of people from having a bond hearing, Rashid said, a new rule that Rashid said she and her team were closely monitoring.

Related Articles

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While everyone has the right to an attorney when going through removal proceedings, noncitizens do not have the right to an appointed attorney, meaning that the government does not have to provide them with a lawyer, forcing noncitizens to find their own lawyer.

As a result, Hallett said some people end up using pro bono lawyers from nonprofits or hire private attorneys, although most noncitizens who are in removal proceedings cannot afford a private attorney or can only afford to pay very little.

They may not get an attorney whos able to devote the kind of time thats required to actually succeed in an immigration case, Hallett said. If they cant find an attorney thats working pro bono or that is retained privately, then they will have to go through those proceedings without an attorney.

The number of people who go through immigration court with legal representation has increased significantly in the past 10 years, according to the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2014, there were over 145,000 immigration cases with legal representation, whereas 2024 saw over a million cases with legal representation. But at the same time, the Vera Institute of Justice noted that the number of people in immigration court has increased much more compared with the number of people with legal representation, causing a drop in the rate of representation even while the number of people with representation in immigration court is at an all-time high.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigrants who go through the legal process with an attorney are more likely to be released from detention and are also more likely to win their removal cases, a 2016 study by the American Immigration Council found.

Hallett noted that even though ICE can detain someone until the conclusion of their removal proceedings, there are lower courts in some states that have ruled that there are constitutional limits to how long ICE can hold someone in detention. Those constitutional limits, however, are determined on a case-by-case basis, according to Rashid. There isnt a blanket rule or policy or law that says how long someone can be detained, Rashid said.

What to do if your loved one gets detained

The first step someone should take if their loved one gets detained is to try to make contact with that person and find out where that person is being held, Hallett said. People can look up where someone is being detained through ICEs online detainee locator system. Once you are able to locate where someone is being held, you can try to contact the facility and figure out how to communicate directly with the detainee. Hallett also noted it can take up to 48 hours before someones name appears in the system since it takes time to send a person to a detention facility and input their information.

So if you look in the system and theyre not there immediately after arrest, you shouldnt worry that theyve been lost in the system, Hallett said. It really takes some time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Immigrant Justice Center also advises people to ask the detainee for their A-number, which they receive upon arrest.

The next step should be to seek legal counsel as quickly as possible from an attorney so that the detainee knows what their rights and options are as well as how they can best fight their case in immigration court, Hallett said.

Services that people can contact for legal counsel in Illinois include the National Immigrant Justice Center, Justice Entrepreneurs Project Chicago and Beyond Legal Aid. The Illinois Council for Immigrant and Refugee Rights has also compiled a list of attorney referrals for immigrant matters, which can be found here.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Anthony Obi never imagined the night of Jan. 7 would be the last time hed step inside his safe haven.

The Houston rapper, known professionally as Fat Tony, has lived in the Altadena neighborhood for a year and says he and his neighbors were prepared for heavy winds and perhaps a few days of power outages.

I totally expected, you know, maybe my windows are going to get damaged, and Ill come back in like a day or two and just clean it up, said the rapper.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But residents like Obi woke up the following morning to news that thousands of homes and entire neighborhoods had been burned to ash, destroyed by flames that wiped out large areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Although the neighborhoods are on opposite ends of the county, they are known hubs for many of the citys creative community, housing filmmakers, actors, musicians and artists of various mediums.

LA is not just rich, famous people who have giant mansions that were destroyed, said visual artist Andrea Bowers, who is assisting artists recover. So many members of our community lost everything, they lost all their artworks and their archives, thats irreplaceable, a lifetime of labor and a lifetime of research.

A lot of my collectors lost their homes, said figurative and conceptual artist Salomon Huerta, who lost his Altadena home of three years to the Eaton Fire and worries the art scene in LA will downsize as a result of the wildfire. Before the fire, I was in talks with certain collectors. And then, after the fire, theyre not in a good place to talk. Im hoping that theres support so that the art scene can still thrive. But its going to be tough.

Obi and Huerta lost not only personal treasures, business opportunities and homes but also vital equipment and professional archives, adding to their emotional burden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Huerta left behind slides and transparencies of past work that he had planned to digitize for an upcoming book.

Everythings gone, Obi said. All of my stuff that is related to Fat Tony music that was in that house is gone, and it was the motherlode of it.

From aftermath of one fire, a support network is born

Kathryn Andrews never imagined shed experience another wildfire in her lifetime.

The conceptual artist was forced to flee her Pacific Palisades neighborhood as smoke drew near, the second time in four years shes had to escape a wildfire.

She lost her Juniper Hills property to the 2020 Bobcat fire, which burned a large section of rural Los Angeles County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive already experienced one home being burned. I think you have a different focus after that. Maybe we become a little bit less attached to material things. And we began looking at a bigger long-term picture, thinking about, you know, how we live together in community, how we live in relation to the land and how we can work together to solve this, she said.

Andrews is the co-founder of relief effort Grief and Hope, which aims to support creatives financially as they enter the long road ahead and was founded alongside a group of gallery directors, art professionals and artists like Bowers, Ariel Pittman, Olivia Gauthier, and Julia V. Hendrickson.

Our primary goal is getting people triage money for just whatever the most emergent need is, said Pittman.

The fundraising effort began shortly after the fires broke out with a Go Fund Me seeking $500,000. They have now raised over $940,000 of their new $1 million goal via non-profit art space The Brick. As of Tuesday, Grief and Hope has received more than 450 inquiries, and Pittman says the funds will be evenly distributed to applicants. The deadline for artists to submit a needs survey has concluded, but the relief effort will continue fundraising until mid-March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grief and Hope also has five different groups of volunteers providing peer-to-peer support, helping with medical needs, safety issues, and renters issues and collecting survey data to better serve their creative community.

These are people who already have made very long term commitments in their work, including the five of us, towards building community and building sustainability around artists and art workers in our city and beyond, said Pittman.

For Grief and Hope, creating a more sustainable future for artists throughout the city begins with affordable studio spaces and housing.

Creative tools lost, and a long road ahead

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For photographer Joy Wong, losing her home of eight years meant losing the beauty of Altadena. She describes the overall area as a pocket of heaven.

I didnt want to leave, said Wong who safely evacuated with her husband and 2-year-old daughter. We were just so in love with this house, and it wasnt just my house. It was also my studio space.

Many, like Obi, Wong and Huerta, have started GoFundMe accounts. Meanwhile initiatives and relief efforts have popped up around Southern California ready to assist with clothing donations, art supplies, professional equipment for creatives and more.

Im applying to everything, said Obi, who needs to replace his instruments and recording equipment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wong said shes received much support from family, friends and colleagues.

I think I just have to kind of lean on the community and get back into shooting, she said. I got to get all my gear back, too. Its going to be a long road, but itll be OK.

How some artists see LA's arts scene can be reborn

Superchief Gallery co-founder and director Bill Dunleavy said he believes that this is an opportunity to rebuild long-needed infrastructure for the arts throughout Los Angeles.

Quite a lot was lost and in the areas affected by the fire. And its going to affect rent prices and studio prices and art markets and everything else, said Dunleavy. Ive been so impressed with the amount of compassion that people feel and the sense of duty people have felt to help with this. ... I hope that continues into the coming years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Creative director Celina Rodriguez said she hopes freelance artists and creatives continue to work and shoot production or projects throughout the city, rather than leaving because of the wildfires.

Having lost so many locations that we would shoot, typically in Malibu, Topanga, the Palisades, all throughout. We will have to absolutely come together and figure out how we can continue working in Los Angeles ... and urging people to shoot productions here, she said.

Rodriguez and Dunleavy began collecting donations at the Downtown Los Angeles gallery and within 48 hours transformed it into a bustling donation center with over 150 volunteers. The duo are now working with displaced families to make sure their daily needs are being met.

Dunleavy said the relief effort has only encouraged him to take this work beyond just the donation center and explore the possibilities of non-profit work for the community.

All of our wheels are turning now that weve seen the power that just self-organizing can have.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa  The Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center is auctioning artwork made by children in their Ukrainian sister city to help benefit the war-torn country.

The artwork is part of their latest exhibit called, War Through the Eyes of Children, located in the Monet Reception Hall. All the pieces were created by children between the ages of six and 17 in Marshalltowns sister city, Zdolbuniv.

Below each painting is a photo of the child who created it and a description of them written by their teachers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many of the pieces depict sunflowers and wheat because sunflower oil and bread are big exports for Ukraine. The countrys flag and colors are also prevalent in several paintings. Many also illustrate the idea of longing for peace.

Caitlin Clark Foundation giving $22,000 grants to 4 Iowa charities

Despite the dark muse, the paintings are colorful, bright, and bold.

They have lost 100 people from their town, and some of the childrens fathers are away fighting. So, its a very personal thing to them. But, as children are, they are colorful and bright, said Carrie Barr, a committee member for the Marshalltown sister-city relations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barr said Zdolbuniv is a city with a similar size to Marshalltown.

Weve been through a lot here in Marshalltown, nothing compares to what theyve been through. But, people understand that neighbors help neighbors and people help people and this sister city is an extension of people helping people, she said.

The exhibit officially opens for the public to view in person on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then on Thursday from 10 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. Then, the auction will take place on Friday, January 31st at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar.

The paintings can be viewed and bid on online until Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All of the proceeds will go to Zdolbuniv.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Transparency and accessibility are two factors the Arvin Police Department is working on to strengthen the trust with its community members.

Someones coming in and asking for me? Right, and Im here and I can take them, said Arvin Police Chief Alex Ghazalpour. Ill meet with them. Ill meet with them immediately and see what their issues are. I dont want to put, kick people to the curb.

In a city with just around 20,000 residents, Arvin PD seeks to keep the feeling of a tight knit community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The warm treatment is shown by Officer Adam Huber who shows patience and empathy to compliant drivers.

Emptying the fields: How did the Border Patrol operation in Kern County affect our economy?

We did a verbal warning for equipment.

I wanted to make sure you werent broken down. Youre welcome, take care.

Just hold on here for a minute, lets see if we can resolve this, OK? Huber told drivers during traffic stops.

This treatment is highly important in times of uncertainty, after immigration raids through the county.

We dont cooperate with ICE, we dont cooperate with CBP, so thats the SB-54 mandate that California has, said Chief Ghazalpour. We just did our 2024 report and there was zero transfers to ICE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An increase social media usage among community members is no problem for the Arvin Police Department.

Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage

Weve utilized social media on, you know, missing children, right? That were looking for. And next thing you know people are out there and theyre posting, and reposting all that, said Chief Ghazalpour. But those are professional posts that are put out by the police department. Social media has also hindered some of those things that are out there as well too.

As for the year ahead, some goals the department looks forward to are holding more town hall meetings, growing its investigations division, closing homicide cold cases and keeping crime trends low.

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 News.
LOS ANGELES  As wildfires raged just miles away, Steven Otero watched ash rain down on every item in his home, which is a tent on Skid Row.

Even his food and water werent safe from the toxic deluge.

I put out a cup of water, and it was filled with ash in just minutes, he said.

Although Otero said he has no underlying health issues or respiratory illnesses, he had difficulty breathing by the third day of the fires, which erupted Jan. 7 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and the nearby city of Altadena, killing at least 47 people and destroying 16,255 homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It felt like the short-of-breathness you have when you finish a swim and youre getting out of the pool, he said.

While many Angelenos protected themselves from the fires unhealthy effects by staying inside, wearing masks and drinking bottled water, unhoused people on Skid Row do not have those options, they said.

NBC Los Angeles found that many Skid Row residents rely on fire hydrants, which they tap illegally, as their water source.

Water Drop LA volunteers leave two jugs of water near a Skid Row resident's tent.

Nonprofit initiatives, like Water Drop LA and the Refresh Spot, are trying to fill the void by providing clean drinking water and N95 masks to people living on Skid Row.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sade Kammen, an organizer with Water Drop, said Skid Rows 3,791 residents have access to only nine public water fountains, and many of them are often broken. Since it began in 2020, Water Drop has delivered 2,200 gallons of water to Skid Row a week for 236 straight weeks, she said.

We bring over 100,000 gallons of water a year that wouldnt be there otherwise, Kammen said.

On Sunday, when Los Angeles got its first rain of the year, Water Drop volunteers gathered in a University of Southern California parking lot in the pouring rain to unload water bottles from U-Haul trucks and pack them into volunteers cars.

Ive been on my route for years now, volunteer Claire Beltramo said. Im friends with the people on my streets.

Water Drop LA volunteers unload water into cars before heading to Skid Row.

As volunteers drove up and down South Central Avenue, some homeless people waited on street corners for Beltramos car. They asked for masks, snacks and feminine hygiene products, as well as water.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of the worst air quality in the city was downtown during the fires, said Kathryn Prociv, a senior meteorologist for NBC News.

For several days after the fires broke out, the highest levels of AQI pollutants sat over downtown L.A., Prociv said, referring to the air quality index.

Hurricane-force winds that fueled the wildfires also destroyed many residents tents, said Samson Tafolo, an organizer with the Sidewalk Project, a homeless services organization.

The winds have been terrible, Tafolo said. Theyve been breaking down everyones tents.

His group and others have been setting up cots at supply distribution centers to temporarily house those who lost their tents or needed to escape the smoke.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Los Angeles County health officials issued do not drink or do not boil notices for communities near the Palisades and Eaton fires because cancer-causing chemicals could have entered the municipal water system.

Water from fire hydrants is not always potable, Kammen said, and unhoused people often cannot afford to buy bottled water.

Especially right now, when all of Los Angeles is wary about their water quality, people should not have to drink hydrant water, she said.

The Refresh Spot offers 24/7 access to showers, laundry facilities and drinking water.

The Refresh Spot, an initiative of the social services organization Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, provides 24/7 access to showers, restrooms, laundry facilities and drinking water, and it has also been handing out masks and encouraging people to spend time inside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stephany Campos, who oversees the program, said that because of the drier-than-usual winter months and water quality concerns, she has already seen people tap into fire hydrants. She said places like the Refresh Spot and mobile efforts like Water Drop fill some of the water needs on Skid Row, but we need more accessible, well-maintained fountains on every corner.

For now, Water Drop LA volunteers will continue to drive into the community each Sunday, Kammen said.

Any time theres a weather deviation, unsheltered people are in crisis mode, she said. But people have lost so much because of the winds and the fires.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Sign up for Trumps Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency.

The American populism of the late 19th century was a rebellion of working people against financial elites; the American populism of this century is one of financial elites feigning rebellion while crushing the vulnerable. This is why, just a few short days into his presidency, Donald Trump is already making good on his promise to persecute trans people zealously. On Monday, Trump issued an executive order purging trans service members from the military on the grounds that expressing a false gender identity divergent from an individuals sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service, a statement belied by the thousands serving honorably until they were singled out for discrimination by their commander in chief. A day later, Trump issued a second executive order that could make gender-affirming care for young people unavailable in most of the country.

The damage wrought by legitimizing this form of discrimination will not be limited to the trans community. Laws and legal rulings that undermine trans rights may soon be used to restrict the rights of other, less marginal groups. Anyone naive enough to think that the government can deny fundamental rights to one group without putting anothers at risk is in for some nasty surprises. That much became clear during oral arguments at the Supreme Court in December over Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At issue in the case, United States v. Skrmetti, is whether Tennessees ban on medical treatments for gender dysphoriathe medical diagnosis for someone who believes their gender does not match their biological sexunconstitutionally discriminates on the basis of sex. The Tennessee bill declares that this state has a legitimate, substantial, and compelling interest in encouraging minors to appreciate their sex, and therefore in preventing medical treatments that encourage minors to become disdainful of their sex. Implicit in this is the belief that if you dont appreciate your sex, then the state should force you to. Beyond the legal jargon and pretext, the underlying conflict here is between conservatives who have concluded that trans identity is a social contagion to be eradicated and that using state power for this cause is legitimate, and their opponents, who believe that trans people are entitled to equal protection under the law.

[Read: The push for puberty blockers got ahead of the research]

Crucially, the law bans treatmentssuch as hormones and puberty blockersonly for the purpose of a minors gender transition; they remain legal to prescribe for any other reason. The law bans treatments that enable a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minors sex. Because those same medications are available as long as they are not used for gender-affirming care, lawyers for the Biden administration argued that the ban constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex. The Biden administrations position was that this kind of care can be regulatedthenSolicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar cited as a legitimate example a West Virginia law that requires two physicians to sign offbut that the regulation cannot be discriminatory. Not all measures that distinguish on the basis of sex are unconstitutionalsee, for instance, sex-specific bathroomsbut they are subject to greater legal scrutiny; Tennessee is denying that it is engaging in discrimination, and thus not subject to that level of scrutiny.

One might question why this case matters if you are not yourself trans or do not have a loved one who is. The number of trans people is objectively smallless than a fraction of 1 percent of the population. A recent JAMA Pediatrics study found that fewer than 0.1 percent of young people with private insurance received hormone treatments or puberty blockers during a five-year perioda limited number of patients overall, but one for whom the stakes are very high. The outcome of this case has much broader implications than it might appear, because if a state can, as Prelogar put it, force people to look and live like boys and girls, subject to the governments definition of what that means, then a lot more people might be affected. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out during oral argument, for many years, some states prevented women from becoming butchers or lawyers. Women could not have their own credit cards or bank accounts until the 1970s. If its not unconstitutional sex discrimination for the government to say that people cannot behave inconsistent with their sex, well now youre really talking about a lot of peoplea lot more people than the rather tiny population included in the category of they/them that the Trump campaign was hoping you feel disgust and contempt for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Much depends on the nature of the justices ultimate decision and how far-reaching it is. The conservative movements mobilization against trans rights, however, is just one step in a wider rolling-back of other antidiscrimination protections. Conservatives have consciously targeted a diminutive, politically powerless segment of the population, trying to strip them of their constitutional rights, and then used those legal precedents to undermine laws that prevent discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. The trick was making Americans think that only the rights of trans people are on the chopping block, that they/them could be persecuted without consequences for you. As Frederick Douglass once said, Slavery lives in this country not because of any paper Constitution, but in the moral blindness of the American people, who persuade themselves that they are safe, though the rights of others may be struck down.

One of the things thats worth emphasizing is that for the people who brought the case, the movement thats behind this litigation, there have long been anxieties about sex-discrimination jurisprudence, period, Mary Ziegler, a professor at UC Davis School of Law, told me. So if thats the agenda thats driving the litigation, and the Court is embracing the arguments behind that agenda, you have to wonder if this isnt the end of the road.

The harm to antidiscrimination law more broadly could be immense. Many of the rationales offered by the conservative justices during oral argument echo the reasoning of those opposed to bans on racial discrimination. If they regain legitimacy, they could later be used to weaken other laws that protect Americans from bigotry.

[Read: Anti-trans discrimination is sex discrimination]

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, defenders of Tennessees ban have said that it does not discriminate based on sex, because it prohibits gender-affirming care to both boys and girlsa point Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett raised during oral argument. Similar assertions were made in defense of interracial-marriage bans, which prevented both Black and white people from marrying their chosen spouses. If were reinstating the equal-application theory  that was a theory that was used historically to uphold and justify race-based distinctions, Melissa Murray, a law professor at NYU, told me. I dont know how you can wall off sex discrimination from race discrimination if youre reviving this equal-treatment claim.

Kavanaugh suggested that because the case involved medical science, the Court should just leave it to the democratic process, an approach that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pointedly observed would have prevented the Court from striking down bans on interracial marriage, because at the time, Virginia had argued that the science regarding interracial marriage was substantially in doubt, and therefore banning it should be up to the voters. The point of equal protection is to prevent fundamental rights from being subject to mere popularity contestsespecially when, as Justice Sotomayor pointed out, the population at risk is so few as to be politically powerless.

The Trump administrations early actions make clear that exploiting voters fears about trans people was part of a larger plan to undermine antidiscrimination protections for many other people, even as they intend to make the lives of millions of othersincluding many of Trumps own supportersmuch worse. Among the first actions taken by the administration was the repeal of the Lyndon B. Johnsonera directive ordering federal contractors to avoid discriminating on the basis of race, as well as subsequent orders barring discrimination on the basis of gender. The administration has also frozen all new cases in the civil-rights division of the Justice Department. Trump has also ended all federal-government diversity efforts and intends to fire employees involved in them. The administrations executive order on DEI also threatens to sue companies for having diversity programs, a threat that will encourage companies to resegregate to avoid being accused of anti-white discrimination. Trump has shut down the White Houses Spanish-language website, ended refugee- and humanitarian-parole programs, and unconstitutionally attempted to nullify birthright citizenship.

[Read: Trump targets his own government]

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even before Trump took office, Republican-controlled states passed laws that curtail womens rights to free speech, privacy, and movement on the grounds that those restrictions are necessary to ban abortionsomething that, as Justice Samuel Alito took pains to reiterate during oral argument in Skrmetti, neither he nor his colleagues in the conservative movement regard as sex-based discrimination.

This agenda has, by the Republicans own account, been partly enabled by their success at demonizing transgender people in the November election. Trans people are a group few in number and marginalized enough that there is little political cost at the moment to persecuting them as Republicans have, or blaming them for their political misfortunes and abandoning them as Democrats have following their electoral loss. One transgender congressional representative was enough for Republicans to demand that all of the Capitols bathrooms be restricted by biological sex. The tiny percentage of trans children receiving care is justification to ban them from accessing treatment they seek. A defense-funding bill passed with limited Democratic support and signed by President Joe Biden will ban gender-affirming care for the children of service membersfor those with trans children, their reward for serving their country is that their children will be discriminated against. If they are stationed in states like Texas, which has no less than 15 military installations, they will have few options, if any, for care outside the military system.

[Read: The Democrats need an honest conversation on gender identity]

This is shameless bullying, but then, the president is himself a bully of the highest order, and presidents are moral exemplars, for better and worse. It is not necessary for one to approve of gender-affirming care in order to respect peoples right to make their own decisions about what medical care is best for them and their families, or to oppose this kind of outright, ideologically motivated state persecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the past century, many groups have successfully sought to have their rights recognized, winning, at least on paper, the same rights as white, Christian, heterosexual men. The right-wing project today, which Trumpist justices support, is to reestablish by state force the hierarchies of race, gender, and religion they deem moral and foundational. Whether thats forcing LGBTQ people back into the closet, compelling women to remain in loveless marriages, or confining Black and Hispanic people to the drudgery ofas Trump once put itBlack jobs and Hispanic jobs in which they are meant to toil, the purpose of this ideological project is the same: to put the broader mass of people back in their proper places. To those who see the world this way, freedom means the freedom of the majority to oppress the minority. Attacking trans people first was simply their plan for getting the American people on board with taking many other freedoms away.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
BOSTON (WWLP)  State Auditor Diana DiZoglio released an audit of settlement agreements and confidentiality clauses across state agencies and she says the system is flawed at best.

According to the auditors report, government agencies dealt with settlements haphazardly and lacked record-keeping and best-practice policies to deal with confidentiality clauses.

Left unmanaged, however, these agreements can be misused to protect individuals who are the perpetrators of wrongdoing, or in some instances actually silencing employees about harassment, said DiZoglio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DiZoglio drafted NDA Order while Healey was away

The auditor has a long track record of speaking out against some parts of settlements, like the use of non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs.

The State Senate adopted a rule against NDA use in 2019, with then-Senator DiZoglio leading the charge. The auditor says she is unable to indicate whether this rule has been followedwhile her office has not specifically requested NDA records, they have requested settlement and other records to no avail.

Well, you may have heard, were not really getting access to any of the documents that weve requested out of the legislature currently, and they are violating the law, said DiZoglio. The auditor has a meeting on the books with Senate and House leadership later this month with regard to her repeated requests for documents she needs to conduct audits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor released her own settlements policy on Monday, officially prohibiting the use of NDAs in settlements in the executive branch.

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.
Jan. 28The Ohio Auditor of State's Office has released a report detailing the investigation into and charging of a Darke County village mayor for misusing government funds.

The report revolves around David Peterson, who served as mayor of the small village of Ithaca from Jan. 1, 2012, through April 30, 2020.

Ithaca is located in southern Darke County, and at the time of the 2020 census had a population of 81 people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Soon after becoming mayor, Peterson fired the village's fiscal officer and took on those duties for himself. He continued as the fiscal officer until he was terminated on Aug. 31, 2021.

The Auditor of State said that its Special Investigations Unit began to investigate on March 30, 2022, when it was contacted by the Darke County Sheriff's Office, who said they believed Peterson was paying himself for numerous positions and had purchased several items from a power equipment dealer that were not accounted for in the village's inventory or approved for purchase by the village council.

According to the report, the auditor's office investigators found those allegations were generally true.

The report found that Peterson should not have taken on the fiscal officer position, because as the mayor he would essentially be his own boss. Since he was bringing in a salary for the incompatible positions of mayor and fiscal officer, the auditor's office said that Peterson overpaid himself a total of $17,299.99.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The audit also found issue with several reimbursements that Peterson gave to himself for a total of $2,258.69. According to the report, Peterson did not file any paperwork to support the need for the reimbursements, simply writing "village supplies" in the check memo line on most of the checks.

Outside of payroll, the auditors said that Peterson made five purchases of various equipment with Village funds for his personal use, including a sprayer, a pressure washer, a mowing deck and a large root grapple that Peterson originally claimed to be an $8,000 wing mower. Most of the items were returned to the village, the report said, though some, including the root grapple and a $1,200 72-inch blade, were never returned.

In all, the report concluded that Peterson's purchases, between unreturned items and the depreciation on items he bought and returned, led to a loss of $12,152.78 for the village.

In all, the auditor's office concluded that Peterson should be responsible for paying $38,845.46, including paying for the costs of the audit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the investigation, Peterson was indicted by a Darke County grand jury on Jan. 25, 2024 of one count of grand theft and one count of theft in office, the report said. Peterson entered into a plea agreement on Sept. 5, 2024, to plead guilty to the theft in office charge, a fourth-degree felony.

On Oct. 31, Darke County Common Pleas Judge Travis L. Fliehman ordered a stay on the charge on the conditions that Peterson complete up to five years in a substance abuse/mental health intervention program and pay restitution of $37,788.04, which he paid in full in December 2024.
The Aurora City Council approved Tuesday a developers plan to rehab the historic Galena Hotel in downtown Aurora into over 20 micro-unit apartments, which is a new concept for the city.

Developer Fernando Barrera, an East Side Aurora native and Aurora Central Catholic High School graduate, plans to convert the building at 116 W. Galena Blvd. into apartments ranging in size from 260 square feet to 550 square feet to be priced from $1,050 per month to $1,350 per month.

The former hotel has sat vacant since 2020, and Barrera first purchased the building in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Galena Hotel building was first constructed in 1862, making it one of the oldest in the city. It was previously owned by E.D. Huntoon, a one-time board member of the town of Aurora, and was known as Huntoon House, the finest hotel in Aurora, according to past reporting.

At Tuesdays City Council meeting, Aurora aldermen voted 10-1 without any discussion to approve the plan and a special zoning designation for the project, called a Conditional Use Planned Development. Ald. John Laesch, at-large, voted against the project while Ald. Ron Woerman, at-large, recused himself due to a conflict of interest.

Five units are planned for the buildings downstairs, with the lobby also being converted into an apartment. The second and third floors would each hold seven units, and the fourth floor would hold two larger units.

The interior of the building is planned to be reconfigured, but the center stairwell corridors, which a staff report about the project called the buildings most significant and intact pubic spaces, are set to be restored.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only major changes to the building would be a new addition on the back that will hold an elevator for residents, which could only be accessed from inside the building, and a new stairwell also on the back of the building, according to past reporting.

The developer has worked with both the city and the state Historic Preservation Office, along with others, to make sure that the additions have little impact on the historic building since Barrera plans to use historic preservation tax credits for the project, city staff previously said.

City staff also worked with Barrera early in the planning process to better understand micro-units, since it is a new concept for the city.

Information provided to the city showed that the micro-units are affordable for those who want to live in urban areas, provide convenient access to jobs and amenities, typically have a higher occupancy rate than other types of apartments, rent at higher prices per square footage than other units, are sustainable and will fill an untapped market within the city, in addition to preserving a historic building, staff previously said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barrera told the Aurora City Councils Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee earlier this month that the plan is to target working-class professionals to live in the units, and all the leases would be for a minimum of 12 months.

The units will not have dedicated parking spaces. Instead, those who live in the apartments will need to get permits to park long-term in city lots, staff previously said.

The Aurora City Council approved last September a $1.3 million incentive for the micro-unit project at the historic hotel, according to previous reporting. These funds are set to come from the citys tax on gaming

Barrera said at the time that he is planning to primarily finance the project, which is set to cost a total of $6.65 million, through the sale of historic tax credits, which the building is eligible to receive because its on the National Register of Historic Places and in Auroras Riveredge Redevelopment Zone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The building is also in the tax increment financing, or TIF, district that was created for the historic Hobbs Building project across Galena Boulevard. Barrera will get back 80% of the difference between the buildings current property tax and the future property tax from after the project is completed because of the TIF district, according to past reporting.

City officials previously estimated that the buildings property taxes would increase from about $4,000 a year to between roughly $20,000 and $25,000 when the project is completed.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
Jan. 28A floating city project has earned some Austin Junior High School students a trip to Washington, D.C., in February.

Their SeaSearch City project won first place this weekend at the statewide Alabama Regional Future City competition in Auburn, which scored them a trip to the national finals.

"It was really fun and it was a great experience to be there," said SeaSearch City team member Isabel Roman, 13.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I learned how to interact with people," said Jasmine Ramirez-Fonseca, 13.

"I learned how to work better with my team," said Sterling McCoy, 13.

"I think I learned mostly how to handle and deal with stress and perform under all that stress," said Sarah Provenzano, 14.

All four students are eighth graders at Austin Junior High.

The task before them was to design a floating city.

"This is a wave of the future," said teacher Mary Sue Fleischauer, gifted specialist at Austin Middle and Austin Junior High. "They are looking more and more at expanding cities out into the water to deal with overcrowding and to help with environmental concerns."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Future City class is an elective offered to gifted students in seventh and eighth grades. About 60 students are in the Austin Middle and Austin Junior Future City classes.

The winning SeaSearch City team was selected to go to the state competition through a preliminary competition  called a showcase  which was held in Decatur in December. Based on that competition, the top two teams from each school were selected to participate in the Alabama Regional Future City competition in Auburn.

There were more than 250 people at the event Saturday, including 22 teams from all over the state.

They spent Saturday presenting their cities to various judges and then the judges chose the top five teams. Those five teams presented their cities in front of the entire crowd.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then the judges, professional engineers who volunteered, made their decision.

There were five components to the competition:

Writing an essay.

Building a tabletop model.

Creating a project plan, which is to show how they kept themselves on track and how they reflect back on their experience.

Performing a seven-minute presentation to the judges by three of the team members.

Undergoing a question-and-answer session about the project with the judges asking the questions.

"Not everyone goes home with an award, let me put it that way," Fleischauer said. "You have to be good. I've never had a first-place team before, so this is a new experience for me. I'm so proud you can't even imagine."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The SeaSearch City team built a city "with futuristic and innovative examples of how to keep citizens safe and healthy," Provenzano said. "This was the challenge for everyone and seeing how other teams did it was really cool."

Provenzano, McCoy and Roman were the three who did the presentation and participated in the question-and-answer session. They had to do a seven-minute skit telling the judges about their city, Provenzano said.

"I was in charge of the essay," Provenzano said. "Sterling (McCoy) was in charge of the model. Jasmine (Ramirez-Fonseca) was in charge of the project plan. Isabel (Roman) was in charge of the model and the presentation."

The teacher is there to guide the students, but "they have to sign an honor statement saying it's all their own work," Fleischauer explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Roman was surprised they won.

"I didn't think it was good enough for first because everyone there was so talented," she said.

Provenzano thought their essay was really good, but she also saw private schools and science schools there from big cities and it made her wonder about their chances.

"After they realized they were announced as one of the top five teams, they thought they had a chance," Fleischauer said. "They announced the third, then the second place and they were all looking at each other thinking, 'Well, maybe?'"

"They made it dramatic," Provenzano said. "We didn't know whether we got first place or fourth or fifth place. They announced places first and second first and then we won. We all jumped up and were shocked. It didn't really sink in until we were going home."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The D.C. trip and competition will be Feb. 14  19.

The last three years they have gotten a grant from the State Department of Education to pay for the trip to the Auburn competition because students can't really afford to go without financial assistance, Fleischauer said. Future City will pay for their travel to D.C.

 jean.cole@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2361
AUSTIN (KXAN)  An Austin man could face up to 10 years in federal prison after he was charged with attempting to smuggle dozens of firearms into Mexico through Eagle Pass, according to a release from the US Department of Justice.

The DOJ said 39-year-old Victor Hugo Diego-Avellaneda, of Austin, attempted to enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass border port of entry with dozens of firearms.

READ MORE: Driver in Texas migrant smuggling run that led to the deaths of 53 people pleads guilty

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the DOJ, Diego-Avellaneda falsely declared he was not in possession of any weapons, ammunition, and currency when asked by border officials at the port of entry between Mexico and the US.

Diego-Avellaneda was taken to a secondary inspection, where Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered 40 rifles, six shotguns, one pistol, 80 magazines, and two rifle scopes in his possession, according to the release.

Diego-Avellaneda allegedly claimed that he was being paid approximately $100 for each firearm he smuggled into Mexico and that 11 of the firearms belonged to him, the release stated.

Diego-Avellaneda has been charged with one count of smuggling and could face up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The release said the case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Garland and Katherine Gorski.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Austintown officials warned in November that the failure of their police levy would have consequences. Officials are taking a hard look at the bottom line and what it means for the townships police department



Were looking to have about $870,000 at the end of 2025 in the general fund unless departments perform better than expected, said Austintown Township Administrator Mark DApolito,



The township is starting at a budget shortfall. American Rescue Plan money and other assistance has expired, and a police levy that would have generated $2.2 million per year failed in November. Its something they could revisit in the future.



Everything we are doing now is to try to get us to a future year to try and get the police levy another time on the ballot. To try and show the voters that hey, you told us to try and deal with less and we are going to try to do our best to do that, but ultimately if were going to maintain or go back to the way things have been, were going to need additional levies, DApolito said.

Currently, the township is looking at cutting overtime was well as hiking rates for its dispatch center to generate more cash flow. Equipment and cruisers are also in limbo as the township looks for ways to pinch pennies.



Thats why were taking the precautionary measures now, which might be a slight inconvenience to some. But in the big scheme of things, is to protect all of you in the end to avoid the serious cuts, said Austintown Township Trustee Bruce Shepas.

Further complicating matters, the township receives a federal grant that provides about $700,000 to the department. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration tried to freeze federal funding, creating confusion for township officials on whether or not that money would be available. However, a judge has thawed the freeze on grants and loans at least until Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants  a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country  was necessary to ensure that spending was reviewed and complies with Trumps recent blitz of executive orders.

But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

We have not received word for sure that its going to impact this grant, DApolitio said.

Police officers are wary of falling below staffing minimums of five officers per shift, a stipulation mandated in the current collective bargaining agreement between the township and the police union. Right now, laying off officers is not on the table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without a doubt, if revenues dont increase going into future years, theres a very distinct possibility of some staff changes, DApolito said.

Township officials say this is all to prevent layoffs. Theyre not sure at what point theyd explore another police levy. There is a renewal levy that comes up every five years that is expected to be on the ballot in May.

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 WKBN.com.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would enlist indigenous Aboriginal rangers to patrol its vast and remote northern coastline amid an influx of illegal fishing boats that have also been used by people smugglers.

The Australian Border Force said it had boosted aerial surveillance and intercepted 20 foreign fishing vessels since launching an operation in the Northern Territory in December, after several incidents in 2024 where asylum seekers were discovered coming ashore in remote Arnhem Land.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the number of boat arrivals is small, compared to 15,000 asylum seekers travelling to Australia by boat annually before the country set up an offshore processing scheme, the issue has become heated in the lead-up to a national election due by May.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the federal government would equip Indigenous rangers to patrol the 10,000-km (6,214-mile) northern coastline.

"No-one knows that sea country better than those rangers," he told reporters in Darwin.

Australia does not allow asylum seekers who arrive by boat to settle in the country, instead flying them to the Pacific Island nation of Nauru for assessment of refugee claims, in a process criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 30 asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia's north by boat since July, including 13 in November, have been transferred to Nauru, according to Border Force statements. A boat carrying 74 people was turned back in July.

"Anybody who claims that our borders are somehow open is lying," Burke said.

Burke travelled to Australia's western neighbour Timor Leste on Monday to discuss people smuggling and irregular migration, before arriving in the city of Darwin on Wednesday to meet with the Indigenous Northern Land Council.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority said earlier in January that 110 Indonesian fishers had been prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 2024.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul)
By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday urged Australians to be cautious when using Chinese AI model DeepSeek, the latest government to warn over its use.

"We would urge Australians to be cautious about this new technology," Chalmers told a news conference on Monday.

"Obviously we are constantly receiving advice on it."

DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese artificial intelligence model that could threaten the dominance of U.S. rivals, roiled global markets when it was released this week, with AI chip leader Nvidia falling 17% on Monday before rebounding.

U.S. officials said on Tuesday they were investigating the national security implications of DeepSeek.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Three more incidents of antisemitic graffiti were found across Sydney on Thursday morning, leading Australian political leaders to warn of an escalation in hatred and decry as terrorism explosives found earlier in a trailer on the citys outskirts.

Law enforcement earlier this month found a list of Jewish targets together with a cache of Powergel  an explosive used in the mining industry  in Sydney's outer suburb of Dural, state police said Wednesday. The amount uncovered could create a bomb with a blast zone of around 40 meters (130 feet), officers said.

This represents, undeniably, an escalation in race hatred, race-filled hatred and potential violence in New South Wales, the states Premier Chris Minns told reporters on Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News of the discovery  which police chiefs said was leaked to a newspaper, compromising a clandestine investigation  followed months of antisemitic arson, window-smashing and graffiti in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's most populous cities, concentrated in the areas where many Jewish people live. Thursday's target included a Jewish school.

It is utterly appalling and shameful, Minns said. A police investigation into months of such crimes has prompted 10 arrests and Minns expected more.

Renewed claims about coordination by foreign interests

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023, targeted arson  including at a child care center  and graffiti attacks have soared in Sydney and Melbourne, home to 85% of the countrys Jewish population. One person has been physically hurt  a worshipper who suffered burns in a fire that was set at a Melbourne synagogue in December.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A joint counterterrorism team involving federal and state law enforcement is investigating  and this month its leaders said they were investigating whether criminals for hire were being paid by foreign actors to carry out the attacks. Australia Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw did not name what foreign interests the taskforce believed were responsible.

Those suggestions were renewed on Thursday when New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson said police believed some of the attacks were being orchestrated by others, rather than those arrested.

We haven't identified any of the individuals of the 10 charged with any specific ideology that would cause them to to commit the acts that they've committed, Hudson said. He added that officers had found links between certain occupations, but did not supply more details.

Trailer owner was already arrested in antisemitism sting

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The owner of the trailer was one the 10 people arrested and was already in custody when the explosives were found on Jan. 19, Hudson said. Police were speaking to the makers of the explosives, which are exclusively used in mining, he added.

The contents of the trailer were "clearly designed to harm people, but it's also designed to create fear in the community, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He affirmed Minns' characterization of the episode as a potential act of terrorism  although he also noted that state police have not formally classified it that way.

Police chiefs said a terrorism designation would not change what charges could be applied to those responsible. They did not believe there was more risk from explosives, they said.

Israel and local Jewish leaders call for more action

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the potential trailer attack intolerable in a post on the social platform X.

The epidemic of antisemitism is spreading in Australia almost unchecked, he wrote. We expect the Australian government to do more to stop this disease!

Peter Wertheim from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said many in his community were anxious.

We are angry because we are seeing that the Australia that we have been fortunate enough to live in ourselves, a land of freedom, fair-mindedness, civilized norms of behavior and the rule of law, is starting to slip away from us, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Party politics divided over antisemitism

Julian Leeser, the federal Liberal MP who represents Dural  and is Jewish  told the ABC that Sydney since the start of the year had almost every night experienced increasing antisemitic attacks and terrorist attacks against one group of law abiding Australians.

Ahead of a national election in the first half of this year, antisemitism has become a fraught political matter, with center-left Labor, the ruling party, frequently lambasted by the right-leaning opposition, as well as some Jewish leaders and news outlets, for insufficient action.

However, a spokesperson for another Jewish group  Sarah Schwartz of the Jewish Council of Australia, writing in the Guardian on Wednesday  accused the government's critics of politicizing the hateful crimes and employing confected and self-serving concern for Jews.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leeser entirely rejected that charge. This is not a government that has done everything that it can, he told the ABC. He urged a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on college campuses, stiffer penalties and more agency collaboration.

-

Graham-McLay reported from Wellington, New Zealand.
Australia has foiled a mass casualty attack that would have targeted the countrys Jewish community, police said on Wednesday.

A caravan laden with explosives was discovered in a Sydney suburb, which officials said would have been capable of creating a 40-metre blast zone

David Hudson, the deputy commissioner of New South Wales police, told a news conference that the caravan had been found in Dural, about 22 miles north-west of the centre of Sydney, on Jan 19.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That caravan contained an amount of explosives and some indication that those explosives might be used in some form of anti-Semitic attack, he said, adding that a list of potential targets from within the Jewish community had been found in the caravan.

Potential mass casualty event

Australia has suffered a spate of anti-Semitic incidents since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, vowed to respond with the full resources of government, acknowledging that the planned attack will strike terror into the Jewish community.

This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event. Theres only one way of calling it out, and that is terrorism. Thats what were very worried about, he told the news conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the potential for an escalation of violence against the Jewish community, Mr Minns added: Its with great regret that I cant make that guarantee.

There are bad actors in our community, badly motivated, bad ideologies, bad morals, bad ethics, bad people.

Theyre intent on doing damage and harm to others in our community  people theyve never met before  purely on the basis of their religion. Its hateful. Its an ideology that we need to stamp out.

Blast zone

Mr Hudson said the threat had been fully contained and arrests had been made on the periphery of this job, but police were looking for assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said police had been contacted and subsequently recovered explosive power gel, possibly obtained from a mining site, from the caravan at a residential property on Derriwong Road in Dural on Jan 19.

Im not an expert. I believe that the blast zone could have been 40 metres in diameter, which is a significant amount of damage, he said, adding that the discovery was an escalation in the spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney over recent months.

Mr Hudson said the Jewish community had been made aware of the list and reiterated that police officers were constantly in communication with the Jewish community and have been since last October when these incidents escalated, and certainly since Oct 7 when we saw what happened at the Opera House.

Pro-Palestine protesters gathered at the Sydney Opera House in the wake of the Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis, chanting anti-Semitic sentiments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The protests were described by Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, as horrific and received worldwide condemnation.

Amount of explosives is very real

A joint-terrorism team has been mobilised in response to the planned attack, comprising the NSW police, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

I can say the amount of explosives is very real, and we need to take every threat at its absolute highest in this current environment, Mr Hudson said, adding that a terrorist incident would usually be declared to ascertain additional powers, but the police believe they have sufficient powers under the legislation at this stage.

Last week, the Australian Federal Police announced it was investigating whether overseas actors were paying criminals to carry out anti-Semitic crimes such as the recent firebombing of a childcare centre in Maroubra, Sydney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal police taskforce set up in December to investigate such incidents has already received more than 165 reports of anti-Semitic crimes.

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.
Australian authorities said on Wednesday that police had foiled a potentially major anti-Semitic terrorist attack.

A caravan loaded with explosives was discovered in north-western Sydney on January 19, said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

Inside the vehicle was an address of a synagogue, he said.

The explosives were capable of creating a blast radius of 40 metres, he said, describing it as a "very serious threat" to the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Australian media reported that an elite anti-terrorism unit has been working for days to uncover more about the alleged attack plot.

But Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson said that no arrests in direct connection with the explosives-laden caravan have been made so far.

There have been an increasing number of anti-Semitic incidents - including vandalism and arson - in Sydney and other Australian cities in recent months.

"Every act of anti-Semitism is an affront to who we are as Australians," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently wrote on X.
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A court in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday, found 14 members of a religious group guilty of the 2022 killing of an 8-year-old diabetic girl after withholding insulin from her for almost a week.

Elizabeth Struhs' father, Jason Struhs, 53, and Brendan Stevens, 63, the leader of the Saints, which eschews modern medicine in favor of the "healing power of God," were convicted of her manslaughter, along with her mother and brother and eight other members of the group.

Jason Struhs and Stevens were acquitted of murder charges because the prosecution had failed to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt -- in Jason's case because he was under the "cloistering" influence of the group's beliefs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stevens was found not guilty for similar reasons despite the court finding he had persuaded, encouraged and supported Jason to halt Elizabeth's insulin shots.

Mother, Kerrie Struhs, 49, brother, Zachary Struhs, and the 10 others were convicted on grounds they counseled or encouraged Jason Struhs to withdraw insulin therapy.

However, Justice Burns singled out Kerrie Struhs in his written judgment saying the "complete abdication" of her legal responsibilities of care for her daughter "constituted such an egregious departure from the standard of care as to amount to a crime against the state that is deserving of punishment."

While there was no evidence of malice, with Justice Burns saying as he handed down his verdict in Queensland's Supreme Court that it was clear Elizabeth was loved by her parents and all the accused, their actions still led to her death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It cannot be doubted that Elizabeth was lovingly cared for in almost every way. However, due to a singular belief in the healing power of God, she was deprived of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive," Justice Martin said.

The testimony of dozens of witnesses called by the prosecution during the six-month non-jury trial depicted a distressing account of the suffering endured by Elizabeth in the days before her death from diabetic ketoacidosis -- a condition in which blood sugar is elevated to deadly levels.

"She was described as speaking little, needing help going to the toilet, and being incontinent," said prosecutor Caroline Marco.

She would also have suffered vomiting, extreme lethargy and loss of consciousness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As she lay dying at her home in Toowoomba west of Brisbane, the Saints prayed and sang to God to heal her, instead of calling for medical assistance.

Authorities were not notified of Elizabeth's death for 36 hours as the group fully expected she would be brought back to life, in a similar way to Jesus' resurrection.

They continued to insist she would rise up from the dead in police interviews after being arrested in January 2022.

The court heard Elizabeth was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes requiring daily insulin jabs in 2019 following an incident for which Jason Struhs and wife, Kerrie Struhs were charged after Elizabeth was rushed to the hospital in a diabetic coma weighing just 33 pounds and too weak to walk.

The accused are scheduled to be sentenced in February.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on 29 January, that the Australian government had received a message from Russia claiming that Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, who fought for Ukraine and was previously reported dead after being taken prisoner by Russia, may still be alive.

Source: Albanese in a comment to ABC

Details: Albanese noted that Australia is currently seeking further confirmation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that is the statement that has been made by Russian authorities to our department. We have received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but we are seeking confirmation."

Background:

On 15 January, CNN, citing a statement by Albanese, reported that the Russians may have killed Jenkins. Australia promised to take "the strongest action possible" if this information is confirmed.

CNN noted that the Russians captured Jenkins in December 2024. Later, a video of him being interrogated was released online, but CNN was unable to establish the location. The footage shows that Jenkins' hands are tightly tied, and he seems to have difficulty understanding the questions asked in Russian.

The Australian television channel ABC and CNN affiliate Seven News reported that Jenkins had presumably been killed in captivity. The channels cited sources in Ukraine but did not disclose their names.

On 17 January, Slidstvo.info, a team of independent professional journalists, found out that a video with the alleged body of Jenkins was published four years ago on an Iranian website, and its description refers to the events in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Support UP or become our patron!
TiTashuna Thomas, the mother of a 1-year-old found unresponsive on Jan. 23, turned herself in on Wednesday, according to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Deputies responded to a residence in Satsuma after a call about an unresponsive child on Jan. 23. The one-year-olds pulse was able to be regained after resuscitative efforts by a deputy.

The kids father, Bruce Harris, told deputies the child had consumed an unknown substance. Harris said it could have been one of his prescribed Oxycodone pills.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The child was taken to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital and is expected to recover.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Deputies obtained a search warrant for suspected child neglect and found a plethora of drugs and weapons inside the home. Those drugs include cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and the previously mentioned oxycodone pills. Most, if not all, the items were allegedly within reach or accessible for the child.

Thomas and Harris left the hospital to find deputies searching their home. Instead of staying, the pair drove toward Gainsville where the child was being transferred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, officers received a warrant for the arrest of both Thomas and Harris. Both are charged with one count of child neglect with great bodily harm.

Harris, who is still on the run, is charged with other 5 other counts including the procession of a firearm by a convicted felon and drug trafficking.

[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.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD)  A man has been charged with child abuse after a 5-year-old he was supposed to be babysitting came to the door holding a loaded handgun, according to court documents.

Blayke Yorks, 21, has been booked into the Calhoun County Jail on two counts of third-degree child abuse and one count of fourth-degree child abuse, court documents show.

On Saturday morning, a 5-year-old answered the door of a home on Inn Road off of E Columbia Avenue in Battle Creek with a kitchen knife in his hand. On the other side of the door was a Battle Creek Police Department cadet who was serving a subpoena. The cadet asked the child to have an adult come to the door but instead, the child returned with an armed and loaded handgun. The cadet took the weapon away from the child, according to BCPD.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cadet disarms 5-year-old with gun while serving subpoena in Battle Creek

Two other children were also found inside the home. One of them, an infant who was covered in rashes, was rushed to the hospital, according to court documents. The others were taken to the police department to wait for Child Protective Services.

Officers also a woman in the home, who was taken into the police station to be interviewed. Thats where Yorks, who was supposed to be babysitting the kids, admitted that the gun was his. He and the woman were booked into the Calhoun County Jail but she was later released, jail records show.

Police say the house was extremely dirty inside, the floor littered with human feces, moldy old food, choking hazards, knives, scissors, sharp objects and a stovetop that was plugged in. There was a padlock on the fridge, which had little to no food inside and dirty dishes were piled up in the kitchen, officers described in the court document.

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.
Five years after a novel virus rocked the world, killed millions, and continues to sicken people; amid ongoing outbreaks of bird flu and mpox and tuberculosis, public health and scientific research are being gutted in Americaand its happening more quickly than even experts thought possible.

In its first days, the Trump administration ordered a communications blackout for all U.S. health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. For some departments and agencies, the order amounted to a shutdown. Trump officials have attempted to halt all meetings, travel, and external communication, and the agencies are exercising extreme scrutiny over all publications, including the revered Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, or MMWR, which alerts the world to new and ongoing outbreaks and other major health issues. The NIH shut down new research projectsa multibillion-dollar industry with deep economic implications across the nationunless they are mission critical. Employees at the CDC and NIH were told on Friday they cant even buy basic supplies to continue their work. The CDC was ordered on Sunday night to immediately stop working with the World Health Organization, in an apparent breach of the one-year notice required to leave the organization. Trump also signed orders to halt global health funding immediately, reinstate a gag order on abortion among global partners, and attempt to define gender in a way that excludes trans and intersex people. On Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management offered federal workers a buyout: salary paid until September 30 for anyone who resigns before February 6a tempting offer for those who already fear for their jobs but one that could leave some agencies barely functional. (Thats if the buyouts even hold up, since its not clear the administration is allowed to make such an offer.)

This is less than a week into it all, Saskia Popescu, assistant professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told me over the weekend. As millions wait to see whether the communications and funding restrictions are lifted, the halts are already having significant implications for those who work in public health and research. I have friends already being let go, Popescu said. At the health agencies, staffers are holding their breath to see if their jobs or contracts are cut. Im deeply concerned were going to entirely scrap so much of the funding for this work that theres virtually nothing left, she said. When Popescu decided to enter the field of public health, she knew the difficult, often underpaid work was vulnerable to political interference. But she never expected an attack of this scaleand speed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The people Trump has nominated to lead these agencies havent even been confirmed by the Senate yet, which means the greatest changes may be yet to come. I did not expect the current changes. I thought the issue will be if and after Kennedy is confirmed, Dorit Reiss, professor at UC Hastings College of Law, told mereferring to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps strongly anti-vaccine pick for head of Health and Human Services.

The sheer speed and breadth of the changes already witnessed has astonished many in the field. Its a seismic disruption to life in the United States, with immense immediate and long-term risks. And there could be more on the way.





When the health agencies went dark, those who work within were just as confused as those on the outside. The halt on communications was especially bewildering. Thats what we do, we communicate with the public about health matters, said one HHS contractor who asked for anonymity given the communications restrictions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The MMWR, for example, offered the first warning of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s, revealing an unusual cluster of infections in gay men back in 1981. The weekly chronicle is one of the most respected research publications in the world. When the Trump White House, during the first administration, sought to control the publication, the scientific community objected loudly: If the MMWR is compromised, how can the public trust anything agencies say? Yet now, the MMWRs message hasnt been altered so much as silenced entirely, and for an indeterminate amount of time. Last week, a planned issue including an update on the bird flu outbreak was spiked, and its not clear when publication will resume.

The ban has also thrown meetings between federal officials and regional, state, and local health departments into question, the contractor said. Can I do any support work when a health department has a question? Its unknown. Its also not clear how HHS would communicate the emergence or intensification of an outbreak, since publications like the MMWR are a major avenue for doing so, they said. But like I said, the directive was so poorly communicated, no one knows what were allowed to say or do.

Even internal communications are truncated, because the potential for having those conversations revealed through the Freedom of Information Act looms over every interaction. The atmosphere is grim and terrified. Most of us get into this work because we want to help people, the contractor said, and this is more than just a job. So this is hard for a lot of us.





These striking moves in the administrations opening days have left people questioning attempts during the transition period to downplay nominees radicalism and quell panic about possible public health disruptions. Brown University School of Public Health dean Ashish Jha raised eyebrows two days before the inauguration when he argued, with numerous inaccuracies, that while leaving the WHO entirely would be the wrong choice, Trump allies were right to want to pressure the organization into reforms. When Trump nominated RFK Jr. to oversee HHS in November, multiple news stories insisted that he would not be able to ban or take away vaccines, highlighted Kennedys recent de-escalation in rhetoric, or reported reassurances from Trump himself that vaccines wouldnt be touched. (Further reporting revealed that he could, in fact, strip protections from vaccine-makers, effectively undermining the market.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The main question now is how far Kennedy will go, Politico reported on Friday: Will he limit or ban vaccines, or will he only undermine confidence and undertake lengthy, expensive studies on disproven theories? One source told Politico that Kennedys anti-vax base is angling for him to totally take away vaccines. Theyre also clamoring to replace or entirely disband vaccine advisory committees, change or remove routine childhood vaccination recommendations, and gut legal protections for vaccine-makers.

I can say that Kennedy has been aggressively anti-vaccine for 20 years, that that is where he put his efforts, that is where his heart seems to be, and that is unlikely to changehe is an anti-vaccine zealot and will do what harm he can to the vaccination program, said Reiss. I certainly expect him to aggressively target vaccines, which is why I hope he wont be confirmed. Kennedys confirmation hearing starts on Wednesday.

While Kennedy is still reportedly considering his options on vaccines, his approach to infectious disease seems unchanged. Were going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years, Kennedy has said, talking about research done at NIH. He already seems to be proving true to his word: Last week, he skipped the meeting where Trump transition officials and Cabinet nominees planned how to respond to crisesincluding new pandemics.

On Tuesday, the portals for Medicaid in all 50 states went down as officials implemented a new ban on federal grants and loans. The program covers 70 million Americansbut if any of them were concerned about what was going on, they wouldnt find any answers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is still under the communications blackout. Its news releases havent been updated since January 17.
One of the interior rooms at the Cy Twombly Gallery as part of the Menil Collection in Montrose. Paul Hester/Courtesy of the Menil Collection Cy Twombly's "Volubilus" (1953) painting. Adam Neese and Paul Hester/Courtesy of the Menil Collection Cy Twombly's "Untitled" (1954) painting. Adam Neese and Paul Hester/Courtesy of the Menil Collection Cy Twombly's "Untitled" (1969). Courtesy of the Menil Collection "Scent of Madness" (1986) by Cy Twombly. Courtesy of the Menil Collection "Study for the Treatise on the Veil" (1970) by Cy Twombly. Courtesy of the Menil Collection "Untitled" (1970) by Cy Twombly. Courtesy of the Menil Collection "Toilet of Venere" (1988) by Cy Twombly. Courtesy of the Menil Collection

February marks the 30th anniversary of the Cy Twombly Gallery, a part of the Menil Collection, in Montrose. A monumental gift from the Cy Twombly Foundation in Italy helped the museum celebrate a little earlier than anticipated.

Two rare, early paintings, Volubilus (1953) and Untitled (1954) that have been on long-term loan to the museum, and 121 drawings by Cy Twombly now belong to the Menil.

With the gift of those works, this building is complete, Menil Collection Director Rebecca Rabinow told the Chronicle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Twombly worked with Italian architect Renzo Piano and then-Menil Director Paul Winkler to open the nine-room Cy Twombly Gallery, the only permanent retrospective of the artists work, in 1995. Based on Twomblys sketches, the trio landed on a simple architectural design to complement the art, surrounding bungalows and neighborhood green space.

Concrete blocks were made in San Antonio, and sandstone was sourced from Central Texas.

The exterior of the Cy Twombly Gallery building as part of the Menil Collection in Montrose. Peter Molick/for the Menil Collection

When the Menil Collection opened in 1987, Winkler was a curator, Rabinow explained. He proposed an exhibition of Cys work as one of the inaugural shows. But the timing wasnt right.

By the following year, Twombly made contact. He wanted to participate and asked if the museum was still interested.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

CITY OF THE ARTS: 40ish Houston artists under age 40ish: The next generation of creatives shaping the city's future

The show that opened in the fall of 1989 was critically received. Word of its success returned to Twombly in Italy, where he resided most of the time.

Further conversation with Winkler led to the creation of the Cy Twombly building, Rabinow said. Cy chose the art that would be installed and gave it to the museum, with two exceptions.

Volubilus and Untitled complete the initial collection. They are representative of a formative period of the artists career in the 1950s that later inspired some of his most epic paintings, near the end of his life, on the themes of loss and the passage of time.

The 121 drawings gifted to the gallery span from 1954 to 2005 provide new opportunities for display, teaching and research. The treasure trove includes chalkboard drawings and floral letter colors that have yet to see the light of day.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The paintings are already on view. The drawings will be added slowly beginning next fall across the Menil Drawing Institute, Cy Twombly Gallery and the museums main building.
A nearly $20 million gap exists between the states proposed budget and Baltimore County Public Schools, according to the latest presentation by the school systems superintendent.

In a Tuesday work session on the budget, Superintendent Myriam Rogers gave additional insight into the school districts financial outlook for fiscal year 2026. She recently proposed an operating budget 6.5% above the previous year. The budget prioritizes honoring compensation agreements without staffing cuts and with maintaining staffing allocation ratios.

But with the funding for capital projects included, the budget is 21.7% over last years, though Rogers noted at a Tuesday news conference that large increases for school construction appear in the budget in even-numbered years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats because of ballot referendums regarding capital funding, and the school system is including five years worth of asks in its capital request, she said, noting that the school system has a very deliberate process for the capital budget throughout the year. Some of those construction projects include a longawaited replacement for Dulaney High School and renovations to Towson High School.

The operating budget is the majority of the day-to-day spending, such as teacher employment and class sizes, she said when questioned about the size of the capital budget.

With the massive state budget deficit bearing down on Gov. Wes Moore, his proposed budget for the state shifts $144 million to the counties. He also introduced cuts to community schools and funding for the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan.

Across the general fund, state aid, other state revenue sources and additional required state retirement contribution expenses, the variance between BCPS and the states proposed budgets is $19.92 million, per Rogers presentation to the school board. Those unanticipated figures were shared with county school officials last week, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of that variance will have to be shouldered by the county. Rogers said she has been speaking weekly with new Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier about the budget.

We had hoped that this years budget landscape would look better than last year, when the school system made over $100 million in reductions, Rogers said Tuesday. But over the past summer and in the past few months, with federal funding in place from the coronavirus pandemic expiring and the states own budget outlook appearing grim, it became clear that this would be another challenging budget cycle, she said.

This years budget includes $26.3 million in reductions, she noted.

Rogers will testify in the education subcommittee in Annapolis on Wednesday, she said.

Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com, on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62.
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Prosperity Bank has donated $500 to the Smith County Fire Marshals Office so they can buy a new Firepup costume.

The Firepup costume. Photo courtesy of Smith County.

Longview FD searching for cause of fire at abandoned structure on Aurel Boulevard

Fire departments across the country purchase Firepup costumes, formerly known as Sparky the Fire Dog, which are used to inform children about fire safety.

Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue thanked Prosperity Bank for contributing to the $3,395 cost of the costume. Hogue said he hopes the costume can be used during an April event theyre planning with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Chad Hogue and Tiffany Hawkins. Photo courtesy of Smith County.

The new costume will also be used during Fire Prevention Month in October, when theyll go to local elementary schools to educate students about fire prevention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone interested in donating toward the cost of the costume can contact the Smith County Fire Marshals Office at 903-590-2655.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Union workers in Baton Rouge are threatening a potential strike to CATS unless contracts can be negotiated, potentially affecting transportation for dozens.

Falesha Augustus has been a bus driver for CATS for over 10 years. She attended Tuesdays board meeting in support of being a part of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

The pay, our safety, this is our livelihood, she said. Some of us, this is all that we have.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Union President George Decuir said members are not being paid enough and theyre worried about safety, too. He mentioned the recent accident where an inmate was dropped off at a bus station, near the CATS terminal.

We want our fair due justice and stated weve had members of management promoting workplace violence with anti-union propaganda, and they have not been held accountable for that and a time to take a stand is now, said Decuir.

During the meeting, board members made a statement to union workers on how they want this process to be fair and equal to everyone involved, and said theyve been in contact with organizations helping the union to resolve the issue. Some union workers interrupted, saying most of what they claimed was untrue. Over 100 bus drivers are a part of the union and plan to join the strike as well.

Costco workers authorize nationwide strike

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have our international office that has gotten involved. Theyre going to be sending some resources down to help us get established should we lead to a potential strike, said Decuir.

Augustus said shes worried about the outcome of the negotiation process and will strike for better treatment if need be.

Union members said their last option will be the strike, and the start date is still being discussed.

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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The Better Business Bureau is warning West Michigan residents about a phone scam in which fraudsters pose as loan officers to steal personal information.

Scammers call from an unfamiliar number and leave a voicemail claiming they need more details to complete a loan application. However, the BBB says this is a phishing attempt designed to scare people into calling back and revealing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers or banking details.

Since December, the BBB has received more than a dozen reports of the scam in West Michigan, with hundreds more flagged nationwide. The scheme is not linked to a specific data breach but relies on phone numbers obtained from public records or past leaks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is just kind of a random cold call on the list, said Katie Grevious with the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan. That just means at some point, they got your phone number from somewhere  whether it was a data breach or just the Whitepages online. Our phone numbers are not really protected information unless you purposely go out and try to protect it.

Scammers use stolen information to impersonate victims, apply for loans or credit cards, and even access bank accounts. Grevious urges people not to return the calls.

They want to get those bank account numbers. They want to get those Social Security numbers or the login information to get into those accounts so that they can do something, like steal your identity, Grevious said. Once your identity is stolen, you dont get it back  you can only protect what you have left. And its a lot of work.

The BBB recommends several steps to protect against identity theft:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Do not return suspicious calls  Scammers will leave a voicemail with their contact information, hoping youll call back.

Monitor your accounts  Watch for unexplained charges or withdrawals.

Check your credit report  Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to review your credit history for free.

Secure personal information  Shred documents before discarding them and enable two-factor authentication on financial accounts.

If you believe your identity has been stolen, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) immediately. To report a scam, check the BBBs Scam Tracker.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trump Administration's pick to run America's incredibly consequential Health and Human Services Department, Robert F. Jennedy Jr., declared during his contentious first confirmation hearing today that he was "raised at a time when there was no chronic disease epidemic."

It's a claim as sweeping as it is idiotic. Kennedy is 71 years old, born in the year 1954, when the world was awash  as it's always been  in chronic diseases ranging from diabetes to arthritis to asthma, and far beyond (his uncle, former US president John F. Kennedy, suffered from a range of chronic conditions including Addison's disease.)

The powerful Kennedy scion repeated versions of this claim throughout his failed presidential campaign; indeed, it's central to the "Make America Healthy Again" movement that Kennedy, a notorious conspiracy theorist whose various crusades against vaccines and modern healthcare systems has made him tens of millions of dollars, has become the leading figure of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Today, Americans' overall health is in a grievous condition," Kennedy added during today's hearing, adding later that "it's the human tragedy that moves us to care."

To be clear, chronic disease is a major problem, and one that tons of American adults and children are suffering from. This a reality that actual medical and policy experts in the US are keenly aware of  and one that's wildly complex. Processed foods, a key target of Kennedy's ire, are indeed bad for human health, and millions of Americans live in nutrition-poor food deserts; our deeply broken, impossible-to-navigate healthcare system regularly bankrupts people; toxic forever chemicals are in human lungs and newborn babies; industrialized farming is associated with elevated cancer risk for farm workers and consumers, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In sum: pretty bad, especially considering that the US is the richest nation in the history of the world.

"The United States is the only industrialized country where we've been having rising mortality among working-age adults, and it really starts at age 15," James Perrin, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and former director of pediatrics at Mass General Hospital for Children, told The New York Times late last year. "That's really scary, and it partly reflects that fact that we're producing lots of relatively unhealthy young Americans."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That said, however, Kennedy frequently overstates and exaggerates figures around chronic disease in young people in particular. And again, for a 71-year-old man to declare that day-to-day American health was overall better when he was a kid is absurd.

Before Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law in 1965, Americans, especially those in low-income families and areas, had extremely limited access to health care at all; as such, information about whatever chronic diseases they might have had just wouldn't have even been available. The first half of the 20th century also saw a heavy focus on containing and eradicating infectious diseases, like polio and measles, as opposed to chronic illness. And though public awareness about chronic disease gained ground in the latter half of the century  largely due to breakthroughs in the fight against infectious illness  we also developed significant advancements in diagnostic technology, tools, and guidelines, which have in turn allowed scientists to better track and diagnose chronic conditions (which impacts the kind of data we've been able to collect about them.)

And by the way, if we're discussing the health landscape of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, we're talking about a moment in history before reckonings with various notorious toxins like lead and asbestos  the former wasn't banned until 1978, and the latter in 1989  and when we were still subjecting American servicemembers to the horrors of chemical agents like Agent Orange and napalm.

From smartphones to the staggering ubiquity of microplastics to a wealth inequality that limits access to quality healthcare and nutritious food, there's plenty that ails us in the modern world. But it's easy for Kennedy to say there wasn't an "epidemic" in chronic conditions during his youth, when both information and awareness were limited  not to mention when his family's immense wealth could buy any health care they needed. Coming from an unqualified, pseudoscience-hawking, brain-wormed conspiracy theorist who consistently spouts corrosive nonsense about the very advancements that allowed the medical industry to focus on chronic conditions, it's especially rich.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Anyone could stand up and say, 'We have a lot of chronic diseases. We need to look at it,'" the endocrinologist Jeffrey Flier, a former dean of Harvard Medical School who researches chronic illnesses like obesity and diabetes, told NPR this week. "The idea that he represents some new insight into the importance of that area and how we should be thinking about it is ludicrous."

More on RFK Jr.: RFK Jr. Says Hell Send People Taking Adderall to Labor Camps
A group of 70 to 80 behavioral health operators sued the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and other state officials on Tuesday claiming "racial discrimination, negligence, and breaches of contract" in connection with the Medicaid fraud scandal that has cost the state $2.5 billion and resulted in the deaths of patients who never received the treatment they were promised.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said the state agencies named in the lawsuit have "devastated Native American communities" and the health care providers who serve them. The providers Crump is representing say they were unfairly targeted by AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid system, when it suspended payments to these and other facilities in 2023.

The providers were accused by state investigators of luring Native patients to "sober living homes" with the promise of rehabilitation treatment, then failing to provide the treatment as they collected up to $7,000 per patient per month from AHCCCS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2024, a group of behavioral health providers and patients filed 60 notices of claim, statements of intent to file lawsuits against the state over the Medicaid fraud scandal. The claims were made by 38 Indigenous people who are former patients at Arizona behavioral health facilities and 22 behavioral health providers who were affected by the state's crackdown on massive Medicaid fraud.

Andre Miller, a Mesa pastor and second vice president of the NAACP's Arizona Conference, said the plaintiffs in the case had been unfairly treated due to their ethnicity. Many of the 32 individual treatment facility owners named as plaintiffs, some of whom own and operate more than one facility, are African-American or Hispanic.

Miller also said his group and their attorneys, including Rick Meadow of the Meadow Law Firm, had vetted providers who had their licenses suspended or pulled and weeded out the bad actors. He said the group had tried to reach out to tribal communities to engage but the effort hadn't borne much fruit.

He also said that many Native people wouldn't come to the table for discussions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A sobering scandal: Arizona leaders were warned of massive Medicaid fraud. It took them years to grasp the problem

Providers were 'scapegoats' in the crisis, attorney says

That sentiment was echoed by Crump, who said his clients were "300 times more likely to be denied compensation and payment than non-minority providers."

Crump said that because his clients' firms had been suspended or that their payments had been long stalled, Native people seeking help were deprived of the counseling and treatment they needed, and many of them fell back into addiction. As a result, some of the former clients suffered debilitating injuries and even died.

"We won't let you sweep the Native American community under the rug," Crump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Crump said that when negligence and malfeasance had come to light, the resulting crisis caused agencies to seek scapegoats to bear the blame.

"That is the crux of the matter that all these individuals here. All these are Back and brown and Native providers," he said. But instead of allowing the providers to show they were complying with regulations, Crump said the state "said 'No, no, we're just going to take your license. Now you got to go prove your innocence to us.'"

Crump added, "They were very intentional about the people they chose."

The new litigation comes a month after attorneys filed a 232-page class action lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court. The lawsuit was initiated on behalf of about 7,000 Native people and their families who had been harmed by the fake substance abuse treatment centers. Some were injured or died while living in the homes, while others became homeless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for AHCCCS said the agency has not been served with the lawsuit and therefore has not reviewed the allegations.

"We remain focused on sustainable solutions that prioritize member health and safety, and a strong and stable provider network," the spokesperson said. "We continue to collaborate with law enforcement and Tribal partners to protect the populations we serve."

The people who were hurt need the help, activist says

The Arizona Republic has been covering the sober living scandal since 2022, and launched an in-depth investigation, which was published in June 2024.

Navajo activist Reva Stewart, who attended the news conference, founded Turtle Island Women Warriors to address the situation. The nonprofit group aids Native people and communities impacted by the fraud.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The people who were hurt in these homes who died in these facilities are the ones who need help," said Stewart, one of the first people to speak out on the issue of Native people who had been lured or even taken off the streets and brought to sober living homes far away from their homes, family and friends. Many of the families and friends desperately posted notices on social media or traveled to Phoenix to search for their loved ones.

"We will continue to stand for our Native relatives affected by this scheme, against AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services and all the bad actors who were suspended for reasons they know of, over billing and other issues," she said.

"Who are they to judge and expect us to believe they know whats best for our people! Greed takes precedence because why else are they filing a lawsuit?"

Republic health reporter Stephanie Innes contributed to this article.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @debkrol.

Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Behavioral health providers claim 'sober living' inquiry targeted them
MADISON, Wis. (WTVO)  Misael Dominguez-Adorno, 25, was sentenced to 22.5 years in federal prison for creating child pornography on Tuesday.

He will also serve 25 years of supervised release after his prison sentence. Dominguez-Adorno pled guilty to the charges on October 9, 2024.

Dominguez-Adorno was accused of using six minors to produce child pornography in 2023.

According to the Department of Justice, Dominguez-Adorno used minors to engage in sexually explicit activity to create videos in October 2020 and March 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was arrested in Beloit in 2023.

His arrest came after an investigation conducted by the Beloit Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
(KRON)  A popular San Francisco sandwich spot Turners Kitchen is closing at the end of March, the restaurant posted on its social media.

Almost 10 years ago, Ken Turner purchased Clares Deli after beginning his career at Zuni Cafe in SF.

Turner said that the decision to close was difficult. However, he looks forward to a lighter load.

Ive normalized a 50 hour work week that balloons to 70+ with private dining and catering, said Turner. I used to be so proud of my work ethic and while the accomplishments and memories have made it more than worth it, its time to slow down

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

JCPenney to shut down lone Peninsula location

In the next couple of months, Turner said he will be focused on fundraising and pop-ups, but still providing catering and private dining.

Turner said he has not sold the business. He said, Who knows, maybe Ill reopen it again.

According to Yelp, Turners Kitchens most popular dishes are the Original 500 Club, French Dip sandwich, Mission fig sandwich and more. Patrons still have a little over two months to enjoy the tasty subs. Turners Kitchen is located at 3505 B 17th St.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Airbus has shut down its new for-hire cargo airline focused on transporting oversize shipments using the odd-shaped Beluga superfreighter because of self-described operational challenges and what appears to be weak demand for the service.

The aerospace manufacturer last week terminated Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), the specialized airfreight business introduced last March for hauling outsize cargo, and suspended BelugaST flights, Airbus confirmed in a statement.

French business daily Les Echos first reported on Airbus decision to ground the third-party cargo service due to a lack of external customers, resulting in the loss of 75 jobs. Airbus said operational issues, not weak demand, were the biggest challenge. But the two problems went hand in hand, according to an air cargo professional familiar with the market for heavy-lift cargo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe the lengthy internal procedures to permit new cargo types on the aircraft and high charter costs prevented ABT from being a competitive player. I would also say chartering the Beluga externally wasnt a high priority for Airbus, said Brian Davis, commercial director for Neo Air Charter, an aircraft broker based in Ruesselsheim, Germany, that matches logistics companies and other shippers that need custom airlift with available cargo airlines.

The limitations on cargo weight as well as the complex requirements for organizing and relocating special loading conveyors closed them off to a lot of business, he added.

While the BelugaST can accommodate oversize loads, its not as versatile as the Antonov An-124 or Boeing 747 because of weight limitations and the need for special loading equipment. With a maximum payload of 44 tons, it isnt able, for example, to transport tanks, generators or other heavy industrial equipment that can easily be rolled onto other freighters that have front or rear ramps.

Loading and unloading is a complex process that requires a dedicated, trained crew. The loader is basically scaffolding with a built-in rail system that allows the plane to be filled from a high point, above the cockpit. The platform has to be assembled, put in containers, and transported to each destination. It takes several hours to position the platform in front of the aircraft, connect it with the aircraft handling system and load/unload shipments, with the assistance of a crane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the loader is carried on the same flight as a load, it reduces the available capacity.

The BelugaST completed a total of six missions for external customers in 2024, the Airbus spokeswoman said by email.

In addition to meeting customers requirements for safe carriage of sensitive equipment, Airbus aircraft design office had to approve different types of payloads to make sure lashing systems and other systems would hold large shipments in place.

AiBT operated four BelugaST superfreighters. Aircraft tracking site Flightradar24 shows the planes were parked in Toulouse and Bordeaux, France, starting in the first week of January.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No decision has been made yet about their midterm and long-term future, an Airbus spokeswoman told FreightWaves. The ultralarge aircraft for now will be placed under the air operating certificate of Airbus Transport International, the in-house airline that operates larger BelugaXL jets that transport aircraft sections between different Airbus manufacturing sites in Europe. Whether they will be used again for internal purposes depends on future circumstances, she said.

A space satellite is unloaded from a BelugaST freighter at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida using a specialized platform. (Photo: Airbus)

The unique aircrafts design is based on an A300-600 and borrows features from the beluga whale, a species with a distinctive white color and prominent forehead found in Arctic coastal waters. Airbus modified the frame by lowering the cockpit and adding a bulbous fuselage shell to accommodate large aircraft sections so they could be moved from factories to assembly plants in Europe by its in-house airline.

Airbus announced plans in January 2022 to commercialize its fleet of BelugaST freighters after replacing them with the BelugaXL, which is built on a larger A330-200 frame. The business offered dedicated transport services to shippers with cargo that is too tall or wide to fit in a traditional freighter aircraft.

With the largest cross section of any transport aircraft in the world  50% higher and 10% wider than alternatives such as the Antonov An-124 or Boeing 747-8  the Beluga was well suited for nonstandard shipments such as satellites and helicopters. But the limitations on heavy-lift cargo and complexity to operate reduced its overall appeal. The aircraft also is unable to make long journeys without multiple trips because it was designed for regional flying in Europe.

Capacity for project cargo?

Over time it will become extremely difficult to transport oversize and heavy cargo, Neo Air Charters Davis explained. The biggest issue is the lack of replacements for the ultralarge An-124.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, only a handful of An-124 ultralarge freighters are available to charter in the European and North American regions. Ukrainian freighter operator Antonov Airlines, which relocated to Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany when the war started, has only two An-124s in commercial service. Two other An-124s are committed to flying military cargo for Ukraine, and the three remaining aircraft have been inactive for months or years, according to industry sources and Flightradar24 data. Meanwhile, Russian cargo airline Volga-Dnepr, which operates An-124s and Ilyushin IL-76s, is banned from U.S. and European airspace.

The only other An-124 operator is Abu Dhabi-based Maximus Airlines, which has a single aircraft.

The An-124s are getting very old, and finding replacement parts is increasingly difficult, said Davis.

Atlas Air and Cargolux operate the largest fleets of Boeing 747 freighters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Airlines are gradually phasing out Boeing 747-400s because of their age and high fuel consumption. Boeing stopped making the 747-8 last year. The largest production freighter currently available from Boeing is the twin-engine 777, but it lacks the nose-loading capability of many 747s.

Azerbaijan-based Silkway Airlines also operates two IL-76s that can operate in the U.S. and Europe.

Click here for more FreightWaves stories by Eric Kulisch.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Israels Challenge Group prepares to fly all-new 777 converted freighter

Emirates leases additional Boeing 747 freighters to meet shipper demand

Taiwanese startup Starlux Airlines doubles down on Airbus A350 freighter

China Airlines to buy Boeing 777-8 freighters

The post BelugaST fleet goes belly-up as Airbus closes cargo airline appeared first on FreightWaves.
Warm Wednesday. Dont forget the sunscreen; the heat wave continues.

One step forward, two back  back in time, that is.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, after getting an earful from teetotalers and naive Nancy Reagan head-in-the sand types, voted down Tuesday night a policy change that would have brought hiring practices more or less into the 21st century.

Board members, who were basically kicking tires on a change that would allow the district to hire applicants whose pre-employment drug screens turn up positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, discussed loosening the rules.

With conditions, of course.

Current hiring policy is set in stone behind zero tolerance. Lighting up a drug test for lighting up, using CBD oil or eating a poppy seed bagel is an automatic DQ. Try again in six months.

(Just say No  An 80s relic nearly as bad as big hair and parachute pants.)

The proposed changes would have it that a THC positive applicant could be hired with the understanding that she (or he) would be subject to four random tests during the school year  at the employees expense, by the way. Fail one, out you go.

And zero tolerance would still apply for anyone who drives school vehicles. Anyone with a commercial drivers license has to pass the whiz quiz on the first try.

Which makes sense. But not enough to suit some people.

Quality teachers dont smoke, ingest or inject drugs that could impact their ability to teach students. I cannot believe were having this conversation, sniffed one speaker.

Mmm. Not so sure about that one.

Some 39 states have legalized medical marijuana for adults; 24, plus the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use  three-quarters of all Americans live in those states.

Veterans groups have advocated for its use to ease PTSD symptoms. And some police departments  cops!  are quietly discussing tweaks to their own lifetime zero tolerance policies.

Hell, if anybody deserves to mellow out with an old-fashioned doobie, it's overworked teachers and stressed-out cops.

In practical terms, all the school board did was guarantee that otherwise qualified applicants would look for work elsewhere. Like, say, in Guilford County, which only tests drivers.

When the proposed change came up in a November committee meeting  nothing happens in schools without months of jaw-jacking  Superintendent Tricia McManus attempted to gently steer board members toward that conclusion by noting that WS/FC Schools lost two highly qualified math teachers who were hired in Guilford County. For better pay, too.

I dont want to lose a great kid that did something four weeks ago, and now theyre going to be a great teacher, and theyll never test positive again, McManus said in the autumn

It also bears noting that positive tests for cocaine and heroin would remain an automatic rejection.

A few board members recognize the reasons for change. Drinks, edibles and oils made with Delta-9, a relative of THC derived from legal hemp plants, are sold openly across North Carolina. Breweries offer Delta-9 seltzers right next to craft beers, too.

And that doesnt even include a multitude of CBD oils widely available and perfectly legal. THC can show up in small amounts in oils, which are typically used as non pharmaceutical alternatives for alleviating pain and anxiety.

It is highly likely I would fail the drug test, board member Sabrina Coone said in the earlier discussion. They wouldnt even consider me for employment.

Fellow board member Alex Bohannon, in that same discussion, attempted to inject common sense by noting that theres nothing in this that allows it to be high at work.

Seems reasonable enough.

In unrelated business, the school board also voted to extend the school year by three days to make up days lost to winter weather rather than adding 15 minutes to each school day.

Fifteen minutes. The equivalent of a midday bathroom break. What were they smoking?

Shockwaves sent by successful flight

GREENSBORO  Some 2,300 miles away high above the Mojave Desert, the Triad economy got a not-so-quiet jolt Tuesday when a Boom Supersonic aircraft broke the sound barrier.

"She was real happy supersonic," test pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg said after landing the XB-1 plane in a video posted by the company. "That's the best she's ever flown, was supersonic.

Being able to produce a passenger jet capable of breaking the sound barrier  767 miles per hour at sea level  is a big, big deal.

XB-1s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived, said company founder and CEO Blake Scholl. A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.

That matters locally because Boom is building a manufacturing plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport where it will make the Overture supersonic airliner, a carbon-neutral commercial jet that will significantly cut travel times.

Boom broke ground on the $500 million plant in January 2023 and has said it hopes to open the superfactorys assembly line by years end.

The project, state officials said, could be worth $32 billion to the North Carolina economy and create some 2,400 jobs.

Boom officials predict that supersonic flights will be available to everyday passengers by 2029.

And breaking the sound barrier high over a California desert is another major step along the way.
Jan. 28BEMIDJI  Two years after being voted down, the Pledge of Allegiance will have a place in

Bemidji Area Schools

Board of Education meetings.

During its first regular meeting of 2025 on Monday, the board secured a 4-2 vote to add the pledge's recitation to the beginning of each meeting.

A similar measure was proposed in January 2023

but was voted down with a 3-3 vote.

Board chair Dave Wall presented the proposal, laying out the protocol and reasons behind it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There was a day in America that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited in many sectors of our society by all citizens. Political affiliation, ethnicity or religious persuasion were not a concern," Wall said. "Citizens of this great country came together with their differences and recited the pledge to show that they were committed in unity to the United States of America.

"The unity of our nation is the strength of our nation. Unity guarantees value to each citizen and accommodates diversity."

The protocol notes that those who wish to participate in the pledge's recitation would stand and face the flag, place their hand on their hearts and follow the lead of the board chair. Those who don't wish to participate are free to do so without judgement or consternation, Wall added.

Following the introduction of the motion by board members Anna Manecke and Jack Aakhus, member Ann Long Voelkner expressed her opposition to adding the pledge to meetings, consistent with her stance from two years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I have sworn, as everybody else has, the oath of office to serve our country and students as a public school board member," Long Voelkner said. "The oath specifically says 'I support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Minnesota.' ... I believe this oath speaks specifically to our role as board members to provide quality education for our students in a safe setting for teachers, staff and students. The Pledge of Allegiance does not speak to that role."

Long Voelkner pointed to the addition of "under God" in the pledge in 1954 following Congressional approval.

"That addition to the pledge ties religion to civil government matters in opposition to our Constitution," she added. "My choice is not to recite the pledge, which reflects our separation of church and state within the Constitution, and also reflects the oath of office I have sworn to."

Board member Jenny Frenzel remained steadfast in her opposition to adding the pledge, a position met with its own opposition in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I received personal threats on my life. I received personal threats against my children, against my family, against my business," Frenzel said regarding the aftermath of her no vote. "I had to make a police report and a restraining order just because I shared my opinion."

Frenzel also shared correspondence with then-non-member Todd Haugen, who confirmed that he would've voted down the pledge when the measure was first proposed.

"I admire someone who's willing to take a difficult vote, and I've always been a bit ambivalent about the Pledge of Allegiance," Haugen said, "but I was really impressed, as I ran for the board this past fall, how many people asked me about the pledge. It's an issue to them. ... The message I got loud and clear during the campaign was that people want us to do this."

Aakhus condemned all forms of threats and harassment while emphasizing his view that the motion was to allow a choice in whether a board member wants to recite the pledge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Have many Americans been denied liberty and justice? Yes. Are some still denied it today? Yes. Are liberty and justice still ideals worth honoring and committing ourselves to today? Yes," Aakhus said. "This is why we say the pledge."

There is no statutory requirement for school boards to recite the pledge, but many boards add it to meetings if members so choose.

Minnesota State Statute 121A.11,

subdivision 3a, dictates that all public and charter school students shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance one or more times each week. Subdivision 3b of the same statute allows students to decline the recitation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Student representative Mckenzie Edevold brought up issues related to the pledge in schools particularly for students who decline its recitation.

"Kids definitely get made fun of if they sit during the pledge. I've seen teachers say something to them and tell them to get up," Edevold said. "It's kind of robotic the way the pledge is said, and I don't know if it has any meaning saying it during school."

After more discussion, the board passed the measure with Aakhus, Haugen, Wall and Manecke voting for it and Frenzel and Long Voelkner voting against.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a tentative agreement with the Bemidji Education Support Professionals bargaining group for 2023-2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The group, which represents secretarial-clerical employees and paraprofessionals,

has advocated for a more equitable contract and increased salaries at prior board meetings.

The agreement includes a 2% increase in the salary schedule for 2023-2024 and a $1 per hour increase for 2024-2025. District health insurance contributions remain unchanged at $845 a month, but as of July 2024, the district will contribute an additional $165 per month for those with family health insurance coverage.

Among other adjustments, the agreement's two-year cost totals roughly $1 million.

The full meeting can be viewed on the

Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, in the district board room.
Ben Affleck was spotted giving back to those in need on Tuesday as he volunteered at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles, offering support to victims displaced by the catastrophic wildfires that have ravaged the region.

Affleck, like many others in the area, was forced to evacuate his home as the flames spread through Pacific Palisades. He reportedly sought refuge at his ex-wife Jennifer Garners residence while the fires threatened his property.

While the specifics of Ben Affleck's charitable efforts remain unclear, there was no shortage of people in desperate need of aid following the destruction.

Ben Affleck Volunteers At LA Homeless Encampment

MEGA

The "Jersey Girl" actor, whose $20 million Pacific Palisades mansion miraculously survived the deadly fires, was seen by Page Six working alongside a team of volunteers outside the encampment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dressed in a gray jacket layered over a blue sweater and purple shirt, paired with tailored gray pants and white Nike sneakers, Affleck was seen taking a smoke break alongside another staffer holding a binder.

While it remains unclear how long Affleck will continue his volunteer efforts, his presence at the encampment highlights the urgent need for relief and aid as thousands of wildfire victims struggle to rebuild their lives.

The Aftermath Of The LA Wildfires

MEGA

Despite the widespread devastation, Afflecks five-bedroom, six-bathroom estate, which boasts a pool, guesthouse, and horse stables, was spared from the Los Angeles fires. The actor had purchased the luxurious bachelor pad in July 2024 following his split from Jennifer Lopez.

According to Time, more than 16,000 structures, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed since the wildfires erupted on January 7, leaving thousands of residents displaced. The disaster has claimed the lives of 28 people and burned through over 50,000 acres of land.

Ben Affleck Reportedly Adopts Security Dog Amid Wildfires

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Ben Affleck was recently seen enjoying a relaxed afternoon stroll around his Brentwood neighborhood, accompanied by his son, Sam, and a newly acquired security dog. The black-and-brown German Shepherd, provided by Trident Elite Protection Dog, was seen walking alongside the father-son duo, with two professional trainers present.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to photos obtained by the Daily Mail, Affleck kept his look casual yet stylish, sporting a gray-and-white cardigan sweater over a white button-down shirt, paired with tan pants and brown shoes. Meanwhile, Sam opted for comfort, wearing green-and-black plaid pajama pants, a black T-shirt, and gray sneakers. The young boy appeared excited to handle the security dog, gripping an orange-and-black leash as they strolled.

FBI Investigates Drone Incident Near Ben Afflecks Home as Actor Confronts Local Police

APEX / MEGA

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, FBI agents were seen at Ben Afflecks Brentwood home, investigating a drone collision involving a firefighting aircraft responding to the Los Angeles wildfires. Despite the federal presence, sources confirmed that Affleck is not under investigation and faces no legal consequences related to the situation. However, the incident has raised security concerns around the actors residence.

Just days after the FBI visit, photographers captured Affleck in what appeared to be a heated conversation with local police officers outside his home.

As previously reported by The Blast, Affleck was seen pulling up beside two officers who were parked near his driveway. Visibly frustrated, Affleck rolled down the window of his BMW and voiced concerns about the security presence in the area.

While details of the conversation remain unclear, the exchange suggests that Affleck is increasingly concerned about privacy and safety following the drone investigation and ongoing wildfire crisis.

Los Angeles Begins Fire Recovery As U.S. Army Corps Prepares For Major Cleanup Effort

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The clean-up and rebuilding process is officially underway following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set to deploy crews to begin debris removal at fire-damaged properties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to CBS, officials have outlined a structured recovery process for the Palisades and Eaton fires, breaking it down into two key phases: hazardous material removal and general debris cleanup. Both steps must be fully completed before any rebuilding can begin.

During a Wednesday news conference, county leaders announced that Phase 1, which involves hazardous material removal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been significantly accelerated. Initially projected to take three months, officials have reduced the timeline to just 30 days thanks to increased federal resources.
A bright fireball streaked across the sky above mountains, glaciers and spruce forest near the town of Revelstoke in British Columbia, Canada, on the evening of March 31, 1965. Fragments of this meteorite, discovered by beaver trappers, fell over a lake. A layer of ice saved them from the depths and allowed scientists a peek into the birth of the solar system.

Nearly 60 years later, NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission returned from space with a sample of an asteroid named Bennu, similar to the one that rained rocks over Revelstoke. Our research team has published a chemical analysis of those samples, providing insight into how some of the ingredients for life may have first arrived on Earth.

Born in the years bracketing the Revelstoke meteorites fall, the two of us have spent our careers in the meteorite collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Natural History Museum in London. Weve dreamed of studying samples from a Revelstoke-like asteroid collected by a spacecraft.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then, nearly two decades ago, we began turning those dreams into reality. We joined NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission team, which aimed to send a spacecraft to collect and return an asteroid sample to Earth. After those samples arrived on Sept. 24, 2023, we got to dive into a tale of rock, ice and water that hints at how life could have formed on Earth.

In this illustration, NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collects a sample from the asteroid Bennu. NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

The CI chondrites and asteroid Bennu

To learn about an asteroid  a rocky or metallic object in orbit around the Sun  we started with a study of meteorites.

Asteroids like Bennu are rocky or metallic objects in orbit around the Sun. Meteorites are the pieces of asteroids and other natural extraterrestrial objects that survive the fiery plunge to the Earths surface.

We really wanted to study an asteroid similar to a set of meteorites called chondrites, whose components formed in a cloud of gas and dust at the dawn of the solar system billions of years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Revelstoke meteorite is in a group called CI chondrites. Laboratory-measured compositions of CI chondrites are essentially identical, minus hydrogen and helium, to the composition of elements carried by convection from the interior of the Sun and measured in the outermost layer of the Sun. Since their components formed billions of years ago, theyre like chemically unchanged time capsules for the early solar system.

So, geologists use the chemical compositions of CI chondrites as the ultimate reference standard for geochemistry. They can compare the compositions of everything from other chondrites to Earth rocks. Any differences from the CI chondrite composition would have happened through the same processes that formed asteroids and planets.

CI chondrites are rich in clay and formed when ice melted in an ancient asteroid, altering the rock. They are also rich in prebiotic organic molecules. Some of these types of molecules are the building blocks for life.

This combination of rock, water and organics is one reason OSIRIS-REx chose to sample the organic-rich asteroid Bennu, where water and organic compounds essential to the origin of life could be found.

Evaporites  the legacy of an ancient brine

Ever since the Bennu samples returned to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, we and our colleagues on four continents have spent hundreds of hours studying them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The instruments on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made observations of reflected light that revealed the most abundant minerals and organics when it was near asteroid Bennu. Our analyses in the laboratory found that the compositions of these samples lined up with those observations.

The samples are mostly water-rich clay, with sulfide, carbonate and iron oxide minerals. These are the same minerals found in CI chondrites like Revelstoke. The discovery of rare minerals within the Bennu samples, however, surprised both of us. Despite our decades of experience studying meteorites, we have never seen many of these minerals.

We found minerals dominated by sodium, including carbonates, sulfates, chlorides and fluorides, as well as potassium chloride and magnesium phosphate. These minerals dont form just when water and rock react. They form when water evaporates.

Weve never seen most of these sodium-rich minerals in meteorites, but theyre sometimes found in dried-up lake beds on Earth, like Searles Lake in California.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bennus rocks formed 4.5 billion years ago on a larger parent asteroid. That asteroid was wet and muddy. Under the surface, pockets of water perhaps only a few feet across were evaporating, leaving the evaporite minerals we found in the sample. That same evaporation process also formed the ancient lake beds weve seen these minerals in on Earth.

Bennus parent asteroid likely broke apart 1 to 2 billion years ago, and some of the fragments came together to form the rubble pile we know as Bennu.

These minerals are also found on icy bodies in the outer solar system. Bright deposits on the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt, contain sodium carbonate. The Cassini mission measured the same mineral in plumes on Saturns moon Enceladus.

We also learned that these minerals, formed when water evaporates, disappear when exposed to water once again  even with the tiny amount of water found in air. After studying some of the Bennu samples and their minerals, researchers stored the samples in air. Thats what we do with meteorites.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unfortunately, we lost these minerals as moisture in the air on Earth caused them to dissolve. But that explains why we cant find these minerals in meteorites that have been on Earth for decades to centuries.

Fortunately, most of the samples have been stored and transported in nitrogen, protected from traces of water in the air.

Until scientists were able to conduct a controlled sample return with a spacecraft and carefully curate and store the samples in nitrogen, we had never seen this set of minerals in a meteorite.

An unexpected discovery

Before returning the samples, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spent over two years making observations around Bennu. From that two years of work, researchers learned that the surface of the asteroid is covered in rocky boulders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We could see that the asteroid is rich in carbon and water-bearing clays, and we saw veins of white carbonate a few feet long deposited by ancient liquid water. But what we couldnt see from these observations were the rarer minerals.

We used an array of techniques to go through the returned sample one tiny grain at a time. These included CT scanning, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, each of which allowed us to look at the rock at a scale not possible on the asteroid.

Cooking up the ingredients for life

From the salts we identified, we could infer the composition of the briny water from which they formed and see how it changed over time, becoming more sodium-rich.

This briny water would have been an ideal place for new chemical reactions to take place and for organic molecules to form.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While our team characterized salts, our organic chemist colleagues were busy identifying the carbon-based molecules present in Bennu. They found unexpectedly high levels of ammonia, an essential building block of the amino acids that form proteins in living matter. They also found all five of the nucleobases that make up part of DNA and RNA.

Based on these results, wed venture to guess that these briny pods of fluid would have been the perfect environments for increasingly complicated organic molecules to form, such as the kinds that make up life on Earth.

When asteroids like Bennu hit the young Earth, they could have provided a complete package of complex molecules and the ingredients essential to life, such as water, phosphate and ammonia. Together, these components could have seeded Earths initially barren landscape to produce a habitable world.

Without this early bombardment, perhaps when the pieces of the Revelstoke meteorite landed several billion years later, these fragments from outer space would not have arrived into a landscape punctuated with glaciers and trees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Timothy J McCoy, Smithsonian Institution and Sara Russell, Natural History Museum

Read more:



Timothy J McCoy receives funding from NASA.

Sara Russell receives funding from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A bicyclist is dead after being runover by a truck Tuesday morning on northbound Interstate 75 at the State Road 47 exit ramp. It happened at about 8 a.m. A truck driver, a 58-year-old Melbourne man, was hauling a trailer before coming to a complete stop at the I-75 intersection with State Road 47, a Florida Highway Patrol news release states.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

A bicyclist was traveling south within the pedestrian crosswalk and the truck driver turned onto State Road 47 colliding and running over the bicyclist, a 64-year-old Lake City man, the news release states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was pronounced dead at the scene. FHP said an investigation on the accident is ongoing.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Read: Opening statements heard in the trial for the former DA charged with mishandling the Ahmaud Arbery case

Read: St. Johns County deputies arrest man for hit-and-run that seriously hurt teen

Read: Trump says most drones sighted over New Jersey were authorized by the FAA: This was not the enemy

[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.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 people on federal death row to life imprisonment. A commutation, which reduces or removes a sentence but does not imply innocence, is not the same as a pardon, which releases a person from punishment and expresses the president's forgiveness.

Every prisoner who received Biden's commutation was convicted of murder or other charges related to killing. One prisoner's crimes included sexual abuse.

Biden's pardons did not include any people convicted of sexual assault or abuse. Biden pardoned only one person for a murder charge: a woman who killed her husband and testified that he threatened and physically assaulted her in the moments before she shot him.

Biden also granted reduced sentences to 2,490 people for nonviolent federal drug offenses, including a man who had a previous state conviction for murder conspiracy in the 1999 shootings of a woman and her 8-year-old son.

On Jan. 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed during remarks delivered at the U.S. Capitol following his inaugural address that former President Joe Biden had pardoned "33 murderers" in the last days of his presidency.

"I was going to talk about the things Joe did today, with the pardons of people that were very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the 'unselect committee' of political thugs," Trump said, referencing a committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He later claimed Biden had pardoned "almost everybody" on death row (emphasis ours):

They pardoned a lot of people. Before we even get to today, they pardoned, what is it, 33 murderers. Absolute murderers, the worst murderers. You know, when you get the death sentence in the United States, you have to be bad. 'Cause they don't give it much. And he pardoned almost everybody having a death sentence. And if you went through the crimes that were committed you wouldn't even believe the level of violence, the people that were killed, the innocence of people that were killed and children killed by these people and he pardoned them for whatever reason. He spared them, but they didn't spare the people that they killed. You know, who knows what happens in the future. It's one of the worst because a lot of times, they let them out early after that. You know, they say you're going to be in for life but then all of a sudden they get let out for good behavior and then they go on a rampage.

A video of Trump's full remarks is available on the White House's YouTube page (see 11:20).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican lawmakers including Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also claimed Biden pardoned murderers. Greene additionally claimed Biden had pardoned rapists.

These claims need context. It's not true that Biden pardoned death row prisoners convicted of murder. In December 2024, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row prisoners to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole  a different action from a pardon. Each person on federal death row was convicted of murder or charges related to killing; one commutation recipient's murder conviction also included sexual abuse. In 2022, Biden pardoned a woman who was convicted of murder for killing her husband, which she testified was in self-defense, and in January 2025 he commuted a nonviolent drug charge for a man who previously served a prison sentence for the killings of two people.

Death Row Commutations

On Dec. 23, 2024, Biden announced commutations for 37 of 40 federal death row prisoners, changing their sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole:

I HEREBY COMMUTE the sentences of death imposed as to each of the following named persons to sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, leaving intact and in effect for each named person all other conditions and components of the sentences previously imposed upon them.

The Executive Office of Pardons and Clemency defines a pardon as "an expression of the President's forgiveness and ordinarily is granted in recognition of the applicant's acceptance of responsibility for the crime and established good conduct." In contrast, a commutation reduces or removes a criminal sentence, but does not "change the fact of conviction" or "imply innocence." Both actions are forms of executive clemency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, Biden stated that his decision to commute death row prisoners is consistent with his stance against the death penalty and that he does not consider these commutations as any sort of recognition of good conduct from the prisoners (emphasis ours):

Today I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. But, guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.

A full list of Biden's commutations from his presidency is available on the Office of the Pardon Attorney website. A search of this list showed only one person who received a commutation for a crime involving sexual assault: Richard Allen Jackson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in which he sexually abused his victim.

Specific Clemency Cases

The Office of the Pardon Attorney also offers a full list of Biden's pardons. A search of this list found only one person convicted of murder: Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas, who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her husband in 1976. She was sentenced to one to five years' incarceration and was free at the time of Biden's 2022 pardon.

Ibn-Tamas, who was pregnant at the time of the killing, testified that her husband had "recurring violent episodes" and threatened her with a gun and assaulted her shortly before she shot him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Biden did not reduce or remove any murder sentences through commutation. However, on Jan. 17, 2025, Biden commuted a drug-related sentence given to Adrian Peeler, who previously served a Connecticut prison sentence for conspiracy to commit the murder of a woman and her 8-year-old son in January 1999.

Peeler finished his 20-year state sentence before beginning his federal sentence. Biden reduced Peeler's 15-year federal sentence for dealing large amounts of crack cocaine, which now expires Feb. 17, 2025. Peeler was one of nearly 2,500 people whose nonviolent drug offense sentence Biden commuted in January 2025.

In a statement, Biden said he was attempting to correct sentencing disparities between sentences for crack and powder cocaine.

Today's clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes. As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities. This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.

According to the bipartisan and independent United States Sentencing Commission, the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine came from "mistaken beliefs" about the dangers of crack versus powder cocaine and resulted in more severe sentences for Black people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Biden's commutation for Peeler reportedly drew outrage from the victims' family and criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Connecticut. Biden has not publicly addressed his decision to commute Peeler's sentence; Snopes will update this story if he does.

Snopes has previously fact-checked other claims about executive clemency, including a claim that Biden pardoned Chinese spies and a sex offender and that he issued more pardons than any other U.S. president.

Sources:

Biden, Joe. "Executive Grant of Clemency ." Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 23 Dec. 2024, www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1382291/dl?inline. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

---. "Executive Grant of Clemency ." Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 17 Jan. 2025, www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1385601/dl?inline. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---. "Statement from President Joe Biden on Federal Death Row Commutations | the White House." The White House, 23 Dec. 2024, web.archive.org/web/20250118205827/www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-federal-death-row-commutations/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Clemency Recipient List | the White House." The White House, 30 Dec. 2022, web.archive.org/web/20250116065300/www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/30/clemency-recipient-list-2/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Commutations Granted by President Joseph Biden (2021-Present)." Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 22 Jan. 2021, www.justice.gov/pardon/commutations-granted-president-joseph-biden-2021-present. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Ferren, John. "Ibn-Tamas v. United States." Justia Law, vol. 12614, 15 Oct. 1979, law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1979/12614-2.html. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Frequently Asked Questions." Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 8 Aug. 2024, www.justice.gov/pardon/frequently-asked-questions. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Palmer, Richard. STATE of CONNECTICUT v. ADRIAN PEELER. 24 Feb. 2004, www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROCR/CR267/267CR25.pdf. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Pardons Granted by President Joseph Biden (2021-Present)." Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 22 Jan. 2021, www.justice.gov/pardon/pardons-granted-president-joseph-biden-2021-present. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Robinson, Richard. "STATE of CONNECTICUT v. RUSSELL PEELER." State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, vol. 19282, 8 Mar. 2016, www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROcr/CR320/320CR34.pdf. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shea, Michael P. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Adrian PEELER, Defendant. 16 Apr. 2024, casetext.com/case/united-states-v-peeler-18. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

"Statement from President Joe Biden on Additional Clemency Actions | the White House." The White House, 17 Jan. 2025, bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/17/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-additional-clemency-actions/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

The White House. "President Trump Delivers Remarks at Emancipation Hall." YouTube, 20 Jan. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5o2Y4odkoU. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Isnt it kind of crazy that we are still asking the same questions that we asked 15 years ago? marvels Dawn Thomas, who leads the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM), an ever-expanding demographic and service-related data resource for policymakers. As a professor at the University of Illinois, Thomas focuses on how communities, districts and the state can improve early care and education services through better data and IECAM is part of that effort.

Duplicative counting is one of the issues that have long bedeviled Thomas and her fellow researchers. Lets say a particular 4-year-old boy simultaneously participates in the Child Care Assistance Program and Preschool for All. Is he being counted once or twice in the IECAM database? In evaluating the efficacy of these state programs, Illinoiss newly formed Department of Early Childhood, among other public and private bodies, needs to know the answer when determining the impact of each program.

Illinois is not alone in grappling with data on programs and services for families with young children. The newly formed Big Ten Early Learning Alliance (Big Ten ELA) was designed to address issues that span research and policy, like the challenges facing the IECAM team. Led by Ohio State University professor Laura Justice (who also heads the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy) and Rutgers University professor W. Steven Barnett (who founded and co-directs the National Institute for Early Education Research), the alliance is open to researchers from Big Ten universities, which comprises 18 higher education institutions across 14 states. Members collaborate on research that addresses important early childhood issues and work together to champion and disseminate solutions to the field. The states involved collectively have nearly 5.8 million residents aged 5 and under, according to State of Early Childhood Education in Big Ten States, a recent brief published by Big Ten ELA  and the alliance is dedicated to improving their early learning experiences and lifetime outcomes.

Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

For these nearly six million children, it is crucial that their states provide high-quality early childhood education to ensure that these children experience optimal environments and interactions in the earliest years of life, Justice and Barnett wrote in the brief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

States are increasingly taking the lead in enacting policies that affect early childhood, Justice says. One of our goals in establishing this alliance is to ensure that science underlies these decisions by state policymakers. We also want to leverage the expertise in early childhood at our Big Ten universities. Bringing researchers together through this alliance will ease collaboration and allow us to advance our understanding of crucial issues in early childhood by engaging our diverse research perspectives.

Critical Data Solutions

Why is data critical to service delivery, and why did the Big Ten ELAs first webinar zero in on data solutions? Part of the rationale for many investments in early childhood programs, Justice and Barnett explain in their report, is to capitalize on the potential return on investment of preschool participation, such that for every dollar put into the system, dividends are returned in the future. If the data cant be trusted, policymakers might balk at the price tag. Improving early care and education depends on a sophisticated understanding of demographics, services received, program enrollment and learning outcomes.

While IECAM has been tracking aggregate data for early childhood programs and demographic data for young children and their families since about 2006, the Illinois Longitudinal Data System (ILDS), a project staffed by Northern Illinois University (NIU), tracks which early childhood services the states children are receiving over time and the outcomes of receiving them. The longitudinal data is designed to answer questions about which programs can be credited for increasing wages and income mobility.

Benjamin Boer, senior director of data for Education Systems Center at NIU, notes that the complexity of data poses challenges and opportunities. I dont think people understand all the different programming that goes on, he says. There are prenatal programs, early childhood programs, home visiting, Medicaid-funded screenings for special needs and so on. Boer hopes to establish correlations between participation in these various programs and third grade assessment data. (If youre keeping score at home, NIU is not part of the Big Ten, but Boer appeared on the Alliances webinar, and their collaboration with University of Illinois makes them honorary members.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recently, the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative partnered with ILDS to study the flow of children through the education system. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies  which comprises the states quality rating and improvement system along with education training and referral functions  is also using the data resource.

Other states may want to use data for accountability  justifying the expense  but our goal is ensuring that children get the services that they need, Boer says.

Sarah Clark, senior director of strategy and development for Education Systems Center, refers to the longitudinal project as a space where researchers can collaborate and build upon each others work. And thats critical because its not just from university researcher to university researcher, but also back to state agencies, who have such limited capacities.

As Big Ten ELA continues to promote best practices on data systems, a more recent webinar in December examined two landmark studies on the effects of early childhood education  the Perry Preschool Project, which began in the 1960s and followed students through age 40, and the Chicago Longitudinal Study, which has been ongoing since 1986. According to Barnett, both studies show the full potential of longitudinal data systems to inform science and policy on early childhood education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thomas sees promise in the open dialogue going on between advocates, researchers, and other stakeholders who are invested in knowing more about young children and about the early childhood landscape. Ultimately, this work will lead to what she envisions as a public portal that will be used for a lot of our integrated data.

Weve been talking about these data issues for years, Thomas acknowledges, but I really feel like this is the closest Illinois has been in decades. And now we actually can see maybe not the end of the tunnel, but I can see that little light.
Iowa students and supporters rallied at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines Jan. 8, 2024, calling for lawmakers to pass gun regulations in the wake of the Perry High School shooting the week before. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A House subcommittee moved forward Tuesday with a measure that would allow schools to create threat assessment teams in an effort to prevent school shootings.

House Study Bill 47, a measure introduced by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, would authorize K-12 school districts, private schools and charter schools to create threat assessment teams that could consist of school officials, law enforcement officers as well as mental health and social services workers. The teams would be tasked with coordinating resources and intervening when a student exhibits behavior that could pose a threat to the safety of other students or school staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill allows for the sharing of information on students who are experiencing or at risk of an emotional disturbance or mental illness, or who pose an articulable and significant threat to the health and safety of any person when the information is deemed reasonably necessary to share in order to ensure the safety of others or provide the student access to needed services. It also provides civil immunity to team members in sharing certain information on students related to school safety.

Josie Wagler, speaking on behalf of Iowa DPS, said the department introduced the measure as a way to ensure information can be legally shared between parties when a threat is identified while abiding by restrictions put in place on students privacy through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Currently, HIPAA and FERPA can create some barriers in having these conversations, and that prohibits law enforcement, school officials from creating a full behavioral picture of a student, Wagler said. So really, were just trying to extend this runway for information sharing between these entities to be able to secure resources for students prior to a targeted act of violence occurring.

Education advocates largely spoke in support of the measure, saying that it would provide schools more flexibility and resources when trying to connect students with services that could help them when facing difficult situations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, others like Lisa Davis-Cook with the Iowa Association for Justice said we think protecting students is important, but we also believe that protecting all students is important. She said the association had privacy concerns about threat assessment teams access to confidential student records, as well as the breadth of terms in the bills language on sharing information about students experiencing emotional disturbances or mental illnesses.

(Students) dont have to have a mental illness and be a threat, they can just have a mental illness, Davis-Cook said. One of our members had a student: 9-year-old kid, parents going through a divorce, doesnt know how to deal with their emotions, yells at a teacher, flips over a desk. Is that a risk because they might hit another student? We just think that some of that is so broad that it may be interpreted in different ways.

She also brought up concerns about providing civil immunity to members of the team in sharing confidential information. While the bill states team members only have immunity when acting in good faith with reasonable cause and without malice, Davis-Cook said the provision could create a lack of accountability when dealing with sensitive records.

We still have concerns when you take away peoples liability for these kinds of things because we want them to act responsibly, Davis-Cook said. And sometimes giving immunity takes away some of the incentive to act responsibly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MaryNelle Trefz with Iowa ACEs 360, an advocacy group focused on trauma recovery, made suggestions to amend the bill including to require threat assessment team members to go through training and give demographic reports on their work.

If these are not done well, they can adversely impact and target certain students, so we want to make sure we know who is being referred to these threat assessment teams, Trefz said.

Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, did not sign off on the bill, saying she had concerns about student confidentiality and supported calls to tighten language in the bill to avoid unintended consequences. Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, said he was in support of making tweaks to the bill, but said it was an important measure to move forward.

In light of what happened in Perry, this is something that we need to take serious, and we need to institute these procedures, Stone said.

The bill advanced 2-1, heading to the House Education Committee for further consideration.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  A new push in Frankfort could bring the Ten Commandments into Kentucky classrooms.

House Bill 116filed by Rep. Richard White, of Moreheadwould let local school boards allow teachers or administrators to post or read excerpts of the Ten Commandments in classrooms or at school events.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Unlike laws in other states, this bill wouldnt require schools to display the commandmentsit simply gives them the option.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This comes as an 18-state coalition, led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, appeals a decision blocking a Louisiana law requiring all schools to display the Ten Commandments.

In November, a federal judge blocked a similar law in Louisiana, calling it overtly religious, but Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is leading an 18-state coalition in support of the law.

Lawmakers introduce bill for moment of silence, prayer, pledge of allegiance in Kentucky schools

Supporters argued the commandments hold historical value, while critics said the bill violates the separation of church and state.

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.
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy

AZ Mirror

A Republican bill that would bar LGBTQ pride flags on government property moved forward Wednesday, despite concerns about the bills free speech implications.

The proposal would limit governments to flying only the United States, POW and MIA flags, the Arizona flag, Arizona Indian Nations flag, first responder flags, historic American flags and blue star service or a gold star service flags.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The basic intent behind this came from my time in the military, Rep. Nick Kupper, R-Surprise, told the House Government Committee on Jan. 22 when it considered House Bill 2113. When I was on duty in uniform, I represented the militaryThis just brings it to the same level with us in the state government.

Kupper said the bill is not aimed at pride flags specifically, nor is it about stopping the freedom of speech of any one individual or group. He characterized it as a government speech issue.

The proposal would directly block display of LGBTQ pride flags, the use of which has infuriated Republicans in recent years. When Gov. Katie Hobbs was secretary of state, she hung a pride flag from the historic Capitol building, but Republicans forced her to promptly remove them for violating the state buildings rules. After she became governor, Hobbs hung the flag from the Executive Tower for the first time ever.

In an email exchange with the Arizona Mirror, Kupper said the legislation is not aimed at Hobbs display of the pride flag.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats, however, believe stamping out government recognition of LGBTQ people is the true purpose.

What a sad waste of time. The reason housing is expensive isnt because of pride flags. The reason health care costs are out of control isnt because of pride flags. The reason child care costs as much as tuition isnt because of pride flags, Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, D-Phoenix, co-chair of the Arizona LGBTQ Caucus, said in a statement to the Mirror. How about we focus on the things that actually matter for once?

While Kupper did not mention in his testimony that the bill is aimed at any particular group, he took to X to reply to the anti-LGBTQ Libs of TikTok account, which was asking for a one flag policy for classrooms to remove pride flags.

My bill in AZ, HB2113, prevents schools from displaying flags other than official government ones, Kupper wrote on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But it wouldnt only bar pride flags. During his testimony, Kupper brought up the controversy surrounding U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who flew a flag favored by Christian nationalists outside his home.

This would prevent flags such as that from being on any government or state property in our official capacities, Kupper said. Arizona Senate Majority leader Janae Shamp displays the Appeal to Heaven flag flown by Alito on her desk, and the flag has been spotted elsewhere at the Capitol in recent years.

Critics of the bill also spoke in committee about their concerns of how it would impact the First Amendment rights of public employees and elected officials.

Marilyn Rodriguez, a lobbyist for the ACLU of Arizona, said the bills broad blanket descriptions impacts all government employees, essentially barring them from displaying any flag other than the approved ones  whether they are at work or not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Public employees do not lose their First Amendment rights upon employment or election, Rodriguez said, adding that the bill would disallow a teacher from having a Mexican flag in a classroom or a public employee from having an Israeli flag on their car.

The committee amended the bill to add county flags to the list of approved flags, but city flags would still be disallowed.

The bill passed out of committee on a party-line vote, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposing. The bill heads next to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

This story was first published in the AZ Mirror
An Iowa House higher education subcommittee has moved ahead a bill to codify general education requirements at state universities. (Photo courtesy of the University of Northern Iowa)

Despite questions about what identity politics entails and concerns about limiting what college instructors can teach in their classrooms, a bill to reimagine general education requirements at public universities has passed out of an Iowa House subcommittee.

House Study Bill 63 creates a new set of general education standards for the Iowa Board of Regents to implement at state universities, which includes requirements to take courses in English and composition, math and statistics, natural and social sciences, a world language, the humanities, Western heritage and American heritage. Certain exemptions were placed in the bill for students in programs that are three years or less or who are found to be in a complex area of study.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These general education courses cannot distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa, according to the legislation, but it states educators academic freedom will not be impeded upon.

Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison chaired the subcommittee, which included Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, and Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis.

Collins said during the meeting the general education requirements are all over the place when the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State Universitys policies are compared. While he said he encourages the Iowa Board of Regents to bring amendments forward to clean up language in the bill, it is important this legislation be passed in order to return universities to a true liberal arts education.

I think theres a way we can adapt this bill to make sure we are standardizing our core curriculum across the three universities, building a consensus about what our students should be learning and ensuring that we are actually returning to true liberal arts education I believe our higher education system was built on, Collins said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

One Iowa Director of Policy and Advocacy Keenan Crow said during public comments this legislation would limit academic freedom and restrict what ideas are allowed to be discussed on college campuses, effectively sheltering students from tough ideas that could help them learn to better evaluate arguments and come to their own conclusions.

While I can appreciate all the language in here about not distorting historical events, which I agree with, what I dont agree with is sheltering students from theories about systemic issues in our state or our country, Crow said. I know these theories will make folks uncomfortable, but this is ideological censorship in what should be an institution of higher learning.

A parent of two teenagers also spoke at the meeting to express her concerns with the bill, which she said could limit the ability of college teachers and mentors to help her children explore new ideas and concepts, even if they do make them uncomfortable. That is one of their favorite things about the public education theyve received so far, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Executive Director Connie Ryan said the organization is wondering why the Legislature is mandating what can be taught and what cant be taught at our regents universities, and the subjects being barred from campus through this bill are important in relation to the U.S. and its history.

Both Ryan and Wilburn brought up the lack of a definition of identity politics in the legislation, and Wilburn asked Collins how he came to these specific requirements for general education. Collins said he didnt base them on any states established policies, but he believes these standards are what each student should be learning as theyre going through higher education.

Andy Conlin, representing the Cicero Institute and the Foundation for Government Accountability, said in comments supporting the bill that it isnt doing anything really new in the nation, as several states have codified their general education requirements for universities.

To his knowledge, Wilburn said no Iowa educators or anyone involved in higher education in the state was consulted on this bill. He added that it feels like jumping the gun to enact legislation before even completing a review of what academic programs are already offered through general education at state universities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It just seems peculiar to me, in my personal opinion, that 11 of the 13 bills introduced to the Higher Ed Committee are not about an evaluation or assessment or review, they are specific actions such as this, Wilburn said. And so, at a minimum, it appears to me that this type of legislation will be premature.

The legislation will move to the full higher education committee with support from Collins and Holt, who said lawmakers can look into putting a definition of identity politics into the code.

Identity politics is teaching principles contrary to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., teaching to judge by skin  color instead of character, Holt said. Theres a lot of that going on these days.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Key Indiana lawmakers are signaling that one of the most attention-grabbing bills filed in the Indiana General Assembly this year  a proposal to dissolve Indianapolis Public Schools entirely and turn it into charter schools  is not seriously on the table this legislative session.

Instead, the bill, which has prompted strong opposition from both the school district and its supporters, appears to be part of a negotiating strategy aimed at something else entirely. Lawmakers want IPS, and other public schools, to share the property tax money they get each year from residents with the charter schools and other traditional public schools that serve students. For years IPS and local charter schools have argued over the idea.

About half of the nearly 50,000 children who are within the IPS's attendance boundaries attend charter schools and other traditional public schools. More than 1,400 students living within the district's lines, for example, instead attend nearby Lawrence Township schools, and more than 800 each attend the charters Victory College Prep and Christel House Academy South.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The controversial House Bill 1136 is part of flurry of legislation targeting IPS and its coffers this legislative session. Another bill would outsource transportation and operations money from IPS to another entity. Even if all of the proposals don't become law, local community leaders say they're concerning.

Tony Mason, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League, criticized "conversation-starter bills" like HB 1136.

"Don't start it through the introduction of bills that would attack the district in its very existence," Mason said. "They appear to be focused on forcing the district to capitulate to provide funding, transportation and facilities to unaffiliated schools."

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said he was more focused on revenue-sharing than the bill to dissolve IPS when asked about it earlier in January by reporters. He was asked directly if the legislation was aimed at trying to force a compromise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"My biggest issue is that the districts share revenue  local property tax dollars  to support these students," Huston said. "If we can do things without legislative action, I'd love to do that."

House Education Committee Chairman Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, pointed out to IndyStar that he still hasn't scheduled a hearing for the controversial bill, a necessary first step in moving it forward through the legislative process.

"It's probably too early to judge us on where we are until the process is complete," Behning said.

Meanwhile, Behning said, he is in conversation with IPS officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They understand that there's an interest by several that would like to see revenue sharing," he said.

Bill to share property taxes would have 'profound effects'

The more likely change lawmakers are considering lies in Senate Bill 518, which would require all school districts to share more of their property-tax revenue.

The bill could potentially shift $124 million to charter schools and $436 million to other traditional public schools between 2026 and 2028, according to a legislative report on the bill's fiscal impact, though it's unclear at this point how individual districts and charter schools would be impacted.

The bill's lead author, Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, told IndyStar she is still working on the bill and declined to comment further. That bill also doesn't yet have a committee hearing scheduled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, IPS said bills including SB 518 would have "profound effects" on the district.

"Were working rapidly both internally and externally  with lawmakers and our lobbyists  to advocate for the best interests of all Indianapolis students," according to a statement from the district. "As we have reviewed SB 518, we know that there would be a significant financial impact on the future operations fund of the district."

IPS collected about $90 million in property taxes overall in 2023, an increase of nearly 30% since 2019. IPS already has to share a portion of newly generated tax revenue from referendums with charter schools, but lawmakers including Behning want that sharing to be more widespread.

"Every parent, regardless of whether or not they choose the incumbent ... school district, are paying those property taxes," Behning said. "How do we better distribute that?"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While IPS says it's worried about the financial ramifications of SB 518, other public districts might not be in the same boat. Wayne Township schools, for example, has hundreds of students who choose to attend the district despite living in another district's boundaries.

The bill would result in the township district sending revenue to about 75 school districts and charter schools while receiving revenue from approximately 115 traditional public school districts, said spokesperson Jeannine Templeman. However, the district was unsure of the bill's exact economic impact.

"We will continue to work collaboratively with neighboring districts and legislators throughout the session on this and many other education-related bills," Templeman said.

Warren Township schools, which lose a net nearly 90 students annually to other public districts and charters, told IndyStar in a statement that voters expect their property taxes will be used to support their local public school districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We encourage the General Assembly to safeguard this critical connection between local taxpayers and their local school districts, ensuring that these institutions remain strong and continue to meet the needs of the communities they serve," said Dennis Jarrett, a spokesperson for Warren Township schools.

'Be vigilant but don't panic'

Even as discussion among lawmakers and lobbyists has moved to property-tax sharing, fears about dissolving IPS remain outside of the four walls of the Indiana Statehouse.

Leaders from the African American Coalition of Indianapolis, for example, held a press conference last week to decry a lack of transparency over the legislative process while negotiations between the district and lawmakers take place behind the scenes. Meanwhile, those leaders said, kids and families are scared.

"This has seemed very top down," said Willis Bright, chairman of the African American Coalition of Indianapolis. "Where have been the conversations with the families that will be most impacted by the shifts and changes that are being proposed?"

Tony Mason, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League, speaks about proposed legislation that would impact Indianapolis Public Schools.

Lobbyists who are closely watching education bills said it's important to watch the process closely even though they're skeptical that the bill to dissolve IPS will move forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Its a long legislative session," said Scott Bowling, executive director of the Indiana Association of School Business Officials Inc., which lobbies for public school districts' financial interests. "... Those concepts can come back. I would say be vigilant but don't panic."

The conversation about sharing property taxes, on the other hand, is a concept that "keeps coming back," Bowling said.

"It falls right in line with what they're talking about in terms of dollars following the child," he said. "We're still working on what our position on that is going to be. We want to make sure funding is strong for all different types of public schools in the state."

Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana lawmakers use controversial IPS dissolution bill to negotiate
MONTPELIER, VT- Vermont legislators are calling for support on a bill (H.74) that would gradually end state taxes on social security benefits. Those backing the bill say it could provide relief for middle-income retirees struggling to make ends meet.

Representatives Daniel Noyes and Jim Harrison, who introduced the bill, say Vermont is one of only nine states that still tax social security benefits. So far it has received bi-partisan support from 60 co-sponsors from across the state.

Allowing people to keep more of their social security will help them be able to age in place here in Vermont, said Noyes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the representatives, their plan phases out taxing benefits over the course of eight years. In the first year, the states current income exemption threshold would be raised by $15,000 for single filers and married couples. This would be followed by additional increases of $12,000 and $10,000 dollars annually in the coming years, leading to the full exemption of social security benefits by 2034.

In an ideal world wed repeal it tomorrow and not have it taxed, were being fiscally responsible in terms of our approach, said Harrison.

Mary Hayden, Executive Director of the Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging, tells me nearly one in four Vermont residents receives social security benefits.

We see this bill as one of the important efforts to make Vermont more affordable for older people and a more affordable state to grow old in, said Hayden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also says the bill could leave retirees with more money to put into the local economy.

Governor Scotts 20-26 budget proposal, released late Tuesday afternoon, addressed reducing taxes on social security income but recommended an exemption threshold increase of $5,000 less than half of what legislators are proposing.

For now, the H.74 bill has been referred to The House on Ways and Means Committee for review.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Old Capitol building on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. (Photo courtesy of University of Iowa)

Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad spoke Tuesday at a subcommittee meeting in support of legislation that would launch a school of intellectual freedom at the University of Iowa, countering critics who cited wastefulness and ideological drive.

House Study Bill 52 would place the school in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and have it staffed by five faculty members. Instruction would consist of the historical ideas, traditions and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society, according to the legislation, and the school would offer programming on free speech and civil discourse while fostering intellectual diversity and civic engagement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, chaired the subcommittee alongside Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, and Rep. Heather Hora, R-Washington.

Branstad, a UI alum, joined the subcommittee meeting to speak in support of the bill. He said a school like the one proposed in the legislation is truly needed.

The reason for the bill is the future of our country is dependent on citizens that are well informed and cherish and celebrate the American heritage, and thats something that I think is really important for our country, especially in this day and age when we see a lot of concern and a lot of lack of  respect for other viewpoints, Branstad said.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Iowa Board of Regents and UI representative Keith Saunders said in the meeting the university is already working to establish a center for civic dialogue and leadership, and has submitted plans to the board of regents to be discussed at its February meeting. It will be similar to the center already approved at the University of Northern Iowa and one in development at Iowa State University, as they were brought forward at the direction of the board of regents.

Andy Conlin, speaking in the meeting for the Cicero Institute and the Foundation for Government Accountability, said he was happy to hear the UI would be moving in the direction of its sister universities and codifying this bills legislation would ensure the new center would remain in perpetuity. Florida, Ohio, Texas and Tennessee have also passed bills like this one for its universities, he said, with positive results.

UI alum Emma Denney called the bill pointless during public comment, saying she doesnt get how someone could look at the UIs academic programming in its departments of history and American studies and think the university isnt teaching what this school would be required to offer.

Denney and another speaker said they believe the legislation is an ideological project motivated by the Legislatures disagreement with diversity, equity and inclusion on campus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I find this a laughable and ridiculous waste of money, time and resources, and I, frankly, find it ideologically motivated and pathetic, Denney said.

Branstad responded to Denneys comments by saying her view is your way or the highway, adding his belief that most of the political science teachers at the UI where he studied were socialists but that all viewpoints should be represented.

Jacoby started out his comments on the legislation by asking who was chair of the committee, Collins or Branstad, and said he was just practicing his civil discourse by seeking clarification. He questioned the use of the term intellectual freedom, which he interpreted to mean that hate speech is free speech, and said this legislation feels more like one meant for the national stage and not for Iowa.

Drawing from the Manhattan Institute presentation given to the higher education committee previously, Jacoby said the survey policy analyst Neetu Arnold conducted to learn about the issues plaguing Iowa higher education included only 50 people, or less than 1% of the state population. Jacoby said it concerns him to think the Legislature would craft bills based off the wants of such a small group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also took umbrage with the fact that the legislation only names the UI, rather than all of the state universities, and said he has drafted amendments to add them as well as private universities who take students in the Iowa Tuition Grant program to the bill.

I like intellectual freedom. I like freedom if its intellectual. The definition of intellectual, which is helpful at times  is the use of intellect, developed by facts and cause, not emotion, Jacoby said. This seems to be a little bit of an emotional bill in my  civil discourse opinion.

The bill passed out of subcommittee with support from Collins and Hora, who was in caucus at the time. It will head to the Iowa House Higher Education Committee for further consideration.

I think this was a good exercise in civic dialogue, Collins said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Del. Holly Seiblold, D-Fairfax, speaks at a rally outside Virginia's Capitol on Jan. 8, 2025 in protest of allegations of mistreatment of inmates and prolonged use of solitary confinement at Red Onion and Wallens Ridge state prisons. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Mike Berryman vividly recalls freezing nights in his prison cell, where the cold was so intense he could sometimes see his breath. On humid nights, he said, ice would form on the walls. By summer, the opposite was true  his cell became stifling, leaving him drenched in sweat.

Ive never been so close to madness in my life, because theres nothing you could do to shake the heat, Berryman said in an interview.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michelle Griffin, who advocates for incarcerated individuals, highlighted how dangerous these extreme conditions can become for people with health issues or severe mental illness. Prolonged discomfort, she said, also increases the risk of infractions for people who lash out or talk back under a strain  potentially jeopardizing their ability to stay on track for release.

Avoiding infractions was crucial for Berryman, who was released last summer through Virginias Earned Sentence Credit program. The initiative allows incarcerated people to reduce their time behind bars by maintaining good behavior and participating in educational programs. Now Berryman has traveled to Virginias Capitol to advocate for reforms that could improve conditions for those still incarcerated.

Were legislating basic human needs here, said Del. Holly Seibold, D-Fairfax, exhaling deeply as she waved a stack of letters from incarcerated people at her desk in Virginias General Assembly Building.

The stories Seibold hears from constituents and prison visits she made last summer continue to fuel her drive for reform. One area where she believes progress is possible this year is prison temperature regulation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her House Bill 1894 stems from the observations she made during her prison visit last year, where she noted that thermometers were often placed in open common areas, not in individual cells where inmates spend most of their time. Both Seibold and Berryman have pointed out the irony that state law protects pets from extreme temperatures, yet similar protections dont exist for those under the states care.

Seibolds legislation would require prisons to provide residents with individual fans or insulating materials when temperatures fall above 80 degrees or below 65 degrees in peoples cells. A fiscal impact statement notes that the Department of Corrections would also be tasked with studying the implementation cost for remote monitoring systems and reporting back to the legislature by October.

Carla Miles, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Corrections declined to comment on the pending legislation but confirmed that the department has requested $76 million in funding to install air conditioning in facilities that currently lack it. The project, she said, would require upgrades to electrical systems, fire alarms, windows, and potentially roofs.

While acknowledging the significant cost, Seibold hopes the state can start by providing simpler measures like insulated blankets, additional clothing, and fans. She shared correspondence with a supplier and VADOC officials showing that individual fans range in price from $19 to $33.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill faced some pushback from Del. Tony Wilt, R-Harrisonburg. He recently raised concerns about potential misuse. Wilt referenced incidents at Red Onion State Prison where inmates reportedly tampered with electrical outlets to harm themselves, following allegations of poor conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile Seibold countered that the department already allows incarcerated individuals to purchase fans from commissaries, and her bill would ensure those unable to afford one  or facing inventory shortages  are not left without basic tools to stay comfortable.

Berryman recalled how a quick cold shower offered temporary relief from sweltering heat in his prison cell, but even that wasnt always an option. During frequent lockdowns, inmates were confined to their cells for hours or even weeks at a time, making it impossible to access showers.

Lockdowns, Berryman explained, occur for various reasons, including staff shortages when correctional officers call in sick or are reassigned for prisoner transport (a study also highlighted how facilities in Virginia are presently understaffed). Lockdowns can also follow fights or other security incidents, leaving all inmates confined, regardless of involvement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill, now advancing through the legislature, is set for review by a House Finance subcommittee. If approved, it would need to clear the full House before heading to the Senate and, potentially, Gov. Glenn Youngkins desk.





SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A voter walks to the booths to cast her ballot in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Longfellow Elementary School in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

State lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill that would let the Idaho governor veto laws passed directly by voters.

The bill by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, would let the governor veto successful ballot initiatives  similar to how the governor can veto laws passed by the Idaho House and Senate.

Idaho state Reps. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, and Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome, listen to proceedings during the House State Affairs Committee on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

In the Legislature, lawmakers can hear from experts and staff to understand bills, he said. The governors veto is a good protection for a misinformed electorate if they dont get the information like we get to have, Skaug said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If an initiative passes with at least two-thirds support from voters, the bill says the initiative petition shall be approved without the need for the governors approval. Skaug said thats similar to the legislative process, which lets two-thirds of state lawmakers override gubernatorial vetoes.

Idaho House Minority Caucus Chair Todd Achilles also noted the bill doesnt appear to add gubernatorial vetoes to referendums  another voter power outlined in the Idaho Constitution that lets voters approve or reject laws passed by the Legislature.

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday introduced the bill on a unanimous voice vote.

This is an extreme attack on the rights of Idaho citizens, Luke Mayville, who co-founded the group Reclaim Idaho that has supported several recent Idaho ballot initiatives, told the Idaho Capital Sun in a text message. No other state in the country gives a single elected official the power to overrule the will of the voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Skaug told the Sun in a text message he did not work with the governors office on the bill, but he did notify the governors staff that he intended to introduce it. A spokesperson for Gov. Brad Little declined to comment, saying the governors office doesnt comment on pending legislation.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Introducing the bill tees it up for a full committee hearing, including public testimony and a possible vote to advance it to the Idaho House floor.

The bill is expected to be publicly available shortly on the Idaho Legislatures website.

If passed into law, the bill would take effect immediately through an emergency clause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to Skaug, Sens. Ben Adams, R-Nampa, and Doug Okuniewicz, R-Hayden, are listed as bill co-sponsors.

Bill draws on Idahos legislative processes

If voters pass a ballot initiative with less than two-thirds support, the bill would give the governor five days to approve or veto the initiative.

If the governor vetoes the initiative, the bill says the Idaho Secretary of State shall then cause the initiative petition to be once again submitted to the voters at the next general election.

The governor can veto laws passed by the Idaho Legislature. But state lawmakers can also override gubernatorial vetoes  with two-third support.

The Idaho Constitution lets voters pass laws independent of the Idaho Legislature, through ballot initiatives. But Skaug said the constitution is silent on the role of the governor.

Idaho state Rep. Todd Achilles (right) talks with Rep. Brooke Green, both D-Boise, prior to the Jan. 7, 2025, meeting of the House State Affairs Committee. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Case law says the peoples right to initiate legislation is essentially the same as the Legislatures, Skaug said. And because the Legislature cannot enact law independent of presentment to the governor for a veto or a signature, should not the initiative process undergo the same: to be presented to the governor for a possible veto or signing?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Achilles asked if any other state lets governors veto ballot initiatives or referendums.

I do not know, Skaug replied. I didnt bother to look.

Bill follows years of attempts by Idaho lawmakers to limit citizen ballot initiative process

Skaug is also sponsoring a bill this year that would require ballot initiatives to receive at least 60% of approval votes to pass. To pass now, Idaho ballot initiatives must receive a simple majority of support, or 50% of the vote plus one.

Skaug told the Sun in a text Wednesday he would not pursue the heightened approval threshold bill if the governor veto bill advances to the House floor.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

The bills this year follow years of legislative proposals targeting the Idaho ballot initiative process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2021, the Idaho Supreme Court blocked a ballot initiative law that wouldve raised the signature threshold required for initiatives to get on the ballot, ruling that the law violated the Idaho Constitution, the Sun previously reported.

In 2018, nearly 61% of Idaho voters approved a law expanding Medicaid to cover a broader range of low-income earners, after years of stalled legislative proposals to address a health insurance assistance gap in Idaho. Reclaim Idaho spearheaded that effort.

Last week, the Idaho House introduced a bill to repeal that law.

But in November 2024, over 69% of Idaho voters rejected an election reform ballot initiative that wouldve opened Idahos closed, partisan primary elections to all voters; create a top-four primary; and allow voters to use ranked-choice voting in general elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reclaim Idaho supported that initiative, commonly called the open primaries initiative, along with a coalition of groups. Out-of-state campaign spending accounted for at least $1.9 million out of $2.8 million raised by a political action committee supporting the measure by October, the Sun reported.

Skaug says that influx of out-of-state spending was part of why he is bringing the initiative bills this year.

Why, after 100 plus years and only 15 successful initiatives in Idaho history, you would think now is the time to assume that the Constitution was inappropriately silent on the role of the governor? Achilles asked.

We just went through an initiative process where the initiative failed. That there were so many lies that were out there, propelled by millions of dollars from out of state, some in state, Skaug replied.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A controversial bill that would have allowed Wyoming landowners to sell their big-game tags for a profit will not move forward in the state legislature, according to a letter signed by multiple conservation organizations and shared with Outdoor Life Wednesday. These organizations, representing the interests of everyday hunters, have pushed back on the bill since it was introduced Jan. 16, citing concerns that it could lead to the privatization of Wyomings big-game herds.

After meeting with the bills sponsors and Wyoming wildlife officials earlier this week, the groups explain in the letter, an agreement was reached to set the legislation aside. The bills sponsor did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and its status has not yet been updated on the states online legislation tracker.

Fostering a bridge between hunters and generational ranchers is a huge step in the right direction, Wyoming Wildlife Federation government affairs director Jess Johnson says of the decision. Instead of a fight, this is now an opportunity for the betterment of Wyoming.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jan. 28, 2025. In Wyoming, landowners receive big-game hunting tags to help maintain wildlife habitat and wildlife managment goals on their property. Thats nothing new. What is new is what they might be able to do with those tags if an introduced bill passes the state legislature. Senate Bill 118, which is being spearheaded by a newly elected legislator, aims to make those tags transferrable, meaning landowners could sell them to whoever they wanted.

This is a step too far, Wyoming Wildlife Federation government affairs director Jess Johnson told Outdoor Life Monday during a break between legislative sessions. This is a step in the wrong cultural direction for sportsmen. We cannot let this go through.

Under Wyomings current allocation system, landowners are eligible for a pair of draw-only tags  including two each for elk, deer, pronghorn, and turkey  for every 160 acres they own. This 160-acre minimum was also the standard used for Western homesteaders in the late 1800s under the Homestead Act, so its still a common parcel size today.

Those landowners must also prove that wildlife inhabit and utilize their properties. For a wild herd of elk, that amounts to a minimum of 500 elk on the property for at least four days a year. Legislators who support the bill (some of whom are large landowners themselves) say that making tags transferrable can help ranchers diversify their income streams during tough times. The current bill does not mention any caps on the amount those tags could go for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ranchers are hurting right now, Laura Pearson, a Wyoming Senator and sheep rancher based in Kemmerer, told WyoFile. Itd give ranchers and farmers the ability to sell or give those tags to whomever we want.

Read Next: Film: Public-Land Elk Hunters and Ranchers Can Be Good Neighbors. Heres How

In an interview with Cowboy State Daily, executive vice president of Wyoming Stock Growers Association Jim Magnana said the group supports the idea of giving landowners more options for their tags.

But its a complex issue, he acknowledged. And there needs to be some work on the details.

The bill in its current form designates Wyoming Game and Fish Commission as the governing entity for the new landowner tag resale program. But Johnson said that in a surprise move on Jan. 23, the bill hopped committees, moving from the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee to the Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im incredibly worried about it. Most of the time our wildlife and hunting bills go through our Wildlife Committee, but this bill was re-routed to ag, Johnson explained. I hope landowners with tags in the legislature recuse themselves from the vote because it is such a conflict of interest. If this passes there will be areas in this state that go almost entirely to landowners [with no limited draw tags left for the public.]

The proposed legislation also comes amid a larger push for transferrable landowner tags in the West and other states. This worries everyday hunters, who say the practice is essentially privatizing the publics wildlife. They point to a state like New Mexico, where elk tags are sold by landowners to the highest bidders and can fetch up to $12,000, as proof of their concerns. And they say the recent Senate bill in Wyoming is an attempt to drive a wedge between the two most vocal, and sizable, constituencies in the Cowboy State.

Read Next: Report Finds That New Mexicos Elk Licensing System Favors Wealthy Landowners and Out-of-Staters Over Residents

Most of the time agriculture and sportsmen get along really well. Sportsmen know ag helps the creatures we love here, Johnson said. That said, landowner tag transfer is such a decisive issue here that many in ag also view it as an issue that further separates sportsmen from ag in a time when we are trying to make sure our working landscapes continue in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department issued 3,507 landowner licenses statewide last year at $39 apiece, according to a fiscal note accompanying the bill, which doesnt mention for which species or how many applications WGFD received. But Johnson says that if the bill passes, that number is likely to go way up.

A lot of landowners dont hunt, but if you put a monetary value on this, thats going to incentivize landowners to put in.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  After federal agents shut down a major cannabis grow in Torrance County, theres new attention on a proposal that could make it easier for counties to put a pause on new cannabis producer licenses. Weve been at a loss as to what to do and how to move forward. How many more can Torrance County handle and should they handle? said Torrance County Commissioner Kevin McCall.

Story continues below

Just how many cannabis grows can a county handle is at the heart of a new bill lawmakers are weighing in Santa Fe nearly a week after the feds shut down an alleged illegal operation near Estancia. Current state law doesnt let New Mexicos local governments deny permits for cannabis growing operations. TorranceCounty said it has more than 35 cannabis producers there alone. At some point, we as a county want to say enough is enough, weve got enough, said McCall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The county said the grows have taken a toll on county roads, cause light pollution, and create an odor. Some constituents have also raised concerns about water usage.

Now, in a bipartisan effort, Sen. Liz Stefanics (D- San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance & Valencia), Rep. Stefani Lord (R- Bernalillo & Torrance), and Rep. Anita Gonzales (D- San Miguel & Torrance) are introducing SB 152 which would give county governments a say in pausing cannabis grower licenses. This bill would allow counties to petition the Regulation and Licensing Department for a two-year moratorium on cannabis grow permits in their counties, said Sen. Stefanics.

If a county files a petition, the bill allows the State Regulation and Licensing Department to have the final say on if the pause on new licenses would take effect. Its about letting the counties get in control of what they are being asked to let happen in their counties, said Sen. Stefanics.

Reacting to the bill, prominent cannabis operator Duke Rodriguez, said the real discussion should be around the number of retail licenses the state allows.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Mexico Association of Counties told KRQE that Torrance County isnt the only county that has stated the need to control cannabis producer licensing in their area better.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Commonwealth Media Service photo).

A law that aims to protect those who take steps to prevent opioid overdoses from discrimination by insurance companies unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee on Tuesday.

House Bill 111, sponsored by state Rep. Gina Curry (D-Delaware), would prohibit life insurers from denying, canceling, charging a different rate, or limiting coverage to an applicant solely for obtaining a prescription for an opioid overdose reversal agent, such an Naloxone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Curry called the legislation Lloyds Law in honor of her constituent, Sharon White, whose son, Lloyd, lost his life to opioid use. White had Naloxone in her prescription profile in an effort to help her son and was denied life insurance as a result.

The bill aims to protect families like Sharons, ensuring that they can access life-saving medications without facing discrimination, Curry said Tuesday. By doing so, it helps to support those in the recovery community, aiming to end the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and to encourage more people to seek help when needed.

House Bill 111 represents a vital step in combating the opioid epidemic and ensuring individuals can access necessary life saving medications without facing unjust discrimination from insurers, she added.

The legislation passed the state House last session in June 2024 by a 201-0 vote, but was not considered in the state Senate.

The committee also unanimously approved a pair of measures, House Bills 211 and 261, which updates outdated language in two of Pennsylvanias insurance laws that currently refer to physical handicaps and mental retardation with physical disability and intellectual disability.
State legislation that would make it easier for victims of the Los Angeles County fires to receive one year of mortgage relief will move ahead, despite voluntary agreements Gov. Gavin Newsom reached with hundreds of lenders.

Assembly Bill 238 would allow borrowers to put a stop to their mortgage payments for up to 180 days with no fees, penalties or interest, simply by attesting  without documentation  that the fires caused a financial hardship. The relief could be extended another 180 days at the property owner's request.

The bill also would prohibit a mortgage servicer from initiating a foreclosure, and moving for or executing a foreclosure judgment or sale.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: California banks and credit unions offer mortgage relief to fire victims, Newsom announces

This should be the industry standard across the board and I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders to make this a reality for all those who were impacted by the wildfires," said Assemblymember and co-sponsor John Harabedian, (D-Pasadena), whose district includes hard-hit Altadena.

The bill, co-sponsored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), whose district includes Pacific Palisades, was introduced prior to Newsom's agreements with several big banks and hundreds of state-chartered lenders to provide mortgage relief  but not on as generous terms.

Those agreements provided for streamlined processes to seek 90-days of relief from payments, without accruing late fees or being dinged by credit bureaus, and protections from new foreclosure of eviction actions for at least 60 days. It is being offered to borrowers whose properties were damaged or destroyed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federally chartered Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Citibank and U.S. Bank reached an agreement with Newsom to provide the voluntary relief on Jan. 18, following by 270 state-chartered banks last week.

Read more: Some L.A. fire victims are not getting claims advances as required by law, state says

Among the state banks participating in the program are Banc of California, Hanmi Bank and PennyMac Loan Services.

City National Bank, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada and the largest bank headquartered in the county, added its name this week to the roster of lenders providing mortgage relief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Assembly bill would typically be referred to a committee for a hearing in the spring, but Harabedian's office said the lawmaker will be seeking other options to expedite the legislation.

The bill has nine principal co-authors, nearly all representing districts including Los Angeles County.

Read more: Fire victims seek answers about rebuilding, cleanup timeline

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.
Jack Ciattarelli, left, and Bill Spadea are both seeking the GOP nod for governor this year. (Photos by Amanda Brown, Hal Brown, and Dana DiFilippo)

Attorneys for gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli called on New Jerseys campaign finance watchdog to withhold matching funds from rival Bill Spadea, arguing that Spadeas campaign has improperly reaped benefits from his morning radio show.

The complaint filed Tuesday revives protests made months ago by Ciattarelli and another gubernatorial hopeful, Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), that claimed Spadeas daily presence on New Jersey 101.5 amounted to in-kind contributions from the stations owner worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in violation of contribution limits and other rules on New Jerseys gubernatorial public financing program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their intentional circumvention of the contribution limits and their actions in light of the Commissions admonitions earlier this year should preclude Spadea, who is due to host his final radio show Thursday, from receiving matching funds, Ciattarellis campaign said in Tuesdays filing.

The filing says Townsquare Media, which owns the radio station, has provided Spadea with a platform to boost his name recognition, advance his campaign, curry favor with party officials and donors, and launch attacks against his opponents.

The filing claims New Jersey 101.5 deleted content by Spadea that could have been used to attack him and that Spadea used his radio show, podcast, and their social media pages to attack gubernatorial opponents with the companys full knowledge.

Spadeas campaign called the complaint an effort, driven by fear, to waylay the radio hosts candidacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just like the Biden-Harris swamp tried to take down President Trump with lawfare, the flailing Ciattarelli campaign is yet again attempting to do the same thing to Bill Spadea, said Tom Bonfonti, Spadeas campaign manager. Jack has been running for Governor for nearly a decade and yet he is only at 26% against a first-time candidate for statewide office.

Ciattarelli and Spadea are among about a half-dozen Republicans running in Junes primary for their partys nod to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy next year. Bramnick and former state Sen. Ed Durr are also candidates.

Ciattarellis campaign said the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission should bar Spadea from receiving matching funds under the states gubernatorial public financing program  which offers a 2-to-1 match on donations to eligible candidates in exchange for capping the funds they can raise and spend  and impose significant fines on the company.

Some of the Ciattarelli complaint centers around a disclaimer Townsquare Media runs in advance of Spadeas show  which says Townsquare and the station do not endorse or support Spadeas bid  that the stations owners have previously said is an attempt to distance itself from Spadeas campaign. Ciattarellis filing notes the disclaimer mentions Spadeas candidacy four times, and is meant to spread knowledge of his candidacy and boost name recognition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The disclaimer was unnecessary, Ciattarellis attorneys said, because Spadea could have simply remained on air without mentioning his candidacy or advocating for his election on air.

However, simply ignoring Spadeas candidacy did not further the interests of Spadea, his campaign or Townsquare, the complaint says.

Though the election commission last year declined to impose sanctions on Spadeas campaign or require him to step back from the radio show, Commissioner Ryan Peters said at the time the disclaimer sounds like a promotion of the radio hosts campaign.

Spadeas campaign denied breaching any campaign finance rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bill has fully complied with the law and this is the second time Jacks tried lawfare in front of ELEC. Jack and his campaign are scared, Bonfonti said. They should be.

Tuedays complaint notes the same 53 second-long disclaimer appeared before episodes of Spadeas podcast, Common Ground, on YouTube. Those videos also show still images of Spadea at events hosted by Common Sense New Jersey, a nonprofit with a political arm founded by Spadea.

Spadea, Ciattarellis campaign argued, has used that podcast  also funded by Townsquare  to court support from Republican officials. It hosted some who later endorsed Spadeas campaign.

His podcasts focus on these individuals is no coincidence. It is part of a concerted effort to use Townsquares resources to benefit Spadeas campaign. Any other candidate would be forced to spend valuable campaign resources to seek the support of these individuals and attend their events, the complaint said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The complaint alleges further action by Townsquare to boost Spadeas candidacy. After Kitchen Table Conservatives  an independent expenditure group with ties to Ciattarelli  launched ads highlighting Spadeas past criticism of Trump, Townsquare Media reposted and publicized a months-old interview Spadea conducted with President Donald Trump, then a candidate.

The station later posted a more than four-year-old clip in response to similar criticism, and it republished a column by Spadea that included attacks against Ciattarelli and Bramnick after opponents circulated clips from 2018 showing Spadea backing amnesty for undocumented immigrants.

Ciattarellis campaign called on the commission to withhold matching funds from Spadea until it could determine the value of coordinated expenditures, or in-kind contributions, it alleges Townsquare has made to the radio hosts gubernatorial bid.

To be considered a coordinated expenditure, communications must include a direct appeal for election or be heard by an audience substantially composed of eligible voters, contain political objectives or achievements, and include some form of cooperation or consent by the candidate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Absent a direct appeal for election, the communications are also subject to a time bar. In the case of gubernatorial candidates, that clock started ticking on Jan. 1. Ciattarellis campaign said it had been quoted a rate of $500 per minute for airtime on New Jersey 101.5

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Senate President Ben Albritton, left, Speaker Daniel Perez, left, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, center. (Photos by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

While Florida lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis are in a standoff over illegal-immigration legislation, theres one part of the measure that has received little discussion but deeply worries social service and immigration advocates.

Buried in the measures moving through the House and Senate is a provision that makes it a duty and obligation for public or private agencies, persons, partnerships, corporations, or businesses holding contracts with the state or that act on behalf of any public agency to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal immigration laws and the protection of the borders of the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pinellas Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross suggested the language seems quite broad, although House bill sponsor Lawrence McClure defended it, saying, Everyone who does business in the private sector with the state government has a duty to cooperate.

Worth noting: There is no penalty for businesses that dont comply with the mandate.

The House and Senate were still debating the legislation as of this posting.

Bucking the governor

Gov. Ron DeSantis called the Legislature into special session this week to address immigration and a spate of other issues he said need attention before lawmakers meet in the regularly scheduled 60-day legislative session that begins in March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The House and Senate convened, as they are constitutionally required to do, and took the opportunity to override DeSantis veto of roughly $57 million for legislative operations.

Both chambers adjourned and agreed to reconvene is a second special session, this one called by the Legislature, and introduced identical pieces of legislation, HB 1B and SB 2B. Among other things, the bills designate Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as the states chief immigration officer and eliminate millions of dollars the Legislature has given the governors office over the past two years for immigration enforcement.

DeSantis has vociferously opposed the bills, posting on social media and appearing on the Sean Hannity show accusing the Legislature of participating in swampy politics.

While disagreements have emerged between the Legislature and DeSantis in the past over policy, this level of discord hasnt been seen since the governor took office. Lobbyists who fear aggravating either the Legislature of the governor have remained low key. For example, the states largest hospital lobby, the Florida Hospital Association, had not responded to Florida Phoenixs request for comment as of this posting.

Trumps executive orders

The House and Senate bills come on the heels on executive orders issued by the Trump administration that he says removed restrictions that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement from raiding locations such as schools, houses of worship, and hospitals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mandate on public and private businesses that contract with the state is one of many that concerns Karen Woodall, executive director of the Florida Center for Fiscal & Economic Policy, has with the legislation.

Theres basically no safe space, Woodall said  the broad language will affect hospitals, domestic violence centers, and schools, among other entities.

The Legislature in 2023 passed an immigration bill (SB 1718) that requires any hospital that accepts Medicaid to inquire about whether the patient is a U.S. citizen, is lawfully present in the United States, or is not lawfully present in the United States.

Although people arent mandated to answer the questions, hospitals are legally required to ask and submit quarterly submit reports to the state Agency for Health Care Administration, which is charged with regulating health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 2024 report issued by AHCA shows that of the 1,720,554 total hospital admissions between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, 4,022 (0.81%) admitted patients reported not being legal residents.

Another 132,972 (7.73%) refused to answer the question.

Data were similar for emergency room visits. Of the 4,787,629 patients there, 39,758 (0.83%) reported not legally residing in the country and another 349,199 (7.29%) refused to answer the question.

AHCA notes in the report that of those who refused to answer the question, Some portion of those responses contain respondents who were in the country illegally.

SB 1718 put the burden on facilities to ask the question but didnt make it a duty for hospitals to work with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. The new legislation would impose that burden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Woodall worries that the new duty for hospitals to enforce immigration laws may deter some folks from seeking emergency care.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Children and Families, Florida has 41 certified domestic violence centers that offer temporary emergency shelter, advocacy, and crisis intervention, resources necessary to be safe and live free of violence.

Communities living in fear make all of us unsafe.

 Karen Woodhall, Florida Center for Fiscal & Economic Policy

ICE at school

While Trumps immigration orders allow ICE officers to enter schools, Woodall worries that under the state legislation schools could contact ICE officers who could wait for parents as they pick their children up from bus stops or walk them home from school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She concedes the bill sponsors insist that isnt the goal, but saidtheres nothing in the measure that prevents that from occurring.

If they dont intend for that to happen, then they need to put language in there that says that, Woodall said.

Meanwhile, Broward Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman questioned during debate on the bill if teachers and social workers would have to report an undocumented kindergartener to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

To the extent that the federal government ask that of our state, yes, responded Hillsborough Rep. Lawrence McClure, the House sponsor of the bill. However, he recanted his answer after Bartleman pointed out that doing so would violate The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects students immigration status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What I want to know [is] how the bill sponsors statements interact when teachers and social workers are prohibited under FERPA to disclose any kind of immigration information to anyone, Bartleman said on the House floor. They risk violating a federal law. Its a Supreme Court case, and they risk losing their license in the state of Florida.

As long as FERPA is the law of the land, teachers wont have to disclose the information, McClure said.

Meanwhile Woodall also worries that the provision could affect the poor elderly, some of whom rely on programs such as Meals on Wheels.

Frankly, we are all at risk with this. When we create anything that makes anybody unsafe in our communities  and Im not talking about the rapist and the people who have committed crimes that they say this is about that they already have the ability to go after, Im talking about the communities. Communities living in fear make all of us unsafe.

This story was updated to include House debate on the measure.

Jackie Llanos contributed to this story

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

A bill to require the Office of Public Instruction to create human trafficking curriculum passed the Senate this week  after a debate over whether it pushed a woke agenda.

Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, said Senate Bill 107 intends to protect children by teaching them the signs of sex trafficking and human trafficking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Webber said Tuesday the country and Montana both have done a lot in recent years to address the problem, including the creation of a Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force.

A separate bill this session, House Bill 83, would allow the task force to raise money, and it also passed the House floor last week after avoiding an allegation it was woke.

Although Webber ticked off a long list of work Montana has taken up, she said SB 107 is the first preventive measure to stop the problem before it starts, and it would help all youth in Montana.

Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls, said he wasnt completely sold on the idea and proposed an amendment to encourage rather than require OPI to create the lessons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emrich said he worried the bill came with woke concerns after hearing comments from a supporter, and he argued its terms are complex and could confuse children.

In support of the change, Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, said the Legislature shouldnt dictate to another statewide official, and he believed doing so would be an egregious violation of the bodys authority.

Generally, Fuller said he approved of the bill but the amendment would make it more palatable.

Opposing the amendment, Sen. Derek Harvey, D-Butte, argued lawmakers have not had problems mandating directives to another branch of government  Republicans are keen on changing the courts this session  and he offered a different interpretation of how the bill dealt with one concept of being woke.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres parents that woke up without their kids in their bed, Harvey said. Theres kids laying in places that theyve never been before. And guess what? They woke up this morning in fear.

So if were going to talk about woke, lets talk about the reality of what these people are waking up to every day.

Sen. Cora Neumann, D-Bozeman, said Montana is a major trafficking corridor, and she said the amendment would void the bill altogether because OPI already is encouraged to develop those lessons. Neumann also said teachers can handle complexity.

To say our teachers wouldnt understand how to teach this is disrespectful to our teachers, Neumann said. We give them very complex curriculum all the time to learn and to pass on to their children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The amendment failed, and the bill passed second reading 44-6, with Emrich voting no, but Fuller in support.

In the House last week, a bill from Rep. Tyson Running Wolf to allow the MMIP Task Force to accept grants and donations passed with significant support, although it also faced an allegation it was a woke idea.

Rep. Lukas Schubert, R-Kalispell, said the problem of missing people is significant, but he alleged the legislation discriminates because many people who arent Native American also go missing.

Schubert pitched an amendment to prohibit state appropriations to the account and said he would fight back against the woke far-left agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Running Wolf described the amendment as unfriendly and said he adamantly opposed it, and Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, offered a short rebuke of the idea.

I recommend we send this amendment back to the playground where it belongs, Nikolakakos said.

A recent report from the task force, under the state Department of Justice, said Indigenous people make up 6.5% of Montanas population, but account for 30.6% of people reported missing.

Of the 2,263 persons reported missing in 2023, 1,570 were non-Indigenous and 693 were Indigenous, the report said: These numbers have remained consistent in previous years of study.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schuberts amendment failed on a 96-4 vote, with Republican representatives Caleb Hinkle, Fiona Nave, and Tracy Sharp joining Schubert in support of it.

The bill passed second reading with 100 members in support. It appropriates $1.

Schubert didnt vote in the third and final reading, when the bill passed with 97 yes votes. A vote roster counted two members excused and Schubert absent, although the Montana State News Bureau reported he was present in the chamber.
(WIVT/WBGH)  An independent film inspired by Binghamton is making its debut on an international stage.

Stationed at Home is making its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in March.

The unpredictable and comical film follows a taxi driver working the graveyard shift on Christmas Eve in 1998. Along the way, he meets a diverse group of strangers who, like him, are trying to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station flying across the night sky.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The film was shot entirely in Binghamton. It was written, directed, produced, and edited by Boston native Daniel Masciari.

Masciari first visited Binghamton while traveling from New York City to Ithaca. He says the energy of the city is magical.

Local film Stationed at Home almost complete

It feels in some ways like youre in another realm. To me as a filmmaker thats really exciting because you really want to give the audience a blanket, a place they feel cozy in, and so for me, Binghamton was always the place, said Masciari.

Stationed at Home will premiere on March 7. It will then make its film festival circuit before finding a home on streaming platforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Masciari says he plans to eventually hold a series of small-scale screenings here in Binghamton.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Grading public schools based on students poor attendance has gained bipartisan opposition in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle said they support tracking chronic absenteeism rates, but they called it unfair to penalize schools for it.

Students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year.

Chronic absenteeism is one of six factors that can impact a schools A-F grade on the Oklahoma State Report Cards. Federal law requires states to track and report chronic absenteeism rates, and at least 36 states use it while grading school performance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The head of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, proposed replacing chronic absenteeism on state report cards with a climate survey of a schools students, parents and employees. Under Pughs Senate Bill 711, attendance rates could count as a bonus for a schools A-F grade.

Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, filed similar legislation in the House with House Bill 1131 and House Bill 1412 to add a school climate survey to state report cards in place of chronic absenteeism. Changing a factor on the report cards requires approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

Pugh and Pogemiller said chronic absenteeism is important to measure, but they agreed student attendance is not something districts entirely control.

Schools arent in charge of bringing kids to school. Parents are, Pogemiller said. I know that districts across the state are trying their best to address chronic absenteeism and so that still should be a priority, but I dont think they should be evaluated by it on a metric thats so prominent on our state report card.

How Oklahoma schools' state report cards are impacted by chronic absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is worth 10 points on state report cards, the same point value as a high schools graduation rate, the progress of students learning English as a second language and post-secondary opportunities exposure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State testing performance, called academic achievement, carries the heaviest weight in a report card score followed by academic growth, which measures how much state test results have improved.

Pugh said it would be more logical for a schools A-F grade to reflect what students, parents, faculty and staff say about how their school is performing and how it could improve.

He said poor attendance reflects challenges existing in the broader community, and its an issue every state is trying to tackle.

I just feel its unfair to hold the school district accountable for something that might be a much bigger macro-level problem than just whats happening inside the school district, Pugh said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma bill could change schools' grading for chronic absenteeism
State Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland speaking alongside state Reps. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and state Sens. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus and Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Ohio lawmakers from both chambers and both sides of the aisle announced a measure Tuesday that would abolish the death penalty and prohibit any state funding from supporting abortion services or physician-assisted suicide.

Ohio law already bars state funding from subsidizing abortion, and physician-assisted suicide isnt legal in Ohio. But the sponsors described their three-part approach as a statement of values bridging the gap between two very different political outlooks. The proposals big tent approach to pro-life mirrors the Catholic churchs positioning on the idea, and representatives from the church were on hand to lend their support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sponsors placed their greatest emphasis on ending the death penalty, but outside groups are criticizing lawmakers for connecting three different policy questions and warning the bill could undermine access to abortion care.

Sponsors take

State Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, described how she previously supported the death penalty when she served in the Ohio legislature 20 years ago. What changed her mind was a book written by former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro. A few years ago, he co-wrote an op-ed with former Governor Bob Taft and former Attorney General Lee Fisher urging lawmakers to repeal the death penalty, explaining the punishment is expensive, ineffective, and unjust.

Schmidt framed her current stance as a question of human dignity.

Abortion, the death penalty, and assisted suicide all undermine the commitment to human dignity, she argued. To be consistent with our pro-life principles, we must oppose all three.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schmidt argued that all three proposals support the affirmation of life.

Our legislation will make sure that the state of Ohio does not fund death and preserves tax dollars for alternatives which promote life, she argued. Our commitment to protecting human life must be unwavering; prohibiting state funding for abortion, assisted suicide, and the death penalty creates a consistent, life-affirming ethic that upholds the dignity of life.

State Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, speaking alongside state Reps. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and state Sens. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus and Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Across the aisle, meanwhile, state Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, focused on practical resources.

Abolishing the death penalty is pragmatic, she argued. According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, abolishing the practice could save the state between $128 and $384 million. Can you imagine what kinds of proactive policies we could do with that?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even as she insisted the time to abolish Ohios death penalty is now  it has been for a long time, she didnt point to a particular ideal, but rather shifting political winds.

The new Trump administration wants to re-start capital punishment at the federal level and just last year lawmakers in Ohio proposed alternative methods to jumpstart executions.

We stand here today, progressive Democrats and conservative Republican colleagues, Antonio said. We may use different language to explain where we stand on the spectrum of our beliefs, but we agree that there is a moral imperative to end the use of the death penalty in the state of Ohio.

Schmidt and Antonio were joined by state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and state Sens. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus and Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyre still hammering out the final text of the legislation, although Mathews, in particular, noted they would draft it to ensure the proposal is not severable  i.e. a court cant remove one aspect of the legislation after the fact and leave the other provisions in effect.

Tough crowd

Although the measures sponsors indicated theyve lined up several more lawmakers ready to sign on to their bill, theyll face an uphill climb. Antonio backed a death penalty repeal with Huffman last session, and Schmidt sponsored companion legislation in the House. Neither bill cleared its committee.

Meanwhile, state Reps. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, sponsored a bill last year allowing executions to go forward using a process known as nitrogen hypoxia.

Well look, I mean, I fundamentally disagree with the premise, Stewart said of the proposal eliminating the death penalty and blocking funding for abortion or physician-assisted suicide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont think theres support in the state, he continued, or certainly in the Republican caucus, for eliminating the death penalty.

Stewart plans to reintroduce the nitrogen hypoxia bill, and like Antonio, he brought up the new presidential administration.

This week, President Trump introduced an executive order that I think puts the federal government squarely in favor of the death penalty, he argued, not only at the federal level, but it actually directs the entire federal apparatus to support states in obtaining lethal injection drugs and in preserving laws that enable capital punishment in all the states.

The proposal also got pushback from the Ohio chapters of the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Planned Parenthood Executive Director Lauren Blauvelt called the measure anti-democratic and argued it shows how low out of touch politicians will go to taint popular legislation with abortion stigma.

The sad reality is that what should have been a focused effort to end the death penalty in Ohio devolved into yet another anti-abortion spectacle, Blauvelt said. We can end the death penalty without sacrificing the gains we made for reproductive freedom. While ending the death penalty in Ohio has been long overdue, conservative politicians have added unconstitutional abortion restrictions as a Trojan horse allowing our government to dictate our personal health care decisions.

In a joint statement, ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Freda Levenson and Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick blasted the bill for manipulatively interweav(ing) unrelated issues and expressed disappointment given what they see as progress building a coalition in opposition to the death penalty.

Our organization has maintained an anti-death penalty stance since our founding, they said, but this bait and switch bill is a wolf in sheeps clothing, slyly designed to limit how public funds can be used for abortion care and coverage. Furthermore, supporting death with dignity is a longstanding ACLU principle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sponsors insisted that nothing in their bill would violate the reproductive rights amendment approved by voters in 2023, but the ACLU isnt so sure. In particular, they worry the blanket prohibition on state funding could wind up denying access to abortion medications.

This proposed legislation violates the Ohio Constitution by deliberately undercutting the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, they warned. Should this bill pass, litigation is not off the table.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Birmingham Board of Education rejected an application Tuesday from Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School to open a campus in the city.

The school originally tried to land in Birmingham but ended up in Bessemer. The school hopes to expand and open a campus near A.H. Parker High School but has faced opposition from residents and the board.

2 students taken to hospital following school bus crash in Cullman County

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mauri Robinson, Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High Schools director of operations and finance, said the school plans to appeal.

We understand that the Birmingham City School Board made their decision, Robinson said. Thats been the history, so weve been certainly prepared for that, and though we understand and respect their decision, were going to move forward. Just like a plane when it deals with turbulence, it doesnt mean that it doesnt reach their destination. Were committed to providing a quality educational option for the citizens of Birmingham.

Robinson said its open enrollment time for the upcoming school 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 CBS 42.
This story originally published in 2024, but has been updated to reflect that three judges and a clerk have been sworn in.

Jackson, Mississippi, resident and organizer Rukia Lumumba is frustrated with a federal appeals court decision that allows Mississippi to move forward with its separate, state-run court system in her hometown.

Backed by a mostly white, Republican-controlled Legislature, Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law last year HB 1020 and SB 2343, which respectively establish a separate judicial system and increase police presence in the majority-Black capital city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers claimed the bills would reduce crime in Jackson. But, organizers like Lumumba, the executive director of the Peoples Advocacy Institute, say its an attempt to undermine the authority of the Black leadership and voting power of residents.

The NAACP filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the court plan, but U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate denied the request in a Dec. 31, 2023 decision, a day before the law was set to go into effect. He wrote that the plaintiffs failed to establish injury or standing.

The individual Plaintiffs in the case  residents of and registered voters in Jackson, Mississippi  allege that they are threatened with prosecution and conviction, Wingate wrote. None of the Plaintiffs has alleged that he or she is in actual or imminent danger of experiencing any concrete and particularized injury resulting from the establishment of the CCID Court or the challenged appointment of a judge or prosecutors for that court.

Following the ruling, the NAACP filed an appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which granted a temporary stay that blocked the courts opening. But on Jan. 4, 2024, the three-judge appeals panel upheld Wingates decision in a unanimous vote, vacated the temporary administrative stay, and denied a request for injunction, ruling the plaintiffs lack standing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the court to legitimize a bill that essentially allows for direct and systematic discrimination based on race and class to be established  its extremely problematic, Lumumba told Capital B. It exposes why it is so important that community members be afforded an opportunity to participate fully in the legislative process every year.

On Friday, three judges and a clerk were sworn in to the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court in Jackson, which covers downtown and northeast parts of the city, the Clarion Ledger reported. This week, the court officially opened, a year later than initially planned.

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph appointed three veteran judges, which include James Holland, Christopher Collins, and Stanley Alexander, who is Black. Bryana McDougal, who previously served as deputy clerk in the states Supreme Courts office, will serve as the court clerk.

Advocates and civil and voting rights organizations fear this decision will not only create a road map for other states to implement similar legislation, but increase discriminatory acts, displacement and racial profiling toward Black people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This ruling speaks to a time-old story of white privilege and power silencing Black voices and degrading Black presence, Kyle Bibby, the chief of campaigns and programs at Color of Change, said in a statement. In 2023, Texas Republicans passed House Bill 2127, stripping significant powers of self-governance from liberal cities to push a statewide conservative agenda.

The Texas bill, which Democrats nicknamed the Death Star bill because of its wide-ranging scope, is primarily about control, one political analyst told the Associated Press. Touching everything from labor to agriculture, it prevents local governments from implementing policies that dont comply with state law.

Bibby added that he doesnt expect this trend of neglect to slow down anytime soon, because our democracy is so closely intertwined with the disregard of Black communities  Black communities whose voting strength terrifies Republican power structures.

Read more: Jackson Residents Join Fight to Stop Law That Strips Away Voting Power

Danyelle Holmes, organizer and executive director of the Mississippi Poor Peoples Campaign, referenced the previous attempts by state lawmakers to take over the citys assets and increase the presence of white Capitol Police officers over the majority-Black city. Already, residents have voiced concerns around safety and transparency when Capitol Police officers shot at least four people. Despite this, the governor has increased the Capitol Polices budget while the Jackson Police Department, which is led by a Black man, has struggled to obtain funding from the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve seen the attempt where they tried to create a city within a city in order to protect the elite while leaving those that are less fortunate than the elite unprotected. This move has nothing to do with public safety, but everything to do with racism  with modern day slavery, Holmes said. Mississippi is going back to what they used to call back in the day a closed society. Theres an attempt to gentrify Jackson, and its clear the goal here is to displace poor and low wealth individuals, and make this city some sort of resort city in a city that wants to look like what it once was when it was predominantly white.

These strategies by Republicans nationwide to secure power and exert their conservative will over Black communities is also a very dangerous precedent and denies the Black vote and Black power, said April Albright, legal director and chief of staff at Black Voters Matter.

It is important for Black communities to be on watch and create their own blueprint for how to respond to such attacks.

Yes, the 5th Circuit made its decision, but they shouldnt stop there and take it higher to try to get a reversal. People also have to make their disgust known by going to statehouses and determine how to get more power in the statehouse, Albright said. We have to organize so we can wield power.

Stripped of political power

This latest struggle over the state-run court comes at a moment when Mississippi is already embroiled in several other voting rights controversies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The full 5th Circuit will rehear a case about a state Jim Crow-era provision that permanently bans from voting people convicted of certain felonies.

In 2023, a three-judge panel in August struck down the provision, which was adopted in 1890 in order to keep Black Americans from the franchise. The majority said that severing former offenders from the body politic forever only ensures that they will never be fully rehabilitated, continues to punish them beyond the terms their culpability requires, and serves no protective function to society. But the 5th Circuit in September vacated this decision when it agreed to revisit the case.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower courts decision that the ban violated the 14th and eighth amendments.

Despite the new court system, Lumumba added that she and other organizations will continue to push for legislative change to make the bill no longer enforceable, hold community meetings to keep residents informed, and challenge the state appropriations for the new court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most importantly, were going to be pushing for our ballot initiatives process [which allows residents to vote on amendments to the constitution] to be reinstated because we know that when the community is involved in making decisions about our welfare, we do a better job, oftentimes, than our state legislature when they act alone, she said.

The post Black Residents Liken Mississippis New Court System to Modern Day Slavery appeared first on Capital B News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Catholic Diocese will host a Blue Mass next month.

The special Mass, honoring first responders, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Saint Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa St.

All first responders are invited to attend El Pasos Catholic Diocese Blue Mass. This Mass will honor all those who serve and protect our community in the public safety field and pray for their future protection. Those who atend are encouraged to wear their uniforms and have a flag representing their agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People of all faiths are welcome. A social with refreshments will follow the Mass.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 28Projects that would bring 100 new housing units to downtown Manchester are scheduled to go before the city Planning Board next month.

The two projects involve Brady Sullivan Properties and are located within a mile of each other, including 60 units on the top two floors of the Brady Sullivan Plaza parking garage and 40 more in the former Manchester Mental Health Center on Elm Street.

Both projects appear on the agenda for the Thursday, February 6, Planning Board meeting at 6 p.m. in the aldermanic chambers at City Hall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first project proposes converting the existing office building at 1555 Elm Street, the former site of the Manchester Mental Health Center, into a mixed use building.

The conversion includes adding a residential multifamily building with 40 units, as well as a commercial use on the first floor facing Elm Street, and commercial use in an existing outbuilding on an adjacent lot.

'The exterior of the building will be improved and modernized while keeping the character of the building," the project application reads. "The majority of the proposed construction is to be interior renovations and facade alterations. This project will continue to aid Manchester and the surrounding region's pursuit of creating housing."

The two parcels involved occupy a block bordered by Elm Street, Blodget Street, Brook Street and Elm Street East Back. The subject parcels are not owned by the applicant, but sales negotiations are underway.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 40 multifamily residential units would occupy approximately two-thirds of the first floor, and all of the second floor of the existing building. The remaining one-third of space on the first floor (facing Elm Street) will be divided into two commercial spaces, one of which is anticipated to be a bank. The bank occupant of the 1555 Elm Street structure will also have tenancy in the building at 1541 Elm Street, to utilize the vacant drive-thru.

A fenced in dumpster enclosure will be installed and take the place of a parking stall. The existing curb cut on Brook Street is wider than what the current parking layout supports, and will be narrowed. Grass and a street tree will be installed in its place. Additional street trees will be added along Elm Street to bring the area up to its previous count of five street trees; only two currently remain and one of them is in poor health, the applicant states.

In the second project, Brady Sullivan Properties proposes adding 60 housing units to the top levels of the existing Brady Sullivan Plaza parking garage on Plaza Drive, also owned by Brady Sullivan.

The current existing six-level parking garage is located between Plaza Drive and Canal Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Most of the development will occur on those top floors of the garage, with the only ground floor changes being accessibility improvements and parking modernizations," the application reads.

"This project will be a unique opportunity to aid Manchester and the surrounding region's pursuit of creating housing, while continuing to support commuters and patrons of the surrounding downtown establishments."

The building has a sky bridge connection to the Brady Sullivan Plaza over Plaza Drive. Plaza Drive is a private way and recently has begun a redevelopment as part of Brady Sullivan's residential conversion of part of the Brady Sullivan Plaza Building at 1000 Elm St.

"The existing parking structure has been under-utilized since the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent loss of several commercial/retail tenants in the Brady Sullivan Plaza Mall," the application reads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The existing helipad on the roof of the garage will be removed. Brady Sullivan is coordinating to find a suitable relocation point. That relocation is not part of this project submission.

Existing parking attendant kiosks will be removed, and the access portal on Plaza Drive will be renovated.

The existing parking structure has 650 parking spaces, including 12 Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant spaces. The structure has one entrance gate and two exit gates, all located on Plaza Drive. The exit gate to Spring Street is not used.

The proposed renovations would remove 164 spaces, for a final count of 486 spaces. The parking attendant spots will be removed and replaced by automated tellers, and the exit on Spring Street would resume use.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The residential units created for this project will be directly linked to additional residential development and commercial uses in the 1000 Elm Street building via a sky bridge over Plaza Drive. Tenants of the residences above the Brady Sullivan Plaza garage would utilize the 1000 Elm building for mail, deliveries, and other amenities.

pfeely@unionleder.com
Nicole Shanahan, the philanthropist who was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate last year, warned senators that a vote against his nomination as Health and Human Services secretary will result in a campaign to get them booted from office.

While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I wont if you vote against him, Shanahan said in a video posted to X Tuesday evening. I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me.

Shanahan name-dropped both Democratic and Republican senators in her message, including Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted against Pete Hegseths nomination as Defense secretary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also called out Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, saying she cut big checks to get the Georgia senators elected and will be watching their votes very closely.

Her message also tasked her followers to call and urge their senators to confirm Kennedy.

Shanahan was the founder of a patent management firm. Her wealth reportedly stems from her marriage to billionaire Google co-founder Serget Brin and the pair divorced in 2022.

She became Kennedys running mate for his failed independent presidential bid after funneling millions into a pro-Kennedy Super PAC that helped fund a February Super Bowl advertisement last year. In the past, she has donated to notable Democratic politicians like Hillary Clinton in 2016 and former President Joe Biden in 2020.

Kennedy, who is appearing before the Senate Finance Committee  with his confirmation uncertain  has faced overwhelming scrutiny over his anti-vaccine history and other unconventional health views since announced as Trumps health secretary pick. His cousin, Caroline Kennedy, also recently referred to him as a predator.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The body believed to be that of a missing pilot has been located northeast of Round Mountain more than three weeks after his plane was first reported missing.

The recovery process took place in the Mount Jefferson area at 11,300 feet, according to Nye County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday.

No chance of survival, crews unable to access site of Nevada plane crash

Michael Martins missing plane was discovered near Mount Jefferson on Jan. 18, roughly four hours away from the Las Vegas Strip, Scott Lewis, Nye Countys director of emergency management, said. The mountain is roughly 50 miles from Tonopah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Martin, 65, vanished after departing the North Las Vegas airport. His family reported him missing on Jan. 5 after he did not return from a flight from the North Las Vegas Airport three days earlier. On Jan, 18, a game warden located the aircraft crash site.

Earlier this month, the Nye County Sheriffs Office stated that after seeing photos of the crashed plane, there would be no chance of survival.

According to the Nye County Sheriffs Office, a positive identification could not be made of the remains.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 a difficult one for the royal family. King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. Then, his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, made a similar health announcement. Queen Camilla was forced to cancel events at the last-minute due to a chronic chest infection. However, the 76-year-old monarchs brand-new portrait may just signal that he is beginning to feel more optimistic about the year ahead.

The royal family recently released a striking photo of King Charles that was taken at the royals holiday home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. According to body language expert and human lie detector Darren Stanton, the king has changed significantly since this time last year.

Charles looks like a completely different man, the body language expert said (on behalf of Betfair Slots). In this portrait, we can see his confidence levels have come on leaps and bounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stanton explained that the location where the photo was taken could have impacted the kings body language. King Charles has such a fantastic connection, as do all the royals, with Scotland, its such a rich part of their history and heritage, he added. Going to Balmoral has always been a very important part of the royal family. They play a massive part in the area when they are in Scotland. Charles is looking like a fantastic version of himself. In terms of facial expression and overall levels of confidence and energy, theyre brilliant.

Stanton went on to explain that King Charless eyes are his most telling feature. The eyes are windows to the soul, he said. We can see clear compassion from Charles here, with fantastic eye contact. Hes conveying the fact he is approachable, which weve seen in practice when hes carried out public walk rounds in recent months.

The body language expert continued, In royal portraits, we often see a sense of aloofness, a distance, a very stern look. With Charles, he comes across very human, a much more real expression, particularly in the eyes.

If you need me, Ill be analyzing old photos of King Charles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Want more celebrity news sent right to your inbox? Click here.

Camera Catches Surprisingly Candid (and Honest) Photos of Prince William During Outing Without Wife Kate Middleton
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps presence is everywhere in former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros orbit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Jair  You are GREAT, reads Trumps seismograph-like autograph in a book that Bolsonaro shows off proudly in his office in Brasilia, pointing out the photographs in which he appears alongside the US president. A green cap is embossed with gold letters spelling out, Make America and Brazil great again. A video call with a supporter in North America is signed off, I love Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To Bolsonaro, Trumps return to the White House is a manifestation of the political faith that he invested in his fellow president. Bolsonaro, dubbed the Trump of the Tropics, sees vindication everywhere he looks  and regards Trump as his potential path to political redemption.

I am very happy, Bolsonaro, 69, said in a rare interview at the partys headquarters in the Brazilian capital on Tuesday.

More specifically, hes excited about whats to come from the man he refers to as Trumpao  Big Trump  and Cenourao, or Big Carrot, in an affectionate reference to the American presidents permanent tan. He regards his fellow conservative leader as having a clear and realistic line of action thats similar to Brazil under his presidency, including drilling in indigenous reserves and shunning oil from Nicolas Maduros Venezuela.

You cant take a country like this out of the mud by being everyones friend, he says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That extends to deporting undocumented migrants, which includes thousands of Brazilians, his supporters among them  even when he lost the presidency to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022, Bolsonaro took more votes among the US diaspora. His resolution to that dilemma is typically blunt: Its his law, he said of Trumps US. If you dont want to be deported, enter there legally.

Hes now looking to Trump as a means of helping to untangle his own legal difficulties, and to breathe life back into his political ambitions.

Two years after Trumps rise to the presidency in 2016 on an America First ticket, Bolsonaro pulled off the same feat in Brazil, their terms overlapping. The former army officers single-term presidency bequeathed a legacy of political polarization that still haunts Latin Americas largest economy, and found expression in a rampage by his supporters through Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023, days after Lulas inauguration.

Bolsonaro is keen to draw out the parallels between himself and Trump. A lot of what has happened in the US is also happening here, he said in the interview lasting more than 90 minutes, the emptiness of one office wall interrupted only by a painting of Bolsonaro with the presidential sash, a giant map of Brazil on another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was stabbed here, Trump was shot there, he said. He had Jan. 6, I had Jan. 8. I was very happy with the amnesty he gave to everyone [involved in the US rioting]. I hope we dont have to elect a conservative in 2026 to get the same amnesty here.

The similarities end there. Where Trump successfully built the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol into a rallying-point for his re-election, Bolsonaro is at risk of going to prison for Brazils alleged insurrection. I sleep well but Im already prepared to hear the bell ring at 6am: Its the Federal Police! he says.

Bolsonaro reaffirmed that he doesnt want to flee the country or take refuge in any embassy to avoid arrest. The former president said he is persecuted and claims that his former personal aide, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, accused him and his family because he is being blackmailed. He dismissed Cids allegations as absurd.

Bolsonaro denied that he tried to stage a coup but said that he discussed with allies the possibility of decreeing a state of siege, and backed out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bolsonaro already faces an eight-year ban on holding political office after Brazils electoral court barred him from running, saying that he had abused his power by using a meeting with foreign ambassadors to cast doubt on the countrys voting system. Its a claim he still maintains, although he says that in Brazil if you doubt the electronic ballot and vaccine, you are a criminal.

His hope is that Trump and other leaders of the nationalist right like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Argentine President Javier Milei help him to reverse the situation before Brazils next presidential election, due in October 2026.

Bolsonaro is banking on an international mobilization of right-wing forces that puts pressure on Brazilian officials to recognize that Brazils elections wont be fair as there is no opposition  a strategy not dissimilar to that adopted by Lula when he was about to be arrested for corruption. Lula ultimately went to jail but the case was later annulled, allowing him to run successfully for a third term.

It doesnt make sense for Lula to run in Brazil, or a candidate appointed by him, without opposition, said Bolsonaro. Today I am the opposition to Lula. Any other name runs the very serious risk of losing to him. Holding elections without his name on the ballot, said Bolsonaro, would be to deny democracy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of his sons, the lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, has been working on the international front to give visibility to his appeal. The Trump-allied Conservative Political Action Conference is one target of the Bolsonaro clan.

Jair Bolsonaro is considering another bid to get the Supreme Courts authorization to leave Brazil to attend CPAC in Washington in February. Bolsonaros latest request, to attend Trumps inauguration, was denied.

Just how he expects Trump to intervene on his behalf is a secret discussed only in the Bolsonaro family. I wont publicly say what I am asking Trump to do, what I would like him to do, he said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
BOONE COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO)  The Boone County Health Department will spend $100,000 of a state grant to provide culturally appropriate pregnancy and reproductive education from its mobile clinic to reduce pregnancy deaths.

The health department rolled out its mobile clinic in 2023, which is used by the departments Maternal Child Health Program.

The mobile clinic provides healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding counseling and makes referrals for low and medium-income families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that Boone County will receive $100,000 in grant funding, a portion of $4.5 million in funding to be distributed through Gov. JB Pritzkers 2024 Birth Equity Initiative to 12 groups across the state.

The funding is designed to support innovative, community-based efforts that have the potential to reduce inequities in populations historically at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes.

As one of the recipients, the Boone County Health Department will use the money to embed a bilingual peer navigator into the mobile clinic program, according to Gov. JB Pritzkers Office.

In Belvidere, 37.1% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Public health thrives when it focuses on community-led, community-built solutions, said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. IDPH is proud to partner with these 12 outstanding community-based organizations to implement Governor Pritzkers Birth Equity Initiative. Addressing disparities in birth outcomes is a public health priority, and we look forward to working with our grantees to deliver comprehensive approaches to enhancing birth equity across Illinois.

The most recent report, from 2023, said an average of 88 pregnancy-related deaths occurred in Illinois during the three-year study period.

According to the report, obesity and diabetes were the most common complicating factors in pregnancy deaths among Hispanic women.

The grants, aimed at eliminating racial disparities and avoiding preventable deaths, were awarded by IDPHs Office of Womens Health & Family Services.

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.
A member of a violent Boston gang pleaded guilty on Tuesday to racketeering, gun and drug trafficking charges, the U.S. Attorney said.

Jonathan Darosa, also known as Jeezy, 31, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count each of racketeering conspiracy, being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone, and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement.

U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Young scheduled sentencing for May 1.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators identified Darosa as a member of Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang, during a two-year probe, Foley said.

Two separate times, Darosa distributed cocaine and oxycodone to a cooperating witness, prosecutors said.

Also, during an interaction with law enforcement, Darosa threatened officers, telling them: If I had a gun on me, I would have shot at you, I am not going back to jail, and I keep it on my hip, prosecutors said.

In April 2021 in Dorchester, local law enforcement saw Darosa wearing a waist bag across his chest. Law enforcement had recovered firearms from similar bags in the past, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A search of Darosa yielded a Taurus 9 millimeter, semi-automatic pistol containing 12 rounds of assorted 9 millimeter ammunition. Investigators recovered one round in the chamber, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that used violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

Darosa has been convicted on three prior occasions of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a 2016 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for which he served a three-year prison sentence.

For the charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence, Darosa faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Darosa is facing a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

For the charge of distribution of cocaine and oxycodone, Darosa faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million.

For the charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Darosa is facing a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million.

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
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested for allegedly threatening two people at gunpoint because of their ethnicity, Boulder police said.

Just after 9 p.m. on Monday, Boulder officers were called to a gas station in the 2900 block of 30th Street in the Boulder Junction area.

Boulder police said two Latino males told officers that they were pumping gas when a man they didnt know pointed a gun at them. The victims said the man made comments about their ethnicity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Suspected TdA member seen in Aurora viral apartment video arrested in NYC

Police said Watch 3 Patrol officers identified 23-year-old Christopher Antonio Morris as a possible suspect.

On Tuesday, officers, plainclothes detectives and Boulders Special Enforcement Unit used surveillance to locate Morris at a grocery store on 30th Street. He was taken into custody without injury.

During the time of Morris arrest, police said he had a pistol with a laser attachment  similar to the one used in Mondays incident.

A man was arrested for allegedly threatening two people at gunpoint for their ethnicity (Boulder Police Department)

Boulder police said Morris was booked into jail and is facing four counts of bias-motivated crimes and four counts of menacing. A judge set his bond at $20,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2 arrested for celebratory gunfire in Boulder

We will not tolerate this type of behavior in our community, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. Our community members should not live in fear as they go about their daily lives. We are fortunate this situation wasnt worse than what it was, and Im proud of the good investigative work done by both Patrol and detectives to quickly identify and find the person responsible for threatening these victims.

Per Boulder police, this is not the first time Morris was arrested. The department said that on New Years Day, Morris was arrested alongside a woman on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct/discharge of a firearm and prohibited use of a weapon for shooting guns in a large open field near Highway 119.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name to Scouting America, effective Feb. 8.

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

The Miami Valley Council released a statement on Tuesday saying their organization is proud to be a part of the rebrand.

TRENDING STORIES:

The announcement comes about five years after Scouting opened its programs to girls.

Rebranding efforts are part of the organizations 115th anniversary, according to the Miami Valley Council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This change reflects Scoutings continued commitment to welcoming all youth to experience the life-changing benefits of its programs, the council said.

There are approximately 176,234 girls currently apart of Scouting America.

The council said it has been an integral part of Scouting Americas mission to provide opportunities for youth to develop essential life skills, become leaders, and prepare for lives of purpose and impact.

This year, Scouts across Montgomery, Preble, Drake, Shelby, and Miami counties have contributed more than 10,000 hours of service, according to the council.

With nearly 20% of our local membership now made up of girls, this rebranding solidifies our commitment to ensuring that any young person or family can give their child the opportunity to get outdoors, away from screens, and into nature where they can learn, grow, and thrive, Scout Executive and CEO of the Miami Valley Council Jeff Schiavone said.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will host Bravo 3: Magnificent Strings on Saturday, February 1.

They will be joined by guest harpist Emmanuel Ceysson.

The concert will be held at Madison Central High Schools auditorium on February 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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.
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill.  A board meeting in the south suburbs Tuesday night was feisty from start to finish but things took a violent turn during public comment when a brawl erupted.

Activist and known opponent of Tiffany Henyard, Jedidiah Brown, spoke out against the Township Supervisor, and ended his comments by calling her an expletive. Brown walked away from the podium and toward where Henyard was sitting, before pivoting toward the back of the room, where people jumped in and fists started flying.

The fight spilled into the back of the room behind the crowd of community members, left scrambling to get out of the way. During it, punches were thrown, people were standing on tables, and at least one television monitor was damaged. At one point, Henyard was seen in the middle of the brawl.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the crowd was ushered out by private security, officers with the South Holland Police Department responded to the scene. Those involved in the fight left before officers arrived, so no arrests were made, according to police.

The communications manager for the Village of South Holland released the following statement Wednesday:

South Holland Police responded to the Thornton Township building last night regarding a fight between two individuals. A private security company, hired by Thornton Township, was present at the meeting and called South Holland Police to the scene. However, the fight had dispersed prior to police arrival, so no arrests were made. As of this moment, no charges have been filed.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

The Village of Dolton Board of Trustees have also released a statement regarding Tuesday nights incident:

Dear Residents, On behalf of the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees, are deeply saddened and disturbed by the events that took place at the Thornton Township Board meeting in South Holland last night. To beclear, this was not a Village of Dolton board meeting, and none of the Village of Dolton Trustees were in attendance. Our hearts go out to the residents who continue to witness such turmoil, and we share in your frustration and disappointment. It is truly disheartening to see our community cast in a negative light due to actions that do not reflect the values we stand for. Violence and chaos have no place in Dolton or Thornton Township. As your elected officials, we want to reassure you that we remain fully committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all. Our priority is, and always will be, working to build a stronger, safer,and more unified community for our residents andbusinesses. We will continue to uphold the highest standards of leadership and work tirelessly to restore trust, stability, and progress for the Village of Dolton. Jason House, Sr. Trustee Village of Dolton

Henyards attorney released the following statement regarding Tuesdays meeting:

Supervisor Tiffany Henyard was verbally assaulted, and her personal safety threatened, at the Thornton Township board meeting on January 28, 2025, by Jedediah Brown, a known aggressor against whom the Supervisor had tried to secure an emergency restraining order but was denied by the court. After a slew of insulting and inciting words, including calling the Supervisor a b****, Jedediah Brown and his accomplice, LaVell X J Redmond, an equally known aggressor and registered sex offender, attacked the Supervisors significant other, Mr. Kamal Woods, knocking him to the floor, kicking and punching him. The Supervisor suffered minor injuries when she instinctively rushed to the melee in an attempt to break it up. Mr. Woods also suffered minor injuries, but both are okay. All legal options would be pursued. Solomon Law Offices

Before the abrupt end to the meeting, the board approved several items, which included accepting insurance on property and equipment, auto, public officials and employment practices liability, and general liability, all of which have been lapsed since the start of December, prompting the township to temporarily shutter many of its services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For close to two months, residents have been unable to go into the townships government building to access services. On Wednesday, those are expected to be back running again, along with other services.

We will go back to operating our vehicles. All buses will be out and running, said Henyard.

Even during the lapse when services were supposed to be halted, buses were spotted shuttling people to Henyards Big Bingo event.

At Tuesdays meeting, Trustee Chris Gonzalez told attendees board members were able to obtain temporary insurance in order to hold the meeting at the township building.

Henyard has blamed Trustees Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisles lack of attendance at some meetings as the reason insurance policies lapsed, but both have disputed that claim, and said the board never voted on insurance in the past.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A majority of the board at Tuesdays meeting, including new trustee Stephanie Wiedeman, voted to place two Henyard allies on paid administrative leave, a move which Henyard called political retaliation.

Thank you for the lawsuit, Henyard said. Yall just picked certain individuals.

The two employees placed on paid administrative leave include Henyards boyfriend, Kamal Woods, who is involved in the townships youth assistance program, and her confidante, William Moore.

Henyards power struggle with trustees, excluding Darlene Gray Everett, who typically sides with the supervisor, was on full display during the meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite Henyard welcoming Wiedeman to the board at the start of the night, the new trustee made it clear that she would not bow down to her. Wiedeman replaced trustee Jerry Jones, who resigned in October.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

I dont trust the person in charge to take accountability for anything else thats going on, said Wiedeman.

The board approved the townships tax levy ordinance, which has been at the center of debate during recent meetings. Several other agenda items, however, failed to get a majority vote, including a property tax refund for residents and bonuses for all township employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Henyard, who was in favor of the property tax refund and bonuses, gave her supervisor report prior to the meeting being cut short.

Im so happy for all the things we have accomplished, despite what people may say, said Henyard. Throughout all the turmoil and all the mess, I still had my head held high and focused on your needs as residents.

You know what a mayor is, you know what a supervisor is, you guys now want to be like me, Henyard said. I love you to my residents and my youth and Im glad I can inspire somebody that might want to get in government, might want to get in politics. Im glad Im able to do those things for you.

Henyard also serves as mayor of the Village of Dolton, where former federal prosecutor and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday revealed her final findings into an independent investigation she was hired to conduct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The residents of Dolton have suffered needlessly because of the financial mismanagement of this current mayor, Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot laid out a pattern of unchecked spending, including various credit card purchases that were not authorized. She also highlighted a broken FOIA system with no one on staff to properly manage public information requests and no staff accountant in the village to oversee spending.

According to Lightfoots findings, the villages spending hit its peak in 2023 when over $775,000 was charged to credit cards, including more than $200,000 on Amazon purchases, and more than $117,000 on travel, including two business trips to Las Vegas.

The FBI is also in contact with various people who have information about the allegations here. What they intend to do and timing of that, no one knows but them, Lightfoot said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Henyard did not comment on the matter during Tuesdays 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 WGN-TV.
By Ricardo Brito and Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government on Wednesday said it is scrambling to fund a joint operation with United Nations agencies to resettle Venezuelan migrants in Brazil after President Donald Trump imposed a sweeping freeze on U.S. foreign aid.

Brazil's "Operacao Acolhida," or Operation Welcome, offers humanitarian aid to some 15,000 Venezuelans crossing monthly into the state of Roraima before offering them work and housing around the country, reducing onward migration to North America.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration (IOM), key partners in the Brazilian operation, had both relied on substantial U.S. funding.

"Since the United States stopped providing funds to the (IOM), Operation Welcome suffered a huge setback and we initially considered suspending the operations. But we are going to seek resources," Brazilian Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski told journalists in Brasilia.

"We do not yet have the resources defined or the necessary personnel, but all the ministries involved ... are going to do everything possible to receive the Venezuelans with dignity, as Brazil does with all those who come to our country to seek a better life," he added, declining to estimate the size of the funding gap.

Asked about potential cuts, the UNHCR office in Brazil said it would have to "make some exceptions regarding the allocation of funds to humanitarian assistance programs."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The UNIOM office in Brazil said on Monday it was analyzing the impact of the suspended US funding and it has a long history of collaboration with a range of member states. A press representative declined to answer additional questions.

The Brazilian arm of Catholic charity Caritas, which provides food relief for Venezuelan migrants as part of Operation Welcome, said that work is financed entirely by the U.S. State Department. It said as of Wednesday it had not received any signal to halt its role in the operation.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito and Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Brad Haynes; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Owensboros Brescia University hosted its annual Winter Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, but this ceremony just so happened to be presented on the universitys Founders Day.

And this year the school will celebrate its 100th anniversary of opening its doors.

Brescia University, a Catholic university, was founded by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph as the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College for Women in 1925. Establishing the college was a way for the sisters to showcase their dedication to education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following World War II, Owensboro expressed a need for co-educational extension courses and asked the Ursuline sisters to create a second campus site in downtown Owensboro. The two campuses consolidated in 1950 at the schools current location off of Frederica Street in downtown Owensboro.

The Ursuline Sisters were founded by Saint Angela Merici who was known for her ministry of service to marginalized groups including the displaced, the poor, the orphaned and the sick. She saw women as a means to promote and provide change in a world seeking love, unity and harmony. Throughout the years, the sisters established themselves as educators and founded communities and schools to educate women and girls.

Leading from the example set by Saint Angela Merici and the Ursuline Sisters, Brescia University has made its mission to provide students with a personal and social transformation through education.

The school recognized two students, both a male and a female, with the Spirit of Angela Merici Award during the Winter Convocation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By recognizing these two students, were paying homage to our roots and keeping with the tradition established by Saint Angela Merici, said the schools vice president for student affairs, Lori Etheridge.

This years award recipients were Daniel Rusiecki and Sr. Chanh Ngo.

These students exemplify the spirit of St. Angela through their service to others and to the entire community, said Etheridge.

Etheridge said that the selection process for this years award recipients was tough because many students are deserving of the honor.

Current Brescia president, Father Larry Hostetter, who will retire from his position at the end of the spring semester, said that the Spirit of Angela Merici Award is the most prestigious award for students at Brescia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Twenty-four additional students were recognized as student leaders during the ceremony.

Student leadership is valuable for a lifetime, said Isaac Duncan, the assistant dean of students for student activities and leadership development. Leadership helps students to build valuable skills and achieve new heights.

Hostetter also discussed the schools centennial and introduced the universitys new ceremonial mace, designed and crafted by Brescia alumnus Jim Barr.

Our old one was getting worn out, so I thought it made sense to replace it during this years centennial, Hostetter said. And I want to thank Jim Barr on an excellent job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hostetter said that the mace features several important symbols for the university including four cords standing for the schools founding principles, laurel leaves for the Ursuline sisters and the addition of the colors blue and gold, the schools designated color scheme.

Hostetter mentioned some positives for the university during his address to the crowd.

Im happy to report positive enrollment statistics and retention numbers at 91%, he said. Those numbers show that were moving in the right direction.

Hostetter also touched on a recent executive order to come from the Trump administrations White House which will issue a pause on federal grant spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Luckily for Brescia, we dont have any big research grant funding that impacted, he said. But I know everyone is worried about whether the executive order will affect student loans and the PELL Grant. And I can only say that we all hope it doesnt.

Hostetter said that Brescia students should face the current uncertain circumstances with fortitude, resilience and strength.

I know how strong Brescia students are and I know that we have always adapted and overcome, he said. And we will continue to do so because thats the Brescia way.

Brescia plans to have more events throughout the year to highlight its centennial celebration.
37,094 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

37,094 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from Bridgewater was sentenced on Tuesday to over six years in prison for the possession and distribution of cocaine.

In 2019, investigators began looking into a drug trafficking organization in southeast Massachusetts that was selling cocaine and fentanyl. Charging documents stated that from March 2020 to November 2023, 11 controlled drug purchases were made through Kevin Mercado.

Franklin County residents react to Massachusetts man arrested in Washington, D.C.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Detectives searched Mercados Bridgewater apartment in November 2023, where they discovered nearly a kilogram and a half of cocaine and cocaine base, three digital scales, a money counter, and $16,086 in drug proceeds. When searching Mercados SnapChat records, investigators found messages indicating his access to large amounts of cocaine and willingness to cook it into crack cocaine.

Charging documents also reported that Mercado had received a prior sentence in 2010 when he was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison after being convicted of two counts of distribution of cocaine base.

Mercado pleaded guilty in October 2024 to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He was sentenced in federal court in Boston to 78 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

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.
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia City Council voted to censure member Michael Pollard over his previous comments about the city manager.

A censure is a formal reprimand of a public official.

Gov. Bill Lees school voucher bill soars through House committees

In a social media post earlier this month, Pollard apologized and admitted that he violated the councils code of ethics by sharing information and also criticizing and lying about City Manager and City Attorney Randall Eads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eads later called Pollards apology sufficient.

Tuesday night, Vice Mayor Jake Holmes told News Channel 11 that the council appreciates Pollards earnestness in talking about the matter and for apologizing.

We hope that with this done, we can move on and work together as a five-member council and put this behind us, Holmes said.

Pollard declined to comment to News Channel 11 at the 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Britains government has backed a tortured effort to build a third runway at Heathrow, Europes busiest airport, throwing its weight behind a decades-old proposal that has been beset by political, legal and environmental challenges.

The UKs Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister), Rachel Reeves, gave a green light to the ambitious plan and a swathe of other infrastructure projects in a major speech on Wednesday, in a push for economic growth.

The announcement is a major moment for one of the worlds most expensive and controversial aviation projects. Since 2003, Heathrow has said its terminals and runways are running near capacity, and that a 14 billion ($17.3bn) expansion is needed to keep up with the pace of tourism and business travel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But environmental campaigners have bitterly resisted the plans, arguing it would jeopardize Britains net zero commitments.

Reeves said on Wednesday that a third runway would make Britains the worlds best-connected place to do business, and insisted that ministers cannot duck the decision any longer.

A third runway is badly needed, she argued, adding: There are emerging markets and new cities around the world that we arent connected to because there arent the slots at Heathrow  or indeed any other airport  to fly to. Heathrow said it served 83.9 million passengers last year, its busiest year on record.

It could still be years until work starts on a new runway; the government will assess proposals from this summer, and the final plan will likely require a parliamentary vote and could see legal challenges. The pre-pandemic plan for a third runway was blocked by a court on environmental grounds in 2020, before the Supreme Court overturned that decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The UK has made a legally-binding commitment to reach net zero (where greenhouse gas emissions equal emissions removed from the atmosphere) by 2050. Non-profit organization Transport & Environment said Wednesdays announcement was dystopian, insisting major airports like Heathrow should reduce flight numbers and focus on becoming hubs for sustainable aviation fuel.

Heathrow expansion was the centerpiece of a range of announcements made by Reeves on Wednesday. Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have pledged to unpick the countrys labyrinthine planning laws, and Reeves took direct aim at environmental requirements that have stalled large-scale construction efforts.

Reeves said she would stop blockers getting in the way of development and reduce environmental requirements placed on developers if they pay into a centralized nature restoration fund, so they can focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about the bats and the newts.

I have been genuinely shocked about how slow our planning system is, Reeves said. Its ridiculous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other plans backed on Wednesday include the building-up of the so-called Oxford-Cambridge Arc  the corridor of land between two of the worlds leading universities  which Reeves pitched as Europes Silicon Valley.

Britain has been plagued by low economic growth and a number of costly, high-profile projects, like a new high-speed rail line, have been announced, challenged, delayed and then shelved in recent decades.

Starmers Labour government, which came to power in July, has made the reversal of those trends its priority. But even those lofty aspirations succeed, the government must also tackle the short and medium-term grievances of a population dismayed by crumbling public services, comparatively low wages and crises in housing supply, migration and the cost of living.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Take a stroll down your local high street and what do you see? Coffee shops and restaurants, probably. Some combination of vape shops, nail bars and barbers perhaps. A smattering of shuttered premises, quite likely. But when it comes to stores selling actual things  clothes, books, hardware, electronics and so on  the numbers have been dwindling for years.

New figures suggesting the British spend a higher proportion of their income online than anyone else in the world may come as no surprise, then. We are splashing 8.8 per cent of our annual earnings online, analysis by fashion retailer Public Desire has found. This compares to the 4.3 per cent spent in the US and France.

The much-trailed death of our high streets has not been caused, after all, by a rejection of consumer capitalism in favour of some non-materialistic ideal. Rather, we have become a country thats now extremely good at internet shopping.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No longer a nation of shopkeepers, but certainly a nation of clickers, more familiar with the add to basket and buy now buttons than with our local greengrocer, who probably no longer exists.

But the web is, famously, worldwide. So what makes Britain top of the leaderboard where online shopping is concerned? The answer lies in a variety of factors, starting with our status as early adopters of the habit, and of the technology that enables it, and stretching through to the pandemic, when so many started working from home, where they were able to receive deliveries  which, in the case of non-essential items, could often only be bought online in any case.

Back in the days when most people still thought Amazon was only a South American river, personal computer use in Britain was relatively widespread.

Between 1988 and 1994, Britain had a higher PC ownership rate than even the US, according to a report from the London School of Economics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 1988, 17.2 per cent of British households owned a computer, compared to just 10.2 per cent of US households. By 1995  the year that Amazon launched as an online bookseller  PC ownership rates in both countries had reached about 25 per cent.

In 2010, Ofcom found that UK consumers were still more likely to be early adopters of new technology than any other country. It was this technology that allowed us to shop from home.

Compared to other European countries, there was a much higher use of personal computers in the UK, says Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research. And the government put a lot of effort into ensuring that Britain would take advantage of the internet and digital computing.

Take advantage it did, its geography making it particularly well-suited to the quick delivery of items ordered online. In a relatively densely populated country like Britain, the consumer gets their goods quickly, while the economics make sense for the retailer.

Amazon launched as an online bookseller in 1995 - Heathcliff O'Malley

Were a small island, so its very effective to do online retail from a profitability perspective, says retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth, chief executive of marketing agency Savvy. We also have a very strong retail industry, for all that were constantly moaning about it, she adds. Weve got one of the strongest retail industries in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In November 2006, 2.8 per cent of the countrys total retail sales were made online, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show. By December 2024, this figure had soared to 29.3 per cent  down from a pandemic high of 37.8 per cent in January 2021, but still significantly more than the pre-pandemic high of 20.2 per cent in January 2020.

As online shopping gained in popularity, Britains distribution network sprung up to meet the demand. The number of business premises used for transport, logistics and warehousing in the UK almost doubled in the decade to 2022, according to ONS data. As early as the late 1980s, the phrase golden logistics triangle was coined, initially describing an area around Magna Park in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, so-called because of its connectivity with the rest of the country.

By 2022, the ONS estimated a golden logistics triangle lay within a four-hour drive of 90 per cent of the British population. The area covers 289 square miles in the West Midlands.

We were in [online retail] early in the UK, it scaled up fairly quickly and weve really embraced it, says Shuttleworth. Plus were a nation of shopaholics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were also a nation of social media users, with social media sites now serving as key conduits for internet shopping.

The introduction of shoppable links on social media platforms offers consumers an accessible way to shop online, noted a report on the growth of online retail by estate agents Savills in November.

Data suggests the UK has a high social media penetration rate compared to many other countries. In January 2024, 82.8 per cent of the population were social media users, according to figures from DataReportal. This compared to 78.2 per cent of Frances population, 81.4 per cent of Germanys, 70.1 per cent of the USAs and 74.2 per cent of Chinas.

What were less likely to purchase through social media are groceries, which account for around half of our expenditure, says Jonathan De Mello, retail consultant and chief executive of JDM Retail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During Covid, grocery penetration for online [the ratio comparing online performance against the total market] went up hugely, he says. There was a big sea change. It [then] stayed high.

In 2023, 13.1 per cent of all grocery sales were online, according to Mintel data. In mainland Europe, its a fraction of this, says De Mello. Other European countries dont tend to have as competitive a market when it comes to groceries.

For non-grocery purchases, we also have a competitive delivery market. Its probably more competitive than anywhere else, suggests De Mello.

As a result of the rise in online shopping, Britains high streets are increasingly vacant - Getty

The flipside, of course, is those hollowed out high streets around the country; that long list of big name brands that have failed to survive the e-commerce revolution. When Woolworths fell in 2008, an outpouring of grief and nostalgia ensued. Today, were used to such endings for our once-loved stores.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In their place has come the dangerous ease with which we can click our way through our bank balances. Between eight and 16 per cent of the UK population is estimated to be affected by compulsive buying disorder, according to the Priory Group. Other estimates are more conservative, with UK Addiction Treatment Centres putting the figure at 0.75 per cent in 2023. Ironically, perhaps, multiple guides to shopping addiction recovery can be purchased on Amazon at the click of a mouse, giving a new meaning to the term circular economy.

Most of us are not addicted, but our lives have nevertheless been transformed: where once we would have commuted to work and shopped in our town centres and on local high streets, many of us now work flexibly, often from home, and shop from our phones and laptops. If this trend was in evidence before the pandemic, it was turbocharged by Covid.

The problem of how to draw shoppers back to struggling high streets has prompted much handwringing and few conclusive answers. In the climate-conscious 2020s, making it easier to drive to high streets and park there may seem like a retrograde step; but car-unfriendly centres are a commonly cited reason for lack of footfall. So, too, are high business rates and rents.

British discount retailer Wilko closed all of its stores on the high street and now operates only as an online shop

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local authorities are using car parks as a good way of getting money out of people without thinking this is messing up our town centres, says Bamfield.

Its hard not to notice this mess. Easier to overlook is the way our out-of-town landscapes have likewise changed, with vast warehouses mushrooming beside motorways as high streets wither.

Though other countries may be on the same trajectory, visiting many mainland European towns and cities can still serve as a reminder of what lively shopping streets look like.

We work long hours and we dont cherish weekends, says Shuttleworth, who suggests the high street is trapped in a horrible cycle of doom, which few consumers are all that anxious to prevent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were kind of not that bothered if the high street dies or not, she says. We pretend we are, but were not.

We mourn the closures of our favourite shops, yet continue adding items to our online baskets. Our physical geography has changed and so have our habits. Our ecommerce success may be copied by other countries. But it may, also, in some ways serve as a warning.

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.
Britains oldest theme park is under threat as it reels from the impact of Labours socialist Budget.

Wicksteed Park in Kettering, which was founded in 1921, has warned it may cease to exist in its current form unless it secures vital extra funding.

The park, which boasts walking trails and a nature reserve, has offered free access to its grounds for over a century. It generates revenues from rides and attractions, as well as its hospitality services such as shops and cafes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the park has been forced to look at reducing the opening hours of rides or shutting some down completely on certain days in response to surging costs.

Financial pressures have increased in recent years as a result of the rising cost of essentials  such as fuel and insurance. However, Oliver Wicksteed, the chairman of the charitable trust that owns the park, said Labours socialist approach to raising money threatened to tip the theme park over the edge.

Wicksteed Park offers more than 25 rides, playgrounds, family-friendly walking trails and a narrow-gauge railway - Cavendish Press (Manchester) LTD

Hammer blow to parks finances

Mr Wicksteed said Rachel Reevess Budget was a hammer blow to the parks finances. Increases in minimum wage and National Insurance contributions amount to an extra 50,000 in costs each year. He warned that the park was unable to bear the full brunt of the costs and said visitors would ultimately suffer.

Addressing the Budget, the chairman said: The people who are paying for this at the end of the day are the consumer and the general public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats just a socialist approach to raising money, making it look like its coming from business and not the end user, but the net effect on the end user is essentially the same  it costs more.

Mr Wicksteed said the park will need to reduce its staffing levels to keep a lid on costs.

Oliver Wicksteed, the parks chairman, said Labours Budget threatened to tip the theme park over the edge

The Northamptonshire park was opened in 1921 by Mr Wicksteeds great-grandfather Charles Wicksteed, a wealthy factory owner, with the aim of providing free parkland for children and families to play and exercise. It is the oldest theme park on the UK mainland and one of the oldest in the world.

The 281-acre estate offers more than 25 rides, playgrounds, family-friendly walking trails and a narrow-gauge railway. Its pavilion also serves as a hub for community events and can be hired for weddings and parties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Wicksteed said its purpose was now more vital than ever amid an obesity and mental health crisis.

The theme park has received support from celebrities including the Reverend Richard Coles and comedian James Acaster, who grew up in Kettering.

Wicksteed Park narrowly avoided collapse in 2020 after receiving grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the governments Culture Recovery Fund. It had fallen into administration during the pandemic with the loss of 115 jobs.

Mr Wicksteed said such support was invaluable but that it was required year on year to meet the roughly 1.4m in upkeep costs and safeguard the parks future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 250,000 grant has been used to set up a full-time fundraising team and draw up a strategy, while the park has launched a crowdfunding campaign and a questionnaire to ask visitors for their views.

The park is owned by the Wicksteed Charitable Trust and run by a wholly-owned subsidiary, with any profits generated put towards its charitable objectives.

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.
Britains Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter named Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, Buckingham Palace announced Wednesday.

Beatrices second daughter was born at 12.57 p.m. local time on January 22, weighing four pounds and five ounces, the palace said in a statement. She was born at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, it added.

Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news, the statement reads.

Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi - Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi/PA

Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, King Charles younger brother, and Sarah Ferguson. The princess and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, thanked hospital staff for their wonderful care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both mother and baby are healthy and doing well, the statement adds.

Beatrice and Mapelli Mozzi, who is a real estate manager, married in a secret ceremony at Windsor Castle in July 2020, attended by her grandparents, the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip.

Athena joins older siblings Sienna, to whom Beatrice gave birth in September 2021, and Wolfie, who is Mapelli Mozzis son from a previous relationship.

Athenas first middle name is a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth. Her sister, whose full name is Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, was also named after the monarch.

Sienna and Athena are not the late Queens only great-grandchildren to have been given a name that honors her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In June 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child, a daughter.

The couple named her Lilibet Lili Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, a nod to the Queens childhood nickname and to Harrys mother, the late Princess Diana.

CNNs Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed to this article.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A struggle to hire tech workers has left the Government at severe risk of cyber attack, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.

One in three cybersecurity jobs in government are currently either vacant or covered by outsourcers, while 70pc of the Governments specialist cyber experts are contractors, the NAO said.

More than 50pc of tech posts are unfilled in some government departments as a result of the widespread recruitment struggles, the report added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The NAO blamed the shortage of tech workers on the low pay on offer compared to the private sector. Figures from jobs board Adzuna show private sector tech staff are paid 19.1pc more than their public sector counterparts on average.

The Government has faced criticism for underpaying tech staff in the past. An advert for a head of cyber position at the Treasury, paying just 50,000 a year, was the subject of widespread derision online when it was advertised in March 2023.

Tom Lysemose Hansen, co-founder of Norwegian cyber security company Promon, said at the time: If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

Talent drawn to private sector

The NAO report said: Digital and technology leaders see the amount government organisations can pay, civil service recruitment processes, and external market conditions as the biggest barriers to recruitment and retention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Darius Goodarzi, of recruiter Robert Walters, said appealing packages in the private sector that often include share options have increasingly drawn talent away from less glamorous public sector work.

Andy Heyes, of specialist tech recruiter Harvey Nash, said: A greater opportunity to receive performance-related bonuses in the private sector has had a significant impact.

The struggles to hire mean the Government is now on course to fall short of its goal to significantly harden its critical functions against the threat of cyberattacks by 2025, the NAO warned.

Instead, the Government is highly vulnerable to potentially devastating attacks. An assessment in 2024 showed 58 critical government IT systems used by the Government had significant gaps in their cybersecurity systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: The government will continue to find it difficult to catch up until it successfully addresses the longstanding shortage of cyber skills.

Series of cyber-attacks on public services

The warning comes after a series of costly hacks against public bodies.

In June 2024, a cyberattack launched on an NHS supplier resulted in thousands of appointments and operations being delayed at Kings College and Guys and St Thomas hospitals, the report noted.

Separately, the British Library is still deal with the fallout of a cyberattack on its systems that took place in October 2023, having spent over 600,000 fixing the damage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, said: We have seen too often the devastating impact of cyber-attacks on our public services and peoples lives ... A persistent shortage of cyber skills, and a dependence on outdated legacy IT systems are continuing to leave our public services exposed.

Public sector bodies, including hospitals and local government, are a major target for cyberattackers, the report said. State-aligned hackers from Russia, China and Iran are using increasingly sophisticated methods to launch attacks on critical infrastructure, the NAO warned.

A government spokesman said: Many of the NAOs findings mirror the Governments own findings in the State of Digital Government review published last week.

Since July, we have taken action to repair cyber defences neglected by successive governments  introducing new legislation to give us powers to protect critical national infrastructure from cyber attacks, delivering thirty new regional cyber skills projects to strengthen the countrys digital workforce, and merging digital teams into one central Government Digital Service led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And last week we went further, announcing plans to upgrade technology across Government, both strengthening our defences against attack and transforming public services as part of the Plan for Change.

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.
Alex Lawrie, 56, had just moved to Yeovil, Somerset from Gloucestershire with his young family in 2004 when he came up with an idea that could potentially revolutionise the British rail system.

Picture me standing on a windswept station platform in Yeovil, he says. Im travelling around Somerset [for work, in his role as a social enterprise advisor], attending meetings in various different towns, and I cant stand driving.

Instead, he opted to get the train whenever possible. But like many passengers, he found that service was patchy at best, non-existent at worst.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Who knew when the trains were going to be? They were scattered all through the timetable and the connections just werent there, he says. I was thinking  I know that there are railway lines in existence joining these places. Why on earth cant we get between them? That was the start. I was, simply, a frustrated rail passenger.

Despite having no experience in the sector, Lawrie decided that  with some help  perhaps he could do a better job. He went out and bought a rail atlas, connecting the dots from Somerset to Wiltshire, into Berkshire and Oxfordshire, determining all the ways in which the local railways could work better and scrawling some ideas.

He presented his findings to the Co-op supermarket group who gave him a small grant of 500. It was enough to get started in making an application for a new Open Access railway provider for his new home county, and Go-op, the UKs first co-operative railway, was born.

Weve inherited from the Victorians an extraordinary rail network, but weve not always used it to its full capacity, Lawrie says. The routes [deemed] adequate by the Government dont meet the needs of people at the grassroots.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While there have been steady improvements since Go-op began 20 years ago, there are persistent signs of underinvestment in the network, and too much of the time, services are disrupted.

Co-operatives such as John Lewis  businesses that are owned and controlled by their members  are household names, but in rail travel, this is a national first.

Lawrie is smiling and smartly dressed in a jacket and shirt when we meet in the cafe in Taunton train station. His wife, a primary school teacher, and now-adult children (aged 26, 24 and 20) have been supportive, but have not been involved with Go-op other than as amused observers.

Despite having accrued significant expertise in the area, he claims he was never a railway enthusiast before embarking on his mission to revolutionise Somersets rail. I may have a slightly obsessive personality, he says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My wife tells me Ive become a trainspotter, which is a disturbing thought. I keep insisting otherwise. But then we arrived back from visiting family in Ireland. We arrived back at Fishguard Harbour, and Im going, Its a 153 coming into the platform!... Im still pretty much an enthusiastic amateur.

Trains in Somerset have patchy reliability - John Lawrence

We are soon joined by two other members of Go-ops board of directors: David Northey, who is in charge of timetables and performance and joined in 2022, and Nick Kennedy, a former consultant anaesthetist and lifelong railway enthusiast who joined in 2019. Northey used to work as a strategy manager for Network Rail, liaising with Go-op in its early days, and joined the board on his retirement. A gamekeeper turned poacher, Lawrie jokes.

There are nine directors in total  the others heard about the project by word of mouth, like Kennedy, or by attending a public meeting. It is clear they have become good friends as well as colleagues, and all are so enthused by their mission, and knowledgeable about the inner workings of rail travel, that I have to occasionally jump in and ask them to explain something in laymans terms.

Since privatisation of the railways was introduced in 1993, there have been two types of operator on UK rails, Lawrie explains. There are franchised companies with contracts from the Government, and open access railway providers, which compete with franchises  existing examples include the Heathrow Express, Hull Trains and Lumo, which is owned by the bus operator FirstGroup. The benefits of these open access providers is that they can increase capacity and provide competition, choice and better value for money.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I ask whether this means I could, technically, run my own personal train. The short answer is yes, Lawrie says. But you go through a process with Network Rail, where they decide whether your proposal fits nicely with what they do, and what other operators are doing.

Essentially, new services have to fit in with what is already being provided. Sadly, this also means that Go-op cannot charge significantly less than its rivals for tickets  although they do plan to offer all sorts of special offers when booking direct.

It has taken 20 years to make any progress and there have been numerous setbacks.It was a three-part problem, says Lawrie. To gain approval as an operator, you have to provide evidence that you have demand on your route, rolling stock [trains], and a timetable that proves there is capacity on the route, and all those three things go out of date.

So within a year of landing on some suitable rolling stock [trains], some other operator has taken it up. You get two pieces of the jigsaw, youre frantically working on the third, and one of the others falls away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was putting in 10 hours per week on top of his day job at South West Co-op Development Limited until Go-op won approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and now my day job has taken a back seat and Im working on it pretty much full time. He is still advising other co-ops and social enterprises, but is on secondment to Go-op for most of the week.

The first breakthrough came in 2022, when Network Rail announced a timetable study for the Westbury area for reasons unrelated to Go-op. Bless them, they included us, says Lawrie. That paved the way for the biggest breakthrough of all, which happily came right before Christmas: official approval from the ORR for Go-op to run a service between Swindon and Weston-super-Mare.

Provided it can cough up the cash  more on that later  Go-op will be going full steam ahead next year, vastly improving the service in market towns such as Bruton and Frome and running six or more trains per day. According to their projections, it will be used by roughly half a million passengers per year.

There could be more trouble down the line, however, as the Labour transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has written to the ORR advising it to crack down on open access applications (as they risk poaching passengers and revenue from government-contracted franchises).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like the Secretary of State, we recognise that open access operators such as ourselves need to find an appropriate balance [between offering new services and taking revenue from government-contracted operators], Go-op said in a statement.

Similarly, while we all want the rail network to run efficiently, it is necessary to permit a modest degree of challenge to performance in order to bring greater frequency and connectivity  after all, the only perfectly efficient railway is one on which no trains are run.

Go-ops internal projections say that their trains will be used by half a million passengers per year - John Lawrence

It has regulatory approval, now it just needs to stump up the cash  and train up some drivers. Go-op has roughly a year to prove it has the finances to operate and the rolling stock to start its service. For this, it started a crowdfunding campaign with an ambitious target of 2.6 million last month  it has reached 100,000 so far  to top-up the 600,000 already raised. We [are hoping] to make that up from a combination of community shares and loans  were applying to a range of lenders, Lawrie says.

My wife and I had a bottle of champagne to pop the evening Go-op was finally approved  it was an immense relief, he adds. But I think its fair to say that there was a morning after, as I realised that the hardest part still lay ahead. We promised everyone trains that would serve their needs in an entirely new way, and now we have to deliver on that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has bold ambitions for its future, including new routes, a national roll-out of the co-operative railway model (he has already had several enquiries from private individuals across the country, and from Social Enterprise Scotland) and upgrading Go-ops trains to lower emissions.

My train to meet Lawrie ran  unusually  exactly on time. But as I emerge back onto the platform, a voice booms over the intercom, announcing that the 12:17 service is delayed. Hopefully that will be a less regular occurrence when Go-op is finally on the rails.

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 woman previously accused Reverend Dr. John Perumbalath, the bishop of Liverpool, of groping and kissing her without consent, and another church leader accused him of sexual harassment going as far back as as 2023. "Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others," he wrote in the statement. Photo Courtesy of Diocese of Liverpool/UPI

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The bishop of Liverpool has denied a set of sexual assault allegations by two different women including a fellow church leader.

A woman previously accused Reverend Dr. John Perumbalath, the bishop of Liverpool, of groping and kissing her without consent, and another accused Perumbalath of sexual harassment going as far back as 2023.

In a statement to the BBC, Perumbalath said he has since "consistently denied" the allegations, and added that a police investigation led to no further action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One woman alleged Perumbalath assaulted her in Essex at the diocese of Chelmsford on separate occasions from 2019 to 2023 while he was bishop of Bradwell.

"Whilst I don't believe I have done anything wrong, I have taken seriously the lessons learnt through this process addressing how my actions can be perceived by others," he wrote in the statement.

The Diocese of Liverpool announced in October 2022 that Perumbalath was to be the ninth bishop of Liverpool and was enthroned in 2023 after he arrived from the Diocese of Chelmsford.

A complaint of alleged misconduct was brought against Perumbalath, now 58, in 2023 after he officially assumed his new role, according to the Church of England. The second complaint was lodged shortly after the first.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A female bishop told Britain's Channel 4 News that she too was sexually harassed by Perumbalath.

But the Church of England said "pastoral support" was provided "throughout for the second complainant and is ongoing."

"The allegations set out in this program are in relation to encounters that took place in public settings, with other people present," the bishop of Liverpool stated.

Perumbalath was voluntarily interviewed under caution by police in March of last year. And he noted that he likewise complied with an investigation by the National Safeguarding Team.

However, an NST spokesperson confirmed insufficient evidence was available to file a complaint under the Clergy Discipline Measure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The information brought by the second complainant was explored and assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct," the Church of England stated.

Perumbalath, from Kerala in southern India, was ordained in 1994 into the Church of North India before being moved to Britain in 2001 to take a role with the Diocese of Rochester.

It follows the recent departure of Justin Welby, 69, as archbishop of Canterbury over Welby's handling of a sexual abuse scandal.

Meanwhile, Welby's temporary replacement as the Church of England's leader, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, has faced similar calls to step-down after allegations he twice-appointed a priest at the center of a sexual abuse case.
WASHINGTON (WHNT)  Representative Dale Strong and Senator Katie Britt joined President Donald Trump as he signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday.

The Laken Riley Act is the 49th Presidential administrations first piece of legislation in his new term.

President Donald Trump poses after signing the Laken Riley Act during an event in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The legislation is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who went out for a run in February 2024 and was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally. Ibarra was found guilty in November and sentenced to life without parole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Jan. 7, Britt introduced the bill to the 119th Congress. On Congress.gov, the Laken Riley Act requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and has been charged with, arrested for, convicted for, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

President Donald Trump hugs Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, before he signs the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a: decision to release a non-U. S. national from custody;

failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews;

failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country;

violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or

failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States. Congress.gov

After the House passed the bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said it was the right thing to do.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  U.S. Northern Command began providing facilities at Buckley Space Force Base at the request of the Department of Homeland Security on Monday for immigration operations, a spokesperson told FOX31 on Tuesday.

According to a statement provided by U.S. Northern Command, the facilities were provided to enable U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stage and process criminal aliens within the U.S. for an operation taking place in Colorado.

Agents arrest man reportedly seen on viral video entering Colorado apartment with gang members

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

USNORTHCOM said that no military personnel would be involved in the operation. Instead, the facility will be staffed by ICE senior leaders, special agents, and analysts, as well as members of DHS Components and other federal law enforcement agencies.

A USNORTHCOM spokesperson told FOX31 that ICEs facility requirements include a temporary operations center, staging area, and a temporary holding location for the receiving, holding and processing of undocumented immigrants.

On Friday, the USNORTHCOM announced that 150 soldiers from Fort Carson would be deployed to the U.S. southern border to support ICE and border protection operations.

Fort Carson said the units were called by President Donald Trump to the southern border to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the United States. Trump has been issuing sweeping executive actions and orders to change the U.S. immigration landscape since he was inaugurated last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The news also comes on the heels of a Drug Enforcement Administrations raid in Adams County wherein ICE agents detained 49 and ultimately arrested 41 who the agency said were in the country illegally. The raid was the result of a months-long investigation by the DEAs Rocky Mountain Field Division. The RMFD has been investigating drug trafficking by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua since last summer, according to DEA RMFD Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Pennsylvania is always a swing state come election time, and 2024 was no different. But, heading to one town in particular to talk to its residents about their split views, the creators of Bucks County, USA admit that they discovered their own inherent judgment.

Premiering the first two episodes at this years Sundance Film Festival, the five-part docuseries tells the story of Evi and Vanessa, two 14-year-olds living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who are best friends, despite their opposing political beliefs.

As nationwide disputes over public education explode into vitriol and division in their hometown, the girls and others in the community fight to discover the humanity in the other side.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stopping by TheWraps Sundance Studio presented by World of Hyatt, producer Jason Sosnoff and director and executive producer Robert May revealed that talking to the other side themselves was actually a heart-opening experience.

You start to realize the more you talk to people that you have an incredible amount of judgment. Youre not even aware of it, Sosnoff said. And so I found myself actually responding very openly to the conservatives in the piece and just sort of seeing how they felt they had been demonized. And when you start talking to somebody for long enough, particularly if youre in the same room as them, youre going to start to see their humanity.

He added that talking to these people was helpful, but earning their trust actually came down to listening. Doing that resulted in the conservative community enjoying the episodes they saw.

It has to be genuine, you know? May agreed. And I really care about these people that weve been talking with, every one of them. And they stay in constant contact with us now because they feel like theyve developed this bond with us of trust. And theyve seen the piece, and they felt that we didnt twist their words, we didnt do any gotcha moments, just like we said we wouldnt. Everything was in context.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can watch TheWraps full discussion with Levinson and May in the video above.

The post Bucks County, USA Creators Say the Key to Earning Conservatives Trust Was Listening: It Has to Be Genuine | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) visited Urbanas Salt & Light Ministries this week to celebrate the return of over $650,000.

According to Budzinski, $659,589 of Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims was recovered.

New Pre-K school in Rantoul has date set

ERC recovery has been delayed recently because of the high number of applications, both legitimate and fraudulent. However, a partnership between Budzinskis office and the Tax Advocate Service allowed Salt & Lights claims to be tracked down, recovering funds and ensuring the organization can continue their work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was proud to visit Salt & Light Ministries in Urbana, where my team helped recover more than $650,000 owed to them by the IRS. This money will go directly back into our community, supporting Salt & Lights mission to help families in need while also providing valuable resources like financial education, computer skills training, and volunteer opportunities, Congresswoman Budzinski said. This is one of many examples of how my casework team is dedicated to advocating for the people of Central and Southern Illinois.

Champaign Co. board member weighs in on future of Mahomet Aquifer CCS ban

Budzinskis office said that since its founding, Salt & Light has become the largest emergency food program in Champaign County, which helps to support families in need.

We cannot thank Congresswoman Budzinski and her office enough for their help with our ERC application. It had been over a year since we submitted our application to the IRS, and really didnt expect much when we reached out to the Congresswomans office. What we found, however, was incredible responsiveness and attention to our case, Nathan Montgomery, executive director of Salt & Light said. Blake from her office helped us throughout, and the funds we are receiving are going to make a huge difference in our nonprofits ability to serve our community. We could not be more appreciative.

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 WCIA.com.
A Johnson man accused of setting a trash can on fire inside University Mall in December was arrested Tuesday for allegedly lighting a dumpster on fire in downtown Burlington earlier this week.

William Cole, 38, faces charges of third-degree arson for the dumpster blaze in a South Winooski Avenue parking lot.

This is at least Coles third arrest for alleged arson, police said.

Leaders of Vermonts cannabis industry to lobby lawmakers for regulatory changes

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In December, he pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and arson after he entered University Mall as store employees were arriving for work. Police said he allegedly smashed storefront windows and started a fire in a trash can.

A judge ordered Cole, who police say has no known residence, to get a mental health evaluation. He was released on conditions and ordered not to possess lighters, matches or accelerants, police said.

Two months earlier, on November 1, Cole was arrested in Essex when officers answered a call about a man trying to light a Pearl Street business on fire. Officers encountered Cole with his hands in the air, police said, and he later admitted he set leaves on fire inside a mailbox attached to the building. Cole also told the officers he tried to enter the building by throwing a metal object at the front door.

Burlington police said investigators linked Cole to the dumpster fire using surveillance video. He was arrested without incident just after 6 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Burlington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said the judge ordered Cole released on conditions. Its not known when his next court date is.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD)  A woman was pulled from Lake Michigan over the weekend after diving into the water to rescue her dog, authorities say.

It happened around 2:50 p.m. Saturday, according to a release from the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.

Officials say the Grand Haven woman, 51, and her dog were walking on the ice. Then, the dog fell through a hole.

The woman dove headfirst into the hole to save her dog but was unable to get herself out of the water, the release says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks to three bystanders, both the woman and her dog were rescued, authorities say. No injuries were reported.

The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety asked community members to stay off Lake Michigan, regardless of how safe the ice may appear.

Entering the ice poses risks not only to yourself but also to first responders, the release says. We encourage everyone to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan during this season from the safety of the beach.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 stirring moment Tuesday at BYU, the Jewish leader of the National Constitution Center asked nearly 5,000 students to stand together in the Marriott Center on campus and recite the aspirational virtues listed in a Latter-day Saint scripture.

National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen told the campus forum assembly that he didnt connect to the Quaker values he read as an English major in the 1980s, a decade marked by greed and excess.

But when he sat down during the COVID-19 pandemic and began to read the books the Founding Fathers read, he discovered the exhilarating ancient meaning behind the phrase the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence. Rosen published his findings in a 2024 book, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.

A revelation about what the pursuit of happiness meant to the Founders

It was a revelation for me, and theres not other words strong enough thats strong enough to describe the insight that for the Founders and for the Ancients and for people throughout human history, happiness has meant not feeling good but being good, not the pursuit of immediate pleasure but the pursuit of long-term virtue, said Rosen, host of the We the People podcast.

National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen speaks in front of an image of the Jefferson Memorial during a campus forum address at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Olivia Taylor/BYU

The lessons he found in his reading were life changing, he said, and caused him to become a missionary for studying the ideals of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What I came to realize by reading the wisdom literature is that by virtues, the Founders and the Ancients meant something in particular, Rosen said. They meant self-mastery, self-improvement, character improvement, being your best self, overcoming your ego-based passions and emotions so that you can serve other people and connect to the divine.

It is ultimately a quest for moral perfection.

Speaker asks BYU students to stand and recite Doctrine and Covenants 4

Midway through the forum, Rosen said university leaders had told him about the virtues listed in Doctrine and Covenants 4, and he asked the students to recite it for him, knowing that more than half of all BYU students learned the seven verses by heart as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work, the 4,856 in attendance said by memory. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

Nearly 5,000 BYU students, faculty and staff stand to recite Doctrine & Covenants Section 4 during a campus forum assembly delivered by National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Olivia Taylor/BYU

Amen, Rosen said when the students finished, as he stood in front of large screens depicting the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. Beautiful. Beautiful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said that both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson independently attempted to chart daily progress on a dozen different personal values like humility and temperance. Rosen tried, too, with a friend, but they gave up on making daily check marks as the two Founders had, because perfection is difficult.

Rosen invited BYU students to continue the quest knowing they are human and will make mistakes. He told them they are uniquely well-prepared for attempting daily cultivation of virtue because they learned practical ways to improve themselves on missions or in high school seminary classes.

Without virtue, happiness cannot be

The Founders, he said, believed in personal and political self-government that seeks to overcome unproductive passions and emotions like anger and jealousy and fear.

Rosen noted that some Founders floundered on the issue of slavery, mentioning that he had learned that John Quincy Adams and Joseph Smith arrived at about the same time at the conclusion that the Bible forbids slavery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rosens book lists the reading materials of several figures of Americas founding, materials that inspired their lives and the foundings documents.

When John Quincy Adams died, for example, he said, I am composed. It was a nod to a book that Rosen found Jefferson and Franklin and others considered vital, Tusculan Disputations, by Cicero.

A perfectly composed person is one who has achieved virtuous self-mastery, Rosen said of Ciceros philosophy.

Franklin chose one passage as the motto for his own self-improvement project:

Without virtue, happiness cannot be, Cicero wrote.

Make reading a habit

Rosen invited students emerging into adulthood in an age when communication is frequently based on enrage to engage and held within filter bubbles and echo chambers to get back into the habit of reading.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When I wake up, I am not allowed to browse or surf until Ive read for a half hour or hour, Rosen said of his own prescription. Thats my injunction to you: Carve out time to read.

Rosen praised BYU President Shane Reese for making learning about the Constitution an emphasis at the university.

It was quite impressive, said BYU student Tanner Bartlome, 21, a sophomore in chemical engineering from South Jordan, Utah. I thought it was inspirational to stand up with other brothers and sisters and recite that scripture together.

Quoting Rosen, Bartlome noted that many of the Founders tried to disagree agreeably. The student said it was an admirable trait.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats certainly on the fall rather than on the rise today, he said, but its something we should all try to make better rather than worse.

BYU Vice President Justin Collings said Rosens We the People podcast is a superb model of respectful, civil, enlightened and illuminating public discourse.

Collings noted that Rosen has received an honor from France that is the equivalent of being knighted. He proposed the Rosen be dubbed, Sir Jeffrey of the chivalric order of Constitutional virtue.

Where to watch the forum now

Rosens forum address can be viewed for free at BYUtv.org.

Rosen is a professor at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller, Conversations with RBG: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law. He earned degrees at Harvard College, Oxford University and Yale Law School.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The last three episodes of the We the People podcast are:

My Fellow Americans: Presidents and Their Inaugural Addresses.

Can Texas Require Age Verification on Adult Sites?

The Future of TikTok.
UPDATED, 6:12 PM: The many turns in and out of court in the equity and competition disputes between CAA and Range Media Partners has seen the legal script flipped again.

Two days ago, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied a request by the David Bugliari-, Peter Micelli- and Jack Whigham-created Ranges request for a pause in the wide-ranging lawsuit filed last October by the Bryan Lourd-run CAA. That order would have seen the former CAA agents having to testify in the ongoing arbitration the parties have been fighting for a couple of years over CAA cutting off vested equity for the Range founders when they jumped to form their own company.

More from Deadline

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, a judge on the Second Appellate court said that a pause was on now, at least temporarily.

The petition for writ of supersedeas filed on January 28, 2025, has been read and considered along with the request for an immediate stay of the superior courts December 20, 2024 order as well as the temporary opposition, the court wrote in its order. The December 20, 2024 order directing Range Media Partners, LLC, and Peter Micelli to comply with the hearing subpoenas issued by the arbitration panel on June 21, 2024, is temporarily stayed until further order of this court.

CAAs victory dance on this petition for a stay was premature, Ranges lead lawyer Orin Snyder of NYC-based Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher told Deadline of the shift in events. We look forward to presenting our arguments to the appeals court.

CAA respects the judicial process, Elena Baca, the agencys outside counsel from Paul Hastings said this evening. Despite Ranges endless efforts to delay and evade, we remain confident that these maneuvers will not ultimately succeed in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How long the stay will be in place is anyones guess, but the Court of Appeal usually moves pretty fast in matters like this. Which means a trio of judges could take Ranges desire for a more permanent stay, at least as the parallel behind-closed-doors arbitration goes on, under consideration soon or within the next few weeks. Either way, the latest development buys time for Range in the public sphere and offers both the company and CAA time to consider a settlement in the arbitration.

Of course, as many lawyers and their clients have learned the hard way, the pendulum can swing one way as quickly as it went the other when it comes to such matters. So no one should been doing a victory dance on right now.

PREVIOUSLY, 12:33 AM: The fact is not a lot has been going on lately publicly in the legal duels between CAA and the agencys ex-staffers over at Range Media Partners over equity, competition and the shifting line of what may or may not constitute being an agent, until Monday  when all Hell broke loose.

First of all, with a March arbitration hearing on the books, the Bryan Lourd-run CAA scored a big victory at an early morning session in Santa Monica on January 27 with LA Superior Court Judge Mark A. Young denying the David Bugliari, Peter Micelli and Jack Whigham created Ranges request to stay the litigation and slip out of giving testimony and producing documentation in the ongoing behind closed doors mediation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Respondents do not explain what harm would come to them from testifying and/or disclosing the records before the Panel, Judge Young wrote in his minute order.

Reviewing the declarations in support of the stay motion and the opposition to the petition, Respondents do not substantiate any potential privacy concerns with these records or any other similar harm to Respondents interests from disclosure, he went on to say after hearing oral arguments from lawyers on both sides earlier on Monday.

On the other hand, Petitioners will suffer harm if they are unable to secure the subject testimony and records at the set arbitration hearing dates, the LASC judge added. While the arbitration hearing dates could theoretically be rescheduled, Petitioners demonstrate that the arbitration panel is not likely to continue the hearings and have already denied a motion to stay or continue the arbitration.

Thus, Petitioners case risks significant prejudice if a stay is granted, Judge Young asserted. At worst, Petitioners would be forced to proceed without this material evidence. At the very least, what is supposed to be a speedy forum for resolution without the need for drawn out discovery proceedings would be significantly delayed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the October 2020 cancelling of the former CAAers vested equity by CAA at the draconian heart of the matter under arbitration for around two years now, lets just call this the Judges please-dont-waste-my-time order. Not that Range, having been denied the stay they were betting on, werent then willing to put all the chips on the table for a shot at getting the September 30 bracing suit from CAA tossed out without leave to amend.

Last Fall, CAA took its dust-up with Range very public with claims the organization was in pursuit of unlawful profit through deception, and actually doing the work of a talent agency while skirting the laws that agencies have to abide by. CAA is prepared to prove that Range Media was formed through dishonest conduct and, as reflected in other public, pending legal proceedings about Ranges failure to comply with arbitration subpoenas, has concealed evidence of its founders actions, CAA counsel Elena Baca told Deadline on October 1 of the sprawling suit submitted by CAA.

Respectfully or not, and with the motto of if once you dont succeed, try, try again, Range still deeply disagrees with that POV from the uberagency  and if they cant get a stay, theyll ty to get the whole thing shut down or tossed out.

This case is not a close call, Ranges NYC and LA Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher lawyers penned in a dismissal motion filed later on Monday in LASC. Never mentioning that they lost their stay effort, the management group refer to the equity cancellation as illegal and are asking for an August 5 hearing on the January 27 motion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the meantime, its not like Range arent trying to rough heavyweight CAA up a bit in the docket and with the media and public. As a large swath of Sundance returning Hollywood wonders why both sides donr just let it go and move on with building their businesses, the dismissed with prejudice seeking motion submitted to the court explains:

CAA has not explained why it waited until late 2024 to file this case if, as it alleges, Range stole confidential information and competed unlawfully four years ago, in 2020. Nor has it explained why it did not file suit two years ago when it raised these allegations in arbitration. CAAs lawsuit appears to be a continuation of its retaliatory tactics and should be dismissed or struck without leave to replead. As set forth below, the claims are either preempted, filed in the wrong tribunal, or defective as a matter of law because CAA lacks standing to bring the claim. Each of CAAs claims fails as a matter of law and should be dismissed or struck without leave to replead.

There has been no formal response from CAA on Ranges motion, yet. Still, with the state of affairs between the two ready to crack open further and faster than lagoon ice in March, CAAs Baca essentially called Ranges efforts a clown show said in a statement Tuesday:

Yesterdays court ruling makes clear that Ranges multiyear strategy of constant obfuscation and evasion will not succeed. Companies with nothing to hide do not spend this much time and energy evading legal processes. The court rejected Ranges most recent attempt to avoid producing documents and sworn testimony. Ranges filing yesterday was just more deflection and distraction. CAAs lawsuit against Range doesnt have anything to do with canceled equity. Equity members who comply with the law are always in good standing and their equity retains its value. CAA understands and welcomes fair competition. It competes with a lot of companies every day. CAA collaborates with legitimate managers and management companies every day. What Range did is entirely different; emails, texts and witnesses prove it. Range set out to create a company that does not play by the same rules as everyone else, with individuals placing their interests and those of Range above their fellow equity holders, colleagues and clients, as we set out in our Complaint. That is the essence of unfair competition. That is CAAs claim against Range.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Being that this is Hollywood where perception is reality over half the time, and lawyers love to snag a spotlight or two, Ranges Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher lead attorney came at CAA with some old school David and Goliath burns.

CAA is back to its old tricks, Orin Snyder said after the filing by Its trying to use its power to bully and intimidate Range and its founders It wont work.

For an agency that professes to support talent, its ironic that CAA is now attempting to reduce choice in the industry, Snyder says, trying to paint one of the worst versions of the situation the agency risks falling into if they take the bait. At the same time, CAA is sending a clear message to all of its agents that their hard-earned vested equity could be taken away forever at the whim of the agency. CAAs lawsuit is a publicity stunt that will not succeed.

It might not succeed, but it also might not be that black and white, for either CAA or Range   as they and their lawyers likely know. We may know in August what shade of grey this could all end being in the end  unless Trump pardons everyone.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Residents in the paths of the wildfires that roared through Southern California this month faced a colossal decision: Which belongings should they protect from the flames, and which should they leave behind?

The fast-moving blazes gave them little time to consider their options. As the sky above them turned orange and embers flew through the air, some people fled for their lives without taking anything at all. Others frantically packed a mix of practical possessions and creature comforts, like passports and their childrens favorite stuffed animals.

Officials say the wildfires have killed at least 29 people and consumed thousands of houses and other buildings. For those whose homes were destroyed, there is a unique grief that comes with losing nearly everything they own, according to psychologists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some are those things that help us get through our routines, and some are those truly meaningful ones, said Melissa Brymer, director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress in Los Angeles. The frustration of not having both at the same time can be overwhelming.

NBC News spoke with five Los Angeles-area families about the impossible choices the fires forced them to make in a matter of minutes. This is what they saved from their homes.









Jervey Tervalon, his wife, Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, and their children, Sam Smookler and Colette Liu Tervalon, photographed Thursday in front of the remains of their Altadena home, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

An authors books, a daughters paintings

Jinghuan Liu Tervalon expected to be away from home for only one night.

When a fire broke out in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains on the evening of Jan. 7, a friend who is married to a firefighter called Jinghuan and urged her to evacuate, even though the flames didnt seem close to the three-bedroom bungalow in Altadena she shared with her husband and two kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jinghuan filled suitcases and duffel bags with one nights worth of clothes and her journals. Her husband, Jervey Tervalon, the author of five novels, packed a few books from his sprawling collection.

Jervey, an author, shows some of his books that the family was able to save. Colette, 9, holds a piece of her artwork that she took before they fled.

Their daughter, Colette, 9, seemed to understand the gravity of the threat ahead of her parents. She took a giant folder of her original artwork, mostly paintings, and loaded her parents car with her beloved Minecraft stuffed animals. She also implored Jinghuan to bring a purple coffee mug she received when she went on a writing retreat last year in the Oregon mountains  a token Jinghuan had kept as a reminder of the bliss she felt during the retreat.

I said: Hey, put this back. Were not going to need this, Jinghuan said. She said, Mom, if our house burns down, youre going to be glad I packed that for you.

The next morning, Jinghuan and her 17-year-old son, Sam, drove back to their street to grab more items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was 8 oclock in the morning, but it felt like midnight. It was dark. It was raining ashes. The smoke was everywhere. We saw people panicking, Jinghuan said.

Sam, 17, with some of the items he saved: an audio interface for music production and a water bottle from China.

Siblings Sam and Colette walk down their Altadena street, passing by the ruins of their home and their neighbors homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sam was the first to see the devastation. Their bungalow was gone. Jinghuan was stunned.

It felt like someone poured buckets of cold water on me, she said. It was so hard to believe in that moment.

The four Tervalons are temporarily staying in a rental house in nearby Arcadia, grateful for one another. But their thoughts often drift to what they couldnt salvage. Jervey wishes he could have taken more of the books he has written and his comic book collection. Sam misses his guitar and piano. Jinghuan regrets there wasnt time to save more.

It still pains me that I only grabbed one folder of Colettes artwork, she said. I wake up thinking about the other folder I didnt get.









From left, Guy Horton, his wife, Sherin Wing, and their daughters, Jianling Horton and Kailing Horton, in a relatives home in Pasadena on Friday. They are holding items they saved from the Palisades Fire, which ravaged their Pacific Palisades apartment.

A stuffed bear, a stack of journals

Jianling Horton, a high school senior, was at home working on an essay on the morning of Jan. 7 when she noticed smoke filling the sky outside the window. When she went to ask her parents for feedback on her writing, wind gusts pushed plumes of smoke closer and closer to the Pacific Palisades apartment where she had lived her whole life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Jianling didnt feel scared yet  even when the middle school her 12-year-old sister, Kailing, attends 2 miles away started notifying parents that they needed to pick up their children because of the approaching wildfire.

Jianlings mother, Sherin Wing, went to get Kailing while Jianling stayed home with her dad, Guy Horton. Outside, the sun turned a glowing red.

As Jianling tried to make sense of what she was seeing, she got a startling text from a friend: Their high school three blocks away was on fire.

Sisters Jianling, 17, and Kailing, 12, hold some of the few belongings they have that werent ruined, including Kailings backpack and school supplies. Jianling grabbed years worth of her journals when she evacuated.

Among the items Jianling packed: Cosmos, a favorite book of hers, which her father gave her when she was young.

That was when we knew that we had to leave, Jianling said.

Guy started loading as many meaningful items from around the house as he could into the car. When he got to Sherins jewelry cabinet, which was mounted to the wall, he ripped it out so he could pack the whole box  not for the monetary worth of what was inside but because he knew how much sentimental value it had for Sherin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jianling packed a jewelry box, too, that she had inherited from her grandmother. She also took a favorite stuffed bear she had named Toaster and a stack of journals she had kept since the first grade.

I took all 15 of them and just shoved them in a suitcase, because I figured that if my other life stuff was going to burn, at least Id still have it in writing, she said.

Sherin, Guy and one of the familys cats at Sherins sisters home in Pasadena, which they evacuated to after they lost their apartment of 18 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guy, Jianling and the familys two cats were able to escape in time. Meanwhile, Sherin was able to safely reach Kailing.

The next day, a neighbor sent them a photo showing their apartment had burned to the ground.

Seeing the photo was complete and utter grief and loss, Sherin said. Its literally just bits of rubble and lumber.

The family reunited at a relatives house in Pasadena, where Jianlings thoughts turned to what was in the rubble, such as her school textbooks, her paintbrushes and her knitting needles.

But its more about the time that I lost there, she said. Especially since Im going to be leaving for college soon, I really wanted these last few months to be in my childhood home with my family and making plenty of new memories.









Rabbi Sholom Diskin stands at the site of his condo Friday. Air quality in the area remains poor after his building burned down in the Palisades Fire.

A prayer shawl, Torah verses

As the wildfire approached Rabbi Sholom Diskins condominium in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, he packed items so important to him that they almost felt like an extension of himself. He saved his and his wifes ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract; his tallit, a fringed garment worn as a prayer shawl; his tefillin, a set of small leather boxes each containing scrolls inscribed with verses from the Torah; and his tzitzit, the tassels observant Jewish men wear on ceremonial garments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont move around without these things, he said.

Yet many other objects at the core of his identity needed to be left behind.

Sholom holds religious items he took when he evacuated with his family. The remains of the burned-out building where they used to live are visible in the background. At right is the building where the Diskin family lived.

I had 10 bookcases of books. I wasnt able to take any of them, he said. We had some silverware, Shabbat candle lights, two menorahs  including one that was very near and dear to me because it was a gift from my grandparents on my bar mitzvah.

When he found out that all of those were gone after a neighbor sent a video of where his home of three years once stood, Sholom felt numb.

Is this really happening, or am I dreaming? he said he asked himself as he sheltered from the fires at a hotel.

Sholom surveys his burned building. The fire destroyed two menorahs and other Judaic objects.

He is on staff at the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Pacific Palisades, which sustained some fire damage. The rabbinical leadership there made sure to take sacred Torah scrolls that had been housed inside before the flames approached.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sholom counts his blessings. He, his wife, Nechama, and their three children, ages 1 to 5, are safe.

There are people who are mourning right now, he said. My job is to be there for them.









Bobak Lotfipour and Courtney Tindall, photographed Friday, stand in front of the remains of the Altadena home they had moved into just three months ago.

Generations worth of artwork

Courtney Tindall, a painter and educator, was thrilled when a home became available for rent in Altadena. She and her partner, Bobak Lotfipour, loved the areas eclectic arts scene and moved in with their 2-year-old son three months ago. They hadnt completely unpacked when the Eaton Fire erupted, forcing them to leave the night of Jan. 7.

The electricity cut out as the couple scrambled to assemble their belongings. Courtney, who walked around the house holding a candle so she could see, packed up paintings she couldnt imagine living without  her own work, pieces by her late grandmother, even a paint-by-numbers image depicting a ballerina that her mom made as a child.

Courtney holds a photo of her grandmother that she packed before she left her home.

Im 42 years old and Ive had that paint-by-numbers in every apartment Ive ever lived in, she said. I had that in my room as a child growing up.

The more she prepared to evacuate, the more her sense of imminent danger intensified. The prospect of losing her home grew more real, overwhelming her.

I could feel my hands shaking, she said. There are some things I dont even remember putting in our bags.

A ring that Bobak gave to Courtney for Valentines Day, left. Right, Courtney, a painter, holds a piece of artwork took with her before the flames reached their home, while Bobak holds a Marvin, a musical instrument.

Bobak, a film and television composer, spent his final minutes at home gathering some of the musical equipment in his recording studio. But the majority of his instruments, including his drums, perished in the blaze.

Days after they fled their home, Courtney still hadnt wrapped her head around everything theyd lost.

There were boxes and boxes of stuff we hadnt even opened after we moved in, she said. I make jewelry, and there were boxes of jewelry in the closet, but they didnt even cross my mind until we left.









From left, Terica Roberts and her sons, Grayson, 10, and Gavin, 16, on Thursday in front of the remains of their home, which was lost to the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

An engraved Christmas gift

Terica Roberts Altadena house was where she watched her three sons grow  literally. At the beginning of each school year, she drew lines on the walls to mark the boys heights. Every Christmas, Terica added a new homemade ornament to her collection that featured a photo of the family.

When the flames got close to their house on Jan. 7, the whole household  Terica, her sons and her mother, the familys two turtles, a lizard and a dog  all headed to the car.

On her way out, Terica grabbed a stack of important records, including medical documents for her 10-year-old son, Grayson, who was born with a congenital eye condition and is legally blind. Grayson took his toy airplanes and a blanket that is special to him, while Tericas 16-year-old, Gavin, made sure to grab a Christmas present his mom had given to him a couple of weeks before: a black watch that Terica had engraved with the words Make every moment count.

Tericas mother, Deanna Lessard, who also lived with her and the boys, visits whats left of their home; Gavin stands where the familys home once was.

Terica thumbs through photos she took with her.

The family evacuated to Tericas brothers house. The next morning, Terica and her oldest son, Gilbert, 20, returned to their block to find nearly every home on fire or obliterated, including their own.

I was honestly heartbroken, Terica said. You really cant put it in words. It was unbelievable.

The family is now staying in a hotel, where Grayson has brought up a few times how much he would like to go home and sleep in his own bed. Gavin has tried cheering him up by pretending they are on vacation.

The family is still coming to terms with everything that burned. Grayson lost a decades worth of Braille books and assistive technology devices, Terica said. He also lost his instruments, including his drums, piano, guitars, saxophone and trumpet.

The remains of Terica and her familys home in Altadena.

Terica shows the family photos she saved. There was no way we could get everything, she said.

Then there are the more mundane items the fire ravaged.

All the things that make life convenient or easier that you may have, even when it came to scissors or nail clippers, Terica said, its just gone. Gone.

Still, there are certain intangibles the fire couldnt take from them.

There was no way we could get everything, Terica said. But one of my kids said, We have our memories.

For information on how to help Californians displaced by the wildfires, click here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Many private insurers recently dropped coverage in a Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which was flattened by the Palisades Fire, forcing residents to seek coverage from the states last resort FAIR Plan. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In the months before thousands of Los Angeles homes went up in flames, property insurance companies dropped coverage in many neighborhoods of the city, citing the growing wildfire risks caused by climate change.

As a result, a fast-growing number of California residents have switched to a state-backed last resort insurance plan. That plan has taken on policies covering billions of dollars in some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the fires, which have engulfed more than 12,000 structures and prompted staggering loss projections. Some experts think the plans reserves wont be enough to cover the damage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyre not going to have enough money to pay these claims, said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance customers.

If that happens, it will trigger an assessment on every home insurance policyholder in the state to cover the outstanding claims. Its a mechanism available under some state-backed insurance plans  one thats known in Florida as the hurricane tax. Now, for the first time, Californians may be hit with the wildfire tax.

Were all going to be paying for the insurance industrys unwillingness to serve in those communities.

 Doug Heller, director of insurance with the Consumer Federation of America

A single wildfire disaster could impose a surcharge of close to $1,000 on every Californian with home insurance coverage, Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit advocacy group, told state lawmakers in March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some experts fear its just the beginning of a vicious cycle in states across the country. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of disasters, experts predict, insurance companies will stop offering coverage to vast swaths of the country. State-backed last resort plans will take on an ever-growing number of the highest risk properties. And homeowners everywhere will get stuck with the bill when disaster strikes.

Were all going to be paying for the insurance industrys unwillingness to serve in those communities, said Doug Heller, director of insurance with the Consumer Federation of America, a research and advocacy nonprofit. The private companies are getting all the best risk [policies] and the public holds the bag for the worst risk.

Insurance companies have lobbied state regulators for more flexibility in setting rates and faster approvals of rate hikes. They say the market needs to keep up with the ever-growing risks caused by climate change for their business to be viable. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association did not grant an interview request by publication time.

FAIR Plans

State-backed insurance plans, known as FAIR Plans or Citizens Plans, were set up starting in the 1960s to provide coverage for homeowners who couldnt find policies on the private market. The plans are managed by state governments, but backed financially by a pool of the private insurers doing business in that state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today, 35 states and the District of Columbia offer FAIR Plan policies to high-risk property owners. In many cases, those plans  often designed to cover a handful of outlier properties  are insuring hundreds of thousands of homes valued at billions of dollars. California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina all have more than 100,000 policies insured by their state plans.

Nationwide, these state-backed plans cover nearly 3 million properties  Californias alone provides nearly half a million policies  with an exposure exceeding $1 trillion. Those numbers are only likely to grow.

[The Los Angeles fires] will be a giant I told you so from insurers, Bach said. This proves our point, and we just cant continue to do business in this market. Thats going to be a big blow to the FAIR Plan.

State Farm, Californias largest insurer, said last year that it could drop more than 1 million policies in the state over the next five years  a signal that private insurers retreat from the market could accelerate. This months wildfires are likely to hasten that exit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because the FAIR Plan pools the private insurers doing business in California, any companies withdrawing from the market also weaken the safety net thats meant to cover the absence of private plans.

The plans first big stress test is likely to be in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, which was devastated by the fires. The FAIR Plan provides nearly $6 billion of wildfire coverage in that area, among the highest totals in the state.

At present, the California plan has about $377 million available to pay claims, with another $5.75 billion in reinsurance, The New York Times reported. In a news release, FAIR Plan officials said it was too early to calculate loss estimates from the Los Angeles fires and whether the plan would have to use payment mechanisms to cover its claims.

Until last year, the plans pool of insurance companies would have been required to cover the balance of outstanding claims, based on their market share in the state. But a policy announced last July by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, a Democrat, allows insurers to surcharge their policyholders directly to cover losses over $1 billion in an extreme worst case scenario.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Consumer advocates say that policy was among a series of concessions made by Laras office, meant to induce insurance companies to continue providing policies in the state.

That was supposed to be in return for a guarantee that insurers come back to the market, but that guarantee has not played out, said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit advocacy group. If the insurance industry has their way, one half of California will no longer be covered, and we will get to that point quickly.

Balber noted that FAIR Plan policies still have expensive premiums and provide minimal coverage compared with private plans.

Laras office did not grant an interview by publication time.

Insurance company concerns

While advocates lament the increased risk borne by the public, insurance industry leaders say they cant continue to cover disaster-prone areas without damaging their companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[In 2023], insurers paid $1.11 in claims and expenses for every dollar in premiums collected, Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications with the Insurance Information Institute, said in an interview with Stateline last year. If insurers continue to see significant underwriting losses year after year, thats going to be a determining factor in where they want to write policies.

Meanwhile, two California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow the state to issue catastrophe bonds to help the FAIR Plan cover shortfalls to its reserves.

Insurance experts agree that the industry is grappling with the failure of public officials to stop the worst effects of climate change and limit development in areas prone to disasters.

Land use decision-making has been outsourced to the insurance industry, said Heller, of the Consumer Federation of America.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Private insurers are likely to continue pulling back as climate change worsens, and state-backed plans are not equipped to handle the extra risk, said Dave Jones, a former California insurance commissioner who is now director of the Climate Risk Initiative at the University of California, Berkeleys Center for Law, Energy & the Environment.

He is advocating for a federal program to provide reinsurance  a type of insurance purchased by insurers themselves to hedge against large claim payouts  for state FAIR Plans, which would provide an important backstop as private reinsurance becomes more expensive.

Were marching steadily toward an uninsurable future, because were not dealing with the root cause of climate change, Jones said. Private insurers are going to act economically rationally in the face of these losses.

A vicious cycle

California isnt the only state facing pressure on its last resort insurance plan. Florida covers nearly 1 million households on its Citizens Plan, making it the largest property insurer in the state. The state was hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton last year, which caused billions of dollars in damage across the southeastern U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lori Medders, a professor at Appalachian State University and a longtime expert on Florida insurance, said its unclear whether the claims paid out to hurricane survivors will require Citizens Plan to issue a hurricane tax on the states policyholders. This assessment was previously triggered after the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005. She said state-backed plans  even those charging massive rates  rarely collect premiums matching their exposure.

Its incomprehensible to charge those people the rates you need from them to cover their risk, she said. The more insurance [state plans] have and value at risk they have, the more exposure they have to losses. If you exacerbate that with climate change, you are putting a market problem on top of a market problem.

Medders said increasing disasters could create a vicious cycle where private insurers cover fewer and fewer homes, forcing state plans to step in and hit residents with assessment on top of assessment on top of assessment to cover their losses.

Heller said governments may need to rethink insurance as a system akin to a utility, if the market approach can no longer sustain an industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The private sector approach to property insurance is starting to crack under the weight of climate change and the public cant fill in the gaps under the existing structure, he said.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Stateline, like Oregon Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
(KTLA) Following longstanding financial challenges, the California Historical Society has closed and transferred its collection to Stanford University.

The private nonprofit organization was founded in 1871 and was designated the states official and historical society in 1979. It was one of Californias oldest historical organizations; however, unlike other state historical societies, CHS leadership said it received no regular state funding despite ongoing efforts.

The organization, headquartered in San Francisco, was home to over 600,000 items spanning the history of California and the West since the 18th century. Collections included original material from significant events such as the Gold Rush, statehood, and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The collection will now be known as the California Historical Society Collection at Stanford and will continue to be accessible to the public and academics.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Above: Nexstar report on uncertainty surrounding federal help for California.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  California lawmakers have introduced a bill to implement voter identification requirements in response to President Donald Trumps demand for the state to reform how it holds elections to unlock wildfire aid.

State Assemblymembers Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) and Bill Essayli (R-Corona) introduced the measure, describing it in a statement Monday as an enhancement to bolster trust and security in the states elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Specifically, the legislation, Assembly Bill 25, would roll back a different law passed last year prohibiting local governments in California from compelling production of an ID to vote, making signature certification the blanket process in the state to confirm a voters citizenship.

California officials push back on Trumps claim that US military entered state, turned on the water

Instead, AB 25 would require voters to show a government-issued ID when heading to the polls or sending in a mail-in ballot, and mandate citizenship verification before a resident is added to the states voter rolls.

The bill would also require all counties to count mail-in ballots within 72 hours following an election or risk forfeiting its ability to automatically distribute them during the next election it administers. Voters would still be able to request absentee ballots.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On top of that, AB 25 would empower the state auditor to conduct random analyses of voter lists maintained by county election officials and their signature verification processes.

There is a cancer growing in our democracy where too many California voters do not trust in our elections, DeMaio said in a statement on the bill. California voters will not have the confidence they deserve that we have fraud-free elections  until we enact this common sense voter ID law.

Voter ID laws have existed in the U.S. since 1950, but have surged in popularity  and become more austere  over the last two decades. Now, more than two-thirds of states have some form of voter ID law, including Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, Washington and Texas.

As the National Conference of State Legislatures explains, election experts largely divide these laws into two general categories based on their rigor: strict and non-strict.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Strict laws may require voters without ID to cast a provisional ballot and take steps to cure it after Election Day in order to be counted. Non-strict laws often allow people who do not have ID to cast a provisional ballot that gets counted without further action on the part of the voter. Non-strict laws may also accept more than one form of ID.

Proponents of voter ID laws, who often lean Republican, argue it can reinforce democratic processes by preventing fraud and increase public confidence in how elections are carried out.

Opponents such legislation on the other hand argue it is needless, saying it is already required to provide identifying information like a drivers license number when registering to vote and rates of fraud actually occurring during elections is exceedingly low.

Some critics of these laws further contend they can effectively disenfranchise certain voters  namely seniors and those in minority or low-income communities  due to various barriers associated with obtaining an ID and remedying certification issues, which could open up the possibility for legitimate votes to be thrown out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bay Area official introduces bill that would allow wildfire victims to sue oil companies

As it is currently written, AB 25 does not go into specifics about how California voters or county election officials would be required to address ballots they are unable to confirm ID, or how eligible voters without some form of government-issued identification can cast a ballot.

Regardless, AB 25 faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled California state legislature, especially as lawmakers only just passed legislation banning these kinds of requirements statewide.

It remains to be seen the impact Trumps promise to make aid to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires contingent on California reversing course on voter ID, in addition to other policy issues, may have on garnering Democratic votes for the bill.

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 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Fire Department received a heartfelt gesture from across the county line after returning home from out of county wildfires.

Residents of Camarillo wrote thank-you cards to the Bakersfield Fire Department, the department announced on Jan. 24. The fire department assisted during the Mountain Fire in November.

Multiple Kern County firefighter Strike Teams sent to Mountain Fire

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Bakersfield Fire Department said in a Facebook post, Thank you for your kindness and for trusting us during such a critical time. Together, we overcome.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Canadian border patrol caught a person jumping off of a moving train just across Buffalos U.S.-Canada border in Fort Erie, they said Wednesday.

Authorities in Canada said the person was entering Canada from the United States. Canadian Border Services and Canadian police intercepted the person, who was arrested.

The person who jumped off the train was deemed inadmissible to enter Canada and was returned to the United States. In addition, two others involved in the alleged smuggling attempt were taken into custody for questioning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canadian authorities were not specific about when the alleged incident happened, but acknowledged that it was part of Project Disrupt and Deter, which was launched last month and aims to monitor vulnerable areas along the International Railway Bridge.

It is unclear if any of the individuals are set to face formal charges.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can 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 News 4 Buffalo.
Canadian attorneys claim to be seeing a spike in Americans interested in renouncing their U.S. citizenship. They expect that number to grow under Donald Trumps presidency.

Alexander Marino, director of U.S. tax law at Moodys Tax in Calgary, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that business has been good for offices like his that specialize in North American tax cases.

In most instances, U.S. natives living in Canada ditch their ties to their homeland to divorce themselves from the Internal Revenue Service. But since Trump was elected to the U.S. presidency for a second time in November, Marino has seen a bump in Canadian-Americans interested in cutting their ties to the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For a lot of people, the election results are a bit of the straw that broke the camels back, Marino told the CBC.

He expects 2025 to be a record year for Americans saying goodbye to Uncle Sam.

Wisconsin native and former dual-citizen Douglas Cowgill told the CBC he went full-Canadian in 2023.

I had to look at it from the perspective of what lies ahead of me for the next 20 to 30 years, and definitely that is a life here in Canada, he told the outlet.

Cowgill, who has a Canadian wife and family, works as an immigration lawyer in British Columbia. The 39-year-old Cheesehead-turned-Canuck told the CBC the monthly inquiries he received in December were nearly double the norm. Cowgill expects that trend to continue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. Federal Register publishes quarterly lists of Americans who surrender their citizenship. The number of registrants went on the rise in 2014 when the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act was enacted in the U.S., requiring foreign financial institutions to report on foreign assets held by U.S. account holders.

In 2016, about 4,100 names were on that list. That number jumped by more than 50% when Trump first took power in 2017. Expatriations dipped during President Joe Bidens last year in office.

Trump has hinted at initiating a trade war with Canada and possibly annexing everything above the United States northern border.

_____
(The Hill)  The U.S. Capitol Police arrested a man with Molotov cocktails and knives who was allegedly attempting to kill House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and President Trumps two recently confirmed nominees, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Ryan English, who traveled from Massachusets to Washington, turned himself into a Capitol Police officer on Monday near the south door of the building, prosecutors said in court documents.

Officers said they found a folding knife as well as two destructive devices from the inside pockets of ENGLISHs jacket when they searched English.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The destructive devices were constructed of 50-milliliter bottles of Absolut brand vodka with a grey cloth affixed to its top, prosecutors said. A green BIC brand lighter was also recovered from ENGLISHs pants pocket.

Law enforcement also searched Englishs vehicle, finding he had a 750-milliliter bottle of Smirnoff 100-proof vodka and a grey sweatshirt with cloth cut from the sleeves, adding the cloth of the sweatshirt was the same as cloth affixed to the destructive devices.

English, who left Massachusets on Sunday, said he initially looked to kill Hegseth, Johnson and/or burn down the Heritage Foundation. But when he stopped in Chevy Chase, Md., on the way to Washington, his plan changed as he found that Bessents confirmation vote was on Monday.

Bessent was confirmed on Monday in a 68-29 vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upon arrival to Capitol Hill and surveilling security, English suspected he could not reach the new Treasury Secretary, but then expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop.

English was hit with counts of an unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a dangerous weapon on the grounds of the Capitol building.

In early July 2022, Capitol Police arrested a man who had two Molotov cocktails near the Capitol 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 Queen City News.
Car crashes into Chula Vista guitar shop

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A guitar shop was damaged after a vehicle crashed into its storefront overnight, Chula Vista Police report.

According to authorities, a car being driven by a 30-year-old Chula Vista man went through the front glass of Marks Guitar Exchange in a shopping center at 945 Otay Lakes Road around 12:14 a.m. Tuesday.

Pickup truck crashes into El Cajon home, collapses garage

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver reportedly told police he had just left the Jack in the Box nearby and fell asleep at the wheel, causing him to lose control and crash into the store.

The car was sitting in the storefront when first responders arrived on the scene. Police say the collision caused significant damage to the store and some merchandise inside.

Car crashes into Chula Vista guitar shop (FOX 5/KUSI)

The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with authorities. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

The collision remains under investigation. Police say alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Snow falls at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

For 25 years, car dealerships in Utah have kept their doors closed on Sundays. In a state with a heavily concentrated Latter-day Saint population, Senate Republican leaders say that should remain the status quo.

After a 2025 bill that challenged that long-lasting policy was unveiled, the Utah Senates Republican leadership said they would not be receptive to the bill, indicating it would likely hit a dead end.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SB136, titled Motor Vehicle Business Regulation Amendments, sponsored by Salt Lake City Democrat Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, and South Jordan Republican, Rep. Jordan Teuscher, would have repealed the Sunday ban on selling or leasing cars.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson, R-Logan, who owns a car dealership, described the proposal as a horrible bill and an anti-family bill, adding that some industry associations strongly opposed it.

Itll force new car dealers to be open on Sunday. Youre talking about 80,000 employees, youre talking about families, Wilson told reporters on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After those comments became public, Pitcher confirmed to Utah News Dispatch she would not pursue the bill this year.

According to Wilson, this wouldnt allow Utah-based car dealerships the option to remain closed on Sundays because of pressures from franchise agreements. He said it would effectively take away local owners choice of remaining closed on Sundays.

Whats going to happen is the manufacturers, theyre going to come in and say, you can be open on Sunday, Wilson said. Of course, were franchisees, so we are under their rule, and they have a lot of control and theyre going to come to a point where were gonna have to be open.

Since many operations dont have the ability to hire more employees, opening on Sundays would mean that the already existing staff would have to work more hours, Wilson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Sunday ban was a policy that Larry H. Miller, one of the states most influential business owners, heavily advocated for in the year 2000 to keep local dealerships, which closed on Sundays

Let us know what you think...

Similar legislation was introduced in 2016 by former Santaquin Republican Rep. Marc Roberts, but it never received a committee hearing.

Larry Miller, at that time, was concerned about employees, and knowing that being open seven days a week is just very difficult on families and employees, and we worry about finding employees that actually will work on Sunday, Wilson said. And so its a tough bill for our industry.

Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork agreed. Car dealerships are good members of his community, he said, sponsoring the rodeo and other community events. So, he didnt believe the bill would pass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I certainly dont want to force the franchises down in my area, who are really incredible community partners to do something that theyre uncomfortable with, McKell said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to sit for his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy is warning senators that her cousin is a predator who is addicted to attention and power.

In a letter obtained by The Washington Post, and later published online, Kennedy wrote that the prospective Health and Human Services secretary is unqualified to fill a government position tasked with overseeing the FDA, the NIH, the CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, agencies that are charged with protecting the most vulnerable among us.

He lacks any relevant government financial management or medical experience. His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed, she wrote. These facts alone should be disqualifying, but he has personal qualities related to this job, which for me pose even greater concern.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy began by highlighting her cousins behavior as a young man, when he struggled with addiction and, according to the former ambassador, encouraged his younger brothers and cousins [to] follow him down the path of drug addiction.

Bobby was able to pull himself out of illness and disease, Kennedy wrote. I admire the discipline that took and the continuing commitment it requires, but siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness and death, while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie and cheat his way through life today.

Kennedy described her cousin as supplanting a substance dependency with a hypocritical addiction to attention and power, noting that Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children vaccinating his own kids, while building a following hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

She also pointed to the real-world impact of RFK Jr.s conspiracies about vaccines, referencing a 2019 outbreak in Samoa  where Kennedy and his organization The Childrens Health Defense had fomented public and governmental fear of the measles vaccine and praised local anti-vaccine activists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy also warned that the HHS nominees ethics report makes clear that he will keep his financial stake in a lawsuit against an HPV vaccine. In other words, Bobby is willing to profit and enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer.

Disclosures released earlier this month revealed that RFK Jr. has raked in almost a million dollars in referral fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing the pharmaceutical company Merck over allegations that the company did not properly warn recipients of the HPV vaccine of potential side effects.

The American health care system, for all its flaws, is the envy of the world, Kennedy wrote, adding that doctors, nurses, and other health workers deserve a secretary committed to advancing cutting edge medicine to save lives, not to rejecting the advances we have already made. They deserve a stable moral and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency. They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy, and so do the rest of us.

I urge the Senate to reject his nomination, she concluded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr. is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday. He remains one of Trumps most controversial Cabinet appointments, and will likely be subjected to tough questioning regarding his views on vaccinations and other crackpot medical claims hes made in the past.

If his nomination advances to the Senate, RFK Jr. can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still secure his position as HHS Secretary. While no Republicans have explicitly committed to vote against him, some have expressed hesitancy over the nominee.

Well Im certainly concerned about it. I know others have other, other points of concerns that they want to drill down on and try to get some commitments, public commitments, from him, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Vaccines are important.

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.
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former president John F. Kennedy, issued a rare and scathing public statement against the nomination of her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

In a letter to senators, Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan, called her cousin a predator and urged lawmakers to vote against him. Heres what to know.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---

The facts

- In a Tuesday letter to lawmakers, Kennedy, 67, described her cousin as addicted to attention and power and accused him of harming innocent people, including family members, through his past drug use and vaccine skepticism.

-Kennedy and other family members have stayed largely silent on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination to run the nations health agency under President Donald Trump. Some previously spoke out against his presidential campaign, saying he did not represent their familys Democratic values.

-Kennedy is set to be questioned by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday as part of his confirmation process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---

Caroline Kennedy is JFKs sole surviving child

Caroline Kennedys life has been marked by tragedy. She was 5 years old when her father was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 - five days short of her sixth birthday. Her uncle Robert F. Kennedy - RFK Jr.s father - was assassinated about five years later. And her brother, John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was known in the media as he was growing up as John-John, died in a plane crash in July 1999, at age 38.

In 1986, Caroline Kennedy married artist and designer Edwin Schlossberg, and the couple had three children, including John Jack Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, a social media personality and Vogue political correspondent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---

Kennedy, a lawyer and author, has served as U.S. ambassador

Kennedy is a lawyer and author of several books on poetry, civicism and law, and previously served on the boards of several foundations dedicated to maintaining the Kennedy family legacy, including the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation.

She previously served as an adviser to the International Rescue Committee and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, among other nonprofits.

She has also held political positions: She was U.S. ambassador to Japan under the Obama administration and ambassador to Australia under the Biden administration, but stepped down from that post following Trumps electoral victory in November.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---

She called RFK Jr. unqualified and a predator

Kennedy told senators Tuesday that she had been hesitant to publicly comment on her cousins politics, partially because of her position as a former U.S. ambassador and out of family loyalty. But she said she felt an obligation to speak up now, given her concerns about his nomination to serve as head of HHS.

Overseeing the ... agencies that are charged with protecting the most vulnerable among us is an enormous responsibility and one that Bobby is unqualified to fill, she said. He lacks any relevant government, financial management or medical experience. His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(A Washington Post review of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s public statements from recent years shows that he has repeatedly disparaged vaccines, falsely linked them to autism and argued that White and Black people should have separate vaccination schedules. He also called the coronavirus vaccine, which health officials say has saved millions of lives, the deadliest vaccine ever made.)

While Caroline Kennedy said that her cousins medical views alone should be disqualifying, she said he also has personal qualities related to this job, which for me pose even greater concern.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because Bobby himself is a predator, she said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken openly about his history of drug addiction, saying he was addicted to heroin, cocaine and other drugs from age 15 until he was arrested for heroin possession in 1983 at age 29. He made the fight against drug addiction a cornerstone of his political activism, though some criticized his focus on tough love for addicts and his silence on medications that have been proved to be effective against addiction, like methadone and buprenorphine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caroline Kennedy, in her letter, said she commended her cousin for pulling himself out of illness and disease but said that siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.

Her son, Schlossberg, who first posted the video of Kennedy reading the letter, said he was proud of his courageous mother.

---

Not all Kennedy relatives share Carolines view

The same day Kennedy publicized her letter, another family member, Patrick J. Kennedy, a nephew of the former president, issued his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter to The Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patrick J. Kennedy, a former Democratic representative for Rhode Island, said his cousin was unwaveringly supportive of his efforts to combat his own opioid addiction, including through medication-assisted treatment, using buprenorphine and antidepressant use for the treatment of depression. He said that to portray Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as fundamentally opposed to modern medicine is misinformed and seems more calibrated to advance a political narrative than to help those struggling with addiction.

On addition policy, he is the leader we need to meet this moment, he said. (Last May, Patrick J. Kennedy endorsed Joe Biden, not his cousin, in the 2024 presidential election and said at the time, If you care about this addiction crisis and this mental health crisis, Joe Biden is your candidate.)

---

Video Embed Code

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Video: In a video posted on Jan. 28, Caroline Kennedy urged the Senate to reject the nomination of her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of Health and Human Services.(c) 2025 , The Washington Post

Embed code:

Related Content

Helicopters flying along Potomac frequently pose dangers to passenger jets

Earthquake sensors could help track a different threat: Falling space debris

Not far from Trumps White House, immigrants grapple with unknowns
Caroline Kennedy on Tuesday warned that her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a predator ahead of his high-profile confirmation hearings this week to be President Donald Trumps Department of Health and Human Services secretary, urging senators to reject his nomination.

Kennedy, who said she felt obligated to speak out, read aloud the letter she sent to senators detailing the troubling behavior from her cousin that she witnessed over the years, accusing him of having hypocritical views on vaccines and being addicted to attention and power.

Ive known Bobby my whole life. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because Bobby himself is a predator, Kennedy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recounting one disturbing episode, Kennedy recalled her cousin putting baby chickens and mice in a blender to feed to his birds years ago.

I watched his younger brothers and cousins follow him down the path of drug addiction. His basement, his garage, his dorm room were always the center of the action where drugs were available and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in a blender to feed to his hawks. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence, she said.

Although Kennedy acknowledged her cousin has been able to pull himself out of illness and disease, she accused him of living a double standard and financially benefitting from some of his vaccine skepticism.

While he may encourage a younger generation to attend AA meetings, Bobby is addicted to attention and power. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children, vaccinating his own kids while building a following hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CNN has reached out to a spokesperson for RFK Jr.

Caroline Kennedy, the former ambassador to Australia, said it had not been easy remaining silent during her cousins failed presidential campaign but felt obligated to speak out because she feels he has misrepresented the assassinations of her father, John F. Kennedy, and uncle, Robert F. Kennedy.

It also wasnt easy to remain silent last year when Bobby expropriated my fathers image and distracted President Kennedys legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign and then grovel to Donald Trump for a job, she said.

Bobby continues to grandstand off my fathers assassination and that of his own father. Its incomprehensible to me that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be put in charge of Americas life and death situations, she continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members of the storied Democratic family have before pushed back on RFK Jr.s stances, with the broader Kennedy family mostly shunning his presidential campaign even as the then-candidate had sought to capitalize on his last name and family history.

On Tuesday, in urging the Senate to reject her cousins nomination, Kennedy said her father and uncle would be disgusted by his views.

It has been clear in recent days that RFK Jr. will have to win over uncertain Republicans in order to secure the job in Trumps administration, with key GOP senators wanting public commitments on issues like abortion and vaccines before pledging their support.

Over the last month, he has met with senators on both sides of the aisle as he has tried to make his case directly to them behind closed doors.

Kennedy made false claims about vaccines, niece says

Emails from Kennedy during the Covid-19 pandemic repeated false claims about vaccines and incorrectly linked childhood immunizations to autism, according to Stat, which was provided exclusive access to emails between Kennedy and his niece, Dr. Kerry Kennedy Meltzer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meltzer, a primary-care physician at NYC Health + Hospitals, told Stat that she decided to share the emails to help spread understanding of her uncles beliefs ahead of his confirmation hearings this week.

Neither the White House nor HHS responded to CNNs requests for comment on Stats report.

In one of the emails, Kennedy says Modernas Covid-19 vaccine had a 100% injury rate in Phase 1 trial participants, but Meltzer responds that the adverse events noted by the researchers were predominantly injection-site pain and fatigue and that, in the real world, the shots from Moderna and Pfizer caused only a handful of severe allergic reactions.

Kennedy also repeats his claim that vaccines are to blame for rising rates of autism in the US, saying Meltzer grew up in the vaccine generation and has not been around autism enough to understand the link.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meltzer told Stat that Kennedy was a fun, adventurous uncle when she was younger. Its really sad what happened. This really shows the depth of his conspiracy theories and how embedded they are  against pharma companies, against childhood vaccines  and hes dismissing my own experience.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Aaron Pellish, Michael Williams and Katherine Dillinger contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
In a letter Tuesday urging the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for health and human services secretary, Caroline Kennedy referred to her cousin as a "predator."

Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, said RFK Jr. was unqualified to lead HHS, which oversees 13 federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Among her many criticisms in the letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Kennedy said that siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness and death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also accused her cousin of lacking any relevant experience for the role and said he holds dangerous and willfully misinformed views on vaccines. She read the letter aloud in a video posted on X by her son, Jack Schlossberg.

Bobby is addicted to attention and power, Caroline Kennedy said, using her cousins nickname. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children  vaccinating his own kids while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not respond to shouted questions from reporters Tuesday about the letter or his confirmation hearing this week. A spokesperson told NBC News he would not be commenting.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2024 and Caroline Kennedy in 2023.

He is set to appear Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two hearings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr. is the founder of Childrens Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine activist group. He has repeatedly questioned the safety and effectiveness of routine vaccinations, such as those for measles, hepatitis B and the flu.

In her letter, Caroline Kennedy referred to a 2019 outbreak of measles in Samoa as evidence of the consequences of her cousins anti-vaccine rhetoric. Samoas director general of health has accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of waging a disinformation campaign that stoked vaccine hesitancy at the time, though Kennedy has denied any responsibility for the outbreak.

The letter also notes RFK Jr.s intent to continue collecting fees over lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company Merck. The suits allege that the company failed to properly warn consumers about side effects associated with its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer. The CDC says the vaccine has a reassuring safety record.

Bobby is willing to profit and enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer, Caroline Kennedy wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also raised concerns about her cousins personal qualities.

His basement, his garage and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, Caroline Kennedy said. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

RFK Jr., whose father was a senator when he was assassinated while he was running for president in 1968, ran for president himself as a Democrat and then as an independent, but he suspended his campaign over the summer. Shortly after, he endorsed Donald Trump and joined his transition team. In November, Trump said he was going to nominate RFK Jr. for HHS secretary.

Caroline Kennedy said she had refrained from speaking publicly about her cousin over the past year due to her role as a former ambassador and a desire not to comment on family members. However, she said in the letter that her father and other family members would be disgusted by her cousins actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bobby expropriated my fathers image and distorted President Kennedys legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign, and then groveled to Donald Trump for a job, she said.

Bobby continues to grandstand off my fathers assassination and that of his own father, she added. Its incomprehensible to me that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be put in charge of Americas life and death situations.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A day before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Senate confirmation hearing, Caroline Kennedy spoke out against her cousin in an urgent warning.

In a video shared to X on Tuesday, Jan. 28, by both Kennedy's account and her son, Jack Schlossberg, the daughter of John F. Kennedy shared her concern over RFK Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, leading the Department of Health and Human Services.

 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together, Kennedy said in the video. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator.

Throughout the past year, people have asked for my thoughts about my cousin, Robert Kennedy Jr., and his presidential campaign," she continued, reading a letter she sent to the committees that will be questioning RFK Jr. this week.

"I did not comment, not only because I was serving in a government position as United States Ambassador to Australia, but because Ive never wanted to speak publicly about my family members and challenges, Kennedy added.

But now, Bobby has been nominated by President Trump to be secretary of Health and Human services, a position that would put him in charge of the health of the American people. I feel an obligation to speak out."

Related: JFKs Grandson Warns Truth Is a Lot Sadder in Pointed Message Addressing Conspiracies and Release of More Classified Files

According to Kennedy, RFK Jr. is unqualified" for the HHS position, as he "lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience.

Ambassador Caroline Kennedys statement to the US Senate on RFKJrs nomination for HHS Secretary



This is a reading of a letter she just sent to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions



Im so proud of my courageous mother, whos lived a life of dignity, pic.twitter.com/feysNA0Wwp  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 28, 2025

His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed. These facts alone should be disqualifying. But he has personal qualities related to this position, which for me, poses even greater concern, she said, claiming that RFK Jr. led other members of their family down the path of drug addiction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His basement, his garage, his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence," she said.

In his caption, Schlossberg praised his mother for her bravery.

"Im so proud of my courageous mother, whos lived a life of dignity, integrity and service," he wrote, adding, "shes the kindest funnest smartest youll ever meet."

Next: Whoopi Goldberg Defends Ozempic Use After RFK Jr.'s Strong Message About Weight Loss Drug
Caroline Kennedy said her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a "predator," and that's only half of it.

Caroline in an elegant lace attire speaks at an event, standing before U.S. and Australian flags

RFK in a suit speaks passionately at a podium during an event

Samuel Corum / AFP via Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Caroline, who previously served as the US ambassador to Australia and Japan under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, urged senators to reject RFK Jr.'s nomination for President Donald Trump's health secretary.

Samuel Corum / AFP via Getty Images

Caroline is the daughter of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy.

Caroline in a lively event setting smiles and engages with others. She wears a smart jacket. The background shows a busy crowd

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FK in a suit and tie sits at a table with a microphone, appearing thoughtful during a public event or hearing

Alex Wong / Getty Images, Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

RFK Jr. is the son of her uncle, former US Attorney General and New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Sr.

RFK Snr. speaking at a podium with multiple microphones, gesturing with his hand in front of a curtain

Im sorry, I cant identify or describe people in images

Santi Visalli, Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

The letter quickly went viral when Caroline read it aloud in a video shared across the internet, including from a very vocal RFK Jr. critic and her son, Jack Schlossberg, in collaboration with Courier.

Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr., an environmental lawyer and politician, is the US Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee under President Trump's second cabinet. This position would oversee agencies, including the CDC, the FDA, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Rebecca Noble / Getty Images

Amid RFK Jr.'s senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 29, Caroline's video circulated the internet with scathing accusations, including his lack of qualifications to hold the government position and claims about his character.

Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images

"I feel an obligation to speak out," she began, noting that his position would place him in charge of the agencies that are meant to "protect the most vulnerable among us," and RFK Jr. is "unqualified."

"He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience," Caroline said. "His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed. These facts alone should be disqualifying."

Martin Ollman / Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most troubling revelation from Caroline's address was the claim the HHS nominee is a "predator."

"I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together," she said. "It's no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator."

Images Press / Getty Images

"His basement, his dorm room, his garage were always the center of the action, where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing how he put baby chickens and mice in a blender to feed his hawks. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence," she continued.

"Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children, vaccinating his own kids while building a following, hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs."

Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caroline also pointed out that RFK Jr. plans to profit from a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company Merck over Gardasil, an HPV vaccine that helps to prevent cervical cancer.

"In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls."

Caroline said remaining silent during RFK Jr.'s failed presidential campaign wasn't easy, but she felt obligated to speak out because of his representation of their family's legacy. "It also wasn't easy to remain silent last year when Bobby expropriated my father's image and distracted President Kennedy's legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign and then grovel to Donald Trump for a job," she said.

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

"Bobby continues to grandstand off my father's assassination and that of his own father. It's incomprehensible to me that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be put in charge of America's life and death situations."

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

In the wake of Caroline's firm stance against her cousin's nomination, the internet has shown support for her speaking up and concern over RFK Jr.'s potential ascension into President Trump's cabinet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jack, who's leading the charge in sharing the video, said of his mother, "I'm so proud of my courageous mother, who's lived a life of dignity, integrity, and service."

Nbc / Nathan Congleton / NBC via Getty Images

One person wrote, "Thank you, Caroline! I can't imagine how difficult this must have been for you. Just know how proud your parents and uncles would be that you stood up for the American people!"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"So grateful to her for telling the truth about him," one person wrote.

Another person noted that people should consider RFK Jr. is allegedly "A person that put baby chicks and mice in a blender!!! A person that vaccinates his own children, but wants to stop vaccines!"

And finally, this person said, "It's very telling when your own family publicly talks shit about you..."

Yes, there have been negative reactions to Caroline's video that you can find in places like X (formerly Twitter), but as many of them are rooted in very offensive or unsubstantiated claims, I'll leave that to you to decide if you want to read them.

Listen to the full video here.
Related video: Trump Administration holds first White House press conference

(The Hill)  Caroline Kennedy, former President John F. Kennedys daughter, told senators in a letter that her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trumps nominee to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services, is a predator who has lied and cheated his way through life.

Kennedy said she hadnt previously denounced her cousins nomination because she had been U.S. ambassador to Australia and was also reluctant to publicly criticize a family member.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But with RFK Jr. set to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee this week, Caroline Kennedy said she felt an obligation to speak out.

She said that her cousin lacks any relevant government, financial, management or medical experience to qualify him to lead the nations health agencies  but added that his personal qualities pose even greater concern.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator, she wrote in a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance and HELP committees.

I watched his younger brothers and cousins follow him down the path of drug addiction. His basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks. It was often a perverse sense of despair and violence, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She acknowledged that people can grow and change and expressed admiration for his ability to pull himself out of illness and disease, referring to his bouts with addiction.

But she said that siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie and cheat his way through life.

She criticized him for making money from his crusade against vaccinations and warned that he will keep his financial stake in a lawsuit against an HPV vaccine.

In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She accused her cousin of expropriating her own fathers image and distorting his legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign.

Unlike Bobby, I try not to speak for my father  but I am certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public service, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving health care, would be disgusted, she wrote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday in his bid to become Trumps health secretary. Another hearing for his nomination will be held on Wednesday in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, the panel his uncle, Ted Kennedy, once chaired.

The Associated Press 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 Queen City News.
Caroline Kennedy, former President John F. Kennedys daughter, told senators in a letter that her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trumps nominee to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services, is a predator who has lied and cheated his way through life.

Kennedy said she hadnt previously denounced her cousins nomination because she had been U.S. ambassador to Australia and was also reluctant to publicly criticize a family member.

But with Kennedy Jr. set to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee this week, Caroline Kennedy said she felt an obligation to speak out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said that her cousin lacks any relevant government, financial, management or medical experience to qualify him to lead the nations health agencies  and added that his personal qualities pose even greater concern.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator, she wrote in a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Finance and HELP committees.

I watched his younger brothers and cousins follow him down the path of drug addiction. His basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks. It was often a perverse sense of despair and violence, she wrote.

She acknowledged that people can grow and change and expressed admiration for his ability to pull himself out of illness and disease, referring to his bouts with addiction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But she said that siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie and cheat his way through life.

She criticized him for making money from his crusade against vaccinations and warned that he will keep his financial stake in a lawsuit against an HPV vaccine.

In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls.

She accused her cousin of expropriating her own fathers image and distorting his legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike Bobby, I try not to speak for my father  but I am certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public service, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving health care, would be disgusted, she wrote.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In a letter Tuesday, Jan. 28, urging the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination as health and human services secretary, Caroline Kennedy referred to her cousin as a predator.

Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, said RFK Jr. was unqualified to lead HHS, which oversees 13 federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Among her many criticisms in the letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Kennedy said that siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness and death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also accused her cousin of lacking any relevant experience for the role and said he holds dangerous and willfully misinformed views on vaccines. She read the letter aloud in a video posted on X by her son, Jack Schlossberg.

Bobby is addicted to attention and power, Caroline Kennedy said, using her cousins nickname. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children  vaccinating his own kids while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not respond to shouted questions from reporters on Tuesday about the letter or his confirmation hearing this week. A spokesperson told NBC News he would not be commenting.

He is set to appear Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two hearings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr. is the founder of Childrens Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine activist group. He has repeatedly questioned the safety and effectiveness of routine vaccinations, such as those for measles, hepatitis B and the flu.

In her letter, Caroline Kennedy referred to a 2019 outbreak of measles in Samoa as evidence of the consequences of her cousins anti-vaccine rhetoric. Samoas director general of health has accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of waging a disinformation campaign that stoked vaccine hesitancy at the time, though Kennedy has denied any responsibility for the outbreak.

The letter also notes RFK Jr.s intent to continue collecting fees over lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company Merck. The suits allege that the company failed to properly warn consumers about side effects associated with its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer. The CDC says the vaccine has a reassuring safety record.

Bobby is willing to profit and enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer, Caroline Kennedy wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also raised concerns about her cousins personal qualities.

His basement, his garage and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, Caroline Kennedy said. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

RFK Jr., whose father was a senator when he was assassinated while running for president in 1968, ran for president himself as a Democrat and then as an independent, but he suspended his campaign over the summer. Shortly after, he endorsed Donald Trump and joined his transition team. In November, Trump said he was going to nominate RFK Jr. for HHS secretary.

Caroline Kennedy said she had refrained from speaking publicly about her cousin over the past year due to her role as a former ambassador and a desire not to comment on family members. However, she said in the letter that her father and other family members would be disgusted by her cousins actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bobby expropriated my fathers image and distorted President Kennedys legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign, and then groveled to Donald Trump for a job, she said.

Bobby continues to grandstand off my fathers assassination and that of his own father, she added. Its incomprehensible to me that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be put in charge of Americas life and death situations.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Caroline Kennedy made a withering appeal to senators on Tuesday to reject the nomination of her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, calling him unqualified and a predator.

She noted that she had not commented when asked her thoughts in the past year because it felt inappropriateboth in her government position as U.S. ambassador to Australia and as a family member from a close generation of 28 cousins who have been through a lot together.

But now that Bobby, as she refers to him, has been nominated to a position that would put him in charge of the health of the American people, Caroline wrote in a letter to senators, I feel an obligation to speak out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The letter from RFK Jr.s first cousin was addressed to those who lead committees set to review his nomination: Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

She can also be seen reading the letter aloud in a video posted to X by her son Jack Schlossberg.

Ambassador Caroline Kennedys statement to the US Senate on RFKJrs nomination for HHS Secretary This is a reading of a letter she just sent to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Im so proud of my courageous mother, whos lived a life of dignity, pic.twitter.com/feysNA0Wwp  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 28, 2025

It expanded onand expounded uponissues she had raised in November, when she publicly broke with RFK Jr., calling his ideas on vaccines dangerous.

In her latest missive, the daughter of the late John F. Kennedy says the nominee is unqualified because he lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience. Further, she notes, His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed, adding that those facts alone should be disqualifying. But its his personal qualities, she goes on to say, which, for her, pose even greater concern.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She says she has known her cousin her whole life, owing to the fact that they grew up together, and then paints a damning picture.

It's no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator, she writes. He has always been charismaticable to attract others through the strength of his personality, willingness to take risks and break the rules. This was particularly the case when it came to drugs, she goes on to sayas well as an odd indifference to animals, an issue that reared its head in August, with the bizarre tale of the environmental lawyer leaving a dead bear in Central Park as a prank.

I watched his younger brothers and cousins follow him down the path of drug addiction. His basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, she writes. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

Of course, Caroline admits, people can grow and change. She writes that she admires the discipline it took for him to pull himself out of illness and disease through both his own strength and the many second chances he was given by people who felt sorry for the boy who had lost his father.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, he encouraged siblings and cousins down the path of drug abuse, she writes, causing them to suffer addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.

She paints her cousin as a hypocrite on many fronts. Today, while he may encourage a younger generation to attend AA meetings, Bobby is addicted to attention and power, she says. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick childrenvaccinating his own children, who are now adults ranging from 23 to 40, while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

The ardent supporter of the HPV vaccine added, Even before he fills this job, his constant denigration of our health care system and the conspiratorial half-truths he has told about vaccines, including in connection with Samoa's deadly 2019 measles outbreak, have cost lives.

She goes on to talk about how his crusade against vaccines has benefited him. His ethics report makes clear that he will keep his financial stake in a lawsuit against an HPV vaccine, she writes. In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She adds that while working on the QUAD Cancer Moonshot in Australia, she learned that cervical cancer is among the top three forms of cancer among women in a majority of countries, and that each year, more than 200,000 children lose their mothers, orphaned due to lack of vaccines and screening. Those are the real-world consequences of Bobby's irresponsible beliefs.

Finally, Caroline admits that speaking out against her cousin was a painful decision. We are a close family and none of this is easy to say, she notes. It also wasn't easy to remain silent last year when Bobby expropriated my father's image and distorted President Kennedy's legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaignand then groveled to Donald Trump for a job. Bobby, she goes on to say, continues to grandstand off my father's assassination, and that of his own father. It is incomprehensible that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be in charge of American life-and-death situations.

While she goes on to say that she tries not to speak for her fatherunlike Bobbyshe is certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public service, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving health care, would be disgusted.

She calls the American health care system, despite its flaws, the envy of the world, and says its doctors, nurses, researchers, scientists, and caregivers deserve a knowledgeable leader who is committed to evidence and excellence and a stable, moral, and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caroline ends with a final plea: They deserve better than Bobby Kennedyand so do the rest of us. I urge the Senate to reject his nomination.

Fortune reached out to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for comment and will update this post if there is a response.

More on RFK Jr:

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
President Donald Trump's first days in office have seen many Americans' freedoms rolled back at a lightning pace as he has fired off dozens of executive orders reversing Biden-era policies on everything from diversity policies to who has the right to call themselves a citizen.

On Day 1, Trump unilaterally defined sex so as to exclude gender-expansive people and include references implicating fetal personhood, setting the stage for a national ban on abortion and emergency contraception. Meanwhile, a flurry of actions sought to restrict opportunities for people seeking refuge in the United States, as well as targeting their children by attempting to end birthright citizenship, suspending asylum and refugee resettlement, and sending troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to deter irregular crossings. He also began his presidency by pardoning some 1,500 far-right supporters serving sentences for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In a moment marked by levels of political violence unseen in decades  including two attempts on Trump's own life last year  the president's moves lay the foundation for such violence to flourish under his administration  and attacks on transgender people will be at the forefront of it, argues Imara Jones, CEO and founder of TransLash Media and host of "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine" podcast, which most recently chronicled the links between far-right paramilitary groups and anti-trans hate at the local level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Data makes the threat clear, she said: 2023 saw the highest number of active anti-LGBTQ+ and white nationalist groups ever recorded, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center report that documented 86 anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups and 166 white nationalist chapters. The report also found that nearly 50% of white power demonstrations held in 2023 targeted LGBTQ+ people.

Jones, a journalist who last year interviewed Proud Boy founder Gavin McInnes, spoke with Salon about how she anticipates such political violence will manifest in the latest Trump-era, how the pardons will boost anti-trans violence  and how Americans could combat extremists' push toward authoritarianism before its too late.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

We've seen Donald Trump pardon around 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters and sign an executive order federally excluding gender-expansive Americans on government forms, etc. What impact are you seeing these actions having with respect to this rise in political violence we've seen as of late, this past year in particular?

We know that we are in an era of political violence unseen since the 1970s  that's a fact. And we know from the Southern Poverty Law Center, that an increasing focus of far-right paramilitary groups is violence against trans people and LGBTQ+ writ large. In our latest investigative series in "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine," we dug deep into the obsession of paramilitary groups with trans people and enforcing the gender binary and the way in which they were using that in order to recruit and keep themselves alive during the Biden administration, and then to make common cause with local Republican politicians, to strengthen their bonds. Therefore, the release of these insurgents  many of which are highly trained both in terms of paramilitary tactics and approaches, and who served in the U.S. armed forces  radically altered the security environment in the United States and opens up to an even more heightened and dangerous period of political violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Enrique Tarrio, who led the Proud Boys, said ... upon his release that ["success is going to be retribution"]. That means that they're coming out to settle scores, and they're coming out to target the politicians and the people that they believe should be targeted. I think among that will be members of the LGBTQ+ community and trans people. They believe that not only have they been pardoned, but they've been given a green light by this administration to do whatever they think they should do because of, for example, the nomination of Kash Patel in the FBI and even Trump saying that he's open to inviting some of them to the White House for a conversation. They believe that they now have carte blanche to enact violence and intimidation in whatever way they think is in service to their largely patriarchal vision for the country.

What kind of political violence are you anticipating over the course of these next several months, next few years, and against trans and gender-expansive folks in particular?

Well, I think that we can see a range of things. I am basing my response upon what we have already seen, with an anticipation that it will increase.

We know that, for example, there were a series of bomb threats to gender-affirming clinics and hospitals across the country. I think that we can move from actual bomb threats to actual bombs, very similar to what we saw in the anti-abortion movement. I think that we could see the targeting of both events  Pride events and marches  and demonstrations and protests by these groups. We know that, and have seen that in the past, when there have been protests for marches about people or topics that they disagree with, they show up and those have turned violent. I think that those will now be even more violent. I think that this will encourage individuals to share the ideology and follow these groups online, to act violently in themselves, such as the person who attended a massive rally in Wadsworth, Ohio and then went and tried to firebomb a church that was supportive of trans and LGBTQ+ people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I just think that we are going to see all types of violence from physical violence and intimidation and confrontation to gun violence, individual acts of gun violence and possible bombings and more. We have to prepare ourselves for a much more turbulent and disturbing future because these groups have been given the green light.

Can you break down the link you've identified between these paramilitary groups and the anti-trans ideology that they espouse, and how that's influencing their approach to brokering connections with GOP officials at all levels of government?

Around the world, a lot of radical insurgent movements have a violent wing. The Sinn Fein had the [Irish Republican Army], for example. And in Nazi Germany, the party had the brownshirts. If you establish a social order, muscle is an essential ingredient in that.

What we see on this particular issue is that these paramilitary groups have a political vision for the United States. It ranges in how radical it is, but all want patriarchal authoritarianism in the United States. Whether it's Blood Tribe or Proud Boys or Oath Keepers or Patriot Front, they all want that. Proud Boys would say that they want patriarchal democracy but understand that authoritarianism is a part of that. Then Blood Tribe just wants straight-up Nazism. Because they have a political vision, they are looking for the people and places who share that vision and can help bring that about. One of the things that gravitated Proud Boys, for example, to Donald Trump  and he's very aware of this  is his anti-trans rhetoric. He's chosen to pull close a group of violent people as a part of his project through his anti-trans rhetoric. And anti-trans rhetoric from some of the Proud Boys that were interviewed by the Jan. 6 committee was an important affinity point, both for their membership and for their connection to Donald Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ideology in conversation is a way that both members of paramilitary groups and radical politicians are able to find each other and begin to work together  and we see that across the country. We see that in a place like Idaho that we talk about: an LGBTQ+ event in Coeur d'Alene. A radical politician in that state gave a talk in front of a paramilitary militia type of group and encouraged them to show up at this LGBTQ+ Pride event in a demonstration of force and intimidation. And they did. So there's a way in which anti-trans ideology cuts through the noise and allows both politicians at the federal level and at the state and local level to find each other and to begin to work together. And what they're doing is shifting the tone of democracy in America.

You used the term earlier "patriarchal authoritarianism." Could you briefly lay out what that means?

All these groups  and they share this kind of conversation with members of the Trump administration like Pete Hegseth and all these other people  they have a diagnosis that America ceased to be great when it began to move away from patriarchy. And I would say white patriarchy. The Proud Boys would dispute. They'd say, "We have Black and brown members." But essentially it's white patriarchy. That's their diagnosis: The country is in decline and declined when it began to move away from a patriarchal vision  when men ruled, when women were without rights, when we didn't accommodate people who are LGBTQ+, who have disabilities, who they believe weaken the overall country.

What they took is that we need to reassert  echoing Mark Zuckerberg  masculinity. We need to reassert masculine control in the country and masculine energy, but the way that you have to do that, given the reality, is through authoritarianism. I think that they all have a patriarchal authoritarian view. What the Proud Boys would say is that you have patriarchal authoritarianism, which reasserts the role of men, and then you can have democracy because essentially men will have more rights in the democracy. Patriot Front and Blood Tribe are not interested in democracy.

In the final episode of "The Anti-Trans Hate Machine" this past season, you attempt to lay out some potential ways to combat this rising tide in violence, naming education, law enforcement and individual deradicalization as a few options. But in the current climate  and the one that's being introduced by the new Trump administration  how would you say now we combat what seems to be this inevitable rise in policy rolling back individual rights and the potential for violence that comes with it?

That's a really good question. Well, it's much harder. I just want to say that. A part of what we were talking about is education. We know that they intend to weaponize the Civil Rights [Office] at the Education Department and talk about discrimination against white people, against cis kids, about a whole host of things.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There still is something called federalism in the United States. Schools are overwhelmingly controlled at the local level. Many states have their own version of the Justice Department and/or the FBI. Georgia has the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, for example. Other states have similar things. I don't think this could happen with Georgia, but it's just to illustrate that there are state structures that can implement some of the things that we talk about. The focus would really have to shift to the states as a possibility. But that means that the progress would be slow and uneven. And because of the very successful Republican attempts to control state legislatures, that becomes much harder.

So I think it is much, much, much harder to bring about the solutions that we outlined, which means that we're on a train that's gaining momentum. What's happened is that a lot of the possibilities for the breaks to be applied have been removed. And it's hard to see how this train, which is hurtling us towards a much more violent and turbulent nation, is easily stopped.

Is there any room for hope with everything that's getting harder? Are there any solutions on the table?

Yes, and the hope is that people wake up. That, once it becomes clear that we are on the verge of crossing over into this era of political violence that might be unstoppable, the American people say that that's not the future that they want. That's the hope.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But people haven't woken up yet. And I don't understand, overall, why they haven't, and I don't understand why people don't understand what's happening in terms of us moving into a more authoritarian era with fascism now very much on the march.

And how might they go about [opposing this]?

Electing different people, demanding authorities take action, putting pressure on state and local politicians and state and local public safety officials and apparatus to take action, to demand that schools teach tolerance. I think that's the hope: is that the people rise up democratically and say, "This isn't what we want, and we want you to stop it. And if you don't stop it, we are going to fire you because that's what we get to do in a democracy."

Democracy  it's asleep right now in so many ways. I think that my hope is that it wakes up and awakens in the people. And if that happens, this can all go away.
CARTHAGE, Mo.  A Carthage man will go to prison in connection to a 2022 deadly drunk driving crash.

Late Monday, Judge Jake Skouby sentenced Joseph Hill, 21, to seven years in prison for one count of DWI involving death, a charge he pleaded guilty to back in October.

Hill also received credit for time already served.

In July of 2022, Joplin police arrested Hill for a single-vehicle crash near Grand Falls at 5400 Riverside Drive, saying he was driving drunk. Hill was only 19 at the time of the crash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Keenan Reed, 19, of Carthage died in that crash. Hill and another person riding in the vehicle went to the hospital with injuries.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FRIDAY, 1/31/2025 1:45 p.m.

NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)  The Neenah Police Department has provided an update regarding the mystery deck demolished.

As of Wednesday, 1/29/2025, the department posted to Facebook that thanks to the social media response and tips received, the case has been solved and the deck demolisher has been identified.

No further details were provided.

Three people are safe after UTV falls through ice in Nasewaupee

ORIGINAL: Cash reward offered as Neenah Police Department seek communitys help to identify mystery deck demolished

TUESDAY, 1/28/2025, 6:34 p.m.

NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities are seeking assistance from the community to identify a man who was seen dismantling a deck at a Maple Street home on the morning of Tuesday, January 7.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a Facebook post from the Neenah Police Department, the homeowner returned from work to find her deck in disarray, having discovered that the demolition was not part of any scheduled work.

Witnesses reported seeing the unknown man at the residence, assuming he was hired to perform the job.

City of Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department City of Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department City of Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department

However, after spending only about 30 minutes at the site, he left and never returned, leaving the homeowner with an unpleasant surprise upon arrival.

To locate the individual responsible, Neenah PD is asking for anyone with information to come forward.

The federal government has failed our community: Sheriff in Wisconsin says man who was previously deported involved in deadly crash

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigative Sergeant Gruss can be contacted at (920) 886-6011, referencing 25-000483

Community members who wish to share information anonymously can reach out to the Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 or go to winnebagocrimestoppers.org.

Those who provide tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 cash-strapped council has blamed climate change for a 5m tree maintenance bill.

Sheffield City Council  which last year warned it faced significant financial challenges  said the increased regularity of storms has caused costs to balloon.

It is now offering contractors a seven-figure deal spanning the next four years to maintain its woodland. The council previously apologised for felling thousands of healthy trees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recent storms including Eowyn and Darragh caused damage in Sheffield, yet scientists have questioned if the blustery weather is influenced by climate change.

The council, which is led by Labour with no overall control, said the effects of climate change is a threat faced by the citys 2.7m trees. It also said the outbreak of ash dieback has caused costs to soar.

A report compiled by council officers reads: The introduction of new pests and diseases such as ash dieback and the increased regularity of storms due to climate change has led to a significant increase in the volume and associated cost of carrying out essential safety-related remedial work.

Based on current spending patterns over the last five years and knowledge of the threats that currently exist  disease and climate change  we expect to spend up to 5m over the four-year timeframe of the contract.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last August, Sheffield City Council warned it was projected to over spend by 34m for the 2024-2025 financial year. Officials warned its financial outlook was difficult.

But in the past four years, the council has spent an estimated 2.9m on tree maintenance.

The TaxPayers Alliance said the cost of the new contract will raise eyebrows.

Elliot Keck, of the pressure group, said: Sheffield residents will question whether the cost of this contract is good value for money.

While its important to look after nature, it shouldnt be done without considering the cost to locals.

The council needs to make sure it is providing the best value for both its trees and taxpayers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the council said that by delivering this contract, we will be achieving the best value for money.

Sheffields tree management has been a contentious issue for a number of years. The authority issued a grovelling apology in 2023 for felling thousands of healthy trees, stating that it got so much of this wrong.

Sheffield Council admitted it had got so much of this wrong over its tree management in 2023 - Sheffield Trees Action Groups/PA

Now, however, it is confident its 5m contract will help maintain the citys trees and woodlands which are vitally important to all areas of Sheffield for environmental, health, educational and economic reasons.

British scientists are divided on whether climate change, as suggested by Sheffield Council, is a contributing factor to the recent stormy weather.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peter Thorne, a professor at Maynooth University in Ireland, said: The jury is very much out on linking climate change to windstorms.

Suzanne Gray, a professor of meteorology at the University of Reading, said: To date, the observed trends in UK storminess have not provided a conclusive link with climate change.

In contrast, Hayley Fowler, a professor at Newcastle University, said her own modelling showed that climate change is making storms like Eowyn more frequent, with more intense wind speeds and much higher rainfall amounts.

As the climate gets warmer we can expect these storms to become even more intense, with greater damages, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A council spokesman told The Telegraph: 5m is the estimated upper limit of what could be spent based on previous years spend and a worst case scenario for biosecurity issues such as ash dieback decline.

Sheffield manages 2.7m trees, which when compared to other cities in the UK, is a large amount.

The increased impact and frequency of storm damage is in part attributed to climate change.

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 Orange County Supervisor of Elections appeared to find her financial lifeline weeks after taking over the scandal-plagued office

On Tuesday, Karen Castor-Dentel told commissioners that Valencia College agreed in principle to return the $2.1 million awarded to the institution by former supervisor Glen Gilzean.

In November, WFTV broke the news about Gilzeans unauthorized gift of money meant to prepare for the 2024 election. This triggered a cascading controversy that ballooned to $5 million in payments involving different organizations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Charges dropped against Boone High School student accused of bringing gun to school

Orange County agreed to route the payment back to Castor-Dentels office to help her make payroll and cover the unpaid bills left over from Gilzeans tenure, which includes $275,000 to the sheriffs office for election security.

I would say there has been some positive momentum, Castor-Dentel said, cautioning that it was up to Valencia to follow through with their promise to repay the money.

Read: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans

Valencia confirmed the money would be paid back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Valencia College Foundation and the college are following our respective institutional processes to terminate the Supervisor of Elections gift agreement and facilitate the return of the funds, a spokeswoman wrote.

Read: Lawsuit filed against Spectrum News 13 after fatal shooting of journalist in 2023

Castor-Dentel said she expected to have the money in a few weeks and promised to work out a new arrangement with the school involving voting precincts and internships that she described as mutually beneficial.

With the return of the money, a staff member in the office confirmed they would recover the lions share of the overall $5 million Gilzean spent.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Jan. 28Alaska nonprofits and governments are scrambling to understand the fallout of a Trump administration order to freeze federal grant and loan funding, representing billions of dollars and a potential major blow to Alaska's economy and services.

On Monday, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo instructing federal agencies to stop the flow of all federal grant and loan money, saying a pause was needed until the administration can conduct reviews of spending to ensure it complies with the president's policy goals, which include undoing policies on transgender rights, environmental reforms and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The freeze was set to go into effect at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Alaska, though some nonprofits reported being locked out of the back-end computer systems that disburse some federal grant money before then. And by Tuesday afternoon, court battles over the order were already unfolding. A consortium of nonprofits sued, asking a judge to issue an injunction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People in Alaska are worried, Sen. Lisa Murkowski told reporters in Washington earlier Tuesday.

"Our phones have been ringing off the hook all morning," Murkowski said. Constituents have been calling "wondering what it means, how long it's going to last  everything from a small hydro project down in the Angoon area to people concerned about everything from housing to water infrastructure projects. So lots of questions about what it means and the impact."

[Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans]

The executive order is causing "panic and confusion" among leaders in Alaska's nonprofit sector, said Laurie Wolf, the president of the Foraker Group, an Anchorage nonprofit operations and training organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal grant money courses through almost every aspect of Alaska's economy, Wolf said. A freeze, even temporary, "would be catastrophic for a state like ours," said Wolf. "We rely so heavily on federal dollars."

In Alaska, federal grants pay for everything from salaries of homelessness outreach workers to airport, harbor and port construction and improvements to operating shelters for domestic violence victims to preschool programs to tribal healthcare entities with huge reach, according to government leaders and non-profit leaders.

"Every channel of communication has been blowing up with people asking, 'How will this affect me and the work I do in Alaska?'" Wolf said.

The nonprofit sector accounts for 54,942 total jobs in Alaska  making it the second largest industry behind oil and gas, according to the Foraker Group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Nothing will be untouched, and Alaskans will feel this deeply," she said.

On Tuesday morning, representatives from organizations that employ hundreds, such as the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, were still assessing the potential immediate and longer-term impact.

The Fairbanks-based Tanana Chiefs Conference advised its member tribes to immediately draw down available funds from federal payment systems and to review existing grants for contracts and obligations.

"We recommend taking action by 1:00 p.m. Alaska time today to ensure your Tribe's interests are protected," Tanana Chiefs Conference said in a statement to members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The impacts for Alaska local governments are manifold, said Nils Andreassen, the head of the Alaska Municipal League.

Communities across Alaska maintain airports, build ports and harbors and repair infrastructure with federal grant dollars, Andreassen said. Such funding also pays for many local health and social service programs. Some communities have staff members paid through a federal funding source, he said. Cities are thinking about funding disruptions and how they could lead to delayed barge deliveries, and missed or shortened summer construction seasons.

Most of the federal grants are paid through reimbursement, and on Tuesday there were widespread worries about that money not coming in on time.

"People are asking, do we have until 1 p.m. to get that (reimbursement request) in? Do we lose a month of cash flow?" he said. "I think there's real consequences."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In at least some places in Alaska, the effects of the grant freeze were being felt immediately on Tuesday.

As Tuesday unfolded in chaos, one thing did seem certain: There would be more upheaval to come.

"It's a change every 15 minutes," Andreassen said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, left, and Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee signed onto an amicus brief opposing President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship on Jan. 29, 2025. In this photo from July 6, 2023, Menefee announced that the county was filing a lawsuit to stop a state law abolishing the county's elections office. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Two Harris County officials have lent their support to a federal lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia signed onto an amicus brief Tuesday backing 18 Democratic states, the District of Columbia and San Francisco in their joint lawsuit against Trump, whose executive order ending birthright citizenship attempts to end the longtime practice of granting citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

The suit, which is being led by the state of New Jersey, argues that birthright citizenship has been enshrined under the 14th Amendment for more than 150 years and that Trump does not have the authority to rewrite the Constitution. The amicus brief signed by two Harris County officials, alongside dozens of local governments and their representatives, argues in support of a temporary injunction against the executive order to stop it from going into effect.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"As the son of hardworking immigrant parents whose father who helped this nation during World War II as a 'bracero' (guest worker), the ending of birthright citizenship would not only be cruel but a plain and direct violation of our Constitution," Garcia said in a statement. "This is a distraction from real solutions to fix a broken immigration system that fails to protect the public and creates chaos for hard-working immigrants who contribute to our workforce and economy."

The practice of birthright citizenship has been guaranteed since a 1898 Supreme Court ruling that said the 14th Amendment, which states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States," applied to the children of immigrants. In the executive order filed last week, the Trump administration argued that children born to parents in the country temporarily or illegally are not "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," and therefore not eligible for citizenship.

The order was one of several that Trump signed on his first day in office cracking down on immigration, including orders to send troops to the southern border, pausing refugee programs and refusing entry to asylum seekers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Menefee and Garcia's involvement in the lawsuit against the birthright citizenship order mark the first concrete action that Houston-area officials have taken against the Trump administration since he took office last week. Austin and El Paso, along with El Paso and Travis counties, both signed onto the amicus brief as well, along with a number of individual officials from Texas cities and counties.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the Roman Catholic Bishops in Michigan, write to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for mi- grant individuals and families who over the course of time have entered the country and today are making a living in this state. Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:35,40).

We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters. As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses un- yielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst.

We urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and unit- ed, and to protect those who arrived as children. We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs.

Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lords words Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27). Never fail to keep your faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises a divine kingdom that we strive to inherit and together call our true home.

With abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession.

Catholic Bishops in Michigan
Silvia Ruiz Villanueva already struggles to pay for coursework toward her associate degree at Seminole State College. But soon her dream could become unaffordable.

On Tuesday, legislators in Tallahassee debated (and ultimately passed) a repeal of a law allowing in-state tuition for qualifying undocumented students like Villanueva  commonly referred to as Dreamers based on never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act.

At the same time, Villanueva was one of 20 students in Apopka participating in a mock graduation ceremony  a symbolic representation of the roughly 43,000 undocumented students currently enrolled in the states public colleges and universities who grew up here but wouldnt qualify for in-state tuition if the law is repealed, according to the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit immigration advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DREAM Act  Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors  was first introduced in 2001 and would allow young immigrants in the country illegally who were brought here as children to remain if they meet certain criteria.

Villanueva, 24 and born in Mexico and brought to the United States at 4 years old by her mother, wonders how shell afford pursuing a bachelors degree in public relations if she has to pay out-of-state tuition rates.

For a class that I would only pay $300, Im now going to have to pay three times at over $1,000 for a single class, she said. Thats not only delaying my education but  its very upsetting.

During the hourlong ceremony some Dreamers spoke while others held signs that read What about my future? Some covered their mouths with black tape in protest while others could be seen crying.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Florida is one of roughly 18 states that provide in-state tuition for undocumented students. Lawmakers in Texas, the first state to offer them in-state tuition, have also filed bills to repeal their law.

The bill in Florida, initially filed by state Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, seeks to repeal the 2014 law that allowed Dreamers who attended a state high school for three years and enrolled in a state college or university soon after a waiver to pay in-state tuition prices. The change would force them to pay the higher out-of-state tuition. At the University of Central Florida, for example, in-state students pay roughly $6,300 annually while out-of-state tuition is over $22,000.

Florida lawmakers beef up immigration plan with Trump administration help

Advocates for undocumented students say the state colleges and universities will bear the brunt of the repeal while the Dreamers will be held back from economic opportunities that can accompany higher education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Florida Policy Institute, a nonprofit research center, estimates the statewide university system will lose about $15 million in tuition and fees annually because of the repeal.

On Monday, immigration advocates and undocumented students whod be impacted held a virtual press conference outlining their opposition to repealing the waivers.

Holly Bullard, chief strategy and development officer at the Florida Policy Institute, said the state is set to lose out on millions from students wholl no longer be able to earn a degree, higher income and contribute more to local economies.

By actually repealing it we are going to lose revenue in our community college system, but honestly thats just the tip of the iceberg, Bullard said during the press conference. Once you think about all the education attainment of the degrees that will go lost in our state for Floridians, and residents here in terms of engagement in our economy, and therefore paying more in taxes  theres a ripple effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Villanueva said she works a part-time job to help pay for college classes, but that wont be enough if she loses in-state tuition.

I dont have another plan, she said. I had no vision of college because it was expensive and whenever I was informed about [in-state tuition] it changed everything.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps attempt to freeze billions of dollars in federal aid.

Critics are concerned the plan would disrupt programs that serve millions of Americans.

This could impact everything from education to healthcare, including programs like school lunches, the Head Start program, and Meals on Wheels for seniors.

Read: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Confusion continues surrounding a Trump administration order that caused chaos and left many organizations scrambling for clarification, including some in Central Florida.

Federal grants and loans provide hundreds of billions of dollars to education, health care, disaster relief, and infrastructure.

Read: Google set to change name for Denali and Gulf of Mexico after Trump order

The White House defended the funding freeze, saying its needed to ensure that programs dont contradict President Trumps agenda.

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia are now suing the Trump administration over the funding freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Florida lawmakers pass sweeping immigration bill to help with Trump crackdown

Watch the full report in the video above.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Firefighters across Central New York have had their hands full in the last week. Its been a week since a massive fire devastated much of the village of Ovids main street on Jan. 21. Another big fire destroyed close to 25 apartments at a complex in Baldwinsville on Friday, Jan. 24.

On Monday, Jan. 27, there were two smaller fires in Onondaga County, one in Fairmount and the other in the town of Onondaga. The Syracuse Fire Department has been called to put out two house fires in the last week.

The number of fires we do have will fluctuate year-to-year, said Syracuse Fire Department Captain Phil Vogt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says most of the fires during the winter are due to electrical issues.

Maintain those safe distances, three feet around any sort of space heater. Make sure it is plugged into an appropriate outlet, Vogt said. Well see sometimes a space heater plugged into an extension cord, plugged into a surge protector, plugged into a wall.

The last time Syracuse fire crews sprang into action was Sunday morning, Jan. 26, for a house fire on Rockland Avenue The cause, was bedding coming into contact with an electrical hot plate. The fire that started last Monday in Ovid was caused by a portable battery charger.

SFD monitors all of the region because there is always something to take away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We can learn a lot from looking at other fires because you can look at the fire behavior. How did it grow? What were the weather conditions? What were the conditions of the building? Vogt explained.

Seneca County, where the Ovid fire occurred, reported having 15 structure fires this January compared to 12 last January. Cortland County also is seeing an increase from six in January of 2024 to eight 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 WSYR.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  35-year-old Brittney Schurvinske from Champaign was reported missing to the Champaign Police Department on Jan. 24.

According to Champaign police, Schurvinske was last seen on July 24, 2024, near the Illinois Terminal.

Raffle for U of I basketball tickets to benefit C-U at Home

After Schurvinske was reported missing, Champaign police opened an investigation. She has also been listed missing in a shared law enforcement database.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Champaign Police Department said Schurvinske is an African American woman with brown hair, brown eyes, is about 57 and weighs about 180 pounds.

Champaign Police were not given a description of what Schurvinske may have been wearing when she was reported missing. They were also not given a photo of Schurvinske to provide to the public.

If you have any information on where Schurvinske might be, the Champaign Police Department asks that you call them at 217-351-4545.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 29Chandler Unified School District officials say CUSD would not be one of the top districts in Arizona if not for the support of the community. At a Jan. 15 study session, members of the Governing Board were given an update of just how much CUSD relies on three nonprofits that are closely aligned with the district.

In all three cases, members of the community step up to help the district advance.

For example:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Doctors and dentists volunteer to work at the Chandler Care Center, serving students and their families who cannot afford medical services. More than 300 volunteers attended nearly 1,500 dental and 1,700 medical appointments in a year.

The Chandler Education Foundation awarded $237,000 in scholarships to students and $48,000 to teachers after raising money from the community. They also raise funds for its Cash for Classrooms Campaign, helping teachers buy needed equipment for their classrooms.

Chandler School Boosters is a group of Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) and booster clubs that collectively raise about $4.5 million a year to help support student activities. The group acts as an umbrella for 32 PTOs and 153 booster clubs.

"We're blessed with having nonprofits that actually fall under the Chandler Unified School District umbrella, meaning that all of their work with their individual boards actually supports the work that's done in the district and actually compliments and ... moves us forward," Superintendent Frank Narducci said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The update came at the first meeting for new board members Claudia Mendoza and Ryan Heap, who were elected in November to four-year terms. Board member Barb Mozdzen was elected to her fifth term on the board.

Patti Serrano and Kurt Rohrs are in the middle of their first terms. Serrano was selected to be the President of the board this year. Mozdzen, the outgoing president, was elected to serve as vice president.

Heap voted against Serrano and Mozdzen. Rohrs joined him in voting against Mozdzen.

In other action from the Jan. 15 meeting, there was a public hearing for the district's pay-for-performance plan. That is mandated by state law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2000, Arizona voters approved Proposition 301 to get more money to teachers. Part of that requirement, was that some money had to be awarded based on performance.

That number has declined as more money has gone to base salaries. This year, CUSD proposed $700 maximum pay for performance to teachers.

To get the full $700, teachers must meet two qualifying conditions. First is meeting the requirements for completion of the Site Learning Experience. That usually requires attending meetings as the Site Learning Experience is being decided.

The other half is based on a teacher's performance classification. Highly effective and effective teachers get 100% of the $350. Developing teachers either receive 75%, or 50%, depending on if they're in their first two years or not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ineffective teachers do not qualify for any of that part of the bonus.

The plan was approved in negotiations with teachers. According to state law, at least 70% of teachers must approve of the plan before it can be presented to the Governing Board.

CUSD's plan was approved by 99% of eligible staff.
The Trump administrations sprawling, government-wide spending freeze sparked widespread frustration and confusion Tuesday  with tens of thousands of programs potentially in jeopardy and no clarity on what is coming under the knife.

The order could produce particular pain for the states, local governments and companies counting on many billions of dollars in grants and loans already agreed to by federal agencies, while disrupting programs that benefit households throughout the country. Democrats warn that potential targets include the countrys most expensive transportation initiative  the $16 billion Gateway rail and tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey  as well as myriad programs to prevent fire, combat drought and research the causes of disease.

People in the mortgage, tech, broadband and health industries also sounded the alarm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More fundamentally, the freeze threatens to permanently alter the balance of power between the White House and the Capitol  with the Office of Management and Budget declaring in a memo Monday that financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities. And some recipients may not know for a week or longer if their promised dollars from Washington were getting the ax.

Those alarms remained even after a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze late Tuesday.

It may be depicted as temporary but its going to do permanent harm, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said earlier in the day about the spending halt. No one can plan when their funding is on the chopping block.

The Connecticut Democrat said the lack of clarity is creating chaos and confusion in every aspect of grants and funding. [I am hearing from] addiction programs, veterans programs, road building, just across the board. Nobody knows what will be funded, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even some Republicans expressed confusion.

We need to understand what the memo means, and then we'll know if it's overbroad or not, but it appears that way, Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) told POLITICO, adding that Republicans are communicating their concerns to the White House.

Boozman said he is hearing from constituents about the uncertainty and need for clarification, because the memo is pretty broadly written.

North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer predicted the action will surely be challenged in court  which itself would provide a major test for President Donald Trumps powers. Cramer acknowledged Tuesday that an all-encompassing freeze on grant programs and appropriations can't long endure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He's testing his own authority, Cramer said. He's getting some guidance that presidents have more authority than they've traditionally used. Some presidents have used a lot of it. Some have used less.

The White House attempted to dampen the uproar on Tuesday, clarifying that the pause is not across-the-board but limited to the sort of DEI, green new deal and other programs that Trump had targeted in a series of executive actions last week. Those included an order issued hours after Trumps inauguration in which he told agencies to pause disbursements under former President Joe Bidens infrastructure and climate laws.

"This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing Tuesday. She said it wont affect assistance that goes directly to individuals, including Social Security, welfare, food stamps and Medicare benefits.



Medicaid funding to states was also frozen Tuesday due to a nationwide outage in government payment processing systems. Congressional Democrats said Trumps actions pausing federal spending had caused the problem, but the White House denied that was the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent, Leavitt posted on X.

OMBs Monday memo ordered a pause on all federal financial assistance that could be targeted under Trumps earlier executive actions. The administration followed up on Tuesday with a second demand to federal agencies outlining specific programs that agencies must examine.

That left thousands of programs and projects up in the air Tuesday without clear directives from agencies, ranging from large-scale infrastructure and energy projects to environmental and tribal programs and scientific research and health services.

Trump has telegraphed his aim to scrutinize Bidens spending priorities, including saying he would rescind unspent funds from the former presidents landmark climate law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And hes repeatedly contended that as president he has the authority to withhold congressionally approved spending that he considers wasteful  a practice known as impoundment that Congress prohibited in a 1974 law amid a fight with President Richard Nixon. The actions taken this week could open the door to an eventual court ruling granting that power.

This weeks actions also raise the prospect that Trump is attempting to interrupt spending that agencies have contractually obligated. Besides being potentially illegal, such a move would imperil many of the efforts that Bidens aides took to attempt to Trump-proof their hundreds of billions of dollars in energy, climate and infrastructure spending.

Cramer said he expects the administration will offer more details about the spending it objects to.

Not all spending is created equal, and they'll go through it, probably item by item, line by line, budget by budget, the GOP senator said. Who knows how they'll do it? But for now, it's a pretty major test of separation of powers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said, she and many of her constituents are at a loss of what the White House is doing.

Who the hell knows what it means right now? Its up to them to clarify it, she said. She added: Weve been getting a huge number of calls into my office: Doctors, federal workers, farmers and others who are saying, Whats going to happen, Im scared, I dont know what to do.

Officials in the previous administration said they expect Trumps actions to play out in court  but that itself could stall or complicate pending dollars and programs.

"The Trump Administration's steps to freeze disbursement for signed award agreements is unprecedented, illegal, and wasteful, said Zealan Hoover, a former senior official in Bidens Environmental Protection Agency, in an email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hoover said EPA alone "has funded over 38,000 grants in the past 8 years that draw down on a regular basis (e.g., weekly) to meet their ongoing needs."

While I have full confidence that the courts will quickly order the federal government to uphold its legal obligations to pay its grantees, any work stoppages that result in the interim will drive up costs and delay the delivery of new infrastructure, cleaner air and water, and other public services across the country," Hoover said.

The OMBs commands went out to a federal workforce that is already on edge because of Trumps efforts to lessen some senior employees job security, while putting some workers on leave and outright firing others. That could cause some employees to err on the side of holding back any spending that could conceivably fall on the White Houses hit list.

One person familiar with actions at the Energy Department said staff there are stopping everything to evaluate programs, including preparing to defend projects in their portfolios.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There just hasn't been really clear guidance, and it's better just to be more cautious than not, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The person added that small companies or startups that are getting federal dollars are potentially most at risk, as they rely on the government money to meet payroll and other key milestones.

Already, the uncertainty of the pause is forcing some grant recipients, especially small nonprofits, to consider drastic measures as they remain unsure whether they can rely on long-finalized grants. Some states have already been locked out of federal funding disbursals for some EPA programs, said Sam Ricketts, co-founder of S2 Strategies, a consulting firm that works with states on clean energy and climate issues.

Jennifer Szaro, president and CEO of the Florida-based Association of Energy Services Professionals, which provides workforce training for the energy industry, said her organization may be forced to lay off staff if it cannot continue drawing from a $700,000 grant it received from the Energy Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a small 501c3 with an annual budget of roughly $3 million, I cannot simply absorb this, she said in an email. We have contracts in place with our subcontractors and we have a legal obligation to honor them regardless of what is happening with the federal government.

Jeff Allen, the executive director of Forth Mobility, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, that received a $1.2 million grant for its work on electric mobility projects, said organizations such as his cannot wait months for a pause or a lawsuit to wind its way through the courts.

We cant carry the federal government's accounts payable for 90 days, Allen said.

Forths grant is to develop and test models for providing individuals with low-interest loans to buy electric vehicles.

The freeze has also set off a scramble in the mortgage industry as lobbyists seek clarity on which programs are included and has raised questions about microchip, innovation, broadband and artificial intelligence spending programs across agencies. There is widespread panic in the housing world right now, said a mortgage industry leader who was granted anonymity so they could frankly discuss the fallout.

St. Johns Community Health, a network of community health centers in Southern California, has had nearly $18 million in federal funding frozen, the groups president and CEO, Jim Mangia, told POLITICO.

Were doing the best we can to continue services, he said in a text message. But yes, if this freeze is permanent there will be substantial cuts.

Elsewhere, Rutgers University in New Jersey issued a campus-wide advisory voicing uncertainty about the effects the directive would have on research and teaching activities, writing that federal funding makes up a substantial part of our universitys budget. Still, the university assured students on federal financial aid they would be able to have an uninterrupted academic journey and encouraged researchers to continue grant-sponsored work unless their grant specialist explicitly communicated otherwise.



The Biden administration in its final months attempted to get as much money out the door for its sprawling infrastructure, technology and energy projects, in part to protect it from potential rollback from the new administration.

But the sweeping nature of the order and the uncertainty its brought has been disruptive, experts and recipients told POLITICO. And Democrats quickly pounced on the confusion Tuesday  including calling to postpone committee action on Russ Vought, the president's pick for White House budget director.

Which am I most outraged about? Am I more outraged about the Head Start program and the kids that can get locked out, or am I more outraged about the hospitals  especially rural hospitals who can see their cash flow disrupted? said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). Its a pretty hard list to choose from. They are all essential.

Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, said he has heard from people concerned about agriculture grants for small farmers, Defense Department grants for small businesses and veterans program grants for suicide prevention.

I am shocked any one in the administration would advise the president this is constitutional or advisable, he said. This should be a bipartisan response because this is an institutional issue, not a political issue. If this precedent is allowed to stand it will be they [Republicans] who will regret it two years from now, four years from now.

Defenders of the action said a pause on spending is traditional practice for any new administration to evaluate whats going out the door.

Listen, we're going to evaluate everything in our country, because if we don't cut spending, we're not going to have a country, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said Tuesday. How better way to do it than look at every program?

Bill Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former GOP staffer on Senate Budget, said he read the OMB memo as an initial step that could lead to deferral of spending or requests to Congress to rescind programs.

Hoagland noted that the memo specifies that agencies temporarily pause obligating and disbursing money "to the extent permissible under applicable law"  a potential reprieve for some entities parsing the language to see if their projects will be ensnared.

But Kennedy Nickerson, vice president of energy at the investment research firm Capstone and a former Energy Department loan office staffer, noted that particular risks exist for projects with phased funding that require administrative sign-off.

If the Trump administration doesn't believe that those projects align with the administration's policy priorities, they could in theory use those reviews to halt any future spending, she said.

At least one agency  the Energy Department  has informed funding recipients that it will modify existing and signed contracts, according to a Monday memo obtained by POLITICO.

Sara Wilson, the acting head of contracting activity for DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ordered recipients to immediately cease all department-funded work involving or relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as community benefits plans and initiatives covered by the Biden administrations Justice40 program to provide benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Costs incurred after the date of this letter will not be reimbursed, Wilson wrote. Recipients who have DEI and CBP activities in their awards will be contacted by their Grants Officer to initiate award modifications consistent with this Order.

A DOE spokesperson said the department is conducting a department-wide review, which includes funding such as grants and loans, to ensure all activities are consistent with President Trumps executive orders and priorities.

Ry Rivard, Eden Teshome, Katy ODonnell, Jennifer Scholtes, Robert King and Kelly Hooper, Marcia Brown and Ben Lefebvre contributed to this report.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A decision from Washington D.C. is quickly trickling down to nonprofits, agencies and organizations that provide vital services to people in West Michigan.

Late Monday, the Trump administration directed federal agencies to freeze the disbursement of loans and grants. By Tuesday evening, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze minutes before it was scheduled to go into effect.

Before the judges decision, News 8 spoke with a nonprofit about the uncertainty the freeze caused and how it could be impacted if the order ultimately goes through.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We were shocked, said Kristin Gietzen, president and CEO of mental health nonprofit Arbor Circle.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

The Grand Rapids-based nonprofit serves 12,000 individuals in Kent County and along the lakeshore through a wide range of services, most notably surrounding mental health and substance use.

We found out like everyone else found out in the community. We found out on the news, Gietzen told News 8 on Tuesday. We were shocked, but we also were a little  I dont know, reading it sort of with a grain of salt, because theres so many executive orders coming out right now. Theres just so much chaos.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, staff had to find out if they would be impacted. On Tuesday morning, they attempted to draw down funds for their January work but were unable to get into the system.

We dont know at this point if thats because the system is locked down, or because so many other federal grantees are trying to do the same thing, Gietzen explained. The system may not be able to handle the volume that its experiencing, or it may legitimately be shut down. We dont know, thats part of the chaos.

And Arbor Circle isnt alone  far from it.

What exactly is an executive order? Examining Trumps tool for quickly reshaping government

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our partners are also experiencing some of the same issues. Ive spoken to several executive directors and CEOs today and they, too, are unable to draw down some of their federal funding and so its not just an issue for Arbor Circle. Its an issue for hundreds of nonprofits in our community that are receiving federal funds, Gietzen said.

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington said he was left with more questions than answers, saying he was worried about the potential impact to the city, agencies and nonprofits. In a Tuesday afternoon statement, Washington said the pause could impact housing and homelessness outreach and other services to low-income communities.

We are continuing to assess the potential impact of the freeze; however, the City is fortunate federal funding is not our only source of revenue, he wrote.

Washington said he was mainly concerned for smaller agencies that dont have much funding from other sources.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will continue to evaluate the short-term and long-term impact of any permanent changes, but my hope is that this is only a pause and not a permanent reduction of funding, Washington wrote.

Gietzen said although nonprofits are often overlooked as a business, they make up over 5% of the national gross domestic product. If the freeze goes through, it means employees, clients and business partners could be impacted by the inability to capture the necessary revenue, even on a temporary basis.

We are economic drivers in our community and were just really concerned about what the disruption in cash flow will do to our local nonprofits, Gietzen said.

Trump administration defends federal funding freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A group of nonprofit organizations have already filed a lawsuit in Washington saying that the funding pause is devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale.

Staff at Arbor Circle are also working hard to make their voices heard.

We are certainly in contact with our congressional folks to let them know whats happening and how this is impacting our organization and we just need to do the advocacy that needs to be done in order to get this resolved, Gietzen said. Im hoping that our voice is just one of many. There are many other community partners that are lending their voice to the issue and hopefully, our friends at the federal level are going to be able to resolve this and recognize that we need these dollars to flow.

In the meantime, its business as usual for the nonprofit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are committed to being here in the community to help people with the things that we have committed to helping them with. We are committed to our staff and we will continue to do the work that needs to be done and to advocate for this pause to be unpaused, Gietzen said.

 News 8s Anna Skog 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 WOODTV.com.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The misdemeanor charge from 2023 of failure to report against former North Elementary School principal Natalie Webb has been dismissed.

FILE  Natalie Webb

According to a press release from Webbs attorney Drew Capuder, the charge, which stemmed from an investigation of an incident that happened in January 2023, was dismissed on Jan. 21, 2025.

Webb was principal of North Elementary School in Morgantown when the incident happened after which multiple staff were placed on leave and then-vice principal Carol Muniz was charged with battery for reportedly striking a disruptive 8-year-old student in the head, according to criminal complaints filed against Webb and Muniz several months after the incident.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Webbs attorney cited W.Va. State Code 49-2-803, which makes eyewitnesses responsible for making reports to Child Protective Services, and said that Webb did not witness the incident.

Monongalia County Sheriffs Office warns of false reports about vehicle in Cheat Lake

Capuder released the following statement from Webb after the charge was dismissed:

I am thankful the misdemeanor charge has been dismissed. This has been a challenging time for my family and me. I am very disappointed in the way I was treated by the Superintendent and the Monongalia County Board of Education. From the very beginning of their investigation, I feel as if they considered me to be guilty until proven innocent. After vigorously defending my actions and navigating legal hurdles, I have been vindicated by the dismissal. Natalie Webb

According to the West Virginia Judiciarys Magistrate Case database, Carol Muniz was found not guilty on the battery charge in March 2024.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MACOUPIN COUNTY, Mo.  A man faces nine felony charges, including murder, in connection with the death of a Soulard bartender in Macoupin County earlier this month.

The Macoupin County States Attorneys Office has charged Jerald Stilts, 57, in connection with the death of Chuck Parrino Jr.

Stilts charges include two counts of first-degree murder, armed violance, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, concealment of a homicidal death, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of justice, and unlawful restraint.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators say Parrino was found deceased over the weekend at a home in Macoupin County.

Stilts has a preliminary hearing over charges set for Feb. 5, according to online Illinois court records.

Soulard Bastille announced that funeral services for Parrino are scheduled Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  A neighborhood bakery located on downtown Charlestons famous King Street is one of the best bakeries in the south, according to an acclaimed lifestyle magazine.

Weltons Tiny Bakeshop is a favorite of Southern Living editor Betsy Watson, who describes why the bakery was included on The Best Bakeries In The South list.

This teeny storefront in Charleston, South Carolina punches well above its weight with a countertop crowded with baked goods that highlight seasonal flavors and clever combinations, like the cheesy grits Danish I devoured last time I went, Watson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Photos were taken by Lizzy Rollins and provided by Weltons Tiny Bakeshop.

Weltons is run by Zachary and Hannah, who met while working at Husk Charleston. Following their time at Husk, the pair moved to Yucatan, where Hannah developed a Weltons favorite, the salted honey pie.

Visitors to the naturally leavened bakery can order a wide variety of pastries, such as a sweet or savory Danish, seasonal hand pie, olive oil almond cake, or lemon cloud cookies. Once finished, guests can wash their pick down with coffee, tea, wine, or beer.

Weltons also offers catering services. The store is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., so you can try it out.

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 WCBD News 2.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A federal judge in Charlotte sentenced a Jamaican man to prison for operating a Jamaican-based fraudulent lottery scheme on Monday, according to the Department of Justice.

According to court documents, and as part of his plea, Anthony Linton Stewart, 40, admits that from 2010 to at least 2016, he led a fraudulent lottery fraud scheme where he and his co-conspirators targeted victims in the U.S.

Stewart admitted that he contacted elderly people by phone and falsely told them that they won the lottery or other prizes in a sweepstakes. Stewart told victims that they needed to send money to pay fees and taxes on their winnings. He would repeatedly contact victims for as long as they could be persuaded to send more money. No lottery existed and no victim ever received any winnings.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

Overseas lottery schemes are unfortunately a common means by which foreign criminals seek to target U.S. citizens, particularly elder Americans, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Departments Civil Division. Such schemes are unacceptable, and the Department will hold accountable those who participate in them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stewart pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. On Jan. 27, 2025, Stewart was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution.

Stealing money from elderly individuals is a despicable crime, said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. Todays sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who target and exploit older adults for financial gain will be brought to justice.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Organizations and higher educational institutions are addressing confusion surrounding a recent Trump administration order, which placed a temporary pause on federal grants and loans.

In the Charlotte area, this has sparked wide-ranging questions on everything from Medicaid and federal housing, to additional student loan programs and funding for food programs that help low-income families.

The Charlotte-based Nourish Up, formerly known as Loaves and Fishes and Friendship Trays, is a local Meals On Wheels member, and said they are seeking clarity on the status of the programs funding.

UPDATE | Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

I think there are a lot of unknowns out there, said CEO Tina Postel. Every nonprofit executive that I know is watching the news closely, for more information on how this might impact organizations like ours, but ultimately how it might impact the people that were trying to help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Postel noted that federal funding makes up a small part of Nourish Ups overall funding, but noted that the funding can take up a larger percentage for other similar, smaller organizations.

The Trump Administrations announcement of a pause on federal grants and loans has led to questions from the organizations, but also those who take advantage of those federally-funded programs.

President Trumps sweeping immigration crackdown continues

We are actively answering phone lines right now from people who are concerned about what their future looks like. Are they going to be able to put food on their table? said Postel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order has been cited as being broad, with additional details on the exceptions only coming out after the announcement.

Colleges and universities were also wondering what the pause meant for them until late Tuesday morning when the Education Department indicated that Pell Grant and student loan programs would not be affected by the pause.

QCNEWS.COM

POLITICS NEWS

When asked further about individual universities in the Charlotte area regarding any federally-funded research programs that may receive grants, Queen City News was told by one higher educational institution that there was no impact, while another was working on getting a direct answer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The UNC System itself responded to Queen City News request for comment, making a statement that, we are monitoring proposed changes in federal policy and assessing areas where we might need to respond or adjust.

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican serving North Carolina, told reporters Tuesday that he had his own concerns about what the pause meant for federal housing.

U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, a Republican serving North Carolinas 14th District, issued a press release Tuesday afternoon indicating the pause in grants and loans does not affect FEMA assistance.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Students at FuturEdge Charter Academy, formerly 100 Academy of Excellence. (Photo courtesy of Clark County School District)

The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority on Friday assumed oversight of six charter schools previously sponsored by Clark County School District.

With the transfer of the six schools and their combined 5,550 students, SPCSA essentially becomes the second largest school district in Nevada, overtaking Washoe County School District. Fewer than 650 students separated the two late last year when the state conducted official enrollment counts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SPCSA schools now enroll around 69,000 students.

The rate of enrollment growth in SPCSA schools has significantly outpaced both WCSD and CCSD for years.

The transfer marks CCSDs complete exit from charter school operation. CCSD, which is still by far the largest school district in the state, stopped considering applications to sponsor new charter schools in 2007. In May 2024, the district publicly announced it planned to stop sponsoring its existing six charter schools and transfer oversight to the Charter School Authority.

Clark County School District transferred six charter schools to the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Delta Academy,

Explore Knowledge Academy

Innovations International Charter School of Nevada

FuturEdge (formerly 100 Academy of Excellence)

Rainbow Dreams Academy

Odyssey Charter Schools

Those transfers were approved by the Charter School Board on Friday. The votes were unanimous, minus abstentions for possible conflicts, but some board members expressed concerns about the Authority taking on low-performing schools.

CCSD didnt want to see these schools shut down, said Charter School Authority Executive Director Melissa Mackedon, noting that all of the schools have been around for at least 15 years.

Mackedon said discussions about a possible transfer happened at least four or five years agowell before she was appointed to lead the authoritybut her understanding was that the SPCSA agreed to take the schools and give them a limited contract.

Only one of the six charter schools, Odyssey Charter School, was approved for a six-year SPCSA contract. Odyssey has received three, four or five (out of five possible) stars on the Nevada Department of Educations Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) in recent years. Ratings of three and above are generally considered acceptable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Four of the charter schools were approved for three-year contracts because of recent 1- or 2-star NSPF ratings.

Theyve been given a window of three years to improve or not renew, Mackedon said.

The sixth charter school, which is not subject to star ratings, was also approved for a three-year contract because of concerns abouts its unique financial and enrollment setup.

Mackedon told board members that the transfer from CCSD to the SPCSA will not impact whether the charter schools become subject to existing mandatory closure laws for low-performing charter schools.

Their history comes with them. This isnt a you get to start all the way over situation, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FuturEdge Charter Academy, formerly known as 100 Academy of Excellence, and Innovations International Charter School, have both received 1-, 2- or 3-star NSPF ratings in recent years.

Explore Knowledge Academy, which serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade, had a history of 3-, 4- and 5-star reviews but most recently received a 2-star rating for its elementary school. It also received a poor rating for its financial management.

Abbe Mattson, the superintendent at Explore Knowledge, told the board the school saw enrollment drop two years ago, which caused financial problems.

Were in recovery mode, she said. We dont anticipate problems moving forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Delta Academy, a middle and high school with in-person, online and hybrid classes, had a history of 1- and 2-star ranking and in 2020 was approved by CCSD and the state department of education to be rated using an alternative performance framework.

For the past three years, Delta was found to be improving or maintaining its performance on that alternative framework.

Charter School Authority staff noted that the framework will need to be reviewed with the transfer. The Authority prior to last week had only one school, Beacon Academy, approved for review under an alternative performance framework. Enrollment at Beacon is limited to severely credit deficient and other at-risk students.

The Charter School Authority will also have to come up with performance review criteria for Rainbow Dreams Academy, which operates preschool and kindergarten programs. Because it does not offer all elementary school grades, it is not subject to the NSPF ratings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The preschool program is funded by Clark County through a contract approved by the county commission, not the pupil centered funding formula the state uses to fund K-12. A Rainbow Dreams administrator acknowledged that the preschool funding, which will be subject to renewal by the Clark County Commission, is required to make their school financially viable.

Mackedon said that, if the commission were to not renew the contract, the authority would work with Rainbow Dream to assess their options.

Charter School Board member Patricia Haddad Bennett, who previously worked in government relations for CCSD, noted that Rainbow Dreams used to offer grades K-5 but transitioned to offering only preschool and kindergarten because of poor academic performance.

The accountability is real Our job is really important, she said. While happy to move forward with the transfer of sponsorship, we should just be mindful. If there are changes to their program, looking at that history and that track record, I would hesitate to increase grades in order to make the budget add up.

Administrators with the six charter schools are expected to appear before the Charter School Board in the upcoming months to provide members with additional information about their schools, according to Mackedon.
Bus drivers for a local school district are fighting efforts to outsource drivers.

They say Chartiers Valley is considering going with a new transportation company, as 65 union drivers fight for a new contract.

Its important for us to come out to show the board that these are real people, theyre not just lines on a budget, union representative Annie Briscoe told Channel 11 at a school board meeting Tuesday. These are people who live here, who work here, who come to work every day to support our kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chartiers Valley School Board sent a statement regarding the transportation negotiations. It says in part:

The board has a fiduciary obligation to the residents and taxpayers to explore every possible cost-saving measure. This responsibility includes ensuring that the district continues to deliver the highest quality education for our children in the most cost-effective manner. Failing to do so would be a disservice to all Chartiers Valley families and taxpayers.

The school board asks the community to allow the negotiation process to unfold in a professional and respectful manner.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
(Gif: GIPHY)

Its been a little over a week under a new presidential administration, and with it come changing rules, regulations and just about everything else at breakneck speed. Focusing on supply chain impacts proves to be a bit of a wait-and-see exercise.

Along the campaign trail, there were promises of imposing tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Most of those promises have yet to come to fruition. Thats left a majority of those in the global supply chain wondering what is in store for the future and how to plan around potential hurdles.

As of right now, there are no new tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. The normal tariffs are still in play, and the International Trade Administration can help sort out what the current tariffs for goods are.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The future? Well, that is where things get a little messy. There are threats of tariffs, according to CNN: 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, anywhere from 10% to 60% across-the-board tariffs on China and 10% or 20% tariffs on everything else that comes into the United States.

The when of it all is still very much up in the air.

There is some clarity as to the goods that could be affected by a potential tariff first. As quoted in a CNN article, We are going to look at pharmaceuticals, drugs. We are going to look at chips, semiconductors, and we are going to look at steel and some other industries and you are going to see things happening, President Donald Trump told House Republicans.

A consensus has emerged among supply chain professionals on how to prepare for whatever a tariff rate might be whenever it takes place. Global supply chains cant keep waiting in limbo, and a Kuehne + Nagel webinar, Navigating the Unprecedented Global Trade Disruption, drew 1,500 people to get a picture of the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An article by FreightWaves Noi Mahoney noted, While [Greg] Tompsett [vice president of customs brokerage USA at Kuehne + Nagel] believes the threats could be a bargaining tactic, he said if they are implemented on Saturday, shippers will need to immediately take stock of what goods they have in the supply chain.

What is already out on the water, Tompsett said. What purchase orders have already been booked? What are things that we cant really change or shift, and what temporary options do we have to buy us a little time? Can we move something in bond  thats where it hasnt technically been imported yet, but it gets in and we set it off at a bonded warehouse, and we can keep it at bay for a little bit  and whats that cost? Can we defer or hold off importing it? Do we have the ability to move it in a foreign trade zone  those are things well be looking at.

Its now a matter of how well global shippers can plan and adapt to ever-changing components of their supply chains.

SONAR TRAC Market Dashboard

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TRAC Tuesday. This weeks lane is going from Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri  a solid 507 miles of Midwestern roads and endless cornfields. The per-mile rate for this lane is $2.57, which is 17 cents above the National Truckload Index of $2.40. Chicago is experiencing significant market tightening as outbound tender rejections have risen to 8.45%, a 1.39% increase week over week. Kansas City on the other hand has some tightening but has consistently been seeing an OTRI above 10% since mid-December. Current outbound tender rejections are at 12.84%, indicating an inflated spot market.

Spot rates for this lane are maintaining their higher-than-average rate and will continue to do so as long as the OTRi in KC stays above 10% and Chicago continues to experience extreme tightening. Loads originating in either location will likely be trickier to cover than most. Let shippers know that outbound tender lead times will need to be increased.

(Gif: GIPHY)

Whos with whom. The one downside of a global supply chain is that when there is a massive cultural holiday in one region, parts of the world essentially shut down. In the same way the U.S. closes up shop for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Asia is having that moment right now with the Lunar New Year. This is the Year of the Snake and according to Chinese mythology, Snakes are also known as little dragons, and the skin they shed is known as the dragons coat, symbolizing good luck, rebirth and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness.

Im not sure how love and happiness will tie into global supply chains. As major operations in China, Vietnam, Korea and other Asian countries are shut down in celebration of the holiday, there is a lack of happiness in other countries waiting on Asian-produced goods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most shippers affected by the disruption should have already made plans. Whether that involved pulling freight forward or alternating a production schedule, it should be squared away by now. If not, well that shipper is about to have a bad few weeks.

Imports on the West Coast ports are poised to see a decline in volume, which means those carriers might be available and looking for surplus freight. The Asian ports are either closed or working in an extremely limited capacity for the next two to three weeks as people travel for the holiday.

The disruption should be fully resolved by Feb. 12 as that is the official end of the new year period and everyone is to return to work. That said, it can take longer for factories, ports and other businesses to return to business as usual.

The more you know

Western Express prevails at federal appeals level in wall of water case ATA saw as important

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Logistics workers charged with importing $200M in fake goods via LA, Long Beach ports

US cross-border freight stalled in November

Senate debates ways to gain leverage over Panama Canal

Southern California softness cited for 2024 drop in logistics real estate rents

The post Check Call: Global supply chains hurry up and wait on possible tariffs appeared first on FreightWaves.
If youre looking for a good job, the Hawaii Career Expo is looking to connect you directly with Hawaiis best employers.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Career Expo 2025 celebrates a decade of connecting local companies with qualified employees and is happy to welcome the community back to its free, in-person event slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Expo offers variety and quality for both job seekers and potential employers. Its the states leading employment exhibition, giving job seekers the opportunity to connect directly with employers, submit resumes and get hired on the spot.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Hawaiis premier career recruitment event spans industries like technology, transportation, retail, banking, health care, hotel and hospitality, sales, management, real estate, education and so much more. This year will be no different, and expo-goers and potential employers can look forward to connecting and finding their perfect match.

If you miss it, there are upcoming Career Expos on April 30, July 30 and Oct. 29.

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 KHON2.
Jodi Brackett speaks to the House Regulatory Oversight Committee on Jan. 28, 2025, alongside pictures of contrails she believes are evidence of "chemtrails" in Arizona. Screenshot via ACTV/azleg.gov

Conspiracy theorists came out in force Tuesday afternoon to support a Republican bill that aims to ban geoengineering, citing the long debunked chemtrails conspiracy theory as evidence that nefarious actors are already turning Arizonas skies into a laboratory and treating its unsuspecting residents as guinea pigs.

This started when I noticed lines in the sky that did not look normal, Jodi Brackett told the House Regulatory Oversight Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Brackett stood at the podium in the legislative hearing room, a man held a collage of photos of contrails taken in Arizona. Brackett said she brought the issue to freshman GOP legislator Lisa Finks attention.

Claims that Arizona has seen an increase in contrails left behind by airliners was a major theme among many of the speakers who came to support the bill.

Whether you know it or not, your body is part of their laboratory, Crystal Hansen told the committee claiming that the vapor trails left behind by airliners are not condensation, citing a website that has posted altered videos and photos as evidence of the conspiracy.

The geography of the Phoenix metropolitan area, where many of those who spoke in favor of Finks House Bill 2056 said they reside, plays a role in those long-hanging contrails that many see as proof of a larger conspiracy. The region sits basically in a bowl surrounded by mountains, with an inversion above that bowl that traps the air below it. That results in high ozone and other pollutant levels  as well as contrails that linger in the air longer than they do in most other places.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We, the people, are extremely concerned with all the trails in our skies, Melissa Price said to the committee, adding that she wants lawmakers to send the bill to the ballot for voters to decide on.

But Price did concede that even with all the weather modification she claimed was happening, the state is not seeing any rain and remains facing the effects of a historic drought.

Finks bill would ban geoengineering in Arizona. In simple terms, geoengineering is the practice of intentionally attempting to modify the atmosphere. In recent years, it has been explored as a possible way to combat the increasingly extreme effects of climate change.

The field is largely theoretical with only small projects taking place, some of which have faced backlash from local communities. Geoengineering has recently become the focus of groups that have previously pushed unfounded conspiracy theories about vaccines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration currently monitors the planets atmosphere for signs of geoengineering programs by other nations or by small venture capitalist backed groups.

The emerging field has caused fierce debate among scientists, some of whom see it as a way to combat mankinds impact on the planet, while others see it as another way to create climate chaos.

Many refer to the practice as climate intervention, and some scientists have been studying it as a means of combating climate change. These efforts have included studying things like solar radiation modification, a process that aims to decrease surface temperatures by reflecting sunlight away from the planet.

Last year, Tennessee lawmakers passed a law that banned geoengineering, with lawmakers during debate alluding to the debunked chemtrails conspiracy theory. Online conspiracy theorists have long pointed to the condensation left behind by airliners as being part of a larger conspiracy to modify the weather or poison the populace, though no evidence of such programs exist and the contrails planes sometimes leave behind are little more than water vapor that has frozen into ice crystals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other speakers also saw the bill as a way to combat other bogus geoengineering conspiracy theories that have long had a place in the fringes of conspiracy culture.

Leslie Forster told the committee that the bill would help protect Arizonans from the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, also known as HAARP, which studies the planets upper atmosphere. The research project has been accused of causing a litany of weather-related events, despite its inability to impact the weather.

Speakers also confused sulfur iodide with sodium iodide, a chemical commonly used in cloud seeding. Cloud seeding eventually became a focus of the committee, as Fareed Bailey, a lobbyist representing the Salt River Project, said the utility was concerned about the bills ban on it.

Finks HB2056 bill would ban a litany of geoengineering practices, including cloud seeding, deploying aerosol particles in the stratosphere, releasing chaff into the atmosphere, solar radiation modification or any other attempts to modify the weather. Her legislation is similar to several others filed in other states this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bailey said SRP has been studying cloud seeding as a possible way to help with the states water woes, but all research has been theoretical in computer models. SRP has not flown any aircraft to conduct cloud seeding tests, Bailey said.

We do not want to close the door to this promising technology, he said, adding that silver iodide, the main chemical used in cloud seeding, has been found to be largely non-toxic. Baileys claim was met with boos and jeers from many in the audience.

The bill initially was written to bar any government agency, research project, university, public or private organization or military force from engaging in geoengineering, with violators facing a $500,000 fine and a felony, with up to three years of prison; the the director of the Department of Water Resources would have been tasked with investigating any claim of geoengineering.

But the GOP-led committee amended the proposal to remove those penalties and the responsibility of the head of the water agency, instead allow citizens to bring any geoengineering claims to court, where theyd be awarded injunctive relief if they proved their case. The amendment also adds a ban on universities funding any research into solar radiation modification.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One attendee felt the amendment lacked teeth and suggested that the punishment for geoengineering be treason  which is punishable by death  eliciting cheers from the attendees.

Others asked members of the committee to get on Instagram to see the evidence of geoengineering that is allegedly happening out of Sky Harbor International Airport. Many cited increased issues with asthma as proof of the geoengineering plot.

With the increase in population and heat, the Phoenix metro area has seen a marked increase in the number of high pollution days, which leads to more adverse reactions to those with asthma and other breathing complications.

Some in attendance also appeared to believe in other conspiracy theories, sporting t-shirts supporting election reforms based on election fraud falsities and sharing with the committee their belief that a large number of children are being sex trafficked, a core component of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Local election conspiracy theorist Gail Golec also came out to support the bill Tuesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The formal GOP platform makes no mention of climate change, greenhouse gases, the environment, pollution, clean air or clean water. It makes a brief mention of conservation in a section on restoring American Beauty. And although there is broad scientific consensus that human activity is causing climate change, and that its effects are becoming more extreme, Arizona Republicans largely reject that it is happening at all.

Last year, state Senate Republicans backed a bill to bar state government and universities from spending money to reduce greenhouse gases or research climate change, deeming them both Marxist ideas that are anti-God.

Democratic committee members voiced concern that they did not hear from any experts, such as physicians or scientists. When the minority lawmakers said they didnt see evidence of what the bills proponents were saying, many in attendance booed, leading Republican Committee Chair Joseph Chaplik to threaten bringing in security if outbursts continued.

Rep. Rachel Keshel, R-Tucson, who is married to conspiracy theorist Seth Keshel, said she has seen adequate research that the alleged chemicals involved in the fictional geoengineering leads to increased Azlhiemers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And Chaplik said his inability to see individual airplanes flying more than 20,000 feet above Phoenix that are leaving contrails in the sky was concerning enough to support changing Arizona law to ban geoengineering.

Youre seeing these in the sky at nighttime or early morning, youre really not seeing the planes fully flying around the air, he said, adding that he has been talking with Fink about the issue for a few months.

The bill passed out of the committee along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposing. The bill heads next to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
NORFOLK  Chesapeake Regional Medical Center was arraigned Tuesday on health care fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from years of surgeries and procedures performed by one of its former surgeons.

Will Newman, a New York attorney who represents the hospital, entered not guilty pleas to both charges for his client. Newman also asked the court to set the case for a jury trial. No officials from the medical center appeared with him at the hearing, held in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.

The hospital was indicted earlier this month on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges relating to a former obstetrician and gynecologist who performed surgeries, procedures and baby deliveries there for more than three decades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The indictment alleges hospital officials had repeatedly been warned by staff members that Dr. Javaid Perwaiz was performing unnecessary work on patients and fraudulently billing insurance companies, but allowed him to continue because of the many millions of dollars he brought in for the facility.

In November 2020, a jury in U.S. District Court in Norfolk found Perwaiz guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to 59 years in prison.

Several women testified during the nearly monthlong trial about having to undergo surgeries they later realized werent necessary. Some testified the doctor told them they had cancer when they didnt, and some had procedures done that they hadnt consented to.

The hospitals indictment alleges officials knew Perwaizs privileges had been terminated by another local hospital for performing unnecessary surgeries, and yet they continued to grant them to him every two years, from 1984 to shortly before his arrest in 2019. The officials also knew that he pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges, and was sued several times by patients, the document said.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
PLYMOUTH COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU)  A Chicago man was killed in a fiery crash at around noon Tuesday.

According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, at around 12:42 p.m., Mohammed Wajid, 28, of Chicago, was driving a Freightliner north on K18 when he approached the intersection of K18 and C12 near Chatsworth.

Plymouth County grass fire reminds Siouxlanders to use caution during dry, windy conditions

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials said that Wajid failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection and hit a grain trailer that was being pulled by a Kenworth driven by Timothy Wilken, 49, of Akron. The truck was split in two as a result of the collision.

Wajid was taken to a local hospital after the crash where he later died.

Officials said that the crash caused a fire to spark up in nearby fields.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  Chicago police seek the publics help in identifying a male linked to a February 2023 murder in the citys Avalon Park neighborhood.

According to police, the Feb. 7 shooting occurred in the 8100 block of S. Kenwood Ave. around 8:15 p.m.

Photos re-released Tuesday show a male with a medium-to-heavy build, wearing a light-colored winter coat with fur time on the hood, dark-colored shirt/pants, and dark-colored gym shoes with light-colored trim.

Anyone with additional information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tipsters may also call (312) 747-8271.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards has named Communities In Schools of Appalachian Highlands (CIS-AH) as a recipient of a $75,000 grant.

According to the organizations website, Communities In Schools trains and places student support coordinators directly into schools. They then connect students and families to community resources tailored to each students needs.

Drive-thru food pantry coming to Johnson City

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A release from Chick-fil-A said its True Inspiration Awards help fund the work of organizations across the country that are providing an inspiring service to their communities.

This significant award follows a partnership made with Chick-fil-A at The Pinnacle and a combined vision to help schools, students, and communities across the Appalachian Highlands, the release states. Through this funding, CIS-AH will continue to cultivate relationships with students, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

A check presentation took place Monday at the Chick-fil-A in Bristol, Tennessee to recognize the award.

CIS-AH is an organization that is truly making a difference in our communities, said Josh

Horner, restaurant operator of Chick-fil-A at The Pinnacle. They help students improve their

attendance, assist with basic needs, prepare students for college and career readiness, and

better yet, get them excited about coming to school. Its been a privilege to work with CIS-AH

through the True Inspiration Award process and I am thrilled to present them with their award.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chick-fil-A said the CIS-AH provides support to the Tri-Cities region through whole-school programming for 27,000 students and individualized case management for over 4,000 students.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A boy who contracted diphtheria and received months of treatment in a Berlin hospital has died, sources close to the case told dpa on Wednesday.

The child from the Brandenburg region surrounding Berlin had not been vaccinated, health authorities said.

The 10-year-old boy was admitted to a paediatric clinic in Potsdam in September last year for an acute inflammation of the tonsils. Diphtheria was later diagnosed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The child was transferred to a Berlin clinic and was put on a ventilator there.

Through contact tracing by the health department, diphtheria was reported in another person from the child's family circle. However, due to vaccination, the person only experienced a mild course of illness, authorities said.

Fatal cases of diphtheria are rare in Germany. The country's RKI public health institute reported only one death from cutaneous diphtheria in an adult in 2023 and one from respiratory diphtheria in 2024.

Bernhard Kosak, head of paediatric emergency medicine at the West Brandenburg Clinic, warned of the dangers of vaccine hesitancy in an interview with the newspaper Markische Allgemeine last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He cautioned that many people mistakenly believe modern medicine can fully treat vaccine-preventable diseases.

Infections such as meningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus often have limited treatment options and carry a high risk of severe complications, he added.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Police officers responded to two crashes in the area of Interstate 240 and South Perkins Road on Wednesday morning, reports say.

A child was injured in a crash involving a school bus just before 7 a.m. Police say the male child was transported to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in non-critical condition.

The childs mother, Felicia Marshall reached out to WREG after the accident. She says her son, who has Cerebral Palsy and is wheelchair-bound, is doing much better. Although, she told us she has to keep an eye on him due to a head injury.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marshall noted that she received a call about the accident just seven minutes after her son was picked up for school.

Photo by WREG Photo by WREG Photo by WREG

The second crash officers responded to was a hit-and-run involving a Dodge sedan. A green van reportedly struck the vehicle and fled the area. No injuries were reported.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- The success of President Donald Trumps clampdown on a notorious Venezuelan criminal gang depends, at least in part, on years of bitter experience in Chile.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The South American nation has been feeding intelligence on Tren de Aragua to US authorities for more than a year as it battles a surge in homicides triggered by the gang, according to Undersecretary of the Interior Luis Cordero.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If today the US has better visibility on how Tren de Aragua operates, it is largely due to the information that Chile has shared with it, Cordero said in an interview at the presidential palace in Santiago. Chile has been dismantling this organization since 2022.

Trump moved to designate the gangs Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as well as Mexican cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations in one of his first acts in office. The Venezuelan gang has wreaked havoc in Chile, trafficking immigrants into the country, running protection rackets, managing prostitution rings and dealing drugs. But Chile is fighting back and currently has 307 members of the gang in prison, according to Cordero.

Trumps decision to classify this organization as terrorist or not is significant in domestic law, but it doesnt alter Chiles strategies, he said.

Cordero met with Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel last month in a visit to Washington. A US official with knowledge of the matter said that Chile has been very helpful in recent months in the fight against Tren de Aragua.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FBI declined to comment, while the DEA didnt immediately respond to a request for information.

Intelligence Feed

The intelligence supplied by Chile includes some of the groups members, routes and its modus operandi, Cordero said.

Unlike Mexican cartels, the gang operates more as a holding company, providing franchises to regional branches to operate in different criminal areas. The dispersed nature of its hierarchy and structure can make it particularly difficult to track.

The US has a lot of experience with cartels and gangs, but this type of intermediary organization that operates with a franchise system is a type that doesnt fit the traditional profile, Cordero said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After starting in a prison in Venezuela over a decade ago, Tren de Aragua has spread across Latin America and entered the US on the back of illegal migration. A few weeks ago the US arrested one of the groups leaders known as El Turco. Chile has requested his extradition.

The gangs largest operation outside of Venezuela is in Chile, according to Ronna Risquez, a Venezuelan journalist and author of the book El Tren de Aragua.

The US has to look more to nations that know Tren de Aragua better, such as Chile and Colombia, if it wants to be successful in cracking down on the organization, she said. The information Chile has accumulated is key to the regional fights against the gang.

It remains to be seen whether the level of cooperation will continue as the Trump administration implements its own leadership and enforcement plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dissident Murder

As Chile has clamped down on Tren de Aragua, its relations with Venezuela have soured.

Authorities are currently investigating the murder of former Venezuelan soldier, Ronald Ojeda, who sought refugee in Santiago after being accused of plotting to murder President Nicolas Maduro. A Chilean prosecutor said last week that a witness has alleged Diosdado Cabello, Maduros security chief, gave the order to kill Ojeda.

If the accusation is verified it would be an extremely serious situation, Cordero said.

Faced with the threat posed by the Tren de Aragua, Chiles government has more than tripled its budget to tackle organized crime since 2022 to $89 million. It recently apprehended several members of The Pirates, a faction of the gang that was allegedly involved in the killing of Ojeda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Corderos comments come after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Colombia over the weekend before abruptly pulling the threat after reaching a deal on the return of deported migrants. The conflict was proof of Trumps retaliatory and blunt style, and has regional governments on alert.

Cordero said all countries have an obligation to receive their citizens when being deported from another nation. He also said Chile hasnt yet received notification from the US on the deportation of any of its citizens.

The comments represent an extension of the conciliatory tone Chiles left-wing government has taken with Trump. They also imply that when Trump says the US doesnt need Latin America, there are some nuances.

--With assistance from Eric Martin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
As Chinas DeepSeek grabs headlines around the world for its disruptively low-cost AI, it is only natural that its models are coming under intense scrutinyand some researchers are not liking what they see.

On Wednesday, the information-reliability organization NewsGuard said it had audited DeepSeeks chatbot and found that it provided inaccurate answers or nonanswers 83% of the time when asked about news-related subjects. When presented with demonstrably false claims, it debunked them just 17% of the time, NewsGuard found.

According to NewsGuard, the 83% fail rate places DeepSeeks R1 model in 10th place out of 11 chatbots it has tested, the rest of which are Western services like OpenAIs ChatGPT-4, Anthropics Claude, and Mistrals Le Chat. (NewsGuard compares chatbots each month in its AI Misinformation Monitor program, but it usually does not name which chatbots rank in which place, as it says it views the problem as systemic across the industry; it only publicly assigns a score to a named chatbot when adding it to the comparison for the first time, as it has now done with DeepSeek.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NewsGuard identified a few likely reasons why DeepSeek fails so badly when it comes to reliability. The chatbot claims to have not been trained on any information after October 2023, which scans with its inability to reference recent events. Also, it seems to be easy to trick DeepSeek into repeating false claims, potentially at scale.

But this audit of DeepSeek also reinforced how the AIs output is skewed by its adherence to Chinese information policies, which treat many subjects as taboo and demand adherence to the Communist Party line.

In the case of three of the 10 false narratives tested in the audit, DeepSeek relayed the Chinese governments position without being asked anything relating to China, including the governments position on the topic, wrote NewsGuard analysts Macrina Wang, Charlene Lin, and McKenzie Sadeghi.

They added: DeepSeek appears to be taking a hands-off approach and shifting the burden of verification away from developers and to its users, adding to the growing list of AI technologies that can be easily exploited by bad actors to spread misinformation unchecked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, as DeepSeeks impact upset the markets on Monday, the cybercrime threat intelligence outfit Kela published its own damning analysis of DeepSeek.

While DeepSeek-R1 bears similarities to ChatGPT, it is significantly more vulnerable, Kela warned, saying its researchers had managed to jailbreak the model across a wide range of scenarios, enabling it to generate malicious outputs, such as ransomware development, fabrication of sensitive content, and detailed instructions for creating toxins and explosive devices.

Kela said DeepSeek was vulnerable to so-called Evil Jailbreak attacks, which involve instructing an AI to answer questions about illegal activitieslike how to launder money or write and deploy data-stealing malwarein an evil persona that ignores the safety guardrails built into the model. OpenAIs recent models have been patched against such attacks, the company noted.

Whats more, Kela claimed there are dangers to the way DeepSeek displays its reasoning to the user. While OpenAIs ChatGPT o1-preview model hides its reasoning processes when answering a query, DeepSeek makes that process clear. So if someone asks it to generate malware, it even shows code snippets that criminals can use in their own development efforts. By showing the user the internal thinking of the model, it also makes it far easier for a user to figure out what prompts might defeat any of the models guardrails.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This level of transparency, while intended to enhance user understanding, inadvertently exposed significant vulnerabilities by enabling malicious actors to leverage the model for harmful purposes, Kela said.

The company said it also got DeepSeek to generate instructions for making bombs and untraceable toxins, and to fabricate personal information about people.

Also on Wednesday, the cloud security company Wiz said it found an enormous security flaw in DeepSeeks operations, which DeepSeek fixed after Wiz gave it a heads-up. A DeepSeek database was accessible to the public, potentially allowing miscreants to take control of DeepSeeks database operations and access internal data like chat history and sensitive information.

While much of the attention around AI security is focused on futuristic threats, the real dangers often come from basic riskslike accidental external exposure of databases. These risks, which are fundamental to security, should remain a top priority for security teams, Wiz said in a blog post. As organizations rush to adopt AI tools and services from a growing number of startups and providers, its essential to remember that by doing so, were entrusting these companies with sensitive data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These revelations will no doubt bolster the Western backlash to DeepSeek, which is suddenly the most popular app download in the U.S. and elsewhere.

OpenAI claims that DeepSeek trained its new models on the output of OpenAIs modelsa pretty common cost-cutting technique in the AI business, albeit one that may break OpenAIs terms and conditions. (There has been no shortage of social-media schadenfreude over this possibility, given that OpenAI and its peers almost certainly trained their models on reams of other peoples online data without permission.)

The U.S. Navy has told its members to steer clear of using the Chinese AI platform at all, owing to potential security and ethical concerns associated with the models origin and usage. And White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the U.S. National Security Council is looking into DeepSeeks implications.

The Trump administration last week tore up the Biden administrations AI safety rules, which required companies like OpenAI to give the government a heads-up about the inner workings of new models before releasing them to the public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Italys data-protection authority has also started probing DeepSeeks data use, though it has previously done the same for other popular AI chatbots.

Update: This article was updated on Jan. 30th to include information about Wiz's findings.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The Chinese embassy in Cambodia sought to downplay reports it had pulled out of a controversial canal project by publishing an article that described them as "complete nonsense".

Media reports said Beijing had withdrawn from the US$1.7 billion Funan Techo canal, which will link the capital Phnom Penh with the Gulf of Thailand, after a disagreement about control of the project.

The project has also caused concern in neighbouring Vietnam and in the United States, while conservationists have warned it threatens "fragile" ecosystems and agriculture.

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.

On Tuesday, the Chinese embassy posted an article on social media which said domestic and international media had reported that "China will no longer provide support to Cambodia, and the canal project will fail, affecting the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia."

It added: "This is complete nonsense."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the 180km (112-mile) waterway was held in August, but months later there was no sign of work beginning on the project, according to domestic and international media reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The article by Zhou Xin, who regularly comments on international affairs for state media, said Beijing had made it clear it was willing to help Cambodia with the project but given its "scale and complexity", in-depth research and frequent discussions would be needed before construction started.

It compared it with the 135km Pinglu canal in the southern Chinese region of Guangxi, where research and preparation took three years before construction work started in August 2022.

"The Funan Techo canal project also needs similar careful research and discussions," the article said, adding that a Chinese team had visited Cambodia last month to discuss the project.

It predicted that more information about the progress of the scheme would be released, adding "we shall wait and see".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet told a flag-waving crowd of hundreds that China would contribute 49 per cent of the funding for the project, which will link the Mekong River to the sea and reduce Cambodia's reliance on its neighbour Vietnam for shipping.

But questions persist over China's involvement. In November Reuters reported that Beijing had expressed misgivings about the project, citing four anonymous sources directly involved in the investment plans or briefed about them.

The report said it had not made definitive funding commitments because the project's shareholding structure had not been finalised.

Besides the challenge of financing and building the canal, the project has prompted warnings by environmentalists that it risked reducing water flow to the Mekong, damaging vulnerable ecosystems and causing salination that threatens local food supplies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are wider political implications too, with the US expressing concern at China's growing influence in the region. Meanwhile, Vietnam is worried the canal could be used by Chinese warships and hit its ports' revenues.

The article shared by the embassy debunked claims circulating on social media that Cambodia had turned against China under the "increasing inducement of the United States", saying many videos and pictures cited as evidence were obviously forged using AI technology to discredit Cambodian leaders.

"This is even more outrageous," it said, adding that Hun Manet had pledged to continue the foreign policy approach of his father Hun Sen, who led the country for decades.

"He reiterated many times that Cambodia and China are ironclad friends and will be committed to promoting friendly relations between Cambodia and China ... It is true that Hun Manet had studied in the US, but we believe he knows who will be Cambodia's most reliable and trustworthy friend at critical moments," the piece said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also said it was "completely untrue" that the project would have any impact on relations between China and Cambodia.

It said the two sides had a long history of friendly ties and in 2019, Cambodia became the first country in the world to sign an action plan for building a community with a shared future with China.

The article added that trade between the two countries grew by almost 24 per cent year on year to US$15 billion in 2024, while the China-backed Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone accounted for nearly 8 per cent of Cambodia's trade and more than half of the local economy.

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.
China urged the United States and Russia on Jan. 28 to "further reduce" their nuclear stockpiles as a necessary step before Beijing would consider joining potential disarmament talks proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a video message to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Trump expressed his desire for "denuclearisation" and reiterated his call for trilateral discussions involving the U.S., Russia, and China. Following Trumps address, Russia responded by expressing its willingness to resume bilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations with the U.S. "as soon as possible," adding that "the ball is in the Americans' court."

Together, the U.S. and Russia hold nearly 90 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons. However, relations between the two nations deteriorated sharply, leading Moscow to withdraw from the last remaining arms control agreement with Washington in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement to AFP, Chinas foreign ministry emphasized that "the two nuclear powers with the largest nuclear arsenals should conscientiously fulfill their special... responsibilities for nuclear disarmament." The ministry added that they "must further substantially reduce their nuclear arsenals, so as to create the necessary conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the disarmament process."

Although Beijing claims to support disarmament in principle, it has consistently declined U.S. invitations to join disarmament talks with Russia.

According to estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in 2024, the United States possesses 3,708 nuclear warheads, while Russia has 4,380, excluding retired weapons. China has 500 warheads, 90 more than it had in 2023. France and the United Kingdom follow with 290 and 225 warheads, respectively.

China has reiterated that its nuclear arsenal is solely for "self-defense" and maintains its nuclear forces "at the minimum level required for national security."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Stupid, illogical  Zelensky blasts Ukraine for relinquishing nuclear arms without strong security guarantees

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Chinas DeepSeek, the free artificial intelligence chatbot thats undercutting American counterparts, has prompted worries about whether its safe to use.

While cybersecurity researchers say the app does not immediately appear to be uniquely dangerous, it still carries substantial privacy risks both as an app that follows Chinas laws and as an artificial intelligence product that may collect and rearrange everything people tell it.

All large language models, or LLMs  the type of AI-driven advanced chatbot made famous by OpenAIs ChatGPT  are built by first amassing massive amounts of data, and work in part by collecting what people type into them. DeepSeek, though more efficient than ChatGPT, is no different.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under Chinese law, all companies must cooperate with and assist with Chinese intelligence efforts, potentially exposing data held by Chinese companies to Chinese government surveillance. That system differs from the U.S., where, in most cases, American agencies usually need a court order or warrant to access information held by American tech companies.

But its possible to use DeepSeek and minimize how much data you send to China. Using the app or the chatbot through deepseek.com requires users to register an account, either with an email address or through a Chinese phone number, which most people outside China dont have.

Lukasz Olejnik, an independent consultant and a researcher at Kings College London Institute for AI, told NBC News that means people should be wary of sharing any sensitive or personal data with DeepSeek.

Be careful about inputting sensitive personal data, financial details, trade secrets, or information about healthcare. Anything you type could be stored, analyzed, or requested by authorities under Chinas data laws, Olejnik said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ron Deibert, the director of the University of Torontos Citizen Lab, said that means DeepSeek users should be particularly cautious if they have reason to fear Chinese authorities.

Users who are high-risk in relation to mainland China, including human rights activists, members of targeted diaspora populations, and journalists should be particularly sensitive to these risks and avoid inputting anything into the system, Deibert said.

One way to reduce what you send to China is to register DeepSeek with a new email account, not one you already use for other important services. That could keep the app, or potentially Chinese intelligence services, from being able to easily match what you tell DeepSeek with who you are on other parts of the internet.

For the more technologically savvy, its possible to download the DeepSeek AI model and ask it questions directly, without having to go through the Chinese company processing those requests. That not only prevents China from seeing whatever information you give the model, but it also means little or no censorship about topics that are blocked in Beijing, Olejnik said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeepSeek has also prompted worries because its privacy policy declares that it collects a large amount of sensitive information from users, including what kind of device theyre using and keystroke pattern or rhythms. While some people may find that invasive, it is limited to what a person types into the app and not what they type into other apps, and it is not unheard of: TikTok and Facebook, for example, have had ways of tracking users keystrokes and mouse movements.

Deibert cautioned that while there are risks to giving information to a Chinese LLM, American ones carry risks as well.

The same risks apply to all AI platforms, including those based in the United States, Deibert said.

Deibert noted that many U.S. tech companies collect similar sensitive information, and that recently, theyve worked to court President Donald Trump. Anyone who is remotely critical of the administration, is a watchdog of the administration, or is part of a vulnerable or at-risk community, should exercise serious caution before using or inputting any data into what are largely black boxes. Remember, as with virtually all social media platforms, users data is part of the raw material used to train those systems, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
As China's DeepSeek - a relatively recent entrant in a crowded field of companies producing artificial intelligence (AI) models - threatens the dominance of the United States in the nascent but highly competitive sector, the province that nurtured the upstart company is taking steps to become a world-leading hub for frontier technologies of all types.

The eastern province of Zhejiang, home to e-commerce giant Alibaba, is abuzz as a new breed of start-ups emerges there. Local officials have expressed their hopes for the province to supercharge China's advancements in AI and other complicated tech - a development that would undercut the US' lead.

"Zhejiang will further boost support for AI industries and strive to build itself into China's innovative high ground," said Du Xuliang, director of the province's development and reform commission, last week.

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.

The January 20 roll-out of Hangzhou-based DeepSeek's R1 large language model - open-source software judged to be on a par with the latest language processors from industry leader OpenAI at a fraction of the cost - took the tech world by surprise and prompted US President Donald Trump to say the release was a "wake-up call" for Silicon Valley.

Markets responded quickly, with the share price of semiconductor behemoth Nvidia plummeting from US$142 on Friday to US$128.99 by close on Tuesday.

DeepSeek is not the only tech company in Zhejiang making waves. The provincial capital of Hangzhou is also home to robotic dog maker Unitree and Game Science, developer of the popular action title Black Myth: Wukong.

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, right, in a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on January 20. Photo: CCTV alt=DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, right, in a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on January 20. Photo: CCTV>

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outlining the province's ambitions, Du said Zhejiang will have a combined computing capacity of no less than 100 Eflops - 100 quintillion floating-point operations per second - by the end of 2025.

As of September, China's total computing capacity stood at 246 Eflops, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Zhang Zhiwei, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said the emergence of DeepSeek has changed investor sentiment on China - a domestic achievement that has shifted their focus from the typical subject of macroeconomic challenges.

"DeepSeek's success will likely motivate Beijing to further promote private sector tech innovation. AI has been a top priority for years," he said, adding the market now realises innovation in China's private sector is competitive on a global scale.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It is interesting that this breakthrough was achieved not by government-backed research institutes or large state-owned enterprises, but by a hedge fund with no [direct] government subsidies. It is a clear example of private sector efficiency."

Last week - the same day as the release of R1 but before the model made global headlines - DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng joined other figures from prominent industries in a meeting with Premier Li Qiang. They gave suggestions for inclusions in the government's work report, a summary of the country's policy priorities to be delivered at the March sessions of the national legislature.

Du said his province would offer favourable policies to help AI firms maximise their computing capacity and train models to "substantially slash costs".

Hangzhou mayor Yao Gaoyuan said in an interview with state media last week that the city would never cut back on support for tech start-ups. "No matter how tight the financial resources are, we will not reduce investment in science and technology."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A professor at Zhejiang Gongshang University said the province is now reaping the benefit from years of cooperation between the tech community and local government.

"The success of [e-commerce firm] Alibaba, with its big pay and ecosystem and Zhejiang's good living environment, has lured many tech graduates to the province, so we have a deep talent pool," he said on condition of anonymity.

Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

"Some of them then start their own business in Zhejiang," he said. "Though many will fail, those who can survive and show potential are always taken care of by the local government. Both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li worked for years in Zhejiang, and they know its vibrant tech landscape."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Beijing looks for the next DeepSeek in pursuit of greater self-reliance in tech, the professor said, the province will have an indisputable role - especially its private firms.

"Zhejiang can be the new face of China's innovation."

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.
MADRID (Reuters) - A Chinese social media operation that aims to whip up political anger in the West has called for the overthrow of a foreign government when impersonating protesters criticising flood relief efforts in Spain, online analysis outfit Graphika said.

New York-based Graphika said an operation dubbed Spamouflage, which it believed was linked to the Chinese state, posed this month as human rights group Safeguard Defenders to spread online calls for the government to be toppled in response to the catastrophic floods in October that killed 224 people.

"This is the first time we have seen Spamouflage directly calling to overthrow a foreign government," Graphika said in its latest report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Graphika says the Spamouflage campaign has been operating in several countries since 2017, impersonating U.S. voters during last year's election, while Canada said last year that the operation had targeted members of parliament including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Graphika said it detected dozens of accounts across social media platforms masquerading as Safeguard Defenders to seed videos and images criticising the handling of the floods by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government and by the Valencia regional government.

The Chinese embassy in Madrid did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment, nor did the Spanish government.

During the 2024 U.S. election campaign, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington said Beijing had "no intention and will not interfere" in the vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spamouflage has repeatedly targeted Safeguard Defenders since the Madrid-based NGO published a report in 2022 accusing China of establishing secret overseas police stations in European Union countries, according to Graphika.

Safeguard Defenders Campaign Director Laura Harth said the organisation has been tracking an online discrediting campaign by China since it published its report.

"As a Spanish-based foundation, we are particularly concerned over the new focus on allegations of interference in Spanish politics," Harth said in an email.

"If those were to get picked up locally, this might lead to real-life consequences for the organization which, we are sure, the Chinese authorities would love to see shut down."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In one video overlaid with the Safeguard Defenders' logo that was posted on X and has since been taken down, a masked person claiming to be from the organisation says they will "expose" authorities for giving up on ordinary people. The video ends with a call to overthrow the Spanish government.

Graphika said it had "high confidence" that the accounts it identified were part of a Spamouflage campaign.

(This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture)

(Reporting by Madrid bureau; editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark Heinrich)
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's suggestion of the United States taking control of the Panama Canal has a legal basis partly due to potential treaty violations involving Chinese activities in Panama, a Senate committee was told Tuesday.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee heard testimony from several experts, some of whom suggested the United States might have legal standing to reclaim control of the canal.

"Panama has emerged as a bad actor" and "exploits an asset," committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said Panama has "flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet" and awards contracts to China without seeking competitive bids.

China, meanwhile, is using a "debt-trap" system and the "belt and road" initiative to gain footholds in Panamanian ports and other areas when the debt accrued to build them aren't repaid as agreed, Cruz said.

Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks with Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., during a hearing on the Panama Canal's impact on fees and foreign influence within U.S. trading and natural security at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., agreed it's important for the United States to take a closer look at Panama Canal operations and its effect on shipping costs and carrier delays.

"Anything our committee can do to grow our maritime economy, I am all for," Cantwell said.

Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission Daniel Maffei told committee members recent drought conditions in Panama have greatly affected commerce and the number of ships making daily passages. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Chinese presence in Panama

Chinese entities in Panama might violate the 1977 treaty transferring ownership and control of the Panama Canal, members of the Senate Commerce Committee were told on Tuesday.

Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission Louis Sola told committee members corruption scandals and foreign influence by Brazil and China are impacting operations at the Panama Canal. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The 1977 treaty negotiated and signed by the Carter administration requires Panama to ensure neutrality in the canal's operations, Eugene Kontorovich, law professor at George Mason University's Scalia Law School, told the committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The treaty requires a "special regime of neutrality" by Panama regarding the canal's daily operations, "which means open to all nations, equitable tolls and fees, exclusive Panamanian operations, no foreign military presence," Kontorovich said.

President and CEO of the World Shipping Council Joseph Kramek said U.S. trade with Asia relies heavily on the Panama Canal and has a significant effect on U.S. jobs and the economy. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Only Panama shall operate the canal," he added, but the treaty is unique in that it does not prescribe a method to determine any potential violations and, instead, leaves it up to representatives of the United States and Panama to decide for themselves when something might amount to a treaty violation.

The treaty "prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops," Kontorovich said.

Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., speaks to Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., before a hearing on the Panama Canal's effect on fees and foreign influence within U.S. trading and natural security at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The presence of companies owned by the Chinese government or by Chinese entities that are controlled by the Chinese government might rise to the level of at treaty violation.

He said the treaty is "silent on how much control is too much" but suggested the "presence of foreign security forces could violate neutrality" and "belligerent, Chinese covert agents could be a violation."

Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission Louis Sola and Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission Daniel Maffei look on during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on the Panama Canal's effect on fees and foreign influence within U.S. trading and natural security at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The United States and Panama equally are authorized to maintain neutrality over the canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Each party can take unilateral action" and "can act by whatever means necessary to keep canal operations neutral," Kontorovich said.

Corruption and foreign influence

While the 1977 treaty ceding the Panama Canal to Panama requires neutrality and no foreign interference, both are occurring, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola told the committee.

"This sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China," Sola said.

"Any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption lack of transparency or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long-term stability of the canal."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Panamanian government controls all ports, water rights and the world's largest shipping registry, but China in particular is eroding that control, Sola said.

He suggested corruption and foreign influence in Panama is complicating the mission of the Panama Canal Authority's ability to maintain operational efficiency in resilience.

"Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence on the canal," Sola said. "Many of these companies are state-owned, [and] many are linked to the Chinese military."

He said the Panama Canal is "vital" to the U.S. economy with more than 75% of its traffic coming from or heading to U.S. ports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sola suggested U.S. companies should play a leading role in managing the canal while reducing reliance on Chinese contractors in Panama.

Joe Biden remains one of its commissioners.

"The canal depends on large supplies of water because it is a water bridge over a mountainous area that is above sea level," Maffei said. "A trend of worsening droughts in the region imposed draft limitations and reduced the number of ships that can transit the canal."

He said a de facto closure of the Suez Canal has increased demand for transits via the Panama Canal, which has given rise to a bidding process to determine which vessels can use the canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Panama Canal Authority is working to change the current system for determining which vessels can transit the canal, but Maffei said he has doubts about the canal's future reliability - especially when another drought limits the amount of available water for the canal system.

Global, U.S. trade depend on efficient canal

The Panama Canal is a global asset that is especially beneficial for trade between the United States and Asian nations, Joseph Kremek, president and chief executive officer of the World Shipping Council, told the Commerce Committee.

The trans-Pacific trade route refers to all goods flowing between Asia and the United States, and the Panama Canal is a vital link in that route.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Using the canal enables cargo ships to arrive at ports along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States in 30 days versus 40 days when using alternative routes, Kremek said.

The ports of Houston, New Orleans, New York, New Jersey and Savannah are among those that depend the most on the canal for efficient transport of goods to and from the United States.

The exports of goods include agricultural goods, such as soy beans, corn, cotton and livestock, Kremek said.

The goods imported are among many of the most commonly used items by U.S. consumers.

"These goods are the clothes on your back, the shoes on your feet or likely the phone in your hand," Kremek told committee members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said the amount of containerized trade to the United States has expanded greatly in recent years, including a 15% increase in 2024.

Nearly two-thirds of all seaborne trade in the United States passes through the Panama Canal and accounts for $2 trillion in economic output, Kremek said.

The trade passing through the canal also supports 6.4 million U.S. jobs and $442 billion in annual earnings, he added.

When water levels are low, the effect on the U.S. economy is significant.

Prior to 2024, drought conditions caused reduced the number of daily transits through the canal from 36 to 22 and forced ships to carry fewer containers to reduce their respective draft levels.

He said the Panama Canal is "critical" to the U.S. economy. Committee members agreed.
This is an adapted excerpt from the Jan. 28 episode of "All In with Chris Hayes."

The first time Donald Trump was president, his lawyers tried to dress up flatly unconstitutional orders with legal fig leaves. For example, when he implemented what many labeled a Muslim travel ban, the administration ultimately tweaked it to include non-Muslim countries like North Korea and Venezuela, as if to say, See, were not discriminating against religion.

It was a pretense but one that nodded, at least, to First Amendment concerns  and one that the Supreme Court eventually got on board with. However, this time around, there are no such pretenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, Trumps acting attorney general fired more than a dozen career civil servants in the Justice Department. These are attorneys with years of prosecuting experience, including going after public corruption in both parties.

They were fired because they had assisted special counsel Jack Smiths investigations into Trump. The president wanted to purge them out of spite, even though their firings appear to be in violation of civil service law, which says employees can be fired for misconduct or poor performance, not simply for doing their jobs.

But it didnt stop there. Those firings came on the heels of Trumps very own Friday night massacre. Just three days before Trump fired those career civil servants, he purged 18 inspectors general from across the government.

These inspectors general were tasked with investigating allegations of waste, fraud and abuse of power everywhere from the Pentagon to the State Department. Congress created those posts after Watergate to prevent the damage a corrupt White House could do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What Trump did was both an attempt to make corruption easier and also so blatantly in violation of civil service law that even one of his most loyal allies, a senator with a law degree, had to admit it.

When NBC News Kristen Welker asked Sen. Lindsey Graham whether Trump violated the law with those inspectors general firings, the Republican senator said, Technically yeah. But he has the authority to do it. So Im not, you know losing a whole lot of sleep that he wants to change the personnel out.

Graham says it was technically illegal  which is just another way of saying: illegal.

On top of these firings, Trump has also ordered the Defense Department to straight up discriminate. Some of his executive actions thus far include banning transgender service members, abolishing programs and positions that promote anti-discrimination practices and revoking an order against discrimination for federal contractors that was signed six decades ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On all of these overreaches, the Trump administration is betting that the courts are on their side. But thats not exactly a sure bet. A lot of what happens now in the judicial system is going to determine the ultimate outcome.

Allison Detzel contributed.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Fayetteville City Council will likely have to repeal an ordinance it passed in October to help combat the ongoing housing crisis.

Fayetteville city attorney Kit Williams and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin agree that Ordinance 6800, which limits rental application and background check fees to $40, likely violates Arkansas state code. Municipalities cant regulate prices for goods, rentals, or services sold or performed within the municipality by individuals or firms, A.C.A.  14-43-608 states.

Services is a very, very broad term, Williams said. I believe that the courts would very likely say that reviewing an application is a service that the landlords providing to the tenant, and, therefore, we cannot regulate the cost of that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fayetteville City Council cuts costs associated with renting

The city could be sued if it doesnt repeal the rental application and background check fee ordinance, Williams said.

State Sen. Clint Penzo of Springdale filed Senate Bill 91 that would prevent local governments from regulating or controlling the amount charged for a rental application fee or rental deposit for private residential or commercial property.

State Sen. Joshua Bryant is one of the bills co-signers and said filing it was in response to Fayettevilles recently passed ordinance.

While I applaud them for looking at the cost of housing, Im just not a fan of getting in the relationship between private businesses, Bryant said. I think those can be addressed through Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protections, rather than just putting a blanket fee cap on that relationship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the bill is passed in the Senate, it will go to the Arkansas House of Representatives and then to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Bryant said the Senate could hear the bill within the next couple weeks.

If you disagree with Fayettevilles Ordinance 6800 being repealed, Williams said to contact your local state representative.

The ordinance repealing can be read 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 KNWA FOX24.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The City of Colorado Springs and Ford Amphitheater, owned by VENU Holding Corporation, have reached an agreement on additional sound mitigation measures.

Following the 2024 season, the City and VENU collected and responded to community feedback, gathered third-party sound data, and met regularly to discuss ongoing and potential sound mitigation efforts. While VENU said it remains in full compliance with its approved Planned Unit Development, additional mitigation measures will be enacted.

Data, along with feedback from neighbors, has been critical to forging this new path forward, and I want to thank our community and the entire team at VENU for its diligence, investment, and commitment to making the Ford Amphitheater a shared success for our community, said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. I am optimistic about the outcome of the planned mitigation and monitoring efforts, and we will be watching the results closely throughout this season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new agreement introduces several new multi-million-dollar measures that the City said demonstrate a commitment to being proactive and responsive to community needs.

Enhanced sound mitigation

According to the City, VENU will build additional sound walls at its north and south boundaries and construct a sound tunnel system at the entry to Ford Amphitheater designed to redirect sound away from neighborhoods. VENU will also make substantial changes to the sound system, including configuration and equipment that will significantly reduce the sound leaving the amphitheater.

Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs

Enhanced sound monitoring

VENU will install three more sound monitoring stations inside or adjacent to nearby neighborhoods, bringing the total to five monitoring stations. The City said the monitoring stations will track ambient noise before and during the show, and the reports will isolate and disregard sudden extraneous sources such as emergency sirens and wind. All sound monitoring stations will report in real time to the amphitheaters audio-visual operations team so they can adjust. The system will allow for a clear determination of whether excess sounds are connected to shows.

Clear oversight and reporting

According to the City, the new agreement, driven by a shared vision for sound levels not to exceed City Code outside of the Polaris Pointe Development, commits that the venue must maintain a sound level that is at or below City statute levels or average ambient readings at that location, whichever is higher.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If sound levels during any concert at the Ford Amphitheater exceed the established limit by six decibels or more at two or more monitoring locations, it will be deemed a violation. In the cases of violation, VENU will be subjected to financial penalties per violation to the City and be required to develop a plan for additional mitigation at affected locations.

Limited noise hardship permit

The City issued a noise hardship permit for Ford Amphitheater through Oct. 31, 2025, however, the permit is limited geographically to the Polaris Pointe Development, which includes adjacent apartments and businesses.

Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs

The permit requires VENU to comply with the new 2025 agreement, plus the requirements of the existing development plan.

VENU Founder, Chairman, and CEO J.W. Roth said, I fully support the decision to limit the geography of the hardship permit. I made Colorado Springs a vow that I intend to keep: my goal is to ensure youll need to buy a ticket to enjoy the concert. While this process has taken time, its allowed us to get things right. Im grateful that we have a clear understanding of how sound will be monitored, what constitutes a violation, and how enforcement will work. Heres to the 2025 seasonlets rock and roll.

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 FOX21 News Colorado.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Wednesday, Jan. 29, to celebrate the completion of Chelsea Pocket Park in Central El Paso.

The City says the ceremony occurred at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, at Chelsea Pocket Park, 819 Chelsea St.

The City says the area has been transformed into a pocket park that features a gathering space with a metal canopy, new sidewalks, new trees and shrubs along with the installation of a new irrigation system, new lighting, installation of park benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, pet waste dispensers, bike racks, and a parking area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With a budget of approximately $1.5 million, this project was funded through the 2020 Capital Plan and aligns with the City of El Pasos commitment to enhancing quality of life through recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities, 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 KTSM 9 News.
Jan. 28WATERTOWN  After receiving numerous customer complaints, the city is reversing some recent changes in the way that the Department of Public Works handles refuse collection.

In a news release Tuesday, City Manager Eric Wagenaar announced that he's decided to reverse the changes involving no longer allowing customers to use private containers and trash cans.

Customers will again be able to use those kind of containers starting Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many city refuse customers told city officials that those containers kept animals and birds from getting into trash. That practice had been in place for more than 20 years.

But residents were only notified about the changes via online  and not by a mailing  on Jan. 16. They were implemented within a few days.

The issue was brought up at last week's council meeting by retired assistant public works superintendent Pete Monaco who said that the changes were causing problems for customers, especially for senior citizens.

Wagenaar now acknowledges mistakes were made.

"I will be the first to admit that our roll out of these changes could have been better and I take responsibility for that action," Wagenaar said in his press release on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He's asking that residents with further complaints to call his office at (315) 785-7730, rather than talking to "hardworking DPW workers" about them.

"They are doing their very best in a difficult situation as they work diligently to serve our customers, while abiding by the rules and regulations they are charged with upholding as City employees," Wagenaar wrote.

The shift in the direction of the changes came a day after Councilman Benjamin P. Shoen met with Wagenaar on Monday to talk about them and how they the situation was handled. Shoen was critical with the lack of communication with both residents and council members.

Calling it "a productive conversation," Shoen thinks the meeting with Wagenaar made a difference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's good to have something done," he said.

While reversing course to allow personal totes, Wagenaar is reminding sticker customers about a restriction on bag size that has been in place for many years. The city will allow thicker 32- or 33-gallon "contractor bags" and long as they do not exceed 40 gallons.

Seniors who live alone like them because they can wait a couple of weeks to take their trash out to the curb.

Additionally, DPW workers will no longer empty personal totes that contain anything other than a properly marked sticker bag, Wagenaar said.

The city manager also wants to remind customers who have medical issues that they can receive extra help with getting their trash to the curb. He believes that the public may not know about that service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Customers in the need of extra help can fill out an application on the city's DPW webpage. It can be found at: http://wdt.me/citytrashservice

The application should be signed by a medical professional.

Both Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero and Shoen have expressed suspicions that the changes were made just a few months after Public Works Superintendent Brian MacCue recommended ending the service because of costs.

Ruggiero said Tuesday she wondered whether MacCue wanted to get customers upset and decide to end their city trash collection.

In August, MacCue proposed eliminating the service, citing the city having to buy two new trucks for $600,000 and that some customers stopped their refuse collection following a 25% fee increase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response, Ruggiero suggested that the city should conduct an advertising campaign to attract more customers. She suggested the city distribute fliers to residents, but that hasn't happened, she said.

"I think we should be trying to attract more customers, not lose them," she said.

MacCue has declined comment, referring questions to the city manager.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso is appointing four new deputy city managers, it announced Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The four new deputy city managers were selected following a national competitive search, the City said.

They are: Richard Bristol, K. Nicole Cote, Araceli Guerra, and Yvette Hernandez.

Araceli Guerra

Nicole Cote

Richard Bristol

Yvette Hernandez

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These accomplished leaders, all lifelong El Pasoans who have grown their careers within the organization, join Deputy City Managers Robert Cortinas, Mario DAgostino, and Ellen Smyth, forming a robust and dynamic executive team dedicated to advancing the Citys strategic goals and delivering exceptional service to the community, the City said in a news release.

City Manager Dionne Mack said: The role of Deputy City Manager is critical to ensuring the effective and efficient operation of our departments and enhancing service delivery for the residents of El Paso. With their diverse expertise, unwavering commitment to excellence, and deep ties to the community, this talented team will strengthen our ability to achieve our strategic goals and shape the future of El Paso.

The appointments are, with short descriptions provided by the City:

Richard Bristol : A Navy veteran and long-time City leader, Bristol brings nearly 30 years of experience in infrastructure management and operational excellence. His leadership has driven transformative improvements in City services and strategic planning.

K. Nicole Cote : With over 20 years of service, Cote has excelled in fiscal management, strategic sourcing, and process improvement, playing a pivotal role in balancing multi-billion-dollar budgets and enhancing community services.

Araceli Guerra : Recognized nationally for her contributions to government innovation, Guerra has been instrumental in driving operational efficiency and technological advancements that have earned El Paso national accolades.

Yvette Hernandez: A licensed professional engineer, Hernandez has managed nearly $1 billion in capital improvement projects, delivering impactful infrastructure initiatives that improve the quality of life for the community.

All four of these deputy city managers have spent their professional careers advancing through the ranks of the City organization, earning their appointments through years of dedication, leadership, and service to the residents of El Paso, the City said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This announcement also comes as the City prepares to bid farewell to Deputy City Manager Ellen Smyth, who will be retiring later this spring after decades of dedicated service.

Ellen Smyths extraordinary contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on our organization, Mack said. Her leadership and commitment to public service will be greatly missed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  City of Portland workers voted strongly in favor of striking on Tuesday if they cant come to an agreement with the city.

According to AFSCME Local 189, 87% of union workers voted in favor of the strike with 89% of their members participating in the vote.

This comes after the union said that the city has refused to meet workers needs including incentives for in-person working and pay equity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PPS outside audit: Scale back high school renovation costs

The union is scheduled to enter its final mediation on Wednesday.

Were going into our final mediation session today with a goal of settling this contract for the nearly 1,100 city employees who show up every day to make our city work, said AFSCME Local 189 President Rob Martineau. Our hope is that the city comes to the table with the same goal.

The City of Portland is also in negotiations with the District Council of Trade Unions and according to city officials, they were informed that DCTU workers intend to strike starting on Feb. 6 if an agreement isnt reached.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since AFSCME Local 189 just voted, they are now able to issue a 10-day strike notice and could join DCTU on the picket lines, should the strikes happen.

The city said they are finalizing plans to make sure that essential services arent disrupted if the unions do strike.

KOIN 6 News has reached out to the city about the AFSCME strike vote but has not heard back yet.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Officials in the Trump Justice Department have ordered a temporary freeze on any ongoing cases being litigated by the Civil Rights Division, according to a new directive reviewed by ABC News.

The memo to the current acting head of the Civil Rights Division, Kathleen Wolfe, says that current career officials in the division must not file any new civil complaints or other civil rights-related filings in outside ongoing litigation. The memo was first reported by The Washington Post.

MORE: Trump 2nd term live updates: Officials order freeze at DOJ Civil Rights Division

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wolfe was separately directed to notify Trump-appointed department leaders of any consent decrees -- court-enforceable agreements to reform police agencies -- the Biden administration reached with cities in the final 90 days leading up to the inauguration.

The Biden administration finalized consent decrees with officials in Louisville, Kentucky and Minneapolis during the former presidents final weeks in office.

The consent decrees involve two high-profile police-involved killings. In Louisville, Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in a botched police raid in 2020. In Minneapolis, George Floyd was killed while being taken into police custody on Memorial Day 2020.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump represents the Taylor and Floyd families in their civil lawsuits. He spoke with ABC News' Linsey Davis on Tuesday to offer his thoughts on the move by the Trump administration regarding civil rights investigations and consent decrees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ABC News' Alexander Mallin contributed to this report.

PHOTO: Attorney Ben Crump speaks with ABC News, Jan. 28, 2025. (ABC News)

ABC NEWS: Just days ago, Trump officials paused all Department of Justice civil rights investigations and froze court-ordered police reforms. For a look at what that means for ongoing and potential future cases, civil rights attorney Ben Crump joins us now.

Thank you so much, Mr. Crump, for joining us. Just want to start with your reaction to this pause on, on civil rights investigations.

BEN CRUMP: This is very disturbing. Talking with Breonna Taylor's mother, who was still waiting the prosecution of the officers that were involved in the killing of her daughter, who was in her own apartment. They lied on the probable cause affidavit to get a no knock warrant to go into the apartment in the first place. She's devastated, but we know that we're not giving up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We're going to be strategic in talking with the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, who entered into the consent agreement, to say that "Hopefully you won't condone what happened to Breonna," just like we're talking to the mayor of Minneapolis saying, "Do you condone what happened on that video when they kept a knee on George Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds?"

Because the families see this freezing of the DOJs prosecutions as condoning these criminal actions. And we call them criminal because officers have been convicted for those crimes.

MORE: 4 years later, George Floyd's murder leads Minneapolis police to take on reform

ABC NEWS: You mentioned both those families. Have you heard from them, how they're reacting to this?

CRUMP: Well, you know, as I said, Breonnas mother is very heartbroken, Linsey. Very heartbroken. She's fought so hard to get whatever measure of justice and accountability she could. Her daughter had her body mutilated with eight bullet holes. And she doesn't believe that the Department of Justice would stop the consent decree that was agreed to by the city in the aftermath of her daughter's death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She is just shocked that they would do this, just like George Floyd's family is shocked. When you look at that video, how could you say that you want to halt the prosecution of all the agreements that were made by those cities and their police departments to try to prevent this from ever happening again?

ABC NEWS: As you know, the Justice Department recently reached an agreement with the city of Louisville to reform the city's police department. It's one of several such consent decrees reached in the final days of the Biden administration. What happens to those agreements now?

CRUMP: Well, the cities have a say so in it. Obviously, we have been told that the Department of Justice isn't going to do anything to go forward with those consent decrees. And it's very troubling because we think this and many of the things that this administration have done in just its first week is going to test the elasticity of the constitutional protections that many Americans enjoy.

And that is what's so heartbreaking about all of these matters. We fight so hard for people, all America, to be able to get the constitutional protections that were promised to them as an American citizen. And so the question, Linsey [is]: What will happen to the Constitution during these perilous times when, as it relates to all of us, especially the least of us?

ABC NEWS: All right, Ben Crump. So appreciate you, civil rights attorney, for your time and insight. Thank you.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks to Trump's DOJ directives originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
An out of state group has filed a federal civil rights complaint against Slippery Rock University and three other universities in Pennsylvania.

The complaint was filed by the Equal Protection Project against the Keystone Louis Stokes Alliance. It comes amid the Trump Administrations efforts to shut down diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The group sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in Philadelphia Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Keystone Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation is made up of Slippery Rock University, Stroudsburg University, Millersville University and West Chester University. The program the alliance is participating in is a national science foundation program. The Equal Protection Project says it discriminates on the basis of race, color, and/or national origin, in violation of Title VI and the 14th Amendment.

The program aims to improve recruitment, retention and graduation rates in STEM fields. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program is available to minority students and provides things like academic support and mentorship.

The Equal Protection Project is a nonprofit, anti-affirmative action group that is based in Rhode Island. The groups says it seeks to ensure equal protection under the law and non-discrimination by the government and opposes racial discrimination in any form.

Slippery Rock University issued a statement about the lawsuit, saying:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Slippery Rock University applied for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant and was awarded funding for Fall 2023. The grant funded The Keystone Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. The LSAMP allowed several PASSHE universities to provide STEM learning opportunities in accordance with the grant and federal guidelines.

Slippery Rock is a first-choice regional public university, and remains committed to access, opportunities, and excellence in STEM coursework. It is a cornerstone of our mission to educate learners and foster an environment of belonging while ensuring the economic mobility for our students and our regions workforce.

The University remains committed to the potential for innovation that emerges when people come together to collaborate, share ideas, and drive progress so our workforce can develop groundbreaking solutions and advancements for our region and beyond.

Slippery Rock University is aware of the Equal Protection Projects (EPP) letter to the Department of Education. Slippery Rock University will wait to hear from the Department of Education, and will not comment further on the EPPs letter.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
(NewsNation)  The XB-1 aircraft manufactured by Boom Supersonic broke the sound barrier while making a historic test flight over the Mohave Desert.

Its the first time an independently developed jet has done so, and Boom Supersonic touted the plane as the first supersonic jet made in America.

The XB-1, nicknamed Baby Boom, was piloted by Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg and reached an altitude of 35,290 feet before accelerating to Mach 1.122, which is 750 miles per hour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medicaid portals down in all 50 states: US senator

Air Force pilot Capt. Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time in 1947, flying a rocket-propelled experimental aircraft in the same location.

XB-1 underwent 11 test flights prior to Tuesdays historic flight. The company said the jet includes features like an augmented reality system to help with takeoff and landing and is made almost entirely from carbon fiber composite materials.

Boom Supersonics next project is Overture, an aircraft that will build on the success of XB-1, with the goal of being able to carry between 64 and 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, around 1,295 miles per hour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Drones sighted in Northeast not a threat: White House

XB-1s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived, said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.

Around 130 Overture planes have been preordered including orders from American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines. The company built a factory in North Carolina in 2024 and will eventually produce 66 planes a 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 NewsNation.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH)  In the wake of a near riot at Hilliard Darby High School on Monday, a member of Hilliard City Council is calling for a joint meeting of council, the school board, and Hilliard police.

Councilmember Les Carrier said he wants to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of resource officers at all three city high schools.

In addition, Hilliard police are carefully studying a video from inside the class of the fight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Five Hilliard Darby students involved in classroom altercation

Well, normally, Colleen, this is really the boards purview, right, but when you get to that level of violence and you just I just saw that teacher get jacked and I immediately said, Hey, we got to start taking a look at this from a public safety perspective.

Carrier watched the entire video and Hilliard police confirmed a team of detectives is taking it apart frame by frame.

It was a pretty big fight, Carrier said. It lasted a long time so that was another concern I had. You know, its 1:30 before you got the interdiction of an SRO [school resource officer] because they were out doing other duties, so Im waiting for the police report. Going to ask some questions. Um, Ive reached out to a school board member and said, Hey, is there an opportunity? What can we do? What do you want us to do?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carrier said each high school has one resource officer but may need to double that so there is one on each floor. He asked the department for statistics and said there were 300 runs to the high schools in the first six months of the school year, five percent of them were for acts of violence.

Pickerington teachers speak out about voyeurism incident

Carrier wants to keep the conversation going after hearing from concerned parents.

If we share, we talk about it, we have a dialog, we debate it, he said. Im calling for a joint school board, city council meeting to sit down and talk to and have HPD give us a presentation, have the administration talk, and then, you know, were all should be on the same page. Public safety should be number one so lets figure it out and solve it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hilliard Chief of Police Mike Woods said the department initially considered inciting riot charges against five students, but after seeing the video, more charges are under consideration. He added the department is going to take its time to make sure investigators get it right.

NBC4 reached out to the district to ask if the school board is considering a request for more resource officers, but the district has yet to respond.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CLAY COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  Clay County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting legislative funding for rural ambulance services.

Right now, Clay County Memorial Hospital currently funds two full-time crews from 10 a.m. To 10 p.m. The county staffs one ambulance from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Really worth it: Service dog Whiskey ready to help a local veteran

County Judge Mike Campbell said financial reports show funding two full-time crews cost over a million dollars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Texas Senator Charles Perry knows rural areas are in crisis.

Weve got, counties that cant afford to replace ambulances. Im working on a grant program to, determine in those areas that are void of aimless EMS services on a regional level, Perry said.

Last session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 22. The bill funds a grant program to help rural law enforcement agencies.

Campbell believes a similar program can be funded for ambulance assistance.

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 Texomashomepage.com.
Senate President Pro Temp Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) is sponsoring three climate bills this session, including the Clear Horizons Act to codify New Mexico's goals to reduce emissions by 50% by 2040 and 100% by 2050. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

A bill proposing to enshrine state emission reduction goals into law eked through its first committee on a 5-4 vote.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) is the sponsor for Senate Bill 4, also called the Clear Horizons Act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Mexico is facing compounding climate disasters and an increased burden to address them, she said, and said the state needs to address the planet-warming emissions.

I want to be part of the process that tries to eliminate the greenhouse gases, said Stewart in closing comments. Thats whats heating up the planet, theres just no question about it anymore.

Whats in the bill?

The bill, if adopted, sets goals to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels by 45% in 2030, 75% in 2040 and 100% in 2050 of the emission levels in 2005, spelling out in law an executive order Gov. Michelle Lujan issued in 2019.

The exact process would be determined through a rule-making process by the Environmental Improvement Board. In addition, the bill would establish yearly reports on New Mexicos emissions; require the state to prioritize reduction in overburdened communities; and to consult with tribal governments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It requests $3 million for the New Mexico Environment department to hire additional staff and run the emissions reduction program.

Stewart was joined by Gabe Pacyniak, an environmental law professor from the University of New Mexico law school to field questions from the committee.

Republican lawmakers asked questions centering on the economy, which veered off-topic at times during the two-hour hearing.

In one exchange with Sen. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) asked if Stewart could explain gross domestic product to the committee, she responded all I want to talk to you about is billions of dollars that its costing right now for the fires that weve had in New Mexico, fires they had in California  that affects our GDP.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican senators asked multiple times how the bills would impact the price of utilities, food and gasoline prices.

While Democratic senators expressed their support, Sen. Joe Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) joined with Republicans on the committee in the vote against the bill.

In comments before the vote, Cervantes said he supported efforts to mitigate climate change, and called many of the goals in the bill laudable, but said he was concerned the language of the bill is too vague and a target for lawsuits by industry, agriculture and business opponents.

This is a field day for lawyers, this bill, and I dont think thats good, theres time wasted and opportunity wasted, Cervantes said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In public comment, lobbyists for oil and gas organizations and agriculture comprised most of the opposition, saying that the bill was too aggressive, and saying the industries such as oil and gas and agriculture would be negatively impacted.

We are very concerned about the unintended consequences to our job space and overall economy with such an aggressive mandate,  said Terri Cole, the CEO for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. In particular, we believe the oil and gas industry will be negatively affected.

Supporters of the bill included a coalition of two dozen climate, equity and community nonprofit groups who have endorsed the bill, several youths, the governors climate advisor Travis Kellerman and New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney.

Ariella Proak De Varna and Adriana Martinez, eighth graders from Santa Fe Girls School, read speeches developed as a class to share their support for the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are counting on you to fulfill your responsibilities to the people of New Mexico, Martinez said. So we urge you to choose legislation that will protect the future of our beloved state and the people who call it home.

The students choose which bill they support, said Darya Glass, the co-director of the school and teaches civics and government.

In the hallways of the Roundhouse, one of their classmates, Paloma Rodriguez (Lipan Apache), said she enjoyed seeing the democratic process up close on an issue shes passionate about.

I dont, of course, understand a lot about everything theyre asking about, its very clear that some of them were off topic and I dont think that really helps the bill at all, Rodriguez said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill is assigned to appear before the Senate Finance Committee next, which it would need to pass before heading to a floor vote.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb Tuesday shared a strong message amid the ICE raids unfolding in Northeast Ohio.

I fully condemn the concentrated effort to threaten and terrify our most vulnerable populations, said the mayor in a statement. Immigrants are human beings. They have elevated our home by contributing their talents and cultures here. They support our economy. They attend our churches. They are our neighbors. Immigrants have been integral to our citys story for generations.

4 people rescued from Lake Erie ice: Coast Guard

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mayor also stated his administration will not engage in the deportation of individuals who have not committed violent crimes.

No law requires that we do so. Cleveland police are tasked with protecting public safety, and while we will take action against anybody who commits violent crimes, we are not enforcing general federal immigration law, said Bibb.

At least 58 ICE detainees sit in the Geauga County Safety Center in Chardon, 20 of them just arrived Sunday night.

There is a lot of fear out there, said Joe Cimperman, CEO of Global CLE.

According to Global CLE, Cuyahoga County is home to about 97,000 immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is fear from people here without documents but also people who have been here for years. We had a phone call from a woman who became a citizen last year and she asked if she would be deported, said Cimperman.

Ohio attorney general speaks out on Browns dome legal fight: I-Team

The raids are all part of President Donald Trumps massive deportation operation.

Meanwhile, Global CLE is a resource for migrant families in Northeast Ohio. Cimperman recalls the fallout of the 2018 ICE raids in Northeast Ohio.

That was a rainstorm, this is a tsunami, said Cimperman.

Since taking office over a week ago, Trump has issued a number of executive orders on immigration alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Global Cleveland said hundreds of refugees who had been approved to resettle in Cleveland are now in limbo.

The challenge is there are people who have been resettled here legally and they are being served by the three resettling agencies. USCRI, May Dugan and Catholic Charities. Those three organizations were just told the money they received last year for those people, they no longer have that, said Cimperman.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Aleksandar Vasovic

BELGRADE (Reuters) -Serbia's ruling coalition began talks to form a new government on Wednesday, after Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned amid protests and President Aleksandar Vucic floated the possibility of a snap election in April.

Vucevic on Tuesday became the highest-ranking official to step down in the aftermath of a roof collapse at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad in November that killed 15 people and triggered months of demonstrations over alleged poor government oversight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Vucic has 30 days to propose a new prime minister designate, or an election will be triggered. On Tuesday he said he would make a decision in around 10 days.

The protests have shaken Vucic, a populist, who has held a grip on power since he became prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017.

But the Novi Sad incident has reignited claims that Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) are corrupt, bribe voters, stifle media freedom and maintain ties with organised crime - all charges he and the SNS deny.

The protests began in Novi Sad in November but have spread to rest of Serbia and the capital Belgrade, where students who are leading the demonstrations blockaded a major intersection this week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HUNDREDS PROTEST

Hundreds took to the streets again on Wednesday, carrying banners that read "Dare and Rise" and "Support to Students".

They vowed to continue protesting until their demands - which include all those they blame for the station disaster being held criminally responsible and an end to prosecutions of students arrested during the protests - were met.

Later on Wednesday, Vucic's office said he has pardoned six students, a faculty dean, a university lecturer, headteachers of six schools and a janitor. All were prosecuted for their role in the protests.

"We are very satisfied with the successes we have achieved... but we are not asking for the resignations of officials, but rather for the fulfilment of the demands - that this state truly becomes a state of law instead of being a police state," said law student protester Igor Protic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is unclear how Vucic would fare if a snap election were called. In December, the IPSOS Strategic Marketing pollster said the SNS enjoyed the support of 48.3% of the electorate, although popular sentiment against the government has surged since then.

A decision by SNS to appoint an expert government would be its "best hope of de-escalating the crisis", said Andrius Tursa, the Central and Eastern Europe Advisor for the Teneo consultancy, in a report on Tuesday.

"For now, the president appears reluctant to go down this path, which would amount to a major political loss and reduce his leverage over the government."

Opposition parties dismissed the possibility of an early vote and said that an interim government without the SNS would be the best solution.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Edward McAllister and Alex Richardson)
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Thousands of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees are getting a pay raise.

School board members voted Tuesday night to increase the districts minimum wage for many workers to $20 per hour. Employees who are considered classified staff will receive their higher salary moving forward and also get retroactive payments dating back to July 1, 2024.

It was a unanimous vote by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board to raise the minimum wage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a group that have definitely felt overlooked, not seen, not heard and they do tremendous work every day in the school district, said Lenora Shipp, a board member.

Its a problem Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders havent addressed in nearly two decades.

This is really justice work thats going to make a huge difference in peoples lives and a huge step in the right direction, said Monty Witherspoon, a board member.

QCNEWS.COM

CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS

The raise will affect almost 4,000 CMS classified staff members from bus drivers, to custodians, to teacher assistants and dozens more positions.

Our district cannot run without bus drivers, maintenance workers, teachers assistants, and cafeteria workers, said Board Chair Stephanie Sneed. Its imperative that we get them closer to a living wage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its going to take $25 million to raise these employees salaries based on market rate and the experience they bring.

We know that this is not everything, said Board Member Melissa Easley. We wish we could do more. You deserve more, but were working towards that.

The $25 million is already included in the Mecklenburg County Commissioners budget for this fiscal year. This is part one of a three-phase approach, which is expected to take about three years to implement.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 28Realtors, homebuilders and housing advocates said limiting maximum lot sizes for residences would be the single most significant policy change that could address the state's affordability crisis.

The legislation (SB 84) would require that a majority of the property zoned for single-family residences in each town must have lot sizes that are no bigger than 1 1/2 acres on parcels without public water and sewer.

Those with public water could be no larger than one acre and the size would be limited to half an acre on property that has water and sewer service under the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legislation would grandfather existing house lots larger than the proposed maximums.

State Sen. Keith Murphy, R-Manchester, said he's authored 10 different bills to try and promote more residential construction.

"If we are really serious about expanding, this is the bill to do it," Murphy told the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday. "Everything else, including all my other bills, are really window dressing by comparison."

Prices dropped slightly from record highs in 2023

Brady Deshaies, a lobbyist with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, was the lone opponent during a one-hour hearing on the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Creating artificial maximums will not necessarily lead to more housing because cities and towns lack the public works systems to support more development, he said.

"One-size-fits-all mandates that overrule the votes of the legislative bodies, the voters of the municipality, they will not necessarily lead to more construction because without that infrastructure, you can't build the housing," Deshaies said.

New Hampshire's median price of a home in 2023 crossed over $500,000, the ninth highest in the country. Prices dropped slightly and the median last November was at about $480,000.

Murphy, who has a master's degree in community planning, said some private companies won't locate or expand here because workers are unable to afford apartments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Make no mistake we are missing out on jobs and opportunities because of our anti-housing policies," Murphy said.

Nick Taylor, director of Housing Action New Hampshire, said a study of the state's zoning atlas concluded only about 15% of buildable land is available for the construction of starter homes.

Rob Dapice, executive director of New Hampshire Housing, said making changes to zoning ordinances to reflect these new lot maximums would not be a "heavy lift."

"The status quo has gotten us to the situation that we are in and it's time to rebalance the equation," Dapice said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Matt Mayberry, CEO with the N.H. Homebuilders Association, said his group is willing to negotiate on these lot sizes, but said it's time for action.

"We are sick of talking about the need for housing," Mayberry added. "Let's actually go get it done."

klandrigan@unionleader.com
Coast Guard stops boat carrying 21 people near Point Loma

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The United States Coast Guard interdicted a panga boat carrying 21 people of various nationalities near Point Loma Monday evening, according to a news release Tuesday.

Around 10:45 p.m., Coast Guard personnel were notified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the 40-foot panga-style vessel. The boat appeared to be heading north, about 40 miles south of the maritime boundary line, officials said.

ICE encounters reported in San Diego County as mass deportation fears grow

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coast Guard teams successfully intercepted the vessel with CBPs help, the release stated. After interviewing the individuals onboard, all of them claimed to be Mexican, officials said. However, subsequent checks identified two passengers as Guatemalan and Salvadorans.

According to the Coast Guard, the people onboard were migrants, not immigrants.

Coast Guard intercepts boats carrying dozens of migrants off SoCal coast

Migrants are defined by the International Rescue Committee as people who move place to place, usually for economic reasons such as seasonal work. Immigrants, on the other hand, are defined as those who make a conscious decision to leave his or her home and move to a foreign country with the intention of settling there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All 21 individuals onboard the panga were transferred to the custody of U.S. Border Patrol, the Coast Guard 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Jan. 29WILKES-BARRE  A man from Avoca captured during a narcotic sweep coordinated by Kingston police and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force in May was sentenced to state prison Tuesday.

Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas sentenced Derrick Steven Kaleb Bailey Jr., 28, of Grove Street, to 16 to 32 months in state prison on two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.

Bailey, known as Dee, was one of 12 people arrested in a regional drug sweep on May 23, 2024, following a year-long investigation of illicit drug street dealers, according to Kingston police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Luzerne County district attorney's office, U.S. Marshals and Pittston police assisted during the May 2024, drug sweep.

According to criminal complaints:

Wilkes-Barre police charged Bailey for interfering with a traffic stop in the Sherman Hills apartment complex on Feb. 24, 2024, and pled guilty to resisting arrest.

Bailey exchanged a quantity of fentanyl and crack cocaine for cash at a location in Wilkes-Barre on July 19, 2023, and pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Bailey exchanged a quantity of crack cocaine and prescription pills on different dates during April and May 2023 at locations in Wilkes-Barre and pled guilty to delivery of a controlled substance.
Colerain Township reversed its opposition to installing privately owned license plate reader cameras on its roads, approving a trial run of the program Tuesday night despite privacy concerns from some trustees.

The township's three trustees unanimously approved $70,000 in discretionary funds toward launching a license plate reader camera program with Flock Safety or a comparable vendor. Previous attempts by Police Chief Ed Cordie to talk about buying the cameras fell flat, with a potential contract never making it to a vote.

Flock Safety has become a nationwide leader in leasing their cameras to police departments, homeowners associations and businesses across the country. From every passing vehicle, the cameras capture state license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, including make and model, details about bumper stickers or decals, and whether it has a roof rack.

A vehicle passes a license plate reader at Winton Woods Park on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. Flock Safety is taking over the market for law enforcement surveillance. Departments contract with the private company and buy their fixed cameras, mount them at major thoroughfares through Greater Cincinnati, and have access to an entire Flock network of other agencies. The cameras capture license plates that comes through and the system would be flagged if the car is associated with a warrant. Now at least 37 area law enforcement agencies contract with Flock as it draws privacy concerns from the public and critics like the ACLU.

The information is added to a central database hosted by Flock, accessible by all law enforcement using their system so they can investigate crime. The privately hosted database was the focus of concerns raised by trustees Dan Unger and Matt Wahlert, who questioned whether the company could hold onto data beyond their standard 30-day retention policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

"What if somebodys driving down the street with a 'F Joe Biden' or 'I hate Trump' (bumper sticker) and the wrong persons in the White House at the wrong time?" Wahlert said. "Is that data thats going to be used against them? And am I providing that data?"

Unger proposed using another system where the data is controlled by the township and hosted on its servers. A leading advocate for the cameras, trustee Cathy Ulrich, said that, unlike Flock, others systems don't run plates against FBI crime databases for tracking missing persons, wanted fugitives and stolen cars.

The initial funding will be a modest start to cover one of Ohio's largest townships with new license plate readers. Cordie said the intersection at Colerain Avenue and Springdale Road (a primary thoroughfare in the township) would need eight cameras, costing $24,000 to lease from Flock for one year. Each camera costs roughly $3,000 per year to lease, Cordie said.

Enquirer research found that dozens of communities across Greater Cincinnati are a part of Flock's license plate reader network, including Colerain's neighboring Green, Whitewater and Harrison townships.

Advertisement Advertisement

Cincinnati Police Department contracts with Motorola for its license plate readers, but Cordie said Tuesday the city is in talks with Flock as well. Cincinnati police spokesman Jonathan Cunningham could not confirm if the department is in talks with Flock, but said they are not currently using their system.

Colerain Township police are on the scene of a shooting in the parking lot of the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 9760 Colerain Ave., near the Springdale Road intersection where two were killed, and one was injured in Colerain Township on Thursday, according to a township spokesperson.

Several residents spoke in support of the cameras at the meeting, citing recent safety concerns and violence as reasons for the technology despite Unger and Wahlert's concerns.

"The minute you walk out of your home, your privacy is gone. If you're worried about Flock cameras and your privacy, that's not what they're used for," Jenny Brown said.

Colerain Township trustees will meet again on Feb. 11. Cordie is expected to invite a Flock representative to answer questions from trustees and provide more details about the program ahead of a proposed contract.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Colerain Township agrees to $70K Flock license plate camera trial
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  Three men charged in what prosecutors are calling a murder-for-hire appeared in court for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

While Illinois no longer has cash bail, the state still filed the necessary paperwork to deny pre-trial releases for each suspect.

The Madison County States Attorney charged Sammy Shafer Jr., Gary Johnson, and Marty Shaw with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Portia Rowland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Court documents state Shafer was behind the murder-for-hire scheme, allegedly paying Johnson and Shaw a total of $10,000 to kill Rowland.

Investigators say Johnson was the alleged shooter while Shaw drove the getaway car.

Shafer hired attorney Scott Rosenblum.

Missouri bill calls for naming highways after Donald Trump

Im interested in trying to see some of the evidence before we have the hearing. We look forward, obviously, to entering a plea of not guilty and challenging that evidence, he said.

Rosenblum made a motion for continuance. The judge granted the motion, and the next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5. Shafer will remain in custody. His parents stood in the courtroom Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They will be completely supportive. Obviously, any parent that goes through that is devastated to see their son charged with such an offense, Rosenblum added.

Johnson was represented by a public defender and waived his detention hearing. Shaw remains in custody in St. Louis County.

We were told that Shafer was the husband of Rowlands girlfriend.

Friends and family are gathering Sunday at noon for a flower drop in Lyons Field in remembrance of Rowland.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Mesa Valley District 51 Superintendent Brian Hill speaks at the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Jan. 29, 2025. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

A bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers wants to reduce distracting cell phone use in public schools that can cause depression, anxiety and worse educational outcomes.

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday would require school boards across the state to craft a cell phone use policy for their districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At its core, this legislation is about minimizing the technology distractions in the classroom so we can better prioritize student mental health and allow them to learn without constant distractions, Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat, said during a press conference at the state Capitol.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The bill, which would include charter schools, would not impose a statewide ban on student cell phone use in schools.

Lukens is running the bill alongside Rep. Mary Bradfield, a Colorado Springs Republican, Sen. Lisa Frizell, a Castle Rock Republican, and Sen. Janice Marchman, a Loveland Democrat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nineteen states currently have policies that limit cell phone use in schools. Three states  Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina  have statewide restrictions in place. Others, such as California, require schools to have a policy in place that restricts cell phone use during the school day. Most of these state laws have been passed in the previous two years.

Lukens said that two-thirds of large school districts in Colorado do not have a cell phone policy in place.

A 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General warns that social media use among young people is associated with poor mental health, especially among adolescent girls. Research also shows that cell phone use during instruction time has adverse effects on student learning.

Over the last decade, the widespread adoption of smartphones are one of the main causes of why young people are suffering, why bullying is on the rise, why self harm is on the rise, why distraction is on the rise, why kids are not sleeping at night  getting constant notifications and distracted during the day, even in school, said Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat who recently announced his campaign for governor in 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weiser highlighted the work of Mesa County Valley School District 51 in Grand Junction to form and enact its cell phone use policy last year. The districtwide policy prohibits high school students from having their phones during class periods and doesnt allow middle and elementary school students to have their phones at all during the day. The implementation varies from school to school and takes various forms such as phone pocket holders on classroom doors, phone lockers or special lockable phone pouches.

Superintendent Brian Hill said the policy was a result of collaborative stakeholding with students, parents and teachers and has drawn positive feedback from those groups.

The results have been powerful. Students are more engaged. Teachers are reclaiming instructional time, he said. Were hearing from students now saying I actually want my phone less, even outside of school hours, and Im talking with friends more because of this policy.

The bill would require school boards to adopt a policy that limits cell phone use in schools by July 2026. That policy could give teachers discretion to allow phones for educational purposes, for example, or allow phones during lunch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It would need to consider wearable technology such as smart watches, as well as students with independent education plans or medical needs who may need to access their phone more frequently, such as a diabetic student who uses a smartphone application connected to their insulin pump.

This bill encourages parents, school districts and students to work together on a cell phone policy that best suits their respective communities, Frizell said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
DENVER (KDVR)  Several Colorado health and cultural centers on Tuesday raised alarms over their federal funding being frozen after the Trump Administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans on Monday.

The Denver Indian Center and Colorado Community Health Network both said in press releases their federal funding would be frozen by the pause. The memo has caused confusion across the country and raised questions about what will be affected by the freeze.

Trump administration freezes nearly all federal loans and grants

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser indicated he would join other attorneys general to sue to stop the pause.

The CCHN said in a press release on Tuesday, that the funding supported direct aid to individuals which includes all Community Health Centers and Primary Care Associations.

CCHN also said that those who benefit from the programs represent more than 32 million Americans including 857,000 Coloradans who depend on the 20 Community Health Centers for accessible, cost-efficent and life-saving care.

Coloradans must opt in for TABOR refunds when filing taxes

Based on data from 2023, an estimated $9 million used to cover payroll and other services, 330 grants and $24 million monthly in total payments are frozen when all federal grants are taken into consideration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CCHN said the centers help historically underserved communities that include 1.4 million people experiencing homelessness, 9.4 million children, 400,000 veterans and 3.8 million people over 65. The centers also employ more than 500,000 staff across the country.

The Denver Indian Center Inc. said that the center, which has served the Native American population in Denver for 50 years, has seen an immediate and severe impact on the ability of the organization to provide essential services, case management, cultural programming, emergency assistance and transit support for those with urgent needs.

The organization said that low-income families, elderly community members and those with disabilities are at risk of losing critical resources they depend on for survival.

The loss of this funding is devastating for our community, said Steve ReVello Co-Executive Director of the Denver Indian Center. We are doing everything we can to support our clients, but without the necessary resources, we are unable to meet the growing demand for services. Our community members are experiencing immediate hardships that could have long-term consequences if we are unable to restore this funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Broncos to supply helmets to every high school tackle football team in Colorado

Several Colorado officials have raised concerns with the funding freeze including Rep. Jason Crow, who said he contacted the Trump Administration about the latest actions and how they will hurt the community, in a post on X.

Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, said he will sue the White House to reverse the freeze on federal funds, he announced in a press release on Tuesday.

The Trump White House freeze on congressionally mandated federal aid is reckless and unprecedented. This action takes the power of the purse away from Congress, violates the separation of powers, and is already causing massive harm in Colorado, undermining delivery of healthcare, education, and public safety. As attorney general, I will continue to defend Coloradans and the Constitution. This government funding shutdown is illegal and must be stopped by the courts. That is why I will join other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to do just that, said Weiser.

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.
DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado lawmakers are once again taking up legislation that impacts semiautomatic firearm sales in the state. Supporters and opponents say the new effort is different than similar bills in recent years.

The new bill may have enough support to pass the Senate this time if it clears the Colorado Senates State, Veteran and Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday. Gun store owners are worried about the impact it could have if it passes.

Denver based company becomes part of history, first civil engineered jet hits supersonic speed

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the Aurora theater shooting, Colorado lawmakers passed a law prohibiting the sale, transfer or possession of high-capacity magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.

Sponsors said the new Senate bill looks to enforce that law.

This shouldnt be controversial. Enforcing the laws on the books is all that we are asking our law enforcement agencies and our state to do. The question is very clear: Are we going to sit behind and allow gun manufacturers to just flout the law or are we going to say no, this is not OK and we need a different path forward? At the end of the day, thats what Senate Bill 3 is all about, said Senator Julie Gonzales of Denver.

She was also the prime Senate sponsor of a bill looking to outlaw the sale of assault weapons in 2024; it never reached the Senate floor. She is cosponsoring the new bill with Senator Tom Sullivan whose son Alex was killed in the Aurora theatre shooting.

This policy is meant to hold manufacturers to account for following the law that we have already had on the books here in Colorado for well over a decade. So this isnt about taking away anybodys guns, but this about saying, Hey manufacturers, if you want to sell your products here in Colorado, follow our laws,' she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new bill defines a specified semiautomatic rifle or shotgun as one with a detachable magazine or a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine.

Under the new proposal, knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing those guns would be prohibited in Colorado.

Buckley Space Force Base providing facilities for ICE immigration processing

Bryan Clark is the owner of Bristlecone Shooting, Retail and Training Center in Lakewood.

Theyve been open since 2015. He worries the new bill at the capitol would go beyond enforcing current law.

I respectfully disagree that this particular bill is all about enforcing that measure. I view this bill as more of kind of an end and around attempt to ban certain firearms. Whereas, I know that as long as we have been open, weve always been Colorado compliant with any of the products we sell, especially magazines, said Clark.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rifles which we typically think of an AR-style semiautomatic rifle that  or even shotguns that are not pump activated  that are semiautomatics, people dont realize that with those they do have detachable magazines a lot of times where the ammunition is actually stored in the tube underneath the actual barrel, that tube can be removed, Clark continued. There are certain firearms that are popular: some Walther, the PPK  the old James Bond gun would be included and certain other smaller handguns would be included in the bill.

Hundreds signed up to weigh in on the measure. Rocky Mountain Gun Owners are already gearing up to tackle the legislation head-on.



We have a large group of gun owners who and Second Amendment defenders to oppose Senate Bill 3 which is the most egregious piece of gun control that has ever been filed in Colorado history, said Ian Escalante, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Executive Director. If this bill does make it to the governors desk and it goes into law, RMGO will be waiting before the ink is dry to file a lawsuit. We will have this struck down in court. Theres absolutely no way we can allow this to stand.

Gov. Jared Polis has not taken a position on the new bill. A spokesperson for his office told FOX31 he will continue to review the bill as it moves through the process and changes.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  There were strong reactions Tuesday after a federal judge temporarily blocked a move by President Donald Trump to freeze federal funding. U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhans order came just minutes before the freeze was to go into effect.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, issued a statement saying in part, These federal investments help people and support good-paying jobs and our economy, and this sloppy action creates confusion that distracts from Americans real challenges.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democratic Congressman Joe Neguse told FOX31 that the action by Trump, outlined in what some call a vague memo, has led to confusion and chaos.

I dont think the American people want a president of either party, Republican or Democratic president, deciding by executive fiat what programs will be funded and what programs will not, he said.

Agencies would have until Feb. 10 to provide the White House with a fiscal report.

FOX31 reached out to Congressman Gabe Evans. His office said the freeze wouldnt affect programs paid directly to individuals like social security or SNAP food benefits, but focus more on foreign aid and non-governmental organizations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Evans office, about two-thirds of U.S. adults said inefficiency in the government is a problem and 60% of Americans want to cut red tape and regulations.

Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is calling the reaction from Democrats fear-mongering.

Boebert issued a statement and said, This is a necessary, temporary pause for specific programs listed under executive orders that must be evaluated as part of following through on President Trumps promise to cut wasteful spending.

Colorados Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat who has announced plans to run for governor in the state, immediately filed a lawsuit against the freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Colorado health, cultural centers raise alarm over federal funding freeze

What happened here is what I would call, plainly, unconstitutional. The legislative branch passes laws the executive branch executes the laws. Here we see an effort to rewrite the law, he told FOX31.

Weiser warned that a federal funding pause would affect health care, university-based research, road construction, public safety and wildfire assistance.

It is helping to protect against the forest fires weve seen in LA. The federal government is part of our lives, he said.

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, released a statement Tuesday before the freeze was temporarily blocked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What does this mean for Colorado? Funding to our police departments, our hospitals, programs for homeless veterans. Nearly 9,000 kids in Colorado head start programs may be locked out. Trump is sacrificing working Americans, he said.

Colorado Community Health Network CEO Ross Brooks told FOX31 that confusion over which organizations could be affected by a federal freeze is already causing a pause in funding for his organization, which provides health care to nearly a million people in Colorado.

We dont know that, right in this moment, that we can draw down our federal grant funding, Brooks said.

Lawmakers like Evans will continue to outline the details of Trumps plan to freeze spending, something Brooks said is key moving forward

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im heartened to hear that Rep. Evans has said that. And, we dont have that clarification yet that community health centers are not part of the freeze. So, I would love that clarification, Brooks said.

The federal judges block on the freeze lasts until Monday, Feb. 3, and only applies to existing programs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sen. Tom Sullivan, a Centennial Democrat, listens to witness testimony during a Colorado Senate committee hearing on his bill that would ban firearms with detachable magazines on Jan. 28, 2025. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

A bill introduced at the Colorado Legislature to ban the sale of semiautomatic firearms that can take detachable magazines made it through its first committee hearing just before midnight Tuesday following hours of contentious witness testimony.

Senate Bill 25-3 passed through the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a 3-2 vote. The committees two Republicans voted against the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is the third time in as many years that Democratic lawmakers have attempted to pass a substantial gun violence prevention measure that would ban the sale and manufacture of certain types of firearms. Bills in 2023 and 2024 would have banned so-called assault weapons entirely, and last years version passed the House of Representatives for the first time in state history before dying in a Senate committee.

But this years bill is distinct in that it has more widespread Democratic support at the outset, it does not ban firearms based on make, model or non-magazine features, and it comes from a longtime advocate for stricter gun laws, Sen. Tom Sullivan. The Centennial Democrat joined the Legislature following the murder of his son at the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora and has sponsored successful bills on a red flag law, a waiting period for gun purchases, and a crackdown on untraceable ghost guns.

I will never be the firearms expert that many of you claim to be, and I dont ever want to be, Sullivan said in his opening remarks as witnesses for the hearing filled three rooms in the Capitol. But I can say that I have heard it all on this matter, and that I believe Senate Bill 25-003 is a pathway forward.

Sullivan said he is not in favor of an assault weapons ban.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The bill is also sponsored by Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat, and Rep. Meg Froelich, a Denver Democrat.

As someone who actually has sponsored an assault weapons ban: this is not it. If you read the bill, you can buy an assault-style weapon as long as it has a fixed magazine and cannot be modified with high-capacity magazines that are illegal, Gonzales said. She sponsored last years semiautomatic rifle ban bill.

Sponsors and supporters frame SB-3 as an effort to enforce the intent of Colorados existing large-capacity magazine law from 2013, which limits magazines to 15 rounds of ammunition. It would require that a magazine be permanently attached to the gun, ensuring that owners could not attach an illegal large-capacity magazine that they purchased in a neighboring state. Experts say they are also still easily available in Colorado from some bad actors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There has been a high-capacity magazine ban in the state since 2013, but you can still buy them freely. Someone could leave this meeting, go down the street, buy one and bring it here and put it on this table. Thats how easily they can be bought in this state, Sullivan said.

He said that there is little to no data on how many arrests have been made for someone selling or possessing large-capacity magazines and that violations of the law are typically added on top of crimes already committed.

Gunmen in two recent Colorado shootings  in 2021 at a Boulder King Soopers and in 2023 at a nightclub in Colorado Springs  used magazines banned under state law and had large-capacity magazine charges added.

What the bill does

The bill would ban the manufacture, sale, purchase and transfer of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns capable of accepting detachable magazines. A rifle that accepts detachable magazines that use 0.22 caliber and lower ammunition would be allowed, unless it has a separate upper and lower receiver. Models that would be prohibited could become compliant with the law if manufacturers permanently weld, solder or epoxy the magazine to the firearm. Manufacturers could also offer new versions of popular firearm models with fixed magazines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Research has shown that these kinds of laws can help prevent mass shooting injuries and fatalities, but for high-capacity magazine laws to be maximally protective, the firearms themselves need to be regulated, said Alison Shih, the senior counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety.

There is no good reason why law-abiding gun owners need firearms with detachable magazines that evade a law that has been on the books in this state for years, she said.

Supporters argue that fixed, lower-capacity magazines would lessen the lethality of semiautomatic weapons used in mass shootings, since the number of bullets that could be fired would be greatly reduced. Research shows that states with regulations on magazine size have fewer mass shootings than states without restrictions, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.

The bill would not prohibit possession, and people who had the targeted weapons before the measure went into effect would not need to relinquish their guns. A banned gun in the bill could be transferred to an heir, someone out of state or to a licensed firearm dealer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This will not impact a single firearm you presently own, Sullivan said. This is about the next one, and maybe the first one for the next mass shooter.

The bill would also effectively outlaw rapid-fire trigger devices by classifying them as a dangerous weapon. Those devices are also known as bump stocks and allow semiautomatic weapons to fire at a faster rate.

Violations would be a Class 2 misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class 6 felony after that. A dealer that violates the law would have their firearm dealer permit revoked.

Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver, left, and Sen. Tom Sullivan, both Democrats, present Senate Bill 25-3 to a Colorado legislative committee on Jan. 28, 2025. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Impact to firearm sellers

Opponents, including gun store owners, argue that the bill would outlaw a large share of available stock and limit Coloradans ability to defend themselves against an armed aggressor. They say it amounts to a repackaged assault weapons ban, as most semiautomatic pistols and rifles take detachable magazines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If passed, this would ban the most-sold rifle in America, the most popular home defense firearm, most common competition rifles and numerous commonly-own pistol and shotgun models, said Ray Elliot, president of the Colorado State Shooting Association.

Colorado Springs firearms instructor Ava Flanell testified that semiautomatic guns with detachable magazines are built so they can be simply and safely loaded and unloaded, ensure certainty that there is no ammunition in the gun, and make it easier to clear any malfunctions.

As a firearm instructor, one of our greatest concerns is a student having a negligent discharge. In order to avoid this, we stress the importance of keeping their firearm unloaded if theyre not using it. This bill basically encourages users to have their firearm loaded, she said.

Opponents also pushed back on the bill on Second Amendment grounds and claimed it would not hold up against the 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, which requires historical precedent for gun restrictions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill does not have a fiscal impact, according to a nonpartisan analysis from legislative staff. The Department of Public Safety, however, estimates that it would significantly increase the caseload of firearms that Colorado Bureau of Investigation would need to test, requiring over $4.6 million in the next fiscal year, eight additional employees and a remodel of the CBI lab in Pueblo. There is already a significant backlog of firearms that need to be function tested.

The fiscal notes author told lawmakers that based on a comparable crime analysis and feedback from the states judicial department, he assumed a minimal amount of additional guns would be submitted to CBI. He said the current large-capacity magazine ban amounts to about 67 cases annually and that about 1% of the states 2,000 licensed firearm deals would be in violation.

The committee also approved a handful of amendments to the bill on Tuesday night to exempt hunting and shooting guns that accept tube-style magazines, exempt prop guns used in film productions, and clarify that law enforcement officers who are required to buy their own guns can purchase otherwise prohibited firearms.

The bill will next head to the Senate floor for consideration. It currently has 15 sponsors in addition to Sullivan and Gonzales. It needs 18 votes to pass the Senate.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado announced a 67-year-old man has been sentenced to years in prison and ordered to pay over half a million dollars after being found guilty of crimes related to COVID-19 relief fraud.

The Attorneys Office said between April 2020 and April 2021, Charles Lacona formally of Colorado Springs devised and participated in a scheme to defraud a lender of $513,732.50 in Paycheck Protection Program loans. Lacona inflated payroll costs and gross receipts, made false statements and certifications, and submitted fabricated tax documents and payroll reports.

According to facts presented during the trial, Lacona also unsuccessfully applied for additional emergency government assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Lacona alleged to have used some of the fraudulently obtained funds to buy a Cadillac CT6 for $67,704.13.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lacona was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $549,2743.14 in restitution after being found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

Theft of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated, said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. This sentence sends a message that people who defrauded the United States Government will be held accountable for their actions.

IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to holding accountable those who exploited the COVID-19 pandemic relief programs, said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent In Charge, Denver Field Office. Investigating those who defrauded programs meant for hard-working Americans will remain a top priority for our agency.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 City of Atlanta celebrated the new Midtown bike lane barrier mural project along Piedmont Park on Tuesday.

The long stretch of concrete barriers protects bicyclists and others who use the lanes.

Robert Nickolai is an avid bicyclist. He said the safety improvements along 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta are essential.

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

I think me getting away from cars, getting a little bit of protection against cars is essential for me to feel protected and want to be biking here in the first place, Nickolai said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members of Atlantas Department of Transportation and the mayors office, including Mayor Andre Dickens, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the project on Tuesday.

Their hope is that it will reduce vehicle traffic in one of the busiest areas of the city while protecting bicyclists and pedestrians.

This project has created spaces that encourage more Atlantans and our visitors to choose bicycles, Dickens said.

In 2013, Atlanta built a cycle lane right next to the sidewalks along 10th Street to offer protection for bicyclists and others using micro-mobility modes of transportation like electric scooters, skateboards, and kick scooters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But without barriers, accidents still happened.

So the city came up with the idea to install 300 low-profile concrete barriers along the street between Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive.

The city also wanted to create a vibrant look with beautiful murals to line the corridor that connects to the BeltLines East Side Trail.

It was a community project with residents taking part in creating the art in October and November.

Im pretty happy with it. Im happy with the colors, Im happy with the little artistic features, Nickolai said.

The project is part of Atlantas Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Columbus man, who the U.S Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia says has a violent criminal history in the city, was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for illegally owning a firearm.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Christopher Gilliam, 36, was sentenced to 162 months in prison on Jan. 28 followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says Gilliam is known to be a member of the Gangster Disciples. Gilliam pled guilty to to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon back on Oct. 29, 2024. The office adds it is illegal for convicted felons to possess a firearm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Violent convicted felons caught illegally with firearms in the Middle District of Georgia will find their cases in federal court, says Shanelle Booker, Acting U.S. Attorney. This case is another example of the kind of effective law enforcement partnerships helping us track down and hold the most dangerous repeat offenders accountable.

Court documents say Gilliam was wanted for aggravated assault when officers tracked him to his girlfriends home back on July 21, 2023. At the time, Gilliam was arrested and authorities found a stolen 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser and a loaded 15-round magazine in plain sight.

We will continue to work with our federal partners to promote safer neighborhoods and communities, says Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.

The case was investigated by the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was also a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which aims to help make neighborhoods safer by reducing violent crimes in communities.

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 WRBL.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A federal judge blocked President Donald Trumps federal funding freeze just before it was set to go into effect Tuesday. The temporary pause comes after Trump issued a funding freeze for federal grants and loans overnight in a vaguely worded memo from the Office of Management and Budget.

More than $3 trilllion in federal funding is at stake, but organizations across the country will have to wait until at least Monday to see if they will be impacted. The judge who placed a temporary pause on the funding freeze has called a hearing for 11 a.m. Monday.

While no federal funding has been pulled yet, chaos has stormed through organizations around the country, including in central Ohio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How potential federal grant pause could impact central Ohio organizations

I got the first notification from a group that sends us some news last night about 1 a.m., LifeCare Alliance President and CEO Chuck Gehring said. When I saw that, my stomach dropped. You know, it just scared me horribly.

LifeCare Alliance provides many programs for central Ohioans in need but is known mostly for Meals on Wheels.

Our Meals on Wheels are up over 90% from pre-COVID numbers and we, through our partnerships with our counties, especially Franklin County, have continued to take everybody that qualifies, Gehring said. You got to qualify. But, you know, weve been able to service people and we are probably, I cant tell you this for sure, but Im pretty close that in the top 100 markets in the United States of America, were probably the only ones without waiting lists for Meals on Wheels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meals on Wheels relies heavily on federal funding, which led to Gehrings concern.

Its critical funding for our programming, especially the Meals on Wheels program, he said. For this year, thatd be $3 million to us. What that does, it pays for literally hundreds of thousands of meals. We do about 1.8 million Meals on Wheels a year out of here. And it would, it would affect if that money went away for a year, it would easily affect a couple thousand consumers.

Since the initial memo was sent from the White House, further clarification was given this afternoon. An afternoon memo from the White House said, Programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, small business funds, farmer funding, Pell Grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused.

I was very concerned about it last night at 1 a.m. when I first saw the news, because I didnt know what it was going to do to us, but Im less concerned now, Gehring said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the midst of all the uncertainty surrounding if they would have funding or not, Gehring said the one constant was the organizations dedication to serving thousands of people in central Ohio

Whether the funding was frozen or not, well keeping going, he said. Were going to keep serving and if anybodys watching me talk here, dont worry about your meals. They will continue to come tomorrow and every day. We would never abandon our people.

The White House gave reasoning for the funding freeze during a press briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

It is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, Leavitt said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The target of the funding freeze are issues like gender ideology, foreign aid, and environmental agreements. This leads Gehring to believe his agency will be OK. He understands the importance of ensuring taxpayer money is going to good use, and his organization knows they are under a microscope.

Ive counted seven different audits we get a year here, so some of this money is highly protected by the federal government, he said.

Gehring also knows the value of the service they provide. Providing meals, transportation, deliveries, and other services for the elderly who cannot do those things on their own is vital.

For each person we keep independent and in their own home, where they want to be one person for one year, we save Ohio taxpayers and federal taxpayers $90,000 on average, he said. We probably saved the state and the feds at least $3 billion with a B versus Medicaid, paying for all our people to go to assisted living here and so theres a huge return on this investment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal judge who paused the funding freeze will hear arguments next Monday and decide on a temporary restraining order at that time. Meanwhile, organizations across the country will be seeking clear guidance on if they are impacted by the funding freeze.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
It wasn't a stretch to predict that the strict abortion bans in states such as Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas would have demographic effects  driving residents out of those states and reducing migration from abortion-protective states.

New research has validated that prediction and put meat on its bones. Most notably, economists at Georgia Tech reported in a paper published this month that by mid-2023, the 13 states with total bans had suffered a combined net loss of an estimated 36,000 residents per quarter, or more than 144,000 per year.

Over two years, that amounts to a net loss of more than one-third of a percent of the combined population of about 80 million in the 13 states with abortion bans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State abortion policies alter the relative attractiveness of locations and the geographic distribution of human capital.

Dench et al

Over time, the trend could result in a population 1% lower than it would have been if the abortion bans weren't in place. That should be enough to catch the attention of lawmakers in those states because of its potential to negate programs aimed at luring workers and families.

"It should concern them in terms of the population that will be available to work in their states over time," Georgia Tech economist Daniel L. Dench, a co-author of the paper, told me.

The magnitude of the population loss, the paper estimated, is equivalent to the outflow that would be caused by a 10% increase in local crime rates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The effect was more pronounced among single-person households than families, the researchers found.

That suggests "an outsized influence of reproductive rights on younger, more mobile populations," they wrote  possibly because the logistics of moving a family are more burdensome than for single persons, and also that single people may be more likely to be women of childbearing age.

"State abortion policies alter the relative attractiveness of locations and the geographic distribution of human capital," the paper concludes.

Read more: Column: A reminder that the GOP used to be the pro-abortion party, and Democrats the anti party

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new study contributes valuable grist for the continuing debate over the social and economic impacts of abortion restrictions.

A few months after the Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned the guarantee of abortion rights, the libertarian legal scholar Ilya Somin of George Mason University conjectured that any brain drain would be "relatively small." He based his guess on the fact that abortions were concentrated among low-income women.

"Most highly educated women are unlikely to ever get an abortion," he wrote, "and many of those who might need one can potentially avail themselves of various substitutes for getting one in-state."

This was a blinkered view of reproductive healthcare rights, however. It has since become evident that strict antiabortion laws don't only affect women seeking elective abortions, but those experiencing pregnancy-related emergencies who are denied the full panoply of medical treatments, turning even routine complications into life-threatening conditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Texas, which imposed its abortion ban in September 2021, even before the Dobbs ruling, the maternal death rate rose to 28.5 per 100,000 live births in 2022, well above the national average of 22.3. The rate rose by 56% from 2019 through 2022.

The Georgia Tech findings resemble those of more specialized surveys tracking the effect of abortion bans and restrictions imposed by many states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade.

For example, applications from medical students for residency positions in obstetrics and gynecology in abortion-banning states fell 11.7% in 2023 from the previous year, and by another 6.7% in 2024, according to the Assn. of American Medical Colleges.

The reasons aren't hard to fathom. For one thing, OB/GYN residency programs can't be accredited unless they provide clinical experience in abortion care. That might be impossible in abortion-ban states, though programs can arrange for that training to be delivered in other states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Column: As 10 states prepare to vote on abortion rights, Texas shows that abortion bans kill women

Living and working in a state where routine medical treatments might expose them to criminal prosecution, stiff prison terms, fines, the loss of medical licenses and lawsuits, moreover, can't be appealing to physicians considering where to apply for training and open their practices.

In emergency medicine  a specialty in which doctors may have to make split-second decisions on treating pregnant women with urgent conditions  the drop was even greater, down 23.7% in 2023 and a further 7.1% in 2024. Fall-offs were seen in residency applications in other specialties that might be affected by abortion bans, such as pediatrics and family medicine.

Business owners also have complained that abortion bans raise their costs, because they have to offer better healthcare benefits to recruits to counteract the reduction in reproductive health benefits and have to commit themselves to paying for out-of-state travel for affected workers and their family members.

A number of states (crosshatched) have imposed total bans on abortions, and others (gray) have enacted bans after six weeks of gestation  often before women know they are pregnant. (Guttmacher Institute)

A coalition of 39 Texas businesses made that point in a friend-of-the-court brief to the Texas Supreme Court in 2023, while the court pondered the state's abortion ban. (The court upheld the ban.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ban and related restrictions on medical care were not only increasing businesses' costs but "driving away top talent, risking potential future business coming to the State, and threatening a diverse workforce," the plaintiffs stated. "This is not hyperbole."

The plaintiffs cited numerous anecdotes of professional workers who moved to jobs out of state, refused relocations to Texas, or declined job offers.

"These stories are not anomalies," the brief warned, citing a survey finding that one-third of job-seekers will apply for positions only in states with unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare and that more than a fourth of workers already living in restrictive states will apply for jobs only in states where abortion is currently legal and likely to remain so.

It's true that factors other than the availability of healthcare influence decisions on where to live and work  taxes, weather and climate and the cost of living, among other things.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Column: As professionals flee antiabortion policies, red states face a brain drain

California's salubrious climate, vigorous, entrepreneurial economy and guarantee of reproductive healthcare rights didn't avert a population decline earlier in this decade.

Because the population of other states grew faster than California's prior to the 2020 census, California lost a House seat for the first time in its history. Its House delegation of 52 remains nearly half-again as large as that of second-place Texas, with 38. In any event, California's population grew strongly in the two years ended June 30, 2024, thanks in part to higher legal immigration, increased inflows from other states and reduced outflows, and an increase in net natural gains (births minus deaths).

The Georgia Tech economists neutralized non-abortion-related influences by comparing the 13 states with abortion bans to a sample of 25 states that are similar except for the lack of a ban (the researchers labeled these "abortion-protecting states"). They used postal service change-of-address records to track population outflows; the records were only available through the second quarter of 2023, limiting their ability to extend their study beyond that point.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They found that net population outflows increased sharply after the Dobbs ruling in states that immediately imposed abortion bans, and have largely continued to increase over time especially in single-person households.

The abortion-banning states examined in the study are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The Wisconsin ban was overturned in state court in September 2023 and the Missouri ban was blocked in late 2024.

The researchers didn't produce hard data on population changes in 13 states that have restricted, but not banned, abortions, typically by banning abortions after a certain gestational age. The researchers labeled these "hostile states," and found no reason to believe that they wouldn't also experience population losses.

"The effect in hostile states looks like it's in the same direction and of a similar magnitude," Dench says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The implications for state policymakers should be plain  if they don't allow antiabortion ideology to outweigh social and economic realities. Among other factors, well-educated and socially aware people are likely to be more attentive to reproductive healthcare rights.

"Who is being deterred from living in states with restricted abortion access?" the authors ask. "The fact that highly educated individuals tend to be more mobile and more supportive of abortion access," they write, has "important implications for state economies."

Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik

Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Politics often entails angles and illusion, dodges and diversions. Navigating the space between hope and reality is one of its requisite skills. But sometimes events demand a straightforward response.

To wit:

Do you think its OK to attack a police officer by plunging a stun gun multiple times into his neck?

How about using a riot shield to smash a police officer into a metal door frame, leaving him bruised and bloodied?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Any problem with someone who spends more than an hour assaulting law enforcement officers with pepper spray, a metal crutch and wooden and metal poles?

President Trump seems just fine with the above, a tiny fraction of the crime spree committed when a swarm of rioters overran the Capitol in a violent bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The above-mentioned perpetrators  and many more like them  were among the roughly 1,500 criminal defendants whom Trump pardoned just hours after taking office.

How's that for Making America Safe Again, as was promised throughout his White House bid?

Going forth, any candidate who campaigns under the banner of Trump's Republican Party  which has long styled itself as the party of law and order and "backing the blue"  should be made to reconcile that asserted stance with the president's unholy act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And, please, none of this yeah-but-what-about in regard to President Biden's misguided use of his pardoning powers before he exited the Oval Office. None of the pardoned Biden family members were, to give but one example, caught stealing pepper spray from police, distributing it to assailants and attacking officers as part of a "war" on the government.

If you don't see a difference, you need more help than your friendly political columnist can provide.

Read more: Column: Why's it so hard to do the right thing and honor the true heroes of Jan. 6?

Trump's fun-house version of justice may not matter a whit to voters, or alter even slightly their perceptions of the two major parties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If American campaigns were logical, this would be a huge problem for Republicans," said Jack Pitney, a politics professor at Claremont McKenna College, who worked for the national GOP during the George H.W. Bush administration.

"But campaigns aren't logical," he said. "When Republican candidates talk about law and order, they're talking about street crime, the things that people encounter every day. They simply put things such as the attack on the Capitol in a separate box."

A lot of people voted for Trump's return to the White House "knowing it was going to be messy," as Rob Stutzman, a GOP strategist and no fan of the president, put it. That recognition came baked into their decision, Stutzman said, and "they're going to tolerate some of the nutball stuff" if the president delivers on promises such as securing America's borders.

In fairness, it should be noted there were some post-pardon voices of Republican dissent, including GOP senators who criticized the extent of Trump's action. Nothing, however, that amounted to a major outcry or serious Republican backlash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters it was time to move forward and not look back, a mantra widely echoed in party ranks  except, of course, over those pardons that Biden issued.

Surveys, including one conducted right after Trump's amnesty order, showed roughly 60% of those polled were opposed to pardoning Jan. 6 offenders. Which means a not-unsubstantial number of Americans have no problem turning loose cop-beaters and insurrectionists, presumably so long as Trump manages to bring down the price of eggs, bacon and gasoline.

Let's wait and see. We're not even two weeks into the Trump administration and there are nearly 650 days to the 2026 midterm election, the next chance voters nationwide will have to weigh in on the direction of the country and the president's performance.

When it comes to those sprung Jan. 6 jailbirds, "we know what's going to happen," said Bill Carrick, a Democratic campaign strategist. "Bad actors got out and they're going to do something bad."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, just last weekend a Capitol rioter pardoned by Trump was killed by an Indiana sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop after he ended up in an altercation with the officer.

Democrats will be poised "to highlight" those sorts of cases, Carrick said, imagining the script for a campaign ad that practically writes itself: "He was sentenced to X number of years. Trump let him out of jail, and look what he did."

Read more: Trump and Biden add to long, strange history of presidential pardons

The country crossed a dubious threshold on Nov. 5 when, as Pitney observed, "a convicted felon who incited a violent insurrection against the government of the United States [was] elected president."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And here we are.

But that insult to our ideals is no reason to try to stuff the criminality of Jan. 6 down a memory hole, or "get over it," as some Trump backers sneeringly suggest.

We can't put those lawbreakers back behind bars. But their apologists and political patrons can be held to account when it comes time to vote again. They should be. It's necessary to help preserve and protect our country.

And make America safe again.

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The local chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice will hold a rally in Montgomery County this weekend to show its opposition to President Donald Trumps immigration order.

The organization is calling on county leaders to stand with it.

Its a scary time, Showing Up for Racial Justice member Elisa told DC News Now Tuesday.

Maryland Attorney General Brown issues new guidance for immigration enforcement

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She and others are worried about the uncertain future some of their neighbors may face after Trump signed an order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct searches and make arrests in schools and places of worship.

We do have a number of students in this area, Elisa explained, especially the Wheaton area, that are immigrants, and we have welcomed them in our schools for years.

The organization has voiced its opposition to the policy. Now, members are hoping county officials stand with the group.

Elisa said they would be having a rally outside President of the Montgomery County Council Kay Stewerts office on Saturday, where they will ask her to sign on to a pledge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Concerns grow in Montgomery County after new policy allows ICE to enter schools, churches

The policy also concerns faith leaders, including Silver Spring United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Will Green.

Were a multicultural congregation so between 30 and 40 percent of our folks on Sunday morning are people of color, or immigrants, or refugees, he said.

Green said hes had many discussions since the executive order was signed to prepare his congregation for what may come.

Am I scared for the future of the people who call this place home? Absolutely, he said.

The rally hosted by Showing Up for Racial Justice will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 1-2 p.m., at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marylands Attorney General Anthony Brown also issued healthcare facility guidance in the wake of the new immigration policy to help healthcare facilities comply with federal and state laws.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Edwin Waita and Hereward Holland

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo government to counter a swift offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east have surrendered and were on their way home on Wednesday.

Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, was captured by M23 earlier this week, cornering the mercenaries, remnants of Congo's army and its allied militias against Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With nowhere else to retreat to, they handed themselves over to United Nations peacekeeping troops in Goma, who then arranged for their transit home through neighbouring Rwanda.

"We are just relieved because we can go finally home ... it's a big relief," said one, identifying himself as a Romanian who had been in Goma for about two years.

"Goma is devastated because of the war between the Rwandans and the Congolese," he told Reuters as he crossed the border to Rwanda, declining to give his name.

Rwanda denies backing the rebels but says it has taken what it calls defensive measures, and accuses Congo of fighting alongside perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hired to bolster Congo's underpaid and disorganised army, the mercenaries operated high-tech military drones that had long been effectively grounded by Rwandan air defences, according to an analysis by the International Crisis Group.

Congo employed the services of Agemira RDC, a subsidiary of a Bulgarian-based parent company, for logistics, as well as Congo Protection, led by a former member of the French Foreign Legion, for training, said Henry-Pacifique Mayala from Kivu Security Tracker (KST), which maps unrest in eastern Congo.

With almost no coordination between the two military contractors, or other actors on the ground, the mercenaries' role made the conflict even worse, Mayala said.

LONG HISTORY OF MERCENARIES IN CONGO

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their record adds to a long history of Congo hosting hired guns whose efforts often ended in failure.

Some older Congolese remember the use of mercenaries in the 1960s, including a group led by "Mad Mike" Hoare, who supported the failed attempt of the mineral-rich southern state of Katanga to secede from Kinshasa.

Before crossing the border, one of the mercenaries was upbraided by M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma in front of a gaggle of journalists, telling him he should not "have come for adventures in Congo," according to a video shared by Rwanda's New Times newspaper.

"We have a very rich country. But with greedy leaders. They recruited you, you receive $8,000 per month and you are fed, while (Congolese soldiers) receive less than $100," Ngoma said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked where he trained, the mercenary said it was with the French Foreign Legion, a unit of the French army that accepts volunteers from around the world. France's foreign and defence ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At the border crossing between Goma and its Rwandan twin city of Gisenyi, Reuters reporters saw dozens of burly men, many bearded, some in fatigues, lining up to be patted down by police and have their luggage examined by sniffer dogs.

One man wore a shirt emblazoned with "REGIMENT ETRANGER DES PARACHUTISTES", the French Foreign Legion's parachute regiment, which successfully fought in Zaire, Congo's former name, in 1978 to rescue European and local hostages held by a rebel group.

Rwanda's army said it took in over 280 Romanian mercenaries on Wednesday and would transport them to the capital Kigali. The men boarded the buses in silence.

(Additional reporting by Estelle Shirbon and Hereward Holland; writing by Hereward Holland; editing by Mark Heinrich)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Federal Republican leaders are praising President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after hundreds of arrests were made across the country, including three in Western New York.

The arrests are raising concerns among residents who want to know whos at risk of being arrested and deported.

During a news conference Tuesday, Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy was adamant that ICE agents are only going after criminals and suspected terrorists. He said they pose a national security risk and need to be removed from the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It has been just one week to the day since President Trump was sworn into office, and he is following through on his commitment to secure our borders and to conduct deportations, starting with the most dangerous criminal illegals who pose a threat to our safety and to national security, Langworthy said.

The congressman met with ICE agents on Tuesday in Buffalo. After the meeting, Langworthy told reporters that, Buffalo ICE is getting the job done and I support them wholeheartedly.

Questions were raised at a news conference asking if migrant farmers should be concerned. Langworthy said ICE is not targeting them because they are part of a federal visa program and are vetted.

Langworthy also denied rumors of ICE agents raiding local schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They are not going into schools, he said. This is a mission to apprehend convicted criminals and those people that are thought to be creating a national security risk to the country.

Langworthy criticized Governor Kathy Hochul and New Yorks Green Light Law, which was signed in 2019 and carved out a pathway for undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses.

I heard it loud and clear today in my meeting with Buffalo ICE, he said. The biggest barrier to the enforcement of this mission is New Yorks Green Light Law. It needs to be repealed.

Governor Hochul is committed to public safety, and is committed to secure borders and safe streets, a spokesperson for Hochul said in a statement to WIVB News 4. Shes pushed Congress to fix our broken immigration system and called on the White House to surge resources to New Yorks northern border. Under existing law, New York has the power to communicate with federal immigration authorities when a crime has been committed and we regularly collaborate with our partners in Border Patrol and other federal agencies.

Latest Local News

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

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.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Connecticut and 21 other states are suing to stop the implementation of a new Trump administration directive to freeze nearly all federal assistance, state Attorney General William Tong announced Tuesday afternoon.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

On Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the push from President Donald Trump just minutes before the funding freeze was scheduled to go into effect. The administrative stay lasts until Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Late Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.

Matthew Vaeth, OMBs acting director, said in the memo that the temporary pause will give Trumps administration time to determine the best uses of the funding for agency programs that are consistent with the law and Trumps priorities.

During Tuesdays press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the memo would not impact Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, welfare and other assistance to individuals. She defended the freeze and said Trumps executive orders aimed at overhauling the federal workforce last week served as notice.

Trump administration defends federal funding freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tong said Tuesday that the Trump administrations order for federal agencies to pause the disbursement of loans and grants was a full assault on Connecticut families an unprecedented and blatantly lawless attack on every corner and level of our government and economy.

Connecticut is locked arm in arm with states across the nation seeking an immediate restraining order to protect critical services that each and every one of us rely on every day, Tong said. Today is not a day for politics everyone irrespective of party should be standing against this devastating attack on Connecticut.

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding issued a joint statement on Tuesday in response to Tong and Connecticut Democrats.

Its no surprise that Connecticut Democrats, showcasing their penchant for theatrics over substance, are raising alarm over President Trumps common-sense efforts to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely and align with his executive actions. After all, these are the same individuals who believe taxpayers should foot the bill for placing tampons in boys bathrooms in our schools. Lets be clear: the Presidents federal funding pause is far from the doomsday scenario Democrats are peddling. Their earlier claims are nothing more than an attempt to gaslight Connecticut residents. If Attorney General Tong and his Democratic allies invested half as much effort into lowering costs for electric ratepayers and middle class families as they do defending criminal illegal aliens and librarians promoting sexualized content in schools, Connecticut families would be far better off. House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding

The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Yor, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

This is a developing story. Check back 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 WTNH.com.
A number of prominent conservatives have made it a point to publicly refer to President Donald Trump as daddy. While the nickname has been derided by many as cringey and weird, it might actually tell us something about Trumps political style, how his supporters view him and how people overall may at times assess political figures, according to experts.

On Friday, actor Mel Gibson was asked during an appearance on the Fox News show Hannity to weigh in on Trumps recent visit to California amid the wildfires (Gibson, a California resident, lost his home in Malibu) when he bizarrely said, Im glad Trumps here at the moment. Its like daddy arrived, and hes taking his belt off, you know?

And conservative lawmakers such as Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) have also readily given Trump the moniker. During an appearance on Fox News last week, Donalds listed off things he expects Trump to do during his second term, saying that the country will get the stability that we were asking for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daddys back, he said. And thats what youre going to see.

Boebert similarly leaned in on the parental figure theme in a post she shared on X, formerly called Twitter, the day before Trumps inauguration.

Daddys home!! she wrote in the post, which featured a Time magazine cover showing an illustration of Trump.

The list goes on. Musician Kid Rock added the lyrics daddys home to his We the People song during Trumps pre-inauguration event, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson notably delivered an unsettling speech at a Trump rally in October, in which he compared the U.S. under Democratic leadership to a hormone-addled 15-year-old daughter, before referring to Trump as a dad coming home to restore order and spanking a bad little girl.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People have widely criticized these daddy nicknames and metaphors  and for several reasons. While parental metaphors have been thrown out and placed on other candidates before, including Democratic ones, Trumps daddy nickname  and analogies associated with discipline  have been ramping up lately, and people are dumbfounded by it. Many have taken to social media to condemn these daddy remarks, calling them creepy. And some have wondered what all this says about the way Trumps supporters perceive him.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University who writes about fascism, authoritarianism and propaganda, told the Pivot podcast in April that resentment over social progress fuels much of Trumps appeal.

She said that Trump models himself for that environment and that strongmen like him know how to read the marketplace and understand what is wanted.

They model themselves and will be whatever they need to be to get to power, because they have no morals, Ben-Ghiat said. Theyre just about getting control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also told these people that he loved them  that they were the forgotten, she later added. Theres a sense that hes not just going to represent them, hes going to protect them and take care of them.

Read on to hear more on what experts have to say about the daddy nickname.

Was Trumps daddy nickname born as a result of his political style?

Some political scientists have described Trumps political style as authoritarian populist. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeleys Othering and Belonging Institute describe authoritarian populist leaders as those who are effective at stoking fear and division by capitalizing on anti-establishment sentiment to paradoxically support their illiberal ideas.

Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, told HuffPost that he also believes Trump has a nationalist/populist element to his presentation. ... Coupled perhaps with a willingness to flout political norms and conventions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Neiheisel said that he does think Trumps political style plays into an image and expectation the president has created  at least according to his supporters  that he will be tough on all that ails the country.

He said that the recent development of his supporters calling him daddy interestingly taps into a broader conversation and past research on family models and American politics, in which liberalism is thought to be associated with a nurturant parent worldview, while conservatism is more aligned with a strict father worldview.

Jane Junn, a professor of political sciences and gender and sexuality studies at the University of Southern California Dornsife College, told HuffPost that patriarchy, overall, has fueled a longstanding concept in societies around the world that men should rule.

She said the thinking is often that men should be strong, tough and aggressive, and authoritative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As it relates to Trump, Junn said that his rhetoric is consistent with the idea that he wants to be seen as a leader who knows best.

Junn pointed out that Trumps real-life history as a father and husband doesnt fit traditional or conventional views of what a family man is, so she doesnt think his personal life is whats driving his supporters to call him daddy.

I think the origin for his supporters is probably more [about] an authoritarian control, by a man, a single man, she said.

What are the broader implications of having groups of people calling their president daddy? does it signal anything about how the next four years will go?

Neiheisel said that hes concerned to an extent about what this says about how well people will hold elected officials accountable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Strict fathers are to be obeyed without question in this worldview, he said. I am also worried, however, about retribution against political rivals, as there may be an expectation that a strict father disciplines dissent and metes out punishment.

Junn said that she believes Trumps supporters who use the familial moniker for the president might want to throw back to a traditional time where daddy was in charge and you just did what he said and everything will be OK.

She said that, while she thinks its too early to make predictions on what this all may mean for the future of the country, the parental nickname signifies something broader nonetheless.

What it signifies is the desire among a lot of his supporters to have the politics be about the man and not about the party platform or not about his policies per se, Junn said.

Whats considered a healthy approach for how one should view their president and other elected officials?

Neiheisel said that presidents, or any political figures, can easily be turned into folk heroes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He pointed to whats known as a beer poll, in which voters are polled to find out which candidate theyd rather get a drink with.

A healthier model, perhaps, is to think about presidents and other politicians as employees that we have to make a decision about whether to hire or fire, he said.

A president does a lot of things, but hes not your daddy, Junn said, adding, He is not a dictator, he is not all-powerful, he has checks and balances  not only by the other branches of government but also of states, as well as ordinary Americans who either did or didnt vote for him.

Hes not all-powerful, and hes certainly not your daddy, she said.

Related...
WASHINGTON  A prolific conspiracy theorist who has embraced the QAnon cult and already has a 60-name enemies list of President Donald Trumps critics goes before U.S. senators Thursday to determine whether he will take charge of the nations premier law enforcement agency.

Kash Patel, who has spread Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him and the debunked claim that the FBI instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, violent assault on the Capitol, will soon be running that agency  unless four Republican senators defy Trump and vote him down.

What makes Patel dangerous is his willingness to harness and deploy government resources, said Amanda Carpenter, a former Republican Senate aide and now a researcher with the Protect Democracy nonprofit. When the government gets power like this, it rarely is only used for its publicly intended purpose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patel, if confirmed, would represent a radical departure from the type of nominee presidents of both parties have sought to put in charge of the FBI since a Senate investigation in the 1970s found rampant abuses by J. Edgar Hoover, who had run the agency and its predecessor entity from 1924 until his death in 1972 as a personal fiefdom by investigating his critics for the purpose of holding leverage.

Kash Patel speaks during the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Patel, Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, will face senators vetting him for the job on Thursday. Jose Luis Magan via Associated Press

Trump, who has shown little interest in following good government norms since his election in 2016, has now twice cut short the 10-year term that was established for an FBI director specifically so the agency could not be beholden to a single president. In early 2017, Trump fired then-Director James Comey after he refused to pledge Trump his loyalty.

Trumps choice to replace Comey was Christopher Wray, an establishment Republican who had previously served in the Justice Department with little fanfare. Trump soured on him, though, when the FBI investigated Trumps coup attempt and refusal to turn over classified documents he took to his South Florida country club. After winning back the White House in November, Trump made clear he intended to fire Wray and replace him with Patel, whose biggest claim to fame has been as a die-hard Trump supporter who has vowed to go after Trumps critics.

Were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections, Patel said on Trump ally Steve Bannons podcast in 2023. Were going to come after you, whether its criminally or civilly. Well figure that out. But yeah, were putting you all on notice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is language like that that makes Patel the single most dangerous nominee Trump has put forward, said Norm Eisen, a former White House lawyer under President Barack Obama. He added that Patel would be even worse for the country than Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps pick for director of national intelligence despite her statements siding with dictators like Russias Vladimir Putin and Syrias recently deposed Bashar Assad.

Her position is more of a ceremonial one, Eisen said. He can do much more damage, particularly domestically, which is more dangerous than international. Dont get me wrong. Shes bad, but hes the worst.

Trumps White House did not respond to HuffPost queries about Patel. But Mike Davis, a former Senate lawyer and Trump ally who has been preparing Patel for his Thursday appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Patel would make it clear that his statements as an entertainer would not affect his actions once confirmed.

There is a difference between podcaster Kash Patel and national security Kash Patel, and the American people will see it, Davis said.

Discrediting The Russia Probe

Unlike many Trump acolytes who came up in Republican politics, Patel, 44, began his career as a public defender in state and federal courts in Miami before moving to the Justice Department during Obamas tenure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His rise in Trumps circle began when he moved to work under Devin Nunes, a California congressman at the time who was the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Trump was obsessed with undermining the intelligence communitys assessment, shared by a separate investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee, that Putin had helped Trump win the 2016 election.

Patel authored a report trying to discredit special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into ties between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia, winning great acclaim in pro-Trump media. It became the go-to document for those pushing Trumps false claim that it was all a hoax.

From there, Patel went to work in Trumps White House as a staffer for the National Security Council until the final months of that first term, when he became chief of staff in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and, ultimately, chief of staff for the acting secretary of defense. Trump tried to install Patel as deputy CIA director as part of his machinations to remain in power despite having lost reelection, but backed down when agency Director Gina Haspel said she would resign in protest.

Between the end of the first Trump term and the start of the second, Patel enthusiastically joined in the pro-Trump movements grift machine, cashing in on appearances and merchandise exploiting the seemingly limitless demand for all things Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He produced a podcast for the conspiracy theory-promoting news site Epoch Times. He traveled the country for revival-style meetings of believers of QAnon, a fringe cult that sees Trump as a messianic figure destined to rid the government of those who secretly murder children to drink their blood.

(In a 2022 interview, Patel said of QAnon adherents: I talk with the president all the time as well. And were just blown away at the amount of acumen some of these people have.)

He marketed clothing and accessories with his K$H logo, peddling them at conservative gatherings. He published a series of childrens books featuring King Donald and casting himself as a wizard who foils plots against him by villains including Hillary Queenton and Comma-la-la-la.

He joined in the daily pile-ons against perceived Trump enemies, including those who are now great friends of Trump, such as the worlds richest man, Elon Musk. You are a complete and total fake who cares only about $, Patel wrote in a 2023 social media post. Your cheap Titter posts and your Mickey Mouse clown droppings do not absolve you.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He helped produce a recording of The Star-Spangled Banner made by inmates of the District of Columbia jail accused and, in some cases, already convicted of assaulting police officers on Jan. 6, which Trump then participated in and which was then sold commercially. Trump subsequently played the song at his rallies while he would stand at attention.

He even helped market pills that claim  with zero evidence of efficacy  to undo the effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Spike the Vax, order this homerun kit to rid your body of the harms of the vax, Patel wrote in a social media post, linking to Warrior Essentials website.

A lot of its just crazy, said John Bolton, a national security adviser in Trumps first term and Patels boss for a time. He, like many first-term Trump appointees, opposes Patels nomination.

So Many Enemies

No FBI nominee in history has come to the job with such a comical assortment of statements and money-making schemes. Yet, If Patels nomination fails, it could well be because of the adult book he published in 2023, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hoover famously sought out subversives and communists to target in his decades in power. Patel, in contrast, has based his dividing line between friend and foe much more simply: how an individual has treated Trump and, relatedly, Patel himself.

Deep state is a phrase popularized by Bannon to describe individuals in the federal government who are not personally loyal to Trump, and, in his book, Patel printed an appendix naming 60 of them.

This list only includes current and former executive branch officials and is not exhaustive. It does not, for example, include other corrupt actors of the first order such as Congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, members of Fusion GPS or Perkins Coie, Christopher Steele, Paul Ryan, the entire fake news mafia press corps, etc., he wrote.

Some names are unsurprising  Democratic leaders who have criticized Trump over the years like former President Joe Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris. Prosecutors who investigated Trumps actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, 2021, and his subsequent retention of secret documents made the list, as did those who took part in the FBIs earlier investigation into Trumps acceptance of Russian assistance to help win the 2016 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps own attorney general, Bill Barr, is on the list, as is Alexander Vindman, the NSC whistleblower who revealed Trumps attempt to coerce Ukraine into investigating then-candidate Biden. Wray, who resigned rather than force Trump to fire him, is on Patels list, as are Bidens attorney general, Merrick Garland, and Obamas attorney general, Loretta Lynch.

CIA Director Haspel, whose threatened resignation made Trump reconsider his attempt to make Patel her deputy, is now on Patels enemies list.

Also on the list, though, are Trump administration officials whose only offense appears to have been refusing to go along with his scheme to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone and his deputy, Pat Philbin, are both included. They advised Trump against taking illegal actions in the final weeks of his first term and, prior to that, opposed Trumps effort to install a pliant attorney general who was willing to help spread his lies about a stolen election.

White House communications staffers Alyssa Farah Griffin and Stephanie Grisham are on the list, too. They criticized Trumps coup attempt immediately after it happened and became vocal critics thereafter, but it is unclear whether that is their only heresy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because they didnt tell Trump yes to everything, they are enemies! Protect Democracys Carpenter said. They go after their own first and hardest. They have to stamp out any dissent in their own party before they can do it more broadly.

Davis, the Trump ally who helped Patel prepare for Thursdays hearing, said senators and Americans generally will see during his appearance a serious law enforcement professional, notwithstanding his previous inflammatory remarks. There is a reason the Barack Obama Justice Department gave him a national security award, he said.

Bolton, who like Eisen sees Patel as a dangerous nominee because of his avowed interest in seeking revenge, said Patel is undoubtedly undergoing some confirmation conversion to distance himself from his previous statements.

Nonetheless, he worried that unlike Democrats during President Ronald Reagans term who were able to effectively grill and in some cases defeat nominees, todays cohort might not be up to the task. He cited Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths successful confirmation despite a paper-thin resume for the job.

The Democrats today dont match up to the Democrats of the mid-1980s, Bolton said. So if they have another performance like their performance in the Armed Services Committee for Patel and Gabbard, both of them might get through.
TEXAS COUNTY, Mo.  A contractor exposed by KOLR 10 Investigates for ripping off elderly victims has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a years-long scheme of financial exploitation.

Our investigative team has spent over a year uncovering the details of this case and others following a trail of victims across Missouri and Arkansas who say they were taken advantage of by Brian Sides.

Branson man sued for scamming customers now faces criminal charges

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sides fraudulent activities date back to the aftermath of the 2011 Joplin tornado, where he allegedly preyed on vulnerable homeowners. Despite numerous lawsuits from victims, criminal charges against Sides were not filed until recently.

On Jan. 28, 2025, Sides pleaded guilty in Texas County to charges of theft and deceptive business practices after taking nearly $50,000 from victim Mark Feltrop. Sides promised to install solar panels at Feltrops property but never performed any of the agreed-upon work.

Contractor known for scamming elderly in MO and AR avoids court

Under a plea agreement, Sides was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to Feltrop, according to the Texas County prosecutor. KOLR 10 Investigates is continuing to gather details on the full terms of the agreement, including whether Sides will face jail time or probation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to the charges in Texas County, Sides also faces allegations of deceptive business practices and financial exploitation of an elder in Taney County. He is scheduled to appear in court next month to answer those charges.

If you have a story youd like KOLR 10 Investigates to look into, email Investigates@OzarksFirst.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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
HIGH POINT  A subsidiary of the Carroll Cos. of Greensboro has dropped plans to develop an industrial project at an east High Point intersection.

Carroll Investment Properties has put 20.56 acres it owns at the northeast corner of E. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Dillon Road on the market.

The company previously pursued a rezoning of the undeveloped site to support about 110,000 square feet of building space for warehouse, distribution or light assembly uses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carroll Investment Properties never announced a tenant or end user for the proposed development and withdrew its rezoning application to the city.

A representative of the company could not be reached for comment.

The site has been targeted for commercial uses for more than 25 years, but nothing has come to fruition.

Carroll Cos. initially proposed a shopping center with a grocery store anchor tenant on this tract as part of a larger, 72-acre mixed-use development called Broadstone Village that it got rezoned in 1999.

The adjoining part of Broadstone Village to the north has been completed and contains a variety of residential use types.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The listing for the undeveloped tract points out that its at a signalized intersection with a traffic count of about 13,000 vehicles per day is half a mile from U.S. 29 (Interstate 85 Business).

The site, which is addressed at 3303 and 3317 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, consists of two parcels and has split zoning.

The larger, 12-acre tract has frontage along both roads and is zoned general business. Carroll Investment Properties has owned it since 2000.

It acquired a smaller, adjoining parcel to the east thats zoned residential multifamily in 2013.

The company was previously seeking to rezone the two parcels to the employment center district to support industrial development.
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WGN)  A patient at the Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois, died last Thursday after getting locked out on the facilitys roof.

Chelsea Adolphus, 28, of Waukegan, was admitted to the hospital for alcohol rehab on Wednesday, but left her room early the morning of January 23 around 2 a.m., according to her family and local coroner Jennifer Banek.

Around 8:45 a.m. Thursday, she was discovered unresponsive on a second-floor roof, wearing only her hospital gown and suffering from hypothermia. Her body temperature was recorded at around 50 degrees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was pronounced dead just after 11 p.m., with a preliminary finding of hypothermia.

Chelsea Adolphus, 28, died on Thursday after getting locked out on the roof of the Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois. (WGN)

Banek, the Lake County Coroner, blasted the leadership at Vista Medical Center in a press conference Monday, claiming they did not have a system in place to prevent such an incident or alert staff.

Banek added that it was only after another patients family saw Adolphus on the roof that the staff was alerted and she was recovered. The second-floor door that Adolphus had used did not have an alarm, and locked after closing behind her, Banek told reporters.

Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses recently soared in these states

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The coroner further claimed she has voiced previous concerns about the hospital, which she alleges recently furloughed 69 sitters. Those employees are responsible for watching and monitoring patients to make sure they are safe when they are most vulnerable, according to Banek.

A death is not the threshold for by which we should be measuring a necessity for a call-to-action, she said. American Healthcare Systems must be held accountable to provide safe, quality healthcare to Waukegan and its surrounding communities. It has repeatedly fallen short by failing to meet its financial obligations to vendors, clinical providers, the City of Waukegan for its water bill, in addition to $1 million dollars owed in back taxes.

Banek said she sent both Vista Medical Center East and its parent company, American Healthcare Systems, a preservation letter which seeks to assure all paper, digital and electronic evidence is not destroyed or deleted.

Banek, the Lake County Coroner, said her office believes the leadership at Vista Medical Center did not have a system in place to prevent the incident or alert staff. (WGN)

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is also planning to announce a lawsuit against the hospital on behalf of Adolphus family, his law firm confirmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chelsea Adolphus died alone, freezing on the roof of a hospital where she went for help  a place that should have protected her, Crump said in a statement. Instead, she was left to walk through an unsecured door that locked behind her, sealing her fate.

This lawsuit is about holding Vista Medical Center accountable for the horrifying negligence that led to Chelseas death and ensuring that no other family has to suffer such a preventable tragedy.

5 frustrating health insurer tactics and why they exist

Speaking with Nexstars WGN last week, Adolphus brother Paul Adolphus claimed that medical staff gave him three conflicting stories about how and where his sisters body was found. Paul told WGN he met with hospital officials on Friday, and they finally were able to provide him with some answers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[They] confirmed to me that my sisters body was on the roof and that she slept on their roof, Paul said. Its not fair that my sisters life was in their hands.

WGN had reached out to American Healthcare Systems for a statement.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Taxpayers have paid millions of dollars to settle disputes between the state and its public employees in recent years, but the true scope of costs is unknown due to haphazard record keeping and management, according to a new state audit.

Mismanaging these agreements puts taxpayers at risk and silently condones the continued ability to exploit taxpayer dollars to protect powerful officials, Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio wrote in her nearly 150-page audit.

DiZoglios office reviewed 75 state agencies. The audit looked at settlement agreements reached between the state and employees. Settlement agreements are commonly used to end lawsuits, which can save the state and its taxpayers the cost of litigation and avoid potentially higher penalties at trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday, DiZoglio acknowledged the taxpayer benefits to settling employment disputes outside of court. But she said her office uncovered troubling trends concerning record keeping and the use of confidentiality agreements.

[T]axpayer dollars may be weaponized to force employees into silence, DiZoglio wrote in her report, later adding, There is a risk that confidentially (sic) language may be used to cover up harassment, discrimination, or other unlawful behaviors, potentially allowing perpetrators to continue to remain in their position and engage in further unlawful behavior.

The governors office, aware of the pending report, issued a formal, written policy addressing settlement agreements on Monday. Governor Healey banned the use of confidentiality agreements and called for enhanced tracking of settlement agreements across the executive branch. The governors office said it was merely formalizing a pre-established approach to employee settlements.

DiZoglios report sought any settlement agreements the state struck with employees between 2010 and 2022. It found 2,029 settlements costing more than $40,800,000 in taxpayer money. Fewer than 160 contained a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But DiZoglio said all numbers may be higher than reported due to poor record keeping.

[S]ome state agencies had difficulties locating and producing these records, DiZoglio noted in her report. Some reported that they may have been destroyed because their records retention period had already expired.

The audit criticized the states executive branch for its lack of a centralized list of employee settlement agreements and supporting documentation.

In its response to the auditors findings, the state said that the executive department worked collaboratively and cooperatively with OSA to locate and produce information and documents from a thirteen-year audit period, nine years of which fell outside of the presumptive records retention period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the thirteen-year audit period, many executive department offices and agencies underwent broad organizational changes or consolidated their human resources functions, updated their computer systems, and sent older case-related materials to offsite paper storage, the state said in its response. In each case in which settlement agreements could not be located, the offices and agencies explained how its searches were conducted and why certain requested agreements could not be found. Consequently, we disagree with the reports unfounded implication that settlement agreements have been unlawfully withheld from OSA.

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 most successful companies in the world often seem to choose between mind-boggling profits and their public commitments to sustainability. However, recent disclosures from Costco show there is a way to be both successful and environmentally friendly.

In the company's latest earnings call, Costco CEO Ron Vachris not only outlined the company's exceptional growth and plans for 2025, but also highlighted how those plans and its commitment to sustainability go hand in hand.

According to details from the call, reported by Progressive Grocer, "sustainability results include initiatives to minimize water, waste, energy, and emissions in warehouses." The company also replaced 7 million gallons of diesel fuel with renewable diesel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This should not come as a surprise. Costco's website lays out an ambitious set of climate-friendly goals.

Perhaps most importantly, it points out that the company needs to be adaptable: "Our approach to addressing our climate impacts is rooted in our sustainability principles, with a strong emphasis that we are learning as we go and seeing continuous improvement." This level of transparency and honesty is, unfortunately, rare in the corporate world.

Costco's practices help consumers by providing an efficient shopping experience with cost-effective products and services. The company's commitment to sustainability also ensures it is doing what it can to limit its contributions to air pollution and waste.

The company has backed up its talk by instituting outside-the-box policies that benefit both Costco and the environment. For instance, last year, it announced an ambitious electronics trade-in program in exchange for Costco store credit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company continues to work toward its pollution goals, while many other corporations have abandoned or adjusted their proclamations.

Costco is committed to educating its workforce and supply chain on best practices. As Vachris explained: "We have continued to grow globally, reaching more than 890 warehouses around the world. Consequently, we recognize the importance of continuing our work towards a more sustainable future for our members, employees, suppliers, shareholders, communities, and environment."

Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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.
Air Force None

After leaving the federal government's operations in shambles and causing major confusion over healthcare funding, SpaceX CEO and White House advisor Elon Musk has a new priority: the delivery of a pair of luxurious Boeing 747s, so he and president Donald Trump can jet around in style.

And in an unusual twist, Musk is talking to longtime space industry competitor Boeing to speed up the delivery of the two Air Force One passenger jets.

Musk reportedly stopped by Boeing in person to chat with the company's chief executive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Weve been engaged with Elon," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC. Ortberg took over the reins in August in an effort to rescue the company's nose-diving reputation.

It's an eyebrow-raising collaboration, to say the least. Boeing has repeatedly made headlines for years over its passenger planes falling apart mid-air and worse.

The company has been in crisis mode for a while now, laying off around 17,000 employees in October following a disastrous year and a massive strike. Its efforts to develop an alternative to SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft have been a complete catastrophe as well.

Jetting Odds

In a move that's become a hallmark of Boeing's operations, the Air Force One planes are already more than $2 billion over budget and several years late.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2018, Trump struck a $3.9 billion deal with the aerospace company for two new Air Force One planes, asking for them to be ready by 2021. But Boeing has dragged its feet, blaming labor constraints and supply chain shortages for the four-year delay and astronomical overspending.

"The president wants those planes sooner so were working with Elon to see what can we do to pull up the schedule of those programs," Ortberg told CNBC.

Needless to say, the money could be better spent on virtually anything else. Trump's chaotic first two weeks in the White House have been filled with alleged actions to cut the federal government's budget.

Yet a pair of lavish, multibillion-dollar planes are somehow not on the chopping block, once again showing the administration's unwillingness to put its money where its mouth is.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And Ortberg is still preparing for failure, telling investors not long after meeting with Musk that there was "no silver bullet" for the Air Force One program, as quoted by CNN.

More on Boeing: A Boeing Jet's Nose Was Caught on Video Suddenly Collapsing to the Ground
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a Merrillville mans conviction and 100-year sentence Tuesday for killing his wifes former boyfriends friend with a tow truck.

In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas wrote there was enough evidence to convict and that the sentence was appropriate after looking at Maximilliono Farias character.

A jury convicted Farias, now 40, in April of murder and attempted murder in the May 16, 2022 death of John Garner, 19. He can appeal the ruling to the Indiana Supreme Court. His earliest release date is in 2097.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evidence showed Farias, a tow truck driver, was going about 33 miles per hour and video showed he didnt brake or try to avoid Cameron Prince, the ex-boyfriend, or Garner, before fleeing, Tavitas wrote.

Merrillville Police were called around 7 p.m. to Sheffields Sportsbar and Restaurant parking lot, 1515 E. 82nd Ave., for a reported crash. Garner was lying in the south parking lot.

Investigators suspected his wife Dezarae Farias initially lied to them before she admitted the relationship with Prince. She lied to police because she was scared of losing Farias, she told police, according to court records.

She and Farias had an abusive relationship in the past and he punched her in the face in a Walmart parking lot earlier that day, she told police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They were headed to Jimmy Johns near Sheffields when Farias recognized Prince and swung toward Sheffields parking lot, she said.

She said Farias was driving between 20 to 30 mph before he hit Garner, charges allege. She believed Farias was trying to scare Prince.

She told police Farias blamed her that he killed an innocent person because of her relationship with Prince, court records show.

mcolias@post-trib.com
The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services raises concerns about the potential impact on public health policy. As hearings on his candidacy take place, it is important for senators to consider how his views and public statements have influenced physicians, children, and the broader health care system.

Kennedy has been a prominent figure in the discussion around vaccines, often promoting claims that contradict established medical research. His advocacy has contributed to growing vaccine hesitancy, a challenge that health care professionals have been working to address for decades.

As a pediatrician, I have witnessed firsthand the influence of vaccine skepticism on parents decision-making. Newborns, especially premature infants in neonatal intensive care, are highly vulnerable to infections. Yet, many parents express concerns about vaccinations, sometimes citing Kennedys statements, including claims reported by the Associated Press linking vaccines to autisman association that has been widely discredited by scientific research.

Discussing the importance of vaccination with hesitant parents can be challenging, as some may view health professionals with skepticism due to widespread misinformation.

His influence cannot be underestimated. In a 2023 study analyzing over 300 million tweets related to COVID-19 vaccines, Kennedy was the most popular low-credibility source. His work accounted for more than one-tenth of all retweets of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in the study. On the platform, he was more popular than authoritative sources such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an organization whose guidance he has urged people to resist and an agency he would directly oversee if confirmed as secretary of health and human services.

In part due to Kennedys claim that there is no vaccine that is safe and effective, childhood immunization rates have been steadily decreasing. This year, rates of immunization against whooping cough dropped to 92.3 percent among kindergartners and to 92.7 percent against measleslow enough to fuel 16 outbreaks of measles last year.

Pediatricians remember well the 2019 national measles epidemic, which included more than 1,250 cases across 31 states. With over 450 cases in New York, legislators removed nonmedical vaccine exemptions for school attendance, inciting the wrath of Kennedy and his anti-vaxxer followers. Kennedy traveled to New York to fight against the proposal and, in 2015, likened similar public health mandates on immunization in California to the Holocaust. As a pediatrician supporting New Yorks law, several of us were harassed by anti-vaxxers online and in person at our state capitol, and a colleagues office was protested.

Over 17,000 physicians, including national medical groups such as Doctors for America and the American Public Health Association, oppose Kennedys nomination because doctors remain haunted by the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when much about the disease was unknown, personal protective equipment was unavailable, and patients crammed intensive care unitsdying at rates many of us had never before experienced. During those early days of the pandemic, when steroids and hope were our only treatments, we longed for a vaccine that could effectively prevent the disease and stop the spread of the infection. That breakthrough came in record time, in December of 2020.

Kennedy called COVID-19 vaccines the deadliest vaccine ever made, causing COVID-19 vaccine rates to steadily decrease. It is estimated that roughly 230,000 preventable COVID-19 deaths in the United States occurred in unvaccinated individuals after the immunization was widely available.

All of this distracts us from the fact that vaccines are among medicines greatest public health achievements. The World Health Organization estimates immunization has saved over 150 million lives over the past 50 years. In the United States alone, vaccines prevent 24 million cases of childhood disease and, over 30 years, have saved $2.7 trillion. Immunizations are also the most thoroughly studied and well-tested medicines. They are safer than anything in your medicine cabinet and have made infections like rubella and polio diseases of a bygone era.

If you need direct evidence of the danger Kennedy can pose to our system of public health, look no farther than Samoa. In 2018, two children died after receiving the measles vaccine in the small island nation. Within two weeks, a nursing error was discoveredthe powdered form of the vaccine was incorrectly mixed with a muscle relaxant instead of water. Kennedy continued warnings that vaccination was killing children in Samoa. He traveled to Samoa and effectively maintained the message that measles vaccination was lethal. By 2019, there were 5,700 measles cases among an island population of roughly 200,000.

Eighty-three people died.

Americas vaccination system has real issues. The publics trust in immunization is weakened. Payment for vaccinations insufficiently covers costs, and the federal Vaccines for Children Program, which supports vaccination for 19 diseases and delivers 74 million doses of vaccine annually, needs updating. But whatever problems exist in our immunization delivery system, Kennedy is not interested in solving themonly in destroying our immunization system from the inside.

Shetal Shah is a neonatologist.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday his fellow Republicans are unified as they head into a crucial period to start writing legislation advancing some of President Donald Trumps big priorities.

But their social media posts suggest otherwise.

We are exactly where we are supposed to be on our timetable. This is all pre-planned and its coming together very well, Johnson told reporters at a press conference near the end of the House Republicans annual policy retreat at Trumps resort in Doral, Fla.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two-and-a-half day gathering, where House GOP party members meet, socialize and hold cheerleading sessions, was meant to steel rank-and-file members for the tough political fights to come. On Monday, they heard from Trump, who said it was more important than ever to find unity, given the razor-thin margin by which Republicans hold the House.

Congressional Republicans want to keep and expand Trumps temporary 2017 tax cuts, add money for defense spending and the border, make big spending cuts in social programs and maybe raise the debt limit this spring. To do that, they will need to pass at least one budget, which will then spin off so-called reconciliation bills they can push through later without needing Democratic votes.

But each step of that fight  from taking hard votes on budgets to the later bills, which will likely be attached to politically toxic spending cuts  will require near-unanimous party unity.

At the center of the fight will be Johnson, who will have to shepherd all of that through his chamber. After the resignations of two House GOP members to serve in Trumps administration, Johnson only has one Republican vote now to spare if all Democrats vote against what the Republicans come up with.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson said Wednesday his plan is for the House Budget Committee to consider a budget resolution  the first step in the process that would set out general parameters for later legislation  when lawmakers return to the U.S. Capitol next week. The plan would be to pass that through the House by late February.

But many basic questions about the process appeared Wednesday to be unresolved. Will there be one big bill, including taxes, spending and possibly a hike in the federal debt ceiling, or two, so those issues canbe split up? What size package or packages is the GOP looking at? What specific policies will be included?

Johnson said hed hoped for some clarity by the time House Republicans left Florida, but many were likely already on their way home by the time GOP leaders held their press conference.

Not long after Johnsons remarks Wednesday, the House Freedom Caucus, a group of hard-right conservative and libertarian GOP House members, appealed on social media to members on their way home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Are you a Republican Member of Congress leaving Miami today feeling rudderless when it comes to reconciliation? Are you worried you may be dragged into a process that will cause you to break your America First campaign promises? the group asked. It then urged fellow Republicans to support the groups own plan, which calls for a $4 trillion hike in the debt ceiling and two bills, with additional defense and border funding in one and taxes in the other, instead of Johnsons still-developing plan.

House GOP leaders, including Johnson and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), have said they support a one-bill strategy instead, putting them at odds with the Freedom Caucus andSenate GOP leaders.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green, who was booted from the Freedom Caucus group in 2023, voiced her own displeasure at how Johnson was handling things, as well.

After two days at our House Republican winter retreat, we still do not have a plan on budget reconciliation and our Speaker and his team have not offered one. Not even if we are in a one bill or two bill framework, even though President Trump (who prefers one big beautiful bill) literally told us here at the start of our conference that he now does not care if its one or two, she posted on social media Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Basically, just get started doing something.

That tone was a far cry from the optimistic post she made on her personal account Monday afternoon.

Im excited to be at Trump National Doral Miami for a few days to work with my House Republican colleagues to pass President Trumps MAGA agenda! she wrote, with an American flag emoji.

Johnson for his part stressed how many House GOP members attended this years retreat  a turnaround from 2024 when many of them skipped the event amid concern about the partys chances of keeping the House. He said 94% of House Republicans had been directly engaged in discussions over how to act on Trumps priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only 14 Republicans have not directly engaged in one of the conference discussions, and some of them are because of their schedule conflicts et cetera. But every single member will be involved, he said at the press conference.

While 14 is a small portion of the 218-member House GOP conference, Johnsons margin for error will be even smaller.

If both of the currently vacant House seats are won by Republicans in April, as expected, that will add two more votes to Johnsons margin. But that would still only bring the number of votes Johnson could lose to two.

Related...
Jan. 29Police were reporting multiple crashes Wednesday morning as snow blanketed the state.

A section of Broadway in South Portland is closed because of a crash, causing significant traffic delays across the city. The backups come in the middle of a morning commute already slowed by slippery, snow-covered roads.

There were also several crashes on Interstate 95, including one that blocked the southbound lanes in Sidney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Portland police say the "significant" crash happened on Broadway at Lincoln Street but did not immediately say if anyone was injured or if the weather contributed to the crash.

Police closed Broadway in South Portland from Cash Corner to Lincoln until further notice. Wires are down in the roadway and fire crews are actively working at the scene, police said. The traffic lights at the Evans Street intersection are also out because of the crash.

At 9:20 a.m., traffic on Broadway from the Casco Bay Bridge to Cash Corner was significantly backed up.

City officials expect the traffic impacts to continue for several hours while Central Maine Power workers replace a damaged pole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maine State Police say a tractor-trailer crashed at mile 117 on I-95, blocking the southbound lanes. The highway is shut down at mile marker 120 in Sidney, and police were advising people to take a different route to avoid delays.

Traffic was also delayed on the Maine Turnpike between Exit 63 in Gray and Exit 53 in Falmouth because of a crash involving multiple vehicles at mile 57 in Cumberland, according to an alert from the Maine Turnpike Authority at 8:40 a.m. Both lanes were blocked, causing stopped and slow moving traffic.

The snow Wednesday morning prompted many school districts across southern Maine to delay the start of classes by two hours.

This story will be updated.

Copy the Story Link
Firefighters from several different communities helped to extinguish flames shooting from a Watertown home on Tuesday.

The blaze broke out just before 4 p.m. on Westminster Avenue, according to officials.

Arriving companies found heavy fire on the first floor, and ordered a second alarm response, which prompted companies from Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, and Newton to respond.

There was one person inside the home at the time, but they made it out safely before firefighters arrived.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Crews were able to extinguish the flames in a timely manner.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
MULDROW, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  Crews are looking for a missing United States Army veteran after the vehicle he was riding landed in the Arkansas River after a crash.

According to See Me OKC, a group that helps find missing people, Justin Baker was last seen Jan. 24 at Old Town Bar in Fort Smith around 2:30 a.m.

Baker had received a ride home. The vehicle had one woman and one other man in it. There was a crash and the car ended up in the Arkansas River.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

See Me OKC says the other two people were able to swim ashore, but lost track of Baker.

Baker is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and ways 248 pounds with black salt and pepper hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of his moms name, Kelly, on his upper right arm, an angry sun on his right forearm with orange and blue flames, an iron cross on his right wrist, James Frog Smith on his back and a prayer on his right calf.

Baker was last seen wearing a blue plaid long-sleeve shirt with pearl buttons.

See Me OKC says The Highway Patrol Marine Division, search and rescue dogs, the Fort Smith Fire Department and the Arkaoma Fire Department have all aided in the search for Baker over the last four days. Additional searches are expected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If anyone has any information on Bakers whereabouts, call the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at 918-683-3256.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Monday at 11 a.m.

Reginald Hill, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, felony capias warrant.

James R. Moody, 37, of Marigold, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Monday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An East Garrison Road woman said a Bullmastiff showed up on her property and wont leave. The dog is healthy and does not appear to be a stray. The dog is not aggressive toward people but is aggressive toward other animals. The woman is unable to take her small dog outside. The deputy explained that there are no leash laws in the county and that she has the right to protect herself and her pet.

A County Road 503, Guntown, woman said an unknown white male came to her house around 10 a.m. He said he was with DirecTV and needed in the house to check her equipment. When she refused to let the man inside, he left. She said the man was not in a DirecTV uniform or driving a DirecTV badged vehicle. She called DirecTV and they told her they would never show up at her residence and ask to inspect her equipment. The company suggested she file a police report.

A County Road 1350, Tupelo, man was at work when a neighbor called around 9 a.m. saying someone had wrecked and knocked down his mailbox. The man went home and found a 2013 Buick Enclave in his front yard. There was damage to all sides of the car and all the airbags had deployed. The driver had already fled the scene. A contractor said it would cost $2,500 to replace the brick column mailbox, another $900 to repair the damaged culvert and $125 for a temporary mailbox.

A Pontotoc man said he was driving east on Palmetto Road near County Road 47 around 8:30 a.m. when a dog ran out and he hit it, damaging the front bumper of the 2018 Chevy Tahoe. He needed a report for insurance purposes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A County Road 1457, Mooreville, woman said she downloaded a betting app on her phone. She was led to believe that she won $7,300.11. The app people contacted her and said they would deposit the money into her Regions Bank account. She noticed the money in her account on Jan. 21 and withdrew $4,300 the next day when it became available. She then started noticing withdrawals from several different ATMs. The bank said she needed to file a police report before they could launch an investigation.

A County Road 1451, Mooreville, man said LifeLock called Jan. 17 and said someone opened a credit card account with Chase Bank in his name, LifeLock terminated the card and had his credit bureau accounts locked as well. He needed a police report to keep the accounts locked for seven years.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



In the summer of 2024, an international team of scientists reported the presence of dark oxygen along the ocean floor and theorized that polymetallic nodules may have created this gas via seawater electrolysis.

A flurry of criticism followed the articles publication, including from the deep-sea mining company that funded the study, and challenged the scientists conclusions.

Now, the researchers will once again return to the deep sea specifically to study dark oxygen production and hopefully settle this scientific disagreement once and for all.

Most oxygen on Earth is produced by photosynthesis, as plants and plankton gobble sunlight for food and produce that oh-so-wonderful, life-giving O 2 . However, thats not the only way oxygen can be produced. Enter dark oxygen, a process that isnt as nefarious as it sounds. Simply put, it refers to oxygen produced without sunlight.

Although a couple examples of dark oxygen exist, a new potential sourcediscovered at the dark depths of the Pacific Oceans Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), nestled between Hawaii and the western coast of Mexicohas created a firestorm of interest. Its also sparked significant controversy, as the source of this new dark oxygen could be polymetallic nodules, which are mineral-rich objects that are the prize of deep sea mining companies like The Metals Company.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In July of 2024, an international team of scientists published a paper in the journal Nature Geoscience claiming that these polymetallic nodules (also known as manganese nodules) could be producing oxygen via electrolysis. As millions of years of metallic layers built up in the nodulessimilar to a voltaic pilethe differing electric potential could theoretically produce enough energy to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Almost immediately upon publication, The Metals Company (who helped fund the research) disagreed with the results, and other doubts in the academic community (none of which have been peer reviewed) began to surface.

Andrew Sweetmanlead author of the study and a deep-sea ecologist at the U.K.s Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)and his colleagues have stood by the results.

What if youre getting millions of these little tiny batteries on manganese oxide particles in the nodules [] and theres electrons flowing through the internal layer structure of the manganese oxide?, Sweetman told Popular Mechanics back in September of 2024. I was the worst critic of this paper for 10 years. I said no, this is not possible until I couldnt say no anymore.

Now, Sweetmanbacked by funding from a Japanese charity called The Nippon Foundationwill venture once more to the CCZ to specifically test nodules from the sea floor and hopefully put these criticisms to rest. According to New Scientist, the team will use custom-built landers that can descend up to 12,000 meters below sea level, which is twice the required depth needed to study the nodules. The researchers will also search for the presence of hydrogen, which was not specifically tested in previous research, to further confirm that electrolysis is taking place. The first of three research expeditions will set sail in January of 2026 from San Diego, California, and Sweetman remains confident of the outcome.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This research comes at a sensitive time, as the International Seabed Authority (the global governing body that presides over the CCZ) is still determining the rules and regulations of mining these resource-rich nodules. If these hunks of metal are producing trace amounts of oxygen vis seawater electrolysis, the damage to this already sensitive area could be severeand conservation groups have taken notice.

This is an excellent example of what it means to have the deep ocean as a frontier, a relatively unexplored part of our planet, Oceanographer Lisa Levin told the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition at the time of the initial papers publication. There are still new processes to discover that challenge what we know about life in our ocean.

This will be the first research expedition undertaken with the express purpose of searching for dark oxygen. Previous research on this discovery was part of a more general research expedition investigating ocean respiration. Although Sweetman has faced mounting criticismwhich he admits has taken a personal tollhe remains confident of this future expeditions outcome, as hes seen evidence of this inexplicable oxygen show up in his work for more than a decade.

I know [dark oxygen production] is happening. We have found this now in six places, Sweetman told New Scientist. I know we are going to find it.

You Might Also Like
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has announced the preparation of a new military-technical aid package.

Source: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Shmyhal and Plenkovic met on Wednesday, 29 January, to discuss ways to accelerate peace and hold Russia accountable.

Quote from Shmyhal: "During our meeting, Mr Plenkovic announced the preparation of a new military-technical aid package, which is set to be approved tomorrow [Thursday, 30 January  ed.]."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: Shmyhal also said they agreed to explore the possibility of creating a joint Ukrainian-Croatian working group to monitor the illegal activities of Russia's shadow fleet.

Quote from Shmyhal: "We will work to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its aggression. Croatia already supports the work of the International Register of Damage and our efforts to have all frozen Russian assets fully confiscated and directed towards strengthening our resilience, defence capabilities, and recovery."

Background:

In December 2024, Croatias President Zoran Milanovic promised to block the deployment of Croatian troops to Ukraine as long as he remains in office.

Earlier in autumn 2024, Milanovic refused to approve Croatian troops participation in NATOs NSATU initiative to support Ukraine, arguing that it "could potentially harm national interests".

Support UP or become our patron!
A man extradited from Georgia to Connecticut on Tuesday was arrested on sexual assault and child endangerment charges after police said an investigation found he had inappropriate contact with multiple minors in Norwalk.

The investigation was launched on Nov. 23, 2023, after police received a sexual assault complaint from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, according to the Norwalk Police Department.

The police departments Special Victims Unit assumed the investigation and found that 37-year-old Moises Ruiz of Norwalk had inappropriate contact with multiple juvenile victims, police said. A detective obtained a warrant for Ruizs arrest before working with a Norwalk officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police, the task force helped track Ruiz down to Gwinnett County, Georgia. He was found there and taken into custody by the task force on Jan. 15, police said.

On Tuesday, detectives traveled to Georgia and extradited Ruiz to Connecticut. He was then arrested on two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Ruiz was held on $50,000 and was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.
A Connecticut man who works at a school in Massachusetts has been arrested and accused of sending obscene material to a minor.

Police began investigating last Wednesday when school administrators asked them to look into a report of possible concerning online activity by a staff member at Auburn High School, according to the Auburn Police Department.

Following an extensive investigation, police said detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging 29-year-old Curtis Field of Vernon with disseminating obscene material to a minor. He turned himself in to the police on Tuesday and appeared before a judge in Worcester District Court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police, Field was released on a $500 cash bond and was ordered not to contact any victims and to stay away from them. Police said he was also ordered to stay away from Auburn and Spencer schools and not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Auburn Police Department detectives at 508-832-7777 or textatip@auburnmasspolice.org.
Francisco Oropeza is escorted to the San Jacinto County courthouse for a hearing Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Cold Spring, Texas. Oropeza is suspected of killing five people, including a 9-year-old boy, after neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) David J. Phillip/Associated Press Defense Attorney Anthony Osso speaks to press alongside his legal team, moments after the conviction of his client Francisco Oropeza, who pleaded guilty to life without parole in the Cleveland shooting that left five of his neighbors dead during a dispute, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at the San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Defense Attorney Anthony Osso speaks to press alongside his legal team, moments after the conviction of his client Francisco Oropeza, who pleaded guilty to life without parole in the Cleveland shooting that left five of his neighbors dead during a dispute, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at the San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Defense Attorney Anthony Osso speaks to press alongside his legal team, moments after the conviction of his client Francisco Oropeza, who pleaded guilty to life without parole in the Cleveland shooting that left five of his neighbors dead during a dispute, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at the San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers Speaks to the media surrounded by law enforcement officers during a news conference announcing the arrest of murder suspect Francisco Oropeza on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Cleveland. Law enforcement officials captured Oropeza on Tuesday night at a relative's Montgomery County home, ending a four day manhunt for a suspect who police believe fled after a mass shooting that left five dead. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Horses roam in the front yard of the home located at 141 Walter Drive shown Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Cleveland where Francisco Oropeza lived. Oropeza has been charged with five counts of murder in the mass shooting at his next door neighbors home where five people died on April 28. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

A man charged with killing five of his neighbors in rural San Jacinto County will serve a life sentence without parole with a plea deal secured by authorities Wednesday to avoid a costly death penalty trial, the San Jacinto County district attorney said.

Francisco Oropeza entered his guilty plea Wednesday afternoon inside a courtroom in Coldspring.

MORE ON THIS CASE: Remembering the 5 Texas mass shooting victims, killed after dispute with neighbor

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oropeza, wearing a pink and orange jumpsuit, hardly spoke during the 20-minute hearing. Through a translator, he said he understood the terms of his guilty plea and agreed to it.

Oropeza will never breathe another breath of free air for the rest of his life, and San Jacinto County will never have to worry that he is a threat to any of its citizens, said San Jacinto County District Attorney B. Todd Dillon.

District Attorney B. Todd Dillon speaks alongside Rob Freyer, Assistant District Attorney, to press moments after the conviction of Francisco Oropeza, who pleaded guilty to life without parole in the Cleveland shooting that left five of his neighbors dead during a dispute, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at the San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Had Oropeza gone to trial and been convicted, he could have faced the death penalty.

Oropeza killed five people April 28, 2023, all members of the same extended family, at a home in unincorporated San Jacinto County, near the Cleveland city limit. Prosecutors said Oropeza, who was a neighbor to the victims, entered the home in the Trails End Subdivision armed with an AR-style rifle. He moved room-to-room killing five people in "close contact" shootings, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He then fled out of the house and into the heavily wooded area nearby.

The shooting sparked a four-day manhunt, before Oropeza was found hiding under a pile of laundry at a relatives home in Cut and Shoot, a small city 17 miles west of Cleveland. Prosecutors said he confessed to the shooting after being captured.

The house where, in April, five people died in a mass shooting is shown on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Cleveland. Accused shooter Francisco Oropeza was arrested on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at a relative's Montgomery County home, ending a four day manhunt for a suspect who police believe fled after a mass shooting that left five dead. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Oropeza, a Mexican national, shot the family with a rifle after they complained about him firing a gun near their home, which threatened to wake a sleeping baby. Oropezas defense team disputed those descriptions of the events, and said he had been in an ongoing dispute with the family, which escalated into violence.

The victims were Daniel Enrique Laso, 8; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; and Julisa Molina Rivera, 31. They were all members of one extended family and natives of Honduras, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Fifteen relatives to the victims were in the courtroom Wednesday. Two women gave victim impact statements, speaking to Oropeza in Spanish.

"Only God can judge your for what you have done to our family," said one of the women, whose name wasn't shared by prosecutors. "May God forgive you."

The family declined comment after the sentencing hearing.

After the hearing, Oropeza's lawyer, Anthony Osso, said the man was remorseful about killing a child.

"He was remorseful," Osso said. "He stepped up and he took responsibility and he signed up for life in prison. He knows he'll never get out. He knows he'll never get a life like the one he lived."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The families of the victims consented to prosecutors offering Oropeza a plea deal, Dillon said.

While Oropeza was advised that his guilty plea would likely affect his immigration status  a warning that's given to all felony criminal defendants  prosecutors and his defense team said there was no possibility that he would be removed from a Texas state prison and deported to Mexico. Oropeza had been deported four times in his life before the shooting  twice in 2009, and in 2012 and 2016, ICE officials said.

Before Wednesdays hearing, the DA's office also said that accepting the plea deal was a consideration of the sheer cost of funding Oropezas legal bill.

The county typically budgets about $280,000 for indigent defense, Dillon said. The cost of defending Oropeza, had his case gone to trial, would have topped $1 million, officials said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A memorial is shown Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Cleveland outside the Guzman family home located at 171 Walter Drive where five people died in a mass shooting on April 28. Francisco Oropeza, who lived next door has been charged with five counts of murder. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Janet A. Jokela discusses the profound impact of artificial intelligence in health care, exploring how AI is reshaping clinical decision-making, reducing physician burnout, and strengthening the patient-physician bond. She highlights the potential of AI to address health care inequities and ethical challenges, while also considering concerns about transparency, bias, and the future role of physicians. This conversation illuminates the balance between innovation and responsibility in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in medicine.

Janet A. Jokela, MD, MPH, ACPs Treasurer 2022-2025, served as the Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Urbana, and currently serves as Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Engagement at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL.

She discusses the KevinMD article, Navigating the world of artificial intelligence in health care.

Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft.

Do you spend more time on administrative tasks like clinical documentation than you do with patients? Youre not alone. Clinicians report spending up to two hours on administrative tasks for each hour of patient care. Microsoft is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with DAX Copilot, an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that automates clinical documentation and workflows.

70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences.

Help restore your work-life balance with DAX Copilot, your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows.

VISIT SPONSOR  https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST  https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD  https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE  https://www.kevinmd.com/cme

Im partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus

Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome back Janet A. Jokela. She is the treasurer of the American College of Physicians and an infectious disease physician. Todays KevinMD article is Navigating the world of artificial intelligence in health care. Janet, welcome back to the show.

Janet A. Jokela: Thank you so much, Kevin. Delighted to be here.

Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us what your latest article is about.

Janet A. Jokela: ACP published a policy paper on artificial intelligence in health care this past year. I thought it would be a good opportunity to highlight that, review that, and chat about this topic with you and your audience.

Kevin Pho: Yeah, so I think that the evolution of that intersection between AI and health care is almost changing daily in terms of the applications that AI has and the implications for the way we practice medicine going forward. So tell me some of the highlights from the ACP paper.

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, so in this paper, there are ten positions, and its all laid out very clearly. One of them is that AI may be thought of more as augmented intelligence as opposed to artificial intelligencethat its a tool to be used by physicians, that it is not going to replace physicians. It must not replace physicians; a patient needs a physician. Another one is that all these principles of AI development and use must be aligned with medical ethics. That will help enhance the patient-physician relationship and everything else that we hold so dear when we care for patients. So it touches on things like that.

Kevin Pho: Through your observations, through your interactions in ACPand of course you work in an academic medical centerhow are you seeing AI intersect with what youre doing in medicine on a daily basis?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, well, certainly in medical education, its a very hot topic. How do we teach this to our medical students? What do we teach to our medical students? How do we prepare them to enter this rapidly changing world? So thats one thing that is certainly high on peoples minds, like what do we do and how do we do this? Whether thats with medical students or residents, thats kind of a hot topic.

In practice, there are certainly a number of practices across the country who are now using digital scribes, which is a really interesting thing. A physician may have an interaction with a patient, have a visit with a patient, and then at the end of the meeting, the digital scribe will spit out a draft note. Thats pretty cool. And then, of course, there are other avenues where artificial intelligence is being used in clinical medicine, especially in radiologylike mammographyand also pathology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and so on. So theres that whole diagnostic type of activity that AI is doing there, but also tasks like scheduling clinicians or scheduling patients. So theres a wide array of places where AI is intersecting with us in medicine.

Kevin Pho: So lets talk about the first thing, medical education. Of course, you are a medical educator yourself. How are medical students, residents, and interns utilizing AI today? And as someone who oversees that, do you see any red flags or potential dangers in the way that your students are using artificial intelligence?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, good questionexcellent question. One of the main things that we seeand this is a hot topic in the world of publishing as wellis, for instance, maybe not so much in medical school, but more in undergraduate education. Lets say students have an assignment to write X, Y, Z. Do they do it themselves, or do they go to ChatGPT to write something or create something to turn in? And thats a really interesting ethical issuewhos doing the creating, and where is this coming from?

Then you dive deeper, and you realize that the databases that ChatGPT or whatever system is being used draws uponwhat are those databases? Whats the input into those databases that create the output? We dont know, and we dont have control over that right now. That is a concern, because there may be falsehoods or inaccuracies that are put forth as the output, and that can be quite problematic. So its a challenge these dayshow to navigate this, and also how to guide students in the wild west of AI in this digital landscape.

Kevin Pho: In medical school, and in residency and fellowships, are you or your colleagues giving specific examples of what not to do, giving specific rules, and teaching them the boundaries of how they can ethically use AI when theyre learning to become physicians?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, theres more and more of that. I think thats growing. I think for many faculty, who may not be digital natives, this is just a completely new landscapehow do you teach on this topic to students who are digital natives? Wait, what does that mean? Absolutely, though, in medical school, in residencies, in fellowships, there are efforts across the country and at various institutions to specifically address these issues, concerns, and in many ways to focus on the ethics of AI. How do we use this ethically in health care and medicine? Theres a lot of work being done on thattheres a lot of interest in that. As quickly as AI is changing, the educational efforts are also changing and evolving almost on a daily basis.

Kevin Pho: How about the scenario of working through a case, asking AI, for instance, to interpret lab values and come up with a differential diagnosis? Lets say medical students and residents use AI for that aspect. What is the ACPs position in terms of using AI to say, hypothetically, come up with a differential diagnosis and perhaps analyze a case?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, the paper that ACP just published does not specifically address that. It looks more at the fundamental development of AI tools, as opposed to being in the clinic or hospital today trying to sort out whats going on with a particular patient. That said, it gets back to the database. What are the databases that are being used to generate a differential or a diagnosis? How confident are we in those databases that theyre accurate, that the information is equitablethings that are important to us in medicine? Were at the forefront of this, and I think there are many people right now in medicine, in particular, because the stakes are so high for our patients, who are approaching this cautiously, which I think is warranted and understandable.

Kevin Pho: You mentioned earlier that instead of artificial intelligence, you might prefer to call it augmented intelligence. You mentioned tools like digital scribesfull disclosure, the presenting sponsor of my podcast is a digital scribe companywhat are some other ways that AI can augment a physicians practice?

Janet A. Jokela: Wow. Certainly with radiology, thats been going on for quite some time, right? I think mammography is probably one of the best examples. There have been studies looking at whos bettera radiologist or AIand my understanding is that whats best is them working together. So the physician, the radiologist, with AI to review mammograms or whatever the images are. Those outcomes are better than either alone, which is reassuring in many ways. But thats an example of augmented intelligencethe artificial intelligence can augment the decision making of the physician but not replace it.

Kevin Pho: Im happy that the ACP has come out ahead in terms of developing a policy as it relates to AI. How did the ACP come up with that?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, good question. The way the ACP comes up with any policies or positions is that it bubbles up through the Board of Governors, so from chapters to the governors in the chapters. Its debated and discussed in the Board of Governors, and then it comes to the Board of Regents for approval, then it goes to committees for review, implementation, everything else. Sometimes there may be specific issueswhether its AI or other timely topicsthat ACP leadership, including the Board of Regents, recognizes as really important to pursue and address, then it gets passed on to committees for further exploration.

This is not something that is done over the period of two weeks. Its a very thoughtful, deliberative process. As the policy is researched and drafted, it comes back to the Board of Regents for review, the Board of Governors, other leadership, for input. They might suggest, Say this, not that, or You missed the boat on this topic, or Think of it this way, so again, its stepwise and deliberative, which Im quite proud of. Then finally, its approved by the Board of Regents and submitted for publication. Because its an ACP publication does not guarantee publication in the annals of internal medicine. The same rigorous process of that journal is applied to these papers as it is to anything else, and thats important as well.

Kevin Pho: Are there any other areas of this policy paper that we havent touched upon? What are some of the other main points you want to bring up?

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, one is transparency, emphasizing how important that is. Imagine a worst-case scenario, say, where youre in the exam room with a patient saying, You have X, Y, Z, and the patient may ask, Why do you say that? and the response is, Oh, because, you know, the model says so. Thats a tough place to be, not necessarily understanding how the model worked or why it worked that way. If thats not disclosed to the patientthat, Oh, this is an AI-generated recommendation for a treatment or diagnosisthats problematic. So transparency is really important.

Another one related to all of this is equity. Again, getting back to the databases that are used to build these models: if the information coming into those models does not include patients of all backgrounds, all ethnicities, or any other key demographic, that could potentially lead to biases in the output of recommendations for treatment, diagnosis, or anything else. So those are some of the other positions mentioned in the paper.

Kevin Pho: So how about a message to practicing internal medicine physicians like myself? Not all physicians may be familiar with the nuances of artificial intelligence. If someone is just starting out, wants to incorporate some of these toolsmaybe its a digital scribe, maybe its asking ChatGPT a medical question, or entering personal patient information into ChatGPTwhat are some red flags or guardrails they should consider before doing that?

Janet A. Jokela: Data privacy and patient privacy are paramount. There are some health systems that have established their own large databases but put in place guardrails around patient privacy and data privacy. Thats really critical. For individual physicians working outside such a system, we do not want toand it would be a violation of our oathenter information that is protected or identifiable in some way. We cant do that; thats a big thing.

One place that I think is using AI in an interesting way is dynamedex. Its something thats available through ACP. Theyve created their own internal AI system within that tool, so when a question is put in, it searches internally on all the references they have in their database and gives an answer. Thats a clever way to put guardrails around whats being searched, instead of the entire internet. It confines the search to a more rigorous base of evidence, which is reassuring.

Kevin Pho: And for those who arent familiar with what dynamedex is, give us a 20-second blurb as to what that is.

Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, its a decision support tool. Its all online, all electronic, available through ACP if youre an ACP member. You can put a search item in there, say atrial fibrillation or treatment for AFib, and it will bring you to the AFib page, references, short statements, and so on. Its all referenced, so its reassuring. It inspires confidence in what youre saying and recommending for your patients. It certainly limits the database to something thats more evidence-based compared to a search engine that uses the entire internet.

Kevin Pho: So going forward, as we said earlier, the evolution of artificial intelligence is very fast, sometimes faster than organizations can keep up with. From your standpoint or the ACP standpoint, where do you see AI going forward? What are some predictions you may have as it relates to the intersection between AI and health care?

Janet A. Jokela: Sure, good question. Eric Topols book, Deep Medicine, published in 2019, touches on this. His thinking suggests that AI eventually may help peoplesave physicians time. Hes very forthright, saying that primary care is hard, in many ways broken, and its hard to connect with patients. Internal medicine physicians, all physicians who see patients, want to protect that time. If AI tools do save us time, we can preserve that to spend with our patients, which is where we all want to be.

Kevin Pho: Do you recall any specific ways that Dr. Topol predicted in 2019 that it would save us time? Certainly, digital scribes can help, as you mentioned. Is there anything else he predicted that may prove prescient?

Janet A. Jokela: I think the digital scribes are a big part. We know people spend a lot of time on notes, and yes, there are templates in EHRs that people use, but digital scribes can help. Another one is incorporating billing procedures into the digital scribe system. There may be other tasks, such as prior authorizations, that AI could help withthough AI for prior auth has gotten some bad press recently, which may be well warranted. Well see how that evolves, but there may be other insurance-related aspects of what we do that AI can assist with and ultimately save us some time.

Kevin Pho: Janet, youve seen the evolution of various medical technologies throughout the years. Taking a step back, do you ever wish medicine could go back to a simpler time, just a doctor and a patient in an exam room, without having to come up with policy papers about new technology? From your own personal reflections, do you ever wish that?

Janet A. Jokela: Yes and no. Weve had tremendous advances in medicine, which have helped our patients in many ways, so I would hate to go back and lose those. That said, the whole health care infrastructure is a challenge, as we all know. If there were a way to go back in time to perhaps redirect some of that, that would be exciting. The challenges of finding the time and attention that our patients need is critical. To preserve that and be able to communicate effectively with our patientsgoing back in time to keep thatwould be lovely.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Janet A. Jokela. Shes treasurer of the American College of Physicians, and weve been discussing Navigating the world of artificial intelligence in health care. Janet, as always, lets end with some take-home messages you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Janet A. Jokela: Sure. First, AI is hereits going to evolve in ways we cant predict, but it will never replace physicians and it will not supplant physicians. Second, its critical that AI development and use are aligned with medical ethics. That means its really important for physicianswho may not be AI expertsto be involved in the creation and regulation of these systems. Lastly, theres a lot of optimism about how AI can help all of us, but most importantly, how it will ultimately help our patients. Thats an exciting place to be.

Kevin Pho: Janet, as always, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks again for coming back on the show.

Janet A. Jokela: Thank you so much, Kevin. Delighted to be here.
Huntsville, Alabama-based Cummings Aerospace is readying its Hellhound for submission to the U.S. Armys loitering munition competition set to kick off later this year, having recently wrapped up flight tests of its turbo-jet powered, 3D-printed kamikaze drone.

The company took its S3 version of its man-portable loitering munition out to the Pendleton Unmanned Aircraft Systems test range in Oregon this month and was able to verify and validate the systems performance against the Armys preliminary Low Altitude Stalking and Striking Ordnance, or LASSO, program requirements, CEO Sheila Cummings told Defense News in a Tuesday interview.

We were able to successfully demonstrate that we could meet the range requirements for LASSO and then ultimately trying to make sure that were exercising the max flight speed and so we achieved that, Cummings said. We were also able to successfully integrate an inert warhead and conduct flights with that as well as test other subsystem functionality that are critical to overall system verification and validation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hellhound is unique among loitering munitions because it uses turbojet propulsion which provides increased speed, according to Cummings.

It also gives you the ability to throttle the engine so it gives you a lot more flexibility in your mission in order to maximize either range or flight time, Cummings said.

In the tests, the loitering munition, weighing in at less than 25 pounds, flew faster than 350 miles per hour at half throttle while passing distances of 20 kilometers using just 50% of its fuel, according to the company. It performed in wind, snow and very low temperatures.

Hellhound is Cummings Aerospaces first major end-to-end weapon system it has developed. Cummings is a Native American woman-owned small business founded in 2009 as an aerospace engineering outfit with expertise in design, development, production and sustainment of capabilities like missiles, radars and command-and-control system technologies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Loitering munitions are proving their might on the battlefield, proliferating in places like Ukraine as troops there continue to fight off the Russian invasion, and the Army is developing a structured way to continue to procure a stream of highly capable loitering munitions in its inventory. In particular, the Army plans to enable its Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with the capability to provide the same lethality in this space as Armored BCTs.

In early January, the Army posted a notice on the federal business opportunities website Sam.gov stating it had released controlled but unclassified information outlining the objectives of the LASSO program.

While the objectives are not public, the notice emphasized the need for industry offerings to be compliant with the services modular and open systems architecture.

The compliance with modular open systems architecture standards is another key element of our design, Cummings said. Thats actually been a key enabler for us to rapidly conduct design iterations throughout its development, so were [using] very rapid design cycles using the 3D printing technology, we can produce new vehicles very quickly and take them out for test[ing].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cummings Aerospace plans to submit its offering to the Armys competition to procure loitering munitions when the service is expected to release a formal request for proposals in the May or June timeframe.

How quickly the Army plans to move forward with the program and how many vendors it might select for demonstration or evaluation has yet to be announced publicly, but the pool would likely include loitering munitions makers like Aerovironment  the manufacturer of the Switchblade deployed in Ukraine  and Anduril, which recently went under contract with the Marine Corps to supply it with its Bolt loitering munition.

Cummings also has its eye on other programs where Hellhound might fit to include the Armys short-range Launched Effects program. The company is working on concepts where the launch canister can be integrated onto a ground vehicle or from an air platform, Cummings said.

Were poised with an incredible solution, she said, and the corporate facilities infrastructure to support the follow-on production program.
(NewsNation)  When scrolling on TikTok, you might encounter a number of posts talking about cute winter boots.

If youre looking to them for fashion advice, though, you probably wont get it.

Cute winter boots has become a phrase some TikTokers are using to spread information about the Trump administration, its policies, and ways to fight back against them.

Trump federal grant pause: Who could be affected?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One post, with the caption Chicago had some really cute winter boots today!!! shows a video of a protest in the Illinois city in front of Trump Tower. Other videos, with the hashtag cute winter boots, have people in them talking about banned or challenged books, Trumps executive orders, or peoples rights when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of mass deportations.

Taylor Lorenz, a tech and culture journalist who founded the Substack newsletter User Mag, wrote that cute winter boots are another form of algospeak, or coded words and phrases used to bypass TikToks algorithmic filters. Some TikTok users have said they fear political content on the social media app is being restricted.

Another example is Senator, Im Singaporean. This phrase popped up after a Senate hearing where TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified. During the hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. asked Chew if he had ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party, to which Chew responded: No Senator, again, Im Singaporean. Fast Company writes that TikTok users will write this phrase in creators comment sections to warn them about sensitive or flagged content in videos.

This algospeak is used outside of politics as well: The Conversation writes that the word unalive has become a way to refer to death, accountant has become the way to refer to a sex worker, and corn is a stand-in for porn.

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 NewsNation.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  For the ninth year, Cypress Baptist Church is partnering with the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring Night to Shine to Benton, Louisianaan unforgettable prom experience centered on Gods love for individuals with special needs ages 14 and older.

This global event, set to take place simultaneously in churches around the world, gives participants the full VIP treatment.

Each guest is paired with a volunteer buddy before enjoying limo rides, hair and makeup styling, a shoeshine, corsages, and boutonnieres. Attendees will walk the red carpet, pose for professional photos, and be treated to a special dinner with sweet treats, including cotton candy. A karaoke station and a lively dance flooralways the highlight of the nightadd to the excitement before each participant is crowned king or queen of the prom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watch: Cares Krewe suprise A Night To Shine attendee with free dress

Cypress Baptist Church first joined the initiative nine years ago when their pastor saw an opportunity to uplift those who are often overlooked.

He just had the vision of wanting to look to those who are kind of looked over most of the time and passed over and show them the Lords love and show them how much that God loves them and created them special just like everyone else on this Earth, said Courtney Bouillon of Cypress Baptist Church. And just put aside a night to just show them that theyre kings and queens in the Lords eyes.

While participants enjoy the festivities, parents and caretakers are also treated to a nice meal in a designated area, allowing them a moment of relaxation and fellowship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those interested in participating or volunteering can register on the churchs website to be part of this incredible 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 KTALnews.com.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  If Serbian President Aleksander Vucic hoped the resignation of his hand-picked prime minister would get students to end nearly three months of anti-corruption protests, he didnt have to wait long for an answer.

Hours after Milos Vucevic stepped away Tuesday from his role leading the country's government, thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Serbia's second-largest city, Novi Sad, to resume their calls for political change that have seriously shaken Vucic's decadelong populist rule for the first time.

The daily protests began after the massive concrete canopy hanging over the entrance to Novi Sad's newly renovated central railway station collapsed on Nov. 1, killing 15 people. They have become increasingly raucous, serving as way for people to vent their unhappiness with Vucics authoritarian rule and reflecting their growing demands for transparency while the country increasingly undertakes large infrastructure projects, mostly with Chinese state companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics allege that corruption, poor oversight and substandard construction caused the tragedy. But state officials have offered few details about the project's finances or provided conflicting information, including whether any work was done on the station's roof and overhang.

After the prime minister's resignation failed to quiet the protesters, Vucic sharpened his rhetoric, issuing veiled warnings against them and suggesting his and his supporters' patience was running out.

Why are people protesting?

The protests started as somber vigils for the victims, but grief quickly gave way to anger at demonstrations in Novi Sad and elsewhere. Professors, doctors, actors and farmers have joined the university students in staging several huge rallies, including one in front of the Serbian state TV in the capital, Belgrade, that continues to take an uncritical view of the government despite demonstrators' demands for unbiased reporting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Protesters have been holding daily 15-minute traffic blockades throughout the country. They honor the 15 people who died, including two children, and begin at 11:52 a.m., the time the overhang collapsed.

Chants such as corruption kills also marked the protests that demanded the dissolution of the entire government over the tragedy. Protesters left symbolic handprints in red paint on government buildings, accusing authorities of having " blood on their hands."

Several incidents have marred the demonstrations, including drivers twice ramming into crowds and injuring two women. A young woman was also attacked by Vucic supporters with bats this week, suffering a broken jaw.

What are protesters demanding?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The students are demanding full transparency about what caused the collapse and for anyone found responsible to face justice.

Although students have refrained from naming specific targets of an investigation, Vucic's political opponents have suggested that anyone who might have had a hand in the renovation deal, if it was corrupt, should stand trial, singling out Vucevic, who led Novi Sad's local government before becoming prime minister.

Initially, authorities said the outer roof was not renovated during the work on the station, but they gave no explanation as for why. Experts later denied that, and images emerged suggesting that at least some work had been done on the roof.

What are people in power saying?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials have conceded little to the protesters, declassifying some documents related to the collapse. Vucic claims all renovation documents have been made public, but protesters and legal experts say that's not true.

The disaster happened soon after the station was renovated by a Chinese-led consortium, which has reportedly refused to hand over any documents pertaining to the project.

Thirteen people have been charged in the collapse, but some of them remain free, including the former construction minister, fueling doubts over the investigations independence.

On Monday, hours after tens of thousands of people held a 24-hour blockade of a major intersection in Belgrade, the president addressed the nation, defending his governments response to the tragedy and promising to launch a dialogue with the protesters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But student protest leaders have so far rebuffed such invitations, noting that Vucics role as president is officially a largely ceremonial one. Instead, they have called for governmental institutions, including the police and judiciary, to do their jobs and enforce the rule of law spelled out by the constitution.

How are foreign powers reacting?

Russia and China have predictably given their full support to Vucic, backing his stance that Serbia is the victim of a Western conspiracy and that unidentified foreign security services are financing the protests.

The European Union has largely stayed silent, as Vucic has been reassuring its leaders that Serbia is on course to join the bloc. Serbia is a Russian ally and has refused to join sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the U.S., the Biden administration worked to reduce Russian and Chinese influence over the Balkan country, though with little success. President Donald Trump's new administration hasn't officially addressed the protests yet. But Trump's pick to serve as envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, wrote on social media about the protests that although it is important to let different voices be heard, there is no support for those who undermine the rule of law or who forcefully take over government buildings.

___

Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  Dan Brown' s next global, multi-tiered thriller finds protagonist Robert Langdon journeying from Prague to New York to London as he evades a would-be assassin and ponders the depths of human consciousness.

Doubleday announced Wednesday that The Secret of Secrets," his first Langdon novel since Origin came out in 2017, will be published Sept. 9. Brown, best known for the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, is calling it his most intricately plotted and ambitious novel.

Writing it has been an unforgettable journey of discovery, he said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brown's new novel begins with Langdon, the Harvard symbologist, in Prague. According to Doubleday, he plans to see a lecture by noetic scientist and emerging love interest Katherine Solomon, only to have her talk become a murder scene and for Solomon to disappear.

As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherine . . . and for answers, Doubleday announced. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

Brown has set previous books in France, Italy and Spain among other countries and researches his locations in person. He said in a statement that his fascination with Prague "began with its deep history of mysticism and the occult. It is a labyrinth of enigmatic sites  an ideal backdrop for a Robert Langdon thriller - a city of secrets, both ancient and modern.

Brown added that The Secret of Secrets was also a chance to indulge another longtime obsession  the mind itself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I happen to believe we are on the cusp of a major revolution in the way we think about our brains and our relationships to each other, he said. Cutting-edge science is now exploring advanced models of consciousness that seem poised to explain some of the minds deepest mysteries. I chose this topic because I find it irresistibly compelling, and also because it is relevant to every single one of us.

Doubleday plans to release the book in at least a dozen countries, including Czech Republic, Turkey, Spain and Finland. Brown's other novels include Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol and Inferno.
An Indianapolis refugee center announced it's locking its doors amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

On Wednesday, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed an executive order directing police to "fully cooperate" with the feds on immigration.

At the same time, there is legislation being discussed requiring sheriffs to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in the 287(g) program. This program grants trained deputies the right to enforce immigration laws within their jurisdiction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Exodus Refugee Immigration, which helps refugees and asylees from many countries, posted on social media that until further notice, the organization is locking its main doors and moving client appointments, English classes, cultural orientation classes, and other programming off-site or virtual.

"Our clients shouldn't be afraid to walk down the street, to take their children to school, or to go to the bus stop," Exodus Refugee Immigration wrote on Facebook. "The executive order signed today by Governor Braun perpetuates the baseless idea that most immigrants are criminals ... This is dangerous. It's racist. And it's wrong."

Immigration in Indianapolis: Braun signs executive order directing police to 'fully cooperate' with feds on immigration

The organization said it would protect clients from being "illegally or unjustly detained by ICE or by anyone cooperating with ICE."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CEO Cole Varga told IndyStar that they do not want to put their clients' safety or futures at risk during this chaotic time by congregating at their offices.

"This decision was made in response to the many anti-immigrant Executive Orders issued by President Trump as well as yesterday's unnecessary Executive Order issued by Governor Braun," Varga said. "The President and Governor may believe what they want about immigrants, but the facts are more important. Immigrants are integral parts of our communities and contribute in critical ways."

Immigrant residents in Indiana

Less than three years ago, about 6.2 percent of the state's residents were foreign-born making up over 422,600 immigrants in Indiana, according to the American Immigration Council. Many immigrants come from Mexico, India, Nigeria, China, and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Also, according to the council, immigrants make up over 276,100 of Indiana's labor force and support the states economy by accounting for over 25,200 entrepreneurs, 13.5 percent of STEM workers, and 19 percent of postsecondary teachers in the state. Those numbers have steadily increased every year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigrants have also paid over $4 billion in taxes, according to the American Immigration Council.

The conversation from Indiana lawmakers surrounding immigration solely focused on criminal activity but groups like Exodus Refugee Immigration worry their clientele will be targeted and detained by ICE even if they're not criminals.

In 2022, there were a little over 104,500 undocumented immigrants in the state with over 7,100 being undocumented entrepreneurs, according to the American Immigration Council.

Indianapolis Liberation Center members, including Makenzie Wendel, center, voice their views with signage as House Bill 1158 is discussed during the House local government committee hearing Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 at the Indiana Statehouse. This is one of the many bills at the Statehouse regarding immigration this legislative session.

Braun's executive order states that Indiana law enforcement agencies must "fully cooperate" with ICE and enter into agreements with the feds to "perform the functions of immigration officers." Braun's order says he "requests and encourages" this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I'm going to direct any of our authorities to not resist, and hopefully they'll be compliant on their own," Braun told reporters Tuesday. "And I think a large part of the jurisdictions across our state will be without any push from this office."

Days before the executive order, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey said the department has no intention of being involved in sweeps nor does not inquire about a person's immigration status when officers are responding to a call.

Bailey said the department is firmly committed to fostering "positive police-community partnerships and ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone who lives, works and visits our city."

In contrast, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office announced Monday it was partnering with ICE as part of the 287(g) program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush said his office will be tackling the "serious issue of illegal aliens," and established an Immigration Commission that will be led by Chief Deputy John Lowes.

Varga told IndyStar the latest immigration moves are history repeating.

"One group is being unjustly demonized for the problems of a country while oligarchs consolidate power and ignore the constitution," Varga said. "I hope we find the redline sooner rather than later."

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: Indiana refugee group locks doors to protect clients
Americas fourth and eighth grade students sliding reading scores worsened in 2024, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which has been dubbed the nations report card.

The nation's report card is out and the news is not good, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy G. Carr said on a call with reporters on Tuesday.

Students are not where they need to be or where we want them to be, she said. Our students, for the most part, continue to perform below the pre-pandemic levels, and our childrens reading continues to slide in both grades and subjects."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"And, most notably, our nations struggling readers continue to decline the most, Carr added.

PHOTO: Students raise their hand to answer the question in a class at elementary school in this undated stock photo. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

The report card, released every two years by the Department of Education, is the largest assessment of students performance in public and private schools across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It paints a grim picture of scores in critical subjects, underscoring urgent challenges for schools, policymakers and families seeking to improve performance.

Compared to 2022, this years average reading scores dropped by 2 points for both fourth and eighth grade assessments, according to the NCES data conducted between January and March 2024. That adds to the 3-point decrease for both grades in 2022. Forty percent of fourth graders read below NAEP basic levels, and about a third of eighth graders read below the basic level.

"The continued declines in reading scores are particularly troubling," National Assessment Governing Board member Patrick Kelly said, adding: "Reading is foundational to all subjects, and failure to read well keeps students from accessing information and building knowledge across content areas."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the decline in reading, there was some recovery in math in 2024, but the increase has not returned students to pre-pandemic levels.

Mathematics scores climbed by 2 points for fourth graders and did not change for eighth graders from the 2022 findings. As ABC News reported two years ago, the 2022 declines in math were the largest drops in NAEPs history.

MORE: Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds lowest in a decade, report finds

But Peggy Carr stressed this is not solely a pandemic story. Reading scores have been declining since 2017. Among the lowest-level achievers, scores are now at the worst point since 1992.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The report card does not provide causes for the declines in scores. On the call with reporters, officials said data shows there has been a decline in students who say theyre reading for enjoyment, and teachers are not focusing as much on essay responses to questions.

The pandemic exacerbated the problems facing education in reading, math and history, according to NAEPs 2022 assessments. Fourth grade and eighth grade students saw their largest declines ever in math, and eighth grade students received the lowest history scores since 1994, when the history assessment was first administered.

NCES data also found that while chronic absenteeism has decreased since the last assessment, student attendance is contributing to the dismal numbers. NCES defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of the school year.

The data are clear: Students who don't come to school are not improving, Carr emphasized on the call.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The call also outlined a bleak outlook for the countrys lowest-performing students.

Theres a widening achievement gap in this country and it has worsened since the pandemic, especially for grade eight, Carr said.

MORE: Many students have still not regained pandemic-era losses in reading, math: Report

Its important to note NAEP is a challenging assessment, according to Carr. Students results are scored as basic, proficient or advanced. Below basic scores do not mean a child cant read; however, Carr noted it is still worrying that scores continue to fall.

This comes as the K-12 education debate turned political during the pandemic when schools shuttered for in-person learning and parents were exposed to their childs curriculum. Conservatives have made it a culture wars issue and denounced public schools for indoctrinating kids with inappropriate gender and critical race theory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, the Chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, told ABC News that these results hurt vulnerable children the most, as the previous administration kept schools shuttered longer than the public health guidance.

PHOTO: Rep. Tim Walberg (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)

The chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, said the report exposes the nations failing education system.

This is clearly a reflection of the education bureaucracy continuing to focus on woke policies rather than helping students learn and grow, the Republican congressman wrote in a statement to ABC News.

NCES officials on the call also warned that if President Donald Trump delivers on his pledge to shutter the Department of Education, theyre unsure if it will impact future assessments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We don't know what will happen to NCES or NAEP, Carr said when asked by ABC News. We are hopeful that people will see the value in these data and what we are doing for the country.

New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) The Dauphin County Board of Commissioners announced that Eric Hagarty has been appointed Chief Clerk.

Following Hagartys appointment, Vince Paese will transition back to the role of Deputy Chief Clerk.

Hagarty served as Acting Secretary of Education for Pennsylvania from 2022 to 2023, overseeing 500 public school districts and multiple high education institutions throughout the state, according to county commissioners.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new Chief Clerk also served as Chief of Staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The County Commissioners said during his time in the position, Hagarty assisted in creating and retaining 173,000 jobs and supported thousands of businesses.

Board Chairman Justin Douglas praised Hagartys work in public service and expressed his excitement to work with him.

Erics experience, leadership, and dedication to public service make him an outstanding choice for this role, said Douglas. His work at the state and local levels has demonstrated his ability to build partnerships and drive meaningful progress. I look forward to working with him to continue strengthening county government and delivering for the people of Dauphin County. Id also like to extend my gratitude to Vince Paese for his dedicated service and contributions stepping in as Chief Clerk. I look forward to continuing our work together as he transitions back into the role of Deputy Chief Clerk.

Commissioner Mike Pries said, Mr. Hagarty brings a high level of experience, professionalism, and extensive governmental knowledge to the county team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hagarty will begin serving on Monday, Feb. 3, per County commissioners.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Congress passed the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996. This federal regulation was aimed at maintaining the privacy of medical records while ensuring the smooth flow of medical information pertinent to patient care. Penalties assessed for violations of the HIPAA Act mostly involve financial penalties (between $25,000 per violation up to $100,000 per violation). Congress also included criminal penalties for violations of HIPAA rules enacted under 42 U.S.C.  1320d-6, and those criminal penalties carry up to 10 years in prison.

Over the past five years, the pace of electronic breaches of protected health information (PHI) has accelerated. Not one day passes without news of a medical facility, health network, or health insurer being the victim of a data breach. Technically, all these data breaches constitute violations of HIPAA. Yet because of their frequency, special mechanisms of reporting have been enacted by government agencies enforcing HIPAA. Entities subjected to electronic breaches leading to the unauthorized access to PHI for a large number of patients now report these breaches publicly and move on without any repudiation or punishment.

In 2024, UnitedHealth Group, which purchased Change Healthcare in 2023, was affected by a large data breach where PHI was stolen by hackers through the ransomware process. It was reported that UnitedHealthcare paid tens of millions of dollars to the hackers, who, in a sardonic twist, quibbled amongst each other, with some claiming that other hackers who were paid absconded with the ransom and did not pay them. We have recently learned that the breach was the largest in recorded history, as it involved the PHI of some 191 million Americans. The lax computer security protocols during the transition of Change Healthcare to the ownership of UnitedHealth Group were thought to be the source of this significant data breach. It is ironic that those of us still seeing patients receive periodic mailings from Change Healthcare advising us about our billing and coding performance, despite Change Healthcare not being able to keep patient PHI secure. To date, there has been no accountability or civil or criminal charges filed against any person or entity responsible for many breaches over the last five years.

Unfortunately, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. Physicians have been on the receiving end of criminal prosecutions for HIPAA violations. In 2010, Huping Zhou, MD, became the first person to be sentenced to jail in relation to a HIPAA violation. Dr. Zhou, a cardiothoracic surgeon in China, was working as a researcher at UCLA. He was accused of accessing the medical records of his supervisors and colleagues, as well as reviewing the medical records of many celebrities without any specific medical need. He pleaded guilty and served four months in jail but went on to return to private practice as a family practitioner in Virginia.

In 2018, a Massachusetts gynecologist, Dr. Rita Luthra, was found guilty of a criminal violation of the HIPAA privacy rule. Dr. Luthra was accused of providing a pharmaceutical sales agent with access to PHI to assist with pre-authorizations related to insurance approvals of prescription medications. After being found guilty at trial, Dr. Luthra lost her medical license but was spared jail time after the judge sentenced her to one year of probation in consideration of her long career serving deprived communities in western Massachusetts. While technically, Dr. Luthras action was a violation of the HIPAA rules, it was only because there was no business associate agreement with the pharmaceutical representative that would have ensured compliance with the HIPAA privacy rule.

Most recently, surgery resident Eithan Haim, MD, was indicted and charged criminally for HIPAA violations after he provided a reporter with medical records of children receiving gender transition-related care at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, Texas. Dr. Haim maintained that no laws were broken because no PHI was disclosed. This case caused a significant uproar because Dr. Haim was identified as a whistleblower against Texas Childrens Hospital, which had publicly stated it would end providing gender transition care services. Nonetheless, the records disclosed by Dr. Haim, without any PHI, revealed that the hospital was continuing to provide the gender transition care it claimed to have stopped. As a consequence of his prosecution and the issues he revealed, Texas passed an outright ban on transition-related care for minors. On January 24, 2025, a few days into the new administration, the Department of Justice decided to dismiss the indictment against Dr. Haim with prejudice, ending his prosecution for criminal HIPAA charges. The dismissal was a consequence of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, who had pledged to end the weaponization of the justice system.

The HIPAA privacy rule as a regulation and law has become a toothless and meaningless regulation. Given the extent and breadth of data breaches over the past few years, experts estimate that the protected health information for most adults who live in the U.S. is available on the dark web. This information includes full details of patients names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. If youre reading this, there is close to an 85 percent chance that your protected personal health information is available for someone to exploit.

There has been little attention or protest drawn to the fact that only physicians have been clearly prosecuted for criminal HIPAA violations, while executives in hospitals and health insurers have recklessly and potentially criminally neglected to enforce their security protocols, leading to data breaches. It is interesting that no one has been held accountable for any of these breaches, as organizations that recklessly neglected their computer systems notify the affected patients and move on unblemished and unscathed. The justice system has held physicians responsible when there is a HIPAA violation. Health system executives, as well as health insurance executives, need to be held to the same standard and be accountable and responsible for these breaches; otherwise, the security of protected health information will continue to deteriorate.

Muhamad Aly Rifai is a practicing internist and psychiatrist in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. He is the CEO, chief psychiatrist and internist of Blue Mountain Psychiatry. He holds the Lehigh Valley Endowed Chair of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Rifai is board-certified in internal medicine, psychiatry, addiction medicine, and psychosomatic medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, and the American Psychiatric Association. He is the former president of the Lehigh Valley Psychiatric Society.

He can be reached on LinkedIn, Facebook, X @muhamadalyrifai, YouTube, and his website. You can also read his Wikipedia entry and publications.
Jan. 28MITCHELL  The efforts to get local counties and municipalities on board for the Davison Hanson Ambulance District are progressing.

The Davison County Commission followed the Hanson County Commission's decision to approve the district's boundaries via resolution. The Davison decision was made during Tuesday's regular commission meeting in Mitchell.

The counties are in discussion to form a rural ambulance district  the Davison Hanson Ambulance District  that would have the Mitchell Regional Ambulance Service provide ambulance services to both. The Mitchell Regional Ambulance Service currently covers all of Davison County and the western two-thirds of Hanson County, with the service being funded by the city of Mitchell and $5,000 from Hanson County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With call volume increasing in recent years, there is now not enough staff to cover the calls both inside and outside of Mitchell. The city of Mitchell has indicated that it would no longer send its ambulances out of city limits starting in January 2026 unless additional funding for staff is secured to cover the territory.

Those trying to address the issue have proposed forming a rural ambulance district that would be funded by a tax levy. Jim Davies, the attorney representing the Davison Hanson Ambulance District, said there has been good public support for the plan so far.

The plan needs municipal sign off from six communities: Alexandria, Emery, Farmer and Fulton in Hanson County and Ethan and Mount Vernon in Davison County. The district is working on securing those approvals during meetings with each community this week.

A public hearing with the commissioners from both counties will be held at a later date, Davies said, and territory can be taken out of the district boundaries at that time, if necessary, but it can't be added back in.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once the approval is gathered from all of the towns and counties, Davies said that auditors have 60 days to hold an election, with voting locations required to be the county seat in each county. If approved, organizers have 50 days to elect a seven-member board of directors, and it would assemble a budget and determine any tax levy for the new district.

As part of the proposed new ambulance district, the Mitchell Regional Ambulance Service is hoping to hire six additional staff members, which officials believe would be enough to staff an additional ambulance to cover rural calls, at a cost of about $700,000. The levy funds would only be used for staffing, not additional ambulances, supplies or overhead.

Mitchell Fire/EMS Chief Dan Pollreisz reiterated on Tuesday that the taxes for the district would be for personnel, not for capital purchases such as ambulances. The city of Mitchell would still be in charge of those purchases.

Not needing to make capital purchases allows the district to stay in a lower taxing window, which is restricted to no more than 60 cents per $1,000 in assessed value.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"When (organizer) Amy (Storm) and I did the math, it would be based on the valuations, it would be around 40 cents per thousand," Pollreisz said. "The ambulance district board gets to set that if this passes."

Approval on a local government level is expected to be followed by town hall meetings and then a potential public vote at a yet-to-be-determined date.

Davies said Hanson County likely would be in the lead position for administrating the election because it will have more square miles in the district. That's because Davison County's territory won't include Mitchell's city limits. Hanson County's territory includes all but parts of five townships in the southern portion of the county that are part of the Parkston Ambulance District.

One of the talking points on Tuesday was around the proposed House Bill 1043, which would have required counties and municipalities to provide EMS services in their jurisdictions. That bill was defeated by the House's Local Government committee, with eight of the committee's 13 members voting to defeat the measure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If that makes providing ambulance services a required service, you are going to see a lot of people fall in line for this stuff," Davies said during the meeting. "Right now, it isn't."

Also on Tuesday, members of the McCook County Commission made plans to discuss ambulance services with Hanson County in the two counties and beyond. McCook County Commission made the decision during its regular meeting in Salem.

McCook County provides rural ambulance service to the eastern portion of Hanson County, and McCook County Commission leadership Tuesday indicated an interest in hearing more about the proposal and if an arrangement could be reached that would help ease McCook County's own financial burden. Under the plan Davison and Hanson have approved, the eastern-third of Hanson County would now be served out of Mitchell.

Chuck Mehlbrech, chairman of the McCook County Commission, told the Mitchell Republic that county commissioners are interested in hearing about all potential options to preserve service and keep costs manageable, whatever those options may be.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're going to discuss the potential ambulance district stuff, and not just the district  any options," Mehlbrech said. "Our ambulance is public-private, we have a private guy that owns it. It's a very good ambulance, it's fully staffed and fully certified. But the expenses are getting as such that we have to figure out if there are any other options."

The McCook County Ambulance is a privately owned company that has been in service for about 40 years. McCook County subsidizes the service to the tune of about $300,000 per year for coverage in the county. Additional funds are also doled out to communities like Bridgewater to hire additional ambulances to cover additional territory.

McCook County communities like Canistota and Spencer have no local ambulance service, Mehlbrech said.

There had been communication between the Hanson and McCook county commissions about meeting on the subject earlier, including possibly at the last meeting of the Hanson County Commission on Jan. 21 and at the Tuesday meeting in Salem. But scheduling conflicts prevented that from happening before setting up the upcoming Feb. 4 meeting in Alexandria.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mehlbrech said he had also spoken with District 19 Rep. Drew Peterson on the subject of ambulance services not being considered an essential service in South Dakota like law enforcement and fire response. Because of that lack of designation, ambulance services are not supported through state government funding. Therefore, no ambulance service in the state is obligated to answer an emergency call. Only 13 states in the country consider EMS services as essential.

The Feb. 4 meeting of the Hanson County Commission is currently scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Hanson County Courthouse in Alexandria, with the agenda item involving discussion with McCook County Commission members expected to occur around 10 a.m.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  On this day in history, the Challenger space shuttle exploded, killing all seven inside.

On Jan. 28, 1986, an explosion took place 73 seconds into the flight of the Challenger space shuttle. Billions were tuned in to watch the launch of the shuttle on television and saw the explosion as it happened.

This was the first time that NASA lost a crew during a space mission. Investigators later determined that cold temperatures caused an o-ring on the spacecraft to malfunction. Video of the flight showed a puff of smoke that disappeared, only to be followed by a flame that appeared 66 seconds after launch. That flame spread to the fuel tank, leading to the disastrous explosion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crewmembers of the Challenger represented a cross-section of the American population in terms of race, gender, geography, background, and religion, NASA said.

FILE  This photo provided by NASA shows the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger mission 51L. All seven members of the crew were killed when the shuttle exploded during launch on Jan. 28, 1986. Front row from left are Michael J. Smith, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, and Ronald E. McNair. Back row from left are Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik. (NASA via AP)

The crew included the pilot, aerospace engineers and scientists  including the first teacher to fly in space, Sharon Christa McAuliffe.

McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 applicants who came from across the country. She attended Framingham State College near Boston before moving to the D.C. area with her husband. There, she attended Bowie State University. The couple moved to Concord, where she took a teaching post at Concord High School in 1982. Two years later, she  learned about NASAs efforts to locate an educator to fly on the Shuttle. The intent was to find a gifted teacher who could communicate with students from space.

On This Day | NASAs Curiosity rover finds signs of life on Mars

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crafts commander, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, was from the state of Washington and served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He entered NASAs astronaut corps in 1978 and piloted the Challenger on its fifth orbital flight.

The pilot, Michael J. Smith, was from North Carolina. He was a graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and a commander in the U.S. Navy. He became a NASA astronaut in 1980 and was selected to be a Space Shuttle pilot a year later. The 1986 mission was his first flight.

Judith A. Resnik was one of three mission specialists on the crew. She was from Ohio and attended Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Maryland. She became an astronaut in 1978 and was the second U.S. woman in orbit during the Discoverys first flight in 1984.

Ronald E. McNair was another mission specialist on board the Challenger. He came from Lake City and attended North Carolina A&T State University and MIT. He was one of the first three Black Americans selected for NASAs astronaut program in 1978, and he became the second Black American in space in 1984 on a Challenger mission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ellison S. Onizuka was the crews last mission specialist. He was born in Hawaii and attended the University of Colorado. He served with the Air Force until 1978, when he was selected to be an astronaut. For the first two Challenger missions, he worked on orbiter test and checkout teams and launch support crews at the Kennedy Space Center.

Gregory B. Jarvis was, along McAuliffe, not an official federal government. He joined the crew as a payload specialist, which he worked as with the Hughes Aircraft Corp.s Space and Communications Group. He came from Michigan and went to the State University of New York at Buffalo, Northeastern University and West Coast University.

You can read more about the Challengers crew 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is giving Americans a glimpse into her new role as the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Noem could be seen wearing an ICE vest in pictures posted to her DHS secretary account on X.

Noem oversaw ICE operations during her stop in New York City Tuesday morning, aimed at tracking down undocumented immigrants.

Rhoden: Naming Lieutenant Governor Wednesday

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a post on the account, Noem called one of the people arrested a criminal alien and said the person had kidnapping, assault, and burglary charges.

We are getting the dirtbags off these streets, Noem said in a video on X.

Earlier this week, protesters gathered in some U.S. cities to speak out against the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Tuesday afternoon, the newly confirmed DHS secretary addressed her staff for the first time.

I am so thrilled to be a part of the family at the United States Department of Homeland Security. Your mission is big, and its vast, Noem said.

During her remarks, Noem spoke about the challenges ahead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve got dangerous, evil foreign governments that want to take us down. We will be the first line of defense for anybody thats in the American homeland. We will do everything we can to protect the American people, Noem 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.
Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, speaks during a committee hearing on public charter schools on Jan. 28, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Class was in session Tuesday for lawmakers as they weighed the pros and cons of public charter schools in North Dakota.

Members of the House Education Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1358, which would create a framework to establish public charter schools in North Dakota.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bills chief sponsor, Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, said North Dakota is one of five states that doesnt allow charter schools. He said he believes public charter schools would give parents and students more options in receiving a public education and introduce competition that should bring improvements to educational services.

More 2025 legislative session coverage

The idea behind this is to offer an option for parents to choose another route for educating their child, Murphy said. He added the only other viable option besides public school in North Dakota is private school that can cost from $7,000 to more than $20,000 per year.

How is that an option for parents in the lower socioeconomic part of our society? he said. What public charter schools do is they give those individuals that option at no additional cost.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said students on individual education plans could benefit from learning in a different environment and teachers would be given another option for employment that might better suit their teaching style.

James Meehan, CEO of Elevated Education, an organization with six charter schools in Arizona, testified remotely about the success those schools have seen in serving at-risk students, including some who had previously dropped out.

Its all about access and opening doors of opportunity for students that are struggling to thrive in the traditional school environment, he said.

Michael Heilman, executive director for North Dakota Small Organized Schools, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 28, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

The bill would allow up to 27 public charter schools to be established by 2029, with the first 12 licensed in 2025-27 under the Department of Public Instruction. The charter schools would receive the same per-pupil payment from the state that public K-12 schools receive. New charter schools would be prohibited from receiving funds from local taxation and the state would not be responsible for school buildings or transportation of the students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Dakota Small Organized Schools, an association that represents more than 140 North Dakota schools, opposes the bill. Executive Director Michael Heilman said teacher shortages, especially in rural areas, would be amplified if charter schools begin popping up.

If small schools lose a few students, that has a huge impact, Heilman said. I worry that charter schools, or additional schools, coming into situations are going to drain those resources that will have a negative impact on the students that we have a responsibility to in our public schools.

North Dakota public schools already offer alternative and specialized learning environments, and those programs could be expanded, said Aimee Copas, executive director for the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, which opposes the bill.

I question the need for this, Copas said. A harder push toward more schools getting actively involved in this activity is a far better use of taxpayer dollars than shifting it to another notion.

Aimee Copas, executive director for the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, speaks during a committee hearing on public charter schools on Jan. 28, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

She said student flexible schedules, work-for-credit apprenticeship programs and the states 13 career and technical education academies are good examples of innovative public education solutions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copas also highlighted Mandan Public Schools, which already blended virtual and in-person learning and served as an example for other schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You keep pushing the public schools to get better and thats what we need, Copas told lawmakers. What we certainly dont need is an about-face.

No committee discussion or action was taken on the bill after the hearing.

Another public charter school bill is expected to have a hearing next week in the Senate.

Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, lead sponsor of Senate Bill 2241, said charter schools could improve workforce issues by creating educational pipelines into a career field.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres health care centers that operate charter schools where students are earning their credentials to work in the health care field as a high school student while still maintaining their coursework as a high school student, Axtman said.

She pointed out that North Dakota doesnt have dual-language schools.

These charter schools can come in and really innovate while still teaching to North Dakota requirements and standards, but provide all families and students some cool new options, which I think families are looking for today, Axtman said.

Axtman also said, when rural school districts are under threat of closing, communities can come together and would have the option to convert to a public charter school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They have a lot more flexibility to operate that way and so sometimes it might be a positive for these rural communities to still maintain their local public school and operate it as a public charter, she said. If you look at studies from other states, it hasnt crippled rural education.

The Legislature also is expected to consider several other bills related to educational savings accounts or other forms of school choice.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The release of DeepSeek R1 stunned Wall Street and Silicon Valley this month, spooking investors and impressing tech leaders. But amid all the talk, many overlooked a critical detail about the way the new Chinese AI model functionsa nuance that has researchers worried about humanitys ability to control sophisticated new artificial intelligence systems.

Its all down to an innovation in how DeepSeek R1 was trainedone that led to surprising behaviors in an early version of the model, which researchers described in the technical documentation accompanying its release.

During testing, researchers noticed that the model would spontaneously switch between English and Chinese while it was solving problems. When they forced it to stick to one language, thus making it easier for users to follow along, they found that the systems ability to solve the same problems would diminish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That finding rang alarm bells for some AI safety researchers. Currently, the most capable AI systems think in human-legible languages, writing out their reasoning before coming to a conclusion. That has been a boon for safety teams, whose most effective guardrails involve monitoring models so-called chains of thought for signs of dangerous behaviors. But DeepSeeks results raised the possibility of a decoupling on the horizon: one where new AI capabilities could be gained from freeing models of the constraints of human language altogether.

To be sure, DeepSeek's language switching is not by itself cause for alarm. Instead, what worries researchers is the new innovation that caused it. The DeepSeek paper describes a novel training method whereby the model was rewarded purely for getting correct answers, regardless of how comprehensible its thinking process was to humans. The worry is that this incentive-based approach could eventually lead AI systems to develop completely inscrutable ways of reasoning, maybe even creating their own non-human languages, if doing so proves to be more effective.

Were the AI industry to proceed in that directionseeking more powerful systems by giving up on legibilityit would take away what was looking like it could have been an easy win for AI safety, says Sam Bowman, the leader of a research department at Anthropic, an AI company, focused on aligning AI to human preferences. We would be forfeiting an ability that we might otherwise have had to keep an eye on them.

Read More: What to Know About DeepSeek, the Chinese AI Company Causing Stock Market Chaos

Thinking without words

An AI creating its own alien language is not as outlandish as it may sound.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last December, Meta researchers set out to test the hypothesis that human language wasnt the optimal format for carrying out reasoningand that large language models (or LLMs, the AI systems that underpin OpenAIs ChatGPT and DeepSeeks R1) might be able to reason more efficiently and accurately if they were unhobbled by that linguistic constraint.

The Meta researchers went on to design a model that, instead of carrying out its reasoning in words, did so using a series of numbers that represented the most recent patterns inside its neural networkessentially its internal reasoning engine. This model, they discovered, began to generate what they called "continuous thoughts"essentially numbers encoding multiple potential reasoning paths simultaneously. The numbers were completely opaque and inscrutable to human eyes. But this strategy, they found, created emergent advanced reasoning patterns in the model. Those patterns led to higher scores on some logical reasoning tasks, compared to models that reasoned using human language.

Though the Meta research project was very different to DeepSeeks, its findings dovetailed with the Chinese research in one crucial way.

Both DeepSeek and Meta showed that human legibility imposes a tax on the performance of AI systems, according to Jeremie Harris, the CEO of Gladstone AI, a firm that advises the U.S. government on AI safety challenges. In the limit, there's no reason that [an AIs thought process] should look human legible at all, Harris says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And this possibility has some safety experts concerned.

It seems like the writing is on the wall that there is this other avenue available [for AI research], where you just optimize for the best reasoning you can get, says Bowman, the Anthropic safety team leader. I expect people will scale this work up. And the risk is, we wind up with models where were not able to say with confidence that we know what they're trying to do, what their values are, or how they would make hard decisions when we set them up as agents.

For their part, the Meta researchers argued that their research need not result in humans being relegated to the sidelines. It would be ideal for LLMs to have the freedom to reason without any language constraints, and then translate their findings into language only when necessary, they wrote in their paper. (Meta did not respond to a request for comment on the suggestion that the research could lead in a dangerous direction.)

Read More: Why DeepSeek Is Sparking Debates Over National Security, Just Like TikTok

The limits of language

Of course, even human-legible AI reasoning isn't without its problems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When AI systems explain their thinking in plain English, it might look like they're faithfully showing their work. But some experts aren't sure if these explanations actually reveal how the AI really makes decisions. It could be like asking a politician for the motivations behind a policythey might come up with an explanation that sounds good, but has little connection to the real decision-making process.

While having AI explain itself in human terms isn't perfect, many researchers think it's better than the alternative: letting AI develop its own mysterious internal language that we can't understand. Scientists are working on other ways to peek inside AI systems, similar to how doctors use brain scans to study human thinking. But these methods are still new, and haven't yet given us reliable ways to make AI systems safer.

So, many researchers remain skeptical of efforts to encourage AI to reason in ways other than human language.

If we don't pursue this path, I think we'll be in a much better position for safety, Bowman says. If we do, we will have taken away what, right now, seems like our best point of leverage on some very scary open problems in alignment that we have not yet solved.

Write to Billy Perrigo at billy.perrigo@time.com.
(Bloomberg) -- White House artificial intelligence czar David Sacks said theres substantial evidence that Chinese upstart DeepSeek leaned on the output of OpenAIs models to help develop its own technology.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In an interview with Fox News, Sacks described a technique called distillation whereby one AI model uses the outputs of another for training purposes to develop similar capabilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled knowledge out of OpenAI models and I dont think OpenAI is very happy about this, Sacks said, without detailing the evidence. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week, DeepSeek released a new open-source AI model called R1 that can mimic the way humans reason. The company said R1 rivaled or outperformed leading US developers on a range of industry benchmarks  and claimed it was built for a small fraction of the cost. Many in the tech industry are now puzzling over how DeepSeek built its technology and questioning some of the companys claims.

OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has told OpenAI employees that his startup is trying to understand if and to what extent DeepSeeks performance is the result of distilling OpenAIs models, as opposed to an independent research breakthrough, a person familiar with the matter previously told Bloomberg.

In the interview with Fox News, Sacks applauded DeepSeeks ability to make a more efficient model without relying on as many advanced GPUs. He also said the DeepSeek hype is going to spur American AI companies to take steps to prevent distillation to slow down what he called copycat models.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Chinese artificial intelligence startup company DeepSeek stunned markets and AI experts with its claim that it built its immensely popular chatbot at a fraction of the cost of those made by American tech titans.

That immediately called into question the billions of dollars U.S. tech companies are spending on a massive expansion of energy-hungry data centers they say are needed to unlock the next wave of artificial intelligence.

Could this new AI mean the world needs significantly less electricity for the technology than everyone thinks? The answer has profound implications for the overheating climate . AI uses vast amounts of energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels, which causes climate change. Tech companies have said their electricity use is going up, when it was supposed to be ramping down, ruining their carefully-laid plans to address climate change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There has been a very gung ho, go ahead at all costs mentality in this space, pushing toward investment in fossil fuels, said Eric Gimon, senior fellow at Energy Innovation. This is an opportunity to tap the brakes.

Making AI more efficient could be less taxing on the environment, experts say, even if its huge electricity needs are not going away.

People flock to new DeepSeek assistant

DeepSeeks claims of building its impressive chatbot on a budget drew curiosity that helped make its AI assistant the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apples iPhone this week, ahead of U.S.-made chatbots ChatGPT and Googles Gemini.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All of a sudden we wake up Monday morning and we see a new player number one on the App Store, and all of a sudden it could be a potential gamechanger overnight," said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets.  It caused a bit of a panic. These were the hottest stocks in the world.

DeepSeeks app competes well with other leading AI models. It can compose software code, solve math problems and address other questions that take multiple steps of planning. It's attracted attention for its ability to explain its reasoning in the process of answering questions.

Leading analysts have been poring through the startup's public research papers about its new model, R1, and its precursors. Among the details that stood out was DeepSeeks assertion that the cost to train the flagship v3 model behind its AI assistant was only $5.6 million, a stunningly low number compared to the multiple billions of dollars spent to build ChatGPT and other well-known systems. DeepSeek hasnt responded to requests for comment.

The $5.6 million number only included actually training the chatbot, not the costs of earlier-stage research and experiments, the paper said. DeepSeek was also working under some constraints: U.S. export controls on the most powerful AI chips. It said it relied on a relatively low-performing AI chip from California chipmaker Nvidia that the U.S. hasnt banned for sale in China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The energy use of data centers in the United States is projected to double or triple by 2028

Data centers consumed about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and that's expected to increase to 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

It's been axiomatic that U.S. tech giants must spend much more on building out data centers and other infrastructure to train and run their AI systems. Meta Platforms, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, says it plans to spend up to $65 billion this year, including on a massive data center complex coming to Louisiana.

Microsoft said it plans to spend $80 billion this year. And Trump last week joined the CEOs of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to announce a joint venture that hopes to invest up to $500 billion on data centers and the electricity generation needed for AI development, starting with a project already under construction in Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Experts think that if AI is more efficient, it will be used more, so energy demand will still grow.

When there's an innovative technology that's useful to the general population and it's affordable, people will use it, said Vic Shao, founder of DC Grid, which delivers off-grid, direct current power to data centers and electric vehicle charging stations.

That means data centers will still be built, though they may be able to operate more efficiently, said Travis Miller, an energy and utilities strategist at Morningstar Securities Research.

We think that the growth in electricity demand will end up at the lower end of most of the ranges out there, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If DeepSeek's claims hold true, some routine AI queries might not need a data center and could be shifted to phones, said Rahul Sandil, vice president and general manager for global marketing and communications at MediaTek, a semiconductor company. That would ease the computing need and give more time to scale up renewable energy sources for data centers.

Bloom Energy is one of the AI-related stocks that took a hit Monday. KR Sridhar, founder and CEO, said it's imperative that the U.S. leads in AI because it can power data centers with clean energy, unlike other countries that still primarily rely on coal.

We can continue to make it better and we will continue to make it better, he said.

Rick Villars, an analyst for market research group IDC, said the DeepSeek news could influence how AI researchers advance their models, but theyll still need plenty of data centers and electricity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We think this actually could boost and accelerate the time frame for when AI becomes much more embedded into our lives, in the work sense, the living sense and in health care, Villars said. So we still think the capacity is required.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
David Sacks says OpenAI has evidence that Chinese company DeepSeek used a technique called "distillation" to build a rival model.

OpenAI has evidence that China's DeepSeek used OpenAI's models to train its competitor, David Sacks, Donald Trumps newly appointed AI and crypto czar, has said.

In an interview with Fox News, Sacks said there was "substantial evidence" that DeepSeek had used a technique known as "distillation" to build its AI models.

Sacks did not go into detail about the evidence OpenAI had.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I think one of the things you're going to see over the next few months is our leading AI companies taking steps to try and prevent distillation," he said. "That would definitely slow down some of these copycat models."

What is distillation?

In machine learning, distillation is a process where outputs from a large, pre-trained model are used to train another, usually smaller model to exhibit similar capabilities.

The technique is common in the field and often used when companies want to deploy a model on devices with limited resources, like mobile phones.

However, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI and Microsoft are probing whether DeepSeek used the technique to help train its rival reasoning modelsomething that would breach OpenAI's terms of service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An OpenAI spokesperson told Fortune that it was aware that China-based companies and others were "constantly trying to distill the models of leading U.S. AI companies."

"As the leading builder of AI, we engage in countermeasures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models, and believe as we go forward that it is critically important that we are working closely with the U.S. government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take U.S. technology," the spokesperson said.

OpenAI said it has technical measures in place to prevent and detect these sorts of attempts and has worked with Microsoft to jointly identify attempts to distill models, revoking access to accounts attempting to do so.

Microsoft representatives did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment. OpenAI declined to provide details when asked about evidence of distillation by DeepSeek.

DeepSeek R1 causes shock waves across AI industry

Rumors that DeepSeek had used distillation to build its models have been circulating since the company released its powerful large language model, V3, in December.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those rumors only intensified in the wake of DeepSeek's release of its R1 model last week.

R1, an enhanced version of V3, uses reinforcement learning to improve performance on math, logic, and reasoning questions. It takes longer to respond, employing a step-by-step chain of thought process to evaluate different strategies before producing an answer.

Before DeepSeek released R1, very few models had been released that could perform this kind of reasoning.

The best-known and most capable of these reasoning models is OpenAI's o1 model, which debuted a preview version in September and a more capable, full version in December. DeepSeek may have used examples of questions and answers from o1 to help train its own R1 model.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While OpenAI hid the actual chain of thought reasoning from users in its o1 model, the step-by-step nature of the o1 responses could be enough to help train a rival reasoning model.

OpenAI could try various ways to gather evidence of distillation, but it could be difficult for the AI lab to prove exactly what DeepSeek has done without access to internal company data.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Ukraines Deputy Minister of Defence Brigadier General of Justice Serhii Melnyk has said at a meeting of the National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) and Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) that Ukraine is ready to share combat experience with NATO.

Source: Ukraines Ministry of Defence

Quote from Melnyk: "Cooperation with CIOR and NRFC helps us strengthen Ukraine's defence system and adapt it to NATO standards. We also have our own unique combat experience that we are ready to share."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: The Ukrainian delegation took part in a meeting of the NATO NRFC and CIOR, where it presented its experience in organising defence, manning and training reserve forces in the full-scale war.

The Ukrainian ministry said that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Ukraine's efforts to organise the reserve and build a national resistance system.

The key topics of the meeting, according to the Ministry of Defence, were also the deepening of cooperation in the field of reserve forces, as well as opportunities for integrating Ukrainian approaches into the Alliance's defence planning system.

Support UP or become our patron!
WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley that he is revoking his security detail and clearance and ordering a review of his conduct to see whether his rank should be re-evaluated, the Defense Department said.

Hegseth, whose first day at the Pentagon was Monday, directed the Defense Department's inspector general to look into "the facts and circumstances" surrounding Milleys conduct "so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said.

The statement did not provide specific reasons for the moves. Defense Department chief of staff Joe Kasper said, Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trumps leadership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Milley, a retired Army general, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Milley was chairman of the Joint Chiefs under both former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump during his first term, and he was at odds with Trump over various issues.

In 2020, Milley apologized for accompanying Trump to a photo-op in front of a church by the White House after Trump ordered the violent removal of protesters demonstrating over the death of George Floyd.

Toward the end of Trump's first term, Milley called the head of China's military, Gen. Li Zuocheng, and assured him the United States had no plans to enter into military conflict with China after the United States received intelligence that Chinese officials thought it was going to attack their country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Milley also played a key role during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under Biden, although he and other military leaders later said they had recommended to Biden that he keep a small contingent of troops in the country past the deadline to pull out.

Milley was included in the slew of pre-emptive pardons Biden issued hours before Trump's inauguration last week, which was intended to protect him from political retaliation during the new Trump administration, Biden said.

Last week, a portrait of Milley was suddenly removed from the walls of the Pentagon; officials couldn't say what was behind its being taken down. A portrait of him as Army chief of staff was also taken down Tuesday night, and the holes where it was affixed to the wall had been covered and painted over.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday revoked the security detail and security clearance for Gen. Mark Milley, according to Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot, an unprecedented move against the former top US general who became a frequent target of President Donald Trump.

Hegseth, in only his second full day on the job, also directed the departments inspector general to launch an investigation into Milleys conduct to determine whether a review of his rank is necessary. The statement does not specify what conduct Hegseth believes would warrant a review of Milleys rank.

CNN has reached out to Milley for comment. Fox News first reported that Milleys detail had been pulled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only hours after Trump was inaugurated last week, administration officials had Milleys portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff removed from where it was displayed in the Pentagon. As of Tuesday afternoon, a second portrait of Milley from his time as the Armys chief of staff was still hanging in the Pentagon.

Trump nominated Milley to be the top US general in 2018, but their relationship rapidly deteriorated during the closing months of the first Trump administration. At one point, Milley called Trump a fascist and, in his final speech as Joint Chiefs chair in 2023, said the military does not take an oath to a wannabe dictator. It was an oblique reference to the then-former president that underscored the enmity between the two.

Trump has accused Milley of treason for a pair of phone calls Milley held with his Chinese counterpart in 2020. Trump described the calls on social media as an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! Milley has testified that the calls were coordinated with the defense secretaries at the time and other national security agencies.

Trump has also accused Milley of botching the withdrawal from Afghanistan, even though Milley opposed the withdrawal of US forces from the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joe Kasper, the Defense Departments chief of staff, said, Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trumps leadership.

On former President Joe Bidens final morning in office, he issued a blanket pardon for Milley after Trump vowed to seek retribution against those he viewed as opposing his first presidency. Biden said that Milley, in more than 40 years in the military, had deployed to some of the most dangerous parts of the world to protect and defend democracy.

Milley thanked Biden for the pardon, saying in a statement, It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our great country in uniform for over four decades, and I will continue to keep faith and loyalty to our nation and Constitution until my dying breath.

Bidens pardon protects Milley from prosecution under criminal law and military law, but an inspector general investigation could reduce Milleys rank if it finds wrongdoing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a Friday night purge, Trump fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, failing to give Congress the required 30-day notice or provide a substantive rationale for the firings. An IG conducts investigations and audits into any potential malfeasance, fraud, waste or abuse by a government agency or its personnel, and issues reports and recommendations on its findings. An IG office is intended to operate independently.

During his first week in office, Trump started to carry out the political retribution he promised to unleash if voters returned him to the White House, CNN previously reported.

Within hours of his swearing in, Trump terminated his former national security adviser John Boltons Secret Service detail, which had been assigned to him because of threats from Iran.

Trump also revoked the security detail for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who, like Bolton, also received protection due to threats from Iran. And he yanked the detail from Dr. Anthony Fauci, which was being provided and paid for by the National Institutes of Health due to ongoing threats from his public-facing role during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And on Tuesday morning, CNN confirmed that former Defense Secretary Mark Espers official Secretary of the Army portrait  a position in which he served before becoming Defense Secretary  was removed from a hallway in the Pentagon. Esper, who is currently a CNN contributor, was fired by President Donald Trump in 2020, after months of him pushing back on the White House left him on shaky ground with the president, which senior administration officials told CNN at the time contributed to the reasoning for his firing.

Esper declined to comment on the removal of the portrait.

The portrait was previously hanging next to former Secretary of the Army Eric Fannings portrait, who served in the position until 2017. On Tuesday, CNN observed the empty space and markings on the wall showing where it was once hanging.

CNNs Haley Britkzy and Natasha Bertrand contributed reporting.

This story has been updated with additional details.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CHICAGO  After four days of closing arguments, the political corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is slowly drawing to a close.

Jury deliberations loom for the now 82-year-old Madigan as government lawyers are expected to present rebuttal arguments on Wednesday, extending the grueling three-and-a-half-month racketeering and bribery trial.

Earlier in the day, lawyers for co-defendant Michael McClain attacked the credibility of another key government witness, Fidel Marquez.

PREVIOUS: Madigan defense attacks credibility of star witness, former Chicago alderman in closing arguments

Fidel Marquez is a liar and you know hes a liar, said defense attorney Patrick Cotter, targeting the former ComEd vice president who wore an FBI wire, leading to the 2023 conviction of the so-called ComEd 4.'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. (Fidel) Marquez came into this courtroom, and he looked at you, and he looked at all of us and lied, Cotter added.

Marquez admitted under oath that he lied about a civil contempt charge, uncovered amid messy divorce proceedings where he disclosed hiding money from his wife and government instigators.

Back in November, Marquez testified he lied about an attempted Arizona gun purchase, even after accepting a 2020 plea deal with the feds, in exchange for his truthful testimony. Marquez testified he forgot about his legal problems by checking the wrong box on his firearms application form, a violation of federal law, as he awaited sentencing on his ComEd 4 felony bribery charge.

Is there anybody who believes that he forgot about committing a felony? Cotter asked jurors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Madigan and his now former friend and political fixer, 77-year-old Michael McClain, each face a 23-count criminal indictment. Both are accused of operating their vaunted political operation like a criminal enterprise, allegedly seeking bribes and favors in exchange for official actions.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Closing arguments continue on Wednesday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Del. Carl Jackson (D-Baltimore County) is headed to the state Senate following a vote Tuesday of the county's Democratic Central Committee. (Courtesy photo.)

Baltimore County Democrats are recommending that Del. Carl Jackson (D) fill the 8th District Senate seat vacated earlier this month when former Sen. Kathy Klausmeier (D) was appointed Baltimore County executive.

District 8 members of the countys Democratic Central Committee voted unanimously Tuesday night to for Jackson over his 8th District colleague, Del. Harry Bhandari (D). Jacksons name now goes to Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has final say on the appointment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assuming Moore approves the nomination, Jackson would become the third delegate appointed to the 47-member Senate since the beginning of the year, joining fellow junior Sens. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel) and Dalya Attar (D-Baltimore City).

The vote came after an hour of interviews in which Bhandari first and then Jackson were asked the same 12 questions in their achievements in the House and their goals in the Senate, should they get the job.

In his presentation to the central committee members, Bhandari, a native of Nepal, stressed his immigrant background and his success in this country from humble beginnings as a personification of the American dream. He talked about knocking on doors and doing other campaign work in support of fellow Democrats, and said the in the Senate he would be focused on affordable housing and public safety.

Jackson cited endorsements by former Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.  whose election to Congress last fall cleared the way for Klausmeier  and fellow District 8 Del. Nick Allen (D), as well as the backing of a number of state and local labor unions. He touted his constituent work in the House and said that he planned remain focused in the Senate on delivering for the district.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The six District 8 central committee members met privately for about 40 minutes before returning and voting unanimously for Jackson.

Jackson, who has held several administrative jobs at University System of Maryland campuses, narrowly lost a race for a District 8 House seat in 2018, then was appointed to fill a vacancy after then-Del. Eric Bromwell (D) took a job with the Baltimore County government. He has served on the House Economic Matters Committee ever since, and won a full term in 2022.

Bhandari, the first Nepali American elected to a state legislature in the U.S., first won his seat in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. A former educator, he has served on the House Health and Government Operations Committee.

Last year, Bhandari ran in the Democratic primary for the 2nd District seat in Congress, but lost handily to Olszewski.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Klausmeier had represented District 8 in the Senate since 2003, and previously spent eight years in the House.

With this pending appointment, the number of appointed state lawmakers continues to rise. Jackson would be the seventh senator to be seated by appointment since the 2022 election (though one has already resigned). Whenever the District 8 seat is filled, there will be no more vacancies in the Senate.

In the House, a dozen appointees have already been put into delegate seats since the 2022 election, with two vacant seats waiting to be filled. Assuming Jackson moves up, that will make for a third House vacancy.

The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee is moving closer to filling Hensons seat in the House. Five candidates have applied for the vacancy: Dylan Behler, a former central committee chair who works for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and was chief of staff to then-state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D), who was recently elected to Congress; Abigail Diehl, an Annapolis businesswoman who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic congressional nomination in District 3 last year; Lindsay Donahue, a health care IT professional who also sought the congressional seat last year; Chrissy Holt, a progressive activist who has run unsuccessfully for state Senate; and Annapolis Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The central committee is set to interview the candidates and vote to nominate a replacement for Henson on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Annapolis Middle School.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee is moving forward with its process to replace Attar in the House. Applications for the appointment are being accepted through Feb. 17; the central committee members from District 41 will interview the candidates and recommend a successor on the evening of Feb. 20.

The same process will take place in Baltimore County to fill Jacksons seat if Moore accepts his nomination, as expected.

Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday heard legislation that would set a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to create special elections to fill vacancies in the House and Senate, depending on the timing of when they occur.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A Delaware County man is facing charges for allegedly scamming the Social Security Administration.

United States Attorney Carla Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office announced on Wednesday that Brian Gill, 59, of Andres was indicted for Social Security Fraud.

The charges accuse Gill of collecting disability benefits while concealing his work activity at a tree service company he owned and operated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Social Security Fraud charge carries a maximum term of 5 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. In addition, Gill could also be ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration for the funds collected.

According to the United States Department of Justice, a defendants sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and other Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop President Donald Trump's order pausing federal grants to states and cities.

That lawsuit came after a federal judge in Washington D.C. temporarily blocked the administration's policy after a coalition of advocacy groups filed a similar lawsuit.

District Judge Loren AliKhan ordered the Trump administration not to halt grant funding until at least Feb. 3, when another hearing will be held on the dispute. The judge said her temporary ruling was intended to "maintain the status quo."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It does not block the Trump administration from freezing funding to new programs, or require it to restart funding that has already ended.

More: Judge temporarily blocks Trump policy that aimed at freezing federal grant funding

The coalition of advocacy groups represented by Democracy Forward  the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, the Main Street Alliance and SAGE advocates for LGBTQ+  is asking the court to block the policy to avoid "catastrophic" harm to people in various aspects of their lives.

'See you in court'

Hours before AliKhan blocked the Trump administration move, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and a coalition of other attorneys general said they were suing to stop the order that would have paused federal grants to states and cities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her post on Facebook about the pending litigation reinforced they would be taking action: "Were suing. See you in court."

Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings, left, speaks at a press conference on Thursday, October 26, 2023, in Wilmington.

Before the end of the business day, the coalition filed its lawsuit in the district of Rhode Island, where a judge there is expected to hold a hearing on it Wednesday (Jan. 29).

'See you in court': Delaware AG says coalition of states plan to sue over federal grant freeze

"What we're seeking there is a nationwide injunction that would prevent a spending freeze on federal funding because it will be catastrophic across the board," Jennings told Delaware Online/The News Journal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike the lawsuit filed by advocacy groups, which resulted in a few days' halt of the Trump administration's policy, the attorneys general lawsuit hopes to end with a nationwide restraining order making sure that money continues flowing into states for needed services, such as education, health, policing and fire service.

"I mean, every basic service you can imagine would be affected otherwise," Jennings said. "And so we want to make sure people are getting the benefits that Congress has voted on.

"Congress is the one that appropriated this money, and we want to make sure that the law is upheld, that Congress appropriates the money and the president can't just cut it."

Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Responsibility 'to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pause wouldn't apply to Social Security and Medicare benefits or food stamps  assistance that is going directly to individuals, according to reporting by USA TODAY.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," Leavitt said. "However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

CATCH UP: 'Catastrophic': Trump's pause in federal grants prompts lawsuits from 6 states, nonprofits

She added the goal was to block funding for programs the president opposes such as Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in hiring and the Green New Deal for climate policy. Officials found $37 million about to be sent to the World Health Organization, which Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from, and $50 million for condoms in Gaza, which Leavitt called "a preposterous waste of government money."

"President Trump is looking out for you in issuing his pause," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Trump federal grant freeze sees second lawsuit from Democratic states
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is warning federal employees not to cave to President Donald Trumps offer of a buyout that would give workers about eight months salary if they leave their jobs next week.

Hell stiff you, Kaine said on the Senate floor.

Contractors whove worked for Trump and Trumps companies have frequently reported struggles getting paid. In 2016, USA Today reported on some 3,500 legal actions against Trump over pay disputes with contractors and others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the campaign trail, Trump would often muse out loud about not paying the people who set up his equipment when there were tech issues.

Now, Trump is offering to pay federal workers to leave  but only if they act fast and resign next week.

Dont be fooled, Kaine said. Hes tricked hundreds of people with that offer. If you accept that offer and resign hell stiff you just like he stiffed the contractors.

He added that Trump doesnt have the authority to even make that offer  and anyone who takes him up on it is taking a huge risk.

Theres no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work, Kaine said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The offer, which was sent Tuesday by the Office of Personnel Management, also implied that workers who dont take the offer could face layoffs as it warned that the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized.

Related...
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted in July of corruption and bribery. The sentence is the longest ever imposed upon a former U.S. senator.

Menendez did what he could to appeal to President Donald Trump  who could pardon him given that the case was federal  while speaking to reporters outside the courthouse. Welcome to the Southern District of New York, the wild west of political prosecutions, he said. President Trump is right. This process is political and its corrupt to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.

Menendez, who is 71 years old, did not elaborate on how his prosecution was political, given that he was a Democratic senator and the case was brought by a Democratic administration. Regardless, his comments stood in stark contrast to the contrition he expressed earlier. During his statement to the court, a tearful Menendez described himself as a chastened man.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about, the former senator said. For someone who spent his entire life in public service, every day Im awake is a punishment.

District Judge Sidney Stein wasnt having it. Somewhere along the way, you became, Im sorry to say, a corrupt politician, the judge said. The public cannot be led to the belief that you can get away with bribery, fraud, and betrayal.

In September 2023, Menedez was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York allege that Menendez and his wife agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using Menendezs power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect and enrich, three men with connections to the Egyptian government. Prosecutors later leveled additional charges against him related to the abuse of his elected office to unlawfully aid the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Authorities who raided Menendezs home found solid gold bars and envelopes stuffed with cash, all evidence of the long-running racket run by the then chair of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee. Although Menendez stepped down from the committee, he refused to resign from his seat in the Senate until after his conviction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sentencing marks an end to one of the most blatant abuses of elected office in American history, and  as Judge Stein put it  Menendez will have plenty of time to reflect on his fall from grace.

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.
(Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Democrat Mike Zimmer is the newest Iowa senator, flipping the Senate District 35 seat in Tuesdays special election.

Zimmer won with 52% of the vote to Republican Katie Whittingtons 48%, according to unofficial results published by the Iowa Secretary of State. The special election was called to replace Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer in the Iowa Senate, who resigned after accepting the lieutenant governor position in December.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cournoyer, a Republican, won her 2022 reelection with 61% of the vote, and President Donald Trump won the district in the 2024 general election by a 21-point margin against Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans will maintain their trifecta control at the Iowa Capitol  with 34-16 supermajority in the Iowa Senate after Zimmer is sworn into office and 67-33 supermajority in the House  but Democrats said the results show discontent with GOP leadership.

Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement that Zimmers special election victory is a clear rejection of the Republican agenda led by Kim Reynolds and the Senate Republicans that have failed Iowans.

Mike ran on a platform to help working Iowans get ahead, support public schools and teachers, and help lower the cost of living, Weiner said. This win shows that when Democrats fight for Iowa families, we can win anywhere. This is a victory for Iowans.

Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the statehouse campaign arm of the Democratic Party, said Tuesday the victory in a district where Trump won by a large margin shows Democrats have a strong path forward in the aftermath of major GOP wins in the 2024 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This earthquake victory in Iowa puts Republicans across the country on notice, Williams said in a statement.  Tonights win marks the first flip of the cycle and builds on key majority-making wins in Virginia earlier this month. The DLCC is starting the new cycle strong just a month into 2025  from battlegrounds to Republican territory. We have dozens more special elections on the horizon  were only just getting started.

Zimmer, the president of the Central DeWitt School Board, will serve out the remainder of Cournoyers term through 2026. He thanked voters in Senate District 35, an area covering Clinton County and parts of Scott and Jackson counties, for electing him to the position.

Im looking forward to working on behalf of the people of Eastern Iowa to help working Iowans get ahead, support our public schools and teachers, and help lower the cost of living, he said.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)- Amorette Miller is one step closer to becoming the first woman of color to be elected to the Greece Town Board. A Workers Rights advocate, Miller said she received unanimous support from the Greece Democratic Committee Tuesday night. If she gains the required signatures to become a candidate, she would face a Republican challenger in the November election.

Miller has lived in Greece for eleven years. The mom of a middle school student is running to represent Ward 3. That seat is currently held by Councilmember Michael Bloomer. Miller said among the issues shed like to address if elected is more noncommercial green spaces, so children and adults have more safe areas to pay and have fun.

The Greece Democratic Committee designated several other candidates for town seats including town supervisor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Monroe County Democratic Committee will consider all nominations

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are demanding to see the volume of former special counsel Jack Smiths report dealing with the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation, asserting it has relevant information about Kash Patel, President Trumps pick to lead the FBI.

The Democrats letter references prior reporting surrounding Patels grand jury testimony as prosecutors investigated Trump, granting the aide immunity to discuss his role.

Patel has claimed that he witnessed Trump declassify records  a detail that could have been among the defenses Trump offered after 300 documents with classified markings were found in his home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. Patels testimony under oath before the grand jury on this and other potential matters, and the Special Counsels findings with regard to Mr. Patels related activities and statements, remain unknown to the Committee and the public, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote in a letter alongside Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the panel, along with its other members.

The Committee cannot adequately fulfill its constitutional duty without reviewing Mr. Patels testimony under oath, which is necessary to evaluate Mr. Patels truthfulness, trustworthiness, and regard for the protection of classified information.

The request asks both for Patels grand jury testimony and the volume of Smiths report dealing with that investigation.

Former Attorney General Merrick Garland was going to withhold that volume of Smiths report from the public but was prepared to share it with the four leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon blocked that action, warning any leaks from lawmakers could impact the ongoing case against Trumps two co-defendants.

The Justice Department earlier Wednesday, however, moved to kill the case, dropping an appeal that would have reignited the prosecution for the two men.

Doing so would open the department to publicly sharing that volume of Smiths final report.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

Trumps legal team, however, waged its own battle to block the release of the entirety of Smiths report, ultimately losing when it came to the election interference volume.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are signs there could be meaty details about the Mar-a-Lago investigation in the yet-to-be-released volume.

Volume II includes detailed and voluminous discovery information, Cannon wrote in a decision the day after Trump was sworn in, referring to the Mar-a-Lago volume.

Much of this information has not been made public in Court filings. It includes myriad references to bates-stamped information provided by the Special Counsel in discovery and subject to the protective order, including interview transcripts, search warrant materials, business records, toll records, video footage, various other records obtained pursuant to grand jury subpoena, information as to which President-Elect Trump has asserted the attorney-client privilege in motions in this proceeding evidence, and other non-public information.

Updated at 2:58 p.m. EST

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.
Democrats have a strategy for going after Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Commerce: Draw suspicions over his massive personal wealth.

On the eve of the nominees confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Democrats who sit on the panel said they were planning to question how Lutnicks business dealings and ties to special interests could undermine his ability to lead the agency responsible for helping Trump implement his controversial trade agenda, including tariffs.

Were going to ask him a lot of questions around his businesses, said the committees ranking member, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The extent of Lutnicks financial entanglements are detailed in a 92-page financial disclosure form drawing connections to more than 800 organizations as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Democrats are in particular eyeing Lutnicks financial links to China and his relationship to the beleaguered cryptocurrency firm Tether.

And while an ethics report included a pledge to divest from the core of his business interests  as would his wife and minor children  Lutnick did not rule out allowing his adult children to remain connected to those interests.

Ultimately, the Democrats plan to put Lutnicks financial dealings under the microscope and cast him as out of touch with everyday Americans fits into the partys larger attempts to win back voters by demonizing the Trump administrations roster of billionaires up for high-level postings.

In addition to newly installed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent  a hedge fund manager  and Education secretary nominee Linda McMahon  a professional wrestling mogul  the Department of Government Efficiency is being spearheaded by the nations richest man, Elon Musk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnick, also a billionaire and longtime friend of Trump who co-chaired the presidents 2024 transition team, rebuilt the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz dismissed concerns from Democrats on Tuesday.

Its amusing that Democrats are shocked that the Secretary of Commerce would be successful in business, Cruz, a Texas Republican, said in an interview. Id be a little dismayed if the Secretary of Commerce had not been successful in business.

But Lutnick is still going to have to answer questions from Democrats about his business relationships with China and how those ties could affect his leadership of the Commerce Department.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnicks financial technology firm, BGC Group, has a joint venture with China Credit Trust in Beijing, while Cantor Fitzgerald has helped Chinese firms expand operations in the United States. If confirmed, Lutnick would oversee agencies that set duties on goods that enter the United States and impose export controls, which aim to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of foreign adversaries.

How are you going to manage export controls? Cantwell said she planned to ask Lutnick. No one wants to think about [an] appearance of conflict.

Democrats will also ask about Lutnicks plans for carrying out tariffs, which would be partly under the purview of the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. As a Wall Street businessman, Lutnick might have traditionally balked at the impact of tariffs on markets, but in recent weeks the nominee has emerged as an aggressive proponent.

I've still yet to hear how this is not going to raise prices for the American people, said Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, of the Trump administrations pledge to impose tariffs on a vast array of everyday goods coming into the country. Over and over again we ask that question  Trumps talking about it as if this is going to raise all this revenue for the people and the government. It doesnt work that way, unless they have something they want to explain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We're very clear that [with] those tariffs  American citizens are gonna pay the difference, Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat who, like Kim, sits on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Not every Senate Republican is fully on board with Trumps tariff agenda, either. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a Commerce Committee Republican, acknowledged the new stance on trade is such a different approach than were accustomed to.

Outstanding policy differences in this regard, however, are unlikely to complicate Lutnicks confirmation prospects for a party-line vote. Cruz told reporters Tuesday that Trump has generally used tariffs well, and other committee Republicans said they were eager to hear more about how Lutnick would wield them on the presidents behalf.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, a Montana Republican, conceded in an interview that tariffs can increase costs. However, he also pointed to this past weekends episode where Trumps threats of imposing tariffs on Colombia forced the country to agree to receive deportation flights of migrants returning home from the United States.

Tariffs are a great negotiating tool, Sheehy, a Commerce Committee member, said.
House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday pushed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to preserve a refugee program.

We urge you to immediately revoke the stop work orders that the Department issued on January 24, 2025, to the 10 national resettlement agencies that provide services to refugees who were forced to flee their home countries in order to escape war or persecution and were deemed eligible to resettle in the United States after undergoing thorough vetting, a letter from the Democrats reads.

This unprecedented order threatens to deprive refugees already in the United States of the vital assistance known as Reception and Placement (R&P) services, which help them during their first three months in the United States as they rebuild their lives here, they added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An older State Department webpage from former President Obamas time in the White House describes the R&P program as giving assistance for refugees to settle in the United States, contributing resettlement agencies a one-time sum per refugee to assist with meeting expenses during a refugees first few months in the United States.

The letter is signed by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

We urge you to reverse course by excluding or granting a waiver to the R&P program from the definition of foreign development assistance, as used in the Presidents Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, revoking the stop work orders, and permitting a resumption in R&P services for all eligible populations, the letter continued.

On his first day back in the presidency, an executive order titled Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program was signed by President Trump in an apparent effort to better align the relevant programs with American principles and interests. The order effectively halts admissions of refugees for at least three months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Hill has reached out to the State Department 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.
State Sen. Manka Dhingra speaks as the Washington state Senate convenes for floor session on Feb. 28, 2023. (Washington State Legislative Support Services)

Washington Democrats are trying again to give the state additional power to prosecute cases when police use deadly force.

But the bill looks a bit different this time around compared to past years.

The previous version made the Office of Independent Prosecutions a division in the attorney generals office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson argued that prosecuting these cases could be a conflict of interest for the attorney generals office. The agency serves as legal counsel for state law enforcement, including the Washington State Patrol.

Former Gov. Jay Inslee raised similar concerns about conflict of interest if the office was housed under the governor.

We were without options, said Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, the prime sponsor of past legislation to create the office.

But now with a new administration in town, lawmakers plan to relaunch their push for the independent prosecutor, this time in the governors office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, filed a bill Tuesday to add a statewide prosecutor to an existing law enforcement oversight agency.

Proponents say it makes sense to place the prosecutor under the governors jurisdiction, as part of the Office of Independent Investigations lawmakers created in 2021. The agency would be renamed the Office of Independent Investigations and Prosecutions.

Ferguson, now governor, also prefers placing the prosecutor in his office.

Still, supporters of the measure should expect similar pushback as in past years from county prosecutors who say a statewide counterpart usurps their authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new attorney general, Nick Brown, said in an interview earlier this month he thought his office should oversee the independent prosecutor.

Theres been conversations about putting it in the governors office or some other independent entity, Brown said the day he was sworn in. At least from my vantage point on the outside, over the last couple years, it always made the most sense for me to house that work here.

An attorney generals office spokesperson said this week staff were reviewing the latest proposal.

The past two years, Democrats in the state House have moved a bill forward to create the independent prosecutors office with no Republican support. But both times the legislation didnt make it to the Senate floor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dhingra is optimistic about its chances, but justifying the cost in a difficult budget year could be tough.

Anything with a fiscal note is in trouble this year, Dhingra said.

Last years legislation was expected to cost $9.5 million in the 2025-2027 biennium, and $12.7 million in the next biennium. Previous versions cost much more. Locating the prosecutor within the Office of Independent Investigations could lead to even more savings.

Adding the independent prosecutor is a priority for police accountability advocates. They also want to authorize the attorney general to investigate local police for violating state law. A committee hearing on that legislation, Senate Bill 5066, is set for Thursday.

Third time around

The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability just wants to see the office up and running. It doesnt really matter where its located, said the groups policy expert, Leslie Cushman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cushman said the coalition believes the independent prosecutor will improve accountability, and itll give some confidence to communities.

Another big holdup in recent years has been local prosecutors who argued the independent statewide office would take away their authority to investigate these cases.

Republicans in the past have agreed. Law enforcement groups have also been opposed.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

But supporters say local prosecutors work too closely with law enforcement, giving their decisions in cases of deadly force an air of bias.

This isnt going to guarantee anybody is going to be prosecuted, Cushman said. Its just guaranteeing greater credibility of the process and maybe some greater transparency.

How it could work

The statewide prosecutor could see a rough average of 30 cases annually, according to projections last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prosecutor would handle cases from the independent investigations office. The agency is just starting to conduct its own inquiries on new cases, launching in December to look into deaths in southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula before expanding across the state.

So far, the investigations office has initiated probes in two cases, in Centralia and Vancouver. The agency is required to finish its inquiries within 120 days.

Currently, those investigations would go to the county prosecutor. But if lawmakers pass Senate Bill 5584, the evidence would be forwarded to the independent prosecutor, who would review the case concurrently with the local prosecutor.

If both file charges, it would be a judges job to decide whose prosecution will best promote the interests of justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

The idea of the state bringing charges against police officers who use deadly force isnt entirely new.

In late 2023, a jury found three officers not guilty of criminal charges in the killing of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma in a case handled by the attorney general. In that case, the Washington State Patrol investigated Ellis death and turned its findings over to the attorney general.
Faced with increasing pressure from President Donald Trump to hand over the strategically important island of Greenland to the U.S., Denmark has announced plans to beef up its military presence there. Key to the $2 billion effort is the purchase of three new Arctic patrol boats, two long-range drones, and an unspecified number of new maritime patrol aircraft.

These looming acquisitions are meant to replace worn-out equipment and provide additional surveillance and sensing capabilities over and around one of the worlds largest islands. The plan was announced as Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is at the center of an increasingly strategic race to expand control and military influence across the Arctic region. The U.S., China, and Russia are all vying for the regions military, geostrategic, and economic benefits, and the island is already home to one of the U.S. militarys most strategically important outposts. You can read all about this history and current status of American forces on the island, as well as its overall growing strategic significance, in our recent feature linked here.

We are facing serious security policy challenges, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement on Monday that did not specifically mention Trumps Greenland interest. The Danish Defense Intelligence Service assesses that the threat level in the Arctic and the North Atlantic has worsened. Therefore, we must significantly strengthen the Danish Defense presence in the regions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New agreement strengthens the presence of the Danish Defence in the Arctic and North Atlantic region. To ensure peace and stability and strengthen defence cooperation with close Allies   #StrongerTogetherhttps://t.co/Bn0t5YwGge  Denmark at NATO (@DK_NATO) January 28, 2025

This new procurement program is part of a broader security pact between Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. These governments seek to increase their ability to patrol and gain situational awareness over a 660,000-square-mile landmass with about 27,000 miles of coastline. That presence is quite limited. In addition to the ships and aircraft, Denmark has a dozen dog sled teams to monitor an area three times the size of Texas.

A graphic explaining the Danish military presence in Greenland. (Danish MoD)

One of the main lines of effort in the Danish plan is replacing the Royal Danish Navys four Thetis class patrol boats. Commissioned in 1991 and 1992, they are becoming increasingly unreliable, according to Danish officials.

If you look at those ships, they are of course worn out, Chief of the Navy Rear Adm. Henrik Ryberg told the Danish DR news outlet last year. They are almost 40 years old. That is why I need people to start thinking about what should be next.

The Thetis class ships, he added, often break down and therefore cannot be operational.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 369-foot-long vessels, which displace 3,500 tons, have a maximum speed of 20 knots when working and can operate for about 8,500 nautical miles. Designed for the harsh Arctic conditions, they feature double-skinned hulls up to two meters above the waterline and can sustain damage up to eight meters in length without endangering stability. The hulls have ice-breaking bows and stern lines suitable for operations in ice with only one propeller.

These ships are armed with one Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid main gun, one or two Oerlikon 20 mm guns, and depth charge dispensers. They also embark with an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

The Thetis (F357), a Thetis-class ocean patrol vessel belonging to the Royal Danish Navy. (ukasz Golowanow via Wikimedia Commons)

The three new Arctic ships Denmark seeks will be able to more effectively and flexibly solve tasks in Greenland and carry capabilities such as helicopters and drones, Poulsen stated. He did not provide details about what specifications he seeks or the timeline for delivery. We reached out to the Danish Defense Ministry for additional details and will update this story with any pertinent details.

For maritime patrol, inspection and transport, Denmark relies on four Canadair CL-604 Challenger bizjet aircraft. The CL-604s are militarized variants of the Bombardier Challenger 604 with saddle tanks to enhanced fuel capacity, a new undercarriage to support higher takeoff and landing weights, structural improvements to the wings and tail, as well as a modern Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics system. A decade ago, Denmark embarked on a midlife upgrade program that included a new downlink and a multirole radar capable of carrying out surface surveillance, weather monitoring and oil slick detection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Challenger aircraft are near the end of their operational lifespan and need to be replaced, the Danish Defense Ministry stated. The opening of new airports across Greenland means new opportunities for establishing partnerships with airlines regarding inspection, surveillance, and transportation.

The details of the funding and procurement schedule for the replacement aircraft are being worked out with officials from the Faroe Islands and Greenland as part of a broader security agreement, the Danish MoD explained.

Royal Danish Air Force Chellenger 604. (NATO Facebook page)

Denmark also wants two new long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity that can monitor large areas over long distances and obtain detailed images, Poulsen explained. He did not say what kinds of drones, what kind of sensors or when they would be procured or fielded.

While Denmark has been seeking a lot of these capabilities for several years, the plan unveiled Monday comes in the wake of increasingly contentious relations between Trump and the Danish government over the future of Greenland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even before he was inaugurated, Trump reportedly berated Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, with the former insisting he wanted the United States to take over Greenland, The New York Times reported. That was after he refused to rule out military or economic coercion to bring Greenland and the Panama Canal under U.S. control during a press conference on Jan. 8.

I cant assure you on either of those two, Trump told reporters. But I can say this, we need them for economic security.

Question on Greenland and Panama Canal: "Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of these areas you are not going to use military or economic coercion?



President-Elect Trump: "NoI can't assure you on either of those two. We need them for economic security" pic.twitter.com/zJ8Fb67ZrX  CSPAN (@cspan) January 7, 2025

The same day, Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., touched down in Greenland for what was described as a tourist visit, during which he reportedly handed out hats bearing the slogan Make Greenland Great Again.

Meanwhile, Trumps National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the strategy is bigger than Greenland itself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is about the Arctic, he said. You have Russia that is trying to become king.

Frederiksen earlier this month ruled out the possibility of coming to a deal with the United States that would see Greenland handed over. Instead, the future of the territory would be decided by its people. Greenland is not for sale, Frederiksen said.

The U.S., as we have previously reported, already has a significant military presence in Greenland. That includes the former Thule Air Base, which was turned over to the U.S. Space Force in 2020 and renamed Pituffik Space Base in 2023. Overseen by the Space Forces 821st Space Base Group, its mission is to enable force projection, space superiority, and scientific research in the Arctic region for our nation and allies through integrated base support and defense operations, according to the Space Force.

With Pituffik Space Base, the 821st Space Base Group is responsible for the U.S. militarys northernmost installation. Beyond the airfield, the massive radar system used for early warning and tracking of ballistic missiles is of extreme strategic importance to the United States.

A satellite view of Pituffik Space Force Base in Greenland. (Google Earth)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Russia has placed a huge strategic importance on the Arctic, with many investments in the region. In recent years, Moscow has been heavily committed to increasing its air and naval power in the Arctic Circle and has been establishing new bases in the region, as well as reactivating ones that fell into disuse after the Cold War. China has also been expanding its presence in the Arctic.

These two nations have also been stepping up their joint military operations in the Arctic region. Last July, two Chinese H-6 bombers and a pair of Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers flew through a portion of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) around Alaska. It marked the first time Chinas H-6s operated in that part of the world.

Beyond the military implications of this region are potential new shipping routes and mineral resources that will become available as the ice continues to melt. These factors are largely perpetuating the looming struggle for control over wide swathes of the Arctic region.

Amid all this, Denmark is seeking European help in opposing Trumps Greenland quest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Frederiksen dashed between Berlin, Brussels and Paris on Tuesday to shore up support in the face of Trumps increasingly aggressive overtures toward the territory, Politico noted on Tuesday. Trumps interest in Greenland will likely be a big part of an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Feb. 3, Politico reported, citing several people familiar with the plans.

Denmark's PM seeks support on trip to Berlin and other EU capitals as fears grow over Trump's threats against Greenland pic.twitter.com/nq9Gkubc49  DW Politics (@dw_politics) January 28, 2025

Buying a few new ships, aircraft and drones is clearly no game-changer in Denmarks efforts to maintain control over Greenland. The announcement of the plan, however, seems to be another indication that it has no intention of giving up the island.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Denmark's sovereignty is an "essential issue" for the EU, the European Council President said in an interview on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to express interest in claiming Greenland for the United States.

The Arctic island is a semi-autonomous Danish territory.

"The territoriality of Denmark, the sovereignty of Denmark, the stability of its borders is obviously an essential issue," European Council President Antonio Costa told Euronews.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The comments echo those of EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who said the bloc was "not negotiating" on Greenland.

Trump has said Greenland is vital to U.S. security and Denmark must give up control of the strategically important Arctic island. He also said he has not ruled out using military or economic power to achieve his goal.

The U.S. military has a permanent base in northwestern Greenland that serves as a ballistic missile early-warning system.

On Tuesday, NATO and Denmark agreed at a meeting to focus on strengthening Arctic defences and Copenhagen said it would boost Arctic defence spending by $2 billion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greenland and Denmark have both publicly said the Arctic island is not for sale, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying that its people should decide their own future.

($1 = 0.9617 euros)

(Reporting by Julia Payne in Brussels; Editing by Nia Williams)
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Tuesday decried immigration raids in schools and hospitals.

We dont want people targeting schools or churches or hospitals, Johnston told CNNs Jake Tapper on The Lead. We think it fundamentally infringes on the public safety of a city if you cant go to the hospital and feel secure there or take your kids to school.

President Trumps border czar Tom Homan defended plans from the Trump administration to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into schools in an interview that aired Sunday. On This Week, ABC Newss Martha Raddatz noted the Trump administration saying that it will no longer tell ICE agents they have to avoid sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals and churches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What criminals are hiding in schools? Middle schools, elementary schools  you gonna go into those? Raddatz asked Homan.

How many MS-13 members are the age 14 to 17? Many of them, Homan said.

So look, if its a national security threat, public safety threat and what, what you need to understand is that its case by case, name another agency, another law enforcement agency, that has those type of requirements, that they cant walk into a school or doctors office or a medical campus, he added. No other agency is held to those standards. These are well-trained officers with a lot of discretion, and when it comes to a sensitive location, theres still gonna be supervisory review.

Trump made the issue of immigration central to his 2024 presidential bid, pledging on the campaign trail to deport millions of people in the U.S. without legal status. His administration has taken multiple steps to change immigration and border policies immediately.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well help collaborate on folks that are violent criminals, Johnston said during his CNN appearance Tuesday. Were gonna help protect our churches and schools and hospitals.

Kush Desai, a spokesperson for the White House, said in an emailed statement to The Hill that President Trump received a historic mandate from the American people to secure our border, mass deport illegal immigrants, and put American citizens first. 

He will use every lever of executive and legislative power to deliver for the American people, Desai added.

Story updated at 10:55 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Department of Education launched an investigation Tuesday against Denver Public Schools for converting a girls restroom into an all-gender bathroom.

The departments Office for Civil Rights said it is investigating alleged discrimination after the second floor girls bathroom at East High School was converted to an all-gender bathroom while the boys bathroom on the same floor remained exclusively for males.

The alarming report that the Denver Public Schools District denied female students a restroom comparable with their male counterparts appears to directly violate the civil rights of the Districts female students, said acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Let me be clear: it is a new day in America, and under President Trump, OCR will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. I have directed OCRs Denver regional office to investigate this matter fully, Trainor added.

The department says the school district is potentially breaking Title IX, which says schools that receive federal funds may provide separate toilet, locker room, and shower facilities on the basis of sex, but such facilities provided for students of one sex shall be comparable to such facilities provided for students of the other sex.

Trainor sent a letter to the school district on Tuesday informing it of the investigation and that the department will begin requesting access to data and personnel.

This bathroom was added as the result of a student-led process that reflects our commitment to inclusivity and student voice, leadership, and empowerment, providing a welcoming space for all, Denver Public Schools spokesperson Scott Pribble said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pribble also stated there are 12-foot tall partitions in the all-gender bathroom to help accommodate those who may feel uncomfortable in gender-specific facilities.

The Hill has reached out to the school district 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Deportation flights between the U.S. and Colombia resumed on Tuesday, Jan. 28 after the diplomatic drama over the weekend between President Donald Trump and Colombias President Gustavo Petro.

A deal between both countries was reportedly made on Sunday night to resume the removal flights, with the White House saying in a statement that Colombia had agreed to all of President Trumps terms, including the arrival of deportees on military flights.

According to Colombias Foreign Ministry, 91 Colombian nationals boarded a Colombian military aircraft sent from Bogota to El Paso, Texas on Monday, taking off from Biggs Army Airfield just before midnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Using a flight tracker website, KTSM tracked the deportation flight as it approached Fort Bliss, touching down just before 10 p.m. and departing approximately two hours later. The flight arrived back in Bogota early Tuesday morning.

Texas 23, the district I represent, has been ground zero for this border crisis, and itll be ground zero for deportation operations that are ongoing, said U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas.

District 23 stretches from San Antonio to East El Paso and includes Fort Bliss. Gonzales district also includes about 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

It comes after Petro objected to the use of U.S. military aircrafts deporting Colombians, saying his countrys citizens were being treated like criminals. Colombia denied entry to two U.S. military deportation flights on Sunday, only to have Trump respond with a threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Colombian goods. Trump also threatened visa restrictions, among other sanctions, before the two presidents came to an agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What the Trump Administration is doing right now, is performative in many respects, said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas. It is in many ways, I believe, a form of propaganda so he can tell his base, Look, Im doing exactly what I told you I was going to do.'

The Trump Administration has said it would prioritize the expulsion of migrants with criminal records in the initial phases of his mass deportation plan. However, it has expanded arrest priorities to anyone in the country illegally.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)Massachusetts public schools must provide equal access to all children regardless of their immigration status, and cannot give students personally identifiable information to ICE agents without written parental consent, according to guidance from the attorney generals office.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell sent the advisory to education officials around the state, in response to questions from educators about President Donald Trumps mass deportation push. The advisory is just guidance, according to her office, and not the formal legal opinion of the attorney general.

GOP calls for Massachusetts law enforcement cooperation with ICE

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Department of Homeland Security under the newly sworn-in second-term president announced last week that it was ending a policy that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents ability to arrest undocumented people at or near so-called sensitive locations, such as religious institutions, schools and hospitals. The policy had been in place since the Obama administration.

We are really clear about schools obligations to protect students and their information, because this is a strong component of protecting students education information at the heart of it as well, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston said during a Board of Education meeting in Everett on Tuesday.

The department is helping to disseminate the guidance, and is holding webinars alongside the AGs office for school and district leaders.

Campbells memo details that state and federal law require that school districts enroll all school-aged children who reside in the district, regardless of whether they are U.S. citizens. It also offers suggestions for how districts can ensure their enrollment policies do not discourage immigrant students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

School districts may want to consider revising their enrollment policies to collect only the information necessary to verify the students age and residence, it says.  As a general matter, schools should not collect for enrollment purposes or maintain documents that contain passport information, visa information, and Social Security numbers. This information is not necessary to confirm age or residency and collecting it creates additional data protection obligations, and risks deterring enrollment on the basis of immigration or citizenship status.

The attorney general outlined recommendations for school officials, if an ICE agent tries to remove a student from a classroom. If an agent requests access to a student, schools should refer them to the schools central office, who should immediately notify their parent or guardian. Superintendents should contact the districts legal counsel before responding.

If an ICE agent attempts to remove a student from their classroom, schools must obtain the specific, informed written consent of a parent or guardian or be provided with a valid, judicial warrant signed by a federal or state judge. If they have a warrant, the school district should ask legal counsel about information on the scope of the warrant and if it provides the authority to make an arrest.

Schools are prohibited from giving, either verbally or in writing, a students information to third parties  including ICE agents  without specific, informed written consent of a parent or guardian, under state and federal laws and regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports have surfaced of immigrant families keeping their children home from school, out of fear of ICE raids, over the past week. At Tuesdays board meeting, member Martin West asked Johnston if DESE was collecting data on decreased attendance for this student population. Johnston replied that they have some anecdotal information and they are continu[ing] to track that but do not have data about those attendance metrics right now.

On Monday, the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform opened a probe into so-called sanctuary cities, and called on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to testify before the panel on Feb. 11.

Sanctuary jurisdictions are states, counties or cities that put some limits on how much they are willing to cooperate with federal agencies efforts to deport illegal aliens. These jurisdictions take it upon themselves to decide what laws they will and will not abide by all for the purpose of shielding removable aliens, especially criminals, from federal law enforcement, says a letter addressed to Wu from Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the committee.

It continues, There are about 12 states and hundreds of cities and counties with sanctuary laws or policies across the country. Four cities, however, stand out in their abject failure to comply with federal law: Chicago, New York City, Denver, and Boston. Citizens of all four cities have suffered due to sanctuary policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wu told the Boston Globe the city is still deciding how to respond to the call for her to testify next month. The federal government can implement their laws, and were not forced to participate in their actions, she told the Globe.

AG-Campbell-ICE-School-GuidanceDownload

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  A pair accused of breaking into vehicles in Goose Creek were arrested after attempting to run from deputies.

The Berkeley County Sheriffs Office received a call for service early Tuesday morning regarding two people trying to break into vehicles near Ramada Circle.

Deputies responded to the area and saw one of the suspects run from a home on Mellard Drive. Both were detained after a chase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jaytwan Darrell Robertson, 22, and Shatwan Terrell Oneal Robertson, 23, both of Harbour Lake Drive, are being charged with breaking into motor vehicles.

The sheriffs office said a records check determined Shatwan Robertson had an outstanding warrant through the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for a probation violation for a previous charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Both men are being held at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriffs Office are actively looking for a man and his two sons, reported missing Tuesday morning.

The sheriffs office said James Brewington was last seen around Wright School Road in Belton. Deputies believe Brewingtons sons, 6-year-old Jedidiah and 5-year-old Martin are with him.

Authorities said the green Ford F350 was found abandoned and was located along Stryker Trail in Belton on Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brewington and his sons have been reported to now be in a Ford Edge with the North Carolina tag: HFN-5274.

Deputies said the family is suspected to be out of state.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact ACSO at (864) 260-4400 and reference case number 2025-01111. Anonymous tips can be made at www.p3tips.com/1038

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A passenger died at the hospital Wednesday after a crash in Holland Township, deputies say.

It happened around 11:10 a.m. at Riley Street and 112th Avenue in Holland Township, according to the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies say a Pontiac sedan was heading west on Riley Street and proceeded to make a left turn at the intersection to go south on 112th Avenue. Thats when it was hit by an eastbound Ford SUV, which was heading straight through the intersection, according to the sheriffs office. The office says the light was green for eastbound and westbound traffic on Riley Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The passenger in the Pontiac, a 78-year-old Holland woman, was taken to the hospital, where she died of her injuries, deputies say.

According to the sheriffs office, both drivers  the 86-year-old Holland man driving the Pontiac and the 34-year-old Zeeland woman driving the Ford  also suffered injuries in the crash.

Deputies continue 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 WOODTV.com.
Lost in all the news about the Republican power struggle in Tallahassee is the question of how a veteran state lawmaker, our very own state Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, would get hung up on the losing side of perhaps one of the biggest fights between a governor and the Florida Legislature in the state capitol's modern history.

"Basically, it was two middle fingers up to the governor," Caruso said when asked about the special session.

You'd think Caruso would know better but he's clear on where he stands. He filed 10 bills for Gov. Ron DeSantis that both Senate President Ben Albritton, and of greater consequence to Caruso, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, simply ignored, dismissing those bills before approving their own immigration legislation in this week's special session.

Mike Caruso

Opinion: DeSantis is throwing an immigration fit. Make his special session extra special.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's just a facade to think the legislature is doing something, that we are taking action on immigration." Caruso said. "It's a facade to make you think that you can be safe in your communities, and it does just the opposite."

There's an African saying that it's the grass that suffers during a fight between elephants. Caruso might well be that grass, given the speaker's power over who gets choice committee assignments, what appropriations actually get in the state budget and what legislation gets through the committee process and onto to the floor for a final vote.

Florida lawmakers will back Trump's agenda. How they do it is the question

Caruso joins his fellow Republicans in believing that America's immigration process is broken. In reality, the Florida Legislature ultimately will find a way to support President Trump's immigration agenda. How they do it is still up in the air. The legislation backed by Perez and Albritton could face a veto by the governor, which would add even more drama to the standoff. Lawmakers this week overrode the governor's budget veto from 2023. They could seek an override again.

DeSantis wanted to approve a series of immigration bills that included criminal penalties for local elected officials and law enforcement who failed to comply with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in deporting undocumented immigrants. Legislative leaders balked at that and other details in the DeSantis bills. In their legislation, dubbed the "Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy," or the TRUMP Act, Perez and Albritton took out that punitive measure and gave the overall responsibility of state enforcement to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Opinion: Trump goes against every principle my father taught me. Where are our values?

Susan A. McManus, a retired University of South Florida professor and longtime political observer, described Caruso's response as "unusual," citing the typical relationship between House members and their legislative leaders.

"To be so candid, he must have been astonished by the interaction he was having with the speaker as a sitting member of the legislature of the same party," McManus said. "But let me tell you my pet buzzword for this week in Tallahassee  ambition, ambition run rampant."

For Caruso though, immigration remains too important an issue for Florida leaders to simply wait until the regular legislative session in March to address. It was his belief in the issue that prompted him to work with DeSantis to have bills ready once the governor called the special session. Caruso sought the speaker's support on the DeSantis-backed bills but got no response. For a lawmaker caught up in an intraparty maelstrom Caruso seems fine with his stance.

Douglas C. Lyons

I'm not worried about it," Caruso said. "Sometimes you got to do the right thing."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Douglas C. Lyons is an editorial writer and columnist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. He can be reached at dclyons@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Rep. Caruso loses in DeSantis' immigration fight | Opinion
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will veto a sweeping illegal immigration bill passed Tuesday night by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature, a move guaranteed to stoke the escalating feud between him and legislative leaders.

DeSantis veto decision comes amid his frequent barbs aimed at lawmakers over the bill, and represents further decay of the quickly deteriorating relationship between the governor and a Legislature that had given nearly everything he wanted before his unsuccessful run for president.

DeSantis announced his planned veto in a social media post dropped shortly before holding a roundtable with law enforcement officials in Titusville, Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We must have the strongest law in the nation on immigration enforcement. We cannot be weak," he wrote on X. That's what the people expect and what the people have voted for in recent elections, culminating in the mandate earned by President Trump to enact the largest deportation program in history. The bill that narrowly passed the Florida legislature last night fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement.

He then added, the veto pen is ready.

DeSantis ordered legislators to come to Tallahassee for a special session meant to help prepare Florida for the deportation efforts that would commence with President Donald Trump in the White House. He also wanted legislators to pass bills that would clamp down on ballot initiatives and tackle the states lingering condominium crisis.

Lawmakers called the special session premature, but then rejected the governors plans and instead pushed ahead with their own immigration proposal. The measure includes several items that the governor advocated for, including the repeal of a decade-old law that allows undocumented students who attended a Florida high school to pay in-state tuition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legislators also set aside more than $500 million to help local law enforcement officials and the state assist in the immigration crackdown, and their bill would require the mandatory imposition of the death penalty if a person in the country illegally committed a capital offense such as murder.

But the legislation did not include restrictions on wiring money abroad that DeSantis wanted. And the final bill also shifted immigration enforcement away from DeSantis and over to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Republican with an icy relationship with the governor dating back to his term as Senate president.

DeSantis and his allies have berated Simpson, suggesting he would not crack down on immigration given his ties to the agriculture industry. The governor has taken to conservative media outlets in recent days to denounce Republicans in his home state for defying him.

Republicans in the Legislature defended their bill on the state House and Senate floor on Tuesday, saying it was crafted with input from Trump and his administration. House Speaker Daniel Perez called it a game changer, additionally blasting the governor for threatening others and for his "immaturity."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeSantis cant actually veto the bill until it is actually submitted to him by state legislators. There is no legal deadline on when that must happen, although the bill contains dates for certain actions to take effect.

Right now, legislative leaders dont appear to have enough votes to mount a veto override. The bill only passed the Florida Senate by a 21-16 vote, far short of the required two-thirds override threshold. Six Republicans joined with Democrats to oppose the bill. The measure did garner a supermajority in the Florida House by a 82-30 vote.
TALLAHASSEE  After Florida legislators rejected Gov. Ron DeSantis' immigration proposals to pass their own package instead, DeSantis fired back by promising to veto their bill.

DeSantis' plan for a veto comes as little surprise amid the feud between the governor and the Republican House and Senate leaders. The governor had repeatedly criticized the bill, which included stripping DeSantis of much of his authority over immigration.

The Legislatures proposal, the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act, would remove the bulk of power over immigration enforcement from the governor and put it in the hands of Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On social media Wednesday morning, DeSantis said that the Legislatures bill fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement.

The veto pen is ready, DeSantis said.

DeSantis has railed against the proposal on social media and TV interviews. He also sent a plea out through the Republican Party listserv asking people to call their representatives ahead of the special session.

DeSantis called the Legislatures proposal a bait-and-switch for being named after President Donald Trump but being a weak bill.

House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albrittons refusal to run DeSantis' immigration package is a rare rebuke of the governor in Tallahassee, where DeSantis has for years dominated the Legislatures agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Albritton on Monday said some of DeSantis' immigration proposals, such as criminally charging local police who dont cooperate, were potentially unconstitutional and had nothing to do with President Donald Trumps agenda.

Sometimes leadership isnt about being out in front of an issue, Albritton said Monday. Its about following the leader you trust. I trust President Trump.

The bill DeSantis would veto includes $500 million for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for things like training for local law enforcement and increased detention capacity. It also would repeal a state law that gives in-state tuition to immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children. DeSantis has advocated for ending the in-state tuition law.

DeSantis called lawmakers back for a special session earlier in January, saying that Florida needed to help Trumps agenda on immigration. He also called on lawmakers to pass other changes to condominium laws and the ballot initiative process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perez and Albritton quickly swatted down the governors idea, saying a special session was premature and potentially irresponsible, and that the issues were better suited for Floridas regular session, which begins in March. Instead, they called their own special session and put forward their own immigration bill.

During that special session, lawmakers also overrode one of DeSantis' vetoes for the first time. But it seems less likely that the Legislature would be able to override DeSantis' immigration veto, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.

Even though Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers, six Republicans voted against the bill in the Senate, three of them ardent DeSantis supporters.

To be able to override the promised veto, Albritton would need to be able to win back the other three Republicans and at least some Democrats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a private call with supporters on Monday night, DeSantis said he spoke to Trump and Trumps border czar. Floridas legislative leaders also said they received help on the legislation, which they amended, from the Trump administration.

Trump has endorsed Florida doing a special session on immigration, but the president hasnt offered his thoughts on DeSantis proposal or the Legislatures proposal.

This is a developing story. Check back at tampabay.com for updates.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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
TALLAHASSEE  The showdown between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature over immigration enforcement continued today with the governor threatening to veto the Legislatures $500 million bill drafted with input from President Donald Trumps team.

The veto pen is ready, DeSantis posted on X moments before he held a roundtable discussion in Titusville on the need for a stronger immigration plan than the one passed by the Legislature Tuesday night.

Legislative leaders  Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez  control when they send the bill to the governors desk, which they havent done yet. There is no deadline for when they have to send it, but once he receives it, DeSantis will have 14 days to veto it or sign it into law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meeting in a special session, the House passed the bill out 82-30  meaning it has more than the required 2/3 votes to override a veto. But the Senate couldnt overturn a DeSantis veto because it passed the bill on a more narrow 21-16 vote, with six Republicans joining 10 Democrats in opposition.

If he vetoes the bill, DeSantis would likely then follow through on his threat to call lawmakers back to Tallahassee for another special session.

Trump made illegal immigration a centerpiece of his reelection campaign, and all of Floridas GOP leaders say they are trying to make sure the state is ready to assist in his mass deportation efforts.

But the new Trump administration has already started sending Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents to Miami, Chicago and other cities to sweep up unauthorized immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the Florida Highway Patrol is already operating under the governors leadership assisting federal officials round up detainees across the state, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said on X. It helped the Department of Homeland Security round up 12 people in Jefferson County this week.

DeSantis said the Legislatures new bill would hinder our ability to work with federal agencies. Most of the operations were doing in state government would be shut down, he said, speaking at a news conference in Titusville.

Thats because the bill names the elected Commissioner of Agriculture as the states chief immigration enforcement officer, DeSantis said. But he did not explain why that shift would block Floridas current immigration efforts.

DeSantis also accused the current commissioner, Wilton Simpson, of voting to give drivers licenses and in-state tuition to illegals and refusing to prohibit illegals to practice law in Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simpson, who endorsed Trump over DeSantis for president, replied that he has worked since day one to support President Trump and his immigration policies.  Im not the one who opposed and ran against President Trump.

Lawmakers exerted their independence this week by pushing back against a special session called by DeSantis and rejecting the bills he backed, then opting for their own, alternative legislation to tackle immigration issues.

The Legislatures bill increases penalties for unauthorized aliens who use false IDs to vote, provides funding for local law enforcement to train and help federal immigration officials and allows the leasing of jails and state prisons to hold detainees, among other things.

But it rejects many of the proposals DeSantis outlined in his legislation, including expanding the transport of unauthorized immigrants to foreign countries, refusing bail for undocumented aliens when they are arrested, and prohibiting undocumented immigrants from sending money to their friends and relatives in their home country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I know some of my colleagues said this bill doesnt go far enough, and it isnt a silver bullet, said bill sponsor Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who said he talked to Trump about the bill Monday night. Is it perfect? Its not. But it reflects the executive orders the president has issued. We made it the strongest bill we could for the state.

The legislatures bill also includes a mandatory death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of murder or the rape of a child, enhanced criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants who have been deported and then return to Florida to commit a crime, and enhanced sentencing for unauthorized immigrant gang members. And it creates a bonus program for trained law enforcement officers who assist with federal immigration task forces.

Among those voting against the bill was Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, who sponsored the DeSantis-backed legislation in the Senate that the Legislature refused to take up.

When I look at this legislation, I think there are some big glaring holes in it, Ingoglia said of the Legislatures bill. There are some good ideas in it, the death penalty provision for example. And removing in-state tuition is something I had tried to get into bills for years and never was able to do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats voted against the bill mainly because it eliminated a tuition waiver that allows undocumented students to attend state colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates.

That was also the reason Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud voted against the bill.

If the governor vetoes the Legislatures bill, he would also veto that repeal of the tuition waiver for dreamers and other undocumented students. DeSantis has said he is in favor of scrapping that law, which has been in place since 2014. So his veto likely would just be a temporary reprieve for those students.

The governor is really being petty and childish, said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. For the first time in a long time hes not getting 100% of what he wants and for the first time in a long time, the Legislature is finally asserting its independence. What we are witnessing is a temper tantrum.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  The showdown between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature over immigration enforcement continued today with the governor threatening to veto the Legislatures $500 million bill drafted with input from President Donald Trumps team.

The veto pen is ready, DeSantis posted on X moments before he held a roundtable discussion in Titusville on the need for a stronger immigration plan than the one passed by the Legislature Tuesday night.

Legislative leaders control when they send the bill to the governors desk, and there is no deadline for when they have to do that. Once he receives it, however, DeSantis will have 14 days to veto it or sign it into law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill that narrowly passed the Florida legislature last night fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement, DeSantis said. The removal of illegal aliens residing in our state requires strong legislation that will guarantee state and local deportation assistance, end catch and release, eliminate magnets such as remittances, and adopt supporting policies that will protect Floridians from the scourge of illegal immigration.

Lawmakers handed DeSantis two stunning and unprecedented defeats this week by rejecting the immigration bills he backed and said would support Trumps deportation plans and overriding his veto of a $57 million legislative budget appropriation.

The Legislatures bill increases penalties for unauthorized aliens who use false ID to vote, provides funding for local law enforcement to provide training and help federal immigration officials and allows the leasing of jails and state prisons to hold detainees, among other things.

I know some of my colleagues said this bill doesnt go far enough, and it isnt a silver bullet, said bill sponsor Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who talked to Trump about the bill Monday night. Is it perfect? Its not. But it reflects the executive orders the president has issued. We made it the strongest bill we could for the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The House passed the bill out 82-30  meaning it has more than the required 2/3 votes to override a veto. But the Senate doesnt have the votes to override a veto since it passed the bill 21-16 with six Republicans joining 10 Democrats in opposition.

Among those voting down the bill was Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, who sponsored the DeSantis-backed legislation in the Senate that the Legislature refused to take up.

When I look at this legislation, I think there are some big glaring holes in it, Ingoglia said of the Legislatures bill. There are some good ideas in it, the death penalty provision for example. And removing in-state tuition is something I had tried to get into bills for years and never was able to do.

Democrats voted against the bill mainly because it eliminated a tuition waiver that allows undocumented students to attend state colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That was also the reason Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud voted against the bill.

The bill includes a mandatory death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of murder or the rape of a child, enhanced criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants who have been deported and then return to Florida to commit a crime, and enhanced sentencing for unauthorized immigrant gang members. The bill names the Commissioner of Agriculture as the states chief immigration enforcement officer, and creates a bonus program for trained law enforcement officers who assist with federal immigration task forces.

____
A temporary freeze imposed briefly this week by the White House on federal grants and loans left many students wondering about the impact to the FAFSA form used to apply for financial aid.

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday rescinded the memo freezing spending. The U.S. Department of Education said even if the pause had taken effect, it would not have applied to direct assistance to Americans including federal student loans.

And FAFSA apparently remained available during the confusion. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, a nonprofit membership organization, said Wednesday it had not received complaints about FAFSA availability from administrators at any schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, many borrowers were asking online if the FAFSA was affected.

Is the FAFSA form paused?

No. Student loans, Pell Grants and other forms of student aid provided directly to individuals were not affected by the freeze.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid application itself is available for students to complete at StudentAid.gov.

"We continue to award and disburse federal student aid,  the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education says in a statement on its website.

FAFSA applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are due June 30, after which the application will be unavailable on the student aid website. Colleges can have their own deadline and often require applications be submitted before the federal deadline in the summer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How were college students affected by the Trump administration's funding pause?

Colleges across the U.S. released statements saying the impact of the memorandum was unclear and they were working to better understand how it could affect students, staff and programs. But students who rely on financial aid to pay for tuition and other costs were not expected to see any disruptions from the pause.

Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The legislature's passage of a universal school voucher bill will strip money from Tennessee public schools. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Instead of prioritizing Tennessees future by ensuring all students have what they need to succeed in schools, Gov. Bill Lee continues to push a voucher plan that would defund our public schools, perpetuate educational inequity, abandon our most vulnerable children, and significantly impact our state budget by forcing taxpayers to fund two separate education systems.

Lee has failed to accept the harms of school vouchers that were reviewed and rejected by legislators and the public in the 2024 legislative session. He has launched an ad campaign and is taking another stab at draining our taxpayer dollars as his lasting gubernatorial legacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Using public tax dollars for private schools is a poor policy choice that harms students and leads to excessive spending for subpar educational outcomes. In other states, voucher programs do not lead to improved student achievement scores. With recently released data, we now see the poor performance of voucher students compared to their peers right here in Tennessee.

Private schools are not always the lauded educational institutions they are perceived to be. The typical voucher school has been described as a financially distressed, subprime private provider often jumping at the chance for a tax bailout to stay open a few extra years. Ultimately, voucher programs can disrupt a students educational path and lead to an overall decline in educational outcomes, all while negatively affecting local economies with the reckless spending of taxpayer dollars.

Lee and the Republican legislative supermajority may claim vouchers are a way to level the academic playing field, but in reality they maintain inequity and often act as a subsidy for families who can already afford private school tuition. According to data from states with active voucher programs, the majority of students utilizing vouchers are not transferring from a public school to a private school, but instead are already enrolled in private schools.

It is also a myth that public school students will have an opportunity to make a choice for a private school education with voucher programs. The reality is that the school chooses the students it wants. Private schools can reject students because of religion, test scores, disabilities, or subjective reasons like a student not being perceived as the right fit for the school. This reinforces the necessity that our public dollars are invested in public schools meant to serve all children. Why should we trust these unregulated, private educational savings account vendors, when they have no incentive to serve families and have poor track records in other states? Additionally, the voucher is worth $7,075 while the average private school tuition in Tennessee is $11,672. This would leave families with a high cost burden and rule out the voucher program as a viable option for many.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voucher programs can disrupt a students educational path and lead to an overall decline in educational outcomes, all while negatively affecting local economies with the reckless spending of taxpayer dollars.

Our most vulnerable children with disabilities and special needs are brazenly abandoned by voucher programs. Private schools generally do not offer special education services, meaning utilizing a voucher would require families of children with disabilities to forfeit their federal right to special education. So as our public schools are defunded and deteriorated by this voucher program, they remain the primary option for students with disabilities. Simply put, voucher programs are taxpayer-funded discrimination.

Lees voucher scheme is just another seed of division he is trying to sow so that he can hold on to power  aiding those who may not need financial aid and stripping funds from our public schools, even as our state currently ranks 45th nationally in funding per student and 44th in teacher pay. The unwillingness of Lee and his colleagues to work to improve these abysmal funding statistics while working overtime to push the voucher program through shows that this isnt about the best interest of our children at all.

Of course, even if this attempt at vouchers fails this special legislative session, Lee and our fiscally irresponsible Republican supermajority still have one more attempt next year to score government funding for his extremist agenda to subsidize private school tuition with public taxpayer dollars. Perhaps instead, our legislature could support our children and working families by reducing their tax burdens, expanding funding for our public schools, working to have more affordable and available childcare programs, and investing in feeding children, teacher programs, college access programs, and early childhood development programs. Our elected officials campaign on improving life for children and families, so we must hold them accountable while theyre in office.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX






TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  A push to implement President Donald Trump's immigration deal in Florida is set to fall flat, with Gov. Ron DeSantis vowing to veto the proposal passed by Republican legislators late Tuesday night.

The deal was brokered in part directly by Trump, whose home is in the state and who has brought a number of Floridians into his administration.

But it ran directly into a bitter battle between DeSantis and the state's Republican-controlled Legislature, which now feels more emboldened to challenge the once all-powerful governor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legislators worked late into the night to beef up a proposal both they and DeSantis said was aimed at aligning Florida state laws with a wave of executive orders signed by Trump.

But the major tension point that remained in the bill was language that would shift most state immigration authority from DeSantis to state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who has long had a cold relationship with the governor and openly was attacked by DeSantis and his staff throughout the process.

It was the provision most important to DeSantis. On Wednesday morning, the governor pledged to veto the bill once it hits his desk, which has not yet happened.

The veto pen is ready," DeSantis posted on X on Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The forthcoming veto comes after both sides directly lobbied Trump to publicly support their version of the legislation.

The president talked directly with DeSantis about the bill and called some of his allies in the Florida Legislature to strengthen their original proposal.

The governor talked to Trump [Monday] morning, and Trump agreed the bill needed changes, and said he would help to call legislators to make it stronger, a source familiar with the call told NBC News.

Those efforts did result in some changes to the bill that both Trump and DeSantis wanted.

NBC News reached out to the White House for comment on the Florida bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Less than 30 minutes before the Florida state Senate reconvened Tuesday night, a new 84-page proposal was filed that added several hard-line measures to the bill. The measure included, among other things, mandatory death sentences for undocumented people who commit crimes such as murder and rape of a child  similar to what Trump has pushed as well  boosting sentencing guidelines for certain crimes committed by undocumented people and creating a bonus program for local law enforcement officers who work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement task forces.

To increase pressure on lawmakers, DeSantis over the past few days took to national conservative media outlets to blast Simpson, as well as Florida House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton for their version of the bill. He called their proposal an unconstitutional transfer of immigration powers to the states top agriculture office.

Theres swampy politics everywhere, and some of these legislative leaders foisted a different bill, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night. The bill takes power away from me  the power Im currently exercising now.

Republicans in the Legislature have supermajorities, which is enough to overturn a gubernatorial veto, but because enough DeSantis allies voted with him, that is seen as increasingly unlikely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A DeSantis veto after the Legislature functionally waged a war against him on immigration will allow the governor to take a victory lap, but the vote counts indicate just how much sway he has lost with lawmakers.

Over the past few years, they had handed DeSantis almost everything he wanted as he ran for president in 2024.

Just five of the 29 Republicans in the Senate, the chamber with closer margins, sided with DeSantis and opposed their own legislative leadership.

Its also expected that the fight with DeSantis will move into the states regular legislative session, with Republicans prepared to propose measures throughout that DeSantis both opposes and could erode some of his authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One plan floated Tuesday night by lawmakers was reviewing if taxpayer dollars were used to fund social media troll efforts to try and sway and attack lawmakers. As is a calling card of DeSantis political operation, lawmakers were relentlessly attacked on X by both high-follower count DeSantis supporters and waves of anonymous accounts that are generally seen as troll accounts designed to do one thing: attack.

I think that may be something that we may take up in the House, said state Rep. Juan Porras, a Trump ally in the Florida House. Maybe well figure out how much taxpayer dollars are used attacking legislators.

Though no legislation was passed, it is expected that the fight is not over.

Once DeSantis vetoes the bill passed Tuesday night, he is expected to immediately call lawmakers back in for a special session to once again try and pass an immigration overhaul.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Jennifer Rigby, Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Maggie Fick

LONDON (Reuters) - Health and humanitarian groups around the world were still uncertain on Wednesday if and how they could resume work after the United States issued a waiver for "life-saving" assistance in President Donald Trump's freeze on U.S. foreign aid.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the waiver on Tuesday night after aid groups worldwide warned that the blanket ban on foreign aid funding and activity for 90 days had put millions of lives at risk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump imposed the freeze within hours of taking office on Jan. 20, part of a larger-scale effort to align international aid with his "America First" agenda.

In his waiver, Rubio defined life-saving aid as core medicine and medical services, food, shelter and any associated costs to deliver such assistance. The waiver excluded services like abortion, gender, diversity, transgender and non-life saving work.

UNAIDS, the United Nations agency leading the fight against HIV, said on Wednesday the waiver included HIV treatment, and that it would lobby for other HIV services to be included too, including prevention.

However, officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aid groups, and health workers in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States told Reuters they were unclear what the waiver meant for their work or if it was in effect a full reversal of previous orders telling them to stop work immediately.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of those who spoke requested anonymity in order to speak freely.

Three aid sources said they were hoping for more information about the waiver later on Wednesday.

One group funded by USAID that was providing emergency food aid in an African country, work that was theoretically already exempt from the funding freeze before Rubio's latest waiver, said on Wednesday they were still unclear if they could resume operations.

Theres a lot of shock and confusion, because theres these big announcements, but then the implementation of that is complex, said one senior global health official.

There are cases where USAID may fund one part of an assistance programme while other groups, including domestic governments, provide other elements, the official said, adding that halting one element risked overloading or paralysing the others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HIV, TRANSGENDER CLINICS IN JOHANNESBURG

In Johannesburg, a clinic treating HIV patients and several health centres for transgender people were shuttered on Tuesday and remained closed on Wednesday while organisations sought more guidance.

Those clinics are run by South Africa's Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, which is part of the Wits Health Consortium, a research organization leading several USAID-funded programmes.

"There hasn't been any communication that you can reinitiate a, b and c components of your programme but you can't do d and e, said Shabir Madhi, chair of the Wits Health Consortium.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As things stand, those stop work orders haven't been reversed, which means that we still need to comply," he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, employees of the United States President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in at least one African country had not received information from Washington on how Rubio's waiver impacted the programme and specifically which parts of their work would be allowed to continue, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Another source close to a project supplying key medicines globally said the project was still working this out, when asked if their work could resume.

Yirga Gebregziabher, a manager at the Organization for Social Service, Health and Development in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, said:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We were told to stop, even ongoing activities. It is not clear."

His group uses USAID funding to provide food aid, HIV medicines and children's education, in total for more than 30,000 people. He also said it was unclear if they could pay staff salaries for February.

The United States is the largest single donor of aid globally. In fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance.

(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Sisipho Skweyiya in Johannesburg, Shafiek Tassiem in Cape Town, Dawit Endeshaw in Ethiopia, Jennifer Rigby and Maggie Fick, and Poppy McPherson in Bangkok; Editing by Frances Kerry )
New details regarding the fatal shooting of Minnesota-born U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland have been revealed in court.

The 44-year-old was fatally shot while conducting a traffic stop in Vermont on Jan. 20. He was from the Blue Earth area and graduated from Fairmont High School.

Teresa Youngblut, 21, is already charged with one count of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a border patrol agent, and one count of using and discharging a firearm in connection with Maland's death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who also was killed in the exchange of gunfire. The two had been under surveillance days before the shooting.

Related: Woman, 21, charged in Vermont killing of border agent from Minnesota

According to federal court documents, a motion filed by U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher on Monday states that the gun used by Youngblut and another that Bauckholt was carrying were bought by a third person in Vermont in February 2024.

The buyer  unnamed in court documents  is considered a person of interest relating to a double homicide investigation in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The buyer is also a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California, according to the motion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The defendants possession and use of a firearm, combined with her itinerary and associations, suggests she poses a current and substantial danger to the community that could not be addressed by a condition or a combination of conditions of pretrial release," Drescher wrote.

Youngblut made her initial court appearance on Monday and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.

The charges

According to the charges, Maland initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont. The car was occupied by Youngblut, a native of Washington state, and Bauckholt, a German national whose immigration status was in question.

The two were on law enforcement's radar a few days earlier when a hotel employee in Lyndonville expressed concern about them "being dressed in tactical clothing and protective gear, while also being armed."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prior to the shooting, they were spotted at a Walmart parking lot in Newport, Vermont and Bauckholt was allegedly seen "wrapping unidentifiable objects with aluminum foil" while sitting in the car.

Both were armed at the time of the traffic stop. According to the charges, Youngblut allegedly fired a handgun without warning toward at least one of the border patrol agents while standing outside of the vehicle. Bauckholt also attempted to draw a gun as an exchange of gunfire erupted.

Maland suffered a fatal gunshot wound, with both Youngblut and Bauckholt also shot, with the latter pronounced dead at the scene and Youngblut taken to a hospital for medical care.

If convicted, Youngblut faces a maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

A GoFundMe campaign for Maland's family has so far raised more than $55,000.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Federal agencies are conducting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or ICE raids, across the country, including one in Savannah.

It is part of a sweeping nationwide effort targeting alleged illegal migrants with criminal backgrounds at the behest of President Donald Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan.

The drug enforcement agency, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), told News 3 in a statement the raids are meant to catch people trafficking in drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DEA, along with our Department of Justice partners, is assisting DHS and other federal law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts, Acting Special Agent, United Stated Drug Enforcement Agency, Atlanta Division, Jae W. Chung said. As we have seen in many cases, Mexican drug cartels use illegal immigrants to run day to day operations within the borders of the US, where dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are processed and distributed with tragic consequences.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson acknowledged the raid at this Tuesday press briefing.

President Trump is doing what he said he would do, so I dont know why we would be surprised that this is playing out the way its playing out, said Mayor Johnson.

He said that the city was made aware of the operations and cooperated with federal agents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whatever ICE does is what ICE does, said Johnson, My continued call is that all people are treated with dignity whether they are citizens or not.

When it comes to enforcement, Johnson said the city cannot enforce federal immigration laws, but will let agencies, such as ICE, handle business.

Were not in the immigration business, and we wont be in the immigration business, the mayor said.

Craig Dobson, the owner of Dobson Law LLC, is an immigration lawyer with clients in Savannah and the Lowcountry. He said his goal let people know their rights and to not scare anyone.

We have to keep our clients informed without unnecessarily scaring people, so its that balance you have to strike, said Dobson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told WSAV his advice if someone is subject to a raid.

You can never advise the client to just remain here unlawfully, said Dobson. If youve got some way to fix your status, so to speak, then go for it. Otherwise, there are risks to remaining here, and a lawyer cant advocate for someone to remain in the United States illegally or to work here illegally.

News 3 contacted with the DEA, and we are awaiting results of the Savannah raid.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
When 38-year-old Joseph Richter Jr. was gunned down while working as a bouncer in Newport, his partner, Kaetlin Mitchell, was just 10 feet away and tried to stop the bleeding with bar rags.

"I held him as he turned cold," Mitchell said during a sentencing hearing Tuesday for Robert McKay, who admitted late last year to killing Richter during a December 2022 struggle at the Brass Bull on Monmouth Street.

McKay, 32, of Florence, was ordered by Campbell County Circuit Judge Daniel Zalla to serve 13 years in prison, a sentence recommended by prosecutors as part of McKay's November guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His plea to a lesser charge came after the start of jury selection in his murder trial, which was slated to begin in November.

Even after his guilty plea, McKay maintained that he was defending himself when he opened fire on Richter, who was unarmed. He did not make a statement about the shooting in court.

Robert McKay, 32, appears in Campbell County Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing on Tuesday. He admitted in court to killing 38-year-old Joseph Richter Jr. during a struggle at the Brass Bull in Newport.

His attorney, Michael Goodwin, said the night of Richter's killing was the first time McKay, who lacks prior felonies and had a concealed carry permit since 2013, fired his gun outside the shooting range. Goodwin added that McKay has since accepted responsibility for what happened.

However, prosecutors disputed McKay's self-defense argument saying he tried to use facts uncovered after the fact to manufacture a narrative supporting such an argument at trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What happens in reality and what happens in this courtroom are two very different things," Campbell County Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Zimmerman said.

Prosecutors said McKay was part of a group of roughly half a dozen people who had been kicked out of the bar for being disruptive and bum-rushed the door to get back inside.

Richter was working as a bouncer at an adjacent bar and was called to help the Brass Bulls staff fend off McKays group, Zimmerman said at an earlier hearing. He added the gunshots rang out less than two minutes after Richter entered the bar.

Newport police were walking near the Brass Bull that night when they heard gunfire and saw McKay exit the building and tuck a handgun into his waistband, according to a criminal citation.

The outside of the Brass Bull nightclub in Newport. Prosecutors say Robert McKay, 32, shot and killed a bouncer at the bar during a fight in December 2022.

When the officers stopped McKay and confiscated his Glock pistol, McKay said, Thats the gun I shot him with, the document says. Police recovered two guns tucked into McKays waistband.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"You caused unspeakable pain, grief and suffering by the victims in this case," Zalla told McKay before handing down the sentence.

'The devil came knocking'

Half a dozen of Richter's family members read statements during Tuesday's emotional court hearing, including his mom, Lori Richter, who said she rushed to the Brass Bull the night her son was killed but was stopped by police when she tried to cross the crime scene tape.

Richter's loved ones told the court that they've mourned his absence every day since his death more than two years ago and the sentence McKay received is little consolation. He's remembered as a caring father loved by everyone who knew him.

"When you put those holes in Joey's body, you put deeper holes in me and everyone who loves him, holes that will never heal, holes that I'm still trying to climb out of," Mitchell said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lori Richter said her family was thriving in life  cherishing holidays, birthdays and cookouts  until the fateful day her son was killed.

"Then as life would have it, something happened: the devil came knocking. The devil being Robert McKay," she said. "A total unknown who would change our lives forever."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man sentenced for fatal shooting of bouncer at Brass Bull in Newport
Social media users are circulating a post claiming that President Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for former President Barack Obama and his family.

The post was first shared by a satirical Facebook account, Americas Last Line of Defense. The account describes itself as a network of trollery and propaganda for cash, though the post itself has no satire labeling. Trump ends Secret Service protection for the Obama family, the text in the post stated, adding an alleged quote from Trump on the decision: Hes been out for years. The free ride is over.

Trump has not ended Secret Service protection for Obama or his family. Protection for former presidents, as provided by law, extends to their immediate family, including their spouse (unless they remarried) and children up to the age of 16.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That doesnt mean Trump couldnt revoke such protection. While federal law authorizes the security detail, it doesnt require them. The relevant section of the law states that Under the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, the United States Secret Service is authorized to protect former presidents and vice presidents and their families.

Keith Whittington, a professor at Yale Law School, explained that the statutory language is permissive rather than directive. So, the decision would lie with Trumps new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was confirmed by the Senate in a 59-34 vote Saturday.

[The text of the law] does specify the Secretary of Homeland Security as the relevant officer to make those decisions, so the president could presumably instruct the secretary on what he wants done, Whittington told The Dispatch Fact Check, but ultimately DHS would have to be the one to make the call.

In 1958, the Former Presidents Act was passed by Congress and signed by then-President Dwight Eisenhower, authorizing the Treasury Department to provide lifetime Secret Service protection to all living former presidents and their immediate families. The act also established pension payments for former presidents. The Secret Service, initially established by former President Abraham Lincoln to crack down on counterfeit currency before transitioning to the presidents security service after the 1901 assassination of former President William McKinley, has for most of its existence been under the authority of the Treasury Department. However, when Congress and former President George W. Bush in 2002 created the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service was among the federal agencies moved under its jurisdiction. In 1994, Congress passed legislation limiting protection for former presidents to only 10 years after leaving office, beginning with the successor of then-President Bill Clinton, who signed the bill into law. (He was succeeded by Bush.) However, Congress changed course again in 2012, passing a bill that returned Secret Service details to former presidents for life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although no changes have been made to Obamas Secret Service detail, Trump in his first week back in office revoked security details for several former federal officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton, both of whom served in Trumps first administration. Bolton, who had Secret Service protection, and Pompeo, who had a security detail provided by the State Department, have been targeted by Iran for playing a role in Trumps decision to target Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. The U.S. killed Suleimani in a drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. In 2022, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Shahram Poursafi, a member of the IRGC, for plotting to murder Bolton. Poursafi remains at large, and there is a $20 million reward available in return for information leading to his arrest.

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.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) detectives are looking to talk to anyone who witnessed a road rage incident in Fife, where someone shot at a driver.

It happened around 7 a.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near 54th Avenue East.

Troopers say the suspect pulled out a gun and shot twice, hitting the drivers black Nissan Altima.

The driver wasnt hurt.

The suspect car is described as a dark blue or black vehicle, possibly a Ford Focus.

Anyone who witnessed or has information related to the incident is asked to contact Detective Adam Gruener at (253) 538-3176 or email adam.gruener@wsp.wa.gov




Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation to put President Donald Trumps face on Mount Rushmore.

His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument, the staunch Trump backer wrote on X. Let's get carving!

This comes after a Fox News segment where a number of panelists discussed the option.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hey, if theres room up there, I think itd be great, said former Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz. I think what Donald Trump has done, and is in the process of doing, is transforming the United States of America and putting America first. And I think America loves it, and I think theres a great case for it.

Former Trump White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany chimed in: Yeah, Im fascinated by this because that would be some sweet irony after President Joe Biden stopped the fireworks display from Mount Rushmore.

So, if you did, like, the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trumps face, it would be epic, she added.

Other panelists argued that Trumps face should be added to banknotes or that famous buildings be named after him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So I dont know if it would be even feasible at that point, but I do fully support changing Dulles Airport after President Trump, Lisa Boothe said. It also makes a lot of sense because you have Reagan here in D.C. with DCA, and theres a lot of parallels between the two presidents of inheriting terrible economies, instability around the world, and then building off of that, fixing those problems and then going on to tons of success.

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives for the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2020. A new bill proposes adding his face to the monument (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has hesitated in the past to say that he should be on Mount Rushmore.

If I answer that question, Yes, I will end up with such bad publicity, he told The Hill in 2019.

In 2018, former South Dakota Governor and new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was in the middle of her gubernatorial campaign at the time, said that Trump had told her that it was his dream to be on the monument alongside Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two met in the Oval Office after Trump was sworn in for the first time.

"He said, 'Kristi, come on over here. Shake my hand,'" Noem said. "I shook his hand, and I said, 'Mr. President, you should come to South Dakota sometime. We have Mount Rushmore.' And he goes, 'Do you know it's my dream to have my face on Mount Rushmore?'

Noem, then a House representative, added: I started laughing. He wasn't laughing, so he was totally serious.

Noem told the story during the filming of a segment for the South Dakota edition of carpool karaoke, and it was then picked up by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a 2017 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump said: Id ask whether or not you think I will someday be on Mount Rushmore, but here's the problem: If I did it joking, totally joking, having fun, the fake news media will say 'he believes he should be on Mount Rushmore.

So I won't say it, OK? I won't say it, he added.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  National Catholic Schools Week is underway and on Tuesday a mass was held celebrating catholic education in the United States at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville.

On Tuesday morning, students in the highest grade level of each of the 26 catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville attended a mass to celebrate the annual tradition.

Some students traveled over an hour to attend this years mass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Superintendent of Schools at the Diocese of Evansville, Michelle Priar says she took some time to reflect on the growth of catholic education in the diocese. She also thanked students and staff for making an effort to attend the mass.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
The Jacksonville Bar Association, made up of around 2000 local lawyers, has come out in support of the citys top attorney.

Following continued disputes with General Counsel Michael Fackler, City Councilman Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large) filed a resolution Tuesday that, if approved, would express a vote of no confidence in the lawyer and his services.

Read: No confidence resolution filed targeting Jacksonvilles top attorney

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Salem said he expects the resolution to come up for a final vote in six weeks.

In response to the filing, the Association issued the following statement Wednesday:

It is disappointing to see councilmembers condemn our citys lawyer because his legal advice has not comported with their agenda. Under Section 7.02 of our Citys Charter, the General Counsel has binding authority over the consolidated government and is obligated to provide binding opinions when requested.

The Resolution expresses disagreements with prior decisions by the General Counsel without any indication that he did not exercise his independent legal judgment in good faith. Further, the Resolution vaguely refers to prior General Counsels and other attorneys opinions that the General Counsel reached the wrong conclusion, without citing their names or reasons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The duly appointed General Counsel enjoys the respect of the Jacksonville legal community and has earned his reputation as a highly skilled lawyer. As General Counsel, he is required to make difficult legal decisions and is bound by the oath taken as a member of The Florida Bar. We are confident that he will continue to perform his role by adhering to the law as outlined in the City Charter.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The resolution lays out several of the battles the council has fought with Fackler, starting with his opinion that allowed Mayor Donna Deegan (D) to remove the last public-facing Confederate monument in Jacksonville.

Read: Final Confederate monument in Jacksonville comes down in Springfield Park

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following that disagreement, the city council hired its own legal counsel.

The most recent conflict came earlier this month, when Mayor Deegan issued the first veto of her administration. It blocked a City Council-approved $4-million-a-year contract boost for Meridian Waste that members said was financially necessary.

The council overturned her veto, but Fackler determined the council didnt have the authority to authorize the increase in the first place.

Salem says he expects an expensive legal battle from Meridian soon aiming to make the city enforce the contract increase.

Read: After rebuke from legislative leaders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledges to veto immigration bill

[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.
Disaster relief bills pass first stage of legislative session

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  Helene recovery remains a top priority for Tennessee state lawmakers during the special legislative session, and a proposed $450 million aid package passed its first hurdle Tuesday.

VP Vance: Administration cutting through red tape to speed up Helene recovery

A state representative from our region was picked to lead a committee overseeing disaster relief legislation. Timothy Hill will serve as chair of the House Disaster Relief Committee for the special session. Representative Bud Hulsey of Kingsport will serve as vice chair.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each knows more than most of their peers about recovery needs as they serve parts of Carter, Johnson and Sullivan counties, which includes some of the hardest-hit areas.

Hill spoke at the session today saying hes hopeful that the committee can provide relief for the people of Northeast Tennessee.

We are grateful for the help that we received, but we are devastated and we are in not just governmental need but the individual(s) also need help, Hill said. And Im hopeful that we can find a way to do that through this body.

Hill went on to thank the first responders that worked tirelessly to help victims in the immediate aftermath before bringing in county mayors to share their experiences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayors Larry Potter of Johnson County and Garland Bubba Evely of Unicoi County grew emotional while pleading for assistance.

Parkdale Mills is our largest employer, Potter said. 410 people dont have a job. Largest employer in our county. What do you tell them? Ive had nine days off (since Sept. 27), which I signed up for the job, thats okay. But how do you tell people what youre gonna do to help them?

Our county has never asked for help, Evely said. And Im not begging for a handout. Im asking for a hand up. And I know you all will do the right thing.

The state estimates that damage is going to cost around $1.2 billion in Tennessee alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Along with the mayors, members of Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) detailed their work and took questions from the disaster relief committee.

TEMA says they were able to remove 451 cubic yards of debris from roadways alone.

Chief of Staff Alec Pellom urged the committee to be forward-thinking.

Dont think about whats always been done, Pellom said. Dont think about whats in writing that you can do. We always did it legal for the record. But making sure that the goal is to help people.

The recovery process will be a slow one  TEMA estimates it will take six years.

All three bills regarding disaster relief passed and will now move to the Finance Ways and Means to figure out where the money will come from. That committee meets Wednesday morning.

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.
PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP)  In Part I of this series, we discussed the nature of the growing issue of homelessness in the Piedmont Triad. Now in Part II, we discuss what is being done to help the homeless.

Dr. Latonya Agard is the director of the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness. She told FOX8, the homelessness problem is a housing problem. We just dont have enough affordable housing.

PART I: The growing problem of homelessness in the Triad

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our largest cities are trying to provide that housing.

In High Point, new affordable housing is going up on Old Winston Road and they are working with Open Door Ministries to build a new homeless shelter.

The city of Winston-Salem launched The Equitable Homeownership Project and four new houses are already under construction.

Now, city leaders are also rethinking how to use existing buildings.

Shereka Floyd is the citys home program director said, We have purchased an apartment building that we working on turning in permanent supportive housing. We are also looking at creative ways to increase affordable housing by looking at conversion and looking at rehabing existing properties that arent currently in use.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Greensboro, the city council voted to expand the Doorway Project which provides temporary pallet homes at Pomona Park during the winter. They also bought and demolished the former Regency Inn. A developer will build affordable housing on the site.

But it cant stop with new housing.

Hugh Holston is a member of the Greensboro City Council and CEO of the Greensboro Housing Coalition.

Holston said Just building homes is not going to get us there. For many of our residents, they need additional assistance thats where case management comes in. There may be issues such as employment. There may some mental challenges skills challenges so when you hear about homelessness or unhoused getting into some type of housing. Theres a continuum and a process. Its not just building the home and placing the person in the home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Greensboro City Council recently awarded 425,000 dollars to the Greensboro Urban Ministry to provide emergency shelter. Greensboro Urban Ministry has 100 beds and they partnered with local churches to provide more. Theyre currently sheltering 57 people who also receive an hour each week with a case manager.

Greensboro Urban Ministrys Brian Hahne said, Ive been thinking of the term shelter first. Its short term. Its not permanent but if we can get folks safely into shelter and connect them with the kind of service support they need, strong case management, workforce development, working on their mental health and substance abuse recovery, then that stability can shift from being in a place of chaos and survival towards sustainability.

The 2024 Point in Time count found 627 homeless people in Winston-Salem. The city has 350 shelter beds.

In Greensboro and High Point, the 2024 Point in Time count found 665 homeless people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hahne says at least 150 more emergency shelter beds are needed in Greensboro.

He said, Its going to take resources from the city, the faith community and I actually think from the business community all stakeholders saying hey I think lets get our arms around this together and work on some solutions.

Dr. Agard says those solutions start with some questions.

She said, Who is this community created for? Who are we leaving out? Whose voice have we not heard? How are we taking care of those who need support the most? And being willing to ask hard questions and maybe even ask those questions of ourselves. where do I fit along this continuum and where can I contribute my voice?

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.
(Bloomberg) -- A judge who will decide the punishment for Bob Menendez must weigh the former senators half century of public service against calls by prosecutors to imprison him for 15 years after he was convicted of systematically exploiting his power for personal profit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

US District Judge Sidney Stein will sentence the New Jersey Democrat on Wednesday for bribery, extortion and acting as an agent of Egypt while he was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The two businessmen found guilty of giving Menendez gold bars, cash and a convertible received sentences of seven and eight years in prison at the hearing Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said in a court filing that Menendezs corruption was perhaps more serious than that of any US senator ever. Lawyers for Menendez, 71, suggested a term of about two years, or even home detention and community service. They said prosecutors seek a vindictive and cruel punishment that would amount to a death sentence for a man his age.

Senator Menendez has suffered extreme public shame and upheaval, and his finances and reputation are destroyed, his lawyers wrote. He is the butt of late-night talk show jokes, and his name will live in infamy as the first politician in history to be convicted of being a foreign agent.

The sentence will complete the downfall of a gifted politician who rose from a family of Cuban immigrants to become the most powerful Hispanic lawmaker in Congress. Menendez, who overcame unrelated corruption charges when a 2017 case ended in a mistrial, was forced to resign after New York jurors convicted him in July.

Before turning to Menendez, Stein sentenced the two businessmen convicted of bribing Menendez and other crimes  Fred Daibes and Wael Hana.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daibes, a prominent New Jersey developer whose case came up before the others, was sentenced seven years in jail and a $1.75 million fine. Hana got eight years and a $1.25 million fine.

Before the sentence was issued, Daibes, told the judge he was numb, and later borderline suicidal, when the jury came in with a guilty verdict. Not a day went by that I didnt wonder how did this happen to me?

He broke down in tears when asking the judge for a sentence of home confinement, for the sake of his autistic, 30-year-old son.

I am going to ask you for mercy, not for me but for my son, he told the judge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hana told the judge that the prosecution was a misunderstanding.

I am an innocent man, Hana told the judge. I never bribed Senator Menendez or asked his office for influence.

Substantial Evidence

The judge told Hana that the evidence against him was substantial and that the jury verdict was well grounded in the facts.

The gold bars were linked to you through serial numbers, and there was much, much more, Stein said.

The judge will preside over a March 18 trial of Menendezs wife, Nadine, whose case was separated as she battles breast cancer.

Prosecutors say Nadine Menendez was a go-between who collected bribes and set up meetings with the businessmen and Egyptian officials. The senator took bribes of 13 gold bars, nearly $500,000 in cash and a Mercedes-Benz, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Menendez illegally helped Egypt secure US military aid and sensitive information; protected an Egyptian monopoly that Hana secured to inspect meat bound for Egypt; influenced a US indictment in New Jersey of Daibes; and swayed New Jersey criminal probes of people close to another businessman who admitted bribing the senator with a Mercedes.

Prosecutors said it was a grave abuse of his power for Menendez to provide non-public information to Egypt and advocate for its interests.

Menendez is planning to ask President Donald Trump for a pardon, according to a person familiar with the matter. Former President Joe Biden declined a pardon request before leaving office.

Whatever the sentence Wednesday, Menendezs lawyers are preparing an appeal, arguing the case raises important, difficult and novel questions. They say prosecutors trampled on his rights under the US Constitutions Speech or Debate clause, which protects lawmakers from legal actions arising from statements made during legislative activity. They also argue that prosecutors improperly included 11 exhibits among 3,000 given to jurors during their deliberations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judge rejected those arguments last week, prompting Menendez to say an appeals court will hold these prosecutors to account. For prosecutors to put unconstitutional and inadmissible evidence in front of the jury and escape any consequences is outrageous, he said.

In a separate filing, defense lawyers urged Stein to reject the 12-year term recommended by probation officials. Placing him in a tougher prison than a minimum-security facility, they said, would expose him to harm from other inmates, who will likely render him a target of violence, extortion, harassment, and intimidation.

Menendezs lawyers submitted more than 140 letters urging a lenient sentence from his family, politicians, lobbyists, staffers, constituents and advocates for a variety of causes he took up in his three terms in the Senate, as well as earlier service in the House and New Jersey government.

A few themes emerged about Menendez. He was a powerful advocate for Latino causes like battling Cubas regime, fighting for immigration reform, and seeking disaster relief for Puerto Rico. One letter came from the husband of a New Jersey federal judge whose son was murdered by a disgruntled lawyer who showed up at their house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Support Beyond Words

During this unspeakable time of grief, Senator Menendez was there for my family, offering support that went beyond words, wrote Mark Anderl, the husband of US District Judge Esther Salas. Anderl was also shot several times by the gunman.

Another letter came from Menendezs daughter, Alicia, an anchor on MSNBC.

I see Bob Menendez not as a powerful politician, but as a scrappy kid from a small town who learned to be tough as a means of survival, she wrote. Much of my dads life happened so young: elected to office at 19, his father dead by suicide at 23. I have heard the former story more times than I can count, the latter exactly once.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case is US v. Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

--With assistance from Bob Van Voris and Jazper Lu.

(Updates with Hana sentence starting in second paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in a years-long corruption scheme in which he wielded his political influence to conduct favors for the Egyptian government in exchange for lavish gifts.

Once a three-term senator who chaired the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez sat before a federal judge in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday, flanked by lawyers and at times crying, to receive his punishment after becoming the first senator to ever be convicted of acting as a foreign agent.

Menendez, 71, accepted bribes  in the form of lavish gifts  from three New Jersey businessmen who sought his help in meddling in state and federal criminal investigations and securing lucrative deals with officials from Egypt and Qatar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system. Somewhere along the way, and I don't know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good, District Judge Sidney Stein told Menendez.

Robert Bob Menendez arrives at Manhattan Federal Court for sentencing (Getty Images)

Before sentencing, the former US senator tearfully begged the judge for consideration of his long public service.

"Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. I've done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context, Menendez said between tears.

He recounted various times he helped others such as helping a family secure a new kidney for a family member.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez cried while recounting how he dedicated himself to public service so much that he missed several events in his two childrens lives. He struggled to describe the pain of missing events in his grandchildrens lives if he was given a long sentence.

While Judge Stein agreed Menendez had done much good in his life, he reminded the former senator that his bad actions could not go unpunished.

The public cannot be led to believe that you can get away with bribery, Judge Stein said.

Roughly six months ago, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts including bribery, extortion, corruption, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt  what prosecutors described as the most serious conduct that a senator has been convicted for in the history of the republic.

The three-term New Jersey senator resigned from his position after being found guilty on 16 charges (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

When federal agents descended upon Menendezs home in 2022 and 2023 they made a startling discovery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than $100k worth of gold bars, one found in a Ziploc bag, stuffed in a closet, a Mercedez-Benz convertible parked in the driveway, and more than $480,000 in cash stuffed into coat jacket pockets, shoes and bags.

Those, in addition to jewelry and other gifts, were all bribes that Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez accepted from two co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, as well as a former co-defendant who took a plea deal, Jose Uribe.

Federal prosecutors asked Judge Stein to sentence Menendez to 15 years in prison and impose a $2.8 million fine and more than $920,000 in restitution.

Stacks of cash were found hidden in jackets, shoes, bags and more in the Menendezes closet

The former senators attorneys asked the judge for leniency, asking him to consider home detention and rigorous community service instead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman with a halal-meat certifying business, connected Menendez with Egyptian intelligence officials. With Menendezs help, Hana secured a lucrative contract with U.S. officials to be the exclusive certifier of halal meat to Egypt.

Menendez pushed the U.S. to give Egypt millions in military aid and sent Egyptian officials nonpublic information.

Hana was sentenced to roughly eight years in prison.

Daibes, a real-estate developer, gave Menendez gold and cash in exchange for his help interfering with a criminal investigation and securing investors in a development project. Daibes introduced Menendez to a Qatari investor who was also a member of the Qatari royal family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez later supported a Senate resolution praising Qatar.

Daibes was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday.

Federal authorities allegedly seized $100,000 in gold bars from the home of Menendez (US Department of Justice)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Uribe, an insurance executive, pleaded guilty telling prosecutors he gave Menendez and his wife a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for Menendez to interfere in a state fraud investigation. Menendez then spoke directly with the New Jersey attorney general about the case.

Uribe will be sentenced in April.

The senators wife allegedly played a pivotal role in the scheme, according to Menendezs lawyers who sought to push the blame on Nadine for pressuring Menendez to accept the lavish gifts.

Nadine Menendez allegedly plaid a pivotal role in the scheme (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Nadine is expected to stand trial in March. Her trial was severed from her husbands last year after she revealed she is battling breast cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From the moment Menendez was indicted until sentencing, he has maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal the conviction.

Even while facing calls to resign from fellow Democratic members of Congress, Menendez refused to let go of his power. He initially teased running for re-election in the state, this time as an independent candidate. However, after his conviction Menendez resigned.

I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country, Menendez said after the verdict. The decision rendered by the jury today would put at risk every member of the United States Senate in terms of what they think a foreign agent would be.
(WKBN)  A company headquarted in Solon has informed Ohios Department of Job and Family Services through a WARN notice that it plans to close its Middlefield distribution center at the end of next month.

Tarkett USA sells flooring products like carpeting and tile, according to its website.

Its distribution center is on Industrial Parkway in Middlefield, in Geauga County near the Trumbull County line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It employs 92 people, all of whom will be laid off.

The closing will be permanent.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
During a 90-day foreign aid freeze, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued exemptions for life-saving humanitarian assistance, but the fate of HIV treatment for the worlds poorest nations remains uncertain.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on any foreign assistance as agencies review to ensure they will not be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the president.

On Tuesday, contractors working with the U.S. Agency for International Development received memos to halt work immediately, sources told Reuters. That evening, Rubio exempted humanitarian assistance, which he defined as core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance, according to the waiver seen by the Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The waiver didnt explicitly mention the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a global health program that includes HIV treatment, testing and prevention drug distribution across the world, according to the New York Times. The distribution of HIV medications seemed to be permitted under the waiver, but whether preventative HIV drugs and other services are allowed is not immediately clear.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver exempting humanitarian assistance after President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on foreign aid  but HIV medications are still in flux. (REUTERS)

The program, which began in 2003 under the George W. Bush administration, received $6.5 billion in government funding in 2024. If aid to the program is cut permanently, more than 20 million people across the globe living with HIV, including 560,000 children, around the world would no longer have access to life-saving treatment.

Gumisayi Bonzo, director of a health nonprofit in Zimbabwe, told the Associated Press that stripping access to HIV medication would be life-altering.

I have been religiously taking medicines for over two decades, I am living a normal life again, and suddenly we have to stop, she said. Thats a death sentence for many people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If treatments are interrupted, patients are more susceptible to getting sick and the disease could spread to others, Reuters reported. Inconsistent treatment could also lead to drug resistance.

We can very rapidly return to where the pandemic is exploding, like it was back in the 1980s, Dr. Steve Deeks, an HIV expert at the University of California, San Francisco, told the New York Times. This really cannot happen.

The program has nearly 200,000 providers; on average, they make around $3,000 per year, making even short funding suspensions extremely difficult, according to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Each day, the program supports more than 222,000 people receiving treatments, according to amfAR. The program also supports hundreds of thousands of HIV tests, newly diagnosing 4,374 people with HIV every day, including pregnant women.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If H.I.V. testing falls by the wayside, its unlikely that we will be able to even diagnose people who need to go into treatment, Dr. Glenda Gray, a pediatric HIV expert at Wits University in South Africa, told the Times.

If pregnant women are unable to get tested, they could unknowingly pass the virus to their children.

The World Health Organization, which Trump ordered the U.S.s withdrawal from, called on the Trump administration to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care.

The global health body warned of the consequences around the world and in America should PEPFAR funding be frozen: A funding halt for HIV programs can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries. Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America.
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above, but police have confirmed that they found no illicit activity in the area.

The lot, located just east of the L.A. River at the intersection of East Cesar Chavez Avenue and North Mission Road, is littered with discarded metal and dumpsters.

It is also littered with the word help spelled out nearly a dozen times, as seen from Sky5 on Monday. Another word  traffico  is also seen spelled out once, as are LAPD and federal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The largest help message appears to be constructed with piping that has the word Corruption on one of them, as well as trafico humano, extorcion and terrorismo, which are Spanish for human trafficking, extortion and terrorism, respectively.

A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5) A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5) A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5) A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5) A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5) A patch of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles is going viral on social media for some distressing messages seen from above. (Sky5)

Google Street View shows that help was also scrawled on the sidewalk the last time the companys street view car drove on East Cesar Chavez in July 2023.

The largest help message  located at the bottom of the overhead image  is also seen spelled out in the July 2023 street view footage.

The apparent entrance to the lot is located at 599 N. Mission Road, which, according to Google Maps, is the site of a LATC Union Pacific Rail Yard, which is adjacent to an access road leading to a Southern Pacific Rail Yard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Multiple social media users identified the person making the messages as a man named Jose, and the Los Angeles Police Department responded to one post and confirmed that the man, a known transient, had been at the location for a few years, though they did not identify him by name.

Weve had several different contacts with the individual, LAPDs Central Division said. He has refused housing or a mental health evaluation [and] there is no evidence of human trafficking.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  On Tuesday, students and staff at Dixie Elementary School celebrated the schools 100th anniversary on the 100th day of their school year.

The event featured former students who spoke about their memories while attending Dixie. The Dixie choir performed, and a time capsule was buried to commemorate the historic day.

East Texas schools, doctors see surge in illnesses

Two Dixie alumni, Mia Mendoza and Yolanda Gomez, who are currently seniors at Tyler High School, shared memories of their time at Dixie and thanked their former teachers for helping them become the successful students they are today.

Some of the best years of my life have been at this school, and I had so many great teachers, said Yolanda. I am in the top 10% of my grade with a GPA of 3.7, and I want to thank the school and all my teachers who helped make me who I am today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The principal of Dixie, Kimberly Simmons, spoke about reflecting on the impact Dixie has had on the community and how this day is meant to recognize those who have shaped the schools community.

UT Tyler celebrates School of Nursings 50th Anniversary

Today is not just a celebration of our schools history but a reflection of the students, families, and educators who have shaped our school community, Principal Kimberly Simmons said. Were thrilled to share this day with those who have been part of Dixies legacy.

A time capsule that was designed and constructed by students at the Career and Technology Center was unveiled during the event. Students from each grade contributed to the capsule, which was buried in front of the campus and marked with a permanent plaque.

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.
DMACC President Rob Denson has announced he will retire from the community college at the end of the year. (Photo By Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson has announced his retirement after more than 20 years with the college and more than 40 years in higher education.

Denson will stay on at the community college until Dec. 30, according to a news release, and will stay in Ankeny with his wife, Pat, and spend time with his family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since starting at the community college in 2003, Denson has become the longest-running president in DMACCs history, according to the release. Denson said in the release he and the college have accomplished much together during his tenure, and he thanked the DMACC faculty and staff that have helped make the college better.

Im most proud of each and every one of the thousands of students who have walked across our stage at graduation, Denson said in the release. By enrolling at DMACC these Iowans have opened new doors to careers, greater prosperity and success for themselves, their families, and communities.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The colleges board of trustees plans to hire a consultant to launch a national search for its next president, according to the release, and will also work with the DMACC campus community to learn what its needs are for a new leader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DMACC Board President Joe Pugel said in the release the next president should have qualities that include ex1perience managing a large organization, high ethical standards, fiscal expertise, ability to form partnerships and a student-first attitude. He said DMACC has grown and thrived under Densons presidency, with his skills, values and attitude serving him well.

Rob will be greatly missed as he has set a high bar for the next President, Pugel said in the release. Due to his leadership, DMACCs future is set on a solid foundation and will move forward in a positive direction. Were grateful for his vision and the strong institution he leaves behind.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The building blocks of DNA have been found in samples returned to Earth from an asteroid, suggesting life rained down from space and could have formed elsewhere.

In 2016, Nasa sent its Osiris-Rex mission to drill down into the asteroid Bennu, with the cargo returning to Earth in 2023.

The first analysis shows that the four nucleotide bases of DNA  adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine  which form the rungs of the double helix, were all present.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every living thing on Earth contains DNA, which stores the genetic information needed to build and maintain an organism.

It is the first time that all four nucleotide bases have been discovered together on an asteroid, and the samples were also found to contain 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to make proteins.

The findings from the sample increase the likelihood that the conditions for life were widespread across the early solar system - Yasuhiro Oba

Nasa said the findings not only suggest that space rocks sparked life on Earth, but that the conditions for life were widespread across the early solar system.

Nicky Fox, the associate administrator for the Nasa Science Mission Directorate, said: Bennu contains many precursor building blocks of life along with the evidence it comes from an ancient wet world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do show that the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were likely widespread across the early solar system. This of course increases the odds that life could have formed on other planets.

This all supports the theory that Bennu [was] among the sources that delivered water and chemical building blocks for life to Earth.

Minerals found in samples from Bennu formed when saltwater evaporated in extraterrestrial ponds - Rob Wardell, Tim Gooding and Tim McCoy, Smithsonian

Scientists also discovered 11 important minerals, including sodium, carbon, sulphur and phosphorus, which were left behind when saltwater streams evaporated.

Researchers believe these extraterrestrial sub-surface ponds may have provided a cauldron where the elemental ingredients for life could intermingle and create more complex molecules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Similar conditions are thought to exist on Ceres  a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter  which suggests it would be a good place to look for the existence of life.

Scientists collect data next to the return capsule from Osiris-Rex, which brought back asteroid samples that are often difficult to study - Keegan Barber/Nasa

Sara Russell, a cosmic mineralogist at the Natural History Museum in London, who studied the material, said: There were things in the samples that completely blew us away. The richness of the molecules and minerals preserved are unlike any extraterrestrial samples studied before.

Its interesting that although Bennu had everything needed for life  it did not form.

The complex and delicate conditions needed to catalyse life really bring into focus the abundance of biodiversity here on Earth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added: Together we have made huge progress in understanding how asteroids like Bennu evolved, and how they may have helped make the Earth habitable.

A sample of Bennu shown inside the Osiris-Rex sample collector, which brought back about four ounces (113g) of material from the asteroid - Nasa Handout/AFP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bennu is more than four-and-a-half billion years old and is a relic from the formation of the solar system which has been perfectly preserved in the vacuum of space.

It is about 1,640ft (500m) across and once belonged to a much larger asteroid which broke apart billions of years ago.

Scientists have long suspected that the ingredients for life on Earth were delivered to our planet by asteroids, but they are tricky to study once on the ground because they are easily contaminated.

Tim McCoy, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonians Museum of Natural History, says Bennu is the next step on a pathway to life - James Di Loreto/National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Smithsonian Institution

The Osiris-Rex mission collected around four ounces (113g) of rock and dust from Bennu  about the weight of a bar of soap  and the samples were divided up and sent to laboratories around the world for study.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the new findings were some more familiar minerals such as halite, which is made of sodium chloride and is more commonly called rock salt.

Tim McCoy, the curator of meteorites at the Smithsonians Museum of Natural History, in Washington DC, added: We now know from Bennu that the raw ingredients of life were combining in really interesting and complex ways.

We have discovered the next step on a pathway to life. We now know we have the basic building blocks to move along this pathway towards life, but we dont know how far along that pathway this environment could allow things to progress.

The research was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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.
On 22 February 1498, a well-weathered mid-40s Christopher Columbus ordained in writing that his estate in the Italian port city of Genoa would be maintained for his family "because from it I came and in it I was born".

Though most historians regard the document to be a cut-and-dried record of the famed explorer's birthplace, some have questioned its authenticity and wondered if there's more to the story.

Last year, a decades-long investigation led by forensics scientist Jose Antonio Lorente from the University of Granada in Spain came out in support of claims that Columbus may not be of Italian heritage after all, but was actually born somewhere in Spain to parents of Jewish ancestry.

The revelation was announced in October as part of a special program broadcast in Spain to celebrate Columbus's arrival in the New World on 12 October 1492.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's important to keep in mind that science by media ought to be viewed with caution, especially when there isn't a peer-reviewed publication to critically examine.

"Unfortunately, from a scientific point of view, we can't really evaluate what was in the documentary because they offered no data from the analysis whatsoever," former director of Spain's National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Antonio Alonso, told Manuel Ansede and Nuno Dominguez at the Spanish news service, El Pais.

"My conclusion is that the documentary never shows Columbus's DNA and, as scientists, we don't know what analysis was undertaken."

Nonetheless, historical documents are increasingly being challenged  and bolstered  by forensic analyses of biological records, raising the possibility that Columbus's own DNA could potentially reveal insights into his family history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Based on interpretations of records written when he was an adult, the man known throughout much of the western world by the anglicized name Christopher Columbus was born Cristoforo Columbo sometime between late August and late October in 1451 in Genoa, the bustling capital of the northwestern Italian region of Liguria.

It was only later in life as a young man in his twenties that he traveled west to Lisbon, Portugal, in search of affluent patrons who might fund his audacious attempt to take a 'short cut' to the east by heading in completely the other direction.

Though most historians accept the court documents placing his birthplace in Genoa as the real-deal, speculation of an alternative heritage has been floated for decades.

Christopher Columbus House in Genoa, Italy, an 18th-century reconstruction of the house in which Columbus grew up. The original was likely destroyed during the 1684 bombardment of Genoa. ( Ettorre (gregorio)/CC BY-SA 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons

One persistent rumor maintains Columbus was covertly Jewish, born in Spain at a time of intense religious persecution and ethnic cleansing. Supporters of the claim cite curious abnormalities in his will and interpretations of the syntax in his letters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, it appears his own genes may provide a new line of evidence.

Lorente and his team of researchers claimed in the televised special that their analysis of Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA taken from the remains of Columbus's son Ferdinand and brother Diego is compatible with a Spanish or Sephardic Jewish heritage.

Painting of Christopher Columbus at the gates of the monastery of Santa Maria de la Rabida with one of his sons. ( Benet Mercade/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

This doesn't categorically rule out Genoa, of course, nor does it pin down any one place in Europe as a place of birth for the explorer. Indeed, Jews exiled from Spain at the end of the 15th century just as Columbus was making his landmark voyage flooded into the Italian city seeking asylum, albeit with few succeeding.

But any merit to Lorente's findings would make Columbus's Italian origin a little harder to support, raising questions of how somebody of Sephardic Jewish heritage would come to be born in Genoa in the 1450s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the findings to become widely adopted, the results would need to be carefully scrutinized, if not convincingly replicated in detail.

Even then, there's more to an individual's story than genetics  leaving open the case of how an individual from a persecuted minority truly came to represent the spearhead of Spanish expansion.

For now, the story of Columbus remains one of an Italian sailor who caught the eye of Spanish royalty, who came to be both celebrated and scorned for the mark he inadvertently made on history far from that "noble and powerful city by the sea", his home of Genoa.

An earlier version of this article was published in October 2024.

Related News
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Court documents revealed new details in what led to what the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) described as a road rage shooting.

Jacob Holmes was arrested Tuesday afternoon following a shooting at the intersection of N Roan St. and 11th Ave. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and four counts of reckless endangerment, the JCPD reported.

PREVIOUS: Suspect identified in Johnson City road rage shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A victim in the shooting had reportedly been taken to the hospital after being shot in the upper torso.

WJHL

An affidavit filed in Washington County General Sessions Court states that Holmes was heading south on N Roan St. in the left lane with a passenger in his vehicle. He had to turn left to continue on N Roan, and the left lane then merged with the right lane.

Holmes attempted to merge into the right lane of travel but a red Nissan Frontier, operated by the victim, was in the right lane of travel, the affidavit reads. The Nissan did not let Holmes merge into the right lane of travel.

According to the affidavit, Holmes then pulled out a gun and shot from his passenger-side window into the driver-side door of the Nissan, hitting the victim.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigator who penned the affidavit also noted that Holmes fired past the passenger in his own vehicle.

The affidavit states that after both vehicles stopped at the intersection of N Roan and 11th Ave., Holmes got out of his vehicle, showed the gun again and told the victim to stay in the Nissan.

Officers took Holmes into custody when they arrived, and investigators collected statements from the people involved and one witness.

Holmes is set to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. His bond was set at $50,000 with the condition that he have no contact with the victims or witnesses of the incident if released.

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.
The Trump administration announced it would freeze federal grants, loans and other funding beginning Tuesday, raising questions about how the move would affect Pierce County governments, schools and other local agencies that routinely receive millions of federal dollars to bankroll key programs.

A memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget on Monday said that federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to paying federal financial assistance, pending a review of funded programs to ensure that spending aligns with the goals of President Donald Trumps administration.

This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, the memo said, specifically targeting activities such as diversity, equity and inclusion, and climate-change policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A federal judge in the District of Columbia temporarily blocked the Trump administrations plan shortly before it was set to go into effect Tuesday afternoon after nonprofit groups filed a lawsuit, multiple media outlets reported. A hearing in the case was scheduled for Monday.

Amid confusion about its potential widespread impact, the Office of Management and Budget sought to clarify Tuesday that the federal spending freeze was meant only to weed out spending activities previously targeted by Trumps executive orders within the past week or so, according to The Washington Post.

Federal agencies were given until Feb. 10 to submit details on any programs, projects or activities subject to the pause. Until then, agencies were required to stop issuing new funding awards or disbursing federal funds under all open awards, according to the memo, which was reported by multiple media outlets.

In Pierce County, officials were uncertain about what the potential stoppage of federal dollars could mean for the many programs that rely upon them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards told The News Tribune that the city was working to identify what effects there could be but noted that it was challenging to do so given the situations fluidity.

We are very concerned about potential impacts for the City and our community, Woodards said in a statement. We will be working diligently to understand and respond to the federal actions. We will also be working with our state and federal partners on this and other executive actions.

Prior to the funding freezes temporary stoppage in court, two agencies addressed their plans Tuesday with The News Tribune.

The Tacoma Housing Authority, which says it assists nearly 11,000 Tacomans with housing through federal funding, said it planned to use reserve dollars and conduct business as usual while it awaited further information from the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

THA spokesperson Erik Owomoyela told The News Tribune that the agency would remain calm and steady in the meantime.

Its not clear how this pause will impact THAs programs in the long term, Owomoyela said. In the short term, THA has reserves operations for at least three months.

In a statement, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spokesperson Kenny Via said TPCHD didnt anticipate that a freeze would immediately impact its services since it receives most of its funding from Pierce County, Tacoma and the state Department of Health.

We are reviewing how we may need to adjust our spending if this freeze lasts for an extended period, Via said. That includes identifying specific funding sources that may be affected long-term and engaging with local and state partners about future funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Messages left for other agencies which rely on federal funding, such as Pierce County and Tacoma Public Schools, were not immediately returned Tuesday.

Those groups and others were among the many in Pierce County expected to receive tens of millions of dollars in federal grants during the current fiscal year, according to the official U.S. government website, USASpending.gov, which tracks such spending.

The money goes toward programs that support a wide array of services, including housing vouchers, opioid- and substance-abuse treatment, student mental health services and academic enrichment, homeless outreach, domestic-violence protection, senior meals, energy efficiency for low-income households, urban search and rescue, and more, USASpending.gov data shows.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, raised concerns about the Trump administration action in a letter Monday night to Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country, Murray wrote.

A document obtained by The News Tribune, which Murray shared with other Senate Democrats, noted Democrats fears about the potential implications of the funding freeze.

They worried that a pause could hurt a vast number of federally funded programs, including those related to public safety, child care, Head Start, K-12 schools, veterans care and infrastructure projects, according to the document.

If implemented broadly, as written, this action by the Trump administration could block hundreds of billions of dollars in approved fundingsowing chaos nationwide, hurting American families and businesses, killing jobs, and undermining our national security and emergency preparedness, the document said.

Democratic attorneys general also announced a lawsuit Tuesday in an effort to stop the freeze, the Associated Press reported.
DES MOINES, Iowa  A dog who was found tied up in a trash bag and dumped in Des Moines now has a new home.

On December 10 a male bulldog, now named Wally, was found along the side of a road in Des Moines tied up in a trash bag. At the time, Wally was emaciated, weighing just over 23 lbs. Wally was taken to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for treatment.

Raw sewage discharge detected in Des Moines creek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the last several weeks Wally has been on a specialized feeding program and has gradually gained weight, the ARL said. When he was considered mostly healthy, Wally was placed in a foster home to continue recovering.

Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Police Department. Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Police Department. Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Police Department.

According to the ARL, Dave and Karen Miglin decided to become a foster home because of Wallys story and welcomed him into their home. On Tuesday the ARL announced that the Miglins made Wally a permanent member of their family after officially adopting him last week.

When we heard Wallys story, we were angry and heartbroken, and felt compelled to help in any way we could, the Miglins said in a statement. Our family has always believed in adoption and helping dogs in need of loving homes. Animals give us such unconditional love, and Wally has done just that.

After Wally was found an investigation was opened by the Des Moines Police Department. So far, no suspects have been identified. Anyone with information about Wallys case is asked to contact the DMPDs Chief Humane Officer at (515)248-6052. Tips can also be submitted on the DMPD app or at Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa.

Metro 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.
DELAWARE COUNTY  Around 50 Delaware County residents turned out for a community meeting to learn what can be done regarding a pack of feral dogs attacking and killing livestock.

Delaware County Sheriff Ray Thomas appeared at the Lakemont Shores fire station on Tuesday to update the residents.

Lakemont Shores is on the Eucha arm of Grand Lake.

Several residents spoke up about attacks on livestock.

If the dogs are aggressive and attacking you or your livestock  you can shoot the dog. Delaware County Sheriff Ray Thomas

Thomas also warned about shooting dogs irresponsibly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Delaware County does not have a county-wide animal control unit. He said Grand River Dam Authority helicopters patrol the area during training exercises.

Thomas said he is working with the Delaware County Commissioner on a plan to address the issue.

Hoguen Apperson, Delaware County Cattlemens Association president, urged residents to contact the Delaware County Sheriffs and make a report when they have an issue with dogs.

For far too long, livestock owners in Delaware County have known the economic and heartbreaking impact of feral dogs, Apperson said after the meeting.

John Nielson spoke about how he had to put down his 14-year-old dog, who was attacked by a pack of wild dogs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pack of dogs is believed to contain a pit bull, a German Shepherd, a husky, and other mixed breeds, he said.

These dogs are trained to kill, or they have learned how to kill, Nielson said.

Nielson said his neighbor told him how she was on her daily walk and was confronted by a pack of wild dogs, and they attacked her.

These dogs are not scared of people, Nielson said.

Nielson said the dog pack is killing family pets  dogs and cats  and livestock. He reported to the crowd that 12 cows and eight calves had been attacked.

Nielsen created a text chain for the community members to be aware of the pack of dogs and for better reporting to law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oklahoma Alliance for Animals and Second Chance Pet Rescue offered their help in proposing safe and humane solutions.

It costs $32,000 a month to run an animal shelter, said Cassie Owens, Second Chance Pet Rescue of Grand Lake director.

Owens also addressed the crowd, explaining that the Grove facility has a long waiting list for animals but cannot accept aggressive dogs.

The social media posts have spread where people are shooting animals that are in a residents yard.

These are pets that are getting shot, Owens said.

A second community meeting is planned for the Hickory Grove area to tackle similar issues affecting the northern regions of Delaware County.

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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
After Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, special counsel Jack Smith withdrew his appeal against him in the classified documents case, which U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had dismissed. The remaining question in the case, unlike in Washington where Trump was the lone defendant in the federal election interference case, was what would happen to the appeal that the government was technically still pressing against his former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

Now we have an answer. The Justice Department under Trump is moving to dismiss the appeal. It had seemed like it would either be that or that Trump would pardon the two men to get rid of the case for good.

Otherwise, the DOJ under Trump would be continuing to attempt to reinstate charges in the hopes of moving toward a trial that would center on the presidents alleged criminality involving the retention of national defense information. Trump had pleaded not guilty, as did Nauta and De Oliveira.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indeed, Trump pleaded not guilty in all four of his criminal cases, with the only one of them that went to trial, in New York state court, resulting in a conviction that his lawyers are now appealing. Smith had moved to dismiss Trumps two federal cases, based on DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.

Cannon dismissed the documents case last year, reasoning that Smith was unlawfully appointed. Now, assuming that the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals accepts the governments unopposed appellate dismissal motion, Cannons dismissal against all three defendants will stand, without being tested on appeal or having been able to set a nationwide precedent on special counsels one way or the other.

The pendency of the appeal against Nauta and De Oliveira had also been cited as justification for keeping Smiths volume of his final report related to the documents case under wraps, so as not to prejudice the defendants in the event that their charges were reinstated and they went to trial someday. The case going away for good would therefore make the justification for shelving the documents volume go away. But it seems unlikely that the Trump DOJ that just moved to dismiss the case would willingly release a potentially damning report about it.

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
The Justice Department has moved to drop its criminal prosecution of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican who resigned last year after a conviction on charges that he lied to the FBI.

Fortenberrys conviction by a federal jury in Los Angeles in 2022 was subsequently overturned by an appeals court that ruled he should have been tried in Kansas or Washington, D.C. The Justice Department renewed the case in Washington and he was awaiting a new trial when Donald Trump won the 2024 election.

Trump quickly hailed the move as a sign of how his appointees are reversing what he has described as the politicization of the Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is great to see that the Department of Justice has dropped the Witch Hunt against former Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Trump said in a social media post Wednesday afternoon. Jeff and his family were forced to suffer greatly due to the illegal Weaponization of our Justice System by the Radical Left Democrats.  The charges were totally baseless. That Scam is now over.

I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years! Trump added.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.

The request to dismiss the case against Fortenberry is the latest move by the Justice Department to end criminal cases against Trumps political allies. The department on Wednesday also sought to end the criminal case against two men who were charged alongside Trump in Florida by special counsel Jack Smith. And on his first day in office, Trump ordered the department to dismiss hundreds of criminal cases against supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including many who assaulted police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fortenberry was charged with making false statements to FBI investigators probing an illegal foreign contribution to his campaign.

Shortly after the 2024 election, Fortenberry indicated he anticipated that the Trump administration might drop the case against him, claiming it was politically motivated. His retrial was set for July.

The political elements of this case make it the type of prosecutorial decision the incoming administration has made clear it will reexamine upon taking office, the congressman argued in a December court filing seeking to delay the trial.

Some of the FBIs tactics in the case drew criticism, including its decision to surreptitiously record him in his own home after telling him they needed to discuss an urgent national security matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump himself criticized the case against Fortenberry in 2022, saying at a Nebraska rally that the case was very unfair and might result in punishment over a a tiny amount of money.

The trouble for Fortenberry stemmed from a 2016 fundraiser in Glendale, California, that raised more than $30,000 for his reelection campaign. That money, federal investigators later concluded, originated with Gilbert Chagoury, a billionaire businessman with French, Lebanese and Nigerian roots who was legally forbidden from donating to U.S. political campaigns.

Chagoury and his aides admitted making illegal donations to three other campaigns: former Sen. Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential race, Rep. Darrell Issas 2014 House campaign and former Rep. Lee Terrys 2014 House bid. Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also admitted he took a $50,000 loan from Chagoury and failed to include it in his financial disclosures.

Chagoury, who lives in Paris, paid a $1.8 million fine and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. prosecutors that avoided him having to face trial on criminal charges.

An attorney for Fortenberry, Jonathan Pitt, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the development.


The Justice Department on Wednesday moved to drop its effort to prosecute Donald Trumps former co-defendants in special counsel Jack Smiths classified documents case.

Prosecutors asked a federal appeals court to dismiss an appeal filed during the Biden administration that sought to reinstate criminal charges against two men Smith had charged alongside Trump.

The request from the interim U.S. attorney in Miami, Hayden OByrne, offered no explanation for the Justice Departments decision to abandon the case against the two Trump allies: Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nauta and De Oliveira are Trump aides who were accused of helping Trump obstruct the investigation into classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago after Trumps first term. Smith charged them with obstructing justice and making false statements.

If the appeals court grants the governments request, which is expected, it will bring to an end the last remnant of the federal criminal prosecutions against Trump.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against all three men in July, agreeing with defense arguments that Smith had been illegally appointed.

Under former Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Justice Department appealed Cannons ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, seeking to revive the case against all three defendants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the part of the appeal that sought to reinstate the charges against Trump was dismissed in November  at Smiths request  after Trump won the presidential election. The special counsel cited longstanding DOJ policy against prosecutinga sitting president. However, until Wednesday, the Justice Department had continued to press the appeal against Nauta and De Oliveira.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department and for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the move.

Trump faced dozens of felony charges for allegedly retaining an extensive collection of national security secrets and then seeking to conceal them after government officials sought their return. Nauta and De Oliveira were charged with aiding Trumps alleged scheme to obstruct the Justice Departments effort to recover the documents.

The dismissal of the appeal is likely to renew calls to make Smiths final report on the classified documents matter public. Garland declined to release the report because of the effort to continue prosecuting Natua and De Oliveira. Cannon also blocked Garland from sharing the report with Congress.

Democrats are likely to ramp up their demands to review the report. The Justice Departments move is also likely to accelerate looming court battles over whether the report will be made public.


The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday moved to toss out charges against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), who resigned from Congress in 2022 after a California jury convicted him of lying to federal authorities.

The request to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the same charges cant be brought again, comes as President Trumps Justice Department has moved to end criminal prosecutions of his political allies, including those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and Trumps co-defendants in his federal classified documents case.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated the end of the DOJs witch hunt against Fortenberry and claimed he was the victim of a weaponized justice system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The charges were totally baseless, Trump said. That Scam is now over, so Jeff and his family can go back to having a great life together, and be a part of our Countrys future as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years!

A California jury found Fortenberry guilty of lying to FBI agents in two separate interviews about his knowledge of illegal campaign contributions from a foreign billionaire.

Those interviews took place in Lincoln, Neb., and in Washington, but the case was brought in Los Angeles because federal prosecutors said he received the contributions at a 2016 fundraiser there. However, he was never charged with receiving illegal contributions.

That conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2023, after it determined Fortenberry should have faced trial in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., instead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal prosecutors brought the case again in Washington in May, and Fortenberry was awaiting a new trial when Trump won the presidential race.

The Hill requested comment from an attorney for Fortenberry.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Department of Justice, now under new leadership following Donald Trump's inauguration, has moved to drop its appeal of the classified documents case that once accused Trump of mishandling some of the country's most sensitive secrets.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Hayden OBryne on Wednesday moved to dismiss the appeal against Trump's former co-defendants in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Trump pleaded not guilty in 2023 to 40 criminal counts -- including violations of nine separate federal laws -- for allegedly holding on to classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021 and thwarting investigators' efforts to retrieve the documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Judge blocks DOJ from sharing Jack Smith's classified docs report with members of Congress

Along with longtime aide Walt Nauta and staffer Carlos De Oliveira, Trump pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage.

In July, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon -- who Trump appointed to the bench -- dismissed the indictments, deeming that special counsel Jack Smith had been unconstitutionally appointed.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to the crowd in the VIP overflow viewing area in Emancipation Hall after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in the US Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025. (Bill Clark/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

While Smith appealed Cannon's decision, he was forced to drop the appeal against Trump after Trump won the November election, due to a longstanding policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. However, Smith continued to pursue the appeal against Nauta and De Oliveira prior his resignation earlier this month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DOJ's motion to drop the appeal signals an end to its prosecution of Nauta and De Oliveira.

Cannon last week cited the DOJ's ongoing appeal against Nauta and De Oliveira in her decision to block the release of Smith's final report on the case to select members of Congress.

DOJ, under Trump, moves to drop appeal of classified docs case against his co-defendants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A restaurant and bar due to open at a busy Dolton intersection is moving closer to welcoming customers after winning a partial court victory in a battle with Mayor Tiffany Henyard over liquor licenses.

It took a lawsuit for St. Patricks Steakhouse and Rooftop Bar to secure liquor licenses for the business, and a Cook County judge essentially forced Henyard, in her capacity as Doltons liquor commissioner, to approve the licenses after she initially supported the business coming to the village.

The five-level business was built on the site of a former animal hospital at 15022 Lincoln Ave., just south of Sibley Boulevard and just east of Dolton Bowl.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It will have a banquet hall/event space in addition to a restaurant and rooftop bar.

Owner Tiffany Kamara sued Henyard in September, alleging the mayor had dragged her feet on issuing the needed liquor licenses.

Under a court order to issue the licenses, Henyard was found in indirect criminal contempt during a hearing Friday in the case.

Kamara planned to sell a liquor store she owns, Emporium Beverage Depot, 130 E. Sibley Blvd., to another operator, according to the lawsuit. She plans to open a retail liquor store on the first floor of St. Patricks, it stated.

Kamaras lawyer, Adrian Vuckovich, said while Henyard signed two liquor licences for St. Patricks  one for restaurant and bar and one for the event space  she did not issue one for the new liquor store.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kamara had a deal with a buyer, Herms Dolton LLC, to sell the Emporium building, according to the lawsuit.

The buyer backed out Nov. 7 because a retail license hadnt been issued, he said. Although Henyard did approve a license a short time later, the deal had already collapsed, the attorney said.

According to the lawsuit, Kamara paid $200,000 for the vacant animal hospital property. The seller was Kamal Woods, a Thornton Township employee.

At Tuesdays Thornton Township board meeting, Woods was placed on paid administrative leave from his job as township director of youth services.

He and Henyard were sued in an eviction case involving a home they are renting in Dolton, although the mayors attorney said Henyard moved out in the fall. Earlier this month, they told the judge the rent was paid up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last summer, a federal subpoena demanded records from the township for a youth violence prevention program that allegedly came under Woods authority.

According to records obtained by the Chicago Tribune and Daily Southtown, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity received the subpoena last August for all records related to Thornton Township and Project B Youth Violence Prevention.

According to department, Thornton Township received a $7.1 million in grant money since 2020, and Plan B Youth Violence Prevention was among the programs funded by a $500,000 grant for violence interruption, community development and operational expenses and administrative costs. The address given for the program, on Sibley Boulevard in Dolton, comes up in Cook County records as a car wash business.

The funding was supposedly meant to provide college scholarships and career training to young people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kamaras lawsuit contends Woods is the significant other of Defendant Henyard and is believed to have substantial influence over her decisions and actions.

Vuckovich said Henyard was, at least initially, a backer of Kamaras endeavor, having her photo taken and promoting St. Patricks as evidence of her work to bring economic development to Dolton.

He said Tuesday Kamara was hiring staff and wanted to open St. Patricks in November, ahead of Thanksgiving.

This would have been tax revenue for Dolton and it would have included jobs for the village, Vuckovich said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TAK Group Investments LLC filed the lawsuit against Henyard. Records show Kamara is the owner of TAK and its primary business appears to be Emporium.

Kamara was not immediately available to comment on the status of the opening of St. Patricks.

TAK applied for liquor licenses for St. Patricks last spring and at about the same time sought the transfer of the license for Emporium, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said at some point Henyard arbitrarily decided to obstruct the development by preventing the opening of a liquor store on the first floor, which is a central part of the development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Doltons Village Board approved the liquor licenses at a July 19 board meeting, according to the complaint.

Judge Cecila Horan told Henyard to respond to the contempt charge by Feb. 7, with TAK responding by Feb. 14.

mnolan@southtownstar.com
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) raids continue across various parts of the country. Local merchants are pushing back against rumors of ICE operations in Abilene businesses, but they voiced concerns for the safety and well-being of their employees and customers.

ICE arrests 956 Sunday as nationwide raids continue

Susana Rodriguez, owner of La Favorita, shared her worries about the climate of fear surrounding this topic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its very sad, especially because these people are here to work. Theyre not here to hurt anyone. Theyre here to work in our cleaning jobs, construction jobs out the fields. So its very sad when people are trying to hurt them just because they dont have any legal documents, Rodriguez expressed.

Recently, a rumor circulated in Key City claiming that ICE visited La Mexicana, located in the same shopping center as La Favorita. Rodriguez said that this rumor is not true.

I am not seeing any difference here. I am seeing the same traffic. For instance, this weekend, on the comments that the agents from ICE were here at La Mexicana, we did not see anything. We had a normal weekend. People come in and go. Did not see any difference, Rodriguez shared.

It saddens me: Protesters take to the Texas Capitol after ICE operations in Austin

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also offered a message to those without legal documents:

I just want to ask them to please be careful out there. Dont do anything that might cause you to be stopped, and dont believe everything you see or hear. Just do what you are here to do: to work.

Meanwhile, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops issued a statement for a just and humane approach to migration.

The bishops of Texas will continue to work with governmental officials and other people of good will to implement policies that recognize the dignity of every person, prioritize family unity, and address the root causes of forced migration, while respecting the right and responsibility of our country to secure its borders, regulate immigration in an orderly process, maintain the rule of law, and keep its communities safe and peaceful, the group shared online. The Catholic Church is committed to defending the sanctity of every human life and the God-given dignity of each person, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Church teaching recognizes a countrys right and responsibility to promote public order, safety, and security through well-regulated borders and just limits on immigration. However, as shepherds, we cannot abide injustice, and we stress that national self-interest does not justify policies with consequences that are contrary to the moral law. The use of sweeping generalizations to denigrate any group, such as describing all undocumented immigrants as criminals or invaders, to deprive them of protection under the law, is an affront to God, who has created each of us in his own image. Pope Francis has stated, No one will ever openly deny that [migrants] are human beings, yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we can show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human. For Christians, this way of thinking and acting is unacceptable.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
President Donald Trumps order to freeze all federal grants, loans and financial assistance on Monday could provoke a blockbuster case on the presidents authority to subvert the separation of powers and control spending without Congress input.

The directive sent out to federal agencies by Trumps Office of Management and Budget on Monday ordered a temporary freeze on all grants, loans and financial assistance programs in order to advanc[e] administrative priorities and root out Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.

The spending freeze memo set off a chaotic 24 hours where the Medicaid and Head Start systems crashed, and grant recipients for everything from health care, housing, food assistance, and medical and scientific research did not know if they were affected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also spurred immediate separate legal challenges from Democratic state attorneys general and a coalition of nonprofits. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday evening to stop the freeze from going into effect. This likely sets up a blockbuster case before the Supreme Court over whether the president has the power to unilaterally refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress for any reason at all.

At issue is whether the blanket freeze violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which greatly limits the ability of presidents to not spend congressionally appropriated funds; and the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to appropriate funds to be spent by the executive branch  the power of the purse  where the president must then take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.

The Impoundment Control Act was passed by Congress following highly controversial efforts by President Richard Nixon to not spend funds appropriated by Congress for such things as pollution clean-up and mental health centers. Courts rebuked Nixons impoundment efforts, and Congress passed the law to stop future presidents from impounding funds when they simply disagreed with the policy enacted by Congress.

Presidents are allowed to delay congressionally-authorized spending in some circumstances under the law. They can defer spending in the case of contingencies that have arisen, to reduce costs or improve efficiency, or if the law tells them they can. These deferrals cannot be granted, however, if the president intends on rescinding the funds in the future.

President Donald Trump ordered a temporary freeze on all federal grants, loans and financial assistance on Jan. 27. Joe Raedle via Getty Images

[Trumps OMB directive] clearly violates the Impoundment Control Act, said David Super, an administrative and constitutional law professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo announcing the policy does not provide any rationale that aligns with the reasons a president may grant a deferral under the Impoundment Control Act, Super noted. Instead, it makes policy arguments about Marxist equity, transgenderism and the green new deal.

The OMB memo makes it very clear this is about policy disagreements, said Josh Chafetz, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

The memo also makes clear, according to Super, that Trump intends to rescind at least some of the funds hes frozen, in violation of the law.

Courts will need to sort out whether or not the freeze constitutes a deferral rooted in a policy disagreement or if it is allowed under the Impoundment Control Acts deferral exemptions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Government Accountability Office has ruled certain deferrals of congressional spending, like Joe Bidens freeze on border wall construction in 2021, did not violate the act because the delay related to reevaluating contracts and restoring the oversight of laws that Trump had waived. On the other hand, the watchdog office ruled that Trumps impoundment of funds meant for Ukraine in 2019 did violate the act because it constituted a policy dispute.

Trumps impoundment of those funds for Ukraine provoked his first impeachment, as he sought to withhold them as blackmail to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to falsely claim Biden was under investigation for corruption. Back then, OMB director Russ Vought signed off on the impoundment. Vought has stated he believes the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional, and the president has the power to block congressionally authorized funding at will.

Vought, who has been nominated but not yet confirmed to lead OMB again, and Trump are now fomenting a constitutional showdown in the courts with their broad spending freeze.

This sweeping federal funding freeze is a trial balloon to see how Congress, the Supreme Court, and the public react to the Presidents openly assuming monarchical power in a way that will tangibly hurt millions of everyday Americans, said Alex Aronson, executive director for Court Accountability, a liberal judicial watchdog group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This trial balloon may not take off though.

There are very few people who are more pessimistic about the judiciary than I am, Chafetz said. That said, this is one area where Trump is very likely to lose.

While there is not a large case history for efforts to circumvent the Impoundment Control Act in the manner Trump is attempting, court precedents do reject the sweeping arguments Vought and other Trump allies have made about the presidents inherent authority to impound.

Russ Vought, Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, believes that presidents have the constitutional power to not spend money appropriated by Congress. via Associated Press

In a case that preceded the passage of the Impoundment Control Act, the Supreme Court ruled in Train v. City of New York in 1975 that presidents cannot impound funds authorized by Congress unless the law in question allows them to. While past presidents have declined to spend such funds in the past, they did so with congressional authorization in almost every case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Supreme Courts conservative supermajority has shown a strong tendency to support executive power, but those cases have largely fallen under the rubric of the unitary executive theory, which focuses on the presidents power to direct the executive branch. This is a case about Congress constitutionally authorized power of the purse, and whether the president can subvert it and seize it for himself. Its likely to face a much tougher hearing before the court.

I dont think there is any colorable argument that this is constitutional, Chafetz said. This is anti-constitutional.

This was the argument coming from some in Congress opposed to Trumps actions.

If this stands, then Congress may as well adjourn, because the implications of this is the executive can pick and choose which congressional enactments they will execute, Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before this makes its way to the courts, the OMB directive will have already caused damage. Nonprofits, churches and governments that administer vital programs for seniors, children, the homeless, domestic violence victims and more are frozen as they seek to understand whether they will be able to continue operating.

A local church running a meal delivery program, if they happen to have reserve funds, they might be able to last but a lot of them dont, Super said. This will likely close some important local charitable programs. Which is tragic.
By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has refused to pay 290,000 pounds ($360,000) in legal fees after his English lawsuit against a private investigations firm was dismissed, a London court heard on Wednesday.

Trump brought a data protection lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence over allegations in a dossier written by its co-founder, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, but his claim was thrown out in February last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The so-called Steele dossier alleged ties between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia as well as other salacious allegations, all of which Trump denied.

Lawyers representing Orbis said on Wednesday that Trump had been ordered to make a payment of 290,000 pounds towards Orbis' legal fees, with further sums also likely to be due.

"No real reason has been given for the non-payment," said Orbis' lawyer Mark Friston.

He said Trump was now also claiming he had "sovereign immunity" from any enforcement action as a head of state, an argument he said was "completely hopeless" as it had been a private lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's lawyer Jacqueline Perry said the court was in a "slightly unusual position, with a slightly unusual client".

"It's difficult to get instructions when your client is president of the free world and trying to turn everything upside down," she said. "This isn't high in his area of importance."

She said the president was "an innocent party in this" and was bringing a professional negligence claim against his former legal advisers for bringing his High Court lawsuit under the wrong statute.

"That was the only reason the case was struck out," she said, adding he wanted the action against his former advisers settled before addressing Orbis's "eye-wateringly" high costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge Jason Rowley ruled that Trump must pay the 290,000 pounds within 28 days, or his would be prevented from addressing the court in April on a future argument about Orbis' legal fees.

Trump's data protection lawsuit was dismissed, with Judge Karen Steyn ruling that "there are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed".

Trump said in a witness statement for the hearing that he brought the case to prove claims in the so-called Steele dossier, published by the BuzzFeed website in 2017, that he engaged in "perverted sexual acts" in Russia, were false.

Many of the claims in the dossier were never substantiated and lawyers for Trump said that the report was "egregiously inaccurate" and contained "numerous false, phoney or made-up allegations".

(Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The Trump administration has offered a buyout to federal employees who don't wish to return to work at the office.

The offer, outlined in a memo the U.S. Office of Personnel Management sent to employees Tuesday, would give federal workers eight months of pay and benefits through September if they resign by Feb. 6.

The buyout serves as a way to "significantly reduce the size" of the federal workforce, reported USA TODAY.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal deferred resignation program," read the memo titled, "Fork in the Road."

The move, first reported by Axios, comes after President Donald Trump signed an order last week requiring all federal workers to return to in-person work.

The deadline for federal employees to accept the deferred resignation is Feb. 6 Here's what to know about the offer and how many federal employees could be affected in Tennessee.

Why are federal employees being offered referred resignation? Who is eligible?

As stated by the Office of Personal Management, the federal workforce is expected to undergo "significant" near-term changes. Federal employees have been offered the referred resignation as way to provide them with "sufficient time and economic security."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for:

Military personnel of the armed forces

Employees of the U.S. Postal Service

Those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security

Those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.

Trump administration aims to reform federal workforce, emphasize employee performance

In the memo, workers were advised of a "significant" reform of the federal workforce which will be built around four pillars. Those pillars include:

Return to office: The majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since COVID-19 will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, physical offices are also expected to undergo "meaningful consolidation and divestitures," potentially resulting in physical office relocations for multiple workers.

Performance culture: Performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that "exceed expectations" and address in a fair and open way "those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand."

More streamlined and flexible workforce: The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments and reductions in force. These actions will likely include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for many federal employees.

Enhanced standards of conduct: Going forward, employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct. Employees who engage in "unlawful behavior" or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

How many federal civilian employees are there in Tennessee?

The federal government employs over 2 million people who live and work in the United States and United States territories, according a Congressional Research Service report, That number includes 32,465 federal workers in Tennessee as of March 2024, the latest data available.

The report is based on the Office of Personnel Management's FedScope online tool which provides data about the U.S. federal workforce but does excludes a number of department and agencies including the U.S. Postal Service and most of the legislative and judicial branches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Contributing: USA TODAY

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: Trump buyouts: How many federal workers could be affected in Tennessee
DALLAS  Confusion reigned in Texas as local governments, nonprofits and state agencies scrambled Tuesday to figure out just how deep cuts from President Donald Trumps new push to pause federal spending could go.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted the Trump administrations sweeping order minutes before the freeze on federal grants and loans was slated to take effect. Should the order go into effect as early as next week, leaders of Texas cities, counties, higher education institutions, public transit agencies and groups aimed at serving vulnerable populations will have to deal with a loss, however temporary, of federal dollars.

Little clarity about the breadth and depth of potential cuts emerged Tuesday, but a common thread did: the Texans most likely to be affected would be its least fortunate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The impact is on the people, said Matthew Mollica, executive director of ECHO, the lead agency of Austins homeless system. It's on real Americans.

Major Texas cities like Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio  which rely on federal funds to help tackle crime, housing unaffordability and homelessness, among other woes  clambered to tally the potential cost should the freeze take effect.

Houston City Controller Chris Hollins said his office is calculating how much of the citys $6.7 billion budget could potentially get the axe if Trumps freeze took effect  but a preliminary analysis suggests the citys housing and public health departments would bear a substantial portion of any cuts.

Every aspect of the city, from physical infrastructure to affordable housing to public health and even to policing, theres a potential for serious negative impact, Hollins said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

San Antonio gets about $325.5 million out of its $4 billion budget from federal funds  including money to build housing targeted at low-income families and help poorer households get rid of lead paint in their homes.

If confusion and chaos were the goal  mission accomplished, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said on X. These are your tax dollars being withheld from your communities.

Unclear, too, is how Texas state budget would hold up if Trump succeeds in his push to temporarily halt federal funds. Texas budget writers expect $98.5 billion in federal dollars to help cover the cost of state health care services, public schools, higher education institutions and highway spending among other spending priorities over the next two years. Federal funds make up about 30% of the states upcoming $333 billion two-year spending plan.

Representatives for Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and the Legislative Budget Board said Tuesday they are trying to figure out what programs would be subject to Trumps spending halt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The chaos began late Monday when the White House Office of Management and Budget ordered all federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance. The White House circulated a 51-page document asking federal agencies to review hundreds of initiatives  including rental assistance for low-income families, funding to house homeless veterans and grants for community policing efforts.

Agency officials were asked to answer questions like whether the programs included foreign assistance, promote gender ideology or promote or support abortion, among others.

The move prompted widespread confusion about which programs might be nixed, prompting the White House to insist that all programs where individuals collect benefits  like SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid  would not be paused. Rental assistance programs, Pell Grants, Head Start early childhood programs and small business grants, too, would continue. A White House memo said the pause is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

"This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. "People who are receiving individual assistance, you will continue to receive that, and President Trump is looking out for you by issuing this pause because he is being [a] good steward of your taxpayer dollars."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps move drew a sharp rebuke from congressional Democrats, who asserted that the pause was illegal and that the executive branch is legally required to disburse funds that Congress has already appropriated. Congress constitutionally controls the federal governments purse strings.

No new president has the right or the legal authority to do what President Trump did, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said. Escobar sits on the House Appropriations Committee. These domestic programs create jobs, they save lives, they improve health, they improve the air, they improve the water, they build roads.

The White House has said it was not halting congressionally appropriated funds, and that the pause was merely to reassess whether programs align with the presidents agenda. The administration told Congress the pause could be as short as one day.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, called the pause a bullshit move to mask that Trump doesnt have a plan to cut unnecessary spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If President Trump wants to find ways to cut unnecessary spending and lower costs  were right here, Veasey said in a statement Tuesday. Work with us. In the meantime, stop messing with our veterans, our hospitals and our kids education.

Confusion over the potential freeze extended beyond Washington.

The states higher education institutions also assessed what a pause could mean for students and research endeavors.

Before a federal judge paused Trumps move, Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III, told faculty and staff in an email Tuesday afternoon that federal agencies have already begun reaching out to the university with initial guidance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials at the University of Texas at Austin instructed researchers to continue work on already funded projects.

Even so, at this time we do not believe it is necessary to pause federally funded research activities unless you have received a stop-work order from the federal sponsor directly, Daniel Jaffe, vice president for research, wrote in an email obtained by the Austin American-Statesman. We currently expect the pause to be lifted within a few weeks, at which point reimbursements will resume for work funded by federal grants and cooperative agreements, and the university will be able to recover the funds it has advanced.

Texas social service agencies including the state Health and Human Services Commission, which manages billions in state and federal aid to low income Texans, did not answer questions about whether their agencies were unable to access federal funds, specifically when it comes to their largest programs: Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.

In Texas, 3.6 million residents receive federal food assistance, and those dollars, dispensed on a debit-like Lone Star Card, are spent at grocery and food retailers throughout the state. In November, more than $642 million in Texas SNAP transactions were made to retailers, according to Texas HHS. In the fiscal year that ended on Aug. 31, more than $7 billion in SNAP funding was distributed to Texans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than 4 million Texans, mostly children, are enrolled in the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Those programs pay for health care mostly for low-income residents, including children, their mothers and elderly Texans. In the states current two-year budget, Medicaids budget is $80.9 billion, most of that from the federal government.

A staff memo obtained by The Texas Tribune from Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the Department of State Health Services commissioner, told workers little information was available about the freeze and impact on services.

This morning we learned about the federal governments plan to freeze federal grants and loans as part of a review of spending, Shuford said in the memo. While we do not know the details about whether or how these plans affect DSHS, I want to assure you that everyone will get their January paycheck on February 1st.

If the freeze resumes, it could have a disproportionate impact on rural communities, where about 3 million Texans reside, said Ashley Harris, director of policy and advocacy for the United Ways of Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rural nonprofits and communities often have fewer funding options, Harris said. Relying on federal grants is really critical to filling in the gaps for local services.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin and United Ways of Texas 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.
President Trump said he would say yes to Microsoft buying TikTok but maintained that there are many interested parties that will be bidding to buy the app before a 75-day extension to decide its fate expires in April.

As Trumps 75-day extension to either ban or sell TikTok quickly runs out, the president said the fate of the app should be decided the old-fashioned way: with a bidding war.

Trump said that several potential suitors were in talks to buy TikTok, and he signaled that a decision on the apps future could be made in the next 30 days. While Trump gave TikTok parent company ByteDance a 75-day reprieve from having to either sell its U.S. assets or face a ban in the country, that extension expires in April.

Well see what happens. Were going to have a lot of people bidding on it, he said, according to the BBC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If we can save all that voice and all the jobs, and China wont be involved, we dont want China involved, but well see what happens, he reportedly added.

While its unclear which bidder will ultimately succeed in acquiring TikTok, the company has attracted no shortage of interest from marquee names, such as a team of investors including billionaire Frank McCourt and Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary, as well as YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known online as MrBeast.

Yet Trump signaled that despite the existing bids, he would say yes to a familiar Big Tech name: Microsoft.

A spokesperson for Microsoft said the company had nothing more to share on the subject of a potential TikTok acquisition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Microsoft first explored the idea of buying TikTok for tens of billions of dollars in 2020 during Trumps initial term in office after he tried to get the social media app banned.

Back then, Trump was on board with Microsofts bid, saying, I dont mind if, whether it is Microsoft or somebody else, a big company, a secure company, very American company buy it.

Yet days before a Sept. 15, 2020, deadline Trump set at the time, Microsoft announced its bid had been rejected. CEO Satya Nadella later called the potential TikTok deal the strangest thing hed ever worked on.

Despite Trumps stated approval of Microsofts interest, NPR reported that the White House was in talks with Oracle (who was also in discussions in 2020) and a group of U.S. investors to take over the apps global operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is yet to be seen whether a sale will go forward, and if the Chinese government will approve. General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford, who also sits on ByteDances board, said that he was still confident that the Trump administration could help facilitate a deal that wouldnt require a sale.

Our focus is finding a solution that allows TikTok to operate as a stand-alone business, as it has already, and we think there is a solution to that, Ford told CNBC.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Democrat Doron Clark has won the special election in Minnesota Senate District 60, confirming majority control for the DFL in the Senate.

A special election was held in the district  which covers northeast and parts of southeast Minneapolis following the death of Sen. Kari Dziedzic of cancer last month.

Clark, who won the DFL primary in mid-January, won by a huge margin on Tuesday, racking up 7,783 (90.9%) votes compared to 746 (8.71%) for Republican candidate Abigail Wolters.

Doron Clark for Senate

It means the DFL will regain its majority in the Senate following November's elections, albeit only by one seat at 34-33, with Dziedzic's death having temporarily left the Senate tied at 33-33 prior to Tuesday's special election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark is a southeast Minnesota native who moved to the Twin Cities to attend Hamline University, and has lived in District 60 for the past 25 years, moving to the Marcy Holmes neighborhood to be closer to his job at Target in downtown Minneapolis.

He later moved to Windom Park, and still lives in the neighborhood with wife Molly and their two children. His most recent employment has been in ethics and compliance at Medtronic.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A Dothan church is asking an Alabama judge to dismiss the counterclaims filed by Methodist denomination leaders.

The fight began in early 2022 when Harvest split from the AWFC and feared the denomination would seize their property. The church then filed a lawsuit and protection order against the AWFC.

Last week, Harvests attorneys filed a motion asking Houston County Judge Christopher Richardson to rule that the AWFC has no right to impose sanctions on the church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In April, the Alabama Supreme Court refused to dismiss Harvests lawsuit against the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, handing a win to the Dothan church.

Harvest claims another win against the United Methodist Church in Alabama Supreme Court ruling

The denomination had repeatedly requested the case be thrown out, saying it was a matter that needed to be handled internally in the church and not in a court of law.

Judge Richardson has not ruled on whether or not to dismiss the counterclaims.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A Dothan City School was under lockdown for a short time after shots were fired nearby Tuesday afternoon.

Dothan Police tell WDHN the shots were fired on Sunset Drive, around four blocks from Jerry Lee Faine Elementary.

Stolen south Alabama racing pace car found, suspect arrested after multi-hour chase

DCS Spokesperson David Baxley said Jerry Lee Faine Elementary was placed under lockdown at around 12:45 p.m., but the shots were not on school grounds and did not involve the school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lockdown was lifted around 1:00 p.m.

Police say several suspects have been detained, but it is unknown if anyone was charged or injured.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Double shooting at party leaves one dead, another wounded in Hammond

HAMMOND, Ind.  A 19-year-old male is dead following a double shooting at a party in Hammond, police in Indiana said Tuesday.

The shooting incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Saturday in the 2300 block of New York Avenue.

Police said officers responding to a shots fired report found the deceased 19-year-old. A 27-year-old with a gunshot, though his injuries were considered non-life-threatening, police added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police, the incident occurred during a party attended by local college students.

No one is in custody.

SEE ALSO: Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting of Indiana mother of 6 killed by stray bullet in Gary

Police are investigating and ask anyone who may have attended the party to call (219) 852-2982 or (219) 852-2998.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 stampede broke out at the world's largest religious festival in India early on Wednesday, leaving numerous people injured, including women and children, local media reported.

The situation was initially unclear and reports were circulating of multiple fatalities, according to the Hindustan Times newspaper.

Millions had gathered at the Maha Kumbh festival on the banks of the Ganges in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The incident occurred early in the morning near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

Indian broadcaster NDTV reported that barricades set up for safety purposes collapsed amid a crowd surge, causing panic as visitors fell to the ground. Around 30 women were reportedly injured in the chaos.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place at Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, which sits at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, all considered holy by Hindus.

Millions of Hindu pilgrims take a dip in the waters where the rivers converge during the month-and-a-half-long festival. Devotees believe this ritual dip will absolve them of all sins and stop the cycle of rebirth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wednesday marks one of the festival's "royal bathing" days, when up to 100 million attendees were expected.

Stampedes are not uncommon at India's major religious gatherings. During the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela, 36 people were killed in a similar incident.
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP)  At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the worlds largest religious gathering early Wednesday, police said, as millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters during the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India.

Police officer Vaibhav Krishna in Prayagraj city said another 60 injured were rushed to hospitals.

Wednesday was a sacred day in the six-week Hindu festival, and authorities expected a record 100 million devotees to engage in a ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Hindus believe that a dip at the holy site can cleanse them of past sins and end the process of reincarnation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The stampede happened when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession of holy men, Uttar Pradesh states top elected official, Yogi Adityanath, said in a televised statement.

The event's main draw is the thousands of ash-smeared Hindu ascetics who make massive processions toward the confluence to bathe.

Indian authorities took more than 16 hours to release casualty figures, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, calling the incident extremely sad and extending his condolences.

Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled, the Press Trust of India news agency quoted pilgrim Sarojini as saying. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, desperate for news of missing loved ones. Clothes, blankets and backpacks were strewn around the site of the stampede.

Millions continued to throng the 4,000-hectare (15-square mile) pilgrimage site despite the stampede, even as police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence. Adityanath urged people to take baths at other riverbanks instead.

The situation is now under control, but there is a massive crowd of pilgrims, Adityanath said, adding that 90 million to 100 million pilgrims were at the site.

About 30 million people had taken the holy bath by 8 a.m. Wednesday, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, started on Jan. 13. Authorities expect more than 400 million people to throng the pilgrimage site in total. Nearly 150 million people have already attended, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah and celebrities like Coldplays Chris Martin.

A sprawling tent city has been built on the riverbanks to accommodate the millions of visitors, with roads, electricity and water, 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals.

About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds, and more than 2,500 cameras monitor crowd movement and density so officials can try to prevent such crushes.

Several opposition leaders criticized the federal and the state government, both led by Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party, and blamed the stampede on mismanagement and VIP culture"  the latter referring to what they say is preferential treatment for politicians and celebrities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The government should make better arrangements to meet the needs of common devotees, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on social platform X.

The 45-day festival is a significant cultural event for Indias Hindus, who make up nearly 80% of the countrys more than 1.4 billion people. It's also a prestige event for Modi, whose ruling party boasts of promoting Hindu cultural symbols.

The Maha Kumbh festival has had stampedes in the past. In 2013, at least 40 pilgrims who were taking part in the festival were killed in a stampede at a train station in Prayagraj.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas. In July at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when thousands at a religious gathering in northern India stampeded at a tent camp in Hathras town.

___

Saaliq reported from New Delhi.
Caroline Wilburn is a breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Caroline worked as an election stringer for the Associated Press and as a breaking news fellow at the Texas Tribune. At the Tribune, she got a crash course in interpreting data, distilling complicated policy and following statewide trends on a tight deadline. Shes also a skilled video editor and podcast producer.

She won a first-place award for audio news production at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
The U.S. military is providing Ukraine with around 90 interceptors for the Patriot air defense system, taking these from Israeli stocks, according to a recent report. The development, the implications of which we addressed in detail in the past, comes as Israel mulls whether to approve the transfer of significant quantities of Soviet- and Russian-made weapons to Ukraine that were seized from Hezbollah militants in recent operations.

The story was broken by the U.S. news website Axios, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter, who said the interceptors were delivered this week. The missiles in question had previously been in storage in Israel, after the withdrawal of the Patriot system from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) service last year. Details of the story were subsequently confirmed to CNN by a U.S. defense official.

An Israeli soldier alongside a Patriot missile launcher at the Hafetz Hayim army base near the town of Gadera, Israel, in February 2003. Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images David Silverman

The interceptors were reportedly transported by U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, which flew between Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel and Rzeszow in eastern Poland, which serves as a hub for moving weapons into Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier today, a USAF C-17 transport flew from Ramstein Airbase in Germany to Nevatim Airbase in Israel, before flying directly to Rzeszow International Airport, the gateway for western aid headed to Ukraine. The C-17 spent roughly 3 hours on the ground in Israel.  OSINTtechnical (@osinttechnical.bsky.social) 2025-01-23T21:49:10.446Z

Ukraine apparently began efforts to get the Israeli Patriot systems in April 2024 after the IDF announced their decommissioning. Kyivs proposal involved Israel handing the Patriots back to the United States, which would then transfer them to Ukraine.

As well as the interceptors, which can immediately be used by Ukraines existing Patriot systems, the sources state that other components from the system, including radars, will be provided to Kyiv from Israeli stocks. These items, however, will first be refurbished in the United States.

A spokesperson for the Israeli prime ministers office confirmed that at least one Patriot system had been returned to the United States but said they didnt know if it would ultimately be delivered to Ukraine.

The IDF operated the PAC-2 GEM-T version of the Patriot, with eight batteries reportedly deployed before their withdrawal. Known by the local Hebrew name Yahalom, meaning diamond, the systems underwent some local upgrades.

An Israeli Patriot surface-to-air missile battery near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel on Feb. 18, 2022. Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

The GEM-T designation refers to Guidance Enhanced Missile  Tactical. As we have explained in the past, the GEM subvariants are produced by upgrading older MIM-104C and D missiles to the E configuration. Converted MIM-104Ds were given additional upgrades to improve performance against tactical ballistic missiles, hence the GEM-T designation. As for the MIM-104E configuration, this features a completely new front section with upgrades that give both sub-types improved accuracy and overall performance. These interceptors feature various reliability updates, as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While still very capable, the IDF decided to withdraw its Patriots after locally developed systems  chiefly Davids Sling, which can also defeat ballistic missiles, and the upper-tier Arrow, which specializes in ballistic missile defense  made them increasingly redundant.

An Israeli Iron Dome air defense system (left), a MIM-104 Patriot (center), and an Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system (right) during the U.S.-Israeli Exercise Juniper Cobra at Hatzor Israeli Air Base in central Israel, on Feb. 25, 2016. Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

For Ukraine in particular, the PAC-2s terminal-phase anti-ballistic missile capability is of particular relevance, although the system is highly versatile and able to defeat a broad spectrum of targets. Not only can the PAC-2 GEM series defeat fast-moving ballistic missiles, for example, but an improved seeker makes it better able to engage smaller targets or ones otherwise with smaller radar cross-sections. This makes it a formidable asset to deploy against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.

Ukrainian personnel remove camouflage netting from a Patriot launcher, which is loaded with missile canisters associated with older interceptors like the PAC-2-series. Ukrainian Air Force

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Pentagon has provided three U.S.-made Patriot batteries to Ukraine, while Germany has donated another three batteries and six launchers, the Netherlands has donated five launchers, and Romania has donated a battery that was funded by the United States and Norway. As the video below indicates, at least some of these systems have already been lost and they remain among the most prized targets for the Russian military.

Two M901 launcher vehicles of the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed as a result of Russian strike with Iskander ballistic missile near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine.



Those are the two first confirmed losses of such type of pic.twitter.com/UaK4yFKlVd  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) March 9, 2024

The delivery of Israeli military hardware to Ukraine, even if by a roundabout route, is highly significant.

Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Israeli government has repeatedly refused to send arms to Ukraine, while seeking to maintain relations with Moscow. In particular, Israel has been worried that direct support for Ukraine could be met by a Russian response in the form of providing Iran with more capable weapons that could in turn be used against Israel.

One Ukrainian official reportedly told Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to take calls on the issue of Patriot transfers for weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem. Photo by Maya Alleruzzo / POOL / AFP MAYA ALLERUZZO

However, the option of returning the Patriot systems to U.S. ownership was clearly sufficient to change that policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Final Israeli approval for the arrangement was given in late September, an Israeli official told the same publication.

Theres also a precedent for this, in the transfer of artillery ammunition from Israeli stocks to Israel in 2023. In the same way, the shells were officially handed over to the United States before being transferred to Ukraine.

An Israeli soldier stands guard alongside a pair of Patriot missile launchers. Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images

A senior Israeli official also told Axios that Russia was told in advance about the Patriot transfer, which Israel said involved only returning the Patriot system to the United States, and not supplying weapons to Ukraine. It seems far-fetched to imagine that Kremlin officials didnt understand that the air defense systems would eventually end up in Ukraine, but there was obviously little they could do.

At the same time, there are signs that Israel is less concerned with maintaining its neutral stance on Russia and is instead deepening its relations with Ukraine, driven in part by Moscows continued support for Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furthermore, with the capabilities of Irans proxies in the Middle East now severely diminished after Israels campaigns of recent months, the overall level of threat posed by Russia putting new and more advanced weapons in Iranian hands has also been reduced. Russia is also no longer a major player in Syria, after having previously furnished the Assad regime with a variety of weapons, including the most advanced air defenses in that country.

For Ukraine, there has long been a huge demand for additional air defense systems, especially for high-end systems like the Patriot. With relentless Russian drone and missile strikes against infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, as well as the demands for aerial defense over the battlefield, the Patriot systems have been rapidly burning through their interceptors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands in front of a Patriot air defense system during his visit to a military training area on June 11, 2024, in Mecklenburg, Germany. Photo by Jens Buttner  Pool/Getty Images Pool

Repeatedly, Ukrainian officials have made it clear that transfers of air defense equipment are among their highest priorities if the Russian invasion is to be held back.

The former Patriot interceptors are a major contribution to that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although they represent the most significant delivery of Israeli-sourced weapons from Israel to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, its far from clear whether the supply of Patriot will open the door to further transfers.

In recent weeks, there has been much discussion about the possibility of Israel donating to Ukraine some of the tens of thousands of Soviet- and Russian-made weapons captured from Hezbollah in Lebanon. These weapons include man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), Kornet anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, and much more.

Over 85,000 weapons belonging to Hezbollah were found by Israel in southern Lebanon.



These weapons were intended to be deployed as part of Hezbollahs invasion plan Conquer the Galilee.



Every single one of these weapons was meant to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible. pic.twitter.com/Gw6LSVtp8c  Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) December 29, 2024

According to a report earlier this week, Israeli and Ukrainian officials may already have met to discuss such a move.

However, speculation that U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo flights between Israel and Poland were carrying ex-Hezbollah weapons may well simply have resulted from confusion around the sorties that brought Patriot interceptors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukrainian officials are unsurprisingly pushing for a deal that would see the captured Hezbollah arms made available for their own military. Should they be successful, it could open up one of the last major untapped resources for arms to Ukraine, something that would have huge implications for the countrys armed forces.

In the meantime, the apparent arrival of Patriot interceptor missiles this week will provide Ukraines air defenses with a welcome boost.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Refugees who just arrived in Nashville legally are suddenly in limbo after President Donald Trump ordered a funding freeze for all federal assistance programs.

The president also halted the arrival of refugees who were already cleared to move here.

It is extremely overwhelming for a new arrival. My own family came to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union in 1993, so I know firsthand how difficult it is, Max Rykov said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rykov works for Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE). Its a refugee resettlement and social services agency that works with refugees who first arrive to the U.S. legally.

Not one more: Antioch High School students protest gun violence as school reopens

We welcome those refugees; we pick them up at the airport; we find them their first apartment, their first jobs, Rykov said.

On top of that, NICE helps refugees navigate the health care system, pay their bills and integrate into the U.S. by providing classes on English literacy, citizenship, and workforce development.

The families that we work with have fled war zones, persecution, and violence, and resettlement is another one of those traumas that they experience, Rykov said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, NICE helped resettle about 500 people in Middle Tennessee. They were working with 150 people or 36 families before the suspension of the U.S. refugee admissions program, which halts travel for refugees who were already cleared to move to the U.S.

It takes about two years of rigorous screenings, interviews and medical, and those who went through this process and have been waiting patiently were told they can no longer arrive, Rykov said.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

On top of that, federal funding was put on pause for federal assistance programs. Rykov said they heavily rely on federal funding to help refugees get on their feet when they first arrive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its just a little bit over $1,000 per person, which is supposed to last them 90 days, so they have to start working very quickly, but that is the lifeline that they depend on, Rykov said.

NICE is asking for monetary donations so they can continue to provide services to families in need.

Max told News 2 their immediate need is $64,000 in order to help cover rent and utility costs for families over the next month.

This upcoming Monday, NICE is also holding a virtual webinar at 5:30 p.m. so the community can learn more about how refugees in Middle Tennessee are impacted and how you can get involved. You can find all the information 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 WKRN News 2.
Dozens of Massachusetts school districts have announced delayed openings for Wednesday after snow fell across the state overnight, causing slick road conditions and travel delays.

Click here for a full list of delays and cancellations.

Click here for your full weather forecast.

Boston 25 News Kelly Sullivan was driving through the North Shore town of Georgetown, where streets were still covered with a thick coating of snow before sunrise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of Massachusetts was predicted to see up to 3 inches of snow, while parts of the South Shore, South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands were expected to see a coating to 1 inch of snow.

The snow stopped falling before the sun came up.

RELATED:

New snowfall map: Widespread snow on tap for Mass. Heres how much to expect and when

When the snow moves out, temperatures will climb into the 40s.

The Boston 25 Weather team is also keeping an eye on another weather system that could bring rain for the weekend.

For the latest on the forecast, visit the Boston 25 Weather page.

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
[Source]

True to his campaign promise, President Trump signed an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders in the U.S. The order, which would take effect in 30 days, directs federal agencies to stop issuing citizenship documents to these children, marking a dramatic shift in the interpretation of the 14th Amendment that has governed American citizenship rights for over a century.

Twenty-four Democratic-led states and cities have already filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the order, with California Attorney General Rob Bonta leading one of the major legal challenges. The states argue that at least 150,000 children born to parents without legal status would be denied citizenship under the order, potentially leaving them stateless and unable to access federal services or participate fully in American civic life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asian American civil rights organizations have strongly condemned the order, citing its particular significance for immigrant communities. The right of birthright citizenship is enshrined in the United States Constitution through the Fourteenth Amendment; it has been the law of the land for over 150 years. That provision allowed the children of Asian immigrants to become citizens in the late 19th century despite widespread racial animus, Advancing Justice - AAJC said in a statement shared with The Rebel Yellow.

Meanwhile, Aarti Kohli, the executive director of Asian Law Caucus, cited the story of Wong Kim Ark, emphasizing the historical importance of this right for Asian Americans. If youre born here, you are a citizen  period. No politician, including President Trump, can decide who is American and who is not, Kohli said in a statement to The Rebel Yellow. For over a century, since a young Chinese American cook from San Francisco named Wong Kim Ark won his case at the Supreme Court, birthright citizenship for all  including babies born to immigrants  has been a cornerstone of U.S. democracy. This constitutional protection has been especially vital to Asian American communities, who have faced decades of exclusionary laws.

Trending on NextShark: Dozens of states, cities file lawsuits against Trumps order to end birthright citizenship

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Dr. Phil belittled actress Selena Gomez after she wept on video about President Donald Trumps immigration round-upsin which the TV host was embedded.

Phil McGraw, also known as Dr. Phil, spoke to the Daily Mail after he was granted access to the ICE operation that has detained over 100 people since this past weekend. He taped his inside look at the raids for a special on his MeritTV platform.

These agents are after the bad guys. Theres been so much misinformation out there, McGraw said, adding, I certainly dont think she was crying for these individuals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Only Murders In The Building star drew an enormous amount of attention this week when she uploaded and then deleted an Instagram video of herself crying about Donald Trumps mass deportations.

Gomez, a self-described  proud, third-generation American-Mexican , sobs as she says in the video , All my people are getting attacked. The children. I dont understand. Im so sorry, I wish I could do something but I cant. I dont know what to do. Ill try everything, I promise. The video made the star the target of MAGA trolls , threatening to deport her.

McGraw told Daily Mail that he considers concerns about who was being deported to be fear mongering, as he addressed Gomezs video.

I dont think she would relate to the people that were taken down in this operation, he said of Gomez. They were reading off the charges and the convictions in the command center, he continued, murder, murder, child sex crimes, child rape, aggravated assault.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Claiming that the migrants prey upon their own people, he said he would suspect that Selenas empathy is certainly not for the people that Trumps border czar is going after.

ICE has reportedly detained or questioned American citizens during its raids, including Puerto Ricans and Native Americans.
A 72-year-old Carver man was killed when his pickup truck crashed into a tree in Carver early Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Police did not release the drivers name on Wednesday.

Emergency crews responded to Federal Road at approximately 12:54 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a motor vehicle crash with entrapment, police said.

When first responders arrived, they found the driver trapped inside the red pickup truck, which had struck a tree, police said. Firefighters were able to quickly free the driver from the vehicle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver was taken by ambulance to Tobey Hospital in Wareham, where he was pronounced dead. A Boston MedFlight crew assisted Carver EMS.

The crash remains under investigation by Carver Police, with assistance from State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section.

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
LATEST: '4 out of 4'  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Ukraine launched waves of drone attacks targeting oil and power facilities in western parts of Russia overnight on Jan. 29, according to local officials.

Drone strikes were reported across several Russian regions, including the Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tver, and Bryansk regions, causing fires and prompting air defense responses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kyiv Independent can't immediately verify the reports.

While there were no reported casualties, an oil refinery in the city of Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod, sustained significant damage. Local Telegram channels reported that drones targeted the "Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez" oil refinery, resulting in a large fire.

Video footage circulating online showed flames at the facility, which local monitoring channels identified as the likely target of the attack.

Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that air defense systems had shot down multiple drones, and fragments from the intercepted UAVs fell on the industrial site. No injuries were reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the Smolensk region, Governor Vasily Anokhin reported a "massive drone attack" on civilian infrastructure. One drone was intercepted while attempting to strike a nuclear energy facility. Nearby, air defenses also destroyed several drones around the town of Andreapol, home to approximately 8,000 people, in the Tver region, according to the local governor.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that air defense systems had shot down 26 drones in the Bryansk region. Bryansk lies west of embattled Kursk Oblast, north of Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, and east of the Belarusian border.

Despite the scale of the attacks, no injuries or damage were reported in the area.

Read also: Russias Ryazan oil refinery suspends operations after drone strike, Reuters reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LINN COUNTY, Kan.  Two children, ages 8 and 9, were found dead Monday night after being trapped under ice in a frozen lake in Rural Linn County, Kansas.

The Sheriffs Office says it responded to the Lake Chaparral Community for the report of two missing children who had not been seen for several hours. There was evidence to believe the two juveniles had been around the lake. During their search, two holes were in the ice.

KBI releases official cause of death for Roger Golubski

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Linn County Sheriffs Office Aerial Drone Team was dispatched to search above the ice, shortly after both bodies were sadly trapped under the ice. With assistance from the Overland Park Dive Team, both bodies were recovered from the ice, a release from the sheriffs office states.

Out of respect for the family, no other information was released about the victims, other than them being two boys.

A community our size, 700 people, here its like family, Mound City, Kansas resident, Sue Vicory said. Theyll rally up and people will cover whats needed to be covered.

Its a community Vicory loves. She knows it will rally around the families affected. She heard this news this morning. Shes hoping to help gather up donors to assist these families during this time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities say both families have been notified of the deaths. Autopsies have been ordered and the investigation continues to determine what happened.

Linn County Sheriff, Jame Akes, says the ice is unsafe and there are hidden dangers underneath it.

As the ice shifts, it melts, it refreezes, it shifts, it melts, it refreezes and sometimes theres a void underneath there. The water is way below the ice, and it causes it to collapse, Sheriff James Akes said.

The Sheriffs Office says peer support services are available for all staff involved.

Joes Blog: So close to another blizzard (TUE-1/28)

Not just our deputies, but anybody, from the fire department, EMS, dispatchers, anyone involved in those situations. We provide an opportunity for them to get together and we conduct what we call a debrief to help them process through what they are going through, Deputy Dav Mohler, the Public Information Officer with the Linn County Sheriffs Office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Let them know that there are people there available for them when they need someone to talk to.

The sheriffs office says its condolences go out to friends and family affected by this.

Jayhawk Elementary School in Mound City released a statement:

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, our staff, and all of our students during this difficult time. Our school is deeply saddened by a tragic loss today. Please know that we are priortizing the emotional wellbeing of our students and have supports available, including counselors and resources provided by our community partners. We are committed to respecting the privacy of the families affected by this event. If you have concerns about how your student may be impacted or need additional guidance, please dont hesitate to contact the school office.

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.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A passenger flight operated by the Russian airline Pobeda, en route from Dubai to Moscow, safely landed in Astrakhan, a city in southern Russia, after issuing a distress signal over the Caspian Sea, Interfax news agency reported citing Russian emergency services.

The Boeing 737 issued the emergency signal due to a fire detector warning in the luggage compartment, Interfax said.

All passengers and crew members were unharmed, it added.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH)  Dublin City Schools is withdrawing from an agreement to buy Cardinal Healths headquarters for $37 million to serve as a high school.

Superintendent John Marschhausens announcement came during a Monday board of education meeting, six months after the district said it was pausing the agreement to buy Cardinals 250,000-square-foot west campus at 7200 Cardinal Place. Marschhausen said the decision was made in collaboration with the city of Dublin and our friends at Cardinal Health. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the districts Cardinal Health agreement in the video player above.

Dublin plan to revamp Metro Center office district could include this mixed-use project

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cardinal Health west building is a valuable asset to the Dublin community as a whole, the superintendent said Monday. We continue to have ongoing meetings and collaboration and theres continued dialogue about potential future uses, but the opportunity to purchase that building in May is no longer on the table.

Cardinal Healths west campus headquarters at 7200 Cardinal Place. (Franklin County Auditors Office) Cardinal Healths west campus headquarters at 7200 Cardinal Place. (Franklin County Auditors Office)

Now, the district is forging ahead with a 60,000-square-foot expansion to Dublin Scioto High School that will allow for 500 to 600 additional students. Set to break ground on May 22, the expansion will balance enrollment to about 2,000 students at each of the districts three high schools, as Scioto is currently home to about 1,400 students while Dublin Coffman serves 2,000 and Dublin Jerome has 2,400.

Sciotos addition announcement came last August after Marschhausen paused the Cardinal agreement. Earlier that month, the citys planning commission signaled they were unsupportive of the zoning changes needed to repurpose Cardinals building. Dublin schools had entered into the purchase agreement in spring 2024, which allowed the district more than a year to determine if the building could be configured to serve as a school.

Dublins Bogey Inn to reopen as entertainment campus with putting course

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our enrollment projections indicate, by moderate projection, that well have 2,000 new high school students by 2034. Were still going to need room for about 1,500 additional students by 2034. But, this is the short-term solution, Marschhausen said of the Scioto expansion in August.

Also in December, the district unveiled the redrawn neighborhood boundaries for its elementary and middle schools for the 2025-2026 school year. The superintendent has long said redistricting was needed given Dublin is one of the fastest-growing districts and the upcoming Bishop Elementary will be overcapacity when the building opens this fall.

Dublin schools will also be redrawing the boundaries for the districts high schools this year, with the expectation the boundaries will take effect at the start of the 2026-2027 year. That process is the first redistricting of Dublins high schools in about two decades.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In his first moments after being sworn in as Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy sought to reverse Biden regulations requiring passenger cars to be more efficient.

The Biden administration rule in question would require cars to be about 2 percent more fuel efficient each year.

In a memo, Duffy directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to immediately review the rule and to propose the rescission or replacement of standards that deviate from Trump White House policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo does not immediately rescind the rule  instead it kicks off what could be a years-long process of overturning or revising it.

Duffy wrote that vehicle fuel economy standards like those he is targeting diminish the strength of Americas auto industry and deny Americans the full range of affordable  vehicles they need.

On the campaign trail, President Trump frequently bashed what he described as President Bidens EV mandate. That continued into the White House, where Trump signed an executive order stating that it is U.S. policy to eliminate the electric vehicle (EV) mandate.

However, the rule at NHTSA is considered to be more modest than the Biden one published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which governs vehicle tailpipe pollution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the EPA rule, its possible that just 29 percent of new cars on the market could be gas-powered by 2032.

While both are in place, the rule impacted by Duffys order doesnt have much effect, but if the EPA rule were to be overturned, the Transportation Department rule could be something of a backstop for required climate benefits for passenger cars.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Duval County Public Schools must change school start times by the 2026-27 school year to comply with a Florida law, and the district wants public input.

House Bill 733 will require the instructional day to start no earlier than 8 a.m. for middle school students and no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for high school students.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill in 2023.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DCPS published a survey for people to take. You can access it here.

You have until Feb. 14.

According to DCPS, the goal of the new law is to increase the amount of sleep for middle and high school students and to lessen the impacts of sleep deprivation.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

[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.
The e-court system implemented in Union County last October is drawing some complaints from defense attorneys, but court officials say it was a necessary change and people are getting used to it.

The eCourt system is designed to streamline court processes by digitizing case management. However, some local attorneys, like Zachary Cohen, have expressed frustration with the system, citing problems such as incorrect court dates and lack of notifications for attorneys.

With criminal district court, with the volume of cases we handle in this countyits awful. Its just awful, said Zachary Cohen, a criminal defense attorney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We dont have the access that the clerks, the DAs office, even the public defenders office online with the system and it really caused a lot of issues, Cohen said. They thought it would make it more efficient but its not.

Wendy Maynard, the Elected Superior Court Clerk for Union County, acknowledged the complaints, noting, The electronic process does take additional time.

Erin Hucks, the Chief District Court Judge in Union County, stated, I havent heard of anything like that in Union County. Not to say it hasnt happenedbut nobody has brought that to my attention.

Updating the system we had was necessary and inevitable, Judge Hucks said. You cant expect that the entire world has technology and the court system is going to dig its feet in and not change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It feels good, Maynard added. I feel like every day we are getting stronger, learning the system more. We are staying caught up. And everything is done in live time.

On Monday, February 3rd, the North Carolina Judicial Branch will roll out eCourts to 13 more counties. That will bring up the county count to 62, with the eventual goal of going to electronic records in all 100 counties in North Carolina.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office arrested three men accused of operating a drug trafficking group.

According to the sheriffs office, agents have been conducting surveillance on a group identified as Play For Keeps and have found multiple residences that agents believe to have been used for drug trafficking.

Deputies identified Joshua Morris, 39, and Jalen Chavis, 29, as the group leaders. Agents purchased crack cocaine from Morris on numerous occasions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, agents executed search warrants for six homes in Baton Rouge and seized the following:

10.5 grams of crack cocaine.

34 dosage units of pressed fentanyl.

10.2 ounces of marijuana.

10.5 ounces of promethazine.

1 dosage unit of 30mg of amphetamine.

11 dosage units of Lortab.

13 dosage units of Oxycodone.

multiple digital scales.

2 hand-operated pill presses (one with fentanyl residue).

9 handguns/pistols.

1 shotgun.

$2,020.

Louisiana TikTok star Mr. Prada pleads not guilty in court

Chavis was charged with possession with the intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule I drug, illegal carrying of a firearm with drugs, two counts of illegal carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Morris was charged with two counts of distribution of Schedule II drugs, four counts of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule II, illegal carrying of a firearm with drugs, illegal carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joshua Normand, 22, was charged with possession of a Schedule II drug and illegal carrying of a firearm with drugs.

A warrant for 35-year-old Jarrett Edwards arrest is pending. He faces charges of illegal carrying of a firearm with drugs, operation of a clandestine fentanyl lab and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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.
[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.]

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW)  A special commission of judges on Tuesday voted to immediately suspend East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King from office following his indictment on theft in office and related corruption charges.

The FOX 8 I-Team was first to report that King and East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith were indicted in early October. King faces charges including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two counts of theft in office

Four counts of having unlawful interest in a public contract

Four counts of representation by public official or employee

One count of filing a false disclosure statement

One count of soliciting improper compensation

I-Team: Shooter in murder-suicide was local deputy

Brandon King

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley requested a special commission of judges be appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to determine whether King should be suspended amid his corruption case.

That panel, comprised of retired judges Lisa Sadler, William Finnegan and William Woods, on Dec. 10 voted 2-1 to remove King. The panel issued its final determination on Tuesday, ruling that the allegations against King relate to his position as mayor and that they adversely affected the rights and interests of the public.

Prosecutors say King authorized a lease for the citys domestic violence department that was on property owned by his business. The cost was more than $14,100 per year, the I-Team reported in November.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The commissions ruling specifically points out a budget line item involving a lease with Kings family business, which King vetoed, and which would have returned city funds back to his familys business had that veto not been overridden by council members.

Judge Woods argued in dissent that King should not be suspended while his criminal charges are pending. He wrote the aforementioned veto relates to a misdemeanor charge, and state statute requires an elected officials suspension to be based on a felony charge.

Judge Woods also noted that though the city began leasing space owned by Kings family at 13308 Euclid Avenue in 2008, King did not join council until 2014 and did not become mayor until 2016.

Ernest Smith

Prosecutors also allege King improperly gave a city car and city gas cards to buy fuel to former East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith. Smith faces charges including theft in office, theft, soliciting improper compensation and misuse of credit cards.

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.
East Clevelands mayor, Brandon King, has been hit with an indictment for his sprawling corruption case.

FOX 8 I-Team reported that King, along with Councilman Ernest Smith, were indicted back in October 2024. On Tuesday (Jan. 28), a special commission of judges issued their final determination, voting to suspend King from office, stating that the mayors actions adversely affected the rights and interests of the public.

King now faces a plethora of charges, including two counts of theft in office, four counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, four counts of representation by a public official or employee, one count of filing a false disclosure statement, and one count of soliciting improper compensation. Councilman Smith has been charged with theft, soliciting improper compensation, theft in office, and mishandling credit cards.

One of his past offenses found Brandon King issuing and authorizing a lease for East Clevelands domestic violence department on property that was allegedly owned by his own family business. According to the outlet, the cost for the endeavor was approximately $14,100 a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In this project, the special commission pointed out that Mayor King planned to return city funds to his familys business. However, the move, which the embattled politician ultimately vetoed, was overridden and prevented by sitting council members.

It should be noted that East Cleveland began leasing the space owned by the King family in 2008, and Brandon King wouldnt become mayor until 2016.

Another particular incident found the disgraced mayor gifting a gas card and a city car to Smith for undisclosed reasons.

Watch clips from the indictment above.

More from VIBE.com

Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.]

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW)  The City of East Cleveland is looking for applicants to be interim mayor after the former mayors conviction on corruption-related charges.

A special commission of judges on Tuesday voted to immediately suspend East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King from office following his indictment on theft in office and related corruption charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ohio lottery player wins $10 million on scratch-off

The FOX 8 I-Team was first to report that King and East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith were indicted in early October. King faces charges including:

Two counts of theft in office

Four counts of having unlawful interest in a public contract

Four counts of representation by public official or employee

One count of filing a false disclosure statement

One count of soliciting improper compensation

The Cuyahoga County Probate Court is accepting applications for an interim mayor of East Cleveland, with a deadline of Feb. 14, 2025, for submissions by mail or email.

Presiding and Administrative Judge Anthony J. Russo will oversee the appointment process under Ohio Revised Code Section 3.16(E)(4). Applicants must submit a statement of interest outlining their reasons for seeking the position, their goals if appointed, and their qualifications. A resume and three references are also required.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ohio lawmakers pushing for new Move Over law

Applications should be sent to Judge Russo at the Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Room 221, 1 Lakeside Avenue West, Cleveland, OH 44113, or via email to Sue Schwarten, his administrative assistant, at sschwarten@cuyahogacounty.gov.

Questions about the process can be directed to Magistrate and Court Administrator Jennifer A. Alexander at jalexander@cuyahogacounty.gov or (216) 443-8979.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A hand-written flyer changed everything for photographer Ralf Drescher, back in a church in East Germany, in 1990.

"Fight back! Take to the streets!" the scrawl said, naming the date of the demonstration.

Drescher immediately planned to go.

He joined the crowds that January day at the gates of the State Security Headquarters, known as the Stasi, whose 91,000 full-time staff could tap phones, photograph letters, inspect bank accounts and view health records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crowd in Berlin pressed from behind, and some climbed onto the gates and cut the cables to surveillance cameras then raised their fists.

The Stasi was East Germany's secret service from 1950 to 1990, controlled by the Soviet Secret Service and known for its pervasive surveillance.

It was tasked with securing the rule of the SED - East Germany's founding and ruling party - and eliminating opponents of the regime.

"Stasi out," some shouted on that cold day in Lichtenberg. "Open the gate."

The steel gates moved.

Crowds streamed into the extensive grounds of the Stasi headquarters and seized power from the hated secret service - at least for a few moments, a symbolic step.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It had a tremendous and positive psychological effect back then," says historian Stefan Wolle, who was present as protesters occupied the site. "That can't be overestimated."

The protest helped to secure 111 kilometres of secret files so people could learn more about the surveillance under way.

It was the first time in the world that the files of a secret police force were opened so fully.

Many who had suffered at the hands of the Stasi still draw satisfaction from that breaching of the gates of power.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the East German state was already crumbling. Opponents had shared their hopes and grievances at a historic meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Stasi, which had spied on and harassed citizens for decades with tens of thousands of official and unofficial employees, was due to dissolve.

But as the secret service continued to shred the files of evidence of its pervasive activities, opposition activists grew more alarmed.

The storming of the Stasi headquarters triggered a "psychological rollercoaster," says Wolle. "For years, there was tremendous fear of the Stasi. And to just run up there, open the gates and negotiate with them and let them show you everything, that was quite a step."

As people flowed into the building, some things were broken, including the Stasi's own hairdressing salon. Papers wound up strewn across the corridors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the protesters did not really know what they wanted, say some who were there at the time. Two or three hours later, they left.

A citizens' committee took charge of the files, determined that knowledge of the regime should be in the hands and minds of the oppressed.

It took a second protest, with people again occupying the building, plus a hunger strike, before the decision was made to preserve the files and make them accessible.

To this day, tens of thousands of peple are applying for access to the Stasi files.

One person who did so was Drescher, who found out his former best friend had spied on him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thousands made similar painful discoveries based on the all-encompassing reach of the Stasi, called "one of the most intrusive surveillance organisations in human history" by Amnesty International.

The Stasi files still matter to this day, says Michael Hollmann, who heads Germany's Federal Archives. "Thirty-five years after the Stasi headquarters were stormed, it is important to educate younger people about state security."

"By reminding people of injustice and setting facts against fake news, archives are an important voice for democracy."
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  The Chamber of Greater Easthampton held its annual meeting at the Jupiter Club Wednesday afternoon.

Members gathered at the Jupiter Club to reflect on their progress and to brainstorm ideas while also enjoying lunch. This annual meeting gave chamber members a chance to look back and shine a light on all of their achievements in the past year. It also offered them a chance to provide feedback to help shape some of the strategies for the coming year.

Heating issues causes Easthampton Public Library to temporarily close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chamber Executive Director Moe Belliveau told 22News what the chamber is all about, The Chamber of Commerce is focused on supporting our local business community and the community at large. We are also focused on economic development, partnering with fellow collaborators and organizations.

Belliveau also announced that she is retiring. She says the chamber was able to achieve a lot the past few years and add to the citys reputation as a thriving economic hub while also working on all kinds of collaborations within the community. She says she is confident that the chamber will continue to improve and grow over the years.

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.
"Where did you sleep last night?"

It was the first question Natalie Davenport asked when she approached a person for the Maricopa County point-in-time homelessness count on Tuesday.

"I didn't," said Cory Mayes, who has been experiencing homelessness for three years.

Mayes arrived in Phoenix from Chicago over three years ago. Ever since he was 15, he had been in and out of homelessness and said he almost froze to death on some occasions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayes, now 35, was walking near the State Route 51 exit on McDowell Road with a cart filled to the brim with leftover food, jeans and extra blankets. He said this was his third time homeless.

Davenport, a human services planner with the Maricopa Association of Governments, nodded along as Mayes told his story. MAG is a coalition of local governments that serves as a planning agency for the Greater Phoenix area.

Davenport said the purpose of the point-in-time count was to learn about each person's specific situation and understand how to better serve the homeless population in Maricopa County.

The count serves as a one-night snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness, organizers with MAG said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hundreds of volunteers across Maricopa County set forth before 6 a.m. on a chilly Tuesday, aiming to see where unsheltered people may have slept the previous night.

In a 3-hour span, Davenport and her team interviewed about eight people experiencing homelessness and noted another eight or so between 16th and 24th streets and McDowell and Van Buren streets in downtown Phoenix.

Mayes didn't sleep. Instead, he walked around and gave out blankets to others, he said.

"It's hard. ... There's no doors" to keep the cold out, Mayes said, the temperature low enough to see his breath as he spoke.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, volunteers conducting the count recorded 9,435 people experiencing homelessness, down from 9,642 in 2023. For the past four years, though, sheltered homelessness increased by 8% and unsheltered homelessness increased by 13%, point-in-time count data showed. The results for 2025 will be released in May.

Nationally, homelessness increased by almost 33%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Everyone knows what's going on, it's not a secret," said Gerald Fuentes Jr., who was homeless after being released from jail the previous night. He had nowhere to go.

'I was missed': How the US counts its homeless population is flawed. There's a better way

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the top reasons for homelessness were a lack of affordable housing and a limited supply of shelter beds. But, of the people Davenport surveyed between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Jan. 28, she found that a common cause of homelessness was an injury that prevented someone from working.

One man who was interviewed lost his construction job after breaking his foot, leading to him being evicted, Davenport said. He has been homeless for two years.

Mayes said that while he was in Chicago, he had a clear-minded seizure, also called an absence seizure, which led to the discovery of a brain tumor.

The point-in-time count, which is conducted nationally, informs both local and federal public policy regarding homelessness. The data is reported to HUD for an annual report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The count has largely remained unchanged over the past four decades, allowing for a count that allows county-by-county comparison across the nation. Its consistency and longevity make it a valuable tool for tracking homelessness, experts said.

Despite its benefits, the count's flaws are widely known.

Numerous compounding factors leave many experiencing homelessness uncounted. People may hide in the alleyways. Alleyways may go unexplored. Weather may push people off the streets and into shelters for the night, which occurred in 2024 when a winter storm blew through the area.

Davenport emphasized that even though the count is a useful tool, it never fully captures the whole picture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"No two stories are the same, (and) it's easy to be close to crisis" and not be on the streets, she said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix-area point-in-time homelessness count aims to better aid group
EAU CLAIRE  A man authorities say fired a rifle inside his apartment earlier this month faces a felony charge in the case.

Johnathon Swoboda, 32, Eau Claire, is charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety and disorderly conduct. The latter charge has a domestic abuse enhancement, but is not a felony.

According to the criminal complaint, Swoboda was agitated and appeared intoxicated when police made contact with him after responding to a complaint about someone firing a gun. A check of his apartment found a .22 rifle and spent shell cartridges. Police also found nine bullet holes in the blinds and windows, indicating shots had been fired in the direction of another apartment building.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A witness told police Swoboda had come home angry. He said he spent the last 12 hours in the drunk tank. His agitation increased before he took the rifle and began firing.

Police took Swoboda to a hospital and the complaint says he was speaking incoherently. But it also claims an officer understood the words to be an admission he fired the gun in the apartment.

Swoboda has no prior felony charges in Eau Claire County, and the only other case statewide that shows up in Wisconsins courts database is a divorce filed in September 2024.

The felony charge he faces is a Class F charge, which carries a maximum of 12.5 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000. An attorney was appointed to represent him on Monday.
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Ector County ISD announced that 10 Odessa students were selected as this years TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) All-State musicians. These young musicians will represent the District at the annual music educators conference in February.

This honor follows series of regional and area auditions that began with more than 70,000 high school students; only about 2% of those students advance to All-State.

It is extraordinary for these kids to accomplish this, said Permian High School Choir Director Laurie Wash who had eight students earn TMEA All-State this year. They are very hard workers, they have a passion for music, for detail, and they are excited about pushing themselves. They dont shrink from difficulty, and we are very, very proud of them.

Left to right around the piano:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Aiden Armendariz (12), String Bass  Permian HS Orchestra (2nd Year)

Diego Campos (12), Bb Clarinet  Permian HS Band

Haley Hart (12), Alto 1  Permian HS Choir (STEM Academy Student)

Jacob Lechtenberg (12), Bass 2  Permian HS Choir

Valeria Rodriguez (12), Alto 1  Permian HS Choir

Jenesis Paget (12), Alto 2  Permian HS Choir (3rd Year)  TMEA Scholarship Award

Madelyn Linville (12), Soprano 1  Permian HS Choir

Bobby Schenkel (12), Tenor 1  Permian HS Choir

Caidence Searcy (12), Alto 1  Permian HS Choir (3rd Year)

Sienna Pina (12), Soprano 2  Permian HS Choir

Aiden Armendariz, a back-to-back All-State musician said, I feel very blessed to repeat it. After doing it the first time I felt more familiar with everything so I felt a bit more confident this year, more prepared.

Jenesis Paget is one of two students who earned this distinction for the third time.

Every year we get the music in August, and I think Im gonna work hard and Im gonna do this because at the end of the day going to that convention makes it all worth it, said Paget. Theres truly nothing like it, singing with people who love music the same way I do, thats what I work for.

Paget was also awarded the TMEA Executive Board Scholarship, a $2,500 award for high school seniors who plan to major in music and become a teacher in Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One student, Haley Hart, attends the STEM Academy at the University of Texas Permian Basin and travels daily to PHS to be part of the choir program.

Its definitely a struggle some daysWhat I have gained from being here is so valuable and I wouldnt trade that for the world, Hart said.

To be an All-State Musician means that you are the best, individually, in the State of Texas. So, its an elite honor, said ECISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Aaron Hawley. And theyll be considered All-State Musicians for the rest of their life.

As All-State musicians, these students will perform in one of 18 All-State ensembles in band, orchestra, and vocal divisions, as part of the TMEA Clinic/Convention February 12-15 in San Antonio.

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.
SNYDER, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  For longtime Snyder resident and Executive Director of the Development Corporation of Snyder, Barbara Leatherwood, one of the things she cherishes most about the city is its small-town charm and strong sense of community. However, in recent years, Leatherwood has observed a shift in the types of businesses choosing to establish roots in Snyder.

Weve seen a lot of growth; weve seen a lot of opportunity. We like to call it opportunity and community. We think Snyder leads the rural areas in being one of the top innovators. I believe I see that in a lot of leadership. I see the community working together, said Leatherwood.

Every minute counts: Snyder emergency air medical base now carries whole blood

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the past two years, the Development Corporation of Snyder (DCOS), through its strategic partnerships, has contributed more than $5 million in capital investments to the Snyder community, including $2.9 million in 2024 alone. According to Leatherwood, for every $1 invested into the DCOS, the organization generates $8 in return for community impact.

Snyder is leading the way in being the connection point and the conduit to being the one-stop shop for any business owner looking to expand or relocate to Snyder. Weve had relocations in the last three years. Weve had expansions in the last three years that have really just grown and started that momentum. Weve had leadership changes in the city, explained Leatherwood.

CHECK IT OUT: Mom makes Texas-sized mum for Snyder ISD homecoming

A major factor behind this growth is the influx of manufacturing companies moving into Scurry County, drawn by the available space. These businesses have played a key role in strengthening the local economy, contributing 62 new jobs while retaining 83 existing positions in Snyder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, we did three different projects, and one of them was Plastic Welding and Fabrications. They were a second plant location for its manufacturing, and they came up from Buda. What theyre finding in Snyder, what theyre seeing in Snyder, and why they chose Snyder was that we had the land that was available. The cost of doing business was better, added Leatherwood.

In recent years, the DCOS has also collaborated with local businesses to revitalize their properties through its economic improvement initiative. This effort has invested over $300,000 back into existing businesses, which Leatherwood describes as the backbone of Snyders community and economy.

Abbey Stephens took over ownership of the Snyder Nursery on 3706 Shady Oaks Lane in the spring of 2024. As one of Snyders many longstanding small businesses, the nursery reflects the towns commitment to supporting local enterprises. For Stephens, choosing Snyder as the home for her business was an easy decision, thanks to the communitys culture of mutual support.

Western Texas College in Snyder allows students to carry firearms on campus

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are several businesses in town that we have done flowerpots for outside of their business, or they just come and shop with us personally, and we shop with them personally, Stephens explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a new small business owner, Stephens is excited about the changes on the horizon for Snyder. She encourages residents to shop local and hopes to inspire those passing through to make a pit stop and experience what the town has to offer.

One of the coolest things about Snyder is that you never really know what youre going to find, Stephens hinted.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The chief economist for Commerce Trust spoke in Grand Rapids Tuesday afternoon about what is expected from the business community from President Donald Trumps second administration.

Scott Colbert says the Trump administration is implementing new policies faster than the first term.

With that quickness probably comes some broken eggs and some things that basically wont end up being legal when processed by the courts, Colbert said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Colbert says the economic plan is divided into four main areas.

Taxes, tariffs, immigration and all the policy. The policy is widespread, but its largely directed at less regulation, more pro-business, faster economic growth, Colbert said.

He says the tariff part of the plan came into play this weekend, when Colombia would not accept military transport planes with deported migrants. The Trump administration says the country backed down after it threatened to put tariffs in place.

White House says Colombia agrees to take deported migrants after Trump tariff showdown

Number one is negotiate, which is exactly what they did with Colombia, using them as a weapon, if you will, to get what we want, Colbert said. They are largely using tariffs with regards to Mexico where they would like to close the border down and limit the drug flow. And with Canada, its because they would like to have more auto assembly in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The tariffs are expected to be used to raise revenue in an attempt to offset some tax cuts.

The final thing that theyre doing with tariffs is largely for domestic and economic security. This will have more to do with China, Colbert said.

If a tariff is put in place, Colbert says a lot of people will feel that cost.

Number one will be the manufacturer or whatever who is getting tariffed, because they will sell less, Colbert said. Number two, the consumer will obviously absorb some of the cost.

The economist says the middleman involved in transactions would be impacted as well.

West Michigan business leaders are trying to figure out what the economic policies of the Trump administration will mean in a second term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think a lot of our business community is processing all the different changes, said Andy Johnston, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for the Grand Rapids Chamber.

Johnston says that its too early to know what the policy changes will mean and that local companies are working to adjust.

Business likes stability and certainty, so theres a few things up in the air now. And I think what were trying to do is help our members make sense of it, Johnston said.

The Trump administration has also announced a freeze on federal grants and loans to organizations while they reevaluate the expenses. On Tuesday, minutes before the freeze was set to go into effect, a federal judge temporarily blocked it. The administrative stay will last until Monday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

If it goes into effect, local nonprofits are trying to figure out what the funding change could mean for them.

In a statement to News 8, a spokesperson for Heart of West Michigan United Way wrote that it was closely monitoring the situation and that it would continue to assess how this decision may affect local programs and services.

As we gather more information, we remain committed to supporting those who rely on these critical resources, the statement continued.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested an Eastern Carolina University professor on charges of child pornography, according to reports from WCTI.

Dr. Blace Nalavany, 57, is facing ten counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

ALSO READ: Son of man accused of Trumps second assassination attempt accused of having child porn

Nalavany worked at ECU as an associate professor of social work since 2006.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also worked as a licensed clinical social worker who worked with children.

ECU released a statement regarding the incident saying:

We are aware of the arrest on Jan. 27, 2025, of an East Carolina University faculty member. The university is in communication with law enforcement, and we will continue to cooperate in any capacity asked as they investigate the disturbing allegations. Today, following applicable UNC System Policy, the university moved to place Blace Nalavany, 57, associate professor, on administrative suspension while the investigation continues. He was hired Aug. 21, 2006. Since this is an ongoing investigation, the university cannot say anything further.

VIDEO: Child pornography: Why its a crime, how its punished
For four years, Ed Martin Jr. has embraced the cause of Jan. 6 rioters, downplayed their violence against police and spread false claims that the far-left or government played a role in the attack on the Capitol.

Now, hes in charge of carrying out Donald Trumps order to unravel all lingering Jan. 6 cases. His name appears at the bottom of hundreds of court filings seeking to dismiss ongoing criminal cases stemming from the attack.

Trump tapped Martin  who marched to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 but did not enter the building  to implement the Justice Departments abrupt U-turn. A lawyer and longtime conservative activist, Martin helped lead an organization raising money for Jan. 6 defendants and even represented a handful of them in court. He was a prominent advocate of claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and that then-Vice President Mike Pence and Congress should overturn the results on Jan. 6.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Trump returned to the White House, he chose Martin to temporarily lead the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Columbia, which had overseen the sprawling probe and charged nearly 1,600 people for their role in the mob. Now, Martin is carrying out Trumps directive to dismiss hundreds of pending Jan. 6 cases, even against the most violent perpetrators.



Its unclear how long Martin will serve in the post. The president has not yet nominated someone to permanently fill the position, which requires Senate confirmation. Trump previously tapped Martin for a top spot in the Office of Management and Budget.

Martin seems to relish the role. He continues to use his X account to embrace the cause of the defendants. He issued a pointed press statement criticizing a judge for trying to prevent Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes from visiting the Capitol. (Martin declared on Twitter in June 2021 that Oath Keepers are all of us, after prosecutors expanded the Jan. 6 case against the groups leaders.)

He has described himself and the other prosecutors in his office as the Presidents lawyers  a sharp departure from the norm that federal prosecutors maintain distance from the White House and represent the interests of the public, not the president. Even Pam Bondi, Trumps pick to be attorney general, emphasized at her confirmation hearing that, if confirmed, The people of America would be my client.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Martin did not respond to requests for comment. Through a spokesperson at the U.S. attorneys office, he declined to comment on his prior statements about Jan. 6, whether hes sought or received ethics guidance based on his involvement in Jan. 6 cases and how those experiences have informed his early decisions as interim U.S. attorney.

Early adopter of election conspiracies

Martin, who describes Jan. 6 defendants as victims of an overzealous federal government, was an active player in the pro-Trump Stop the Steal effort that followed the 2020 election. His work drew the interest of the Democrat-led Jan. 6 select committee, which subpoenaed him in the early months of its probe. According to the panels records, Martin didnt show up. The panel, however, did not seek to hold him in contempt of Congress.

Another witness, Stop the Steal founder Ali Alexander, described Martin as a mentor and suggested Martins nonprofit played a role in helping manage funds for the effort.

Martin, an acolyte of conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly, was an early adopter of conspiracy theories that antifa and other far-left activists fueled the violence that unfolded at the Capitol on Jan. 6. He was present at the Capitol, and while he said he didnt witness the worst of the chaos, he has compared the energy to Mardi Gras and said it did not seem like a riot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know it was antifa, it was plants, Martin said in a video he posted on Periscope on Jan. 7, 2021. I certainly dont wish any violence  I was disappointed that antifa caused the problems at the Capitol.

Martin claimed that news media, including Fox News, ran photographs of the strangest people that were at the protest.

The people I saw at the protest were moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, he said. They showed the photographs  of people that looked a little mentally disabled, mentally disordered. Theyre wearing hats and horns and things.

In the ensuing days, Martin acknowledged that some really stupid Trump supporters committed violence that day but said a few bad apples shouldnt spoil the bunch and continued to argue that antifa or communists were involved in breaking windows and other crimes at the Capitol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its 10 days after the incident and were just now finding out the bad guys were not Trump people, Martin said on a Jan. 15 podcast.

Downplaying police injuries

Martin has repeatedly emphasized he opposes all violence against police, but he used those early days after the riot to suggest media coverage of attacks on police were overstated.

On Jan. 8, 2021, while Washington was still reeling from the attack, Martin said he wasnt sure any police officers were wounded, which he characterized as different than being injured.

They talk about Police officers wounded, he said, describing media coverage of the attack. I think the word is injured. Im not sure people were wounded. Maybe, but it sounds like, again, were being spun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And despite his insistence that he does not condone attacks against cops, Martin said last year that violence by protesters may have been a justified response to the way police used force to quell the riot.

The more we find out about how staged and managed this was, the more we have to have less judgment for somebody who hits a cop, Martin said in a March 5, 2024 appearance on Michael Savages Savage Nation podcast, especially when weve seen theyre firing tear gas into the crowd before it was operationally appropriate.



Martin also said on that podcast that hed become an advocate for a blanket pardon of all Jan. 6 defendants because the whole thing was so rotten. He mocked the notion, as some Trump critics professed, that the attack was the worst on Americas government since the Civil War.

Theyre right, he added. Weve never had our government act against We the people like this. Never.
Southern California Edison is asking state regulators to make its customers cover more than $7 billion in damages it paid to the victims of two devastating wildfires in 2017 and 2018.

At its meeting Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission will consider Edison's request to pass on to its ratepayers $1.6 billion in damages from the 2017 Thomas wildfire in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, one of the largest fires in state history.

The commission at a later date will consider a similar action that would tap Edison customers to cover $5.4 billion in damages from the 2018 Woolsey fire in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, which killed three people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If both measures are approved, Edison customers will have a roughly 2% surcharge on their bills for the next 30 years, according to regulatory documents. That means the average monthly bill for a residential customer, now $177, would rise to $181.

Investigators found that Edison's equipment ignited the Thomas and Woolsey wildfires. Utility safety regulators found that in each case Edison had violated multiple state safety regulations, including impeding their investigations.

Edison, which is contesting claims that its equipment also ignited this month's deadly Eaton fire, said in a statement last year that transferring Thomas fire damage costs to customers would enable it to continue doing necessary work to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The company said it had prudently operated its system, managing it at or above what is required by regulators."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dozens of people have written to the state commission, asking the panel to deny the request. Theresa Serventi of Hemet said as a retired person she was already struggling to pay her rising electric bill on a fixed income.

They cannot and must not be allowed to punish their customers for their wrongdoing, Serventi wrote after Edison filed its request to raise electric rates to cover the Thomas fire claims.

The Thomas fire killed two people and also helped cause the debris flows in Montecito that killed 23 more.

Fadia Khoury, Edisons assistant general counsel, noted that under the settlement negotiated with the commissions public advocates office the company would get only about 60% of the $2.4 billion it originally requested for the Thomas fire. About 40%  or about $1 billion  would be picked up by the company and its shareholders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Low-income customers will see no increases to their bills for the recovery of costs from either fire, Khoury said.

The Wild Tree Foundation, an environmental group, also is calling on the commission to vote against the Thomas fire settlement agreement. The group says that documents from investigators at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Ventura County Fire Department and the commissions safety and enforcement division show that Edison failed to act reasonably and prudently.

This is not the first time the commission has bailed out utilities for catastrophic wildfires and it will likely not be the last, said April Maurath Sommer, the foundations executive director.

If the commission approves the plan Thursday, Sommer said, Edison would recover most of what it paid to victims of the Thomas fire by raising electricity rates on those very victims themselves.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Thomas fire swept through almost 282,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, destroying 1,063 structures.

Investigators said Edisons equipment was the cause of two separate ignitions Dec. 4, 2017, near Santa Paula. The two fires then spread and eventually merged.

Cal Fire and Ventura County fire investigators said one ignition was caused by an electric wire falling and igniting dry brush. The other ignition happened, the investigators said, when two wires slapped together, releasing molten metal into the vegetation.

The commissions safety and enforcement division later said the company had violated five rules and regulations, including failure to cooperate with investigators. The division said Edison had failed to provide all the photos, notes and texts taken by the Edison employees who were the first at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Khoury said Edison disagreed with investigators that the company was negligent in causing the Thomas fire. The company also disagrees that its equipment sparked one of the ignition sites, she said.

We are operating a complicated business as safely as we can, she said.

Terrie Prosper, a spokeswoman for the utilities commission, said that although the agencys enforcement staff identified the violations, the five-member commission later did not find any violations related to the Thomas fire.

The Thomas and Woolsey fires occurred before the state Legislature created a wildfire insurance fund. That fund would help to cover some costs if investigators find that Edisons equipment sparked the firestorm that started in Eaton Canyon on Jan. 7. At least 17 people have died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company says that its initial internal investigation did not find that its equipment started the fire, and that the investigation is continuing. Lawyers representing victims of the fire disagree. They point to videos of the fire starting below one of the companys transmission towers built high in the canyon.

Edisons application to transfer $5.4 billion it paid out to victims of the Woolsey fire to customers is still being reviewed by state officials.

The Woolsey fire started Nov. 8, 2018, on the site of the old Santa Susana test lab near Simi Valley. High winds sent it raging across almost 97,000 acres, destroying 1,643 structures and killing three people.

Investigators determined that a loose down guy wire attached to a steel pole contacted a jumper wire, creating an arc flash. The arc flash caused hot metal fragments to drop and ignite dried brush, the investigators said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosper at the commission said that Edison had contested all 26 violations found by its safety and enforcement division after its investigation into the Woolsey fire.

Edison says that in recent years it has spent heavily on work to mitigate wildfires, including trimming trees and putting in wires with a coating that greatly reduces the risk of fire.

That wildfire mitigation work now makes up about 11% of the average bill for an Edison customer, according to the commission's public advocates office.

The company says that work has reduced the risk of a catastrophic wildfire ignited by its equipment by 85% to 90% compared with what it was before 2018.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The number of ignitions involving its equipment have not fallen as much, according to data the company reported to the commission.

In 2017, there were 105 ignitions involving Edisons equipment. That number rose to 173 ignitions in 2021. Last year, there were 90 ignitions  a 14% decline since 2017.

Khoury said the reduced risk of catastrophic wildfire should not be compared with reductions in the number of ignitions, which would include even those happening in rainy weather.

The commissions meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday. The five-member panel has put the decision on the consent agenda, which means it is expected to pass without discussion. The panel allows the public to speak at the start of the meeting.

People can also comment at the commissions website under proceeding 23-08-013.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On Friday, top Chicago Public Schools officials announced that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement had arrived at a Southwest Side elementary school. The announcement caused widespread panic. It was many Chicagoans worst fears realized  that not even our kids  or our schools  are safe from the presidents promised immigration crackdown.

But it wasnt true. ICE was never at the school. The officials who visited Hamline Elementary School were from the Secret Service. CPS officials changed their message, calling the mistake a misunderstanding, reflective of the fear and concerns in the community amid the new administrations focus on undocumented immigrants.

It was too late by then. Politicians, including Gov. JB Pritzker, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten and others, and multiple media outlets, including our own newspaper, ran with the story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After CPS acknowledged its mistake, Mayor Brandon Johnson tweeted that its imperative that individuals not spread unverified information that sparks fear across the city. We would give the mayor credit for this appropriate reaction, but he quickly deleted the tweet.

Still, thats the right sentiment. At a time when tensions are so high, and both sides seem ready to believe the worst about those standing opposite them, the margin for error is slim. People who despise Trump jumped to the conclusion that immigration agents were knocking down doors at elementary schools. People who despise Chicago and its politics pounced on the error, calling it the latest anti-Trump hoax.

To some extent, the CPS error is understandable given the climate of fear. But we need to be honest about the havoc this mistake wreaked on our city and do better next time. Before CPS  or anyone in authority  makes a statement, they need to be certain that what theyre saying is accurate. This debacle also shows that journalists cant expect that everything CPS or other agencies say in the heat of the moment is correct. People need timely information in this charged climate, but right now we think its imperative the facts be accurate.

The public also needs proactive communication to eliminate the fear that derives from uncertainty. Right now, people are getting piecemeal information. Federal agents are posting constantly. ICE issued a statement Sunday confirming that it had begun taking targeted action in our city. The agency even embedded TV personalities and a small group of national journalists deemed friendly in livestreamed raids. At least one local reporter has asked for access but was stonewalled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports abound on X of agents picking up people with shocking criminal records, including one man with a history of sex crimes against children. But reports also abound of people living in fear. People hiding in attics. People are afraid to go to work. Thats no way for a city to function.

Our local elected officials understandably have been in largely a reactive position thus far, but as the shock of the administrations aggressive tactics begins to wear off, they should prioritize clear communication with the feds. We need them to speak not just to us, but for us, and to act in the best interests of all Chicagoans.

For example, can ICE commit that it wont be invading Chicago schools during the school day? A prudent move for Johnson and/or Pritzker right now would be to seek such assurances (without thundering away on X or some other social media platform) and then determine with the administration an appropriate way to inform the public. The feds may not be open to that, but that doesnt mean our local pols shouldnt try.

Pritzker, for his part, has indicated support for an approach limited to removing violent criminals who are undocumented. If thats who theyre picking up, were all for it, he said. The governor continues to decry any efforts to deport undocumented residents who are otherwise law-abiding and vowed to stand in the way of such efforts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson, on the other hand, took to X on Sunday night to assure Chicago that the Police Department had nothing to do with the raids, but the tone of his message gave the impression he didnt have any information from federal agencies, as if he were hearing reports of these activities at the same time as the general public. That does not inspire confidence.

Theres another way to do this: Instead of turning raids into a livestreamed spectacle, ICE should do its work and then share with the public who was deported and why. ICE should also be providing solid information to local media and elected officials. Wed like border and enforcement czar Tom Homan to stop by and speak to us.

Misinformation deepens division and distracts from the solutions we desperately need to move forward. What we say matters  sometimes just as much as what we do. Getting it first isnt as important as getting it right, state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said on X.

The ICE enforcement actions are here, and theyll be continuing in Chicago and across the country. Homan has said ICE is going to arrest public safety threats and has indicated that he intends these efforts to be limited in scope. ICE reportedly made 956 arrests nationwide Sunday  were not sure how many of those took place in Chicago. Particularly if ICE is going to make a televised spectacle out of its arrests, the least it could do is provide such information, and do it regularly.

This is a highly stressful moment for our city. Both the Trump administration and our local representatives must do more to squelch the anxiety overtaking entire communities.

_____
A Republican congressman from Tennessee wants to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow Donald Trump to serve a third term. Its a bad amendment as written; the language Andy Ogles proposes reads no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms  ridiculously allowing the current president to serve again while disallowing Bill Clinton or George W. Bush or Barack Obama from doing so.

But if this were done fairly, it just might make sense, provided it was paired with a far bigger, far more important idea: abolishing the Electoral College.

One can argue with a straight face that failing to allow voters to elect the president of their choice is an infringement on representative democracy. In one defensible worldview, giving voters the freedom to keep the man or woman they prefer at the tiller honors the will of the people more than imposing arbitrary term limits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But theres no defensible worldview in which presidents should be chosen by a cockamamie system that gives small states disproportionate weight and throws all votes in almost every state to whoever wins their plurality.

The Electoral College is so distorting, so bizarre, nobody on earth would come up with it if asked to design a fair way to choose a national leader. The least populous state in the union, Wyoming with a little more than half a million people, has three votes (two for two senators, one for one member of Congress)  as do other tiny states like Vermont, Alaska and the Dakotas. California, with nearly 40 million residents, has 54 electoral votes.

So a state with 66 times more people than another has just 18 times its electoral votes, which means Wyomingites votes are nearly four times as powerful as Californians in the race to rack up the magic number of 270. Wed call it a funhouse mirror, but its not funny at all.

It gets even worse when you add in the fact that winning California or Texas or Florida by even a single vote sways all of that states 54, 40 or 30 votes into a candidates column, essentially throwing away millions of ballots.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The smartest nearish-term fix to this abomination is for a critical mass of states to sign onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. States with 209 electoral votes have already signed onto the pledge, which commits to sending all Electoral College votes to whoever wins the most votes nationwide if and when states adding up to the threshold of 270 join in.

Individual states could also start following Maine and Nebraskas lead and split up their electoral votes rather than doing winner-take-all. The problem with that, however, is that as long as most states remain winner-take-all, those that make the theoretically fair decision to apportion their electoral votes proportionately would be punching the dominant party in their own state in the face. Thats whats called a collective action problem.

A constitutional amendment is a terrific idea. Its never going to happen because that would require the consent of many of the same states that get inordinate power from the lousy Electoral College. Maybe, just maybe, pairing it with permission for Trump to run again could do the trick. Call it a modest proposal.

_____
BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)Any selective criteria used to admit students to vocational technical schools must be actually essential to the success of the school, per new regulations the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is drafting for their boards review next month.

The board has been reexamining the admissions process for career technical education high schools for months, just three years after they overhauled their regulations to promote more equitable access to the career-oriented schools.

Higher education board reaching for more investments

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Demand at the states technical schools far outpaces the available space, and 25 of the 29 CTE schools in Massachusetts use selective criteria like grades, attendance and discipline records from middle school to choose which applicants should come to their high school programs.

Some say these admissions practices disproportionately exclude students of color, those who are learning English, have disabilities or come from low-income families. They instead advocate for a lottery model of random chance for all interested middle school students.

After months of reexamining the admissions processes and talking to stakeholders in both camps, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Martin West, who led a task force to look at the regulations, said many of the states CTE schools have a proportionate amount of students from protected classes.

We learned that many of the schools, if you compare the composition of their student bodies to the composition of the sending districts, we see that they are quite representative in terms of their racial and ethnic composition and in terms of other protected classes, like students with disabilities, English learners and others, West said. That being said  there are exceptions to that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

West said in some cases, comparing applicants to admitted students, students from protected classes are less likely to be admitted.

Previewing what the regulations presented to the board next month will likely contain, Martin said Tuesday, that any selective criteria used in admitting a student will need to be essential to the success of the school.

The principles that really come down as a legal framework are that any selective criteria need to be essential to the success of the school [and consider] if they are having any disparate impact in the admissions process, he said.

This could mean that if schools want to use disciplinary or attendance records to reject a students application, for example, the school would need to prove that those selective criteria are directly tied to the schools success.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the past, superintendents of vocational schools have said using these selective criteria is especially important in CTE environments.

Our schools only consider the most serious disciplinary offenses. In the absence of such criteria, our vocational community would have concerns. Attendance: we cannot send tutors home with large equipment. Students cannot succeed in co-op programs if they are not present and cant earn credentials without the requisite number of hours, Aaron Polansky, superintendent of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical in Rochester, said during a BESE meeting last October.

West gave an example of a reform schools could make to the admissions process more accessible for some students, while maintaining a requirement that the student show expressed interest in actually attending the high school.

Currently, he said, some schools require students to sit for an evaluative interview for a seat at the high school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An alternative, he proposed, is requiring students to write a letter or tour the school. This way the student can still prove they are interested and dedicated to the school, but it makes the admissions process more fair for limited spots at the public schools.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Education Department has launched an investigation into Denver Public Schools for converting a female restroom into an all-gender facility at a high school.

The agencys Office for Civil Rights said Tuesday that the East High School restroom could amount to discrimination against female students because there is a mens restroom and the gender-neutral restroom, but not one just for female students on its second floor.

The alarming report that the Denver Public Schools District denied female students a restroom comparable with their male counterparts appears to directly violate the civil rights of the Districts female students, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. Let me be clear: It is a new day in America, and under President Trump, OCR will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

OCR initiated the probe after a Denver local news report about the creation of the restroom that included a complaint from a parent. OCRs investigation will scrutinize whether the school district is discriminating against students under Title IX, the federal education law that bars sex-based discrimination, by installing multi-stall all gender restrooms.

The complaint could deter other districts from expanding the spread of gender-neutral facilities.

Scott Pribble, Denver Public Schools director of external communication, told 9News that the restroom was proposed by students. Most middle and high schools in the district have single stall gender-neutral options.

Theres no agenda to it, Pribble said. Its really more about the convenience of having a restroom that everybody can use.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi said Wednesday his country will not participate in the displacement of Palestinians, days after US President Donald Trump suggested Arab countries take in Palestinian refugees from the war-torn Gaza Strip.

"Deportation and displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice in which we cannot participate," al-Sissi said in Cairo, in his first public remarks on Trump's call.

Al-Sissi said that if he asked the Egyptian people to accept the displacement of Palestinians, "they would all take to the street and tell me not to participate in injustice," he said at a televised joint press conference with visiting Kenyan President William Ruto.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The issue affects the security of Egypt, which borders the densely populated Gaza Strip, al-Sissi said.

He added that Egypt is keen on working with Trump in achieving peace based on the two-state solution.

Egypt, a US ally, was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.

Earlier this month, Egypt along with the United States and Qatar brokered another ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement after months of on-and-off negotiations.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Hamas will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, as well as five Thai nationals during the next hostage release set for Thursday, Israel and Hamas said Wednesday as their tenuous ceasefire moves ahead.

The Israeli women are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, and the man is Gadi Moses. The identities of the Thai nationals were not immediately known.

A number of foreign workers were taken captive along with dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that set off the war in Gaza. Twenty-three Thai hostages were released in the first ceasefire in November 2023. Israel says eight remain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thursday's release would keep up the momentum of the ceasefire that began earlier this month and paused the 15-month war in Gaza.

Hamas is releasing hostages in phases in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The prisoners range from individuals detained over minor offenses in recent months to senior militants serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israeli civilians. Some have been held without charge or trial.

Hostages and prisoners will be released twice this week

The deal had been negotiated for months under the Biden administration but was finally sealed after incoming President Donald Trump threatened there would be hell to pay if the hostages weren't returned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Israel on Wednesday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads to Washington next week as the first foreign leader to meet Trump in his second term.

The White House meeting on Feb. 4 comes a day after talks on the ceasefire's more difficult second phase, aimed at ending the war, are meant to resume.

Thursday's hostage release wasn't originally scheduled but came as a result of a standoff between Israel and Hamas over the identities of the hostages released last weekend.

Israel had demanded that Yehoud, a civilian, be part of that group. When she wasn't freed, it held up the return of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to war-battered northern Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

International mediation efforts brought about the plan for an additional release on Thursday and cleared the way for Palestinians to stream north. Another release occurs Saturday, which Netanyahu's office said would free male hostages. Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed both Thursday and Saturday.

Among the prisoners slated for release Thursday is Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent former militant leader and theater director whose dramatic jailbreak in 2021 thrilled Palestinians and stunned the Israeli security establishment.

Egypt rejects Trump's suggestion that it take in Palestinians

The pause in fighting has exposed the vastness of the destruction to Gaza's urban landscape, prompting Trump's suggestion over the weekend that neighboring Jordan and Egypt take in displaced Palestinians so that we just clean out that whole thing, calling the territory a demolition site.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Egypt and Jordan, important U.S. allies, have rejected the suggestion, defying a U.S. president who has shown little patience for dissent from international partners. The Palestinians also rejected it amid fears it would undermine the notion of Palestinian statehood.

In his first public comments on the issue, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Wednesday called the idea an injustice and said the transfer of Palestinians cant ever be tolerated or allowed. He said the solution is the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Trump has said he would urge the leaders of both countries, which are major recipients of U.S. aid, to accept the idea, saying the resettlement could be temporary or long term.

It is not clear if Trump could force Egypt or Jordan to agree, but he has threatened hefty tariffs against other American allies to get his way. Egypt and Jordan receive billions of dollars in American aid each year. Military assistance to Egypt and Israel was exempted from a U.S. funding freeze to global aid programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Palestinians fear they may never return if they leave

The war has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count. The fighting has obliterated vast areas of Gaza, displacing some 90% of its 2.3 million population, often multiple times.

During its attack, Hamas took 250 people hostage and killed roughly 1,200.

The theme of displacement has been recurrent in Palestinian history, and the idea of staying on one's land is integral to the Palestinian identity. Palestinians fear that if they leave, they may never be allowed to return.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those fears have been compounded by far-right members of Israel's government who support rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza, from which Israel withdrew troops and settlers from in 2005. Netanyahu says that idea is unrealistic.

Egypt and Jordan have each made peace with Israel but support the creation of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. They fear that the permanent displacement of Gazas population could make that impossible.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed reporting from Ramallah, West Bank.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  It was a narrow victory for immigrant rights advocates in El Cajon as the City Council voted down a resolution from Mayor Bill Wells.

The proposed resolution would have declared the Citys intent to support President Trumps deportations, running counter to California state laws that limit local government involvement in immigration activity.

ICE encounters reported in San Diego County as mass deportation fears grow

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The City Council debate over the resolution to support Trumps deportation policies lasted over five hours.

Why do I have to carry around my own birth certificate, said one woman fighting against the idea of local police working with federal agents.

The proposed resolution declared the citys intent to uphold the federal governments current immigration stance over Californias state laws. Council members disagreed with the mayor.

Why do we need a resolution to say we are complying with the law, said City Councilmember Steve Goble.

More federal agencies authorized to arrest undocumented migrants

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The swing vote on the City Council, Steve Goble made the argument that he didnt want to turn El Cajon into a political lightning rod like Huntington Beach.

Leaders in the immigrant community say after this vote, El Cajon still feels like home.

I feel protected, I feel secure, I feel like I dont have to watch myself. I am documented, Im not undocumented. But I grew up in the 90s during the Bush era, and at a time I was undocumented. And I still live with that trauma of not feeling safe in my community, not trusting the police, not trusting my officials, because I thought they were working against me and my family, said Miram Ramirez, immigrant 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso County has joined other local governments in filing a brief to support a lawsuit challenging President Trumps executive order on removing birthright citizenship, according to the El Paso County Attorneys Office.

The executive order specifically seeks to redefine citizenship by removing birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal immigration status, the County Attorneys Office said.

The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted this past Monday, Jan. 27, to approve the filing brief, which argues that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The County Attorneys Office says the amendment guarantees citizenship to all people born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction.

The amicus brief warns of harm if the executive order is implemented and highlights that local governments would face administrative chaos and financial strain, the County Attorneys Office said.

Birth certificates would no longer serve as proof of citizenship, requiring new systems for verification. Children could lose access to essential benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, and CHIP, further burdening local resources, the County Attorneys Office said.

The amicus brief also argues that a nationwide injunction is necessary to prevent widespread harm and protect constitutional rights, the County Attorneys Office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An amicus brief is a legal document filed by a person, organization, or county that is not a party to a case but is interested in the outcome.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PEORIA, Ill (WMBD)  Normally, when you go to a barber shop, you ask them to take some hair off the top.

Now, a new El Paso museum, looking to honor and remember the first Black voter in Illinois, hopes to add a little to the top of peoples minds.

Michael Melick, the board president for Project XV Museum, and a teacher at El Paso Gridley High School, stopped by WMBD This Morning to explain the meaning and importance of the Project XV Museum, and this weeks special event.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Project XV refers to the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which is the one that gave all people the right to vote, regardless of their race. The museum sits on the spot where the barber shop of David Strother once was.

Thats important, says Melick, because Strother was the first black voter after the 15th Amendment went into effect. His first vote was for the El Paso municipal election in 1870.

The museums name is a play on the Amendments number, 15. But the Project XV Museum goes even further. It even delves into ways that area indigenous people picked leaders.

On Jan. 30, the museum will host award winning author Derrick Barnes for a special presentation on one of his books, Crown an Ode to The Fresh Cut, which takes a look at the Black-owned barber shops and how they affect young boys getting their first cuts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, for a little off the top, stop by a barber shop, but for a little ON the top (of your mind), stop by the Project XV Museum in El Paso.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  At the age of 72 and 77, Donald Mitchell and Lula LaCure are forced to start over. LaCure had been living in her home for 43 years before squatters burned down a home causing her home to be burned as a result.

Its 4:30 in the morning. Its cold. Were out there, everything you own is in the house. Youre broke. Theres confusion, said Mitchell, housemate to Lula LaCure.

Both LaCure and Mitchell were in the home as the fire blazed. LaCure was on a couch in the living room and Mitchell was in the bedroom when he saw fire in their home.

Like this coat, this is one of my neighbors  I didnt have on nothing, I was like, what did you say? Hes telling me the house is on fire. I didnt know that, and if he hadnt have been there, I would have been burned up, said LaCure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a Shreveport Public Safety Meeting, Councilman Gary Brooks invited residents of Highland to share their concerns and experiences.

Louisiana enforces severe penalties for squatting

Charlotte Russell, president of the Highland Neighborhood Association gave a public comment.

She [LaCure] and multiple neighbors, have reported the house next door to her, multiple times for problems, it was known to be an issue but because of an absentee owner, there was nothing that could be done.

In August 2024, a state ordinance called Criminal Trespass/Squatters was passed. Shreveports city attorney, Marcus Edwards, clarified the new squatter prevention act saying any lawful possessor of a home can report to law enforcement.



There are some of these properties that have property managers, or you know keepers, or a lawful possessor also includes a tenant or LLC, said Edwards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney Edwards added that in the new act, unauthorized entering is now included in simple burglary. Unfortunately, the Shreveport Police Department may still be limited as the lawful possessors for many highland properties are unknown.

Squatters in dilapidated Highland homes: residents demand action

Then were unable to determine who has lawful reason to be there also theres certain situations where if the owner is not there, we dont actually have access to the property where the said individuals are, and you know obviously we have to administer the law in a way that we dont violate anyones fourth amendment rights with search and seizure, said Corporal Chris Bordelon with the Shreveport Police Department.



City councilmembers and Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux say they are concerned about the growing squatter problem as innocent residents become victims.



Starting life over at 72. And youre talking about what was left, anything in there now has been sitting in there for a week with soot, water, fire, said Mitchell.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COCOA BEACH, Fla. (WJW)  An elementary school principal in Florida was arrested after a party at her home was attended by more than 100 underage kids including many drinking alcohol allegedly made available in coolers at the residence.

South Euclid-Lyndhurst teacher Eric Schmidt arrested on sex charge involving minor

According to Cocoa Beach Police, officers responded to the home of Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan on Jan. 19. The officers observed a large group of juveniles in matching T-shirts who were consuming alcohol, a press release from the department said.

Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan (Credit: Brevard County Sheriffs Office)

One juvenile was located on the front lawn experiencing an alcohol related medical event, police said, and was so heavily intoxicated that Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) had to respond to treat them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the same time, Hill-Brodigan was spotted in the driveway turning off the outside lights and heading inside, forcing BCFR to use auxiliary lighting on their vehicle to treat the juvenile.

Forest Hills CLC in Akron locked down for ICE operation nearby

Additionally, a traffic stop was conducted near the residence resulting in the arrest of the juvenile driver for DUI, the release said.

Another woman at the party, Karly Anderson, approached officers at the scene and told them she was also a teacher and had been at the party. It was later discovered that she was a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School.

Karly Anderson (Credit: Brevard County Sheriffs Office)

Several juveniles and parents were interviewed in the days following the party, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News, the party was allegedly advertised on the social media app SnapChat, and was hosted by Hill-Brodigans two sons.

The affidavit states an officer who responded to the scene called Hill-Brodigan about the party. She stated she was down the street but would return home to take care of it.

The affidavit goes on to say that students told police most students knew that Hill-Brodigan was the principal and that parties like this happened once or twice a month. The students added that she made no attempt to stop the party and was OK with what was happening.

Students also claimed that marijuana was being used at the party and a male teen, wearing a mask, was taking videos with a firearm and pointing it at the person filming, Fox News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One student told police that Hill-Brodigan was inside the home at the time of the party and asked her son to end it, but he didnt, the affidavit said, and she took no further action to shut it down.

Ex-doctor from Hudson sentenced to at least 8 years in prison for rape

An arrest warrant was obtained for Hill-Brodigan for Child Neglect, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and holding an Open House Party.

Anderson was additionally arrested and charged with Child Neglect and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

According to Fox 8 sister station WFLA, both have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation remains ongoing.

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.
An Elgin man was given a 12-year prison sentence after admitting he sexually assaulted a child, according to the Kane County States Attorneys Office.

Jose F. Molina-Acevedo, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of predatory criminal sexual sssault of a child, class X felony, in exchange for the prison term under a plea deal accepted by Kane County Judge David Kliment, a news release said.

He was the sixth Elgin resident to be convicted of sexual assault or abuse of a child in Kane County since March 2024, records show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Molina-Acevedo sexually abused the victim, who was under the age of 13, by touching the child under clothing on occasions between Jan. 1, 2021, and May 27, 2023, the release said.

Under state law, Molina-Acevedo must serve at least 85% of the sentence and will serve a mandatory term of supervised release of anywhere between three years and life as determined by the Prisoner Review Board. He also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, the release said.

Thank you to the multidisciplinary team at the Kane County Child Advocacy Center  especially Investigator Ruzevich, whose hard work allowed us to secure this conviction without putting the child through the trauma of testifying against their abuser, and Child Advocate Cali Stephenson, Assistant States Attorney Morgan Wilkinson said in a statement.

Most importantly, thank you to the victim in this case for demonstrating tremendous bravery in telling what happened to them, ensuring it wont happen to anyone else.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kane County States Attorneys Office has convicted several Elgin residents of sexual assault and abuse charges involving children 13 or younger since March 2024. They include:
Elon Musks sagging approval ratings could be harming President Donald Trumps favorability score given the close relationship between the two men, CNN data reporter Harry Enten suggested Tuesday.

On Erin Burnett OutFront, Enten alluded to Musks speech over the weekend in support of the far-right German political party AfD. In it, Musk told Germans to move beyond any past guilt regarding the Holocaust.

Those comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz later said, were really disgusting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk, who also recently made a gesture many compared to a Sieg Heil salute and which neo-Nazis were thrilled about, isnt just pissing off Germans, Enten said. Hes pissing off Americans, too.

While data from 2016 showed Musk with a net-positive rating of 29 points, he was underwater by 3 just before Novembers presidential election, and now stands at minus 13, according to Enten.

He is, at this particular point, not a popular man, neither in Germany and certainly not in the United States, Enten went on.

Donald Trump is a more popular guy than Elon Musk is. Thats the bottom line, he said, indicating Trump is about even.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If anything, Musk is pulling Trump downnot the other way around, Enten said of the X CEO whom Trump named to lead DOGE, a government efficiency office.

Musk is actually potentially someone who can make Trump less well-liked in this country.

There also appears to be a link between Musks approval rating and global deliveries of Teslas, Enten also explained.

While 2022 and 2023 saw jumps of 40 percent and 38 percent, respectively, last year had a loss of 1 percentfor the first time in a very long time, Enten said.

So look, this isnt helping Elon Musk, he told Burnett. There are a lot of things going on in the car business, but this relationship aint working for him.
Elon Musk is mulling legal action against creepy Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for suggesting he performed the Nazi salute during his speech after President Donald Trumps inauguration earlier this month.

Now a fixture in Trumps inner circle, Musk took to the stage at Capitol One Arena on Jan. 20, delivering an address to ecstatic MAGA supporters before thumping his heart with his right hand, and then extending it out in front of him.

My heart goes out to you, he said during a dinner held after the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since then, Musks gestures have gone viral, almost immediately sparking scrutiny and debates, with critics comparing them to the victory salute used in Nazi Germany called the Sieg Heil. On Tuesday night, Walz joined those condemning the Tesla founder during an appearance on MSNBC, arguing that theres nothing unclear or vague about what occurred onstage.

We spent three days debating, or trying to debate that President Musk gave a Nazi salute. Of course he did, said Walz, who ran alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in her failed bid for the White House.

A clip featuring the soundbite has been widely shared across social media since it aired, including on X, which is owned by Musk.

Creepy Tim Walz says of course Elon did a Nazi salute, one X user wrote. I hope Elon sues him for all hes worth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The MAGA billionaire responded to the post early Wednesday: I think I will, he said. He also seemingly agreed with the netizens assessment of Walz, and went on to similarly call him a creepy clown by way of emoji.

Musk also got some support from his mother, Maye Musk, who suggested he take it a step further and sue several media outlets, including CNN and PBS NewsHour.

The SpaceX founder, who is also an advisor to Trump, has otherwise appeared mostly unbothered by the controversy swirling around his post-Inauguration address. Amid the backlash, he shared a series of jokes on X, each of them seemingly featuring a Nazi pun.

Some people will Goebbels anything down! he joked, referencing Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister.

Another read: Bet you did nazi that coming.
Elon Musk is considering suing media outlets that called his gesture onstage at a post-inauguration rally a Nazi salute.

His mother is egging him on.

During the rally at Capitol One Arena in Washington last week, the MAGA billionaire and adviser to President Donald Trump twice raised his right arm at an upward angle.

Musk has dismissed any comparisons of his move to a fascist salute, calling it tired.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the Tesla CEO radically escalated his pushback against the criticism, musing in a tweet that it would be a good idea to sue Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, after Walz gave his verdict on whether Musk gave a Nazi salute on her show Tuesday: Of course he did.

Maye Musk, the billionaires mother, suggested he up the ante and sue other media outlets that have likened the gesture to a fascist salute, including CNN and PBS News.

She said she has been the recipient of so much hatred because of a CNN segment in which Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell challenged Republican pundit Scott Jennings, who defended Musk, to imitate the gesture.

I have been receiving so much hatred because of the @CNN panel with @crampell yelling about Nazi salutes. @elonmusk , please sue them.

Thank you @ScottJenningsKY for trying to intervene with the truth. https://t.co/YsswNI7GSP  Maye Musk (@mayemusk) January 29, 2025

Jennings evaded her request.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PBS NewsHour reported last week that Musk gave what appeared to be a fascist salute.

Some observers have said that, Musks intent aside, there is no argument about what the gesture he made represents.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a New York University history professor who studies fascism, tweeted that he made a Nazi salute-and a very belligerent one too.

Amy Spitalnick, the head of the nonprofit Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said the salute itself should be enough to warrant condemnation and attention.

Journalist Michel Friedman, a former president of the European Jewish Congress, told Tagesspiegel that, of Musks gesture, that taboos are being broken to a point that is dangerous for the entire free world and slammed Musk for what he called the masses of anti-semitic tweets that are tolerated on his social media platform X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk has endorsed the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland in next months German federal election, and addressed a rally of the partys supporters on Saturday, where he encouraged Germans to move beyond their past guilt over the Holocaust.

Several prominent figures have also raced to Musks defense.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the billionaire is being falsely smeared. The Anti-Defamation League excused his awkward gesture, though it condemned him for subsequently tweeting jokes about Nazis.
In a post on the social media platform X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed Tuesday that the Biden Administration left two astronauts stranded and said President Donald Trump has asked SpaceX to step in to rescue them.

But NASA already put such a plan in place months ago when it asked SpaceX to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station as part of its Crew-9 mission. A delay in that plan was then announced in December because mission teams said they needed more time to prepare a new SpaceX vehicle.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so, Musks post reads. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump reiterated the remark, saying the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration.

They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station, the post reads. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

When asked for comment about the ambiguous declarations from Musk and Trump, NASA replied that it is expeditiously working to safely return the agencys SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts, as move that, in the agencys words, will take place as soon as practical.

Its still not clear whether, at the behest of the Trump administration, the agency will make any adjustments to the schedule it has had in place for weeks. NASA did not respond to follow-up questions Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CNN also reached out to SpaceX and the White House for comment. Neither immediately responded.

While Williams and Wilmores situation is unusual, with the two astronauts unable to return home on the Boeing spacecraft that took them to the space station, their return trip is slated to be relatively routine, as they are due to fly home with other astronauts as part of a scheduled crew rotation.

Williams and Wilmore piloted the first crewed mission of Boeings Starliner spacecraft, which launched from Florida in June 2024 and experienced a rocky journey to the ISS. The astronauts were initially slated to spend about a week at the orbiting laboratory.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, Boeing's Crew Flight Test Commander and Pilot respectively, inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station on August 9, 2024. - NASA

After Starliner arrived at the space station, NASA and Boeing worked for weeks to better understand the problems  including helium leaks and propulsion issues  that plagued the first leg of the test mission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NASA ultimately decided it was too risky to return Starliner with crew. And the agency announced last August that it was asking SpaceX to bring Williams and Wilmore home aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule. That vehicle is currently docked with the space station, where Williams and Wilmore have become official members of the ISS staff as they await their return home.

A timeline for return

NASA previously said that the Crew-9 capsule would return home as soon as February. But the agency updated that timeline in December, saying that SpaceX needed more time to complete the capsule it would use for the Crew-10 mission, which, following NASAs precedence, would need to launch before Crew-9 leaves the ISS. At the time, the agency said Crew-9 would target its return no earlier than late March.

In its statement Wednesday, NASA indicated the Crew-9 spacecraft would not return home with Williams and Wilmore before Crew-10 arrives at the ISS. Such a move would leave just one astronaut  NASAs Don Pettit, who flew to the station aboard a Russian Soyuz vehicle  to manage the entire US-controlled section of the ISS.

Crew-9 will return home as soon as practical, the space agencys statement reads, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement to CNN, former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson  who helmed the agency under Biden and stepped down from the post when Trump took office earlier this month  said, SpaceX will bring Butch and Suni back on a Dragon spacecraft as Crew 9 on a regular rotation after Crew 10 has arrived. The handover from one crew to the other is important to maintain the ISS and keep all astronauts safe.

While acknowledging that there have been difficult parts of their mission, Williams and Willmore appeared in good spirits during a January 8 interview from the space station.

We have plenty of clothes. We are well fed, Wilmore said.

Williams added, Its just a great team and  no, it doesnt feel like were castaways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eventually we want to go home, she added, because we left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do while were up here.

Williams completed a spacewalk last week and both Williams and Wilmore are scheduled to venture out of the ISS for another spacewalk Thursday.

We have absolutely insisted on safety

Since mission teams began the long process of evaluating the Starliner spacecrafts issues  and ultimately deciding to bring Williams and Wilmore home on a SpaceX capsule  officials at both NASA and Boeing have insisted that the astronauts were never stranded.

Steve Stich, NASAs commercial crew program manager, noted during a news conference last year that Williams and Wilmore always had the option to fly home on Starliner in case of an emergency or, once the SpaceX Crew-9 vehicle arrived, to get back to Earth aboard that vessel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In my view, theyre never stuck or stranded, Stich said. They always had a way to depart the space station. And to me, when somebody is stranded, theres a location where they cannot leave.

In an interview with CNN last week, Nelson, the former NASA chief, spoke in depth about the decision to extend the astronauts stay in space, emphasizing that the decision was made with astronaut safety top of mind  and despite Boeings objections.

Among NASA leadership, the decision announced in August to fly Williams and Wilmore home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon rather than Starship was unanimous.

Pam (Melroy, the deputy administrator, and) the number three position at NASA, Bob Cabana, had all flown in space  the three of us, Nelson said. So all three of us were enormously impacted by the experiences that we had had (with the Columbia and Challenger disasters), and as a result of that, we have absolutely insisted on as much safety as we could have  and we have pounded that message.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nelson added, At the end, there was a disagreement with Boeing. Boeing thought it was safe for them to come back on the Starliner. But NASA was unanimous in saying that they should not return on Starliner.

Thats why the agency opted to bring the astronauts home on SpaceXs Crew-9.

Whats next for Butch and Suni

SpaceXs Crew-9 mission, which also includes NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov among its crew, arrived at the orbiting outpost in September. Williams and Wilmore have now been on the station for more than seven months, and they will have tallied up roughly nine months in space if they return home in late March or early April.

Routine missions to the International Space Station regularly last six months. But its not uncommon for astronauts to get an unexpected extension while in orbit  for days, weeks or even months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, for example, holds the US record for the longest continuous stay on the space station. He spent 371 days there on a mission that ended in 2023.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
X owner Elon Musk said on Wednesday morning he thinks he will sue creepy Tim Walz after the Minnesota governor said of course Musk did a Nazi salute at an inauguration rally for President Donald Trump.

I think I will, Musk said in response to an X post calling for him to sue Walz. Tim Walz is a creepy [clown face emoji].

The X post from Robby Starbuck included a video of Walzs appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday. During his appearance, Walz said the country had just spent several days debating whether the billionaire  whom he referred to as President Musk  had given a Nazi salute.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course he did, Walz insisted.

Musk was criticized by many for a gesture he made on Jan. 20, in which he twice slapped his chest and extended his right arm outward to a crowd of Trump supporters in Washington, D.C. His detractors said it looked just like a Nazi salute, while others defended him, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Musk had been falsely smeared.

I think I will.



Tim Walz is a creepy   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025

Walzs press office did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment.

Musk spent $277 million during the 2024 election to help Republicans and Trump win. Trump and JD Vance, of course, beat Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Walz, who would have served as her vice president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk also posted on X that it was a good idea for him to sue Walz and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. Last week, Maddow said Musks gesture was something that looks like what is politely called the Roman salute.

She added: And maybe this is not what he meant when he did it. Who among us knows what is in the hearts of men? Mr. Musk has not yet commented on what he was doing here, but the Roman salute is a thing, and that is what it looks like Elon  Elon Musk was doing, which added a nice bloodcurdling chill to the day for many people today.

Musk, according to Bloombergs Billionaires Index, is worth $428 billion, easily making him the richest person in the world.

The post Elon Musk Says He Thinks Hell Sue Creepy Tim Walz Over Nazi Claim | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Barely 10 days into Donald Trumps second term, Elon Musk appears largely immune from the vicious, intramural power struggles over White House policy that are all too common among presidential allies. Thats because Muskwith his bottomless bank account and media megaphonecurrently occupies a position of near-unparalleled access, reverence, and even fear that is eclipsed by few others in Trumps extended orbit, more than half-dozen sources tell The Dispatch.

Right now, hes bulletproof, a Republican operative said of Musk, the 53-year-old billionaire businessman who is leading Trumps Department of Government Efficiency. Several Republican insiders and conservative activists, who requested anonymity to discuss both Musk and the president, offered similar views.

Upon unexpectedly entering the White House for his first term, Trump was surrounded by a tiny but dedicated group of loyalists, primarily family members. Now as the president begins his second term, he has a much-expanded list of reliable supporters he could count to enact his agenda. Notable exceptions aside, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and eldest son Donald Trump Jr., Musk towers (politically) over them all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats due partially to Musks fame as the driving force behind Tesla and SpaceX, and the fortune these and other companies have made him. Another factor is Musks ownership of X, the social media platform he purchased when it was known as Twitter and has used to amplify far-right populist commentary. Theres also the fact that Musk spent $250 million of his own money to boost Trump over Kamala Harris in 2024.

This unique combination of personal, professional, and political attributes has earned Musk both respect and goodwill on the right.

Indeed, many Republicans and conservative activists feel a sense of gratitude and validation that Musk, who like most technology industry executives formerly supported Democrats, is now on their side. Theres also the fear factor. Musk lords over one of the worlds largest digital information platforms and can afford to spend hundreds of millions on politics. Crossing him publicly is not without risk. Musk might not be the most powerful figure in Trumps circle, but only he comes close to matching the capabilities and strength the president wields versus political opponents.

Musk truly is untouchable right now, a Republican lobbyist told The Dispatch. Everyone is scared of him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That doesnt mean Musk has unfettered access to Trump.

The president has empowered Wiles to run a West Wing that is less freewheeling than during his first term. Nor has Musk escaped criticism from conservative and Make America Great Again activists generally, as was the case when he publicized his support for the federal government issuing H-1B visas, designed to accelerate U.S. admission of high-skilled immigrants who can immediately fill technology industry jobs. (As Reuters reported, on this issue, Trump sided with Musk.)

But few, if any of the presidents supporters, have been willing to take Musk to the woodshed. I have heard ZERO about any of this other than the [Steve] Bannon stuff, one GOP lobbyist told The Dispatch. Unless someone else can shoot an even bigger rocket into space and then catch it with chopsticks in the exact location it launched from, then hell no.

Bannon, a top Trump campaign and White House adviser in 2016 and 2017, now hosts War Room, a podcast and video program that emerged over the past four years as a key voice of the new MAGA establishment of political groups and media outlets. In a telephone interview with The Dispatch this week, Bannon claimed there is more unhappiness with Musk on the right than is publicly apparentincluding from inside the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyre afraid, Bannon said. I get, everyday, dozens of phone calls, of people, from the White House staff and outside, supporting what Im doing.

Some of the stuff [Musk] does is quite good, Bannon continued, citing Musks campaign contributions that helped fund voter turnout efforts. He deserves a seat at the tablethe table shouldnt be the Cabinet room; he shouldnt be at the head of it.

Bannon said Musks relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), dealings related to Tesla doing business in China, is problematic. Ive always had a problem with this closeness with the CCP and quite frankly [his position] of influence with the CCP. Hes a cheerleader for themhas been. On their 100th anniversary, were condemning them, putting on conferences to condemn them, hes saying how great  they are. He never criticizes the Chinese Communist Party.

The White House did not comment when asked to respond to Bannons remarks, but some in the GOP see Bannons criticism as self-serving. Bannon is basically using Elon to elevate himself, one Republican operative with Trumpworld ties said. Bannon versus Elon conveniently elevates him to an equal of the richest man in the worldBannon is no dummy when it comes to picking his battles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ultimately, Musks fate with the Trump administration rests with the president.

Trump has a history of placing a great deal of trust in fierce loyalists and giving them broad latitude to use their relationship with him to throw their weight around in internal battles. But Trump also has a history of souring on these same loyalists, and ejecting them from his circle of trust, especially if he concludes they are using proximity to him for selfish ends or threatening to cast a shadow on his star. Bannon has experienced both ends of this pendulum; so has close confidant Corey Lewandowski.

Those are the risks Musk has to mitigate to maintain his exalted status.

The danger is that he has his own point of view and is very publiches probably the most quoted person in the world, a veteran Republican operative supportive of Trump told The Dispatch. Trump views himself as the most important voice. He views [Musk] as advantageous now but for how long?

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.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says Elon Musk is helping speed up the arrival of the Next Air Force One.

The planemaker has lost more than $2 billion producing the long-delayed presidential aircraft.

President Donald Trump "wants the airplane sooner," Ortberg told CNBC.

Elon Musk is helping Boeing speed up production of the Next Air Force One, the planemaker's CEO told CNBC.

Also known as the VC-25B, costs and delays have snowballed since Boeing was tapped in 2015 to build a new presidential aircraft.

It was initially set to be delivered in 2024, but the timeframe has been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has reported losses of more than $2 billion on the program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC.

He added that discussions had been constructive and praised the Department of Government Efficiency.

"They sincerely are looking at things in the contract or in the process that are slowing us down that are not providing value," Ortberg said.

"We're engaging with the DOGE team to see if we can't find that right mix of requirements that need to come out and get out of our way so we can be more efficient and deliver a better product," he added.

Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016

During President Donald Trump's first term, he renegotiated the terms  threatening to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To cut costs, Boeing agreed in 2018 to use two jets originally destined for a Russian airline that went bankrupt.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that production problems included one Boeing employee not being properly credentialed to oversee the work and another failing a routine drug test.

Mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the future presidential jets, the Journal reported.

What will the Next Air Force One look like?

In 2023, then-President Joe Biden chose a light-blue livery after Trump's design was found to be a cause for delays. Courtesy of the Air Force

At his inaugural ball earlier this month, Trump signaled his appetite for the new presidential jet by cutting a cake adorned with the VC-25B.

Notably, the model had a red, white, and blue design  unlike the light blue used for every presidential jet since the Kennedy era.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2019, Trump showed ABC a similar plane design. "I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," he added.

However, this color scheme was found to cause further delays. The Air Force said a thermal study found that the dark blue would necessitate additional tests because of added heat in some environments.

So in 2023, then-President Joe Biden chose a light-blue livery, in line with the current and previous Air Force Ones  but it seems like Trump would prefer his original design.

Read the original article on Business Insider
America's oligarch-in-chief Elon Musk is extending his tendrils beyond the half-baked Department of Government Efficiency and into the Office of Personnel Management, which is essentially the HR body for federal agencies.

The top brass of the OPM has been hollowed out to make room for Musk's former henchmen, according to federal sources tapped by Wired, where they're poised to "monitor and enforce" loyalty to Trump across the federal government, University of Michigan's Don Moynihan told the magazine.

Though Trump's pick for OPM director, Scott Kupor, still has to pass Senate and DHS scrutiny, the soil is already being prepared for his arrival by appointees, some of whom are so inexperienced that their qualifications sound like a surreal joke about Musk's penchant for nepotism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"One, a senior adviser to the director, is a 21-year-old whose online resume touts his work for Palantir," per Wired, while another "who reports directly to Scales, graduated from high school in 2024." A copy of the latter's resume include his summer internship with Musk's Neuralink, alongside jobs as  we assure you that we are not joking  a camp counselor and bike mechanic.

Although both these tykes are ostensibly poised to rip and tear through America's federal agencies, Wired declined to name them "because of their ages"  a somewhat baffling choice given that both appear to be of legal age. (And if they're not, well, that's a much bigger problem.)

Populating the OPM with naive-yet-loyal yes men seems to be a key strategy in Trump's plan to drastically cut down the federal workforce. It also follows Musk's disastrous playbook at Twitter  the two young OPM hires are reminiscent of a move the billionaire pulled when he hired his alarmingly junior and inexperienced cousins to facilitate three massive rounds of layoffs as he took over the platform.

Other high-profile Musk-adjacent picks include Chief of Staff Amanda Scales, formerly of Musk's xAI, and senior advisor Ricardo Biasini, former director of operations for Musk's extremely underwhelming and poorly constructed Vegas Hyperloop.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the OPM's general counsel, Trump and Musk have installed the self-described "raging misogynist" Andrew Kloster, a disaster of a pick who was subject to a 2022 restraining order for domestic violence allegations.

And if the official staff list is giving you a sinking feeling of despair, other people calling the shots at OPM aren't government personnel at all.

On Monday, some federal HR chiefs received a memo from the OPM's acting director regarding hiring freezes and return-to-office orders, making concrete some of Trump's promises to drastically cut down the federal workforce. Eagle-eyed redditors quickly found the memos contained metadata which linked back to Noah Peters and James Sherk  two right-wing lobbyists who aren't officially affiliated with the OPM, but who are officially connected to the ultra-right Project 2025.

That memo led to a class-action lawsuit on behalf of two federal employees, alleging that the OPM set up its own internal server for the purpose of storing federal employee data in one central location. The suit alleges that OPM chief of staff Amanda Scales received and stored the information without ever running a privacy assessment  directly violating a United States Digital Service statute from 2002.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The OPM's growing menagerie of Musk-lackeys is troubling news, indicating that the tech mogul has been granted carte-blanche to hand out the keys to the kingdom to anyone he wants  even if they can't legally buy alcohol.

More on our oligarchy: Trump Gives Elon Musk Access to All Unclassified Data in the US Government
On Wednesday morning, a realistic drill at the Orange County Convention Center prepared agencies for terror attacks, emphasizing teamwork and safety for the millions of annual visitors.

Imagine a busy morning at the Orange County Convention Center. Suddenly, gunshots ring out. People scream and run. Thankfully, it was just a drill, but a very realistic one designed to prepare everyone for a potential terror attack.

This massive exercise, organized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), simulated a coordinated attack. Police rushed in to confront the attackers, while firefighters and EMTs treated victims with incredibly realistic fake injuries. The goal? To see how well different agencies work together in a crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These drills let us practice our plans in a safe way, explained Steve Harris from CISA. He emphasized how vital teamwork is between local, state, and federal groups.

Read: Florida immigration enforcement bill sent to DeSantis after special session vote

The Convention Center is a huge, important place, hosting nearly 2 million visitors every year. Thats why these drills are so crucial. Public safety here is a big challenge, said Julius Jay Gamble, also from CISA. These drills help us build a strong, united response to any threat.

Over 200 people took part, from actors playing panicked crowds to real deputies, EMTs, and federal agents. Sheriff John Mina stressed the importance of training together: This is how we keep our community safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Trump White House rescinds order freezing federal grants after widespread confusion

The Convention Centers Executive Director, Mark Tester, called the drill invaluable, saying guests and employees deserve to feel safe.

While it was just a simulation, the lessons learned are real. Over the next week, officials will analyze everything, looking for ways to improve communication, evacuations, and medical care. Fire Rescue Chief Martis Mack pointed out how crucial quick medical help is in saving lives, and these drills make sure teams are ready.

Even though Central Florida hasnt experienced an attack like this, officials know they have to be prepared. In a real emergency, theres no time for mistakes. These drills help us fix any problems beforehand, Mack said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Convention Center will use what they learned to make their safety plans even better, so Orlando stays a safe place for everyone to visit.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




(Bloomberg) -- Englands National Health Service is complacent, reforms have stalled and senior officials arent ready to make the radical changes needed to fix the ailing state-run system, a committee of lawmakers said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

NHS Englands delay in approving final budgets hampered the decision-making ability of local groups within the service, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said in a report published Wednesday as part an of inquiry into the NHSs financial sustainability. The health service also displays a remarkable complacency, the members of Parliament said in the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ambitions for widespread digitalization and moving care out of hospitals and into the community have also not been achieved, they said.

The health service faces major challenges including a backlog of over 7 million appointments, an aging population and a lack of investment dating back more than 10 years. The finances of the countrys hospitals are also dire, with dozens of operators not breaking even, Bloomberg has previously reported, potentially threatening the quality of care they can offer.

But lawmakers took aim at the attitude of NHS officials who gave evidence. Given the position of the NHS, forcing this Committee to wade through treacle by mouthing the same stale platitudes of incremental change is simply not going to cut it, committee chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said.

The NHS hit back, accusing MPs of including basic factual inaccuracies and having a flawed understanding of how the NHS and the governments financial processes work. The health service has been open about the problems it faces with productivity, and has set out how it will improve, a spokesperson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The NHSs problems are more due to political short-termism than the fault of officials and accounting rules, said Hugh Alderwick, director of policy at the Health Foundation think tank.

Cuts to capital budgets, reductions in the public health grant and the failure to reform social care have taken a severe toll, he said.

The UKs Labour government is working on a 10-year plan to overhaul the NHS, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said faces a reform or die moment.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
ENID, Okla. (KFOR)  Authorities in Enid have arrested a 17-year-old male after reports of gunfire on Monday.

According to Enid Police, officers alongside investigators responded to reports of gunfire around 4:37 p.m. on Monday in the 2100 block of East Eucalyptus.

UPDATE: Norman PD capture armed suspect

Police say they learned that multiple shots had been fired during the incident, leading to a 17-year-old male being arrested at the scene on a complaint of minor in possession of a firearm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No injuries were reported as the investigation continues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has halted disbursement of federal aid as part of an order from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to halt loan and grant distribution, officials with the agency confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday.

In a memo issued Monday, OMB imposed a deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday to pause all financial assistance spending while it assesses the alignment of assistance programs with President Trumps policy agenda. OMB acting Director Matthew Vaeth directed all federal agencies to freeze all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance to the extent admissible by applicable law.

EPA is working diligently to implement the Office of Management and Budgets memorandum, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs, to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through President Trumps priorities, an EPA spokesperson said in an email to The Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agency is temporarily pausing all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of EPA Federal financial assistance at this time. EPA is continuing to work with OMB as they review processes, policies, and programs, as required by the memorandum.

Potentially affected EPA activities include the agencys Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program, as well as grant programs related to air pollution, childrens health and competitive grant funding through the Office of Land and Emergency Management.

The Energy Department also appears to be pausing at least some of its funding.

The Department of Energy is conducting a department-wide review, which includes funding such as grants and loans, to ensure all activities are consistent with President Trumps executive orders and priorities, said an administration spokesperson, who did not elaborate on which specific funds were being halted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, it was reported earlier this week that the department had already frozen spending on loan guarantees.

The memo prompted widespread confusion as state Medicaid programs reported loss of access to federal payment portals. Democratic lawmakers have denounced the move as illegal under federal laws requiring the executive branch to spend money allocated by acts of Congress. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) also criticized the memo Tuesday, saying this is far too sweeping and will have an adverse effect on the delivery of services and programs.

Rachel Frazin contributed.

 Updated at 4:32 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.
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO) is looking for two suspects who were involved in a robbery at a 7-Eleven in the Stratmoor area.

On Oct. 3, 2024, the EPSO Regional Communications Center received a call at around midnight regarding an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven convenience store located in the 1400 Block of B Street in the Stratmoor Valley neighborhood near South Academy Boulevard.

Deputies responded to the location and began an investigation. According to the store employee, two suspects displaying firearms demanded cash from the register and then fled the scene in an unknown make or model silver sedan. EPSO is now asking the community to help identify these suspects.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriffs Office tip line at (719)-520-7777. This case remains an active, ongoing 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 FOX21 News Colorado.
(WJET/WFXP)  Eries Public Schools are one step closer to naming a new superintendent with three finalists for the job being announced Tuesday along with a chance for families to meet them.

The Erie School District School Board has been searching nationwide for a new superintendent since current Superintendent Brian Polito announced in September 2024 that he intends to retire after the 2024-25 school year.

Brian Polito announces intent to retire from Eries Public Schools

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After a lengthy search that included a great deal of public interest, the school board has narrowed its list of potential candidates to the following three people:

Dr. Rainey Briggs, superintendent, School District of Baraboo in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Dr. Natalyn Gibbs, executive director of schools/associate superintendent, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ms. Teresa Szumigala, assistant superintendent of Eries Public Schools.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Families will get the chance to meet the candidates at their respective forums at the school districts new administrative building at 1910 Sassafras Street in the coming weeks as part of the fifth and final stage of the school districts hiring process.

Dr. Briggs forum will be held on Monday, Feb. 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The forum for Ms. Szumigala will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and the forum for Dr. Gibbs will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Erie School District making progress moving into new administration building

A short biography for each candidate is available on Eries Public Schools 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
(WSYR-TV)  Volunteers with Erins Angels have been working for years to ensure children have food to eat. With some upcoming fundraisers on tap, you can help them continue their mission.

Founder and director of Erins Angels, Sheila Dion, and Baldwinsville Rotary Club board of directors member Katherine Reap, are spreading the word about what is coming up at the Purple Party Fundraiser/Battle of the Mayors event.

In this unique competition, Phoenix Mayor Brian Borchik and Fulton Mayor James Rice will go head-to-head in a Mayoral Mix-Off, showcasing their bartending skills as they vie to earn the most tips.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All proceeds from competition will support the Feed Our Future Scholarship Program, providing scholarships for deserving Oswego County students in 2025.

The event will feature an evening of fun, community spirit, and a chance to support a good cause. Each tip given to the mayors will not only boost their chances of being crowned the Tip Champion but will also contribute to funding educational opportunities for local students.

Joey Walker from 93 Q will also be a guest bartender to kick off the evening. Other guest bartenders include Megan Swidowski from the Bridge House Brats program and Phoenix Village Administrator Jim Lynch.

Sheila Dion shares seven ways you can make a difference in a childs life:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Phoenix Central School District Backpack Program-Erins Angels works with approximately 100 students weekly to ensure they are sent home with food to supplement and provide meals while they arent in school. Donate here.

Outreach Program- Providing food to school districts as needed and through partnerships with other nonprofits. This program has a positive impact through our collective efforts. Donate here.

Summer Meals Program- We ensure that children in the PCSD have access to weekend meals and snacks, allowing them to enjoy their summer and return to school ready to thrive. Donate here.

Ice Cream Program- We believe that if Erins Angels children had an ice cream treat every now and again it would brighten their day and it could help them foster a new friendship or even just help them feel included. Donate here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholarship Program- By investing in the education of our youth, we pave the way for a brighter future and empower individuals to make a positive impact on the world. Donate here.

Endowment Program- The Erins Angels Endowed Fund at the Upstate Foundation will ensure that this critical mission will serve generations of schoolchildren in the future. Donate here.

The Purple Party Fundraiser/Battle of the Mayors event is this Saturday, February 1 Phoenix Veterans of Foreign Wars from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged.

For more information, visit ErinsAngels.com or contact Sheila Dion at (315) 934-0181.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  Students in Escambia County, Florida will soon have to head back to the classrooms on a day they were not originally scheduled for as last weeks winter weather forced many schools along the Gulf Coast to close their doors.

UPDATE: Body located by ALEA officials in the lower Delta Wednesday morning

Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard set Feb. 17 as a makeup day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a news release from Escambia County Public Schools, the day, which was originally scheduled as a professional development day for teachers and staff, needed to be changed to a full instructional day.

No one could have predicted four days off for ice and snow in Escambia County, Superintendent Leonard said. In order to be sure our students are receiving optimal instructional time, we will use February 17th as a make-up day.

Santa Rosa County homicide suspect claims God told him to stab woman to death

With the day returning to instructional time, all schools and offices will operate on regular schedules with transportation and food services for students.

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.
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Fear is growing among migrant communities across the county as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Many worry that law-abiding migrants may also be caught in mass deportations.

This concern was a focal point in a monthly meeting at the Escondido Police Department, where local pastors and chaplains gathered to address questions about the role police might play in immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration.

Our community is asking, Are they [police] going to be helping the community, or are they going to help ICE? said Pastor Alexandra Moon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pastor Ronald Guerra said fear has affected his parish, with many members skipping church services to avoid public spaces. Similar concerns have affected attendance at The Foundry Community Church food pantry, which serves low-income Hispanic families.

ICE encounters reported in San Diego County as mass deportation fears grow

We know its because of the fear they have of being in public spaces, churches, because they dont know, they are uncertain if somebody is going to be there to take them, Moon said.

The fear also extends to health care.

Overnight MTS bus service to San Ysidro now available

Chaplain Joe Cole, head chaplain at Palomar Health, is worried that undocumented immigrants may avoid hospitals, even when they need medical attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It would always be a concern that somebody would not receive medical care, they would not choose to come and get checked out for whatever reason, because they felt scared, because of some other circumstances. We dont want that, Cole said.

Was there an ICE raid at Rady Childrens Hospital?

During the meeting, Escondido Police officials reassured community leaders they are not working with ICE and are adhering to California law.

The police have made it very clear that they are following what California law is, and they are not working with immigration here in Escondido, said Councilmember Joe Garcia, who also serves as a pastor. Its important to set the record straight and communicate that to our congregations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To ease fears, Escondido Police have offered to meet with church members to answer questions and disprove misinformation, especially on social media.

People need to hear directly from the source, Garcia said. We need to share accurate information with our communities and remind them of the resources available.

Community leaders hope these efforts will encourage migrants to access vital services without fear.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's drive to simplify rules will not weaken the bloc's climate change goals, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

She was speaking on Wednesday after the Commission published a plan to boost EU competitiveness, the first of a series of EU policies to support industries, as it seeks to present a counter-offer to U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to scrap regulation.

Von der Leyen said Brussels would need to adapt its rules as industries undertake the clean energy transition - but that this would not mean weakening its targets to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, and zero them out by 2050.

"We stay the course. The goals are cast in stone," she told a news conference. "The goals stay, the objective stays, but we want to reach it better and faster. And for that, we have to reduce complexity."

Europe and the U.S. have diverged in their approaches to climate change.

After taking office last week, Trump halted U.S. government clean tech funding and quit the Paris climate agreement.

Von der Leyen said Europe's plan to boost competitiveness was not at odds with its green agenda - since both aim to expand the local manufacturing of clean technologies and renewable energy.

But she faces pressure from some industries, governments and lawmakers to weaken climate policies that are designed to ensure Europe meets its emissions targets.

Countries, including Poland, want to delay a planned EU carbon market for transport and heating fuels. Italy and the Czech Republic are among those opposing the EU's 2035 phase-out of combustion engine cars, and centre-right lawmakers have proposed delaying the EU's carbon border tax.

EU proposals due late next month will offer a first signal of the extent to which Brussels plans cut red tape - a mission it embarked on months ago that has gathered urgency now Trump is back in office.

The EU confirmed on Wednesday that next month's measures will include pared-back reporting requirements for businesses under three EU sustainability rules, "among others".

The three policies being tackled first are the EU's sustainable finance reporting law, its due diligence rules, and its "taxonomy" defining which investments can be labelled as climate-friendly.

EU officials say Brussels is also considering adding the carbon border tariff to next month's simplification package.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Barbara Lewis)
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has warned of possible armed conflicts in space.

At the European Space Conference in Brussels, she said that space is just as contested as land, sea, air or cyberspace.

There is already hybrid warfare in space, for example through the disruption of satellite-based navigation systems, she added.

Kallas also recalled an incident in which Russia tested an anti-satellite missile.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The EU must therefore prepare to defend its security in space as well, she said.

"The security of our satellites is the security of our societies," the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs added.

To date, EU states have often worked separately in this area, which is why Kallas called for more co-operation.
The European Union will not include a complete ban on the purchase of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a new sanctions package against Russia.

Source: Politico, citing two EU diplomats, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The sources noted that the European Commission is set to officially present the 16th sanctions package against Russia in the EU capitals on Wednesday, 29 January.

The proposal will not include a complete ban on LNG imports. Instead, it will only prevent Russian LNG from reaching EU terminals that are not connected to the common gas distribution system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This restriction will not affect most LNG imports.

In addition to LNG, the sanctions package will propose measures targeting older oil-exporting tankers operating as part of what is known as Russia's shadow fleet, the diplomats added.

Two other EU diplomats said 74 new vessels would be subject to sanctions.

Furthermore, the proposal will aim to restrict aluminium exports from Moscow. The EU still relies on Russia for approximately 6% of its aluminium imports.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas expressed regret that the new sanctions will not apply to Russian LNG.

"To a certain extent, we are disappointed," Vaiciunas told Politico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the same time, he expressed hope that a ban on Russian LNG would be agreed upon soon.

Background:

A group of 10 EU countries is pushing for stricter measures against Russia by imposing restrictions on natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

Earlier, Rikard Jozwiak, Europe Editor for the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reported that the 16th package of sanctions would target Russian aluminium, agricultural products, the shadow fleet of tankers, LNG and the banking sector.

Support UP or become our patron!
The European Union has proposed imposing tariffs on the remaining agricultural products arriving from Russia and Belarus that are currently not subject to customs duties, as well as on certain nitrogen-based fertilisers.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Several EU member states are pushing for additional measures to reduce Russias revenues and decrease the EUs dependence on Moscow. However, there have been concerns in the past about the impact of such measures on food prices in Europe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "We aim to weaken further Russias war economy, while reducing EU dependencies, supporting our industry, and preserving global food security. We will take every step necessary to protect our fertilisers industry and farmers," said EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

Details: Unlike sanctions, which require unanimous support from all 27 member states, these tariffs need only a qualified majority  15 states representing 65% of the blocs population.

Any action concerning fertilisers is likely to be welcomed by the European fertiliser industry, which has long advocated for additional protective measures.

Under the EU proposal, exports to non-EU countries or the transit of agricultural products to those nations will not be subject to the tariffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This week, the EU extended its sanctions against Russia for another six months after overcoming a block by Hungary. Member states are currently discussing the 16th package of sanctions targeting Moscow over its war against Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
The European Union is proposing a gradual ban on imports of Russian aluminium as part of a large-scale package of sanctions ahead of the third anniversary of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Bloomberg with reference to its sources

Details: The package also includes sanctions that will exclude about 15 banks from the SWIFT system and measures against more than 70 shadow fleet vessels involved in the transport of Russian oil.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plan stipulates that European buyers will be able to import Russian aluminium under quotas for one year before the ban takes full effect. The plans require the agreement of all member states to be implemented and are subject to change before being formally submitted.

There have been calls for a ban on Russian aluminium since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, and shipments to the EU have been steadily declining as producers look for alternative suppliers.

However, some buyers and member states have so far resisted such measures, arguing that it would be difficult to replace some key products.

Pressure for tougher measures against Russia's steel sector has increased in recent months. Last year, the US and the UK banned Russian metals from trading on the London Metal Exchange, which initially caused sharp price fluctuations and led to a restructuring of global trade flows.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to UN Comtrade, the EU imported about 320,000 tonnes of unprocessed aluminium from Russia in the first 11 months of 2024, accounting for 6% of total imports. Meanwhile, supplies to China have increased significantly.

Background:

Rusal, a company belonging to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, plans to cut metal production by 250,000 tonnes due to the difficult economic situation.

Russian aluminium giant Rusal fears that up to 36% of its sales could be at risk due to sanctions imposed by the US and UK.

Rusal said that the US and UK sanctions will not affect its metal exports, as they do not affect the company's global logistics solutions, access to the banking system or production system.

Support UP or become our patron!
The European Commission announced on Wednesday support for Jordan's political and economic stability with 3 billion ($3.1 billion) in aid over the next three years.

"Jordan has shown tremendous generosity by hosting millions of refugees, and it is wholeheartedly committed to the promotion of peace and security in the region and worldwide," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Brussels.

"Jordan is playing a critical role to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza," von der Leyen added, before stressing the country's effort in supporting the transition in Syria following the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The billions in EU aid are linked to an agreement on a new comprehensive strategic partnership between the EU and Jordan.

The agreement provides for increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime as well as on migration issues.

Jordan is one of the countries in the world with the highest number of refugees per citizen. Many Palestinians and Syrians have found refuge in the country.

According to the EU, the support package includes 640 million in grants, 1.4 billion in investments, and 1 billion in loans for economic assistance.
In its latest round of sanctions, the European Union (EU) is proposing to introduce a phased ban of Russian aluminum, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 28 citing unnamed sources.

The bloc, which covers 8% of its annual aluminum needs by Russian imports, plans to allow for the import of 275,000 metric tons of aluminum under a quota system for one more year before banning it entirely, the outlet reported.

The sanctions will also cut off more Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system, and target an additional 70 vessels suspected to be part of Russias "shadow-fleet."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Imposing or continuing sanctions requires a unanimous decision by the bloc's member states.

The European Union foreign ministers approved the extension of current sanctions against Russia for another six months on Jan. 27, after bumpy negotiations with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has threatened to veto the extension until Ukraine resumes the transit of Russian gas through its territory.

Hungary eventually voted for the renewal of the sanctions package after received the "requested guarantees" on energy security, its foreign minister said.

Ukraine terminated Russian natural gas transit through its territory on Jan. 1. Kyiv has 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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The end of transit led to a spat between Kyiv on one side and Hungary and Slovakia on the other, with the two latter countries complaining the decision endangers their energy security.

Ukraine continues to transit Russian oil, though a bill on banning the transit has been registered in the parliament.

The EU has imposed 15 sanctions packages against Russia, which include restrictions on individuals and legal entities. The limitations also targeted Russias so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and froze Russian assets, among other moves.

Read also: 4 out of 4  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union is proposing a phased ban on imports of Russian aluminum as part of a broad sanctions package ahead of the third anniversary of the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The package  which has been circulated among member states this week  also proposes sanctions that would cut more banks off from the SWIFT banking system, and actions targeting more than 70 dark-fleet vessels involved in shipping Russian oil, the people said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sanctions package would allow European buyers to import 275,000 metric tons of the Russian metal under a quota system for a one-year period, before a full ban comes into effect, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. The import volume quotas would be managed by member states and the EUs executive arm, the document says. The plans will require backing from all member states, and could change before theyre formally proposed to members, the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

The EU imported about 320,000 tons of unwrought aluminum from Russia in the first 11 months of 2024, accounting for 6% of total imports, according to UN Comtrade data. Meanwhile, shipments to China have risen sharply.

There have been calls for the EU to ban Russian aluminum ever since the invasion of Ukraine, and Russias shipments to the bloc have fallen steadily as manufacturers have sought out alternative suppliers. But some buyers and member states have resisted such measures up to now, on the grounds that some key products will be hard to replace in full.

Its not a given that the EU will agree on the package, which would be the 16th against Russia. Hungary has been increasingly resistant to additional penalties on Moscow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The EU struggled to complete a routine six-month renewal of its Russia sanctions regime this week, with Budapest lifting its block on the step only days before the expiration date.

Link: EU Agrees to Extend Russia Sanctions as Hungary Backs Down

But pressure to enact tougher measures on Russias metals sector has grown in recent months. The US and the UK imposed a ban on trading Russian metals on the London Metal Exchange last year, in a move that initially sparked wild price swings on the exchange and accelerated a reordering of global trade flows.

The EU had previously weighed adding LNG to the proposals but thats not in the current proposals and is very likely to be addressed through a roadmap to phase out the commodity, Bloomberg previously reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elsewhere, the EU is proposing to prohibit the temporary storage of Russian oil inside the bloc, extend restrictions on Russian aircraft and Russian-controlled ones, as well as ban transactions with an extensive list of Russian ports and airports that are used for transferring weapons and banned parts needed to make them. That proposal includes exemptions for transfers relating to energy and emergencies.

Other proposals include restrictions on three Russian-controlled banks abroad as well as entities outside the country that use Moscows SWIFT-equivalent system for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS)

The bloc is also proposing restrictions on more software, hardware and other technologies used in weapons systems as well as dozens of companies, including many firms in China, Turkey and other countries that have helped Moscow get around the EUs measures.

Separately, the EU also this week proposed imposing tariffs on the remaining agricultural products coming from Russia and Belarus that arent already facing duties, as well as some nitrogen-based fertilizers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with details on quota in third paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The News

US President Donald Trump called it a wake up call, while tech investor Marc Andreessen said it was a Sputnik moment, but in Europe, the sudden emergence of Chinese AI startup DeepSeeks R1 chatbot was greeted rather differently.

R1 has ripped what was once considered a truism of the industry away  that lots of money and the most-advanced chips are needed to make an AI that can compete with industry leaders like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude. In turn, global markets have been spooked, as investors reconsider whether the US leads on AI, and how much it should cost.

Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, the reaction has been more optimistic, with tech leaders eschewing US alarmism in favor of a more nuanced view of what the model means for innovation on the continent.

The View From Europe

The fact that DeepSeeks low-cost, high-performing chatbot is challenging US AI models that cost billions of dollars to build offers hope to resource-strapped European tech firms, industry experts told Semafor  meaning that Europe can still hope to be a key player in AI innovation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were so fixated on the geopolitical story, Andreas Cleve, CEO and co-founder of Denmark-based AI healthcare company Corti, referring to US-China tech rivalry.

Europes role in developing specialized AI often gets overlooked, he added, stressing that European AI firms should be excited about the fact that [DeepSeeks success] shows were not in the final inning at all.

European startups have historically excelled at building focused, efficient solutions rather than chasing scale at all costs, said Muj Choudhery, co-founder of UK company RocketPhone.ai. DeepSeek suggests theres room for strategic players who can execute well without massive capital outlays.

The UK  the third-largest AI market globally after the US and China, according to the US International Trade Administration  earlier this month published an AI Opportunities Action Plan that emphasized the need for more computing power to stay competitive, including plans to commission a new supercomputer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But DeepSeek demonstrates that AI leadership isnt just about computational scale  efficiency and innovation are powerful advantages, Zoi Roupakia, Policy and AI Research Lead for the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, told Semafor.

In countries like the UK, which has a vibrant research and startup scene but lacks the deep pockets of US tech giants, there is a need to balance infrastructure investment with innovation to succeed, she said.

Room for Disagreement

Other experts were more skeptical of the theory that highly-capable AI models need less compute: Mahdi Yahya, the founder of UK-based AI cloud infrastructure firm Ori, told Semafor that takeaway was completely overblown.

DeepSeeks model relies on a training technique known as model-driven reinforcement learning  where the AI generates tasks for itself to learn from  that also uses intensive amounts of computing power, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The one major benefit, Yahya said, is that R1s method of refining itself after its initial training is far less dependent on user-generated data than other leading-edge models: This could blow open the data bottleneck that is currently holding the industry back.

Still, European Union regulation over AI could throw a spanner in the works for European firms that want to test or even build on DeepSeeks open-source model, said Alexandra Ebert, Chief AI and Data Democratization Officer at Austrian startup MOSTLY AI.

Open-source models theoretically allow any developer anywhere to build on anothers work, but the lack of transparency over the data used to train DeepSeek could contravene the EUs hazy regulations, she said.

Notable
On Tuesday, 28 January, the European Commission approved a proposal to introduce tariffs on various agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as on certain types of nitrogen fertilisers.

Source: European Pravda, citing the European Commission in a statement

Details: The proposal of the EU executive body envisages tariffs on agricultural products that make up 15% of agricultural imports from Russia in 2023, which had not previously been subject to increased tariffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once the proposal is adopted, "all agricultural imports from Russia would be the subject of EU tariffs," the European Commission said.

"The aim of the proposal is to reduce dependencies on imports from Russia and Belarus. Such imports, particularly of fertilisers, make the EU vulnerable to potential coercive actions by Russia and thus present a risk to EU food security," the commission said.

Separately, the EU emphasises that the proposed measures will not affect the transit of Russian agricultural products through the European Union to third countries.

The European Commission's proposal still has to be considered and approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU by a qualified majority.

Background:

The EU has had tariffs on the vast majority of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, primarily grain, since July 2024.

Ukraine, along with Poland and the Baltic states, has long advocated for a complete ban on imports of these goods.

Support UP or become our patron!
Some of the biggest names in the European film industry have joined a call for more regulation of global tech platforms in wake of Donald Trumps presidential inauguration and vocal support of his new government by tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

An online petition titled Defend Our Democracies Against Tech Giants launched on Jan. 24 has gathered more than 1,000 signatures from European industry professionals, including such bold-faced names as Oscar winners Juliette Binoche and Volker Schlondorff, two-time Palme dOr winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and arthouse directors Marjane Satrapi, Rebecca Zotowski and Jessica Hausner.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other prominent film and cultural figures in Europe, including Venice film festival director Alberto Barbera and Nobel Prize-winning Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek, are among the names on the Change.org petition.

How much longer will we tolerate that digital giants from the USA, Russia and China openly defy European laws and challenge our democracies? reads the petition, in part, decrying what it calls an unprecedented offensive against European digital regulations being waged by U.S. tech giants with only one goal: To allow the unrestricted spread of disinformation, the most dangerous hate speech, calls for violence and the most deceitful conspiracy theories.

The petition calls out various digital platforms for their alleged violations of European regulations, including alleged non-compliance with European Union (EU) regulations by Musks X; Zuckerbergs Meta, which recently ended its fact-checking program in the U.S. (it still complies with mandatory fact-checking in Europe); data security issues with Chinese-owned TikTok; and illegal content circulating on Telegram, the social media platform created by Russian programmer Pavel Durov.

Unlike the U.S. where there are few legislative guardrails for digital players, the EU has a number of laws on the books designed to enforce European laws on data protection and illegal content, including hate speech.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many in Europe see a new threat from digital platforms being weaponized to undermine or destabilize their democratic systems. Musk has been vocal in his support of far-right groups in the U.K. and Germany and tweeting against government politicians. Over the weekend, Musk took part in the official campaign kickoff for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party  joining the event via live video link.

Only massive civic mobilization will ensure fair, balanced and protective digital regulation for all European citizens, the petition concludes. Together, lets demand a digital space that aligns with our values and rights.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ukraine and Croatia have discussed strengthening Europes energy security through the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities.

Source: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a briefing with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic

Quote from Shmyhal: "This concerns the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities, which are the largest on the continent  31 billion cubic metres. This can become a strong gas safe for Europe, where Croatia can store its own gas resources. I am confident that this area of cooperation has significant prospects."

Background: Ukraine and Poland are planning to establish an Eastern European gas hub to supply the region with gas from alternative, non-Russian sources.

Support UP or become our patron!
UPDATE 1/31 9:12 A.M. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  On January 30, Franklin County Fire and EMS Chief Mike Fowler reported the Wades Gap Fire to be 100% contained.

All remaining units, including DOF, cleared the scene on Thursday night.

Roanoke County Fire & Rescue contains brush fire near Mount Chestnut Road

Fire personnel will return to the mountain on Friday morning and continue to monitor the situation.



UPDATE 1/30 5:38 P.M. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Franklin County Sheriff has released an evening update on the Wades Gap fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sheriff said that significant progress was made during the day on Thursday, January 20 in the area of Wades Gap near Callaway.

A controlled backburn to further secure containment is now underway by the Virginia Department (DOF) of Forestry after successfully completing the final section of the fire line.

Including the controlled backburn, around 70% of the fire is currently reported as being contained, according to the Franklin County Sheriff. Crews will not leave the area until the upcoming rainfall moves into the area.

Fire officials said that as conditions improve during the overnight hours, some units will begin to demobilize; however, some crews will remain on scene through tomorrow to monitor and ensure containment efforts remain successful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Franklin County extends its sincere appreciation to the volunteer fire companies, neighboring localities, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, and the American Red Cross for their invaluable assistance during this incident. A special thank you also goes out to Joses Mexican Restaurant, Subway, and Jersey Mikes for their generosity, as well as the individuals at Monte Vista Church of the Brethren for their hospitality in caring for first responders and providing their church as a base of operations.

Damage estimates are currently reported between 550 to 600 acres. A determination of the total number of affected acres will occur after a comprehensive assessment.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow any official updates as conditions evolve, the sheriff said.



UPDATE 1/30 2:17 P.M. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Fire crews working the Wades Gap fire are reporting favorable weather conditions throughout the day as they continue to battle along the eastern line.



The latest update from the Franklin County Sheriff reports more progress to close the line at the eastern flank. Crews are working in rugged and steep terrain which requires the use of specialized hand tools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials said they will continue to monitor the perimeter in affected areas and hot spots, as well as continue to stage at known areas of increased risk to provide preventative fire support.

The Virginia Department of Forestry Wildfire Map is currently reporting the fire as 555 acres and 90% contained.

WFXR News will continue to update this story with updated information in the future.



UPDATE 1/30 9:56 A.M. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Franklin County Sheriff has released a morning update on the Wades Gap Fire.

The sheriff said that fire lines held through the night and that crews are continuing to close the eastern flank by cutting new lines to increase containment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The western flank is currently 100% contained.

The eastern flank is currently 50% contained.

A joint agency effort continues that includes Franklin County Fire and EMS, Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Virginia Department of Forestry, Roanoke County Fire, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

A special thank you to Monte Vista Church for opening their doors for command operations and relief and the Department of Social Services and the American Red Cross for establishing and maintaining the shelter.  the Franklin County Sheriffs Office



UPDATE 1/29 8:57 P.M. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Franklin County officials lifted the mandatory evacuation for the Wades Gap/Webster Corner Road area at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, but theyre recommending area residents stay alert overnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Code Red alerts will be sent if another evacuation order comes through, and crews are working to protect people and property.

County officials say the fire is estimated to cover 400-450 acres in the Wades Gap area. High winds, they say, could cause challenges overnight.

WFXR will keep this story updated.



FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Franklin County Sheriffs Office is asking residents in the vicinity of Wades Gap and Webster Corner Road in Callaway to evacuate due to the threat of the large wildfire in the area.

A Code Red message has been sent to all residents within a 5-mile radius of the intersection of Wades Gap and Webster Corner Roads, stating that Franklin County Public Safety is asking all residents on Wades Gap above Webster Corner Road to evacuate at this time. A shelter will be set up at Monte Vista Church of the Brethren at 25 Wades Gap Road for those who need assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Virginia Department of Forestry reports a wildfire near Wades Gap and Webster Corner Road, which is around 50 acres and 0% contained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sheriff said that all local first responder agencies are strongly urging residents and visitors to avoid the area for safety and to allow crews the accessibility to respond to the scene.

The sheriff said in a social media post that multiple homes and land are currently being affected.

Please follow Franklin County, VA, and Franklin County Fire and EMS for additional updates into the evening.

WFXR News is working to learn more and will update this story soon.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  An Evansville police officer who was seriously injured in a car crash last year, has returned home. Officer Jordan Rundle was escorted by police through Evansville and greeted by a cheering crowd of family and friends.

The Evansville community welcomes Officer Rundle back with open arms.

Rundles parents, Matthew and Michelle Rundle, say their son was eager to get home. After weeks of extensive treatment, they say he was ready to get out of the hospital room.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They say their son coming home is a miracle. After the crash in December, they wondered if their son would survive.

Rundle spent time in multiple hospitals including Vanderbilt in Tennessee. Through the ups and downs of recovery, Rundles family says the communitys support remained constant. The homecoming, is just one example. A blood drive was also held on Tuesday afternoon to help support Rundles hospital bills.

Evansville police escorted Rundle through the city, making a stop at a crowd at First Southern Baptist Church.

Even though Rundle is home, his parents say the road to recovery is not over. He will continue physical therapy at home, and go to outpatient treatment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rundles family says he hopes to one day return to doing what he loves, serving the community as a police 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
An Everett Police Officer was placed on paid leave for an alleged domestic assault over the weekend.

Marie Sylvain, 27, of Peabody, was arraigned Tuesday in Malden District Court on two counts of assault and battery on a household or family member, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Prosecutors allege Sylvain bit a man in the face and refused to let go before punching him multiple times during a domestic incident. The victim involved was a person she had previously dated, according to prosecutors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Everett Police Chief Paul Strong confirms Sylvain was suspended with pay.

Sylvain pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on personal recognizance. She was ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the victim, abide by a restraining order, and not possess any firearms.

No further information was immediately available.

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
When President Donald Trump took office, he signed many executive orders including some on immigration.

The crackdown on immigration and his aggressive agenda of deporting undocumented migrants has left many families in a state of panic.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Its a hysterical flood of people trying to get whatever they can do done, immigration attorney Rebecca Black said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Black said shes received an overwhelming number of calls ever since President Trump took office.

His administration has opened the door for federal agents to arrest immigrants in schools, churches, and hospitals.

Action News Jax spoke with one immigrant born in Honduras who recently became a resident. She wanted to remain anonymous to protect her loved ones who are from Honduras.

Everybody is scared. They dont want to go work and stuff or go out because they think that they might find a surprise there, an anonymous woman said.

Its a surprise she said her family doesnt want to find out.

When I was little, like about 8 years old, we came to this store with my mom, and we were still not legal here, the anonymous woman said. And we seen immigration cars sitting out there and saw people sitting out on the sidewalks  and I was terrified.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The anonymous woman told Action News Jax she remembers what it was like to be scared.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I feel sad for the kids because I lived that before, she said.

President Trump is also allowing authorities to begin removing more than a million migrants who were legally admitted to the U.S.

You build this anti-terrorism operation to deport a bunch of house painters, Black said.

The Trump administration said ICE will prioritize violent criminals, but they also said criminal history doesnt matter to them.

If you are an individual, a foreign national who illegally enters the United States of America, you are by definition a criminal, the White Houses new press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

While Black hasnt heard about any ICE agents raiding Jacksonville yet, she said people are worried about what could happen to those with spouses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a long process, Black said. So, what is the status of people who are halfway through, but they dont have anything really that give them legitimate ability to be here?

The anonymous woman said this impacts her friends and family who working to put food on the table.

They should go for people who actually have records, and not for people who working to provide for their families and stuff, so hopefully it gets better, the anonymous woman said.

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.
A former employee of New York Citys child welfare agency has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for submitting forged doctors notes to his employer to avoid having to appear for work, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Alan Anderson, 60, of Oakdale, was arrested in August 2024 following a joint investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office and the New York City Department of Investigation.

According to investigators, Anderson forged and sent to his employer  the Administration for Childrens Services  12 fraudulent doctors notes between Feb. 13 and May 7, 2024 so he could avoid commuting from his home on Long Island to the agencys office in Manhattan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During that time, Anderson was required to work in person at his assigned office three days a week  Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays  which were the only days for which he submitted the forged documents. He didnt give his employer any notes corresponding with his scheduled remote workdays, prosecutors said.

Anderson, who has since resigned from his position, pleaded guilty to official misconduct on Dec. 2. On Monday, Acting County Court Judge James McDonaugh sentenced him to 10 months in jail.

This sentence sends a clear message that we take public corruption seriously, regardless of scale, Suffolk District Attorney Tierney said Tuesday in a news release. [Andersons] scheme not only defrauded taxpayers but also undermined the vital work of the Administration for Childrens Services, an agency tasked with protecting the citys most vulnerable residents.

An ACS spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
MISSION, Kan. (AP)  A former police detective in Kansas left five suicide letters before fatally shooting himself as he was about to stand trial last month over allegations that he sexually assaulted and terrorized vulnerable Black women for decades, investigators announced Tuesday.

Roger Golubski, who was white, left his house outside of Kansas City, Kansas, for his federal trial around 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, but returned home before reaching the courthouse 50 miles (80 kilometers) west in Topeka, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

The 71-year-old was facing six felony counts of violating womens civil rights. Prosecutors say he preyed on female residents in poor neighborhoods, demanding sexual favors and sometimes threatening to harm or jail their relatives if they refused.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The allegations outraged the community and deepened its historical distrust of law enforcement. The prosecution followed earlier reports of similar abuse allegations across the country in which hundreds of officers have lost their badges after allegations of sexual assault. _____

EDITORS NOTE  In the U.S., the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

_____

Golubski had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His lead attorney, Christopher Joseph, said before Golubskis death that lawsuits related to cases his client investigated were an inspiration for fabrication by his accusers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The morning of his death, Golubski's roommate reported hearing a gunshot around 9 a.m. after Golubski made several phone calls to family and to his attorney, the KBI said. The roommate immediately called 911, and police found Golubski dead on the back porch of his split-level home.

The final autopsy report concluded Golubski died of a gunshot wound to the head and that his death was a suicide. The KBI said agents traced a handgun found near the body to a Kansas City, Missouri, woman who said the weapon was stolen from her vehicle in 2022.

Agents were not able to determine how Golubski came to possess the firearm. Investigators could not establish a connection between him and the gun owner, the KBI said.

The heart of the case against Golubski focused on two women: one who said the former detective began sexually abusing her when she was in middle school, and another who said he began abusing her after her twin sons were arrested. Prosecutors said seven other women were planning to testify that Golubski abused or harassed them as well.

Despite Golubskis death, a second criminal case involving three co-defendants and allegations of a violent sex trafficking operation is continuing.
GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  The former Garfield County Sheriffs Office corporal who was fired last November for allegedly embezzling funds was arrested on Tuesday.

Trisha Worley turned herself in after an arrest warrant was issued. She is accused of embezzling money from the Holy Cross Cattlemens Association, a local nonprofit.

A criminal investigation conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation found that Worley allegedly stole over $74,000 from both Garfield County and the nonprofit between 2018 and 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She is charged with:

Theft of $5,000 to $20,000

Theft of $20,000 to $100,000

Embezzlement of public property

Identify theft

First-degree official misconduct

An internal investigation resulted in Worleys termination on Nov. 7, 2024. She was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 23.

Worley was a 14-year veteran with the Garfield County Sheriffs Office before these allegations came to light.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  Early in their final pitch to jurors on Wednesday, prosecutors displayed a screenshot from an undercover video: Michael Madigan, then the powerful speaker of the Illinois House, leaning forward with his hand out.

That image, secretly recorded by alderman-turned-FBI mole Daniel Solis, is surely the portrait of Madigan that prosecutors hope jurors will take back with them to deliberations  a politician laser-focused on what he could get for himself.

Mr. Solis told Mr. Madigan that law business be sent to his firm in return for either Mr. Solis taking official action or Mr. Madigan taking official action. In exchange for those things, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu told jurors Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. Madigan understood what Mr. Solis was saying. He was not confused.

Bhachu also reminded jurors of the five Madigan allies who got cushy subcontracts from ComEd and AT&T Illinois for doing little or no work. Madigan and his co-defendant Michael McClain are accused of engaging in a bribery scheme to get their associates that money in exchange for Madigans support of the companies legislative agendas.

Bhachu scoffed at Madigans testimony that he had no idea they werent working.

You did not only see lies during the course of this trial, you heard them as well, and you heard them right from the witness stand from this man right here, Bhachu said, pointing to Madigan at the defense table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, hed had a conversation with Mr. McClain where Mr. McClain suggested to him somebody wasnt really doing any work, the prosecutor said. And his response? Some of these guys have made out like bandits, Mike.

And you heard him laugh, Bhachu continued. In comparison to the purported anger he displayed on direct examination.

Bhachus rebuttal Wednesday morning began the sixth day of closing arguments, which have included lengthy presentations from all three teams of lawyers. Jurors are slated to start deliberating shortly after Bhachus remarks wrap up.

The trial has lasted nearly four months, far past the initial estimates. The case represents the pinnacle of a lengthy federal corruption investigation that has already resulted in convictions of several other Madigan-adjacent figures over the past few years. Madigan, however, is inarguably the biggest target.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The evidence has included more than 150 wiretapped conversations and secretly video-recorded meetings that gave jurors a behind-the-scenes look at evidence behind some of the marquee allegations in the indictment.

Among them: meetings with developers at Madigans law firm and a separate alleged scheme by ComEd to funnel do-nothing subcontractor payments to Madigan associates, allegedly to enlist the speakers support for the utilitys legislative agenda.

Madigan, 82, a Southwest Side Democrat, and McClain, 77, a longtime lobbyist from downstate Quincy, are charged in a 23-count indictment alleging that Madigans vaunted state and political operations were run like a criminal enterprise to increase his power and enrich himself and his associates.

In addition to alleging bribery schemes involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois, the indictment accuses Madigan of pressuring real estate developers into hiring Madigans private law firm to do tax appeal work and offering to help Solis get a lucrative state board position in exchange for bringing developers to him.

____
A former mayor in a Darke County village has repaid nearly $39,000 after an investigation into misused funds, according to Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber.

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

David Peterson was the Mayor of the Village of Ithaca, from Jan. 1, 2012, to April 20, 2020.

TRENDING STORIES:

During that time, he also served as fiscal officer for the village after firing the previous person. He remained in this position until Aug. 31, 2021, according to Faber.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The SIU opened an investigation in March 2022 after the Darke County Sheriffs Office made them aware of the allegations against Peterson.

The investigation found that Peterson bought power equipment for his personal use with village funds, was overpaid more than $17,000 from improper calculations or compensation for both positions, and received reimbursement for supplies without supporting documents, according to Faber.

Peterson was indicted in January 2024 after the SIU and Darke County Sheriffs Office presented their findings to the prosecutors office.

He took a plea deal and admitted to one count of theft in office, agreed to pay restitution, and complete a substance abuse and mental health intervention program, Faber said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peterson repaid approximately $38,845.46 by December 2024.

This payment included the full findings for recovery, court-ordered restitution, and additional funds identified by the Auditor of States Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Following a complete payment of restitution, court costs, and supervision fees, the court agreed to consider a request to terminate Petersons case in lieu of conviction.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




Exams for solicitors should be made easier in order to boost diversity in the industry, lawyers have urged.

Britains legal watchdog is understood to have faced calls to increase the pass rates for its Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in response to concerns that lower pass rates among trainees from ethnic minority backgrounds could be hindering law firms diversity initiatives.

Law firms have embarked on a drive to improve racial equality after the Black Lives Matters movement triggered a surge in corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives being launched globally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said a number of lawyers and training providers had voiced concerns that black and Asian candidates lower pass rates in the SQE exams threatened to undermine this diversity push.

The SRAs notes say: One area where we know there is more to do is addressing the fact that Black and Asian candidates typically dont do as well as White candidates. This is not specifically an SQE issue  we saw it on the LPC [legal practice course].

It is also by no means unique to legal assessments, but we are nonetheless trying to understand what more we could do to make a difference.

The two-part SQE tests, which were first introduced in 2021, are the main exams lawyers are required to pass in order to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. The tests include two separate multiple choice exams on areas including contracts and criminal law, alongside written and oral exams intended to test candidates writing and advocacy skills.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Figures published in October by exam board SRA, which manages the SQE tests, showed white candidates had higher pass rates than black and Asian trainees.

In the most recent round of exams last July, just 44pc of candidates who took the SQE passed, in what marked the lowest pass rate since the qualifying test was first introduced in 2021.

White students performed best on the SQE, with a 57pc pass rate, versus a 42pc pass rate for Asian candidates and a 28pc pass rate for Black trainees who took the exam.

SRAs figures also showed that male candidates passed the SQE exams at higher rates than female candidates in the July round of exams, with men achieving a 52pc pass rate compared to 46pc for women.

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.
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo.  Surveillance footage, a distinctive pair of shoes, and a call from a mom helped Excelsior Springs police track down a 15-year-old suspect accused of breaking into and stealing multiple cars.

Twelve of those were just property damage where he had tried to steal them, went through their vehicle, and stole items from their vehicle, said Lt. Ryan Dowdy with the Excelsior Springs Police Department. Then the other three were successful vehicle thefts where he was able to take the car for some period of time.

The first car break-in was reported on December 17.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dowdy said the 15-year-old suspect targeted Hyundais and Kias in parking lots off Jesse James Road.

Drowning suspected after children found dead in Linn County lake

In recent years, Kia and Hyundai cars have been hit more nationwide after viral videos showed how easy certain models are to steal or break into.

A big piece of the puzzle was surveillance footage given to police that showed the teen wearing a mask and the same pair of shoes during the thefts.

During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect would steal a car, drive around for a little while, and then drop the stolen car off near the original location from which it was stolen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The stolen vehicles were also left with damage.

I cant explain how valuable video and surveillance cameras are to someones house and protecting them. And then, if you are a victim of a crime, turning that (footage) into the police, Dowdy said.

During the investigation, police received a call from a mom who lived in the area.

So what happened was his mom called. It was just another kind of routine call where she didnt know that he was committing these thefts, but she called wanting help with another issue regarding parenting and just some advice, Dowdy said. So one of our officers went over there, and while they were speaking, the mom was kind of mentioning some behavioral problems with the child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the conversation, the officer noticed the same pair of shoes the suspect wore in the surveillance footage.

He started putting two and two together. He was in the center location where wed been looking for him (the suspect). The officer asked if he could look around the kids room. At that point, they found some stolen debit cards, some stolen drivers licenses, and things of that nature. They waited for him to come home. Once he came home with mom there, officers spoke to him, and they were able to get him to admit what he had been doing, Dowdy explained.

Dowdy said similar thefts have started happening in nearby Wood Heights.

ESPD has contacted law enforcement in that area, letting them know it could be the same suspect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We think that based on where those vehicles were stolen, where we know now that he was going to, that hes probably their suspect, Dowdy said.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Dowdy said all of the cars impacted by break-ins or theft were left unlocked.

Here are some tips from ESPD about how to prevent theft:

Always lock your car.

If you drive a car susceptible to theft, Such as a Kia or Hyundai, you should utilize aftermarket devices like steering wheel locks.

If you drive a car susceptible to theft, you can park a different vehicle behind it to deter thieves.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By John Geddie and Tim Kelly

TOKYO (Reuters) - Shipping firms may need to pay a fee to use the Baltic Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, in order to cover the high costs of protecting undersea cables, Estonia's defence minister said on Wednesday following a spate of breaches.

NATO said last week it would deploy frigates, patrol aircraft and drones in the Baltic Sea after a series of incidents where ships have damaged power and communications cables with their anchors in acts of suspected sabotage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to the patrols, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said countries are weighing other measures to protect cables, including installing sensors to detect anchors dragged across the sea floor or constructing casings or walls around the cables.

But this will come at a cost, and whether countries or cable operators end up paying for it, consumers may be left ultimately footing the bill through higher taxes or utility costs.

Another option, Pevkur said, is levying a tax on vessels that sail through the Baltic Sea, that is bordered by eight NATO countries and Russia.

"Let's say that when you go to the airport you have the landing fee, you have the airport fee and this is paid in the ticket," he told Reuters in an interview in Tokyo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"So in one moment maybe we will see that when you are passing through the Danish straits there will be a cost for the companies to pay this because this is basically an insurance fee to damaging the cables."

Pevkur added that there were different options on the table and that countries would have to find a common solution.

Globally, around 150 undersea cables are damaged each year, according to the UK-based International Cable Protection Committee. The telecoms cables, power lines and gas pipes in the shallow Baltic are seen as particularly vulnerable due to its very intense traffic, with as many as 4000 ships crossing its surface every day, according to some estimates.

Swedish authorities seized a Maltese-flagged ship on Monday in connection with damage caused to a cable running between Latvia and Sweden, one of four similar incidents in just over a year that have also affected power and telecoms lines running between Estonia and Finland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pevkur said while official investigations are ongoing, the series of incidents point to coordinated action by ships that are part of Russia's "shadow fleet".

"When we see that all those ships are part of the shadow fleet of Russia although having different flags on their tail...then of course you know we have to connect the dots," he said.

Moscow has accused Western countries of making "evidence-free" assertions about its involvement in the incidents.

(Reporting by John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Irene Wang in Tokyo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Rachael Levy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didnt believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.

Fong declined to comment and the Office of the Inspector General did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

After this article was published, a USDA spokesperson said Fong left the office Monday on her own accord.

"She was accompanied by two friends who she paused to take selfies with on her way out. Security officials did not play any role in her departure, the spokesperson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House defended the firing of Fong and the other inspectors general, saying "these rogue, partisan bureaucrats... have been relieved of their duties in order to make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect Democracy."

The USDA inspector general has a broad mandate, pursuing consumer food safety, audits and investigations of the Agriculture Department as well as violations of animal welfare laws. The USDA has been at the heart of concerns about bird flu, which has spread among cattle and chickens and killed a person in Louisiana.

In 2022, the inspector generals office launched an investigation of Elon Musks brain implant startup Neuralink, which remains ongoing, sources said. In recent years, the office has also taken on animal abuse at dog breeders for research labs and the listeria outbreak at Boars Head, among other issues.

Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help President Donald Trump get elected in November and has emerged as a key player in the presidents orbit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fong was among the 17 federal watchdogs fired by Trump on Friday in what critics described as a Friday-night purge. Speaking to reporters afterwards aboard Air Force One, Trump defended the move saying "its a very common thing to do." He did not say who would be installed in the vacant posts.

The dismissals, handed out less than a week after Trump took office for his second term, appeared to violate federal law, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said in a letter to the White House on Friday.

Fong served as the first chairperson of CIGIE from 2008 through 2014, according to her biography on USDAs website.

In response to the Reuters story, Senator Mazie Hirono criticized Trump's firing of the watchdogs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Egg prices are soaring. Bird flu is out of control. USDA should be fixing this problem. Instead, Trump is stacking the federal government with yes-men. He doesnt care about your grocery prices," she wrote on X.

(Reporting by Rachael Levy; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  An executive order pausing federal funding left many worrying about what would and would not have been affected, and while a federal judge temporarily blocked the pause minutes before it was set to take effect, confusion on what would have potentially been affected made its way through Mid-Michigan.

The following is an email shared with 6 News, sent out by Capital Area Community Services (CACS) Tuesday afternoonbefore the order was blocked.

Due to the Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 27, 2025, we have to close all of our Head Start sites and services until further notice. CACS Head Start will inform families if anything changes.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Thank you, CACS Head Start, Jan. 28, 2025

However, 6 News also obtained a copy of guidance sent out to lawmakers regarding the directive, which indicates that Head Start programs will not be affected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans? A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the Presidents Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments. Office of Management and Budget  Jan. 28, 2025

The following is a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, also released before the order was blocked.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is aware of the M-25-13 memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agency heads on January 27, 2025. This memo puts a two-week pause on federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, with the exception of assistance provided directly to individuals.



MDE is working with the Executive Office of the Governor and the Michigan Department of the Attorney General on the protection of federal funds for Michigans students and school staff members. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued this statement.



Thank you for all you do every day to serve Michigans public school children and support their education Michael F. Rice, State Superintendent, Jan. 28, 2024

6 News has reached out to CACS for comment but has not yet received a response.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -At least seven people were killed and around 10 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj on Wednesday, an official said, the most auspicious day of the six-week Great Pitcher Festival.

Hindus believe that taking a dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati - absolves them of sins and confers salvation from the cycle of birth and death.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE HOLY DIP ON WEDNESDAY?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

'Mauni Amavasya', meaning the new moon day for observing silence, falls on Wednesday and is considered the most auspicious due to a rare alignment of celestial bodies after 144 years.

This cosmic placement, called 'Triveni Yog', mirrors a significant period in Hindu mythology when the sun, moon and mercury align in Capricorn, with Jupiter in its ninth element or ninth house of the zodiac.

According to Hindu mythology, one of the earliest sages, Rishabh Dev, broke a long vow of silence on this day and took a dip in the holy waters.

It is believed that those who bathe in these waters on this day, called the Shahi Snan, or royal bath, will attain spiritual growth and purification, with pre-dawn hours being the most auspicious.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED?

Officials expect 100 million people to attend the festival on Wednesday, setting a record for the most number of people on a single day at the Kumbh.

By 12 noon (0630 GMT), more than 42 million people had taken a dip, officials said.

The last time such a large number of people visited the Kumbh on a single day was in 2019, when 50 million Hindus took part.

WHAT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR THE BIG DAY?

Indian Railways more than doubled the number of trains for Wednesday, running a total 360 services from different parts of the country.

Over 1,000 medical personnel were sent to the temporary Kumbh township spanning 4,000 hectares. More doctors were also deployed at the super speciality hospital in Prayagraj.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local authorities have put in place additional measures for waste disposal, as they expect up to 1,500 tons of garbage to be generated each day during this period, higher than the daily count of 700 tons.

Security was also enhanced and traffic restrictions were put in place to better manage the crowd.

(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by YP Rajesh and Raju Gopalakrishan)
Days after one of the world's largest lithium ion battery storage facilities burst into flames in Monterey County, researchers found alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals at a nearby estuary that is home to several endangered species.

Scientists at San Jose State University recorded a dramatic increase in nickel, manganese and cobalt  materials used in lithium ion batteries  in soil samples at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve after the recent fire at the nearby Moss Landing Power Plant.

The toxic metals threaten to upset the delicate ecosystem at the Elkhorn Slough, which is the state's second-largest estuary and plays a key role in sequestering carbon emissions and protecting the coastline from sea level rise, said Ivano Aiello, chair of the university's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Aiello, who has monitored environmental conditions at the slough for more than a decade, said he was shocked by the results.

The concentration of nickel, manganese and cobalt measured on the surface of the soil is hundreds to thousands of times as much as the levels in the surface soil prior to the fire or compared with levels measured deeper in the soil.

"I was wondering whether there was anything associated with this fire that could have been impacted," said Aiello. "I didn't know I was going find such a high concentration of those metals."

On Tuesday, Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the findings "extremely disturbing" and said he was worried about what future data would reveal regarding the consequences of the unprecedented blaze. The fire ignited Jan. 16, burned for five days and ultimately destroyed an estimated 80% of the batteries inside the building, which is on the coast about 18 miles north of the city of Monterey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) said in a statement Monday that she was "deeply concerned" about the concentration of heavy metals in "one of our most cherished and fragile ecosystems."

"These concentrations are directly linked to the battery energy storage fire," she said.

Read more: 'Horrifying' fire at California lithium battery plant sparks calls for new clean energy rules

The battery storage site is owned by Texas-based Vistra Energy. A spokesperson said Tuesday that the company was aware of San Jose State's data and would work with local health agencies to determine next steps. Vistra is also completing its own investigation into the fire and environmental monitoring around the plant, the spokesperson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Elkhorn Slough Reserve was closed to the public from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 while it and residential areas near the power plant were under evacuation orders due to the fire. It is now open to visitors.

Initial air quality monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that there was no public health risk posed by levels of particulate matter and hydrogen fluoride gas released during the fire. Hydrogen fluoride is a highly toxic gas produced by lithium ion battery fires that can cause severe respiratory damage as well as skin and eye burns.

The EPA did not plan to conduct soil or water testing, which is instead being carried out by local and state health agencies.

The Monterey County Health Department said Monday it was grateful for the testing conducted by Aiellos team and planned to present preliminary results from its own soil and water samples later this week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department said it was working with the California Department of Public Health, the California Environmental Protection Agency and state epidemiologists to "evaluate the research, assess any potential health concerns, and determine the appropriate steps moving forward."

San Jose State's soil samples suggest there could be long-term environmental and health effects from the toxic blaze, said Aiello.

His lab is now in "emergency mode" trying to collect data and understand how the heavy metals might affect the ecosystem. Scientists have collected soil samples from more than 100 locations within a two-mile radius of the plant since Jan. 22.

"There's a layer of heavy metals now on the soil, and I don't know what's going to happen. Is it going to be washed away? Is it going to penetrate to the groundwater? Is it going to concentrate and bioaccumulate?" he said. "We need to learn that before we can actually understand the implications."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Elkhorn Slough is home to more than 700 species of plants, animals and marine life, including endangered and threatened species such as the southern sea otter, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and the California brown pelican.

Its marshlands store large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. The estuary also helps prevent coastal erosion and absorb the effects of sea level rise.

Read more: Californias federal lands are hemorrhaging carbon dioxide. Wildfires are largely to blame

Supervisor Church has said the fire raises the question of whether the plant should be located near an environmentally sensitive area. He and fellow board members passed a resolution last week asking that the battery storage facility remain offline until a thorough investigation could be completed and new safety measures implemented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the aftermath of the blaze, Assemblymember Addis introduced new legislation that would require that local government be given a say in the permitting process for battery or energy storage facilities, and establish a buffer to keep such sites a set distance away from schools, hospitals and natural habitats.

"True climate solutions must benefit  not harm  our communities and natural environment," she said in a statement. "We have to continue to fight for the inclusion of community voice and proper siting of battery energy storage facilities."

The American Clean Power Assn. has opposed her proposal, Assembly Bill 303, saying it puts overly onerous restrictions on the clean energy industry.

"The best way to promote safety across the state of California is the universal adoption and enforcement of the latest version of the national fire protection standard for battery energy storage," ACP-California Executive Director Alex Jackson said in a statement. "This proposal misses the mark. Its sprawling restrictions would make it harder to keep the lights on in California."

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.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Vipers have been using 70mm laser-guided rockets to down Houthi drones during operations in and around the Red Sea in the past year. The service first announced it had demonstrated the ability to use Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets, originally developed to engage targets on the ground, as lower-cost, more numerous air-to-air weapons back in 2019, but this was just in testing. No operational capability has been disclosed, until now.

A U.S. military official exclusively confirmed the use of APKWS II in the air-to-air role to TWZ. The official could not immediately confirm how many of the rockets have been used in this manner, how many Houthi drones have been shot down as a result, or the exact date of the first use of this capability in combat. The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen began launching drone, missile, and other attacks against foreign warships and commercial vessels in and around the Red Sea, as well as targets in Israel, in October 2023.

A pair of US Air Force F-16Cs on patrol somewhere in the Middle East on Jan. 25, 2025. The jet seen at the rear is armed with a 70mm rocket pod, as well as other weapons. USAF

The APWKS II air-to-air capability was first employed last year as one of many options for countering the Houthi UAS [uncrewed aerial systems] threat, the official told us. It is a lower-cost option compared to the AIM-9X. That lower cost is one of the benefits of using it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The unit cost of a current generation Block II subvariant of the AIM-9X Sidewinder is just under $420,000, according to Pentagon budget documents. For additional context, U.S. forces have also expended variants of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), the price tags of which are more than $1 million each, in the course of operations against the Houthis. At present, a single APKWS II guidance and control section costs around $15,000, with another few thousand dollars required for the warhead and motor.

The only difference between APKWS IIs and standard unguided 70mm rockets is the insertion of the guidance and control section in between the warhead at the front and the motor at the rear. In this way, it has long offered a lower-cost precision-guided munition that can be created from existing components and provide a variety of different effects depending on the warhead (and fuze) used. In December 2023, the U.S. Navy said it was about to start delivering a new proximity-fuzed warhead specifically optimized for counter-drone use, though ostensibly to go with ground-based systems that use these laser-guided rockets in the surface-to-air role. The general ability of APKWS II rockets to work as surface-to-air interceptors has now been combat-proven in Ukraine.

Proximity-fuzed APKWS IIs would seem equally well suited for employment in the air-to-air role. As noted, the Air Force announced in 2019 that it had conducted what it described as a proof-of-concept test of the laser-guided rockets against aerial targets, primarily as a potential lower-cost option for knocking down subsonic cruise missiles. TWZ highlighted at the time how this same capability would be similarly useful against drones.

There had already been signs that the APKWS II in the air-to-air role had transitioned to an operational capability. In December, U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT), the top Air Force command in the Middle East, released pictures of a pair of F-16Cs refueling somewhere over the Red Sea with what appeared to be air-to-air focused loadouts. One of the jets was armed with two AIM-120s, two AIM-9Xs, and two older AIM-9Ms. The other had a pair of AIM-120s, one of each type of Sidewinder, and a seven-shot 70mm rocket pod. Both jets also carried LITENING targeting pods and High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile Targeting System (HTS) pods.

The two loadouts seen on the pair of F-16s flying over the Red Sea in the pictures AFCENT released back in December. The one on the left includes a 70mm rocket pod under the right wing. USAF

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an air-to-air engagement, the laser designator in the LITENING pod could be used to laze or designate the target. LITENINGs sensor turret can be slaved to the radar on the aircraft carrying it, or vice versa. So-called buddy lasing, where one aircraft designates the target for another, could also be useful in this case, especially given the speed differential between typical Houthi drones and F-16s. One jet could keep the target steadily lazed while the other makes its attack run.

APKWS IIs are usable against drones, as well as subsonic cruise missiles, in the first place because those are relatively steady, non-reactionary, low-performance targets. The rockets are not dogfighting weapons.

In the past two weeks, AFCENT has released two more sets of pictures showing F-16Cs with the same pair of weapons loadouts, as seen below.

A pair of F-16s with the same two loadouts refuel somewhere in the Middle East on Jan. 22, 2025. USAF

Another pair of F-16s with the two distinct loadouts seen flying somewhere in the Middle East on Jan. 25, 2025. USAF

A similar loadout including a single seven-shot 70mm rocket pod has now also been observed on Air Force F-16Cs and Ds based in Japan, which points to this being an Air Force-wide standard option now.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not surprising that APKWS II has been used in the air-to-air role in the course of the ongoing crisis in and around the Red Sea, either. The capability is perfectly suited to the situation and, as has been noted, gives pilots a lower-cost option over existing air-to-air missiles for engaging targets like drones. The laser-guided rockets also offer valuable magazine depth, with just a single pod holding multiple engagement opportunities while taking up just one pylon. For the F-16, a seven-shot pod is loaded with APKWS II rockets more than the number of air-to-air munitions the jet can carry. Separate U.S. operations in the defense of Israel last year underscored the importance of greater magazine depth in the face of mass drone and missile attacks, with jets having to land to reload while threats were still passing overhead. The crew of at least one F-15E Strike Eagle switched to guns after running out of missiles, but did not succeed in downing any targets.

The recent crises across the Middle East have provided the U.S. military with a host of important lessons learned, in general. They have also highlighted concerns about weapon expenditure rates and stockpile adequacy, issues that would only be more pronounced in a high-end fight, such as one in the Pacific against China. In addition, various tiers of drones have already become a fixture on modern battlefields, as well as an increasing threat to military assets and critical infrastructure outside of traditional conflict areas, something TWZ has been calling attention to for years now. Drone technology, along with swarming capabilities, supported by advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, is only set to continue improving and proliferating, even among non-state actors like the Houthis. This, in turn, can only put additional emphasis on more economical options, like APKWS II, to help defeat large numbers of hostile uncrewed aerial systems.

There is also the clear possibility for the future employment of APKWS IIs in the air-to-air role on platforms beyond the F-16, if this hasnt already happened. To date, the laser-guided rockets have been integrated onto U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jump jets and F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters, as well as Air Force A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft. U.S. Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom, Navy MH-60R/S Seahawk, and Army AH-64 Apaches can all fire APKWS II, as well.

If nothing else, APKWS II rockets are now officially a combat-proven air-to-air option for Air Force F-16s.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
ANCHORAGE, Alaska  A U.S. Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday during a training exercise at a base in Alaska.

The pilot experienced an inflight malfunction but was able to eject from the aircraft, Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference. The plane crashed during the landing phase of the flight at Eielson Air Force Base, he said.

The pilot had declared an inflight emergency prior to the crash and was in stable condition and being evaluated at a medical facility, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, caused significant damage to the aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.

Longer Footage of the F-35A Crash earlier today at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. pic.twitter.com/9OPksbTYWj  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 29, 2025

Eielson Air Force Base is about 25 miles south of Fairbanks.

Townsend said in the statement said the Air Force would conduct "a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

Eielson was selected in 2016 to host 54 F-35s, spawning an expansion that cost more than a half-billion dollars that was to include 36 new buildings and dozens of housing units. The expansion included about 3,500 new active-duty airmen and their dependents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the capability to fly more than 12 hours at a time, the F-35 can reach almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in one mission.

In May, an F-35 fighter jet on its way from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles crashed after the pilot stopped to refuel in New Mexico. The pilot was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

In October, a Marine investigation blamed the pilot of an F-35 for ejecting from the aircraft when he didnt need to, causing the fighter to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before it crashed in rural South Carolina in 2023.

Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer contributed from Juneau, Alaska.
(Reuters) -An F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, but the pilot was safe after bailing out, base officials said.

The pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction," and was able to eject from the aircraft, U.S. Air Force Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The crash happened while landing during a training exercise, according to the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eielson Air Force Base said in a statement that the incident on Tuesday afternoon resulted in "significant damage" to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

The pilot was safe and taken to Bassett Army Hospital, according to the statement.

"I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again," Townsend said in the statement.

The F-35 is the most expensive U.S. defense program and Lockheed Martin's biggest revenue generator, contributing about 30% of its bottom line.

Lockheed said earlier on Tuesday it would be less profitable than expected in 2025, in part because of a delayed rollout of upgrades to the F-35.

The Pentagon plans to spend $1.7 trillion on the F-35 program, including buying 2,500 planes in the coming decades.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed and Gerry Doyle)
An Air Force pilot is safe after ejecting out of an F-35 fighter jet that then crashed at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 12:49 p.m. local time and the cause is under investigation, according to base commander Col. Paul Townsend. The jet was on a training mission and was getting ready to land when "an in-flight emergency occurred," the Air Force said in a statement Wednesday.

The pilot, who was not identified, was transported to Bassett Army Hospital and has since been released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are grateful that the pilot is safe. Our team's professional and expeditious response to the crash was instrumental in mitigating risk to personnel," Townsend said Wednesday in a statement. "We appreciate all of the support we are receiving and remain committed to supporting U.S. Air Force investigation efforts."

A dramatic video of the incident quickly circulated online showing what appears to be the F-35 fighter jet twirling toward the ground before exploding on impact. A deployed parachute can be seen slowly floating down in the background. An Air Force spokesperson later confirmed the video's authenticity to CBS News.

"Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security," Townsend said in a statement. "I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again."

The F-35 fighter jets operated by the U.S. Air Force are replacing the army branch's aging fleet, according to the Air Force's website. They are also deployed by the Navy and the Marines. Each aircraft costs about $100 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, a Marine Corps investigation into an F-35 fighter jet that went missing in 2023 had flown for 11 minutes after the pilot ejected before it crashed. An investigation found that incident was the result of pilot error.

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

Trump offering "deferred resignation" to government workers unwilling to return to office

Commercial plane crashes mid-air with military helicopter near Reagan National Airport
An Air Force pilot was forced to eject before their F-35 fighter jet crashed in a fiery explosion Tuesday during a training exercise at an Alaskan base.

The pilot experienced an inflight malfunction while flying at Eielson Air Force Base but was safely able to eject from the aircraft, Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told reporters.

The pilot was executing standard procedures and executing their respective mission and essentially experienced an inflight malfunction, he said, adding that the pilot had declared an emergency prior to the crash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also noted that the Lockheed Martin-made aircraft crashed as it was attempting to land at the base.

Video of the crash quickly circulated on social media channels, showing the F-35 in an uncontrolled spin as it plummeted toward the ground, erupting in a fireball upon impact.

In a separate statement, Eielson Air Force Base officials said that the incident occurred around 12:49 p.m. and resulted in significant damage to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

The pilot was safe and taken to Bassett Army Community Hospital, according to the release.

I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again, Townsend said in the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska, was chosen in 2016 to host 54 F-35s. The new aircraft was a massive expansion for the military installation, as it cost more than a $500 million to house and maintain the planes in new buildings as well as house the 3,500 new active-duty airmen and their dependents that were moved to Alaska.

The first F-35s were positioned at Eielson in April 2020.

Tuesdays crash is the 11th F-35 accident since 2018 and comes less than a year after an F-35 accident in May. In that incident, an F-35 on its way from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles crashed after taking off following a refueling stop in New Mexico. The pilot had serious injuries.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Posts on social media are encouraging Kern County residents to assist with immigration enforcement.

The group behind it is claiming to be the official Kern Republican Party, but not everything is as it seems.

The Facebook page titled Kern County Republicans is not affiliated or endorsed or supported at all by the Kern County Republican Party, which is our official central committee, or by the Kern County Young Republicans, said Tim Collins, treasurer of the Kern County Republican Central Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even the address for the fake page is the exact same as Kern GOP, observed Robert Miles with Grapevine MSP, which specializes in technology.

17 News was first notified Monday night of the page, and a recurring meeting of Kern County ICE and CBP Volunteers, set to be at 8180 Rosedale Highway.

The event description stated in part, President Trump is calling on patriotic Kern locals to join forces with ICE and CBP in protecting our community and from spotting unusual activity to assisting officers in non-confrontational tasks.

This event  promoted as a family outing  is no longer public.

In the pages event history, you can see another recurring event titled Republican Roundup 2024! Homeless & Illegal Tracking, Reporting & Disposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Locations range from a Dollar General Market in Bakersfield to a Waffle House in Texas to Trumps Mar-a-Lago Estate in Florida.

Its not the way that we would operate, Collins added. Its not the way that immigration enforcement would operate.

Miles said even for him at first glance, [The page] looked like any other page. In fact, I wouldve thought its a normal Republican GOP page as well.

But if you scroll further?

The motorcycles dont make sense, Miles said, referring to the cornucopia of motocross content. Like, why is there a motorcycle on the Kern Republican page? And when youre looking further through their photos, its all motorcycles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That content can be traced back to the Cycle Ranch Motocross Park & Events Center in Texas.

17 News contacted Cycle Ranch.

An employee told us the person that owned and operated the Facebook account for Cycle Ranch is no longer with them as of 2019.

They said theyre unsure if the former employee lives in Kern County. Motocross pictures continued until 2021.

Then as of a few days ago?

Then its all hyper, hyper political posts, Miles commented.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Its unclear whos behind the page now.

17 News has not heard back from the operator as of news time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miles suggested the page could just be a bot  an automated program.

This just seems to pull from relevant Kern County websites and repost those articles, so that it makes it look super legit, he observed.

Theres nobody behind the helm in the back, and that just says bot like nobodys business, Miles said.

Miles also noted the page couldve been hacked for its large following.

The fake page has 18,000 followers, while Kern County Republican Party  the real page  has 2700.

What I dont see is any call for money or pushes, which is unusual, Miles said, adding that social media users should be careful of online scams. So, to me it looks basically just like a troll page.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only thing we can do on our side is report the page and hope they take it down, Miles said.

Miles said the greater take away should be mindfulness online.

You just have to be really, really careful about what your source of truth is, the technology expert recommended.

[For instance], if you want to hear what Donald Trump has to say, then you should be making sure youre talking to him and looking at his 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 KGET 17 News.
Claim:

A photo authentically shows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting a man wearing a "Latinos for Trump 2024" T-shirt.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

A rumor circulating online in January 2025 claimed a photo showed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting a man whose shirt displayed a logo reading, "Latinos for Trump 2024." Users shared the rumor in the first several days of President Donald Trump's second term in office, as federal agents carried out the new administration's mass deportation plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One X user's post (archived) from Jan. 27 displaying the image received over 1 million views. We located other shares of the photo from users on Instagram, Threads and X. Another X user captioned (archived) the picture sarcastically to mock the man in the picture, purportedly for voting Trump back into the White House.

However, the picture had been doctored by an unknown user with the "Latinos for Trump 2024" logo. The same user altered the agents' uniforms to read "ICE," when the original picture showed "HSI" for Homeland Security Investigations. ICE and HSI both operate under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Alamy and Getty Images websites both hosted the original, unedited photo for licensing. The genuine caption read, "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested alleged immigration violators at Fresh Mark [in] Salem, [Ohio, on] June 19, 2018."

There was no writing on the detained man's T-shirt.

ICE published the original photo. (Image courtesy of Getty Images)

As The Associated Press has reported based on its own survey of over 120,000 voters, Trump gained a larger share of both Black and Latino voters in 2024 than in the 2020 election, most notably among men under age 45.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regarding the new Trump administration's progress in its plans for mass deportations, on Jan. 28, The AP reported ICE agents had crossed over a threshold of 1,000 daily arrests of immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally, after averaging only around 300 a day just months before during President Joe Biden's administration. "If sustained, those numbers would mark the highest daily average since ICE began keeping records," the AP said.

For further reading, we previously reported the facts about a rumor shared by Fox News TV host Harris Faulkner, who misleadingly claimed Tom Homan, Trump's "border czar," located 75,000 to 80,000 "missing" migrant children out of a purported total of over 300,000.

Sources:

Brown, Matt, et al. "Young Black and Latino Men Say They Chose Trump Because of the Economy and Jobs. Here's How and Why." The Associated Press, 10 Nov. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/young-black-latino-men-trump-economy-jobs-9184ca85b1651f06fd555ab2df7982b5.

Catalini, Mike, and Rebecca Santana. "Just Days into the New Trump Administration, Worries Spike amid a Show of Force on Immigration." The Associated Press, 24 Jan. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-border-migrants-immigration-enforcement-a24389b7fd7875ef98b4ab45c14e8418.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chappell, Bill. "Homeland Security Secretary Orders ICE to Stop Mass Raids on Immigrants' Workplaces." Connecticut Public, 12 Oct. 2021, https://www.ctpublic.org/2021-10-12/homeland-security-secretary-orders-ice-to-stop-mass-raids-on-immigrants-workplaces.

Santana, Rebecca. "Immigration Officers Are Operating with a New Sense of Mission. Now, 'Nobody Gets a Free Pass.'" The Associated Press, 28 Jan. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-border-security-enforcement-ice-cb40a6a7e2d94582aa0774be47a8ab36.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents Arrested Alleged Immigration Violators at Fresh Mark [in] Salem, [Ohio, on] June 19, 2018." Getty Images, ICE, 19 June 2018, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/immigration-and-customs-enforcements-homeland-security-news-photo/987107736.

Younge, Gary. "'They Want to Take Me Away': Immigrants under Attack as Trump Tries to Rally Republican Base." The Guardian, 23 Oct. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/23/trump-immigrants-wisconsin-midterms-democrats-republicans.
FAIRFIELD, Ala. (WIAT)  Fairfield Mayor Eddie Penny gave his State of the City speech Tuesday. He said the city is stable but has challenges ahead.

In his speech, Penny explained efforts to bring new retail to the city. He said the city has tried to attract more grocery stores to the area but has not been successful. The mayor is urging residents to support the one market in town to prevent Fairfield from returning to a food desert.

Walker County corrections officer to plead guilty in Tony Mitchells death, 2 other assaults

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Please support the Carver Jones grocery store  the Carver Jones Market located on Gary Avenue, Penny said.

We cannot allow that grocery store to fail because if we do, it will be a long time before Fairfield will get another one, Penny continued.

Penny said the city council rezoned the former Walmart building to attract new businesses to 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 CBS 42.
Jan. 29GALT  The family of a Galt woman seriously injured in a DUI hit and run is angry after learning this week the driver is being released from prison early.

Angel Renteria was 16 years old when she was hit by a passing vehicle while walking her dog on Ayers Lane late one evening in March of 2022. When Galt Police Department officers arrived on scene, they found the teen in the roadway and bleeding from a head wound. As officers and paramedics were attending to her, a white Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Devin Calderon collided with the rear of a Galt police vehicle.

California Highway Patrol was called to the scene to investigate the collision, and it was determined that Calderon was driving under the influence of alcohol. Calderon was subsequently arrested by CHP officers. While investigating the hit and run, Galt officers found evidence that appeared to be related to the same white Dodge Ram pickup, police said. Caledron was ultimately sentenced to eight years in prison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fernando Renteria, Angel's father, told ABC10 on Monday that the family only recently learned Calderon would be released early.

"It's astounding that our judicial system would let this happen," he told ABC10. "I'm just flabbergasted. I have no words for this because of the frustration."

Angel was left with severe injuries to her body and brain, requiring a five-month stay in the hospital. She was unable to walk, speak or feed herself.

Her family learned that Calderon will be released to a Community Transitional Reentry Program in Sacramento after serving 22 months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Angel got a life sentence. This lady is literally serving less than two years, 22 months," Angel's mother Kelly Carr told ABC10.

The California Department of Corrections issued a statement that said a female Community Reentry Program participant is not paroled, but transferred to a supervised facility to continue serving their prison sentence. Participants are closely supervised by CDCR and are subject to electronic monitoring. CDCR may return them to formal custody at any time, the agency said.

However, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the nonprofit organization focused on stopping alcohol-impaired driving, is speaking out about the release.

"Maybe have some legislative outcry," MADD representative Rhonda Campbell said. "Maybe the public comes together and we work on making changes, so that if anybody is impacted in the future, and we know they will be because drunk driving is an epidemic, that these things won't happen to another victim's family who has gone through literal hell just to get to where we are now."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the second time a local family has questioned the CDCR's judgment in releasing a hit and run driver from prison early.

In 2019, Lodi resident Brian Biehl was sentenced to six years in prison after the GMC Canyon he was driving collided head-on with a Chevrolet Camaro driven by Joe Devencenzi near the intersection of Turner and Lower Sacramento roads. Biehl fled the scene on foot and turned himself in a few days after the collision.

Devencenzi's right leg had been broken in three sections, the top ball of his left femur had been damaged and punched a hole through his pelvis. He suffered several internal injures, a severe concussion, a broken nose and broken ribs. He also sustained lacerations on his arms and upper body, and medics pulled glass out oh head and face. He also slipped into a come for a few days after surgery.

On March 1, 2021, the Devencenzi family received word that Biehl would be released from prison two days later, a full year before his scheduled release date.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CDCR told the News-Sentinel at the time that pursuant to California law, Biehl was eligible to earn 50% day-for-day credits while imprisoned.

The sentencing court gave him 60 days of pre-sentence credits for time served while awaiting sentencing, 16 days of post-sentence credits for time awaiting transport to state prison, and 16 days of good-conduct credits.

Because he was not considered a violent offender, Biehl was eligible for CDCR's Conservation (Fire) Camp program, earning two additional days off his sentence for every day served as a firefighter. In addition, Biehl earned an expedited release under Gov. Gavin Newsom's pandemic response to reduce prison populations in order to achieve social distancing guidelines. Because he had less than 180 days on his sentence, and because he was not serving time for domestic violence, sex crimes or a violent crime as defined by state law, he was eligible for release, the CDCR said.
Aaron Dunn stands in the elevator after leaving the courtroom after COVID contract indictments were handed down Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Wallis Nader walks away from the bench as he appears in court after COVID contract indictments were handed down Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Aaron Dunn and Wallis Nader appear in front of Judge Vanessa Velasquez after COVID contract indictments were handed down Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Criminal cases against at least two of County Judge Lina Hidalgos former employees have been dismissed by the Office of the Attorney General, nearly two weeks since District Attorney Sean Teare recused himself of the prosecutions.

Prosecutors under Attorney General Ken Paxton, who joined the case last April, filed motions Wednesday to dismiss Aaron Dunn and Wallis Naders respective charges of misuse of official information, tampering with records, their lawyers confirmed. The 2022 charges stemmed from accusations that Dunn and Nader, while working for Hidalgo as advisers, handed a $11 million COVID-19 contract to Elevate Strategies, a bidder with Democratic ties and little public health experience, after giving them insider information.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The dismissals, which a judge later signed, cite interest of justice in their decision to end the prosecution.

"We are pleased that the criminal charges against Aaron Dunn have been dismissed," Dunn's attorney, Derek Hollingsworth, said in a statement. "This brings an end to a politically motivated prosecution that never should have been brought to court."

The same charges against Alex Triantaphyllis remain pending, records show. He is slated to return to court in February.

His attorneys did not return calls requesting comment.

With a dismissal in hand, Dunn intends to seek reimbursement for an unspecified amount of legal fees from Harris County, Hollingsworth said. County workers charged in connection with their jobs can receive reimbursements for some legal bills as long as they're cleared of any wrongdoing. Other employees caught in the investigation, but who were not charged, have already racked up more than $355,000 amid the Elevate case.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Alexander Triantaphyllis leaves the courtroom after appearing in court after COVID contract indictments were handed down Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The contract itself sparked scrutiny as a former Republican commissioner, Jack Cagle, challenged Hidalgo on the winning bid. He went on to lodge a complaint, prompting an investigation by the Harris County District Attorneys Office with hundreds of hours of help from the state Republican Partys general counsel.

Subpoenas and multiple grand jury sessions followed, along with Texas Rangers-led search warrants aimed at Hidalgos office and the homes of targeted aides as the county judge vied for a second term in office, which she won. Lawyers for Hidalgo and her aides maintained their innocence throughout the investigation, contending the insider records passed to Elevate Strategies owner Felicity Pererya, also a political consultant, was done so by mistake as she expressed interest in another contract.

Former district attorney Kim Ogg held up the so-called Elevate Strategies investigation as a symbol that her former office was holding public officials to task. Her targets, however, considered the prosecutions more akin to a smear campaign.

Hidalgo, herself, has declared the prosecution the result of Oggs dirty politics.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Wednesday, the county judge briefly addressed the dismissals as proof of Nader and Dunn's integrity.

"Im glad everyone else can see that now too," Hidalgo said.

Ogg refused to discuss the dismissals and other matters when reached at the Harris County Administration Building, where she now works. She then called a Chronicle reporter biased as she walked outside.

Ogg has defended her prosecution of Hidalgos former staffers even as Democratic precinct chairs listed prosecutions like it among their grievances used to censure the then-district attorney before her 2024 primary loss. Weeks later, she partially handed the prosecution to Paxtons prosecutors, arguing Teare could not be trusted with the cases if elected to replace her.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Her decision allowed Teare to keep some control come January by not recusing her office outright.

Teare moved to recuse his office after assuming Ogg's old job, citing "intense political and media scrutiny" over the contract investigation and indictments against the former aides.

Paxton's office did not respond to an email requesting comment on the dismissals. His prosecutors cited "interest of justice" in ending the prosecution without further explanation. Other reasons on the form, that were not checked, included insufficient evidence or the granting of immunity.

Amanda Peters, a professor at South Texas College of Law, said prosecutors are allowed some discretion in whether a case continues, especially if it's unlikely to lead to a conviction. And as for the vague reasons surrounding the dismissals, Peters said prosecutors are often taught to leave dismissal reasons vague to prevent further legal actions, such as civil rights complaints for malicious prosecution.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The family of an Orlando reporter gunned down while reporting at a crime scene in 2023 is suing his employer, alleging wrongful death.

The lawsuit claims that Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 13, sent Dylan Lyons to a potentially dangerous area and failed to provide adequate protection at the time he was shot and killed while sitting in a news vehicle.

Daily, journalists on directed assignments, without a say or options, are directed to go into potential harms way and report the news without appropriate security measures, choices, or proper consideration of their well-being, a release from NeJame Law stated. Although they do so with a commitment to reporting the truth for their respective communities, they do not sign up for a death sentence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second lawsuit will be filed against the Orange County Sheriffs Office next week alleging civil rights violations and wrongful death, according to the familys attorneys. Attorneys allege the sheriffs office knew the suspect was still at large and failed to notify media personnel working in the area of the crime scene.

Lyons was among three people killed by Keith Moses on Feb. 22, 2023, according to law enforcement officials. Moses was accused of fatally shooting a woman in her car before breaking into a home, killing another woman and her 9-year-old daughter. The childs father was wounded in the attack.

Moses exited the home and shot a News 13 photojournalist, who survived his injuries. Lyons was fatally shot while sitting in the news vehicle. Moses was charged with 16 offenses, including three counts of first-degree murder.

Dylans murder was an unforeseeable and horrible tragedy, a statement from Spectrum News reads. We hope that Keith Moses, who has been charged, will soon be brought to justice for the murder of Dylan and the others that day. With regards to these specific allegations, Dylan was the victim of a senseless act of violence. The claims against Spectrum News are unfounded and we will seek to have them dismissed.

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.
MASSENA, N.Y (WWTI)  A Monday night fire in St. Lawrence County has claimed the lives of six people.

According to the Watertown Daily Times, three children and three adults perished in the fire. One of the adults passed away at Massena Hospital.

Closings and delays around NNY as winter weather continues

Around 10 p.m. Monday, January 27, fire crews responded to 6 Chase Street in the village of Massena. Upon arriving at the scene, fire crews encountered heavy smoke and fully involved fire that was spreading rapidly throughout the structure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Massena Volunteer Fire Department, an initial attack was conducted while crews performed a primary search of the structure. Multiple victims were located, rescued and transported to area hospitals.

Sadly, several residents perished in the fire. Details related to victims will not be released pending identification and notification of family. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Massena Fire Chief Thomas Miller

A post on the Massena Central School Districts Facebook page, the district offered assistance in the grieving process for students, families and staff. The school was closed on Tuesday due to inclement weather. There was no school on Wednesday due to the observance of Lunar New Year.

I had hoped that we would have remained open (Tuesday), to provide students and staff with the opportunity to have grief counseling, Massena Central School District Superintendent Ronald Burke said, Unfortunately, there was enough doubt about the road conditions which ultimately led to the decision to close.

The school will open on a two-hour delay on Thursday for students only. Faculty and staff should report at the regular time according to the district.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A number of crews worked diligently and tirelessly to bring the fire under control. Fire personnel were on scene until Tuesday morning trying to contain the blaze and helping with search and recovery efforts.

The St. Lawrence County Fire Investigation Team and New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Crews from Massena Rescue Squad, Potsdam Rescue Squad, Massena Police Department, New York State Police, St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office, St. Lawrence County Coroner along fire departments from Louisville, Norfolk and HogansburgAkwesasne assisted the Massena fire department 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN)  Roads were slick on May 13, 2024. Gabriel May left his family-owned auto shop  Vineyard Bay Automotive  sometime around noon.

There was a dump truck his wife Kristy said. Her sentence was cut off by her tears.

That dump truck ultimately struck the front of Mays F-150 as the two passed each other, driving opposite directions, on Flint Rock Road. May died as a result.

My husband. A father of five. He had two grandchildren. He died from blunt force trauma to the head, Kristy said, once again through tears.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the person who did it is getting a Class C misdemeanor traffic ticket. Its really upsetting, it really makes me feel like my husbands life didnt have any value. Kristy May, Gabriels wife, on the current status of of the case

The Lakeway Police Department (LPD) confirmed the driver did receive a citation for Unsafe Speed/Too Fast for Conditions. A spokesperson for the city also said the police department is still determining if additional charges are warranted, so the case remains open at this time.

If police do decide charges are warranted, additional prosecution would be under further discretion from entities within the criminal justice system.

Gabriel Mays family walks through photos of the father of five and images from the crash scene. (KXAN News/Brianna Hollis) Gabriel Mays family walks through photos of the father of five and images from the crash scene. (KXAN News/Brianna Hollis) Kristy May said signs like this have gone up on Flint Rock Road since her husbands death. (KXAN News/Brianna Hollis) A stretch of Flint Rock Road. Gabriel May was killed in a crash on Flint Rock Road in Lakeway in 2023. (KXAN News/Brianna Hollis)

If youre speeding on a wet road driving a giant dump truck, you know that thats not safe, and to do it anyway, even if you had no ill-will, no ill-intent, you took my husbands life, and his life mattered, Kristy said.

Mays son Jonathan said he was everyones instant best friend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kristy said that was apparent not only throughout his life but at his memorial service.

Everyone at the memorial was coming up like Gabe was my best friend, well Gabe was MY best friend,' she said.

Lakeway City Council discusses safety on road where May was killed

On Monday, the Lakeway City Council discussed an item that would ban thru truck traffic on Flint Rock Road.

Kristy also spoke in support of that measure. Police Chief Glen Koen also supports it. He was the one who read the proposal during the meeting and answered questions from council members.

The Lakeway City Council discussed traffic changes on Flint Rock Road, as well as some nearby and connecting streets, during this weeks council meeting.

Flint Rock Road, marked in red and blue, is a windy street that has jurisdiction in both Lakeway and Travis County.

A diagram of the crash that killed Gabriel May, as displayed in the TxDOT report about the incident.

Kristy May said signs like this have gone up on Flint Rock Road since her husbands death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont want this to happen to another family, she said.

Some exceptions to truck traffic, according to the proposal, would be for heavy trucks delivering or picking up along the road, and heavy trucks needed for permitted city construction.

The City will hold a final vote at a later date to decide whether to pass the no-truck motion through.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  Nearly three years after a 2-year-old girl was fatally shot in a Wyoming apartment, the toddlers father pleaded no contest to the murder.

Seninta Parks entered no contest pleas to second-degree murder and two weapons charges during an appearance Monday in Kent County Circuit Court.

The case was delayed as Parks, 29, underwent a competency exam and subsequent review hearings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Man ordered to trial in death of 2-year-old daughter

He was deemed incompetent for trial at hearings in 2022 and early 2023, but a finding of competency was entered later that year and the case moved to circuit court.

An undated photo of Khalise Brewer. (Courtesy Lanae Brewer)

Investigators say Parks fatally shot 2-year-old Khalise Brewer on Feb. 9, 2022. Parks then turned the gun on himself. It happened at his home on Meyer Avenue SW between Porter and 28th streets.

Khalise lived with her mother but was visiting her father at the time of the shooting. Parks was briefly hospitalized for the self-inflicted wound.

GR man sentenced for trafficking gun used to kill girl, 2

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Parks had been out of prison for a little more than year when the deadly shooting occurred. He had been serving time for a 2012 armed robbery in Kent County.

Parks is scheduled to return to court for sentencing in mid-March. He remains in the Kent County Jail 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 WOODTV.com.
It appears Florida Atlantic University dodged a bullet. Instead of the political drama that dogged its previous presidential search, the school announced its three finalists for the top job  and remarkably they are all qualified.

The candidates  Michael Hartline, dean of Florida State Universitys College of Business, John Volin, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Maine  are experienced administrators. The third candidate, Adam Hasner, is a native of Palm Beach County and former Republican majority leader in the Florida House, bringing a knowledge of both the community and the legislative process that should help any university president.

If only this had occurred in 2023 when the governor and state education officials torpedoed the process. FAU would have been in better shape today without the recriminations following state meddling that marred the initial search. This time, those state officials stayed out of it, a tactic they should copy in future university presidential searches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Candidates who have deep academic and community experience and can draw a wide range of philanthropic donors, develop curricula and attract the academic talent to teach are a must for the success of any public college and university. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the track record in Florida of late. Too often, political ideology and fealty seem to be have been the requisites for getting to lead a public college or university.

The hiring of Ben Sasse as president of the University of Florida, a process shrouded in secrecy until he was announced as the "finalist," the hostile takeover of New College of Florida in Sarasota and the recent appointment of Scott Yenor, who in a 2021 speech labeled independent women as medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome, to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, suggest a right-wing takeover of Florida's public universities.

If the past is prologue, FAU was fortunate to even get this far in its efforts to name a new president.

FAU's marred by 2023 president search

The reality is FAU has grown from its days as a "commuter college" and lower-tier member of the State University System of Florida. Today, the Boca Raton-based university consists of more than 30,000 students on six campuses. The school offers 28 bachelor's and master's degree programs and more than 6,000 undergraduate research activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The university progressed under the leadership of FAU President John Kelly, who announced his retirement and stepped down in 2022. The next 18 months amounted to a presidential search tainted by crass political rancor and interference.

In July 2023, the school's search committee announced a slate of candidates. However, state university officials forced the committee to halt its search, ordering the school to start from scratch. At the center of the controversy was the emergence of then-state Rep. Randy Fine, a conservative firebrand from Brevard County, as a potential candidate. Gov. Ron DeSantis had supported Fine but when the finalists were announced, Fine didn't make the cut. Thus, the delay.

In the interim, university officials, faculty and students worried that their school would get Fine or some other candidate whose lack of qualifications were supposedly made up for by their fealty to Gov. DeSantis, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz and Raymond Rodrigues, chancellor of the State University System.

This time FAU seems to have cleared any political hurdles coming out of Tallahassee. That's fortunate. The school needs a new president, not more drama.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Next FAU president? Florida isn't meddling in search | Editorial
CHICAGO  Images of immigration raids around the country and people being deported in shackles on military planes is stoking fear and leaving some people afraid to come to work or even move around their community.

One U.S. citizen, who immigrated to America over 30 years ago and opened his own business, is now directly impacted by the ongoing immigration raids, because you cant run a business without customers.

I hope this terror will stop, the man, who did not wish to be identified, said. This is going to affect the city. Its a chain of command. Its going to affect everybodymost of our customers are Latinos, almost 95%, and the way things are going around the country right now, theyre scared to come out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chicagos sanctuary city status under investigation by federal committee amid immigration raids

The man said violent criminals should be removed, but striking fear into hardworking families cant be the goal.

There are so many ways they can work with these immigrants to make their status legal instead of just scaring them, the man said.

Reports vary on how many people have been rounded up in Chicago since Sunday. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said his sources believe the number is more than 100, adding the focus is on those with criminal convictions.

Theres no need to be afraid to show up to work. Theres no need to be afraid to go to school, Snelling said. We have not seen federal agents running through Chicago looking for children, going to work locations and grabbing people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What has changed with immigration under Trump and what is still playing out?

Sam Toia of the Illinois Restaurant Association told WGN News on Tuesday that about 586,000 people work in the food service industry statewide; close to 300,000 are in Chicago and about 40% of them are immigrants. Toia added anxiety is high for those who dont hold the right papers.

Theres no question theres a few that are not coming to work. Everyones looking over their shoulder, Toia said. Not just because maybe some are undocumented, but some are just feeling like, you know, Im Latino/Mexican. Am I just going to be stopped on the street? And if I dont produce my papers, am I going to be taken away?'

Agents need a signed warrant to enter a home or business, but an employer still has 72 hours to hand over I-9 forms which are required for work authorization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If that happens, please reach out to the Illinois Restaurant Association. Reach out to us. We are working with immigration groups, pro bono lawyers, to represent these workers, Toia said.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also joined Snelling earlier Tuesday, reaffirming the citys commitment to being a welcoming one.

Theres a real goal here to stoke fear into the American people, Johnson said. Well continue to make sure that were protecting the interests of all working people in the city.

Snelling did say on Tuesday that CPD, under the citys welcoming ordinance, cannot share an immigrants status. Those who need police assistance are asked to give them a call.

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.
[Source]

As part of his first wave of executive orders, President Donald Trump has moved to systematically dismantle federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and gender protections, marking a dramatic shift in policy that could reshape workplace dynamics and civil rights protections across the country.

Dismantling DEI programs

Trumps executive order titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing calls for the termination of all DEI offices and positions within the federal government. It requires agencies to identify and eliminate DEI programs, even those that may have been misleadingly relabeled to preserve their function.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In line with the order, the administration has urged federal employees to report on colleagues and departments suspected of concealing diversity initiatives. Government workers were warned of adverse consequences if they fail to report hidden DEI programs within 10 days.

Speaking to The Rebel Yellow about the orders impact on Asian American communities, Sydelle Barreto, policy manager of economic justice at the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), says the directive creates a dangerous precedent. The Trump administrations assault on diversity, equity and inclusion programs is an attack on the fundamental promise of equal opportunity and justice for all  a promise that has always been intertwined with the fight for reproductive justice, Barreto says. This executive order not only undermines decades of progress toward addressing systemic discrimination but also sends a chilling message that racial and gender equity are unwelcome in federal spaces.

Trending on NextShark: Dozens of states, cities file lawsuits against Trumps order to end birthright citizenship

Barreto emphasizes that DEI initiatives play a vital role in helping AAPI women and gender-expansive individuals get fair access to healthcare, tackle anti-Asian violence and secure economic justice. We know that racial inequality cannot be tackled in isolation  it is deeply tied to gender, health and legal protections, Barreto adds. Our children deserve a future where the government doesnt pit employees against each other to uphold oppressive systems but instead values inclusivity as a cornerstone of progress. These attacks may be designed to derail immediate change, but we remain committed to building a long-term foundation of equity and opportunity for the next generation.

Private sector impact

The administrations anti-DEI policy extends beyond federal agencies, taking aim at private sector initiatives. Under executive order Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, companies with federal contracts must certify they do not operate DEI programs that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws. This requirement affects a substantial portion of American business, as federal contract spending reached $739 billion in fiscal year 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several major corporations have already begun rolling back DEI initiatives in anticipation of these changes. Walmart announced it would no longer consider race and gender in supplier contracts, while Meta, McDonalds and Boeing have also dropped various DEI commitments. However, some companies with federal contracts, such as Microsoft and Accenture, have maintained their DEI programs.

Trending on NextShark: Trump unleashes sweeping immigration crackdown

Gender identity restrictions

Meanwhile, one of Trumps most contentious executive orders, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism, establishes a strict binary definition of sex across federal policy, recognizing only male and female as determined at conception. The order:

Requires all federal identification documents to reflect only biological sex

Mandates single-sex spaces be designated by biological sex rather than gender identity

Prohibits federal funds from being used to promote gender ideology

Directs agencies to remove all policies and communications that promote or inculcate gender ideology

For AAPI communities already facing intersectional challenges in healthcare access and gender-based discrimination, these restrictions could have far-reaching consequences. This executive order, which seeks to erase the existence of transgender and gender-expansive people by narrowly defining gender, is a direct assault on the freedoms and futures of the most vulnerable among us, NAPAWF Senior Policy Manager Fajer Saeed Ebrahim tells The Rebel Yellow. The same legal tools being used to attack gender-affirming care for transgender youth are being weaponized against reproductive healthcare and abortion access  our fates are legally and morally intertwined.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ebrahim says the directive presents serious concerns about widespread discrimination and violence affecting AAPI women, young people and gender expansive individuals throughout the healthcare system, from contraception access to safeguards for LGBTQIA+ people. Such interconnected attacks, Ebrahim notes, threaten individuals right to make decisions about their own bodies, which is fundamental to reproductive justice.

Trending on NextShark: Fears abound as Trump ends DEI programs, LGBTQ+ protections

As every major medical association affirms, gender-affirming care is essential and life-saving; this administrations decision to deny it puts countless lives at risk, including many from marginalized and intersectional communities, Ebrahim adds. We are playing the long game because our youth  who will inherit this fight  deserve a world where their identities are celebrated, their autonomy respected and their futures protected.

Civil rights response

Civil rights advocates have strongly condemned Trumps orders. In a statement to AP News, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, called them a smokescreen for firing civil servants and undermining the apolitical civil service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the National Action Network, led by Rev. Al Sharpton, announced plans to identify and boycott two companies that abandon their DEI commitments in the next 90 days.

Trending on NextShark: Nearly 2,000 couples tie the knot as Thailand approves same-sex marriage

Looking ahead

The controversial orders represent a complete reversal of Biden administration priorities and could have lasting implications for federal employment practices and civil rights protections. Legal challenges are expected, particularly regarding the constitutionality of requiring employees to report on their colleagues and the potential impact on existing civil rights protections.

The administration has given agencies 60 days to terminate DEI positions and programs, with implementation reports due within 120 days. For the private sector, the Department of Justice will develop a strategic enforcement plan identifying the most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners for potential investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending on NextShark: Simu Liu speaks out on Trumps new tax plan

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals this week grappled with the merits of a jurisdictional dispute that could bring an end to the now months-long fight over North Carolina's Supreme Court race.

The three-judge panel heard oral argument in North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs' appeal of a federal district court decision to send the election protests from her November opponent, Judge Jefferson Griffin, back to the state's GOP-led Supreme Court for consideration. Riggs leads Griffin in the race by just 734 votes, her victory confirmed by two recounts.

Monday's oral argument revolved largely around what the Fourth Circuit judges described as "complicated" procedural issues as the judges mulled precedent for federal removal, how to respect state court orders and what justified a federal court hearing the case at all. As the panel peppered counsel for each party with questions on in-the-weeds technical matters, how it might ultimately rule on the matter remained unclear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chris Shenton, senior counsel for voting rights for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, told Salon that the panel showed both a "sincere skepticism" that Griffin's arguments were right and a "genuine concern" over whether they could actually grant Riggs relief, should they even want to.

"That explains the tension and grappling the court was doing yesterday and why there wasn't a clear answer coming out of yesterday," Shenton, who was in attendance, said in a phone interview.

Appellate Judge Jefferson Griffin asked the North Carolina Supreme Court in December to compel the state Board of Elections to throw out more than 60,000 votes he alleges are invalid because voters did not provide some identification information on their registration applications. The state Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the case last week and remanded it back to the Wake County Superior Court, ordering it to consider the case on an expedited basis. It also left in place the stay on election certification it granted earlier this month.

After Griffin first filed his election protests in the North Carolina Supreme Court in December, the state election board  which had rejected those protests  sought to have the case removed to federal court. The district court, however, rejected that request earlier this month and sent the case back to the state Supreme Court. Riggs, who recused herself from the case and intervened as a defendant, appealed that decision, leading to Monday's oral argument before the Fourth Circuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Riggs and the state Board of Elections asked that the court reverse the lower court ruling and move the case back into federal court, arguing that Griffin's request for the board to throw out votes would be asking it to disenfranchise voters in violation of the National Voter Registration Act, the Voting Rights Act and the equal protection clause of the Constitution. During oral argument, Riggs' counsel also asked that the court rule quickly.

"This case belongs in federal court, because federal law stands between Judge Griffin and the mass disenfranchisement he seeks," Riggs argued in her opening brief. "Judge Griffin is well aware of those federal obstacles; he filed this action directly in the N.C. Supreme Court on the mistaken belief that, by skipping the North Carolina trial and intermediate appellate courts, he could thwart federal jurisdiction."

Griffin, however, asked the Fourth Circuit to affirm the lower court's ruling to remand the case back to state court, accusing the North Carolina Board of Elections of attempting "to delay things even more" by appealing to have the case handled in federal court.

Part of what makes the case before the Fourth Circuit so complex is the North Carolina Supreme Court's dismissal. In hearing arguments from the appellants, the judges focused heavily on what remedy they could even provide Riggs and the state board should they rule to move the case back into federal court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Assume everything you're saying is correct  we get the case back from the Supreme Court of North Carolina. We have a case in which a writ of prohibition was filed," Circuit Judge Paul Niemeyer, a President George H.W. Bush appointee, said to counsel for the state Board of Elections. "The North Carolina Supreme Court dismissed it. What do we do with it? Do we review the Supreme Court motion to dismiss the prohibition writ?"

Niemeyer also questioned whether the federal court had the power to reverse the state court rulings, emphasizing the legitimacy of the order the North Carolina Supreme Court made last week.

"If the state court legitimately has it, we have to respect its orders," he said. "There's a lot of comity here between a state and a federal court, and even on a federal issue, we have to respect state court rulings."

While questioning lawyers for Griffin, the judges focused more intently on the merits of his argument for affirming the district court's decision. The panel appeared skeptical of the arguments that the district court's refusal to take on the case was appropriate and of Griffin's conception of federal removal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Seems to me, if somebody contends that the action by the Supreme Court of North Carolina is null and void because it should have been in federal court, they can appeal the North Carolina Supreme Court to the Supreme Court of the United States," Niemeyer said to Griffin's counsel at one point.

Shenton noted that the stakes of Griffin's petitions for North Carolina voters had been left out of Monday's oral argument.

"It's always frustrating to me, as someone who swims in these waters, when these legal issues obscure the substantive right that is underlying all of them, which is people cast a ballot for their preferred candidates in a way that is core to American governance and American democracy, and that's being obscured by whether or not abstention doctrines are appropriate," he said.

In his election protests, Griffin argued that the North Carolina Board of Elections erroneously and unlawfully counted 60,000 votes from voters he says did not provide driver's license or social security numbers when registering to vote. He also argues the same of another 5,509 absentee votes he claims are invalid because overseas voters, including military personnel, failed to provide photo identification. Tossing those votes, he argues, will deliver him a win.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wake County Superior Court, in accordance with the state Supreme Court's order last week, will begin hearing the case on Feb. 7.

Shenton said that the Fourth Circuit has three basic paths it could take in ruling on the matter. It could order the case to proceed exclusively in federal court; determine that the remand to state court was appropriate and allow it to proceed exclusively in state court for now; or order parallel proceedings to continue in both state and federal court.

No matter what the ruling ultimately is, however, it'll be the next step in the case rather than the final step, he said.

"Suffice to say that there is no simple way out of all of this right now," he said. "It's a complicated issue, and it's ... a fractured proceeding right now. The Fourth Circuit can add some clarity to that  I think they will  but that clarity won't necessarily come with simplicity."
Community health centers, like HealthLinc, operate on a thin margin budgetarily, so announcing a funding freeze can cause chaos and panic, said CEO Melissa Mitchell.

The next question, Mitchell said, was what does it mean. For example, would federal funds the state distributes count under the freeze, she said.

Theres a little bit of uncertainty and definitely a level of uneasiness, almost to the point of fear, Mitchell said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday morning was filled with a lack of clarity and uncertainty at Meals on Wheels Northwest Indiana as information came in about a federal funding freeze, said CEO Ryan Elinkowski.

We had some board members express concern. Some of the clients that we serve were also calling in. The just not knowing, the unknown, it was a challenging day, Elinkowski said.

President Donald Trumps budget office on Wednesday revoked a memo freezing spending on federal grants less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country.

The Monday evening memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldnt be subject to a pause in funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House confirmed that OMB pulled the memo Wednesday in a two-sentence notice sent to agencies and departments, but said that Trumps underlying executive orders targeting federal spending in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, remained in place.

Administration officials said the notice to halt loans and grants was necessary to conduct a review to ensure that spending complies with Trumps recent blitz of executive orders. Agencies had been directed to answer a series of yes or no questions on each federal program by Feb. 7. The questions included does this program promote gender ideology? and does this program promote or support in any way abortion?

Still, the vaguely worded memo, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

The freeze was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but was stayed by a federal judge until at least Monday after an emergency hearing requested by nonprofit groups that receive federal grants. An additional lawsuit by Democratic state attorneys general was also pending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the freeze was announced, Gov. Mike Braun issued a statement to applaud Trumps decision to pause government spending. Braun said his office will release guidance to state agencies for compliance.

This level of fiscal discipline is exactly the kind of leadership we need in Washington D.C. and is in line with the values of Hoosiers and the American people who elected him, Braun, a former U.S. Senator, said in the statement. I am confident we will continue to deliver needed services to Hoosiers with efficiency, doing more with less.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said in a statement that his office received many calls Tuesday from constituents and organizations directly impacted by the freeze.

Mrvan said the freeze was disappointing because federal funds that positively impact people, small businesses, Northwest Indiana municipalities and non-profit organizations that serve children, seniors and veterans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe that we are a nation of laws, and I will continue to fight to ensure that federal funds are spent as required under law to keep our nation and communities safe, to lower costs and to grow our economy, Mrvan said.

Higher education research grants were impacted as well. Indiana University officials issued a statement, saying that it was notified to cease grant activities on a small number of awards but most active federal grant activity and proposal submissions should continue uninterrupted.

Over the last roughly two days, organizations like Meals on Wheels were left questioning if they would be impacted  and if so by how much  if the federal freeze went into effect.

Approximately 37% of Meals on Wheels funding comes from the Older Americans Act, which is a grant on the freeze list, said Meals on Wheels spokeswoman Jenny Young.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the memo stated that funding pause excludes assistance provided directly to individuals, Meals on Wheels funding doesnt go directly to the recipient, which caused confusion, said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander in a statement.

Meals on Wheels funding goes from the Agency on Aging within the Administration for Community Living to State Units on Aging and through area agencies on aging to roughly 5,000 community-based senior nutrition providers.

If the Older Americans Act nutrition program funding was paused, it could put millions of seniors who use Meals on Wheels for their nutritional needs at risk, Hollander said.

This adds insult to injury as these programs are already underfunded to begin with. Freezing funding provided through the Older Americans Act nutrition program is unfathomable at a time when we should be addressing the gap between those Meals on Wheels can serve and those desperately in need  not halting an essential lifeline for millions of our nations most vulnerable, Hollander said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indianas meals continued to go out through Tuesday, Elinkowski said.

We certainly werent going to make any interruptions to our service, Elinkowski said.

The organization delivers about 2,000 meals a day, he said, which includes day cares and senior citizen centers. For homebound deliveries, Elinkowski said the deliveries are a form of a wellness check and human connection.

Of course the nutrition is important, but some of our clients, our volunteers or staff are the only people they are seeing all day or all week, Elinkowski said.

Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana will remain vigilant and monitor any future potential freezes, Elinkowski said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana staff and clients experienced widespread confusion throughout Tuesday, said CEO Victor Garcia.

The organization depends on federal and state funding to provide meals to thousands of people facing food insecurity, Garcia said. The organizations The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves vulnerable seniors, are federal programs, he said.

A prolonged freeze on federal funding could hinder our ability to procure and distribute nutritious food, thereby exacerbating hunger in our community, Garcia said.

At HealthLinc, about 15% of its 2024 budget was federally funded, Mitchell said. It provides various programs, from providing healthcare to the underserved to addiction and behavioral health services, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When someone says that all federal funding will stop, theres a lot of concern, given that, as a group, we dont frequently have a lot of rainy day funds to cover everything, Mitchell said, adding that HealthLinc has some rainy day funds.

When the funding freeze was announced, Mitchell said HealthLinc staff were scared they would lose their jobs. On an administrative level, Mitchell said the website that distributes the funds and accepts reports was inactive amid the announced freeze.

While HealthLinc didnt miss January payments, Mitchell said the administrative staff was anxious about submitting required federal reports, which are due Thursday.

Weve already made our budget for the year based on what we were already promised. Those things still exist even if the federal funding just goes away, Mitchell said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If federal funding ended, Mitchell said HealthLinc could continue as is for a few months, but then the administration would have to start looking at letting staff go and ending programs.

We do really good work, and we serve people and we save communities money, Mitchell said. We serve people that deserve to be taken care of.

While the freeze has been rescinded, Mitchell said HealthLinc doesnt look at the decision as being completely resolved.

I anticipate that there will be more intricate investigations happening, and well need to continue to be prepared for what it might look like if our funding drastically changes, Mitchell said.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
At a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not list which programs would and would not continue to be funded. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This story was updated on Jan. 28 at 5:28 p.m. to include the judicial stay over the funding freeze, and again on Jan. 29 at 9:48 a.m. to add a comment from a Department of Environmental Services spokesperson.

New Hampshire officials and nonprofit leaders spent Tuesday scrambling for clarity after President Donald Trumps Office of Management and Budget issued a memo ordering a freeze on nearly all federal financial assistance programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And a last-minute, temporary stay over the Trump administrations action by U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan appeared only to delay that confusion to Monday.

As you might imagine emails are flying back and forth between our state and federal friends, said Shawn Jasper, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food in an email to the Bulletin. Everyone is trying to figure out what the order means, but no one really understand(s) the potential impacts yet.

That sentiment echoed across the state Tuesday, as organizations and state agencies said they were busy talking to contacts in Washington and were unclear what was next.

The leader of one organization said it was already having trouble receiving federal funding that was originally set aside for his programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have already paid all the expenses for the month of January  salaries, rent, and everything  and we cannot get reimbursed for that, said Borja Alvarez de Toledo, the president and CEO of Waypoint, a Manchester-based nonprofit that relies on federal funding to provide services to fight homelessness and assist families in other ways.

On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Kelly Ayotte urged funding to critical services to continue, but endorsed the presidents overall goal.

While I support a commonsense review of federal spending to ensure it is in the taxpayers best interest, we cannot allow interruptions to critical services for those who depend on them, Ayotte said. My office has been in communication with the White House to ensure that our citizens are not negatively impacted by any unintended impacts and that critical services continue without interruption.

The confusion stemmed from a memo Monday evening issued by the OMB that called on all federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance that may be impacted by a series of executive orders issued by Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a follow-up memo Tuesday, OMB said the freeze would not affect any program providing direct assistance to citizens, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Pell grants, Head Start programs, rental assistance, and other similar programs, but the office did not clarify which programs would and would not continue to receive funding.

At a press conference Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not list which programs would and would not continue to be funded, but reiterated that it would not hinder direct assistance.

If you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that, she said. However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

But critics noted there are many programs that could be frozen that dont involve dollars directly flowing from the federal government to citizens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just after 5 p.m. Tuesday, AliKhan blocked the freeze from taking effect. A group of nonprofits  including the National Council of Nonprofits and the American Public Health Association  had filed a lawsuit to stop the action. The lawsuit seeks a restraining order against the order, which the plaintiffs argue is unconstitutional use of executive power.

The lawsuit will continue at the District Court of the District of Columbia.

Alvarez de Toledo, the president and CEO of Waypoint, said the nonprofit sector, which often relies on federal funding, is also extremely confused about what this memo means for them.

I dont know what it means, he said. What I do know is that 70% of my budget is funded either directly or as passed through the state of New Hampshire from federal funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alvarez de Toledo said the system he uses to bill for services related to their homelessness programs and receive the federal funding set aside for them is already blocked. This is particularly concerning to him because Waypoint has already provided the services in January and hasnt received the funding for them.

The truth is, weve provided those services for the month of January, he said. Weve paid those salaries. Weve paid the rent of the buildings.

Hes unsure whether he will ever be retroactively reimbursed. He assumes thats going to be the case for February too.

He said hes also heard from colleagues in other states that provide the Head Start, an early childhood education program, who are having similar issues with their billing systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of Waypoints federal funding comes from Medicaid matches, he explained, which he believes is safe, but that still leaves around half of his programming at risk.

I think 50 percent, I think it is fair to say, that it is going to affect, he said. If they also cut Medicaid, or a proportion of Medicaid, it could be more.

He said he and his colleagues are hearing contradictory information about how long this freeze could last.

Theres a lot of confusion, he said.

New Hampshires public officials were also in the dark.

Jasper said there are personnel and programs that could be affected by the freeze, but that the department has not taken action until it gets clarity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are hopeful that when the dust settles, our two federally funded employees and associated programs will continue to receive funding as those are contractual in nature, he said. But the department has also started rounding up a list of programs that could be affected by a freeze, Jasper added, such as block grants that go to trade organizations to promote specialty crops, and a federally funded farm-to-school program.

I think that it is reasonable to assume that all other federal grant programs will be looked at very carefully, he said.

Jasper said even if some funding is frozen, he hopes the federal government will honor any reimbursement amounts owed to the state.

A spokeswoman for the New Hampshire Department of Education said late Tuesday afternoon the department is waiting (for) further clarity. But, she added, the department has been advised that the order will only apply to discretionary grant programs from the U.S. Department of Education, and not to long-term funds for Title I, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants, Pell grants, and direct loans under the Higher Education act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(The New Hampshire Department of Education) will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance when more information is available, the spokeswoman said. We appreciate school districts in New Hampshire for their patience as we determine next steps.

Jim Martin, public information officer for the Department of Environmental Services, said the agency has programs that will likely be impacted by this executive order, and that it was waiting for further guidance from the federal government on this matter.

The New Hampshire Department of Energy and New Hampshire Fish and Game did not respond to questions Tuesday about the freeze. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services referred the Bulletin to Ayottes statement.

The freeze could also affect housing programs in New Hampshire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In its follow up memo Tuesday, the OMB said the funding freeze would not affect rental assistance. But the memo did not address whether the freeze would affect Section 8 Housing Choice Program vouchers, community development block grants, public housing operating funds, and other programs.

Those funds are administered by New Hampshire Housing, the states quasi-public agency. On Tuesday afternoon, Etienne Lafond, the agencys director of communications and marketing, said the agency was aware of the White House memorandum, but was still seeking answers.

We have not received guidance from our federal agency partners, such as HUD, so we do not have a clear understanding yet of what programs administered by NH Housing are affected by this memo, Lafond said. Were actively working to get clarification on this memo.

New Hampshire Democrats were urging local actions. In a letter Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson, of Exeter, and Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, of Portsmouth, asked Ayotte to take a stronger stand against the federal freeze and outline New Hampshires plan to respond.

We urge you to speak out forcefully against Donald Trumps executive overreach and to outline, in clear terms, the steps you will take to shield our most vulnerable neighbors  and indeed all Granite Staters  from the consequences of this unilateral and unjustified freeze, the lawmakers wrote.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Trump administration announced that they are temporarily pausing most federal financial assistance programs Monday night and its potential impact has sparked concerns.

In a turn of events, a federal judge temporarily blocked the push to pause federal funding Tuesday afternoon.

A memo sent by Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was very blindsided, said Bradley Hargis, the Executive Director of Capital Area Private Defender Service (CAPDS). CAPDS is a non-profit organization in Austin that assists people in need of lawyers.

Hargis said he found out about the announcement of the pause from an email sent from the Department of Justice to CAPDS. He says the grants are important to help fund cases.

Youd be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in attorney feeswhich almost no incarcerated client has, Hargis said.

The memo stated the pause is aimed to provide time to figure out the best uses of the funding that are consistent with the law and presidents priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I certainly understood that the [Trump] administration may have different priorities for future grants they might award, Hargis said. But Ive never seen an administration, break a commitment for grants that have already been awarded are already being funded andin many casesthe work has already been done and needs to be paid for.

KXAN reached out to several other nonprofit organizations asking what the potential impact could be.

Family Eldercare, a nonprofit organization that helps assist older adults and people with disabilities in Central Texas, said they are in continuous communication with other nonprofit organizations to see how this unfolds in the days ahead.

KXAN also reached out to leadership at Travis County who said from purchasing equipment for our sheriffs deputies to funding attorneys for the Public Defenders office, federal grants play an important role in our ability to serve our community. We will work with our federal representatives to determine how this will affect our operations and affect the community we all serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement federal grant funds and the services they help us provide are vitally important to all communities. They support things like housing needs, nutrition programs for children, safe streets and roads, and basic medical care for low-income seniors. This is a critical issue precisely because it impacts so many basic services. We will continue monitoring this evolving situation and make necessary adjustments as we gain more insight on the specific impacts.

Hargis worries for the future of CAPDS, as well as other nonprofit organizations.

It left a lot of organizations unclear on what to do, Hargis said. These grants support fundamental and essential positions, and even a short pause will represent the need to move those staff to other programs. If you cant support that, I think you are having to look at laying off staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans that could total trillions of dollars and cause disruptions in health care research, education programs and other initiatives.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.

The White House announced the pause earlier Tuesday as the administration begins an across-the-board ideological review of its spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The website that states use to get Medicaid payments from the federal government went down on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a X social media post.

She said that states would still have their payments processed. The outage, which occurred just after the White House ordered the pause on federal grants, raises concerns that billions in Medicaid funding would be cut off.

Leavitt said no payments have been affected and the portal will be back online shortly.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans that could total trillions of dollars.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.

The White House had planned to start the pause as they begin an across-the-board ideological review of federal spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plan sparked confusion and panic among organizations that rely on Washington for their financial lifeline.

Administration officials have said federal assistance to individuals would not be affected, including Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump plunged the U.S. government into panic and confusion on Tuesday by pausing federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives, setting the stage for a constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants  a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country  was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trumps recent blitz of executive orders. The Republican president wants to increase fossil fuel production, remove protections for transgender people and end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

This sort of came out of the blue, said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receives federal funding. Now theyre trying to figure out what it means based on zero information.

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans and food stamps. They also defended the funding pause, saying Trump was following through on his promise to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the effects were being felt far from the nations capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, were worried about getting cut off.

The lack of clarity and uncertainty right now is creating chaos, spokeswoman Jenny Young said. She said seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.

The National Science Foundation postponed this weeks panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldnt receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were seeking clarity to ensure nothing was jeopardizing financial stability of the state.

Trumps actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere, said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The full scope of the administrations review was spelled out in a 51-page spreadsheet sent to federal agencies and viewed by The Associated Press. Each line was a different government initiative, from pool safety to tribal workforce development to special education.

Officials were directed to answer a series of yes or no questions for every item on the list, including does this program promote gender ideology? or does this program promote or support in any way abortion? Responses are due by Feb. 7.

Trillions of dollars are potentially under review. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also supposed to be halted if they might violate one of Trumps executive orders.

The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a memo distributed Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vaeth wrote that each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the Presidents executive orders. He also wrote that the pause should be implemented to the extent permissible under applicable law.

The pause on grants and loans was scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. ET, just one day after agencies were informed of the decision.

Democrats described the Trump administrations decision as capricious and illegal. They argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress.

New York Attorney General Letitia James planned to ask a Manhattan federal court to block the funding pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional, she said.

Separately, group of nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit in Washington saying that the funding pause is devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale.

The issue dominated the first briefing held by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said the administration was trying to be good stewards of public money by making sure that there was no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness.

She denied that Trump was deliberately challenging Congress to establish his dominance over the federal budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes just trying to ensure that the tax money going out the door in this very bankrupt city actually aligns with the will and the priorities of the American people, she said.

The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that it would implement the pause to align federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through President Trumps priorities. The Department of Energy also said it was conducting a review of its spending.

The funding pause is the latest example of how Trump is harnessing his power over the federal system to advance his conservative goals. Unlike during his first term, when Trump and many members of his inner circle were unfamiliar with Washington, this time hes reaching deep into the bureaucracy.

For example, federal employees are being asked to report their colleagues if they try to continue diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They are pushing the presidents agenda from the bottom up, said Paul Light, an expert on the federal government and professor emeritus of public service at New York University.

He also said there are risks in Trumps approach, especially with so many voters reliant on Washington.

You cant just hassle, hassle, hassle, Light said. Youve got to deliver.

Fears about interruption in government services were exacerbated as states reported problems with the Medicaid funding portal, where officials request reimbursement for providing healthcare to poor residents.

Democrats condemned the Trump administration, connecting the issue to the funding pause.

But Leavitt said the portal would be back online soon.

We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent, she posted on social media.




Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, W.Va. (Chris Jackson | West Virginia Watch)

A former West Virginia prison guard was convicted earlier this week on charges related to the 2022 death of an inmate at Southern Regional Jail in Raleigh County.

After a four-day trial, a federal jury on Monday found Chad Lester, 35, of Odd, West Virginia, guilty of conspiracy to engage in witness tampering, witness tampering and making false statements in the death of an inmate identified as Q.B., according to a news release by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quantez Burks, 37, reportedly died March 1, 2022, one day after he was booked at the jail in Beaver on charges of wanton endangerment and obstructing an officer.

Federal officials say correctional officers retaliated against Burks for trying to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod by bringing Burks to an area of the prison without surveillance cameras and beating him.

Five other former correctional officers were charged related to the assault and pleaded guilty. Prior to the indictment, two other officers pleaded guilty to charges related to the assault.

According to the news release, Lester told other correctional officers to lie in their incident reports and leave out relevant, truthful information. He retaliated against officers suspected of giving truthful information about the assault and threatened that he would assault anyone who gave the FBI truthful information about the assault.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the release, United States Attorney Will Thompson called Lester the ringleader of the effort to cover up the assault.

He obviously failed at that, Thompson said. I grew up with a strong sense of conviction to protect people who were being taken advantage of by people who were stronger, more powerful or smarter than they were. I always felt that if I could make things right, I should. This is a case where I got that opportunity, with the assistance of the investigators, the trial team and all those who helped hold Mr. Lester and the other defendants accountable.

Lester is scheduled to be sentenced April 16. He faces up to 45 years in prison.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Federally employed military spouses who work remotely for their agencies should be allowed to continue to do so, according to a joint memo from the federal agencies in charge of budget and personnel.

Despite the guidance, some spouses with federal jobs continue to feel uncertainty and angst following President Donald Trumps new policy requiring in-person work.

In a Jan. 27 memo about the return-to-office requirement for federal workers, the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget included a footnote that stated agencies should also exclude military spouses working remotely based on the Military Spouse Employment Act. That law includes a provision that authorizes military spouses to telework from remote locations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But some advocates are concerned that the guidance does not explicitly require federal agencies to exempt military spouses from the return-to-office requirement, meaning policies could differ from agency to agency.

For spouses who work remotely  whether in the continental United States or overseas under a Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas (DETO) agreement  there is uncertainty about whether they will be able to continue their careers. Any roadblocks to working for the federal government would add to the many difficulties military spouses face in their battle for employment.

Exceptions to the return-to-office policy will likely apply to military spouses working both remotely in the continental U.S. and overseas, said John Hatton, staff vice president for policy and programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, or NARFE. However, Hatton said the specifics wont be clear until guidance flows down to the agencies, and from the agencies to their employees.

As a result, the policy is sowing angst among military spouses who work for the federal government, said Emmalee Gruesen, a Navy wife and Navy civilian employee who volunteers as an advocate for federally employed military spouses. Gruesen lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she works remotely for a Navy office in Norfolk. She and Army wife Maria Donnelly administer a Facebook page for other federally employed spouses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A lot of spouses want to proactively submit requests for exemptions, Gruesen said. Were telling them to wait for the agency.

She told Military Times the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services have issued clear instructions that do exempt military spouses from the return-to-office requirement.

Were trying to calm a whole community, Gruesen said, noting that the time lag between the return-to-office order and any clarification about the policy has exacerbated the worry.

The unfortunate thing is, people are making geo-bach decisions now, she said. In those cases, some military families are deciding that the service member will move ahead to the next duty station while the spouse stays behind to be near work in case remote work isnt allowed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All federal employees are prohibited from teleworking overseas without approval from their agency and the State Department. An agreement signed in April 2024 between the departments of State and Defense was designed to make it easier for military spouses to work overseas under these DETO agreements.

Gruesen has heard from some spouses that their approvals for DETO have been put on hold, she said.

People are fearful. There are a wide range of these executive orders, NARFEs Hatton said. Its disappointing to see the range and breadth and scope of these orders. The concern is that its not clearly tied to some productivity measure that had been going down because people were working from home versus in the office.

Taken together, Hatton said, these executive orders show a lack of appreciation for the work that federal employees are doing day in and day out ... [seeing] them more as expendable and part of the problem, rather than part of the solution to what we need to help discover and operate and work on behalf of the American people.
The White House announced details Tuesday of a deferred resignation offer it made to federal employees that allows them to resign with pay through Sept. 30.

Heres what we know about the offer, which affects the majority of the 2.3 million workers employed by the government and was made in an email blast Tuesday afternoon. It is the latest step the Trump administration has taken to reshape the federal workforce - including ordering most federal workers back to the office, firing inspectors general at several agencies and directing the government to lay off staff working on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

- - -

What is the offer?

Federal workers who accept the deferred resignation offer will remain employed, retain all pay and benefits, and be exempt from in-person work requirements until their final resignation date of Sept. 30, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

The deferred resignation letter shared by the office suggests that those who take the offer could see their duties changed - or be reassigned or placed on leave - before their resignation.

Those who accept the deal are not expected to work, according to an FAQ published by OPM. This is the most common question about the deferred resignation office, according to a post from the Department of Governmental Efficiency, run by billionaire Elon Musk, account on Musks platform X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Can take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits, reads the post.

Agencies may make adjustments in response to resignations including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date, OPM said in its letter to federal employees.

Under the offer, employees can accelerate their resignation date but not extend it. If a federal worker becomes eligible for early or normal retirement at any point before their resignation date, they may also elect to retire, according to the office.

- - -

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What happens to those who dont accept it?

The offer expires Feb. 6, according to the office, and there is no penalty for civil servants who do not respond to the email announcing the offer.

The announcement states that the majority of federal agencies will be downsized as part of the Trump administrations overhauls, likely through furloughs and reclassifying employees to at-will status, which would make them easier to fire.

For those who do not take the offer, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions, the announcement states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

- - -

Who received it - and who didnt?

Not all federal employees are eligible. Agency heads may determine carve-outs within their agencies. Military personnel, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, and those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security are also exempt, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

- - -

Why is the Trump administration doing this?

Trump pledged on the campaign trail to shrink the civil service, which he and his allies have cast as a liberal deep state that disrupted his plans during his first term. Musk previously vowed to slash the federal workforce as part of a sweeping plan to eliminate agencies and shrink the federal budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

- - -

Has anything like this been done before?

Trump made several attempts to weaken protections for federal employees in his first term, most significantly when he issued an executive order in 2020 to strip tens of thousands of civil servants of employment protections and allow his administration to fire them at will. President Joe Biden rescinded the order, but Trump reinstated it after assuming office this month.

The Office of Personnel Management sent the offer to employees under the subject line Fork in the Road, invoking the title Musk used to offer employees severance as part of his overhaul of Twitter in 2022. He ultimately reduced the size of the companys staff by around 80 percent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

- - -

What has the response to this been so far?

Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday night, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) argued that Trumps offer to federal employees overstepped his authority.

The President has no authority to make that offer. Theres no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work, Kaine said. If you accept that offer and resign, hell stiff you.

Likewise, the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents employees at 35 federal agencies, sent an email to members Tuesday urging them not to accept the resignation offer. We are reviewing the email closely and will have more information tomorrow, the note said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, condemned the announcement Tuesday.

Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a news release, which also stated that there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services.

This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to, Kelley said.

- - -

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maxine Joselow, Brianna Tucker and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report.

Related Content

His family gave it all to ice skating. A trip for the sport took it all away.

Guitars, masks and defiance: Kenyas rock and metal scene catches fire

Earthquake sensors could help track a different threat: Falling space debris
A court in the American state of Colorado has ruled against an animal rights group seeking the release of five elephants from a zoo.

Lawyers for the group Nonhuman Rights Project were seeking to use a legal process designed for prisoners to dispute their imprisonment. A favorable ruling would have permitted the lawyers to dispute the animals detention at the zoo.

The elephants Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou and Jambo live at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The Nonhuman Rights Projects final goal was to get them moved to an elephant sanctuary.

But the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the legal process the group employed could not be used for the animals.

Because an elephant is not a person, the elephants here do not have standing to bring a habeas corpus claim, the court said in the ruling. A habeas corpus claim usually asks a court for the release of a prisoner who says they are being illegally detained.

The decision follows a similar finding by a court in New York in 2022. Nonhuman Rights Project also brought that case. The legal action concerned Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo.

The Colorado elephants were born in the wild in Africa. The rights group said the animals have shown signs of brain damage because the zoo is like a prison. It wanted the animals released to one of the two accredited elephant sanctuaries in the United States. The group said it does not believe the animals would survive in the wild.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo argued that moving the elephants might result in their placement with new animals. The Zoo said it could cause them unnecessary stress and would be cruel considering the age of the elephants. It said the five elephants are not used to being in large groups. And it argued that the elephants do not have the skills or desire to join one, based on observations of the animals.

The zoo welcomed the courts ruling. But it also said it was disappointed that there had to be a legal fight over the issue. The zoo accused the Nonhuman Rights Project of abusing court systems" to raise money.

The Nonhuman Rights Project said the latest ruling "perpetuates a clear injustice. It predicted that future courts would reject the idea that only humans have a right to liberty.

As with other social justice movements, early losses are expected, the organization said in a statement. It added that current legal policy has permitted Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo to be relegated to a lifetime of mental and physical suffering.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sanctuary  n. a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled, and hunting is illegal

accredited adj. officially approved by a body that carries out such approvals

stress n. a state of tension or nervousness often caused by something troubling

perpetuate n. to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely

relegate  adj. to remove or dismiss to a less important place
A female NHS hospital worker has been suspended after being charged with a plot to kidnap, rape and murder a girl under the age of 13.

Tracy Turner, 51, an operating theatre assistant, has denied eight charges along with 45-year-old Stuart Compton.

The pair appeared at Cardiff Crown Court and are due to stand trial on May 12 at the same court.

Ms Turner has been suspended from her post at Cardiffs University Hospital of Wales as she awaits trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also denied two counts of making indecent images of children and one of perverting the course of justice.

The charge of perverting the course of justice alleges that Ms Turner hid a mobile phone on June 25 last year following the arrest of her partner.

She is also alleged to have made indecent images in Categories B and C  the second and third-most serious types of illegal images of children.

A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: The health board suspended the individual once we were made aware of the allegations against them.

This is a sensitive issue and the health board has been cooperating with partners in South Wales Police. We are not able to comment further while court proceedings are ongoing.

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.
Gov. Bob Ferguson signs an executive order responding to the Trump administrations deportation efforts, Jan. 27, 2025 in Seattle. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed an executive order to create a state team focused on responding to the separation of migrant families as the Trump administration promises mass deportations.

The Family Separation Rapid Response Team will be housed in the state Department of Children, Youth and Families. Members will include officials from the governors office, the attorney generals office, the Washington State Patrol and the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deportation on the scale Trump has described means ripping families apart. It means kids losing their parents. It means businesses losing their workers. It means communities being significantly altered, Ferguson said.

My administration will do everything we can possibly do to address those significant harms that are caused by those policies, the Democratic governor said Monday. Thats making sure that kids who are torn away and separated from their parents have someone to care for them, and they have uninterrupted access to their education.

The White House knocked Fergusons move.

Radical Leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda, Harrison Fields, a deputy press secretary for Trump, said in an email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first meeting of the new state team will be no later than Feb. 14, but Ferguson expects it to be sooner. The group will provide recommendations to the governor, and is expected to file a report by April 30.

Ferguson signed the order at the Centilia Cultural Center in Seattle, joined by numerous elected officials and advocates.

Tana Senn, a former state lawmaker who took over the Department of Children, Youth and Families under the Ferguson administration, reiterated that children whose parents are deported will have support from the state. These children are often U.S. citizens, while their parents dont have legal status.

I just want families to know and to feel rest assured that if that happens, your child will be safe, will be cared for and will be loved here in Washington state, Senn said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump made the promise of mass deportations a centerpiece of his campaign. One week in, his administration has already initiated an immigration crackdown.

Trump signed a slew of executive orders to overhaul the countrys immigration system. These included declaring a national emergency at the southern border, ending birthright citizenship and eliminating policies that bar immigration enforcement agents from arresting migrants at churches, schools and hospitals.

Its about making a terrifying calculus every day, said Roxana Norouzi, the executive director of immigrant advocacy group OneAmerica. Is going to work worth risk of detention? Is a church, hospital or school visit worth being separated from their children? The real threat to our country is a system that forces hardworking families to choose between survival and safety.

On Sunday, agents arrested 956 people in raids across the country, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Before Trump took office, the average was 311 per day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Yakima County, an immigrant rights group reported federal agents detained two people in a grocery store parking lot on Sunday, according to the Yakima Herald-Republic.

The Keep Washington Working Act prevents local police from helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. The law, passed in 2019 mostly along party lines with support from Democrats, also prohibited officers from asking about immigration status, with some exceptions.

Last week, the Department of Justice threatened to prosecute local officials who dont cooperate. And, similar to his first term, Trump has raised the possibility of withholding federal funds from states and cities unwilling to aid in deportations.

In 2017, Seattle took the first Trump administration to court for punishing sanctuary cities that wouldnt comply with immigration authorities. The city won the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Rep. Jim Walsh, the chair of the state Republican Party, called Fergusons order an empty virtue signaling gesture.

I think the people of Washington want the law to be enforced, including immigration law, said Walsh, of Aberdeen. No one wants to break up families, thats not a real priority.

Washington state has already sued over Trumps attempt to end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Last week, a federal judge in Seattle approved a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Trumps executive order, calling it blatantly unconstitutional.

Ferguson said he was proud Washington was the first state to defeat the Trump administration in court during the presidents new term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A copy of the executive order Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Jan. 27, 2025, that is intended to help families affected by President Donald Trumps deportation efforts.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Washington State Standard, like Oregon Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) plans to be at the White House on Wednesday to attend President Trumps signing of the Laken Riley Act, which seeks to detain migrants charged with some nonviolent crimes was passed by both chambers last week.

I believe a secure border creates a more secure nation and its just common sense. I believe a stronger border is fully compatible with my commitment to immigration. I also believe our nation should protect our Dreamers, Fetterman said in a statement Wednesday.

I believe this nation is tired of leaders in D.C. prioritizing fighting over governing, the senator added. I believe Pennsylvania elected me to fight for a better commonwealth and to work with both sides of the aisle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fetterman co-sponsored the legislation, which was initially introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala). The bill was passed through the House last week with a 263-156 vote, sending it to Trumps desk. The Senate passed the measure with a 64-35 vote two days prior, with Fetterman one of 12 Senate Democrats voting in favor of it.

The bill will prompt the detention of migrants who do not have legal status in the country, including individuals who were allowed entry to seek asylum, if they have been accused of shoplifting, theft or burglary. Critics have slammed the provision for violating civil rights by making a person eligible for detention when facing charges rather than after a conviction.

The legislation was named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant last year.

Fetterman has repeatedly touted his bipartisan approach as Trump returned to the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, Fetterman met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago ahead of the presidential inauguration. The battleground state senator said they spoke for over an hour and characterized it as a positive experience.

I mean, he was kind, he was cordial. It wasnt in any kind of theater. It wasnt trying to get your picture taken to kind of put something out on social media, Fetterman said on The View this week. It was just, really, a conversation. We actually spoke for over an hour.

However, Fetterman, who has at times been openly critical of his party in the light of the 2024 election outcomes, shot down speculation last week about potentially switching party affiliation, differentiating himself from moderate former Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), who were elected as Democrats but became independents while in office.

If they think, Oh, its going to be like a Manchin or a Sinema play, thats just not true, and thats not going to happen, 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 The Hill.
Killeen, Tx (FOX 44)  UPDATE: Killeen police say the woman killed in an early Wednesday morning traffic crash has been identified as Veronica Denise Horne.

Killeen police said the car was found on fire as they arrived at the reported crash on Veterans Memorial Boulevard.

Witnesses were found performing first aid on the driver when officers got to the scene about 3:00 a.m. at VMB and 38th Street.

When paramedics arrived, they transported the Horne to Darnall Medical Center on Fort Cavazos. She was pronounced dead at 4:17 a.m. with Justice of the Peace Gregory Johnson ordering an autopsy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said the early investigation indicated the white Kia sedan had been going east on VMB at a high rate of speed, then veering off the road, striking multiple utility poles near the 38th Street intersection.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Did you see a fiery streak in the sky last night?

If so, you're not alone. People across southern Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, reported seeing a bright streak of matter shooting across the sky Tuesday night. Residents flooded social media with videos of the object, which appeared to be moving very quickly across the sky.

It turns out the object was a piece of space debris that had re-entered the atmosphere, according to Facebook post by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

Here's what we know about the space junk that lit up Wisconsin on Tuesday:

When and where did the space debris appear?

According to videos posted to social media, the space debris was burning up over southern Wisconsin in the 9 p.m. hour. More specifically, several Wisconsinites reported seeing it between 9 and 9:05 p.m. CT.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Residents of Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota also posted videos of the debris, with Michiganders reporting sightings around 10 p.m. ET.

Space junk streaked across the Wisconsin sky on Jan. 28.

Space debris in Wisconsin, en route to Lake Michigan pic.twitter.com/2aauMsZOOu  Scott Haskins (@ScottmHaskins) January 29, 2025

Where did the space debris come from?

The space debris appeared to be "left over" from the Starlink-5693 launch vehicle, UW-Madison experts wrote on Facebook. The trajectory of the space debris matched the predicted re-entry path for Starlink-5693, according to aerospace.org.

Starlink-5693 was launched on Feb. 2, 2023 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The vehicle is part of SpaceX's Starlink project, which provides high-speed internet via a constellation of satellites.

Space junk re-entering the atmosphere on my security camera near fort Atkinson,Wis at 9:01 pm last night #wiwx #Spacewx #spacejunk pic.twitter.com/LdSR0FQALO  Tom Purdy (@TomPurdyWI) January 29, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is space debris?

Space debris, or space junk, is any man-made object that continues to orbit Earth but no longer serves a useful purpose, according to NASA.

Space junk remains in orbit until it re-enters the atmosphere  like Starlink-5693 did Tuesday night. It can range from large objects, like dead satellites, or smaller debris, such as paint flecks that have fallen off a rocket, the Natural History Museum says.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Space debris in Wisconsin: Where did it come from?
A few months ago, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was tasked with investigating the spending habits of self-proclaimed Super Mayor Tiffany Henyard of Dolton Village. The investigation findings seemed to confirm the outrageous misuse of taxpayer money.

Last year, the Dolton Village trustees sourced Lightfoot to lead an external noncriminal probe into the allegations of Henyard misusing taxpayer funds for her own luxury. In a jam-packed meeting Monday evening at the Lester Long Field House, Lightfoot revealed what she found in a 73-page presentation.

Lofty Spends of Village Funds

Lightfoot said six different credit cards were used by the village from January 2021 to June 2024. With no receipts and limited information about what was being purchased with said credit cards, there was barely any way to track the purchases, per The Chicago Sun-Times. Still, Lightfoot did find the cards were used to cover expenses of two Las Vegas trips Henyard took with several village officials in 2022 and 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lightfoots probe also found that the credit cards covered over $170,000 on travel, baggage fees and rental cars, about $50,00 on restaurants, $7,000 which was allotted for her personal hair and makeup team, and thousands of dollars were spent at stores including Best Buy, Wayfair, Apple and Amazon.

Along with bogus spending on nonessential goods, Henyard was also clocked for not disbursing funds accordingly. Lightfoot found Henyard failed to utilize millions of dollars of American Rescue Plan Act funds and pay back vendors for their services, the report says. Dolton currently owes $5 million to vendors.

How Henyard Hid Her Spending

To keep all of this from reaching the trustees, Lightfoot accused Henyard of making a concerted and systematic effort to conceal the finances. Lightfoot said this was partly due to the little oversight into Henyards spending and the fact her office went without a finance director for the majority of 2024.

In the interim, they tasked the villages accounting firm to take over a variety of tasks including composing purchasing lists which were shared with the board of trustees, The Sun-Times reports. However, at some point in 2022, the probe found that the trustees were randomly blocked from receiving regular finance reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout our independent inquiry, we consistently encountered a mayor and administration that evaded transparency  skirting FOIA laws, failing to provide requested documents, and otherwise refusing to cooperate with the investigation, said Lightfoot.

Dolton Moving Forward

So, now we know about Henyards dirty laundry. Whats next? Well, Lightfoots presentation included a list of recommendations including the establishment of a municipal code to keep better tabs on village finances, per the Sun-Times. However, Lightfoot also said she contacted the U.S. attorneys office for possible further action, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Henyard didnt attend the meeting. Though, she shared some words about how she felt about the findings through her attorney.

Lori Lightfoot is a failed mayor whose fiscal irresponsibility was overwhelming. The idea that any credibility could be given to her findings about another mayors financial decisions is preposterous. This is an effort by a failed political figure desperately seeking the limelight to which she is no longer entitled, said Henyards attorneys in a statement.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Finnish company Insta presented a Steel Eagle drone, developed in cooperation with Ukraine, the Finnish broadcaster Yle reported on Jan. 29.

Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks by Ukraine's military since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The Finnish-Ukrainian drone is equipped with a radio control system, a transfer function, as well as VR goggles for a pilot. It is said to have a long range and be resistant to interference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company describes the system as a combination of an "explosive charge and a drone." The drone can be used to transport an explosive charge that can detonate above a target.

The explosion of steel and tungsten pellets scatters to the ground and can pierce the roof of a light armored vehicle, according to the manufacturer.

According to the Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industry Association, more than 10 defense companies in Finland directly cooperate with Ukrainian companies.

Kyiv delivered more than 200,000 domestically-produced drones to front-line units as of the end of 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: How Ukraines new drone-missile hybrids are changing long-range weapon technology

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Fire crews battled a heavy blaze at a Vancouver home Tuesday night, authorities said.

According to the Vancouver Fire Department, five engines responded to East 17th Street where a single-story home was engulfed in flames.

Officials said they knocked down the fire in 30 minutes without any injuries.

Oregon Medicaid user worried might not be able to pay

Crews battled a fire at a home in Vancouver on the night of Jan. 28, 2025 (VFD)

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshals Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The homes owner is being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CAMDEN, Ohio (WJW)  The State Fire Marshal is searching for answers after six separate fires, including four confirmed arsons, occurred at Preble County campground within five months.

On Jan. 18, the Camden Fire Department asked the State Fire Marshals Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau to help investigate a blaze that broke out at Deer Run Luxury Campground in the 9500 block of Free Short Pike in Camden.

According to fire officials, this was the sixth fire at the campground since September 2024. Investigators said the latest fire happened in the same general area as another fire on Dec. 22.

Courtesy of Ohio State Fire Marshal

Four other fires that broke out at the campground back in September have been ruled intentional, the fire marshals office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Forest Hills CLC in Akron locked down for ICE operation nearby

Firefighters and Preble County Sheriffs deputies responded to a fire at the campground on Sept. 13. When they got there, investigators found a camper on fire in the 100 block of Buck-Rub Cove.

They also found a nearby camper with burning materials under it.

Later that day, according to officials, the fire department responded to two more camper fires at the campground. Those campers were found burning in the 100 block of Antler Cove.

I-Team: Shooter in murder-suicide was local deputy

The State Fire Marshal is asking anyone with information on the fires to come forward. The Blue Ribbon Arson Committee is offering up to $5,000 for information that can lead to an arrest in the cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were asking anyone who may have information on any of these fires to please come forward and provide us that information, Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau Chief Josh Hobbs said in a media release. Even the smallest detail or bit of information can help us determine who is responsible for setting these fires.

Anyone with information should reach out to the the State Fire Marshals tip line at 800-589-2728. Tips can remain 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Disabled researchers often face barriers while carrying out their work. So some scientists with disabilities are seeking to increase attention about the problem and come up with workable solutions.

Anita Marshall is a geologist with the University of Florida. She recently told The Associated Press (AP) that while she faces some limitations, it does not mean she cannot do her job. Just because you cant do it like someone else doesnt mean you cant do it, she said.

Marshall recently led an outing of disabled researchers to a natural lake in Southern Californias San Bernadino National Forest.

The group included scientists and students with disabilities related to sight, hearing and mobility. They visited Lost Lake, which sits along the areas San Andreas Fault. The fault contains two tectonic plates that can cause earthquakes.

The trip was organized by Marshalls group, called the International Association for Geoscience Diversity. It aims to demonstrate the difficulties, or challenges, disabled researchers often face. Other groups also aim to improve access to field and laboratory work so those with disabilities feel welcome and stay.

Taormina Lepore is a Western Michigan University paleontologist who went on the trip. She told the AP that one problem is that many scientists seem to value a single, traditional way of doing their work. This makes it more difficult to get changes for disabled researchers.

On the trip to Lost Lake, everyone got to see the lake even if they could not get there physically. Some attendees saw the surroundings on video taken by a drone.

Lepore, who also researches science education, said an important part of the process is for scientists to think about what might help other scientists they work with. Its really about empathy, as much as it is about science.

The National Science Foundation said in 2021 that disabled people make up about three percent of the science, technology, engineering, and math workforce.

Scientists with disabilities say the low percentage is partly because labs, classrooms and field areas are not designed for disabled individuals.

Mark Leddy used to oversee disability-related grants for the National Science Foundation. He noted that some students and faculty are still told they cannot work in a lab or do research safely.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 does set rules for new buildings and labs. These include requiring ramps and walkways that can be used by people in wheelchairs. But making changes to older labs can be costly and difficult.

Alyssa Paparella is working on her doctorate degree in biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. She founded an online community for disabled scientists. Paparella said a science building at one of her former schools did not have the needed buttons to open the doors. Thats the front door that theyre not even able to get in.

Leddy said researchers with disabilities are invaluable because of their life experiences. They have to come up with creative ways to get past barriers in their lives  a problem-solving skill that is needed in a lab.

Jennifer Piatek is a professor of Earth and Space Sciences at Central Connecticut State University. She uses a wheelchair but was able to see through drone video.

Piatek said it was nice to be part of a community that took her needs into account. You can learn a lot from images and maps, but really you need to get to the space to be in it.

Western Michigans Lepore is a neurodivergent person with low vision. She noted, Nature is not inherently accessible.

Bushra Hussaini works at New York Citys American Museum of Natural History. She told the AP that by going on field trips, she learns new ways to support interns and volunteers who visit the museum. She said the supportive community of geologists is what keeps her coming back. We learn from each other and we help each other.

As a doctoral student, Marshall went on field trips with other students. But she often had to wait in the car because the organizers had not thought about her disabilities. Marshall wants things to be different for the next generation of scientists. The whole point of these little day trips is to just plant that seed out therethat theres another way forward, she said.

Im Mario Ritter Jr. And I'm Caty Weaver.

Adithi Ramakrishnan reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tectonic plate n. one of the parts of the earth's surface that move in relation to each other

access n. the ability to use or do an activity or take part in a program

empathy n. the belief that you can feel what others feel

grant n. an amount of money that is given by an organization to an individual or group to do a specific task or service and which does not need to be paid back

faculty n. a group of teachers at a school or a college

ramp n. a structure that lets wheeled vehicles or wheelchairs get up stairs or steep ground

neurodivergent adj. having a condition that causes the brain to process information differently than most individuals

inherently adv. belonging to a persons nature or way of being

intern n. a young person who works in an organization to learn skills for future employment



We want to hear from you.
NILES, Ohio (WKBN)  Investigators with the State Fire Marshals Office are looking into a fire that happened Tuesday afternoon at an aluminum extrusions manufacturing facility in Niles.

Dispatchers got the call just before 2:15 p.m. for a large fire in the paint booth at BRT Extrusions on N. Main Street.

Fire Chief John Stevens says once firefighters were able to access the paint booth, they were able to put it out quickly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fire was contained to that area.

Stevens says firefighters spent a lot of time on the scene cooling off equipment.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Were told no one was hurt.

Nick Rich 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Springfield Fire Department put out a kitchen fire in a home on Willard Avenue Tuesday evening.

Victim identified in deadly Greenfield workplace accident

Springfield Fire Captain Drew Garrett said that at around 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the fire department received a report of a structure fire at 21 Willard Avenue. When the first fire crews arrived, they discovered a fire on the first floor of the home in the kitchen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fire crews were able to successfully put out the fire, with no injuries reported. The three residents of the home evacuated as a result of the fire, and Springfield Fire said that they are currently being assisted by the Red Cross.

The Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad have determined that the cause of the fire was accidental.

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.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Firefighters are on the scene at a southside Des Moines used bookstore after passersby reported flames coming from the building.

Capt. Stacia Swanson of the Des Moines Fire Department said the first calls came in around 9:51 a.m. Wednesday about a fire at 4626 SW 9th Street, at the corner of Herold Avenue. The building houses the Help A Mind Thrive Keep A Book store.

Multiple fire crews were dispatched to the fire because of the large amount of flammable material in the structure. There are four engines on the scene and three aerial trucks working to put out the flames by dumping water through the roof.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Capt. Swanson said she expected fire crews to be working on the fire for some time because the building was full of books.

No individuals were reported in the building when the fire started. At this point, there isnt any indication the fire is suspicious according to Capt. Swanson. A fire investigator is on the scene to help determine the cause once all the flames have been extinguished.

SW 9th Street is closed in the area near the fire because of firefighting operations.

This is a developing story. Check back to www.WHO13.com for more details as they become 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 who13.com.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  By sea or by air, illegal fireworks continue to make their way into Hawaii. But efforts are ramping up to catch them, and keep ships and planes safer in the process.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

While most of the contraband is still through Hawaiis ports, whats coming by air raised alarm bells at a legislative briefing this month. Always Investigating wanted to know whats being done about it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

5th person from Aliamanu explosion dies

Aerial fireworks that light up the night sky come from a steady stream of illegal shipments. A state special enforcement unit caught hundreds of thousands of pounds, but that dwindled to tens of thousands intercepted.

Hawaiis former Law Enforcement Director, Jordan Lowe, explained at a recent legislative briefing, If they figure we found out their method of smuggling, theyre going to adjust their method of smuggling. Now we have to adjust our strategy to catch them.

So if not by sea, some fireworks come by air.

Were catching daily, almost daily, parcels from the USPS containing 80, 100 pounds, maybe 200 pounds of fireworks at a time and those are coming on our commercial planes, Lowe said at the Jan. 7 briefing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked by Sen. Karl Rhoads if this is something to lose sleep about, Lowe offered an interesting response.

I would be concerned, Lowe said. Its a bad day if you have fireworks going off in the cargo hold of your plane.

Leadership at the Department of Law Enforcement has changed since that briefing, and DLE declined to have the newly appointed director address our follow-up questions, so we asked the U.S. Postal Inspector and the Department of Transportation whats going on with daily fireworks busts on air cargo.

I think its a bit of an overstatement, said Ed Sniffen, director of the Department of Transportation. Our law enforcement does a really good job of identifying these pieces that are of concern and pulling them off, whether theyre fireworks or guns or drugs. Maybe thats what our law enforcement brethren were talking about when they say every day. But from what we understand, fireworks are not an everyday occurrence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. mail and private-company parcels come on all manner of flights, whether in the cargo hold of passenger planes or on cargo-only flights. However, Amanda Jagusiak, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said that not all flights bound to the islands has mail on it.

But the flights that do have mail on it have extra security procedures, extra precautions to make sure that those parcels and packages are safe for travel, safe for being in the air, Jagusiak said.

There are different levels of screening for cargo-only flights, but what about when parcels and passengers are sharing a plane?

Im 100 percent certain that everything that goes on passenger planes gets screened and there are protocols and policies in place that absolutely control everything that goes on there, Sniffen said. So whether its TSA or whether its USPS that has their own EDS or explosive devices, everything gets screened by machine or by dog before it goes on a passenger plane. So the public should be 100 percent secure that theyre not going to be sitting over fireworks on the plane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That said, the postal inspectors say dont even try to airmail fireworks. Theyre dangerous and come with criminal charges and fines up to $100,000. USPIS offers a $250,000 reward for tips that lead to convictions of people who mail bombs and explosives, and both the sender and recipient can be charged.

There has been in the past arrests at all stages of the process, Jagusiak said. I cant say if theres about to be. I can say that there are active investigations ongoing. Postal Inspectors work with ATF and state and local officials on the mainland and in Hawaii to keep the mail stream safe.

The Department of Transportation says the lions share of fireworks still comes by ship.

If were looking at making sure that we stop it in mass, its at the ports that were going to be focusing, Sniffen said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But whether sea or sky, a multiagency effort is working on keeping them out.

Were aligning all of our enforcement here first, Sniffen said. So were adding more dogs to our sheriffs teams to ensure that we have we have more of those potentials to capture here, and not just at the airport, at our ports as well, working with them to see what kind of scanners make the most sense.

Officials say it would help a lot if the public stops buying it all.

Theres a lot who believe that it shouldnt be banned in the first place, and theres a lot who partake in it, Sniffen said. Weve got to stop that. Its illegal. We if we stop the demand, the supply doesnt come in anymore.

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 KHON2.
Four years after being elected the first African American female mayor of Lynwood, promising to bring down spending and rid the village of $25 million in debt, Jada Curry is asking voters for another term.

Curry, a 20-year resident of the village of fewer than 10,000 people, said she will continue work to boost economic development and improve public safety if reelected to office. She is running with a slate of candidates including trustees Randall Blakey and David Lilly, who are running for reelection, newcomer Bryan Hurt for trustee and Clerk Karen Wingfield-Bond, who is also seeking reelection.

We have always loved and enjoyed serving the village of Lynwood, and were thrilled and looking forward to what were going to do in the next term, Curry said Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Currys team is facing opposition in the Feb. 25 Democratic primary from a slate named The Lynwood Choice Team headed by Detonya Armstrong, a registered nurse who has lived in Lynwood for 10 years.

The Lynwood Choice slate claims a vision of empowering Lynwood for a brighter future through creating jobs and attracting new businesses, according to its campaign website. Other members include incumbent Trustee Rolanda Clark, Linda Miller, a registered nurse, and Jacqueline McGee, a community advocate who works in early childhood education.

Armstrong did not respond to several messages from the Daily Southtown, but the Choice Teams website states that Lynwood under Currys leadership has lacked the leadership and transparency needed to unlock its full potential.

Unlike her predecessor, Eugene Williams, who held the mayors seat for 16 years before Curry beat him in 2021, Curry opposed bringing a south suburban casino to Lynwood. The from the village and the Ho-Chunk Nation for a casino just east of Illinois 394 northeast of the Glenwood-Dyer Road interchange was one of four finalists, but did not advance to the final two following Currys election. The casino license was ultimately given to Wind Creek LLC to build the Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino that straddles Homewood and East Hazel Crest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Curry said she is proud of the economic growth seen under her administration, with business openings during her term including a boutique grocery store, a Dunkin Donuts, a car wash, a Dollar General and two restaurants.

Thats going to be huge for (residents), Curry said. They want to see more opportunities for them to shop and dine and be entertained.

State campaign finance disclosure reports show Currys campaign took in $17,050 in contributions during the October-December 2024 quarter, and at the end of December she had just under $1,7120 available to spend. Most donations came from individuals, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Campaign finance records were not available for Armstrongs campaign.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
A British-made rocket will attempt to reach space from home soil for the first time later this year, with the project going ahead after receiving 20m in taxpayer funding.

Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, announced the investment package for Scotland-based space company Orbex on Wednesday, paving the way for it to launch its first rocket from the Shetland Islands by the end of 2025.

The start-up is building the 62ft Orbex Prime launcher at a factory in Forres, Moray, which will be tasked with carrying small satellites to orbit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Orbex, which employs around 140 people, is one of a number of space businesses racing to be the first to complete a successful launch from Britain after the failure of Sir Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit in 2023.

It is hoped that a successful mission could set the UK on a path to providing an alternative to more established space giants, such as Elon Musks SpaceX, while also giving Britain the ability to carry out its own space missions.

Orbex is paving the way to launch its first rocket from the Shetland Islands by the end of 2025 - Grayling

Mr Kyle told The Telegraph that the upcoming launch was a unique opportunity for the UK to get ahead of its European rivals and would bring prestige to the domestic space sector.

He also highlighted how the investment forms part of Sir Keir Starmers attempt to hardwire growth into all Cabinet decisions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Kyle said: Space is one of the global high-growth sectors. We want to seek to harness that.

He added that the UK would not be merely trying to imitate SpaceXs recent efforts launching satellites, claiming that Britain will not just become a mini-America.

We do have unique assets here because of our geography and skills, he said.

If Orbex completes its project, it will be the first UK-made rocket capable of orbital missions since Black Arrow, which last flew in 1971.

Black Arrow completed just one orbital mission, which was conducted from a base in the Australian outback, and never flew from the UK.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By contrast, Orbex is plotting its launch from SaxaVord, a spaceport on the island of Unst in the far north of the UK.

SaxaVord, a spaceport on the island of Unst in the far north of the UK, is on the site of a former RAF base - SaxaVord/PA

Other companies, such as Edinburghs Skyrora and German business RFA are also hoping to host missions from the former RAF base.

Meanwhile, a rocket base in Norway is also competing to become the first location in Western Europe to host a successful orbital mission.

Prior to receiving its 20m investment from the Government, Orbex had planned to manage its own rocket base on the Scottish mainland.

However, it pulled the plug on the project last year to focus on developing its low-carbon rocket design.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The decision to drop the Highlands spaceport was met with dismay from local groups, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise  a development agency  which said it was deeply disappointed by the move.

However, Mr Kyle said the UKs space strategy was now much more focused, claiming that the department had inherited a series of really interesting projects that just did not add up.

There was no broader thinking, he said.

He said that the UK would soon be able to design, test, build and launch British rockets, carrying British satellites, from British soil.

The investment in Orbex will be in the form of a convertible loan  a type of debt that can be converted into equity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Separately, asked whether No 10 would reconsider some of its tax rises to focus on growth, Mr Kyle said global companies were most concerned about cutting red tape and planning reform.

He also said the UK needed to grasp with both hands the opportunity offered by AI.

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.
Dania Sandoval saw it happen several times over the last week: A client, always a young man, drove up to her Honduran food cart on Montopolis Boulevard, quickly ordered his food and immediately returned to his car.

Perhaps, she reasoned to herself, it was the cold. But she suspected it was because of recent promises by President Donald Trump of mass deportations. On Sunday, one young man seemed to confirm her suspicions.

Have you seen immigration around here? he asked her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sandoval told him she hadnt. You dont have to be afraid, she said.

That same day, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted an unknown number of apprehensions in undisclosed areas of Austin. They were part of what the agency described as enhanced targeted enforcement, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories.

Migrants are escorted across the Hidalgo International border Bridge as they are deported Monday from Texas in McAllen.

The operation further instilled a sense of dread and fear in Austins immigrant community that had set in fully after Trumps inauguration and subsequent immigration-related executive orders.

We're seeing great concern and anxiety among the immigrant community because of the actions of ICE and others, said Rebecca Lightsey, co-executive director of American Gateways, an Austin-based immigrant legal aid organization. There's a great deal of fear."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE did not respond to several requests for comment from the American-Statesman inquiring about the scope of the agencys recent or future operations in the Austin area.

An official with the Austin office of the Consulate General of Mexico told the Statesman the office had confirmed 12 Mexican citizens were detained as part of the weekend operation but was unaware if those persons had criminal histories.

Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said Sunday that federal officials had told her the operations targeted wanted violent offenders, but that she didnt know how many federal warrants had been served either.

ICE isnt receiving any help from Davis force, per city policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans to deploy a tactical strike team of state law enforcement officers across the state to locate and arrest criminal illegal immigrants in the state in conjunction with federal authorities. He claimed there were approximately 5,400 illegal immigrants with active warrants from local jurisdictions across Texas.

Not the first time

The anxiety has reached far past Sandovals Montopolis food cart.

On Monday night, at least 100 people packed the pews of a Catholic church in eastern Travis County for a Know Your Rights session conducted in Spanish that featured advice from a lawyer and a psychologist.

Keep educating yourselves, said Oskar Ponce, an activist with the organization that hosted the event, during the session. Remember that fear shouldnt follow us if we have the right knowledge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are valuable to this country, he added. And weve shown it with our work and our efforts.

Local immigration activist Carmen Zuvieta of the Austin Sanctuary Network said her nonprofit organization has likewise been overwhelmed by requests for help since Trumps inauguration.

This isn't the first time ICE has conducted sweeping immigration operations in Austin.

Shortly after Trumps first inauguration in 2017, ICE officials conducted several sweeps across the city that targeted dozens of people. Then, like now, the agency said it was targeting convicted criminal aliens.

But those operations resulted in the arrests of several immigrants who did not have criminal records, the Statesman reported at the time. A later review of agency emails by the Statesman found that officials struggled to justify their claims that they had netted serious criminals in the Austin area.

A big drop in business

Across the parking lot from Sandovals food cart on Montopolis, Gloria Enriquez sat on a bench in the nutritional foods store owned by her friend, Rosa Licea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Enriquez, who owns the hair salon next door, was nervous. Sundays are usually her shops busiest day, with as many as five employees serving some 60 clients. This Sunday though, was the slowest yet since the November election.

I cant say the same, Licea said.

Thats because your clients are women, mine are young men, Enriquez said.

Licea and her employee, Carmen Vazquez, concurred: Men seemed to be more afraid that they will be stopped on the street than women do.

Sandovals business also is reliant on Latin American immigrant men for its customer base  about 9 in 10, she estimated.

The result, Sandoval said, has been a 50% to 60% drop in sales since the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the slowdown continues, Sandoval fears it might force her to abandon the shop she saved up for two decades to open.

I knew once he (Trump) was elected this was going to hurt, said Sandoval, who opened her food cart last February. But if Id have known this when I started my business, I wouldnt have.

Statesman staff writer Bianca Moreno-Paz contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Amid ICE raids in Texas, Austin's immigrant community lays low
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A new restaurant specializing in sweet pastries and baked goods is due to open soon on the west side of the Capital City.

27 News followed up with Russell Clark this week regarding the opening of a new American Kolache location in Topeka. Clark, who owns the franchise, previously said this new location would be opening in the fall of 2024 but now reports that people should expect doors to open to the restaurant in the first week of March.

Were about halfway through construction right now so things are moving pretty quick, Clark said. The owners are training in St. Louis today.

(Photo Courtesy/Matthew Self)

Clark said the owners of the Topeka location, Aaron Wilkins and Jennifer Logan, are ready to take charge of Kansas first American Kolache. He is optimistic about moving into the area and seeing how Topekans will react.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is the last day for JC Penney at West Ridge Mall in Topeka?

Well be right across from Dutch Brothers, Clark said. They do coffee, we do kolaches, itll be a good partnership there.

American Kolache will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays serving the breakfast and lunch crowds. Clark said people can also get catering services for events like weddings once the location is open for business.

Love Topeka, great little city and were really excited to get this thing rolling, Clark said.

American Kolache has locations in three other states: Missouri, Illinois and Alabama. Customers can expect to find a variety of sweet and savory kolache varieties on the menu including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sausage and gravy.

Sausage, egg and cheese.

Ham, egg, cheese and jalapeno.

Meatball

Spinach and artichoke.

Pizza

Chorizo, egg and cheese.

Topekas American Kolache will be located at 5938 Southwest 17th Street. You can learn more about the restaurant and what food it has to offer by heading to its website.

What is causing egg prices to skyrocket in Kansas?

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.
Florida International University on Tuesday unveiled the architectural renderings of the $40 million building that will house CasaCuba, an academic and cultural center showcasing Cuban and Cuban-American heritage.

The idea for CasaCuba has been in development for nearly a decade as FIU sought to anchor its extensive Cuban-related archives, including the largest collection of Cuban music outside the island.

There was a real understanding that Cuba is in FIUs DNA, said Lili Betancourt Space, CasaCubas executive director.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FIU launched the fundraising campaign for CasaCuba in early 2020, but then COVID-19 disrupted plans, Betancourt Space said. She joined the project in 2019 and took over as executive director in September 2023.

The pandemic hit, and conversations really became centered around, well, do we even need buildings anymore? she said.

But the team emerged from the pandemic with a renewed appreciation for a physical space to foster connection and engagement.

Florida International University President Dr. Kenneth A. Jessell (far right), with Benjamin Leon Jr., founder of Leon Medical Centers, and Mavileibys Campa, center, at the unveiling of architectural renderings for CasaCuba, an academic and cultural center showcasing Cuban and Cuban-American heritage on Jan. 28, 2025. The building will be located at FIUs main campus.

The 43,000-square-foot Benjamin Leon Jr. building, which will be housed on FIUs main campus in southwest Miami-Dade, will be designed by the architectural firm HKS and built by Thornton Construction. It will feature galleries, exhibition spaces, classrooms and event venues, blending Cuban and American elements. The design incorporates indoor-outdoor spaces inspired by the shared climate of Cuba and South Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The students have to be at the center of all that we do here, said Betancourt Space, noting CasaCuba will honor the stories of those displaced from Cuba while serving as a welcoming space for the community.

The fundraising campaign has already raised $30 million of its $40 million goal. The Knight Foundation provided over $4 million, including $2 million for the design.

Many guests including Miguel Mike Bezos, (second from left seating) and Emilio Estefan, attended the unveiling event of the architectural renderings of the $40 million building that will house CasaCuba, an academic and cultural center showcasing Cuban and Cuban-American heritage, the building will be located at FIU South Campus and will be named Benjamin Leon, Jr. as he contributed $10 million to the project. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Other key supporters include CasaCuba board chair Mario Murgado of Murgado Automotive Group and billionaire businessman Jorge Mas.

CasaCuba represents the heart and soul of our community, a place where the rich heritage of the Cuban diaspora will be celebrated, studied and preserved, Murgado said.

Benjamin Leon Jr

The building is named after Benjamin Leon Jr., the founder of Miamis Leon Medical Centers, who contributed $10 million to the project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im very happy. I feel very grateful to God for the opportunity to be a part of the creation of one of the most important projects for Cubans, said Leon after last years announcement.

Leon, 80, who was recently nominated by President Trump as ambassador to Spain, is an exile who came to Miami in 1961.

READ MORE: Trump picks Leon Medical Centers founder as Spains next ambassador. What to know

Florida International University President Dr. Kenneth A. Jessell (far left), shares a moment with Benjamin Leon Jr., center, founder of Leon Medical Centers, and Mario Murgado, president and CEO of Murgado Automotive Group, during the unveiling of architectural renderings CasaCuba, an academic and cultural center showcasing Cuban and Cuban-American heritage to be built on FIUs main campus.

Its an enormous source of pride for the building to have his name, said Betancourt Space. [He] really embodies the Cuban-American story. He has been instrumental in shaping healthcare, not just in South Florida, but throughout the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the second FIU facility named after Leon Jr.; the Benjamin Leon Center for Geriatric Research & Education was established in 2008.

For Betancourt Space, a first-generation Cuban American, CasaCuba is deeply personal. She hopes the Spanish accents in Leons name will inspire students.

Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months, with an anticipated opening in 2027. Donors contributing at least $500 before the groundbreaking will be recognized as founding donors.

It is important that everyone has the opportunity to be a part of CasaCuba and contribute to its construction, Betancourt Space said.

Here is what CasaCuba is expected to look like, based on the architectural renderings:

Rendering of the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building, which will house CasaCuba, an academic and cultural center that will showcase Cuban history and culture. It will be built at FIUs Modesto A. Maidique campus in southwest Miami-Dade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Campus entry to the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building at FIU.

Rendering of the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building, set to open in 2027.

Rendering of the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building, which will house CasaCuba.

Rendering of the lobby view of the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building at FIU.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rendering of a gallery at the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building at FIU.

Rendering of a venue view at the Benjamin Leon Jr. Building at FIU.
As wildfires devastated communities in southern California over the past three weeks, an unknown number of highly combustible lithium-ion batteries found in everything from Apple AirPods to Tesla Cybertrucks were engulfed in flames and released dangerous chemical pollutants into the air. Many batteries, particularly in E-Bikes and other products with plastic recharge battery enclosures, have flame retardants added to their outer coatings in an effort to limit their flammability. But researchers writing this week in the journal Environmental Science & Technology say those flame retardants dont seem to be doing much to quell a fires spread and may actually be releasing more health-endangering toxins into the air.

Historically, flame retardant use to meet flammability standards has resulted in documented health risks without demonstrated fire-safety benefits for products such as childrens products, furniture, and electronics, scientists from the Green Science Policy Institute wrote in the article.

We question requirements that lead to the addition of flame retardants in plastic battery enclosures, they added.

Why lithium-ion battery fires are so dangerous

Batteries present unique challenges due to the strength and duration at which they burn. When damaged or exposed to high temperatures, like during a fire, a chain reaction called thermal runaway occurs causing the battery to heat up uncontrollably until it finally combusts. These fires are notoriously difficult to quell because they burn at extremely high temperatures and have the ability to reignite. Thats especially true in large electric vehicle batteries which contain far more stored energy than ones found in smaller consumer electronic devices. A single Tesla Model S electric vehicle, for context, reportedly has as much lithium to make as roughly ten thousand iPhones. Battery fires are also dangerously unpredictable. Damage caused to a battery might not lead to a fireball for days or even months later. That means clean-up crews tasked with removing these batteries from areas following fires have to assume they are dealing with invisible, ticking time bombs.

[ Related: Electric vehicle fires are rare, but challenging to extinguish ]

In response to those threats, some lithium-ion battery manufacturers have begun using a plastic coating that includes fire retardants in order to meet state flammability standards. Green Science Policy Institute Senior Scientist Lydia Jahl says this practice might be doing more harm than good. As of now, Jahl and her colleagues say there is a lack of clear research proving these chemicals actually do much of anything to slow down battery fires. Jahl says it is unclear what percentage of lithium-ion batteries on the market today are using these chemicals, but they tested several E-bike brands which showed multiple markers of flame retardants in their plastic enclosures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The concern, she noted, is that companies trying to abide by state flame ratings and safety standards may opt to turn to cheap plastics that are coated with flame retardants. Jahl noted these same retardant chemicals have also been added into the electrolyte solution of EV batteries. Once a battery gets damaged or exposed to high temperatures and the chemical reaction begins, the ensuing fire is simply too powerful for these retardants to efficiently mitigate.

Trying to stop thermal runaway fires by adding flame retardants to plastic is like adding a screen door to a submarine, Ignition Handbook author and fire scientist Vyto Babrauskas said in a statement. Its a futile effort against an overwhelming force.

If thermal runaway does occur, flame retardants might help for a couple of seconds, but they wont be able to contain the fire on their own. Eventually, the fire retardants themselves burn and release additional toxic chemicals into the air. The retardants mentioned by the researchers primarily use the chemicals organohalogens and organophosphates. Past studies have shown these may be linked to increased risks for potential neurological, reproductive, and immune harm when burned and inhaled. They are also linked to increased risks for multiple cancers.

When you have a wildfire that goes over an urban area, theres just a whole wide mixture of things that are burning, Jahl said. The battery enclosures and all the plastic in peoples homes, all of that can get mixed into that terrible plume of wildfire smoke.

[ Related: We need safer ways to recycle electric car and cellphone batteries ]

Ubiquitous batteries are making natural disasters even tougher to fight

The sheer amount and growing size of lithium-ion batteries used everyday by consumers are making already deadly natural disaster events more complex. Though these types of batteries date back to the 1970s, their production has rapidly ramped up over the past decade, thanks in no small part to the accelerated adoption of electric vehicles around the world. Nowhere in the US are EVs more plentiful than in the greater Los Angeles area. The California Energy Commission notes residents in LA Country have reportedly registered at least 581,00- plug-in hybrids and EVs over the past 15 years. Nearly 1 in 5 of those vehicles were sold just last year. Even without fire retardant coatings, damaged EV batteries can release several toxic gases including phosphoryl fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen chloride.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local officials say the batteries in those vehicles are already posing challenges to firefighters and clean-up crews sifting through the wreckage. The Californian Office of Emergency Services has reportedly already sent hazmat teams to homes to look for note signs of damaged batteries. These removal teams need to wear fire-resistant clothing and disposable suits as well as special face masks that filter out possible chemicals leaking from the batteries. Extra water is brought onsite to quickly put out new flames that might spark. They have their work cut out for them. The Environmental Protection Agency says it removed over 30 tons of lithium-ion batteries from 94 electric and hybrid vehicles during its clean-up of the Maui fires back in 2023. Battery cleanup for the LA fires will likely make those numbers look small by comparison.

This will be  from our estimation, probably the largest lithium-ion battery pickup, cleanup, thats ever happened in the history of the world, Environmental Protection Agency incident commander for the Palisades and Eaton fire cleanups Steve Calanog told NBC News earlier this week.

Better battery management systems and less flammable, metal enclosures could help prevent fires without retardants

Researchers say the best solution to this growing problem might be to focus on making efforts to prevent batteries from combusting in the first place. Jahl and her colleagues at the Green Science Policy Institute say companies and local regulators could enact stricter quality assurances and quality controls to prevent manufacturing defects that might short-circuit and lead to fires. Several US lawmakers have previously called out cheaply made and less regulated Chinese E-bike batteries as being particularly prone to dangerous malfunctions. Jahl says consumer electronic manufacturers can also explore putting in place battery management systems that can continuously monitor the batterys health and temporarily shut the system down if detect the conditions for thermal runaway may be brewing. In some cases, products that have plastic enclosures coated with flame retardants may be able to achieve similar fire ratings by replacing the plastic with less flammable metal.

Ultimately, if we can prevent the fires from starting in the first place we dont have to try to solve the problem backward by adding flame retardant, Jahl said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, even those efforts may only go so far. In extreme situations like the recent LA wildfires, theres not much that can stop batteries from burning along with everything else in the fires paths. Removing excess fire retardants wont stop that, the researchers say, but at least they wont make an already dangerous situation worse.

This doesnt mean we should stop using batteries, Jahl added. In many cases, they directly replace a gasoline engine or huge tanks of natural gas that people use for their homes. Theyre definitely a good thing that is helping us transition to clean energy. We just want to be careful not to add more harmful chemicals than are necessary.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all Hawaiian Islands from Wednesday evening through Friday evening, as a strong winter storm brings the potential for heavy rainfall and flooding across the state.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The National Weather Service issued the warning, advising residents to stay alert for conditions that could lead to flash flooding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although its not guaranteed that flooding will occur, the agency said the situation could quickly develop.

Heavy rain, strong winds and possible thunderstorms starting late Wednesday

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to intensify as a cold front moves down the island chain over the next few days, beginning Thursday.

The front is expected to bring heavy rainfall that could overwhelm roadways.

Flooded roads and streams could cause closures, and flash flooding could impact travel and infrastructure.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Authorities are urging residents to monitor updates and be ready to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

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 KHON2.
Jan. 28"On Mar. 11, 2023, I received the phone call that no mother should ever receive," Flathead Valley resident Elizabeth McBride told lawmakers in Helena on Monday morning.

Testifying for the House Judiciary Committee, McBride recounted her shock and grief when she learned that her son, Robert "Bobby" Dewbre, had been struck and killed by a drunk driver while crossing a road outside Columbia Falls. She detailed the subsequent criminal case, which resulted in a sentence of 18 months in the county jail for the driver, John Lee Wilson.

"Everybody that we have spoken to about this since it happened has been absolutely appalled that the driver was charged with two misdemeanors instead of a felony," said McBride.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McBride's comments were in support of House Bill 267, otherwise known as Bobby's Law, which could result in harsher penalties for drunk drivers. She was among 36 people, including several others from the valley, testifying in favor of the legislation. The bill is designed to address details that may have led to a lighter sentence for Wilson.

While Wilson had a blood alcohol content of .20, over twice the legal limit of .08, he reportedly followed all traffic laws prior to the fatal collision, making it difficult for prosecutors to achieve the burden of proof required for felony charges. The case was complicated by the fact that Dewbre was not in a crosswalk.

"We've had a number of instances of this unfortunately, so it's not just [with] Bobby Dewbre that we've come up against this issue," said Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner.

If passed, Bobby's Law would make it easier for prosecutors to pursue more serious charges for some drunk driving incidents. The law stipulates that driving with a blood alcohol limit above .16 is inherently negligent, reducing the burden of proof for prosecutors. Offenders could be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide under the influence and face a state prison term of 3-30 years, a fine between $10,000 and $50,000 or both.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the law will not affect the outcome of Dewbre's case, proponents are hopeful the harsher penalties will serve as a deterrent and curb the state's high DUI rates.

"It's not only a tragedy, all these deaths, it's actually embarrassing for Montana that we're ranking in the top numbers with DUI homicide. This is an embarrassment," testified Kia Ricchi.

The Montana Department of Transportation reported 166 roadway fatalities in Flathead County between 2013 and 2022, 42% of which involved a drunk driver, and Ahner reported that Flathead County saw 429 arrests for driving under the influence in 2024. A yearly report from Forbes ranked Montana as the worst state in the country for drunk driving.

The House Judiciary Committee will vote on the bill on Wednesday. If passed, it could be reviewed by the House later this week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, said that an amendment to strengthen the language in the bill would be available in the coming days.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com.
ARCADIA, Wis. (WFRV)  Before a high-speed pursuit that ended with a crash into a power pole, the driver reportedly hit and injured a Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper while fleeing the initial scene.

A release posted by the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office states that the string of incidents began with a welfare check of a man allegedly yelling at people near Blaschko Avenue and Sobotta Street in Arcadia.

30-year-old Fond du Lac woman arrested following 6-mile police pursuit

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An officer with the Arcadia Police Department and a trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the scene around 5:05 p.m. on January 28 and found the man in a vehicle. He reportedly refused to comply with officers.

The man, later identified as 47-year-old Arcadia resident Michael Peterson, fled the scene, allegedly hitting the trooper with his vehicle in the process.

A pursuit began southbound on STH 93, spanning roughly 15 miles while at times reaching speeds of over 100mph. Deputies say Peterson eventually crashed into a power pole near Four Corners, a bar & grill in Centerville.

Green Bay Police Department investigating stabbing that left a 60-year-old man dead

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peterson was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being transported to the Trempealeau County Jail. He was booked on the following charges:

Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer

Operator Flee Elude Officer

Recklessly Endangering Safety

The Trooper reportedly took himself to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

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.
Jan. 28The Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation (LHDC) has secured almost $1.2 million of state funding for a new round of Flight of Five locks rehabilitation work.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's office on Tuesday quietly announced the full scale of funding awarded statewide through Round 14 of the Regional Economic Development Council process, and the list shows Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation was awarded three grants: $775,000 from Empire State Development Corporation, $250,000 from Market New York, and $150,000 from the state Canal Corporation, all in pursuit of further improvements to the remnants of historic Erie Canal locks 67 through 71.

Confirmation of the state awards does not signal impending construction, however, according to LHDC chair David Kinyon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The corporation's proposed Flight of Five Phase III project  rehabilitation of three pedestrian bridges and installation of light fixtures, removal of debris in Lock 68 that was not addressed during Phase II, and repair/replacement of railings  carries a roughly $2.3 million price tag and is dependent on federal funding to cover the balance.

Congress has yet to act on U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney's 2024 request for $1 million in support of the Phase III project.

"Obviously with the change in administration it's uncertain when Congress will get to act on that particular appropriation," Kinyon said. "We are communicating fully with our state partners to keep them informed as we work to complete the funding package."

While full financing isn't yet secured, Kinyon said the state awards are "very exciting news" for LHDC, as they're the first significant capital awards for Flight restoration since Phase II was completed in 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They come at a very important time as we begin to celebrate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal," he said. "The announcement encourages us to continue pursuing our goal of fully restoring all five locks."

Locks 69 and 70 were restored to working order in 2014, and lock 68 was rehabbed in 2019, at an overall cost of about $5 million.

The latest estimates for restoring the last two locks, 67 and 71, are $17 million and time To Be Determined.

Full rehabilitation is made complicated  and costlier  by the fact that the bottom and top locks in the series are occupied with infrastructure used by the state Canal Corporation to operate the modern Erie Barge Canal.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Public documents show pool contractor Jordan Hidalgo agreed to a settlement with the Florida Attorney Generals Office in July, six months before the AG filed a lawsuit against him, three of his companies and a former business partner.

This is after the attorney general spent years investigating the companies after complaints of dozens of unfinished swimming pools were highlighted in a Better Call Behnken investigation.

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

8 on Your Side

The monetary judgment agreed upon in the settlement was $1.9 million. However, Hidalgo wont be responsible to pay that amount.

Records showed he demonstrated to the attorney generals office he doesnt have the money. Therefore, his judgment was reduced to just $60,000.

That makes customers like Jillian Begin angry.

Its a huge disappointment, she said. I know we are all trying to move forward from it, but it sort of lets me think that Im not sure what the state has interest in. Are they here to help the contractors? Are they here to help the community? A lot of people struggled. I know there are people we still keep in touch with that havent been able to finish their pools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of the settlement, Hidalgo is barred from owning another pool business in the future.

Begin, who still has two liens on her house due to subcontractors that claim Hidalgo didnt pay them, said thats of little comfort to her.

$60,000, she said.  I, alone, paid extra money to finish my project and that alone is what I had to put out, and I know there was dozens and dozens of victims of Jordan. And yeah, he wont build pools anymore, but hell come into something else. Hes got it figured out and he didnt have to pay.

Hildalgo tells Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken that his part of the case is over and that the settlement process took six months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im sorry it turned out this way for consumers, Hidalgo said. The companies grew too big, too quickly.

Three now-defunct companies were also named in the lawsuit: Staycation Pools and Spas, West Bay Custom Pools, and Modern pools.

According to the suit, nearly 100 consumers were impacted, and $1.8 million was spent on untimely and incomplete pool projects and/or inadequate services.

This follows Hidalgos August 2024 arrest on two felony charges related to unfinished projects by Modern Pools. That case is set for a pretrial hearing in March.

That arrest was more than a year after Hidalgo surrendered his nine licenses to the state.

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.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida congresswoman has introduced legislation to add a carving of Donald Trump to the ranks of presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna officially filed the bill on Jan. 28. She said the legislation aims to honor President Trump for his transformative impact on America and the historical significance of his leadership.

States lose access to Medicaid payment portal amid Trump federal aid freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument, Luna wrote in a post on X. Lets get carving!

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota currently features the 60-foot-tall heads of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The original sculptor selected those four presidents because, to him, they represented the most important events in the nations history, according to the National Park Service.

A copy of Lunas bill can be read below.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legislation-to-Honor-President-Trump-on-Mount-RushmoreDownload

Luna represents the 13th congressional district in Pinellas 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 WFLA.
Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature on Tuesday solidified its collision course with Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending him a bill the governor staunchly opposed thats meant to aid President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration.

Just hours before the final votes, DeSantis called the legislation weak, weak, weak in a social media post, even after GOP legislators made a series of changes they said came after consulting with the Trump administration. The final votes, however, fell short of a veto-proof majority.

Many Republican legislators pushed ahead despite DeSantis torrent of criticism, contending the legislation will help Trump carry out his immigration campaign pledges. The discord is yet another sign of how DeSantis clout has diminished since he was soundly defeated by Trump in the GOP presidential primary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not going to take lectures from someone who a year ago didnt think Donald Trump should be president, said state Sen. Randy Fine, a Brevard County Republican.

House Speaker Daniel Perez was equally blunt, calling the legislation which sets aside more than $500 million to help the state deal with immigration a game changer and adding that legislators should ignore noise coming from activists and social media posts. He didnt mention DeSantis but noted: Threatening others to get your way isnt leadership. Its immaturity. The people of our state deserve better.

The vote late Tuesday ended a two-day special session first put in motion earlier this month. With Trumps inauguration looming, DeSantis called lawmakers to Tallahassee, where he asked them to consider a swath of measures covering not just illegal immigration but several other hot-button topics including making it harder to pass ballot initiatives. But legislative leaders  who had initially called DeSantis push for a special session premature  rejected his plans and decided to craft their own immigration revamp.

The state Senate passed that bill by a 21-16 measure, with five Republicans joining Democrats in voting no on the bill. The final margin falls short of the supermajority that would be needed to try to override a DeSantis vote. Shortly after the Senate voted, the House voted 82-30.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill now headed to the governor repeals a decade-old law that allows undocumented students who attended a Florida high school to pay in-state tuition. Then-Gov. Rick Scott signed the tuition measure into law with great fanfare back in 2014.

Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to amend the bill to give students currently attending college under the law time to complete their degrees before pulling the rug out from under them. They contended that raising the cost of tuition would push students away from attending college in the state, including some in the middle of earning degrees.

Its not the kids fault, said state Sen. Jason Pizzo, the Democratic leader. This is an education theyre asking for  not a handout.

These arguments failed to sway Floridas Republican majority. Senate President Ben Albritton recently said he supported phasing out the waiver, but the idea was not ultimately embraced by the Legislature, which backed the policy that requires schools to evaluate the eligibility of all students who receive the tuition break starting July 1.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not interested in giving illegal immigrants a discount on our colleges and universities, said Fine, who led the charge to end the waiver.

DeSantis also wanted the in-state tuition break ended, calling it a relic and an incentive for people to enter the country illegally. The law had been sponsored by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez when she was in the state House, but Nunez recently said on social media that she too supported repeal.

But the headline portion of the legislation would make Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson  who has an icy relationship with DeSantis  the states chief immigration officer and shift control and money away from the governor. DeSantis and his allies openly questioned Simpsons willingness to enforce immigration laws given ties to the agriculture industry.

Another item that DeSantis wanted that didnt make the final bill was restrictions on who could wire money abroad. State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), a staunch DeSantis ally, also faulted the bill because he said it could allow some local law enforcement officials to wiggle out of cooperating with federal authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I cannot vote for it because it is nowhere near strong enough for my taste, said Ingoglia, who also questioned if the shift to Simpson was constitutional.

Asked to explain during debate why Simpson was chosen for the job, the bills House sponsor, Lawrence McClure (R-Dover), said the agency already had its own law enforcement and noted that other Cabinet offices were currently facing vacancies.

He also responded to backlash Simpson faced from the governor and his allies, calling it a little shocking. He praised Simpson as someone that I have known for a very long time and known to be an honorable man.  Hard to find, quite frankly, anybody who would say anything bad about him, he said. Why did we pick him? Because hes a good man. Why did we pick his agency? Because theyve got good people. Thats it.
A pregnant woman waits to be examined by her OB-GYN at a community health center in Hialeah, Fla. Florida recently became the first state to allow cesarean sections in out-of-hospital clinics. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A recently enacted Florida law that allows doctors to deliver babies via cesarean section in clinics outside of hospitals could be a blueprint for other states, even as critics point to the role that a private equity-backed physicians group played in its passage.

The United States has poor maternal health outcomes compared with peer nations, and hospital labor and delivery units are shuttering around the country because of financial strain. Supporters say the Florida law could increase access to maternity care and lower costs for expecting patients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But critics, including some physician, hospital and midwife groups, warn its an untested model that could put the health of mothers and babies at risk. They also note that private equity firms that have made other forays into health care have attracted state scrutiny for allegedly valuing profits over patient safety.

Alex Borsa, a researcher at Columbia University whose published work focuses on private equitys impact on health care, said hes not surprised that Florida has become the testing ground for such clinics.

In addition to Florida being the Wild West in a number of policy directions, it has one of the highest concentrations of private equity-backed health care operators, including OB-GYN and fertility, Borsa said.

Traditional birth centers are typically staffed by midwives who provide maternity care for low-risk pregnancies and births. Twenty-nine such centers operate in Florida, and about 400 are licensed around the country. The focus in these centers is on natural childbirth in a homelike setting, where women labor without anesthesia and deliver babies vaginally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Floridas law creates a new designation, called an advanced birth center, that allows physicians to offer labor and delivery services at a freestanding clinic, including delivery by cesarean section. There currently are no such centers. A C-section is a surgical procedure performed with anesthesia in which a baby is delivered through an incision in the patients abdomen and uterus. C-sections are generally reserved for situations in which a doctor believes a vaginal birth could be risky for the mother or baby.

Were primarily opposed to it because youre calling a lion a tiger.

 Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers

Prior to the laws passage last spring, C-sections could only be performed in hospitals, which have the staffing and equipment designed for surgery and potential complications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But a private equity-owned physician group called Womens Care Enterprises in recent years lobbied Florida legislators for the new designation. The group, owned by London-based investment firm BC Partners, operates about 100 clinics across Florida and a dozen more in Arizona, California and Kentucky.

The new designation was tucked inside a larger health policy bill and became law despite opposition from medical and midwifery groups.

Both mom and baby deserve access to the best possible care, which is why we believe that C-sections should be performed exclusively in the hospital setting where doctors, multidisciplinary teams, sophisticated equipment, and other critical resources are immediately available in the event complications arise, Florida Hospital Association President and CEO Mary Mayhew told Stateline in a statement.

The association lobbied against the birth center provision but supported other provisions in the bill, which included increased Medicaid payments to hospitals for maternity care. Other groups also opposed the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were primarily opposed to it because youre calling a lion a tiger, said Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers, a nonprofit that sets national standards for birth centers.

She noted that while advanced birth centers would offer maternity care outside a hospital setting, they are not the same as traditional midwifery-based birth centers. Midwife-attended births are for people with low-risk pregnancies and tend to focus on low-intervention care and emphasize natural birthing techniques. Physician-attended births tend to rely on more advanced medical interventions, like epidurals and labor-inducing medication.

Private equity jumps in

Florida lawmakers supporting the new advanced birth center designation have said it has the potential to increase access to maternity care in underserved areas and reduce costs. Just two of Floridas 22 rural hospitals have labor and delivery services.

The staff of Florida state Sen. Gayle Harrell, the Republican who sponsored the bill, told Stateline she was unavailable to comment on it. But in previous committee hearings, Republican legislators heralded the centers as an innovative solution for obstetrical care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think what we are hearing from our medical community is the desire for options, state Sen. Colleen Burton, a Republican, said at a December 2023 committee hearing on the bill. And what were particularly hearing from are patients, from Floridians, [who want] options. And potentially this could provide a lower-cost option.

But critics question whether OB-GYNs, already in short supply in Florida, are likely to open advanced birth centers in low-income and rural communities where a larger share of patients have Medicaid. The government-sponsored insurance reimburses doctors significantly less for maternity care compared with private insurance.

Borsa, of Columbia University, co-authored a 2020 study that found private equity-owned OB-GYN offices were more likely to be located in urban areas with median household incomes above the national average.

Private equity firms use pooled money from investors to buy controlling stakes in companies. They typically focus on boosting the value of a company before selling it within a few years, ideally at a profit. In the past decade, private equity investors have spent $1 trillion acquiring health care companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Borsa said he and his colleagues have found strong evidence that private equity involvement in health care pretty consistently increases costs to patients and payers.

Theres a fantasy that Wall Street investors are somehow going to increase access in some of the most rural and poor parts of the country, but we havent seen evidence of that, he said.

In recent years, private equitys involvement in the health care industry has drawn public ire and legislative scrutiny. Earlier this month, for example, the U.S. Senate Budget Committee released a report detailing how private equity firms wrung hundreds of millions from struggling hospitals.

Dr. Helen Kuroki, the chief medical officer for Womens Care Enterprises, declined to comment on its support of the new law and on when it might open an advanced birth center. Representatives have previously said theyre looking at opening a center in Tampa or Orlando.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Labor and delivery services tend to be financial losers for hospitals, thanks to low reimbursement rates, particularly from Medicaid. In rural areas, where Medicaid covers as many as half of all births, reimbursement doesnt cover the full cost of providing obstetrical services.

If patients covered by better-paying private insurance flock to freestanding birth centers that can perform C-sections, that would leave hospitals with a higher proportion of Medicaid patients. And owning the surgical space would allow physicians groups such as Womens Care Enterprises to keep more of the reimbursement dollars that would normally go to a hospital.

Like surgical centers  sort of

Supporters have compared Floridas new birth center model to outpatient surgery centers, where patients undergo surgical procedures that dont require overnight hospital stays. Patients who undergo C-sections would be able to stay overnight at the new birth centers.

But critics argue a C-section is inherently different from, say, cataract surgery or a tonsillectomy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve seen outpatient surgery centers can be a successful health care delivery model, said Bauer, of the birth centers association. For me, the primary difference is that surgical birth is the only surgery where, when youre done, you have an extra person. And its an extra person whose health may be compromised.

Some Florida lawmakers expressed concern that the new centers wouldnt be required to have pediatric specialists on hand to care for a baby if theres a problem after the birth. The centers are required to have a written agreement with a local hospital for transferring patients with complications. And they also must follow most safety standards for outpatient surgical centers.

So far, Florida remains an outlier. Legislators in other states have yet to introduce similar bills.

But as private equity firms deepen their involvement in womens health and other health care sectors, Borsa expects them to ratchet up their lobbying of state legislators to win favorable policy changes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We could see more health care lobbying, and specifically around this issue in other parts of the country, he said. I dont think this is a one-off, especially if they find they can derive profits.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the Florida Hospital Associations position on the Florida health care bill.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida lawmakers passed a sweeping immigration bill Tuesday, setting aside half a billion dollars in public funds to help carry out President Donald Trump 's crackdown on those in the country illegally.

In a state where roughly one in every five residents is an immigrant, the legislation would require every level of government  as well as government contractors  to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible.

Following more than four hours of deliberations on Tuesday, Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature passed the measure largely along party lines. The passage sets up a showdown between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislative leaders, who have sparred over whose proposals would better carry out Trumps immigration crackdown. DeSantis has called the bill weak.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The whole goal of this bill is to help President Trump do his job, said Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, one of the bill sponsors and a Trump ally who said he spoke with the president while shepherding the measure. He wants maximum coordination with local government.

Lawmakers pushed the 80-plus page bill  titled the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy, or TRUMP Act  through in a special session, when it's harder for the public to engage in the legislative process. Republican lawmakers filed the bill after rejecting immigration proposals by DeSantis, a rebuke to the lame duck governor who was once floated as Trump's successor.

Notably, one Republican in the House and six in the Senate voted against the measure, leaving the bill short of a veto-proof majority.

I appreciate the attempt, said Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, an ally of the governor. I cannot vote for this because it is nowhere near strong enough for my taste."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ahead of the floor debate on Tuesday, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez announced additional provisions, after they requested and received technical assistance from the Trump Administration, the leaders said.

The amendments included enhancing penalties for all crimes committed in the state by people in the country illegally, and requires that those convicted of capital offenses receive the death penalty. But the Republican sponsors declined to include some of DeSantis' provisions, like restrictions on sending money overseas by people in the country illegally and a measure that would have created a legal presumption that people in the country illegally are a flight risk.

Now DeSantis must weigh whether to sign a proposal he's bashed in public as toothless and watered-down" or veto it. He could also decline to sign the bill, allowing it to become law.

The measure passed by lawmakers Tuesday would create a new state immigration enforcement office with more than 140 employees under the direction of a newly minted chief immigration officer, a post to be taken by the state's commissioner of agriculture, and would cede emergency immigration enforcement powers from the governor to the state immigration officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill allocates $100 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies for training, equipment and reimbursement for leasing detention facilities to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It allocates another $375 million to fund the state's cooperation with the federal government, including efforts related to a program that deputizes local law enforcement for duties typically performed by ICE agents. It also sets aside $25 million to give $1,000 bonuses to local law enforcement officers who cooperate with the federal government.

Democrats repeatedly pressed the bill sponsors on the language requiring government employees to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with federal immigration enforcement.

If we really dont want our (school resource officers), our social workers and our teachers defining for themselves what the fullest extent of their cooperation needs to be, then we need to define that, said Democratic Rep. Christine Hunchofsky.

Gruters said the bill is aimed at requiring more cooperation from local officials running jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. But he acknowledged that could change with federal priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would also repeal a decade-old state law allowing Florida students who are in the country without legal permission to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, which as of the 2023-2024 fiscal year benefitted about 6,500 students. In a sign of how much the state's immigration politics have changed in recent years, the tuition measure was sponsored in 2014 by the state's now-lieutenant governor, a Republican from Miami.

I implore you today to remember the haunting yet challenging words of our lieutenant governor when she said, 'It's the right thing to do'," Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson told his colleagues on the Senate floor. "And what has changed since then except an attitude towards immigrants?

Democratic Rep. Jose Alvarez, who was born in Cuba and was brought the U.S. by his parents, was more forceful.

You all should be ashamed of yourself," he told lawmakers during a hearing on the bill, adding "This is not what this country was meant for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The provision empowering the state's agriculture commissioner as chief immigration officer has rankled DeSantis, who said its almost like the fox guarding the hen house because the agriculture industry hasnt been known for immigration enforcement.

In his closing remarks, Speaker Perez seemed to nod at the pressure Republicans have faced from the governor and his allies.

Threatening others to get your way isnt leadership, its immaturity, Perez said. Im going ask you to ignore the melodrama and instead focus on the work that we have to do.

Florida is among many states led by both parties responding to Trumps immigration agenda, including Tennessee, which started its own special session Monday in part to deal with the issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

___

This story was first published Jan. 28, 2025. It was updated Jan. 29, 2025, to make clear that the first name of Sen. Gruters is Joe.

___

Associated Press writer Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach contributed to this report.

___

Kate Payne 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.
Florida lawmakers passed a sweeping immigration bill Tuesday, setting aside half a billion dollars in public funds to help carry out President Donald Trump s crackdown on those in the country illegally.

In a state where roughly one in every five residents is an immigrant, the legislation would require every level of government  as well as government contractors  to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible.

Following more than four hours of deliberations on Tuesday, Floridas Republican-dominated Legislature passed the measure largely along party lines. The passage sets up a showdown between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislative leaders, who have sparred over whose proposals would better carry out Trumps immigration crackdown. DeSantis has called the bill weak.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The whole goal of this bill is to help President Trump do his job, said Republican Sen. Gruters, one of the bill sponsors and a Trump ally who said he spoke with the president while shepherding the measure. He wants maximum coordination with local government.

Lawmakers pushed the 80-plus page bill  titled the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy, or TRUMP Act  through in a special session, when its harder for the public to engage in the legislative process. Republican lawmakers filed the bill after rejecting immigration proposals by DeSantis, a rebuke to the lame duck governor who was once floated as Trumps successor.

Notably, one Republican in the House and six in the Senate voted against the measure, leaving the bill short of a veto-proof majority.

I appreciate the attempt, said Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, an ally of the governor. I cannot vote for this because it is nowhere near strong enough for my taste.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ahead of the floor debate on Tuesday, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez announced additional provisions, after they requested and received technical assistance from the Trump Administration, the leaders said.

The amendments included enhancing penalties for all crimes committed in the state by people in the country illegally, and requires that those convicted of capital offenses receive the death penalty. But the Republican sponsors declined to include some of DeSantis provisions, like restrictions on people in the country illegally sending money overseas and a measure that would have created a legal presumption that people in the country illegally are a flight risk.

Now DeSantis must weigh whether to sign a proposal hes bashed in public as toothless and watered-down or veto it. He could also decline to sign the bill, allowing it to become law.

The measure passed by lawmakers Tuesday would create a new state immigration enforcement office with more than 140 employees under the direction of a newly minted chief immigration officer, a post to be taken by the states commissioner of agriculture, and would cede emergency immigration enforcement powers from the governor to the state immigration officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill allocates $100 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies for training, equipment and reimbursement for leasing detention facilities to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It allocates another $375 million to fund the states cooperation with the federal government, including efforts related to a program that deputizes local law enforcement for duties typically performed by ICE agents. It also sets aside $25 million to give $1,000 bonuses to local law enforcement officers who cooperate with the federal government.

Democrats repeatedly pressed the bill sponsors on the language requiring government employees to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with federal immigration enforcement.

If we really dont want our (school resource officers), our social workers and our teachers defining for themselves what the fullest extent of their cooperation needs to be, then we need to define that, said Democratic Rep. Christine Hunchofsky.

Gruters said the bill is aimed at requiring more cooperation from local officials running jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. But he acknowledged that could change with federal priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would also repeal a decade-old state law allowing Florida students who are in the country without legal permission to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, which as of the 2023-2024 fiscal year benefitted about 6,500 students. In a sign of how much the states immigration politics have changed in recent years, the tuition measure was sponsored in 2014 by the states now-lieutenant governor, a Republican from Miami.

I implore you today to remember the haunting yet challenging words of our lieutenant governor when she said, Its the right thing to do, Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson told his colleagues on the Senate floor. And what has changed since then except an attitude towards immigrants?

Democratic Rep. Jose Alvarez, who was born in Cuba and was brought the U.S. by his parents, was more forceful.

You all should be ashamed of yourself, he told lawmakers during a hearing on the bill, adding This is not what this country was meant for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The provision empowering the states agriculture commissioner as chief immigration officer has rankled DeSantis, who said its almost like the fox guarding the hen house because the agriculture industry hasnt been known for immigration enforcement.

In his closing remarks, Speaker Perez seemed to nod at the pressure Republicans have faced from the governor and his allies.

Threatening others to get your way isnt leadership, its immaturity, Perez said. Im going ask you to ignore the melodrama and instead focus on the work that we have to do.

Florida is among many states led by both parties responding to Trumps immigration agenda, including Tennessee, which started its own special session Monday in part to deal with the issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

___ Associated Press writer Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach contributed to this report. Kate Payne 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.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida Senate and House leadership shut down the governors immigration proposals Monday, and instead, called for their own special session to take place the next day.

Passing out of the Senate 21-16 and out of the House 82-30, the new and improved bill now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis. Theres already speculation he might veto it after he continued to strike down the legislation calling it weak.

Long list of Tampa Bay programs potentially impacted by federal freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new bill now includes mandatory death penalties, financial incentives for law enforcement, enhanced compliance requirements, sentencing enhancements for illegal immigrant gang members, and so on.

However, the same lawmakers who spoke out in opposition of the new bill, remain unimpressed even with the changes, echoing Governor DeSantis message that the TRUMP Act is not strong enough.

Its a facade, its a facade to the people of Florida. Theyre trying, in the Florida House and the Senate, to look like they are doing something to address immigration, and theyre not, said State Rep. Mike Caruso.

State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia added, Everyone wants to fix the issue, the question is, what policies are right, what policies are most aggressive and what policies will then compliment what President Trump is doing at the federal level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats, on the other hand, argue the most aggressive approach isnt always the way to go, and continue to express concerns with both versions of the bill.



The tension between the executive branch and the legislative branch has continued. Weve seen a lot of online back and forth chatters, dueling statements being released and it doesnt seem like Governor DeSantis is letting go, said State Rep. Anna Eskamani.

Despite multiple immigration committee meetings and floor discussions, the governor still has the final say and could veto the legislation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sarasota County Republican Joe Gruters debates immigration bill with Hernando County Republican Blaise Ingoglia during Senate debate on immigration bill on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

In defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican-led Florida Legislature passed a bill late Tuesday night anointing Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as the states chief immigration officer and zapping millions of dollars from the governors office for immigration enforcement.

The bill cleared the chambers by a 21-16 vote in the Senate and 82-30 in the House after Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez agreed to changes worked out after conversations with the Trump administration designed to make the bill, dubbed the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act (or TRUMP Act), tougher and potentially more appealing to DeSantis.

Senate Republicans who voted no

Jennifer Bradley

Erin Grall

Jay Collins

Blaise Ingoglia

Alexis Calatayud

Jonathan Martin

House Republicans who voted no

Michael Caruso

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, DeSantis still wasnt satisfied with the bill after the changes, posting on X that half-measures wont suffice.

Albritton and Perezs unexpected move to ditch DeSantis immigration proposals on Monday reasserted lawmakers independence from the governors office.

This bill will be a game changer. Of course, youre gonna have your handful of politicians, small group of activists, and a lot of paid bots on social media trying to gaslight you, Perez said in his final remarks on the floor. But we know that truth matters, and simply saying that something is terrible over and over doesnt actually make it true.

Threatening others to get your way isnt leadership, its immaturity. The people of our state deserve better.

Senate sponsor says bill isnt perfect

Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, of Sarasota and Mannattee counties. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix)

In making his closing pitch on the bill, Sarasota Republican Joe Gruters acknowledged the measure wasnt the silver bullet that some Republicans wanted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have a long way to go, he said. What were focused on today is the executive orders that the president has come out and already issued. Hes focused, and I talked to the president last night about this bill. I talked to members of his team about this bill, trying to make it as strong as we possibly can.  Is this bill perfect? Its not.

A few Republican lawmakers and allies of the governor criticized the TRUMP Act, such as Hernando County Sen. Blaise Ingoglia. He questioned the provision making Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson the state officer in charge of overseeing immigration issues, and not Gov. DeSantis.

Why not just keep it with the governor? Ingoglia asked. Because it appears that some of the powers you are delegating to the Commissioner of Agriculture in this bill are powers that the governor regularly utilizes. The power to uphold the laws, to levy fines, to get people removed from office for misfeasance or malfeasance, to declare a state of emergency.

Last-minute changes

A couple of hours ahead of the Senate debate on the bill, Albritton and Perez announced changes that would allow financial penalties against jurisdictions that dont cooperate with federal immigration agencies. The actual language of the changes didnt become available to the public until moments before the Senate convened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last night, we requested and received technical assistance from the Trump Administration, Albritton and Perez wrote in a statement. We made specific improvements to the TRUMP Act to further align state law with the renewed and expanded enforcement of federal immigration law under President Trump.

The changes would require death sentences for undocumented immigrants convicted of capital offenses and increase penalties for other crimes.

Although the Republican leaders didnt take up the bills DeSantis allies filed, the TRUMP Act creates an Office of State Immigration Enforcement within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services charged with serving as the central point of coordination between federal immigration agencies and local and state law enforcement.

Members, this Trump bill is Trump in name only and bears no resemblance to the man for which its named, said Palm Beach Republican Rep. Michael Caruso, who carried the governors proposals in the House. Gov. DeSantis proclamation for the special session was forthright, clear, specific, and included the issues most important to Floridians. I stand with the governor.

Repeal of in-state tuition for Dreamers

Democrats largely focused on unsuccessfully pushing Republicans to maintain in-state tuition waivers for Dreamers, children brought to the U.S. who lack legal status. Republican Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez spearheaded the effort to establish the waivers for undocumented students in 2014 as a House representative, and then-Gov. Rick Scott signed it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Republicans did not budge on the waivers, even as Democrats argued for a compromise to allow current students to finish their degrees. Democrats amendments to protect the waivers failed on the floors of both chambers.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, joined by immigration advocates, addressed reporters during the delayed special session start time. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Here we are saying that despite how hard youve worked, we dont value your work because of your origin, said Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. I find that to be un-American. I find that to be ethically and morally wrong, and I encourage you to lead in the bipartisan way that this body did nearly a decade ago in supporting this policy, in allowing our Dreamers to continue to dream.

In the Senate, South Florida Democrat Shevin Jones made an emotional pitch for his colleagues not to ditch the in-state tuition waiver for Dreamers.

Members, 11 years ago we made a commitment to these young people and now some of us, what were doing now, were about to go back on our word on what we allowed these individuals to do, he said, referring to the Legislatures vote in 2014. And I want to make it clear that these young people are here because their parents came here. They went to our high schools, and they now are in our colleges and universities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than 6,500 students received the waiver in the 2023-2024 school year, according to a bill analysis. Starting on July 1, Dreamers would be ineligible for the waiver.

Some Democrats raised concerns about a provision that would require state contractors to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.

Orlando-area Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith asked GOP bill sponsor Joe Gruters if he could provide any examples of the type of business entities that would be required to work with ICE.

Gruters responded by saying that there are 10 entities that now work with jails on immigration enforcement.

DeSantis decries swampy politics

From the get-go, DeSantis publicly called the legislation weak and bashed it for stripping his immigration enforcement powers. The governors original plan would have created an immigration chief position under his office. Appearing on Fox News on Monday night, DeSantis called the TRUMP Act ridiculous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres swampy politics everywhere, DeSantis said in an interview with Sean Hannity. In a post on X Tuesday morning, the governor attacked Simpsons record voting for in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and wrote that the bill creates a conflict of interest given the agriculture industrys affinity for cheap, illegal foreign labor.

Do we want the fox guarding the henhouse? DeSantis wrote about Simpson.

How will millions be spent?

The bill has a price tag of $515 million, with $100 million going to a grant program to reimburse law enforcement for subletting detention beds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, equipment, and training for supporting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Under the TRUMP Act, the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program DeSantis used to fly immigrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in 2022 would come under the purview of Simpson. The governor wanted lawmakers to give him $350 million for that program during the special session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local law enforcement who participate in operations with the Department of Homeland Security would be eligible for a one-time bonus of up to $1,000 under the bill, which sets aside $25 million for the incentive program.

Whats next

The bill takes effect upon becoming law.

But there is no deadline for the Legislature to send the bill to the governor. After receiving, it DeSantis will have 15 days to sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

If DeSantis were to veto the legislation, lawmakers could attempt an override when its next in session.

If [DeSantis] thinks making sure illegals can get in-state tuition is a good idea, then more power to him. I wouldnt recommend [vetoing the bill], Fine told reporters after the Senate vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caruso told reporters ahead of the House vote that there should be another special session if the governor vetoes the bill.

Senior reporter Mitch Perry and reporter Jay Waagmeester contributed to this report.
In collaboration with the White House, Republican leaders in the Florida Legislature revamped and approved a bill on Tuesday that seeks tougher penalties on undocumented immigrants that commit crimes  and removes much of the governors authority over immigration, an issue that Ron DeSantis has made a cornerstone of his legacy in Florida.

The legislation  nicknamed the TRUMP Act  was amended to include several new provisions that House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton said were suggested by the Trump administration. They said the changes will align the states immigration laws to the new changes ushered in by President Donald Trump to identify and deport scores of people who are in the country illegally.

Notably, Republican leaders are stripping much of the governors immigration oversight authority and giving it to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Republican statewide elected official. DeSantis has railed against this move, saying that putting the official who oversees farming in charge of immigration would be like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So why did we pick [Simpson]? Well, cause hes a good man, House Appropriations Chair Lawrence McClure told House members on Tuesday evening. Why did we pick his agency? Because theyve got good people.

The bill includes more than $500 million in funding and new provisions that are meant to help with one of the Trump administrations biggest needs right now: detention beds at the local and state level that U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement can access.

It also eliminates a state law that offers undocumented students in-state tuition at Floridas public universities and colleges  something that has been in place since 2014 and that DeSantis has pushed to repeal in the past.

DeSantis, though, continued Tuesday to publicly deride the legislation, hinting that he might veto the bill. He described it as a watered-down version of a proposal he released publicly after calling lawmakers to Tallahassee this week to address immigration enforcement in a special session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an interview with conservation host Dana Loesch on Tuesday morning, DeSantis said his office was not involved in making any changes to the bill. He said that even with the added provisions on illegal immigration, the bill was weak, weak, weak.

As Florida lawmakers debated the bill, DeSantis said that lawmakers are intentionally trying to weaken interior enforcement of immigration laws with the policies they put forward.

They never wanted to do a special session, said the issue of illegal immigration wasnt urgent, and derided my call for acting on immigration a stunt, DeSantis posted on X on Tuesday night.

Revoking DeSantis oversight over immigration is a stunning example of resistance from Republican leaders who have long catered to the governors legislative proposals, including giving DeSantis the authority to relocate migrants anywhere in the country and giving him access to millions of dollars to use as he pleases on immigration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rebuke, according to several Republican lawmakers interviewed this week, stemmed from frustrations over how DeSantis has carried out many of his key immigration initiatives and the lack of transparency the governor offered to lawmakers about the effectiveness of his efforts.

Albritton and Perez also said they did not like some of the governors proposals, including one that sought to criminally charge local police officers who did not cooperate with state and federal immigration directives.

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, seen during registration and breakfast at Floridas Future Conference at the University of Miami on Sept. 28, 2023.

Law enforcement is our partner, not our enemy, Perez and Albritton said in a joint statement Monday night.

On Tuesday night, six Republicans voted against the bill in the Senate and one Republican voted against the measure in the House. Most voted in favor of legislative leaders bill despite DeSantis protests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The voters of the state of FL overwhelmingly elected a Republican Supermajority legislature to support the policies of @realDonaldTrump, not those of a lame-duck governor gasping for political relevancy after losing his presidential primary, state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, R-Miami, said in a post on X.

Democrats largely voted against the bill, mostly criticizing it for being rushed through the legislative process and saying they disapproved of the amount of money that Republicans would be pouring into the states enforcement of immigration laws. They also tried but failed to protect a state law that gives undocumented students the ability to pay in-state tuition at Floridas public universities and colleges.

Dont pull the rug out from underneath so many of these students who did nothing wrong, who themselves committed no crime and actually want to share with us the American dream, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said.

What is in the proposal sent to DeSantis

The revamped bill approved by Florida lawmakers on Tuesday includes changes to several criminal state statutes such as creating tougher penalties for undocumented immigrants who are members of gangs and commit crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other changes include a requirement that Simpson  who would be designated as the states chief immigration officer  review all local agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure they are robust enough to cover the anticipated needs of the federal government.

A lot of the focus is on making sure local law enforcement agencies have enough money to ensure there are enough detention beds in Florida to hold criminals who have deportation orders.

Thats one of the specific things that the Trump administration has asked for, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said. They need more beds so we could shift these criminals over so they could have time to go through the process of deporting them to their respective countries.

The bill drew the support of Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, the president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, on Tuesday night, before state lawmakers voted on the measure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Florida Legislature has worked closely with us to ensure our concerns are heard so we have the tools we need to effectively and efficiently remove criminal aliens from our communities across the state of Florida, thus protecting Floridians and visitors of our great state, Prummell said. We are thankful for their support.

The association did not previously come out in support of the governors proposals.

DeSantis has sought to require all local and state law enforcement agencies to enroll in a federal immigration program, known as 287g, that currently allows local law enforcement agencies to perform functions of the federal immigration agents in county jails  not out in the community.

When enrolled in the program, local law enforcement officials have the ability to hold undocumented immigrants in custody for up to 48 hours if a federal immigration agent sends a detainer request for a detainee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the bill approved Tuesday, there is no mandate for local law enforcement agencies to enroll in the program  but lawmakers did provide funding that would help local law enforcement agencies pay for the training needed to participate in the program if they choose to join.

The bill would also give Simpson the authority to start judicial proceedings against any local governments that refuse to comply with an immigration detainer from federal immigration agents  and a penalty of up to $5,000 could be imposed on an elected or appointed government official.

DeSantis had floated the possibility of criminally charging local officials or removing them from office who did not fully comply with federal immigration authorities  but that was quickly rejected by GOP leaders and Florida sheriffs.

The governor had also asked lawmakers to give him the extraordinary power to detain, transport and deport immigrants who are in the country illegally  and wanted $350 million to help him carry out the programs mission with the help of the Florida State Guard and the Florida National Guard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those powers would be part of a state program that DeSantis used in 2022 to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard.

We thought long and hard about that, said McClure, the House Appropriations chairman. Does the State of Florida need to be in the transportation business?

Federal immigration officials seem to be doing a fine job deporting people out of the country, McClure said. He raised concerns that involving the state in deportation could cause an international incident similar to the one over the weekend, when Trump threatened tariffs on Colombia after they initially refused to accept those flights.

So now you have the State Guard flying criminals to Colombia, and the Colombian government says, No, thank you? McClure said. Nope.

Why lawmakers publicly split from DeSantis

The vote on Tuesday came after Republican lawmakers  in committee hearings and interviews with reporters  outlined a series of grievances over how DeSantis has handled many of the immigration initiatives that the Legislature has backed and funded in recent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gruters pointed to the DeSantis administrations lax enforcement of a law that requires businesses in the state to use E-Verify, a federal program that checks the legal eligibility of new workers.

Gruters said the state has only issued eight letters to companies for not complying with the states E-verify requirements. All of those letters were issued in 2022, according to the website of the Florida Department of Commerce, which reports to DeSantis.

Eight letters since 2022. Why hasnt it been more? Gruters said.

Department of Commerce spokesperson Emily Hetherington said Tuesday that it was actively conducting more than one hundred investigations, which take time.

Gruters and McClure also took issue with the governors office not being transparent about how many people it has transported under the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, which DeSantis used in 2022 to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard and in 2023, to transport people from Texas to Sacramento, California.

Under the legislative proposal approved on Tuesday, the chief immigration officer would study the effectiveness of DeSantis program, which lawmakers initially funded at $12 million, Gruters said As of March last year, $9.4 million of it was unspent. The program is still active and run by a private company whose operations have remained secretive. The contractor, for example, operates under a fictitious name.

The Legislation also requires the new office to update the Legislature annually about how state and local governments are cooperating with the federal immigration agencies.

Thats why we should have accountability, Gruters said. Thats why having a single person, a single office and having a laser focus is going to help everybody.

Tampa Bay Times reporter Romy Ellenbogen and Miami Herald reporter Alexandra Glorioso contributed to this report.
The News

MIAMI  House Republicans convened here this week for a retreat that adds an exclamation point to an undeniable fact: Florida is the center of gravity in their party.

President Donald Trump shifted his home base here from New York back in 2019, and a GOP thats reshaped in his image is now replete with ambitious politicians from his adopted state who could try to claim the MAGA mantle in future races. Theres Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz  and Rep. Byron Donalds, whos eyeing a gubernatorial run next year that would further elevate his profile in the party.

The winner of that race might even stand a chance of succeeding Trump as the GOPs future presidential nominee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anybody who wins the Florida governors race, it puts them on a national stage, said Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla. And if they do a good job, he or she does a good job, theyre all potential candidates for 2028 because, you know? I think a lot of the country is looking to Florida and what were doing here.

Donalds, 46, isnt publicly confirming his interest in succeeding the term-limited DeSantis. But he tamped down any suggestion that he could become a national party leader, or that the Florida governors race would shape the direction of the post-Trump Republican Party.

I dont think its about the future of MAGA, he told Semafor. Its more about, you have to be aligned with MAGA and what MAGA is doing.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohioan, would of course enter the 2028 GOP primary as an instant frontrunner. But DeSantis, Rubio, Donalds and other Florida men still in their 40s and 50s stand to remain major figures in the party for multiple election cycles to come, if they can successfully leverage their roles under Trump into a bigger profile outside the Sunshine State.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If he runs for governor, Donalds also has the potential to capitalize on some of Trumps incremental gains with Black voters in the 2024 election. While his decades-old charges for marijuana possession and bribery  later dismissed and expunged  could prove a liability in the race, his past also gives him a compelling personal narrative of redemption.

After all, another gubernatorial hopeful is former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose bid to become Trumps attorney general fell apart thanks to a far more recent ethics investigation.

Gaetz has since launched a conservative media career, casting doubt on whether hed pursue political office again; some party operatives see his recent controversy clearing a path for Donalds.

Donors are currently in wait-and-see mode and expect other GOP contenders to emerge, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Youre going to see a great governors race in Florida, said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla. Byron Donalds, my dear friend, I think, is looking at the race, and others. Obviously, people like JD Vance, clearly people like Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, would all be powerful presidential candidates too.

Know More

The list of influential Florida Republicans in Trumps second term goes on: Former state attorney general Pam Bondi is set to play that role nationally, while Reps. Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna and Kat Cammack are rising within the House GOP.

Mills is also looking at a Senate race in 2026, when newly appointed Florida GOP Sen. Ashley Moody would have to run again.

Lawmakers from the state attribute their bigger political profiles to rapid migration to Florida, the states fiscal posture and its lack of an individual income tax.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One things for sure: A state once seen as purple and winnable by a well-positioned Democrat has been deep red ever since Trumps first election. Rubios margin of victory in 2022 and Florida Sen. Rick Scotts margin in 2024 were both in the double digits  Ohio saw closer statewide elections in both Vances 2022 race and the 2024 Senate contest.

We have the most based conservative legislators. Not just at the statehouse, but also at the federal level. Id say that were politely pushing Texas out of the way, Luna said.

Kadias view

Its an open question whether anyone, including Vance, can inherit the loyalty Trump gets from his base. But no matter who steps up come 2028, Republicans are confident that the MAGA brand  and its close association with Florida  will continue to dominate in their party.

One thing Im watching: The gap between the working-class voters who powered Trump back to the White House and the wealthier business figures his party is tapping for key races around the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump proved that business accomplishments matter, and [voters] want can-do people, Haridopolis said.

That trend, if it continues, could leave room for another Florida man to rise higher in the GOP: Sen. Rick Scott, a former business owner whom the party credits for revitalizing the state after he slashed budgets as governor.

The View From Ohio

In Ohio, Republicans are eager to bolster Vance. Ohio Rep. David Joyce thinks Vance has positioned himself well to be the GOP nominee.

Anyone can challenge JD Vance, but hes the man, Joyce told Semafor. Hes in the right position. Hes got the right instincts to be what I think would be a tremendous vice president now and a tremendous presidential candidate come 2028.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, the coveted Trump endorsement makes all the difference here and Vance, with his proximity to the president, will have an advantage.

Notable
MIAMI (AP)  A Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, cash and firearms from federal investigations and admitting that he once went so far as to swap cocaine seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with a fake kilo made from a 3D printer.

James Hickox's sentence, handed down Monday in Jacksonville federal court, is the stiffest yet imposed against more than 20 DEA agents and task force officers charged in recent years with crimes ranging from perjury and assault to wire fraud and money laundering on behalf of the same drug cartels the DEA is charged with fighting.

Hickox, a sergeant with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, was arrested in 2023 along with Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Earrey on charges of possession with intent to sell drugs . Both had been assigned to a DEA-led task force in Jacksonville.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of his plea agreement, Hickox admitted to receiving more than $420,000 for routinely stealing and selling marijuana, cocaine and other drugs seized as part of DEA operations and then falsely claiming the evidence had been destroyed following normal procedure.

He also confessed that in 2022, he swapped a kilogram of cocaine seized by the DEA with a brick made from a 3D printer sprinkled with real cocaine to make it look legitimate. Hickox said he then gave the real cocaine to a Jacksonville drug trafficker who sold it for around $20,000. About half that amount was paid to Hickox.

Hickox's father said the stress of his work for the DEA, dealing with criminal informants on a daily basis and being surrounded by large amounts of cash and drugs, contributed to his son's descent into criminality. He said the DEA needs to provide mental health counseling to properly vet its workforce and prevent other criminals from abusing the public's trust.

They have to live two lives," his father, James Lee Hickox, told WJXT television in Jacksonville. You're out slinging dope for the DEA and then you go home and be a family man.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hickox, 38, also said he gave around 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of marijuana to one informant, receiving about $200 to $400 for every pound sold.

On another occasion, according to the plea agreement, he and Earrey staged a fake traffic stop to seize what they thought were 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of fentanyl arriving from another state.

When authorities searched Hickox's house, they found cocaine, methamphetamine pills and a powdery substance containing fentanyl, as well as several firearms that had been seized during law enforcement operations. The narcotics were found in a converted garage labeled Gator's Man Cave.

Hickox, in his plea agreement, also admitted to routinely breaking into DEA evidence bags, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and then resealing the bags, or repacking the currency into another heat-sealed bag with forged signatures, to cover his tracks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect, FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler said in a statement.

Attorneys representing Hickox did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Earrey is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Florida students scored significantly worse on national reading tests taken last year than in 2022, mirroring a continuing national decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, data released Wednesday morning shows.

The Sunshine States eighth graders also struggled on the national math test, posting the states lowest scores in 20 years. Those middle schoolers reading scores dropped to the lowest recorded in more than 25 years.

The states fourth grade reading score fell to the worst mark since 2003. Those students math score was about the same as two years ago, but still short of pre-pandemic numbers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The release of fourth and eighth grader scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, showed the countrys children are still impacted by the pandemic, which shuttered schools and forced many children to learn online, officials said.

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz was surprised and dismayed at the results, questioned the methodology NAEP used in 2024 and urged his federal counterparts to fix shortcomings before the next round of tests, according to a letter he sent Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Education.

The NAEP scores are based on tests given to a sampling of public school students across the country. For the most part, scores are reported only for states  though 26 large school districts took part and got their own scores.

Orange County Public Schools was among the 26 in 2024 and did better than most other districts on all the tests. This was OCPS first year taking part. A few other large Florida school districts, including Duval, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade, took part this year, as they have in the past.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The NAEP scores are collectively called the nations report card and 2024s was not good, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics.

We are not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground our students lost during the pandemic, she said. Where we are seeing signs of recovery, theyre mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students.

Data shows students enthusiasm for reading is declining, and most students reading practice comes from what they see on their phones, Carr said. Those factors likely contributed to the continued downward trend, she added.

Florida, long a leader in elementary reading, continued to do better than most states at fourth-grade reading, even as its scores dropped from 2022 and from the pre-pandemic high in 2017. Only Massachusetts and Department of Defense schools outperformed Florida in fourth-grade reading in the 2024 tests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Floridas eighth-grade reading scores fell in 2024, with the state performing worse than 27 other states. The states score dropped below the national average score for the first time since 2015.

The eighth-grade math test scores were also worse than those of 27 other states. Floridas score dropped even as the national score held steady. Floridas eighth grade score reverted to below what it was in 2003, essentially wiping out progress of the last 20 years.

Florida, they seem to look good in fourth grade in terms of how they rank with other states, but then when it gets to eighth grade you see them go from being one of the top handful of jurisdictions to a little below the median. Thats an interesting trend, said Grady Wilburn, a senior statistician and researcher with NCES.

Diaz said in his letter that the 2024 test administration, focused solely on public schools, failed to account for Floridas educational landscape, which provides private school scholarships to thousands of students. Further, he argued, it likely was marred by test interruptions because of new computers and internet access problems and didnt accurately capture a representative sampling of the states public school students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He urged federal officials to implement changes to make NAEP great once again and said he supports abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, a campaign pledge of President Donald Trump.

Diaz ended his five-page letter by saying, Florida stands ready to assist your Department and the Trump Administration as we work together to make American education great again.

In addition to providing scores, NAEP also puts performance into achievement levels of basic, proficient and advanced.

Nationally, students in fourth grade have performed worse on reading tests since the pandemic. The percentage of fourth-graders who scored below basic on reading was 40%  the largest percentage in 20 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a basic level, a fourth grader on the reading test would be able to sequence or categorize events from a passage, a proficient student could describe the impact of a characters actions and an advanced student could identify themes, according to a NAEP spokesperson.

In 2024, the percentage of eighth-graders nationally reading below basic level was the largest in the assessments history at 33%.

The achievement gap  or how different groups of students do on the exams  was the largest that the test has ever seen, with higher-performing students improving but lower-performing ones continuing to fall, Carr said.

The Sunshine States racial achievement persisted in 2024, with Black and Hispanic students continuing to perform worse on average than their white and Asian counterparts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2024, 18% of Black fourth-graders, 31% of Hispanics, 41% of white students and 54% of Asian students reached a proficient score in reading  all representing a smaller percentage than two years earlier.

Carr attributed falling test scores in part on student absenteeism. Student attendance improved slightly compared to last year but still exceeds pre-pandemic levels, according to NAEP data. Lower-performing students are more likely to be absent from school, she said.

If students arent in school, they cant learn. Thats what this data underscores, she said.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced a bill Tuesday seeking to add President Trumps face to the Mount Rushmore monument.

His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument, Luna wrote in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.

Lets get carving!

The Interior Department would be in charge of undertaking Trumps addition to the South Dakota landmark if approved by Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nations freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacya legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term, Luna shared in a separate statement.

He will be forever remembered among the great like Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Luna is not the first person to float the idea. Fox News contributors this week suggested adding Trumps face to Mount Rushmore to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the countrys founding, which is set for 2026.

If you did, like, the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trumps face, it would be epic, Kayleigh McEnany, Trumps former press secretary, said this week on Fox News Channels Outnumbered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump didnt disapprove of the idea in 2019 but was careful to note the potential bad press for supporting a costly addition to the monument.

If I answer that question, Yes, I will end up with such bad publicity, Trump told The Hill.

This monument will never be desecrated. These heroes will never be disgraced. Their legacy will never, ever be destroyed. Their achievements will never be forgotten, he said during a 2020 speech ahead of the Fourth of July holiday amid proposals to tear down Confederate statues.

And Mount Rushmore will stand forever as an eternal tribute to our forefathers and our freedom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, local Native American tribes have pushed back on the monument as a whole, citing concerns with the forceable taking of tribal land.

Mount Rushmore is a symbol of white supremacy, of structural racism thats still alive and well in society today, Nick Tilsen, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and the president of NDN Collective, a local activist organization, told The Associated Press. Its an injustice to actively steal Indigenous peoples land then carve the white faces of the conquerors who committed genocide.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)  David Higgins said he was paid to keep bad news about Pinellas County businessman Leo Govonis companies out of the public eye.

Higgins said it wasnt easy as people came forward complaining about missing money they had placed in Govonis care  money meant to provide for disabled family members.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

8 on Your Side

A federal bankruptcy judge has already found Govoni liable for $120 million in missing money. The FBI has opened an investigation as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Higgins finds himself in the exact same position as many of the Govonis alleged victims, wondering where the money went.

Over the years, Big Storm Brewery made a name for itself in the Tampa Bay craft beer scene. Co-owner LJ Govoni even gave 8 On Your Side a tour in 2021.

TGH patients hands filled with cholesterol after he ate 6-9 pounds of cheese, butter for months

Last summer, Big Storm hit a storm of its own with eviction notices, the closure of four taprooms and only its flagship location in Clearwater left operating. Key employees began to leave, including LJ, as the business faced multiple lawsuits.



The head brewer and the head distiller they parted ways, and we were like were just going to move forward, Higgins said. Were going to grow the business and make it work.



Higgins said he was hired by LJs father, Leo.



I started working for Leo Govoni back in October 2023, said Higgins.



At first, Higgins worked as chief marketing officer at Global Litigation Consultants in Clearwater.



Its a consulting agency that works with attorneys across the country to help develop lawsuits for injured people, said Higgins.



Its the same business Investigator that somehow gained control of a North Carolina couples motorcycle crash settlement money.



Theyre getting my money every month, said John Adams, who is missing money.



That money was meant to provide for the couples future care, and its now missing.



In the spring of 2024, my position switched from Global Litigation Consultants to Big Storm Brewery, Higgins said.



That was around the same time a local physician sued the Govonis and Big Storm, accusing them of using the brewery to launder millions from Leo Govonis non-profit, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The doctor later reached a confidential settlement, but a federal judge has since found Leo Govoni liable for $120 million missing from the Center for Special Needs. Govoni remains the subject of an FBI investigation.

The FBIs public affairs office shared this message: This is still an ongoing investigation, and the FBI does not discuss actions taken in the course of a criminal investigation.

As news of the missing money spread, Higgins said the public and alleged victims reacted.



Obviously the public had a negative view of what was happening, he said. There was a lot of online negativity, especially we had protesters outside the brewery weekly.

Higgins said he was fired last month and claims Govoni owes him more than $8,000 in back pay. Now he finds himself in the same position as many former Govoni clients, struggling to get answers and find out what happened to the money he believe he is owed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unfortunately, I found myself in a position like several other employees of the company both Global Litigation and Big Storm where we have not been paid for the work that weve done, he said.

Higgins said he has filed a complaint with Pinellas County wondering if and when he and others will ever get paid.

8 On Your Side reached out to Pinellas County to find out how many wage complaints had been filed.

A wage theft complaint would be handled by our Office of Human Rights, and they would not be able to comment about an open inquiry or investigation if there was one. Information is made available when an investigation is completed or closed, a spokesperson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Previously, Big Storm had a PR firm representing them, but were told they have also parted ways.

Big Storm is facing another lawsuit. Court records showed Apex Commercial Capital Corporation is suing Leo Govoni and Big Storm to recover commercial equipment at the brewery.

The suit revealed back in 2022, the parties entered a equipment finance agreement requiring Big Storm to make 60 monthly payments of $1,843.49. Apex claimed Govoni failed to pay and now seeks $70,379.14 in damages.

Its important to note that Leo Govoni has not been charged with a crime. Neither Govoni nor his attorneys have responded to our requests for information.

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.
BRYANT, Ark.  A former officer with the Bryant Police Department is accused of unauthorized use of the states criminal information database.

ASP officials said agents arrested 22-year-old Christopher Bennett for illegally obtaining information from the Arkansas Criminal Information Center (ACIC) database.

The database, state police said, provides critical information technology services to the states law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Little Rock Police Department officer arrested, accused of unauthorized use of state criminal information database

According to the ASP, Bennett told investigators that he accessed the information on his department-issued computer while on duty in December 2024.

State police officials did not state what information was accessed.

Authorities said Bennett surrendered to ASP agents at the Saline County Detention Center on Monday and is facing a charge of unauthorized use of ACIC, a misdemeanor.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Coal mining operations take up a lot of space. Even if they are taken out of commission, they still lie there, dormant.

Peabody is looking to change that. The coal giant is repurposing parts of its former mining land in the American Midwest with solar projects through a partnership with leading clean energy company RWE, according to Electrek.

Ten projects, spread across Indiana and Illinois, will together generate 5.5 gigawatts of energy, which is no joke. That amount of power could electrify 850,000 homes if all goes according to plan, Electrek reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Peabody, once the largest private coal company in the world, the initiative is a chance to gain momentum in the clean energy space and make use of its mining sites.

Producing coal also creates a heck of a lot of pollution and is a major contributor to the dangerous overheating of the planet. Solar, on the other hand, gets its power straight from the sun with no mining needed. It's also one of the best ways to save money on electric bills for consumers, businesses, and cities alike.

Plus, building the projects on former coal sites means the local benefits of solar energy  construction and engineering jobs, economic investment, and lower utility bills  go toward the communities that once benefited from coal production.

Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy, said the partnership with Peabody marked "an exciting opportunity to invest in rural regions of Indiana and Illinois," according to Electrek.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The way the deal works is that Germany-based RWE is buying a majority share of a solar company founded by Peabody called R3 Renewables. Peabody will keep a 25% share and handle three of the projects, while RWE will take the other seven, Electrek explained.

Electrek readers agreed that the move is a win for coal country and the planet, too.

"Times, they are, a cha-a-a-ngin'," one wrote, quoting the early Bob Dylan song.

"This is great to see," another added. "Something measured in GW is something to really pay attention to."

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.
Former FDNY Chief Anthony Saccavino pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to accept thousands of dollars in bribes for speeding up inspections for businesses with matters before the department.

Saccavino, 59, is accused of expediting fire inspections for building owners who would pay up in a scheme that saw him and his co-conspirators rake in nearly $200,000 in illegal kickbacks.

I accepted cash in exchange for preferential treatment for entities with business before the Bureau of Fire Prevention, he admitted in Manhattan Federal Court on Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Saccavino, former chief of the bureau, and another chief, former Deputy Assistant Chief Brian Cordasco, were charged with the crimes in September. Cordasco, 49, pleaded guilty a month later to charges he raked in upward of $5,000 in bribes between 2021 and 2023.

Bureau of Fire Prevention, or BFP, is responsible for green-lighting the installation of fire safety and suppression systems in both commercial and residential buildings, and without a passed inspection by the BFP, a building may not be allowed to open.

A retired FDNY inspector, Henry Santiago, who has also pleaded guilty to related charges, helped funnel the ill-gotten gains to them as they stepped in to speed up inspections after the pandemic, when a backlog of requests had built up, according to prosecutors.

Saccavino confessed to just one of the five counts he is charged with  still denying charges of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. Saccavino also still denies that he lied to FBI agents in an interview.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outside the courtroom, Saccavinos lawyer, Joseph Caldarera, called his client, who was a first responder on 9/11, an American hero, and said that the guilty plea meant Saccavino put his family first, adding that not everything in the indictment was correct.

Saccavino must pay back the $57,000 bribes from the scheme, according to his plea agreement. While the maximum sentence for his crime is five years behind bars, the former chief agreed not to fight any prison time of less than that.

This scheme happened at the same time Mayor Adams City Hall allegedly worked to fast-track FDNY inspections for real estate developers who were cozy with the administration, using the so-called Deputy Mayor of Operations list  named before it fell under the purview of that official.

The unrelated case against Adams alleges in part that he accepted bribes from associates of the Turkish government to circumvent fire safety checks at the countrys Manhattan consulate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anthony Saccavino betrayed the city agency he was chosen to lead by repeatedly selling access to the Bureau of Fire Preventions services in a pay-to-play bribery scheme, acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sasson said in a statement.

This office will continue to ensure that city officials who place their own interests above those of the public will be held accountable.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Greenwood said that if he were to stand trial for this count, prosecutors would have brought a bevy of evidence including cell phone records, FDNY internal email and financial records.
A former policy adviser to Barack Obamas administration flew to Britain planning to rape a nine-year-old child.

Rahamim Rami Shy, 47, an investment banker who helped co-ordinate the US governments counter-terror response, travelled from New York to Bedfordshire to meet an English schoolgirl.

He spent more than a month planning the trip and had packed his suitcases with cuddly toys and condoms, Luton Crown Court heard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On an online forum and messaging apps, Shy described the unspeakable acts he was planning in graphic detail to someone he believed to be the girls grandmother.

Pervert trapped by decoy

But the grandmother, using the name Debbie, was in fact an online decoy created by an undercover officer from Bedfordshire Police.

In his messages, Shy described the girl as a tad late in starting sexual activity at the age of nine, and said that it was an honour to be considered her first, the court heard.

He flew to Gatwick on Feb 23 last year then drove to Bedford to meet the undercover officer, and was promptly arrested.

His lawyers tried to claim that as he was in the US at the time of the messaging, he was jurisdictionally exempt from prosecution in the UK.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the Crown Prosecution Service successfully argued that English courts have jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad that are intended to result in criminal offences in England.

Prosecutors said the cuddly toys found in Rahamim Shys luggage, along with condoms, below, proved he planned to win the child over before raping her - CPS/PA Wire

Condoms found in Shy's luggage

During the trial, the court heard Shy, after arriving in Britain, tried to delete the depraved messages he had sent.

Other messages retrieved from his phone revealed he had discussed his sexual interest in children with others.

A cache of indecent images of children were discovered on his phone by police.

Officers also found several cuddly toys and condoms within Shys luggage after his arrest.

The prosecution argued the items demonstrated a clear intent to win the child over before abusing her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, Shy was jailed for 11 years and six months after being found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sex offence  namely rape  and possessing indecent photographs of a child.

Shy was previously employed at banking group Citi, and had worked in a senior role at the US treasury department from 2008 to 2014, advising officials on countering the financing of terrorism and assisting foreign governments to impose sanctions on hostile regimes, the Daily Mail reported at the time of his arrest.

A spokesman from Citi said that Shy was no longer an employee following his arrest.

A predator bent on unspeakable acts

Shy was also deployed to Afghanistan to provide expertise to the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), set up to maintain stability following the America-led invasion of the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a LinkedIn page, he provided ISAF with counter-terrorist finance expertise, and went on to present the USs strategy on Afghanistan to a congressional hearing in 2010.

Lorraine Telford, of the CPS, said: Rahamim Shy is a predator who was fully prepared to commit unspeakable acts against a child for his own sexual gratification.

It was clear from his explicit conversations and items he brought to England that he had only one intention, to commit rape against what he knew was a vulnerable child.

The fact the child in this case did not exist makes no difference, and it is a credit to the police operation and subsequent prosecution that Shy will no longer pose an immediate threat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All children have the right to feel safe and protected, and I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working closely alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit children.

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.
BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A former Pennsylvania school music instructor has been sentenced for possessing thousands of child pornography images and videos.

The Bucks County District Attorneys office says Christopher Bygott, a former Pennsbury School District music instructor, was sentenced to three years of probation.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

WHTM Daily Digest

Bygott had pled guilty to possession of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility in September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bygott was also ordered to undergo sex offender treatment, have no unsupervised contact with minors, and register as a sex offender for at least 15 years.

The investigation began in 2023 when two CyberTips were submitted for photos uploaded into an Amazon Photos account. The investigation tied the account to Bygott and linked an IP address to the Pennsbury School District.

A forensic examination of his cellphone led to the discovery of 2,000 images and videos of Child Sex Abuse Materials that depicted sexual acts with children of various ages.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., threatened to primary senators if they dared to vote against Kennedys nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

He is more than qualified. Hes proven, principled, and prepared to lead. Ill share a list below of key senators. If they represent your state, they need to hear from you, Shanahan said Tuesday in a video posted to her social platform X account.

If they dont, please call your own senator and ask them to vote yes, the billionaire philanthropist added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shanahan, the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, said that in 2020 she cut two large checks to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that helped Democrats flip two seats in Georgia.

The two candidates I helped elect, Sen. Raphael Warnock and Sen. Jon Ossoff, please know I will be watching your votes very closely, she said. I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of Americas children.

President Trump nominated Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, to lead HHS despite criticism from both sides of the aisle over his anti-vaccine rhetoric and previous abortion stance.

Prior to joining forces with the president, Kennedy ran a long-shot independent bid for the White House. He selected Shanahan, a tech attorney, as his running mate in March. In August, Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shanahan, who has remained a fierce supporter of Kennedy, also called out some senators by name.

And more than that, I also want to say to Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), this is a bipartisan message, and it comes directly from me, Shanahan said in the video.

While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I wont. If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me, she added.

In an interview late last year, Sanders, a prominent progressive in the Senate, said he likely will not run again once his term ends in 2030.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedys confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee is slated for Wednesday morning. He will also face questioning from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee on 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 The Hill.
ROBINSON, Texas (FOX 44)  A former Robinson Independent School District staff member has been arrested on charges related to inappropriate conduct with a student.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Hope said Wednesday that the staff member was arrested by the Robinson Police Department, and that 42-year-old Christopher Roman Gonzales was employed as a paraprofessional at Robinson Junior High. His employment was terminated as of Friday, January 24, following an administrative investigation.

Dr. Hope says the safety and well-being of district students remains the highest priority. If anyone within the Robinson ISD family has any questions or concerns, they can be directed to Dr. Hope, although he says there is very little additional information he can provide due to the ongoing police investigation and the privacy rights of those affected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Killeen ISD teacher resigns after allegations involving student

The Robinson Police Department tells FOX 44 News they were alerted by relatives of an adult-aged student on January 21 regarding an alleged Improper Relationship between the student and Gonzales. The investigation included obtaining search warrants for the mobile electronic devices of both Gonzales and the student.

Police say a forensic analysis of these devices revealed sexually explicit text messages and photographs exchanged between Gonzales and the student. A further investigation also uncovered evidence that Gonzales deleted critical information from his device and instructed the student on how to do the same.

An arrest affidavit stated that on January 21, the parents of a student at Robinson High School met with police to say they had found disturbing text messages between their son and the suspect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Detectives promptly notified school administration about the ongoing investigation, and the district took immediate action to protect the student involved. Shortly after the initiation of the investigation, Gonzaless employment with Robinson ISD was terminated.

The affidavit stated that police met with the suspect and obtained a search warrant for both the suspects and the students phones. The affidavit stated that the communications the parents documented were sexual in contact and that it was apparent that a relationship had developed, but that the examiner found that all communications had later been removed. They did find a message providing instructions to the student on how to clear his phone of all communications.

The affidavit stated that a forensic interview of the student was conducted that outlined a meeting the student had had with the suspect at an undisclosed location.

Officers arrested Gonzales in the 1700 block of Nelva Drive in Waco on Wednesday, January 29. Police say he has been charged with Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student, a second-degree felony; and also a charges of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a third-degree felony; due to his actions of deleting evidence from his mobile device. Gonzales has been booked into the McLennan County Jail.

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.
Former New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison following his conviction on bribery and corruption charges after taking cash, a Mercedes Benz and gold bars as bribes in exchange for helping three businessmen and the Egyptian government.

The sentencing marks a dramatic fall for the lawmaker born to Cuban emigres who got his start in politics in Union City, New Jersey, and became one of the most powerful senators as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez was convicted last year of 16 felony counts for the long-running corruption scheme, making him the first US senator charged and convicted of acting as an agent of a foreign government.

The public cannot be led to the belief that you can get away with bribery, fraud and betrayal, said District Judge Sidney Stein.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know what led you to this  greed was certainly part of it, Stein added. But that cant be it, I dont think that explains everything. Hubris was part of it, I dont know. Youll have to try to figure that out yourself over time.

Menendez teared up as he spoke in court. You have before you a chastened man, he told the judge.

Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about, he added. For someone who spent his entire life in public service, every day Im awake is a punishment.

But outside the court, Menendez railed against the prosecutors who brought the case and, while he didnt publicly ask President Donald Trump for a pardon, appealed to the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only in the Southern District of New York would prosecutors allow a witness to walk away from over 10 criminal charges, including defrauding the United States government so that they can get him to lie on the stand. Welcome to the Southern District of New York, the wild west of political prosecutions, Menendez said.

This process is political and its corrupted to the core, he added. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.

Adam Fee, Menendezs attorney, argued in court that the former senator deserved credit for his decades in public service.

For nearly 50 years hes been tireless servant of his community, his state and his country, Fee said. Despite his decades of service he is known more widely as Gold Bar Bob.

Two of the gold bars found at Menendez's house during a court-authorized search of the home. - US District Court Southern District of New York

During the trial, the jury heard evidence that during a search of the senators home FBI agents found gold bars and envelopes stuffed with cash, some inside shoes and in a jacket pocket bearing the senators name.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In exchange, prosecutors alleged that Menendez pressured the US Department of Agriculture over a monopoly on halal meat certification that benefited one of the businessmen, he pushed through military aid to Egypt and modulated his criticism of the countrys human rights abuses. He also attempted to tamper with two criminal investigations tied to the other two businessmen.

Two others involved were also sentenced Wednesday. Real estate developer Fred Daibes was sentenced to seven years in prison while Wael Hana, who runs a halal certification business, received a sentence of eight years. Jose Uribe, who pleaded guilty and testified at trial against the three men, will be sentenced later this year.

Prosecutors with the US attorneys office in Manhattan asked Stein to sentence Menendez to at least 15 years in prison and order him to pay millions of dollars in forfeiture and fines to provide just punishment for this extraordinary abuse of power and betrayal of public trust.

Paul Monteleoni argued in court that Menendez had more power than the average senator holding his leadership position in the Foreign Relations Committee and committed a grave breach of public trust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He absolutely did some good in his time of government of course, said Monteleoni. But using his power to help people its what he was supposed to do. Its what he was elected to do.

The 71-year-old former lawmaker, who had adamantly maintained his innocence, submitted more than 100 letters of support, including from the former president of Cyprus, local New Jersey politicians, religious figures, and constituents.

Evidence found in the home of Robert Menendez, from a Justice Department court filing. - US District Court Southern District of New York

We respectfully submit that, notwithstanding his conviction, Bob is deserving of mercy because of the penalties already imposed, his age, and the lack of a compelling need to impose a custodial sentence, his lawyers wrote to the judge. Until this conviction marred his reputation, his career and life has been celebrated mainly for his work on behalf of the powerless and downtrodden, they added.

His lawyers asked the judge to allow Menendez to stay out of prison as he appeals his conviction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The criminal trial was not the first for the former senator, who was previously indicted on corruption charges in 2015 for allegedly accepting bribes from a wealthy ophthalmologist in exchange for political favors. Following a mistrial in 2017, Menendez was acquitted on several charges in 2018 with the Department of Justice dropping those that remained.

The longtime politician was indicted in September 2023 along with his wife Nadine, but their trials were severed after she was diagnosed with cancer and began receiving treatment. Nadine Menendez has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in March.

Former Sen. Bob Menendez departs Manhattan federal court after his sentencing on a bribery conviction on January 29, 2025, in New York. - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

The headline and story have been updated with additional developments.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A judge sentenced an emotional former Sen. Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison Wednesday for a yearslong bribery and corruption scheme that rewarded him with gold bars and stacks of cash.

Menendez, D-N.J., had pleaded with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein of the Southern District of New York for mercy, twice breaking down in tears.

I have lost everything, he said after he recounted actions he said he had taken to help others while he was in the Senate, a job he resigned from after he was convicted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For a man who spent his entire life in public service, every day I am awake is a punishment, said Menendez, who was chair of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee at the time he took the payoffs.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., at the Capitol on March 14.

The judge appeared unmoved and noted that while Menendez had done some positive work, the evidence was "overwhelming" and he had failed the voters of New Jersey.

"Somewhere along the way you became, I'm sorry to say, a corrupt politician," Stein told him before he handed down the sentence. He also entered a forfeiture order for all of Menendez' ill-gotten gains, which totaled $992,188.10, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Stein said Menendez would not have to begin his sentence until June 6 so he can attend the trial of his wife  and co-defendant  Nadine Menendez. "I want him to be able to be present for his wife," Stein said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 15 years for Menendez, 71, which his attorneys called vindictive and cruel and a life and death sentence.

Menendez was found guilty in July of extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent after a sensational trial in which prosecutors charged that he accepted bribes  including cash and gold bars  to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Two co-defendants were found guilty, as well, and were each sentenced Wednesday to several years in prison.

Menendez pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal the conviction. He has also been seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump after he was unable to get one from President Joe Biden, NBC News has reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez was unrepentant leaving court and claimed he was the victim of a "political witch hunt."

"President Trump was right. This process is political, and it's corrupt to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system," said Menendez, a lifelong Democrat who voted to convict Trump during both of his impeachment trials.

In court filings, Menendez's attorneys had pleaded with Stein to spare him jail time, noting that he resigned from the Senate in August and contending he has been punished enough.

"Senator Menendez has suffered extreme public shame and upheaval, and his finances and reputation are destroyed, likely for the rest of his life. He is the butt of late-night talk show jokes, and his name will live in infamy as the first politician in history to be convicted of being a foreign agent," they argued in a court filing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"He will live the rest of his days a social and political pariah, whether inside or outside of jail," they added.

Menendez's lawyers also contended that Stein should show mercy because of his "lifetime of good deeds," including the work he did in the Senate, and that there was no evidence that "any of the acts alleged by the government harmed anyone."

After Stein sentenced Menendez's co-defendants to lengthy prison terms Wednesday, attorney Adam Fee amended his request and asked the judge to sentence Menendez to eight years in prison so he would be able to do his time in a minimum-security facility. A sentence of over 10 years would take that option away, Fee noted.

"A sentence of above eight years would be disproportionate to the offense and inappropriate," he argued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors argued that a lengthy prison sentence was a necessity given Menendez's position of power and the brazenness of the scheme.

"Menendezs conduct may be the most serious for which a U.S. Senator has been convicted in the history of the Republic. Very few Senators have even been convicted of any criminal offense, and of those, most of the Senators engaging in bribery accepted amounts that are a fraction of what Menendez reaped," their sentencing memo said.

"Serving in the Senate should have been its own reward. If Menendez was not corrupt, it would have been. It is not something Menendez needs to be rewarded for at all," they added.

Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey businessmen were indicted in 2023 after a lengthy investigation by the U.S. attorney's office in New York.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said the businessmen paid bribes to Menendez and his wife in exchange for the senators taking actions to benefit them and the governments of Qatar and Egypt. According to prosecutors, the bribes included gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz given to Nadine Menendez and more than $480,000 in cash, which the FBI found stuffed into closets, jackets bearing Menendezs name and other clothing when it searched his New Jersey home in 2022.

Two of the businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were tried alongside Menendez and convicted on all counts. They were sentenced Wednesday, as well.

Daibes was the first to go before the judge, and Stein sentenced him to 84 months  about two years less than what the government was seeking. He was also fined $1.75 million for what Stein called his "very serious crimes."

Stein gave Hana a sentence of 97 months  also about two years less than prosecutors sought  and fined him $1.25 million for what the judge said was "substantial" evidence that Hana, who he noted had assets worth more than $30 million, "committed bribery."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution during the nine-week trial. He will be sentenced later this year.

Nadine Menendez's trial was pushed back to March to allow her time to undergo cancer treatments.

The senator did not testify in his own defense. His team argued that he was acting on behalf of his constituents and that the government had not proven that the cash or gold bars were given as bribes.

His attorneys argued in a court filing Tuesday that Stein should stay the execution of the sentence to give Menendez time to appeal the conviction. The motion said that among the grounds for an appeal are questions over whether some of his actions were protected by the speech and debate clause of the U.S. Constitution, which provides immunity protections to members of Congress for acts relating to their legislative work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The filing said keeping Menendez out of jail pending his appeal would also allow him to support "his wife during her pre-operative and post-operative care, during which she will need considerable help and have no other family member available."

It added that "there is no risk that Senator Menendez will commit further crimes, and he intends to vindicate himself and restore his reputation on appeal."

The case was the second corruption trial Menendez had faced in his 18-year career in the Senate. The previous one ended in a hung jury in 2017, and the Justice Department subsequently dropped the charges.

Menendez had also denied wrongdoing in that case. The Senate Ethics Committee investigated the allegations and issued a rare public admonishment in 2018 in a report that found he had broken Senate rules and federal law by accepting gifts from a Florida eye doctor and failing to disclose those gifts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said the gold bar scheme started soon after the publication of the Ethics Committee's report and asked the judge to keep that in mind at his sentencing.

"Menendezs willingness to engage in the charged scheme immediately after receiving a formal admonition for such similar conduct speaks volumes about his character," they said.

According to prosecutors, only 12 other senators have been charged with crimes while serving in the Senate, and only four of those prosecutions resulted in convictions.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NEW YORK (AP)  Former Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking bribes of cash and gold, acting as agent of Egypt.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday, after he was found guilty on all counts in his federal corruption trial last year. Justice Department prosecutors had asked for 15 years, while lawyers for the 71-year-old urged the court to consider a sentence that relies heavily on alternatives to incarceration.

Menendez, who resigned following the trial after decades in Democratic politics, has vowed to appeal. Ahead of the sentencing, his lawyers argued to U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein that he should remain free pending that appeal, citing a list of issues they plan on pressing to overturn his conviction. His case could end up at the Supreme Court, which has sided with political corruption defendants in a string of cases in recent years.

An unrelated federal bribery trial against Menendez in 2017 ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NBC News previously reported that Menendez wants a pardon from President Donald Trump after failing to get one from former President Joe Biden.

Menendez was tried alongside two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were found guilty as well. Earlier Wednesday, Stein sentenced Hana to eight years and Daibes to seven years.

Menendez was found guilty of all 16 counts, including bribery and acting as a foreign agent. Prosecutors alleged the former senator took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his political influence to enrich businessmen and benefit Egypt and Qatar. They said the bribes included cash and gold, among other things.

The Court should impose substantial sentences of imprisonment  sentences of imprisonment of at least fifteen years for Menendez, at least ten years for Hana, and at least nine years for Daibes  and significant financial penalties to 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 to Stein ahead of sentencing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They called the case the first in which a senator was convicted of a crime involving the abuse of a leadership position on a Senate committee, as well as the first in which a senator (or anyone) was convicted of serving as a foreign agent while being a public official.

In Menendez's own submission ahead of sentencing, his lawyers agreed he isnt a typical defendant, but for different reasons. His public office and the accompanying attention it draws distinguish him, they wrote to Stein. Unsurprisingly, Senator Menendezs conviction has rendered him a national punchline and stripped him of every conceivable personal, professional, and financial benefit, they wrote. While all defendants suffer inevitable personal and professional consequences if convicted of serious federal crimes, Senator Menendez in many important respects has already been punished relatively more harshly due to his position, they wrote.

He has sought to lay blame on his wife, Nadine Menendez, who was diagnosed with cancer and faces a separate trial. Other than the governments arguments, there is almost no evidence to support an inference that Senator Menendez was aware of the cash and gold Nadine stored in her personal and secure closet and safe deposit box, they wrote in their sentencing memo, adding: Indeed, in other respects, the evidence showed that Nadine was clearly engaged in conduct without Senator Menendezs knowledge.

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
A federal judge sentenced a tearful Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison Wednesday after the former U.S. senator was convicted of abusing the power of his office in exchange for bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury car and other items.

"You stood at the apex of our political system," Judge Sidney Stein said in issuing the sentence. "Somewhere along the way, you lost your way."

MORE: Former Sen. Bob Menendez denied new trial after conviction in corruption case

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez, 71, was found guilty on all 16 counts last year in his federal corruption trial, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. His children, Alicia and Rob, were in court to witness the sentencing.

"The fact that he was a public office holder who held a position of great public trust has to be taken into account," Stein said as he explained how he calculated the sentence.

Stein said Menendez "became a corrupt politician" as he ticked off the spoils of the corruption: the gold bars, the cash, the convertible.

"When there's wrongdoing of this magnitude there are serious consequences," Stein said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ahead of the former senator's sentencing Wednesday afternoon, two New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying bribes to Menendez received lengthy prison sentences. Wael Hana was sentenced to eight years in prison and Fred Daibes to seven years.

PHOTO: Former Sen. Bob Menendez arrives at federal court in New York, on Jan. 29, 2025. (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)

Menendez calls prosecution a 'witch hunt'

Outside the court following his sentencing, a defiant Menendez called the prosecution a "political witch hunt."

"Regardless of the judge's comments, today, I am innocent, and I look forward to filing appeals on a whole host of issues," Menendez said.

Menendez referred to the Southern District of New York, which prosecuted the case, as the "Wild West of political prosecutions" while outlining grievances with the evidence and witnesses in the trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"President Trump is right -- this process is political and it's corrupted to the core," Menendez said. "I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system."

Danielle Sassoon, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement that Wednesday's sentences were the result of "an egregious abuse of power" at the highest levels of the government's legislative branch.

"Robert Menendez was trusted to represent the United States and the State of New Jersey, but instead he used his position to help his co-conspirators and a foreign government, in exchange for bribes like cash, gold, and a luxury car," she said. "The sentences imposed today send a clear message that attempts at any level of government to corrupt the nations foreign policy and the rule of law will be met with just punishment.

Menendez says he's a 'chastened man'

Menendez sat at the defense table in a suit and tie with hands folded across his stomach before he stood at his seat to address the judge ahead of his sentencing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Your honor you have before you a chastened man," Menendez said as his voice began to break. "We sat in this court room for nine weeks, but you really don't know me."

MORE: Bob Menendez reveals wife Nadine is battling breast cancer, will undergo mastectomy

The once-powerful Democrat introduced himself as the son of Cuban immigrants and explained his political biography, occasionally sniffling and choking up while reading from a prepared statement with hands stuffed in his pockets.

"This is who I truly am, judge. A man devoted to service," Menendez said, becoming emotional as he spoke of family and of constituents he helped. "I have lost everything I have cared about. For someone who spent a life in public service, every day is a punishment."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judge said Menendez will not have to report to prison until June 6 so he can be available when his wife, Nadine, goes on trial on similar corruption and bribery charges on March 18.

Menendez's lawyer adjusted the defense's request for leniency following the imposition of lengthy prison sentences for his co-defendants.

PHOTO: Former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez speaks to the members of the media on the day of sentencing in his bribery trial in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in New York City, Jan. 29, 2025. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Menendez previously sought a sentence of no more than two years in prison, citing his "extraordinary public service," but earlier Wednesday the two New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying the bribes were sentenced perhaps more harshly than the defense anticipated.

"The good outweighs the bad in the arc of Bob's life," defense attorney Adam Fee told the judge. "We would ask the court to sentence Bob to no more than eight years in prison."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni had asked for 15 years in prison, arguing Menendez "believed that the power he wielded belonged to him."

"The offense conduct reflects a truly grave breach of the trust placed in Menendez by his fellow senators, by the people of New Jersey," Monteleoni told the court. "There are not many people who had power on the scale of Menendez."

'Rare gravity' of the crimes

Menendez had potentially faced decades in prison. Sentencing guidelines called for more than 24 to 30 years in prison, with the U.S. Probation Office recommending 12 years' imprisonment for Menendez, according to court filings.

Federal prosecutors have said the Democrat deserves 15 years in prison for his "naked greed" and the "rare gravity" of the crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"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," federal prosecutors wrote in a memo to the judge earlier this month. "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."

Prosecutors asked the court to impose a substantial prison sentence "to 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."

PHOTO: Sen. Bob Menendez departs Manhattan Federal Court, in New York City, May 14, 2024. (Alex Kent/AFP via Getty Images)

Menendez's attorneys had sought leniency, urging the court to even consider whether a non-custodial sentence -- such as "home detention and rigorous community service" -- would suffice.

"Probation's recommended sentence of 12 years' imprisonment would be draconian -- likely a life and death sentence for someone of Bob's age and condition," his attorneys wrote in a memorandum to the judge earlier this month. "Bob is deserving of mercy because of the penalties already imposed, his age, and the lack of a compelling need to impose a custodial sentence."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The defense noted that Menendez is helping his wife battle cancer and argued he is no longer in a position to be a repeat offender, given that he was convicted of crimes that arose from his position as a U.S. senator.

"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," his attorneys wrote. "And his current state -- stripped of office and living under a permanent shadow of disgrace and mockery -- are more than sufficient to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and to promote respect for the law."

MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez to resign next month following conviction in federal corruption trial

The former New Jersey senator, who resigned in the wake of his conviction, has maintained his innocence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I have never violated my oath," Menendez said outside the courthouse following the verdict in the nine-week trial. "I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent."

Menendez twice unsuccessfully bid for a new trial ahead of his sentencing, most recently last week, with Stein finding the trial was fair while denying his request.

Menendez had also tried unsuccessfully to postpone his sentencing until after his wife stands trial.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 23, 2023, file photo, Sen. Bob Menendez arrives at Manhattan federal court in New York. (Frank Franklin II/AP, FILE)

Co-defendants get lengthy prison sentences

Two New Jersey businessmen who were found guilty in the case were also sentenced on Wednesday. Hana was sentenced to eight years in prison and Daibes to seven years -- significantly more than what the defendants had sought and slightly less than what prosecutors recommended.

Prosecutors said Menendez promised to use his power as a senator to help Hana, who is originally from Egypt, by preserving a halal meat monopoly granted to Hana by Egypt.

Prosecutors said the former senator also promised Daibes that he would interfere with Daibes' federal prosecution and help the government of Qatar by supporting a Senate resolution praising the country.

PHOTO: Wael Hana leaves federal court on the day of sentencing in his bribery trial in connection with former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, in New York City, Jan. 29, 2025. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez found guilty on all counts, including acting as foreign agent, in federal corruption trial

Daibes' fingerprints were found on the envelopes of cash found at Menendez's home and serial numbers on the gold bars traced them to Daibes and Hana, according to prosecutors.

In issuing the sentences, Judge Stein called the evidence against Hana "substantial" and had strong words for Daibes.

"You are an American success story. You grew up in a refugee camp in Lebanon. But there is a dark side to what you have done," Stein said of Daibes. "You bribed Sen. Menendez multiple times."

Another New Jersey businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty in the case ahead of trial. Prosecutors said Uribe paid for Menendez's $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for helping disrupt a criminal investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office related to Uribe.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

Former Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison on corruption charges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Billy Jamison was a Shreveport pharmacy representative who was killed in an armed robbery last week. Now, some of those closest to him are speaking out, including the shooting victims supervisor.

Jamison was the sole caretaker for his 88-year-old father and has 4 children, according to his GoFundMe.

Theres a thousand words that I could use to describe Billy, says former Walgreens supervisor Laura Ferguson, I mean he was extremely loyal, he was extremely giving, didnt have the word no I think in his body. He would help anybody, and actually hung around longer than he had to on most days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ferguson hired Jamison back in 2019, and he was one of the first people he brought on board. His former supervisor called him a mentor to others in the building.

Its been a struggle for everybody there. Were all morning this loss, personally. Its a personal tragedy, he said. We call each other family. Were a tight knit group of guys, and your work family plays quite a role in your life.

Violence no place in Shreveport, Walgreens shooting response from city council

He shared that hes been in contact with Jamisons family, and they are struggling with what do to next.

Ferguson said, If youve never experienced a death, but a tragic death, its kind of hard. But theyre coping, they are coping. Were just trying our best to help them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the ways he is trying to help is through raising money on GoFundMe for Jamisons 88-year-old father, who he was the sole caretaker.

That was Billys goal in life, was to take care of his father, said Ferguson. My goal is to make sure that Billys wishes with this GoFundMe account gets seen through, as far as I can see it through.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A former anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for attempted sex trafficking of a child.

Sadeq Ali Quraishi, 47, was convicted in October 2024 on one count of attempted child sex trafficking. Quraishi responded to an online advertisement in November 2022, during which time he was a practicing doctor at Tufts. The advertisement offered commercial sex with girls aged 12 and 14 years old.

Two Brockton men arrested in connection with Easton shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the online ads were created by undercover law enforcement as part of an undercover operation made to catch people seeking paid sex with children. Quraishi communicated via text with the undercover agents who posed as a sex trafficker, and he agreed to pay $250 for a sex act to be performed by the 14-year-old girl.

The charging documents state that Quraishi then withdrew cash from an ATM, and drove from his house in Boston to a Waltham hotel to meet with the alleged seller of the girls.

He met with the undercover agent and confirmed he had the money, and was given a keycard to the room he was told the child would be. Shortly afterward, Quraishi was arrested, and the cash found in his possession was exactly $250.

Quraishi has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you or anyone you know has been impacted by commercial sex trafficking, contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

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.
Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, speaks Tuesday at a press conference about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. With him are, from left, Sam Liebert of All Voting is Local and Nick Ramos of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

A former U.S. Capitol Police officer who survived the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack said Tuesday the insurrection must not be forgotten four years later  and candidates running for election now should face up to what happened then.

This attempt to whitewash, downplay, normalize what happened on Jan. 6 is ongoing and shows no signs of letting up, said Harry Dunn during a meeting with reporters in Madison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Criticizing Republicans who have urged Democrats and the public to move on from Jan. 6, Dunn said the attack met the definition of an insurrection  a violent uprising against the government. Full stop.

Thats what Jan. 6 was, he added. The police officers just happened to be in the way. But anybody that fails to accept that, acknowledge that for what that was, deserves to be called out, condemned.

Pro-democracy advocates arranged for Dunn to speak to the press in the state Capitol building and deliberately chose one particular meeting room on the third floor  300 South, the same room used by Republican fake electors in December 2020 who filled out false electoral votes choosing Donald Trump as the Wisconsin winner of an election that he lost.

The fake elector scheme was hatched in Wisconsin and launched from here to the rest of the United States, said Scott Thompson, a staff attorney for Law Forward, at Tuesdays press conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The nonprofit law firm sued Wisconsins fake electors and won a settlement in which they acknowledged in writing they had tried to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential elections results. The scheme culminated in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, Thompson said.

The events of Jan. 6, 2021, were not just an attack on a building or a single moment in time, but they were an attack on our collective voice as voters, said Sam Liebert, Wisconsin director of the voting rights group All Voting is Local Action. The insurrection was a brazen and egregious attempt to silence millions of Americans nationwide to overturn the results of a free and fair election through violence and intimidation.

Four years later in 2024 Trump won the U.S. popular vote, including a 30,000-vote majority in Wisconsin, returning him to the White House effective Jan. 20. There one of his first acts was to pardon more than 1,500 people charged in the Jan. 6 attack.

Dunns visit to Wisconsin focused on Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimels comments about the Jan. 6 defendants, including during a recent radio interview. Schimel is a Waukesha County circuit court judge and former Wisconsin attorney general.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a Jan. 2 appearance on the Vicki McKenna show, Schimel said that Jan. 6 defendants didnt have a fair shot when they were tried and blamed lawfare manipulation for the conviction of defendants in the attack.

Schimel suggested they would have been acquitted had they not been put on trial in overwhelmingly liberal Washington, D.C., and that the prosecutors appointed under the Democratic administration would never take their prosecution in a district where you had a fair shot as a defendant.

The federal government prosecuted the rioters in Washington because the city is where the U.S. Capitol is located.

Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, mentioned Schimels radio interview before introducing Dunn.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Four years ago, far-right mobs swarmed the Capitol, assaulted officers and tried to overturn the will of voters, said Ramos. Its pretty straightforward, and yet Schimel, our former attorney general, still thinks these people werent given a fair shot and their trials were political gamesmanship.

Dunn said hes taken an interest in Wisconsins Supreme Court race because of Schimels comments.

Ive been fighting for accountability from day one, Dunn said. He holds Donald Trump primarily responsible for the riot.

That accountability wont happen, he said. But he added that he also wants to hold accountable public officials who believe that Donald Trumps pardoning of these individuals was OK  including Schimel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know Brad Schimels positions on policy on anything else, except for that he is OK with supporting the rioters who attacked me and my coworkers, period, Dunn said. And that is not OK  and thats whats bringing me here.

During a news conference Monday featuring his endorsement by Wisconsin Republican members of Congress, Schimel accused prosecutors of overcharging some Jan. 6 defendants until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law under which they were charged didnt apply to them.

He also said that anyone who engaged in violence and Jan. 6, assaulted a police officer, resisted arrest, those people should have been prosecuted  and judges should impose sentences that are just under the circumstances.

Schimel also defended the presidents power to issue pardons: Its a power they have. I dont object to them utilizing that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dunn was asked Tuesday about Schimels comments.

If you believe that the individuals who attacked police officers should serve their sentence, then the only response to Donald Trumps pardons should be that theyre wrong, Dunn replied. He should not pardon them  and those words did not come out of [Schimels] mouth. So hes attempting to play both sides.

In an interview, Dunn said hes kept going despite disappointment at Trumps 2024 victory because I believe in doing whats right.

Thats what led him to become a police officer, he said, and after the Capitol attack, to mount an unsuccessful campaign for Congress. He also has a political action committee, raising funds to support political candidates who are pro-democracy, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dunn acknowledged that some who opposed the president have given up in despair while others have become embittered toward Trump voters.

Ive seen people say, You know what? This is what you all voted for. You get what you deserve, he said. There are a lot of people who did not vote for this, that are going to be impacted by the things that Donald Trump and this administration are going to do, and I believe they deserve somebody thats going to fight for them.

There will be elections this year, in 2026 and 2028, all opportunities for change, so I encourage people, Dunn said. And I think part of my work is to make sure people are educated before Election Day and not outraged after Election Day.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for his conviction for accepting bribes of gold bars, cash and a car and what his lawyers said made him a national punchline and earned him a new nickname: gold bar Bob.

U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan announced the sentence after Menendez tearfully addressed the judge, saying hed lost everything he cared about, except for his wife.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, the judge said. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison term for the Democrat who was convicted of multiple charges including acting as an agent for Egypt for selling his once-considerable clout in Washington for bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Given a chance to speak before he was sentenced, Menendez broke down several times as he described his accomplishments.

You really dont know the man you are about to sentence, Menendez told Stein as he stood before him with his hands in his pockets, except when he wiped his face with a tissue.

Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions, he added. Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney Adam Fee told Stein to give Menendez credit for a lifetime of extraordinary public service and personal sacrifices.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as gold bar Bob, Fee said.

Menendezs lawyers had said prior to the sentencing that their client deserves less than two years in prison, citing his decades of public service and a life largely well-lived after the son of Cuban immigrants rose from poverty to become the epitome of the American Dream.

But Fee said the defense team decided to ask that Menendez get no more than eight years after hearing Stein earlier in the day give substantial prison terms to two New Jersey businessmen convicted of paying bribes to the senator. Fred Daibes, a real estate developer, got seven years and a $1.75 million fine. Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, got eight years a $1.25 million fine and was ordered to forfeit $125,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prior to the announcement of his sentence, Daibes, 67, tearfully told Stein the jury verdict had left him borderline suicidal, and requested leniency so that he could care for his 30-year-old autistic son.

Hana told the judge, I am an innocent man.

I never bribed Senator Menendez or asked his office for influence.

The judge, though, said the jurys verdict was very, very substantial.

A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez at a trial last year.

Menendez resigned from the Senate after his conviction last year, though he lost much of his power in fall 2023 when the charges against him were revealed and he was forced to surrender his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial traced Menendezs dealings with Egyptian officials and his quest to aid three men who showered him with lucrative gifts found during a 2022 raid on the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home he shared with his wife, Nadine.

FBI agents who searched the house found $480,000, some of it stuffed inside boots and the pockets of clothing hung in the couples closets. They also seized gold bars worth an estimated $150,000.

Prosecutors said Menendez had put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes, including by serving Egypts interests as he worked to protect a meat certification monopoly Hana had established with the Egyptian government.

Among other things, Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said that for other bribes, Menendez attempted to persuade a federal prosecutor in New Jersey to go easy on Daibes, a politically influential real estate developer accused of bank fraud.

And at the trial, another businessman, Jose Uribe, testified that he helped Nadine Menendez get a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator sought to pressure state prosecutors to drop criminal probes of his associates.

Menendez has insisted that he is innocent of any crime, saying repeatedly that his interactions with Egyptian officials were normal for the head of the Foreign Relations Committee, and that he always put American interests first. He denied taking any bribes and said the gold bars belonged to his wife.

Nadine Menendez faces trial in March on many of the same charges as her husband after spending the last year battling breast cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendezs lawyers, in a presentence submission, said he had already suffered greatly.

Unsurprisingly, Senator Menendezs conviction has rendered him a national punchline and stripped him of every conceivable personal, professional, and financial benefit, his lawyers wrote. Bob is now 71, with his long-built reputation in tatters. He has suffered financial and professional ruin.

In court papers, the lawyers described how Menendez devoted much of his life to his country and his community after he was scarred by the early loss of his father, who killed himself when Menendez was 23 after he was unable to pay off gambling debts.

They described a 50-year history of public service in heroic terms, tracing a career in which Menendez was mayor of Union City, New Jersey, a state lawmaker, a member of the U.S. House and then a senator from 2006 to 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet he also had the distinction of being the only U.S. senator indicted twice.

In 2015, he was charged with selling his influence to a wealthy Florida eye doctor and entrepreneur who prosecutors said lavished him with luxury vacations and campaign contributions. But the jury in that case couldnt reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Melania, the wife of US President Donald Trump, tried to convey certain messages to the world with her official portrait in the White House. She felt confident and ready to work, as evidenced by the hidden symbols in the picture.

ADVERTISIMENT

Experts have analyzed the portrait of the US First Lady and concluded that she fully trusts the photographer Regine Mahaux, with whom she has been working for many years. Melania Trump was confident that her message would be conveyed by this person, the BBC reports.

For the photo, the wife of the US President posed in a suit from the Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, confidently spreading her arms on the table in the Yellow Oval Room. According to Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, Chair of the Department of Art History at the University of Pennsylvania, the choice of this location for the portrait was not accidental.

ADVERTISIMENT

Her pose in front of the Washington Monument is a symbol of power. The fingertips of the First Lady of the United States are firmly placed on the mirrored table. According to Shaw, in this way, Melania Trump demonstrates her readiness to get to work, fulfilling the unique role of defender of the disenfranchised. She also demonstrates that she has moved from the peripheral space of the family quarters to the room directly above the Oval Office, making her the mistress of the White House.

According to fashion columnist Ellie Violet Bramley, the portrait carries excessive seriousness, which contradicts the traditional role of the first lady.

Melania's costume and pose seem to be thought out to the smallest detail and exude a strength that breaks stereotypes about the traditional role of the first lady, which is to soften her husband's presidency in the eyes of the public.

ADVERTISIMENT

Experts also noted that the image of Trump's wife is more in line with the business style. While during her husband's first term in office, Melania behaved with restraint and spent time in New York or Mar-a-Lago, the photo in front of the Washington Monument clearly defines her place in the District of Columbia.

Experts also noticed that the softness and open-lipped smile shown in the new portrait in 2017 had disappeared. Now Melania was looking intently directly into the camera, thus creating direct contact with the viewer. Experts noted that the First Lady of the United States remains mysterious in her portrait, unlike her predecessors Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, who made openness their brand.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Fort Stewart, Ga. (WSAV)  While federal agencies conduct immigration raids in Georgia, soldiers from Fort Stewart are now on their way to the southern border.

About 200 soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company and the 530th Combat Engineer Company were deployed on Sunday, Jan. 26, to support border operations directed by President Donald Trump.

Their mission includes enhancing security measures, monitoring activity and working on the construction and repair of physical barriers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This deployment is part of a larger effort that includes about 1,500 active-duty troops joining the 2,500 service members already stationed at the border.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 29The co-founder of the National Trust for Local News, the nonprofit owner of Maine's largest network of newspapers and news websites, is stepping down as its top executive.

Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro co-founded the trust in 2021 and has served as chief executive officer since its inception. The first papers acquired by the trust were a suite of weeklies in Colorado, but Shapiro has overseen the nonprofit's expansion to two other states  Georgia and Maine  with the goal of helping preserve community journalism during a time of sharply declining advertising revenue.

"We have built something extraordinary together, demonstrating that a new model of stewardship is possible  one that honors both preservation and innovation while proving that local journalism remains vital to our communities," Hansen Shapiro said in a written statement. "I am deeply grateful to our team, partners and supporters who helped bring this vision to life and I look forward to continuing to support local journalism and championing its future in new ways."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Trust purchased the Portland Press Herald, Lewiston Sun Journal, Kennebec Journal in Augusta, Waterville Morning Sentinel, The Times Record in Brunswick and a dozen other weekly newspapers from former owner Reade Brower in the summer of 2023 for an undisclosed price. Brower had announced months earlier that he was putting the papers up for sale, but the trust didn't emerge as a buyer until late in the process, joining forces with a group of local donors that had mobilized to keep the papers from being purchased by a hedge fund or corporation.

The nonprofit organization is supported by foundational and philanthropic donations  more than $37 million has been raised during Hansen Shapiro's tenure  but has three state subsidiaries that operate under a traditional newspaper business model that relies mostly on advertising and subscription revenue, with some philanthropy. Since the sale, the Maine papers have been operated by a subsidiary, the Maine Trust for Local News, just as the national trust's papers in Colorado and Georgia are managed by state trusts.

Hansen Shapiro's departure is not expected to have any impact on news operations in Maine, according to Stefanie Manning, managing director of the Maine Trust for Local News.

"I feel really grateful to Elizabeth for the vision she's mapped out for us, but our work with the team at the national trust doesn't change," Manning said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Trust will embark on a nationwide search for a new chief executive officer. In the interim, the nonprofit will be led by an operating committee that includes Keith Mestrich, treasurer of the National Trust's board of directors, and Marc Hand, CEO of Public Media Venture Group who co-founded the Trust with Hansen Shapiro. She will stay on as a strategic adviser during that transition.

"Starting from just a big idea, Elizabeth has grown the National Trust into a $50 million enterprise with over 500 employees and 65 local newspapers across three states," Hand said in a written statement. "Recognizing that it's the right moment to transition to new leadership is further evidence of Elizabeth's extraordinary skills as a visionary and entrepreneur."

Prior to co-founding the National Trust, Shapiro was a research fellow at the Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.

Her 2023 salary was $370,000, according to the most recent tax filing. She earned $231,250 the previous year, before the purchase of the Maine newspaper group. Shapiro's salary and the operations of the National Trust, including acquisitions, are paid for with funds raised at the national level. Donations and other revenue raised by the state-level trusts are used to support their operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the National Trust purchased the Maine papers, there has been some local turnover in leadership, including the resignations of Press Herald executive editor Steve Greenlee last summer and Maine Trust publisher Lisa DeSisto last month. Both had been with the organization since 2012.

Manning took over for DeSisto, albeit with a different title. Carolyn Fox, previously managing editor of the Tampa Bay Times, was installed as executive editor of all the Maine Trust newspapers in October.

Manning said although the Maine Trust for Local News is fortunate to be owned by a nonprofit, it faces the same financial pressures as most news organizations. The focus, she said, is to continue growing digital subscriptions and pursing alternative sources of revenue.

"I feel a lot of gratitude to be in the position we're in to have a nonprofit owner that has a vision for what news looks like in the future," she said. "And we have a huge opportunity to help them prove this model."

This story will be updated.

Copy the Story Link
(WBRE/WYOU)  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced four people have been banned from Pennsylvania casinos for abandoning children to gamble.

Officials with the board say they placed, or denied the removal of four people from the casinos Involuntary Exclusion list for leaving minors unattended while gambling in a Pennsylvania casino.

26 banned from gaming in Pennsylvania casinos

According to the release, placed on the list were the following:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A man left a 12-year-old unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot at Live! Casino Philadelphia on two occasions on the same day for a total of 20 minutes while he gambled at the sportsbook. The patron also was cited for cheating.

A woman left a 12-year-old unattended in the bus lobby of Mount Airy Casino Resort for 26 minutes while she gambled on slot machines.

Officials say the following people were denied from being removed from their placement on the Involuntary Exclusion list:

A man in 2022, left five children, ages 2,4, 5, 11, and 13 unattended in a car in the parking lot of Presque Isle Downs & Casino for 35 minutes while he gambled at slot machines.

A woman who, in 2021, left her 14-month-old child unattended in a locked car in the parking lot of Valley Forge Resort Casino on multiple occasions the same day for a total of 11 minutes with temperatures of 88 degrees while she gambled in the sportsbook.

The board says denying gambling privileges serves as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended since it creates an unsafe environment for the children.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Fox News host Jesse Watters got all hot and bothered over an eyebrow-raising claim by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt that the Biden administration spent $50 million to provide condoms to the people of Gaza.

There was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza, Leavitt said earlier Tuesday during her first press briefing.

On the Jesse Watters Primetime show, the host expressed his own disbeliefbut that didnt stop him running with it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Condoms cost a couple of pennies when you buy them in bulk. At least according to heartthrob Stephen Miller, he said. Are we airdropping condoms? Is there a guy from the Red Cross stepping over rubble, handing out rubbers? And is safe sex really the top priority of Palestinians right now?

Watters suggested that Hamas probably doesnt use condoms and instead makes condom bombs that they inflate, strap explosives to, and float to Israel. Its a dual-use technology, he said, adding, Looks like a Hamas birthday party.

Watters wasnt the only one that accepted Leavitts claim that $50 million worth of condoms had been sent to Gaza, with even First Buddy Elon Musk weighing in.

Tip of the iceberg, he wrote in an X post attached to a video of Leavitts press briefing. He added: My guess is that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets Hamas, not actually condoms.

Tip of iceberg https://t.co/ixjtgut26G  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

Meanwhile, Andrew Miller, the former deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs under Bidens administration, refuted the claim, calling it outlandish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its possible that $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynecology and many other services, but definitely not condoms alone, he told The Times of Israel.

The paper reported that the U.S. Agency for International Developments spending on sexual health and contraceptives amounted to $60 million globally in the fiscal year of 2023not just in Gaza.
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Late last year, Florida Power and Light proposed a fourth solar energy facility during a Jackson County planning board meeting. Dozens of locals protested the project that would require clearing 1,049 acres of forest, wetland, and farmland in Graceville.

They ultimately turned down the application. FP&L had no power lines on the property on the land in Graceville and therefore had no connection to a power source.

On Tuesday night, FP&L held an open house to meet with residents. Almost two months ago, Florida Power and Light presented a solar energy center on land in Graceville. Residents expressed concerns over environmental impacts, health effects, safety issues, and overall lack of transparency from FP&L.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While many locals expressed they are not anti-solar, they dont feel like Graceville is the right fit.

In the end, the planning board told FP&L officials to resubmit the application when they could find a power source connection on the property. Some residents are concerned about where theyll find that connection.

Jimmy Patronis has been selected as the Republican nominee for Floridas 1st District Congressional seat

Resident Michael Davis is a 7th generation land owner.

We own a mile of property from this site to their transmission line. And I dont give up a mile of right away for a transmission line for a solar farm we dont want there in the first place, and I dont want that around my children and grandchildren, Davis said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dozens of residents attended Tuesday nights open house to find some answers.

FP&L officials are still optimistic over the potential project.

Solar energy centers like this one have many benefits. First of all, it provides local tax revenue for the county, which is important, and the county can use at their discretion for different services. Also, these solar sites create about 200 jobs at peak construction. So, it creates a boost to global economy. And this is a zero-emission source of energy thats good for the environment. And were excited to propose this project here, FP&L spokesperson Florencia Olivera said.

Residents say theyve seen the problems existing solar farms have caused, and hope county officials vote against it.

I just hope that the county votes for their citizens and planning and zoning, theyre good people. They know, understand Jackson County people. I look around this room and I dont see a single person here who supports this. And so we got good county commissioners and planning and zoning. And so I just hope and pray that it dont clear that hurdle, Davis said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The planning board is tentatively set to discuss the issue again on February 17th. Officials did not say how they are moving forward with the power source issue.

Many of the residents that attended the open house said they preferred more of a meeting-style format, so they could receive more unified answers. Still, they said they were thankful for the opportunity to speak face-to-face with 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 mypanhandle.com.
SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A woman who lived in South Deerfield was arrested on Monday in Washington, D.C. after police say he was threatening to kill some of Trumps cabinet members.

Riley Jane English, 24, allegedly drove from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., intending to kill top Republicans in the Trump Administration. Some of those officials include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, but English changed her target to recently-confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after reading an internet post about a confirmation hearing, according to police.

The Associated Press reports that English is from South Deerfield.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Armed Massachusetts man arrested at Capitol after threatening to kill Trump cabinet members, police say

22News was in Franklin County and some residents commented after hearing English was arrested in Washington, D.C. Monday.

I think its a scary world, said Todd Cromack of South Hadley. I think we have some problems coming down the pike.

Currently in politics, it seems like theres a lot of reactions with violence, added Linda Sharkey of Greenfield. I just think there are better ways for us to work these things out.

English was arrested at the Capitol after she told police she had knives and Molotov cocktails in her possession. She also told them she wanted to surrender. She was detained and searched by Capitol police. They say they found a folding knife, two firebombs, and a lighter, as well as materials for making a homemade explosive device in her car.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police allege her intentions in Washington included burning down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. According to the police report, all this was specifically to depose these political offices and send a message.

This story previously identified the defendant as Ryan Michael English, the name used in charging documents. In a memo Wednesday, Englishs attorney clarified that her client uses the name Riley Jane.

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.
Editors note: After this story was published, the White House rescinded a memo that froze federal grants and loans and created widespread confusion this week. Read our developing coverage here.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked part of the Trump administrations pause on federal grants and loans, just hours before it was set to take effect, as a slew of advocacy groups, charities, foreign aid and public health programs warned of its potential to upend American lives on an unprecedented scale.

US District Judge Loren L. AliKhans stay temporarily blocked part of Trumps plans, preventing the administration from pausing payments for open awards  those already granted by the federal government  through at least 5 p.m. ET Monday, February 3.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reactions to the freeze included a flurry of lawsuits, statements of concern from recipients of federal funds and warnings about what may be to come.

What is the funding freeze?

Hundreds of programs touching all corners of the US were placed under review, according to a document released by the Office of Management and Budget.

The White House later issued a memo appearing to limit the scope of the federal freeze, saying it only encompasses types of programs that may run counter to Trumps recent executive actions on immigration; foreign aid; climate and energy; gender identity; ending DEI initiatives and preventing federal funding for elective abortions.

Yet the planned freeze  which could later resume and trigger a potential showdown at the Supreme Court  has left many non-profit organizations and government agencies at local, state and federal levels in a state of flux.

What programs arent included in the freeze?

The initial order Monday said the pause would not affect Social Security, Medicare benefits, or assistance provided directly to individuals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But as confusion swept through organizations that rely on federal grants and loans for their operations, the administration had to further clarify the order.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Office of Management and Budget issued a Q&A saying the following also would not see funding pauses: mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps)  as well as funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs.

This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her first White House briefing.

But the confusion appeared to have an effect: For several hours on Tuesday, state Medicaid agencies were unable to access federal funds for the health insurance program that covers more than 72 million low-income Americans. During the afternoon, states started regaining access to the funding system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Association of Medicaid Directors confirmed Wednesday it had received word Medicaid would not be part of the federal funding freeze. NAMD has been notified that Medicaid is exempt from the federal payment pause, NAMD Executive Director Kate McEvoy said in a statement to CNN.

What are the impacts right now? Confusion reigns

Meals on Wheels programs, which rely on federal grants and serve more than 2 million senior citizens annually, were unclear about whether they would be impacted. Were still dealing with a lot of conflicting information. In short, 37% of Meals on Wheels funding comes from the Older Americans Act, which is a grant on the freeze list, Jenny Young, spokesperson for Meals on Wheels America, told CNN on Wednesday. Right now, were battling conflicting information as the White House has said Meals on Wheels would not be impacted.

Universities across the country are scrambling to figure out how a funding freeze could affect their research programs, students and faculty. Researchers at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, said they were told to stop work on grant-funded projects, according to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Scientists could miss deadlines to present and share their work if funding freezes go forward, said researcher Lorna Quandt, who has a grant application pending. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities on Tuesday called the administrations move unnecessary and damaging, saying that a federal funding freeze would sideline American scientists.

The National Science Foundation, which funds a wide range of scientific research through grants to universities and research institutions, has paused all of its grant review panels this week as it works to reconfigure its grant-making process in light of Trumps executive order, it said Tuesday.

The United States has a unique government-to-government obligation to Tribal Nations, said Native American Rights Fund Executive Director John Echohawk in a statement following Trumps announcement. Because of this unique relationship, Tribal Nations and Native people are especially and disproportionately affected by any federal actions like todays funding freeze. NARF Deputy Director Matthew Campbell said Wednesday that despite the additional guidance, many Tribes and Tribal orgs are not able to access or draw down their federal funds. This has an immense impact and we are investigating the matter.

Atlanta is impacted by the funding freeze, from affordable housing to salaries and public safety, Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement Tuesday before the district courts pause. Partner agencies were unable to access portals essential to conducting business, such as paying rent and operational costs, he said.

In Colorado, the states Community Health Network said a pause in federal funding could impact more than 857,000 Coloradans who rely on care. Community Health Centers had difficulty accessing the system used to access grant money Tuesday, spokesperson Grace Trautman said, but those who were able to make requests did receive their funds Wednesday.

Gian-Carl Casa, president of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, told the CT Mirror that taking away federal funding will cut a hole in the already-frayed safety net, through which tens of thousands of people who depend on nonprofit programs here will fall.  To implement this kind of order without regard for the impact on living, breathing people is beyond comprehension.

Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the National Head Start Association, which serves nearly 800,000 low-income children from birth to age 5 and their families, told CNN that some Head Start programs were unable to access Payment Management Services  the federal system used to draw grant money  which could have forced some to close their doors as early as Wednesday. While Head Start programs are now able to access their federal funding, the association believes the brief glitch is connected to the administrations freeze order, Sheridan said.

Impacts facing overseas humanitarian aid

The uncertainty facing the freeze is not limited to within the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday added more exemptions to humanitarian programs that would otherwise be cut by the freeze on almost all US-funded foreign assistance.

In a waiver obtained by CNN, Rubio agreed this week to keep spending on humanitarian programs that provided life-saving medicine, medical services, food shelter and subsistence assistance, leaving out programs that involve abortions, family planning and transgender surgeries.

The move has caused more confusion among the humanitarian community  many of whom are at risk of layoffs and program shutdowns from the initial directive. The groups say they have not been informed or received guidance on the waiver.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though it has only been a few days, implications have already been catastrophic for those in Gaza and Ukraine, humanitarian officials told CNN. One predicted that if the suspension continued for two more weeks, thousands could die.

And the freeze, if continued, could cause a number of organizations doing humanitarian work to close permanently, as they are not receiving the funding to keep paying their employees.

Is the funding freeze legal?

The freeze of federal grants and loans is queuing up a Supreme Court showdown over the Constitution.

Theres every reason to think that, unless this memo is quickly rescinded, the litigation it is going to provoke will get to the Supreme Court in one big hurry, Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, said Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some non-profit groups, including the National Council of Nonprofits, filed suit in federal court in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. That led to the federal judges temporary, partial block of the plans to freeze aid.

From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to halting food assistance, safety from domestic violence, and closing suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives. This order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need, said Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.

At least 22 states, including New York and California, in addition to Washington, DC, have also sued.

CNNs Jennifer Hansler, Tami Luhby, Andy Rose and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Jan. 29FROSTBURG  Arson charges have been filed against a Frostburg area woman who reportedly set fire to her estranged boyfriend's house at 11205 Upper Georges Creek Road last October, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

Heather Lynn Hutcheson, 43, was jailed without bond Tuesday when she was arrested on a bench warrant issued on the indictment that charged her with first-degree arson, an offense that upon conviction carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and a fine of up to $50,000.

No injuries were reported in the Oct. 13 fire that investigators quickly determined was arson after finding several areas of the residence had been set on fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The three-month investigation determined that Hutcheson had been present on the property prior to the 1:15 p.m. fire that was discovered by a passerby and took Shaft Volunteer Fire Department and nearby companies 10 minutes to control.

The indictment by an Allegany County grand jury was returned Jan. 16 leading to Hutcheson's arrest.

Hutcheson was scheduled for a bond hearing Wednesday in circuit court.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Its Identity Theft Awareness Week and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says identity theft can happen to anyone and can take many forms.

The agency and its partners are hosting free webinars and other events to talk about how to spot, avoid, report, and recover from identity theft.

The FTC says you can protect your identity by keeping all of your personal information in a safe place, and then shredding documents before disposing of them. They also say never give out that personal information over the phone or online. Also, have a strong password for all of your online accounts and be wary of links sent to your email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Terri Miller with the Federal Trade Commission told 22News, You click the link, you go to the website, thinking its a real business website, but its a scam site. The information that you input to purchase an item might just be handing over that financial and personal information to a scammer.

On Thursday, January 30th at noon, the FTC and Social Security Administration will hold a webinar to discuss understanding and avoiding identity theft.

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.
Tired of the February doldrums and looking for a change of pace? If you can travel, these would be the peak festivals to visit around the country.

Arizona Renaissance Festival

Feb. 1 - March 30

The first ren faire of the year based just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, offers a respite from the cold for many across the country. And it shows, as many people travel to this festival for one of the many unique theme weekends happening during the 9-weekend run  including royalty, pirates, time travelers and Vikings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Activities are spread across 16 stages, with the Village Marketplace offering 200 artisans showcasing their wares, while at least 18 food spots feed guests with classic dishes like turkey legs and meat pies to more contemporary items.

Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Feb. 2

Whether you are a fan of the movie, the rodent or inaccurate meteorology, everyone enjoys this ridiculous American tradition, based on ridiculous German tradition.

This year, you can join the tens of thousands who flock to western Pennsylvania to find out if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow and usher in six more weeks of winter. But there is a full festival schedule, including the Groundhog Ball, pancake and sausage breakfasts, live music, authentic foods and more.

Daytona 500

Feb. 16

Known as the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 starts the NASCAR season with a 500-mile race.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Located in Daytona, Florida, the prestigious event itself is already sold out, but there are numerous events at the speedway and in the city of Daytona throughout the week, including other races, concerts and experiences.

While rain delays are always a concern, there are plenty of indoor festivities as well.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SoBeWFF)

Feb. 20-23

Like most Miami events, this is part concert, part art festival and part celebrity whos who.

Running four days and nights with over 105 events across Miami-Dade County, and featuring celebrity chefs like Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray and Andrew Zimmern to name a few, SoBeWFF is one of the biggest events of the year in a city that hosts a lot of big events.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When you factor in Miamis February average low of 68 degrees, you can see why it is so popular. Bring cool clothes  in all senses of the meaning.

SF Beer Week

Feb. 21-March 2

Calling all hop heads and brew bros: San Francisco Beer Week  which technically runs longer than a week  features local favorites, California classics and national names.

Breweries, bars and aficionados will meet across the Bay to sample new brews, enjoy theme nights or hunt for the legendary triple IPA, Pliny the Younger. While sometimes rainy, and definitely on the colder side, the crowds and drafts will help keep you warm  as will a burrito or Mission Dog. Dont forget to tip your servers!
Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo answers reporters' questions following her installment as Florida Senate president on Nov. 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)

Will philanthropic lawmakers try to help pay Dreamers tuition?

The Florida Legislature passed an anti-immigration crackdown Tuesday night that would repeal a waiver allowing undocumented students pay in-state tuition rates for state colleges and universities, but one lawmaker is seizing on a colleagues comment that philanthropy could help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During debate on the bill in the Senate, Naples-area Republican Kathleen Passidomo said that while she was supporting the bill, she had heard from other lawmakers that they would also support it if it didnt repeal the in-state tuition waiver.

So, she said, she offered a challenge: Support the bill and then privately help Dreamers  brought to this country without documentation as children  with their tuition payments.

Im going to vote for this bill wholeheartedly, and then Im going to go and Im going to find a charity that I can write a check to, Passidomo said.

And then Im going to find a kid whos going to lose their tuition, and Im going to pay for it. And thats how we do it, through philanthropy. We dont need to have taxpayer dollars pay for these kids. They shouldnt, because theyre here illegally, and they are taking places of other kids. So thats my challenge to you all, who said, if we didnt have this provision, youd vote for the bill. Vote for the bill and then join me and other philanthropic people, and lets sponsor some kids to finish their education.

Anna Eskamani via Florida House

Orlando area House Democrat Anna Eskamani said she heard that comment loud and clear and would like to start a mutual aid fund of some sort to encourage others to help pay for the difference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 6,500 Florida students without documentation who received an out-of-state fee waiver paid $26.7 million for their postsecondary tuition. Without the fee waiver, they would have had to pay an additional $40 million, according to the Florida Policy Institute.

We need to help them

If this is going to be the reality, we have thousands of students who are no longer going to be able to afford their tuition because of people in this chamber, Eskamani said. Lets start a nonprofit.  If this bill ultimately passes in some shape or form, Im really worried about these kids, and we need to help them.

Although Gov. Ron DeSantis has savaged the bill passed by GOP lawmakers as being weak and says he will veto it, he has insisted that repealing in-state tuition for undocumented students is a priority. It was one of the proposals he suggested the Legislature approve leading into this weeks special session.

Passidomo was one of 21 Republicans in the state Senate to support the Legislatures bill, which passed 21-16 in that chamber. Six other Republicans rejected it. In the House, the measure passed 82-30.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Education programs across the country were plunged into uncertainty and chaos Tuesday after the Trump administration announced a federal spending freeze and government officials tried to soften the blow of a directive that started paralyzing agency functions.

Before a judge intervened later on Tuesday, Head Start providers were temporarily locked out of essential digital systems. Colleges and universities worried about the status of research grants and funding for minority-serving institutions. And lobbyists warned a lack of clarity could extend well beyond a Feb. 10 deadline for agencies to submit detailed information to the Office of Management and Budget about programs affected by the spending hold.

One thing Im trying to stress to people is that this is not necessarily a two-week funding pause, this is an indefinite funding pause, said Sarah Abernathy, a veteran education funding advocate who has worked in roles at the Education Department and the Democratic staff of the House Budget Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This could potentially be months of funding illegally being withheld contrary to the laws that authorized or appropriated that funding, said Abernathy, the executive director of the Committee for Education Funding. Theres real-world implications that were going to see, and theres also the panic thats causing those real-world implications.

Head Start programs, which provide early education to children from low-income families, were initially unable to access their payment management system on Tuesday, with some providers getting 504 gateway timeout messages when they attempted to log in. Some providers regained access later in the afternoon after White House officials clarified that Head Start grants arent supposed to be affected by the freeze, but the initial block caused widespread uncertainty for program directors.

Some 800,000 children receive early education and health services through the program, with grant dollars doled out by the Department of Health and Human Services, for their operations and educator salaries.

This is funding that communities are expecting and this memo is creating chaos and confusion about whether these resources will be available to them. Entire budgets and payrolls across the country are carefully hinging on these resources, Sen. Patty Murray, the top Senate Appropriations Committee Democrat, told reporters Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts, our universities and a lot more. Will local Head Start facilities get their funding? the Washington Democrat added.

Education Department officials on Tuesday said federal aid for low-income students and special education were not targeted by the Trump administration's orders. Even though student loan and Pell Grant monies are dispensed to schools, the agency said those programs and other forms of financial assistance to individuals would also not be affected by the aid freeze that was set to take effect Tuesday afternoon. OMB further stressed that benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were also spared.

Still, department officials said the funding pause would apply to the agency's enormous array of discretionary grants that doles out money for everything from foreign language instruction to HBCUs. The White House budget office further instructed agencies to submit detailed information about thousands of programs that have funding or activities planned through mid-March  including department programs for migrant students, research, and charter schools.

If you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday. However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. That is something that President Trump campaigned on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Science Foundation canceled dozens of review panels for research grant applications. Applications are no longer being accepted for federal grants across all agencies, and even researchers and institutions who have already been awarded a grant are seeing their disbursements held up. And while higher education advocates dont expect the funds to be clawed back, theyre worried about how the stoppage will affect research long term.

Even a temporary stoppage of critical scientific research is a self-defeating, unforced error, Association of American Universities President Barbara Snyder said in a statement. The president has said many times that he wants to make America great. Disrupting scientific advances would undermine his goal.

Higher education leaders said they are expecting more guidance from the Education Department on how programs are affected. But theyre also concerned about a lack of coordination across agencies that fund thousands of programs and that the administration hasnt been clear about the criteria it will use to scrutinize programs their institutions and students rely on.

We do not have at this point clear guidance from all of those agencies as to all those programs, said Jon Fansmith, senior vice president for government relations at the American Council on Education, which represents more than 1,600 colleges. What is abundantly clear is that this was not released in coordination across multiple agencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a note to its members, the National College Attainment Network, which advocates for making post-secondary education accessible, called the memo illegal and extremely far-reaching. The organization said that it could not confirm if campus-based programs, including Federal Work-Study, and student support programs such as TRIO, GEAR UP, AmeriCorps, or the Postsecondary Student Success Grant would be affected by the guidance.

Although Education Department officials said Title IV, the part of the law that authorizes federal student financial aid programs, wont be affected, some student debt relief advocates are skeptical.

The statement they put out made it seem they would restrict payments made to schools  whether those payments were to pay for construction of new buildings or to be passed through to students to pay for college through Pell grants and student loans, said Mike Pierce, executive director of Student Borrower Protection Center. They need to offer specifics about why some payments are covered and why some are not.

He also said lawmakers should thoroughly question Linda McMahon, Trumps nominee for Education secretary, during her confirmation hearing on how she would enforce the memo.

Linda McMahon needs to have an opinion on this, whether these are orders she would follow and actions she thinks are legal, he said. It certainly seems like one of the highest consequence decisions that's going to be left up to the secretary in the next administration is whether to follow these kinds of orders in a way that's narrow or broad.
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Confusion in North Carolinas healthcare community seemed widespread Tuesday after President Trumps executive order put a pause on federal grants and aid programs. Administration officials said they wanted to ensure all federal spending aligned with the Presidents priorities.

While a federal judge has since put the spending freeze on hold until Monday, it wasnt clear if programs like Medicaid, health insurance for low-income Americans, would be included. For part of the day on Tuesday, North Carolina hospitals were unable to access a Medicaid payment platform, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

For a period of time today, NC Medicaid was not able to access the Payment Management Services portal but is now able to get into the system, a spokesperson told Queen City News.

MORE | Charlotte organizations, colleges have questions over Trumps freeze on federal grants

The White House later clarified Medicaid funding would not be paused, but the same cannot be said for medical research. Officials with Duke University School of Medicine said they received more than half a billion dollars in grant money in 2023, Any interruption of federal allocations would have an enormous impact not only on the Duke University School of Medicine but to the Triangle and state of North Carolina at large.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charlotte Democratic Congresswoman Alma Adams said whether that judges temporary block holds, the White House overstepped.

You cant legislate from the White House, thats one thing hes trying to legislate and a matter of fact, thats not the presidents role, said Adams.

American Airlines worker fatally struck by aircraft tug at Charlotte airport

When pressed by reporters at the US Capitol, North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he was still reviewing what was actually included in the pause.

I dont know, I simplyyou all have read the memo, I havent, Im just saying I can think of some things that shouldnt be within the scope but well see if it is, said Tillis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same judge who issued the temporary block on the funding freeze will have another hearing next Monday to decide whether to extend that hold.

QCNEWS.COM

POLITICS 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 Queen City News.
Speakers at a public hearing in Frederick County Council District 3 on Monday said funding for the Deaf community, senior services and public schools should be prioritized in the budget for fiscal year 2026.

The meeting at Waverley Elementary School was the fourth in County Executive Jessica Fitzwaters countywide budget listening tour. The fifth meeting, in Council District 1, will be on Thursday at the Middletown Branch Library.

Council Member M.C. Keegan-Ayer (D-District 3) and at-large Democratic Council Members Brad Young and Renee Knapp, were also at Mondays meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two members of the countys Senior Services Advisory Board, Sally Livingston and Mary Ann Foltz, urged officials on Monday to include money in the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Division of Aging and Independence.

Livingston said that, while funding for public schools is an important topic in budget discussions, so, too, is funding for seniors  who make up 22% of Frederick Countys population and require support to age in place.

She said the Division of Aging and Independence needed funding for several initiatives, including a specialist to staff the new Service Coordination for Seniors program and the outfitting of a mobile outreach vehicle to better serve seniors in rural parts of the county.

Foltz said the county needed to start planning now for a senior population that is expected to keep growing. She said that, unlike younger people, many seniors dont have the ability to take a second job if their monthly income isnt enough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Linda Stoltz, president of the new Maryland Deaf Community Center near the intersection of North East and Eighth streets in Frederick, said the center is currently led by an all-volunteer board.

Once it opens to the public, Stoltz explained, the center will need paid staff members to operate programs such as fitness classes and American Sign Language instruction for Deaf and hearing people alike.

Marsha Flowers, a member of the Maryland Deaf Community Center board, urged county officials to make sure there was enough money in the budget for interpreting services at public meetings and in hospital settings.

Several people at Mondays meeting also spoke in favor of funding for Frederick County Public Schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emily Fairbrother, an English teacher at Brunswick High School, brought to the meeting a textbook she said was published long before any of her students were born.

We need to do better for our students, Fairbrother said. Fully funding the education budget to enable the purchase and implementation of our selected, vetted textbook series will enable us as English teachers in the county to teach our students with materials created during this millennium.

John Deni, the president of the Frederick High School Parent Teacher Student Association, said the organization is concerned with the faculty-to-student ratio at Frederick High and other schools across the county.

Deni said there are fewer course offerings, worse academic outcomes and less individualized attention for students as a result of the increased class sizes that resulted from last years budget crunch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the county charter, Fitzwater (D) must submit her proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the County Council by April 15.

The council will then have until May 31 to adopt the budget with any desired amendments.

If a majority of the council does not reach a consensus by that date, the budget will take effect as proposed by Fitzwater.
A man has pleaded guilty to the attempted enticement of a minor to commit sexual acts.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

According to court documents, the man, Alberto Christian Quiroz, was an employee of a care agency contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

On July 26-27, 2024, Quiroz had used an online messaging system to communicate with whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but in fact was an undercover detective. Quiroz had arranged to meet with the detective at a restaurant in Ocala, where agents arrived and arrested him on the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. Click HERE to learn more about the project.

Quiroz faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.

[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.
A Gary man convicted in a gun case last year is arguing the verdict was compromised by jury misconduct.

Lironte Biggs, 30, is serving an 8-year sentence after he was convicted in April of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. He was sentenced May 30.

However, in a jury questionnaire, a man confessed he felt pressured to convict so they could go home.

One juror mentioned that he looked up the defendant on mycase.in.gov (the states court website) and (Biggs) wasnt a good person, the man wrote. That alone got everyone to decide one way, but ignored the case at hand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I changed my vote due to everyones feelings, he added. They totally ignored what we were there for, and that was to strictly focus on this one case. I felt this individual didnt get a fair trial, due to lack of evidence.

Biggs filed a motion to correct error on June 27  i.e. a legal motion noting there were mistakes big enough at trial for the verdict to be set aside.

Judge Natalie Bokota ruled he didnt file his motion in time  usually in a 30-day timeframe.

However, in a 3-0 decision on Dec. 16, Indiana Appeals Judge Elaine Brown wrote Biggs did meet the deadline and returned the case to Bokotas court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham and defense lawyers Susan Severtson and Mark Bates have indicated they want to subpoena jurors. The next hearing is Feb. 28.

Police wrote they pulled a car over on Oct. 26, 2023 near 24th Avenue after the driver was caught speeding on Broadway Avenue in Gary. Three men were in the car; Biggs was in the backseat holding a Mikes Hard Lemonade.

After all three got out, cops found a 9-mm gun under the back seat. Police said Biggs was the only man near the gun. At first, he told cops he didnt know the gun was in the car, then later said it wasnt his and the other passenger put it back there.

He claimed he was in the front seat, but cops noted their body cam footage showed him in the backseat.

Biggs, at 16, was charged in 2011 with molesting a 6-year-old boy. He was sentenced to six years in 2013.

mcolias@post-trib.com
About four months after the citys first update, Gary officials announced they have arrested and charged someone in the death of Kia Tidwell.

Tedric Guy, 20, is charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, criminal recklessness and four sentencing enhancements. If convicted on all charges, Guy faces life in prison.

Guy had his initial hearing with Magistrate Mark Watson Wednesday morning in Lake Superior Court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton at a Tuesday news conference said he hopes the arrest gives the family some closure.

We continue to seek justice for the Tidwell family, Melton said. We may have solved this case to a certain extent today, but theres still work that prosecutors and everyone involved need to do.

The city previously hosted a press conference on Sept. 9 asking for the communitys help to find suspects.

Tidwell was fatally shot on Sept. 6 near 5th Avenue and Grant Street in Gary. Tidwell, 42, died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Lake County Prosecutors Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At about 8:03 p.m. police were called to the McDonalds on Grant Street, according to Post-Tribune archives. While officers were speaking with management at the scene, they saw people across the street and heard gunshots, causing them to take cover.

Recently unsealed charging documents allege Guy was targeting three men in an orange Dodge Charger in the 5th Avenue McDonalds drive-thru. Instead, he shot Tidwell once in the head as she drove by.

Gary Police responded after someone called 911, then hung up.

Someone is going to get shot, a witness told cops they overheard, before gunfire erupted.

Tidwells red Volkswagen SUV crashed into a tree. The drivers door was shot up and the window was shattered. Officers found 15 9-mm casings near the apartment across the street on the 1500 block of W. 5th Avenue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Security video from 8:18 p.m. showed muzzle flashes toward the Charger. Its driver got out and returned fire. Two male passengers got out and ran. Cops found the vehicle  which was still in the drive-thru  abandoned.

Two passengers later admitted they were in the Charger, but declined to say why someone would want to shoot at them, or who the shooter was. Police couldnt find the driver, but learned he fled the jurisdiction.

Several anonymous tips led to Guy.

Gary Police found a July 30 criminal recklessness report from the apartment complex across the street. His relative told cops Guy got angry after they got into an argument and left with his girlfriend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well, if I cant stay here, then you wont be able to either, Guy said.

He went to the back of the complex and started firing his Glock 17 handgun, in a bid to get the relatives kicked out of the complex out of spite, police wrote. It was a busy area and he could have shot someone then, Lake County Prosecutors Homicide Task Force Det. Roger Escutia wrote.

By late September, Guy had moved out.

Investigators later sent the casings from both incidents to a state police lab. They matched. Cell phone location data put Guys phone in the area an hour before the shooting.

Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said the publics tips helped investigators make progress. Cannon declined to say whether Guy was one of the polices original suspects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im very proud of how we worked together as a team, and I want to make sure that we include the community in that team, Cannon said.

The city worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago division. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jason Gore said ATF and the Gary Police Department have worked together for about 20 years.

ATF helps the police department through crime gun intelligence and holistic data, including investigating cartridge cases, firearms tracing, and looking at phone, license plate and surveillance data.

Gore believes the citys collaboration with ATF helps decrease violent crime throughout Gary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although no investigation can turn back the hands of time, a pragmatic, systemic, strategic process for investigations of violent crime can reassure the citizens of Gary that there will be fewer victims of gun crime, he said. The rates of violent crime in the city of Gary are coming down. My promise is to make sure that this partnership  persists for decades to come.

Garys homicides decreased in 2024, but the deaths still topped Lake County, according to numbers from the coroners office.

Kia Tidwells mother, Charlotte Tidwell, said it was a bittersweet moment for her to learn Guy had been arrested. Charlotte Tidwell said Gary needs more police to ensure that this doesnt happen to another family.

I dont want to be a forgotten city, Charlotte Tidwell said. People are here, and Im praying for them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also thanked everyone who had been involved in the investigation, including Cannon and Melton.

James Tidwell, Kia Tidwells father, also spoke at Tuesdays press conference.

The shooting happened not long after his daughter left his house, James Tidwell said. He added that hes concerned about gun violence throughout the city and is urging for help.

When my children were little, I was their protector, he said. But, in this case right here, I couldnt protect my daughter because I didnt know this was going to happen.

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

mcolias@post-trib.com
Claire Partain is a Houston ISD reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering student achievement. She can be reached at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

She got her start as sports editor at Texas State University (go Cats!) before covering professional soccer team Austin FC and other Austin news at digital startup Austonia.

Claire has also freelanced with her hometown paper, appearing in the Fairfield Recorder, Teague Chronicle and Corsicana Daily Sun.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai emphasized the governments commitment to supporting the Macanese community during a reception earlier this week. He highlighted their vital contributions across various sectors, including education, social services, and culture.

In his address, Sam underscored the importance of the Macanese community in enhancing Macaus position as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He stated that the communitys participation is essential for the citys ongoing development, particularly as it navigates economic diversification and social inclusion.

Todays Macau enjoys social stability and sound economic momentum, Sam said, attributing this progress to the efforts and contributions of the local community. He recognized the Macanese communitys integral role in fostering a multicultural society where residents can thrive.

The Chief Executive also referenced President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Macau, during which the president acknowledged the communitys contributions to the regions prosperity. Sam reiterated Xis call for continued collaborative efforts to elevate Macaus development.

Macau has seen a robust economic recovery, with celebratory events marking its achievements over recent years. Notably, over 1,000 members of the Macanese diaspora returned for the 8th Macanese Community Gathering in December, showcasing the communitys unique attributes.

Looking ahead, Sam outlined the sixth-term governments administrative philosophy of Striving Together, Upholding Integrity and Innovation. He emphasized the need for a collective approach to realize visions for a Law-based Macau, a Vibrant Macau, a Cultural Macau, and a Blissful Macau.

The Chief Executive expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Macanese community to safeguard and enhance Macaus legacy, ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come. Victoria Chan
When Inas Al-Batniji finally returned to her longed-for Gaza City this week, she was amazed to find her residential tower block still standing.

Situated close to the sea in the territorys pulverised north, the building seemed to be the only one intact after 15 months of brutal war between Israel and Hamas following the October 7 massacre.

The prospect  miraculous, given the circumstances  of a night in her own bed after such a long and draining period of displacement was tantalisingly close.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, as ever in this convoluted conflict, the reality was not what it seemed.

Unfortunately, I arrived at the tower, there was very great damage and the stairs were destroyed, the 49-year-old told The Telegraph.

We searched for a long time for a way to get into the apartment, but we couldnt.

Many parts of the southern city of Rafah have been flattened - AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra

Inas is one of an estimated 700,000 Palestinians to have fled northern Gaza since it became the centre of Israels bloody operation to eliminate the terror group.

Now, under the fragile but, so far, operational ceasefire deal, they are flooding back.

By and large, they have returned to a wasteland  up to 70 per cent of all buildings in Gaza have been destroyed since October 2023, the UN believes, with the damage disproportionately worse in the north.

We did not find a standing house in the north, said Islam Al-Attar, 30, from Beit Lahia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 30-year-old had walked for 10 miles to return home after months of wretched hand-to-mouth existence in various locations in the south, with those in his party afflicted by disease after disease, including hepatitis.

We carried our tent with us because we know that the army also bulldozed our lands, he said. But we returned to them because we cannot stay away from them.

Whatever the truth of the claim about Israels bulldozers, Islams final comment encapsulates the overwhelming spirit of those returning to Gazas north: an unbreakable feeling of connection to the land, however impossible the living conditions have become.

Returning residents must now face up to the rebuilding work ahead - Reuters/Mahmoud Issa

Sabreen Lushin, 50, was another returning resident of Gaza City this week, having been displaced more than 15 times in the south.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I arrived at my house and found it badly damaged, but I will set up a tent here, she said. I will live in a room of rubble and will not leave the north.

It is a sentiment Donald Trump appears not to have taken on board, on the evidence of his comments about the future of the strip this week.

Referring to Gaza as a demolition site  a description with which Sabreen and Inas would surely agree  the president added: Youre talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out the whole thing, referring to the potential for mass removals to Egypt and Jordan, an idea publicly rejected by both countries.

Many residents displaced to the south of the strip by fighting are now returning home - Reuters/Hatem Khaled

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But if, as looks certain, the surviving residents of northern Gaza are determined to restart their lives there, how exactly are they to live?

There is virtually no electricity or running water.

Properties  or rather the remains of properties  nearer to the coast have become swamped by drifting sand.

Pictures have poured onto social media of families returning to half a living room or bedroom, the other half a gaping void, the shell of the concrete building long since collapsed to dust.

Credit: Instagram / @anasfahjan

As in Sabreens case, a tent in the rubble is as good as life is going to get for many people for a good while to come.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, such is the scale of demand, even such a basic commodity as a tent is in short supply.

The UN says it is now able to bring in 20,000 that had been stuck on the border since August, but Gazas Hamas-run Government Media Office recently put out an urgent appeal for 135,000 tents and caravans.

It is thought that not anywhere near that number of tents exists in the world for humanitarian use, let alone ready to pour into Gaza.

They are particularly important in areas like Jabalia, to the north of Gaza City, which has been entirely flattened.

Reconstruction to take years

Experts estimate there is now 42 million tonnes of rubble that needs removing from the territory, part of a reconstruction effort which would cost more than $80 billion, depending on which international players have the stomach for it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And all this at a time when UNRWA, the principal UN body for the Palestinian territories, is facing a ban from Israel.

Technically, Gazas reconstruction takes place as part of stage three of the deal, which can only begin after a permanent ceasefire is established, all remaining hostages are returned and the complete withdrawal of the IDF has taken place.

The details are not clear, but Antony Blinken, the former US secretary of state, set out his vision earlier this month when he spoke of the Palestinian Authority inviting international partners to stand up a temporary government in Gaza, with Arab states contributing soldiers to provide security in the short term.

If trust and goodwill are fostered, the beginnings of such a vision could start within weeks, but no one is suggesting the reconstruction of Gaza will take anything less than many years.

Jabalia lies in ruins. The reconstruction work ahead will take years - Reuters/Mahmoud Al-Basos

In the meantime, having been cut off from outside journalists by Israeli decree since October 2023, the desperate destruction in Gaza is, since Mondays returns, increasingly visible to the rest of the world, a development no doubt welcomed by the Hamas publicity machine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, although the majority of munitions discharged in the territory have been Israeli, it is lazy and wrong to write off the destruction as the result of IDF action alone.

With the luxury of years of preparation, Hamas made a point of drawing their adversary as deep into their urban landscape as possible, luring tanks into narrower streets where they could be ambushed, or troops into buildings which had been rigged with IEDS, in some cases hidden in childrens toys.

More than one military analyst has likened the urban warfare to Stalingrad in its difficulty.

Gazas narrow streets were home to urban warfare - Reuters/Mahmoud Al-Basos

The terror group will now be aware that, following the substantive withdrawal of Israeli troops under the ceasefire deal, the world is watching to see how they administer Gaza in the temporary vacuum that has followed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israels failure to eliminate Hamas completely  one of Benjamin Netanyahus explicit war aims  has, to the horror of many Israelis, now opened the possibility that they could stay on in some role.

Early reports suggest they are taking this seriously, chasing down thieves and deterring the gangs of armed bandits that have, in particular, hampered the distribution of aid.

Issa, 35, from Khan Yunis in the south of Gaza, said: Since the cessation of hostilities we have been living in security.

There are no high prices  merchants have become afraid of the police and do not raise prices. Theft gangs have stopped confronting aid and goods trucks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Yasser, a 60-year-old from the town of Beit Hanoun in the north, recounted how last July a thief pulled a knife on him while trying to steal a solar panel from his tent, causing him to faint.

Would this person have dared to do that before the war? Of course not, he said.

Adding to the complex security situation is, now, the reported presence of US and Egyptian security contractors.

This week, witnesses have reported them screening vehicles for weapons at checkpoints on the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts across the middle of the strip, after the IDF withdrew.

Reportedly in Gaza at the behest of a multinational consortium, they are said to include a company called Safe Reach solutions, and another under the even more opaque name of UG Solutions.

How these groups might interact with Hamas long-term is anyones guess.

But even the suggestion of US boots on Gazan soil, albeit commercial, not governmental, is potentially sensitive given Mr Trumps recent comments.

Adding to the fragile nature of the situation, Israeli troops are never far away, now stationed mainly on the newly created buffer zone and in the Philadelphi corridor, at the strips southern edge.

Reports on Tuesday of soldiers firing at Gazan civilians who, it was said, approached too close, illustrate the strips tinderbox potential.

Although grateful for any improvement in security, many Gazans are distinctly uneasy about a long-term future under Hamas.

A Hamas fighter looks on in the Gaza Strip. What role the terrorist group will continue to play is uncertain - AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana

I do not want it to remain in power, said Salwa, 50, from Gaza City.

We do not want more wars. I know that the people working in the Hamas government are very good, but its presence as a movement that does not have international acceptance always leaves us in wars and problems.

Maram, a 43-year-old from Rafah, largely agrees, although  pointing to the West Bank, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli actions since Oct 7  he cautions against blaming Hamas for all Gazas ills.

Instead, he looks outwards. I want to ask Trump to maintain the ceasefire and help rebuild Gaza instead of thinking about displacing us, he said.

We want a safe future without wars and I do not want any political organisations to rule Gaza. We want independent groups that understand what we need for peace on our land.

Whatever the new occupant of the White House is planning for this narrow piece of land in the Middle East, he may do well to bear in mind the mood of its inhabitants before making any big decisions.

As Sabreen Lushin said: I will not agree to leave my house again, even if they put a bullet in my head and kill me. I cannot bear a new displacement.

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.
LINCOLNTON, Ga. (WJBF)  Lincoln County District 3 Commissioner Hartwell Cooper Cliatt has been arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations on two counts of Child Molestation.

According to a press release from the GBI, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office asked the GBI to investigate an allegation of child molestation against Cliatt back on May 22, 2024.

According to the grand jury indictment, the alleged incident happened between December 26th and 28th, 2021.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, Cliatt was indicted by a Lincoln County Grand Jury on two counts of child molestation. Cliatt turned himself in to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.

Cliatt was released on a $50,000.00 bond.

Those with information are encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Thomson at 706-595-2575. Tips can be submitted anonymously at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) and online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online .

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
From left, Sen. Elena Parent, Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones and Sen. Emanuel Jones announce their party's agenda on guns. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

The chair of a Senate committee tasked with reducing gun deaths among Georgia children has filed legislation to create a statewide database to notify districts of safety concerns from transfer students and to install a gun czar to oversee gun safety.

Georgia has the eighth highest rate of unintentional shootings by children in the United States, and I hope that kind of sinks in with members that are present here today, said Sen. Emanuel Jones, a Decatur Democrat. And it should also be stated that the highest incidence of pediatric deaths in Georgia is caused by unintentional gun shootings. To me, those numbers are just staggering and really unacceptable, and Georgia can do better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Atlanta Democratic Sen. Rashaun Kemp, a former teacher and principal, said administrators need to be aware of potential threats.

Sen. Rashaun Kemp. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

As a high school principal, we all know that its important to get information about our students academics, but also its even more critically important to ensure that we are getting information as to issues and concerns that schools have had with their students. It is critically important for all parents to know that their children are in safe environments. And as a former educator who had a student bring a gun to school, having information shared between schools is critically important and cant just stop at academics, he said.

The debate over gun safety became more immediate for many Georgians when in September, two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School. The 14-year-old accused gunman had allegedly been interviewed by the FBI in connection with shooting threats at a different school in another district more than a year before the attack, leading some to call for greater communication between districts.

The idea could find support from top Republicans, including House Speaker Jon Burns and State Superintendent Richard Woods, who have both called for legislation to increase record sharing among school districts as a way to bolster safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jones said under his bill, the program would be administered by the Department of Education and data would be passed along like other information that moves along with a transfer student.

I dont see any privacy concerns that should be addressed or could even possibly be that big of a concern when it comes to a child needing medical attention, needing quality care that they may have received at their previous school system, Jones said. And I would hope that the parents would expect that their child will continue to receive that same quality of care at the incoming school system, so I do not see that as a privacy concern, I see it more as a safety concern.

Jones gun czar position would oversee efforts to promote gun safety.

This person, this czar, as I call it, will have responsibilities to disseminate information to all of our schools, K through 12, this person will have the responsibility of working with industry and defining best practices and this person will have the responsibility of working with the legislators to ensure that as we move forward, that we are focusing on those issues that are critical in ensuring the safety of our kids throughout our school system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jones said similar ideas have been successful in other states, including conservative ones.

This is not anything new as it pertains to gun safety, he said. As a matter of fact, the states of Texas has been doing this for well over 20 years. North Carolina, Utah, and even other red states have a position very similar to this in their legislative branch.

Sen. Elena Parent. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Atlanta Democratic Sen. Elena Parent, chair of the Senate Democratic caucus, also announced a pair of bills aimed at gun safety, both based on previous efforts.

The first would make it more difficult to purge someone who has been involuntarily committed for mental health purposes from the FBI database that determines whether one is eligible to purchase a firearm. Under it, being taken off the list would require a hearing rather than simply being removed after five years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Parents other bill would create a misdemeanor penalty for failing to properly secure a firearm if a minor accesses it and hurts someone.

In recent years, the House and Senate passed separate bipartisan plans that aimed to encourage Georgian gun owners to lock up their weapons through tax incentives rather than punishment. Both passed their own chambers with wide margins, but neither chamber approved the others plan.

Parent said she prefers the punitive approach, but she indicated she may be open to an incentive-based bill.

By not saying That is not something that you are legally allowed to do under our states code, by that not being there, that sends a message, she said. That sends a message, like, its just fine to leave your gun lying around kids. So that, to me, is one of the reasons that it is important to have it stated in Georgia code that it is not legal to leave a gun around minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That is not to say that other ways to get at that problem dont have merit, but I do believe that part of what our laws do is they represent our values as a society, and if those laws are so at counter purposes with the way you want people to behave, then you need to look at that piece of it, too, she added.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Maria Mezentseva, head of Ukraine's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and a member of parliament from the ruling Servant of the People party, believes that within less than three months, PACE will intensify sanctions against Georgia.

Source: Mezentseva in a comment to European Pravda in Strasbourg

Details: The MP emphasised that she holds no expectations regarding Georgias compliance with the strict conditions set by PACE. The Assembly has recognised the presence of political prisoners in Georgia and called for new elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "Yes, if there are new elections, political prisoners are released and justice is restored for protesters, it offers some hope. But I have serious doubts that the current Georgian government intends to fulfill these demands.

I believe that in April, the Georgian delegation, which consists solely of members from the Georgian Dream party, will be expelled from PACE."

Support UP or become our patron!
Georgian parliamentarians from the ruling party have released a detailed explanation of their actions after announcing the withdrawal of Georgian representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Source: European Pravda from Strasbourg

Details: A detailed official statement on Georgia's position was read out to journalists in Strasbourg by Thea Tsulukiani, head of the Georgian parliamentary delegation, accompanied by her colleague Givi Mikanadze, who headed the Georgian delegation in the previous convocation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tsulukiani underlined the fact that PACE had confirmed the credentials of the Georgian delegation appointed by the new parliament. "Despite the fact that our credentials have been confirmed, we are suspending our work in the Parliamentary Assembly as of today," she said.

The politician explained this decision by the fact that Georgian MPs are outraged by the "unfair and unreasonable" demands put forward by the Assembly, first of all, the PACE demand that Georgia should call new parliamentary elections.

"Accepting this would be tantamount to betraying the vast majority of our voters and society. It exceeds the competence of PACE, encroaches on the sovereignty of our country and ignores the will of the voters," said the MP, whose speech was published by the Georgian service of Radio Liberty.

"The members of our parliamentary delegation will resume their participation in the Parliamentary Assembly only after the unfair attitude towards the Georgian state and people changes, blackmail stops, and every official or unofficial representative of the governments, as well as the forces behind them, realise that such pressure will not force the Georgian authorities to take any anti-Georgian steps," she also said.

Thea Tsulukiani also confirmed, as she did in her comments to EuropeN Pravda, that Georgia remains a member of the Council of Europe.

Support UP or become our patron!
ATLANTA (WJBF)  With more than 200 lawmakers under the gold dome, Georgia state senators and representatives are prioritizing regional improvements in the state.

On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp will roll out his statewide detailed tort reform legislation plan to help small business owners.

The state has a $14 billion dollar surplus so over the next 33 legislative days. Lawmakers will look at ways to help Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Macon and rural parts of Georgia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Augusta, theres a push to get more funds to help Hurricane Helene relief, locally approve the hotel motel tax and fund the state prison to get more money for prison employees.

We are going to look at the Richmond County Correctional Institute that houses state inmates and see if we can up what the state provides, said State Representative Brian Prince. Right now its $25, but most other counties get more so we are going to see if we can raise that as well.

In Columbus, priorities include maternal mortality rates, and help Georgians live, learn and earn, and help the 12 percent of Georgians who are uninsured to have healthcare access.

Maternal mortality we are at the bottom and as it relates to women of color. African American women have the greatest risk, said State Representative Caroline Hugley. My son and daughter are in the child bearing age. I want them to be able to bring forth little girls that look like me safely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the city of Savannah, lawmakers want to mandate kindergarten as a required grade for all Georgia students, fund mental health care initiatives and affordable housing.

I will be authoring legislation for our local school boards to be able to police within so many miles of a school, said State Senator Derek Mallow. We know we have sworn police officers but cannot respond to an emergency if it is off campus. Taxpayers already pay for those so legislation 1-3 miles around campus is not going to hurt anybody.

The state capitol also invites local delegation to pitch their budget priorities from the local city council, school board, chamber of commerce to talk to lawmakers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Thea Tsulukiani, head of the Georgian parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has told European Pravda that Georgia is "withdrawing from PACE" in response to the assembly's decision to impose sanctions on Georgian MPs.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Tsulukiani announced the decision to suspend Georgia's work in PACE an hour after the Assembly's move to impose sanctions on Georgian MPs. During this period, the Georgian MPs refrained from addressing their colleagues and journalists as they deliberated on their position.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We've just left PACE," Tsulukiani told European Pravda after she handed over an official statement from the delegation to Georgian media.

She clarified that the issue at hand was solely the termination of cooperation between the Georgian parliament and PACE and that Georgia would not be leaving the Council of Europe. "The state of Georgia will continue to cooperate with the organisation (the Council of Europe). However, the Georgian parliament's delegation has ceased participating in the work of PACE," she added.

Previously: On Wednesday, the PACE approved sanctions against Georgia and demanded that early elections be initiated in the country.

Support UP or become our patron!
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs described in his 2025 State of the Judiciary address on Jan. 28 the rising threats facing judges and other court personnel. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs called on state officials Tuesday to support plans to improve safety and technology throughout the states judicial system.

During Tuesdays annual State of the Judiciary address, Boggs discussed key legislative proposals and other plans for supporting a statewide court system with 1,600 judges and thousands of court support staffers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A post-pandemic judicial system dominated by state courts, where 95% of cases are heard, requires continued progress on issues like compensation and keeping staff safe from rising threats, Boggs said.

Boggs cited United States Marshals Service reports showing that threats against federal judges are on the rise, with 457 credible threats in 2023 compared to 179 in 2019. There is anecdotal evidence that judges and other court staff in Georgia are also facing more threats, Boggs said.

Last year, there was bipartisan support for increased criminal penalties against the so-called swatting of public figures after several Georgia elected officials residences were the target of hoax 911 calls claiming that someones life was in danger. Boggs also advocated for security measures in courthouses that will enhance both the safety of court staff and law enforcement, as well as the public.

Now more than ever, the safety of our states 1,600 judges as well as our court personnel and the general public who still enter our hallways and courtrooms each day has become a pronounced concern, Boggs said. It is crucial that our courtrooms are secure and those who work within them can perform their duties. This means not only upgrading our physical security measures, but also implementing comprehensive training so that security situations can be handled more effectively or better yet, prevent it altogether.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boggs said that equally as concerning as the attacks and threats of physical violence on our judges are efforts to transform the courts into partisan political actors. One way to further create an independent judiciary is to through legislation this year that would eliminate partisan elections that remain for several probate and magistrate judges, Boggs said.

Simply put, an independent judiciary, with respect for the rule of law, keeps us from becoming a society in which the person with the biggest stick is in charge, Boggs said.

Boggs discussed the governors decision to allocate funds over the last couple of budgets to replace and overhaul a court management system that is currently siloed among 159 different court systems, making it difficult to share information across districts.

The states chief justice also lobbied for legislation to complete the process of having a cohesive statewide court management system ready by the end of 2025. Over the past year, technological challenges have slowed down the consolidation of judicial records into a single system that is accessible across every jurisdiction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, members of the Council of Juvenile Court judges described to a legislative panel some of the challenges of collecting data through a statewide case tracking case system.

Currently, the case management systems can provide judges with inaccurate information about defendants criminal histories, such as previous mental health treatment or case dispositions, Boggs said.

They may not know, for example, whether a defendant standing before them has a prior criminal history in another county, whether they have ongoing criminal matters in other jurisdictions, whether theyve ever had prior civil mental health commitments, or even whether prior arrests and dispositions are accurately reflected in their criminal histories, he said.

Boggs also asked state lawmakers to support a proposal by the Judicial Council of Georgia that would allow trial judges to use a digital recording system to address a national shortage of court reporters. Artificial intelligence, he said, has opened up more reliable digital technology, which can reduce delays in court proceedings caused by a shortage of court reporters able to transcribe proceedings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judiciary officials and several state legislators have also renewed their efforts this year to pass bills increasing judges compensation. House Bill 85 and House Bill 86, sponsored by Elberton Republican Rep. Rob Leverett, would increase salaries for superior court and state court judges.

Boggs praised the increased focus by the state Legislature on making mental health treatment a priority, including through more counseling and job training. Many Georgians have benefited from accountability courts ongoing support in reducing recidivism and receiving treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues. Boggs also stressed that there is a critical need for more support behind Veterans Treatment Courts this year. The courts are set up to help veterans struggling with substance abuse and other mental health challenges.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  A convicted Savannah man has won his case in front of the Georgia Supreme Court, but that doesnt ensure that he will get to be a free man.

The case stems from an incident in 2017 when Jerry Chambers was driving a white SUV when shots were fired from the vehicle near City Market, police said. Officers chased the SUV until Chambers hit a pedestrian, Scott Waldrup, and then a pole.

Waldrup and Chambers two passengers, Gabriel Magulias and Spencer Stuckey, died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chambers was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 2020 after a jury found him guilty of three counts of felony murder, three counts of vehicular homicide, fleeing police and reckless driving.

The Georgia Supreme Court overturned the three felony murder convictions because there wasnt enough evidence that proved the officers who attempted to stop Chambers were in uniform or displayed their badge, the court document said.

With these findings, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the state had failed to provide sufficient evidence of fleeing, the guilty verdicts couldnt stand.

Since the three verdicts of felony murder are reversed, he will be re-sentenced for the three counts of vehicular homicide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones released a statement regarding the ruling:

In one of the busiest and most popular areas of Savannah, Jerry Chambers killed 3 people trying to run from the law. He was set to spend the rest of his life in prison as a consequence to his actions. We are considering a motion to ask the GA Supreme Court to reconsider their ruling.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Lawmaker Ron Lam wants the authorities to expedite the training process for tourist guides and increase incentive packages to facilitate the development of the tourism industry.

His opinions were expressed in an inquiry recently submitted to the government through the Legislative Assembly.

According to Lam, As of January 2025, there were 1,824 holders of Tourist Guide Licenses issued by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), with some of these guides registered as being able to speak more than one language, he wrote. He added that information provided by MGTO mid-year last year indicated that those registered for such a job could offer services in Cantonese (785), Mandarin (1,189), English (156), Japanese (78), Korean (28), and Thai (22), with the number of guides able to provide tours in other languages being fewer than 10.

The lawmaker noted that, according to visitor statistics for 2024, there is significant demand for tour guides, particularly due to increases in visitors from South Korea and India in tour groups. This, he said, supports his claim that there is a need for more and better-trained guides in Macau.

He remarked that, for now, only one of the Macao University of Tourisms (UTM) training courses for this job is available, and it takes over one year to complete.

Citing feedback from applicants, Lam said that the courses are excessively long and not suitable for the job, suggesting that these courses have kept people occupied and off unemployment lists for some time before they quit and pursue other jobs.

The lawmaker complained that the course modules are very spread out, with significant time gaps, making it difficult for enrollees to complete the program logically and efficiently.

He urged the government to make proper adjustments to the courses, which, he said, have a total duration of just 135 hours but take over one year to complete.

He also called for the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles to accelerate the process and allow residents to obtain their licenses faster so they can begin working.

The lawmaker further noted that the availability of language proficiency examinations is minimal and does not align with policies targeting international visitors.
Germany's two largest Christian churches have jointly denounced opposition leader Friedrich Merz's plans to pass motions on migration policy in the German parliament with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, leading representatives of the Catholic Church and Protestant Church in Germany warned that "German democracy will suffer massive damage" if the so-called "firewall" preventing cooperation with the AfD breaks down.

Prelates Anne Gidion, a Protestant, and Karl Justen from the Catholic Church said the timing and tone of the debate on migration policy - which was heightened by a knife attack last week attributed to an Afghan national - was deeply disconcerting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The contentious dispute is "defaming all migrants living in Germany" and "fuelling prejudices," they argued in a joint statement. "In our opinion, it does not contribute to solving the issues that actually exist."

Merz's proposed measures, which include turning away asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence, are "not conducive to preventing similar offences and providing viable answers to public security needs," the statement said.

The church leaders see the permanent border controls planned by Merz as violations of EU law. "Unilateral action will destroy the foundations of the European Union in the long term," they further warned.

The attack last week in Aschaffenburg and the car-ramming attacking at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg in December were committed by people with serious mental illness, the officials argued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"From the churches' point of view, the offences therefore show a deficit in the exchange of information between different authorities and a blatant lack of adequate care for the mentally ill."

Karin Prien from Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party defended the plans on Wednesday.

She told the Deutschlandfunk radio station that the CDU does not "always have to agree one-to-one with the churches."

The CDU wants to continue to take in people who need protection and are in need, Prien argued. "But what we are doing at the moment is an asylum system that simply does not work at European level, at German level, at administrative level."
Germany's two largest Christian churches have jointly denounced opposition leader Friedrich Merz's plans to pass motions on migration policy in the German parliament with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, leading representatives of the Catholic Church and Protestant Church in Germany warned that "German democracy will suffer massive damage" if the so-called "firewall" preventing cooperation with the AfD breaks down.

Prelates Anne Gidion, a Protestant, and Karl Justen from the Catholic Church said the timing and tone of the debate on migration policy - which was heightened by a knife attack last week attributed to an Afghan national - was deeply disconcerting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The contentious dispute is "defaming all migrants living in Germany" and "fuelling prejudices," they argued in a joint statement. "In our opinion, it does not contribute to solving the issues that actually exist."

Merz's proposed measures, which include turning away asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence, are "not conducive to preventing similar offences and providing viable answers to public security needs," the statement said.

The church leaders see the permanent border controls planned by Merz as violations of EU law. "Unilateral action will destroy the foundations of the European Union in the long term," they further warned.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German Catholic and Protestant churches warned on Tuesday against the conservative opposition's plan to crack down on immigration, which they said could break a convention against mainstream parties cooperating with the far-right.

"The timing and tone of the current debate appear deeply strange to us. It is likely to defame all migrants living in Germany, to stir up prejudices and, in our opinion, does not contribute to solving the real issues," the representatives of both churches wrote in a joint letter to parliament seen by Reuters.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's CDU/CSU conservative block which is leading polls ahead of the Feb. 23 election, is set to propose plans to restrict migration that could pass with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The anti-immigration, anti-Islam AfD is labelled as right-wing extremist by German security services but is currently polling second in nationwide surveys before the upcoming snap election in the country, where the debate on immigration intensified after a string of violent attacks by foreign-born suspects.

"The two major churches hereby point out that, according to current knowledge, the proposed changes to the law would not have prevented any of the attacks," wrote Prelate Anne Gidion, the representative of the German Protestant Churches Council (EKD) and Prelate Karl Juesten, the head of the Commissariat of German Bishops.

The churches stressed that the CDU/CSU is risking breaking a taboo on cooperation with the far-right for the first time in German post-war history.

"We fear that German democracy will suffer massive damage if this political promise is abandoned," they wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CDU, or the Christian Democratic Union, and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), often commonly related as the "Union", were founded shortly after World War Two, and represent an "honest reflection of Christian and Western values", according to the CDU's website.

According to the latest church statistics from the Interior Ministry, about half of the German population belongs to Christian churches, with the Catholic and Protestant denominations represented in nearly equal proportions.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Andrey Sychev; Editing by Stephen Coates)
The Central Council of Jews in Germany has cautioned its communities against voting for populist parties in February's election.

In a letter seen by dpa on Wednesday, the council's president, Josef Schuster, warned that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) "are home to anti-Semites from the extreme right and radical enemies of Israel and Ukraine from the left."

The letter added: "For the Central Council of Jews in Germany, it is clear that these parties do not want to contribute to the well-being of our society.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I ask you to take all of this into consideration when you go to the ballot box or cast your vote by post."

Schuster said the AfD's "desire for a 180-degree turnaround in remembrance policy" and its language on Germany's "cult of guilt" are diminishing the memory of the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes.

Its nationalist policies and call for "remigration" are creating a climate of fear, the letter added.

The council's president also argued that the BSW is inverting history with its criticism of Israel actions as "terror."

The AfD, which is under investigation by the domestic intelligence service as a suspected extremist group, is currently polling second ahead of the vote on February 23.

The BSW is fighting to pass the 5% threshold usually needed for entry to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.
German lawmakers are set to vote on Wednesday on two motions tabled by the centre-right opposition bloc to significantly tighten the country's migration policy, less than four weeks before Germans head to the polls in national elections.

Migration has become the dominating issue in the campaign ahead of the snap elections on February 23 following a string of fatal attacks involving suspects with a migrant background.

The leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, vowed to push through a range of changes to migration policy after two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merz's proposals include turning away all asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence.

While Merz's plans are controversial, he particularly sparked outrage when he did not rule out using votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in order to pass the motions if necessary.

Before the motions are put to a vote in the lower house of parliament at around 2.15 pm (1315 GMT), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, is set to make a government statement, in which he is expected to address the deadly knife attack in Aschaffenburg.

Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, who are currently governing in a minority government, have both accused Merz of bringing the AfD into the mainstream, and alleged that a number of his proposals would violate the German constitution and EU law.

Despite harsh denunciations from other politicians, Merz, the likely frontrunner to replace Scholz after the upcoming election, has stuck with his proposals, saying: "What is right in the matter does not become wrong because the wrong people agree."
Plans to reject more asylum seekers at Germany's borders tabled by the opposition conservatives passed in parliament on Wednesday with the help of votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The proposals do not have to be acted upon by the government.

A second motion from the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) with comprehensive reform proposals for a restrictive migration policy and additional powers for security authorities did not receive a majority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vote was controversial because opposition CDU leader Friedrich Merz, widely expected to be the next chancellor after elections on February 23, said he was willing to accept support from the AfD for his plans to pass.

All mainstream parties had previously said they would not work with the AfD.

The first motion received 348 votes in favour, 344 against and 10 abstentions. During a preceding debate, lawmakers from the conservative bloc, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the AfD as well as some independent lawmakers spoke out in favour of the proposal.

The populist BSW announced that it would abstain. The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Left Party were against.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second motion in favour of far-reaching reforms received 190 votes in favour, 509 against and three abstentions.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, slammed Merz as a "gambler" who could not be trusted to become the next German leader during the heated debate that preceded the vote.

Merz has demanded stricter migration controls after a spate of attacks by people with a migrant background. Two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.
Plans to reject more asylum seekers at Germany's borders tabled by the opposition conservatives passed in parliament on Wednesday with the help of votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The proposals do not have to be acted upon by the current government but still caused uproar just weeks before a German election on February 23, with the AfD currently in second place in opinion polls.

The vote was controversial because opposition Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, widely expected to be the next chancellor, said he was willing to accept support from the AfD for his proposals to pass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All mainstream parties had previously said they would not work with the AfD, with many Germans alarmed at the rise of the party in recent years in a country still scarred by its Nazi past.

While the Greens labelled it "a dark day for democracy," AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel said the vote was instead a "great day for democracy" in Germany.

She called on the conservative CDU to consider "whether to continue to maintain the firewall" between mainstream parties and the AfD, "which in our view is undemocratic."

Bernd Baumann, the AfD's first parliamentary secretary said the result of the vote marked the end of red-green dominance in Germany, "once and for all," referring to the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens, who run a minority government.

Merz still believes in 'democratic centre'

Merz regretted needing the AfD's help, stating that he is not seeking "majorities other than those in the democratic centre."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He called on the SPD and the Greens to "talk to us by Friday about how we can work with you to achieve a majority for the bill we have introduced here in the German Bundestag."

At the same time, Merz defended the actions of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The right of elected representatives "to table motions we consider to be justified cannot be denied," he asserted.

The SPD's parliamentary leader saw things differently and even requested that the lower house's session be paused following his shock at the approval of the motion.

Rolf Mutzenich said it was impossible to "simply go back to business as usual" because the conservative bloc had "broken out of the political centre."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The motion received 348 votes in favour, 344 against and 10 abstentions. During a preceding debate, lawmakers from the conservative bloc, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the AfD as well as some independent lawmakers spoke out in favour of the proposal.

The populist and anti-immigration Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) announced that it would abstain. The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Left Party - the latter of which emerged from East Germany's former Communists - were against.

The Left Party's chancellor candidate Heidi Reichinnek was appalled by the day's developments.

"Mr Merz, despite all the political differences, I could never have imagined that a Christian Democratic party would break this dam and make a pact with far-right extremists," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second motion from the CDU with comprehensive reform proposals for a restrictive migration policy and additional powers for security authorities did not receive a majority.

The second motion received 190 votes in favour, 509 against and three abstentions.

Scholz scolds Merz before vote

During a heated debate that preceded the vote, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, slammed Merz as a "gambler" who could not be trusted to become the next German leader.

Merz had demanded stricter migration controls after a spate of attacks by people with a migrant background. Two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholz said Merz's measures were superficial solutions that damage the rule of law and the foundations of the EU.

"Politics in our country is not a game of poker. The cohesion of Europe is not a game and a German chancellor must not be a gambler, because in the worst-case scenario he decides on war and peace," said the chancellor, whose party is tipped to finish third on February 23.

"The biggest country in the EU would be openly breaking EU law, as only [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban in Hungary has dared to," Scholz added to lawmakers.

"No German chancellor would ever have done something like this."
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday said Germans must "take the enemies of democracy seriously" in a speech to commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime.

"Let us not go back to a dark time. We know better. Let's do better!" said Steinmeier in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, two days after marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Germany is at a crossroads, Steinmeier said. "We have it in our hands to preserve what we have achieved and to protect our democracy."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Steinmeier said the Holocaust is part of Germany's history and identity.

There is no end to remembrance, "and therefore no end to our responsibility," the president said.

Steinmeier's comments came after tech billionaire Elon Musk appeared via video at an event for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying the country places "too much focus on past guilt."
When Otto von Bismarck created the worlds first state pension in 1889, few could have predicted the effect it would have.

What started as a little security for Germans reaching 70  who back then were unlikely to live long enough to significantly drain the public purse  was quickly adopted across the world.

But over a century later, the Iron Chancellors altruism is now strangling Germanys economy  and fuelling resentment among those expected to pay for it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germanys annual budget now sits at around 480bn (402bn), but approximately 120bn already flows out of the Exchequer and into state pensioners pockets.

At the same time, the country is facing an ageing problem as a result of a dramatic fall in its birth rate during the 1960s and 1970s. There are now just three workers per pensioner, down from six in 1950  and the writing is on the wall.

Marcel Thum, of economic researchers The ifo Institute, said: Without reforms, the costs of the pension system will rise very quickly in the years ahead. These costs have to be borne by the currently active population.

If people live longer, we have to work longer or be satisfied with lower pensions. All other measures are just temporary fixes  many of them leading to even higher burdens later on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, theres an even more controversial commitment thats also draining the nations finances  public sector pensions.

The German government spends around 20bn a year on the final salary pensions of civil servants. Almost 600,000 are already in payment, with 200,000 more workers currently making their way towards retirement.

Germany is also a federal system, meaning its 16 states and its smaller municipalities are responsible for paying pensions to their own retirees.

They hand over another 49bn a year to over a million retired local government workers  prison officers, police, firefighters and teachers, among others. Almost two million more are steadily building up pension rights whilst in work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the UK, public sector pensions are paid by the Government. They provide a guaranteed income for life and cost around 54bn a year, although they are paid using the pension contributions coming in from current public sector workers and their employers.

With no money left to be invested to pay those workers when they retire, the UK has already built up a debt of 4.9 trillion in pension promises.

Back in Germany, however, some contributions are at least invested for the future. But that hasnt stopped pensions becoming a serious threat at a federal level, according to the Council of Economic Experts, a think tank.

One of the groups experts, Martin Werding, said the unpopular system could not go on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the 1970s and 1980s, the civil service increased a lot and these people are entering retirement. This creates a huge financial burden for the people who have to fund these.

Typically, theyre seen as unfair by people who arent in the scheme. Most people are looking at civil servants with a lot of envy.

Not implementing a major reform of public pension schemes, this is a serious threat at the federal level. We said this cant go on. We have to discuss severe changes to our pension system due to demographic ageing. Its not sustainable.

At the crux of their unpopularity is that they are completely taxpayer-funded. Workers do not make any contributions to the pensions that will one day support them for life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Council of Economic Experts, which was set up by law to advise on economics, is proposing closing the current scheme to new joiners. They would all be moved into Germanys national pension system, known as the GRV.

Workers salaries would stay the same and like private sector workers, they would build up both a state and a company pension. However, their benefits would be lower than what they currently receive and, crucially, they would have to contribute themselves.

Anyone who is 20 years or more from retiring would also be moved over, although the benefits theyd already built up would be protected.

A change on this scale would dramatically increase the 120bn cost of the GRV, so the Council of Economic Experts is also proposing that the contributions coming in from those moved over should temporarily be used to pay pensions to existing retirees. This would also ease the overall cost of the system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pressing home the case for reform, Mr Werding said that whilst many advanced countries would face this problem in 30 to 40 years, Germany had less than half that time to tackle it.

However, he added that any change would prove difficult.

He said: The problem in really taking this kind of reform is 16 levels of parliaments, and the Bundestag would have to approve this simultaneously. This is not very likely and is difficult to organise because the federal level has no specific lead in shaping the law for civil servants.

I think this is a serious drawback, particularly for ambitions to go for the reform of the pension scheme.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There will be some changes to the German pension system if, as expected, the Christian Democrats win next months general election.

The party, known as the CDU/CSU, has pledged to allow retirees to work tax-free, set up pensions for children and rule out any pension cuts. It also wont interfere with existing legislation to increase the pension age to 67 by 2031.

However, it has made no commitment to tackle the age-old problem of balancing the books amid decades of generous pension promises.

And at a time where bold and radical action is needed the most, Otto von Bismarck is long gone.

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.
Sam Hou Fai, Chief Executive of Macau, delivered a heartfelt New Years message on the eve of the Year of the Snake, emphasizing unity and prosperity for the region. In a speech to residents and friends, Hou expressed his wishes for health, happiness, and good fortune in the coming year.

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, we are ready to embrace our blessings, he said, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in shaping Macaus future. Reflecting on the past year, he acknowledged the gradual economic recovery and the cooperation among different sectors that contributed to stability and harmony in the community.

One can tell the inner of an object by observing its outer; likewise, having observed the past, we can predict the future, Sam remarked, emphasizing the achievements of 2024 while looking forward to the challenges and uncertainties ahead. He highlighted the need for innovative thinking and adaptability as Macau navigates a rapidly changing global landscape.

In his address, Sam outlined key goals for the new government term, including enhancing governance capabilities, promoting economic diversification, and building a harmonious society. He urged residents to join hands in contributing their wisdom and strength to Macaus development.

As the New Year bell rings, I wish our motherland auspiciousness and prosperity, and I wish Macau stability and harmony, Sam concluded, calling for solidarity among all sectors of society as they embark on a new chapter in the Year of the Snake.

Yesterday, Sam and his wife visited the Lunar New Year Fair at Tap Seac Square and the firecrackers and fireworks zones in Macau and Taipa to celebrate the coming Year of the Snake alongside the community in a festive atmosphere.

The Lunar New Year Fair was alive with celebration, featuring numerous stalls selling flowers, festive products, and traditional delicacies.

The Chief Executive and his wife then visited the two firecrackers and fireworks zones in Macau and Taipa, to gather information about their business and to speak with the vendors, wishing them success in their business.

At the conclusion of their visit, they set off firecrackers and fireworks, using the sounds of the celebrations to express their hopes for the prosperity and development of both the country and Macau, as well as for the happiness and health of the entire population, according to a statement from the Government Information Bureau. Victoria Chan
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative rival Friedrich Merz faced off on Wednesday in a dramatic showdown over migration policy, as lawmakers prepared to vote on measures that could pass with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In a major debate in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, just weeks before the country heads to the polls, Scholz slammed Merz as a "gambler" who could not be trusted to become the next German chancellor.

Migration has become the dominating issue in the campaign ahead of the snap elections on February 23 following a string of fatal attacks involving suspects with a migrant background.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), vowed to push through a range of changes to migration policy after two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.

Merz's proposals include turning away all asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence.

While the plans are controversial, Merz sparked outrage when he did not rule out using votes from the AfD in order to pass the motions if necessary.

"A right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people agree with it. It remains right," he said in parliament on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholz criticized Merz for saying he would go "all in" on migration plans.

"Politics in our country is not a game of poker. The cohesion of Europe is not a game and a German chancellor must not be a gambler, because in the worst-case scenario he decides on war and peace," the chancellor said.

Scholz said Merz's measures are superficial solutions that damage the rule of law and the foundations of the EU.

"The biggest country in the EU would be openly breaking EU law, as only [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban in Hungary has dared to," Scholz told lawmakers.

"No German chancellor would ever have done something like this," he argued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also warned that Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc could enter into an alliance with the AfD after the election, despite Merz repeatedly ruling out such a coalition.

Vote on a knife-edge

Merz's proposals are divided across three separate parliamentary motions.

The first two - a five-point plan that includes permanent border controls and the expulsion of all migrants arriving at Germany's borders, and a second package made up of 27 measures on internal security - are set to be voted on later on Wednesday.

They are both non-binding motions that would not force the government to act, unlike a separate bill of measures due to be introduced on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The five-point plan could become the first parliamentary measure to pass with the support of the AfD, but the vote is on a knife-edge.

Together, the CDU/CSU bloc, the AfD and the pro-business Free Democrats - who are also set to back the proposal - control 362 seats in the current Bundestag, with 367 votes needed for a majority.

The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance said earlier that it would abstain on the five-point plan.

A YouGov survey revealed earlier on Wednesday that a narrow majority of Germans believe political parties should work with the AfD, with only 42% of respondents outright rejecting any cooperation.

Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Federal Chairman and CDU/ Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, votes by name in the Bundestag on motions from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group on tightening migration policy and internal security. Michael Kappeler/dpa
(Bloomberg) -- Shares in European defense companies are hitting new records after Germanys lawmakers approved about 2.5 billion ($2.6 billion) worth of weapons and equipment orders for the armed forces.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The decision, made late Wednesday in parliaments last regular budget committee session before the Feb. 23 snap election, lifted UBS AGs basket of European defense stocks to a record high on Thursday, up as much as 1.7%. The basket has risen almost 9% already this year, adding to its 53% surge in 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The latest measures are part of a rearmament push that Chancellor Olaf Scholz initiated after Russias attack on Ukraine and are being financed out of a special off-budget fund of about 100 billion.

Germanys accelerated defense procurement ahead of a potential snap election highlights what we expect will be a broader trend of rising military spending across NATO, said Patrick Armstrong, chief investment officer at Plurimi Wealth, which owns shares in French firm Dassault Aviation SA.

This bodes well for defense contractors, as governments prioritize military readiness and self-sufficiency over budget constraints, he said.

Shares in Germanys Rheinmetall AG rose as much as 2.2% to a record high, bringing this years gains to 23%, while Hensoldt AG gained 2.5% and Renk Group AG climbed more than over 4%. Frances Dassault Aviation SA rose 2.3%. Share valuations for Rheinmetall as well as Dassault have also surged to record peaks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The purchases approved by parliament will include part of a new 1.8 billion communication system for the Bundeswehr, 417 million in infantry supplies, and around 100 million for anti-tank arms and a weapon station, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the purchases as important in comments made earlier Wednesday before a visit to a parliamentary defense committee.

The Budget Committee also approved state guarantees to help Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems win a 4.1 billion contract to build three Type 209 submarines for Argentina, as well as replacement parts and training.

Shares in Thyssenkrupp AG rose more than 2%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with share prices, Armstrongs quote and chart)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The German government plans to send border management experts to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, government sources have told dpa.

To facilitate the deployment, Berlin plans to amend a 2005 Cabinet decision that previously allowed only unarmed personnel to be sent, according to the government sources.

The adjustment would permit the deployment of armed forces, as the current security situation is deemed too dangerous for unarmed border guards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deployment could be part of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah), which is set to resume operations after a years-long hiatus.

The mission, first established in 2005 to help control the crossing, was suspended in 2007 when Hamas took control in the Gaza Strip, as the EU refused to cooperate with the Palestinian militant organization.

In an initial phase, a low double-digit number of EU border experts and support staff are to be deployed to supervise border checks, if possible from the beginning of February.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing is part of a three-phase ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, and should enable significant amounts of humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday said that Italy, Spain and France are the first three EU countries to send personnel to Rafah.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has publicly advocated for the deployment, calling it an important signal of Europe's commitment to global responsibility.
(Bloomberg) -- With less than four weeks before Germanys federal election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who is leading polls, will take their contentious battle over how to crack down on illegal migration to parliament.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Lawmakers are set to vote on a pair of resolutions on Wednesday from Merzs CDU/CSU caucus group that call on Scholzs government to institute hard-line reforms such as permanent checks on Germanys borders, accelerating the deportation of migrants who entered the country illegally and tightening domestic security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While those resolutions arent binding for Scholzs government, the conservatives are also planning to put a bill on tackling irregular migration to a vote in the Bundestag on Friday that would become law if it gets majority support in both houses  widely seen as unlikely.

The votes could, however, become decisive for the Feb. 23 election since Merzs conservatives would need the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany to secure a majority. Merz had previously said he wouldnt cooperate with the AfD  a stance taken by all of Germanys mainstream parties  so counting on their support in parliament could be seen as a step too far for some voters.

Scholzs Social Democrats and the Greens have already made clear that they wont support Merzs initiatives. The AfD has signaled it could back them, even though a proposed text specifically criticizes the far-right party for being xenophobic and spreading conspiracy theories.

What Bloomberg Economics Says...

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merzs move has already sparked a row with his most likely coalition partner, the SPD. The fragmentation of German politics risks making coalition government much trickier.

-Antonio Barroso and Martin Quick, analysts. For full note, click here

The CDU/CSU has maintained a robust lead in recent months and is currently at 30% support, according to a Forsa poll published Tuesday, ahead of the AfD at 20%. Scholzs Social Democrats are at 16% and the Greens at 14%.

Merz has justified his controversial effort to tighten Germanys migration policy by saying last weeks fatal knife attack in the city of Aschaffenburg  perpetrated by a 28-year-old Afghan man whose asylum request had been rejected  proved that tougher action is needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is right in the matter does not become wrong because the wrong people agree to it, Merz said Monday in Berlin, referring to the AfDs support.

However, the SPD and Greens have accused Merz of breaking what they describe as a taboo in German politics by opening the door for cooperation with the AfD and dismantling a so-called firewall to isolate the party led by Alice Weidel and keep it out of power.

Any attempt to vote with the AfD in the Bundestag will put our country on a slippery slope, SPD caucus leader Rolf Mutzenich told reporters in Berlin. I fear the worst.

Mutzenich added that Merz himself must be fully aware that he is putting something in motion that has no chance to become law due to the already foreseeable rejection of the proposals in Germanys upper house by some more moderate CDU-led states like Schleswig-Holstein.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Separately, the Social Democrats plan to make a renewed effort to get approval for a package of stricter security measures they presented already in December, including enhanced powers for police to help reduce migration flows.

Scholzs government reintroduced entry checks at all German borders last year in an attempt to fight illegal migration. As a consequence, the number of new arrivals and asylum requests went down by roughly a third last year from a high level in the previous year following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at an election campaign event late Tuesday in Berlin, Scholz claimed that Merz might even be open toward a coalition with the AfD after the federal election. If Merz says he doesnt care who supports his proposals, he has to accept that citizens will ask themselves whether he also doesnt care who votes for him in parliament, Scholz said in Berlin.

Merz repeatedly denied in recent days that he would collaborate with the AfD.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Germany is under attack from China, a senior opposition MP has warned, as Berlin grapples with a fresh wave of cyber attacks and espionage plots.

Roderich Kiesewetter, the crisis prevention spokesman for the centre-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said Germans needed to stop thinking of China as a partner.

Many in Germany are turning a blind eye  China is no longer a partner, but a systemic rival that is attacking us, Mr Kiesewetter, a former colonel in the Bundeswehr, told The Telegraph.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germany is at the centre of Chinese hybrid influence operations in Europe  it uses all the tools in its toolbox; espionage, sabotage, lawfare, repression and disinformation, added Mr Kiesewetter, who is also the deputy chairman of the German parliaments intelligence committee.

His comments are a major intervention in Germany, where China wields immense influence over the economy despite rising tensions over Beijings tacit support for Russias invasion of Ukraine and apparent plans to invade Taiwan.

Xi Jinping, the president of China, right, with German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been criticised for appeasing Beijing - KAY NIETFELD/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Polls suggest Mr Kiesewetters CDU party, led by Friedrich Merz, will comfortably win next months elections and lead the government, but it will have to contend with the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as opposition.

Mr Kiesewetter warned that China, which is accused of planting spies in the AfDs European parliament offices, had recently become particularly interested in German military technology and in buying up critical infrastructure, such as wind turbines in the North Sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said China felt more confident engaging in espionage in Germany than other EU member states due to Germanys naive foreign policy and security stance.

China has been particularly active in espionage, not only in terms of cyber attacks but the extraction of data through various methods and platforms, he said.

Espionage activities are also enormous and fall on fertile ground in Germany in view of China-friendly naivety, a lack of sensitivity and weak protective measures, particularly in the area of counter-intelligence.

Germany earlier this month arrested three German citizens on suspicion of spying for China, accusing them of trying to pass on military secrets.

Roderich Kiesewetter says China has been particularly active in industrial and military espionage - Meta

Last summer, Jian Guo, an aide to an AfD MEP, was arrested as a suspected Chinese spy, with his alleged accomplice Yaqi X arrested in October.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

German prosecutors allege that Yaqi X gathered information about German military technology, and an unnamed German defence firm, and then transferred it to Mr Jian.

China has rejected such accusations as an attempt by Germany to politically manipulate the image of China and defame China.

A study by German IT trade body Bitkom found that nearly 50 per cent of German businesses were hit by Chinese cyber attacks in 2024, whereas just 39 per cent of cyber attacks in the same period came from Russia.

The most severe recent data breach concerned Volkswagen, which between 2010 and 2015 lost 19,000 documents  including intellectual property material  to Chinese hackers, according to a 2024 investigation by German broadcaster ZDF.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Kiesewetter expressed concerns that if Germanys China policy did not change then its response to any future invasion of Taiwan would be just as weak as its initial response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Germany wants to avoid being as slow to back Taiwan as it was Ukraine (above) - Vincenzo Circosta/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

I am afraid that support for Taiwan would be even lower if there is no fundamental change in our China policy. Germany is pursuing an approach of appeasement and self-deterrence towards China, allowing itself to be lulled into complacency, he said.

Germany faced an avalanche of criticism over its initial reaction to Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, such as offering helmets to Kyiv instead of urgently needed weapons and ammunition.

The sluggishness of Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, was largely due to fears of angering Russia, as well as Germanys heavy reliance on cheap Russian gas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Merz has said he wants to face up to China with confidence and prove himself as far tougher on global security than Mr Scholz.

In a further hardening of his stance, Mr Merz last week told German business leaders that there was great risk in investing in China and that they should not come to the state for help if their businesses fold.

My heartfelt request to all companies... limit the risk you take in order to avoid endangering your own company if it triggers an immediate write-off. If you take this risk and if you have to write off these investments from one year to the next, then please do not, under any circumstances, come to the state... for help, he said.

Vulcan Energy is Germanys attempt to wean itself off the need for Chinese lithium - ARTIS - Uli Deck

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But experts say Germany is extremely misaligned with Europe as it continues to invest billions in Chinese trade at a time when other allies, such as France and Britain, are pulling away from Beijing over security concerns.

You still have policymakers and especially a chancellor [Olaf Scholz] intent on building the relationship with China and terrified of China retaliating, and closing off access for those big German firms, Agatha Kratz, a senior China analyst at Rhodium Group, said.

Earlier this month, The Telegraph revealed that Germany had launched a new initiative, Project Lionheart to try to wean German companies off Chinese imports of lithium, a crucial ingredient in car and phone batteries.

The project, led by energy firm Vulcan, aims to locally produce enough lithium from brine water in the Rhinelands for up to half a million electric car batteries per year.

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.
Conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats has reaffirmed his principled rejection of cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), despite Wednesday's joint approval of a Bundestag motion on migration policy.

"AfD people can triumph now as they want, but it won't happen," the CDU leader who is widely favoured to be Germany's next chancellor, told public broadcaster ARD late Wednesday.

The day after the federal election, a vote for the AfD would be "worth nothing," Merz asserted. Those who wanted a change of policy ought to vote for the CDU, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merz renewed an offer to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens to talk about a bill from the Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), which is to be voted on this Friday.

This could still be discussed, Merz added. "I want majorities in the political centre of our parliament," the CDU leader asserted.

But he added that he is no longer willing to "be dissuaded by a minority from bringing about votes that are right on the matter."

Mainstream parties have shied away from cooperation with the AfD and spoken of a "firewall."

Merz said that "firewall" was "the wrong word" and added: "I don't want the fire behind the wall to spread throughout Germany. And that is why we are turning to solving the problems we have."
The right to asylum must be preserved, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday, as lawmakers prepared to vote on controversial motions seeking to reform the country's migration policy.

In a major speech to the German parliament, one week after a deadly knife attack in the southern city of Aschaffenburg attributed to an Afghan national, Scholz said "the right to asylum is an integral part of our legal system and our values."

"We must not shake this," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholz - who is seeking re-election next month - said the right to asylum was a historical responsibility given Germany's Nazi past.

"Back then, it was German and European Jews who were turned away at foreign borders," Scholz said. "Germany must never allow that to happen again."

Scholz sharply criticized his conservative rival Friedrich Merz for tabling the motions, which could pass on Wednesday with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

He said the measures - which include turning away all asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence - are superficial solutions that damage the rule of law and the foundations of the EU.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The biggest country in the EU would be openly breaking EU law, as only [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban in Hungary has dared to," Scholz told lawmakers.

"No German chancellor would ever have done something like this," Scholz argued. "A German chancellor must not be a gambler."

He also warned that Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc could enter into an alliance with the AfD after the election, despite Merz repeatedly ruling out such a coalition.
When Germantown resident Alexis Luttrell bought an 8-foot skeleton man and accompanying skeleton dog, she intended to use them for more than just Halloween decorations. Her plan was to showcase them in her yard throughout the year just to keep the mood light.

Ahead of Election Day in November, she had the skeletons hold political signs and hung large campaign flags from their arms. A few weeks later, Luttrell incorporated the skeletons into the Christmas display at her Turpins Glen home.

The skeleton man donned a wreath for a necklace and a festive red-and-green tutu, while the skeleton dog wore a Christmas tree hat. Luttrell also made a leash out of garland and lights to make it appear the skeleton man was walking the dog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the skeletons have Luttrell facing a Feb. 13 court date in Germantown Municipal Court.

Luttrell received a warning from a Germantown compliance officer in early December that cited a city ordinance restricting the length of time holiday decorations can be displayed. At the heart of the issue is her use of the skeletons for holidays other than Halloween. Now, the city's warning has turned into a citation and court date.

As Luttrell has vowed to fight the city's ordinance that she believes violates her First Amendment rights, the situation has garnered national attention, including a story in The New York Times. She has even received calls from law firms nationally to assist her in the case.

I wasnt expecting this to get this much attention, said Luttrell, who noted she appreciates the local support she has received from people on social media. I had two different civil rights/constitutional law firms, with one in Philadelphia and one right outside Washington, D.C., that have called to see what they can do to help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germantown officials declined to comment on Luttrell's and a law firm's claims that her First Amendment rights have been violated.

Recently, Luttrell incorporated the skeletons into her Valentine's Day display, which also includes inflatables and a small sign that states: "Love is Love." The skeleton man is dressed neatly with a red-and-white tie-dye shirt with a heart and red tutu, while the dog has a Valentine's-themed leash, red bandana and flowers on its head. Inflatable hearts also hang from the skeletons.

She has plans to decorate the skeletons for future holidays including St. Patricks Day, Easter and Pride Month in June.

Alexis Luttrell has incorporated skeleton decorations into her Valentine's Day display at her home in Germantown, Tenn. Luttrell was cited by the City of Germantown and faces a Feb. 13 court date over her use of the skeletons in various holiday displays.

What does Germantown's ordinance say about holiday decorations?

Cameron Ross, Germantown's director of economic and community development, said the city has no issue with the skeletons being up for Halloween. However, the issue is that skeletons have remained up past the 30 days since Oct. 31, as allowed by the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germantown officials said the ordinance has been in place for a long time, and this is a matter in front of the court to consider for lack of compliance with the Germantown property maintenance ordinance.

Germantown code pertaining to holiday, seasonal and special decorations states:

"Holiday and seasonal decorations, including, but not limited to, holiday lights on houses or in the yard or shrubbery, yard ornaments or decorations, and the like, shall not be installed or placed more than 45 days before the date of the holiday for which said decorations are intended and shall be removed within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days, following the date of the holiday for which said decorations were intended. Holiday lights, even if not illuminated, are not permitted to remain on any house or structure year-round.

"Temporary residential and non-residential lighting displays shall not be installed or placed more than ten days prior to the special event and no more than 30 days total."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ross said as with any other code violation, the resident is provided a courtesy notice explaining the issue and asking them to remedy the situation. If this is not completed in the time allotted, then a formal citation is issued.

If the violation continues to remain unresolved over the time allotted by the code, then a summons to court is issued so that the process can be addressed by the city prosecutor and judge, Ross said.

According to Stacey Crockett, Germantowns chief communications officer, a code enforcement officer issued nine citations in December for holiday decorations involving giant skeletons staying up longer than the ordinance permitted. However, eight of those who were cited have removed the skeletons, with Luttrell being the lone resident who has been cited and not taken down the decorations.

In terms of that impending court date, Crockett said any fines that Luttrell accumulates will be considered as part of the court's proceedings. She indicated Luttrell still has the opportunity to bring the issue into compliance before the court date and would only be responsible for court costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Luttrell said the city wants her to pay any fine and court cost but doesnt know yet how much that would be.

Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo declined to comment. The Commercial Appeal reached out to all five of the city's aldermen, three of whom responded and declined to comment. The mayor and aldermen referred to the comments from city staff.

GERMANTOWN DEVELOPMENT: What's next for Germantown's biggest projects in 2025? New housing, retail and more

Law firm says First Amendment rights violated

Robert Frommer is a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based nonprofit public interest law firm. Frommer said the law firm learned about the case from monitoring the news and had stayed in contact with Luttrell as things unfolded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He wouldnt confirm to The Commercial Appeal whether the Institute for Justice would represent Luttrell in the case and noted the law firm hadn't made any firm offer yet.

Frommer said Germantowns enforcement actions violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The law firm stated a core principle of the First Amendment is that the government cannot discriminate against speech based on what it says or who puts it up.

Alexis Luttrell has incorporated skeleton decorations into her Valentine's Day display at her home in Germantown, Tenn. Luttrell was cited by the City of Germantown and faces a Feb. 13 court date over her use of the skeletons in various holiday displays.

In this case, Frommer said that includes the decorations that someone puts up to celebrate a holiday. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its 2015 decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, made clear that those kind of content-based regulations must serve the most compelling of government interests, according to the law firm. Installing holiday decorations too early or keeping them up too late simply doesnt fit the bill, he said.

The Institute for Justice boasts it has years of experience litigating across the country against violations of Americans free speech rights. The Institute for Justice has sued several local governments including Conway, New Hampshire, where city officials ordered a local bakery to remove a mural that was painted by some local high school art students because it featured some of the same baked goods that were sold inside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Frommer said the Institute for Justice has spent more than a decade showing that officials across the country regularly abuse ordinary Americans by acting like the speech police. In this case, he said: Luttrells holiday decorations issue leading to a court summons.

He stated it seems based on the ordinance that Germantown officials or code enforcement officers get to decide whether a residents holiday decorations match the particular holidays, but it should be the resident who decides what decorations are appropriate for the holidays.

What theyre (Germantown) really saying (regarding the ordinance) is we dont think your skeleton and skeleton dog is Christmassy enough, so were deciding for ourselves whats an appropriate Christmas decoration, Frommer said. And, since yours dont qualify, we are going to fine you. How is a skeleton any more dangerous or any more ugly than like an inflatable Santa? Its up to people to decide what they want to put up.

Germantown resident ready for legal battle with city

Germantown resident Alexis Luttrell is facing a court date over the skeleton decorations she has integrated into various holiday displays in her yard.

Luttrell, who has a law degree and works in health care compliance for a pharmaceutical firm, is standing firm that she is going to fight the citation in local court and beyond if need be.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were at the point where were at an impasse, said Luttrell, who estimates she has spent about $1,000 on skeletons, inflatables and other decorations. The city is saying, 'Were going to see her in court,' and Ive just said, 'OK, Ill see you, and Im bringing representation with me.' This is just unexpected that they would dig in their heels like this, especially with this being a pretty basic First Amendment argument. I guess they just thought I would be like the other people, who said its not worth it, Im going to take it down I dont know who let them think they (Germantown) can win this because if they win the short-term battle, then they have set themselves up to lose the bigger battle.

Frommer praised Luttrell for fighting what she believes is right. He reiterated that the whole idea behind free speech in this case is that people like Luttrell should get the right to choose what decorations they use to celebrate and Germantown officials shouldnt get to block Luttrell just because they dislike her picks.

Theres a lot of unconstitutional laws out there, Frommer said. The hardest thing is finding someone to stand up and say, 'I dont want this and this isnt right. I dont want this for me or anyone else.' This is what she is doing by saying this violates my First Amendment rights and not just my rights, but the rights for everyone else. So, I commend her for fighting the good fight.

Frommer also believes that Germantown controlling such things as how long people can keep up their holiday decorations could make the Memphis suburb less attractive for those looking to move into the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This looks bad, and if you want your city to be an open, friendly place where people can live their lives, something like this says, 'Is Germantown really the place for me to raise my family and am I really going to be able to decide for myself what I can put up or things like that?'

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee woman headed to court over holiday decorations: Here's why
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A 13-year-old girl from Brooklyn has been missing for almost two weeks, according to the NYPD.

Rayne Dubard-King was last seen leaving her home on Monument Walk at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, police say.

More Local News

Dubard-King is described as around 54 and 115 pounds. NYPD shared the following photo:

Rayne Dubard-King (Courtesy of the NYPD)

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).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
Trains were canceled across Bangladesh yesterday as railway staff went on strike for higher pensions and other benefits, affecting tens of thousands of passengers and freight transport.

Saidur Rahman, acting president of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, said the strike was called after a meeting with the interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus failed to reach a deal late Monday.

Rahman said the strike would continue indefinitely if the government does not accept their demands.

The state-run railway system carries some 65 million passengers per year in the densely populated nation of 170 million people. It employs about 25,000 people and operates a network of over 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles).

The main Kamlapur Railway Station in the capital, Dhaka, was mobbed by hundreds of disappointed passengers who were not aware of the strike. Many waited for hours before going home.

As the countrys railway adviser visited, passengers shouted complaints.

Fouzul Kabir Khan, the countrys railway affairs adviser, told reporters that such a nationwide strike was regrettable and he urged the protesters to end the strike.

He said that doors for discussion were open to resolve the standoff.

Shahadat Hossain, a station manager in Dhaka, said at least 10 trains were scheduled to leave the station yesterday morning. Authorities arranged buses as an alternative, but they were not enough to meet demand.

Mohammed Nadim was stranded at the Kamlapur Railway Station as he travelled hundreds of kilometers overnight to reach Dhaka for his vacation to the southern coastal district of Coxs Bazar.

I came here in at 5:30 a.m. from outside Dhaka. But after one hour or so, I came to know that my train will not run. Now I have been stranded here for hours without any hope. The station officials told me my ticket money will be reimbursed, but I dont know when, he told The Associated Press at the scene.

He refused to travel to his destination by a bus as arranged by the authorities as an alternative. MDT/AP
Deusdedit Ruhangariyo

Special to ICT

Around the World: Chinese authorities close Uyghur farmers' water wells in southern Xinjiang, Nordic Council launches Arctic program prioritizing local communities, and a funding boost for Aboriginal cultural understanding in Western Australia schools.

CHINA: Uyghurs water wells closed

Water wells deemed illegal by Chinese authorities have been shut down in three Uyghur villages located on the edge of a vast desert in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported on Jan. 21.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those who wished to dig wells were typically required to obtain permits. However, no permits were provided to the farmers, and there were no clear restrictions on constructing wells in the area.

The villages, including one named Achchiq, are situated in Yopurgha county, which is part of Kashgar prefecture. The county lies on the western edge of the massive Taklamakan Desert, an area nearly the size of Germany, and is predominantly inhabited by Uyghurs.

This news follows an investigation that revealed 46 illegal wells dug in another part of Xinjiang, many of which were constructed by Han Chinese settlers to cultivate cotton and vegetables, significantly depleting water resources. However, authorities have avoided cracking down on those wells.

Recent videos shared by Zumrat Dawut, a former detainee of a Uyghur internment camp now living in Virginia, USA, show the demolition of wells constructed by Uyghur farmers in Achchiq village.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the videos, officials can be seen forcing farmers to fill in the wells they had previously dug as part of efforts to tackle the regions ongoing water scarcity crisis. Critics have described the actions as excessive and harmful to the local community.

When Radio Free Asia reached out to the security director of Achchiq village for confirmation, he stated that officials had indeed shut down illegal wells in three villages.

I was involved in closing wells in villages 6, 7, and 8, he said.

The director mentioned that the well closures began in February 2024 but did not provide information about the potential effects on residents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another security director, based in Terim village in Yopurgha county, also confirmed that wells dug by Uyghurs there had been closed, forcing residents to purchase water from the Bingtuan, officially known as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

ARCTIC: Funds to support Arctic regions

An Arctic initiative launched by the Nordic Council will allocate 30 million Danish Kroner (approximately $2.66 million) over the next three years to focus on addressing social, economic and environmental challenges in Arctic regions, The Barents Observer reported on Jan. 25.

For nearly three decades, the Nordic Council has been involved in Arctic affairs, supporting projects that tackle a wide range of issues, Secretary General Karen Ellemann said. This new programme is an extension of our commitment to strengthening local communities and increasing resilience to climate change.

The programme was announced just ahead of the Arctic Frontiers conference, which begins Jan. 27 in Troms, Norway, where the Nordic Arctic programme will officially be launched. Ellemann emphasized the importance of supporting northern communities as they navigate the increasingly complex impacts of environmental changes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Climate change is affecting communities in the Arctic, and its essential that we focus on both the environmental and social aspects of resilience to ensure these communities are better equipped to adapt, she said.

In addition to the broader Arctic programme, the council backed the Arctic Youth Conference, held in Troms from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26. Ellemann highlighted the significance of including youth perspectives in the conversation.

We need to listen to young people who will inherit these challenges, Ellemann said. Their perspectives will help shape the future of the Arctic, and I look forward to hearing from the youth representatives at the conference.

The Nordic Council represents Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Norway, as well as the autonomous regions of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Aland, an autonomous region of Finland.

AUSTRALIA: A focus on cultural awareness

Cultural awareness efforts are becoming increasingly prominent in classrooms throughout Western Australian schools, driven by the state government's Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) programs, the National Indigenous Times reported on Jan. 25.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2024-25 Term 4 round of the PALS program was announced on Jan. 24, with the initiative supporting 21 WA schools through grants totaling $88,608. This funding is aimed at advancing reconciliation efforts in schools across Western Australia.

Through these initiatives, students will have the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal cultures, their contributions, and histories.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr. Tony Buti stated that the Labor government has allocated over $177,000 to more than 40 schools in the 2024-25 funding rounds, focusing on enhancing students' understanding of Aboriginal cultures.

Gaining a deeper insight into the cultures, achievements, and histories of Aboriginal people helps school communities build better relationships with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a great funding round outcome, and I look forward to seeing the continued positive impact the PALS program has on WA communities.

The Term 1 2025 grants for this initiative will open on Jan. 30 and close on March 27. The program will be administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

The funding will help foster stronger relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members by offering valuable insights into Aboriginal cultures, achievements and histories.

My final thoughts

My final thoughts are in Xinjiang where the closure of wells in Uyghur villages of Yopurgha county is a devastating blow to Uyghur farmers. Water is a basic need, especially for those living near the harsh Taklamakan Desert.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These wells were their lifeline, helping them grow crops and support their families. Now, with the wells destroyed, they are left to struggle. Whats worse is the unfairness. Han Chinese settlers in the region have similar wells, yet theirs remain untouched.

This isnt just about water  its about justice. Targeting one group while sparing another deepens existing inequalities. Farmers who tried to survive in difficult conditions are now being punished. Water scarcity is a real issue, but this isnt the way to solve it. Actions like this only create anger and distrust.

The solution lies in collaboration, not destruction. Authorities should work with the farmers to create fair systems for managing water. They could provide permits, build shared infrastructure, or invest in alternative sources like rainwater harvesting.

Listening to the farmers and involving them in decision-making would make a huge difference. Above all, any regulations must be enforced equally for everyone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Uyghur farmers deserve support, not punishment. Their hard work to survive in a tough environment should be respected. By focusing on fairness and cooperation, authorities can address water challenges without harming lives. Its time to choose compassion and equity over heavy-handed policies.

Working together is the only way to build a sustainable future for everyone.

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!
When Raul Carrillo was 12 years old, he tells Channel 11 he came to the United States with his family, and eventually became a citizen.

I was blessed. I thank my parents and God, Carrillo told Channel 11.

Today, hes the general manager of a Mexican restaurant outside of Pittsburgh.

Every time I see people crossing the border with their entire family, the only thing that I can think is, God be with them, because its too dangerous. Its insane, Carrillo added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the weekend, ICE agents went to several local restaurants and businesses in what ICE is calling Targeted Enforcement Operations  where agents look to take people charged with crimes into custody, and start the deportation process.

However, the Border Czar has said there could also be collateral arrests  when an documented person is found with someone ICE is targeting.

Im ok with that because Im a US citizen. Hes doing his job. We need to support our new president, he said.

But  with deportations, Carrillo worries there could be a major impact on a consumer level.

Its going to affect the fields, the grocery stores. Its going to affect you guys because its going to be hard to get your produce at home. Its going to hurt us to get the produce in our kitchen, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, what worries him the most is that he and his family could be targeted just because of their heritage, even though he has been a US citizen for decades.

It hurts that my grandkids get discriminated just because of their color. They dont know me. Im coming here to work to create jobs for people.

ICE has not released any specific information on Pittsburgh-area raids, despite our repeated questions.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Google has announced its policy for the naming of the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska's Denali mountain after a controversial presidential executive order

Hours after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order stating that the Gulf of Mexico should be referred to as the "Gulf of America" on all government communications, and that Denalithe centerpiece of Denali National Park & Preservebe reverted to its old name of Mount McKinley.

On Jan. 27, Google Maps addressed what would happen to those landmarks on their systems. "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources. For geographic features in the U.S., this is when Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated," the company explained on X about the changes. "When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America."

Weve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.  News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025

For geographic features in the U.S., this is when Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated. https://t.co/3NYvU7Bxjq  News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025

The company went on to explain what will happen to the Gulf of Mexico, an international body of water that still has the same name in the rest of the world. "When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too," Google explained.

Also longstanding practice: When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too.  News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025

The name Denali has been used for the mountain by the Koyukon Athabaskan for thousands of years. In 2015, a presidential executive order changed the official name on all federal documents from Mount McKinley, named after the U.S. president who never set foot in Alaska. On Jan. 27, the Alaska House of Representatives voted to condemn the renaming.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Denali is more than a mountain. It's a cornerstone of Alaska's history, a tribute to our diverse culture and a testament to the people who have cherished this land for millennia," Rep. Maxine Dibert, who is Koyukon Athabascan, told her colleagues, per Alaska Public Media. "If the federal government moves to change the name, it is an affront to our state sovereignty. To officially change the name would not only dishonor those who have fought to protect the name Denali but also dismiss the voices of the Native communities whose roots are intertwined with this land."

Related: Climbing Denali in Under 12 Hours

It remains to be seen when the changes are reflected in Google Maps.
Google said Monday its maps will use names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico favored by President Donald Trump  Mount McKinley and Gulf of America  when federal maps make the switch.

In an executive order he signed on his first day back in office on Jan. 20, Trump ordered the interior secretary to make the changes within 30 days.

Trumps order said the new names would need to be reflected in the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) run by the U.S. Geological Survey, part of the Interior Department. Spokespeople for the survey did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

A view of Denali, North America's tallest peak, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

The Senate is considering Trumps nominee for interior secretary, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who answered questions at a confirmation hearing Jan. 16.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement on X, Google suggested any GNIS-driven name changes for Google Maps would take place as a matter of long-standing policy.

We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources, it said.

It said that when GNIS makes the changes, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America.

However, it noted that Trump and the United States arent always global arbiters of place names.

If the new names arent recognized outside the United States, the accepted names in each country will be reflected on Google Maps, the company said, meaning Denali and the Gulf of Mexico may remain their names outside the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alaskas two senators oppose the change, saying Denali serves as a needed reminder of the states deep indigenous history.

Spokespeople for Apples own maps, native to the iPhone, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

In his order, Trump said William McKinley, the 25th president, was committed to American greatness.

Under his leadership, the United States enjoyed rapid economic growth and prosperity, including an expansion of territorial gains, the order says.

Trump tied his desire to rename the Gulf of Mexico to his contention that Mexico has allowed undocumented migrants to flow into the United States unfettered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded on Jan. 8 by suggesting Mexico call its northern neighbor America Mexicana, a term used to describe what is now the United States that harks back to 1607 and burgeoning defiance of Spain.

The Associated Press, a global nonprofit cooperative that reports and shares news for its member outlets, said last week it will honor the change to Mount McKinley, the first official name given to Denali by the U.S. government nearly a century before the Obama administration reprised its centuries-old Indigenous name.

The Associated Press will use the official name change to Mount McKinley, Amanda Barrett, the APs vice president of standards and inclusion, said in a statement. The area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

The AP publishes a guide of contemporary English language, the AP Stylebook, which includes guidance for journalists about place names, capitalization, officials titles and best practices. It is the basis for shared language in news stories distributed to its members. Barrett said the stylebook will be updated to replace Denali with Mount McKinley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regarding the Gulf of America, the AP has a different stance.

The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years, Barrett said. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.

The organization notes that the body of water bounded by Mexicos Pacific coast and the Baja Peninsula has two names, often dependent on ones country of origin. In the United States, it is predominantly called the Gulf of California. In Mexico, where its coastline exists exclusively, it is the Sea of Cortez.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Kentucky's Russell Coleman is among the 19 Republican attorneys general urging Costco to end its diversity, equity and inclusion policies. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

A group of Republican attorneys general  including Kentuckys Russell Coleman  is pressuring Costco to end all unlawful discrimination imposed by the retailers diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The 19 attorneys general sent a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris this week citing Republican President Donald Trumps executive order that encouraged all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Writing that Costco should treat every person equally and based on their merit, rather than based on divisive and discriminatory DEI practices, the attorneys general asked Vachris to either repeal Costcos DEI policies or explain why the company is keeping them within 30 days.

Costco shareholders recently rejected a proposal from a conservative think tank to examine risks posed by its DEI policies. Nearly 98% of shareholders voted against the measure. Costcos board had recommended rejection of the proposal.

At the Jan. 24 shareholders meeting, Costco board chair Tony E Curtis said the companys commitment to inclusion does not and has never included quotas or systematic preferences, nor does it mean compromising merit. The demands of our business and our steadfast commitment to serve our members mean that we cannot afford to do anything but hire and promote the most qualified individuals.

Costco has not publicly responded to the letter. A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kentucky AG Coleman said in a statement, Costco has a motto to Do the right thing, but their DEI business practices are all wrong. By pushing a DEI agenda, Costco is out-of-step with the Kentuckians who just want affordable prices.

Costco has four stores in Kentucky, according to its website.

Nationwide, some companies are rethinking their commitment to DEI, while others are standing by their diversity practices. Brands like Walmart and Meta have rolled back DEI policies while tech giants Microsoft and Apple reaffirmed their policies within the last week. Last year, Kentucky-based whiskey maker Brown-Forman suspended its DEI policies.

DEI policies are often aimed at removing bias and promoting fairness in areas like employment and education.

Daniel Cameron (Kentucky Lantern photo

by Matthew Mueller)

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron crusaded with other Republican attorneys general to curb DEI in the private sector, including issuing a letter to Fortune 100 CEOs calling on them to use race-neutral principles in your employment and contracting practices following the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of affirmative action in higher education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After losing a race for Kentucky governor in 2023, Cameron became CEO of the 1792 Exchange, a group that aims to steer public companies back to neutral on divisive, ideological issues.

Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, recently defended private sector decisions to maintain DEI policies. If companies think encouraging a diverse workforce helps them, Beshear said, the state that youre working with should support you.

Read the letter

FINAL Costco Lettet (1)
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares shown here at a rally in Chesapeake for then former President Donald Trump on June 28, 2024. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury)

A group of Republican attorneys general  including Virginias Jason Miyares  is pressuring Costco to end all unlawful discrimination imposed by the retailers diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The 19 attorneys general sent a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris this week citing Republican President Donald Trumps executive order that encouraged all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Writing that Costco should treat every person equally and based on their merit, rather than based on divisive and discriminatory DEI practices, the attorneys general asked Vachris to either repeal Costcos DEI policies or explain why the company is keeping them in place within 30 days.

Costco shareholders recently rejected a proposal from a conservative think tank to examine risks posed by its DEI policies. Nearly 98% of shareholders voted against the measure. Costcos board had recommended rejection of the proposal.

At the Jan. 24 shareholders meeting, Costco board chair Tony E Curtis said the companys commitment to inclusion does not and has never included quotas or systematic preferences, nor does it mean compromising merit. The demands of our business and our steadfast commitment to serve our members mean that we cannot afford to do anything but hire and promote the most qualified individuals.

Costco has not publicly responded to the letter. A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Costco has 17 stores in Virginia, according to its website.

Nationwide, some companies are rethinking their commitment to DEI, while others are standing by their diversity practices. Brands like Walmart and Meta have rolled back DEI policies while tech giants Microsoft and Apple reaffirmed their policies within the last week.

DEI policies are often aimed at removing bias and promoting fairness in areas like employment and education.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
MADISON - Three Wisconsin lawmakers are proposing to require all public schools display "In God We Trust" on the walls of classrooms.

Republican Sen. Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee and GOP Reps. Joy Goeben of Hobart and Nate Gustafson of Fox Crossing are seeking support from legislative colleagues for a bill that would require the displays to be present in all public school buildings within six months of passage of the bill and by the 2026-27 school year in schools.

"This measure is by no means unprecedented. Wisconsin would join a growing list of states recently requiring the motto be displayed including Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, and most recently Louisiana," the lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support.

Senator Cory Tomczyk Senate District 29 (R - Mosinee)

The lawmakers said it would codify a trend of states enacting similar laws since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would require the displays to be at least 11 inches by 14 inches large.

Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day, according to an analysis of the proposal by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.

"In God We Trust" has been the national motto since 1956. The saying first appeared on U.S. coins during the Civil War and is still included on currency today.

The use of "In God We Trust" in government buildings like schools has been challenged in court over the years, arguing the display of the motto violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion protections. A U.S. Appeals Court in 2018 ruled the motto was constitutional and did not infringe on Americans' rights to free religion. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 rejected a case involving the question of constitutionality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers, a former public school educator, did not immediately react to the proposal.

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP lawmakers want public schools to display 'In God We Trust'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee's Republican-dominant Statehouse is on track to become the latest state to adopt immigration enforcement policies designed to assist President Donald Trump's plan to suppress illegal immigration and carry out one of the largest mass deportation efforts in U.S. history.

In just three days, Tennessee lawmakers fast-tracked GOP Gov. Bill Lee's $5.5 million proposal to create a new state immigration division and allocate funding for new training grants for local law enforcement agencies seeking immigration agreements to cooperate with federal authorities. The proposal awaits final votes amid expected passage.

Among other steps, the proposal also would require a different, temporary drivers license for lawful permanent residents noting they arent U.S. citizens. Republicans have argued that would help officials determine someones voting eligibility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American people spoke loudly in electing him (Trump) that they felt like border security and illegal immigration was an issue which needed to be addressed," said Republican Sen. Bo Watson of Chattanooga.

Legal questions have overshadowed parts of the plan, including a proposal to create a Class E felony against any local elected official voting for or adopting a so-called sanctuary policy. This could include voting in favor of local government restrictions that impede efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants in the U.S. without permission.

Legislative attorneys this week warned lawmakers that such penalties could be unconstitutional due to state and federal protections afforded lawmakers at various levels of government, but those warnings have largely been rebuffed.

Meanwhile, Republicans ignored Democrats' reminders that sanctuary policies  such as local government restrictions on helping detain immigrants for ICE  are already banned in Tennessee and thus would be unenforceable should any local government push for them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead, the GOP-controlled Senate passed the legislation Wednesday with one Republican joining Democrats in opposition. The similarly Republican-led House is expected to sign off on the bill Thursday before it would go to the governor's desk for his expected signature.

Tennessee is among an increasing number of Republican states considering bills intended to help Trump's aggressive immigration agenda. While Trump's administration hasn't told states what policies they would like at their level, some legislative leaders have been quick to pass bills they believe would help Trump.

In Florida, lawmakers passed a sweeping immigration bill requiring every level of government  as well as government contractors  to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible. Yet unlike Tennessee, Florida lawmakers are currently in a showdown with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has promised to veto the legislation after the Legislature rejected his initial proposals.

Next month, Oklahoma lawmakers are expected to gavel into legislative session where they will consider a bill that would remove election officials who willfully violate a ban on sanctuary policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Tennessee, attempts by Democrats and one Republican to tweak the immigration bill by removing the felony offense all failed. A separate attempt to amend the bill to prevent local and state authorities from carrying out immigration enforcement actions around schools, churches and hospitals also was spiked.

Critics warned the fast-tracked plan will face immediate legal challenges.

This is un-American. This bill is immoral," said Democratic Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville. "Its constitutionally inconsistent. Its economically indefensible because theres going to be litigation and automatic lawsuits filed because of this legislation.

Lawmakers were able to speedily advance Lee's immigration bill because the governor called a special session to discuss the topic and others. Special sessions allow legislators to waive traditional processes and rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agenda includes Lee's sweeping education voucher proposal that would help families send students to private school, regardless of their income level. Lee is hoping a social media post by Trump endorsing the bill will help tip the scale favorably. The votes come as Trump plans to issue an order to expand school vouchers and other school choice initiatives by telling government agencies to repurpose federal dollars.

The state House and Senate are voting on the voucher bill Thursday.

Large crowds have shown up during the committee hearings and throughout the Capitol to show their opposition to the voucher and immigration bills.

At least three women holding up signs were ejected from a House committee hearing Wednesday on immigration. They were carried by state troopers after the women had been warned to be quiet.

-

Associated Press photographer George L. Walker contributed to this report.
Donald Trumpsigned an executive order last week to declassify documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and now some Republican senators want more.

Trump, these GOP senators say, should also declassify documents related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a financier whom the president described as a terrific guy in a 2002 interview with New York magazine.

Although Trump hinted in September he would release the Epstein files if elected, he didnt include them in his executive order on the JFK, RFK and MLK files.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told the Bulwark that hed like to see the files, and doesnt know why Trump hasnt released them yet.

If I talk to him, Ill ask him, but Id like to see them. Ill be the first in line [to read them], said Kennedy, who isnt related to the assassinated president and senator.

Some have postulated that Trump didnt call for the release of the Epstein files because he might be mentioned in them.

Epstein and Trump used to party together, although the president distanced himself from the ex-banker after Epsteins 2019 arrest on charges of sex trafficking underage girls and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epstein was found dead in his cell in August of that year, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide.

Kennedy said hed like to see the files even if Trump is mentioned in them.

I dont care if hes named in them. The American people are entitled to know the truth. The mans dead as Jimmy Hoffa  hes gone  and his sidekicks in jail, Kennedy said, referring to Ghislaine Maxwell. Were entitled to know what he did, who he did it with and whether he broke any laws.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also told the Bulwark that Trump should absolutely release the documents and also the P. Diddy files. He added, We deserve to know who is implicated in abusing children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) agreed about releasing any Epstein documents but took time to ponder the Trump what-ifs.

I think they should be released, he told the Bulwark eventually.

Experts interviewed by NPR say big reveals are unlikely in the proposed drop of declassified documents on the assassinations.

Related...
New Zealand is reconsidering all development funding to the aid-dependent island nation of Kiribati, following a diplomatic snub from the island nations leader, government officials said.

The unusual move to review all finance to Kiribati was prompted by the abrupt cancellation of a planned meeting this month between President Taneti Maamau and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Peters office told The Associated Press on Monday.

It followed months of growing frustration from Australia and New Zealand  jointly responsible for more than a third of overseas development finance to Kiribati in 2022  about a lack of engagement with the island nation. Tensions have risen since Kiribati aligned itself with China in 2019 and signed a series of bilateral deals with Beijing.

An strategically important island nation

The bond between Kiribati  population 120,000  and its near neighbor New Zealand, a country of 5 million people, might not appear the South Pacifics most significant. But the acrimony reflects concern from western powers that their interests in the region are being undermined as China woos Pacific leaders with offers of funding and loans.

That has provoked a contest for influence over Kiribati, an atoll nation that is among the worlds most imperiled by rising sea levels. Its proximity to Hawaii and its vast exclusive economic zone  the worlds 12th largest  have boosted its strategic importance.

Powers vie for sway with aid

Kiribati, one of the worlds most aid-dependent nations, relies heavily on international support, with foreign assistance accounting for 18% of its national income in 2022, according to data from the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. About 10% of development finance that year came from New Zealand  which contributed 102 million New Zealand dollars ($58 million) between 2021 and 2024, official figures show.

However, officials in Wellington and Canberra have expressed frustration over a lack of engagement from Tarawa regarding development projects. Frictions escalated when Kiribati suspended all visits from foreign officials in August, citing a need to focus on the government formation process after elections that month.

Kiribati switched its allegiance from pro-Taiwan to pro-Beijing in 2019, joining a growing number of Pacific nations to do so.

An official snub provokes backlash

Peters was scheduled to meet Maamau, who has led the country since 2016, in Kiribati on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22, Peters office said, but was told a week before the trip that Maamau could not accommodate him. It would have been the first visit by a New Zealand minister in more than five years.

The lack of political-level contact makes it very difficult for us to agree joint priorities for our development program, and to ensure that it is well targeted and delivers good value for money, a statement supplied by Peters office said. New Zealand will review all development cooperation with Kiribati as a result, the statement added.

The government of Kiribati did not respond to a request for comment, although Education Minister Alexander Teabo told Radio New Zealand yesterday that Maamau had a long-standing engagement on his home island  and denied a snub.

New Zealand cautioned that the diplomatic rift could have broader consequences, including impacting New Zealand resident visas for Kiribati citizens and participation in a popular seasonal work scheme that brings Pacific horticulture and viticulture workers to New Zealand. New Zealand  home to large populations of Pacific peoples  is a popular spot for those from island nations to live and work.

In the meantime, New Zealand stands ready, as we always have, to engage with Kiribati at a high level, said the statement.

Australias softer approach

The decision to review all development funding is a different, and more forceful approach than New Zealand has taken before, said Blake Johnson, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and contrasted with a different tack taken recently by Australia  which is Kiribatis biggest funder.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles traveled to the island nation this month as planned to deliver a patrol boat promised to Kiribati in 2023  even though he did not meet with Maamau. Australias foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday that the country remains committed to its longstanding partnership with Kiribati. CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY, WELLINGTON, MDT/AP
President Donald Trump has declared an all-out war on congressional power. And his allies on Capitol Hill arent doing much to fend off the invasion.

From firing a slate of inspectors general to changing citizenship qualifications to delaying a ban on the TikTok app, the president is running roughshod over Congress in his first week back in office. The effort culminated Monday night with a budget office memo freezing all federal financial assistance pending a review by administration political appointees.

The effort represents a frontal assault on the legislative branchs core constitutional power to raise and spend federal funds  the power of the purse that has been zealously protected by generations of congressional leaders of both parties. A federal judge temporarily blocked the move Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet many senior Republicans quickly fell in line, brushing off the implications of the freeze  with some saying they expected it to be narrowed and many others defending it as Trump simply making good on his electoral mandate.

You need to understand, he was elected to shake up the status quo, said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), calling the Office of Management and Budget order exactly what he was elected to do."

I think it's a long time coming, added House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.). I hope this sets a precedent.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also downplayed the freeze as a preliminary step, describing it as a normal practice at the beginning of the administration until they have an opportunity to review how the money is being spent. (He later called for additional clarity from the White House.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats, meanwhile, declared the situation nothing short of a constitutional crisis, as Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) told reporters Tuesday. Party leaders said state attorneys general were readying lawsuits to challenge the freeze, and they called for the cancellation of a planned committee vote on Trumps budget director nominee, Russ Vought.

House Democrats have scheduled a Wednesday meeting to launch a comprehensive three-pronged counteroffensive to include litigation, legislation and a Day of Action to raise alarms about the funding halt.

This is the most serious assault on the constitutional separation of powers and the authority of our Congress in the history of the country, said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats. I can never recall a time where the executive essentially tried to usurp the clear constitutional authority of Congress to authorize and fund programs.

Trumps actions amount to the most significant test yet of just how much deference he can expect out of the Republican congressional majorities. Already he has shown that he is dealing with a strikingly more malleable GOP than he had when he was last inaugurated in 2017 and there was a significant element of the party  including then-leaders Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan  willing to buck his wishes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While top leaders including Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson minimized the threat to the institution they lead, there was more ambivalence to be found further down the GOP ranks.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump ally, said the president was testing his own authority and would soon back away.

Clearly an all-encompassing freeze on grant programs and appropriations can't long endure, he said. They'll go through it, probably item by item, line by line, budget by budget. Who knows how they'll do it. But, for now, it's a pretty major test of separation of powers.



Trump officials have called some GOP lawmakers who have voiced concerns, telling them to stop, according to two people familiar with the private conversations who were granted anonymity to describe them. But many still werent shy about describing mass confusion they encountered overnight Monday, with bewildered constituents flooding their phone lines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said in an interview that he woke up at the House GOP retreat at Trumps Miami-area resort to text messages from constituents worried about Trumps order.

For people, this is their livelihood, Bacon said, adding that its already appropriated money and that he hoped the freeze was short-lived.

So they just gotta realize, he added of the Trump administration, when you come in with a sledgehammer, there's some frag.

GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of flood-ravaged North Carolina expressed concerns about disaster relief funding: I cant imagine that the president would knowingly cut off housing assistance from people displaced from their homes. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said her offices phones were ringing off the hook all morning with calls from people wondering what it means, how long it's gonna last.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The spending freeze could have immediate governing implications for Republicans. With just over six weeks until federal funding expires, they are faced with the tricky business of negotiating a fiscal 2025 spending deal with Democrats.

With Trump now exercising the power to hold up federal spending, even briefly, those Democrats are warning that those talks are in peril  to say nothing of the additional need to raise the nations debt limit in the coming months.

Can you imagine what it's going to be like  if those agreements mean nothing? That somebody can sit back and say, Sure, I'll give you that, knowing full well that their president's in power and they will keep the funding out? Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) asked Tuesday. We cannot function as a democracy in this country if we cannot respect and abide by our ability to make agreements in Congress.

In a sign of the anger over the freeze, 22 Senate Democrats voted to oppose Sean Duffys confirmation as Transportation secretary Tuesday after supporting him in a procedural vote the day prior, before the budget memo was released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) aired concerns about the move Tuesday, calling it far too sweeping and for the administration to take a more selective approach. Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that he was in touch with the White House trying to get more information about the orders impact but defended the attempt to rein in spending in general terms.

You know, Trump promised to shake up the government, he said. I dont mind him looking at the programs. I just want to know what the metrics are. What the timetables are.

That was a frequent refrain from other Republicans, who effectively shrugged off Monday nights memo despite Trump and his top allies making clear over many months that they have been readying to sidestep Congress on spending cuts.

Just because it gets paused doesnt mean it wont get funded, and the ones that are funded are funded in a better way, more in line with our priorities, said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Few in the top GOP echelon showed much concern about political backlash  or what might happen next time Democrats are in charge.

Emmers advice for anxious Republicans? "Get on the team."

Anthony Adragna, Zack Colman, Lisa Kashinsky, Mia McCarthy, Jennifer Scholtes, Josh Siegel and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report. Hill and McCarthy reported from Doral, Florida.
Several prominent Republicans in Washington, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, have voiced their support for the declassification of intelligence files related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein regardless of whether or not his onetime friend Donald Trump is named in them.

Id like to see them, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy told The Bulwark in an article published Tuesday. The president signed an executive order last week facilitating the declassification of files tied to the assassinations of former president John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

When asked by The Bulwark why Trump omitted Epstein from those declassifications, Kennedy said he doesnt know, but added, If I talk to him, Ill ask him. But Id like to see them, Ill be the first in line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont care if hes named in them, the senator continued. The American people are entitled to know the truth. The mans dead as Jimmy Hoffahes goneand his sidekicks in jail, he added, referring to Epsteins convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell , who was found guilty of child sex trafficking in 2021.

(L-R) Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

Were entitled to know what he did, who he did it with, and whether he broke any laws, Kennedy concluded.

Meanwhile, Cruz said Trump should absolutely declassify Epsteins files and added that it has been a goal of his for a while. I have long called for the administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, and also the P. Diddy files, Cruz told The Bulwark. We deserve to know who is implicated in abusing children.

Montana Sen. Steve Daines also jumped on the Epstein bandwagon and agreed that Trump should release the documents even if hes potentially named in them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In July 2019, Epstein was arrested by the FBI for child sex trafficking. He died by suicide in his prison cell six weeks later.

Trump and Epstein were famously friends during the 1990s and early aughts, with the president telling New York Magazine in 2002: Ive known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.

The two reportedly had a falling out two years later when they butted heads over a property in Palm Beach.

The day after Epsteins arrest in 2019, Trump shared that he knew the financier like everybody in Palm Beach knew him but that he had a falling out with him around 15 years ago at that point.

I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you, Trump continued.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Gov. Jeff Landry celebrated improvements in Louisiana students rankings in the Nations Report Card.

Results from the national test show how fourth-grade and eighth-grade students scored in math and reading proficiency. Assessments in those grades have taken place every two years since 2003, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.

The Nations Report Card showed that Louisianas national rankings went up in reading and math for both grade levels. Fourth graders led the nation in reading growth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is an unbelievably great day for a lot of people but especially for Louisiana, Landry said.

East Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole recognized the hard work of the students who were in attendance at the Wednesday morning news conference.

This is a historic achievement for our state and underscores the dedication of teachers and a laser focus on fundamental academic skills, Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said. While we are obviously pleased, we are not completely satisfied as there is more work to accomplish.

See national rankings in math and reading for Louisiana students.

Fourth-grade math

2024: 38th

2022: 44th

2019: 50th

Fourth-grade reading

2024: 16th

2022: 42nd

2019: 50th

Eighth-grade math

2024: 43rd

2022: 45th

2019: 49th

Eighth-grade reading

2024: 29th

2022: 39th

2019: 45th

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Save the Music Foundation looks to expand its school education support by going independent

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.
Gov. Mike Braun answers questions at a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in the Indiana Governor's Office. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Gov. Mike Braun doubled down Tuesday that all Hoosier law enforcement agencies should cooperate fully with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove undocumented immigrants in Indiana.

A new executive order issued by the Republican governor describes expectations for broad law enforcement collaboration. He said the order seeks to ensure that all Indiana agencies are abiding by the spirit of existing state and federal immigration policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The focus of this executive order is very clear  Indianas going to be a state that is going to be helping the (federal) administration find these folks that are described as the worst first, Braun said.

Were going to do what the federal government asks us to do thats reasonable to help find the most egregious examples of illegal immigrants that have committed egregious crimes, he continued. Im going to direct any of our authorities to not resist, and hopefully theyll be compliant on their own. I think a large part of the jurisdictions across our state will be, without any push from (the governors) office.

Indianas going to be a state that is going to be helping the (federal) administration find these folks that are described as the worst first.

 Indiana Gov. Mike Braun

When asked if Indiana law enforcement will be directed to enter schools or churches in search of undocumented immigrants, Braun said no, because Im not getting any directive from the federal government to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres nothing coming from here other than we are going to comply with what theyre doing federally, Braun reiterated. Dont extrapolate it into more than what we see here, because its gonna take a good while for this to take hold.

Brauns order states that Indiana law enforcement agencies  at all levels, including local and state  will, as found necessary and appropriate  perform the functions of immigration officers in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.

Law enforcement will also be required to report credible evidence of undocumented immigrants to Indianas Intelligence Fusion Center if an individual has a criminal history and/or is suspected of committing a felony; is suspected of engaging in espionage or terror-related activities; or presents a threat to national security or public safety. The Fusion Center, operated by state police, will then share that information with ICE.

The order further notes that Indianas National Guard will cooperate with state and federal requests to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 10-month deployment to Texas border with Mexico for 50 Hoosier guard members is set to end in the coming weeks. Braun said hes intending to keep (guard members) in place, but is hopeful that President Donald Trumps administration will soon take action at the southern border, thus minimizing the need for the Indiana guards presence there.

Lets see what kind of progress they make.  Lets see what happens in D.C.  if we actually get resources to secure the border, in a way that really secures it. And for the northern border, as well, Braun said. Then, I think the real solution has to come from Congress, and I expect that could happen quicker than what you might imagine, simply by measuring the results in this short period of time.

Brauns directives stipulate, too, that the Indiana Department of Administration, as well as other state agencies that do contracting work, must require contracted vendors to use the federal governments E-Verify system to ensure their workforce is lawfully permitted to work in the United States and in the State of Indiana.

Taxpayer money will not fund the contracts of illegal immigrants, Brauns office said in a news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a related but separate move, Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday to boost Hoosier participation in a federal program that allows local law enforcement to partner with ICE.

Senate Bill 430 intends to open up additional funds for Hoosier agencies to participate in the 287(g) program, an increased immigration enforcement agreement with the federal government, as part of a broad crackdown on those without legal citizenship.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

Under 287(g), a local law enforcement agency  usually a county sheriffs office that operates a jail  can voluntarily enter a memorandum of understanding with the federal government to become deputized by ICE to execute immigration investigations and determine next steps while migrants are in custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement allows local law enforcement to detain an individual without citizenship and carry out their own investigation to determine whether to turn the subject over to federal authorities. Outside of such agreements, localities have to wait for ICE to investigate a persons status. Oftentimes, ICE cannot respond to every detainee before detainers expire.

On Monday, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office was the first law enforcement agency in the state to announce its participation in the program. Local officials said the program will only impact undocumented people who have committed crimes and are in the county jail.

The bill, authored by Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, was voted unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee and now heads to the full chamber.

Another measure under consideration in the Statehouse would require Indiana law enforcement to give federal authorities notice when they arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, House Bill 1393 drew opposition from those concerned it could ensnare non-white citizens and others with different forms of legal status, but support from those wishing to better enforce the nations immigration laws. Lawmakers criss-crossed party lines in an 8-2 committee vote, sending the bill to the House chamber.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Gov. Mike Kehoe begins his State of the State address by celebrating firsts in state leadership, such as the Senate's first female president pro tem (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

A boost Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe touts as the largest increase in public school funding in two decades will fall about $300 million short of meeting the targets set in state law for public education.

He also suggests shifting $50 million into a program that helps pay for students to attend private and religious schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kehoe, elected in November, presented his first budget Tuesday. Overall, he is asking lawmakers to use about $2.5 billion of accumulated surplus cash to balance a $53.7 billion budget in the coming year, an increase of about $450 million from the amounts allocated for the current fiscal year.

The budget proposes spending $4 billion on the foundation formula, the basic state aid program, in fiscal 2026. Lawmakers put $3.8 billion into the formula in the current year, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requested an increase of $500 million.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

In remarks prepared for his State of the State speech, Kehoe said he was recommending enough to cover changes to the formula included in a major education bill passed last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But hes not providing the $300 million needed to match an increase in the state adequacy target triggered by the results of the Missouri School Improvement Program and included in the State Board of Educations budget request.

While we are committed to making good on the funding commitments passed by the legislature last year, this budget does not include the additional $300 million liability that was imposed by an administrative body, Kehoe said.

The adequacy target is the key to the formula, which last went through a complete revision in 2005. It is the amount deemed necessary to provide an education that will allow students to meet state performance standards.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican, said hes still learning the details of Kehoes budget. But he said lawmakers should fund schools at the level the laws direct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have an issue with passing legislation and then not funding it, Hough said. If were going to pass things that cost money, we have to fund it.

Democrats said Kehoes budget plan shortchanges public schools.

The governors budget plans regarding public education are, quite frankly, incompatible with this economic agenda, said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat.

House Minority Leader Ashley Aune of Kansas City, surrounded by members of the Democratic caucus, speaks last week at news conference after the 2025 legislative session opened (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck of Affton said Kehoes failure to put the $300 million formula increase into the budget undermines last years work on education.

The constituents in my community send a lot of tax dollars to Jefferson City, Beck said. Meanwhile, youre trying to take $50 million of taxpayer money from those same taxpayers and give it to rich people for vouchers to send their kids to private schools. I have a problem with both.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kehoe said he was holding back the $300 million because he wants to overhaul the foundation formula.

We must find a solution that does a better job of incentivizing performance and managing unrealistic annual adjustments, Kehoe said.

Last years education bill altered some of the factors that determine individual district funding, such as shifting from a pure attendance-based formula to one that also factors in total enrollment.

Kehoe is proposing a complete rewrite.

Its about looking decades ahead, and not just the current needs of school districts, Kehoe said. I urge those involved to keep that in mind so we can solve this problem for future generations of children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The budget also includes $50 million to expand a scholarship program for private schools, funding not required by last years education bill. That program, which provides aid to families with incomes less than 300% of the free-and-reduced-lunch eligibility amount, was to be primarily funded with donations and tax credits.

By adding state funding to the tax credit program we will be able to serve substantially more children than the program has in the past year, Kehoe said.

The spending is of questionable legality, Aune said.

My understanding is that the reason that we have made these tax credits is because it is unconstitutional to directly give money to private school institutions, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Other boosts to education include $33.4 million to fund increased base salaries for teachers, $16.8 million to increase support for higher education and $15 million to continue fully funding public school transportation needs.

The transportation is fully funded, which, for my rural district, thats huge, said state Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Republican from Marshall.

Kehoes budget proposes spending $16 billion from the general revenue fund, which will require him to use about $2.5 billion from accumulated surpluses.

On Dec. 31, the general revenue fund held $4.1 billion, a balance built up when state revenues grew at unprecedented rates in 2021 and 2022. Other funds that can be spent like general revenue hold another $1.5 billion, and there is $2.6 billion in funding dedicated to major projects that could be redirected if needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State revenues are no longer growing  collections for the fiscal year so far are down 1.7% through Monday  but the budget expects that trend to reverse, with growth of about 1.6% in the coming year.

Along with tapping the surplus to support spending, Kehoe told lawmakers he wants tax cuts that will phase-in a reduced top income tax rate. The current rate, 4.7%, will be cut to 4.6% for 2026 if revenues increase by $200 million in the current fiscal year.

One more cut, to 4.5%, is already in state law. Kehoe wants additional cuts tied to rising revenue.

It will take time, but I have directed the Missouri Department of Revenue to work with my staff on a sustainable and comprehensive plan to eliminate the individual income tax once and for all, Kehoe said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a briefing for reporters, budget staff said fund balances would remain healthy when the next fiscal year ends on June 30, 2026. Budget documents project the remaining general revenue balance will be about $1.4 billion on that date.

Other significant new spending proposed by Kehoe includes:

A pay raise for state workers that rewards longevity. Workers will receive a 1% increase for every two years on the job, capped at 10%, with a projected cost of $130 million.

$149 million to eliminate wait lists and improve in-home services for people with developmental disabilities.

$71.6 million to provide Medicaid-paid behavioral health services for an additional 2,100 adults and 6,700 children.

$161.5 million to increase child care funding, an amount that will allow the state to make payments based on enrollment, rather than on attendance. Payments would be made in advance and backlogs in payments plaguing the system would be eliminated.

The pay plan follows three years where the state implemented a $15 base wage for all state jobs and boosted pay for all workers at least 21% while increasing the differential for night work to $2 an hour. The longevity-based pay plan was implemented last year at state institutions where workers must be present 24 hours a day, such as veterans nursing homes and prisons.

About 10% of state jobs have been vacant in each of the two most recent fiscal years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its extremely difficult for our agencies to operate efficiently with an average turnover rate of 20% in our state workforce, Kehoe said.

Hough said hes inclined to support Kehoes pay proposal.

Weve done a lot to try to get those numbers up to where they need to be, Hough said, and now it sounds to me like the new governor would like to incentivize people to stick around, so thats probably a good idea, instead of retraining everybody all the time.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  With Tony Venhuizen announced as Gov. Larry Rhodens selection for Lieutenant Governor, the Governor is now seeking help in filling the now open spot for District 13.

Tony Venhuizen named Lt. Gov

According to a news release, Rhoden requested public input on filling a legislative vacancy for the House of Representatives in District 13 as Venhuizen resigned his seat.

Those wishing to be considered for the vacancy in the House of Representatives, or to offer nominations, should email Ryan Brunner at Ryan.Brunner@state.sd.us.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nominations should include the candidates name, current physical address, resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. All nomination materials must be submitted by 5:00 pm CT on Sunday, February 2, 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 KELOLAND.com.
In my State of the State address and executive budget, I shared my vision for an Arizona that is laser-focused on delivering security, opportunity and freedom for our state.

That vision is the Arizona Promise  the one Arizonans elected me to deliver.

The Arizona Promise means families feel safe in their communities and our border is secure, that Arizonans have the opportunity to get ahead without working two or three jobs, that we have the freedom to live our lives as we see fit without government interference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its what Arizona, at its best, has always stood for, but for too long politicians have let it slip away. I have taken definitive, measurable action to restore the Arizona Promise.

I'm not just talking. I'm taking action

So, it was disappointing to read a recent Arizona Republic editorial that did not acknowledge its own papers reporting on the work my administration has done to secure our water future, protect Arizona from wildfires and create good-paying jobs by securing historic semiconductor industry investments.

On top of that, my executive budget takes common sense steps to grow on our success by cutting costs for working families and investing in public safety.

And Im not just speaking loudly about these critical issues  contrary to what the editorial board suggested  Im taking decisive action.

Advertisement Advertisement

I have used my bully pulpit to protect groundwater and fight for our fair share of the Colorado River.

I'm protecting groundwater, Colorado River

In fact, after I traveled to the Willcox basin, witnessed family farms going dry and saw houses cracking in half due to overpumping, I took action without hesitation. I enacted the first governor-led Active Management Area in the Willcox basin to protect our water.

When foreign corporations were pumping a rural county dry, I again took action to protect Arizona families and farmers. I ended Fondomonte leases in the Butler Valley. I did this without hesitation, before the editorial board made this recommendation.

Im proud to say Ive done more to protect our groundwater than any governor in the last four decades, since Bruce Babbitt passed the historic Groundwater Management Act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Im also fighting to protect our Colorado River water.

As reported many times by this very news organization, Ive already secured a deal on the Colorado River to protect Arizonans through 2026 from federally mandated, draconian cuts. Thanks to my leadership, no Arizonan will be forced to cut their water use.

And while we work toward a long-term Colorado River compromise, my executive budget sends a clear message that Arizona is ready to fight for our fair share, with a $3 million litigation fund.

I am fighting for firefighters, semiconductors

The Arizona Promise also means we stand ready to fight wildfires.

Ive already secured $29 million to build wildfire resiliency. And my proposed budget includes another $30 million to bolster our Wildfire Suppression Fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Most importantly, it includes a 15% raise for our state firefighters, who work tirelessly to prevent disaster and remain willing to run toward danger.

Opinion: Hobbs' budget is out of touch

The editorial board also suggested I help put our state in a position to recognize and maximize opportunities from the CHIPS Act. I couldnt agree more.

In fact, as reported in The Arizona Republic, my administration helped secure $3 billion in federal funding for Arizonas first national laboratory, a facility that is certain to help attract billions of dollars in further business investment and create thousands more good-paying jobs for Arizona workers.

I'm delivering on what matters most to Arizona

All of this is in addition to my commitment to secure the southern border.

Advertisement Advertisement

I deployed the Arizona National Guard and stood up Task Force SAFE, which has stopped 8 million fentanyl pills from coming across the border and poisoning our communities, in addition to more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine, meth and other drugs.

When I travel the state, Arizonans talk about the cost of housing, child care and food. They worry about water, fires and immigration.

My plan lowers the cost of child care by two-thirds and lowers the cost of housing by cutting red tape and helping working-class people buy their first home.

My budget provides even more resources to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs. It offers pay raises for state police and firefighters because they need to be paid what theyre worth.

Advertisement Advertisement

I also set out an ambitious plan to end veterans homelessness with a down payment into the Homes for Heroes fund to support the men and women who have given so much to our country.

Ive heard from the people of Arizona, and Im committed to standing with them. I know these arent Republican issues or Democratic issues  theyre Arizona issues  and its why Ive taken them on.

While there remains much to do, Im delivering. Like the editorial board wisely suggested.

Katie Hobbs is governor of Arizona. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @GovernorHobbs.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Katie Hobbs is taking strong action on water, fires, border | Opinion
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  For the first time, Governor Kathy Hochul visited the NewsChannel 9 studio on Wednesday, Jan. 29, for a wide-ranging interview to air on this weeks edition of Newsmakers.

Sitting down with NewsChannel 9s Andrew Donovan, the governor took questions about her State of the State initiatives, allocations in her recently released state budget, local projects of state interest, and the chaotic first week of the President Donald Trump administration.

Hochul visited NewsChannel 9 just after a speech at Onondaga Community College, a tour of Upstate University Hospital, and a podcast recording at the Varsity Pizza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the next few days, NewsChannel 9 will publish portions of the governors interview before the full conversation airs on this weeks edition of Newsmakers with Andrew Donovan.

Watch Newsmakers with Andrew Donovan on Friday at 12:30 p.m. on NewsChannel 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 WSYR.
A frenzy over an artificial intelligence chatbot made by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek was upending stock markets Monday and fueling debates over the economic and geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China in developing AI technology.

DeepSeeks AI assistant became the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apples iPhone store Monday, propelled by curiosity about the ChatGPT competitor. Part of whats worrying some U.S. tech industry observers is the idea that the Chinese startup has caught up with the American companies at the forefront of generative AI at a fraction of the cost.

That, if true, calls into question the huge amounts of money U.S. tech companies say they plan to spend on the data centers and computer chips needed to power further AI advancements.

But hype and misconceptions about DeepSeeks technological advancements also sowed confusion.

The models they built are fantastic, but they arent miracles either, said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon, who follows the semiconductor industry and was one of several stock analysts describing Wall Streets reaction as overblown.

Theyre not using any innovations that are unknown or secret or anything like that, Rasgon said. These are things that everybodys experimenting with.

What is DeepSeek?

The startup DeepSeek was founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, China and released its first AI large language model later that year. Its CEO Liang Wenfeng previously co-founded one of Chinas top hedge funds, High-Flyer, which focuses on AI-driven quantitative trading. The fund, by 2022, had amassed a cluster of 10,000 of California-based Nvidias high-performance A100 graphics processor chips that are used to build and run AI systems, according to a post that summer on Chinese social media platform WeChat. The U.S. soon after restricted sales of those chips to China.

DeepSeek has said its recent models were built with Nvidias lower-performing H800 chips, which are not banned in China, sending a message that the fanciest hardware might not be needed for cutting-edge AI research.

DeepSeek began attracting more attention in the AI industry last month when it released a new AI model that it boasted was on par with similar models from U.S. companies such as ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and was more cost-effective in its use of expensive Nvidia chips to train the system on troves of data. The chatbot became more widely accessible when it appeared on Apple and Google app stores early this year.

But it was a follow-up research paper published last week  on the same day as President Donald Trumps inauguration  that set in motion the panic that followed. That paper was about another DeepSeek AI model called R1 that showed advanced reasoning skills  such as the ability to rethink its approach to a math problem  and was significantly cheaper than a similar model sold by OpenAI called o1.

What their economics look like, I have no idea, Rasgon said. But I think the price points freaked people out.

The Sputnik backdrop

Behind the drama over DeepSeeks technical capabilities is a debate within the U.S. over how best to compete with China on AI.

Deepseek R1 is AIs Sputnik moment, said venture capitalist Marc Andreessen in a Sunday post on social platform X, referencing the 1957 satellite launch that set off a Cold War space exploration race between the Soviet Union and the U.S.

Andreessen, who has advised Trump on tech policy, has warned that overregulation of the AI industry by the U.S. government will hinder American companies and enable China to get ahead.

But the attention on DeepSeek also threatens to undermine a key strategy of U.S. foreign policy in recent years to restrict the sale of American-designed AI semiconductors to China. Some experts on U.S.-China relations dont think that is an accident.

The technology innovation is real, but the timing of the release is political in nature, said Gregory Allen, director of the Wadhwani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Allen compared DeepSeeks announcement last week to U.S.-sanctioned Chinese company Huaweis release of a new phone during diplomatic discussions over Biden administration export controls in 2023.

Trying to show that the export controls are futile or counterproductive is a really important goal of Chinese foreign policy right now, Allen said.

On Monday, Trump said DeepSeeks breakthrough was good because you dont have to spend this much money.

Speaking Monday to House Republicans in Miami, Trump called the DeepSeek news positive if it is accurate because you wont be spending as much and youll get the same result. He called the development a wakeup call for our industries that we need to be laser focused on competing to win.

Trump signed an order on his first day in office last week that said his administration would identify and eliminate loopholes in existing export controls, signaling that he is likely to continue and harden Bidens approach.

DeepSeeks progress on AI without the same amount of spending could possibly undermine the potentially $500 billion AI investment by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank that Trump touted at the White House.

Nvidias stock dropped 17% Monday, but the company in a statement commended DeepSeeks work as an excellent AI advancement that leveraged widely-available models and compute that is fully export control compliant.

What makes DeepSeek different?

One thing that distinguishes DeepSeek from competitors such as OpenAI is that its models are open source  meaning key components are free for anyone to access and modify, though the company hasnt disclosed the data it used for training.

But whats attracted the most admiration about DeepSeeks R1 model is what Nvidia calls a perfect example of Test Time Scaling  or when AI models effectively show their train of thought, and then use that for further training without having to feed them new sources of data.

Its just thinking out loud, basically, said Lennart Heim, a researcher at Rand Corp.

OpenAIs reasoning models, starting with o1, do the same, and its likely that other U.S.-based competitors such as Anthropic and Google have similar capabilities that havent been released, Heim said.

But its the first time that we see a Chinese company being that close within a relatively short time period. I think thats why a lot of people pay attention to it, Heim said. I used to believe OpenAI was the leader, the king of the hill, and that nobody could catch up. Turns out this is not completely the case.

MDT/AP
Governor Ron DeSantis said yes Wednesday morning, when he was asked if he would veto the immigration bill Florida lawmakers passed Tuesday night.

The answer came as he held a roundtable discussion in Titusville.

Among many, one key issue the governor said he has with the bill is naming the Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, as the Chief Immigration Officer.

The bill requires the Chief Immigration Officer to approve and enforce agreements between local law enforcement requiring they aid federal immigration officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Florida immigration enforcement bill sent to DeSantis after special session vote

Its something the Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said will hinder partnerships between law enforcement agencies.

To put that roadblock in our way, whether its intentional or not, will have a devastating effect on our ability as state law enforcement and local law enforcement to work together, Dave Kerner said.

The Brevard County Sheriff said he agrees and that these partnerships are crucial to ending the immigration crisis.

Read: Trump White House rescinds order freezing federal grants after widespread confusion

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the end of the day, while sheriffs dont make laws, were ready to rock and roll, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said. When a piece of legislation is placed on this mans desk that he is ready to sign, we are ready to go.

One final call from DeSantis, as he said the bill is knee-capping the work already being done by the state.

I dont want anything weak, DeSantis said. Weve got to stop with the weak sauce. We have to get strong; weve got to make sure this is robust.

During the press conference, we also heard from a woman who said her husband was killed by an illegal immigrant in a DUI crash.

She said the suspect was a revolving door case with law enforcement, but ICE had never been called. She said with stronger laws proposed by DeSantis, her husband could still be alive.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Governor, states top cop respond to DWI corruption scheme

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Federal court documents confirm New Mexicos DWI corruption scandal reaches beyond officers with the Albuquerque Police Department. The first person to face charges in the scheme admitted he worked with law enforcement in the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State Police.

Related Coverage:

On Tuesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham addressed public safety concerns from the legislative session in Santa Fe. KRQE Investigative reporter Gabrielle Burkhart spoke with New Mexicos Governor and the states top cop about their reaction to the scheme and the publics faith in the justice system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gov. Lujan Grisham says this legislative session is focused on improving public safety. We have a constitutional right to feel safe in our homes, in our churches, in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and we have to have the right balance of consequences and interventions and prevention, and this is the session to do it all, said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

The governor wants stricter consequences for youth gun crime, and more tools to fix competency in the courts. But top of mind for a lot of people is corruption within the justice system. A long-running scheme court documents confirm, has been operating in the shadows for years. Officers tasked with enforcing the law were conspiring to break it, getting paid to get DWI cases dismissed.

With one person pleading guilty to federal crimes and more charges likely to come, KRQE Investigates asked the governor her thoughts on one of the biggest corruption schemes to hit New Mexico.

KRQEs Gabrielle Burkhart asked the governor, What does that say to you about the state of public safety in New Mexico, and what do say to people who might just lack faith in our criminal justice system at this point?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well one, dont lack faith, the governor replied. I mean Id love to say that there are no bad actors anywhere in any context, and Im sure somewhere out there weve had a bad actor who was in the media. I dont know who that might be, but its terrible, she added. Gov. Lujan Grisham suggested there could be bad actors with any agency.

We first learned thanks to media reporting that the FBI has indicated that there might be State Police involvement, said the governor. Swift and deliberate action, she added.

Gov. Lujan Grisham went on to suggest auditing decades of officer failure-to-appear notices in court cases. We have to lean in when we have notice about what we can do to minimize that kind of bad, unacceptable behavior, and the fact that youre seeing swift action by these jurisdictions should tell the public we mean business, she added.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said hes cooperating with federal investigators. But as of right now, we have nobody on administrative leave or that we have evidence to believe that is involved at this time, Chief Weisler told KRQE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Court documents show the DWI Enterprise involved law enforcement from Albuquerque Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico State Police. Chief Weisler said the scheme tarnishes the work of good law enforcement officers and State Police is conducting an internal audit.

At the end of the day, nobodys more upset than us when we see something like this happen, said Chief Weisler. And so, you know were going to rededicate ourselves to making sure that we earn the publics trust every day.

Chief Weisler said if State Police determines members of the department were involved in the scheme, they will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. New Mexico State Police is also asking anyone with information related to the scheme to come forward and contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or 505-889-1300.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 28GRAND FORKS  A Grand Forks man was ordered Monday, Jan. 27, to serve 10 years in prison for selling methamphetamine.

Robert Barrett Yahnke, 61, pleaded guilty to two Class A felonies: delivery of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Yahnke also pleaded guilty to four Class B felonies, including methamphetamine delivery and three counts of methamphetamine possession with intent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was arrested after

selling methamphetamine to an undercover agent and confidential informant

on five separate occasions, according to an affidavit filed in the case. The contents added up to approximately 137.8 grams.

Yahnke was granted a plea agreement that sentenced him to 20 years with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, first serving 10 years, with credit for 139 days served.

He will be on supervised probation for three years. Conditions of his sentence include forfeiting all seized items and completing a chemical dependency evaluation.
A grand jury handed down indictments this week for two people arrested following the Oct. 12, 2024 shooting death of a Jacksonville sheriffs corrections officer.

Police say Officer Brad McNew was shot to death at Loves gas station near the Jacksonville International Airport after he attempted to intervene in a violent dispute between a man and woman.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Demaurea Grant, 29, was later arrested in North Carolina in the officers killing. He now faces a First Degree Murder charge. The grand jury also charged him with Discharging Firearm from Vehicle, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Aggravated Assault.

Grant remains in jail in North Carolina where he is awaiting extradition to Duval County to face his charges.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The second suspect in officers death, Makayla Huggins, was indicted on a charge of Accessory After the Fact. Police say she was driving the car that Grant was in when he shot McNew. Huggins pleaded not guilty in Duval County Circuit Court Jan. 13. Shell be back before the judge Feb. 25.

Demaurea Grant (left) is charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Brad McNew. Makayla Huggins (right) is charged with accessory after the fact.

Read: Opening statements heard in the trial for the former DA charged with mishandling the Ahmaud Arbery case

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: St. Johns County deputies arrest man for hit-and-run that seriously hurt teen

Read: Trump says most drones sighted over New Jersey were authorized by the FAA: This was not the enemy

[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.
Jan. 29A Butler County grand jury has declined to issue any criminal charges against a Middletown police officer who fatally shot a man who opened an apartment door holding a gun on Christmas Eve at Olde Towne Apartment complex.

Christopher Gorak, 50, died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Butler County Coroner's Office. Investigation of the incident indicates Gorak was also "heavily intoxicated," according to the county prosecutor's office.

Evidence in the incident, which was captured on body cameras and investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, was presented to the grand jury last week by Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"(The grand jury) determined that no indictment alleging criminal conduct against any involved officer should be issued and that the death of Christopher Gorak was justified," Gmoser said in a statement released Wednesday.

Middletown officers arrived, knocking on the apartment door three times announcing police presence. After the third knock, Gorak opened the door "holding a pistol and aiming in the direction of two of the responding police officers," according to Gmoser.

"In three tenths of one second that threat of deadly harm was responded to with lethal force by the officer closest to the door and who had announced police presence resulting in the death of Mr. Gorak by four shots being fired by the officer," the prosecutor said in the statement.

Gmoser said the investigation indicates, Gorak "was heavily intoxicated by alcohol more than three times the legal limit for motor vehicle operation and tested "positive" for cannabinoids (marijuana)."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The death is tragic, having initially begun by a reported altercation between father and son, but it is nevertheless instructive on the lethal consequences when interacting with police with a firearm," Gmoser said. "In the United States where gun ownership is more common than not and mind-altering substances are more freely available and subject to abuse, citizen attention must be given to the lethal consequences of aggressive interaction with police while armed and intoxicated. Pointing a firearm at a police officer in the performance of his or her duties in any event regardless of sobriety will likely be met with justifiable lethal force and consequences as it was in this instance."

One officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation

This is the third police-involved shooting in Middletown since February 2023.

In April 2023, Middletown police responded to the same apartment complex when they were shot at by a suspect. They returned fire and hit the suspect, wounding the man. Kyle Kellum recovered, was indicted for felonious assault involving a police officer, but found to be not guilty by reason of insanity following a bench trial in common pleas court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In February 2023, Middletown police shot and killed a man who pointed a weapon at them in the parking lot of the Walmart on Towne Boulevard.

No charges were filed against the two Middletown officers in the deadly shooting.

The officers' use of deadly force in the Feb. 25 shooting of 47-year-old Victor Lykins was deemed reasonable by the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor David Fornshell announced after reviewing investigation results.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Hours after the White House released a memo requiring federal agencies to pause federal financial assistance programs, a Greenville County Schools committee discussed how the pause could impact its programs.

We dont know how any of this is going to affect us yet, said Julie Horton, the school districts director of government relations. Theres just a lot of confusion.

The school boards Advocacy Committee discussed the matter Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the school district, it receives federal funding for its free lunch program, special education program and services for students with disabilities. Federal funding also supports the districts Title I program, which helps children from low-income families succeed in the classroom.

All of that revenue for us amounts to about $13 million a month, Dr. Burke Royster, the superintendent of Greenville County Schools, said.

The White House has not clarified if the funding freeze will impact school districts, but Greenville County Schools says it is prepared if the funding is temporarily paused.

If it were to affect us, were handling it in a similar matter as if there was a government shutdown, Chuck Saylors, who represents District 20 on the Greenville County School Board of Trustees, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If funding is paused, the district plans to use its existing fund balance to cover costs until funding resumes.

Right now, were fine handling this if it should disrupt revenue at least for, given that amount and how much we have left in the school year, really to handle it until the end of this year, Royster said.

The school board hopes to receive clarity about the funding freeze and if it will affect them.

The Office of Management and Budget is requiring all federal agencies to submit detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause by February 10.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the federal funding freeze Tuesday afternoon. The administrative stay lasts until Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs, according to the Associated Press.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, Greenville County Schools shared the following statement to all staff and parents:

We have received questions and concerns regarding the news that President Trumps administration issued a freeze on some federal loans and grant funding. Greenville County Schools receives approximately $13 million in federal revenues each month, primarily through the USDA National School Lunch Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding for students with disabilities, Title I funding to high-poverty schools, and the various other Title funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Additionally, we are implementing some time-limited federal grants that involve smaller funding amounts. We also have a number of partnerships that are partially or wholly supported by federal funding. We do not have clarity of what effects, if any, this will have on our funding sources and partnerships.



If funds are withheld, the District will employ the same strategy as planned for past federal government shutdowns, which is to utilize Fund Balance from the General Fund and Food and Nutrition Services to carry expenses in the appropriate areas until the flow of revenue resumes.



We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. During this time, our goal is to continue to provide the same quality resources and supports that our students, their families, and our staff are accustomed to receiving.



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT)  The Craven County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Bureau arrested a Greenville woman on January 9 in connection with an overdose death.

Responders arrived to Rocky Run Road on December 28, 2023 after receiving reports of an overdose. Austin Kitzinger was found dead in his car from an apparent overdose. After investigating it was determined that Kitzinger purchased narcotics from 47 year old Amy Sue Gunter, from Greenville.

The North Carolina State Examiners Office confirmed that Kitzingers cause of death was a fentanyl overdose on January 7, 2025. Previously, Gunter was charged with the sell and distribution of narcotics but the additional charged of death by distribution has been added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gunter was taken to the Craven County Detention Center and given a $1,000,000 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 WNCT.
In a series of executive orders Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to cooperate with President Donald Trumps mass deportation efforts and directed the states criminal justice agency to identify land and facilities that could be used for detaining and deporting undocumented migrants.

The move comes just days after federal agents launched immigration operations on Sunday in Texas cities including Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio. Since Trump returned to office earlier this month, Abbott has pledged to cooperate with the new presidents efforts to curb illegal border crossings and remove undocumented immigrants from the country.

Abbott said he ordered state agencies to work with the Trump administration to investigate, arrest, detain, and deport illegal immigrants in Texas. The orders also direct state agencies to assist federal agents in securing the U.S.-Mexico border, share intelligence information on drug cartels with federal law enforcement and work with the federal government to deploy any physical infrastructure to improve operational security at the southern border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"For the past four years, Texas has worked around-the-clock to defend our southern border while former President Joe Biden refused to protect our country from an invasion he allowed," Abbott said in a Wednesday release. "Now, we have a Commander-in-Chief in the White House who will do what is necessary to protect Americans.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump promised to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history by using the military and working with local law enforcement agencies. Trump sent some troops to the border shortly after taking office and Abbott deployed more than 400 Texas National Guard troops to the border Monday.

Abbott launched a border security initiative dubbed Operation Lone Star in 2021 shortly after Biden took office and sent state troopers and National Guard members to the border to address a rise in border crossings he blamed on the Biden administration. Texas has spent more than $11 billion on the effort so far; last week Abbott asked for a full reimbursement from the federal government.
Jan. 28A new effort is underway in the Legislature to derail the Mills administration's plan to build a wind port on Sears Island.

Proposed legislation  backed by six Republicans, a representative of the Passamaquoddy tribe and a Democrat  directs the state Department of Transportation, with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, to extend the island's conservation easement to cover all of Sears Island.

"The intent of the bill is to stop the state of Maine's wasteful spending," Rep. Reagan Paul, R-Winterport, said in an email. "The Maine DOT has been trying to industrialize Sears Island for decades and has spent millions doing so."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for the Transportation Department did not respond to an email Tuesday seeking comment on the progress of the agency's plans for Sears Island or to respond to Paul's criticism.

Federal transportation officials rejected Maine's $456 million application to build the port there last fall, but the state said it would pursue "other opportunities to secure funding."

Maine has established several laws to fight climate change, promote renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The state is required to have 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2040. Offshore wind is one of several renewable energy resources needed to meet those targets. The state also has set a goal of generating 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2040.

Sears Island is a 941-acre tract off the coast of Searsport. In 2009, it was, by agreement, divided into two parcels: about 600 acres were placed in a permanent conservation easement held by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust and 330 acres were reserved by the Maine Department of Transportation for future development. The site is eyed for a wind port to assemble wind turbines and other equipment for use in the Gulf of Maine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Transportation Department issued a report in October reaffirming the state's support for Sears Island as the preferred site for Maine's wind port. Officials said their report explains why it considers Sears Island the best of 23 possible locations for the wind port. It spells out the state's offshore wind port goals, defines the minimum design criteria and other considerations to build a wind port and says Sears Island and nearby Mack Point are the two best options.

Paul, who has presented the bill, said Mack Point, the site of a terminal near Sears Island, can be used instead. She has been a consistent foe of wind power, calling it a "green energy pipe dream" that's overrated as a zero-carbon source of energy.

"There is no reason to destroy Sears Island, given the irreparable harm already determined when there is a state-owned port across the channel that could be utilized for port development," she said.

Paul cited several reasons to allocate money elsewhere: the rejection of Maine's application to build the port, the lack of federal funds that will be available from the Trump administration, a potential lack of private investment "that inevitably comes from a risky venture" and state finances that are stretched thin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, co-chair of the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee where the legislation was assigned, said in an email that she wants a "robust discussion" among lawmakers for "every bill that comes before us." She said it's too early to predict the bill's impact or how much support it has. A public hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Rolf Olsen, vice president of Friends of Sears Island, which manages the conserved part of Sears Island and supports Mack Point for construction of the wind port, does not expect the legislation to overcome opposition from allies of Gov. Janet Mills.

"It's hard to believe the state is taking off the table permanently building a port on Sears Island," he said. "It does not have a likelihood of success."

Copy the Story Link
The Six Nations and Cheltenham Festival have been specially ring-fenced from running out of Guinness after claims of a nationwide shortage of the popular stout.

Twickenham and the racecourse in Gloucestershire are understood to be among venues assured their taps will not run dry despite surging demand.

Guinness is synonymous with both events and sponsors both the mens and womens Six Nations tournaments. More than 250,000 pints of the brand are drunk every year at Cheltenham as Irish spectators arrive in their droves.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cheltenham and its popular Guinness Village drinking area will open on March 11, while the Six Nations kicks off on Friday. All on-site drinking venues, including Twickenhams Guinness Surge Bar, have been told there is no risk of running dry, Telegraph Sport understands.

Reports first emerged of shortages in pubs before Christmas, with Irish bars in Britain complaining they had run dry in the busy festive period. Guinnesss owner Diageo then announced it was limiting how much pubs can buy because of exceptional consumer demand.

Sceptics on social media have suggested it could be a marketing ploy  something Diageo has denied. However, surging sales of rival stout Murphys reflect the broader revival of a pint that gripped Britain in 2024.

With Guinness running out, rival brands were drafted in as replacements - PA/David Parry

Darker beers have enjoyed an explosion of demand, with supermarket sales of stouts soaring by 13 per cent in December, according to recent NIQ data. The strong increase came despite total sales of beer, wine and spirits falling by 1.6 per cent over the same period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heineken, which owns Murphys, said sales of its 169 year-old stout had enjoyed a 632 per cent rise in British pubs and bars in December compared with a year earlier.

Any suggestion of shortages would be disastrous at Cheltenham, which has frozen ticket prices after attendances dropped on three out of four days last year.

Accommodation rates, beer prices in town and waterlogged car parks were blamed by spectators after crowd numbers fell marginally for consecutive years.

Ready to place your bets on the Cheltenham Festival? First take a look through these Cheltenham free bets and Cheltenham betting offers to use throughout the four days at Prestbury Park.

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.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from university officials and to provide the latest developments in the status of federal loans and grants.

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A federal judge temporarily blocked a push from President Donald Trump to pause federal loans and grants starting Tuesday. Still, questions were raised about the potential impacts such an action could have on local universities.

Mobile man sentenced for illegally possessing firearm: DOJ

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The main concern is the impact on research conducted in health care, education programs, and other initiatives, according to the Associated Press.

The funding freeze could affect trillions of dollars, at least temporarily, and cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs, and other initiatives, the AP said. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted.

The University of South Alabama said medical, engineering, and music research opportunities are available to undergraduate and graduate students. USA also has a list of internal and external funding sources that may help in research.

WKRG reached out to officials at the university, who said they are reviewing the information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

University officials are actively monitoring the pause of federal funding ordered this week by the Office of Management and Budget. Of primary concern is how the order impacts federal aid to students, active and planned research, and other programs that may fall under the directive and Executive Orders. Late this afternoon, the U.S. Department of Education announced that student federal aid will not be impacted. Regarding other activities that could be affected, the University is reviewing the orders to see where they might overlap with ongoing work at South. At this time, its too soon to know the extent of the impact, but further information will be shared as soon as it becomes available. University of South Alabama

The latest decision to halt funding comes after the Trump administration imposed restrictions on the National Institute of Health, leading to a freeze on grant review meetings, communications, travel, and hiring.

It is unclear if further implications have resulted at universities following this action.

Arrest made in triple homicide investigation: Mobile police

Officials previously said that the pause does not impact federal student loans, Pell Grants, Social Security, Medicare, or food stamps.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Sarah Morland

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Haiti's transitional council president Leslie Voltaire said in an interview on Wednesday that a date for the Caribbean nation's long-awaited general elections has been fixed for around Nov. 15 of this year.

Haiti has lacked elected representatives since January 2023 and has not held elections since 2016. The country's capital is almost entirely controlled by armed gangs, and leaders have said security must first be established to hold a free and fair vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We must pass on power to a legitimate, elected government on Feb. 7, 2026," Voltaire told TV5 Monde, referring to a constitutional limit that has been repeatedly sidestepped as governments cited the difficulty of holding elections under a worsening security crisis.

Over 1 million Haitians have been internally displaced due to the conflict and around half the population - over 5 million - are going hungry as broadly allied armed gangs make territorial gains around the capital and in key agricultural areas, forcing key ports to repeatedly shut their operations.

Armed gangs exert a tight control over areas where they operate and have in recent months perpetrated several massacres, while Haiti's judicial system alongside much of the state apparatus remains paralyzed.

Several leading politicians earlier this month submitted a proposal to include Viv Ansanm, the armed gang coalition that controls much of the capital, in political discussions while the current administration faces corruption accusations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking in a TV interview during a European tour, Voltaire said he had held a cordial meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, in which Macron agreed to support efforts to boost security and prevent drug-trafficking.

Haiti is a former French colony that paid the European country a "debt" for over a century some activists say amounted to over $100 billion, crippling the country's development.

He said a U.N.-backed mission mandated to help police fight gangs now numbered some 800 mostly Kenyan troops, well below the numbers needed, and warned of a worsening situation if the United States decides to cut key humanitarian aid and deport more migrants.

"It's going to hurt," he said.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland and Harold Isaac; Editing by Kylie Madry, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Alistair Bell)
As President Donald Trump continues to take action to crack down on immigrants in the United States illegally, some New Hampshire Republicans seek to have the state cooperate.

Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, has introduced a few bills aimed at strengthening immigration laws in the state, including banning sanctuary cities and ensuring towns wont prevent law enforcement agencies from voluntarily working with federal authorities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Gannon said that New Hampshire will not be complicit in protecting illegal aliens from federal authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Hampshire law enforcement will cooperate with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, he said in a statement. We have seen countless cities, like Boston and New York City, struggle to contain this problem by housing illegal aliens in schools and airports. There is no room for sanctuary cities in our state.

New Hampshire state Sen. Bill Gannon, a Sandown Republican, urges a House committee to pass his sanctuary city bill, which would prohibit local law enforcement from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

What are sanctuary cities?

There is no universal definition for sanctuary cities, but the term usually applies to states, counties or cities that put some limits on how much they are willing to cooperate with federal agencies efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, according to the U.S. Committee on Oversight.

Some examples include Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City.

In New Hampshire, towns like Lebanon and Hanover have policies that block municipal police officers from asking about ones immigration status.

NH bills to cooperate with ICE and ban sanctuary cities

Gannons bill SB 71 would ban sanctuary cities by making it illegal for local governments to adopt policies that would obstruct cooperation with ICE. This includes making illegal ordinances stating that law enforcement will not report arrested undocumented immigrants to ICE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another of his bills, SB 62, would prohibit state and local governments from blocking law enforcement agencies from entering into a partnership with ICE through a formal agreement.

Rep. Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, also introduced a similar bill to ban sanctuary cities: HB 511 would prohibit state and local government entities from adopting sanctuary policies that would prohibit or impede the enforcement of federal immigration law.

Ensure public safety or damage immigrant communities?

Gannon said that his bills would ensure New Hampshires public safety during the first public hearing Thursday.

When there are no sanctuary cities, less women and children will be subject to sex trafficking, less residents will die of fentanyl overdoses, and less illegal aliens will die making the journey across the border because they will know theres no shelter for them in New Hampshire, Gannon said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Giles Bissonnette, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of NH, expressed his concerns over the bills acting as a mandate and requiring law enforcement to cooperate with ICE.

He said that this could make local law enforcement act out the responsibilities of federal enforcement, like holding immigrants in custody on behalf of ICE.

He also worried that it could damage the relationship between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

I'm profoundly worried about a situation where if immigrant communities feel that their local police is going to do immigration enforcement, that they'll even hold them for ICE, that those individuals aren't going to go to local police for assistance, whether they're addicted, maybe they are just observing crime, Bissonette said.

Will Gov. Kelly Ayotte sign immigration bills?

While a sanctuary city ban ultimately failed in the legislature in 2024, this year it enjoys the support of recently sworn in NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who campaigned on tighter immigration laws and banning sanctuary cities.

Kelly Ayotte is seen during her inauguration as New Hampshire's 83rd governor on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the State House.

In December, she indicated her willingness to assist Trumps plan of getting local law enforcement to cooperate with federal ICE agents in an interview with WMUR, saying its important to cooperate at all levels to keep the people of New Hampshire safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And in her inaugural address, she said legislators cant allow the Massachusetts illegal immigrant crisis to happen in New Hampshire.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Will NH cooperate with ICE? What to know about new bills
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, an Augusta Democrat, said he believes bipartisan interest in a new Medicaid expansion proposal could propel it to the governor's desk this year. Republican co-sponsors say they at least want an open debate. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

A handful of Senate Republicans from rural Georgia have signed onto a new bipartisan attempt to fully expand Medicaid through a conservative-friendly option that gained traction last year after a decade of firm GOP resistance.

Four state senators hailing from south Georgia lent their names to a new Senate bill filed Tuesday that would expand health care coverage through a program that uses federal funding to purchase private insurance for individuals on the marketplace instead of adding more people to the state-run Medicaid program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would create a program called PeachCare Plus that would expand income eligibility to those who would be covered by traditional expansion, and it would create an advisory commission that would help guide the development of the program.

We believe that this bipartisan legislation can actually get passed, Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, an Augusta Democrat, said at a press conference Tuesday.

Sen. Sam Watson of Moultrie said Tuesday that he is open to the debate, and Sen. Russ Goodman of Cogdell made no promises that he would vote for the bill if it makes it to the Senate floor but said he wants to have an an open and honest debate about it.

Cordele Sen. Carden Summers, who supported a similar proposal last year, and Statesboro Sen. Billy Hickman also signed the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Goodman said his son was electrocuted in their swimming pool several years ago when he was 11 after lightning struck the pump house and damaged safety features. He credits his local hospital, which is about 10 miles from his blueberry farm, for saving his sons life.

He said hospitals back home have told him that expanding Medicaid would help them ease the burden of indigent care.

I think the main thing is to have it be argued on the merits, Goodman said. Isnt that kind of what were supposed to do up here?

Like last years bill, this proposal is patterned after the Arkansas model that intrigued the states GOP leaders, like House Speaker Jon Burns. But those same leaders had appeared to publicly cool to the idea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking to reporters early this month, Burns pointed to two factors that are shaping his current outlook on the issue: the governor remains a steadfast supporter of Georgia Pathways and the change in administration on the federal level.

Georgia Pathways to Coverage was approved by the Trump administration and then challenged by the Biden administration over its work requirement. Gov. Brian Kemp announced this month that the state will apply to renew the program, which would otherwise expire this September.

Were focused on whats politically possible, Burns said early this month. And what we want to do in the House is help as many Georgians as we can, and if thats the Pathways program, were all in.

The state submitted its application to keep Georgia Pathways going for another five years last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kemp has proposed a few changes, including making parents with children younger than six exempt from the requirement that participants complete 80 hours of work, job training, community service or another qualifying activity.

Two hearings, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 10, have been set to gather public input on the proposal.

Natalie Crawford, the executive director of Georgia First and a former Republican commissioner in Habersham County, said the governors revised Pathways plan is an improvement but said it still forgoes billions of federal dollars and misses out on the economic perks of full expansion.

She also argued the plan still omits key groups of Georgians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve got a qualifying activities exemption for caregivers of children six and under, but what about family caregivers for aging and ailing parents? I mean, we Republicans are the party of family values. Thats a pretty big miss, Crawford said.

Democrats also argue Kemps program cannot be fixed and say its time for Georgia to join the other 41 states that have fully expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act signed by former President Barack Obama in 2010.

One of the issues about the governors plan is youre basically trying to create a job program and a health insurance program combined, Jones said. Thats really the key part about that plan that becomes difficult. Its an administrative nightmare.

As of early January, about 6,500 people were enrolled in the program  which is well short of the nearly 100,000 the state said could sign up and the 345,000 total people who were thought to be eligible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat, said Democrats have a moral obligation to continue to push the issue.

The greatest failure of Republican leadership is the lack of providing access to health care to Georgia citizens, Hugley said.

Both Democratic chamber leaders said they believed the governor could be convinced to change his mind. But Kemp, whose term ends next year, has repeatedly reiterated his staunch opposition to full Medicaid expansion, including as recently as this month.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Jan. 28WILKES-BARRE  A Hanover Township man charged with vehicular homicide for the drunken driving crash that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Newport Township woman pleaded guilty in Luzerne County Court.

Tyler Mizell, 20, of Pulaski Street, had an alcohol level of .10 percent when he crashed a 2010 Chevrolet Colorado that killed Kaycee Kreitzer, 19, of Glen Lyon, on June 22, said Assistant District Attorney Daniel Marsh on Tuesday.

Kreitzer was a passenger in Mizell's vehicle when it crashed into an embankment at Nevel Hollow Road and Hunlock-Harveyville Road in Union Township. Kreitzer was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pennsylvania State Police at Shickshinny charged Mizell after investigating the crash.

Marsh reviewed the plea agreement before Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. that involved Mizell pleading guilty to homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless driving.

Sklarosky accepted the plea agreement and scheduled Mizell to be sentenced April 1.

In an unrelated case, Mizell was sentenced by Judge Michael T. Vough on Oct. 10, 2024, to six months probation for a drunken driving crash on Main Road, Hanover Township, on Sept. 16, 2023.

Mizell remains jailed at the county correctional facility.
Teenage TikTok sensation Nahsiyah Turner has passed away at the age of 17. Following the confirmation of her death, fans took to social media to pay their tributes and mourn the tragic loss.

Nahsiyah Turner passes away at 17, claims report

TikTok star Nahsiyah Turner died due to an injury she sustained in a shooting incident at the Los Cerritos Center shopping mall in Southern California (via PEOPLE).

The incident took place on Saturday, January 18, 2025. After the police authorities were alerted to the shooting incident at the mall, they arrived at the scene at 7:30 p.m. and found Turner in her car with a gunshot wound on her chest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As per a medical examiner report, Turner, whose identity wasnt confirmed at that time, was not breathing on the scene and was declared dead at the hospital. The investigation behind Nahsiyah Turners death is still underway.

On January 22, Lit. Steve DeJong from the homicide bureau of LA County Sheriffs Department talked to The Griffin Gazette about the incident, saying, Deputies from the Cerritos station responded to the parking lot of the Cerritos mall in regards to a gunshot victim call. When they got there, they observed a female juvenile, 17 years old, with a gunshot wound. Additionally, DeJong stated, As far as the context and investigation, I cant elaborate. This investigation is going to go on for a while.

Nahsiyah Turner was thriving on TikTok with her short videos and had around 220,000 followers on the popular app at the time of her death. However, followers have since gone up to more than 300,000.

The post What Happened to Nahsiyah Turner? TikToker Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Unfortunately, there are tons of reports of mothers being prosecuted in the injury or death of their children. The latest case comes from a household in London where four little boys died after being stuck in a house fire, which begs one question: Where was their mother?

Bryson and Kyson, 4-year-old twins, along with their brothers Logan and Leyton, both three years old, were found among the debris of a home on Collingwood Road back in December of 2021, just before Christmas. Authorities from the Metropolitan Police Department said moments before, a witness driving by the home noticed it had been in flames. The driver then alerted a neighbor who kicked in the front door and attempted to save the children.

However, the fire took over the engulfed home, preventing them from being able to retrieve the children, authorities said. By the time the fire department showed up and controlled the flames, the boys were discovered unconscious in an upstairs bedroom. Authorities say despite life-saving measures from the medics, the children died at the hospital due to the inhalation of fire fumes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You might be wondering at this point, where was their mother? Devaca Rose was reported to have left her children alone in the house to go shopping, police said. She told authorities she left her children in the care of a woman named Jade. However, when authorities went to search the house for the mystery woman, she was not found.

Police considered the passing driver to be Jade but her description didnt match that of what the neighbor reported. It also didnt match the description Rose gave. After scanning surveillance footage and sifting through Roses phone data, they still couldnt figure out who the woman was.

Police concluded that Rose left her children alone with a burning cigarette, candle or tealight in the living room which potentially sparked the fire and she was slammed with charges.

Deveca Rose was a mother who placed her own self-interest above the safety of her children. Had she not left the children to go shopping, she may have been able to put out the fire, or at the very least, got the children to safety. Instead of taking responsibility for her actions, she invented a story that was built around a babysitter whose very existence could not be confirmed, said Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend.

Rose was acquitted of child neglect but found guilty of manslaughter. She was sentenced on Jan. 24 to serve 10 years in prison.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Gov. Ron DeSantis will make a stop Wednesday morning in Central Florida.

DeSantis plans to hold a roundtable discussion in Titusville.

The topic of that meeting has not been announced, but DeSantis office said hell be joined by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

READ: Florida lawmakers pass sweeping immigration bill to help with Trump crackdown

Dave Kerner, director of Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, is also expected to attend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Channel 9 will have a crew at this mornings roundtable.

READ: Sen. Randy Fine wins special primary election in race to replace Rep. Michael Waltz

Monitor WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News beginning at noon for updates on this story.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Harris County resident and a former Fort Moore contractor were both sentenced in separate child sexual abuse cases on Tuesday. One man on charges relating to meeting a 12-year-old for sex, and another for possessing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Patrick John Irvine, 22, of Shiloh was sentenced to serve ten years in prison. He previously pled guilty to transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity on Oct. 15, 2024.

Terric Taylor, 28, of Fortson, was sentenced to slightly over eight years in prison. He pled guilty to possessing child pornography on Oct. 15, 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both defendants face ten years of supervised release, and both will have to register as a sex offender. These cases were part of Project Safe Childhood investigations, a nationwide initiative to combat the sexual abuse of children.

According to court documents, Irvine met a 12-year-old Jane Doe on Snapchat in mid-march of 2024. Communications continued through the platform as well as facetime and texts over the next several weeks.

Irvine made plans with Jane Doe to travel about four hours from his Harris County home to a meeting place near the victims Alabama home. They met on March 23, and the next day, Irvine texted Jane Doe saying start packing, Ill get you next weekend.

On the night of March 29, Irvine went to Jane Does home, then drove her to Georgia. Her family members reported her missing the following day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Jane Does mother obtained cellphone records from AT&T to find frequent calls between her daughter and an unrecognized number revealed to be Irvines.

The mother tried to call and text Irvines number, which eventually led to this exchange provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office:

Defendant: Sorry, Im at work. Is everything okay?

Mom: No I need to talk to you now. Im [the victims] mother. Please answer.

Defendant: [victims first name] who?

Mom: Why is a 12-year-old calling the number multiple times late at night if you are old enough to be working? Its all over my call AT&T call logs.

Defendant: We were going to hang out then I found out how old she was, and I havent talked to her since. Is everything okay?

Mom: You need to call me. The police will be calling soon.

Defendant: Sorry Im at work and I cant call right now.

Upon identifying the number as Irvine, the Harris County Sheriffs Office was sent to his home. After arriving, Irvine went outside shirtless and denied Jan Doe was in the home, but then told deputies she had just gotten out of the shower.

Jane Doe escaped through a window. She was found hiding in the woods.

According to court documents regarding Taylors case, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip on July 17. The tip concerned X user, strayBreeders04, who uploaded child pornography to the platform.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The GBI and the Harris County Sheriffs Office discovered Taylor was that user. He was employed as a contractor at Fort Moore.

Alongside Fort Moores Criminal Investigation Division, Taylor was found. He admitted to uploading child pornography images to X. Additionally, agents found several files of child sexual abuse material on his phone.

Taylor estimated he had about 50 videos of children engaging in sexual acts on his device.

Irvines case was investigated by the FBI, the Harris County Sheriffs Office and the Walker County, Alabama, Sheriffs Office.

Taylors case was investigated by the FBI, GBI and the Harris County Sheriffs Office with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted these cases for the Government.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  To give its members an opportunity to meet with local representatives before they head to Charleston for the 2025 West Virginia Regular Legislative Session, the Harrison County Chamber hosted its annual legislative preview lunch on Tuesday.

Chamber President Kathy Wagner said that another important facet of this annual event is to allow delegates and senators to share with the community what they expect to see in the upcoming session.

Its gonna be interesting, Wagner said of the coming session, with the committee structure being a little different this year and Governor Patrick Morrisey recently announcing a potential state deficit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How a federal funding freeze could impact programs across West Virginia

So, thats always a question and we wanna monitor taxes on business, keep track of infrastructure in Harrison County and north central West Virginia, and just make sure that theres nothing that would be a detriment to the business climate, she added.

Wagner added that its important to ensure that business owners and the local community are aware of whats going on and who to reach out to with any concerns. If there is an issue, you wanna make sure you [] know who your delegates and representatives are.

The Harrison County Chamber invited both district senators and all four of the delegates who represent Harrison County to attend this luncheon. After they were given the floor to speak about what they anticipate is coming up during the session, attendees got to participate in a Q&A to discuss matters that are important to them as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wagner stated that she was grateful to have a great turnout, adding that the chamber is appreciative of the representatives for all they do for Harrison County residents in Charleston.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 28Less than three weeks after taking the oath of office herself, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte celebrated the inauguration of Harrisville fifth grader Jade Adams as the state's eighth Kid Governor.

"Since I've only been at this for two weeks, we can learn this job together," Ayotte said at the ceremony in historic Representatives Hall Tuesday at the State House.

New Hampshire Civics and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College co-sponsor the program, which attracted a record number of candidates and votes in the election last fall, according to Allyson Ryder, executive director of N.H. Civics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams, a student at Wells Memorial School, won over about 20 other competitors with her campaign video that laid out her platform for outlawing animal testing.

"More than 100 million animals have been burned, crippled, poisoned and abused in U.S. labs every year," Adams said in prepared remarks. "These poor animals are forced to live in horrible living spaces."

She vowed to work on legislation for New Hampshire to become the 13th state to ban the practice.

"We need to find alternatives to test products for research and learning because hurting these animals is not the right way to do it," Adams wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new kid chief executive thanked her parents, Katey and Bruce, her sisters, Avery and Sage and, of course, her pets.

Ayotte said Adams will carry on the fine work of her predecessor as Kid Governor, Ellie Lively, who in 2024 made working against animal cruelty the hallmark of her term.

"It's great that both of you were working in common," Ayotte said.

This program shows students that running for office isn't an individual endeavor, Ayotte said.

"Everyone's voice matters. ... You had your teachers help you, you had your classmates step up and help you," Ayotte said. "None of us do this alone. When you run for governor, there are so many people who help you do that."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald also swore in six elected as Kid Executive Councilors, who will advise the Kid Governor.

Others on hand for the event were House Speaker Sherman Packard and Senate President Sharon Carson, both R-Londonderry, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, and Secretary of State David Scanlan.

This program started in 2018 as an affiliate with a national Kid Governor program created by the Connecticut Democracy Center.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
HARTFORD, Ala (WDHN)  Authorities have arrested a man whom they considered to be armed and dangerous after an alleged assault.

According to HPD, Channon Bernard Grooms was arrested on one count of assault in the second degree and two counts of criminal mischief Wednesday afternoon.

Police say Grooms was trying to drive into Fort Novosel at the Daleville gate, when security recognized him from a BOLO put out Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gate security arrested Grooms, who did not have a weapon on him at the time, and held him until a Geneva County Deputy transported him to the Geneva County Jail.

HPD says attacked a family member with a metal pipe and destroyed a neighbors property before fleeing, prompting a manhunt Wednesday morning.

The family member in the alleged assault only sustained minor injuries.

Stay with WDHN 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 WDHN - wdhn.com.
(Bloomberg) -- US universities are preparing for potential disruptions to funding, especially for scientific research, after President Donald Trumps acting budget director issued a sweeping memo directing agencies to halt federal financial grants and loans while the government reviews if the spending complies with recent executive orders.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Harvard University, which received almost $700 million in federal research dollars last academic year and has been under scrutiny over its response to antisemitism on campus, said the memo requires a pause on a subset of federally funded research activities implicated in an evolving set of executive orders, according to a letter from President Alan Garber. The University of Chicago cautioned faculty about purchasing equipment, starting new experiments or embarking on travel related to their grants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, some schools had already started to prepare, aware that the Trump administration would use funding as a lever to target Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. College presidents have also sought to navigate anti-Israel protests and tackle antisemitism, which soared in the wake of Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the war in Gaza.

Trump plans to sign executive actions that direct federal agencies to examine ways to investigate antisemitic intimidation and to identify any civil or criminal authorities available. It also calls for the deportation of protesters who violated laws during demonstrations.

US universities are awarded billions of dollars each year for a bevy of items including scientific research and tuition assistance. While the proposed pause doesnt apply to the disbursement of federal loans and Pell Grants to pay for college, it could impact how universities do business. The schools receive research money from agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Agriculture.

We are extremely concerned about the impact of this action on our countrys ability to maintain its scientific and technological lead against competitors and potential adversaries, said Barbara Snyder, president of the Association of American Universities, which represents top research universities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The University of Michigan and Ohio State University have posted the executive orders on their websites along with some guidance as school officials try to determine next steps. Leadership at Yale University advised faculty, staff and students to continue federally-funded work except for cases where the university has received specific stop-work orders.

The implementation of these changes will depend on interpretation by federal agencies and courts, so we do not have clear answers today on how this and other government actions will affect our university, Yale President Maurie McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel, wrote Tuesday. We should all be mindful of the impact of university spending in light of these uncertainties.

The University of California, with 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories, is also assessing the impact of the orders.

This is an uncertain time for many and while we dont yet know what lies ahead, we remain steadfast in our values, our mission, and our commitment to caring for and supporting our entire community, Michael Drake, president of the University of California, said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The University of Texas at Austin said it wasnt pausing any research.

We do not believe current guidance requires us to pause federally funded research activities unless the sponsoring agency orders a stoppage on a specific project, Dan Jaffe, vice president for research at the University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement.

Some agencies have already taken actions to stop grant-review panels, bodies that determine which institutions receive money to study various topics.

The National Science Foundation took that step on Monday, said Sarah Spreitzer, who works on government relations for the American Council on Education, a trade group that represents 1,600 public and private colleges and universities. Researchers who were scheduled to participate in a grant review panel were told it wasnt happening, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That decision will impact grants already undergoing review, new grant announcements and the disbursements of funding, Spreitzer said. It doesnt appear that the order is trying to claw back federal funds. The Trump executive orders may also affect conferences, training and workshops, according to a statement on the National Science Foundations website.

It is difficult to understand how large the impact will be, not just on institutions of higher education but across the United States and the American people, Spreitzer said.

(Updates with executive order on antisemitism in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Harvey Weinsteins New York trial date has been set for April 15, but the disgraced movie mogul pleaded for an earlier start due to his recent cancer diagnosis and poor health conditions.

Weinstein addressed Judge Curtis J. Farber during a hearing in a Manhattan court Wednesday morning, asking to push his retrial up sooner than April.

More from Variety

I cant hold on, Weinstein told Farber in court, according to People Magazine. Im begging for you to move the dateI want to be out of this hellhole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In October, Weinstein was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and has been imprisoned on Rikers Island while awaiting the retrial. He claimed he wont be there for the April 15 date and requested Farber move the trial up, even a week earlier to April 7. Weinstein has been treated at Bellevue Hospital for the cancer, in addition to leukemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease and sleep apnea. In September, he also underwent emergency heart surgery.

Last year, the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction. The appeals court ruled that Weinsteins original trial committed an error by allowing three additional accusers to testify about their own assault allegations when they should not have been permitted. Their testimonies were prejudiced against Weinstein and didnt shed any light on the charges he faced; the appeals court vacated the conviction and ordered a retrial.

In September, Weinstein was indicted on an additional sex crimes charge after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a Manhattan hotel on one occasion between April 29, 2006, and May 6, 2006. He pleaded not guilty.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Harvey Weinstein will face a retrial on rape charges in New York on April 15, despite his pleas to the judge on Wednesday to move the proceedings up.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the 72-year-old Weinstein, who is diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, told Judge Curtis J. Farber he might not make it to April due to his health issues and conditions in jail, multiple news outlets reported.

Im asking and begging your honor to move your trial, Weinstein reportedly said. I cant hold on anymore. Im holding on because I want justice for myself.

Harvey Weinstein appears in State Supreme Court for a hearing in his sexual assault case on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in New York. Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP

Weinstein was initially sentenced in 2020 to 23 years in prison after he was convicted on charges of rape and criminal sex acts. However, the charges were overturned in April 2024 following an appeals court finding the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outside of New York, Weinstein was also convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges of rape and sexual assault.

Weinstein was then in September indicted by a New York grand jury on one count of criminal sex act, which his attorney reportedly argued to dismiss on Wednesday. The judge denied that motion.

During Wednesdays hearing, Weinstein also criticized the conditions at Rikers Island, where he is currently being held, calling it a medieval situation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Im in a serious emergency situation, Weinstein said, according to the Hollywood Reporter. I need to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Weinstein told NBC News that they believe he will be fully exonerated when the new trial is held.

Judge Farber demonstrated exceptional responsiveness, the spokesperson said, and we deeply appreciate his thoughtful consideration of Harveys condition and circumstances.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

Related...
Harvey Weinstein begged a Manhattan judge on Wednesday to put him on trial earlier than planned, saying he isn't sure he will live until the spring while incarcerated in the "hell hole" that is the New York City jail complex.

"Every day I'm at Rikers Island it's a mystery to me how I'm still walking," Weinstein told the court while seated in a wheelchair. "I'm asking and begging you, your honor, I can't hold on anymore. I'm holding on because I want justice for myself and I want this to be over with."

Weinstein is scheduled to stand trial April 15. Judge Curtis Farber said he could not push it earlier because he is scheduled to preside over a murder trial that is "set in stone."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Weinstein sues NYC Department of Corrections for 'medical negligence'

Even so, Weinstein persisted.

"I beg you to switch your case and do so out of clemency," Weinstein said. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

He complained that the conditions he faces in jail are complicating his medical issues, calling Rikers Island "a medieval situation."

PHOTO: Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears for a pre-trial hearing on January 29, 2025 at New York Supreme Court in New York City. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Weinstein -- who has cancer and underwent emergency heart surgery in September -- is suing New York City and its Department of Correction, alleging "medical negligence."

"I'm begging the court to move your date so we can have that date instead and proceed with this trial as quickly as we can and get out of this hell hole," Weinstein said Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Timeline: Harvey Weinstein's path to his NYC sex crimes conviction and reversal

The disgraced film producer asked to start the trial even a bit earlier, April 7, because, he said, "every week counts."

Farber said he would consider the request.

"If the lawyers report to me they can do it sooner then I'll make myself available," Farber said.

PHOTO: Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears for a pre-trial hearing on January 29, 2025 at New York Supreme Court in New York City. (Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images)

MORE: Harvey Weinstein cases to be consolidated into single trial, will likely occur in spring

On Wednesday, Farber denied Weinstein's bid to dismiss a new sexual assault charge from a woman who alleged Weinstein forced oral sex on her in a Manhattan hotel in 2006. Weinstein argued that prosecutors unduly delayed charging him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The application to dismiss denied," Farber said. "The court has inspected the grand jury minutes and found them to be sufficient."

Weinstein will stand trial on the new sexual assault charge at the same time he is retried on two other sexual assault charges after an earlier conviction was overturned on appeal.

Harvey Weinstein begs to get out of Rikers Island 'hell hole' in court originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
An April 15 trial date has been set for Harvey Weinstein.

However, Weinstein pleaded in court for Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Curtis J. Farber to move the trial date sooner, citing his health conditions and saying, I wont be there for April.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Im asking and begging your honor to move your trial, Weinstein said. I cant hold on anymore. Im holding on because I want justice for myself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Seated in a wheelchair, Weinstein made a rare address to the court and raised his voice to plead with Farber to switch his trial date with an earlier trial thats already on the calendar. He called the conditions at Rikers Island where hes being held a medieval situation and said he believes hes headed back to Bellevue Hospital any day now.

Im in a serious emergency situation, Im begging for you to move your date, Weinstein said. I need to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

There are so many people suffering at Rikers island. So many of the people I am with in prison are going through similar problems. They dont have the same mouthpiece I have, Weinstein continued. It remains a stain on this city.

Amid the hearings, Weinsteins attorneys have repeatedly pointed to their clients poor health and lack of proper care at Rikers Island. Weinstein has been diagnosed with leukemia, in addition to other ailments, and has been hospitalized multiple times in the past several months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weinstein went back and forth with Farber on negotiating the trial date, trying to push it even to April 7. Farber said he already had the other trial ready to go, but would see how that trial progressed.

Farber also denied Weinsteins attorneys motion to dismiss the new indictment against him.

The indictment contained one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree for forcibly performing oral sex on a complaining witness in 2006.

Weinsteins attorneys had alleged that prosecutors unconstitutionally delayed charging Weinstein on the latest indictment and that there was not sufficient evidence to support the charge, among other matters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weinstein was arraigned in September on the count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree, which stemmed from a recent indictment returned by a grand jury. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Weinstein also faces a retrial on charges related to his 2020 rape conviction in New York, which was overturned in April. In total, Weinstein has been charged under two indictments for three sex crimes.

In October, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Curtis J. Farber granted the defenses motion to consolidate the new indictment against Weinstein with the prior charge so that he would face one trial on all three charges.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Harvey Weinstein attends a hearing ahead of his retrial, at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 29, 2025. - Credit: Jefferson Siegel / POOL / AFP

Harvey Weinstein pushed for an earlier start for his sexual assault retrial, citing his recent health issues and hellhole prison conditions.

Weinstein, who was recently diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, will face trial in New York starting April 15, despite the disgraced producers attempts to begin the proceedings even sooner: I wont be there for April.

More from Rolling Stone

Im in a serious emergency situation, Im begging for you to move your date, Weinstein told the judge overseeing the case. I need to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weinstein continued (via NBC News), There are so many people suffering at Rikers island. So many of the people I am with in prison are going through similar problems. They dont have the same mouthpiece I have. It remains a stain on this city.

Judge Curtis Farber said that he could move Weinsteins trial a week earlier  possibly April 7  if both parties agreed to the change. Farber also ruled against Weinsteins attempt to dismiss a new charge from a recent indictment; in September, he was indicted on a further sexual assault charge in New York and accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2006. He pleaded not guilty.

A spokesperson for Weinstein said in a statement after the hearing, Judge Farber demonstrated exceptional responsiveness, and we deeply appreciate his thoughtful consideration of Harveys condition and circumstances. We remain confident in a swift and efficient trial process and firmly believe that Harvey will be fully exonerated.

Weinsteins retrial in New York comes after his 2020 conviction was overturned in April 2024, after an appeals court ruled that the judge who oversaw the first trial should not have allowed testimony from Weinstein accusers who were not part of the charges against him.

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A self-proclaimed old-school barber with four decades in the trade said hes been forced to relocate his shop because his landlord wont renew his lease.

Joe Eagles, a 56-year-old father, said his plan was to finish his career as the owner of Joes Barber Shop and make enough to support himself and his two teenage sons.

 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

Ive been running it [the barber shop] now for 10 years, Eagles told News 2. The guy before me  his name was Al Rydell  he had it for 53 years himself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eagles said he got an email from his landlord, Lipscomb University, with the news that his lease would not be renewed; his last day in the shop is scheduled to be April 30.

I hate to see it go away, but theres a big push to make everything new and shiny, Eagles added.

News 2 reached out to Lipscomb University about their decision to part ways with the barber shop. A university spokesperson shared a statement with News 2:

Lipscomb University has owned the retail space across from campus for six years and has decided not to renew the lease for the current tenant occupying a portion of the property. The decision aligns with plans to renovate the space for Lipscombs evolving needs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an effort to provide the tenant with plenty of advanced notice for planning purposes, the tenant was notified in April 2024 that his existing lease, which expires in April 2025, would not be renewed as we were pursuing other future uses for the space. This timeline provided a year for the tenant to identify and transition to a new location. We are currently planning for renovation projects that would include that space which could begin as early as May. In the event we determine renovation wont start this summer, we will offer a month-to-month extension of his lease.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

They want to utilize every square inch of Nashville to the best of their abilityTheyre not going to let me keep that from happening nor anybody else, Eagles explained.

When Eagles told his customers online about his dilemma, he said people from all over  even as far as Arizona  have reached out to try and help. His plan is to secure a different 300-square foot-space in Nashville or find a job working for another barber so he can continue to serve his clientele.

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.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  An Oak Grove Elementary School fifth grade teacher was surprised with the Milken Educator Award for Mississippi.

Amanda Duplessy thought she was attending a schoolwide assembly Wednesday morning in honor of a visit from State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans.

Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the prestigious national recognition includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that the recipient may use however they choose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mississippi 4th graders No. 1 in nation for NAEP gains over time

Evans joined Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop in bestowing the Award upon Duplessy.

Amanda Duplessys creative instruction and outstanding mentorship are making a marked difference in the lives of her students, colleagues and the greater community, said Bishop, who is a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator herself. Amandas classroom is a hub of critical thinking and hands-on learning where every activity is tailored to inspire growth. Congratulations, Amanda! Today we celebrate you and welcome you to the Milken Educator Network.

Amanda Duplessy received the Milken Educator Award on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) Amanda Duplessy received the Milken Educator Award on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards)

Duplessy was honored as part of the Milken Family Foundations 2024-25 Milken Educator Awards season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Great teachers transform students lives by creating pathways to success that extend far beyond the classroom walls, said Evans. As a Milken Educator, Amanda Duplessy demonstrates the powerful impact that dedicated educators have on student achievement and our entire education system.

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.
BOSTON (SHNS)  The Healey administration provided House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz with a trove of information and documents about the states emergency assistance system and Gov. Maura Healeys proposed reforms, but the detailed letter did not answer some of the chairmans pressing questions, including about the amount by which her plan would bring down the costs of the maxed-out shelter program.

Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz and Housing Secretary Edward Augustus responded to Michlewitzs Jan. 22 request for more information Monday night with a seven-page letter and 16 pages of attachments, including a copy of a new background check policy that the administration put into effect Monday. The letter details the steps the administration has taken in recent years to respond to an influx of migrants that pushed the shelter system to its limits and addresses many of the questions Michlewitz said his committee would need answered before it could act on Healeys $425 million shelter mini-budget (H 51).

The goal of this work has always been to return the system from a peak of 7,500 families back to sustainable and historical levels and, at present, we are trending in that direction. Our recent proposals seek to build on this progress, Gorzkowicz and Augustus wrote. [W]e are confident that the changes we have proposed align with the original intent of the Right to Shelter Law, protect the long-term fiscal sustainability of the shelter system, support cities and towns in addressing the needs of unhoused families, and help ensure the safety of shelter recipients and their communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The secretaries said the governors proposals should be permanent and effective prospectively.

The Ways and Means Committee has been weighing Healeys spending plan since Jan. 9 and the governor made additional proposals to reform the 1983 Right to Shelter Law in a Jan. 15 letter to top lawmakers. The administration and Michlewitz have both acknowledged that time is of the essence  Gorzkowicz said last week that existing funding for the shelter system is due to run out on Jan. 31, give or take a week.

While the letter provided the Ways and Means chairman with a greater level of detail and answers to some of what he asked, some key questions went unanswered. The administration did not provide answers to questions Michlewitz asked about the potential for financial savings from Healeys proposed reforms, the current operations of the overflow shelter system, U.S. citizens in the system who are not Massachusetts residents, or the background check procedures in place before the governor announced changes on Jan. 15.

Michlewitzs office did not respond when asked whether the chairman was satisfied with the administrations response. The chairman forwarded the administrations letter to fellow House members Tuesday afternoon and told them he looked forward to continue working with all of you in the near future on this critical issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It appears the soonest the governors shelter supplemental budget could come before the House is next week, when funding for the system is projected to be down to its final days. House Speaker Ronald Marianos office told representatives Tuesday afternoon that Thursdays House session will be an informal one, after having told them Friday to prepare for a potential formal session  the kind where a spending bill could emerge.

Among the details included in the administrations Monday letter: the EA system is currently seeing between 15 and 20 families applying for shelter each day, down from 30 to 40 families per day in the fall of 2023; December saw over 600 exits from the EA system, the highest monthly total in the last decade; and there are now fewer than 55 hotels being used for EA shelter, down from a high of more than 100.

The letter details the administrations proposal to remove a presumptive eligibility mandate that was added to the emergency assistance system line item in 2005. The secretaries said the mandate was not part of the shelter law before then and requires the state to place families into shelter based on self-attestations of eligibility. It does not allow the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to verify eligibility requirements prior to placement, including a familys identity, proof of familial relationship to children, eligible immigration status, Massachusetts residency, income and assets, and reason for homelessness.



The secretaries said that roughly half of all families that apply for shelter are determined to be ineligible for the benefit based on their initial application materials and prior to being placed in the system and that the states conservative estimate is that at least 6% of families are determined to be ineligible after being placed presumptively based on initial information they provided. The cost of one month of presumptive eligibility in the EA shelter system is between $10,000 and $15,000 per family, they said.



We propose to return to the original intent of the Right to Shelter Law by removing the presumptive eligibility mandate from the line item and reverting to the prior practice of requiring pre-placement verification of eligibility for most families. We recommend empowering EOHLC to waive pre-placement verification on a case-by-case basis where a family reasonably lacks the necessary documentation at the time of application, such as in cases involving homelessness due to natural disaster or domestic violence, Gorzkowicz and Augustus wrote to Michlewitz. EOHLC is confident that this change to presumptive eligibility will further reduce demand on the EA system by allowing EOHLC to make necessary ineligibility determinations prior to the provision of benefits.



The secretaries letter to Michlewitz also touched on the thinking behind Healeys proposal to change some of the core eligibility criteria for the EA system. Right now, families can be eligible for shelter based on several types of no-fault eviction or if they are in a housing situation not meant for human habitation  but there is nothing imposing a geographic limit on those criteria, which means people who lost a home in another state could come to Massachusetts to get state shelter.



About one-third of families that applied for EA benefits in the last six months said on their applications that they did not live in Massachusetts at some point within the 90 days prior to their application, Gorzkowicz and Augustus wrote, and we have seen numerous instances in which applications for shelter were based on homelessness that occurred in one of our border states. The secretaries said 4% of families that leave the EA system transition directly to housing in another state.



Once again, we believe that the existing language in the line item diverges from the original intent of the law, which aimed to address homelessness occurring in Massachusetts and impacting Massachusetts residents, they wrote. We therefore propose, consistent with the original intent of the law, to amend these two eligibility criteria to require that an eligible no-fault eviction or unsafe housing situation occur in Massachusetts.



Augustus and Gorzkowicz said that eligibility for EA shelter benefits has consistently required individuals in shelter to demonstrate Massachusetts residence but they said the state has been constrained in its ability to enforce the residency requirement by the presumptive eligibility mandate. The governors proposal is to add a bona fide residence requirement in the EA line item, consistent with language that was in place until 2022 and language that remains in state regulations.



This approach aligns with the laws original intent by restoring the statutory requirement of residency and reverting to the historical practice of verifying residency prior to placement. If our proposed change becomes law, individuals would be able to prove residency through the types of documentation on Attachment C or by showing physical presence in Massachusetts for a period of three months, tracked from the first day of documentable presence in the state.

Mostly Republican lawmakers last year made unsuccessful efforts to impose a six-month Massachusetts residency requirement for shelter applicants and some have indicated they will seek similar requirements this session. Democrat Sen. Michael Rodrigues said this month that he thought a proposed residency requirement raises constitutional issues, but did not foreclose considering it.



The secretaries said the law distinguishes between bona fide residence and durational residence requirements, with bona fide residence requirements generally conditioning eligibility for a benefit on simple proof of state residency while durational residence requirements unconditionally predicate eligibility on proof of a certain period of continuous physical presence in the state. The latter, they said, often trigger heightened constitutional scrutiny and, in some cases, have been struck down as unconstitutional.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All family members looking to stay in a state shelter would also have to prove their lawful U.S. residency under the governors proposal, unless a child in the family already has lawful residence. Currently, only one member of the family unit must show citizenship or lawful presence.



For purposes of this proposal, a family would be defined in accordance with 760 CMR 67.02, which treats a family as a household with parents, stepparents or caretaker relatives and a child younger than 21 years of age, or a household with a pregnant woman without any children. Under our proposal, the entirety of a family with a child with lawful status would be eligible for benefits, the secretaries wrote. In all other cases, a persons lack of lawful status would make only that particular person ineligible for shelter benefits.

The administration also wrote in its letter to Michlewitz that it does not anticipate that any of our proposed changes would result in a meaningful displacement of children currently enrolled in school districts this school year and said it intends to continue funding school aid at the $104-per-student rate in the fiscal 2025 budget, including for districts taking on children in the EA system. The impact of President Donald Trumps recent immigration-focused executive orders on the EA system are still being assessed along with the attorney generals office, the administration 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 WWLP.
PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM)  Pennie is urging congress to act now to prevent an increase in health coverage costs for Pennsylvanians.

Enhanced premium tax credits were enacted by the American Rescue Plan in 2021. It helps eligible people cover health insurance purchased through the insurance marketplace. This is set to expire at the of 2025.

Pennie enrollment has grown about 50% since 2021, when these enhanced tax credits went into place, said Pennie Executive Director, Devon Trolley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, Pennie ended its 2025 open enrollment with record-breaking enrollees, nearly half a million. Thats a 14% increase from last year.

If congress does not act in the coming months, the progress will not only stop but will start going in reverse, said Trolley.

Trolley says Pennie enrollees will pay 82% more on average for health insurance. Many people could pay double or even four times more.

For example, Trolley says,60-year-old couple in York County making $82,000. Their monthly premiums would go from about $600 today to $2,900 a month without the enhanced premium tax credits.

Thats 44% of their income. With cost increases, Trolley says those enrolled in Pennie will be faced with difficult decisions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of how to continue coverage they cant afford or to go uninsured again and instead of having health and financial security they face brining their families back into uncertainty, risk, and fear of what happens if they have the misfortune of an illness or injury, said Trolley.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  There is a lot to cover in your weather update today! We have dense fog this morning, rain showers on the way, and heavy rain with possible severe weather tomorrow.

Today: It is a foggy and drizzly Wednesday morning. A south breeze is bringing warmer and more humid air into the region resulting in fog, light rain, and otherwise overcast skies. Any rain will be light during the morning commute, but a few steadier showers and isolated thunderstorms will increase by the late morning and afternoon. High temperatures will be mild, in the upper 50s in the northern ArkLaTex, and in the low to mid-60s elsewhere. Severe weather is not expected today.

Futurecast outlook for the next 36 hours

Severe weather is possible Thursday: A strong Pacific storm system will send an area of low pressure across Texas tonight and into the ArkLaTex tomorrow. Scattered strong to severe storms may move into Texas or Oklahoma in the morning in the Marginal Risk area outlined in green.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The more favorable area for severe weather will be in the Slight Risk zone outlined in yellow by Thursday afternoon/evening. A warm front will bring temperatures in the 70s, combined with increasing wind shear as the area of low pressure moves overhead. This will bring an environment favorable for damaging wind gusts and a tornado or two.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rain will end Thursday night, but it will be a good soaking for the northern ArkLaTex. Some areas of McCurtain, Howard, Sevier, and Little River counties could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain. A Flood Watch is in effect for these areas until 3 p.m. Thursday.

We will have earned a fantastic stretch of weather Friday through Sunday as the sun will return, and pleasant Springlike temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The warmer pattern will stick around for a few days 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 KTALnews.com.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced plans for a new department task force focused on promoting merit-based, color-blind policies throughout the department, including potential changes to military promotions and job assignments.

The move is the latest in a series aimed at rooting out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in federal agencies. Administration officials have blamed those outreach efforts for hurting military readiness and recruiting, although defense leaders in the past have disputed those assertions.

In a memo announcing the new restoring Americas fighting force task force, Hegseth wrote that the Defense Departments core mission is to win the nations wars, a goal that requires a lethal fighting force that rewards individual initiative, excellence and hard work based on merit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new group, to be housed under the Pentagons personnel and readiness office, is charged with presenting a final report on how to strengthen those goals by June 1.

Hegseth strips Milley of security detail, orders investigation

That work will include changes to the promotion and job selection process, with a mandate that the department will not consider sex, race or ethnicity when considering individuals for promotion, command or special duty. Exceptions can be made for assignments with specific operational requirements.

Hegseth also said officials will ban quotas and goals for career fields, and prohibit instruction of gender ideology and DEI initiatives. And all defense academic institutions, including service academies, will be ordered to teach that America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The task force is an extension of President Donald Trumps previous orders to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs across a range of federal departments. In his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Hegseth said Trump charged him with ensuring the military is laser focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness.

But those comments have drawn questions and criticism from advocates who say diversity is critical to military readiness. Advocates have already sued to stop Trumps executive order mandating changes in the ability of transgender individuals to serve in the ranks, something which Trump has argued hurts morale and readiness.

In past books and media appearances, Hegseth has criticized decisions to allow women to serve in combat roles and overturning the militarys dont ask, dont tell policy. During his confirmation hearing, he suggested that standards for many military jobs have been lowered to meet diversity quotas, another allegation that past defense officials have denied.

Hegseths new task force order also includes instructions to monitor work to eliminate all diversity and inclusion programs from the department by March 1.

Trump has yet to announce his pick to lead the Pentagons personnel office. His pick to lead the Army, Daniel Driscoll, is set to have his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday and is likely to face questions from lawmakers about the new task force.
New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday stripped former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley of his security detail and ordered the acting inspector general to investigate whether the former Army leader could face criminal charges or a retroactive demotion for misconduct, potentially including undermining the chain of command.

The unusual move is the latest showdown between President Donald Trump and Milley, who served as the top uniformed officer during Trumps first term in office and has been a vocal critic of the presidents actions and demeanor.

In a statement sent out by Pentagon leaders just before midnight, Defense Department spokesman said that Milley was informed of the actions Tuesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The secretary has directed the DoD IG to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milleys conduct, so that the secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination.

Milley says hell ensure family safety after Trumps execution remark

In a separate statement, Defense Department Chief of Staff Joe Kasper stated that undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trumps leadership.

Hegseth was sworn into the top civilian Pentagon post over the weekend. During his confirmation hearing, he did not mention Milley but vowed that every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders they will be given.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Milley and Trump have sparred frequently in recent years. The former Army general, who served four years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a threat to democracy and warned against America allowing a wannabe dictator to return to power.

Trump has suggested that Milley should be executed for various perceived crimes, including talking to Chinese military officials during the presidential transition in 2020. Milley has said those conversations were routine meetings with foreign leaders.

Milley also publicly apologized for his appearance alongside Trump during a photo op just outside the White House grounds during civil protests in 2020, calling it an improper endorsement of a political event. Trump blasted Milley for that statement and defended his decision to use overwhelming police force to clear out the area ahead of his appearance.

In the book War written by Bob Woodward and published last fall, Milley expressed concern that Trump could recall him to active duty to put him on trial for treason if he was re-elected to office. Woodward reported that Trump considered that action for several other former military leaders during his first term in the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump, Milley told Woodward.

In one of his last acts in office, President Joe Biden issued a pardon for Milley to guard against revenge by Trump, along with several other officials.

The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense, Biden said in a statement with the pardon. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.

Whether that presidential act will block Trump or Hegseth from acting against Milley remains unclear.

Last week, department officials ordered the removal of Milleys official portrait from the halls of the Pentagon, a move that congressional Democrats have decried as petty. The portrait was paid for with outside donations, and its display is a long-held tradition within the office building.
A former anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center who was convicted by a federal jury of attempted child sex trafficking was sentenced on Tuesday.

47-year-old Sadeq Ali Quraishi was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was convicted on one count of attempted child sex trafficking in October 2024.

In November 2022, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation designed to identify and apprehend people trying to pay for sex with children. Advertisements were placed online by undercover officers offering commercial sex with two young girls, ages 12 and 14, when Quraishi, who was a practicing anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center at the time, responded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to charging documents, Quraishi agreed to pay $250 for a sex act to be performed by a 14-year-old girl through an ensuing text conversation.

He agreed to meet up with the purported seller at a hotel in Waltham, and confirmed with the undercover agent he had the money to pay for the sex act. He was promptly arrested and found to be in possession of exactly $250.

Todays sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Quraishis heinous actions and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation. Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who fuel the market for child sex trafficking and hold them accountable for their crimes. This sentence reflects our dedication to identifying those who prey on our most vulnerable and holding them accountable for their inhumane acts, said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

As a doctor, Quraishi was in a position of public trust. He abused that trust when he actively sought out and agreed to pay to sexually abuse a child. Fortunately, instead of the vulnerable child he planned to meet, he was met with an undercover HSI special agent, said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, authorities ask you to contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

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
New Jerseys hemp law has prompted confusion among business owners and state officials since it Gov. Phil Murphy signed it last year. (Sophie Nieto-Munoz | New Jersey Monitor)

Hemp companies suing New Jersey over a law that bans intoxicating hemp product sales are in ongoing discussions that could resolve the dispute, according to a recent court filing.

Several hemp companies appealed after a federal judge upheld most of the hemp law that went into effect in October, although the states cannabis regulatory agency said it couldnt enforce some of the regulations due to the decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, the parties will file status reports every 60 days to the judge overseeing the case about any potential developments in their attempts to end the legal challenge, an attorney for the state told the judge earlier this month.

New Jerseys hemp law has prompted confusion among business owners and state officials since Gov. Phil Murphy signed the law in September. Murphy said he agreed with some of the concerns that led lawmakers to pass the bill  they said children could easily buy products with thousands of milligrams of unregulated THC, the chemical compound in cannabis  but Murphy said he believed some provisions of the legislation were too vague.

The law requires hemp businesses to apply for licenses through the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission to sell, manufacture, and distribute hemp. The law would also open liquor license holders up to selling hemp products if they obtain a license from the commission.

Hemp business filed suit shortly after the law was signed, arguing it is unconstitutionally vague. Hemp is federally legal, unlike cannabis, and New Jerseys law would effectively criminalize many hemp cultivators, manufacturers, and retail shop owners, they argued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A judge sided with hemp businesses argument that parts of the law unconstitutionally infringe on interstate commerce, but he also agreed with attorneys for New Jersey who argued they have the power to regulate hemp.

In November, the commission said it was unable to begin enforcement of provisions of the law dealing with regulating intoxicating hemp, but its bans on sales to people under 21 and on products that arent derived from naturally occurring biologically active chemical constituents are in effect and enforceable.

Under the law, people selling intoxicating hemp products without a license face fines of $100 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and at least $10,000 for subsequent violations.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
MONTROSE, Mo.  The Henry County, Missouri Commission says it wants to independently test areas around the old Evergy power plant. The company mothballed the plant in 2018, but a neighbor is suing, accusing Evergy of allowing high levels of toxic chemicals into the air and water.

Commissioner Mark Larson said Evergy will help pay for testing in this area that is unbiased from the report that came out January 7.

FOX4 obtained that report, done by Triangle Environmental Science & Engineering on January 23. The report revealed drinking water samples exceeding the Radium 226 and Total Radium Default Target Levels (DTLs) of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Soil samples exceeded DTLs for Hexavalent Chromium, which can cause cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Larson said there are only a few companies that can do similar work to what Triangle did in Missouri. He and his two fellow commissioners met Tuesday morning.

Missouri sports betting wait will extend beyond Super Bowl

I kind of left it that everybody needed to contact each one of these, get a price for it, see what it entails, see how its going to work, Larson said in an interview with FOX4 Tuesday afternoon. Id like to find out how long they think its going to take not only to get them to do it but then the results from that.

Larson added the testing can be done pretty quickly.

But it could be anywhere from ten minutes to a month before we get the results back, he continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evergy wants third party testing, and Chief Customer Officer Chuck Caisley told FOX4 Monday the Triangle firm was hired by the Plaintiffs attorney, Preuss | Foster Law. Partner Shawn Foster confirmed that with FOX4 Tuesday. Besides what Caisley and Larson have said, DNR Regional Director Mike Carroll says his entitys looking at the report from Triangle too. All three of these people attended Mondays meeting.

Overland Park couple sentenced after collecting dead fathers benefits

There is discussion as to what additional testing will take place, Carroll said in a Zoom interview with FOX4 Tuesday. As I shared last night in the meeting, we did do an initial sampling there at the school, and again, those samples have been sent to Jefferson City, and theyre currently being analyzed.

Carroll didnt know when his department will find out those results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Preuss | Foster is holding a meeting with county residents Wednesday. It starts at 6 p.m., and its also at the Benson Convention Center, the same spot Monday nights meeting was at.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The following report reflects conditions as of the afternoon of Jan. 28, 2025. The following day, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration reportedly rescinded the order to freeze federal grant spending that's outlined below. The Associated Press cited two anonymous sources "familiar with the matter," and other news outlets attributed the development to a memo provided to them. Snopes has not independently verified those sources.

A leaked memo from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans starting Jan 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's funding freeze, according to reports from reputable news outlets. Court documents on the judge's directive are not yet available.

The memo's footnotes say it will not affect Medicare, Social Security or "assistance provided directly to individuals," presumably including food stamps, cash assistance and similar programs. The language does not spare child care programs, student aid and federal funding provided to nonprofit organizations that offer a wide array of social supports.

A document from the Office of Management and Budget in support of this memo, released by States Newsroom and reported on by reputable news outlets, asked agencies for more information on Medicare insurance programs, Social Security and federal food and cash assistance programs. It did not explicitly say whether these programs would be affected by the freeze on funding.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Jan. 28 news conference that Medicare, Social Security, food stamps and welfare benefits would not be affected. An additional Q&A memo from OMB referenced by Leavitt and reported on by reputable news outlets said the order would not affect Medicaid or the federal food assistance program, SNAP, and that the freeze applies only to programs that may contradict Trump's executive orders.

However, Democratic lawmakers and nonprofit groups said funds for programs the Trump administration promised would not be affected were already being shut down or frozen due to the directive.

Widespread confusion over vague language used in the original OMB memo and statements from the Trump administration contradicting the original memo  as well as reports of federal platforms for Medicaid and other programs being shut down  means it's impossible for Snopes to determine what specific programs will be affected should the directive go into effect.

On Jan. 28, 2025, social media users began spreading claims that a new directive from U.S. President Donald Trump pausing federal spending may affect multiple aid programs.

Posts on X and Facebook claimed the Trump administration canceled Medicaid and paused student financial aid, school lunch programs and food and cash assistance. News releases from nonprofit organizations said the directive would freeze funding for housing, early childhood learning and more.

Trump orders OMB to freeze federal funds/awards by 5 pm TOMORROW - Affected: Medicaid; school breakfast and lunch programs, Section 8 rental assistance; Title I education grants; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; state grants for child care; Head Start; and SNAP - This order likely violates the 1974 law restricting presidential impoundment of funds appropriated by Congress - lawsuits will be filed, but how many meals will hungry kids be forced to skip while waiting for relief??

(X user @AnnieForTruth)

It is true that Trump's administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans starting at 5 p.m. EST Jan. 28, 2025, according to a leaked Jan. 27 memo reported on by reputable news outlets and independently verified by Snopes through an email from Senate Appropriations Committee staff. However, minutes before the directive was set to go into effect, a federal judge reportedly temporarily blocked Trump's plan from going into effect to allow time for arguments in court. Snopes could not independently verify these reports as the court documents announcing the judge's stay weren't yet publicly available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo's footnotes say it would not affect Medicare, Social Security or "assistance provided directly to individuals," thus presumably sparing food stamps, cash assistance and similar programs. However, the language did not spare child care programs and student financial aid, as that funding goes directly to schools, not students. The directive would also affect nonprofit organizations that provide food, housing, health care and other social supports and receive funding from the federal government.

States Newsroom, a nonprofit publication, released a document purportedly showing the list of programs that the Office of Management and Budget wants more details on to support its work on the original financial spending freeze memo. Snopes was not able to independently verify this document, but several reputable news outlets, including NBC News, also reported on it. It appeared to include programs the memo said were exempt from the funding freeze.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Jan. 28 news briefing that the memo ordered a "temporary pause" and emphasized that "Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits, assistance that is going directly to individuals would not be impacted by this pause."

Although the language of the memo suggested a pause on all federal financial assistance, a Q&A document from the OMB shared by reputable news outlets said the pause "does not apply across the board" and was explicitly focused on programs that may contradict Trump's executive orders. It emphasized that the pause would not affect food assistance, student loans and Medicaid. While Snopes was not able to independently verify the document as of this writing, it was referenced by Leavitt during her Jan. 28 news conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Democratic lawmakers and nonprofit organizations reported that supposedly exempted programs were still being affected by Trump's announcement. Neither the memo, Leavitt nor the additional documents from OMB included a timeline for this pause. We reached out to OMB and will update the story if we hear back.

Breaking Down the Memo

The memo, sent Jan. 27, 2025 by Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, requires federal agencies to "identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President's policies and requirements." It goes on to detail a list of Trump's executive orders related to funding  including ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs, withdrawing foreign aid and pulling back on environmental agreements  and said that in order to implement these executive orders, each agency must pause "all Federal financial assistance."

Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

In the memo's footnotes, it defines federal assistance as this:

For the purposes of this memorandum, Federal financial assistance includes: (i) all forms of assistance listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the definition of this term at 2 CFR 200.1; and (ii) assistance received or administered by recipients or subrecipients of any type except for assistance received directly by individuals.

"2 CFR 200.1" refers to the Code of Federal Regulations and its list of definitions. The most recent version of this document available online defines federal financial assistance as aid received by non-federal groups as grants, cooperative agreements, non-cash contributions or donations of property, direct appropriations (cash), food commodities and "other financial assistance." It also defines federal financial assistance as aid received by non-federal groups as loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies and insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The exemption for "assistance received directly by individuals" should, in theory, mean that food and cash assistance programs are excluded from the freeze. Another footnote specifically said that "nothing in this memo should be construed to impact Medicare or Social Security." It does not mention Medicaid or any other specific programs.

Here is the memo, M-25-13, in full:

A 52-page document from OMB released by States Newsroom titled "Instructions for Federal Financial Assistance Program Analysis in Support of M-25-13" lists more than 2,000 federal programs that the office wants more details on. The document does not state whether this is a list of programs that should expect a pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This support document does not appear to include Medicaid, federal health care insurance for low-income people. It does include Medicare insurance programs, federal health care for retirees and people with disabilities, and Social Security, which provides monthly payments to retirees and other qualified individuals, as well as federal food and cash assistance programs, contradicting the original memo. The list also includes Pell Grants  financial aid for low-income students  and other major federal assistance programs for students.

What Trump's Administration Has Said and Responses

During the first news conference of Trump's administration with Leavitt on Jan. 28, reporters repeatedly asked her to clarify what the memo affected, and she repeatedly responded that people who receive direct assistance from the federal government will not be affected. She did not address programs that benefit Americans but aren't in the form of direct assistance. Here's one such exchange:

Reporter: You've made it clear you're not stopping funds that go directly to individuals, but there certainly are lots of organizations that receive funding and then may pass along a benefit, Meals on Wheels for one  they provide meals for over 2.2 million seniors. What is the president's message to Americans out there, many of whom supported him and voted for him, who are concerned that this is going to impact them directly, even if, as you said, the funding isn't coming directly to their Leavitt: I have now been asked and answered this question four times. To individuals at home who receive direct assistance from the federal government, you will not be impacted by this federal freeze.

Leavitt also gave a list of programs not affected by the pause. She said the Trump administration issued the pause "because he is being a good steward of your taxpayer dollars."

Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits, assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause, and I want to make that very clear to any Americans who are watching at home, who may be a little bit confused about some of the media reporting on this administration, if you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that.

When asked about Medicaid, Leavitt said she would get back to the reporter. She also referenced a Q&A from OMB sent to Capitol Hill staffers and officials. That Q&A is being reported on by reputable news outlets and shared on X by reputable journalists, although Snopes could not independently verify the document as of this writing.

Confirmed that a new Q&A from OMB thats being circulated to Hill offices says Medicaid shouldnt be affected by the funding freeze



Mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause



This despite states warning that Medicaid portals were disrupted today pic.twitter.com/TAacjUvYB3  Victoria Knight (@victoriaregisk) January 28, 2025

According to the document being shared, Medicaid and SNAP, the federal food assistance program, will not be affected. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start  an early-childhood support program  rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. The document also said that "any program not implicated by the President's Executive Orders is not subject to the pause," such as "ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But some Democratic lawmakers said that federal programs the Trump administration promised wouldn't be affected by the freeze still were, even before it was originally supposed to go into effect. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said on X that his staff confirmed that Medicaid portals in all 50 states were down following the freeze; other Democratic lawmakers reported similar news or said their states' Medicaid portals were shut down. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said that in his state, the Head Start reimbursement program system was shut down. The National Head Start Association also said in a news release that the OMB memo "created panic among Head Start grant recipients who are currently not able to draw down any funds"; U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., posted a screenshot on X of the shut-down Head Start portal.

While Leavitt did not respond to a shouted question about whether Medicaid portals were down in all 50 states during her news conference, she said on X after the briefing that the White House was aware of the Medicaid website portal outage and was working on a fix.

The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage.



We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent.



We expect the portal will be back online shortly.  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 28, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some organizations that may be affected by this memo  such as Meals on Wheels, which provides meal deliveries to homebound seniors  also were reporting that they did not yet know whether the memo freezes their funding and are asking OMB for more clarity.

In short, the original memo contradicted statements made by the Trump administration after it was leaked, and despite the White House's assurances to the contrary, there is credible evidence that the memo affected programs like Medicaid and Head Start. Thus, it's impossible for Snopes to say what exactly may be affected should the directive go into effect.

We previously looked into a rumor that Trump had signed an executive order ending food stamps and cash assistance.

Sources:

"2 CFR  200.1 - Definitions." GovInfo, www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2024-title2-vol1/CFR-2024-title2-vol1-sec200-1/summary. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leavitt, Karoline. "X.com." X (Formerly Twitter), 28 Jan. 2025, x.com/PressSec/status/1884329868030271759. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Murphy, Chris. "X.com." X (Formerly Twitter), 28 Jan. 2025, x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1884310251853496473. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

National Head Start Association. "Federal Grant Freeze Puts Head Start Children and Families at Risk Nationwide." National Head Start Association, 28 Jan. 2025, nhsa.org/press_release/federal-grant-freeze-puts-head-start-children-and-families-at-risk-nationwide/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Politico. "MEMORANDUM for HEADS of EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS and AGENCIES." Document Cloud, 28 Jan. 2025, www.documentcloud.org/documents/25506191-omb-memo-1-27/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shutt, Jennifer. "Instructions for Federal Financial Assistance Program Analysis in Support of M-25-13." Document Cloud, 28 Jan. 2025, www.documentcloud.org/documents/25506813-govdoc20250128-263582/?mode=document. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

The White House. "Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media 1/28/2025." YouTube, 28 Jan. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJOgsQQYDY4. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Wyden, Ron. "X.com." X (Formerly Twitter), 28 Jan. 2025, x.com/RonWyden/status/1884303421894975874. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Updates:

Jan. 29, 2025: This report was updated to note that the Trump administration reportedly rescinded the order to freeze federal spending on grants.
Jan. 29ASHTABULA  Warnings of increased influenza fragments in the Ashtabula sewer system were released Monday by the Ashtabula Health Department.

"This trend is an early indicator that cases of influenza in the community may be increasing," a press release from the department stated. "Residents should be on alert and remain vigilant in the efforts to adhere to prevention efforts such as up-to-date influenza vaccination, frequent hand-washing and sanitizing."

The Ashtabula and Ashtabula County health departments are working together to review influenza related data to further inform decisions as they advise residents during respiratory illness season, the release states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Ashtabula City and Ashtabula County health departments have alerted healthcare providers, nursing homes, and other shared-living facilities to be prepared for a potential increase in cases," the release states.

"Research has show that non-infectious ribonucleic acid form the virus that causes influenza can be detected in wastewater as many as three to seven days before those infections lead to increases in case counts or hospitalizations. This means that monitoring raw wastewater in sewage collections systems can provide an early warn of the increase of disease in a community," the release states.

"The Ashtabula Wastewater Treatment plant [which services Ashtabula and parts of Saybrook and Ashtabula townships] has demonstrated a sustained increase recorded from Jan. 12, 2025, to Jan. 20, 2025," the release states. "This sustained increase in viral load demonstrates that there may be community increased transmission, and citizens are cautioned to follow prevention efforts."
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Woodfire Pizza, at 408 E State Street, was hot with competition Tuesday as 36 students from five local high schools put their skills to the test in the Future Top Chef Culinary Skills Competition.

From hot-honey glaze to homegrown basil, student chefs went all out to earn the judges flavor favor.

The competition is hosted by CEANCI (Career Education Associates of North Central Illinois, and hopes to to allow students to gain real-world experience as they use their academic knowledge, and skill sets to work in an industry setting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harlem High School students Sophia Lilly and Wesley Penney created a desert pizza, to stand out from the competition.

We decided on doing something unique and different from just an ordinary pizza, Lilly said. So, we just decided to do our favorite foods. My mom, shes a baker. She has her own little business. So I was thinking of any of her most popular items.

In addition to crafting their pizzas from start to finish, students learned about entrepreneurship, finance, and other business skills.

Harlem culinary teacher Erin Watson said she was proud of her team.

Getting this like real life hands-on [experience], seeing what a real kitchen looks like, seeing how it operates, and building connections within the community is huge. So this is incredible, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rockford East High School senior Naiam Dock said she plans to train to become an executive chef after she graduates.

I love cooking, so I kind of feel like I would love to do it in the long run. Youre cooking when youre mad. Youre cooking when youre sad, you cook for your loved ones. So like cooking for me, it just kind of brings family together in like, just doing what you love. Kind of just bringing them together, she said.

The judges will score the pizzas on their crust texture, temperature, toppings, taste, and cheese as well as the team`s collaboration, teamwork, and presentation style.

Belvidere High Schoos Maggie Sternquist and Zoe Gherke won the competition for their spinach and artichoke pizza.

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.
THE SHEER SPEED AND HUGE NUMBER of actions taken by the Trump administration in its first week has left journalists and commentators breathless and bewildered. Its as if Trump has dumped the pieces of the worlds biggest jigsaw puzzle across the streets of Washington: Everyone is chasing around the individual pieces, while only the Trump team has a sense of how all the pieces fit together.

So while journalists and commentators are looking at the administrations freeze on all federal grants, including medical research funds; shutdown of communication from scientific and public health agencies; firing of inspectors general; purging of DEI activities and personnel from the government and universities; and launch of migrant deportations, the Trump team already knows what they want it to look liketheyve seen the picture on the outside of the box.

Of course, this isnt Trumps handiwork; there is no evidence that he has thought deeply about the policy, law, or constitutional questions at stake. But people who work for him have planned on his behalf over the last four years out of power. Among these is Russell Vought, Trumps nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, who founded one of several MAGA-friendly think tanks in Washington, the Center for Renewing America, and who contributed to Project 2025. Vought is a zealot among zealots, as his perfervid contribution to Project 2025 makes clear: Nothing less than the survival of self-governance in America is at stake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, its possible to begin to see how the puzzle is coming together, the larger ambitions behind Trumps actions, and what they mean in the context of our constitutional system. So lets take a closer look at a few of his actions and how they have been executed.

First, consider the dismantling of the federal governments DEI programs, which Trump ordered on January 21. The administration concluded that the easiest way was to rid the government of the federal officials working on DEI, but federal civil service rules prohibit simply firing people.

So, late on January 20, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)essentially the federal governments human resources department, now reportedly stuffed with Elon Musk loyalistssent out a memo to federal department heads with instructions on how to put federal employees on paid leave and squeeze them out of the action. Thats something that very few people normally would pay attention to.

Were paying attention. Dont miss out on any of our coverage of Trump 2.0: Sign up for a free or paid subscription today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But then, on January 22, the administration announced that it was shutting down federal DEI operations and laying off all the employees connected with DEI. The expansive interpretation of the governments paid-leave policy gave the Trumpistas just the power they needed.

So the administration laid the foundation by creating a reduction-in-force process that didnt previously exist, and then promptly used it to kill DEI.

Then theres DOGE, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (technically now the DOGE Service), which Trump ordered to dispatch teams into every federal agency. Where could it quickly recruit a small army of loyalists? OPM took the standard memo thats sent to agencies with every presidential transition about getting help from short-term political appointees, and then made a crucial change: It lifted the caps usually in place to limit the number of such appointees and permitted the Trump team to flood the bureaucracy with an unlimited number of political appointees. So DOGE launched on the heels of a plan to mold government in MAGAs image and likeness.

More: After Trumps first four years in office, his team was deeply suspicious of the permanent bureaucracy, especially the members of the Senior Executive Service, a cadre of about 8,000 of the governments most experienced managers. So the administration distributed a memo on January 20 asserting that because officials wield significant governmental authority, they must serve at the pleasure of the President.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With those 14 words, the administration blew up 140 years of consensus, across the political parties, about the need for a technically expert, politically accountable civil service. SES members became, in the presidents view, at-will employees without civil service protection, who could be fired for any reason. Promptly following Trumps inauguration, his administration started using the power it had asserted. And in case anyone missed the point, a memo from OPM on January 27 said that anyone involved in shaping policy is required to faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability, consistent with their constitutional oath and the vesting of executive authority solely in the President. That is, the president has sole power to determine who does what in the executive branch. And then: Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal.

Finally, there is the email reportedly sent from OPM to every federal worker tonightreading very much like a memo drafted by Musk and his hirespurporting to offer them what amounts to a buyout. Details about this deferred resignation program, including about how it would be funded, will likely emerge in the next few days. If even just a fraction of the federal workforce takes the offer, it could represent the biggest rapid remaking of the federal bureaucracy since the Second World War. And those departed federal workers would likely be replaced by new hires who feel loyalty to Donald Trump.

YOU MAY SEE ARTICLES arguing that one action or another action taken by Trump resembles something that a previous administration did. That totally, completely misses whats happening. The Trump restoration is simply unlike anything that weve ever seen before.

Its singularly, startlingly focused on increasing the presidents power, by its reading of Article II of the Constitution and the most far-reaching implementation of the unitary executive theory thats become popular in conservative legal circles over the last forty years. And (to mix metaphors) its operating from a playbook that none of us knows, to make the pieces come together into a picture that the rest of us can only imagine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a powerful strategy, designed not only to boost Trumps policy plans but also to transform governance. Its happening with a speed intended to overwhelm lawmakers, watchdog groups, journalists, and the public. Careful vigilance and swift action in the courts are called forbefore its too late.

Share
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A Hilton man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors and will be facing prison time.

Prosecutors said Isolino Presutti, age 38, possessed three desktop and two laptop computers with 5,690 images and 28 videos of child pornography in March 2023. Some of the images and videos depicted the sexual abuse of infants or toddlers and violence against children.

Medina man accused of possessing hundreds of photos and videos of child pornography

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Presutti will be sentenced to serve 60 months in prison and will also be ordered to pay restitution totaling $42,000 to 14 victims related to 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 RochesterFirst.
Jan. 28A federal hiring freeze and other executive orders issued by President Donald Trump have cast a pall of uncertainty and worry over many of the 11,000 U.S. government workers in Maine.

In addition to a three-month hiring freeze that will delay filling 120 seasonal positions at Acadia National Park, the incoming administration also ordered all remote federal staff to return to work in person and eliminated all federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and positions.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration began offering buyouts with eight months' pay to all federal workers who choose to leave their jobs by next Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's unclear exactly how many of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees have been impacted by the executive orders so far or will be eliminated by the administration's promised plan to cut more government jobs in the months ahead.

While the freeze order stipulates that it won't "adversely impact" access to Social Security, Medicare and veterans' benefits, the lack of transparency led Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, to send a letter to the president on Tuesday urging him to grant a full exemption to all Department of Veterans Affairs personnel.

"Without a broad exemption, I worry that any hiring freeze would hurt access to veterans' benefits, including health care," King said in the letter. "Our veterans deserve access to the best quality health care, the benefits they earned, and someone to answer the phone when they call for help."

King noted that Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter recently said more than 300,000 VA health care positions will be considered essential and exempt from the freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the VA reported last year that it had more than 400,000 employees "after an unprecedented hiring surge," according to the agency's website. "We are better prepared than ever before to meet the needs of veterans who rely on us for care."

Concerned that many nonmedical positions may be at risk, King listed several he said are necessary to provide services at Togus VA Medical Center near Augusta and other VA clinics across Maine, including support staff who schedule appointments, address IT issues and process disability claims.

He urged the president to "ensure that all positions within the VA are considered as essential, so that we can continue to hire dedicated employees to serve and care for our veterans."

Jason Carter, spokesperson for VA Maine and Togus VA Medical Center, declined to discuss the impact of the executive orders and forwarded an inquiry to the public affairs team at the VA New England Healthcare System.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We have not experienced any negative impact on hospital performance as a result of the hiring freeze because of the targeted hiring-freeze exemptions VA announced last week," the VA responded.

Regarding the in-person order, the VA responded that most of their Maine employees "typically do not work remotely and will not be impacted by VA's efforts to end remote work."

Amanda Pollock, spokesperson for Acadia National Park, also declined to discuss the orders and forwarded the newspaper's inquiry to the Washington office of the National Park Service. That agency did not respond.

'CAUTIOUSLY CONCERNED'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The park service has rescinded as many as 1,400 job offers for seasonal workers nationwide in the wake of freeze, according to news reports, raising apprehension among Bar Harbor officials and business owners who are already preparing for the coming tourist season. They recognize the symbiotic relationship between the park and the local economy and the shared challenges they face in a tight labor market.

"I would say we're cautiously concerned," said Everal Eaton, executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. "Now is when a lot of our employers are lining up their staff, and park staffing is an important part of the visitor experience."

Eaton said the park has been affected by the hiring freeze, the in-person work order and the DEI order.

"They are hopeful that after the three-month freeze, they'll be able to operate as normal," Eaton said. "But right now we just don't know, so we're in a waiting game as well."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, called the executive orders reckless for instilling a sense of fear and uncertainty over unknown impacts. She said she and her team are monitoring the situation closely to help constituents navigate the fallout.

"These directives appear to be less about improving government operations and more about eliminating employees, dismantling the civil service (and) undermining the expertise and dedication of federal workers who are critical to the success of our federal agencies," Pingree said in a statement.

"From veterans services to staffing at Acadia National Park, these mandates could lead to significant disruptions," Pingree said. "Many Mainers work for the federal government, and their expertise and dedication have long been integral to serving our communities. The loss of these talented individuals would not only weaken federal agencies but also harm the people who rely on their work."

EXACERBATING LABOR SHORTAGES

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also expressed concern about the impact of the hiring freeze in a tight labor market.

"It is critical that the federal government efficiently provides Mainers with the programs and services they need," Collins said in a statement. "Staffing shortages remain a problem in some federal agencies in Maine, raising valid concerns that a broad hiring freeze has the potential to exacerbate an already challenging situation for some agencies and programs."

Collins said she is seeking more information from the new administration on how the orders will be implemented without interrupting essential programs and services while also streamlining and improving how agencies operate. She also has long advocated for a return to in-person work for most federal jobs.

"While telework may make sense for some jobs, including bill paying and cybersecurity, I welcome a return to the office or worksite for federal workers who interface directly with Mainers," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, also is seeking more information about the executive orders, said spokesperson Mario Moretto.

"There are still a lot of unanswered questions about exactly what roles are subject to this presidential action and how they are being assessed during the 90-day freeze," Moretto said in a statement.

Golden recognizes the valuable services that federal employees provide to Mainers, including to veterans, Moretto said. "(He) also knows what it means to serve in the armed forces and doesn't want to see any veteran lose access to the benefits they have earned," Moretto said.

TRUMP'S ORDERS AND NEXT STEPS

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When he took office Jan. 20, Trump froze all federal civilian positions for three months, when no vacant jobs may be filled and no new positions may be created regardless of funding source. Explicitly excluded from the order are military positions, presidential appointments and jobs related to immigration enforcement, national security or public safety.

Within 90 days, or by April 20, the director of the Office of Management and Budget must submit "a plan to reduce the size of the federal government's workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition." The plan will be developed in consultation with the personnel management director and Elon Musk, administrator of the newly created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency Service, the order states.

When the OMB issues its plan, the hiring freeze will expire for all departments and agencies  except the Internal Revenue Service. The order will remain in effect for the IRS until Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent "determines that it is in the national interest to lift the freeze," again in consultation with the OMB director and Musk.

The order states that it doesn't apply when it would conflict with other laws, including collective bargaining agreements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a separate action, Trump ordered agency and department heads to terminate remote work arrangements "as soon as practicable" and require employees to return to work in person on a full-time basis. The order stipulates that "department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary" and apply the in-person requirement consistent with other laws.

Trump also ordered the termination within 60 days of all diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice programs, positions, mandates, policies, preferences, activities, action plans and equity-related grants and contracts in the federal government. The administration will then review and revise existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Targeting DEI programs undermines civil service hiring rules, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 750,000 federal employees, including about 726 union members in Maine who work for the VA, National Park Service, Transportation Security Administration, Social Security Administration, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons and Border Patrol.

"The federal government has the lowest gender and racial pay gaps of all employers, precisely because employment decisions are made based on one's ability to do the work and not on where they went to school or who they supported in the last election," union President Everett Kelley said in a statement. "Undoing these programs is just another way for President Trump to undermine the merit-based civil service and turn federal hiring and firing decisions into loyalty tests."

Copy the Story Link
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has hailed the passing of proposals tabled by the opposition conservatives to tighten the country's migration policy as the beginning of a "new era."

"This is truly a historic moment," said Bernd Baumann, the AfD parliamentary group's first parliamentary secretary, when addressing the lower house after the vote.

He said the result of the vote marked the end of red-green dominance in Germany, "once and for all," referring to the Social Democrats and the Greens, who are currently leading the country in a minority government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"A new era is beginning here and now, and we are leading it!" Baumann said.

The majority for the motion tabled by the opposition CDU/CSU bloc, which holds 196 seats in parliament, was almost certainly achieved due to votes from the pro-business Free Democrats and the AfD, who had previously signalled approval for the controversial proposals.

The Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party had said they would vote against it, while the anti-immigration Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance had said it would abstain.

The proposals do not have to be enacted by the government. The German election is on February 23.
Teacher Sandra Bolton leads third and fourth graders in a team center classroom at Hobby Elementary, 4021 Woodmont Dr., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Houston. Principal Philma Thomas-Muhammad is concerned over security of the large open glass areas. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer A Audrey H. Lawson Middle School student opens his laptop at the math team center. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Kids line up in the playground during a tour of Benavidez Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Teacher Samuel Shurtleff speaks with Benavidez Elementary School principal Dr. Rania Khalil during a tour of Benavidez Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer A first grade dual language program student works on math classwork at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Angelina Castillo, an iEducate tutor, demonstrates how she works with third grade students on their math skills at Briscoe Elementary School in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Despite some improvement, including in Houston ISD, students nationwide continue to suffer from post-pandemic academic losses, according to results released Wednesday from an assessment known as the Nation's Report Card.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress gauges students' progress in several subjects, including fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading, every two years at certain public and private schools across the country. Students who took the test at more than 100 HISD campuses in January 2024 saw growth in fourth-grade math scores but did not see significant change in other subjects as other students slipped further behind nationwide.

"This is a sobering finding that we have today," said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. "These results clearly show that students are not where we need them to be or where we want them to be, but there are signs of progress."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, who took over the district six months prior to the test, lauded his vision of "wholescale systemic reform" for the district's relative improvement when compared to state and national averages. HISD surpassed the statewide average in fourth-grade math and saw some growth in the number of students with "proficient" scores in all other subjects, although that growth was not deemed statistically significant.

Houston ISD's other average scores remained in between other large Texas districts including Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs.

"We're rebounding from COVID loss," Miles said in a Wednesday press conference. "We're rebounding at a faster rate than the state, the national public districts and even the large city districts."

NAEP scores drew alarm nationwide in 2022 as students saw steep declines in math. While students' average math scores remained flat or improved slightly in 2024, they were still up to eight points behind pre-pandemic scores. Students' fourth-grade reading proficiency, meanwhile, fell to their lowest levels since 1994.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

And while higher-performing students saw some post-COVID progress, students in lower percentiles saw steeper declines across the country.

"We might be in a moment in American education where we need to think, let's look backwards at what we might have been doing at that time and find out if there are any lessons from the past, rather than the next new thing," said Martin West, vice chair of the National Assessment Governing Board.

HISD bucked that trend, and Miles praised improvements for certain student subgroups, including improved fourth-grade reading scores for Black students and better eighth-grade reading outcomes for students with special needs.

Miles, who was appointed by the Texas Education System to improve accountability ratings, cited increases in other standardized tests as proof that his controversial overhaul is helping student outcomes.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It's starting to show in multiple measures, not just STAAR, not just accountability, not just NWEA but now with NAEP, that the students are headed in the right direction and we're making great gains," Miles said.

As a longtime leader in NAEP math scores, Texas ranked first in the nation in fourth-grade math for Black students and fourth for economically disadvantaged students in the subject. The state and certain school districts, including Dallas ISD, also host higher-than-average scores for emergent bilingual students in some subjects.

But that performance reflects declines in other states as much as it does Texas' own student achievement, said Kate Greer, policy and state coalition managing director at Dallas-based education nonprofit The Commit Partnership.

"It just calls for greater action and focus, because if we are leading the country in math scores for Black students in fourth grade, it really goes to show what a long way we have to go," Greer said. "It's a call for us to focus our attention on supporting students in gaining foundational skills in reading and math in particular."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

And achievement gaps remain stark for many student subgroups within Houston ISD, former HISD board trustee Judith Cruz said.
Rachel Reeves delivered a landmark speech this week, promising economic growth across all regions of the UK. Speaking in Oxfordshire, the chancellor pledged a slate of new development projects  including a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Discussions about the expansion of Londons busiest airport date back to 2003, when its owners first sought approval for the third runway. Over 20 years later, Labour has got behind the project as the government invites proposals to be brought forward in the Summer.

Confirming the decision in her speech, Ms Reeves said: We cannot duck the decision any longer.

Rachel Reeves has approved plans for the badly needed third runway at Heathrow Airport (Peter Cziborra/PA) (PA Wire)

The chancellor promised to take forward a full assessment through the airport national policy statement, designed to ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.

Asked for a timeline on the plan, Ms Reeves told BBC Breakfast she wants to see spades in the ground this Parliament, confirming that the goal is for the runway to be in use by 2035 at least.

But the plan for a third runway at Heathrow also has many opponents, and has been pushed back several times before now. Heres everything you need to know about the ongoing debate:

Why does Labour want to expand Heathrow?

In her speech, the chancellor said that a third runway at Heathrow is badly needed as for decades its growth has been constrained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added that by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the worlds best-connected place to do business.

Flights from the airport are currently capped at 480,000 per year, and that limit is being reached. A third runway would theoretically increase this to 720,000 flights.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

The airport also currently handles 200 billion worth of trade a year, over 60 per cent of the UKs air freight. It would be well-equipped to deliver even more after an expansion.

I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investments, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected, Ms Reeves said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander will also soon decide on requests for expansion projects at Gatwick and Luton airports.

Responding to the announcement, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: This is the bold, responsible vision the UK needs to thrive in the 21st century and I thank the government and chancellor for their leadership.

Who has opposed the plans  and why?

Critics say there is a strong environmental argument against expanding Heathrow, and that Labours new pledge risks the party falling short of climate targets.

Putting himself at odds with the chancellor, environment secretary Ed Miliband said the expansion of Heathrow and other UK airports won't go ahead if they dont meet emissions targets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The former Labour leader, who has long been a vocal opponent of the plan, told MPs the day before Ms Reeves speech he wanted to provide reassurance that any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it cant be justified, it wont go ahead.

Energy secretary Ed Milibands opposition to Heathrows third runway spans back as far as 2009 (Danny Lawson/PA) (PA Wire)

But the chancellor has told reporters that she will pursue the investment even if it is not popular, stressing the need to grow the economy.

The scheme would also have a major impact on the local area, with hundreds of Greater London homes demolished and villages such as Harmondsworth and Longford likely to be partly or wholly demolished.

Responding to the chancellors speech, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on social media: I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow airport because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I will scrutinise carefully any new proposals that now come forward from Heathrow, including the impact it will have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure.

Several environmental groups have also spoken out against the plans. Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition said: We assume Heathrow expansion was chosen because it has become the totemic mission impossible.

Yet, the plan is not only eye-wateringly expensive. It entails flattening villages and tunnelling over the M25s busiest junction to increase Heathrows size by an area that is larger than Birmingham airport, to fly as many extra planes as Gatwick currently flies  effectively to build the UKs second-largest airport next to the first. And all in the most overflown and densely packed residential region in the UK.

How long has Heathrows third runway been debated?

Bosses at Heathrow Airport first sought approval for a third runway in 2003, sparking backlash after previously saying they wouldnt. In December of that year, then transport secretary Alistair Darling expressed concerns about air pollution, but said he expected a third runway to be built within the next 12 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was not until 2009 that the plan gained steam again when then prime minister Gordon Brown approved the plan. He was met by fierce opposition from fellow Labour cabinet members Hilary Benn and Ed Miliband.

Plans for Heathrows third runway were first approved by Gordon Brown in 2009 (pictured in 2025) (Victoria Jones/PA)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following his election victory in 2010, David Cameron formally cancelled the plans, which he had called pig-headed. But in 2012, he and his chancellor George Osbourne become open to the idea, saying they would no longer block airport bosses from submitting proposals.

Six years later, under prime minister Theresa May in 2018, a Commons vote backed the Heathrow expansion by 415 votes to 119  a majority of 296. However, the idea was shut down in February 2020 when the Court of Appeal blocked the Conservative plans because ministers had failed to take into account the UKs commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord.

This ruling was overturned later in the year by the Supreme Court, permitting Heathrow bosses to submit applications once again. However, the impact of Covid-19 travel restrictions on the industry put all plans on hold.

Now in 2025, the idea has been backed by Sir Keir Starmers Labour government, setting the stage for construction on a third runway to begin.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Homelessness is a nationwide issue affecting thousands  many just in the WKRG News 5 area.

Arrest made in triple homicide investigation: Mobile police

Wes Flowers is a homeless Navy veteran who lives in Mobile and has been homeless for most of his life.

Flowers told News 5 although hes educated and has a masters degree, some people often dont see him as a person.

Once youve been homeless thats pretty much all youre ever going to be, said Flowers. Ive been homeless for most of my adult life. The only time that I wasnt homeless was when I was in college and then when I was in the Navy. And when I got out of the Navy, I was a homeless veteran shortly thereafter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Flowers told us he believes the solution to the homeless crisis in Mobile is to offer low-cost housing.

Put homeless people and people in houses, said Flowers. Stop worrying about building new structures. We dont need any new structures. Weve got plenty of empty houses.

News 5 spoke with other members of the homeless community in downtown Mobile who shared the same concerns, like Melinda Manuel who said shes been homeless for five years and was previously a lawyer.

They should give at least two thousand, ten thousand dollars to the social security, said Manuel. These buildings and stuff like that when they work. They should at least give a couple of thousand. You know to the social security to help out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday morning, members of Housing First, a Mobile organization working to end homelessness, surveyed members of the Mobile homeless community to assess their needs.

Its a life-changing moment to sit down and just talk to people and hear their story, said Leon Bell Jr. with Housing First. When you think about people who are homeless, they dont really have a family so when you come down to talk to them its an opportunity for them to open up.

Members of the homeless community, like Flowers and Manuel, were given the opportunity to open up about their needs, given snacks and job resources.

Mobile eyeballs lodging tax increase to pay for Civic Center and Mobile Regional Airport costs

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Volunteers hope that connecting with the homeless population will provide them with resources and ultimately help improve their 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 WKRG News 5.
Shovel in hand, Hendrena Martin dug through the ruins of the home her father had built more than 60 years ago, searching for any surviving link to the past.

She took stock of what was left: the bricks that her dad laid at the base of the house, the chimney, screen doors that had been blown off their hinges. The home was her familys legacy  where her fathers memory resided, where she cared for her mother, who now sat silently before the wreckage.

Martin couldn't abandon it. But how, she wondered, could she afford to rebuild?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How can a whole city just go up in flames in one night, and you lose everything that you struggled to hold on to? said Martin, 64.

Martins annual insurance premium under the California FAIR Plan more than doubled last year to nearly $1,700. But even with that payment, she learned after the fire that her property was underinsured: what she qualifies for as reimbursement is far less than what it will take to rebuild.

Margaret Martin, 96, sits outside a home built by her husband, Henry Martin. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Lashonda Ellis, right, comforts her grandmother, Margaret Martin, 96, as she sits outside a home built by her husband, Henry Martin in 1966. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

I've got my mom  I'm caring for her. I've got my daughter, whos trying to start her life. This is a new thing on my plate  just to survive, she said.

Martin escaped the Eaton fire with her daughter, LaShondra Ellis, 34, and her 96-year-old mother, Margaret Martin. Their home on North Fair Oaks Avenue is one of the thousands of structures that burned in Altadena. In the last week as the rain turned the ash into a gray muck, the cleanup phase of recovery began. But with it, the countless unanswered questions about the cost and timeline for rebuilding only bring new uncertainty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Altadena had soul, solitude and community. Can those qualities survive devastating firestorm?

Seeking answers has become a full-time job for Martin and other displaced residents, who are meeting daily in churches and at community spaces to get information about what needs to be done to move forward. Altadena Chamber of Commerce board member Larry Hammond said there were more questions than answers at a recent community meeting over Zoom: How do we rebuild? How do we pay for this? Are there enough contractors to meet the demand? How does the permitting process work?

A strained supply chain and the price of lumber, which accounts for about 15% of construction costs, has heightened concerns for residents who want to rebuild their community. Average lumber prices have ranged from $475 to $625 per thousand board feet over the last six months, and experts have said that could spike under a surge in demand, as it did during the pandemic.

People are asking questions about where they go from here, Hammond said. You just have to put one foot in front of the other. Take one step at a time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the unincorporated town above Pasadena, which includes historically Black neighborhoods, it isnt uncommon for families to have roots in a home for several generations.

This is a resilient community. It is a community built on connectivity, Hammond said.

But what a rebuilt community looks like is something yet to be defined. Many Altadena residents are older and are determining if they will be able to return to the area, Hammond said, or if they want to spend the time and money. More than 21% of residents are 65 or older, according to U.S. Census data, which is more than the U.S. at large.

Altadena Is Not For Sale signs have popped up throughout neighborhoods as fears grow over who might try to buy the land if residents cant afford to stay. Some have found business cards from real estate developers on their property.

Tiffany Hockenhull and longtime neighbor, Torbjorn Crawford, embrace while surveying their destroyed homes in Altadena. (Nick Agro/For The Times)

Tiffany Hockenhull looks through the wreckage of her home. (Nick Agro/For The Times)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A few blocks from Martin, Tiffany Hockenhull sifted through the remnants of her home on Callecita Drive, which first belonged to her grandparents.

Days before, she said, she walked up to the residence and found a woman taking photos. She said the stranger asked for her information and told her that developers were going to want to buy properties in the area, while offering Hockenhull assistance. The situation unnerved her.

It didn't feel comfortable, it didn't feel safe, it didn't feel like it was anywhere near I'm here to help you, Hockenhull, 38, said. It felt like a scam.

Her neighborhood, a quaint cul-de-sac where 12 homes once stood, was a tightly bound community that often gathered for margaritas and shared updates on a text chain. Neighbors who had returned to clean and search for items, including wedding rings, embraced Hockenhull in a group hug. Together, they grieved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Against all odds, Black residents built something remarkable in Altadena. Then the fire came

Hockenhull lost her dad in 2022 and her mom weeks before the fire. The home was a place of comfort and solace that she believed would continue to stay within her family. She wants to rebuild, but insurance will cover only a portion of the cost. She is continuing to search for solutions.

"Selling this would be me giving up on my entire legacy of being a Hockenull, of being born and raised in the family that I was born and raised in, watching my grandparents work hard to purchase it and keep it," she said.

The last thing anybody wants to do is to start to build and then run out of money to finish."

Elsa Mandoe and son Torbjorn Crawford look over the remains of their home. (Nick Agro/For The Times)

Across the street, Torbjorn Crawford, 37, stared at the remains of his childhood home, still in disbelief over what had happened. It was the summer pool party house for the neighborhood, where friends found safe spaces during hard times, where he found sobriety, where he would have looked for solace in a disaster like this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All the stuff you take for granted day by day, that you walk past on your way to whatever you're going out in the world to do. Then when you think about it  the memories of it is all we have, he said.

Crawford recently released a song about Altadena that he wrote before the fire. He and his partner, Jennifer Hercules, 37, cant imagine not going back. But his mom, who bought the house in 1979, is still wrestling with unknowns, including how long it will take to clear the area of toxins before rebuilding could begin.

There are a lot of steps along the way, said Elsa Mandoe, Crawford's mom.

Read more: They waited and waited for an evacuation order. The fire came first, and people died in Altadena

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Abraham Pratella, a Realtor whose family lost several homes in Altadena, said hes fielded at least 20 calls from developers and investors asking for him to connect them with residents. He has pushed back, concerned that people who feel vulnerable or confused could make a rash decision.

There's tons of fear tactics being used, he said, adding that the community includes many who are elderly and may struggle to understand their options.

We want to get information out now that they don't have to sell. There's tons of help, he said.

Hendrena Martin, left, and daughter LaShonda Ellis sift through the rubble of there home that was destroyed by the Eaton fire. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Pratellas uncle, Mr. Z Sayegh, was one of many residents who lost a home and business in Altadena.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I've been there for over 50 years," Sayegh, 78, said about his home on Gaywood Drive. "I'm definitely going to rebuild."

But given the scope of the disaster, he knows the process will take years.

I hope I will be able to finish it in my lifetime.

Read more: Livelihoods taken in an instant when Altadena residents lost both businesses and homes

At the Martin residence, rain had begun to fall Sunday afternoon. Ellis had gathered what little she could find beneath the broken glass, nails and soot.

Before the fire, her mom had started an expansion project on the house with a mission of one day opening a living space for veterans  her grandfathers vision. That was gone too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Everything is so unrecognizable, Ellis said.

From the rubble she had pulled a white ceramic bear. It had been a gift from her grandfather years before.

Painted on the bear, a red heart carried the message: I love you.

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.
LAKE CITY, S.C. (WBTW)  Nearly 40 years after Ronald McNair and six other crew members lost their lives aboard the space shuttle Challenger, Lake Citys native son is still fondly remembered.

The shuttle broke apart on Jan. 28, 1986, 73 seconds into its flight, killing everyone on board. McNair was 35.

News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper News13 photo / Eric Cooper

For McNairs widow Cheryl, returning to Lake City every year to honor his legacy is part of her way of remembering. She owns a necklace representing all seven astronauts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thirty-nine years, weve been doing this candlelight vigil, and that shows so much love and so much respect, and Its something I know Ron would be thrilled about, she said.

This years event was held Tuesday evening at the Ronald McNair Life History Center.

This is where Ron grew up, and to have his hometown people to love him so much and to continue the legacy, what he wanted to do was inspire children, to inspire everyone, actually, McNair said.

McNairs younger brother, Carl, said he admired him so much they would end up attending North Carolina A&T State University together as roommates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But he never forgot the love Lake City showed after Ronalds first space mission.

The whole town opened up, Carl said. They had a parade, they had an open convertible and there was the sun, and I had never seen everybody  regardless of ethnicity  everybody was just here to welcome their hometown hero, and that meant a lot to Ron, Carl said.

The old Lake City Library became the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Life History Center in 2011.

As a child, McNair refused to leave the then-segregated public library until workers let him borrow a book. Now, the building is home to his legacy and memorabilia from his life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* * *

Eric Cooper is a multimedia journalist at News13. He joined the team in September 2024 and covers stories in the Pee Dee. He is a native of Cades in Williamsburg County and a proud graduate of Kingstree Senior High School and Benedict College. You can 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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Its a moment millions of Americans will never forget.

On this day 39 years ago, all eyes were on the sky when the Challenger spacecraft exploded shortly after it launched.

Disabled, injured man trapped in bedroom gets saved from burning home

Aspiring astronauts in Tampa Bay honored the seven crew members who lost their lives right after liftoff.

The Challengers mission was ambitious and distinct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to NASA, the first teacher in space would conduct lessons for schoolchildren from orbit.

However, this day is now met with reverence and respect.

The nation and the world mourn the loss of these courageous pioneers, a student said during the ceremony.

The mood at the John Glenn Top Gun Academy of Stewart Middle School was somber.

Florida congresswoman wants Trumps face to be carved on Mount Rushmore

It means showing appreciation to people who paved the way for the future of space exploration, said Landrick Keys, a student at the academy.

Donning blue flight suits, students laid carnations in honor of the seven astronauts who lost their lives when the Challenger spacecraft exploded 39 years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its really devastating to see the loss of so many important people, said Brielle Hoover, who attends the academy. We learn from it, and we move forward and thats how we learn new things.

On January 28, 1986, tragedy struck the nation when a booster rocket failed.

I want our students to know that theres hope, said Lynn Langford McDaniel, an instructor at Stewart Middle Magnet School. There are opportunities to start learning from mistakes and whats going to be in their future.

Nicole Stott, a retired NASA astronaut, also spoke during the ceremony and remembers that day distinctly.

However, her focus is on the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You see them putting themselves in the place where they envision for themselves in the future, Stott said. Theyre imagining themselves as those crewmates and how they can behave that way on earth.

Students also paid tribute to the crew members who lost their lives during the Colombia and Apollo 1 disasters.

Were growing, Hoover said. Were becoming stronger. Were getting together and were learning new things.



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Horry County Schools administrators defended the new personal electronic device policy and addressed some parents concerns after the policy took effect Monday.

Ten Oaks Middle School principal Lindsay Lennon said Ten Oaks students have turned their cell phone off and put them in their backpacks since the school opened in 2017.

This was, actually, kind of a minor shift for us, she said. Really, the biggest difference is just really trying to enforce the fact that they turn them all the way off and dont just put them on silent mode. And, as a middle school student, I would probably try to push that boundary just like they will.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lennon says teachers started this initiative, saying students would benefit from less electronic distractions. She says it has been effective.

Weve seen our students, maybe, enjoy lunch, communicate with each other more, Lennon said. We still have recess, so we love to see them play, get outside. Its been a little cold, but thats getting better. But weve seen an increase in those things. And also, just in our transitions, kids are paying attention more and just being more active learners while theyre here.

I kind of think about when I was in school, she added. If there had been a rule to say that I could bring a TV, and a radio, and, I guess, a CD player, an MP3 player. And if I had all those things, and then my teachers were still trying to teach me, a cell phone is not a whole lot different when it has access to the internet.

Lennon says Ten Oaks had only a few minor hiccups on the policys first day. She says these hiccups were just reminding students about policy expectations and consequences, since the snow delayed the start of the semester.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We met, as an admin team, with our teachers, with every grade level, and really tried to share what the policy was going to be, any changes, she said. We also asked our teachers, through e-learning and yesterday, to just review those things because it had been quite a while.

On Monday, News13 heard from many HCS parents who were concerned about contacting their children in an emergency.

Lennon says if there is an emergency, administrators decide if students can turn on their cell phones and call their parents or guardians. The district has an automated system that texts and emails parents important updates.

Additionally, Ten Oaks Middle School has another option.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every single classroom in this building has a landline phone, Lennon said. Our front office has them as well, and our nurses office. We have collaboration spaces, so we even have landline phones in the collaboration spaces.

Lennon recommends students memorize their parents cell phone numbers, so they can call them from any phone.

* * *

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.

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 WBTW.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  A much-anticipated Urbana hotel is still not open after years of deadline extensions, and it looks like they could be facing a second financial penalty. It needed to be open by April 1, but a look on their website shows that might not be happening.

Even though Hotel Royer is not accepting stays, theyre thinking ahead to when that day comes. Theyve partnered with Urbana-based Strictly Wicks Candle Company to create signature scents to share with guests.

Champaign School Board approves softball renovations, house demolition

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two scents, Royers Ambiance and Legacy of Royer, will be gifted to guests and clients. Strictly Wicks Owner Kelli Davis said Royers ambiance will be the main scent of the hotel. She described it as a fresh, inviting and happy smell.

Legacy of Royer is more masculine and is meant to remind people of a speakeasy. Davis said its an honor to be part of the historic hotels reinvention.

Community Spotlight: C-U Schools Foundation Music Festival

I live in Urbana, I shop in Urbana, Im Urbana, Davis said. So, to be a part of, I mean I loved Jumers, so when this comes to life again, its just going to be gorgeous, and Im so glad that I get to be the scent of the Hotel Royer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hotel Royer developers faced a $150,000 penalty for missing its fourth deadline on Jan. 1. Theyll lose the same amount of money from the $5.5 million the city put up as an incentive every quarter that the hotel isnt open. The next deadline that comes with a financial penalty is April 1.

Raffle for U of I basketball tickets to benefit C-U at Home

Earlier this month, the hotels website said it was accepting reservations starting late February. The website now says guests can start booking rooms on May 31.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A voter fills out a ballot at the Hillside Aquatic Complex in Bismarck on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

A resolution advanced by the North Dakota House on Wednesday seeks to raise the voter-approval threshold for ballot measures that would amend the state constitution.

But even if the state Senate supports the measure, the decision will still be up to voters to decide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The House voted 65-28 in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 3003, which proposes that ballot measures to amend the state constitution need approval from 60% of voters rather than a simple majority.

More 2025 legislative session coverage

Under the proposal, the higher threshold would apply to citizen-initiated ballot measures, as well as constitutional measures placed on the ballot by lawmakers.

Supporters said North Dakotas constitution is too easy to change, leaving it vulnerable to influence by out-of-state special interest groups.

Im afraid, in my opinion, that North Dakotas getting a reputation that it is a state that can be bought, said Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, said he finds it odd that local school building referendums require a higher threshold of voter approval than changes to the state constitution.

House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said a 60% approval threshold underscores the importance and gravity of changing the constitution.

Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, said the higher threshold wont deter well-funded campaigns from attempting to influence the constitution, but it will hinder citizen efforts.

It really is going to stop the grassroots movement from accomplishing anything, VanWinkle said.

House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, urged House members to vote no and trust the voters. He pointed out that if the resolution is on the ballot, it would only need support from a simple majority to pass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In November, North Dakota voters defeated Measure 2, which contained several changes to the citizen-initiated measure process, including limiting measures to a single subject, requiring that voters approve measures twice and increasing the percentage of signatures required to place a measure on the ballot.

The resolution advances to the Senate for further consideration.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) sent a message to his colleagues in the Democratic Party, urging them to focus on reestablishing our own credibility and to refrain from solely bashing what President Trumps administration does as a response.

My party needs to reestablish our credibility on a number of issues. Its not going to be enough, even if it is strategic and tactical and smart, to criticize what Donald Trump does. I mean, we have to do that and we have to do it intelligently, its just not gonna be enough because we dont have the credibility that we need on issues like immigration, like DEI, dealing with racism and discrimination, like the economy, Smith said during a Tuesday night appearance on NewsNations CUOMO.

I think we need to spend more time reestablishing our own credibility, not just bashing on what Trump does, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith said Democrats should be a lot more selective when going after Trump, adding that Democrats criticism of tech billionaire Elon Musks salute from earlier this month seemed like a waste of time.

I think we need to focus more specifically on issues. Now, when Trump comes out and says hes just not going to spend money on any domestic programs, thats probably worth talking about, and its had a significant impact, Smith said.

The House lawmaker, who represents Washington states 9th Congressional District, said his partys politicians should seek to govern well and tackle issues such as drug abuse, lack of affordable housing and homelessness, among others.

Show people that we can build housing. Show people that we do believe in opportunity and personal responsibility, he told host Chris Cuomo. You can believe in both and youll do a better job of delivering for people if you do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats are looking to bounce back after suffering various losses in the November election, including in House and Senate races and losing control of the White House to President Trump. The party is wrestling with its messaging on Capitol Hill while also looking for strong candidates for the 2026 cycle, as the infighting has continued with Trumps second term well underway.

Smith said the party can push back on some of Trumps immigration policies while also addressing issues that, in his view, the Biden administration took too long to come around on. He said the party shouldnt be in favor of deporting every single undocumented immigrant in the country and blocking already approved refugees from coming in.

The ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee also said the party dropped the ball on border security because it followed the far lefts policies and that they should admit that to the public to be able to gain back some credibility.

Now I think if Republicans wanna have a conversation, we need more border security, we need a secure border and we need to admit on my side the Biden administration didnt do that, OK. At least not until the last six to eight months, alright, Smith said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We failed and we failed because we followed the far lefts policies, OK, on dont deport anybody, open up the borders for many more asylum-seekers, not being concerned about the volume, OK. I think we need to be honest with the American people, he said, adding that it is possible to be a reasonable Democrat like me and still be deeply troubled by the approach the Trump administration is taking on immigration.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group which also owns The Hill.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 29The East Valley's economic development has been soaring, with billions of dollars in new industry arriving in recent years. But there is one issue that may slow down that growth.

"Housing is an economic development issue," said Dan Henderson, the director of economic development for Gilbert. "It's something we take very seriously."

New companies keep arriving for a variety of reasons, including the weather, an educated workforce and low taxes. However, if their employees are unable to obtain affordable housing, it could cause those companies to look elsewhere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Yeah, it is an economic development issue in Chandler," said Micah Miranda, the economic development director for Chandler.

Miranda, Henderson and Doreen Cott, economic development director for Queen Creek, spoke at the 2025 Tri-City Economic Development Update put on by the Chambers of Commerce in those three cities.

Miranda said that Chandler has been thinking about this problem for a while, because they are the nearest to buildout of the three cities.

The city has developed about 94% of its available land. Most of what remains is set aside for business or industrial use. There's not a lot of space left for housing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The City of Chandler has been in this space for a while, and just this past year ... Council made a number of pretty substantial code changes related to zoning, specifically to allow more density in certain areas of the city," Miranda said.

"Economic development is very protective of land within the employment corridors. Maybe, in the Price Corridor, it makes sense to do ground floor retail, second and third floor office and then multifamily above it, so you're getting more of that mixed-use employment as well as residential living.

"We're looking at alternatives as part of this General Plan."

Chandler staffers are working on an update to the city's General Plan, which officials plan to present to voters next year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even Queen Creek, one of Arizona's newest and fastest growing communities, is addressing the lack of housing.

"When I first started with the town, over 18 years ago, multi-family was only allowed in the town center," Cott said.

"Now, we have multi-family projects that are built, or under construction, or planned throughout the community, recognizing that there's a need for more than single family detached homes."

Henderson said Gilbert had never undertaken a full housing study before. However, when it became a priority in the last state legislative session, town officials decided they needed to get to work on one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're very fortunate, and a little bit lucky, that we started that initiative just prior to some of the mandates that pulled us into this," Henderson said. "We reached out to our utility partners and they very graciously stepped into this role to assist in putting this together."

Gilbert and Queen Creek still have land to build more major housing developments. Chandler, however, has only small projects here and there that are more suited for multi-family apartments or condos than they are large single-family homes.

That has Miranda looking up.

"It's going to be a function of redevelopment, and take that redevelopment vertical," he said. "Either God creates more Earth to develop, or we start going vertical in the region, which is probably going to happen."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The three directors were asked if there was anything that could be done to make housing more affordable. That sat silent for about 10 seconds.

"I think we're still going to be in an extremely competitive housing market," Miranda said. "It's simple supply, demand and economics. So, verticality, probably across the region, is ultimately what's going to help raise prices into affordability."
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  More than 300 patients, residents, donors, and citizens showed up at a forum Tuesday night aimed at saving South County Hospital.

Speakers with Save South County Hospital voiced their concerns and called on Chief Executive Officer Aaron Robinson to step down. The group said his salary of nearly $1 million is excessive as the hospital bleeds cash.

South County Health addresses resignations, assures no gaps in care

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The group added that despite the months of demand, hospital officials have refused to work with them on changes to the hospital.

A spokesperson for the hospital told 12 News, While we continue to listen to those concerns, we assert that the claims made by this group are intentionally misleading. This groups actions are causing harm to the very institution, staff, and patients they claim to protect.

The hospital is calling on the group to stop.

South County Hospital leaders defend record amid calls for new management

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.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the headquarters of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) in Berlin on Wednesday evening to protest against the conservative bloc pushing through a motion to tighten migration policy with the help of votes from the far right.

An initial police estimate suggested some 650 people joined the rally at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, held as the motion passed in parliament.

The protest had been called by Amnesty International and other civil rights organizations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposals tabled by the centre-right opposition bloc in parliament include plans to reject more asylum-seekers at Germany's borders.

The proposals do not have to be acted upon by the current government but still caused uproar just weeks before a German election on February 23, with the AfD currently in second place in opinion polls.

The vote was controversial because CDU leader Friedrich Merz, widely expected to be the next chancellor, said he was willing to accept support from the AfD for his proposals to pass.

All mainstream parties had previously said they would not work with the AfD, with many Germans alarmed at the rise of the party in recent years in a country still scarred by its Nazi past.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Huntsville Police Department (HPD) is asking for the publics help identifying four people involved in thefts at a local Walgreens.

HPD said they were involved in two separate thefts at the Walgreens located at 4906 Whitesburg Drive.

(Huntsville Police Department) (Huntsville Police Department) (Huntsville Police Department) (Huntsville Police Department)

The department said the first theft happened on Saturday, Jan. 4 and the second was on Tuesday, Jan 14.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Investigator Woods at 256-746-3146.

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 WHNT.com.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Huntsville Utilities Natural Gas Operations will close roads Wednesday morning for gas line maintenance.

Huntsville Utilities plans to close the right lane of Old Monrovia Road northbound at the intersection of Wayne Road.

Huntsville police say officer injured in Tuesday morning wreck

The work is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area and find alternate routes. Those who travel through are asked to drive cautiously and to be prepared for shifting traffic patterns and possible delays.

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 WHNT.com.
Thalia Gutierrez paced the expansive brick courtyard outside the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin early Wednesday afternoon, her head bowed and her eyes watery.

About two hours prior, Gutierrezs mother, Tatiana Luna Bonito, 44, had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at her Round Rock apartment where as many as 10 agents had exited unmarked cars to arrest her. Gutierrez, 23, and two of her mothers cousins had come to the Pickle building, which houses ICEs Austin office, to try to figure out what would happen next.

Luna Bonito, a Cuban immigrant, has lived in Austin for 14 years and had received a green card, but her daughter said she ran into trouble a few years ago after a felony drug conviction made her unable to renew her legal status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont consider my mother a criminal, Gutierrez said. I dont think shes a threat to this country.

Thalia Gutierrez waits in the lobby of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin Wednesday January 29, 2025, for information about her mother, Tatiana Luna Bonito, who was arrested in Round Rock Wednesday morning.

Its unclear if Luna Bonito was a target of ICEs latest sweep ordered by the Trump administration that is supposed to target undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

The Austin-area ICE operation began over the weekend and continued into Wednesday when Luna Bonito was arrested.

Mexican Consul General Humberto Hernandez Hadad told the American-Statesman that ICE had reported the arrest of 20 Mexican citizens since Monday. Thats in addition to the 12 whom it detained over the weekend.

It's unclear how many immigrants from other countries have been arrested and detained in Austin since Trump took office; ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

Many of the detainees swept up in this week's Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations around Austin are being taken to the downtown J.J. Pickle Federal Building, which houses ICEs Austin office.

Its likewise unclear if those arrests were part of the Trump-ordered sweep, but Hernandez Hadad said that at least some of those arrested had criminal records and wore electronic monitoring systems on their ankles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some had prior convictions, and others had been detained on alcohol-related charges, he said.

National figures reported by ICE over the past week show the agency has arrested far more immigrants per day on average than did the Biden administration. On Wednesday, for example, the agency reported a total of 1,016 arrests. That is more than three times higher than last years daily average.

The detainees are being held at the Pickle building, where Gutierrez and her mothers cousins went, before either being deported, sent to the T. Don Hutto Detention Facility or handed off to the U.S. Marshals Service, said Hernandez Hadad.

Thalia Gutierrez listens to officials in the lobby of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin Wednesday January 29, 2025, for information about her mother, Tatiana Luna Bonito, who was arrested in Round Rock Wednesday morning. The Pickle Building is being used to hold undocumented immigrants.

The Pickle building has traditionally been used as a short-term detention facility until arrestees are taken to more permanent holding facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE says it is targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories, although in previous Austin operations it has swept up law-abiding people, including during the first Trump administration.

Of the Mexican citizens arrested since Monday, seven have been or will be deported; 11 were sent to the Don Hutto facility; and two were passed to the U.S. Marshal Service, according to the consulate.

Abbott orders another round of assistance

Only a few blocks away, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced five executive orders directing state agencies to help "investigate, arrest, detain and deport" immigrants in the country without legal authorization.

Thalia Gutierrez, second from right, waits under framed copies of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the lobby of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, for information about her mother, Tatiana Luna Bonito, who was arrested in Round Rock that morning. Also waiting is her husband Jandrein Reyes, their daughter Abigal Conseca, 1, and Luna Bonito's cousins, Yailen Calana and Yurizan Rodriguez, right.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That includes deploying additional border barriers, sharing intelligence on groups like Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua; and identifying new land and state facilities where federal detainees can be housed.

Abbott also explicitly ordered the Texas Military Department to help the U.S. Defense Department's homeland security forces repel what he called an "invasion" at the southern border.

The move makes it clear that Abbott, whose migrant-busing initiative helped drive public opinion in Republicans' favor on border issues, is not stepping back to let the federal government handle immigration on its own now that Trump is in office.

Just like President Donald Trump and his Administration, Texas will do what is necessary to keep our country safe, Abbott said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive orders were the latest in a slew of measures Abbott has taken this week to support the Trump administrations immigration enforcement efforts.

A day earlier, the governor deployed law enforcement across the state to aid Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts. And on Monday, he ordered 400 Texas National Guard troops and additional military equipment to the Rio Grande Valley to bolster the federal immigration crackdown and the governor's own border initiative called Operation Lone Star.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: ICE continues Austin arrests amid national immigration sweep
NEW YORK (PIX11)  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have begun in New York City as the Trump administration pushes for an increase in arrests of undocumented people across the United States.

On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in New York City to oversee ICE enforcement operations.

More Local News

Noem confirmed on X that at least one arrest happened in the Bronx as a result of an ICE raid. The Aurora Police Department later confirmed the suspect arrested is Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, who was wanted for burglary in Colorado.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the ICE operation in a statement, which read in part:

Our city coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City. As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice  just as we have done for years.

An ICE spokesperson told PIX11 News that raids will be conducted in New York in a statement, which read in part: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in New York to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.

I fit the description: Residents express concern about ICE agents in New Jersey

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE raids have been reported across the tri-state area, including Paterson and Newark, New Jersey. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said ICE agents raided a seafood store and detained three people. The store owner told PIX11 News that a U.S. military veteran was among the people detained.

Meanwhile, ICE officers are being urged to increase the daily number of arrests of undocumented people, according to The Washington Post.

Local ICE offices have been directed to arrest at least 75 people per day, the Washington Post reported. This number was mentioned in a phone call with senior ICE officials, according to the Washington D.C. paper. The information was given to the outlet on the condition of anonymity.

The White House has said ICE is targeting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. The agency added that targeted enforcement operations are planned arrests of known criminal aliens who threaten national security or public safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE has begun to report daily arrest and detainer totals on its X page. On Monday, ICE arrested 969 people and lodged 869 detainers nationwide.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.

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.
In the past week, more than 4,500 people have been arrested across the country as President Donald Trump's promised crackdown on undocumented immigrants appears to ramp up.

There have been major operations in Chicago and reports of arrests in Northeast Ohio. Despite dozens of rumors of local ICE activity in Greater Cincinnati, there has been no evidence of raids or out of the ordinary arrests in the region as of Tuesday afternoon. ICE has not responded to The Enquirer's requests for information.

Rumors of pending raids in Northern Kentucky

Nancy Sullivan, director of Transformations CDC, a Cincinnati nonprofit that works to help and support immigrants and their children, is among immigrant support advocates on edge as rumors spread about potential raids at area businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She spent time Monday in Northern Kentucky waiting, cellphone in hand, expecting a raid. Her organization and Ignite Peace, another advocacy nonprofit, are forming quick response teams to help those affected by the arrests and to act as observers.

A migrant who was previously detained gets off a van coming from Waco while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wait for everyone to get down so that their handcuffs can be removed to then be escorted to Mexico, in Laredo, Texas, U.S. June 15, 2022.

She said the undocumented immigrants she knows are not criminals.

"They are hardworking. They love their children. They're not getting Medicaid," Sullivan said. "I see them working hard to learn English and to make sure their children get a good education. They pay taxes. They are people who are paying into my Social Security who will never be able to collect it."

Social media posts have reported ICE sightings in multiple places around Cincinnati. None could be verified and in one case the reported vehicle in a photo was likely a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office cruiser.

Tens of thousands were also arrested under Biden

At this point, it is hard to tell just how much immigration enforcement has expanded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2024 under the Biden administration, ICE arrested 113,431 people, or an average of 311 people a day. On Jan. 23, a few days after Trump took office, ICE began posting daily arrest tallies on the social media site X. Between that day and Jan. 27, it reported 3,552 arrests  an average of 710 people a day.

The second-time president made immigration the cornerstone of his campaign and on Monday declared a border emergency to repel "forms of invasion." He also signed an executive order that included aiming to end birthright citizenship for the children of some foreigners, though this effort has already been blocked by one judge.

A possible focus on criminals

In promising to deport millions of immigrants in the country who have entered illegally, Trump has focused on the migrants' potential for violent crime. Immigrants with criminal records represent a relatively small percentage of the overall immigrant population.

When ICE arrests someone, they're funneled into one of three categories, according to information in the agency's enforcement and removal operations statistics: People with criminal convictions, people with pending criminal charges and people with no convictions or pending charges but who have broken immigration laws.

Where would ICE detainees be taken?

Many jails and prisons are not approved to hold those arrested on immigration charges, but the Trump administration is working to expand where it can place people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Kentucky, only the Boone County Jail is approved. Ohio has two approved centers for detention: the Geauga County Safety Center in Chardon and the Seneca County Jail in Tiffin. Butler County canceled its contract with ICE in 2021, but Sheriff Richard Jones has reapplied to again house ICE arrestees.

What will happen to people?

People arrested and detained have legal rights under the constitution, even if they entered the country illegally, and deportation is a legal process that involves many steps,

You have to give these people some kind of due process, said Firooz Namei, an immigration lawyer in Cincinnati. You cant just put people on a plane.

Before ICE can remove undocumented immigrants, they need a final order of removal, which requires "complex coordination, management and facilitation efforts," according to ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations documents.

How will an increase in ICE activity be noticeable to the general public?

Under President Joe Biden's administration, there was very little noticeable street-level activity by ICE agents, said Jessica Rodriguez Bell, a partner at Rodriguez Bell and DiFranco Law Office who has been handling immigration cases for more than 20 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That, however, appeared to change in the early days of Trump's administration as the tough-on-immigration rhetoric and news of raids and mass arrests drew intense media attention across the country.

"There was strict enforcement with people with criminal convictions or arrest warrants," Bell said. "They were not even pursuing old orders of deportation, really. Now, what we're hearing, we've heard some people say they've seen (ICE) outside their house."

ICE agents typically work in unmarked police vehicles and plain clothes, making it easy for rumors to spread, which in turn feed fears, she said.

Columbus Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What we know about ICE in Greater Cincinnati since Trump took office
NEW YORK (NewsNation)  The first multiagency operation in New York City under the White Houses new immigration agenda led to multiple arrests, including a suspected leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The raids were conducted Tuesday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Among those arrested was 25-year-old Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, who was wanted in a burglary in Colorado. Aurora Police said he was part of a group that threatened residents of two apartments with guns. He faces charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm in Colorado.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its unclear if Zambrano-Pacheco will return to Colorado to face charges or be deported.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trumps grant freeze

Illinois man arrested in ICE raid targeting stepson

Over the past week, ICE has launched operations in more than a dozen cities, including Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle and Dallas. Raids have also been reported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In Chicago, at least 1,200 people have been arrested during the raids, including Raul Lopez, a father of four who had been living in the U.S. illegally for more than two decades.

Lopez wasnt the target of the operation; agents were looking for his stepson, who wasnt located. His family says they dont know where he was taken.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I went close to the truck asking him, like, Just tell me where youre taking him, just tell me. And he just slammed the door, and they drove off. I went to the police station to try to see if I could see where hes at. I went to the police station; they told me the same thing: that they didnt know anything about it, said Lopezs daughter, Bethzy Lopez.

Trump to Musk: Go get Starliner astronauts from ISS

Chicago mayor slams unconscionable ICE raids

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the raids ripple effects, whether unintended or intended.

To use this moment to popularize fear is something that is unconscionable, and we fully reject the level of intimidation that this administration is trying to uphold, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In just one week, more than 4,500 people have been arrested during the Trump administrations crackdown, with ICEs 25 field offices reportedly ordered to enhance their routine operations to meet a quota of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests per day.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Tuesday it will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, further widening the Pentagon's role in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

The decision comes on top of U.S. military deportation flights of migrants out of the country and the deployment of just over 1,600 active-duty troops to the U.S. border with Mexico following Trump's emergency declaration on immigration last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. military's Northern Command said in a statement it started providing facilities at Buckley to ICE starting on Monday "to enable U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stage and process criminal aliens within the U.S."

"ICE requirements for the facility include a temporary operations center, staging area, and a temporary holding location for the receiving, holding, and processing of illegal aliens," Northern Command said in the statement.

"This facility will be manned by ICE senior leaders, special agents, and analysts, as well as members of (Department of Homeland Security) components and other federal law enforcement agencies."

Northern Command did not say how many migrants might be detained at Buckley or whether additional U.S. military bases might soon be opening for detention of migrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Buckley Space Force Base is located in the city of Aurora, a Denver suburb, which figured prominently during Trump's presidential campaign last year. Trump said during his campaign that apartment complexes in Aurora had been taken over by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a claim refuted by top city officials at the time. During a campaign event there in October, Trump pledged to launch an Operation Aurora targeting gang members

This is not the first time a military has been used to house migrants. The Pentagon had approved requests to house unaccompanied migrant children under Joe Biden's administration and migrant children and families during Trump's first term.

Trump, a Republican, issued an array of executive orders on Monday aimed at deporting record numbers of migrants in the U.S. without legal status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a little more than a week in office, Trump rolled back Biden-era guidance that limited arrests of non-criminal migrants, ordered other federal law enforcement to assist with immigration work, and scrapped a Biden policy that restricted enforcement at schools, churches, hospitals and other sensitive locations.

Immigration arrests have reached about 1,000-1,200 per day in recent days, according to ICE, far above the daily average of 311 in fiscal year 2024.

Critics say Trump's immigration crackdown could separate families, hurt U.S. businesses and violate due process rights of migrants.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; additional reporting by Kristina Cooke; Editing by Leslie Adler)
The Idaho House passed a resolution Monday calling on the Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 decision on same-sex marriage equality.

The courts Obergefell v. Hodges decision established the right to same-sex marriage under the equal protection clause and the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

The resolution comes after Associate Justice Clarence Thomass expressed interest in revisiting the Obergefell decision in his concurring opinion on the Supreme Court's landmark 2022 opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned the federal right to abortion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thomas, who issued a dissenting opinion in 2015 against same-sex marriage, wrote in 2022, "In future cases, we should reconsider all of this courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is 'demonstrably erroneous,' we have a duty to 'correct the error' established in those precedents."

Lawrence v. Texas overturned a law criminalizing same-sex sexual conduct and Griswold v. Connecticut overturned state restrictions on the use of contraceptives.

PHOTO: Lead plaintiff Jim Obergefell speaks to the media in front of the Supreme Court following oral arguments, April 28, 2015 in Washington. (Kevin Wolf/AP Images)

MORE: Trump's definition of 'male,' 'female' criticized by medical and legal experts

The 14th Amendment states: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Respect for Marriage Law signed by former President Joe Biden in 2022 guarantees the federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages and acts as a limited remedy if the Supreme Court were to overrule the Obergefell precedent. The law does not enshrine a right to same-sex or interracial marriage nationwide, but instead requires all states to recognize these marriages if legally certified in the past or in places where they were legally performed.

The Supreme Court cannot simply revisit a past opinion, but the court could take up a future case on the issue.

Same-sex couples across the country have long had concerns about the fate of legalized gay and lesbian marriages.

In Rochester, New York, the city's First Universalist Church asked themselves what they could do to affirm LGBTQ identities as a religious organization amid a rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. So, they organized a "Big Gay Wedding" to officiate the marriage ceremonies of queer couples en masse with the support of volunteer photographers, florists and others from the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We wanted to be able to provide the service for our community, to be able to celebrate queer love and celebrate queer joy, to have some time for folks to get married who might not be able to otherwise afford a marriage in a congregation, and we want it to be like this big and joyous and beautiful celebration that really brings our community together," the church's Reverend Lane-Mairead Campbell previously told ABC News.

Events like Campbell's "Big Gay Wedding" have begun to pop up around the country, helping residents to make precautionary changes.

"We still have the ability to do this regardless of what happens legally in the months and years ahead," said Campbell. "We understand that queer and trans people have been here and have existed in times when oppression has been great and where we have had to hide, but we have never ceased to exist ... In my denomination, we've been doing queer weddings since well before it was legal, and we will continue to do them well after."

The Idaho House argues that "marriage as an institution has been recognized as the union of one man and one woman for more than two thousand years, and within common law, the basis of the United States' Anglo-American legal tradition, for more than 800 years."

PHOTO: Idaho State Capitol Building (Christiannafzger/iStockphoto/Getty Images)

MORE: Holidays are hard for some LGBTQ people as politics stoke division

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The resolution states that the Supreme Court decision is "in complete contravention of their own state constitutions and the will of their voters, thus undermining the civil liberties of those states' residents and voters."

A 2024 Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans continue to believe that marriage between same-sex couples should be legal, and 64% say gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable.

Sarah Warbelow, the vice president for legal affairs for the Human Rights Campaign, criticized the Idaho effort.

"This cruel action by Idaho Republicans amounts to nothing more than shouting at the wind," said Warbelow. "A majority of Americans of all political affiliations support marriage equality. Resolutions are not laws, and state legislatures lack the power to dismantle marriage equality. They cannot touch the guaranteed federal protections for same-sex couples under the Respect for Marriage Act."

Idaho Republican legislators call on SCOTUS to reverse same-sex marriage ruling originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
HONOLULU (KHON2)  It is data privacy week, so the local Better Business Bureau is encouraging everyone in the community to take some time this week to protect their data.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Identity theft can have devastating consequences, from criminals opening false credit card accounts to draining your bank account or even selling your personal details online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But how does it happen, and more importantly, what can you do to prevent it?

Good data privacy is really important because the consequence of poor data privacy is identity theft  which is more common than most people think. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 1 in 5 persons (22%) have experienced identity theft in their lifetime, said Cameron Nakashima with Better Business Bureau. With enough personal information, a scammer can pretend to be you and commit crimes. They can make false applications for loans and credit cards, withdraw money from your bank account, or obtain services in your name. They can also sell your information to others on the Internet. Better Business Bureau helps people confidently and conveniently connect research good businesses, avoid scams, or help them recover if things dont go well with a business they worked with. So when we talk about identity theft, we want people to know that a big part of keeping your data safe starts with working with businesses you can trust  that protect your data and only collect and store the minimum amount of information needed.

BBB: Watch out for hidden danger in online pharmacies

Hackers can gain unauthorized access to systems storing sensitive information like social security numbers, credit card details, or medical records. Once stolen, this data is often sold on the dark web.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BBB has some other ways your data can be stolen:

Account takeovers: Using stolen login credentials to access online accounts, then changing the details to lock the legitimate owner out.



Phishing: Fraudsters send fake emails, texts, or phone calls pretending to be legitimate organizations to trick you into sharing sensitive information. Examples include fake emails claiming your bank account has been compromised.



Fortunately, people can improve their data privacy during Data Privacy Week.

Monitor your accounts, Nakashima said. Look for unexplained withdrawals, charges, and accounts. Check your credit reports regularly for unauthorized inquiries and accounts. Be selective with the information you share and who you share it with. Decide what information you are comfortable with a business or website having and what information you are not comfortable with. For example, your social security number, drivers license number, and home address are all sensitive pieces of information that not every business you shop at needs to know. Only share information with businesses that are committed to keeping your data safe  businesses you know, trust, and have researched. If you need help, recovering from identity theft, we recommend you go immediately to identifytheft.gov for assistance.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additional resources for scam recovery are available at BBB.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.
We dont need a documentary like Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis (BBC One) to tell us that terrible things are happening. Last week, we heard unbearable details of the Southport killers crimes. Also last week, a 12-year-old boy was stabbed to death on his way home from school in Birmingham; a 14-year-old has been charged with his murder.

At least Elba is trying to get to the root of the problem. Plenty of people in his position would simply enjoy the actors lifestyle and no longer care about the kind of neighbourhood that they grew up in. Someones got to take advantage of the reach, Elba says, and he has taken the issue to the Government and to the King.

His Majesty appears in the programme, talking about the importance of channelling teenage boys into something constructive. Keir Starmer also appears eager to get involved, meeting Elba and pledging during the election campaign to increase funding to youth services and to halve knife crime over the next decade. But guess what? Rachel Reevess first budget included no new funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The documentary covers a lot of ground, and its sobering stuff. Elba meets boys who have carried knives and asks them why (the short answer: because other people do, so you need some form of protection). He meets the families who have lost children to knife crime, including one poor mother whose 16-year-old son was murdered in a case of mistaken identity. The moment before the killing was captured in shocking CCTV footage: two teenage killers running up behind the victim, brandishing a ninja sword and a machete.

The ease with which people have been able to buy such weapons is frightening. One statistic: less than 25 per cent of weapons carried by young people are kitchen knives. Elba spoke to prisoners, a prison governor, police and youth workers about the importance of early intervention and the risks created by expelling troubled children from school and allowing them to get drawn into gang culture. Rather than excluding them, isnt this an opportunity to course correct? he asked. Its a valid question to put, but the resources simply arent there.

There is hope. Theres got to be ways this can be done. No issue is permanent, Elba said of the knife-crime epidemic. But its huge, its complex, and it needs political will.

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 retired two-star general who led the Air Forces legislative office had unprofessional, intimate relationships with five women, three of whom were working on Capitol Hill, according to an Air Force inspector general report.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Finerty violated military law by engaging in sexual, inappropriate or unprofessional relationships with multiple women, said the report, dated September 2023.

He had relationships with three women who he worked with on Capitol Hill and another two who were not associated with Congress, the report said. One was the wife of a fellow officer and the other was an Air Force enlisted member. All of the relationships violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the report found. The Air Force said he was demoted a rank.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finerty, in testimony, referred to two of the Capitol Hill women as not in anyones chain of command and not in the same branch of government, as him.

All three are described in the report as people whose duties directly affect the Air Force and with whom Finerty interacted in his job. Finerty led Air Force interactions with Congress on the budget and other legislative priorities. He also prepped Air Force and Space Force leadership on testimony to lawmakers.

The document, which has not been previously reported, was posted Thursday on an Air Force website with heavy redactions.

The major generals relationships with the three Capitol Hill women consisted of sexting with two of them and sexting plus a personally intimate relationship with a third person, according to the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finertys lawyer, David Thompson, said in an email that Finerty adamantly denies that any aspect of his personal life hindered the mission of the Air Force in any way.

Finerty left his role in March 2023, according to Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokesperson. He was demoted to brigadier general, she said, and retired from the Air Force in November 2024.

His deputy then took over the role, Stefanek said, before being replaced by Maj. Gen. Jennifer Short in June 2023. The current legislative affairs director is Maj. Gen. Benjamin Maitre, although the Air Force website lists Finerty as still in that role .

Finertys behavior had the potential to erode trust between Congress and the Air Force, said one witness who had served or was serving in a military legislative liaison office at the time of the interview, according to the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It could be viewed as the Air Force providing or having a venue to provide advanced notice of something, such as giving advance notice of a basing announcement, the person said. No witnesses said they saw evidence of preferential treatment.

Finerty and one unidentified woman, in quoted text messages, talked about Air Force priorities before taking a sexual turn.

To answer your cut drill question, Finerty texted, top 5 things to protect if possible: F35, Modernization, NGAD, JADC2/ABMS, 3DELRR (pretty sure this is a radar), F15EX.

The unidentified woman then sent Finerty multiple pornographic pictures, according to the report, to which Finerty responded: This whole no more sexting didn't last long huh?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finerty, in testimony to the inspector general, raised the issue of having relationships with members on the Hill, and said he believed they were not forbidden.

The relationships soured some military legislative liaisons. I honestly felt sick to my stomach....because it just felt so sleazy and inappropriate, said one interviewee. Other witnesses described Finertys actions as unprofessional.

A member of the Air Force legislative liaison office described one of the relationships as "the worst kept secret in the office.

In addition to the relationships with the three Capitol Hill women, Finerty had an affair with a woman married to a military officer in late 2022 and early 2023, and sent sexually suggestive text messages from 2018-2020 to an enlisted service member, according to the report. The service member described the relationship as mutual.

Paul McLeary contributed to this report.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  A new bill in the Illinois Senate would require state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) and repeal the states TRUST Act, which places limitations on police action.

The TRUST Act, signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in 2017, prevents state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. It was amended by the Way Forward Act, which added additional requirements and protections.

The Illinois TRUST Act, enacted in 2017, made Illinois a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, House Republicans said in petition posted on its website. Currently, the cost of providing services to undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers is costing taxpayers an estimated $2.84 billion from fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2025, which doesnt even include education costs or other various state and local services. We must repeal the TRUST Act to end Illinois sanctuary state status and stop the flow of undocumented immigrants into Illinois.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Bill 1313 would reverse the 2017 law and ensure undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of a felony are identified, reported, and deported, according to a press release.

The bill was filed by Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia).

Freeport Sen. Andrew Chesney (R) and Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) filed the Immigration Enforcement Act, Senate Bill 1203, which looks to repeal the TRUST Act entirely.

Since taking office, Governor Pritzker has not only doubled down on policies that make it virtually impossible for law enforcement to work with federal immigration authorities to remove dangerous, illegal immigrants from our streets but has also directed our states law enforcement officers to obstruct federal law, said Chesney. Hes done everything but roll out the red carpet for illegal immigrants, all while tying the hands of law enforcement behind their backs. Its a masterclass in how not to govern.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raouls Office says the TRUST Acts purpose is to build trust between law enforcement and migrants residing in Illinois.

The repeal bills have been referred to the Rules Committee.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  The Republican leader of the Illinois House and five voters on Tuesday filed a lawsuit asking the state Supreme Court to throw out the legislative district map as unconstitutionally drawn to favor Democrats.

The lawsuit over the 2021 plan challenges the compactness of the districts, which snake among one another in odd ways that drew less-than-flattering critiques nationally at the time and the state constitution's protections ensuring free and equal elections.

Drawn by the party in power, these maps are designed to entrench Illinois Democrats in control while silencing the voices of voters who support the minority party, McCombie, a Republican from the Mississippi River city of Savanna, said. The result? Rigged outcomes in general elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mapmaking in Illinois is a process that invariably becomes deadlocked and the name of the party chosen to draw the map is pulled from a hat. It's gone to Democrats after the U.S. Census the last three decades.

Nearly 600,000 voters signed petitions in 2016 for a ballot initiative to put mapmaking into the hands of an independent commission, but the state Supreme Court ruled the plan unconstitutional. GOP Rep. Ryan Spain on Tuesday introduced a constitutional amendment creating for a nonpartisan commission to take up mapmaking.

Democrats currently control two-thirds of all seats in the Illinois General Assembly  78 of 118 in the House and 40 of 59 in the Senate. Among the congressional delegation, the GOP is outnumbered 14 to three, with Democrats holding both U.S. Senate posts.

The complaint, filed by McCombie and five voters from districts they consider extremely gerrymandered, asks the Supreme Court to appoint a special master to draft a new map.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats have a 5-2 majority on the high court, but the Republicans believe justices will take on the complaint and render a fair hearing.

Rep. Dan Ugaste, a Republican from the Chicago suburb of Geneva and a longtime proponent of election reform, said he hopes changes occur before the 2026 candidate petition period begins in December.

Ugaste noted that in 2022 Democratic legislative candidates won 50% of all votes cast statewide, but took 66% of seats. And in districts packed with voters from either party, there often is no competition.

The volume of uncontested races means that almost half of the state representatives will represent Illinoisans not because they were elected and had to present their policy ideas to voters, but only because they submitted the right paperwork to the state Board of Elections, Ugaste said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked whether Republicans would hold majorities in the General Assembly under an independently drawn map, Spain said it's possible.

But thats not really the point. Even if there was no change to the partisan allocation here in the Illinois House, things are not working," Spain said. "We are not empowering voters to, make decisions on what their government should look like and how it works. So something has to change.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  Illinois republican lawmakers have asked the states Supreme Court to throw out the current legislative map that they claim favors Democrats in elections.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) and Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday asking the Illinois Supreme Court to throw out the current map, which was enacted in 2021.

Illinois State House District Maps are the byproduct of extreme partisan gerrymandering, Leader McCombie said. They are drawn by the political party in control and intended to entrench the Democratic Party in power and prevent voters of the minority party from electing candidates of their choice. The general election outcomes are rigged.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gerrymandering is the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries to control the outcome of elections to favor one political party over the other.

The lawmakers contend that in Illinois, maps are made by the controlling Democratic party, and have crafted maps to further disadvantage Republican voters and to erode the balance of power.

Ugaste said, The recently completed election cycle made clear how successful the partisan gerrymandering deprived voters of their voice, said Ugaste. Of the 2024 Illinois House elections, Democratic candidates won 55% of the statewide vote. But Democratic candidates won a super-majority of seats (78 of 118, or 66.1%).

Democrats currently control two-thirds of the seats in the Illinois General Assembly, and have a 5-2 majority on the state Supreme Court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spain has also filed a constitutional amendment to enact a Fair Map Amendment, which would replace the current method of legislative redistricting by creating a nonpartisan commission to make future maps.

The full text of the amendment can be found here.

In 2021, lawmakers enacted a new electoral map that split the Rockford area into four congressional districts, instead of the two that existed prior.

In 2016, nearly 600,000 voters signed a petition for a Fair Map Ballot Initiative to put mapmaking into the hands of an independent commission, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that plan unconstitutional.

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.
Some Austin school district parents voiced concern after a school bus driver didn't drop off students at Campbell Elementary School on Tuesday morning and instead brought the children to Winn Montessori School, also a district school.

The driver who picked up the students on the Campbell Elementary route was a substitute driver and brought them to the elementary school but didn't know where to drop them off at Campbell, so the driver didn't let the children off and took them to Winn Montessori, which is about 4 miles away, according to a letter Campbell Elementary Principal Keith Moore sent parents Tuesday.

The school contacted the district's transportation department, which followed the bus to Winn. Moore also went to Winn to meet the students, who remained on the bus waiting to be taken back to Campbell, according to the letter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"While students waited on the bus, the bus door was kicked in by a parent and glass shattered," Moore said in the letter. "Ultimately, 11 parents picked up their children and 21 students were transported to Campbell at 8:30 a.m."

A district spokesperson said the incident is still under investigation and couldn't answer further questions.

For Symphony Smith  the mother of a fifth grader on the bus who heard about the diversion from a neighbor after they received a call from their child  the incident Tuesday morning was terrifying.

"I'm upset," Smith said. "My child is supposed to be safe."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith's child's bus has a bus monitor on it who is familiar with the regular route. Her child and other students also told her that the substitute's driving scared them, Smith said.

Smith, along with other concerned parents, called the transportation department and the school to learn where their children were, she said.

Smith confirmed to the American-Statesman that a parent smashed in the door of the bus because the driver wouldn't open it for parents who'd come to Winn to get their children.

Smith picked up her child and took her home for the rest of the day, she said.

Also in a letter, Winn Principal Bridget Farr told parents that the Winn campus went into a 30-minute "secure" state Tuesday morning "after a substitute bus driver picked up Campbell Elementary School students and mistakenly drove to our campus."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a secure state, activities in the school continue as normal, but no one may leave or enter the campus.

Transportation supervisors are working to understand what happened with the bus route, Moore said in the letter.

Parents are able to track their child's bus route through an online app.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin ISD school bus diversion alarms Campbell Elementary parents
With the Trump administration declaring that immigration agents are now free to make arrests in places of worship, undeterred faith leaders in Southern California and beyond say they are prepared to aid and even shelter immigrants.

"We have an executive order from God, not from politicians," said Guillermo Torres, who leads immigration campaigns at Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, a nonprofit advocacy group in Los Angeles. "Do you think we're going to betray the greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself?"

The enforcement policy, announced last week, rescinded a 2011 memo that restricted immigration agents from making arrests in sensitive locations, such as churches and schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A group of Quaker congregations on Monday sued the Department of Homeland Security in federal court over the policy change, saying the threat of immigration enforcement deters congregants from attending services, harming religious liberty.

Bishop John Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles said he looks forward to joining with colleagues in mounting further legal challenges "if the government follows through on its stated intention to violate the sanctity of churches and other places of worship when they shelter those fleeing unjust power."

Read more: Justice Dept. halts legal programs for detained immigrants, cuts off advocates' access to facilities

Dozens of immigrants took refuge inside houses of worship during President Trump's first term. Under the Biden administration, immigrants without serious criminal convictions were no longer priorities for deportation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Criminals will no longer be able to hide in Americas schools and churches to avoid arrest," the Department of Homeland Security announced Jan. 21.

Southern California faith leaders have been preparing for this moment and met throughout December to discuss how to respond to the new administration, Torres said. Requests have poured in since last week from leaders of different faiths across the region, asking how they can support immigrants.

Church leaders said they are organizing "know your rights" training sessions for members of their congregations and labeling certain buildings as private property to dissuade immigration agents from attempting to gain access without a warrant. Pro bono attorneys are on call to offer legal support to congregations in case of immigration raids, Torres said.

Some are joining rapid-response networks that would go to the scene of an immigration arrest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We want to sift through the noise and make sure that our people have the right information, that they are shrewd, that they aren't naive," said Rene Molina Jr., a pastor at nondenominational church in Los Angeles that is made up almost entirely of immigrants. Molina, who asked that his church not be named out of fear about threats of violence, said some members of the congregation have told him they are scared and need to prepare for the worst, while others have said they believe the threats of mass deportation are all talk.

Pastor Rene Molina Jr. stands in the sanctuary of his Los Angeles church on Jan. 28, 2025. "My hope is that we come together as a community, as community leaders, and take care of the most vulnerable among us," he said, referring to migrants at risk of deportation. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Among the clergy who are planning to shelter immigrants is the Rev. Carlos Ramirez, who leads a majority-immigrant Pentecostal church in East Los Angeles. Ramirez asked that the church not be named out of fear about threats of violence.

Ramirez said his church has space to house up to 10 people. For Ramirez, an immigrant who came from Mexico more than three decades ago to work in the fields of Fresno, the issue is personal.

"I will do whatever I can to protect the people that I serve," he said. "I'm willing to  I'm not joking  even put myself in the middle between [an immigration agent] and my congregation."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For leaders of the sanctuary movement, the idea that serious criminals would take refuge in churches is ridiculous.

"Where at any point in history has a murderer or a rapist claimed sanctuary in a congregation?" said the Rev. Noel Anderson, national field director at Church World Service. "That's never happened."

The concept of sanctuary dates to ancient Egypt, where fugitives could enter sacred spaces to avoid arrest. It would become deeply rooted in Christian tradition in Europe. Colonists later brought this concept to America, where it shifted toward trying to protect people who seem unfairly treated by the system, said Karl Shoemaker, author of Sanctuary and Crime in the Middle Ages, 400-1500. Churches played a role in the anti-slavery Underground Railroad that guided fugitives northward.

Sanctuary became linked to immigration in the 1980s as Central Americans fled regional civil wars for the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The goal of sanctuary is for immigration officials to grant the person a stay of deportation. Afterward, an attorney can determine whether they qualify for some type of legal status, such as asylum.

Read more: Will Mexico accept military flights of deportees? President Sheinbaum deflects on sensitive issue

Anderson worries that the Trump administration will be far less willing to use discretion against pursuing cases in which someone faces deportation but doesn't have a immediate legal avenue for relief.

During Trump's first term, Church World Service tracked more than 800 churches willing to offer sanctuary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From 2017 through 2020, there were at least 70 public cases of immigrants taking sanctuary nationwide. None was in California. Anderson said other cases didn't go public because the person didn't feel comfortable or it didn't make sense as a legal strategy. This time, fewer cases are likely to be public.

"You might see a model of the Underground Railroad being practiced here," Torres said.

Another iteration of the sanctuary movement came as houses of worship were rendered empty during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many began to offer transitional housing to immigrants released from detention facilities and recently arrived asylum seekers.

All Saints in Pasadena is one of those Southern California churches with a history of defending the rights of immigrants. Hanging outside the church is a large banner that says "All Saints Welcomes ALL Refugees."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, who leads the New Season Church in Sacramento, said he believes the new arrest policy will apply to only serious criminals and other national security threats. He said the policy conveys the message to so-called sanctuary cities and states such as California, with laws limiting collaboration between local law enforcement and immigration authorities, that they should start cooperating to avoid the "collateral" arrests of people without criminal histories.

"They're not going to come after John Garcia who works at Wendy's and has been here for 25 years," said Rodriguez, who led a prayer during Trump's 2017 inauguration and advised him on immigration. "It could be a strategy on behalf of the administration, yes, to instill fear."

But Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, told Fox News on Tuesday that sanctuary jurisdictions are making the job of arresting immigrants more difficult and that more arrests will ensue "if they want to play that game."

At least one arrest so far has taken place on church grounds. Federal agents in Tucker, Ga., arrested Wilson Rogelio Velasquez Cruz during a service at Iglesia Fuente de Vida. Velasquez Cruz, who wore an ankle monitor as an asylum seeker, went outside when the monitor went off to avoid interrupting the service. Agents were waiting. His wife told WSB-TV in Atlanta that he has never faced legal trouble and that the family had fled violence in Honduras two years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rev. Lorenzo Sewell of the nondenominational 180 Church in Detroit, said immigration agents should be allowed anywhere to apprehend people who are in the country illegally. Sewell, who delivered a prayer during Trump's inauguration, said that if agents attempted to remove someone from his church, he would try to make the process as peaceful as possible. Failing to comply, he said, would risk making his other congregants feel unsafe.

Being in the country illegally, he said, is the "equivalent of anybody else whos breaking the law. We've had people in our church that have committed murder and have come to church and we've taken them to jail."

Living in the U.S. without lawful immigration status is a civil, not criminal, violation.

Read more: Column: Can Trump strong-arm sanctuary cities into helping with deportations? He's trying

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prominent faith leaders outside Trump's circle have condemned his approach on immigration. Pope Francis called Trump's plans for mass deportations a "disgrace."

During an inaugural prayer service last week, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Washington, angered Trump when she said "the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," and asked that he "have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now."

But those messages have done little to stamp out the growing sense of unease among immigrants who face the possibility of deportation.

Last week, employees with the California-based national union representing farmworkers opened their work mailboxes to find cards that urged the reporting of undocumented immigrants, including those in church.

The cards concluded: "THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIDE!"

Times staff writer David Wharton in Los Angeles contributed to this article.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Cilantro Taqueria restaurant in Cleveland Heights was open on Tuesday with signs of support around its front door from the community.

The business is one of many across the country that was visited by federal immigration agents over the weekend.

58 ICE detainees being held in Geauga County, officials say

Cleveland Immigration Attorney Margaret Wong on Tuesday told Fox 8 that agents went to the restaurant allegedly looking for one person and after realizing that person was not there, they detained others in the restaurant, taking them to a church where they were detained and interviewed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They said they were there for one person, and whatever that one persons name is I have yet to have seen it, and from that they started hoisting guns two cars up front, four cars at the back, they came in from the back first you know so they come for one person, dont you think you should leave if that person is not there? said Wong.

More than 3,500 people have been rounded up by ICE agents around the country in the first week of Donald Trumps presidency.

At least 58 were being detained at the Geauga County Safety Center following weekend roundups.

The increase in activity is in response to a presidential executive order to round up people who are in the United States illegally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are tracking down the illegal alien criminals, we are detaining them and we are throwing them the hell out of our country, we have no apologies Trump said in a recent address.

Wong says concerns resulting from the raids have employers, families and even those who are in the country legally streaming into her office worried about what they should do.

Forest Hills CLC in Akron locked down for ICE operation nearby

A lot of people, employers are coming to see us because they are worried they will suddenly lose their employees. Employees are coming to see us because they are worried about driving without a license or an out of state license and they are stopped or they somehow didnt have a work application pending and they have nothing to show something is pending. Everybody is nervous and it is tough because of the language issue, the negative vibes, I feel it in their voices, said Wong.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She believes the agency is arresting those who have committed violent crimes or other offenses, but there are worries that their crime could be that they are unable to immediately produce work or immigration documents.

In Cleveland on Tuesday, Ohio Attorney General David Yost defined the roundups as a restoration

My office has not been notified but my reaction is good! Its about time! said Yost.

I know theres going to be some pain involved in this and thats unfortunate, but that is not on the people enforcing the law, not on the ICE agents not even on the president. That is on the people who allowed this to escalate out of control where these actions are necessary, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday the local roundups reportedly continued.

In a statement, Akron Public Schools said Forest Hill Community Learning Center was placed on a temporary lockdown on Tuesday because of reported ICE activity in the area.

President Trump has given agents the authority to enter schools and churches.

Akron Public Schools, however, say no agents attempted to enter the school.

ICE arrests 956 Sunday as nationwide raids continue

While the district recognizes that the DHS and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agencies recent directive may impact families sense of security, APS is committed to addressing these concerns and has implemented policies restricting access to school facilities to protect the educational environment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The district will continuously review and update its immigration policies in accordance with federal and state directives. the district said in its statement.

The White House on Tuesday also said that ICE agents are grateful for the additional authority they have been given to do their jobs.

But Wong tells Fox 8 News she has personally known immigration agents and she is also worried about them because, she believes, many of them are carrying out a difficult job in a way that is making them uncomfortable.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Phone calls from concerned tenants in an apartment complex woke up the Bronx buildings manager at around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

They were telling me that ICE was there, the building manager, who declined to be identified, told NBC News.

New York was among the latest cities where Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids, grabbing the attention of residents and business owners who were surprised by the early morning activity  which is part of the Trump administrations heightened push to boost deportations and make them very visible, targeting major cities and publicizing the actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on social media that she was present when officers from ICE and other law enforcement agencies arrested at least one undocumented person in the apartment building in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

NBC News spoke with seven workers and business owners in the area late Tuesday morning as New York City police officers remained at the scene.

Most of them were surprised and said that, while crime has long been a problem in the neighborhood, immigration enforcement actions are rare.

"I think it's OK if they need to arrest somebody because they committed a crime, but I worry that with ICE, they may also arrest others that haven't done anything bad," a 28-year-old business owner, who asked that his name not be used out of fear, said in Spanish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to data from the Furman Center at New York University, which researches housing and urban policies, the serious crime rate in Highbridge is higher than the citywide figure.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with federal law enforcement officers Tuesday in New York.

Even though city and state laws prevent New York police from getting involved in civil immigration enforcement, the police department is part of the Homeland Security Investigations task force, which cracks down on violations of federal criminal law.

As part of the task force, police officers were present for the "criminal enforcement action" early Tuesday. They said the undocumented person who was arrested was wanted on suspicion of serious crimes, including kidnapping, assault and burglary.

Mayor Eric Adams said the immigration enforcement operation was led by the Department of Homeland Security and supported by other federal agencies, as well as the NYPD.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice  just as we have done for years," Adams said in a statement. "Our commitment to protecting our citys law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.

Immigration and law enforcement officers awakened residents at an apartment building in Highbridge in the Bronx early Tuesday as they arrested at least one undocumented person.

The news reverberated across the city, which is home to a large number of immigrants, including newly arrived migrants.

Many recent migrants are taking temporary shelter at the Roosevelt Hotel, in midtown Manhattan.

Isabel Miranda, 39, a Colombian mother of two children who has been taking shelter at the hotel for a few weeks, said her youngest daughter, who's 3 years old, has told her she's fearful of the police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It makes you desperate; you go out, and they look at us as if we were delinquents who came here to destroy the country, and that's not the case," Miranda said in her native Spanish. "We contribute, too, because we work hard and we do the tough work."

Asked whether she worries about deportations, Miranda said, "The only thing I ask for is that my children remain safe, because I can't go back to Colombia."

Several business owners in the Bronx said that they rarely see immigration arrests and that they are more concerned with crime.

Recent numbers shared by the Trump administration show that about half of those arrested by ICE recently don't have criminal records.

Ihan Forero, an 8-year-old boy from Colombia who has been in the United States for six months, was coming back from school with his mother. Asked what he thought of President Donald Trump as he stood outside the Roosevelt Hotel, he responded: Fear. ... He has a cold heart.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant rights in the state, condemned the enforcement actions as "a publicity blitz" from the Department of Homeland Security, releasing photos and videos of Noem wearing body armor as she presided over the multiagency operation in the Bronx.

"No matter how the Trump administration spins this enforcement, it is not about public safety  it is about instilling fear in our immigrant communities, Awawdeh said in a statement

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR)  Leaders for the City of Syracuse and non-profit organizations in Onondaga County have sounded the alarm after President Trump pushed to freeze federal funding across the country.

Many are expressing concern over an array of programs that could be on the chopping block in Central New York. Federal funding helps different grant programs for housing, public safety operations, infrastructure, education and more.

We get so much federal moneyin the hundreds of millionsthat come to the city and the school district alone, Alexander Marion, City of Syracuse auditor, said. Plusbillionsonce you factor in money that goes to other people in the community every day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Onondaga County Comptroller Martin Masterpole said the county received $946 million in federal funding in 2023. He also predicted that the total will be even higher for this past year, emphasizing the importance of aid from the federal government.

There could be terrible consequences, rightespecially the smaller, non-profit, the harder its going to hit, said Masterpole.

Federal funding also helps non-profit organizations, such as Meals on Wheels, feed seniors who are part of a lower income tax bracket. Many of them are also homebound.

As a result of that fundingwe grew from a mom-and-pop Meals on Wheels program to what we are now and that isfeeding almost 800 people 240,000 meals, Mason Kaufman, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels for Syracuse, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the ban goes into effect and becomes long-term, non-profits could be hit hard.

Were talking about older folks here, Kaufman said. My mom gets Meals on Wheelsshes in another area but shes 97 years old. Whats she going to do if she cant get that kind of food? What are other people going to do who can relate to that?

A statement from Catholic Charities of Onondaga County on the potential funding freeze can be seen below:

Here is what we can say for sure: A temporary freeze of federal funding, while unwelcomed, is something we can plan around for the short term. If this temporary freeze becomes a permanent loss of federal funding for programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our community, then this is a much larger issue not only for Catholic Charities, but our community and the nation. It seems that February 10th will prove to be a critical moment for every individual who receives some form of service funded by the federal government.

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 WSYR.
As Floridians reveled in a rare snowfall last week with snowmen and sledding, a team of Florida wildlife experts was busy mounting a sweeping rescue just offshore of the Panhandle.

In one of the states largest cold-water rescues over the past decade, biologists say they saved a whopping 1,200 stunned sea turtles from the frigid St. Joseph Bay area over five days. Images from local, state and federal rescuers show kayaks and truck beds filled with groggy turtles, unable to regulate their body temperature.

Though lethargic from the cold, most sea turtles were alive and relocated to Gulf World Marine Institute in Panama City Beach, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Jonathan Veach. While some turtles required medical care, others only needed a quick warmup in one of the institutes salt water tanks before being released back into the wild. Roughly 100 turtles that were rescued have died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, about a third of the rescued turtles have returned to Gulf waters with hundreds more releases planned for this week after scientists measure and tag them, according to Samantha Snow, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Nearly all of the animals rescued offshore Bay and Gulf counties were green sea turtles, except for eight loggerhead turtles and one Kemps ridley  the most endangered turtle species on Earth.

It was extremely hard work, but a lot of people came together to make this happen, Snow said.

Corey Lloyd, a turtle biologist with Floridas wildlife agency, said he spent his Saturday ferrying turtles in his kayak, plucked from the shallow muddy waters along an island in St. Joseph Bay. Lloyd paddled nearly a dozen turtles to deeper waters, where boats brought the animals back to shore for rehabilitation. The wind picked up and blew in more floating, stunned turtles toward the shore and he repeated the process.

The effort to locate and recover cold-stunned sea turtles around St. Joseph Bay was impressive, wrote the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, an arm of the states wildlife agency. It was a large team of partners, including staff with the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local conservation groups, among others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cold-blooded turtles typically become stressed when water temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Recent warmer weather in the Panhandle has already raised water temperatures above harmful levels for sea turtles, meaning many can be released offshore again.

Its not the first time this area has seen a large-scale turtle rescue. In 2018, biologists also rescued more than 1,000 turtles. And in 2010, at least 1,800 turtles were saved from frigid waters.

On Floridas east coast, offshore Nassau and Volusia counties, an ongoing cold-stunning event has harmed about 120 green sea turtles so far. While thats far fewer than the hundreds rescued off the Panhandle, its the most stressed turtles the state has documented in Northeast Florida, according to the wildlife agency.

Last week, rescuers pulled more than 40 small green sea turtles from offshore St. Augustine. Biologists drove many of those to the Tampa Bay area, where theyre warming up at the Florida Aquariums Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach. It costs an average of $15,000 per turtle for general rehabilitation like food and treatment including x-rays, bloodwork and medication, according to Debborah Luke, the aquariums senior vice president of conservation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With this severe cold stunning event, coupled with many facilities across the west coast recovering from the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton, means we must increase our critical care efforts today to take in and save even more sea turtles over the coming weeks, Luke said in a statement. The public who wants to help the aquariums sea turtle conservation efforts can assist by donating, according to the facility.

Gulf World Marine Institute said it was planning to release over 150 cold-stressed turtles back to the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday in Port St. Joe. Veterinary teams have said the animals are medically cleared now to return to the wild, after healing from their cold-induced comatose state.

It really is overwhelming, but we couldnt do what we did without all the volunteers and the community coming together, Snow said.

The public is encouraged to alert state wildlife rescuers if they see an injured, sick or dead sea turtle. To make a report, call the wildlife commissions alert hotline at 888-404-3922.
Hans Neleman/Getty Images

Sign up for The Agenda  Them's news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

An incarcerated trans woman is suing the Trump administration over the President's recently issued anti-trans executive order.

Trump signed the order, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, on day one of his second term. In addition to mandating a strict, binary definition of gender and potentially invalidating X gender markers on passports, the order would bar incarcerated trans women from being housed in womens facilities and deny all trans inmates access to gender-affirming care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response, an incarcerated trans woman known pseudonymously as Maria Moe filed a lawsuit against Trump in an attempt to block the order, on the basis that it violates the Constitution. The lawsuit claims that the order violates due process under the Fifth Amendment, and the Eight Amendment's rules against cruel and unusual punishment. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, G.L.B.T.Q. Advocates and Defenders, and private law firm Lowenstein Sandler filed the 24-page complaint in federal court in Massachusetts on Sunday, per the New York Times. It states that Moe has lived as a woman and has taken hormones continuously since she was a teenager, and that her sex has been recorded in Bureau of Prisons (BOP) records as female until recently. However, on January 25, Moes sex was reportedly listed as male in accordance with the executive order. According to the complaint, Moe was removed from the general population at her womens prison, placed in solitary confinement, and informed that she would be imminently transferred to a mens facility due to the executive order.

The lawsuit states that Moes safety will be significantly compromised if she is transferred to a mens facility, including being at an extremely high risk of harassment, abuse, violence, and sexual assault, and experiencing worsening gender dysphoria. Incarcerated trans women already experience greater risks than everyone else  according to the Marshall Project, only 10 of more than 1,000 trans women in federal prisons are incarcerated in women's facilities. Analysis from the Williams Institute has also shown that 37% of trans people report being assaulted while incarcerated, compared to 3.4% of non-trans people. Trans people are also more likely to be thrown in solitary confinement, at 28.2%, as opposed to 18.2% of non-trans people.

Everything You Need to Know About Trump's Executive Order Attempting to Erase Trans Americans

The president signed the sweeping order within hours of taking office, signaling that curtailing the rights of trans people is a top priority for his administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moe is requesting declaratory judgment stating that the executive order violates her rights, in addition to a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the order.

Moes lawsuit comes in the wake of a settlement agreement between incarcerated trans woman Grace Pinson and the BOP, after Pinson filed dozens of lawsuits alleging that she had been repeatedly abused by fellow inmates and staff, and denied access to gender-affirming care. Pinson was paid $95,000 in exchange for dropping all of her remaining lawsuits against the BOP, according to The Marshall Project.

Them has reached out to the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
The incoming U.K. ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, recanted previous statements criticizing President Trump on Wednesday.

He previously stated Trump was a danger to the world in 2019 but said he no longer supports the sentiment.

I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong, Mandelson told Fox News in an exclusive interview.

I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed, he continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The envoy said he is looking to build on the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K., noting the president has won fresh respect from him personally as outlined in a Fox News op-ed praising the leader earlier this month.

The president isnt a career diplomat, and Im not a career diplomat. I came into politics to change things for the better for people, and so did he, Mandelson told Fox.

We share a similar, if not identical, outlook on the world and motivation in politics. But I think above all, we believe in something which is really special between our countries, he added.

The ambassador highlighted intentions to bolster a partnership between both nations to tackle defense, trade and technology measures across the globe, specifically mentioning the growing tensions between China and the West.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We face a challenge together from China, and weve got to make sure that we are able to deter that challenge or that threat when theyre having aggressive intents toward us, Mandelson stated.

He said they would strongly oppose any of the Chinas efforts to overtake regions in the Indo-Pacific.

Security in the Euro-Atlantic area depends on making sure that China is kept at bay in its own region, he said. China has the right to prosper, to generate higher standards of living for its own people, but not at the expense of others.

Despite a back-and-forth with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Elon Musk, Trumps appointee to head the Department of Government Efficiency, Mandelson said he remains optimistic and upbeat about the relationship with Starmer and the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the presidents approach to foreign conflict and negotiation has been considered aggressive, the U.K.s incoming ambassador said thats the attitude required for broad change.

There are so many threats and challenges the world is facing at the moment. It takes courage, somebody, sometimes, whos prepared to be argumentative and, indeed, disruptive, not just take business as usual, he said. Frankly, I think President Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life.

The U.K. Embassy did not immediately respond to The Hills requests for comment on Mandelsons statements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP)  An independent report by a law firm was conducted in the handling of the UMass Amherst chancellors response to dismantle pro-Palestine encampments on campus was released.

On April 29, 2024, tents and structures were placed on the UMass campus for a pro-Palestine demonstration. Groups like Students for Justice in Palestine started this encampment calling for UMass to cut ties with weapon manufacturers and move towards a more democratized and demilitarized University.

In response, UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes and the administration ordered the removal of the encampment citing a violation of its land use policy and public health and safety concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were not going away. We have events planned for this. This is a week for education, for advocacy, for solidarity. We will continue to be here without the tents if necessary. If they think that this is going to get us to vacate this property for demonstration, they are severely mistaken, said a protest organizer.

Tension escalates at UMass Amherst amidst Pro-Palestinian encampment

The encampment was removed by protesters the next morning. However, a second pro-Palestinian encampment was established a week later, on May 7th and the student protestors remained committed to pressuring the UMass administration to meet their demands.

UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes wrote that after repeated warnings about an unauthorized encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union, he asked the UMass Police Department to begin dispersing the crowd and dismantling the encampment as the absolute last resort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That night, campus police marched through campus dressed in riot gear after hundreds of students, staff, and community protestors refused to dismantle the encampment site known as the Popular University for Gaza they created on the South Lawn.

More than 100 protesters were arrested after refusing to take down the encampment and allegedly did not comply with police to disperse. Varying charges included trespassing, failing to disperse, rioting, and resisting arrest.

Legal proceedings for UMass Amherst protestors held

Chancellor Reyes met with the Faculty Senate to address concerns over how protests on campus have been handled while in a student government survey, over 90% of respondents voted no confidence in Reyes leadership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Boston-based law firm reviewed UMass response to answer these questions:

What was the basis of the Administrations decision to direct law enforcement to remove the May 7 encampment?

Was that decision reasonable and prudent?

The report released on Jan. 13th says, The Administration acted reasonably when it decided to remove the April 29 and May 7 Encampments. Even if the Chancellors decision was understandable/reasonable and based on valid considerations, there is still a question of whether a different road should have been taken.

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 Indianapolis Zoological Society has named six DeHaan finalists for its biennial Indianapolis Prize honoring animal conservationists from around the world.

The finalists have spent their lives working to protect manatees, kangaroos, orangutans and elephants and the critical habitat each species needs for healthy populations.

The winner of this years prize will receive a $250,000 award and will be celebrated at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27. The remaining five finalists and the winner of the society's Emerging Conservationist Award will each receive a $50,000 award.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, said the six finalists have produced tangible results while protecting threatened species across the globe.

2023 Indianapolis Prize winner: Pablo Borboroglu protects penguins and their habitat in Argentina

Indianapolis Prize reaches milestone

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the prize, which has awarded more than $7 million since it began.

The society established the Indianapolis Prize to bring attention to animal conservation and the people who spend their lives saving endangered animal species. It is the largest individual monetary award for work in this area.

2025 DeHaan finalists

Here are this years DeHaan finalists for the Indianapolis Prize.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alberto Alves Campos founded Aquasis, a nonprofit organization in Brazil that works with endangered species and habitat conservation. His work has improved the conservation status of the Antillean manatee.

Lisa Dabek founded the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, where she partners with indigenous communities and local governments to establish conservation plans in Papua New Guinea.

Birute Mary Galdikas is the president and co-founder of Orangutan Foundation International, where she leads the way in orangutan ecology research. Galdikas was also an Indianapolis Prize DeHaan finalist in 2023.

Julie Packard is the founding executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and works to uplift the sustainable seafood movement using ecosystem-based science.

Lily-Arison Rene de Roland serves as the national director of The Peregrine Funds Madagascar program and has helped establish five national protected areas totaling 1,550 square miles.

Lee James Taylor White is a field biologist with the Institute for Tropical Ecology Research working with the critically endangered African forest elephant in the countries of the Congo Basin.

2025 Emerging Conservationist Award

The society named its 10 finalists for the Emerging Conservationist Award in October last year. The award honors early-career efforts to save animal species.

The winner will be honored at the gala in September.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Prize finalists named for work to save endangered animals
The unfolding saga of murder defendant Luigi Mangione continues to fascinate people, including hundreds of inmates who temporarily shared prison accommodations with him in Pennsylvania.

Federal and state criminal cases against the suspected killer are in the early stages, with Mangione being held at a Brooklyn lockup after being charged in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Mangiones brief hold at State Correctional Institution (SCI) in Huntingdon, Pa., following his capture still looms large with inmates there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, nearly 2,000 of us are part of that story, incarcerated writer Vaughn Wright said in a column published online by the Prison Journalism Project. No matter what, Mangione is and will forever be an SCI Huntingdon alumnus.

The high-profile defendant was kept in a block that once housed death row inmates, Wright said. It was locked down whenever Mangione was escorted from his cell, and he wore the type of padded turtle suit that is meant to discourage inmate suicide attempts, he wrote.

Inmates briefly found themselves the focus of news coverage after media representatives camped out at the prison. In December, prisoners watching NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield were able to communicate in real-time with her and correspondent Alex Caprariello by shouting and blinking their ceiling lights.

They also complained about bad conditions at the prison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fuss may be over with Mangiones departure, but Wright said he and his fellow inmates will be watching intently as he gets his day in court.

His brothers here will intently follow his case as it moves forward through the criminal justice system, all the while telling anyone wholl listen, if it had been them, what they would have done to keep from getting arrested in the first place, he wrote.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A cause of death has been released for a Miami County inmate who was found dead inside his jail cell early Monday morning.

According to the Miami County Sheriffs Office, at about 4:45 a.m. Monday, jail staff found a male inmate, later identified as 63-year-old Patrick Edward Hayes II, unresponsive inside his cell.

Missouris new governor releases budget, legislative proposals in State of the State

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Staff tried performing life-saving measures on Hayes until paramedics arrived on the scene. He was then taken to a hospital where he later died.

Following his death, the sheriffs office reached out to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to conduct its investigations. State statutes give KBI the authority to investigate deaths that happen in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who died was being cared for by a physician.

After investigations were completed, it was reported that Hayes, a Spring Hill resident, suffered a medical emergency leading up to his death.

Overland Park couple sentenced after collecting dead fathers benefits

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No other details have been revealed regarding the specific nature of this medical emergency.

KBI said it is continuing to investigate 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  For a few hours last week, the International Criminal Court looked poised to take a Libyan warlord into custody. Instead, member state Italy sent the head of a notorious network of detention centers back home.

That has left the court without a single trial ahead for the first time since it arrested its first suspect in 2006. And it's now facing serious external pressure, notably from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Though its docket remains empty, the court still wields an $200 million annual budget and a large number of legal eagles keen to lay their hands on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lack of trials damages the courts reputation, said Danya Chaikel of the International Federation for Human Rights. The point of the ICC is to investigate and prosecute those most responsible for international crimes.

Empty courtrooms show how hard it is to end impunity

The only permanent global court of last resort to prosecute individuals responsible for the worlds most heinous atrocities has not been in this position for almost two decades.

Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga became the first person convicted by court in The Hague. In 2012, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for conscripting child soldiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since Lubangas trial began, the court has had a slow but steady stream of proceedings. To date it has convicted 11 people and three verdicts are pending.

It has issued 32 unsealed arrest warrants. Those suspects range from Netanyahu and Putin to Lords Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony and Gamlet Guchmazov, accused of torture in the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Georgia.

But it faces numerous challenges. Trump, on his first day in office, reinstated an executive order from his previous term sanctioning court staff. A more damaging piece of legislation, which would sanction the court as an institution, has passed one chamber of Congress but is stalled in the Senate for now due to opposition from Democrats.

Putin will probably remain beyond court's reach

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The previous chief prosecutor, Gambian Fatou Bensouda, described being the subject of thug-style tactics while she was in office. The court was the victim of a cybersecurity attack in 2023 that left systems offline for months and some technical issues have still not been resolved. In 2022, the Dutch intelligence service said it had foiled a sophisticated attempt by a Russian spy using a false Brazilian identity to work as an intern at the court.

The current prosecutor, British lawyer Karim Khan, has requested a record-breaking 24 arrest warrants. But many suspects  like Putin  will probably remain beyond the reach of the court.

Neither Russia nor Israel are members of the court and do not accept its jurisdiction, making it highly unlikely those countries would extradite their citizens, let alone their leaders, to the ICC.

They havent issued arrest warrants for people who they are likely to arrest, says Mark Kersten, an international criminal justice expert at University of the Fraser Valley in Canada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ultimately, countries are responsible for physically apprehending people and bringing them to The Hague, says Chaikel, whose group oversees nearly 200 human rights organizations worldwide.

Many of the courts 125 member states are unwilling to arrest suspects for political reasons. Mongolia gave Putin a red-carpet welcome for a state visit last year, ignoring the obligation to apprehend him. South Africa and Kenya refused to arrest former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir when he visited. The 81-year-old was ousted from power in a coup in 2019 but the authorities in Sudan have still refused to hand him over to the ICC.

Unwanted attention to Italys migration policies

Italy claims the ICC warrant for Libyan warlord Ossama Anjiem had procedural errors. He was released this month by an order of Romes Court of Appeal. "It was not a government choice, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni told reporters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Italy, which was a founding member of the court, may have had its own reasons for not executing the warrant. Italy needs the Tripoli government to prevent waves of migrants from setting out on smugglers boats. Any trial in The Hague of the warlord could not only upset that relationship, but also bring unwanted attention to Italys migration policies and its support of the Libyan coast guard, which it has financed to prevent migrants from leaving.

On Wednesday, three men who say they were mistreated by Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, while in Libyan detention centers told a packed conference in Italy's lower house of parliament that they want justice for themselves and others who died before making it to Italy.

David Yambio, a South Sudanese migrant who said he had cooperated with the ICC investigation, called al-Masri's repatriation "a huge betrayal. A huge disappointment.''

There is little consequence for countries who fail to arrest those wanted by the court. Judges found that South Africa, Kenya and Mongolia failed to uphold their responsibilities but by then, the wanted men had already left.
During his first week in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that aims to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

It's a controversial move, to say the least...

...but far-right MAGA followers like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene are jumping onboard.

Drew Angerer / AFP via Getty Images

Showing her support, Greene recently shared a photo of a map to X (formerly known as Twitter), on which the word "America" is placed over "Mexico" where the Gulf of Mexico appears.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is what homeschooling looks like in GA-14," she announced, referring to the community she represents.

The post quickly went viral, and though other far-right voters chimed in with words of approval, many commenters questioned why someone would intentionally teach children factually incorrect information. (As of now, the Gulf of Mexico is still the Gulf of Mexico.)

In response to seeing Greene's altered map, one person wrote, "Raising your kids to be dumber than you, while quite an impressive task, is not the flex you think it is."

Elsewhere in the comments, netizens wished aloud that lawmakers would focus on more pressing issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I wished you put that much effort into getting our groceries and gas cheaper," one person said.

"'Look at this distraction from food and gas prices that we claimed we could instantaneously lower,'" another posed.

What are your thoughts on Greene's map? Let us know in the comments.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Irondequoit Town Supervisor, Andrae Evans, who was elected in November 2023, made several sexual remarks to a female employee and further retaliated against her, according to a new investigative report released by a law firm, accusing Evans of violating the towns Anti-Harassment and Sexual Harassment policies.

Most of the redacted report follows allegations made by the employee, whose identity was kept private, throughout her employment with the town in 2024. She claimed she had known of Evans before getting the position, and was later offered an administrative job by Evans, essentially acting as his assistant. The employee reported that Evans had taken a great liking to her at the time, encouraged her, and supported her early on in her employment, even when she stated she felt she was looked down upon for having a younger appearance.

The report claimed there were numerous times when the employee, and other employees, were put in uncomfortable positions because of the actions of Evans. The employee reported these interactions quickly deteriorated her relationship with Evans and led to her resignation in late 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local leaders troubled by lack of transparency in Irondequoit investigation

February 2024

One of the first instances the unnamed employee reported to investigators happened on Feb. 20. According to the report, she received the following late-night message from Evans (around 9:16 p.m.):

You are freaking awesome. Only because I had three drinks. TEAMING WITH YOU IS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE MADE IN A LONG TIME.BESIDES MARRYING MY WIFE, YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU!

The messages between Evans and the unnamed employee on Feb. 20, per the report.

The employee said, although the intention seemed endearing, it was a weird comparison to make.

There is a way to show gratitude for somebody and appreciation for somebody without making it weird. Theres always this line, and for some reason, hes always on it or blown past it. Its like, theres a way to phrase it without making it weird. And thats the only thing. I never really thought that it was this weird sexual advance thing. I just was like, thats weird. You just dont need to talk to me like that.  Its like [he] could just say, thank you. Im very grateful for you, and just move on from that, she reported to investigators.

March 2024

Around March 14, 2024, the report claimed the two had attended the Monroe County Executive Ball where Evans and his wife had allegedly commented on the employees nice legs. Its something the employee claimed Evans said numerous times, which made her uncomfortable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evans claimed he never made such a comment and instead stated that he thought she had a strong stance, and commanding presence.

Around this time, the report stated that the employee stopped wearing certain outfits to work because of comments made by Evans, including comparing her outfit to a schoolgirls. However, Evans claimed he instead made a comment about her blazer, likening it to the uniform his daughter wore while attending Our Lady of Mercy School.

May 2024

In May 2024, the employee recalled attending the Mayors Ball, during which she reported that another woman she and Evans worked with had commented on her age. She then told Evans she was frustrated people werent taking her seriously because she was perceived as too young and inexperienced. Evans allegedly replied, Its a good thing that youre still young because when youre 40 your boobs will still be perky. She also told investigators he went on to say, I dont really understand why people dont take you seriously. I mean, I brought you in because youre young, good-looking. Youre beautiful and you know what youre doing.

Evans denied making these comments, claiming instead that she had made a negative comment about the other womans appearance to Evans, to which he responded Look at it this way, when theyre old and floppy, you would still be young and healthyYou are young, youre healthy. Yeah, theyre fat and flabby. Let them be fat and flabby. Just be you and dont worry about their image of you.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the report, the employee denied commenting negatively about the other womans appearance.

May-June 2024

The report claimed sometime around late May and early June, Evans had quoted the infamous Bill Clinton remark about Monica Lewinsky (I did not have sexual relations with that woman), personalizing it to the employee. In a conversation with the employee, she claimed Evans said, I could say no, I didnt have sex with that woman, but that doesnt mean I didnt have sex with [employee].

Evans denied making the comment about the employee, and said he was actually talking about another Town Board member lying to him, and said he was using Bill Clinton as an example of politicians telling falsehoods.

In late May, the report claimed the two were in a car together when Evans made an inappropriate comment about the employee at the pool.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The employee told investigators they were in the car together because of confidential matters and in a passing comment when asked, she told Evans she was not going to the gym after work and wanted to spend some time by the pool. Evans allegedly replied, Dont tempt me, followed by I probably shouldnt say things like that to you.

That was the moment where I was like, that was very direct. I did not like how I felt in that moment. That was weird. Were sitting alone in his car. Its like 80 degrees outside. I remember

being hot in the car and I just was so riddled with anxiety. Anxiety that I was like, that was not okay. I am not okay with how that just happened, the employee reported to investigators.

Evans claimed he was in the car with her on their way back from an event when he told her to have fun at Pilates, to which she allegedly replied, Im not going to Pilates, Im going to sit by a swimming pool. Evans said he then jokingly made a comment that she should stay at work instead and noted that his subsequent reply that he probably shouldnt say things like that, was referring to the joke that she stays at work.

The report went on to say that in early June, while in preparation for a Town Board meeting, the employee said she was voicing frustration over unpreparedness when Evans responded to her Youre really cute when youre mad. The vein in your neck grows like three sizes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the report, Evans said he likely did make such a comment, and has made similar jokes in the past to distract the person from their anger.

August 2024

The employee claimed that around Aug. 23, Evans was talking to her about an affair in the department when he told her, I wonder if thats why people think were boinking.

Evans acknowledged this conversation, but said he never used the word boinking.

The employee told another employee about the comment through text, according to the report.

She also claimed Evans acted weird to her upon her return from vacation in July.

He just kept saying how much he missed me, how much he missed me. He was like, I dunno, can I hug you? I want to hug you. Is that weird? Can we just fist-bump? I just missed you. Im so happy to have you back, the employee reported to investigators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Aug. 30, the two had a meeting at the request of the employee. According to the report, the employee wanted Evans to change the way he spoke with her, and set boundaries at work, to which he allegedly became increasingly angry.

He had an excuse or a justification for every single thing. He sidestepped every one of them. He turned all of it around on me. He got increasingly angry, he tried to come up with some [redacted] justification for some of them, could not remember some of them, and he got very, very quiet. He would stare at me, make me kind of feel a bit intimidated, which I knowthats a tactic that he uses, is that hell just stare at people to make them feel uncomfortable until they kind of back down. And then that was the first half, and then I got angry because his reaction was so poor, she reported to investigators.

She claimed that in retaliation to her accusations, Evans allegedly said, Im going to stop giving you work to do, and Ill just do it myself because I need to protect myself because now, Im concerned that youre just going to misconstrue everything that Im doing.

Evans denied retaliating, said he was confused by her comments, and that all of it was gibberish to him. He claimed she made a veiled threat that if [he] didnt change, she would make this known, and said there was nothing to correct about his behavior or to apologize over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evans recalled this meeting later on.

She was being very dismissive. I was trying to communicate a

point and I said, I think that is my error, that because I allowed

her this freedom, this open honesty, that she is

misinterpreting it as she has the power and that I work for her.

And then I told her what I needed to do. I cant remember

specifically, what it was. She came in and then she was like,

Whats wrong? I walked out. She goes, Well, youre angry at

me. Im like, Im not angry. Heres what I need. Heres what I

dont. Heres what I said. And then she kept going on and on

about, We need to talk about this. And Im like,

conversations over. And she kept going on and on, Evans reported to investigators.

After the meeting, the employee claimed Evans did cut her out of work  including when working with the press in the aftermath of a deadly family murder in the town. The report concluded that while the investigation finds her comments that he cut her out of work credible and supports claims he broke policy, this specific claim of him not working with her and the press did not support accusations he broke policy.

Evans claimed he only left her out of communications, something the employee claimed he never used to do, because this happened to be a highly confidential matter with the Police Chief.

September 2024: Employee resignation

After months of reported retaliation and subsequent to sexual harassment claims, the employee officially resigned, sending out the following email to Evans:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I struggled for months with whether it was worth it to discuss

my concerns with you because I genuinely felt appreciative of

everything youve done for me and the opportunities youve

given me this year. While we may not have always seen eye-to-eye, I knew you had my back. You have been such a large

advocate and supporter of me. You made sure I was in every

meeting, gave me legitimacy and forced people to take me

seriously, went out of your way to introduce me to everyone,

forced me to take time off, and constantly gave me more

credit than I deserved.

When we spoke on August 30th, I made it very clear that all I

wanted was better communication and phrasing. Nothing else

had to change; I just wanted some more respect and

consideration when you spoke to me. Quite frankly, I was also

looking for an apology. However, in that meeting, you twisted

everything and became increasingly angry, and no apology 

or hint of an apology  was ever given. And in the days since,

it has become evident that I am being shut out of my regular

responsibilities and am no longer wanted in this office.

Quite frankly, Mr. Supervisor, I am disappointed. I was hoping

our meeting would serve as a reflection period and that

perhaps it would set a new course, but that simply hasnt been

the case. I am a firm believer that there are no such things as

bad experiences. I am grateful for the lessons I learned, the

knowledge I gained, and the people I met over the last 9

months. I will continue to serve the people until my last day in

your administration, and I will be happy to assist in a transition

to the best of my abilities.

She resigned Sept. 20, and claimed he never spoke to her, and only ever sent a long email listing his demands, mostly requesting files.

Evans also told investigators he had heard the employee made allegations of sexual harassment at previous jobs, and said he would have never hired her had he known. The employee denied ever making any previous allegations, according to the report.

Employees Coming Forward

The report went on to claim that other employees have shared similar concerns. Including one that he was quite touchy-feely with others in the office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He hugs, he touches a lot [of] people. Thats weird in a professional settingIts always hugs. Its super chest-to-chest hugs, like pull your breast right into his chest, cheek on cheek. Its notprofessional even. Its weird, another unnamed employee told investigators.

On the 4th of July during a festival, another employee claimed he made numerous sexual innuendos that, according to the report, was corroborated by witnesses.

So, were having that conversation about the hot dogs and how much they cost and what size

they are, and he just goes out of nowhere. Well, I got a big hot dog for you. also

recalled Evans saying, I have a big hot dog. recollection was that Evans stated,

Ive got a big sausage for you, the employee told investigators.

Furthermore, in October, employees claimed that he made a suggestive motion with his Halloween costume, in which he was dressed as a demon during a trunk or treat event.

He literally takes the bones that are dangling in front of his groin area and jingles. It was very weird. the employee recalled, [H]e picked up the thing around his waist and twirled it around, but in front of his nether region, [said,] did you see my bone? And twirled it around.

The report concluded that the investigation supported claims that he violated policy with regard to his sexually inappropriate comments, and further retaliation. However:

The investigation does not support a finding that either reported harassment

or discrimination or assisted in an investigation of harassment or discrimination prior to her resignation from the Town. expressed to who relayed to Evans on August 30, only that she was uncomfortable around him, but she did not connect that discomfort to an allegation of discrimination or harassment. Moreover, it is not clear that August 30 was the first time that Evans learned of discomfort around him, as recalled that issue coming up in conversation with Evans earlier in the summer.

The Irondequoit Town Board released the following statement to News 8:

Following complaints from employees in Irondequoit town hall related to the Supervisor, the Town Board took immediate steps to seek an independent investigation into the matter and prioritize the safety and well-being of our staff. The Town Board took the amount of time needed to ensure all facts were uncovered and that all parties involved were heard and treated fairly. The results of the thorough and independent investigation are incredibly disturbing, and we feel heartbroken for the individuals who have been impacted by the Supervisors incredibly inappropriate behavior. We believe the best path forward for our staff and Irondequoit residents as a whole is for Supervisor Evans to resign immediately. Delaying in doing so is a further offense to the good people serving our residents each and every day, and stalls incredibly important work we must be doing for residents town-wide.

Evans previously said he does not plan to resign and seeks re-election as he denied sexual harassment claims against him.

News 8 reached out to Evans for comment, but he could not provide one.

Read the full report:

Town-of-Irondequoit-Investigation-Report-Nov.-20-2024-RedactedDownload

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Iowa Department of Transportation is asking Pocahontas County residents to share their comments on a proposed bridge replacement.

The project would take place on Iowa Highway 15 over Pilot Creek, with construction set to begin in 2027. When the bridge replacement begins, officials say traffic will follow a detour that uses Pocahontas County roads C-26 and 290th Avenue to and from the junctions of Iowa Highway 15.

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska giving out free tribal IDs

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Iowa DOT officials say access to properties will be maintained at all times.

Public comments are open through Feb. 3. Click here to give your feedback on the project.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Iowa House Republicans made several education bills eligible for debate on the Iowa House floor on Tuesday evening.

The Iowa House Education committee advanced one bill, House Study Bill 30, The bill requires that a student must score a 60% on the U.S. citizenship and immigration naturalization civics test to graduate high school.

Both public and nonpublic schools would have to abide if signed into law by the governor, which directs the state board of education to adopt the rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Students in grade 9 through 12 would have to answer 10 questions in multiple choice format for the civics test. The bill states that students are able to retake the assessment as many times as necessary.

The problem is, were making this contingent on graduation. Were making it six questions to determine whether this is going to actually impact their concern about American government and American history. I dont believe it does, said State Representative Tom Moore (R) District 18 from Griswold.

Local organization relieved after Trumps pause on federal grants, loans blocked

Moore was an American history and world history teacher for 33 years. He was the only House Republican that voted against the proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moore added that he thought American history should be expanded to a whole year, not just a semester that is required in current curriculum standards.

As much as I agree with Rep. Moore that we need better and probably more in-depth courses, keep in mind that students are taking a variety of courses, said State Representative Robert Henderson (R) District 2, Sioux City. There are plenty of students who have graduated from high school who cannot read and write. Going through a course does not guarantee knowledge.

Rep. Henderson said that he had comments about 60% being a low mark to pass. He said he took the test and missed a question because of the wording, adding that the 60% is a threshold for instances like he had when taking it.

The bill is now able to be brought forward for debate on the Iowa House floor.

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.
(Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)

An Iowa-licensed nurse accused of sexually assaulting multiple patients in Texas has agreed to surrender his license.

On Jan. 16, 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing agreed to accept Caleb Greers voluntary surrender of his nursing license. Board documents indicate Greer was issued a warning and advised that he will not be able to apply for reinstatement for one year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Iowa boards actions follow a November 2024 decision by the Texas Board of Nursing, which accepted Greers surrender of his license to practice in that state as an advanced practice registered nurse.

Caleb Greer (Photo courtesy Travis County Sheriffs Department)

Texas board documents indicate that before and after Greer completed a family nurse practitioner program at Sioux Citys Morningside College in 2019, he worked for several different entities in Iowa, Colorado and Texas  most recently as the owner of Dasein Health in West Lake Hills, Texas.

The Texas board alleged that in July 2019, while treating a female patient identified as N.M., Greer told the woman she was MILFy, began to massage her, and then kissed her on the lips and fondled her breasts and genitals.

The board also alleged that in October 2020, Greer was seeing patient Y.C. when he French kissed her, touched her private parts, took off his pants, and placed his penis in (her) hand. When the patient later telephoned Greer to ask why he had sexually assaulted her, Greer allegedly replied, Because youre blocked sexually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Texas board also alleged that in 2022 and 2023, while running the Dasein Health clinic, Greer massaged the thighs of a female patient, E.H, and then kissed her and fondled her while admitting that his carnal desire took over and he had lost control. The board alleges that in subsequent emails sent to the woman, Greer stated, I realize that I did not have your consent and that, yes, what I did was assault.

According to the Texas board, Greer was arrested in January 2024 on a charge of felony sexual assault related to his conduct with E.H. He later underwent a sexual offender psychological evaluation that allegedly concluded he posed an imminent and immediate risk of harm to the public.

The criminal case is still pending, according to board records.

In addition to disciplinary charges of violating patient boundaries, the Texas board also charged Greer with multiple instances of improperly administering medications and improperly performing ketamine therapy on patients. Board documents indicate Greer denied all of the allegations, describing them as a gross exaggeration of what had actually transpired.

He subsequently agreed to surrender his Texas nursing license.
Students read in a classroom. (Photo by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

Senate Republicans announced Tuesday they plan to support the governors proposal of a 2% increase in per-pupil funding for the states public school system.

The proposed increase matches the recommendation put forward by Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier in January of a 2% increase for State Supplemental Aid (SSA), the per-pupil state funding for Iowas K-12 schools. Its a slightly lower SSA rate than previous years  last year, lawmakers passed a 2.5% SSA increase as part of a larger package making changes to the states Area Education Agencies and raising teacher pay. But Senate Republicans said the measure provides stable funding for the states education system

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Republicans announced a reliable funding level for Iowa students, just as we have every year we have been in the majority, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver said in a news release. Iowans have continually supported our position of consistent increases in education funding. Today, we will begin again to keep our promise to provide timely increases with the goal of improving student achievement and making Iowa schools the best in the country.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The timeliness of school funding was an issue in 2024. While the Legislature has a self-imposed deadline to pass the per-pupil state aid for schools within 30 days of the governors budget being released, the funding rate was not finalized until late March during the previous session. Though there is no penalty for lawmakers missing the 30-day deadline, the delay made budgeting difficult for school districts across the state, according to education advocates.

House lawmakers have not yet released an SSA bill. Though the Senate funding bill, Senate Study Bill 1053, is coming within the required timeframe this year, organizations like the Iowa State Education Association said a 2% increase falls short of funding requirements at Iowas schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ISEA President Joshua Brown said in a statement Tuesday that the organization is recommending a minimum 5% increase in funding.

Setting funding any less than that jeopardizes growth and opportunity in our public schools for more than 90 percent of the students in our state, Brown said. We look forward to working with Iowa legislators on finding the right solution.

But Republicans like Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, said the $235 million increase in spending  and total allocation of $4.2 billion in state funding for K-12 students in the state in fiscal year 2026  shows the commitment of Senate Republicans to improving education.

It is a sustainable increase, focused on getting more money into the classroom, and it is proposed on time so schools can make informed decisions about their budget for next year, Evans said.

Senators will meet in a subcommittee meeting Jan. 30 to discuss the funding proposal.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon is lashing out about the president having a close relationship with Elon Musk. This seems ironic, though, as Bannon had his own rapport with Trump as well during the latters first term in the Oval Office.

Bannon wound up spending four months in prison for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation of the January 6 attack on the Capitol  and yet still feels inclined to call out Musk.

In an interview with NPR earlier this month, the presidents former ally shared this thoughts on tech billionaires working with the Trump administration. Bannon referred to the arrangement as an oligarchy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also believes Musks presence at the inauguration  along with Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg  signaled a palpable change in how our government will run.

The [billionaires are] not there because they support Trump. Theyre there because the Trump movement and President Trump broke them, Bannon told the outlet.

He also stated those same moguls who gave millions to the inauguration are not buying influence, but instead are being used as trophies by Trump. Bannon has also clashed with Musk over H-1B visas. Musk believes that high-skilled immigrant workers should receive them and encouraged Trump to follow suit.

Musk posted on X last month that he would go to war on the issue. Bannon replied by saying Musk, a South African-born naturalized US citizen, should go back to his place of birth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bannon also called Musk a truly evil guy in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

I made it my personal thing to take this guy down, he added. Before, because he put money in, I was prepared to tolerate it...Im not prepared to tolerate it anymore.

Bannon also referred to white South Africans as the most racist people on earth who should not be concerned about what goes on in this country.

[Musk] will do anything related to make sure that any one of his companies is protected or has a better deal or he makes more money, he said in that same newspaper interview.

His aggregation of wealth, and then  through wealth  power: thats what hes focused on.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
After the Legislature took the first step Tuesday to keep the Isaac Elementary School District open amid the district's financial crisis, it appeared Wednesday that more help would be on the way from a neighboring school district.

The Tolleson Union High School District's Governing Board was set to vote Wednesday night on a resolution that would authorize lease-purchase financing of Isaac Elementary property.

The resolution stated that it was unlikely Isaac Elementary would "be able to meet its payroll obligations to teachers, support staff and other employees" starting in February.

Advertisement Advertisement

Isaac Elementary has "various unencumbered school sites which may serve as collateral" to Tolleson Union in a lease financing between the two school districts that would allow Tolleson Union "to invest its surplus unrestricted capital outlay funds at a higher rate of return than otherwise available and would allow Isaac ESD the funds necessary to meet its payroll and other current obligations," according to the resolution.

The resolution, if approved, would set the maximum total principal amount of the lease-purchase agreement at $25 million.

"Were in a unique position to make a difference, and were going to do it in a way that I feel is" fiscally responsible and legally sound, said Devin Del Palacio, a Tolleson Union Governing Board member. "School districts do not operate in isolation. When one district struggles, it impacts the entire system."

Isaac Elementary students do not officially feed into the Tolleson Union High School District  they go to the Phoenix Union High School District. But Del Palacio said that students in the West Valley are transient and that many students in the area choose to go to Tolleson even if it is not their designated school district.

Advertisement Advertisement

This is a structured financial agreement, not a donation," Del Palacio said. Tolleson Union would be using its unrestricted capital outlay funds  surplus from its budget that is dedicated to "strategic investments."

Del Palacio said that in his understanding if the resolution were approved, the money would be available for Isaac Elementary by the end of this week. "It's a simple transfer," he said.

Isaac Elementary, which serves approximately 4,800 students in Phoenix, was placed under receivership two weeks ago by the Arizona State Board of Education because it had overspent its budget by millions. Keith Kenny, a director at the consulting firm J.S. Held, now oversees the district's operations. Last week, the district's superintendent and chief financial officer resigned.

According to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas Galvin, the district owes the county $28.5 million. The county has said it would not provide any more funding for the district's expenses until the district could demonstrate the ability to pay back its debt, leaving the district without cash to fund operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

On Monday, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced the U.S. Department of Education agreed to release $6 million in federal pandemic relief funds Isaac Elementary had previously forfeited after failing to submit a required report on time. The Maricopa County Treasurer's Office, however, said that money would go toward paying off the district's debt.

On Tuesday, the House Education Committee unanimously approved a bill, introduced by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, that would direct Maricopa County Treasurer John Allen to issue $2.5 million to cover one payroll for the school district. The money would be an advance on Isaac's basic state aid, according to the bill, House Bill 2610. The bill would also remove the district's school board members from office.

Though Gress said he anticipated his legislation would be signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs by Friday, that was not in time for the district to make payday for its employees on Tuesday. Gress promised that more legislation would be on the way to help the district remain open for the rest of the school year, though he said that additional reforms would be needed before the Legislature could offer more support.

On Tuesday evening, the Isaac District Education Association, a union of Isaac Elementary educators, voted to return to work without pay on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

In response to news of the potential agreement between Isaac Elementary and Tolleson Union, Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee, said the legality of the agreement was being reviewed by people at the Capitol. He and Senate Education Committee Chair David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, said they planned to move forward with crafting reforms to prevent similar school district crises in the future. Gress has previously said that one of the options he would consider working toward could be consolidating Isaac Elementary with another school district.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Neighboring school district may help Isaac Elementary pay its debt
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO)  The Stateline Area Narcotics Team (SLANT) and Loves Park Police arrested Johnathan Kimble, 38, for allegedly having pistols and delivering three kinds of drugs.

On Jan. 23, officers responded to the 900 block of Anna Avenue to search a house for drugs. Authorities found Kimble and a woman in the master bedroom during the raid.

Officials found cocaine, meth, cannabis, a scale and two handguns, according to court records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman told police she did not know Kimble had any drugs in the house, other than some cannabis. She only knew about one of the pistols, according to court documents.

Kimble told officers he had not been involved with drugs for several months and that they were old. He said he was going to get rid of them but did not want to contaminate the water, authorities reported.

The suspect told police he keeps the weapon in his house for protection.

Kimble pled guilty to attempting to deliver cocaine in a 2018 case.

Kimble is charged with felon possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm by a repeat offender as well as manufacturing and delivering cannabis, cocaine and meth.

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.
Palestinian extremist group Hamas has passed on the names of the next three hostages to be released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday as part of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

One of the hostages to be released in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners is Arbel Yehud, who holds both Israeli and German citizenship, as well as female Israeli soldier Agam Berger.

In addition, Gadi Moses - who media reports say also has German citizenship - will be the first male hostage to be freed under the ceasefire agreement that put a halt to fighting on January 19 after over 15 months of war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an initial six-week phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Seven hostages, all of them women, have already been released under the deal. Another three are set to be released on Saturday.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that five Thai workers abducted from Israel might also be released.

Among the 90 remaining hostages held in Gaza are eight Thai nationals, one Nepalese national and one Tanzanian national.

According to the ceasefire deal, Hamas has to notify Israel 24 hours in advance who it is releasing before handing over the hostages.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has received a list of hostages who will be released on Thursday from Gaza, the Prime Minister's office said on Wednesday.

The office did not provide further details.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Peter Graff)
Hamas plans to release three Israeli hostages Thursday  two women and an 80-year-old man  as well as five Thai nationals abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The Hostages Families Forum said it had received news that Hamas will release the eight abductees. The forum is a volunteer-based group the families of the abductees formed after the attack.

Among those the militant group plans to release is Arbel Yehoud, 29, whom Israeli officials had expected to be freed last weekend in the first phase of the ceasefire deal, in which a total of 33 hostages are expected to be released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two other Israelis expected to be released are Agam Berger, 20, and Gadi Moses, 80.

Berger was working as an observer at Nahal Oz base, where she arrived just two days prior to the Oct. 7 attack, and was captured alongside multiple other observers who have since been released.

Moses was living at kibbutz Nir Oz, where he was one of the founding members of the kibbutz's vineyard and gave lectures on agriculture. His partner was killed in the Oct. 7 attack, the hostage organization said.

Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released for civilian hostages and 50 for captive soldiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The truce between Israel and Hamas was put in jeopardy Saturday after Israel blocked Palestinian civilians from moving back to their homes in northern Gaza. Israeli officials said that Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement because it had failed to release Yehoud, a civilian, before captive soldiers.

Hamas similarly accused Israel of breaking the deal, fueling concerns that a ceasefire that has brought a pause to 15 months of deadly fighting in Gaza could be imperiled.

But on Monday, Qatar, a leading mediator in ceasefire negotiations, said that Yehoud would be freed along with two other hostages before Friday, soothing friction over the deal.

Yehoud was kidnapped from her home in kibbutz Nir Oz, of which her grandparents were founders, along with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, 27. The couple had just recently returned to Israel from a trip to South America.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yehoud's brother, Dolev Yehoud, 25, was also initially believed to have been taken hostage into Gaza, but in September, Israel determined that he had been killed by Hamas on the day of the attacks and that his body had never left Israeli territory.

Cunio and his brother David, 34, remain held captive in Gaza, with neither expected to be released in the first phase of the deal.

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv awaiting news of a hostage release Friday.

Specific details of the second phase of the deal has yet to be agreed upon, although a Middle Eastern official told NBC News on Monday that the second round of talks are likely to begin in Qatar next week.

Three more captives are expected to be released Saturday in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many across Israel are hopeful Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage to remain in Hamas' captivity, will be among them.

Kfir, now 2, was just under 9 months old when he was taken hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, along with his 5-year-old brother, Ariel, and their parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas.

With 26 Israeli hostages still set to be released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire, a Middle Eastern official briefed on the matter told NBC News on Monday that Hamas has informed Israel that eight of the group are dead.

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed that these numbers matched information gleaned by Israeli intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hamas' disclosure was believed to be the first time the militant group has made clear how many hostages are dead or alive.

Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, a dual British citizen, were the first three hostages to be freed by Hamas earlier this month in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, all women and children under the age of 19.

Four female Israeli soldiers were later released Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, some of whom were serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks.

Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israeli officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the more than 15 months since, more than 47,000 people in Gaza were killed in Israel's offensive, according to Palestinian health officials.

Researchers estimate that the death toll is likely significantly higher because of difficulties in counting the dead amid the war and with thousands missing and feared dead under debris.

CORRECTION (Jan. 29, 2025, 9:15 p.m. ET): A headline on a previous version of this article misstated that Arbel Yehoud had been released due to an editing error. She is expected to be released Friday; she has not yet been freed.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
RAMALLAH, Best Bank (Reuters) -An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, in an attack which the Israeli military said targeted armed militants.

The airstrike was in the area of Tubas, in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the start of the war in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, many of them armed gunmen but also including stone-throwing youths or uninvolved civilians, and thousands have been arrested by Israeli forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Palestinian attacks in the West Bank and Israel have also killed dozens of Israelis.

The West Bank, a kidney-shaped stretch of land about 100 km (62 miles) long, was seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and is seen by Palestinians as the core of a future independent state, along with Gaza.

Israel has stepped up operations in the West Bank since a ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on Jan. 19.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Editing by Sandra Maler)
ANKARA (Reuters) - An Israeli airstrike killed three Turkish citizens who attempted to cross illegally from Lebanon to Israel, Turkey's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"We condemn in the strongest terms this unlawful attack that resulted in the death of our citizens," the ministry said in a statement, without mentioning when the incident took place.

Procedures are under way to repatriate their bodies to Turkey, the ministry said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As we have emphasised on every occasion, Israel must immediately end its aggressive policies that disregard human life and escalate tensions in our region," the ministry said.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Alison Williams)
DUBAI/BEIRUT (Reuters) -Five people were injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Selm on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said.

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes injured 36 people in Nabatieh, a major town in south Lebanon, according to the health ministry. The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah vehicles that were transporting weapons on the edge of Nabatieh.

The Israeli army also detained three people on Wednesday in southern border town of Maroun al-Ras, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel has carried out strikes in southern Lebanon although Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel agreed on a ceasefire in late November, ending a conflict that killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war in 2023.

Israel has not yet fully withdrawn its forces from southern Lebanon and has said it will keep operating against any threat posed to the state of Israel and its citizens.

Following the strikes on Nabatieh, senior Hezbollah official Mohammad Raad said that the Lebanese people's right to resist Israeli attacks is a "sacred and legitimate right".

He said this right should be exercised at the time and place deemed necessary to protect the country's security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. said on Sunday the agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which included an initial 60-day period for the withdrawal of Israeli troops, would remain in effect until Feb. 18, an extension to the Jan. 26 deadline previously agreed.

On Tuesday, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, who chairs the committee monitoring the ceasefire, to pressure Israel into implementing the ceasefire according to international law.

Mikati also thanked the International Red Cross for its efforts in securing the release on Tuesday of nine Lebanese who had been detained by Israel.

Israeli forces killed at least 24 people and wounded at least 141 in southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as thousands of people tried to return to their homes in the area in defiance of Israeli military orders.

(Reporting by Jana Choukeir in Dubai and Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Frances Kerry)
RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP)  For more than 470 days, Eitan Gonen publicly pleaded with his daughter to stay alive while in Hamas captivity. He didn't know if she would hear him, but he ended every interview he gave with the same hopeful message: Romi is coming home alive.

When he finally got to speak to his daughter for the first time in 15 months after she and two other women were freed Jan. 19, he got his answer.

"She said, Dad, I came home alive,' Eitan Gonen told The Associated Press on Tuesday in his first interview with an international news outlet since her release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I know that my interview back then gave Romi a lot of strength, a lot of hope, something to cling on, he said.

Romi Gonen, 24, was among the first hostages to be freed from Gaza and one of seven women so far released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire, a long and uncertain process aimed at eventually ending the war. Some 250 people were kidnapped during Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. About 90 hostages remain in Gaza, although at least a third of them are believed to be dead.

During the ceasefire's first phase, Hamas agreed to gradually release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Six more hostages are expected to be released this week in exchange for hundreds of prisoners.

Israel has been preparing for the hostages to return, with the expectation that after more than a year in captivity, many would likely be dealing with life-threatening health issues or other physical and psychological problems. This week, Dr. Ami Benov, who is working with the hostages, told reporters that the women were in poor physical condition and would face a lengthy recovery process, as they suffered from mild starvation and vitamin deficiencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sitting in a complex in central Israel where his daughter and some of the other freed hostages are staying, Eitan Gonen wouldn't comment on Romi's health but said there's a long road ahead.

The rehabilitation status just started, he said. Because she spent so long in captivity, the family isn't pressuring her to speak. Instead, they are trying to give her autonomy and control, and to let her take things at her own pace, he said.

Like many others, Romi was taken captive at the Nova music festival. That morning, her sister and mother, Merav Leshem Gonen, spent nearly five hours speaking to Romi as militants marauded through the festival grounds. Romi told her family that she would try to hide in the bushes, as the roads being clogged with abandoned cars made escape impossible.

For nearly two months, her family had no idea if she was dead. They only learned she was alive from other hostages who were freed during a weeklong ceasefire a month after the attack, Eitan Gonen said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Praising his daughter's strength, he said she survived in part by learning Arabic, as it was the only way to communicate with her captors.

Human beings will do anything to survive. Anything. And since the terrorists dont speak any other language other than Arabic, she didnt have any chance in order to communicate with them  to start learning their language, he said, noting that she has even spoken it at times since being freed, likely out of habit.

Something else that helped her stay alive was the support from other hostages, Eitan Gonen said. For a period, Romi was held with Emily Damari, a British-Israeli hostage who was released along with her. I believe God set it up somehow that Emily and Romi ... had each other to survive. ... Its a dynamic duo, he said.

Other released hostages expressed similar sentiments about their own time in captivity. Israeli soldier Naama Levy, who was released Saturday, wrote in an Instagram post that after spending 50 days mostly alone, she was given strength when she was reunited with other kidnapped soldiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Being held hostage with someone can provide strength through a shared fight for survival in the face of unimaginable adversity, said Dr. Einat Yehene, a psychologist who specializes in trauma and loss and who is head of rehabilitation at the Hostages Families Forum.

Even though he finally got his daughter back, Eitan Gonen is still urging the Israeli government to keep working to bring home all of the remaining hostages. And he urges the families of hostages to keep giving interviews in all languages and mediums, to maintain the pressure and let their relatives know they haven't been forgotten.

But he's mostly focusing on spending time with his daughter.

I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her, he said. I missed it so much."

___

Associated Press reporter Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it offered buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week  an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed.

A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the governments human resources agency, also said it would begin subjecting all federal employees to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct and warned of future downsizing.

The email sent to millions of employees said those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary, but they have to chose to do so by Feb 6.

President Donald Trump built a political career around promising to disrupt Washington, and vowed that his second administration would go far further in shaking up traditional political norms than his first did.

Still, the repercussions of so many government workers being invited to leave their jobs were difficult to calculate.

Move could trigger widespread disruptions across US

Katie Miller, who serves on an advisory board to the Department of Government Efficiency, a special Trump administration department headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and tasked with shrinking the size of government, posted on X, This email is being sent to more than TWO MILLION federal employees.

The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November last year, which accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nations entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center. The average tenure for a federal employee is nearly 12 years, according to a Pew analysis of data from OPM.

Even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shock waves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole, triggering wide-ranging  and as yet unknowable  implications for the delivery, timeliness and effectiveness of federal services across the nation.

Untold numbers of front-line health workers in the Veterans Affairs Department, officials who process loans for homebuyers or small businesses, and contractors who help procure the next generation of military weaponry could all head for the exits at once.

It also could mean losing experienced food inspectors and scientists who test the water supply  while disrupting everything from air travel and consumer product protections.

Union leader decries 'purging' of federal government

In response, American Federation of Government Employees union President Everett Kelley said it should not be viewed as voluntary buyouts, but pressuring workers not considered loyal to the new administration to vacate their jobs.

Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, Kelley said in a statement. "Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

In its emailed memo detailing its plan, OPM lists four directives that it says Trump is mandating for the federal workforce going forward  including that most workers return to their offices full-time.

The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week, it reads. That echoes Trump, who said of federal employees over the weekend: You have to go to your office and work. Otherwise youre not going to have a job.

Memo says workforce should comprise 'reliable, loyal' employees

The memo also says Trump will insist on excellence at every level, and while some parts of the government's workforce may increase under his administration, The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized."

Finally, it says, the federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work."

Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward, the memo reads.

The emailed message includes a deferred resignation letter for federal employees to begin leaving their posts.

If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, it says.

The email even includes instructions on how to accept, stating: "If you wish to resign: Select Reply to this email. You must reply from your government account." It adds: Type the word Resign' into the body of this email and hit send."

OPM issues guidance on policy to replace Schedule F

Meanwhile, OPM released guidance for an executive order Trump signed on the first day of his second term known as Schedule Career/Policy. It replaces Schedule F, an order Trump signed late in his first term that sought to reclassify thousands of federal employees and make them political appointees without the same job security protections.

President Joe Biden rescinded Trumps Schedule F order almost immediately upon taking office in 2021, and under his administration, OPM issued a new rule last year designed to make it more difficult to fire many federal employees.

That move was seen as a safeguard against using a new Schedule F order to help carry out the key goals of Project 2025, a sweeping plan by a conservative Washington think tank to dismiss large swaths of the federal workforce in favor of more conservative alternatives while also cutting back on the overall size of government.

But that hasnt stopped the Trump administration from swiftly moving to gut the federal workforce and leave employees with little recourse to protest firings or reassignments.

Trumps OPM on Monday set deadlines for agencies to begin to recommend workers for reclassification. Agency heads are being instructed to establish a contact person no later than Wednesday and begin to submit interim personnel recommendations within 90 days.

Agencies are encouraged to submit recommendations on a rolling basis before this date, Charles Ezell, the acting director of OPM, said in a memo.

Perhaps more stunning, the Trump personnel office simply did away with the Biden administrations 2024 regulation to better protect federal workers. Monday's memo said Trump's new executive order used the president's authority to directly nullify these regulations.

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.

Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported the number of months of pay federal workers were offered in the buyout.
The Israeli military will keep a presence in Jenin following the current military operation in the northern West Bank city considered a stronghold of Palestinian militants, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

"The refugee camp in Jenin will not be the same again," Katz said during a troop visit to the city.

After the end of the current operation, the military would remain in the city "to ensure that terror does not return," he was quoted as saying by his office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israeli military launched a major operation dubbed Iron Wall in Jenin on January 21.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 16 people have been killed in the wider Jenin area as a result, including bystanders.

The aim of Iron Wall was to smash "terrorist infrastructure built in Palestinian camps with Iranian funding and equipment," Katz claimed, announcing that the operation would be expanded.

Katz also accused the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, of financing terror and murder against Jews.

However, before the start of the Israeli operation, PA security forces had been deployed for several weeks in Jenin against militant forces, with deaths on both sides.

Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem among other territories during the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there among 3 million Palestinians.
By Raneen Sawafta and James Mackenzie

JENIN, West Bank/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops will remain in the Palestinians' Jenin refugee camp once the large-scale raid they launched last week is complete, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday as a crackdown in the occupied West Bank extended into a second week.

Hundreds of Israeli troops backed by helicopters, drones and armoured vehicles have been fighting sporadic gunbattles with Palestinian militants while carrying out searches in the streets and alleyways for weapons and equipment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Jenin refugee camp will not be what it was," Katz said during a visit to the refugee camp. "After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terrorism does not return."

He did not give details and a military spokesperson declined to comment.

The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned what it called Katz's "provocative" statement and called for international pressure on Israel to stop the operation, which has already been condemned by countries including France and Jordan.

Israeli forces went into Jenin immediately after the start of a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, saying it aimed to hit militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both of which receive support from Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel regards the West Bank as one part of a multi-front war against Iranian-backed groups established around its borders, from Gaza to Lebanon and including the Houthis in Yemen, and it turned its attention to the area immediately after the halt to fighting in Gaza.

At least 17 Palestinians, including six members of armed militant groups and a two-year-old girl, have been killed in Jenin and the surrounding villages during the operation, according to Palestinian officials.

The military said forces had killed at least 18 militants and detained 60 wanted individuals, dismantling over 100 explosive devices and seizing a weapons manufacturing workshop.

An investigation into the death of the girl is still ongoing, a spokesperson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Within the camp, dozens of houses have been demolished and roads have been dug up by special armoured bulldozers, driving thousands of people from their homes. Water has been cut and Palestinian officials say at least 80% of the camp's inhabitants have been forced to leave their homes.

"It's terrifying, the explosions the fires, the houses which were demolished," said Intisar Amalka, a displaced camp resident who said her nephew's car had been destroyed by an Israeli bulldozer.

SPREAD OF ARMY ROADBLOCKS SNARL PALESTINIAN LIFE

The Jenin refugee camp, a crowded township built for descendants of Palestinians who fled their homes or were driven out in the 1948 Middle East war around the creation of the state of Israel, has been a centre of militant activity for decades and the target of repeated raids by Israeli troops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just prior to the latest raid, security forces of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited governance in parts of the West Bank, conducted a weeks-long operation of its own in a bid to reassert control in Jenin.

As the fighting in Gaza has subsided, at least for the moment, Israeli forces have stepped up operations across the area, setting up checkpoints and roadblocks which have made travelling even short distances between towns and villages an hours-long trial for Palestinians.

Elsewhere in the northern West Bank, Israeli forces have been carrying out an operation in Tulkarm, another volatile city where they have clashed repeatedly with militants recently, moving into the city itself as well as into its refugee camp.

The West Bank, a kidney-shaped stretch of land about 100 kilometres (62 miles) long, was seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and is seen by Palestinians as the core of a future independent state, along with Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It has seen a surge in violence since the start of the war in Gaza in which hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, many of them armed gunmen but also including stone-throwing youths or uninvolved civilians, and thousands have been arrested.

Palestinian attacks in the West Bank and Israel have also killed dozens of Israelis.

(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; editing by Mark Heinrich)
A federal judge in Charlotte has sentenced a man from Jamaica for targeting elderly people in a nationwide lottery scheme.

Antony Steward will spend seven years in prison and pay more than $1 million in restitution.

ALSO READ: Nigerian man indicted for sextortion scheme that led to SC teens suicide

Prosecutors said for at least six years, Stewart called older people and told them they won money in the lottery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, they would need to pay fees and taxes before claiming their winnings.

The U.S. Attorney said she hoped the sentencing would send a message to scammers.

VIDEO: Can no longer hide: Nigerian man indicted for sextortion scheme that led to SC teens suicide








Jan. 28An intense bout of snow as temperatures dropped led to slick roads around Anchorage on Monday after several weeks of unseasonably warm weather.

The early-morning shift back to snow, combined with warm asphalt, created icy surfaces that triggered dozens of stuck vehicles and crashes.

The Anchorage School District canceled all after-school sports, activities and community rentals due to "worsening road conditions," officials said in an announcement before noon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prolonged wet, windy weather had saturated Southcentral Alaska through the weekend, leaving a trail of potholes, high water and avalanches. Temperatures began dropping toward January norms Monday morning, and snow returned to Anchorage and Mat-Su.

Slick conditions were reported on the Glenn Highway and throughout the city. As of midafternoon Tuesday, Anchorage police reported 54 crashes and 42 vehicles in distress.

Several collisions were reported on the Glenn Highway on Monday afternoon including one near Palmer and another on the northbound Glenn at the first Knik River bridge, according to the state 511 road conditions site. Just before noon, Alaska State Troopers said they responded to a semi leaking fuel at Mile 32 of the highway after it slid on ice and went into a ditch. A pickup then also slid into the semi's trailer, causing minor injuries, troopers said.

All told, troopers in Mat-Su responded to 17 crashes on Monday, "with multiple of them requiring transportation to the hospital" and noted that number didn't reflect responses by Palmer or Wasilla police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Citing hazardous weather conditions and lingering power outages, Mat-Su district officials closed schools in the Susitna Valley on Monday and Tuesday. Matanuska Electric Association was reporting more than 1,400 members without power Monday evening, including most of Talkeetna.

State transportation officials said plow crews were beginning to clear Petersville Road near Trapper Creek from Mile 7 to Mile 14 after more than 2 feet of snow blanketed the area, making for impassable conditions. They warned that travel wasn't advised on the Parks Highway south of Cantwell due to heavy drifting snow creating narrow traffic lanes.

Road crews were contending with "extremely slick" conditions around the region after 2 1/2 days of high wind and heavy rain followed by Monday's temperature drop and coating of snow, said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokeswoman Shannon McCarthy.

"Crews worked all weekend with thaw trucks and pothole patching to keep roads drivable and had to switch back over to sanders in record time," McCarthy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Days of rain cratered roads around the region with tire-blowing potholes.

The Mobile Tire Guy in Anchorage registered 130 calls between Saturday morning at 5 a.m. and Monday morning around 10 a.m., according to co-owner Chasity Blanchard. Her husband, Kyle Spernak, had been busy all weekend on repairs and replacements after drivers hit the new potholes that opened around town.

"We usually do have pothole season but it's not until April," Blanchard said.

The forecast is calling for potentially subzero temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning, replacing the past few weeks of unusually balmy readings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Warmth, a major windstorm and rain eroded the official snowpack from 8 inches around the December holidays to nothing at all by Sunday.

"It went to zero for maybe 12 hours there," said Anchorage-based National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp. "With this snow band that came over us this morning  they're actually out there measuring it right now, but we got I would estimate maybe a quarter inch of snow."

The agency received reports of several inches of snow in other parts of the city, he said.

Until the latest storm system arrived, a series of atmospheric rivers deluged the region, melting most accumulation at lower elevations and coating the mountains with heavy, wet snow that triggered a number of large avalanches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, a cornice on a ridge above Glacier Bowl gave way Sunday afternoon, sending a massive slide all the way down to the Main Street run, according to Duane Stutzman, Alyeska's mountain general manager.

There were no reports of anyone caught in the slide, Stutzman said Monday morning, adding crews plan to do one more search of the debris pile, then spend the day on avalanche mitigation and regrooming the debris path.

"We had only one guest up there. He happened to be the reporting party. Talk about luck," he said.

A large slide shut down traffic on the Parks Highway on and off since Friday, when an avalanche blocked both lanes of traffic north of Cantwell.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The highway was closed again Sunday evening but reopened Monday with pilot car operations in place to escort the public through the area, according to the state's 511 site.

Hatcher Pass Road in the Talkeetna Mountains near Palmer remains closed due to avalanches and avalanche danger just past Skeetawk Ski Area until at least Tuesday, according to the state transportation department.

The National Weather Service registered a high of 46 degrees at its offices near Anchorage's airport on Sunday, tying a record set in 2014. The Alaska Zoo reported bears Oreo and Izzy lumbered out of their dens at least briefly over the weekend.

Historic winds and warmth battered Anchorage and the region earlier this month, leaving some without power for days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By last week, parts of the Deep South, including Mississippi and Louisiana, saw more snow on the ground than Anchorage's diminished pack could muster.

[Hey, New Orleans, please send some of your snow to Anchorage]

A new weather system bringing cold air is pushing the warmer, moist air to the east, Knopp said Monday.

"A low-pressure system with an Arctic air mass is wrapping around this low-pressure system and bringing cold air over Southcentral Alaska," he said. "Cooler air is flowing in, and we'll just see a gradual temperature change over the next few days."
ST. LOUIS  Januarys cold spell has made this month the coldest since 2011, but the much-needed January thaw is beginning to ramp up. A key factor driving this warm-up is the Chinook wind, which is common this time of year.

The Chinook wind is a warm, dry wind that originates in the Pacific Northwest, moving up into the mountains before descending rapidly down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. This descent causes the air to compress, warm, and dry, drastically raising temperatures in the northern and central plains.

On Tuesday, temperatures warmed 20 to 25 degrees above normal in the Upper Mississippi Valley. We reached 14 degrees above normal in St. Louis Tuesday with a high of 55 degrees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The effects of the Chinook winds can be even more dramatic. In fact, the biggest recorded temperature jump occurred in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Jan. 22, 1943, when the temperature soared 49 degrees in just two minutesfrom -4 degrees to 45 degrees. The January thaw is a welcome relief during the harsh winter months and is expected to continue through the Midwest until Wednesday.

St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather 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.
Jay-Z is seeking sanctions over a "Jane Doe" lawsuit that accuses him and Diddy of rape.

He wants the case dismissed and the Doe's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, to pay a cash fine.

The lawsuit alleges Jay-Z and Diddy raped the 13-year-old Doe after the 2000 VMA awards.

Rapper Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is fighting back against a lawsuit that alleges he and Sean "Diddy" Combs raped a 13-year-old girl during a Video Music Awards after-party in 2000.

In a legal filing Wednesday, the music entrepreneur asks a federal judge in Manhattan to dismiss the lawsuit and order monetary sanctions against Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney who sued over the alleged incident in October.

The rape claim suffers from "substantial inaccuracies" which should have led Buzbee to drop the lawsuit, Carter's filing says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those include woman's father telling NBC News he had no memory of picking his distraught young daughter up from the after-party and driving her home as described in the lawsuit.

"It strains credulity," Carter's filing says, "that a father  impelled to jump into his car in the middle of the night to undertake a minimum 10-hour round trip to pick up his 13-year-old daughter at a random gas stationwould forget the entire episode."

Buzbee has also been unable to explain why the Alabama woman who filed the suit, now in her late-30s, told NBC News in December that she had a conversation at the after-party with rapper Benji Madden, whose distinctive "The Last Supper" tattoo she described to the network. Madden later told NBC that he was touring the Midwest during the VMAs that year.

Combs and Carter have both denied the sexual assault.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"A single, initial media interview turned up glaring problems that counsel had either ignored or never investigated," Wednesday's Carter filing, drafted by Manhattan attorney Alex Spiro, complains.

In court filings, Buzbee has dismissed both inconsistencies as unsurprising memory lapses.

"Calling this a 'memory lapse' cannot obscure counsel's lapses in investigating whether multi-decade-old recollections aligned with reality," Carter's filing says.

"These factual discrepancies are neither isolated nor surprising. They result from Mr. Buzbee's rush to launch allegations unhindered by mandatory diligence," the filing says, asking the judge assigned to the lawsuit to impose unspecified cash damages and drop the lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reached for comment Wednesday night, Buzbee said, "With every frantic filing the defense in this case grows more desperate. The rules apply equally to everyone, even those who wrongly think they are above the law. No one is above the law."

The original lawsuit was brought against Combs, his companies, and unnamed accomplices, including "Celebrity A." Carter was identified as Celebrity A when the suit was amended December.

Since then, Buzbee and Carter have traded barbs in public statements and court documents, including a previous filing by the rapper seeking dismissal and sanctions. Two weeks after Carter was named as "Celebrity A" in the revised lawsuit, Buzbee filed a new lawsuit accusing Carter's Roc Nation of trying to intimidate his law firm and turn his plaintiffs against him.

"This conduct was specifically targeted at our firm so we would not pursue cases related to the Diddy litigation," Buzbee said at the time in a statement to Business Insider. "But, we will not be bullied or intimidated."

Read the original article on Business Insider
CAMDEN, New Jersey  Five New Jersey governors trekked down to South Jersey on Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony at the hospital where New Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross serves as board chair  underscoring his clout even as he faces racketeering charges and a diminished statewide profile.

The event on Tuesday was to officially mark the start of a $3 billion expansion of Cooper University Health Care, South Jersey's only Level One Trauma Center. The expansion is expected to add just over 100 inpatient beds across three new towers to the health system in one of the states long-troubled communities. Cooper currently has 663 beds.

But the political context could also not be ignored: Norcross, while hobbled by the criminal charges brought by Attorney General Matt Platkin, still carries considerable influence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican former Gov. Chris Christie, who signed the tax credits into law that is a key part of the Norcross indictment and is one of his closest allies, said he "would've never brought an indictment like this" when he was the state's U.S. attorney.

"My view: This indictment is a piece of garbage," he told reporters after the event. "Part of the reason for my appearance here today is not just my friendship with George, but is to make clear to people who care about justice being done the right way in this state that this thing is baseless.

Norcross declined to speak with reporters as he left the event.

The event was a whos who of state politics: former Govs. Jim McGreevey, Tom Kean Sr. and Jon Corzine sat on stage with Norcross. Norcross himself sat between current Gov. Phil Murphy and Christie, with state and local elected officials and at least two members of Congress in attendance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think my fellow governors would agree with me  there's only one guy in this state that could pull this group together, Murphy said of Norcross. The two feuded during Murphys first term in office  with Murphy targeting the tax incentives  but they have since become political allies.

Camden has long been one of the states most troubled and impoverished cities, continuously on the mend. Christie famously worked with Norcross to disband the city police department and replace it with a county police force, a move credited with improving law enforcement in the community. And the city murder rate  once on par with Honduras  recently hit a 55-year low, according to city officials. For about an hour the governors described a Camden on the rise, with Norcross at the center of it.

I know he hasn't lost any influence in building a better Camden and making [Cooper] one of the best medical centers in the United States  his leadership really has been extraordinary with regard to his efforts here, Corzine told reporters.

Also in attendance were fellow indictees in Norcross racketeering case: former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, South Jersey attorney Bill Tambussi and Georges brother Phil Norcross (Phil Norcross also sits on the board of Cooper).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

George Norcorss is charged with using his influence to enrich himself and his allies by strong-arming local governments to sway property rights from a rival developer to a favored one. Norcross and his allies have launched a rigorous public relations campaign questioning the legitimacy of the indictment, which has drawn frustration from state prosecutors.

As we have said previously, the States indictment speaks for itself and our prosecution of the Norcross Enterprise will occur in the court, Michael Symons, a spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office, said in a statement to POLITICO in response to Christie's comments. Attempts by the Defendants and others  apparently even including a former Governor and United States Attorney  to attack the work of career prosecutors in order to litigate this case in the press and taint the jury pool will not be ignored.

Norcross critics contrasted the hospital event with the recent court hearing where Norcross attorneys argued to dismiss the charges, which a state judge is currently considering.

"The spectacle at Cooper hospital shows just how deep corruption runs in New Jersey politics. Watching five governors share the stage with George Norcross, less than a week after he was in court for racketeering, tells you everything you need to know about what's wrong with our state's political system," said Antoinette Miles, state director of the left-leaning New Jersey Working Families Party. "This carefully planned event was more than an attempt to clean up Norcross's public image while he faces criminal charges."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The event also carried elements of another one of the state's preeminent political storylines: The states crowded Democratic primary for governor. Two candidates were in attendance: Steve Sweeney, Norcross longtime friend and the former state Senate President, and Congressmember Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who represents a North Jersey district on the other opposite side of the state.

[Sweeney] probably doesn't want my support, help or even my acknowledgment, Christie said jokingly on stage of his former legislative ally. So let me just say this for every Democratic primary voter: I hate Steve Sweeney. Lousy SOB. Awful guy, we never agreed on a thing.

The hospital expansion was first announced in 2022, which had Murphy and Christie to share the stage with Norcross. The hospital on Tuesday called the project the largest building investment in Camden County history, which will be done in partnership with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, a key political ally of Norcross. The first phase of the project will be a 10-story tower that will cover 35,000 square feet and is expected to be completed by 2028. Around $170 million will come from state funding through prior allocations the state made to Cooper.

Kean  who is 89  quipped that things will be even better once the towers come up if I'm alive to come here again in another five years. Kean  a Republican who was governor in the 1980s  said that he does not do as many public events anymore, but that it was an easy decision when Norcross asked.

I don't think Ive ever said no to George Norcross, he said from the stage. And I wouldn't. Because if there's one human being at the center of revival of Camden and Camden County and this whole area, it's George Norcross.
John F. Kennedys grandson, Jack Schlossberg, amped up the family drama when he trolled the Senate hearing for cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday.

In a lengthy thread on social media, Schlossberg referred to President Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an antisemite, a lying sack of s**t, and (checks notes) a f**king liar.

He also attacked Kennedys claim during the hearing that he is not anti-vaccine despite numerous public statements suggesting otherwise.

JUNIOR CANT ANSWER THE EASY ONES https://t.co/8iUzwJPU7T  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

How do you spell Ron Wyden ? S-A-V



Which one is it JUNIOR ?! https://t.co/BACGbGOo90  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

EVERYONE ALREADY WANTS TO END CHRONIC DISEASE



find me one person who is PRO-CHRONIC ILLNESS  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

RFK Jr.s controversial anti-vaccine statements and tendency to promote conspiracy theories have put him at odds with other members of his family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schlossbergs mother, Caroline Kennedy, recently called RFK Jr. a predator in a letter she sent to senators asking them not to confirm him for the HHS job.

Schlossberg, whose father is Jewish, continued to comment on the hearing, calling RFK. Jr. an antisemite while sharing a video during the hearing where the HHS hopeful denied saying that COVID-19 was intentionally designed to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

RFKJR is an Antisemite https://t.co/YUpZFcZS77  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After RFK Jr. denied to Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D) that he had ever suggested pesticide exposure can make children transgender, Schlossberg referred to his estranged relative as an untruthful pile of dung (though thats a slight paraphrase).

On his podcast in 2022, RFK Jr. posited that there might be a link between endocrine disruptors, which are often found in pesticides, and sexual confusion, gender confusion among children.

LYING SACK OF SHIT GO BENNET GO GO GO https://t.co/hy1lM4TiXK  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Schlossberg got more explicit in his insults, calling his cousin a fucking liar after the HHS candidate claimed he is not anti-vaccine or anti-industry.

He also commented on an exchange with Bennet where RFK Jr., admitted he probably did say that Lyme disease was a militarily engineered bioweapon and also accused his cousin of saying outrageous things just to get people into your cult.

But its like why did you say that ? So you could convince people youre this guru shaman figure and get them into your cult.



GUILTY https://t.co/FoAWHjhZle  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Schlossberg also wasnt impressed by RFK Jr. backtracking on previous statements about abortion.

LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS by someone who cannot tell the truth https://t.co/uWVBeoFftk  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Schlossberg got personal when he posted a clip where RFK Jr. mentioned that his wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines, was in attendance and referred to her as a B list actress.

B list actress ? Okay but what about HATING JEWS AND SAYING JEWS MADE COVID https://t.co/5BrHRr0eIg  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Schlossberg mocked RFK Jr.s promise not to take away hamburgers from Americans, by noting, So then literally what the fuck do we need you for?

So then literally what the fuck do we need you for ? https://t.co/iJUVSGHZ84  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

The thread took a weird detour when he posted a video of Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.s running mate during his brief presidential run, and talked about how hot she was, and how senators wouldnt take her seriously.

Shes literally so hot who knew



Cannot imagine a senator being intimated by this bird https://t.co/dVDTuMQAvm  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Schlossberg then went back to calling out a statement RFK Jr. made during the hearing claiming there was no connection between his anti-vaccine misinformation and a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa.

Thats not what causation requires you enjoy lying its easier than telling the truth https://t.co/aVtQVGhP3S  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schlossberg then went all caps and accused RFK Jr. of supporting massive tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of food assistance for the poor.

A FACADE FOR RIPPING FOOD ASSISTANCE AWAY FROM SCHOOL TO FUND TAX CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES https://t.co/iJUVSGHZ84  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Schlossberg also noted that RFK Jr. seems poised to place restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, saying that Trump has directed him to study its safety. Major medical groups have asserted that the drug is safe.

So thats = a way to outlaw abortion btw for MILLIONS of peoples bc you study it and then that triggers some review which allows them to have JUNIOR outlaw abortion https://t.co/N5FVB1BmI1  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 29, 2025

Related...
After nearly 18 years with CNN, Jim Acosta officially signed off from the network with a message directed at viewers and a certain audience of one: It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant.

Acosta, who announced his departure at the close of his Tuesday morning show, had been expected to leave the network within weeks, according to CNNs chief media analyst Brian Stelter.

Instead, the anchor cut the cord sooner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People often ask me if the highlight of my career at CNN was at the White House covering Donald Trump, Acosta observed in his final remarks. Actually, no. That moment came . . . when I covered former President Barack Obama's trip to Cuba in 2016 and had the chance to question the dictator there, Raul Castro, about the island's political prisoners.

As the son of a Cuban refugee. I took home this lesson: It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant. I have always believed it's the job of the press to hold power to account. I've always tried to do that here at CNN, and I plan on doing all of that in the future.

Acosta advised his audience, Dont give in to the lies. Dont give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth and to hope. Even if you have to get out your phone, record that message. I will not give in to the lies. I will not give in to the fear.

Acostas decampment confirms his former colleague Oliver Darcys Monday report in Status News that the journalist declined to go along with CNN chief executive Mark Thompsons determination to move him from daytime to midnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This drastic shift was pitched as part of a broader reconfiguration of CNN's lineup, which also bumps The Situation Room host Wolf Blitzer out of his long-held evening berth into Acostas former slot where he's set to co-anchor with Pamela Brown starting in March.

As Darcy observed in an earlier Status scoop, insiders view Thompsons move as an appeasement offering to the returning president. Acosta regularly aggravated Trump during his first administration when he served as CNN's chief White House correspondent.

In a statement provided to Salon, a CNN spokesperson hailed Acostas track record of standing up to authority, for the First Amendment and for our journalistic freedoms.

We want to thank him for the dedication and commitment hes brought to his reporting and wish him the very best in the future, the statement added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In November 2018, Acosta questioned the presidents description of a migrant caravan moving toward the Mexico-U.S. border as an "invasion." After Acosta refused to let a White House intern take away the microphone while he asked a follow-up question, the White House revoked his press pass. A judge ordered the administration to reinstate Acosta's pass after CNN filed a lawsuit joined by other news organizations, and his access was restored less than two weeks later.

On Tuesday Trump posted this response to the news on Truth Social: Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up.

Acosta spared no time in establishing his next act, unveiling The Jim Acosta Show on Substack. He is the latest cable news personality to embrace a digital platform following a high profile exit, following in the wake of his former CNN colleague Don Lemon, former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Per a CNN spokesperson, Brown will assume Acostas 10 a.m. timeslot, expanding her anchor duties to two hours on weekdays until CNNs new lineup launches this spring.
Jim Acosta hit back at Donald Trump after the president went on an insult-filled tirade about the journalist amid reports he was leaving CNN.

Trump had posted on Truth Social Tuesday celebrating reports that the anchor intended to quit his job after he was pushed to move from a 10 a.m. Eastern time slot to a midnight shift amid a shake-up of the networks schedule.

Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, Death Valley, because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!), Trump wrote. Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Acosta shared on X (formerly Twitter) a screen grab of Trumps post, and threw in his own take on a favorite term coined by Trump and his supporters.

Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome, Acosta wrote.

Trumps backers often claim his opponents suffer from TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome, to suggest that Trumps critics are obsessed with him to the extent that they are irrationally negative toward him.

Acosta formally announced on air Tuesday morning that he had decided to move on from CNN after nearly 18 years there.

Dont give in to the lies. Dont give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth  and to hope, he said in his final message to viewers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ha later announced on social media that he was going independent, at least for now, via Substack.

He was routinely critical of Trump on CNN and had his White House press credentials temporarily suspended in 2018 after clashing with the president.
Authorities in Somalias Puntland region have implemented on January 28 a ban on the illegal entry of foreigners and ordered telecom companies to deactivate SIM cards linked to undocumented individuals and Islamic State (IS) terrorists.

These measures aim to disrupt ISs financial networks as the military intensifies its offensive against IS fighters in the region. Recent military operations have targeted IS hideouts in the Alimiskaad and Al-Madow mountains in Puntlands Bari region, where security forces have seized camps and pushed fighters deeper into the mountains.

In addition to military action, Puntland authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented people in the region, resulting in over 300 arrests. The Ministry of the Interior has also issued a directive prohibiting the sale of SIM cards to undocumented individuals and barring them from opening financial accounts without proper identification. Abdirahman Yusuf Farah, a former Puntland intelligence chief, reassured the public that security forces would respect the rights of those who enter the region legally.

The International Crisis Groups December report highlighted that the Islamic States Somalia branch is becoming a key player in financing terrorism across Africa, extorting civilians and businesses to fund operations. Senior researcher Omar Mahmood warned that Puntland is crucial in blocking the groups access to international banking systems and telecom networks to halt their financial operations. Despite being relatively peaceful compared to southern Somalia, Puntlands rising concerns over the Islamic States growing influence, largely fuelled by foreign fighters, have prompted calls for international military and financial support.
Jim Acosta may no longer grace President Donald Trumps TV screens, but he still knows how to get under his skin.

The now-former CNN anchor responded to Trumps Truth Social post on Tuesday heralding Acostas departure from the network. Acosta announced on Tuesday he would leave CNN following an 18-year run, just days after the network sought to bump him to a midnight time slot.

He later announced on Tuesday he would start The Jim Acosta Show on Substack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome Acosta wrote over a screenshot of Trumps original post.

The president celebrated Acostas departure on his social media platform on Tuesday morning, writing: Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has delegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour.

Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better, Trump wrote. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!

Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome. pic.twitter.com/nLWfFodirB  Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 28, 2025

Acosta ended his final show on Tuesday with a plea for Americans not to give in to the lies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dont give in to the fear, he said on CNN. Hold on to the truth and to hope. Even if you have to get out your phone, record that message. I will not give in to the lies. I will not give in to the fear. Post it on your social media so people can hear from you too.

The twos sparring became a consistent thread throughout Trumps first term, culminating in Trump temporarily revoking Acostas permanent press credentials.

Still, Trump and his aides repeatedly engaged in the back-and-forth with the reporter.

Jim Acosta Is the White Houses Favorite Reporter, read the headline of 2017 Politico magazine profile on Acosta.
Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump - Credit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel dampened claims by President Donald Trump that the U.S. military entered California to release a large amount of water from the northern part of the state to fight the Los Angeles fires.

In a Monday post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.

More from Rolling Stone

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The days of putting a Fake Environmental Argument, over PEOPLE, are over, he declared. Enjoy the water, California!!!

The following day, Kimmel called out Trump over this false claims. Do you think he actually believes this happened? Kimmel pondered during his monologue. Or does he think were so dumb, we believe it happened? Its incredible. The minute I saw the post, I said  I ran to my sink, I turned it on. Water came just gushing out. I let it spray. I danced around like I was Shakira or something.

Whether or not the U.S. military entered California and turned the water on is not a matter of debate, he said. This is not liberal versus conservative. It didnt happen, OK? But no one calls him on it.

Trump visited California on Friday and continued to falsely insist that Governor Gavin Newsom and other state officials refused to supply Southern California with water from up north amid the fires.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Soon after Trumps post, the California Department of Water Resources denied his claim: The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.

On Sunday, Trump ordered the federal government to override the states water resource policies to deliver more water and hydropower to the Los Angeles region. According to Reuters, a spokesperson for Newsom said that the presidents directive would not have made a difference in Californias battle against the fires as the state receives a majority of its water from other sources and does not have a shortage.

Hydrants in Los Angeles county ran dry as the water system in some areas did not have the ability to deliver large amounts of water over several hours, Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power told the Los Angeles Times. Firefighters also said that rescue efforts were hindered by low water pressure.

Trump is either unaware of how water is stored in California or is deliberately misleading the public, said the governors spokesperson Tara Gallegos. There is no imaginary spigot to magically make water appear at a wildfire, despite what Trump claims.

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  A special meeting was held Tuesday night in Johnston to discuss if the town should use eminent domain to seize property slated to become affordable housing.

Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. said he instead wants to convert the 31-acre property on George Waterman Road into a new public safety complex and town hall.

Its right off the main road, it has sewers and water, he said prior to Tuesdays meeting. I think it would be a tremendous value to the town to put it over there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polisena said building a new public safety complex has been a goal of his mayoral administration for the last few years since the current police and fire departments and the town hall no longer suit the towns needs.

The move could also block roughly 250 affordable housing units from being built on the property, something town leaders pushed back on in December.

I would not feel bad for those developers, Polisena said. Theyre wealthy developers. Its not like were taking this from a sole middle class landowner.

MORE: Johnston mayor blocks housing project in favor of new public safety complex

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polisena said the town would pay for the $40 million public safety complex using cash reserves and funding streams from the police and fire departments. But he also said the town no longer plans to build a new high school.

Were not doing the $125 million new high school, he said. Were just going back to the original plan of renovation.

Johnston is one of a few Rhode Island communities pushing back against new state laws that put limits on zoning regulations, including one that requires communities to have 10% of their properties be affordable. According to RI Housing, Johnston is at nearly 8%.

I am all for building housing, Polisena added, but when we say housing, I mean in the sense of single-family homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dozens of housing advocates protested Polisenas proposal outside of Johnston Municipal Court after being refused entry due to capacity concerns.

Kelly Morris Salvatore, the attorney representing the housing complexs developer, previously told 12 News they were given no notice of Polisenas plan.

But a representative for the engineering firm selected to carry out Polisenas public safety complex proposal said they were contacted by the city solicitor six weeks ago and have been working on it ever since.

The Johnston Town Council voted in favor of Polisenas proposal Tuesday night.

The next step, according to the town solicitor, is to conduct a title search and appraisal before asking the councilors to request final approval. That process could happen in a matter of weeks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
Jon Stewart is warning Democrats and other critics of Donald Trump against overusing their claims of authoritarianism after the president's first week in office, which included a slew of executive orders undoing former President Joe Biden's work and even contesting the 14th Amendment.

During Monday's episode of "The Daily Show," Stewart returned to his weekly post to decipher the barrage of executive orders and firings that have jumpstarted the Trump administration. In response to liberal pundits insisting that the firings were a "purge," Stewart pulled out a foam axe from under his desk to reference the dystopian slasher franchise.

"The purge!" Stewart screamed, "Ah! Trump has ushered in the purge . . . Although, just in case Im misinterpreting, what is this purge about, exactly?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Various news clips of liberal pundits clarified that Trump had fired 17 inspector generals, whose roles are to act as governmental agency watchdogs. A CNN anchor shared that the president can remove inspector generals; however, Stewart pointed out that the only thing Trump technically failed to do was provide 30 days' notice and a detailed list of his reasons for firing the officials.

"That is what we are upset about?" Stewart said. "But this is the cycle we find ourselves in. First law of Trump-o-dynamics: Every action is met with a very not-equal overreaction, thus throwing off our ability to know when s**t is actually getting reallike last weeks pardons."

Moreover, liberal mainstream media personalities took to television to express their outrage over the pardons and executive orders, which they called "egregious," "un-American," and "an authoritarian takeover."

While Stewart acknowledged the damage Trumps pardons and orders will do, he said, That is his constitutional power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For some reason, we have given presidents the power of a king, and then we say, Well, youre not going to get all kingly and s**t on us, right? To put that in constitutional terms, if I coulddont hate the player, hate the Founding Fathers, Stewart said. Because I dont know if youve met Donald Trumphe pushes s**t."

"The Daily Show" also highlighted Trump's executive order to dismantle birthright citizenship, which is the basis of the 14th Amendment and essentially grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized" in the U.S. However, Trump's order, titled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, attempts to deny citizenship to children born to undocumented parents or lawful permanent and temporary residents at the time of birth.

Stewart agreed that the executive action on birthright citizenship was Trump's attempt at authoritarianism because the U.S. Constitution is clear in its acceptance of all persons, regardless of race and gender. He also noted that Trump's actions were blocked by a federal judge last week. Currently, the birthright order has been halted by a temporary restraining order for at least 14 days. Vox reported it is likely the judge will follow up with a more lasting order.

"Look, we are facing a deluge of these executive actions, and certainly we must prepare for those most vulnerable to the consequences of these actions. But the this is all fascist argument has become almost a reflex for the left, he continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have a lot of fear that as this term goes on, things are going to get a little fascisty. And we must be vigilant. But part of vigilance is discernment, Stewart explained.

"The question is probably not, How dare he? The question should be, What are you learning from this? How would you use this power? What is your contract with America? Democrats, exist outside of him," Stewart said. "Tell people what you would do with the power that Trump is wielding, and then convince us to give that power to you as soon as possible!"

Watch here:
Nearly 30 years since the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey, her father said he has great hope that police are on the right track to finally solve her killing.

JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old child beauty queen, was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her familys Boulder, Colorado, home in December 1996.

Her murder dominated headlines and transfixed the public, but for decades has remained unsolved. The case saw her parents and brother cast under a cloud of suspicion until prosecutors apologized to them in a letter in 2008 and said they were not considered suspects. Authorities found male DNA on the childs body that did not belong to her family, which pointed an unknown outsider.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Ramsey, JonBenets father, 81, said he hasnt given up on solving her case.

He met with the new Boulder police chief on Monday and said it was the first time in 28 years that he felt the case was in good hands.

They were just open to sincerely discuss the case. Im just very impressed with the caliber of the leadership now and that gave me great hope, he told NBCs Stephanie Gosk.

John and Patricia Ramsey in 1996.

Speaking on the male DNA that was previously withheld from the district attorney's office in the case, he said: They kept that result secret from the D.A., certainly from us. The problem that police had is itd conflict with their conclusion the family were the killers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DNA was a focus of the Netflix documentary "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey" released late last year, which criticized Boulder police.

Our family reputation has been damaged quite severely by the police. The only way it will be mostly restored is if there is a killer caught, John Ramsey said. JonBenets mother, Patsy, died of cancer at age 49 in 2006.

In response to the documentary, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn acknowledged the investigation could have been better handled all those years ago and said the case is far from closed.

Our goal is to find JonBenet Ramseys killer. Our commitment to that has never wavered, Redfearn said in a video message at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ramsey is hopeful that forensic genetic genealogy, which has helped solve other cold cases, will lead to a break.

Thats how its going to get solved, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
JOPLIN, Mo.  The Joplin Fire Department has a new, life-saving resource for infant children.

A dedication ceremony and blessing took place today for the citys first Safe Haven Baby Box. Its located at Fire Station Seven and was put into service at noon.

The box offers a secure and compassionate option for area parents in crisis.

Missouris Safe Place for Newborns law allows a parent to permanently give up a newborn up to 45 days old without prosecution, as long as it is done according to the law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Safe Haven officials say their mission is to end infant abandonment, ensuring every child has a chance for a safe and loving future.

All a mom or a dad has to do is walk up to the baby box, open up the door, place their unharmed infant inside, shut the door and walk away. Then the fire department will step in and take care of the baby and transport the baby to the hospital, said Mariah Betez, Safe Haven Baby Boxes Assist. Project Coordinator.

I cant imagine what a parent goes through to make that decision, that the best choice for my child is to give them up for adoption. So, having this resource here is incredible, I mean, it truly is awesome to have this, said Gerald Ezell, Joplin Fire Chief.

This is the fourth Safe Haven Baby Box to be installed in the state of Missouri.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carthage also received its first Safe Haven Box late this afternoon at Fire Station Two.

There are now 312 box locations across the country.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -The joy of thousands of Palestinian families who made it back home in north Gaza after a ceasefire with Israel is turning to despair as the cold reality of uninhabitable, bombed-out homes and dire shortages of basic supplies sets in.

Many have begun complaining about a lack of running water that forces them to queue for hours to fill plastic containers for drinking or cleaning. With most homes now heaps of rubble as far as the eye can see, returnees have scoured whatever useful items remain from their property to erect makeshift tents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At night, residential districts laid to waste by Israeli airstrikes and shelling sink into darkness for lack of electricity or fuel to operate standby generators.

"There is nothing, no life, no water, no food, no drink, nothing for living. Life is very, very hard. There is no Jabalia camp," Hisham El-Err said on Wednesday, standing by the ruins of his multi-storey house in the biggest and mostly densely populated of the Gaza Strip's eight historic refugee camps.

His extended family is now huddling in tents, which offer scant protection from Gaza's mid-winter chill.

By late on Tuesday, Gaza's Hamas authorities said most of the 650,000 people displaced from the north by the war had re-entered Gaza City and the north edge of the enclave from areas to the south where fighting was less intense and destructive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many of those returning, often laden with what personal possessions they still had after months of being shunted around as battlegrounds shifted, had trekked 20 km (12 miles) or more along the coastal highway.

Fahad Abu Jalhoum returned with his family to Jabalia from the Al Mawasi area in south Gaza but the destruction they found was so pervasive they had been forced to go back south.

"It's just ghosts without souls (in the north)," Abu Jalhoum told Reuters back in Al Mawasi. "We all missed the north but when I went there I was shocked. So I returned to (the south) until we get relief from God."

HAMAS, ISRAEL SPAR OVER PACE OF AID DELIVERIES

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity said smaller amounts of fuel, cooking gas and tents had been brought into Gaza than what had been agreed in ceasefire negotiations, which Israel strongly denied.

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office put the initial need of tents at 135,000, but the Hamas official said only around 2,000 had got in since the deal took effect on Jan. 19.

He also said work to rehabilitate hospitals and bakeries knocked out by the fighting had not begun and urged mediators to ensure more aid flows in, adding that dissatisfaction among militant groups could affect the truce.

A spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli defence agency that liaises with the Palestinians, said that tens of thousands of tents have entered Gaza since the ceasefire and that gas and fuel are being delivered daily and in keeping with agreements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the deal, 33 hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza are to be freed in the first six weeks of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of them serving life sentences in Israel.

Seven hostages and 290 prisoners have so far been exchanged. Three more hostages are to be swapped for tens of Palestinian detainees on Thursday, according to Hamas and the smaller allied Islamic Jihad group.

Israel has received the list of hostages to be freed on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. It gave no further detail but authorities have previously said they would include two women, one of whom is a soldier, and one man.

Five Thai hostages may also be freed on Thursday, Israel's Channel 12 reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second stage of the deal, due to begin by Feb. 4, is meant to open the way to the release of over 60 other hostages, including men of military age, and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.

If that succeeds, a formal end to the war could follow along with talks on the monumental challenge of reconstructing Gaza, now widely demolished by an Israeli onslaught that killed almost 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led cross-border attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and saw more than 250 taken hostage.

In Jabalia, Khamis Amara returned to the ruins of his house to dig for the bodies of his father and brother, among the roughly 10,000 people missing and feared dead in Gaza, according to the local civil emergency service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I was once under the rubble with my father and brother, just as they still are. But I made it out," Amara said.

"Life here is unbearable. Honestly, it's all a lie. Those in the south should just stay there - it's better for them.

(Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; additional reporting by Dawoud Abu Alkas in Gaza and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; editing by Mark Heinrich)
The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has announced on January 28 the projected resource envelope for the 2025/2026 financial year, which is set at 57.441 trillion Ugandan shillings. This represents a significant reduction from the 72.137 trillion allocated for the current 2024/2025 financial year. The decrease is attributed to one-off expenditures, including strategic investments by the Bank of Uganda and other government initiatives, which will not be repeated in the upcoming financial year.

State Minister for Finance in charge of General Duties, Henry Musasizi, explained that the reduction aligns with the governments fiscal consolidation strategy, focusing on improving domestic revenue mobilisation and ensuring greater efficiency in public spending. Minister Musasizi made these remarks after the Budget Committee of Parliament sought clarification on the resource envelope and its fiscal implications. He, along with other officials from the Ministry of Finance, presented the National Budget Framework Paper for 2025/2026 to 2029/2030 to the committee.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan has partially blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an order halting the distribution of billions  potentially trillions  in federal funds and grant money to government programs.

AliKhan ordered the administration to maintain the status quo until Feb. 3 in regard to the continued funding of open awards, but would allow the government to cut funds to new programs or expired ones. The judge also scheduled a hearing on Monday to further review the possibility of granting an temporary restraining order against the directives enforcement.

The emergency decision came after President Donald Trump directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to halt funding distributions for virtually all federal financial assistance, with limited  and incredibly vague  exemptions for programs giving direct assistance to individuals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rollout of the short-notice directive caused chaos throughout the country. State Medicaid agencies reported outages in reimbursement portals, and assistance programs like Head Start reported subsidiary agencies being cut off from their funding sources.

On Tuesday, a coalition of nonprofits and health groups filed a request for an emergency order to block the implementation of the action. Arguing that Trump and the OMBs order was devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale, and that it fails to articulate why the review of existing grant programs that it envisions requires an immediate cessation of all grant programs, notwithstanding the immense disruption that will cause, and why that review could not simply be conducted while existing obligations and disbursements continue as normal.

A separate lawsuit was filed by a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in opposition to the order, who argued that the Trump Administration is recklessly disregarding the health, wellbeing and public safety of the people it is supposed to serve.

Judge AliKhans order isnt even the first time a federal judge has halted one of Trumps orders, barely a week into his presidency. Last week, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour halted the presidents bid to end birthright citizenship, calling the order blatantly unconstitutional.

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.
Jan. 29A trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court for one of two men charged in connection with the shooting death of Asiah Slone in Middletown last summer.

But during a final hearing Tuesday, Brandon Davis said his constitution rights were being violated and continued to maintain his innocence in a loud statement after Judge Kelly Heile denied a motion to dismiss the charges.

Davis, 45, was indicted by a Butler County grand jury on Sept. 12 for aggravated murder with additional specifications of a repeat violent offender and use of a gun in the crime. Also included in the indictment is having weapons under disability, kidnapping and lesser included charges of murder, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors allege Davis is complicit in the slaying of Slone, whose remains were found July 1 in a trash can on Centennial Street by women searching for her. She had been missing since June.

Heile said she would not grant the defense motion to dismiss charges against Davis stating "trial is for the purpose of determining if the state of Ohio has sufficient evidence to find you guilty."

The judge also ruled against a defense motion to reduce bond so that Davis an assist with preparation of his defense. Heile said if there are any issues with defense attorney Brad Kraemer having access in the jail to his client to contact the court or the prosecutor's office.

Davis has been housed in the Butler County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He did not waive his speedy trial rights and the trial was scheduled to begin in November. But Davis' attorney filed a motion for continuance, stating more time was needed to "adequately prepare and prep."

Retire Judge Noah Powers II granted that motion and moved the trial was rescheduled for Feb 3.

Davis said Tuesday the trial continuation was done without his consent. Heile told him it was not required.

"This man (co-defendant) is trying to save his own self over something I didn't do ... that's unjust," Davis said before being escorted from the courtroom. "If I was white, I would have been out of here."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perry Hart, 58, was arrested on Aug. 20 on an aggravated murder charge in connection with Slone's death and indicted by a grand jury a week later for aggravated murder with a gun specification and a repeat violent offender specification; kidnapping; murder; and two counts of having weapons under disability.

Bond for Hart was set at $1.5 million by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr. He is scheduled to be back in court Feb. 19 for a pre-trial hearing. A trial date has not been set for Hart.

Prosecutors say both men shot Slone.

Slone, 35, who had been reported missing in June, was identified by the Butler County Coroner's Office through DNA testing two days after Hart's arrest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to court documents obtained by the Journal News, Middletown police say "Brandon Lee Davis on or about (June 15) shot her (Slone) and then ordered another subject identified as Perry (Hart) to finish her off."

Police say Davis supplied the firearm to Hart and he used it to shoot Slone in the head a second time, according to court documents.

Gmoser told the Journal-News they believe Hart moved Slone while she was still alive.
A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by Arizona lawmakers challenging former President Joe Bidens designation of a national monument near the Grand Canyon.

The dismissal of a case brought by legislative Republicans and backed by Mohave County shifts attention to Washington, where many on both sides of the issue expect that President Donald Trump may shrink or rescind the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. At issue is the prospect of renewed uranium prospecting in the region northwest of Flagstaff and south of Kanab, Utah.

We are reviewing this ruling and will likely file an appeal, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said in a written response to questions. We are confident this unconstitutional land grab will be reversed, either by the courts or by the Trump Administration.

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen speaks during a rally for vice presidential nominee JD Vance at Arizona Christian University on July 31, 2024.

Trump has a history of downsizing national monuments created by Democratic predecessors, having done so in his first term to the Clinton-designated Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Obama-designated Bears Ears national monuments, both in southern Utah. Biden restored protections in both cases after defeating Trump in 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Environmental and tribal groups lauded the decision and said theyll guard against further efforts to undo the land protections. Polling recently released by the Grand Canyon Trust indicated that a substantial majority of Arizonans, including Republicans, favor the monument.

The public supports this iconic monument and the wisdom of the Tribes who proposed and fought for it, Center for Biological Diversity Southwest Director Taylor McKinnon said in an email. Any further attacks from uranium industry surrogates or opponents of public lands will be wildly unpopular and meet fierce resistance.

The Native American Rights Fund released a statement saying that tribes including its clients, the Havasupai and Hopi, celebrated the courts decision, which maintains protections for a culturally significant region that was taken away from Tribal Nations.

Lawmakers are joined by county, rancher

Petersen and then-House Speaker Ben Toma filed the suit against the Biden administration to undo the roughly 1 million-acre monument designation on federal lands north and south of Grand Canyon. They, along with Treasurer Kimberly Yee, Mohave County and the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia, argued that the monument harmed the state and local governments by restricting potential uranium mining revenues and complicating state efforts to develop State Trust Lands in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A rancher also joined the case, arguing that the new land protections could jeopardize normal ranch operations such as pond maintenance or tree removals on leased lands.

Senior Judge Stephen McNamee of the U.S. District Court of Arizona on Monday ruled that none of the plaintiffs have standing to sue, as only the states executive branch can sue on behalf of the State Land Department. In ruling against the ranchers claim, he added that the monument designation specifically authorized the continued leasing of grazing rights on the land.

The governor and attorney general, both Democrats, had declined to join the lawsuit and said the lawmakers overstepped their authority.

Biden traveled to Red Butte, some 10 miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, to announce the new monument in the summer of 2023. The protections he imposed through his powers under the Antiquities Act were meant to honor numerous tribes links to the area and to make permanent a 20-year moratorium against uranium mining that the Obama administration had imposed on roughly the same lands in 2012.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At that ceremony, 6 miles from a uranium mine approved previously and not subject to the new protections, Havasupai officials rejoiced. Their reservation, at the edge of Grand Canyon, includes springs they fear may become contaminated by groundwater flowing from mined areas.

Tribes fear contamination of land, water

Energy Fuels Resources, the company that operates the Pinyon Plain Mine, has said that isnt a risk, while U.S. Geological Survey researchers have said they need more information about groundwater flows.

When the Grand Canyon Trust released its poll findings this month, Havasupai Chairwoman Bernadine Jones said she had heard rumblings of the incoming Trump administrations plans and feared they would include a monument reversal and renewed uranium prospecting. The protected lands are where her ancestors lived in winter before returning to the canyon for summer, she said, and remain sacred.

Coconino County contains the largest share of the new monument, and Patrice Horstman, vice-chair of the Board of Supervisors, said it strongly supports the monument. The county and its population base in Flagstaff rely on tourism and outdoor recreation, she said. This monument is an asset to our economy and it protects our lands and waters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Energy Fuels, the uranium miner, was not a party to the lawsuit but did criticize Bidens action in 2023 as counter to another of its stated goals: producing carbon-free energy.

On Wednesday, company spokesman Curtis Moore said Energy Fuels supports protecting public lands where appropriate but that monument designations with seemingly arbitrary boundaries that expand and shrink and expand once again depending on who is president, make it difficult for companies to plan investments or for agencies to manage the land.

The uranium mining we perform is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle for zero-emission baseload energy that appears to be the resource of choice to support growing energy needs, including the staggering amount of energy expected to be needed for data centers, AI, and other technologies, Moore said. Resource development takes investment and long-term planning, so we are directly impacted by constant changes.

Mohave County contains about 350,000 acres of the monument and had argued that Biden overreached in designating the monument, possibly costing the county jobs and tax revenues from mine development. County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter said a judges ruling that plaintiffs lack standing is the most political way for a judge to avoid taking on an issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plaintiffs are reviewing their options, Lingenfelter said.

The goal has always been to get this issue concerning abuse of the Antiquities Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for their review, he said, so I would not rule out seeing this appealed by the Arizona Legislature, Mohave County, and affected northern Arizona communities.

Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sign up for AZ Climate, our weekly environment newsletter, and follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge rejects challenge to national monument near Grand Canyon
Former New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday by a federal judge.

The sentence, handed down in a Manhattan courtroom by the U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein, would make Menendez one of just a few senators in history to be sent to prison.

Stein said the lengthy sentence was meant to deter other politicians from wrongdoing.

Before he was sentenced, Menendez, 71, and his attorney were chastened, contrite and asked for mercy  arguing hed already been punished, having lost public office and being subjected to widespread mockery as Gold Bar Bob because of the illicit gold bars and cash prosecutors say he accepted as bribery payments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about, a tearful Menendez told Stein. Present in the courtroom were his two adult children, including his son, Rep. Rob Menendez.

The judge, however, said Menendez had succumbed to greed and hubris, going from someone who had stood up to corruption in New Jersey politics early in his career to someone who now himself was corrupt.

Somewhere along the way, I dont know where, you lost your way, Stein told the former senator.

Then outside the courtroom, Menendez had a different tone entirely. In a speech in front of the courthouse, he blasted prosecutors from the Southern District of New York , calling the charges and evidence used against him outrageous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The remarkable attack on the prosecutors may be a play for a pardon from President Donald Trump, similar to the approach New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears to be taking as he also fights charges against him in the Southern District.

A jury last summer found Menendez guilty of bribery, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, obstruction of justice, extortion and conspiring to commit those crimes along with a pair of businesspeople  who were also sentenced on Wednesday during separate hearings.

One of them, Fred Daibes, a major developer who is credited with building up the city of Edgewater, N.J., was sentenced to seven years in prison after he tearfully pleaded for mercy. During his sentencing, a courtroom full of friends and family wept along with him as he described his rags-to-riches story, which began in a refugee camp in Lebanon, and what would happen if he was separated from his 30-year-old autistic son.

Another, Egyptian-American businessperson Wael Will Hana, took a totally different approach. He was sentenced to eight years in prison after an audacious and stunning speech to Stein where Hana questioned the fairness of the American justice system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hana said he was let down by the court and said his conviction was part of a terrible injustice.

I am an innocent man, Hana said.

Hana was found guilty of bribing Menendez and his wife. In exchange, Menendez cozied up to Egyptian officials who Hana knew  to the extent that Menendez is now the first elected official ever convicted of acting as the agent of a foreign government.

Federal prosecutors in New York announced the bombshell indictment against Menendez in fall 2023, describing a yearslong bribery scheme involving Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez and a trio of New Jersey businesspeople. That followed on the tails of Menendezs brush with federal corruption on unrelated corruption charges that ended in a 2017 mistrial but prompted an admonishment from fellow senators in 2018 .

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Paul Monteleoni, one of the prosecutors, touched on the history and requested a 15-year sentence for Menendez.

After Menendez had talked about good work hed done throughout 50 years in public office, starting in local New Jersey politics, Monteleoni conceded Menendez may have done good things in his career, but he believed the power he wielded belonged to him and no amount of other good work justified liquidating his office to businessmen stuffing his pockets.

Stein repeatedly said the 11-year sentence for Menendez was meant to deter other public officials from wrongdoing.

Menendez, Daibes and Hana are planning vigorous appeals of the verdicts, which means the cases are far from over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All three men dont have to report to prison immediately and each is seeking to stay out of prison as they appeal their convictions, a process that could take years.

Nadine is expected to be tried in March for her alleged role in the schemes, though the trial has been repeatedly delayed because of her health issues.

The third business person involved in the schemes, Jose Uribe, made a plea deal and testified against Menendez. Uribe is expected to be sentenced later this year.

Stein said Menendez should be allowed to remain out of prison until early June so he can sit through Nadines trial.

Menendezs appeal is likely to focus on rulings Stein made during the trial about the Constitutions speech or debate clause that provides a form of immunity to members of Congress. Menendez objected to some of the evidence that prosecutors were allowed to share with jurors. Then, after the trial, prosecutors admitted even some evidence the judge ruled should not be shown to jurors was provided to jurors on a laptop they had access to during their deliberations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stein previously rejected defense attorneys attempts to toss out the jurys verdict because of the laptop issue, but higher courts might see things a different way.

Jonathan Kravis, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson, said in an interview that the laptop and related speech or debate issues could interest the Supreme Court.

If I were picking out the issues here, Id say the speech or debate clause is a good candidate, he said.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt  crimes his lawyer said hes been mocked for as Gold Bar Bob.

The judge delivered the sentence after Menendez tearfully addressed the court, saying hed lost everything he cared about, except his family. The Democrat resigned last year after becoming one of only a handful of U.S. senators ever convicted while in office.

You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system, U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein told Menendez in a packed Manhattan courtroom. Somewhere along the way, and I dont know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ex-senator was convicted of selling his once-considerable clout for bribes worth a fortune. FBI agents who searched his house found $480,000, some of it stuffed inside boots and pockets of clothing, and gold bars worth an estimated $150,000.

Prosecutors said that in exchange for the loot, which also included a luxury car, Menendez did corrupt favors for three New Jersey businessmen. They said he tried to protect associates from criminal investigations, helped two of them in business deals with foreign powers, and also met with Egyptian intelligence officials and took steps to help that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Whats been the result?" Stein said. "You lost your senate seat. You lost your chairmanship and you lost your good name.

Menendez, 71, portrayed himself to the judge as a sympathetic figure, stressing his decades of public service and declaring that he was chastened by the experience. Afterward, talking to reporters with TV cameras and microphones outside, he turned defiant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am innocent," he proclaimed, vowing to appeal.

Menendez, who beat a prosecution in another corruption case a decade ago, aligned himself with President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of the judicial system, particularly in New York City.

This process is political and its corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system, Menendez said, reading from a sheet of paper.

The judge ordered him to report to prison June 6.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said that despite Menendezs accomplishments, he will be remembered for putting his own interests and financial gain ahead of the public interest. Menendezs successor, Democratic U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, said the sentencing is a reminder that nobody should be above the law, no matter your title or the power you hold."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two of the men convicted of bribing Menendez also got substantial prison terms Wednesday. The judge sentenced real estate developer Fred Daibes to seven years in prison. Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, was sentenced to eight years.

Daibes, 67, tearfully told Stein his conviction had left him borderline suicidal." Hana professed that he was innocent.

A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez at a trial last year. Menendez' wife, Nadine, faces a March trial on many of the same charges.

A dozen U.S. senators have been indicted while in office, but only four before Menendez were convicted and had those convictions stand up on appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez resigned last August, a month after his conviction, but hed been sapped of his power by then. After he was charged in 2023, he was forced to surrender his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His trial traced his dealings with Egyptian officials and his quest to aid three men who showered him with lucrative gifts found during a 2022 raid on his home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni said Menendez committed a truly grave breach of the trust by serving Egypts interests as he worked to protect a meat certification monopoly Hana had established with the Egyptian government.

His time in the Senate was a privilege. It should have been its own reward  or would have been if he wasnt corrupt, Monteleoni said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among other things, Menendez provided Egyptian officials with information about U.S. Embassy staff in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter to senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt.

For other bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez attempted to persuade a federal prosecutor in New Jersey to go easy on Daibes, a politically influential real estate developer accused of bank fraud.

Businessman Jose Uribe testified that he helped Nadine Menendez get a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator sought to pressure state prosecutors to drop criminal probes of his associates.

Menendez has insisted that his interactions with Egyptian officials were normal for the head of the Foreign Relations Committee and that he always put American interests first. He denied taking any bribes and said the gold bars belonged to his wife.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions, Menendez told the judge. Ive done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.

Stein said he took Menendezs public service, age and health into consideration when deciding his punishment, which could have been as much as 24 to 30 years in prison under sentencing guidelines.

Menendez's lawyers described how the son of Cuban immigrants emerged from poverty and the trauma of his father's suicide when he was 23 to become the epitome of the American Dream  rising from mayor of Union City, New Jersey, to decades in Congress  before his conviction rendered him a national punchline.

Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob, defense lawyer Adam Fee told the judge.
A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trumps plan to freeze federal aid minutes before it was set to go into effect late Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan said she was granting a brief administrative stay that preserves federal disbursements at least until Monday at 5 p.m. EST after a group of nonprofit and public health organizations filed a lawsuit.

The judge will hold another hearing Monday on whether to grant a longer pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AliKhan, an appointee of former President Biden who was randomly assigned to the case, issued the order at the conclusion of a hastily scheduled video conference Tuesday that began just an hour before the freeze.

Trumps move was announced in a Monday night memo issued by Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It directs federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance while the government conducts a review to ensure spending aligns with Trumps agenda.

The administration defended the plan Tuesday and stressed its limitations, insisting the plan doesnt apply across the board and wont affect Social Security and other direct payments to individuals.

In court filings, the Justice Department emphasized those limitations as reason to deny the nonprofits request for an immediate injunction. The groups hadnt identified any imminent grant disbursements they would miss if Trumps plan takes effect, the government added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daniel Schwei, a Justice Department lawyer representing Trumps administration, opposed any temporary pause but said, if one were inevitable, that it should be as short as possible to ensure Trumps priorities arent delayed. He warned that the stay will likely cause many complicated decisions about what is or isnt subject to the judges order.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Council of Nonprofits; SAGE, a pro-LGBTQ advocacy organization for older adults; the American Public Health Association; and small-business group Main Street Alliance. They are represented by Democracy Forward, a left-leaning legal organization that has frequently battled Trump in the courts.

In their request to the judge, the organizations claimed Trumps plan had no legal authority and that countless people and groups would be thrown into disarray without the courts immediate intervention.

Its not speculative to think theyre going to lose grant money whenever the spigot turns off, Democracy Forward lawyer Jessica Morton said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In court filings, the nonprofits noted that the memo was made public only through journalists reporting and would have a devastating impact on thousands of grant and subgrant recipients.

AliKahn ruled that the stay does not pertain to SAGE, one of the nonprofits, because its funding was terminated prior to the OMB memo, she said.

Separately from the nonprofits lawsuit, a number of Democratic state attorneys general, led by New Yorks Letitia James, announced plans to sue over the freeze later Tuesday.

Updated at 5:35 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.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the White Houses decision to pause federal grants and loans, leaving local nonprofits in uncertainty.

The pause, announced by the Trump administration, was intended to freeze all federal aid, but the intervention by the judge came after North Carolina and 22 other states filed a lawsuit against the move.

There are a lot of calls and emails flying around today, said Tara Peele, CEO of Housing Collaborative, highlighting the confusion among nonprofits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ALSO READ: Nonprofit restaurant in Uptown Charlotte permanently closes without notice

Jessica Lefkowitz, Executive Director of Hearts for the Invisible, expressed concern, stating, All of our social services could directly be impacted by this. Its just not a good state to be in, especially as a service provider.

A memo from the Office of Management and Budget clarified that programs like Medicare and Social Security are exempt from the freeze, but organizations such as Hearts for the Invisible are not. Nonprofits are using the temporary block to seek clarity on how the potential pause might affect their funding and operations.

The judges delay provides a brief respite for nonprofits as they work to understand the implications of the federal aid pause, which could significantly impact their services.

VIDEO: Uptown nonprofit restaurant closes abruptly




















Journalist and social media influencer Yashar Ali referred to a 2021 Los Angeles Magazine profile piece about him as defamatory and accused the publisher and articles author as engaging in journalistic malpractice.

Ali sued the publication in June 2022, alleging defamation and promissory fraud, and asked for a trial, along with general damages, special damages, punitive damages and the cost of the lawsuit.

A Los Angeles County judge granted none of his requests, instead dismissing his lawsuit while sticking him with the defendants lawyers fee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Journalist Yashar Ali files defamation suit against Los Angeles Magazine

Last week, Judge Lynne M. Hobbs ordered Ali to pay $43,525, which includes fees and court costs.

Calls to Alis legal representatives were not returned nor were calls to Los Angeles Magazine or its lawyers.

Ali protested a nearly 6,000-word piece published in June 2021 by journalist Peter Kiefer.

The profile  based on multiple interviews with Ali along with former colleagues, friends and reporters, according to Kiefer  painted an unflattering image of Ali, the plaintiff alleged.

Read more: Journalist Yashar Ali accuses Garcetti advisor Rick Jacobs of sexual misconduct

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the profile, Kiefer referred to Ali as a force to be reckoned with and the scourge of the internet, who took down Sharon Osbourne, hobbled the White House cabinet chances of L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti, canceled food writer Alison Roman, and helped crush Harvey Weinstein.

In 2020, Ali accused top Garcetti advisor Rick Jacobs of forcibly kissing him.

Jacobs previously had been accused of sexual harassment by L.A. Police Officer Matthew Garza. Garcetti said he was unaware of the allegations at the time and Garza eventually settled for $1.2 million in 2023.

Read more: Garcetti advisor made sexually provocative gesture in photo with mayor

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The scandal may have cost Garcetti a position as secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration.

Garcetti eventually became ambassador to India.

Although Kiefer wrote about Ali's influence, he also pointed out Alis alleged record of evictions, loan defaults and tax issues.

Read more: Eric Garcetti finally got the ambassadorship he wanted. Here's how he did it

He also quoted a friend of comedian Kathy Griffin, who referred to Ali as a grifter for overstaying an at least six-month stay at Griffins Bel-Air mansion.

Ali said there were several false and misleading statements in the article, including paragraphs that he said falsely characterized him as careless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He lost thousands of followers in the days after the article but currently has more than 700,000 on X .

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.
Extraordinary Lives

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

Stephan Thernstrom, a prizewinning historian who rose to national attention during the culture wars of the 1990s when he and his wife, political scientist Abigail Thernstrom, joined conservatives in assailing affirmative action and the use of racial preferences, died Jan. 23 at an assisted-living center in Arlington, Virginia. He was 90.

His daughter, Melanie Thernstrom, said he had dementia and had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.

Dr. Thernstrom, a grandson of Swedish immigrants, spent much of his career studying social mobility and the American Dream, exploring the difficulties immigrant laborers and native-born workers faced in accumulating wealth and attaining middle-class jobs. A longtime professor at Harvard University, he sought to write history "from the bottom up," focusing on ordinary people instead of the aristocrats and executives who traditionally drew scholars' attention.

Beginning with his first book, "Poverty and Progress" (1964), Dr. Thernstrom helped pioneer the use of quantitative methods in American history, relying on property records, census manuscripts, bank statements and archival newspapers to craft a nuanced portrait of working men in 19th-century Newburyport, Massachusetts.

He was awarded the Bancroft Prize, a top U.S. history honor, and was later a National Book Award finalist for "The Other Bostonians" (1973), in which he applied his analytical methods to 20th-century Boston, tracing the upward mobility of varying ethnic groups while exploring the role that prejudice and discrimination played in hindering progress.

"Most studies in quantitative history ought to be reviewed in cipher, just to give the reader an idea of the agonizing prose he can expect. Not so Stephan Thernstrom's work," editor and publisher Ivan R. Dee wrote in a review for the New York Times. "He knows how to write a sentence, appreciates the limitations of his infant historical technique, and deals with crucial questions instead of dazzling us with computerized footwork."

Although he continued to publish well-received historical volumes, Dr. Thernstrom became best known for "America in Black and White: One Nation, Indivisible" (1997), a 700-page exploration of American race relations that he co-wrote with his wife.

A product of seven years of research and writing, the book combined dispassionate historical analysis with passages of fiery rhetoric, arguing that African Americans had made significant - and, in the Thernstroms' view, often overlooked - gains since the Jim Crow era, even as opportunity gaps persisted.

Dr. Thernstrom and his wife favored "color-blind" fixes, arguing that the use of racial preferences in college admissions and job applications was divisive and largely ineffective. They were especially critical of what they regarded as a politically correct dynamic of "black anger" and "white surrender," in which affirmative-action supporters embraced "policies built on deference to black victimization through which they can display their racial virtue."

The book made the Thernstroms intellectual heroes for many conservatives, even as it dismayed liberal friends who remembered the couple's earlier years as left-leaning activists.

While in graduate school, Dr. Thernstrom immersed himself in Marxist theory, earnestly underlining his copy of "Das Kapital" and protesting the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. His wife, a former red-diaper baby, had sung along with Pete Seeger as a girl and attended the Little Red School House in New York. She and Dr. Thernstrom were planning to register Black voters in the South in 1964 when Abigail became pregnant with their first child.

Around that time, Dr. Thernstrom backed a bill in the Massachusetts State House to eliminate references to race on college admissions applications. "That seemed to me then absolutely the ideal - you admit people without any reference to their race," he recalled in a 1998 interview with the Times. "And it still seems to be the ideal to me. What's different is that it was a radical idea in 1963, and now it's a so-called conservative idea."

Disillusioned by the rise of identity politics, he and his wife began voting for Republican presidential candidates for the first time in the 1990s. They joined conservative intellectuals at the White House in 1997, sparring with President Bill Clinton in an Oval Office debate about race and affirmative action, and later championed alternative approaches to education, arguing on behalf of charter schools and vouchers in opinion essays and a 2003 book, "No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning."

Critics said the Thernstroms could be overly reductive and minimized the problems faced by African Americans. "Here are two White people who are essentially lecturing Black Americans, saying: What are you complaining about? Stop your griping. Here are the data. You're better off than ever before,'" political scientist Andrew Hacker told the Times in 1998.

Dr. Thernstrom brushed off the criticism, standing by his empirical findings. A self-described "lone wolf," he let his wife take the lead in promoting their work (she "is fonder of talking than I am," he told the American Prospect), although he joined her in insisting that they had not undergone any kind of radical political transformation in the years leading up to their first book. "We haven't changed," he told The Washington Post after it was published. "It is that liberalism has evolved."

Stephan Albert Thernstrom was born in Port Huron, Michigan, on Nov. 5, 1934. An only child, he grew up in Battle Creek, in southern Michigan, and was raised in the Church of Christ, Scientist. He later adopted a more secular, left-leaning view of the world over the objections of his father, who worked for a railroad company.

"If you're a communist," he recalled his father telling him, "I don't want you in my house."

Early on, there were few signs that Dr. Thernstrom had a future in academia. He skipped classes in elementary and middle school and was assigned to a vocational track in high school. But his mother, a homemaker, managed to persuade administrators to reconsider, and Dr. Thernstrom went on to find academic success after falling in love with debate and Latin, which his family described as "the first school subject he'd found intellectually challenging."

After graduating from Northwestern University in 1956, he enrolled in the history PhD program at Harvard. Dr. Thernstrom studied under Pulitzer Prize winner Oscar Handlin, a scholar of American immigration who introduced him to "the idea that history wasn't just about battles and generals and presidents - that it could really just be the story of ordinary people, like the family that he came from," his daughter, Melanie, said in a phone interview.

At a talk by investigative journalist I.F. Stone, Dr. Thernstrom met Abigail Mann, a fellow Harvard graduate student who was pursuing a master's degree in Middle Eastern studies. (She soon switched to government.) They married about six weeks later, in 1959.

Dr. Thernstrom received his doctorate in 1962. He taught at Brandeis University and UCLA, returned to Harvard in 1974 as a professor, and edited books including the "Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups" (1980), a 1,080-page reference work. He also served as an expert witness in court cases addressing claims of racial discrimination.

In 1988, students accused him of making racially insensitive remarks in his lectures, which he denied. He was cleared of wrongdoing but felt isolated by university administrations in the episode, which conservative activists cited "as an example of political correctness run amok," according to a profile in The Post.

Dr. Thernstrom retired from teaching in 2008, not long after he moved to McLean, Virginia, with his wife. She served as the vice chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and worked at conservative think tanks before her death in 2020, at 83.

In addition to their daughter, Melanie, an author and journalist, survivors include their son, Samuel Thernstrom, the founder of a nonprofit organization that promotes alternative energy technologies; and four grandchildren.

Politically, Dr. Thernstrom remained difficult to classify. His daughter said he took issue with aspects of both the left and the right, and lamented the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in recent years.

"He would be so upset," Melanie Thernstrom said, "about the idea of rolling back birthright citizenship," which President Donald Trump is attempting to end through executive order. "He really did believe the strength of America came from the melting pot, from different ethnic groups coming together."



(COMMENT, BELOW)
Jack Yates High School is shown on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Houston ISDs Yates High School  along with four other campuses in the district  will formally end their International Baccalaureate programs in the 2025-2026 academic year, according to the district.

The official end to the IB program comes just five years after former Yates and district leaders celebrated the campus becoming HISD's fifth IB World High School. The school launched the IB program in the 2020-21 academic year as part of former interim Superintendent Grenita Lathans push to expand the number of IB campuses offered in different areas throughout Houston.

Yates IB authorization reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence for all students, Lathan said in a press release celebrating the initial authorization in January 2020. We are determined to close student achievement gaps by providing a rigorous, meaningful, and integrated curriculum that will provide global opportunities for students.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

However, the school in Houstons Third Ward was only able to offer limited virtual IB programming after the COVID-19 pandemic began, and it eventually stopped offering any IB courses after the 2022-23 academic year. Zero Yates students have earned IB diplomas since 2020, according to district data.

INFLATED GRADUATION RATES: HISD reports about 12% of seniors graduated in 2023 despite failing STAAR exams

At Yates, where more than 98% of students are Black or Hispanic, 16 students were eligible to earn an IB diploma during the 2021-22 school year. However, students failed 94 of the 95 IB exams they attempted that year in subjects like biology, Spanish, English and math, according to district data.

An HISD spokesperson said Yates Principal Stephanie Square asked the district to remove the schools IB status in fall 2024. HISDs Central Office conducted an analysis of the requested change, and it submitted a report to the state-appointed Board of Managers before approving the formal end of the schools IB program starting next year, according to the district.

ABOUT THIS SERIES HISDs College, Career Readiness Crisis This story is part of a months-long series about how the states largest school district has been failing to prepare many of its high school graduates for success in higher education or the workforce. Every year, about half of Houston ISDs high school graduates enroll in college after graduation, and even fewer of those students end up earning college degrees or making a living wage after six years. The outcomes are even worse for the districts Black and Hispanic students, who make up the vast majority of each graduating class. With thousands of students set to graduate in June, the Chronicle will be focused on covering how HISDs leaders are  or arent  preparing the next generation of graduates for whats next.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

What is an IB program?

IB is a nonprofit educational foundation that developed a rigorous two-year diploma program for 16- to 19-year-old students in high school, which includes a theory of knowledge course, an extended essay project, and creativity, action and service activities. High schools can also offer career-related programs.

As part of the Diploma Programme, high school students can earn an IB diploma or certificate if they take certain courses, earn certain scores on their IB exams and complete additional requirements. IB elementary and middle schools offer similar curriculum that aims to prepare students for the high school curriculum.

Every school must pay a one-time fee of $4,000 to be candidates for the IB program, as well as an annual $9,500 candidacy fee until the school completes a thorough authorization process, which includes a two-day verification visit and mandatory professional development for teachers and staff.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Once authorized, high schools must pay an annual $12,660 fee, middle schools have to pay $10,920, while elementary schools must pay at least $9,260 annually to continue offering their IB programs to students, according to the nonprofits website.

State Rep. Jolanda Jones, a former elected HISD trustee, said she jumped through "very difficult hoops" to help Yates earn funding and meet other requirements for its IB authorization while she represented the school's community. Now, she's "heartbroken" that the program is coming to an end.

"I was really excited that kids from the neighborhood I grew up in would have opportunities to get college credits that actually decrease the cost of college, which is a barrier for people who grew up like me," said Jones, a Houston Democrat. "I mean, I feel like I helped birth the IB program, and so I now mourn the death of the IB program."

Jones said it's not fair or equitable that 11th- and 12th-grade students at high schools like Bellaire or Lamar, where the IB program is still offered, to have more chances to earn college credit than students at Yates.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It just makes me sad that the kids at Yates are not getting the same opportunities," Jones said. "While every kid is not going to go to college, because college isn't for everyone, the kids that do want to go to college have one less way to get to college credit in high school."

'Students are missing out'

HISD currently has 28 IB-authorized schools, including 16 elementary school programs, six middle school programs and six high school programs, according to the districts school choice website. Two of the IB programs  Fondren and Durham Elementary School  are considered magnet programs.

Along with Yates, HISD said the district has granted requests from principals at Herrera Elementary, Northline Elementary and Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center High School to end their IB program in the upcoming year through the same process as Yates.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Board of Managers also voted in November to end Fondren Middle School's IB designation because the school had not implemented the program since the 2021-2022 school year. The district said it did not seek board approval to end the IB designation at Yates and the other three campuses because their IB programs were not classified as a magnet program.

HISDs board passed a constraint on state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles that requires him to conduct and communicate a research-based analysis before making significant changes to school programming. However, under a separate board policy, HISD is required to obtain board approval before making major modifications to magnet programs.

The program's elimination at Yates comes amid growing inequities in access to advanced coursework opportunities, such as IB and Advanced Placement classes, for Black and Hispanic high school students statewide, according to research by EdTrust, a nonprofit advocating for equitable education for Black and Latino students.

The inequities in access to advanced coursework means Black and Hispanic students are missing out on crucial opportunities that can set them up for success after high school, including connections to high-demand jobs and postsecondary pathways, the nonprofit wrote.

In HISD, white and Asian students in IB-authorized schools are about twice as likely to enroll in IB programs than Black and Hispanic students. Approximately 15% of the districts Hispanic and Black students took at least one IB course, compared to 29% of Asian students and 36% of white students in the 2022-23 academic year, according to district data.

Judith Cruz, the Texas Assistant Director for the Houston Region at EdTrust, said if funding or resources are not available for programs like IB, HISD schools need to look at other ways to continue to provide advanced courses, such as dual credit or AP classes, so that all students have equitable opportunities for success after high school.

It's critical for systems to think about the investments we're making, said Cruz, a former elected HISD trustee. How are we allocating our resources in an equitable way and really looking at the data ... on a regular basis to make sure that there is equity amongst students with student groups so that we're not just continuing to increase access without closing the achievement gap?
South Sudan has lifted the temporary ban on Facebook and TikTok, which was imposed last week after videos showing alleged killings of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan circulated online.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) confirmed in a letter dated January 27 that the graphic content, which was linked to violent protests and retaliatory attacks, had been removed from the platforms. This prompted the decision to lift the ban.

Napoleon Adok Gai, the director of the NCA, emphasized the need for a balanced approach to address online incitement while safeguarding the rights of the population. The disturbing videos, showing violence tied to ethnic attacks in Sudan, were condemned by rights groups. The Sudanese army and its allies have been accused of carrying out targeted attacks on civilians, which were widely shared on social media before being removed.

The ban had prompted criticism from several sides, including from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
A federal judge will sentence former Sen. Bob Menendez on Wednesday for selling his office  an extraordinary fall even for a politician from a state as notoriously transactional as New Jersey.

Menendez resigned from the Senate last summer after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of corruption. Prosecutors said he misused his power to help a trio of New Jersey businesspeople and a pair of foreign governments in exchange for bribes that literally filled his house with stacks of cash and bars of gold. It marked the end of a 50-year political career that made Menendez one of the most powerful people in New Jersey and gave him immense influence on the world stage.

Prosecutors want the 71-year-old imprisoned for 15 years, arguing Menendez is among the most corrupt members of the Senate in American history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendezs conduct may be the most serious for which a U.S. Senator has been convicted in the history of the Republic, prosecutors wrote this month to U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein, who will decide Menendezs immediate fate.



But he is not expected to go to prison right away, and there is also a possibility he could be pardoned by President Donald Trump or persuade a higher court to overturn his convictions.

Only a dozen other senators have ever been charged with crimes, and just three others have ever been sentenced to prison.

Even among those senators, Menendez stands out. According to prosecutors, he is the first to be convicted of an abuse of a leadership position on a Senate committee and the first person ever to be convicted of serving as a foreign agent while being a public official.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For anyone who wants to hate on New Jersey as a hotbed of political intrigue and misdeeds, the last senator to go to prison was another New Jersey Democrat  Harrison Williams, who more than 40 years ago was caught up in the FBI sting operation known as Abscam.

Perhaps the most damning stain on Menendezs reputation is the foreign intrigues: The jury found that in exchange for money and gold from New Jersey businesspeople, Menendez used his power to aid Egypt and Qatar while under oath to serve America and while leading the Senates foreign relations committee.

Menendez was also found guilty in a scheme where he tried to interfere in state and federal justice systems to help men who were bribing him, including one who pleaded guilty and took the stand against him.

The charges and Menendezs behavior was also fodder for late night show hosts and water cooler wows. Menendez kept some of the bribes stuffed almost comically into bags, boots and jackets around the home he shared with his wife, Nadine, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. And the senators defense team argued the couple largely led separate lives even after they were married, attempting, at times, to throw her under the bus.

Possible legal maneuvers still left

The sprawling corruption case, brought by prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, was not Menendezs first brush with the law. In 2017, other corruption charges ended in a mistrial in New Jersey federal court. He dusted off, vowed never to forget those who were digging his grave and won reelection in 2018. By then, according to prosecutors, he was already enmeshed in some of the corruption that proved to be his undoing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez is still holding out hope that he can undo this conviction, though. This week, his attorneys asked Stein to let Menendez avoid reporting to prison pending an appeal.

This means even after the sentence is handed down, the case is unlikely to be over.

Menendez and his two co-defendants also being sentenced Wednesday  New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, a businessperson with ties to the Egyptian government  have made clear they plan to appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and, from there, to the Supreme Court if necessary.



Theyll try to relitigate a series of thorny legal issues that kept coming up during the trial, forcing Stein to rule on questions that the Supreme Court itself has perhaps not fully grappled with. Perhaps the most uncertain questions were about the boundaries of the speech or debate immunity that the Constitution gives to members of Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This court surely believes it answered those questions correctly, Menendezs attorneys wrote to Stein this week. But it can just as surely recognize that the Second Circuit could answer them the other way.

Indeed, history suggests Menendezs chances are decent: Of the 12 senators previously prosecuted, eight beat their charges either during trial or after trial. That history begins with Sen. John Smith, who was found not guilty in the early 1800s of charges that he conspired with Aaron Burr to commit treason, and extends to the late Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, whose 2008 conviction for failing to report gifts was eventually thrown out because of government misconduct.

Menendez has a top-tier legal team. One attorney, Avi Weitzman, has an official biography that boasts hes never represented someone who was sent to prison on criminal charges. Another, Yaakov Roth, represented former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in his bribery case and argued on behalf of Bridgegate defendant Bridget Kelly and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco at the Supreme Court  which overturned all three convictions.

But, so far, Menendez has kept losing in court while facing off against experienced federal prosecutors who took down sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, among others.

Damning evidence, star witnesses and the Trump factor

During the trial, jurors saw and even had the chance to touch some of the booty found inside Menendezs home. They heard how the FBI was sure Menendez and Daibes fingerprints or DNA was on some of the cash. They were read text messages and shown cell phone location data that gave hour-by-hour and even minute-by-minute accounts of Menendez and those accused of scheming with him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jury saw a series of star witnesses:

A man who pleaded guilty to bribing the senator and his wife, Nadine, who claimed the senator summoned her during a backyard meeting about a scheme by ringing a bell.

A former New Jersey attorney general talked about a gross interaction with Menendez.

A former Senate aide who testified about the senators unusual behavior toward Egypt during a period prosecutors say the senator was taking bribes to help the country obtain military aid.

An undercover FBI investigator who overheard Menendezs then-girlfriend Nadine say during a dinner with a high-ranking Egyptian official, What else can the love of my life do for you?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout the trial, Menendez took a different tact than his co-defendants, who didnt deny giving him or his wife gifts  gifts being the key word, not bribes.

Menendez did not accept this version of events, instead bringing in witnesses to argue its possible that he had been hoarding his own cash because of some impulses drilled into him by his Cuban family.

Menendez also tried to shift blame to Nadine, whose trial was separated from his and repeatedly delayed as she battles cancer. The gold? That was her family gold, Menendezs attorneys argued. Her trial is now set for March.

The two-month trial itself was also unexpectedly boring at times. For what seemed like days on end, prosecutors relied on FBI agents who had no particular knowledge of the case to read aloud to the jury line after line of text messages, emails and other documents. This tested the patience of the judge and the jurors as the trial stretched through some of the hottest days of a New York summer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the whole affair, historic as it was, was overshadowed by Trumps state criminal trial, which was going on in another courthouse a brisk two-minute walk around the corner. During a break in the Trump trial, a few curious reporters and spectators who had been monitoring Trumps case came over to the federal courthouse to peer in on the Menendez trial, making it a literal sideshow.

Eventually, the complexities of managing a document-intensive case  necessary because so much of the communication among the witnesses was done in text messages and emails, particularly texts from Nadine  may come to haunt prosecutors.



In a series of revelations after the jury came back with a verdict, prosecutors said they had inadvertently given jurors access to material a judge ruled they should not have seen.

Menendezs legal team has tried to get Stein to toss the verdicts because of that, but Stein refused, saying defense attorneys had a chance to catch the errors, and its unlikely the jury saw the problematic evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez may also be hoping for some kind of pardon from Trump, who previously commuted the sentence of a Florida doctor who was part of the first corruption case brought against Menendez nearly a decade ago. (The doctor was later convicted on other charges.)

Ironically, Menendez and the doctor beat those charges in part by arguing that prosecutors had never found a duffel bag stuffed with cash somewhere.

But this time around, federal investigators found a black duffel bag stuffed with cash.

There is also another intriguing coincidence: Menendez wound up in the middle of the investigation that ensnared him this time apparently by accident.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In May 2019, two FBI surveillance teams were sent to the Mortons steakhouse a few blocks from the White House to eavesdrop on a trio of Egyptian men seated at a table, including one who was the subject of their investigation.

They were not there looking for Menendez, but then he showed up.

He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, today the public will see how much he may pay for wrongdoing.
Jan. 29A 41-year-old man accused of killing his Darke County housemates was found guilty of lesser charges following a trial.

A jury found Adam J. Uchyn guilty of two counts of murder and one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, according to Darke County Common Pleas Court records.

Uchyn went to trial starting Jan. 21 on two counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery.

The jury found Uchyn not guilty of the aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges, but guilty of the lesser charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Aggravated murder and murder are both unclassified felonies. The aggravated robbery charge was a first-degree felony but the grand theft of a motor vehicle charge is a fourth-degree felony.

Uchyn's sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

He's accused of killing Michele Phipps and James Donnelly on April 13, 2023.

Darke County sheriff's deputies responded to the house they shared with Uchyn at 4289 Weavers-Fort Jefferson Road in Neave Twp., south of Greenville, after two women reported the deaths around 5 a.m. on April 14.

About 10 1/2 hours earlier deputies had responded to the same house for a 911 hang-up call.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Uchyn met deputies in the driveway and reportedly said he made the call regarding a theft and assault. The perpetrator of the alleged assault had left.

"This report was a ruse he created to prevent the deputies from discovering the murder that had likely just occurred," Sheriff Mark Whittaker said at the time.

Investigators believe Phipps called 911. The caller provided an address before the call ended abruptly. There was no answer when dispatchers called back.

Uchyn fled in Phipps' 2022 Chevrolet Equinox but was arrested on April 14 in Chicago.
CHICAGO  Nearly four months after they were first called to Chicagos federal courthouse, jurors have begun deliberating in the most consequential Illinois public corruption case in years: the racketeering case of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime confidante, Michael McClain.

The panel was sent back to deliberate at 3:13 p.m. Wednesday after attorneys presented more than 27 hours of closing arguments this week and last. Jurors will have to consider 23 counts against Madigan alleging an array of schemes to enrich his political allies and line his pockets. McClain is also charged in six of those counts.

To assist their deliberations, they have about 100 pages of legal instructions, dozens of undercover recordings, and hundreds of emails, texts and other documents entered into evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial dragged on significantly longer than expected. It began with jury selection in early October and was slated to wrap up before Christmas. But unexpected witness change-ups, lengthy legal arguments and Madigans choice to testify on his own behalf  among other factors  kept proceedings going for nearly four months.

Madigan, 82, was for decades the most powerful man in Illinois politics, reigning over the state Democratic party and setting a national record for longest-serving speaker of a state house. McClain, 77, is a retired lobbyist from downstate Quincy who acted as Madigans right-hand man.

The indictment alleges that Madigans vaunted state and political operations were run like a criminal enterprise to increase his power and enrich himself and his associates.

In addition to alleging plans to pressure developers into hiring Madigans law firm, the indictment accuses Madigan and McClain of bribery schemes involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial represents the apex of a lengthy federal corruption investigation that has already resulted in convictions of several other Madigan-adjacent figures over the past few years. Madigan, however, is inarguably the biggest target.

The stakes couldnt be higher. If convicted, both Madigan and McClain could face lengthy prison terms despite their advanced ages.

An across-the-board acquittal would be an almost unheard of occurrence for a high-profile public corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where federal prosecutors over the last two decades have racked up guilty verdicts for two former governors and a slew of state legislators and city aldermen.

A not guilty finding for either Madigan or McClain could also signal new difficulties for federal prosecutors in proving a bribery case after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year made clear that the bribe must be agreed to before any official action is taken.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That point was hammered at continuously in closing arguments by Madigans attorney, Daniel Collins, who urged the jury not to tap into the cynicism or suspicion that often accompanies public corruption cases and focus instead on the evidence, which he said failed to show Madigan ever acted with corrupt intent.

Mike Madigan was not part of any racketeering enterprise, Collins said near the end of his argument. He was a public official who did his best. Hes made some mistakes, but hes always tried to build consensus, to collaborate. Thats who he was. Thats who he tries to be.

Collins also accused prosecutors of engaging in confirmation bias, belittling Madigans co-defendant, Michael McClain, as a self-aggrandizing name-dropper, and calling FBI mole and former Ald. Daniel Solis the malignant tumor at the heart of this case.

McClain attorney Patrick Cotter, meanwhile, argued on Tuesday his client was a diligent  if sometimes blunt and earthy  lobbyist who never agreed to or knew about any bribery scheme.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He only ever acted out of a commitment to his clients and a true respect for Madigan, Cotter said.

Did this very real, very unique and  I would submit based on the overall evidence in this case  very decent human being actually have the intent to engage in a conspiracy to bribe the person he thought of as his closest friend? Cotter asked.

In their closing argument, prosecutors said the case came down to power and profit for Madigan, the man calling the shots who ruled the House with an iron fist for decades.

In his rebuttal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu ended by showing the jury McClains handwritten retirement note to Madigan, where he said the speaker had his hand on the rudder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And that was true. Mr. Madigan did have his hand on the rudder of the state, Bhachu said. He also had something else in his hand. He had the trust that was paced in him by each and every member of the public. Mr. Madigan abused that trust. He lost his way. He was blinded by profit, by power, by his desire to stay in power.

With McClains assistance, Bhachu said, (Madigan) betrayed that trust. He threw it overboard. He abandoned it.

Bhachu also reminded jurors of the five Madigan allies who got cushy subcontracts from ComEd and AT&T Illinois for doing little or no work, and scoffed at Madigans testimony that he had no idea they werent working.

You did not only see lies during the course of this trial, you heard them as well, and you heard them right from the witness stand from this man right here, Bhachu said, pointing to Madigan at the defense table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, hed had a conversation with Mr. McClain where Mr. McClain suggested to him somebody wasnt really doing any work, the prosecutor said. And his response? Some of these guys have made out like bandits, Mike.

And you heard him laugh, Bhachu continued. In comparison to the purported anger he displayed on direct examination.

Bhachu also said Madigan tried to minimize his relationship with McClain in his testimony in his own defense, saying Madigan essentially told the jury the extent of his relationship with McClain was to pass him resumes.

If you were going to listen to his direct (testimony), what would you think? Bhachu said. You got more information from Mr. Madigan about working on a garbage truck than you did about his relationship with McClainYou would have thought McClain was the postman, or akin to an Uber Eats driver.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Madigan also lied repeatedly about not knowing what was going on with the conspiracy to get his people paid, Bhachu said.

Hes not sitting in some closet in his office with the light off. He is in the know, Bhachu said.

He also ridiculed the notion that Madigan was somehow just a non-confrontational guy who was afraid to say no to people, at one point mockingly referring to the once-powerful politician as Michael Milquetoast Madigan.

As for Solis, Bhachu said everything that was done was recorded and that Madigan was in control.

You can see what was said, Bhachu told the jury. That was not part of our script. (Madigan) chose what to saythis seasoned politician, this sophisticated lawyer. It was Madigans script.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over and over, Bhachu asked jurors to consider the defense argument that the benefits bestowed upon Madigan and his allies were simply legal lobbying, an effort, in the ordinary course of business, to foster goodwill with an influential politicians.

Among the benefits alleged in the indictment was the appointment of Madigans recommendation, Juan Ochoa, to ComEds board of directors. Bhachu put up a transcript of the now-infamous call where then-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore discussed with McClain internal pushback on Ochoas candidacy:

You take good care of me and so does our friend, and I will do the beset that I can to take care of you, Pramaggiore said on the call.

What type of mentality is behind a comment like that? Does that sound like its ordinary course? Bhachu said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bhachu noted Pramaggiore was willing to find something else, anything else for Ochoa to do for ComEd, as long as it paid the same salary as the board position. Is that ordinary course? he asked.

Bhachu also methodically walked through how, collectively, five Madigan allies received a total of $1.3 million over the years from ComEd, saying the stream of benefits from 2011 through 2019. Among them were two former aldermen, Frank Olivo and Michael Zalewski, precinct captains Ray Nice and Edward Moody, and former state Rep. Edward Acevedo.

Bhachi scoffed at the defense argument that these payments were favors.

If youre thinking of a bribe, you could not find an envelope big enough to contain all that money, Bhachu said. It is a gigantic amount of money.

Ticking off other allegations, Bhachu asked if it was ordinary course for ComEds summer internship program to set aside slots for 13th Ward candidates who didnt have to compete for with others.

Is it ordinary course for threats and intimidation to be used to hire an entry level person at ComEd? he asked. Is it ordinary course to try to promote somebody with a 1.1 GPA? Is it ordinary course for a politician to decide when you can stop paying somebody? Is it ordinary course for a Fortune 100 company to ask for permission from McClain and Madigan to get rid of somebody?

Of course not, Bhachu said.

____
(Reuters) - Senior Justice Department officials and federal prosecutors in Manhattan have held talks about dropping the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Adams is set for a criminal trial in April on federal charges of corruption, which comes alongside his reelection campaign for a second term as mayor. Adams says he has not broken the law and did nothing wrong.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas)
The Justice Department has had discussions about the future of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams -- including the possibility of dropping the case all together, sources familiar with the talks told ABC News.

No final decision has been made and the talks between the main Justice Department and prosecutors with the Southern District of New York have been preliminary, the sources said.

MORE: NYC Mayor Eric Adams meeting with Trump on Friday, his office says

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams has spent time with President Donald Trump in recent weeks, including meeting with him in South Florida in addition to attending his inauguration. The mayor has the backing of Trump, who has claimed Adams was unjustly charged by federal prosecutors and has said he would "take a look" at a pardon for him.

"I think that he was treated pretty unfairly," Trump said of Adams during a press briefing last month.

PHOTO: Mayor Eric Adams speaks during State of the City address on Jan. 9, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: NYC Mayor Eric Adams to stand trial in April 2025 on federal corruption charges

Adams is scheduled to stand trial on federal corruption charges starting on April 21.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams has pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that accused him of accepting years of luxury travel gifts in exchange for, among other things, persuading the fire department to approve the opening of the new Turkish consulate in Manhattan despite the lingering safety concerns of inspectors.

A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. The New York Times first reported the discussions.

Justice Department discussing future of Mayor Eric Adams' case, including dropping altogether: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Justice Department moved Wednesday to drop its appeal of a federal court order dismissing the criminal charges against President Donald Trump's former co-defendants in the classified documents case, which would effectively end the case.

Then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had cited the pending appeal as the reason he would not publicly release special counsel Jack Smith's report on the criminal case he'd brought against Trump, saying it could affect the due process rights of the co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

The Justice Department's motion to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to drop the appeal was filed by Hayden O'Byrne, who was named the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida this week, The Miami Herald reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a separate move Wednesday, the new acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., moved to dismiss a case against another Trump ally, Republican former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska.

OByrne's filing asks the circuit court to dismiss the Justice Department's appeal "with prejudice," which means it could not be revived later. His office was assigned the case after Smith resigned this month.

The filing notes that Nauta and De Oliveira "do not object to the voluntary dismissal." The appeals court needs to approve of the Justice Department's move for its appeal to officially be dropped.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on what effect the move would have on the possibility of Smith's report becoming public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump and his attorneys had vehemently opposed releasing the report, as had attorneys for Nauta and De Oliveira.

Donald Trump and his aide Walt Nauta, right, in 2023.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump nominee, had dismissed the case against Trump, then a presidential candidate; Nauta, his aide; and Mar-a-Lago employee De Oliveira last year.

The three had been charged with taking part in a scheme to help Trump retain highly classified documents that improperly remained in his possession after he left the White House in 2021 and with obstructing the ensuing federal investigation. All three pleaded not guilty.

Cannon tossed the case out in July after she found that Smith's appointment as special counsel was illegal, which led to the current appeal. The Justice Department, an executive branch agency, dropped its case against Trump after he won the election, citing guidance from its Office of Legal Counsel that it cannot prosecute a sitting president  who heads the executive branch.

Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira arrives at the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla., in 2023.

That guidance also resulted in Smiths dropping his other case against Trump, which had charged him with conspiracy against the United States for his efforts to stay in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump had no co-defendants in that case, and Smith's report on the matter was released this month. It included mostly information from public court filings in the case.

Trump, Nauta and De Oliveira all sought to block the release of the second volume of the report, which centered on the classified documents case.

Garland agreed not to release that volume pending the resolution of the appeal, but he still sought to share the report with congressional leaders, a move that Cannon blocked.

Given the very strong public interest in this criminal proceeding and the absence of any enforceable limits on the proposed disclosure, there is certainly a reasonable likelihood that review by members of Congress as proposed will result in public dissemination of all or part of Volume II, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cannon added that the report, which she had reviewed, includes detailed and voluminous information outlining the case against Trump, much of which has not been made public in court filings.

House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee had urged Garland to withdraw the appeal involving Nauta and De Oliveira before Trump took office so the attorney general could release the report.

They said their concerns that dismissing the case could enable further corruption are outweighed by the many indications that Mr. Trump will simply end the prosecutions against his co-conspirators upon taking office anyway and then instruct his DOJ to permanently bury this report.

The move to dismiss the case against Fortenberry was made by acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fortenberry was a nine-term congressman when he was convicted in Los Angeles federal court in 2022 of lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign contribution in 2016 from a Lebanese Nigerian billionaire.

Trump had complained at a rally in Nebraska in 2022 that the case against Fortenberry was "very unfair," according to the Nebraska Examiner.

The case was dismissed after an appeals court found that the venue was improper and that Fortenberry should have been charged in Nebraska or Washington, D.C.

Prosecutors refiled the case in Washington last year. Like O'Byrne's motion, Martins filing asks that the case be dismissed with prejudice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump celebrated the move on social media.

"It is great to see that the Department of Justice has dropped the Witch Hunt against former Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, a longtime proud and highly respected American public servant," he wrote on Truth Social.

"The charges were totally baseless. That Scam is now over, so Jeff and his family can go back to having a great life together, and be a part of our Countrys future as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years!"

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Justice Department under President Donald Trump moved to drop an appeal by former special counsel Jack Smith in his classified documents case, tying up one of the final loose ends in the case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Hayden O'Bryne moved to dismiss the case against co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, which still has to be approved by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Smith had appealed a ruling by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon last year to dismiss the case against the president. Trump faced 40 criminal counts brought by Smith for mishandling classified documents leaving the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors are asking that the case be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be relaunched again. Cannon blocked Smith's final report on the case to selected members of Congress because of the appeal in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Smith had appealed Cannon's ruling last year dismissing his case because he was unlawfully appointed.

The move signaled another step in how Trump is reshaping the priorities of the Justice Department. Earlier this week, he fired more than a dozen attorneys involved in criminal investigations involving him.

The terminations included lawyers and other Justice Department officials who were part of former special counsel Jack Smith's teams that were prosecuting Trump in various cases.

"In light of their actions, the acting attorney general does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing thepresident's agenda," the Justice Department said. "This action isconsistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government."
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation.

1 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly.

3 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

4 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award.

A kindergarten teacher at Kalihi Uka Elementary School was honored Tuesday as Hawaiis sole recipient of the 2025 Milken Educator Award.

Kristy Inamasu, a Maui High School graduate and former volleyball player at Chaminade University, was surprised with the recognitionoften called the Oscar of Teaching during a morning assembly.

Along with the accolade, Inamasu received a $25, 000 unrestricted cash award and joined a national network of more than 3, 000 educators recognized over the nearly 40-year history of the Milken Educator Awards, the nations leading teacher recognition program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kristy Inamasu is nurturing and inspiring the minds of her young students and fellow educators across the Aloha State,  said Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley, who is also a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. Kristys enthusiasm to make a daily, tangible impact in her classroom and school is commendable. Thank you, Kristy, for your exemplary dedication to the profession. The Milken Educator Network will benefit from your contributions and commitment to advancing teaching and learning.

The Milken Family Foundations 2024-2025 tour will recognize up to 45 educators across the nation, highlighting K-12 educators. Inamasu is the 83rd recipient in the state since Hawaii joined the Milken Educator Awards in 1990.

When I heard my name, I couldnt believe it. Instant tears,  Inamasu said. Its definitely something that I didnt expect. There are so many deserving teachers and educators here in Hawaii, especially here at Kalihi Uka. Its definitely something that I did not expect, but Im so thankful for it.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in touch with breaking 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.

Inamasu said recognizing educators through awards like the Milken Educator Award can encourage more teachers to enter the profession and continue making a difference for Hawaiis students.

She began teaching at Kalihi Uka about a decade ago and said she loves working with kindergarten students because every day is a new day.

The students in kindergarten just love to learn. I love feeling their curiosity and their love for learning, and just teaching them to be kind, responsible humans that will eventually grow and make a positive impact in our community,  she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of Inamasus students, 6-year-old Akela, described her as her favorite teacher.

Shes kind and nice and smart and teaches me math,  Akela said.

Im smart because she teaches me addition and subtraction.

Akela added that she loves learning in Inamasus classroom and wishes she could have her as a teacher forever.

Inamasu told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that she has known since childhood that she wanted to be a teacher. As a shy student, she had a positive experience with her teachers, which inspired her career path.

As an educator, she aims to help all students reach their highest potential, even exceeding it, while providing them with opportunities to take risks and develop a love for learning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inamasu said her priority is to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students.

The most important aspect of our job is to create a stable foundation,  she said. We are with our students for six-plus hours a day. They see us just as much as they do their families sometimes. So creating those positive relationships with students is most important to me.

Clyde Sabas, Inamasus colleague, described Ina masu as one of the most amazing teachers  has ever worked with.

She really dedicates her career, her life, to the students,  Sabas said. You can just see how amazing her teaching is through her class. All the students who have had her as a teacheryou can see the impact shes had on all of them, in every area : in their learning, in their social-emotional health and their behavior. Shes one of those teachers that definitely stands out as an educator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sabas, an English-language coordinator and teacher with 18 years of experience at Kalihi Uka Elementary, highlighted the schools commitment to its students despite its smaller size compared with other DOE schools.

Its an amazing school. We are dedicated, and we strive to give the students the best education we could possibly give them, to prepare them for their future schooling and for their careers,  Sabas said.

Sabas described Inamasu not only as an educator, but also as a trusted friend.

Shes so giving, shes so supportive, shes very kindhearted, and on a personal level, shes supported my two sons in fundraising, providing them with support as they play volleyball just like she did when she was at Chaminade University,  Sabas said. Shes very generous and helps all her colleagues here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We love to work with her, and no one deserves this award more than she does.

Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School teacher Jade Pham and Waiakea High School teacher Rory Ino uye from Hawaii island, both Milken Educator Award recipients from 2024, attended Tuesdays award ceremony to celebrate and recognize Inamasu.

Winning the Milken award last year had me reflect on my teaching and what I do,  Inouye said. When they first announce your name, it was just shock, tons of emotions, but when you settle down  you start to think about the contributions you make to your school and your community.

Over the past 10 months, since I got my notification, its just been reflecting upon how else I can keep improving. How else can I help my community and, ultimately, the students ?

Pham and Inouye were not acquainted prior to the award, but they have since become close in the educator community, connecting with each other, learning from one another and networking with other educators in the tightknit, supportive community.

I just want Kristy to know that she is completely deserving of this award,  Pham said. Everything that she has done for her students and her community is appreciated. Its seen and its valued, and shell continue to do amazing work, whether its at Kalihi Uka, at another school or anywhere at any point in her career. Shes in it. Shes got it. And I want the best for her, and I cant wait to get to know her more.
EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Jan. 28 in their first official phone conversation since the Trump administration took office.

"Good call with Sec. Rubio, Kallas wrote on X.

We discussed global issues where the EU and U.S. have the same interests, including Russias war in Ukraine, Irans malign influence, and challenges posed by China."

She also stressed that the EU and the U.S. are always stronger together," and said that she was eager to meet with Rubio soon to continue discussions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. President Donald Trump and his team have expressed skepticism about the ongoing financial U.S. support for Ukraine. Notably, Rubio announced a 90-day pause on Jan. 24 regarding all U.S. foreign aid.

Meanwhile, Kallas said on Jan. 9 that the EU is prepared to take a leading role in supporting Ukraine if U.S. backing wanes.

"If the United States is not ready for it, the European Union is ready to take the lead," Kallas said.

Read also: China urges Russia, US to cut nuclear arsenals before joining disarmament talks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Quintin, said i Rabat Wednesday that Belgium deems the Autonomy Initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007, to be a serious and credible effort by te Kingdom and a very good basis for a solution accepted by all parties to the Sahaaissue.

The Belgian offcal mae the remarks during a press briefing following talks with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

Talks with Bourita helped me understand the ins and outs of the autonomy plan and realize the existential nature of this issue for Morocco, the Belgian minister underlined, adding that we know how important of an issue this is for Morocco.

Some prominent European and international partners have changed their position, he said, noting that Morocco and Belgium will continue to engage constructively on this subject.

Belgium fully supports the UN process for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution and recalls the UNs exclusive role in the political process, Quintin said.

He also reiterated Belgiums backing for UN Security Council Resolution 2703, which underscores the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and enduring political solution based on compromise.

Belgiums constructive stance aligns with the international momentum driven by King Mohammed VI, in support of Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan.

In a Joint Statement issued following the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, Belgium also praised the Royal Initiative aimed at enabling Atlantic access for Sahel countries, as well as the Process of the Atlantic African States.

Belgium has commended the efforts made by Morocco through various initiatives launched under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI to promote peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Africa, particularly the Royal Initiative to enable Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Process of the Atlantic African States, stated the Joint Statement.

Belgium also praised Moroccos role as a vital and reliable partner and as a key player in strengthening regional stability and cooperation, the Joint Statement added.

In his press briefing, the Belgian official described relations between Belgium and Morocco as the most exhaustive and diversified in the region.
Kansas Rep. Suzanne Wikle, a Democrat who represents a Lawrence district, speaks on Jan. 22, 2025, in her office at the Statehouse. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

Suzanne Wikle, a first-term Democratic representative from Lawrence, hurried into the buzzing Statehouse around noon Monday, Jan. 13.

She had worked for nearly two decades in public policy and advocacy, but this was her first official day as a lawmaker. I was waiting at the entrance to the complex, and I tagged along. I though Kansas Reflector readers might appreciate a peek into the journey of a freshman representative, and I plan to check in with Wikle multiple times during this years session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We took the elevator to her office on the buildings fourth floor, a space shared by several other Democratic legislators. It featured its own, lower-volume buzz as officials and aides chatted away.

Wikle settled behind her desk to answer a handful of first-day questions.

I think I can bring a lot to conversations internally about policy development, she told me. And then I really wanted to run to be a strong voice for Kansas children and Kansas families. I have two young children, and I really believe in public education, early education, access to health care, and I just want to be a strong voice on that.

Wikle filed to run for the office in February 2024, after then-Rep. Christina Haswood decided to run for a Senate seat. After prevailing in the August primary, she had effectively won the District 10 seat, as no Republican ran against her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She started talking with future constituents right away.

People have been asking to meet with me. Ive met with community groups. Ive met with stakeholders, Wikle said. So, today is the day I get sworn in, but I feel like Ive been doing a lot of the work for several months already.

She serves on three committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Legislative Modernization and Health and Human Services. The last of those, given her professional background, has special resonance.

One aspect of the new session nagged at her, though.

We are scheduled to adjourn before we receive revenue estimates in April, Wikle said. Typically, the Legislature finalizes the state budget after Tax Day, after we have a pretty solid understanding of what the fiscal outlook for the state looks like. And according to the calendar this year, well be finalizing that budget before we have those fiscal revenue estimates. And that makes me a little concerned about how the budget situation is going to play out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From my opinion editor perspective, this sounds alarming. Could GOP leaders be planning to pass a budget without knowing final revenue numbers and leaving any potential cuts  and the associated risk  to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly? We shall see.

At this point, I should note that I know Wikle and her husband, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund president David Jordan, from my time in nonprofit advocacy. (Ive also appeared as a guest on Jordans podcast, for those who might be interested.) Both are adjusting to a new dynamic with Wikle serving in the Legislature.

Weve had to hire extra child care help to accommodate my different schedule because of my husbands travel that he does for work, she said. So I think we have to kind of see how it all shakes out.  But I knew all that going into it, and were gonna make it work.

Second week

A week-and-a-half later, Wikle looked more relaxed as she made plans in her office with intern Kate Eckert, a University of Kansas freshman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I asked how her first handful of days at the Statehouse had gone.

Its been pretty slow, right? she replied. The first week is a lot of pomp and circumstance and being sworn in, and going to committee for the first time.

While some lawmakers have to travel hours to reach the Statehouse, Wikles Lawrence home base makes it easier to spend time in Topeka. She works in the building five days a week, even though few meetings have been scheduled for Fridays thus far. (Memo to other lawmakers: That pay raise you all received should motivate a few more to follow her example.)

The biggest difference between her earlier work at the Statehouse and serving as a lawmaker, Wikle told me, was separation between the House and Senate. She described the two chambers as siloed from one another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not interacting with senators on a daily basis, like I was when I was an advocate and interacting with both, she said. And thats different and a little surprising.  Comparing it to my days as an advocate, I was sitting in various committees, or I had colleagues that were sitting in other committees, and we go back to the office and talk about what was happening. It just seemed like you had a broader view.

She acknowledged that such perspective could come with time and caucus meetings. In the meantime, she was digging into scope of practice issues inside the health committee. Not every discussion in Topeka hinges on ideological or partisan fights, after all.

As I left that Wednesday afternoon, I considered the 125 representatives and 40 senators who meet every year in Topeka. Lord knows I dont agree with all  or perhaps most  of them. But these lawmakers sacrifice of time, energy and effort for a greater cause. They have put themselves forward to do the business of Kansas.

Thats worthy of acknowledgment, today and every day of the session.

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Editors note: This story talks about suicide and may be triggering for some viewers/readers.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Some Kansas lawmakers think they have the votes this year to ban gender-affirming care for young people. They have introduced Senate Bill 63, called the Help, Not Harm Act.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order against gender-affirming care, but it does not outright ban it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kansas bill prohibits health care providers from providing gender transition care to children who want to change from their biological sex. Providers could not give children puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgery. If they did, it would be considered unprofessional conduct, and they could be sued.

State-funded facilities and state employees would be banned from promoting medication or surgery to a child under the age of 18. They also could not encourage children to try social transitioning, like changing how they dress or their pronouns.

On Tuesday, dozens of people, both for and against the bill, packed into a Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare hearing.

A 20-year-old woman from California told the senators she is de-transitioning after transitioning from the ages of 12 to 16.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My health care provider failed me in several ways, but the worst was pushing me toward medical transition when I was just a child. They should have protected me, Chloe Cole said. I should have been guided with real care and helped to understand who I really was instead of being led down a path that ultimately would end in early demise.

She said transgender people face higher risks for many health conditions, including stroke, heart attacks, blood clots, and cancers.

But a mother from Colby said she thinks the bill will lead more young people to suicide.

My one and only child was transgender, Kristi Khan said. I say was because he completed suicide in his dorm room because of bills being passed just like this. He was made to feel that his life did not matter, that he did not deserve to live by bullies, not only in his school but from adults and politicians who decided they know better than him or others like him, us parents, and the doctors and specialists who have the knowledge and expertise in this area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Proposed bill could make Kansas teachers use students birth certificates pronouns

Another mother who volunteers with Equality Kansas said her son was admitted to a psychiatric hospital as a suicide risk. He hated school and was cutting himself.

Elise Flatland said he was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and is getting gender-affirming care.

We will never forget the day he came home from school and told us he had the best day ever, and it was simply because he asked his class to call him by a new name and told them he was a boy, she said.

However, Dr. Aaron LacKamp, an intensive care doctor, said he has seen the other side of the issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive had at least two patients that have, post-transitioned, have come to my care with severe neurologic injury after attempted suicide, and they are in a vegetative state, he said. I feel that it is important to say that suicide prevention is an important thing that we need to address, that surgery on children is not going to be an effective means of suicide prevention, and neither would be chemical alteration for children to prevent suicide.

Cole agreed.

The best outcome for these children is to allow them to grow up with their bodies fully intact, to allow them to understand themselves as they are with everything that makes them unique because eventually, most children will grow up to be comfortable with their sex and with their bodies, she said.

A lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union said the bill threatens Kansas families by banning the only evidence-based health care options for youth experiencing gender dysphoria.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im sharing this testimony as an ACLU lawyer but also as a life-long Kansan and a transgender person, D.C. Hiegert said. The very care this bill attacks is the reason Im alive and able to advocate for my fellow Kansans rights.

The hearing ended with no action being taken.

Senate Bill 63 does allow for a few exceptions. Cross-sex hormones are available if the child has precocious puberty or a verified diagnosis of a sex development disorder.

It is similar to a bill that Governor Laura Kelly vetoed last year. This years legislature includes three newly Republican House seats and two more in the Senate, so Republicans believe they would be able to override a veto this year.

Whether its for a family member, friend, coworker, or for yourself, there is help out there for anyone looking for mental health care. Click here to find a list.

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 KSN-TV.
Two hearings on Jan. 28, 2025, on identical bills attempting to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths drew large crowds and more than 400 pieces of written testimony. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Identical bills in the Kansas House and Senate are attempting to ban gender-affirming care for minors in a renewed effort from Republicans to clamp down on transgender youths health care.

Senate and House health committees Tuesday heard testimony in jam-packed committee rooms from transgender youths and their parents, transgender men and women, teachers, health care professionals, a clergyman, religious advocates and national activists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bills ban medical procedures recommended or performed in response to gender dysphoria, the psychological distress that arises when a persons biological sex and gender identity differ. They would also create the opportunity for civil penalties for doctors who violate the proposed help not harm act.

A similar bill passed both chambers in 2024, but Gov. Laura Kelly halted it with a veto that the Legislature failed to override. But the 2025 Legislature has a different makeup and expanded Republican supermajorities.

Sections of the bills text are lifted from model legislation  sometimes word for word  from the national policy advocacy nonprofit Do No Harm, which is focused on opposing gender-affirming care and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The nonprofit has a registered lobbyist in Kansas, according to Secretary of States Office records.

Chloe Cole, a 20-year-old from California, was the first to testify before both committees. Cole, who was listed in 2023 as a patient advocate for Do No Harm, began the process of transitioning at 13 and later de-transitioned. She has testified across the United States in favor of bans on gender-affirming for young people, acting as a face and voice for conservative anti-trans ideals. In her testimony, she recalled her experience with puberty blockers, testosterone and surgery as a teenager to illustrate what she dubbed a series of poisons and body modifications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My health care provider failed me in several ways, but the worst was pushing me toward medical transition when I was just a child, Cole told legislators. They shouldve protected me. I should have been guided with real care and helped to understand who I really was.

Chloe Cole calls the gender-affirming care she received as a teenager a series of poisons and body modifications in testimony on Jan. 28, 2025, supportive of a bill that bans the practice. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

Republican Senator Renee Erickson, of Wichita, requested the introduction of Senate Bill 63, and Coffeyville Republican Rep. Ron Bryce introduced House Bill 2071 to protect children with gender dysphoria from harmful treatments. House committee Democrats scrutinized the bill.

I just want to clarify that this proposed legislation is not banning any one treatment in its entirety, its only proposing to ban it for one group of people and that is trans children, said Rep. Suzanne Wikle, a Lawrence Democrat.

Estimates indicate there are more than 2,000 transgender youths ages 13-18 in Kansas and about 12,400 transgender adults.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Olathe Democratic Rep. Nikki McDonald asked Carly Choi, a legislative staff member who helps write and describe proposed bills, whether any other instances exist in which the law is weaponized to penalize medical providers for working with their scope of practice with threats of losing their license, threats of civil penalties for more than a decade, threats of withholding the ability to be covered by medical malpractice insurance.

Can you think of another instance where the law is weaponized this way? McDonald asked.

Choi responded: No, representative.

D.C. Hiegert, a legal fellow with the ACLU of Kansas who is trans, told legislators in both the House and Senate committees that the bills could be unconstitutional. They run the risk of violating Kansas right to personal autonomy, as affirmed by the Kansas Supreme Court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People will not stop being trans because Kansas bans this care or punishes its medical providers, Heigert said. Trans people will still exist in Kansas and in every state in our country just as they always have.

The hearings were the latest in a series of bids to regulate and litigate transgender issues. They came a day after the Kansas Court of Appeals heard arguments in a case weighing a challenge from Attorney General Kris Kobach over the Kansas Department of Revenue practice of allowing residents to identify their preferred gender, rather than sex, on drivers licenses.
Ed Klumpp, a Kansas lobbyist representing three law enforcement organizations, endorsed a Kansas Senate bill that would make the buying of sex a felony on the first offense, raise the minimum fine to $2,000 and compel offenders to take part in educational or treatment programs. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature's YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  Prosecutors, law enforcement officers, nonprofit organizations and individuals Wednesday endorsed a Kansas Senate bill making the crime of buying sexual relations a felony on the first offense and mandating participation in an educational program on commercial sexual exploitation.

Legislation endorsed by Attorney General Kris Kobach and Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay would also raise the minimum fine to $2,000. Elevating the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony on the first offense would move cases from municipal court to district court, where a more complete record could be made of plea bargains and diversion agreements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We face a modern form of slavery  human trafficking, Kagay told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2021, I first proposed this legislation to address the demand side of the sex marketplace. The marketplace where these crimes occur is fueled by buyers whose actions create the daily indignities and abuses suffered by victims in our communities.

He said the state must hold purchasers of sex accountable for their actions because it is within our power  and our moral obligation  to stop this cycle of exploitation.

Under Senate Bill 71, the attorney generals office would select educational or treatment programs that would be available to district court judges when sentencing offenders. The crime of commercial sexual exploitation would be elevated to a Level 9 felony on July 1, 2026. The minimum fine would be raised from $1,200 to $2,000.

The bill would allow a person in Kansas to enter a diversion agreement for this crime once during his or her lifetime. The measure would prohibit a diversion for anyone who received one before July 1, 2025, even if that was approved in a municipal court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ed Klumpp, a lobbyist representing Kansas police chief, sheriff and peace officer associations, said a significant element of the bill was removing sexual exploitation cases from municipal courts. If the bill was signed into law, he said, information on all plea agreements, diversion deals and pending cases would be documented in the state court record and available to every prosecutor in Kansas.

Currently, municipal violations are only recorded in a state system at time of arrest and time of conviction and that record will only be in the KBI files  not the court record system, said Klumpp, a former Topeka police chief. Because of this, details of the case will not be in the state court system, but scattered across the state in siloed municipal court systems and city prosecutor files.

Matt Bingesser, administrative counsel to state attorney general, said educational or treatment programs endorsed by the attorney general would educate offenders on the prevalence of human trafficking and trauma experienced by victims.

The program mandate in the bill should foster a deeper understanding of the societal and individual consequences of their actions, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Andrea Carter, a Manhattan resident who said she was a sex trafficking survivor, said the legislation would hold buyers to a higher standard of accountability and potentially reduce the misperception sex trafficking victims were expendable.

She shared with legislators the damage inflicted on her by people involved in human trafficking, including instances in which she was physically assaulted and held hostage.

Because of the situation I was in, buyers took full advantage of my vulnerability to do whatever they wanted because there was nothing I could do, Carter said. I can attest to the fact that if there are no buyers, selling the vulnerable would not be profitable to the trafficker.

Sharon Sullivan, executive director of the International Public Policy Institute, said enactment of a 2021 felony statute in Texas served to deter sex buyers. The reaction reinforced the idea that buyers were the only persons with a real choice in commercial sex transactions, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Human trafficking is a crime of greed, Sullivan said. If there is no money, traffickers will find another way to make money. Its a basic business model. No demand, no need to create a supply.

No testimony was offered in opposition to the bill during the Senate hearing, and the committee took no action on the measure.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Day is coming on Wednesday and there are several events happening in the local area to mark the occasion.

January 29 commemorates the states admission to the Union, according to the Kansas State Historical Society (KHS). Paola schoolchildren were the first to boast their Kansas pride in 1877, which garnered popularity across the community. This school day exercise led to Kansas Day being celebrated all across the state.

There are many activities happening on Wednesday this week celebrate the states 164th birthday. Check out the list below to find one near you.

Emporia Public Library

Haunted Kansas Day is a free event from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Emporia Public Library at 110 East Sixth Avenue. Celebrate the day with the Flint Hills Paranormal Society as they recount ghost sightings and other strange phenomena in Kansas. Find more details on the event here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

$18,000 check to be presented to TPAC for new venture

Washburn University

The Washburn Center for Kansas Studies and the NOTO Art Center are hosting local artists, pop-up art exhibits and guest speakers. The free celebration at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the International House will provide cake and refreshments for guests at 1824 Southwest Jewell Avenue. For more information on the event click here.

Kansas Historical Society

A mural honoring womans suffrage will be unveiled at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Kansas State Capitol. The event recognizing the day is being co-hosted with the Kansas Suffragist Memorial Committee. Guests can expect to hear songs and enjoy a special Kansas Day cake following the murals unveiling. Click here for more details on the celebration.

Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

The library is offering two different events to celebrate Kansas Day. A scavenger hunt incorporating state history will be hosted as well as craft making and food sampling. The crafts and sampling will be held at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the library located at 1515 Southwest 10th Avenue, while the scavenger hunt will be available all day. For more information on the activities click here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Topeka gets recognition for being bicycle friendly

Topeka Collegiate

Students will celebrate Kansas Day by playing games like trivia and bingo covering Kansas history. The Beyond-the-Book event is from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Topeka Collegiate located at 2200 Southwest Eveningside Drive.

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.
Wednesday marks three years since the death of Boston police officer John OKeefe.

OKeefes girlfriend, Karen Read, 44, is accused of hitting OKeefe with her Lexus SUV on January 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking.

After a night out drinking at several bars, prosecutors say Read dropped OKeefe off at a house party hosted by Albert and his wife just after midnight. As she made a three-point turn, prosecutors say, she struck OKeefe before driving away. She returned hours later to find him in a snowbank.

The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home and then dragged outside and left for dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reads lawyers have been fighting to dismiss her second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash charge for double jeopardy reasons after multiple jurors told them that the jury agreed to acquit on those counts. Double jeopardy is a legal protection that prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Reads first trial ended with a hung jury this past summer.

Born and raised in suburban Braintree, OKeefe graduated from Northeastern University and earned a masters in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts. He was 46 at the time of his death, and had been a Boston police officer for 16 years.

The anniversary of OKeefes death comes as Reads legal team makes a renewed push to keep her cell phone expert on the witness stand ahead of her second trial in April.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prosecution is trying to block Richard Green from testifying. In Reads first trial, Green testified that Jen McCabes Hos long to die in cold? Google search happened at 2:27 a.m. in the morning, hours before the prosecution said it happened.

In a new filing, the defense argues that Green used five different tools to come to that conclusion. The prosecution calls Greens opinion baseless.

A final determination will be made before Read returns to court on April 1.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict

Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial

Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.

Karen Read

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read

Karen Read

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

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
KASH PATEL, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMPS NOMINEE to serve as FBI director, has suggested that the pipe bomb placed near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters on January 6, 2021 could be a government ruse. Patel claimed the case files may show an FBI rogue source was responsible. And he alleged that evidence was mounting of a coverup by the FBIs government gangsters. This extreme conspiracy theoryinsinuating that the FBI itself was responsible for the pipe bomb, or covered up the truthis an important part of the record disqualifying Patel from leading the organization he baselessly denigrates.

Patel made these comments during a January 22, 2024 appearance on Benny Johnsons YouTube show. The title of that episode is: Kash Patel BREAKS DOWN Feds January 6th Pipe Bomb Lies After DNC Security Video IMPLODES Narrative.

Johnson asserted that the pipe bomb bears like really strange resemblance to the pipe bombs that are used inside of the FBIas their test casesfor trainings. Patel did not wave Johnson off this claim. Instead, he leaned into it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnsons segment with Patel began with a screenshot of a post at Darren Beatties Revolver News. (Beattie is a blogger known for peddling conspiracy theories about January 6th.) The title of the post is, Secret Service Foreknowledge or Criminal Negligence? Damning New Evidence Surfaces in FBIs January 6 Pipe Bomb Story.

Share

In the post, Revolver News claims responsibility for coining the word Federsurrection to describe the riot at the U.S. Capitol, writing that there are elements of January 6 that overwhelmingly point toward government involvement.

The Revolver News post focused on footage released by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), claiming it could very well be the breakthrough we need to definitively expose the phony January 6 pipe bomb story once and for all. It could lead to the unraveling of one of the darkest and most scandalous government coverups in recent history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After briefly flashing a screenshot of Beatties piece, Johnson shared a series of Beatties posts on X. In one, Beattie claimed the video is the most damning and explosive J6 footage yet released and this will end up demolishing the Regimes J6 narrative and with it a major pillar of Dems 2024 strategy. He added: You paying attention, Kamala?

Darren has done a brilliant job, Patel said.

Patel claimed that the evidence is now mounting, thanks to Darrens great work and your great work, um, and others, that theres a reason the government gangsters at the FBI under Chris Wray are hiding this information about this investigation.

Patel then criticized the Republican-majority in Congress for supposedly not pursuing the matter. And no one in the Republican-led majority Congress is demanding a single case file, a single source file, a single piece of information thats saying What the heck happened? You attacked our center of democracy, if the allegations are true, and how can you not arrest one person, Patel said. Do you think the Federal Bureau of Investigation cant find a bomber in the United States of America? Has any one bomber ever gotten away?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Youve worked inside the DOJ, Johnson said.

Patel responded: Yeah!

Johnson continued: Youve been a prosecutor inside the DOJ. What do you make of this seeing the evidence, uh, before you?

Its extremely troubling, Patel responded. As Patel spoke those words, Johnson displayed a screenshot of a social media post that read: The RNC and DNC pipe bombs were props in the J6 stage production. Prove me wrong.

Patel told Johnson there were two possibilities. One, if the allegations are true, Patel said, then there is a bomber in the United States of America running wild, who tried to blow up a vice presidentelect of the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But on the flip side, Patel claimed, if the allegations arent true, or there were some government ruse, or some FBI rogue source, or whateverI dont know because I dont have the case filesthen theres another corruption scandal in and around an election-time narrative that theyre advancing today that we still dont know about.

Patel again criticized Republicans in Congress, saying, all theyre doing is giving Chris Wray a new FBI headquarters building in Maryland thats twice the size of the Pentagon.

You get rewarded for your criminal coverup, government gangster operations if you are in government, Patel said. And this Congress continues to let you do it.

Support our independent journalism by signing up for a free or paid subscription.

PATEL ALSO USED his Truth Social account to encourage the Republican-majority Congress to investigate the possibility that a confidential human source working for the FBI was responsible for the failed pipe-bomb attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a May 27, 2023 post, Patel wrote the words Pipe Bomber in quotes, as if to question the veracity of that description. He added: CongressSubpoena ALL documentation the FBI has on this and see if it doesnt lead to a government confidential human source file.

Nearly two years later, on January 2, 2025, House Republicans released their report on the pipe-bomb investigation. The report was posted online by Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) and Rep. Thomas Massie. It was Massies release of video footage of the DNC pipe bomb that led to Patels conspiracy-mongering on Johnsons show. But the Republican congressmen did not endorse Patels conspiracy theory in their report.

For example, Loudermilk and Massie did not claim it was possible that an FBI Rogue Source or a confidential human source working for the FBI may have been responsible for the DNC pipe bomb, as Patel suggested. Nor did they allege the failed attack could be a government ruse. Nor did they allege that the FBI had been caught up in a corruption scandal, as Patel opined may be the case.

While Patel and Johnson made it seem like there was something fishy about the FBIs approach to the investigation, Loudermilk and Massie praised the bureaus initial work. The Republican congressmen write:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the early weeks and months of the investigation, the FBI took significant investigative steps to identify the suspect, including issuing geofence warrants, analyzing cell tower data, conducting forensic analyses of the devices, tracking the devices components, and reviewing hours of security camera footage.

Loudermilk and Massie add that the FBI identified multiple persons of interest during the initial weeks and months of the investigation. The bureau simply hasnt solved the case.

The Republican congressmen have other criticisms of the FBI, including for failing to provide substantive updates to Congress about the status of the investigation, and for making little meaningful progress toward the apprehension of the suspect since the initial days of the investigation. They criticize the response by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. They also used their report to launch a partisan attack on the House January 6th Committee, which was disbanded two years ago. But even these two congressmenwho desperately want to whitewash January 6th on behalf of President Trumpstopped short of Patels conspiracy-mongering.

PATELS APPEARANCE ON JOHNSONS PROGRAM shows just how seamlessly he fits into the online conspiracy world. He went far beyond any reasonable criticism of the FBI. He did not merely question the bureaus investigative methods, or its failure to share information with Congress. Nor did he confine himself to chastising the bureau for failing to definitively identify and arrest the pipe bomber. Instead, Patel floated an extreme and baseless conspiracy theory blaming the FBI itself.

And this was not the only time Patel has spread conspiracy theories about the FBI and January 6th. As we reported previously, he has repeatedly insinuated or argued that the FBI used its confidential human sources or employees to instigate the January 6th attack on the Capitol and entrap Trumps supporters. As in the case of the pipe bomber, he has failed to substantiate that conspiracy theory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We also reported that Patel helped produce Justice for All, a song by the so-called J6 Prison Choir. The choir consisted of a group of January 6th inmates who performed the Star-Spangled Banner from inside a Washington, D.C. jail. While publicly promoting the song, Patel claimed the choirs members were political prisoners and the track was produced by like-minded Americans who wanted to . . . destroy the two-tier system of justice that is rotting America. As Special Counsel Jack Smiths office revealed in a motion on presidential immunity and its final report, however, the J6 Prison Choir included at least several January 6th defendants who pleaded guilty to attacking law enforcement officers. Yet Patel declined to identify the choirs members when asked by reporters.

Taken together, this evidence should be disqualifying. Patel has suggested that the FBI planned January 6th, has portrayed violent January 6th rioters as victims of the justice system, and has openly questioned whether the pipe bomb outside the DNC was a government ruse.

While such conspiracy theories might be expected on the fringes of the internet, they should not be promoted by the nominee to head Americas premier law enforcement agency.

Share
KALVESTA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting on improvements planned for Kansas Highway 156 in Finney and Hodgeman counties.

The department says the state is investing over $100 million in highway infrastructure in Finney and Hodgeman County to improve safety and help spur economic growth across Kansas.

The project includes the pavement widening along K-156, starting four miles west of Jetmore and extending eastbound for 15 miles to 228 Road near Hanston, along with a bridge replacement.

Ogallala Aquifer drops by more than a foot in parts of western Kansas

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will begin with a presentation and end with a question-and-answer session with KDOT staff. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kalvesta Methodist Church, 32740 E. K-156, in Kalvesta.

For more information about the project, 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 KSN-TV.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The annual Kemp Forum was held at LSU Shreveports theater on Tuesday, and the universitys chancellor, Dr. Robert Smith, said enrollment numbers have gone up substantially in every category.

For the first time in LSU Shreveports history, enrollment topped 10,000 in the spring semester of 2024. By autumn, enrollment had risen to above 10,800. Now, it appears the university will have more than 11,000 students enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, though the figures cannot be official until the second spring session begins.

Smith said he projects a 5% overall growth in enrollment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every sector of our enrollment is projected to grow  four percent in undergraduate, seven percent in graduate, six percent in face-to-face students, and a nine percent growth in the number of credit hours, said Smith. And were also blowing by our recruiting goals for applications for Fall 2025.

LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith addresses local and regional legislators as well as LSUS faculty and staff Tuesday at the annual Kemp Forum, which serves as an update to the community. Smith said LSUS is projected to top 11,000 enrollment once spring semester numbers are finalized in March. Image provided by LSU Shreveport.

Growth in enrollment at LSU Shreveport can also be measured in the number of students in their graduating classes. In December, the university shattered another recordthe most students to earn a degree in one semester. LSU Shreveport is second only to LSU-Baton Rouge in the number of degrees awarded in December.

Approximately half of LSU Shreveport graduates are the children of parents who never attained four-year degrees.

Statistics show that LSU Shreveport students are from all 50 U.S. states and at least 80 countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And smith said that LSU Shreveports online graduate programs are key to the universitys sustained growth. In the past year, the university has added to new masters degrees in psychology.

Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux chats with LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith on Tuesday at LSUSs annual Kemp Forum, which serves as an update to the community. Smith said LSUS is projected to top 11,000 enrollment once spring semester numbers are finalized in March. Image provided by LSU Shreveport.

New bachelors degree programs in healthcare administration, cyber psychology, and legal studies are also being developed.

More than 2000 of LSU Shreveports online students are Louisiana residents. And the majority of the universitys undergraduates call Louisiana home.

Smith attributes the universitys success with the development of programs that Louisiana students want that also meet the regions workforce needs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve also been recognized for our signature focus on student success, and that comes from the dedication of faculty and staff.

Rising enrollment figures allow LSU Shreveport to hire more faculty and staff and further support existing programs.

An endowment from Dr. George A. Kemp and his wife Rita makes the annual Kemp Forum at LSU Shreveport possible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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:

Comparative outcomes of endovascular therapy and medical management across clinical trials. Credit: Stroke (2024). DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000481

The University of Cincinnati's Pooja Khatri spoke with Medscape on a new American Heart Association advisory recommending endovascular therapy (EVT) as a treatment for patients with large-core ischemic strokes.

The advisory was published in the journal Stroke, and Khatri was a co-author.

EVT is a minimally invasive procedure for acute ischemic stroke patients that uses a catheter to remove a clot from a blood vessel in the brain, which restores blood flow. Patients with strokes with a large ischemic core were previously not considered candidates for EVT because of concerns of an increased risk of hemorrhage, disability and death, but six recent trials provided evidence of its benefit.

"These trials provide new data to suggest that selected patients with ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusions should be treated with EVT," Khatri, MD, vice chair of research and division chief in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine at UC's College of Medicine; associate director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute; and codirector of NIH StrokeNet's National Coordinating Center, told Medscape.

"These findings ran counter to prior thinking and guidelines, so we wanted to bring this important treatment opportunity to the attention of practicing clinicians," she added.

More information: Nestor R. Gonzalez et al, Large-Core Ischemic Stroke Endovascular Treatment: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association, Stroke (2024). DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000481 Journal information: Stroke
A Kennedy could soon serve in a Cabinet position once againbut new claims from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s cousin on the eve of his confirmation hearing threaten to tear the political dynasty apart.

Kennedy, a former independent candidate for president and President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faces a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesdaybut his family members have consistently spoken out against his nomination.

Caroline Kennedy, Kennedys cousin and the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, finally broke her silence on Tuesday in a letter sent to senators obtained by the Daily Beast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy said she had previously held back from speaking publicly because she was serving as U.S. ambassador to Australia during the election campaign season and because they are a close generation of 28 cousins who have been through a lot together. But now that her Kennedy kin is involved with the Trump administration, Kennedy said she felt an obligation to speak out.

PREDATOR

Kennedy condemned her cousin as a predator and said he was unqualified for the role. He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience, she wrote. His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed. These facts alone should be disqualifying.

Later, she expanded on what she meant by the label. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick childrenvaccinating his own children while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.

She also noted her cousins alleged involvement in an anti-vaccine group that met on the Pacific island nation of Samoa shortly before a deadly measles outbreak in 2019.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks with Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally in Georgia. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images

PAST DRUG ABUSE

Kennedy commended her cousins strength and discipline for overcoming drug addiction, but also accused him of setting her family members down his same path. Siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr. descended into substance abuse after his fathers tragic assassination in 1968, when he was 14. His cousin claimed that his basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available.

ANIMAL CRUELTY

Kennedy is a longtime falconer, and during the campaign season his past interactions with wildlife continued to draw headlinesincluding his bizarre tale of leaving a dead bear carcass in Central Park, as well as a resurfaced story about beheading a dead whale while on a trip with his family.

On Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy added to this list with her own story about how he fed his raptors. He enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, Caroline wrote. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

Donald Trumps Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines shake hands as they depart the presidents inauguration ceremony. / CHIP SOMODEVILLA / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

JFK WOULD BE DISGUSTED

In her letter to senators, Kennedy echoed the concerns her family had been voicing for months. We are a close family and none of this is easy to say. It also wasnt easy to remain silent last year when Bobby expropriated my fathers image and distorted President Kennedys legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaignand then grovelled to Donald Trump for a job, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members of the Kennedy clan were previously outraged when a Super PAC aired a Super Bowl ad for his independent campaign for the presidency copying one run by John F. Kennedy over 60 years prior.

Bobby continues to grandstand off my fathers assassination and that of his own father, Kennedy continued. Its incomprehensible to me that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be put in charge of Americas life-and-death situations.

KENNEDY CLAN AGREES

Caroline Kennedys son, the sometimes controversial Jack Schlossberg, immediately came out in her support. Im so proud of my courageous mother, whos lived a life of dignity, integrity and service, he wrote in a post on X , sharing a video of her reading the letter she submitted.

RFK Jr., a lifelong Democrat, initially launched a campaign for the partys presidential nomination, challenging incumbent Joe Biden. He dropped the bid after facing steep resistance within the party, and kicked off an independent bid for the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By this point, multiple members of the Kennedy clan had come out in opposition to their wayward relative, including his sisters Kerry and Rory and his brother Christopher.

In August, he again shocked members of his family when he suspended his independent campaign and endorsed Trump .

Kerry, RFK Jr.s sister and the president of the human rights organization named after their father, condemned the endorsement as a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold dear.

In later appearances on cable news shows , she called her brothers pivot to the Republican nominee gaudy and obscene. His brother, Max Kennedy, later penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times condemning the endorsement.

WHAT RFK JR. SAYS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Care New England is reinstating masking requirements for patients, staff and visitors at Kent and Butler hospitals due to an uptick in respiratory illnesses.

Universal masking is implemented within Care New England when key epidemiologic markers reach predefined levels, Care New England explained in a statement.

Butler Hospital has already reinstated its mask mandate, according to Care New England. Kent Hospital will begin enforcing its mask mandate Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RELATED: Brown University Health reinstates masking requirements

Though masks are not routinely required at other Care New England facilities, they will be readily available for staff, patients and visitors who choose to wear them.

Care New England said it will continue to monitor indicators of respiratory illness and adjust its requirements accordingly.

This comes roughly one week after Brown University Health and CharterCARE issued mask mandates at their facilities.

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.
Children in state care from all over Kentucky must be lodged in offices before an appropriate foster placement can be found, the auditor's officer reports. Most of those housed in offices were boys and the average stay during the four months under study was four days. (Getty Images)

FRANKFORT  A preliminary report from the Kentucky Office of the Ombudsman says dozens of foster children  including a 1-year-old  have spent an average of four days in Cabinet for Health and Family Services office buildings over a four month period in 2024.

Auditor Allison Ball

This finding comes about three months after Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball announced the Office of the Ombudsman would investigate complaints about foster children in Kentucky sleeping in office buildings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ball said on Tuesday that the ombudsman would continue to investigate and look for solutions, including barriers to finding foster homes for the children.

That investigation should cover not only children staying in state office buildings but also hotels, state parks, out of state or other nontraditional placements, the report states. Barriers to placement should be further examined to determine why these children are not being placed. The (ombudsman) should further research the conditions under which the children are housed when housed in a nontraditional placement.

The 14-page report, released Tuesday, says:

Since June, 49 children have spent a combined 198 days in a CHFS building. This excludes those who were housed in other places, like state parks or hotels, and only looked at those who spent nights in Department for Community Based Services office spaces.

The average stay was 4.04 days.

About half of these children spent one day.

The longest stay spent by a child in a CHFS building was 35 days during the examination period, which was June 10 to October 29, 2024. This happened in Boone County.

Six children spent 10 or more days in a CHFS building.

The average age was 13.

Six children were under 10.

The youngest was 1.

Twelve children spent five or more days in such a building.

Six children spent 10 or more days.

Three service regions accounted for 70% of children in CHFS office buildings.

The Two Rivers Service Region had the highest number of children housed during the examined period, accounting for 13 children (26% of cases) across counties including Daviess, Warren and Henderson.

Kenton County and Hardin County housed six children each, the highest number of children across all 120 counties.

Jefferson County housed two children.

The majority were male.

A spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said in a statement that cabinet staff continue to take action to address the challenges that come with placing youth with behavioral problems and severe mental or a history of violence or sexual aggression with foster families or facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were working to provide more funding to secure additional safe, short-term care options for youth, and weve publicly addressed this multiple times with lawmakers, Kendra Steele, the cabinets executive director of the Office of Public Affairs, said in a statement. Just today, we filed an emergency regulation to increase funding that will support many of these children. Kentuckians interested in becoming a foster parent should visit adopt.ky.gov.

Terry Brooks, the executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said he was most surprised by the regional breakdown.

I think going into it, most people would have thought it was Louisville and Lexington  where all these cases emanated from, he said.

Terry Brooks

The currently available data suggests the state may need a customized-by-region response to the issue, Brooks said..

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The kids in question are complicated, difficult, tough cases. I mean, theyre kids, for instance, with a track record of aggression. They are kids who have high risk of even more trauma. So were not talking about easy cases, Brooks said. And the bottom line is, weve got to get real about what supports do agencies and families need?

Brooks said it will take meaningful incentives for families to fully support these children. And it will take finding families with a passion for high-needs children.

You have to combine  heart and reality. You could put all the money in the world on a table and if a family doesnt have the heart and soul, then its not going to work, he said. By the same token, heart and soul alone isnt going to cut it, either. And so weve just got to be realistic that there is a yin and yang. There is the ethical commitment to these kids, but then theres the practical supports.

The data discovered by the Ombudsman revealed deeply concerning issues impacting foster children across Kentucky  not just in Jefferson County, Ball said in a statement. The data reveals children, as young as one-year-old, are spending extended periods of time in CHFS offices.The systemic failures need urgent action; therefore, I advise launching a more thorough investigation to find innovative solutions to build a brighter future for foster children across the Commonwealth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brooks said having an independent ombudsman has also allowed Kentucky to get a more objective analysis.

In 2023, the legislature enacted a law moving the ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the auditors office. The change took effect July 1, 2024.

I dont think it should be lost that the concept of an independent ombudsman was not without controversy when it was enacted, Brooks said.

The data presented in this initial report needs to be expanded upon, Brooks said, but its an important first analysis.

I just want to applaud the auditor. This is, I think, the first time Ive seen a state auditor become a catalyst for Kentucky kids, Brooks said. So I think the fact that she tackled this is commendable.



SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Kentucky Capitol. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

The American Lung Association gave Kentucky mostly failing grades when it comes to preventing tobacco use  and helping people access recovery  in a 2025 report released Wednesday.

The new State of Tobacco Control report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate use and recommends proven-effective control laws and policies to save lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It says Kentucky lawmakers should require merchants who sell nicotine products to have licenses to do so.

This is at least partially in line with what Lebanon Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon wants to do during the 2025 legislative session. Higdon told a committee in November that he would file legislation to license all sellers of tobacco or vape products, giving the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) the same enforcement authority over businesses that sell nicotine products as those that sell alcohol, including the power to enter the businesses without warrants.

He has yet to file the bill, but still intends to, according to a Senate Republican spokesman. The legislature is on break but returns to Frankfort Feb. 4 to finish the 2025 session.

The lung association also wants Kentucky to provide for and fund specific enforcement measures and establish a meaningful penalty structure for underage sales violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shannon Baker, the advocacy director at the American Lung Association in Kentucky, said in a statement that policymakers in Kentucky must focus on requiring retail licenses to sell nicotine products and increasing funding for youth quit-smoking programs this year.

In addition to grading Kentuckys policies, this years State of Tobacco Control report examines the industrys increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to nicotine and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce use, Baker said in a statement.

Here in Kentucky, we are seeing industry lobbyists at the state and local levels working to stop or weaken proven nicotine control policies, she said. The industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers.

Kentuckys report card from the American Lung Association. (Screenshot)

Tobacco use takes an especially high toll in Kentucky, where smoking and lung cancer rates exceed those in the rest of the nation.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 17% of Kentucky adults smoke vs. 11% nationally. In Kentucky, 5% of high school students smoke and almost 20% use e-cigarettes, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Smoking costs the state more than $2 billion every year in health complications, according to the campaign.

Smoking is also a leading cause of preventable death across the country, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

What do these grades mean?

Michael Seilback is the assistant vice president of state public policy for the American Lung Association. (Photo provided)

Michael Seilback, the assistant vice president of state public policy for the American Lung Association, said the poor grades are due in large part to Kentucky not spending enough on cessation and prevention. The report card puts the state toward the bottom in the country, he told the Lantern.

Kentucky received grades that by no account would be a report card that anybody would want to bring home, Seilback said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The State of Tobacco report gives Kentucky these grades:

Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs  F. This grade is because Kentucky spends only a small portion of what it should on tobacco control, Seilback said. Overall, it spends about $50 million less than what it needs to, he said.

Strength of Smoke Free Workplace Laws  F. The lung association wants to see comprehensive protections in place that guarantee no one will be exposed to secondhand smoke in their place of employment, Seilback said. He believes a 2025 House Bill could undermine this by overriding local control. This bill says local ordinances restricting smoking will not apply to the interior of cigar bars.

Level of State Tobacco Taxes  F. Kentuckys tax rate for a 20-pack of cigarettes is $1.10, which Seilback said is much lower than other states (some charge $5) and the national average. Increasing this could deter consumption, he said.

Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco  C. Kentucky offers comprehensive coverage for cessation medication and counseling through Medicaid, Seilback said, which is really important. Hurting Kentuckys grade here is the amount of money the state spends per smoker: 98 cents.

Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products  F. Kentucky hasnt done enough to limit flavored tobacco products, Seilback said, which attract younger people and mask the harshness of the chemicals and toxins that are in these products.

What has Kentucky done, and where does it go from here?

Kentuckys report card from the American Lung Association. (Screenshot)

In 2024, the state legislature passed a law aimed at curbing underage vaping by limiting sales to authorized products or those that have a safe harbor certification based on their status with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The bill was backed by Altria, the countrys largest manufacturer of cigarettes which also markets FDA-approved vape products. Altria has spent more than $500,000 lobbying the Kentucky legislature since January 2022, according to records filed with the Legislative Ethics Commission.

The American Lung Associations stance is that this law was a missed opportunity, a failed opportunity, Seilback said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We dont believe that its going to have the effect that others might have, he added.

The law faced an unsuccessful constitutional challenge that argued it was too broad and arbitrary. It went into effect Jan. 1. Some have argued it does little more than harm businesses while others say it didnt go far enough to stop youth from accessing the products.

The argument that crackdowns on tobacco sales are anti-business isnt unique to Kentucky, Seilback said. In fact, theres probably not a state we dont hear that argument.

But, he said, there is a cost to Kentucky because of tobacco use.

Its important to remember that the cost of addiction and the cost of tobacco to our state is significant, he said. Theres health care costs, theres lost days of work. And so we shouldnt think about these things in such a black and white way because the costs are tremendous. And, in states and localities that have regulated tobacco products, we have not seen the economic harm that is often presented by opponents to these laws.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Jan. 28WANAMINGO, Minn.  The elementary school in Wanamingo will close its doors before the start of next year as a result of declining enrollment.

That means all the district's students will attend classes in Kenyon beginning next school year.

The district's school board voted on the issue on Monday, Jan. 27, bringing a close to a conversation that had been just over a year in the making.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Generations of students, staff, and families have walked its halls, building memories and traditions that are an integral part of our district's story," Superintendent Beth Giese wrote in a letter to the community. "The Wanamingo site has been more than just a building  it has been a place where young minds have grown, friendships have formed, and futures have been shaped."

The resolution the school board approved on Monday cited declining enrollment and the subsequent loss of revenue as a reason for the closure. The school district first began discussing the issue in December 2023.

Wanamingo is roughly 30 miles northwest of Rochester and has a population of 1,113. Kenyon is located 11 miles to the west of that, and has a population of 1,894.

Closing the building is expected to save the school district $700,000 a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to the cost of daily operations, the elementary school building itself was also in need of repair. In June 2024, the Kenyon Leader reported that on top of the prospect of having to repair an aging roof, the elementary school building "could need millions more in repairs, upgrades and replacements."

The school will close by June 30, 2025.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, there are 217 elementary students in the Kenyon-Wanamingo elementary school.

Although all the district's students will be under one roof, it won't be a tight squeeze. According to Giese, the building they will move into is able to accommodate 1,100 students. District-wide, there are 674 students total, meaning there will still be room to spare even after the elementary students move in with their older counterparts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What will happen with the elementary school building is yet to be determined.

"I think we'll be very thoughtful about how we close the building," Giese said. "We will keep the building looking really nice and upkept for obvious reasons if we do want to sell it."

The full statement from Superintendent Beth Giese is below:

January 28, 2025

Dear Kenyon-Wanamingo Families, Staff, and Community Members,

It is with a heavy heart that I share an important decision regarding the future of our schools. After careful consideration and extensive discussions with stakeholders, the Kenyon-Wanamingo School Board has made the difficult decision to permanently close the elementary site in Wanamingo, effective Fall 2025. This decision was not made lightly and reflects our responsibility to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of our district.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We understand the deep ties many of you have to this site. Generations of students, staff, and families have walked its halls, building memories and traditions that are an integral part of our district's story. The Wanamingo site has been more than just a buildingit has been a place where young minds have grown, friendships have formed, and futures have been shaped.

As we move forward, we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for our students, families, and staff. The K-4 program will be consolidated into the Kenyon site beginning in Fall 2025. We are actively working on detailed plans to ensure a seamless transition.

We recognize that this news may bring mixed emotions. While there is sadness in saying goodbye to the Wanamingo site, there is also a resolve to focus our resources on strengthening educational opportunities for all Kenyon-Wanamingo students. Our theme for this school year, Igniting Potential, Inspiring Excellence, reminds us that change, though challenging, can be a spark for growth and innovation.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our district. Your partnership is essential as we navigate this transition and continue to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or ideas. Together, we will honor our past while embracing the future with courage and determination.

Warmest regards,

Beth Giese

Superintendent

Kenyon-Wanamingo School District
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Kevin Dahlgren, the former Gresham outreach worker who was arrested in November for stealing the identities of the homeless people he served, was jailed on Jan. 29 after pleading guilty to two felony charges.

Dahlgren pled guilty to one felony count of first-degree theft, one felony count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of first-degree official misconduct  a misdemeanor.

Man found dead on Mt. Hood after not returning from hike

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On or between Oct. 15, 2020 and March 23, 2021, in Multnomah County, Oregon, on 10 occasions, I, with intent to deceive, made up identities and wrote the made-up names on receipts representing that they were the names of people who had received the items listed on the receipts, the guilty plea reads. This count constitutes part of a common scheme or plan based on two or more transactions.

4.2 magnitude earthquake strikes off Washingtons northwest coast

Dahlgren was sentenced to five days in jail, 60 months of formal probation and 360 hours of community service for his crimes. As part of his guilty plea, all remaining charges filed against Dahlgren were dismissed.

Dahlgren is also required to pay the City of Gresham $16,511 through monthly payments of $250.

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.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  The parents of a local TV journalist who was fatally shot while reporting on a killing in central Florida in 2023 have filed a negligence lawsuit against their son's former employer, claiming the media company didn't do enough to protect him.

The parents of Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons filed the lawsuit Tuesday in state court in Orlando. It seeks monetary damages against Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum, on behalf of the journalist's estate.

The lawsuit said Lyons wasn't given any security or protective equipment even though he was at a crime scene where a woman had been shot and the suspect was still at large.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spectrum said in an email Wednesday that the claims were unfounded and it would seek to have them dismissed.

"Dylans murder was an unforeseeable and horrible tragedy," Spectrum said. With regards to these specific allegations, Dylan was the victim of a senseless act of violence.

Lyons and cameraman Jesse Walden were covering the killing of a woman when the suspect approached and shot them. Lyons was killed and Walden was wounded. Just minutes earlier, the suspect had broken into a nearby home and fatally shot a 9-year-old girl and wounded her mother, authorities said.

The suspect, Keith Moses, was later charged with murder in the deaths of Lyons, the woman and the girl. He has pleaded not guilty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although Spectrum requires its reporters and videographers to go to high-crime areas, the company doesn't provide them with personal protection measures or security personnel, according to the lawsuit.

"Journalists face an increasing threat of violence due to their work," the lawsuit said.

Bruce Shapiro, who edited a 2017 report about journalist safety training, said in an email Wednesday that it was undeniable that local reporting has become more dangerous in the United States.

Not only crime reporters but investigative journalists, local political reporter, even television meteorologists have endured unprecedented abuse, harassment, and violent attacks, said Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2017 report was focused on war and crisis reporters, but since that time, there has been much wider recognition of local newsrooms duty of care to the safety of staff, but theres little consensus on what that looks like, he said.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.
KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44)  The Career and Technical Association of Texas (CTAT) has named the Killeen Independent School District (ISD) a CTE District of Distinction.

The CTE District of Distinction program acknowledges districts which excel in developing educational offerings aligned with workforce needs and ensuring student success.

Killeen ISD was selected based on its robust programming and significant student achievement. All CTE courses are housed at the Killeen ISD Career Center, where students receive hands-on training in fields such as cosmetology, welding, veterinary science, culinary arts, and more.

With 33 programs and 71 industry-recognized certifications, the Career Center plays a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We like to say that students are leaving us prepared and competitive, and then that means that they can go out and just be, they can compete with anybody, said Patrice Robinson, Director of Career and Technical Education. Our CTSOs career and technical student organizations help to prepare students for those skills, technical skills, soft skills because it is preparing them for career development.

The districts commitment to providing real-world experience has paid off as many alumni return to teach the next generation of students, often in the same fields in which they were trained.

Senior Elena Rivira, who is enrolled in the cosmetology program, sees the value of her training in both her college and career plans, The biggest thing is Im going to college, and this is going to be a great help for me, an investment to start making money as Im going to school.

Many students like Elena have already started building clientele and landing jobs in their fields before graduation. Money Lewis, a senior has landed a job at a local hair salon.

This is a good opportunity to go in and learn more about hair and what I want to do, Lewis said, explaining how the cosmetology program has helped her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sophomore Jenna Mercado, who is studying welding, expressed the challenges and benefits of her training, I think its going to be hard, like when I get out, but at the same time its training me for the real world.

The Killeen ISD Career Center, which opened in 2012, has been part of the districts long-standing commitment to career readiness.

Many of the instructors, like welding instructor Zachary Dees, are alumni who have returned to give back to the program that helped shape their careers, It feels really good. Im glad to be a part of the program that I went through.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its really good to be back in, and the technology has come a long way since I was a student.

For Dees, his goal is to give students the same opportunity he had to grow, When you teach them and they struggle at it, and then they get the concept down, it brings a smile to their faces and to mine.

With a focus on both academic and hands-on learning, Killeen ISD continues to prepare students for success in a competitive world, ensuring they leave the Career Center not just with certifications, but with confidence in their future careers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for "indefinitely" strengthening his regime's nuclear weapons capacity, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang continues to demonstrate its growing military prowess amid U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Kim made the remark as he reviewed the production of weapons-grade nuclear material at a facility and received updates on long-term plans for the sector, state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

Images released by KCNA show the North Korean leader conferring with a team of officials among long rows of cylindrical centrifuges inside an industrial warehouse. The centrifuges appear similar to those seen in Kim's September visit to a new uranium enrichment site used to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The DPRK's security situation, the world's most unstable situation in which a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable, makes it indispensable for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield," Kim said, according to KCNA.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

Kim stressed the need to "achieve epochal successes in overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials."

"It is our firm political and military stand and invariable noble task and duty to develop the state's nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely," Kim said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Korea has staged a series of provocations since the beginning of the year, firing what it claims is a new hypersonic missile as well as a salvo of short-range missiles ahead of Trump's inauguration.

Pyongyang's latest show of nuclear capacity comes amid speculation that Trump may look to revive negotiations with Kim. During his first term, Trump held two high-profile summits with the North Korean leader and met him briefly a third time at the DMZ.

The diplomatic outreach failed to result in a nuclear deal, however, and Pyongyang has accelerated the development of its weapons programs in the intervening years.

On his first day back in the Oval Office, Trump touted his relationship with Kim and surprised allies by acknowledging Pyongyang's nuclear status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I was very friendly with [Kim]," Trump told reporters during a press availability. "He liked me, I liked him. We got along very well."

"Now, he is a nuclear power," Trump said. "I think he'll be happy to see I'm coming back."

The U.S. president repeated his intention to reach out to Kim in an interview last week with Fox News host Sean Hannity, claiming that he "solved" the problem of the North Korean threat during his first term.

"[Kim] is not a religious zealot," Trump said. "He happens to be a smart guy."

Last week, the North declared itself "a responsible nuclear weapons state" at a U.N. disarmament conference in Geneva while blaming the United States for an "astronomical amount of arms buildup and undisguised nuclear proliferation."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Korea has been quick to dismiss the possibility of accepting North Korea's nuclear status, which is granted only to five countries under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT.

"North Korea's status as a nuclear state cannot be recognized, and North Korea's denuclearization must continue to be pursued as a prerequisite for permanent peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also around the world," Seoul's Defense Ministry said earlier this month.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday that the White House still aims to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear program.

"President Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, just as he did in his first term," National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told the agency.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  In October 2024, All Kind Animal Initiative relocated to a new building, providing much-needed space for their growing population of animals. But just four months later, the shelter is operating at full capacity, even utilizing administrative areas to house animals. As a result, theyve had to temporarily stop accepting new intakes.

All Kind Initiative Shelter introduces new building

Kelly McCoy, Executive Director of All Kind, explained that with litter season fast approaching  the time when most kittens and puppies are born  they dont anticipate the situation lightening up anytime soon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Right now, were seeing a lot of dogs coming in from the community, whether they be stray or they just be lost pets. We are still seeing some litters of puppies coming in. Thats about to ramp up, McCoy explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All Kind is currently classified as a kill shelter, but theyre working hard to change that status. McCoy told KTAB/KRBC that achieving this goal depends on how the community steps up during critical times like these.

Technically, no-kill; thats a 90% save rate. We are hovering around 85%, McCoy said. Our future is to be and maintain a no-kill save rate. Right now, we do everything in our power to avoid having to euthanize pets in our care. To do that, we really have to engage the community and get the animals out at a faster rate.

Overload at All Kind: Animal Shelter Sees Large Influx of Animals

McCoy emphasized that the best ways the community can support the shelter are by fostering, adopting, and ensuring pets are spayed or neutered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We definitely recommend fostering if you have space in your home that you can open up to bring an animal, even short term. Also, keep your animals confined in your yard or your homes (so) theyre not roaming the streets and accidentally picked up as a stray. Spaying and neutering your pets, McCoy listed. Were doing everything we can, but it really will take a community to make a difference.

All Kind currently offers vouchers to help with spaying and neutering pets. You can visit their website for more information on their initiatives and fostering 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.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:

A commercial turkey flock in North Carolina has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday.

The affected flock is in Sampson County and is the second case in the state this year, according to WRAL-TV in Raleigh. The first was detected in Hyde County earlier this month.

"It's been kind of alarming, the number of cases we've seen across the country," Dr. Michael Martin, a veterinarian at North Carolina State University, told WRAL. "We had 28 states across the country that were involved  which is really large for this time of year."

More than 107 flocks across the country have tested positive for the virus so far this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

What's more, 67 cases of bird flu in humans have been confirmed in the U.S., primarily among people who had close contact with infected dairy herds and poultry.

One person has died, however, health officials continue to assess that the risk to the general public remains low.

The USDA says there is currently no evidence that humans can get bird flu from eating poultry or eggs. But experts stress that people working around birds should take precautions, such as washing hands and changing clothes after contact.

"I'm seeing reports of this is going to be the next pandemic and everybody gets very scared, very fast," Martin told WRAL. "There is no clear clear indicator right now that this poses human threat  that could change, but right now it isn't there."

Bird flu outbreaks have contributed to rising egg prices soaring around at the country. The USDA estimates that infected flocks contribute to these rising egg prices, as the virus can reduce egg production and cause deformed shells.

Nationwide, the average price for a dozen eggs is $4.15, according to a SoFi report, and the USDA expects prices to rise another 20% this year.

Outbreaks have also affected prices for turkey, milk and chicken. The USDA has spent $1.14 billion compensating farmers for birds lost to the virus, with another $576 million spent on outbreak response efforts, according to WRAL.

Martin stated that North Carolinians won't be affected by the outbreak in Sampson Countywhich is up to 1,800 birdsbut other outbreaks could begin to add up.

"1,800 birds on a breeder flock is not going to affect supply chains, but then you think about this from the last 30 days of 100-plus farms being affected across the country, those things add up," he said.

He also said it's hard to predict when the outbreak will ease.

"We had one point in time in October 2023 during this outbreak, where we were looking back and comparing our numbers from the previous year and thought, 'Hey, we're getting out of this,' " Martin concluded. "Then Thanksgiving came and we had another spike nationally...I think we need to just wait and see."

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updates on the bird flu.

Copyright  2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Looks like King Charles is in the mood to be generous, because hes reportedly considering letting Kate Middleton bestow royal warrantswhich (per the royal website) are a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the Royal Household.

And um, if that means nothing to you: Basically, bestowing a royal warrant, Kate is essentially signaling that she approves of a brandand their revenue will likely go up due to her influence. Meanwhile, the last Princess of Wales to have the power to issue royal warrants was Queen Mary 115 years ago, so this is a pretty big deal.

According to royal expert Hilary Fordwich, who spoke to Fox, this prestigious endorsement is likely happening sooner rather than later and signals King Charles IIIs faith in Catherine. Shell have increasing influence as she is being groomed for such responsibilities. This is due to her poise, intelligence, tact and reliability as he is gradually delegating responsibilities to the next generation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, royal expert Ian Pelham Turner says that The Kate Effect, which has led to over $1 billion sales in British fashion, could be one of many reasons for King Charles to offer his daughter-in-law the ability to issue royal warrants.

WPA Pool - Getty Images

As for who Kate will award a royal warrant to, Pelham Turner says, Alexander McQueen, Kates go-to fashion house, is one contender, now led by Sarah Burton, who produced her Victorian lace style wedding dress.Catherine Walker and Jenny Packham are other strong contenders as their fashion has added to the style of the Princess of Wales during the past decade. It is also said Strathberry, the handbag designer, is on speed dial for all major occasions, and Catherine Zoraida for jewelry. Certainly, as I have been writing recently, William and Kate are becoming more prominent in creating decisions about a younger style monarchy and focusing The Firm brand toward the future.

Meanwhile, Fordwhich notes that Kates impact on sales is valued at approximately 4 billion, or almost $5 billion, to the British fashion industry. Her wardrobe choices result in an immediate sales surge.



You Might Also Like
Hear ye, hear ye! Theres a new royal baby, ladies and gents, and King Charles III is delighted by the news. Princess Beatrice  daughter of the Kings brother Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson  just welcomed her second baby girl with husband Edoardo Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and were obsessed with her powerful name.

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the royal family announced the safe arrival of Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. Little Athena clearly has a mind of her own, possibly showing up several weeks early, per People. And is that really any wonder when shes named after two trailblazing women? Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, and Elizabeth honors the newborns great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

More from SheKnows

Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend the Art Of Wishes Gala 2023 at The OWO Raffles Hotel on October 9, 2023 in London, England.

Athena shares the middle name with her 3-year-old big sister Sienna and joins her 8-year-old half-brother, Christopher Woolf Wolfie who Edo shares with ex Dara Huang.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news, Buckingham Palace said. Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athenas older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna, the announcement continued.

This announcement seemed to go off without a hitch after Buckingham Palace flubbed Princess Beatrices pregnancy announcement in October. The royal oopsie involved calling Beatrice Her Royal Highess  proving that even royals make spelling mistakes. The original also said that Baby No. 2 would arrive in early spring, while the corrected statement said early in the new year. So its hard to know if Athena actually arrived before her due date, or if thats just lingering confusion from the botched pregnancy announcement.

Edo shared his own celebratory birth announcement today. [Athena] is tiny and absolutely perfect, the dad of three wrote on Instagram. We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena. , he continued.

Athena is 11th in the line of succession to the British throne, but she likely wont be named a princess. Instead, she will defer to her fathers Italian nobility and become a contessa. We cant wait to see all the great things that are in store for little Contessa Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

Congratulations to the sweet family of five!

Check out these divinely gorgeous goddess names from around the world.



Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shown here speaking at a Michigan campaign rally for President Donald Trump on Nov. 1, could be confirmed as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, though hes facing pushback from both abortion-rights supporters and opponents. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Donald Trumps decision to tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the nations top health agency has elicited criticism from abortion-rights supporters and opponents. Kennedys confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee is set to begin today at 10 a.m. ET.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary oversees agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  crucial to gathering reproductive health data across the nation  and the Food and Drug Administration, the authority that under the Biden administration approved the first-over-the-counter birth control pill and loosened restrictions on mifepristone, an abortion medication.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra directed hospital officials that received Medicare funding to offer medically necessary abortions, even in states where abortion is banned. Its unclear what position the Trump administration will take on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law at the center of court battles over life-saving abortion care.

Kennedy, who is also a noted vaccine skeptic, supported abortion rights during his presidential bid, but he has been somewhat mum on the issue since joining Trumps circle.

Before dropping out of the race for the White House, Kennedy released a video in June about his abortion stance: Abortion has become a notoriously divisive issue in America, and many of my critics have painted me as some kind of extremist. But actually I support the emerging consensus in this country: its that abortion should be legal up until a certain number of weeks and restricted thereafter, he said.

I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point. I believe that point should be when a baby is viable outside the womb, Kennedy added. Fetal viability is around 24 weeks of pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which also strongly opposes policy makers defining viability or using viability as a basis to limit access to evidence-based care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A statement on Kennedys campaign site said he would support legislation to restore Roe v. Wade: Abortion is a tragedy, but I dont trust the government to make these decisions for Americans. Im for choice and medical freedom. We need to trust mothers to make the best decisions. We also need to give full support to mothers who want to bring babies to term.

In August 2023, he told NBC News that he would support a national 15-week or 21-week ban, but a spokesperson said he misheard the question.

His possible support for a federal ban has alarmed abortion-rights groups. RFK Jr. is an unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety, and reproductive freedom of American families, Mini Timmaraju, Reproductive Freedom for Alls president and CEO, said in a statement.

Despite his public stance on the issue, conservative senators who met with Kennedy last month said he is committed to anti-abortion policies. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican on the Senate Health Committee scoping the nominee on Thursday, said Kennedy wants to reinstate a ban on Title X funding going to organizations that promote abortion. And U.S. Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said he talked with the scion about pro-life priorities at HHS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some abortion-rights opponents are less optimistic. Advancing American Freedom, former Vice President Mike Pences group, has encouraged senators to vote no on Kennedys confirmation. The organization has also ran ads against the former presidential candidate.

There are hundreds of decisions made every day at HHS that either lead our nation toward a respect for life or away from it  decisions about federal funding for Planned Parenthood, regulations on the abortion pill (currently accounting for three out of every five abortions), insurance coverage of abortion, and more, Tim Chapman, the groups president, and Marc Short, chairman of the board, said in a letter sent to Republican senators on Jan. 14.

Subscribe to States Newsrooms free Reproductive Rights newsletter.
Question : Regarding the Trump administrations freeze on federal grants, wont this hurt red states just as bad ?

Answer : A federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze before it could take effect Tuesday. But to your point, yes, President Donald Trump won nine of the 10 states most reliant on federal grants, according to a nationwide analysis of the share of state revenue from federal funding. By contrast, he lost seven of the 10 least dependent states, according to the report, which was based on fiscal year 2022 data and published in September by the Pew Charitable Trusts, . Hawaii was in the latter group, at No. 49.

The federal share of state revenue reflects how much funding states receive from the U.S. government to help pay for public services, such as health care, education and training, transportation, and infrastructure,  the report said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Louisiana was the most dependent, with 50.5 % of its state revenue coming from federal dollars, the report said, followed by Alaska (50.2 %), Arizona (49.7 %), South Dakota (49.4 %), Wyoming (49 %), Missouri (47 %), Kentucky (46.4 %), West Virginia (45.1 %), Mississippi (45.1 %) and Rhode Island (43.8 %), the report said. All but Rhode Island helped Trump win his second term.

Nationwide, federal grants were the second-largest source of state revenue, accounting for an average of 36.4 % of all money state governments collected in fiscal year 2022. The report found Hawaiis percentage of state revenue from federal funds that year was 25.9 %, below the national average and higher only than North Dakotas 22 %.

Nationwide, tax collections were states leading revenue source, accounting for an average 48.3 % of their total revenue. The rest came from service charges (such as public university tuition and road tolls ), local governments and miscellaneous fees, the report said.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in touch with breaking 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.

Pew said it assesses the federal share of state revenue because state and federal budgets are inseparably linked,  and any policy changes, major pieces of legislation, or disruptions in federal funding can affect state finances in many ways.

That was the case Tuesday, as state and local officials across the country scrambled to make sense of the Trump administrations order () to temporarily pause  trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans to ensure that the funding aligns with Trumps priorities. A federal judge in District Columbia temporarily blocked the order, in response to a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward, which argued it was unlawful. The judge is expected to issue a longer-term decision Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State leaders in Louisiana, which relies heavily on federal funding and where Trump won over 60 % of the vote in November, were among the Trump backers expressing concern Tuesday. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, state Treasurer John Fleming, Senate President Cameron Henry and Speaker Phillip DeVillier issued a joint statement : President Trump was elected on a mandate to cut government waste and increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar, a goal we wholeheartedly embrace. Our administration is thoroughly evaluating President Trumps new order and seeking clarity as to the depth of this action. We believe that we are placing adequate resources into the state coffers to ensure stability for the time being. We urge (the Office of Management and Budget ) to develop a responsible runway to untangle us from any unnecessary and egregious policies without jeopardizing the financial stability of the state.

Mahalo On Hawaiian Airlines Flight 7 on Jan. 1, I was coming home from Las Vegas and had a mild emergency that required medical attention. Thankfully, there were doctors on board to help me. I want to thank the flight attendants and doctors who took care of me and helped me land safely.Very, very grateful senior------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Wednesdays Top Stories

Wednesdays Five Facts

[1] Trump Administrations pause on federal grants sparks concern in New Mexico  New Mexicos congressional delegation is speaking out after President Trumps freeze on federal grants and loans. The order instructs federal agencies to temporarily pause grants and loans. New Mexicos federal lawmakers say the directive has the potential of sending dozens of local non-profits, medical providers, and others into a tailspin. While a judge put a stop to the funding pause until Monday, New Mexicos federal delegations said they believe some groups might still experiencing residual funding issues until early next week.

[2] Former U.S. Attorney speaks out on DWI Unit scandal  Former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez served as the chief federal law enforcement officer from 2014 to 2017. He says the DWI dismissal scandal is like nothing hes ever seen before. After Paralegal Rick Mendez admitted to his role in the scheme, Martinez believes more confessions will be on the way.

[3] Widespread snow and rain in northern New Mexico  A winter storm will move into New Mexico Wednesday. Scattered snow showers could bring over 6 to the mountains. Snow will start moving into western New Mexico, spreading into southern Colorado and northern New Mexico through the mid-morning. A couple isolated rain showers are likely around the Albuquerque Metro, with a chance for some light snow mixing in with the rain. Accumulating snowfall is likely in western and northern parts of the state, where 1 to 5 of snow is likely. While 5 to 10 of snow is likely in the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Rain and snow will end overnight Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[4] Bernalillo County approves plan to create housing development division  Bernalillo County Commissioners have approved a plan aimed at addressing affordable housing. The measure, sponsored by Barbara Baca, directs the county manager to research the funding and staffing needed to create a housing development services division. That division would oversee the acquisition, funding and construction of affordable housing.

[5] Albuquerque Academy senior launches online project focusing on suicide prevention  After a tragedy at his school, an Albuquerque Academy senior is working to help address mental health issues among his peers. Evan Chang was working on a project to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He was moved by the loss of a classmate who committed suicide during Evans freshman year. The first part of Evans Project was to create a large suicide prevention ribbon at the academy, using a collage of tiles on which students could share their sentiments of what inspires joy. In 2023, Chang began an internship with UNMs Project Echo and envisioned a project where other scout leaders could connect with their troupes about mental health.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 died Tuesday morning after being shot by a Kentucky State Police trooper who was responding to a domestic violence call, authorities said.

The trooper who arrived at a home near Morehead found Thomas Crouch Jr. armed with a knife kneeling over a female inside, state police said in a news release.

The officer shot Crouch, who died after being taken to UK St. Claire in Morehead. The shooting happened at about 11:30 a.m., state police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman was taken to St. Claire for injuries sustained in the domestic violence incident. She was later released, according to state police.

The Kentucky State Police said their Critical Incident Response Team is investigating, and findings regarding the incident are preliminary.
Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is among a group of new consultants from politics and finance joining a leading cryptocurrency advocate as the organization looks to significantly expand the use of crypto services during the Trump administration.

Coinbase Global Inc. announced Wednesday that Sinema was part of its global advisory council, along with Chris LaCivita, the co-campaign manager for President Donald Trumps 2024 reelection. Bill Dudley, the former president of the New York Fed, and Luis Alberto Moreno, an international finance expert, are also joining the council.

I think one of the most important things for the crypto community is to get a piece of legislation passed in both the House and Senate, in a bipartisan way, and signed by President Trump, Sinema told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported her new post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The good actors want a regulatory framework so they know where they can act and what to stay away from. It also provides an opportunity to police the bad actors.

The company welcomed Sinema and the others as some of the brightest minds across finance, tech, and politics."

Faryar Shirzad, Coinbases chief policy officer, said in a company statement: Our four new members are world-class leaders in their respective fields and we look forward to their contributions as the world enters a new era for crypto.

Cryptos fortunes may get a lift in an era dominated by Trump, who launched a meme coin days before reentering the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investor interest in that asset alone quickly topped $14 billion, though it has slumped back to $5 billion in market capitalization. A similar Melania Trump-themed token is worth $334 million.

Sinema, an independent who left office earlier this month after a single Senate term, had been on the Senates Commerce and Banking committees, two perches that gave her an outsized interest in the finance industry.

Her relations with the related crypto industry seemed to blossom in 2021 when she co-founded the Financial Innovation Caucus with Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.

The $1.2 trillion national infrastructure law that Sinema helped broker faced a significant snag at one point over a provision that helped shape regulations for the crypto industry. Revenues from regulation were intended to help fund the infrastructure measure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sinema raked in at least $500,000 from crypto-backed firms, according to a 2023 tally by the Intercept. She received nearly $10,000 from the CEO and an engineer with Coinbase in September 2023.

It was part of a campaign war chest heavily fueled by the finance industry in the period after Sinema quit the Democratic Party in late 2022 and was coy about seeking a second term as an independent.

Sinema continued to raise money throughout 2023, though she never really geared up for a campaign. Facing a deadline to qualify for the Arizona ballot, Sinema officially announced her retirement plan in March 2024.

In touting Sinemas resume, Coinbase identified Sinema as president and CEO of the Arizona Business Roundtable, a startup Sinema formally created with the Arizona Corporation Commission on the day she left office in Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Arizona Agenda reported that the Arizona Business Roundtable seeks to tout corporate views for members who buy a seat at the table for $250,000 each.

Complaint filed: Sen. Kyrsten Sinemas recent lavish travel expenses broke the law, watchdog group alleges

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sinema's post-politics future tied to crypto, business interests
The fallout from the devastating fires in Los Angeles continue in the region with untold structures lost, a still rising death toll, and scores of people attempting to put the pieces back together.

And over the weekend, rain fell across Southern California, which helped with the ongoing firefighting efforts amidst the lingering embers, but also funneled toxic runoff into the ocean.

Accordingly, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued an advisory:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Due to recent rainfall and the increase in fire debris along these ocean waters, an Ocean Water Closure has been declared for Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach. Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals.

Related: Malibu Surf Legend Randy The Craw Miod Perishes in Fires

When will the Ocean Water Closure be lifted? Dont hold your breath. The announcement added:

The closure will remain in effect until further notice. Beach users are cautioned to avoid water and sand contact.

Additionally, due to the rain, officials declared another water quality advisory:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory declared on January 26, 2025, will remain in effect at least until 8:00 am, Thursday, January 30, 2025, for all other Los Angeles County beaches. Beach users are cautioned to avoid water contact for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall. This advisory may be extended depending on further rainfall.

Once the rain advisory is lifted, the ocean water advisory for Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way will remain in effect due to fire debris runoff, which may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals, which can be harmful to health. This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand. Beach users are advised to stay away from any fire debris on the beach.

As most surfers know, surfing after a rain can lead to some nasty infections. But when you add in the chemicals used to fight the fire, and the debris from the wreckage, thats one toxic cocktail.
A request by L.A. County officials to temporarily waive state housing laws as residents rebuild in fire-ravaged swaths of unincorporated areas drew the ire of housing advocates, who accused the officials of skirting efforts at boosting affordable housing.

County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey Horvath, who represent districts blackened by this month's wildfires, put forward a motion Tuesday with 41 steps they want department heads to take to speed up the recovery process.

That included an ask to Gov. Gavin Newsom to temporarily exempt the county from some of the states most significant housing laws intended to speed up the creation of affordable housing, including parts of Senate Bill 330, aimed at preserving affordable housing, and the Density Bonus Law, which encourages developers to build new units.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amy Bodek, head of the county planning department, said she believed the state laws could end up hampering recovery, incentivizing density at the expense of homeowners looking to rebuild what they had.

In order to provide the community the ability to return and not face immediate displacement, we understand the need to pause some of these policies, she said at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, adding that she wanted to ask for a five-year waiver for unincorporated areas, which include Altadena and some of the communities burned by the Palisades fire.

We are not antihousing, she said. To say that we are antihousing is someone that's not been paying attention.

At the meeting, housing advocates contended that the county's waiver proposal would slash too many restrictions, bypassing laws aimed at solving the regions affordable housing crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is just totally going in the wrong direction, said Nolan Gray, senior director of legislation and research for California YIMBY, noting that the laws have spurred the construction of thousands of affordable units across the state. There's so much in here that has nothing to do with helping people rebuild.

Chris Elmendorf, a law professor at UC Davis who studies California housing law , said the county was too broad in requesting a waiver in undefined fire impacted communities.

If the goal is to get people back to their communities as fast as possible, shouldn't the goal be to build as much housing in those communities as fast as possible? he said.

Barger, who represents Altadena, said the accusation that the county was uninterested in ramping up housing could not be further from the truth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bodek said it was unclear whether the governor would agree to the county's waiver request, but she hoped the letter would be a starting point for conversations with the state.

The remarks came as part of a larger discussion over how the county should prepare for an influx of new buildings in areas reduced to rubble. Bodek said the planning department, which is responsible for permitting in unincorporated L.A. County, is expecting as many as 8,000 permit applications from homeowners wanting to rebuild after the Eaton fire and 600 from the Palisades fire.

Without beefing up staffing, she said, it is going to be breaking our department.

Mark Pestrella, the head of the county public works department, said his agency was similarly preparing for a mammoth undertaking in repairing utilities in fire-scarred areas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A small public works department needs to be created in particular for the Altadena area if we are to meet the needs of the community to rebuild, he told the supervisors Tuesday.

The repairs and rebuilding are likely to cost the county billions of dollars, much of which county officials hope will come from the federal government. On Tuesday, the White House said it would freeze trillions in federal grants and loans that dont align with the Trump administrations priorities. The order was quickly blocked by a federal judge.

We are very concerned about that, said Fesia Davenport, the countys chief executive. We do need to know what the exact impact will be on the county.

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.
Jose Garcia had been living in his RV for six years and growing tired of the life.

"Big problems with the police in the last year," he said. "Sometimes come the police and say we can't stay more. I change a lot of cities."

At his last stop he got a $130 citation.

Then, with Los Angeles County ramping up its efforts to remove some of the thousands of recreational vehicles parked on its streets, a sympathetic sheriff's deputy told Garcia there was a place where he could park legally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Garcia now resides on a parking lot in the Crenshaw District  L.A. County's first safe parking location for RVs.

An RV at a Los Angeles County-owned parking lot in the Crenshaw District.

The one-year, $900,000 pilot project opened in November on county property vacated by the Probation Department when it moved to Downey in 2019.

Thirteen RVs now occupy the lot, with one space yet to be filled. Their owners will be able to stay there for up to six months while they pursue permanent housing. All have agreed to surrender their vehicles if and when they get it.

Safe parking is one facet of the county's Pathway Home encampment resolution program. In 29 operations since its launch in August 2023, Pathway Home has removed 624 recreational vehicles from the streets while moving nearly 1,100 people into interim and permanent housing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We tried to be creative with people living in RVs," county Supervisor Holly Mitchell said while sharing a breakfast with its residents in December. Mitchell spearheaded the project in response to a plethora of RVs parked in her district. The 2,245 RVs in the most recent homeless count accounted for a third of the county total.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, right, hosts a holiday breakfast for the first group of residents participating in Los Angeles County's Pathway Home RV pilot program.

"Those that are living in RVs that the van lords are renting to them, charging them ridiculous amounts of money for something that really isn't habitable, we are really trying to help those people transition to a different form of housing and get those RVs out of there," she said.

The safe parking is for a small subset of those RV dwellers who meet two criteria: Their vehicles must be operable, and they must have proof of ownership.

The former Probation Department lot offers a hideaway bounded by Crenshaw and Obama boulevards and the Expo Line and is sealed off from a row of apartment buildings to its west by a tall wall and shrubbery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For its residents, the lot is an extension of the low-cost and independent life they had, with improvements such as three meals delivered daily and a trailer with showers and toilets.

That's a plus for Maria Valencia, 62, who never used what she called the "poopy" in her 10 years parking on the streets of East Los Angeles. She showered in the RV but used the toilets of restaurants and businesses.

Mitchell said that the one-year program could be extended but that the site of the pilot will eventually be replaced by an affordable housing development.

Mitchell said she hopes the parking lot will inspire others by then.

Gypsy Curiel Jr. plays chess in the parking lot used in the county's Pathway Home RV pilot program. Curiel is one of the first participants in the program.

"While it may not feel like it makes a dent in the 2,000, it will be significant for these 14," Mitchell said. "And this is the first. We need to have multiple safe parking spots I believe all over L.A. County as one of the tools in our tool kit."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Four of the spaces will be reserved for RV dwellers from Los Angeles City Council District 10, and the remainder will come from unincorporated portions of Mitchell's 2nd District.

The county contracted with End Homelessness California to provide food service, housing navigation and security. Operating as the Shower of Hope, it also runs 24 mobile showers, provides housing for 45 community college students in leased homes and manages two safe parking locations for automobiles.

Unlike safe parking for automobiles, which is open only overnight and requires vehicles to leave during the day, the lot will be open 24 hours a day. Electrical hookups are provided, and a mobile bathroom will remain on-site. RV owners can come and go, but the goal is for the vehicles to stay put.

"We really want them to stay because you don't want a lot of traffic in a lot like this," said Mel Tillekeratne, co-founder and executive director of the Shower of Hope. "The goal is they stay here. We just want to make sure we engage them as much as possible so we can get them into housing."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That's not a drawback for Valencia.

"If they let us stay here, I'll be happy to stay forever," she said. "I'm happy here. I don't have to worry about the rent, the bills, the bills, the bills. When I had my apartment, every day the same thing. Even when I paid the rent, I was worried for the next month, working here, working there, working everywhere."

As yet, there is no track record on how quickly residents will move on. Both Garcia and Valencia are looking forward to having their own apartments, but it will be hard giving up the homes they've grown attached to.

Garcia, who has lived in the U.S. without legal status for 30 years, has had to forgo his apartment search while his case manager helps him gets identification.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Valencia said she is in line to get a rental subsidy and start an apartment search but isn't looking forward to surrendering the RV.

"It will hurt me a lot," Valencia said. "Because this is beautiful. This is wonderful."

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 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:

Expression of type I/III IFNs and ISGs in PBMC transfected with Poly (I:C) for 1, 4, and 18h. Data are presented as gene expression in the stimulated cells relative to unstimulated cells. (A) Gene expression in discordant couples, in which the green lines represent IFIT3 expression in uninfected or asymptomatic females for COVID-19, and red lines represent IFIT3 expression in COVID-19 reinfected males. (B) Gene expression in symptomatic females for COVID-19 (control), in which bold lines represent the expression of IFIT3. (C) Comparative analysis of different IFIT3 gene expressions between reinfected males, uninfected or asymptomatic females, and symptomatic females after stimulus; the data represent a statistically significant increase at 4 and 8h between the uninfected or asymptomatic females and reinfected males group, results are represented by mean  SD. **p < 0.009 *p < 0.05.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health worker Maria Tereza Malheiros Sapienza's curiosity was aroused by her immunity to SARS-CoV-2: her husband, Marcelo Sapienza, a physician, was infected twice (in April 2020 and January 2022), but she remained perfectly well and asymptomatic even though she was in direct contact with him prior to both infections.

This curiosity led the Sapienzas to join a study on serodiscordant couples conducted by the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL) and hosted by the University of Sao Paulo (USP). Serodiscordant couples are so called because one spouse or partner is infected and the other remains asymptomatic although both are exposed to the virus and do not use any kind of special protection.

Genetic material from 86 couples, including the Sapienzas, was analyzed in the study. Only six remained serodiscordant throughout the pandemic, and in all six cases the male partner was reinfected (confirmed by PCR) while the female partner remained uninfected or asymptomatic.

The results of the study are reported in an article published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

When the researchers analyzed blood samples from these couples, they discovered that the women who were immune to the virus exhibited elevated expression of the gene IFIT3 (interferon-inducible protein with tetrapeptide repeats 3) compared with their male partners. Expression of the gene in symptomatic infected women was in line with that of the men.

"This gene is part of the antiviral response. It's been described in previous studies as being related to protection against other viral diseases, such as dengue, hepatitis B and adenovirus. In our study, however, we succeeded in demonstrating this protection for the first time beyond theory, as it's highly improbable that all six women weren't exposed to SARS-CoV-2 under conditions that included sharing bedrooms and caring for infected husbands," said Mateus Vidigal, first author of the article. The study was his postdoctoral project.

The gene IFIT3 encodes a protein with the same name that binds to the virus's RNA, inhibiting its replication and preventing infection by blocking cell invasion.

"The virus invades one or two cells, but the process of replication, breaking out through the cell membrane and invading the largest possible number of other cells, is interrupted very early on. The protein IFIT3 'sticks' to the viral RNA, preventing its replication. It's not that these women weren't infected. They were, but the virus hardly multiplied at all inside their cells and so they didn't develop the disease," Vidigal explained.

Novel target

The study of serodiscordant couples began in 2020 when the pandemic reached Brazil. In the first stage, the researchers analyzed the exome (the protein-encoding portion of the genome) of 86 couples, finding a difference in two genes between resistant and infected partners. These variants apparently led to the production of molecules that inhibited activation of natural killer (NK) cells only in the infected partners. NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that control tumors and microbial infections.

During the pandemic, several cases of reinfection occurred in the group of volunteers recruited for the study, and only six women remained resistant. To investigate protective mechanisms, the researchers analyzed blood samples from these couples on two occasions: in 2020, shortly after the men's first infection, and in 2022, after their second infection. It is worth noting that on this second occasion, the participants had already received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"In our analysis of these samples, we isolated the mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood, mainly lymphocytes and monocytes, and stimulated them in the lab with a synthetic viral agent that mimics SARS-CoV-2. This experiment showed that the cells from resistant women overexpressed IFIT3 compared with both their male partners and a [control] group of five women who did develop COVID-19," Vidigal said.

In addition to satisfying the Sapienzas' curiosity, the study produced other important findings, such as the possibility that IFIT3 could be a novel target for therapies aimed at strengthening the innate immune response to a range of viruses. The protection afforded by overexpression of this gene is not only part of the response to SARS-CoV-2.

"The key result of this research is undoubtedly the discovery of a biomarker of resistance to the virus. The design of the study enables us to be almost totally certain that women were exposed to the virus and exhibited resistance. We also reproduced in the lab what may have happened in their cells when they came into contact with SARS-CoV-2," said Edecio Cunha Neto, a co-author of the article, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) and a researcher at its Heart Institute (INCOR).

"We now need to extend our knowledge of the biology of resistance, finding out more about the mechanisms that lead to overexpression of IFIT3, for example. So beyond this important discovery, yet more questions raised by our study remain to be answered."

More information: Mateus V. de Castro et al, Potential protective role of interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3) in COVID-19, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1464581
Read more: Fire victims seek answers about rebuilding, cleanup timeline

The Reuben Lasker was about four miles off the coast of Manhattan Beach when ash began to rain upon the sea  first in delicate flurries, then in noxious clouds.

The fisheries research vessel had set sail days earlier for a coastal survey. It was supposed to be a routine voyage, the kind that the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program embarks upon four times a year as part of the worlds longest-running marine ecosystem monitoring effort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But when the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, scientists aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship inadvertently became the first investigators on the scene of a brewing disaster that could upend life underwater.

The smoke that has choked Los Angeles, the debris piled up along decimated streets, the charred and toxic remnants of thousands of destroyed homes, businesses, cars and electronics  nearly all of it, eventually, will come to rest in the ocean.

There is no precedent for how an urban fire of this magnitude could change the ecosystem that countless species, including our own, rely on for food and sustenance.

But theres also no team better equipped to understand how the fires that transformed Los Angeles will affect life in the sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike the smoke that emanates from rural wildfires, the charred material now entering the ocean is the stuff of "peoples homes: their cars, their batteries, their electronics," said Rasmus Swalethorp, a biological oceanographer at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "It's certainly going to contain a lot of things that we ideally don't want to see in our oceans  and in our soils, for that matter, and our water streams, and certainly not on our dinner plates."

CalCOFI was formed in 1949 to study the collapse of the sardine industry, in a joint effort by Scripps, NOAA Fisheries and state fish and wildlife officials.

But scientists quickly realized that question could only be answered by studying the interconnected layers of the broader marine ecosystem.

CalCOFI began to methodically collect detailed ocean samples from the same 113 locations multiple times a year, along a systematic grid that spans the California coast. Millions of samples of plankton, fish eggs and marine animals have since been preserved in its archives, providing invaluable snapshots of the ocean over time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As this month's fires raged on land, the Reuben Lasker continued that orderly lawnmower-style route through the sea. Its researchers from Scripps and NOAAs Southwest Fisheries Science Center donned goggles and masks. Wildlife counts were temporarily suspended when the smoke became too thick to make out seabirds and marine mammals.

Fire debris clouded the oceans surface as far as 100 miles offshore. Once-white collection nets came up blackened with soot and charred detritus. As the team hauled up samples of ash-filled seawater, Swalethorp recoiled at the odor, which was unlike that of any wildfire smoke hed encountered before.

"It didn't have your typical bonfire smell to it," said Swalethorp, who runs CalCOFI's ship operations. "The first thing that sprang to my mind when I smelled it, and immediately pulled away, was: this smells like burned electronics."

A typical CalCOFI cruise collects data on everything from water clarity to local plant and animal species. The programs decades-long data archives make it ideal for studying long-term changes to marine ecosystems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I don't think there's a precedent for this kind of input into the ocean ecosystem," NOAA Fisheries CalCOFI Director Noelle Bowlin said of the fires. But with 76 years of data to measure against, "we can provide the context needed to answer the question of, how big of a perturbation is this event?"

The samples collected at the start of the fires can help provide much-needed answers on whether higher concentrations of toxic metals, PCBs, PFAS and other forever chemicals will wind up in the ocean  and for how long, said Mark Gold, an environmental scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

"Its so serendipitous, having CalCOFI being there literally during the catastrophe and being able to collect such extensive samples, Gold said.

Among the most immediate concerns is ocean water contamination. In addition to the already-massive footprint of ash offshore, Gold noted that runoff from the first few rainstorms is a huge concern. He's had a flurry of conversations with city, county and state officials, who have been trying to proactively limit the amount of fire pollution going into the ocean.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Imagine Los Angeles County, framed by foothills and mountains, as a giant bowl tilted toward the sea. Whenever it rains, water rushes off rooftops and down streets and sidewalks, picking up any pesticides, trash, car tire residue and other contaminants in its way.

Unlike the region's sewage, which is filtered through treatment facilities before its discharged, this mix of rainwater and debris usually flushes straight into the ocean through a massive network of storm drains and concrete-lined rivers.

The rain this week was the first significant precipitation in the region since May. In addition to the fires ash and chemical residue, it was also the first flush of nine months worth of daily pollution into the sea.

Local environmental groups like Heal the Bay have urged beachgoers to avoid water contact at any beaches from Malibus Surfrider Beach down to Dockweiler State Beach near L.A. International Airport.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued similar ocean precautions and even beach closures, along with a map of closed or contaminated beaches.

Read more: Ocean water advisories issued for beaches from Malibu to Playa del Rey

Public health officials cautioned that even the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals, advising beachgoers to avoid any fire debris and any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand. Gold, as an extra precaution, added that he wouldn't swim or surf in the water for at least two or three weeks after it rains.

Longer term, there are serious questions about whether contaminants released by the fire will penetrate the food chain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ash from forest fires can sometimes boost the growth of phytoplankton, the microscopic algae at the base of the marine food web, thanks to the infusion of nutrients from burned plants. No one yet knows how a massive infusion of ash from urban fires  with its mix of asbestos, lead, microplastics and heavy metals  will affect our food supply.

"Is it going to be having an impact on all the food web interactions, starting with the base of the food chain, the phytoplankton and the microbes, and then slowly accumulating ... all the way up to the fish that we are eating? said project leader Julie Dinasquet, a Scripps marine ecologist. "Maybe in a few months to a year, people are going to realize that there's a bioaccumulation of heavy metals in [these fish], or something else from these fires."

L.A.'s devastating fires are only the latest episode in which the ocean has served as an unappreciated receptacle for trash and hazards originating on land.

Read more: 'Nothing is untouched': DDT found in deep-sea fish raises troubling concerns for food web

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A series of Times reports in recent years have unraveled a haunting history of how the nations largest manufacturer of DDT had once dumped its waste at sea, just off the coast of Los Angeles. Further research has since uncovered that this part of the ocean had also served as a dumping ground for military munitions and radioactive waste .

"To me, the circumstances and the magnitude of these fires have shown that the L.A. region is not climate resilient at all," Gold said. "One of the consequences of not being climate resilient  is that the ocean once again becomes a dumping ground, whether it's intentional or not.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Lisa Richwine and Jackie Luna

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A fluffy gray cat peered out of the window of a home that was spared the wrath of the Palisades Fire this month. Just next door, a house had burned to the ground.

Los Angeles Animal Control Officer Luis Luna pressed his face against a glass door to get a closer look at the feline. After determining the cat looked healthy, Luna slid bowls of kibble and water inside an unlocked door. The cat quickly came over to eat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"He must have food because he looks alert and pretty chubby," Luna said. "He'll have something fresh for at least the next 48 hours. And then we'll come back."

Luna is part of the ongoing effort to find pets left behind or lost during the chaos of the Palisades Fire near the coast and the Eaton Fire on the opposite side of Los Angeles. Three weeks after the blazes broke out, authorities still field dozens of calls a day from anxious pet owners.

Hundreds of animals have been reunited with their families, according to officials and rescue workers. They range from dogs and cats to chickens, goats, pigs, exotic birds, koi fish and reptiles such as bearded dragons, said Susan Anderson, director of disaster response for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which has assisted with rescue efforts.

Because the gray Palisades cat appeared healthy and not in danger, Luna opted to leave it in place with a notice telling the owners to retrieve the animal within 48 hours. After that, animal control has the legal authority to take the cat to a shelter, where the owners will have more time to claim it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While many animals have been evacuated from fire zones and reunited with their families, some are elusive. One cat that Luna dubbed "Houdini" has been spotted repeatedly on cameras but disappears when searchers arrive.

"I've gone everywhere in this house - closets, behind appliances, under the couch, and like trying to find a hole in the couch," Luna said. "I have no idea where this guy's at."

'CATS SURVIVE FIRES'

Luna was able to trap a black-and-white cat named Felix at one home and encountered a neighbor who provided a phone number for the owner's caregiver, who was contacted and is trying to arrange a reunion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The neighbor, however, had just made a grim discovery. Roughly 20 fish in his saltwater aquarium had not survived.

Searches often begin when a pet owner provides an address where an animal may be located. In many cases, rescuers find no trace of the animals. In the worst situations, they find them deceased.

Anderson described one instance in which seven dead dogs were found in a house that burned down. Rescuers informed the owner and removed the remains so they would not provide an additional stressor when the woman returned.

Los Angeles Animal Services is running a hotline for people to call about their missing pets. Even after several weeks, there is the possibility for happy reunions, rescue workers said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cats, in particular, are likely to stay in the burned-out areas because they like familiar territory, said Joy Smith, the founder of FieldHaven Feline Center. She observed cat behavior while helping in the aftermath of the 2018 fire in Paradise, California, and the 2023 fire in Maui, Hawaii.

Smith said it was important to provide food and water stations in the fire zones and to search for cats at night because they are nocturnal animals.

"Cats survive fires," Smith said. "In Maui, they went into storm drains. Wherever they go, they manage to survive. They are so resilient."

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are now distributing red cards  also known as Know Your Rights cards  and other resources to remind immigrant community members what their legal rights are.

The cards, which are about the size of a credit card, will help immigrant Angelenos assert their constitutional rights in encounters with federal law enforcement officials, according to the Community Resource Guide for Immigrant Angelenos, which was put together by the L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Office of Immigrant Affairs and is now being made available by LAUSD.

Available to citizens and non-citizens alike, the documents were created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and are available in 16 languages from Spanish to Haitian Creole to Tigrinya. Click here to access them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An unprecedented demand for the red cards has caused ILRC officials to temporarily suspend their program that allowed non-profits to access the cards for free. The quickest way to get a card, officials say, is to print them on your own.

Red Cards created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and being distributed by LAUSD. (ILRC)

The cards are formatted as standard 3.5 x 2 business cards, and any print or copy shop should be able to work with the files, according to the ILRC.

Businesses, private attorneys and organizations looking to order more than 1,000 red cards should visit www.RedCardOrders.com, which offers a union-run printer service set up to accept, print and ship them to customers.

More information on using red cards can be found here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The initiative to distribute the cards comes on the heels of newly-elected President Donald Trumps announcement that his administration would allow Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to conduct arrests in sensitive areas, such as schools and churches, reversing a 2011 policy that prohibited arrests being made in those places.

Additionally, LAUSD has relaunched its L.A. Unified 2025: We Are One campaign, which formalizes and amplifies the districts efforts to cultivate welcoming learning environments for all students.

Per the Nov. 2024 school board resolutions, LAUSD is a sanctuary district and safe zone for families threatened by immigration enforcement, according to district 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 Queen City News.
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Lackawanna County Prison struck a deal with the federal government to house federal inmates at a certain rate per day, per prisoner.

The new agreement with the marshals service was negotiated by the Summerhill Law Firm of Washington DC.

The agreement caps the number of federal detainees in the prison at 230 on any given day.

How federal agengies funding pause could impact local area

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The per diem rate will rise from $102 per detainee to $119 per detainee beginning February 1.

The prison administration expects the increase to be between $800,000 and $900,000 for the year.

The money will be deposited in the county general 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 PAhomepage.com.
President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act into law as his first piece of legislation during his second presidential term.

The law, named after the nursing student killed on the University of Georgia campus, would require federal officials to detain immigrants without legal status accused of theft and violent crimes.

The act also creates a provision for state and District of Columbia attorneys general to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures in immigration enforcement, according to the legislative text.

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

The law goes into effect a few weeks before Rileys family will mark one year since her death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Feb. 22, 2024, Riley went for a run on UGAs campus when police say Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who was in the U.S. illegally, killed her. In November, a Georgia judge found Ibarra guilty during his bench trial and sentenced him to life in prison without parole for Rileys murder.

Officials had arrested Ibarra for entering the country illegally in Sept. 2022, but he was released for his case to go to immigration court. New York police arrested Ibarra in Aug. 2023 for child endangerment, but he was released again. Ibarra was also a theft suspect in Georgia in Oct. 2023, just four months before Rileys murder.

RELATED STORIES:

Georgia U.S. Rep. Mike Collins introduced the Laken Riley Act last year and reintroduced it for the 119th Congress. It passed with bipartisan support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the right thing to do, House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the act cleared the House. Its always good when the right thing is also the popular thing.

Immigrants rights advocates have called it extreme and fear it will trigger mass roundups for offenses as minor as shoplifting.

I think it is pivotal to understand: This bill, framed as connected to a tragic death, is pretext to fortify a mass deportation system, said Hannah Flamm, interim senior director of policy at the International Refugee Assistance Project.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Calls for fire service used to trickle into Lancaster County at about 1,200 a year, or 3 per day.

That volume has exploded nearly tenfold since the turn of the century, according to Darren Player, the county director of fire rescue and emergency management.

The challenge became keeping pace despite a growing population, dwindling fire forces and limited funding.

Darren Player, county director of Lancaster County fire, rescue and emergency management

And Lancaster has five years or less before its fire services reach crisis levels under current trends, according to County Administrator Dennis Marstalls estimates. Residents will notice pockets of pain due to woefully inadequate response times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You will see the tragedies of a full house burning down before anyone gets there. Youll see insufficient response if you have commercial or retail fire, Marstall said. That pain point is only increasing every day countywide when you have an increasing population.

His job is to make sure these doomsday scenarios dont come to pass.

County leaders are exploring solutions, but its a delicate balancing act that will require community buy-in.

Fighting fire with a depleted volunteer force

Twenty years ago, Lancaster County had more than 600 volunteers ready to respond to a fire. Its population sat just under 66,000 in those days, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charlotte and its surrounding areas have since experienced a surge in growth that brought Lancaster County to 110,000 residents. Thousands more outside travelers are expected to pass through the area, too, with developments like Costco and Target on the horizon.

The volunteer firefighter force hasnt kept up. Its shrunk to just 243 people, Player said, tracking with a sharp national decline.

Greg Nicholson, chief of Indian Land Fire District

The call volume is just much more than the volunteer system can handle, said Greg Nicholson, chief of the Indian Land Fire District.

Indian Lands two fire stations received about 3,500 calls for service in 2024, representing more than a third of the countys total across 19 stations. Most stations received fewer calls than there are days in a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nicholsons department serves the most populous region in Lancaster County and is the first to shift toward a career firefighter model with mostly full-time workers instead of volunteers. It will soon have 56 full-time employees who can staff the unincorporated communitys two stations at all hours of the day, Nicholson said. Its force ran on volunteers until recently.

The county also employs 15 career firefighters who travel in teams across Lancaster County each day as well as one who is stationed in Kershaw. The roaming firefighters primarily serve rural areas without full-time workers, but their shifts run only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. That leaves mornings and evenings without coverage.

Marstall said he is talking to Lancaster County Council about tweaking their schedules to run in 12-hour shifts so a full-time countywide worker is always on the clock. That request has not yet been approved.

Marstall is also researching a plan to divide the county into four service areas, each with a fully staffed station that could assist volunteer departments in their region. He anticipates the county moving toward this model.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But volunteers are still needed. Data from the National Volunteer Fire Council shows about 65% of the nations firefighters remain volunteers today. Changing labor demographics just mean they cant be the only responders when fire alarms ring.

Its hard to respond to a call at 3 in the morning if you have a job thats not flexible and you have to be at work at 8 oclock, Marstall said. Its just the changing economy and way of life. It doesnt lend itself for people to be able to want to be firefighters.

Extra fees could be the solution?

The county gave each fire department about $7,900 this year to spend at their discretion. For larger purchases like trucks, which can cost more than $1 million, the county borrows money through voter-approved bonds.

Marstall said the county is working on a resolution for council consideration that would add a separate fire services tax for residents. For now, few supplemental funding avenues exist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Departments can apply for a competitive one-time grant from a larger pot of county money, but just one is awarded a year. Volunteer departments rely on fundraising to generate additional money.

Indian Land and Van Wyck are the exceptions.

The two panhandle communities established their own fire districts in the early 2000s to help pay for more expenses as the countys fastest growing region. In exchange for more robust services, residents pay an annual fee that has increased over time.

Residents pay $90 per rooftop in Van Wyck, but Marstall said the town might soon look to increase the fee so it can hire more full-time support like Indian Land. Van Wyck only has one paid firefighter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indian Land residents pay $240 per rooftop, with businesses paying more based on square footage.

We kept running into issues where our needs were growing, and the countys philosophy was kind of like, Were going to buy 10 hoses for every station, said Brian Endres, the president and longtime member of the fee board that oversees Indian Lands fire budget. Does that station down there that only had 10 calls last year need 10 hoses? We could use 15.

Endres said he asked the County Council to change Indian Lands flat fire services fee to a millage, which would tie residents payments to their individual property values. The county hasnt made any formal plans to do this, but Endres said he will continue pushing for the change as an equitable solution to keep pace with growth.

Paid vs volunteer

Quicker response times are one benefit of a fee-paying district, Nicholson said. His firefighters respond in 6.2 minutes on average because they are stationed at all hours of the day, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Volunteers take several minutes to drive to the station, then get ready before taking off. On weekends and nights when volunteers might not be readily available, dispatchers sometimes call up to three departments before somebody heads to a scene.

There can be tension between the panhandle and the rest of the county since Indian Land tends to receive more resources, Marstall said. But theyre also paying more and have more calls.

Indian Lands two fire stations received more calls last year than 13 other stations combined, county data shows.

If you go to the southern part of the county, theyll say, Oh, Indian Land wants everything new. They want new. And they dont see it as a need, Endres said. Youve got to control and protect your dense area in order for your rural area to be able to survive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indian Lands next battle is to secure a third station, which Endres and Nicholson said is a necessity. Theyve been asking for years, they said, and the price tag only continues to climb.

The county has to understand if youre going to allow all these rooftops and commercial businesses, youve gotta have a plan, Endres said. We built way too fast without a plan, and now were paying the price, but weve got a lot of great people who are willing to work with us and help to make it work.
KANSAS (KSNT)  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) says Kansas is facing the largest documented tuberculosis outbreak in American history.

Nexstars KSNT spoke to KDHE Communications Director Jill Bronaugh, who said the agency is working with the Centers for Disease Control for guidance. As of Jan. 24, 2025, there were 67 people in Kansas with active cases of tuberculosis. Additionally, Bronaugh says there are 79 confirmed latent tuberculosis cases, or cases in which people are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria but dont have the disease. If the bacteria become active and multiplies, a latent infection can turn into tuberculosis disease, according to the CDC.

The current Kansas City, Kan. Metro tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history, presently (since the 1950s, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring and reporting TB cases), Bronaugh wrote. This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Bronaugh, in 2024 there were 79 active and 213 latent outbreak and non-outbreak tuberculosis cases. In 2023, the CDC recorded 46 active tuberculosis cases in Kansas. There were two reported deaths in 2024 associated with this outbreak, Bronaugh says.

Tuberculosis cases in the United States had been on the decline since there were roughly 25,000 recorded in 1993, until we entered the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases grew steadily after 2020s low of 7,163, ticking up each year until the total hit 9,633 in 2023, according to the most recent data.

TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria, Bronaugh said. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak, or sing. While there is a very low risk of infection to the general public in these communities, KDHE is working to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment, which will limit the ability to spread this disease and prevent additional cases from occurring.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control with the University of Kansas Health System, said the risk is low and treatment is available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Typically, it is four drugs for a few weeks, and then we go down to two drugs. Most of them are pills. People need to be treated for at least six months and sometimes longer, Dr. Hawkinson shared.

If left untreated, however, TB disease can be fatal. When the immune system is unable to control the bacteria, tubercle bacilli, TB disease can develop. This can happen in different parts of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, brain and bone.

Roughly five percent of people who experience a latent TB infection will develop TB disease without treatment, the CDC says. About 80% of TB disease cases happen in this way.

The CDC says tuberculosis germs are strong and can take a long time to die so its important to follow health care provider guidance.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge will allow testimony from three women who said Nathan Chasing Horse sexually abused them when they were teenagers in the trial against him, even though two of them are not named as victims in his current case.

In court Wednesday, Clark County District Court Judge Jessica Peterson explained the testimony may demonstrate a pattern by Chasing Horse and will provide the jury with a better understanding of the case.

Melissa Leone, the mother of an alleged victim in the current case, attended the hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a victory, Leone told the 8 News Now Investigators. Its a great win.

The Dances with Wolves actor is scheduled to go on trial in April. A Clark County grand jury indicted Chasing Horse 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.

Chasing Horse, 48, appeared in front of Peterson Wednesday morning. Chief Deputy District Attorney William Billy Rowles argued allowing the testimony from the three women demonstrated a pattern of Chasing Horse using his status as a Medicine Man to gain access to underage girls and sexually abuse them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Criminal defense attorney Craig Mueller argued against it, pointing out Chasing Horse was never charged in connection with the claims and the allegations were never proven in court.

Peterson pointed out Nevada state law allows the court to admit evidence of other prior bad acts specifically in sex crimes cases.

Multiple girls and women previously reported that Nathan Chasing Horse sexually abused them for nearly two decades, but their reports did not result in criminal charges.

In a motion to admit evidence of other crimes filed by the district attorneys office on Dec. 12, prosecutors detailed the allegations from the additional alleged victims and included police reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The defendant has groomed young women for at least over two decades and now starting as early as 2002/2003, prosecutors wrote.

One woman met Chasing Horse when she was 13 or 14 years old at a ceremony in Montana and thought of him as an uncle, according to the motion. Chasing Horse told her he wanted more, the motion stated.

When she was 15 years old, Chasing Horse sexually assaulted her and told her not to tell anyone, according to the motion. She believed if she told someone what happened, bad things would happen to her family because of Chasing Horses position as a Medicine Man, the motion stated.

Another woman met Chasing Horse when she was 13 years old and in a treatment center in Montana in 2003, according to the motion. Chasing Horse had approached her, asked her how old she was and asked for her address to visit her, the motion stated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three months later, Chasing Horse sexually assaulted her at least three times, according to the motion.

Both incidents reflect another example of [the] defendant using his position in the community to gain access to young children, befriend them and their families, isolate them, and take advantage of them sexually, the motion stated.

Prosecutors also included a report from the North Las Vegas police department from 2015, after one woman who is now identified as a victim in the indictment, first came forward.

The department closed the case citing that the 19-year-old woman had come to North Las Vegas of her own free will to meet a male that she said had sexually assaulted her, and because during the sexual incident did not say no, push away, yell or run away, I found that I did not believe it could be prosecuted in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This was despite the department learning from the Meade County Sheriffs office in Sturgus, South Dakota, that there were previous allegations against Chasing Horse of a similar nature.

Deputy Bostrom had gotten information that Chasing Horse may have sexually assaulted other females from Canada while at Bear Butte South Dakota the report stated. He spoke to Officer Fox of the Tsuu Tina National Police Department and found that 3 females had reported sexual assault reports against Chasing Horse in Canada.

The report also referred to Chasing Horses previous arrests in 1995 and 1996 in South Dakota for theft, obstructing and eluding police and priors for not paying child support in Montana.

Prosecutors said they have evidence including video of Chasing Horse sexually assaulting an underage girl. That girl was later considered to be one of Chasing Horses wives, and is now an adult. Attempts to talk to the woman have been unsuccessful as law enforcement has been met with hostility from her family, according to testimony.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police arrested Chasing Horse at his North Las Vegas home on Jan. 31, 2023.

The Las Vegas case is the first of several to move forward against Chasing Horse after Corena Leona-Lacroix, now identified as a victim in the indictment, spoke out.

Leone-Lacroix, who previously shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators, testified she first met Chasing Horse as a child and at the age of 14, turned to him to help cure her mothers cancer. She said this was when Chasing Horse first sexually assaulted her.

He said that its what the spirits had wanted, that that was the price of helping my mom, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leone-Lacroix said Chasing Horse repeatedly sexually assaulted her when she was underage. She said she eventually moved in with Chasing Horse and became a wife. She described abuse inside the home.

In 2019, Leone-Lacroix said she set up a Tinder profile which Chasing Horse later discovered. She testified he punished her.

He had said that since I had wanted to be with other men so badly that he could make that happen and that that could be a way I could repay the betrayal that I had done by serving other men and being a vessel by letting men have sex with me. He said that the rules were though that I was not allowed to see them so I would be wearing a blindfold. I was not allowed to say anything and I was not allowed to move or touch them in return, she said. I was just supposed to lay there and allow it to happen and that would be a way I could pay back my betrayal.

She testified this happened multiple times, both at Las Vegas hotels and inside a home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second woman, who previously came forward to North Las Vegas police, testified Chasing Horse sexually assaulted her and then gave her a pill. She said she later developed an ectopic pregnancy.

Leone-LaCroix also testified she was given a pill after the first alleged sexual assault and then Chasing Horse put her on birth control.

Chasing Horses followers were considered members of The Circle.

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.

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. 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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chasing Horse faces warrants in Montana and Canada. He has also previously been banned from several reservations. Chasing Horse is a Rosebud Sioux Indian, Lakota Tribe, according to an arrest report.

Chasing Horse was previously represented by the Clark County Public Defenders office.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 68-year-old man faces a murder charge in the death of his 87-year-old mother, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Thomas Nolan, 68, is charged with open murder with the enhancement that the victim is vulnerable or over the age of 60, records said. His mother, Florence Stein, 87, died several days after an alleged attack on Sunday, Jan. 19.

That day, police responded to a call for a domestic battery at an apartment on Valley View Boulevard near Sahara Avenue, documents said. Stein told police her son, identified as Nolan, was acting strange and pushed her. The push resulted in her hitting her face on a cabinet, police said, adding Nolan allegedly punched her too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police arrested Nolan on a charge of domestic battery and booked him into the Las Vegas City Jail, records said.

Several days later, Steins condition in the hospital changed and she became unresponsive, police said. She died in intensive care with blunt force trauma blamed for her fatal injuries.

Police booked Nolan into the Clark County Detention Center on the day of his mothers death, records said. He refused to appear for his probable cause hearing and was held without bail due to the murder charge.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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)  Metro police have arrested a man they suspect committed several armed robberies involving taco trucks, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Officers arrested Jose Arce, 37, on Monday on charges of robbery and burglary, records said. From Jan. 21 to Jan. 26, police reported at least four armed robberies involving a Hispanic man wearing black coveralls, they said.

The first robbery happened at a taco truck parked near Rancho and Vegas drives. The man, armed with a gun, threatened a person inside the truck and demanded money, documents said. The suspect drove off in a pickup truck with $400.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the second case, a man matching a similar description robbed a taco truck parked near Rainbow and Charleston boulevards. The man ran off with about $700.

About an hour later, the same man allegedly robbed a Mexican restaurant on Decatur Boulevard near Vegas Drive, police said. The man ordered tacos from the victim and then robbed him, taking about $750.

[The suspect] proceeded to tell [the victim] he was sorry, he had a sick daughter, and his job doesnt pay enough money. documents said about the third robbery. Before leaving the business, he demanded a thin, gold necklace from the neck of another employee who was behind the counter.

Video from the incident at the restaurant showed the suspect driving away in the same pickup truck. Officers reviewed the video, believing the truck was from the 1990s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the final robbery, the man targeted a taco truck parked near Rancho and Vegas drives, police said. The person inside told the man there was no money but the man took the victims wallet.

Officers later found the truck and Arce parked near Decatur Boulevard and Vegas Drive not far from the location of the robberies, they said.

In an interview with police, Arce denied any involvement but said he works as a mechanic and that his daughter was sick, documents said. Police later located the wallet and gold necklace in Arces possession.

Arce remained in custody Wednesday on $500,000 bail, records 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 KLAS.
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: MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

The launch of the nation's 988 mental health hotline did not coincide with significant and equitable growth in the availability of most crisis services, except for a small increase in peer support services, according to a new RAND study.

Examining reports from thousands of mental health treatment facilities about the types of crisis services offered before and after the July 2022 rollout of the 988 hotline, researchers found that there was an increase in peer support services, a significant decrease in psychiatric walk-in services, and small declines in mobile crisis response and suicide prevention services.

Significant variation across states was observed in service availability trends before and after 988. The findings are published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

"The lack of meaningful growth in most crisis services may limit the long-run success of 988, in particular if callers feel that reaching out to 988 fails to result in access to appropriate sources of care," said Jonathan Cantor, lead author of the study and a policy researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization.

"Mental health officials and policymakers should consider strategies to boost the financing and availability of crisis services at mental health treatment facilities to meet increased demand generated by the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline," Cantor said.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides an easy-to-remember phone number to access trained crisis counselors and emergency mental health services. It replaced the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which had been reachable via an 800 phone number and was narrowly focused on suicide as opposed to mental health crises more broadly.

The 988 crisis line is intended to complement other forms of mental health emergency response services and connect callers with a variety of mental health services on the crisis care continuum.

However, mental health emergency response systems may not be amenable to rapid change despite increases in demand prompted by 988. In particular, the U.S. continues to contend with a shortage of psychiatric beds in many regions, as well as a limited and unevenly distributed mental health care workforce.

RAND researchers evaluated the availability of crisis services offered by mental health treatment facilities throughout the U.S. from November 2021 through June 2023.

Information came from details reported by licensed mental health treatment facilities to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. RAND has aggregated that data over time to create the longitudinal Mental health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository. The study included information from a large sample of reports from more than 15,000 mental health treatment facilities nationally.

The largest changes were observed for peer support services, which increased from being available at 39% of facilities prior to 988 to 42% afterward, and for the availability of emergency psychiatric walk-in services, which declined from 32% to 29%.

The availability of other service types at mental health treatment facilities also declined at the national level. Mobile crisis response dropped from being provided by 22% of facilities before the rollout of 988 to being offered by 21% afterward. The availability of suicide prevention services dropped from 69% to 68% over the period.

There were also significant differences observed in crisis service availability based on facility characteristics. For example, public facilities had the highest odds of offering each of the four crisis services, followed by not-for-profit facilities. For-profit facilities, which comprised about one-quarter of the sample, consistently had the most limited services.

State-level rates of suicide prevention services remained the same for most states over the study period. The largest increase in the availability of suicide prevention services was seen in Montana (11.5% increase), and the largest decline in availability was in Rhode Island (11.4% decrease).

In contrast, most states experienced an increase in the number of facilities offering peer support services. The largest gain in the offering of peer support services was in Kansas (19.6% increase) and the largest decline in peer support services was found in Georgia (3.2% decrease).

Other authors of the study are Megan S. Schuler, Rose Kerber and Ryan K. McBain, all of RAND, and Jonathan Purtle of New York University.

More information: Changes in Specialty Crisis Services Offered Before and After the Launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, JAMA Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4548 Journal information: JAMA Psychiatry
Jan. 28SANTA FE  With some bills already moving at the Roundhouse, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Tuesday she's hopeful a bipartisan package of anti-crime measures will hit her desk by mid-February.

Flanked by law enforcement officials and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, the governor pushed back on suggestions she had not previously prioritized crime issues since taking office in 2019.

She also said she does not agree that New Mexico's high violent crime rate is due more to a lack of enforcement of existing laws than a need for tougher laws, a position some lawmakers have articulated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Frankly, even if that was true, we have a crisis," Lujan Grisham said. "And you better do everything in your power to address that crisis, otherwise, I don't know how you look families in the eye."

More than 40 bills dealing with crime and criminal penalties have already been filed since the start of New Mexico's 60-day legislative session and some lawmakers say there's a greater sense of urgency to address the issue this year amid a spike of violent crimes involving juvenile offenders.

Sen. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, who plans to file about 10 crime-related bills, credited Lujan Grisham with "lighting a fire" under legislators to address the issue.

And Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, applauded the governor for working with Republicans and Democrats alike on public safety issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Crime is all over this state," Brandt said during Tuesday's news conference. "It's no longer just an Albuquerque problem and I'm tired of hearing that."

However, some groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union-New Mexico, have pushed back against the push for stiffer criminal penalties, saying lawmakers should focus instead on preventive measures.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said Tuesday that violent crime overall appears to be trending down in New Mexico.

But he said violent juvenile crime is "out of control," saying 25 defendants under age 18 are currently detained and facing murder charges in New Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lujan Grisham said many bills have been improved since a special session last summer that ended with the Democratic-controlled Legislature not taking action on most of her crime-focused agenda.

"What came to light is none of us, including my office, were really looking at the data about what was happening in our communities," the governor said.

A turning tide on crime bills?

After last year's special session deadlock, lawmakers appear to be moving quickly on some crime-related bills this year.

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to discuss five bills in a Wednesday hearing, including a proposal that would make it a capital felony for anyone convicted of selling fentanyl to another person who dies of an overdose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Capital felonies under New Mexico law include first-degree murder and are punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Lujan Grisham on Tuesday described the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, as a "powerful" proposal.

She also indicated her support for a bill, House Bill 4, that would change New Mexico's judicial procedures for cases involving defendants with mental illness.

Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, the bill's sponsor, said voluntary treatment is still preferable for defendants who are willing to seek it, but said some individuals need a "push" to get help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I feel confident that it's the right approach to address the concerns we've all been hearing since the summer," Chandler said during Tuesday's news conference.

The bill was being debated late Tuesday in its first assigned House committee.

Behavioral health system fixes on the move

With less than two years left in her tenure as New Mexico governor, Lujan Grisham is staking much of her remaining political capital on her crime-focused agenda.

But the governor has also expressed an openness to expanding New Mexico's behavioral health system for individuals with mental illness or substance abuse disorders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Top-ranking Senate Democrats have said they plan to quickly move a package of bills on the issue, including a proposal for a $1 billion behavioral health trust fund.

That package of bills is scheduled for its first hearing Wednesday in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.

"We aren't going to vilify poverty or mental health issues," Lujan Grisham said. "But we aren't going to tolerate ... criminality anywhere in the state."
The National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia has decided to block access to seven more websites that spread Russian propaganda.

Source: Delfi, a Latvian media outlet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The council received a letter from another competent government agency stating that the content of a number of websites contains support and justification for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of its territories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These portals include, in particular:

the website of the Social Fund of Russia (sfr.gov.ru);

the news portal for Chelyabinsk and Chelyabinsk Oblast (74.ru);

the website of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (mgimo.ru);

the Delovoy Peterburg media outlet (www.dp.ru);

the news portal for Rostov and Rostov Oblast (don24.ru);

the official portal of the Krasnodar administration (krd.ru);

the website of the International Children's Centre Artek (artek.org).

During the inspection of these sites, it was found that they disseminate distorted and false information about events in the world, including the Russo-Ukrainian war, justifying Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territories.

"Such information in the Latvian information space can create a false picture of events in the world, negatively affect the coexistence of different groups of society and pose a threat to the national security of Latvia," the council said in its decision.

The council has therefore decided to restrict access to the aforementioned websites by blocking access to their domain names or websites.

Background:

In October 2024, access to 17 portals with Russian domains that publish distorted propaganda news was blocked in Latvia.

After that, the country closed access to the natoexercises.info portal.

Support UP or become our patron!
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  One Pickens County Hospital closed its doors back in 2020. Since then, some residents have had to travel far for critical care.

Some people said that establishing a tax credit would help with struggling hospitals.

When you lose an entire countys healthcare, like the one in Pickens County, you have to look at those surrounding areas as well, said Joseph Marchant, CEO of Bibb Medical Center. That may also have been depending on that facility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marchant said a tax credit would meet the need in Alabama.

It is really a transparent way to make an investment from the state of Alabama right into our rural hospitals, Marchant said.

Thats what state Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) hopes to do with her pre-filed bill. She explained it would create a rural hospital investment program.

They could donate to a specific hospital, and then it would truly let local areas support their local hospitals in a different way, Collins said.

Collins said other states have had success with the same program.

Its been successful in Georgia, Collins said. Matter of fact, for the first time, one of their hospitals has kind of rolled off eligibility because they are now sustainable all on their own.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police find body of man believed to have been dead for several months following standoff in Shelby County

Anna Adams with the Georgia Hospital Association said its tax credits help numerous hospital services.

This program has also, though, helped save several of those service lines that are often in jeopardy in rural areas, Adams said. You think about labor and delivery units, emergency department services, many of those are still open today because of the rural hospital tax credit program.

State Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said some people have concerns that it will take away from the education and general budgets, but he explained the investment is worth it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These are dollars that the state wouldnt get really, Travis said. Companies can see opportunity where they say, You know, I want to make sure I got a good hospital in my community.'

Collins said the bill didnt pass last year, but she is hopeful it will in the 2025 legislative session that starts Feb. 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 CBS 42.
State Sen. Kevin Jensen, R-Canton, contemplates a committee vote during the South Dakota legislative session in Pierre on Jan. 29, 2025. Also pictured is Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  A committee of South Dakota lawmakers advanced a bill 5-2 on Wednesday at the Capitol to reduce state funding for tobacco and vaping prevention efforts.

But the lawmakers softened the proposed cut following a debate over public health and budget priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill, originally intended to slash annual funding for the states Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Trust Fund from $5 million to $2 million, was amended to set the new funding level at $3 million.

The bill is a priority of former Gov. Kristi Noem, and now Gov. Larry Rhodens administration. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee sent the amended bill to the Legislatures budget committee with a positive recommendation.

Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger said the state needs to make budget cuts to help cover a $62 million increase in Medicaid costs.

Opponents of the bill, including public health advocates and medical organizations, warned that reducing tobacco prevention funding could undo years of progress in reducing smoking and vaping rates, particularly among youth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Terwilliger said smoking rates have declined significantly in South Dakota over the past two decades.

The $5 million thats been spent has been successful, certainly, but youre also looking at a smaller problem to tackle, if you will, in terms of tobacco prevention, he said.

Terwilliger said the state receives $1 million annually in federal tobacco prevention grants, which will remain intact. The reduced state contribution would continue funding South Dakotas QuitLine services and other prevention efforts, he said.

Public health advocates pushed back, saying the state is trading short-term savings for long-term costs in health care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Dakota voters approved a 2006 ballot measure to dedicate a portion of increased cigarette tax revenue to prevention efforts. Jennifer Stalley, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, helped make that happen. She warned that the bill undermines that commitment and could lead to a resurgence of youth tobacco use, particularly vaping and nicotine pouches.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Stalley said the state is spending $5 million to fight a $75 million annual problem in smoking-related health care costs, driving up the cost of Medicaid.

Taking our foot off the gas right now, because were doing well, isnt going to make sure that we are successful, she said. Its going to make sure that in five years or 10 years  hopefully, not me  were going to be back here going through this litany of asks again to get back to a successful program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kim Malsam-Rysdon is a former secretary of the state Department of Health and a current Avera Health lobbyist. Avera has a contract to manage the states QuitLine program. She said it is one of the most effective in the nation with a 49% long-term success rate.

We need to continue to fund these services. We also need to continue our other prevention services so that people never have to get to the QuitLine, she said.

Sen. Tim Reed, R-Brookings, successfully proposed the amendment to set the new funding level at $3 million instead of the originally proposed $2 million. He said the change is a compromise that acknowledges budget constraints while hopefully preserving key prevention efforts.
Members of a bipartisan interim study committee this week reviewed new criminal justice data and considered testimony about the need to combat a rise in juvenile gun crimes across the state. (Getty Images)

A bill to revamp a buffer zone law for law enforcement passed out of committee 10-3 Wednesday.

The original law, passed in 2023, allows police to push citizens back 25 feet from an ongoing investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was challenged in two separate lawsuits; the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction blocking the law because it was unconstitutionally vague. That case was brought by a coalition of media outlets.

Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, is carrying House Bill 1122 to try to eliminate the vagueness.

Chris Daley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, testifies in committee on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The new law would allow an officer to order someone to stop approaching if there is a reasonable belief that the persons presence within the 25 feet will interfere with police duties.

Chris Daley, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, believes the change would allow reporters or other witnesses to unobtrusively record what is happening without that being considered interference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was neutral on the bill  saying it is an improvement on the previous law, but the legal cases are still ongoing. Daley still thinks the 25-foot distance is too far.

Evansville Police Sgt. Mark Saltzman testified in support of the bill, saying it has helped reduce intrusion on officers conducting an investigation at a time when assaults on police officers have risen nationally.

He noted that other states have used Indianas language to pass their own laws, including Floridas Halo law.

Plainfield Police Chief Kyle Prewitt said, We want safety in our communities, not just for our law enforcement officers, but for those who are impacted by crimes, those who commit crimes, the community as a whole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He added that sometimes people standing too close can also overhear sensitive information relayed by officers, victims and suspects.

Theres also a modicum of decency that we should be observing as society as a whole, Prewitt said.

Three Democrats opposed the bill with all Republicans in support.

Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, said she initially supported the law in committee but then received pushback from her community. She said many of her constituents dont trust law enforcement and 25 feet is too far to make sure everyone is accountable.

Lawmakers heard concerns about witness recordings in an interim committee in 2022 and in committee discussion in 2023.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Iowa House Higher Education Committee heard from community college leaders about pros and cons to adding bachelor's degree programs. (Photo courtesy of Hawkeye Community College)

Iowa lawmakers are considering whether to allow community colleges in Iowa to offer new degree programs previously left to four-year public and private universities, with a request for further study to determine feasibility and possible impacts on students and higher education institutions.

Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, told the House Higher Education Committee he plans to request officials to conduct a feasibility study on Iowas community colleges offering their own bachelors degree programs for students. Community colleges typically offer associates degrees or other certifications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is my hope that gathering information over the interim, that this committee can take a hard look at this issue during the next legislative session of the General Assembly, Collins said.

His comments came after the committee heard a presentation from representatives of Iowas community colleges about national trends in expanding baccalaureate degree programs to community colleges.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields and Indian Hills Community College President Matt Thompson provided information to the committee about other states efforts to have community colleges launch their own bachelors degree programs, and how their practice could potentially be adapted and applied to Iowa in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Almost half of the states in the U.S. have, in some way, allowed community colleges to offer bachelors degrees, Shields said, though they vary greatly in details like what programs can be offered, how many colleges can have bachelors degree programs and more.

Some of the benefits and the reasons that states have chosen to go down this path are to largely meet the local workforce demands, Shields said. Having community colleges that can be nimble in addressing if they have a specific industry in their community that needs a bachelors degree in a specific area, they can do that.

Other reasons include expanding access to bachelors degrees for those who live in education deserts and cannot access online higher education, Shields said, as well as making bachelors degrees more affordable.

Points to consider if the Legislature decides to go down this path include existing partnerships with public and private universities, the needs of local businesses and industries, demand from students and the costs associated with implementing new degree programs, Shields said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Citing the University of Northern Iowa and Buena Vista University as examples of universities that often partner with community colleges for programs like education, Shields said no one wants to create competition or undermine partnerships that help students and their institutions thrive.

Thompson said colleges would also need to consult with their industry partners and employers in their community to learn what degrees are most needed in the area, and then matters of cost and getting programs approved through the right processes would need to be addressed.

Shields said current law would most likely need to be changed in order to allow community colleges to create new bachelor of arts programs.

Im not sure there is any BA degree that it would make sense to offer at every single Iowa community college, Shields said. I think its going to be different by region as we look at those factors of local economy, education deserts, existing collaborations, that kind of thing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shields said mission drift is also a concern, as the community college system in Iowa is focused on workforce needs and short-term programs to address them, like non-credit certificate courses that are becoming more popular. Community college leaders would be wary of moving away from this area, she said.

Responding to a question about students wishes and interest in potentially staying at their community college for longer, Thompson said each college in Iowa has seen students who want to remain where they are. Its hard to know how many students would actually follow through on that thought, he said, but it does prove that Iowas community colleges create a good environment and offer a valuable educational experience.

Every year we have students that  fall in love with their community college that gave them a chance, and I can say that about all 15 of our community colleges in the state, Thompson said.

Legislation bars DEI at community colleges

A subcommittee also discussed legislation Wednesday afternoon to include community colleges in Iowa code barring state universities from starting, maintaining or funding diversity, equity and inclusion offices unless required by accreditors or state or federal law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to not being able to have DEI offices, House Study Bill 61 would prohibit community colleges from requiring anyone to submit a DEI statement or give preferential treatment to someone based on such a statement. They would also need to bring an annual report to Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Legislature showing compliance with the law.

Collins said community colleges are already compliant with the language in the bill, if not in the process of changing things to follow recommendations made by Community Colleges for Iowa in May 2024, and so he didnt see a need to advance the bill. It is currently listed as tabled until future meeting online.

I appreciate the community colleges work to achieve compliance before we even considered this piece of legislation, Collins said. I hope the private colleges take the same approach, because we are no longer interested in DEI in this state or in this country.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  State lawmakers are trying to refine the states red flag law. The original bill, which passed in 2020, allows a judge to order a person to relinquish their guns if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. However, sponsors of a new bill want to make two changes.

Story continues below

The first allows a police officer to be one of the parties that can petition a judge for this order. The second would make the recipient of the order hand over their guns immediately instead of the current 48-hour window.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a safety measure. If someone is in a place, in a mental place where they might be acting out, we think this 48 hours rule is something that could be counter-productive and put people at risk, said Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Lunas)

Opponents to the changes expressed concerns over violations of civil rights. The bill passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and now heads to the House Judiciary Committee.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The new Wisconsin legislative session is upon us, which means a lot of issues are going to start taking center stage for our states lawmakers. There are certainly many important issues that will be brought to light, but there is one that has been pushed to the backburner for far too long: the wasteful and unsafe conditions of Green Bay Correctional Institution in Allouez.

Green Bay Correctional Institution is a maximum security facility housing more than 1,000 inmates. It has been operating for more than 125 years and its age and disrepair are evident. As such an old facility, it is extremely inefficient to run. Additionally, the institution has become unsafe in a host of ways; not only for the inmates, but their visitors, guards, and facility workers.

As Ive publicly said before, it is time for the Green Bay Correctional Institution to close its doors.

No one should have to live and work in conditions like this

There is no excuse for the conditions in which inmates live and employees work. The buildings are in great disrepair, vermin have infested living spaces, cell rooms are incredibly small; these conditions and more issues have kept people from seeking employment there, thus creating a lower quality of life for all those incarcerated. The poor physical conditions in tandem with the social issues inside the facility have led to increased mental health problems and crises, resulting in many people becoming suicidal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When those incarcerated at at Green Bay complete their sentences and earn the right to return home, they are often not returning as their better selves due to the impact of their time at the institution. While there may be programs to benefit inmates while incarcerated, those programs cannot make up for the lack of security and comfort they experienced during their time at Green Bay Correctional Institution.

We are doing them all a great disservice by keeping the prison running instead of creating a new facility. The residents and workers deserve a better, more humane facility in which to live and work.

More: Garden is a place to escape divisive politics and high prices in grocery stores | Opinion

You may recall that I ran for state Senate this last election cycle and though I didnt secure the seat, I am still confident that this issue will be addressed by Sen. Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay). We may have been up against each other for the senate seat, but I believe that Wall agrees there is a need for bipartisan work to address the current safety issues set forward by Green Bay Correctional Institution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, Wall and I have already had productive discussions about the hopeful closure of the facility. As Allouez Village President, I am ready to join Wall to get this project across the finish line to better the Green Bay area.

Bipartisan group of leaders has called for prison closure

Its not just Wall and myself that are eager for this facility to close its doors, but a host of bipartisan leaders see the inefficiency and safety issues as well. Ive had several great conversations with newly elected Republican Rep. Ben Franklin who is committed to working with Wall and other legislators to close the prison.

More: 'Wisconsin Guarantee' only assures that high school students fixate on grades | Opinion

Two years ago, many community leaders submitted a letter to the Department of Corrections urging them to close Green Bay Correctional Institution for the health and safety of its residents and workers. This list included the Mayor of Green Bay and Sheriff of Brown County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite consistent urgings from community leaders from both sides of the aisle, things have not yet changed. However, in light of the upcoming biennial budget cycle, there is another chance for this issue to move forward for the betterment of the entire Green Bay community. Along with the Allouez Village Board, I look forward to Walls leadership and that of his colleagues to proceed with the long overdue closure of Green Bay Correctional Institution.

Jim Rafter is the president of the Village of Allouez.

Green Bay Correctional Institution in Allouez.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Green Bay prison unhealthy and unsafe for inmates and staff | Opinion
(WHTM)  A bipartisan legislation aims to change the way the states district maps are drawn.

The State Capitol Rotunda steps were filled with people holding signs demanding fair maps today. The legislation is trying to make the redistricting process more fair before it happens again in 2031.

That number is emphasized in House Bill 31 and Senate Bill 131.

The two pieces of legislation are cross-filed to create an independent citizens redistricting commission. That would take the process from the politicians and give it to the people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Pennsylvania

You can literally move something over two blocks in order to avoid 20 Republicans here, or you can move it over six blocks that way in order to gain 20 Republicans, said Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware County).

No one knows who will have the final say in determining Pennsylvanians voting districts from 2031 and beyond if this reform is not enacted soon, said Carole Kuniholm, the Chair of Fair Districts PA.

The commission would be made up of 4 Republicans, 4 Democrats, and 3 non-party affiliated 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 ABC27.
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:

Phylogenetic placement of Camp Hill virus (red) within the Henipavirus genus identified in Blarina brevicauda shrews from Alabama, USA. GenBank accession numbers are provided for reference sequences. Maximum-likelihood phylogeny is midpoint rooted. Scale bar indicates amino acid substitutions per position. Credit: Emerging Infectious Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.3201/eid3102.241155

Researchers at the University of Queensland have identified the first henipavirus in North America. Dr. Rhys Parry from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Camp Hill virus was confirmed in shrews in the US state of Alabama. The research was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"Henipaviruses have caused serious disease and death in people and animals in other regions," Dr. Parry said

"One of the most dangerous is the Hendra virus, which was first detected in Brisbane, Australia and has a fatality rate of 70%.

"Another example is Nipah virus, which has recorded fatality rates of between 40 and 75% in outbreaks in Southeast Asia, including in Malaysia and Bangladesh.

"The discovery of a henipavirus in North America is highly significant, as it suggests these viruses may be more globally distributed than previously thought."

Camp Hill virus was found in northern short-tailed shrews, a small mammal with a wide distribution across Canada and the US.

Dr. Parry said more research was needed to understand if it was a threat to people.

"The closest known henipavirus to Camp Hill virus that has caused disease in humans is Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China," Dr. Parry said.

"This indicates that shrew-to-human transmission can occur."

Co-author Dr. Ariel Isaacs said developing vaccines for the virus family was a focus for UQ researchers.

"The next step for this work is to characterize key surface proteins on the virus that are involved in cell entry to broaden our understanding of the virus family and identify better ways to protect against it," Dr. Isaacs said.

The research was completed with help from UQ's Dr. Naphak Modhiran and Professor Daniel Watterson, along with members of the Professor Wendy R. Hood lab at Auburn University and members of the Professor Vera Gorbunova and Professor Andrei Seluanov Laboratory at the University of Rochester.

More information: Rhys H. Parry et al, Henipavirus in Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Alabama, USA, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.3201/eid3102.241155 Journal information: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Sen. Sydney Batch, Sen. Kevin Corbin, Superintendent Mo Green and state Board of Education Member Catty Moore in a panel discussion at the "Eggs & Issues Breakfast" on January 28, 2025 (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

One of the states leading education research and advocacy organizations  the Public School Forum of North Carolina  on Tuesday unveiled its Top Education Issues for the 2025-26 legislative biennium, calling for equitable school funding, competitive teacher pay, support for student well-being, and greater accountability for all schools receiving public funds.

Public School Forum of NC Senior Director, Policy & Research, Lauren Fox (Photo: ncforum.org)

These priorities were informed by the students, educators and families we work with every day across the state, said Dr. Lauren Fox, the Forums senior director of policy and research. We know these issues are shared by many people across North Carolina, and we look forward to partnering with stakeholders to support our students, teachers and schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The top education issues, released at the 10th annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast event, which drew more than 400 attendees, outline key priorities for the upcoming legislative session that gets underway in earnest on Wednesday.

This years list begins with calls to ensure North Carolinas public school funding system is equitable, adequate and flexible to meet students unique needs. When adjusted for regional cost differences, North Carolina ranks 48th in the nation for per-student spending, falling nearly $5,000 below the national average, and 49th in funding effort.

Increased school funding is tied directly to improved test scores, higher graduation rates and better lifetime earnings, Fox said. Our children need adequate and equitable funding, and we need a system that is flexible and efficient to ensure individual student needs are being met.

The Forum is also pushing for competitive teacher pay in North Carolina. The state ranks 42nd nationally for beginning teacher salaries and 38th for average teacher pay, with educators earning about 25% less than comparable college graduates in other fields. Compensation is consistently cited as a top reason why teachers are considering leaving the profession.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mo Green (Photo: dpi.nc.gov)

We find ourselves in North Carolina spiraling towards the bottom with regards to what we are paying our educators, we were better than this, said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green during a panel discussion that also included Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch of Wake County and Republican Senator Kevin Corbin, who represents the states far western counties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Green said that increasing base pay for educators should be the top priority before addressing other compensation initiatives. I want you to hear very clearly that where my mind and heart is we have got to increase the base compensation for our educators, and we must do that substantially and just to be real clear with you when I talk about educators, Im absolutely talking about teachers, but Im also talking about beyond the teachers as well.

Other priorities on the Forums list of priorities for the coming year:

Address critical needs to support child well-being and success both in and outside of school

Adopt assessment and accountability policies that are fair and effective

Calls for accountability

Private schools receiving vouchers have fewer standards placed on them than traditional public schools. Teachers are not required to be licensed, and background checks are only required for the schools top administratornot for employees who work directly with students. There is no mandated curriculum, and no publicly elected school board oversees the schools budget.

Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake) (Photo: ncleg.net)

State Sen. Kevin Corbin (Photo: NCGA)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whats good for the goose is good for the gander, Batch said. If we are taking public dollars and we are putting them in anything, we should be able to have a whole lot of clarity and insight and transparency about how that money is being spent. Batch said that parents deserve to know the outcomes and performance data for any school receiving taxpayer money, just as they would for their local public school.

Corbin, who chairs the Senate Education Policy and Appropriations committees, agreed that accountability should be consistent. I think everybody should be held accountable the same way, Corbin said. Im not sure why its that way, and Ive asked that question too. I think thats something Im going to ask about and find out why its not that way, and well see what we can do.

State lawmakers return to Raleigh on Wednesday to resume the work of the 2025 legislative session that got off to a ceremonial start earlier this month. The Forums calls for greater public education investments figure to meet resistance from the GOP-led General Assembly, which has prioritized tax cuts and expanding investments in private school vouchers in recent years over boosting funding for traditional K-12 public education.
MADISON - Anglers can now carry guns while they fish in Wisconsin after lawmakers overturned a decades-old rule on Wednesday.

The Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules approved overturning the rule on a 7-3 vote without discussion.

The change comes after a conservative group highlighted the law last year and how it could potentially impact anglers who carried a gun for protection but didn't plan to use it on fish.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, WILL, filed the lawsuit on behalf of Travis Kobs in Sheboygan County seeking to repeal a state rule enacted by the Department of Natural Resources in 1999 barring anglers from possessing firearms that could be used for fishing.

More: Hearing and comment period set on potential Lake Michigan commercial fishing rule

Since then, the rule has prevented anglers from being able to carry any sort of firearm while they fish on the water and along banks and shores.

WILL said the regulation possibly violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Kobs, according to the complaint, is an avid outdoorsman who also has a permit to conceal-carry a pistol for self-defense, which the regulation prevented him from doing while fishing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The complaint also notes that musky fishing in Wisconsin can be dangerous, and until 1966, anglers often carried small guns to kill or incapacitate the fish before reeling them in. It also said Wisconsin's rules regarding fishing with firearms are some of the most restrictive in the nation.

Because there was a risk that a gun may be used for fishing, the regulation prohibited the possession of firearms completely.

After announcement of the lawsuit last year, the Department of Natural Resources pledged to repeal the rule, and said it already didn't enforce the rule. But, the agency said, anglers still won't be allowed to use guns to shoot fish, just simply carry them for protection.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin anglers now permitted to carry guns while they fish
If passed, House Bill 282 would increase the total cap on the First Responders Critical Injury Benefit. (Douglas Sacha | Getty Images)

A bipartisan group of legislators wants to double the amount of money the state is allowed to pay out to New Hampshire first responders who are injured in the line of duty.

If passed, House Bill 282, sponsored by Belmont Republican Rep. Douglas Trottier, would increase the total cap on the First Responders Critical Injury Benefit, which provides financial compensation to injured first responders, from $500,000 to $1 million every two years. Each individual injured first responder is eligible to receive $125,000 through this benefit. The benefit is in addition to other workers compensation claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats.

Brian Ryll, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire and captain of the Portsmouth Fire Department, attended a hearing Tuesday in Concord to testify in favor of the bill.

Although, theres considerable evolution in firefighting policies, procedures, best practices, he said, the fact remains that the dedicated firefighters that protect this state are constantly at risk for catastrophic injury, a devastating illness or death.

Ryll acknowledged that the states payouts for this benefit have not yet hit that $500,000 limit, but he said he believes this benefit will be paid out more over time as more first responders learn about it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cap has not been increased since the First Responders Critical Injury Benefit was established by legislation in 2014.

The benefit was created in the wake of the grisly shooting of Manchester Police Officer Daniel Doherty. Doherty was shot five times in March 2012 and suffered from physical ailments as a result of the shooting for years after, some of which were not covered by typical workers compensation, according to news reports at the time.
Hundreds of members of Idahos LGBTQ+ community commemorate the 10th anniversary of Idahos first and only public hearing on an Add the Words bill on Jan. 28, 2025, at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. (Photo by Mia Maldonado/Idaho Capital Sun)

Hundreds of members of Idahos LGBTQ+ community held a gathering inside the Idaho State Capitol on Tuesday commemorating the 10th anniversary of Idahos first and only public hearing on an Add the Words bill.

For 20 years, LGBTQ+ advocates have pushed lawmakers to add the words sexual orientation and gender identity to the states Human Rights Act for employment, public accommodation and housing protections for LGBTQ+ Idahoans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2015, after years of protest, the Legislature allowed a hearing, but the bill did not advance.

Since then, Republican lawmakers, who hold a 90-15 supermajority in the state, have blocked hearings related to the bill. Instead, they, along with Idaho Gov. Brad Little, have enacted laws affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including a 2023 law banning doctors from prescribing hormones and puberty blockers to minors and a 2024 law prohibiting government entities from requiring employees to use personal titles or pronouns that dont align with a persons sex, among several others.

This year is no exception. On Tuesday, the Idaho House in a 46-24 vote passed a memorial petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision regarding same-sex marriage.

These bills benefit no one  theyre designed to control, discriminate and erase us, Add the Words policy advocate Nikson Mathews said. But laws cannot erase us. For decades, Idahos queer community has continued to show up and take care of each other. This event is about our legacy. Its a reminder that were still here and building a future rooted in care, dignity, and justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Jan. 16, Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, introduced a personal bill seeking to add LGBTQ+ protections in Idaho law. Personal bills do not follow the traditional path of being introduced by a legislative committee, and they are often used to send a message. The Idaho Legislature does not hear or advance them.

Idaho remains one of 18 states without statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, according to the Movement Advancement Project.

I think we all know and can probably agree that weve never gotten the damn thing we needed from this building, except for each other, Add the Words Executive Director Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln told the crowd Tuesday afternoon.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SOUTH CAROLINA (WSPA)  The South Carolina Superintendent of Education and multiple school districts are being sued.

The lawsuit was filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, claiming a proviso, or condition in the state budget, violates multiple amendments in the U.S. Constitution.

According to the lawsuit, the condition violates the First Amendment, protecting free speech, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Superintendent Ellen Weaver, Lexington County School District 3 and School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The state budget proviso mandates that no money will be used by schools or school districts to teach or train any employee to make use of instructional materials or instructional practices that instill the belief that:

one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex

an individual, by virtue of his race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously

an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his race or sex

an individuals moral standing or worth is necessarily determined by his race or sex

an individual, by virtue of his race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex

an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex

meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race

fault, blame, or bias should be assigned to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex

Books and lessons, the lawsuit said, have been removed from the classroom since the proviso was introduced into the state education budgets Appropriation Act in 2021.

In 2024, the South Carolina Department of Education cited the proviso in the decision to drop the Advanced Placement African American Studies course from state schools curriculum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Education shared the following with 7NEWS:

African-American history is our shared history. South Carolinas commitment to teach both the tragedies and triumphs of Americas journey remains unchanged, as outlined in our long-standing instructional standards. This meritless lawsuit does not diminish our dedication, nor does it identify any shortcomings or legal defects. The South Carolina Department of Education will continue to seek meaningful opportunities to build bridges across divisions, honor the richness of our shared history, and teach it with integrity, all while ensuring full compliance with state law. SCDE spokesperson

Representatives with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said the federal civil rights lawsuit is an effort to challenge the budget provisos censorship of certain subject matter concerning racial inequalities and Black history and culture in K-12 public classrooms.

The States Budget Proviso 1.79 is a grave disservice to South Carolina studentsan egregious attempt to erase the history, heritage, and lived experiences of Black communities from classrooms, despite their overwhelming role in shaping the very fabric of our state. Lets be clear: political attempts to distort history and truth only perpetuate ignorance, division, and hate. This censorship measure poses a significant, chilling threat to comprehensive education for all students at a time where the teaching of cultural understanding and inclusivity in our classrooms is needed more than ever. We stand firmly against the States censorship and are committed to ensuring that public education in our state provides the quality, breadth, and depth that students deserve. Plaintiff President Brenda Murphy of the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

The lawsuit can be found below.

NAACP_Weaver_Proviso_SuitDownload

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The family of Dylan Lyons  the Spectrum News 13 reporter killed in a 2023 shooting spree in Pine Hills  has filed a lawsuit accusing his employer of negligence, raising questions about the responsibility of news organizations to protect journalists covering violent crime.

Lyons, 24, was among several TV news crews covering the killing of Natacha Augustin, 38, on Feb. 22, 2023, when he was fatally shot as he sat in a news van. Keith Moses, who also allegedly shot News 13 cameraman Jesse Walden, was later arrested and charged with the murders of Lyons and Augustin as well 9-year-old TYonna Major.

It could have happened to any of you, Mark NeJame, whose firm is spearheading the lawsuit, told reporters Wednesday. Lyons parents were not present at the news conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday night, News 13s parent company Charter Communications had the responsibility to provide staff with proper safety equipment while working in the field. It further argued the company should have conducted an appropriate risk assessment before sending Lyons to Pine Hills, where Augustins killer was believed to be at large.

Were talking about having a security guard or being given a basic bulletproof vest you can buy on Amazon, said Ryan Vescio, one of NeJames legal partners.

Tuesdays legal filing comes ahead of a related lawsuit expected to be presented next week accusing the Orange County Sheriffs Office of wrongful death. A spokesperson for Spectrum News called Lyons death an unforeseeable and horrible tragedy but pushed back against the claims mentioned in the lawsuit.

We hope that Keith Moses, who has been charged, will soon be brought to justice for the murder of Dylan and the others that day, the spokespersons statement said. With regards to these specific allegations, Dylan was the victim of a senseless act of violence. The claims against Spectrum News are unfounded and we will seek to have them dismissed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies were still looking for the assailant when reporters arrived that afternoon in the neighborhood near where Augustin was killed, on Harrington Drive and Hialeah Street. According to incident reports, Moses shot her in the back of the head while riding in the backseat of his cousins car.

Shortly after authorities took down the crime scene tape and left, Moses emerged from a home where he had just fatally shot TYonna after breaking in, police say. He then approached Lyons news van and opened fire, killing the reporter and injuring Walden, they say. Walden is not named as a party in the lawsuit.

Moses trial is scheduled to take place in September. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

The Lyons familys lawyers raise a key question: What responsibility do news outlets have to keep their reporters safe in the field? The filing cites several studies on the issue, including a 2017 survey by Columbia Universitys Dart Center for Journalism that found 53% of journalists participated in safety training in the previous three years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NeJame described the lawsuit as groundbreaking, with the filing highlighting several instances of journalists being shot while on duty, one of whom was injured by law enforcement. It also cites an industry safety training curriculum released by A Culture of Safety Alliance, which in part covers weapons awareness.

That kind of training should have been given and it wasnt, NeJame said, further arguing reporters should be given a choice to decline a potentially dangerous assignment, and it shouldnt be part of a culture that puts you in harms way.

You should be given a choice, to say no to a dangerous assignment, NeJame said, and it shouldnt be part of the culture to put you in harms way.

Neither Spectrum News or the Sentinel are among the scores of news organizations and advocacy groups worldwide that endorsed the curriculum. The Miami Herald is the only Florida-based outlet to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker logged 322 instances of reporters being shot on duty in the last 10 years, a figure cited in the Lyons familys lawsuit. Twenty-five of those cases resulted in lawsuits, virtually all of them against law enforcement for attacks on reporters covering protests.

Just one incident resulted in a news organization being sued: the 2018 newsroom massacre at the Capital Gazette that killed five journalists. Survivors of that shooting accused that newspaper and the Baltimore Sun of wrongful death and negligence, arguing the shooting was preventable.

Both sides reached an undisclosed settlement agreement in January 2023.
A lawsuit has been filed in regard to the 2023 deadly shooting of Spectrum News 13 journalist Dylan Lyons.

NeJame Law said it filed the lawsuit against Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 13, in relation to Lyons murder.

A news release issued by the law firm on Tuesday stated, in part, The lawsuit highlights and alleges systemic failures within Charter Communications, outlining and alleging a broad pattern of conscious disregard for the lives of journalists, such as Dylan Lyons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PREVIOUS: Thursday marks 1 year since Pine Hills shooting that killed 3, including local TV news reporter

The release further stated, This groundbreaking lawsuit alleges that through indifference, recklessness, or gross negligence, Charter Communications actions contributed to the death of Dylan Lyons.

Lyons, 24, and TYonna Major, 9, both died on Feb. 22, 2023, after Orange County deputies said they were shot by the same man  19-year-old Keith Moses.

PREVIOUS: Forever broken: Families of Dylan Lyons, TYonna Major bond over loss, call for change

Deputies said the News 13 reporter and the third grader were shot within minutes of each other in the Pine Hills community; they were two of five people Moses is accused of shooting over a five hour span.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lyons was on assignment reporting on a shooting that happened earlier that day. Major was inside her nearby home with her mother, who investigators said was also shot by Moses.

PREVIOUS: TIMELINE Feb. 23: Central Florida mourns after Orange County mass shooting leaves 3 dead

NeJame Law said a lawsuit against Orange County Sheriffs Office alleging civil rights violations and wrongful death is also forthcoming.

The law firm said it will hold a press conference in regard to the lawsuit against Charter Communications on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

When it happens, you can watch the live news conference here at WFTV.com. And watch Eyewitness News beginning at 4 p.m. for more on this developing story.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Shein is refusing to disclose relevant information about its supply chain and alleged use of forced labor in China.

The company's silence further impedes its progress toward being listed on the London Stock Exchange.

What's happening?

The fast-fashion giant Shein has been on a long journey of trying to go public and list its shares in London. However, it continues to be met with roadblocks due to questionable supply chain practices, human rights violations, and environmental impacts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the Guardian reported, there are allegations that Shein makes garments with cotton produced in a region of China linked to forced labor.

The U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority emphasized the need for relevant disclosures so people can decide whether to invest in Shein. Instead of being transparent and answering the regulatory organization's questions, Shein's attorneys refused to engage or provide any information.

"Proceedings were farcical from the off," the Guardian report said.

Liam Byrne from the Business and Trade Committee asked Shein's general counsel whether the brand generally sources cotton from China, and the company's response has been described as "wilful ignorance."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Byrne said: "The reluctance to answer basic questions has frankly bordered on contempt of the committee."

Why is Shein's elusiveness significant?

This story is just one of many that have raised eyebrows about Shein's business practices.

Numerous reports have uncovered child labor in Shein's supply chain, as well as low wages and unsafe working conditions for workers.

Beyond ethical labor violations, Shein's model of rapidly producing low-quality, low-cost clothing is resource-intensive and alarmingly wasteful. The production of Shein garments relies heavily on plastic-derived materials that contribute to pollution, landfill waste, and the overheating of our planet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even as the company grows, the dangerous chemicals and heavy metals found in Shein clothes can harm human health.

By failing to address these concerns and answer legitimate questions, Shein risks being excluded from the London IPO market.

What's being done about Shein's role in fast fashion?

Fortunately, regulators ask important questions and hold Shein accountable for its controversial business practices. The company must provide truthful answers to go public and gain favor with investors.

In London, experts are also skeptical about a Shein IPO because of its uncertain financial performance and issues with customs-duty fees for low-cost parcels.

As an individual, you can do your part to stop Shein from growing and harming people and the planet by sharing what you know about the brand. Be mindful of corporate greenwashing campaigns aimed at misleading consumers, and lead by example as you shop responsibly and sustainably.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Avoiding fast-fashion brands like Shein and supporting eco-friendly clothing brands is a meaningful commitment and a huge step in the right direction.

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.




After a federal law change, counties across Georgia are making it easier for residents to know if lead pipes are contaminating the water in their communities.

In 2021, a landmark revision was made to federal laws regarding lead and copper in pipes to create safer conditions for drinking water.

Due to this change, public water systems across the country were required to submit an inventory of pipe materials to their state by October 2024, also making those findings publicly accessible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homes may have internal plumbing materials containing lead, said Dwayne Wingfield, public and governmental affairs press officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Region 4. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling whether there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water.

Lead contamination has been a long-standing issue in the United States, as the toxic chemical negatively impacts the health of children and adults.

Some of the dangers of lead exposure in adults include increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney and nervous system issues, and heart disease, according to the EPA.

Georgias Environmental Protection Division indicated that children, infants, and fetuses face the biggest risks of lead exposure. For babies and young children, lead exposure risks include decreases in IQ and attention span, as well as learning and behavior issues, according to the EPA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Atlantas metro counties reported that there is not a widespread issue of lead pipes in their public service lines, some county officials are advising homeowners to look into inspecting the pipes on their private property. DeKalb County officials sent such letters to residents in November, citing limited information about pipes on private land.

Metro Atlanta residents can find information about piping in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties on their respective websites.

How common are lead pipes in Georgia?

In 1986, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, which banned the use of lead pipes in public water systems or plumbing in facilities providing water for human consumption. As such, homes built after this point are far less likely to have lead plumbing.

The general thought was if your home was built before 1980, it could be possible that whoever built your home or apartment complex used those lead-based pipes, said DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But states across the country, including Georgia, are still playing catch-up to replace lead pipes from the past.

The EPA estimated in 2021 that there were around 46,000 water service lines made of lead materials in Georgia. A 2024 survey from the federal agency estimates the existence of around 234,000 lead pipes statewide.

One of the reasons lead pipes have remained a problem is because its a costly endeavor to replace major infrastructure like water service lines.

The EPA estimates that it would cost around $19.7 billion to replace Georgias public lead service lines.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided millions in funding over the past few years to help Peach State communities replace existing lead service lines. The EPA says Georgia received $66.8 million in 2022 and an additional $28.6 million in 2023 from the federal government for lead pipe replacement.

Other sources of lead in water

Although these federally mandated inventory checks and data collection seek to decrease the risk of lead contamination in water throughout the state, some say its not enough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jennette Gayer, the state director of nonprofit environmental advocacy group Environment Georgia, said that even if pipes are not made of lead, plumbing materials and fixtures can still contaminate water.

Theres nothing in this rule that is guaranteeing there [no longer be] lead in drinking water, she said. This rule is focused on pipes, and we know that there are other sources of lead in drinking water that can end up in our water system.

The federal limit for lead found in water is 10 parts per billion. However, the EPA has said there is no safe level of lead in drinking water.

EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that there is no known safe level of lead in a childs blood. Lead is harmful to health, especially for children, said the EPAs Wingfield.

How to test your water for lead

If youre concerned about possible lead contamination in your water at home, Georgia EPD has a list of multiple commercial labs that coordinate lead testing, which can cost between $20 and $100.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can also contact your water supplier to see if they have any information about the service lines connected to your home.

The EPA has a free online tool that can help determine if pipes connected to your home are made of lead.

If you identify lead pipes in your home, depending on the size of your home and the amount of existing pipes that need to be replaced, installation could cost thousands of dollars.

You can contact your local governments water department or your water provider for possible financial assistance.

The post Heres How to Find Out if You Have Lead Pipes  and What You Can Do About It appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Just because President Donald J. Trump is acting on plans to wipeout DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), doesnt mean companies like Costco and activists like Rev. Al Sharpton arent leading the cause to ensure Black people not only feel protected but also feel seen.

DEI was created out of the fires from the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests. The country was in the midst of civil unrest following the brutal murder of George Floyd, and after the murders of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery that same year, the country was forced to reevaluate how it views race on the federal level.

Thus, DEI was born, but little did we know that in the span of only five years, one president would ignite a crusade targeting all DEI efforts and stalling racial progression in the nation. On his first day in office, Trump signed an order ending all DEI programs in the federal government. Hes since doubled down on anti-DEI orders with recent executive mandates concerning the military, according to NPR.

e.l.f Takes a Stand

Despite so many well-known corporations falling in line with Trumps mandate, others are emphasizing the importance of inclusion. In fact, one beauty industry giant, e.l.f. Cosmetics, is standing strong with DEI. E.l.f. doesnt have a DEI team, according to CNN, but that hasnt stopped the company from speaking up on core issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The companys 2024 So Many Dicks or men named Richard, Rick, and Dick campaign highlighted just how male dominated public company boards are. Theres nothing wrong with being Richard, Rick or Dick, but we wanted to shine a light on lets give other people a chance because weve seen the benefits in our own business, e.l.f. CEO Tarang Amin said in an interview.

And speaking of benefits, e.l.f.s commitment to DEI is reflected in their diverse workforce. Around 75 percent of its 500 employees are women and 40 percent are people of color, according to CNN.

Ohio Official Refuses to Conform to Anti-DEI

Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce was asked to give the keynote speech during Columbus VAs annual MLK lunch, but a message he received hours before he was set to take the stage put him in a tough position.

According to journalist Phil Lewis, the event organizers gave Boyce two hours notice saying he couldnt mention DEI or anything politically charged. Of course, this came right after Trumps anti-DEI executive order, but Boyce wasnt having it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was an insult, he said. It was an insult to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. It was an insult to my own personal journey that they asked me to talk about. Boyce became Franklin Countys first Black county commissioner in 2017.

How can I talk about my journey and MLK Jr without discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially given the administrations executive order? Boyce continued. If thats the case, I would respectfully decline and say you should probably find another speaker, he said.

Rev. Al Sharpton and Korey Wise Buy-cott Costco

Its no secret Costco is standing proudly in his efforts to protect DEI, and with that, many Americans are urging consumers to spend their money where they are valued.

Rev. Al Sharpton and criminal justice reform activist Korey Wise took the charge seriously and paraded in a Harlem Costco to buy-cott the store. Were supporting those who are not rolling back DEI, Patrice Perry, crisis director for Sharptons nonprofit told The New York Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wise told the Post We gotta keep our seatbelt on. In 1989, Trump took out ads demanding the death penalty for five Black and Hispanic teens, including Wise, who were wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime. Trump has yet to apologize to those men.

Despite the future of DEI clearly up in the air, these efforts and more show the continued support for diversity within the Black community and some of the most popular brands in the world.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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 few years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dale Rice lost a toe to infection.

But because he was uninsured at the time, the surgery at a Reno, Nevada, hospital led to years of anguish. He said he owes the hospital more than $20,000 for the procedure and still gets calls from collection agencies.

"It can cause a lot of anxiety," Rice said. "I can't give you what I don't have."

Rice, 62, was born and has spent his life in Nevada. He said he fell through a gap in the tribal health care system because he lives 1,500 miles from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation home area in eastern Kansas, where he's an enrolled member.

He receives primary care at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony tribal health clinic in Nevada, but structural barriers in the federal Indian Health Service left him without coverage for specialty care outside of the clinic. Rice might have been eligible for specialty services referred by his tribe's health system in Kansas, but he lives too far from the tribe's delivery area to utilize the tribal health program that helps pay for services outside of the IHS.

"I shouldn't need to move to Kansas City to be fully covered," Rice said.

A new tribal sponsorship program rolled out last year in Nevada is aimed at getting tribal citizens like Rice covered and protecting them from incurring debt for uninsured care. It allows tribes to buy health insurance through the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace for people living in their service area, including Native Americans from other tribes.

Tribal leaders and Nevada officials say the sponsorship model increases access to coverage and care for tribal citizens and their families by allowing them to seek medical care outside the tribal health care system.

A few dozen tribes have moved to set up the insurance programs since the ACA authorized them more than a decade ago.

"It's not widespread," said Yvonne Myers, an ACA and Medicaid consultant for Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services in Oklahoma.

Native American adults are enrolled in Medicaid at higher rates than their white counterparts and have long faced worse health outcomes, higher incidences of chronic disease, and shorter life expectancy. Many rely on the IHS, a division within the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing care to Native Americans, but the agency is chronically underfunded.

In Nevada, tribes can sponsor their community members' health coverage through aggregated billing, a method for paying the premiums for multiple individuals in a single monthly payment to the insurer.

Another part of the program includes collaboration between Nevada Health Link, the state health insurance marketplace, and tribes to certify staffers at tribal health clinics so they can enroll community members in health plans. Program officials also said they are committed to providing further education to tribes about the accommodations available to them under the ACA.

Health agencies in Washington state and Nevada have helped set up tribal sponsorship programs. Independently, tribes in Alaska, Wisconsin, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and South Dakota have rolled out individual programs, as well.

It's already making a difference for Native American patients in Nevada, said Angie Wilson, tribal health director for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and an enrolled member of the Pit River Tribe in California.

Wilson said patients have shown up at her office in tears because they couldn't afford services they needed outside of the tribal clinic and were not eligible for those services to be covered by the IHS Purchased/Referred Care program.

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, with more than 1,330 members in 2023, is one of two tribes that participate in Nevada's tribal sponsorship program and aggregated billing. Russell Cook, executive director of Nevada Health Link, said he expects more tribes to come aboard as the agency works to build community trust in tribes often wary of government and corporate entities.

The Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, with a reservation that spans Nevada's northwestern border, was the first tribe to pilot the program. There are about 125 households on the reservation.

As of December, 30 tribal members had been enrolled into qualified health plans through Nevada Health Link as part of the tribal sponsorship program, according to state officials, and more than 700 of those enrolled through the state marketplace self-reported American Indian and/or Alaska Native status for last year.

Through sponsorship, tribes may use their federal health care funding to pay the premium costs for each participating person. That, combined with cost-sharing protections in the ACA for American Indian and Alaska Natives enrolled in marketplace health plans, means beneficiaries face very low to no costs to receive care outside of tribal clinics.

The American Rescue Plan also expanded eligibility for premium tax credits, making purchasing a health plan more affordable.

Because sponsorship in some tribes isn't limited to enrolled tribal citizens, it can help the whole community, said Jim Roberts, senior executive liaison for intergovernmental affairs with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe in Arizona.

Since Alaska first allowed sponsorship in 2013, Roberts said, it has not only increased the access to care for Native Americans but also significantly lowered the costs of care, "which is equally as important, if not for some tribes more important."

In Washington state, where sponsorship in ACA plans began in 2014, 12 of 29 tribes participate.

Cook said the state exchange is seeing interest in the part of the sponsorship program that trains staff at tribal clinics to become certified exchange representatives, a role similar to that of a navigator who helps inform people about health coverage options.

He said the agency is working on a marketing campaign to spread awareness among Native Americans in the state about the sponsorship program. It will include translating resource guides and other materials from the agency into Native languages spoken in the state, such as Northern and Southern Paiute, Washoe, and Western Shoshone.

Cook said he's surprised more states haven't taken the initiative to create sponsorship programs in collaboration with tribes.

Nevada Health Link patterned its approach by looking at Washington state's program, Cook said. Since launching its own program, the Nevada agency has been approached by officials in California who are exploring the option.

But leaders like Wilson are concerned that under the Trump administration the enhanced tax credits for ACA marketplace enrollees implemented during the pandemic will end. The credits are set to expire at the end of this year if Congress doesn't act to extend them.

Without the credits, nearly all people enrolled through the marketplace will see steep increases in their premium payments next year.

If tribal citizens or other community members become ineligible for the premium tax credits, that could jeopardize the tribe's financial ability to continue sponsoring health plans, Roberts said.

"Whatever side of the fence people fall on, it does not take away that there's a federal trust responsibility by the United States of America to its First Nations people," Wilson said.

Wilson, who has been an advocate for sponsorship since the ACA was approved in 2010 and led the effort to establish the program in Nevada, said she is happy with the tribal sponsorship program but wishes it would have happened sooner.

"We've lost so much in Indian Country over time," she said. "How many more Indian people could have gotten access to care? How much more of a difference could that have made in sustaining health care for tribes?"

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On Feb. 6, the League of Women Voters will be holding a forum to let Aurora mayoral candidates discuss their platforms and answer questions ahead of the Feb. 25 primary election.

The forum will be held at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. It will also be live-streamed on the League of Women Voters Aurora Area Facebook page for those who are unable to attend in person.

The candidates confirmed to be attending the forum include Karina Garcia, Ald. John Laesch, Jazmine Garcia, Ald. Ted Mesiacos and Judd Lofchie, according to the organizations website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All candidates running for mayor of Aurora were invited to the forum, but incumbent Mayor Richard Irvin declined to participate due to a scheduling conflict, League of Women Voters Aurora Area Chapter President Tania Traverso told The Beacon-News.

Irvin confirmed in a news release on his Facebook page that he already had a longstanding obligation on that day and that he asked the date be moved so he could participate, but he said the League of Women Voters was unable to change it.

The Aurora Area League of Women Voters welcomes Irvin to come to the forum, but even if he does not attend, it will still take place, Traverso said. The forum will only be canceled if less than two candidates show up, she said.

Early voting began Jan. 16 for the primary election on Feb. 25, which includes the Aurora mayoral primary. The top two finishers in the primary will move on to the April 1 consolidated election.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
PARK CITY, Utah (AP)  Incarcerated men in the Alabama prison system risked their safety to feed shocking footage of their horrifying living conditions to a pair of documentary filmmakers. The result is The Alabama Solution, which premiered this week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City.

Filmmakers Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman became interested in Alabama prisons in 2019. Jarecki, the filmmaker behind The Jinx and Capturing the Friedmans, and Kaufman first gained access to the restricted grounds through a visit with a chaplain during a revival meeting held in the prison yards. There men pulled them aside and whispered shocking stories about the reality of life inside: forced labor, drugs, violence, intimidation, retaliation and the undisclosed truths behind many prisoner deaths.

The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the states prison system, including high rates of violence, low staffing, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This process eventually led them to incarcerated activists Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council (also known as Kinetik Justice) who had for years been trying to expose the horrifying conditions and deep- seated corruption across the system. They helped feed dispatches to the filmmakers with contraband cellphones.

Were deeply concerned for their safety, and we have been since the first time we met them, said Kaufman. Theyve been doing this work for decades and as you see in the film, theyve been retaliated against in very extreme ways. But there are lawyers who are ready to do wellness checks and visit them and respond to any sort of retaliation that may come.

On Tuesday at the first showing of the film, she had Council on the phone listening in. They put the microphone up to the cellphone so that Council could speak.

We thank you all for listening, for being interested, Council said. On behalf of the brothers of Alabama, I thank you all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several family members of their incarcerated subjects were also in the audience, including Sandy Ray, the mother of Steven Davis, who died in 2019 at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, his face beaten beyond recognition. Prison officials said Davis was killed in self-defense because he didnt put down his weapons. The prisoners tell a vastly different story.

Alelur Alex Duran, who spent 12 years in prison in New York, also helped produce the film. Jarecki said they wouldn't have taken on the subject without the expertise of someone who had been incarcerated.

What youre seeing in this film is going on all over the nation, Duran said.

Also embedded in the story is Alabamas long history of contracting prisoners to do work at private companies from Burger King to Best Western, an issue that the AP investigated for over two years. The cheap, reliable labor force has generated more than $250 million for the state since 2000  money garnished from prisoners paychecks, the AP wrote in December. Parole numbers have also plummeted in recent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We want to show viewers the truth about a system that has been cloaked in secrecy, Jarecki said. We hope the film sparks an effort to allow access for journalists and others so the public can have transparency into how incarcerated citizens are treated and how our tax dollars are being spent. We hope to inspire Alabamas leadership to acknowledge the crisis and to overhaul its prison system and its use of forced labor.

The film will have a theatrical release before it debuts on HBO sometime this year, but the specific dates and details are still being worked out. And while it is in its early days, the impact, Jarecki said, has already been seen, including in a class action labor lawsuit.

___

For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
At least 30 people were killed on Wednesday when a stampede broke out at the world's largest religious festival in India, according to the police.

In addition, 60 visitors to the Maha Kumbh Mela were injured, said Vaibhav Krishna, the official responsible for security at the festival in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj.

Wednesday marked one of the festival's "royal bathing" days, when up to 100 million attendees were expected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Maha Kumbh Mel festival is held on the banks of the Ganges in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred early in the morning near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

Many pilgrims had been waiting to enter the river for a ritual washing when the catastrophe occurred, Krishna said.

Barricades set up for safety purposes gave way amid a crowd surge, causing panic as visitors fell to the ground.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sympathy on the platform X for the people who "have lost their family members."

Millions of Hindu pilgrims take a dip in the holy waters where the rivers converge during the month-and-a-half-long festival. Devotees believe this ritual will absolve them of all sins and stop the cycle of rebirth.

Stampedes are not uncommon at India's major religious gatherings. During the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela, 36 people were killed in a similar incident.
A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in northern India killed at least 30 people on Wednesday and injured dozens, many of whom were sleeping on the riverbanks.

Drone footage showed millions of devotees, shoulder to shoulder, arriving in the pre-dawn dark at the temporary township in Prayagraj for the holy dip at the confluence of three rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati.

But as pilgrims rushed to participate in a sacred day of ritual bathing, a surging crowd spilled out of a police cordon and trampled bystanders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People sleeping and sitting on the ground near the rivers said they were trampled by huge swells of devotees coming towards them in the darkness.

Video and photos after the stampede showed bodies being taken away on stretchers and people sitting on the ground crying, while others stepped over a carpet of discarded clothes, shoes, backpacks and blankets left by people as they tried to escape the stampede.

One pilgrim, Renu Devi, 48, told the AFP news agency: I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward.

When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Reuters witness saw several dead bodies as he followed dozens of ambulances rushing towards the river bank where the incident occurred.

A family member of a victim looks on as he sits at the site of the stampede - ARUN SANKAR/AFP

Several people have been injured and dozens feared dead - Reuters

Police were seen carrying stretchers bearing the bodies of victims draped with thick blankets.

Deadly crowd accidents are frequent occurrence at Indian religious festivals, including the Kumbh Mela, which attracts tens of millions of devotees every 12 years to the city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

The six-week festival is the single biggest milestone on the Hindu religious calendar, and millions of people had travelled there to bathe in the rivers.

A woman is seen in shock after the stampede - Adnan Abidi/REUTERS

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A min sits among discarded belongings - Adnan Abidi/REUTERS

Rahul Gandhi, Indias opposition leader, said official mismanagement was to blame for the deaths.

Mr Gandhi said in a post on X: Mismanagement and the administrations special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident.

Officials said the stampede occurred around 1am local time (19.30 GMT).

However, witnesses said devotees trying to escape it were caught in another stampede at an exit. They then returned towards the pontoon bridges looking for another way out only to find it had been closed by authorities.

Worshippers tried to escape the stampede by climbing over barricades - Reuters

I saw many people falling and getting walked on by the crowd... many children and women getting lost, crying for help, said Ravin, a devotee who gave only his first name and had travelled from Mumbai for the festival.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Rapid Action Force (RAF)  a special unit called in during crisis situations  had been deployed to bring the situation under control and rescue efforts were under way, officials said.

Pilgrims gather on a floating pontoon bridge near the stampede - Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu

Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, spoke to Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, and gave directions for normalisation of the situation and relief, reported news agency ANI.

Mr Adityanath also appealed to people to take a dip at the nearest river bank rather than trying to reach the confluence of three rivers that is believed to absolve devotees of their sins and confer salvation from the cycle of birth and death.

All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements, he said on X, as the devout continued to take holy dips in other parts of the sprawling temporary city.

Security personnel try to control pilgrims near the site of the stampede - NIHARIKA KULKARNI/AFP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The worlds largest congregation of humanity, the Hindu festival has already seen gigantic daily crowds, with nearly 148 million people attending since it began two weeks ago.

Attendees range from Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, and Amit Shah, the home minister, to Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, and celebrities like Coldplays Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson, who local media reported reached Prayagraj on Tuesday.

Mr Modi was also expected to visit the festival next month.

The royal bath was briefly put on hold following the incident, but later resumed.

Now that the crowd has reduced and the ghats [banks] meant for our snan [bath] are being vacated... Our processions will be carried out as usual according to our tradition but will be at a smaller scale, ascetic Ravindra Puri told ANI.

Hindu devotees take a holy dip in the Sangam - AP

A police official monitors the movement of people at the control room after the stampede - Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Authorities had undertaken several measures to cater to the enormous crowd, including increased security and medical personnel, and special trains and buses. AI-software was also used to manage the crowds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A similar stampede had broken out on the most auspicious day of the festival when it was last held in 2013, killing at least 36 pilgrims, mostly women.

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.
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Lebanon Police Department utilized SafeNet Technology Tuesday in separate incidents, one of which led to the discovery of two missing teens from out-of-state.

 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

In a post to X, Lebanon police said officers responded to a call at a gas station on S Cumberland Street Tuesday morning. The call concerned a vehicle that had been reported stolen while the owner was inside the gas station.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers canvassed the area and SafeNet Technology allowed them to quickly locate the vehicle at a separate gas station on Sparta Pike. A 33-year-old Mississippi man was arrested in connection with the incident and charged with theft of property.

Stolen car Jan. 28, 2025 (Courtesy: Lebanon Police Department)

Later that same day, Lebanon police utilized SafeNet technology in a separate incident. The technology alerted officers to a vehicle reportedly associated with two missing teens from out-of-state, a social media post said. The vehicle was headed north on S Cumberland Street and officers successfully stopped it.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

An investigation confirmed the two people inside the vehicle were a 15-year-old missing out of Pennsylvania and a 16-year-old missing out of South Carolina. The Lebanon Police Department added authorities were working closely with other agencies to reunite the teens with their families soon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No additional details have been released about either 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 WKRN News 2.
LEESBURG, Va. (DC News Now)  Leesburg police arrested a man for burglarizing an Aeropostale store last year.

The Leesburg Police Department (LPD) said a man from Pennsylvania was arrested for his involvement in the burglary, which happened in November 2024.

On Nov. 23, 2024, at around 5:10 a.m., officers responded to the store, located at 241 Fort Evans Road NE, for reports of a burglary. There, officers found out that the burglar had forced his way in and took about $6,500 in merchandise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nearly 70,000 Ambien pills wrapped in yarn found at Dulles Airport, authorities say

The burglar had also damaged a bench valued at $2,276, which the outlet mall owned, LPD said.

While investigating, LPD identified Timothy E. Root, 58, of Philadelphia, Pa., as a person of interest.

He was arrested in Pennsylvania where he will be extradited to Virginia to face charges which include felony burglary, grand larceny, possession of burglarious tools and destruction of 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Legal experts say new rules approved for schools on Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Board of Education regarding verification of families citizenship status are likely to face legal challenges if given the go-ahead.

The board approved the rule during a Tuesday meeting. The rule says, A parent or a legal guardian of a child, or an emancipated minor, shall provide proof of United States (U.S.) citizenship at the time of enrollment to help assess statewide educational needs like language barriers and tutoring programs.

We want information on whose in the country legally or not, said State Superintendent Ryan Walters Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Walters has been vocal in recent weeks about his willingness to cooperate with President Donald Trumps administration enforcement of immigration law. Walters said that schools are crippled by the flood of illegal immigrants and that he would do everything possible to help put Oklahoma students first.

Walters also said they would let Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into schools to ensure that deported parents are reconnected with their children and keep families together.

OSDE passes rule to require citizenship status of families

The rules still require consideration from rules committees in the Oklahoma House and Senate, in addition to Governor Kevin Stitt, before they would take effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News 4 spoke with the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma (ACLU-OK) on Tuesday, who said she was extremely disappointed.

This state superintendent is putting school leaders and school officials in very difficult positions, said Tamya Cox-Toure. They should not be delving into these issues at all.

In a letter sent to Oklahoma City Public Schools parents Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Jamie Polk reassured parents.

As we have always maintained, every child has the right to a quality public education, said Polk. This right is protected under federal law, and OKCPS will continue to uphold it while adhering to state and federal regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cox-Toure said that if the rule moves forward after the lengthy legislative process, its bound to be challenged in the courts.

We know that we have U.S. Supreme Court law decisions that say that all students, regardless of their immigration states, have a right to an education, said Cox-Toure. We also have protections in our Civil Rights Act, as well as our state constitution that requires and allows for students to have an education. We believe that if this proof of citizenship requirement is allowed to go into effect and be implemented, we believe that we have a goof case law to stand on.

The rule change doesnt explicitly state that undocumented students cant enroll, only that districts note that they or their family members werent able to provide proof of citizenship.

We know that we do have a long process, said Cox-Toure. The legislature is not even in session yet. It has to go through the process again to the governors desk, and so we believe we still have some timeOur hope is it doesnt get there. Our hope is that we can appeal to the dignity of the state legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News 4 spoke with Rep. Michelle McCane (D-Tulsa) Tuesday, who is on the House Committee that will consider the rule change. McCane also attended Tuesdays meeting and said that she was disheartened by what she heard.

I think that our state board added a couple of good things in the rules that I saw, although theres a lot of pages to look through, McCane said. But then there was a lot of things that just address problems that dont exist or create problems and remove protections. I dont feel like they were done with the intention of doing whats best for Oklahoma students.

McCane said she plans on addressing budgetary concerns at an upcoming hearing pertaining to potential lawsuits that taxpayers could end up fronting if the rule takes effect.

I think its just irresponsible of taxpayer funds and time and energy, said McCane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCane said shes also already seen concerns in the Tulsa-area about attendance rates. Shes worried that will have an impact, not only economically but on the Tulsa community as a whole.

I have already talked to teachers whove said that they have kids that are not in class now, said McCane.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
At first glance, the just-introduced bill that would prohibit Utahs K-12 students from calling or texting on their cellphones or smart watches during class time might seem like Legislative heavy-handedness.

In fact, SB178s sponsor said its just the opposite: Its motivated by handing the management of cellphones in classrooms back to the local schools and districts.

My goal is to reset the default in the state, said Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Right now, state policy on cell phones is silent  so that basically means that in schools, cellphones are allowed whenever and wherever they want, unless the districts say, No.

That was a mistake of a policy for 20 years.  But the goal with this bill is to just flip that dynamic.

If Fillmores bill is ratified, the states default policy will prohibit the use of cellphones or smart watches during classroom hours. Or if they ever invent a smart pen, you wont be able to use that, either.

However, schools or districts will have the option to grant specific affirmative permission.

This is how we want cellphones to be used in schools, said Fillmore. I think framing it that way really puts schools and districts in a different position  where theyre thinking, How can we use this technology to benefit the students in our school? instead of, How can we restrict it so that we minimize the damage?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The damage caused by cellphones used at schools, added Fillmore, has been vast.

Schools: Define your own policies

Fillmore said his bill is different from past legislative attempts to manage cellphone usage at schools because it does not obstruct local control.

Were telling school districts: You adopt your policy. You work with your parents and your teachers. Figure out how this technology can be used effectively in your school to benefit kids, and adopt that policy.

Were not going to stand in your way.

But if local schools or districts choose not to articulate their own policy, he added, Then the default is no cell phones during classroom hours.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill includes acceptable carve-outs for emergencies or other crisis situations. And students would still be allowed to use their devices during lunch period, recess, between class periods and during study halls  unless, again, local schools or districts decide otherwise.

When asked why lawmakers are stepping-up to manage classroom cellphone usage instead of, say, leaving it up to individuals, Fillmore cited hindsight.

If we had known 20 years ago what the results of having cellphones so ubiquitous in schools would be, we never would have allowed it, he said. This isnt the states role  but it is the states role to define a default.

Fillmore hopes schools and districts will be proactive and flip their thinking. Instead of (asking), How can we minimize the damage? (ask) How can we use this technology to really benefit kids in our classrooms?.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Mike McKell, R- Spanish Fork, spoke Tuesday in support of the cellphone/classroom prohibition: In my own school district, Ive got teachers, principals and my superintendent asking for the state to set that policy.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said that social media and electronics are positives that sometimes requires guidance. Fillmores bill allows for local schools and districts to exercise such direction.

It gives the school districts total control of it, but it does set a different default, said Adams. If the principal wants to, they can allow cellphones anywhere. They can ban them further. But at least it sets a marker  and allows the schools to be able to react to that marker.

Gov. Cox: No fan of cellphones in the classroom

Fillmore and his Senate colleagues are not the only ones speaking out against cellphones in classrooms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has long expressed his wishes to limit public school students cellphone use during class.

The governor has said there is overwhelming evidence of learning loss that coincides with widespread use of cellphones.

We talked about learning loss during COVID-19 and it was severe. But if you go back and look at the data, learning loss in our country and all over the world started in about 2012, when these smartphones became ubiquitous.

Meanwhile, the governors 2026 fiscal year budget includes $139 million that would go toward student well-being efforts  including managing cellphones and other devices in school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cellphones can cause distractions in the classroom. And its been a priority of the governor that we address this as a state, Rich Nye, senior adviser to the governor, told the Legislatures Public Education Subcommittee last week.

Nye added that further cellphone management details are forthcoming, but could include lockers in classrooms to store cellphones.

This is a little fiscal effort to incentivize  allowing academics to be the priority during the school day. If we can remove those distractions that the cellphones have created, we would certainly explore all those options to do so.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes hands with Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, following the annual State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in the Alaska Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered an aspirational address to the Alaska Legislature late Tuesday, celebrating the states growth. But his comments also foreshadowed a conflict with state lawmakers over public education.

It was the governors seventh annual State of the State address to the Legislature, and lawmakers gave the governor mixed reviews, saying that he offered an optimistic view of the state but failed to address some of Alaskas challenges, including a looming fisheries crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday night, the governor said he intends to introduce a comprehensive education bill and alluded to his desire for greater access to charter schools.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy enters the House chambers for the State of the State address on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

The majorities in the state House and Senate are taking a different approach on education by splitting policy questions from a funding bill that rewrites the states per-student funding formula for public schools.

Theres no doubt were going to have our differences over the next few months, but I believe were going to find more areas where we agree than we dont, the governor said.

Hours before the speech, the governors office sent messages to select Alaskans, urging them to testify against the House majoritys preferred education funding bill during a Wednesday hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a contradiction, right? said Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, after the speech.

I hope going forward, we can work with Commissioner (Deena) Bishop of the Department of Education, as well as the governor, in terms of finding some middle ground. Otherwise, were in for a long and protracted session, he said.

Edgmon and Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, sat behind Dunleavy during his speech. Both men represent coastal districts and said they were disappointed that the governor didnt address the states fisheries crisis, which is affecting a major part of the states economy. The governors own task force on the issue is scheduled to present its recommendations to the Legislature soon.

He did mention agriculture, which is important, but nowhere near the size of the fishing industry, Stevens said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite that disappointment, Stevens said he considered Tuesdays remarks to be a good speech.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the annual State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in the Alaska Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy noted declines in state crime rates and said his administration intends to intensify drug interdiction efforts.

The governor highlighted positive economic news for the state, including the fact that Alaska gained more than 6,000 new jobs last year, finally erasing losses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. Alaska was the last state in the country to erase its pandemic-era job losses.

Decline is a choice, and I reject that choice, the governor said, referring to investments by oil companies on the North Slope.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He mentioned new oil and gas development on the North Slope, positive investment returns and the potential for the Trump administration to authorize even more resource development.

I couldnt be more excited about the next four years under the most pro-Alaska president weve ever had in President Donald J. Trump, Dunleavy said.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, observed afterward that new oil developments will take years to generate new revenue for the state treasury, and in the meantime, they will actually reduce state revenue as companies write off their operating expenses against their oil production taxes.

There really is a tale of two economies going on in this state. From the governor, you heard theres all this new oil production and all this new work thats being done. What were seeing, though, is the state is not benefiting from that production, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor said the state is advancing work on a long-planned trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline, but he appeared to acknowledge that Southcentral Alaska will inevitably need to import natural gas to alleviate a pending shortage.

Alev Kelter, a Chugiak High School graduate and three-time Olympic athlete in rugby, is recognized by Gov. Mike Dunleavy during the State of the State address on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

Well address the short-term shortage of natural gas for Southcentral, and we recognize that some of those solutions may be painful and certainly wont be popular, but they will be temporary, he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, said he took the governors comments as an acknowledgement that gas imports will be necessary.

Nobody really wants to do that when we know we have so much natural gas in Alaska. But the reality is, we dont have the ability to get that gas to the market yet, so until we can, were going to have to import it, and that will be painful for us as a state, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shower said that overall, he considered the governors remarks to be hopeful  that increased resource development will improve the states circumstances.

House Minority Leader Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, said she thought the speech was optimistic.

The governor even admitted, hes an optimist, which is maybe why he didnt bring up some of the issues with fisheries, but I think that it was largely an optimistic speech, she said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
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

New research reveals women giving birth in public hospitals have higher proportions of spontaneous vaginal births compared to private hospitals, where cesarean sections were more common.

Published in BMJ Open, the paper, led by Western Sydney University in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen, Amsterdam University Medical Center, and University of Central Lancaster, provides critical insights into how the mode of a woman's first birth influences second and third births.

The research analyzed data from more than 172,000 low-risk women in New South Wales, over a 15-year period between 20012016, with a focus on healthy first-time mothers and their subsequent second and third births (addressed as birth patterns). While the descriptive study utilizes women's life course approach to understanding birth patterns, it does not account for individual clinical reasons influencing birth mode choices.

Among women with two births, 55.8% in public hospitals followed a vaginal birth, vaginal birth pattern, compared to 36.8% in private hospitals.

For women with three births, 57.2% in public hospitals experienced a vaginal-vaginal-vaginal sequence, compared to 38.8% in private hospitals.

Co-author of the study Professor Hannah Dahlen, from the University's School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Translational Health Research Institute, says the research sheds light on notable differences between public and private hospital models, as interventions in childbirth have increased over the last few decades.

"Our findings reveal the importance of maximizing women's chances of a vaginal birth for the first birth as it impacts what happens in future births," said Professor Dahlen.

"We know that women with an operative birth, that is a vaginal birth using instruments, or a cesarean section, are less likely to have vaginal births subsequently.

"The findings of the study provide valuable insights into how the childbirth experience may shape someone's reproductive life course and in turn enable women to make informed decisions about childbearing. It is time to look at birth as part of a continuing story that is impacted by what has happened before."

This study has shed light on birth outcomes for women, based on their initial mode of birth where they were at low risk for medical complications. The findings reveal that women who had an initial spontaneous vaginal birth have a 91.3% likelihood of having subsequent vaginal births, regardless of whether they delivered in a public or private hospital.

Women who had an initial elective cesarean section had an 81.9% probability of having subsequent elective cesarean births. When comparing probabilities between public and private hospital models, the likelihood of subsequent elective cesarean births was higher in private hospitals (84.9%) compared to public hospitals (76.9%).

For women whose initial birth was an emergency cesarean section, the probability of a subsequent emergency cesarean was 17.9%, while the probability of a subsequent elective cesarean section stood at 67.4%.

Lead author, Clinical Epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peters, University Medical Center Groningen (the Netherlands), and Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University, said that important differences were observed based on the maternity care funding model.

"Women identified as low-risk and receiving care from private obstetricians were more likely to experience interventions during childbirth compared to women receiving care in the public health system," said Dr. Peters

"The findings have the potential to shape future maternal health studies and models, providing important data for health care professionals, policymakers, and expectant mothers.

"This highlights the importance of supporting informed birth choices and considering the implications of maternity care models on long-term outcomes for mothers and families."
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Legislature is moving full speed ahead as we continue to monitor the various bills and motions that seek to become law within the State of Utah. As we enter the seventh day of the session, here are some bills, votes, and hearings that you should be aware of.

UPDATE: Bill to remove fluoride from Utahs water passes House committee, moves to floor vote

Upcoming floor votes

With yesterdays passage of H.B. 269, several new bills have been circled on the Senate and House calendars for consideration in todays floor sessions. Floor sessions are always scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and go on till noon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of this writing, the House currently has 53 bills on its reading calendar that are waiting for a vote, the Senate has 3 bills waiting for a final vote, and 36 bills waiting for a second vote.

In todays session, appropriation bills  or funding bills  will be up for consideration. The House prioritizing base budgets for higher education, community and economic development, general government, transportation, and the national guard.

In the Senate, funding bills for public education, natural resources, criminal justice, and social services have been marked for a second vote before moving to a final vote on the senate floor. In an update from yesterday, the Senate has yet to pass S.B. 55, which gives property owners access to the sheriffs department to remove trespassers from their properties. It remains on the final vote calendar, and could be voted on sometime today.

Hearings you dont want to miss

Todays session will start off with several appropriations meetings beginning at 8 a.m.. The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will hear several budget proposal from Utahs universities. Also on our radar is the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee, which will several budget proposal from Utahs public lands and wildlife agencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Starting later at 2 p.m. will be the various standing committee considering new bills and resolutions. Most significantly will be H.B. 267  or Public Sector Labor Union Amendments  consideration by the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. If passed by committee, it will move to the Senate floor for consideration, and passage by the Senate. Thus inching the bill closer in becoming law. Additionally, S.J.R. 2 seeks to amend Utahs Constitution to require 60% of a vote on indicatives making or increasing taxes.

Also on our radar is the the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, which is considering moving forward H.B. 81, which would remove fluoride from all of Utahs public water systems. Also being considered is S.B. 30, which would give Governor Spencer Cox the authority to enter into a interstate compact of forest fire resource sharing. Additionally there is H.B. 203, which is a bi-partisan bill seeking to reform the state medical cannabis program.

The final hearing we are watching is the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. Here legislators will decide the fates of several bills that would require armed guards and other safety measures in schools (H.B. 40), including minors in possession charges if they bring dangerous weapons to school (H.B. 128), and lastly a bill that would set criminal penalties when an individual fails to store their firearms and they are accessed by a minor (H.B. 132).

The public is welcomed to participate in any of the hearings, and links to do so can be found on the legislatures website. For continuing coverage of the 2025 General Session, visit Inside Utah Politics.

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 ABC4 Utah.
Sens. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) take questions from reporters following the passage of legislation to expand the state's Freedom of Information Act on Jan. 29, 2025. | Kyle Davidson

The Michigan Senate crossed the first item off its 2025 to-do list on Wednesday, passing a plan to expand Michigans Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with overwhelming bipartisan support.

This is Senate Bill No.1, the first vote of the new legislative term, and this chamber is prioritizing a more transparent state government, said state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), a lead sponsor of the bills alongside Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today, we in the Senate will do our part to give residents the tools to shine light on state government, Moss said.

Senate Bills 1 and 2 would extend FOIA to include the Legislature, the governor and the lieutenant governor, which are exempt under the current state law. The bills passed the Senate 33-2, with Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon) and Minority Floor Leader Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway Twp.) offering the only votes against the bills.

Both McBroom and Moss have been pushing for changes to the states FOIA law for about a decade. The two lawmakers previously succeeded in moving another reform attempt out of the House in 2015 while they were each serving in the lower chamber. However, the effort died in the Senate.

The senators successfully got FOIA reform passed in the Democratic-led Senate during the 2023-24 legislative term, but they ultimately failed to clear the Democratic-controlled House.

Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) responds to criticisms on his proposal for reforms to the states Freedom of Information Act, which passed the Michigan Senate on Jan. 29, 2025. | Kyle Davidson

While the bills cleared the House Government Operations Committee in December, the reforms were left stranded as the House melted down, with state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) joining House Republicans in refusing to attend session until the House acted on policy priorities including efforts to address impending tipped minimum wage and paid sick leave changes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the Senate on Wednesday once again passed the FOIA bills, they face an uncertain future in the GOP-led House this term.

Michigan was previously ranked worst in the nation for government integrity, failing 10 out of 13 categories in a 2015 report from the Center for Public Integrity, including public access to information, executive accountability, and legislative accountability.

If passed, Moss and McBrooms bills would open the governor and lieutenant governors office to FOIA beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and would not apply to records created or retained before the bill takes effect.

The speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader would also be responsible for designating a FOIA coordinator to accept and process requests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However the expansion does not apply to the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies, the Legislative Service Bureau, and the office of sergeant at arms, which provides security for the Legislature.

It also carries a number of other exceptions for both the governor and lieutenant governors office, as well as the Legislature.

FOIA exemptions for the office of the governor and lieutenant governor include:

Appointments to departments, state agencies, commissions, councils or to fill a vacancy on a court. The exemption no longer applies after an individual has been appointed to one of these positions save for information including their applications and letters of recommendation or references

Decisions to remove or suspend a public official or judge, which no longer applies after that individual has been removed or suspended

Decisions to grant or deny a reprieve, pardon or commutation

Budget recommendations or reductions in expenditures

Messages or recommendations to the legislature

Information related to the executive residence

Documents subject to executive privilege

Documents that could impact the security of the governor or lieutenant governor

The governors and lieutenant governors office and the Legislature are also exempt from disclosing any records of communications between themselves and a constituent who is not a registered lobbyist, alongside a number of other exemptions, including:

Their personal phone numbers

Information on an internal investigation

Records or information tied to a civil action for which any of these entities are a party, with the exemption expiring when the claim has been adjudicated or settled

Records created, prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the governor, lieutenant governor or legislature for less than 30 days

Records created or prepared by the governor, the lieutenant governor, an employee of the executive office of the governor or lieutenant governor, a legislator or an employee of a state legislative public body, that relate to advice, opinions or recommendations about public policy or district work

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, any information that is exempt from FOIA under another law or regulation would also be exempt under the expansion.

Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen)  who was one of two senators who voted against the package last summer, alongside Bumstead  offered a floor substitute to each bill, raising concerns about the definition of the Legislature in SB 1.

In recent years, the Legislature of Michigan was redefined to not only include the House and Senate, also include the Independent [Citizens] Redistricting Commission in certain circumstances as theyre drafting maps. So in order to address that and make sure that they would also fall under FOIA. This just adds them to the list of legislative bodies that would be under FOIA, Lindsey said.

While Moss said he would be supportive of that concept and open to further conversation, he urged a no vote on the amendment in order to keep the policies moving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lindsey also addressed concerns raised by Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) in his reluctant call for a yes vote, with Lindsey introducing another amendment which would allow the majority party and the minority party in each chamber to appoint their own FOIA coordinator in order to keep the position from being weaponized against political opposition, alongside tweaking the language on some of the exemptions for the governors office.

Both amendments failed.

On Jan. 29, 2025, Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen) speaks in support of his proposed changes to legislation seeking to expand the states Freedom of Information Act. | Kyle Davidson

While Runestad opposed an exemption for records created, prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the governor, lieutenant governor and their offices for less than 30 days, McBroom justified the exemptions noting many of them were included in the originals drafts of the bills crafted 10 years ago. The 30-day exclusion specifically was written to ensure the governor can have frank conversations while crafting the state budget, McBroom said.

If they need ideas on tough cuts and they want to hear all those ideas and have them put on the table, and then later on, it could just be used as a political torch to go after because somebody from the Department of Natural Resources suggested we close all the parks. You know that thats not helpful, and it doesnt allow the governors office to do their job in writing a budget, McBroom said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lauwers spoke out against the Senates efforts to fast track the bills, moving to put them before the entire Senate on the day they were introduced, circumventing the committee process where additional testimony would be taken on the bills.

By the sponsors [Moss] own admission, it could be a better bill, but we didnt have a single committee. Why? Yes, its good policy, but lets stick to procedure.  As I said, I voted for it in the past. Im voting against it today because its a protest against the procedure were taking, Lauwers said.

While Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer promised to expand FOIA to the governor and lieutenant governors office while campaigning for her first term in 2018, if the Legislature did not act on the issue. However, she has yet to extend FOIA to her office since she was sworn in on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Advance asked a Whitmer spokesperson if the governor would open her office to FOIA, but the request was not answered by the time of publication.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moss has repeatedly told reporters he hoped to replicate the same success he and McBroom saw in 2015 as the bill moved to the Republican-led House for further consideration.

If you look at the dynamics of the Legislature over the last several years here, this is now only passed out of a Republican-controlled House and only passed out of a Democratic-controlled Senate. I think those might just be the perfect dynamics that we have to have in place in order to get this done, Moss said.

Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) takes questions from reporters following the passage of legislation to expand the states Freedom of Information Act on Jan. 29, 2025. | Kyle Davidson

However, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) has seemed less interested, previously telling reporters, Youre not going to see fast action on the FOIA stuff for me in the House. Youre just not.

Both McBroom and Moss said they had spoken with Hall, and that he had reassured them he was supportive of the ideas of the package.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I want to be respectful of the fact that hes got to set up a whole office and administration, basically.  I think he was just simply trying to help everybody recognize that he wasnt going to pass these next week as soon as we sent them over, McBroom said.

Hes going to put them through the committee process. Hes got new members, which we dont have here, that have to learn this issue. So I want to be respectful, he said.

The door remains open for discussion, Moss said.

I think we have all the tools and experience and knowledge and data to present to him about how important this issue is. And so if he wants to engage in that conversation, were more than willing to sit at the table with him and talk about why it is important to put these bills on the House agenda, Moss said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing Donald Trumps administration following his executive order to freeze all federal funding.

Per MSNBC, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that James was going to court to contest the White Houses illegal move.

This administrations pause on federal funding is reckless and dangerous. Programs in communities across the entire nation depend on this funding to support our families, and this action is only going to hurt them, James tweeted on Monday (Jan. 27) ahead of news about the lawsuit.

This administrations pause on federal funding is reckless and dangerous.



Programs in communities across the entire nation depend on this funding to support our families, and this action is only going to hurt them.https://t.co/mxw0KUocQ6  NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 28, 2025

During a press conference held on Tuesday (Jan. 28), James stated, Not only does this Administrations new policy put people at risk, but it is plainly unconstitutional.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a press release, she reiterated her belief that Trumps order was unconstitutional and also called it dangerous.

James added, Millions of Americans rely on federally funded programs every day to get the health care they need, support their families, and stay safe in their communities. Already, this policy has unleashed chaos and uncertainty, with law enforcement halting drug enforcement efforts, Medicaid portals shutting down, and other critical services being thrown into disarray. Today, I am leading a coalition of attorneys general to uphold the law and ensure that essential services in states across our country can continue.

Trumps White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained during their press briefing, This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration.

Trumps decision to halt all federal grants, loans and related assistance even though Congress has already appropriated the money could impact trillions in government spending and halt public programs, Newsweek reported. Programs like Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, welfare, and direct individual assistance are excluded from the freeze that went into effect on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leavitt added, I want to make that very clear to any Americans who are watching at home. It means no more funding for illegal DEI programs; it means no more funding for the green new scamIt means no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy and agencies, no more funding for green new deal social engineering policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the lawsuit, James is working with Democratic attorneys generals from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Their lawsuit isnt related to a case filed by a collective of nonprofits and public health advocates who asked a federal judge for an emergency order to block the White Houses policy. MSNBC noted that the judge pushed back the start of the freeze to Monday (Feb. 3) at 5 p.m. ET.

More from VIBE.com

Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
President Donald Trump has promised to round up and deport millions of illegal immigrants. These are people who have admittedly broken the law. They did so to escape poverty, persecution and violence in their native country. They have also proved to be law-abiding and hardworking, doing jobs that native-born Americans refuse to do. Taxes are deducted from their wages, and they pay into the Social Security fund although they will not receive benefits.

Nevertheless, the impulse to deport those who have broken the law is understandable. However, mass deportations are unnecessarily harsh in many instances and will result in economic consequences.

In contrast, the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters have been pardoned and had sentences commuted, receiving a get-out-of-jail free card. With evil intent and malice in their hearts they assaulted the Capitol, the Peoples House, violently attacked police, committed extensive property damage and threatened the peaceful transfer of power, a pillar of our democracy. Many of these rioters were apprehended and either pleaded guilty to crimes or were tried, convicted and duly sentenced. They are now free to spread their hate and violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Can anyone explain why honest, hardworking people are forced to leave the county while violent criminals are free to walk the streets? A more nuanced and humane deportation policy is needed. During President Barack Obamas tenure 3 million illegal aliens were deported  criminals and those who were here only a short time. A good place to start.

Louis M. Shucker

Bern Township
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have voiced support for renaming military bases for Confederate generals. In the years following the Civil War, Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, Fort Benning, Fort Lee, Fort Hood and Fort Gordon were named for Confederate generals as part of the effort to perpetuate the idea of The Lost Cause and to recast these turncoat officers as heroes.

Every military member, from the rawest recruit to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, swears an oath to support and defend the United States. These Confederate generals were former U.S. Army officers who had sworn that same oath. They reneged on that oath and instead became leaders in an insurrection that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and sowed seeds of distrust and hatred that persist to this day.

If Army bases are to be renamed for generals, there are plenty of true patriots from whom to choose: George Washington, Ulysses Grant, John Pershing, Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, Omar Bradley, Theodore Roosevelt III (who won the Medal of Honor) and George C. Marshall, to name a few.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Taking Confederate names off the sign boards at military bases is not a woke rewrite of history, as some in the Republican Party suggest. The biggest rewrite of post-Civil War history took place when traitors were remade into heroes.

Roy Hoglund

Newmanstown
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A registered sex offender who was again accused of sexual assault against a child was convicted by an Ector County jury Wednesday on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child. Steven Hoisington was then given two consecutive life sentences on the first two count and another 10 years in prison on the third count.

Hoisington was initially accused after a 9-year-old girl made an outcry in 2022. The child told her mother that Hoisington had touched her inappropriately, shown her pornography, and exposed himself to her.

Aside from this conviction, Hoisington was convicted previously of sexual assault against a child in 2001. Upon that conviction, Hoisington was sentenced to eight years in prison and was required to register as a sex offender for life. He was also arrested in 2019 after the Odessa Police Department said he failed to report in person to tell them about an address change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge Justin Low presided over the case with Assistant District Attorneys Jennifer Bassett and Kevin Schulz prosecuting for the state.

The Ector County District Attorneys Office remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable and holding offenders accountable, the DAs office said in a statement.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 28LIMA  Lima City Council's neighborhood concerns committee was set to have a meeting Tuesday, but with the passing of legislation at Monday's council meeting, councilman Thomas Jones said the meeting was no longer necessary.

Jones said constituents had been complaining about trailers parked illegally on neighborhood streets and yards, as well as commercial, recreational and watercraft vehicles.

"(Councilman) Derry Glenn referred this issue to the neighborhood concerns committee in January," Jones said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Council responded by amending section 1806.14 of the city code to include language not limited to only motor vehicles.

At the meeting, Glenn and Jones expressed approval for the measure and pride that they accomplished something for their constituents.

Councilman Tony Wilkerson said the measure would mean something for all residents.

"It's not just a south-end problem," he said. "I think it's important for the citizens of Lima to know that we care about our community and how it looks."

In the section, the code says no motor vehicle, commercial vehicle, recreational vehicle or watercraft owner is allowed to park, keep or store on the exterior streets of residential properties if a driveway is available and if the vehicle has a connection attached to water, gas, electricity or a portable generator.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.

Featured Local Savings
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

Labor and delivery units that are adequately staffed by nurses have lower cesarean birth rates, according to new research published in the journal Nursing Outlook.

"Our findings highlight how crucial nurse staffing is for optimal maternal outcomes," said Audrey Lyndon, the Vernice D. Ferguson Professor in Health Equity and executive vice dean at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

C-sections account for nearly a third of births in the US and are the most common surgery performed in hospitals. While C-sections can be lifesaving and some are necessary for the health of the mother and child, the surgery carries more risks and a longer recovery than vaginal births and can complicate future pregnancies.

"If we can safely lower the C-section rate, we are improving outcomes for childbearing people and their families," added Lyndon, the study's lead author.

Nurses play an important role during childbirth, providing emotional and physical support at the bedside, monitoring the health of the mother and baby, and administering medication. When hospitals are understaffed, nurses are forced to prioritize tasks that require the most immediate attention at the expense of other care.

"While nurses intuitively know that having enough nurses to provide the attentive care that mother and babies need and deserve improves outcomes, research has been minimal in linking maternity nurse staffing and patient outcomes," said Kathleen Rice Simpson, a perinatal clinical nurse specialist at Mercy Hospital St. Louis and study author.

To determine if nurse staffing influences C-section rates, the researchers examined how well maternity units adhere to staffing standards established by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). The evidence-based standards call for one nurse to one birthing person during many parts of labor, two nurses at birth, and one nurse for each mother-newborn pair in the first few hours after birth.

The researchers surveyed 2,786 nurses from 193 hospitals across 23 states about staffing on their maternity units. Their responses, collected in 2018 and 2019, were matched with hospital-level administrative data and rates of C-sections and vaginal births.

Better nurse staffing during labor and birth was linked to lower C-section rates and higher vaginal birth rates, including vaginal births among mothers who had previously had C-sections. C-section rates were 11 percent lower in hospitals with nurse staffing aligned with the national standards.

"Concern about cesarean section rates in the US has been high for many years, and there has been little progress toward improvement. This study points us toward one important solution: aligning labor and delivery nurse staffing with consensus- and expert-developed guidelines," said Joanne Spetz, director of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a study author.

"We hope our findings will encourage hospitals to see the value in nurse staffing consistent with standards to support healthy outcomes for mothers and babies," said Simpson.

Hospitals and policymakers often point to increased costs related to both C-sections and nurse staffing. The researchers note that the cost of adequate nurse staffing during labor and birth can be balanced by the savings of avoiding unnecessary C-sections, including shorter hospital stays and fewer complications.

"Nursing care is looked at as a cost center as opposed to a revenue center in hospitals, so it's often one of the first things cut when hospitals are trying to keep costs in line. But research continues to show that nurse staffing is a key contributor to patient safety across departments," said Lyndon.

"While increasing nurse staffing during a period of shortage can be challenging, this investment could reduce overall costs by reducing rates of surgical cesarean sections and longer-term adverse outcomes for mothers and babies," said Spetz.

To hold hospitals accountable, the researchers encourage the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider establishing regulatory standards for nurse staffing as part of their "Birthing-Friendly" designation for high-quality maternity care.

Additional study authors include Jason Fletcher of NYU Meyers, Gay Landstrom of Trinity Health in Michigan, and Caryl Gay of UCSF.

More information: Audrey Lyndon et al, Relationship between nurse staffing during labor and cesarean birth rates in U.S. hospitals, Nursing Outlook (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102346
Jan. 28LIMA  A biologist specializing in the preservation of Lake Erie gave students from Lima schools a crash course Tuesday on the history of pollution and conservation efforts at Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, which infamously caught fire in 1969 due to industrial pollution.

"What I'm here to tell you is that good things have happened from that disaster," said Chris Winslow, director of the Ohio Sea Grant Program and OSU Stone Laboratory at Lake Erie.

The fire prompted federal lawmakers to pass the Clean Water Act, establish the Enviornmental Protection Agency and negotiate the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada, which reduced industrial pollution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But today, Winslow said, Lake Erie is threatened by another source of pollution: excess nutrients from farmland.

Eighty students from Lima Senior High School and South Science and Technology Magnet School visited The Ohio State University-Lima campus Tuesday to learn from Winslow, the keynote speaker for this year's Fowler Science Series.

The series started 11 years ago as a partnership between Lima schools, OSU-Lima and the city of Lima to bring scientists to campus. Past speakers discussed subjects like weather and ingredients used in Coca-Cola products.

This year's series focused on water quality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Students spent the past semester learning about phosphorus and nitrogen, nutrients found in soil that are spreading from farmland to the Lake Erie watershed and causing harmful algal blooms.

The series culminated in a day spent at the OSU-Lima campus learning from Winslow, rotating through a series of hands-on labs and meeting with college students to learn about campus life.

Mayor Sharetta Smith paid a visit to campus too to encourage students to conserve water.

"Drinkable water is such a valuable resource," Smith said. "It is important for us to all do our part in preserving and protecting what is left of it. Minor changes to everyday life, like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or only running the dishwasher when it's full, can also make an impactful difference over time."

Featured Local Savings
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a 78-year-old commissioner from Lincoln County is out on bond after being arrested for child molestation.

Hartwell Cooper Cliatt, of Lincolnton, was under investigation beginning in May 2024, when the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office asked GBI to investigate him for allegations of child molestation.

The GBI confirmed that Cliatt is currently a member of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, serving District 3.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, Cliatt was indicted by a Lincoln County Grand Jury and charged with two counts of child molestation.

He turned himself into the authorities on Tuesday and was booked by the sheriffs office before being released on a $50,000 bond.

The GBI asks that anyone with information contact their regional investigative office in Thomson at 706-595-2575 or by calling anonymous tips in at 1-800-597-8477.

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

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
CELINA, Ohio (WDTN)  Dozens of drone sightings have been reported in Mercer and Darke County in the last 72 hours.

Local law enforcement for both counties said they dont know where the drones are coming from but are working to find out more as calls continue to come in.

Local sheriff investigating significant amount of drone sightings

2 NEWS spoke with the Mercer County Sheriffs Office about what they are doing to get to the bottom of this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Residents of both Mercer and Darke counties want to know why there are drones flying over their properties, but local authorities said they need federal help to address the issue.

In Mercer County, the Sheriffs Office said they began receiving several calls Friday, Jan. 24 about drones flying over private property.

By Tuesday, MCSO said they received nearly 80 calls from around the county reporting the sightings. Some reports said there were multiple drones on their property at the same time.

We have many of our farmers out here that are terribly concerned about their properties, said Sheriff Doug Timmerman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Multiple reports of drone sightings in Darke County

Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman said his office has reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but has yet to receive any answers on the sightings.

Im completely disappointed in the Federal Aviation Administration, said Timmerman. They are little to no help to us. And so that parts frustrating.

Timmerman said they are also trying to work with state leaders to address the situation in Congress, as drone sightings like these have become more common in recent months.

Im going to keep shaking the bushes until we get those answers, hopefully, said Timmerman. But, Im concerned that these people are going to take matters into their own hands if we dont start getting some help to them pretty soon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Sheriffs Office said people should continue to make reports to their local law enforcement agencies. They add that you should never attempt to chase or follow the drones.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 28The story read like something out of a horror movie  at least for potential homebuyers in Albuquerque looking to finance their purchase.

"In the high-desert city with a population of more than a half-million, made famous as the setting of AMC's 'Breaking Bad,' 71% of home purchases were all cash in October 2024," read a portion a Realtor.com story posted Jan. 18. It alleged Albuquerque was the No. 1 U.S. city for all-cash purchases.

The story found that Albuquerque's all-cash share was more than double the national average, which accounts for 34.6% of home purchases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the story, written from what Realtor.com said were the latest figures it compiled for all-cash purchases, used faulty data, according to a local real estate expert.

The true share of all-cash purchases in October? Roughly 14.4%, according to Albuquerque Realtor and past president of the Southwest Multiple Listing Service, Tego Venturi. That October number for all-cash purchases of homes in Albuquerque, Venturi added, falls more in line with the annual percentage of 14.6%.

The Southwest Multiple Listing Service, or SWMLS, a subsidiary of the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors, is a database of properties for sale covering Central New Mexico, Venturi said. The data from the SWMLS are also used to track real estate trends in the area.

The Realtor.com story, which didn't use SWMLS data and which was taken down after the Journal reached out for comment last week, caused a bit of a stir in the local residential real estate scene, Venturi said. It's left some wondering: Is this percentage from Realtor.com for all-cash sales last year true? And if so, what could this mean for those looking to buy a home?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It could scare potentially some first-time buyers," Venturi said. "I did see people making that comment that it would make them believe that they had no chance in ever owning a home, or that they can't compete with these cash buyers because they've got to get financing and (have) a low down payment."

Venturi first encountered the Realtor.com story earlier this month when he made a Facebook post sharing data on how Albuquerque homebuyers were purchasing single-family homes. Another local real estate agent commented on Venturi's post about the story from Realtor.com, asking if he could confirm the data was accurate.

That led Venturi to contact Realtor.com and ask how its team came up with the data associating Albuquerque with the highest percentage of all-cash sales in the country. Venturi said he didn't get a response for a few days.

It "looks like there was something amiss with the data" and that the company was "digging into it," a spokesperson for the company, Asees Singh, wrote to the Journal in an email last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Singh didn't get back to the Journal with a reason why the data may have been inaccurate. But Venturi said he was able to recently chat with Danielle Hale, Realtor.com's chief economist, who told him that the company pulled public records, "meaning she's using county record data, which will record a record of sale." Hale didn't immediately respond to a Journal request for comment.

"I asked her, 'Well, how many properties did you account for when you did that? Because all you did was report the percentage, not the not the number of closings,'" Venturi recalled. "And she said, 'It was like, 2,200.' I'm like, 'Well, there's your problem. You're counting something other than residential sales because residential sales were around 900 or so in October.' She came up with (her number) based on county records, and so it looks like what they were doing was counting land sales."

Data provided by Venturi and SWMLS for 2024 show about 60.8% of single-family homes last year were purchased with conventional loans. The next biggest type was Federal Housing Administration loans, making up about 15% of all purchases. Next was, of course, cash sales. Veterans Affairs loans made up just over 8%; seller-financed purchases were under 2%.

Over the past seven years, according to the data, all-cash sales for Albuquerque home purchases hovered anywhere from a low of 11.6% in 2020 to a high of 17.7% in 2022. Venturi said those numbers dismiss the notion that all-cash buyers are buying up all the homes in the city, particularly the belief that "Wall Street people are buying all the homes."

"That's just not happening here in Albuquerque," Venturi said. "The message has got out there some, but I think more people (need to) understand that we are not a big cash-buyer city. ...We are people just trying to raise their families and live their lives."
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)  Local farmers saw their impacts to their crops as below freezing temperatures hit the Lowcountry last week.

Fields Farm usually sees an early strawberry season, sometimes even at the end of February, but this year that may not be likely after snow and ice sat on the produce.

The snow and ice, it freezes a lot of the produce  the strawberries. Theyll come back. Well have strawberries on the bush, we have other crops also  kale, whatever. Everything is pretty bad, but the strawberries are coming back, Joseph Fields, owner of Fields Farm, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However with the sunshine, the farmers were able to reassess if they think the plants will survive. On some crops, the buds and blossoms havent come out yet which means they could go without replanting.

The broccoli and stuff, we have to replant it or were going to see what it does. They cant stand the 20 degree weather  collards, cabbage, kale, Joseph said. Theyre turning colors now, they might come back, they might not  who knows.

As the snow storm impacted the Lowcountry last week, it also affected the farms market. The shop opened back up on Jan. 28 after the ice had melted.

So we had to close it down for a week. We just opened back up today. This time of year things are pretty slow every year, but when spring comes things start picking back up, Anna Fields White, farmer, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The farmers expect the strawberries to come in around March now.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Health officials in Trumbull County are warning residents about higher transmission levels of influenza in the community.

Recent data, which can be accessed on the Ohio Department of Healths website, may serve as an early warning sign of increased cases of influenza A and B locally.

According to a recent report by the Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection, there are increasing viral concentrations in wastewater tested at the Warren Water Pollution Control Facility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They say these higher concentrations can lead to higher transmission, higher case counts and hospitalizations.

The Warren City Water Pollution Control Facility is one of the more than six dozen wastewater treatment plants participating in Ohios Wastewater Monitoring Network. Chemist Tonya Cornell says samples are taken twice a week and sent to a lab to check for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

It can be detected before you even realize you are sick, so thats is helpful, Cornell said.

Wastewater sampling began in 2020 to test for COVID-19 gene fragments but expanded to include other viruses. Cornell says Bird Flu will soon be added to the list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The health department would use it to prepare hospitals and people. It helps knowing this virus up  be cautious, she said.

The Trumbull County Combined Health District and the Warren City Health District are emphasizing the importance of preventative measures after the elevated virus detection.

We urge residents to take preventative steps, such as getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene with frequent handwashing, and staying home when sick, to help reduce the spread of illness, May said.

Officials say the flu viruses can spread through coughing, sneezing or even talking, especially during the common flu season of early October to late March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They say the most effective way to prevent contracting influenza, being hospitalized or dying from influenza, is to get a flu vaccine.

Health officials in Trumbull County will use data provided through the Ohio Disease Reporting System to monitor local hospitalized influenza cases weekly to track any increases in cases.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Trump Administration announced a halt on federal funding for loans and grants Monday to take effect Tuesday, but a federal judge stopped the funding freeze minutes before it was supposed to be enacted.

CBS reports that Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said the funding freeze is a temporary pause to ensure organizations have no conflicts with President Trumps executive actions and orders.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CBS adds the funding freeze could have widespread impacts on funding for entities from universities to small businesses, and some organizations are feeling those concerns here at home.

Leaders of several non-profit organizations in North Alabama said losing federal funds could seriously impact their operations. Some of these organizations are ones people wouldnt expect, like first responders.

Ethan Fitzgerald with Toney Volunteer Fire & Rescue said volunteer firefighters serve 70% of the country, and while tax funding covers some costs, it usually doesnt make ends meet.

We appreciate that tax funding, but its not enough usually, Fitzgerald said. Thats why those grants are so important. They supplement the needs, especially with growth here in Madison County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Proposed freeze on federal grants, loans provokes uncertainty for North Alabama governments, schools, agencies

Fitzgerald said Congressman Dale Strong assured the fire department of its funds security despite ongoing conversations in Washington D.C.

As far as Tony Volunteer Fire and other volunteer fire departments that any in-action grants or grants that were applying to, should not be impacted.

North Alabama is a major recipient of federal money, including 410 grants and 553 in Madison County alone in Fiscal Year 2024.

While some non-profits do not rely on federal funds to operate, they worry for their clients who do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My concern is the second and third-order effects on how it affects our clients directly on programs that they may have access to, and then what kind of pressure that will put on us if we need to step in and help them just get through their daily life, Executive Director of First Stop Chad Rodriguez said.

CBS News reports that the funding freeze will not impact Medicare, Social Security or SNAP benefits. The report goes on to say that Medicaid was not initially considered to be affected.

The Alabama Medicaid Agency said access to the Medicaid Portal was temporarily halted early Tuesday afternoon. The agency followed up and said the portal reopened after the judge blocked the funding order, but the Trump Administration said the portal issues had nothing to do with the funding freeze.

Congressman Robert Aderholt further stated the order does not have an impact on individual benefits, saying in a statement to News 19:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a temporary pause to give the new administration time to do a review of programs and it does not impact individual assistance programs like S.N.A.P., Head Start or farmers. Congressman Robert Aderholt

The federal judge paused the funding freeze order until at least Monday at 5 p.m., allowing further litigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  United Way of Central Alabama and the Alabama Association of non-profits are just two organizations in Birmingham that said they are feeling the impacts of President Trumps Executive Order Tuesday to pause federal funding.

Fairfield mayor urges residents to support market

Both organizations said they were left scrambling and confused, not knowing what to do next as they often rely on the funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not sure theres a lot we know now. I think theres still just a lot of questions out there, said Danielle Dunbar, the Executive Director of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.

Dunbar said the pause resulted in a lot of calls from non-profit members and their partners throughout Alabama.

A lot of calls, emails for us, for other members of the non-profit eco systems that we work with our foundations. They were also hearing a lot of things and concerned that their grantees were having potential complications because of this, said Dunbar.

Those potential complications include making payroll for employees, as well as funding for services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Drew Langloh, President and CEO of United Way of Central Alabama, said they offer services that will likely feel the impact of this pause as well.

Weve got critical services, services that serve homeless veterans, that serve fragile elderly, that serve young children, said Langloh.

Langloh said they are now reevaluating their next steps.

Every dollar we spend on a federal program may not be reimbursed in the future, and so now we have to really think hard about what we can do on limited budgets. said Langloh.

The Alabama Association of non-profits said they are working with their national partners moving forward, one way is by hosting their annual conference which focuses on advocacy. Click here for more information about this conference.

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 CBS 42.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  During his first week back in office, President Donald Trumps administration carried out nationwide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The agency reported 1,179 arrests on Monday alone.

In Northeast Ohio, as of Monday, a total of 56 ICE detainees are being held in the Geauga County Safety Center, including 20 who arrived Sunday night.

Akron Public Schools confirmed one of its schools was placed under a brief precautionary lockdown on Tuesday due to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents who were operating nearby.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local non-profit Thrive Mahoning Valley works to create a more welcoming and equitable community. A majority of that work includes directing immigrants to safe services for language, housing, education, transportation and legal needs. Those at the organization also help newly arrived residents find jobs.

Vice President of Operations Vicki Vicars said the organization has seen some panic set in with those that they serve and the agencies they work with.

Theres a couple of families they cant contact, so they suspect that theyve either already tried to self-deport, that theyve gone back to their home country, or theyre in hiding just out of fear, Vicars said. Weve heard that, in particularly in the Hispanic community, folks are not going to their medical appointments, theyre not seeking medical attention that they need, theyre not getting prescriptions refilled out of fear.

Vicars said the organization is currently focusing on helping individuals and families prepare for possible deportation and helping them understand their rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What documentation do you need if youre stopped? Vicars said. The Constitution does protect you even if youre not a legal citizen here. There has to be a warrant signed by a judge if youre being stopped.

Vicars said the organization supports the arrests of illegal criminals but asks those to remember that these are real people.

Lets be careful not to catch innocent people who are trying to make a life here and helping support the local workforce, Vicars said.

According to the U.S. ICE 2024 report, there were 113,431 arrests through enforcement and removal operations and 32,608 criminal arrests in Homeland Security investigations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vicars said while more attention has been brought to deportations recently, this is not a new issue.

There is rhetoric out there on both sides of the political spectrum that is not true or not helpful, Vicars said. It is important to educate yourself so you arent being harmful to other people.

Thrive is also working to become an accredited Department of Justice organization for immigrants. The nearest accredited organization is currently located in Cleveland, which Vicars said creates more challenges.

[DOJ accrediation] is much needed in this community, Vicars said. There are many things we cannot do without it We also do not receive any federal funding and are almost all funded by our community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thrive and Youngstowns Director of Economic Development Stephanie Gilchrist has also been working toward being a certified welcoming city for all. It would help assess the needs in the city and then prepare to handle any person who arrives and needs help getting settled.

Vicars said they are finalizing a proposal to Welcoming America by March, and from there, it may be a nine month audit process.

For more resources, visit Thrives website or call (330) 333-8294.

WJW, NewsNation and 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 WKBN.com.
Teacher Samuel Shurtleff during a tour of Benavidez Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Texas state lawmakers have proposed a state budget that could potentially provide Houston ISD with millions in additional funds to increase teacher pay and address campus safety.

Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, filed the Senates $332.9 billion budget last week, which would allocate $5.3 billion in additional funds for public education, while Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, filed the Houses $335.7 billion budget, which proposes allocating $4.85 billion more for public education.

HISD, along with several other Houston-area school districts, have faced major financial deficits after the Legislature failed to approve expected K-12 funding increases during the previous legislative session in 2023, leading districts to tighten budgets by cutting thousands of employee positions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The proposed legislation  House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1  would address K-12 education funding by providing billions for pay increases for teachers, school vouchers and campus safety. The budget is the only bill that state lawmakers are required to pass before the legislative session ends June 2.

Heres what to know about how the initial proposals from the two chambers could affect Houston ISD if passed:

School voucher program

Both budgets propose allocating $1 billion for school vouchers, or education savings accounts, to give parents taxpayer funds to pay tuition for private schools, along with fees for instructional materials, transportation or exams. Lawmakers previously proposed $500 million for school vouchers during the 2023 legislative session, but the measure failed to pass.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Senate Bill 2, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, proposes giving families $10,000 to use on expenses at an accredited private school, or $11,500 if their student has a disability. The funds would be available to all students, including those currently enrolled in private school, but it would prioritize students who are low-income or have a disability.

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said it will be a good budgetary year overall for public schools, since lawmakers are expected to approve billions in additional funding for school districts. However, he said the implementation of school vouchers could exacerbate HISDs declining enrollment, which would lead to less per-student funding for the district.

Since we have more higher pockets of lower income families in the Houston area than compared to the rest of the state on average, ... that could result in HISD being more adversely affected than other districts simply because there may be a higher proportion of HISD families that are able to take advantage of the education savings accounts, Jones said.

Like many large urban school districts, HISDs student enrollment has declined almost 15% over the last decade to approximately 184,100 students in the 2023-24 year, according to TEA data, and it is expected to drop by approximately 8,500 students more during this academic year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

HISD receives at least $6,160 per student in state funding, so the loss of additional students to private schools in future years would mean even less funding per year from the Texas Legislature. Private schools are not required to report their data to the state, so their overall enrollment growth in the Houston area remains unclear.

Teacher pay increases

The Senates budget proposes giving all Texas teachers an additional $4,000 a year, although rural teachers would receive $10,000 more a year. Lt. Gov Dan Patrick wrote that this salary increase would help close the salary gap between teacher pay in rural and urban school districts.

The proposal comes after the Senate passed a bill in 2023 that would have given all teachers a $2,000 pay increase, with teachers in rural areas receiving $6,000. However, the proposal died in the House when lawmakers did not approve proposed school voucher legislation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The statewide average for teachers salaries was about $63,760 during the 2023-24 academic year, with HISD offering an slightly higher average annual pay of $67,000, according to a Chronicle analysis of pay records from the Texas Education Agency.

Lori Taylor, head of the Department of Public Service and Administration at Texas A&M University, said teacher pay raises will be valuable for all teachers, but it wont be as beneficial to HISD compared to other school districts, since the percentage increase in compensation for teachers would be smaller.

It is a much greater benefit to teachers and school districts in low cost of living parts of the state, and a much less attractive benefit to teachers in high cost living parts of the state, Taylor said. Houston is clearly one of the high cost of living parts of the state, so it just doesn't go as far in Houston.

HISD currently offers a minimum salary of $64,000 to first-year teachers during the 2024-25 academic year, although they can make up to $90,000 a year at New Education System schools depending on the subject and campus level that they teach. Statewide teacher salary data for the current year is not available.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

School safety funding

The House and Senate budgets both proposed providing school districts with an additional $400 million for school safety measures. The additional funding comes after the passage of House Bill 3 in 2023, which mandated that all school districts must have an armed officer at every campus during school hours.

In addition to mandating armed officers, the bill required annual intruder detection audits, evidence-based mental health training for certain employees, active-shooter training for their officers at least once every four years and other safety protocols and requirements.

The law provided $15,000 per campus and an additional $10 per student to fund all the security upgrades. However, for several Houston-area school districts, the funding wasnt enough to hire enough police officers to station at every campus, which they said made it impossible for them to comply.

HISD Police Chief Shamara Garner said in September that the district was still progressing on its compliance with the law. The district has officers at all middle and high schools, but it is still adding armed guards to all elementary schools, she said.

David DeMatthews, an educational leadership and policy professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said while every bit of additional spending helps, $400 million split among HISD and Texas' other roughly 1,200 public school districts is not going to go far.

He said HISD and several other public schools are still struggling to comply with HB 3 due to a lack of available trained law enforcement officers to hire in the state, and the extra funds would not solve this issue. To improve school safety, he said the Legislature needs to invest more funding in mental health care and gun safety.
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:

Johanna Harvey, assistant professor of wildlife disease ecology, in URIs Department of Natural Resources Science. Credit: University of Rhode Island

With the advent of cases of avian flu in southern New England, and the rise in egg prices due to limited supply as a result, concerns are rising about the threat and impact of the fowl-borne illness.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza made its way into North America, first detected in Newfoundland, Canada, in late 2021, then spread rapidly across the continent. Global spread has continued while the virus has maintained its presence in wild migratory birds.

Johanna Harvey, a noted wildlife disease ecologist and assistant professor in the University of Rhode Island's department of Natural Resources Science can offer an expert perspective. An evolutionary ecologist with a focus on immunogenetics, conservation and management science, Harvey was a Gerstner Scholar Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History, and came to URI from the U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center and the University of Maryland.

Her research focuses on emergent diseases such as avian influenza and pathogens, including avian malaria parasites and vampire flies.

At URI, she is bringing a focus on immunology and the role of wildlife disease in bird populations. The immunological and pathogenic response mechanisms of the current H5N1 circulating avian influenza are not understood for the diverse wild bird and mammal species currently being impacted, she says.

Harvey's research seeks to provide research and solutions to inform disease management and improve conservation and species management for sensitive species.

"I am motivated by my desire to understand the impacts of disease and pressures on wildlife caused by environmental change," she says.

Harvey discussed the risks of avian disease in an interview.

Your research has focused on highly pathogenic avian influenzawhat does 'highly pathogenic' mean?

The term highly pathogenic refers to influenza viruses which have the potential to cause severe disease or result in death in chickens. This term is rooted historically in the spillover of low pathogenic viruses that commonly occur in wild birds spilling over to poultry where they mutate or reassort to produce a highly pathogenic virus that causes high mortality.

What does it mean for the flu's appearance in southern New England and how can residents protect themselves?

What we are seeing now is likely an upswing as the individuals initially infected and surviving may have reduced antibodies and we have new cohorts, young generations of birds, not yet exposed or having antibodies.

Outbreak detection has captured the wild bird mortality event in Plymouth, Massachusetts earlier this month and now the outbreak in southern Washington County in a non-commercial flock. We are seeing signs of increasing virus prevalence in the landscape.

The general public can protect themselves through awareness. Do not handle sick or dead birds or poultry, and don't touch or consume raw milk products.

Those at higher risk to exposure include people who work with birds, poultry, and cows. Those with prolonged exposure through occupational risk need to take extra precautions through the use of personal protective equipment. The general public is not generally exposed.

Outside of the headlines, are there other bird diseases people should be aware of or concerned about?

There are a number of threats to wild birds. Other diseases that impact bird populations include avian botulism, cholera, and malaria, and West Nile virus. Many of these diseases are exacerbated by habitat loss, poor habits, poor water quality, and climate change.

Birds are also impacted by toxicants, from oil spills to exposures to mercury, PFAS, and rodenticides. There are many threats for wild birds that humans have the ability to reduce.

This all really emphasizes why the public should not handle dead birds; they should be reported to your local wildlife agency for follow-up.

How does the flu impact local birds, egg prices and local poultry owners?

Egg prices are continuing to increase. Although it's not my area of expertise, poultry producers have been heavily impacted nationally. There is less supply and now, because of this continued threat, it is a more volatile market. That and continued price increases on feed, etc., all impact egg prices and availability.

Is bird flu something that could lead to another pandemic? What is the impact on public health?

This has not yet occurred, but there is potential that it could occur. The virus requires additional adaptations to be transmissible by humans to humans. As we see continued, increasing viral diversity, this provides more opportunity for this to happen. We need to address mitigation strategies to help lessen these opportunities.

Should people stop eating eggs?

No, people should not stop eating eggs. Cooked eggs are safe to eat with proper hygiene when handling raw eggs, washing hands, utensils and surfaces.

How does death from bird flu happen and how can it be prevented?

The single U.S. mortality from HPAI in the current outbreak was an older individual with existing health conditions. Existing health conditions can result in a weakened immune system and higher susceptibility. The individual is reported to have had contact with backyard poultry and wild birds and thus likely handled sick or dead birds.

Education is very important in this regard. Many people have backyard poultry and if these birds come in contact with wild birds, through droppings or shared water or environmental overlap, there is potential for transmission.

Has this development impacted your own habits in any way or is there anything you'd recommend to the public on the topic?

When avian influenza is present or suspected to be present, it requires that I, and those that I work with, take the proper precautions, such as the use of personal protective equipment.

Broadly, awareness is important. I stay on top of my yearly flu shot as this is recommended and can prime your immune system to respond to influenza viruses broadly. Education and awareness about healthy ecosystems are essential.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Organizations that rely on federal funding are expressing relief after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps order pausing loans and grants on Tuesday.

Late Monday Trump announced that disbursements of federal loans and grants would be halted starting Tuesday while his administration conducted reviews to ensure the spending aligned with his administrations ideologies and agenda.

The announcement caused panic and confusion for nonprofit organizations across the nation, as many rely on federal funding to provide services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One such organization is the Central Iowa Shelter and Services in Des Moines. According to CISS CEO Melissa ONeil, staff spent all day Tuesday trying to figure out what funding would be cut and when it would go into effect.

Dog found tied in trash bag, dumped in Des Moines has new home

ONeil said the funding pause would mean the end to their Mulberry Farm & Food Truck program. The food truck creates meals with produce and fish from the Schoen Greenhouse, which is maintained by CISS staff and job trainees. Every meal purchased from the food truck also helps provide a free meal to food-insecure individuals through the CISS Savor & Share initiative.

The food trucks a part of our job training program that puts individuals whove graduated from our farm program and who continue to work through entrepreneurial programs in the food truck, ONeil said. The food truck goes to three different farmers markets and its fully supported and paid for by the USDA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To the organizations relief, on Tuesday afternoon a federal judge temporarily blocked the funding pause from going into effect until Monday afternoon. ONeil said this experience has shown that the organization needs to look at creating a reserve fund in case they do lose federal funding in the future.

Thats a goal of ours strategically to build that operational reserve so that instances like this today dont cause as much stress as what they did, ONeil said.

The shelters board of directors is also looking into diversifying the shelters funding streams.

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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Local organizations are expressing concern over the potential freeze of federal grants and loans by the Trump administration, fearing its impact on future operations.

My initial thought is that this approach right now is to kind of clean up a budget where there couldve been waste in spending, said Brent Wakefield, president and CEO Meals on Wheels in San Diego County.

Authorities investigate deadly police shooting downtown

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wakefield and his team are processing the possible impact of a federal funding freeze. Feeding seniors throughout the county remains the top priority. A loss of federal dollars would mean making up the difference. Out of our $10 million operating budget, about $1.5 million is coming from federal funding, said Wakefield.

Unlike other similar organizations, he says they stay afloat through other revenue sources like private donations. However, the goal of expanding services means fighting against any possible cuts. We are going to be prepared to make targeted and specific lobbying if you will  type of motions if that needs to be the case. My hope is that thats not the case, Wakefield continued.

Others are also cautiously optimistic. FOX5/KUSI reached out to numerous organizations for reaction.

The San Diego Housing Commission President and Ceo Lisa Jones issued the following statement: The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) does not anticipate any immediate impacts on our programs, including federal rental assistance, as a result of the presidential direction to temporarily pause federal grants and loans for a variety of programs nationwide. SDHC has been advised that the pause does not apply to programs that provide direct benefits to individuals and familiesincluding rental assistanceor to payments required by law. We are consulting with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, national affordable housing industry organizations, the City of San Diego and local elected officials to gather more information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, University of California President Michael Drake sent a letter to the UC community that reads in part, we are in contact with key policymakers in congress and at federal agencies, as well as association partners and other higher education institutions. we are evaluating what actions we are able to take and will keep you informed.

A spokesperson for Scripps Health issued the following statement:

These are significant decisions that impact millions of people. They should be considered carefully. At this point a judge has put a hold on implementing freeze. It has an impact on many grant-related programs and research across the country. Even a 90-day suspension could have a significant impact on both research and care-related services across the country.

Local organizations are now left to watch closely as the federal funding freeze looms.

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 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Attorneys General and other high-ranking officials are responding to President Donald Trumps push to pause federal funding, something that some said could temporarily disrupt healthcare research, education programs, and other initiatives.

Attorney General Letitia James called the effort reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional. James, leading the charge alongside other AGs, filed a lawsuit Tuesday.

We are preparing to defend our Constitution, said James. This President has exceeded his authority. He has violated the Constitution, and he has trampled on the coequal branch of government. It is critically important that we stand up and defend the rights and liberties of all Americans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge temporarily blocked the pause.

The Trump Administration said the temporary pause was necessary as officials assess current progressive initiatives in place and try to better align spending with the Presidents executive actions and orders.

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said he had grave concerns over the pauses potential impact on the city as well as important nongovernmental organizations that rely on this funding to provide crucial services to our community.

It is imperative that the Federal government provide more specifics so we can determine the immediate effects of this temporary freeze in funding. We will continue to work with our partners and will provide updates to the community as information becomes available, Evans announced Tuesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local Community Action Agency, Action for a Better Community (ABC), which provides programs to help low-income families including operating the federal Head Start program, told News 8 Tuesday night that its Head Start in particular would not be impacted by a pause, however:

ABC administers several grants on behalf of the Federal Government which include Head Start, Weatherization, Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Benefits Project, Providing Real Opportunities With Dedication (PROWD) and the Community Services Block Grant (both funded through New York State). Earlier today we received another memo from OMB indicating that Head Start will not be impacted by the pause. We await further clarity from the Federal Government but acknowledge that any such freeze could have a devastating impact on all of ABCs operations and not just the ones identified above. This means our staff of 300, the over 4,000 people we serve and the numerous vendors we do business with. As we receive further updates, we will keep our staff, customers and the community informed.

The federal judges block came just minutes before the Presidents plan was to go into effect (5 p.m. Tuesday.) Its expected to stay in place until Monday 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 RochesterFirst.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The woman charged in a deadly shooting earlier this month in Riverside has learned her charges.

Halle Harvey was in court Tuesday for an arraignment after another woman was killed just weeks ago.

Missing woman arrested, infant found safe after multi-hour search

Officers were called to a home on Opperman Avenue in Riverside on Jan. 17 on reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found a woman dead inside and took Harvey into custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities say the two women reportedly had an altercation that led to the shooting.

Harvey is now facing two charges of murder and two charges of felonious assault. Her bond was set at $5 million initially, but was updated to $1 million during Tuesdays hearing.

2 NEWS is working to learn when she will next be in court.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL)  The owner of popular Appalachian Trail stopover Uncle Johnnys Hostel is happy the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has crafted a workaround for through hikers whose normal route across the Nolichucky River, the Chestoa Bridge, was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

VP Vance: Administration cutting through red tape to speed up Helene recovery

Im excited that the ATC is the catalyst here and theyre forcing a solution, and I think thats the most important thing here, Terry Wise told News Channel 11 Tuesday, referring to a 3.6-mile reroute thats just gotten ATCs stamp of approval.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Wise, who estimates well over 1,000 through hikers typically bed down at the hostel each year, says his support comes with a caveat, a counteroffer and a hope for further dialogue. Ideally, hed like to see a ferry service that helps some of the communitys hard-hit whitewater rafting companies, whove been left with a high degree of uncertainty about how the 2025 season on the Nolichucky will pan out.

If I were a hiker, it wouldnt be my choice to walk that route, Wise said, a winter sun shining on the remnants of the bridge behind him. I would get ferried right across this river, and we can do that. We have the resources here. We have the expertise here.

Uncle Johnnys Hostel owner Terry Wise discusses potential solutions to get Appalachian Trail through hikers across the Nolichucky River in Erwin, Tenn., where Hurricane Helene destroyed the Chestoa Bridge that has traditionally provided them passage. (Photo: WJHL)

Wises main concern about the reroute is the first half-mile or so along River Road  a narrow route currently being traversed by hundreds of dump trucks a day on their way to the rebuild of the CSX rail line in the Nolichucky Gorge upstream of Uncle Johnnys and the AT crossing.

They dont mean anybody any harm, but theyre not getting out of anybodys way, Wise said from the other side of the river as numerous trucks passed by his hostel across the chasm where the Chestoa Bridge once spanned the river. They are getting the job done that they need to get done.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wise was quick to say he didnt want to look a gift horse in the mouth.

ATC serves an incredibly important function. I know theres good people up there trying to come up with solutions every single day. Theyre trying to solve all kinds of problems, blow downs, everything out there on the trail and the reroutes that need to happen.

I think there could be a little more local input into this and we could come up with a great solution.

Ann Simonelli, communications director for the ATC, told News Channel 11 in an email late Tuesday that such local input is welcomed  and that theres still time for additional options to materialize.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ATCs regional team has been collaborating closely with the U.S. Forest Service, TEHCC (Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club) and other local partners on the bridge detour and getting information out as soon as possible for the 2025 hiking season, Simonelli wrote.

Hiker safety is a priority, and we are open to additional conversations with the community about ways in which we can work together to support hiker safety while the bridge is being replaced and encouraging thru-hikers to visit the businesses in Erwin.

This whole thing has been existential

After Helene wrecked much of the long-popular hostel he purchased just a few years ago, Wise didnt know whether hed even reopen.

But in addition to the overnight guests, hundreds more stop for supplies and a quick rest, most of them before crossing the Chestoa Bridge on the more common northbound route. Like so many other small business owners along the trail, Wise didnt want to give up on an iconic spot that has contributed to tens of thousands of hiker memories over the decades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a lot of my friends that are struggling through the same type of stuff and we go through a really tough decision-making because its just a lot of money involved to rebuild, Wise said. Weve all gotten a tremendous outpouring of volunteers and help throughout all of this over the past four or five months, but theres still a lot of money involved and its big decisions.

He hopes the rebuilt Uncle Johnnys will be ready for what AT people call the bubble  usually 2,000-plus northbound through-hikers who pass through Erwin between late March and the end of May.

The reroute map is posted on a pine tree just inside the AT entrance north of the Nolichucky River. Uncle Johnnys partially rebuilt hostel is across the river in the background. (Photo: WJHL)

This place makes all its money in three months, he said, adding that hikers also contribute significantly to a number of downtown businesses.

Ive got some great friends down there, Wise said, mentioning a coffee shop, two restaurants and a tap house. Some really great places and Ive had business owners tell me it constitutes 20% of their annual income.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trails near-term future is a constant discussion point, Wise said.

Erwin is a trail town and we love the hikers. I think arguably the most hiker-friendly town along the Appalachian Trail. Some of the videos out there from hikers that have passed through, they just cant get over how accommodating and welcoming we are.

One of those business owners, Michael Baker, is also an Erwin alderman. He owns Union Street Tap House and said hes grateful for the ATCs solution but also very open to additional options.

We as locals and outfitters understand the importance of the hikers and if there is a better solution in the future that arises, Im sure that everybody will be on board for that, Baker said on River Road as trucks rumbled past. But just the fact that we have this alternative route for now is great.



That economic impact doesnt even include the impact of the whitewater industry that Wise hopes can become part of the equation as through-hikers descend into the valley and the wreckage that marks the remnants of what was Chestoa Bridge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe Ill leave it up to the experts, but my vision is that it would basically be a six-man raft, Wise said. He noted that a free ferry service is how AT hikers get across Maines Kennebec River.

I have great friends who are in extremis right now. They could use the business and we can fix this, Wise said, adding that hes great friends with all the rafting companies here.

Those companies still havent gotten a guarantee theyll get permits to use the Nolichucky this year, and their season is only a few months away.

Theres plenty of money out there, from what Im hearing in different agencies, whether its federal, state or the ATC or the Appalachian Long Distance Hiker Association or any other community out there that loves the trail, Wise said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is money out there. I hear people talking about it all the time. If you want your money to go to a worthy cause, we could set this up, take care of the hikers. Its a win across the board.

Wise has also proposed a van shuttle service, with details provided to local leaders, as an additional option, but said he believes the ferry option would be the best-case scenario.

Im excited about this and I think the right heads are going to get together and were going to have some really good options for the hikers.

ATCs Simonelli said the conservancy will continue working to arrive at solutions for the hundreds of miles of trail damaged by Helene and added:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As additional information becomes available, the ATC will share it on our website via Trail Updates and our Helene Recovery Resources & Updates pages.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LYNBROOK, N.Y. (PIX11)  A Long Island man with dementia has been found after he was reported missing on Tuesday, according to the Nassau County Police Department.

Edward Fitzpatrick, 78, had last been seen in Lynbrook around 1:30 p.m., police said.

More Local News

Its not clear where he was found.

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.

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.
Earleen Fisher, an editor and writer whose career across five decades with The Associated Press gave her a front-row seat to some of the late 20th century's most chaotic and challenging news stories, has died. She was 78 and counted Yasser Arafat and the Dalai Lama among her interviews.

Fisher died peacefully Wednesday morning at The Maples at Waterford Crossing nursing home in Goshen, Indiana, of complications from Parkinsons disease, said her cousin, Phil Dowty. She had been ill from Parkinson's for a number of years.

She retired in 2004 after 32 years at the AP, a career that took her from her native Indiana to New York as an editor on the agency's old General Desk with stints in Tel Aviv and Beirut  and ultimately to bureau chief jobs in India, Cyprus and Egypt, where she eventually oversaw all coverage of the Middle East.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fisher oversaw Middle East operations for the AP during tense times of war and conflict in the 1980s. She expected the best from her people but cared about them immensely along the way, recalled longtime AP international correspondent Robert Reid, who worked with her frequently.

Earleen was a fantastic editor. She was firm, and she wouldnt pull any punches, but she was willing to sit down with people and go over their material and show how it should be done," said Reid, editor-in-chief of Stars & Stripes.

Good with breaking news and customers alike

Fisher was a progressive traditionalist, always intent on moving the AP forward, suggesting new ideas but steadfastly unwilling to veer from the agency's bedrock principles of accuracy and speed  sometimes no small accomplishment in the context of covering nations and societies at war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fisher was also known for her enthusiastic interactions with AP customers. In 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein vanished during the United States' invasion of Iraq, Fisher traveled to Baghdad to oversee operations and welcome back a local newspaper as an AP customer. Her entourage was received with tea and hospitality, and the staff listened intently as she talked about AP coverage and how it could help them thrive in a new Iraq. I can see you love what you do, the newspaper's editor told her.

Earleen Fisher was not only a beautiful writer and talented editor but as the first  or one of the first  women to head a major AP international bureau, she was also very successful at selling APs news, photo and video services to newspapers and television stations across the Middle East and in India, said Edith M. Lederer, the APs longtime chief U.N. correspondent, who was friends with Fisher for 50 years and traveled with her frequently.

I marveled at her almost photographic memory and reveled in our travels in Asia, and her love of history, mysteries, and her cats, Lederer said.

She began reporting in high school

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earleen Marie Fisher began reporting for her hometown newspaper, The Milford (Ind.) Mail, as a sophomore in high school. At Indiana University, she worked for the Indiana Daily Student, becoming managing editor her senior year. AP hired her as a part-time newswoman in Indianapolis that spring and gave her a full-time job after graduation.

She transferred to APs New York headquarters in 1971 to work as a supervisor on the U.S. news report. In 1977, Fisher moved to Cairo as a freelance writer, working for the AP, The New York Times and the Voice of America. She covered the rise of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.

She rejoined the AP in 1980, working in Beirut and Tel Aviv.

In 1985, she returned to New York, working as a supervisor on the foreign desk. In 1987, she was appointed bureau chief in New Delhi, where she directed news coverage for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan and the Maldives. During that period, she had this to say about the Dalai Lama: He combines the piety of a simple priest with the pragmatism of a politician.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 1992, she became chief of the APs Middle East Services, based first in Cyprus and later in Cairo. She directed news coverage for 16 countries. Under her leadership, the bureau covered stories such as the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Years after being posted in Beirut, Fisher returned there to take stock of how it was doing. She wrote in 1993: In the nation whose new name became a synonym for death and destruction, people are doing what would have been unthinkable a few years ago  building and repairing things that break.

After leaving the AP in 2004, Fisher taught at the American University in Cairo, and worked in Beirut on a U.S.-funded media development program for the Middle East and North Africa. She retired to Indiana in 2007.

Earleen left a huge and positive mark on all the reporters and editors she worked with. Her clearheaded coverage of the Middle East in particular helped AP stand out there for many years, said Paul Haven, APs vice president for global news gathering.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fisher is a member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

She is survived by her brother, Rex, also of Milford, Indiana. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Mishler Funeral Home in Milford, with burial to follow immediately afterward.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Heres a look at some of the events scheduled at the state Capitol for Wednesday, January 29, the 11th working day of the 2025 session of the South Dakota Legislature.

House Education at 7:45 a.m. CT in room 413 considers legislation that would provide $4 million of state funding for education savings accounts that parents could use for students attending nonpublic schools and home schools.

Senate Health and Human Services at 8 a.m. CT in room 412 considers legislation that would shift $3 million from the tobacco prevention and reduction fund to the state general fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate and the House convene at 2 p.m. CT. There are four bills on the Senate debate calendar and four bills on the House debate calendar.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Im losing my voice. People are happy.  Republican Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer during a House committee meeting Tuesday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 DELHI (AP)  At least 30 people are dead and many more injured in a stampede Wednesday as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India, the worlds largest religious gathering.

Wednesday was a holy day in the six-week festival, which started on Jan. 13, and authorities were expecting a record 100 million devotees to engage in ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers.

The Maha Kumbh festival is held every 12 years. Authorities expect more than 400 million people to visit the pilgrimage site this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heres a look at other major stampedes in India over the past two decades:

A stampede in Uttar Pradesh in 2024

More than 100 people were killed in a stampede in northern India in July 2024 following a Hindu religious gathering. Thousands had gathered at a makeshift tent for an event led by a Hindu preacher in Uttar Pradesh state. The victims were crushed as they rushed to leave. Video of the aftermath showed the makeshift structure appeared to have collapsed.

A bridge collapse at the Navaratri festival in 2013

A collapsing bridge caused a stampede that killed 115 people, mostly women and children, on Oct. 13, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had come to a Hindu temple in the remote town of Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh state on the last day of the popular 10-day Navaratri festival.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A stampede at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur in 2008

At least 168 people were killed and 100 injured when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur on Sept. 30, 2008. Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush, as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navaratri.

Landslide rumors caused deadly crowd surge in 2008

Dozens of women and children were among the 145 people who died on Aug. 3, 2008, when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a remote mountaintop temple in northern India during celebrations to honor Shakrti, a Hindu goddess. The devotees attended a nine-day religious festival at the Naina Devi Temple in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh state. Rumors of a landslide apparently started the panic, according to a senior government official.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A stampede and fire during a religious procession in 2005

A stampede during a religious procession to a hilltop temple on Jan. 25, 2005, killed at least 258 people and injured 200 in western India, near the village of Wai, some 150 miles (241 kilometers) south of Mumbai. The stampede was triggered after several Hindu pilgrims inside the temple fell on a slippery floor and were crushed by other pilgrims. Angered over the deaths, some pilgrims started a fire that gutted hundreds of makeshift shops along a narrow walkway leading to the temple and set off the deadly rush.
Jan. 28SANTA FE  As one of her first moves in office, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2019 signed an executive order seeking to curb greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico.

Six years later, the state isn't on track to meet the order's first demand: 45% less greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.

That's part of the reason Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, introduced a Clear Horizons and Greenhouse Gas Emissions bill, which passed its first committee Tuesday morning by a vote of 5-4. The three committee Republicans  who all live in or near the Permian Basin  voted against it, as well as Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It would be incomprehensible to look at this piece of legislation and think that it would not demonstrably impact the price of energy," said Sen. James Townsend, R-Artesia.

Stewart repeatedly denied the bill would cause higher energy prices.

Senate Bill 4 would codify the governor's 2030 emissions limit, as well as add new limits compared to 2005 levels: a 75% reduction by 2040 and a 100% reduction by 2050. Reductions would be prioritized in "overburdened communities," meaning minority or Native communities, or other communities disproportionately harmed, according to the bill.

Additionally, it would add state emissions monitoring and reporting requirements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fossil fuel operators are the No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico, comprising of 41% of all emissions in the state in 2021.

But the bill doesn't only call out the oil and gas industry in terms of limiting greenhouse gas emissions; it also specifies that emissions come from electricity generation; transportation and heating fuels; buildings and structures; residential, commercial and transportation fuels; manufacturing, extracting and processing of raw materials; and agricultural and forest products.

In response to concerns from Sen. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, about the addition of all of these different industries, Stewart said they're all where emissions are coming from.

"It's not really fair just talking about one sector," Stewart said. "Yes, oil and gas has the largest emissions in this state, but it's not the largest around the country." Transportation accounts for the most emissions in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the next five years, the Clear Horizons and Greenhouse Gas Emissions bill would require New Mexico to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by about 9% annually. However, the state as of last year wasn't on track to meet that demand.

By 2030, it's expected New Mexico's greenhouse gas emissions will drop 32% compared to 2005 levels  still 13% short of the 2030 limits outlined in Lujan Grisham's executive order and SB4, according to data compiled for the New Mexico Environment Department by independent energy research groups.

Many people who spoke in opposition to SB4 voiced concerns about a lack of specificity in the bill and how exactly the state is supposed to decrease the emissions amounts.

New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney, who spoke in support of the bill, said it "sets a direction but doesn't prescribe exactly how to achieve the results." He said the Environmental Improvement Board, an entity within NMED that adopts regulations, will do that later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cervantes, the only Democrat to vote against the bill, said it would ultimately result in hundreds of millions of dollars of litigation due to its ambiguities and inconsistencies.

"One of the great concerns I have with this bill  again, is not the goals; ... they're laudable  frankly, is something the secretary said ... which is, 'We're going to determine later what is doable,'" Cervantes said.

The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, a coalition representing over 1,000 companies, individuals and stakeholders, doesn't support the bill. It's too burdensome, said Ashley Wagner, vice president of government affairs, though NMOGA appreciates the outreach from Stewart's office on the bill.

"The goals are simply not achievable in a state with a large low-income population," she said. "We are especially concerned that this bill will increase costs and adversely affect the communities that it seeks to help."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, brought up an argument that countries with higher emissions levels have better gross domestic products. Indeed, Pacyniak said there's a well-known curve in environmental economics that shows GDP and quality of life increase with higher emissions levels  "the beginning of the development of a country."

"And after a certain point, as countries become richer and shift some of their economies to, for example, financial services, like we do, you'll see continuing growth in the quality of life and improvements of the economy and the decline in emissions," he added.

This bill doesn't hurt the oil and gas industry, Stewart said, which is "a good industry." Fossil fuel exploration funds upward of a third of state revenues and is the primary reason for a booming surplus in recent years, including this year.

Stewart has a package of climate-related bills she's looking to pass this year; one measure would allocate $340 million for a "community benefit fund" to help the public reduce emissions and another would send $10 million to state agencies to help them think innovatively about how to address climate change.

"I believe the time is now. I believe the time has passed; really, it's passed," Stewart said. "We're just in trouble. I think our world is in trouble."
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 health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is acute. Many tens of thousands of people have been killed and thousands of others have sustained injuries with lifelong consequences.

In a paper in the British Medical JournalGlobal Health, University of Melbourne researchers argue that while the politics are complicated, there is nothing complicated about the need to prevent more suffering, injury and death among the people of Gaza.

As we hopefully move toward a lasting ceasefire, these critical public health needs must be front and center of rebuilding efforts, say the researchers.

War has catastrophic impacts on human health and these impacts persist for many years after the hostilities end.

Gaza's health system has been severely compromised, with 94% of health facilities either damaged or destroyed. According to the most recent data, as of early December 2024, only 17 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional.

Not only are hospitals damaged or destroyed, but hospital supplies are severely limited and many health care professionals have been killed.

This means there's an enormous increase in health needs and, simultaneously, a severe reduction in human expertise and capacity to meet those needs.

The huge number of traumatic injuries, infections and illnesses would be difficult for any well-functioning system to cope with, let alone a devastated health system like the one in Gaza.

Traumatic injuriescaused by explosives, bullets and other instruments of warare what we commonly think of when we think of conflicts like this, but there are many other impacts on health. These can relate to a lack of sanitation and clean water, reduced access to maternal and child health services, inadequate food supply, and the impacts of not having routine vaccination and screening programs.

In July, a paper published in The Lancet tried to estimate the deaths that might result from these indirect factors, in addition to the direct deaths. Based on the figures at that time, they estimated the combined direct and indirect deaths would be over 180,000 people.

Out of a population of about two million, that is a substantial proportion. And given that the estimate is based on statistics in mid-2024, it is now likely to be significantly higher.

There's also increasing recognition of the environmental impacts of the war, with effects contributing to the climate crisis as well as having long-term impacts on human health.

In November 2024 it was reported that more than 85,000 tons of bombs had been dropped on the Gaza Strip. This exceeds the level of explosives used in World War II.

Given that Gaza is a small area of approximately 365km2, this has had an immense impact on air, water and soil pollution. Small particulate matter including asbestos has been released into the air, heavy metals have contaminated soil and water and biodiversity has been affectedall of these will have long-term impacts on the health of the residents.

The prospect of a ceasefire is welcome. However, it marks the start of a long road to recovery for those in Gaza.

Projections continue to shift, but rebuilding Gaza will cost tens of billions of dollars. Health is a fundamental human right, and public health should therefore be at the core of Gaza's recovery.

An immediate priority is rebuilding a health system with hospitals, specialist services, primary health care providers, vaccination programs, screening programs, and maternal and child services.

Education is also key to building the public health system. With many health care workers killed, building expertise and capacity in new generations of Palestinians who can deliver health care in the future is vital.

This will require substantial investment from other countries.

Governments must now support rebuilding efforts that urgently prioritize the health needs of the people of Gaza. This includes rolling out vaccination campaigns, providing access to clean water and evacuating injured children who need specialized treatment.

We should also lobby governments to increase their financial assistance to organizations like UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), who are the largest provider of humanitarian and other services for the people of Palestine.

Equally, it's essential that we continue to support the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the World Food Program, UNICEF, WHO and others working in Gaza.

War is one of the biggest, but least recognized, influences on public health worldwide.

Whether in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar or any of the many areas of conflict in the world today, war produces immense long-term suffering and creates and intensifies social and health inequalities that will shape the outcomes of generations to come.

More information: Tania King et al, The role of public health professionals in addressing the health and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, BMJ Global Health (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016641 Rasha Khatib et al, Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential, The Lancet (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01169-3 Journal information: BMJ Global Health , The Lancet
Police officers in California improperly accessed a state database of private information more than 7,000 times in 2023, according to a new report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights and privacy advocacy group.

Two researchers from the EFF discovered through public records requests that California police departments reported 7,275 misuses of the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, or CLETS, to the state Department of Justice in 2023. The vast majority of those offenses were committed by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD), which was responsible for 6,789 of the violations.

The LASD committed thousands of abuses by violating a specific rule against using CLETS data to run background checks for concealed carry firearm permits. According to meeting notes obtained by the EFF, the LASD unit responsible for the searches was retrained, "and no further incidents of misuse have been identified since."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CLETS database provides California law enforcement with access to Department of Motor Vehicle records, national criminal background check information, and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, among other things. Because of the amount of sensitive information on CLETS, there are rules about when and why law enforcement can use it, as well as requiring mandatory reporting of abuses.

"Mandatory data collection on CLETS violations and its disclosure better enables the public to understand and question how databases like CLETS are used and abused," says Beryl Lipton, a senior investigator at EFF and co-author of the report. "The thousands of violations committed by the L.A. County Sheriff highlights just how unfamiliar law enforcement can be with their own policies, how easy it is for police to use sensitive data for prohibited purposes, and the value of transparency in providing oversight of the privileged access to information that law enforcement has."

Other instances of officers abusing CLETS uncovered by the EFF include cops using it to look up information on romantic interests or retaliate against rivals, such as a former Redding police officer who in 2021 used CLETS data to have the pickup truck of his fiance's ex-husband towed and impounded.

"While many violations resulted only in officers or other staff being retrained in appropriate use of the database, departments across the state reported that violations in 2023 led to 24 officers being suspended, six officers resigning, and nine being fired," the EFF reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police in America now have access to a shocking amount of intrusive surveillance technology, and privacy advocates say there's not enough safeguards or disclosures about how this data is being accessed.

Last year a Sacramento grand jury found that the Sacramento Sheriff's Office was sharing license-plate reader data with law enforcement agencies in states that criminalize abortion, even though California prohibits departments from sharing or selling such data to out-of-state agencies.

"Though often inadequate, policies that outline how surveillance and data sharing can be committed by law enforcement are essential to protecting the privacy and civil liberties of law-abiding individuals," Lipton says. "It's very important that they are followed."

The LASD did not immediately return a request for comment.

The post Los Angeles Sheriff Misused Confidential Database Thousands of Times To Run Concealed Carry Background Checks appeared first on Reason.com.
BOWIE (KFDX/KJTL)  Some Bowie residents are breathing a sigh of relief after a motion to increase the citys water rate failed to pass during January 28s city council meeting.

Despite recommendations from Bowie City Manager Bert Cunningham, residents will not see a rise in their water rates.

Because of a depleting water fund and upped requirements from the TCEQ, including a mandated raw water pump addition, Cunningham recommended the city adopt a 32% water rate increase over the next two years: 16% this year and 16% more next year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also advised council to consider a 14% increase7% this year and 7% nextwith a $7.50 flat tax rate, but both failed after a lack of motions.

What does it take to keep a pet labeled dangerous?

According to Cunningham, the city is currently losing over $1,300 monthly, and that number is increasing exponentially.

If yall dont take my advice, youre wasting your money badly, Cunningham said.

For resident Tami Buckmaster, the lack of action is a good thing.

I am so proud of our council for not even entertaining it and not passing the rate increase, Buckmaster said. I think thats fabulous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Especially for folks who may not have been able to afford the increase.

We have a large community of retired people who are living month to month from social security retirement funds, Buckmaster said. When you start talking about increasing their water bills or their utility bills, which are necessities they cant do without, then theyre having to take away from things.

Meanwhile, other residents asked for a compromise.

If yall want to give us a rate increase to sustain that, then give us an equal electric decrease, another resident said.

For Mayor Gaylynn Burris, with no motion passing tonight, its a chance to review and revise to see where the city can mend its depleting water fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They want to see what its actually going to cost for the city to come back into the black, Burris said. Then they want to see what its going to cost for the [raw water pump] project, which is actually whats bringing all this about.

The city is currently operating in the red with the states required raw water pump addition looming.

Youre losing money right now in the water fund, so weve got to have the rate increase, Cunningham said.

More legwork, more paperwork, checking the numbers, Burris said. See what we can do. And still waiting on that definitive answer for TCEQ on where we stand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For an in-depth look at the citys current water fund standings, click here.

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 Texomashomepage.com.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders to ban foreign aid workers from offering information about abortion and federal funding for abortions. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Gov. Jeff Landry and other Republican state officials are trying to prepare for potential cuts to Louisianas federal funding, despite confusion over how far President Donald Trumps attempt to halt support to state and local governments will go.



A legal challenge has temporarily blocked Trumps federal funding freeze from going into effect. A ruling Tuesday afternoon from U.S. District Judge Loren L. Alikhan in Washington D.C. prevented Trumps sweeping pause on federal funding from going live minutes before it was supposed to go into effect.

Congress is in charge of putting together the federal budget. A group of nonprofits has sued the federal government over Trumps order, saying the president cannot unilaterally hold up program payments without congressional approval.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, in Louisiana, the governor, Treasurer John Fleming, Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Philip DeVillier, all Republicans, issued a joint statement saying they were seeking clarity about the impact of Trumps declaration.



Our administration is thoroughly evaluating President Trumps new order and seeking clarity as to the depth of this action, the joint statement said. We urge [the federal Office of Management and Budget] to develop a responsible runway to untangle us from any unnecessary and egregious policies without jeopardizing the financial stability of the state.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX



Louisianas Republican leadership also preemptively moved around state funding to cover any shortfalls Trumps order leaves in the short term.



We believe that we are placing adequate resources in the state coffers to ensure stability for the time being, the statement said.

Under the presidents direction, the federal Office of Management and Budget issued a vague and broad memo Monday seeking to halt a wide swath of federal aid until at least mid-February. The Trump administration said it wanted to conduct a far-reaching review of federal assistance to see if the president would continue to support all the spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an interview Tuesday, Henry said Louisiana officials will spend the next several days sorting through what programs might be affected by the order. State officials back Trumps efforts to rein in federal spending, he said, even if they arent sure what they might mean for the state.



Everyone supports what the president is trying to do, Henry said.



Louisiana relies more on federal support than almost all other states because it is poor and disaster prone. Each year, the federal government gives the state several billion dollars for road projects, emergency food assistance, disaster recovery, flood control, crime victim services, domestic violence prevention, agriculture projects, K-12 education and health care, among other programs.



The state government should have more clarity about the impacts of Trumps order next week after its departments and agencies are able to pinpoint what grants and federal funding have been stalled, Henry said. Until then, Louisiana will use state funds to replace federal money and make sure programs arent left short of support.

Across the country, Trumps memo led to chaotic situations, as local elected officials and nonprofits scrambled to figure out what programs would be affected.



A big source of confusion Tuesday was uncertainty about the impact to the Medicaid program, which provides health insurance to 20% of Americans and more than 40% of Louisianas population. In Louisiana alone, Medicaid covers the cost for over 60% of all baby deliveries.



Of the 1.6 million Louisianians enrolled in Medicaid, 252,000 are children. The program covers bills from health care providers who treat low-income residents, people with disabilities and those who are pregnant.

As with many other states, the Louisiana Department of Health was locked out of the federal Medicaid portal Tuesday morning, calling into question whether it would receive the tens of millions of dollars it disperses each week. By Tuesday afternoon, access to the Medicaid money was expected to be restored and payments were expected to go out on time, Henry said.



The Trump administration was not initially clear about whether the Medicaid program would be affected by the federal funding freeze. But White House Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday they expected Medicaid payments to go out to states as regularly scheduled.



The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage, Leavitt wrote on X. We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent. We expect the portal to be back online shortly.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Correction: This report was updated to include the proper plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Trump administration.
BATON ROUGE, LA. (KTAL/KMSS)  Louisana Governor Jeff Landry, State Treasure Fleming, and other state lawmakers support President Donald Trumps ordering of a federal spending freeze.

President Trump signed an executive order freezing federal aid programs and asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review all federal funding disbursements until further notice.

The DEI hire myth and the new American meritocracy

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the joint statement, they said: President Trump was elected on a mandate to cut government waste and increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar, a goal we whole heartedly embrace. Our administration is thoroughly evaluating President Trumps new order and seeking clarity as to the depth of this action. We believe that we are placing adequate resources into the state coffers to ensure stability for the time being. We urge OMB to develop a responsible runway to untangle us from any unnecessary and egregious policies without jeopardizing the financial stability of the state.

According to Nexstars Washington D.C. Bureau, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the freeze does not impact Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP benefits as the administration publicly defended the presidents latest executive actions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana leaders react to the Trump administrations order to pause federal loans and grants.

The Hill reported that on Monday night the Trump administration directed federal agencies to temporarily pause the disbursement of loans and grants for a spending review. The memo stated the pause would go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

According to Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), direct loans, Pell Grants and other federal student aid funds provided to individual students are not impacted, adding that funding will continue to be awarded and disbursed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

See the reaction from Louisiana leaders

Gov. Jeff Landry, State Treasurer John Fleming, Senate President Cameron Henry and Speaker Phillip DeVillier issued a joint statement Tuesday afternoon.

President Trump was elected on a mandate to cut government waste and increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar, a goal we wholeheartedly embrace. Our administration is thoroughly evaluating President Trumps new order and seeking clarity as to the depth of this action. We believe that we are placing adequate resources into the state coffers to ensure stability for the time being. We urge OMB to develop a responsible runway to untangle us from any unneccesary and egregious policies without jeopardizing the financial stability of the state. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, Sen. Cameron Henry and Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier

Congressman Cleo Fields released the following statement.

This decision will result in significant hardship for so many families across the country. It is essential that we protect the integrity of our Constitution and ensure that the American people are defended. I will stand firmly against any actions that threatens our democracy and the well-being of our constituents. Congressman Cleo Fields

Congressman Troy Carter called the funding freeze a direct attack on Louisiana residents, adding his promise to fight back. Read his full statement below.

Freezing federal grant and loan payments is a direct attack on everyday Louisianians and our most vulnerable communities. This order halts essential funding already approved by Congresscrippling public programs, killing jobs, and sowing chaos across the country. As a signatory of the letter demanding transparency from the Trump Administration on this directive, I am deeply alarmed by the catastrophic impact this freeze will have on critical services, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which I have been a staunch advocate for. At a time when our nation faces unprecedented mental health challenges, freezing funding for lifesaving mental health services is both unconscionable and dangerous. Let me be clear: This funding freeze is illegal. The Constitution gives Congress the power of the pursenot the President. This reckless overreach defies our laws, disregards checks and balances, and jeopardizes the well-being of millions of Americans. This action is not governanceit is sabotage. And it is hurting the very people this government is meant to serve. I will fight back against this extreme funding freeze and ensure our communities receive the resources they are owed and deserve. I will also continue working with House Democrats to put a stop to any attacks against the American people. Congressman Troy Carter, Sr.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines released the following statement Wednesday.

Donald Trumps demand to block federal funding is a direct attack on hardworking Louisianans. From disaster recovery to healthcare access, our state relies on federal support to rebuild, grow, and thrive. This political stunt could halt crucial funding for hurricane recovery, delay infrastructure projects, and cut off vital resources for our schools and hospitals. This is not leadership  its deliberate destruction. Trump is playing politics with peoples lives, and Louisiana will suffer the consequences. He continues to make reckless, uninformed decisions with no regard for the damaging consequences. We urge our Republican leaders to stand up for their constituents and reject this dangerous move. Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines

Louisiana colleges and universities seek clarification

Southern University shared a notice with students regarding the financial freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this time, we understand that Pell Grants and student loans are exempt from this temporary pause and will not be affected. However, it remains unclear whether or how this memorandum will impact other forms of federal grant funding that some of you may be receiving. We acknowledge the concern that this may raise for many of you. Please know that we are closely monitoring developments and actively seeking clarification. As we receive more detailed information, we are committed to keeping you informed and addressing any questions you may have. Southern University

LSU shared that they are working with a team in Washington D.C. to get clarity on the temporary pause.

We are working closely with our partners in Washington D.C to get clarity on how this temporary pause will affect all areas of LSU. To this point, we believe, but we cant say with 100% certainty, that grants and loans to individual students would not be impacted. OMB guidance and Q/A just received includes that: Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. We have also heard our vets will not be impacted. All good news. We have been following the news and have anticipated that we would see some sort of temporary freeze. We understand we may have some programs or components of programs impacted, but we wont know the extent until the federal agencies complete their reviews and notify us of any suspensions, stop work orders, or other guidance. In the meantime, we are certainly conducting our own analysis across all our campuses. Louisiana State University

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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy will be at the center of the first hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s controversial Health and Human Services Secretary nomination.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee that Cassidy chairs will hold the first hearing for Kennedy on Thursday.

The HELP committee does not vote to confirm nominations. The meeting on Thursday is just a hearing. Senate Finance will take the first official vote next week and then the full Senate will get to vote, which includes Louisiana Sens. Cassidy and John Kennedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fewer than half in new poll trust Trump, RFK Jr. to make right recommendations on health issues

Cassidy and many other senators met privately with Kennedy earlier this month. He said on a call with reporters that he had not decided if he would vote to confirm Kennedy or not. He also mentioned during their conversation that Kennedy said things about vaccinations that were not accurate.

Some of the things he said were just not true. For example, that for hepatitis B vaccines theres no safety trials. I have actually performed hepatitis B vaccination safety trials many years ago. But there was a lot of safety data that we accumulated, Cassidy said.

Cassidy is a medical physician who has closely worked with vaccinations for decades. Many medical doctors have come out against Kennedys confirmation for fear of more misinformation being spread about critical vaccinations. In 2021, Kennedy attended a hearing at the Louisiana Legislature to promote an anti-vaccine stance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cassidy does agree with Kennedy on the need to move away from ultra-processed foods as part of the Make America Healthy Again campaign.

Hopefully in this process, we will understand who he is. For those who are pro-life, there is concern about his past apparently very ardently pro-choice positions, Cassidy said. For those who are concerned about ultra-processed food, theyll be able to hear him explore a little bit more about how he attempts to address that.

Kennedy had been a long-time Democrat before his switch to the Independent party during his 2024 presidential run. Cassidy said some of his previous stances have raised concerns with conservatives.

One guy wrote hes a lifelong Democrat whos called the NRA a terrorist group, whos pro-choice, pro-trial attorney, anti-business and he listed a couple more things. Those are conservatives that are concerned about it, Cassidy said. But then I have other people who say, no, they like the guy because they think that, you know, hes going to do something good for health care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Louisiana Surgeon General and former congressman Ralph Abraham and Gov. Jeff Landry wrote letters to Cassidy urging him to confirm Kennedy.

Chronic disease burdens continue to rise to a level that could be considered a threat to national security, Abraham wrote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s famous name and controversial views collide in his bid for top health job

The senator said that his meetings with Kennedy and the rhetoric around his possible confirmation are illuminating the work that needs to be done around health care.

I think if theres something that comes out of this however RFKs nomination goes, its that we need to do something about ultra-processed foods and that we need to address the kind of lack of understanding regarding immunizations, Cassidy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cassidy is faced with a contentious re-election campaign in 2026. Already drawing challengers who are quick to point out when Cassidy has defected from President Donald Trump, possibly denying him a cabinet member could be politically damaging. When asked about his thoughts on those criticisms, Cassidy said he doesnt listen to them.

Im neither blindly opposed, nor do I blindly support, Cassidy said. I am for the future of the United States of America and for the state of LouisianaI didnt take an oath to listen to the chatter on Twitter.

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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Louisiana man accused of murdering a well-known therapist has entered a not-guilty plea in court.

Terryon Thomas, 20, has been formally arraigned at the district courthouse in Baton Rouge. During the arraignment, Thomas entered a plea of not guilty for the murder charge.

A grand jury indicted Thomas on Jan. 16 and was charged with first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated criminal damage to property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thomas is accused of killing Baton Rouge therapist, Nicholas Abraham in September 2024. Abrahams body was found wrapped in a tarp along a highway, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office.

Authorities found Thomas driving Abrahams car in Baton Rouge the following day. Thomas was apprehended in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 1, 2024, and extradited to Baton Rouge.

Thomas is expected to stay in jail until his trial starts.

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.
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: George Hodan/public domain

Climate change is impacting the spread of Salmonella, according to new research from the University of Surrey. This research follows previous work by the team, which found that weather change is leading to the spread of dangerous diarrheal illness.

The study, led by a team of researchers at Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine, investigated the impact of different weather factors on the transmission of Salmonellaa leading cause of foodborne illnesses in Europe, accounting for nearly one in three foodborne outbreaks.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It's found in the intestines of animals and humans and can contaminate food if it's not cooked or handled properly. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and it is most prominent in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene.

In the study, published in the Journal of Infection, researchers compared UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data of confirmed cases of Salmonella in England and Wales during 20002016 with Met Office data of the time, focusing on 14 different weather factors.

This provided a more holistic understanding, which considered the combined effect of multiple weather factors on incidences of Salmonella, leading to an in-depth description of the risk of salmonellosis when we know the local weather during the past few days.

Warmer temperatures (above 10 degrees Celsius), relative humidity, dewpoint temperature (between 710 degrees Celsius), and longer days (over 1215 hours) were identified as key weather factors associated with an increase in Salmonella cases, irrespective of geographical location. These findings were also validated by analyzing data from the Netherlands.

Dr. Gianni Lo Iacono, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Surrey, said, "The model we used to analyze the data shows promise, as the findings were replicated across England, Wales and, independently, in the Netherlands, suggesting a potential for wider application in other European and high-income countries to help gain new insights on the incidence of Salmonella.

"It would be interesting to investigate this in regions with very different environmental and socio-economic characteristics, like tropical countries."

Dr. Laura Gonzalez Villeta, the first author of the study and researcher at the University of Surrey, said, "The study highlights how weather plays a significant role in Salmonella outbreaks and provides a valuable tool for predicting future risks and tailoring interventions, particularly in the context of climate change."

More information: Laura C. Gonzalez Villeta et al, Identifying key weather factors influencing human salmonellosis: A conditional incidence analysis in England, Wales, and the Netherlands, Journal of Infection (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106410
Instead of hoped-for improvements from pandemic-era campus closures, math and English test scores of fourth- and eighth-graders largely held steady or declined nationwide  results that were about the same in Los Angeles and California.

Not only are few students scoring as advanced or proficient, but fewer are achieving a "basic" ranking, the next level down, according to the overall results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly called the nation's report card.

The percentage of eighth-graders reading below "NAEP Basic" level was the largest in the assessments history, and the percentage of fourth-graders who scored below NAEP Basic was the largest in 20 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Experts characterized the scores as a sobering call to action. Although the Los Angeles Unified School District fared better in some metrics, the results dampened the district's recent characterization of its academic progress as unprecedented and historic.

Across the nation, "student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic performance, said Peggy G. Carr, commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics. Where there are signs of recovery, they are mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students. Lower-performing students are struggling, especially in reading.

The tests scores provide a periodic snapshot of student achievement by testing a sampling of students from across the country. Though the tests don't correlate directly with California's learning standards, the NAEP scores provide a rare opportunity to compare student progress across school districts and states as well as across the nation.

The latest scores reflected a worsening achievement gap.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: 'I don't feel safe anywhere.' California moves to aid undocumented students as fears surge

In eighth grade, higher performers regained ground lost and their lower-performing peers continued to decline or show no notable progress.

In eighth-grade mathematics, this widening gap is most pronounced. Lower-performing students declined, while higher-performing students improved. As a result of this divergence, the average score in 2024 was not significantly different than in 2022.

In reading, lower-performing students struggled the most, with scores lower than the first NAEP reading assessment in 1992.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The COVID-19 pandemic era of remote learning in 2020 and 2021, when many campuses were closed, can't be blamed for all of the problems.

"We are deeply concerned about our low-performing students," Carr said. "For a decade, these students have been on the decline. They need our urgent attention and our best effort."

Carr also pointed to what she considered a disturbing trend from a linked survey of students: Fewer are reading for pleasure. She also said that chronic absenteeism was linked to lower scores.

But Carr was determined to include a note of optimism: "Progress was possible before, and it is possible again."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Researcher Dan Goldhaber pointed to an ongoing disconnect between test results and grades.

"I think the general public believes student achievement is back to normal when all the tests  and NAEP is probably the most reliable  are showing we are nowhere near to pre-pandemic levels of student achievement," said Goldhaber, director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, which is part of the American Institutes for Research.

"And, of course, I dont care about the tests themselves," he added, "but rather what they forecast for the future college and labor market outcomes of students."

LAUSD scores

In Los Angeles  as in the nation  fourth-grade math offered a bright spot, with scores up significantly from 2022. In this metric, L.A. Unified improved more than the state and the nation. But L.A.'s overall score remained lower.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The percentage of L.A. students who scored as proficient in fourth-grade math increased from 20% to 27%. For California, the increase was from 30% to 35%; in the nation, from 35% to 39%.

L.A. Unified's eighth-grade math scores were slightly higher, but not statistically significant.

Read more: LAUSD students approach pre-pandemic achievement levels, outpacing state

In fourth-grade reading, 25% of L.A. students were proficient, unchanged from 2022. Nationally, 30% were proficient, down 2 percentage points from 2022. California also dropped 2 percentage points, to 29%.

Eighth-grade reading took a tumble in L.A., from a proficiency rate of 28% to 22%. That national number was unchanged at 29%; California was at 28%, down 2 points.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The collapse of eighth-grade reading scores was a puzzler for L.A. Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho, who, two years ago, celebrated a large rise in that grade level. Those students would now be in high school. He noted that sampling methods can lead to anomalies despite the best efforts of the National Center for Education Statistics, on whose governing board he served as a longtime member.

There had been discussion in 2022, he noted, over whether the testing sample included more students at higher-performing schools.

Carvalho reached back to 2019  before the pandemic  for a silver lining. Among a group of the nation's largest school systems, L.A. Unified was one of four that seemed to have caught up to pre-pandemic scores, he said.

"We're not going to celebrate that, because my expectation is at some point we should be seeing increases across the board," Carvalho said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the state tests  which cannot be used for nationwide comparisons  L.A. Unified showed strong gains and reached a record graduation rate, although overall academic performance still fell well short of state learning goals.

Because these improvements were across all grade levels, Carvalho had characterized them as historic and unprecedented, while also acknowledging that more improvement needed to follow.

Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University, expressed concerns about the L.A. Unified scores on the national test.

"The goal cannot be to simply catch up to pre-pandemic levels given unacceptably low overall achievement rates and achievement gaps by race and income," Lake said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond, however, said that L.A. Unified fared well on the national test when compared with trends at other large school systems.

She also found hopeful indicators in California's overall performance. In a state with higher poverty and growing homelessness, "state scores are up a little and holding steady in NAEP," Darling-Hammond said. "Were making small strides against a lot of odds.

She credited higher state education funding and strategic investments in such areas as mental health, teacher training and schools with expanded community services.

A less rosy assessment of California's progress came from Natalie Wheatfall-Lum, director of TK-12 Policy for EdTrust-West, an education advocacy group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"California should be ashamed," she said. "The pace of progress for Californian students of color is not just slow, its stopped altogether. ... These NAEP scores reflect unacceptable stagnation in both math and reading scores and entrenched gaps between both Black and Latinx students and their white and Asian peers and between students from low-income households and their wealthier peers."

She added: "Anyone looking at these results should be asking what California has been doing for 25 years."

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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  LSU law professor Ken M. Levy has filed a lawsuit against the LSU Board of Supervisors, arguing that his suspension from teaching violated his free speech, academic freedom, and due process rights.

Levy was removed from the classroom on Jan. 16 following student complaints about remarks he made during a discussion on First Amendment issues. According to his attorney, Jill Craft, Levy referenced former LSU professor Nicholas Bryners case, in which Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill called for disciplinary action over political comments made in class. Levy allegedly joked that he did not want to be Landrys next target and used profanity, which he described as part of a lighthearted remark reinforcing his classrooms no-recording policy.

A student reportedly complained to Landry, prompting LSU to take immediate action. According to the lawsuit, Levy was suspended without prior notice or an opportunity to respond. He contends that LSUs decision to remove him from teaching duties violates the U.S. and Louisiana constitutions, stating that his remarks were well within the bounds of protected speech and academic freedom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and an injunction to reinstate Levy and prevent further disciplinary action. LSU has not commented on the lawsuit, citing personnel matters.

Levy began his employment at LSUs Paul M. Hebert School of Law in June 2009. He was promoted to Associate Professor in January 2012 and received tenure in May 2015. In August 2017, he was promoted to full Professor of Law.

Louisiana AG Liz Murrill released the following statement Thursday morning.

LSUs policies provide that the University is fully committed to free speech among students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracyand it is equally important on our college campuses. At the same time, students who choose to attend LSU agree to be bound by LSUs policies, which regulate expression in certain respects, including through time, place, and manner restrictions. The same goes for faculty members, regardless of tenure status, who choose to be employed by LSU. They, like students, staff, and visitors, agree to be bound by LSUs policy statement that freedom of speech does not mean that individuals may say whatever they wish, wherever they wish. As the Supreme Court recently said in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the speech rights of public school employees are [not] so boundless that they may deliver any message to anyone anytime they wish. Indeed, when a public employee speaks pursuant to [his or her] official duties, th[e] Court has said the Free Speech Clause generally will not shield the individual from an employers control and discipline because that kind of speech isfor constitutional purposes at leastthe governments own speech. For these reasons, a careful investigation is necessary to account for a schools rights as an employer and a faculty members rights as an employee. But, just as the First Amendment does not give a university carte blanche to regulate its employees expression, so, too, tenure status and general notions of academic freedom do not give a university employee carte blanche to say whatever they wish, wherever they wish. Facts, details, and law matter. Professor Levy is entitled to a full appeals process and a hearing to determine where his behavior falls in this analytical framework. And I am confident that he will receive that due process as LSUs investigation runs its course. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill

This is a developing story.

Louisiana Ten Commandments law faces federal court challenge

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.
The LSU Law Center pictured on March 20, 2023, in Baton Rouge. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

A group of LSU students held a protest Tuesday outside the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, demanding professor Ken Levy be reinstated following his removal from the classroom pending an investigation into alleged political comments he made.

Political conformity is being demanded, law student Kristen Graham-Winkles said at the protest. Intellectual diversity is being crushed, and dissent is being punished. How valuable is admission and graduation from an institution that is unabashedly taken with these actions?

A sign spotted at a protest in defense of Ken Levy (Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator)

It was announced last week that Levy, a tenured professor in criminal and constitutional law, would be removed from his classes pending an investigation into his alleged comments, though Law Center Dean Alena Allen and LSU spokesman Todd Woodward declined to answer questions regarding what comment led to the investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the protest, which around 30 students attended and several faculty members observed, Graham-Winkles said she and other students in Levys class did not find anything he said to be inappropriate.

We were there to witness that Professor Levy didnt do anything wrong, she said. If you listen to the recording, you hear him expressing his opinion on our governor, and then the class laughing. No misconduct, no violation of any policy, just a different opinion.

Matthew Broussard, a third-year law student who attended the rally, said in an interview that law students should be able to handle a differing opinion.

If you cant handle hearing something you dont like, you need to get another job, Broussard said. This is one of the most antagonistic jobs that I could think of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jack Harrison, a law professor who watched the protest, said he appreciated the students standing up for his colleague.

Levy has referred questions to his attorney, Jill Craft, who said in an interview last week he intends to fight the reprimand from the law school.

We cannot live and exist in a country where people are punished because of their opinions, their thoughts and their words, Craft said. This is particularly true in the area of academic freedom. If we take that away, it takes away the cornerstone of this democracy. And then we dont have one anymore.

After several students spoke outside the law center, they marched to the LSU administration building to deliver a petition to LSU President William Tate demanding Levy be reinstated and receive an apology from Tate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LSU General Counsel Winston DeCuir met the students outside the building to accept the petition and said Tate was unable to meet the students himself.

DeCuir told students that what they were doing is important, and that he took part in similar activities when he was in law school. DeCuir is a 1998 graduate of LSU Law.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A Lufthansa aircraft flying from Manchester to Munich was forced to make an unscheduled landing in London on Wednesday due to technical problems with the engine.

A spokeswoman for Lufthansa - Germany's flag carrier - said in Frankfurt that flight LH2507 was diverted to London's Heathrow Airport after suffering "engine problems near the English Channel."

The plane landed safely and will remain in London for a technical investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All 107 passengers were booked onto other flights.

"Lufthansa regrets the inconvenience caused to all passengers on this flight," the spokeswoman said. "Safety on board is Lufthansa's top priority."
A celebration in front of the Kremlin in Moscow on the eve of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 28. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Across the world, hundreds of millions of people are welcoming the Year of the Snake as they celebrate the Lunar New Year with fireworks, family time and festive dances.

In north and Southeast Asia, from China to Indonesia, people gathered in temples to light incense sticks, holding them above their heads to pray for good luck.

Celebrations from Bolivia to the Philippines included Chinese lion dancers as a way to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.

Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

The 15-day celebration, which lasts from the first new moon until the next full moon, kicked off on Jan. 29 and celebrates the arrival of spring and the start of a new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It's considered the most important holiday in the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The calendar is represented by 12 animals, each with unique personality traits, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

The Chinese zodiac corresponds to various years people were born, and each animal is believed to influence the lives of people born in that year.

The Year of the Snake is seen as one of renewal and regeneration and aligns with people born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025.

A Lunar New Year celebration in Manila, Philippines. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)

Temple-goers with incense sticks at Jade Buddha Temple on Lunar New Year's Eve in Shanghai. (Go Nakamura/Reuters)

People with joss sticks at a temple on Lunar New Year in Bangkok. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

Offering prayers with incense on the first day of the Year of the Snake in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP via Getty Images)

People offer prayers at the Hong San Koo Tee temple in Surabaya, Indonesia. (Juni Kriswanto/AFP via Getty Images)

Lion dancers in Chinatown in Manila. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

Prepping for a dance performance before a prayer service at St. Maria de Fatima Catholic Church in Glodok, a historic Chinatown district in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

A Chinese temple in the Chinatown area of Yangon, Myanmar, on the first day of the Lunar New Year. (Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images)

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in La Paz, Bolivia, on Jan. 26. (Juan Karita/AP)

Prayers at the Amurva Bhumi Vihara temple in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Bay Ismoyo/AFP via Getty Images)

A worshipper at Gayatri temple in Depok, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia. (Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters)

Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

Lion dancers perform on the eve of Lunar New Year at a department store in Bangkok. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

Devotees at the stroke of midnight to usher in the Year of the Snake in Leong Nam temple in Singapore. (Caroline Chia/Reuters)

A lion dance performance at a hotel in Taipei, Taiwan. (Annabelle Chih/Reuters)

Dragon dancers in Binondo, Manila, Philippines. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)

Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

A stray cat on Lunar New Year in Jakarta, West Java, Indonesia. (Dita Alangkara/AP)

See more of our photo features on Yahoo News >>>
(Bloomberg) -- Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trumps pick to run the Commerce Department, said in his Senate hearing that he plans to sell all his business stakes if confirmed and for the first time acknowledged a bond his firm has with a controversial cryptocurrency client.

Most Read from Bloomberg

I will sell all of my interests, all of my business interests, all of my assets, everything, the longtime chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald LP said Wednesday. Upon confirmation, my business will be for sale, he said, adding he will do so in 90 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the hearing, where few senators asked critical questions, Lutnick, 63, didnt say anything further about who might buy his firm, the continuing stakes held by family members or if he has buyers lined up already.

The billionaire can defer capital gains taxes for assets hes required to sell to avoid conflicts of interest, meaning if he draws money from the sales of his firms, he could plow it into a fund and only pay taxes when and if he sells those portfolios.

He added that Cantor Fitzgerald, which has faced criticism for its relationship to controversial cryptocurrency firm Tether Holdings Ltd., has a convertible bond with the company. That arrangement means Cantor is able to draw a coupon and obtain shares in the issuer if certain terms occur.

Sitting behind him during his hearing was his son Brandon, who was recently named CEO of one of Cantors special purpose acquisition vehicles and has spent time working with Tether in Switzerland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat who isnt on the Commerce Committee, has pressed him on connections he and Cantor Fitzgerald have with the cryptocurrency company, which authorities allege has been used by criminal gangs, cartels, terrorists and scammers to move money.

Tether did no business with anyone that wasnt KYC-appropriate, Lutnick said during the hearing, using an abbreviation for know your customer, adding issues were isolated to the secondary market.

Financial Holdings

The combative billionaire has one of the more complex financial situations among Trump cabinet nominees after a three-decade career running US and international firms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnick disclosed roles in at least 800 entities, assets worth at least $806 million  including 12 he valued at more than $50 million  and income of at least $356 million over 2023 and 2024.

While he said hell divest from his stakes, the future control and ownership of his firms, which hes long run with a tight grip, have been subject to speculation.

In an ethics agreement in November, Lutnick said he would step down from his role at Cantor Fitzgerald if confirmed. He also vowed to divest interests from the financial services company, as well as property firm Newmark Group Inc. and brokerage BGC Group Inc.

In the hearing, Lutnick also pushed back against a report by the New York Times, raised by Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, which highlighted a multimillion-dollar stake by Cantor Fitzgerald in Critical Metals Corp., which aims to start mining metals and minerals in Greenland  a territory that Trump has said is a necessity for the US to purchase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CEO said that the stake was tiny in the context of his business empire and that it was in return for helping take the company public. He added that he wasnt even aware of the stake until this week.

Tariffs and Trade

Trump has tapped Lutnick to lead his tariff and trade agenda at Commerce, as well as taking direct responsibility for the US Trade Representative. He was a staunch Wall Street ally throughout Trumps campaign, helping the president wrangle millions at fundraisers and eventually co-chairing his transition team.

While Trump hasnt officially imposed any tariffs, he has charged Commerce, along with the Treasury Department and the USTR, to undertake more than 20 studies of Americas trade relationships and polices, possible precursors to protectionist measures hes threatened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnick said in the hearing that he prefers across-the-board tariffs and on a country-by-country basis. We can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect, he said.

The Commerce Department broadly promotes American businesses and economic growth. Under President Joe Bidens Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, it allocated billions of dollars in grants and loans to bolster domestic chip manufacturing, a policy Trump has criticized.

Lutnick said during the hearing that the initiative is an excellent down payment, and that officials should review those investments.

The department is also in the spotlight over its management of US semiconductor export controls intended to stall Chinas development of artificial intelligence. Recently unveiled powerful AI software from Chinese startup DeepSeek has raised questions about the effectiveness of those curbs. Trump has also asked the Commerce and State departments to review the US export control system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Derek Wallbank, Alicia Diaz, Bill Allison and John Harney.

(Updates with new details, context from fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
GOMA, Congo (AP)  Rebels backed by Rwanda captured more towns in eastern Congo on Wednesday as they moved beyond the key city of Goma in an apparent attempt to expand their control in the conflict-battered region.

The rebels advanced toward the center of South Kivu province after taking several towns, including Kalungu, Kanyezire and Mukwinja, according to a local civil society leader and an aid worker in the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the developments were concerning, and that the United Nations was taking measures to protect civilians and U.N. staff. The advance also raised fears of a prolonged occupation by the rebels, who have said they plan to set up a new administration in Goma, a city of 2 million people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Left unchecked, the fighting could spread ... recalling the horrors of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when millions died, the Crisis Group said, citing the last, multi-country war there.

Unlike now, the rebels captured Goma only briefly during their first rebellion in 2012, withdrawing after a few days under international pressure on Rwanda.

Meanwhile, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was conspicuously absent from a virtual summit of a regional East African bloc that began late Wednesday, hosted by Kenya.

Tshisekedi was on an official visit to Angola, which had mediated a ceasefire between Congo and Rwanda last year, the Angolan presidency said in a statement. He was to discuss the situation in eastern Congo with Angolas President Joao Lourenco.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Faced with the rebel offensive, soldiers fighting for Congo  many of them mercenaries from other nations  were laying down their weapons at the border with Rwanda. Congos army seemed to be in disarray, and those at the border appeared disorganized and ill-equipped for any major fighting.

A rebel spokesman said nearly 300 mercenaries have surrendered their arms and returned to their countries.

Let the people of Goma be calm, peace is here, said Willy Ngoma, a spokesman of the M23 group. Ngoma, who is on the U.N. Security Councils sanctions list for crimes committed by the rebels.

Its like you are fighting without command, said Jean Marie Ndahambaza, one of the surrendering soldiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Armed groups have long vied for control of eastern Congo, which is rich in minerals critical to much of the worlds technology, and has been the scene of proxy battles between Congo and neighboring Rwanda, as well as other powers. Fighting reignited this week, and the rebels backed by Rwanda, known as M23, announced Monday that they had captured much of the provincial capital of Goma.

A city, long battered by conflict, falls again

Hundreds of thousands of Goma residents were trying to get away from the fighting, with some retreating into Congos interior to seek protection, and others crossing into nearby Rwanda.

Rwandan border patrol agents searched the belongings of those crossing the border in waves, with suitcases and children in tow. The displaced, looking exhausted but relieved, were then taken care of by the Rwandan Red Cross.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, rebels took control of Goma's airport, said Dujarric, the U.N. spokesperson, warning of risks of a breakdown of law and order in the city, "given the proliferation of weapons. Clashes with rebels continued in some parts of Goma on Wednesday afternoon, including the central neighborhoods of Katoyi and Kahembe. Other parts of the city were calm, with less fighting, a day after thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew overhead, and injured streamed into overwhelmed hospitals.

Tshisekedi was due to address the country later on Wednesday in first public remarks since rebels took Goma.

The root of the conflict goes back dec ades

The chaotic situation has its roots in ethnic conflict: M23 says it is defending ethnic Tutsis in Congo. Rwanda has claimed the Tutsis are being persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and others in Rwanda. Many Hutus fled into Congo after the genocide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Analysts say the real fight is for control over the Congos vast mineral deposits, estimated to be worth $24 trillion, and critical to much of the worlds technology. M23 rebels appear to be preparing to stay in Congo for good, and have told The Associated Press of their plans to set up an administration and return displaced people to their homes.

Analysts have warned that securing a rebel withdrawal could be more difficult than in 2012, when M23 first captured Goma. Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group, said that the group has become more emboldened by Rwanda, which feels Congo is ignoring its interests in the region and failed to meet demands of previous peace agreements.

While Rwandan leaders, mostly Tutsis, have denied backing the rebels, U.N. officials say some 4,000 Rwandan troops are in the Congo.

Strong response from other parts of Africa

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose troops are among the foreign peacekeepers in Congo, blamed the Rwanda Defense Force militia for the fighting and called for the withdrawal of the rebels.

The territorial integrity (of Congo) must be respected, Ramaphosa said, adding that South Africa will ensure its peacekeepers remain well-equipped and sufficiently supported during this critical mission.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on X that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the need to ensure a ceasefire and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.

Kenya Airways canceled all of its flights to Kinshasa on Wednesday following the looting and burning of at least 10 foreign embassy buildings in the capital the day before, a company agent at Kinshasa airport told the AP.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

___

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press writers Christina Malkia and Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo; Ignatius Ssuuna in Gisenyi, Rwanda; Mark Banchereau in Paris, Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Edith M. Lederer in New York contributed to this report.
Since the 1960s, WestShore Plaza has been a gathering place for Tampa residents to shop, catch a movie or grab a bite to eat. But like many aging malls, its seen better days.

Earlier this month, Macys announced it was shuttering its outpost in the mall along with 65 other locations nationwide. WestShore Plaza said farewell to another major tenant in October when Dicks Sporting Goods moved up the road to the rival mall International Plaza.

Losing an anchor store is ordinarily a death knell for a mall. But Westshore Plaza was already slated for a reincarnation of sorts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In April, Tampa City Council rezoned the 53-acre site to make way for a major redevelopment proposed by WestShore Plazas Ohio-based owner, WPG. The plan calls for hundreds of residential units, a hotel, offices, shops, restaurants, recreational space, medical facilities and more.

Though e-commerce has put a dent in brick-and-mortar sales, people are still shopping in person, theyre just seeking a different experience said Justin Greider, vice president and Florida retail lead for the commercial real estate firm JLL.

As more traditional enclosed malls shut down, mixed-use developments that give visitors the chance to live, work and play all in the same space are popping up . Its a slow evolution seen across Tampa Bay in recent years. At Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg, the former big-box center has experimented by adding its own Dicks Sporting Goods and a grocery store.

In Tampa, wildly popular shopping centers like Midtown and Hyde Park Village prove the success of this more community-centric model.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When it opened more than half a century ago, WestShore Plaza was the only fully indoor, air conditioned mall in town. It was so popular, another wing had to be added in the 1970s. But as more options emerged, WestShore struggled to compete.

When International Plaza opened in 2001, it didnt take long for it to overtake WestShore as the citys premier premier shopping destination. Over the years, International Plaza drew luxury brands away from WestShore and Hyde Park. And today, the culture of in-person shopping has dampened the need for more than one major mall.

A case study from the National Association of Realtors analyzed 94 vacant malls and found that 16% were being repurposed as mixed-use developments.

WPG has yet to secure financing for the WestShore Plaza redevelopment and no demolition permit has been filed. The company declined to comment for this story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It can often take months or years for work to begin even after approvals are won, Greider said. Plus, WPG is facing a challenging lending market, where even the smallest details could make or break a financing deal.

It may take time to find the right buyer if WPG decides to sell instead of developing themselves. Buyers are pickier than theyve ever been before, there are fewer than theres ever been before and there are a lot more opportunities for them to consider, Greider said.

If sales at WestShore Plaza continue to decline, theres a chance the mall could shut down before there is a path forward for redevelopment.

Despite the obstacles, Greider said WestShore Plaza is better poised for a transformation than a typical suburban mall, which tend to be located far from high-growth areas on massive pieces of land that are harder to market.

West Shore as a place to live and even a place to shop is very much on the rise and in demand, he said. Theres going to be something fantastic in this location, I just cant tell you when.
If Donald Trump and his White House team were trying to cause a massive national freak-out, they succeeded beautifully. In a Monday night memo, the acting director of the presidents budget office ordered a freeze to federal grants, loans and related assistance  money that Congress has already appropriated  effectively trying to transfer the power of the purse away from lawmakers.

As weve discussed, federal grants finance much of modern American life. If the money stops flowing because Team Trump says some of the disbursements might conflict with the Republicans wishes, the effects are difficult to measure.

But there are also legal considerations to consider. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, among the many Democrats condemning the White Houses gambit, issued a written statement that argued the administrations policy blatantly disobeys the law. The New York Democrat added, Congress approved these investments, and they are not optional; they are the law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The question was when, not whether, Trumps new policy would face a legal challenge. The public did not have to wait too long for an answer.

In a morning news conference, Schumer told reporters that New York Attorney General Letitia James was going to court to contest the White Houses illegal move. The senator knew of what he spoke: The states Democratic attorney general has, in fact, already filed suit taking aim at the presidents legally dubious spending freeze.

Shes partnering in this case with Democratic attorneys general from 21 other states and the District of Columbia: Rob Bonta of California, Kwame Raoul of Illinois, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, Matt Platkin of New Jersey, Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, Kris Mayes of Arizona, Phil Weiser of Colorado, William Tong of Connecticut, Kathy Jennings of Delaware, Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C., Anne Lopez of Hawaii, Aaron Frey of Maine, Anthony G. Brown of Maryland, Dana Nessel of Michigan, General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Aaron Ford of Nevada, Jeff Jackson of North Carolina, Raul Torrez of New Mexico, Dan Rayfield of Oregon, Charity Clark of Vermont, Nicholas W. Brown of Washington and Josh Kaul of Wisconsin.

This lawsuit is separate from a related case filed by a coalition of nonprofits and public health advocates, who collectively asked a federal judge for an emergency order to block the White Houses policy. That judge issued an administrative stay on Tuesday afternoon that pushed the start date of the federal funding freeze to Monday at 5 p.m. ET while litigation plays out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the cases are adjudicated, there remains widespread confusion  in government agencies and among grant beneficiaries  about the practical implications of the Trump administrations new policy.

A senior administration official, for example, denied to NBC News that the White House had imposed a blanket freeze on spending and insisted that individual payments or assistance were not directly affected by Mondays memo from the Office of Management and Budget.

And while that mightve sounded reassuring, NBC News also reported on some of the preliminary consequences of Team Trumps gambit.

Nonprofit organizations reached by NBC News said some of their funding appeared to have already been cut off, and they were scrambling to figure out what the implications could be for their programs, like those providing health care, housing and early childhood education.

There are related reports about state-based Medicaid portals shutting down as a result of the White Houses move, though administration officials are apparently working to address this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the likely fate of the new cases, NBC News published a separate report noting that the issue could make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court quickly.

Although the court has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three Trump appointees, legal experts say this could be one of several uphill legal battles the administration has picked. There are also Supreme Court precedents that have acknowledged restrictions on presidential power when it comes to how money is spent. In 1974, around the time the Impoundment Control Act was enacted, the court ruled against the Nixon administration in an attempt to withhold funding aimed at reducing water pollution.

Watch this space.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.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:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Young people broadly welcome the idea of the government's smoke-free generation policy and see it as a chance to free their generation from harmful addiction, according to a study led by the University of Nottingham.

Smoking tobacco kills more people than any other preventable cause. The UK Government are aiming for fewer than five in 100 people to smoke by 2030. However, one study estimates 127,500 people aged between 18 and 25 currently pick up smoking each year.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee reports on Thursday 30 January and the Bill will return to the House of Commons for debate and final vote among MPs in the coming months.

If passed, the Bill will stop children who turned 15 last year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes or other tobacco products.

A recent study, published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research led by Nathan Davies, from the Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, set out to find out what young people in England think about changing the law on how old you must be to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes.

"Nearly all smokers start smoking when they are young, so if we can prevent people from starting in their youth, they are unlikely to begin in later life. Little was known about what young people think about the proposed smoke-free generation policy. We wanted to find out if they agreed with it in principle and its implementation," says Nathan Davies from the Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology.

The researchers held focus groups with participants aged between 12 and 21. Participants were chosen to include those from areas of different areas and for use of tobacco or e-cigarettes.

The focus groups showed that:

There was broad support for the smoke-free generation. Most young participants welcomed the idea of preventing future tobacco addiction, seeing it as a chance to free their generation from harmful, entrenched habits. Young people had first-hand experience of the harm of tobacco; one 13-year-old girl said, "We were really worried about my mum's smoking. She said that she was going to try and stop, but she really hasn't. And it must be difficult because it's not something that she really talks to us much about."

A small minority raised concerns about freedom of choice or showed apathy towards the policy.

Young people called for strong enforcement. They believed that the policy's success depends on strict penalties for retailers selling to underage buyers. They felt that, without well-resourced enforcement of offending retailers, the law wouldn't be as effective or wouldn't work at all. Many also asked for licensing conditions to be introduced for tobacco retailers.

Participants asked for a say in shaping and communicating the policy. They believed involving young people from the start ensures messaging resonates and helps politicians understand real-world tactics used to evade age restrictions. A 17-year-old boy said, "I think youth involvement is a really good and important idea because it's important that young people feel they are the smoke-free generation."

"The study conversations show it is really important that young people are involved in the design and implementation of the smoke-free generation," said Mr. Davies. "It is reassuring that the general feeling was support for the policy. Young people want the smoke-free generation done properlyand that means the government giving Trading Standards the resources to enforce it from day one."

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said, "These interviews reinforce survey results which find strong support for the phased-out sale of tobacco among those who the policy will impact. MPs who are anxious that they are curbing the choices of future generations should recognize that ending the sale of tobacco is freeing young people from the risk of life-long addiction and chronic illness. The next generation sees this legislation as a gift not a burden and want to be part of creating a smokefree future for all."
During her first-ever briefing, Karoline Leavitt, the new White House press secretary, struggled to defend the administrations controversial spending freeze. Donald Trumps chief spokesperson, however, had a specific talking point that she seemed eager to reference.

Leavitt told reporters that Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency and the White House budget office found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. She added, in apparent reference to the freeze, Thats what this pause is focused on.

With remarkable speed, this has become a popular claim in Republican circles. A couple of hours after the White House briefing, GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska appeared on CNN and similarly claimed, Millions of dollars were being to sent to Gaza for, like, condom programs that they found. So they want to put a freeze on some of that stuff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A day later, the president himself, reading carefully from a teleprompter, declared that theres been tremendous waste and fraud in federal spending. He went on to claim that there was some kind of internal review process which led his team to identify and stop $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.

At that point, the president ad-libbed some related thoughts. You know whats happened to them? Trump added, Theyve used them as a method of making bombs. How about that?

Im very tempted to spend a couple of paragraphs exploring the possibility of people trying to use prophylactics for explosive purposes  I honestly wish I knew how Trump came up with this stuff  but lets instead turn our attention to a more serious point: Republicans appear to be brazenly lying about this.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut explained via social media, Its a lie. Made up. There was no U.S. funding for condoms in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were some funds allocated to a health care organization treating patients, and the organization does provide family-planning services, but the group made clear that U.S. funds did not finance condoms in Gaza.

A fact-check report in The Washington Post explained, On the face of it, Leavitts statement that $50 million was going to be spent on condoms is preposterous. That figure is three times the yearly average spent by the U.S. government for the entire world.

Moreover, neither [Leavitt] nor the State Department could provide documentation supporting this claim. The department identified a contractor that it claimed was distributing condoms in Gaza, but the organization says no U.S. money is involved.

A related fact-check report from CNN went into more detail about the funding in question: The [contractor that received the resources] said the U.S. funding has paid for the two hospitals 'lifesaving medical care' for roughly 33,000 civilians per month. Trumps freeze, the organization said, halts U.S. funding for hospital services like performing about 30 lifesaving surgeries per day, delivering about 20 babies per day, running an emergency room receiving up to 200 patients per day, and operating one of Gazas only neonatal intensive care units and only stabilization centers for severely malnourished children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont doubt that Republicans in the White House and on Capitol Hill will continue to repeat the false claim about condoms anyway, and it will soon become one of those lies that the party just pretends is true. But the repetition wont turn fiction into fact.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
With just hours remaining in his presidency, Joe Biden used his remaining time in office to protect some of Donald Trumps likely targets for retribution, including a presidential pardon for retired Gen. Mark Milley. In theory, the Democrats move to shield the decorated military leader shouldve allowed Milley to enjoy his retirement in peace.

In practice, its not quite working out that way.

Within hours of his presidential inauguration, Trump complained publicly about the pardon his former handpicked chairman of the joint chiefs of staff received. Soon after, the White House directed the Pentagon to take down a portrait of Milley. The next morning, the Republican president fired Milley from an advisory panel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each of those steps were, of course, petty and largely inconsequential. They left little doubt that the retired general was on Trumps mind, but the moves did little more than make the president look small.

They were, however, just the initial steps from Team Trump. NBC News reported:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley that he is revoking his security detail and clearance and ordering a review of the retired generals conduct to see whether his rank should be re-evaluated, the Pentagon said. Hegseth, whose first day at the Pentagon was Monday, directed the Defense Departments inspector general to look into the facts and circumstances surrounding Milleys conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said.

For good measure, according to multiple published reports, the Pentagon is also taking down a different Milley portrait, recognizing him as a former chief of staff of the Army.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Espers portrait marking his time as Secretary of the Army is no longer up in the Pentagons Army Secretary hallway. with @halbritz @OrenCNN pic.twitter.com/jiG2kCkpja  Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 29, 2025

Bidens pardon for Milley received some partisan pushback from assorted GOP voices, but the former presidents decision is looking increasingly responsible with each passing day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the not-too-distant past, Trump was content to target the retired general with juvenile taunts, calling Milley a dumbass, a stupid person and an idiot. But in late 2023, the Republican went much further, falsely accusing Milley of having committed a treasonous act in the wake of Trumps 2020 defeat.

[I]n times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! Trump wrote on his social media platform.

The underlying accusations were completely bonkers, though Milley felt the need to take adequate safety precautions to protect his family in the wake of the Republicans radical offensive.

Its against this backdrop that the former television personality that Trump and Senate Republicans put in charge of the Pentagon is revoking Milleys security detail, among other things.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Obviously, the retired general has become the latest target in Team Trumps post-inaugural revenge tour, but just as notable is the broader message to everyone else: If you anger the president, you too may find yourself facing the kind of fury that Milley is facing now.

In the run-up to the 2024 elections, the former chairman of the joint chiefs reportedly told Bob Woodward that he believes Trump is a fascist to the core. That assessment appears unlikely to change anytime soon.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* A Democratic candidate won a state Senate special election in Iowa, which wouldnt be especially notable were it not for the fact that it was a Republican-held seat in a district that Donald Trump won by 21 points.

* In Florida, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine easily won his congressional special election primary race, in a contest to succeed former Republican Rep. Mike Waltz. Fine was expected to win, thanks in large part to the endorsement he received from Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* In related news, in former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetzs district in Florida, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis cruised to victory in his GOP congressional special election primary race, thanks to the presidents backing. The general election in both districts is April 1.

* In Michigan, with Democratic Sen. Gary Peters making an unexpected retirement announcement, is there any chance Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer might be interested in the race? The two-term governor, who cannot run for re-election, has categorically ruled out the possibility.

* During an appearance at a House Republican gathering this week  held at a Trump-owned property near Miami  the president once again talked about running for a third term, though he characterized his comments as a joke.

* At the same event, Trump again claimed that TikTok helped him with the youth vote by 36 points. There is literally no evidence to support this, and exit polls found the Republican losing younger voters by a sizable margin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* In Georgia, where Republican Gov. Brian Kemp cannot seek a third term, Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Democratic mayor of Atlanta, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that shes eyeing the 2026 race.

* And as Karoline Leavitt begins her stint as the White House press secretary, she reportedly has revealed in amended campaign filings that her failed 2022 congressional campaign accepted improper contributions. Leavitt is one of several people Trump has hired for his team in the wake of their failed bids for elected office.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
For reasons that were never altogether clear to me, there was a dramatic bruhaha in New Jersey and neighboring states last month related to drones. Evidently, for a couple of weeks, local residents saw the drones lights, grew concerned, contacted their elected officials, and a controversy soon followed.

On Jan. 9, shortly before his presidential inauguration, Donald Trump did what he usually does: He touted a conspiratorial vision. Im going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration, the Republican told reporters. Because I think its ridiculous that theyre not telling you about whats going on with the drones.

The Biden White House tried to explain to the public that there was no cause for concern, and the fears were unfounded, but Trump was apparently unconvinced.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican predictably failed to keep his promise about delivering a report on the first day of his second term, but as NBC News reported, his administration did look into the matter and eventually got around to sharing its conclusions.

The mysterious drones that caused alarm among many New Jersey residents last year were in large part authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House said Tuesday. The large number of unexplained nighttime drone sightings in New Jersey and other East Coast states created a panic which at one point shut down an airport.

This was not the enemy, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary told reporters, reading a statement she said came from the president.

The drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons, she added. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time, it got worse due to curiosity.

Or put another way, when Trump said that it was ridiculous that they were hiding the truth, his accusations were baseless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But before the political world moves on, its worth pausing to note that the Republican president was hardly the only irresponsible voice. Media Matters, for example, recently noted that assorted far-right media figures who promoted bizarre ideas related to last months drone sightings, including comments about space aliens.

And then, of course, there was Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who thought itd be a good idea to tell the public that the drones might have been linked to a missing Iranian mothership, creating a national security crisis.

When officials at the Department of Defense said that Van Drew was wrong, the GOP congressman accused the Pentagon of hiding the truth.

Now that the White House has acknowledged the truth, Trumps comments look bad, but Van Drews comments look vastly worse.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON)  During a heated cross-examination this week, a prosecutor peppered a forensic psychiatrist with questions about his diagnosis and reoffender risk assessment of Madyson Maddy Middletons murderer.

Adrian Jerry AJ Gonzalez was 15 years old when he raped and murdered his 8-year-old neighbor inside his mothers Santa Cruz apartment in the summer of 2015. A jury trial is underway that will decide if hes granted freedom from a juvenile detention center.

Under California law, all criminals convicted as juveniles are eligible to be released by their 25th birthday unless prosecutors can prove they are too dangerous. Gonzalez turned 25 last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Denine Guy said the trial is nearing the jury deliberation phase. Before jurors head to the deliberation room, defense attorney Charlie Stevens called forensic psychologist Dr. Roger Karlsson to testify on the stand as an expert on sexually violent predators.

Maddy smiles next to her father.

Karlsson interviewed Gonzalez in 2017 and in November of 2024. After giving a series of psychological tests, Karlsson concluded that Maddys killer is on the lower end of risk for reoffending, and he does not have psychopathy.

The National Institutes of Health defines psychopathy as a neuropsychiatric disorder marked by deficient emotional responses, lack of empathy, and poor behavioral controls, commonly resulting in persistent antisocial deviance and criminal behavior.

Gonzalez was calm and emotionless in the hours after he tortured and murdered 8-year-old Maddy, according to Assistant District Attorney Tara George. At just 15 years old, the boy was manipulative enough to join a search effort looking for the missing girl, she said, and he watched detectives searching for Maddys body.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After Gonzalez was arrested, he made a full confession to detectives without showing any remorse or empathy toward his victim, George said.

Adrian AJ Gonzalez (File Photo By Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

During group therapy sessions, Gonzalez tried to minimize the severity of his crimes. Karlsson asserted that Gonzalez lacks empathy and emotions because he has autism spectrum disorder. It is common for convicted sex offenders to minimize or deny their crimes, said Karlsson, who has worked with hundreds of sexually violent inmates in California state prison hospitals.

During tense moments of Tuesdays cross-examination, George shouted in the courtroom. Her line of questioning attempted to rip apart the psychologists risk assessment report and pointed out several times that Gonzalez lied during his November interview with Karlsson.

George asked if it was true that a flat affect, callousness, and lack of empathy are traits associated with psychopathy. That is correct, Karlsson replied.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karlsson admitted that a large portion of his 60-page long assessment report relied on self-reporting from Gonzalez, and the killer lied during portions of his interviews.

Gonzalez told the psychiatrist that he has no sexual interests in necrophilia.

Is it fair to say, someone whose liberty is at stake might not be forthcoming with what their sexual fantasies are? the prosecutor asked. Of course, Karlsson answered.

During a taped police confession shortly after his arrest in 2015, Gonzalez told police that he put duct tape over Maddys mouth, held her down on a bed, looked in her eyes, and choked her for 30 minutes. When he thought she was dead, he sexually assaulted the girl, put her body inside a trash bag, and stabbed her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prosecutor repeated gruesome details of the crime while Maddys family members sat in the front row of the courtroom gallery.

Madyson Maddy Middleton (Photo via Santa Cruz Police Department)

George questioned a section of the report that states Gonzalez is not sexually deviant. Did you consider at all  Mr. Gonzalez taped up and raped a girl he thought was dead? He stabbed his 8-year-old victim three times. He cleaned up his crime scene, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor pointed out times that Gonzalez changed his story between his 2015 police confession, 2017 interview, and 2024 interview. In 2015, he told police that he played music while Maddy was dying to drown out her voice. In his 2024 interview with Dr. Karlsson, he said he played music to help calm himself down.

Gonzalez vividly remembered the songs that he played, including Ill See You In My Dreams, Karlsson testified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

George asked, Have you ever evaluated a juvenile who committed kidnap, rape and murder? No, the psychologist answered. So Mr. Gonzalez is 1-of-1 for you? George asked. Yes, the psychologist answered.

Throughout Tuesday afternoon, Gonzalez wrote and passed handwritten notes back and forth with a woman who sat at the defense teams table in the courtroom.

The prosecutor said Gonzalez changed his description of his childhood between his 2017 interview and 2024 interview. In 2017, he said he stole art supplies as a child because he liked the thrill of stealing, and he abused animals by kicking kittens. In 2024, he said he stole because he was poor and could not afford them, and he never mentioned animal abuse.

Maddy loved wolves. To honor her memory, a local resident brought their wolf-like dog to a protest outside the Santa Cruz courthouse on July 22, 2024. (KRON4 Photo)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

George raised her voice when she asked Karlsson about Gonzalezs motive behind murdering an 8-year-old girl. The psychologist answered, I think I know why he did it. He was a very lonely, isolated person. He didnt have a father. He was close to committing suicide.

Gonzalez watched pornography as a child and liked videos showing women who were choked, according to testimony. He did not want to leave this world without having sex. He told me he wanted to do something outrageous that would push him over the edge to commit suicide, Karlsson testified.

The prosecutor said, He made no actual attempt to commit suicide ever. He didnt kill himself after killing Maddy. He showed no signs of distress.

Adrian Gonzalez takes the stand

On Wednesday afternoon, Gonzalez spoke directly to jurors as he testified on the stand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of his testimony focused on his neglected childhood, struggling with depression, rejection, and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, and being physically attacked by other inmates during his years in juvenile hall.

Gonzalez wore a blue shirt, matching tie, and glasses. He spoke softly, carefully, and slowly. He paused numerous times to think about how he wanted to answer questions from his defense attorney.

Gonzalez testified that he attended Shoreline Middle School, but he failed too many classes to graduate. He suffered from low self esteem and self-harm. In eighth grade, he spent many nights alone in his mothers apartment at the Tannery Arts Center while she stayed at her boyfriends house.

Id stay at the Tannery by myself without a lot of supervision. As a teenager, it felt good to not have a parent around  freedom to do whatever I wanted, Gonzalez testified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With Gonzalez on the stand, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell listened closely in the courtroom gallery. The defense attorneys direct examination with Gonzalez will resume at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The jury is comprised of four women and eight men. All three alternate jurors are men.

Dr. Karlsson was hired by Gonzalezs defense team while the trial  which began three months ago  was already underway. As the trials lead prosecutor, George asked the psychiatrist about why he never called her. It would have been problematic. I dont think you would have appreciated it, he answered.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Immigrant rights advocates are reminding Mainers that everyone has the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions about their citizenship, the right to speak to an attorney before signing anything, and the right to refuse ICE from entering your home if they dont have a warrant signed by a judge. (Department of Homeland Security photo)

Immigrant rights advocates are preparing for the possibility of increased raids and enforcement activity across Maine, telling people to know their rights and get their documents in order in the event they are contacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Schools and places of worship across the state  which used to be off limits for immigration authorities  are also preparing for possible ICE raids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the week since President Donald Trump took office, ICE has arrested thousands nationwide, including 956 people in several cities on Sunday. Trump officials recently directed the agency to ramp up arrests from a few hundred a day to at least 1,200 to 1,500, aligning with his campaign promise of mass deportations.

The administration is trying to make these connections between immigration and criminality that simply do not exist, said Lisa Parisio, policy director for Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project.

The cruelty is the point. When it comes to the Trump administration, there is no legitimate underlying policy reason for this. It is rooted in white supremacy and racism, and this is what theyre doing to carry that out.

Although ICE activity has been focused in states with large immigrant populations, Maine advocates and lawyers are concerned about the states immigrant communities, especially given reports of ICE officials being spotted in Lewiston.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several school districts across Maine have sent letters to families warning them that ICE can now enter schools and expressing disappointment in the rule change that previously banned immigration enforcement in protected places, including schools.

ICE did not respond to requests for comment.

Weve definitely been hearing from folks that are starting to see ICE agents here in Maine, said Ruben Torres, who serves as advocacy, communications, and policy manager for the Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition.

ICE has been present in Maine forever. It used to be a lot more targeted and what were seeing now is a lot more public interaction, and thats whats been causing a lot of fear for people, especially in the most recent days, added Torres, who was among several advocates who confirmed the reports of uncommon ICE activity in Lewiston. According to 2023 U.S. Census data, 9.7% of the citys residents are foreign born, more than half of which identified as not being a U.S. citizen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its unclear how many people seeking asylum are currently in Maine, according to Parisio, particularly with an uptick in arrivals in recent years. Data from the Migration Policy Institute estimated 56,000 foreign born Maine residents  out of a total population of 1.39 million  and about 19,000 children who have at least one immigrant parent. However, that Migration Policy Institute data does not contain a breakdown of immigration statuses to show how many people are in the process of applying or at risk of deportation.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Generally, many immigrants in Maine are seeking asylum, but there are several other types of immigration statuses they might have or be pursuing, including family or employment-based cases, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and special status for survivors of trafficking, domestic violence and other crimes, Parisio explained.

In anticipation of ICEs increased presence, the Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition has been advising families to have their documents ready, including passports or any other identification. They have also been advising people to set up power of attorneys, so that they have plans for how to transfer guardianship should anything happen to them, Torres said.

Schools worry about raids

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded guidelines that kept immigration enforcement from sensitive areas, such as schools and churches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response, some of Maines largest school districts, including Lewiston and Brunswick, told Maine Morning Star they sent letters home addressing the rights of students in the event ICE shows up at school. The Maine School Management Association is currently advising districts to develop policies related to immigration.

Lewiston Superintendent Jake Langlais said in a letter that school officials have been reminded of protocol in case ICE shows up. Previously, he said, interaction with the federal agency was limited to specific cases, with all the required documentation.

Langlais also reiterated to parents that students have privacy rights in schools, and shared legal resources.

In a letter to staff, Brunswick Superintendent Phillip Potenziano instructed them how to interact with ICE officials, including not allowing them into schools without a valid warrant, and not sharing students information with ICE officials without a subpoena.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On a personal note, I want to express how deeply disappointed I am to have to write this, he said in his email. As educators, we are steadfastly committed to nurturing, teaching, and supporting all of our students, regardless of their lived experiences. Schools have long been sanctuaries  protected spaces where students can grow, learn, thrive, and belong.

Bangor schools said that while they are not planning to send a letter addressing the ICE rule change, if students or families need support, principals will refer them to legal and immigration advocacy groups, the Maine Multicultural Center or charities that can help, according to spokesperson Ray Phinney.

The Maine School Management Association is advising districts to develop policies related to immigration.

After the November election, Portland school officials sent a notice reaffirming a 2017 school board resolution that promised to protect immigrant students to the fullest extent permitted by law. The policy does not allow school employees to disclose immigration information about students to ICE, ask them about their citizenship status, or allow ICE on campus without prior notice to the superintendent and required paperwork.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are committed to protecting all our students right to education, the November 2024 community notice said. Schools are dedicated spaces for learning, support, and communitynot places for immigration enforcement activities.

What to know to prepare for an ICE encounter

Immigration attorneys and advocates are urging families to keep in mind:

Everyone has the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions about their citizenship, the right to speak to an attorney before signing anything, and the right to refuse ICE from entering your home if they dont have a warrant signed by a judge, said Lisa Parisio, policy director for Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigrants should not open the door to ICE agents without a signed warrant, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. In public, people do not have to consent to a search unless agents have probable cause.

At a traffic stop, the National Immigrant Justice Center recommends asking the officer whether they are from the police department or immigration, since immigration officers often identify themselves as police, but they are not police. Undocumented immigrants can remain silent if stopped by ICE or Customs and Border Patrol agents, since any information provided at a traffic stop to immigration officers can be later used in court.

Workplace raids are also expected to become more frequent under the Trump administration, said Samuel Crankshaw, spokesperson for ACLU Maine. Immigrants have the right to ask to leave work if ICE agents show up at their workplace, he said.

Since late December, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project and others have been hosting know your rights information sessions to prepare people for increased enforcement and provide resources in different languages available on their website. Also, Portlands Office of Economic Opportunity hosts a free weekly immigration legal clinic handled by the groups attorneys.


Jan. 28The Trump administration's order to pause health communications and other disruptions occurring at federal health agencies are causing concern in Maine's scientific community.

Directives from the new administration include a ban on health agency communications through at least the end of January.

It's not clear how long the ban will remain in place after this month but the order appears intended to give the new leadership time to assume office and approve information releases. Emergency communications are exempt from the order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

National news reports also said travel and meetings at the National Institutes of Health were being canceled or postponed, and purchases halted for research supplies, although STAT News reported on Monday afternoon that perhaps some of those restrictions were being eased.

The Jackson Laboratory, a Bar Harbor-based research institute that works closely with the National Institutes of Health and employs about 3,000 people globally, including about 1,718 in Maine, is "closely monitoring" the situation.

Cara McDonough, spokesperson for Jackson Lab, said in a written statement that the lab is working to "assess its potential impact on our research and the broader scientific community."

"Any pause or interruption in activities at federal health agencies will disrupt the momentum behind lifesaving research, jeopardizes jobs and creates considerable anxiety within the scientific community as well as within communities hoping to benefit directly from the research these federal health groups steward. We are all hoping for a rapid return to productive activities," McDonough said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jackson Lab is a leader in biomedical research, and among its research areas is "genomic solutions to disease" including cancer, autoimmune diseases, neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases, stem cells and regenerative medicine.

MaineHealth, the parent organization of the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, which has studied ticks, Lyme disease and COVID-19, among other research areas, would also experience impacts if there are continued disruptions a the federal level.

"MaineHealth has been monitoring the president's recent executive order pausing external communication from the Department of Health and Human Services," John Porter, a MaineHealth spokesperson, said in a written statement.

Staff for Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King indicated that the senators are closely following the developments, but did not yet have any comment on the evolving situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pause in communication comes as President Donald Trump is attempting to get Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  an anti-vaccine activist who has made numerous false claims about vaccines  confirmed by the Senate to be the next Health and Human Services secretary. Hearings in the Senate are underway this week.

Kennedy is a controversial choice in the medical community, and groups including the American Public Health Association have urged the Senate to reject his nomination.

The Trump administration's pause on communications is also affecting officials at the University of Southern Maine, which was awarded more than $21 million in a federal grant last year to establish a National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement. The program is designed to provide Native American and Alaska Native communities with culturally appropriate tools and methods to meet federal child welfare requirements. That grant included nearly $5 million in first-year funding.

The center is slated to launch in January, according to its Facebook page and an announcement by the university system last year. But that launch may be muddled by the U.S. DHHS pause on communication.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sarah Nelson, project director at the new center, said in an email last week that the center "received guidance from the new administration" not to release any new communications about the program.

"This is all the information we've been given; I anticipate we will be provided strict guidance around language we can use to describe our work," Nelson said.

Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed reporting to this story.

Copy the Story Link
Jan. 28The Maine Senate voted 19-15 Tuesday to confirm Heather Sanborn as the public advocate to represent utility ratepayers before state and federal regulators.

The Portland brewery owner, attorney and former state lawmaker will succeed William Harwood, who's set to retire Friday.

Sanborn was endorsed on a 7-5 vote by the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee this month. She overcame resistance by Sen. Nicole Grohoski, D-Hancock, who criticized her for not committing to refuse future work for a utility, citing a "revolving door" between government and industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, co-chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, said Sanborn will come to the job with an "open mind."

"Too often we have people coming out of the utility industry who have preconceived notions about what needs to be done in the field of energy," Lawrence said during Senate debate. "Heather comes in with an open mind and an incredible sense of ethics, and she'll be an advocate for low-income consumers of electricity in the state of Maine."

But Sen. Matthew Harrington, R-York, opposed Sanborn's nomination, saying: "I do not think that we have the most qualified, most ambitious nominee for this office before us today."

Harrington criticized Sanborn for previously voting in favor of a solar and wind power subsidy program that's been criticized as too generous to developers at the expense of ratepayers. Harwood said in 2023 that the so-called net energy billing program would cost ratepayers about $220 million annually for the next 20 years, or about $4 billion total.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"She voted for a policy that is costing Maine ratepayers $220 million a year," Harrington said. "Now, I'll understand that there are many Republicans who voted for that as well, but at least those Republicans will acknowledge that was a mistake. That is not what we have before us today."

The Public Utilities Commission is looking into how much of a power bill should be used to incentivize renewable energy projects.

However, Sanborn, director of business operations at Rising Tide Brewing Co.  the recently sold Portland craft brewery she co-founded with her husband, Nathan  won praise from a different Republican.

"It's refreshing, in my view, to have nominated for this office someone who is not just a lawyer," said Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Heather Sanborn has real experience building and operating a business here in Maine," he added.

Bennett said he observed Sanborn's "forceful and effective advocacy, indeed having been bested by her many times in debate on the floor of this body."

Her relatively narrow confirmation contrasts with Harwood's unanimous Senate confirmation and endorsement in the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee in 2022. Harwood, a utility and energy lawyer, represented utility customers, public utilities, renewable energy companies, technology companies, paper mills and colleges and universities before state and federal regulators.

Copy the Story Link
Voters return absentee ballots at a drop box outside Augusta city hall. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

The campaign arm of the Maine Senate Republicans was penalized by the Maine Ethics Commission for a postcard mailer it sent in support of a candidate in last Novembers election.

At a meeting Wednesday morning, the commission unanimously agreed the political action committee violated certain statutes governing campaigns and campaign finance, including unknowingly making a false statement on a campaign finance report. The PAC was assessed a $1,000 fine for inadvertently making a contribution that exceeded the allowed contribution limit to a legislative candidate  in this case, Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bradstreet defeated former Democratic Rep. Raegan LaRochelle in Senate District 15 by 200 votes in one of the elections most closely-watched legislative races.

Leading up to the November election, the Maine Senate Republican PAC sent a postcard mailing in support of Bradstreet. The mailer included a message from outgoing Sen. Matt Pouliot thanking his constituents and encouraging them to vote for Bradstreet.

However, Pouliot was also treasurer of Bradstreets campaign and filed campaign finance reports on Bradstreets behalf.

Because of this, an ethics complaint asked the commission to determine whether, in essence, the PAC made a contribution to Bradstreet because Pouliot was part of his campaign and cooperated with the expenditure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bradstreet also participated in the Maine Clean Elections Act program, which means he was not allowed to accept any cash or in-kind contributions. The law states that a candidate has received an in-kind contribution if they themself, their political committee or the agents of the candidate participate in an expenditure from another person to promote that candidate.

Per Maine statute, PACs are not allowed to contribute more than $475 per election to a candidate for the state legislature. The cost of the mailers was $2,920.05.

Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the ethics commission, said the PAC fully cooperated with the interviews and investigation and that the PAC was not aware that Pouliot was the treasurer when it asked him for a statement for the mailing.

Wayne also added that Bradstreet had no advanced knowledge of the postcard before it went out, so no enforcement action was taken against him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The written analysis from commission staff said that the Maine Senate Republicans PAC inadvertently made a contribution by consulting with Pouliot on a paid communication.

Based on the information it received, the commission found that the PAC was unaware that Pouliot was Bradstreets treasurer and had no intention of making a contribution. This was evidenced by the PAC treasurer being asked to file an independent expenditure report for the mailings.

However, when an independent expenditure report is filed, the filer is required to check a box asserting that the expenditure was not made in cooperation or consultation with the candidate or others working on their campaign, which the PAC in this case falsely declared.

Josh Tardy, an attorney for the PAC, attended the commission meeting Wednesday, affirming that none of the violations were committed intentionally, but he agreed with comments from some of the commissioners that the PAC should have known.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
(Photo by Getty Images)

Maine students in 2024 had the lowest test scores in three decades in both reading and math, according to data from the nations report card

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, pronounced nape), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, released national and state-by-state results Wednesday.

The test is administered every two years to a representative sample of fourth and eighth graders, and reading and math scores are reported on a scale of 0-500.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most recent test results paint a grim picture of academic performance for Maine students. In three of four testing categories, Maine students had the lowest average scores since 1992, when NAEP results were first reported. In 2022, Maine was the only state to have record lows in all four testing categories, and according to 2024 data, scores have only gotten worse.

Fourth grade students had the lowest average reading score since 1992, and the lowest score in math since 1996. Eighth grade students had the lowest scores ever in both reading and math.

That also means 10% fewer students statewide tested at or above grade level in both math and reading compared to pre-pandemic NAEP scores.

The fact that scores have been declining for a while is a concern, said Amy Johnson, co-director of the Maine Policy Education Research Institute. This is not just a one-time blip. National scores have also been declining, but Maine averages have fallen faster and are now below the national average in several areas. Fourth grade scores are particularly bleak.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Johnson said, low scores seem to be a nationwide trend. Students are still underperforming in all grade levels compared to pre-pandemic scores.

All students who took the NAEP tests last year had their education disrupted to some degree by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth graders were in kindergarten when schools shut down, and the eighth graders were in fourth grade.

Maine scores saw large declines in 2022, and in 2024, those declines either held steady or got worse, making it one of 14 states where students are performing significantly below the national average.

NAEP scores test a representative sample of students from across the state, which in Maine amounted to approximately 1,700 students in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

How to interpret NAEP results

One reason for the consistently declining scores might be that Maines standards are drifting away from whats being tested on NAEP, and so part of what is being captured is a difference in what Maine thinks is important compared to the NAEP test content, Johnson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a recent meeting of the Maine Legislatures Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, members questioned the Maine Department of Education on its minimum standards. School districts can go beyond what the state requires, but since Maine prioritizes local control, the state does not keep track of local education requirements.

Looking at Maines state level test results, about two-thirds of Maine students (65%) were considered at or above expectations in reading, which paints a different picture than NAEP, Johnson said.

NAEP offers a high-level snapshot of student performance, which cant offer a school-level or even district-level perspective on performance. State assessments might be more relevant to educators in gauging performance, but Maines state assessment results are not broken down by grade level and assessments have changed every few years, making it difficult to track long-term learning trends.

Results by grade and subject level:

Fourth grade math

In 2024, the average score among Maine fourth graders for math was 233, below the national average of 237. Last year, just a third of students tested at grade level (which according to NAEP is calculated as the percentage of students in the at or above proficient category), compared to the national average of 39% of students who tested at grade level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In comparison, about 42% percent of fourth grade Mainers tested at grade level in math in 2019, the last recorded pre-pandemic test year.

Fourth grade reading

The average reading score for fourth graders nationwide was 214 on a scale of 0-500, and just 210 for Maine students.

That means only 26% of students were reading at grade level in the state, which is a significant drop since 2019, when 36% of students tested at or above grade level.

Before 2019, Maine students consistently tested better than the national average in reading. consistently.

Eighth grade math

This was the only category where Maine students did not perform significantly worse than the national average. Maines eighth grade math score was 273 compared to the national average of 272.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 25% of students performed at grade level in 2024, representing the only improvement in scores from 2022, when 24% of students were at grade level.

However, pre-pandemic, the states math scores were consistently higher than the national average by several points. For example, in 2000, Maines average score was 281, 10 points above the national average at the time.

Eighth grade reading

The average reading score for eighth graders nationwide last year was 257 on a scale of 0-500, and 255 for Maine students.

That means only 26% of students in the state were reading at grade level, which is a significant drop since 2019, when 36% of students tested at or above grade level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every year until 2019, Maine students consistently tested above the national average in reading  a likely indication of pandemic-era learning loss.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A majority of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus is planning to skip Gov. Mike Braun's first State of the State speech Wednesday evening at the Statehouse, amid concerns about Braun's handling of state DEI initiatives.

The caucus, which is made up of 16 Black state lawmakers, is instead holding a "unity rally" on the fourth floor of the Statehouse from 6-8 p.m. this evening, according to a news release. Braun's speech is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. inside the House chamber.

The action from the Black Legislative Caucus comes as Black lawmakers have criticized some of Braun's initial moves during his first weeks in office. Executive orders Braun has signed included closing the former Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer. Additionally, Braun directed state agencies to no longer spend money on DEI positions, activities or training if they "grant preferential treatment" based on race or ethnicity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Braun's initial state budget proposal also didn't include a one-time investment into Indiana's predominantly Black university that was a priority of former Gov. Eric Holcomb's.

Subscribe to our politics newsletter

East Chicago Democratic Rep. Earl Harris Jr., who chairs the Black Legislative Caucus, in a statement about the rally said lawmakers have "received a message" about the direction Braun wants to take state government and the caucus wants to "bring Hoosiers together to fight for a better state for all."

"If we show a united front, there's very little we can't do to make Indiana a state that welcomes all, celebrates diversity and allows every citizen a chance to build a great life for themselves and their families," Harris said in the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Black Legislative Caucus is made up of lawmakers in both the House and Senate. A statement from Indiana's Senate Democrats said some senators were planning to attend the rally while others would be at the governor's speech to ensure "the Braun administration cannot ignore the people we represent."

"This is not about absenceits about presence," the statement reads. "All across, in the Statehouse or anywhere decisions are being made, we are here. We are watching. We are demanding better. And we will make sure our voices are heard everywhere."

Griffin Reid, a spokesperson for Braun, said everyone is invited to watch Braun's speech.

"For those who choose not to watch," he said, "that is their prerogative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Braun's first State of the State speech is tonight. Here's how to watch.

David Greene, president of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, said he was concerned about the governor's executive orders. He planned to speak at the IBLC rally.

"He set us back 30 or 40 years in history," Greene said. "DEI is something that's been fought for for decades by numerous minority groups who are just trying to have a seat at the table. To act as though systemic racism and discrimination doesn't exist is certainly misleading."

Greene said he applauded the legislators going to the rally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"You have to respond to this," Greene said. "This fight is only getting started."

IndyStar reporters Kayla Dwyer and Hayleigh Colombo contributed to this story.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X@CarloniBrittany.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Majority of Black caucus to skip Braun's State of the State speech
MALAKOFF, Texas (KETK)  The superintendent of Malakoff ISD has officially retired from their role leading the district.

The mysterious Malakoff Man: Hoax or history?

At their meeting on Thursday, the Malakoff ISD School Board thanked superintendent Don Layton for his time with the district and wished him well in his retirement.

Don Layton with the school board members on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Malakoff ISD.

The MISD Board said thank you and farewell to MISD Superintendent Don Layton, wishing him good luck and happy fishing in this next stage of his life. Thank you Mr. Layton for all of your service to MISD and remember, Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger! Malakoff ISD

Photo of acting superintendent Dr. Patrick Winters, courtesy of Malakoff ISD.

Malakoff ISDs website said Dr. Patrick Winters has been named as the districts acting superintendent until a permanent replacement can be confirmed.

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.
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.

Senator Katie Britt, Republican of Alabama, is upset. She believes that someone in the United States Air Force decided to interpret President Donald Trumps recent executive order to terminate all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear, just the way it was written.

No one is quite sure what happened, but somehow this order resulted in the excision from a U.S. Air Force training course of some materials about the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the all-Black World War II fighter pilots known as the Red Tails because of their aircrafts distinctive markings. Air Force officials confirmed on Saturday that a video had been removed from the training curriculum but only because it was intertwined in courses now under review, and it is now back in the curriculum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Britt referred to this kind of action as malicious compliance, meaning a kind of opposition through aggressive and sometimes overly literal implementation of a command or policy. Rather than refuse to obey, the person or group engaging in malicious compliance takes a kind of monkeys paw approach, implementing the directives as destructively as possible. (Every teenager who has loaded the dishwasher improperly on purpose, hoping never to be told to clear the table again, knows what malicious compliance means.)

Britt also tagged Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on social media. Hegseth, who was nominated for his position in part because of his vow to root out wokeness and DEI and to replace them with lethality, responded enthusiastically: Amen! Were all over it Senator. This will not stand.

Britts complaint about malicious compliance is a diversion. Trumps wave of executive orders is designed to be performatively malicious. My colleague Adam Serwer years ago noted that, for the MAGA movement, the cruelty is the point, and now Trumps orders make clear that the malice is the policy.

The series of presidential decrees is largely intended to delight the Republican base; unfortunately, government workers cannot divine what Trump really meant. The president has not given any cue that his orders should be interpreted in some more generous way. In fact, days before the Air Force kerfuffle, federal workers received an email from their supervisors (based on a template provided by the Office of Personnel Management) that could have come straight from a party apparatchik in the old Soviet Union. This memo not only told staff to be on the lookout for attempts to hide DEI-related ideological contamination, but warned them of their obligation to rat out colleagues who did so or face adverse job consequences themselves.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The advisory, which has since been taken off a government website, continued: We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language. If you are aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since November 5, 2024that is, since Election Dayto obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies, employees must report it to OPM within ten days.

This is not exactly language that encourages anyone to use common sense and good judgment to decide what constitutes DEI contraband. This is a command that says, in effect: This could mean anything; if you dont report it, and we find it, youre in trouble. When government employees get a memo like that, they are not inclined to sit around wondering what counts and what doesnt.

Trumps other executive orders are likewise designed to show the GOP base that the new administration is doing all of the things that Trump promised hed doeven if theyre things that, legally, no president can do. Trump had pledged, for example, to eliminate birthright citizenship, so he Sharpied out part of the Fourteenth Amendment and declared victory. He froze federal grants and loansan order now temporarily blocked by a judgewhich could have endangered any number of programs, including school lunches. (And about time, according to Representative Rich McCormick, Republican of Georgia, who told CNN today that those indolent kids need to go get jobseven, apparently, schoolchildren who arent old enough to workinstead of spong[ing] off the government.)

What would non-malicious compliance with such a mandate even look like? Instead of a lunch, are schools supposed to hand poor kids a glass of water and then wish them luck in their job search?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, the Trump administration knows that aid to states and localities will begin to flow again, that children will be getting lunches, and that babies born on U.S. soil are citizens. The goal of all these orders is not to implement policy, but to generate outrage, report the spasms of liberal apoplexy to the MAGA faithful, and then, when necessary, go to court. And why not? The president now has a politically sympathetic Supreme Court majority that worked hard to keep him out of prison while he was a candidate, and has functionally immunized him against almost any challenge now that hes back in office. Trumps people know that they cannot actually shake the Constitution like an Etch A Sketch and make birthright citizenship disappear, but why not give it a shot, especially if a trolling executive order makes the base happy?

Trump and his people may also believe that a sleet storm of executive orders, some of which might stick here and there while others melt on contact with reality, is a way to demonstrate competence. They are likely still stung by the fiasco over the 2017 travel ban that initially got swatted down in court, and this time they want to appear as if they know what theyre doing.

But this is merely mimicking competence and energy. The return to work order, for example, is a MAGA fan favorite, because it plays to a common stereotype among many Americans that federal employees who work from home are scamming goldbrickers plodding around the house in their bunny slippers and tapping the occasional key on a laptop. Although showing up to an office or worksite in-person is (and should be) a basic requirement of most jobs, remote work in many cases benefits the government and the taxpayer: It reduces congestion in cities, and it offloads a lot of overhead costs (heat, water, lighting, etc.) onto the worker. Thats why the government and private industry were trending toward remote arrangements long before the pandemic.

In any case, many federal offices dont have enough space to bring everyone back, but Trump may be attempting to make government service onerous enough that some of them will leave anyway: All federal employees have until February 6 to accept a sizable buyout if they cannot or will not return to in-person work. In the end, the RTO power play isnt really about trying to fill empty offices. Instead, Trump is telling federal employees that all of the arrangements theyve made with their departments about schedules, child care, commutes, and staffing are now invalid, because their career and service matter less than making some red-state voter feel that the president finally stuck it to them and their co-workers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maybe a non-malicious way to enforce such orders exists. But thats not the point.

Related:

Here are three new stories from The Atlantic:

Todays News

A district-court judge temporarily blocked the Trump administrations pause on federal grants and loans. Trump signed an executive order that would exclude gender-transition care from federal insurance programs. The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has fired more than a dozen officials who worked on the criminal investigations into Trump.

Evening Read

Just Say No to Terrible White LEDs

By Gilad Edelman

God said, Let there be lighteveryone knows that. But God did not specify what color light, and this would eventually prove problematic. In the age of the LED light bulb, consumers have an unfathomable range of lighting options. This has, perversely, made the task of pleasantly illuminating our homes harder, not easier.

Read the full article.

More From The Atlantic

Culture Break

Jordan Hemingway

Listen. The sensation you get when dancing or making a really good cup of tea? FKA Twigs wants to bottle that in Eusexua, her latest album.

Debate. The Oscars have left the mainstream moviegoer behind, David Sims argues.

Play our daily crossword.

Stephanie Bai contributed to this newsletter.

Explore all of our newsletters here.

When you buy a book using a link in this newsletter, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Debris is seen, on Jan. 1, in the aftermath of an accidental fireworks explosion at a house on Keaka Drive in Aliamanu. A 29-year-old man injured Jan. 1 when a cache of illegal aerial fireworks detonated in Aliamanu, died at a hospital in Arizona this morning.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Debris is seen, on Jan. 1, in the aftermath of an accidental fireworks explosion at a house on Keaka Drive in Aliamanu. A 29-year-old man injured Jan. 1 when a cache of illegal aerial fireworks detonated in Aliamanu, died at a hospital in Arizona this morning.

A 29-year-old man injured Jan. 1 when a cache of illegal aerial fireworks died at a hospital in Arizona this morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The death, at 6 :42 a.m. Hawaii time, is the fifth fatality tied to the explosion at 4411 Keaka Drive.

Carmelita Benigno, 61, Nelie Ibarra, 58, and Jennifer Van, 23, died in the blast at a Keaka Drive house party at 12 :01 a.m. New Years Day. Cassius Ramos-Benigno, 3, died Jan. 6 at the hospital.

Benigno was the grandmother of Ramos-Benigno, and Ibarra was the childs great-aunt.

Benignos son Junior and her daughter Charmaine Benigno were among the six people flown to an Arizona burn center for specialized treatment.

Ramos-Benigno was the only child taken by ambulance to a hospital. Thirteen ambulances transported 21 people to hospitals, 19 of them in critical condition with burns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

Stay in touch with breaking 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.

On Friday, Honolulu police arrested a 33-year-old mother and a 33-year-old father Friday afternoon in connection with the Jan. 1 Aliamanu fireworks explosion that killed four people and injured dozens of others.

At 2 :30 p.m., Ruben T. Mateo and Jewel Ann Quines Cabras were arrested at 4144 Keaka Drive on suspicion of first-degree reckless endangering, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and three fireworks offenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The couple allegedly let their three kids, ages 15, 10 and 1, ignite illegal fireworks. The youngest child was wounded during the blast and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment before being released.

No charges have been filed in the case by the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney as of Monday morning.

47 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 ? .
CENTER, Neb. (KCAU)  A man accused of killing two people in Bloomfield, Nebraska in early 2024 has pleaded not guilty.

Alias Reed, 26, appeared in Knox County District Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony.

Reed is accused of the shooting deaths of Curtis Strom, 77, and William Reffett, 49 on Feb. 20, 2024. Court documents stated Reed went to Curts Lanes and Dining bowling alley in Bloomfield with the intentions of killing Will and Curt on that Feb. 20 morning. He allegedly shot both and then made his way to his girlfriends parents house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reeds girlfriend, Kaylyne Sweazy, 28, went with Reed to dispose of the shotgun on a gravel road outside Center, Nebraska, documents state. Authorities later found the gun after Sweazy told investigators the exact location.

Man accused of explosive threat to Norfolk school pleads guilty

Earlier in January, a judge ruled that Reed could still face the death penalty. Reeds lawyer filed a motion to quash the death penalty in October 2024. However, the judge said that Reeds lawyers arguments failed to meet the burden of proof to show that the states death penalty statures were unconstitutional.

Reeds lawyer also asked for Reeds jury trial to be held after Kaylyne Sweazys trial so they could use the transcript from that trial. The prosecution didnt object.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sweazy has also been charged with tampering with physical evidence and accessory to a felony. She pleaded not guilty to both charges. Her lawyer asked for the venue of the jury trial to be changed earlier in January. A hearing was held Tuesday, but the judge hasnt made a ruling yet.

Reeds pretrial conference is scheduled for April 14 and his trial for July 14. Sweazys trial, meanwhile, is scheduled for March 17.

To read previous coverage of the case, 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.
MADISON, Neb. (KCAU)  A Norfolk man has pleaded guilty to making a terroristic threat to a local school by claiming there was an explosive device inside the building.

On Monday, Jan. 27, Colby Napier, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal attempt  terroristic threats and one count of criminal attempt  threatening the use of explosives. Both counts were downgraded to criminal attempt from the original charges.

Norfolk man injured in one-vehicle accident

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Norfolk police, they got a report on March 22, 2024, at about 8:07 a.m. of a possible threat made to the Norfolk Public High School. A message had apparently been left on an answering machine at the school saying that there was an explosive device in the building.

When officials responded and the school was searched, police said that there was no explosive device after all.

The police identified the callers phone number and spoke with the caller at his residence at 8:24 a.m. Napier was then arrested at 8:42 a.m. He would then plead not guilty in July 2024 before ultimately entering the new plea deal.

Napier is set to receive his sentence on March 20.

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.
A man facing murder and firearm charges allegedly shot a woman in a New Britain home on Monday and stabbed his wife to death in front of two children, according to the warrant affidavit supporting his arrest.

Christopher Raye, 45, was arrested late Tuesday after he was spotted walking on the Berlin Turnpike, according to the New Britain Police Department. He was taken into custody with the assistance of officers from the Berlin and Meriden Police Departments.

Raye was held on a $1 million bond and was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday in New Britain Superior Court on two counts of risk of injury to a minor and a single count each of murder, first-degree assault with a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a weapon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the warrant affidavit, New Britain officers responded to a home on Prospect Street at 2:55 a.m. after a woman in Pennsylvania phoned authorities and said she heard a disturbance and what she believed was gunfire while she was on the phone speaking to her friend. When officers arrived at the home, they were greeted by a man who was holding a spent shell casing.

The friend of the Pennsylvania woman was found in the living room suffering from a gunshot wound to her right shoulder. The woman was taken to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition, according to police.

Inside a bedroom of the home, officers found Bryana Raye suffering what appeared to be multiple stab wounds with a pool of what looked like blood around her, the warrant affidavit said. She was pronounced dead by medics who arrived at the scene.

According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Bryana Raye died of stab wounds to her neck and torso. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inside the home, police also found two children who were not harmed.

The woman who called authorities traveled to the New Britain Police Department where she described to a detective what preceded the incident. She claimed that her friend told her Christopher and Bryana Raye were having problems in the weeks leading up to the killing, the warrant affidavit said. In the hours before the incident, the friend told the Pennsylvania woman that the couple, as well as the two children who reside in the home, were not around and that she did not know where any of them were.

According to the warrant affidavit, the friend called the Pennsylvania woman at some point during the night and, while they were still on the phone, the couple and the children returned to the home. The woman alleged that she could hear over the phone what sounded like someone punching another person before her friend cried out he beat her, call 911, the warrant affidavit said.

The woman alleged that she then heard a scuffle, followed by punching and screaming, and Bryana Raye yelling out No, Chris, no, dont, according to the warrant affidavit. She claimed that she then heard four to six loud bangs before another man who was in the home reportedly screamed out that someone was dead, the warrant affidavit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man then picked up the phone and reportedly said there was blood and bullets everywhere. He was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut after giving police a spent shell casing at the door.

Authorities spoke to him at the hospital where he reportedly said the woman who was shot was on the phone with her friend in Pennsylvania all day just in case because she was worried something bad was going to happen to Bryana Raye, according to the warrant affidavit. When the couple and the children went missing the night leading up to the killing, the man told police he thought Christopher Raye had them all hostage, the warrant affidavit said.

The man said he was up all night playing video games when everyone arrived home. He left his room upon hearing gunfire and reportedly found the woman who suffered a gunshot wound lying on the floor, the warrant affidavit said. The man claimed that he then saw Christopher Raye on top of Bryana Raye while he was stabbing her with a knife, according to the warrant affidavit.

The man also claimed that the two children in the home were watching this happen, so he separated them before yelling for Christopher Raye to get out of the home, the warrant affidavit said. He claimed that he grabbed the shooting victims phone and instructed the Pennsylvania woman to call the police as Christopher Raye ran out of the apartment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators were able to obtain video surveillance footage from a home next door, which showed a black Chevrolet Silverado being backed out of the driveway very quickly around the time of the killing, according to the warrant affidavit. Investigators noted that Christopher Raye has a 2017 Silverado registered in his name.

During the investigation authorities tried pinging the location of Christopher Rayes personal cell phone as well as a phone he uses for his landscaping business, the warrant affidavit said. Both devices were powered down not long after the incident and were last documented somewhere on Interstate 84.

While searching for him, police found a box truck Christopher Raye owns on Oakville Avenue in Waterbury, the warrant affidavit said. A man in the truck reportedly told police Christopher Raye had called him around 3 or 4 a.m. crying, sounding scared, telling him he did something very un-normal and that something crazy happened. The man claimed that Christopher Raye also told him he couldnt live anymore, according to the warrant affidavit.

At the home where the killing occurred, police said Christopher Rayes mother showed up unannounced around 4:45 a.m. She told investigators her son called her around 4 a.m. and told her he was in trouble, the warrant affidavit said. The mother said she asked him what he did, but he did not respond. Detectives said they asked to see the mothers call log and could not find the call she described, the warrant affidavit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home and seized multiple items. Among these was a cell phone believed to belong to Bryana Raye which was found near her body. Authorities did not say in the warrant affidavit whether they recovered a firearm.

The man who was in the home when the shooting occurred told police he never saw Christopher Raye with a gun, though he claimed that he had heard him previously talk about having one, according to the warrant affidavit. Investigators found that Christopher Raye is a convicted felon who is disqualified from having guns or ammunition, the warrant affidavit said.
ST. LOUIS  A child sex trafficking suspect appeared in federal court Tuesday and admitted to transporting minors from Texas across state lines for prostitution.

Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said JoeMarius Green, 24, took the underage victims from Dallas to Kansas City on Feb. 12, 2023, to engage in prostitution during the Super Bowl.

After approximately four days, Green took the victims to a hotel near St. Louis Lambert International Airport for the same purpose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Green admitted placing ads on escort service web sites, managing those ads, renting hotel rooms, setting prices, and taking all the money from the victims for their illegal sex acts.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Greens girlfriend, Chantel Robinson, 20, also participated in the activities. Robinson admitted engaging in commercial sex acts, taking sexually explicit or suggestive photos of the victims for the online ads and posting the online ads. Prosecutors said she would manage the prostitution services whenever Green was absent.

Green pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. Robinson pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of possession of child pornography.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to court documents, Green will be sentenced on June 25. He faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. Robinson will be sentenced on April 8. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 man charged in the tragic killing of a beloved mother of three inside a luxury Boston apartment building is due in court Wednesday.

Eric McPhail, of Boston, is slated to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on a charge of murder in the death of Shantel Gillespie on Dec. 12, 2024, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Gillespies body was found inside a fifth-floor luxury unit at The Harris South End at 390 Harrison Avenue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Family members say Gillespie was a mother of three who had just completed coursework for her nursing degree two days before her murder.

All three of her children are under the age of 6.

This was a lengthy and thorough investigation and Im grateful for the work of all involved to bring this suspect forward to answer for Shantel Gillespies tragic death, Hayden said in a statement.

Gillespie immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 2014 and spent the last five years working as a clinical assistant at Boston Childrens Hospital.

Shantel Gillespie was a valued member of our hospital family, known for her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the care of our patients. Her sudden passing is a tremendous loss to our organization, and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, Boston Childrens Hospital said in a statement after her death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A GoFundMe set up to help lay Gillespie to rest in her native Jamaica and support her three kids raised more than $20,000 just 24 hours after it was set up.

Additional details on the investigation are expected to be released when McPhail faces a judge.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
DENVER (KDVR)  A man accused in two Sunday night stabbings in Parker was arrested in Aurora on Tuesday morning, according to the Parker Police Department.

The agency said officers were alerted by a Parker restaurant of a suspect who stabbed an employee and ran away. The agency received a second report about an hour later by another Parker business about a stabbing.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the victims was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the department reported.

Initial reports stated the suspect ran away, the department said on Facebook, and officers could not immediately locate him. However, using surveillance video of the second stabbing, officers saw the car the suspect got into and obtained a license plate number.

Parker detectives collaborated with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office Civil/Warrant Unit and were able to locate the suspect Tuesday morning in Aurora. Parker police arrested him without incident and transported him to the Douglas County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  According to Edmond Police, a man has been arrested on multiple child pornography charges.

Officials say on January 16, 2025, the Edmond Police Departments Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force served a search warrant at an apartment complex near W 15th St. with help from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Payne County ESD K-9 Arwen and his handler.

LOCAL NEWS: Multiple agencies respond to house fire in Yukon

Kenneth Lynch. Image courtesy Edmond Police.

The warrant was served as part of an ongoing child exploitation investigation that began in Alabama. Upon arrival, officers identified the resident as 45-year-old Kenneth Lynch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following the investigation, police say Lynch was arrested on several charges, including Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography, five counts of Distribution of Child Pornography and five counts of Procuring a Minor to Participate in Pornography. He was then booked into the Oklahoma County Jail.

Edmond PD says the investigation is still ongoing. The department emphasizes that Lynch is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
GARY, Ind.  Authorities in Gary, Indiana, say an arrest has been made in connection with the fatal shooting of a mother of six who was killed by a stray bullet back in September.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Gary Police Chief Derrick Canon announced that a suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of 42-year-old Kia Tidwell, a Portage resident, who was killed after she was hit by a stray bullet during a shootout near the 1500 block of West 5th Avenue in Gary on Sept. 6.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities had responded to the area following a report of a disturbance inside a nearby McDonalds but when they arrived on the scene, gunfire erupted from behind a nearby apartment building.

Authorities said Tidwell was hit as she was driving nearby and later crashed into a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene and her death was ruled a homicide.

Tidwell, who had been on the phone with her daughter at the time of the deadly shooting, was described as a beautiful person who worked hard and took care of her children.

On Tuesday, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Gary Police Chief Derrick Canon and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) held a news conference to share updates on the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the conference, authorities announced that 20-year-old Tedric Guy Jr., a Gary resident, was arrested in connection with the case on Monday.

Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting of Indiana mother of 6 killed by stray bullet in Gary

Guy has since been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of criminal recklessness, according to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.

Carter added that Guy is also facing four counts of use of a firearm while committing a felony. Carter said the extra charges were enhancements, which are additional penalties that can increase a sentence or bail.

If convicted, Guy could face 55 to 65 years in prison for murder, but Carter said the enhancement could increase the sentence by between five and 20 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Latest news and headlines from northwest Indiana

Guys arrest comes after months of investigation.

In this case, we tapped into all areas of investigation. We utilized videos, including body cameras and video stills, and videos that was on business, Canon said. We also used shell case analysis in this case. And then multiple warrants were served on locations, vehicles, of the evidence including social media.

Authorities have not provided a booking photo for Guy.

Tuesdays full press conference can be viewed in the video platform 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 WGN-TV.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man was arrested last week after investigators said he was allegedly drunk behind the wheel and caused a crash that left one person injured earlier this month. 20-year-old Joseph Michael Jones has been charged with Collision Involving Serious Bodily injury and Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle, both third-degree felonies.

According to an Odessa Police Department report, around 4:30 a.m. on January 19, officers were called to the 1900 block of E 42nd Street to investigate a crash after a bleeding man entered Crunch Fitness and asked for help.

Witnesses at the scene told investigators that the victim had been involved in a crash and that the other driver involved had left the scene on foot. Another witness said the driver who had fled, later identified as Jones, had been traveling at a high rate of speed in an Audi without headlights when he crashed into a Chevrolet Silverado. The 38-year-old driver of the Silverado also confirmed the witness statements before he was transported to the hospital with serious head injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the investigation, officers found Jones on foot and said he smelled strongly of alcohol; he reportedly admitted to having two drinks at Red Zone even though he was underage. Jones was arrested at the scene and taken into custody after being medically cleared at the hospital. Hes since been released from the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on a combined $20,000 bond, according to jail records.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 41-year-old El Paso man has been arrested and is facing multiple charges of deceptive business practices, El Paso Police said.

Emmanuel Cervantes, 41, was arrested on Jan. 16 and again on Jan. 22, police said.

The second time, he was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with four charges of deceptive business practice with a previous conviction and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. His bonds totaled $120,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police say their investigators with their Auto Theft Task Force found Cervantes and arrested him on Jan. 16 for two outstanding warrants for deceptive business practice.

During the investigation, police also learned that a vehicle left in the suspects auto shop for repairs was used by him without the owners permission.

Then, on Jan. 22, Cervantes was arrested again on two additional warrants of deceptive business practice, police 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 KTSM 9 News.
After investigating a shed fire in Richmond, officers arrested a man and charged him with arson, according to a social media post from the Richmond Police Department.

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

Duncan Souza, 26, was arrested on arson and burglary charges, according to police.

TRENDING STORIES:

The shed fire was Jan. 26 around 9 p.m. near the 700 block of NW 5th Street, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The outstanding collaboration between our detectives and responding officers demonstrates the Richmond Police Departments unwavering commitment to justice. An arrest in this case in under 24 hours underscores the dedication and expertise of our team in protecting our community, Richmond Police Chief Kyle Weatherly said.

The investigation is ongoing, police say. They ask anyone with information to contact the Richmond Police Department.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man accused of shooting at a woman Tuesday on a South Side street is expected to be arraigned later Wednesday in municipal court on three counts of felonious assault.

Leon Scott, 35, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on the charges, which are second-degree felonies, after he was arrested about 9:45 a.m. at home on Neosho Road following an investigation by police.

Officers were called initially to Griselda Avenue for a report of gunfire and while on their way, they spotted a car going about 100 miles per hour on East Midlothian Boulevard with three people inside that pulled into the parking lot of a store.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver of the car told police she was in her car on Griselda Avenue and backing out of the drive when she saw Scott, who followed her car and fired two shots a her.

The woman lives across the street from a home where a man was shot to death Friday evening. However, reports do not indicate the two shootings are linked.

The woman said she and Scott were partners in a music studio on Glenwood Avenue that burned down a year ago, and they had been feuding over music that Scott had written, reports said. The woman said Scott wanted his music back, but she wanted Scott to pay for the music.

Reports said the woman told police where Scott lived, and they found him at the home on Neosho Road as well as the vehicle she said he was driving. The vehicle was warm like it had just been driven and Scott allowed officers inside to search.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports said inside police found two .22-caliber revolvers and a rifle. On Griselda Avenue, police found a 9mm shell casing.



Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man is facing many charges after he was apprehended in the backyard of an Anderson County home.

On Friday, Jan. 24, the Anderson County Sheriffs Office received a call about a suspicious person in a Belton neighborhood. Deputies responded to a homeowners backyard where they located the suspect identified as Billy Dean Loftis.

At the scene, deputies reported that Loftis was sitting in a pile of leaves in an attempt to hide metal in a foliage. Deputies asked the individual for identification and he reportedly presented three forms of false identity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After accurately identifying Loftis, law enforcement discovered that he had multiple warrants out of Anderson and Greenville County.

Deputies also learned that Loftis was in possession of a vehicle reported stolen out of Greenville County.

It was reported when authorities attempted to arrest Loftis, he resisted. Deputies were able to gain control and apprehend the suspect at the scene.

Loftis was booked into the Anderson County Detention Center and charged with the following:

Receiving stolen goods

Giving false information to law enforcement

Resisting arrest

Financial transaction card theft

Greenville County officials have not revealed if Loftis is facing any charges 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
A Boston man has been charged in connection to the death of a mother of three in December 2024, authorities announced Tuesday.

Eric McPhail will be arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court for the murder of Shantel Gillespie at her South End apartment on December 12, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Her body was found inside a fifth-floor luxury unit at The Harris South End at 390 Harrison Avenue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Family members say Gillespie was a mother of three who had just completed coursework for her nursing degree two days before her murder.

All three of her children are under the age of 6.

This was a lengthy and thorough investigation and Im grateful for the work of all involved to bring this suspect forward to answer for Shantel Gillespies tragic death, Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said.

Gillespie immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 2014 and spent the last five years working as a clinical assistant at Boston Childrens Hospital.

Shantel Gillespie was a valued member of our hospital family, known for her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the care of our patients. Her sudden passing is a tremendous loss to our organization, and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, Boston Childrens Hospital said in a statement after her death.

A GoFundMe set up to help lay Gillespie to rest in her native Jamaica and support her three kids raised more than $20,000 just 24 hours after it was set up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additional details on the investigation are expected to be released when McPhail faces a judge.

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




AUSTIN (KXAN)  One man is dead after being shot by a deputy in northwest Travis County in the 14200 block of Farm to Market Road 2769 Tuesday afternoon, according to the Travis County Sheriffs Office.

TCSO said just after 4 p.m. it received a call from a person out of state saying his father was holding his mother at gunpoint.

When deputies arrived, TCSO said they heard screams and entered the home. Law enforcement then asked the man to put down his weapon and then shot him when he did not comply.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Public Information Officer Kristen Dark said that the man is now dead. The woman involved was not hit by officers.

Dark said the deputy who fired the shot has been put on administrative leave while the investigation is underway.

Ive met with the family and Ive met with my deputy. This is a tragedy and it is something nobody would want to go through, Sheriff Sally Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the Texas Rangers are 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 KXAN Austin.
A Cambria County man was found dead inside his home last Friday. Now, an autopsy reveals he froze to death. Jon Draeger has more from officials about the case.
A Knoxville man has been charged with animal cruelty for the treatment of nine dogs on his property, four of which were euthanized by Frederick County Animal Control.

On Jan. 21, David Caldwell White, 71, was charged with 27 counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors, according to court documents.

White said in an interview that what started as a blessed event with his dogs turned into a nightmare and he called Animal Control for help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said he got his male family dog, Whitey, a female companion named Bianca to keep him company.

He said Whitey, a German Shepherd and Pyrenees mix, was a very loyal dog who would follow him around his property and even to nearby stores when running errands.

When Bianca had puppies, he tried to get all of the dogs placed with nice families, White said.

He said he re-homed one with a family in Virginia, but another fell through when the would-be recipient was deployed to Djibouti.

He said he then called FCAC for help. The dogs were breaking out of their enclosure as they grew and they cost me a fortune to feed, he said  eating up most of my disposable income.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 25, officers found nine Pyrenees dogs on Whites property, living in his garage that smelled of mold and mildew, according to the documents.

Officers found that eight dogs presented as underweight, with obvious signs of heavy flea infestations and they exhibited signs of increased stress and anxiety due to apparent lack of socialization, according to the documents.

The ninth dog, known as Whitey, approximately 10 months old, was not let out of the garage for evaluation due to the dogs aggressiveness toward people, according to the documents. White surrendered Whitey to Frederick County Animal Control on Dec. 2 for euthanasia.

She kind of forced me to surrender Whitey and I regret that, Whitey said of Sgt. Maggie Hill, an Animal Control supervisor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three other dogs  named Long Shanks, Max and Pugsley  that White surrendered to animal control were euthanized.

Five dogs  Sweetie, Little Gal, Bianca, Blondy and Blanche  responded well to treatment by Animal Control gained weight and were adopted, according to the documents.

David Luckenbaugh, division director of Animal Control, said in an interview that the agency takes in animals for a variety of reasons. Some are strays. Others are surrendered due to allergies, landlord requirements or financial hardships, among other reasons.

Luckenbaugh said Animal Control evaluates an animal for health and temperament conditions before treating, vaccinating and either spaying or neutering the animal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said euthanasia is a last resort  for animals with certain medical conditions or with extreme problems with biting or aggression or if they otherwise pose a threat to public safety.

White said that when Hill visited, she said, Mr. White, I think youre over your head.

He said he agreed with the assessment and that was why he sought help from Animal Control.

On Dec. 2, officers observed that the floor of the garage was covered in approximately 12 inches of debris that looked like paper soaked in dog waste, according to the documents.

The air quality was very poor and smelled strongly of mold and mildew, causing my eyes to water and a mild burning sensation in my throat, indicating the air quality was irritating to mucous membranes, Hill said in the documents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Returning on Dec. 16 after White requested the dogs be returned to him, officers found that some cleaning had been completed, according to the documents. Officers noticed the odor of mold and mildew remained and dried feces or mud still covered the floor.

Hill concluded that a minimum standard of care had not been met and denied Whites claim to have the dogs returned, according to the documents.

Her report said the dogs had taken to eating chickens that White used to own for needed sustenance. She wrote that was unusual for Pyrenees-type dogs, who are known for protecting livestock and poultry.

White said that as a veteran with seven overseas deployments, 28 years of Army service and chronic heart problems, the situation has been bad for his health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He now worries that with media coverage, animal rights groups might seek retribution before he has his day in court to defend himself.

White said he also worries about attacks from home invaders, now that he has no dogs for protection.

White said the high number of charges resembles an Army tactic in which you overwhelm the accused, hoping one or two of the charges will stick.

This officer [Hill] was trying to strip me of my right to own dogs, White said.
Investigators say a major drug supplier is off the streets after a bust in Volusia County.

Members of a narcotics task force arrested Alvin Davis on Monday.

Agents said they tracked him down to South Florida and made the arrest when he returned to Volusia County.

Read: Florida immigration enforcement bill sent to DeSantis after special session vote

They say they found 6 kilograms of cocaine, 15 pounds of meth and lots of cash in his car.

Davis is facing charges of drug trafficking.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A hiker was found dead on Mt. Hood Monday after not returning from a hike, authorities said.

According to the Hood River County Sheriffs Office, deputies received a report on Sunday that Robert Tveite, 38, didnt return home from his day hike the previous day.

Providence hospitals found in violation of staffing law: OHA

Tveites family told authorities that he started at the Tilly Jane trailhead with plans to hike the Cooper Spur trail and return in the afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Search and Rescue volunteers as well as the Hood River Crag Rats were activated on Monday. Officials said they found Tveite deceased and conducted a recovery operation.

Earlier in January, a climber was rescued after getting separated from his friend and going missing for 24 hours.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  After waiting two years and being charged more than $115,000 to restore a vintage truck that a man had planned to give his son as a birthday giftthe work is still not completed and he doesnt know where to turn to next.

Two years ago, Tim Hayes had an idea.

My son always liked trucks, Hayes said. Hes been a truck kid.

So he made his son, who was 14-years-old at the time, a promise: to buy and have restored a vintage truck and give it to him on his 16th birthday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In February 2023, he found and purchased a 1967 Ford truck.

Hayes took it to Classic Corner Iconic Cars in Oklahoma City to have it restored to its original beauty.

Several brides claim videographer ghosted them before and after wedding

We just we just wanted them to go through, clean the motor up, clean the transmission up, make it make it look like a nice, nice, remodeled truck, Hayes said.

Hayes said Classic Corner got right to work in February 2023.

He dealt with a man named Jim, who Hayes says laid out some expectations up front.

They told me it would probably be done around July, a little later in there, Hayes said. And I figured you always go long on everything.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But long, quickly turned to longer.

They ripped it down to nothing on it and everything and just sat on it and then kept saying, oh were waiting on pass and were waiting on this and that, Hayes said.

Still now, almost two years later, with his sons 16th birthday just a couple weeks away, the truck is still nowhere near ready.

My sons birthday is February 15th of this year. And he needs a truck.

To make things even more complicated, Hayes said Jim with Classic Corner continued sending him invoices for work he claimed was happening on the truck throughout the two years Classic Corner had it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every two or three months he hits you again, Hayes said. Hey, I need it. Heres another invoice.

Hayes said he felt that he had no choice but to pay the invoices after Jim sent him a text message, which he showed to News 4, alluding that Jim could Title 42 Hayes truck if he didnt pay.

Title 42 is a law that allows auto shops to take possession of a clients vehicle if they havent paid the shop for work within a set amount of time.

To date, Hayes says hes paid Classic Corner more than $115,000 worth of invoices in order to avoid having them repossess the truck.

A couple of weeks ago, Hayes said he decided to cut his losses and pick up the unfinished truck from Classic Corner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says the shop made him pay an additional $12,000 before letting him have a crew tow it away.

Hayes also showed News 4 a non-disclosure agreement that he says Classic Corner tried to get him to sign.

With the truck still not drivable, Hayes says hes had to have a tough conversation with his son.

Hes disappointed, you know, Hayes said. He knows he aint getting the truck.

News 4 wanted to find Jim to get some clarity on the situation.

A couple of weeks ago, News 4 showed up at the shop to find him. An office manager said Jim was out of town.

While leaving the shop, we observed Jims full name, James Voyles, and phone number listed on the shops door.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oklahoma family waiting over two years for birth certificate

News 4 gave him a call.

Voyles answered and we spoke with him for several minutes.

Voyles told News 4 that Hayesthrough the act of paying each invoiceagreed to them, rather than contesting them, and has no legal basis at this point to seek any money back.

Voyles also pointed out that Classic Corner and Hayes never had a formal contract dictating the time and cost for the restoration.

Hayes does admithe wishes he could do that over.

I guess bad on my part, Hayes said. I probably should have got it documented on paper, but we didnt.

Voyles also told News 4 the delays with Hayes truck were mostly due to things like part shortages and staff illnesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the costs rising into six digits, Voyles said thats pretty standard for a job like this.

He also told News 4:

So for [Hayes] to try to blow this and turn this around, I mean, I just think its unfair for a for a majority or a minority Colombian female lady in the industry, Voyles said.

Voyles saidalthough his name and phone number are listed on the shops doorhis wife, who emigrated from Colombia, is the one who actually owns Classic Corner, and News 4 would need to direct all questions to her.

Her last name is Rodriguez-Voyles, James Voyles said. She has her maiden name and then she has her married name because of her Colombian passport All right, Colombian. Shes a Colombian woman owner in the business. So, I mean, think about the spin on that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voyles then said he wanted News 4 to interview his wife in person when they returned back to town from their trip.

On January 16, he told News 4 in a text that his trip would end on January 26this past Sunday.

We offered to interview him, with his wife accompanying him if hed like, in person, on Monday, January 27.

News 4 also offered to do the interview via Zoom at any time.

Voyles didnt respond.

We followed up with him over text this past Friday.

Voyles responded, telling News 4 he was still out of town and wouldnt be back by January 27.

He once again demanded that News 4 interview his wifewriting:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I will sue the ever living heck out of you his invoices and the business he did was with classic corner iconic cars, my wife, who is very anxious to speak with you as a Colombian female business owner as Ive also given you her number.

News 4 once again told Voyles that we are only interested in speaking with him, but his wife could join him if he wished.

We offered to again extend the deadline one more day for an in-person interview, to January 28. Again, also offering to do it over the phone or via Zoom anytime.

News 4 asked Voyles for a time that could work on January 28 and never heard back from him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On January 27, Voyles office manager called News 4 and said Voyles would not be back by January 28.

On the evening of January 28, the office manager sent News 4 a statement in response to Hayes claims.

A portion of the statement included an unsubstantiated claim in reference to Hayes behavior.

Classic Corner did not send News 4 the statement with enough time for us to give Hayes a chance to respond to the claim before the publishing deadline.

As a result, that portion of the statement has been redacted.

The statement said:

At Classic Corner Iconic Cars, we are committed to providing exceptional work product

and customer service by actively listening to our customers needs, resolving issues efficiently,

and building lasting relationships. Mr. Hayes brought us his 1967 Ford F100 in February 2023 and we agreed to take on the

full frame off restoration. This is a rebuilding of the vehicle from the ground up. This type of

restoration does take much more time to complete. With this and any restoration project, there is no guaranteed timeline. Mr. Hayes was

fully aware of this before allowing us to work on the vehicle. It would be irresponsible for us to

promise a completion date for such a project. Unknown factors reveal themselves as the work is being done. Parts that are needed for

older vehicles are often not readily available. Some have to be custom-made, others come from

specialty vendors, and in many cases such as this one, needed parts were on backorder which is

out of our control. Mr. Hayes decided to make some changes during the restoration process and

at times did not pay his invoices on time which caused further delays. We cannot finance such a

large-scale restoration due to all the complexities and components that are needed. We have always been in communication with Mr. Hayes to keep him updated on the

progress and get his approval (that included costs) before moving to the next phase of work.

We pride ourselves on offering restoration labor services well below most other shops.

All parts and labor for Mr. Hayess vehicle are fully documented and kept in a legally compliant

manner. Mr. Hayes did want this vehicle to be completed by early January of this year.

Unfortunately, as we already stated, there are too many variables that came up during the

restoration process that do not allow us to guarantee a completion date. As Mr. Hayess vehicle was approaching the final stages, he decided to remove his

vehicle from our shop [redacted]. It pains us to have an unhappy customer. We always respectfully work with our

customers and do our absolute best to meet expectations. Over the years in our business, we have completed many beautiful restorations with very satisfied customers. Sincerely,

Classic Corner Iconic Cars

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A 23-year-old man remains in jail in Horry County after allegedly showing a handgun while trying to return to a Myrtle Beach bar after being told to leave, according to a police report.

Anthony William Sanders was arrested on Jan. 20 after someone flagged down officers at 300 9th Ave. N.  the address for The Chemist bar  about a person with a gun, the report said. When officers talked to Sanders, he admitted to having a gun and said he was trying to go back inside to retrieve some of his belongings.

Officers then talked to two people who said Sanders had been removed from the establishment and told not to return, the report said. However, he came back a short time later with a gun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police charged Sanders with two counts of pointing and presenting firearms at a person; possession of a weapon during a violent crime; and second-degree burglary, according to online records for the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. He remains in jail on a $140,00 bond.

During the incident, the report said a woman began yelling at Sanders and interrupting officers. That led to her being arrested on charges of public intoxication and hindering the investigation.

* * *

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.

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 WBTW.
PORT ROYAL, S.C. (WSAV)  One Lowcountry town is starting the new year with a new chief in charge and already his leadership is making a noticeable difference.

With fresh changes inside the department, the Port Royal Police Department (PRPD) has seen promising results in arrests and drug seizures in just the last two weeks.

Since stepping into his role back in October, Chief Jeffrey Meyers has been focused on one key goal: rebranding the force to meet the growing needs of the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As you probably know, its a growing town, said Meyers. The population has really soared in the last couple of years, and the police department needs to keep up with that. So, were kind of rebranding ourselves or becoming accredited, becoming a more professional agency.

After transferring from a larger city police department, Meyers said he understands the importance of public transparency and an active social media presence. Now hes taking those skills and applying them towards the small, but rapidly growing town of Port Royal.

We want to get out of the cars more. We want to interact with the community, he said. The social media aspect is showing the community what our officers are doing on a daily basis. Let them know that, you know, theyre out there, theyre making a difference. Theyre watching their community. Theyre seeing things that are going on.

Meyers isnt stopping there though.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to focusing on community engagement, hes looking to modernize the departments image. This includes everything from new patrol cars and updated badges, to investing in top-tier training programs for officers.

Port Royal, I believe is the Department of the Future, said Meyers. We are becoming accredited. Weve increased our training budget tremendously. Officers are going to be better trained in the next couple of years, and youre going to see an increase in professionalism.

Chief Meyers said he knows that as Port Royal continues to grow, so must the department. And with growth comes a need for more hands-on deck. To that end, the department is already looking for new recruits for the year ahead.

Were looking to put out as many as eight officers this year. So, anybody that feels they have what it takes to be a patrol officer, give us a call, Meyers said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the qualifications to become a Port Royal police officer are outlined by Meyers himself.

You cant just know the laws. You have to know people. We will teach you the laws, said Meyers. Its hard to teach people, people skills. So, we want people that are friendly in their community, that know their community, and theyre really going to take the time to not just write somebody a ticket, but to look for the good things that people are doing and how can they help this person. Maybe that persons having a bad day, look beyond and just say, hey, you know, what can I do for you?

Meyers said that he believes that with the team he has now and the future recruits, the department will only go upward.

Weve got a young command staff and a lot of really good future leaders her, he said. With the increased training, increased accreditation, the support of an incredible town administration, town council, and mayor, I think youre going to see a department that people that live here, are going to be proud of.

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.
A man was treated for an injury he received after being shot Tuesday in the 1100 block of West 5th Street. The victim, a man in his 20s, was walking in the area at about 5 p.m. when he was approached by two people he didnt know, a Jacksonville police news release states.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

One of them pulled out a gun and shot the victim. The assailants left the area on foot. Police arrived on the scene and found the victim suffering from a bullet graze wound to his arm. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department treated the man on the scene. No arrests were made.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Woman shot in shoulder

About two hours later, police responded to another shooting near the Grove Park area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In that incident, a woman was inside of a unit at the Shore House apartment complex in the 400 block of Century 21 Drive when she got into a dispute with someone. That person pulled out a gun and shot her one time, police said. She was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

The victim and suspect knew each other, and we believe this to be an isolated incident, JSO said.

Anyone with information on either shootings is asked to call Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCRIMETIPS@Jaxsheriff.org or contact Crimestoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

Read: Opening statements heard in the trial for the former DA charged with mishandling the Ahmaud Arbery case

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: St. Johns County deputies arrest man for hit-and-run that seriously hurt teen

Read: Trump says most drones sighted over New Jersey were authorized by the FAA: This was not the enemy

[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.
Russian forces have attacked the village of Antonivka in Kherson Oblast with a drone on the morning of 29 January, killing a man.

Source: Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration

Quote: "Russian terrorists attacked Antonivka with a drone at around 08:00. A 52-year-old man sustained fatal injuries."

Background: Russian forces launched a drone attack on the village of Antonivka in Kherson Oblast on the morning of 28 January, killing one person and injuring another.

Support UP or become our patron!
A man died Monday afternoon after his SUV struck a traffic signal pole at Stearns Road and South McLean Boulevard in South Elgin.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe at a high rate of speed when the collision occurred about 5:20 p.m., a news release from the South Elgin Police Department said.

The driver was the only vehicle occupant and pronouced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be conducted by the Kane County Coroners Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Elgin poice closed the area to traffic for more than three hours following the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, the release said.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 847-741-2151.
UNION TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man has pled guilty to charges after a crash killed the passenger in his car.

Judge Sklaroskys Chambers office has told 28/22 News that Tyler Mizell, 20, of Hanover Township, pled guilty to homicide by vehicle and other charges.

In September 2024 Mizell was charged with homicide by motor vehicle and DUI after a deadly crash occurred on June 22. Police say the driver was later confirmed to be Mizell and the passenger in the car, 19-year-old Kaycee Kreitzer, was found dead in the wooded area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Man sentenced for selling fentanyl pills resulting in death

As stated in the affidavit, Mizell was driving 77 mph when he traveled off the roadway, across an asphalt driveway, and went over a cliff, landing in the woods. Kreitzer was ejected from the right passenger door window that was open during the crash, PSP stated.

Mizell results of a toxicology report showed his blood alcohol level to be .100% on the day of the crash. The legal limit in Pennsylvania is .08%.

The sentencing date has not been set.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
It was a reunion eight years in the making.

When Paul Guilbeault's dog, Damian, went missing in 2017, he never gave up hope he would one day be found.

But he can still hardy believe that, after a call came in from an unknown number earlier this month, he and his long lost friend are finally back together.

"I still feel like it's a big dream," Guilbeault told ABC News.

PHOTO: Damian, pictured after being reunited with his owner, in an undated photo. (Paul Guilbeault)

Eight years ago, Guilbeault was moving across the country from Massachusetts to Arizona, where he now lives. During a pit stop in Oklahoma, Damian got loose from his leash and ran off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guilbeault, along with his father and a friend he was traveling with, said they looked for Damian until well after midnight, only stopping for the day after they encountered a mountain lion. They stayed in Oklahoma another week, he said, searching high and low for the dog to no avail.

For years afterward, Guilbeault said he put up missing posters for Damian, sharing his photo far and wide in the hopes someone would find him.

"I kept trying to search, but the search dwindled as the years went on. Eventually it got to the point where just seeing his missing poster hurt too much, and I didn't share it as often as I used to in the beginning," he said. "I thought that, honestly, he probably became food for that lion we ran into."

PHOTO: Paul Guilbeault with his dog, Damian, in 2016 before he was lost. (Paul Guilbeault)

Losing Damian was heartbreaking, Guilbeault said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It was devastating -- that dog got me through a lot of emotional things, family issues and whatnot, just being there for me as a companion," he said. "I was his everything, as he was mine, and losing him was really, really tough."

On Jan. 15, Guilbeault and his husband were driving to California to donate clothes and other supplies to wildfire victims. About an hour from the California border, he got a call from an unknown number. He ignored the call -- and the number called again.

Eventually, the mysterious number sent a text, which was delivered to Guilbeault's Apple Watch.

MORE: Pet tortoise found safe after California fires

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"My Apple Watch gave me a little preview, and it said, 'Your dog, Damian, has been found,'" he recalled. "And I was like, 'What the ...?!'"

Guilbeault said he didn't believe it at first, but he had his husband call the number back, and confirmed it was indeed true.

As it turned out, a woman in Oklahoma City told Guilbeault had nearly run over Damian, but then picked him up and brought him to stay with her brother. The brother took care of the dog for two weeks in early January until he was able to bring him to a veterinarian, who scanned him for a microchip, which showed he belonged to Guilbeault.

PHOTO: Damian, pictured after being reunited with his owner, in an undated photo. (Paul Guilbeault)

After Guilbeault and his husband heard the news, they immediately turned their car around and drove 14 hours to Oklahoma, arriving at about 6 a.m. the next morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Guilbeault saw Damian again, he was visibly older and scruffier than he had been eight years earlier, but he was undeniably his dog, wagging his tail upon reuniting with his owner. Guilbeault said he has no idea where Damian spent the previous eight years.

On the drive back to Arizona, Damian was the happy dog Guilbeault remembered from all those years ago.

"The whole time he was in my husband's lap, curled up in a ball, and he would turn his head back, looking at me driving, and just have this giant smile," he said. "I feel like he was thinking, 'Oh my god, is this real? Did I really find him finally?'"

MORE: Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao debut at National Zoo: See photos

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the weeks since their reunion, Guilbeault and Damian have been making up for lost time, going to the park every day -- though Damian is happiest sitting in his owner's lap, Guilbeault said.

"Every time I get up to leave the room, he's just like, 'OK, where are you going now?'" he said.

Guilbeault said he's grateful he microchipped his dog, and encouraged all pet owners to do the same.

"Microchip your pets!" he said. "Microchip your dogs, your cats, even your birds can be microchipped."

Man reunited with his dog 8 years after getting lost originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection to a mass shooting at a block party in Wynne, Arkansas last year that left one person dead and at least nine others injured.

On Monday, Tommie Frost of Marion, Ark. entered the guilty plea on a Second-Degree Murder charge and Firearm Possession charge for his involvement in the April 13 attack, which resulted in the death of 27-year-old Varian Campbell.

Mass shooting at Wynne, AR party kills 1, injures 9 more

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The shooting took place near the corner of Williams Avenue and Martin Luther King Street around 10 p.m. The victims were between the ages of 24 and 49, and two of the victims were reportedly struck by cars.

Frost was arrested by Arkansas State Police along with three others on April 16, just three days after the deadly incident.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder charge and an additional 10 years for the firearm possession charge. The sentences will run concurrently, according to the ASP.

The other suspects  Quaverius Milon, Carl Washington, and Cameron Crawford  are still awaiting court dates.

Left to Right: (Quavarius Milon, Carl Washington, Cameron Crawford, and Tommie Frost)

Each of the four men was initially charged with First-Degree Murder, nine counts of First-Degree Battery, and nine counts of Engaging in Violent Criminal Group Activity.

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 WREG.com.
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY)  A 40-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison in Elizabeth City for first-degree murder on Tuesday.

Leselle Cornelius Spencer III was sentenced after his trial was held in Pasquotank County Superior Court.

On April 4, 2022, around 9:35 p.m., the Elizabeth City Police Department responded to a report of gunshots in the parking lot of Big Lots located at 685 S. Hughes Boulevard. Officers arrived on scene and found 61-year-old Kevin Robert Chambers suffering from a gunshot wound. Chambers died from his injuries.

Leselle Cornelius Spencer III

Spencer is now in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.

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.
(WBRE/WYOU)  Officials announced that a man has been sentenced for distributing fentanyl resulting in the death of of a woman in Wilkes-Barre.

According to acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, 30-year-old Davon Beckford, of Arizona was sentenced to 20 years for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

Investigators say Beckford relocated from Wilkes-Barre to Phoenix, Arizona in January 2020. Once in Arizona, Beckford started finding sources to supply fentanyl pills, then he created a drug trafficking network with drug associates he knew throughout Luzerne County, as stated in the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nurse practitioner accused of raping patient

Beckford began to distribute hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills through the U.S. Postal Service. Then in February of 2021, a 27-year-old woman ingested one pill, overdosed, and died.

Beckford distributed the fentanyl to one of his drug associates in Wilkes-Barre, who sold it to the victim, officials said.

After his 20 years in prison, Beckford will have five years of supervised 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 PAhomepage.com.
Vincent Ledvina calls himself The Aurora Guy and while he regularly photographs the northern lights, even he found Tuesday's scene to be "magical."

Ledvina traveled to a remote cabin in Venetie, Alaska, the day before. He shared on social media that he was about 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Ledvina planned his aurora-chasing to coincide with a forecast that predicted high aurora activity and clear skies. So he stayed awake until 2 a.m. local time and recorded himself as he left the cabin and stepped out into a mesmerizing scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The clear night sky was awash in vibrant green streaks and swirls, punctuated by tall trees covered in snow. Ledvina said the aurora lasted about 45 minutes.

"I would say the northern lights last night were nothing short of magical," he told Storyful. "The colors were visible to the eye, it was bright and, most of all, the movement and dancing was mesmerizing."

The best time to observe the northern lights is during the winter months, when the nights are longest and the skies darkest. To increase your chances of seeing the natural phenomena, get away from city lights and monitor weather forecasts to make sure your sightseeing is on a night with clear skies.

Solar storms have been creating visible auroras in the night sky over many U.S. states for several days, and the light show could ramp back up in early February, according to a forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of the best locations to view the lights include Alaska, Iceland, Finland, Greenland and Norway. You can learn more about what makes auroras so colorful by checking out this video.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM:
A Manchester man, originally from Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty on Wednesday for his role as a leader in distributing cocaine.

Lewistone Baez Miranda, age 50, was initially indicted on December 30, 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Baez Miranda is the third of six defendants charged in this case to plead guilty. Baez Miranda was allegedly the supposed leader in the suspected drug trafficking ring.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to statements made in court, alongside a plea agreement, Baez Mirandas son was using fabricated information to send packages filled with cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire.

The cocaine was often hidden in childrens games, containing 500-1,000 gram bundles. Baez Miranda frequently hired individuals to pick up the packages in Manchester for him. Baez Miranda also sent the proceeds of the drugs back to Puerto Rico for his son, on one occasion sending him $11,000.

Baez Miranda is expected to face a prison sentence no greater than 20 years, with at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Baez Miranda is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025

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
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

The morning fog drifts through the streets of the village of Mandawa, engulfing the yellow and cream walls of the towns now crumbling mansions. Its early in northeast Rajasthan and camel carts laden with leafy vegetables are sidling along unpaved roads, while men with curled moustaches take up their places in cubby-hole stores selling general provisions, alongside shops full of red-and-gold fabrics and dusty antiques. Within minutes the fog clears, burned away by the rising sun.

Steam is starting to rise from the silver pots outside the village tea shop  its customers huddled together on nearby steps. Above them, on the clay walls, are murals of steam trains, depicted in pink and red, sitting beside scenes of a former noble court. I stop to examine the paintings and the tea shop salesman, young and smiley, beckons. He hands me a cup filled with sugary milk tea. Welcome to Mandawa, he says, waving away my rupees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 100 miles north of Jaipur, Mandawa sits in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, a rural district of small, historic towns. Shekhawati is famous for its grand havelis  traditional Indian mansions  that are covered with a distinct style of fresco. These paintings depict the meeting of many worlds  of local Rajput chieftains, Mughal rulers, Hindu deities and Englishmen of the British Empire.

Shekhawati once sat on a historic trading route, linking the seaports of Gujarat to the south west with the Golden Triangle cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Low taxes brought camel caravans through the region, with merchants typically trading sugar, salt, opium, cotton and spices.

Financed by the growing wealth from commerce, more elaborate building work started in the early nineteenth century, resulting in the havelis. But the construction of railways, and increased use of river transport under British rule, diverted trade away from Shekhawati a few decades later, leading to the havelis being abandoned.

Today, Mandawa is a lesser-known addition to the Golden Triangle circuit, its calm streets providing a laid-back sojourn from hectic cities. Recently, a number of its havelis have been restored, and rising demand is encouraging more.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im staying at the Hotel Radhika, a restored haveli where the sturdy teak doors of the rooms open onto an inner courtyard with stained glass windows. Its here that I meet my guide Sikander Khan, whos taking me on a walking tour around Mandawas havelis. We pass several small ones still lived in by families. Children dash around their mothers, who are dressed in orange saris.

Soon we reach Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, a mansion dating from 1870 thats famous for its paintings depicting the life of wealthy merchant Gulab Raiji. The grandness of this haveli is evident as we enter the outer courtyard. These pieces of mirror came from Belgium, they were traded for spices, Sikander explains, pointing to the small segments of glass that decorate the domed archway of the front door.

On the doors right side is a half-painted elephant, carrying several lords in armour. In every haveli, on the left and right of the door, you see elephants  our symbol of prosperity, Sikander tells me. This elephant is unfinished, he explains, because the haveli is currently being restored and turned into a hotel. Today, the workers are on holiday, their tins of paint scattered beneath half-finished frescoes.

Initially, wealthy merchants brought painters from nearby Jaipur to decorate their homes. In Jaipur, artists from Persia had mingled with those of Delhis Mughal court to produce Rajasthans distinctive artistic style  detailed folk art of bold lines and bright colours. An intriguing element of Shekhawatis art is the juxtaposition of foreigners alongside traditional Rajasthani scenes. From Gulab Rai Ladia we stroll to Mandawas main street and the local branch of the State Bank of India, also housed in a haveli. One wall shows an Englishman in jodhpurs, holding a boxy telephone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The conditions of the havelis vary: some are immaculate hotels; others, such as Goenka Double, are believed to be haunted and have been left to nature. Many are open to visitors, still strewn with the old owners possessions.

Behind Gulab Rai Ladia, I find a man painting the outline of a turbaned warrior onto a wall. This is Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli, the former home of textile traders. When I bought the haveli it was in a disastrous state, explains its local owner, Vishal Joshi. He shows me into a room where business would have been conducted. The caretaker used to cook here, so these walls were black. We had to use caustic soda to clean the soot, he continues.

By doing that, some of the paintings were washed away, he says. However, like those first merchants, Vishal brought in artists from Jaipur, where theres still a large painting community. I want to reproduce the old, he says. At first, I wanted to build a lucrative business; now, thanks to these artworks, preservation has become my priority.

Published in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).



To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
UPDATE: The Trump administration has reversed the executive order to freeze all federal grants and loans on Wednesday afternoon.

An executive order to freeze all federal grants has left hospitals, universities and other nonprofits that rely on federal money scrambling.

While a federal judge has delayed the freeze so that it won't take effect until after a hearing on Feb. 3, the future of federal funding that many organizations view as a lifeline is in jeopardy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: 'See you in court': Delaware AG says coalition of states plan to sue over federal grant freeze

More: Judge temporarily blocks Trump policy that aimed at freezing federal grant funding

Many details of the executive order  including which grants will be frozen, the logistics of pausing grants that may already be partially distributed and the constitutionality of doing so  remain unclear.

In Cincinnati, federal dollars cover a significant chunk of hospitals' costs, funding lifesaving research, health care worker training and disaster preparedness.

"These federal resources help hospitals and other health care organizations with providing preventative health care and community wellness services as well as support the planning and coordination of preparedness programs," said John Palmer, spokesperson for the Ohio Hospital Association.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We hope this 'temporary pause' is short-term."

During the freeze, which was intended to take effect Tuesday, agencies are expected to conduct a review to ensure that their grants support activities that are in line with President Donald Trump's policies.

All of Cincinnati area's hospitals received over a million federal dollars

All six of Greater Cincinnati's hospitals received more than a million dollars in federal awards in fiscal year 2023, according to each hospital's most recent audit documents.

The amount awarded varied widely.

Cincinnati Children's received $223 million, the lion's share of the group, while Bon Secours Mercy Health received $149 million. At $1.5 million, St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky received the smallest amount.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The purpose of the federal awards varied, often based on the agency it came from.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave $1.4 million to Bon Secours Mercy Health for its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, which helps feed pregnant women, infants and children. The program is commonly called WIC.

At Christ Hospital, the Department of Education awarded $6.4 million to be used on federal direct student loans and Pell Grants, which help low-income students pay for an undergraduate education.

And the U.S. Treasury Department disbursed COVID-19 recovery and relief dollars to more than one hospital.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital received $223 million in federal funds in 2023, the most of any hospital in the Cincinnati area.

At Cincinnati Children's, most federal dollars went to funding research that ranged from preventing epilepsy to detecting and diagnosing cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of it came from various agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, such as the National Institutes of Health, although around $4.5 million from the Department of Defense helped fund some clinical trials.

How we did this

Representatives of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, TriHealth, Christ Hospital and UC Health declined to comment on how much federal funding their hospitals receive. Bon Secours Mercy Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare did not respond to a request for comment.

So how did The Enquirer get these numbers?

The law requires that any nonprofit that spends more than $750,000 in federal dollars in a year must be audited, the results of which are then published by the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since all of Cincinnati's hospitals are nonprofits that spend well over this amount every year, their numbers are available to the public.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati hospitals get millions of federal dollars. Here's how much
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

Last week saw the first two major anti-abortion rallies since Donald Trump took office: the National Pro-Life Summit and the March for Life. Both sounded at times like Trump rallies. At the National Pro-Life Summit, for instance, Students for Life leader Kristan Hawkins led attendees in a chant thanking Trump. The atmosphere was as unmistakably upbeat as it was pro-Trump. But the rallies also underscored a major hurdle facing the movement at a time of seeming triumph: Even with Trump in office, it wont be politically easy to eliminate access to abortion pills, which have taken an outsize role in the law and politics of reproductive rights.

Notably, speeches at the March for Life by Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump (who prerecorded a video) were short on the details abortion opponents were no doubt looking for. Vance announced that the Trump Department of Justice would no longer prosecute violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. (Trump had already pardoned more than 20 FACE Act violators.) Trump then reinstated the Mexico City policy, which bars international family-planning organizations that advocate for abortion rights or provide abortions from receiving federal dollars. But none of that came close to what the anti-abortion movement really wants. Indeed, their biggest priorityturning the Comstock Act, a 19th-century obscenity law, into a national abortion ban that can be used against patients, doctors, and drug companies in every statewas nowhere to be seen. Despite the feel-good mood at the March for Life and National Pro-Life Summit, the fact remains that Trump remains a somewhat unreliable ally for the anti-abortion movementespecially because Americans still seem to support legal abortion. One underdiscussed reason for the significant public shift in recent years is the extent to which abortion pills seem to have reduced the stigma surrounding abortion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its for that reason that anti-abortion leaders are not content to wait on Donald Trump. Theyre rolling out plans to restore the stigma that once surrounded abortionand especially to change the way Americans see abortion pills, which now account for more than half of all abortions nationwide.

Anti-abortion leaders have reached to the pastsome borrow from old arguments about so-called partial-birth abortionto stoke disgust and opposition to pill-based abortions. In the 1990s, a paper on the procedure of dilation and extraction leaked from a conference held by the National Abortion Federation. Anti-abortion groups created an illustration of the procedure, which they labeled partial-birth abortion, and set out to secure state and federal laws banning it. The campaign culminated in federal legislation and significant stigmaeven though polls showed little movement in the kinds of reproductive rights restrictions American supported, a larger number identified as pro-life at the height of the partial-birth campaign. Students for Life of America, a leading organization in the movement, believes that the movement can replicate this feat with abortion pills by stressing the details on the kind of death.

Others look to old arguments about the trauma abortion allegedly caused to women to stress the supposed risks of pills, and to promote state laws saying women have a right to know about the effects of pills. This is one of the strategies detailed by Americans United for Life, a prominent litigation group that has also described ways for states to attempt to enforce the Comstock Act without the Trump administration. In the 1990s, the groups leaders drew an analogy between abortion patients and smokers who had been misled by a newly stigmatized industry, urging states to pass laws that forced doctors to explain that abortion threatened their physical and mental health. Passing new right-to-know laws could force patients to hear the movements claims about abortion pills.

The reason for these plans is clear: The anti-abortion movement may be able to score wins in the conservative federal courts, but even conservative politicians like Trump will be more likely to tread carefully if they worry about alienating votersand voters largely seem to approve of access to abortion pills. Trump himself cant run for reelection without the courts accepting an exotic interpretation of the 22nd Amendment, but Trump enjoys having popular support and might be reluctant to do something he know most voters will both notice and dislike on an issue he has never seemed to care much about. Republicans in Congress may have closer ties to the anti-abortion movement, but Democrats have hopes of reclaiming the House in 2026, and lawmakers in contested races still have to worry about losing their jobs. If voters were open to strict limits on abortion pills, Republicans will certainly be ready to deliver for the anti-abortion movement. If voters continue to reject the movements positions, all bets are off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But stigmatizing abortion pills wont be easy. Americans historically have been the most supportive of access to abortion early in pregnancy, and pill-based abortions take place before the 10th week of pregnancy. Because the Food and Drug Administration currently allows telehealth procedures, pill-based procedures also take place at home, far from clinic protesters like the ones Trump just pardoned. And pill-based abortions resemble miscarriages, which impact a large fraction of known pregnancies and a huge number of people across their reproductive lives.

The Trump administration in theory could tilt the odds in the anti-abortion movements favor by changing the rules surrounding mifepristone to disallow a telehealth option. If patients had to go in person to get or even take abortion pills, protestors could make the process of abortion more dramatic and traumatic than it is for those who are using pills at home.

But it still seems unclear if that will be enough to get the anti-abortion movement the kind of victory it seemed to have scored in the partial-birth struggles of the 1990s. Polling hasnt shown support for sweeping bans on abortion, and yet these are the policies on the books in many Republican-led statesand the policies that abortion opponents want to see implemented nationwide, along with stringent limits on in vitro fertilization. Forcing patients to clear more hurdles before receiving abortion pills might discourage some from going through with abortion, but its unlikely to build support for what have always been unpopular bans or for the idea of constitutional fetal rights.

However triumphant the anti-abortion movement might be feeling in this moment, theres little chance for abortion opponents to make further progress unless they can convince Americans that abortion pills are wrong. For a large majority Americans, that is likely a bridge too far.
After Donald Trump froze nearly all U.S. foreign aid last week, international projects on health, education, food, and all other humanitarian areas were placed in jeopardy.

On Tuesday night, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to undo some of the confusion by issuing a memo waiving the aid freeze for livesaving humanitarian assistance. The memo defines this assistance as core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance, according to The Washington Post.

Programs still subject to the aid freeze include anything involving diversity programs, gender, abortion, family planning, and transgender surgeries, or other nonlife saving assistance, the memo states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo says that implementers of existing lifesaving humanitarian assistance programs should continue or resume work if they have stopped but added that this resumption is temporary in nature, and except by separate waiver or as required to carry out this waiver, no new contracts shall be entered into.

But this language hasnt cleared up any of the confusion, as organizations and agencies are now scrambling to figure out what exactly is considered lifesaving under the new memo. For example, one of the programs halted last week is the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which funds clinics, hospitals, and other organizations around the world combating HIV and AIDS. Its unclear if that work can now resume.

Plus, USAID, contractors, and nongovernmental aid organizations experiencing stop-work orders and a sudden halt in funds have already fired many employees. The memo also said that any assistance to migrants and refugees could only continue for livesaving activities and for repatriation of third country nationals to their country of origin or safe-third-country.

Neither Fridays order nor Tuesdays memo offered any way to request or seek a waiver from the aid freeze, except to contact the Director of Foreign Assistance at the Department of State. This position has yet to be filled by Rubio or the Trump administration.

The decisions coming from the Trump administration since last weeks inauguration have resulted in chaos throughout the federal government and cruelty against the people who depend on it, whether they are federal workers, international aid recipients, or even struggling Americans on Medicaid. The administration is now facing a number of lawsuits and a public outcry. But will that change anything?


PHOENIX (AP)  Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Maria Elena Cruz to the Arizona Supreme Court on Wednesday, making the state appellate judge from rural Yuma County the first Latina and first Black person chosen for the states high court.

Hobbs selection of Cruz marks the first Supreme Court appointment by a Democratic governor since 2005. It also broadens the racial, geographic and political diversity of the seven-member, Republican-dominated court.

I prioritized an appointee who is not only eminently qualified but also someone who reflects our state and who is committed to making our legal system work for everyday people, Hobbs said during a news conference to announce her choice. Of course, I was focused on credentials and experience but also on appointing a justice who will uplift those who need it most.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the establishment of the Arizona Supreme Court in 1912, none of the 49 past or present justices have identified as Black. Only one  Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice John Lopez  has been Latino. Cruz, a 52-year-old Democrat, will become the second person of Hispanic heritage and first person of African descent to preside on the bench.

Previous GOP governors Doug Ducey and Jan Brewer were responsible for selecting the other six justices, who all reside in Maricopa County, Arizonas most populous county that includes Phoenix.

Cruz said a court that does not reflect the state's population does not engender trust.

As a new justice, I promise to bring not only my 20 years of judicial experience, including service on the Cocopah Tribal Court, the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals, and a deep respect and loyalty for the rule of law, but also a perspective that is informed by growing up, living, raising a family and working in rural Arizona," Cruz said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Oct. 31 retirement of Justice Robert Brutinel presented Hobbs the rare opportunity to fill the court's vacancy with a selection of her own. The justices have ruled in recent years on cases concerning several hot-button issues, including abortion and elections, leading to accusations of political bias.

Under Arizona law, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is required to provide the governor no fewer than three names to pick from. On Dec. 9, the 16-member commission interviewed eight applicants. It ultimately sent a list of five names to Hobbs, who had 60 days to make her decision.

Born in New York to a Puerto Rican father and a Dominican mother, Cruz was 14 when she and her family relocated to Yuma County, the southwestern corner of Arizona where the state meets California and Mexico.

She was a student at Arizona Western College and an elementary school teacher when she was involved in a car accident that changed her life's trajectory. After securing legal representation, she found herself sitting across from a lawyer and discussing her case. It was then she had an epiphany.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here is someone who is doing something really meaningful, someone who affects people's lives with the work that he does, Cruz once told an interviewer, reflecting on her thinking in that moment.

She inquired about his path into the legal profession. When he spoke of the importance of law school and the requirement to pass the bar exam, she said she was determined to be a lawyer.

Later that day, she told her employer she was resigning to pursue a law degree.

Cruz earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Arizona in 1998 and her law degree from the university in 2001. She was a law clerk for the Pima County Attorney's Office, a prosecutor for the Yuma County Attorney's Office and a criminal defense attorney in private practice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She became a judge pro tem for the Cocopah Indian Tribe in 2005. Between 2009 and 2017, she served as a judge for Yuma County Superior Court.

Since 2017, Cruz has served as a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals. Appointed by Ducey, she was the Republican governor's first selection of a Democrat to serve on a state appellate court.

Cruzs family stood behind her during Wednesday morning's announcement. Her husband, Glen Avino, said they got the news at the last second. Her father traveled from Mexico City overnight and her in-laws drove overnight from Las Vegas to support her.

Cruzs 24-year-old son, Diego Avino, said he is extremely proud of his mother, not only for her appointment to the states highest court, but for her near-insane work ethic that earned her the spot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its something just coming from a small town, going to Phoenix and rising up to this spot, he said. It takes some real dedication.

Cruz will be sworn in on Monday, officials said.

___

Gabriel Sandoval 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.

The Associated Press women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Maria Shriver praised her cousin Caroline Kennedys courage in slamming their fellow relative Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a predator.

Caroline, the only living child of former President John F. Kennedy, published the scathing letter about RFK Jr. on Tuesday, ahead of his Senate hearing to become Donald Trumps health secretary.

Shriver, the former first lady of California, is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy. Her mothers siblings, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, are the fathers of Caroline and RFK Jr. respectively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She took to X on Wednesday to declare that in the battle of her cousins that she is firmly Team Caroline.

Courage is when you do something hard, heartbreaking, and painful and you do it anyway, Shriver wrote. Love you, Caroline. Always have, always will.

Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver at the wedding of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s sister, Courtney Kennedy. / Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Shrivers post included a photo of Caroline alongside the book Profiles in Courage, which was written by President Kennedy and to which Caroline, a diplomat in the Obama and Biden administrations, has since supplied an introduction.

Comments on the post were switched off.

Courage is when you do something hard, heartbreaking, and painful and you do it anyway. Love you, Caroline. Always have, always will. #profilesincourage pic.twitter.com/CdQ4U7bXZz  Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) January 29, 2025

Carolines letter urged the Senate against confirming her cousin.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together, she wrote. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His basement, his garage, his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, Kennedy added. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.

Maria Shriver and her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. / Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection via Getty

She alleged that Kennedy, who before becoming an environmental lawyer experienced drug addiction, had led others in their family down the path of drug addiction.

His older brother, David, died from a drug overdose in 1984.

Kennedy Jr. faced senators at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, RFK Jr., whose father was JFKs brother and served as his attorney general, faced tough questions from senators about his past statements on vaccinations, Lyme disease, and abortion.

Kennedy has been accused by critics of pushing health-related conspiracy theories. He is among Trumps most controversial administration nominees.

Shriver, a journalist and author, is the ex-wife of former California Governor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
BALTIMORE  Howard County is revamping its arts and culture plan after more than two decades without a major update, officials announced at an event last week.

The Howard County Arts and Culture Plan will be developed during a nearly two-year process involving a steering committee of leaders from local organizations, consultants from the Ohio-based firm Designing Local and community input. The plan is expected to be presented to the County Council next year with policy recommendations.

This plan is about more than programs and policies. Its about people, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at the event Jan. 23. Its about empowering artists and supporting cultural organizations and creating spaces where every voice is heard, every story is celebrated, and every person has a sense of belonging.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The previous arts plan, a 10-year plan made in 1991, was last updated in 2003, said Coleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council. At the time, she wasnt able to raise enough money to conduct a full research analysis and other steps, so the organization made smaller updates looking at changes and additional work that would be required to meet the initial goals.

The timing for a new plan is right, West said, as the county has evolved since the early 2000s and the plan can coincide with HoCo By Design, the countys general plan for growth and development signed in 2023. The new arts plan will take stock of current arts and culture assets, find methods for growing and engaging creative resources, navigate investments and tackle the ever-changing needs of the arts community, the Howard County Arts Council website said.

Arts and culture are essential to the history, vibrancy and cohesion of Howard County, and planning for the arts is key to developing a robust and inclusive arts and cultural ecosystem here, West said. A well-conceived plan helps identify opportunities, strengths and gaps in arts and cultural resources and provide strategies to leverage the power of the arts and culture to uplift communities, boost economic development, enhance social ties and improve our quality of life.

With $150,000 committed, theres also now enough funding for the arts plan to undergo a major update, West said. The money came from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Rescue Plan Act through the Maryland State Arts Council. The county provided a match.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Phase one has begun with a steering committee meeting, preliminary research, analysis and generally mobilizing the project, according to Jasmine Metcalf, an urban planner with Designing Local. The first phase will run until April when the second phase, centered around community engagement and conversation, will begin. The third phase will use community feedback and analysis to find strategies that will work in the county. The plan will then be compiled in one document for approval.

We really are seeking to develop opportunities for different plans, to communicate with the plans that youre already implementing and working through, so that that arts and culture feels like something that is interwoven into everything that youre doing, said Amanda Golden, co-founder and managing principal of Designing Local.

As a longtime supporter of the arts and music, County Council Vice Chair Opel Jones, of District 2, said he is happy to support the plan and doesnt foresee much opposition from the council. He started playing the violin when he was 4 years old, realizing the importance of reading music and the camaraderie of playing instruments together as he went on to play the saxophone throughout high school. He noted how hes seen the life-changing impact of the arts, watching his children pick up music and creative activities as generations pass down arts and storytelling.

Howard County is an amazing place for all of the people that are involved in arts, whether its music or painting or sculpture or theater or whatever. Its just a great place for us, and Im glad we have funding for it, Jones said.

---------
Passengers had to flee a plane after it mysteriously burst into flames on the tarmac at an airport in South Korea, just a month after the countrys worst ever air disaster.

Three peoplea woman in her 70s and two in their 50swere injured in the operation Tuesday evening, as they fled via inflatable slides from the Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport, around six miles west of the city of Busan, which is in the south east of the country. Four crew members were also treated for ailments related to smoke inhalation, The Korea Herald reported.

Air Busan flight bound for Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport caught fire Tuesday. All 169 passengers and 7 crew members are said to have escaped, with one injury reported. https://t.co/T4b0SMLf2J#SouthKorea #Fire #Airbusan pic.twitter.com/zl5Jd7aWP1  The Korea Herald  (@TheKoreaHerald) January 28, 2025

The fire broke out just before take-off in the tail section of the Hong Kong-bound plane at about 22:26 local time (8:26 a.m. Wednesday ET). The 169 passengers and seven crew were ordered to disembark immediately. The incident comes just a month after the countrys worst ever air disaster. Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash-landed at Muan International Airport, killing 179 people, on Dec. 30.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Korea Herald reported that passengers on board Tuesdays flight said the fire started from an overhead compartment, amid crackling sounds.

There was a crackling sound coming from the overhead luggage compartment, followed shortly by smoke, a passenger told Yonhap News Agency. A flight attendant told us to stay seated and came with a fire extinguisher, but thick smoke had already filled the air by then and sparks were bursting out from the compartment.

The passenger added: As more smoke began to fill the cabin, a passenger sitting by the emergency exit opened the emergency gate, while another flight attendant opened the emergency gate on the other side, allowing passengers to evacuate. It was extremely chaotic and frightening.

An object in a luggage bin is attracting attention as the cause of the Air Busan A321 fire that occurred at Gimhae International Airport January 28th. Flight attendants and passengers on board the accident aircraft testified that the fire started in the overhead area. pic.twitter.com/cgsv0XV8wP  Joe (@jpr747) January 29, 2025

Firefighters arrived at the scene in just eight minutes, and were met by a plane engulfed in flames, as detailed in photos circulating on social media sites. Photos from Yonhap show the entire roof of the plane gutted, as the deflated slides hang off the edge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cause of the fire on the budget airlines flight is still being investigated by an emergency response team set up by acting president Choi Sang-mok.

The Korea Times reported that police considered the possibility of terrorist involvement, but have found no evidence to suggest foul play.
A priest from Massachusetts tragically died while preparing to embark on a cruise in Spain last week, Jesuits USA announced Wednesday.

Father Richard K. Gross, 80, died in the coastal city of Malaga on Jan. 20, 2025, according to the USA East Society of Jesus.

The facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Gross werent immediately clear.

Gross, a native of Wrentham, most recently served at Boston College High School. He was a member of the USA East Province of Jesuits and lived in a residence at the high school for the past 18 months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement shared with Boston 25 News, Boston College High School said, We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of Father Richard Gross...We pray for his eternal peace and comfort for those mourning his loss.

Gross taught history and social sciences at Boston College High School from 1969-1972 during his regency. He returned to the school in 1976, teaching and administering for five consecutive years.

Gross, an alum of King Philip High School in Wrentham and a graduate of Boston College, also spent time at Philips Academy in Andover and the Newman Center at the University of Connecticut at Storrs, among other stops. Gross returned to the Boston College High School Jesuit community in 2023.

Steve Penella now lives in northeast Ohio, but he connected with Father Gross during his sophomore year at BC High in 1976.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He just learned of the priests death this week.

I cant believe it, said Penella. I still cant believe it.

Penella said Gross was serving as a chaplain during his time as a student at the all-boys school in Dorchester.

He explained, He loved to be around people he was very social We would meet in his office and talk and laugh just like a regular guy. But, just a very warm guy, very gentle guy.

After graduating in 1978, Penella said he and his friends lost contact with Father Gross.

They reconnected with the priest in 2023 after learning he was still living at the BC High Jesuit residency.

He remembered, Like the Jesuits always say, A man for others. He was definitely like that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fr. Gross also served at Philips Academy in Andover and UConn during his career.

The 80-year-old most recently would lead services at Our Lady of Good Voyage in Seaport.

Church directors Susan Abbott and Kathy Stebbins told Boston 25 over the phone Wednesday that the priest had performed services there on January 16th  four days before his death in Spain.

Abbot explained, He really had a twinkling in his eye. He had not a guffaw, but he had a chuckle that just brought you along with him.

The church said Gross had a passion for overseeing weddings and baptisms.

Gross untimely passing remains under investigation, according to Jesuits USA and Boston College High School.

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 Class of 2024 waits to be seated during the graduation ceremony at Sharon High School in Sharon, Mass., on June 2, 2024. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Its clear that Massachusetts students no longer have to pass 10th grade MCAS tests in English, math, and science to graduate from high school. But determining exactly what they do need to do to secure a diploma is proving to be a high-stakes test of its own for state officials  one with no straightforward answer.

When voters overwhelmingly passed Question 2 on last Novembers ballot, it removed passing MCAS as a graduation requirement. But members of the state board of education continue to struggle with the confusing state of play theyve been left to sort out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new state law put in place by voters says that, in place of passing the 10th grade tests, students will now be eligible to graduate by satisfactorily completing coursework that has been certified by the students district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the MCAS high school tests  and in any additional areas determined by the board.

Last month, education board member Marty West said the language is hard to make sense of since simply satisfactorily completing coursework is not the same as showing mastery of skills and knowledge in the state standards for such classes.

At Tuesdays meeting of the board, members wrestled with whether they need to provide more guidance to districts by setting out definitions of whats meant by the language in the new law.

Districts have reached to me and asked, what does mastery mean? said associate education commissioner Rob Curtin in a presentation on Tuesday to the board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without such definitions, there will be no consistency in how districts judge whether students have met the state competency determination to graduate.

But if the board were to craft definitions, it would open a whole new can of worms with the state education department tasked with monitoring compliance with the standard by hundreds of school districts, said Matt Hills, the boards vice chair. Its really hard for me to see options that avoid creating a whole bureaucratic role for the department, he said.

Curtin said an early look at how districts are interpreting the ballot question wording shows that fears of inconsistent standards are well-founded. Some districts, he said, have decided that completing first-year algebra will satisfy the math requirement going forward, while others have concluded that students must complete first-year algebra and geometry.

So just right there you have a difference in what it means to receive the competency determination for students in different districts, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order earlier this month establishing a state graduation council to develop recommendations for a uniform state graduation standard in the wake of the vote on MCAS. But until any new law or policy is in place, the state will be struggling to make do in what education board chair Katherine Craven called a Hades-esque type of limbo.

Hills proposed that the board provide districts with two options. The first, he said, would be to follow definitions that the state board establishes related to mastery of coursework. Since that could mean submitting a plan that the state determines is not in compliance with the standard, Hills said the board should make clear that districts can opt out of that path and simply decide to use a passing score on the 10th grade MCAS test as a measure of mastery of the subject areas. (Students will still take MCAS in 10th grade even after the vote to end its use as a statewide graduation requirement.)

While some superintendents may be concerned about resurrecting the MCAS test as the graduation standard following the statewide vote, Hills said they may be a whole lot worse than concerned once they see the regulations the state adopts concerning course mastery. Were putting definitions on things that were not put in the law to have definitions applied to them by the state, he said of the dilemma the state board is now facing.

A more immediate conundrum, Hills said, concerns the roughly 1,500 students now in 12th grade who did not pass the 10th grade MCAS test but also dont appear to have completed courses that would fit any definition of whats required under the ballot question language. There is no reasonable, magical solution there, said Hills, adding that the state education commissioner may have to grant these students some kind of waiver from any graduation requirement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Craven said she may schedule a special meeting of the board to continue the conversation on the graduation standard. She has repeatedly emphasized that it is one of the boards biggest responsibilities in meeting its obligation, set out in the state constitution, to assure learning in its public schools.

Not mincing words over the current situation, Craven said, Its a mess right now.

This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
WASHINGTON (AP)  A Massachusetts man was arrested on weapons charges after he visited the U.S. Capitol on Monday and told police that he wanted to kill top Republicans, including billionaire investor Scott Bessent on the day that the Senate confirmed him as President Donald Trumps treasury secretary, according to a Tuesday court filing.

Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, was arrested at the Capitol after he approached police and said he had knives and Molotov cocktails in his possession and wanted to surrender, according to a Capitol police officers affidavit. Investigators said they found a folding knife, two homemade firebombs and a lighter in Englishs possession.

English also told police that he came there to kill Bessent, the affidavit says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate confirmed Bessent on a 68-to-29 vote, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the South Carolina resident.

Investigators searched Englishs car and found material for making a homemade explosive device, police said.

English told investigators that he traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., intending to kill other Republican political figures  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson  and to burn down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, according to police.

These actions were specifically to depose these political offices and send a message, the affidavit says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

English changed his target to Bessent after reading an internet post about his confirmation hearing, according to police.

English was arrested on charges of unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm and of carrying a firearm, a dangerous weapon, an explosive or an incendiary device on Capitol grounds.

Court records dont name an attorney for English. A telephone message left with a possible relative of English wasnt immediately returned.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (WFRV)  Multiple agencies in Wisconsin announced on Wednesday that 14 people were arrested for participating in a large drug trafficking operation in the Milwaukee area.

According to a post from the West Allis Police Department, a 60-count criminal complaint was issued in Milwaukee County which charges 19 people with manufacturing and delivering fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

Wisconsin Police K-9 credited with de-escalating potentially domestic abuse sitaution

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The complaint also included the following charges:

2nd Degree reckless endangerment

Firearm possession by a felon

Conspiracy to deliver cocaine and fentanyl

Bail Jumping

Narcotics possession

Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place.

Early in the morning on Wednesday, 11 residential search warrants and a business search warrant were executed in the following cities:

Milwaukee

Wauwatosa

Cudahy

Brown Deer

As a result of these search warrants, 14 arrests were made along with the recovery of a kilogram of cocaine, several ounces of fentanyl and 12 guns. One of the guns was modified to create a fully automatic weapon. A 3D printer was located in one of the residences with a ghost gun.

West Allis Police Department West Allis Police Department West Allis Police Department

The investigation also revealed that two people involved in the drug trafficking ring were killed via homicide on December 23, 2024. The homicide suspect was identified as Valentin Santana who was located around 100th and Oklahoma Avenue near Milwaukee shortly after.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers from the Milwaukee Police Department tried to pull him over; however, Santana allegedly fled and led them on a 9-mile chase before he was apprehended after a crash and short foot pursuit.

Santana is charged in a separate complaint from the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office on two counts of 1st-degree reckless homicide including conspiracy to deliver cocaine from this investigation.

West Allis Police Chief commended the departments involved, adding that they will continue to hold people accountable for drug trafficking.

The law enforcement officers of the West Allis Police Department are committed to vigorously investigating individuals who engage in drug trafficking to hold them accountable for their destructive actions in our community, West Allis Police Chief Patrick Mitchell said via the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Milwaukee County District Attorney added to the statements as well, mentioning the efforts of the West Allis Police Department and the many agencies that played a key role.

Wisconsin man, Iowa woman arrested after traffic stop yields significant amount of illegal drugs

I want to thank the West Allis Police Department for its commitment to leading this multi-jurisdictional investigation into significant drug trafficking within Milwaukee County. Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern said in the release.

The following individuals are among the arrests made on Wednesday as well as the people who have been charged thus far:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

41-year-old Thomas M. Brown of Milwaukee

42-year-old Steven Gruetzmacher of East Troy

34-year-old Mohammad Mahmood of Milwaukee

49-year-old Pamela M. Malvick of Germantown

32-year-old Ladarius D. Marshall of Milwaukee

25-year-old John K. McKay Jr. of Milwaukee

22-year-old Koriayon J. McKay of Milwaukee

29-year-old Joshua D. Patton of Milwaukee

21-year-old Terrion L. Pierce of Wauwatosa

47-year-old Todd L. Seidl of Cudahy

29-year-old Malik R. Taylor of Milwaukee

Multiple others who were arrested have not yet been charged, and police are still looking for numerous others who may be involved with this drug ring.

The West Allis Police Department investigated along with the following agencies:

Wisconsin Department of Justice  Division of Criminal Investigation

Waukesha County Sheriffs Office

Washington County Sheriffs Office

Milwaukee Police Department

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

North-Central High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program

Wisconsin police officer, community member use social media to help recover stolen bicycle

In addition, these agencies assisted in search warrant executions and arrests: warrant and arrest 

South Shore SWAT

St. Francis Police Department

Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office

United States Marshals Service

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Department of Homeland Security

Germantown Police Department

Wisconsin State Patrol

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.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its plans to pause federal grants and other funding for certain programs.

Mayes, a Democrat, said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon she had joined 21 other states in bringing the case, at about the same time a judge in a separate but similar case temporarily blocked the Trump administration's policy from going into effect.

Mayes outlined how a cutoff of federal funding could affect programs that help low-income residents pay their utility bills and afford child care, among other programs. She suggested hypocrisy in that Trump has declared drug cartels terrorist organizations, while attempting to cut off federal money that helps her office and local law enforcement go after traffickers.

Advertisement Advertisement

"This action will immediately and irreparably harm the very people who placed their trust in Trump when they cast their ballot for him in November," Mayes said.

On Monday, the White House budget office issued a memo announcing a two-week pause on federal grants and assistance to allow for a review to ensure spending aligns with the Trump administration's priorities, Reuters reported.

Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote that "to the extent permissible under applicable law, federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be impacted by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal."

The announcement sent state government leaders in Arizona scrambling to understand the effect of the funding pause and drew immediate pushback from Democratic leaders. Mayes predicted dire consequences if the policy cuts off funding for hospitals and rural health clinics, even temporarily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Without these services, rural Arizonans are going to die," the attorney general said.

The White House clarified on Tuesday the spending pause would not impact programs such as food stamps, Social Security and Medicare, assistance that goes directly to individuals, USA TODAY reported.

The Trump administration's pause has generated two lawsuits. One was brought by six Democrat-led states  New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island  and is the case that Mayes and 15 other states joined. The other lawsuit was filed by a group of nonprofits, health care and small business groups.

Mayes said early Tuesday, hours before she announced her office's legal action, that she was reviewing the federal spending pause. She pledged to stand up to the Trump administration before the president was sworn into office for his second term, and in less than two weeks has made good on that promise.

Advertisement Advertisement

The case brought by the states and filed in Rhode Island alleges the Trump administrations funding pause violates federal administrative procedures law and the constitution. Mayes said the Trump administration cannot unilaterally withhold funds that have been appropriated by Congress.

Any amount of time, any pause that Donald Trump puts on our ability to fight the fentanyl crisis and to avert the Mexican drug cartels is unacceptable and does real harm, real tangible harm to the people of Arizona, she said.

Last week, Mayes and other state attorneys general took the Trump administration to court over an executive order ending automatic citizenship for people born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. A federal judge in Seattle handed Mayes and the other Democratic prosecutors a win just a few days later, blocking the order that the judge wrote was "blatantly unconstitutional."

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mayes among attorneys general suing over Trump freezing federal aid
One of Mayor Adams attorneys vehemently denied Wednesday that the mayor has any plans to resign, batting down rumors that have bubbled up over the past few days as he remains hunkered down at home with a health issue.

Hes not resigning, Alex Spiro, Adams lead criminal defense lawyer, told reporters outside Manhattan Federal Court after a confidential discovery hearing in the mayors corruption case.

Completely false, Spiro added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawyer declined to discuss what came up in the closed-door court hearing, which focused on classified national security information that has emerged in the mayors case charging him with taking bribes and illegal campaign cash from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors. Federal prosecutors wrote in court papers earlier this month that since the mayors September indictment theyve uncovered additional criminal conduct he allegedly engaged in.

Adams, who didnt attend Wednesdays hearing, has pleaded not guilty and is supposed to stand trial in April. The mayor maintains he has done nothing wrong and that he plans to seek reelection this year.

Chatter among city politicos about resignation rumors picked up steam after the mayors office announced late Sunday that Adams would clear most of his public schedule this week because hes not feeling well.

The mayors office has declined to share details about his condition other than to say its not serious and that the mayor is resting at his Gracie Mansion home while undergoing routine medical screenings throughout the week.

Kayla Mamelak, Adams City Hall press secretary, affirmed the lawyers statement Wednesday afternoon.

Spiros statement sums it up best, she said.
An Illinois mayor became embroiled in a massive brawl at a town meeting when someone in attendance reportedly called her a b***h.

The fight broke out at the Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday evening and saw Supervisor Tiffany Heynard lose a shoe and get thrown to the ground.

After the comment was directed towards her by activist Jedidiah Brown, Henyards boyfriend, Kamal Woods, confronted the man, causing the scuffle to break out, according to FOX32.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Henyard, who also holds the position of Mayor of Dolton, reportedly pushed her table to one side and rushed to the back of the room where she allegedly got involved in the brawl, the outlet reported.

Security officers swiftly broke up the squabble and police arrived and at least one person was escorted out, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Police said they had not made any arrests after the incident.

This weeks incident was caught on video and shows numerous attendees joining the altercation as few bystanders attempt to break it up. The Independent has contacted Heynards office for comment.

Her lawyers said on Tuesday that Heynard had been verbally assaulted, and her personal safety threatened at the meeting.

Tiffany Heynards photo on the Village of Doltons website (Village of Dolton)

On Wednesday morning, trustees issued the following comments about the incident: We are deeply disturbed by the events that transpired during last nights board meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As public officials, we are entrusted with leading through professionalism, integrity and respect. What began as a productive discussion on critical community matters descended into chaos and violence, behavior that has no place in Thornton Township and will not be tolerated.

Henyard has become embroiled in controversy after her government reportedly went millions of dollars into debt without explanation from her office. On Monday, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed findings of an investigation into Henyards alleged mismanagement of village finances.

Lightfood found Henyard allegedly mismanaged funds through excessive spending, hid financial information from trustees and the public and disregarded transparency guardrails.

Beginning at least as early as late 2021, there was a concerted, systematic effort on behalf of Mayor Henyard and others in her administration to hide the true financial condition of the Village of Dolton from the trustees and from members of the public, Lightfoot recently told local officials.

Among the findings were $779,000 in village debt without receipts or an explanation of what was bought and a $171,000 bill for unexplained travel expenses to Las Vegas for a convention held by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Additionally, Henyards government reportedly spent $51,000 on area restaurants and simply wrote them off as meals or doughnuts.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is pushing for a fentanyl state of emergency ordinance, fulfilling a key campaign promise as he addresses the citys ongoing overdose crisis. Mayor Lurie presented his proposal to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of making San Francisco safer by tackling the fentanyl crisis, which led to 1,400 overdose deaths last year.

It is a public crisis, Mayor Lurie stated during his appearance on the KRON 4 Morning News, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

San Francisco ICE office vows to enforce immigration laws with deportations

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposed ordinance would enable the mayors office to solicit donations from the private sector to address issues such as homelessness, overdoses and public safety. It also aims to expedite hiring and contracting processes to clear obstacles in tackling the crisis.

As Mayor Lurie continues to advocate for his ordinance, the focus remains on cleaning up the streets of San Francisco and ensuring the citys long-term viability.

All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On her first day back at City Hall after giving birth to her third child, Mira, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu finds herself a focal point in the Trump Administrations new immigration policies.

On Monday, the powerful Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform invited Wu, to Washington to testify about Bostons designation as a sanctuary city.

The letter, which threatens withholding federal aid says in part, Sanctuary jurisdictions and their misguided and obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrestsmaking America less safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At Boston City Hall Mayor Wu said of the invitation, shes thinking about it.

We are still reviewing the letter and working through what all the details will be as far as a response and when that happens, Wu said.

Chicagos Mayor also received the same invitation. Just like Boston, his legal team is reviewing it.

Were going to get through this moment, and were going to get through it together, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters.

The House Committee invitation comes a week after ICE conducted an immigration crackdown in East Boston

Because Boston is a sanctuary city, ICE acted alone, neither Boston Police, nor any other local law enforcement agency could help in the action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Wu said no matter what the House Committee does, thats not going to change.

It seems if DC is going to play politics, let them do what theyre doing. Were going to stay focused on serving our communities here, locally, Wu said.

The House Committee is also asking Boston to produce documentation related to its sanctuary city policies.

That hearing will take place in two weeks, on February 11th.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Gov. Joe Lombardo issued a statement Tuesday to clarify what is and is not affected by executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.

The Office of the Governor is in communication with the White House and will participate in a larger meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the potential impacts to state agencies. While these discussions are ongoing, its important to reiterate that programs that provide direct benefits to Nevadans  like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Head Start  are continuing without interruption, Lombardo said in a social media post on X.

Despite the shameless political theater on this issue, the Office of the Governor will continue to provide state agencies and Nevadans with timely, accurate, and correct information, the statement said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated specifically that SNAP benefits and student loans are explicitly excluded from any pause in funding.

Nevada leaders, agencies respond to federal funding pause: Ill defeat him in court

The memo disputes the belief that pauses in funding are across the board. Instead, any pause applies expressly to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest. See the text of the full memo below for clarification.

Office of Management and Budget memo:

In implementing President Trumps Executive Orders, OMB issued guidance requesting that agencies temporarily pause, to the extent permitted by law, grant, loan or federal financial assistance programs that are implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders.

Any program not implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders is not subject to the pause.

The Executive Orders listed in the guidance are:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Protecting the American People Against Invasion

Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid

Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements

Unleashing American Energy

Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEl Programs and Preferencing

Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

Enforcing the Hyde Amendment

Any program that provides direct benefits to individuals is not subject to the pause.

The guidance establishes a process for agencies to work with OMB to determine quickly whether any program is inconsistent with the Presidents Executive Orders. A pause could be as short as day. In fact, OMB has worked with agencies and has already approved many programs to continue even before the pause has gone into effect.

Any payment required by law to be paid will be paid without interruption or delay.

Q: Is this a freeze on all Federal financial assistance?

A: No, the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEl, the green new deal, and funding nongovemmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans?

A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the Presidents Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments.

Q: Is the pause of federal financial assistance an impoundment?

A: No, it is not an impoundment under the Impoundment Control Act. It is a temporary pause to give agencies time to ensure that financial assistance conforms to the policies set out in the Presidents Executive Orders, to the extent permitted by law.

Temporary pauses are a necessary part of program implementation that have been ordered by past presidents to ensure that programs are being executed and funds spent in accordance with a new Presidents policies and do not constitute impoundments.

Q: Why was this pause necessary?

A: To act as faithful stewards of taxpayer money, new administrations must review federal programs to ensure that they are being executed in accordance with the law and the new Presidents policies.

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.
Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) holds a letter from Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates in support of legislation, during testimony Tuesday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) told a Senate panel Tuesday that her bill to increase avenues to parole for elderly or ailing incarcerated individuals is not a get-out-of-jail free card but is about fairness.

It is relying on the expertise and the experience of the Maryland parole commissioners who take these decisions very, very seriously and have the responsibility for balancing public safety with humanity and meting out justice, Hettleman said in testimony to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joanna Mupanduki seess it differently.

Mupanduki, the deputy director for the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center, said the Hettlemans bill would traumatize victims, or their loved one, who would be forced to relive the crime every time an inmate came up for parole under the bill.

Every time it brings up bad memories for them. They have to walk through the worst situations in their lives, said Mupanduki, also an attorney, who testified virtually. There are crimes that are worthy of a life sentence and more people should be serving more than 15 years for the loss of an innocent life.

This is the fourth year that Hettleman has tried to pass her bill, Senate Bill 181, which would reform the rules for Marylands medical and geriatric parole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the bill, an incarcerated individual who is 60 years old and has served as least 15 years of his sentence but who is not registered as a sex offender, could apply for parole.

Someone could apply for a medical parole, if a medical professional first determined that the incarcerated individual is chronically debilitated or incapacitated or has a disease or condition with an end-of-life trajectory. Certain conditions would include dementia or a severe or permanent medical or cognitive disability that prevents the person from completing more than one activity or daily living.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The medical and geriatric parole options would only be available to those whose sentences allow for the possibility of parole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those eligible under the bill can request a hearing before the states Parole Commission to consider whether to grant a person parole. A person considered for parole may request a hearing every two years.

The measure has two major supporters: the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and Attorney General Anthony Brown (D).

Currently, the Parole Commission has the authority to grant parole based on several factors, such as circumstances of the crime committed, physical and mental state of the incarcerated individual and any progress made by that person while in prison.

Ernest Eley Jr., whos been chair of the commission for about eight months, said the current parole structure has permitted one person to be released on geriatric parole in the last 10 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Eley, who testified Tuesday in support of the bill, said about 1,100 individuals aged 60 and older are currently incarcerated, and about 760 of them have served at least 15 years in prison, which would make them eligible for parole under Hettlemans bill.

In terms of medical parole, Eley said it makes the commission more vigilant to assess whether a parole applicant deserves to be released.

When questioned by Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery), Eley said the commission currently has seven members, which is noted on the state code website.

But Smith pointed out that state statute calls for 10 members on the commission. Eley confirmed thats the correct figure Tuesday because he said the commission currently has three vacancies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members are appointed by the secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, then approved by the governor with consent from the Senate. Smith asked how close is the commission to filling those three vacancies.

Very close, said Eley, who added names are being vetted by the governors office.

Smith wondered if, fully staffed, the commission might be able to process more applications without an overhaul of the law.

A fully empaneled parole board and just a minor change in the regs would go a long way helping to expedite our processes here, Smith said.

A hearing on the House version sponsored by Del. J. Sandy Bartlett (D-Anne Arundel) will be held Feb. 4 before the Judiciary Committee, which she serves as vice chair.
Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is the elder daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

She was named after her great-aunt who died in a plane crash.

She has not publicly commented on her father's nomination for health secretary.

Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy became the latest young Kennedy to make headlines when she was linked to actor Ben Affleck last summer, but she's more widely known as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s eldest daughter.

Kennedy Jr. could lead the Department of Health and Human Services in President Donald Trump's new administration if he gets enough votes following Wednesday's confirmation hearing.

Kennedy Jr. had previously announced his candidacy for president before breaking from family tradition by supporting Trump, the Republican candidate, in the 2024 presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Multiple members of his family, including his cousin Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, have publicly condemned his nomination. However, his children  he has four sons and two daughters  have not publicly commented on his nomination.

And while his eldest daughter, Kick Kennedy, has not spoken out about her father's political ventures, she has made headlines for different reasons in recent months.

Here's what you need to know about Kick Kennedy, a member of the newest generation of America's most famous political dynasty.

Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is 36 years old.

Kick's father, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., married his third wife, Cheryl Hines, in 2014. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

She was born in 1988 and is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Emily Ruth Black, his first wife and the mother of his two oldest children. (RFK Jr. is now married to his third wife, Cheryl Hines.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kick Kennedy hasn't commented on her father's political endeavors, though other Kennedy family members have.

She was named after her great-aunt who died in a tragic plane crash.

John F. Kennedy and Kathleen Kennedy in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1934. Corbis/Getty Images

Kick Kennedy's namesake, Kathleen "Kick" Agnes Cavendish, was born in 1920. She was the daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy and the sister of John F. Kennedy.

Just months after getting married in 1944, her husband was tragically killed in combat. Following his death, she entered into a relationship with Earl Peter Wentworth Fitzwilliam, a married man, People reported.

The couple planned to travel to Paris to seek her father's approval, but their 10-seat plane encountered severe turbulence and crashed in the mountains between Paris and Cannes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both she and the earl, who was piloting the aircraft, died instantly. She was only 28 years old. A write-up in The Atlantic said only her father attended her funeral.

She has five siblings, four of whom are half siblings from her father's second marriage to Mary Richardson.

Her father, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has six children from two marriages. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

The younger Kick Kennedy has one biological sibling from her father's first marriage to Emily Ruth Black: Robert "Bobby" Kennedy III, 39.

Her half siblings include Conor Kennedy, 30; Kyra Kennedy, 29; William Finbar Kennedy, 27; and Aidan Caohman Vieques Kennedy, 23.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. married Cheryl Hines, his third wife, in 2014. They have no children together, though she has a 20-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After her half-brother Conor was linked to Taylor Swift in 2012, Kick called the star "really sweet."

Her half brother Conor Kennedy dated Taylor Swift in 2012. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though the relationship was short-lived, Swift was spotted spending time with Conor and the Kennedy family at their compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, in summer 2012.

"She's really sweet. It was a moment, really," Kick Kennedy told the New York Post in 2014 when asked what it was like for the superstar to date her brother. "But we always have exciting things going on  exciting people to meet."

Swift and Conor Kennedy's relationship reportedly ended in October 2012, though the fling may have inspired a few songs on her fourth studio album, "Red."

Her own dating life has been pretty low profile.

Kick Kennedy dated Matthew Mellon, left, in 2018 before he died. Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Kick Kennedy dated Paul Simon's son Harper in 2014, E! News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She later dated Matthew Mellon, a member of the wealthy Mellon family, before he died on his way to a drug treatment facility in 2018, People reported.

Outlets reported earlier this month that she was getting to know Ben Affleck in the wake of his very public divorce from Jennifer Lopez.

Page Six reported that the two had been spotted together at the Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel, though Affleck's representative told People the two weren't dating.

The rumors about Ben Affleck led the internet to discover a disturbing story Kick Kennedy once shared about her dad during an interview.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. petting a whale in Mexico in 1997. Bob Carey/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Following the reports about Affleck, people clamored to find out more about the lesser-known member of the Kennedy clan. A 2012 profile of Kick Kennedy in Town & Country included a particularly wild story about her father.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kick Kennedy told the magazine that when she was 6 years old, her father decapitated a dead whale they'd found on a beach near the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. She didn't share why her father wanted the whale head but said he "likes to study animal skulls and skeletons."

Problems arose when the family began making the five-hour drive from Hyannis to their home in New York with the whale head strapped to the roof of their minivan.

"Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet," she said.

She said that to deal with the leaking whale juice, "we all had plastic bags over our heads with mouth holes cut out."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"People on the highway were giving us the finger," she added. "But that was just normal day-to-day stuff for us."

It's a bizarre story, but it isn't the only time Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been in the news for questionable behavior involving animals.

In 2014, he took a dead bear cub from the road and posed with it in a photo as a "prank." The incident made local headlines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he'd "been picking up roadkill my whole life," NBC reported earlier this month. "I have a freezer full of it," he said.

She's acted in several television shows over the years.

Kick Kennedy worked on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Gossip Girl." Andrew Toth/Getty Images

Kick Kennedy has appeared in several one-off episodes of popular shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Gossip Girl," and "The Newsroom."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also acted in an off-Broadway play in 2014, which "Today" called a "modern retelling" of Sophocles' "Antigone."

"I'm really lucky," she told The Associated Press at the time. "I've grown a lot just studying this part and I hope I can do it justice. I couldn't really ask for a better story to tell right now. It's just sort of magical that everything fell into place."

She's since shied away from the spotlight to focus on philanthropy.

Kick Kennedy works on philanthropic causes. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Kick Kennedy is a member of the founders' circle of the charity Well Beings, an organization that focuses on "the well-being of animals, people, and the planet," according to the company's mission statement.

While she's a member of one of the country's most famous and influential political families, she has spoken publicly about not wanting to rely on her pedigree to get ahead.

"People ask me, 'What's it like to be a Kennedy?'" Kick Kennedy said in a 2014 interview with the New York Post. "Maybe it's just the temperature of the water, but I'm just like, 'I have no idea.'"

"When I see my face or name in the tabloids, I get a knot in my stomach. It's just not me  it's reading something that's not real," she added.

She has, for now, a relatively modest 27,000 followers on Instagram.

Correction  January 30, 2025: An earlier version of this article misstated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s relationship to Caroline Kennedy. She is his cousin, not his aunt.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A fire damaged vehicle after three days ago it struck an above-ground valve causing a large pipeline fire, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Deer Park. The death of a 51-year-old man who authorities said crashed his SUV into a natural gas pipeline in Deer Park in September has been ruled a suicide, authorities said. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The death of a 51-year-old man who authorities said crashed his SUV into a natural gas pipeline in Deer Park in September has been ruled a suicide, according to the the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

First reported by the Houston Landing, the agency found that La Porte resident Jonathan McEvoy Sr., identified by Deer Park officials as the driver of the 2022 Lexus NX350 that crashed into an above-ground pipeline valve Sept. 16, died by suicide. The crash caused a fire that burned for more than three days and prompted evacuations in the area.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Emergency vehicles line Spencer Highway responding to a pipeline fire near Spencer and Summerton on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in La Porte. The fire caused road closures and shelter-in-place advisories Monday afternoon in the area, with evacuations to homes and businesses in the immediate area near the fire site. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The institute was not immediately available for comment and had not publicly shared any information regarding how it arrived at this conclusion Tuesday evening.

Although a police spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle in late September that McEvoy's body was burned beyond recognition in the blaze, a Deer Park news release said investigators identified him using a technique called radiography comparison.

The technique, according to a study published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, uses x-ray scans of skeletal remains for identification. Similar to a fingerprint, an individuals bone structure is unique and can be used even in advanced states of decomposition to determine identity.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrived at his confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Health and Human Services ready for battleand wasted no time rallying a demographic that has been among his most loyal soldiers.

To the members of this committee, to the president, and to all the tens of millions of parents across Americaespecially the momswho have propelled this issue to center stage, Kennedy said in his opening remarks Wednesday, should I be so privileged as to be confirmed, we will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods.

"We will create an honest, unbiased, science-driven HHS, accountable to the President, to Congress, and to the American people."



RFK Jr.'s opening statement in his confirmation hearing for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.



WATCH: https://t.co/AF0caOM2TI pic.twitter.com/xmdrsh3F7o  MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 29, 2025

Paying respect to Americas mothers wasnt just a throwaway remark on Kennedys part. Make America Healthy Again, the Cabinet nominees twist on Donald Trumps infamous slogan, has become a rallying cry for a specific strain of health-conscious moms across the country, united in their disdain for Red No. 40, seed oils, and microplastics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The highest-profile MAHA momsan assortment of health bloggers, media pundits, and celebritieshave earned close access to Kennedy. A number of them were even able to savor his shout-out in person.

Here are the key RFK Jr.-loving MAHA moms who trekked to Washington, D.C. to offer their faithtful support at his confirmation hearing.

Jessica Reed Kraus

Jessica Reed Kraus speaks at the 2024 Young Women's Leadership Summit. / Gage Skidmore / Gage Skidmore/Flickr

One-time mommyblogger Jessica Reed Kraus, who emerged as a pseudo political reporter and right-wing media darling during Trumps campaign, documented her up-close view of Kennedys confirmation for her Instagram following of over 1.3 million.

As author of the Substack House Inhabit, Reed Kraus shares her vaccine skepticism, celebrity gossip, and glowing coverage of Kennedy and Trump to an audience of about 400,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The latter has brought her close to Kennedy, who is all over Reed Krauss Instagram. She followed him on the campaign trail while he was a long-shot Independent candidate for president. She also tags along on Kennedys outdoorsy outingstaking part in hikes, falconry, and a boat trip.

Cheryl Hines

Cheryl Hines watches her husband testify during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Seated visibly behind RFK Jr. at his confirmation hearing was his wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines. Despite Kennedys bombshell sexting scandal with political reporter Olivia Nuzzi, which broke in September, Hines has continued to stand by her husband. (In the weeks that followed the revelation, there were reports that Hines was considering divorce.)

Since her husband was tapped by Trump, Hines has embraced the MAHA movementeven going so far as to use the label to hawk soy candles produced by her lifestyle company, Hines + Young. The marketing campaign for that effort included a bizarre video of RFK Jr. half naked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If there was any question of Hiness dedication to her husband, NBC News reported last week that she has agreed to shut down sales of her companys inventory if Kennedy is confirmed.

Megyn Kelly

Megyn Kelly attends the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alongside Hines at the hearing was outspoken right-wing media pundit Megyn Kelly. The former Fox News host, who is a mother of three, has made no secret of her support for Trumpand the fealty seems to extend to his Cabinet picks.

In a Tuesday video revealing to the audience of her YouTube show that she would be in attendance at the hearing, she credited her March 2022 interview with Kennedy as a key reason he became Trumps nominee at all.

I would like to take a peek at what they do to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kelly said. I feel like this show and he have somewhat of a special relationship, since I think even he would tell you: He probably wouldnt be there this week if it werent for the four hours we did with him.

Marla Maples

Marla Maples attends the

Donald Trumps second wife (and the mother of Tiffany Trump), television personality Martha Maples, was also at the hearing, appearing in an Instagram story posted by Reed Kraus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the COVID pandemic, Maples reshared a conspiracy theory posted to Instagram by RFK Jr.seemingly suggesting that billionaire Bill Gates was somehow using COVID vaccines to implant tracking devices in people.

Maples, who moonlights as a wellness influencer, also pushed Vitamin C IV drips and morning prayer as defenses against the virus.

She appears to be personally close with Kennedy, posing alongside him and Hines while celebrating her ex-husbands 2024 election victory at Mar-a-Lago.

Vani Hari

Vani Hari holds signs that say Label GMOs during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Rounding out Kennedys entourage of MAHA moms was author-activist-influencer Vani Hari, also known by her Instagram handle The Food Babe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hari, who rails against additives and ultraprocessed foods, has been accused by critics of spreading food pseudoscience.

She told the Atlantic in 2015 that there is just no acceptable level of chemical to ingest, ever, perhaps overlooking dihydrogen monoxide.

She brought her daughter along for the visit to Capitol Hill, as documented on her Instagram.

Taking her on a trip of a lifetime and to watch first hand what it takes to stand up to corruption, she wrote in the posts caption. Washington, DC her we come.
Melbourne City Council members held a heated meeting Tuesday to discuss a proposal to speed up the closure of the Daily Bread soup kitchen at 815 Fee Avenue.

During the meeting, business owners, residents, and city council members voiced frustrations with the non-profit and demanded its immediate closure.

Residents who spoke at the meeting blamed the Daily Bread soup kitchen and day center for attracting the homeless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey even claimed other cities were bringing those experiencing homelessness to Melbourne in part because of the Daily Bread.

Read: Florida lawmakers pass sweeping immigration bill to help with Trump crackdown

The non-profit was called to answer tough questions from councilmembers during the meeting, during which the Executive Director of Daily Bread said he supported a shift in the organizations mission.

A soup kitchen, as we all agree, is an antiquated model. Its not solving the need, said Jeff Njus, Daily Bread, Executive Director, Were very happy and confident moving forward with a focus addressing the housing crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A proposed plan for accelerating the closure of the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen states the current operation has become Increasingly untenable, creating significant challenges for staff, the surrounding community, and the individuals served.

Read: Sen. Randy Fine wins special primary election in race to replace Rep. Michael Waltz

The organization proposed shifting its focus to affordable housing by launching a new scattered-site housing program modeled after the Melbourne Bridge Housing Program implemented during the COVID-19 Emergency.

The program would serve 15- 20 of the most vulnerable unsheltered individuals and would move them into housing with wrap-around support services to help individuals achieve stability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That program is estimated to cost about $600,000 a year. The Daily Bread said the program would require approximately three months to develop but would be launched within the year.

Read: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans

The Daily Bread said the Scattered site housing program would begin while the organization worked on opening an affordable housing project that would bring online 80 units to serve homeless families, called Providence Place.

Anyone staying at Providence Place would be provided wrap-around services, would be given workforce development, and would have to pay at least some rent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That project would take at least two years to develop and could be built on vacant land at 850 Apollo Blvd. in Melbourne.

City Council ultimately pushed many decisions on the Daily Breads proposal to a workshop that will be held on February 14th.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Six transgender active-duty service members and two former service members who seek reenlistment on Tuesday filed the first lawsuit challenging President Donald Trumps executive order that calls for revising policy on transgender troops and probably sets the stage for banning them in the armed forces.

Trumps order, signed Monday, claims the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle and is harmful to military readiness. It requires Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to issue a revised policy.

Army Capt. Gordon Herrero, one of the six active-duty plaintiffs, said in a statement accompanying the lawsuit: Theres nothing about being transgender that makes me better or worse than any other soldier I serve alongside. We are all here because we are committed to our country, and we are passionate, willing, and able to serve effectively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The six plaintiffs include a Sailor of the Year honoree, a Bronze Star recipient and several who were awarded meritorious service medals.

Ive spent more than half my life in the Army, including combat in Afghanistan, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Kate Cole. Removing qualified transgender soldiers like me means an exodus of experienced personnel."

The lawsuit is being filed by the same legal team that spent years during Trumps first administration fighting the Republicans ban on transgender troops, which the Supreme Court allowed to take effect even as the legal fight against it continued in the courts. Joe Biden scrapped the ban when he took office.

The lawsuit challenges the executive order on the basis of equal protection and argues that it reveals animus against a specific group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The law is very clear that the government cant base policies on disapproval of particular groups of people, said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Thats animus. And animus-based laws are presumed to be invalid and unconstitutional.

NCLR and GLAD Law filed the challenge to the executive order in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.

Sasha Buchert, counsel for Lambda Legal, said her group, along with the Human Rights Campaign, also plans to file a legal challenge.

The Pentagon said it does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation but will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is no official data on the number of transgender personnel in the military, but the number is probably in the thousands, Minter said. Unlike Trumps initial ban in 2017, the new executive order not only bans all transgender people from serving in the future but also would target those currently serving, Minter said.

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington.
When the Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton promises to punish local elected bodies for snubbing state legislators' priorities, believe him.

Sexton said Monday the state plans to take over the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board because members voted to fire Director of Schools Marie Feagins on Jan. 21. He suggested that the board's hostility to school choice prompted this takeover proposal.

Memphis-Shelby County might be the target today, but all those other Tennessee county school boards that said "no, thank you" to a statewide expansion of the Education Savings Account program, aka school vouchers, might be next.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But this should not be about teaching a lesson to a "rogue" elected body. The state of Tennessee should not be in the business of passing rushed, retaliatory legislation just to puff its chest and show its dominance.

Sadly, what this really is about is undoing the will of the people in communities large and small. It's all about petty politics among adults while children are struggling to learn and stay safe in school.

The state Constitution says that "all power is inherent in the people," but legislative leaders appear to be saying this is true as long as the people are obedient to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time lawmakers have sought to dim local communities' voices.

The will of local residents has been usurped repeatedly by lawmakers

In recent years, lawmakers have nullified local ordinances on topics ranging from inclusionary zoning requiring affordable housing in new developments to eliminating police oversight boards.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, listens to representatives in the House Chamber during the first day of Special Session at Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville , Tenn., Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.

Nashville voters approved its Community Oversight Board in 2018 with 60% of the vote, but the legislature decided in 2023 that the losing 40% side should have its way instead. In fact, all oversight boards statewide were axed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2022, the Nashville Metro Council's snub of the 2024 Republican National Convention caused so much ire that state lawmakers voted to shrink the size of the 40-member council in half and take more control over governance of several key boards such as for the convention center and the airport. Nashville pushed back with lawsuits and has prevailed in many cases.

Then, of course, there was the legislature's defenestration of the Tennessee State University board of trustees, replacing it with a new board with the charge to right-size the struggling historically Black college and university despite the state underfunding the school by at least $2 billion over the last several decades.

Sexton announced his plan for MSCS on KWAM's conservative radio program "Wake Up Memphis" Monday morning.

"Very likely, legislation will be filed that will null and void and the school board, the current school board, the state will take over the school system," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sexton thinks the school board has an "old" way of thinking and its refusal to accept broader school choice is at the heart of it.

Audience members chant Feagins in support of Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins during a special called meeting to vote whether or not to terminate Feagins contract in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

"I think they want to go back to the way it was, unfortunately. But you need to support choice," he said.

Sexton, who voted against school vouchers in 2019 before he was Speaker of the House, now is one of the biggest proponents of universal school vouchers, which failed to pass in 2024 in part due to opposition from local school boards and rural Republican legislators. Gov. Bill Lee hopes to get the Education Freedom Act, his signature piece of legislation, passed in the special legislative session that started Monday.

Address parents' concerns without abolishing the school board

Under the state Constitution, the "General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance, support and eligibility standards of a system of free public schools."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics of traditional public schools raise concerns about lackluster performance that doesn't seem to get significantly better over time. Gaps must be addressed to ensure children receive a quality education and be prepared to pursue opportunities that will benefit them and their families in the future.

Rather than abolish the present school board, instead, work with local stakeholders, community leaders and parents to address critical issues of concern that are most pressing for children's education and that engender more trust in local and state government.

But playing high-stakes political games while children are stuck in the middle does a disservice to the very stakeholders politicians claim they are defending. The children become collateral damage due to disruption in leadership and governance and because of heightened rhetoric that undermines the power of every-day citizens who voted to elect the members of their school board.

In a Jan. 22 guest essay in The Commercial Appeal, MSCS board member Natalie McKinney explained her concerns about Feagins' leadership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Leadership isnt just about individual programs; its about building trust, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the long-term success of a complex and interconnected system," McKinney wrote. "The challenges we face today raise serious questions about whether we have the right leadership to address these needs effectively."

McKinney was among the board members who voted to fire Feagins.

The board might come to regret that decision.

Sexton obviously does not agree with it, but the bullying and threats must stop.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee GOP shouldn't bully school boards over vouchers | Opinion
Meryl Streep jumped into action when an obstacle almost prevented her from evacuating her home as the deadly fires swept through Los Angeles this month.

The Oscar winners nephew, Abe Streep, wrote about her nerve-wracking escape in an article for New York Magazine about the fires published on Tuesday.

He revealed that when Streep, 75, tried to evacuate her home on January 8, one day after several wildfires began scorching the city, she was forced to cut a large enough hole in her fence to drive her car through after a tree blocked her only exit.

Meryl Streep attends the opening ceremony red carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. WireImage

Meryl Streep at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024. Getty Images

Evacuation mandates were sent across the city. My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit, her nephew, an author, wrote. Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Post reached out to the actress for comment.

Streeps rumored boyfriend, her Only Murders in the Building co-star, Martin Short, 74, also spoke to her nephew, detailing his struggle to escape his Pacific Palisades neighborhood after one of his sons warned him to evacuate his home.

Short took family photo albums and drove toward the Pacific Coast Highway in an attempt to flee  only to discover the exits from his neighborhood were clogged.

Meryl Streep at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024. CBS via Getty Images

An aerial view of the damage from the Palisades Fire along the shore of Malibu, California. Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He remained in his car, where it took him more than an hour to cover a distance that would normally take five minutes. Others abandoned their vehicles and began to walk. The skies darkened, turning day into night, Streeps nephew wrote.

He interviewed The Sixth Sense star Haley Joel Osment, too, following the wildfires that displaced tens of thousands of residents and took the lives of at least 29 people.

While several stars lost their homes in the Palisades Fire, Osment, 36, was affected by the Eaton Fire that took place over 40 miles away.

Meryl Streep at the 48th Chaplin Award Gala in 2023. Variety via Getty Images

A firefighter monitoring the flames during the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. AFP via Getty Images

Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a home during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025. Getty Images

The actor revealed he had returned from filming a new movie when the fire broke out near his home in Altadena.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Osment shared he lost the piano that his parents had given him for his eighteenth birthday and 500 records but plans to rebuild his property.

Haley Joel Osment attends the opening night of La Cage aux Folles. Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emergency vehicles are on the side of the road as flames from another Los Angeles wildfire race uphill. AFP via Getty Images

He also disclosed that his father lost his home.

Not to cast blame or anything, but I just want to know, when this is all investigated  was there a decision to just let the whole neighborhood go? Osment asked while speaking to New York Magazine.

Several people have sued the city of Los Angeles and the L.A. Department of Water and Power, including Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag.

The reality TV couple are suing over the damage to their $3 million house, which was destroyed in the Palisades wildfire.
Meryl Streep took matters into her own hands  literally  as wildfires rampaged across Los Angeles County earlier this month.

According to nephew Abe Streep, the Oscar-winning actor sprang into action after a fallen tree blocked her driveway as she tried to evacuate her home the day after wind-stoked fires broke out across the region. In his harrowing account of the historic fires in Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Hollywood that was published Tuesday in New York Magazine, Streep wrote that his aunt, 75, borrowed a neighbor's wire cutters and "cut a car-size hole in the fence" they shared.

The "Devil Wears Prada" star, "determined to make it out," then drove through her neighbor's yard to escape, her nephew recalled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Among thousands of Angelenos displaced by fires, celebrities face the same devastating losses

Meryl Streep was one of a handful of area residents whose experiences with the fires  which have claimed 29 lives and destroyed more than 15,000 structures  were told in the New York story. The younger Streep also spoke to a longtime West Altadena resident, a Palisades native and schoolteacher, actor Haley Joel Osment and his aunt's "Only Murders in the Building" co-star Martin Short, among others.

Short, who knew "right away" in the early years of his career that he would live in Pacific Palisades and bought there in 1984, told Abe Streep he "will definitely stay in my home," despite one of his sons losing a house. "The Sixth Sense" and "Blink Twice" star Osment said he and his parents lost their homes in the Eaton fire.

In one of the most destructive firestorms to hit Los Angeles County in recent memory, at least 130,000 Angelenos fled for safety  with celebrities among those reeling from the devastation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Were the rains enough to ease Southern California's fire threat? What we know

As of Tuesday morning, the Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires in L.A. County were 95%, 99% and 98% contained, respectively, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Containment of the Border 2 fire in San Diego County was listed at 74%. No homes burned in Hollywood's Sunset fire, which was fully contained on Jan. 9.

The rainstorm in recent days brought much-needed moisture to Southern California and welcome relief to fire-weary Angelenos. Ryan Kittell, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard, said Tuesday that while the amount of rainfall wasn't enough to prevent fire season from extending into February, "This was a largely beneficial rain.

"I think we dodged a bullet, he said. It helped with the firefights and definitely gives us a break from fire weather.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.

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.
Meryl Streep - Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meryl Streep is apparently level-headed during a crisis. The actresss nephew, Abe Streep, shared in an article for New York magazine that Streep had to go to extreme lengths to evacuate during the Los Angeles fires.

In the lengthy article, Abe described how the fires and the evacuations unfolded, affecting people across the city but primarily in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. He confirmed that Streep was forced to leave her home after evacuation mandates were sent out to more than 200,000 residents.

More from Rolling Stone

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on Jan. 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit, he wrote. Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.

Elsewhere in the article, Abe shared that actor Martin Short, Streeps costar in Only Murders in the Building and her rumored boyfriend, also had to evacuate from his home in Pacific Palisades. Short saw the flames from his balcony and evacuated after one of his sons, who lives nearby, urged him to leave. Traffic was backed up and it took the actor more than an hour to cover a distance that would normally take five minutes.

Shorts home did not burn down, but one of his sons houses was lost. Short told Abe, I will definitely stay in my home.

Abe also spoke with Haley Joel Osment, who lost his home in Altadena (as did his parents). Osment lost 500 records and a piano his parents had given him when he turned 18, Abe wrote. He told me his father was struggling with the loss of his home, having spent a decade sanding and refinishing the wood floors and painstakingly varnishing metal surfaces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He added that Osment hopes to get some clarity about what happened. Not to cast blame or anything, but I just want to know, when this is all investigated  was there a decision to just let the whole neighborhood go? Osment said in the article. The actor told Abe he plans to rebuild in the same place.

Beyond the known names, Abe spoke with numerous residents of both neighborhoods about their experiences. More than 10,000 homes have been lost during the blazes, which broke out in early January. Many people have stepped up to help in the wake of the destruction, including the music community, which is holding several upcoming benefit concerts for the victims of the fires. On Thursday, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll, Stevie Nicks, and Sting will be among the artists performing for FireAid at L.A.s Intuit Dome.

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
As containment and recovery from the wildfires in Southern California continue, many celebrities have shared harrowing stories about how they escaped the fires.

Now, Meryl Streep's nephew Abe Streep revealed the drastic action that the Oscar-winning actress had to take in order to leave her property after the area received an evacuation order at the start of January.

 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 

Abe wrote about his family's experience in a piece for New York Magazine, recounting the dangerous situation that Streep faced: "Evacuation mandates were sent across the city. My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In order to leave, Streep allegedly "borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape," as she was "determined to make it out."

Abe also wrote about other residents impacted by the wildfires, including a man named Jeff Lipsky, a photographer whose family's house managed to survive the fire. He reflected on the destruction as he said, "I dont ever want to see my house again. Its a toxic-waste dump...My community is gone. Its just a curse that my house is there.

Streep's home reportedly survived the fire, as did her co-star Martin Short's house. Abe spoke with the Only Murders in the Building actor as well, with Short declaring his intentions for the future as he said, I will definitely stay in my home. Unfortunately, the home of one of his sons was destroyed by the wildfires.

Next: Mamma Mia! All About Meryl Streep's Children With Estranged Husband Don Gummer
WASHINGTON (AP)  Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the company after it suspended his accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to three people familiar with the matter.

It's the latest instance of a large corporation settling litigation with the president, who has threatened retribution on his critics and rivals, and comes as Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, have joined other large technology companies in trying to ingratiate themselves with the new Trump administration.

The people familiar with the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity Wednesday to discuss the agreement. Two of the people said terms of the agreement include $22 million going to the nonprofit that will become Trump's future presidential library. The balance will go to legal fees and other litigants, they said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the settlement.

Zuckerberg visited Trump in November at his private Florida club to try to mend fences with the incoming president, something other technology, business and government officials have done as well. At the dinner, Trump brought up the litigation and suggested they try to resolve it, kick-starting two months of negotiations between the parties, the people said.

Meta also made a $1 million donation to Trumps inaugural committee, and Zuckerberg was among several billionaires granted prime seating during Trumps swearing-in last week in the Capitol Rotunda, along with Googles Sundar Pichai, Amazons Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who now owns the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Before Trump's inauguration, Meta announced it was dropping fact-checking on its platform  a longtime priority of Trump and his allies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump filed the lawsuit months after his first term ended, calling the action by the social media companies illegal, shameful censorship of the American people.

Twitter, Facebook and Google are all private companies, and users must agree to their terms of service to use their products. Under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, social media platforms are allowed to moderate their services by removing posts that, for instance, are obscene or violate the services own standards, so long as they are acting in good faith. The law also generally exempts internet companies from liability for the material that users post.

But Trump and some other politicians have long argued that X, Facebook and other social media platforms have abused that protection and should lose their immunity  or at least have it curtailed.

The Meta settlement comes after ABC News agreed last month to pay $15 million toward Trumps presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The network also agreed to pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trumps attorney, Alejandro Brito.

The settlement agreement describes ABCs presidential library payment as a charitable contribution, with the money earmarked for a nonprofit organization that is being established in connection with the yet-to-be-built library.

The president has been litigious in arguing that he has been targeted with unfair coverage by legacy media companies.

Trump has filed a lawsuit against CBS News over claims that the network aired a misleading interview with his 2024 opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, on the program 60 Minutes that amounted to partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference intended to "mislead the public and attempt to tip the scales." The program denied the claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And he has a lawsuit against The Des Moines Register, the news outlet's parent company, Gannett, and the Iowa newspaper's pollster Ann Selzer, alleging they violated the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act by releasing a poll days before the November election that significantly understated his support in the state. The paper and Selzer have denied wrongdoing.

___
Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle Donald Trumps lawsuit alleging censorship over the social media giants suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Meta did not respond to a request for comment. The White House declined to comment.

More from Variety

A source close to Trump confirmed that Meta will pay $25 million under the terms of the settlement. According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the settlement, $22 million of Metas payment will go toward a fund for Trumps presidential library. The remainder will go toward legal fees and the other plaintiffs who signed onto the case, per the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a court filing Wednesday, a lawyer for Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was named in Trumps lawsuit, said the parties have reached an agreement to settle the named plaintiffs individual claims and resolve this matter but didnt include details of the settlement.

In July 2021, Trump sued Meta (then called Facebook), Twitter and Google over the internet companies moves to suspend his accounts on their platforms. Trump alleged the actions were unconstitutional and violated his First Amendment rights, but that is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the U.S. Constitution actually says. The First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting free speech and does not apply to private companies.

Meta had on Jan. 7, 2021, suspended Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts for an indefinite time period, with Zuckerberg citing the potential for ongoing violence for the decision after Trump praised rioters who engaged in violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. We believe the risks of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Zuckerberg said at the time. Subsequently, the company said Trump would be banned for a two-year period.

In January 2023, Meta said it was reinstating Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zuckerberg has been cozying up to Trump since Trump won the 2024 presidential election. On Nov. 27, Zuckerberg traveled to Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to dine with the president-elect. Meta, at Zuckerbergs behest, donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund. In addition, in early January, Meta appointed UFC CEO Dana White  a close Trump friend  to its board.

Trumps lawsuit against Twitter (now X, owned by Elon Musk) was dismissed by a federal judge. His suit against Google was administratively closed in 2023 but could be reopened, the Journal noted.

 Gene Maddaus contributed to this article.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Leer en espanol

While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said there has been no "significant increase" in deportations from the United States to Mexico since Donald Trump took office last week, her government is readying border towns to meet the needs of immigrants, both nationals and non-nationals, being deported from the U.S.

In the first week of Trump's second term alone, Mexico received 4,094 deportees, "the vast majority of them Mexican men and women," Sheinbaum said Monday. Trump's hard stance on immigration is not something new, she said, with a long history of similar actions being taken by different administrations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to figures from the Mexican Government's Migration Policy Unit, in 2024, during Joe Biden's last year in office, 190,491 Mexican nationals were deported from the United States to Mexico, an average of 3,663 people per week. Deportation hit a peak during his term in 2022, with an average of 4,961 Mexicans deported per week.

This is not new for Mexico. Mexico has a very important history of repatriation in relation to the United States. Past presidents had it and President (Andres Manuel) Lopez Obrador had it... first with the Trump administration and then with the Biden administration, she said.

In order to meet this administration's demands, she directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase efforts at the northern border to assist deportees.

On Tuesday morning, Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez detailed the plan for the "Mexico embraces you" program, which includes opening 10 support centers in border cities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are ready and we are coordinated with the conviction of serving our countrymen with warmth and humanism. The care centers are already operating to provide them with a warm, orderly and safe reception," said Rodriguez.

Centers will be located in the following northern cities:

Tijuana and Mexicali, in Baja California

Nogales and San Luis Rio Colorado, in Sonora

Ciudad Juarez, in Chihuahua

Nueva Rosita, in Coahuila

El Carmen, in Nuevo Leon

Matamoros, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo, in Tamaulipas

Sheinbaum readies border towns as Trump carries out plans

When Trump took office on Jan. 20, Sheinbaum asked Mexicans living in the U.S. to stay calm and promised them her government would support them, both in the U.S. and when they should be forced to head back to their homeland.

"To our countrymen and women, I say, first of all, that they are not alone, and second, that they must remain calm, we must see how the process develops in the coming weeks," she said during a press conference just before Trump took oath as president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rodriguez announced the launch of the "Mexico embraces you" program that same morning, stating that its sole purpose was to help repatriated Mexicans navigate returning home, especially when many hadn't set foot in the country since they were children.

"We have been working for months since President Donald Trump announced that the deportation of Mexicans would take place. Of course, we do not agree, but, if it is done, they will be received with access to the welfare programs of the Mexican government, access to health services for them and their families, transportation to their places of origin, access to telephone communications, Rodriguez said.

With more than 1,250 staff available to run them, free services like transportation, meals and hygiene care will be offered, as well as other services like repatriation letters and identification processes.

The mayor of Nogales, Sonora, Juan Francisco Gim, said that the town bordering Arizona is ready to meet the needs of immigrants. We are prepared to receive deported migrants, although we do not know how many there will be. We have three spaces ready to house them temporarily, he said, signaling to local gymnasiums, warehouses and community centers that will serve as temporary shelters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Hermosillo, Sonora, a gymnasium located south of the city, has also been adapted as a temporary shelter to receive 1,500 people.

The governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Avila, said that a shelter has been opened in a shopping center just 3 miles south of the San Ysidro port of entry in California. The site can receive 2,600 people and is equipped with bunk beds and individual showers, as well as modules of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Ministry of Welfare and other government agencies.

Cruz Perez Cuellar, mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua  bordering El Paso, Texas  said that the General Directorate of Civil Protection reviewed the facilities of El Punto, where tents were being set up as a temporary shelter. The site can receive 2,500 people, who will receive meals, medical attention if necessary and support to travel to the home of their relatives anywhere in Mexico.

Cuellar said that the three levels of government are ready to support those who are stranded at the border since it is unknown what non-Mexican nationals will do since the suspension of the CBP One app.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is something that can affect them, there are surely people who are on their way for their appointments and others who were already here  who are hoping that the program will be reactivated. On the other hand, there are always people who want to cross into the United States, that is not going to change, he said.

Diana Garcia is La Voz's Mexico City correspondent.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nogales prepares ahead of Trump's promised mass deportations
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hedged Tuesday on whether Mexico would accept U.S. military flights carrying deportees under the Trump administrations mass-expulsion plans

Until now, this hasnt taken place, Sheinbaum responded at her morning news conference when asked several times whether her nation would consent to Pentagon aircraft returning deported citizens. She declined to elaborate.

The White House has begun using military aircraft to transport deportees, including two Pentagon flights that flew more than 150 people to Guatemala last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The use of the military  including the deployment of active-duty troops to the United States' southwest border  is a cornerstone of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. But it bumps up against Mexican sensitivities  heightened by a long history of U.S. invasions and incursions  against military encroachment by its northern neighbor.

It is not clear whether Pentagon air assets would be deployed to transport deportees to Mexico. Media reports last week that Mexico refused a U.S. military flight that would have brought deportees have not been publicly confirmed by either country.

Read more: Will Trump send troops to Mexico? His pick for ambassador worries officials there

The military-transport issue has raised alarms throughout Latin America since a weekend diplomatic crisis in which an enraged President Trump moved to impose tariffs and other penalties on Colombia  a longtime U.S. ally  after President Gustavo Petro denied landing permission for two Pentagon aircraft carrying deportees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After negotiations, the White House withdrew the threatened sanctions and Colombia said it had received assurances of the dignified conditions Petro had demanded. Petro said on social media that he had never refused to accept deportees but would not agree to their being returned handcuffed and on military aircraft.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents knock on the door of a Chicago home on Sunday as part of mass deportations. (Christopher Dilts / Getty Images)

The Brazilian government also denounced "degrading treatment" of its citizens after some deportees walked off a nonmilitary U.S. plane on Saturday in the northern city of Manaus in handcuffs and leg shackles.

Read more: Trump punishes Colombia for refusing entry to deportation flights

The idea of giant C-17s flying over Mexican airspace and unloading deportees at Mexican airports is a potentially incendiary prospect in a country with a long memory of U.S. invasions; the nation lost much of its territory in the Mexican-American War of 1846-48.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though Washington has not intervened militarily in Mexico for more than a century, Mexican youth are schooled in Mexico's "heroic" resistance to past U.S. actions.

Read more: As Colombia ends its immigration standoff with Trump, Mexico looks eager to avoid a clash

Many in Mexico are already unnerved at previous Trump threats to deploy the U.S. military against drug traffickers. His executive order to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations is viewed by many as a prelude to direct military intervention.

Already casting a shadow on binational relations are Trump's threats to impose tariffs of 25% on Mexican imports if the country does not do more to stop U.S.-bound undocumented immigrants and the smuggling of fentanyl. Trump has indicated he would decide by Saturday on the tariffs  which could devastate a fragile economy heavily dependent on cross-border trade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Bracing for Trump, Mexico aims to roll out a 'panic app' for Mexican nationals being deported

Sheinbaum is under pressure to bend to Trump's demands in order to safeguard the economy, but she must also take care not to alienate citizens sensitive to perceived slights against Mexico's sovereignty.

Protesters gather for a rally and march to Trump Tower in Chicago, with dozens of groups calling on the Trump administration to reconsider its policies on immigration and Gaza. ( Jacek Boczarski / Getty Images)

"President Sheinbaum is in a tight spot," said Tony Payan, who heads the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. "The optics of military planes flying deportees back to Mexico would not be good for her nationalist base. But she may not have a choice other than to accept it."

Mexican citizens are by far the largest nationality among the estimated more than 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally. In recent years, Washington has removed about 200,000 deportees annually to Mexico, mostly via the southwestern land border  but including some ferried by nonmilitary aircraft to the Mexican interior. The number of deportees returned to Mexico is widely expected to increase under Trump's directives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheinbaum has already agreed to accept Trump's reinstatement of the controversial Remain in Mexico policy, which forces asylum seekers arriving at the border  including Central Americans and other non-Mexicans  to wait in Mexico for adjudication of their cases in U.S. immigration courts. She has said Mexico would seek financial aid from Washington to reimburse the costs of repatriating third-country nationals to their homelands.

Mexico received four deportation flights last week on nonmilitary aircraft  but has yet to see a significant uptick in returned deportees, officials say.

But Mexican authorities are erecting large-scale new shelters along the country's northern border with the United States and making other preparations to house and otherwise assist repatriated citizens and third-country nationals sent to Mexico.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed.



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.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  With one week down in the legislative session, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is defining her priorities on New Mexicos crime, saying changes to the states mental competency laws and surrounding juvenile crime are crucial. Were not going to vilify poverty or mental health issues, but were not going to tolerate a revolving door of criminality anywhere in the state, said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Story continues below

Flanked by Democrats, Republicans, cops, and prosecutors, the governor said crime is once again the priority in now her seventh regular session. This year, shes placing the biggest focus on what she calls gaps in the law surrounding accused criminals with mental competency issues. So, restoring competency, getting treatment, if there needs to be a commitment, none of that really occurs. That means that these individuals end up on our streets, said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governors office claims more than 18,000 New Mexico criminal cases have been dismissed on competency grounds since 2017, leading to at least 1,500 repeat offenders. Democrat House Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Lunas) is sponsoring a bill that would greenlight more assisted outpatient treatment programs. It would also allow judges to keep incompetent suspects in custody if theyre accused of certain crimes.

A number of these issues have to due with individuals who have serious mental health problems and we need to start supporting those folks, getting to the underlying reasons for the crime, said Rep. Chandler.

Highlighting juvenile crime alongside Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, the governor supported a push for stronger consequences to deter teen crime. Juveniles without consequences who later commit murder or violent crimes happens every single week in Bernalillo County. Its out of control, said Bregman.

After a lackluster special session where lawmakers shut down her agenda, the governor thinks this session will be different. This is the first balanced effort and it took all of us to get here, I appreciate it, were just going to get a lot done this session, said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor also voiced her support for proposed bills dealing with racketeering and human trafficking. She also said shed like to support a bill that creates penalties for drug trafficking resulting a death. Lawmakers were slated to take up the competency bill in a first committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, but so far, they have not finished debate on a bill tied to firearms.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Daniel Werwath, left, and Taylor Cook stand on a Roundhouse balcony overlooking the rotunda on Tuesday. Werwath and Cook, the newly named director of homelessness initiatives at the governor's office, hope the Legislature will approve an executive housing office during the 60-day session, amid a worsening housing crisis here. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

After a failed attempt in the 2024 Legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is again seeking legislative authority for an executive housing office, one tasked with tackling the states widespread challenges with homelessness, unaffordable rent and skyrocketing home prices.

Daniel Werwath, the governors housing policy adviser, shared the draft legislation for a new Office of Housing Planning and Production with Source New Mexico. He said he feels optimistic it will pass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If enacted, the bill would empower a small team in the governors office, including newly named Director of Homeless Initiatives Taylor Cook, to collect data, set goals and advise local governments and state agencies on how to get housing built fast.

A report last week from the Pew Research Center examines why housing in New Mexico is so unaffordable and homelessness so dire, especially compared with other states. It puts the blame largely on restrictive regulations like height requirements and zoning requiring single family homes.

Between 2017 and 2024, median rents in New Mexico increased 60%, far higher than the 27% increase seen in the rest of the United States during that period. Average prices have increased 70% in that time to more than $300,000. That has factored into the homelessness increase, which has increased by 87% since 2017, according to the report.

Elsewhere in the nation, homelessness increased 40% in that 7-year period, according to the report, which cited federal Housing and Urban Development department data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Slowing those trends, Werwath and Cook said in an interview Tuesday in the Roundhouse, requires a state Office of Housing to make a focused, coordinated effort leveraging all state agencies and resources. But it still wont be quick.

Replacing the missing 40,000 units or so in our housing system will take a really long time. Right now, were building just enough housing to sort of keep up with our gap, Werwath said. So if you could imagine if we increased our production 50% right now, thats an additional, say, 5,000 units a year. It would take us eight years to close that gap.

The governors office made a similar push for an executive housing office last session, but it failed amid pushback from some lawmakers and the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, which raised concerns about the governors office duplicating or confusing its efforts.

The MFA, which has since rebranded as Housing New Mexico, oversees hundreds of millions of dollars in housing programs, including down-payment assistance, affordable housing development and other programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the last year, Werwath said the governors office has met repeatedly with MFA officials and board members, most recently in November, to try to get the authority on board with their effort.

Weve worked pretty closely with MFA to eliminate overlaps, which was a lot of their concern, to really clarify within the bill what the scope of what were trying to do is, Werwath said.

The bill empowers the office to develop a statewide housing strategy, provide technical assistance to agencies and governments and collect fresher data to identify gaps in housing availability. As Werwath noted, the city of Raton has 300 vacant homes; Albuquerque needs 25,000.

One major goal, Werwath said, is to create a dashboard with the best data possible on gaps, available funding and goals. Current housing studies are based primarily on Census data, which is at least a year old by the time its released, Werwath said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One difference between last years bill is that the new offices director is not granted an advisory seat on the MFA board, according to the draft legislation.

Kristie Garcia, a spokesperson for Housing New Mexico, said the authority was still reviewing the draft of the bill, but that, We look forward to working with the governors office and the Legislature on a bill that will advance housing affordability by addressing the underlying factors impacting the cost of housing development.

The renewed push for an Office of Housing occurs a year after the Legislatures biggest-ever investment in affordable housing. That included $125 million in a revolving loan fund for affordable housing infrastructure and workforce housing development, aimed at providing shelter for those who make enough to no longer qualify for state or federal subsidies but not enough to afford housing.

It also included a one-time payment of $50 million to Housing New Mexicos Housing Affordability Trust Fund, along with about $38 million recurring funding for that fund, which goes to programs like down-payment assistance and weatherization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Legislature also approved about $20 million for anti-homelessness initiatives. That money has not yet been spent, Werwath said, in part because organizations and governments across the state clamored for it, in a total ask of $45 million.

Theres sort of some decisions we need to make about whether we do one or two big projects or a bunch of smaller projects. And thats sort of what were working through with the governor right now, Werwath said.

The New Mexico Finance Authority has received bids to spend $30 million of the $125 million in housing loans, and is expecting to open another round of funding soon. And Housing New Mexico has obligated most of the money it received last session.

In addition to the Office of Housing, the governors budget this session seeks $100 million to address homelessness and provide down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The money is vital, Werwath said, especially in light of threatened cuts at the federal level. The state has received roughly $20 million in so-called Continuum of Care funding from HUD.

Who knows whats happening with that at this point? Werwath said. I think theres an emerging reality that we also, depending on what happens on the federal level, may need to have additional resources to support existing capacity.

Meet the new director of homelessness initiatives

Last week, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the hiring of Taylor Cook as her new director of homelessness initiatives. She was the previous chair of the Texas Homeless Network and contributed national research to housing policy, according to a news release.

She told Source New Mexico she is motivated to tackle homelessness because she is just really interested in working with people experiencing homelessness, especially the direct service piece of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, shes keyed in on homelessness prevention as a major focus, including in some unexpected areas, like small towns on the outskirts of Albuquerque.

Homelessness comes up all over the state in places that have not had a robust response system to date. And so, in that same spirit of prevention, how can we get ahead of this and make sure that it doesnt become an unmanageable humanitarian crisis?

She will tackle the issue amid sharp increases in homelessness statewide and following a Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to clear out or arrest people who are camping in public even if those cities dont have enough shelter beds to house them.

Cook told Source New Mexico she has had conversations about guidance to cities about handling encampments of unhoused people, but she is not aware of legislation at the state level aimed at encampments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every community is different, has a different take on some of these issues, but I do think we want to make sure that where places are removing encampments, that were thinking through that as a system, and making sure that were not just pushing people out, creating greater instability, and ultimately, just kicking the can down the road, she said.

In Albuquerque, city-ordered clearings of encampments have provoked strong criticism from groups concerned the sweeps disconnect unhoused people from services or further destabilize them as theyre trying to navigate a return to safe and stable housing. People living in Albuquerque encampments regularly lose important documents, like birth certificates or family photos, in these sweeps, they told ProPublica.

Cook said she thinks a new Office of Housing can come up with some good solutions to that problem.

Ultimately, I dont want the state to be replacing everyones drivers license and birth certificate every time it gets removed, she said.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday the country will send Google a letter asking about the technology giants decision to soon change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.

To change the name of an international sea, it is not a country that changes it. It is an international organization that does this. So, we are sending this letter to Google today, Sheinbaum said in a press conference Wednesday, according to a translation by Al Jazeera.

Google said on Monday it plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America once it is updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump ordered the name change last week on the day of his inauguration, making good on a campaign promise.

Google said earlier this week it received a few inquiries about naming within Google Maps, writing on the social platform X, We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.

Under the changes, just the Gulf of Mexico label will be shown on Google Maps in Mexico, while those outside of the U.S. and Mexico will see both names.

The Hill reached out to Google on Wednesday for further comment.

By the way, we are also going to ask for America Mexicana to appear on the map. When you write America Mexicana, it may appear on the map, Sheinbaum added Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum mocked Trump by suggesting North America should be renamed America Mexicana or Mexican America, as it is labeled on an 1814 document that was published before Mexicos constitution.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Michael Baggott, who has died after a heart attack aged 51, was an authority on antique silver and one of the most recognisable of the team of experts on the BBC daytime antiques show Flog It!.

The 45-minute-long programme, which was hosted by Paul Martin, ran for 17 years and more than 1,000 episodes from 2002 and saw members of the public have their treasured possessions valued. Unlike its rival Antiques Roadshow (on which it seems to be de rigueur for owners to insist that they would never sell their family heirlooms), Flog It! had no qualms about appealing to the profit motive.

People were invited to bring along objects that they might be interested in selling, then asked to decide whether they wanted to put them up for auction based on the valuation given by the experts. The owners and experts (who put their reputations on the line with their valuations) were then filmed biting their nails as the items went under the hammer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Baggott joined the Flog It! team in 2004 and did not confine himself to valuing silver. In 2012, when the show visited Normanby Hall in Lincolnshire, he was called on to examine a collection of what the owner believed was African tribal art, which he valued at 200-400. When the collection went to auction with a reserve price of 150, it turned out to be Aboriginal, and to contain a rare broad shield. It was bought for 30,000 by the Sydney Museum of Primitive Art.

During the auction it quickly became clear that Id missed something, but I wasnt sure what it was at that point, Baggott recalled. I just liked the items and thought they were unusual, thats why I selected them for filming at the valuation day. This is what antiques are all about though, you cant be an expert on everything and you never stop learning  from this experience I certainly learnt a lot.

Flog It! was axed by the BBC in 2018 to make way for a new generation of daytime programming.

Baggott: he maintained an active presence on social media platforms - Richard Gardner/Shutterstock

Michael Baggott was born in Birmingham on April 18 1973, the son of a sometime wholesale market trader and boxer. According to a self-published memoir, As Found: A Lifetime in Antiques, the highlights of his childhood included nearly dying on a pedalo in Menorca, nearly dying walking down Spaghetti Junction in the snow, nearly dying walking with Dad along disused sections of the Birmingham canal network, before something far more dangerous happened to me: I was accidentally introduced to the world of Antiques.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He saved up 22 in school dinner money to buy his first antique, a Chester silver Vesta case, and went on to take a degree in fine arts valuation at the University of Southampton. After graduation he joined Sothebys, where he ran the silver department for four years before becoming a freelance consultant and dealer in antique silver.

He had a passion for early silver spoons and carried out research into provincial British silver, publishing An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858 and contributing to The Finial, the journal of the Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain.

He recalled that the highlight of his time on Flog It! was handling a silver trophy made as an award by Faberge for the best car of 1924.

Baggott maintained an active presence on social media platforms, sharing news about his professional interests and his struggles with his weight. In January last year, responding to a hoax report of his death, he reposted the offending article with the words: The truth is its the Vintage Specialist bit that really hurts...

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In October, however, he suffered a major stroke which left him bedbound in hospital.

Michael Baggott was unmarried.

Michael Baggott, born April 18 1973, died January 27 2025

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.
As the administration of President Donald Trump intensifies immigration enforcement, the leaders of the Catholic Church in Michigan expressed support for immigrants regardless of their legal status and criticized hateful rhetoric aimed at them.

In a pastoral note to migrants released Monday in English and Spanish, all of the state's 10 Catholic bishops said that supporting immigrants is rooted in their faith.

"Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find 'I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me  Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me' (Matthew 25:35,40)," the note published Monday reads. "We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Archdiocese of Detroit, the largest diocese in Michigan, sent the note to its more than 200 parishes in southeastern Michigan, inviting them to publish it in their parish bulletins, Holly Fournier, an associate director at the archdiocese, said. It was also published online at the Michigan Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan.

The note was accompanied by a list of Frequently Asked Questions that explained Catholic teachings on immigration, calling for immigration reform that "offers fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within this country." The FAQ section added that while the Catholic Church supports immigrants, it does not support open borders and "encourages the use of lawful immigration pathways. The Church does not encourage unnecessary or irregular migration."

The note was one of the strongest statements made in recent years by Catholic leaders in Michigan in support of immigrants. It echoes the views of the national representative of the Catholic Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron was the lead signer of the note.

"We urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children," said Michigan's bishops. "We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pastoral note is one of several ways that faith leaders have responded to Trump's executive orders on immigration. A couple of churches in metro Detroit hosted know-your-rights events in recent weeks for immigrants and a Lutheran congregation in Detroit has declared itself a sanctuary congregation for immigrants.

The note from Michigan's leaders comes after a week of contentious debate between the USCCB and some conservatives, including Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic. On Thursday, the USCCB had released a statement criticizing a part of a Trump executive order signed last week that ended protections for sensitive locations such as churches and schools that blocked them from being raided by federal immigration agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Some churches have acted as sanctuaries for immigrants over the years.

Human Dignity is Not Dependent on a Person's Citizenship or Immigration Status," read the title of the USCCB statement on Jan. 23.

"Non-emergency immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, social service agencies, healthcare facilities, or other sensitive settings where people receive essential services would be contrary to the common good," the USCCB statement said. "With the mere rescission of the protected areas guidance, we are already witnessing reticence among immigrants to engage in daily life, including sending children to school and attending religious services."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response, Vance said on Sunday that "as a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement." He spoke about how some Catholic groups receive federal money to assist immigrants, saying they are influenced by the government funding.

"I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns?" Vance said. "Or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We're going to enforce immigration law. We're going to protect the American people."

In response, the USCCB issued another statement on Monday, defending its programs, saying that helping refugees is being "faithful to the teaching of Jesus Christ."

"In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs," the statement from Catholic leaders said. "Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: DOJ shuts down Detroit legal program helping immigrants in court after Trump order

Michigan's Catholic leaders released the pastoral note the following day, echoing those views.

"As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst," the Michigan bishops said in the note.

Quoting from the Bible, the note added: "Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lords words." The note also made reference to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a title often used by Mexican Catholics to describe the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"With abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession," the note said.

This is not the first time Catholic leaders in Michigan have expressed support for immigrants. During Trump's first term, Vigneron released several statements in support of immigrants and Muslims.

Catholics are the largest religious group in Michigan. There are about 900,000 Catholics in the six counties that make up the Archdiocese of Detroit, with close to 1.5 million Catholics statewide.

Other Christian denominations have been wrestling with immigration issues this month. With Trump sitting in front of her at an interfaith service last week, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, told the president "to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now, referring to immigrants and LGBTQ children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," she said.

Mayor Mike Duggan: Detroit will continue to work with ICE

Her views were echoed by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Right Rev. Bonnie Perry, who said in a Facebook post that Budde's remarks "made clear the welcome and care that we in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and the Episcopal Church writ large offer to the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants and refugees."

At a protest last week in Grand Rapids on Inauguration Day in support of immigrants, Pastor Ricardo Angarita of United Methodist Church La Nueva Esperanza said, "Jesus always showed us that God cares for and loves all nations and immigrants, seeking peace and protection for them.

Pastoral Note to Migrants from the Catholic Bishops in Michigan

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for 'undocumented' immigrants
The Michigan Senate Wednesday voted once again on bills to subject the governor's office and lawmakers to requests to disclose public records after an effort to expand government transparency faltered in the last legislative session.

In 33-2 votes, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 1 and 2, which would eliminate the current exemption for the governor's office and state Legislature from the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Senators passed similar bills last year. But those bills never saw a vote in the Michigan House of Representatives. A House committee sent the bills to the floor for a vote in December. But attendance issues plagued the final days of the previous legislative session, derailing the FOIA legislation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michigan stands out as a national outlier for insulating the governor's office and lawmakers from FOIA. Other public bodies in Michigan must comply with FOIA, from local law enforcement agencies to big state departments. Journalists and other government watchdogs routinely use FOIA requests to obtain records to investigate potential wrongdoing. For years, transparency advocates have called on Michigan lawmakers to take action to expand FOIA.

The bipartisan duo behind the FOIA bills  Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Moss of Southfield and GOP state Sen. Ed McBroom of Vulcan  described the long road they've traveled down together to expand government transparency, recounting the bills they've repeatedly introduced and votes they've cast.

"I don't have another floor speech to give on these bills," Moss said.

Trump Administration: Paused pause? Michigan reeling from potential threat to federally-funded programs

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, said Wednesday he reluctantly voted for the bills, blasting what he called loopholes in the legislation he said would allow politicians to evade scrutiny. McBroom pushed back, calling the transparency proposals a "significant accomplishment, not some mealy-mouthed barely there legislation."

Only two GOP lawmakers voted against the bills: state Sens. Jon Bumstead of North Muskegon and Dan Lauwers of Brockway. Lauwers raised procedural objections, criticizing a vote on the bills before a committee hearing on them this legislative session.

Lawmakers in the Michigan Senate made it a priority at the start of a new legislative session, introducing FOIA bills again on the first day lawmakers convened this year.

After the Senate votes Wednesday, it's not clear how quickly the House will take up the legislation. Greg Manz, spokesperson for House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland, did not respond to a request for comment on the leader's plan to put the bills up for a vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked Wednesday whether Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to see the FOIA bills land on her desk so she can sign them into law, Whitmer press secretary Stacey LaRouche issued the same statement she did in December: "We will receive legislation as it makes its way through the process," she said.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Senate votes to expand FOIA to governor's office, Legislature
Michigan students stagnated in performance in reading and math in a critical national assessment taken every two years, largely making no significant gains  or sustaining significant losses  since a drop in scores following the pandemic.

The results released Wednesday show the state's education system likely has a long road ahead in strengthening student achievement.

And the scores, as they have in previous years, illustrate a vast achievement gap between the state's economically disadvantaged students and those who are not from low-income homes, as well as long-running schisms that show students of color scoring lower than white students. There was a glimmer of excitement in the numbers, however, for Detroit Public Schools Community District, which saw a significant score increase in the fourth grade math category.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michael Rice, state superintendent of education, said in an interview that the scores show that "we have work to do" across Michigan in improving reading and math outcomes for students. Rice attributed the lagging numbers in part to the pandemic and the rise of constantly pinging cellphones.

"Children, as a rule, have challenges shutting that out and shutting it off. And so what we know is: Children are reading less and what we know is that part of reading achievement is putting in the reps, putting in the time," he said. "You've got to read."

More: Paused pause? Michigan reeling from potential threat to federally-funded programs

More: Dana Nessel and other state AGs sue to block Trump's federal funding pause

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michigan fourth and eighth graders' reading and math scores only fluctuated by a few points between 2022 and 2024 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an assessment taken by a random sample of students every two years across the country. Michigan is not the only state with sluggish scores: Most other states in both reading and math saw very little progress on the NAEP assessment. Officials with the National Center for Education Statistics, which compiles the score data, said even progress made nationally in a few areas, such as math, was driven by high-performers, meaning that students historically known to struggle on this assessment continue to struggle.

Nationally, education leaders said with the release of the data that the results spell trouble for America's public school students.

"There are significant challenges for us as a nation in these data, the gap between the highest and lowest performing students in the eighth grade has widened in both reading and math," said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, in a conference call with reporters. Carr said a recent survey also shows that students enjoy reading less, underscoring a struggle to improve reading outcomes among public school students.

How did Michigan students perform?

In Michigan, students took tests in reading and math in fourth and eighth grade. The reading results showed:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fourth grade, the average reading score in Michigan was 209 in 2024, compared with 212 in 2022, which was categorized as not a significant change, and 218 in 2019. The fourth grade national average was 214 in 2024.

In eighth grade, the average reading score in Michigan was 255 in 2024, compared with 259 in 2022, which was categorized as not a significant change, and 263 in 2019. The eighth grade national average was 257 in 2024.

The math results showed:

In fourth grade, the average math score in Michigan was 235 in 2024, compared with 232 in 2022, which was categorized as not a significant change, and 236 in 2019. The fourth grade national average was 237 in 2024.

In eighth grade, the average math score in Michigan was 270 in 2024, compared with 273 in 2022, which was categorized as not a significant change, and 280 in 2019. The eighth grade national average was 272 in 2024.

How did Detroit students perform?

Detroit's public school district has long lagged behind statewide average scores, mirroring state M-STEP assessment results. But district Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in more recent years has touted some advances in the numbers, showing that the district is improving its outcome for students, many of whom are economically disadvantaged.

Most of the categories in Detroit's average NAEP scores in this round did not change significantly. In fourth grade reading, for example, the 2024 score was 174, compared with 176 in 2022.

But Detroit did see a significant change in fourth grade math, going from an average score of 194 in 2022 to 200 in 2024.

What do these scores mean?

Schools have poured billions of dollars in federal aid meant to stem learning losses into tutoring and other programs to help struggling students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But M-STEP and NAEP scores haven't inched up. That doesn't mean losses between 2024 going back before the pandemic can all be chalked up to the pandemic.

"This is not just a pandemic story," said Carr, who pointed out that national scores going back decades have declined.

In particular, Michigan students identified as economically disadvantaged struggled in every category. For instance, in eighth grade math, students identified as economically disadvantaged scored, on average, 21 points lower than those not in that classification.

These achievement gaps are nothing new in Michigan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, in recent years, state leaders and lawmakers have directed millions of budget dollars to try to improve outcomes for historically marginalized students. Leaders with nonprofits such as EdTrust Midwest have called for even more investment, including a more targeted investment in the teaching workforce in low-income areas. Rice, too, said that more funding should go to lowering class sizes in vulnerable districts like Detroit and Flint, where teachers have upward of 30 students to juggle in one classroom.

Rice also said he believes the state has made some good moves in recent years, particularly in passing legislation that will screen for dyslexia in young readers, that will pay off in the long run on future NAEP tests.

Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan students' scores stagnate on just released national assessment
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Some organizations across Tennessee saw the back-and-forth about federal funding Tuesday as an attack on community.

RELATED: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump had pushed to pause federal funding of grants and loans. However, minutes before the freeze would have gone into effect, a federal judge temporarily blocked the pause. LAUNCH PAD, Nashvilles only emergency housing provider for young adults, would face a major challenge if this block goes away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LAUNCH PAD is an organization dedicated to affirming Nashvilles young adults, including LGBTQ+ adults, and finding emergency shelter. H.G. Stovall, the executive director for LAUNCH PAD, has been with the organization since 2019 and said the pause would jeopardize the health and safety of millions of Americans.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

There is no gender ideology in Meals on Wheels, Stovall said. There is no gender ideology in our senior citizens receiving healthcare. There is no gender ideology in supplemental nutritional assistance programs. What this is is an attack and it is not lost on me that yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day and this is borderline genocide.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Following the deadly shooting at Antioch High School last week, districts across Middle Tennessee have been on high alert when it comes to potential threats.

Its causing people to be more aware and cautious, Cheatham County school resource officer, lieutenant Gene McCollum, said.

Antioch High School Shooting | Continuing Coverage

Since last Wednesday, school resource officers in Cheatham County have responded to four different concerning incidents, not considered threats, and over 25 messages and calls through their tipline. Authorities said this is expected whenever large acts of violence take place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve had them more on the south side of the county, down in the Kingston Springs area and weve had some over in Pleasant View, McCollum added. Weve had a lot where kids will get upset and say stuff off the cuff and make some type of threat towards peers or to the schools because of anger for whatever reason. That has big implications because [under] the new law, its a felony offence to make threats of mass violence.

Cheatham County Schools is not the only system dealing with the uptick. Officials with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System told News 2 theyve investigated three threats since Wednesday. In Wilson County Monday, students were placed on soft lockdowns following online threats.

In Metro Nashville Public Schools, several students have been arrested for making threats in the days following the deadly shooting. One of the latest arrests included a 14-year-old student at John F. Kennedy Middle School who allegedly told students he would bring a gun to school Wednesday, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Even if its just a call for concern, Cheatham County authorities said they would still take them seriously.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were going to do everything in our power to make sure something like that does not happen in our county, McCollum said. Id rather get 100 tips come in and be busy and it not be anything than to not receive anything and something does happen.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  Margarita Raymundo walked down the ramp of the U.S. Air Force cargo jet and onto the tarmac of Guatemala Citys airport, barely three days after a U.S. Border Patrol agent had apprehended her, along with three other migrants.

The swift deportation Monday was disorienting for her and the 63 other migrants aboard and only possible because the Trump administration has enlisted the military to quickly scale up its deportation capacity, which usually relies on chartered flights.

In the first week of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security reported deporting some 7,300 people of various nationalities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agent who apprehended Raymundo just a five-minute walk from the highway where a vehicle awaited to take her further into the U.S. told her that her deportation would be quick and warned that if she were to be caught again shed spend five years in prison, she said.

The presence of U.S. military planes landing in Latin America raises concerns in a region with a history of U.S. military intervention, more so when theyre carrying citizens of those countries in shackles.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to let two U.S. military planes carrying deportees land in his country over the weekend. Instead, two Colombian air force planes were sent to the U.S. to pick up the Colombians and bring them home Tuesday, but only after a Trump tariff threat and a furious bout of diplomacy.

Earlier this week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made a point of saying that four flights that had landed at a Mexico City airport in the past few days carrying deportees were all civilian.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guatemala has not publicly objected, and at least three U.S. military flights carrying deportees have landed there in the past week.

We cannot refuse them and it is our obligation (to receive the migrants), said Danilo Rivera, the director of Guatemalas Immigration Institute.

Jorge Santos of the Human Rights Convergence, a Guatemalan coalition, said the deportations should be handled exclusively by civilians, without the use of military planes. He also criticized the practice of shackling deportees, although that occurs on civilian charter flights run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The use of shackles must not be a condition of this situation, nor chaining their feet and hands and much less that a military authority have a role in the framework of an action that must be completely civilian, Santos said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lesly Ramirez, who was on the same flight as Raymundo, said that her handcuffs were tight and hurt her hands. While the migrants were provided food on the plane, she said it was difficult to eat with their cuffed hands chained to their waists. Authorities on the plane removed them only shortly before landing, she said.

Ramirez, 35, a single mother of two, had climbed the border fence and had been walking in the U.S. for two hours before the Border Patrol picked her up on Friday.

Were all human beings," she said. "We were going to work, were not criminals.

Raymundo echoed that sentiment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 21-year-old was devastated by the failed attempt to enter the U.S., largely because of what it would mean for her and her parents, Indigenous Maya Chalchiteca, who had pulled together $25,000 in loans to pay her smuggler. She said she now has no hope of ever repaying the debt in Guatemala.

With a restaurant job already secured in the U.S., Raymundo remained determined. I only have another opportunity to go, Im going to try, she said through tears, in reference to smugglers common practice of offering multiple tries.

She said she tried to get to the U.S. because her family is poor and she wanted to help her parents.

I left Guatemala to give them a better life, she said.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Two major motions on migration reform are set for knife-edge votes in the German parliament on Wednesday after a minor populist party told dpa it would not support them.

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), an anti-immigration party that split off from Germany's main far-left group last year, said that it would abstain on one motion and vote against the other.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz has vowed to push through a range of changes to migration policy after two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merz's proposals - which include turning away all asylum-seekers at Germany's borders and withdrawing German citizenship from dual nationals convicted of a serious criminal offence - have attracted a storm of criticism amid fears they could pass with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The BSW's decision complicates the picture, with the measures needing 367 votes to reach a majority in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.

Merz's CDU/CSU bloc, the AfD and the pro-business Free Democrats together hold 362 seats in the parliament.

The AfD is set to support the first motion - labelled the "Five-Point Plan" - while rejecting the second, party co-leader Tino Chrupalla said on Wednesday.

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht said her party's 10 lawmakers would support a separate bill due to be introduced by the CDU/CSU in the Bundestag on Friday. The AfD is also set to back the bill.
MILAN (Reuters) - Milan prosecutors on Wednesday sent Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni for trial on fraud charges over allegedly misleading charity claims linked to sales of a Christmas cake and Easter eggs, her lawyers and judicial sources said.

The trial was scheduled to begin on Sept. 23 at a court in Milan. For crimes such as fraud, prosecutors can under Italian law directly order a trial without asking a judge for a preliminary hearing.

In a statement, Ferragni, 37, called the accusations "deeply unfair", adding that she believed "sincerely that it was not necessary to hold a trial to prove that I never cheated anyone".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A definitive conviction could result in a sentence of between one and five years.

Ferragni, who has nearly 29 million followers on Instagram, was fined almost 1.1 million euros ($1.14 million) in 2023 by Italy's competition authority (AGCM) over sales of Ferragni-branded Pandoro Christmas cakes with packaging mentioning a children's hospital.

She also agreed last year to pay at least 1.2 million euros to a children's charity to settle the case concerning sales of Ferragni-branded Easter eggs.

"We remain firmly convinced that this matter has no criminal relevance and that every controversial element has already been addressed and resolved before the AGCM," her lawyers Giuseppe Iannaccone and Marcello Bana said in the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the case of the Ferragni-branded Pandoro, the allegation was that consumers had been duped into thinking that by buying those cakes they were contributing to charity for a children's hospital, the Turin-based Regina Margherita paediatric hospital.

Pandoro is an alternative to the more famous panettone.

In the Easter eggs case, the influencer is charged with misleading buyers into thinking they were supporting the "I Bambini delle Fate" children's charity.

Ferragni, who was facing a slew of negative publicity and cancelled partnerships with other firms, admitted in Dec. 2023 to "a communications error", while Italy's government, in direct response to the controversy, tightened rules on charity giving.

(Reporting by Emilio Parodi, editing by Keith Weir)
Several miles of Los Angeles County coastline will remain closed indefinitely due to recent rainfall pushing possibly toxic and carcinogenic debris from the Palisades Fire into the ocean waters.

County of Los Angeles Public Health officials issued the Ocean Water Closure on Monday, urging beachgoers to avoid water and sand contact along the coast from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach.

The closure will remain in effect until further notice, L.A. County public health officials stated in a post on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An Ocean Water Quality Advisory extending past the Water Closure areas is also in place.

The advisory warning beachgoers that fire debris runoff could be hazardous is in place from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way.

Beach users are advised to stay away from any fire debris on the beach, health officials stated.

The water quality concerns come as the cleanup process is just beginning for residents impacted by the Palisades Fire.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun removing hazardous debris like propane tanks and lithium electric car batteries from burned-out homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A temporary collection site was set up in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Washington  The U.S. military on Tuesday announced it would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to use a base to detain unauthorized immigrants in an area in Colorado expected to be at the center of upcoming immigration arrest operations.

The Department of Defense said it approved a request from ICE for facilities inside the Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, to be converted into temporary staging and detention sites for migrants in the U.S. illegally who are facing deportation.

In a statement to CBS News, a Department of Defense spokesperson said the base is expected to house migrants with criminal records arrested during "an operation taking place in Colorado." ICE officials and other law enforcement authorities  and not military personnel  will administer the migrant detainee facilities, the spokesperson added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"ICE requirements for the facility include a temporary operations center, staging area, and a temporary holding location for the receiving, holding, and processing of illegal aliens," the spokesperson said.

The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to vastly expand the role the military plays in border and immigration enforcement. Through an emergency declaration, President Trump has deployed an additional 1,500 Army soldiers and Marines to the southern border, with instructions to erect barriers and assist Customs and Border Protection officials.

Under federal law dating back to the Reconstruction Era, the military is generally barred from engaging in civilian law enforcement, which would include processing migrants.

The Trump administration has also directed the Pentagon to use military planes to deport migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully. On Tuesday, a U.S. military plane deported dozens of migrants to Ecuador. Last week, the U.S. used military aircraft to carry out deportations to Guatemala.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The military's role in Mr. Trump's immigration crackdown could expand further. An internal CBP memo obtained by CBS News indicates the administration has considered sending as many as 10,000 troops to the southern border and using more military installations for migrant detention.

The decision to use a Space Force base in Aurora to hold unauthorized migrants is also noteworthy given the expected ramp-up in ICE activity in and near that Denver suburb.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News Tuesday that the Denver area is among the next targets for the stepped-up immigration arrest operations that ICE has been conducting under the Trump administration.

During Mr. Trump's early days in office, ICE has increased arrest operations across the country, targeting unauthorized immigrants with criminal records and those who had been issued deportation orders. But others in the U.S. illegally have also been swept up in the operations, since Biden-era limits on immigration enforcement have been revoked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Large ICE operations have already been conducted in Chicago and New York City, and the agency is expected to do the same in the Denver-area communities like Aurora, which the president frequently cited on the campaign trail when vowing to crack down on illegal immigration. The Colorado city gained national attention over concerns about the presence of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.

What will happen to Tren de Aragua members who are arrested is unclear, as Venezuela currently rejects U.S. deportations. However, CBS News reported Sunday that the Trump administration is considering an agreement with El Salvador that would allow the U.S. to deport suspected Tren de Aragua gangsters to that small Central American country, which has overseen a mass incarceration effort against gangs.

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
Milwaukee County has joined the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) network of "Age-Friendly Communities" throughout the U.S., making it the first county in Wisconsin to receive the designation.

The AARP's initiative allows member communities to "become better for citizens of all ages," by adopting new features as part of an existing framework, according to a Jan. 21 press release.

The nonprofit uses its "8 Domains of Livability" for those in the network, consisting of:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outdoor spaces and buildings

Transportation

Housing

Social participation

Respect and social inclusion

Work and civic engagement

Communication and information

Community and health services

Amber Miller, senior associate state director of community outreach for AARP Wisconsin, said in the press release the organization's research shows "80 percent of older adults want to stay where they are as they age."

"Milwaukee County is at the forefront of making sure communities are not only great places to grow up and work but are also thriving areas for older adults," Miller said.

County leaders accepted the designation at Washington Park Senior Center Thursday, Jan. 23.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley told the Journal Sentinel in an email Jan. 24 the countywide initiative is initially being led by the Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee County Department of Transportation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are in the process of forming an advisory committee that will guide us in developing a plan to address AARP's domains of a livable community," Crowley said. "We will continue to work closely with AARP and anticipate making tremendous progress in the first five years, but are hopeful the benefits will extend far beyond that timeframe."

The AARP's network is also part of a broader global effort.

It's an affiliate of the World Health Organizations Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, which was launched in 2006 "to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization," according to the press release. More than 20 nations are currently involved.

To learn more about the AARP's "Age-Friendly Communities," click here.

Are any other Wisconsin municipalities in the "Age-Friendly Communities" network?

While Milwaukee County is the first county in Wisconsin to received the designation, 13 municipalities across the state are already involved, including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Appleton

Greendale

La Crosse

Madison

Oshkosh

Reedsburg

Sheboygan

Shorewood

Stevens Point

Wausau

Wauwatosa

West Allis

West Bend

More: These Wisconsin cities ranked among the best places to retire, according to WalletHub

More: Milwaukee County's low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AARP designates Milwaukee County as an 'Age-Friendly Community'
Milwaukee nonprofit organizations that rely on federal aid were left uncertain and alarmed after President Donald Trump announced a sweeping freeze of federal grants Tuesday.

The Trump administration sought to enact the freeze while it determines whether federal assistance programs fit the president's priorities, according to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget. On Tuesday morning, Gov. Tony Evers called on Trump to delay the action, arguing it could have "disastrous consequences" for Wisconsin. By Tuesday evening, a federal judge had temporarily blocked the order until at least Feb. 3.

Though it's unclear if and how the freeze will be implemented, several Milwaukee nonprofits told the Journal Sentinel they depend on federal aid for a significant part of their funding.

Federal aid freeze could halt lead abatement projects in Milwaukee

Among the impacted nonprofits is the Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, which gets approximately 30% to 40% of its funds from federal grants, according to CEO Brian Sonderman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're just trying to get clarity. We don't want to overreact to what has come out, but we're obviously concerned," Sonderman said.

Under a freeze, he said he's concerned the organization will not get funding for projects that are in process, which were supposed to be reimbursed by federal aid. At any point, the organization is waiting for "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in federal aid reimbursement, he said.

In particular, Sonderman said Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is currently working on dozens of lead abatement projects that federal grants are eventually supposed to reimburse. The organization has already identified at-risk homes where families have elevated lead in their blood, but may not be able to move forward with mitigating the lead hazards if a pause persists long-term.

"We're not actually sure what this [pause] means, but if it includes monies that were allocated for those homes with lead paint, then those families and those children would stay in those homes, and we wouldn't be able to serve them," he said.

Tayana Jones and her 9-year-old son, Josiah Johnson stand on their new front porch before a Habitat for Humanity home dedication event for Jones for her first home on North 25th Street in Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. The organization depends on federal aid for 30% to 40% of its funding.

Milwaukee-area food pantries will likely be affected by the federal aid freeze

Though the pause would not include affect benefits for individuals, such as food stamps, Milwaukee-area food pantries would likely be impacted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, which serves nearly 400 food pantries, received more than 8%, or $7.3 million, of its funding from federal resources last fiscal year, according to Cameron Wengrzyn, the organization's marketing and communications director.

"We certainly anticipate an impact on our communities and on our neighbors facing food insecurity across the state," Wengrzyn told the Journal Sentinel in an email.

Many Milwaukee nonprofits rely on a mix of public and private funding

Carmen Pitre, president and CEO of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, also said she anticipates the pause will impact community members across Milwaukee.

Some Milwaukee organizations, including the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, told the Journal Sentinel they do not receive any federal funding and therefore do not anticipate any impact to services from the freeze. However, Pitre said most of the nonprofits she knows locally rely on a mix of public and private funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sojourner, a domestic violence prevention center, heard from some funding sources that aid has been frozen in the hours after the announcement, Pitre said.

"I think this will have a devastating impact on the work of nonprofits nationally and locally," she added. "It strikes at the heart of the safety net we've worked to build in our communities."

More: Trump orders temporary freeze on federal grants. Here's how that could affect Wisconsin

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump federal aid freeze could 'devastate' Milwaukee nonprofits
A previously missing Milwaukee girl was found, police said on Wednesday.

The 11-year-old was found at about 12:15 p.m., the Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release. The child had been considered "critically missing," a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee policed find missing 11-year-old
The number of travelers using Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport grew nearly 7 percent last year, marking the fourth straight year of an increase.

More than 37.2 million people flew through the airport in 2024, a 6.9% increase from 2023. The record for most travelers was set in 2019 with 39.5 million airline passengers, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

In a press release Tuesday, the commission said the growth was buoyed by international flights. A new MSP record was set for international travel in 2024 with more than 3.6 million travelers using the airport.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Airlines at MSP travel to 32 different international destinations.

In the past year, we celebrated the addition of several nonstop routes to Europe, said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Aer Lingus resumed service to Dublin, Delta added Dublin to its destinations, and Lufthansa launched year-round service from MSP to Frankfurt. Overall, we had strong performance from our airlines, expanding global connections and adding capacity and destinations across the U.S.

The growth from 2024 was most evident at Terminal 2, which had a nearly 12 percent increase in travelers. Sun Country Airlines, which is the largest carrier in Terminal 2, added 13 new destinations last year.

The three most widely used airlines at MSP based on passenger numbers were: Delta (69.5 percent), followed by Sun Country (11.5 percent), and Southwest (4.8 percent).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MSP Airport was ranked first for mega airports for the second time last year by the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

The Airports Council International named MSP as the Best Airport in North America for the 25 million to 40 million passenger category through its global passenger survey program.

Travel + Leisure readers ranked MSP as its best U.S. airport in the 2024 Worlds Best Awards.

Related Articles
A rural Minnesota man has been charged after his three cows wandered onto U.S. Highway 14 and caused a series of crashes.

The cows allegedly belong to 46-year-old Aaron Duane Lambrecht, who was charged in Nicollet County District Court last week in connection with three crashes on the highway last summer, which resulted in the deaths of all three animals.

According to the criminal complaint, police were notified at about 4:15 a.m. on July 24, 2024, that three different drivers had struck cows in the eastbound lanes of the highway near milepost 116 in Nicollet County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A preliminary investigation revealed that one driver was heading eastbound on the highway in the right lane when he saw something in the left lane of traffic, then saw a cow in the right lane before hitting it.

The driver then struck a black cow, causing his vehicle to roll and come to a rest on its roof on the highway shoulder. The driver suffered a compressed back fracture and a broken leg in the wreck.

Another driver was heading the same direction in the same lane as the first driver when he struck a black cow standing in the highway, causing sending his vehicle into a ditch, according to the complaint. The second driver didn't suffer any injuries.

A third eastbound driver then struck a cow and also ended up in the ditch. The victim suffered cuts and glass dust in her eyes and was taken to a hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All three vehicles involved sustained anywhere from moderate to heavy damage, charges say.

Lambrecht arrived to the scene and admitted the cows were able to push their way out of their enclosure.

Police learned that the Nicollet County Sheriff's Office had 22 prior contacts with Lambrecht involving his animals  horses and cows  getting out of enclosures dating back to August 2021.

Lambrecht was issued two citations for public nuisance in 2024 after his cattle were out discovered to be outside of their enclosures.

Lambrecht is charged with two counts of public nuisance and three counts of animal cruelty. If convicted, he faces up to just over a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
A Minnetonka e-commerce company is closing down, with more than 120 workers set to be laid off.

Digital River Inc. informed the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development this week that it will permanently close its headquarters at 10380 Bren Rd. W. by Mar. 28.

The closure will result in 122 employees losing their jobs. This includes a number of remote workers who reported to the office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The closure comes just over ten years after the company was acquired by a New York-based private equity firm for a sum of $840 million.

Digital River offered online payment processing solutions for companies across the globe, as well as data insight and market intelligence services.

It was founded by Joel Ronning in 1994 before going public in 1998. Ronning stepped down in 2012, with the company taken private again less than two years later.

Google Streetview

According to the Twin Cities Business Magazine, Digital River CEO Barry Kasoff told employees that "unforeseen factors have intensified the strain on our financial resources.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The rapid contraction of key customers, combined with the headwinds presented by new deals with shorter payment terms and U.S. trade policies that impacted one of our largest customers, have exacerbated the pressure on our available capital," he added.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Officials with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) said the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results showed Mississippi 4th graders lead the nation for gains over time, ranking No. 1 for score improvements in reading and math since 2013.

Over the same period, MDE officials said Mississippi 8th graders held steady in reading and math as scores nationally dropped.

US children fall further behind in reading, make little improvement in math on national exam

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Known as the Nations Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in 4th and 8th grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. NAEP is administered every two years.

Mississippi is one of only 13 states with gains in 4th grade math, which is the only subject and grade nationally that showed statistically significant improvements since 2022. The percentage of Mississippi 4th graders scoring proficient or advanced in math increased from 32% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, which is statistically tied to the 2024 national rate.

(Courtesy: MDE) (Courtesy: MDE) (Courtesy: MDE)

Mississippi 4th graders continue to stand out in reading, with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced reaching 32%, higher than the national rate of 30%.

Vicksburg Warren School District will deploy new electric school buses

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2024 results prove that the education reforms the state has been implementing over the past decade work. They also validate the historic gains Mississippi students first showed in 2019, said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. When we keep academic standards high, focus intensely on literacy, and ensure a strong accountability system for schools and districts, student achievement improves.

This is another massively historic win for education in Mississippi, said Governor Tate Reeves. Mississippi fourth graders arent just one of the best in reading and math gains  theyre the best in the nation. And when you look at the historic performance of Mississippis eighth graders, as well as African American and Hispanic students, its undeniable that something special is happening in classrooms all across our state. Thank you to all of the parents, teachers and students for once again making history! Keep up the good work!

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.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi State University (MSU) President Mark E. Keenum and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) President Scott Alsobrooks signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, January 29 to formalize the MSU at the Communiversity partnership through the Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program (AiM UP).

The Communiversity houses EMCCs Workforce Services Division and is located off Highway 82 between Starkville and Columbus.

Hattiesburg teacher receives Milken Educator Award

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mississippi State is well-known for the collaborative culture we have, and so much of our success comes from the outstanding relationships and partnerships we have that made today possible, Keenum said. The Communiversity is the perfect example of teamwork, and were proud to be here as the higher education partner. The Communiversity is focused on giving students and workers the skills and training they need to compete and succeed in the 21st Century marketplace. Were working together at the Communiversity so companies will continue to create next-gen jobs in our state and more Mississippians will be ready to fill these jobs of the future.

Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum, left, and East Mississippi Community College President Scott Alsobrooks sign a Memorandum of Understanding Wednesday [Jan. 29] to formalize the MSU at the Communiversity partnership through the Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program. (Photo by Grace Cockrell via Mississippi State University) Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum, left, and East Mississippi Community College President Scott Alsobrooks cut the ribbon Wednesday [Jan. 29] for the MSU at the Communiversity partnership through the Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program, better known as AiM UP. This partnership will provide workforce training for industry both inside the Golden Triangle and across the state. (Photo by Grace Cockrell via Mississippi State University)

According to MSU officials, the AiM UP initiative is helping shape the future of advanced manufacturing training and education by equipping Mississippis workforce with critical skills identified by manufacturing employer partners across the state. They said the initiative bridges the gap between academia and industry by facilitating collaboration, inspiring innovation and driving the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies.

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.
MISSOURI  An Iowa lawmaker wants to extend the states borders into nine of Minnesotas counties, reflecting a similar situation between Missouri and Iowa in the 1800s leading to the famous Honey War.

The new proposal from Republican Sen. Maike Bousselot of Ankeny, Iowa, wants the state to purchase nine of Minnesotas southernmost counties. In 1839, Missouri had a similar, more aggressive pursuit when the governor sent a militia to ambush Iowas southeast counties.

The war ignited after a Missouri Sheriff, Uriah Gregory, entered one of the disputed counties to collect taxes but was forced to return to Missouri or Iowans threatened violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plane, military helicopter collide above Washington DC

In retaliation, Missouri settlers cut down four trees housing honey bees as an act of violence, resulting in the name Honey War.

Sheriff Gregory entered the same county again afterward and was jailed in Iowa for taking control without permission. According to the National Park Service, a rumor spread that the sheriff was kidnapped by farmers in Iowa, and in response, Missouri called in the state militia, and between 600 and 2,500 state troops were mobilized.

Iowa responded by creating its first border militia using outdated weapons and swords left over from the War of 1812.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the issue made it up to the Supreme Court, as a result, the Iowa and Missouri border known today was settled as the true state border.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Missouri State University has announced it will stop diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs on campus and close its office of inclusive management.

In a press release, the university says the decision is in response to changes nationwide and anticipated actions regarding DEI at the state level. The release also says state leaders have focused specifically on MSUs DEI programs.

Finalists named for Missouri State Provost position

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missouri States Board of Governors supports the changes to DEI programs.

As a university, we value diverse thought and actions and support all our students, faculty and staff. However, 38% of our budget comes from the state. For us to continue providing a quality education to our students, we must align with the requirements laid out by state leadership. Dr. Richard Biff Williams, MSU President

MSU says employees of the office of inclusive engagement who were faculty previously will return to their respective departments and staff members will move to other open positions at the university.

Additionally, the Collaborative Diversity Conference and Inclusive Excellence Awards Gala have been eliminated and this years events canceled.

The university says it will continue evaluating how to comply with state and federal mandates.

Despite these changes, Missouri State will continue to support all individuals on our campus, ensuring respect, fairness, open dialogue and shared opportunity, Williams 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
MISSOURI  One Missouri lawmaker wants to help make tax time a little easier on families.

Senator Josh Hawley is pushing a plan to grow the child tax credit.

It currently has a maximum of $2,000 per child  a number hed like to expand to $5,000.

Hawley also wants to see that happen in installments throughout the year instead of all at once at tax time.

Hawley and Warren team up against Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every week, every month you get your check, its like, theres the deduction right there. So youre paying those taxes. And I think if youve got kids, you ought to get a tax cut. You ought to get a tax cut against those payroll taxes that come out of your paycheck every single pay period. My plan would be five thousand dollars per child, said Hawley.

Hawley points to the challenges in the current economy as critical to helping working families pay for costs related to raising their children.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Mobile City Council has considered a proposal during the meeting on Tuesday, that could give the next mayor of Mobile a pay raise.

Arrest made in triple homicide investigation: Mobile police

The proposal is sponsored by Mayor Sandy Stimpson. Stimpson, who will not be running for re-election in August, proposed a $70,000 salary increase for his successor at a city council meeting earlier this month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Mayor Stimpson, there have only been two pay raises for the mayor of Mobile in the past 40 years.

If you go back to 1985 when the city was founded, the mayor made $65,000, Mayor Stimpson said. In todays dollars, thats $190,000.

The mayors current annual salary is $125,000, Stimpson said that is not enough for the position. Compared to other mayor salaries throughout other cities in the U.S., Mobiles salary is significantly less.

Salt Lake City, UT  $212,000

Charleston, SC  $223,000

North Charleston, SC  $218,000

Little Rock, Ark  $200,000

With the pay bump, Stimpson said it could entice more people to run for the mayor position.

Youre expecting the mayor to lead, said Stimpson. I mean, hes got to be the collaborative for the port, for the airport, for the chamber, and for downtown. So, youre expecting somebody, from a leadership standpoint, to really lead the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Zoghby Act, any changes to the mayors salary must be passed at least six months before the upcoming election.

Therefore, the city council must pass the measure in February for the August election.

3 men accused of cutting power lines: Jackson County Sheriffs Department

Mobile City Council could vote on the proposal at their next meeting, on February 4. If it passes, the next mayors salary would be $195,000.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile man will spend over a decade behind bars after he was sentenced for trafficking drugs and possessing firearms as a federal fugitive, according to the United States Department of Justice.

3 men accused of cutting power lines: Jackson County Sheriffs Department

Officials identified that man as 30-year-old Tesean R. James. According to court documents, James was sentenced for trafficking drugs and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes while being a federal fugitive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The USDOJ said in a news release that the charges stem from officials finding pistols, drugs, and drug proceeds while attempting to arrest him on warrants.

In July 2023, federal and local law enforcement agents attempted to arrest James on his fugitive

warrant, the USDOJ release said. James led agents on a high-speed vehicle chase through a residential neighborhood in Mobile, bailing out of his vehicle and eluding capture on foot. In Jamess abandoned vehicle, agents recovered two pistols and seven pounds of bulk marijuana

Later, in December 2023, agents captured James in Mobile after a brief foot chase, the release continued. Agents executed a search warrant at the house where James had been staying, recovering more than 34 pounds of bulk marijuana, 1.5 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, more than $34,000 in drug proceeds, and two guns, one of which had previously been reported stolen.

Arrest made in triple homicide investigation: Mobile police

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

James allegedly admitted to knowing he had warrants and was a fugitive and to receiving shipments of drugs. He was ultimately sentenced to serve 180 months in prison and five years of supervised 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 WKRG News 5.
Moldovagaz, a Moldovan national gas operator has signed an agreement to provide a loan of 3 million cubic metres of natural gas to Tiraspoltransgaz, a gas operator in unrecognised Transnistria.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Vadim Cheban, acting chairman of the board of Moldovagaz, on Telegram

Details: Cheban said that these supplies were intended to support the functionality of the Transnistrian gas system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deliveries will be made on the basis of applications from Tiraspoltransgaz.

Under the terms of the agreement, this volume of natural gas must be returned by 1 March 2025.

Background:

On 27 January, Chisinau announced that it would provide 3 million cubic metres of gas to unrecognised Transnistria, with funds provided by the European Commission.

On Monday, the European Union offered Moldova an emergency aid package worth 30 million to overcome the energy crisis instigated by Russia, including the purchase and transportation of natural gas to Transnistria.

Support UP or become our patron!
Jan. 28DPNews @DominionPost.com The rumor mill is causing problems for Monongalia County investigators.

Prompted by varying accounts and claims swirling online about a wreck that resulted in the death of Kevin Lataille, of Smithfield, Pa., the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office issued a plea on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

Lataille's vehicle  a bronze-colored Hyundai Tucson, Pennsylvania license plate KSD 4278  was pulled from Cheat Lake on Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Monongalia County Sheriff's Office is respectfully asking the public to refrain from sharing or spreading inaccurate information regarding the recent accident that occurred on Interstate 68, Cheat Lake Bridge. False reports and rumors circulating on social media and other platforms have only served to confuse and mislead the community, making it harder to establish the facts."

According to the post, detectives and trained accident reconstructionists are investigating the incident and will provide information when a more accurate, up-to-date version of events is available.

"The spreading of unverified details causes unnecessary efforts and takes away from investigating, " the post reads.

Lataille was last heard from a week earlier, when he called his wife to say he was preparing to drive home from his shift at Eat 'n Park in Morgantown  through the worsening snowstorm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials ask that anyone with direct knowledge of the incident contact the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office at 304-291-7260 or email photographs /video to info @monongaliasheriff.gov "We understand that this incident has generated widespread concern, but it's crucial that we prioritize truth and sensitivity in our communications, " the Monongalia County Sheriff's post states. "We urge everyone to be responsible in their sharing of information and to refrain from participating in the circulation of unfounded claims. All MECCA 911 audio calls and radio communications have been listened to and at no time did the MECCA 911 Center receive a call about a car going off the bridge into Cheat Lake.

Let's work together to provide support, rather than contribute to confusion or harm."
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Production cell of "I'm just a Bill" from the America Rock series of "Schoolhouse Rock." (Photo by Kari Rene Hall/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Were long overdue for a Schoolhouse Rock reboot, but with each passing year Im more convinced itll never happen. Why would any broadcaster bother supplying civic education to a country where theres no demand?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In case some nostalgic middle-aged television producer insists on throwing his money away, though, heres a freebie idea for an episode: What is the point of Congress in 2025?

I know what the Constitution says its supposed to do. But what does it actually do?

Congress declares war, you say. Well, no, it doesnt. Its been more than 75 years since any such declaration has been made. Congress does occasionally pass authorizations to use military force for major conflicts, but most projections of U.S. military power abroad nowadays happen on the say-so of the president. In theory the legislature has authority to halt those interventions, but in practice it doesnt dare undermine the commander-in-chief while American troops are in harms way.

Congress impeaches and removes corrupt federal officials, you say. Again, not really. The House remains willing and able to impeachbut only if the president is a member of the other party and only because impeachment requires a simple majority. In the Senate, the two-thirds supermajority needed to convict has made removal impossible in an age of bitter partisanship. If the legislature wouldnt oust Donald Trump after a failed coup attempt, itll never oust anyone. He could murder someone on camera at this point and there wouldnt be 67 votes against him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congress scrutinizes the presidents nominees and consents to their appointment, you say. Is that so? Well find out more about that this week, I suppose, as the dregs of Trumpworld come before the Senate for their confirmation hearings. But it was just four days ago that the chamber confirmed one of the least qualified Cabinet nominees in American history, a talking head from Fox News with a history of heavy drinking, a zipper problem, and a soft spot for accused war criminals. The bar for confirmation is on the floor. It is remarkable that a few members of Trumps kakistocracy still might not clear it.

Congress decides how taxpayer money is spent, you say. Fair enough, I would have saiduntil this week. However pitifully diminished Congress might be in other respects, it still retains the power of the purse. And in a country where the federal budget reaches into the trillions, thats a genuinely awesome power.

But dont finalize the Schoolhouse Rock script just yet. As with war, impeachment, and advice and consent, spending might soon become another congressional power in name only.

Mr. Freeze.

If presidents can impound appropriated funds at any time and for any reason, then theres not much point to having a legislature. So said law professor Steve Vladeck about Trumps latest challenge to the constitutional order, which arrived on Monday night in the unassuming form of a two-page memo signed by an acting budget official.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo ordered a temporary freeze to all grants and loans issued by the federal government to ensure that resources arent being used to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies, among other leftist priorities. Social Security, Medicare, and direct payments to individuals were exempt lest the new policy trigger a popular revolt, but foreign aid, scientific funding, assistance to schools and nongovernmental organizations, and much, much more were momentarily paralyzed as agencies review their spending to make sure it complies with Trumps agenda (Late this afternoon, a federal judge issued a stay halting the freeze until February 3.)

Needless to say, this involves big bucks. Manhattan Institute fellow and Dispatch contributor Brian Riedl told the Washington Post that the amount affected runs into the tens of billions of dollars at least. The funding delays are going to prove very difficult for grantees under the impression the money is coming, and have rent and salary payments dependent upon it, he said.

Its weird that the branch that supposedly wields the power of the purse, and that appropriated all of this money, should suddenly find its power subject to the presidents whims, no?

What Trump is attempting to do is called impoundment, holding onto fundsalbeit temporarily, in this casethat the legislature has directed him to spend. (And not for the first time!) Per Vladeck, the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 does give him a bit of wiggle room in refusing to disburse appropriated money, but only under certain conditions. To begin with, the White House needs to formally request permission from Congress not to spend certain funds, which Trump hasnt bothered to do. Once the president makes that request, he can then withhold the funds for 45 days while Congress considers it. At the end of the period, however, unless the request is approved, the funds must be disbursed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And if the law that appropriated the money mandates that the funds be spent, then Congress wont consider the presidents request to begin with.

Trumps answer to all of that is (or will be) to insist that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional as an encroachment on presidential power under Article II. The money appropriated by Congress is going to executive agencies, is it not? Well, hes in charge of those agencies. If he doesnt want to spend it, the legislature cant force him. The power of the purse is merely the power to write checks. Its for the executive to decide whether to cash them.

Thats silly, you might be thinking, and you would be right. Article II requires the president to take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, after all. If he can opt not to faithfully execute spending ordered by Congress then our laws are little more than suggestionsto the extent they arent already. In vintage Trump form, hes presenting himself as a victim when hes actually the aggressor: The constitutional encroachment in impoundment, plainly, is the presidents attempt to assert a de facto veto over Congress Article I spending power. Thats what Vladeck meant in the line I quoted above. If the executive, not the legislature, ultimately gets to say where taxpayer money goes, why do we have a legislature at all?

This whole episode is vintage Trump, really. Its bold to the point of being audacious. Its messy as hell, with agencies at sea as to how the budget memo should be implemented. In two pages, weve got what amounts to 60 years of tradition and policies that are thrown up in the air. For those suffering most, the uncertainty will be immense, one public policy expert told the Post. Its also probably illegal, although no ones sure since presidents dont typically try stuff like this and its anyones guess how far a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court might go to enable autocracy in the name of the unitary executive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One thing this episode isnt, though, is chaotic. Not strategically, anyway.

Discretion.

Nine days into his term, Trump has a lot of plates spinning. Immigration arrests and deportations are up; birthright citizenship is up in the air; Greenland and the Panama Canal are under threat; U.S. foreign aid has been paused, with potentially disastrous consequences; the J6ers are back on the streets and, in some cases, confronting police.

It seems chaotic, little more than haphazard fan service for his populist base, but theres a common thread to many of the actions hes taken. The impoundment nonsense is the latest example of Trump striving to make all federal policy subject to executive discretion and all exercises of that discretion subject to compliance with his wishes. Were a government of friends and enemies now, and the more power he wields in his discretion, the more friends hes going to have.

On Monday, for instance, his acting attorney general fired more than a dozen Justice Department prosecutors who worked on the two federal cases in which Trump was indicted. There was no evidence that those prosecutors engaged in wrongdoing that might justify the firings, merely a suspicion that they wouldnt have faithfully implemented the presidents agenda. And fair enough, I guess: If I had to work for a convicted criminal whom I believed had committed numerous federal offenses, I wouldnt be the eager-est beaver in the office either.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were the firings legal? Maybe, maybe not. But when Trump wants to exercise discretion over personnel, hes not going to wait for his lawyers to feel good about it.

The vendetta didnt stop there, either. Other prosecutors at the DOJ are now under investigation for having charged some rank-and-file J6ers with felony obstruction. (The interim U.S. attorney leading the probe helped organize the Stop the Steal movement in 2020, in case youre wondering what stage of decline America is at.) Paired with the presidents sweeping clemency for insurrectionists, the wholesale politically inspired demolition of the Department of Justice thats underway makes clear that Trumps favor is now the only salient political consideration in the executive branch. Friendly criminals who idolize him will be treated with more mercy than enemy prosecutors who held them, and him, to account under the law.

His decision last week to end federal security details for John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Anthony Fauci made the same point more dramatically. Trump may have been entitled to do that at his discretion but there was barely a pretense that he acted for public-minded reasons having to do with scant resources or the threats to each man having diminished. He pulled their security because theyve criticized him at points in the past, plain and simple. In Trumps Washington, friends get protection when theyre at risk of being murdered while enemies have to fend for themselves.

Ultimately this is all penny-ante stuff to Trump, though. Unless youre employed by an executive agency or depend on one directly for your safety, there isnt much he can do to you (yet) to bend you to his will. As always in life, real leverage lies in money, but money is the one thing the president constitutionally doesnt have much authority over. If only he could control who gets to wet their beak in the public fisc and who doesnt, his power to make adversaries at home and abroad comply with his wishes would multiply many times over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So thats what hes gone about doing. To properly run a government based on patronage, with spoils going to friends and hardship relegated to enemies, he needs to gain more control over taxpayer money.

Tariffs are his instrument of influence abroad, of course. It is insane that a 25 percent tax on imports from Americas two closest trading partners could be imposed on the whim of one man rather than by a vote of Congress, but our feckless legislature spent many years gradually ceding authority to the president in this area and lacks the nerve to dare claw it back. And so, for Trump, tariffs have become a form of unilateral sanctions he can impose to apply pressure internationally on weaker powers whenever theres something he wants.

He threatened Colombia with tariffs when it resisted accepting deportees from the U.S. who were flown home on military planes. He threatened Denmark with tariffs when it refused to turn Greenland over to him. In neither case did trade policy have anything to do with his actions. He likes tariffs because money talks, and American economic might is such that our money is louder than anyone elses.

Is it any surprise, then, that he would look for ways to gain similar financial influence over adversaries here at home?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Impoundment is the way. If its within the presidents discretion to release or not release the enormous gobs of cash Congress sends out the door every year to domestic entities, practically every stakeholder in American society will need to kneel before him to stay afloat. Some peoples loyalty is compelled with a stick but others is purchased with a carrot. Trump, the man who insisted on putting his name on stimulus checks issued during the pandemic, wants the power to dole out the carrots. You want your appropriation from Congress? Then ask nicely, and explain what youre prepared to do for him as a favor in return.

Whos going to stop him?

The court stands alone.

Congress? Please. He owns the majority party in both chambers, body and soul. Rep. Tom Emmer, the No. 3 Republican in the House, practically drooled on himself on Monday in celebrating Trumps spending freeze. Youre going to see things like this, and your first reaction is going to be, Well, this isnt the way its been done, he crowed. You need to understand, he was elected to shake up the status quo.

The reason this isnt the way its been done is because its illegal, Tom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Will Democrats stop Trump? Also unlikely. Sen. Chuck Schumer checked the box, releasing a statement condemning the freeze yesterday and then wheezing about Project 2025 in a press appearance about it today. But liberals are outmatched by the sheer pace of the authoritarian advance and of course theyre outnumbered in the House and Senate. If they were in the majority, theyd be within their rights to roadblock Trumps nominees or cut funding to certain executive agencies to protest this latest power grab. As it is, theyre prisoners of an obeisant GOP.

Frankly, I think theyre reluctant to challenge Trump during his honeymoon period with voters. Hes more popular than they are.

Might the people themselves stop Trump? Im skeptical. The president is doing exactly what he was elected to do, Emmer claimed on Monday, and while thats not quite truehow many American voters had strong feelings about impoundment?its truer than some would like to believe. A recent CNN poll found the public quite clear-eyed about the presidents intentions: 74 percent expected him to ask the DOJ to investigate his political rivals, 77 percent expected him to pardon most J6ers, and 82 percent expected him to fire federal workers who oppose his policies.

Theyll treat impoundment that way too, I suspect. The presidents voters might not have elected him because they want him to seize Congress power of the purse but they understood after January 6 that a second Trump term would involve certain, ah, irregularities and pulled the lever anyway. Caudillo behavior is priced into his political stock. Besides, its not like he was deceptive about this as a candidate. Trumps team spoke candidly about his plans for impoundment during the campaign.

Theres only one civic institution that might, and I think will, meaningfully challenge Trump.

Granted, the Supreme Court has displayed some grossly irresponsible attitudes about executive power during the Trump era. It could very well capitulate again. Law professor Jack Goldsmith believes there are five justices in the conservative majority who might be preparedin theoryto grant the president broad discretion to pick and choose which federal laws he wants to enforce.

But with Trump currently testing the lawfulness of everything from birthright citizenship to delaying the TikTok ban without statutory authority to terminating the Paris agreement on climate change to firing civil servants willy-nilly, the Roberts Court is suddenly staring directly into the authoritarian maw. How willing in practice will the justices be to read presidential power expansively? The question is whether they will go there in reality, Goldsmith writes, when the reality is a president who doesnt care about legal limits or about the non-legal norms that have kept the modern behemothic executive in check and thus legitimated its power.

We shouldnt get our hopes up. The possibility of a cretin like Donald Trump wielding the pardon power with total criminal impunity was a live one when the court considered presidential immunity last year and it still opted to throw civic caution to the wind. Never underestimate a Federalist Society alumnus willingness to read Article II autocratically.

But fair is fair: The Roberts Court has also reined in executive power in certain important ways when that power has encroached on the authority of other branches. Thats the great hope of classical liberals when the court eventually takes up Trumps impoundment gambit. Hes not just stepping on Congress toes, hes stomping on them, and the majority has looked dimly on that in recent years.

Id say its more likely than not that they rule against himand then well get our first real insight into just how dark this grotesque postliberal experiment might get. Will Trump ignore an adverse ruling by the court, as his vice president has encouraged him to do in the past, or will he acquiesce? And, maybe more ominously, if the majority comes to suspect that hell ignore its ruling, will it strain to rule in his favor in order to avoid a confrontation and preserve a simulacrum of institutional legitimacy?

If the court ends up blessing impoundment, it wont simply leave us wondering what the point is of having a legislature. Itll leave us wondering what the point is of having a court. Those are the stakes, all of eight days into Trump 2.0.

Either way, well know soon. Whether you love or hate Trumps shock and awe honeymoon from hell, it does have the virtue of speeding up the completely inevitable major constitutional crisis phase of this presidency. Lets get on with it, please, as Im dying to know how the Schoolhouse Rock reboot episode on presidential power in dystopian post-authoritarian America ends.

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.
Kaiden Forman-Webster

ICT + MTFP

While many had the day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Montana Legislature was hard at work focusing on a number of issues affecting the state.

One particular committee meeting for public comment centered on tribal leaders and communities interests in Medicaid and its effects on tribes. The hearing room was jam packed with dozens of individuals ready to voice their concerns for reservations and the surrounding urban areas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many of those that attended the meeting at the Capitol had to drive multiple hours to ensure the chance to do so. Montanans know how roads can be during the winter and how difficult a high mileage trip can be.

Maria Roundstone, Northern Cheyenne, drove more than six hours to represent her tribe through hazardous conditions. She works for the tribes Revenue Department, which handles coding and billing with medicaid.

It's a long travel, Roundstone said. But looking back at our ancestors, we just had a Fort Robinson Run Breakout and that was from Nebraska and the kids actually run it.

Roundstone was referring to the Fort Robinson Run Breakout, a 400 mile journey back to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, done on foot to represent the original breakout of Fort Robinson by the Northern Cheyenne in 1879.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So I mean for someone to run that far, all the way back to our reservation. Driving by car is not too bad.

Others drove anywhere between two and five hours to attend the meeting. Todd Wilson, Crow, is the CEO of the Helena Indian Alliance, stressed the importance of attending in-person, saying its always best to do so if possible.

While the discussion focused on the impact of the Medicaid expansion and the damage that would ensue immediately if the legislature fails to renew it for the state, multiple points of interest were continually focused on by those who attended.

Medical providers would see a major cut on all reservations and tribal residents living on reservations, often rural areas, would be put in the category of life or limb, meaning if it doesn't threaten your life or one of your limbs to the point of amputation, it may be difficult getting medical attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another main focus regarded the Tribal Relations Manager position that once provided a seat at the table in the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The position provided a tribal voice to speak on health issues affecting tribes.

Lesa Evers, Blackfeet, was the last to hold the position and retired in 2023. The position has since been left vacant by the department and was eventually removed entirely.

Dr. Anna Sorrell spoke strongly on this matter. She has a PhD in Indigenous and rural health and an extensive background of working for the state, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, federal government, and was previously the director of Department of Public Health and Human Services.

State representative Mike Fox, a member of the American Indian Caucus, resides on the committee and asked about the Tribal Relations Manager position to get a clearer understanding of its importance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was at this time that Sorrell voiced her disapproval with the removal of the Tribal Relations Manager position.

What I learned in that time was that if you're not sitting at the table, your voice is not heard, Sorrel said. What the Tribal Relations Director position did at DPHHS, that was under the direct supervision of the Director, was keep our voice at the table every day for every issue.

After the session was over, many individuals openly discussed the position, how they felt government-to-government relationships were during Evers time and how it had changed for the worse after she retired and the position was terminated.

During his time as Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Director, Joe Durglo worked closely with Evers and has an intimate understanding of the communication she provided for tribes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She had a formal process that she used to go out and meet with the tribes directly. That was her formal process. She also shared her contact information, so if I ran into a problem with a particular pass order or a contract or had questions about specific things within the department, we could reach out to her directly, Durglo said. So, she helped solve problems, she recognized the formal relationship between the State governments and the tribal governments. So she was very aware of that. She had a process where she presented information and representatives of that department to the tribes, formally in the government-to-government relationship.

After Evers left Durglo added that its been difficult to identify a person within the department to help solve problems and navigate the organization.

When asked about how a position similar should be designed, Durglo said it is important to work within and closely with the director.

Tribes need to have a voice at that table, and that needs to be a tribal voice, not a state agency rep, speaking for us, he said. We just need a voice in those decisions, in those conversations, and I guess vice versa, if the state or that department has questions from the tribe, she was also that liaison. She helped navigate, she understood tribes enough to help navigate that conversation going the other way. So it was a two way pact.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many want to see the position reinstated. Ted Russette, an enrolled citizen of the Cree Tribe and Vice Chair on the Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy Executive Branch, said tribes have been left in the dark since her retirement.

There was no cohesiveness after she left, Russette said. Everything dropped, because she used to keep us, the tribes, informed about what was happening and what was coming down the pipe. After she left, nothing.

The bureaucracy and the frustration that many people in the U.S. have towards it was echoed by Russettes frustration to the challenge of not being able to reach the right person in government, an issue many have faced in all facets of government.

For the issue of healthcare Russette had enough of the workarounds and came directly to the capital for answers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finally, we just got to come up here and talked to the governor. Then he gets kind of mad at us. But what do you do?, he said.

Mike Comes At Night, a more recently elected member of the Blackfeet Tribal Council, never interacted with Evers while she was in her position, yet still spoke on his thoughts about the communications with government-to-government relations.

There needs to be communication between the tribe and state. A position similar to Lesas would be a chance for that, Comes At Night said.

Roundstone had communicated with Evers in the past and found her to be an integral part of keeping relations intact during her time at the department. Her office now faces the same issue of lack of communication and people suffer because of this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reestablishing this position is instrumental to keeping tribes informed, Roundstone said.

From the many voices that described just how influential Evers and her position was, understanding how she created the communication pipelines needed for government-to-government relations will be paramount to this position if the department reinstates it once again.

During her tenure, Evers explained the efforts she made to do so. She consistently went to each of Montanas reservations to get contacts from every tribe and also took individuals from the many health departments to the reservations to create relationships between all parties.

It was important to her to maintain open and honest lines of communication, even when the news may not have been favorable to tribes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I saw tribal governments as partners in our work, communicating with them, keeping them informed about the position that the department had on things which sometimes wasn't favorable to them. You know, being honest, there was a lot of things that I did, Evers recalled. I did tribal tours every spring and fall, I went out and I met with every single tribal government in their chambers. Met with health facilities, the health CEOs, executive directors, and I took staff with me. I would take the Medicaid director. I've taken previous directors, deputy directors, other leadership in the agency, to have that experience out in Indian Country, to sit in tribal chambers and have this formal conversation all the way to Fort Peck, or over to Browning, or wherever it might be. But we did this trip every spring and every fall.

Evers office was two doors down from the directors and she credits working in such a close proximity to the success she was able to have.

The funding is still available for a position of similar status. Republican state senator Dennis Lenz wondered why the position went away and where those responsibilities now lie.

Have some of those functions been dispersed throughout the department? I mean did the actual function get dispersed? I can't speak to why he would have done that. That is kind of unusual, Lenz said.

A letter signed by all members of the Montana American Indian Caucus will be submitted voicing their displeasure with the removal of the position and hope to see it reinstated once again in the department.

A representative from the Department of Public Health and Human Services declined to be interviewed for this story.

ICT logo MTFP logo Shared

This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the states 2025 legislative session
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

It started with a memo from the White Houses Office of Management and Budget on Monday night, and by noon on Tuesday, many nonprofit agencies throughout the country and Montana were searching for answers, uncertain whether they should immediately shut their doors and halt programs.

The memo described U.S. President Donald Trumps initiative to closely examine all federal spending and said that there would be a temporary freeze of funding, which could reach into the billions, even trillions, of dollars. While the Trump administration said thered be exceptions for payments to individuals, like Medicaid and Social Security, healthcare and nonprofit officials said some of those funding streams were not working Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump administration said it will require all federal agencies to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the Presidents policies and requirements, even for contracts already started and signed. The memo said those programs would be reviewed and then lifted on a case-by-case review by political appointees, not career staffers.

By the end of the day, an emergency lawsuit filed in Washington D.C., had paused the funding freeze until 5 p.m., Monday.

Still, even as the courts froze the funding freeze, the days events left leaders rattled in search of more answers.

Thats because nonprofit organizations repeatedly told the Daily Montanan that when they reached out to federal government employees who had been their point-of-contact, they were told that all communication was coming from the White Houses OMB, nor could they assist answering questions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By shortly after 1 p.m., Cindy Stergar of the Montana Primary Care Association, said some of the funding portals that community-based programs like Head Start use appeared to have reopened, at least temporarily.

We just dont have a lot of answers right now, Stergar told the Daily Montanan, because there just hasnt been a lot of clarification and some mixed messages.

I have been working in this field for a long, long time and I have never see anything like this, where its just a blanket order, she said.

Before the court order, the White House directive gave organizations approximately 24 hours to submit any current expenses. After that, the federal government would begin reviewing all spending. Organizations were instructed that they must submit plans, budgets and other documentation for review by Feb. 10. Others still were told that the funding would likely be delayed until the middle of March, some 45 days away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was not clear on Tuesday how the plan would roll out, who would be doing the review, and how the determination would be made.

Later in the day, the White House issued further clarification saying that it was only targeting programs that cover DEI  or diversity, equity and inclusion  immigration and foreign aid, but it appears that nearly any nonprofit organization that relies on federal funding was halted.

The Montana Nonprofit Association, which is part of the larger National Nonprofit Association, which immediately challenged the order in court, said that its active membership is upwards of 700, but there are nearly 3,000 nonprofit organizations registered in the state with at least one employee. Since the office opened Tuesday, MNA Executive Director Adam Jespersen said they were inundated with phone calls.

It has been a day, said Jespersen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said that the organization that supports the nonprofit organizations throughout the state had already sent out emails trying to articulate what was known and trying not to repeat rumor or misinformation.

Were trying to only share what we know. But its not clear what is happening, Jespersen said. And, we dont know when the spigot is going to be turned back on.

He said its important for Montanas leaders to know that 11% of the states economy is tied up in the nonprofit sector, focusing on health, energy, education and housing  most providing human services.

He said that even organizations that arent funded mostly through federal grants may have programs and staff whose livelihoods could be impacted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is complex with many, many impacted, especially in smaller community-based programs that may not have the budget to withstand (a pause or loss of) funding, Jespersen said.

He said that the funding freeze is even different than other situations, like the COVID-19 emergency shutdown or the federal government shutdowns.

This happened with zero warning, he said. Even the shutdowns happened with some warning, and they were planned and you could see them coming so you could triage. This was more like a light switch.

Kelsen Young, the executive director of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said that the action could put public and individual safety at risk because the states Board of Crime Control works with the coalition to disperse funding that supports victims services, including those who are abused or face homelessness due to unstable living situations. Many shelters designed for victims of domestic violence cannot keep services continuing, which include operating shelters, without regular funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, other officials, like Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen, said that her office is working with the Trump administration, but it does not appear that the bulk of federal education funding has been affected, according to an email sent to public school officials in Montana.

The funding pause applies to discretionary grants at the Department of Education, which are undergoing review to ensure alignment with the priorities of the Trump administration, the guidance said. The Department of Education is actively working with OMB to identify additional programs that may fall outside the scope of this memorandum.

Hedalens office also said that federal Pell grants and direct loans for higher education are not going to be affected.

Other nonprofit leaders across the state worried that the funding portal that many nonprofits used would only be up temporarily, and even then, most nonprofit organizations are only funded in arrears, meaning for work that has already been completed. Few get any kind of payment in advance, meaning that if there is a pause or interruption, organizations will either have to find other funding or consider reducing services or staff, even for contracts that are already signed, active and in place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How long could that review take and all our federal agencies have been told not to communicate what to do, Young said. It appears that most of the funding will be frozen without an end date.

The spreadsheet sent out to many organizations is more than 50 pages long and has the different grants and programs that were part of the freeze.

There are thousands of programs, Young said. How long is that going to take?

She said that many organizations that fund social services do not have cash reserves to support staff and operations during the long term.

The coalition works with more than 20 domestic violence shelters in Montana, and all are run by community-based nonprofits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rural programs are the ones that could be most affected because they have the fewest sources of other funding, usually, she said.

As many as 40 victims witness coordinators help those who have been abused move safely throughout the criminal and civil justice systems. Those will also likely be impacted, Young said, because they are grant funded.

Some organizations will have to make decisions about keeping their doors open, Young said. These are not new awards. And theyre not taking applications for new funding.

Most grant-funded programs and agencies use a system called drawdown, Stergar said, which allows them to submit expenses and programming costs throughout the year, often monthly or several times a month, to get money the organization already spent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State leaders also said they were concerned because many residents may mistakenly believe that more money comes from the state, but really, the state is often a pass through agency from federal funding.

The Daily Montanan reached out to the Governors Office to receive more information about how it was advising organizations and leaders, but Gov. Greg Gianfortes staff did not respond.

Leaders in the medical, education and nonprofit world said they were all stunned to learn of the freeze, and many couldnt remember a situation that would be a good comparison.

We just had no idea. I have contacts in (Washington) D.C., and no one seemed to know. Thats pretty surprising because I think nothing is a secret there, Young said.

The funding freeze was causing problems and headaches for even Republican leaders who have been generally supportive of Trumps policies. The Daily Montanan reached out to all four members of the Montana Congressional delegation, but only Rep. Troy Downing replied, saying he was supportive of Trumps initiative, but monitoring the situation:

I support any efforts by President Trump to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and ensure that existing federal funding aligns with the goals of this administration, which is the aim of recent guidance from the OMB. To be clear, the guidance exempts any program that provides direct assistance to Americans. My office will continue to monitor what this guidance means for my constituents.

OMB memo
Gov. Wes Moore is calling on PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission operator responsible for Marylands power grid, to change its pricing model and power procurement rules to prevent higher costs for ratepayers.

Moore joins several other government officials  including the governors of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois and New Jersey  who have voiced similar concerns about PJMs pricing model and the impact of PJMs power procurement methods on its customers.

Several state utility user advocacy agencies, including the Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel, have also called on PJM to make changes to its pricing model to stop ratepayers from paying more.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PJM coordinates the movement of electricity in 13 states, including all of Maryland, and in Washington, D.C.

In his letter to PJMs board of managers dated Jan. 21, Moore asked the company to make further adjustments to the capacity market rules to contain the escalation of capacity costs to the greatest extent possible.

PJMs capacity market, also called the Reliability Pricing Model, is a tool the company uses to secure power years before its actually needed.

PJM hosts a competitive capacity auction ahead of a delivery year, which spans from June to May of the following year.

During these auctions, PJM pays power generators in advance to ensure their commitment to providing power to PJMs grid when its needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The costs PJM incurs to pay these generators falls onto ratepayers across its entire region.

The capacity auction for the 2026/2027 delivery year, which spans June 2026 to May 2027, will take place this coming June.

It was originally supposed to be held in December, but was pushed back so PJM could address concerns about the capacity market.

In November, the Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel (OPC), a state agency representing residential utility users, submitted a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) about flaws in the capacity market tool.

These alleged issues included that the tool raises prices to secure power for the future, but ignores the fact that there are existing power sources already on PJMs grid that could solve the needs that PJM is paying other generators to fix down the line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The OPC also said there are several barriers to allowing new power generators to come onto the grid, including PJM being slow to process their applications.

PJM announced several proposed changes in December to its capacity market and acknowledged that solutions were needed.

One of these changes included making certain power sources that were exempt from participating in the capacity auctions take part.

Another change would expedite the application processing for 50 new resources to get them onto the grid sooner to address PJMs regional power needs.

In January, the OPC made several filings to FERC claiming that PJMs proposed changes arent long-term solutions to the capacity markets problems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Office of Peoples Counsel had specifically said in one of its filings that these changes are only modest improvements that fall far short of what will be needed to achieve a just and reasonable capacity market design  one that ensures consumers will pay no more than a just and reasonable rate.

MOORES LETTER

Moore wrote in his letter that he is deeply troubled by the affordability crisis Maryland residential and commercial energy customers face following PJMs recent capacity auction, a crisis that may worsen in the next capacity auction if further action is not taken.

He referenced a complaint that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed with FERC in December asking the commission to modify the price cap for the capacity market auctions until PJM completes its review of the capacity market.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shapiro argued that this temporary modification is justified, since PJM has proposed several emergency reforms, Moore wrote in his letter.

Shapiros complaint also stated that Pennsylvania consumers  and ratepayers across the region  could face an increase up to $20.4 billion in electricity bills over the next two years without the changes proposed in his complaint.

Moore urged PJM to make those requested changes to help contain costs to Maryland households, as well as households throughout PJM.

When asked on Tuesday if PJM had any comment on Moores letter, PJM spokesperson Susan Buehler emailed a notice that was sent to PJMs members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shapiro sent a letter to PJM on Jan. 13 inviting the Board of Managers to have a conversation with his administration to discuss capacity market solutions.

PJM met with Shapiros administration, and they have agreed upon a path forward for the complaint, the notice said.

Specifically, they agreed in principle on a price cap and price floor for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 capacity auctions.

PJM is hosting a virtual Special Members Committee meeting on Feb. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. to discuss proposing these changes and adjustments to PJMs governing documents. People can register to attend at shorturl.at/kbaXy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement emailed to The Frederick News-Post on Tuesday, Maryland Peoples Counsel David Lapp said his office is glad that Moore is weighing in on the problems with PJMs capacity market.

However, he said, Shapiros complaint doesnt go far enough in addressing the capacity markets fundamental problems.

Unlike the relief that Pennsylvania seeks and is supported by Governor Moore  which is intended to limit the auction clearing price if PJM does not obtain sufficient capacity bids region wide or in individual zones  the relief we seek would ensure adequate auction supply and improved competition, Lapp said.
In far eastern Ukraine, the "Artan" special operations unit prepared for another raid. The volunteer soldiers carried high-tech equipment that appeared to have come from the U.S. or Europe.

The unit has been carrying out daring acts of sabotage against the invading Russian forces  often behind enemy lines. Their motto is: "We know, we find, we destroy."

President Trump's repeated claim before he took office, that he could end in just 24 hours the war that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has fueled fear in Ukraine and across Europe that he could cut off the vital supply of American weapons.

Members of the Ukrainian

The Artan commander told CBS News if that happens, he and his men will keep fighting, even if their weapons run out altogether.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But after almost three years of grueling warfare, not everyone in Ukraine is still so gung-ho.

The Ukrainian people have stood up to Vladimir Putin's invading army, and they've paid the price in blood and grief.

A recent poll found that just over half of Ukrainians now believe their government should negotiate a ceasefire with Russia  more than double the figure at the start of the war. But many Ukrainians told CBS News that, while they want peace, it cannot come without conditions.

A Ukrainian man looks at photos of service members killed during the war sparked by Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion, Jan. 27, 2025, near the memorial Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv, Ukraine. / Credit: CBS News

CBS News met Yevheniya Puzkiova in a therapy center run by TAPS, an organization founded in the U.S. to support the families of fallen service members. She lost her husband Oleksandr and her eldest son Oleksiy in the fight against Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If not them, then who? My husband didn't think twice about signing up, and my son went because of his father's example," she said.

Asked if she would support ceasefire negotiations with Russia, the grieving widow and bereaved mother said she would, "but with security guarantees for our people."

"Simply freezing the front line will not do anything," she warned. "Because in a few years, Russia will invade again."

Ukraine's government shares that fear. The country's leaders have said they will only agree to a ceasefire deal that comes with security guarantees, such as European peacekeeping forces on the ground, or NATO membership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine is fighting for its very survival. It is a nation on a life or death mission, just like the ambulance CBS News rode along in as it raced toward a hospital not far from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

The soldier in the back was hit by shelling and suffered a shrapnel wound to his head. He was unconscious and on ventilation.

A paramedic treats a Ukrainian soldier who suffered a shrapnel wound to his head as they race toward a hospital in an ambulance run by the MOAS international aid group, in far eastern Ukraine, amid Russia's ongoing invasion, Jan. 27, 2025. / Credit: CBS News

The ambulance was run by MOAS, an international aid group founded by an American entrepreneur that operates a fleet of 50 vehicles along Ukraine's 600-mile front line.

Dr. Mykhailo Ilyk is a pediatric anesthesiologist, but he left the safety of his hospital job two years ago to use his skills to help in the war effort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked if it was worth the horrendous suffering of the Ukrainian people, which he sees daily, to defend their country, Ilyk didn't hesitate.

"Definitely," he said. "This is our land. We have to stand with it, to the last."

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
MSNBCs Morning Joe anchors reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for stripping retired general and former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milleys security detail and clearance. Milley served under the first Trump administration but went on to criticize the President.

Hegseth didnt stop at revoking the decorated army generals security but also directed the defense departments inspector general to examine if Milleys military grade can be reevaluated, the Pentagon said late Tuesday, according to The Guardian .

On Wednesday, Joe Scarborough condemned the attack against Milley and warned that he is now at risk of being a target of Iranian hit squads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scarborough called the event a depressing move but entirely predictable.

Agreeing with this assessment, co-host Jonathan Lemire added that there are legitimate threats against the retired general both from overseas and from the Trump administration, through Milleys own admission to his family and friends. Donald Trump has vilified him for so long, Lemire added.

Milley resigned from the Trump administration after he and the president clashed over numerous issues. He went on to call Trump a fascist and provided detailed accounts about Trumps actions on Jan. 6. Former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to several individuals, including Milley, on Jan. 20 in a way to protect them from retaliation from Trump.

Contributor Mike Barnicle added that Milley is an honorable man who deserves better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He served honorably and in his highest moment of honor, outside of his commitment to the United States on the field of battle in Afghanistan and Iraq, his highest honor ought to be attributed to him: for the resignation letter that he wrote to Donald J. Trump, when Trump was in office from 2016 to 2020. Basically, General Milley, apologizing for succumbing momentarily to Donald Trumps lust for ego and politics.

To come under attack from Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration is beyond outrageous. Its obscene, Barnicle added.
After multiple sightings of ICE in West Virginia over the last few days, Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 said that state jails and prisons are detaining 58 people suspected of immigration violations. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement photo)

West Virginia jails and prisons are detaining 58 people suspected of immigration violations, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

The detainments are part of President Donald Trumps mass immigration crackdown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I will say this, I believe that what President Trump has done is absolutely correct, said Morrisey, a Republican and staunch supporter of Trump. Ive always talked about the problems of immigration and how it affects West Virginia.

A new Department of Homeland Security memo authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to search schools, ending a longstanding policy to avoid immigration-related arrests at schools and churches. The change has prompted West Virginia schools to review immigration policies as children in the U.S. have a right to public education regardless of immigration status.

If a situation arises where an undocumented student, who is not otherwise causing a safety concern, becomes the target of ICE based on their immigration status alone, it is still your job to protect that students rights for as long as you can, Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Tom Williams said in a memo to staff.

Morrisey said in a statement that the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Monday was detaining 53 suspected illegal immigrant criminals in its facilities as directed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigations while their immigration status is determined. The number increased to 58 by Tuesday afternoon, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eli Baumwell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, said in a statement Tuesday that the legal advocacy organization is paying attention to the situation.

Due process lies at the very heart of our system of checks and balances, Baumwell said. To arrest first and ask questions later raises serious constitutional concerns. We are monitoring this situation closely, and if peoples rights have been violated we will not hesitate to intervene.

Morrisey said a number of those detained face criminal charges that resulted in them being in the states jail and prison system, and 13 people may be charged as a result of violations of immigration law.

To be clear, our numbers may be lower than others in terms of the illegal immigrants compared to other states, but Ive repeatedly, for many years, talked about the impact of having illegal immigrants and then bringing deadly fentanyl into the state thats flooding in from Mexico, Morrisey said.

Education leaders share immigration guidance

As the Trump administration has authorized ICE to enter schools, some school districts in the U.S. have taken proactive steps with policies that limited their cooperation with ICE officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Morrisey did not respond to a question via email about how he would direct schools to engage with immigration officials.

West Virginia schools Superintendent Michele Blatt declined to comment about ICE accessing public schools, but a department spokesperson said theyd provided guidance to local schools on immigration law issues.

The guidance suggested that school districts engage in planning for how to address situations in which ICE seeks to conduct enforcement actions on school premises. It also said ICE agents must have proper authority, including a warrant issued by a federal court judge, to enter a school. Federal rules on student privacy severely limit schools abilities to share a childs personal information.

The memo was not intended to be a substitute for legal advice from a school districts legal counsel, and each superintendent should work with their legal counsel to develop plans, West Virginia Department Education Communications Director Christy Day said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Kanawha County Schools, the states largest school district, said that while schools are no longer considered off-limits, ICE must enter a school lawfully.

They must have a valid federal warrant that outlines what they are doing at the school, what they are requesting, etc., said KCS Communications Director Chris Williams.

KCS told its educators that the districts obligation was to provide a safe environment for students, and educating undocumented students, who we are legally required to educate, is not a safety concern in and of itself.

Please remember, you do not know the immigration status of every student in your building or that of their parents or guardians, so be mindful of that when providing information that may seem innocuous based on preconceived notions of what an immigrant here illegally may look or sound like, Tom Williams wrote in a guidance for district schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other school districts contacted for this story referred West Virginia Watch to the WVDE guidance on immigration.

The Migration Policy Institute estimates 733,000 school-aged children live in the U.S. without legal status.

Morrisey said more information about immigration would be released Thursday.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Jan. 29MOSES LAKE  Moses Lake's incoming city manager paid a visit to the Civic Center on Tuesday evening to meet city employees and community members.

Robert Karlinsey, who accepted the position Jan. 21, is currently the city manager in Kenmore, a city of about 24,000 at the north end of Lake Washington in King County. He takes the reins in Moses Lake on March 24, but he'll be coming over to Moses Lake occasionally in the meantime to prepare, he said.

About 40 people turned out at the Civic Center to meet Robert Karlinsey and his wife, Michelle Karlinsey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's surprising how much people in Kenmore know about Moses Lake," he said. "They know people from Moses Lake, or they grew up there or their parents grew up there, and the number one thing we hear is, 'You're going to love the people.'"

"(Karlinsey) talked a lot (in his interview) about talking to staff, talking to council and getting to know them, and spent a lot of time asking people, where do we want to go?" said Council Member David Skaug. "... It seemed like he had a lot of experience in dealing with people and management."

Moses Lake's search for a city manager hasn't been an easy one in recent years. Former City Manager Kevin Fuhr retired from the position in June for health reasons. Fuhr, previously the Moses Lake chief of police, stepped up to replace Allison Williams, who had taken on the position in 2019 after her predecessor John Williams and his deputy city manager Gilbert Alvarado resigned amid allegations of misconduct.

The Moses Lake City Council interviewed two candidates in December, and a third candidate withdrew his name after being named as a finalist but before the interviews.

"That's a challenge that a lot of municipalities have faced in a lot of positions," said Mayor Dustin Swartz. "This is something we hear at (Association of Washington Cities) conferences a lot, about how to fill the positions we need to fill ... But it was well worth the wait, and we really appreciate that along the way Kevin Fuhr stepped up and took that position as a longtime community member. It really gave us stability for a period. But, yeah, we're ready to move forward."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s long and tumultuous road to Donald Trumps Cabinet faced its toughest test on Wednesday, when the vaccine conspiracy theorist and former presidential candidate appeared before the Senate Finance Committee to defend his nomination as Health and Human Services secretary.

Once a staunch critic of Trump, Kennedy ran a failed third party bid for the presidency that ended with an endorsement of Trump, and Trump pledging to let Kennedy oversee the health care policies of his administration.

HHS has a budget of over 1.7 trillion and over 80,000 employees. Its a monumental task, and many believe Kennedy is not up to the task. His nomination has been opposed by 75 Nobel Prize laureates, thousands of doctors, and medical groups. On Tuesday, former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy wrote an open letter to senators urging them to oppose her cousins nomination, calling him an addict to attention and power who had endangered lives with his medical conspiracy mongering.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ahead of Wednesdays hearing, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer  Kennedys niece and a primary care physician  provided a trove of her emails with her uncle to Stat News. In the emails, covering much of the Covid-19 pandemic, the HHS nominee espoused skepticism about the diseases severity and pushed conspiracies related to vaccines  including his long held insistence that childhood vaccinations may be linked to autism.

Kennedy has no medical training, has never run a government agency (much less one mandated to safeguard public health on a national level), and has dedicated much of his career to peddling false medical information to the masses. Senators tasked with deciding whether to advance Kennedys nomination to the Senate for a full vote grilled him on his view on vaccines, his financial stake in lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, and his lack of experience in the medical field.

The hearing was peppered with pointed questions from lawmakers, disruptions by protesters, and Kennedys sloppy attempts to dispel his long record of medical misinformation.

It doesnt matter what you come here and say that isnt true, thats not reflective of what you really believe, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said in one confrontation with Kennedy. Because unlike other jobs were confirming around this place this is a job where [its] life and death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here are some of the most alarming moments of the hearing:

He didnt deny some insane things hes said about diseases

Democratic senators on the committee dissected Kennedys vaccine conspiracies in detail, and in one stunning moment, he openly admitted to one.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) drilled down on specific claims has made about common vaccinations and deadly diseases. Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely militarily engineered bioweapon? Bennet asked.

I probably did say that, Kennedy responded.

Bennet then asked Kennedy if he had once wrote that its undeniable that African AIDS is an entirely different disease than Western AIDS?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not sure, Kennedy replied.

 and lied about others.

During Bennets same line of questioning, Kennedy denied that he had once claimed that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender, as the senator put it.

Kennedy has actually made the claim several times, with slight variations in its delivery. In multiple instances, Kennedy suggested that environmental chemicals alleged to change the gender presentation of frogs could similarly affect children.

The nominee also insisted that he had been taken out of context when he claimed in 2023 that the coronavirus was targeted to attack Caucasians and black people and to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy insisted in his own opening remarks that he is not anti-vaccine. I am pro-safety, I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish and nobody called me anti-fish, he said.

Virtually every senator, including Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pushed back on the claim that Kennedy was not anti-vaccine. Wyden pointed to a July interview on the Lex Fridman podcast where Kennedy said theres no vaccine that is safe and effective. The nominee claimed that he was taken out of context and interrupted before he could finish his thought, but has given conflicting explanations to justify the quote. At one point he claimed he intended to add that vaccines were not safe or effective if you ask for the product to be measured against other medical products with placebo-controlled double-blind studies. On Wednesday, Kennedy changed his rationale, telling senators that he meant to say that every person, every medicine has people who are sensitive to them, including vaccines, before the quote was cut off.

Wyden also noted Kennedys writing about the measles vaccine. In 2020 you wrote that parents are led to believe measles is a deadly disease and vaccines are necessary, safe and effective, Wyden quoted.

Reality is measles are, in fact, deadly and highly contagious, the senator added. Something you should have learned after your lies contributed to the deaths of 83 people, most of them children, in a measles outbreak in Samoa, the senator added, referencing the work of Kennedy and the anti-vax nonprofit he founded Childrens Health Defense, and their alleged promotion of anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa before a 2019 measles outbreak. The outbreak was sparked after two children died after being administered improperly prepared measles vaccinations. While the deaths were caused by human error, widespread panic ensued over the safety of the medication.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When questioned about his visit to Samoa, Kennedy denied having any role in the deaths, and claimed his visit to the island nation had nothing to do with the vaccine. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) noted that during his visit to the country, just a few months before the spike in cases, Kennedy met with the prime minister to discuss vaccinations, met with local anti-vaccine activists, and wrote a letter suggesting the outbreak could have been caused by defective vaccines.

In his opening statement, Kennedy proudly declared to the hearing room that his children are vaccinated.

He said he will scrutinize the abortion pill

Several senators questioned Kennedy regarding his stance on Republicans desire to continue curtailing access to abortion care, particularly by restricting access to commonly used abortion medications like mifepristone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During questioning by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kennedy said, President Trump has made it clear to me that one of the things he is not taking a position yet on is this abortion drug  but made it clear to me he wants me to look at the safety issues. I will ask the NIH and FDA to do that.

Later in the hearing, Kennedy added that whatever Trump decided to do regarding the drug, he would implement those policies.

He keeps changing his stance on abortion

Before allying himself with Trump and his political machine, Kennedy was a lifelong liberal who openly defended reproductive freedoms and the right to abortion care. Throughout the hearing, as he was questioned about his plans for abortion medication, Kennedy responded like a broken record: I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At one point, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) called out the sudden shift in position. In 2023 you came to New Hampshire and said Im pro-choice. I dont think the government has any business telling people what they can or cannot do with their body [] you also said, We need to trust the women to make that choice, because I dont trust government to make any choices.

You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values, Hassan continued. The question is, do you stand for that value or not? When was it that you decided to sell out the values youve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump? What you are telling us is that regardless of what you believe, regardless of what values you have, if President Trump tells you to do something, you are going to do it [] That to me is unacceptable in a secretary of Health and Human Services.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also made a point to address Kennedys pivot on the issue. I have never seen any major politician flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did, Sanders said. Why do you think people should have confidence in your consistency and in your work when you really made a major U-turn on an issue of that importance?

He doesnt understand Medicaid  or how the health care system works

A day after the Trump administrations Medicaid portal failed, threatening care for tens of millions of low-income Americans, Kennedy spoke derisively about the program: Americans dont, by and large, like the Affordable Care Act  people [who] are on it. They dont like Medicaid. They like Medicare, and they like private insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polling suggests this isnt accurate. A 2023 KFF survey found that Medicaid enrollees are more likely to rate their insurance coverage positively than those with employer-sponsored insurance plans.

Kennedy is correct that Affordable Care Act marketplace plans are less popular with their enrollees  but these are private insurance plans. A key difference between these marketplace plans and employer-sponsored plans is that they have higher out-of-pocket costs, and enrollees often bear more of the premium costs.

He then posed a question to Democratic senators: Do you think all that money, the $900 billion that were sending to Medicaid every year, has made Americans healthy? Do we think its working for anybody? Are the premiums low enough?

States are prohibited from imposing premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries in most cases.

He signaled he wants to see more Medicare privatization

Kennedy said several times that Americans want to be on private insurance plans. When asked whether patients should move from traditional Medicare coverage to privatized Medicare Advantage plans, he said, Thats their choice right now. He quickly added: I think more people would rather be on Medicare Advantage, because it offers very good services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A majority of seniors eligible for Medicare are already on the private plans, as Kennedy noted. Thats in part thanks to the first Trump administrations efforts to lure people to sign up for Medicare Advantage instead of traditional Medicare.

Trumps conservative allies have recommended that Medicare auto-enroll new beneficiaries in private Medicare Advantage plans instead of the traditional Medicare program, which would speed up an end to the traditional program and its foundational premise: that seniors can go to any doctor or provider they choose.

Medicare Advantage plans have narrow provider networks that limit the doctors that patients can see. They also frequently reject prior authorization requests and wrongfully deny claims for health care services, going so far as to use artificial intelligence and algorithms to erroneously deny services in bulk  even though the plans are technically required to cover the same services as traditional Medicare. As a result, the private plans often do not work well for sicker patients  and when those sicker patients seek to leave the program and enroll in traditional Medicare, they often find that is financially impossible.

While private Medicare Advantage plans frequently deny necessary care, they have also, for many years now, systematically overbilled the government as if their patients are sicker than they really are. Altogether, the plans are an enormous financial drain on the Medicare program.

He refused to commit to not cash in from lawsuits against pharma companies

Kennedys ethics and financial disclosures raised concerns about the millions the nominee has collected through referral fees from a law firm suing pharmaceutical companies and vaccine manufacturers. While Kennedy has agreed to sever his consulting relationship with the law firm, he intends to continue collecting referral commissions from the firm.

Sen. Warren asked Kennedy to commit to not taking fees from suing drug companies, during his tenure and for a four year period after.

Warren listed out a myriad of ways through which Kennedy could potentially use the position of HHS secretary to facilitate and sway lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, reiterating that he only needed to commit not to profit financially off of them.

Senator, you are asking me not to sue vaccine pharmaceutical companies, Kennedy replied, attempting to dodge Warrens specific ask regarding his collection of lawsuit kickbacks.

I am not, Warren countered.

Have we had a single nominee come through whos made $2.5 million dollars off suing one of the entities that it would be regulated and plans to keep getting a take of every lawsuit in the future? she asked the committee.

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 term up close and personal may be overused in conversations about movies, but rarely has that description been more applicable than with 2000 Meters to Andriivka. AP video journalist and Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol director Mstyslav Chernovs latest is must-see non-fiction cinema, recounting a Ukrainian battalions efforts to liberate a town from Russian forces during the countrys 2023 counteroffensive. Shot from the perspectives of its director and various soldiers as they engage in unholy battle, its a harrowing first-person view of a ceaseless nightmare, defined by both blistering immediacy and crushing sadness.

Late in his film, which premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival , Chernov opines that the longer the war goes on, the less the rest of the world will care. If thats so, 2000 Meters to Andriivka restores the horror, tragedy, and urgency of the ongoing calamity, thrusting audiences into a maelstrom that resembles a Hollywood action blockbuster, or AAA video game, except without the comforting veneer of artifice that makes bloodshed entertaining.

Theres only terror and suffering in this deeply scarred country, and particularly in the 2000-meter stretch of countryside leading to Andriivka, a small village on the outskirts of Bakhmut that, as of Sept. 16, 2023, is occupied by Vladimir Putin s armed forces. The 3rd Assault Brigade seeks to take back Andriivka and, once that goal is accomplished, to raise a Ukrainian flag in its center. They know this community is now rubble and ash, yet as commander Fedya says, victory will mean reclaiming their land and the villages name, after which they can rebuild.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fedyas dream notwithstanding, 2000 Meters to Andriivka is a film about death and destruction, and it opens with helmet-cam footage of an earlier battalions attempts to make progress toward Andriivka. In it, soldiers hunker down in crudely dug trenches as mortars whizz overhead and then crash, suddenly and violently, near their positions.

They eventually emerge from their hiding spot to escape via an armored personnel carrier, but it gets stuck in the mud, forcing them to exit back into no mans land. There, a blast breaks one soldiers arms and legs. The individual whose camera is filming this mayhem is struck too, his leg badly hurt. As he moans in pain, hes dragged back to a dugout, where he stares upward as projectiles fly and smoke billows across the clear sky.

Having set its intensely disturbing tone, 2000 Meters to Andriivka temporarily retreats to the 3rd Assault Brigades headquarters, where plans are made to fight, inch by inch, to Andriivka. Though hes told that were idiots for wanting to go, Chernov hops a ride and joins them, thereby documenting the war from the same in-your-face POV as the helmet-cam material shot by Ukrainian soldiers.

No blue journalism vests will protect the director from the ruthless enemys fire (in fact, that garb would make him a priority target), and just as his fate appears dire, so too is his narration despairing, not simply due to the tremendous loss of life wrought by this mission, but because so little has been gained. The cost, its apparent, is quickly outweighing the reward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sole way to reach Andriivka is via a forest squeezed on both sides by fields decorated with Russian landmines. To call this area a forest, however, is to oversell it, since its really a strip of charred, branchless trees surrounded by decimated brush and shallow foxholes. 2000 Meters to Andriivka mires itself in this hellscape, where debris and corpses are an equally common sight, and where taking cover sounds like a joke; these soldiers are lucky if they can find a thick tree, abundant bush or still-intact structure behind which to hide.

On their way to rendezvous with Fedya (who responds to each Russian shelling with an admiring, Not bad or Nice), the battalion meets up with second-in-command Freak, a 22-year-old who talks to the director about transitioning from speaking Russian to Ukrainian, and about how much he pines for a shower. This warrior is just a kid who joined the army after Russian invaded. Over shots of him talking with comrades, Chernov informs us that five months from now, hell be injured in a battle, his body never found.

Death doesnt just hover over the proceedingsit seems to be in every frame, waiting to strike. Pressing onward, the brigade suffers numerous injuries and casualties, at least one of which is seen in 2000 Meters to Andriivkas most shocking, wrenching scene.

With an ominously sparse, pulsating score that at times recalls John Williams Jaws theme (a rather apt allusion considering the monstrousness on display), Chernovs film captures the dread and agony of combat like few before it. Its equally somber during the battalions down time, such as when it briefly shifts its gaze away from the battlefield and to the small town where one fallen soldier grew up. His funeral is this communitys 56th since the war began, and yet that doesnt lessen the tears of the mother who lies weeping against her sons casket.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In its many first-person firefight sequences, 2000 Meters to Andriivka cant help but resemble Call of Duty. The difference, though, is that theres nothing exciting about the carnage presented here; the overarching mood, even in triumph, is brutally bleak. Intermittent audio montages of media reports help place the battalions progress in the context of Ukraines larger campaign, and as anyone whos followed this story from its start knows, the news isnt good.

Its like landing on a planet where everythings trying to kill you, is how one combatant describes the path to Andriivka. The rest do their best to grapple with the prospect of their imminent demise, nastily decry their adversaries (whom they uniformly refer to as motherf--ckers and cocks--kers), and ponder their legacy, such as a 46-year-old chain-smoker who wonders, How do you think the camera can make you look like a hero if youre not a hero?

2000 Meters to Andriivkas action is almost unbearably anxiety-inducing, and its portrait of these soldiers bravery and selflessness makes it all the more heartbreaking. Trapped in hell, these young men are compelled by duty to risk everything for their land. Honoring them by shining a spotlight on their sacrifice and the wars viciousness, Chernov immortalizes their names. His film is their raised flag.
Police ballistic markers stand near a stroller and a childs chair at a crime scene in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The number of homicides across the United States declined sharply in 2024, according to the Council on Criminal Justices latest crime trends report. Still, New York City is one of the major cities with a higher number of homicides in 2024 compared with pre-pandemic levels. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.)

The number of homicides across the United States declined by 16% in 2024, continuing a recent downward trajectory, according to the latest crime trends report from the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank.

Homicides spiked during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and crime became a central focus of President Donald Trumps 2024 reelection campaign. Trump insisted that FBI crime data showing declines was fake and claimed that crime was through the roof. The second Trump administration is expected to adopt a tough-on-crime approach.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State legislatures nationwide also are expected to prioritize a variety of criminal justice measures this year, including prison oversight, illegal immigration, retail theft and policing standards and procedures. Polls show most Americans see crime as a significant problem, though fewer than in recent years.

The Council on Criminal Justice, known as CCJ, gathers data from individual law enforcement agencies for its biannual crime trends reports, meaning the data is more recent than the FBIs annual report. Both the think tanks and the FBIs reports, however, show a similar turnaround in violent crime.

In 2023, criminal homicide  which the FBI defines as murder or non-negligent manslaughter  was down by 11.6% from the previous year. It was the largest single-year decline in two decades, according to the FBIs annual crime report published last year.

The CCJ report shows that the downward trend appears to be continuing, with homicides in 2024 dropping by 16% compared with 2023. That drop equates to 631 fewer homicides in the 29 cities that provided data for the category, according to the councils report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If this decrease holds as more jurisdictions report their data to the FBI later this year, 2024 would rank among the largest single-year homicide drops since at least 1960, the start of modern record-keeping, according to the report.

A political issue

Despite the recent decline in homicides, crime remains a politically salient issue. A majority of Americans  56%  believe that national crime has increased or consider it an extremely or very serious problem. But public concern about crime has lessened over the past year, according to Gallups annual crime survey.

Perceptions of crime are heavily influenced by political affiliation. The survey found that 60% of Democrats believe crime has decreased over the past year, whereas 90% of Republicans think it has increased.

Some crime experts say that media reports, political messaging and viral social media posts may exaggerate Americans worries about disorder, making crimes such as shoplifting and public drug use appear more prevalent than they actually are. Still, some individual cities and neighborhoods may be experiencing higher crime rates, which could further explain these concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We still have problems with crime, still have problems in the criminal justice system, and even though the crime rates are improving, we should not take our focus off crime and criminal justice, said Ernesto Lopez, the reports co-author and a senior research specialist with the council, in an interview with Stateline.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The council analyzed crime trends in 40 U.S. cities, although not all cities had data available for every type of offense.

Among the cities studied, 22 saw a decline in homicides last year, with Chandler, Arizona, and Little Rock, Arkansas, recording the largest decreases at 50% and 43%, respectively. Six cities experienced increases, with Colorado Springs, Colorado, leading the way with a 56% jump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When comparing homicide rates between 2019 and 2024, the councils study sample saw a 6% decline, largely driven by cities with traditionally high homicide rates, including Baltimore and St. Louis.

Homicides are still above pre-pandemic levels in some cities, including New York City and Washington, D.C. In New York City, for example, there were 382 homicides in 2024 compared with 319 in 2019. In Washington, D.C., there were 187 homicides in 2024 and 166 in 2019.

Other crimes

The CCJ report also examined trends in other violent and property crimes, including gun assault, carjacking, motor vehicle theft and drug offenses. Most of these offenses were lower in 2024 than in 2023, with shoplifting being the only exception, showing a 14% increase. Shoplifting also was 1% higher in 2024 compared with 2019.

Researchers were surprised that shoplifting rates increased last year despite retailers taking more measures to combat it, such as locking up merchandise behind glass. Some experts say that the rise may reflect improved reporting efforts rather than an actual spike in theft.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, state legislatures placed a strong emphasis on tackling retail theft, and this momentum is likely to continue into this year, with Maryland lawmakers already considering a bill aimed at addressing large-scale organized retail theft.

From 2023 to 2024, incidents of robbery dropped by 10%, carjackings fell by 32%, and motor vehicle theft decreased by 24%.

Violent crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence and robbery are now below pre-pandemic levels, but aggravated assaults, gun assaults and carjackings remain higher than in 2019, according to the report.

Property crime trends over the past five years varied. Residential burglaries and larcenies decreased, while nonresidential burglaries increased. Motor vehicle thefts rose by 53%, and drug offenses fell by 28%.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
As the push to end in-state tuition for undocumented students continues in Tallahassee, a group of students right here is Central Florida is taking a stand against it.

They gathered for a mock graduation in Apopka on Monday. This bill doesnt just hurt students. It hurts families, and cycles of poverty crush dreams. Deprives our communities of thoughts and talent, said Saul Rosa with the Hope Community Center.

With their mouths covered with tapes,13 students took to the podium with a message to share.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Lawsuit filed against Spectrum News 13 after fatal shooting of journalist in 2023

I was told by my mentor that myself, like any fellow dreamers, could not receive any federal help for higher education, said Erica Castillo, who took the stage representing her sister, a dreamer. I had no income, time, or knowledge of any resources available to me.

With the support of the Hope Community Center, they represent the faces of the Florida Dreamers  those who came to America too young and are children of undocumented immigrants.

Read: Castor-Dentel announces return of Valencia College gift

Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 851 in 2014, allowing undocumented students, both with and without DACA, to pay in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities by using out-of-state tuition waivers. The move helped countless dreamers pursue a college degree.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without this waiver, I would have to take one class each semester to keep afloat. This would take about 6 years to earn a bachelors degree, said Castillo.

As immigration takes center stage in Tallahassee, however, Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing back on that waiver. That is a benefit that you are rewarding someone for coming here illegally, said DeSantis during a press conference on January 13th. No more excuses on this - we must end all excuses to come to Florida.

Read: JonBenet Ramseys father meets with murder investigators, says hes optimistic

Florida ranks fifth as the countrys highest state with DACA recipients  with more than 70-thousand dreamers as of 2023, according to the National Immigration Forum. To everyone whos here today, this is a movement. And its fueled by hope, solidarity, and action, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Governor DeSantis had previously tried to end the waiver, but the move failed before the legislature. The debate should be back during this special session.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Memphis Shelby County Schools Board members ultimately decided to renew the charter for City University School of Independence for 10 years despite low enrollment.

According to the City University Schools website, City Independence is a small, innovative, college preparatory high school within the City University Schools network.

Eugene Butler says this is his daughters first year enrolled at City University Schools, and he says he couldnt be more proud of the strides his daughter has made since being enrolled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have no complaints with this school, Butler said. Classes arent overcrowded and theyre not just another number.

MSCS interim chief says hes meeting with state leaders

He says he was disappointed to learn an attempt had been made to not renew the charter for the schools preparatory high school.

Id move out of here. Id move out of Memphis. Were going to Texas if they do that, he said.

Tuesday night, the Memphis Shelby County Schools Office of Charter Schools recommended that the school board not renew the 10-year charter for City University School of Independence in Whitehaven. Board members ultimately decided to renew the charter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, a report presented to the board says even though the school meets the financial and operations performance standards, its the academic performance thats in question due to low student enrollment.

The school opened in 2015 with the capacity to serve 180 students in grades 9 through 12.

However, the school only has a 10th-grade cohort of 14 enrolled students and only serves one grade at a time.

The report says due to falling below the threshold for the number of students tested, the school has not earned a Tennessee Department of Education letter grade for the past two consecutive years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Out of the 8 years that the school has been operating, there are only three years for which the school has had an academic scorecard rating that can inform a renewal decision. Out of the three, only one year met the districts standard for academic performance.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.

Furthermore, despite the school being a college prep school, the office of Charter Schools says they did not see any college prep work that would distinguish City University Independence students from a general high school program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After last nights board meeting, we caught up with the schools chancellor who says he is working to improve the enrollment rate.

Were proud to offer the small environment for the scholars that want to feel comfortable in their education space, said Chancellor Dr. R. LeMoyne Robinson.

According to the report, the school projects to expand enrollment to 45 students in the first year of the renewal term and gradually increase to a total of 90 students by the final year of the renewal term.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The new interim leader of Memphis Shelby County Schools says he has scheduled a meeting with Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who said Monday the state will take over the local school board.

Dr. Roderick Richmond, who was appointed just minutes after the school board voted to terminate Marie Feagins from the position a week ago, spoke Tuesday with WREGs Alex Coleman.

Who is MSCS Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I can understand there being some level of apprehension, but I think the board made the decision that they thought was in the best interest of the district by putting me in as the interim, so that we can continue with some of our continuity, and I can provide some of the stability that is needed to move our district forward, Richmond said.

Richmond said he has met with senior staff and is working on his 100-day plan. He also has met with Republican state Rep. Mark White  who is introducing legislation to allow the state to intervene in MSCS  and Democratic Rep. G. A. Hardaway.

He also said he has scheduled a meeting with House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who told media outlets Monday that the state will declare the MSCS board null and void and take over the local district.

House Speaker says state will take over MSCS in radio interview; Democrats respond

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked what he wanted to tell Sexton, Richmond said, First of all, I think the district is in good hands with me as the interim at this time, to provide continuity and stability. I also think that if given the chance, well be able to move this district forward, and well be able to create a district that can be a model for the nation when it comes to educating urban students. I would tell him to just give me a chance and an opportunity.

He continued, Anyone that knows Dr. Richmond will tell you that hes the type of person that is going to hold people accountable, and hes going to allow data and logic to drive each and every decision to make in our district.

The board voted, and the board spoke. Dr. Richmond has done this for over 30 years. He has the qualifications, and thats why we chose him as our interim superintendent.

Richmond was joined on WREG by school board chair Joyce Dorse Coleman, who proclaimed by Richmonds three decades of experience in local schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also stood by the decision to terminate Feagins contract, despite what some felt was a lack of clear evidence.

We had enough evidence. We would not have operated if we did not have proof. You know the saying, the proof is in the pudding? We had the proof, Dorse Coleman said. Its taking nothing away from Dr. Feagins. She was a great person. It just wasnt the right fit for our district at the time.

Feagins has hired an attorney who has asked some local officials to retain records for litigation.

I will see them in court, Feagins said the night of her termination.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Talks of a potential state takeover of the Memphis Shelby County School Board are now growing in Nashville.

Tuesday, were hearing from some of the key players, a week after the board fired Dr. Marie Feagins and appointed Dr. Roderick Richmond, a longtime employee of the district.

School board member Towanna Murphy, who voted to oust former superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins, recently took to Facebook about the potential takeover.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Governor Bill Lee addresses MSCS board, school vouchers

In a now-deleted post, she said:

The last time the State took over, the schools were closed within months. I relied on verifiable facts. I am unwilling to face legal consequences for Feagins actions. If the State deemed the Board null and void. Would you rather have someone take control from us? My children require their mothers presence, and I refuse to take responsibility for Feagins actions. Sorry, not sorry.

She continued:

This is just an interference for those voucher programs. If they take over us, they have THE PARENTS, THE STUDENTS AND THE MONEY. For the families that have children with IEP, the state will interfere with the Federal government, IEP and the disability act. IEP ARE MANDATORY.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later, she removed that post because we have decided to resolve the issue with The State.

We reached to Murphy about working with the state. She said, We will be working together to resolve the issue.

Governor Bill Lee was also talking about the issue Tuesday on partner radio station 98.9.

MSCS interim chief says hes meeting with state leaders

When a school board or an institution or some status quo group quits listening to parents and youre talking about schools, its time to do something, Lee said.

Richmond, the new interim superintendent, told Alex Coleman he has met with Tennessee state lawmakers Mark White and G.A. Hardaway and wants to meet with Cameron Sexton, Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What I plan on saying is, first of all, I think the district is in good hands with me as the interim at this time to provide continuity and stability, Richmond said. I also think if given the chance well be able to move this district forward and well be able to create a district that can be a model for the nation when it comes to educating urban students.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EAST LANSING  Michigan State University Extension employees are set to take part in an election that could result in union representation.

The vote will take place Feb. 24, according to an AFT Michigan press release.

"MSU Extension has played a vital role in providing educational resources and support to communities across Michigan. By forming a union, the staff aims to negotiate better working conditions that reflect their contributions to the university and the public," the release said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AFT Michigan represents about 35,000 educators and health care providers working in K-12 and intermediate school districts, community colleges, universities and hospitals across the state, the union said. AFT Michigan is the state organization of the American Federation of Teachers, the national union. Individual members belong to an AFT local union affiliated with AFT Michigan, AFT, and the AFL-CIO.

I'm incredibly proud of the work we do at MSU Extension, and unionizing is the best way to ensure we have the resources, support, and respect we deserve to continue serving our communities," Barsuld Judd, an MSU Extension consumer horticulture educator in Genesee County, said in the release.

The people of Michigan are the ultimate beneficiaries of our unionization efforts," Jeremy Jubenville, a crop scout in west Michigan added. "A win for extension workers is a win for the communities we serve."

AFT Michigan did not immediately respond to requests for further information about the election or unionization effort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokeswoman for MSU confirmed the February vote.

Here's what we know about the election.

How many MSU Extension employees are there?

MSU Extension has more than 800 employees throughout Michigan and Michigan State University's campus, according to the Extension website. AFT Michigan did not say whether all employees will take part in the election.

Where does the Extension have offices in Michigan?

The Extension lists offices in each Michigan county.

What do union backers say are the reasons for a union?

They are hoping to improve workplace conditions and secure better negotiating power, according to the AFT Michigan release.

"The decision comes after extensive negotiations with the university hoping to come to an agreement on voluntary recognition. MSU Extension employees believe that uniting under a formal union will enable them to address critical workplace challenges more effectively," the release said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Employees are increasingly facing challenges regarding workload, compensation, and job security," AFT Michigan added.

A look at the Michigan State University Extension districts.

Has the university responded to the union election effort?

"The Board of Trustees passed a resolution in December 2021 that prohibits the university from taking a position on these matters," MSU Director of Issues Management & University Spokesperson Amber McCann said via email. "What I can confirm is that certain groups of Extension employees will be voting in February on whether to unionize."

When will the election take place?

Ballots will be counted Feb. 24. Ballots start going out Jan. 31. They must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 21. The website urging staff to vote says the election begins Jan. 31 or as soon as people receive their ballots.

Who will conduct the election?

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission will oversee the union election.

What does the MERC do?

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission resolves labor disputes involving public and private sector employees by appointing mediators, arbitrators and fact finders, conducting union representation elections, determining appropriate bargaining units, and adjudicating unfair labor practice cases, the state website says.

What does MSU Extension do?

MSU Extension and AgBioResearch use university resources to "address Michigans key economic issues," the Extension says, from preparing young people for higher education and career readiness through programs like 4-H, to developing critical processes that will power the agri-food industry and bioeconomy-based businesses, these two entities are inextricably linked in work that will guide Michigans future.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU Extension employees plan AFT union vote in February. What to know
The State St. Substation in Brooklyn  the subway power room that blew up last month and stranded several trains underground for hours  will soon be back up and running, according to MTA officials.

A massive power transformer that had been meant for another dead substation was redirected this month to State St., where it is currently undergoing testing, MTAs construction and development head Jamie Torres-Springer told the Daily News Tuesday.

As previously reported by The News, more than 3,000 riders were stranded in December when the State St. power transformer exploded under Downtown Brooklyn, cutting power to the third rail of the F and the G lines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Roughly 12 hours later, power from other nearby substations was rerouted to cover the tracks ordinarily powered by State St.

Those adjacent facilities have been keeping the trains running for the past month  but they are also on the brink of failure, Torres-Springer said Tuesday.

The new transformer, which was delivered from a factory in North Carolina earlier this month, had initially been ordered to revive a dead substation elsewhere in the subway system. But Torres-Springer said his team decided the shaky status of the other Downtown Brooklyn power facilities meant State St. should be prioritized.

We made a decision we had to replace it right away, the construction boss said. Theres a substation a couple tiers down that will get a new transformer at some point, but were able to live without it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MTA officials said the new transformer was currently undergoing testing, and should be up and running and providing power to the third rail by the end of February.

The transformer triage comes as MTA bigs are expected to travel to Albany next week to vouch for their $68 billion five-year capital budget  $3 billion of which would fund substation overhauls in the subway system.

The State St. failure and the signal-power failures that weve had in the last few months, theyre really indicative of what weve been saying as loudly and as frequently as we can, Torres-Springer said.

Our system is 100 years old, a lot of it is in poor and marginal condition, and continues to decay, he continued. It requires further investment to continue running safe, reliable and frequent service.
While temperatures are a little cooler than the ones we saw on Tuesday, a lack of much wind actually made it feel pretty great outside, especially when you consider that the average high in Des Moines this time of year is 31 degrees. Your weather timeline takes you through some rain and into Friday:

Skies stay mostly clear Wednesday night, and lows will end up about where they did Tuesday night.

Changes come on Thursday. Clouds move in to southern and central Iowa by the middle of the day, and showers move in by late afternoon. Areas north of Highway 30 wont see much precipitation from this system, but as seen below parts of southern Iowa could see over an inch of rain by midday Friday. This is a pretty impressive rainfall amount for late January in Iowa. Rain looks to be done by early Friday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Turning to temperatures, highs will be mild given the time of year through Sunday. Colder air then moves into Iowa next week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The extended forecasts below seem to indicate well see highs at or slightly below average and decent precipitation chances as we head through the first two weeks of February.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for snow, the 50 members of the European ensemble computer model below dont give us hope for heavy amounts through 2/13. The green line is the average snowfall from the 50 different iterations, and the blue line indicates the snowfall output of the operational European model.

Your WHO 13 7-day forecast is below. Have a good one!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Job Title: Multimedia Journalist FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Remote, Occasional travel as needed Department: Editorial

Type: Full-time Reports to: News Director

Salary: $55,000 to $65,000

Job Posting

We are looking for an inspired and innovative Multimedia Journalist (MMJ) to join our growing newsroom. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary storyteller who is passionate about elevating Indigenous voices, uncovering stories from underrepresented communities, and producing content that informs, engages, and resonates with diverse audiences across digital, broadcast, and social platforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a key member of our team, you will play an essential role in shining a spotlight on the issues, achievements, and perspectives of Indigenous communities. From researching and pitching compelling ideas to producing impactful stories, your work will reflect the depth, diversity, and resilience of Native experiences.

If you are dedicated to creating accurate, inclusive, and meaningful journalism that uplifts Indigenous narratives while thriving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply.

Job Summary

The Multimedia Journalist (MMJ) serves a vital role in the News Department, supporting both digital and broadcast platforms while collaborating with social media teams. The MMJ is a cross-platform storyteller responsible for generating original content, pitching story ideas, and producing, shooting, writing, editing, and presenting stories for broadcast, web, and social media. This position requires creativity, adaptability, and a strong ability to engage and connect with audiences on all platforms.

Role and Responsibilities

Content Creation and Storytelling

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Research, pitch, develop, and produce original news stories for broadcast, website, and social media platforms.

Report recorded or live for both digital and broadcast platforms.

Create content with multiple perspectives and diverse voices to provide rich and inclusive storytelling.

Write, record, voice, film and edit (if possible) package news stories, ensuring all content meets organizational standards for journalistic integrity and production quality.

Collaboration and Communication

Actively participate in regular editorial meetings and story development discussions.

Work closely with producers, editors, and social media teams to align content with broader editorial strategy.

Collaborate with social media teams to ensure engaging digital storytelling that drives engagement and traffic.

Technical Proficiency

Record and edit, if needed, weekly newscast and interview segments as assigned.

Assist with producing headlines, teases, bumpers, promos, and social media videos.

Administrative Responsibilities

Maintain and organize footage, photos, and project files for easy retrieval.

Ensure all packages meet compliance and editorial guidelines before distribution.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree in journalism, communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Ability to identify, research, and report on underrepresented stories, with a focus on community-driven content.

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Adaptability to shifting priorities and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Willingness to learn and develop video production skills, if not already proficient.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with issues impacting Indigenous communities.

Experience with 24-hour news cycles and the ability to work flexible shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Previous experience with video production workflows, including shooting, editing, and live production.

Proficiency with video editing software (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, or similar).

Strong on-air presence with demonstrated experience presenting live reports.

Knowledge of content management systems (CMS) for web publishing.

Previous experience with investigative journalism and database reporting.

Education and Experience

Bachelors degree in journalism, communications, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

Minimum of two (2) years of experience as an MMJ, reporter, or similar role in a digital or broadcast news environment is preferred, but candidates with strong journalistic abilities and a willingness to learn technical skills will be considered.

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull moderate weight equipment for field production.

Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid drivers license and reliable transportation for field reporting assignments.

IndiJ Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, color, age, physical or mental disability, spousal affiliation, marital status, a serious medical condition, genetic information, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.



HOW TO APPLY

Please fill out the Application Form here: https://wkf.ms/3m3dJKe. Write Multimedia Journalist in for the position title. Application deadline: February 6, 2025.
ST. LOUIS  Multiple fires broke out across the St. Louis region overnight Wednesday morning, keeping firefighters busy as they battled blazes in Alton, East St. Louis, and unincorporated north St. Louis County.

The first fire occurred around midnight at a duplex on Alby Street in Alton, where flames spread to both floors of one apartment. Fortunately, all residents escaped safely, and investigators are currently looking into the cause of the fire.

Plane, military helicopter collide above Washington DC

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly after, around 1 a.m., another fire ignited in a vacant house on Missouri Avenue near 21st Street in East St. Louis. The structures numerous additions complicated firefighting efforts, but no injuries were reported.

A third fire erupted at approximately 2 a.m. on Cameron Road near Estridge in unincorporated north St. Louis Countys Glasgow Village. The house was destroyed, but a woman and two dogs managed to escape unharmed. Firefighters suspect an electrical issue may have sparked the blaze.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The man believed to have fatally stabbed Jason Royter in 2005 has officially been charged with first-degree felony murder.

Mark Anthony Munoz, 53, was taken into custody late last week after police positively matched his DNA to the 20-year-old homicide of Royter.

Royter was found beaten and stabbed in his Magna home on Aug. 6, 2005. Detectives said blood was found on a seat cushion, in the kitchen, and on the stairwell leading into the basement. A bloodied knife was found with a bent blade which contained a DNA profile that matched Royter and a then-unidentified suspect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A witness at the time reported hearing fighting at Royters home. The witness said he overheard one man say Pay me back, before hearing Royter respond saying they did not owe the suspect anything.

16-year-old arrested for arson after Ogden apartment fire

Twenty years later, the unidentified DNA pinged a positive match to Munoz after he allegedly committed a crime in another state. Munoz allegedly was not easy to track down, as detectives described him as unemployed, homeless, and with a history of leaving Utah.

We appreciate the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners who continued investigating this homicide for almost 20 years. Their dedication has helped lead to the filing of these charges, said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. We hope that this step in the process will help the healing process begin for Mr. Royters family and friends.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL)  A long-awaited trial date has been set in the 2020 kidnapping and murder of 18-year-old Thomas Green of Auburn. One of the three suspects, 43-year-old Taharra Brunson, is scheduled to stand trial on March 31, 2025. Meanwhile, co-defendant Marcus Wigley will likely go to trial in 2026, followed by the third suspect, 31-year-old Damian Williams.

Defendants

Brunson, Wigley, and Williams were arrested and charged with capital murder in connection to Greens disappearance and death. Auburn investigators say witness statements place Brunson as the driver of a vehicle while Wigley and Williams were seen struggling with Green before forcing him inside. Green was never seen alive again. The alleged motive for the teens killing has not been released.

Green was reported missing in September 2020. Auburn Police released surveillance footage showing him attempting to enter a convenience store on Martin Luther King Drive before realizing it was closed. It was the last known sighting of Green alive.

2020: Auburn Police released this surveillance footage showing Green attempting to enter a convenience store on Martin Luther King Drive

Days later, on September 10, law enforcement, including Auburn Police, the Lee County Sheriffs Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Brunson and Wigley on first-degree kidnapping charges. Williams turned himself in the next day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On September 11, authorities confirmed a body discovered along Lee Road 188 in west Lee County was Green. Forensic testing determined the remains belonged to the missing teen, and the case was classified as a homicide.

For Greens family, the past four years have been marked by delays, but they remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice.

Its been a difficult four years. We are ready for a trial. We are gonna get justice for my brother. Its been delayed, but we will not be denied, said Greens sister, Tometha Barris.

Tometha Barris is Thomas Greens sister.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Auburn Police Division at 334-501-3140, Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, or the departments 24-hour non-emergency number at 334-501-3100.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

WRBL will continue to follow developments in the case.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

A group of Republican attorneys general  including Louisianas Liz Murrill  is pressuring Costco to end all unlawful discrimination imposed by the retailers diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The 19 attorneys general sent a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris this week citing Republican President Donald Trumps executive order that encouraged all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Writing that Costco should treat every person equally and based on their merit, rather than based on divisive and discriminatory DEI practices, the attorneys general asked Vachris to either repeal Costcos DEI policies or explain why the company is keeping them in place within 30 days.

Costco shareholders recently rejected a proposal from a conservative think tank to examine risks posed by its DEI policies. Nearly 98% of shareholders voted against the measure. Costcos board had recommended rejection of the proposal.

At the Jan. 24 shareholders meeting, Costco board chair Tony E Curtis said the companys commitment to inclusion does not and has never included quotas or systematic preferences, nor does it mean compromising merit. The demands of our business and our steadfast commitment to serve our members mean that we cannot afford to do anything but hire and promote the most qualified individuals.

Costco has not publicly responded to the letter. A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kentucky AG Russell Coleman said in a statement, Costco has a motto to Do the right thing, but their DEI business practices are all wrong. By pushing a DEI agenda, Costco is out-of-step with the Kentuckians who just want affordable prices.

Costco has four stores in Louisiana, according to its website.

Nationwide, some companies are rethinking their commitment to DEI, while others are standing by their diversity practices. Brands including Walmart and Meta have rolled back DEI policies while tech giants Microsoft and Apple reaffirmed their policies within the last week. Last year, Kentucky-based whiskey maker Brown-Forman suspended its DEI policies.

DEI policies are often aimed at removing bias and promoting fairness in areas like employment and education.

Read the letter

FINAL Costco Lettet (1)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

This report was originally published by Kentucky Lantern, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
New details are emerging in the graffiti incidents that took place in Muscatine on January 26. According to information from 11 criminal complaints, Alisa Staats, 30, is facing charges in these incidents:

Alisa Staats

(Muscatine Police Department)

She is accused of throwing bricks at a window and a camera at Susan Clark Junior High, causing over $3,000 in damages. The school was named after the first child to integrate into a Muscatine school in the 19th century. The vehicle seen in security video was found at Staats home and a search warrant turned up a brick in her home.

She is accused of leaving swastikas on St. Mathias Catholic Church. There is no video of Staats doing this but a search warrant revealed swastikas in her home and the graffiti was similar to other graffiti in the city.

She is accused of vandalism at Muscatine Community College, which had five swastikas and a racial slur. Video from the college shows Staats walking up to a garage with something in her hand and a search warrant turned up swastikas at her home.

She is accused of vandalizing Jibaro Restaurant, which serves Puerto Rican food, with multiple swastikas and we dont want you here. There is no video at the restaurant, but the graffiti was similar to other incidents.

Staats is accused of placing swastikas and two names on a wall at Guadalajara Restaurant, which serves Mexican food. According to the criminal complaint, it should be noted that Staats has an active no-contact order with (the names on the wall). This will be considered a hate crime as it was racially motivated

She also targeted the Merrill Hotel, which was hosting a large group of Chinese students in Muscatine for events, with two swastikas. One was near the hotels outdoor sign.

She allegedly left swastikas and other graffiti at Muscatine City Hall. Staats is seen on video vandalizing the wall and spitting on a statue. The complaint says this is considered a hate crime because City Hall has no political affiliation.

She is accused of leaving multiple swastikas at an address in the city that is owned by Mayor Brad Bark. Video shows Staats in the area, vandalizing other properties. The criminal complaint for this charge says this is a hate crime because of political affiliation.

A criminal complaint says Staats left swastikas at Pearl City Tobacco & Liquor, whose owner is Saudia Arabian. This is considered a hate crime.

She is accused of leaving multiple swastikas at Petes Tap and a sandwich shop.

Staats is also facing a harassment charge. According to that criminal complaint, she threatened the transporting officer and his family several times.

She has a preliminary hearing on the charges on February 7.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks planned revolution in Germany may already be under way.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Tesla Inc. and SpaceX chief executives enthusiastic endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, along with his free association with Nazi symbolism, are stirring up the campaign for next months federal election.

The results of Musks meddling wont be known for sure until the ballots are counted on Feb. 23, and the chances that he can engineer an upset in Europes largest economy are distant. But the disruptive power of a multibillionaire who has US President Donald Trumps ear is unsettling Germanys establishment at a time when the country is already vulnerable economically and politically.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Latest polls suggest the nationalist AfD, as the party is known in Germany, may be gaining ground on the mainstream conservative opposition as the ruling Social Democratic Party falls further behind. With his help, the AfDs lead election candidate Alice Weidel now boasts more overall engagement on Musks X platform than any other German political leader, a recent study found.

Musk is essentially operating as a kind of hybrid actor  hes closely aligned with a government while not formally acting on its behalf, said Felix Kartte, a fellow at the Mercator Foundation in Berlin specializing in digital technology regulation. By wading into German politics, he aims to discredit and weaken Europes democratic institutions.

Musk didnt respond to an email seeking comment.

Over fewer than 40 days, Musk has called on SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign and proclaimed that only the AfD can save Germany. What began with a post on X led to a newspaper editorial, an online conversation with Weidel, a virtual appearance at a party rally last weekend, then another live video link-up that was planned on Tuesday at a business conference at the Berlin headquarters of publisher Axel Springer SE, whose CEO Mathias Dopfner is among Musks German intermediaries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As discomfiting as thats been for the German mainstream parties, Musks more recent flirtations with symbols of the Nazi era have turned frustration to outrage. There was the stiff-armed salute thats come to be known as the awkward gesture at Trumps inauguration celebrations followed by a series of Nazi puns making light of the furor on X.

Then came the weekends exhortations to Germans to put past guilt behind them and look ahead with pride in Germanic culture and values, freed of multiculturalism that dilutes everything. His remarks, beamed in to an AfD rally, even managed to impinge on this weeks commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

The immediate and overwhelming reaction in Germany has been shock and condemnation. Scholz called his interventions disgusting. Some corporate participants at the Springer event were privately keen to stress that they would attend in the morning and be gone by the time Musk beamed in later on Tuesday. Christiane Benner, the head of Germanys most powerful labor union, IG Metall, said the billionaires actions were unacceptable.

Yet the flurry of appearances in support of the EU-skeptic, climate-change denying AfD make it impossible to ignore Musks interventions. And in uniting a German majority against him, Musk is effectively deepening the polarization in a society whose post-World War II success was built upon political compromise and the necessity for stable coalitions able to govern what is now the worlds No. 3 economy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whats clear is the outcome will either expose the limits of even the worlds richest person to bring about political change outside the US  or sow more German chaos that further undermines the functioning of the 27-member European Union.

As citizens in a democracy, we have to stand up against this, said Benner, whose union represents 2.1 million workers, including employees at Teslas factory outside Berlin that produces the Model Y. Benner has previously clashed with Musk over his efforts to bypass German worker co-determination laws, another bedrock of the countrys postwar consensus.

Musks preoccupation with migration is meanwhile gaining prominence with the conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz floating plans to crack down on asylum seekers that won applause from AfD members.

While Merzs hardline proposals are not due to Musk, but rather a recognition that German voters have turned against the welcoming stance adopted under Angela Merkel, it raises questions over Merz and his CDU/CSU blocs apparent willingness to cooperate with the AfD. Any such move would breach a longstanding firewall between the established parties and Weidels AfD that has ruled out the far-rights chances of entering coalition government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Helped by Musks amplifications and retweets, meanwhile, Weidels reach on X has been growing since Musk first posted his backing for the AfD, according to a study by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Her greater social media engagement is a key metric since most of her campaigning is being conducted online.

Musks support has additionally strengthened Weidels standing within the AfD, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing internal party dynamics. Criticism from the male-dominated right-wing of the party has evaporated, and Weidel has successfully countered her partys traditionally strong anti-American voices. She now presents the AfD as a libertarian movement with strong sympathies for Trump rather than a purely far right, nationalistic party.

Musks activities also pose a risk to his businesses, igniting discussion in Germany of coordinated efforts to shun X and his electric vehicles in Europes largest car market. Germanys armed forces and Defense Ministry already suspended their X accounts earlier this month, claiming an increasing difficulty with the objective exchange of arguments.

Musks gigafactory in Germany is among four Tesla plants worldwide and one of just two outside the US along with Shanghai, yet its notable that Musk has had little to say about Chinas Communist government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With around 200,000 Teslas on German roads, the stakes are high as EV early adopters with aging vehicles weigh whether to stick with Tesla when their leasing deals expire or explore alternatives. Once dominant in Germanys EV market, Tesla now faces stiff competition from German automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW which have expanded their EV lineups.

Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller told Bloomberg News that his company hopes to attract Tesla drivers alienated by Musks politics. Small businesses including Sons of Battery in Pforzheim are capitalizing on the backlash with top-selling Amazon accessories like a bumper sticker reading, I bought this car before Elon went crazy.

For Tesla in Germany, what he is saying damages the brand, said Martin Fassnacht, Professor of Strategy and Marketing at WHU  Otto Beisheim School of Management. Early adopters, he said, dont tend to share Musks views on Germanys historical guilt, while AfD voters are likely sticking with diesel or petrol vehicles. It used to be, wow, youre a cool person driving that progressive car, he said of Tesla. That has changed.

Musks influence in Germany is still undeniable. SpaceX has inspired a wave of aerospace startups in Munich, such as Rocket Factory Augsburg and Isar Aerospace, while Teslas bold moves forced German automakers to accelerate EV development to protect market share. Companies across industries have built their models around Musk-backed innovations, further cementing his impact.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To Joe Kaeser, the former CEO of Munich-based Siemens AG, Europes biggest engineering company, Musks meddling in Germany is less of a threat longer-term than the dangers posed by the unrestrained powers of the big-tech oligarchs supporting Trump.

This is about world domination, and Musk is the one who is furthest ahead, Kaeser told German news network N-TV. Thats what worries me much more, this extra-territorial power that by the favor of the American president hes projecting.

--With assistance from Wilfried Eckl-Dorna, Arno Schutze, Stefan Nicola and Gian Volpicelli.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Elon Musks ongoing vocal support for far-right political parties in Europe is really disgusting and a hindrance to democratic development, Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday of Donald Trumps best buddy.

Scholz blasted the worlds richest man for his recent comments, made during an appearance at a campaign event for the right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland party.

Musk urged Germans at the event to move beyond guilt for a past that includes the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk, who has remained very close to Trump since his inauguration, has also thrown his weight behind other controversial political figures, including former English Defense League leader Tommy Robinson, aka Steven Yaxley-Lennon. He has also attacked the UKs Labour government and its leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Olaf Scholz criticized the worlds richest man for his recent support for far-right political figures and parties in Europe (AP)

Speaking at a campaign event in Berlin on Tuesday, Scholz said that although he had already been subjected to attacks by the SpaceX boss, Musks support for such organizations was becoming more blatant and concerning to him.

"What is new is that he is intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe, he said, per Reuters. And this is really disgusting and it is not good for the democratic development in all the European Union.

On Saturday, Musk made a surprise appearance at the AfDs campaign event via video link, telling attendees that there was too much focus on past guilt, and there was a need to move beyond that.

On Saturday Musk made an appearance at a campaign event for the right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland party (Getty Images)

Addressing the far-right crowd alongside party leader Alice Weidel on Saturday, the American billionaire said that children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I am absolutely critical about what Elon Musk said about the history of Germany," Scholz said, referring to the remarks. He added that his country would continue to bear responsibility for the past.

"This killing of so many Jews and other people in Europe done by Germans in the past, this is a historic responsibility, Scholz said.

The SpaceX boss also caused uproar on Donald Trumps inauguration day after making a gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute (AFP via Getty Images)

Monday was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, with the remaining survivors of Nazi Germanys atrocities joined by world leaders and royalty for commemorations and observances taking place in southern Poland.

One week earlier, on the day of Trumps inauguration, Musk caused an uproar after he made a gesture while giving remarks onstage that many compared to a Nazi salute. He has strongly denied such claims.
By Panu Wongcha-um, Shoon Naing and Poppy McPherson

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Healthcare centres serving tens of thousands of refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border have been ordered shut after U.S. President Donald Trump froze most foreign aid last week, forcing Thai officials to transport the sickest patients to other facilities.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which funds the clinics with U.S. support, told the facilities to shut by Friday, Jan. 31, according to a local official and two camp committee members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The IRC did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump last week paused development assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development for 90 days to assess compatibility with his "America First" policy.

The freeze has thrown the global aid sector, which is heavily funded by the U.S., into chaos.

It was not immediately clear what impact a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance during the 90-day pause issued by the State Department on Tuesday would have, or how many centres across the nine camps housing some 100,000 people were impacted.

The health facilities on the border serve tens of thousands of refugees from conflict-torn Myanmar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bweh Say, a member of the refugee committee at Mae La camp, in Tha Song Yang district, and a local schoolteacher said on Wednesday the IRC had already discharged patients and stopped people including pregnant women and people with breathing difficulties dependent on oxygen tanks from using their equipment and medicine.

The camps water distribution and garbage disposal systems, which the organisation had also been helping with, were also affected, they said.

Relatives of some of those discharged were "trying to find oxygen tanks" to bring home, Bweh Say said.

About 50 patients had been discharged, while several severely ill patients remained in the Mae La hospital, including a child recovering from heart surgery, said the schoolteacher, declining to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Normally that hospital receives about 100 out-patients per day and now none," the teacher said.

Chucheep Pongchai, governor of Tak province, told Thai media that the most severely ill patients would be transferred to local state hospitals, adding that officials have asked the IRC for use of their equipment.

Dr Tawatchai Yingtaweesak, Director of Tha Song Yang hospital, said he was travelling to the camp to assess patients.

We have to assess which patients can go home, which patients need help with oxygen and so on, he told Reuters by phone.

Nai Aue Mon, the programme director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), a grassroots organisation in southern Myanmar, said there was growing concern that basic healthcare needs in the camps would go unmet.

"Its scary because these refugees depend entirely on this assistance for their day-to-day health services."

(Additional reporting by Zaw Naing Oo; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A city management shakeup is behind the renaming of a Myrtle Beach agency previously focused solely on diversity, inclusion and equity  or DEI, Mayor Brenda Bethune said on Tuesday.

It was not just a name change, Bethune told reporters Tuesday of the citys decision in October to change its office of diversity, equity and inclusion to community engagement.

Diversity and inclusiveness is always a priority of ours. Not just with our city staff but with our visitors, with the people who we attract here and our businesses, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City officials in 2022 introduced Kelvin Waites as their first DEI director. He left in June 2023 for a role in Georgetown but came back to Myrtle Beach in November 2023 in his original capacity.

Now, he oversees the community engagement office, whose responsibilities include:

Establishing and maintain strong connections with community members, organizations, employees, and stakeholders to foster collaboration and trust

Facilitating dialogue between the organization and the community to ensure that concerns, needs, and feedback are heard and addressed

Encouraging community involvement in programs, events, and initiatives to enhance civic participation and empower residents

Ensuring that engagement efforts are inclusive and respectful of the diverse cultural backgrounds within the community

Continuously assessing the effectiveness of engagement strategies and programs to improve offerings based on community feedback and change

The city manager took this as an opportunity to really give someone who have proven himself to be a great manager more responsibilities, Bethune said of Waites new office.

President Trump, an outspoken DEI opponent, last week ordered all federal staffers working in those roles be put on paid administrative leave and eventually laid off  following an executive order he signed on his first day in office rolling back DEI protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nearly 70% of Myrtle Beachs year-round population is white, according to 2023 Census statistics  15% are Black while Hispanics account for nearly 13%.

Former Mayor Mark McBride in a Facebook post criticized the name change.

Myrtle Beachs Administration just changes Department names (without official Council action) and carries on, he wrote on Friday.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work 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 WBTW.
WASHINGTON (AP)  When Tulsi Gabbard returned to Washington from a clandestine sit-down with Syrias then-president Bashar Assad eight years ago this month, she was greeted with a flurry of criticism.

Lawmakers and civil society groups chastised Gabbard, then a Hawaii congresswoman, for her meeting with an avowed U.S. adversary whose administration has been credibly accused of war crimes and major human rights abuses. A Republican congressman even called the meeting a disgrace.

At the time, Gabbard defended the trip by saying she had gone to try to find a peaceful resolution to a long and bloody conflict. But the details of what the pair discussed remain a mystery  dogging Gabbard to this day and has taken on new salience as rebels have swept Assad from power and President Donald Trump has nominated her to be the nations spy chief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbard can afford to only lose votes from three Republican senators if all Democrats oppose her nomination. Several GOP lawmakers have refused to say how they will vote. Echoing other Republicans, Sen. Lindsey Graham told NBC's Meet the Press" over the weekend that he needed to see how Gabbard handled her confirmation hearing, slated for Thursday, before making a decision. Among the top questions Graham wants answered: Why did you go to Syria? What did you do regarding Assad?"

A key moment in Gabbards eight-year stint on Capitol Hill, the Assad sit-down also provides insights into the nominees worldview and is emblematic of an unorthodox and iconoclastic approach to politics that has fueled her rise from progressive favorite to one of Trumps most vocal defenders in the 2024 campaign. Since arriving in Washington in 2013 as a Democratic legislator representing Hawaii, Gabbard has routinely staked out foreign policy and national security positions that put her on the opposite side of every presidential administration, including Trumps.

Bipartisan questions about Gabbard and trip

Lawmakers of both parties have said Gabbard's meeting with Assad raises questions about the judgment and worldview of someone tapped to be Trumps director of national intelligence. Trump and his allies have brushed off criticism of Gabbards face-to-face with Assad. I met with Putin. I met with President Xi of China. I met with Kim Jong-un twice. Does that mean that I cant be president? Trump said on NBC in December, adding that Gabbard is a highly respected person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, said the trip was approved by the House ethics panel at the time, included debriefings with top U.S. officials and congressional leaders upon her return, and has generated very little interest from senators in the nominees private meetings on Capitol Hill.

But those who study national security issues say there has never been as enigmatic a choice for the post as Gabbard.

And its not just about her trip to Syria. Among her most controversial positions: Shes called for pardoning intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked numerous highly classified programs in 2013, and she has advocated unwinding key intelligence programs that spy agencies have come to rely on. (A transition spokeswoman says shes changed her position on the intelligence law.)

Critics over the years have accused her of taking stances sympathetic to Russia. And she has advocated against the prosecution of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, a bete noir of the U.S. spy agencies for more than a decade who ran an organization that Trump's former CIA director Mike Pompeo called a hostile intelligence service. Assange pleaded guilty last year to publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with federal prosecutors that secured his release, ended his high-profile case, and allowed him to avoid prison time in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shes a highly unusual choice to be director of national intelligence, Jamil N. Jaffer, executive director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University and a former senior Capitol Hill staffer and Bush administration official.

President Trump has nominated a bunch of people that are mainstream and will get through because nobodys going to object to them, Jaffer said. Then theres a few that leave you scratching your head.

Gabbards rise

A combat veteran and a one-time rising star in the Democratic Party and a progressive darling, Gabbard has drifted rightward and found common cause with Trump and other populist figures in his political orbit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the throughlines in Gabbards career is her skepticism about the wisdom of using U.S. power abroad. That view has won her plaudits in certain circles on both the progressive left and Trumps MAGA base, amid a roiling debate in both political parties over whether the U.S. should play a leadership role in global affairs or look more inward.

Gabbard came to Congress in 2013, just as the Syria conflict took center-stage in U.S. foreign policy. The conflict grew out of the regional Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 but unlike some of the other authoritarian governments in the region, the Assad regime clung to power with assistance from Iran and Russia.

Over time, Gabbard would transition from questioning the wisdom or legality of certain aspects of U.S.-Syria policy to questioning the facts being presented to the public.

In 2015, Gabbard was part of a congressional trip led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to the Turkish-Syrian border to see the impact of the war. As part of that trip, they visited Gaziantep, where civilians from Syria were receiving medical treatment across the border in Turkey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mouaz Mustafa, who is the executive director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force and who was serving as a translator for Gabbard and other members of Congress on that visit to the border, recalled a conversation between the congresswoman and several young girls who were getting treatment from injuries sustained in airstrikes by regime forces. When the girls recounted being injured by Syrian airplanes, Gabbard questioned their story, Mustafa claimed.

Her response was, How do you know it was Assad and Russia and not ISIS? Mustafa recalled of the exchange. Ludicrous question: ISIS doesnt have airplanes. Henning, the spokeswoman for the Trump transition, denied the exchange occurred.

Two years later, she echoed similar doubts about the Trump administrations assessment that the Assad regime used sarin gas to attack civilians. A United Nationals panel and numerous other foreign governments came to the same conclusion. The Trump administration conducted airstrikes in response to the attack, an attack Gabbard opposed.

The Syria Trip

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She departed on her 2017 trip to Syria just before Trump took office. It was arranged by two Arab-American brothers, Bassam and Elias Khawam. According to people who know the Khawams but did not want to speak publicly against fellow members of the tight-knit Arab-American community, they are Lebanese-Americans with a history of activism in Arab American political circles particularly on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Bassam has also long been active in U.S. politics. Since 2005, hes donated more than $40,000 to mostly Democratic political candidates according to federal campaign finance records  though hes occasionally crossed party lines, supporting Ralph Naders 2008 Green Party presidential bid, Republican Justin Amash for Congress and Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

The Khawams also have ties to a foreign political movement: the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a right-wing nationalist movement that advocates the integration of Lebanon into an enlarged Syria state. The party was allied for a time with the Assad regime  and the brothers were part of a broader split inside the Arab-American community over how to respond to the Syrian civil war.

Some Arab Americans saw Assad as a bulwark against terrorism  seeing the anti-Assad forces as tied to Islamic terrorists while many others were appalled by decades of authoritarian rule and human rights violations and supported any effort to oust the Assads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the U.S., there are segments of the Syrian diaspora that support the Assad regime. This includes Syrian Christians and some Syrian Muslims. That community has mobilized in various ways to support the regime, said Steven Heydemann, a Middle East expert who is a professor at Smith College and a fellow at the nonpartisan Brookings Institution. Seeing Gabbard as someone who could further their cause, (the Khawams) brought her to Syria to emphasize their narrative and attempt to temper U.S. opposition.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who received campaign donations over the years from the Khawams, joined Gabbard on the trip. Kucinich, like Gabbard, is a Democrat-turned-independent and a longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy. The two are political allies, having endorsed each others various runs for office. He did not respond to calls seeking comment  but the trip was a major controversy during his unsuccessful 2018 run for Ohio governor.

Gabbard did not publicize her trip before she left, and upon her return, she described it as a fact-finding mission. Even her own staff was unaware of her plans and struggled to reconstruct the trip when she began filing required congressional disclosure forms, according to a Washington Post report. She did not disclose many details about what she discussed in her meetings in Lebanon and Syria. Under questioning from reporters upon her return, she admitted she sat down with Assad.

When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt that its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we can achieve peace, Gabbard told CNN at the time. In 2019, she went further, saying in an interview on MSNBC: Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbards official itinerary filed three weeks after she returned in a disclosure report to Congress showed two meetings with Assad that lasted a total of two hours  plus an additional meeting with the first lady of Syria, the Syrian foreign minister and the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations. In Lebanon, she also met with a wide variety of civil society figures.

To Gabbards supporters and allies, she was merely expressing a realpolitik critique of the U.S. rush to push out Assad  a conflict that she feared might lead to another protracted war. In no way was she defending Assad. She has called him a brutal dictator, said Henning, the Trump transition spokeswoman.

But others saw her rhetoric as echoing talking points and policy positions held by Americas adversaries, particularly Russia. The Kremlin was among Assads strongest backers in terms of political and military support. Hillary Clinton called her a Russian asset in 2019  a charge that led Gabbard to file a libel lawsuit against the former secretary of state that was later dropped.

More recently, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley called Gabbard a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Republicans have been more muted in their criticism since her nomination was announced. But they nevertheless hope to glean some answers about her discussions with Assad, who fled to Russia after his regime was toppled.

Sen James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma who sits on the intelligence panel that will consider her nomination, said on CNN: Well have lots of questions. She met with Bashar Assad. Well want to know what the purpose and what the direction for that was.

___

Associated Press writers David Klepper in Washington, Julie Carr Smyth in Cleveland and Bassem Mroue in Lebanon contributed to this report.
In samples taken from a distant asteroid, scientists have discovered a host of organic molecules, including key building blocks of life.

The surprising finding suggests the chemical ingredients necessary for life may have been widespread across the early solar system.

NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which launched in 2016, scooped up bits of dust, soil and rocks from the asteroid Bennu and then brought them to Earth in 2023. The 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid is thought to have formed in the first 10 million years of the solar systems existence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An analysis of that collected asteroid material, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, indicates that the samples included thousands of organic compounds and 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to form proteins. The samples also contained four nucleobases  the main components of DNA and RNA, which store and transmit genetic blueprints within our cells.

The researchers did not find evidence of life itself on Bennu; rather, their results bolster the theory that asteroids that crashed into Earth when it was young may have delivered the necessary ingredients for life to take hold. The findings could also mean that the chances life formed on other planets and moons in the solar system could be higher than scientists previously thought.

The asteroid Bennu seen from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is already rewriting the textbook on what we understand about the ingredients thought to be necessary for the emergence of life in our solar system, Nicky Fox, the associate administrator of NASAs Science Mission Directorate, said Wednesday in a news briefing.

Similar organic molecules, including amino acids, have been detected in meteorites before, but these fragments of space rocks are imperfect specimens because they are studied after enduring fiery trips through Earth's atmosphere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whereas meteorites have been exposed to and contaminated by conditions on Earth that could skew scientific results, gathering samples directly from an asteroid in space is like peering into a time capsule from the nascent solar system.

Whats so significant about the OSIRIS-REx Bennu findings is that those samples are pristine, said Danny Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center.

The return canister that carried the Bennu samples shielded them from harsh conditions during atmospheric re-entry, Glavin said.

NASA scientists collect data shortly after the sample return capsule from NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission landed at the Defense Department's Utah Test and Training Range on Sept. 24, 2023.

The bottom line is: We have a higher confidence that the organic material were seeing in these samples are extraterrestrial and not contamination, he said. We can trust these results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the samples from Bennu, the researchers stumbled on some surprises. For one, they found exceptionally high concentrations of ammonia  about 100 times more than the natural levels of ammonia that you find in soils on the Earth, Glavin said.

Ammonia is an essential ingredient in many biological processes, including as a building block to form amino acids, which in turn can link together into long chains to make proteins.

Another surprise was described in a second paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature: Researchers found traces of 11 minerals that were likely part of a briny mixture left behind after deposits of water evaporated off Bennu and its parent asteroid.

The salty crystals left behind by the evaporated water resembled sodium-rich crusts found in dry lakebeds on Earth, such as Searles Lake in California, said Tim McCoy, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C., and a co-author of both studies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We now know from Bennu that the raw ingredients of life were combining in really interesting and complex ways on Bennus parent body, McCoy said in a statement. We have discovered that next step on a pathway to life.

A microscope image of a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu shows sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash.

The minerals detected included sodium carbonate compounds such as trona (sometimes referred to as soda ash) that the scientists said had never been observed in other extraterrestrial samples. Similar briny mixtures are thought to exist on Saturns moon Enceladus and the dwarf planet Ceres.

The two new studies represent the first in-depth analyses of the Bennu samples. In 2023, scientists announced preliminary findings, including traces of carbon and water locked up in clay minerals.

The soil and rock from Bennu are the first samples NASA has collected and brought back from an asteroid, but they were not the first in history. Japans Hayabusa mission in 2010 delivered to Earth a few micrograms of material from an asteroid called Itokawa. A second mission, dubbed Hayabusa2, delivered a small sample from an asteroid known as Ryugu in 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the samples from Bennu have already yielded intriguing results, more research is needed to understand what precisely causes life to emerge on one planet or moon and not others.

What did Bennu not have that Earth did have? said Jason Dworkin, an OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. This is a future area of study for astrobiologists around the world to ponder, looking at Bennu as an example of a place that had all the stuff but didnt make life. Why was Earth special?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Nashville detectives are asking the community to help identify the owner or driver of a Honda Odyssey minivan in connection to a Jan. 12 homicide.

Dash camera footage for a tractor-trailer shows a silver colored minivan believed to be around a 2015 model following a vehicle driven by Uriel Miller near the Fessler Lane exit.

Police said the minivan pulled closely to Miller's vehicle around 2 a.m. before abruptly changing lanes in front of the tractor-trailer while pulling up to Miller's passenger side and firing gunshots.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miller, 26, who lived in Rutherford County, died at the scene after his car came to rest along a retaining wall between the east and west Interstate 40 travel lanes.

Anyone with information about the Honda Odyssey minivan shown in the attached photographs and video is asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Police seek help identifying minivan in connection to homicide
More than half of all fourth- and eighth-graders in the Fort Worth Independent School District are below basic proficiency in reading, according to nationwide test scores released Wednesday morning, Jan. 29.

The district isnt alone: Record numbers of students scored below basic in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, meaning they havent even partially mastered the skills they need to be proficient readers.

Nationwide, most states and districts still lag behind where they stood before the pandemic, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. But school shutdowns and the academic losses that came with them arent the only factor, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is not just a pandemic story, Carr said. Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.

Nations Report Card shows lack of progress in FWISD

The assessment, which is commonly known as the Nations Report Card, is based on tests given every other year to students in fourth and eighth grades across the country. It primarily shows how student achievement compares from state to state. But 26 school districts across the country, including Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin and Houston ISDs, participate in a more granular version of the test, allowing for district-level comparisons.

In Fort Worth ISD, 42% of fourth-graders and 47% of eighth-graders scored at or above basic in reading on last years test, meaning the districts results were essentially flat compared to 2022.

The districts fourth-graders fared better in math: 65% scored at or above basic in math last year, the same percentage as 2022. But just 37% of the districts eighth-graders scored basic or better in math, a seven-point decline from two years before.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The districts scores are based on the level of skill students demonstrate on the assessment. Students who score basic are able to demonstrate some rudimentary skills, but arent advanced enough to be considered proficient. For example, a fourth-grader who scores basic would be able to explain the sequence of events in a story, while a student who scores proficient might be able to explain the impact of a characters actions within that sequence of events. Students who are unable to demonstrate any of those skills score below basic.

Mohammed Choudhury, Fort Worth ISDs deputy superintendent for learning and leading, said he wasnt surprised by the districts lack of progress in reading or math. He noted that the results mirror decades of stagnation in the districts state test scores.

But Choudhury, who has been with Fort Worth ISD for less than a year, said the district is poised to make improvements. At a school board meeting last month, district officials and board members announced a renewed focus on improving literacy. Board members passed a resolution identifying reading as the districts highest priority, and interim superintendent Karen Molinar outlined early details of a district-wide literacy plan, including developing a framework for how schools handle literacy instruction, aligning budgets and school resources behind literacy priorities and monitoring students progress.

Choudhury acknowledged that getting a district as big as Fort Worth ISD moving in the right direction is a tall order. But he pointed to two bigger districts  Dallas and Houston ISDs  that have seen steady gains over the past decade. Those examples show that progress is possible, he said. Fort Worth ISD likely wont be able to get 100% of its students on grade level overnight, he said, but if the district implements its reading plan well, it should see better results in two years, when the next round of assessment scores is released.

Assessment scores paint a dismal picture nationwide

Nationwide, 40% of fourth-graders scored below basic in reading, the highest percentage in 20 years. A third of eighth-graders scored below basic in math, the most who have done so in the half-century the test has been given.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the results werent equal across all student groups. In both grade levels, students at the higher end of the achievement scale either held steady or improved compared to two years ago in both reading and math, while those at the lower end performed at historically low levels, creating a widening achievement gap. Its a trend that had already existed for a decade before the pandemic began.

Carr, the National Center for Education Statistics commissioner, said one factor that seems to be driving the achievement declines among the lowest performers is chronic absenteeism. After the pandemic, districts in Fort Worth and nationwide reported a sharp uptick in the number of students who missed too many days of school.

But Carr said there are signs of hope in the data. She pointed to Louisiana, where fourth-grade reading and math scores are at or above where they stood before the pandemic, including among the lowest performers. There are no causes for celebration in this years scores, she said, but there are a few signs of progress that could be modeled in other states.

Hope is what I see in these data. Promise is what I see in these data, she said. But I think we need to stay focused in order to right this ship.
Students exit the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center on Nov. 13. Oklahoma schools showed no significant change from two years ago in their reading and math scores on the Nation's Report Card. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Nationwide testing shows Oklahoma continued to lag behind the national average in reading and math scores in 2024, and the states academic performance had little improvement since 2022.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nations Report Card, tests fourth and eighth graders in reading and math in each state every two years. Results from across the country, including Oklahoma, in 2024 remained below pre-pandemic performance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only 23% of fourth graders and 20% of eighth graders in Oklahoma performed at a proficient level in reading on the NAEP tests, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the assessments.

Nationally, fourth-grade reading scores declined while Oklahoma held steady, though the state still fell below the national average of 30% scoring proficiently.

Eighth-grade scores also came short of the 29% national average. The state and national averages for eighth grade reading showed no significant change compared to 2022 results.

Oklahoma, like most states, also lacked any significant difference in its math scores compared to two years ago, NAEP scores show. Thirty-one percent of Oklahoma fourth graders and 17% of eighth graders made a proficient score on the NAEP math assessments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The national average rose to 39% proficiency in fourth-grade math, and national eighth-grade results showed little change at 27%.

Academic performance and chronic absenteeism rates across the United States remain worse than NAEP results from 2019, the last time students took the assessments before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic performance, NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr said. Where there are signs of recovery, they are mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students. Lower-performing students are struggling, especially in reading.

NAEP assessments began in 1992, and every state is federally required to participate. The Nations Report Card is considered the only reliable tool for state-by-state comparisons in K-12 academic achievement. Thats because, outside of NAEP, each state has its own unique testing methods and definition of proficiency that are difficult to compare to one another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Nations Report Card gives a distinctly different look at Oklahomas academic performance than the states own self-assessment.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education released test results indicating improved math and reading scores, but it didnt disclose the difference is the result of a change to the way tests are scored. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

State-administered testing determined 43% of Oklahoma students scored at a proficient or advanced level in reading and 32% were proficient or advanced in math for the 2023-24 school year, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

In 2024, the state reset its expectations for student performance on yearly reading and math exams. Documents the state Department of Education released show students could score lower and still be considered proficient.

This resulted in dramatically higher proficiency rates, particularly in English language arts. Without context, it gave an impression of significant improvements in school performance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The scoring change also reversed the heightened expectations that Oklahoma set in 2017 to align its standards more closely with NAEPs.

Internal documents the Education Department did not release to the public, which Oklahoma Voice obtained, revealed that statewide English and math results would have been similar to the previous years scores if proficiency expectations had not been adjusted.

The states 2024 NAEP results also reflect stagnant improvement.

The state Education Department released annual reading and math test results over the summer without explaining that a statistically significant change had taken place in Oklahomas scoring system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agency still has not formally announced the scoring change and in recent months has declined to comment on it, even when releasing Oklahoma State Report Cards grading each public schools academic performance.

NAEP tests, on the other hand, have remained consistent while states have changed their testing methods and expectations. Its reading and math assessment frameworks last changed in 2009.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A national report card revealed that public schools across Washington, D.C. are improving in math and reading. Data released from the report reflected that D.C. students tied with Delaware for the greatest improvement in math across the nation.

Students in fourth and eighth grade also showed improvement, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and are out-pacing national trends when it comes to math and reading.

We have fewer students who are performing at the lowest levels. We have more students performing at proficiency levels, and we are excited that our recovery investments are paying off, said Paul Kihn, DC Deputy Mayor of Education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bill introduced to prohibit cell phones in DC schools

Comparing the progress from 2022 to 2024, there was a 9-percentage point improvement in math scores for 4th graders and a 3-percentage point improvement for 8th graders at or above proficiency.

When it comes to reading results, the report revealed a 1-percentage point increase for 4th-grade reading and a 2-percentage point increase for 8th-graders at or above proficiency levels.

Additionally, the NAEP results demonstrated that Hispanic students outperformed nationally in 4th-grade reading.

School leaders said the pandemic played a huge role in student learning, and so far students are performing at pre-pandemic levels in everything except 8th-grade math.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We believe that some of the hands-on, in-person learning experiences that you need for math skill development were truly missed. And so that will continue to be a focus for us, especially knowing that we want more of our students to be taking advanced math courses as well, in preparation for their post-secondary journey, said Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor for District of Columbia Public Schools

Childcare consultants see rising demand for au pairs as federal workers return to office

They plan to tackle this mission through recommendations from their math task force, offering math certificates for teachers and engaging families.

Were trying to bridge the gap from what we call old math and new math, with families so families can be more supportive, with math concepts at home, said Ferebee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

School leaders said theyre proud to know that 4th grade math tied for the biggest improvement in the country and they hope to see the same for all levels.

Were very very pleased to feel as though we are on exactly the right path. This is not a call for us to change course. This is a call for us to do more, said Kihn.

School leaders added that high-impact tutoring and support for professional development are a few of the many strategies they will continue to practice.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Las Vegas(KLAS)-January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month but its an important topic to discuss and raise awareness for year round. Rubies Las Vegas is a leading nonprofit that supports human trafficking victims and founder Samantha Summers Rivas joined us to tell us about what they do and how they help victims.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This week is National School Choice Week, and there's a lot to celebrate. Innovation in education was accelerated by pandemic-era school closures, as was interest in alternatives to one-size-fits-some schooling. With education funding following the student rather than being assigned to government-run institutions in a growing number of states, more families are choosing what works best for their kidsand the majority are satisfied with their decisions.

Proliferating School Choice Programs

"By the end of 2024, more than one million students in America were participating in a private school choice program," EdChoice's Colyn Ritter reported this week. "Participation growth has climbed rapidly, having more than doubled since the beginning of 2020."

"Florida leads the way with nearly 13% of students enrolled in a private school choice program. Arizona follows close behind, with 10% of their students participating in a private school choice program," he adds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By "private school choice program," Ritter refers to the rapid adoption in recent years of programs that allow students to use all or part of the funding allocated by their state for public school education to pay for private schooling, microschools, homeschooling, and other alternatives. A majority of states now offer some sort of education savings account (ESA), tax credit, or voucher program. The terminology can get confusing and implementation varies from place to place, but ESAs are generally the most flexible while vouchers offer direct payment for tuition at private institutions.

Families Choose a Wide Range of Education Options

That's not the end of it. Plenty of families make their own education decisions without going through one of these programs. Drawing on the most current data, Ritter breaks down school attendance accordingly: 2.2 percent of students attend private schools through an educational choice program, 6.8 percent attend private school by other means (paying tuition themselves, private scholarships, and the like), 74.8 percent attend a traditional public school, 4.9 percent attend a magnet school, 6.6 percent attend a privately run but publicly funded charter school, and 4.7 percent are homeschooled.

Along with private school choice programs, homeschooling has seen rapid growth in recent years. Many families stepped in to teach their children when public health policies shuttered traditional public schools, and they discovered they liked both the process and the results.

Based on Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data, Johns Hopkins University's Homeschool Hub, which focuses on DIY education, estimates that in the 2022-2023 school year, 5.82 percent of American K-12 students were homeschooled (numbers vary for this inconsistently tracked option).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since then, Johns Hopkins researchers have seen continued growth in homeschooling. Not all states count homeschoolers, but of 21 states reporting data for the 2023-2024 school year as of this past September, "there are three states with continued growth, meaning that there was no post-pandemic decline. Sixteen states show a rebounding trend, meaning that there was a post-pandemic decline, in some cases several years of a decline, and then, in 2023-2024, the number of homeschoolers increased again." Only two states saw declines in the ranks of homeschoolers, and in one of those (New Hampshire), the drop may result from a change in how homeschooled students who use ESAs are classified.

Parents Are Happy When Allowed To Choose

What's interesting is that the growing adoption of different types of education reflects a shift towards what parents of school-age children say they would pick if they could. In December 2024, Morning Consult/EdChoice pollsters asked, "If given the option, what type of school would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?" Among school parents, 8 percent picked charter schools, 13 percent chose homeschooling, 12 percent favored religious private schools, 20 percent chose secular private schools, 35 percent selected public schools in their district, and 6 percent preferred out-of-district public schools (the remainder didn't know or had no opinion).

So, removing legal barriers to options and making it easier for people to afford them rather than pay for tuition on top of taxes allows families to move closer to the education approaches they want for their children. The growing adoption of these options makes it clear that people mean what they say.

Unsurprisingly, when people get what they prefer, they're reasonably happy with the outcome. The same poll (which is conducted monthly) asked parents, "to what extent are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your child's/children's experiences with the following types of schooling?" Eighty-one percent of school parents reported being very or somewhat satisfied with charter schools, 94 percent reported satisfaction with homeschooling, 90 percent were satisfied with religious private schools, 88 percent said they were satisfied with secular private schools, 80 percent were satisfied with in-district public schools, and 85 percent satisfied with out-of-district public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That said, majorities of parents were "very satisfied" only with homeschooling and both religious and secular private schools. By and large, parents of school-age children are pretty happy with their kids' education, and that's especially true when it's one they've obviously chosen themselves.

Wide Support for Choice

School choice has long been popular among Americans, and that hasn't changed as options proliferate and families have increased opportunity to jettison schooling that doesn't work for their kids and replace it with something that does. For some, that may be traditional public schools, and for others it's a wide range of private schools with different philosophies or one of the many DIY learning approaches bundled under the term "homeschooling." When asked, the public makes it clear it wants freedom to choose.

The American Federation for Children maintains records of years of polling on the question: "School choice gives parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child's education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs. Generally speaking, would you say you support or oppose the concept of school choice?" The idea consistently draws support from roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of respondents.

After the chaos of fumbled school closures and lost learning time during the COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneous schoolroom culture-war battles over what is taught and how to teach it, it would be surprising to see anything else. Why not opt out of a headache if you can choose something better?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Americans want school choice and they're happy when they get it. There's a lesson in there.

The post This National School Choice Week, It's a Boom Time for Education Freedom appeared first on Reason.com.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Women physicians have made significant contributions in the field of medicine since 1849.

That was the year the first woman, Elizabeth Blackwell, received a medical degree in the U.S.

National Womens Physicians Day is the day to celebrate their achievements and to inspire future generations.

Surgeon Dr. Emilia Genova with Hartford Healthcare Medical Group joined Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.m. to discuss.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watch the video above to 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 WTNH.com.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska has said that the Alliance is on track to fulfil its 2025 defence funding plan for Ukraine.

Source: Sekerinska at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels on 29 January, European Pravda reports, citing the Alliance's press service

Details: The meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which was attended by Olha Stefanishyna, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, discussed the situation on the battlefield, further support for Ukraine from the Alliance and Kyiv's progress on the path of reforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sekerinska, who chaired the meeting, highlighted efforts to bring Ukraine closer to NATO, including through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and the JATEC (NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre) training centre.

Quote: "She indicated that Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington Summit to deliver 40 billion Euro in security assistance," NATO said.

The deputy secretary general also welcomed the increased investment by Allies in Ukraine's defence industry.

Background:

NATO leaders at the Washington summit pledged a total of 40 billion in assistance to Ukraine for 2025.

In 2025, at the Hague Summit, the Heads of State and Government intend to review the contributions of Allies. The amount of assistance may also be reviewed at future NATO summits based on Ukraine's needs.

This strengthening of the Alliance's role in security assistance was prompted by fears that Donald Trump, upon returning to power in the United States, might cut off security assistance to Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
A view of the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon. The mine has operated since the 1980s but mined its first batch of uranium ore in 2024. Photo by Blake McCord via Grand Canyon Trust

After months of negotiation, the Navajo Nation and Energy Fuels Inc. have signed an agreement allowing the transport of uranium ore along federal and state highways throughout the Navajo Nation, with transportation set to resume in February.

We have a settlement agreement that will allow the Navajo Nation to monitor and inspect the haul trucks and that provides financial compensation for the expenses to improve safety and protect the environment, Stephen Etsitty, executive director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, said in a press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement comes nearly six months after Energy Fuels, Inc., voluntarily halted transportation following the companys first transport through the Navajo Nation with little notice to the tribe. The company then entered into negotiations with the Navajo Nation in August 2024 after the tribe condemned their actions.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Energy Fuels President and CEO Mark Chalmers said he is honored that the Navajo Nation is willing to work with the company in good faith to address their concerns and ensure that uranium ore transportation through the Navajo Nation will be done safely and respectfully.

The agreement has not been made public, but a press release issued by Energy Fuels outlines some of the details.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mining company said it has agreed to add additional protections and accommodations in addition to the existing U.S. Department of Transportation requirements, which include limiting transportation to specified routes and hours of the day and not transporting on days involving celebrations or public events.

The company also said it would follow clear emergency response procedures, abide by notice and reporting requirements, carry additional insurance and give its drivers extra training and qualifications, including obtaining Navajo Nation transport licenses.

The company also said it agreed to use state-of-the-art cover systems  instead of the tarps it had previously said it would use  to prevent uranium ore dust from blowing out of transport trucks, establish provisions for escorts and blessings at the discretion of the Navajo Nation, and additional inspection procedures that will enable the Navajo Nation to ensure that all applicable rules and agreements are being satisfied.

We appreciate the sincere approach the Energy Fuels negotiation team took with the Navajo Nation, said Heather Clah, acting attorney general of the Navajo Nation. They demonstrated a genuine understanding for the Navajo Nations and the Navajo Peoples trauma regarding uranium and engaged as a partner in good faith to build a trusting relationship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Navajo Nation stretch of the Pinyon Plain Mines approved uranium ore transportation route is more than half of the roughly 320-mile journey, with a total of 174 miles traveled on major state routes through Navajo land.

This agreement isnt just about resolving a conflict; its a commitment to protecting future generations, respecting Tribal sovereignty and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued, Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a press release.

Today marks an important step forward for our communities and shows what is possible through collaboration, partnership, and a shared commitment to public safety, Hobbs added. Im proud to have brought Energy Fuels and Navajo Nation to the table so they could come to an agreement that addresses the Nations long-standing concerns and includes enhanced emergency response plans.

As part of the agreement, Energy Fuels committed to transporting up to 10,000 tons of uranium-bearing cleanup materials from abandoned uranium mines across the Navajo Nation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They have also agreed to support the Navajo Nations transportation safety programs, education, environment, public health and welfare, and local economic development related to uranium issues. Details about the specific type of support were not provided.

We are proud to be a part of a historic agreement with the Navajo Nation, and we are committed to fulfilling our promises to them, Chalmers said. We hope this agreement marks the beginning of a constructive relationship that restores trust with our neighbors while also paving the way for future collaborations on cleanups and other areas of shared interest.

According to Energy Fuels, the company has safely hauled several hundred thousand tons of uranium ore and other materials along state and federal highways that cross the Navajo Nation between 2007 and 2024, with no incidents resulting in the spillage or release of ore.

Measures outlined in the agreement provide additional layers of protection for the Navajo and others, beyond the rigorous standards set by the USDOT, the company stated in a press release.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
WINDOW ROCK  Bryson Sam and his siblings stood at an intersection in the Navajo Nation capital under gray clouds and a chilly breeze, holding signs that read, "No Human is Illegal on Stolen Land" and "Native Youth Deserve Better." Across the street, another protester waved a Palestinian flag, holding a sign that read, "Make White Supremacists Scared Again."

The demonstration was their response to events unfolding across the country and in Arizona. Last week, The Arizona Republic reported on unverified claims circulating on social media that Navajo citizens were being detained in connection with President Donald Trumps executive order on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

"My people outside of the Navajo Nation are getting a lot of backlash, thinking they're immigrants, when no one is illegal on stolen land," said Sam. "A lot of Native elders and adults aren't aware because a lot of stuff is being hidden. Native youth like me are aware but our voice feels dim. What happened in the 1920s in Germany is happening now, deportation, concentration camps, it's basically adding up. I don't want to make seem like we are letting it happen. A lot of my people are afraid. A lot of them saying we are scared for our future."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sam said he initially waited for someone else to take action, but instead of standing by, he decided it was up to him to step forward and make his voice heard. He emphasized that his protest is not only about raising awareness of the challenges faced by Native people in urban areas but also about shedding light on the broader threat of targeting of people of color by the Trump administration and ICE.

"I am afraid not only for my future but for everyone's future," said Sam. "Not only Native people, but Black people, Mexican people, everyone. We are no longer individual tribes we stand together. Whatever feud we may have had back in the day, no more, because now it's time to stand together."

Bryson Sam stood outside along a road in Window Rock with his siblings to protest the threat of deportation efforts of the Trump Administration, Jan. 29, 2025.

Following a meeting last week, leaders have advised tribal members to carry state-issued identification, such as a drivers license or another form of photo ID if available. Additionally, a Certificate of Indian Blood may be helpful.

Navajo tribal members affected by ICE raids can contact the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Office at (928) 871-7436. People who encounter issues with federal immigration officials can reach out to Operation Rainbow Bridge at 855-435-7672, visit their website at operationrainbowbridge.com, or email info@operationrainbowbridge.com.

Confusion after flurry of orders

The deportation situation is not the only thing tribal members are worried about. This week, the Navajo Nation Council held its winter session, and on the first day, federal offices such as Navajo Area Indian Health Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs provided oral reports. But instead of engaging in discussion with federal representatives, an opportunity to address concerns and assess the impact of the new Trump administration, the council swiftly voted to accept the reports in written form only, missing the opportunity to speak in a public form with these offices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next day, Trump's Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum imposing a temporary freeze on federal grants and loans. Within 24 hours the freeze was rescinded after a federal judge moved to temporarily block it, but like deportation concerns of Navajo citizens, the Navajo Nation was concerned about what this meant for its citizens.

President Buu Nygren said on Tuesday that the Navajo Nation was unaffected for the most part and emphasized that as a sovereign government, the Navajo Nation operates under treaty obligations with the United States.

A protestor stands across on a street in Window Rock holding the Palestinian flag, in support of the Palestinian people, Jan. 29, 2025.

"Treaty agreements create legal protections for our governments funding and operations," he said. "The legal and policy landscape is evolving rapidly, and we are committed to providing timely updates as developments occur."

Evolving rapidly turned out to be an understatement after Trump rescinded the funding freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum that directed federal executive agencies to 'pause' funding obligations and disbursements for financial assistance, loans, and grants has officially been rescinded," Nygren said Wednesday on his social media. "Our team, in collaboration with the Navajo Office of the Controller, the Navajo Nation Washington Office, and the Navajo Nation Council, will continue to monitor the effects of ongoing Executive Orders to ensure the protection of our financial resources."

Nygren said there was no immediate concern regarding the daily operations of the Navajo Nation government or its federal funding.

Back at the protest, Sam vowed to stay committed and said he would continue speaking truth to power about the impact of a Trump administration.

"We want a healthy future," said Sam. "Reproductive rights were taken away. Social security, WIC, all of these things that Native Americans depend on will be taken away and no one sees that. I'm trying to bring awareness, and however long it takes I will stand."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Standing alongside his siblings, Sam expressed concern about potential backlash from Navajo Trump supporters. As they stood near the spot where the Navajos for Trump group had once prominently displayed their signs, now taken down, honks of support from passing drivers encouraged the small group. But they said they noticed a couple of drivers, one in a government vehicle and another with Nebraska plates looking at the group with contempt as they drove by.

"The honking reminds me that some people are with us," said Sam. "I was afraid because it seems like we have a lot of Navajo Trump supporters, especially during the Navajo Nation parade and that got me scared. The fact that some Navajo are only getting radicalized now is alarming. You should've been radicalized when you heard about the Long Walk."

Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo protesters say they fear deportation, other threats under Trump
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  The Office of North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration Tuesday to block the federal governments freeze on grants and funding.

The lawsuit comes the same day the Trump administration announced the freeze while conducting a review of federal spending.

RELATED: NC Medicaid portal briefly inaccessible Tuesday amid federal funding pause

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to his office, Jackson is joined in the legal action by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

The lawsuit, which was filed in United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, seeks an immediate temporary restraining order to prevent the freeze from taking effect. Jackson and the other attorneys general argue that the law violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by halting federal spending without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of funds or the harmful effects of such a freeze.

Among other impacts, the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office said the freeze could harm Hurricane Helene recovery efforts by delaying the receipt of $29 billion in federal funds that was approved by Congress to assist states hit by hurricanes.

The freeze could also take away funding from law enforcement and victim assistance programs, according to the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced it temporarily lost access to the Medicaid payment portal due to the freeze.

This sudden freeze in federal funding is so sweeping that it could cause widespread and immediate harm across our state delaying disaster recovery in our western counties, undercutting law enforcement, and affecting children and veterans, Jackson said in a statement. It violates constitutional power over federal spending and Im taking legal action to stop it.

A federal judge blocked the freeze minutes before it was set to go into effect. The freeze will remain paused until Monday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is looking to hire more employees in the name of reducing wait times for drivers.

Queen City News confirmed with DMV officials Tuesday in a Charlotte Observer report that the agency aims to hire 61 people, focusing on the Triangle and Charlotte areas. The proposal was reportedly brought up during the Board of Transportations January meeting.

The General Assembly would have to approve the funding to increase the employee cap from 568 to 629.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What Is a Bill of Sale for a Car and Why Is It Important?

The spokesperson said the DMV also will ask to hire 24 drivers license examiners to open new offices, including in Cabarrus County.

Queen City News reported in September that the wheels were in motion to respond to the growing lines that stemmed from a population boom.

In December, the DMV added 69 drivers license examiners as part of a graduation ceremony. Five of these employees were assigned to Mecklenburg County offices, and another to the Concord office.

Executive order waives certain DMV fees, requirements for Helene-impacted counties

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said then that the agency had hired more than 400 examiners in the last three years.

We continue working to attract, hire, train, and retain our employees while also introducing both more online technology options and seeking new examiner positions as we try to keep up with our states explosive population growth, he said last 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 Queen City News.
Four North Carolina Republican representatives will help President Donald Trump review FEMAs response to Hurricane Helene.

According to the Charlotte Observer, two of them are from our area.

ALSO READ: Families in western North Carolina face uncertain future as FEMA hotel stays end

Michael Whately of Gastonia and Tim Moore of Kings Mountain will serve on the committee.

Trump signed an executive order on Friday creating the review council.

It came after the president visited western North Carolina and said he would consider getting rid of FEMA.

VIDEO: Families in western North Carolina face uncertain future as FEMA hotel stays end




TOPEKA (KSNT)  Communities in northeast Kansas are getting ready to support statewide Special Olympics with a cool fundraiser.

Special Olympics Kansas is preparing for its coolest fundraiser of 2025, the Polar Plunge. The Polar Plunge is one of the organizations biggest fundraising opportunities that supports more than 5,500 athletes across the Sunflower State.

Your contribution and involvement helps athletes achieve their goals on & off the field, have healthier lifestyles, and a sense of inclusion in their community. Statement excerpt from Special Olympics Kansas website

Kansas families can now apply for summer grocery assistance

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are nine Polar Plunges taking place in the next couple of months in the Sunflower State. In Topeka, the plunge will take place at West Ridge Mall on Saturday, Feb. 8. Registration for the event will start at 8 a.m., the Polar Plunge will take place from 9-10 a.m. and a silent auction will be from 11 a.m. to noon.

The Polar Plunge in Manhattan will take place at noon on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Tuttle Creek State Park swim beach. Registration will open at 10 a.m. and the costume contest will start at 11:45 p.m.

In Emporia, people can are going to take the plunge at Mouse Lake, 1000 Topeka Street. According to Special Olympics Kansas, the tentative schedule is for registration to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Stingers, 519 East 12th Street, the costume contest will be at 11:15 p.m. and the plunge follows at 11:30 a.m.

Proposed bill could make KS teachers use students birth certificates pronouns

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

See the information about the other Polar Plunges in Kansas below:

For more Kansas 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.
Within the last six months, 93 companies in Ukraine have removed signs of Russian ownership and continue to do business in the country, despite a moratorium on altering the registration of companies with Russian owners, the monitoring service Opendatabot reported.

In response to Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine adopted a law to allow the seizure of assets or property in Ukraine owned by Russia or Russian citizens. As part of the law, Russian-owned or linked companies were barred from reregistering their ownership, with some exceptions.

Despite the ban, some companies have found ways to remove their Russian owners to continue operating. Opendatabot also found that some of these companies have participated in public procurement tenders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Opendatabot reported that a manufacturing and clothing distribution company with Russian ties, Texter Ltd., won seven tenders totaling Hr 19.6 million ($467,777). Welesgard LLC, a business consulting firm, won contracts worth Hr 19.3 million ($459,633), and tech retailer Era Mobile received 37 tenders totaling Hr 1.9 million ($45,248).

In 2023, 12 companies with Russian ties earned over Hr 10 million ($238,421), Opendatabot said. Nearly half earned less, while others filed no reports.

Over 18,000 companies in Ukraine had Russian ties at the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Opendatabot. By May 2024, 621 companies had allegedly altered ownership records to bypass legal restrictions.

The monitoring service said it has sent a request to the Justice Ministry to verify the legality of the re-registrations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response to an inquiry from the Kyiv Independent, the Justice Ministry said it had checked all 621 companies and found violations in the registration of 14 companies, two of which were related to non-compliance with restrictions on Russian assets.

Opendatabot also said it had already contacted the ministry earlier last year with information about companies that had changed their registration illegally. As a result of the inquiry, the Justice Ministry conducted 10 inspections, eight of which were found to have illegally altered their registration.

Read also: EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminium in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
[Source]

Thailand made history Thursday as the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with 1,832 LGBTQ+ couples registering their unions on the landmark day. At celebrations across the country, newly married partners expressed joy and hope for the future. We can love, we love equally, legally, said actor Sappanyoo Arm Panatkool, who married his partner and fellow actor Apiwat Porsch Apiwatsayree at a district office in Bangkok. The Marriage Equality Act amends Thailands Civil and Commercial Code to replace gendered terms with individuals and marriage partners, granting same-sex couples equal legal, financial and medical rights.

The milestone marks a significant shift in Asia, where Thailand joins only Taiwan and Nepal in recognizing same-sex marriages. While Thailand has a reputation for LGBTQ+ acceptance, advocates spent decades pushing for marriage equality in the largely conservative society. The contrast between Thailands progress and broader regional attitudes was highlighted by a Chinese citizen identified only as Zhang, who traveled to Thailand to celebrate with friends. Were excited, were also very jealous. Thailand is so close to China, but in another sense its so far away, Zhang told the BBC, noting that same-sex marriage remains illegal across most of Asia.

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  In an otherwise uneventful Peoria City Council meeting on Tuesday, city leaders discussed the potential impact of the Trump administrations pause on federal funding on Peoria coffers.

While a federal judge blocked the pause until Monday, it still only gives the city less than a week to understand how they need to potentially adjust.

Kyle Cratty, the citys finance director, said as much as $32.9 million or 15% of the citys budget is at risk. This includes $15.1 million of direct federal grants and $17.8 million of federal pass-through dollars. Those are dollars that are essentially passed through by state agencies before being given to municipalities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Infrastructure projects and public safety in the city are two of the areas that would be impacted by the funding pause.

Among those grants affected are ones to the Peoria Police and Fire departments that help pay for salaries. There are grants for road improvement work and there are grants for housing and other community issues.

That being said, Cratty said the total is a raw number, and could grow when the city has more information.

This all came about due to a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget that spoke about federal funding having to align with the vision of President Donald Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps decision to pause federal grants, funding receives a mixed verdict

The administration clarified that programs offering direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans and food stamps.

Cratty said its going to take more than the roughly eight hours his staff was had Tuesday to comb through every document. Even with the extra time afforded by the judges halt, that still may not be enough time.

There are potentially dollars that we have already spent but have not been reimbursed, or contractual obligations that we need to go through individually. We need to look at the individual pieces to really know what our exposure would be if the money went away, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2nd District Councilman Chuck Grayeb suggested pulling all-nighters throughout the week, but Cratty said that may not even give enough time to sort everything out.

The city has roughly $42 million in emergency funds that could be used by the council to offset costs, which was suggested by 5th District Councilman Denis Cyr, but Cratty warned that it would impact the citys ability to pay public safety pensions down the line.

Mayor Rita Ali also mentioned that she spoke with both Gov. JB Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Richard Dick Durbin about the pause, and the message was to document the impact that the community is experiencing.

Consent Agenda Approvals

While the discussion centering around the federal funding pause took up most of the meeting, there were a few items approved under consent agenda as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A preliminary plat for the Kona Breeze subdivision was unanimously approved. The location is generally west of Radnor Road and north of Alta Lane and will create 34 single family residential lots and 15 duplexes.

Also unanimously approved was an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). The ATF Task Force identified vacant space on the third floor of the Twin Towers Mall to house 10 to 12 members. The city will receive more than $38,000 to rent the space from Jan. 31, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Bluesky (@octaviajnews.bsky.social), TikTok (@octaviaj_news) and Facebook (Octavia R. Johnson).

Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast-paced, audience-focused content.

Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University.
Testifiers who supported the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program after its hearing, from left: Marion Miner of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Sara Howard of First Five Nebraska, Sarah Maresh of Nebraska Appleseed, Dr. Ann Anderson Barry of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative, Sen. George Dungan, Chad Abresch senior adviser for CityMatCH and Scout Richters of the ACLU of Nebraska. Feb. 7, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Medicaid-eligible pregnant mothers in Nebraska officially have access to new reimbursements for various prenatal services to help prevent low birth weights, preterm births and adverse birth outcomes.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday the full implementation of the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program. The law, passed 45-0 in Legislative Bill 857 of 2024, was led by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prenatal Plus mirrors similar successful programs in Colorado and Florida and is designed for at-risk mothers, as identified by their prenatal health care provider.

State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Five services are provided and eligible for reimbursement under the Nebraska program:

Up to six sessions of nutrition counseling.

Psychosocial counseling and support.

General client education and health promotion.

Breastfeeding support.

Targeted case management.

At-risk mothers who are in the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are currently not eligible for Nebraska Prenatal Plus, which was done in part to help reduce the fiscal impact of the law and get it over the finish line.

Dungan said the program has been a long time coming and will benefit many people. He encouraged his colleagues to continue supporting the program, including its annual report on the number of mothers served, services offered and birth outcomes for each mother served.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im just excited to see the program getting off the ground, Dungan said Wednesday.

Long term, the program is expected to reduce Medicaid costs because of upfront targeted care. Dungan said the goal is all about healthy moms and healthy babies.

I think were going to see better educational outcomes. Were going to see better behavioral health outcomes, Dungan said. All of these things can be tied back to being healthy at birth and in prenatal care.

The legislation had a broad array of support, including Nebraska Appleseed, ACLU of Nebraska, Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska State Board of Health, Nebraska Hospital Association and Nebraska Nurses Association.

State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln. July 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Dungans LB 857 also included legislation from State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, LB 933, to require Medicaid to cover continuous glucose monitors for individuals with gestational diabetes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Bosn-Dungan programs were estimated to cost $3.4 million in state cash funds and $5.5 million from the federal government in the first full fiscal year of operation.

Former State Sen. Sara Howard, policy adviser for First Five Nebraska, a nonprofit that advocates for early childhood support and education, helped craft the Nebraska Prenatal Plus law. She said it was crucial for mothers and children and the state as a whole.

The rollout of the Prenatal Plus Program represents an important step forward by offering a variety of supports to women throughout their pregnancies, ensuring better health outcomes for moms and babies statewide, Howard said in a text. We are deeply grateful to Senator Dungan for his leadership and hard work to make Prenatal Plus a reality.

Starting Jan. 1, the state also began covering, for Medicaid-eligible mothers or their children, electronic personal-use breast pumps and at least 10 lactation consultation visits. Former State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha led those changes as part of LB 1215 last year.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
KEARNEY, Neb. (KCAU)  A 16-year-old boy was apprehended by Nebraska officials on Monday night after allegedly eluding police by driving a Corvette on the highway at up to 168 miles per hour.

According to a release from the Nebraska State Patrol, a trooper noticed the vehicle going over 130 mph near the I-80 interchange at about 9:50 p.m. The Corvette would then head south on Highway 44, where the trooper tried to make a traffic stop.

Man accused of explosive threat to Norfolk school pleads guilty

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the driver, a teenager from Kearney, instead sped up, sparking a pursuit, the release says. The Corvette would allegedly go as fast as 168 mph. It then turned east onto Highway 6 towards the city of Minden.

Another trooper was able to slow the car with stop sticks on the way. As it reached the city, the driver parked on a side street and turned off the cars lights. However, he and the Corvette were found soon after, according to the release.

The driver was taken into custody and charged with willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, and speeding. The Nebraska State Patrol says the pursuit lasted about ten minutes over a stretch of 20 miles.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)  A Police Lieutenant is saying goodbye to his department after nearly two dozen years of serving the community.

The Neenah Police Department congratulated Lieutenant Chad Gruenstern for his long service with the department.

Neenah Police Department celebrates International LEGO Day with set giveaways

It has been an honor to work with you, the post said. We wish you the best on your next chapter.

Neenah Police Department Neenah Police Department

Lieutenant Gruenstern spent 23 years with the Neenah Police Department, spending the last 4 1/2 years as a Lieutenant.

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.
Reading through the comments thread beneath a recent Telegraph column that had suggested that the UK was relatively well placed for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, I was struck by the following observation.

The UK was doomed to fail in AI, it said, because AI was highly energy intensive, and the UK has some of the most expensive electricity in the world, poised to get even more so with the Governments headlong dash for net zero.

Who in such circumstances would want to build hyper-scale data centres in the UK? Good point, I thought, and excellent fodder for another column.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It didnt take long, however, for the idea to be thoroughly debunked. No doubt many of the claims being made about DeepSeek are exaggerated, but even if they are half right about the much lower energy consumption of Chinas low-cost AI model, then some of the projections around AIs demand for power are going to look way over the top.

Speaking via a video link to global elites in Davos last week, Donald Trump said the US would need to double the amount of energy it produces to satisfy the ambitions of the AI hyper-scalers.

This was a far bigger estimate than even the highest such prediction Id seen up until that point  that of the management consultants McKinsey, which forecast that global data-centre demand might grow by 240GW between 2023 and 2030, and that in the US they would absorb some 12pc of all the power generated.

Thats a long way below what Trump seems to imagine, but it would still require a massive upscaling of both US power generation and distribution. And already plans are well advanced to meet that demand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Writing for BloombergNEF, the UK based clean energy entrepreneur Michael Liebreich says that most of the data centres used to train AI models currently in construction are in the 100MW and 250MW range, much bigger than anything thats gone before  but what the tech giants really want are training centres of between 1GW and 2GW.

Recently announced in a blaze of publicity, Trumps $500bn (400bn) Stargate supercomputer complex would require 5GW. Amazon alone proposes to spend $150bn on data centres over the next 15 years.

All these plans now begin to look massively overblown. DeepSeeks Sputnik moment also points to an already monumental, hype-driven misallocation of capital that threatens to drive significant losses and write-offs across the tech sector for some years to come.

Hundreds of billions of investment dollars are being sunk into AI, but so far for little or no return. For comparison, look back to the turn of the century dot-com and mobile telephone bubbles, which gave us a wonderful new technological infrastructure but also an eventual bust in which many people and organisations lost their shirts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of the same excess can be seen in the rush to secure seemingly scarce energy supply for AI. In anticipation of explosive growth, the US state of Georgia alone is planning for 36.5 GW of new demand in the next decade, or around a half of current peak demand in the UK, including 19.9 GW in the next four years.

Elon Musk, Trumps new confidante, noted in March last year that we have silicon shortage today, a transformer shortage in about a year and electricity shortages in about two years.

Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, has claimed his company would build more data centres if only it could get more power.

Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, likewise: We still dont appreciate the energy needs of this technology ... We need fusion or we need radically cheaper solar plus storage, or something.

Or maybe not. One of the abiding truths about technological innovation is that what starts off as clunky and barely worth the time and effort required to use it rapidly generates big improvements in efficiency, driving down costs and ease of use, and eventually creating a virtuous circle of rising supply and demand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Liebreich points out, some of the projections for AI, to the effect that it threatens to gobble up an ever larger share of the worlds supply of energy, were already looking far-fetched even before the DeepSeek game-changer came along.

In fact, the average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)  the ratio of total power used in a data centre to the power used by its servers  dropped to 1.5 in 2021 from 2.7 in 2007, with the best data centres now delivering PUEs as low as 1.1, Liebreich notes.

An early version of such reductio ad absurdum logic was on show in what became known as the great horse manure crisis of 1894, when such was the dependence on horse-driven carriages for transport that The Times predicted that every street in London would in 50 years time be buried under nine feet of manure.

Then along came the automobile, rendering the forecast ridiculous. Technology eventually finds a way. The comparison that Greg Jackson, founder of the UKs Octopus Energy, likes to use is with the iPhone, whose battery power has not improved that much since it was first launched in 2007, but now supports computing power and connectivity thousands of times greater than the original version.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same may well be true of AI. The price of a unit of electricity may not change very much, but it will buy you an awful lot more. Nor should we underestimate the power of AI to help mitigate energy demand across the board, by for instance optimising grid utilisation or enabling the invention of new, energy saving technologies, says Jackson.

I have to say that I was astonished when I first came across government forecasts suggesting that overall UK energy usage wouldnt be much higher by 2050 than today, even on a high growth scenario, and found them almost as fanciful as Ed Milibands promise that household fuel bills would on average be 300 cheaper by 2030 than now.

Had the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) not noticed the mushrooming of data centres across the land? Had it never heard of AI? Surely theyd made a mistake?

But actually, DESNZs guess is as good as anyone elses, and is probably closer to the mark than those who have failed to take account of likely exponential efficiency gains in AI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These can of course create their own demand and therefore outrun the efficiency-driven growth in supply. But thats not been the experience of most recent, service based, technological innovation. What is essential is that the Government allows a more market-driven approach to where the new data centres are built and the price they pay for their energy.

The Government is desperate for growth. The further deregulation of energy prices and supply would be a good place to start.

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.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump are expected to meet next week in Washington, making him the first foreign leader to visit to the White House since Trump returned to office.

The White House confirmed Netanyahu had accepted the invite for the Feb. 4 meeting.

Netanyahus visit comes amid a temporary ceasefire deal in Gaza, struck just as former President Biden was leaving office, between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. The agreement, which Trump and Biden both took credit for, brought a pause in fighting to the more than 15-month war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a letter from the White House, Trump said he looks forward to discussing how the U.S. can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and how they can work together to counter our shared adversaries.

The event is also a chance for Netanyahu, who is under pressure in Israel, to remind the world that he has been supported by Trump and the U.S. through the duration of the war in Gaza, The Associated Press reported.

Netanyahu also wants to urge Trump to continue delivering military aid to Israel and to put more pressure on Iran, as the nation works to bring home the remaining hostages following Hamass initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023  which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 more taken captive.

The prime minister and Trump met last July at his Mar-a-Lago estate, as the presidents campaign ramped up.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  As President Trumps federal funding pause is temporarily paused, Las Vegans are asking how the policy could affect projects in southern Nevada should it come to fruition.

The Office of the Governor is in communication with the White House and will participate in a larger meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the potential impacts to state agencies, Lombardo said. While these discussions are ongoing, its important to reiterate that programs that provide direct benefits to Nevadans  like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Head Start  are continuing without interruption.

MORE INFO: Medicaid, SNAP, other benefits safe for Nevadans, Lombardo says

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lombardos statement went on to call the reaction to the federal funding freeze shameless political theater, promising the Governors office would provide timely, accurate, and correct information.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced a suit aimed at stopping Trumps funding freeze.

As I have stated previously, President Trump won the 2024 election and has the right to enact his policies within the bounds of the law, Ford said in a statement. I have also said, however, that when he violates the Constitution or law, I will take any legal steps necessary to protect Nevadans.

Ford went on to call the executive order unconstitutional, adding that he would defeat the President in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For their part, Clark County School District officials said no immediate disruptions were anticipated, adding that they were working with the Nevada Department of Education to assess potential impacts.

Nevada Department of Transportation officials assumed a wait-and-see approach, saying they were monitoring to determine what, if any impact, there may be on our projects and program.

Questions regarding the freeze, now on hold after a federal judge blocked Trumps effort minutes before it was scheduled to go into effect, involve the Maryland Parkway project, which relies upon $150 million in federal funds. Also in question is Brightline West, a project that is partially funded by federal grants and loans. Additionally, local non-profits could feel the effects of the freeze.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to reports of the federal aid freeze affecting Medicaid payments Tuesday, saying that the White House was aware of the Medicaid website portal outage but had confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We expect the portal will be back online shortly, she 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 KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada is officially the most TikTok-obsessed state in America, according to new data from an influencer marketing agency.

A study from Socially Powerful used Google Keyword Planner to analyze 30 popular TikTok-related keywords, including TikTok, TikTok app, TikTok store, and download TikTok, in each state relative to population. Search volumes were an average of 12 months.

That data showed the company which states had the most TikTok-related searches per 100,000 people, with Nevada at the top of the list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While other states in the top five had more overall searches, the number of searches across the states population showed Nevada residents were searching for the app more than other states on average

According to the study, there were 3902 TikTok-related searches per 100,000 people in Nevada, totaling 121,140 searches.

State Rank No. of TikTok-related searches per 100,000 people Total no. of TikTok-related searched State Population Nevada 1 3902 121,140 3,104,817 New York 2 3847 769,250 19,994,379 Virginia 3 3754 323,760 8,624,511 New Jersey 4 3576 330,700 9,249,063 Florida 5 3517 760,840 21,634,529 California 6 3491 1,373,760 39,356,104 Washington 7 3437 264,250 7,688,549 Georgia 8 3274 351,070 10,722,325 Texas 9 3238 946,770 29,243,342 Arizona 10 3120 223,800 7,172,282

The state with the highest total number of TikTok-related searches is California with 1,373,760.

The least-obsessed state in the country according to the data from the study is Montana, which only had 1495 TikTok-related searches per 100,000 people.

TikTok was offline in the United States for around 14 hours earlier in January 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On President Donald Trumps first day in office for his second term, he signed an executive order delaying the TikTok ban for 75 days.

The order called on Trumps attorney general to not enforce the law that banned the app while his administration determines the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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)  The Nevada Supreme Court has declined to dismiss an appeal involving the six Republicans charged after falsely claiming President Donald Trump won the 2020 election, meaning the case will proceed.

In December 2020, the group signed paperwork signaling their support for Trump in a symbolic ceremony devoid of any legal merit. Trump lost the 2020 election in Nevada by more than 33,000 votes  or 2%. The group also sent fake electoral certificates to Washington.

Only the official state ceremony that the Secretary of State oversees counts. That year, then-Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, oversaw the states elector ceremony.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2023, a Clark County grand jury indicted the six  Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald, Clark County party chairman Jesse Law, Jim DeGraffenreid, Durward James Hindle III, Shawn Meehan and Eileen Rice  on charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument, felonies that carry penalties of up to four or five years in prison

Last summer, Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus dismissed the case, citing an improper venue. The state appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court afterward. The Attorney Generals Office later filed similar charges in Carson City District Court.

Both that case and the appeal to the state supreme court remained ongoing.

In a filing Monday, three justices said the high court has jurisdiction over an appeal from a district court order granting a motion to dismiss a criminal case. The justices did not provide any further arguments regarding the specific case other than saying it appears to be a state issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The court had not scheduled any oral arguments as of Tuesday.

Trump won re-election in November against Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 46,000 votes. McDonald and Law served as Republican Party electors in November, signing the states certificate of ascertainment for Trumps win. Democrats did not hold any meritless ceremonies or submit false paperwork after Harris loss.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  For the Hagerstown area and all of western Maryland, the soon-to-be medical school at Meritus Hospital is expected to have an important impact on the region.

The newly-elected Representative to Congress was on hand Tuesday to see the progress first-hand.

Golden Mile Alliance seeks to strengthen Frederick through its dynamic cultural diversity

Maryland already has two medical schools, but both are in Baltimore. So the Meritus School for Osteopathic Medicine will serve the states western region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney has taken her oath for the new term of the U.S. House and after some Capitol Hill housekeeping, she came to see progress at Meritus first-hand.

Hospital president and CEO, Maulik Joshi, explained to McClain Delaney the projected economic impact.

When you bring a medical school and education you bring an economy, people living here, eating here, using their money here, Joshi said.

The benefit for the region resonated with McClain Delaney, who grew up on a rural Idaho potato farm.

This is really incredible, McClain Delaney said. I think whats really great about Meritus is they are investing in getting more doctors into rural Maryland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Historic downtown Hagerstown landmark is on the auction block

And McClain Delaney was impressed with the projected benefit for the region.

Its unbelievable how they have been able to channel public-private community resources together, McClain Delaney said.

Our region is making a huge impact, Joshi said. The med school is just one example.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  A newly discovered asteroid has a tiny chance of smacking Earth in 2032, space agency officials said Wednesday.

Scientists put the odds of a strike at slightly more than 1%.

We are not worried at all, because of this 99 percent chance it will miss," said Paul Chodas, director of NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies. But it deserves attention.

First spotted last month by a telescope in Chile, the near-Earth asteroid  designated 2024 YR4  is estimated to be 130 to 330 feet (40 to 100 meters) across.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scientists are keeping close watch on the space rock, which is currently heading away from Earth. As the asteroids path around the sun becomes better understood, Chodas and others said theres a good chance the risk to Earth could drop to zero.

The asteroid will gradually fade from view over the next few months, according to NASA and the European Space Agency. Until then, some of the world's most powerful telescopes will keep monitoring it to better determine its size and path. Once out of sight, it won't be visible until it passes our way again in 2028.

The asteroid came closest to Earth on Christmas Day  passing within roughly 500,000 miles (800,000 kilometers) of Earth, about twice the distance of the moon. It was discovered two days later.

Chodas said scientists are poring over sky surveys from 2016, when predictions show the asteroid also ventured close.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If scientists can find the space rock in images from then, they should be able to determine whether it will hit or miss the planet, he told The Associated Press. If we dont find that detection, the impact probability will just move slowly as we add more observations, he said.

Earth gets clobbered by an asteroid this size every few thousand years, according to ESA, with the potential for severe damage. That's why this one now tops ESA's asteroid risk list.

The potential impact would occur on Dec. 22, 2032. Its much too soon to know where it might land if it did hit Earth.

The good news, according to NASA, is that for now, no other known large asteroids have an impact probability above 1%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Ohio students' reading and math scores still haven't recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics.

The news is not good," said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, of the national picture. We are not seeing the progress that we need to regain the ground our students lost during the pandemic.

Nationwide, 41% of fourth-grade students and one-third of eighth-grade students don't read at a basic level as defined by the NCES  the worst scores in two decades. For fourth graders, that means being able to put events in order after reading a text. For eighth graders, that means understanding literacy concepts like character traits and the main idea of a story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Ohio, the results aren't much better. About 38% of fourth-grade students and 31% of eighth-grade students can't read at that basic level, according to the Nation's Report Card. That rate has been on the rise for decades, not just since the pandemic shuttered schools.

This is a major concern, a concern that cannot be blamed solely on the pandemic," Carr said of the national trend. She cited several possible reasons for the decline, including chronic absenteeism and a decline in students reading for enjoyment.

The U.S. Department of Educations National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the Nations Report Card, has monitored students progress on a variety of subjects since 1969. It is different than the report cards that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce gives schools and districts annually.

Over the past two years, Gov. Mike DeWine has overhauled how Ohio teaches students to read, focusing on "the science of reading." That method focuses on phonics and teaching students to break words down into their phonemes or sounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The average reading score for Ohio fourth graders and eighth graders hasn't changed significantly since 2022, according to the new report card. It could be too soon to tell the impact of DeWine's efforts.

Overall, these results indicate that far too many Ohio students are struggling to master core math and reading skills, said Aaron Churchill, Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. He suggested improving attendance, increasing parent involvement, including tracking children's progress, and having a laser focus on math and reading to "break through this academic malaise."

What does the Nation's Report Card say about Ohio students?

The report card offered other insights about how Ohio students are doing compared to their peers elsewhere.

Ohio's eighth grade students outperformed their peers nationally in mathematics and reading. But fourth grade scores for both subjects were on par with the national average.

Ohio students' performance in mathematics and reading hasn't improved since 2022, but it hasn't gotten worse either.

Race and economic stability impacted learning. Black fourth graders' average mathematics score was 36 points lower than their white peers in 2024, compared to a 29-point gap in 2000.

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio students' math, reading scores still lag pre-pandemic levels
Residents of the University Place area are invited to join The News Tribune to discuss issues facing their city and surrounding areas.

Pierce County government reporter Becca Most and local news editor Adam Lynn will be at the meeting room of the University Place library branch Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 5-8 p.m. The library is at 3609 Market Place W, Suite 100, University Place .

Stop by to discuss your story ideas or ask questions. Light refreshments will be served.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Despite a federal judge temporarily stopping a pause of federal grants and funds, the underlying constitutional issue remains.

Can a president override the spending authority of the U.S. Congress, which by law, has the so-called power of the purse?

President Donald Trumps budget director issued a memo ordering all agencies to pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance while the government conducts a review to ensure spending aligns with the White Houses agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That unleashed Democratic outcries and resulted in several states attorneys general suing to block the move which could stop trillions of dollars, already approved by last years congress, from flowing into the coffers of nonprofits and other groups.

Trumps decision to pause federal grants, funding receives a mixed verdict

Meghan Leonard, an associate political science professor at Illinois State University, said the days headlines were a topic in her classes on Tuesday. Congress does have the ability to appropriate money but the president also is the one who enforces the laws and spending.

Now, this doesnt mean that Congress says where every single dollar and cent goes. The federal budget is massive. But what it does mean is that Congress sets the priorities of how the money is spent, and the executive branch, under the Constitution, is to follow those preferences of Congress, Leonard said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even though Trump is not completely wiping the money from the budget  the memo calls it a review of funding  Leonard says its still not possible, legally, for the president to pick and chose what he wants to be funded.

The administrations argument that they can take a scalpel and take out pieces that they believe are wasteful or not good ways to spend money is still and absolutely as much in violation of the constitutional principles of the Congress spends the money, as it would be if theyre wiping out whole areas, she said.

While some may see it as unconstitutional, Trump and his team look to what Leonard refers to as the Take Care Clause in Article Two of the Constitution, which she says gives the president a fairly large amount of domestic power.

There is an argument to be made that it makes sense for a president to review federal spending, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She goes on however to state the presidents review of the budget is supposed to happen before its approved by Congress.

Team Trump isnt eliminating the money, they say. Rather, they are just pausing it to make sure it is inline with the presidential priorities. But is that something that can be done? Has it been done before?

Leonard says she has never seen anything like this happen, and the country hasnt seen this since 1974 when President Richard Nixon essentially tried to do the same thing as Trump.

One of the things that changed this is a very little-known act called the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which essentially changed how much presidents can alter budgets passed by Congress, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So what are the next steps?

With a federal judge temporarily blocking the White Houses move, the issue will likely result in a flurry of paper as attorneys on both sides of the aisles engage in the constitutional tussle that is likely to result.

Its highly possible the entire matter could end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court given the sweeping nature of the pause as well as the likely multitude of lawsuits that are to result.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearings to be HHS Secretary begin on Wednesday.

His ex-running mate says she'll fund primary challengers against senators who vote against him.

Nicole Shanahan, a billionaire Silicon Valley lawyer, previously helped bankroll RFK Jr.'s campaign.

Nicole Shanahan is threatening to "personally fund" primary challenges against senators who vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to be the secretary of health and human services.

"This is a bipartisan message, and it comes directly from me," Shanahan said in a video on X on Monday. "While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I won't."

Shanahan, a Silicon Valley lawyer worth more than a billion dollars, previously served as Kennedy's running mate  and helped fund his campaign to the tune of nearly $19 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy ended his independent presidential bid in August to endorse Donald Trump. In November, Trump nominated Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. His first confirmation hearing is set to take place on Wednesday morning.

"If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me," Shanahan said.

Shanahan listed 13 senators in both parties whose votes she was watching, including:

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada

Some of the Republicans that Shanahan named are seen as less firmly supportive of Kennedy, while many of the Democrats she named have been the subject of speculation that they could be won over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sanders, for instance, previously offered measured praised for Kennedy's ideas about processed foods and "Making America Healthy Again" in an interview with BI.

"When Kennedy talks about an unhealthy society, he's right," Sanders said at the time. "The amount of chronic illness that we have is just extraordinary."

Read the original article on Business Insider
South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey was overwhelmed with rage when he first saw the man he believes caused his sons suicide.

The suspect was extradited from Nigeria to the US over the weekend on charges that he targeted 17-year-old Gavin Guffey in a sexual extortion, or sextortion scheme, that led to the teens death.

The Nigerian appeared in court in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, where Brandon Guffey laid eyes on him after more than two years of fighting for justice for his son.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rage is the best way to describe how I felt, Guffey told CNN. I think I cracked molars just gritting my teeth so hard.

The man, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, 24, did not make eye contact with him, Guffey said. Lawal kept his head bowed and appeared to avoid looking in his familys direction, he said.

As part of a sextortion scheme, Lawal allegedly masqueraded as a young woman on social media and sent Gavin nude photos. He asked for similar images of himself, and once Gavin shared the photos, the suspect threatened to publicize them if he didnt pay, the Justice Department said.

Hes pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation resulting in death, distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking, interstate threats with intent to extort and aiding/abetting, according to court records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At Mondays hearing Guffey wore a black T-shirt with the love symbol <3. It represents the last text message Gavin sent loved ones on July 27, 2022, minutes before he shot himself in a bathroom at the family home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Im a roller coaster of emotions right now. I served in the house with a representative who lost his mother and sister in the Dylann Roof shootings down in Charleston. And those families were able to look at Dylann Roof and say, we forgive you, Guffey said.

I want to ask  how do you have forgiveness in your heart? Because I just dont have it. I have anger and vengeance. And every time I see my familys pain over this, it just infuriates me more.

The scammer threatened other family members after Gavin Guffeys death

The FBI arrested Lawal in Lagos last week following an extradition hearing. CNN has reached out to his court-appointed attorney for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guffey had to sign paperwork confirming he would not push for the death penalty to ensure that the Nigerian government approved the extradition, he said.

Last week, he was shocked to get a call from federal investigators notifying him that the extradition had been approved and they were on their way to pick up Lawal. Investigators confirmed his arrival in Columbia on Saturday.

It was a surprise. I knew that they had been working on the process, but extradition was not something that commonly happens with Nigeria, Guffey said. There was still that anticipation and fear until his feet were actually on US soil.

At a press conference, investigators declined to provide details on how they tracked the suspect to Nigeria or whether there were other suspects involved. Some of the court documents in the case are sealed.

South Carolina State Rep. Brandon Guffey is shown with his wife, Melissa, and their sons, Gavin, 17, Coen, 16, and Callahan, 4, in a 2022 photo. - Courtesy of Brandon Guffey

This investigation and extradition are the result of tremendous law enforcement coordination both in the United States and Nigeria, said Adair Ford Boroughs, US Attorney for the District of South Carolina. We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawal faces up to life in prison, while the charge of child exploitation resulting in death alone carries a mandatory 30-year sentence. A court may also order he pay restitution for losses incurred by the Guffey family because of the scheme.

Guffey said the scammers extortion attempts continued even after his sons death. Anyone with the last name Guffey among Gavins Instagram followers started getting messages demanding money, he said. About two weeks after his sons funeral, Guffey said he received a private Instagram message with a laughing emoji. Guffey and his younger son also got messages demanding money in exchange for not releasing Gavins nude photos.

Guffey shared the messages with federal investigators, and they took control of the social media accounts and began communicating with the scammer  which eventually helped them learn his identity, he said.

They were able to pick up the conversation as agents to where he thought that he was talking to my 16-year-old. They were able to track him down, I think through that conversation and his continued efforts of trying to extort me as well, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This was a multifaceted operation. It wasnt just one group. It started with our York County Sheriffs Department, along with our South Carolina law enforcement division, tying in with FBI and Homeland Security.

Sextortion scams targeting kids have increased in recent years, the FBI says

The FBI has warned that sexual extortion schemes are increasingly targeting underage boys and leading to an alarming increase in suicides nationwide.

At the time of his sons death, Guffey was running for state representative. After he was elected, he introduced a bill that criminalizes the type of scam that led to his sons death.

In 2023 South Carolina passed Gavins Law, which is named after his son and makes sextortion of minors and vulnerable people an aggravated felony. It also requires schools in the state to teach students about the dangers of sextortion and how to identify potential scammers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Awareness really is 90% of the battle, Guffey said. We can talk until we are blue in the face, but I dont care what type of parent you are, its very difficult to protect your children from everything.

Guffey has also sued Meta, Instagrams parent company, for wrongful death, gross negligence and other claims, saying it does not do enough to protect children like Gavin from online predators.

A Meta spokesperson told CNN last year that teen safety is a big priority for the company and that it offers dozens of resources to help its young users stay safe. Guffeys lawsuit against the company is still pending.

Guffey also is working with Cyber Dive, a company that has created a childrens smartphone with a nudity detection feature that shuts down the phones camera if male or female genitalia is detected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The phone  allows parents to see every single action that their child has taken on social media, regardless of what app theyre on, said Jeff Gottfurcht, CEO of Cyber Dive. Anything the child does using that phone is sent in real time to a parent dashboard where parents get to see it.

Guffey said he wants to make sure no other parent suffers the same loss.

My mission in life, regardless of politics or anything else, is to protect kids until the day that I die, he said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
POWELL, Ohio (WCMH)  The Weirich family has been blessed with two beautiful daughters and a faith that runs deep.

Its their faith that has gotten them through the last five years after their daughter Katelyn was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Together they show everyone what it means to be Strong Like Katelyn.

It has been an emotional roller coaster for sure these past almost five years. I mean you go from everythings fine to one day, your world is turned completely upside down, said Tara Weirich, Katelyns mother. But people often tell us Wow look at what you guys are going through and I dont know how you make it through? And where do you find your strength? 

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That strength comes from their faith and through Katelyn other people are finding their faith too, as Katelyns sister Kendall points out knowing that is a blessing to their family

I think its amazing all the people that have found Jesus because of Katelyn, all the people that have reached out to us and doing so many kind things for us, Kendall Weirich said.

Katelyn herself echoes that, I think God has done so many good things in our life and I believe that he will do more.

Watch: Buckeye quarterback Will Howard wears bracelet to honor Katelyn

She admits that some days are harder than others and says on days she is struggling she finds strength in prayer. Even now, facing the news that the cancer has spread the Weirichs remain hopeful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We just have to keep going even though it wasnt what we asked for. We just have to keep trusting in God and just keep going, said Katelyn Weirich.

One of the things that I like to always say is that its a perspective change. You cannot let the fear of tomorrow, steal the joy of today, said Katelyns father Jeff Weirich. It is literally one day at a time. You make the best decisions you can today for tomorrow, but youre ultimately not promised tomorrow.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NewsNation)  New Jersey Assemblyman Brian Bergen told NewsNation that hes dubious that drones have anything to do with Federal Aviation Administration research. Why would the FAA put  temporary flight restrictions all over New Jersey in response to the drone issue when there was no drone issue and it was of their own making?

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HIGHLAND PARK, N.J. (PIX11)  The Highland Park-based nonprofit Interfaith-RISE is scrambling to find funding.

On Friday, the State Department slashed all funding for the programs that help Interfaith-RISE support refugees during their first three months in the United States. On top of that, the Trump Administration just announced that it is pausing payouts of federal financial assistance. Its unclear what exactly this will mean for Interfaith-RISE.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The organization helps refugees resettle in New Jersey, ultimately empowering them to become self-sufficient.

We have wondered how were going to pay for food and rent, said Kaper-Dale.

Kaper-Dale said he was forced to lay off 20 people Monday and reduce 20 other positions from full to part-time.

We work hard in January, we turn in our invoices, we get paid in February for the work we did in January, said Reverend Seth Kaper-Dale, the CEO of Interfaith-RISE. Maybe weve put in a month of work by 200 people and then well find out, actually that was on our own dime. Its crisis mode right now.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump Administration said assistance going directly to individuals will not be impacted, including programs like Medicare and Welfare.

The reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

President Trump orders federal funding freeze: What it means for NYers

New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim denounced the funding pause during a press conference Tuesday in Washington.

They dont care about the collateral damage, said Kim. They care about their own. They care about their own power, and they care about themselves.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you are interested in helping Interfaith-RISE, you can do so at: interfaithrise.org/donate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Haylie Martinez, 11, left, and other students with the NDI New Mexico, perform on the Senate Floor Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. The group also danced on the House Floor earlier in the day. NDI New Mexico teaches dance to kids all across the state. (Photo by Eddie Moore / Albuquerque Journal)

Its not every day a tortoise named Beaver gets invoked at the Roundhouse  but today was that day.

In the Senate Conservation Committee, member Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Las Cruces) cited the recent rousing of her 45-pound pet reptile out of hibernation with 60-degree temperatures last weekend, as a hallmark of climate change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im using a tortoise as a gauge for climate chaos, Hamblen said. I dont have all the fancy tools that are necessary, but I think we all have the personal impact from this, one way or another.

Hamblen voted with four other Democratic senators to pass Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act out of committee, which you can read about here.

Full days left: 52

On Tuesday morning, the National Dance Institute of New Mexico shook the House and Senate floors with a dance routine before lawmakers got down to business.

Dozens of groups showed up to lobby for paid family medical leave, threading in and out of lawmakers offices and gathering in the rotunda with sponsors. House Bill 11 was referred to House Commerce and Economic Development, after it passed its first committee Monday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its been one week in session, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held a press conference about her priorities in addressing criminal penalties and how courts address competency, which you can read about here.

The House Consumer and Public Affairs remained in session as of press time and had only discussed three of the four bills on its agenda, with criminal competency still outstanding. Reps. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) and John Block (R-Alamogordo) asked dozens of questions on each bill. They received repeated warnings from Chair Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) to stop repeating questions and to stay on topic.

The committee passed three bills on a party line vote of 4-2. That includes House Bill 12, which proposed changes to the states red flag laws out of committee, after two hours of debate. Committee lawmakers also gave a pass to House Bill 26 which proposes expanding the state scalping law to expand a ticket scalping law to include state or nonprofit events. House Bill 27 which requires libraries to adopt a policy prohibiting the practice of removing books based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval, or lose out on state funds.

Bill Watch

The Senate Conservation Committee bumped its water bills and considerations of oil and gas royalty rate increases from the agenda on Tuesday. Now the water bills (read more here) are slated for early Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wednesday will have a crush of committees, and a flurry of bills and confirmations on the agenda.

House Government and Public Affairs has a bill for session length and eliminating the governors power to pocket veto. Senate Education will consider an anti-hazing bill and state-tribal schools to preserve native languages.

Senate Health and Public Affairs has Senate Bill 1 the Behavioral Health Trust Fund on its docket in the afternoon.

Run-ins

Source NM ran into Benjamin Baker, the governors public safety advisor in the hallway. In a quick conversation he said no sponsor has been identified, to carry a bill about median safety, one of the governors priorities that went nowhere in the special session last summer.

Leah Romero contributed to the reporting and writing of this article.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Jan. 28Pvt. Oscar Avery Cox and other Bataan prisoners of war endured harsh conditions during World War II, including a miles-long march through hell.

Despite the adversity, Cox and three fellow POWs decided it was worth risking their lives to protect a piece of fabric that meant more to them than life itself: the American flag.

While experiencing the 65-mile Bataan Death March in the Philippines, where the men dealt with sweltering heat and smelled death, they passed a folded American flag to one another. They moved from place to place, protecting it despite the inherent dangers they faced. After arriving at Fukuoka Prison Camp No. 17 in Japan, the group hid the flag in a coal mine they worked in, New Mexico Military Museum Director Laureta Huit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the unconditional surrender of Japan on Sept. 2, 1945, Cox, realizing the camp was abandoned, picked up the flag, went to the center of the camp, took down the Japanese flag and put up the American flag, "solidifying American victory in the minds of all his fellow POWs," she said.

The American flag Cox hoisted up at the prison camp, along with the Japanese flag taken down at the camp that Cox and the three other POWs signed, and a flag retrieved from camp commandant Asao Fukuhara's cabin, will be part of a new New Mexico Military Museum exhibit titled "Flags of Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Our Bataan Prisoners of War."

Cox's family donated the flags to the museum, and "we will display them and recognize the significance" of the sacrifices the men made, New Mexico Military Museum Foundation Board Chairman Jack Fox said.

"What we're doing is recognizing the anniversary of the end of World War II and the release of Americans who were prisoners of war," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

'Really a New Mexico story'

Cox and his fellow POWs were a part of the 200th Coast Artillery that was made up of 1,816 New Mexico National Guard members.

The whole Bataan experience is "really a New Mexico story," Fox said.

"It's a horrific story," he said, "but it's also a story of courage and the American spirit."

Along with Filipino troops, Cox and other American soldiers were defending the Bataan peninsula when it fell to the Japanese military in April 1942.

"Those soldiers fought for as long as they could," Fox said. "Finally, there was no other option there. They were out of food and out of ammo."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the Bataan Death March and their subsequent imprisonment at places such as Fukuoka Prison Camp No. 17, 829 men from the regiment died or were missing. Though they were freed in 1945, a third of the survivors died within a year from injuries or disease, according to the New Mexico History Museum.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, there will be an opening reception at the museum, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, in Santa Fe. During the event, Huit and author Hampton Sides will talk about the liberation of the Bataan prisoners of war. One of Sides' books, "Ghost Soldiers," examined the raid at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. On Jan. 30, 1945, the U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas raided a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Cabanatuan, helping free hundreds of prisoners.

Several weeks earlier, the Palawan Massacre took place in the Philippines, where 139 American POWs were killed by Japanese soldiers, according to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. This caused U.S. forces to get nervous and to "develop a sense of urgency," Huit said.

"The massacre triggered the urgency to (carry out) the raid and rescue at Cabanatuan, becoming the first significant event for the eventual release of other POWs and the end of the war in the Pacific," she said.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez on Jan. 28 held a news conference to discuss efforts the state is taking to challenge President Trump's efforts to freeze federal funding.

New Mexicos Democratic congressional delegation, governor and attorney general on Tuesday decried President Donald Trumps efforts to freeze some federal funding, with U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich characterizing the day as utter chaos, as state agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals attempted to determine the orders impact.

The federal Office of Management and Budget on Monday night announced the federal government would temporarily stop payments on a variety of federal programs as of Tuesday evening, but a federal judge stayed the order shortly before it was supposed to take effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Numerous Democratic attorneys general Tuesday afternoon filed a lawsuit Monday against the federal government, including New Mexico AG Raul Torrez, who described Trumps order as unconstitutional and said it had led to a disruption of services for New Mexico residents.

Today we have received reports of people who are trying to access various programs that support everything from housing grants for tribal communities to Medicaid disruptions and even an inability to access the funding portal for Head Start, Torrez said. That being said, Torrez said his office is still trying to understand the full scope of the order itself. The language that was used in the memorandum that was issued by the Office of Management and Budget was extraordinarily vague.

NMDOJ also launched a portal Tuesday for programs impacted by the federal freeze to report the impact.

Michael Coleman, communications director for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, said in a statement the governor is actively coordinating with the Attorney Generals office, state lawmakers, the New Mexico congressional delegation and officials in other states regarding President Trumps executive orders and other actions in recent days. Our initial assessment indicates serious constitutional concerns that require immediate attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor understands that these developments may cause uncertainty and anxiety. She wants New Mexicans to know that she is committed to advocating for them and protecting their interests. We are thoroughly reviewing these orders and their implications for our state. The Governors Office will provide a more detailed response and outline next steps in the very near future.

The five Democratic members of the states congressional delegation also held a news conference during which they responded to concerns about the impact to the states tribal communities, Medicaid recipients and Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire funding, among other recipients of federal funds.

According to Marina Pina, director of communications for the New Mexico Health Care Authority, the states Medicaid portal for provider claims submissions is fully functional. We want to reassure New Mexicans that services such as Medicaid, SNAP and other critical programs remain operational and available to those in need, Pina wrote to Source, noting that the agency recognized the OMB memo created concern among the public and healthcare providers. As more information is disseminated, the Health Care Authority is closely monitoring developments and assessing the situation. OMB has clarified that programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, funding for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and similar initiatives will continue without interruption.

That being said, Heinrich said today the delegation had heard early in the morning that the Medicaid portal that handles reimbursements was not responding. Noting that the delegations phones were literally ringing off the hook all day, Heinrich went on to describe the OMB memo as Project 2025 in action, in which the president unilaterally decides who receives funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And whats really terrible about this is there are just so many New Mexicans who were thrown into complete and utter chaos today, and their lives were completely upended so that somebody in the White House can try to takethe responsibilities that belong to Congress, and take them away and have all of that power concentrated in the White House. They are breaking things, and they are hurting people, and we got the brunt end of that the entire day today.

Both Heinrich and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan described conflicting reports on funding connected to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, who represents the 3rd congressional district, said should not be impacted in terms of direct funding to individuals.

We drafted it that way so that it would not be subject to any other clawback provisions, she said of the federal aid designated for fire victims. None of that should apply. But once again, even though that is the law, we need that clarification from the agency.

Lujan said he had asked for clarification on Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon funding today, and I also asked for the claims office to make a public statement to provide certainty to all of the families in the community who were hurt by these fires. And Im concerned that theres not been a public statement that Im aware of yet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who represents the 1st Congressional District, noted that New Mexico is certainly one of the most federally funded and federal agency-heavy states in the United States, including more than 20,000 federal employees and over 14,000 active duty military serving in New Mexico. We also have one of the highest proportions of veterans in the United States, she added. The attacks that are happening on our federal agencies are going to have huge impacts on New Mexico, and we are absolutely going to fight back against them every step of the way.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
TUPELO  With the end of qualifying just days away, Lee County Democrats have not put forth candidates for any of the seats not currently held by incumbent Democrats in Tupelos municipal election, and Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan faces no competitors on either side of the isle.

As of Tuesday, no Democrats have qualified to run in elections on the City Council in Wards 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6. Likewise, no Democratic candidates have qualified to run against the current mayor.

Jordans predecessor, Jason Shelton, was a Democrat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Matt Kinkennon took over as the chair of the Lee County Democratic Party last May after longtime chair Jim Newman stepped down. Newman decided not to run for reelection for the position.

While Kinkennon noted he wasnt privy to every discussion in the county, he has not heard of anyone looking to run for Tupelos mayoral seat as a Democrat.

We dont have anybody that is going to run for mayor this cycle, Kinkennon said, noting that the local party is looking to boost involvement in the party. The main thing is trying to cultivate candidates. There are a lot of people active in the community.

Other sources said they had not heard of any Democrats or potential independent candidates interested in running for the mayorship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The final day to qualify for municipal elections is Jan 3. If Jordan, Ward 1 Councilman Chad Mims, Ward 3 Councilman Travis Beard and Ward 6 Councilwoman Janet Gaston remain unopposed by the end of this week, their names will go on the ballot by themselves, all but guaranteeing their victories.

Meanwhile, Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis and Ward 7 Councilwoman Rosie Jones  the lone Democrats serving on the City Council  both have Democratic opponents but no Republican opponents. Davis will face Alexandra Mercedes Copeland, 31, and Brenda DePriest, 72. Jones will face former incumbent Willie Jennings.

Neither Davis nor Jones had Republican or independent opponents in 2021, securing their sets in the primary election.

Lucas Berryhill, 64, qualified for Ward 2, making Bryan the only Republican incumbent to face a challenger.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lone seat remaining without an incumbent is Ward 5, where its Republican Councilman Buddy Palmer chose not to run for reelection. Instead, three Republicans will vie for the seat: Steven J. Coon, Mike Horton and Bentley Nolan. No Democrats have qualified to run for the seat.

Kinkennon said while there may not be candidates for the Democratic party against incumbent Republicans this cycle, he believes there is a large untapped population of Democrats in Lee County. He believes the issue is that many have become disaffected by politics in general. He added he believes multiple seats will remain viable for Democratic candidates in the future.

We have a great base of support here; it is just a lot of work grow that, he said, adding that getting a candidate elected isnt just about a suitable candidate but also energizing grassroots support.

Races in which candidates have no opponents will be decided during the April 1 primary election. For contested races with no clear winner during the primary, a runoff election is scheduled for April 22.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the 2021 election, all but Ward 4 and Ward 7 had candidates from both parties.

The general election will be held on June 3. Unlike presidential, state and county office terms, most municipal terms begin on July 1.

Attempts to reach Lee County Republican Party Chair Jimmy Stephens for comment were unsuccessful.
Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, appointed by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump to lead his administration's cost-cutting program, found himself at the center of controversies linking him and his family to Nazism in January 2025. On Jan. 20, for example, during a speech at Trump's inauguration celebration, Musk made a gesture that some interpreted as a Nazi salute.

Following this event, a rumor spread on social media that Musk's grandparents actually belonged to the Nazi Party. "Errol Musk talks about Elon's maternal grandparents, who were members of the Nazi party in Canada and later moved to South Africa because they supported the Apartheid regime," one X post (archived) read, reaching over 3.7 million views.

They used to support Hitler.



Errol Musk talks about Elons maternal grandparents, who were members of the Nazi party in Canada and later moved to South Africa because they supported the Apartheid regime pic.twitter.com/dqy3wd0Efy  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 20, 2025

The rumor wildly spread on social media platforms including Reddit, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In short, while it's well-documented that Joshua Haldeman, Elon's maternal grandfather, was involved in controversial movements and political parties, there is no direct evidence that Haldeman or his wife were members of the Nazi party or associated with the Nazi movement in Canada. There's also no conclusive evidence to corroborate the related claim that the reason Musk's grandparents moved to South Africa was "because they supported apartheid," the racial segregation policies embraced by that country's white minority government.

As of this writing, neither Elon Musk nor his mother, Maye Musk, had commented on these allegations. Snopes reached out to their representatives for a comment, and this article will be updated if a response is provided.

Source of the Claim: Errol Musk's YouTube Interview

The claim in question stems from an interview conducted by YouTuber and podcast host Macgyver Mukwevho with Errol Musk. This interview premiered in November 2024 under the title: "EPISODE 613 | ERROL MUSK On Growing Up in SA, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Dating Step Daughter, Ex Wife's."

The discussion about Musk's maternal grandparents begins around the 52:46 mark:

Below is a transcription of Errol's remarks regarding Maye Musk's parents:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her [Maye Musk's] parents by the way were very fanatical in favor of apartheid. This is quite interesting. Her parents came to South Africa from Canada because they sympathized with the Afrikaner government. They used to support Hitler and all that sort of stuff. But they didn't know, obviously, I don't think they knew what the Germans, the Nazis were actually doing. In Canada, they were part of the Nazi, the German party in Canada, and they sympathized with the Germans.

Errol Musk elaborated further, saying: "when the Afrikaner's government came into power here in 1948, then Maye's father [...] said he wanted to be with the Afrikaners because he agrees with apartheid."

We have reached out to Errol Musk for a clarification on his comments.

No Direct Evidence Elon's Grandparents Belonged to Nazi Party

There is no direct evidence to support the claim that Elon Musk's maternal grandparents, Joshua N. Haldeman and Winnifred "Wyn" Josephine (Fletcher) Haldeman, were "Nazi party members in Canada," nor that they moved to South Africa "because they supported apartheid."

In a memoir titled "A Woman Makes A Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success," Maye Musk explained that her parents moved away from Canada in 1950 because, "They met missionaries who had been to South Africa, who had told them how beautiful it was."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the other hand, in a biography of Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson wrote that Haldeman immigrated to South Africa because he was disillusioned with the Canadian government's growing control over individual freedoms: "With his quirky conservative populist views, Haldeman came to believe that the Canadian government was usurping too much control over the lives of individuals and that the country had gone soft. So in 1950, he decided to move to South Africa, which was still ruled by a white apartheid regime."

Scott Haldeman, Elon Musk's uncle, in an article titled, "Joshua N Haldeman, DC: the Canadian Years, 1926-1950" published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, said, "Joshua gave a number of reasons why he decided to leave Canada," concluding that "the primary reason for the relocation to South Africa may have been his adventurous spirit and the desire for a more pleasant climate in which to raise his family."

In a New Yorker article, titled, "The World According to Elon Musk's Grandfather," professor of history and law at Harvard and journalist Jill Lepore wrote that "Haldeman was a pro-apartheid, antisemitic conspiracy theorist who blamed much of what bothered him about the world on Jewish financiers."

Lepore told us via email that she discovered Haldeman's political writings from Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, in 1960 and 1962 in an archive in 2023. "I do not claim, nor have I seen any evidence, that Haldeman was affiliated with the Nazi Party," she stated, explaining that she does "not claim to have researched Haldeman's biography exhaustively and have not seen his private papers or interviewed people who knew him." She said documentary evidence, including newspaper accounts and Haldeman's own writings, shows he was a leader of both the Technocracy movement and the Social Credit Party in Canada. "In South Africa, he was an ardent defendant of apartheid," Lepore wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Similarly, in an article for the Atlantic, titled, "Elon Musk's Anti-Semitic, Apartheid-Loving Grandfather," Joshua Benton, journalist and founder of Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University, described Haldeman as a radical conspiracy theorist with racist, antisemitic, and antidemocratic views.

Benton also uncovered excerpts from Haldeman's self-published 1960 book, where he wrote about his belief that South Africa could become the "leader of White Christian Civilization," portraying the country as a bulwark against "anti-Christian, anti-White forces."

We have contacted both Isaacson and Benton for additional comments and will update this report with any responses we receive.

In the past, we investigated other rumors regarding Musk's family, including a story about Musk's father once owning an emerald mine and viral claims that Errol had two children with his stepdaughter.

Sources:

"Article Clipped from Star-Phoenix." Star-Phoenix, 22 June 1940, p. 3. newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/132137908/.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"---." Star-Phoenix, 22 Feb. 1947, p. 12. newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/131831429/.

Benton, Joshua. "Elon Musk's Anti-Semitic, Apartheid-Loving Grandfather." The Atlantic, 21 Sept. 2023, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/09/joshua-haldeman-elon-musk-grandfather-apartheid-antisemitism/675396/.

Christensen, Laerke. "Elon Musk Said the AfD Can 'Save Germany.' Here's What We Know About the Political Party." Snopes, 23 Dec. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/12/23/musk-afd-germany/.

---. "Yes, Elon Musk's Father Has 2 Kids with His Stepdaughter." Snopes, 19 Dec. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/elon-musk-father-kids-stepdaughter/.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Getahun, Hannah. "Elon Musk's Grandfather Belonged to a Political Party That Believed the World Should Be Governed by Technology. Newspapers at the Time Described It as Having 'the Tone of an Incipient Fascist Movement.'" Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/who-was-elon-musk-grandfather-joshua-haldeman-technocracy-incorporated-party-2023-9. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

"Jill Lepore." Harvard Law School, https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/jill-lepore/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Keating, Joseph C., and Scott Haldeman. "Joshua N Haldeman, DC: The Canadian Years, 1926-1950." The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, vol. 39, no. 3, Sept. 1995, pp. 17286. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2485067/.

Liles, Jordan. "What We Know About Elon Musk and the Emerald Mine Rumor." Snopes, 17 Nov. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//news/2022/11/17/elon-musk-emerald-mine/.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Social Credit Party (Socred) | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Social-Credit-Party. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Technocracy | Modern Movement, Social Engineering & Scientific Management | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/technocracy. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Walter Henry James Musk (1917-1986) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Musk-35. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Winnifred Josephine (Fletcher) Haldeman (1914-2012) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fletcher-11358. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, it turns out that Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitts outlandish claim that the U.S. government was about to spend $50 million on condoms for Gazans was a lie.

During a White House press briefing Tuesday, Leavitt appeared defensive and struggled to answer questions about Donald Trumps freeze on federal grants and loans that caused widespread chaos. The freeze immediately affected essential government services such as Medicaid and Head Start. (A brief administrative stay has paused this until next Monday.)

Leavitt ended up offering an excuse for the sweeping order that didnt make much sense at all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza, Leavitt claimed. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on: being good stewards of tax dollars.

If that doesnt sound true, its probably because its not, according to The Guardian.

A September report from USAID for the fiscal year 2023 (the most recent year for which there is available data) found that USAID spent $60.8 million on contraceptives and condoms, with only $7 million of that going toward condoms specifically.

None of those condoms went to Gaza, and in fact, USAID didnt distribute condoms anywhere in the Middle East. Just one small shipment of oral and injectable contraceptives was sent to Jordan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So it would be unlikelyno, impossible, for Leavitts outlandish claim to be true.

It seems that as one of Trumps lead propagandists, Leavitt has already taken up one of his favorite tactics: making stuff up on the spot when backed into the corner. The problem is that people actually believe it. Especially when people such as Elon Musk and Jesse Watters boost the obvious lies.

Musk posted a video of Leavitt on X Tuesday, saying her baseless claim was the tip of iceberg. On Fox News that night, Watters claimed that Hamas was making condom bombs.

Look it up! Its a dual-use technology! Watters cried.
Jan. 29princeton  Lack of jurisdiction due to a lack of countywide zoning was a topic Tuesday when an asphalt plant's proposed move to a Princeton-area community was discussed before the Mercer County Commission.

Residents of Greasy Ridge Road spoke Tuesday before the Mercer County Commission about a proposed asphalt plant coming to their community. The discussion soon turned to the county not having any zoning ordinances preventing such businesses from setting up next to residential areas.

County Commission President Bill Archer said that the majority of the residents' concerns were out of the commission's jurisdiction. On the matter of possible pollution, the EPA, which has strict air quality requirements, would be regulating the asphalt plant's emissions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Any kind of entity which sends waste into the air is regulated by the EPA and also by the (state Department of Environmental Protection,) Archer said. The EPA is strict about air emissions.

Previous county commissions have met a lot of public opposition whenever they tried to create countywide zoning regulations, Archer said.

"I think since we have a lot of farm property and people who raise hunting dogs and things like that, they're very vocal about their opposition to any zoning," he said.

With no zoning ordinances, the commission does not have any jurisdiction over property in the county, Commissioner Greg Puckett said. Property owners can build pig farms, chicken processing plants or salvage yards next to the county's residential areas if they wish to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As far as what an independent owner wants to do with their property, if they have the ability to buy a particular piece of property, they can do whatever they want," he said.

Puckett said he understood the proposed asphalt plant would be moved to give it better highway access and that it would be made with new components meeting present EPA air standards.

"And here's the other thing. We do not have authorization over what a company chooses to do," Puckett said. "We don't. And as much as I think there should be an opportunity to zone things in the proper order because that would make things more beneficial for everyone, we don't have that authorization right now. If we did, things would be a lot easier because as in other states, other areas, you can go from here to Blacksburg (Va.) and you can see things are laid out in a desired order where you have industrial, residential, to zone these things out properly."

One example of what lack of zoning could cause is at Exit 14 off I-77 near PikeView High School and PikeView Middle School. The intersection is a prime development opportunity with a lot of flat space, but there are not enough adequate sewer, water or electric utilities, Puckett said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If a business goes in and says it's enough for me and it puts it (new facility) in across from the Gardner Center  there is a property there for lease or sale now  that particular property could hinder additional opportunities within that area," Puckett said. "All other ideas could go by the wayside."

Currently the county does not have a registry of business properties, Puckett said. The county learns about them later through the West Virginia Secretary of State's website for taxation.

"We don't have a way to know when a business moves in until they put a sign on the door," he said. "That's where we are. It's not acceptable. I agree, that's not acceptable. I can assure you of that. There are tons of ATV locations popping up every day and we do not know they exist and they don't pay proper taxes."

"That's where we are. I don't know if there's a way we can fix the Greasy Ridge project," Puckett said. "I understand where you are, I'm so sorry, but I don't think there's a way to fix it."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Property owners along Greasy Ridge told the commission how the proposed plant could harm their livelihoods.

"We have over 50 colonies of bees, 2.5 million bees in our area. Two point five million. That's more than every resident in the state of West Virginia," said Kristal Filipek of Greasy Ridge. "And we have an asphalt plant that comes in and deteriorates the pollination, the nectars these bees are going to captivate to produce honey. We produce over 3 tons of honey. That's over 6,000 pounds of honey last year. I know that doesn't make a hill of beans to most people, but it does to us. It does to our consumers."

County Commissioner Brian Blankenship, who was elected last year after former Commissioner Gene Buckner decided not to run for reelection, said that until he started serving in January he had "no earthly idea" the county was so far behind in zoning. Blankenship, who works for the city of Princeton, said he has seen zoning work.

"I do have a strong municipal background working for the city of Princeton for over 16 years. I've personally seen where code enforcement, zoning, if done right, it helps situations like this," Blankenship said. "I was completely appalled when I took over and now learning how the county sits, my mind is just blown that we are behind the times when you can go 25 minutes up north into Raleigh County and they're 90% developed with utilities. We're at 60 some percent."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About eight to 10 years ago Puckett brought up the zoning issue, the county commission had to hold hearings in a courtroom because so many people arrived to speak out against the idea, Blankenship said.

"And it was pandemonium because we brought up the Z-word," he said, adding, "That's why we need you to stand up and help fight this fight."

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
By Helen Coster and Nathan Layne

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans starting on Tuesday, a sweeping decision that could disrupt funding for education, healthcare, poverty programs and a host of other initiatives that depend on federal dollars.

The National Council of Nonprofits, along with other allies, filed a lawsuit over the directive on Monday, and a federal judge ordered the Trump administration not to block funding to existing programs until a hearing on Feb. 3.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here is how some nonprofits and affiliated groups are reacting to the Trump administration's order:

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS CEO DIANE YENTEL

"This order is a potential five-alarm fire for nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve."

"From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to halting food assistance, safety from domestic violence, and closing suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives. This order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ASSOCIATION CEO CLARE COLEMAN

"Yesterdays federal funding freeze threatens the nationwide network of health centers that rely on these resources to provide family planning services to people with no or low incomes."

"Even a temporary funding pause could cause significant disruption to clinic operations, jeopardizing patients access to contraception, cancer screenings, STI and HIV services, and other essential reproductive health care."

"For many patients, Title X-funded health centers serve as their sole source of health care. The Title X family planning program is already chronically underfunded, and this executive action risks destabilizing a health provider network that is already operating under immense strain. These funding disruptions could push some health centers to the brink of closure, leaving vulnerable patients without access to the care they need."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LEWIS & CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM

Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, a nonprofit provider of water to parts of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, is counting on federal funding to complete the final phase of a water treatment plant being built at a total cost of $104 million.

Troy Larson, the nonprofit's executive director, said he was hopeful they would soon be given approval to draw down on already appropriated funds for the project, as it does not appear to be the type of spending targeted by the pause.

"Based on everything we've read. We are not a target," Larson told Reuters. "But we don't know how long this will last, and in the meantime we have to figure out how to pay our contractors so that construction can continue."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Larson said a stop to funding lasting several months could force it to seek a line of credit or use its reserves to keep the contractor working, measures that would increase its costs. A prolonged freeze would be "extremely problematic," he said.

CLEVELAND CLINIC

Cleveland Clinic, a world-renowned research and medical center in Ohio, said it was monitoring the situation closely. Roughly half of the nonprofit's $303 million in external grants came from federal sources in the 2023 calendar year.

"Research is a crucial component of Cleveland Clinics mission. We are actively monitoring actions related to federal funding and assessing potential impacts. Current research projects are continuing at this time," it said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MEALS ON WHEELS

Meals on Wheels America spokesperson Jenny Young said it was unclear how the directive would impact their programs given that the law governing grants for senior nutrition programs sends funding through states onto community-based groups but does not give food money directly to individuals.

If OMB's order does include the Older Americans Act, it could "halt service to millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals," Young said.

The uncertainty is "creating chaos" for community entities providing meals, "which unfortunately means seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from," she said, adding that "local providers don't have the ability to absorb a blow like this."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HEAD START

Head Start grant recipients are currently not able to draw down any funds, according to the nonprofit organization, which provides early childhood education to low-income children.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, said that the order "has the potential to severely disrupt the ability for Head Start programs to serve nearly 800,000 children and their families nationwide."

(Reporting by Helen Coster and Nathan Layne; Editing by Frank McGurty and Jamie Freed)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Tuesday, the federal government tried to pause all federal grants and loans. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze that had local nonprofits and small businesses looking for answers.

The White House freeze will put trillions of dollars in limbo, affecting everything from health care research to money for charities. Small businesses and state government programs are bracing to temporarily go without government funds.

10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a memo from the Executive Office of the President, during the pause, federal agencies will take a closer look at where the money is going. And to make sure it supports the Presidents priorities, which include ending wokeness and making the government more efficient.

Emilys Hope, a nonprofit started and run by Angela Kennecke, relies on donations and grant money to complete its mission of saving lives and removing the stigma of substance use disorder.



We know we have to have programs in place to reduce substance use. And this is bipartisan this isnt something that is Democrat or Republican this is something to save our kids and its needed and we want to do it we have the ideas in place, but we have to have the funding, said Kennecke.



Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was visibly upset about the freeze and called it an unconstitutional power grab.



As we stand here today, people should think about the mom who doesnt know if she can get her kid to child care today. Or they should think about the teenager in a cancer study hoping by on hope that thats going to save his life. Or they should think about the people from Minnesota when last week, on the day of that inauguration, it was minus six degrees, who depend on heating assistance, said Klobuchar.



Kennecke says freezing the grants has sent shockwaves through the nonprofit community.

Dozens of nonprofits in South Dakota expect to feel the impact. For instance, the Compass Center in Sioux Falls, which provides support for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, is stopping its Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention program. Kennecke says she has talked with the leaders of other nonprofits and there is a lot of confusion.



Weve had a webinar canceled that was going to help guide us on some of the logistics of this grant that has been canceled so I just think as I said there are more questions than answers and that is a difficult place to be as a nonprofit that goes day by day with funding, said Kennecke.

A U.S. District Judge blocked the freeze by the Trump Administration late Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. There will be another hearing on Monday. In its lawsuit, the National Council of NonProfits says the Trump Administration is at liberty to advance its priorities, but it must do so within the confines of the 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 KELOLAND.com.
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay the village of East Palestine, Ohio, $22 million in a settlement related to its February 2023 train derailment in the community.

That derailment, and the companys subsequent handling of the event, have negatively impacted residents health and safety. This settlement is the latest in a number of agreements the company has made in an effort to repair some of the damage the derailment and burning of toxic chemicals has done to the village.

More from Sourcing Journal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a release, East Palestine said it recognizes the approximately $13.5 million in prior payments that Norfolk Southern has already made directly to the village since the derailment. Those payments, it noted, have been directed toward replacing fire and police equipment, renovating the East Palestine train depot and improving the villages water treatment facility. The company and village also underlined Norfolk Southerns $25 million commitment to upgrade East Palestine City Park.

As part of the settlement between the village and the rail company, Norfolk Southern will discontinue planning and work on its First Responder Training Center, which would have been built in the village.

The company said in 2023 it planned to invest at least $20 million in the new center over the course of 10 years, and that it would operate the facility at no cost to the village or its taxpayers. It would have hosted firefighters and first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and surrounding areas and provided specialized training for responding to rail and other transportation-related emergencies, the company said in 2023, when it broke ground on the facility. Norfolk Southern has agreed to train East Palestine first responders at other training centers in the region.

The company will transfer its ownership of about 15 acres of land intended for the training facility to the village for another productive use, which East Palestine officials will determine without the rail companys input.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson declined to share any further details about the settlement and did not disclose why the village and the company had jointly deemed the facility not feasible, nor whether it had plans to build a similar facility elsewhere. The mayor and village managers office in East Palestine did not return Sourcing Journals request for comment.

Norfolk Southern has poured cash into its settlements and remediation efforts in the wake of the derailment. Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found Norfolk Southern had unnecessarily invoked a vent and burn strategywhich the agency said should be a last resort that burned hazardous chemicals, without first considering other, safer removal options that could have prevented the further spread of dangerous chemical substances.

The settlement costs come on top of the cost of the companys own cleanup and recovery efforts.

In September 2024, a judge approved a $600 million settlement from Norfolk Southern to East Palestine residents. A bulk of the payments owed to residents in the settlement have been delayed by an appeal filed in an effort to discern whether the settlement amount was high enough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In May 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency said it had struck a deal with the rail company that would see it paying a $15 million civil fine, reimbursing the EPA for cleanup costs, setting up a $25 million medical exam fund for East Palestine residents, at least $25 million to monitor water quality in the area and more. In total, the settlement cost Norfolk Southern an additional $310 million, just days after the initial resident-focused settlement had been reached.

Despite the payouts it has agreed to make, Norfolk Southern still faces other pending legal action related to the derailment.
JUNO BEACH  The largest house in Juno Beachs history is set to rise along its beachfront, even as some residents expressed concern over its scale and fear at the effects it might have on sea turtles.

Boris and Natasha Ivanov will demolish two houses along Ocean Drive south of the Juno Beach Pier and build a nearly 15,000 square-foot mansion in its place.

Opponents say its proposed swimming pool would sit too close to the beach for comfort and disturb the habitat loggerheads, leatherbacks and green turtles rely on to lay their eggs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Town planners said the house must receive state approvals before work can begin. The project's agent also assured the Town Council on Jan. 22 that the Ivanovs would do nothing to harm the animal Juno Beach uses as its trademark.

We are for the sea turtles, Leslie Thomas said. We are supporters.

The project won the approval of a divided council. Two of its five members, DD Halpern and Diana Davis, voted no, saying the home's size would keep it out of harmony with the rest of the 700 Ocean Drive neighborhood.

Resident: Juno Beach mansion 'opens gates' for turtle habitat destruction

The 700 Ocean Drive neighborhood is made up of 10 luxury homes built in the 1990s. The largest in the neighborhood  one of the homes set for demolition  is nearly 8,000 square feet. It sold for $4.4 million in 2010. The house next to it, also heading for demolition, sold for $7.1 million in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its owner Boris Ivanov is a Russian mining executive who also owns property in Manhattan, according to The New York Times.

Five residents spoke against the plan at the council meeting, with one warning that the Ivanov's project would "open the gates to coastal redevelopment and habitat destruction."

The image of Juno Beach is a sea turtle. How is there a project on the table that could encroach on their habitat? Natasha Duarte, who lives across the street from the site, said in comments submitted in writing.

2024 brought nearly 15,000 sea turtle nests along the 9.5 miles of beach front from Juno Beach to Tequesta, according to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. That was down from 2023's record of 25,025 nests, the most the Juno Beach-based center has counted since it opened in 1983.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How Juno Beach is growing: 40 million-dollar townhomes coming to town's main intersection

'The turtles do not object to it': Juno Beach council votes to OK house

716 Ocean Drive, left and 714 Ocean Drive in Juno Beach, FL, Fla., on January 28, 2025.

Stephen Mayer, the town's principal planner, told council members the pool will not impede the beach, dune system, mangroves or other natural resources such as marine and wildlife habitats.

The mansion would be built in old Florida style, Mayer said. The two-story home would feature a spa, home theater, elevator, swimming pool, fireplace and outdoor barbecue areas. A letter from the neighborhood's homeowners association said eight of the 10 property owners supported the Ivanov's project.

The 'Palm Beaching' project: Wealthy newcomers changing family-friendly northern Palm Beach County

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One yes vote came from the newest town council member John Callaghan, an engineer by training. He took the projects agent through several minutes of questions before joining Mayor Peggy Wheeler and council member Marianne Hosta in voting to approve.

"As far as I know, the turtles do not object to it. Sea turtles are very resilient animals," Hosta said. "I like letting people use their property rights as long as it doesn't interfere with other people's safety or concerns or wishes. In this case, the neighbors are OK."

Sign up for our Post on Jupiter weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday!

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Juno Beach OK's town's largest beach mansion amid sea turtle concerns
A bill approved by the North Dakota House Jan. 28, 2025, would exempt the state from daylight saving time. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakotans would no longer need to change their clocks for daylight saving time under a bill approved Tuesday by House lawmakers.

The House voted 55-37 to approve House Bill 1259, which would keep the state on standard time year-round. The bill does not affect time zones.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Desiree Morton, R-Fargo, said legislators heard testimony in support of the bill that pointed to adverse health effects of changing clocks twice a year.

Rep. Desiree Morton, R-Fargo. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)

These changes can take several weeks to adjust to and often put parents and kids into a sleep debt, causing mental and physical fatigue, especially the parents, Morton said.

She also referenced a national poll that shows growing support for eliminating daylight saving time.

Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, said construction workers often start work early in the summer to avoid the heat, and eliminating daylight saving time would make work safer by providing more daylight early in the morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ruby also pointed out that North Dakotas neighbor to the north, Saskatchewan, is on standard time year-round.

Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, said he opposed the bill after talking to a farmer who said the change would make it harder to get people to come to work early in the mornings.

Rep. Bernie Satrom, R-Jamestown, said he doesnt like the proposal because he enjoys having an extra hour of daylight in the summer to play with kids and grandkids in the evening.

North Dakota lawmakers have previously considered similar bills, most recently in 2021, when the proposal was defeated in the House.

The bill advances to the Senate for further consideration.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Erin Hemme Froslie

North Dakota Monitor

Researchers are digitizing historical records from a Native American boarding school in Bismarck, aiming to bring information closer to the communities affected by its existence.

Theres a hunger to understand this part of our history, to better understand the boarding school era, said Prairie Rose Seminole, who is part of the team working on the project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Bismarck Indian School operated from 1907 to 1937. Most of its students came from Native American reservations in North Dakota. Its records, however, are in the National Archives in Kansas City, Missouri, 600 miles away.

The collection includes boxes of financial records and reports, official correspondence, personnel and staff information, and student records and correspondence. Each piece reveals something about the residential boarding school experience, researchers said.

Until they are digitized, few people whose relatives attended the boarding school have access to the information.

Its been emotional to uncover these stories, said Seminole, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and project coordinator with Northern Plains Heritage Foundation. Some people in our communities arent aware of their (ancestors) experiences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dakota Goodhouse, an instructor of Native American studies at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, has traveled to Kansas City twice to view and scan the collection. He has also written and presented research on the boarding school.

His research has found that the school was well-run in its early years. In its later years, however, a superintendent refused to take action when local soldiers camped near the school and induced female students to sneak out after dark. This same administrators wife also snatched children from reservations without notifying their families and forced them to attend the school.

Every time I have walked away with this heavy feeling of responsibility to share the stories, Goodhouse said. I want people to see these documents for themselves.

Even the language different parties use in correspondence sheds light into how the school was viewed. Goodhouse, a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said that in letters students often refer to the school as jail while staff and administrators refer to it as a playroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its necessary for us to see those differences in perspective, he said.

Seminole spent much of her time in the archives scanning receipts and invoices. She was surprised by how many businesses in the Bismarck area served as vendors to the school, especially during and after the Depression.

There are a number of businesses that survived because of huge government contracts with the school, she said.

Both Seminole and Goodhouse were struck by how many names they recognized as they filtered through records.

When he was a child, Goodhouses grandmother took him to the site of the Bismarck Indian School, which is now headquarters for the North Dakota National Guard. His grandmother and her younger sister were students at the school. Her sister died there after falling off a swing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While scanning documents he ran across his grandmothers name on a list of Incorrigible Students. He believes her name landed on the list because of escalating tensions between her and the matron at the time.

Theres a legacy thats been omitted, Goodhouse said. We need to investigate that and share stories openly.

Seminole also identified surnames of families she knows well.

It brings up a lot of feelings, she said. What were learning is complex.

The digital work is sponsored by the Northern Plains Heritage Foundation and the Missouri Valley Heritage Alliance-Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation; and in partnership with Nueta, Hidatsa, Sahnish College, New Town, and United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The researchers said it will take numerous visits to the archives to document all the records. Then there is a question of how to reveal and share the information, some of which is sensitive and disturbing. The team is working with an advisory group to determine the best way to make everything accessible in a respectful way.

It will be a process, Seminole said. Our priorities are education, healing and respect.

North Dakota Monitor logo

This story was first published in the North Dakota Monitor
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a facility that produces nuclear material and called for bolstering the countrys nuclear fighting capability, state media reported Wednesday, as the North looks to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Kims visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Koreas nuclear arsenal, though Trump has said hes willing to talk to Kim again to revive diplomacy. Many analysts view North Korean weapons moves as part of a strategy to win sanctions relief and political concessions from the United States.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute. It didnt say where those facilities are located, but North Korean photos of Kims visit indicated that he likely visited a uranium-enrichment facility that he went to last September. That visit was North Koreas first disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the latest visit, Kim said North Korea reported amazing" results in its production of nuclear material last year and underlined the need to exceed this year's production goal to strengthen the nuclear shield of the country," according to KCNA.

Kim said that further boosting the country's nuclear counteraction posture is our invariable noble task to cope with intensifying challenges posed by hostile forces, an apparent reference to the U.S. and South Korea.

The start of Trumps second term raises prospects for the resumption of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Trump met Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over U.S.-led economic sanctions on North Korea, and Kim has since significantly dialed up weapons testing activities.

During a Fox News interview broadcast Thursday, Trump called Kim a smart guy and not a religious zealot. Asked whether he will reach out to Kim again, Trump replied, I will, yeah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Korea hasn't yet directly responded to Trump's overture as it continues its belligerent rhetoric against the U.S. along with weapons testing activities. Many experts say Kim could eventually sit down for talks with Trump and would likely think he now has greater leverage than before because of his enlarged nuclear arsenal and deepening military ties with Russia.

On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed the toughest response to what it called the escalation of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

North Korea views U.S. military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive in nature. In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program.

During the September visit to the uranium-enrichment facility, Kim stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges to exponentially" build more nucellar weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Korea first unveiled a uranium enrichment site at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex to a visiting delegation of American scholars in 2010. Many experts say the uranium enrichment facility disclosed in September was likely a different place from the one shown to the U.S. scholars.

Nuclear weapons can be built using either highly enriched uranium or plutonium, and North Korea has a facility at Yongbyon to produce weapons-grade plutonium as well. Estimates of how many nuclear bombs North Korea can add every year vary, ranging from six to as many as 18.

In 2018, a top South Korean official told parliament that North Korea was estimated to have already manufactured 20 to 60 nuclear weapons, but some experts say the North likely has more than 100.

___

Klug reported from Tokyo
MADISON, Neb. (KCAU)  A sheriff in northeast Nebraska is asking farmers and other to be on the look out for any copper wire theft.

The Madison County Sheriffs Office said in a Tuesday release that it received reports of theft of copper wires from center pivot irrigation systems.

Madison County Sheriffs Office warns residents of phone scammer

The sheriffs office is asking agriculture producers and landowners to check their system. If they notice any theft or damage, they are asked to report it. Additionally, everyone is asked to report any suspicious activity to the sheriffs office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Madison County Sheriffs Offices phone number is 402-454-2110.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Norwich  People often stand on the corners of major intersections here holding signs saying they are homeless or out of work and asking for money.

But these popular intersections for panhandling, including the junction of Routes 82 and 2 near Norwich Harbor, the small grassy area at the end of the Route 2 expressway near Backus Hospital or a downtown spot on Boswell Avenue, could soon be off limits.

The City Council is scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance Monday that would prohibit panhandling in unsafe locations as designated by the police chief. Those areas could include major intersections, medians between traffic lanes and certain areas of roads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The council's hearing on the ordinance, which is co-sponsored by Aldermen Mark Bettencourt and William Nash, members of the Public Safety Committee, is slated for 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. The council is expected to vote on the ordinance after the hearing.

On Tuesday, Sam, 51, who declined to give his last name, stood on the sidewalk at the traffic light at the end of Route 82 in Washington Square. He said this was the best spot in the city to ask people for money. He held a sign that said: Homeless, Hungry. Please Help. Anything is Appreciated.

But after three hours in the chilly wind, Sam said he only had a dollar in his pocket.

Typically he said he can stand there for six hours and take home about $13.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont think thats right, Sam said when asked about a potential ban on panhandling at the intersection. We stand here, and we hold signs, and we dont bother anybody.

Sam said he has lived in Norwich since 1979 and worked for years as a roofer. But he said he fell off a roof, broke his back and now cannot return to the job.

He said he now is sleeping at a friends house and has been couch surfing with friends from time to time.

Its hard out here, he said.

A second man, standing at a nearby intersection declined to comment earlier Tuesday.

Sam said a few fellow panhandlers have heard of the proposed ban and might attend Mondays hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposed ordinance calls for a warning for the first offense and a potential $99 fine for the second offense. But Police Chief Patrick Daley said he hopes police never need to fine anyone. Daley said the goal, along with public safety, is to direct people in need to the city and region's human services programs.

Enforcement is not the goal here, Daley said. Its compliance, and if they need help and assistance, figure out where they need to go. Norwich has a very vigorous human services network.

Norwich Human Services Director Kate Milde said she was not involved in drafting the ordinance. She said her department will meet with anyone affected to determine if they are eligible for assistance programs.

I would certainly support helping them, do a full intake evaluation, Milde said. We all work closely as department heads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daley worked with members of the councils Public Safety Committee and city Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll to craft the ordinance, which is based heavily on existing ordinances in Hartford, Wethersfield and Enfield, Daley said.

Daley and Bettencourt said the city has seen a sharp increase in what Daley called aggressive panhandling over the past two years. He said while people have free speech rights to stand on public property holding signs, at times panhandlers have disrupted traffic flow, stood in roads, blocked access to sidewalks for pedestrians and have intimidated motorists.

Bettencourt said he has experienced traffic disruptions caused by panhandlers as well.

Sam said he is aware of panhandlers who yell at drivers, tap on windows or stand in the road. He said some have addictions. But he said many do not disrupt traffic or harass drivers and are not addicts. He said he has been sober for over 20 years and worked hard for half of his life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not necessarily a blanket prohibition on all solicitations, Bettencourt said. We want to identify it and treat it as a public safety issue. Perception is a thing. We get some complaints. When we took a look at it, it was more than just perception. There are places where its not safe.

c.bessette@theday.com
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Condemned inmate Christopher Charles Lightsey was resentenced Tuesday  but his circumstances havent changed.

Judge John W. Lua resentenced Lightsey to death, the same sentenced hes been serving for decades, for the grisly murder of a 76-year-old cancer patient. The only difference was an enhancement for a prior prison term wasnt imposed due to a 2020 change in the law.

Appearing via video conference from prison, Lightsey waved papers and tried to talk over Lua, at one point saying, Youve got it all wrong. His behavior has been similar at prior hearings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emptying the fields: How did the Border Patrol operation in Kern County affect our economy?

In 1995, Lightsey, 71, was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of William Compton, whom he stabbed 42 times then stole his gun collection, a jar of coins and other items. Hes been in prison ever since.

Lightsey is a convicted sex offender  and the only person who was named a person of interest in the 1990 abduction and murder of 4-year-old Jessica Martinez. He lived in the same apartment complex as Jessica when she went missing from her front yard.

No charges were filed in that case. Jessicas murder remains unsolved.

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 News.
Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, leads a news conference highlighting 2025 priorities for teachers statewide. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The Nebraska State Education Association sought to rally support Tuesday for a package of legislation designed after a survey of nearly 10,000 teachers statewide.

Tim Royers, president of the state teachers union, joined with seven lawmakers to unveil the top 2025 priorities for the NSEA. The proposals generally seek to increase state support for teachers, such as retention bonuses, stipends for student teachers, reimbursements for school supplies and paid family and medical leave.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future, State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha said at a morning news conference.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Center, center, talks about 2025 priorities for the teachers union. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The eight bills presented Tuesday were introduced by State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Jason Prokop of Lincoln, George Dungan of Lincoln, Ashlei Spivey of Omaha and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. All are Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

Statewide teacher survey results

Royers said the legislation is part of NSEAs goal to ensure all Nebraska children get to receive a great public education, which he said often depends on highly qualified teachers.

In the fall, the NSEA received written comments from thousands of teachers, whose feedback ranged from workplace conditions to compensation and teachers plans for the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Royers said only 8% of respondents reported feeling that the Legislature takes them into account when crafting education policy, and about 11% said the state currently incentivizes them to stay in the profession.

More than a quarter of educators, Royers continued, are unsure if they want to continue teaching after this school year unless something meaningfully changes.

Candidly, educators dont really feel like they have folks in their corner right now, Royers said.

Paid family and medical leave

One of the boldest 2025 ideas, Royers said, comes from Spiveys Legislative Bill 440. It would establish an additional 0.35% payroll tax on teachers, matched by local school districts, to offer teachers six weeks of paid family and medical leave by funding long-term substitute teachers.

State Sen.-elect Ashlei Spivey of Omaha talks with State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue at a legislative retreat in Kearney on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

For a teacher making $60,000, that would amount to a monthly fee of $17.50.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For less than $20 a month out of a teachers paycheck, they would get access to a profound benefit, Royers said.

The focus of the Spivey legislation started on young women in teaching sometimes being forced to leave the profession after taking one or two months of unpaid leave because they had a child early in their career.

But the NSEA began to see other needs, too, Royers said, such as teachers who faced cancer diagnoses or teachers who waited seven years to even attempt having kids, trying to save up enough days off so they wouldnt take that hit.

No person should have to make family decisions based on when their paid leave is sufficient for them to do that, Royers said.

Student teachers and paraeducators

Juarez, a former school board member for Omaha Public Schools and former paraeducator, is seeking to create retention bonuses for paraeducators through LB 524, $1,000 for a para working an average of 28 hours per week, or proportional for a paraeducator working less.

State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Her LB 523 would establish a statewide student teacher stipend program, paying them $4,000 per teaching semester.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Juarez said the underpaid and unpaid labor that teachers are expected to offer when training for the job is extreme, which begins with student teaching.

Quality educators, she said, are sometimes turned away because the financial burden.

Another Juarez bill, LB 161, would increase how much the state pays school districts for full-time early childhood students. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature.

Currently, all school districts get about $1,500 in state aid for each K-12 student, but districts receive roughly 60% of that amount, or $900, for each early childhood student. Juarezs bill would raise that to 100% for the foundation aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Education is more likely for early childhood students to earn higher wages later on, live healthier lives and avoid incarceration, raise strong families and contribute to society, Juarez said.

Acknowledgement of teacher dedication

Prokops LB 282 would similarly seek to support teachers who pour their hearts and souls into their classrooms and students as well as their wallets, with one study indicating teachers annually pay average out-of-pocket costs on school supplies of about $860.

State Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His bill would establish up to $300 in reimbursements through the State Board of Education for qualified teaching supplies. If all of Nebraskas approximate 27,000 teachers applied for the reimbursement, the Nebraska Department of Education estimates it would cost $8.1 million annually.

The Legislatures fiscal office estimated that 60% of teachers might use the funds, which would also gain $300,000 to $400,000 in additional state revenue through increased teacher income.

While its about acknowledging that financial commitment theyve made to the students, its really more about the acknowledgment that they just really care about their kids and the students that they are teaching, Prokop said.

LB 411, from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would establish baseline retention grants for all teachers, beginning at $2,500 for teachers in years one through six of service and increasing to $4,000 for teachers in their 16th or later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future.

 State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha

Excluding high-need retention grants, Dungans program could annually cost between $66 million (if all teachers were in their first to sixth year of teaching) and $106 million (if all teachers were in their 16th year of teaching or beyond).

If all teachers received one high-need retention grant before 2028, as allowed under the bill for certain subject area endorsements, that would cost an additional $132 million.

State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

A world of difference

DeBoers LB 598 would increase state funding for school districts that provide teachers at least 60 minutes of non-instructional planning time daily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would also allow school districts to apply for additional limited English proficiency program funding, based on need, and get additional funds based on the number of students with disabilities who are on Section 504 support plans.

The last bill, LB 589, from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would allow school districts to be reimbursed for the costs of substitute teachers who cover special education teachers if they take a paperwork day to complete documentation, reporting and compliance requirements. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature. Four such days could be reimbursed annually.

Making small changes like that, that dont come with a big price tag to state taxpayers, can make a world of difference for the teachers and the children that they are serving, Conrad said.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Conrad and Royers indicated the proposed legislation is in direct response to legislation that they said would undermine teachers ability to serve kids. That includes continued efforts to divert state funds for private schools, which Conrad described as a slap in the face to voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lets be clear: Were not content to just play defense when it comes to standing up for our schools and our kids and our teachers and our incredible public education system, she said.

Already making a difference

Royers said the NSEA will also partner with State Sens. Kathleen Kauth and John Fredrickson, both of Omaha, on studies that could inform possible future legislation around alternate certification pathways for high school teachers and for high behavioral needs care facilities.

A third planned interim study would examine how to improve higher education compensation.

Royers said even with a projected budget shortfall for the state, he and senators are confident theyll find the support for proposals that are perfectly in line with the Education Future Fund that Gov. Jim Pillen carved out in 2023 to ensure continued state support for education.

Some of these bills that you just heard about today arent going to get over the finish line this year, Royers said. It might take us a few tries, but I can tell you that by simply introducing all of these proposals, its already making a difference in how educators feel in this state.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A whiteboard in the breakroom at the progressive care unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque shows the remaining staff in the unit on Jan. 17, with 13 nurses and staff who left erased. Hospital officials deny any workers left the unit due to a decision in November to double up patient rooms. (Courtesy photo)

Nurses at Albuquerques Presbyterian Hospital say patient overcrowding reached a boiling point last fall, putting staff and patients in danger as they push for new statewide limits on how many patients nurses can be assigned.

The nurses are highlighting their workplaces problems as they support a legislative proposal carried this session by Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D-Albuquerque) that would put the state Health Care Authority in charge of enforcing minimum staffing ratios.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Bill 72 awaits a hearing in the House Health and Human Services Committee. If it passes there, it will then go to the House Judiciary Committee. Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) is co-sponsoring.

There is a second safe staffing bill in the Legislature this year, endorsed by the AFL-CIO local Chavez used to lead, District 1199NM, along with the local AFT affiliate United Health Professionals of New Mexico.

Edith Elsner-Ridgeway, who works in Presbyterians progressive care unit, said in November, managers switched the unit to double occupancy rooms, aka two patients in one room. The hospital was already short-staffed, Elsner-Ridgeway said, but the doubling up made the situation worse.

Elsner-Ridgeway said after the doubling up began, the unit lost about 75% of our day nursing staff.



They were like, Ive been over this, and now this is the last straw, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lauren Rice, a relief discharge nurse and a floor nurse in the same unit, said nurses either transferred to other units, or resigned and went to different hospitals.

The reason why, everybody said the same thing: I just do not want to be a part of this. Its not safe. I dont feel like I can actually be a good nurse, like a caring nurse, Rice said.

In an email response to questions from Source NM, Holly Muller, the hospitals chief nursing officer, confirmed the unit had changed to double-occupancy rooms, but said no workers left the unit as a result.

Were not aware of anyone who decided to leave due to this temporary change, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Out of 526 licensed beds at Presbyterian Hospital, 48 are temporarily double occupancy rooms, Muller said, and management added staff and patient care equipment to the progressive care unit.

Muller said hospitals throughout New Mexico see a significant influx of patients during the winter respiratory season, and so last year they made several proactive decisions to meet the communitys needs while supporting our patients and staff.

However, Elsner-Ridgeway said the units rooms were not built for two patients. Its just not set up for successfully having two patients in each room, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elsner-Ridgeway and Rice say the practice increases the chances of infectious disease spreading in the hospital. The unit is located inside the new patient care tower built two years ago, which hospital officials touted as being built for isolating COVID-positive patients from others and to make each room a private space.

Rep. Chavez said if a unit isnt safely staffed, then infections increase, increasing the risk of being readmitted into the hospital.

I think when theyre doubling up, it creates a dangerous situation, not just for the nurses but for the patients as well, Chavez said. And it really compromises patient care.

Muller said the hospitallike others around the country supplements shortages with travel nurses, who fill about 120 shifts each week at Presbyterian Hospital.



At all times, our teams work to maintain rigorous standards around safe, effective care to prevent infection and ensure appropriate staffing, Muller said.

New Mexico Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D-Albuquerque) spoke at The Peoples March on Jan. 19 in Albuquerque. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

Overcrowding throughout New Mexico hospitals

Other hospital systems in New Mexico say they also have high numbers of patients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

UNM Hospital, also in Albuquerque, has consistently operated at patient volumes exceeding 100% of its licensed capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic reached New Mexico in March 2020, according to spokesperson Chris Ramirez.

Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe has numbers of patients well in excess of what they were even two years ago, said spokesperson Arturo Delgado.

Our overnight hospitalizations continue to run in excess of 100% occupancy on a daily basis and our clinic visits are at an all-time high, Delgado said.

A spokesperson for the other major hospital system in New Mexico, Lovelace Health System, did not respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chavez first introduced the safe staffing legislation in 2023, got it approved by two committees but could not get it to a full vote in the House of Representatives. Similar proposals have been brought to the Legislature once or twice before, she said, but they never made it past the committees.

Ramirez said UNM Hospital opposes legislation mandating hospital staffing ratios, because it would pose significant risks, including the potential closure of beds, reduced capacity to care for those in need, and limitations on accepting critical patients from across New Mexico.

Staffing ratios fail to consider the varying levels of patient acuitya critical factor in determining safe and appropriate care, he said. A one size fits all model of care undermines the flexibility hospitals need to address the unique and dynamic needs of their patients.

The New Mexico Hospital Association opposed the legislation two years ago because they said it is not the right way to address hospital staffing shortages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What the staffing ratio legislation would do would prohibit hospitals from implementing flexibility in their staffing to treat patients in an optimal manner, said Al Park, a lobbyist for the association, during a hearing on the bill at the House Judiciary committee in 2023.

Troy Clarke, the associations CEO, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment on Wednesday.

The other safe staffing proposal, House Bill 138, is being sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Cates. Sen. Leo Jaramillo will sponsor it on the Senate side, according to union spokesperson Adrienne Enghouse.

Cates bill differs from Chavezs by creating staffing committees at each hospital so that plans could be tailored to the patient and staff needs in that hospital, Enghouse said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of Wednesday, Jaramillo had not introduced his bill, and told Source NM in a text message he was unavailable to comment on it.

Nancy Novak, a semi-retired psychiatric registered nurse who has been in the field for more than three decades, supports the legislation and said nurses get frustrated when they cant care for their patients the right way.

You get burnt out when you have that many patients, and mistakes happen, Novak said. Its people were talking about  not widgets. Its not something you can go into one of the big box stores and replace.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The City Councils small Republican caucus is facing an internal crisis after half of its members contested the validity of an election for a new minority leader that took place Tuesday and elevated Staten Island Councilman David Carr to the role.

The election was called to name the chambers new Republican minority leader in light of this weekends resignation of Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli, who has for years held the post.

Only three of the GOP caucus six members  Borelli, Carr and Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov  showed up for the vote. They voted unanimously to make Carr the next minority leader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But later Tuesday, the caucus other three members  Queens Councilwomen Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino and Bronx Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato  filed a formal complaint with Council Speaker Adrienne Adams asking her to reject the results of the election.

In the complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily News, the three dissenting members wrote the vote wasnt valid as Borelli, Carr and Vernikov cannot on their own establish a majority quorum required for the election to be legitimate. They also wrote Borelli didnt provide them with adequate and sufficient notice about the vote.

The certificate is facially defective and should be declared void on its face, they wrote to the speaker.

Ariola, who spearheaded the complaint, has herself been angling for the minority leader job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reps for the speaker didnt immediately return requests for comment.

Carr pushed back and told The News that his fellow Republicans are misunderstanding the rules. He said the Open Meetings Law that sets the quorum rule isnt applicable to a minority leader vote and that he thereby gets to assume the role, as hes the most senior member of the caucus.

Because they werent there, they count as negative votes. So it was three yeses, and effectively three nos, right? Thats a tie, he said, adding that a tie result allows the most senior member to take the minority leader post. Carr also said he has already filed the certificate of the internal election with the City Clerks Office.

Borelli backed up Carr.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Where is the reference to a quorum, or even the requirement to hold a meeting of the conference for electing a leader in our bylaws? he said in a text. In terms of his colleagues complaint, Borelli added: The speaker has no role here, per the Council rules.

After nearly a decade in the Council, Borelli announced over the weekend that hes resigning at the end of this week  before his term is up at the end of 2025  to become a lobbyist for the Washington, D.C.-based Chartwell Strategy Group.

Ultimately, the role of Republican minority leader in the Council doesnt come with a lot of power.

The six Republicans are outnumbered by the Councils 46 Democrats, who are generally able to pass any legislation and budgetary measures they want without input from the GOP flank.
NEW YORK  One of Mayor Eric Adams attorneys vehemently denied Wednesday that the mayor has any plans to resign, batting down rumors that have bubbled up over the past few days as he remains hunkered down at home with a health issue.

Hes not resigning, Alex Spiro, Adams lead criminal defense lawyer, told reporters outside Manhattan Federal Court after a confidential discovery hearing in the mayors corruption case.

Completely false, Spiro added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawyer declined to discuss what came up in the closed-door court hearing, which focused on classified national security information that has emerged in the mayors case charging him with taking bribes and illegal campaign cash from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors. Federal prosecutors wrote in court papers earlier this month that since the mayors September indictment theyve uncovered additional criminal conduct he allegedly engaged in.

Adams, who didnt attend Wednesdays hearing, has pleaded not guilty and is supposed to stand trial in April. The mayor maintains he has done nothing wrong and that he plans to seek reelection this year.

Chatter among city politicos about resignation rumors picked up steam after the mayors office announced late Sunday that Adams would clear most of his public schedule this week because hes not feeling well.

The mayors office has declined to share details about his condition other than to say its not serious and that the mayor is resting at his Gracie Mansion home while undergoing routine medical screenings throughout the week.

Kayla Mamelak, Adams City Hall press secretary, affirmed the lawyers statement Wednesday afternoon.

Spiros statement sums it up best, she said.
BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  New York Citys Sanctuary status has been called into question with ICE conducting immigration raids in the Bronx.

A spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams said the Mayor was fully plugged in ahead of these raids in the Bronx. He also confirmed there was limited and legal coordination with federal authorities as it relates to one persondescribed as wanted for violent crimes like kidnapping and possession of a firearm.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice  just as we have done for years, Adams said in a statement. Our commitment to protecting our citys law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.

However, the coordination comes despite New York Citys sanctuary status designed to protect law-abiding immigrants and due process rights regardless.

Comptroller Brad Lander says he will be looking at the role the city played and continues to plan for any arrests made by ICE.

Those laws are clear, if someone has been convicted of a range of serious offenses, cooperation is appropriate, but in many cases, when they havent, Lander said. The many things that are being reported with ICE agents showing up at homeless shelters or schools in cases where people who have not been convicted of serious violent defense is more than likely to violate the citys laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman, who represents Manhattan in Brooklyn, said the raids are a slippery slope and are about far more than people suspected of violent crimes. Goldman feels they are intimidating all immigrants.

There are people who I am hearing from their scared about going to school, about going to church, getting medical care for fear of being arrested illegally, but nonetheless arrested, Goldman said.

Meanwhile, Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and South Brooklyn, cheered the beginning of the raids in NYC and more deportations beginning under President Trump.

This is a serious victory for the people of New York, who have seen criminals and foreign gang members wreaking havoc on our streets, she 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 PIX11.
New York City children who just started grade school during the pandemic are rebounding in math  but schools are still struggling to teach students how to read, according to highly anticipated data released Wednesday as part of the Nations Report Card.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, showed an 8-point increase in the average test score of a local fourth-grader in 2024, according to district snapshot reports. With the latest improvements, students are performing at about the same level as fourth-graders before the COVID years.

In 2022, the last year the test was given, fourth-grade math scores plummeted by 9 points  a record drop since the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the gold-standard exam, started collecting data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The latest NAEP results underscore the resilience of New York Citys students and educators, Chyann Tull, a spokeswoman for the citys public schools, said in a statement.

Our test scores have returned to prepandemic levels, and this stability reflects the extraordinary efforts of our schools to support learning recovery and maintain high standards for all students.

But signs of headway end there.

The latest NAEP results show how a representative sample of fourth- and eighth-graders performed in math and reading.

Apart from fourth-grade math, New York City schools failed to improve on any of the other tests  though averaged roughly the same scores as before the pandemic and in other large cities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2024, fourth-grade readers considered economically disadvantaged had an average score than was 37 points lower than their peers  a significant widening over two decades, when that gap was 18 points.

We hoped to see postpandemic improvement  but the reality is that it hasnt happened, said Marielys Divanne, executive director of the New York chapter of Educators for Excellence. We cannot afford to be passive in the face of these disparities.

On top of the disruptions to classroom time, the pandemic contributed to mental health challenges for young people. Chronic absenteeism has remained stubbornly high, with more than one-third of local students absent 10% or more in the past school year.

Average reading scores dipped by 2 points among the citys fourth-graders and 1 point in eighth grade. Neither decline is considered significantly different by NCES but continue a worrisome trend: Fewer than 3 in 10 local test-takers scored proficient  or better  in reading. (The NAEP standard for proficiency exceeds that of most state tests.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is not just a pandemic story, NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr told reporters during a briefing. Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.

The citys top education officials are trying to overhaul how the system teaches literacy, requiring community school districts to choose between one of three research-backed curricular options. While teachers are still being trained in the new methods, experts have advised the local school system to stay the course as the citys school chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, has made some tweaks to the requirement.

A similar push to standardize curriculum is also underway in math.

While there is still so much to be done, we remain committed to building on this foundation and fostering continued growth citywide, said Tull, the city schools spokeswoman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other states that have adopted the so-called science of reading before New York saw improvements in their NAEP scores. Carr cited Louisiana as doing what most states were unable to do by surpassing its prepandemic reading scores for fourth-graders.

They did focus heavily on the science of reading, Carr told reporters, but they didnt start yesterday. Theyve been working on it several years. So I would not say that hope is lost. And I would not say that we cannot turn this around  its been demonstrated that we can.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The NYPD rounded up four out of 10 suspected Tren De Aragua gang members during a raid on Tuesday.

They are accused of making money by selling guns on the streets of New York City, but they had no clue they were selling to undercover NYPD officers.

More Local News

Police said when they confronted the suspects Tuesday afternoon at a location in the Bronx, they were met with violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tren De Aragua is a violent gang from Venezuela. Police say they use social media to display their criminal enterprise and how they are expanding in the city.

PIX11 News was present during the planning and execution phase of the NYPDs buy-and-bust operation, which took place in two locations: Queens and the Bronx.

Police said it took eight months to arrest the suspects, and it started with tips from the community.

During the takedown, police recovered 30 guns, year to date, from the same gang. In total, the NYPD was able to get more than 60 guns off the streets.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has identified a concerning trend where public officials use their family members to embezzle public funds.

In its 2023/24 annual report, the EACC condemned the practice, with Chairperson David Oginde stressing that such involvement undermines families role in promoting integrity and ethical conduct.

We have noticed an alarming trend where public officials enlist their children, spouses, and other family members as proxies to siphon public funds. They establish fake companies to bid for government contracts and funnel the money into private accounts, Oginde explained.

Oginde further warned of the consequences for those involved in such practices, stating, The unfortunate reality is that when the law catches up, entire families have been arrested, which is not a good look.

EACC Recovers Ksh2.9 Billion

The EACCs annual report also highlighted its efforts in recovering assets obtained through corruption. During the 2023/24 Financial Year, the Commission reclaimed assets worth Ksh2.9 billion through 11 proactive investigations. Additionally, it filed 47 new lawsuits aimed at recovering assets valued at Ksh9.2 billion.

The EACC also handled 5,171 corruption reports, with 2,207 falling within its jurisdiction. Of these, 42% involved bribery, 13% focused on embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds, 12% related to unethical conduct, 11% addressed fraudulent acquisition or disposal of public property, and 22% were linked to other offenses.

To strengthen its efforts, the EACC conducted 145 random and targeted integrity tests across various public institutions, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Port Health Services, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), National Police Service (NPS), Ministry of Lands Registries, Kericho Referral Hospital, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya National Highways Authority weighbridges, and Nairobi City County Government.

Out of the officers tested, 130 failed, five passed, and 10 results were inconclusive. The EACC recommended administrative action for those who failed, while cases meeting criminal thresholds were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Jan. 28Odessa College has issued the following post on Facebook regarding the most recent executive order halting federal loans and grants as well as other recent executive orders that may have implications on community colleges and its students.

"We want to assure our students that we are actively working to gather more information and seek clarification on how this may impact you, including any changes to federal financial aid.

Rest assured, we are committed to keeping you informed and supporting you through any changes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Below, please see some recent executive orders and the most current information we have regarding the impact on community colleges.

 "Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs" was issued on January 27th.

 Potential Impact on Community Colleges  Federal financial aid and Pell grants are not affected, according to sources at the U.S. Department of Education. However, many other programs and grant funding will likely be impacted immediately. Currently, there is no outlined process or rubric for the review and report.

 "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing" was issued on January 20th.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 Potential Impact on Community Colleges  Any federal funding used for DEI programs and services will likely be eliminated. Federal grants and funded programs will be audited for DEI language and intent and may be rescinded. Programs that specifically support identified student populations (e.g., TRIO, Upward Bound, etc.) may be impacted.

 "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government" was issued on January 20th.

 Potential Impact on Community Colleges  Student records and data systems may require updates. Transgendered student protections in Title IX may be impacted.

University of Texas Permian Basin issued the following statement:

"We are aware of the recent developments regarding the pause in grants and loans, and we are currently reviewing the information to determine what impact, if any, this may have on UTPB. It's important to note that the federal government has clarified that Title IV funding, such as Pell Grants, Direct Loans, SEOG, and Federal Work-Study, is not affected. Our top priority remains supporting our students, and we will provide updates as we learn more."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is embracing her role as one of her partys sharpest critics of President Trump as other Democrats workshop a softer approach to him.

The squad member skipped Trumps inauguration, marking the first in a series of public back-and-forth exchanges with some of the presidents most loyal defenders on social media. After declaring that she doesnt support rapists to explain her absence, the firebrand congresswoman later directed her ire at Elon Musk for making what many Democrats perceived to be a Nazi salute while giving a political speech. Now, shes calling the early days of Trumps presidency a billionaire feeding frenzy.

Her actions come as Democrats are struggling to coalesce around a unified message against Trump just two weeks into his second term, with some high-profile figures in the party, such as Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), even opening the door to working with him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She understands the importance of being seen doing and saying something, said one progressive Democratic commentator in New York. The alternative is letting Trump suck up all the media oxygen again, and that has proven disastrous for Dems.

Instead, she has become the partys most aggressive member, the source said.

Democrats have reacted to the bullhorn of Trumps second term in a much different way from his first. Beyond being more disjointed, critics say they lack an effective counterattack. Trumps already set off a wave of actions in January that would ordinarily alarm the party out of power, but most moves have been met with sporadic shrugs. Save a few press conferences and cable news hits, Democrats seem to have lost much of their anti-Trump spark.

Ocasio-Cortez is a notable exception. In the first days of Trumps return to Pennsylvania Avenue, the 35-year-old lawmaker has dialed up her social media to blast what liberals see as his most controversial early moves, like the company he invited to sit in the front row during his inauguration and the flurry of domestic and foreign executive actions he has since put forth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For other Democrats, that vim and vigor seemed to leave the party as former President Biden transferred power to Trump. It was only on his way out that he was like, This countrys controlled by oligarchs, bye, Ocasio-Cortez told comedian and podcast host Jon Stewart about the departing Democratic president.

The word oligarch is used among activists and left-wing lawmakers, but moderates are unsure if the anti-billionaire rhetoric is right for their rebrand. Like other progressives, Ocasio-Cortez has signaled that the future of the anti-Trump movement will be won by making a distinction along economic lines. If you ask a working-class American or just any normal American, What is a Democrat? What do they stand for? they will really not be able to give you a clear answer, she said to Stewart.

While a few others in the Democratic caucus seem willing to agree, like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ocasio-Cortezs name recognition and youth has gotten her noticed for pushing the loudest as Democrats deliberate their messaging.

That rhetoric can go far on social media, but theres a lingering disappointment among Ocasio-Cortezs supporters that she wont be able to fight formally after losing her bid to become ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Multiple sources told The Hill her willingness to charge ahead against Trump amid Democratic apathy shows she could have handled that role.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most also acknowledge, however, that she may be able to break through without the rules and boundaries of congressional leadership.

Shes really come into her own and has navigated well the changing politics away from purity, but not sacrificing her fighting spirit people so loved, said a progressive campaign strategist who works closely with a left-wing member of Congress. She ran for Oversight chair, which would have made her the formal attack dog against Trump, but I dont think shes one to let titles stop her, the strategist said.

Pete DAlessandro, a former campaign organizer for Sanders who is close to some in Ocasio-Cortezs inner circle, said that she is addressing a need in the current Democratic response. I think she may be filling a vacuum she sees in terms of Dems and Trump, he said.

She also appears willing to throw the first punch. Unlike other Democrats in reaction mode, the millennial progressives early proactive style has piqued Republicans interest. And some Trump allies seem to enjoy being baited. Theres a belief in some GOP circles that she is beatable electorally, while others think her status among her deep-blue constituents would be challenging to overcome.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk, who has been one of the most visible Trump lieutenants to spar with Ocasio-Cortez, has suggested on his platform X that she is worth beating at the ballot box. She took to Instagram live last week, saying: Elon Musk can do whatever he wants behind the presidential seal, but in this country we hate Nazis. Her comments instantly angered GOP supporters who defended the tech leader after he made a gesture that to many resembled the Nazi salute. Two of the foundational things in American history are that we beat the confederates and we beat the Nazis, she said.

While some Democrats see Ocasio-Cortez as a potential future leader, Republicans and third-party politicians are also envisioning the possible slot she could fill in a deeply fractured party. Some see her most recent moves as an attempt to become more mainstream, arguing that shes trying to remake anti-Trumpism in her own mold.

Shes becoming much more establishment, said Larry Sharpe, a libertarian political consultant who ran for New York governor in 2022.

With a wide-open field for new talent ahead of 2026 and 2028, Sharpe and others are enjoying watching from the outside as she attempts to push the bounds of both parties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She has plenty of time, he said. AOC, realistically, is a wonderful VP pick.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB) rescission of its funding freeze memo was President Trumps first major loss of his second White House term.

This is Trumps first major loss. When we fight, we win. We may not have majorities in the House and the Senate, but we DO have the power to loudly educate and mobilize against the mass looting the Trump admin is attempting against our veterans, healthcare, education, and more, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a Wednesday post on social platform X, less than an hour after the news about the reversal broke.

The Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo Wednesday rescinding an order that temporarily halted all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new memo, which was signed by Matthew Vaeth, the offices acting director, was issued following a push from GOP lawmakers, The Hill reported. Since the funding freeze was instituted, Republican senators have received a number of calls from constituents and community leaders expressing concern and confusion over the loss of federal grants.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the reversal is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.

Why? To end any confusion created by the courts injunction, she said in Wednesdays post on X. The Presidents EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

Ocasio-Cortezs statement is another jab since Trumps win over former Vice President Kamala Harris in November. Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the presidents sharpest critics, going after several of his executive actions and skipping the Jan. 20 inauguration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her approach to Trump is different from other Democrats, like Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), who met with the president earlier this month at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and showed openness to working with the commander in chief.

She understands the importance of being seen doing and saying something. The alternative is letting Trump suck up all the media oxygen again, and that has proven disastrous for Dems, one progressive Democratic commentator in New York told The Hill.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Tuesday night, News 8 sat down with a survivor from the Oct. 7 attack in Israel at the Nova Festival grounds.

That day, Rom El-Hai said his life changed forever.

He came to Rochester to share his story at the Memorial Art Gallery Tuesday night. El-Hai worked in insurance sales prior to the attacks. When it happened, he said he and his friends fled into nearby fields where they took refuge in a greenhouse which quickly became a fire trap.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said once they officially escaped, his support system made all the difference.

Hamas frees 4 female Israeli soldiers in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners as ceasefire holds

It was very helpful to see how much people want to help, want to give a hand, want to support  thats our strength as a Jewish nation in hard times, he said. In hard times, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, people want to help. They dont ask for any answers, and thats one of the reasons Im here, to talk about it.

The Jewish Federation of Rochester hosted Tuesdays forum, where El-Hai shared his story once again before an auditorium full of participants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

El-Hai started a fundraiser for the victims of the Nova Festival massacre. You can find more information 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 RochesterFirst.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Two people arrested earlier this month in Odessa on child sexual assault and child pornography charges have now been placed under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. Cleyret Pacheco-Peraza and Leiwin Lara-Hernandez have both been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Possession of Child Pornography, and Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography.

According to a Texas Department of Public Safety affidavit, on December 30, 2024, a DPS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent responded to a request for assistance from Homeland Security Investigations related to a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber-tip. After investigating the tip, officials confirmed the media file in question contained sexually explicit material involving a one-year-old girl.

Investigators later learned that, while living in an apartment on Harless Avenue in Odessa, Pacheco-Peraza and Lara-Hernandez allegedly recorded the sexual abuse of their child and sent it to a relative living in Russia. During questioning, Lara-Hernandez reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting the baby about 50 times. She also admitted to sending a video of the assault to Pacheco-Perazas relative outside of the county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both suspects were taken into custody by DPS on January 3. Both remained in the Ector County Law Enforcement Center as of January 28 on a combined $180,000 bond and an ICE detainer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Authorities have identified a 4-year-old girl who died after being struck by a vehicle while walking with her mother in a southern New England town earlier this week.

Officers responding to a report of a pedestrian crash in the area of Hamlet Avenue near the Hamlet Middle School in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday found a mother and daughter who had been hit by a car, according to Woonsocket police and the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office.

The young girl, Eliza Khan, was critically injured in the crash and rushed to Hasbro Childrens Hospital, where she passed away on Tuesday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elizas mother, 32-year-old Dena Khan, remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

Investigators identified the driver in the crash as a 25-year-old man from Woonsocket. He is said to be cooperating with investigators.

Its believed that the man lost control of his vehicle and struck a snowbank before crashing into the mother and daughter, according to reports.

No charges were filed in connection with the crash as of Wednesday morning.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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. 28Officials in Maine say ratepayers in that state could be on the hook to pay $40 million to fund a power project to rebuild a transmission line in New Hampshire's White Mountains.

The cost of the project, known as X-178, is estimated at $400 million.

On Jan. 24, the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Council (SEC) denied the Maine Public Advocate's Petition to Intervene in proceedings to determine whether Eversource, the residential power provider for New Hampshire, will be allowed to invest in X-178, approximately 10% of which would be paid by Maine ratepayers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's unfortunate that the New Hampshire agency refuses to hear from ratepayers outside New Hampshire who will be required to pay approximately 90% of the cost of this project," Maine Public Advocate William Harwood said in a statement.

Eversource officials said in a prior announcement on the size of the project that recent inspections and engineering analysis revealed many of the utility poles along that portion of the transmission line are in poor condition due to age, woodpecker and insect damage, and pole rot.

Eversource's plan calls for replacing 570 wooden utility poles with weathering steel structures of a similar design the utility says will support the weight of the new wires and better withstand storms.

The plan also calls for replacing the wires on the utility poles and installing an internal communication fiber optic cable along the length of the line to increase internal communication reliability and security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donald Kreis, New Hampshire's Consumer Advocate, came out against Eversource's plan last year.

"Affordable electricity is one of our top public policy priorities in New Hampshire, so it is especially regrettable that Eversource is trying to make a project in our state the poster child for unconstrained spending on so-called asset condition transmission projects," Kreis said. "I'm proud to join my counterparts from around the region in opposing efforts to gold-plate the transmission grid and send the bill to everyone in New England."

"It's hard to hold New Hampshire officials accountable to out-of-state ratepayers footing most of the bill, if New Hampshire denies the statutorily created ratepayer advocates from participating in the proceeding to review the project," Harwood said in a statement. "We hope that this unfortunate development is a wake-up call to all state and federal public officials that something is terribly wrong with our regulatory oversight of these regional projects.

"

A project timeline shows work associated with X-178 getting underway in 2025, given all necessary permitting and approvals are secured.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN)  Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying a man whose body was found on Dec. 19, 2024, in Columbus.

A post-mortem image was released across the state in the hopes that the man would be recognized and identified.

The image was completed by a forensic artist from Attorney General Yosts Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at the request of the Franklin County Coroners Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man was found deceased in a shed behind a home in the 2200 block of Sullivan Avenue. His age is unknown but estimated to be around 50. Investigators believe the man was Hispanic and was known to some as Pedro.

He was 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 154 pounds. He had shaggy, dark gray hair with a mustache and beard with no visible tattoos or piercings. He was wearing two rosaries around his neck.

Anyone with information is asked to call BCI at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446) or the Franklin County Coroners Office at 614-525-5290.

Take a close look at this photograph to see if you know this man  somebody surely knows him, and his loved ones deserve answers, Yost said. Give us a call if you recognize him.

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.
Stock photo of cars in traffic from WEWS.

A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers wants drivers to steer clear of all vehicles with hazard lights on  enhancing the states Move Over Law.

On a spring night in 2024, a tow truck driver was responding to a crash.

He was trying to get [this car] onto the bed  and the other car just came, no stopping, no slowing down  bam! a witness can be heard telling Cleveland Police through their body camera footage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Newly released video shows bystanders and EMS recalling the moment that a car hit the 53-year-old tow truck operator, flipping him over and severely injuring his leg.

Whoever hit him took off, ran into him, a first responder said.

This scene is all too familiar for driving instructor Drew Salyer.

Our hands follow our eyes and where you look is where your vehicle is going to go, Salyer said. We just see more and more people not paying attention behind the wheel.

When law enforcement arrived on the scene, the truck drivers lights were still flashing red, showing other drivers that they were on the side of the road.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The original car owner, who was getting his vehicle towed, also spoke to police, saying that he spoke to the suspect before he sped off.

I said, Dude, are you OK? Whats going on? Did you not see my car?' the man said, referencing the lights. Hes like, Im not OK, and he took off.

It is unclear what happened to the man or if the suspect was ever caught. EMS did not provide any new details Monday. CPD did not respond.

Ohio has its Move Over Law, making it a crime in Ohio not to change lanes or slow down when specific vehicles  like police or ambulances  have their lights on. But state Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) wants to enhance that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its to require folks to move over if theres a vehicle on the side of the road thats got its hazards on, Smith said.

Under bipartisan Senate Bill 16, drivers would have to move over for all vehicles that are in distress. This can be shown with hazards, red lights, flares or another form of emergency sign. It would raise penalties for driving too close or too fast, making it a misdemeanor with hundreds of dollars in fines.

Primary sponsor Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) introduced a version of this legislation last General Assembly and it passed the Senate but stalled in the House.

There is a lot of data showing a rise in accidents and fatalities related to distressed vehicles, Wilson said last year. I believe S.B. 178 will prevent more of these accidents and save lives. This legislation will keep drivers and our roadways in the Buckeye State safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An additional $100 fine is charged if the offender was distracted.

All were trying to do is raise awareness so that we can keep Ohioans who are already in a dangerous circumstance a little bit safer, Smith added.

Salyer likes the bill but said it could go further  applying to any vehicle with or without hazards on.

Anytime that someone is off the side of the road, its probably for a good reason, he said.

The bill will be heard in the upcoming months.

Last year, lawmakers wanted to increase fines in construction zones because ODOT workers kept getting hit.

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.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Residents of Turkana County are expressing outrage after Education County Executive Committee (CEC) member Wiljustus Lopeyok Akwalata ordered the demolition of a classroom built by comedian Eric Omondi.

Omondi, known for his philanthropic efforts, constructed the classroom to support education in marginalized areas, with the hope of alleviating overcrowding and improving learning conditions for students.

Omondi raised funds for the project through his online campaign, Team Sisi Kwa Sisi, directing the proceeds toward building the classroom and providing learning essentials for needy pupils in Turkana. In addition to the classroom, the school was named Teacher Kamaret Primary School to honor a dedicated teacher who had been volunteering to educate the children for free.

We named the school Teacher Kamaret Primary School after the amazing, selfless teacher who volunteered her time to teach these children. We also managed to give her a stipend to support her for at least two months, Omondi said.

Despite the progress, Omondi acknowledged that more work remains. Over half of the children still lack uniforms, and the classroom is not fully finished. By the end of this year, we will have a fully functioning school here, complete with boarding facilities. God bless you, he added.

However, the demolition order, just one day after its completion, has left the community frustrated. Residents are demanding answers from the county government, calling the classroom a lifeline for the entire area.

The county government cited concerns over the iron sheet structures failure to meet building standards. The Education CEC further claimed that Omondi had not followed the correct procedures during the building process.

A local resident lamented, You have brought us great shame in this community. Your children have been given a classroom, shoes, and books, and now you destroy all thatFor so many years, nothing has been done about the state of schools here. Now that Eric Omondi has made a move, its become problematic. We have never seen anything like this.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  An Ohio man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.

William Hartson, 26, of Massillon, Ohio, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson after he pled guilty to smuggling illegal drugs in checked baggage on a flight from Los Angeles to Cleveland. He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, on March 4, 2024, Hartson and a co-conspirator, Dalvin Rogers, 29, flew together from Los Angeles to Cleveland. A law enforcement canine alerted airport security personnel to the presence of controlled substances on checked baggage belonging to Hartson and Rogers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the two men retrieved their luggage, they proceeded to leave the baggage claim area and were encountered by federal agents. The agents received verbal consent to search their luggage and found several bricks of suspected drugs wrapped in wet towels.

A field test conducted by the agents confirmed the substances were cocaine. The drugs weighed in at approximately 7.63 kilograms, or nearly 17 pounds, with a street value of more than $175,000.

Hartsons co-defendant was previously sentenced. Rogers was sentenced on Aug. 29, 2024, to 63 months in prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 would impose a higher tax on recreational marijuana and limit home grow under a new bill that marks a major departure from the law approved by voters in 2023.

Senate Bill 56, introduced by Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, increases the excise tax on adult-use cannabis products from 10% to 15%, with all revenue going into the state general fund. Ohio currently directs marijuana dollars to several different pots, including one to support municipalities with dispensaries.

Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, said lawmakers will have a larger discussion about how to spend marijuana revenue. But he and Huffman believe the tax rate should be higher, regardless of where the money goes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There's an awful lot of societal costs that are going to have to be borne by the legalization of marijuana," McColley told reporters Wednesday.

The proposal also:

Reduces the maximum number of plants people can grow at home from 12 to six.

Eliminates the social equity and jobs program, which aims to promote diversity in the marijuana industry and support those who were disenfranchised by prohibition.

Requires anyone transporting adult-use marijuana and paraphernalia to store it in the trunk of their car.

Decreases the THC product cap from from 90% to 70%.

Permits smoking and vaping only in private residences. Current law already prohibits smoking in public areas, similar to the tobacco ban.

Caps the number of active dispensaries to 350 and requires them to sell both adult-use and medical marijuana.

Does not require the Division of Cannabis Control to set rules for delivery and online ordering.

"We want to be sure this bill doesn't put businesses across the state at risk and hamper what's been called one of the most successful programs in the nation," said David Bowling, executive director for the Ohio Cannabis Coalition. "Introducing major changes at this stage could destabilize the market, creating uncertainty for businesses, workers and consumers."

Customers stand in line at Sunnyside in Columbia Township during the first day of recreational marijuana sales in August.

Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio began last summer, months after voters legalized it for adults 21 and older. Total sales were nearing $300 million as of Saturday, according to data from the Division of Cannabis Control, and the average price of flower sat around $192 per ounce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The voter-approved measure was an initiated statute, not a constitutional amendment, which means lawmakers can tweak as much or as little as they want. Potential changes stalled last year because of Republican infighting, but the Legislature's new GOP leaders generally support overhauling the marijuana law.

"Are we telling (voters), 'Screw you, you don't know what you're talking about?'" Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, said.

A spokesperson for the Division of Cannabis Control declined to comment.

(This story was updated with additional information.)

Statehouse bureau reporter Jessie Balmert contributed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Haley BeMiller covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio bill would increase recreational marijuana tax, limit home grow
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Health officials said nearly 1,300 Ohio State University students may have been exposed to meningitis.

According to Columbus Public Health, those students have been notified of their potential exposure and offered an antibiotic to battle the infection.

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation in the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can potentially lead to death if not treated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A university spokesperson said one student tested positive last week for meningitis.

Students can contact Ohio State Student Health to receive the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin at the Wilce Student Health Center during the clinics regular hours. The spokesperson added that many students have already received their dose.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  There are nearly 347,000 unpaid Ohio Turnpike tolls from 2024  a number thats been given grace since the open road tolling system was introduced last spring. That grace period is set to end in February.

Beginning Feb. 3, 2025, the commission will start issuing late fees for unpaid tolls, Ohio Turnpike Communications Director Charles Cyrill said.

Earthquake detected in Ohio Tuesday morning

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The late fee will be $5, and if it remains unpaid, it will be sent for collections on Feb. 10  to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office for collections and to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a hold on vehicle registrations, Cyrill said.

This comes as scammers are using a text-based attack to phish for personal and financial information.

Cyrill wants customers to be aware, and not fall for the scam.

Fuel mix-up at Avon Circle K damages cars

The Ohio Turnpike does not send invoices by text, he said. Collections of unpaid tolls do not occur by text either. Invoices for unpaid tolls are sent to customers only by U.S. mail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fees can easily be paid online.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Federal agents have begun identifying and deporting undocumented foreigners across the country as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The actions have stirred questions in cities and states about whether local law enforcement is responsible for helping.

In Chicago, for example, police can't help enforce immigration law or arrest someone solely because of immigration status. In Oklahoma, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters said he would help the Trump administration in "any way they see fit" in response to questions about whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be allowed to raid schools.

Would OKC, Tulsa help federal immigration officials?

In 2019 during Trump's first term in office, then-OKC Police Chief Wade Gourley said he would not have officers arrest people based on immigration status; he said that doing so would fracture the relationship officers have with the communities they serve. At the time, Mayor David Holt said he was comfortable with Gourleys decision to build trust over enforcing federal immigration laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than five years later, however, the response is more nuanced.

"Our police department has not received any new requests at this time from any federal immigration authorities," City Manager Craig Freeman said Tuesday. "Should we receive a request, we will review it."

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols told Public Radio Tulsa in December that he won't help federal immigration officials deport undocumented immigrants.

Social media hoaxes have stoked fear in OKC

Social media posts have stoked local fears of mass raids and deportations by ICE in Oklahoma City. But community leaders said the rumors of raids are not credible and urged the public to remain calm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The hoax Facebook post, circulated widely on different social media platforms last week, claimed that ICE vehicles were being reported throughout south Oklahoma City near Interstate 240 and the Stockyards. Both areas have predominantly Hispanic populations, and the post encouraged people to "please check on your friends and loved ones."

Contributing: Oklahoman reporter Jessie Christopher Smith

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Will OKC police help ICE enforce immigration law? What to know
(NewsNation)  A controversial proposal approved unanimously by Oklahomas state Board of Education Tuesday would require parents to provide proof of their childs U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status when enrolling them in public schools.

It still needs to be voted on by the state legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt before becoming official.

While the proposed rule would not prevent students without legal status from attending school, it would require districts to record the number of students for whom proof of citizenship was not provided and to report those numbers to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is RFK Jr.s net worth?

Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters says is about accountability and resource allocation. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, meanwhile, said he believes state services should only be provided to legal residents of our state and nation.

Civil rights groups, teachers, parents, and those in Oklahomas immigrant communities said this measure is frightening people, and theyre worried about its potential consequences.

Parents and students protested outside the Oklahoma Board of Education building Tuesday night. Some parents even said theyre considering pulling their kids out of school or moving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The idea that a child wanting to pursue an education must be profiled before learning is distasteful, student Thomas Suarez said.

Walters has said he intends to support President Donald Trumps immigration priorities. During his first week in his second non-consecutive term, Trumps administration carried out nationwide ICE raids.

Critics say Walters policies could create a chilling effect on education for children of undocumented migrants.

A Supreme Court ruling from 1982, Plyler vs. Doe, affirmed the right of children living in the country illegally to attend public schools.

The Associated Press 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 NewsNation.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KNWA/KFTA)  An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed a bill that would rename the states Department of Corrections.

House Bill 1310 was filed on Jan. 15 by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) and would rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption.

The Oklahoma Legislature has published all the bills for our upcoming 2025 session, Humphrey said in a news release on Tuesday. It is not unusual that I would receive some negative comments, and several media stations have questioned why I file certain bills. One such bill that has been drawing numerous questions is changing the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corruption. Many think this is a childish waste of time. I disagree.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The release said Humphrey blamed the legislation on Steven Harpe, the departments director, who he said is the worst hes seen at the job in his 35 years of working for or with corrections. The lawmaker continued saying Harpe has zero experience but his salary has increased $90,000.

Humphrey said he made an open records request for documents saying the raise was authorized but was told no records existed.

Crews search for Army veteran after crash sends car into Arkansas River

Based on the claim of no records, this seems like embezzlement, Humphrey said.

The release said Humphrey was told by the department if he wanted to see other records, he would have to see them in person and not be allowed to make copies. Humphrey also said he was told he would be required to sign a non-disclosure contract because of his release of nonpublic records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Humphrey asked about what records he had released, department officials reportedly refused to tell him.

Humphrey said HB1013 brings attention to one small example of what he calls the Oklahoma swamp.

The bill says any and all references made to the Department of Corrections would be amended to read the Department of Corruption

If the bill is passed, it would go into effect on Nov. 1.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Health and well-being in Oklahoma remain the 47th worst in the nation, according to an annual study released Tuesday.

The state ranked in the bottom five in nearly all of the 2024 Americas Health Rankings main measures of health: social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors and health outcomes.

Since the studys inception 35 years ago, Oklahomas ranking has seen an overall decline since 1991 when the state achieved its highest placement at 32nd. In 2023, Oklahoma ranked 47th.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The annual study is completed by the United Health Foundation, a private nonprofit established by the UnitedHealth group with a goal of improving health and health care. Rankings are based on nearly 90 measures of health and well-being.

Keith Reed, Oklahoma commissioner of health, said in a House committee hearing Tuesday that despite the outcomes of the study, he sees a bright spot in the states rank of 39th for health outcomes. He said its an improvement on last years ranking of 41st. This ranking includes behavioral health, mortality and physical health.

A new study has found that Oklahomans are among the unhealthiest in the country.

Study examined occupational health, education, and air and water quality

The study found that Oklahomans had improved access to high-speed internet and less occupational fatalities, but more suicides and an increased burden of housing costs.

The state ranked 45th in social and economic factors, including measures like education, economic resources and community and family safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For measures of physical environment like air and water quality, climate and health, housing and transit, Oklahoma was 49th in the country with only California ranked lower.

Oklahomas clinical care was ranked at 46th. This factors in access to care, quality of care and preventive clinical services.

Finally, Oklahomas behavioral health such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, sleep, and smoking/tobacco use ranked at 47.

The study found that as a whole, the U.S. experienced decreases in unemployment, smoking and uninsured individuals in 2024, but drug deaths, e-cigarettes and low birth weights increased.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oklahomas neighbor, Colorado, ranked 10th best. Kansas ranked 28th; Missouri, 39th; Texas, 40th; New Mexico, 42nd; and Arkansas, 48th.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma ranks 47th worst for overall health, well-being
Families enrolling children in Oklahoma public schools will have to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship under new rules approved Tuesday by the states education board.

The proposed regulation, which must be approved by the governor and the Legislature, would require school districts to track the number of students who cannot verify their immigration status and report those figures to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that; it is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools, Ryan Walters, the state superintendent, said at the Tuesday meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outside the building in Oklahoma City, dozens of students protested Walters immigration policies and called to keep deportation agents off school campuses.

Ryan Walters in Oklahoma City in 2023.

Walters  who gained a reputation in office for focusing on culture war issues and inviting right-wing influencers into state government  met resistance last year when he said he intended to ask school districts to help his office calculate the cost of illegal immigration on the public education system.

A dozen districts told NBC News in August that they would not check the immigration status of their students, with many citing a desire not to violate Supreme Court precedent, nor discourage foreign-born families from enrolling children in school.

Walters said Tuesday that Oklahoma spent $474 million to educate children of undocumented immigrants under the Biden administration. That figure came from an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform  a right-wing nonprofit founded by the late activist John Tanton, who promoted eugenics and opposed nonwhite migration to the U.S.  and was based on an estimate the group did using census data from 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You have to have the data around where your kids are coming from, Walters said at the state board meeting. We will make sure that President Trump and his administration have this information.

Melissa Lujan, an immigrant rights attorney in Oklahoma City, said she has received at least six calls from clients this week asking what documentation they need to show at their childrens schools  under the mistaken assumption that the rules are already in effect, and in light of Walters statement that he would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collect children from public schools for deportation.

Theyre freaking out, Lujan said.

In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe that the government cannot prevent children of undocumented immigrants from attending public school. The vote was 5-4, but the dissent did not advocate for excluding undocumented immigrant children from public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A decade ago, federal courts struck down a similar Alabama law to collect the immigration status of school children.

Kit Johnson, a University of Oklahoma law professor who specializes in immigration law, predicts that the rules advanced by Walters will meet a similar fate when they are inevitably challenged in court.

This one will be found unconstitutional, Johnson said. Even with Walters saying, Oh, were just data collecting  if its going to chill the opportunity for children to have an equal access to education, it is not allowed.

Tamya Cox-Toure, executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, said the group is considering litigation to block the rules if the governor and Legislature approve them, but that doesnt provide a lot of comfort in the near term for immigrant families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just the threat of this causes harm, and we believe that is the intention  to scare students from going to school, she said.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentry Drummond believes it is lawful to request such documentation of a childs immigration status, because the rule stipulates failure to produce the material does not preclude enrollment, a spokesman for his office said Tuesday.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and Republican legislative leaders did not respond to requests for comment on the immigration rules.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Oklahoma may require parents to report their immigration status when enrolling children in schools.

We're not going to allow sanctuary schools here in Oklahoma, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters told CNNs Brianna Keilar on Tuesday afternoon.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted early Tuesdayto approve the proposal to have parents report their legal status. The change would help determine that educational resources are being allocated appropriately, according to Walters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move comes just days after the Trump administration announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be allowed to arrest undocumented immigrants in schools and churches, reversing precedent.

But the push to collect this information is also part of a greater effort to help ICE find and deport undocumented migrants, according to Walters.

It's so important for the Trump administration to have the data  where are the families, where are they located  and when they're making these decisions, I know that they want to keep the families intact, Walters said, referencing the Trump-era zero tolerance policy that separated thousands of families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

When pressed about whether schools would be collecting information on parents or on their children, Walters said all of the above. He added that information would be turned over to ICE depending on the needs of the Trump administration, and that school raids could occur if President Trump sees fit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We answer to the taxpayers of Oklahoma, and they deserve to know how many illegal immigrants are in their schools, Walters said on CNN.

Legal organizations like the National Immigration Law Center are already decrying the proposal as unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe in 1982 that states cannot stop undocumented children from going to public school. Walters called the Plyler ruling ridiculous and said it limited states from dealing with illegal immigration.

This wouldnt be Oklahomas only court battle over its schools, either. The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear arguments on whether Oklahoma can have a publicly funded religious charter school.

It remains to be seen if this will become state law in Oklahoma. The proposal would need to be approved by the Legislature and the governor first. And Oklahoma City Public Schools said it does not plan to collect the status of students or families, in a statement following the vote.

Federal law guarantees every child's right to public education regardless of immigration status, and our District will continue operating in accordance with these established federal protections, Oklahoma City Public School Superintendent Dr. Jamie C. Polk wrote.


The High Court in Nairobi has issued a groundbreaking ruling that reaffirms tenants rights to claim refunds on rent deposits, marking a significant victory for renters across Kenya.

Dr. Michelle Muhanda emerged triumphant in a prolonged legal battle against her former landlord, LP Holdings Ltd., setting a precedent that will reshape landlord-tenant disputes.

Muhanda had resided at Woodlands Grove Villas, an upscale Nairobi estate, for seven years. When she moved out in October 2022, she requested the return of her Kes.230,000 deposit. Instead of receiving the refund, she was handed a bill of Kes.271,857 for alleged repair costs.

Muhanda, confident that she had left the property in good condition, argued that the charges were unjustified. She also claimed that her request for a joint inspection of the premises was ignored by the landlord.

After failing to resolve the issue with LP Holdings Ltd., Muhanda took legal action. She initially filed her case at the Small Claims Court (SCC), seeking a refund of her deposit and punitive damages under the Consumer Protection Act. However, the SCC dismissed her case, citing jurisdictional concerns, prompting her to escalate the matter to the High Court.

In a landmark decision on Tuesday, Justice Helene Namisi overturned the SCCs dismissal and ruled in Muhandas favor. The judge affirmed that the SCC has jurisdiction to handle rent deposit refund cases, stating, The appellants claim was for breach of contract, relating to the rent deposit paid by the appellant to the respondent. In my view, the appellants claim falls squarely within the provisions of Section 12 (1) (b) of the Act, being a contract for money held and received. It is, therefore, the finding of this court that the trial court has jurisdiction.

Victory Sets New Precedent for Tenant Rights in Kenya

This ruling is a major win for tenants, clarifying that rent deposit disputes can be addressed through the SCC and ensuring such cases are resolved within 60 days of filing. It also reinforces tenants rights to fair treatment and access to justice.

Joseph Mwai, a Human Rights and Consumer Protection Advocate who represented Muhanda, celebrated the judgment as a turning point for tenant rights in Kenya. He emphasized the importance of transparency and fairness in landlord-tenant relationships, stating, The judgment underscores the importance of consumer protection, which is a guaranteed right under Article 46 of the Constitution.

Article 46 ensures consumers have the right to fair treatment, including the right to goods and services of reasonable quality, the right to information about products and services, the right to have their economic rights protected, and compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods and services.

The ruling not only resolves Muhandas case but also sets a powerful precedent, empowering tenants to challenge unfair practices and holding landlords accountable for transparency and fairness.
Gender Spectrum Collection

An Oklahoma state senator has introduced legislation that would ban all pornography, with criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison for the production, distribution or possession of any pornography, according to a press release from the Oklahoma Senate. SB 593, proposed by Senator Dusty Deevers on January 21, is part of a slate of eight bills by the legislator to restore moral sanity to the state of Oklahoma.

The bill, entitled Increasing Penalties for Child Pornography and Prohibiting Pornography in Oklahoma, goes far beyond the scope suggested in its title. While it does advocate for raising the penalty for the possession, distribution, or production of child pornography from 0-20 years up to 10-30 years, the bill has gone so far as to prohibit pornography entirely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pornography is both degenerate material and a highly addictive drug, Deevers said in the press release. It ruins marriages, ruins lives, destroys innocence, warps young peoples perception of the opposite sex, turns women into objects, turns men into objects, degrades human dignity, and corrodes the moral fabric of society. Any decent society will stand against this plague with the full weight of the law.

Deevers description of pornography as a highly addictive drug directly echoes the words of the authors of Project 2025, who, in the foreword to the over 900-page blueprint for a very different America, linked pornography to both child abuse and trans identity.

Pornography, manifested today in the omnipresent propagation of transgender ideology and sexualization of children, for instance, is not a political Gordian knot inextricably binding up disparate claims about free speech, property rights, sexual liberation, and child welfare, the foreword to the document reads. It has no claim to First Amendment protection. Its purveyors are child predators and misogynistic exploiters of women. Their product is as addictive as any illicit drug and as psychologically destructive as any crime. Pornography should be outlawed.

Alongside SB593, Deevers, who is also a pastor at Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Elgin, Oklahoma, introduced legislation to abolish abortion, prohibit drag performances in front of minors, ban divorce on the grounds of incompatibility, and provide tax credits to couples who opt into covenant marriages or have multiple children within the bounds of marriage  just to name some highlights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mike Stabile, the director of public policy at the Free Speech Coalition, said the proposed bill was really an attempt to encroach on free speech in a statement to USA Today.

"Porn is the canary in the coal mine of free speech, and the trial balloon used by governments to pass laws that can censor speech more broadly," he told the outlet. "No matter how people feel about adult content, we should all be concerned about the proposed government crackdown on speech."

Deevers attack on pornography comes less than a month after age verification laws effectively made porn inaccessible in 16 U.S. states, mostly in the regional South.

At the time that many of these bans went into effect, Aylo, the parent company to PornHub, told Mashable that it has publicly supported age verification of users for years but that the kind required by these bills is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous, as well as a threat to users security.

Pornhub Is Now Inaccessible in Almost the Entire U.S. South

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A contributor to Project 2025 was recorded last year stating that age-verification laws are a back door to broader porn bans.

Legislators in several states have introduced similarly bizarre bills criminalizing sexual freedom in the short time since Donald Trumps ascent to the presidency for the second time. Last week, Mississippi state senator Bradford Blackmon introduced the Contraception Begins at Erection Act, which would make it illegal for a person to "discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo." The bill suggested a fine of $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 thereafter. In a statement to local affiliate WLBT, Blackmon said the bill was meant to act as a counterpart to contraception and abortion bills.

"All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the womans role when men are fifty percent of the equation," he told WLBT. "This bill highlights that fact and brings the mans role into the conversation. People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I cant say that bothers me."

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One of the defendants apart of the group known as the Cabo Six denies allegations made in the Shanquella Robinson wrongful death lawsuit, according to a letter filed on Jan. 27.

According to the filing, the defendant states that the facts alleged in the lawsuit dont state specific information to hold the defendant accountable for the death of Robinson. The defendant adds that the claims made are vague, conclusory, or speculative statements and do not have the required legal elements such as causation, intent, or damages.

The defendant along with five others traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to take a vacation. Shortly after the Cabo Six arrived, Shanquella was pronounced dead by medical personnel on October 29, 2022. The defendant states that the lawsuit doesnt prove that he caused Shanquella any harm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This filing comes days after the State Department and FBI filed a motion to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit. The federal agencies also stated that the plaintiff in the case lacked jurisdiction over their claims.

Almost three years later, no one has been charged in the death of Shanquella. An arrest warrant was issued for one of the Cabo Six, however, the State Department never forwarded the request to the International Affairs office so they were never extradited.

QCNEWS.COM

MYSTERY IN MEXICO

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
REEVES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Reeves County Emergency Management Office has confirmed that one person was killed and another seriously injured at Atlas Fracking site in Reeves County.

The deceased, who has not been publicly identified, was killed in an incident that occurred around 8:45 p.m. on January 28 at the site located off US 285, just south of the Town of Pecos City. Investigators said the injured victim, who has also not been publicly identified, lost an arm in the incident.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, and authorities have secured the area. Further details will be provided as the investigation progresses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The public has been advised to avoid the area until further notice.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
UPDATE:

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  The Jones County coroner identified the deceased as Lorenzo Hawthorne, 21, of Hattiesburg. He was an employee at Southern Hens.

According to the coroner, there was an argument at the company. The coroner said Hawthorne walked out to his truck, grabbed a gun and began firing shots. Hawthorne was allegedly shot by a security guard before he died.

According to Jones County deputies, Hawthornes body was found in the front parking lot area of the facility. Investigators said multiple civilian vehicles were struck by his gunfire during his close approach to the plant entrance.

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  One person was killed during a shooting at a chicken processing company in Jones County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The shooting occurred at Southern Hens in Moselle around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.

Two wanted for Dollar General robbery in Jones County

Jones County Coroner Burl Hall said one man was shot and died at the scene. The man has not been identified.

According to Jones County deputies, there are no injuries reported to employees or emergency responders at the scene. They also said theres no threat to the community.

Deputies said additional information will be released as the investigation proceeds.

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.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  One of four men charged in the fatal shooting at a 2024 block party in Arkansas that killed one person and injured several others has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Tommie Frost, 19, also pleaded guilty Monday to a firearm possession charge, according to court records, for the shooting that occurred in Wynne on April 15, 2024. Wynne is a city of about 8,000 people in eastern Arkansas, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Memphis, Tennessee.

Nine people were injured in the shooting, which killed a 27-year-old. The victims ranged in age from 24 to 49, with two of the victims struck by vehicles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Frost was sentenced to 20 years on the murder charge and 10 years on the firearm charge, to be served concurrently. An attorney for Frost did not immediately return a call Wednesday morning.

Frost and three other men were initially charged with first-degree murder, nine counts each of first-degree battery and nine counts of engaging in violent criminal group activity. The three other suspects in the shooting are awaiting court dates.
NW Classen Families,

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority. Today, school leaders were made aware that a student may have been in possession of a weapon at school. As soon as this was reported, the school administration quickly took action to place the school on a hold, which means no one is allowed to enter or exit the building and students are held in classrooms. Out of an abundance of caution, all students remained safely in school throughout the search and removal of the weapon by law enforcement.

We are incredibly thankful to the students who followed the see something, say something protocol and reported the concern to school leaders. Their actions helped ensure a safe environment for everyone. We also appreciate our law enforcement partners who responded to retrieve the weapon and remove the student(s) involved. The student(s) will be disciplined in accordance with the student code of conduct and could face criminal charges.

While the timing of the incident meant that lunch was interrupted and some students were unable to eat, we are extremely proud of our NW Classen students who respectfully cooperated with school leaders and local officials. We also appreciate the dedication of our NWC staff who remained focused on student well-being in the midst of todays events, including a special thank you to our school nurse who ensured that all students who needed medical accommodations were taken care of during the hold.

As a reminder, weapons of any kind are not permitted on our campuses, and any item that might poseor even imitatea threat to our students or staff is strictly prohibited. This may be a good opportunity to talk with your student(s) about what is and isnt appropriate to bring to school.

Thank you for your continued support of NW Classen High School and OKCPS.
Feeding America and Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank host Hungry to Help Lesson Plan for students at an Ohio elementary school on May 24, 2017, in Fairlawn, Ohio. Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for Feeding America.

One-quarter of Minnesota households with children are food insecure, according to research released Wednesday by the nonprofit hunger relief organization Second Harvest Heartland.

The food banks first-ever statewide survey, conducted in collaboration with Wilder Research, found that overall 19% of Minnesota households are food insecure. The majority of food insecure families are able to eat enough with the help of emergency food assistance, which includes both food shelves and government nutrition programs like SNAP.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Five percent of Minnesota households dont get enough to eat, even with the help of emergency food assistance. Two percent of households dont have enough food, and dont receive any help.

Minnesota food banks have yet to release the final tally of food shelf visits in 2024, but the number has climbed in recent years. In 2023, food shelves recorded 7.5 million visits, a historic high.

Hunger relief organizations want additional funding from the state this year to address the growing use of food shelves, but money is tight  lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz are looking for ways to cut costs to avoid a looming deficit.

Hunger doesnt discriminate by political party or geography, and addressing it head-on should be something that both parties can rally behind next year and in the years ahead. The growth in demand we are experiencing is unsustainable, Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison OToole said in November in response to the state budget and economic forecast.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Louisiana law enforcement was on the scene of a crash that happened on the Twin Span Bridge around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

In a post to social media, Louisiana State Police along with the New Orleans Police Department responded to the scene of the crash near the Orleans and St. Tammany parish line involving a box truck and a flat bed truck.

(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin) (WGNO/Jordan Lippincott) (WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin) (WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin) (Courtesy: Louisiana State Police)

Officials report one person was rescued by a passing boater after the box truck hit the back of the flat bed for unknown reasons, and then traveled off the bridge and into the water.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NOPD officials said the driver of one of the vehicles has been recovered and did not report any injuries. They said that driver was taken to a hospital for evaluation as a precaution.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that a second vehicle had also fallen into the water, although after divers searched throughout the day and the box truck was pulled from the water, police still couldnt find any signs of a second vehicle.

Atmos officials contain high-pressure gas leak in Kenner neighborhood

St. Tammany Parish divers are working to assist on the scene.

Traffic is down to one lane in the area where the accident happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office and the Slidell Police Department are assisting in the investigation.

This is a developing story. Stay with WGNO for updates as more information becomes available.

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.
Vienna-based sales agency Autlook has acquired Robin Petres timely feature documentary Only on Earth, ahead of its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. The film is an immersive journey across Southern Galicia, an area of outstanding natural beauty but also one of Europes most vulnerable wildfire zones.

The feature documentary will premiere in Berlins Generation strand, after receiving the top IEFTA Docs-in-Progress Award in Cannes last year.

More from Variety

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the hottest summer on record, both humans and animals struggle to cope as inextinguishable fires draw closer. Wild horses have roamed the Galician mountains for centuries, playing a crucial role in fire prevention by curbing flammable undergrowth  but their numbers are dwindling as human development clashes with nature.

Only on Earth reflects on the delicate balance of our natural world and the relationship between humans and animals through the eyes of a young cowboy, a seasoned fire analyst, a devoted equine vet, a farming family on the frontline, and the horses.

Petre comments: For as long as I can remember, I have had a strong connection to, and appreciation of, the natural world. Yet whenever I return to the rural environment I grew up in, Im troubled by how rapidly the landscape has been changing. With mass extinction and temperatures rising across the globe our world is changing at a pace we can hardly fathom. I hope this film will leave a lasting impression on the audience as an unshakeable, unforgettable experience. Ultimately, it should encourage people to think deeply about how were dealing with wildlife and impacting nature, and to consider how we could stand together to change the course of the future for the better.

Stephanie Fuchs, CEO of Autlook, notes: Robin Petre has created an impressive and visually stunning film that couldnt be more timely. Only on Earth captures the urgency of our changing world with remarkable depth and artistry. We are proud to be on board and to bring this important story to audiences globally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only on Earth is produced by Signe Skov Thomsen and Malene Flindt Pedersen for Hansen & Pedersen in Denmark, together with Carles Brugueras and Marieke van den Bersselaar for Polar Star Films in Spain with Hanka Kastelicova, Alberto Carullo, Antonio Trashorras and David Ocana as executive producers for MAX in Spain.

The film is supported by the Danish Film Institute, ICEC (Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises), ICAA (Spanish Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts), Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Beckett-Fonden in collaboration with broadcasters DR and SVT.

The film also received a grant from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program with support from Sandbox Films and was developed with the support of Eurimages and Creative Europe Media.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  The leader of Ontario, Canadas most populous province, on Wednesday triggered a snap election, saying he needs a strong four-year mandate to fight the tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Doug Ford, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, said the 25% tariffs threatened by Trump would devastate Canadas economy and cost Ontario thousands of jobs.

The people of our province, like people across Canada, are facing unprecedented times, Ford said in Windsor, Ont. I am asking the people of Ontario for their trust. Im asking (...) for a strong, stable, four-year mandate to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, more than a year before the June 2026 fixed election date. Ford already has a large majority government, with 79 of the 124 seats in the Ontario legislature.

Trump has threatened to introduce tariffs on Canadian goods starting Saturday. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that the plan was still on the books for that day.

This is a game to the president, said Ford, who is the equivalent of a U.S. state governor. He seeks to divide and conquer.

Ford said the provincial government is prepared to spend tens of billions of dollars to protect jobs and the economy of Ontario, Canadas manufacturing and automobile hub.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well fight these tariffs with every tool in our toolbox, he said.

Ford has said there would be a dollar-for-dollar tariff retaliation on American goods entering Canada. He has also said that if Trump applies tariffs, he will instruct Ontarios liquor control board to pull all American-made alcohol from shelves.

Trump has said that Canada can avoid tariffs if it becomes the 51st state and he has incorrectly claimed that the U.S. has a $200 billion deficit with its major trading partner.

Opposition parties accuse Ford of calling an early election before any potential charges emerge from a police investigation into his now-scrapped plan to develop lands under environmental protection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elections Ontario, the independent office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario responsible for the administration of provincial elections and referendums, said Wednesday the election will cost about $189 million Canadian dollars ($131 million).

That money, said Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, would be better spent on health care and affordable housing.

This isnt a necessary election, Crombie told a news conference on Wednesday. He is trying to cling to power.

Daniel Beland, a political science professor at Montreals McGill University, said Ford is taking a calculated risk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The opposition is divided between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party, which is very likely to allow him to stay in power, at least if he runs an effective campaign, said Beland.

The Ontario election is being held at the same time as the federal Liberal Party is selecting a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who announced his resignation Jan. 6. Trudeau will remain prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen on March 9.

The next Liberal leader could be the shortest-tenured prime minister in the countrys 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 which would trigger a spring election.

We need a strong leadership that is prepared to do whatever lies ahead despite the chaos we now see in Ottawa, said Ford.

Trumps threats are not going away at a time when the federal government has left Canada drifting, exposed and vulnerable. We need a mandate that will outlive and outlast the Trump administration.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is targeting 1,445,549 noncitizens from 187 countries, with over 1,000 Kenyans among those on the deportation list.

As of November 24, 2024, data from ICE reveals that 1,282 Kenyans are part of the 1.4 million immigrants marked for removal from the United States. These individuals, classified as non-detained, have received court orders to leave the country.

A non-detained docket refers to individuals who are not in ICE detention but are still considered removable non-citizens. This list consists of people who remain targets for potential deportation actions, despite not being in custody.

In addition to Kenyans, other African countries on the deportation list include Tanzania (301), Uganda (393), Somalia (4,090), South Sudan (136), Ethiopia (1,713), and Rwanda (338). Other countries with a significant number of deportees include Burundi (462), Congo (795), Djibouti (29), Nigeria (3,690), Niger (642), Zimbabwe (545), and Zambia (174).

ICEs operation, described as part of its routine enforcement actions, aims to remove individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization. According to ICE, these individuals have violated immigration laws or committed other offenses warranting deportation.

Each year, ICE conducts targeted enforcement against noncitizens who fail to comply with legal requirements or court orders, ICE stated.

Noncitizens may seek relief from deportation, such as asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. If granted such relief, ICE cannot carry out their removal.

ICE also highlighted that delays in deportation may occur due to a lack of cooperation from foreign governments.

The U.S. Government believes every country is obligated to accept the return of its citizens who are ineligible to remain in the United States. Lack of cooperation from foreign governments can delay, and in many cases, inhibit the removal process, ICE stated.

Since President Donald Trump took office, he has granted immigration authorities the power to expedite deportations, pledging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
(KRON)  The Oakland Police Department is asking for community assistance in finding a missing 20-year-old, the department announced Tuesday.

Heaven Milli McGee was last seen more than a week ago around 5 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the 8800 block of Thermal Street. According to OPD, she was heading to Hayward, wearing a white jacket, brown pants, and a black jacket.

McGees family reported her missing on Jan. 22 to the Lathrop Police Department and again on Jan. 26 to OPD, according to authorities.

Photo: Heaven Milli McGee

Alexis Gabes family extremely disappointed after DA declines to file charges against mother of accused killer

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McGee is described as a 20-year-old Black woman with black hair and brown eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs around 140 pounds.

According to OPD, McGee may be in Stockton or Lathrop and is known to frequent San Jose and San Pablo.

Anyone with information regarding McGees whereabouts is asked to contact the Oakland Police Departments Missing Persons Unit at (510) 238-3641.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Microsoft-backed OpenAI's chief Sam Altman is planning to visit India next week, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, in what could be his first visit in two years at a time when the company faces legal challenges in the country.

The sources said Altman has scheduled his trip to New Delhi for Feb. 5. One of the sources said a meeting with government officials was also on the cards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the schedule is not finalised and his plans could still change, the people said.

OpenAI, India's IT ministry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office did not respond to requests for comment.

OpenAI has said India is its second-largest market by number of users, after the United States.

Altman visited India in 2023 when he met Modi in New Delhi and discussed the potential of AI in boosting India's tech ecosystem.

Since then, OpenAI has faced several legal challenges in India. A lawsuit against it claiming breaches of copyright began last year after local news agency ANI challenged it in a New Delhi court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Book publishers and almost a dozen digital media outlets, including those owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have also since joined the case.

OpenAI has said it only uses publicly available data in a manner protected by fair use principles, and has said Indian courts have no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Separately, a global tech market rout was triggered this week after the emergence of Chinese AI rival DeepSeek. DeepSeek's AI Assistant has overtaken ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the United States.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil. Editing by Jane Merriman)
After spending years indiscriminately ripping off other people's work  and getting sued for copyright infringement left and right  OpenAI is sobbing that the buzzy Chinese AI startup DeepSeek did the same thing on its AI that it built on all that pilfered content.

As the Financial Times reports, OpenAI is accusing the app of using its proprietary models to train its own ChatGPT competitor. The company claimed that it had "some evidence" of DeepSeek using the output of OpenAI's models to train its own, a technique called "distillation," that it says may have breached its terms of service.

The news comes after DeepSeek flipped the AI industry on its head, wiping out over $1 trillion worth of market capitalization in a single day with an advanced model that's much less resource-intensive than anything cooked up by Silicon Valley. As the main purveyor of AI computing infrastructure, chipmaker Nvidia broke its own record for the biggest single-day loss of any company in history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now that DeepSeek has come for OpenAI, the ChatGPT maker is suddenly crying foul, whining that the upstart lab did exactly what it did to human creatives: vacuumed up its work and used it to build a competing product.

"The issue is when you [take it out of the platform and] are doing it to create your own model for your own purposes," a source close to OpenAI told the FT.

It's hard not to see the development as the peak of hypocrisy. OpenAI has a long track record of hoovering up data with an astonishing disregard for giving credit or fairly compensating rights holders.

That's not an exaggeration. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously admitted that it would be impossible to "train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Put simply, it's roughly the equivalent of a school bully complaining to the teacher that his stolen lunch was stolen from him by another bully.

"Funny on OpenAI, who totally didn't gobble up our data without asking, is now pointing fingers at DeepSeek for doing the exact same thing," one Bluesky user wrote.

"I'm so sorry I can't stop laughing," AI critic Ed Zitron wrote in a scathing post. "OpenAI, the company built on stealing literally the entire internet, is crying because DeepSeek may have trained on the outputs from ChatGPT."

"They're crying their eyes out," he added. "What a bunch of hypocritical little babies."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's also worth reiterating that despite its name, OpenAI is a closed-source and for-profit company  while DeepSeek's AI models are open-source.

The Sam Altman-led company refused to officially comment or provide further details, the FT reports.

And in reality, whether DeepSeek actually infringed on its intellectual property remains debatable.

On Tuesday, president Donald Trump's "crypto czar" told Fox News that distillation is "when one model learns from another model [and] kind of sucks the knowledge out of the parent model."

"And theres substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI models, and I dont think OpenAI is very happy about this," Sacks explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If independently confirmed, what DeepSeek pulled off with its latest model, dubbed R1, could signify a major advancement in the development of cheaper-to-run, but still as powerful, AI models.

The company used just over 2,000 Nvidia graphics cards, purchased shortly before the US banned exports of these cards to China.

Some experts believe that DeepSeek likely didn't do anything wrong.

"It is a very common practice for start-ups and academics to use outputs from human-aligned commercial LLMs, like ChatGPT, to train another model," University of California, Berkeley PhD candidate Ritwik Gupta told the FT. "That means you get this human feedback step for free. It is not surprising to me that DeepSeek supposedly would be doing the same."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, OpenAI said that it engages in "countermeasures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models"  despite having the word "open" in its name.

The company added that it's "critically important that we are working closely with the US government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology."

Whether DeepSeek actually represents a threat to national security remains to be seen, and the White House has since revealed that it's currently evaluating the possible risks.

But given Trump's ongoing efforts to get Chinese-owned video platform TikTok unbanned in the country  Congress banned the app last year  it'd be a notable double standard if he'd start coming after DeepSeek.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How OpenAI's accusations will play out remains to be seen, but the optics aren't great, no matter which way you spin it.

"There's no way OpenAI can make this argument without looking very, very silly," tech journalist Mike Masnick wrote in a post on Bluesky.

Meanwhile, Zitron didn't pull any punches.

"Are you crying because your plagiarism machine that made stuff by copying everybody's stuff was used to train another machine that made stuff by copying stuff?" he said. "Are you going to cry? Cowards, losers, pathetic."

More on DeepSeek: Former Intel CEO Says After Seeing DeepSeek, He's Done With OpenAI
The essence of free speech isnt just that you will find the text of the First Amendment in copies of the Constitution. It requires living up to the principle in practice: for freedom of religion, speech, press and association to be exercised freely without fear of ruinous retaliation and the abuse of state power. Today, a vicious campaign against these freedoms is being waged by the new right under President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their allies.

There has been much discussion of the information environment and how it ultimately affects the behavior of voters in the exercise of our democratic self-governance. A crisis has been quietly brewing, fueled by the misuse of defamation law in the form of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and outright abuses of state power. What was once a slow boil has now erupted into full view, as political actors and powerful figures weaponize institutional risk aversion to suppress speech they dont like.

The fear of litigation has become deeply ingrained in professional journalism, distorting the ability to report the truth. This underscores a chilling reality for journalists, commentators and political opponents alike. Free speech in the United States is under attack through a diffuse, deliberate effort to undermine our core constitutional freedoms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Mike Masnick, editor of Techdirt and online free speech expert, aptly noted, Defamation law has been so widely abused to chill speech and so few people know it. The use of SLAPPs  lawsuits designed to intimidate and financially exhaust critics, even when they are legally meritless  has become a primary weapon in this war on speech. And when private lawsuits are not enough, state power is increasingly being mobilized to achieve the same ends, turning free expression into a high-stakes gamble for anyone daring to speak truth to power.

Defamation law, ostensibly meant to protect reputations against malicious falsehoods, is being twisted into a bludgeon to silence criticism and accountability  where even the threat of a defamation suit can serve to chill free speech. And in some cases, SLAPPs abuse other areas of law to target speech in order to evade the high First Amendment bar for defamation under Supreme Court precedents.

Elon Musks lawsuit against Media Matters, for example, epitomizes this trend. Media Matters reported on ads for major brands running next to neo-Nazi content on Musks X platform, formerly Twitter. Instead of addressing the substance of the report, Musk retaliated with a lawsuit, in this case based not on defamation as such but an even more outlandish consumer fraud theory. By allegedly presenting misleading examples, even though they were undeniably real and similar ones are easy to come by, the theory is this somehow falls under defrauding people into not using or buying ads on X. And as Musk frequently does, the case was filed in the Northern District of Texas to engage in blatant judge shopping. It paid off, with Judge Reed OConnor, long known for his solicitousness toward conservative political efforts, allowing the case to proceed to trial despite its flawed premise.

The message was unmistakable: Critics calling out extremist content on his platform could come at a steep personal cost. It is not unrelated that Media Matters, faced with massive legal fees in fighting the wealthiest man in the world, was recently forced to resort to mass layoffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donald Trumps lawsuits provide further examples of this deeply disturbing strategy. He sued pollster Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register for publishing a poll showing Kamala Harris ahead of him in Iowa  a lawsuit so baseless that its sole plausible purpose was to punish and deter unfavorable coverage. Similarly, Trump sued CBS over an interview with Harris, absurdly alleging unfair editing of the interview amounted to deceptive practices under Texas business fraud law, demonstrating how the rich and powerful are increasingly using litigation to control narratives. CBS is reportedly considering a settlement in part because of their regulatory interests at stake under the new administration.

These private SLAPPs are now being supplemented by direct state action, amplifying the chilling effect on speech. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Stop WOKE Act targets private employers for expressing disfavored views, while his retaliation against Disney for criticizing his policies exemplifies the use of government power to punish speech. Attorneys general in Texas and Missouri have launched criminal investigations into Media Matters. A federal judge enjoined these investigations as obviously retaliatory in violation of the First Amendment, but once again, the process of even having to litigate the matter is the real punishment.

Even the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under its new Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, has revived previously dismissed complaints against media outlets seen as liberal-leaning, bringing the agency into politicized editorial disputes. Carr has made no secret of his desire to use the FCC to punish media outlets and corporations that he believes have contributed to the erosion in public trust.

In some cases, the courts do eventually step in and repudiate these assaults on the First Amendment, but the deliberate chilling effect remains all the same, an ongoing threat hanging over every major institution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Consider, too, how U.S. media hesitated to report on Elon Musks apparent Nazi salute at a post-inauguration rally for Trump. German and Israeli outlets did not shy away from describing the incident as it appeared, yet many of their American counterparts tread more carefully. No matter how baseless, a lawsuit from Musk can cost millions of dollars to defend. The culture of risk aversion, compounded by legal threats and official intimidation, has narrowed the bounds of permissible discourse here, in the nation that is supposed to have the strongest free speech protections in the world.

What makes these actions particularly perverse is how they are often cloaked in the language of defending free speech. Musks rhetoric about combating the woke mind virus and DeSantis attacks on so-called woke corporations both claim to champion free expression while doing the opposite. This weaponization of free speech rhetoric is both cynical and dangerous, undermining the very principle it purports to defend, while seeking to rob their opponents of the language needed to accurately describe it.

This war on free speech is not primarily about silencing individual critics directly. There is no secret police hauling people off for mean tweets about Trump, Musk and their unified control over the federal government. Its about leveraging institutional risk aversion to create a chilling effect. Journalists, pollsters and watchdog organizations may still criticize powerful figures like Musk or Trump, but they do so under the constant threat of financial ruin. The goal is to make accountability so costly that fewer people are willing to try.

Whats urgently needed are robust anti-SLAPP laws, both at the federal level and in states where protections are still weak or nonexistent. Anti-SLAPP laws allow defendants to quickly dismiss lawsuits that are filed with the primary intent of suppressing speech, with legal fees automatically awarded (often with some multiplier) to the defendants. Crucially, they shift the burden of costs onto the plaintiff, deterring frivolous lawsuits and protecting critics from devastating expenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The broader legal context also underscores the stakes. Some figures, including Justice Clarence Thomas, have expressed interest in revisiting New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the landmark Supreme Court case that established strong protections for speech about public figures. Undermining Sullivan would open the floodgates to even more defamation claims, further chilling speech. Anti-SLAPP laws are a critical counterweight to these trends, ensuring that free expression remains protected even as legal challenges multiply.

But legal reforms alone are not enough. We must also recognize and call out these attacks for what they are: a coordinated censorship campaign. Whether through SLAPPs, state retaliation or regulatory threats, these actions aim to undermine the First Amendment by making the cost of speaking out intolerably high. They are not isolated incidents but part of a broader war on free speech, waged in the name of consolidating unchallenged political power.

The free speech crisis hiding in plain sight isnt about whether individuals can ever criticize powerful figures  its about whether institutions can withstand the pressure to self-censor in the face of legal and political intimidation. Without robust protections like anti-SLAPP laws and a renewed cultural commitment to defending open discourse, the chilling effect will only grow stronger, leaving whats left of American democracy poorer for it.

Free speech has always been a contested principle, but its survival depends on our ability to see through the hypocrisy of those who claim to defend it while working to suppress it. The fight against censorship is not just a legal battle. Its a fight to preserve the foundation of a free and open society.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The threat of tariffs is apparently a big stick, as President Donald Trump proved over the weekend after Colombias president backed off attempts to reject military flights from the United States  flights carrying Colombian citizens who had entered the U.S. without documentation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept the flights, which led Trump to threaten immediate 25% tariffs on all goods sent to the United States, with a promise of raising them to 50% after one week.

The United States is Colombias largest trading partner , providing mostly Colombian oil, coal, coffee and cut flowers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump also threatened to revoke visas and impose travel bans on Colombian government officials and their supporters, as well as to subject all Colombian citizens to extra inspections upon arrival in the U.S.

Tariffs cut 2 ways

But it was the tariffs that garnered the most attention, for good reason. That stick, if used, would come with consequences. The record is clear. Tariffs hurt the country that imposes them as well as the country that is targeted.

Politicians often tout tariffs as a way to protect American jobs in select industries from cheap imports. This is why they often are referred to as protectionism. And yes, they often do serve that narrow purpose. However, they cost many more jobs in other parts of the economy that rely on the imports that are being penalized.

Tax increases

Economists often equate tariffs with tax increases, because they raise the cost of imported goods while also providing market incentives for domestic producers to raise prices, as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Researchers at the Tax Foundation , a nonpartisan, educational organization, determined the first Trump administration imposed nearly $80 billion worth of new taxes on Americans by levying tariffs on thousands of products valued at approximately $380 billion in 2018 and 2019, amounting to one of the largest tax increases in decades.

President Joe Biden kept most of those tariffs in place, even adding to those imposed against China. The Tax Foundation said these, taken together, will reduce GDP by 0.2% and cost 142,000 full-time equivalent jobs over time.

Meanwhile, a study by the National Institutes of Health looked at five decades worth of tariffs from 151 countries and their effect on economies. It found that tariff increases are associated with an economically and statistically sizable and persistent decline in output growth. Thus, fears that the ongoing trade war may be costly for the world economy in terms of foregone output growth are justified.

Tariffs destroy wealth

Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Kessler put it simply: Tariffs destroy wealth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the effects of tariffs are often hard for people to see. Their positive effects are targeted, while their negative ones are more scattered.

Unfortunately, Congress has incrementally ceded its constitutional authority to levy and collect taxes, duties and excises to the president over the past century. As Kessler noted, this started in 1934 when Franklin Roosevelt signed the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act , letting presidents apply tariffs without the help of Congress.

This continued during the Cold War, when Congress allowed presidents to restrict imports under the cause of national security. In 1977, Congress gave presidents power to regulate trade if a national emergency exists.

But emergencies are too easy to declare. Forty-two of these are in effect today, dating back to 1979, when President Jimmy Carter froze Iranian assets in retaliation for the hostage crisis involving American citizens.

The role of Congress

We understand that presidents need to be nimble enough to negotiate trade agreements and enact sanctions or other punishments against belligerent nations. And President Trump during his first week back on the job is effectively using the hammer of tariffs to implement his agenda. But its time Congress reasserted the powers expressly given it under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, especially when it concerns threats against allies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In truth, tariffs against Colombia would have been barely felt in the United States, which has a much larger economy. But it could have devastated Colombias economy, possibly bringing instability to the third most populous country in Latin America, behind Brazil and Mexico.

We hope for a balanced approach, capitalizing on the presidents leadership, working with Congress to benefit not just Americas interest but also our trading partners. Those goals are not mutually exclusive.
The term late-stage capitalism has lately been on everyones lips. I hear the description from friends concerned with economics and a very hip, tattooed Brooklynite who sold me a pair of vintage jeans.

Late-stage capitalism now appears to be a default answer to every headline calamity. Medical insurance crisis? Late-stage capitalism. Violent right-wing blue-collar workers for Trump? Late-stage capitalism. The rise of Silicon Valley bros taking over the world? Late-stage capitalism. Is it any wonder that a majority of Gen Zers dont think capitalism works?

Although all the above may be true, there is an unexplored area of late-stage capitalism that has gone unnoticed: crypto.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marxist theory would suggest that the first economic era in Americas history was true capitalism, the kind that Marx and Engels wrote about. It started with the industrial revolution. Profits were to be squeezed from exploited workers. Productivity was measured in units produced and the physical cost of goods, plus overhead and labor. This was the dynamic that gave rise to the accumulation of capital (that is, the Marxist term surplus value). This modality lasted roughly from 1760 to 1960.

The second era was pure finance. Sometime in the late sixties, Harold Geneen and his ITT conglomerate came to represent the new face of capitalism. Where or by whom something was made became irrelevant to corporate bosses. The magical world of leverage was born. Buying revenue streams with borrowed money, improving those streams by any means necessary, outsourcing, automation, subcontracting to the lowest bidder  these were the tools. Increased revenue drove stock prices higher. Rinse and repeat.

The third stage may have been been born in 1977, when Lewis Ranieri invented the collateralized mortgage obligation. This financial instrument made quaint the kind of banking that Jimmy Stewarts character does in Its a Wonderful Life, whereby a small-town institution held all the mortgages and was the financial anchor of the community. Today, that would be a suckers bet.

Everything that isnt nailed down is financed. Leverage includes the issuance of junk bonds using pools of rich peoples capital. Everything is financed  cars new and used (through auto loans), consumer purchases (through credit card debt), real estate rents, higher education and even furniture payments. Speculation is rampant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But there is more! Wall Street even invents new tools like leveraged 3X funds, designed to gain three times the daily or monthly return of the respective underlying index  long or short, plus or minus.

Although Marx himself never used the term late-stage capitalism, his prediction of frequent crises in capitalism has certainly come true. From the endless panics that 18th- and 19th-century America endured (almost every seven years) to the Great Depression and the financial meltdown of 2008, Marx foresaw the self-destructive nature of concentrated wealth.

But until the rise of cryptocurrency, investors could, by looking closely, see the underlining asset they were investing in. Whether mortgages, equity shares, commodity or interest-rate futures, investment was based on something underneath the layers of leverage.

In the new speculative nirvana of crypto, this quaint notion has been made redundant. Bitcoin and the thousands of memecoins have no underlying revenues, definable asset value or industrial use. Marx had a term for this: fictitious capital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The recent rush into crypto by respected financial institutions like BlackRock is the kind of thing that historically signals the top of a market about to implode. Think of Bank of Americas acquisition of Countywide, which promptly lost $40 billion, triggering years of litigation and losses. Think of the dot-com bubble, when the top-rated Janus Global Technology fund lost 84 percent of its value.

Of course, there are practical uses for crypto: tax evasion, laundering narcotics money, evading war sanctions, online romance scam payments, terrorist fundraising and a host of other ways to get around the law.

What would Marx say if he were here to see Haliey Welch, the Hawk Tuah girl  now subject to litigation because buyers of her memecoin are shocked it may have been a worthless scam. I believe he would be smiling from ear to ear. In his wildest imagination, he could not have imagined capitalism would devolve to creating value based on the viral video of a girl crudely describing a sex act. If betting on the rise of a memecoin is not capitalist folly, I dont know what is.

Of course we now have $Trump and $Melania memecoins  perhaps the best evidence of late-stage capitalism  or more likely the end-stage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jonathan Russo writes about politics, economics, foreign and domestic policy and cultural issues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonights 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.

Editors note: An abbreviated version of War Notes today  my sister is moving and asked for access to my storage unit to borrow some furniture  the expression on my face is when I realized shes borrowing everything in the storage unit and its never coming back.

Reminder: War Notes and our Why it Matters memo are analyses of the days news.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will tell you: Whats happening. Why its happening Why it matters.

If we pass judgment on whats happening its solely through the lens of whats good for the country  we remain unabashedly pro-America.  We are not pro-Trump or anti-Trump. We are fair.



GITMO: Trump casually dropped today the Department of Defense is preparing 30,000 beds at Guantanamo Bay to house illegal aliens.

Thought bubble: Wow, what else do they have up their sleeve?

Winning on common sense: President Donald Trump is racking up short-term wins: The executive order (signed this morning) that revokes visas for kids who participate in pro-Hamas rallies makes sense to most Americans.

Good luck to Democrats who want to fight against it.

We told you: Long-term wins are going to be a lot harder.

The Supreme Court will ultimately rule on a lot of Trumps executive orders.

Also: We told you the establishment media still doesnt get Trumps appeal. The celebration today over Trumps rescinding the OIMB memo freezing some federal spending misses how happy most taxpayers are that someone, or anyone, is paying attention. Fair point: This was team Trumps first screw-up  up until now they have been nearly flawless. Playing for big headlines is a dangerous game. Watch tonight: Tom Dupree and Chris Cilliza on both the law and the politics of Trumps continued shock and awe.



Important conversation: Bidens former acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, Rob Shriver, joins us tonight with the Democratic outrage over Trumps severance offer for federal employees who wont come back to the office.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services testifies during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Ill Take the Crazy

Yes, a lot of what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in the past is nuts  so the establishment spent his confirmation hearing today pounding the table demanding he atone for his craziness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsflash: America doesnt love MAHA  Make America Healthy Again  despite the crazy; they like it because of the crazy.

Plus the establishments track record sucks. I ask any of the Democrats who are chuckling, do you think the $900 billion that were sending to Medicaid every year makes Americans healthy? Do we think its working for anybody? Are the premiums low enough? RFK Jr. said in his hearing earlier.



The establishment doesnt understand that most people think they (the establishment) are liars, and when given a choice between liars and nuts, a lot of Americans will take a chance on nuts.

We can go through the reasons  from Hunter Bidens laptop to COVID craziness. The establishment lost its credibility  as RFK Jr. laid out all the conspiracy theories that later became true.



Headline du jour: What an Undervaccinated America Would Look Like, headlines The Atlantic.

The fear-mongering about Trumps policies worked the first time around  its why Joe Biden got elected in 2020. Then things got demonstrably worse for much of America  now if the establishment hates it  it MUST be good.

On TV: Last nights segment with Erick Erickson laid this out pretty well. Check out Ericksons latest Substack on RFK Jr. here. Erickson doesnt like RFK Jr.  hes one of the few Republicans who wont bend to the knee of Trump.



Does Trump have enough political capital to push through RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel?

Pick one: One of two theories will explain the fate of Trumps most controversial nominees.  Trump ramming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth through cost him a lot of political capital and he will have to give up a pick or two. See Bill OReillys warning that many Republicans have had enough.

OR Political capital is like a muscle  the more you use it and win, the stronger it gets. Trumps first week and the excitement of MAGA makes it all the harder for Republican senators to cross him.



The truth: Anybody who tells you they know which one theory will prove true is lying.

Tune into On Balance with Leland Vittert weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.

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.
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonights 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.

A thousand words: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in raid gear pretty much sums up the Trump administrations first week.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. (Credit: @TriciaOhio on X  Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security)

Zoom out: DEA and ICE offices across the country seem to be in a Twitter, or X, war of who can post the hardest-hitting raid videos. Call it leadership, stagecraft or messaging  whatever you want  what Trump is doing is working, and Democrats are flat-footed  see below.



Fun times: Business is good for therapists these days.

From Salon: Surviving political grief: Youre not alone, and there is a path forward.

Fair question: Did Republicans go through this when Biden won?

Watch tonight: Legendary therapist Gail Saltz will join us. Live session: I am a 42-year-old. I live in Omaha, Nebraska and drive a Subaru. I wear a mask most of the time  you cant be too safe during flu season. I am really broken up over Donald Trumps election. Please help me.



Cruel kids fail: New York Magazine thought they had MAGAworld by the tail with a tough cover story about the young, hot, white, straight influencers in D.C. for the inauguration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cruel Kids Table : Among the young, confident, and casually cruel Trumpers who, after conquering Washington, have their sights set on America, the article headlines. Except they cropped out the Black people from their own photo!

Watch tonight: Rob Smith, host of the Cant Cancel Rob Smith podcast, who is gay and Black, will be on to discuss what actually happened at the party and who the real cruel kids in politics are today.

Popcorn: In a totally unshocking turn of events, the same reporters who tossed softballs at Karine Jean-Pierre found their journalistic chops during todays White House briefing.

Wow: Karoline Leavitt came to play in her first press briefing. Watch clips from the briefing here and here.

Watch tonight: Sean Spicer  who knows a thing or two about first press briefings for President Trump  joins us.

Great booking: Erik Erickson joins us tonight as one of the few Republican voices actively against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ahead of Kennedys confirmation hearing tomorrow for secretary of Health & Human Services.

More with Erickson on Bill OReillys warning from last nights show that made big news: Trump Cant Strong-Arm Senate Into Confirming RFK: Most of Those People Will Still Be in Office When He Leaves, headlines Mediaite.

President Donald Trump addresses the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami on January 27, 2025 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Defining the Field of Battle

Since the first hour of his second term, Donald Trump defined the field of battle  like in war, he who defines the field of battle in politics is (almost always) the winner.

Deporting illegal aliens who commit crimes. Now he has Democratic mayors promising to fight ICE. And CNN is fighting for illegal immigrants in schools.

Ending DEI in the military and kicking out transgender service members. He has Kaitlan Collins of CNN arguing that the military is better off with transgender soldiers.

Impounding government spending. From Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.: Trump must direct his administration to reverse course immediately and the taxpayers money should be distributed to the people. Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a question on excess spending with, During this pause, DOGE and OMB found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza! That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money!

Elon Musk wildly runs around the stage. Democrats accused him of giving a Nazi salute.



Its the 2017 playbook, says Batya Ungar-Sargon, and its not working.



Tune into On Balance with Leland Vittert weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wildfires have destroyed around 90 square miles of area around Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and other communities in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. Over 16,000 buildings have been destroyed, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate or placed under evacuation orders.

The monetary value of all such damage and carnage will be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet this may only represent material losses. What cannot be recouped are the many intangibles, such as family heirlooms and historically significant structures that can never be restored.

And there are many losses flying under the radar that deserve attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When every building on a street has been burned down, restoring a community involves more than just rebuilding the homes and structures. It also means bringing people together to rebuild the community that they shared with their neighbors. The cost of such efforts far exceeds the cost of the buildings alone. Given that some of these people may not have had fire insurance. Many lots will be sold to developers, who will rebuild their neighborhoods in perhaps unimaginable ways.

What makes this disaster so daunting is that there are homes standing mostly intact or with no damage situated immediately adjacent to homes that have been destroyed and are uninhabitable. Such a mosaic of damage could never have been anticipated, making the rebuilding process more difficult.

Of course, there is a point at which a neighborhood ceases to function, when a certain percent of homes and businesses in a neighborhood are destroyed. Once these areas are opened, the risk of looting remains, as bad actors seize the opportunity to exploit inhabitable houses for personal gain. Such a wild west environment will demand security and watchful attention, adding to the otherwise already daunting costs.

With so many homes and buildings destroyed, collecting real estate tax revenue on such properties will be impossible. The amount owed may be reduced if a building is destroyed, but its land value remains high and will be taxed. Los Angeless Misfortune And Calamity Program will provide some relief, but it will not fully eliminate taxes that may be due eventually. In addition, sales taxes on goods and services will not be collected by businesses in the areas affected, both because many such businesses no longer exist and because there are no customers. The pending tax shortfall for Los Angeles will not go unnoticed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then there is the issue of mortgages outstanding on homes that have been destroyed by the fires. Homeowners are still liable for the amount owed. For some, disaster relief may be available. Lenders will be highly motivated to work with homeowners to redefine the terms of their mortgage to avoid foreclosure, particularly if the loan is underwater after the value of the building is deducted.

The recovery time for people who have been displaced by the fires is unfathomable. Hundreds of thousands of people were subject to evacuation orders, forcing them out of the safety of their homes and neighborhoods. Their lives did not simply stop. Many have still showed up for work outside the areas affected, with a cloud of uncertainty around whether their home was destroyed and whether what remains is salvageable. Even if their house remains intact and untouched by the fires, many of their friends and neighbors were likely not so fortunate.

What has been lost, more than their homes and property, is a sense of security. Yet the magnitude of the fires and the effect of the winds created an ideal environment for an unprecedented natural disaster. What this demonstrated is that Black Swan natural disasters remain a persistent risk not only in the Los Angeles area, but all across the nation. Whether it is earthquakes in the Bay area, tornados in the Midwest or hurricanes in the Southeast and Atlantic regions, the forces of nature remain relentlessly strong, frequently unpredictable and defiantly unforgiving.

A mostly ignored clue that the Los Angeles area wildfire risk had grown too high was when private insurers like State Farm and Allstate stopped providing coverage for homes and businesses. If their analysis determined that the risk had grown sufficiently high that they could not exploit the benefits of pooled risk to offer policies and remain profitable, it should send a powerful message that the time had come for residents to reevaluate the risks that they had to absorb, and whether they could afford to assume such risks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leveling and rebuilding buildings will take several years. But restoring communities will take much longer. Politicians who blame city leaders and the governor of California are missing a critical point: What happened in Los Angeles could happen anywhere. Perhaps not with fire, but with some natural elements like water or wind, destroying lives, property and livelihoods.

Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor in computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He uses his expertise in risk-based analytics to address problems in public policy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On the first day of his second term as U.S. president, Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the World Health Organization, listing, as justification for this action, issues with management efficacy, financial equity and geopolitical influence. I respect that the structure and management of international bodies like WHO will naturally require renegotiation and compromise as the global landscape changes, so I do not intend to argue these points. To initiate such a renegotiation, however, by withdrawing influence and funding from WHO will have disastrous and inhumane consequences for matters of national and international security. How, you might ask?

Although many people became aware of and/or familiar with WHO only during the pandemic in 2020, the organization is involved in much more than infectious diseases. In 1987, the global maternal mortality ratio was over 400 per 100,000 live births, which amounted to half a million maternal deaths every year. At the time, Dr. Mahmoud Fathalla, past president of the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, stated, Mothers are not dying because of diseases we cannot prevent or treat. They are still dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.

In that same year, WHO launched the Safe Motherhood Initiative, which aimed to reduce maternal mortality worldwide by promoting access to quality health care, skilled birth attendants, family planning and emergency obstetric care, emphasizing the fundamental right to safe pregnancy and childbirth. Although WHO did not work alone, its efforts led the way for many collaborating organizations around the world to cut the maternal mortality ratio by more than half, a formidable achievement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because 800 mothers still die every day, WHO continues its commitment to ending maternal mortality through concrete ways such as monitoring and data collection, strengthening health systems, and advocating health care access for all mothers and children around the world. WHO is often one of the first organizations coordinating humanitarian response to the most vulnerable people  mostly women and children  caught in the crosshairs of human conflict, geopolitical displacement and natural disasters. As a licensed midwife, I have benefitted from training and gold-standard technical manuals provided free of charge by WHO.

The maternal mortality rate of a country serves as an essential indicator of a nations development and security because, as Valerie Hudson has explained, What you do to your women, you do to your country. Even though 95% of maternal deaths occur in low- or middle-income countries, the negative effects of these deaths spill across international borders. In a globalized world, the security and stability of foreign nations affect the security and stability of the U.S. When the maternal mortality ratio of a country is high, the nation becomes economically and socially insecure. Such insecurity drives domestic conflict, forced migration within and across borders, and economic and structural strain on neighboring nations. A pointed example of this is the increase of Venezuelan immigrants to the United States due to the economic collapse, political instability and other crises in their native country.

Kofi Anan, past secretary-general of the United Nations, said it best. There is no policy more effective in promoting development, health, and education than the empowerment of women and girls  and no policy is more important in preventing conflict.

Empowerment of women and girls begins with their survival. If the U.S. desires freedom and peace, we need to concern ourselves with the survival of women and children around the world. If the U.S. withdraws funding and support from WHO, critical programs that support the survival of women and children will be at risk. Unilateral action by the U.S. cannot accomplish the demanding work WHO is committed to.

If the role of the U.S. within WHO needs reconsideration and negotiation, it must be done with an eye toward peace and security. Do not place the lives of women and children on the negotiating table as bargaining chips. Let your voice be heard in the ears of your state representatives that withdrawing from WHO is an unacceptable maneuver in negotiating U.S. involvement because it puts women, children and international security at risk. History has proven and will continue to prove that this is a no-win deal.
The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), based in Athi River, has launched its third Sector Training Committee (STC) as part of its mission to strengthen Kenyas workforce and ensure training keeps pace with the countrys shifting labor market needs.

This latest move underscores NITAs commitment to addressing the gaps in industrial skills training and equipping Kenyans with the expertise they need to thrive in a competitive global job market. During the launch, NITA Board Chair Mohamed Ali Noor emphasized the significance of the committees role in shaping the nations skills development strategy.

The STCs are key to fixing the mismatches in skills training, Noor explained. This structure allows us to sharpen expertise, adopt new technologies, and set the kind of training standards that align with todays industrial demands.

The new committee isnt just about technical jargon or bureaucracyits about bringing together the right people. Experts from 12 major sectors, including agriculture, tourism, real estate, energy, and communications, have joined forces to guide the initiative. With such a wide range of expertise, NITA aims to create training programs that arent just relevant for today but also for the future.

Heres a quick look at the industries represented:

Agriculture

Energy and Water

Tourism and Sports

Real Estate

Communication

Business

Environment

Infrastructure

Allied Agencies

A committee with this kind of diversity allows NITA to craft training programs that cater to the unique challenges and opportunities across multiple industries.

One thing NITA knows for sure: skills cant just be theoretical. Thats why 80% of its programs focus on hands-on training. Whether youre a primary school dropout or a fresh university graduate looking to polish your skills, theres space for you within NITAs programs.

Speaking about this practical approach, Noor emphasized the need for Kenyan youth to rethink their career aspirations. Too many young people are chasing white-collar jobs, leading to higher unemployment rates, he explained. Technical skills offer not just a career path but a chance to thrive in todays job market.

The aim here is simple: to prepare Kenyans for real-world challenges and opportunitieswhether thats within local industries or on a global stage.

The launch event, themed Fostering Collaboration and Advancing Skills Development through Sector Leadership, showcased NITAs intention to work closely with industry leaders. The message was clear: Kenya needs custom-tailored training programs that meet both local needs and international standards.

Noor drove home the point, saying, Our goal is to stay at the forefront of industrial training by continuously improving our programs and collaborating with all the key stakeholders.
Israelis and Palestinians breathed a sigh of relief when the ceasefire began. Now they are holding their breath to see if it lasts. Although there are some signs of hope, there are also far more reasons for concern.

The deal has three phases, each more contingent and fragile than the preceding one. The first phase, lasting six weeks, began with the release of three Israeli hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. Another 30 Israelis and more than 1,600 Palestinians will be gradually released.

Although the ceasefire is holding, worrying developments cast doubt on Netanyahus commitment to implementing the next phase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israel Defense Forces bombed targets until the last minute, killing 73 people in air raids the night before the ceasefire was announced. Benjamin Netanyahu then declared that both President Trump and President Biden gave full backing to Israels right to return to fighting if Israel comes to the conclusion that negotiations on Phase B are futile.

Perhaps he was answering critics who viewed the ceasefire agreement as a sell-out, but he may also have been indicating his own unhappiness with the deal.

Netanyahu only agreed to it under pressure from Trumps envoy, Steven Witkoff. What happened, a senior Israeli official explained, is that Witkoff delivered a stern message from the incoming president of the United States, who unequivocally demanded the deals conclusion.

Developments elsewhere in the occupied territories are also worrying. No sooner had the dust in Gaza settled than Netanyahu began operations in the West Bank.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the IDF began air and ground attacks against Jenin, killing 10 Palestinians.

The immediate pretext for the incursion was unclear, but Netanyahu insisted its goal was to defeat terrorism.

As with his defiant statement on the eve of the ceasefire, the Jenin operation may have been launched to reassure hardliners of his commitment to combating any threat to Israeli security. However, the attack might be part of a wider strategy to extend control over the West Bank.

The incursion must be understood within the context of Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, which has increased dramatically since Oct. 7, 2023 with the acquiescence (if not the tacit approval) of the Israeli government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has already lifted Biden-era sanctions on settlers.

That action, coupled with the appointment of Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who believes the occupied territories are part of Biblical Israel, signals his willingness to allow expansion of settlements and perhaps even Israeli annexation of the West Bank.

During his first term, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and issued a proclamation recognizing Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, reversing long-standing U.S. policy.

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, the IDF occupied the buffer zone between Israel and Syria and approved the expansion of settlements in the Golan, allegedly to enhance security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These developments do not bode well for the success of the next phases of the ceasefire, let alone a lasting peace. Palestinians consider Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan as part of what should be a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu rejects.

The situation in Gaza also offers encouraging signs and cause for concern.

The killing has stopped. Desperately needed aid is entering the enclave, and people are returning to what remains of their homes.

At the same time, Hamas police officers patrol the streets, a clear indication that the organization is far from being destroyed.

For the time being, the Netanyahu government is allowing this security arrangement as part of the ceasefire deal, but images of armed Hamas members in their distinctive blue uniforms operating openly in Gaza no doubt rankles many Israelis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nonetheless, preliminary discussions of phase two have already begun.

Set to begin 42 days after the start of the ceasefire, this phase requires a declaration of sustainable calm followed by the release of the remaining hostages in return for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Thats a tall order, and many details need to be worked out. By releasing the hostages, Hamas would be giving up its last bit of leverage. For its part, Israel will almost certainly insist on a buffer zone around Gaza and possibly some military presence within the enclave.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the far-right Religious Zionist Party has threatened to leave the government if Israel does not occupy and create a temporary military government in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the other hardliner, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has already quit the government, the departure of Smotrich would deprive the government of its slim parliamentary majority (62 or 63 of 120 seats) in the Knesset.

Given Netanyahus determination to hold power at all costs, the finance ministers threat may be enough to scupper the deal.

However, scenes of joyful reunions between hostages and their families make for compelling viewing. Most Israelis want the rest released. That imperative may lead to a compromise on implementing phase two.

Phase three, which has no set start date, includes rebuilding Gaza as well as the reopening of border crossings and the return of the bodies of Israelis and Palestinians killed in the conflict.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rebuilding Gaza will be a herculean task, which could cost as much as $80 billion, and it remains unclear who will pay for it.

Governing post-war Gaza will also be challenging.

In December the Palestinian Authority and Hamas reached a tentative agreement to create a joint governing committee, but Israel has said it will not permit a role for either Hamas or Fatah, the group that dominates the PA.

A peacekeeping mission by regional states might be possible, but no one has yet volunteered for that.

Even if all these obstacles could be overcome, a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza leaves unanswered the question of a comprehensive plan that satisfies Palestinian national aspirations and Israeli security concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without such an agreement, any deal over Gaza will be nothing more than a respite before the next round of fighting.

Tom Mockaitis is a professor of history at DePaul University and the author of  Violent Extremists: Understanding the Domestic and International Terrorist Threat .

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Americas secretary of Defense is its first line of defense. Pete Hegseth admits he couldnt always walk a line. So how will he hold the line when facing astute counterparts around the world?

Russian Minister of Defense Andrei Belousov, the former minister of Economic Development, has experience aligning his nations budget with military needs. He launched an unmanned aviation industry that built 18,000 drones. Chinas minister of National Defense, Admiral Dong Jun, served as commander of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy and as deputy chief of staff of Chinas North Sea Fleet. He knows how to interweave various military services to function as a team.

Thats called jointness, about which Hegseth knows little. He touted his Army background in the National Guard as a qualification to be secretary of Defense, but just as different cultures, goals and methods divide allies in a coalition, they also divide military branches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Training and loyalties begin and end with ones unit. Joint military action is critical for todays complex missions, right down to compatible communication software. Hegseth lacks the military experience necessary to prepare joint readiness for 10 years out or for tomorrow.

Readiness requires decisions about force structure and capability  how many divisions, navy vessels, fighter aircraft, bombers and missiles. How many troops, how well trained, how recently, and their familiarity with new equipment. Development and manufacture of new weapons takes five to 10 years and stays in our arsenal up to 40 years.

Former President Jimmy Carters secretary of Defense, Harold Brown, had a Ph.D. in physics and previously served as U.S. director of Defense Research and Engineering. Brown led development of stealth aircraft, precision-guided bombs and the Polaris missile. He understood why the Soviets wanted to limit the range of those missiles to 600 km past border defenses, because it would the limit would tie Americas hands. At the time of SALT II negotiations to limit the range, 53 percent of Americans lived within 600 km (372 miles) of our coastal borders; Moscow lies 700 km from a border.

The range limit of a treaty affects not only strike capability, but also how the U.S. researches, designs and builds weapons. By avoiding Russias suggested limits, America is able to load multiple missiles on one aircraft with an extended striking range. How can Pete Hegseth, who lacks scientific training, guide future weapon treaties to our advantage?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the other hand, both Andrei Belousov and Dong Jun, men in their mid-sixties, bring decades of experience developing innovative weapons of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. For the last dozen years, Dong has taught in Chinas National University of Defense Technology. Chinas new powerful microwave weapon can impede the electronics in our weapon systems. Like secretaries of Defense before him, Hegseth will need to sit down with China to discuss limiting new weapons use. Hell need substantial scientific tutorials to ace that task.

The four original Cabinet positions  the secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense and the Attorney General  have always dealt directly with the president. Former Secretary Brown spoke directly to Carter several times a week. What experience will underpin Hegseths advice to President Trump under threats posed by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea?

Given Trumps view toward NATO, how will he manage the presidents isolationism? NATO has been the bulwark for democratic political systems, an economic resource and the source of significant military contribution. In the western Pacific, Japan and South Korea can help us counter Chinas vow to thwart Taiwans independence. Does Hegseth have what it takes to manage conflicting points of view when our national alliances and security are at stake?

Even before he grapples with world problems, Hegseth will face tumult within the Pentagon. Our Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines compete with one another for money to research and develop new weapons, and for advanced training. Congress directs funds to each of the armed services by name. At the outset, the secretary of Defense must defend his budget choices  including budget cuts  not only to four military commanders but also to individual members of Congress lobbying for funds to benefit their states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a grueling process. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs can be an important budget adviser, mediator and ally in Congress, but Hegseth said he intends to fire the head of the Joint Chiefs, whom he deems too woke. By cutting troops or bases in certain states, Hegseth may find himself besieged by angry Republicans who voted to confirm him. Thats before his inbox fills with a tyranny of headlines that usurp his focus from strategic long-range projects.

Its not enough to be smart; it takes wisdom to manage 2.25 million personnel and about the same number of civilian employees  a force far larger than the worlds largest private corporation. The secretary worries over short-term needs of troops in battle while formulating long-term programs to ensure American interests in all parts of the world. He must stay informed about any important international or domestic happenings and deal with them best he can.

As a television anchor, Hegseth had only to parrot news stories. A secretary of Defense defuses inaccurate news, advises the president, protects Americas ability to sustain its defense, and keeps important long-range projects on track. To this important job, which benefits from multi-faceted management skills and seasoned wisdom, Republicans confirmed a brash, ambitious, historically unwise neophyte.

Joyce Winslow served as a spokesperson for Medicare in the Bush-Cheney administration, and wrote a book with former Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, titled Star Spangled Security: Applying Lessons Learned Over Six Decades Safeguarding America.

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.
Could the drug ads that flash across your television screen offering better health soon be coming to an end?

President Donald Trumps nominee for health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is looking at banning drug ads on television. Trumps nominee to chair the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, is on board. Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and Trumps most powerful ally, likes the idea. The American Medical Association called for prohibiting ads for prescription drugs almost a decade ago. And many Americans support a ban.

You know these ads. They generally include someone barely making their way through the day; then suddenly, as if by magic, the world goes from black and white to color. A previously ill person can sing and dance, pet their golden retriever and run over bridges without a care in the world. And then at the end of the ad, in fine print or a rushed voiceover, the drugs potential side effects fly by at lightning speed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is a reason we are all familiar with these ads: They work. Hawking pharmaceuticals directly to consumers is a multibillion-dollar business.

Pharmaceutical companies, not to mention the television companies that profit from the ad revenue raised from running those ads, now find themselves in the administrations crosshairs. But can the government ban television ads? Is this even permitted under the First Amendment?

During the first Trump administration, a federal judge prevented it from requiring that commercials for prescription drugs include prices for all drugs that cost more than $35. Three major drug companies  Merck, Eli Lilly and Amgen  sued to block the rule, in part on First Amendment grounds. The judge didnt take a view on that question, though, instead ruling that the Department of Health and Human Services lacked the regulatory power to implement such a rule.

If the Trump administration once again tries to regulate pharmaceutical ads, the first question will be how it tries to accomplish that. The easiest way to get to this place would be to pass legislation, which the pharmaceutical lobby no doubt would fight fiercely. If Trump, instead, were to issue an executive order or direct an agency, like the Department of Health and Human Services, to create a new rule, the first legal question would be whether the government has the power to create such a rule or issue such an order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But lets assume we clear that first threshold and that a judge concludes that the government has the power to restrict pharmaceutical ads. This would bring us to the meaty legal question of whether any such restriction could withstand a First Amendment challenge. And the answer is: It depends.

The First Amendment prevents the government from banning speech, except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Its protections extend beyond political speech to other types of speech, including commercial speech such as advertisements by drug companies.

That having been said, while commercial speech is protected by the First Amendment, it doesnt enjoy the same level of protections as political speech. Back in 1980, the Supreme Court created a multi-part test to determine whether the government can restrict commercial speech. Assuming the speech concerns lawful activities and it isnt misleading, a regulation of commercial speech would be upheld only if the governments interest in regulating the speech was substantial, the regulation directly advances that substantial government interest and the regulation is not broader than necessary to achieve than substantial government interest.

So our first question is whether the government has a substantial interest in restricting or banning pharmaceutical ads on TV. Opponents of the ads say yes, arguing that these ads promote medications that dont make Americans healthier and often are more expensive than effective alternatives. It is true that, besides New Zealand, other developed countries severely restrict ads by pharmaceutical companies. But those countries tend not to have the same robust protections for the freedom of speech that we do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If a court answered the first question in the affirmative, then the second question is all but a foregone conclusion. Assuming there was a substantial interest in limiting pharmaceutical ads on TV, a ban would substantially advance that interest.

The last question a court would ask is whether the regulation of speech was too broad. For instance, could the governments interest be achieved by placing more limits on these ads than on banning them altogether? Would, for example, more warnings solve much of the problem the government was seeking to address? Or would legislation targeting only certain types of medications advance the governments interest? First Amendment precedent suggests that the courts might look more favorably on restrictions as opposed to outright bans.

Legally, the Trump administrations ability to ban pharmaceutical ads on television boils down to how it wants to enact that ban  by executive order, rulemaking or legislation  and then whether any such ban would survive First Amendment scrutiny. But any claims that pharmaceutical ads can be banned easily should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his confirmation hearing to be Donald Trumps next head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today.

Opposition to his confirmation will almost certainly be focused on his record of making strange and conspiratorial claims about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic. Kennedys defenders paint him as merely a civil libertarian critic of heavy-handed lockdowns or someone with reasonable concerns about the approval process for the Covid vaccines. But as recently as 2023, he went on Fox & Friends and reiterated the long-debunked idea that autism comes from vaccines. The same year, a video emerged of him speculating at a private event that the coronavirus was engineered as an ethnically targeted bioweapon and that this is why it had so little effect on Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

All this is enough to make respectable public health officials shudder. But some critics of Americas health care status quo might be inclined to welcome Kennedys nomination. After all, a great many ordinary Americans are so disenchanted with our health care system that they were willing to openly cheer for the assassination of a health insurance executive on the streets of Manhattan. Clearly, the status quo isnt working. However kooky some of RFK Jr.s views may be, arent we overdue for an anti-establishment figure to take the helm and shake things up?The problem is that Kennedy isnt anti-establishment in any way that would actually help working-class people at the expense of wealthy plutocrats. He might be an enemy of Big Pharma in the sense that he spreads bizarre conspiracy theories about some of the medicine they sell. But he doesnt dispute their right to reap massive profits for their shareholders by selling that medicine at extortionate prices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the spring of 2023, when RFK Jr. was still challenging President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, he was interviewed by left-leaning journalist Krystal Ball and her conservative-leaning co-host, Saagar Enjeti. Ball asked Kennedy whether he agreed that the root of the problem with Americas health care system was a health insurance industry and a hospital industry and a pharmaceutical industry in which the bottom line is the bottom line, and he responded that that just sounded like human nature. Ball clarified that she was talking about the profit motive, and Kennedy shrugged off the distinction.

The profit motive, he said, is human nature.

But theres nothing natural about the way the United States ties health care to the profit motive. As far as I know, America is the only country in the developed world where cash-strapped diabetics sometimes die because they resort to rationing out their insulin. In many other nations around the world, health care is treated as a basic right, funded by taxation and provided free at the point of service. No one in Canada or Britain or Norway or Sweden, for example, has to stay in a job they hate because of fear of losing their employer health insurance. No one in these countries stays in a bad marriage for fear of losing their spousal health insurance. No one grieving for a dead parent has to spend half their life on the phone arguing about unpaid hospital bills. But all of these things are routine parts of American life.

In his runs for president in 2016 and 2020, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposed a single-payer Medicare for All system that would be similar to the systems in those countries. Debate over the merits of this proposal dominated the 2020 race on the Democratic side. As a candidate, Joe Biden rejected Medicare for All, though he split the difference with a public option proposal under which a government-run plan would be offered alongside various private plans. (He stopped talking about this idea after the election.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sanders supporters like me thought this was a much worse idea than Medicare for All. A public plan that you could buy into, however cheaply, would replicate at least some of the big problems with private health care. People who missed a payment or two would be out of luck in medical emergencies, for example, and (much like Medicaid under the current system) its likely that many doctors and clinics wouldnt take the public plan. A public option would be better than what we have now, but it would still be two-tiered health care for the rich and the poor.RFK Jr., though, could never really bestir himself even to push for a public option. The best hed do, as in the Ball/Enjeti interview, was to say that his first choice would be a system with a public option, if only it were politically realistic. Nor has he shown much enthusiasm for the governments directly providing Americans with affordable prescription drugs. When Ball asked him if hed be in favor of nationalizing pharmaceutical companies or even, if the private companies stayed in place, at least manufacturing generic drugs in the public sector, he dismissed this without a seconds thought, saying, No, I dont think thats the right thing, and immediately changing the subject.

And that was when he was challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination and he had a powerful incentive to present himself as a progressive candidate. Its a safe bet that, serving in the Cabinet of a Republican president, he would be even less inclined to interfere with the profit motive he sees as nothing more than an extension of human nature.Our health care system is a nightmare. But we need to be able to distinguish between diametrically opposed critiques of it. Is the problem that rent-seeking private companies stand between suffering people and the health care they need, or is it that the medicine itself doesnt work and everyone just needs to get more sunshine and go for a jog (or maybe try ivermectin)?

Championing the first perspective puts you on the right side of history. The second one just makes you a crank.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
With Marco Rubios unanimous confirmation as secretary of State, now is the time to stand up to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Rubio has a history of standing up to the Cuban regime while in the Senate, there is no reason he wont continue to do so in his new position. In fact, the Trump administration has already reinstated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

January marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and its important to remember that modern slavery comes in different forms. In 2008, Ramona Matos Rodriguez, a family medicine physician from Cuba, was sent to work in San Agustin, Bolivia, a small town in the Amazons. Her passport was seized by a Cuban security agent at the airport. She was not allowed to possess any other identifying documents, and she and her fellow doctors were forced to fill out paperwork with false statistics about made-up patients or else face retribution from the Cuban regime.

Matos was one of thousands of medical personnel trafficked abroad into forced labor  all for the profit of the Cuban regime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cuba has a long history of sending its armed forces and medical personnel to foreign countries under the guise of aid. Fidel Castro sought to export his brand of revolutionary violence across Latin America  as in the failed invasion of Bolivia by Castros associate, Che Guevara. Cubas communist regime also has a long history of sending military advisors and troops to prop up dictators, advance authoritarian parties, and attack democratically elected governments in Angola, Mozambique, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Yemen, Algeria, Syria and elsewhere.

The other tragic but less-known human capital export of Cuba is its so-called Medical Brigades. Havana has sent tens of thousands of medical workers around the world since the 1960s, from poverty-stricken African nations to Portugal and Italy. Undoubtedly, in most cases, these medical professionals do provide needed health care in often difficult environments. But the regimes reason for sending them is not really about spreading the good news of communist brotherhood. Rather, it is financial: the Cuban regime makes a major profit from these programs.

Cuban medical professionals are lured with promises of travel, independence and excellent pay, but these promises often turn out to be a facade. As reported by the BBC, many of these medical workers are asked to spy on their associates and are exploited while receiving just a fraction of their wages. Numerous workers have reported unsafe conditions, violence and regime officials taking their passports, forcing them to comply if they want to return to Cuba. Combined with meager pay and often explicit threats against them and their families back home, they are isolated and vulnerable.

While the Cuban regime may want the world to see its medical brigades as a noble humanitarian effort like the Peace Corps or an organization like Doctors Without Borders, we know that this program is far closer to indentured servitude. Thats because while many of these medical professionals may have volunteered, their employers wield an immense amount of power over them during their tenure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because their pay, passports and medical licenses are often held by the Cuban embassy, they arent able to travel and are forced to continue working in unsafe conditions. Additionally, these doctors and their families are, in a very real sense, held hostage. Once abroad, they are cowed into silence and bullied by implicit or explicit threats to themselves or their family members back home.

This is not humanitarian work or even public diplomacy. These Cuban citizens thought they were going to use their skills to help people and instead, they are surveilled, asked to spy, deprived of their right to travel, and restricted from privately communicating with family.

All of this to bring profits and positive publicity to the communist elite back in Cuba. The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens, but Cubas communist regime violates this obligation every day. Those doctors and nurses have taken an oath to do no harm, and they should not have to fear harm at the hands of their own leaders.

A bipartisan resolution introduced in the House last Congress denounces the Cuban regime for profiteering by forcibly sending its medical personnel abroad. This resolution also condemns the Pan American Health Organization and other government officials for their role in facilitating and perpetuating human trafficking and calls on the executive branch to utilize existing visa revocation authorities on the responsible parties. Foreign officials who violate international agreements and traffic human beings must be held accountable for their actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is time for nations around the world to tell Cuba that its medical professionals should not be exploited, abused or threatened  and the U.S. should lead the charge.

Mark Green represents Tennessees 7th District. Eric Patterson, Ph.D., is president and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Democrats dont contest the fact that President Trump and his fellow Republicans earned the right to steer our national government, a right Trump sought to deny his predecessor through false statements, fraud and ultimately violence.

Notwithstanding his frequent statements to the contrary, however, Trump did not earn a mandate for his radical policy changes.

Trump takes obvious pride in winning the popular vote, but his margin was as tiny as  lets just leave it at tiny. Fewer than 50 percent of voters cast their ballot for him while his margin over Vice President Harris was less than 1.5 percentage points.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pretty puny by historical standards. Only nine presidential elections out of the 49 for which we have popular counts were won with lesser margins. Nineteen presidential elections yielded true landslide victories of 10 points or more. Trumps advantage was nowhere close to that.

Second, thats not how our system, or voters brains, work.

Voters arent given the opportunity to vote for or against a platform, never mind that Republicans barely offered one. In 2024, the GOP purposely shrunk its platform dramatically, offering a simple series of goals, because they knew advocating the policies required to reach those goals would create unbearable electoral burdens.

Even if Republicans had offered a more complete platform, thats not how voters make up their minds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Political scientists have debated the importance of issues in Americans voting calculus since the 1940s. The consensus: precious few are issue voters, casting ballots based on the specific issue positions of the candidates.

Most important, though, in polls and votes on ballot measures, majorities made clear they stand in direct opposition to many of Trumps policy prescriptions.

While Trump proclaims a mandate for mass deportations, 55 percent told Fox News pollsters most immigrants who are living in the United States illegally [should] be offered a chance to apply for legal status. Only 44 percent endorse Trumps desire to see them deported to the country they came from.

In response to a different question, Pew found 64 percent saying undocumented immigrants should have a way to stay in the country legally, if certain requirements are met. Just 35 percent endorse Trumps view that undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the country legally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigration is not the only issue on which the American people are at odds with Trumps policies. Republicans have no mandate from the American people on abortion. Sixty-three percent of the country says abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Unlike Trump, 70 percent of voters see racism as a serious problem in this country, and contra Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., only 22 percent want less government involvement in making certain children are vaccinated. Fifty-seven percent want stricter gun laws, only 34 percent want to eliminate the Department of Education and 72 percent favor expanding use of wind energy, while Trump just banned it.

Only 32 percent support Trumps plan to use economic coercion or military force to retake ownership of the Panama Canal and even fewer  19 percent  favor using those tools to take control of Greenland.

Fifty-seven percent oppose pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, just 29 percent want increased tariffs on imports, and 60 percent think it is a bad idea for Trump to rely on policy advice from billionaires.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For those who disdain polls, Americans voted directly on some of these issues in initiatives and referenda. Ballot measures protecting abortion rights garnered majorities in a series of red states including Florida, Missouri, Montana and Nevada.

Republicans oppose raising the minimum wage, but most Americans support it. Voters in ruby red Alaska and Missouri voted to increase their minimum wage. Nationally, 83 percent of voters favor raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour, with 64 percent endorsing a hike to $17.

Trump won. But he earned less than a majority from an electorate that was not given the opportunity to vote on the specifics of his agenda. Both polls and initiative results point to majorities rejecting many Trump policy positions.

Indeed, only 27 percent believe American voters have given Donald Trump a mandate to govern as he sees fit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mandate Trump wields as a bludgeon in public debate is a myth. While voters want change, they oppose a Trump revolution.

Mellman is president of The Mellman Group a political consultancy. Mellman served as pollster to Senate Democratic leaders for over 20 years. He is also president of Democratic Majority for Israel.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Scientific innovation keeps America great. It keeps you and your family healthy. Yet the Trump administrations early actions at the National Institutes of Health threaten this critical innovation.

In its first days, the administration abruptly moved to freeze the grant review process at the National Institutes of Health and disrupt internal scientific research at the agency.

When research is stopped, or even paused, it has real effects on our lives. It means that a cure for the diabetes that runs in your family will be delayed. It means that efforts to understand how cancer spreads  and how to stop it  will be stalled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It means that we will be that much farther away from being able to diagnose and develop novel treatments for Alzheimers disease. And as efforts to find better treatments for substance abuse and addiction are delayed, we will continue to lose our brothers, sisters and children who suffer from addiction.

The NIH is the largest biomedical research agency in the world, distributing more than $30 billion in grants each year. The taxpayer gets an excellent return on this investment.

In purely financial terms, each dollar the NIH spends to fund research generates nearly $2.50 in economic activity, according to an analysis by United for Medical Research, a coalition of universities, medical associations, patient advocacy groups and private industry. The funding supports more than 400,000 jobs nationwide in every single state.

But the biggest return is the research itself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Think about the health hazards that have grabbed headlines lately: Bird flu. Ultra-processed foods. Loneliness. Alcohol. Social media. Microplastics. Wildfires. Scientists in labs across the country rely on NIH funding to understand these issues, and so many others with the potential to affect each of us and those we love.

Indeed, NIH funding powered the science that led to the development of every one of the 210 new therapeutics approved between 2010 and 2016, according to a study published in 2018. Theres no reason to believe that efficacy has diminished at all in the years since.

NIH grants also fund training programs that equip the next generation of scientists with the skills necessary to identify and tackle the health threats of tomorrow.

Its not unusual for new administrations to impose a short pause on some activities in federal agencies while their appointees get up and running. But this weeks actions have been unprecedented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration canceled grant review meetings, known as study sections, that had been scheduled literally years in advance. One researcher told STAT that her study section was abruptly terminated right in the middle of the meeting. No new grants can move forward without these study sections, which help to ensure that the most promising avenues of research are funded.

If the process restarts within a week or two, the disruption will be manageable. Any longer, however, and scientists who depend on NIH funding to pay their teams, maintain their equipment and conduct their experiments will not only lose ground but may be forced to leave the field. Or return home, in the case of international scientists working in the U.S. That would be a stinging loss for them but would have even more disastrous consequences for health research in the U.S.

A study published last year found that funding interruptions lasting more than 30 days have a meaningful effect on the scientific labor force at the national level. The impact is likely to be particularly hard on early-career scientists and trainees  the very people whom the world is counting on to deliver the next generation of breakthrough treatments.

In addition to the freeze on external grant reviews, we have seen troubling reports that scientists working inside the NIH have been blocked from making any purchases  including basic supplies needed to keep their labs running. Temporary travel bans for all Health and Human Services staff have led to cancellations of important conferences, such as a gathering intended to spur the development of AI diagnostics to identify rare diseases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clearly, we hope the administration lifts the communications, travel and purchasing freezes and reschedules the canceled study sections as soon as possible so the grant process can resume. But the how is just as important as the when.

Academics grumble a lot about the NIH grant process. Yet its been designed and refined over the years with scientific rigor top of mind. The goal is to make sure federal funding supports labs that will not only study important questions but also produce meaningful results targeted to improve health while working with the highest level of integrity. Those criteria  and not political considerations  must remain at the forefront of funding decisions.

We know that protecting and improving the health of the people is a priority for many in the administration. We hope the president and his nominees recognize how critical the NIH is to that mission.

The NIH is the gold standard for biomedical research worldwide. Its an economic engine, and it propels the scientific discoveries that help families to thrive, parents to watch their children grow, and our elders to age well and with dignity. We must work together to protect this critical engine of scientific progress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Quackenbush is a professor and chairperson in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health. S. Bryn Austin is a professor and interim co-chairperson in the Chan Schools Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 first week of Trumps second term was a bad one for the values of Abraham Lincoln.

Much has been written about the Trump administration overturning policies designed to carry forward Lincolns 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. But equally ominous was the Senates razor-thin confirmation of Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense, which threatens a similarly settled sets of principles established by Lincoln in 1863.

In the depths of the Civil War, Lincoln ordered the American military to follow rules in combat to protect civilians against needless exposure to maiming or death. A retreat from concern about the fate of civilians in combat is especially pernicious in light of the new administrations enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. The dramatic evolution of AI in military operations  sometimes called lethal autonomous weapons systems  requires even greater scrutiny in order to safeguard the innocent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lincoln, amidst the carnage of the Civil War, recognized that values worth fighting for cannot be divorced from values followed in the fighting itself. In 1863, Lincoln issued the Lieber Code, which recognized the obligation to protect civilian noncombatants.

The Lieber Code became one of the foundations of humanitys continuing commitment to trying to civilize war, an inherently bloody business. It remains a fundamental ingredient in the law of armed conflict to this day.

As the Department of Defenses Manual of the Law of War begins, the law of war is part of who were are. For generations, one central principle has remained in understanding who we are: military objectives are not in themselves an excuse to ignore the risk of injuring or killing noncombatants, and tactical decisions must be made in light of these concerns. As explained in the 2023 Pentagon directions on Civilian Harm Mitigation, rules to protect civilians in combat reflect U.S. and professional military values, including the importance of protecting and respecting human life and treating civilians with dignity and respect.

By contrast, Hegseth promised that warfighting and lethality (along with combat readiness) will be our only focus. This is despite military leaders recognizing in the 2023 directions that the protection of civilians and civilian objects is fundamentally consistent with the effective, efficient, and decisive use of force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These principles have been inculcated in the American military officer corps for generations. But Hegseth, as a former mid-level National Guard officer, never bought in. Nor has the new commander-in-chief, who avoided any military service.

When Hegseth was a Fox News host, he advocated unshackling American troops from the law of armed conflict. Using his platform, Hegseth was influential in convincing Trump to pardon soldiers convicted of crimes that the professional military establishment considered intolerable, including war crimes.

Hegseth has made plain that his goal is to enhance the unbridled lethality of American military forces without handcuffs imposed by the law of armed conflict, complaining repeatedly about the duty to follow rules imposed by lawyers when his goal is to kill as effectively as possible.

Hegseth thinks that international law and human rights are a hindrance to U.S. warfighters, in the words of the Washington Post. He is unabashed in rejecting traditional American military policies on protection of civilians, declaring that he has thought very deeply about the balance between legality and lethality, but his goal is ensuring that the men and women on the frontlines have the opportunity to destroy  the enemy, and that lawyers arent the ones getting in the way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A little noticed development last week makes clear Hegseths desire for indiscriminate lethality as military policy. The Defense Department has had an office, required by a 2023 congressional statute, expressly charged with enhancing ways to reconcile military necessity with the commitment to protecting noncombatants to the extent possible. In one of the new administrations late-night orders, that office was quietly suffocated.

This is hardly the time to abandon concern for civilians caught up in combat, because the development of AI weapons threatens even greater danger from literally mindless slaughter.

As early as 2017, the Vatican Mission to the U.S. headquarters in Geneva highlighted the dangers of divorcing human judgment from the operation of autonomous weapons. Machines operating on the basis of computer code necessarily lack the human capacity for moral judgment about when, where and why to take a human life.

Since that time, AI capabilities have increased by orders of magnitude. Trump has aligned his administration with wealthy tech magnates who see only benefit from unleashing the maximum possibilities of AI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As anyone who has used AI knows, the risk of error  or hallucination  is palpable. When an autonomous weapon makes a mistake, the consequences can be tragic for innocent people, all without the constraint of human conscience making the crucial risk assessment.

Recent changes in Israeli military doctrine illustrate the problem. Israels dependence on AI has been viewed as a major cause of the disproportionate amount of civilian death and destruction in Gaza. For example, Israels AI weapons use demonstrably unreliable facial recognition for deciding automatically at whom to fire a missile or on whom to drop a bomb, even in a crowd.

After Hamass attack on Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli military changed the algorithms for its autonomous drones to allow for a greater degree of error in identifying and killing pre-programmed targets. But as one analyst observed, AI systems have built-in inaccuracies that make them inappropriate for a life-and-death context such as war, no matter how efficiently lethal.

Under the Biden administration, with congressional encouragement and oversight, the Pentagon was closely monitoring the development and use of lethal autonomous weapons, ensuring that commanders and operators can exercise appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force. These principles were intended to recognize the limitations in any system that values distinguishing legitimate targets from innocent bystanders. Now it seems virtually certain that these fine distinctions will be brushed aside in the ruthless quest for unconstrained lethality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On this front, too, America will have lost something vital in our national character. With Congress in Trumps thrall, there is no reason to think that the legislative branch will protect this moral value. What a shame.

Philip Allen Lacovara formerly served as U.S. deputy solicitor general for criminal and national security matters, counsel to the Watergate Special Prosecutor and president of the District of Columbia Bar.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Its week two of round two and were off to a rocky start. Lest President Trumps faithful grow restless at the early slew of executive orders that did nothing to increase prosperity for the economically anxious, fear not: our invasion of Greenland is just around the corner, and nothing boosts federal spending like a shooting war.

Thankfully, as they limber up for our potential conflict against a NATO ally, our military will now be safe from the bane of transgender soldiers honorably performing the jobs they were trained to do. Trump signed an executive order this week banning them from serving.

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order in the White House Oval Office in Washington, D.C. on January 23, 2025. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

Why?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nobodys arguing these people are bad at their jobs. Theres no evidence that transgender soldiers decrease unit efficiency or moral, except, perhaps, among those who find themselves uncomfortable serving with such personnel. But that seems like more of a they/them problemoh no, were using pronouns. So, again, why? I would like to offer a possible answer:

Because he said so.

Its the answer my mother would give me when I was a child to defend a logically dubious demand. Its the answer one gives when one believes their authority is all the explanation needed for the actions they take. In the case of the Commander-in-Chief, his word does suffice to alter policy; the problem is, because I said so doesnt confer a whole lot of trust in the person receiving such an edict.

In fact, it does the opposite, creating a condition of distrust. The reason we grant our political leadership authority over us is because we believe they are well-equipped to make important decisions on our behalf. When they offer no cogent rationale for those decisions, it undercuts the legitimacy of their rule.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because I said so are the words of somebody whose premise relies on the status quo. But Trump specifically ran as the anti status quo candidate. Hes the guy thats going to shake things up! To Make America Great Again! The thing is, though, sloganeering is not governing. When you dont define greatness or explain in a coherent manner why the stack of Sharpie-signed declarations move us closer to that greatness, we citizenry have no way to measure whether youre doing your job well or not.

Sure, diehard Trumpers might not care about any of this as long as the libs get owned here and there, but some 2/3 of the country didnt vote for our new president, and millions upon millions of us are keeping score.

A protestor in a satirical Donald Trump costume poses with a Trump supporter in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025. / EVAN SIMKO-BEDNARSKI / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

Im on holiday in France at the moment and happened to spy the 1972 book Communism, Fascism, and Democracy, edited by the late political philosopher Carl Cohen, on the bookshelves of my Airbnb. I flipped to the fascism section for no reasonno reason at all!and was immediately struck by Cohens introductory description, which addresses the three philosophical pillars on which fascism rests:

Absolutism (I alone can fix it).

Organicism, which Cohen defines as equating the nation with an organic entity (Theyre poisoning the blood of our nation).

Irrationalism (Windmills cause cancer).

In banning transgender troops, Trump draws from each pillar. As an absolutist, Trumps orders are meant to undercut the previous administrationand to send a signal to his white Christian nationalist base. Same with his blatantly unconstitutional birthright citizenship plans. Its the creepy Daddys home argument weve seen MAGA making since the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As an organicist, hes treating the military as a body sickened by the presence of a foreign entity. His executive orders language reads, for the sake of our Nation and the patriotic Americans who volunteer to serve it, military service must be reserved for those mentally and physically fit for duty. The implication being that transgender soldiers are neitheragain, despite there being no evidence to the contrary.

And as an irrationalist, he justifies this nonsensical order by declaring, a mans assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.

(Theres nothing about a biological womans assertion of maleness, although I guess we can presume the order also applies to transgender men.)

Why a trans person innately lacks humility or selflessness goes unsaid. Perhaps thats because one thing has nothing to do with the others. But the irrationalist need not tie the nonsensical into a bow; his only need is to pull at strings until they break. Then he can tie them back together and claim victory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His audience does not crave sense. They only crave surety.

And, by God, surety is what theyve got! The MAGA movement is rooted in the rightness of their convictions, until those convictions are replaced by other, newer convictionsdefending the police until the police are attacked by their supporters, at which time defending the police no longer matters. Or banning TikTok as a national security matter, until the livelihoods of the apps creators becomes a top priority. See how it works?

Two LBGTQ organizations have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Trumps order, but nobody else is saying much. Again and again, were seeing the Democratic party keep their mouths shut when it counts the most.

Yes, the service of transgender military personnel is not a pressing concern for most Americans. The problem didnt rank among any of the top 20 issues in a September 2024 Gallup poll asking voters for their top concerns; in fact, transgender rights as a whole ranked 24thof 24.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Invading Greenland didnt even make the list, by the way.

But just because something doesnt matter to the American people doesnt mean it isnt a top priority for a president who otherwise promised to end the war in Ukraine before assuming office (he didnt), bring down the price of groceries on day one (he didnt) and repeal the Affordable Care Act (he hasnt, nor has he even mentioned it).

Instead, his first week in office was mostly spent tilting at windmills. Unlike Don Quixote, however, who only had the loyal Sancho Panza to do his bidding, Trump has at his disposal the entirety of the federal governments Executive Branch, including his new Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whose infidelity, misogyny, alleged sexual misconduct (which Hegseth has denied), financial mismanagement and white supremacist views (which he has also denied) are certainly not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.

So why is Hegseth allowed to assume the nations second-highest position of military authority while hundreds, or thousands, of others who have committed none of Hegseths offenses are being drummed out?

Because he said so.
Every president tests the limits of their authority. Yet no opening presidential bid for power compares to President Donald Trumps out-of-the-blue freeze of federal funds across the government.

Much about the initial memo from Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the White Houses Office of Management and Budget, which has since been rescinded, was unclear  including the scope or duration of the temporary pause on all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities. Most importantly, the memo identified no source of constitutional or legislative authority for the president to pause any, let alone all, domestic grant programs.

But it is animated, at least implicitly, by a striking claim: Not only can the president freeze all funding amid a review, but he must also then be permitted to permanently eliminate items from appropriations statutes at a whim. Its a move that threatens not only a radical curtailment of Congress authority but imperils the separation of American civil society from the partisan tides of the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And it goes far beyond what previous presidents have done during contentious displays of executive authority.

Take former President George W. Bushs signing statements, when he added language saying he believed certain provisions of the laws infringed on his constitutional authority. Or former President Barack Obamas sweeping orders granting immigration relief under DACA and DAPA. In both of those instances, a president took targeted aim at a particular question of federal law. Neither were blunderbuss assaults on federal operations as a whole. Signing statements, moreover, did not in themselves prevent laws from being enforced. And Obama-era immigration relief was founded on an interpretation of federal law  not a brazen decision to set it aside.

There is also a breathtaking discontinuity between the reasons for the funding pause and its reach. The OMB memo points to the never-enacted Green New Deal and to a Marxist agenda that is a figment of the MAGA imagination. Even reading the memo charitably, it defies belief to think that the billions of federal funding to states, hospitals, social services, law enforcement and educational bodies plausibly raise these concerns.



Neither the signing statements nor executive orders of earlier administrations resemble this devil-may-care attitude toward federal laws. Neither implies the president has the open-ended authority to single out, for any reason or no reason, a congressionally mandated fund  and to nix it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rather than cite legal authority for these claims, the OMB memo points to Trumps mandate. Thats a usefully slippery word for the White House. It is also cover for the absence of plausible constitutional or statutory authority for its power grab. Its no surprise that a judge blocked the funding freeze, at least for now. And after a huge backlash, the administration rescinded the memo  setting the gambit aside, at least for now.

The Constitutions text is clear that Congress must authorize appropriations and the president must take Care that those laws are faithfully executed. There is no basis in constitutional text or history for the president to claim open-ended power to impound funds in the manner of the OMB memo. In 1975, the Supreme Court rejected former President Richard Nixons claim to be able to spend less than Congress had appropriated. That ruling would have had to come out the other way if the president had a constitutional power to impound. (Perhaps aware of this reality, OMB issued a later memo claiming the freeze was not, in fact, an impoundment. But this is just a semantic sleight of hand: For entities that need federal funds this or next week in particular, there is no meaningful difference.)

Responding to Nixons impoundments, Congress enacted the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment and Control Act. This picks out specific circumstances in which the impoundment of funds is lawful. None apply here. All require the president to expressly and immediately notify Congress. The OMB memo violates the terms of the 1974 law by asserting a power that Congress did not delegate.

If anything, the Supreme Court has tightened the constitutional leash on such unilateral claims of executive authority untethered from a statutory anchor. With Justice Neil Gorsuch leading the charge, it has stressed instead the need for clear authority from Congress for the exercise of any delegated power, including the power to write regulations. The OMB memo makes a mockery of those decisions by allowing the president to do with money what now isnt allowed with regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is true that there is a scattering of past instances of impoundment. But these isolated cases largely concern foreign affairs and national security matters. In 1803, for example, Thomas Jefferson declined to spend funds for 15 gunboats for fear that they would upend secret talks with a foreign sovereign, Napoleonic France. Whatever unilateral presidential authority exists over foreign affairs cannot constitutionally be spread with reckless abandon to cover any or all domestic spending.

Past presidents have also confronted conflicts between a legislative command and Congress failure to appropriate funds to execute that command. There, presidents are forced to make a choice between dueling statutory orders. Courts rarely address these conflicts. But it is striking to note that in a 2012 case involving competing mandates, the Supreme Court rejected the executives claim to be able to withhold promised funds.

The other, rare cases of impoundment are a warning, not a license. In 1860, for example, President James Buchanan impounded funds for Illinois post offices to punish the states representatives. He hence illustrated the risks of the abuse of impoundment  not its constitutional propriety.

There is a reason for this want of precedent: The impoundment power Trumps White House asserts would drive a stake through Congress constitutional authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Exactly like the line-item veto invalidated by the Supreme Court in 1998, the claimed impoundment power is de facto power to selectively edit duly enacted laws. This claimed nonenforcement should elicit whiplash among conservatives. After all, it was red states such as Texas, aided by Trumps adviser Stephen Miller, that once excoriated the Biden administration for negating federal laws on immigration via nonenforcement. (The Biden administration, however, could point to statutory conflicts that dont exist in this case.)

It is not only Congresss power on the line. Consider the ways in which the impoundment power claimed by the Trump White House can be weaponized against blue states and civil society.

Imagine California experiences severe wildfires in the run-up to the 2026 midterms: Could the White House withhold relief funds before the election, and then give money to solely Republican-leaning districts? Or imagine that the White House withdraws funding from every hospital in the country providing reproductive care and abortions. Or every university that conducts student voter drives.

Lest it seem that these hypotheticals are far-fetched, look at the partisan purges of the Justice Department and other agencies, and the selective withdrawals of secret-service protection from Trumps perceived enemies.

Sometimes, Justice Antonin Scalia once said, a wolf comes in sheeps clothing, and sometimes it just comes as a wolf. There is, again, a wolf at the Constitutions door. And it needs to be recognized for what it is.
The National Blend of Models, shown here, suggests cooler weather arrives behind Thursday's cold front. Morning lows Thursday, at left, are forecast to be in the mid-60s. Lows by Saturday morning, at right, are likely to drop into the upper 40s. WeatherBELL

Houston hasn't seen a high of 70 degrees or warmer since Bush Intercontinental Airport hit 78 degrees on Jan. 5.

Ahead of a cold front Thursday, temperatures Wednesday spike into the upper 60s to lower 70s in most of Southeast Texas. Will our late-week cold front bring severe weather and plunging temperatures?

Wednesday showers

The wind direction matters and we'll see that exemplified Wednesday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

After a stretch of northerly winds that have brought cool and cloudy conditions, southeasterly winds usher in warmer and more humid weather briefly. After starting the day in the mid-50s, cloudy skies are expected after patchy areas of dense fog dissipate during the morning, especially along the coast. Scattered showers are expected to dot the radar Wednesday, but rain should stay generally light.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms should hold off until Thursday, when all attention will be on a line of storms coming out of the Texas Hill Country.

Thursday: Severe storms possible

Forecast models are in good agreement that a line of storms, referred to technically as a mesoscale convective system, will straddle the Interstate 35 corridor Thursday morning.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

From San Antonio to Austin and Dallas, Thursday morning will feature a line of storms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind, and an isolated tornado. The timing of Thursday morning's storms west of Houston should preclude them for producing numerous severe weather reports, but the environment could become more unstable as storms approach the Houston area during the afternoon.

The North American Mesoscale model, shown here and used for short-range forecasting, suggests a line of potentially strong storms will arrive into the Houston area by early Thursday afternoon. Pivotal Weather

The limiting factor for severe weather will be the thick layer of clouds hanging over Southeast Texas. Atmospheric ingredients for severe weather, like instability and the changing of wind speed with height, are at least somewhat favorable for a few strong storms in spite of cloudiness. Areas along and east of Interstate 45 are most at risk to see a few strong storms through Thursday afternoon.

The window for severe weather should close in Houston by the evening commute as storms press east of the region.

This weekend and beyond

Temperatures are set to drop behind Thursday's cold front.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Will we see a freeze? No, though the first time you'll likely notice a drop in temperatures is Friday morning with lows falling to around 50 degrees. Breezy northwesterly wind will usher in a slightly cooler Friday afternoon as most areas only make it to around 68 or 69 degrees, about five degrees cooler than Thursday's high ahead of the cold front.

Loading...

This weekend looks stunning as high pressure builds into place. Abundant sunshine and temperatures in the lower to middle 70s should make for picture-perfect weather to get outside and soak in some vitamin D. Just remember, despite the lower sun angle of the winter months, you should still be applying sunscreen.
Sarah Wairimu, the widow of the late billionaire Dutch Tob Cohen, has filed a case seeking to block fresh murder charges against her.

Wairimu accuses the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of attempting to conceal the real perpetrators behind her husbands brutal killing. Her petition was filed before the Constitutional Division of the High Court, where she argues that the DPPs actions are a misuse of prosecutorial power.

In her case, Wairimu contends that the DPP initially decided not to pursue charges against her by entering a nolle prosequi but later opted for an inquest to uncover what transpired, who was involved, and the motives behind Cohens murder. She criticized the DPP for reversing this decision and bringing fresh charges against her, stating that this move is neither justified nor in good faith.

Wairimus supporting affidavit describes her as a victim of the crime, asserting that the DPPs failure to present evidence against her for over three years, despite court orders, is a deliberate violation of her constitutional rights.

She argues, The protracted and well-calculated delay authored by the respondent, without any reasonable explanation, has infringed on my rights to a fair trial. The decision to charge me is motivated by extraneous factors. This court must intervene to safeguard the process from abuse.

The legal dispute follows statements made by the DPP in 2023, indicating that the inquest would allow all parties to provide previously unexplored information. According to the DPP, this process was meant to address contradictions in the case and ensure a thorough investigation. However, Wairimu has called the DPPs decision to abandon the inquest and charge her with murder both inconsistent and suspicious.

The respondents choice to terminate the inquest, which was meant to identify those behind Tob Cohens gruesome murder, reveals an unwillingness to find the real culprits, Wairimu stated.  Instead, the respondent aims to punish me through compromised investigations and flawed evidence.

Cohens disappearance was first reported between July 19 and July 20, 2019. Later that year, authorities discovered his lifeless body in a septic tank at his Kitisuru home in Spring Valley, Nairobi. At the time of the discovery, police had already arrested and detained Wairimu and her then-co-accused, Peter Karanja.

In her latest legal challenge, Wairimu alleges that the DPP intends to rely on the same evidence previously questioned in court. She claims that on January 22, 2025, Martin Nyuguto, the head of homicide at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), contacted her lawyer, instructing him to accompany her to collect personal belongings.

However, the situation took an unexpected turn when authorities arrested her and arraigned her at the Kibera High Court on fresh charges.

Wairimu has strongly opposed these proceedings, labeling them a case of double jeopardy. She argues that the current charges are based on the same evidence presented in Milimani High Court Criminal Case Number 60 of 2019.

The respondents decision to use evidence it has admitted has integrity issues highlights an abuse of prosecutorial powers. This action denies me my constitutional right to a fair trial, she stated.

Wairimus case underscores the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Cohens murder, raising critical questions about the conduct of the prosecution and the search for justice.
The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts, said President Trump in his second inaugural address, on Jan. 20, as he cited his foreign policy initiatives. The Gulf of Mexico would be changed to the Gulf of America and Denali peak renamed as Mt. McKinley. But he paid special attention to the Panama Canal, which he saw as foolishly returned to Panama under President Carter. Were taking it back, he promised.

Part of his justification for American ownership of the Panama Canal is that the U.S. spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives to build it. Indeed, the American construction of the canal had a heavy cost, but it is not one that Trump has acknowledged.

The popular telling of the canals origin is a story of Americas technical prowess, of mans triumph over nature and of the cunning of figures like Theodore Roosevelt, who supported Panamas secession from Colombia and in the process seized land rights to what would become the Panama Canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These histories for the most part ignore that the great majority of the workers were Black migrants from the Caribbean. They came from the islands of Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique and others, then plantation economies and colonies of European nations. It was these migrants who paid for the construction of the canal with their lives  some 5,000 to 8,000 individuals, by historians estimates. Its unclear how Trump arrived at the 38,000 figure.

On arrival, workers faced a system of racial segregation. Skilled workers, mostly white Americans, were placed on the Gold Roll. They received high salaries and access to employee benefits. Black Caribbean workers, on the other hand, were placed on the Silver Roll and received much lower pay rates in local coin, along with substandard lodging, food and healthcare.

This payroll system extended throughout the canal construction from 1904 to 1914. All spaces under American sovereignty, including cafeterias, barracks, hotels and hospitals, were racially divided between Gold and Silver. Rather than a shining beacon of American progress, the canal construction was if anything one of the most glaring examples of Jim Crow exported abroad.

This system of segregation also created disparate survival outcomes for canal workers. Of the 5,609 fatalities officially recorded by canal authorities, Black workers make up 80%. A body count alone cannot capture the experiences of Black workers, who risked death every day from dynamite explosions, rock blasts, train accidents and tropical disease. One Black Caribbean worker named Alfred Dottin remembered the early days of construction: The working conditions in those days were so horrible it would stagger your imagination.  Death was our constant companion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The construction also cost Panama decades of sovereignty. As Panamanian historian Marixa Lasso described in her book Erased, the canal was not built upon cleared virgin, uninhabited forest but instead required the destruction of multiracial Panamanian towns after the U.S. presumed to take the land. Some lost towns were depopulated by an executive order from President Taft in 1912, while other communities fell under the waters of reservoirs created to flood the locks. New construction provided administration buildings for the American canal authorities and suburban-style lodging inhabited mostly by white American engineers and their families.

Panamanians were rarely welcome within this American enclave, and tensions remained high throughout the 20th century. They finally erupted on Jan. 9, 1964, when a group of students rushed to the Canal Zone and raised Panamas flag over Balboa High School. In response to their protest, American students and staff attacked the students, and authorities tear-gassed the crowd, eventually resulting in the death of 28 people, 21 of whom were Panamanian. These protesters are celebrated every year in Panama on Martyrs Day.

Increasing anti-imperial protests in Panama and the leadership of nationalist Gen. Omar Torrijos led to negotiations for a change in control of the canal, largely under Republican Presidents Nixon and Ford. The Carter administration completed a deal with Torrijos in 1977, under which the U.S. would cede the canal to Panama in 1999.

The way Trump talks about the Panama Canal, and his ambition to reclaim it, betrays what he really means when he says he wants to end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. It means he wants to ignore America's inconvenient legacy of Jim Crow and colonialism. By erasing the racial disparities at the center of the Panama Canal construction, Trump gives justification to his expansionist policy while ignoring the cost of U.S. empire and its perceived triumphs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every year, descendants of Black Caribbean workers who remain in Panama cross the canal to commemorate the deaths of their ancestors, throwing flowers into the water and singing mourning songs. They have not forgotten the cost. Neither should we.

Joan Flores-Villalobos, an assistant professor of history at USC, is the author of  The Silver Women: How Black Womens Labor Made the Panama Canal .

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
OREGON, Ill. (WTVO)  Oregons Fire Protection District received permission from City Council to expand and renovate its fire station.

The department estimated the renovation will cost around $4 million, but will not be paid for by an increase in taxes.

The vote was made after overwhelming support came during public comments in a meeting Tuesday night.

This fire station was built in the mid-80s. it was built as a volunteer fire department, Fire Chief Michael Knoup said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since then, it has become a full-time station with 9 staff members. However, when the station was initially built, there were no sleeping quarters.

But, the planned expansion would give each firefighter their own private area.

The opportunity for them to have a more private area that they can eat and sleep, get some rest, the more prepared theyll be, Knoup said.

The expansion also includes another bay for the trucks and ambulances, so firefighters can respond to calls faster.

A lot of the equipment does not fit in within the building anymore, so this expansion will assist in taking care of new equipment needs, Ken said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have a ladder truck that literally has two inches pulling out the door, of clearance space, so well be able to have taller doors, wider doors and pull-through bays, Knoup added.

The plan would also allow the fire department to consolidate its operations out of one building.

Currently, we operate out of two stations, so the employees will have to leave this station and drive to a second station to grab the equipment, boats, water rescue, wildland equipment from another station, Knoup 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Thomas Altenhofen, a Portland butcher who is seeking to recoup stolen wages through Oregons Bureau of Labor and Industries, calls the agencys new policy to only investigate wage claims by those making less than $25.34 an hour yet another kick in the gut to workers. (Photo by Amanda Loman/InvestigateWest)

Thomas Altenhofen estimates that his former employer owes him about $1,700 in stolen wages.

Shortly after he started working for Phils Meat Market & Delicatessen in Portland, Altenhofens paychecks began coming late, he said, or were worth only half of what he was owed. After four months, he left the company. A couple of months later, he sought help from the state Bureau of Labor and Industries, Oregons agency tasked with enforcing worker rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That was in June. So far, his claim has only been through initial processing, and he has no clear sense of how long a resolution might take. That slow pace is because of the massive backlog that the labor bureau faces, for both wage claims and civil rights complaints that deal with discrimination in employment and housing. The backlogs are a long-entrenched problem within the agency, and the issue is taking center stage as bureau officials prepare to lobby lawmakers for a significant budget increase in the upcoming legislative session.

State officials dont all agree on how best to solve the problem. Some lawmakers have expressed support for Labor Commissioner Christina Stephensons request for nearly $18 million more, which will fund 72 new positions to whittle down the logjam. The proposal also has the full support of Gov. Tina Kotek, whose recommended budget released in December included all the positions that the commissioner asked for. But a new policy to investigate only the claims of lower-paid workers has drawn the ire of some lawmakers and workers.

In November, the bureau began prioritizing wage claims based on a new standard: the income level of the worker. Claims submitted by people making more than $25.34 an hour, or about $53,000 a year, are no longer being investigated by the agency. In presentations to legislators in the fall, Stephenson cast the wage threshold as a critical step to prioritize the states most vulnerable workers, who are unlikely to have any other recourse to recover their pay outside of her agency.

There are thousands and thousands of claims, and we see a natural attrition rate when people are in that process for over a year, Stephenson said. The money matters now. It doesnt matter 24 months from now.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers listening to those presentations reacted with a mix of alarm and anger.

I have no idea how you say to somebody, to a steel worker, a truck driver, that your wage claim doesnt matter, said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany. Dismissing it wholeheartedly is, in my mind, completely unacceptable.

Stephenson and other labor bureau officials have rushed to clarify that the agency is not throwing out claims, but that it is continuing to track them and offer limited help to all workers even without an investigation. And the policy hasnt led to a massive number of claims being dismissed: In the last two months, the labor bureau has received just 74 claims that it will close without an investigation because the workers earn too much money. Thats a tiny fraction of the more than 3,000 wage claims waiting to be processed and investigated as of September.

The earnings threshold has also sparked mixed reactions from workers and advocates. Some, like Altenhofen, worry that decreased enforcement from the agency sends a message to employers of middle-income workers that they can get away with stiffing employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Altenhofens base pay at his old job was about $22 an hour before tips, meaning his claim is eligible for an investigation. Even so, the fact that three more dollars an hour would have left him ineligible is yet another kick in the gut to workers, he said.

Sustaining himself during the months without pay burned through nearly all of his savings, he said. Even if he was making another $10 an hour, he said, he couldnt afford to pay a lawyer to represent him in a lawsuit. An attorney for his former employer declined to comment.

But others applaud the agencys decision to take more decisive action to reduce the backlog, which has plagued the wage claim process in Oregon for years.

From my point of view, I think theyre doing what they have to, said Kate Suisman, attorney with the Northwest Workers Justice Project, a nonprofit that advises and represents low-income workers in wage theft lawsuits. She has had a front-row seat to the despair that the wage claim backlog has wrought over the last few years. When workers called asking where they should look for help, she said, It felt pretty bad telling workers your best bet is to go to (the labor bureau) and it will take a year and a half.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The labor bureau continues to send employers notices anytime a wage claim is filed, including for claims that are not being investigated, said Laura van Enckevort, who heads the wage division. That letter of notice is enough to resolve the claim in about half of all cases, according to the agencys data.

Investigators in the labor bureaus wage division will also continue to keep a record of each claim that isnt investigated, she said, and it plans to reopen any that arent resolved with the notice to the employer, as the backlog allows.

But to eliminate the backlogs and fulfill other enforcement responsibilities around housing and paid leave, agency leaders say they need additional staff. As the Legislature has tasked the Bureau of Labor and Industries with ever-increasing enforcement responsibilities over the years, the number of staff it has budgeted to do that work has not kept pace. Today, the labor bureau has fewer full-time employees than it did four decades ago: It employs one staff member for every 20,000 workers in the state. Back in 1980, it employed one person for every 5,750 workers, according to an agency report from September.

Through a spokesperson, Stephenson said she is heartened by the governors backing of her budget proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers who heard Stephensons presentations on the agencys woes have differing takes about the root of the problem and the solutions. Boshart Davis, who criticized the earnings threshold in September, has slammed the budget request.

Oregon bureaucrats continually ask for more money from the Democrat-controlled Legislature without having to answer tough questions about their performance because they know they will get it, she said through a spokesperson. We cant afford to simply throw more money at problems without real reform.

Others said the Legislature has played a key role, by failing to ensure adequate funding.

This is decades, years of systemic underinvestment, said Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, at a meeting of the House Interim Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards on Sept. 25. We have a mandate to fix this moving forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, workers wait.

Altenhofens former employer has since gone bankrupt, giving him little hope of recovering his wages outside of the labor bureaus dedicated fund for victims of bankrupt companies.

He has no other way to recoup his lost wages unless the agency enforces his rights.

Thats why even proponents of the wage claim threshold say they are continuously reviewing the policys impact. Van Enckevort said the agency is checking in every 45 days to determine whether the policy is still appropriate.

As soon as were able to alleviate the work on our investigators, we would definitely reconsider (whether) we need this, van Enckevort said.

InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reporter Kaylee Tornay covers labor, youth and health care issues. Reach her at 503-877-4108, kaylee@invw.org or on X @ka_tornay.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Autumn Anderson woke up to the news on her social media feed that President Trump froze all federal funding, confusing her as it did most Americans.

I saw that they had made some kind of change overnight, which meant that my medical insurance might be affected by the decisions that had already occurred, Anderson told KOIN 6 News.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Across the country, staff trying to access Medicaid and Head Start funding through payment websites Tuesday morning were locked out, leaving some scrambling to figure out how they would cover payroll and pay vendors and rent. But the White House said hours later that funding for those programs should not have been affected by the freeze. By late Tuesday, some states and Head Start providers reported their access to the sites had been restored.

Autumn Anderson in an undated courtesy photo

Anderson battles a neurological disability that impacts her ability to move freely and she wondered if the freeze would impact the critical care she needs.

Its a situation where I have to keep going, because I could be paralyzed for life, but I have to go now knowing, like, I might not be able to pay for whatever happens next, she said.

The early Tuesday decision from the White House also left Amber Johnson, the executive director at the Community for Positive Aging, confused and searching for answers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a meeting I just had it was, like, Well, this is what I heard and I dont think it will affect these services,' Johnson said. And then someones like, Oh, I heard that. They do affect those services.'

As of this writing, Johnson said the services they provide will remain the same. For now. As for the people who use their services, she said they will try their best navigating through these uncertain times.

Its really important that we dont lose sight of the work we do and the communities that we serve, she said.

Head Start and Medicaid providers hit glitches as Trump freezes federal money

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the funding freeze only minutes before it was scheduled to take effect. The administrative stay, prompted by a lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups that receive federal money, lasts until Monday afternoon. Another court hearing is scheduled that morning to consider the issue.

Autumn Anderson said whatever tomorrows news brings she will continue to fight for more clarity. She has upcoming medical appointments that she intends to keep unless she is told not to come.

Im going to keep advocating for people who cant, Anderson 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 KOIN.com.
One of Japans biggest cities is beautifying itself ahead of hosting the World Expo  not by planting flowers, but by banning cigarettes.

Osaka will soon host Expo 2025, which runs from April to October, with representatives from 158 countries and regions participating in talks, demonstrations and exhibitions.

The ban on public smoking, which took effect on January 27, includes roads, parks, plazas and other public places and applies not only to cigarettes, but also to vapes. Violators will be fined 1,000 yen (about $6).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Osaka City will expand its no-smoking areas to cover the entire city to enhance safety, cleanliness and its image as an international tourist destination, city officials announced in a statement earlier this month. This initiative aims not only to beautify the city but also to ensure a safe, secure and comfortable living environment for residents and visitors.

Current national laws largely ban smoking in establishments such as restaurants, offices and public transportation, and some cities have bans in public places. It is also illegal for people under the age of 20 to smoke and buy tobacco.

However, throughout Japan, its common for airports, train stations and other public buildings to have dedicated smoking rooms.

The World Health Organization estimates that the number of Japanese people who use tobacco and smoke cigarettes has roughly halved over the past two decades, declining from around 32% in 2000 to around 16% in 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 2022 survey by Japans Ministry of Health (MOH) found that 14.8% of adults smoke. The MOH has set a goal of lowering the national smoking rate to 12%.

Compare that to the United States, where in 2022, 19.8%  nearly 1 in 5  US adults reported current tobacco product use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After announcing the strict new rules around public tobacco use, Osakas local government created a map showing where in the city it is still okay to light up.

Similar anti-smoking measures have been implemented in other parts of Japan, including in Tokyo ahead of the 2020 Olympics, which have remained in place ever since.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some public figures have even been called out in the past for smoking underage.

Arguably the most famous recent example was Shoko Miyata, captain of Japans womens gymnastics team. Miyata withdrew from the Summer Olympics in Paris last year after admitting to smoking and drinking. She was 19 at the time.

The six-month Expo 2025 runs from April 13 until October 13. The city has spent 164.7 billion yen ($1.16 billion) on the event, including major urban infrastructure projects.

CNN Travel named the Kansai region  which includes Osaka  as one of its 25 places to visit in 2025.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  New rules were approved for schools on Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Board of Education. Among those is having schools collect immigration status before enrolling in public school.

The proposed rule says, a parent or a legal guardian of a child, or an emancipated minor, shall provide proof of United States (U.S.) citizenship at the time of enrollment to help assess statewide educational needs like language barriers and tutoring programs.

OSDE proposed rules include counting undocumented students

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The specifics on the rule caused confusion among board members on Tuesday, who wanted clarification on if the rule is just for parent legal status or if student legal status will also be recorded.

Is this asking for parents if theyre legal or the child is here birthright citizenship, Oklahoma State School Board Member, Katie Quebedeaux asked.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters responded by saying, This is just information from the parents.

In response, Quebedeaux asked again, So parent-only information, were not gathering about the student specific?

Superintendent Walters said, This right here is gathering information on the students parents upon enrollment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a press conference after the meeting, Walters was asked to clarify again whose legal status would be monitored.

Were asking for documentation on both. Yes, the child and the parents, said Superintendent Walters.



Board members also questioned if a students learning opportunities would be impacted if the rule goes into effect.

Oklahoma senator says ICE arrests at Bricktown restaurant were not part of raid

If they are not documented here are they still allowed to attend school and get the same education as everyone else, asked Quebedeaux.

Correct, theres nothing in this rule that stops a child from accessing school and everything like that, this is simply data gathering, said Walters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several metro schools said theyre aware of the possible change and dont have plans to collect the status of students.

Dear OKCPS Families and Staff, As we continue to face complex issues affecting our families and community, I want to take a moment to share a few words of reassurance. OKCPS leaders are aware of OSDEs proposed administrative rules regarding proof of citizenship during the enrollment process. It is important to note that the review and approval of proposed agency rules is a lengthy, multi-step process, and the District will continue to closely monitor developments in the days ahead. In the meantime, OKCPS will follow law and board policy. Federal law guarantees every childs right to public education regardless of immigration status, and our District will continue operating in accordance with these established federal protections. OKCPS does not, nor do we have plans to, collect the immigration status of our students or their families. OKCPS schools are a safe and welcoming place for ALL students, and our mission remains unchanged. We are committed to providing equitable access to a world class education for every student in our district. Thank you for your ongoing support and trust in OKCPS. Take care, Dr. Jamie C. Polk, Superintendent Oklahoma City Public Schools

Putnam City Families, Faculty and Staff, Recently, there has been widespread local and national coverage surrounding immigration status in the United States that could potentially impact public education, our students, families, faculty, and staff. We recognize that these uncertain times have sparked feelings of fear and apprehension among some of our students, families, and staff. It is important for us, as a District, to acknowledge these concerns while reinforcing our unwavering commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for every student. This commitment is at the core of our Districts vision statement. We also remain steadfast in our statutory and constitutional duty to educate all students, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or immigration status. Further, the immigration status of families is not taken at enrollment; therefore, there are no records kept regarding the immigration status of parents or students. As a District, we want to focus on what is within our control: ensuring that Putnam City Schools continue to be a safe and nurturing space where students can thrive, and where faculty and staff can inspire and empower in welcoming and safe schools. We will remain loyal in our dedication to providing an education for every student who resides within our District boundaries. Thank you for your continued support of our great District. Boldly, Putnam City Schools Administration. Putnam City Public Schools

Moore Public Schools is aware of the recent Executive Orders and we are reviewing all relevant documents, law, and orders. Our priority continues to be the exceptional education of our students and providing a safe learning environment. Moore Public Schools

In Yukon Public Schools memo to parents, they ensured ICE agents couldnt enter school property without a warrant and that student information was protected by federal law.

Yukon Parents, Guardians, and Families, With current worry and stress over new executive orders referring to immigration, I want to address the situation and how we are moving forward at Yukon Public Schools. First and foremost, our students safety is our top priority. As we continue to navigate the new executive orders, our promise to you is that all students are safe and welcomed. To help better understand this situation and have reassurance on your students safety, we have met with our legal team to provide a list of FAQs. Can the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enter public schools? ICE cannot enter private property without legal documentation such as a valid judicial warrant issued and signed by a federal judge. What happens if ICE does try to come in the school? If ICE approaches our schools, our attorneys and EL Coordinator are contacted immediately. All information and requests are handled at the district level. What if ICE requests student information? Student information is protected under FERPA. FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Its a federal law that protects the privacy of students educational records. FERPA applies to all schools that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Will the school inform ICE of any student immigration status? No. The federal law prohibits public schools from requesting or filing immigration status. We will continue to teach, protect and stand up for each and every student in out schools. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out t out EL Coordinator, Diedre Bradley at diedre.bradley@yukonps.com. Yukon Public Schools

During public comment at Tuesdays meeting, a student shared his opposition to the rule.

The idea that a child wanting to pursue an education must be profiled before learning is distasteful, said Thomas Suarez, a student.

The rules will now move onto the legislature for 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Ottawa County has agreed to pay $190,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by former Administrator John Gibbs, who sued after he was fired.

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners OKd the settlement in a 7-4 vote at its Tuesday meeting. It was discussed in open session after a vote to enter closed session failed.

Gibbs was installed as the administrator in January 2023. His hiring was among a number of sudden and sweeping changes made by commissioners from conservative political action group Ottawa Impact during their first meeting with a board majority. But Gibbs relationship with the board soured and commissioners went on to fire him in February 2024 following allegations that he acted inappropriately and neglected his duties. Gibbs then sued, arguing he was actually fired in retaliation for criticizing the countys lawyer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former chair admits mistakes along the way, but says Ottawa Impact stuck to principles

Ottawa Impact lost the majority on the board in last years elections. It is now controlled by Republicans not affiliated with the group.

Under the settlement, the county said it would pay Gibbs $190,000, rescind his termination and remove any reference to termination from his employment file. The board would then accept a letter of resignation from him dated February 2024.

This comes down to, in many ways, again, this board trying to fix the mistakes of a prior board and save taxpayer dollars, board Chair John Teeples said during the meeting. Its not pretty for anybody. Nobody likes this situation.  But we need to make a practical decision for the sake of this community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gibbs must still formally sign the agreement. In response to a request from News 8, Gibbs attorney Noah Hurwitz said in an email he could not comment.

Its a way to stop this bleeding, Teeples added. Its a time to acknowledge the mistakes we have made.

Jordan Jorritsma, another Republican commissioner not affiliated with Ottawa Impact, cited fears that the county could end up having to pay far more in court.

We either have a huge risk and gamble taxpayer money in litigation, or we settle with a  relative to alternatives  low amount of money, he said. I am not a big fan of gambling taxpayer money, so Ill be voting yes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All four commissioners affiliated with Ottawa Impact voted no. Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea said the board fired Gibbs for a reason and the board could be rewarding bad behavior by approving a settlement.

It was not OK, the things he put people through in the county, she said. There needs to be some personal accountability. We cant patch things up and make everything happy and rosy when people misbehave.

Rhodea said several commissioners were friends with Gibbs and the termination process was very painful.

I feel like its being discussed here as if very little actually happened to lead to a termination, Rhodea said. Thats simply not true.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Board members on Tuesday also approved an employment agreement with new Interim Administrator Gary Rosema, Hes a former Ottawa County sheriff who agreed earlier this month to take on the administrator role temporarily.

Ottawa County board picks former sheriff as interim county administrator

Rosema, the third interim administrator since Gibbs ouster, will make about $35,000 less annually compared to Gibbs. Either party can end the contract.

GIBBS SETTLEMENT LATEST IN LINE OF PAYOUTS

If the Gibbs deal goes through as expected, the county will have paid nearly $1.2 million over the last few years in settlements and severance packages.

That includes $225,000 to a finalist for an administrative aid position who sued the board for age discrimination. It also includes $188,000 in attorneys fees for health officer Adeline Hambley in the resolution of a protracted legal battle after Ottawa Impact commissioners tried to fire her. The county has also paid out $100,000 in a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by Grand Haven pastor Jared Cramer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About $284,000 in total severance was paid to former employees Ben Wetmore and Jordan Epperson. Finally, the county paid $210,000 in severance plus a years worth of health benefits to former county administrator John Shay, who was fired to make way for Gibbs.

Longtime board member and Democrat Doug Zylstra says it could have been avoided.

We havent seen that level of activity in our insurance authority and those kinds of payments in a very long time, Zylstra said. These were situations that I felt were kind of self-inflicted, right? We didnt need to have gotten to those places.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MIAMI, Okla.  A former nurse involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash was sentenced to four years in prison for leaving the scene of that crash.

A more serious charge of first-degree manslaughter drew a five-year suspended sentence for Mindy McBrien, 50, of Fairland.

In Oklahoma, persons convicted of murder or assault-related crimes must serve at least 85% of their sentences before they can even be considered for parole. Leaving the scene of an accident is not an 85 % offense, said prosecutor Kathy Lahmeyer after the hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McBrien tearfully testified before a crowd of supporters during her Ottawa County District Court sentencing, saying if she could trade places with the man she killed, Guang Xin Ye, a Chinese national, she would.

I want to apoligize to Mr. Ye. I am sorry for the family loss and will have to live with that for the rest of my life.

I hope his family can forgive me. Mindy McBrien, Jan. 28, 2025

McBrien also apologized to the community.

I dont remember the accident, but I accept the consequences, McBrien said.

Ye, 58, died on Feb. 5, 2022, nearly three years ago, from multiple blunt force injuries to his head and chest and had 12 broken ribs and three spinal cord fractures, according to an autopsy report. However, the manner of death is listed as an accident, on the autopsy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Previous testimony during the first sentencing hearing was that Ye had a massive head injury and his head had been torn loose.

In an Elks Lodge surveillance video, an intoxicated McBrien is seen walking into the Elks Lodge parking lot, swaying and stumbling getting into her Jeep Cherokee. In another video, Yes scooter headlight disappears under McBriens vehicle, and showers of sparks are seen coming from the bottom of McBriens Jeep.

Impact of hit and run left victims shoes in roadway; suspect free on $150,000 bail

This is a situation that makes my heart hurt, said Associate Judge Matt Whalen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Mr. Yes unaccomplished hopes and dreams  for his family  for law enforcement who had to witness  for the community and for you, Whalen said to McBrien.

This was the second sentencing hearing. Whalen threw the first pre-sentencing investigation report out, saying the report was lackluster.

Ottawa County judge unhappy with PSI report, delays sentencing, orders new report

McBriens attorney, Winston Connor II, argued for probation or a deferred sentence. He also questioned whether McBriens drink was roofied and why no law enforcement officer had her blood drawn to see if she had been drugged.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lahmeyer said the statutes require McBrien to serve a minimum of four years to a maximum of life in prison, saying McBrien took a life, and she needs to be punished.

Everybody is going to wonder if she caused this or someone else, Connor said. No one knows the answer, referring to McBrien and the possibility she had been drugged.

She has saved more lives than she has taken, Connor said, referring to McBriens nursing career.

What this case comes down to is this person was too drunk to drive and ran over a person and left the scene, Lahmeyer said. She drove over the top of a man and left him there to die.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lahmeyer told Whalen that Yes life was worth something.

She ran him over like a dog and left him lying in the street, Lahmeyer said.

A second presentence investigation report showed McBrien had a low score of recidivism, no criminal history, and no alcohol or drug problems. Still, because Ye was killed, a prison sentence was recommended, the report stated.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
One of 17 government watchdogs ousted by President Trump said that the move was a potentially existential threat to a crucial government oversight tool.

I view it as a potentially existential threat, with respect to the main oversight mechanism that we have in our federal government system, Mark Greenblatt, the former top watchdog at the Interior Department, told The Hill on Tuesday.

Ultimately, Greenblatt said, what the impact of the firings of the watchdogs comes down to is who President Trump nominates and appoints in these inspector general positions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It all boils down to their independence: are they going to be independent of mind and spirit, he added.

He also warned that Trumps move could set a precedent that creates a tit-for-tat, with future Democratic presidents having the ability to make similar moves.

We run the risk of having a vicious cycle of politicization of the inspector general positions, which, to me, will ultimately  eviscerate the value that the entire construct provides us now, he said.

Greenblatt was appointed to the role by Trump during his prior administration and was confirmed in a bipartisan vote. During his tenure, the inspector generals office produced reports that both implicated and cleared Trump officials at various points.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Notably in 2021, the office found that protesters were not cleared from Lafayette Park because Trump wanted a photo-op. However, it also dinged Trump officials on ethics in other reports.

I would be confident that if there were an individual review of my work as Inspector General at the Department of the Interior, that it would be held up as fair, objective and independent throughout, he said, noting that at one point, Trump thanked him for Completely and Totally exonerating me in the clearing of Lafayette Park!

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the firings during a briefing on Tuesday, saying that Trump was within his executive authority to ax the watchdogs.

He is the executive of the executive branch and therefore he has the power to fire anyone within the executive branch that he wishes to, Leavitt 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 The Hill.
Former nominated Senator Wilson Sossion has dismissed the nonstop verbal attacks by impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua targeting President William Ruto.

Speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Sossion claimed that individuals aiming to tarnish the governments reputation and advance their own agendas are driving the criticism against Ruto and his administration.

Sossion, who previously served as Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), described Gachagua as a bitter politician following his fallout with Ruto and subsequent impeachment in 2024. He urged President Ruto to ignore distractions and remain committed to his development plans.

The scathing attacks from Rigathi are expected. He is bitter, and its natural. Let him vent. The fact is the president is in office courtesy of the people of Kenya and the commitment he made to them. He should not bend to every whim of the people. The president should focus on his agenda. The indicators that the government is working and no amount of attacks can refute that, Sossion stated.

Additionally, Sossion called on the opposition to focus on issue-based politics instead of criticizing the government without justification. He also dismissed the significance of the oppositions gathering at Mondays Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) unveiling event, labeling it a non-issue.

It is a group of Kenyans who hold no office. They are free to meet again even tomorrow. Its within our constitution for people to exercise their rights. It shouldnt be a big issue, and Im not reading too much into it, he said.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  ICE agents have been making their rounds across the country just days after President Trump took the oath of office.

On Sunday, the immigration crackdown resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests in the United States.

A Mid-South attorney said the crackdowns are happening here too but he said not everyone taken into custody is a violent criminal.

I think it depends on where you are but in Memphis, it has not been solely people who have a criminal history and I know it because Ive seen it and its been confirmed by some of my colleagues, Mid-South immigration attorney Andrew Rankin said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said he believes that since the inauguration, about 250 to 500 people in the Mid-South area have been taken into custody.

Given that the administration is a week old, thats pretty high, Rankin said.

Within a week, President Trumps executive orders are changing the country, including immigration.

Rankin told WREG that things are changing rapidly.

So, people coming in unlawfully, that deals with the border  coming in lawfully, hes cutting off pathways and then trying to go after individuals who are in the interior, Rankin said.

Now, hes seeing firsthand how fearful his clients are.

Trumps executive orders bring uncertainty for immigrants in the Mid-South

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Almost immediately, the Department of Homeland Security began carrying out raids in major US cities.

Rankin said were seeing a shift in the Mid-South too, like ICE agents calling non-citizens, already in the system scheduling a check-in.

And then theyre arresting them at the check-in for specific reasons, Rankin said. One of them is because theyre under a final order or deportation as its more commonly known and another is they do not have enough presence in the country, usually under two years.

Nationally, most of the discussion has been about targeting violent offenders.

Governor Bill Lee addresses MSCS board, school vouchers

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee discussed those changes on the radio Tuesday morning, saying the state is preparing to partner with the feds.

So were creating a centralized immigration enforcement division, were really creating a division within the department of safety, that has accountability and appoints and point of contact that heads up the immigration enforcement program, Lee said.

Rankin told WREG that he wants people to remember the country is made up of immigrants. He added that sensible reforms can be enacted.

That protect the national interest but also hold up this nations founding principles of compassion, care and redemption, Rankin said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rankin said he does expect immigration enforcement to expand and encourages people to inform themselves.

WREG reached out to ICE for a comment and is still 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 WREG.com.
EVERETT, Pa. (WTAJ)  An Everett woman is facing charges after 67 cats were rescued from her biohazardous home, according to court records.

Amanda Ashley Vandergroef, 31 (Bedford County Prison)

Amanda Ashley Vandergroef, 31, is facing 243 charges of aggravated assault of animals, cruelty to animals and neglect of animals. She faces 81 counts of each charge, accounting for the 67 cats rescued and the 14 believed to still be in the home.

Earlier this month it was reported that 40-year-old Matthew Calhoun, also residing in the home, was jailed on 111 of the same charges. On Wednesday, Vandergroef was also arrested.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the criminal complaint, Pennsylvania State Police received a tip from Bedford Children and Youth Services who said they had checked on the conditions of the home and found it unfit for Vandergroefs newborn.

Abhorrent conditions: Everett man facing over 100 charges of animal abuse, 34 cats surrendered

Troopers, along with District Attorney Ashlan Clark went to inspect the residence. It was noted that the smell of urine and ammonia could be smelled through the door. According to charges, Calhoun let officials in and approximately 25 cats ran out the front door. Troopers reported that the house was covered in urine and fecal matter, including piles of feces piled up to a foot high in some places.

According to the complaint, the trooper trying to inspect the home had to leave when he began to dry-heave due to the ammonia and odors. He went on to note theyd never been in such a biohazardous residence before.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was noted that Calhoun let officials take 34 cats, however, when shelter workers arrived at the home at a later date, another 33 cats were rescued and 14 remained at the home. Calhoun allegedly admitted at one point that there was no cat food in the home.

Volunteers from the Bedford County Humane Society said in an interview that many of the cats were in terrible condition. Some died from health complications while others had to be euthanized.

In a statement to WTAJ, the Bedford County District Attorneys Office spoke on the disappointment surrounding another animal abuse case, but said that theyll continue to push for justice.

The District Attorneys Office is disappointed to have yet another animal hoarding and abuse situation occurring in Bedford County. We thank the Pennsylvania State Police, specifically Trooper Luke Hoover for his diligent investigation and thorough documentation. We also wish to thank Laura Meyers and her organization Moms Pets for taking in these cats. These cases are difficult, but we look forward to seeing justice in the future. Megan E. Will, Assistant District Attorney, Bedford County

Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices.

Charges were filed and Jan. 29 and Vandergroef was placed in Bedford County Prison, unable to post $50,000 bail.

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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Police are asking the public for help in identifying two people involved with a suspected felony theft at a store in Overland Park.

According to the Overland Park Police Department, at about 1:25 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, the suspects walked into a store near West 115th Street and Metcalf Avenue and stole several pieces of computer and electronic merchandise.

(Credit: Overland Park Police Department) (Credit: Overland Park Police Department) (Credit: Overland Park Police Department) (Credit: Overland Park Police Department)

OPPD said the individuals then fled the scene in a maroon Chevrolet Malibu with a temporary Missouri license plate. Officers tried to stop the suspects, but they drove away from police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you or anyone you know has information regarding the identity of these individuals, OPPD asks that you call (913) 344-8729 or the TIPS Hotline.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The state Capitol in Harrisburg. (Capital-Star file)

A Pennsylvania House committee advanced a bill that would require restaurants and other establishments to post warnings about the dangers of food allergies.

According to a co-sponsorship memo, more than 33 million Americans have food allergies, leading to 200 deaths per year. Nearly half of the fatal food allergy reactions over a 13-year period show that this was caused by food from a restaurant or other food service establishments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Bill 77, sponsored by state Reps. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny) and Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny), aims to protect those with food allergies dining in Pennsylvania.

The bill requires that food establishments, food resale establishments, have posters in their serving areas about the dangers of food allergies, and also have warnings on their menus or in other printed materials so that people can convey that information as part of the food retail process, Venkat said Tuesday.

Venkat, a physician, described food allergies as an epidemic in society and said hes treated more than his fair share of those patients. He mentioned that a family from his district had a child who died after an accidental exposure to an allergen via cross contamination from a restaurant.

Its a simple change, but it could have a big impact, Mihalek said. And just like so many other issues, Pennsylvania is sort of behind the eight ball on this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Texas, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are among the states that have already enacted similar legislation, according to the co-sponsorship memo. The bill passed the House during the previous session in March by a 148-53 vote, but did not advance in the state Senate.

This is happening in a lot of other states where were just requiring those servers and managers at the restaurants to be a little more educated, a little more aware, and a little more communicative with their patrons at their establishments, Mihalek said.

The legislation was approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee by a 20-6 vote on Tuesday, with every Democrat voting to support the legislation, while Republicans were split 6-6.

State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton), who voted against the legislation, said she cares about people with food allergies, but added that many restaurants are already providing these materials and is concerned about the Department of Agriculture getting involved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was at Subway the other day. They already have this on their display. You could [use]a QR code, and get the allergy information, Borowicz said.

The last thing I want to do is make restaurants subject to the Department of Ag, having to comply, and then turn it in, make sure its appropriate, make sure that they accept it and then turn it back in, she added. Its just another level of government for the restaurants to have to deal with.

State Rep. Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming) also voted against the legislation. He agreed it was a topic that should be treated seriously, but said small business owners are under attack with regulations and red tape.

Hamm also worried the bill could open up small businesses to litigation if there are any mistakes from the posters. Venkat responded that the legislation would protect small business owners from litigation as long as they follow the protocol of listing the menu disclaimers, educational posters, and food safety training.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The committee also advanced legislation that would allow anyone who is legally working in the U.S. to become a certified poultry technician upon completion of the state Department of Agriculture course. The bill by state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, a Democrat from Berks County, moved out of the committee on a 20-6 vote with all Democrats voting in the affirmative and Republicans being evenly split 6-6.

Cepeda-Freytiz said the state poultry industry has required significantly more certified poultry technicians than ever before as they work to protect their flocks from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

She added that large poultry companies have flagged several cases in which employees were unable to be licensed as poultry technicians because they are not citizens.

The legislation passed in the previous session in July by a 166-36 vote, but was not approved by the state Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Per a co-sponsorship memo, certified poultry technicians, who collect poultry samples for testing, are key to preventing the spread of High-Path Avian Influenza and that many individuals who work in Pennsylvanias poultry operations are not U.S. citizens, despite being able to legally work on farms in the United States.

Borowicz said she didnt like that the legislation would allow noncitizens to obtain the certification and had concerns about the secretary of agricultures authority to issue quarantine orders on avian influenza.

She argued to state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne), chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, that the bill is government overreach, drawing a parallel to how the state responded to the coronavirus pandemic.

Were on a precipice of something that could be a national emergency, Pashinski said, to which Borowicz responded right, just like COVID.

Pashinski said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding is highly qualified and has demonstrated his ability to manage the ag industry in Pennsylvania.
FARMINGTON, Conn. (WTNH)  A Pennsylvania man was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 months in prison for defrauding his former employer of more than $1.4 million.

State employee charged for voter registration fraud after event in Torrington

James Keating, 52, was the assistant vice president and surety bond claims handler at Allied World Insurance Company, whose offices are in Farmington. Between 2017 and 2021, Keating defrauded the company by filing false claims and receiving kickbacks from vendors without the knowledge of his employer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He pleaded guilty to wire fraud 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 WTNH.com.
(KRON)  A high school teacher in Pacifica was arrested Tuesday for sexual assault, the Pacifica Police Department (PPD) announced in a press release. Terra Nova High School teacher Paul Spinetti allegedly committed lewd and lascivious sexual acts against a female student.

According to Pacifica police, Spinetti committed the acts against the student between Oct. 31, 2024 and Nov. 4, 2024. Spinetti, 64, was employed by the high school as a wood shop teacher since November 2015.

Paul Spinetti (Photo: San Mateo County Sheriffs Office)

The suspect was arrested for a $100,000 warrant for lewd acts with a minor and sexual battery, according to police. Spinetti was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pacifica police said there might be additional victims who have not yet come forward. No additional details about the crimes committed were released.

Maddy Middletons killer lied to psychologist hoping for freedom, prosecutor says

Anyone with information about the case or who knows of similar incidents involving Spinetti is asked to contact PPD at 650-738-7314 or the Silent Witness Tip Line at 650-359-4444. Refer to case #24-2878

PPD has released several resources for parents to educate children about sexual 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 KRON4.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is one step closer to Washington, D.C.

He won the primary race to replace former House Representative Matt Gaetz.

United Way launches VITA program for tax assistance in Northwest Florida

I havent been this nervous in over 20 years. When I ran for the first time in the State House of Representatives. Little bit different now. Ive got a couple knuckleheads with me here to help me get here, so I guess Im looking forward to hit the ground running in Washington, DC, Patronis said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his victory speech, the President Donald Trump-endorsed candidate listed several issues he will combat in Washington if elected state representative.

Weve got to get our fiscal house in order. Weve got to get our veterans and military affairs in order. Weve got to close the border. We deal with those three things, its amazing how much better things will get for our country, Patronis said.

The nominee said hes best fit for the job and is ready to create legislation addressing these issues.

Were going to go to Washington, have one big, beautiful bill to consider, and thats going to have tax cuts and its going to have border security. Im going to be paying attention to what type of legislation is going to be proposed by Congress, Patronis said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patronis added hes looking forward to helping President Trump make America great again.

Cape San Blas restoration project faces funding and permit challenges

This is an opportunity to take our country back. Weve had way too much dysfunction over the last four years. America was fed up and so was I. This is an opportunity to be a part of something really special, something magical, something worthwhile, Patronis continued.

Patronis will advance to the general election to face Democrat Gay Valmont. Valimont ran unopposed for the Northwest Florida seat.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has declared his intention to run for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.

Waititu made the announcement on Monday, January 27, 2024, during the launch of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) headquarters in Karen, Nairobi.

Speaking at the event, Waititu expressed confidence in his political comeback, stating that he narrowly lost the governors seat in previous elections but is now determined to win. He emphasized that the public trusts his leadership and is ready to support his bid.

Mimi nitakuwa kwa kusimama. Kwa sababu wananchi ndio wanachagua. Mimi niko hapa Nairobi kusimama kama governor. Niliponea chupuchupu last time. Saa hii vile naona wananchi, mambo iko sawa, Waititu said. Loosely translated: (I will be running because it is the people who decide. I am here in Nairobi to stand as governor. I narrowly missed it last time, but this time, from what I see, the people are with me, and everything looks good)

Reflecting on His Political Journey

Waititu also took the opportunity to reflect on his extensive political career, which spans several decades. He recounted his rise from serving as a Nairobi councillor and deputy mayor to becoming a member of parliament and eventually the governor of Kiambu. However, his tenure as governor was cut short after just two years when he was impeached.

Addressing the impeachment, Waititu described it as a challenging experience but argued that it often results from political disagreements rather than actual wrongdoing. He claimed that when the government wants to remove someone from office, it fabricates allegations to justify the process.

I started as a councillor, then became deputy mayor of Nairobi, and eventually rose to the position of governor, only to be impeached after two years. This issue of impeachment is not something to take lightly. When you see someone impeached, its not necessarily because they committed any wrongdoing but because they no longer align with the government. They must be framed with allegations to justify their removal from office, he explained.

Impeachment Veterans and Political Resilience

Waititu drew a parallel between himself and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, labeling both as impeachment veterans. He stressed that being impeached does not disqualify someone from running for office again, asserting his determination to remain active in politics.

Thats why we are the veterans of impeachment. But being impeached doesnt mean you cant run for office again, he remarked.

Warning to President Ruto

In a bold move, Waititu warned President William Ruto to tread carefully as he might not complete his current term. He speculated that plans are already underway to make Ruto a one-term president.

Waititu praised DAP-K leaders for uniting opposition politicians at the high-profile meeting, claiming that Kenyans are pleased with the initiative. He also referenced Rutos past remarks dismissing the opposition, suggesting that the unity displayed at the event would unsettle the president.

Yule alikuwa juzi anasema wengine wanahara, najua leo anaona simu yake akiwa kwa choo. Ni yeye anahara saa hii. Akiona hii team iko hapa anajua ako nyumbani. This is the cabinet in waiting. Mungu atujalie, hata kabla ya 2027, mimi naona atakuwa nyumbani ndio nyinyi mchukue usukani, he said. (The one who recently claimed others were panickingI know today hes seeing his phone while hiding in the bathroom. Hes the one panicking now. When he sees this team here, he knows his time is up. This is the cabinet in waiting. God willing, even before 2027, I foresee him being at home while you take over the reins.)

A Cabinet in Waiting

Waititus remarks highlighted the growing momentum among opposition leaders to challenge the current administration. He described the gathering as a sign of a cabinet in waiting, signaling a strong push to unseat President Ruto and his government.

For now, all eyes remain on how these political developments will unfold, with Waititu positioning himself as a key player in the race for Nairobis top seat.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, presents an amended bill to allow nonprofit hospitals to hold retail pharmacy permits to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

An amended bill to allow nonprofit hospitals in Arkansas to hold a retail pharmacy permit passed a legislative committee Wednesday after the original version narrowly failed a week earlier.

Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, initially said he would not amend Senate Bill 58 because he believed it would sufficiently improve patients access to prescription medications. Nonprofit hospital administrators spoke in favor of the bill last week before the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, Dismang presented a revamped bill he said he believed would achieve the same goal while addressing concerns in the spirit of compromise. Committee members and representatives of independent pharmacies worried last week that these pharmacies would struggle financially due to competition from hospitals in-house pharmacies.

Arkansas is the only state in which the law currently prohibits nonprofit, tax-exempt or governmentally-funded hospitals from holding or acquiring interest in retail pharmacy permits.

In addition to repealing the prohibition, the amended Senate Bill 58 would allow the state Board of Pharmacy to issue permits for retail pharmacies within 250 yards of a nonprofit hospitals physical location in Arkansas, plus one additional pharmacy permit per 100 beds in the hospital.

Its not like theyre going to be able to go out and build off-site and start directly competing with pharmacies that are currently in business, Dismang said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SB58-S1

The amended bill would not place a limit on the number of retail pharmacies that nonprofit hospitals could operate in conjunction with infusion centers, and it would allow these hospitals to direct their pharmacies services to underserved areas. Dismang said these provisions satisfied some opponents of the original version of the bill.

Medicaid patients who are eligible for discounted prescription drugs under the federal 340B drug pricing program would have the ability to choose which pharmacy to use under the proposed policy.

The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy would be required to submit monthly reports to lawmakers detailing how many pharmacy applications it receives and approves, including for hospital pharmacies, as well as how many retail pharmacies in the state have closed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The amended bill passed on a voice vote with no dissent.

Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn, voted against SB 58 last week and said the bill did not provide adequate assurances that patients will have better access to medication. He said Wednesday that he still had those concerns, but the changes to the bill were enough to convince him to vote for it.

John Vinson, CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, was among last weeks opponents of the bill and said Wednesday that he appreciated the changes.

Dismang said the amended bill is a great step in the right direction. The full Senate will be next to consider it.

Republican Sen. Justin Boyd, a pharmacist from Fort Smith, is sponsoring a separate bill that would allow hospitals to hold one retail pharmacy permit per location as long as it meets certain criteria, including the ability to dispense emergency medications on a 24/7 basis. The Senate Public Health Committee has deferred the bill.
Jan. 28A former military bride from San Diego came to Concord Tuesday to urge the New Hampshire Legislature to reject a proposal to allow 17-year-olds to marry if one member of the couple is active-duty military.

The bill (HB 433) would create an exception to the state's newly enacted ban on marriage under the age of 18.

Former Army Spc. Brittany Wright told lawmakers she suffered years of abuse after her parents forced her to become a teen bride.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Child marriage gave my abuser, an adult man, who at the time was in the military, the power to groom, arrest and rape me when I was 14 years old," Wright told the House Children and Family Law Committee Tuesday.

"I escaped at 18 and the divorce left me homeless with no one to turn to for help, except the greatest military force this world has ever known."

Joining the Army, Wright said, she earned her GED and served in the military police corps for seven years.

But Rep. Harry Bean, R-Gilford, a former Army reservist, said he got married at 16, and by 18, he and wife, Phyllis, already had two children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Marriage under the age of 18 works if the two people are committed and the parents know their children," said Bean, 70, the grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of six who has been married nearly 54 years.

Rep. Margaret Drye, R-Plainfield, said what influenced her sponsorship of HB 433 was having two sons deployed to Iraq with the Marines.

All branches of the service recruit at age 17 and many recruits at that age have been through basic training.

"I have never heard a 17-year-old soldier be called a 'child' soldier," Drye said.

Under her bill, the 17-year-old not in the military would need written consent from a parent or guardian to get married.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Katy Peternel, R-Wolfeboro, said the armed forces are finding it difficult to meet their recruiting targets in recent years.

"This is very beneficial for our military," Peternel said.

The ban on under-18 marriage just took effect on Jan. 1. Rep. Cassandra Levesque, D-Barrington, worked for nearly five years on the legislation that made New Hampshire one of only 11 states that outlaw marriage without exception for anyone under 18.

Levesque sat on the committee that heard the bill Tuesday.

"Do you think we should give (the ban) some time to take effect?" Levesque asked Drye, the sponsor of HB 433.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

'Inherently dangerous'

Emma Sevigny, behavioral health policy coordinator with New Futures, a health advocacy group, also opposed the exception, pointing to studies that conclude child marriage was more likely to lead to domestic abuse and mental health challenges.

"Child marriage is inherently dangerous," Sevigny said. "This legislation would roll back the progress that we have made."

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, said it made sense to him as someone who reported for basic training at 17 in 1986.

"To be clear, I don't think getting married at 17 is a great idea. If we could I'd outlaw it until you turn 35," Roy quipped.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The exception could be helpful for a soldier who learns upon entering the military that his 17-year-old girlfriend is pregnant. Marriage would grant her and the unborn child critical medical and prenatal care, Roy said.

"Don't see this as chipping away at your work; this is a very fine exception," Roy told Levesque.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
The Jan. 6 defendant fatally shot by a Jasper County Sheriff's deputy had been arrested at least four times since the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and President Donald Trump issuing his pardon.

Matthew Huttle, 42, faced multiple pending motor vehicle cases at the time of his death, each of the five charges stemming out of Lake Superior Court. The most recent case opened in May 2022, months before his Jan. 6 arrest. Online court records show he had many more.

The Hobart, Indiana, man had an extensive history of driving offenses dating back to at least 2005 with an intoxicated driving-related conviction. The pattern continued through 2019 with his guilty plea of operating a vehicle as a habitual offender, records show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Huttle had at least 13 criminal convictions  including his federal charge stemming from his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, according to federal court documents.

Federal prosecutors pointed to his criminal record in his Jan. 6 sentencing records, making specific mention of a battery case out of Lake County in 2010 in which he pleaded guilty to spanking his son "so hard that he left bruises all over the child's backside," the memorandum states. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Online Indiana prison records show his projected release date as May 12, 2013.

The U.S. Government further said that since his arrest for the Capitol riot, Huttle violated his pretrial release conditions by using marijuana, failing to appear for drug testing and moving to a different state without the court's approval.

Indiana Jan. 6 defendants: President Trump issues pardons. See the list of Hoosiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Huttle was next due in court on Feb. 10 for his most recent case. His attorney, Nicholas Barnes, said he was "taken aback" by the shooting and looks forward to seeing what's revealed in the body camera footage capturing the encounter.

"I dont know Matt to be a violent individual," Barnes said. "Unfortunately its well documented he struggled with alcohol. However, I would say when he was sober, he was charismatic and he was intelligent."

Matthew Huttle shot during traffic stop while resisting arrest, police say

The fatal shooting occurred about 4:15 p.m. Sunday shortly after a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriffs Office stopped Huttle's vehicle near the Pulaski County line, according to Indiana State Police.

While the deputy was attempting to arrest Huttle, an altercation broke out between the two and ended in the deputy shooting Huttle, Indiana State Police said. Officials have not said why the deputy initiated the traffic stop.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said an early investigation found Huttle had a firearm at the time of the traffic stop. Because of his felony convictions, he was prohibited from carrying.

Police have not detailed what role that firearm played in his shooting.

In three separate cases between 2008-09 in Lake and Porter counties, he was charged with resisting law enforcement, attempted aggravated battery and domestic battery. Each of the charges was dismissed. Online records don't indicate if they were dismissed because of lack of evidence or as part of plea agreements.

Matthew Huttle's role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack

Matthew Huttle, captured in images from the Jan. 6, 2021 riot in Washington DC, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in northern Indiana on Jan. 26, 2025.

Huttle was arrested on Jan. 6-related offenses in November 2022 after federal investigators say surveillance video captured him going inside the Capitol and venturing into "multiple" offices, the Crypt and hallways, court records state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was sentenced in November 2023 to six months in prison and a year on supervised release after pleading guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building, a misdemeanor. He faced a lower charge than his uncle, Dale Huttle, whom he traveled with that day. In June 2024, Dale Huttle was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison followed by two years on supervised release.

According to federal prison records, Matthew Huttle was no longer in custody as of July 17, 2024. He had no additional charges in Indiana after his release.

The pair were among the 28 Hoosiers charged in the massive investigation following the riot. This month, in one of his first acts in office, President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 defendants implicated in the attack.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Man pardoned by Trump had 4 Indiana cases after Jan. 6
Experts on policing who were contracted by the U.S. government to help a crisis-wracked Haiti take down heavily armed violent gangs are among the first casualties of a sweeping Trump administration 90-day freeze on almost all foreign aid around the world.

Several subject matter experts contracted under the Biden administration to help the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission and the Haiti National Police were notified by email Monday that theyve been furloughed until further notice, several sources confirmed to the Miami Herald.

The furloughs are part of a sweeping series of layoffs that have started to hit both the United States Agency for International Development and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, a State Department agency that helps professionalize and strengthen police operations around the world and assists efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Colombia, one of the biggest U.S. counter-narcotics efforts, some 250 contractors with the bureau were laid off, one source said, citing information provided by the Colombian government. It is unclear how hard Haiti has been hit. Neither Haitian officials nor the State Department has provided details on the number of individuals who have been furloughed affected.

Bureau advisers have been used to help train a new specialized SWAT teams for the beleaguered police force, including providing weapons training. More recently, theyve helped police and the Kenya-led mission in improving anti-gang operations as they struggle to stop the widespread attacks. Both France and Canada also have assigned advisers to help the Haitian police. While Frances remain in country, Canadas advisers left after the embassy adjusted its footprints amid escalating violence in November. A new group, however, is expected to arrive shortly.

Ahead of the June deployment of the security mission, three companies Universal Strategy Group, Inc., Celestar Holdings Corporation and Creative Corrections, LLC  recruited police advisers to help strengthen the response by providing technical assistance to the Haitian police on intelligence gathering, improving investigations, administration and other reforms.

One laid off adviser was involved in helping the Haiti National Police establish a critical-command center. A recent job posting had pay listed as between $80,000 and $120,000 and required 12 to 18 years of U.S. law enforcement experience or U.S. military police. The Miami Herald has reached out to all three companies for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this moment, in order to do a thorough review, all programs and grants without a waiver approved by the Secretary of State using foreign assistance funding are paused, a State Department spokesperson. Salaries and administrative expenses for programs with waivers and for U.S direct hires, personal services contractors, and locally employed staff are allowed to continue under waivers approved by the Secretary of State.

The layoffs in Haiti come as Haitians once again found themselves on the run from armed gangs. Shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday, criminal armed groups launched coordinated attacks in the community of Kenscoff, moving on several fronts to take over several villages in the hills and mountains around Port-au-Prince. The bursts of automatic gunfire and torching of homes sent farmers, schoolchildren and mothers in several rural communities fleeing for their lives.

The siege in the area known for its micro-climate, pine trees and laid-back way of life sent panic all the way down the mountain to Petion-Ville, the wealthy suburb that gangs have been trying to take control of since last year. The community, along with Kenscoff, remains one of the last bastions of the Haitian capital that gangs do not yet control.

The U.S. is the single largest donor of aid around the world, and the Trump administrations freeze is affecting contractors globally. In Haiti, U.S. assistance represented 59.4% of all humanitarian aid last year, according to United Nations data. It pays for life-saving health programs including access to HIV/AIDS treatment, anti-corruption efforts, security assistance, reproductive programs and support for elections, which Washington has said is a priority.

A second contingent of Guatemalans arrived in Haiti on Saturday, January 4, 2025 to join the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission to fight armed gangs.

Last year, armed gangs killed more than 5,600 people and tripled the number of displaced people forced to flee their homes, now numbering more than a million, the U.N. has said. Amid the ongoing gang violence, the aid suspension is likely to critically weaken the international mission to combat gangs and risks exacerbating a situation in which six million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, Haiti experts say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even a three-month stop has very severe negative consequences around the world and in Haiti, for saving peoples lives and for preserving U.S. credibility, U.S. soft power, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on non-state armed groups around the world at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and a close monitor of the security crisis in Haiti.

Felbab-Brown said that despite the challenges of the security response in Haiti, which so far has failed to stop the expansion of the gangs that now control more than 80% of the capital and the lower nearby Artibonite region, the U.S. experts, contracted through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, have been crucial for helping to strengthen, at least, the already weak capacities of the Kenya-led mission.

Of course, this all has profound implications for whether there will be funding, she said, referring to the overall uncertainty about U.S. money for the mission, which amounted to more than $600 million under the Biden administration. U.S. efforts to stabilize the situation in Haiti and reverse the power of the gangs are not just actions based on humanitarian considerations, although those should be profound because people are suffering so much. They have direct national security applications for the United States.

Several of Haitis gangs, already trafficking in powerful military-grade weapons and high-caliber ammunition, are now showing signs of becoming involved in significant drug trafficking and are interacting with regional drug cartels, Felbab-Brown said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Allowing the establishment, essentially, in a country in the Caribbean, close to the United States, a crucial way station for access of contraband to Europe, to North America, as well as flows back to South America, would be highly detrimental to U.S. security, she said. So suspension of aid and or termination of aid, such as for international stabilization efforts, would have detrimental effects.

In addition to the furloughs in Haiti, senior career officials with the U.S. Agency for International Development were also removed from their posts on Monday. They were placed on administrative leave, a former official with the agency confirmed to the Herald.

Trump touts foreign aid freeze

A critic of U.S. foreign aid spending, Trump issued his executive order on the aid freeze as part of a flurry of edicts he signed on his first day back in the White House last week. Days later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo to provide guidance on the aid crackdown, pending a review by the State Department.

The memo, obtained by the Herald, said effective immediately, no new obligations shall be made for foreign assistance until the secretary makes a determination after a review. It also issued stop orders for all existing awards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The goal is for the aid to align with Trumps America First policy, and to make that it happens his administration has threatened disciplinary action for staff ignoring its orders.

We get tired of giving massive amounts of money to countries that hate us, dont we? Trump told House Republicans on Monday in Doral as he touted the executive order and others in a speech.

As he was speaking, contractors in Haiti were trying to get over the shock of being laid off as police units were in the hills fighting to push back gangs.

Specialized police units and forces with the Kenya mission arrived in the afternoon and managed to push back gangs after several hours of intense fighting. Both the head of the police, Rameau Normil, and the commander of the Kenyan force, Godfrey Otunge, were on the scene as panicked residents sought help. Haiti National Police spokesman Michel-Ange Louis Jeune told the Herald that several gang members were killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police confiscated 216 cartridges of ammunition of various calibers, dozens of tear gas grenades and two assault rifles, he added. With reports that gangs are planning another attack, police continue to patrol the area, Louis-Jeune said.

Concerns about U.S. help to fight gangs

The layoffs in Haiti have prompted concerns about the future of the Multinational Security Support mission, which has been authorized through October by the United Nations but continues to suffer from a lack of equipment, financing and boots on the ground.

The mission so far has landed 800 security personnel in Haiti, still way fewer than the 2,500 originally envisioned, and the mission still lacks equipment and financing. On Monday, the mission did get some good news: A C-130 military aircraft from the U.S. Defense Department landed in Haiti to provide the mission with food, which is expected to sustain it for a few months. However, another aircraft that was supposed to bring equipment for both the police and the mission did not arrive.

People go about their day at a displacement camping Leogane, Haiti. People have no tarps and say they are forced to sleep in the dirt after armed gangs forced them from their homes in the communities of Carrefour and Gressier.

During his confirmation hearing this month, Rubio, a former senator from Florida, signaled support for the Kenyan mission in Haiti. Days later, Kenyan President William Ruto deployed an additional 217 police officers, despite uncertainty over the missions funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ruto and Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez were among several leaders who spoke to Rubio on Monday, according to the State Department. Haiti came up in both conversations.

Confirming the talk, Ruto said on X that he had and Rubio discussed a variety of issues of mutual concern for our two countries.

We also discussed the United Nations-led Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti and agreed on a joint strategy to ensure the mission serves its purpose, the Kenyan president said.
About 90 Patriot missiles from Israel are being sent to Ukraine in a transfer facilitated by the United States, according to a US defense official.

The missiles had been in storage in Israel, which operated Patriot air defense systems for more than 30 years before retiring them in April. Discussions about transferring the missiles from Israel to Ukraine have been ongoing since last summer, when Biden administration officials were hopeful the effort might allow the unused missiles to be sent to Kyiv to aid in its war with Russia.

Ukraine was desperate for more Patriot missiles as Russia launched barrages of missiles and drones, repeatedly overwhelming the countrys air defense systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Israeli assistance to Ukraine has been very limited, and Israels leaders have been careful not to overly criticize Russia. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to walk a fine line with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making it difficult to finalize the transfer of missiles.

The Israeli Patriot missiles were first handed over to the United States before being shipped to Ukraine.

Axios was first to report the transfer.

In April, the Israel Defense Forces said it would retire its Patriot systems, which became fully integrated into the military in 1991. The first Israeli Patriot intercept came during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, when the system shot down a drone launched from Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the Patriot missiles are not Israels primary air defense system. To date, the IDF said Israeli Patriot batteries have carried out 19 interceptions, including nine during the current war against Hamas. Israel relies far more on its short-range Iron Dome aerial defense system, as well as its medium-range Davids Sling and long-range Arrow missiles.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A move by President Donald Trump's budget office to at least temporarily halt federal aid to programs produced profound uncertainty on Tuesday, drawing condemnation from Democratic members of Michigan's congressional delegation and prompting the state's top law enforcement officer to join other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit.

By the end of the day, the freeze on federal payments was at least temporarily delayed by a federal judge in Washington in response to a lawsuit from nonprofits, as the courts and those affected try to determine just what the memo means and if it passes constitutional muster at least on its face.

But that did little to clear up the confusion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) memo issued Monday ordered agencies to pause payments on grants, loans and other forms of federal assistance covered by Trump's recent spate of executive orders, including those covering programs related to gender, energy and the environment, and diversity and equity policies beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a copy seen by Reuters. But it appeared to some to potentially go further since Trump's orders touched on myriad issues including government efficiency and declared emergencies in areas of border security and energy. The memo also ordered a review of federal payments "consistent with the presidents policies and requirements," which could have been interpreted as going beyond those orders, since more continue to be issued.

For many, it initially raised fears that other programs  including those serving nutrition or health care needs for poorer individuals or families  might be impacted. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday afternoon said that no individual assistance would be compromised but still left unclear just how widespread the funding freeze might be.

University of Michigan public policy professor Donald Moynihan described the memo, which was vague as to its scope, as highly unusual. "The pause on funding represents what amounts to a self-imposed government shutdown for a very large part of the government, featuring an extraordinary degree of uncertainty," he said.

More: Gretchen Whitmer reaches out to younger readers with YA version of bestseller 'True Gretch'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Officials strip affordable housing requirement for first District Detroit building

A chorus of Michigan Democrats blasted the directive as illegal, decrying it as a usurpation by the executive branch of Congress' spending power. "The Trump administrations unilateral move to block thousands of federal programs is clearly unlawful. This isn't a wonky, Washington conversation  there are real, actual effects that will harm Michigan and put a hold on federal dollars that were already awarded," said U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in a statement.

Others confirmed it had caused widespread confusion, with organizations that receive federal aid reaching out for any clarity as to if, how and when their funding might be affected. "My phone has not stopped ringing," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor. "People don't know what this means."

Republicans, however, defended the freeze, saying in some cases its scope had been exaggerated. "The pause was never across-the-board," U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township and a top member of House Republican leadership, said in a post on social media platform X. "This was fearmongering. President Trump rightfully has everyone talking about reexamining our country's spending priorities. We are trillions in debt."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Tuesday she'd joined more than 20 other state AGs in a legal fight after receiving reports that programs  including Medicaid and Head Start  were impacted by the Trump administration's move.

Leavitt said Tuesday afternoon at her first briefing with the media that there is "no uncertainty" in the administration about what the instructions from OMB mean. "This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," she said. "Individual assistance  assistance that is going directly to individuals, will not be impacted by this pause."

Still, the Trump administration's funding pause could reverberate across Michigan, affecting state, local and nonprofit programs and services that rely on federal support, stakeholders said Tuesday.

Potential impact to state programs 'huge'

In state government, the freeze could potentially impact spending on a Michigan Department of Transportation program to support minority subcontractors, which accounted for $117.1 million in spending in 2024 but which MDOT officials said Friday they did not believe had been impacted by Trumps executive orders. The freeze could also potentially impact, at a minimum, any state grants related to diversity and equity programs, grants in support of refugees seeking asylum, and programs related to solar or wind energy or electric vehicles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michigan's 2025 budget totals about $81.2 billion, of which just under $33.9 billion, or 42%, comes from the federal government, according to the House Fiscal Agency. But not all of that federal money has been paused.

By state agency, the biggest recipients of federal funding are the Department of Health and Human Services ($26.6 billion); the Michigan Department of Transportation ($2.3 billion); School Aid ($2.3 billion); and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity ($1.2 billion). Next are the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential ($505.4 million) and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy ($463.8 million).

"The potential impact is huge," said Bob Schneider, a senior research associate at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, though he also noted the freeze might apply to a more limited range of discretionary spending programs.

Michigan's State Budget Director Jen Flood underscored the importance of state funding in a statement Tuesday. "Federal funding is critical to protecting the health and safety of all Michiganders  ensuring drinking water is clean and food is safe, keeping people in their homes and the power on, and funding homeland security and emergency management," she said.

Michigan universities assessing change

Universities across the state collectively receive millions in federal research grants, according to data compiled by the National Science Foundation. The University of Michigan alone received more than $1 billion in federal money last year. At Michigan State, federal grants topped $435 million. Wayne State received about $135 million, and Michigan Technological, Central Michigan and Western Michigan universities also received grants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several of the schools said they were aware of the order. "The university is in the process of reviewing the impact of executive orders and the pause in federal funding on the institution, and therefore we are unable to specifically comment on this directive," MSU spokeswoman Kim Ward Sutton said in a statement.

CMU President Neil MacKinnon told staffers in a note that the school was working with other schools and consultants to interpret the orders correctly. "At present, CMU is not required to make any immediate changes to comply with the new executive orders," MacKinnon said in a note also signed by Interim Provost Paula Lancaster and Shawna Patterson-Stephens, vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging. "There is currently no need to cancel previously planned programs and activities, nor to make changes to curriculum."

Nonprofits in 'liminal space'

Michigan nonprofit leaders representing organizations working on a range of issues from refugee services to mental health said Tuesday they face uncharted territory.

Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) President and CEO Kelley Kuhn blasted the decision to pause federal funding allocations, saying the stoppage would affect a myriad of services for residents. It's not immediately clear how many Michigan nonprofits receive federal funding through the states budget, the group said. "This reckless action by the administration could have serious consequences for nonprofit organizations and the people they serve," Kuhn said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joshua Traylor, executive director of the University of Michigan's nonprofit Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), said it's not unusual for a pause in grant activity and communications to accompany a change in the federal administration as new political appointees take charge. "I think what is challenging with this announcement is the breadth," Traylor said. In general, he described the move as creating deep funding uncertainty for organizations. "You know it's a bit of a wait-and-see," Traylor said.

Common Ground  a nonprofit crisis services agency in Michigan  receives programming funds mostly through state and local sources, according to Chief External Relations Officer Jeff Kapuscinski. But the organization operates resiliency centers in communities impacted by mass shootings, including East Lansing, Oxford and Rochester Hills supported by the state through federal grant funding from the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program. It's not clear whether the centers could be affected by the funding freeze, Kapuscinski added.

The Refugee Education Center, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that provides educational services to refugee families in west Michigan, planned to continue operations despite the funding freeze, said Executive Director Meg Derrer. That programming includes early childhood programs, after-school programs for K-8 students and post-education transition planning programs for high school students.

The nonprofit is a recipient of the Office of Global Michigan's School Impact Grant, the funding for which Derrer said stems from federal dollars allocated through the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The funding freeze, coupled with cancellations of flights for refugees already approved for resettlement in the U.S. last week, has created uncertainty for refugees and nonprofit organizations that help them navigate new communities, including in Michigan.

"We're living in a very liminal space, and its very difficult," Derrer said.

(This story was updated with additional information.)

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan reels from potential federal funding threat
NEW YORK (AP)  Freezing foreign aid. Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. Prohibiting nonprofits that receive U.S. foreign aid from providing abortions.

Then Monday, the new Trump administration announced a freeze on all federal loans and grants, though that pause has been rescinded.

Nonprofits of all sizes are now grappling with how these changes will impact their missions  with some even stepping in to replace a very small part of the funding the U.S. government is withholding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. government is the largest single global humanitarian funder, giving $13.9 billion in 2024, and largest supporter of U.N. agencies, meaning any changes to foreign assistance have sweeping impacts across geographies and issues. The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development are the main agencies that oversee foreign assistance, which Trump paused for 90 days to review if every grant and dollar aligns with his foreign policy.

Yuriy Boyechko, who founded the New Jersey-based nonprofit, Hope for Ukraine, said he woke up to a barrage of messages on Sunday from the grassroots organizations he works with in Ukraine. They feared what would happen if USAID stops making grants there.

He pointed specifically to programs sending trucks of firewood to rural areas that dont have electricity. The people who remain are often elderly and poor, he said, and use the wood both to heat their homes and to cook.

I really dont know how theyre going to get through the winter, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The organizations that make the deliveries are mostly volunteer run, Boyechko said, and dont have the capacity to buy the wood or fuel needed to transfer it without regular funding from USAIDs office in Kyiv. He suggested that anyone who is concerned about the funding for humanitarian aid in Ukraine call their representatives or the White House.

What made America great and what makes America great is generosity. And this is not a good move for America, and this is not a good move for humanity as a whole, he said, noting that Ukraine has really relied on the U.S. for its support.

USAID said all programs and grants without a waiver approved by the Secretary of State, are paused, but did not specifically say whether humanitarian aid to Ukraine would be halted.

In fiscal year 2023, the most recent data available, $68 billion had been obligated in U.S. foreign aid to programs ranging from disaster relief to health and pro-democracy initiatives in 204 countries and regions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not the first time billionaire philanthropist Mike Bloomberg has stepped in after Trump announced he was withdrawing from the landmark Paris climate agreement. The former New York City mayor pledged on Jan. 23 to fund the U.S. governments share of the budget for the main offices of U.N. Climate Change. He also covered the cost of the U.S. commitment from 2016 to 2019, in the amount of $10.25 million.

Being able to step in to be nimble and quick, not to replace the role of government, but just to show whats possible and to continue to move progress forward when governments are not, is really important to Bloomberg Philanthropies, said Antha Williams, who leads its environment program.

The U.N. climate body was established as part of the historic 2015 climate agreement that aims to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. It organizes the annual climate negotiations, where countries set emissions reduction targets and commit to financing climate adaptation and mitigation measures, and tracks progress toward those goals.

Williams said Bloomberg Philanthropies wanted to offer certainty to U.N. Climate Change that their budget would be met.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to funding the U.N. Climate Change secretariat, Bloomberg Philanthropies will continue to support a coalition now named America is All In. It brings together local governments, companies and universities, who report on progress toward climate goals, which the federal government will stop doing after pulling out of the agreement.

Joanna Depledge, a historian of international climate negotiations, called that reporting critical, as it provides a picture of trends in emissions and therefore progress made toward, the Paris agreement targets.

Communication from USAID and the State Department with their grantees and contractors has been sparse, according to attorneys and consultants who work with foreign aid recipients. The publication Devex, which reports on international development, convened a webinar of experts on foreign aid on Monday to field questions about how to comply with stop work orders, how to manage cash flows, the likelihood of receiving a waiver.

Susan Reichle, a retired senior USAID officer, said organizations need to make the case that their work is important not just to the agency, but to the American people and to Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every day that goes by that the U.S. is not leading and meeting its obligations, whether contractual obligations or cooperative agreements or grants, we are actually hurting our national security, she said.

Some organizations are hit by both the pause on foreign aid and the order called the Global Gag Rule that prohibits nonprofits receiving U.S. foreign assistance from providing abortion services or even talking about abortion as a potential option.

MSI Reproductive Choices, an international nonprofit that provides reproductive health services, did not sign onto the rule under the last Trump administration, meaning that it hasn't won that much U.S. funding in recent years. Still, a mobile health clinic they run in Zimbabwe is funded through the U.S. embassy there, and Beth Schlachter, senior director of U.S. external relations, said that work would stop unless another funder comes forward.

However, she said no amount of philanthropic funding can make up for the loss or pause of U.S. funds, meaning large donors are facing very difficult choices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Given the breadth of whats just happened in the last week, its not as if other donors are only looking at gaps in reproductive health services now. Theyre looking across the range of their development concerns, she said.

___

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Paris Community Hospital Volunteers recently donated $5,000 toward the purchase of four Controlled Air Purifying Respirators (CAPRs) that protect responders when treating patients with respiratory illnesses, such as COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The CAPRs resemble a bike helmet but are much more advanced, according to a news release. Each helmet has a face shield with a built-in motor-fan and filter that optimizes protection against the transmission of airborne illnesses. The unit is powered by a rechargeable battery pack.

We found during COVID that we needed a good supply of N95 masks for long-distance patient transfers, said Cody Muchow, coordinator of Horizon Healths Mobile Integrated Healthcare program. The CAPRs have a longer use than masks and arent so claustrophobic.

Most emergency medical staff are considered no fit" for a N95 mask, which must form a tight seal around the face, said Adam Webb, Horizon Health paramedic. Instead, they must use respirators when caring for patients with respiratory illnesses. Unlike N95s, the CAPRs do not require fit testing.
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD)  Its a new year, Pekins 201st to be exact.

At the Pekin Public Library, Mayor Mary Burress address around 50 residents and business owners on what 2025 looks like for the city.

A new energy plant could be in Pekins future

Probably the most celebrated aspect of the address by the mayor was how the city has handled their finances as of late, among what projects will be continued this year.

Finances

We are going in the right direction, Burress said. We are stable now. I want people to believe in us and to know that our finances are in order to make the city grow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The finance department of the city is currently working to pay off pension debt at 105% to have it paid off quicker. They are organizing the yearly budget, and are sending in the 2023-24 fiscal year audit.

Burress gave the department a round of applause for what they have been able to do for the past year.

Infrastructure

A major note made at the address was the purchase of Luttiken land which will connect Veterans Drive to Interstate 474.

Burress said she also acquired a $2.8 million grant for Broadway Street in Pekin which she said will be developing within the next two years.

Construction on Court Street and Derby Street will be continued this year as well.

Time Capsule

Just as the city dug up the 50 year old time capsule on the Fourth of July, they are going to make another one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pekin unearths time capsule from the 1970s

It wont be buried, however, after the difficulty it took to retrieve the previous capsule, with moisture ruining a few items inside.

The city is accepting items until May.

Other items discussed in the State of the City included the just over $10 million budget, commercial and economic development with a hope of bringing in more business, and the optimism for resources available and for the opportunities ahead for the 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 CIProud.com.
(WHTM)  Pennsylvanias Medicaid funding portal is currently unavailable following President Trumps order that federal financial assistance be frozen. A judge temporarily halted the move with millions potentially affected by the freeze.

Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed the portals unavailability on Tuesday as multiple states reported similar issues.

States lose access to Medicaid payment portal amid Trump federal aid freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) says he is monitoring the situation and noted that funding that is unavailable affects families and organizations of all backgrounds.

These services, including Medicaid, are critical to our most vulnerable and I am calling on the president to immediately restore access, said Fetterman.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an X social media post that while the portal is down, payments would not be affected.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News 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.
WHITE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAJ)  Pennsylvania State Police are searching for a driver who abandoned a vehicle and fled on foot after a high-speed chase Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 28, in Indiana County.

The pursuit began around 12:30 p.m. when a trooper attempted to stop a red Nissan Altima for speeding along Old Route 119 Highway South near Johnstown Road. Instead of pulling over, the driver accelerated to about 90 mph, leading police southbound.

After briefly losing sight of the vehicle, troopers found it abandoned along Lucerne Road Extension in Center Township. Authorities believe the driver and a possible passenger fled on foot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State police, assisted by the Homer City Police Department and Indiana County Sheriffs Office, canvassed the area and reviewed surveillance footage in an effort to identify the suspects.

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Pennsylvania State Police at 724-357-1960.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Thousands of pensioners are missing meals, cutting back on essentials and feeling more cold at home this winter following the governments changes to the winter fuel payment, a damning new survey has found.

Research conducted by trade union Unite has found that over two-thirds of its retired members have had to turn down the heating this year, while a third are taking fewer baths and showers.

In the poll over over around 6,000 retirees, 63 per cent said that they had felt cold more often this winter compared to previous years, with 16 per cent saying they have even had to cut back on meals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unite representatives say the results show that Labours changes to the cold weather benefit were misguided. Members of the union are dropping a banner from Westminster Bridge calling on the government to reverse the cuts and reinstate the payment for millions of pensioners.

Around 9.4 million pensioners are estimated to have lost the winter fuel payment following Labours changes (Getty Images)

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Our survey shows that pensioners are suffering real-life effects of this needless cut to winter fuel allowance. They are shivering at home, having to go without bathing or without meals. Retirees should be able to live with dignity after a lifetime of work.

Instead of picking the pocket of pensioners, the government should be looking at a wealth tax that targets the very richest in society.

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following the changes, the winter fuel payment is now only sent to those in receipt of pension credit, rather than all pensioners as in previous years. Research from older peoples charity Age UK found that around 2 million people were likely to miss out, despite being in need, due to a lack of awareness and the income threshold being too low.

Unite has been a vocal opponent of the changes since they were introduced, seeking a judicial review of the policy in November in an attempt to see it overturned.

Earlier this month, The Independent revealed that tens of thousands of pensioners still are still facing waits until the Spring to receive their payments.

The average wait for a new claim to be processed grew to around 100 days at the start of December, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to grapple with record demand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A government spokesperson 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.

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.

In addition, in November Energy UK, in collaboration with the Government, published a Winter 2024 Commitment which promises 500m of industry support to billpayers this winter.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday informed retired Gen. Mark Milley that he is pulling his security detail and revoking his security clearance, the Pentagon has confirmed.

Those plans  the latest act of political retribution against those deemed enemies of President Donald Trump  will include an inspector general inquiry into Milleys work so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination, John Ullyot, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said in a statement.

The plan was first reported by Fox News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Washington Post added that probe stems from a desire to take a star from Milley, meaning he would be demoted in retirement.

The ghost of General Milley shouldnt haunt the Pentagon anymore, nor should it haunt the armed forces, an unnamed senior defense official told the Post. This is all about accountability for General Milley.

Milley has had security protection since Iran vowed retribution after the U.S. assassinated one of the countrys top generals, Qassem Soleimani, during Trumps first term.

Fox News added that the Pentagon will soon remove a second portrait of Milley from inside the building as soon as Tuesday night. Another portrait was removed last week within hours of Trumps inauguration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Milley was one of several targets of Trumps frustration to receive a preemptive pardon from Biden in his final hours in office.

Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth says he will immediately pull retired Gen. Mark Milleys security detail and revoke his security clearance. Getty Images

Hegseth was confirmed to lead the Department of Defense last week despite a fierce campaign from Democrats who pointed to his inexperience as well as multiple allegations of alcohol and domestic abuse. The former Fox News personality has called for the firing of so-called woke military leaders and the removal of women from combat roles.

Milley, who served a four-year term as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has been a vocal critic of the current president and called him a total fascist in a recent book by journalist Bob Woodward. Trump in turn has directed his ire at the retired general, suggesting at one point he be put to death after The Atlantic published an interview about Milleys attempts to protect the nation from some of Trumps impulses.

No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump, Milley told Woodward in the book, published at the end of last year. Now I realize hes a total fascist. He is the most dangerous person to this country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump and his aides have already stripped security protections for others who worked under his first administration, including former national security adviser John Bolton and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Marita Vlachou contributed reporting.

Related...
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has revoked the security detail and clearance for retired Gen. Mark Milley, making him the latest high-level official to face retribution from President Donald Trump for going against him.

Hegseth also directed the Pentagons acting inspector general to launch an investigation into whether the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chair upended the chain of command, which could lead to the four-star general getting demoted to three-star rank.

Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trumps leadership, said Joe Kasper, the Pentagons chief of staff, in a late Tuesday statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fox News first reported on Hegseths decision, and said the newly-minted Pentagon chief had ordered the removal of a second portrait of Milley in the Defense Department. A portrait of Milley was removed from the Pentagon during the first week of Trumps second term.

Trump selected Milley as Joint Chiefs chair in 2018, but the two quickly began to clash. They disagreed about the White Houses desire to violently quash protests in the wake of George Floyds death in 2020. The former general also spoke out about Trumps conduct during the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.

Milley is the fourth former Trump appointee the president has stripped of security detail and clearance after former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Iran envoy Brian Hook.

All had security details in place to protect them from threats from Iran. Milley, Pompeo and Hook also faced threats for their involvement in the 2020 U.S. military drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport.

It was not immediately clear if the Trump administration had revoked security details for any other top officials from his first term, such as former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. On Wednesday, Espers portrait commemorating his time as Army secretary was removed from the Pentagon. Esper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Content warning: Graphic descriptions of death.

This week, the Trump administration offered buyouts to roughly 2 million federal employees. If accepted, the administration says employees who resign by Feb. 6 will not be expected to continue working and will receive salary until Sept. 30.

According to the New York Times, the email, titled "Fork in the Road," bore a similar resemblance (down to the subject line) to an email Elon Musk sent out to Twitter employees in 2022. Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / Getty Images

Still, as of now, it is unclear whether Trump can offer such sweeping proposals without authorization from Congress. Sen. Tim Kaine warned workers not to resign. "The president has no authority to make that offer. There's no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work," he said. "If you accept that offer and resign, he'll stiff you, just like he stiffed the contractors."

Kaine's referencing Trump's well-known history of avoiding payment to contractors after they did work for his businesses. C-SPAN

Trump's buyout offer is just one in a series of controversial actions since taking office  which include attempting to freeze federal funding (a move later blocked by a judge), seeking to end birthright citizenship, placing all federal DEI staff on leave, firing independent government watchdogs, and demanding loyalty pledges from new hires.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With broad changes underway, people want to know how federal employees are faring. A thread on Reddit asked, "Those who currently work in the US federal government, what's the current mood like?"

Here's everything they shared:

1."IRS agent here. Not great, Bob. Not. Great."

Amonamission

2."Government contractor here. Nobody knows what's going on. We're waiting for an adult to unscramble this word salad. Are we defending the Constitution or gutting the 14th Amendment? Are we freezing federal hiring or creating an External Revenue Department? Go to a circus, expect to see clowns."

PopuluxePete

3."It's pretty grim. Most of the stuff is illegal, but no one knows what that means now. A new email was set up to communicate directly with federal workers. This week, one asked everyone to quit (not a 'buyout' in any way). They are obviously written by someone without experience in the government or knowing how the budget works."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The return to office is going to cost taxpayers millions or billions. Less than 50% of federal workers are even eligible for telework. The federal civilian workforce (some 2 million Americans) is only a fraction of the budget. That will go up. The idea isn't to save money; it is to destroy the federal workforce and checks and balances."

cascadianpatriot

4."I worked my entire career to get to CDC. Literally halfway through my bachelor's degree, it was my goal. I worked my ass off at an Ivy League school, did AmeriCorps Vista for basically no pay, got into one of the best universities for a master's of public health, and had my eye set on a specific fellowship and worked to it and got it. Every decision I've ever made professionally and academically was to get to the CDC. And this f**ker comes in and wants to kick us out."

"Yeah, I'm scared. I'm anxious. I'm stressed. But most of all, I'm mad. How dare they? How f**king dare they derail the lives of everyone who wanted to dedicate their lives to civil service? Maybe it's the entire bottle of wine I drank. Maybe it's a decade of carefully calculated decisions about my career I don't want to see wasted. But these fuckers can take this buyout and shove it up their ass." megthegreatone Jessica Mcgowan / Getty Images

5."Health and Human Services, bleak. This mess has brought my team together, as we are sharing memes and information through text, so that's nice. Despite what this administration thinks, all we want to do is our jobs. Help out our stakeholders, protect human and animal health, and provide service to the public. But, we are now sitting in meetings, having to decipher all the memos and executive orders and trying to prevent panic. Civil service can be demoralizing on a bad day, but this has gone above and beyond."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oathkeeper26

6."Angry and very compelled to stay at my post, uphold my oath of office, and stick it to the new administration. They aren't running me out without a fight."

MadlyToxic

7."You know that scene in Titanic where the band plays as the ship sinks?"

zombiecattle 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

8."Despair. It sucks to be working hard and meeting all your performance goals, but the people you work for are convinced (with no evidence) that you are a lazy piece of shit. They've openly admitted to wanting to make us so miserable we quit, and it's like every day there is some crazy new idea for how to punish us. I'm having a hard time imagining living through the next four years of this, and I'm seriously depressed about it."

"I know someone is probably going to say, 'Why don't you just quit?' The problem is I actually love what I do and the small team I work with. It feels like a hostile takeover. And I'm in a highly specialized field that isn't going to be able to absorb the number of workers that will be looking for a job after all this."

straighteero

9."USPS. Waiting for the eye to look upon us more directly."

Mantaeus Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

10."Air Traffic Controller here. We've been understaffed and underpaid for years. No hope of higher pay until 2029 at the earliest now. Can't do anything about it even though we have a union, and 5% of the GDP flies through the skies daily. What should be a good, upper-middle-class job that you'd never dream of leaving is instead lower-middle-class and nearly impossible to work around thanks to the schedule. I've seen more people quit than I ever expected, and I'm sure things will only get worse."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

reap3rx

11."Department of Defense. Everything is business as usual for now because the military needs the support. Im in a very conservative office environment, and so far, everyone seems just fine while I am secretly freaking the fuck out."

ClaimedBeauty

12."Its not good. Russ Vought, the [nominee] for the Office of Management and Budget and one of the guys who has contributed to many of the executive orders, was [reportedly] caught on camera a few months ago saying, 'We want to put [federal employees] in trauma.' Well, hes succeeded. Im a 14-year federal employee, and Im feeling pretty traumatized right now."

caveman_5000 Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

13."I work in Congress for a Democrat member. The amount of calls we got today was staggering. It's hard because we're literally getting the guidance as everyone else is, so while people ask us to do something or ask if something will be affected, we're scrambling to find out for ourselves. It's not a great look, and we're only a week in."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

districtsidepols

14."Social Security Administration (SSA). We've been under a hiring freeze since October due to the continuing resolution. We are so understaffed. They think we can do the same amount, or more, with even fewer employees. What a joke. We have had people complaining for years about how long everything takes with the SSA, and it's about to get so much worse. I'm looking into a few certifications to make myself marketable in the event I'm let go. I don't see this ending well, but I'm not leaving voluntarily."

amp1125

15."I'm senior enlisted in the Navy; everyone is just kinda in shock with all the changes. No one I've spoken to is happy that vaccine deniers are being offered to come back in with back pay. It's a slap in the face to those of us who followed orders (and science). It also sets a godawful precedent. The Jan. 6 pardons feel like a straight betrayal."

"I'm also at a public health command, so we are all waiting for the shoe to start dropping on vaccines, CDC, etc. Then, on top of all that, there's so much uncertainty about Greenland, Panama, and whatever other country the president decides he needs to have. It's just bad, and it's only been eight days" WittyResource4 Paul Souders / Getty Images

16."Super degrading. I've worked shitty low-paying jobs my entire life. Through sweat, equity, and hard work, I finally got a well-paying job in the government I was proud of. A place where I could work hard, serve my country and its people, and finally climb a ladder to higher success. Now, it feels like it's all being stripped away from me."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The decades of precedence that government jobs offer security feel like they're gone, and the emails we've been getting from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are unprofessional and condescending. They treat us like elementary school kids. Worse yet, my MAGA coworkers feel like it's a worthy price to pay 'for the greater good.' It's incredibly depressing."

MacksBomblee

17."It's worse on the inside than can even be expressed by the media. We have fully lost our democracy to Trump and the broligarchs. I do not expect an election in 2028, but instead, I expect a national emergency or another avenue to suspend the election. The 'Supreme Leaders,' I mean the Supreme Court, will do nothing to stop the hostile takeover. Actions are being taken by non-governmental people and organizations on behalf of 'Dear Leader,' and much is blatantly illegal."

"As a Fed, we cannot speak up, speak out, or even exercise our First Amendment rights under this administration. Pledge loyalty or get out. Yes, that came to all of us Feds this afternoon via email from 'OPM,' although it's clear the messages were generated outside of OPM. Dipshits don't even bother scrubbing the metadata from the files when they post them, so easy to confirm."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

yogidogg

18."I have one coworker that voted for Trump that's freaking out about us probably having to return to the office because he's nearly blind and has to take an Uber to work during his weekly in-office day. Without me egging him on, he admitted he was happier under Biden and said he doesn't like Musk anymore (of course, it took him being personally affected to reach that point)."

"I'm annoyed, though, because even though he really wants to keep working, he's old enough to retire, and I'm pretty sure he has the money to. A few other people I work with that voted against this are also panicking about all this bullshit that's happening." haotshy Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And lastly:

19."For 22 years, I have worked as a federal wildland firefighter. I have literally bled in service to this nation and its people and to preserve its natural resources. I have had guns pulled on me by white supremacists and pissed off private citizens. I spend months at a time away from my family and friends and have missed many once-in-a-lifetime events."

"I make less than a McDonald's store manager, yet I am responsible for the emergency implementation of over $2 billion worth of energy reserves, homes of about 35,000 people, farms, businesses, recreational values, and irreplaceable natural resources. The $75K annual salary I get has saved this nation tens of millions in potential losses and incalculable value of lives, resources, and infrastructure." Rocketegg / Getty Images

(Cont'd) "I have pulled dead children from car wrecks, decomposed addicts from homes, homeless men from dumpsters, and buried dozens of pets before their owners could see their charred remains. I have delivered two babies, saved a bus full of tourists from freezing to death in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and changed the flat tires of many stranded motorists. There are probably 40+ people who are alive and contributing to society today because of the actions of my coworkers and me."

"America elected Trump after he said federal workers are a threat to their financial freedoms. Now, he demands that I achieve a higher performance level to keep this job. I will also have to prove that I will be more loyal to him than the US Constitution. So, I'm going to drive a garbage truck, make six figures, listen to my backlog of audiobooks, and be home every night with my family. Someone else can take over all that shit mentioned above. Fuck Trump, and fuck you if you voted for him. If I'm going to be labeled an enemy to America? I might as well own it. That's how I feel."

Punch_Drunk_AA

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is stripping retired Gen. Mark Milley of his personal security detail and his security clearance, even as the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff faces death threats, Fox News reported Tuesday.

As part of the latest instance of the Trump administrations retaliation against the man the president once suggested should be executed for treason, Hegseth will also consider removing a star from the general. According to Fox, Hegseth is directing the Pentagons acting inspector generalwho replaced the IG Trump fired on Fridayto look into whether Milley undermine[d] the chain of command while he served in the White House.

Milley, according to the 2021 book Peril by reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, twice contacted his Chinese counterpart after the Jan. 6 insurrectionwhen he believed Trump was in serious mental declineto say the U.S. military would not be striking China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After that revelation, Pentagon officials told Fox News that Milley did not try to insert himself in the chain of command regarding the launch of nuclear weapons, but he made sure everyone knew what their roles were and what they werent.

Still, the acting IG will consider whether a loss in rank is appropriate.

Additionally, Fox reported, the second of two portraits of Milley that had been hanging in the Pentagon will be coming down. The first only made it a few hours into Trumps second term.

Following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military chief Qasem Soleimani in early January 2020, Milley and others involved in the decisionincluding then-National Security Adviser John Boltonwere assigned personal security details given Irans threat of retaliation.

Trump removed Boltons Secret Service protection and revoked his security clearance last week.
From late 2024 onward, a claim circulated online that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said women should not serve in military combat roles.

Shortly after President Donald Trump nominated him for the cabinet position in November 2024, an X user shared a 22-second clip of an interview featuring Hegseth (archived).

Pete Hegseth 5 days ago: "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles." pic.twitter.com/0W3LDSakud  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 13, 2024

In the footage, the former Fox News host  who was confirmed as defense secretary on Jan. 25, 2025, following his widely reported Senate confirmation hearing  allegedly said:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. We've all served with women, and they're great. It just, our institutions don't have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally  not traditionally, over human history  men in those positions are more capable.

Journalists and Reddit users (archived) have discussed his comments, while conservative commentator Ben Shapiro also reposted the 22-second clip and voiced his approval of Hegseth by saying: "Stop, stop, I'm already supporting him."

(Ben Shapiro)

The widely shared video originated from an episode of the "Shawn Ryan Show" podcast. Later in that episode, Hegseth said his concern was that military standards were "getting lower" to facilitate the acceptance of female soldiers. Below, we dig further into his historical comments on the subject of women in combat roles.

Snopes reached out to the defense secretary for comment on his previous remarks and we will update this story if we receive a response.

Hegseth's Comments on 'Shawn Ryan Show'

During Hegseth's appearance on the podcast  published on Nov. 7, 2024, before his nomination and confirmation  the U.S. Army veteran agreed with host Ryan's assertion that he did not like women serving in combat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, at the 56:53 mark, the former Fox News host said about a passage in his book "The War on Warriors": "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles."

Hegseth also speculated that "making the case" for scaling back women in combat would result in "demagoguery" from officials in Washington, D.C.

However, earlier in the episode, Hegseth told Ryan:

I'm OK with the idea that you maintain the standards where they are for everybody, and if there's some hard-charging female that meets that standard, great, cool. Join the infantry battalion. But that is not what's happened. What has happened is that the standards have lowered.

He also put forward a "disclaimer":

We've all served with women and they're great. It just, our institutions don't have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally  not traditionally, over human history  men in those positions are more capable.

The U.S. Army veteran later thanked Ryan for the chance to "clarify" his view about women in combat roles, saying he was referring to jobs for which "strength is the differentiator," adding: "Give me a female pilot all day long. I've got no issues with that."

Hegseth's Confirmation Hearing in Senate

After social media users circulated the 22-second clip, the Republican nominee faced a committee of senators at his confirmation hearing on Jan. 14, 2025. Democrats on the committee grilled him on his views about women in combat, combing through other media appearances and his 2024 book "The War on Warriors."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts referenced Hegseth being questioned on the subject on Fox News in 2013. In that interview, he said:

In many scenarios it wouldn't be wrong  If they're not physically capable of doing that which a man would do, if you've got a wounded soldier or marine on the battlefield who needs to be dragged off, who needs to be medevaced, who needs to be pulled  can I count on that female soldier to do the same thing? If we were to look at women in combat we would have to make sure that standards are not eroded.

Warren then referenced his appearance on "The Ben Shapiro Show" podcast in June 2024 in an episode titled "How The Military Went Woke." At 26:39, he told Shapiro:

Women and men are different. Women shouldn't be in combat at all. Not at all. They're life givers, not life takers. I know a lot of wonderful soldiers, female soldiers who I've served with, who are great. But they shouldn't be in my infantry battalion, not once. They could be medics or helicopter pilots or whatever, but they create all sorts of variables and complications that have nothing to do with being anti-woman and everything to do with having the most effective military you can.

Warren also recalled lines from "The War on Warriors" in which he argues women do not belong in combat units in the chapter "The (Deadly) Obsession with Women Warriors." It reads:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(The War on Warriors, p. 66)

Later in the chapter, Hegseth claims that military standards have been lowered to accommodate women, writing:

(The War on Warriors, p. 66)

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire also questioned his comments on women in combat roles, asking if the two women on the committee he faced who had served in the military had made it "less effective and less capable."

He responded that those women had made "indispensable" contributions on the battlefield and said he sought to "clarify" his position, repeating that his concerns were about the alleged lowering of standards. He told the committee:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When I'm talking about that issue, it's not about the capabilities of men and women; it's about standards, standards that we unfortunately over time have seen eroded in certain duty positions, in certain schools, certain places, which affects readiness. Which is what I care about the most: readiness on the battlefield.

Senators at Hegseth's confirmation hearing chewed over his previous comments and suggested his opinions had only softened since his nomination. Shaheen accused Hegseth of an "eleventh-hour conversion" on his views on women in combat roles. She said Hegseth had told reporters after his nomination that he supported "all women serving in our military today, who do a fantastic job across the globe, including combat." She then asked: "Which is it?"

However, Republican senators sought to clarify that Hegseth's position was not to block women from combat roles and that he thought women did not belong in combat only if they did not meet certain physical standards.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas branded the conversation on "women in combat" a "misnomer." He asked if Hegseth knew if President Donald Trump intended to "rescind or alter" 2013 guidance from former Democratic defense secretary Leon Panetta to allow women into ground combat roles. Hegseth responded:

He [Trump] has not indicated to me that he has plans to change whether or not women would have access to these roles. However, I would point out, ensuring that standards are equal and high is of importance to him and great importance to me ... In any place where those things have been eroded, or in courses, criteria have been changed in order to meet quotas  racial quotas or gender quotas  that is putting a focus on something other than readiness, standards, meritocracy and lethality. So, that's the kind of review I'm talking about, not whether women have access to ground combat roles.

Cotton also stated that he assumed, based on Hegseth's testimony, the nominee would agree with an argument voiced in a female infantry officer's letter, which was read to the committee, that the "intent" of gender-neutral testing was not to ensure that women and men would have an "equal likelihood" of meeting the required standards. Hegseth affirmed this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa similarly said she hoped Hegseth would "continue to stress that every man and woman" has equal opportunities as long as they meet the same standards. She said:

Let's make it very clear for everyone here today, as secretary of defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?

Hegseth responded he would "given the standards remain high." He stated that it would be the "privilege of a lifetime" to be the secretary of defense for "all men and women in uniform."

Sources:

CBS News. "Pete Hegseth Asked about Comments on Women in the Military." YouTube, 14 Jan. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmCDHzKS9FY. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

'Hegseth Is Quickly Sworn in as Defense Secretary after Dramatic Senate Vote'. AP News, 25 Jan. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-confirmed-pentagon-trump-defense-secretary-1b9c9725e77812071d300a0de3a4c510.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hegseth, Pete. "The (Deadly) Obsession with Women Warriors." The War on Warriors, by Pete Hegseth, Broadside Books, 4 June 2024, pp. 5272.

Roulo, Claudette. "Defense Department Expands Women's Combat Role." National Guard, American Forces Press Service, 24 Jan. 2013, www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/574232/defense-department-expands-womens-combat-role/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

Rupar, Aaron. "Pete Hegseth 5 Days Ago: "I'm Straight up Just Saying We Should Not Have Women in Combat Roles."" X (Formerly Twitter), 13 Nov. 2024, x.com/atrupar/status/1856529823038091780. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Shapiro, Ben. "Stop, Stop, I'm Already Supporting Him." X (Formerly Twitter), 13 Nov. 2024, x.com/benshapiro/status/1856684406045376779. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

---. The Ben Shapiro Show. Spotify, 2 June 2024, open.spotify.com/episode/6QTuEF0gJvxtH53zGZ3C38, disc How The Military Went Woke | Pete Hegseth. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025. Podcast.

Shawn Ryan Show. "Pete Hegseth - Secretary of Defense Nominee | SRS #143." YouTube, 7 Nov. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoN5ovwB8s4. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

To Conduct a Confirmation Hearing on the Expected Nomination of Mr. Peter B. Hegseth to Be Secretary of Defense | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-conduct-a-confirmation-hearing-on-the-expected-nomination-of-mr-peter-b-hegseth-to-be-secretary-of-defense. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

"Trump's Defense Secretary Pick Thinks Women Should Not Be in Combat Roles in Military, Says They "Create Drama" and Cause "Love Triangles."" Reddit.com, 13 Nov. 2024, www.reddit.com/r/Feminism/comments/1gqj1mg/trumps_defense_secretary_pick_thinks_women_should/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wang, Selina. "Pete Hegseth, Trump's Choice for Secretary of Defense, Said Women Should Not Serve in Combat Roles." Tiktok.com, 13 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@selinawangtv/video/7436796967608651054. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Warren, Elizabeth. "Elizabeth Warren on Instagram: "for over a Decade, Pete Hegseth Said Women Shouldn't Serve in Combat Roles. Then, When Donald Trump Nominated Him for Secretary of Defense, He Changed His Tune. I'm Not Letting Him Rewrite History."" Instagram, 14 Jan. 2025, www.instagram.com/senwarren/reel/DE0ubIySJdq/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

WFAA. "Pete Hegseth Full Senate Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Defense (Jan. 14, 2025)." YouTube, 15 Jan. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwXSHM3xSw. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwLLCRI8usM&ab_channel=C-SPAN. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Days after he was sworn into office, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked a security detail for retired Gen. Mark Milley, becoming the fourth former Donald Trump appointee-turned-critic to be stripped of protections after the presidents return to the White House.

A Pentagon spokesperson said Hegseth also directed the Department of Defense inspector general to investigate the facts and circumstances of Milleys time in office to determine whether to reopen his military grade review determination, which could retroactively demote Milley and throw his retirement benefits into question.

Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trumps leadership, Defense Department chief of staff Joe Kasper said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps apparent retribution against the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff follows his comments labeling the president a fascist to the core whose return to the White House threatens democracy.

In his retirement ceremony in 2023, Milley also reminded U.S. service members that they have sworn an oath to defend the constitution, not to a king, or a queen, or to a tyrant or dictator, and we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator.

Joe Biden pardoned Milley hours before leaving office, fearing that Trump would seek vengeance against his political enemies.

The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense, Biden said in a statement at the time. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Days before his retirement, Trump suggested that he believes Milley should be executed for what he believes are crimes against the country, including talking to Chinese officials during the presidential transition in 2020.

No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump, Milley reportedly told journalist Bob Woodward for his book War.

Trumps own allies have warned against revoking Milleys detail and clearances, fearing that stripping those protections could expose them to threats of violence or assassination from Iran and expose their aides from being able to do their jobs.

I would encourage the president to revisit the decision for those people who are being targeted by Iran, as the president was targeted for assassination by Iran, Republican Senator Tom Cotton told Fox News on Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Lindsey Graham told NBCs Meet the Press that if there is a legitimate threat against people who served our government from a foreign adversary, I dont want to pull that protection.

He suggested senators would receive a briefing on the issue and engage the White House to see if we can get some relief.

Because I fear it will chill out how people will serve in the future, Graham said.

Milley is the fourth former Trump official stripped of their security details and clearances. Trump also revoked details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former national security adviser John Bolton and former diplomat Brian Hook.
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Trump administration has scrapped a plan that would have limited how much PFAS manufacturers can dump into the environment.

The proposal from the Biden administration would have implemented discharge limits for the amount of PFAS that companies can release into wastewater. It aimed to protect drinking tap water from pollution.

PFAS, the so-called forever chemical, has been linked to various cancers and other diseases. Scientists are still researching that connection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposal was eliminated as President Donald Trump put a freeze on all new federal regulations, pending review. The decision has raised alarm bells among some environmental advocates.

Trump administration freezes nearly all federal loans and grants

I wish I could say I was surprised, but Im really saddened, said Sandy Wynn-Stelt, a Plainfield Township resident whose own experience with PFAS has turned her into an advocate for greater protections.

Wynn-Stelt and her husband, Joel, bought her home on House Street in Belmont in 1992, thinking it was the perfect spot. It was right across the street from a Christmas tree farm. She later learned that farm was being leased on the site where Wolverine Worldwide had dumped PFAS-tainted sludge decades prior. The source was the Scotchgard that the Rockford-based shoemaker used for waterproofing.

The old Wolverine Worldwide House Street dump in Plainfield Township. (Jan. 28, 2025)

The PFAS from the long-closed dump spread into groundwater at homes miles away. Wolverine has paid tens of millions in settlements and cleanup efforts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Australian official visits Plainfield Twp for PFAS filtration tips

Joel was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016 and died only weeks later. Wynn-Stelt said a test later confirmed her blood had 750 times more PFAS than the average American.

Wynn-Stelt was later diagnosed with cancer herself and survived the illness. She has since turned her experience into advocacy as the co-chair for the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, visiting the White House and testifying on Capitol Hill.

I started getting involved in trying to figure out how can we allow this class of chemicals to get in our environment and harm people, she told News 8 Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local PFAS activist headed to meeting at the United Nations

Compared to several years ago, Wynn-Stelt says a lot of progress has been made with PFAS prevention. But shes worried advocates efforts could be reversed, starting with the elimination of the proposal limiting how much PFAS can be released into wastewater.

Thats really important because that water doesnt sit there and evaporate, Wynn-Stelt said. That water ends up in our drinking water. That stuff ends up on our biosolids, which become fertilizer, which ends up in our food.

Michigan is a step above most states in testing for PFAS and limiting how much is allowed in tap water. But Wynn-Stelt says what other states do affects us, too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When you dump toxins into a river, toxins dont know state levels, she said. They dont know state boundaries. That river doesnt stop at the Michigan/Indiana border.

Study: 1 in 3 Michiganders get drinking water from PFAS-tainted source

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency had placed its first-ever national limits on PFAS in drinking water nationwide. It was estimated to cost $1.5 billion to test and get rid of PFAS from old water systems. Wynn-Stelt worries that rule could soon be overturned too, setting prevention efforts back years.

That would be a tragedy, she said. There will be millions of people impacted by that.

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.
Whole Foods workers at the Philadelphia flagship store in the citys Art Museum area voted to unionize on Jan. 27, 2025. They are the first store in the Amazon-owned grocery chain to do so.

Paul Clark, a professor of labor and employment relations at Penn State University, talked to Kate Kilpatrick, The Conversation U.S. Philadelphia editor, about why this is happening  and why in Philly.

The Whole Foods workers in Philadelphia voted 130-100 in favor of unionizing. What do we know about their grievances?

From what I understand, these workers have felt that compensation, benefits and work conditions were not what they should be. Some are long-standing employees and say they struggle to afford their basic necessities.

Why did the union drive effort succeed now, and in Philly?

In the last five years, there has been a surge in union organizing. There are a number of reasons for this. First is the labor market. Low unemployment emboldens workers to take the risk of organizing a union. If workers feel their employer cant replace them or that they can easily get a similar job, they are less fearful of angering the employer by trying to organize.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second reason is that the Biden administration was a labor-friendly administration  perhaps the most in history. The U.S. president appoints a majority of members to the National Labor Relations Board, which interprets and enforces the labor law that governs organizing. Under Biden, the NLRB regularly issued decisions that provided greater protection to workers and held employers accountable when they violated workers rights. During Republican administrations, the boards decisions are generally pro-business and provide less protection to workers. So workers had the wind at their back in that regard.

Also recent polling shows that 70% of Americans approve of unions, compared with less than half of Americans just 15 years ago. The generally favorable view of unions creates a more supportive environment for organizing.

And the last factor is that Generation Z, the youngest group of workers, clearly wants more out of their work and employment than previous generations. So we see a lot of young workers across the country organizing at Starbucks, Trader Joes, Apple and now at Whole Foods and other stores.

Why Philadelphia? Philadelphia is a relatively strong union town. The percentage of the workforce that is represented by a union is higher in Philadelphia than in most cities and areas of the country. So when workers express interest in organizing in Philadelphia they get a lot of support. Other unions might turn out members for their rallies, pressure the company to not oppose the organizing drive and offer other aid and assistance.

The starting wage at the Philadelphia Whole Foods store is US$16 an hour. Is that considered low when the citys minimum wage is just $7.25 an hour?

The minimum wage in Philadelphia is $7.25 because that is the federal minimum wage. States can institute a higher minimum wage if they choose to, but Pennsylvania is one of the few Northeast states that hasnt adopted a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum. The minimum wages in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, for example, are $15 or above.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the minimum wage in Pennsylvania is almost irrelevant because of todays labor market. Unemployment is low, and many employers have to offer significantly more than the minimum wage to get workers.

And the minimum wage is supposed to be a starting wage for workers with little experience or seniority. What workers want is a living wage. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single person in Philadelphia needs to earn around $24 per hour to cover the basic costs of living. And Whole Foods is a profitable business. Its part of Amazon, one of the most profitable, largest companies in the world. I think workers at these companies believe that they play an important role in generating those profits because of the work they do. And they think they should get a fair share of those profits.

How might the Whole Foods workers expect the company to fight back?

When employees win an organizing election as the Whole Food workers have, they have won a battle but not the war. The purpose of forming a union is to improve wages and benefits and working conditions, and you do that by negotiating a contract with the company. That is the next step in the process. But the law only requires employers to bargain with employees  to meet at reasonable times and exchange proposals. It doesnt compel them to agree to anything.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The typical strategy of companies that aggressively oppose their workers having a union is to drag their feet in bargaining and not sign a contract. That is technically illegal, but labor law in the U.S. is relatively weak, and with good legal advice you can drag out bargaining for a very long time.

Weve seen this with the Starbucks campaign. The first Starbucks store unionized in 2021. Over 540 stores have organized since then. And Starbucks workers at those stores still do not have a contract.

Could the new Trump administration have any impact on how this plays out in Philly?

The fact that the Trump administration has taken over gives companies more confidence that the standard delay strategy will work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Jan. 28, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the NLRB. The general counsel is the official at the board who basically enforces the National Labor Relations Act. Abruzzo was very aggressive in holding employers accountable if they violated the act and in protecting the rights of workers who tried to organize.

Trumps approach to labor law in his first four years in office was at the other extreme. He appointed as general counsel Peter Robb, who was seen as far less aggressive in protecting workers rights and his interpretations of the law were much more pro-business.

Under the Biden administration, if a company was coming to the bargaining table month after month and not agreeing to anything, the NLRB would eventually step in and cite the employer for not bargaining in good faith. The NLRB could find the employer guilty of unfair labor practices and genuinely put pressure on it to bargain a contract.

Based on the boards actions during the first Trump administration, the board in the next few years will be more likely to allow companies to delay and delay in reaching a contract.

What leverage do the Whole Foods employees have?

They can go on strike. But Amazon has the resources to put up with a strike at one Whole Foods store forever.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other Whole Foods stores may be considering union drives. The more stores that organize, the more momentum the Philadelphia store will have. But for now, these workers in Philly are going to have their work cut out for them.

That said, they wont be alone. The Whole Foods workers organized with the UFCW Local 1776, which is basically a statewide union thats been around for decades. It has a lot of resources and experienced and knowledgeable leaders, plus the resources of the national UFCW. So its going to lean into this fight, and these workers will also have a lot of support from the rest of the labor community in Philadelphia.

Earlier this month, three Congressional representatives from Pennsylvania wrote a letter to Jason Buechel, the Whole Foods CEO, and to Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, that expressed their concerns about efforts to suppress the union drive. Is that support typical?

Its not unusual. But there is no legal basis for elected officials to intervene in a labor-management dispute. Id put that under the heading of community support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You have a lot of progressive elected officials in Philadelphia who are supportive of unions, and thats true in Pennsylvania right up to the governor.

Paul F. Clark does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  A driver was taken to the hospital after crashing their pickup truck into a house in Highland Heights over the weekend.

According to the Highland Heights Fire Department, crews responded to the crash in the 5900 block of Ridgebury Boulevard around 11:40 a.m. on Sunday.

The driver, who was able to get out of the vehicle by the time fire crews arrived, was taken to Hillcrest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Courtesy of Highland Heights Fire Department Courtesy of Highland Heights Fire Department Courtesy of Highland Heights Fire Department

Investigators say the homeowner was able to get out safely. She was initially concerned about her cat still inside the home, but it was found safe under the stairs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Browns QB Jameis Winstons SUV stolen, investigation underway

The crash caused a natural gas leak in the homes main pipe, leading firefighters to quickly turn off the gas.

Since there was significant damage to the home, a East Tech Rescue team was called out to ensure it was structurally safe before removing the truck, fire officials said.

The home is considered uninhabitable 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)  Teachers in Pickerington are voicing frustration about how district leaders have handled the situation surrounding a school custodian being charged with crimes that allegedly happened in an elementary school.

In October, our school community was thrown into an unthinkable crisis, a teacher said during public participation at the latest school board meeting Monday night. That immediately threatened our safety and security. We were victimized by a trusted coworker and the personal toll of that day is something thats hard to put into words.

Five Hilliard Darby students involved in classroom altercation

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Fairfield County Sheriffs Office arrested Edward Dorst in October 2024 on several voyeurism charges. The 63-year-old was a custodian at Toll Gate Elementary, according to the sheriffs office. Investigators allege Dorst hid a cell phone in the staff bathroom with the intent of recording other employees.

Brad Harris, president of the Pickerington Education Association, shared at Mondays school board meeting that one-third of the Toll Gate staff were allegedly recorded while using the bathroom.

The crime committed against me and my colleagues has left me disheartened and shaken, a teacher said during public participation. The betrayal by someone we trusted for nine years, a colleague we called our friend, turned our world upside down. The emotional impact on our staff has been overwhelming.

Most of the teachers who talked at the meeting said they are directly affected by what Dorst is accused of doing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Westerville school board votes to not put levy vote on May ballot

Us victims are hurting, from the crime made against us and from the lack of support from the leaders of this district, a teacher said.

They said they are upset with how the district treated them when information of the alleged crimes first came out and with how time off for court hearings has been handled.

The lack of empathy and communication during this process was deeply hurtful, another teacher said. Coming to work every day remains a struggle. Walking into the building where I was violated, where trust was shattered, is incredibly difficult, but whats harder is knowing in a moment when we needed support, the district offices failed to provide it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NBC4 received the following statement from a spokesperson with the district:

The District takes concerns regarding teacher support seriously. When we became aware of the allegations at Toll Gate Elementary School in October, the individual was immediately removed from the building. A thorough sweep of both the elementary and connected middle school building was conducted by the Districts Safety and Security team in tandem with local law enforcement  no other devices were found. District leadership was on-site that same day and in the days that followed to provide classroom assistance, partnering with outside agencies to offer wellness support.

The Board and District administration is aware of the concerns raised by teachers. To address this matter and strengthen future responses, we are taking the following steps:

We are overseeing the development of a comprehensive plan to guide future responses. This process will be led by a working group that includes representatives from staff, district leadership, and the broader community to ensure diverse perspectives inform the framework.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are committed to learning from this situation, improving support, and rebuilding trust through meaningful action and accountability. Ensuring the well-being of staff and students remains a top priority, and we will continue to listen and take appropriate steps.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Eviction rates in Pierce County are on the rise again after a lull during the pandemic when renter protections were in place, court records show, rising to the highest level since 2018.

A year after Tacoma residents narrowly approved some of the most comprehensive renter protections in the Pacific Northwest, its hard to tell if those protections have impacted the Pierce County eviction rate significantly. The county doesnt track eviction filing data by city or address. A group of tenant and landlord advocates is working to analyze Initiative 1s impacts on tenants and landlords, with results expected later this year.

Pierce County landlords filed 3,366 unlawful detainer cases in 2024 as of Dec. 10. That number was 2,862 in 2023; 1,981 in 2022; 535 in 2021; 717 in 2020; 2,641 in 2019 and 3,026 in 2018, according to data collected by the Pierce County Superior Court Clerks Office. A breakdown of the data by month shows the rate of eviction filings rose almost every month of 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Housing providers were on track to file more evictions last year than any other time in state history, according to the Eviction Research Network, which analyzed data collected between January and November 2024.

Supporters of Tacoma for Alls Initiative 1, also referred to as the Tenant Bill of Rights or the Landlord Fairness Code, said without city-specific data its hard to measure the initiatives impacts. Anecdotally, Lauren Romero, a contract attorney for Tacoma for Alls new Tenant Legal Aid initiative, said the measure has helped her clients stay in their homes longer and encouraged more tenants to work with their landlords to resolve issues rather than go through eviction proceedings.

Some local housing providers and property managers said the measure harmed small landlords financially and encouraged more to leave the market or raise rents to stay profitable.

Both tenant advocates and property managers agreed that government officials need to find more comprehensive solutions to address the affordable-housing crisis in Pierce County and rising rates of homelessness. They cited government-funded rental assistance as one such solution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of July 1, 2024, Pierce County had a population of 928,696, according to the most recent census. Of the 375,765 housing units in Pierce County, 64.8% of them were occupied by home owners and 35.2% were occupied by renters between 2019 and 2023. The average cost of rental housing was $1,941 a month in 2024, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index.

About 44% of the 222,906 people living in Tacoma live in rental housing, according to the census. The average price of rental housing in Tacoma was $1,739 in a month as of 2024, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index.

Based on population, there are about 326,975 peeple living in rental housing in Pierce County and 98,079 in Tacoma. Renters in Tacoma make up about 30% of those living in rental housing in the county.

As previously reported by The News Tribune, at least 111,511 new units of housing need to be built in Pierce County by 2044 to keep up with population growth. Tacoma needs at least 46% more housing by 2044, and there is an acute need for affordable housing for moderate, low, very low and extremely low-income households, as well as emergency housing, emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

County-wide 37% of all households are cost-burdened or extremely cost-burdened, meaning residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to Pierce County data. Thats one of the highest percentages in the state, on par with King County.

Eviction rates are up in Pierce County in 2024, the highest rate since 2018.

Is Measure 1 effective? Study seeks to find out

Shortly after Initiative 1 passed in November 2023, the late News Tribune columnist and opinion editor Matt Driscoll and Michael Mirra, who led the Tacoma Housing Authority for 17 years, came together to form study group to examine the impacts of the measure. A group of about 19 volunteers  including Tacoma for All members, landlord representatives, Tacoma Housing Authority, lawyers, a faculty member of UW Tacoma, city staff and county staff  has continued to meet regularly, Mirra said.

The groups goal is to gather information about how Initiation 1 has impacted tenants and local landlords, investor portfolios and housing development, he said. Two surveys  one for tenants and one for landlords and developers  are expected to be available to the public in the next couple of weeks, Mirra said.

Per the city of Tacomas charter, the City Council cannot amend or repeal an ordinance enacted by the vote of the people for two years after it passes. The main goal of the study group is to gather data and provide information to the council when it discusses keeping or modifying the ordinance later this fall, Mirra said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ordinance is a notable change in the rules governing our residential rental market, he said. There are a lot of interests entwined in those changes  from tenants, who the ordinance protects from evictions. Those who share the landlords interest in evicting troublesome neighbors, more and more who are prohibited from evicting people for not paying the rent for almost half the year, in an ordinance that makes no distinction between inability to pay and unwillingness to pay.

The groups progress was slowed when Driscoll passed away unexpectedly in July 2024 and the original UW faculty member left the project due to health issues, Mirra said. The surveys had been expected to go out in October, he said. Other challenges for the group have been a lack of funding and finding and analyzing data on evictions filed within Tacoma city limits.

Were hoping the survey will round out what we are hearing anecdotally about Initiative 1s impacts, Mirra said.

Why is the eviction rate going up?

Housing providers and tenant advocates say there are many reasons the Pierce County eviction rate is rising. Among them is the gradual lifting of state and local pandemic protections, the supply of housing not keeping up with demand and more people being unable to afford rent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Romero has a background in civil legal aid and eviction defense and works to help Tacoma tenants fight evictions. She worked on cases in Pierce County and unincorporated areas from September 2022 through April 2024.

In the fall of 2022, Romero said, she knew a wave of evictions was coming because wages were stagnating, tenant protections and moratoriums put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic were being lifted, stimulus checks were ending and many landlords were waiting to evict.

Everybody knew it was coming, Romero said. We just had a tidal wave of evictions.

Romero said protections listed in Initiative 1  like bans on winter and school year evictions from November through April and relocation assistance for rent increases of 5% or more  have leveled the power imbalance between Tacoma landlords and tenants and encouraged more private attorneys to take on eviction cases. Romero said she didnt expect the initiative to meaningfully change the eviction rate county-wide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was a significant slowdown of [filings in] Tacoma city limits specifically. But then Pierce County at large was around the same rate that we had been seeing, she said. Its really sad you cant get Tacoma-specific numbers.

Ann Dorn of Tacoma For All is flanked by Tacoma workers as she speaks at a press conference in University Place, Washington, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Tacoma For All filed a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma over the City Councils addition of an alternative measure to the groups Tenants Rights Initiative and won that suit on Aug. 30, 2023. Now the organization is alleging several housing and realtor associations violated state law when campaigning against their ballot measure.

Zev Cook, who helped lead Tacoma for Alls grassroots campaign to pass Initiative 1, said it was never the organizations goal to stop evictions on any meaningful level but rather delay evictions for residents living in the most critical circumstances and build a housing-justice movement that focuses on tenants.

Cook said although Tacoma tenants now have more protections against eviction and access to relocation assistance in some cases, meaningful change in Pierce County cant happen until we have a housing policy in Washington state that puts people and affordability first.

As housing prices and rent increase in Washington, like many other places in the nation, Cook said salaries arent keeping up and housing policy often favors for-profit developers who want to turn a profit by increasing rent. According to the city of Tacoma, roughly 77% of the jobs in Tacoma dont pay enough for a single worker to be able to comfortably afford housing on their own.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We can pass these middle housing bills that open up development restrictions. I think that more density is generally a good thing. But the fact is, these policies and middle-housing bills and opening up zoning isnt going to solve the housing crisis and isnt going to result in the amount of housing that we really need built in the state of Washington, Cook said. Theres a long road ahead to being able to fight for and win housing as a human right for all Tacomans and Washingtonians. Thats something that we are committed to.

Property owners ask for different solutions

Sean Flynn is executive director and board president of the Rental Housing Association of Washington. Flynn argues measures like Initiative 1 worsen the housing crisis in Pierce County because they dont promote the development of new housing units or provide direct rental assistance to tenants. Instead, Flynn said, as a result of restrictions on landlords, more builders are deciding not to build in places like Tacoma, which in turn will decrease supply and increase prices.

If you want people to stay in their housing unit, you need to help them either find the proper housing unit for them to be in, or you need to subsidize their rent, he said. Most people dont pay their rent because they dont have the money. Its not rocket science. If you have the money, you pay the rent. Making it harder to evict them doesnt change the fact that they dont have the money.

Flynn pushed back on the unfair, frankly unfounded and mean narrative that housing providers are plotting to evict people, saying that no landlord wants to go through the process of hiring a lawyer and evicting a tenant. Housing providers are constantly trying to reduce risk and want to find tenants who are responsible and can pay their rent on time so the landlord can pay their own mortgages, taxes and bills, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of the 6,000 statewide members of the Washington Rental Housing Association are small housing providers who live within 30 minutes of their units, Flynn said. Although landlords have good relationships and outcomes with their tenants in a super majority of cases, Flynn said, the risk of being stuck with a bad tenant who isnt paying rent for months and treats the property poorly can be enough to motivate small landlords to leave the market altogether.

I passionately believe that small housing providers add to the fabric of our cities and communities and to the state of Washington as a whole, that we shouldnt just have large pension funds providing housing in our state, he said. The more risk that we put on our small housing providers, the more that leave, that gap in the market either doesnt get filled or is filled by large [corporations].

Cornus House apartment construction can be seen at left amid Tacomas cityscape looking down Pacific Avenue on Monday, March 25, 2024.

Corey Hjalseth lives in Tacoma and rents out three single-family residences and a detached accessory dwelling unit on his property. A life-long Democrat, Hjalseth said he sympathizes with seniors on a fixed income and people who cant pay their rent but said that shouldnt come on the backs of independent housing providers to help them.

Under Initiative 1, Tacoma landlords must provide relocation assistance to tenants who would rather relocate than pay a 5% rent increase. If a notified rent increase is over 7.5%, landlords must pay relocation assistance equal to two and a half months of rent. If the rent increase is over 10%, the landlord must pay the tenant three months of rent to relocate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hjalseth said although he and his wife bought their properties as an investment for their retirement, he tries to keep rent slightly below market rate. In order to reduce risk and ensure he can make a profit, Hjalseth said, hes had to raise rent by 4.5% each year. Since Initiative 1 passed, Hjalseth said, hes known of small housing providers who have sold their rental units rather than take on the risk, removing the units from the rental market and contributing to higher home prices. Its something hes considering, too.

This is one of the states in the country that has skyrocketed in housing, both to purchase and to rent, and so we do have a problem, he said. Its a supply-and-demand issue. And I applaud our new governors focus on wanting to build [200,000] homes over the next four years  I think thats a great start. Trying to streamline local permit bureaucracy so that we can get builders building way faster, thats also a great start. But to artificially cap rents and have small, independent housing providers bear the brunt of that is not only unfair, but its been proven economically to not work.

Studies into the effectiveness of capping rental prices have shown that rent control appears to help affordability and reduce displacement for current tenants in the short run, but in the long run it can decrease affordability, fuel gentrification and result in other negative consequences on the surrounding neighborhoods, according to a 2018 Brookings research article. Brookings is a nonprofit organization that conducts in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance. Tenants who live in rent-controlled apartments might not choose to move in the future despite changes in their household size, and landlords might not invest in maintenance because they cant recoup investment costs by raising rents, the article said.

Both Flynn and Hjalseth said government-sponsored housing vouchers to help tenants afford rent could be a better solution. Broker, property manager and chair of the Tacoma Housing Authoritys Landlord Advisory Board Mark Melsness told The News Tribune he agrees.

Melsness said he has been involved in the Tacoma-Pierce County rental industry for more than 30 years, and his company Spinnaker Property Management oversees more than 1,000 homes, a variety of apartments and houses with rents ranging from $890 to $6,000 a month.

Since the passage of Initiative 1, Melsness said, anecdotally hes seen more Tacoma tenants be denied housing as landlords put greater scrutiny on rental applications in an effort to reduce risk. Melsness said hes also heard the rare story of tenants going months without paying rent, leaving their landlord unable to evict them based on the limitations in Initiative 1.

Those who cant pay rent not only end up with poor credit history but might end up owing money to a collection agency, both of which could make it harder to find housing in the future, Melsness said.

Lets keep people in housing. Lets find a way to keep them in housing because its cheaper than it is to cycle them back out into rapid rehousing, he said. I think [Tacoma for All and landlords] want the same thing. We want to have great balance, so that the renter knows its going to be safe and its going to be clean and maintained and that if theres a problem, its taken care of, and the housing provider is getting paid on time, and if theres an issue, its reported and damages arent continued.

Editors note: The Pierce County Superior Court collects eviction filing data county-wide, not by city. Due to a misunderstanding with the Pierce County Superior Court Clerks Office, a previous article  which has since been deleted  incorrectly analyzed eviction data as related to the city of Tacoma.
Jan. 28An F-35 fighter jet crashed early Tuesday afternoon at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, according to an official there.

The pilot was not injured in the crash that occurred around 1 p.m., according to Airman 1st Class Spencer Hanson. He said an emergency response is ongoing and had few additional details.

There were no additional reports of injuries within an hour of the crash, Hanson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They cordoned off the area where it crashed on the runway," he said. Emergency services including ambulances and fire trucks were in the area, he said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
A US Air Force pilot safely escaped after an F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training mission at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, officials said.

The pilot experienced an inflight malfunction but managed to eject, according to Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing. The aircraft went down during the landing phase of the flight, Townsend said at a news conference.

The pilot declared an inflight emergency before the crash, and was reported to be in stable condition after being transported to a medical facility, Townsend said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation, he added. I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

The 354th Fighter Wing confirmed in a statement that the aircraft incident occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time, resulting in significant aircraft damage.

Eielson Air Force Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks, serves as an operational hub for over fifty of these fifth-generation jets.

An F-35 fighter jet falls through the air before crashing during a training exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday. The pilot escaped safely. - From Social Media

The dramatic incident was captured on video, and occurred as the plane was approaching land. The footage, reportedly filmed from the bases flight line near Fairbanks, shows the Lockheed Martin-built jet spinning in tight circles with its landing gear extended as it plummeted almost vertically toward the ground until it crashed sparking a huge flame plume. An open parachute, signaling the pilots ejection, is visible in the recording.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The F-35, a cornerstone of the US militarys fleet, is lauded for its advanced stealth and combat capabilities and serves the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. However, it has faced increased scrutiny in recent years.

In May, an F-35 fighter jet en route from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California crashed shortly after a refueling stop in New Mexico, the Associated Press reported. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

In a separate incident in October, a Marine Corps investigation determined that a pilot ejected from an F-35 when he didnt need to, leaving the aircraft to fly autonomously for 11 minutes before crashing in a remote area of South Carolina, according to the AP.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A U.S. Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday during a training exercise at a base in Alaska.

The pilot experienced an inflight malfunction but was able to eject from the aircraft, Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, told a news conference. The plane crashed during the landing phase of the flight at Eielson Air Force Base, he said.

The pilot had declared an inflight emergency prior to the crash and was in stable condition and being evaluated at a medical facility, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crash, which occurred early Tuesday afternoon, caused significant damage to the aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.

Eielson Air Force Base is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Fairbanks.

Townsend said in the statement said the Air Force would conduct "a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

Eielson was selected in 2016 to host 54 F-35s, spawning an expansion that cost more than a half-billion dollars that was to include 36 new buildings and dozens of housing units. The expansion included about 3,500 new active duty airmen and their dependents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the capability to fly more than 12 hours at a time, the F-35 can reach almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in one mission.

In May, an F-35 fighter jet on its way from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles crashed after the pilot stopped to refuel in New Mexico. The pilot was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

In October, a Marine investigation blamed the pilot of an F-35 for ejecting from the aircraft when he didnt need to, causing the fighter to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before it crashed in rural South Carolina in 2023.

___

Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer contributed from Juneau, Alaska.
Pittsburgh Police issued a warning about scam calls impersonating their department.

On Wednesday, officers said they received multiple reports about the scam calls.

The caller pretends to be a Pittsburgh Police officer and says the person receiving the call has missed jury duty. They threaten legal action unless a fine is paid.

Pittsburgh Police said this is not a valid call.

This is the second batch of scam calls Pittsburgh Police have reported in January.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh Police warn public of ongoing spoofing scam

Police said 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
Seoul  Seven people sustained mostly minor injuries Tuesday when an airplane burst into flames at an airport in South Korea, authorities said Wednesday, with local media suggesting the blaze may have been caused by a portable battery stored in the overhead bin. The Air Busan plane, an Airbus A321, was set to fly to Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport in southeastern Busan but caught fire in the rear section on Tuesday night, according to the country's transport ministry.



A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants and staff were evacuated down inflatable slides, it said.



Authorities initially reported three injuries but revised the number to seven on Wednesday. One of them remained hospitalized, the ministry added.

Firefighters try to put out a fire on an Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Jan. 28, 2025. / Credit: Yonhap News Agency/REUTERS

South Korea suffered the worst aviation disaster on its soil just last month, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, flying from Thailand to Muan on December 29 crash-landed and exploded into a fireball after slamming into a concrete barrier at the end of the runway.

That crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew members on board. Investigators have found duck blood and feathers in both of the plane's engines, but have not yet conclusively determined what caused the crash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In the wake of the Jeju Air passenger aircraft tragedy, an additional aviation accident has taken place, and we feel deeply sorry for the passengers on board and the public," transport minister Park Sang-woo said in a statement Wednesday.

The Tuesday night accident left nearly half of the fuselage burnt but the plane's wings and engines remained undamaged, the ministry said, adding that the cause of the fire was under investigation.



"It is unclear when we will be able to disclose the investigation findings on the cause of last night's fire," the ministry spokesperson told AFP.



Dramatic images from local media on Tuesday night showed the aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the interior of the plane.



Images from Wednesday morning revealed that the upper half of the fuselage burned away, leaving a huge hole.

Firefighters work on an Air Busan plane that caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Jan. 29, 2025. / Credit: Yonhap News Agency via REUTERS

While the ministry did not comment on a possible cause of the fire, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that the blaze began to spread after black smoke emerged from an overhead compartment in the back row.



"It seems that a fire broke out when a passenger's portable battery, stored in the overhead bin as carry-on luggage, became compressed," local daily JoongAng Ilbo reported, citing an unnamed person affiliated with Air Busan.



"As the smoke filled the cabin, a passenger seated near the emergency exit opened the door, and the flight attendant opened the opposite one, allowing others to start evacuating," a passenger recounted to Yonhap, calling the incident "chaotic and terrifying."

Lithium-Ion batteries in consumer devices have become an increasing concern for aviation safety experts. FAA data showed that as of late last year, lithium battery fires on U.S. flights had risen 388% since 2015, occurring nearly twice a week, on average.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
NAIROBI (Reuters) -A small aircraft carrying oil workers in South Sudan's Unity State crashed on takeoff from its oilfield airport on Wednesday, killing 20 people, the region's information minister said.

The plane had departed for the capital Juba when it went down, Gatwech Bipal said. The passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation, he said.

Among the dead were two Chinese nationals and one Indian, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Salva Kiir said engineers and technical staff were among the dead, and pledged a thorough and swift investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Bipal gave no more details on the circumstances. Media reports had initially put the death toll at 18 but Bipal told Reuters two survivors had later died. One person survived.

Several air crashes have occurred in war-torn South Sudan in recent years. In September 2018, at least 19 people died when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba to the city of Yirol crashed.

In 2015, dozens of people were killed when a Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed after taking off from Juba airport.

(Writing by George Obulutsa; editing by Bate Felix, Ros Russell and Mark Heinrich)
Seven people have been injured in a fire which forced the emergency evacuation of a plane on a runway in South Korea.

The blaze occurred moments before take-off and may have been caused by a portable battery stored in an overhead bin, local media reported.

The Air Busan plane, an Airbus A321, was due to fly to Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport in Busan on Tuesday night. But the flight was halted after the fire broke out in the rear section of the aircraft, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A total of 169 passengers and seven crew members managed to escape via inflatable slides.

Authorities initially reported three injuries but revised the number to seven on Wednesday, with one victim still in hospital.

The accident left almost half of the aircrafts fuselage burnt, although its wings and engines on both sides were undamaged, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Credit: Viral Press via Reuters Connect

Dramatic images and footage broadcast by local media showed the aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from its interior.

Images of the aftermath from Wednesday morning revealed that the upper half of the fuselage had burnt away, leaving large holes and exposing the cabin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is unclear when we will be able to disclose the investigation findings on the cause of last nights fire, a transport ministry spokesman told the AFP news agency.

However, Yonhap News Agency reported that the fire spread after black smoke was seen coming from an overhead compartment in the back row of the plane.

Citing an Air Busan source, local daily JoongAng Ilbo reported: It seems that a fire broke out when a passengers portable battery, stored in the overhead bin as carry-on luggage, became compressed.

A passenger quoted by Yonhap said: As the smoke filled the cabin, a passenger seated near the emergency exit opened the door, and the flight attendant opened the opposite one, allowing others to start evacuating.

Fire authorities work to extinguish the fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan - Getty Images

The fire reportedly spread after black smoke was seen coming from an overhead compartment - Reuters

They added that it was chaotic and terrifying.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Korea suffered the worst aviation disaster in its history last month when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, flying from Thailand to Muan, crash-landed and exploded into a fireball after slamming into a concrete barrier at the end of a runway.

The crash killed 179 of the 181 people on board.

Park Sang-woo, the countrys transport minister, said in a statement on Wednesday: In the wake of the Jeju Air passenger aircraft tragedy, an additional aviation accident has taken place, and we feel deeply sorry for the passengers on board and 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.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU)  Fire officials are reminding Siouxlanders to be careful during these dry, windy conditions as the risk for grass fires remain high.

The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a grass fire in Plymouth County Tuesday around 1 p.m. The fire was located on Mesquite Avenue between 150th and 160th streets north of Le Mars.

Steve Schwartz, the assistant fire chief for Le Mars Fire, told KCAU 9 that the likely cause was a burn pit that was left unattended. Wind likely blew ambers into a hollow tree, and the flames spread to a nearby field.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former KCAU home, adjacent building to be demolished amid safety concerns

Fire crews were able to extinguish the grass fire before it spread to a nearby home. Schwartz said this serves as a reminder to exercise caution if youre going to burn something.

Make sure you stay by them and watch them. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, water hose, water tank, some kind of water thing so if it starts spreading on you, you have some way of putting it out, Schwartz said. Because its going to take us 10 to 15 minutes to get to you, and by that time a fire can spread astronomically.

Several Siouxland counties were issued red flag warnings for Tuesday due to dry conditions and high winds.

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.
When the British Council was founded in 1934, as a response to the rise of European fascism, it was charged with promoting the UKs values, prosperity and security overseas amid geopolitical chaos.

So it would not be unreasonable to assume that today  with world affairs dominated by a revanchist Russia, a sabre-rattling China and a newly unpredictable United States  Britains leading proponent of soft power abroad would be more important than it has been for some time.

And yet, to hear its bosses tell it, the Council is in effect insolvent, weighed down by debts imposed upon it by the Government, and forced to contemplate breaking up a great public art collection that includes works by Lucian Freud and David Hockney, among others, just to survive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Council is little-known at home but is one of the most recognisable parts of Brand Britain to people around the world. It claims to be the worlds biggest English language teacher  last year it taught hundreds of thousands the most-spoken language on Earth  which provides the bulk of its cash. In 2022-23, the most recent year for which data is publicly available, the not-for-profit Council had a total income of 873 million, of which 165 million (or 15 per cent) came from the Foreign Office.

The language courses (including one for children developed by Wallace & Gromit maker Aardman) largely subsidise the rest of its activities, such as putting on exhibitions, sponsoring literature festivals and organising the UK entry to the Venice Biennale, which it has done since 1937.

Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Animations developed a childrens language course for the British Council - Richard Davies

The Council has almost 10,000 staff in more than 100 countries that help encourage people to trade with, study in and visit the UK. It says its programmes reached more than 600 million people last year; its internal research suggests that such efforts increase affection for Britain overseas. Fostering a common language certainly increases trade. Also, because of its arms-length relationship with the Foreign Office, the Council can go where traditional diplomacy struggles, such as putting on Shakespeare in Yemen or showcasing British films at the Havana Film Festival.

John Whittingdale, the Tory former Culture Secretary who now sits on the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, suggests that the Councils soft power investments provide good value-for-money. It always seemed to me that, in terms of expenditure, the whole of the British Council budget is about a quarter of an aircraft carrier, he tells me. In terms of international influence, you get rather more return on your investment from soft power than you ever will in buying another bit of kit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not everybody likes that characterisation of the Councils work. I hate the term soft power because often it undermines the importance of it, says Stevie Spring, who was the British Councils chairman until 2023. Its very easy to go, Oh, soft, its fluffy and not important. I always called it smart power. Unfortunately for her, it didnt catch on.

A bigger problem for Spring than semantics was the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. All of a sudden, in-person language teaching was impossible in most countries  she says the Councils income went from a billion-ish to zero-ish. It needed a bail-out from the Government but Dominic Raab, then the Foreign Secretary, would only agree to provide a 250 million emergency loan with interest charged at a commercial rate of 14 million a year. Almost 200 million is still owed.

The Council now has a nasty case of long Covid. In an attempt to repair its battered finances, it has laid off more than 1,500 staff in the past four years, sold a successful English language assessment business in India and is now thinking of doing the previously unthinkable: breaking up its art collection.

Dame Barbara Hepworths art features in the British Councils collection - Tristan Fewings

When Scott McDonald, the Councils Canadian chief executive, gave evidence to MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee this month, he warned that the outstanding loan meant that it was living under the constant threat of insolvency. Further, he was forced to contemplate selling everything the British Council has, which is not that much any more. He is lobbying ministers to make it repayable over something like 25 years, rather than the annual extensions it is subject to at present.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nobody would celebrate the demise of such an august institution, especially over what is a rounding error for the Treasury. It would be an absolute travesty if the terms of that loan werent renegotiated, says Monica Harding, a Liberal Democrat MP who defeated Raab at Julys election and who used to work for the Council herself. Its such an important facet of our foreign affairs: not only to our growth and prosperity but also our standing in the world.

It would be relatively easy for ministers to help the Council avoid its present cash crunch becoming a full-blown crisis: either write off the emergency Covid loan, change its terms so that there is much less onerous interest payable, or allow some of the artwork from the collection to be transferred to other public collections in lieu of payment. One high-profile cultural figure tells me he pulled out of the running to be the Councils chairman, having been shortlisted, because he said the terms of the loan were unsustainable and must be changed.

Sir Reginald Leeper founded the British Council in the 1930s - Elliott & Fry

The history of the British Council is the history of interwar and post-war Britain. The first meeting of what was then known as the British Committee for Relations with Other Countries took place in December 1934, and it was incorporated with a Royal Charter following the outbreak of the Second World War to help counter fascism. The charismatic, Australian-born diplomat Sir Reginald Leeper, known as Rex to his friends, founded the organisation before later serving as the ambassador to Greece and Argentina, as well as a director on the board of diamond miner De Beer.

Among the early initiatives was taking an Old Vic touring company  including Alec Guinness  to Egypt for performances of Hamlet and Twelfth Night, as well as the production of 120 films to counteract Nazi propaganda by showing how modern Britain was. Subjects varied from how to make a bicycle to The Lambeth Walk, Noel Gays show tune, and what life was like for student nurses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Councils work won Britain friends even during the most fraught times; in 1947, the same year as the Partition of the Subcontinent, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited the Council to begin work in his country. Anthony Eden, visiting Council offices, said its work was the indispensable ally of foreign policy.

It also seemed like a great deal of fun. The Council commissioned Cambridge Universitys Marlowe Dramatic Society to record the complete works of Shakespeare in 1957 that were used to help students of English around the world. Some of the unknowns working under the direction of George Rylands were Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Prunella Scales and Trevor Nunn.

Some 15 years later, the Council organised an exhibition of Henry Moores work in Florence that attracted more than 250,000 visitors. The sculptor once said: The British Council did more for me as an artist than any dealer. Half a century after that triumph, in 2022, Sonia Boyce won the top prize at the Venice Biennale, the Golden Lion, for her British Council-organised exhibition.

Sonia Boyces exhibition at the British Pavilion during the Venice Biennale, 2022 - Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Council has not always been universally popular with artists, however. It commissioned, then refused to publish, a now-famous George Orwell essay, In Defence of English Cooking, immediately after the Second World War. Though the Councils publications department described it as an excellent piece of writing, one of the main objections was that the authors recipe for orange marmalade contained too much sugar and water during a time of rationing. Orwell never forgave the Council, later calling it somewhat po-faced and risk-averse.

The jewel in the crown is the British Council Art Collection. Created in 1938, it has ballooned to more than 8,500 works donated by everybody from Tracey Emin and Henry Moore to Damien Hirst and Barbara Hepworth. It is valued at upwards of 200 million. Its collection is described internally as a museum without walls because many of its pieces are loaned around the world to help promote British art and culture globally (though about 80 per cent of it is in storage at any one time).

The Councils collection is one of three great publicly owned repositories of contemporary British art  the others being the Government Art Collection and the Arts Councils  though there has long been talk that they might be combined in some way. It would be a shame if they sold off the family silver to clear a debt, he tells me. There is a wider question about whether or not it is sensible for the government to maintain three different collections, most of which never leave the basement.

About half of the works in the Councils collections were donated by artists who did so on the condition that they would never be sold. The rest  much of which was purchased at a hefty discount  has no such restriction. You do get to a point in a crisis where anything that isnt nailed down might be sold, says Spring. When youre in survival mode it is very different from a pre-planned strategic decision.

The BBC has cut the BBC World Service - Mike Kemp

The British Council, along with the BBC World Service, is the leading advocate of the UKs soft power. And, like the Council, the World Service faces straitened financial times as a result of the last governments decisions (on January 29, the World Service announced it would cut 130 jobs in a bid to save 6million). In the BBCs case, Conservative ministers insisted that the World Service be funded by licence fee payers, rather than the Foreign Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With cash across the whole Corporation squeezed, director-general Tim Davie prioritised funding services for licence fee payers rather than those overseas who do not pay into the BBC. Whittingdale tells me he has some sympathy with that argument, and that we ought to fund both organisations properly if we are serious about strengthening our influence, particularly in emerging democracies and countries where there is a competition for influence going on with China, Russia and the West.

Where British soft power is in abeyance, the UKs geopolitical rivals have no qualms about muscling in. When the World Service ended its Arabic, Persian and Hindi radio services in 2023, Russian-backed media started broadcasting on its airwaves in Lebanon. Meanwhile, McDonald told MPs that China probably puts about 10 billion into its own soft power initiatives, such as the Confucius Institutes that help combine language teaching and culture with loans and trade promises.

Weve rested on our laurels for a long time, says Monica Harding, a Liberal Democrat who defeated Raab at last summers election and previously worked for the Council. Weve had the English language as a major export, weve had the BBC and we havent properly valued those things. China and Russia, who are trying to extend their influence in the world, are starting to massively fund [their equivalent of] these things because of the importance of soft power Weve always had it because of our language, our culture and our past, but therefore dont value it as much. We will regret it when its gone, and that loss of power is very, very difficult to get back.

Though we in the UK do not know much about the British Council, the consensus is that it plays a crucial role in fostering cultural relations and asserting our values overseas. It is seen as important by the rest of the world  friend and foe alike. Its finances have been precarious for decades (The Spectator complained about it as long ago as 1951), yet it has always survived. But the current crisis is the worst in its history, and McDonald warns it could disappear within a decade. Those who cherish the value of Britains soft power in a volatile world will have to do everything to save it from its present predicament.

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.
WARSAW, Poland  The Polish Ministry of National Defence has signed a deal to buy more than 200 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) from the United States, becoming the regions first ally to secure an advanced capability to destroy enemy radar emitters associated with air defense systems.

The contract to purchase the missiles, made by Northrop Grumman, comes as Poland is awaiting the delivery of the first batch of its 32 ordered F-35 fighter jets next year.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the missiles will represent a significant reinforcement of the aircrafts combat capacities, according to a statement released by his ministry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the latest deal, Warsaw is buying anti-radiation missiles that target, find and affect enemy air defense systems, anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

This is a breakthrough purchase. Only in such a case, when we have fully equipped F-35 aircraft, with the possibility of also adapting to F-16 aircraft, are we able to effectively use all the capabilities of these most modern machines which will be used by the Polish Armed Forces, the deputy prime minister added.

The contract has a net worth of some $745 million. Deliveries of the missiles are scheduled for the years 2029 to 2035.

Poland has boosted efforts to acquire new weapons and military gear for its armed forces in the aftermath of Russias 2022 invasion of its neighbor Ukraine. While allies along NATOs eastern flank have responded by ramping up military expenditure, Poland has led the way, declaring plans to spend about PLN 160 billion (US$39.7 billion), or some 4.2 percent of the nations gross domestic product (GDP), on its armed forces in 2025.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  One person is in custody after a man was stabbed to death Tuesday afternoon on Graylyn Drive in Virginia Beach, police said.

Daniel Van Dyke (Courtesy: VBSO)

Virginia Beach Police said they are investigating a fatal stabbing in the 1300 block of Graylyn Drive, near Pleasant Valley Road and Salem High School. Police said the incident occurred around 4:15 p.m.

Police said 38-year-old Daniel Van Dyke was arrested at the scene in connection to the stabbing death of 58-year-old Roy Stackhouse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Van Dyke has been charged with first-degree murder and stabbing during the commission of a felony.

Police said there is not believed to be an outstanding threat to the community at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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.
Geneva: Expressing annoyance over the continued detention of over 40 journalists in Myanmar, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urges the military regime in Naypietaw to release all media persons with no condition and delay.

The PEC appreciated the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) for documenting the media casualty and detentions under the current junta that grabbed power on 1 February 2021 from the democratically elected NLD government led by Nobel peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

According to the IPCM, at least seven journalists were killed and 200 others arrested by the Min Aung Hlaing-led junta since the 2021 coup, where journalists are still under detention with 11 scribes to serve long-term prison terms.

The forum admitted that there may be more journalists under detention, which has not come to the light.

It added that the military dictators unjustly arrested media workers under the brutal laws like Unlawful Associations Act, Counter-Terrorism Law, Telecommunications Law, Explosive Substances Act, Natural Disaster Management Law, Immigration Act, etc.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

We condemn the Myanmar military authorities for persecuting the media persons with various inhuman laws. Many media outlets have been restricted in carrying out their normal activities. A large number of media workers have left the country to escape the military atrocities. The military regime must release all detainees including journalists and political prisoners as early as possible, said PEC president Blaise Lempen, adding that the military dictators should also offer due financial compensations to the bereaved families of seven victim scribes.

PECs southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that since the Feb 21 coup the Land of Pagodas lost journalists namely Ko Myat Thu Tun (Democratic Voice of Burma), Htet Myat Thu (Voice of Thanbyuzayat), Win Htut Oo (DVB), Pu Tui Dim (Khonumthung Media Group), Sai Win Aung (Federal News Journal), Aye Kyaw and Ko Soe Naing (both freelancers) to military atrocities.

Along with IPCM (which was established in Chiang Mai of Thailand in 2023), the PEC has also recorded their cases in its official website (www.pressemblem.ch).
Law enforcement activity in Greene County over the weekend is causing concern for many people.

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

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, many people believe there was a coordinated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raid along Wilmington Pike on Sunday.

TRENDING STORIES:

News Center 7 has learned that ICE agents were along Wilmington Pike in Sugarcreek Township, but it does not appear they were conducting any active sweeps or raids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pictures shared with News Center 7 show Sugarcreek Township police, ICE agents, and two men who were detained.

Several social media posts about this incident were shared with News Center 7.

The impression (is) that Sugarcreek Township police are, were, working in a coordinated effort between ICE and Sugarcreek police. That simply is not the case Once the traffic stop was made, ICE was contacted for assistance with determining the identity of the occupants, Sugarcreek Township Police Chief Michael Brown said.

Brown said this traffic stop only involved two people.

Homeland Security confirmed to News Center 7 that ICE agents are looking into potential immigration violations in Ohio and Michigan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after two different types of flyers appearing to promote the Ku Klux Klan have been located in various places across the city.

According to Knoxville Police, one official report was made of the flyers being located in the West Hills community, and there have been other potential sightings reported through social media and online channels.

Public outcry over dismissal of Cumberland County education leader continues

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

KPD said it is working to determine where the flyers, which appear to be propaganda associated with the Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, originated from.

The report comes a day after Sweetwater Police reported that an investigation was underway after racially motivated propaganda was distributed throughout the city. Photos of the flyers shared by police show that the propaganda also included contact information for multiple branches of the Ku Klux Klan. Chattanooga Police also reported an investigation into similar flyers in the Chattanooga Area.

Leave now: Police investigate KKK flyers distributed in Sweetwater

Knoxville Police said the flyers found in Knoxville mirror those found in Sweetwater and Chattanooga, as well as Lenoir City.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department said it has notified the FBIs Joint Terrorisms Task Force as well as the Tennessee Fusion Center regarding the presence of the flyers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A former city of Harrison police officer is facing voyeurism charges after police say he recorded a minor in the bathroom.

Eric Gregory, 45, was arrested by Miami Township police after they say Gregory taped a hidden camera in the floor vent of his Milford home to record people undressing, including a teen using his shower, according to court documents.

Upon learning of the charges against Gregory, the Harrison Police Department placed him on paid administrative leave Jan. 23, according to a news release. The next day, he resigned from the department, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, Gregory was released from the Clermont County Jail on a $250,000 bond, court records show. He is expected to appear in Clermont County court on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Harrison cop charged after recording minor in bathroom, police say
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A hunter who was shot in the leg by an unknown person was flown to a Las Vegas hospital on Saturday, according to police in northwest Arizona.

Detectives with the Mohave County Sheriffs Office were called to Interstate 40 about 24 miles southwest of Kingman, near the town of Yucca. The man who called told officers that his son-in-law had been shot in the leg while they were hunting on Saturday morning. He applied a tourniquet and they drove to meet medical personnel year Yucca, where the victim was taken to Las Vegas via helicopter.

The names and ages of the man who reported the shooting and his son-in-law were not provided by authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arizona man arrested in pair of January bank robberies after tip from social media post

The man who reported the shooting told investigators that the two were hunting along Alamo Road near milepost 8, a remote area about eight miles off Interstate 40. The area is about 155 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

The man said as his son-in-law was walking, he heard the noise of bullets being fired north of their location. The man who reported the shooting told investigators he heard five to six shots before hearing his son-in-law yell that he had been shot. He drove his vehicle to where the son-in-law was lying on the ground with a wound to his right leg.

The man said he didnt hear or see anyone else in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation led to a nearby residence, where detectives served a search warrant on the property, and several items of evidentiary value were seized, police said.

Items seized are being processed and more information will be released as the investigation continues, according to the sheriffs office.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This story was updated to include the most current information.

A 16-year-old boy living in Georgia has admitted to making a fake bomb threat targeting Georgetown High School on Wednesday, according to a statement posted on social media by the Georgetown Police Department.

"We are working with our local prosecutors and Georgia authorities on the filing of charges against this juvenile," said the statement released Wednesday evening. The charge will be terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are extremely proud of our hard-working detectives and the Texas Rangers for so quickly identifying the individual and thank you to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in this matter," police said.

Authorities determined there was no explosive device or credible threat to public safety at Georgetown High School, after the bomb threat prompted evacuation of the school and cancellation of classes on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on social media just before 12:45 p.m., the Georgetown Police Department said the school had been "cleared," and that no explosive device had been found. Classes were canceled at Georgetown High School, and the campus was closed to all students and faculty early Wednesday morning, while law enforcement investigated the threat, officials said.

Georgetown police received a phone call at approximately 7:08 a.m. from a male caller claiming to have placed multiple bombs around the school, according to a news release. Due to the sensitivity of the investigation, police could not provide exact details about the threat but stated that the person responsible for the call would be charged with a crime once identified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During their investigation, police found three items of interest, which were ultimately determined to be non-threatening after being checked by dogs trained to detect explosives, according to the release. One item in particular prompted Georgetown police to contact the Austin Police Department's bomb squad, which identified it as part of a student's robotics project.

Students who were already at the school when the threat was called in were able to leave the building, Georgetown ISD spokesperson Logan Reuland said, and school buses were diverted to an undisclosed location.

"Everyone is safe and out of the building, and students are being reunified with their parents," Reuland said.

She confirmed that no other campuses in the Georgetown school district were affected by the threat so they would be open and operating on their normal schedules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Classes at Georgetown High School will resume Thursday on their regular schedule, Georgetown school district spokesperson Jo Ann Hernandez said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Police say Georgia boy made fake bomb threat at Georgetown High School
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  Police are asking for help identifying a man who robbed an Akron gas station at gunpoint Sunday night.

Suspect robs local U.S. Postal worker

According to a press release from Akron police, officers responded to the BP gas station in the 500 block of N. Main Street around 8:45 p.m.

The clerk told officers a man dressed in all black walked into the store, pulled a gun from his jacket and demanded money from the cash register.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suspect left the store with an undisclosed amount of money and got into a vehicle parked on Blaine Street. The make and model of the vehicle is not known, police said.

I-Team: Shooter in murder-suicide was local deputy

Police released surveillance picture of the suspect.

If you have any information that could help police, you are asked to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 (WPRI)  A Massachusetts man was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday after admitting to an officer that he drove there with intent to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to authorities.

An affidavit obtained by 12 News revealed that Ryan English is being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on Capitol grounds.

English turned himself in to a U.S. Capitol Police officer outside the South Door just after 3 p.m. He was quickly detained and searched after he admitted to having two Molotov cocktails on him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The affidavit states that officers found a folding knife in Englishs pocket, as well as two destructive devices inside his jacket pockets. Those devices each consisted of a 50-milliliter bottle of Absolut Vodka with a gray cloth affixed to the top.

English told the officers that the bottles contained vodka and the rags were soaked in hand sanitizer. He then asserted that he had planned to kill Scott Bessent  President Donald Trumps pick to run the Department of Treasury  and noted that he had more Molotov cocktails in his vehicle.

Officers located his vehicle parked on Independence Avenue Southwest and uncovered a 750-milliliter bottle of Smirnoff Vodka and a gray sweatshirt with cloth cut from the sleeves.

This sweatshirt was consistent with the cloth affixed to the destructive devices, the affidavit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The affidavit also said the officers found a receipt in one of Englishs back pockets with a letter written on the back.

Judith dear god I am so sorry, the note read, according to the affidavit. You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart. This is terrible but I cant do nothing while Nazis kill my sisters.

I love you. This is awful. Im so sorry, the note continued. Please stay alive and heal. You can. You are strong enough. [Expletive] them for pushing us so far. You dont deserve this. Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive. [7 hearts]

English confessed to investigators that he left his Massachusetts home Sunday for Washington, D.C. with the intent to kill Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. The affidavit said he also considered burning down the Heritage Foundation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These actions were specifically to depose these political offices and send a message, the affidavit explained.

English told police he left his phone at home so he couldnt be tracked and bought an atlas with cash so he could find his way to Washington, D.C., without using a GPS.

He switched targets after he stopped at a library in Maryland and learned that the U.S. Senate would be voting on whether to confirm Bessent, according to the affidavit.

English allegedly considered throwing the Molotov cocktails at Bessents feet and stabbing him with the knife if he could get close enough. He also determined after surveilling the Capitol grounds that he would need to kill at least three officers to get to Bessent and expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bessents nomination was confirmed roughly three hours after Englishs arrest. Its unclear exactly what motivated English to turn himself in.

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.
Putnam  Police said Tuesday that they arrested a local man after he threatened on social media to shoot town employees.

Chief of Police Christopher Ferace said officers arrested Brian Sergel, 41, of 491 Church St., on Monday and charged him with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace.

Ferace said Sergel made posts on social media in which he threatened to commit acts of violence with a firearm at the Putnam Municipal Complex and against the employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sergel is not employed by the town, Ferace said.

The chief said his department launched a criminal investigation into the incident at 4:30 p.m. Monday after a town employee was alerted to alarming posts on social media.

Ferace said Sergel was arrested at 7 p.m. without incident.

I just want to thank the town employee for bringing it to our attention, and I want to thank the police department for the great job they did in conducting a quick investigation and handling the matter in a professional manner, Mayor Barney Seney said.

Sergel was held in lieu of $25,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Danielson Superior Court.
NORWICH, Conn. (WPRI)  Connecticut State Police troopers arrested a Westerly man accused of driving the wrong way down I-395 in Norwich over the weekend.

John Turo (Courtesy: Connecticut State Police)

John Turo, 22, has been charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.

Troopers were called to I-395 South near Exit 11 early Saturday morning to investigate reports of a wrong-way driver, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The troopers spotted a vehicle pulled over on I-395 South facing north and approached to speak with the driver, later identified as Turo.

Police said Turos speech was very slow, his eyes were very watery and he smelled of alcohol. He was taken into custody after failing a series of field sobriety tests.

Turo was released on a $5,000 bond pending his next court date, which is scheduled for Feb. 4.

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.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Police arrested Trayvion Bowman, 19, for allegedly slashing a mans neck with a kitchen knife.

On Jan. 26, around 10 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Rockton Avenue for reports of an aggravated battery. The victim told authorities the incident started when they started to argue about whether Bowman stole his cologne.

The two pushed each other before the suspect pulled a kitchen knife out of the cabinet and slashed the right side of the victims neck, according to court records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two days later, officials found Bowman at the Rockford Rescue Mission with the bottle of cologne.

The suspect confirmed the two had a physical altercation, police reported. He told officers he traded a pack of cigarettes for the cologne bottle.

Bowman is charged with aggravated battery while using a deadly weapon.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Brussels Airlines cancels Kinshasa flights

The Belgian carrier runs a daily Brussels-Kinshasa return service. Photo: AFP

Brussels Airlines cancelled its Wednesday flights to and from Kinshasa amid violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, as anger spilled over about the conflict raging in the east of the country.



The airline runs a daily Brussels-Kinshasa return service. "The decision to resume operations will be made after a thorough and careful assessment of the security situation," the Belgian carrier said in a statement.



Protesters in Kinshasa furious over international inaction on Tuesday targeted the embassies of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, France, Belgium and the United States.



Supermarkets were also looted and piles tyres burned during chaotic demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital.



France, the EU and Kenya condemned the embassy attacks.



Protesters accused Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the armed group M23 which after a lightning offensive in North Kivu province with the support of Rwandan troops entered the regional capital Goma on Sunday.



The main city in eastern DR Congo has become a battleground since fighters from the Tutsi-led M23 armed group backed by Rwandan forces entered central Goma on Sunday night after a weeks-long advance through the region.



Former colonial ruler Belgium has close ties with DR Congo and a large Congolese diaspora lives in the country. (AFP)
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH)  The suspect accused of fatally stabbing his wife and shooting his mother-in-law was arraigned Wednesday.

According to the arrest warrant, Christopher Raye, 45, allegedly stabbed 30-year-old Bryana Raye multiple times in her upper body at a home on Prospect Street on Monday. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Raye allegedly shot his mother-in-law in the shoulder, the arrest warrant said. She was in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1 dead, 1 in critical condition after shooting on Prospect Street in New Britain

Janell Covington, confirmed her good friend 30-year-old Bryana Raye was stabbed to death and her mother was shot and critically injured, all in front of the couples young daughter and son.

Bryana was the kindest person, and had the sweetest soul. She didnt deserve what happened to her, and her 2 babies dont deserve to grow up without their mother, Covington told us in a statement. I pray her mother pulls through so she can have a piece of Bryana with her through her babies.

News 8 asked Dwayne, a friend and employee of Rayes, if he had ever seen Raye be violent. Dwayne said that he was devastated when he heard the news, also mentioning that he knew [Christopher Raye] loved [Bryana Raye].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I seen him have to defend himself when he was incarcerated before. But I never seen him violent toward women, Dwayne said.

His public defender told the court that Raye claims he struggles from serious mental health issues and has struggled with drug addiction his whole life.

Rayes family left the courthouse without comment.

Police said officers spotted Raye walking on the Berlin Turnpike Tuesday night and took him into custody.

He was charged with murder, first-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury, illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal use of a weapon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His bond was kept at $1 million and his case was moved to Part A, which is where more serious crimes are heard. He is due back in court next month.

A protective order was issued for four people if Raye does post bond.

In 2015, Raye was convicted of threatening and strangulation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Police are investigating a shooting in the North Central section of Columbus in which three victims were hospitalized late Tuesday night.

According to a police dispatcher, officers responded to the 1200 block of Brookcliff Avenue at approximately 10:50 p.m. The victim was reported as a walk-in to a local hospital and is listed in life-threatening condition.

Police said 19-year-old Xavier Gunnell was arrested and taken to Franklin County Jail on three charges of felonious assault. Two other individuals were also shot and are expected to survive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the first of two shootings reported in the eastern part of the city. The second shooting was reported at approximately 10:52 p.m. on Morse Creek Commons Drive; one victim was listed in critical condition.

Anyone with any additional information on either shooting is asked to call Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  Police in Wisconsin are searching for a suspect after a man sustained a knife wound on Monday night.

According to the Madison Police Department, officers were sent to a local hospital around 8 p.m. on Monday.

Police: Seven people arrested following several gun-related incidents in Wisconsin

The victim reported that the incident happened a day earlier at an apartment on the west side of Madison, but could not recall the exact location.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mans injuries at this time are minor. No arrests have been made.

An investigation is ongoing, and anybody with information about the incident is asked to contact the Madison Area Crime Stoppers. No more 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.
Police say two men are dead after shooting each other in Springfield on Sunday night and a young girl was home when it happened.

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

Springfield police were dispatched to the 2100 block of Larch Street on initial reports of a shooting just after 10:15 p.m.

TRENDING STORIES:

When police got to the scene, they found two men shot on the porch. One man, 35-year-old Clifton Cummings, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second man, 30-year-old Spencer Sharp, was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center where he later died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, police said that theyre still trying to untangle all the circumstances that led to the shooting.

An initial investigation revealed that this could have been an aggravated burglary or even an aggravated robbery, Springfield Police Sergeant James Byron said. Shots were exchanged. Unfortunately, two subjects were killed.

The shooting happened while a toddler was inside.

Officers did have to force entry into the house to get that child, Byron said. Her welfare is fine, she was not injured in the incident, and shes been taken care of.

Police said theyd not had any previous contact with Cummings but were familiar with Sharp, who was the resident of the home where the shooting happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As News Center 7 reported on Monday, the home had several security cameras around the outside of the home. Police said those were collected as evidence and are being examined.

Springfield Police believe there may be other people in the community that might have information about the shooting. Theyre asked to contact the department at (937) 324-7716.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




Less than a month before Germany's general election, a poll has found support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) falling sharply while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) saw significant gains.

According to Wednesday's YouGov poll, the SPD has dropped by 4 points to 15% compared to last week.

The AfD rose by the same amount to 23%, which would make it the second-strongest force behind the conservative CDU/CSU alliance on 29%. Other polls show the CDU/CSU reaching 30% or more.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) also saw support fall, with the former now at 13% and the FDP below the 5% threshold typically needed to enter the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.

The Left party rose by one point to 5%, meaning that it would be represented in the next Bundestag. The same would apply to the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which remained unchanged at 6%.

The survey was conducted from January 24 to January 27, days after a man and a young boy were killed in a knife attack in Bavaria. The suspect in the killings is a 28-year-old Afghan citizen whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.

Following the attack, centre-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz said the CDU/CSU bloc would push to tighten migration policy, with votes on two motions expected on Wednesday in the Bundestag.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The issue of migration is now an important topic for 36% of respondents, up from 23% the previous week.

According to the YouGov poll, among voters of almost all parties, this is now the most important issue that politicians should address.

Germany goes to the polls on February 23 following the collapse of Scholz's three-party coalition in November.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Amid the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration, Portland Police Chief Bob Day is clarifying his bureaus role in immigration enforcement.

In a letter to the community on Tuesday, Chief Day said he is closely monitoring reports and is engaging in direct conversations with our culturally specific advisory councils that represent many of our immigrant families.

The letter comes after the Trump administration directed the DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, and the FBI to arrest undocumented immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is paramount to recognize the fear and uncertainty this creates in our immigrant communities. I want everyone to feel safe and protected, which is why it is important to understand that the Portland Police Bureau does not engage in immigration enforcement, Day wrote, citing a PPB directive. Simply put, we have no legal authority to do so.

DONT MISS: ICE raid rumors can be really damaging in Oregon

I take great pride in PPBs community engagement and continuous efforts over the years. We have long-standing relationships within the immigrant communities and Portland-based organizations that advocate and serve these families, Day continued. In addition, members of the Police Bureau are continuing outreach efforts to build relationships, especially in communities that may be distrustful of police.

Day concluded that PPB remains committed to protecting and supporting all residents and community members in the city, regardless of their actual or perceived national origin or immigration status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump claims he diverted water from PNW to California. Did he?

According to a Frequently Asked Questions document outlining PPBs immigration guidelines, PPB enforces state law and city ordinances and does not follow federal immigration laws.

The document points to a revised Oregon statute, stating, No law enforcement agency of the state shall use agency moneys, equipment, or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

Additionally, the document notes, PPB does not work with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Eye on Northwest Politics

PPB guidelines also ban officers from checking immigration or citizenship status of individuals, even if the individual reports a crime. If someone is in the U.S. without legal documentation, PPB policy states the bureau does not hand the individual over to ICE.

Chief Days letter comes as Oregon leaders stand firm on Oregons status as a sanctuary state.

In a YouTube video posted by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek on January 25, the governor stated, All of us deserve to feel safe and secure in our homes and communities. Our immigrant communities are Oregon communities. Immigrants are integral to the culture and success of Oregon. I will uphold Oregons sanctuary promise laws  laws that were passed with almost unanimous bipartisan support in the 1980s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To our immigrant friends and neighbors, as your governor, I see you, I stand with you, and Ive got your back, Kotek continued. You are Oregon and a part of what makes our state such a fantastic place to call home.

The governor said she also supports efforts by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who joined a lawsuit with over 20 other states challenging the Trump administrations executive order ending birthright citizenship, which has been temporarily blocked by a Reagan-appointed federal judge in Washington.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Retired state Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus made history as the longest-serving member of the Georgia House of Representatives, and now his likeness will grace the state Capitol for years to come.

Lawmakers unveiled his official portrait Tuesday.

There are 233 portraits, sculptures and other memorials celebrating notable Georgians at the Capitol, but Smyre is the first from Columbus and only the seventh African American with such a distinction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am grateful beyond words to see this happen in my lifetime, Smyre said after his former colleagues spent more than an hour sharing praise and humorous and endearing stories about him on the floor of the House.

Retired state Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus poses next to his portrait before it was hung in the Georgia Capitol. Columbus artist Steven Tette painted the oil-on-canvas portrait.

Moments later, he helped pull the cover off the portrait, which hangs next to a passage to the chamber.

Columbus artist Steven Tette painted his portrait using several photographs. The painting depicts Smyre seated in a dark suit, his hands clasped in front of him, a slight smile crossing his face. The crowd was pleased.

Smyre was 26 in 1974 when he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House. He served 48 years until 2022, stepping down at age 74. Hed planned to serve 50 years, but President Joe Biden had nominated him as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But he would not take that post. The U.S. Senate never confirmed his nomination, nor did it confirm him when the Biden administration switched the posting to the Bahamas.

Bidens State Department named him in 2023 to serve as the U.S. representative to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Smyre also was tapped to join Bidens Intelligence Advisory Board.

Columbus artist Steven Tette painted this oil-on-canvas portrait of retired state Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus. It was hung in the Georgia Capitol during a ceremony Jan. 28, 2025.

Smyre rose to prominence in the Georgia House, helming the powerful Rules Committee before Republicans took control of the chamber in 2004. He also chaired the House Democratic Caucus.

His colleagues gave him a reverential nickname, calling him Dean Smyre.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He played a key role in high-profile legislation, such as making the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday a state holiday, replacing the 1950s-era state flag and its Confederate battle symbol, passing a hate crimes law, and repealing Georgias 19th-century citizens arrest law after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. That last, Smyre said, was a personal request by Arberys mother.

Smyre also was active in national Democratic politics, co-chairing Bill Clintons Georgia presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996 and serving as a deputy of the 2000 Al Gore campaign.

Calvin Smyre praised as a bridge builder

Despite his partisan loyalties, colleagues from both sides of the political aisle praised Smyre as a bridge builder.

I believe Calvin puts people in two groups: friends and future friends, said Rep. Butch Parrish, R-Swainsboro, the chairman of the Rules Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington, called Smyre a mentor.

Among the high-ranking political figures who came to pay their respects were former Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, who spoke as former Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican (and now the University System of Georgia chancellor) watched from the House floor.

A friend of Joe Frank Harris, another former Democratic governor, read a letter that was signed, with deep love.
PRNewswire Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 29: One of the most iconic and the largest congregation of student chefs from 50 countries will gather for a week, in different cities, to celebrate power of food to build bridges of solidarity and bring people and countries together. The 11th edition of the Young Chefs Olympiad, will be held under the aegis of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) in partnership with the International Hospitality Council (IHC) London. The Young Chef Olympians- student chefs from 50 nations will undertake two rounds of culinary challenges, to attempt to win, the coveted YCO 2025 Golden Toque. The Young Chef Olympiad-YCO, held by IIHM- International Hospitality Council brings together young chefs from 50 countries for a week-long competitive bonding over food YCO Founder Dr Suborno Bose says 'YCO belongs to India'. He will launch his path-breaking book on AI in hospitality and tourism at this 11th edition of YCO Speaking to journalists across India on a video conference before this global event, Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of International Hospitality Council (IHC) and Founder YCO, and Chairman IIHM said, "It's possibly the best we have seen, referring to the YCO. The world has been challenged, but this has not stopped countries from traveling. This year, we also had the Young Chef India competition, where chefs from all the management schools across the country participated. The participating chef, the winner of the Indian round, was selected from among 140 finalists across 10 cities." Dr. Bose further went on to say, "The YCO is a celebration of food and of young people coming together to spread the spirit of happiness and togetherness." "We call our contestants Young Chef Olympians. One very important aspect of YCO this time is the theme of AI with a human touch. It is all about humanity and how it is bolstered by AI," he added. Importantly Dr Bose flagged the importance of YCO beyond the competition. "YCO belongs to India. It's a great opportunity for us to showcase India. It's not just about IIHM or an Olympiad, it's about India, the country." The competition rounds will start, at the IIHM campus kitchens, from Feb 3, in Goa, and from Feb 4 in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The top 10 Young Chef Olympians' as per the scores of the two rounds, will compete in the Grand Finale of YCO 2025 in Kolkata on February 8, 2025. However there is also the plate trophy and the Dr Suborno Bose Culinary International Challenge prize up for grabs. Each trophy, in this global platform, is bound to embellish the careers of young chefs and validate their skills. But each of the Young Chef Olympians, along with their mentors, the judges, and the YCO organising team and student volunteers will be- quite literally, on the same plate of friendship, as each of them will go home a winner, in the cause of cementing friendships and unity through food. There will be another winner in this year's YCO. This winner will not compete but be the catalyst for phenomenal change in global hospitality education- AI. The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), has adopted a comprehensive framework to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into global hospitality education. This initiative prioritizes inclusivity, human-centric values, and sustainability, reflecting the industry's evolving needs while preserving its essence. A book by Dr Suborno Bose on the A to Z of AI in tourism and hospitality will be launched during the opening of the YCO in Goa. This is aptly called Harmonizing Human Touch and AI in Tourism and Hospitality. "With YCO and AI Suborno Bose has changed the realm of hospitality education", said Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Principal Judge and Mentor for YCO 2025. He added, "Everything that's going to be featured, there is excitement in the air and every country is looking forward to winning. We will witness history being made. Good times are here and it's that time of the year when the culinary world looks forward to what YCO has to offer. May this be the biggest event in the culinary world. Let's put our best plate forward. YCO has a global footprint. It also has one of the finest panel of judges and there is so much creativity." Intelligent hospitality, therefore will be a goal and a way of life of the Young Chef Olympians as they cook, compete, collaborate, but most importantly cement ties, in the largest grandstanding of culinary diplomacy in the world, achieved by young chefs. This impact will be felt beyond the kitchens in IIHM campuses, in the cities where two rounds of the Young Chefs' Olympiad will be held, culminating in the grand finale where the winner will be chosen. YCO 2025 will also bring together the student chefs and chef mentors for the 'United World of Young Chefs.' This will be held alongside the main event. There will be World Cuisine display by the 10 participating countries at Bengaluru at the Karnataka Food festival organized by IIHM Bangalore in partnership with Venue Partner Brigade Hospitality on 3rd February 2025, while Hyderabad, Goa Delhi and Pune will host a mini-UWYC, which will present the National Dishes of participating countries in respective host cities to create awareness and break cultural barriers through the universal language of food. The Jury is out As in previous years Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is the Principal Judge and Mentor for YCO 2025 while Prof David Foskett OBE, the legendary hospitality educator and author is Chairman of the Jury. The judging panel includes internationally acclaimed celebrity chef judges including Chief Judge Chef John Wood, a Michelin Star Chef and Founder of KitchenCUT. Prof David Foskett remarked to the participants, "To live is to Change, to grow is to change often." He said, "YCO is all about friendship, innovation and creativity. It's a great culture and it's a celebration of the best of humanity. It's also a celebration of our culture and heritage. The YCO demonstrates friendship. And hospitality at its very best. Food and culture come together. It also tells us who we are. The voice here was also about harmony and happiness. It's a celebration of youth. It engages our mind. It engages in our mental space. At the end of the day, the YCO is about simply being human. YCO is also the best cultural competition in the world for young people." Ron Scott, Principal Advisor of YCO announced his faith in the Grand Jury by saying. "Transparency and fairness is the basis of our judging. We wish to maintain a correct balance across all locations. We want all five teams speaking in one voice and we are confident in doing so because of the caliber of these international judges. They are highly respected and we are very fortunate to have them. YCO is also an event in the global stage, even from the tourism point of view, because this is also going to have a big impact on tourism." Members of the public will also get an opportunity to participate. There will be an online voting opened to vote for the best dessert in round 1 of the main competition, and for the most popular national dish in the United World of Young Chefs competition. When the chefs of 49 countries including India's very own, Aliakbar Rampurawala from Bengaluru, return from YCO; the fire of solidarity of the Young Chefs Olympiad movement will burn in hospitality college campuses and beyond in these countries, thus making the YCO, a truly global movement- curated and chiseled under the visionary leadership of Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman IIHM and Founder YCO. About IIHM: The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) is a leading hospitality education institution in India, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in hospitality and hotel management. The institute has campuses in several cities in India and abroad, as well as partnerships with leading hospitality institutions worldwide. IIHM has a strong commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusion in the hospitality industry and has been recognised as one of India's best hospitality education institutions. Contact: Abdullah AhmedAbdullah.ahmed@iihm.ac.in Phone No: 011-43204700 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2606929/YCO_2025.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2569189/IIHM_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)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Trump Administration planned to begin a pause on federal grants and loans Monday before a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze from going into effect.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked the action minutes before it would have gone into effect. A pause on grant and loans could impact hundreds of organizations across the country, including several in central Ohio.

Multiple organizations rely on federal funding to stay afloat and to help people in the community. Leaders of local nonprofits said at this point, any effects that could go through are still unclear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump administration defends federal funding freeze

Michael Corey is the executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, which represents more than 200 health and human service nonprofits. Corey said he is working with these organizations to understand the depth of this decision.

Were looking at nonprofits not being able to provide services, a whole host of services, that are funded through federal grants, housing, healthcare, education in school, after school, so on and so forth, Corey said.

He said this proposal is unprecedented and trying to put a dollar figure on a pause is impossible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are very much experiencing something, just with the attempt to suspend federal grants universally, that no ones dealt with before, and were all unsure of how this will transpire, Corey said.

Five Hilliard Darby students charged after classroom altercation

Another organization that relies on federal funding is the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Mike Hochron with the Collective said that amid this uncertainty, he wants people to know that the groups work will not stop.

Its too early to know what the impacts of any of this stuff happening at the federal level is going to be. Were hopeful that nothing will truly impact the work that we do and were going to keep doing the work we do with the resources that we have, Hochron said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ohio Humanities is another nonprofit relying on federal money. Executive Director Rebecca Asmo said the organization awards grants to local museums and historical societies.

Theres a lot of uncertainty and that uncertainty is definitely going to impact the cultural organizations that this community and this state and that Ohioans care so much about, Asmo said.

Corey said this pause is something that every Ohioan  even those who dont directly get federal assistance  will notice if the pause goes on long enough.

Woman accuses Westerville police of intimidation, harassment in federal lawsuit

Everyone would be affected by this directly or indirectly. You cant sever the operation of a huge chunk of the economy and not feel the ripple effects of that, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several states and nonprofits have already sued the Trump Administration over the federal grant pause, arguing this action is illegal.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  As more school districts in America and Canada reveal the impact of an information systems breach, some past staff and student records at a central Pennsylvania intermediate unit  but no known current school district student or staff records  appear to have been impacted.

Kevin Roberts, assistant executive director for the Capital Area Intermediate Unit  also known as IU 15  confirmed the unit learned from PowerSchool that some decade-old records were accessed by hackers during a widespread security breach, which occurred in December.

Roberts said the unit  which serves public, private and charter school students in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties, plus portions or York, Franklin and Juniata counties  posted this notice about the breach and notified affected staff and former students, who generally are people who worked for the IU about 10 years ago and former students who are now approximately 26 or 27 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Health insurance costs could soon rise in Pennsylvania; Heres why

Asked about the local impact, PowerSchool referred abc27 to this page containing updated statements from the company.

PowerSchool, whose website says the cloud-based school systems provider serves more than 60 million students, said a data breach in December resulted in the names, conatct information, birthdates and limited medical alert information of an unknown number of current and past school district employees and students was exfiltrated.

Jonathan S. Weissman, a cybersecurity expert and principal lecturer in the cybersecurity department at the Rochester (New York) Institute of Technology  where the nearby Rochester city public school system disclosed a breach Monday  said the advice is similar for families, whether they are directly affected by the breach or not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its imperative that parents freeze their childrens credit reports, because identity theft of minors can go undetected for really long periods of time, Weissman said, acknowledging what might sound like a counterintuitive need to freeze the credit reports of even young children, who are unlikely to apply for anything requiring (for example) a credit score.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Local Business Beat

But those are exactly the people whose personal information and identities hackers can most easily steal and use for long periods of time, Weissman said, precisely because they are unlikely to learn about a problem when many other people do: when they apply for a credit card or car loan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There have been there have been reports where children were breached at the ages of 2 and 3, and it came back to haunt them in their 20s, once they tried to buy a car or lease an apartment, Weissman said.

He said all adults should contact one of the major credit bureaus  Equifax, Experian or TransUnion  freeze their own credit and their childrens credit and then unfreeze it temporarily when they need to apply for something requiring a credit check because by now, hackers have sensitive information  like dates of birth, drivers license numbers and social security numbers  for countless Americans.

Weissman said parents of children impacted by the breach should be particularly alert to fraudulent calls and messages from companies offering to sell products like medical devices and prescriptions based on compromised information.

Weissman added the initial PowerSchool breach appears to have occured when hackers accessed an account that didnt have multifactor authentication  in other words, a requirement for something other than just a username and password  enabled. He said everyone should ensure no one can log into any online account with only a username and password.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Multifactor authentication often involves receiving a code via text message and entering it on a website or app in order to gain access  because ostensibly, the user needs to have physical possession of a mobile phone in order to log in  although Weissman advises methods considered even more secure, such as a physical security key, an authenticator app or biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As Chinas Lunar New Year begins, worldwide port congestion has gotten so hectic that nearly one of out every nine ships is now idling somewhere.

According to data from container shipping analysis firm Linerlytica, 10.5 percent of global vessel capacity is waiting at port anchorages worldwidemeaning that 3.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) are out of commission as of Tuesday.

More from Sourcing Journal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company attributes the congestion to severe weather conditions and high pre-Lunar New Year cargo volumes, which were largely pulled forward earlier than normal during the winter in anticipation of Donald Trumps return to the U.S. presidency.

Chinese ports are extremely congested in the run-up to the holidays, with both the Yangtze River ports and Pearl River Delta ports recording a significant surge in gate and berth congestion, said Linerlytica in a blog post. The pre-holiday cargo rush has been exacerbated by heavy demand to beat potential U.S. tariffs for Chinese imports, with carriers also scrambling to build cargo roll pools ahead of the holiday lull.

Thus far, it appears the biggest hangups are in China, where container vessels are picking up final shipments ahead of the two-week factory closures across the country. China already saw a 10.7 percent annual increase in exports in December, reaching a record 2.5 trillion yuan ($344.8 billion) due to the impending tariff threats under Trump. These were expected to take effect Feb. 1, but specifics still have not been ironed out.

The top culprits to kick off the year are the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen, with the first two enduring ongoing port congestion throughout much of 2024. Already the worlds busiest port, Shanghais traffic resulted in the port becoming the first to handle 50 million TEUs in 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of Jan. 28, the queue-to-berth ratio at the Shanghai and Ningbo ports combined was 1.96, meaning there were 157 vessels (696,134 TEUs) at anchorage compared to 80 ships (554,336 containers) docked at the ports.

Shenzhen follows the two hubs with 49 ships and 204,572 TEUs at anchorage, compared to 35 vessels and 272,257 TEUs at port. Yantian Port, a major hub within Shenzhen that handles more than one fourth of Chinas exports to the U.S., said in a statement that it increased the daily quota on containers by 15 percent during Jan. 20-28.

A Jan. 24 report from Reuters indicated that one truck driver, Li Guoliang, took two hours to transport a loaded container to a container yard at Yantian, a fourfold increase from the typical time spent on that task on a normal day.

As congestion at Yantian worsened, trucking fees escalated, the report said, ultimately costing more for exporters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The major reason is that factories rushed to ship before the holiday, and limited container quota at the port and space at container yards resulted in the congestion, Li told Reuters.

Outside of China, ports in Northern Europe and the southern U.S. East Coast are seeing a buildup of vessels at anchorage due to the escalating congestion.

Rotterdam and Antwerp are harboring 20 ships at anchorage (161,125 TEUs) and 18 vessels at anchorage (136,438 TEUs) respectively, according to Linerlytica. Savannah and Charleston are the two other gateways worldwide with more than 100,000 TEUs currently awaiting to dock at their respective ports, the firm says.

Additionally, there is potential for more congestion out of Bangladeshs largest seaport, Chattogram Port, as employees of the countrys state-owned railway system went on strike Tuesday. Already seeing backlogs in its rail cargo due to a shortage of boxcars, the suspension of freight trains from Chattogram is expected to result in an immediate buildup of containers on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If global congestion happens to get worse, it could provide some relief for carriers as they will be forced to remove more capacity than originally planned, according to Linerlytica. Such concerns from the container shipping industry come as more ships are expected to come online in 2025 as the major carriers set new vessel-sharing alliances starting in February.

While there is no seeming end to the port congestion just yet amid the current geopolitical backdrop of a tariff-heavy U.S. presidential administration, a possible return to the Red Sea amid an Israel-Hamas ceasefire could potentially help push the situation in the right direction. With the mass rerouting of ships away from the Suez Canal all throughout 2024 contributing to vessel bunching at major global ports, all eyes will remain on the ocean carriers to determine if they feel it is safe to return to the conflict-ridden waterway.
President Donald Trump promised during his three presidential campaigns to deport as many immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization as possible.

His second administration got underway less than one month after former President Jimmy Carter died in December 2024. This sequence of events brings to mind, for me  a public law scholar who studies the historical role of foreign workers in the U.S.  the legacy of Carters immigration policy and its stark contrast with Trumps agenda.

Carter left several lasting markers on immigration policy. Among them was that he reformed the H-2 visa, a permit that allows foreigners to legally and temporarily work in the United States for one employer for one year. He did so by striking a new balance between satisfying the needs of employers and protecting American workers from foreign labor competition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump, by contrast, intends to undertake mass deportations. He has stated that his administration will remove millions of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

Im writing a book about the long-standing conflict between employers and workers over allowing foreigners to legally work in the U.S. Despite Trumps anti-immigration agenda, I wont be surprised if Republicans follow in Carters footsteps by making it easier for more low-wage migrants to get short-term authorization to hold U.S. jobs.

Replacing the Bracero Program

When Carter became president in January 1977, 13 years had passed since the end of the Bracero Program, which let Mexican men legally get short-term jobs on U.S. farms. Demand for that labor persisted after the Bracero program ended, so large farms hired Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally instead.

The AFL-CIO, an umbrella group that most U.S. unions belong to, and the United Farm Workers, a labor union, pressured the Carter administration for immigration enforcement. They were engaged in heated organization campaigns in the fields and wanted to reduce competition from foreign workers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carter, a former peanut farmer and a pragmatist, had the Immigration Naturalization Service authorize 5,000 new H-2 foreign labor visas in June 1977. Over 800 of the visas went to onion, melon, pepper and cotton farms in south Texas.

Congress had created the H-2 guest worker visa in 1952 on behalf of owners of large farms and other employers who wanted a path around immigration restrictions and access to a seasonal labor force. In 1965, however, President Lyndon B. Johnsons secretary of labor, W. Willard Wirtz, had limited H-2 certifications to Florida sugar farms and East Coast fruit orchards.

The total number of foreigners with H-2 visas who were employed in U.S. agriculture fell from 13,578 in 1967 to 11,661 in 1977.

Carter saw things differently than Johnson and Wirtz.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe it is possible to structure this program so that it responds to the legitimate needs of both employees, by protecting domestic employment opportunities, and of employers, by providing a needed workforce, he told Congress on Aug. 4, 1977.

Mexican migrant workers, employed under the Bracero Program to harvest crops on California farms, are shown working in a field in 1964. AP Photo

Striking a new compromise

By 1978, the Labor Department had issued H-2 visa regulations that balanced the interests of business and workers.

For employers, they were a boon: For the first time, agricultural employers were entitled to hire foreign workers under the law.

The secretary of labor could no longer eliminate whole crop areas from the program, as Wirtz had done. The reasoning behind the change was simple: The Carter administration wanted to help farms switch from workers living in the U.S. without legal authorization to migrants holding H-2 visas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet, the Carter administration also expanded protections for migrant farmworkers. Their employers now needed to offer them higher wages and better working conditions. The regulations also mandated that employers seeking authority to use the H-2 program try harder to recruit Americans.

Under Carter, the Labor Department also extended the rules to Maines lumber industry and western wool producers.

These industries had relied on French Canadians and Spanish Basques to handle much of their work through the H-2 program since the 1950s without having to pay minimum wage rates or recruit American workers first. The Maine Woodcutters Association and the Navajo Indian Council had lobbied Carter to address poverty and underemployment in their regions.

United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez, seen here at a rally in 1985, played a key role in immigration reform efforts over several decades. Bettmann/Getty Images

Carter and the Immigration Reform and Control Act

In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. While that immigration reform law is best known for providing immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization a path to citizenship, it also split the H-2 visa program into two parts. From then on, foreign workers could obtain an H-2A visa for agriculture work or an H-2B visa for other kinds of jobs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new law kept Carters employer obligations in place for H-2As. The AFL-CIO and several civil rights organizations had objected to guest workers having to depend on their employer for their immigration status, which could make them more vulnerable to exploitation.

It is a historical irony that President Ronald Reagan, who signed the bill into law, is associated with the reform because the measure originated with Carter.

President Ronald Reagan prepares to sign a landmark immigration reform bill in 1986. Behind him were members of Congress and Vice President George H.W. Bush. Bettmann/Getty Images

Reforming immigration policies vs. mass deportations

The population of foreign laborers working on U.S. farms with H-2A visas soared from around 26,000 in 1989 to more than 340,000 in 2023. Because the number of H-2A visas the government can issue is unlimited, this arrangement has become an alternative to employing workers living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

The number of foreign workers with H-2B visas is much smaller.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is because Congress limited the number of people who could get them to 66,000 per year in 1990 as a way to limit competition for American workers seeking or holding down low-wage jobs. In 2017, Congress gave the president the authority to double the maximum number of H-2B visas.

As Trumps deportations get underway in 2025, I believe that the maximum number of H-2B visas available is likely to become a point of contention among Republicans as Trump and many GOP members of Congress face Carters dilemma.

Many Americans, perhaps a majority, want immigration laws enforced. But employers will continue to demand low-wage labor for jobs that U.S. citizens may be reluctant or unwilling to do.

Maintaining a compromise

This time, the mismatch between the governments efforts to deport foreigners living in the U.S. without authorization and employers desires for low-cost labor will be greatest outside of agriculture: 69% of those workers without papers today are employed in construction, food services and other parts of the hospitality industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jason Miller, one of Trumps senior advisers, has conceded that Republicans will need to take a second look at the visa.

In my view, guest worker visas, like the H-2A and H-2B, are never ideal. They can displace American workers and make migrants vulnerable to exploitation by their employers.

However, the U.S. is likely to continue to expand employer access to the visas because they provide an alternative to foreign workers seeking to get jobs in the U.S. without authorization. In this way, Trumps presidency may end up having something in common with Carters time in the White House.

Gabrielle Clark receives funding from the National Endowment of Humanities for her immigration research.
NEW YORK (AP)  President Donald Trump has appealed his hush money conviction, seeking to erase the verdict that made him the first person with a criminal record to win the office.

Trumps lawyers filed a notice of appeal Wednesday, asking the states mid-level appeals court to overturn his conviction last May on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The case, involving an alleged scheme to hide a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during Trumps 2016 Republican campaign, was the only one of his criminal cases to go to trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A notice of appeal starts the appeals process in New York. Trumps lawyers will have an opportunity to expand on their grievances in subsequent court filings.

The Manhattan district attorneys office, which prosecuted the case, will have a chance to respond in court papers. A message seeking comment was left with the office Wednesday.

Trump hired a new legal team from the firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP to handle the appeal, spearheaded by the firms co-chair Robert J. Giuffra Jr.

Giuffra and four other lawyers from his firm stepped in after the president tabbed his two main defense lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, for top positions in his administrations Justice Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Donald J. Trumps appeal is important for the rule of law, New Yorks reputation as a global business, financial and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials, Giuffra said in a statement provided by a Trump spokesperson. The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal."

Trump was sentenced Jan. 10 to whats known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him jail, probation, a fine or other punishment.

The Republican had long vowed to appeal but couldnt do so until he was sentenced.

The trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, previously rejected Trumps requests to throw out the conviction on presidential immunity grounds and in light of his return to the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Appearing by video at his sentencing, he called the case a political witch hunt, a weaponization of government and an embarrassment to New York.

A Manhattan jury convicted Trump last May of falsifying business records kept in the gilded halls of his eponymous real estate empire.

While the specific charges were about checks and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trumps political rise.

Prosecutors said Trump mislabeled payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen as legal fees in order to conceal what they really were: reimbursement for $130,000 that Cohen paid Daniels to keep quiet in the homestretch of Trumps 2016 presidential run.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time, Daniels was considering going public with a claim that she and the married Trump had a 2006 sexual encounter. He says they never did.

Trump denied any wrongdoing. He and his attorneys said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses.

For this I got indicted, Trump said at his sentencing. Its incredible, actually.

Trumps lawyers also argued that Trump wanted to squelch claims like Daniels to protect his family, not his campaign, from what he says were falsehoods.

Trump wont be able to pardon himself. Trumps case was tried in state court, but presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes.
NEW YORK (AP)  President Donald Trump files notice with court to start the process of appealing his New York hush money conviction.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Bay Area Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) slammed President Donald Trumps federal funding freeze as illegal.

What the president has done is pretty clearly illegal, said Lofgren, speaking to KRON4s Justine Waldman. Congress has appropriated these funds, hes required under law to see that the laws are faithfully executed. There have been numerous cases since the Nixon presidency indicating what hes doing is illegal.

We now have a right-wing Supreme Court. Do they plan to overturn half a century of case law? Who knows with those guys? Lofgren added. We are going to fight this as best as we can. Lawsuits have already been filed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

San Francisco launches immigrant resources hub

President Trump can review all he wants, and if he has recommendations, he can come to the Congress to make changes  propose changes to the law. But what hes doing here is wrong and illegal.

The lower courts are bound to follow existing law and the law is that this is illegal. Now maybe the right-wing Supreme Court wants to change the law, but until they do, Im hopeful that the lower court will follow what has been a half century of precedent.

Bay Area Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) also slammed President Trumps federal funding freeze as unlawful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you dont think the Trump administrations illegal impoundment of all federal funding will harm every corner of our community, consider the thousands of parents who cannot go to work if they depend on child care funded by Head Start, and the millions of residents imperiled by potential delays in the rebuilding of the Anderson Dam.

Sensible budget-cutting requires discernment, not disregard for human suffering from halting essential public safety, health care, or disaster relief. I will fight to push the President to abide by the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act and our Constitution.

Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) also condemned the attack as a butchered attempt by the president to suddenly shutter federal assistance plans.

The Presidents executive order is an attack on the young couple about to go into labor, the student who thought they could afford college after receiving a grant, the first responder risking her life to protect their community, and countless people across the country, Bonta said. Im happy this action has been pause for the time being. I am committed to supporting my constituents and the local organizations facing rent and payroll costs as this administration operates by trial and error.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps abrupt federal aid freeze has drawn widespread backlash and reportedly led to State Medicaid programs across the country reporting theyve lost access to federal payment portals.

At a White House press briefing Tuesday, President Trumps press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the freeze as a temporary pause while the Office of Management and Budget reviews the federal funding that has been going out the door.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The second annual Mesa County Workforce Summit took place Wednesday morning at the Meyer Ballroom on the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) campus.

The summit looks to provide strategies and tools to businesses looking to improve.

The idea is to come away with strategies that you can follow up with and learn something new every day, said Human Resources Manager for Innovative Textiles Alma Sekulich.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sekulich was there when CMU President John Marshall took to the stage as the first of two keynote speakers.

It was wonderful hearing President Marshall talk about all the great things that CMU is doing and how businesses can collaborate with that, said Sekulich.

Following Marshalls address, attendees broke out into focus groups. During this time, Marshall talked to WesternSlopeNow about the ways CMU is improving the lives of its students.

Western Colorado is behind our peers in terms of median family income and a whole host of other economic indicators. Collectively, our economic development organizations in the university and CMU Tech our job is to continue providing opportunities for families for kids for businesses to try and improve that, said Marshall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CMU saw its largest freshman class ever this past semester, with an increase of 35%.

Among CMUs plans to improve student life is the addition of several buildings on campus, including one that will be home to more than 300 beds.

WesternSlopeNow will provide more details on the project as they emerge.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  President Donald Trump said Monday that he ordered the U.S. military to divert water from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California as part of his presidential action of Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California.

The United States military just entered the great state of California and, under emergency powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond, Trump wrote on his social media website Truth Social. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!

ICE raid rumors can be really damaging in Oregon

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In September, Trump, as a presidential candidate, inaccurately surmised that there was a very large faucet that could divert millions of gallons of water from parts of the Pacific Northwest  as far north as Canada  to Southern California. The Columbia River, which drains about 244 billion cubic meters of fresh water into the Pacific Ocean from tributaries in Canada, Washington, Idaho and Oregon, does not connect to Southern California through any man-made channels or natural bodies of water other than the Pacific Ocean.

The Columbia River Gorge. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Oregon State University Climatologist Larry ONeill confirmed that there is no existing infrastructure that can channel water from the Columbia River to Southern California. Instead, Trump is likely talking about water that comes from the mountain ranges in Northern California.

There is no such diversion for water from the Columbia River to California, and no water is being diverted, ONeill said. Trump appears to be confusing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in central California with the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, which are separated by more than 700 miles and a couple mountain ranges.

PPBs SERT responds to Southeast Portland standoff

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump previously tried to change Californias water policies and weaken environmental protections in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta during his first term as president, the LA Times reports. However, the action was halted after the State of California and environmental organizations successfully challenged his plans in court.

My Administrations plan would have allowed enormous amounts of water to flow from the snow melt and rainwater in rivers in Northern California to beneficial use in the Central Valley and Southern California, Trump stated in a new memorandum. This catastrophic halt was allegedly in protection of the Delta smelt and other species of fish. Today, this enormous water supply flows wastefully into the Pacific Ocean.

Trump argued that the water would better serve Southern California, which was recently hit with a series of deadly and destructive wildfires. These claims were recently refuted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who noted that Southern California currently has an abundance of water.

Regional water reservoirs in Southern California are at historical highs, Newsom said. A change in Northern Californias water management would not have affected the fire response.

Karla Nemeth, the director of the California Department of Water Resources, told the LA Times that Trumps call for a water diversion hasnt changed anything at this time, and that Californias existing water policies remain in effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the water in the Pacific Northwest, ONeill said that any plans to divert water from the Columbia River to Southern California would be wasteful, expensive and harmful to the region.

Any artificial diversion of Pacific Northwest water out of the region would likely be extremely wasteful, expensive, and unprofitable, and would likely be economically and commercially devastating to the Pacific Northwest, ONeill said. Much shorter diversions of water into Southern California already exist from the Colorado River and the Owens Valley and Mono Basin east of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  After one week in office, the Trump administration said ICE has steadily increased daily arrests. On Monday, the agency said it made 1,179 arrests, well above the daily average for fiscal year 2024 of 310.

The Trump administration directed the DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals and FBI to arrest undocumented immigrants.

President Donald Trump indicated immigration agents will prioritize violent criminals, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said thats not the only arrests agents will make.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The individuals who have committed heinous acts on the interior of our country, and who have terrorized law abiding American citizens, absolutely those should be the priority of ICE, Leavitt said. But that doesnt mean that the other illegal criminals who enter our nations borders are off the table.

The Department of Defense released video of U.S. servicemembers working at the U.S. border. The DEA in Colorado posted a video of agents detaining members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Agents said they detained 49 people  41 were here illegally.

On Tuesday morning, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem oversaw immigration arrests in New York. She addressed her department for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

We will do everything we can to protect the American people, Noem said. We will exercise all legal authorities we have to protect this country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said he launched an investigation into sanctuary cities, places where local law enforcement isnt allowed to enforce immigration law.

Comer sent letters to the Mayors of New York, Boston, Chicago and Denver requesting information about immigration policies.

Theres a real goal here to stoke fear into the American people, the Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson said in a press conference. We are a welcoming city. Were proud of that work.

The Mayors of New York and Chicago said, despite the sanctuary city label, local law enforcement is communicating with immigration agents as they carry out enforcement operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE said agents are not conducting widespread raids but targeted operations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
VMPL New Delhi [India], January 29: Luxury is no longer confined to metro cities--it's thriving in tier 2 markets, where aspirations are rising, purchasing power is growing, and digital trends are redefining how brands connect with diverse consumer groups. These markets blend tradition with modernity, requiring brands to move beyond selling products and focus on building trust through authentic storytelling and hyper-personalized strategies. By leveraging local insights and innovative digital tools, brands can create meaningful connections that resonate deeply with these audiences. In this dynamic landscape, those who adapt and align with the evolving aspirations of tier 2 markets are paving the way for long-term success and redefining the future of luxury. From small beginnings to large-scale growth, the focus is on crafting stories that speak to the heart of an ever-changing market. Welcome to Crafting Bharat: Brand Ki Baat, an industry-first podcast that takes you behind the curtain to meet the masterminds bringing brands to life. In our second episode, join Shubhreet Kaur, Host and VP - Integration at Adfactors PR, in conversation with Udita Bansal, Founder at trueBrowns Lifestyle and Kritika Lalchandani, Founder & CEO at Apostrophe Communications. This series is proudly brought to you by NewsReach, India's leading PR-tech platform, with segment partner Blue Tea, gifting partner The Forbidden Journeys, insurance partner Beacon Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd and wardrobe partner White Chaos. Tune in for stories, insights, and inspiration! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xKG1ba-RSU Edited Excerpts: Kritika, what inspired you to start your agency in such a competitive landscape? Kritika Lalchandani (Apostrophe Communications): My decision to start Apostrophe Communications was a culmination of years of experience, an inner drive, and a sense of unfulfilled potential. I began my PR journey in 2009, working as an in-house communications manager for midsize agencies and luxury brands. Over the years, I learned the ins and outs of the industry, but I often felt like I wasn't fully aligned with my purpose. "There's always this itch," I said, and for me, it was a nagging feeling that I could create something better, something more in tune with the evolving PR landscape. Initially, I started freelancing to test the waters. It was a slow, deliberate process, but once I gained momentum and clarity, I formalised it into a full-fledged agency. In 2017, Apostrophe Communications came to life. It wasn't easy to step into a competitive landscape, but I believed in my vision. As I often say, "Onwards and upwards." The thrill of pitching, winning clients, and building a team from scratch has been a fulfilling, albeit challenging, journey. Udita, what made you start True Browns? What was the inspiration behind the brand? Udita Bansal (truebrowns Lifestyle): The story of trueBrowns is deeply personal and a mix of both necessity and vision. When I moved from Bangalore to Gurgaon, I was actively looking for corporate jobs but couldn't find anything suitable. That situation pushed me to think differently about my career path. But the bigger inspiration came from my own needs as a consumer. "As I was getting older, I found myself embracing ethnicity more and more," I shared, but I couldn't find a brand that resonated with my style. I wanted ethnic wear that was fun, modern, and comfortable, but I felt like nothing in the market met those criteria. This realization planted the seed for True Browns. The brand was built on the philosophy of going back to roots with minimalism at its core. "Even today, solids are our core," I explained, "and we stay away from heavy embellishments." My vision was to create a brand that spoke to women who are "driven from within, embracing their roots but in their own unique way." Staying true to this philosophy has been the foundation of everything we do at trueBrowns. Udita, how do you engage with tier-two and tier-three audiences while staying true to your brand ethos? Udita Bansal (truebrowns Lifestyle): Engaging with tier-two and tier-three audiences requires a nuanced approach. We've found that getting closer to consumers through language and culture is key. "For example, when we opened a store in Ahmedabad, we did a press release in a local newspaper to ensure we reached our target audience. Similarly, our digital creatives are often designed in regional languages to make them more relatable. Influencer marketing is another significant focus for us. "We collaborate with regional influencers who understand the local audience's preferences, language, and cultural nuances." These efforts have proven to be highly effective. The engagement and conversion rates we see in these markets often outperform tier-one cities. "It's about relevance. The more relatable the content, the stronger the connection with the audience." Kritika, how do you balance traditional media and the dynamic digital landscape? Kritika Lalchandani (Apostrophe Communications): The PR landscape has transformed significantly. "Earlier, it was linear; now, it's 24/7 live streaming." Back in the day, PR was about press releases, founder interviews, and media coverage. Now, it's a mix of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, OTT platforms, and even hyperlocal channels. We've had to adapt to this shift by becoming more versatile. For instance, when we target tier-two and tier-three cities, we prioritize regional influencers and vernacular creatives. "It's about understanding cultural sensibilities and tailoring strategies to resonate with specific audiences." A recent example was a campaign we did for a luxury brand. Besides Delhi and Mumbai, we targeted Itanagar, a tier-three city, because of its growing disposable income. Surprisingly, it became one of our highest sales regions. "This is why I say India is the most diverse and complex market, offering unparalleled opportunities." If you've ever wondered about the genius that builds a brand's identity, this is your all-access backstage pass. Join us as we celebrate the creative chaos and spotlight the unsung heroes behind the brands that inspire, innovate, and shape our world. These stories, fueled by passion and strategy, reveal the artistry behind building iconic identities. Stay curious, keep crafting your own narratives, and catch more unfiltered insights in our next episode. Brought to you by NewsReach--India's leading PR-tech platform, in association with VCCircle and our production partner, HT Smartcast. (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)
President Donald Trump footstomped his agenda to remove all diversity efforts within the ranks on Monday evening by issuing an executive order directly related to the military, a move that comes as the services are working to comply with similar actions issued on his first day in office.

The executive order titled "Restoring America's Fighting Force" aims to "abolish every [diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI] office within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security," meaning it would apply to all the uniformed services -- including the Coast Guard.

Trump's order comes on the heels of his first executive orders signed last week, which already sent the military services scrambling to remove anything they deemed would be related to diversity efforts. Initial actions included removing Air Force groups that advocated for better quality-of-life changes, canceling a wide range of seemingly unrelated Navy policies, and stopping all outward-facing media related to diversity in the Army.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read Next: Trump Orders Pentagon Policy Saying Transgender Troops Are 'Not Consistent' with Military Ideals

"The EO [executive order] and DEI efforts signed last night extend the original EO from issues that more broadly affected all government employees to the specific implementation for uniformed service members," Katherine Kuzminski, the deputy director of studies and the director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security think tank, told Military.com on Tuesday.

The removal of those diversity efforts in the military was one of several defense-related executive orders signed Monday evening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While some specific policies related to Trump's executive actions have been cut, none of the services has provided a comprehensive explanation or list of what is deemed in violation of the executive orders. The Pentagon on Tuesday was still unpacking what the latest directive means for the Department of Defense.

"The Department of Defense will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the executive orders issued by the president, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency and in alignment with national security objectives. We will provide status updates as we are able," according to a department statement.

Implementation of Trump's initial executive order last week seemingly caused widespread confusion among the services, and even led to the Air Force temporarily removing educational material related to the historic Tuskegee Airmen and female pilots during World War II from the service's boot camp curriculum. The courses were reinstated days after being removed for review if the lessons were in violation of the president's orders.

Notably, Trump's order asks the military to "carefully review the leadership, curriculum and instructors of the United States service academies and other defense academic institutions associated with their respective departments to ensure alignment with this order."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some programs within the services seem like they may be a clear target for Trump's executive order, such as the Air Force's 2022 initiative to recruit more diverse candidates into the officer corps.

Military.com reported last month that the service failed to reach many of its aspirational and lofty diversity goals in the 2023 and 2024 school years for the Air Force Academy and Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC. Air Force officials have not disclosed the status of that program to Military.com.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have 30 days to provide guidance to their respective departments, the order says.

Additionally, in 10 days, Hegseth and Noem must submit a report "documenting the progress of their respective departments in implementing this order."

Related: Tuskegee Airmen, WASP History Will Stay in Air Force Boot Camp Curriculum Following Outcry
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  These are not egg-citing times for grocery store shoppers, as egg prices continue rising. The Consumer Price Index finds prices up 36.8% from this time last year.

$5.79, said members of the Ndi family when asked what they paid for a dozen eggs at the Safeway in Anacostia.

Normally I used to get, like, maybe, two, two of the dozens, said Dian Ndi. But now I would just need to get a dozen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Egg sections at the store and other supermarkets across the DMV are dealing with a nationwide egg shortage.

Bird flu has made eggs more expensive  does it also make them unsafe to eat?

Signs posted at the Whole Foods in Bethesda, Md. tell shoppers they can only buy three cartons at one time, as part of a corporate policy.

I have not been baking as much as I used to bake, said Patty Whitnah.

Bird Flu has killed more than 20 million egg-laying chickens around the country last quarter according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average nationwide price of a dozen grade A large eggs is $4.15, according to the Consumer Price Index. Prices vary around the DMV but got as high as $10 for a dozen eggs at the Safeway in Falls Church, Va.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think were going to see a correction in the marketplace, and I think that were going to see more availability, Whitnah said.

The American Egg Board says its difficult to predict when prices will improve. However, egg farms impacted by the recent bird flu are recovering, and getting back to egg production much faster compared to those affected by the 2015 outbreak.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A priest has been arrested after allegedly using a 13-year-old girls hair as floss while waiting to see a relic, police said.

Carlos Martins was detained Monday following the November 21 incident, when officers arrived at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Joliet, Illinois, in the afternoon, police said in a statement. The church was hosting an exhibition and Mass as well as a national tour of the Relics of St Jude the Apostle.

The priest, who was visiting from Detroit as part of the St. Jude relic tour, is alleged to have approached the girl while she was in line to view the relic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes reported to have asked about her hair before grabbing it and making a flossing motion in his mouth using the hair, according to the police statement.

The girl told police that Martins then sat behind her and made a growling sound, officials said.

Following an investigation, detectives submitted their report to the Will County State's Attorney's Office. The office approved a misdemeanor battery charge against the 50-year-old. He was detained on Monday morning, processed and subsequently released on a notice to appear.

The priests status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is listed as ministry revoked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A hearing has been scheduled in Will County Circuit Court in Joliet for February 24.

Detriot priest Carlos Martins was arrested after allegedly using a teenage girl's hair as floss (Joliet Police Department)

Martins is known for performing exorcisms and hosting The Exorcist Files podcast, The Daily Mail noted.

Martins attorney, Marcella Burke, told Stella Maris Media that the charge against her client is egregious and unfounded.

The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not floss with a student's hair or growl among other completely false and repulsive accusations, said Burke.

The attorney went on to state that the allegations were a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As he always does, Father Martins began his interaction with the attendees in chit-chat dialogue. He is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter, Burke said in a letter obtained by OSV News.

During his conversation with the older students, he made a comment to a student about her long hair, remarking, You and I have almost the same hairstyle, she added.

He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would floss my teeth with it, Burke went on.

He then asked the student, Have you ever flossed with your hair? Laughing, she shook her head, no. He then said, Well, you have the perfect length for it, as he lifted up a lock from her shoulders to show her its length. She giggled along with the others, the attorney claimed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burke said in her November statement that when the teenager shared the story at home, her father became upset by what he heard and called the police.

The Companions of the Cross, Martins order, suspended him pending an investigation but subsequently stated that due process was needed.

The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention, the order said in a statement, according to The Mail. We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.
By Mikhail Flores

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine priests accused of sex abuse remain in active ministry in the Catholic-majority country, a U.S.-based abuse tracking group said on Wednesday, urging the country's bishops to take action and hold the alleged perpetrators accountable.

BishopAccountability.org, which tracks abuse in the Catholic Church, said 82 priests and brothers from the Philippines and some who served in the country for a period in their lives had been accused of sex abuse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At least seven of the accused priests continue to serve in parishes across the archipelago, some as recently as last month, the group's co-director Anne Barrett Doyle said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Philippine bishops have a "deep sense of entitlement" in withholding information on the abuse of priests in their diocese, she said.

"These are men who fear nothing".

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Philippine bishops conference, the Church's top policy body, said in a statement that it has put up an office headed by an archbishop and a team of bishops and experts to safeguard minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Our mandate from Rome is to take the issue of accountability very seriously, especially those related to alleged abuse cases involving priests," David said.

Individual bishops, David said, have authority over the accused priests. The papal nuncio - Pope Francis' representative to the country - is usually the next level of authority to act on the complaints.

"As a conference of bishops, we merely build a consensus among ourselves about common policies to be adopted. Only Rome, represented by the Nuncio, has direct disciplinary authority over individual bishops," he said.

The Pope's nuncio to the Philippines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nearly 80% of the 109 million Filipinos identify as Catholic, the most populous in Asia due to the lasting legacy of Spanish colonisation for three centuries.

'SMALL FRACTION'

Barrett Doyle also urged the government to prosecute the alleged offenders, saying none of those accused have been convicted for wrongdoing.

"Zero tolerance does not exist in the Philippine church," she added.

The justice ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a public holiday in Manila.

The group said its first report involving the Philippines was far from exhaustive.

"We know from Catholic abuse data published elsewhere that such cases comprise a small fraction of the total scope of the problem," the group said in its report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Catholic institutions have significant cultural and social influence in the Philippines beyond parishes, including schools, hospitals, charities, and politics.

BishopAccountability.org's data is based on news reports, court documents made public, church announcements and other public sources such as social media posts of local parishes.

For decades, sex abuse scandals have shaken the Catholic Church across the world. Paedophile priests and efforts to cover up their crimes have damaged its credibility and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

A Vatican child protection commission said in a report last year that the Church must do a better job of handling compensation for victims of clergy abuse, including a broader spectrum of actions that include acknowledging mistakes and public apologies. Critics have also said the Church must do more.

BishopAccountability.org has previously published similar databases for the United States, Argentina, Chile and Ireland.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores)
Prince Harry has been called out for "verbally" destroying his family after stepping away from his royal duties and relocating to the U.S.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams made this claim, noting that Harry is in "exile" in the U.S. and that he "chose it" himself.

The expert also credited Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, as the dominant figure in her relationship with Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.

Prince Harry Chose 'Exile' In The U.S., Royal Expert Claims

MEGA

It appears that there's no way back for Harry to return to the royal fold as expert Fitzwilliams disclosed that he's in "exile" in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a conversation with Fox News, Fitzwilliams shared that the father of two chose his current life after "verbally annihilating" his family.

"Harry is in exile  he chose it," Fitzwilliams told the news outlet. "It's lonely, and he will undoubtedly miss his friends and family. There is no sign whatsoever of the rift in the royal family healing. King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales have, to put it mildly, other priorities."

"I think Meghan [Markle] is undoubtedly the dominant person in their relationship," Fitzwilliams added. "I don't doubt he wishes they had managed to arrange a half-in, half-out arrangement [with the royal family], especially as his military links meant so much to him."

Prince Harry Is Unlikely To Mend Broken Ties With The Monarchy

MEGA

Harry and Meghan relocated to the U.S. after announcing their departure from the royal family in 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex cited a desire for greater flexibility and freedom from royal protocol as their reasons for stepping back.

However, they further strained their relationship with the monarchy after hurling damning allegations in several interviews and publications like Harry's record-breaking memoir, "Spare."

Royal expert and photographer Helena Chard shared that the probability of Harry making amends with the royal family is next to zero after he chose to air out his grievances in the tell-all memoir.

"A self-assured, self-titled, angry Prince Harry thought it was completely OK to publicly verbally annihilate his family," Chard said. "It is said he was naive and didn't realize it would upset his family. He didn't realize that his actions would cause such a fallout with his family and the public."

Prince Harry And Meghan's Business Struggles Revealed

MEGA

This comes after a critical Vanity Fair expose detailed Harry and Meghan's struggle to keep their business afloat and the criticism they face in their neighborhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The article contained several damning allegations from Meghan's former colleagues, who claimed the former "Suits" actress was involved in "bullying" and also explored a "post-Harry divorce book."

In an interview with Sky News Australia, Royal expert Kinsey Schofield revealed that the couple are "bruised and upset" by the piece.

"They are in a bad place right now," Schofield explained. "It is my understanding that they are upset over it [and] I'm being told that things aren't good for them right now."

The expert continued, "Between Meghan's show being postponed, which I've heard was Netflix's idea, and just the idea that she has worked so hard to rebrand herself, and here comes a very respected publication reiterating some of the nastiest claims about her."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schofield added that the Sussexes are "sitting back trying to figure out how to process going forward," although their representatives have not made any official comments.

Did Meghan Consider A 'Post-Harry Divorce Book'?

MEGA

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elsewhere in the expose, it was alleged that Meghan's team once explored the idea of a "post-Harry divorce book" with a publisher.

According to a source, "Meghan's team had a conversation with a publishing house to gauge interest" in a book that "might center on a post-Harry divorce."

However, the insider did not specify when the conversation occurred or name the publishing house involved.

The outlet clarified that "no formal or written proposal" for such a book was ever submitted. Meanwhile, another insider dismissed the allegation entirely, calling it unfounded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Separately, anonymous former colleagues accused Meghan of alleged "bullying" behavior. Some claim to have undergone long-term therapy after working with her, while another compared her demeanor to that of a "Mean Girls teenager."

The Duke And Duchess Found The Allegations 'Distressing'

MEGA

After Vanity Fair's scathing article on the Sussexes, a source close to the couple revealed to The Times that they found the allegations "distressing."

Close associates of Harry and Meghan also told The Daily Beast that the pair are disheartened by the accusations, particularly given their challenging situation: Harry's legal battles in the U.K. and Meghan's highly anticipated Netflix show being postponed.

Harry and Meghan allegedly feel the bombshell cover story "has succeeded in making a bad time worse."
Prince Harry's U.S. residency is under scrutiny, as his visa records will be reviewed in a court hearing on February 5.

This comes after months of The Heritage Foundation calling for the release of the royal's immigration documents amid claims that he lied on his application about his past drug use.

While a judge previously ruled that Prince Harry's records should remain private, the think tank is now urging President Donald Trump to intervene.

Prince Harry's U.S. Visa Status Under Legal Scrutiny Following Drug Admission In Memoir

MEGA

Harry's residency in the U.S. is once again under legal scrutiny. According to the Daily Mail, federal Judge Carl J. Nichols has scheduled a hearing for February 5 in Washington, D.C., where the Duke of Sussex and the Heritage Foundation will present their arguments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The controversy surrounding Harry's visa status began after the release of his 2023 memoir, "Spare," in which he openly admitted to past drug use.

The 40-year-old royal detailed his experiences with cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms, which are substances that applicants are required to disclose when applying for a U.S. visa.

Reflecting on his past, Harry revealed that he first experimented with cocaine at 17.

"Of course, I had been taking cocaine at that time," the duke wrote. "At someone's house during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then, I have consumed some more."

Heritage Foundation Challenges Prince Harry's Visa Records

MEGA

After Prince Harry's candid admissions about past drug use in his memoir "Spare," the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking access to his visa records.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The organization aimed to determine whether Harry misrepresented his history of drug use when applying for a U.S. visa.

The Heritage Foundation argues that Harry, who resides in Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle and their two children, either failed to disclose his drug use or was granted special treatment.

They argue that transparency is necessary to ensure that immigration laws are applied equally. However, government attorneys resisted, asserting that releasing Harry's immigration records would violate his privacy rights.

MEGA

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dismissed the foundation's claims, stating that their "purported evidence of government wrongdoing amounted merely to a 'bare suspicion' of government misconduct."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a September ruling, Judge Nichols sided with DHS, concluding that "the public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke's immigration records."

While he acknowledged that Harry had shared "intimate details of his life" in "Spare," he ruled that the prince still has a "reasonable privacy interest" in keeping his documents confidential.

Heritage Foundation Urges Donald Trump To Release Prince Harry's Visa Records

MEGA

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Heritage Foundation has since called on the president to step in. Nile Gardiner, director of the foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, told the New York Post, "I will be urging the president to release Prince Harry's immigration records, and the president does have that legal authority to do that."

Gardiner emphasized that the case concerns "the rule of law, transparency and accountability," stating, "No one should be above the law."

He added, "Donald Trump is ushering in a new era of strict border control enforcement, and you know, Prince Harry should be held fully to account as he has admitted to extensive illegal drug use. My firm expectation is that action will be taken."

Donald Trump Said He Would Not 'Protect' Prince Harry

MEGA

Before his election victory, Trump suggested he would consider deporting the former royal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me," he stated in February 2024.

The following month, he reinforced his stance, saying, "We'll have to see if [DHS] knows something about the drugs, and if he lied, they'll have to take appropriate action."

Trump's son, Eric Trump, also blasted Harry and Meghan as "bad apples."

"What I can tell you is, my father had so much respect for the Queen, as did I. My mum knew so many of them for years and had a great relationship with Diana," Eric told GB News, per Daily Beast. "It's a sacred institution. You can happily have those two [Meghan and Harry], we might not want them anymore, it feels like they're on an island of their own."

Prince Harry Wins Landmark Privacy Case Against The Sun, Secures $12M Settlement

MEGA

This comes after Harry's significant legal victory. According to People Magazine, on Wednesday, January 22, NGN (New Group Newspapers) issued a "full and unequivocal apology" to Harry and a substantial financial settlement for unlawfully hacking his phone and invading his privacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The publisher, which owns The Sun, admitted hiring private investigators to conduct illegal surveillance, marking the first time it has publicly acknowledged wrongdoing.

In addition to apologizing to Harry, the company also expressed regret over past intrusions by its journalists into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana.

Sources indicate that the damages awarded to Harry are in the eight-figure range, reportedly exceeding $12 million.
Last year, Princess Anne was crowned the hardest-working royal for the fourth year in a row. Even despite her horse-related incident, which left her with a concussion in June 2024, the princess completed a whopping 217 royal engagementsa 2.4 percent increase from 2023. One would think the 74-year-old is planning to scale back and retire after such an impressive streak, but according to her recent statement, she doesn't intend to slow down anytime soon.

According to BBC, King Charles's sister recently confirmed that she has no plans to retire. During her visit to South Africaher first international work trip of the yearshe revealed, "I don't think there's a retirement program on this particular life."

When asked if she plans to cut back on her busy work schedule, she said, "It really isn't written in, no. It isn't really an option. No, I don't think so." Sounds like the princess is planning for a very productive yearand a fifth consecutive record for the highest number of royal engagements. But I couldn't help but think of the royal's late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who proudly served as leader of the Commonwealth for seven decades.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It seems like Princess Anne is following in the late queen's footsteps, since Her Majesty continued her royal duties until her final moments and never announced her retirement. In fact, for her last public engagement, she appointed Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This took place at Balmoral Castle on September 6, 2002just two days before she passed.

Additionally, like her mother, Princess Anne is devoted to her work and has an unwavering commitment to charity.

Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse

According to body language expert Darren Stanton, the similarities between Princess Anne and her mother don't just end with their solid work ethic. When he spoke to Daily Express in August 2023, he said "One of [Princess Anne's] key traits is her great sense of humor, which is what the Queen was rumored to have. In terms of her character traits, she is very similar to her mother. When she walks, she also has her same posture, so there are many similarities between her and the Queen."

Want all the latest royal news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here.

Princess Anne Reminded Me So Much of Her Mom Queen Elizabeth During Her Garden Party Appearance
There's a new royal baby! Princess Beatrice has given birth to her second child, Buckingham Palace announced today: Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, the Palace shared. Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

Athena Elizabeth Rose was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces. Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care, the Palace added. Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athenas older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi/Buckingham Palace

We welcomed Baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect. We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her, Edo wrote on Instagram. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.  He added, A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time. 

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beatrice and Edo have another daughter, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, who was born in September 2021, and Edo has a son, Christopher Woolf (known as Wolfie), from a previously relationship.

Athena is 11th in the line of succession, following her mom and her older sister. She is also the late Queen Elizabeth's fourteenth great-grandchild, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's fourth grandchild. Like her older sister, Athenas middle name, Elizabeth, is a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth.

You Might Also Like
Robert MacKenzie is an assistant fire chiefbut not the kind who works for your local fire department. As the Palisades Fire bore down on Southern California last week, the private fire crew he oversees headed out to help defend homes for their customers: Insurance companies that offer wildfire protection to wealthy homeowners and others with the coverage built into their policies.

Working with lists of high-risk properties provided by insurers, the team from Capstone Fire and Safety Management aims to arrive at houses before a fire does, then make changes to the structure that will give it the best chance of survival. If a fire is getting close, they'll smear a fire-protective gel on the side of the home, then get out, CalMatters reports.

"If the windows are open, maybe we can close them. If there's a woodpile that's too close to the home, we can move it," said MacKenzie, who ran an in-house fire department for Southern California Edison before coming to work for Capstone. "Ninety percent of what we do is prevention."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Capstone is part of a growing and controversial ecosystem of private firefighting companies that have seen themselves thrust into the spotlight as some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles have gone up in flames. It includes firefighters directly contracted with government agencies as well as those who work for insurance companies and directly for rich families and developers.

As California faces a future of more frequent and severe firestorms, the current fires have made clear that private companies are one way insurers and homeowners will respond to that threat. They've also posed the question of how the state should regulate private firefighters and how they should communicate with the public firefighting agencies leading disaster response.

One of Capstone's clients is Pure Insurance, a boutique firm that advertises its services to high-net-worth individuals with luxury homes and art collections. But mainstream insurers are also offering wildfire defense services to their customers, typically included in the cost of their premium. Insurers that have contracted with fire defense companies include State Farm, which holds the most residential policies in the area covered by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, according to a San Francisco Chronicle analysis.

Insurers' use of private firefighters "started years ago with some of the high-net-worth insurance carriers, but it's moved into the standard market as well," said Janet Ruiz, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry association. "It is really part of the landscape now. And even average homeowners are really taking a look at their risk way more than they used to."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's not just the Kardashians," agreed Matthew Wara, director of Stanford University's Climate and Energy Policy Program, referring to the time Kim and Kanye infamously used a private squad to protect their mansion from the Woolsey Fire.

Fire experts note that private firefighting is nothing new, dating back to the 1700s, before Benjamin Franklin co-founded the Union Fire Company, the first volunteer fire service organized to defend the whole community and not just its members.

But critics have skewered the private companies as creating a two-tiered system where those with more resources get better protection than everyone else. After billionaire developer Rick Caruso hired private crews to defend his Palisades Village mall, backlash spread on social media as images circulated of pristine chain stores with water trucks parked outside alongside burnt-out ruins of homes and small businesses. Caruso later pledged a $5 million donation to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

A 2018 California law requires private firefighters arriving in an evacuation zone to check in with the local incident commander and follow any of their instructions, including leaving the scene when asked. They're not allowed to use the same radio frequency as government firefighters to communicate with each other, must mark their vehicles as "nonemergency" and avoid using sirens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That law doesn't prevent private firefighters from hooking up to public fire hydrantsthough representatives for both the fire companies and the state's fire protection department, Cal Fire, said they typically bring their own water trucks or connect to homeowners' hydrants. It's a sensitive issue because some hydrants in Pacific Palisades ran dry early last week as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.

Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who authored the 2018 law, said in a statement to CalMatters that it was sparked by previous wildfire seasons in 2007 and 2017 in which private firefighters entered disaster zones without coordinating with their public counterparts, confusing residents and distracting emergency responders.

"The public thought the private firefighters were public firefighters, which gave a false sense of security that there was emergency response in their neighborhoods," she said. "Private firefighters were going into evacuation areas without prior authorization. In a couple of (instances) they had to be rescued, which put emergency personnel at risk."

Aguiar-Curry said fire agencies are evaluating the effectiveness of the law as the Los Angeles fires unfold to see if any changes need to be made.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Insurers, who are likely staring down tens of billions of dollars in liability from the Los Angeles fires, have been willing to spend on wildfire defense in order to avoid the more costly loss of insured property. A contracted rate for private firefighters to visit a home and take preventive measures as a fire approaches can run about $1,000, said Mark Sektnan, vice president of state government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, another industry group.

MacKenzie said Capstone is made up largely of retired firefighters and younger employees trying to gain the experience they need to be hired by a fire service. During the off-season, they visit insurers' customers and give them tips on how to fire-harden their properties.

When they're on site at a fire, he said, they try to know their limits, sticking to the jobs that emergency responders might not have time to do.

"We don't want to become part of the incident and create more havoc for the responding agencies," he said. "If there are small spot fires, like an ember coming from half a mile away, we'll extinguish that. But if that fire is coming up the canyon at a rapid rate, we typically gel the side of the exposed home and we'll leave and make sure our folks are safe."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company has visited more than 2,000 homes during the current Los Angeles firestorm, said MacKenzie, fielding a team of 16 engines with 34 people at the height of their operation.

Another company widely used by insurers, Wildfire Defense Systems, says it has responded to 1,400 wildfires since 2008 and has a 99% success rate in saving structures if it arrives on the scene in time to prepare the property.

"The people that actually have to put money at risk in these situations are insurance companies and reinsurance companies, so I think it's important to look at what they think is effective," said Wara, the Stanford researcher. "They think (home hardening by private firefighters) is highly effective and want to see more of it."

A key question, said Wara, is whether private firefighters hired by insurers can get to a fire scene fast enough and whether they're admitted by the on-site commander. He said he'd heard from private firefighting crews who attempted to enter the Palisades Fire zone and were turned away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Captain Dan Collins, a spokesperson for Cal Fire on the Palisades Fire, said he couldn't confirm whether private crews had been denied permission to enter, but that if they were, it was for their own safety.

Unlike private firefighters who are contracted directly with Cal Fire, fire crews who work for insurers or homeowners may not have the same training as regular firefighters, Collins said. Some fire departments, for example, require firefighters to be trained as paramedics.

"There's no way for us as professional firefighters to vet their training, or their personal protective equipment," he said.

Private firefighters are also not communicating on the same system or always briefed on the overall plan for tackling the fire, he said. "It makes things harder if we're in a dynamic fire situation and we drive by some unknown type engine and we can't get a hold of them or advise them of danger or something happening. It creates a potentially dangerous situation for those people."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"No one wants to take on that liability," he added.

Of the more than 5,000 people fighting the Palisades Fire, Collins said Cal Fire had contracted one private fire engine with a four-person crew. They were previously vetted by Cal Fire and report to a Cal Fire supervisor, he said.

"Firefighting resources that prevent the destruction of a residence are helpful on incidents like these, with an emphasis on coordination and accountability," Cal Fire added in a statement provided after publication. The agency said it had worked with private companies to improve coordination over the past few years.

Will the private firefighting sector continue to grow? Ken Sebastiani directs the fire technology program at Santa Rosa Junior College, where about 1,200 students pass through each semester, many inspired to work in fire prevention by personal experience in the Tubbs, Glass and Carr fires, which ravaged the wine country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He doesn't see many go on to private firefighting companies, he said; most want to work for Cal Fire or municipal departments.

But he described the existence of private firefighting as a sign that with wildfire danger increasing, it's all hands on deck. "It's a global challenge, the need for firefighters, because of climate change," he said. "It's happening everywhereGreece, Italyso it's not just California."

"Until Mother Nature slows down, it's really hard for the fire departments to catch up."

This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Private prison company CoreCivic reported in a lobbying disclosure that it donated $500,000 to the Trump-Vance inaugural committee in December, underscoring the close relationship between President Donald Trump and the private prison industry.

As ABC News has previously reported, CoreCivic and private prison company GEO Group, both which have both long supported Trump, saw their stock prices immediately spike after Trump's victory in the November election.

The industry is expected to grow under Trumps sweeping immigration crackdown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Private prison firms contributed more than $1M to Trump's reelection. Now they expect a business boom

On his first day back in the White House, Trump reversed former President Joe Biden's 2021 executive order that eliminated DOJ contracts with private prisons.

Both CoreCivic and the GEO Group donated to Trump's first inaugural committee in 2016, with a subsidiarity of each company donating $250,000, according to past inaugural disclosures.

Several top executives at CoreCivic and GEO Group have also been longtime Republican and Trump donors, Federal Election Commission records show.

PHOTO: Nevada Southern Detention Center is operated by CoreCivic, a private company formerly known as Corrections Corp. of America. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Representatives for CoreCivic did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among other Trump-Vance inaugural committee contributions disclosed in new filings, the Florida-based HVAC company Carrier Global Corporation donated $1 million in what records suggest is the company's first major political contribution.

Chemical company Syngenta Corporation, now owned by China National Chemical Corporation -- known as ChemChina -- gave $250,000 to the committee in what was its first inaugural donation in recent years.

The Coca-Cola Company gave $250,000, after giving to both the Biden inaugural committee and Trump's first inaugural committee, and identify verification company Socure gave $100,000.

Overall contributions to the Trump-Vance inaugural committee set an inauguration record by surpassing the committee's $150 million goal, boosted by $1 million donations from several major tech firms including Meta and Amazon.

Private prison firm CoreCivic gave $500K to Trump's inauguration, highlighting industry's support originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Members of rap artist Trae the Truths ReliefGang cut apart limbs from a fallen tree from Hurricane Beryl, as the group traveled the city for the Trae Day Weekend Operation Cleanup efforts on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

A new report from the National Hurricane Center found that Hurricane Beryl roared into the upper Texas Gulf Coast with maximum winds of 92 miles per hour, just 3 miles per hour shy of being designated a Category 2.

Following the end of the Atlantic hurricane season on Nov. 30, the National Hurricane Center completed a thorough investigation of each tropical cyclone to account for any new data that may have been discovered. Among the data analyzed in the six months following Beryl was an aircraft-measured wind gust of 103 miles per hour roughly 8,000 feet above ground level and a peak wind gust of 97 miles per hour measured by a private Texas Tech University weather station.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Beryl was in an environment ripe for rapid intensification as it was on its final approach to the upper Texas Gulf Coast. Tim Cady, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service who covers Greater Houston and Galveston, says Southeast Texas would have likely been hit by an even stronger Beryl had its strengthening begun sooner.

Beryl strengthened after landfall, had higher winds

"Beryl encountered a period of favorable conditions as it was approaching the upper Texas Gulf Coast," Cady said.

Above normal sea surface temperatures and low levels of atmospheric wind shear, which is the change of wind speed throughout the atmosphere, contributed to Beryl strengthening again into a hurricane in the hours before landfall.

In this weather satellite photo of Texas taken Monday morning at 1:30 a.m., Hurricane Beryl can be seen approaching the Texas Gulf Coast. The center of the storm was within 30 miles of Matagorda Bay. NOAA/National Weather Service

The marshy topography where Beryl made landfall may explain why Beryl took so long to wind down, and may have even contributed to some degree of intensification immediately following landfall. "We've seen in past storms that there can be a bit of intensification post-landfall if conditions remain favorable," Cady says, referring to this phenomenon as the "brown ocean effect."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

There are several regions in the world where tropical cyclones have been shown to maintain or increase strength after landfall. The hypothesis is abundant moisture in the soil, whether caused by marshy terrain or days of heavy rain, help to "feed" a tropical cyclone as it passes over the saturated ground.

Beryl's faster push inland simply meant it took longer to weaken since it was still in the process of strengthening as it came ashore. Had Beryl started to intensify earlier than it did, the results could have been an even more intense hurricane landfall.

Intensification before Texas landfall well-forecasted

The forecast track of Beryl was generally more accurate than similar forecasts over the past five years. Other metrics for forecast track errors confirm a similar story, despite the difficulty global models and official forecasts had in pinning down Beryl's final landfall location along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If tracking forecasts for a tropical cyclone is difficult, intensity forecasts are often much more challenging for forecasters. A number of factors can contribute to subtle changes in a tropical cyclone's environment. Forecasting individual and ever-changing variables is difficult on a clear day, never mind during a hurricane.

That said, the forecasted intensification of Beryl back into a hurricane before it made its Texas landfall was spot on. Both global models and regional dynamical models forecasted a significant amount of strengthening would occur in the six to 12 hours prior to landfall. In the nine hours before Beryl's early morning landfall, it intensified more than 20 mph.

Are there lessons to be learned?

Despite a well-forecasted hurricane, Cady says there are still lessons Beryl taught him and his colleagues.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"I'd love to say that every forecast is perfect ... but we're kind of moving towards showing probabilities that allow us to open up our messaging and present several different scenarios," said Cady, referring to the shifting attitude the agency has in using forecast probabilities. You likely saw a probabilistic forecast leading up to Hurricane Beryl's Southeast Texas tear, where the odds of tropical-storm-force winds in Houston were between 50 and 60%.

Cady admits that there will be challenges with communicating a forecast this way.
SMPL New Delhi [India], January 29: India's remarkable achievement in renewable energy capacity addition, which saw a 113% increase in 2024 with 30 GW of new installations, has created significant opportunities for the stainless-steel sector. The nation's successful deployment of rooftop solar initiatives, resulting in 4.59 GW of new capacity and the installation of 7 lakh rooftop solar units in just 10 months under the PM Surya Ghar Free Bijli Yojana, along with the wind sector's addition of 3.4 GW capacity, signals a transformative phase for specialized steel applications. With the massive growth of India's renewable energy market, which now has a record high capacity of 218 GW installed, the industry is facing unprecedented demand for high-grade stainless-steel products. The stainless-steel sector is experiencing a great demand for specialty products designed to support renewable energy applications. Subhash Kathuria, Chairman of Synergy Steels, remarked, "The extraordinary growth in India's renewable energy sector marks a pivotal moment for the stainless-steel industry. The role of stainless steel in renewable energy infrastructure is becoming increasingly critical. With stainless steel mirrors capable of increasing solar panel power output by 21.5% and its superior corrosion resistance properties due to the minimum 10.5% chromium content, this material is fundamental to the renewable energy revolution. With increased government support and improved economics, the sector has become highly attractive for investors, evidenced by the significant FDI inflow of US$ 15.36 billion in non-conventional energy space. With process industries going to account for 27% of stainless-steel demand by 2030, we anticipate substantial growth in demand from renewable energy applications, including boilers, turbines, condensers, and feedwater heaters. The natural formation of chromium oxide provides continuous protection against corrosion, making it ideal for both solar, wind, and hydropower applications." As a result of the acceleration in solar installations, especially in states like Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, has been responsible for 98% of installed wind power, signaling a growing demand for stainless steel high-grade components. The adaptability and robustness of the material are paramount for both utility-scale applications and the booming domestic solar market. Looking ahead, given India's ambitious goal of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, the stainless-steel industry is in for substantial expansion. Since energy demand is forecast to be 15,820 TWh by 2040, renewable energy will be extremely important for India's energy security. The government support has provided a strong ecosystem where the stainless-steel producers and the renewable energy specialists can work together to accomplish the country's clean energy goals. About Synergy Steels Established in 1973, Synergy Steels specializes and leads in long stainless-steel products in India. The company's diverse product portfolio includes billets, wires, wire rods, stainless steel rebars, bright bars, etc, among other products. Synergy Steels operates state-of-the-art facilities across India, boasting a combined capacity exceeding 250,000 tonnes. Emphasizing quality, the company upholds rigorous safety standards. Synergy Steels' products cater to construction, infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing sectors, supplying renowned processing mills across India and global markets. Committed to social responsibility and sustainable practices, the company prioritizes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Certified with ISO 9001:2015, Synergy Steels Limited maintains cutting-edge industrial infrastructure featuring advanced, technology-driven machinery. For more information, please visit: https://synergysteels.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. conceded Wednesday he probably did once say that Lyme disease is a military-engineered bioweapon.

Kennedys answer came in response to a fiery line of questioning by Sen. Michael Bennet at his confirmation hearing to become Donald Trumps health secretary.

The Colorado senatorlike his Democratic colleaguesasserted that Kennedys views on vaccines and diseases were too radical to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike other jobs were confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death, Bennet said.

.@SenatorBennet to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: "Unlike other jobs were confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death...it's too important for the games that you're playing Mr. Kennedy." pic.twitter.com/VQZlA26o2V  CSPAN (@cspan) January 29, 2025

Bennet called Kennedy out for once asserting that COVID-19 was genetically engineered to target Black people and spare the Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews.

I didnt say it was deliberately targeted, Kennedy countered. I just quoted an NIH funded, an NIH published study.

The men briefly tried to talk over each other before Bennet ended the back-and-forth by saying, I will take that as a yes, I have to move on.

Next up was the question about whether Kennedy once suggested Lyme diseasea bacterial infection that can be brought on by a ticks bite was a military engineered weapon. Kennedy conceded he likely did make the Lyme disease claim, which there is proof of him making as recently as last January. Bennet continued pressing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Did you say that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender? he asked next.

Bennet: Did you say that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender?



RFK JR: No, I never said that.pic.twitter.com/psBq1iqebh  Hexdline (@HexdlineNews) January 29, 2025

Kennedy said he never made such a claim, but Bennet countered he had proof to the contrary. CNN reported in 2023 that Kennedy repeatedly made statements that chemicals in water are impacting sexuality of children.

Bennets brutal questioning continued: Did you write in your book, Its undeniable that African African AIDS is an entirely different disease from Western aids. Yes or no, Mr. Kennedy?

Im not sure, Kennedy responded.

Bennet saved his final question to press Kennedy about his stance on abortion, which has hardenedfrom once being unabashedly pro-choicesince he entered the MAGA world this summer. Now, Kennedy says he shares the same position on abortion as Trump does.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Did you say on a podcast, and I quote, I wouldnt leave abortion to the states. My belief is we should leave it to the woman. We shouldnt have the government involved, even if its full term, Bennet asked Kennedy.

He responded: I believe every abortion is a tragedy.

Things did not get easier for Kennedy from there. He was grilled particularly hard by Sen. Maggie Hassan, of New Hampshire, who criticized him for speaking against scientifically-backed vaccines.

WATCH: Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of being a sell out for supporting Trumps anti-abortion stance, noting the nominees numerous prior remarks supporting a womans ability to choose to terminate her pregnancy. https://t.co/LsNai9ix8E pic.twitter.com/rls4AoCjxp  The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2025

Hassan had some tongue-in-cheek praise for Kennedy and commended him for his longtime pro-choice stance on abortion. However, the Democrat questioned whether the 71-year-old would stand by his personal beliefs as health secretary or give in to what the MAGA world wants on the matter. Once Kennedy did not commit to keeping his views separate from the presidents, she called him a sell out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What youre telling is regardless of what you believe  if President Trump tells you do something, youre going to do it," Hassan said. What youre telling us is, if President Trump orders you to take action to make it harder for women to get dire, needed health care, youll follow his order.

Sheldon Whitehouse echoed his Democratic colleagues. He said Kennedys stance on vaccineslike outright opposing vaccination mandates for COVID-19 and once stating that the polio vaccine killed more people than polio itselfwere disqualifying.

Frankly, you frighten people, said Rhode Island senator, whos a longtime friend of Kennedy.

.@SenWarren: "As Secretary of HHS, RFK Jr. will have the power to undercut vaccines... The bottom line is the same, Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it. Kids might die but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in." pic.twitter.com/wmdMFV8msV  Protect Our Care (@ProtectOurCare) January 29, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Elizabeth Warren alleged during her allotted time that Kennedy may profit from cutting access to vaccines and vaccine manufacturing across our country.

Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it, she claimed. Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man was sentenced this week in connection to a 2023 police chase.

Read next: Massage parlor shut down for second time in Youngstown

King Atkins, 21, was sentenced in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to three years probation and must take anger management classes.

Atkins was charged following an investigation into a kidnapping and crash in August 2023.

Police were dispatched on August 13, 2023, to the 1200 block of Fifth Street SW in Warren on reports that a 20-year-old woman had been kidnapped.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a Warren police report, police did not find a victim or suspect on the scene but spoke to witnesses and were able to locate a suspected vehicle driven by King and chased it into North Jackson where it crashed. The victim was located and taken to the hospital but King had taken off.

King was charged with unlawful restraint, a third-degree misdemeanor; and failure to comply, a third-degree felony; however, he pleaded guilty in a plea deal to attempted failure to comply and unlawful restraint.

The police pursuit and investigation involved police from Warren, North Jackson, Canfield and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Have you ever heard of the Joined Together States? Or bosom peril? Kidney disappointment? Fake neural organizations? Lactose bigotry? These nonsensical, and sometimes amusing, word sequences are among thousands of tortured phrases that sleuths have found littered throughout reputable scientific journals.

They typically result from using paraphrasing tools to evade plagiarism-detection software when stealing someone elses text. The phrases above are real examples of bungled synonyms for the United States, breast cancer, kidney failure, artificial neural networks, and lactose intolerance, respectively.

We are a pair of computer scientists at Universite de Toulouse and Universite Grenoble Alpes, both in France, who specialize in detecting bogus publications. One of us, Guillaume Cabanac, has built an automated tool that combs through 130 million scientific publications every week and flags those containing tortured phrases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Problematic Paper Screener also includes eight other detectors, each of which looks for a specific type of problematic content.

CC BY-ND In addition to tortured phrases, the Problematic Paper Screener flags ChatGPT fingerprints: snippets of telltale text left behind by the AI agent. Screenshot by The Conversation

Several publishers use our paper screener, which has been instrumental in more than 1,000 retractions. Some have integrated the technology into the editorial workflow to spot suspect papers upfront. Analytics companies have used the screener for things like picking out suspect authors from lists of highly cited researchers. It was named one of 10 key developments in science by the journal Nature in 2021.

So far, we have found:

Nearly 19,000 papers containing at least five tortured phrases each.

More than 280 gibberish papers  some still in circulation  written entirely by the spoof SCIgen program that Massachusetts Institute of Technology students came up with nearly 20 years ago.

More than 764,000 articles that cite retracted works that could be unreliable. About 5,000 of these articles have at least five retracted references listed in their bibliographies. We called the software that finds these the Feet of Clay detector after the biblical dream story where a hidden flaw is found in what seems to be a strong and magnificent statue. These articles need to be reassessed and potentially retracted.

More than 70 papers containing ChatGPT fingerprints with obvious signs such as Regenerate Response or As an AI language model, I cannot  in the text. These articles represent the tip of the tip of the iceberg: They are cases where ChatGPT output has been copy-pasted wholesale into papers without any editing (or even reading) and has also slipped past peer reviewers and journal editors alike. Some publishers allow the use of AI to write papers, provided the authors disclose it. The challenge is to identify cases where chatbots are used not just for language-editing purposes but to generate content  essentially fabricating data.

Theres more detail about our paper screener and the problems it addresses in this presentation for the Science Studies Colloquium.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read The Conversations investigation into paper mills here: Fake papers are contaminating the worlds scientific literature, fueling a corrupt industry and slowing legitimate lifesaving medical research

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Guillaume Cabanac, Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse; Cyril Labbe, Universite Grenoble Alpes (UGA), and Frederik Joelving, Retraction Watch

Read more:



Guillaume Cabanac receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF). He is the administrator of the Problematic Paper Screener, a public platform that uses metadata from Digital Science and PubPeer via no-cost agreements. Cabanac has been in touch with most of the major publishers and their integrity officers, offering pro bono consulting regarding detection tools to various actors in the field including ClearSkies, Morressier, River Valley, Signals, and STM.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cyril Labbe receives funding from the European Research Council. He he has also received funding from the French National Research Agency (ANR), and the U.S. Office of Research Integrity. Labbe has been in touch with most of the major publishers and their integrity officers, offering pro-bono consulting regarding detection tools to various actors in the field including STM-Hub and Morressier.

Frederik Joelving does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Everybody knows that jumping rope is a great way to stay fit. Students at Lost Creek Elementary got the opportunity to learn some new tricks from a professional.

Many know David Fisher as The Rope Warrior. The 61-year-old professional has been jumping rope full-time for more than 30 years. Fisher says part of his duties include showing people of all ages how fun jumping rope can be.

The little ones who have no preconceived notion of what they are supposed to do are great double Dutch volunteers, Fisher said. The show has gotten more interactive and more fun, and I think that the show has gotten actually better. Even though Im not physically what I was 30 years ago the show has improved, so Im still having a lot of fun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout the show, Fisher called upon several Lost Creek Lions to participate in his eye-catching tricks. Student Brette Spoonmore says she will have some new material next time she hits the playground.

I learned how to do more tricks with the jump rope, Spoonmore said. Like how I said, I could only do normal jump rope stuff, but now I can do all of the swing stuff because I watched him.

Not only does Fisher use jump ropes to entertain, he uses them to save lives. Earlier in the week, the Westfield resident was honored by the city for saving an 18-year-old man from drowning after the man fell through a frozen pond attempting to save his dog. On that December day, Fisher said his tool of choice was double Dutch ropes.

I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet as I went out, so I lowered my center of gravity in case I had to go on my stomach to distribute the weight, Fisher said. I knew, having turned double Dutch in the show so many times, I knew how much distance I had to close to get him that other end of the rope. When I finally got there, I flung him the rope and he grabbed one end and I pulled him out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rope Warriors story shows that you never know when a jump rope will come in handy. For more information about The Rope Warrior, visit his 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 MyWabashValley.com.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  While a judge has temporarily blocked an effort from the Trump administration to pause federal-assistance funding, loans and grants, questions still remain about who may be affected if the order is carried out.

Administration officials said the objective is to review government spending and make sure it aligns with President Donald Trumps executive actions and priorities. They emphasized that the temporary pause wont affect direct payments to individuals through programs like Social Security, SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid.

The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in a memo distributed Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But with trillions of dollars potentially coming under review, local leaders fear the effects could be widespread, impacting everyone from construction workers to students to senior citizens.

Every American, every Rhode Islander is impacted by this, Rhode Island Attorney General Neronha said Tuesday. If you drive on a road, youre impacted. If you get health care, youre impacted. If your children are being educated in our schools, youre impacted. If you believe in public safety, if youre a man or woman in blue, and all of us who are protected by them, you are impacted by this blatantly unlawful and unconstitutional action.

Neronha and five other states attorneys general filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the funding freeze, saying the OMB memo was poorly worded and vague, as evidenced by the confusion it created across the country.

MORE: RI, Mass. join federal lawsuit seeking to block Trump funding freeze

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of now, it remains unclear who will feel the pinch, and for how long. Local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations all rely on federal funding to operate.

Were in uncharted territory, Roger Williams University law professor Peter Margulies told 12 News. I do worry that the impacts will be great around the country. Thats why states like Rhode Island are already suing.

Among those raising concerns about the potential pause in funding is David Cicilline, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, the largest funder of nonprofits in the state. The organization helps residents access quality health care, meal programs and other services.

All of those things require the partnership with the federal government and resources from the federal government, Cicilline said. So to stop all of that, even temporarily, is very troubling, and I think people are very concerned about it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marguiles said he expects more legal action to come.

I think states will sue, hospitals will sue, other recipients of federal money who desperately need that money to continue operations to keep Americans healthy and safe will sue, he explained. So you will get lawsuits in a number of federal courts. I think youll get pushback in Congress.

12 News reached out to Republican leaders in the Rhode Island Senate and House, who were not available for comment on Tuesday.

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.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Trump Administration proposal to freeze federal grants and loans has prompted uncertainty about what happens next, local governments, schools and nonprofits told News 19 Tuesday.

The effort was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Tuesday afternoon. (News 19 reviewed two related budget office documents regarding the freeze Tuesday, which can be found at the bottom of the article.)

Huntsville Police asking for help identifying 4 in Walgreens thefts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We reached out to government officials in Huntsville, Madison County, Madison and Decatur and the Huntsville, Madison and Madison County School systems. The general response was they were awaiting more information and it was not clear how programs and projects might be affected.

To put in it perspective, Madison County alone saw 410 grants and 553 federal loans in just fiscal year 2024. The grants range from continuing a 10-year partnership between NASA and the University of Alabama in Huntsville on a $77 million contract.

A sampling of other awards, according to federal records, included $11 million to improve the runway, taxiway and lighting at Huntsville International Airport, resurfacing U.S. 72 near Gurley and Woodville at a cost of $10.9 million and $31 million for restriping and resurfacing on I-565 from the Limestone County line to Indian Creek.

Nonprofits also depend heavily on grant money and it is not clear how the proposed freeze will affect operations or programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Madison man sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual exploitation of minor

The Food Bank of North Alabama told News 19, they were still gathering information.

We are unsure at this time of the immediate and potential long-term impact. We are seeking clarity on exactly what this involves and the time frame, said CEO Shirley Schofield.

Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told News 19 today that Decatur is taking a cautious approach.

Community Development is currently communicating with Federal Departments on the impact this may have on any or all of our project that is funding with Federal Grants. We have spoken with our Representatives for guidance was we navigate the Presidents order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Freeze is until the 10th of February at that time we have been told we would receive more information. Out of an abundance of caution Community Development has reached out to all of our sub-recipients and requested that they refrain from spending any funds until we get a better understand as to the impact this may have on future funds. We also have paused spending on all federal programs until at least the 10th.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, who represents Alabamas 5th District, said the move by the Trump Administration was aimed at addressing a flawed grant award process. Strong did not address News 19s questions about how the freeze would impact North Alabama.

Biden threw money at transgenderism, DEI, and green new deal social engineering policies as he walked out the door, Strong said. Its a waste of taxpayer dollars and does not improve the lives of Americans who have given President Trump a mandate to put America First. Just like you freeze your debit card when there are unauthorized transactions to evaluate whats coming out of your checking account President Trump is simply examining federal spending.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt was also critical of the grants awards process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By all accounts, this is a temporary pause to give the new administration time to do a review of programs and it does not impact individual assistance programs like S.N.A.P., Head Start or farmers, Aderholt said. For those programs that will be paused, I think this is necessary to ensure sure that tax dollars are being spent in alignment with the law and the Administrations priorities.

The pipeline of federal funds needs to be thoroughly reviewed for examples of waste, fraud, and abuse as allowed by the previous Administration. This is why the American people elected President Trump. They were tired of the status quo and tired of the never-ending spigot of tax dollars going to programs with no accountability.

Budget Document 1Download

Budget Document 2Download

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can find more information about the freeze 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 WHNT.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Hundreds gathered outside of Tuesday mornings state board of education meeting in protest. It comes amid deportations across the country and possibly in schools across the state.

I dont think any child should have to go to school and worry about whether theyre going to be deported, whether theyre going to be taken out of school, protestor Veronica Gonzalez said.

LOCAL NEWS: Court filing reveals OSDE will re-issue Bible purchase request

Protestors gather against immigration raids in schools. Image KFOR.

Tuesday morning, protestors reacted to comments made by state superintendent Ryan Walters in support of immigration enforcement raids in schools, including here in Oklahoma.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im just here for the kids, man. Thats all I really care about. The kids. Theyre the future, protestor Javier Terrazas said.

Some who gathered outside the Oliver Hodge building building are immigrants themselves, like Gonzales.

I attended K-12 as an illegal student, she said. I am now a nurse.

Adriana Guzman is another who was born in California to Guatemalan immigrants.

They left everything for me to give me a better education and a better living, Guzman said.

The group also gathered in protest of a new rule that was approved in the meeting. That rule would require parents proof of U.S. citizenship at the time of their childs enrollment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma senator says ICE arrests at Bricktown restaurant were not part of raid

It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools, Walters said.

The rule does not deny any student access to education, but Walters said the information gathered will help the state know how to direct education resources. He also said the information will be given to the Trump administration.

Those outside though said they were standing up for all kids as deserving of an education.

Im going to be in support of everything that protects these great kids, great families, holds them together, protestor Larry Little said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The protest was peaceful.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon Health Authority found multiple staffing violations at Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence Seaside Hospital while investigating complaints at the hospitals, OHA reports finalized on Jan. 15 and Jan. 24 show.

According to the reports, the hospitals violated Oregon law by failing to adopt nurse staffing plans for various departments, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, cardiology, critical care and emergency departments.

President Trump claims he diverted water from PNW to California. Did he?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Oregon Nurses Association, which is actively striking for better working conditions and higher pay, said the investigations support local nurses cries for safer staffing levels.

Recent findings from the Oregon Health Authority confirm what frontline caregivers at Providence hospitals have long been warning: Providence is failing to meet critical staffing requirements, putting patient care and worker safety at risk, the Oregon Nurses Association said.  This failure to meet basic legal obligations underscores why caregivers are fighting for stronger, enforceable staffing protections in their contracts; Providence has repeatedly demonstrated it cannot be trusted to adhere to existing regulations without additional safeguards in place.

Kotek, Rayfield decry Trump administrations federal funding freeze

The Oregon Nurses Association said that it is urging the hospitals to acknowledge their ongoing staffing failures and negotiate in good faith. The open-ended strike is in its 19th day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response to the reports, Providence told KOIN 6 News that they are complying with the hospital staffing laws and that the complaints happened within days of the laws going into effect in June 2024.

Providence also said that there is no direct correlation between safe staffing and the findings of the reports and that the law allows for deviations from plans to ensure patients dont need to be turned away.

At the Seaside Hospital, Providence said they have already resubmitted staffing plans with approval from the nurse staffing committees, and in Portland, they are working towards an agreement with nurses still but in the meantime, they have defaulted to the nurse-to-patient ratios that were advocated for in 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 KOIN.com.
PSA Airlines, a regional airline and subsidiary of American Airlines Group, announced today that it will relocate its corporate headquarters from Dayton, Ohio, to Charlotte, North Carolina, by January 2026.

The new headquarters will be situated at 2709 Water Ridge Parkway in the Water Ridge Office Park, strategically located near Americans Charlotte Flight Training Center and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This move will bring approximately 400 PSA team members to the new location, reflecting the airlines operational focus on Charlotte, where it conducts a significant portion of its daily departures.

ALSO READ: Avelo Airlines announces new flight from Concord Airport

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We chose to relocate PSAs headquarters to Charlotte for several important reasons, including that Charlotte is where most of our daily departures occur and almost all our training is based, said Dion Flannery, President and CEO of PSA.

PSA Airlines operates over 750 daily departures, including more than 180 from Charlotte, serving Americans regional network across four major hubs. The relocation will involve inviting all 350 Dayton-based employees to move to Charlotte, with a decision deadline set for the end of April. PSA has also started posting new roles in Charlotte, anticipating increased hiring needs depending on how many current employees choose to relocate.

The relocation of PSA Airlines headquarters to Charlotte underscores the strategic importance of the city within American Airlines network. As the transition progresses, PSA aims to integrate into the Charlotte community while maintaining a presence in Dayton with a maintenance hangar and crew base.

VIDEO: Avelo Airlines announces new flight from Concord Airport
Namo Bharat commuters can now avail of a 10 per cent discount on every journey by using National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) aboard Namo Bharat trains. This initiative is an extension of the Loyalty Points Program, which was introduced recently by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation Ltd. (NCRTC) for tickets purchased via the 'Namo Bharat' App. With this new benefit, commuters can enjoy discounts on each trip they take with Namo Bharat trains, allowing them to save more on more travel. As per the official statement of NCRTC, under the loyalty program, commuters will earn one point for every rupee spent on a journey aboard Namo Bharat trains using NCMC cards. Each loyalty point is valued at Rs 0.10 (10 paise), and the accumulated points will be credited to the commuter's NCMC account. For example, if a commuter spends Rs 100 on a journey, 100 points (worth Rs 10) will be credited to their NCMC account. This offer is available on any NCMC card. Discounts can be availed by redeeming these points at the Ticket Counter at the station. It is notable, that NCRTC had recently introduced its loyalty points program, allowing commuters to receive a 10 per cent discount on tickets purchased through the 'Namo Bharat' mobile app. This initiative of providing discounts on the purchase of digital QR tickets through the App and use of NCMC cards is designed not only to provide financial benefits to passengers but also to streamline travel with paperless ticketing and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future. The loyalty program is designed to benefit regular commuters of Namo Bharat Trains, helping them save more with every journey. Frequent commuters can unlock an accumulative loyalty bonus with each trip, making every ride more affordable. Commuters are encouraged to download the Namo Bharat mobile app for a more efficient and comfortable travel experience. New users of the app receive Rs 50 (equivalent to 500 loyalty points) upon downloading. Additionally, users can earn an extra 500 loyalty points by referring others to the app. Both the referrer and the referee will receive Rs 50 (equivalent to 500 loyalty points) each, credited to their respective accounts. All loyalty points earned are valid for one year from the date of credit, promoting frequent, sustainable travel and continued engagement with the app. The Namo Bharat app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. These customer-centric initiatives highlight NCRTC's ongoing commitment to enhancing affordability, convenience, and the overall travel experience for Namo Bharat commuters. They also reflect NCRTC's dedication to implementing innovative solutions that foster modern, responsible, and efficient transportation. (ANI)
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Dozens of people showed up to Stone Memorial High School in Crossville to voice their disapproval of the Board of Educations decision not to renew the contract of Director of Schools William Stepp. Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster said the move came as a shock.

I was surprised. I was not there. I was surprised and I thought it was going to go through from what I had been hearing, Foster said. Hes been such a great asset here. I started getting texts is what happened. Lots of people were very upset before the meeting was even over. I was having people call and text me what had gone on and they were very upset.

Outrage among parents after Cumberland County school board votes against keeping director

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some parents, like Amber Cook, said hes been one of the best school directors that has come through Cumberland County and everything has changed from directors in the past.

Since Mr. Stepp has come in, the teachers, theyre brighter, theyre happier and that towers down to our kids, Cook said. Now our kids are trying harder. They are achieving more. Education is growing in Cumberland County because of Mr. Stepp. The morale of everything has changed. He has been the sunshine in our community.

Several school resource officers and a school bus driver were among those who say the Board of Education made the wrong decision and they said theyve never seen a director of schools work as hard as Stepp.

Gov. Bill Lees school voucher bill soars through House committees

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not only does he walk the halls and make himself accessible to the teachers and students, said Gary Howard with the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office. Youll find him in the cafeteria sitting with kids having lunch and opening ketchup packages.

It wasnt just other people in the community and some people that dont even have kids in the school system that are upset, another school resource officer said. Its also our kids, our kids are upset to a point where they have taken it upon themselves to start a petition of their own.

After the public comment period ended, Sixth District Commissioner Joe Sherrill applauded those who spoke an offered advice on how to make changes following the school boards vote.

 See more top stories on WATE.com

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anybody in the districts, [if] your representative in the BOE did not vote the way you wanted, however that is, those districts need to stand up because these are elected positions, Sherrill said. In my workings in the Sixth District, Billy Stepp has been an amazing person.

In addition to all those voices, a Cumberland County student spoke for a group of kids who disagreed with the boards decision. The student said Stepp was one the most involved people she has ever seen at the school and thanked him for taking time to speak to students about what is going on. Stepp was described during the meeting as a school director who put students first and was always checking up on them when he was at their school.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  Pueblo School District 60 (D60) is partnering with the Latino Chamber of Commerce to host a Town Hall with the Superintendant on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in which Superintendent Dr. Barbara Kimzey will provide an update on Pueblo School District 60 and answer questions.

The town hall, which takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pueblo East High School in the Commons area, will be an opportunity for the public to learn about the current state of the district and offer suggestions on how to improve daily attendance, support students and staff, and attract new students from across the region.

We are working to make D60 a destination district, and we need the communitys help to make this vision a reality, said Superintendent Kimzey. Its important for the community to be involved and understand how they can contribute to the districts future success.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The event is free and open to the public, though registration beforehand is required. The community will have the opportunity to submit questions before the event and ask questions during the meeting. To submit questions, click here.

For questions about the town hall event, contact D60s Director of Communications Dalton Sprouse at Dalton.Sprouse@PuebloD60.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 FOX21 News Colorado.
ST. LOUIS  The St. Peters woman accused of torching multiple businesses while on vacation in Puerto Rico will remain in custody until her trial, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Danielle Bertothy appeared in U.S. District Court in downtown St. Louis for the continuation of a detention hearing. The prosecution and defense have been arguing about Bertothys potential flight risk.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missour told the judge Bertothy, 36, would attempt to flee with her life in shambles since she no longer has a job or home. The defense said Bertothy has no criminal history nor prior convictions or arrests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a prior hearing, Bertothys sister, Jessica, flew in from Connecticut to appear in court on behalf of the defense. She told the judge that Danielle could stay with her and that shed make all her court dates and would not have access to alcohol, drugs, or guns.

In court documents, the judge determined that plan unfeasible, stating Danielles sister could not be expected to monitor her behavior for the entirety of the case, including future trips to Puerto Rico to appear in federal court there.

Its unclear if Bertothy will remain in federal custody in St. Louis or Puerto Rico.

Plane, military helicopter collide above Washington DC

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Bertothy set fire to a commercial building housing a retailer, a restaurant, a bar, and a hotel on Jan. 2 after being denied alcohol at the bar earlier in the evening. Hotel guests had to be evacuated due to the fire.

According to the prosecution, Bertothy called 911 a total of three times to complain about being kicked out of the bar, Lucias on the Beach. When the fire began, the prosecutor told the judge that Bertothy, who was staying in a nearby Airbnb, did not call 911, while emergency responders fielded several calls from other citizens about the blaze.

Surveillance video appears to show Bertothy returning to the bar later with a gas can, wearing the same clothing from when she was removed from the establishment. The prosecution reiterated that Bertothy remained in the area after the fire started and at no point called 911.

The owners of the Airbnb identified Bertothy from the surveillance images, according to the prosecution, and said they left the gas can behind so Bertothy could power a generator in case the power went out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After being interviewed by local authorities, Bertothy cut her vacation short and fled home, prosecutors said.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) served a search warrant at Bertothys home on Bramblewood Drive in St. Peters on Jan. 7. During the search, ATF agents noticed her luggage was still unpacked and that it contained clothing that matched what she was wearing the night of the fires and clothing that matched what she was wearing at the airport. The judges filing stated law enforcement also found cocaine, along with empty boxes of wine and beer cans in Bertothys home.

Bertothy was formally indicted and arrested on Jan. 16 with one count of use of fire to destroy any building affecting interstate commerce (arson).

If convicted, Bertothy faces between 5 and 20 years in federal prison.

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 2.
A collection of Quaker congregations have sued the Department of Homeland Security and its new leader, Kristi Noem, over President Donald Trumps decision to allow ICE arrests in churches.

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced it is repealing a 2011 policy that barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making arrests in sensitive areas, including schools and churches.

Now, five Quaker congregations have filed a lawsuit in federal court calling on Trump to re-instate the policy, arguing communal worship is not just important to their religious community, but also the very process of worship itself.

A collection of Quaker groups have sued the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem (Getty Images)

Allowing armed government agents wearing ICE-emblazoned jackets to park outside a religious service and monitor who enters or to interrupt the service and drag a congregant out during the middle of worship is anathema to Quaker religious exercise, the lawsuit filed Monday reads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The very threat of that enforcement deters congregants from attending services, especially members of immigrant communities, the lawsuit continues.

The non-profit Democracy Forward is representing the Quakers in the lawsuit. Their president and CEO, Skye Perryman, said his team is honored to represent the Quaker meetings that have been at the forefront in protecting values of religious liberty for centuries and will urge the court to act swiftly to halt this unlawful and harmful policy.

"A week ago today, President Trump swore an oath to defend the Constitution and yet today religious institutions that have existed since the 1600s in our country are having to go to court to challenge what is a violation of every individuals Constitutional right to worship and associate freely," he said in a statement.

The Independent has contacted the DHS for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This isnt the first time Trumps administration has been sued over its immigration policies in the last week.

Pregnant women and more than 20 states sued the administration last week after Trump issued an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship.

Eighteen state attorneys general and other government officials also filed a similar lawsuit to end the flagrantly unlawful attempt to strip hundreds of thousands American-born children of their citizenship based on their parentage.

Advocacy groups in Chicago also filed a lawsuit against the administration over the weekend as federal immigration officials carried out raids in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chicago-area residents reported immigration officials and unmarked black trucks appear in their neighborhoods early on Sunday morning, The Independent previously reported.

I was scared for my neighbors, resident Michelle Vallet, who witnessed agents walking through her neighborhood, told the Chicago Tribune. I was scared for this nation, knowing that this is going to be common now.
A Quebec law barring teachers, police officers and other civil servants from displaying religious symbols while at work has withstood multiple legal challenges since it was passed in 2019.

But will it survive the Canadian Supreme Court?

Canadas highest court announced on Thursday that it will consider the law, known as Bill 21, and determine whether it violates the countrys religious freedom protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The announcement brought hope to critics of the policy, who for years have argued that it stems from discomfort with minority faith groups and doesnt serve legitimate government interests, according to The New York Times.

It also prompted a statement from Quebec leaders, who said they will defend the secularism law until the end, the CBC reported.

It is primordial, even vital, for Quebec to be able to make its own choices, choices that correspond to our history, to our distinct social values and the aspirations of our nation, the statement said.

Bill 21 in Quebec

Bill 21 was passed by the National Assembly of Quebec in June 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its full title is, An act respecting the laicity of the State.

The law bans civil servants from wearing faith-related accessories, such as cross necklaces, yarmulkes or turbans, while on the job.

Bill 21 also amends Quebecs charter of human rights and freedoms to make it clear that residents must maintain proper regard for State laicity as they express their religious freedom, according to the bill text.

Critics say the policy tramples religious freedom, and especially the religious freedom of members of minority religions like Islam and Sikhism, while supporters say it upholds Quebecs commitment to secularism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like similar policies in France, Bill 21 has sparked a debate in Canada over what it means to be a secular country.

Surprise from Canadian Supreme Court

Although many organizations, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, remain committed to overturning Bill 21, its still somewhat surprising that Canadas Supreme Court has agreed to consider blocking the ban, according to The New York Times.

Its rare for the Supreme Court to revisit a case involving a unanimous decision at the appellate level, Pearl Eliadis, a law professor at McGill University, told the Times.

That unanimous ruling came last year, when three judges from Quebecs Court of Appeal said that Bill 21 did not promote gender discrimination against female teachers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not clear yet whether the Supreme Court will look specifically at whether the policy promotes gender discrimination or at its relationship with religious freedom protections.

In Canada, the Supreme Court does not give reasons for taking on specific cases, per The New York Times.
A convicted meth dealer who ran gambling dens for a drug kingpin cut off her ankle bracelet and went on the lam the day before she was supposed to start her prison sentence, the feds allege.

Guanghua Shen was supposed to surrender to federal authorities on Jan. 6 and start her year-and-a-day prison sentence. But on Jan. 5, she removed her monitoring device near JFK Airport, possibly to give the impression that she had taken a flight out of town, authorities allege. She also stopped answering her phone, the feds allege.

Instead, she was staying in a hotel in Flushing, Queens, where federal authorities caught up with her Tuesday, law enforcement sources said. She now faces a bail-jumping charge that could land her behind bars for 15 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the feds found her, she had a benefits card, a learners permit, a debit card and a drivers license in someone elses name, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadia Moore said at her arraignment Tuesday.

She also hasnt held a job in the seven years since she was initially busted, isnt a citizen, and has extensive ties to her native China, which would not allow her extradition back to the U.S. if she flees there, Moore said.

Shen, who also went by Mao Mao, was working for meth kingpin Anthony Pineda, who ran a large-scale meth distribution ring out of several Queens gambling dens. He was sentenced to 20 years in 2021.

Pineda, Shen and several others were busted in 2018 for the scheme. The kingpin was accused of protecting his turf with threats and violence, including menacing a competing gambling parlor owner with a gun and making reference to a high voltage cattle prod.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shen spent about a month and a half locked up after her arrest in June 2018. After she was let go on bond, she repeatedly violated the terms of her release, testing positive for drugs several times, according to prosecutors. She was even caught running at least one illegal gambling parlor as she awaited prosecution, according to court filings.

Brooklyn Federal Judge Margo Brodie sentenced her to a year and a day in prison on April 2, giving her nine months to get her affairs in order before her surrender date.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon ordered Shen held without bail on the new charge.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  On the second day of Tennessees Special Called Meeting, the Disaster Relief Committee met and pushed through three bills. However, many committee members raised concerns about why this special session took months to happen.

Local county mayors talked in front of committee members about Hurricane Helenes impact on their counties, including the extensive amount it will cost for repairs and rebuilds.

Carter, Greene, Johnson and Unicoi County mayors all shared on the Tennessee house floor Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Disaster relief bills pass first stage of legislative session

Many representatives agreed that funding is needed for relief and as soon as possible.

Rep. Joe Towns Jr. from Memphis asked TEMA representatives if there was a way funding could get to these counties sooner.

We got to get the money to the people in order for them to rectify the situation as good as we possibly can, Towns said. So reimbursement and Id love for you to address, what about we change the reimbursement process and gave them the money upfront?

Rep. Jody Barret from Dickson feels like the weight of paying the state back for repairs is too much for Northeast Tennessee counties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Four or five county mayors that are essentially telling us that their counties are bankrupt or going to be bankrupt as a result of this, so the state putting any obligation on them to pay some portion of this recovery seems asinine, Barrett said. Were asking them to do an impossible task to pay something that they dont have the money to pay for.

Some representatives questioned why a special session for relief is just now taking place four months after Hurricane Helene.

Why has there not been a special session called already? asked Representative Todd Warner from Chapel Hill.

Rep. Bo Mitchell expressed his disappointment in Governor Bill Lees decision to wait until January. He voiced his displeasure with knowing those who are unemployed because of Helene have to file regular unemployment requirements weekly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These people for four months now have been having to jump through all the hoops and hurdles of applying for five jobs each week and doing all that to be able to get unemployment for jobs that have been washed away, Mitchell said.

This is another reason the governor should be ashamed of himself for waiting four months to help these people [who] have been homeless, jobless and in this dire situation, Mitchell said. North Carolina has done this three times, given three rounds of aid. This governor has waited this long and these people have been having to jump through this kind of bureaucratic hoops. Governor, you should be ashamed of yourself. Weve waited and waited and waited. You know, til I guess hes got enough folks in line for other things to call the special session to help these people.

Representative Jeremy Faison from Cosby said he actually does feel like Tennessee is taking care of its people more than North Carolina.

I watched how they were inept at taking care of their people, Faison said. My church, Crossroads Community Church, did far more for Western North Carolina during the first month and a half than North Carolina ever thought about doing. I dont care if they had three sessions or five sessions, they failed and my state didnt. We showed up. Our people showed up and we did the job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Faison also presented a property tax bill (HB6007) which would allow those whose properties were destroyed or damaged from Hurricane Helene to apply for a grant.

It just says if you have property in East Tennessee that was destroyed or hurt during Hurricane Helene your property taxes for the year 2024, we will take care of that for you in a grant process, Faison said. We will allow you to apply for a grant process. You apply through the Comptroller of the Treasury. He already has through all of your local property assessors. They have already identified every piece of property thats been destroyed or hurt or damaged. They know what your property tax is. Theyve created a form for you to be able to get a grant so that we will help you with that. We will also give you an additional 30% if the federal government decides that they are going to tax that portion of your property tax that were going to do.

All three bills regarding disaster relief passed on the Tennessee House floor on Tuesday, and will now move to the Finance Ways and Means to figure out where the money will come from. That committee meets Wednesday morning.

You can see a summary of those bills on the Tennessee General Assemblys 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
MT. HOPE, The Bronx (PIX11)  In at least three locations in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan on Tuesday, federal agents from ICE, DEA, ATF, and other agencies worked with the NYPD to carry out raids that they said targeted undocumented people suspected of violent crimes, as well as drug-related and gun-trafficking offenses.

The raids started early on Tuesday morning, with the Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, being on hand, from Washington, for the enforcement activity.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Noem addressed a large group of the agents involved, all of whose agencies fall under her purview. Then, she went out with them on the mission. She even recorded a short video showing her at one of the raid locations.

Were getting the dirtbags off these streets, she said in the video.

Her department and other sources confirmed that among the people taken into custody, they nabbed Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, in their first raid of the day. DHS suspects that hes a leader in the Tren de Aragua terrorist gang from Venezuela. He was allegedly involved in burglary and menacing incidents in Aurora, Colorado last year.

The first raid was on Ogden Avenue in the Bronx, near West 170th Street. Some residents there said that Zambrano-Pacheco was part of a group making life in their building dangerous by attracting drugs and prostitution to the location.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have a newborn, said Jonathan Sierra, a building resident. It was hard to get to the stairs because of them. I was planning on calling ICE [myself] to be honest with you. So they got here before I was able to call them.

Local ICE offices expected to arrest 75 undocumented people daily: report

Another resident, however, who gave only his first name, Anderson, said that the situation is complicated. He warned about agents picking up the wrong people.

It is concerning, he said, just in case they get the address mistaken.

However, he added, that if undocumented people who are engaged in criminal activity are apprehended, its actually a help to the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If they have the right guy, he continued, if they had a reason to do so, [its okay], he said.

In addition to the Ogden Avenue raid, there were raids at 2065 Creston Avenue in the Bronx and 530 Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights, in Upper Manhattan.

At the Creston Ave. location, witnesses said agents took a man who goes by the name Caballito into custody. Others are also subdued, they said, including a man who gave only his first name, Estevan.

They put me in handcuffs, he told PIX11 News. They were going to take me, but because I showed them because I was able to show them my papers, they left me alone, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Early on Tuesday evening, Homeland Security sources confirmed to PIX11 News that a suspect taken into custody on Audubon Ave. is a suspect in a double homicide in the Dominican Republic.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PNN Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 29: The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, is set to draw over 450 million pilgrims to Prayagraj this year. Occurring once every 144 years, this historic event holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. This year, it also marks a monumental technological breakthrough as Okto Wallet and Chaincode Partner to bring NFT-based tickets, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation. This first-of-its-kind initiative enables millions of Indian Railways passengers to receive personalized NFT versions of their tickets for tent city booking and train journeys, stored securely in the Okto Wallet. These NFTs not only serve as unique digital mementos of the journey but also unlock exclusive discounts at the Kumbh Mela, including savings on tent accommodations and other loyalty benefits. With more than 20 lakh devotees expected to gather at a time in Prayagraj, over one lakh tents, ranging from basic to luxurious, have been arranged to accommodate the pilgrims. Key Features of the Partnership: 1. NFT Ticketing: * Travelers booking tickets for select Indian Railways services, and the Kumbh Mela Tent City booking will receive an NFT version of their ticket. * These NFTs will be securely stored in their Okto Wallet, providing a unique, personalized digital keepsake. 2. Exclusive Benefits: * Mahakumbh attendees can use their NFT tickets to access discounts on tent accommodations and other partner services. 3. Seamless Web3 Integration: * Okto Wallet eliminates the complexities of blockchain technology, offering a user-friendly experience that even first-time users can navigate effortlessly. The platform is designed so intuitively that users won't even realize they are interacting with Web3-based applications, making the transition to blockchain seamless and natural. Alok Gupta, Founder & CEO of Chaincode, shared,"We are excited to pioneer a new era of travel experiences with Indian Railways, Polygon and Okto. Blockchain is revolutionizing various industries by delivering unmatched trust, transparency, and security. By integrating blockchain technology and NFTs, we aim to redefine how travelers interact with their journeys and create meaningful, lasting memories. We see this as the start of a wave of blockchain-driven solutions that will simplify processes and build trust across global financial ecosystems." Rohit Jain, Head of DeFi Initiatives at CoinDCX and Okto, remarked: Every Indian dreams of visiting the Kumbh Mela at least once in their lifetime--it's a journey of faith and unforgettable memories. Web3, at its core, is meant for everyday users, and what better platform to introduce it on this scale than the Maha Kumbh? Our goal is to make this sacred experience even more special and memorable. As a leading global Web3 company born in India, we're proud to bring this cutting-edge technology to millions of Indians. With 450 million pilgrims expected, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase the power of Web3. Okto Wallet's proven ability to onboard and serve users at scale positions us uniquely to handle this magnitude and drive Web3 into the mainstream". "Through this partnership with Chaincode, we're not just offering NFTs; we're empowering travelers to personalize their experiences in ways never seen before. This is a milestone moment for Web3 adoption, and we're thrilled to make it accessible, impactful, and meaningful for everyone," he added. About Okto The Okto ecosystem aims to simplify Web3 for everyone. At its core, it is a chain abstraction, and orchestration layer designed to simplify blockchain development. By offering web2-like modular APIs to help both new developers and experienced teams to build efficiently on the blockchain. Okto ecosystem is experienced by 20Mn+ users while under development in the pre mainnet phase. Key components include the Okto Chain, Okto SDK, Okto wallet and Okto partners ecosystem. About Okto Chain * (Chain Abstraction and orchestration layer): Zk rollup based app chain simplifies interaction with multiple blockchains by offering a unified interface. Coordinates blockchain components to streamline development and execution of smart contracts and transactions. * Okto Token: Forms the core of the ecosystem, supporting infrastructure and incentivizing participation. Okto SDK - BUIDL on Okto The Okto SDK is a comprehensive toolkit designed to simplify blockchain development, offering a range of tools and features to enhance efficiency and ease of use. It bridges the gap between traditional web development and blockchain technology, making it easier for developers to build and scale applications. Key Features: Web2-Like Modular APIs: Provides familiar APIs for developers with traditional web experience, facilitating a smooth transition to blockchain. Chain Abstracted Wallet SDK Kit: Enables seamless integration of wallet functionality into applications, improving user experience and security. Chain Abstracted Dev Tools (Intent Recipes): Includes pre-built solutions and templates to accelerate development processes. For media queries * CoinDCX* Sharjil Shaikh: sharjil.shaikh@coindcx.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Its incredibly disturbing that children in our country are drinking lead-contaminated water  while the U.S. Congress passed another record-breaking military budget of $895.2 billion. Thats nearly a trillion dollars going to weapons and war, and the Department of Defense cant even keep track of where its all going. The Pentagon just failed its seventh audit in a row.

Even more disturbing is the fact that some members of Congress who own stock in war manufacturers benefit financially when they vote to pass funding for war.

When it comes to the Pentagon budget, I never hear my colleagues ask, How are we going to pay for it? But when it comes to addressing critical issues here at home, like ensuring every American has clean drinking water, fighting the climate crisis, providing universal school meals to every hungry child, ensuring quality childcare for every family or guaranteeing health care as a human right, my colleagues tell me that we just dont have the money.

Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib holds a campaign rally on July 29, 2022, in Pontiac.

More from Freep Opinion: Trump's anti-trans executive order is breathtaking cruelty

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Year after year, members of Congress continue to funnel billions of our tax dollars to the same defense contractors that some of them are invested in and take campaign donations from  while our communities are neglected. According to a recent Sludge analysis, as of last year, more than 50 members of Congress owned stock in defense contractors  even when their committee assignments and access to information as elected officials stood to give them insider knowledge.

I introduced the Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning defense stocks. In the last three years, defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX (formerly Raytheon), Honeywell, General Dynamics, Boeing and Northrop Grumman have taken over $380 billion in taxpayer money, according to data from Defense News and Forecast International, and made over $85 billion in profits, according to annual reports of the six firms. These six firms alone also spent a combined $263 million on lobbying and donated over $48 million to candidates during the past two election cycles, according to annual lobbying data listed at OpenSecrets.org. So I'm not surprised when my colleagues turn around and pass another record-breaking Pentagon budget and supplemental weapons packages  no questions asked.

No wonder so many Americans have lost faith in their representatives to actually represent them. Our elected officials should not be able to profit off death. They should not be able to use their positions of power to get rich from defense contractors while voting to pass more funding to bomb people. The American people deserve better. We are sick of politicians profiting from endless wars.

Rashida Tlaib represents Michigan's 12th District in U.S. Congress. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rashida Tlaib: War profiteering in Congress must stop | Opinion
City Council is asking the state Legislature to set rent limits.

Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday that calls for state legislation that would implement rent control guidelines, including, but not limited to, a cap on annual rent increases for residential rental units.

Resolution asking for rent caps

The vote followed a discussion on the matter and a public comment period, during which three city residents spoke, stressing the need for rent control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Councilman Jaime Baez Jr., who crafted the resolution with council solicitor Michael Gombar, introduced the motion.

Weve seen, not only in Reading, but I think, across the United States, is rent levels rising to a very  what I would say  painful (level) for our constituents, Baez said while discussing the proposal earlier in the evening at councils committee of the whole meeting.

The rising cost of housing means some people are forced to make tough choices between paying for their health care, food and other bills and paying for rent, he said.

And so I think that we really need to make a statement from the body to our state legislators, Baez said, noting there is precedence for rent cap legislation in other states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By adopting the resolution council is not enacting any local law, merely calling on state legislators to set caps on rents, Gombar noted.

There are other discussions the city could have regarding setting local rent limits or caps, he said, noting he will research any municipal or city laws in the state that address the subject.

Council President Donna Reed said the motion shows city residents that council is standing with them.

However, she noted some concerns.

I dont want people to read this and think immediately that this is effective, Reed said. I mean, sometimes legislation can be misinterpreted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reed also noted the resolution could be seen as a type of advocacy.

Its lobbying the state House and Senate to consider this, not just for Reading, but for everyone in the state, she said.

Some of the residents who spoke blamed the problem of rising rents on unscrupulous landlords.

Councilman O. Christopher Miller said he appreciated the comments, but noted not all city landlords should be lumped together.

We do have quality landlords, he said. We do have people that care about their tenants, that take care of their properties. I dont think its right that we declare that all landlords are bad because thats not true.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miller asked if state or local legislation capping rents could have a negative effect on attracting developers to the city.

City Managing Director Jack Gombach assured Miller it would not.

Gombach also read a statement in support of the resolution by Mayor Eddie Moran, who could not attend the meeting.

Mayors Statement on rent cap resolution

Rent control is one step toward ensuring that everyone in Reading has the chance to build a stable future, Moran said.

Baez said the resolution makes an important statement to legislators and constituents.

While the resolution does not create enforceable laws, he said, it does send a clear message that we as leaders recognize the issue and we are committed to working to meaningful change. And that is what I will continue to do when presenting ordinances or when presenting resolutions.

What I will continue to do is to fight for the people of Reading, the people in our community, the marginalized and those who we should be uplifting.
A 19-year-old woman who worked as a paraprofessional in a Reading School District middle school was charged this week with showing male students a video of herself engaging in sexual activity.

Stephanie Quintero-Ochoa of Reading, who worked in Northwest Middle School as an English as a second language paraprofessional, had been placed on administrative leave after allegations were made in December about inappropriate behavior toward a 13-year-old boy, according to Berks County detectives.

It was reported she would hug and touch the boy in a way that made him feel uncomfortable, detectives said. This touching included holding hands, writing on the victims arm, playing with his hair and rubbing her leg against his thighs, they said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The district attorneys detectives began investigating after receiving referrals from Childline, a child-abuse reporting entity operated by the state Department of Human Services.

According to detectives:

The victim was forensically interviewed and disclosed that Quintera-Ochoa would touch him as described above despite his pleas for her to stop.

He also indicated the defendant had shown him sexually explicit photographs on her cellphone. She is also alleged to have threatened the boys 13-year-old girlfriend, saying they could handle this on the street.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned Quintero-Ochoa had shown a sexually explicit video to three other middle school students. The other boys disclosed that the video depicted Quintero-Ochoa engaging in sexual activity. Additionally, one of these juveniles was shown nude photographs of the initially identified victim.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of this investigation, detectives seized the defendants phone for forensic examination. The search revealed a video and several photographs that corroborated the students accounts.

On Tuesday, Quintero-Ochoa was charged with unlawful contact with a minor and multiple counts of indecent exposure, disseminating explicit sexual material via electronic communication, corrupting minors and endangering the welfare of children.

She surrendered Tuesday to detectives and was free to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Alvin B. Robinson.

The district issued the following statement Wednesday:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Reading School District is aware of the criminal charges filed against a former employee. Upon learning of the allegations in December 2024, the district immediately placed the individual on administrative leave and has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. The Reading School District takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and remains committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students.

Any inquiries regarding the case should be directed to the Berks County District Attorneys Office. We appreciate the communitys patience and trust as this legal process moves forward.
The Seattle Police Department is asking the public to keep an eye out for a man accused of stealing a $27,000 bracelet from the downtown Tiffany & Co.

On Jan. 2, just after 4:30 p.m. patrol officers were called to the store on Pine Street.

Workers told police the man was visibly shaking when he wandered into the store and asked to try on a solid gold bracelet encrusted with diamonds.

Officers say security tried stopping him, but the man ran out of the store.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pacific Place security also tried stopping him, but officers say he broke free. The guard was able to get the bracelet off his wrist, and it was returned to the store.

Officers say the man looks like he is in his 20s and was wearing white Apple Air pods, a dark blue puffer jacket with a white North Face logo, a gray t-shirt, black pants, and black and white New Balance sneakers.

The same man is also being investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, accused of stealing a different Tiffany pave bangle on December 26, 2024, that has a value of $16,000.

Anyone with information regarding the mans identity is asked to call 911 or contact the Seattle Police Departments Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. You can remain anonymous.




ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Environmental regulators and health officials in New Mexico are warning hunters that harmful chemicals known to cause cancer in people have been found at record levels in birds, small mammals and plants at a lake near Holloman Air Force Base.

In fact, state officials say the findings are some of the highest levels documented in wildlife and plants worldwide based on comparisons with other published studies. Researchers contracted by the state tested muscle, liver and bone tissue in ducks, other birds and rodents as well as eggshells, algae and even skin shed by a rattlesnake.

The findings come as more states in recent years have been forced to issue health advisories to hunters and others as a result of forever chemicals known as PFAS showing up in wild animals that are hunted for sport and sustenance. From Maine to Michigan and beyond, wildlife managers and scientists have been busy expanding testing as the scope of the problem widens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PFAS chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are an increasing focus of public health and environmental agencies, in part because they dont degrade or do so slowly in the environment and can remain in a persons bloodstream for life.

In New Mexico, the concern centers on a lake that serves as the wastewater reservoir for Holloman Air Force Base. It sits at the edge of the base and near White Sands National Park. While hunting is now prohibited there, state officials are concerned that the lake serves as a layover for ducks and other migratory birds that could end up being harvested elsewhere.

The levels of PFAS contamination in Holloman Lake are deeply concerning, particularly for hunters who may have consumed waterfowl from the area over the past decade, said Miranda Durham, the medical director for the state Department of Health.

Durham and other state officials used the report made public Monday to put more pressure on federal officials amid ongoing legal battles over cleanup at Holloman and at Cannon Air Force Base in eastern New Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Contamination, mostly from firefighting foam used widely in training exercises, has been detected at hundreds of military installations across the United States. Experts have said cleanup will stretch into the billions of dollars and will take years.

The New Mexico study points to the need for additional testing of waterfowl and oryx samples to better characterize the risk to hunters outside the immediate footprint of contamination at the base and the lake.

Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, called the levels of PFAS in wildlife at the lake alarming. But she said they are not surprising given that the chemicals  used in nonstick pans and many other products  are pervasive in the environment.

These chemicals accumulate in the body over time, creating serious long-term health risks, including cancer, developmental harm and immune system suppression, Stoiber told The Associated Press. The situation at Holloman Lake highlights just how much more we need to understand about PFAS contamination in wildlife and the broader environment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Maine, the state wildlife agency is working with university researchers to track deer and turkey to understand how their movements could potentially influence exposure. That state currently has advisories for three areas, including one that spans 25 square miles, where the risk is higher because of the historic use of contaminated fertilizer for fields  a practice now banned there.

Weve issued some advisories, but its not widespread like a landscape-level issue at all, said Nate Webb, the wildlife director for Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Still, Webb said it feels like the more sampling that's done, the more places that PFAS pops up.

New Mexico regulators say the work at Holloman Lake indicates the reach that these chemicals have in the environment. They also point out that New Mexico's ecosystems are tied to the state's cultural and economic wellbeing.

Matthew Monjaras, who leads the nonprofit group Impact Outdoors, has been hunting duck and other big game for more than two decades. He is teaching his sons to do the same and is working with veterans and school kids to expand access to the outdoors and improve wildlife habitat through restoration projects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the potential for exposure through eating migratory waterfowl is a concern even for hunters like himself who didnt frequent the lake, Monjaras said it is no more of an issue than eating store-bought meat, catfish or even oryx. It is the reality of the food chain, he said.

"We're a product of our environment, he said.

___

Associated Press video journalist Brittany Peterson contributed to this report.
Rachel Reeves must prepare for a significant jump in defence spending as geopolitical pressures mount, Andrew Bailey has warned.

The Governor of the Bank of England said the Government faces very big structural headwinds as new military threats emerge and demand extra spending, even as the national debt is already very high.

I dont think it is controversial at all to say the post-Cold War dividend in terms of defence spending, sadly, is not there as it was, for reasons that I think we all know, he told MPs, referring to the period in the 1990s and early 2000s in which defence spending could fall as a share of GDP.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For much of the 1970s and 1980s, Britain spent around 4pc of GDP on defence. In the 1990s and 2000s, that fell to around 2pc of GDP, freeing up funds to be spent on other areas, including the NHS.

But with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, growing threats in other parts of the world, and demands from Donald Trump, the US president, that Nato allies strengthen their militaries, pressure is rising to spend more. In its manifesto, Labour said it would seek to raise defence spending to 2.5pc of GDP.

National debt to rise

It is one of several growing pressures on the public purse, Mr Bailey told the Treasury select committee.

The UK, like all other industrialised countries, has got an ageing population. That has an impact on a whole raft of public policy issues, and it does have an impact on aspects of public debt, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thirdly, not wishing to embrace any controversy from changes in other countries and recognising that this should not be a full burden on the public sector, there is obviously the cost of climate change.

All of those three things are very big structural headwinds that we face.

The Governor said that any single one of those pressures would normally be a substantial issue for the authorities, let alone all three at once.

Clearly very big decisions are going to have to be taken about it, he said.

Projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicate that the pressure on the NHS and pensions from the ageing population, among other growing costs, threaten to push the national debt up from just under 100pc of GDP now to more than 250pc in the 2070s.

His comments came after Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, promised to bring stability to the public finances, calling it the rock upon which everything else is built.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She gave a major speech setting out plans which she hopes will boost the economys long-term growth rate, including reforming the planning system to build more homes and infrastructure, which, if successful, could help put the public finances on a stronger footing.

Asked about the potential to boost growth by deregulating parts of the mortgage market, Mr Bailey said that rules put in place since the financial crisis have helped ensure homeowners can afford their loans, avoiding spikes in repossessions such as that which followed the recession of the early 1990s, or a rise in mortgage prisoners as after the credit crunch.

Nathanael Benjamin, the Banks executive director for financial stability strategy and risk, told MPs that there is a danger reducing regulation could make houses even more unaffordable.

If there is a material increase in the number of new mortgages that are granted, if that does not happen at the same time when there is an increase in the amount of new homes that are made available, the risk is that the immediate effect will be an increase in house prices, which will make things more difficult, 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.
PNN Samoa [Oceania], January 29: Taumeasina Island Resort, a beacon of luxury and world-class hospitality, recently hosted a landmark event on October 25th and 26th, 2024. This prestigious occasion welcomed 41 world leaders, including the Prime Ministers of Singapore, New Zealand, and other influential nations. The presence of Prince Charles and Princess Camilla added an element of royal grandeur, elevating the significance of the gathering. Additionally, the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 in Samoa has set a new standard in global hospitality. Welcoming delegates from all 56 member countries, the event saw attendance from 34 Heads of State and Government, including monarchs from the United Kingdom, Brunei Darussalam, and Eswatini. The highlight of this extraordinary event was an exclusive culinary experience masterfully curated by acclaimed Chef Dalvir Singh. Renowned for his innovative approach and international expertise, Chef Singh crafted a bespoke menu that seamlessly blended the vibrant flavors of the island with global culinary influences. Paying homage to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the esteemed guests, the menu offered a dining experience that was both indulgent and culturally enriching. For the royal couple, Chef Singh designed a personalized menu tailored to their refined tastes, featuring: - Charmoula Lamb - Smoked Salmon on Blinis with Capers - Prawns Ceviche on Cornbread - Beef Tartar with Tomato Jam - Mango Mousse Each dish was meticulously prepared using the finest locally sourced ingredients, exemplifying Chef Singh's ability to merge authenticity with elegance. The Mango Mousse, a standout dessert, served as a perfect finale, skillfully balancing tropical flavors with sophisticated presentation. Chef Dalvir Singh's illustrious career spans top-tier establishments and international culinary experiences. His journey began as a trainee at The Imperial in New Delhi, where he honed his expertise in fine dining and kitchen operations. He has held prestigious roles at Taj Palace Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel in New Delhi, further solidifying his reputation as a culinary innovator. From 2009 to 2017, Chef Singh expanded his expertise globally, working with Carnival Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises, where he delivered exceptional culinary experiences aboard premium cruise ships. His tenure at Airways Hotel in Port Moresby and The Imperial Hotel in New Delhi showcased his commitment to excellence in gastronomy. At Rich Products & Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in India, Chef Singh led a team of 30 chefs, pioneering innovative menus and optimizing kitchen strategies while maintaining the highest food safety standards. His leadership and dedication to culinary excellence have earned him widespread recognition. The recent event at Taumeasina Island Resort reaffirmed both the resort's status as a premier destination for high-profile gatherings and Chef Singh's standing as a culinary maestro. His exceptional craftsmanship left a lasting impression on the world's most distinguished leaders, further solidifying Taumeasina Island Resort as a hallmark of luxury and sophistication. (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)
WASHINGTON (AP)  Tens of thousands of recently arrived refugees might lose support for basic necessities like food and rent after a Trump administration order suspended federal funding for resettlement agencies.

There is widespread confusion as agency leaders seek greater clarity from the government. The most pressing question is how they will continue supporting refugees already under their care in the United States.

The suspension of federal funding paralyzes the program, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, the national Lutheran refugee resettlement agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal refugee program  a form of legal migration to the U.S.  has been in place for decades and assists those who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite longstanding support for accepting refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years.

Religious organizations shoulder the bulk of refugee resettlement work in the United States. Out of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees, seven are faith-based.

Were not getting any useful guidance from the government right now, said Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency. Most of the organizations budget is from federal funding.

We will fight the government on this, Hetfield said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump administration has halted new refugee admissions. But some refugee-agency leaders say last Fridays stop work order goes a step further, and they assume it will affect refugees in the U.S., who rely on federal funds for housing, food and support during their first three months in the country.

This foreign assistance was stopped before the Trump administration tried to pause all federal grants and loans on Tuesday. Both directives are part of an ideological review of government spending.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed Tuesday to at least temporarily keep spending money on life-saving humanitarian aid. On Wednesday morning, it was still not clear to refugee agencies whether they would receive such a waiver or whether the government would continue funding their U.S. programs.

Resettlement agencies are trying to honor their commitments  and keep paying their staffs and administrative costs. But their reserves and private donations will have difficulty matching millions in lost federal funding, if indeed it has all stopped.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now were in a difficult situation with thousands of individuals we have already settled in communities in the United States, said Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief, an evangelical resettlement agency.

Our goal of initial assistance is to get them on a relatively quick path to economic self-sufficiency  working, able to cover their own expenses, he said.

World Relief has been fundraising to help with rent and other services for new arrivals.

A funding shortage will actually be harmful to communities that have received these individuals, because they wont have the support to integrate as quickly as they should, Soerens said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What did the stop-work order say?

A Jan. 24 letter sent to one of the resettlement agencies from the State Department stated that its resettlement grant funding is immediately suspended pending a review of foreign assistance programs, which President Donald Trump ordered over a 90-day period. The letter  from the departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration  said a decision would then be made on whether the funding would be restored, altered or cut entirely.

The agency must immediately stop all work and not incur any new costs under the grant. The letter said the agency must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible.

Other agencies reported receiving similarly worded directives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same grants also fund the initial resettlement costs of those arriving with Special Immigrant Visas, most of whom are Afghans who helped the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan, along with their families. Thats a different category from refugees, but the same grants fund assistance with both.

Leaders of religious organizations react to the directive

U.S. religious groups have been resettling refugees for more than a hundred years. Today there are national agencies with Catholic, Jewish and Protestant roots.

For so many of us, welcoming the stranger is a core tenet of why we do this work, said Vignarajah of Global Refuge, citing biblical mandates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Church World Service helps to resettle about 12% of refugees nationwide  some 12,000 in the last fiscal year, said its senior vice president, Erol Kekic.

It really is a bridge to self-sufficiency, Kekic said of the services for which federal funding is now apparently paused. He estimates about 4,000 refugees served by his organization would be affected.

Refugees undergo an extensive vetting process.

President Trump has said he will defend persecuted Christians, said Soerens of World Relief. And the U.S. refugee resettlement program is one of the primary ways that the U.S. government protects Christians and others fleeing persecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mission Adelante, a World Relief affiliate organization in Kansas City, Kansas, sent a letter Monday seeking to raise $70,000 to meet the basic needs of 22 families it is serving through a program that supports newly arrived refugees. It dubbed the campaign the Love Mercy Initiative.

When the government abandons its commitment to the vulnerable, the church must step in to fill the gap, wrote Jarrett Meek, the groups founder and executive director.

How many people could this affect?

This order stands to affect at least 26,494 refugees and recipients of Special Immigrant Visas, and almost certainly more, according to an analysis of government statistics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order pertains to grants that fund resettlement of newly arrived refugees within the first three months of their time in the United States.

In November and December  both within the current three-month period  some 19,679 refugees and 6,815 SIV recipients were resettled in the United States, according to the federal Refugee Processing Center. It has not yet provided statistics on January resettlements, who would also be affected. Some arrivals in late October, also within the three-month window, could also be affected.

Refugee program remains politicized, despite longstanding support

Refugee admissions plummeted during the previous Trump administration. The U.S. admitted about 11,000 refugees during the last year of his first term  the fewest in the programs history. Former President Joe Biden rebuilt the program, admitting nearly 100,000 refugees last year, a three-decade high.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 2022 Pew Research Center survey showed broad support for refugee resettlement among the U.S. population overall and among evangelicals, a core Trump constituency. About two-thirds of white evangelicals said it was at least somewhat important for the U.S. to take in refugees, as did four-fifths of Hispanic evangelicals, according to Pew.

Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, criticized his churchs role in immigration advocacy on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops helps resettle refugees and has been critical of Trumps immigration policies. Vance suggested the bishops were in it for the money.

Are they worried about humanitarian concerns or are they actually worried about their bottom line? Vance said.

In a brief statement Sunday, while not referring directly to Vance, the USCCB said it has been partnering with the federal government since 1980 on refugee resettlement.

In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs, the statement said. Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.

___

Contributing to this story were AP reporters Giovanna Dell'Orto in Minneapolis and Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas. Smith reported from Pittsburgh.

___

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.
By Thomas Mukoya

GISENYI, Rwanda (Reuters) - Refugees, surrendering Congolese soldiers and stranded truckers thronged the Rwandan border on Tuesday, hoping to reach safety after rebels captured the nearby Congolese city of Goma and spurred them to flee.

Gunfire and explosions could be heard from Goma late on Monday and early on Tuesday in Rubavu district on Rwanda's northeast frontier with Democratic Republic of Congo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Through the night, people waited on the Congo side of the border, laden with mattresses and the few belongings they could grab as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced on Goma.

At daylight on Tuesday, Rwanda began admitting them, some holding their hands aloft in joyful thanks as they walked across the border.

"We saw and heard terrible things. Dead bodies, gunshots, bombs," said Alois Emmanuel Bebe, a Tanzanian trucker among a group of 47 drivers seeking refuge in Rwanda after they were cut off by fighting in eastern Congo.

An escalation of the three-year insurgency in Congo since the start of the year has forced around 400,000 people from their homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As in previous security crises in the rebel-torn region, some refugees have headed to Rwanda even as Congo and the United Nations accuse the neighbour of fuelling the conflict with its own troops and weapons.

Shouldering colourfully-wrapped bundles, families waited on Tuesday to be registered at an open-air refugee reception centre in the Rwandan border town of Gisenyi. Small children clung to the skirts of their mothers, some of whom also had babies strapped to their backs or fronts.

Elsewhere, the Rwandan authorities processed a number of Congolese soldiers.

In a large hall in Gisenyi, dozens of men sat on the floor under the watch of members of the Rwanda Defence Force. Some wore army boots and fatigues with the Congolese insignia while others were in civilian clothes. A few received treatment for cuts and minor injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rwandan regional ambassador Vincent Karega said 102 Congolese soldiers had surrendered by voluntarily crossing into Rwanda on Monday.

"More continue to cross today. They run away from the battles," he told Reuters, adding that they would be treated like other refugees once disarmed and registered.

"They will return home at will when it suits them, or decide to go into exile in Rwanda or elsewhere."

It is not yet clear how many citizens and soldiers have fled to Rwanda in recent days. Congolese citizens accounted for over 56% of the 114,461 refugees there as of November, according to the U.N. refugee agency.

The Congolese government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley in Paris; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
TUSCULUM, Tenn. (WJHL)  Although a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administrations spending freeze on certain federal assistance late Tuesday afternoon, many local entities spent the day mulling concerns over what the spending freeze would mean to them.

Tusculum University receives federal funding for many student programs including financial aid for current and future students.

So we have been seeking additional clarity on the impact that it could have on our federal financial aid for our students who are dependent upon that financial aid to be able to attend college, as well as the impact that it could have on our TRIO programs, explained Scott Hummel, president of the university. These are programs like Student Support Services and Upward Bound that do tremendous work for low-income first-generation students that help them get to college and then to be successful in college.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo calling for the funding freeze was issued Tuesday from the White House Office of Management and Budget. It asks federal agencies to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the presidents policies and requirements. It specifically mentions foreign aid, DEI, woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal.

Reaction from lawmakers is divided across party lines.

This pause is focused on being good stewards of the American taxpayers and cutting spending in countless areas of government that are unnecessary and do nothing to move our nation forward, Republican Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger said in a statement to News Channel 11.

But Democratic Virginia Senator Mark Warner calls the freeze overreach.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You want to do a review for efficiency, ya have at it but this is just going to cause chaos and its not going to make the price of groceries any lower, said Warner in a video news conference.

People Incorporated located in Southwest Virginia receives nearly $16 million annually in federal funding from various agencies for local programs like Head Start, Adult Workforce Development, Domestic Violence Advocacy and more.

As of Tuesday afternoon, President and CEO Bryan Phipps worried that not only could their programs be impacted, but nearly 300 jobs.

And whenever you get into being able to make payroll and decisions about how do you approach just knowing that youre going to have to float or, you know, provide funds upfront to be able to continue those services. So it not only impacts the staff, but, you know, certainly the community members that we serve with our funds. And thats whats really distressing, Phipps said in a Zoom interview.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tusculum President Hummel said at the end of the day, he believes the value of the federal money Tusculum receives will be realized and his funding will not be taken away.

Absolutely. Its needed by our students. Its needed by our area. It is an investment in our area, an investment in the future of our economy and the future of our students. So I am confident that they will recognize the tremendous value of these federal dollars.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EAU CLAIRE  As students gathered into Regis gymnasium on Tuesday, more and more boxes were piled up on the walls that contained food to help against food insecurity in the Eau Claire community.

The service project at Regis was a part of the schools celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Additionally, the opportunity was a way to serve the community and help families and community members who may struggle with affording meals among other expenses.

Regis Principal Bill Giese said, We see this as a way to work towards fixing that problem, and it gives the kids hands-on experience with serving others which is what our whole catholic mission is.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The school collaborated with US Hunger, a non-profit organization that helps get food to families in need and organizes meal packing events like the one at Regis. In total, middle and high school students throughout the day managed to package nearly 20,736 meals.

The school had done this in years past, but it had been awhile, said Giese. We brought it back this year as a way to serve others. We also asked for donations from part of our families, because it does cost quite a bit to buy all of this food and the materials, but families donated and we had it covered pretty easily. It says a lot about our Regis community.

With another decision made by the school, the student council decided that their impact would be beneficial in supporting the local community. Therefore, all the food packaged on Tuesday would be going towards local food banks as a means to support local families who seek support through these services.

Grades took turns filling up food bags in the gymnasium, with 11th and 12th graders starting the school-wide effort in the morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One in eight families suffer from food insecurity, not knowing if they can afford to put a healthy meal on the table or if they need that money for health or any other problems they are facing, said Tony Wesner, a high schooler at Regis.

It is really important for us, because it is part of the Catholic faith to help other people out said Dominic Santine, a fellow high schooler at Regis. And if you are going to do this with your friends, it is really fun too. It is important, and I am just happy to know that we are helping people while we are doing this.

With more work packaging meal bags following their time spent in the gymnasium, Santine said he hopes their involvement in the service project will inspire younger grades. On top of that, both Santine and Wesner said their hope is for the work done throughout the day to impact the community as well.

It is all about the small things that can lead to big things, said Santine. And that is exactly what this is: something small that will have big impacts on the community.
Elizabeth Struhs died in her familys home at the age of eight

Members of a cult-like religious group in Australia who prayed over a dying child instead of giving her life-saving medication have been found guilty of manslaughter but escaped a murder conviction.

Elizabeth Struhs, 8, was found dead in 2022 on a mattress on the floor of her familys home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after her parents withdrew the insulin treatment she needed to manage diabetes.

Her father Jason Struhs, 53, and the leader of The Saints group he had recently joined before his daughters death, Brendan Stevens, 63, were on Wednesday cleared of murder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns instead ruled the pair committed manslaughter by failing to seek help for the girl during the three days they witnessed her vomiting and losing consciousness.

Elizabeths mother Kerrie Struhs, 49, and her brother Zachary Struhs, 22, were among 12 other adults found guilty of manslaughter.

Seven of the guilty group were members of the religious leaders family  his wife, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, and children Sebastian Stevens, 24, Acacia Stevens, 32, and Therese Stevens, 37, as well as Andrea Stevens, 35, Camellia Stevens, 29, and Alexander Stevens, 26.

Lachlan Schoenfisch, 34, and his wife Samantha Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 24, were also found guilty.

Credit: Supreme Court of Queensland

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case marked the second time the parents had been prosecuted for failing to care for their gravely ill youngest daughter, with Mrs Struhs previously serving five months in prison after Elizabeth almost died in 2019.

Jayde Struhs, Elizabeths sister  who gave evidence about The Saintss dangerous beliefs during the trial  welcomed the findings against her parents and brother but questioned Queenslands child protection policies.

Not a moment has gone by that I havent thought about my little sister Elizabeth, Ms Struhs said outside court.

We are only here today because more wasnt done sooner to protect her or remove her from an incredibly unsafe situation in her own home.

Credit: Supreme Court of Queensland

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sect members have always denied contributing to Elizabeths death and told police they were confident she would rise again.

Mr Struhs told detectives that we believe in God ... I expect him to bring her back, as he was questioned about why he waited to seek help for his daughter.

In her police interview, Mrs Struhs said the family waited for God to do his work and that her faith remained regardless of Elizabeths death because God promised healing.

God is the one who brings life and death, so why should I get in his way? she said when police asked whether she felt a mother should take responsibility for a childs care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Credit: Supreme Court of Queensland

Mrs Struhs said there was no funeral because the Bible said: Let the dead bury the dead.

Elizabeths body is simply just bones and flesh, she added. Her spirit is most certainly living.

Zachary Struhs claimed that his sister had been healed after the insulin treatment was stopped.

He told police: The sickness of her natural death could have been anything that comes up on anyone  thats not for me to know, Im not God.

If she passed away because of a sickness, she will rise again because that is a promise.

Credit: Supreme Court of Queensland

The court heard that Mrs Struhs had for decades been a devout member of The Saints, a group which shuns medical intervention, considered Elizabeths older sisters homosexuality an abomination and believes in the power of speaking in tongues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was jailed in 2021 for failing to seek help for Elizabeth when she first became critically ill in 2019.

On that occasion, Mr Struhs  who for years had resisted joining the religious group  went against his wifes beliefs when he took his daughter to hospital.

Doctors said at the time that Elizabeth, then aged six, would have been dead within minutes had her father not brought her to the emergency room.

Kerrie Struhs (left) and Jason Struhs, with Elizabeth on his lap

Mr Struhs was also charged and handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty.

He was baptised into The Saints in August 2021 and, according to prosecutors, was pressured by the group to adopt their extreme beliefs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The family stopped giving Elizabeth insulin on Jan 3 2022 as a test of Mr Struhss new-found faith.

Some of the more than 5,000 text messages submitted as evidence in the case showed that Mr Struhs told other members of The Saints he was scared and struggling at seeing his daughter becoming so ill. However, they encouraged him to remain strong in their conviction that God would heal her.

This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God, Mr Stevens, the group leader, wrote.

Jayde Struhs, left, who gave evidence at the trial, with her little sister Elizabeth

Mr Stevenss son Sebastian told Zachary Struhs in the days before Elizabeth died that her worsening condition was just Satan having his last go.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CCTV from a neighbours house showed members of the Stevens family visiting the Struhs home while Elizabeth was dying.

Photographs submitted as evidence during the trial showed The Saints members surrounding a visibly unwell Elizabeth as she lay on a pink mattress, with some adults placing their hands on her body.

Mr Struhs denied being pressured by the group. He told police that he and Elizabeth decided not to continue the treatment because she said she did not like needles.

It felt right and she was as happy as anything, Mr Struhs 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.
Jan. 28JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Cathy Jo Loy is not new to the Missouri Capitol.

She's spent eight years traveling to Jefferson City and advocating with lawmakers about issues important to her, including education.



This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm%96 5:776C6?46 ?@H :D E92E D96'D @?6 @7 E96 =2H>2:E9 H2D 7@C465 @FE 3J E6C> =:>:ED[ {@J 564:565 E@ CF? 7@C E96 'ebC5 s:DEC:4E D62E] $96 362E 2 AC:>2CJ 492==6?86C :? pF8FDE a_ac 2?5 E96? H@? 6=64E:@? :? }@G6>36C a_ac]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAm"x 8@E E@ E6DE:7J 7@C >J 7:CDE 3:== :? WE96 w@FD6 r@>>:EE66 @?X t>6C8:?8 xDDF6D[ 2?5 :E H2D 8@@5[" {@J D2:5] "x 5:5 >J 3:== @? C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> Ww@FD6 q:== fdX E92E ;FDE D2JD 8@G6C?>6?E 42??@E 8:G6 2?J DE:AF=2E:@?D E@ H96E96C 49FC496D D9FE 5@H? @C 5@?'E D9FE 5@H? F?=6DD E96C6'D 2 7=@@5 @C 2 7:C6 2?5 2? :>>:?6?E E9C62E 7@C 2 >@>6?E] r9FC496D 86E E@ 36 E92E DE@A82A] (6'C6 6:E96C 8@:?8 E@ >66E @C ?@E]"k^Am

kAmp?@E96C 3:==[ 2>@?8 >2?J {@J :D 42CCJ:?8[ :D w@FD6 r@?4FCC6?E #6D@=FE:@? e[ H9:49 H@F=5 492?86 E96 >:DD:@? @7 |:DD@FC: $@FE96C? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ :? DE2E6 DE2EFE6D[ 255:?8 "=:76 D4:6?46D 2?5 :>>6CD:G6 =62C?:?8 6IA6C:6?46D]" rFCC6?E=J[ E96 >:DD:@? D2JD $@FE96C? :D 2 "DE2E6H:56 :?DE:EFE:@? @7 :?E6C?2E:@?2= @C 8=@32= 65F42E:@?]"k^Am

kAm{@J D2:5 E92E @C:8:?2= =2?8F286 H:== C6>2:?]k^Am

kAm{@J D2:5 E92E :? E96 42D6 @7 2 4@?4FCC6?E C6D@=FE:@?[ E96 |:DD@FC: $6?2E6 92D E@ 2AAC@G6 E96 D2>6 =68:D=2E:@? H:E9 :56?E:42= =2?8F286 H:E9 E96 w@FD6] $6?] y:== r2CE6C D2:5 =2DE H66E92E $6?2E6 q:== afh  E96 $6?2E6 G6CD:@? @7 E96 >:DD:@? 492?86  :D D4965F=65 E@ 36 962C5 3J E96 r@>>:EE66 @? y@:?E #F=6D[ #6D@=FE:@?D 2?5 tE9:4D 2E '_ib_ 2]>] (65?6D52J]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAm"x'G6 2D>:EE66 E9:D H662=D@[ 3FE x 92G6?'E 962C5 3247C@> 9:>[" {@J D2:5] "%96J EC:65 E@ A2DD E9:D 3:== =2DE J62C[ 2?5 24EF2==J :E 8@E E9C@F89 @? E96 $6?2E6 D:56 2?5 5:5?'E 86E E9C@F89 @? E96 w@FD6 D:56] xE'D 6I24E=J E96 D2>6 =2?8F286 2D =2DE J62C] (6 5:5?'E 492?86 2?JE9:?8]"k^Am

kAm{@J D2:5 D96 :D DE:== D6EE=:?8 :?E@ 96C D>2== @77:46 @? E96 D64@?5 7=@@C @7 E96 r2A:E@= :? #@@> a_'\u :? 2 DF:E6 @7 @77:46D H:E9 E9C66 @E96C =2H>2 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^Am

kAm"%96 7:CDE 3:== :? >J r9:=5C6? 2?5 u2>:=J r@>>:EE66 H2D 2 7@DE6C 42C6 3:== E92E ;FDE C62==J E@F4965 >J 962CE[ E96 DE@C:6D[" {@J D2:5] "%96 724E E92E H6 42? 5@ D@>6E9:?8 23@FE E92E[ :E'D C62==J 6I4:E:?8]"k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 E96 3:== H2D E96 D2>6 2D @?6 E92E 2=>@DE A2DD65 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 =2DE J62C 3FE H2D 3@EE=65 FA 3J :?7:89E:?8 :? E96 $6?2E6] xE H@F=5 32? E96 DE2E6 7C@> D6:K:?8 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 36?67:ED @7 49:=5C6? :? 7@DE6C 42C6 2?5 FD:?8 E92E >@?6J E@ C6:>3FCD6 :ED6=7 7@C 286?4J 4@DED]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAm{@J D2:5 E96 3:== H@F=5 >26E ?665D[ ?@E C@FE:?6 4@DED @7 7@DE6C 42C6]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 7:D42= ?@E6 2EE24965 E@ E96 3:==[ E96 DE2E6 DA6?E S'_[ehf[cdf @? DE2E6 D6CG:46D[ >62?:?8 E96 DE2E6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ 7:?5 >@?6J E@ 7:== :? E92E 82A]k^Am

kAm"%92E >@?6J 36=@?8D E@ E9@D6 49:=5C6?[ D@ H96E96C E96J AFE :E :? 2 ECFDE 7F?5 H96? E96J EFC? 'g @C E96J 5@ D@>6E9:?8[ :E D9@F=5 ?6G6C 36 E2[ :E :D 6I4:E:?8]"k^Am

kAm{@J D2:5 D96 =:@DA96C6 :? E96 r2A:E@= E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAm"%96 C6=2E:@?D9:AD FA 96C6 2C6 8C62E[ 2?5 :E'D 366? 8@@5 >66E:?8 A6@A=6 7C@> 2== H2=6?E :? E96 3F:=5:?8 @7 92G:?8 2 3C2?5\?6H 8@G6C?@C[ H6'C6 ;FDE 96C6] p?5 96 D66>D C62==J AC@24E:G6[ D@ E92E :D D E@ 36 G6CJ 7F?4E:@?2= C:89E ?@H] }@ >2EE6C H92E 42F4FD J@F'C6 :?[ E96J D66> E@ 36 >@G:?8 E9:?8D 2=@?8]"k^Am
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The President, new administration, and lawmakers are wasting no time with the start of the 119th Congress and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda shared that shes celebrating the positives with a passing of one of her bills at the House.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

So in the first 3 weeks of Congress, we were able to pass my Rapid Ohia Death bill which is a huge thing. Its now over at the Senate. Ive received overwhelming bipartisan support. And it is a testament, I think, to the fact that all of us collectively need to work to protect our forests and to really combat invasive species, disease. So it was a great first few weeks for me, in that regard, but yes, very stressful when you take a look at all the executive orders that we have been seeing coming down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tokuda said the struggle is real regarding interisland flights for Molokai and Lanai residents.

Mokulele aims to resume flight operations within next 48 hours

How do you get to your health appointments? I had one veteran literally say I decided not to go with the care I needed because it was too much of a struggle to be able to get back and forth between the islands. Thats absolutely unacceptable. Ive been talking with the FAA, the US Dept. of Transportation, I recently spoke to Mokulele. To me, we got to have contingency plans. Real ones in place. So it never happens again. People can always promise, well always fly. But the bottom line is for Molokai and Lanai, those aircrafts are lifelines. And so if those planes dont fly, whats the alternative? Either to get other planes running, to get ships running as well, to get goods, people whether its getting people to emergency care, getting medicines or food on shore. We got to have those contingency plans in place and Im willing to take a look if Congress has to mandate for essential air service. There needs to be real contingency plans in place to make sure this doesnt leave our communities stranded should the planes not fly, Tokuda said.

Other priorities include cost of living for Hawaii residents being top of mind.

The struggles that too many people have keeping a roof over their head and food on the table. And for so many in Hawaii, its always been that cost of housing, the cost of living, and food prices. For myself very personally as you know I co-lead the bipartisan health caucus in Congress. How do you make sure that no matter where you live on our island, you have access to health care and the mental health services that you need. That is so critically important. These kitchen table issues. These are family issues, these are people issues. Thats top priority for me and I will work with anyone in Congress on both sides of the aisle to get that down for our constituents.

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 KHON2.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  The traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be making its return to Trumbull County at the end of May.

The Wall That Heals is making its second trip to Warren. More than 13,000 people visited the memorial when it was first there in 2018.

The three-quarter scale replica of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be escorted to the south lawn of Packard Music Hall on May 27.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once its set up, itll be open 24 hours a day for the public to visit free of charge until its scheduled departure on June 1.

The names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam are on the wall.

Those individuals that were killed in Vietnam, when they came home, their families held a quiet ceremony for them and the community didnt turn out. So its a much different thing that were going through today but it is really, really important that we remember them, said Co-Chair Herm Breuer.

The Warren Heritage Center, in partnership with Denise and John York, helped bring the traveling memorial back to Warren. Its the only Ohio stop in 2025.

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.
VMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 29: In a heartwarming celebration of Christmas, Mango Town brought together their children and parents for an incredible experience. These Christmas celebrations included the children decorating the Christmas trees and a touching fashion walk where parents and their children walked hand-in-hand. The day also celebrated three children by certifying them for completing 100 hours of therapy at Mango Town and showing continuous progress. "Seeing our children's faces light up during activities like decorating the Christmas tree or walking with their parents, things that they often miss out on, reminded me why we started Mango Town.", shares CEO and co-founder Devank Mishra. The story behind the journey of Mango Town is deeply personal. Aarya, daughter of co-founders Ajay Sharma and Dr. Shalini Sharma and sister of Mr. Mishra, faced developmental challenges a decade ago. In their journey to find the best solutions for their daughter, Ajay Sharma and Dr. Shalini Sharma came to see the gaps in India's therapeutic ecosystem. During Aarya's recovery, the couple was exposed to Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) and Intensive Mode of Therapy (IMOT) at renowned places in Sydney, London, and the USA. These experiences significantly increased their knowledge of developmental therapy. Founded in 2023, Mango Town has expanded to include centres in Kolkata and Jaipur. It has delivered over 3000 hours of therapy to more than 85+ children with physical and intellectual development. Its advanced centres have state-of-the-art facilities, such as dedicated areas for visual sensory therapy, rooms with specialised sensory integration, and advanced treatments like Multifunctional Therapy Unit (Octoplus therapy), DMI, IMOT and NDT setups. Mango Town's holistic approach to continuous development sets it apart from other therapeutic centres. The centre has a team of 20+ therapists and doctors who provide various services, including DMI, Special education, Occupational, Physio, ABA, Speech, Sensory integration, Behavioural, and Hydro/Aquatic therapy. This integrated approach is tailored to each child's personal needs. Mango Town provides an Intensive Model of Therapy (IMOT), which includes three weeks of therapy with two to six hours of interaction at the centre, five days a week. The therapists focus on improving strength, reflexes, and motor skills. Additionally, the centre makes therapy accessible to more children through its virtual therapy programs. Both of these programs start with a consultation and assessment of current conditions, followed by a personalised plan according to each child's needs. "We emphasise the importance of regular therapy because we know daily improvement can be significant changes in one year.", shares Mr. Sharma. "Patience is a significant aspect of this journey. You have to have hope and continue working with your child.", adds Dr. Sharma. Looking ahead, Mango Town continues to fulfil its mission of providing creative therapy solutions for children with developmental and neurological needs, providing parents with he supports they require in this journey with their professional care to families across India. (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)
KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  More than 8,000 children are in the foster care system in Kentucky, and a new report shows that several are forced to stay overnight in office buildings. State leaders plan to launch a larger investigation to address this crisis.

Jerren and Jamie Morning, who have fostered and adopted three children, say they know all too well the challenges children can face in the foster system. They said every child needs a loving home, but its not a reality for everyone.

It worked out for us to have infants that weve raised, but there are teenagers that are in the system, and they deserve to feel love, said Jerren. Its not their choice to be in their situation, hands down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its the hardest thing Ive ever done, added Jamie. And I would do it a thousand times over to have the three kids that we have, without question.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

Right now, about 8,300 children are in Kentuckys foster care system.

FOX 56 previously reported that investigators found 38 Kentucky children had been moved to states like Virginia, Ohio, and Florida during the examination period.

Over time, Auditor Allison Ball, alongside the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman, has gathered alarming data that shows foster children as young as a year old are spending extended periods at Cabinet for Health and Family Services offices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the report, over four months, from June 10, 2024, to Oct. 29, 2024, 49 children spent a combined 198 days in the offices instead of bedrooms

The longest consecutive stay for a child was 35 days. During this time, two children stayed overnight in the Fayette County office.

Everybody would say this is a sad situation, said Ball. If youve got children who are being removed from their homes, theyre in a vulnerable situation. Its traumatic. Its difficult. You want this to be as loving, as caring, as peaceful as possible. So, you know, you need to have the information of what led to it. Whats the problem? And then do everything you can to fix it.

Ball said a larger investigation will be done to get to the root of the problem. She explained possible solutions would be determined from there.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also noted that its important to understand the conditions of these overnight stays.

What kind of supervision? Are they getting the medicine they need? Are they getting to school on time? Are they inside the building all the time? Do they get to go outside and play? Ball asked.

Jamie believes a lot of the responsibility is placed on the social workers on call.

When we were active foster parents, a lot of it would just be on the worker, she said. Like whoever was working, whoever was on call, they would buy that child dinner. They would provide that child with whatever they could to make it through the night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cabinet officials have stated they are actively working to increase funding that will support these children who need safe, short-term care options.

However, according to the investigation, the Commonwealth continues to receive reports of foster children going without a home.

The above leaves many questions that still need answers, the report reads.

Investigators affirmed that this is only one piece of the puzzle, as many children in state custody without foster homes have been housed in hotels, state park lodging, and even in emergency rooms despite not being patients.

Due to the lack of resources for these children, the CHFS reported that they were considering moving children to other states for placement, per the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FOX 56 reached out to the CHFS for a statement. Heres what representatives said:

We continue to take action to address the challenges that come with placing youth with behavioral problems and severe mental or a history of violence or sexual aggression with foster families or facilities. Were working to provide more funding to secure additional safe, short-term care options for youth, and weve publicly addressed this multiple times with lawmakers. Just yesterday, we filed an emergency regulation to increase funding that will support many of these children. Kentuckians interested in becoming a foster parent should visit adopt.ky.gov. CHFS spokesperson

To view the full report, click here.

Madylin Goins 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.
The American Lung Associations annual report on the State of Tobacco Control said Georgia is among the lowest states when it comes to preventing death or illnesses related to smoking.

In their report, Georgia received F grades on all measures.

The ALA tracks each state in the country based on five categories. Here were Georgias grades, by section:

Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs  Grade F

Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws  Grade F

Level of State Tobacco Taxes  Grade F

Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco  Grade F

Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products  Grade F

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

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Georgia is one of just four states to score an F in all categories. The other three are Alabama, Missouri and Texas.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Georgia and across the country, claiming the lives of 11,690 state residents each year, the Association said. 12% of adults in Georgia currently use cigarettes, and 19.3% of adults use tobacco products, which includes e-cigarettes. Additionally, 18.8% of high school students use tobacco products, potentially setting kids up for a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

ALA said studies show every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces their use by 4% among adults and 7% among youths.

Additionally, the ALA said Georgia lawmakers should increase taxes on cigarettes by $1.50 and make tax on other tobacco products equal the cigarette tax in a push to reduce tobacco use, particularly among Georgia youths.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The tobacco industry has deployed increasingly aggressive tactics to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, Danna Thompson, director of advocacy at the Lung Association in Georgia, said in a statement. Here in Georgia, tobacco industry lobbyists are working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly flavors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers.

The organization is also urging more federal action from U.S. Congress to remove all illegal e-cigarettes that have been introduced to the market by the tobacco industry and are requesting extra funding to the Food and Drug Administration to make enforcement possible.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Reports said an unlicensed North Side health spa that was raided Tuesday by police and other law enforcement personnel had advertised on several adult escort websites.

A 54-year-old woman, Jingmei Feng, was found there and arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license, a fifth-degree felony; and solicitation, a third-degree misdemeanor.

She was booked into the Mahoning County Jail and was arraigned Wednesday in municipal court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City Prosecutor Kathy Thompson said she believes Feng poses a significant flight risk because she has no ties to the city or even the United States.

The state has concerns about her ability to appear for future hearings, Thompson said. She asked for a total bond of $15,000.

The 1760 Belmont Ave. spa was raided at about 11:25 a.m. by city police, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and housing police.

Reports said an undercover agent was in the spa last Friday and paid $70 to go into a back room and then was told he could have sex with the attendant, later identified as Feng, for $150. The agent told her he did not have that much but he did have $70. Reports said he was offered a sex act instead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When a search warrant was served there Tuesday, there was a naked man in the spa on a massage table but he was not charged, reports said. He was interviewed.

Reports said once she arrived at the jail, Feng said through an interpreter under questioning she came to the United States in 2023, crossed the border in Mexico and did sex work in Flushing, N.Y., before seeing an ad in a group chat that she could make more money if she worked out of state.

Feng eventually came to the spa in Youngstown and admitted to having sex for money, reports said. She also admitted she does not have a massage license, reports said.

The storefront the spa is in had been shut down last summer for zoning violations but had recently opened back up. City employees boarded it up after investigators left Tuesday.

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.
The US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has visited the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump's envoy visited the Netzarim Corridor, which was created by the Israeli military and divides the Gaza Strip into two parts, together with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, the reports said.

The site is also where employees of a US security company control vehicles travelling from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north. The aim is to prevent weapons smuggling and the return of Palestinian militants to the northern section of the destroyed coastal strip.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Witkoff is the highest-ranking US official to visit the Gaza Strip in years.

Reports said Witkoff also wanted to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli premier travelling to the US on Sunday to meet Trump at the White House.

The Israeli newspaper Jediot Achronot reported that Witkoff had discussed a possible "comprehensive deal" in the Middle East while earlier visiting Saudi Arabia.

The agreement would pave the way for the next stage of a ceasefire between Israel and Islamist militants Hamas, who still control much of Gaza despite a 15-month bombardment.

The reconstruction of the destroyed Gaza Strip and a normalization of relations between all parties and Saudi Arabia would be part of the deal.
A Republican representative thinks students shouldnt rely on free school meals but instead work for them.

Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick said President Donald Trumps surprise order to freeze federal funding for grants and loans was an opportunity to conduct a top-down review of spending, including on free school lunches.

In a Tuesday interview on CNN Newsroom, the congressman tried twice to evade Pamela Browns questions about whether he supported getting rid of programs like Head Start, which provides free meals to hundreds of thousands of low-income children nationwide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the CNN anchor asked him more pointedly a third time, McCormick argued that we are in such a deficit spiral right now that if we dont do something significant, we will become insolvent as a nation.

When I was in high school, I worked my entire way through, he said. Youre telling me that kids who stay at home instead of going to work at Burger King, McDonalds during the summer should stay at home and get their free lunch instead of going to work?

Brown interjected to ask McCormick if he thinks children in his district who rely on free meals are all just sitting at home and not working.

Of course not, but this gives us a chance to see where the money is really being spent, the lawmaker said before doubling down on his fast-food narrative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Who can actually go and produce their own income, who can actually go out there and do something that makes them have value and work skills for the future? he said. I mean, how many people got their start in fast-food restaurants when they were kids?

McCormick insisted that children should be given the ability to get out of poverty instead of thinking about how theyre going to sponge off the government when they dont need to.

When Brown pointed out that many students who benefit from free school meals arent even working age yet, McCormick simply said his sentiments dont apply to everybody.
A group of Republican former government officials is urging senators to reject Kash Patels nomination to lead the FBI, saying his confirmation would be a grievous mistake.

Confirming Patel would be a grievous mistake that would endanger the FBIs integrity and compromise its critical mission, they wrote in a letter provided to The Hill.

The FBI is a cornerstone of our justice system, tasked with defending our nation against threats both foreign and domestic. Its director must be a person with strong ethics, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to enforcing the law. Kash Patel has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not this person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The letter was signed by 23 people, including multiple former Justice Department officials from the Nixon and Reagan administrations and both Bush administrations, including Philip Allen Lacovara, a former Watergate prosecutor, and former acting Attorney General Stuart Gerson.

Former GOP Reps. Barbara Comstock (Va.) and Joe Walsh (Ill.) also signed the letter.

It also includes former associates of President Trump, including his former lawyer Ty Cobb and former Pence aide Olivia Troye, now outspoken critics of the president.

The letter recaps a series of concerns about Patel, describing him as motivated by revenge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patel has written a book called Government Gangsters that includes an appendix in which he lists numerous Democratic officials with that same label, a group he later said must be held accountable.

Patel has said he will close FBI headquarters on his first day in office and convert it into a so-called Deep State museum. He has also threatened to criminally investigate members of the J6 committee, they wrote, referring to the House select committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

He has repeatedly vowed to go after individuals on perceived enemies lists. This is a vision of the FBI as an authoritarian weapon for pursuing his and Trumps grievances.

A Trump transition official defended Patels background.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. Patel was a public defender, decorated prosecutor, and accomplished national security official that kept Americans safe, they said in a statement.

This is about stopping violent crime, stemming the fentanyl crisis, and enforcing the law against criminals so Americans can have safety and security. Thats what Kash Patel will do.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TALLAHASSEE  Gov. Ron DeSantis' call for a special legislative session to address illegal immigration has exposed a long-simmering feud with his Republican colleagues in the Legislature.

It has also exposed what legislators say are the shortcomings and lack of transparency of two of his key immigration initiatives.

Over the last two days, Republican lawmakers have cited the performance of his migrant relocation program and E-Verify to justify stripping him of nearly all of his immigration enforcement powers and giving them to the states agriculture commissioner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State lawmakers in 2022 gave DeSantis $12 million to transport migrants from Florida to other states, which he used later that year to fly about 50 migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard.

The decision generated a blitz of headlines and outrage. He did one other flight, from Texas to Sacramento, California, in 2023. But since then, its not clear what DeSantis has done with the money. As of March last year, $9.4 million of it was unspent.

Top Republican lawmakers this week said they didnt know how many migrants, if any, were ever transported from Florida to other states.

Thats why we should have accountability, said Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. Thats why having a single person, a single office and having a laser focus is going to help everybody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the legislation passed Tuesday night, the program would be given to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who would study the effectiveness of the program and decide whether it should continue, Gruters said.

The governors office did not respond to questions on Tuesday about how many migrants it has relocated from Florida. The program is still active and run by a private company whose operations have remained secretive. The contractor, for example, operates under a fictitious name.

The performance of the program was cited by Republicans in rejecting DeSantis' request this week for $350 million to expand the program to fly migrants to other countries.

I dont think that the proposal we saw originally in the governors proposed ideas made a lot of sense, quite frankly, Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, told lawmakers Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers also cited the performance of DeSantis' handling of E-Verify, a federal program that checks the legal eligibility of new workers.

DeSantis signed legislation in 2023 requiring all large employers to screen their employees through the program, part of a series of immigration laws that he touted as the strongest in the nation.

Since then, his administration has yet to cite a single employer for violating it.

Gruters told lawmakers that the state has issued eight letters to companies for not complying with the E-Verify requirements. All of those letters were issued in 2022, according to the website of the Florida Department of Commerce, which reports to DeSantis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eight letters since 2022. Why hasnt it been more? Gruters said.

Department of Commerce spokesperson Emily Hetherington said Tuesday that it was actively conducting more than one hundred investigations, which take time.

The bill lawmakers passed Tuesday would put the program under Simpson and add 17 people devoted to E-Verify audits.

We dont have clarity out of the Department of Commerce or FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement), McClure said. Theres not a lot of data there, which is concerning.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami, noted Tuesday that DeSantis didnt hold accountable a state road contractor after one of its employees, a Honduran immigrant in the country illegally, killed Pinellas Sheriffs Deputy Michael Hartwick at a construction site.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The states review of the incident was two pages, the Tampa Bay Times found. Police had also reported the company to federal immigration officials a year earlier.

The bottom line is, the governor is not good at this, Pizzo said.

Sen. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, who has accused DeSantis of flailing in his final two years in office, said taking this off DeSantis' plate makes sense.

I would say the governor has more to do than Wilton Simpson does, Fine said. Hes got a state to run.

Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau reporters Ana Ceballos and Romy Ellenbogen contributed to this report.
DORAL, Florida  House Republicans have spent weeks poring over proposals to include in their upcoming budget reconciliation bill to enact President Donald Trumps sweeping agenda while also ensuring tax and spending cuts.

Now they face their next big challenge: Overcome internal squabbling to cut a deal and get their package out the door.

GOP representatives began their annual issues conference on Monday aiming to finalize a blueprint for Republicans massive reconciliation package. But by the time the retreat came to an end on Wednesday, lawmakers appeared to have few more concrete details than when they arrived  noting only that they are nearing an agreement for a topline number that should be released within the next week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well be getting to that final number. What we emphasize with our group is that we want to have some flexibility in how the instructions are given to the committees, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Wednesday. So stay tuned for the number. It would be substantial, because it has to be.

Although a topline has not yet been decided, Johnson said they hope to use that number as a floor rather than a ceiling, noting he wants flexibility for committees when they begin hashing out the details.

Once they land on that number, members of the the House Budget Committee are expected to begin marking up a resolution next week with instructions for committees to craft individual portions of the bill. When that is settled and passed by the House and Senate, individual committees will get to work to compile a massive package to be voted on by both chambers, which party leaders hope to complete by the beginning of April.

That leaves House Republicans with an ambitious schedule and little wiggle room. The party has only a one-seat majority in the lower chamber, giving them virtually no room for error on a package that is unlikely to garner any Democratic support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And some Republicans have already expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress despite days of meetings.

After two days at our House Republican winter retreat, we still do not have a plan on budget reconciliation and our Speaker and his team have not offered one, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said in a post on X. Next time we meet, I hope to know a framework of our plan and I hope this doesnt turn into another bill with thousands of pages dumped on us with less than 72 hours to read it all before we have to vote on the eve of another government shutdown.

House Freedom Caucus criticizes GOP retreat

The House Freedom Caucus also released a statement criticizing the retreat despite having several members in attendance, arguing lawmakers may leave the conference with a lack of direction.

Are you a Republican Member of Congress leaving Miami today feeling rudderless when it comes to reconciliation? the group said in a statement on X. Are you worried you may be dragged into a process that will cause you to break your America First campaign promises? Do you want a plan to unite Republicans and advance President Trumps agenda?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead, the group has promoted its own plan on reconciliation, breaking with leaderships push for one spending bill by calling for a two-step strategy.

Meanwhile, some members grumbling over a lack of progress opted not to attend the retreat at all  calling it a waste of time and money.

It is being reported I am not at the so-called Republican retreat in Florida. I am not, Rep. Chip Roy, a prominent member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said in a post on X. I am in Texas, with my family & meeting with constituents, rather than spending $2K to hear more excuses for increasing deficits & not being in DC to deliver Trumps border security (funding) ASAP.

The internal dissension puts GOP leadership in a bind as they attempt to take the interests of the entire Republican conference and incorporate them into a single reconciliation package.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utahs Rep. Blake Moore laughed about the lovely burden that Republican leadership must juggle to balance their own legislative priorities with the reality of crafting a package that all members will agree to. That task, he said, will take some sacrifice.

My biggest priority is making sure that we dont have the largest tax increase on American history under Republican watch, Moore told the Deseret News. We have multiple bites of the apple if we want to govern responsibly for the next two years. Then if we do that, get another shot. We get another chance to be in the majority for two more years. And you look at the four years of the Trump administration, it can be a really great thing, unless we quibble.

Other Republicans have also urged unity, especially as Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance told lawmakers earlier this week theyll need to stick together to advance their agenda.

Passing historic legislation is never easy, but we won a mandate to secure the border and reignite our economy, Rep. Addison McDowell, a freshman Republican from North Carolina, told the Deseret News. President Trump has already started to deliver and its our duty in Congress to do the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To accomplish that, several lawmakers have acknowledged they wont get everything they want. However, some members have warned against declaring nonnegotiables, noting its impossible to ensure all lawmakers have their demands met in full.

Were all negotiating, and if everybody has a redline, were going to get to the point where no one can get anything done, Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, said. Leadership has provided a lot of opportunities to go talk to them about what we need to see in the bill.  So if we end up in a situation where at the last minute, when the bills are going for a vote, people suddenly have complaints, well know for sure this time that they just want to complain.
State Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on Jan. 21, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakotas Republican-dominated Legislature has never been a fan of expanded Medicaid. Now a proposed constitutional amendment making its way through the Capitol offers a back-door way for them to shut it down. That piece of legislation, House Joint Resolution 5001, has some momentum. It passed out of the House State Affairs Committee on an 11-2 vote and was endorsed by the full House on a vote of 59-7.

Medicaid is a federal-state partnership designed to provide health insurance for low-income people. In 2022, South Dakota voters endorsed a constitutional amendment that allowed the state to join the federal governments expanded Medicaid program. Expanded Medicaid offers coverage to adults whose incomes are up to 138% of the poverty level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republicans in the Legislature have never been happy with the voters decision to join expanded Medicaid. In 2024, they backed a constitutional amendment  ultimately approved by voters  seeking a work requirement for able-bodied adults on expanded Medicaid if the federal government were to allow it. With Donald Trump back in the White House, that may become a reality.

According to a South Dakota Searchlight story, total Medicaid enrollment in the state as of November was 148,303 with 28,726 on expanded Medicaid. The states Medicaid budget is about $2 billion with the federal government paying about $1.4 billion.

Expanded Medicaid was created in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. As an incentive for states to join, the federal government pays 90% of the cost. Thats the problem, according to Rep. Tony Venhuizen, a Sioux Falls Republican. Venhuizen is sponsoring HJR 5001, a constitutional amendment that would allow South Dakota to drop out of expanded Medicaid if the federal governments participation drops below its 90% payment.

All along there has been an assumption that the 90-10 share is not going to go anywhere, but I no longer think thats a safe assumption, Venhuizen told the House State Affairs Committee. We all know that since the election, there has been a lot of talk about getting federal spending under control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new presidential administration seems to have a well-developed fetish for cutting costs. However, it is hard to follow the logic that says a billionaire should be tasked with the job of telling the rest of us what government services we can do without.

Venhuizen has a point when he says that cutting the federal share of expanded Medicaid would be an easy way for the government to save some money. It was tough to nail down how much it would cost South Dakota at the committee hearing. Venhuizen testified that a 10% cut in the federal share would cost the state $20 million. A proponent of the legislation from the state Bureau of Finance and Management said that every cut of 1% in the feds share would cost the state $4 million. Multiply either one of those figures by the 41 states that have expanded Medicaid and it adds up to the federal government being able to save some serious money.

Venhuizen is right on a couple of other counts. Its dangerous to have a federal program enshrined in the state constitution. If something goes wrong, it would take an amendment to fix it and elections only roll around every two years. And hes right when he says that it could get too expensive for the state budget if the federal government decides to change how much it pays for expanded Medicaid.

He borders on disingenuous, however, when he maintains that while passage of the constitutional amendment would take expanded Medicaid out of the constitution, it wouldnt necessarily kill the program. He told the committee that the Legislature could allow it to continue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the same Legislature that stubbornly refused to consider the expanded health insurance program for low income South Dakotans. Throughout opponent testimony about the resolution, it was mentioned that the Legislature had many chances to enact expanded Medicaid but never did.

It took a vote of the people to expand Medicaid in South Dakota. They had to take action because the Legislature wouldnt. At the very least those voters, and the people enrolled in expanded Medicaid, deserve some straight talk about what will happen if Venhuizens amendment becomes part of the constitution.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
DORAL, Florida  House Republicans came here to President Donald Trumps resort to map out whats ahead for their legislative agenda. The big takeaway: Its looking treacherous.

Despite progress on the stated goal of the three-day retreat  coalescing around a fiscal blueprint for their vast party-line agenda  what they saw wasnt pretty: Key strategic disputes continued to fester inside the GOP ranks, and the uproar from Trumps federal spending freeze gave vulnerable members a taste of the backlash that could result if they follow through on promised cuts to key programs.

Together it portends a difficult job ahead for Speaker Mike Johnson as he assembles the votes needed to enact Trumps policy agenda. Johnson and Trumps message for the GOP rank-and-file isnt exactly calibrated to settle their anxieties: stay united, or else.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We're working together to make sure this package makes good on our campaign promises, Johnson told reporters Wednesday  two days after Trump urged members to make life easy and follow his lead.

The good news for the speaker is that his conference is largely united on the big picture: assembling a sweeping package of border security upgrades, energy measures and tax cuts and passing it on party lines using the budget reconciliation process.

That stands in contrast to the start of Trumps prior term, when congressional leaders embarked on an internally divisive push to overhaul the Affordable Care Act  an effort that ultimately unraveled amid a public uproar over potential rollbacks to Americans healthcare coverage.

The bad news is that the Republican majority in the House is much thinner this time, and Johnson has to worry about balancing the demands of an ideologically motivated faction of hard-line conservatives who want deep spending cuts with the concerns of swing-district members who could face a political reckoning in next years midterms if those cuts happen.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those anxieties were on full display on Tuesday and Wednesday, as members took stock of the flood of phone calls they received from constituents worried about the scope of the White House spending freeze.

Among those raising alarms was Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, one of three House Republicans representing a district Trump lost in November. He said the warnings Tuesday from himself and others in the GOP helped influence the Trump administration to "narrow what they were doing in a way." (The White House rescinded the order hours later.)

Yet much of the discussion behind closed doors at the Trump National Doral resort concerned efforts to finance the GOPs ambitious policy plans by targeting cuts to federal programs. Members discussed imposing new and expanded work requirements for Medicaid, food aid benefits and other aid to low-income families that could provoke public backlash. Democrats are already trying to contrast those cuts with the GOPs plans to deliver tax cuts for wealthy Americans as they look to unseat vulnerable Republicans in 2026.

Johnson showed no sign of flinching, calling it a good thing that Trump had taken aim at such a wide swath of federal spending: We promised to reduce the size and scope of government, he said. We're disrupting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Republicans left the retreat with mixed feelings about how much clarity they received about the road ahead.

In the final meeting of the retreat, House committee chairs laid out their budgetary targets for the legislation, setting updated floors for potential cuts that are set to be embedded in the blueprint that the House Budget Committee is set to take up next week to kick off the reconciliation process.

Johnson, however, didnt provide members with a top-line number for the overall package, and many members complained they didnt get a better picture of the path forward, according to three people with direct knowledge of the closed meeting who were granted anonymity to discuss it.

House GOP hard-liners are growing more furious, meanwhile, that Johnson isnt committing to higher spending cuts in the budget plan. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a key rebel and House Freedom Caucus member, didnt attend the retreat but posted his criticism of Johnson and GOP leaders decisions from afar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Johnson is pushing a one-bill plan, the Freedom Caucus is still adamant on imposing its own plan to split the agenda in two.

I think it's disappointing, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) said leaving the final retreat meeting Wednesday. They want flexibility, but the problem is you have a lack of trust from fiscal conservatives like myself, that there will ever be an appetite to cut spending, and they're promising to do more. I'm from Missouri, you have to show me, Burlison added. The truth is: I've never seen this town cut spending, so I don't know that I believe it.

Soon after, the larger Freedom Caucus quickly dashed off a post on X as the GOP meeting closed, criticizing Johnson and GOP leaders direction and asking, sarcastically: Are you a Republican Member of Congress leaving Miami today feeling rudderless when it comes to reconciliation? The post pushed the groups competing two-track plan as the better option.

Johnson earlier in the morning told reporters he wants House Republicans to come out with a number that shows the serious nature of what we're facing and  the high level of cuts that are necessary to get fiscal sanity, responsibility restored to the federal government, but not to put everything in there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leaving the retreat, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) acknowledged the tough work ahead of nailing down enough spending cuts to pay for the package  including Trumps demands to eliminate income tax on tips, overtime earnings and Social Security benefits.

"We got work to do, he said. That means we've got to cut more to be able to afford those things.
PNN New Delhi [India], January 29: IKIO Group, a leading global provider of energy-efficient lighting and energy solutions, is setting ambitious goals for the year ahead. The company is currently focused on accelerating its growth, enhancing its technological capabilities, and strengthening its commitment to sustainability. For over 25 years, IKIO Group has been driven by dedication to creating high-quality products that meet customers' needs. From expanding into new markets to leveraging technology, R&D and sustainability, IKIO sets the stage for a transformative year. 1. New Market Growth: IKIO plans to expand its presence further in key regions such as the Gulf, U.S., and Europe. The company will strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones, ensuring its solutions reach more industries and customers. 2. Strategic Partnerships: With a series of successful collaborations carried out, IKIO currently is at the centre-stage strategy to cater to the rising demand for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions. 3. R&D Focus: IKIO will continue to focus on building a strong Research & Development infrastructure exploring new technologies to stay ahead of the curve in LED lighting, solar energy, and energy storage. "With a special focus on smart lighting and energy-efficient solutions, IKIO plans to introduce products that save energy and enhance its customers' lives in practical, meaningful ways," said Sanjeet Singh, Director of IKIO Group. IKIO is committed to enhancing production efficiency by integrating advanced automation and AI systems, enabling optimized processes, cost reductions, and maintaining the highest quality standards. With a strong focus on sustainability, the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, expanding its solar-powered manufacturing facilities and working to minimize emissions across all operations. To meet the growing global demand for its products, IKIO is significantly expanding its Noida manufacturing facilities in 2025, ensuring increased capacity and continued innovation in production. About IKIO Group IKIO Lighting Limited is a leading ODM manufacturer and end-to-end solutions provider in India, specializing in LED lighting, electronic products, switches, and RV components. With over two decades of legacy, IKIO combines innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. The company's cutting-edge R&D capabilities and fully integrated manufacturing infrastructure support a diverse product portfolio for commercial, industrial applications. Serving clients in India and globally, IKIO proudly supports the 'Make in India' campaign and is committed to delivering energy-efficient, high-quality solutions globally. For media inquiries, please contact:Karman Dhaliwal+91-8288975453karman.dhaliwal@ikiosolutions.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Opponents of the bill argued that union members can already petition to have a vote to decertify their union. (Photo by Dave Cummings/New Hampshire Bulletin)

A new proposal in the state House of Representatives seeks to require more union elections among public employee unions.

If passed, House Bill 735 would call for a new vote on whether to recertify a public employees union once the number of employees that joined the union since the previous vote outnumber the ones who were present for the previous vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This bill is basically just term limits for unions, Milton Republican Rep. Michael Granger, the sponsor of the bill, said at a hearing in Concord Tuesday. Unions should represent their members and if they do a good job at it, it should be no problem to recertify them.

The bill is co-sponsored by fellow Republicans.

We need this to make sure unions arent just perpetually protecting their little fiefdom and saying, This is our little workplace and we own it forever, Granger said. The workers would have the opportunity to say, OK, well, thanks for all your help over the years, but we think we need a different union supporting us.

Rep. Mark MacKenzie, a Manchester Democrat, pointed out that union members can already petition to have a vote to decertify their union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Are you suggesting thats not sufficient? MacKenzie asked. That if people are unhappy with what they currently have, that that structure is not enough?

Granger alleged many workers believe their union would use intimidation or scare tactics in order to scare people against decertifying a union.

Since most government unions were founded in the 1960s and 70s, few if any of the public employees who voted for these unions are still on the job, added Rep. Melissa Litchfield, a Brentwood Republican who co-sponsored the bill. Unionized employees should be empowered on a regular basis to choose what union, if any, will represent them.

Glenn Brackett, president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, testifying in opposition to the bill Tuesday, reiterated that federal law presently allows workers to decertify their union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If people dont want to be part of a union they fill out cards and they can call for union elections, he said. The process is already in place.

Brackett argued this bill would create a process too bureaucratic and burdensome, saying if it became law, it would be a quagmire.

Nothing would move forward, he continued. But I would also put it out this way: What if every year, instead of every two years, members of this Legislature had to go up for reelection?

Brackett said New Hampshire has a history of workers switching their representation from one national or international union to another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brian Ryll, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, also opposed the bill Tuesday, saying that the decertification process already in place has worked for many years and its worked well. He said his organization, which represents 43 local unions in New Hampshire, has seen unions be decertified.

The idea that there may be a strong-arming of sorts to keep members in a union simply does not occur, he said. At least in our profession in New Hampshire. So I just wanted to quell that rumor.

Richard Gulla, president of the State Employees Association/Service Employees International Union 1984, also opposed the legislation Tuesday.

Supporters of this bill are trying to restrict the freedom of nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees to come together, to have their voice heard, Gulla said. These folks who serve our community have the right to protect their retirement and health care as they see fit. And anti-union extremists in our state capitol are trying to restrict, to that end, our rights.

Right-to-work legislation

This comes as a right-to-work bill is also being debated in the Legislature. House Bill 238, sponsored by Windham Republican Rep. Daniel Popovici-Muller, would prohibit collective bargaining agreements from requiring employees to join or contribute to a union in New Hampshire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee voted narrowly, 10-9, to recommend that the bill be approved. The bill will now be debated by the entire state House of Representatives.

This type of legislation, known as right-to-work, has been proposed repeatedly in New Hampshire for decades. It has continually failed to become law. However, after Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who has said she would sign a right-to-work bill if it was approved by the Legislature, and a new slate of Republican lawmakers won election in November, proponents of the bill hope this year is different.

If the right-to-work proposal is adopted, New Hampshire would become the only New England state and one of 27 states across the country with a right-to-work policy.
Speaking before a crowd at the March for Life in Washington last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson promised that the anti-abortion movement would be entering a new era under Donald Trumps leadership. The newest benchmark for the conservative party under that banner is, apparently, allowing people to attack and shutter health care clinics providing abortion services.

Republican lawmakers held a private meeting with anti-abortion activists, pledging to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act, reproductive rights columnist Jessica Valenti reported Tuesday. The FACE Act prohibits the use of physical force, threat, or intimidation to prevent people from obtaining an abortion, and prohibits damaging or destroying the clinics that provide them.

God demands justice, said Representative Andy Biggs, according to Valenti.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The meeting followed an effort by Representative Chip Roy last week, in which the Texas Republican introduced a bill in the House to formally repeal the act.

Americans just spent the last four years being targeted by a weaponized justice system, Roy said in a statement at the time. The FACE Act was one of the primary weapons of abusebeing used to politically target, arrest, and jail pro-life Americans for speaking out and standing up for life.

Regardless of the FACE Acts future, the Department of Justice announced it wont enforce the protective statute, anyway. In a memo issued Friday, the acting attorney generals chief of staff directed the agencys Civil Rights Division to dismiss several FACE Act cases against anti-abortion protesters, claiming that the act embodied the weaponization of the federal government. The department also ceased future prosecutions under the statute, except under extraordinary circumstances, such as death, serious bodily harm, or serious property damage.

In the same week, Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists who blockaded the entrance of a Washington clinic in October 2020. They included Lauren Handy, who was arrested in 2022 for retaining five fetuses at her house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, conservatives are also attacking abortion access through the judicial system: Anti-abortion activists have asked the Supreme Court to overrule Hill v. Colorado, which established a buffer zone around abortion clinics that prevents activists from speaking to patients or distributing anti-abortion materials to them within 100 feet of a facility.

The intention, for Republicans, is clear.

Speaking at the National Mall last week, Vice President JD Vance pledged to protect Christians and anti-abortion activists from federal prosecution.

This administration stands by you, we stand with you, and most importantly we stand with the most vulnerable, Vance said. America is fundamentally a pro-baby, a pro-family, and a pro-life country.
OAKDALE, Calif.  After dozens of horses were found dead during an animal neglect investigation in San Joaquin County, a local nonprofit is caring for the surviving animals.

More than 30 animals, including horses, were found dead and over 15 others had to be euthanized due to poor health. The surviving horses, donkeys, and llamas may have been rescued but now face a long road to recovery.

Over the last several days, at least 100 animals have been placed with the nonprofit Oakdale Equine Rescue for care, which is currently raising money for the ongoing vet costs. The animals here are regularly being fed, have access to water, and getting attention  all things the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office said have not been the case in a long time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Can you imagine walking onto a property like this? Its horrific that these animals were left, left for dead, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office PIO Heather Brent said.

Oakdale Equine Rescue is caring for the surviving horses, mules, and donkeys rescued from three properties in San Joaquin County following a several months-long animal neglect investigation. Jan Johnson of Clements was arrested on multiple charges, including suspicion of animal cruelty and threatening a public official.

The sheriffs office is still investigating if Johnson has other properties and potentially if that means more animals. Johnson was arrested last week and has since posted bail. Since then, law enforcement has been busy with more than just the animal neglect investigation.

One thing that we have received information on is that she has been receiving death threats. We want the community to know that our office, the DAs office, they are handling this case. What we dont need is for our deputies to have to spend additional time on these death threats, Brent said. Let the DAs office do their work. Know that she will have her day in court and she will be held accountable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the horses at the rescue are alive theres still a long road to recovery. Many horses have arrived at the rescue blind, emaciated, with skin conditions, missing eyes, or barely able to walk.

The amount of horses that have had no farrier, theres no excuse for this, Oakdale Equine Rescue President Jeannine Etheridge said.

Dozens of rescued horses at Oakdale Equine Rescue Dozens of rescued horses at Oakdale Equine Rescue Dozens of rescued horses at Oakdale Equine Rescue Dozens of rescued horses at Oakdale Equine Rescue

A farrier specializes in hoof care by trimming and balancing them. Sean Finn, a farrier, was at the rescue on Monday helping several horses and donkeys. Based on the look of their hooves and stance, Etheridge believes it is care the horses and donkeys have likely been without for a long time.

Unfortunately, we have a few that are going to be euthanized. Theres absolutely nothing we can do to save them and a lot of that has to do with improper hoof care, Etheridge said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Etheridge started the rescue about 15 years ago and is no stranger to animal neglect cases. Part of the reason she started the rescue was to give animals a new start at life but for some care may still have come too late.

You have deformities of good 800 to 1,000 pound weight on these legs that are deformed or the feet that arent correct and that in general is a lot of pain, Etheridge said.

The county is helping the rescue with all of the basics but its just a drop in the bucket as vet costs continue to pile up.

What we do is go the extra mile. The vet will go ahead and take care of the teeth floating, the dental, the vaccinations, the worming, theres so much more to it and the cost of that per horse, extremely, it goes into the hundreds, Etheridge said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rescue has already gotten hundreds of calls from community members offering to help and to adopt but adoption is a goal at the other end of the tunnel. For now, the focus is on rehabilitation.

Money that we get goes to the veterinarian, Etheridge said. One thing is they have to have dental care. They cant process their food without proper dental care. One of these horses here if you look right here is doing whats called quidding. Shes eating but she cant grind it properly so shes just taking in the nutrients but you know, unable to process it correctly,

The rescue will be used solely for rehabilitation as animals are gradually assessed and transferred for vet care. The rescue and county alike said the best way to support that mission is by donating.

These animals were not taken care of, they wereneglect is an understatement for these animals and we need the community to help support, Brent said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each dollar raised goes toward something, whether its feed, water, or vet costs.

We appreciate everything. Weve had kids donate a dollar, you know, and to them its the world. And so any amount, any amount matters, Etheridge said.

You can donate to the Oakdale Equine Rescue through their website or donate directly to veterinary services, Sweet River Equine Clinic Inc. by calling (209) 524-9191.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Residents of the besieged city of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, say they are gripped by fear as gunshots continue to ring out around their homes, days after rebel forces claimed they had taken over.

Several people, including foreign peacekeepers, have reportedly died and hundreds more are injured as fighting persists for a third day between fighters of the AFC/M23 rebel coalition and government forces battling to reclaim the city.

Hospitals treating the wounded are overwhelmed, aid agencies said, who also reported grievous crimes committed against civilians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday that there are many dead bodies on the streets, adding that fighters have reportedly raped civilians.

Goma resident Camilie, who did not want to give his full name for security reasons, told CNN he heard sounds of bombings and gunfire, and found bullet casings in his backyard.

People are hiding in their houses, said Camille, who lives in Gomas Himbi neighborhood. People are scared because we have no electricity, water, or internet, so we spend the night in the dark.

He added that several incidents of robberies and looting have also been witnessed in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yesterday, there was a little bit of calm, and people thought that everything was over. Some people went out in the streets and were able to buy some stuff. And during the situation, a lot of robbing and looting took place Many warehouses and stores have been looted by the local population.

Rams Kiriza, who lives in the center of Goma, heard detonations on Wednesday morning, but for the moment, the situation is calm, he said.

Kiriza said that the rebels were yet to capture parts of the city but had ordered locals to evacuate.

The rebel alliance  accused by Congolese authorities of being bolstered by Rwanda  told CNN earlier this week that they had captured the city. Home to around 2 million people, Goma is the provincial capital of North Kivu and the largest city in Congos east.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Humanitarian and medical facilities have come under fire amid the fighting. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emergency coordinator in North Kivu Virginie Napolitano said Wednesday that medical stocks had been looted and a bullet had pierced the roof of the operating theatre at the Kyeshero hospital as an operation was underway.

The impact of this fighting on the civilian population is enormous. In addition to the wounded and dead, we are receiving devastating reports from internally displaced people camps where our teams can no longer go, MSFs head of programs in North Kivu Stephan Goetghebuer said, according to Wednesdays press release.

The fighting in Goma is also stirring panic in nearby cities. From Bukavu, Congolese citizen Benjamin Lindani told CNN, Everyone is trying to rush to get some money out from their banks and get some food from supermarkets, describing long lines of people at banks and markets.

David Cikuru, who heads a civil society organization in Goma but recently moved out of the city to Bukavu, told CNN there were numerous government armed forces and pro-government militia fighters in Bukavu who had looted goods from some civilians. He said gunfire could also be heard on the outskirts of the city.

Rebels claim takeover

On Wednesday, Victor Tesongo, the AFC spokesman, told CNN: The situation is very calm. We have taken control of the city despite some minor tensions from the government soldiers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tesongo said that a stadium in Goma had been opened to receive surrendering government troops.

On Monday, the Uruguayan army, whose troops are part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Goma, said in a statement that hundreds of Congolese soldiers had laid down their weapons following M23s 48-hour ultimatum.

M23 rebels look at a UN peacekeeping vehicle in Goma, on January 29. - Moses Sawasawa/AP

Rwandas national broadcaster also shared footage of Congolese soldiers surrendering their arms to Rwandan forces at a Rwandan border post after fleeing Goma.

The Congolese government has not confirmed the rebels takeover but acknowledged their presence in Goma. Earlier on Wednesday, a new military governor was appointed for North Kivu, which was described by the Congolese military as being under a state of siege.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The army said that it remained fully committed to restoring the authority of the State, neutralizing armed groups and ensuring the protection of the population.

On Tuesday, the rebels gained control of Gomas airport, blocking an ammunition shipment sent to the city by the Congolese army, a French intelligence source told CNN.

The violence also spiraled into the national capital, Kinshasa, where protesters lit fires outside several Western and African embassies, including that of Rwanda.

Calls for ceasefire

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was deeply troubled by the violence in eastern Congo, which borders Rwanda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a call with Rwandan leader, Paul Kagame on Tuesday, Rubio urged warring parties to ensure an immediate ceasefire and respect sovereign territorial integrity.

Members of the M23 armed group travel in a pickup truck on Goma street on Wednesday. - AFP/Getty Images

Kagame described the conversation as productive, adding that it stressed the need to ensure a ceasefire and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.

The Congolese government accused Rwanda of equipping the M23 with both weapons and troops. Rwanda does not deny the allegations.

A spokesperson for the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo, told CNN that her country will do what is necessary to defend our borders and protect Rwandans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eastern African leaders plan to convene an emergency meeting this week to find solutions to the crisis, Kenyas President William Ruto said Monday, urging Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to heed the call for peace.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Pope Francis has proclaimed a Jubilee year in the Catholic Church, which began on Dec. 24, 2024, and will continue through Jan. 6, 2026. But what is a Jubilee, and what is this years about?

Biblical roots

The Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament, offers instructions about celebrating a Jubilee every 50 years. The Jubilee has roots in the Jewish practice of Sabbath rest every seven days, connected to the creation story in which God created the world in six days and rested on the next.

This rest is not merely about taking a break, but orienting life to what is most important. The prohibition of work on the Sabbath prompts people to look beyond productive work, helping them to see all activity in light of the eternal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The biblical books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy outline whats called a sabbatical year, extending that practice of periodic rest to every seventh year. During that sabbatical, the texts call for forgiving debts and freeing enslaved people. Even the land is supposed to get rest, since farmers are told to let their fields lie fallow  a check against unfettered, and destructive, desires for productivity.

The Jubilee extends this logic. Held every 50 years, the Holy Year follows a Sabbath of Sabbaths, seven times seven years. During the Jubilee, the Book of Leviticus instructs, you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. Again, even the land must be freed. Each plot bought and sold over the previous 49 years must be returned to the tribe with which it was originally associated.

Like all the other forms of Sabbath rest, the overriding emphasis is that everyone and everything belongs to God: that the Earth is not simply for humans to do with as they please, especially if it creates injustice. People inhabit the Earth like wayfarers. Indeed, the Bible regularly reminds the Israelites that they were once enslaved in Egypt and, once freed, were wanderers.

Medieval traditions

Scholars are not quite sure if and how Jubilees were actually put into practice in the ancient world, though they are referred to in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sums up his mission with verses about the Jubilee from the Book of Isaiah: He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of the practices of the churchs modern Jubilees, however, come from the late Middle Ages, a time when Christian grassroots efforts promoted pilgrimages to Rome. As much political as religious and recreational, these pilgrimages demonstrated to power-hungry monarchs that the eternal city was beyond royal control and, by implication, that pilgrims identity was more than subjects of a crown.

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII endorsed these initiatives by instituting a 13th centennial celebration of Christs birth. Central to the celebration were pilgrimages to Roman basilicas. Boniface promised that pilgrims could receive an indulgence: reparation for their sins.

CC BY A fresco in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, depicting Pope Boniface VIII proclaiming the Jubilee in 1300. Sailko/Wikimedia Commons

Often misunderstood, an indulgence is distinct from forgiveness. The Catholic tradition teaches that people who sincerely repent of their sins are forgiven and reconciled to God. Ordinarily, this happens through rites such as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which involves confession to a priest.

Once a sin is forgiven, however, reparation remains. Suppose youve thrown a ball through a neighbors window. Even if they forgive you, youre still responsible for the windows repair. In other words, theres still a consequence for your action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Catholics believe that indulgences remit the repair, removing the temporal punishment. In the analogy, you might not have fixed the window, but instead you completed another holy and satisfactory act in its place. Indulgences can be granted to Catholics for actions like completing specific prayers, making a pilgrimage or performing acts of charity.

Bonifaces decree included no reference to the biblical Jubilee. Over time, however, the link between the biblical Jubilee and these Roman celebrations was articulated and strengthened. The intervening time between Jubilees was reduced to 50 years to resonate with the ancient text. Eventually, Jubilees came to be inaugurated every 25 years to increase the opportunity for participation.

As they developed, Jubilee celebrations kept their link to pilgrimages and reparation. Both are meant to be reminders that human beings are made for the eternal, not merely the productive.

Two pilgrims arrive at St. Peters Basilica in December 1949 in anticipation of 1950s Jubilee. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Pilgrims of hope

The Catholic Churchs last ordinary Jubilee celebration, which took place in 2000, was deemed a Great Jubilee by then-Pope John Paul II, commemorating two millennia since the birth of Christ. Famously, during a Mass that year, he sought forgiveness of the church for atrocities committed across its history, including injustice toward Jews, Indigenous peoples and women, among others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2000 Jubilee continued the practice of indulgences for making a pilgrimage, emphasizing that a pilgrimage evokes the believers personal journey of faith, following in Christs footsteps.

On Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis inaugurated the current Jubilee by walking through the Holy Door of St. Peters Basilica. This ceremony was instituted by Pope Alexander VI for the Jubilee in 1500, evoking Jesus description of himself in the Gospel of John as the door to salvation.

Catholics in Mexico City take part in a ceremony marking the beginning of the Jubilee year at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Dec. 29, 2024. AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme

In addition to the typical emphases on pilgrimage and indulgences, Francis has identified hope as a particular focus for this Jubilee year. In Christian theology, hope is not optimism. It is an insistence to seek the good, anchored in God: to see difficulties clearly, yet to pursue action rather than despair.

Thus, Francis has called for several specific acts of hope throughout the Jubilee year. The papal bull proclaiming the Jubilee urges peacemaking, a spirit of welcome toward migrants, and openness toward having children. Francis also issues a call for affluent nations to forgive debts, and a general call for both repentance and mercy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jubilees ask people to reorient life toward the eternal  a theme that might seem to minimize attention to the specific social ills of our moment. In tune with the long tradition of Jubilees, however, Francis emphasizes that the more people see the world as God sees it, the more people will act against injustice.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Timothy Gabrielli, University of Dayton

Read more:



Timothy Gabrielli does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
When Karen Sicner and her husband John made the decision to relocate from metro Atlanta to build a new home on a two-acre homesite in rural Sylva, North Carolina, moving closer to their daughter and her family in Tennessee was a major factor. Since then though, they've discovered that there are other perks connected to trading city life for country living that have nothing to do with getting geographically closer to family, The Daily Yonder reports.

"I've been downtown (Atlanta) today and it's going to take me an hour or more to get home, and it's only 20 miles away," Sicner said. "I won't miss the traffic and the congestion, and who knows, it might be cheaper to live in the country, too."

The Sicners are among those seniors who are increasingly swapping their homes in urban or even suburban areas for ones situated on anywhere from two to ten rural acres in the Carolinas, Maine, Missouri, Texas and elsewhere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And while it seems that this is a tactic for elders to avoid high costs, high crime and over development, those who keep an eye on who moves where in America say it has been happening off and on for decades.

According to University of New Hampshire researcher and senior demographer Kenneth Johnson, the relocation of older adults from urban areas to rural locales began in the 1970s, waned in the 1980s, enjoyed an uptick in the 1990s, and after slowing down during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, picked up again in 2010 and beyond.

"We don't have good data on age specific migration patterns after 2020, but, all the data I have looked at suggests a significant increase in migration of older adults to rural recreation and retirement areas since 2020," Johnson said in an interview.

Where they went had to do with places they had been before, he said. "In many cases, the older adults have prior experience in these areas either from vacationing there or having seasonal homes."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That's exactly what Andy Mooers has seen for the better part of 45 years spent matching retirees with real estate in northern Maine.

"People start with a vacation home here and then begin to ask how they can live here full time," he told The Daily Yonder. "People come from Florida, Texas, Georgia, or Illinois in an effort to avoid the traffic and the high taxesand some people are buying a farm and hope they will have a piece of land for their kids."

According to Mooers, some of his clients make the move from the city to rural Maine just to escape the stuff of urban life. "This is Mayberry," he said. "We don't have the traffic and we don't have the crime and we don't have (high) cost of living, either."

In fact, the prospect of stretching retirement funds indefinitely can tip the relocation scales for seniors who ponder making any move.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Say your house in the urban area sold for $400,000 plus and you buy one for $100,000 in small town Maine or in the country somewhere. It's the right move to the right location," Mooers said.

Add to that lower costs of everything from car insurance to property taxes to some groceries, and the move to the country seems the obvious choice.

It's exactly the choice that Mary Eaton Campbell and her husband Rich made when they relocated from Loomis near Sacramento, California, to a house in a 31-home development in Nixa, Missouri, then to a 10-acre homestead in West Plains, Missouri, in January 2021.

"The community mailbox was right next to my house," Eaton Campbell recalled in an interview. "Basically, all we did was change our zip code."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So the couple searched for a homesite further into the country and found themselves purchasing a home built in 1977 on 10-acres of pastureland, featuring a workshop for Rich and a mining shed that Eaton Campbell turned into a She-Shed.

"Neither one of us ever had property like this before," she said.

Eaton Campbell immediately subscribed to the local newspaper and her husband undertook the care of the property. In between, the pair began to connect with other members of the community.

They quickly met and became friends with the neighbors, and learned about the church and social groups from another woman who also became a friend. Meanwhile, Rich connected with members of a local Amish community who offered to bush hog the property for the hay that grew on it and who helped connect with others around.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We have closer relationships with our neighbors than we ever did in our subdivision," she said. "When you are in a metro area or a subdivision, there are so many people that you become invisible."

What is not always close is certain quality medical care, and those who choose a rural life must be prepared to travel to get it.

"For example, my dentist is about an hour away in Mountain Home, Arkansas," Campbell explained. "But it's a beautiful drive and when I go I make a day of it shopping, too."

In fact, the availability and proximity of quality medical care is something Eaton Campbell researched early on and that Sicner also considered when she bought her North Carolina homesite.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But that's just one of the things that gerontologist Nancy Schier-Anzelmo, principal in Alzheimer's Care Associates, a California-based counseling practice specializing in senior care, recommends that retirees research before making their move.

"Make sure you research your options," Schier-Anselmo advised in an interview with the Yonder. "As we get older, it's hard to make new friends and that's why it's important to find your tribethose people who are at the same stage of life and have the same life experience as you do."

Even so, seniors who move into smaller, rural communities are not the only ones who benefit from the move, researcher Johnson told The Daily Yonder. The communities at large experience an increased economic activity as newcomers purchase supplies and other products from local retailers, support local cultural, church and charitable organizations, purchase medical and other services and even boost housing and land prices.

"An additional benefit that many non-metro areas get from a stream of older migrants is the considerable expertise and experience with large corporate and government bureaucracies that many migrants have from a long career," Johnson said. "Many local nonprofit organizations and even government units can benefit from this expertise given the shortage of staff and limited resources that many organizations in rural areas have."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Mary Eaton Campbell though, the benefits of her new rural home are more than economic.

"I have no regrets," she said. "One of my greatest joys is waking up in the morning, having my coffee on the porch, and looking out on our landat this point in our lives, we better be living our best life."

This story was produced by The Daily Yonder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Do you live in one of our best or worst-value towns? We want to hear from you! Email maya.wilson-autzen@telegraph.co.uk

Home to the great Romantic poets and Englands largest lakes and tallest peaks, Cumbria is a dream place to live for millions of people.

You would assume the areas natural beauty would put it out of reach for those of more modest means  but a new Telegraph Money analysis reveals that the area around Barrow-in-Furness offers the best value in England and Wales.

With above-average wages and a low cost of living, Barrow-in-Furness in southern Cumbria ranks highest on our new value-for-money ratings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Telegraph Money analysed national data comparing average house prices, average earnings, food and energy bills and commuting costs for travel to work areas (TTWA) across England and Wales.

These TTWAs aim to reflect areas where most people both live and work and which have relatively low levels of in  or out  commuting, according to the Office for National Statistics. It should be noted that areas can have vastly different population sizes  London, for instance, counts as one travel-to-work area.

Our analysis reveals the areas where your money goes the furthest.

The Barrow-in-Furness travel-to-work area  which includes much of the southern Lakes  has a strong industrial heritage, having built Britains first submarine in 1886, and BAE Systems still has a large base there. Last year the defence and manufacturing giant added 5,000 workers to its existing workforce of 12,000, after winning a 4bn contract to build nuclear-powered submarines.

Underrated Barrow-in-Furness has the Lake District on its doorstep - Washington Imaging / Alamy Stock Photo

However, it is the affordability of housing and average salaries that help propel Barrow to the top of our list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barrows median salary, 37,962, is slightly higher than the national average of 37,430, while house prices are considerably below average (293,000) at 185,073.

Michelle Scrogham, MP for Barrow, said: I was born in the area and have lived here my whole life and Barrow-in-Furness has got to be one of the most underrated places in the country at the moment in terms of its potential. The area is stunning, the local economy is booming, driven forward by defence and energy sectors, and the Lake District is on the doorstep.

The local workforce at BAE is due to grow to 17,000 employees, thanks to recent submarine contracts, and with 200m government investment in the town over the next 10 years the area is about to become an even better place to live and bring up a family.

Alongside Barrow, Durham, Sunderland and Darlington also make the top 10 for value for money in the UK in a list dominated by towns in the north of England.

Durham is a best-value pick with the added draw of beautiful and historic sites close by - Patrick Donovan/Moment RF

Daily expenses are considerably cheaper in the North, compared with London and the South East, offsetting wages that are often lower. Groceries in the North East cost an average of 50.30 for a week, whereas in the South East this rises to 64.90.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even Durham, known for its beautiful setting, historic cathedral and top university, offers good value for money. Salaries are lower than the national average at 28,684 but so are house prices  134,670. The travel-to-work area also includes large swatches of remote countryside, as well as towns such as Bishop Auckland, which will bring down average prices.

David Land, boss of the Auckland Project  a collection of heritage sites in the area  said: Its not surprising that Bishop Auckland has been named as one of the best value towns. The future of Bishop Auckland is equally as vibrant as its past, with significant ongoing investment set to transform the historic town centre in the next five years.

Its in the heart of south-west Durham surrounded by beautiful countryside; Bishop Auckland provides the perfect gateway to the Durham dales; transport links are good making it easy to travel to many local cities. There are plenty of things to see and do and with the exciting plans for the future, now is the perfect time to settle down in Bishop Auckland.

Market town Darlington (number 10 on the list) has a growing economy, helped by the Treasury last year announcing a government hub would be completed by 2027.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Councillor Chris McEwan said: Darlington is a beautiful, historic market town, nestled in picturesque surroundings and boasting some of the best variety of urban housing in the country.

Government funding is supporting a number of town centre regeneration projects which are breathing new life into the town and supporting further inward investment. Our growing economy and the arrival of the Darlington Economic Campus, which houses nine government departments, is continuing to attract more businesses as well as creating more sustainable and better-paid jobs.

Worst value-for-money areas

At the other end of the spectrum are the areas where salaries are stretched furthest.

While these areas typically offer higher wages, you are not necessarily better off once rent, bills and expenses are taken into account.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Centre for Cities recent Cities Outlook revealed that Londoners are paid 33pc higher than the national average salary. But it will come as no surprise that living in the capital is bad value for money, with high house prices, energy costs and expensive public transport.

Yet London isnt the worst value place to live in the UK. That dubious prize goes to Penzance, in Cornwall (see table, below).

A hugely popular holiday spot, Cornwall is home to some of Britains best beaches, but a reliance on seasonal tourism means that wages are considerably below the national average at 23,521.

There are also vast disparities in wealth. In 2023, Cornwall Live reported that Penzance had the lowest disposable household income of any neighbourhood in the county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gill Pipkin, chief executive of Citizens Advice Cornwall, said: Our research has found Cornwall has a greater proportion of people employed in tourism and care than the country as a whole and the dependence on these often low wage, insecure and seasonal jobs is growing quicker than the rest of the nation.

Penzance and its surrounds, including Mousehole (pictured), has the lowest disposable household income in Cornwall but house prices are high - Deejpilot/E+

Despite low salaries, house prices are above the UKs median and cost an average of 359,853.

Councils in Cornwall have blamed second homes for pushing up house prices and have fought to stop the deluge of holiday homeowners and investors.

Stephen Reynolds, mayor of Penzance, said: Affordable housing is a real issue in our community and others in Cornwall, and it has been ever since our council houses were sold off in the 1980s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Government has massively hiked our housing targets but unless theres a huge increase in the affordable homes quota, too many local people will still be living in vans and caravans, or sofa-surfing with friends, or housed in emergency temporary accommodation at huge cost to the taxpayer.

Second homes and holiday lets have also been a huge issue, leading to the collapse of the private rental market in our area. Ultimately the answer would be for Cornwall to have the powers to set its own housing and planning policies.

At the other end of the country similar issues have driven Slough and Heathrow (which includes part of Greater London) into the list, too.

Despite its dire reputation, Sloughs popularity is increasing, but house prices are rising with it. The average house costs 571,987.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Cities Outlook, Slough had the second highest increase in house values, after Oxford, last year with prices rising 3.7pc and 8.7pc respectively.

Yet for locals, there are more considerations than just value per pound earned. Rachel Reeves is set to back a third runway at Heathrow in an attempt to boost growth. An independent commission in 2015 said the additional runway would create more than 70,000 jobs by 2050, adding 147bn to GDP and providing more opportunities for those living in the area.

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.
David Overstreet started working with the Menominee during the late 1960s, a time when Indigenous peoples viewed most archeologists like him as colonial pillagers who stole artifacts and even human remains from tribes for the sole benefit of Western research, museums and universities.

Overstreet slowly earned the trust of tribal elders and eventually helped to return some artifacts and human remains back to the Menominee Nation. He also helped the tribe win certain rights in its ancestral homelands.

The tribe later adopted Overstreet as a kind of family member, honoring him with appointments as a Sturgeon Warrior and Honorary Thunderbird.

David Overstreet

The renowned Wisconsin archeologist died Jan. 20 at age 82 in Milwaukee, where he was born in 1942.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was solely dedicated to the work, especially with the Menominee Tribe, said David Grignon, tribal historic preservation officer for the Menominee Nation, who worked with Overstreet for more than 30 years. He had so much respect and cultural sensitivity for our reservation. He was just a genuine individual. The Menominee Tribe will really miss him.

The Menominee are generally considered the first people living in what is now much of northeast Wisconsin and much of Michigans upper peninsula. The tribe has been in Wisconsin  or Weskohsek, meaning a good place to live  for at least 10,000 years.

One of Overstreets major accomplishments was to help bring sturgeon back to the reservation in the 1990s. The Menominee had depended on sturgeon from the Wolf River, but 20th century dams had blocked the ancient fish from reaching the reservation.

The Menominee still kept the Sturgeon Ceremony and Dance alive hoping one day the sturgeon would return.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Through documents, petitions and appeals, Overstreet helped convince state officials of the historic and cultural importance of the sturgeon to the Menominee, and how state-approved dams blocked sturgeon from swimming.

Tribal staff and staff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources now stock the Wolf River on the Menominee Reservation with sturgeon every year, and the tribe celebrates with the Sturgeon Feast Pow Wow.

More: Sturgeon revered by Menominee people, who inspired Wisconsin's sturgeon spearing season

More recently, in 2022, Overstreet helped convince University of Michigan officials to return human remains and artifacts more than 1,200 years old to the Menominee Nation. The remains and artifacts were excavated by university researchers in the 1950s in Michigans upper peninsula and had been sitting in boxes at the university for decades. Overstreet collected evidence for several years to provide to the university to prove the Menominee were related to the ancestors that university researchers dug up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told the Green Bay Press-Gazette in 2022 he and tribal officials submitted lengthy reports to the university three times, including a 150-page report containing oral histories, letters, archeological data and other evidence.

University officials finally accepted the data after 10 years. As the reports were being considered, tribal elders would visit their ancestors on the university shelves to pray and promise them they would return home and be properly interred.

More: Ancient Menominee remains, 1,200 years old, have returned home after spending decades in boxes at University of Michigan

In 2023, Overstreet helped convince federal officials to place an area along the Menominee River in Michigans upper peninsula on the National Register of Historic Places after years of work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The historic site is the Sixty Islands area, which is known to the Menominee as Anaem Omot (Dogs Belly), and is the place of origin for Menominee people and remains a place of pilgrimage for them today.

Archeologists have uncovered settlement remains dating to about 10,000 years ago at the site.

The site also is located in the area of where developers of the controversial Back 40 Mine had wanted to dig, a proposal that had been challenged by the Menominee Tribe and environmental attorneys for years.

The national historic place designation marked a major victory for the tribe in its fight against the mine. While the designation doesnt prevent all development from happening in the area it gives the tribe a voice and provides an extra layer of consideration of what can be developed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Menominee River site gets protection of National Historic Register designation

In the Milwaukee area, Overstreet taught at UWM, UW-Waukesha and Marquette.

He also was a research associate at the Milwaukee Public Museum and, in 1994, directed the excavation of the Hebior Mammoth found in Kenosha, which is now displayed at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Overstreet also served in the Army from 1960 to 1963.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, whom he married on Jan. 17, 1966. The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary a few days before his passing.

Dave was a sweetheart of a husband, Barbara Overstreet said. He was loving, funny, so smart, interesting. He was my best friend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two first met at Hartford Avenue Elementary School in Milwaukee and Barbara said she had a crush on David ever since.

David also is survived by sons Colin and Ryan (who also is an archeologist), sister Carla (Bob) Bisaro and sister-in-law Sandra Seidtia, and nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.

A graveside service will be held at the Menominee Nation Cemetery this spring.

A celebration of life will be held soon in Milwaukee at a date and venue to be announced.

Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox

Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: David Overstreet, revered by Menominee and excavator of Hebior Mammoth
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

We are worried.

We are worried about our future careers, about our own well-being, our loved ones, and future children. We spent our teenage years as climate activists fighting for our future, and now we are college students studying to be researchers and doctors. We have already spent a significant portion of our lives fearing a future defined by more intense hurricanes and wildfires. Now we hold another fear: the health of the world and the people we love. This is why we are organizing to #StopRFK.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) is the Trump administrations nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This position would give him the power to make decisions about the health, security, and well-being of millions of people. Decisions about who should receive such instrumental power cannot be taken lightly.

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take

During his presidential run, RFK said he wanted to defund research for treatments and cures to deadly infectious diseases. He has a history of opposing lifesaving vaccines, and falsely claimed in a July 2023 podcast interview that theres no vaccine that is safe and effective. In 2019, he met with anti-vaccine activists in Samoa, where a measles outbreak killed 83 people, mostly infants and children, later that year. RFK has embraced what we see as racist and antisemitic viewpoints on public health, such as the bizarre idea that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, while sparing Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish people.

In the months since RFK's nomination, our phones have been filled with headlines about doctors and public health experts warning the Senate about his views. But young people havent had a voice in this conversation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is why we started Students for Science. We are undergraduates and high schoolers; future doctors, scientists, and policymakers from all over the country. We are student researchers in fields such as neuroscience, biochemistry, and health policy. Many of us met through climate activism in high school. As young people, we have unique concerns about RFK and what his confirmation would mean for our future.

Science has saved us our entire lives. As children we were lucky to have vaccines protecting us from measles and polio. As teenagers we lined up for vaccines to keep us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it's over-the-counter Advil we take when we are sick or prescription medicines many of us depend on to live a normal life, we rely on treatments that were created by research  by the best available science. As we grew up, we chose to dedicate our lives to science in hopes that our work and our discoveries could improve the lives of those after us, especially those who are most marginalized.

That future may not come to pass if RFK is in power. Defunding research may lead to our labs shutting down. It means we might not be prepared for the next pandemic. We could lose the infrastructure and means to do the lifesaving research to which we want to dedicate our lives.

We do not want to grow up in a future where our dreams are gone; we do not want to grow up in a future marred by disease outbreaks and suffering. We do not want our children to be at risk for polio and measles, threats that should have been eradicated long ago. RFK stands against everything we value as students, as future researchers and doctors, and as young people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

Want more U.S. government coverage?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was called frightening and labeled a liar Wednesday during the first day of his confirmation hearings to be Donald Trumps health secretary.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse asked for a promise from Kennedy that he will never say vaccines arent medically safe when they, in fact, are. And make indisputably clear that you support mandatory vaccinations against diseases where that will keep people safe.

Kennedy didnt have a chance to answer before his former law school classmate tamped down speculation that hes going easy on his old friend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Frankly you frighten people, Whitehouse told Kennedy, whose nomination process has seen a drip, drip, drip of unearthed controversies.

The Rhode Island senator, who typically opposes Trumps policies and nominees, has refused to say which way hell vote on Kennedy. The two were hiking and hunting buddies when they attended the University of Virginia Law School in the rolling hills of Charlottesville.

Whitehouse recently said people need to kind of chill on their speculation on whether hell support Kennedy, whose stance against life-saving vaccinations has come under intense scrutiny by the medical community and scientists.

The Senate Finance Committee hearing room was full of theatrics as RFK Jr., whose own leading family membersled by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedyhave condemned his views and embrace of Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Are you a conspiracy theorist? Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) asked Kennedy.

That is a pejorative, senator, that his applied to me, RFK Jr. answered.

He lies, a woman shouted earlier from the public gallery. The protester was quickly ushered out, and minutes later another woman holding a sign was also forcibly removed from the chamber by a police officer.

The first interruption came just as Kennedy denied media reports that he was opposed to vaccines.

RFK JR: News reports have claimed that Im anti-vaccine or anti-industry. I am neither



Protester: You lie! pic.twitter.com/KSMVOfZAsF  Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025

All my kids are vaccinated, he said. I have written books about vaccinations. The first line said I am not anti-vaccines; the last line says I am not anti-vaccines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the brief protest, he insisted he would not apologize for questioning the status quo and asking uncomfortable questions.

Kennedy introduced his wife, Cheryl Hines, and two of his children, to the gathering before the hearing began. Hines sat behind her husband, in camera view, over his right shoulder.

Kennedy came attack right from the off, with Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the committee, charging in his opening statement that Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks and charlatans.

He has made it his lifes work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines. It has been lucrative for him and put him on the verge of immense power. This is the profile of someone who chases money and influence wherever they lead, even if that may mean the tragic deaths of children and other vulnerable people, he added.Kennedy was grilled by Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee over his unorthodox health views and vaccine skepticism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has been steadfast in his support for Kennedy despite the pressure for him to drop the former Democrat from his Cabinet plans. The latest blow to RFK Jr.s confirmation hopes came from his own famous family when his cousin Caroline Kennedy released an extraordinary, scathing video attacking his character and branding him a predator.

She added that he mistreated small animals and was partly responsible for members of his family descending into drug addiction.

He denied being anti-vaccine or anti-industry and insisted he was simply pro-safety. But he has been widely criticized for his ant-vaxxer conspiracy theories during the pandemic.

He chaired the Childrens Health Defense group, which campaigned against COVID-19 vaccines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I cant imagine anyone who would be more damaging to vaccines and the use of vaccines than RFK, Dr. Michgael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota told CNN.

As head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kennedy would have a huge bearing on the U.S. health industry, overseeing everything from food safety to pharmaceuticals, public health, and vaccinations.

He would be in charge of a trillion-dollar budget and about 80,000 employees.

While his skepticism over some scientific evidence has conflicted with experts, he has won support for his views on curbing big pharmaceutical companies' power and warning over the use of food additives.

At a rally last month in Arizona, Kennedy said he would fire 600 officials overseeing vaccine research as soon as the Trump administration moves into the White House.
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 29: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) celebrated a remarkable milestone with the 100th batch of its Post Graduate Executive Management Programme (PGEMP). The occasion was marked by a celebratory function on January 24th at SPJIMR's Mumbai campus. The event brought together senior industry leaders, distinguished alumni, and faculty through insightful panel discussions, the felicitation of PGEMP industry partners, and reflections on the programme's two-decade legacy of shaping transformative leaders. It also saw the launch of the PGEMP Impact Book, celebrating the programme's contributions. In his address, Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR, remarked, "The PGEMP gives us a unique opportunity to engage with industry partners and address their needs directly. It is our pleasure and privilege to participate in the capability-building mission of the country." He urged participants to walk away with a change in attitude, because it'll determine how well they continue to acquire new knowledge and skills throughout life. The evening's highlight was the panel discussion 'Tomorrow is already yesterday: Building a culture for continuous learning', with Anurag Sahai, CEO, Asian Paints PPG Pvt. Ltd., Dr. C. Jayakumar, Executive VP & CHRO, Larsen & Toubro, Mandeep Singh Kumar, VP & MD - India, Medtronic, and Shankar Krishnan, Group Head - Strategy, HR, IT & Corporate Communication, Shapoorji Pallonji Group. They explored strategies for fostering continuous learning and adaptability in dynamic business environments. Prof. Preeta George, Associate Dean, Professional and Executive Programmes, recalled the start of PGEMP in 2002, which coincided with the start of her career at SPJIMR. "I have had a front seat view of PGEMP's growth journey and it would not have been possible without the immense contribution of our faculty and programme chairpersons, both past and present. Over its nearly 25-year journey, PGEMP continues to combine academic rigour with practical learning to develop leaders who inspire change." Another thought-provoking panel, 'Leadership lessons: From the classroom to the boardroom', featured PGEMP alumni Anshu Sarin, CEO, 91Springboard, Krishnakumar S., General Director, Kirby Southeast Asia, Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited, Shardul Kshirsagar, Global CEO & MD, Fowler Westrup (India) Pvt. Ltd., and Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, MD, State Bank of India. They discussed how learnings from PGEMP shaped their career, the mindset shifts required as one moves from middle management to executive leadership, and how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing business environment. Prof. Shabbir Husain R.V., PGEMP Chairperson, reflected on the programme's significance and stated, "This 100th batch is truly a milestone, being the largest batch with 100 participants. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our industry partners, many of who have been with us from batch 1. Their trust and collaboration have been instrumental in shaping the programme's success." In another happenstance, when the 100th batch convocates in 2027, it'll mark the 25th anniversary of SPJIMR's PGEMP--another milestone! Earlier, on January 22, the 100th batch inaugural ceremony commenced with a fireside chat with Yogi Sriram, Member, PGEMP Advisory Council and SPJIMR Governing Council, Dr. Suresh Mony, First Chairperson, PGEMP, and PGEMP alumni Deepak Shetty, CEO & MD, JCB India. SPJIMR PGEMP values the continued industry partnership, enabling it to deliver impactful learning experiences and prepare future leaders, and looks forward to achieving even greater milestones together. About SPJIMR Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), is a leading postgraduate management institute recognised by the Financial Times MiM Global Rankings as India's #1 business school, by Business Today as one of the country's top five business schools, and by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five business schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and its leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international 'triple crown' of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Visit spjimr.org for more information. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608708/100th_PGEMP_batch_SPJIMR.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)
That is not quite how Medicaid works, Mr. Kennedy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday most Americans are not happy with Medicaid because the premiums are too high, suggesting he may be oblivious to the fact that Medicaid overwhelmingly does not have premiums.

In reality, the vast majority of Medicaid enrollees pay nothing for health coverage, which is the point of the programto insure low-income Americans who cannot afford private health insurance or out-of-pocket costs for medical care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donald Trumps health secretary nominee also stated in his confirmation hearing that Medicaid is fully paid for by the federal government, which is also not true. The program, which provides health insurance to nearly 80 million low-income Americans, is financed by a combination of state and federal funds.

The gaffes did not stop there. Kennedy also missed big when Sen. Ben Ray Lujan asked him to estimate how many babies are born in the U.S. each year on Medicaid. Kennedy, after conceding he had no clue, estimated 30 million. That is about eight times more than the overall number of births the U.S. had in total in 2023. About 1.4 million of those were on Medicaid, Lujan informed Kennedy.

Lujan: Mr. Kennedy, do you know how many babies born in this country are covered through medicaid?



RFK JR: I would guess about 30 million. pic.twitter.com/owM6p1nEQk  Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025

Kennedy also made incorrect statements about Medicare. He said most Americans have purchased a Medicare Advantage plan, but, in reality, it is more like one in every 10 Americans have.

Despite the inaccuracies, Kennedy repeatedly said Americans prefer private insurance to Medicare, which provides coverage to older and disabled Americans, and Medicaid, which covers low-income Americans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats have pointed out that understanding the nuances of Medicaid and Medicare is critical to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as Trump has called on Kennedy to do. His gaffes may call his chances of confirmation further into question, as he has long been considered one of Trumps riskiest cabinet picks along with Pete Hegsethwho was confirmed on a VP tiebreakerand Tulsi Gabbard, who is yet to have her confirmation hearing.

Kennedys mistakes did not go unnoticed Wednesday, despite the majority of the hearings questions being about his long history of opposing vaccines and spreading conspiracies about certain conditions, like polio and Lyme disease.

Medicaid payments nationwide werent working yesterday. RFK Jr. is proving at this hearing that he doesnt even understand the basics of the program.



Hes a danger to Americans health.  Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) January 29, 2025

Medicaid payments nationwide werent working yesterday, wrote Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, on X. RFK Jr. is proving at this hearing that he doesnt even understand the basics of the program. Hes a danger to Americans health.

Even questions from the Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy appeared to trip Kennedy up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawmaker from Louisiana, who is also a physician, asked Kennedy to describe how he would reform the Medicaid program. That question elicited a rambling, vague response from Kennedy, who asserted again that most Americans are not happy with the program as is.

Kennedy said he would work to increase transparency and increase accountability, but did not say how or why he would do that. When Cassidy pressed the health secretary pick to be more specific, he merely responded, I dont have a broad proposal for dismantling the program.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, could soon control the nations agencies and programs governing health care, vaccine approvals and cancer research.

He testified before the Senate on Wednesday. If confirmed, the frequent vaccine critic, raw milk advocate and Covid-19 conspiracy theorist would oversee agencies critical to supporting Americans health, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and National Institute of Health.

The 71-year-old, who has no medical background, has promised to Make America Healthy Again while also vowing to upend some of the HHSs agencies and policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the FDA, he has suggested that entire departments have to go. He has said he plans to immediately replace 600 NIH employees and give infectious disease a break for about eight years. He once claimed that the CDC was a "cesspool of corruption that harms children similar to Nazi death camps.

RFK Jr., Trumps pick to run the HHS had a hearing before the Senate on Wednesday. He could have broad powers overseeing various health agencies. (REUTERS)

What agencies does it oversee?

HHS, which boasts a nearly $2 trillion budget, has more than 80,000 employees.

The department has 13 operating divisions, including 10 public health service agencies and three human services agencies.

These include the FDA, CDC, NIH, Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Service Administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department also oversees federal programs, including child care, Head Start, Alzheimers, cancer research grants, the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Medicare and Medicaid.

Seventeen staff offices also support the HHS secretary. These include the Office of the Secretary, Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the General Counsel.

What can and cant the HHS Secretary do?

Trump once promised to let RFK Jr. go wild on health, food and medicine.

The HHS Secretary has fairly significant power over these programs, KFF Health News journalist Julie Rovner told NPR.

The secretary can influence how those programs are implemented, can hire and fire employees and issue guidance and regulations, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, his power is limited.

Kennedy announced his plans to gut the FDAs nutrition departments and replace hundreds of NIH scientists. While he has some authority over hiring and firing decisions without Congressional approval, some experts say that he could run into some speed bumps.

If confirmed, the frequent vaccine critic, raw milk advocate and Covid-19 conspiracy theorist would oversee agencies critical to supporting Americans health, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and National Institute of Health. (AP)

Ashish Jha, MD, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told MedPage Today: "He can definitely reorganize ... but it's going to be hard to shut entire agencies down.

Some employees may choose to leave on their own accord. Last week, Trump ordered a federal hiring freeze and an in-person work requirement; his administration has also offered seven-month buyouts to federal employees should they opt to quit by February 6.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy has also promised major changes to the FDA. In October, he ominously wrote on X: FDAs war on public health is about to end.

He has authority to overrule some of the FDAs approvals. For example, during the Barack Obama administration, the HHS Secretary overruled the FDAs decision to make Plan B emergency contraception available over the counter.

Trump has already executed part of his anti-abortion agenda. If confirmed, Kennedy could further it by potentially imposing restrictions on mifepristone, one drug in a two-drug regimen for medication abortions, abortion advocates have warned.

Theres a possibility that RFK could take pretty dramatic steps on mifepristone, even without the approval of FDA, Mary Ziegler, a professor at the University of California, told Time.

The FDA approved the drug 25 years ago, but lawsuits targeting the abortion pill are already underway. More challenges could ensue if RFK Jr. decides to revoke or restrict the long-standing drug due to the FDAs requirements for taking medicines off the market, the Associated Press reported.
Does Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sound like the kind of sane individual you'd want to be in charge of this country's public healthy policy? Not according to his own family.

On Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy warned that her cousin, who's been nominated by President Trump to chair the Department of Health and Human Services, is not only a "predator" who's "addicted to attention and power," but also a total hypocrite that doesn't even follow the health advice he peddles to the public, the Washington Post reports.

These claims were made in a letter that Caroline Kennedy sent to senators ahead of RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearings this week. But they aren't the most bizarre or shocking details that she shared about her cousin. Far from it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's well documented that RFK Jr. used to have a pretty nasty drug addiction, and Caroline adds that he not only coaxed family members down the same path through his "strength of personality," but ran a veritable drug den where liked to exhibit animals being sentenced to death by meat grinder.

"His basement, his garage, his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks," Caroline wrote. "It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence."

It's a harrowing detail, but it tracks. RFK Jr. has a strangely well fleshed-out history of doing weird and gross stuff with animals. For example, he purportedly sent a friend a picture of himself about to chomp down on the barbecued carcass of what he suggested was a dog (though he later denied this and claimed it was a goat).

The Kennedy scion also inadvertently spawned a nearly decade-long mystery by dumping a bear cub carcass in Central Park and staging it to look like a bike accident  that is, after his failed attempt to bring the deceased bear back home to eat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rest assured, the saga doesn't end there. His daughter Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy claims that RFK Jr., while roadtripping with his family, used a chainsaw to lop off the head of a beached whale, before strapping the cetacean trophy to the roof of their minivan on their drive back. As one does.

That's all utterly bizarre, of course. But hey, is any of this necessarily disqualifying to be the chief health guy? If you don't think so, you might be interested in what Caroline says about his two-facedness on vaccines.

Despite taking issue with the label, RFK Jr. is a prominent anti-vaxxer who repeatedly peddles conspiracy theories about the disease-preventing medical intervention. His opportunistic stoking of anti-vaccine policy in Samoa coincided with an outbreak of measles that killed dozens of children.

Yet privately, according to Caroline, RFKJr. vaccinates his own children. He also profits off of the vaccine industry, she says, citing a New York Times report which disclosed his stake in a manufacturer of an HPV vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls," Caroline Kennedy wrote, per WaPo.

RFK Jr's confirmation hearings in the Senate start this Wednesday.

More on politics: Trump Administration Throws Cancer Research Into Turmoil
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplayed and denied his past anti-vaccine statements while testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, dismissing his long history of vaccine denials as he seeks to be confirmed as health secretary.

Kennedy addressed the issue in his opening statement, declaring himself neither anti-vaccine nor anti-industry. I am pro-safety, he told senators. All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in health care.

Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the committee, grilled the longtime anti-vaccine advocate on his conflicting stories about vaccines. The Oregon Democrat asked Kennedy about his comment in a July 2023 interview that no vaccine is safe and effective and his remarks in 2020 that he would do anything and pay anything to go back in time and not vaccinate his children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy responded that he had been interrupted by the interviewer, Lex Fridman, in the 2023 interview before he could finish his thoughts.

I said, there are no vaccines that are safe and effective and I was going to continue, for every person, he said. Every medicine has people who are sensitive to them, including vaccines, right? So he interrupted me at that point.

Kennedy also repeated his denial of any involvement in a measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019. At the time, there was growing skepticism of the measles vaccine after nurses accidentally mixed it with a muscle relaxant, causing the death of two infants. As vaccine rates dipped, Kennedy traveled to Samoa on the invitation of a local anti-vaccine activist and helped boost doubts about the vaccine. A measles outbreak ensued in the following months.

Kennedy told Wyden that his trip to Samoa had nothing to do with vaccines and that he was there to introduce a medical informatics system to the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You cannot find a single Samoan who will say I didnt get a vaccine because of Bobby Kennedy, he said.

As NBC News reported, Kennedy, at the very least, tried to exploit the initial vaccine accident to promote anti-vaccine misinformation that may have cost lives.

CORRECTION (Jan. 29, 2025, 4:02 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the name of a podcaster who interviewed Kennedy in 2023. It is Lex Fridman, not Lex Friedman.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Political campaign donors are getting more brazen about what they expect to buy with their dollar.

Nicole Shanahan, a Silicon Valley lawyer and investor, impressed upon a handful of lawmakers late Tuesday the importance of confirming her former third-party running mate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. But within the folds of the message lay a dark and direct warning for two specific senators whose campaigns she backed five years ago.

This hasnt been widely reported, but in 2020 I cut large checks to Chuck Schumer to help Democrats flip two Senate seats from red to blue, Shanahan said in a video posted to X. The two candidates I helped select: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, please know I will be watching your votes very closely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of Americas children, she said.

The ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin then went on to challenge the potential no votes from multiple other politicians, promising to find and back political challengers to their seats if they didnt swing for Kennedy.

And more than that, I also want to say to Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Tom Tillis, James Lankford, Corey Booker, John Fetterman, Bernie Sanders, and Catherine Cortez Mastothis is a bipartisan message, and it comes directly from me, while Bobby may be willing to play nice, I wont, Shanahan warned.

If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me. Youre either on the side of transparency and accountability, or youre standing in the way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy, a virulent vaccine conspiracy theorist, is slated for two confirmation hearings this week. He will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. and will face further questioning from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension, or HELP, Committee on Thursday.

Dear U.S. Senators,



Bobby may play nice; I wont. pic.twitter.com/G9SZjZhFYR  Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) January 29, 2025

Kennedys history in public health is questionable at best. His stances, which include unscientific beliefs that AIDS is not caused by HIV and that a large number of vaccines should be stripped from the market, could have major impacts on the agency designed to protect Americas health, especially as bird flu outbreaks begin to dot the country.



In December, Donald Trump announced that Kennedy would spend his time at the top of HHS researching an already thoroughly debunked conspiracy that ties vaccine usage to autism rates.

And Kennedys vaccine conspiracies arent just easily refutable, anti-vax hogwashtheyve caused legitimate, real-world harm. Preceding a deadly measles outbreak on the Pacific islands of Samoa in 2019, Kennedys anti-vax nonprofit Childrens Health Defense spread rampant misinformation about the efficacy of vaccines, sending the nations vaccination rate plummeting from the 6070 percent range to just 31 percent, according to Mother Jones. That year, the country reported 5,707 cases of measlesan illness that was declared eliminated by the United States in 2000 thanks to advancements in modern medicine (read: vaccines)as well as 83 measles-related deaths, the majority of which were children under the age of 5.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Further still, the 71-year-olds private life has given pause to a number of lawmakers responsible for confirming him. Kennedy has publicly admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park, was accused of (and sort of apologized for) groping his childrens babysitter in the late 1990s, and last week was described by his cousin Caroline Kennedy as a predator who is addicted to attention and power.

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together, the former ambassador to Australia and Japan wrote in a letter to lawmakers obtained by The Washington Post.

His basement, his garage, his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks, she continued. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.
WASHINGTON (NewsNation)  Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faced senators on the Finance Committee Wednesday for the first of two confirmation hearings.

During opening comments, Kennedy touted the Make America Healthy Again movement and decried the United States rising rates of diseases such as obesity, addiction and diabetes.

Americans overall health is in a grievous condition, Kennedy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If confirmed, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

What are RFK Jr.s views on vaccines and abortion?

Kennedy, a former 2024 independent presidential candidate who dropped out and endorsed Trump, has sparked concerns about his record of spreading misinformation regarding vaccines. He has made claims linking vaccines to autism and previously said on the Lex Fridman podcast that no vaccine is safe and effective.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trumps funding freeze

However, more recently, Kennedy has tried to downplay his past remarks and work, asserting he is not anti-vaccine and promising not to take away shots if confirmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, Kennedy said Fridman interrupted him during his podcast appearance after being questioned about his comments by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Are you lying to Congress today when you say youre pro-vaccine or did you lie on all of those podcasts? Wyden asked Kennedy.

In response, Kennedy said what he meant to say was that there are no vaccines that are safe and effective for every person.

News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry  I am neither. I am pro-safety, Kennedy said at the hearing before being interrupted by a protestor, who was escorted out.

Later, Kennedy said he supports the measles and polio vaccine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking any of those vaccines, Kennedy said.

However, Kennedy made a false statement in front of lawmakers Wednesday that children under six basically have a zero risk of COVID.

According to several studies, COVID-19 was a leading cause of death for children 1 to 4. The University of Oxford found it ranked seventh as a cause of death among that age group between 2021 and 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends COVID-19 vaccines for those 6 months and older, and says the inoculation is safe for children.

On Wednesday, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. said Kennedy has peddled in half-truths and false statements and theories creating doubt about things that we know are safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says it with such conviction, you want to believe him, Bennet said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, brought up how a group Kennedy used to chair, the Childrens Health Defense, sold baby onesies with phrases on them such as Unvaxxed and Unafraid and No Vax, No problem.

Kennedy said he has no power in that organization.

When Sanders asked whether he supported the onesies, Kennedy said hes supportive of vaccines.

Some Republicans are worried about Kennedys past support of abortion rights. Former Vice President Mike Pence has suggested the Senate reject Kennedy based on his position.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked by Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford about abortion, Kennedy said he agrees with Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.

I agree with him that the states should control abortion, Kennedy said. I serve at the pleasure of the president, Im going to implement his policies.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, grilled Kennedy about his previous statements on abortion, asking him when he decided to sell out in order to be given power by Trump?

RFK Jr. vows to take on food additives if confirmed as HHS secretary

Kennedy said Democrats on the committee were opposed to him for partisan issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When he was an environmental lawyer, Kennedy said, they agreed with him.

But now, theyre against him, Kennedy said, because anything that President Trump does, any decision he makes has to be lampooned, derided, discredited, marginalized, vilified.

RFK Jr. asked about Medicaid

Questioned by Democratic Rep. Bill Cassidy, a doctor from Louisiana, about reforms hes proposing on Medicaid, Kennedy answered that he doesnt have a broad proposal for dismantling the program.

He inaccurately claimed that Medicaid is fully paid for by the federal government when in reality, states and federal taxpayers fund it.

Pressed on whether he would cut Medicaid if Trump asked him to do it, Kennedy said thats not up to him, but to Congress. He claimed most Americans would prefer to be on private insurance, though.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Do we think its working for anybody? Kennedy asked about Medicaid.

To that, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said for literally hundreds of thousands of Virginians, Medicaid is what prevents them from health crises on a daily and weekly basis.

Caroline Kennedy slams RFK Jr. as a predator

Meanwhile, a searing letter to senators from Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, was entered by some senators into the record.

In the letter, Caroline Kennedy, former ambassador to Australia and Japan, called Kennedy a predator, urging lawmakers to block his confirmation. She also made claims that he preys on the desperation of parents of sick children and highlighted allegations of drug use and animal mutilation, warning he is addicted to power and thus disqualified from leading HHS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike Bobby, I try not to speak for my father  but I am certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public service, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving healthcare, would be disgusted, Caroline Kennedy wrote.

Lara Trump: Caroline Kennedys comments on RFK Jr. disgusting

Wednesdays confirmation hearing began at 10 a.m. ET. Kennedys second hearing is set for Thursday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee.

The Associated Press and NewsNation digital producer Cassie Buchman 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 NewsNation.
(NewsNation)  The Kennedy family has a storied history in American politics. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a scion of the prominent Democratic political dynasty that included his uncle and former President John F. Kennedy, his father, the late senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and his mother, social justice trailblazer Ethel Kennedy.

RFK Jr., like his father, ran for president. The senior Kennedy was shot and killed during his candidacy as a Democrat, while the junior Kennedy, who ran on the independent ticket, withdrew from the 2024 race and issued his support for President Donald Trump.

What is RFK Jr.s net worth?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump later nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which has ignited a family feud.

Heres a breakdown of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s closest family members and the Kennedy family legacy.

Caroline Kennedy

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA  APRIL 15: Caroline Kennedy the US Ambassador to Australia during the round seven NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on April 15, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Caroline Kennedy is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy and the cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She previously served as a U.S. ambassador to Japan and Australia.

She is the latest Kennedy to condemn Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the spotlight. On Jan. 28, Caroline Kennedy urged U.S. lawmakers to reject her cousins nomination to be the nations health chief.

Caroline Kennedy said her cousin lacks any relevant government, financial, management or medical experience to qualify him to lead the nations health agencies  but added that his personal qualities pose even greater concern.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caroline Kennedys comments on RFK Jr. disgusting: Lara Trump

I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together. Its no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator, she wrote in a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance and HELP committees.

Caroline Kennedy said that she has siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse and suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie and cheat his way through life.

She also accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of expropriating her own fathers image and distorting his legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike Bobby, I try not to speak for my father  but I am certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public service, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving health care, would be disgusted, she wrote.

Cheryl Hines

Actress Cheryl Hines (R) and her husband, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., greet supporters during a campaign event

Robert F. Kennedy is married to Cheryl Hines, an actress known best for her role in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

While she stuck by her husbands side through his presidential run, she was not in lockstep with his endorsement of Trump.

This is really difficult for Cheryl, Kennedy told TMZ. This is the opposite of what she would want to do. She went along with it because she loves me and she wanted to be supportive of me, but it was not something that she ever encouraged.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I would say, her trepidation about this and her discomfort with this, were the dominant feelings.

Described as a lifelong Democrat by her husband, Hines has remained supportive of her husband despite differing political beliefs.

Mary Richardson Kennedy

(L-R) Mary Richardson Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kyra LeMoyne Kennedy attend the RFK Center Ripple of Hope Awards dinner at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on November 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic)

Mary Richardson Kennedy, an architect, was married to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

They had four children together: Conor Kennedy, Kyra Kennedy, Aidan Kennedy and Finn Kennedy. The couple separated in 2010. He reportedly initiated divorce proceedings following 16 years of marriage.

RFK Jr. had two children with his first wife, Emily Ruth Black: son Robert Francis Kennedy III and daughter Kick Kennedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A look at executive orders President Donald Trump has signed

RFK Jr. and Mary Richardson Kennedy were still technically married when she died by suicide in 2012. She was 52.

Jack Schlossberg

UNITED STATES  AUGUST 20: Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy speaks on the second night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jack Schlossberg, a writer, is the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy and the son of Caroline Kennedy. Ahead of the 2024 election, he joined Vogue as a political correspondent.

Schlossberg has a background in law and business, having received a JD and MBA from Harvard.

Schlossberg has praised his grandfather as his hero, but he does not share the same sentiment for RFK Jr. Schlossberg made headlines for his public criticism of RFK Jr.s presidential run.

These are the issues that matter. And if my cousin, Bobby Kennedy Jr., cared about any of them, he would support Joe Biden, too, Schlossberg said at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Schlossberg has a big following on social media, where he posts about politics and comedic sketches on TikTok.

RFK Jr.s children

NEW YORK CITY, NY  APRIL 22: (L-R) Kick Kennedy, Susan Benedetto, Tony Bennett, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Kyra Kennedy, Mary Richardson Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy III attend Riverkeepers 2009 Fishermens Ball at Pier 60 on April 22, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by WILL RAGOZZINO/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

RFK Jr. had two children with his first wife, Emily Ruth Black: son Robert Francis Kennedy III and daughter Kick Kennedy.

RFK Jr. had four children with his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy: Conor Kennedy, Kyra Kennedy, Aidan Kennedy and Finn Kennedy.

He is also stepfather to Hines daughter, Catherine Rose Young.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trumps controversial nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, faced tough questions about his long record of anti-vaccine advocacy and other conspiracy theories at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.

After Kennedy told the committee in his opening statement that he did not oppose vaccines and that his children had been vaccinated, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) noted he once told a podcast host he wished he could go back in time and not vaccinate his children.

Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine, or were you lying on those podcasts? asked Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy said those remarks were taken out of context, telling the senator that bringing this up right now is dishonest.

In 2023, Kennedy said in a podcast interview that Theres no vaccine that is safe and effective, and in a 2021 podcast he urged people to resist Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on when kids should get vaccinated. He said he wished he could go back and not get his kids vaccinated. I would do anything for that. I would pay anything to be able to do that, he said.

But in his hearing on Wednesday, Kennedy sought to assuage skeptical senators about his anti-vaccine record.

I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines, Kennedy said, contradicting his many past comments questioning the safety of both.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anybody that believes that ought to look at the measles book you wrote, saying parents have been misled in saying measles is a deadly disease. Thats not true, Wyden said.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) also pressed Kennedy about spreading a wild conspiracy theory about the tick-borne illness Lyme disease, claiming it is a military bioweapon and blaming vaccine research for creating the disease.

Did you say that Lyme disease is highly likely a materially engineered bioweapon? Bennet asked him.

I probably did say that, Kennedy responded. And thats what the developer of Lyme disease said.

Democrats also entered into the committee record a scathing statement from Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.s cousin and another prominent member of the Kennedy family, warning senators not to confirm him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who once roomed with Kennedy in law school, asked him to promise that he will never question the safety of vaccines.

Frankly, you frighten people, Whitehouse said, noting a recent measles outbreak in Rhode Island.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. starts the first of two days of confirmation hearings on Wednesday, it wont be just a big moment for the former environmental lawyer and presidential candidate. It will also be a breakthrough event for the once-fringe anti-vaccine movement, as Senators weigh allowing one of its most high-profile boosters to head the nations top health agency.

Vaccines prevent tens of thousands of deaths and millions of cases of disease each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical experts are concerned that those gains are in jeopardy. The percentage of Americans who consider childhood vaccines important has declined in the past two decades. According to polling from Gallup released last year, about 40% of Americans say it is extremely important for parents to have their children vaccinated. That is down from 58% in 2019 and 64% in 2001.

For decades, Kennedy has been one of the most well-known anti-vaxers in the country, helping spread doubts about their safety in the face of decades of medical data that shows they have saved lives and improved public health. He has also helped legal efforts to tear down vaccine mandates. After a 2015 measles outbreak at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. showed that a large number of infected patients hadnt been vaccinated, Kennedy helped lobby to block several state efforts to close loopholes in vaccine requirements. In 2019, Kennedy helped spread anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa as the Pacific Island nation was in the midst of a deadly measles epidemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the health committee on Thursday. Whether or not he is confirmed, those high-profile hearings could amount to an advertisement for the anti-vax movement, some fear. Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the current president and CEO of the health nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives, warns against the dangers of feeding anti-vax sentiment, which he describes as a matter of life and death.

Undermining confidence in vaccines undermines the health and safety of children and all Americans, Frieden says. False and misleading claims about vaccines also divert energy and attention from figuring out what really causes chronic illnesses such as autism.

Trump told voters during the campaign that he would let Kennedy go wild on health care. While Kennedy has in recent months talked often about a desire to target ultraprocessed foods, many of his supporters expect him to make major changes to the course of U.S. vaccine policy. Kennedys allies have encouraged him to dismantle the governments panel on vaccine safety and recommendations, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. If confirmed as HHS secretary, Kennedy would be able to stack the panel with vaccine skeptics.

Read more: Trump Draws False Link Between Vaccines and Autism in TIME Interview

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Advocates who have been working to undermine public faith in childhood vaccine requirements for decades have been giddy to find themselves welcomed into Donald Trumps revamped Republican Party. They even had their own ball last week during Trumps inauguration festivities. The MAHA Inaugural Ball, using the acronym for Make American Healthy Again, was sponsored by MAHA Action, the political action committee Kennedy started last year after suspending his own fledgling presidential bid and endorsing Trump.

Del Bigtree, the founder of the Informed Consent Action Network that promotes allowing parents to opt out of childhood vaccine requirements, described the ball as an amazing moment during a broadcast of his online show The HighWire. Bigtree was also a former spokesman for Kennedys presidential campaign. Media covered it, there was Vogue articles and Fox and so many different reporters covered the MAHA ball, very very exciting, and all the whos who of holistic health and fitness and wellness and nutrition, all in one buildingmany of the O.G.s of the vaccine risk-awareness movement.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks during an anti-vaccine mandate rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23, 2022. Eric LeeBloomberg via Getty Images

In his testimony before his Senate hearing on Wednesday, Kennedy plans to say hes not anti-vaccine or anti-industry and that hes pro-safety, according to Bloomberg News. That is an abrupt shift from his years of public skepticism and advancing the debunked claim that the measles vaccine is linked to autism and the false idea that the polio vaccine is more deadly than polio itself.

Kennedy is all but certain to face questioning at his hearings from multiple long-time vaccine supporters, including Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor who has promoted vaccines in his home state of Louisiana. Cassidy will have the chance to question Kennedy both days, as he is chairman of the Senate health committee and sits on the finance committee. It is unclear how much Cassidy will focus on vaccines during his questioning, but he said on Fox News Sunday earlier this month that Kennedy was wrong on vaccinations.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest to Deadline.

Welling was taken into custody by local police just after midnight on January 26, in the parking lot of an Arby's restaurant in Yreka, a city located in Northern California.

Reports obtained by Deadline indicate that Welling had a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above the legal limit of 0.08 per cent.

He was booked at the scene and released from custody a few hours later, according to reports from the sheriff's department, obtained by Deadline.

Details surrounding the arrest remain sparse at this time, and no additional information has been disclosed by the authorities.

Tom Welling, who gained fame for his role as Clark Kent on 'Smallville', most recently starred as L.A.P.D. Lieutenant Marcus Pierce in 'Lucifer'.

Welling has also appeared in other popular TV series such as 'Professionals', 'Batwoman', and 'Judging Amy'.

On the film front, he has been part of projects like 'Draft Day', 'Parkland', 'Cheaper by the Dozen', 'Cheaper by the Dozen 2', and 'The Fog'.

His latest TV appearance was as Samuel Campbell in 'The Winchesters', a spinoff of 'Supernatural'. (ANI)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr will insist that he isnt anti-vaccine at his Senate confirmation hearing as President Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.

I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety, Kennedy will say in his opening statement, according to Fox News Digital.

RFK Jr. is Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Kennedys nomination to Trumps Cabinet has faced some of the strongest resistance among the presidents appointments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over 15,000 doctors signed a letter this month urging senators not to approve Kennedys appointment, calling him actively dangerous and slamming his well-documented history of spreading dangerous disinformation on vaccines and public health interventions, leaving vulnerable communities unprotected and placing millions of lives at risk.

That letter followed a similar intervention in December from 77 Nobel laureates who warned lawmakers that Kennedy has been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, as well as a promoter of conspiracy theories about remarkably successful treatments.

Kennedy has attempted to ease anxieties about his views on vaccines since Trumps election victory in November, publicly declaring that he doesnt intend to take vaccines away from people.

Hes now set to try and give further reassurances at his confirmation hearings which will begin before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and continue at the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy will highlight in his opening statement that all of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.

In my advocacy, I have disturbed the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions, hell say, according to Fox News. Well, I wont apologize for that. We have massive health problems in this country that we must face honestly.

Criticism of Kennedys appointment hasnt just come from the medical community.

His cousin, Caroline Kennedy, told the Senate on Tuesday that she views him as a predator who has enriched himself through his crusade against vaccination. The former ambassador to Australia also said she thought his views on vaccines are dangerous, during a speech at the National Press Club of Australia in November.

Kennedy has attempted to quell concerns about his views on vaccines since Trumps election victory. / Thomas Machowicz

In his opening statement, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thank his wifeCurb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hinesas well as all the members of my large extended family, for the love that they have so generously shared, according to Fox News.

Ours has always been a family devoted to public service, and I look forward to continuing that legacy, Kennedy will say. He will also express his gratitude to Trump for choosing him to be the man to deliver on [Trumps] promise to make America healthy again.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing Senate lawmakers on Wednesday in his confirmation hearings to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Donald Trump.

Kennedy has frequently promoted views at odds with the consensus of public health researchers and the mainstream scientific community, including falsely claiming that certain vaccines cause autism and calling for fluoride to be removed from drinking water, claiming it harms adolescent development.

The environmental attorney has vowed to crack down on dyes in the food industry and has called for restrictions on ultra-processed foods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: RFK Jr. wants to regulate farms and food, but may face GOP opposition

During a charity dinner last year in New York City, Trump pledged Kennedy would "go wild on health" and that Kennedy "wants healthy people, he wants healthy food."

Here's a look at where Kennedy stands on several health issues:

PHOTO: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, speaks during a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP, FILE)

Questioning vaccine safety

Although Kennedy has denied he is "anti-vaccine" and has said his children have been vaccinated, he has promoted views on vaccines that experts have refuted.

During a 2023 interview on Fox News, Kennedy said he believes autism comes from vaccines, a myth born from a now-debunked paper from the U.K. in 1998 that claimed the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine caused autism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The paper has since been discredited by health experts, retracted from the journal in which it was published, and its primary author, Andrew Wakefield, lost his medical license after the paper was discredited and an investigation found he had acted "dishonestly and irresponsibly" in conducting his research. More than a dozen high-quality studies have since found no evidence of a link between childhood vaccines and autism.

Kennedy has also spread what the medical community has considered to be vaccine misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, falsely claiming the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous.

During a December 2021 Louisiana House of Representatives meeting discussing a proposal to require schoolchildren to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Kennedy falsely called the vaccine the "deadliest vaccine ever made."

PHOTO: Stock photo of a woman getting Covid-19 vaccine. (D3sign/Getty Images)

In the same year, Kennedy petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revoke its authorization of all COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA denied the petition three months later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Health officials say COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective following clinical trials that involved tens of thousands of people, and have since helped save millions of lives.

Removing artificial dyes from foods

Kennedy has been vocal about his opposition to artificial dyes, calling for them to be removed from foods and beverages.

"The first thing I'd do isn't going to cost you anything because I'm just gonna tell the cereal companies: Take all the dyes out of their food," about actions he'd take as a member of the Trump administration, according to a social media post from the non-profit Children's Health Defense, of which Kennedy is a founder.

Kennedy has frequently cited Froot Loops as an example of a food with potentially harmful dyes, saying the version of the Kellogg's cereal sold abroad is healthier and has fewer ingredients compared to the U.S. version.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Doctors worried RFK Jr. will tout vaccine-skeptic views after he is picked for HHS secretary

Kellogg's has insisted its products are safe for consumption, saying the ingredients meet the federal standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Kennedy was wrong about the number of ingredients -- Canadian Froot Loops have 17 ingredients compared to 16 in the U.S. However, the two cereals differ when it comes to the use of dyes.

American Froot Loops contain artificial food dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1 while Canadian Froot Loops are colored with concentrated watermelon juice and blueberry juice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 2018 report from New York University and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change found artificial food colors may affect children's behavior and exacerbate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Recently the FDA said it was moving to ban the use of Red 3 dye in food products, beverages and ingested drugs, in response to a 2022 petition from health groups and activists.

Processed foods and chronic disease

Kennedy has criticized the U.S. food industry and the proliferation of ultra-processed foods, blaming them as one reason for the rise of chronic disease in the U.S.

"Hundreds of these chemicals are now banned in Europe, but they're ubiquitous in American processed foods," he said during a September 2024 roundtable discussion on health led by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. "We are literally poisoning our children systematically for profit."

PHOTO: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services walks to a meeting with Sen. Bernie Sander in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A 2021 joint study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil found that people who consumed more calories from ultra-processed foods had lower scores on tests measuring cardiovascular health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy has also railed against seed oils, calling them "one of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic" and has called on fast food restaurants to fry their products with animal fats instead.

Seed oils contain certain types of healthy fats that are good for the heart when used in moderation, decades of research shows.

Claims that fluoride affects children's development

In an interview with NPR in November, Kennedy doubled down on his promise that the Trump administration will recommend that local governments remove fluoride from their water supplies.

He has claimed that fluoride in drinking water affects children's neurological development and that other countries that have removed fluoride from their water supplies have not seen an increase in cavities. Some health professionals have expressed concerns about excessive fluoride intake and potential toxicity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, high-quality studies show fluoride prevents cavities and repairs damage to teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth. Fluoride also replaces minerals lost from teeth due to acid breakdown, according to the CDC.

ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud and Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.

As RFK Jr. faces Senate confirmation hearings, here's where he stands on vaccines, food dyes originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The scene Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to face in the Senate Wednesday not long ago would have seemed like something out of a bizarro world.

Before President Donald Trump named the scion of Democratic royalty and progressive activist to lead the governments health agencies, Republicans would have seen Kennedys views on vaccines, abortion, environmental regulation and food production as disqualifying. Not anymore. On Wednesday, look for many GOP senators on the Finance Committee to lob softballs Kennedys way. On the other side of the dais, Democrats who once craved Kennedys endorsement during their campaigns are expected to rebuke him.

Whether Kennedy will win the Finance panels approval and advance to a floor vote remains an open question. Any one Republican could complicate his confirmation hopes if Democrats are united in opposition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Kennedys nomination and the welcome reception from most Republicans nonetheless puts in stark contrast the conservative Republican Party that existed before Trump and the populist juggernaut Trump has made. The hearing will also show that the Kennedy name no longer demands Democratic deference, and that Kennedy himself is no longer the progressive environmentalist Democrats on the panel knew.



There are so many things about RFK Jr. that would seem to make him a Democratic appointee instead of a Republican one  but so much of that is overshadowed by his anti-vaccine views, which resonate with Republicans after the Covid experience, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president at the health policy think tank KFF.

If Kennedy advances to a floor vote, itll set off alarm bells among public health advocates about Republicans health agenda. Trump promised in the waning days of his campaign to let Kennedy, who has spent recent years maligning the public health establishment and discouraging Americans from getting vaccinated, to go wild on health.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is sending senators stories of the life-saving effects of vaccination, and it and the American Public Health Association, which represents public health workers, are planning a press conference to follow the Finance Committees hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To this point, no Republican senator has publicly opposed Kennedys nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Louisianas Bill Cassidy, who has a seat on Finance and will chair another hearing with Kennedy on Thursday of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued a tepid response after meeting with him earlier this month. A gastroenterologist before entering politics, Cassidy said they had had a frank conversation and that the two spoke at length about vaccines.



Hes since remained mum about how hell vote. Dont ask me about RFK  Im not answering, Cassidy said earlier this month.

Kennedys cousin and former President John F. Kennedys daughter, Caroline Kennedy, released a letter to senators on Tuesday decrying Kennedys crusade against vaccination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Kennedys history as an anti-vaccine activist doesnt seem to bother Finance member Roger Marshall, who is an OB-GYN and goes by doc. He told POLITICO he strongly supports Kennedy. Hes so enthused with Kennedys focus on the root causes of disease that he co-founded a caucus to help the nominee pursue his Make America Healthy Again agenda.

But theres more at stake than Kennedys views on vaccines, Levitt said.

He would be heading up an agency that oversees the health coverage for half the nation, he said, referring to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Thats been overshadowed by his views on vaccines and many other views that are counter to scientific consensus.

If Kennedy were to pursue even a fraction of the policy agenda he espoused as an activist, it would upend HHS and the public health system. Yet his history of demanding major changes to the food system hasnt scared off farmland senators in the GOP. Nor has his past support for abortion rights deterred the chambers anti-abortion advocates, despite a push by a group run by former Vice President Mike Pence to convince anti-abortion senators to vote no.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Industries that, historically, have cheered the deregulatory Cabinet nominees of Republican presidents are fretting about Kennedy  though doing so quietly.

On the Democratic side, look for some of the most critical questions to come from the progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, the state that lifted the Kennedy family to prominence.

Though Kennedys past support for government regulation to protect the environment and promote healthy food was progressive, progressives have mostly derided his candidacy to lead HHS.

Thats a function both of his efforts to sow doubts about vaccines  hes said the measles vaccine causes autism, the polio vaccine might have killed many, many, many, many, many more people than polio ever did, and the Covid shot was the deadliest vaccine ever made  and his decisions first to run for president against then-President Joe Biden and later to drop out and endorse Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement



The endorsement prompted five of Kennedys eight living siblings to denounce him, as did other extended family members.

Republican staffers, granted anonymity to frankly discuss the dynamics, say this weeks confirmation hearings have the potential to make an uncomfortable vote downright difficult  and test Trumps power over the Senate.

But the disruption that Kennedy brings to the health policy conversation could be useful to move beyond gridlock, some experts believe.

It is a breath of fresh air to hear chronic diseases and prevention be talked about on the national stage as the most important health care policy topic, Dr. Anand Parekh, who served as a career executive at HHS and is now chief medical adviser at the Bipartisan Policy Center think tank, said. The question is, even though the diagnosis is right, is the prescription right?



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Besides Kennedys views, the nominees personal behavior could be a subject of questioning. Eliza Cooney told Vanity Fair last summer that Kennedy forcibly groped her in the late 1990s. Kennedy, who said the Vanity Fair report was a lot of garbage, later apologized to Cooney but said he had no memory of the events. Even so, when asked about the incident, he admitted: Im not a church boy.

Then theres Kennedys campaign season admissions that he dumped a dead bear in Central Park and that the National Marine Fisheries Service was investigating him for cutting off a whales head and driving it home three decades ago.

Pences group has raised other concerns: Kennedys theory that wireless technology causes toxins to enter the brain and his past heroin addiction.

The Washington Post on Tuesday published a letter from Kennedys cousin Patrick, who has struggled with addiction and is the son of former Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), defending Kennedys ideas about treating substance use disorder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy has sought to assure GOP senators he is more concerned about Trumps vision for the country than his own  and that hes changed his mind about many of his past views.

Kennedy has told them hes now all for" the polio shot, for example, and Trump has said his pick is ready to work with the pharmaceutical industry hes long demonized.

Kennedy allies are trying to woo not only Republicans but also Democrats they think could back him, like Nevadas Catherine Cortez Masto, who has a seat on Finance. In the run-up to his hearing, Kennedy made his case to others on the panel, including Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), in private meetings.

But senators have also weathered more than $1 million in ads opposing Kennedy's run by health groups aligned with the Democratic Party.

Theyll have to decide where they stand after hearing from Kennedy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has been tough to tie down to one stance on abortion. For most of his career, he has supported itin stark contrast to the views of many prominent figures in the current Administration.

But in a Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 29, Kennedy clarified his position on abortion. I serve at the pleasure of the President," he said in response to a question about his abortion beliefs. "Im going to implement his policies.

The following day, Kennedy further cemented his new position when asked if he was hiring people who are pro-life for his department. "Yes, I am," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's what to know about Kennedy's past and current stance on abortion.

What Kennedy has said in the past about abortion

Kennedy, a former Democrat, has long advocated for women's reproductive rights and supported a woman's right to choose whether or not she gets an abortion. As a presidential candidate in May 2024, Kennedy described every abortion as a tragedy but said the decision should be left up to women, going as far as to say this freedom to choose should extend to full-term pregnancies.

Shortly after, in a long post on X, he clarified his statement but essentially continued to back abortion. I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point. I believe that point should be when the baby is viable outside the womb. Therefore I would allow appropriate restrictions on abortion in the final months of pregnancy, just as Roe v. Wade did."

Read More: RFK Jr. Denied He Is Anti-Vaccine During His Confirmation Hearing. Heres His Record

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a video he posted to Facebook in June, he further explained that his stance on late-term abortion, in particular, had evolved. He initially believed that the only reason a woman would get an abortion in the third trimester is if the pregnancy put her life at risk or the baby had a fatal condition. I dont think a bureaucrat or a judge is better equipped than the babys own mother to decide what to do in those circumstances, he said.

"I had been assuming that virtually all late-term abortions were such cases, but Ive learned that my assumption was wrong," he wrote on X. "Sometimes, women abort healthy, viable late-term fetuses. These cases of purely 'elective' late-term abortion are very upsetting. Once the baby is viable outside the womb, it should have rights and it deserves societys protection."

His position on abortion now

At the Jan. 29 confirmation hearing, Kennedy stuck to a different refrain: "I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy," he said several times. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if there are 1.2 million abortions a year," he also said. "I agree with him that states should control abortion.

The statements reflect Kennedy's changing position as he attempts to appease Trump's conservative anti-abortion supporters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More: The Origins of the Anti-Vaccination Movement

Numerous Democratic senators pointed out his past pro-choice position in the hearing. "I have never seen any major politician flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did when Trump asked you to become HHS Secretary," said Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, asked if a pregnant woman with a life-threatening bleed should be able to get an emergency abortion even if her state bans them. "You would agree, also as an attorney, that federal law protects her right to that emergency care. Correct? Kennedy responded after a long pause, I dont know.

A clash with conservatives and changing stances

Kennedy's views on abortion have put him at odds with more conservative Republicans, who have successfully instituted abortion bans in 13 states. The anti-abortion agenda outlined in Project 2025from which President Trump has already drawn for many of actions early in his second termcalls for an end to abortion medications, which is how most women in the U.S. get abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Concerned that new policies could restrict or remove that access, some providers have reported spikes in these requests after Trump was elected President in November.

But Kennedy made it clear that on abortion medication, too, he would defer to Trump to inform his new stance. "President Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone," Kennedy said during the Jan. 29 hearingdespite the fact that the medication has already been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective. "He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does, I will implement those policies, and I will work with this committee make those policies make sense."

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to convince a Congressional committee to confirm him as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, the environmental lawyer and controversial activist was an undergraduate at Harvard University looking to satisfy his last requirement for graduation: a senior thesis.

Kennedy, the son of slain Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr. and a member of the storied Kennedy family made up of a former president, as well as a number politicians and dignitaries, needed a thesis on any topic he wanted, one that would take him far from campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts to the Deep South in 1975.

In The Kennedys: An American Drama, authors Peter Collier and David Horovitz wrote about Kennedys friendship with professor Robert Coles, whose own interests in the South influenced him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Largely because of Coles deep involvement with the South and southern literature, Bobby decided to go to Alabama to look for a subject for a senior thesis, Collier and Horovitz wrote.

Accompanied by roommate and future journalist Peter Kaplan, Kennedy rented a house in Montgomery, where he met several times with former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who was then gearing up for a third-party presidential run. Kennedy was quickly noticed by political operators in town, especially during one visit to the Legislature.

There was an air of business being carried on with slight boredom. But when Bobby entered, there was a sudden electricity, Kaplan was quoted as saying. A couple of the more liberal members came over and then suddenly everyone was mobbing him, grabbing his hands and slapping him on the back. It was like something had clicked.

However, Kennedy quickly turned his focus to that of Judge Frank M. Johnson, whose judicial legacy rested on desegregating Alabama and, through his fights with Wallace, working to give more credence to the growing civil rights movement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bobby began to interview Johnson extensively, fleshing out a story of how he had used his influence and power to achieve reforms of judicial, prison, and mental health systems in Alabama, and how he had waged virtually a one-man war against Wallace and the segregationists, the book stated. Bobby intended to be in Alabama only a few weeks but wound up staying much of the semester, talking to Johnson and those around him.

The work resulted in Kennedys thesis, Judge Frank Johnson and Judicial Activism in Alabama, which Kennedy claimed received a cum plus distinction, the equivalent of an A at Harvard. Despite questions over Kennedys contributions to the final thesis, especially claims from RFK Jr. biographer Jerry Oppenheimer, those in Kennedys circle pushed for the thesis to be turned into a book, especially after Johnson was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to head the FBI.

Following an article for The Tennessean that Kennedy wrote about Johnson in 1977, Putnam published his book, Judge Frank M. Johnson: A Biography in 1978. However, the 288-page book received lackluster reviews from both the local and national press.

There was a time I would have said Frank M. Johnson Jr. deserved everything good anybody had to say about him, Tuscaloosa News staff writer Jack Wheat wrote. Since then Ive read the biography Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and have changed my mind. Surely Johnson deserves better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A review in The New York Times was less forgiving.

But in only a few scattered passages has Mr. Kennedys friendship with the judge produced information that cannot be gleaned from newspaper and magazine clippings, future NYT editor Howell Raines wrote.

Nonetheless, RFK Jr. continued to keep ties in Alabama, heading up Southern operations for his uncle, Ted Kennedys, 1980 presidential run. Following Johnsons death in 1999, RFK Jr. returned to Alabama to attend the funeral.

He is as much an American hero as the leaders of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, RFK Jr. told The Associated Press following the funeral.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outside of his connection to Johnson, RFK Jr. remained active in speaking in Alabama, as well as working on different environmental issues across the state.

I did a lot of litigation in this state, RFK Jr. said during a speech at the University of Alabama during his short-lived presidential campaign in 2024. Alabama is a second home to 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 CBS 42.
Senators voting on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. s nomination as health secretary on Wednesday have been put on notice.

Nicole Shanahan , a Silicon Valley lawyer who ran as RFK Jr.s vice presidential running mate last year, said she would do everything in her power to ruin the careers of any senators who vote against his nomination for Health and Human Services secretary.

She even name-dropped multiple senatorsboth Democrats and Republicansin a brief video message posted on X Tuesday evening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shanahan said she quietly cut large checks to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in the last election to boost the campaigns of Georgia Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

Please know I will be watching your votes very closely, she told the lawmakers. I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of Americas children.

Dear U.S. Senators,



Bobby may play nice; I wont. pic.twitter.com/G9SZjZhFYR  Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) January 29, 2025

Shanahan, founder and CEO of the patent management firm ClearAccessIP, was reportedly made a billionaire by her divorce settlement from Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

The couple split in 2021 after three years together and got divorced in 2023 after Shanahan, 39, allegedly had an affair with tech mogul Elon Musk. Both of them have denied the rumors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shanahan also called out Sens. Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, James Lankford, Cory Booker, John Fetterman, Bernie Sanders, and Catherine Cortez Masto in her video.

This is a bipartisan message, and it comes directly from me, she said. While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I wont if you vote against him. I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me.

Shanahan also urged her supporters to call their senators and demand they vote to confirm RFK Jr., who also goes by Bobby.

RFK Jr., a vaccine skeptic who has pushed several questionable public health policies, will face the Senate for his confirmation hearing as Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger believes Russia was frustrated with the expansion of the West's military supplies, and that is why it planned his assassination.

Source: Papperger in an interview with BNS during his visit to Lithuania; European Pravda reports

Details: Papperger believes that countries like Russia are "not very happy" with Rheinmetall's assistance to Western countries in defence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "I think it's quite obvious that countries like Russia are not very happy that we, as the world's largest producer of large-calibre ammunition, are helping Western countries in terms of defence."

Details: At the same time, he said the police were taking care of his safety.

Background:

Notably, Papperger's statement followed NATO's official announcement on 28 January that Russia intended to kill him.

The Alliance reports that the Kremlin's plans were foiled by US and German intelligence and were only part of Russia's efforts to assassinate defence industry executives across Europe.

Rheinmetall is the largest and most successful German manufacturer of important 155 mm artillery shells, which have become a key weapon in Russia's war in Ukraine.

In particular, as reported on 6 January, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine ordered additional 35mm ammunition from Rheinmetall for the Gepard anti-aircraft system.

Support UP or become our patron!
PROVIDENCE  For the first time in Rhode Island, Providence is on track to add a designated LGBTQ+ landmark to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) was awarded nearly $75,000 from the National Park Service to research sites associated with LGBTQ+ history and to nominate a location for the register over the next two years.

There are thousands of sites in Rhode Island that are on the national register, said PPS Executive Director Marisa Brown. But there is not one that was listed solely because of its history and relationship to LGBTQ+ histories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In collaboration with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), PPS will build on existing efforts to document LGBTQ+ history thats systematically underrepresented in the archival world and on the National Register.

The RKO Army dances on its float in the 2024 PrideFest parade through downtown Providence on June 15.

How will a site be chosen?

The grant will pay for hiring a consultant with relevant research experience and for surveying up to 50 properties. This means researching the sites histories and documenting their locations and current appearances. The project will launch in March and go through October 2027.

It really is early to say what might make the cut, but the kinds of properties that we probably are going to find ourselves looking at could be places associated with organizations of significance to the LGBTQ civil rights movement, said RIHPHC Deputy Director Joanna Doherty. They could be gathering places where people found community over the years, like a pub, or a bar or a residence where a lot of queer people lived or the route of the first gay pride march, which was in 1976.

Brown and Doherty both noted that one of the projects first phases will involve community engagement and hearing directly from people with lived experiences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This work can only be done by building on all that has been done over the last decades to collect a lot of these stories and documents, said Brown.

What about the RI LGBTQ+ Community Archive

Doherty thinks the RI LGBTQ+ Community Archive will be a real treasure trove of great information.

An initiative of Providence Public Library, the archive collects materials that chronicle the social, cultural and political history of LGBTQ+ Rhode Islanders, such as newspapers, magazine and oral history interviews.

Unlike some of the librarys other special collections, this one isnt necessarily focused on expanding its physical collection in the building, explained Jordan Goffin, the library's director of special collections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its about having an ongoing relationship with the people and communities who have a chance to speak for how that material and history is kept and made available in the future, he said.

Downtown Providence and LGBTQ+ history

In 2018 the library and the preservation and heritage commission collaborated with other organizations to offer walking tours around downtown Providence, stopping at 10 locations with LGBTQ+ significance. Tours have been offered intermittently since then, but a website dedicated to the locations is still live, according to Goffin.

Its become one of the most popular and vital areas of our collection, he said.

Doherty said the tour was a huge step forward, but It really focused on downtown, so we wanted to do a survey that would look at the entire city.

Highlights from the LGBTQ+ Downtown Providence Tour:

Emery Theatre : From the late 19th to early 20th centuries, Providence was a vaudeville theater hotspot where entertainers frequently performed in drag and female impersonators were all the rage.

Mathewson Street United Methodist Church : The United Methodists have a long history of commitment to social justice, and in 1973 the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian ministry for gays and lesbians, moved into the space. MCC was an important space for Providence's LGBTQ+ community to organize politically.

Club Bath Chain : Opened in 1977, the bathhouse was part of a national chain of gay social clubs. It still operates as a gay sauna under new ownership with the name Eagle's Nest.

MiraBar : Opened in 1947 in Woonsocket, this was Rhode Islands first gay bar, which later moved to downtown Providence, operating with a signal system for police raids. Its currently open in the Jewelry District as one of the longest-running gay bars in the U.S.

Johnson & Wales Commons: Founded in 1914 by Gertrude Johnson and Mary Wales, Johnson & Wales was a business school that has since grown into a liberal arts university. The two women shared a close relationship throughout their lives, but historians may never know if they were actually romantic partners.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence will get its first LGBTQ landmark on the national historic register
The Rhode Island Senate voted 21-14 to defeat a resolution by Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, to congratulate President Donald Trump on his 'historic and extraordinary victory in the 2024 presidential election' on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio was out sick. (Screenshot/Capitol TV)

A Trump administration order to pause federal spending on Tuesday led to bureaucratic bedlam in Rhode Island and across the country as state government officials tried to assess the local impact of suddenly turning off federal spigots.

The maneuver also sabotaged a resolution introduced Tuesday afternoon by Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, congratulating President Donald Trump on his historic and extraordinary victory in the 2024 presidential election and wishing him a successful presidency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a tradition in the Rhode Island Senate to send congratulations to the new commander in chief. If de la Cruzs resolution had passed, it would have directed the secretary of state to send a certified copy to the president. Alas, it failed in a 21-14 vote. Ten Democrats joined the four Republican senators who voted yes.

In a statement issued late Tuesday night, de la Cruz said it had been her sincere hope that her colleagues would uphold the chambers tradition. Despite being critical of policies of past Presidents, I have always wished them success  because I want America to succeed  to become strong, safe, healthy, prosperous, and great again, she said.

A Senate resolution congratulating Joe Biden passed in 2021. And the House version sponsored by House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, a Foster Republican, passed Tuesday, as it did in 2017 after Trumps first inauguration. There was no vote breakdown for the House resolution as the chamber approves all resolutions at the end of each session with a single voice vote, House spokesperson Larry Berman explained in an email.

The reason the Senate held a roll call vote for its resolution was because a senator objected to the voice vote, said Senate spokesperson Greg Pare.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I object to this resolution because we are not in normal times, said Sen. Sam Bell, a Providence Democrat, who objected to the voice vote. For us to vote for a resolution praising Mr. Trumpit sends a message that Rhode Island would be saying, Thank you for wrecking us, thank you for hurting our state government in a deep and painful way.

The apocalyptic damage that is racing through our country from these insane, illegal executive orders hits at the soul of our country, because we are supposed to be a democracy, Bell continued.

Bell was referring to a federal directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) which first leaked Monday evening and soon consumed the workday as government officials and media alike scrambled to decipher the news. It was not immediately clear from the first memos ambiguous wording what programs would be affected. Funds which go toward assistance provided directly to individuals would be spared, as would Medicare and Social Security, according to the memo.

Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, introduced a resolution that credited President Donald Trump with ushering in an unprecedented economic boom during his first term in the White House on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Screenshot/Capitol TV)

Federal funding accounts for nearly $5.1 billion of Rhode Islands nearly $14 billion fiscal 2025 budget, which took effect July 1. McKees proposed fiscal 2026 spending plan relies on $25 million more in federal funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second OMB memo obtained by States Newsroom included a list of programs which were required to submit their program data by Feb. 7. A third memo clarified that the freeze would chill funds for programs, projects,and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest, but also that a pause could be as short as a day, depending on the agency, and that many programs had been pre-approved before the pause would go into effect.

By afternoon, however, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., had ruled that any spending freeze must wait until at least next week until a Feb. 3 hearing.

Scurrying in the memos wake was Gov. Dan McKee, who directed state agencies Tuesday to review all programs and investments, both current and projected, that rely on federal funding to see whats needed to preserve necessary funds, according to an email from his spokesperson Olivia DaRocha.

Given the widespread harm the Presidents order could inflict on Rhode Islanders, the Governor has also tasked the Director of Administration to work with the Attorney Generals office to explore all options for delaying the orders implementation, DaRocha said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the frozen funding would likely spare Medicaid, DaRocha said, as well as direct assistance programs like Social Security, Medicare and food stamps, at least according to the latest guidance the state had received from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Pell grants, Head Start and housing assistance are likely to remain in place.

The states Medicaid portal experienced a temporary disruption of service, Tuesday, but was back up and running soon after, DaRocha confirmed.

AG joins (another) suit against Trump

Three hours before the U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered a short-term administrative stay, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha filed suit against the Trump administration over the planned funding freeze. Neronha joined 22 other Democratic attorneys general to request for a temporary restraining order against the planned freeze in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island in Providence.

What a ham-handed way to run a government, Neronha said at a virtual press conference Tuesday. It is astonishing that President Trump, through an agency most Americans have never heard of, would take an action so clearly unlawful and would impact so many Americans in so many ways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The apocalyptic damage that is racing through our country from these insane, illegal executive orders hits at the soul of our country, because we are supposed to be a democracy.

 Sen. Sam Bell, a Providence Democrat

The group of Democratic AGs argued that freezing funds already authorized by Congress violates the U.S. Constitution  especially if the funds are being reviewed on ideologically motivated grounds. According to the OMB guidance, the new federal direction is meant to determine quickly whether any program is inconsistent with the Presidents Executive Orders.

This action was necessary and it needed to happen quickly, Neronha said. Every American  every Rhode Islander is impacted by this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Neronhas office is also part of a multi-state suit challenging Trumps executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship.

Condemnation from congressional delegates

This is very illegal, U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner said in a video posted to X. The president doesnt get to just stop funding states and cities and schools for some vague reasons about woke ideology that have no definition in law.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse called the order a power grab from Project 2025  the conservative blueprint created to guide Trumps second term.

Rhode Islanders pay their taxes and they expect to get a functioning federal government in return, Whitehouse said in a statement. Its hard to tell if this is incompetence or mischief, but this funding freeze is illegal and unconstitutional, and every single American has a stake in getting it undone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo called Trumps planned funding freeze unlawful, chaotic, and deeply harmful to the entire country.

People will suffer at the hands of this decision, Amo said in a statement. Make no mistake, these are federal dollars, paid for by taxpayers, for taxpayers, and already approved by Congress to benefit red and blue state communities alike.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed is demanding the president immediately rescind his administrations directive.

He needs to do it fast because every day this drags on the impacts grow worse, Reed said in a statement. He should stop wasting taxpayers money and putting people, communities, and essential services at risk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several state and federal agencies contacted for comment on Tuesday did not immediately reply. Beth Bailey, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, which oversees higher education, said the office would wait until later in the week when more details would be available.

Trumps administration sought to review funding toward suicide prevention and legal services grants for veterans.

Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Justyn Charon declined to comment on the freeze order in an emailed statement.

At the local level, we remain focused on providing world-class health care and services to the veterans who have earned and deserve them, Charon said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Uncertainty over federal funding has also weighed heavily on Sojourner House in Providence, where federal funding accounts for 80% of its budget. The nonprofit provides victim service for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Without timely funding, we risk losing essential programs that provide life-saving services like emergency shelter, housing, and support for survivors seeking safety and stability, Executive Director Vanessa Volz said in an emailed statement.

Cheryl Space, the director of the Community Libraries of Providence, said Tuesday afternoon that federal investments are not an outsized portion of the library networks operating budget. The library network expects federal money for enhancements to the libraries children and teen collections  a $100,000 earmark won with the support of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed. Another federal investment, dispensed via the city of Providence, is a $125,000 grant to replace the HVAC system at the Mount Pleasant Library.

What we dont understand now is the potential ripple effect as Rhode Island, the City of Providence, or other program partners cope with federal cuts that may impact library funding, Space said.

What about the Washington Bridge?

Also threatened: $600 million in federal funding for Rhode Islands highway projects, including $220 million awarded by the Biden administration last year to rebuild the westbound Washington Bridge.

Rhode Islands congressional delegation over the weekend sent a letter to the White Houses budget office asking to confirm that the infrastructure funds will be released to the state.

These are essential projects that have already been evaluated and selected in a competitive process for funding, the delegates wrote. We ask that you promptly confirm that all of these funds, as well as others being held for review, will be released to the state.

Rich Luchette, a D.C.-based political strategist and former spokesman for former U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, said while there are administrative ways to pause funding, its difficult to do so when money is already obligated.

Luchette also thought it was unlikely highway funding would ever be held up.

Its the most bipartisan issue in this town, he said in an interview Monday.

If funds are held up, McKee told WPROs Matt Allen Monday afternoon that the state can tap into $80 million allotted by the General Assembly under the fiscal year 2025 budget to rebuild the bridge. Rhode Island is eligible for up to $334.6 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEE) bonds, which allow the state to borrow against future allocations of federal transportation money.

Roughly $140 million in borrowing was authorized by Rhode Island Commerce in July.

We have a plan on the finances, McKee said Monday.

This article was updated to include a comment from Senaet Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, and add context on the Senate tradition of congratulating new presidents.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhodens address to lawmakers Tuesday was an autobiographical opportunity for the soon-to-be 66-year-old rancher.

Even today, Im still happiest when Im working with my hands, Rhoden said. Its how I relax. When I get home, I head to the shop, and I go to work. I make branding irons and custom tools for ranching, among many other things.

10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man who has served as majority leader, assistant majority leader, majority whip and lieutenant governor laid out his political philosophy as well one which easily could have been part of a speech delivered by his predecessor, Kristi Noem.

I believe the government is best that is limited, and I trust our people to exercise their personal freedoms and responsibilities, Rhoden said.

The states Native American tribes and the executive branch in Pierre have experienced rocky relationships in recent years, but on Tuesday Rhoden reiterated a call for a restart.

Weve had our ups and downs over the years, but I am asking our tribal leaders to make a fresh start with me, Rhoden said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And in perhaps the harshest terms shared in his address, Rhoden focused on the states aging penitentiary.

We also need to take action on the prison, Rhoden said. Let me tell you: I walked through that penitentiary just a few weeks ago, and it needs to go. It is gothic inside. It looked like it hadnt changed for decades. There are rooms with concrete crumbling from the ceilings. We are double-bunking in tiny cells built for one person.

But when it comes to intense words and passionate interests, Rhoden is asking for courtesy and perspective.

I want South Dakota to show how politics can and should be conducted, Rhoden said. My first year here was 24 years ago. When you look back on your time here, 10 or 20 years from now, I bet you dont remember the bill numbers or the votes. You will remember the people you served with. You will remember the difference that you made in peoples lives. So, lets all pledge to be civil and work together.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a call that resonated with lawmakers who shared their reaction to Rhodens address with KELOLAND News after its conclusion.

I also really enjoyed his emphasis on civility, Republican Sen. David Wheeler of Huron said. Its an important topic that we always have to be mindful of in the legislature, to maintain relationships and be able to disagree with each other, be able to get along and work with each other the next day.

I was excited about pushing civility, really working together, his communication and working as much as possible with the legislature and the transparency and whatnot, Democratic Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk of Rapid City said. Super exciting.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Actor Anthony Mackie, who will star in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, recently found himself at the center of controversy following comments he made about the iconic Marvel superhero during a promotional tour in Italy, a Deadline report said. His remarks, which went viral on social media, sparked backlash among fans who felt the actor was distancing the character from its American roots. In response to the growing criticism, Mackie took to social media to clarify his stance. "Let me be clear about this, I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime," Mackie wrote in an Instagram Stories post. "I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country," he added in his post. Mackie then elaborated on his thoughts about the character of Captain America, emphasising that the superhero's values transcend national boundaries. "CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to," he added. The controversy began when Mackie, while promoting 'Captain America: Brave New World' in Rome, made a statement about the character's association with America. "To me, Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don't think the term 'America' should be one of those representations," Mackie said, adding "It's about a man who keeps his word, who has honour, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable," according to the Deadline report. This comment, though meant to highlight the universal qualities of the superhero, led to a mixed reaction. Fans of the character, particularly those who associate Captain America with the American ideals of freedom and patriotism, expressed their discontent with Mackie's statement, as per Deadline. 'Captain America: Brave New World' will be the first film in the 'Captain America' franchise since 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019), in which Chris Evans' character, Steve Rogers, passed the shield to Mackie's Sam Wilson. Mackie also played the role of Sam Wilson in the 2021 Disney+ series 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'. The actor has long been a vocal advocate for diversity in superhero films. Back in 2016, while promoting 'Captain America: Civil War', Mackie discussed the significance of representation in the superhero genre. "I think we live in a day in age now where little black kids feel like they can't connect to a character who doesn't look like them," Mackie said during an interview, adding, "Everybody's so personal nowadays, it's not so much about connecting to an emotion or an idea. It's more so connecting about someone who looks like you, you know?" according to Deadline. 'Captain America: Brave New World' will be released in theatres on Fevruary 14. (ANI)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island Life Science Hub hosted the Neuroscience Symposium on Tuesday to showcase the states growing impact on brain science.

The event brought together 300 researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to highlight their work.

Many spoke during the event, including Barad Margus, an entrepreneur and advocate for his sons diseases.

Margus was living in South Florida working in the shrimping business when his two youngest were diagnosed with a fatal genetic brain disorder Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). It affects about 500 young individuals in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was able to bring his personal story to the seminar and has helped raise $17 million for the nonprofit patient advocacy group he created.

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 Rhode Island House passed a resolution congratulating President Donald Trump on his inauguration.

The resolution is usually passed every four years congratulating the president and vice president.

It outlined key components including border security, energy independence, and America First foreign policy.

However, the Rhode Island Senate broke tradition on Tuesday by refusing to approve its own resolution congratulating Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was my sincere hope that the Senate would honor the tradition of the chamber to congratulate and wish success to an incoming President, as has been done previously for Presidents Biden, Obama and predecessors, Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz said in a statement.

Despite being critical of policies of past presidents, I have always wished them success  because I want America to succeed  to become strong, safe, healthy, prosperous, and great again Cruz continued. Instead of alienating the president, we should be building bridges.

The @RISenateDems split on Trump congrats resolution is notable: 10 yes, 21 no



Prez Ruggerio missed the vote

Ldr Lawson voted no

Whip Tikoian voted yes



Other Dem yes votes: Appollonio, Burke, Ciccone, Dimitri, Fleag, Gallo, Patalano, Raptakis, Sosnowski https://t.co/GBe9Q4MUwq  Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) January 29, 2025

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.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Michelle Hoke of Etters, Pennsylvania, said she is frustrated at the audacity of disbarred attorney Jason Penrod.

I just think its ridiculous to be blowing everyone elses money and stealing it, she said.

TGH patients hands filled with cholesterol after he ate 6-9 pounds of cheese, butter for months

Hokes father, David Hartman, was a quintessential father, she said.

He was kind, funny, hard-headed at times. For her 16th birthday, he took Hoke to a Motley Crue concert.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hartman, she said, had many jobs, including at the post office.

Debt was not something he would want to incur so he would work to pay things quickly, Hoke said.

Hartman retired to Florida, and in August 2019, appointed Penrod as his trustee.

Hartman died in December 2022.

Before he died, Hoke estimates he handed over $200,000 to Penrods estate planning firm, Family Elder Law.

According to an affidavit, Hoke told detectives she received a partial payment of $40,000 from Penrod.

In September, Penrod was arrested, accused of gambling away his and his clients money.

He said well, my lawyer was working that out with the state attorney, said Sheriff Grady Judd at a news conference in September. Newsflash, this is how were working it out with the state attorney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hoke watched from Pennsylvania.

The sheriff giving his YouTube video thing ,and I was just like oh dear God, and then I got ahold of the Polk County detectives, Hoke said.

Her phone call led to another grand theft charge against Penrod.

The affidavit showed a dozen transactions of thousands of dollars between David Hartmans trust, Penrods personal checking account, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which operates the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, from Febuary 2024 to April 2024.

Excerpt from affidavit

According to court records, Penrod lost $1.7 million at the Hard Rock Casino in 2024.

According to lawsuit filed by other alleged victims, Penrod referred to himself as a raging addict citing mental health and post-traumatic stress endured from childhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There isnt really too many of us walking this earth that hasnt had a trauma in their lives at some point. I still know right from wrong, Hoke said.

Last week, prosecutors filed more than 30 new charges against Penrod, including dozens of money laundering counts and the grand theft charge involving Hokes fathers trust.

He is being held on no bond.

The Florida Bar permanently revoked Penrods law license.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rihanna showed support for her boo A$AP Rocky as she pulled up to the rappers trial in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Jan. 29).

Per legal reporter Meghan Cuniff, Rih was seated between Rockys mother and sister as the trial in his 2021 felony shooting case continued. She has not been shown on the courts livestream, but there are security guards on both sides of the row. According to Variety, Rih isnt expected to testify in the case.

More from Billboard

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Harlem rapper previously turned down a final plea deal last week, which would have seen him serve 180 days behind bars. LA County prosecutors recommended three years of probation and a seven-year suspended sentence. Rocky is facing a pair of felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He can face a maximum of 24 years behind bars if convicted on all charges.

The charges stem from an alleged November 2021 altercation that accuses Rocky of firing a weapon at former A$AP affiliate A$AP Relli  born Terrell Ephron  following an argument near a Hollywood hotel.

Rockys lawyer, Joe Tacopina, has maintained that the weapon was a prop gun and not a real firearm, as the rapper shot off blanks to defuse the situation. There is video footage that allegedly shows Rocky holding some sort of a handgun from the night of the shooting.

Months after the heated confrontation, the Fashion Killa rapper was arrested in April 2022 at Los Angeles International Airport. Rocky posted a $550,000 bond shortly after the arrest and later pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in August 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to The Associated Press, Ephron took the stand to testify against Rocky on Tuesday (Jan. 28) where he recalled the shooting. He turned around and then it was like boom, Ephron explained to the jury. The whole thing was like a movie, he kind of like pointed down and he shot the first shot.

He emphatically declared that it was a real gun in Rockys hand. I was hit. Or I was grazed, Ephron said. I didnt have a hole or nothing. Relli says his lifes been a living hell since the shooting.

Wednesdays court session has concluded and the trial will continue on Thursday (Jan. 30), where the defense will have its chance to cross-examine Relli.

Best of Billboard

Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EDINBURG  Tucked in a business plaza aptly located on Sugar Road, a specialty doughnut shop was on the verge of shuttering its doors last year.

The shop, with bright pink and blue walls, pink accent chairs, and neon sign that read Dont Stop Believing, specializes in artisanal doughnuts such as maple bacon, strawberry shortcake and splits  doughnut cut in half and filled with ice cream.

Luz Ramos, the shops owner, named the store Papy Donuts, in honor of her father who supported their family of 11 for decades as a seasonal baker in the Rio Grande Valley. He now bakes at the shop full-time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She opened the store in May 2022 after running a construction company with her ex-husband. As the COVID-19 pandemic prompted businesses to rely more on social media, she used platforms like Instagram to gain popularity in the community. But in August, her sales dropped, sometimes only raking in as little as $200 a day. Ramos announced to the shop's Instagram followers that Papy Donuts would be closing.

Then she tried one more "Hail Mary" shot at bringing in more people to her store: Trump-themed doughnut.

The day after Election Day, Ramos announced on Instagram she would sell doughnuts covered in red frosting with the words "Trump" in white icing for one dollar.

People flocked to her shop for the Trump doughnut.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They were a big hit," she said. "To this day, people ask for them."

Ramos tends to customers at her shop in Edinburg on Jan. 25. Credit: Gabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribune

Brayden Garcia, 8, shows the Trump donut that he got at Papy Donuts in Edinburg on Jan. 25. Credit: Gabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribune

Edinburg, part of the Rio Grande Valley along the southern border, has long been considered a Democratic stronghold in Texas. However, Trump swept nearly every border county.

Her sales tripled and the store began making a profit again. It hasnt been a total sugar high.

In response to her post, Ramos received harassing messages including death threats.

As a precaution, she joined the Edinburg Police Department's "Business Watch" program by which police officers stop by to check up on her store on occasion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The backlash also grabbed the attention of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, who posted a photo of herself with Ramos on social media in December, encouraging the community to support the small business.

Corporations and business leaders have long injected themselves into politics and cultural trends, hoping to capitalize on popular sentiment. Businesses often donate to political candidates and give to nonprofits. However, as national politics become more common in daily lives, the call to support or divest from companies based on politics has become more heightened. Those political battle lines extended closer to home as small businesses attached themselves to national politics.

In fact, Ramos isnt the only Texas-based baker to have her foray into politics gain attention. The owner of a Dallas-area bakery, who has made her liberal leanings public, received harassing messages and fake orders following Trump's victory. And like Ramos, she also received a swell of support from like-minded customers.

Ramos anticipated some customers would not be happy, even though she didn't intend to antagonize anyone, she assured. In fact, before the election, she featured doughnuts that promoted both Trump and his Democratic challenger Vice President Kamala Harris. The Trump doughnuts sold better, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Promoting the Trump doughnuts after the election wasn't purely a business tactic. She wanted to show her support for Trump, who she believes will be best for small businesses like hers. And Ramos solidified her support for Trump after Harris said she wouldn't have done anything differently than President Joe Biden did during his term.

About 99% of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses and of those, about 71% said they were more interested in the results of the 2024 election than they were of the 2020 election, according to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"You can just imagine the important part they play in the economy of the country," said Ruchi Gupta, a small business mentor with Service Corps of Retired Executives, a nonprofit that provides mentoring and resources to small businesses. "Therefore those policies that either will be framed by the incoming government, or by the current government, they're really very important to small businesses."

Jaime Ramos takes out a tray as his daughter Luz passes by at their store on Jan. 28. Credit: Gabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribune

Luz poses for a photo at her shop Papy Donuts. Credit: Gabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribune

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the growing political interest by small business owners, Gupta said there isn't any evidence that more businesses are trying to draw in customers by taking a political stance and it is not a strategy she would advise.

"I would strongly caution against this trend because you do see this is transient," Gupta said. "Change is constant in the political environment so if they keep vocalizing their political views, I predict that there may be more polarization amongst their stakeholders."

The public's memory is short-lived, Gupta said, so while uproar from a political stance is likely to blow over, so is the wave of support.

"The bottom line is what is the product? What is it that the business is selling and how does that affect the customer?" Gupta said. "These are the intangible things and some of the tangible ones that are going to affect customer loyalty, not political opinions."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ramos, a single-mother to a 6-year-old boy, said she wouldnt do anything differently because she was in survival mode. She felt caught between a decision to either take a political stance or allow her business to close.

I really did need it, and that came along, and it's been nothing but good after, she said. I can honestly say Trump doughnuts saved me.

Weeks later, Ramos continues to sell out. On good days, she makes between $1,000 to $1,500 a day.

And the Trump doughnuts returned for Trumps inauguration, which she branded as American-themed donuts. She now sells them every day.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Disclosure: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been a financial supporter 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.
HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC)  William H. Sanders took the stage inside Gordon Field House on Rochester Institute of Technologys Henrietta campus to a standing ovation.

The crowd cheered the announcement as much as the man, given that most had no idea who he was.

RIT kept the decision on its new president under wraps until Tuesdays big reveal.

On July 1, Sanders will replace David Munson, who has held the role for eight years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coming from Carnegie Mellon University where hes currently dean of the College of Engineering, Sanders will arrive at RIT at an exciting, yet uncertain time.

RITs physical footprint and academic reach have grown dramatically over the last decade, further bolstering its brand.

And with that brand, while continuing to keep the student focus, we can continue to grow the research enterprise, Sanders said.

On the topic of research, though, universities across the country are grappling with news that the Trump Administration is pausing loans and grants.

Im an advocate for higher education so some of the things were seeing now are temporary things, Sanders said. We need to be diligent, we need to be strategic and we need to look at what happens and be an advocate for higher education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sanders also responded to changes or dissolution at the federal level to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

We may change how we do some things (at RIT) based on the current situation but were going to create that environment that fulfills the values that drew me to RIT, Sanders aid.

When asked about artificial intelligence and the news that a Chinese start-up has produced game-changing technology in this area, Sanders said RIT can play a role in the U.S. response to development overseas.

We dont know yet what happened in China, that still needs to be decoded, but I believe there is a potential to build AI algorithms that dont require the computation we need today by understanding the systems and because RIT is a leader in inter-disciplinary systems, I think we have a edge there, Sanders said, Sanders said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RIT Student Government President Alex Shuron said Sanders effort to learn about the school and the student body won him over.

It was very evident he had already been plugged in, looking at Instagram, Reddit, which you might not think is important, but a lot of students kind of communicate through those channels and that was really great to see, Shuron said.

Sanders will serve as RITs 11th president.

When asked whether he plans to try a garbage plate, Sanders said someone recently mentioned it to him, but hes still not sure what it is.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Lobbyists, members of the public and lawmakers crowd the South Dakota House Education Committee room ahead of a Jan. 29, 2025, hearing on a bill to create an education savings account program in the state. (Josh Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Lawmakers in the House Education Committee shot down former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noems proposed $4 million education savings account program and a similar, competing proposal Wednesday morning at the Capitol in Pierre.

Procedural maneuvers could still be used to bring the bills to the House floor, but the committee votes were an early setback for an idea proposed by Noem and supported by her successor, Gov. Larry Rhoden, after she departed to become secretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The committee voted 9-6 against the governor-supported House Bill 1020, despite the bill having the majority leaders of both legislative chambers as prime sponsors. The bill would provide up to $3,000 per student to help cover private school tuition, homeschooling or other alternative-instruction costs.

Lawmakers and people who testified against the bill included public education stalwarts, who argued that the program would lack oversight and divert funds from public schools, and school choice advocates, who said the program would be too limited.

A competing school choice bill that would create a similar program with a higher price tag and less oversight was also shot down with an 8-7 vote. The bill, HB 1009, was introduced by Rep. Dylan Jordan, R-Clear Lake, and is estimated to cost up to $142 million by the Legislative Research Council.

Reps. Jordan and Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City, both supported Jordans bill but opposed the governors bill. Rep. Travis Ismay, R-Newell, was the only other committee member to switch his vote  supporting the governors bill but opposing Jordans bill  while all other committee members either supported both bills or opposed both bills.

Rep. Dylan Jordan, R-Clear Lake, talks to attendees ahead of the House Education Committee meeting on Jan. 29, 2025. (Josh Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Anthony Mirzayants, representing the Texas-based student activist group Young Americans for Liberty, told lawmakers the bill supported by the governor isnt a real school choice bill. He compared it to South Dakotas Partners in Education scholarship program. That program gives insurance companies up to $5 million in tax credits annually in exchange for their contributions to scholarships for private-school students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other opponents of HB 1020 included representatives of public education organizations, teachers, school board members and superintendents, disability advocates, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, the South Dakota Retailers Association and the Great Plains Tribal Education Directors.

Opponents were concerned with the impact the programs would have on public school funding and a lack of accountability, standards and transparency. They brought up similar concerns in HB 1009s committee hearing last week.

Public education funding should reflect a shared responsibility. Instead, public funds would be drained from public and tribal schools, leaving fewer resources and opportunities for all students, said Roquel Gorneau, representing the Great Plains Tribal Education Directors. This bill does not strengthen education. It weakens it, forcing public schools to do more with less.

South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves talks to attendees ahead of a House Education Committee in the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre on Jan. 29, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Several supporters of HB 1020 (the governors bill) included private school administrators who said the program would make alternatives to public education more accessible to students and could lead to better teacher pay within their schools. Supporters also included alternative instruction advocates and alternative school founders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill, introduced by House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, was amended during the hearing to clarify that students who use education savings accounts would not be classified as alternative instruction students. Odenbach proposed the amendment to appease the homeschool advocacy group Families for Alternative Instruction Rights in South Dakota, which feared that not separating education savings account students from alternative instruction students would open the door to regulation of alternative instruction. The organization switched its stance on the bill from opposed to neutral because of the amendment, based on a memo sent to lawmakers last week.

The amendment means that if the bill is revived and becomes law, families opting for homeschooling, microschools or other alternative settings would have to choose whether they want to be ESA families eligible for the state financial assistance or alternative instruction students ineligible for the money.

Both South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves and Governors Office Policy Adviser Sarah Hitchcock told lawmakers the program would improve education in the state by increasing competition among schools.

We cant force our students to wait until we have perfect funding, Hitchcock told the committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Supporters of the legislation could seek approval from one-third of the House of Representatives to force the committee to send the bills to the floor. Support from a majority of the chambers 70 members would then be needed to add the bills to the House calendar for debate and a vote.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
UPDATE 1/29 9:00 A.M. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Fire on Mount Chestnut Road is now contained and the scene has been cleared.

The fire burned an estimated five acres, with some houses being threatened by the flames, causing some residents to be evacuated.

Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department

Crews were able to protect the homes except for a corner of one barn that was involved with the flames.

Units are expected to stay on the scene for most of the day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were no reported injuries.

Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department Photo Credit: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department



ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department is on the scene of the Mount Chestnut Road area for a brush fire and an electrical wire down on Wednesday.

Around 4:30 a.m., multiple units arrived in the Back Creek area of Roanoke County finding a fire being fueled by dry and windy conditions.

No structures have been involved however, some structures have been threatened by the fire.

There are no reported injuries at this time.

The Virginia Department of Forestry is on scene with a bulldozer to contain the flames.

Residents are advised to avoid the area as this is on a curvy and narrow road with many firetrucks and firefighter working on the blaze.

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 WFXRtv.
Cheryl Hines is showing her support for her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Curb Your Enthusiasm actress joined Kennedy while heading to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to attend his Senate confirmation hearing over a potential position in President Donald Trump's cabinetand she appeared to give her husband a kiss of good luck before the proceedings began.

 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As seen in the photos obtained by Page Six, the couplewho have been married since 2014didn't shy away from showing off some PDA while leaning in for a kiss on the lips.

RFK Jr., 71, was nominated by Trump to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was questioned by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, and Hines, 59, was seated right behind him.

Cheryl Hines, wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, watches her husband testify during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Bad Moms star opted for a professional chic style during Wednesday's event, wearing a navy blue pinstripe suit paired with a white blouse underneath.

Hines also attended her husband's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) ball in D.C. last week following Trump's second inauguration to the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Oh what a night!" Hines wrote on Instagram after the event while sharing a series of snaps from inside the swanky party. "The MAHA ball in DC was sooooo fun!"

"Cheryl you look beautiful.  Such a supportive wife," one of her followers wrote in the comments.

But Hines' post celebrating her husband did not go unchallenged, as several users in the comments called out the actress for supporting her husband's polarizing views, including controversial claims about vaccines.

"Cmon cheryl youre smarter than this  or so we thought," one critic wrote under Hines' post last week.

"How can you even celebrate this administration?" someone else added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following Wednesday's hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy will also have to face the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Next: Caroline Kennedy Issues Chilling Warning About RFK Jr.'s Appointment
The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched their GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 on 6:23 AM at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This is ISRO''s 100th launch from the country''s space port. GSLV-F15 is the 17th flight of India''s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight with Indigenous Cryo stage.It is the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage. GSLV-F15 payload fairing is a metallic version with a diameter of 3.4 meters. The GSLV-F15 with indigenous Cryogenic stage will place NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, ISRO said in a statement. Multiple students were given the opportunity to witness the launch near the launchpad itself, with their excitement barely contained to be part of such an opportunity Teerth, from Gujarat told ANI, "I came from my college to witness the 100th launch, I am really excited. ISRO is not launching various foreign countries'' satellite, so we are generating income from that also, so it is a really impressive step from the Indian government and ISRO." Another student, Avinash, from Bihar told ANI that it is his first time witnessing a launch. "Really excited about it, we are here to witness the take off. All the best to the scientists and anyone else who have worked on this. We are really excited for this, this is the first time I get to witness this, we had been trying for four years to witness this and finally we got the chance," the student said. Earlier on Tuesday, Director of Space Applications Centre (SAC)/ISRO Nilesh Desai mentioned that the launch will help update India''s Regional Navigation Satellite System from 4 to 5 satellites. Desai said, "We are going to launch at 6:23 am this GSLV-F-15 mission which will carry the NVS-02 satellite into orbit. Finally, it will be put in the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometres and it will increase the number of satellites of our navigation constellation from 4 to 5 and that will improve the overall accuracy of the positioning which we get from this navigation satellite." the satellite constellation of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), will have a total of 7 satellites which will be up in space. With the 100th launch, India now has 5 out of the 7 in space. "This is the 5th in the series of operational NavIC satellites. NavIC satellite is our earlier named IRNSS satellite configuration which is called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, it is a part of this satellite constellation where we will put seven satellites. Older satellites are getting replaced with a new series of satellites," Desai added. Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India''s independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as to region extending about 1500 km beyond Indian land mass. NavIC will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC''s SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 m and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds over the service area. (ANI)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled by Senators in his first confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday, during which he struggled to convince lawmakers that he is not anti-vaccine and appeared unfamiliar with key aspects of healthcare insurance programs and other policies he would oversee.

Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee, President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the nations leading health agency insisted that he has been mistakenly labeled as anti-vaccine, despite his past remarks where he spread misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of immunization. I am pro-safety, said Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer who ran as a Democrat and then independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election before endorsing Trump.

All of my kids are vaccinated, he said. Ive written many books on vaccines. My first book in 2014, the first line of it is, I am not anti-vaccine and the last line is, I am not anti-vaccine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top ranking Democrat on the committee, referenced Kennedys appearances on multiple podcasts, in which Kennedy falsely claimed that no vaccine was safe or effective and said he regretted vaccinating his children. Mr. Kennedy, all of these things cannot be true. So are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine, or did you lie on all those podcasts? Wyden asked.

Read More: Public Health Experts Alarmed at Trumps Pick of RFK Jr. to Lead HHS

While Kennedy faced critical questioning from Democrats, he and other cabinet nominees have benefited from solid support among Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Trumps nominee to lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, was confirmed despite widely being considered one of the most controversial picks. Kennedys appointment has sparked widespread debate, with opponents, including members of his own family, warning that his views could undermine public health efforts. On the eve of his first confirmation hearing, his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, accused him of preying on the desperation of parents and sick children, citing his role in stoking vaccine skepticism in the U.S. and abroad. But its not clear that more than three Republicans will vote against his confirmation, which is what would be required to sink it if all the Democrats vote together.

Here are some of the key moments in Kennedys first day of confirmation hearings.

Vaccines

Democrats raised Kennedys controversial history with Samoa, accusing him of traveling to the country and spreading anti-vaccine misinformation after the government had temporarily paused on distributing vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella when two babies died in 2018 after receiving improperly prepared shots. Soon after Kennedys visit, a measles outbreak in Samoa killed 83 people, most of them children. Kennedy denied the allegations, saying he went there, nothing to do with vaccines and insisting, You cannot find a single Samoan who will say, I didnt get a vaccine because of Bobby Kennedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More: RFK Jr. Denied He Is Anti-Vaccine During His Confirmation Hearing. Heres His Record

Kennedy said that he supported the measles and polio vaccines and vowed that he would not do anything that would make it difficult for or discourage people from getting immunized. But Democrats continued to push back, listing their concerns with his previous controversial statements on vaccines.

We've just had a measles case in Rhode Island, the first since 2013, and frankly, you frighten people, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island.

Health insurance

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats and was viewed as a potential swing vote on Kennedys nomination, began his questioning by saying that he agrees with Kennedys Make America Healthy Again slogan. But as he pressed the nominee on his health insurance views, he appeared disappointed when Kennedy refused to say that healthcare is a human right.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy has, in the past, said little about the health insurance programs that make up roughly a quarter of the federal budget and cover more than 150 million Americans. During Wednesdays hearing, he appeared to sometimes confuse Medicaid and Medicare (Medicaid is a state-federal program that provides coverage for low-income people, whereas Medicare is a federal program that offers coverage for older and disabled people).

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician considered a vote Kennedy needs to win confirmation, repeatedly asked Kennedy to share how he would reform Medicaid, a taxpayer funded program that could be subject to budget cuts to fund Trumps agenda. I dont have a broad proposal for dismantling the program, Kennedy said.

Read More: RFK Jr.s Confirmation Hearings Could Be Banner Moment For Anti-Vax Movement

Kennedy said that most people who are on Medicaid are not happy because the premiums and deductibles are too high. But most people enrolled in Medicaid dont pay premiums or deductibles. He also suggested that most Americans would prefer private insurance, eliciting laughter from Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Sanders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I would ask any of the Democrats who are chuckling just now: Do you think all that money, the $900 billion that we're sending to Medicaid every year, has made Americans healthy? Do we think its working for anybody? Are the premiums low enough? Kennedy said.

Abortion

Kennedy also faced questioning from Senators of both parties about his flip-flopping stance on abortion. When Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma who has called himself the Senates most pro-life member, asked Kennedy about abortion, the nominee replied, I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy and that he agrees with the President that abortion policy should be left up to the states.

But many Democrats, including Hassan and Sanders, referenced Kennedys past comments expressing support for bodily autonomy and peoples right to choose, slamming him for what Sanders called a major U turn on his beliefs.

It is remarkable that you have such a long record of fighting for womens reproductive freedom, and really great that my Republican colleagues are so open to voting for a pro-choice HHS Secretary. So Mr. Kennedy, Im confused, Hassan said. You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values. The question is, do you stand for that value or not? When was it that you decided to sell out the values youve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy stumbled when asked about specific abortion policies he would oversee if confirmed to lead HHS. When Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, asked Kennedy if he agreed that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to stabilize patients experiencing life-threatening situations whether or not they can pay, protects a pregnant persons right to an emergency abortion, Kennedy paused before replying, I dont know.

Senators questioned Kennedy about what actions he would take on the abortion medication mifepristone. The drug, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for abortion purposes more than two decades ago, was recently unsuccessfully challenged in court by a group of anti-abortion doctors and organizations. The Biden Administration helped facilitate access to mifepristone by allowing it to be prescribed via telehealth and received by mail. Kennedy had a vague answer when asked about the drug, saying only that Trump asked him to study the safety of mifepristone but that the President has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it.

Conspiracy theories

Another contentious moment ensued when Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, challenged Kennedy on his past controversial statements, including his assertions that COVID-19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targets Black people and spares Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews, and that Lyme Disease was an engineered bioweapon. I probably did say that, Kennedy said about Lyme Disease.

Democrats on the committee appeared frustrated and unconvinced by Kennedys insistence that he is not a conspiracy theorist, and many criticized the nominee for being unqualified and unfit to run the top health agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is so disturbing to me is that, out of 330 million Americans, we're being asked to put somebody in this job who has spent 50 years of his life not honoring the tradition that he talked about at the beginning of this conversation, but peddling in half truths, peddling in false statements, Bennet said.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
Robert Reich on Tuesday took a step back to examine the bigger picture surrounding President Donald Trumps decision to freeze all federal grants and loans, which is now the subject of a legal challenge.

Its arguably Trumps most brazen move yet since returning to office, the Bill Clinton-era labor secretary wrote on Facebook.

Reich acknowledged that it may seem like Trump just sowing more chaos and dysfunction as weve grown accustomed to but warned its deeper than that and is all part of Trumps plan to consolidate power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That involves, noted Reich: Substituting loyalists for experts across the government, using retribution to intimidate others, purging the governments independent inspectors general, giving the Defense Department more authority over civilian life (and putting a raving loyalist in charge), giving Elon Musk authority to cut spending and roll back regulations, and readying a massive tax cut for the wealthy and big corporations.

Reich has been a longtime critic of the returned president.

Last week, he cautioned in an opinion piece for the British newspaper The Guardian about how Trumps vengeance machine is even more dangerous than it was before with its stripping of security from former top Trump aides despite credible threats to their lives.

Related...
ROBERTSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  An Orlinda woman has been indicted for election fraud.

A Robertson County Grand Jury indicted Julie Ann Bernard, 47, for one count of false entries on official registration on election documents last week.

 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

According to the indictment, Bernard knowingly used a false address on a Robertson County Election Commission Candidate Nomination Petition to run for Orlinda City Commissioner in August 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bernard is accused of putting a Moore Street address on her nominating petition when she actually lived at a Sparkman Road address, per the indictment.

The violation is considered a Class D felony in Tennessee, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 12 years imprisonment and $5,000 fine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  More than 400 parents and providers made their way to Albany Tuesday to rally for universal childcare. About 30 advocates from the Rochester area joined folks from all regions of New York State to meet with Capitol officials.

The group left Rochester at about 6 a.m. Tuesday. (WROC/Eric Schedlbauer.)

The Childrens Agenda called on Governor Kathy Hochul to increase compensation and benefits for the early childcare education workforce. They said the policies would help support the people and organizations that care for children within the community, and in turn, create more childcare opportunities for working parents.

The hardest thing for me is being able to find someone who isnt at capacity to watch the kids. So, I had to homeschool my oldest until she was 4, and now I have a 2-year-old that I homeschool as well. So, getting childcare is not easy, and you have to go through a lot of loops in order to get it, said Jezare Hood with the Childrens Agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Petition pushes to end Rochesters crow dispersal program

Representatives from the Childrens Agenda go to Albany each year to fight for bills that aim to support childcare workers. For more information, you can 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 RochesterFirst.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, considered a long-term Trump ally, is heading to Washington D.C. this week to discuss immigration with the border security committee. He says with open borders, every sheriff is a border sheriff.

With an estimated 12 million people living undocumented in the United States, Page says whats happening 2,000 miles away is a lot smaller when you consider that its just a two-day drive.

5 takeaways from the first Trump White House briefing

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People that are human trafficking victims can be brought into our communities in North Carolina, across America. The fentanyl that has come here, which caused a crisis in our community in just a few days, those drugs can be here in our community, he said.

Page has made several trips to the US-Mexico border, forming relationships with law enforcement there. He says the border is a top national security concern.

We need to put every resource we can to dismantle the Mexican drug cartel because if they arent moving people, theyre moving drugs, Page said.

The sheriff has advocated for a stronger border for more than a decade and rallied behind Trump politically, becoming his North Carolina campaign chair in 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2017 I had the opportunity to roundtable with the president along with other sheriffs from the National Sheriffs Association and our border security committee, said Page.

Rockingham County is also part of whats called a 287(g) agreement, which is a partnership with ICE, along with Alamance and Randolph counties locally. The designation formally makes specially trained deputies an extension of ICE, allowing them to serve immigration warrants to undocumented people who end up in the Rockingham County Jail.

When we arrest those offenders, whoever they may be, whether illegal or not, and they come into my jail, then we are going to look at the process when we fingerprint and identify who those persons are and where they came from, said Page.

If its determined that theyre not legal in the country and they are criminal offenders, then we are going to notify our friends from ICE, said Page.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And while he hears concerns about fears of raids, he is committed to following the laws.

I want to be very clear, I support legal immigration, keyword: legal. But anything that starts with illegal is going down a bad path, he 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 FOX8 WGHP.
Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets on the night of 28-29 January in response to a Russian drone attack on Ukraine, including areas near the Romanian border.

Source: Romanias Defence Ministry

Romanian monitoring systems detected drones approaching the Ukrainian airspace near the Romanian border on the night of 28-29 January.

The ministry reported that two Romanian Air Force F-16s, part of the Air Policing Combat Service, took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea to monitor the situation in the air at around 03:20 on Thursday. The planes returned to base about two hours later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "At the same time, the National Military Command Centre (Core) notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding the establishment of measures to alert the population in the Chilia Veche area. As a result, a RO-Alert message was sent at 03:05, and at 04:08 the cessation of alert measures in the targeted area was declared ."

Radar intelligence data confirmed that no air targets had entered Romanian airspace.

Quote: "The Ministry of National Defence will today conduct research in areas where risks may arise as a result of these situations and will continue its airspace monitoring missions. Allied structures are also informed in real time with regard to the situations generated by these attacks."

Additionally, the Ministry of National Defence issued a "firm condemnation" of the Russian Federation's attacks on Ukrainian civilian facilities and infrastructure, calling them unjustified and a serious breach of international law.

Background:

Since the evening of 28 January, the Russians have launched 57 Shahed attack UAVs and various types of decoy drones into Ukraine; 29 of the drones have been destroyed and 14 disappeared from radar.

The wreckage of downed strike drones used by Russia in attacks on Ukrainian ports has repeatedly been found along the Romanian border on the Danube River.

Since 29 September, NATO has stepped up airspace monitoring over Romania, deploying an additional Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

In late October, it was reported that the Romanian Defence Ministry had prepared a draft law granting the authority to down drones that violate the countrys airspace.

Support UP or become our patron!
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Rose-Hulman Universitys Performing Arts Series will feature a spectacular Cirque Kalabante performance this weekend.

This is one of eight shows in the Performing Arts Series featured at the universitys Hatfield Hall Theater this school year.

Kalabante Productions colorful show by Yamoussa Bangoura is inspired by daily life in Guinea and represents the strength, agility, and lifes joys of young Africans. It goes beyond the countrys scenery, costumes, and staging as acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, Rose-Hulman University said in a press release.

The university says that tickets will range from $55 for the Gold Circle seating, $35 for Standard seating and $30 for Value seating.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The show will be on Sunday, February 2, at 7:30 p.m.

To learn more about the Performing Arts Program and to purchase tickets online you can go to the Hatfield Hall Theaters website.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling the ticket office at 812-877-8544, or by visiting the Hatfield Hall ticket desk through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 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 MyWabashValley.com.
A man is facing capital murder charges after a Roswell couple was shot and killed in Alabama on Tuesday evening.

Deputies in Etowah County, Alabama were called to a shooting where they found a man and a woman who had been shot. They were identified as Darla McKenzie, 68, and Michael McKenzie, 72.

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

Darla McKenzie was airlifted to a Birmingham hospital where she was pronounced dead. Michael McKenzie was pronounced dead on the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators say they identified Christopher Scott Johnson as the suspect and found him shortly after.

Johnson is currently being held in the Etowah County Jail.

TRENDING STORIES:

This is an incredibly difficult time for the McKenzie family, and our hearts go out to them. The loss of loved ones in such a tragic manner is devastating, and we extend our deepest sympathy to their family and friends. To the Etowah County community, I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring justice is served, and there is no threat to your safety, said Sheriff Jonathon Horton.

Detectives have not commented on whether Johnson knew the couple or what led to the shooting.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
A CBI court in Rouse Avenue has acquitted the former MCD Councillor Geeta Rawat of corruption charges against her. In February 2022, it was alleged she accepted a bribe but the prosecution could not prove the allegations beyond reasonable grounds. She was an MCD councillor from Vinod Nagar in East Delhi. Special CBI judge Sanjeev Aggarwal on Monday acquitted Geeta Rawat along with two other accused namely Naushad Ahmed and Sanaullah, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Special Judge Aggarwal said that the ingredient of acceptance of bribe is an essential condition of Section 7 of the PC Act, which has not been proved vide the above discussion and taking into account the overall evidence with regard to evidentiary facts, consequently the prosecution has failed to make out a case under section 7 of the PC Act. "Since the yardstick which is to be achieved by the prosecution in criminal trial is probabilistic in nature, the prosecution should prove its case against an accused beyond reasonable doubt i.e. the probabilities of the prosecution case or probative force of its case as a whole, or weigh thereof as a whole should be beyond any sort of reasonable doubt against the accused, which the prosecution has failed to achieve in the present case," special judge held in the judgement passed on January 27, 2025. As a result, all the accused persons namely Geeta Rawat, Naushad Ahmed and Sanaullah alias Bilal stand acquitted of the charge(s) under section 120B read with Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The court acquitted Rawat also for the substantial charge(s) under Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988. Advocate Sanjay Gupta and Rajkamal Arya appeared for Geeta Rawat. It was alleged that the investigation revealed that a verification dated February 17, 2022 was conducted by CBI which confirmed demand of bribe of Rs. 20,000 on the part of Geeta Rawat, the then councilor, West Vinod Nagar, Delhi through unknown person from Jitender Kumar (Munshi of the complaint). The memo containing verification proceedings was prepared in the presence of independent witness Amit Kumar Soni, Salim Ali (Complainant), Jitender Kumar (Munshi of the complaint) and after verification an FIR was filed by CBI. It was alleged that Geeta Rawat, Municipal Councilor demanded an amount of Rs 20,000 through her husband Dilwan Singh Rawat for allowing lay down the lenter in the house under construction at a plot in D-Block, West Vinod Nagar from complaint Saleem Ali. On February 21, 2023, a charge sheet was filed in the court and on May 29 2023, cognizance of the offence(s) was taken. As per order dated March 16, 2024 charges under section 120B IPC read with Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were directed to be framed against all the accused persons and additionally accused Geeta Rawat was also directed to be charged for the substantive offence u/S. 7 of the PC Act, 1988. (ANI)
MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56)  A man died Tuesday after an officer-involved shooting in Rowan County.

Kentucky State Police said officers responded to a domestic violence call around 11:30 a.m. near Morehead, and when they arrived, they found Thomas Crouch, Jr. of Clairfield, armed with a knife, kneeling over a female in the home.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

A trooper shot Crouch; he was transported to St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, where he later succumbed to his wounds, according to a news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman was also taken to the hospital but has since been released.

Police said no officers were hurt.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Kentucky State Polices Critical Incident Response Team is handling the 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 FOX 56 News.
Even the royal family is haunted by the questions that plague so many of us mere peasants when it comes to our childrens schooling. Sure, most of us down in the town square arent deciding which of the highly elite (and equally expensive) boarding schools our kids will attend. And were not considering the same kinds of security threats. But, just like Kate Middleton and Prince William, the masses are combing through their options and trying to figure out how to give their kids the best education.

(Royals, theyre just like us!)

More from SheKnows

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been making headlines lately as they try to decide where to send their 11-year-old son Prince George. Now, a royal expert has entered the chat and is urging the parents of three to deviate from royal tradition. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror that after Middletons cancer diagnosis in 2024, she wouldnt be surprised if the family said buh-bye to boarding school.

Prince William with wife Kate Middleton and kids Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte

I think its quite likely that, after the year they have had, and how unsettling it must have been for [the kids],  that they would all feel happier and more secure if they could remain as a tight family unit, Bond said.

Personally, I think it would be brilliant if they completely broke with tradition and, indeed, their own school background and sent all three children to a day school for the rest of their education, she continued. That really would signal that this royal couple intends to do things differently.

Traditionally, royal kids are home-schooled (like the young Queen Elizabeth II) or sent to boarding school (like King Charles III and his sons Prince William and Prince Harry). But perhaps Middleton should heed Bonds advice and think about sending her kids to a local school and having them return home each night. It would certainly set the Wales family apart and signal that they ultimately put their mental health and wellbeing before their schooling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, multiple reports stated that  after heated debates  it was decided that the young royals will attend Marlborough College for kids ages 13-18. Middleton and her siblings Pippa Middleton and James Middleton all attended the prestigious boarding school that costs nearly $74 thousand per year.

And even that presumed pick would be a break in tradition given that both Prince William and Prince Harry attended Eton College. Eton is an all-boys school, meaning Princess Charlotte would eventually be separated from her brothers. At the time of the reports, Bond told OK she thought it was a wise decision to pick a co-ed school where the trio could stay together.

It must have been a huge comfort for the three of them to be together at school when life at home was so full of anxiety, she said of their current schooling at Lambrook School.

Before you go, check out every time Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte coordinated their colorful outfits.



Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
DENVER (KDVR)  In response to ongoing crimes on public transportation, the Regional Transportation District added a new position to its police staff to investigate crimes.

RTD added a new position and hired several detectives this month, each with almost 30 years as officers and law enforcement. This brand-new detective bureau will look into criminal activities on RTD property in several jurisdictions.

Train operators: drugs, crime plague RTD as 24/7 police patrols announced

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, for the first time in history, RTD will have people to look into crimes with anything that affects the ability of our customers to ride the system safely, said Commander Brian Cousineau. This includes helping prosecute personal crimes, threats, use of force and felony-level narcotics violations across the property.

Not only will this help RTD pursue criminals without relying completely on the police, but it will also help reoccurring crimes in different jurisdictions.

If a copper wire theft happens in Aurora on our property and the wire was valued at $900, thats a misdemeanor crime; we would hand it over to the Aurora Police Department. Lets say the same $900 copper wire theft then happened a week later in Thornton, and then a week later at Lakewood. The benefit of having our own detective bureau is that we can assign our detectives to all those cases, Cousineau said. This changes the crime from being a misdemeanor to a felony-level crime.

Copper wire thefts along RTD light rail results in $110K in damages

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These detectives will join the police force standing with almost 100 officers, and even more to come in 2025, RTD said. While several detectives have already been hired, RTD is still working out some kinks.

Whats next for the RTD detectives

According to the public transportation system, protocols are being established for working with the eight counties in the district to be able to file cases and carry out related investigations in different municipalities.

The police department said it is also developing an evidence room to follow the proper chain of custody to hold evidence needed to prosecute cases.

RTD doubling police force to address ongoing violence, crime reports

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the biggest lifts that we have is to get with all eight counties to file cases to each of their expectations. This will also include establishing secure systems for e-filing and setting up protocols for writing probable cause affidavits, said Cousineau.

The bureau also plans to add two more detectives to the department later in 2025.

Ultimately, Cousineau expects the detective bureau to be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 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 FOX31 Denver.
The Gulf of Mexico has been called the Gulf of Mexico since well before a bunch of plucky colonies along our Atlantic coast decided to stop being a cash cow for the king of England.

It's been the Gulf of Mexico longer than Mexico has been Mexico.

Last week, with a slash of his Sharpie, President Donald Trump decreed that the gulf shall henceforth be known as the Gulf of America. But it's unclear how well that notion will float.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Google announced Monday that it will add the new name to Google Maps as soon as it's acknowledged by the Geographic Names Information System, a process that usually takes a few months. We'll see "Gulf of America" on the app in the U.S., and the rest of the world will see both that and Gulf of Mexico.

In this photo illustration, the Gulf of Mexico is seen on a globe on January 28, 2025 in San Anselmo, California.

In terms of usage, though, old names can be hard to displace, according to experts in such things and also according to everyone who spent 20 years not saying "DTE Energy Music Theatre."

Much of the planet is likely to ignore our cartographical chest-pounding, the experts say, even if the new name winds up sharing space with Gulf of Mexico on some international maps. And if Mexico is feeling mischievous, the U.S. might have just opened a can of gusanos, as in worms.

I dont think the world will adopt it, said Tim Utter of the University of Michigan. It just seems like a not well thought out, temporary, pointless thing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As director of the Social Sciences and Clark Library team at U-M, Utter is in charge of an astonishing 420,000 maps harking back more than five centuries.

He recognizes that the name Gulf of Mexico first appeared on a world map around 1550, that it's been standard since the 1600s, and that the term originated with the Aztecs, who referred to themselves as the Mexihcah.

After Spaniards and their diseases wiped out millions of Aztecs, the name remained.

A controversy that's all wet

Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1821, and the United States was first in line to recognize the new country.

Now we're the first and only nation to declare, by executive order, that because the gulf has lots of oil and shrimp and tourism, it's of "critical importance to our Nations economy and its people," and "I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Gulf of America, then, will henceforth be the official site of any future oil spills within its 600,000-plus square miles, and the spawning ground of periodic hurricanes. Congratulations.

The term "America," it should be noted, was first applied to South America, in tribute to Italian explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci. He was among the first Europeans to glean that Brazil was not Asia, but rather part of a previously unmapped continent.

"Latin Americans resent the tendency of the U.S. to monopolize the term 'America,'" said Wayne State University assistant professor Carlos Hernandez, who teaches in the history department and the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies. "They refer to 'U.S. Americans.'"

With the possible exception of a few countries with far-right governments, he said, Spanish-speaking nations are unlikely to recognize "Gulf of America." The United Kingdom, where English is spoken but best experienced with subtitles, has already said it's just fine with "Gulf of Mexico."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. and Mexico have quietly disagreed before about geographic designations. We say the river that divides much of the two countries across Texas is the Rio Grande, and they prefer Rio Bravo.

Territorial disputes also play out on maps; what Japan calls the Sea of Japan, South Korea considers the East Sea.

What's unique and peculiar about the Gulf of Suddenly Not Mexico, Hernandez said, is that the boundaries, ownership and history are not in dispute.

Even during times of conflict, he noted, and throughout the colonial period, no one ever took aim at the name of the gulf.

Keep in mind, he said, that international politics are always an extension of domestic affairs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump campaigned on controlling immigration, and appears ready to label Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations as they battle authorities and one another with U.S. weapons over market share among U.S. consumers.

The goal, he suggested, is creating an issue that never really existed  the need to bolster national pride by pasting Americas name onto a body of water  and then using that non-issue to pander to a base.

Fighting water with water

By any name, the gulf is the world's ninth-largest body of water. Not counting bays and inlets, its shoreline covers some 3,540 miles, more than half of it in Mexican territory and una pequena cantidad  a small amount  in Cuba.

Dave Imus of Imus Geographics, whose award-winning maps include one he calls his Portrait of Michigan, said he'll start printing the gulf's new name as soon as it's official, with "(Gulf of Mexico)" beneath it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"But c'mon. Really?" he said. "Nobody was writing their congressperson or protesting outside federal buildings over this."

He expects that someday  maybe early in the next president's term  the name will change back.

"The rest of us," he said, "will just keep calling it the Gulf of Mexico, I think."

Unless, of course, Mexico decides to tweak back with a new name of its own. The Gulf of Pine Knob, if it wants to amuse Detroiters. Or the Gulf of Trump University, or maybe the gulf of that adult film actress.

On a smaller scale, there's always the Gulf of California, between Baja California and the mainland, which despite its name is entirely Mexico's to play with.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum took the high road on the map front, joking that perhaps North America might be renamed America Mexicana.

The world, she said, will still recognize the Gulf of Mexico  and most of us will recognize that you don't prove American exceptionalism by being exceptionally petty.

Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com.

A photo caption has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. The caption on the map of Michigan had misspelled the name of Dave Imus.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump order to rename Gulf of Mexico called pointless and temporary
(Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved some waivers for emergency food aid and some salaries after President Donald Trumps executive order to halt and reevaluate all foreign development assistance prompted an outcry among aid groups around the world.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a statement late Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Rubio had provided waivers for food assistance as well as some salaries and administrative expenses, including travel for US direct hire staff conducting ongoing programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The clarification, which reiterated a carve-out for foreign military financing to close security partners Israel and Egypt, comes after Trumps 90-day pause to American foreign development assistance generated chaos in the global aid industry  where US development funds fuel projects across the world.

President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people, Bruce said in a statement. The secretary is proud to protect Americas investment with a deliberate and judicious review of how we spend foreign assistance dollars overseas.

The US Agency for International Development, which falls under the State Department, managed more than $40 billion in US assistance in the 2023 fiscal year and employs thousands of staff overseas, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The State Department statement on Tuesday evening did not provide any details about the fate of billions of dollars of assistance to Ukraine, or foreign military financing to other US partners, such as Taiwan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier: Trumps Aid Order Seen Risking Lives and US Influence in Africa

Without providing details, however, the statement did name some examples of egregious funding, including more than $100 million to the International Medical Corps in Gaza, more than $6 million for an institutional contract for democracy, rights, and governance in an unspecified location, and just over $600,000 for technical assistance for family planning in Latin America.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization expressed deep concern for the impact the funding pause would have on HIV programs in low-and-middle income countries.

A funding halt for HIV programs can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries, the global agency said. Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including in the US.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, on his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order directing the US to withdraw from the WHO.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include the White House press statement and published waiver.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio has backtracked on a near-total freeze of U.S. foreign aid, issuing a waiver for "life-saving humanitarian assistance," according to a White House press statement published Jan. 29.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his inauguration day suspending foreign aid programs for 90 days so they can be reviewed to ensure they align with "American interests" and "American values."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the waiver, Rubio issues an exemption to the pause for work he defined as "core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance."

Programs and services not covered by the waiver include "abortions, family planning conferences transgender surgeries, or other non-life-saving assistance."

Rubio directed organizations providing the exempt assistance to continue their work.

"Implementers of existing life-saving humanitarian assistance programs should continue or resume work if they have stopped," the waiver read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Washington Post (WP) first reported on the waiver on Jan. 28, citing memos sent to aid organizations. WP reported that many programs funded by the U.S.'s roughly $60 billion foreign aid budget were left confused as to whether or not they qualified for the waiver.

In Ukraine, the organizations affected by the Trump aid freeze provide a huge range of humanitarian services, including counseling, organizing cultural events, and providing basic services, often to some of the most vulnerable segments of society.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a report on U.S.-funded projects in Ukraine affected the freeze on foreign assistance.

"I instructed government officials to provide a report on those American support programmes that are currently suspended," Zelensky said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We can provide part of this funding through our state finances, and we will discuss some of them with Europeans and Americans," he added, saying that programs concerning Ukrainian children, veterans, and protecting infrastructure would be prioritized.

Read also: Trumps stance on Ukraine, Russia  what we know from his first week in office

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Tuesday that Washington was "deeply troubled" by escalation in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly the fall of the city of Goma to Rwandan-backed rebels.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The call came as the United States urged the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to consider measures to halt an offensive by Rwandan troops and M23 rebel forces in eastern Congo as a conflict there escalates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels marched into Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, on Monday in the worst escalation of a long-running conflict in more than a decade.

KEY QUOTES

"The Secretary urged an immediate ceasefire in the region, and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity," the State Department said in a statement.

"Secretary Rubio stressed the United States is deeply troubled by escalation of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, particularly the fall of Goma to the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group," the State Department said in a statement.

CONTEXT

Congo accused Rwanda of sending its troops over the border, while Rwanda said fighting near the border threatened its security, without directly commenting on whether its troops were in Congo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the Congolese and Rwandan presidents on Tuesday over the escalating conflict that has killed several U.N. peacekeepers, a U.N. spokesperson said earlier.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Egypt's foreign minister on Tuesday it was important to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza again, the State Department said, with their call coming after President Donald Trump suggested Egypt and Jordan should take more Palestinians.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump on Saturday floated a plan to "clean out" Gaza, where Israel's war has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, in comments that echoed long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suggestion by Trump was not mentioned in the U.S. State Department statement released on Tuesday after the call between Rubio and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Jordan and Egypt had pushed back over the weekend after Trump's comments that they should take in Palestinians from Gaza. Asked if this was a temporary or long-term solution, Trump had said: "Could be either."

KEY QUOTES

"He (Rubio) also reinforced the importance of holding Hamas accountable," the State Department said after Tuesday's call.

"The Secretary reiterated the importance of close cooperation to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CONTEXT

Rubio held a call a day earlier with Jordan's King Abdullah and the U.S. statement after that call, too, did not mention Trump's remarks on Palestinian displacement.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The fighting has currently paused amid a fragile ceasefire.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward; Editing by Sandra Maler and Stephen Coates)
Who will replace Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in 2027? The race for Ohio governor has already begun with several candidates throwing their hats in the political ring.

DeWine cannot run for reelection in 2026 because of term limits. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted planned to run as DeWine's successor, but Husted recently accepted DeWine's appointment to the U.S. Senate, replacing Vice President JD Vance.

Stay informed: Sign up for our weekly Ohio politics newsletter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican primary to replace DeWine could be crowded and contentious. So far, the Democrats have one candidate, but that could change. Here are the likely contenders:

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is running for Ohio governor.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Republican

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Columbus Republican, announced a bid for governor on Jan. 23.

Yost, 68, has served as the state's top attorney for six years. Before that, he worked as the state auditor, Delaware County prosecutor and Delaware County auditor.

As attorney general, Yost has fought against gun restrictions and fought for abortion limitations. He charged former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and two Akron-based utility FirstEnergy executives for a pay-to-play scandal at the Ohio Statehouse.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is putting together a campaign for governor in 2026.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican

Former presidential candidate and wealthy entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, an Upper Arlington Republican, plans to announce a bid for governor in mid-February, NBC News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ramaswamy, a 39-year-old suburban Cincinnati native, has never run for public office in Ohio. However, he has the money and the connections to President Donald Trump to make him instantly competitive as a Republican in the Buckeye State.

Trump tapped Ramaswamy and billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, which is tasked with cutting regulations and spending. But Ramaswamy recently left DOGE as Trump and Vance were sworn in.

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague is taking steps toward a governor's bid.

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, Republican

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has taken the first step toward running for governor by switching his fundraising paperwork.

Sprague, 51, of Findlay, has served as the state treasurer since 2019. Before that, he served as a state lawmaker, Findlay auditor and city treasurer. He launched ResultsOHIO, which pays for successful innovative ideas such as mobile eye examinations in Appalachian counties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Treasurer is a lesser-known statewide post than attorney general or secretary of state, which oversees statewide elections.

Morgan County's Heather Hill is running for Ohio governor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former local school board member Heather Hill, Republican

Morgan County resident Heather Brazell-Hill has announced a bid to run for Ohio governor as a Republican.

Hill served on the Morgan Local School Board, the Morgan County Habitat for Humanity board and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

Ohio's sole female governor, Nancy Hollister, served for 11 days when Gov. George Voinovich left office to become a U.S. senator in 1998. Ohio has never elected a Black governor. Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell ran unsuccessfully for the job in 2006.

Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is running for governor as a Democrat.

Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, Democrat

Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced her run for governor on Jan. 7.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Acton, 58, of Bexley, rose to prominence for her role in responding to the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which earned her both praise and scorn. She also worked for the Columbus Foundation and as a public health professor at Ohio State University.

Acton is the sole Democrat to enter the governor's race to date. Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan isn't ruling out a political comeback, he told the Youngstown Vindicator, and top Ohio House Democrat Allison Russo, of Upper Arlington, is mentioned as a possible contender.

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who is running for Ohio governor in 2026?
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted a message on social media platform X on Wednesday, advising devotees attending the Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj to follow instructions issued by the administration. "Mahakumbh-2025, Prayagraj, dear devotees, Please take your holy bath at the ghat nearest to you, and do not attempt to go towards the Sangam Nose. Kindly follow all the instructions given by the administration and cooperate in maintaining order," Yogi Adityanath wrote in his post. He also noted that a bath is taking place at all the ghats of the Sangam. "Do not pay any attention to rumors," the CM added. This comes after "a stampede like" situation arose at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday. Special executive officer Akanksha Rana, however, said that the situation was not serious and that the injured were receiving medical treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken cognizance of the incident and is continuously monitoring the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah has also assured full support from the Centre. Meanwhile, Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya Ji on Wednesday appealed to all devotees to not insist on taking a dip at the Sangam Ghat after a stampede-like situation in the ongoing Mahakumbh due to large crowds.In a self-made video, Rambhadracharya Ji urged the devotees to not leave their camps. "I appeal to all the devotees that because a large crowd has gathered in Prayagraj today, they should not insist on taking a holy dip only at the Sangam Ghat. As of now, they should not leave their camps and look for their safety," Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya Ji said. The various Akharas have also appealed to devotees take the Holy Dip at the Ghat that was nearest to them. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said, " The no. of gathered devotees is more than anticipated... I appeal to the people that the entire Mela Kshetra is Kumbh, hence they may take a bath at any ghat and not just the Triveni Ghat..." Parmarth Niketan Ashram President Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, "Everyone is asked to take a dip at their nearest Ganga Ghat. PM Narendra Modi has talked to CM Yogi Adityanath twice in the last hour and is in constant touch. The administration is actively working." Meanwhile, the Akharas which had orginally called off the Amrit Snan say that as the crowds at their ghats have decrease they would go for the Holy Dip later in the day. (ANI)
Since the evening of 28 January, the Russians have launched 57 Shahed attack UAVs and various types of decoy drones into Ukraine; 29 drones have been destroyed and 14 disappeared from radar.

Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram

Quote from the Air Force: "As of 09:30, 29 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of drones have been confirmed downed in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa oblasts. Fourteen enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar (without any adverse effects)."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: The Air Force noted that the Russian attack affected Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Sumy oblasts.

The Russians launched drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea.

The air attack was repelled by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the defence forces.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russia has been forming separate drone system regiments at the military district level, aiming to enhance its capabilities in unmanned technology and centralise drone operations.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW reported that a new unit, the 7th Separate Unmanned Systems Reconnaissance Strike Regiment, was formed within Russias Central Military District. It had 1,342 personnel and was 94% staffed as of April 2024. Personnel training is conducted at Russias 473rd District Training Centre.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The regiments structure includes a command staff, a strike drone battalion, three reconnaissance and strike battalions and logistical support units, including communications, medical and repair divisions. A total of 102 subordinate units are planned: 41 strike and 61 reconnaissance.

Since July 2024, Russian volunteer groups have launched crowdfunding campaigns to support this regiment, which operates in temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The Russian Defence Ministry (MoD) started restructuring informal drone detachments along with other specialists, including signalmen, medics and engineers, into "joint technical battalions". By October 2024, the ministry also reported the creation of an unspecified number of unmanned systems detachments through the Rubikon Centre for Prospective Unmanned Technologies and announced the establishment of five additional unmanned systems.

Defence analyst Konrad Muzyka evaluated that the recent restructuring within the Russian military, along with the creation of drone units, indicates the possibility of similar regiments being established in other Russian military districts in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov later declared that the ministry plans to finalise the establishment of the Unmanned Systems Forces within the Russian military by the third quarter of 2025.

Quote from the ISW "Russian forces will likely gain augmented drone support capabilities should the Russian MoD successfully form these new unmanned systems regiments and centralise its procurement efforts under the Unmanned Systems Forces, although the success of this effort will depend on the Russian military's commitment to executing the necessary reforms and the availability of resources."

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 28 January:

The first official Russian delegation arrived in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime on 28 January to discuss Russia's continued use of its military bases in Syria.

The Russian military continues to evacuate military assets from the Port of Tartus amid the ongoing Russian-Syrian negotiations.

The Russian military likely formed a separate unmanned systems regiment at the military district level in order to augment Russia's unmanned systems capabilities. The creation of this regiment supports the Russian Ministry of Defence's (MoD) recent coordinated effort to establish the Unmanned Systems Forces within the Russian military and centralise control over informal drone detachments.

A senior NATO official acknowledged that Russia is escalating a sabotage and destabilisation campaign against European NATO member states in Europe to deter further military assistance to Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Toretsk and near Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Velyka Novosilka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The Russian government continues to use its "Time of Heroes" programme to appoint veterans of the war in Ukraine to federal government positions as part of wider Kremlin efforts to militarise Russian society.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian companies have supplied over 1.5 billion worth of timber to the EU since the imposition of sanctions, using third countries to bypass restrictions.

Source: an investigation by the British non-profit organisation Earthsight

Details: Earthsight investigators, posing as buyers, recorded testimonies from traders who openly acknowledged the illegality of their activities, referring to the established methods of circumventing sanctions as a "gold mine".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation found that seven of the ten largest Russian exporters of birch plywood continue to supply products to the EU despite sanctions imposed in July 2022. The organisation estimates that over 500,000 cubic metres of timber, worth more than 1.5 billion, have been exported from Russia to the EU via third countries, including China, Kazakhstan and Turkiye.

An analysis of trade statistics and customs records reveals that the business of these companies is thriving. For instance, imports recently hit a record high, with over 700 cubic metres of timber arriving at EU ports every day. Moreover, all 27 EU member states are likely receiving illegal plywood, with Poland accounting for the largest share of shipments, followed by Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Estonia.

Investigators have also found that two of the seven Russian companies are linked to oligarchs who met with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin on the day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. One of them, Alexei Mordashov, is on the EU sanctions list. Another, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, is the main shareholder of Russia's largest logging company.

In addition, Belarusian state-owned companies are also involved in illegal timber trade in the EU.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation also revealed that several European companies may be involved in purchasing illegal Russian plywood through traders.

Among the buyers of Russian timber are Bulgarian company Walltopia, a supplier of climbing walls for the 2024 Olympic Games, Estonian firm Technomar & Adrem, which works with Hilton and Marriott chains, Polish company Werxal, which supplies furniture for Black Red White, and Bulgarian toy manufacturer Komfort. The list also includes Spanish company Forest Trafic and Italian firm Castellana Legnami.

Background: EU countries are reportedly being supplied with furniture and timber produced using the forced labour of Belarusian convicts, including political prisoners.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russian authorities and the Defence Ministry have reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on nine Russian oblasts, but curiously, the data provided by the governors and the ministry did not match.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry; Tver Oblast Governor Igor Rudenya; Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz; Russian Telegram channels

Details: The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that 104 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russian territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In particular, 47 drones were reportedly destroyed over Kursk Oblast, 27 over Bryansk Oblast, 11 over Smolensk Oblast, 7 over Tver Oblast, 4 over Belgorod Oblast, 3 each over Nizhny Novgorod and Kaluga oblasts and 1 each over Rostov and Leningrad oblasts.

Notably, Rudenya reported that 29 drones were downed over Tver Oblast.

Meanwhile, Bogomaz claimed that 33 drones were destroyed over Bryansk Oblast (stating that the Defence Ministry's air defence systems downed 27 drones, while 6 more were reportedly downed by special forces of the Russian National Guard).

Russian Telegram channels reported that the Kovyor (Carpet) plan was implemented at Kazan Airport due to the drone attack. Temporary restrictions were also imposed on operations at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. [A Kovyor plan is an airport operational safety procedure for airport services and personnel when an unidentified object appears in the sky  ed.]

Background: Earlier reports indicated that drones attacked the Nizhny Novgorod oil refinery, causing a fire.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russian occupying authorities have reported receiving over RUB 4.8 billion (US$48.5 million) from the sale of "nationalised" property belonging to Ukrainians in occupied Crimea.

Source: Radio Liberty, citing Larisa Kulinich, the Russian-installed Minister of Property and Land Relations of Crimea

Details: The representative of the Russian occupying authorities stated that among the properties sold are a flat belonging to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Yalta, the Villa Olena estate, the Bakaliia shopping centre, the Thousand and One Nights Hotel, the Europe Hotel in Alushta and other properties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kulinich noted that over the past year, more than 1,000 properties have been added to the list of "nationalised" assets, which includes food warehouses, shopping centres, office spaces and even cinemas.

Earlier, Denys Chystikov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea, stated that in 2024 alone, the Russian authorities "nationalised" the property of 560 individuals and legal entities in Crimea, along with an additional 135 buildings in Sevastopol.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed "head" of Crimea, claimed in November 2024 that the peninsula's budget had received RUB 2.7 billion (roughly US$27 million) from the sale of "nationalised" property.

Background: The Russians reported new "seizures" of Ukrainian properties in Crimea, including assets belonging to Arsenii Yatseniuk, former Prime Minister of Ukraine; Susana Dzhamaladinova, better known as Jamala, the winner of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest; and Kyivmiskbud, a Kyiv-based large construction company.

Support UP or become our patron!
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Wednesday it had held "frank" discussions with Syria's new de facto leader as it tries to retain its two military bases in the country, but it declined to comment on what he was demanding in return.

A Syrian source familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had requested that Moscow hand over former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia when he was toppled by Sharaa's rebels in December.

Syrian news agency Sana said Damascus also wanted Russia, which backed Assad in the country's civil war, to rebuild trust through "concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and recovery".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked to confirm whether Russia had been asked to return Assad and pay compensation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.

Russia, whose troops and air force backed Assad for years against Syrian rebels, is seeking to retain its naval base in Tartous and Hmeimim air base near the port city of Latakia. Losing them would deal a serious blow to its ability to project power in the region.

The new Syrian administration said after Tuesday's talks with a Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov that it had "stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes, respect the will of the Syrian people and serve their interests".

But the Syrian source told Reuters that the Russians had not been willing to concede such mistakes and the only agreement that was reached was to continue discussions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia's foreign ministry said there had been a "frank discussion of the entire range of issues". It said the two sides would pursue further contacts in order to seek "relevant agreements", without referring specifically to the two bases.

(Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Andrew Osborn and Angus MacSwan)
The intensity of Russian assault operations in Ukraine is declining but remains high, according to an analysis by the monitoring group DeepState, published on Jan. 28.

Russian forces have concentrated 44% of their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast.

The peak intensity of Russian offensives was recorded in the second half of December, following a surge in attacks that began in late November.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the pace has slowed somewhat since the New Year, DeepState recorded the following attack numbers: 5,205 in November, 6,247 in December, and 4,304 in January as of Jan. 27.

Despite suffering heavy losses, Russian forces have reportedly been able to replenish their combat strength, allowing them to sustain attacks across multiple front-line sectors.

As part of this effort, Russia has intensified assaults near Pokrovsk, deploying small groups in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops, Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, said on Jan. 27.

The estimated Russian advance in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Jan. 29, 2025, according to DeepState map. A white symbol marks Pokrovsk. (DeepState/OpenStreetMaps)

The town of Kurakhove has also been a target. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 6 that its forces had fully captured the settlement, though Ukraine has not confirmed this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian forces also claimed on Jan. 26 to have captured Velyka Novosilka, a strategically significant settlement in the western part of Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade acknowledged withdrawing from parts of the village to avoid encirclement.

The Kursk sector accounted for 13% of assaults, while 10% occurred in the Lyman sector.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi in November described the ongoing offensive as "one of the most powerful" since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Ukraine's General Staff reported continued Russian offensives along multiple axes, including Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, and Kurakhove.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout the autumn, Russian forces made operational gains in southern Donetsk Oblast, particularly near Chasiv Yar and Kupiansk.

Despite their persistent offensives, Russian forces have not achieved a major breakthrough, while Ukrainian defenses remain under constant pressure across multiple front-line sectors.

Read also: Australian POW feared executed by Russia is alive, Penny Wong says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Wreckage from a Russian drone has fallen near a metro station in the Darnytskyi district of the city of Kyiv, damaging a fence and the building of the Darnytskyi depot gate.

Source: Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko

Quote: "Wreckage from an enemy UAV has fallen near a metro station in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv. A fence and a separate building of the Darnytskyi depot gate were damaged. No fire has been detected and there were no casualties."

Background: At 05:27, an air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv over the threat of loitering munitions. The all-clear was given at 05:55.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russia is close to losing its leading position in the global grain market for the first time in many years, with grain exports expected to decline by a third in 2025.

Source: The Moscow Times

Details: Thats the prediction of the Russian Grain Union, a major industry association comprising nearly 300 agricultural organisations that account for 90% of national grain exports.

The Russian Grain Union estimates that next year, Russian farmers will sell 48-49 million tonnes of grain abroad, down from 72 million tonnes last year. Its president, Arkady Zlochevsky, said at a press conference that wheat exports could fall to 41-42 million tonnes, a drop of over 16 million tonnes, or 28%, compared to last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grain exports are one of the Russian economy's primary sources of foreign currency earnings, bringing in US$15.5 billion in 2023. But they are plummeting rapidly. The ProZerno centre reports that volumes were down 42% year on year as of the end of January compared to the same month in 2024, with farmers exporting almost 2.5 million tonnes since the beginning of the month. Zlochevsky noted that there has always been a drop in January, "but never by half".

Grain exports are down following a harvest that was hit by bad weather and the government's decision to ban seed imports.

An additional blow to farmers was the grain export duties that have been in place since 2021. The result of the governments policy on agriculture will be a drop in harvests "to the Soviet level  rock bottom," Zlochevsky said.

Background: Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is increasingly worried about the problems in Russia's war economy, just as Donald Trump is calling for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
A Massive crowd of devotees continue to take holy baths in Triveni Sangam on Mauni Amavasya in the ongoing Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh''s Prayagraj. 17.5 million people have taken a holy dip today till 6 am today and a total of 199.4 million people have taken a holy dip till January 28, as per the Uttar Pradesh government. "I appeal to people to take a holy bath patiently..." A devotee said Another devotee said that he is fortunate to take a dip during ''Brahmamuhurat.''. "We were fortunate to take ''shahi snan'' during the ''Brahmamuhurat," he said. A group of pilgrims from Bengaluru attended Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. One of the pilgrims said people in Bengaluru talk a lot about PM Modi and Yogi and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. "My message to the Hindu community is to pray at Prayagraj and attend Mahakumbh. People in Bengaluru, and Karnataka, talk a lot about PM Modi and Yogi ji. Good arrangements have been made here," he said. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted a message on the social media platform X on Wednesday, advising devotees attending the Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj to follow instructions issued by the administration. "Mahakumbh-2025, Prayagraj, dear devotees, Please take your holy bath at the ghat nearest to you, and do not attempt to go towards the Sangam Nose. Kindly follow all the instructions given by the administration and cooperate in maintaining order," Yogi Adityanath wrote in his post. He also noted that a bath is taking place at all the ghats of the Sangam. "Do not pay any attention to rumours," the CM added. This comes after "a stampede-like" situation arose at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday. Special executive officer Akanksha Rana, however, said that the situation was not serious and that the injured were receiving medical treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken cognisance of the incident and is continuously monitoring the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah has also assured full support from the Centre. Meanwhile, the Akharas, which had originally called off the Amrit Snan, say that as the crowds at their ghats have decreased, they would go for the holy dip later in the day. (ANI)
Oil spilled from two wrecked tankers has reached the shores of the southern Krasnodar region in Russia. Governor Veniamin Kondratiev declared a regionwide emergency to deal with the pollution appearing in the Anapa and Temryuk districts, according to Reuters.

"Initially, according to the calculations of scientists and specialists, the main mass of fuel oil should have remained at the bottom of the Black Sea, which would have allowed it to be collected in the water," Kondratiev posted via Telegram, per Reuters. "But the weather dictates its own conditions, the air warms up, and oil products rise to the top. As a result, they are being carried to our beaches."

What happened?

Two Russian oil tankers were damaged because of storm conditions in the Kerch Strait, off the eastern coast of the Crimean peninsula. The bow of one broke off, and the other was beached nearby.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Experts suggested that the Soviet-era vessels were too old to be in service and otherwise were unfit for stormy weather.

Approximately 9,200 tons of oil product was being carried in the two ships, with an estimated 3,700 tons being spilled, according to the Associated Press. One sailor aboard the Volgoneft-212 died because of the incident.

Why are oil spills harmful?

Marine oil spills are disastrous for local wildlife, which in turn works its way through the food chain to humans. A study has shown that an improperly cleaned spill produces an increased risk of toxic exposure to humans long afterward. In the immediate aftermath, communities can be cut off from their only source of drinking water.

The biodiversity risks are staggering. Coastal birds and coral ecosystems are directly in the line of fire when it comes to oil spills at sea.

What's being done about the Krasnodar oil spill?

Over 10,000 people have been helping to clean up the Krasnodar spill, per Reuters, but the effects are ongoing. The majority of the 2,400 tons spilled by the Volgoneft-239 is reported to have been contained, per Russian news agency Tass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Reuters, it's likely that these ships were operating without adhering to maritime standards.

Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

If these standards were more stringently enforced, costly disasters can be avoided. Both captains were charged with crimes, according to a Russian media source (viewed in translation).

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.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers have identified a Russian serviceman who abducted a 21-year-old Ukrainian woman from the Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast, in summer 2022, took her out of the country, and subjected her to more than a year of physical and sexual violence. The perpetrator has been served with a notice of suspicion in absentia.

Source: Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office

Ukrainian law enforcement has identified a Russian soldier who organised the deportation of a woman from the Izium district to Belgorod, Russia, where he held her captive and subjected her to sexual violence for over a year

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Photo: Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office

Details: Law enforcement officers established during the pre-trial investigation that the serviceman, from the 1st Motorised Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces, had taken part in the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast. While stationed in a village in the Izium district, he broke into a house where the 21-year-old woman lived with her family.

"The invader grabbed the woman and dragged her to a neighbouring house, which was empty. He raped her at gunpoint. He later did it again," law enforcement officers reported.

At the soldiers request, two other Russian troops forced the Ukrainian woman to pack her belongings and documents, threatening to kill her entire family. She was then taken to Belgorod, Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the woman arrived in Russia, the perpetrator was waiting for her. He took her to his flat, where, the Prosecutor General's Office says, he held her captive for over a year, during which time he repeatedly raped and physically abused her.

"To prevent her from escaping, the windows and balcony were reinforced with iron bars and the front door was kept locked at all times," the prosecutor's office added.

"The systematic beatings, psychological distress, illegal imprisonment and sexual slavery drove the woman to attempt suicide by drinking boric acid."

Ultimately she survived and managed to escape, but only after the Russian soldier was detained by Russian military law enforcement for evading service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim is now in Ukraine.

The Russian serviceman has been served in absentia with a notice of suspicion for cruelty towards civilians and violating the laws and customs of war  crimes under Articles 438.1, 28.2 and 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Background: Earlier, Ukraine identified a Russian serviceman, a native of Kyrgyzstan, who raped a Ukrainian woman during the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast in 2022.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian officials arrived in Damascus, Syria on Jan.28, the first such delegation to visit the country since its Kremlin-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power in December, AP reported, citing Russian state media.

Assad was ousted from power following a lightning offensive by rebels, putting an end to a decade-long civil war. He took refuge in Moscow.

The delegation includes Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov, and the Russian presidents special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian state media cited by AP did not specify the purpose of the delegations visit, but the new Syrian authorities' semi-official newspaper, Al Watan, reported it will meet with the de-facto new leader of the country Ahmad al-Sharaa, and with the new foreign minister.

After Assad was overthrown and fled to Russia, Moscow began withdrawing military and naval assets from Syria, and the future of its military bases such as the Tartus naval base and the Khmeimim air base remain unclear.

Moscow deployed its troops to Syria in 2015, providing support to the Assad regime against multiple anti-government forces. Damascus had been supportive of the Kremlin during the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A "large amount" of Russian military equipment vanished from the Syrian port of Tartus with the departure of the Russian cargo ship Sparta II, an investigative journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Mark Krutov, said on Jan. 27, citing satellite images.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another Russian cargo ship called Sparta remained docked in the port after the two ships idled for weeks off the coast before being granted permission to dock, the BBC reported.

The BBC added that there were probably two more Russian warships in the port, the Ivan Gren and the Aleksandr Otrakovsky. This assessment was supported by Ukraine's military intelligence.

Read also: 4 out of 4  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia has increased its military budget by 25% in 2025, underscoring the need for stronger sanctions, more weapons, and greater assistance from Ukraine's international partners, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 29.

"Russia understands only the language of force and is not going to retreat unless we give a worthy response," Shmyhal said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the state budget on Dec. 1, which plans for record levels of military spending over the next three years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking alongside Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, Shmyhal said that "peace through strength" must guide the response to Russian aggression.

He called for further sanctions to weaken Moscow's economy and expressed gratitude to Croatia for its continued military and technical assistance.

The call for tougher measures comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens new sanctions and tariffs on Russian exports unless a deal to end the war is reached soon.

Targeting Russia's oil sector could pressure the Kremlin into negotiations, Trump's incoming peace envoy Keith Kellogg said on Jan. 24.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amid uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine under the Trump administration, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged Washington to maintain weapons supplies to Kyiv, pledging that Europe would cover the financial burden.

Read also: Trump must call Putins bluff on Ukraine talks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russias crude oil exports from its western ports are expected to decline by 8% in February compared to January's plan, as Moscow ramps up oil refining. Reuters' calculations indicate that exports dropped by 8% following recent US sanctions.

Source: Reuters

Details: Despite enduring a series of sanctions since 2022, Russia's oil exports now face some of their biggest challenges due to the latest restrictions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The total oil exports from Russia's western ports  Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk  are projected to reach 1.6 million barrels per day in February, down from 1.73 million barrels per day in Januarys plan.

Traders say that Februarys exports could still increase if recent attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian oil refineries result in more oil being redirected for export.

One of Russias major refineries, the Ryazan refinery, halted operations after a drone attack last week.

Exports through Baltic ports remain constrained by technical issues at Ust-Luga. In January, the port reduced oil loading to half its capacity, reaching a four-year low due to problems in the Transneft pipeline system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline and to Ust-Luga in February will rise, but they still remain below capacity," a source told Reuters.

Background: Russias export of petroleum products in January reached an 11-month high despite the introduction of new US sanctions targeting the countrys energy sector.

Support UP or become our patron!
LONDON (Reuters) - Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said Britain should focus on adding capacity at airports other than London's Heathrow and lowering passenger taxes as he laid out plans to deploy an extra 100 aircraft in the UK in the next eight years.

British finance minister Rachel Reeves has just given the government's backing to a long-delayed new runway at Heathrow Airport as part of her plan to revitalise the country's sluggish economy.

O'Leary said on Wednesday he did not expect Heathrow's third runway to be built any time soon.

"You could grow today in Manchester or Birmingham. You could grow at Stansted," O'Leary told reporters in London.

"I don't personally think a third runway in Heathrow is likely. I suspect a second runway in Gatwick is more deliverable," he told reporters.

Ryanair is due to receive 300 new aircraft in the next eight years, and a third of those will go into Britain, which accounts for about 40% of its business.

The company plans major investment in other British airports along with the 100 aircraft.

O'Leary said the British government should focus on developing other airports in places like Bournemouth or Edinburgh and lowering passenger taxes if it wants to boost economic growth.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska; Writing by Conor Humphries and Sarah Young; Editing by William James and Jane Merriman)
ST. LOUIS  Safety improvements are underway around Ted Drewes in South St. Louis following multiple tragic incidents.

The city is implementing several safety measures while Ted Drewes is closed for the winter season. These include a new crosswalk with a pedestrian-activated signal, a concrete traffic barrier, and a raised median. Additional improvements involve new lighting, parking lot enhancements, and safer sidewalks.

The latest incident occurred just before Christmas when 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi crashed through metal barriers, hitting five people, and struck a sixth person when he backed up and drove away. Al Janabi later returned to the scene and was taken into custody, now facing five felony charges for leaving the scene and causing physical injury.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plane, military helicopter collide above Washington DC

In May 2022, a Washington University librarian in his 70s was hit and killed, followed by the death of a 17-year-old CBC High School student a few months later.

City officials hope a lot of this work can be done before Ted Drewes reopens in February and that these changes will make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office declined to file charges against the officers involved in the 2022 death of Megan Mohn, instead announcing a new initiative to fund police training on the medical emergency that led to her death.

According to District Attorney Sim Gill, officers arrested and restrained Megan Mohn on Jan. 11, 2022, followed by her losing consciousness. Gill said she never again regained consciousness and died 19 days later in the hospital.

Megan Mohn sits on the side of the road after being detained by police. (Credit: The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, press conference)

During Tuesdays press conference, Gill walked through the incident using bodycam footage and introduced two specialists to discuss the particular medical scenario that led to Mohns death. He also cleared the officers of potential criminal charges, stating that it is unclear the extent to which their actions directly caused her death.

Megan Mohns death

In January 2022, officers responded to a trespassing call and found Megan Mohn allegedly walking through the intersection of 400 West 900 North carrying rebar. When officers confronted her she dropped the rebar and was put in handcuffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mohn was seated on the curb when officers demanded she state her name, and when she did not comply, they started cutting off her backpack. It was then that bodycam footage showed her beginning to resist officers and kicking and yelling for help. The four officers on scene then restrained her with her chest to the ground and pinned her legs back behind her.

Image taken from bodycam footage of officers restraining Meghan Mohn. This snapshot is taken just seconds before she loses consciousness. (Credit: The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, press conference)

At 3:43 a.m., Gill said Mohns hands were seen moving for the last time. Footage shows officers putting her legs in shackles before realizing several moments later that she was no longer responsive. They then called for medical assistance, performed several evaluations on her, and did chest compressions when they could no longer detect a pulse.

Mohn was transported to the hospital where she died 19 days later. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide and determined her cause of death to be anoxic brain injury due to cardiac arrest from probable methamphetamine intoxication in the setting of an altercation involving physical restraint.

Dancers to march from Utah State Capitol in honor of Megan Mohn

Officers cleared of wrongdoing

After her death was ruled a homicide, an Officer Involved Critical Incident team began an investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The D.A.s Office ultimately declined to press charges against the officers, saying it could not determine to what extent the drugs played a role in her death as opposed to the actions of the officers. Gill said they did not feel they had enough evidence to convince a jury. He also stated that the officers responded according to current policy.

These officers did nothing wrong, they were consistent with their training, he said.

However, Gill added that it kept gnawing on us what they could do differently to prevent these kinds of deaths moving forward.

Image taken from bodycam footage of officers detaining Meghan Mohn. (Credit: The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, press conference)

Excited delirium

Amanda ODriscoll, a nurse practitioner and medical consultant, said she has done extensive research on a medical emergency previously known as excited delirium.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This condition, which she refers to as catecholamine surge, is a surge of neurotransmitters (such as adrenaline and dopamine) that are not metabolized, leading to crisis-level vital signs. She said this causes agitated and delirious behavior, and therefore law enforcement officers are often the first ones to confront these patients.

Its similar to a vehicle engine being over-revved and redlined and the gas pedal is never released. If they are not treated, the engine will blow resulting in a patients death, she said.

She said in this state, the body is not actually suffering from a lack of oxygen, but rather a build-up of carbon dioxide. Typically the patient is breathing heavily to regulate this build-up, and therefore restraining them can increase the risk of death.

Whats next?

ODriscoll said These cases are happening over and over again, where a person in custody dies while being restrained by an officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ODriscoll and Gill, as well as West Jordan Chief Ken Wallentine, are working together to promote the training of officers on this emergency medical condition to reduce preventable deaths.

To start, ODriscoll said adages such as, If they are talking, they are breathing are dangerous myths that were previously taught to law enforcement officers. She said the patient must be able to freely breathe heavily and deeply without restraint to survive the medical emergency.

She also said officers need to be taught to contain the suspect  so they are not a harm to others or themselves  but avoid detaining or restraining them until medical responders are at the scene.

This could look like keeping a suspect contained in a backyard, or in Mohns case, keeping her calm on the side of the road and avoiding the stimulation of repeatedly asking for her name or removing her backpack until medical responders arrive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials said these are new medical findings, and to prevent future excited delirium deaths the D.A.s Office is funding training for all local law enforcement agencies willing to participate.

It would be unfair to expect a change in behavior when it comes to current practices unless an opportunity to change that behavior  to be consistent with current medical findings  is made available to police agencies, Gill 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 ABC4 Utah.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Dozens rallied outside San Diego Unified District headquarters Tuesday, calling on the district to prioritize special education staffing.

San Diego educators are demanding action, calling the special education staffing levels a crisis.

It hurts us when we dont have enough support to be able to care for those children the way they deserve, said para educator Issel Martinez.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Education specialists and para educators who provide support in the classroom rallied Tuesday evening, asking district leaders to fully staff schools, improve caseloads, and pay.

SeaWorld offers free admission for teachers, discounted prices for preschoolers

San Diego Unified says its caseload is lighter than other districts.

The state typically says 28 to one, and we actually have a caseload of 20 to one, said Nicole DeWitt, Interim Deputy Superintendent of Instruction.

Ive been with the district for 10 years. Nine out of those 10 years, Ive been over our contractual limit on caseloads, said educational specialist Jennifer Stanchak.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stanchak says shes experienced caseloads of up to 35 at a time.

Parent voices concerns about school closures during Border 2 Fire

Since the pandemic, the district says its hired more than 200 para educators. Currently, San Diego Unified hasnt filled about 170 special education positions compared to whats been budgeted for.

Even though our enrollment is declining, our special education population has been increasing, so it is a number we are chasing, said DeWitt.

San Diego Unified reacts to deportation plans

As the San Diego Education Association begins bargaining for another contract that represents more than 6,500 educators in the district, they are continuing to fight for resolution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every single year it looks different, but theres always the ask for we need more help, we need more support,' said Martinez.

The district says recruiting is a year-round process and has a couple programs to get qualified candidates into these positions.

At Tuesdays meeting, the SDEA union also presented their platform for the next contract and the top demand is fully staffing schools.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is constantly monitoring the situation at Mahakumbh 2025. The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that CM Yogi is overseeing operations from the war room set up for the event. According to CMO, Chief Secretary, the DGP, Principal Secretary for Home, CM Office officials, and ADG Law and Order are also present at the war room. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took cognizance of the incident and is continuously monitoring the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah has also assured full support from the Centre. Various Akharas have also appealed to devotees take the holy dip at the ghat that was nearest to them. Meanwhile, the Akharas which had orginally called off the Amrit Snan say that as the crowds at their ghats have decrease they would go for the holy dip later in the day. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted a message on social media platform X on Wednesday, advising devotees attending the Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj to follow instructions issued by the administration. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed sadness over the victims in the incident "caused by mismanagement" in Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. He also urged the devotees to exercise restraint. "The news of casualties of devotees in an accident caused by mismanagement in Mahakumbh is extremely sad," Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X. "We appeal to our government: Seriously injured people should be taken to the nearest best hospitals with the help of air ambulance and immediate medical treatment should be provided. Arrangements should be made to identify the bodies of the deceased hand them over to their relatives and send them to their place of residence. Urgent efforts should be made to reunite those who have been separated. Surveillance should be increased by making good use of helicopters," he added. The SP chief said that Shahi Snan on Mauni Amavasya should be conducted parallel to the relief work. "Keeping the unbroken tradition of 'Shahi Snan' going on since the Satya Yuga, arrangements should be made to conduct the 'Shahi Snan of Mauni Amavasya' amidst safe management parallel to relief work," he said. "We also appeal to the devotees to exercise restraint and patience in this difficult time and complete their pilgrimage peacefully. The government should learn a lesson from today's incident and make additional arrangements for the stay, accommodation, food, water and other facilities for devotees. Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident," he added. (ANI)
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Preliminary data from the San Francisco Medical Examiner revealed that over 630 people died from an overdose in the city last year. That brings the total to over 1,400 lives lost over the last two years. Mayor Daniel Lurie said San Francisco needs to treat this drug crisis like the emergency it is.

Mayor Luries proposal for a fentanyl state of emergency ordinance would build more shelter space for mental health and drug treatment and hire more public safety staff. It would also help to hire more law enforcement officers and 911 dispatchers.

San Francisco ICE office vows to enforce immigration laws with deportations

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve estimated that if we do this during normal times without treating it with the urgency that this demands, we would have to go to the board of supes nearly 50 times and it would go through a 3, 6, 9-month process, Lurie told KRON4 News. We have to act more quickly.

Five members of the board of supervisors who support the mayors plan are expected to join Lurie at a rally Wednesday morning. Drug recovery groups, labor groups and business owners will also attend, the mayors office said.

Following Wednesdays rally, the groups are expected to testify in front of the board of supervisors, who will consider passing the legislation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Santa Fe Police Department shared video of officers helping rescue an injured pelican on Monday.

Story continues below

Animal services was called to a condominium near Zia Rd. and Yucca St. With assistance of the property manager and residents, police located the injured pelican. The bird was hiding in some brush and unable to fly. Officers worked with animal services to secure the bird and take it to the New Mexico Wildlife Center for care. Pelicans are usually rare in New Mexico, but do sometimes cross over the state during their winter migration.

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 ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  News 5 is learning more about a homicide that occurred on Jan. 20 in East Milton.

Arrest made in triple homicide investigation: Mobile police

Toby White of Milton was arrested Saturday in connection with the stabbing death of Lucy Reed, 77, who was killed in front of her husband last week. She was taken to Santa Rosa Hospital where she died shortly after she was attacked.

Toby White. (Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office Facebook page)

According to Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson, White stole a vehicle from an industrial area after the murder. He was initially chased in Alachua County, Fla., but he wasnt identified as a murder suspect at the time, which led to the chase being called off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Law enforcement later identified White as the suspect, which led to another chase. White crashed during the chase and fled into a wooded area.

Multiple agencies worked together and apprehended White in Suwannee County, Florida.

2 teens, 1 man arrested after Jackson County drive-by-shooting: Sheriffs Department

According to Johnson, White told investigators God told him to when they asked him why he committed the crime.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

An animation of an iceberg traveling towards South Georgia Island. | Credit: NOAA

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, is drifting toward South Georgia Island, a remote and ecologically vital wildlife haven.

This massive block of ice, about the size of Rhode Island, poses a significant threat to the delicate ecosystem of the island, home to penguins and seals.

Satellite images, including recent data captured by NOAA's GOES East satellite on Jan. 22, 2025, are closely monitoring the iceberg's slow journey through the Southern Ocean, where it could soon reach the shallow waters surrounding South Georgia.

Breaking free

Iceberg A23a has been a concern for scientists since it broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf in 1986. After remaining immobile for over three decades, the iceberg finally broke free in 2020 and began drifting northward.

The route of A23a toward South Georgia Island. | Credit: Omar Zaghloul/Anadolu via Getty Images

Measuring roughly 1,350 square miles (3,500 square kilometers) across, A23a is the world's largest and oldest iceberg according to AFP News . Its imposing size and slow, steady movement have captivated oceanographers and researchers alike, though predicting its exact path has proven difficult due to the unpredictable forces of ocean currents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike many previous "megabergs" that crumble into smaller chunks, A23a has shown little sign of breaking apart, which has only intensified concerns over its collision with South Georgia Island.

According to Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, the iceberg is currently moving northeastward, but prevailing currents suggest that it could strike the shallow continental shelf around South Georgia in two to four weeks. If it does, the consequences could be dire for the island's wildlife Meijers told AFP News.

Aerial view of Iceberg A23a on Nov. 24, 2024 as it travels towards South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. | Credit: UK MOD Crown Copyright via Getty Images

Potential impact

The potential impact on South Georgia Island's ecosystem is worrying. Penguins, seals, and other marine animals depend on the island's surrounding waters for food and breeding. If A23a grounds itself on the continental shelf or disrupts the currents, it could block access to essential feeding areas.

Meijers warned that icebergs have previously grounded near the island, causing significant mortality among penguin chicks and seal pups, particularly when their feeding grounds were cut off by the ice. Such a scenario could hinder the survival of these already vulnerable species, especially during the crucial breeding season.

South Georgia Island is a haven for Antarctic wildlife. | Credit: David Merron Photography via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hit or miss?

Despite these concerns, there is still a degree of uncertainty surrounding the iceberg's path. It's possible that A23a could avoid the shelf and drift into open water, bypassing South Georgia altogether.

Alternatively, the iceberg could become stuck for months or break apart into smaller pieces, both of which could seriously impede seals and penguins trying to feed and raise young on the island, according to Meijers.

Raul Cordero from Chile's University of Santiago and part of the National Antarctic Research Committee said he was confident the iceberg would not impact South Georgia.

"The island acts as an obstacle for ocean currents and therefore usually diverts the water long before it reaches the island," Cordero told AFP News.

This image from NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and S-NPP satellites shows the worlds largest iceberg, A23a, floating eastward in the Southern Ocean in December 2024. | Credit: NOAA CIRA

RELATED STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 Satellite data reveals Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier is melting faster than we thought

 Climate change hits Antarctica hard, sparking concerns about irreversible tipping points

 A Switzerland-size hole opened in Antarctica's sea ice in 2016-17. Now we know why

"The iceberg is moved by that water flow, so the chances of it hitting are not that high," though chunks could, Cordero said.

Glaciologist Soledad Tiranti, who is currently part of an Argentinian exploration mission in Antarctica, explained that icebergs like A23a are so massive that they typically become grounded on the seabed before reaching an island or the mainland, according to AFP News.

The situation remains fluid, and scientists are keeping a close eye on the iceberg's progress with regular satellite imagery and ocean monitoring.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  If you have a craving for New York steak, garlic shrimp or sea scallops Wasabi Express has got you covered.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

They are serving up ono food in a Japanese style of hibachi grilling known as teppanyaki.

Each meal includes garlic fried rice, mixed seasonal vegetables and scratch-made yum yum sauce, which is cooked in Tigers smokey house teriyaki. The protein choices range from mahi-mahi, salmon, ribeye, New York steak, garlic shrimp, lobster and scallops.

Check them out at Village Market at Pearlridge Center every Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Their latest information is on Instagram at @Wasabiexpress808.

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 KHON2.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Savannah Chrisley doesnt know what the future holds for her dad Todd Chrisley.

The Chrisley Knows Best alum explained that shes experiencing mixed emotions amid the upcoming closure of the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., where her father is serving time for committing tax evasion and bank fraud.

It's a bittersweet feeling, Savannah, 27whose mom Julie Chrisley is also serving a prison sentence in Kentucky on the same chargessaid on the Jan. 28 episode of her Unlocked podcast. I am happy it's closing down because no human being should be subjected to the conditions or treatment that that facility gave. I'm sad that it's closing down because I don't know where he's gonna go. I don't know where they're gonna try and put him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prison, where the 55-year-old has resided since beginning his sentence in January 2023, is set to cease operations as a way to maximize resources and mitigate safety concerns, according to a press release obtained by the Pensacola News Journal. The bureau will also make every effort to keep inmates within 500 miles of their current location, per the outlet.

Keep reading for more details on Todd and Julie Chrisleys legal cases.

More from E! Online

I hope and pray they abide by that policy, Savannah continued, because if not, you guys know I will fight tooth and nail.

E! News has reached out to FPC Pensacola for comment but has not heard back.

Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Prior to the announcement of the facilitys closure, Todd was dismissed from his administrative job at the Florida prisons onsite chapel, his lawyer Jay Surgent told TMZ in October. The reality star helped organize religious services for various faiths alongside a chaplain before being removed from the role by prison officials, per the attorney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time, a rep for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told the outlet, For privacy reasons, we do not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual, including their work detail assignments.

Keep reading for more details on Todd and Julie Chrisleys legal cases.

Indicted on Tax Evasion and Other Charges

Todd and Julie Chrisley were indicted on 12 counts by a federal grand jury in Atlanta in August 2019 on charges included wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to a document obtained by NBC News. Prosecutors claimed fraud began in the mid-aughtsinclusive of evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016 and hiding over $1 million dollars from the IRS. The day before the indictment was issued, Todd maintained he and his wife were innocent, and instead said a trusted employee had been stealing from and blackmailing the couple. "We have nothing to hide and have done nothing to be ashamed of," he wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. "Not only do we know we've done nothing wrong, but we've got a ton of hard evidence and bunch of corroborating witnesses that proves it."





Todd and Julie Found Guilty

It wasnt until three years later that the Chrisley Knows Best stars went to trial. Following three weeks of testimonies, the pair, who had pleaded not guilty, were convicted on all counts of tax evasion and bank fraud on June 7, 2022. The U.S. attorney's office had alleged the duo and their accountant Peter Tarantinowho stood trial with themconspired to defraud banks out of more than $30 million over the course of a decade. "As today's outcome shows, when you lie, cheat and steal, justice is blind as to your fame, your fortune, and your position," Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a June 2022 statement. "In the end, when driven by greed, the verdict of guilty on all counts for these three defendants proves once again that financial crimes do not pay."





Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison

Five months later, the Northern District of Georgia sentenced Todd to 12 years behind bars and Julie to seven years. (Peter was sentenced to three years in prison.) "Over the course of a decade, the defendants defrauded banks out of tens of millions of dollars while evading payment of their federal income taxes," U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a November 2022 statement. "Their lengthy sentences reflect the magnitude of their criminal scheme and should serve as a warning to others tempted to exploit our nation's community banking system for unlawful personal gain." However, Julie and Todds respective sentences were shortened in September 2023with Julie scheduled to be released a year and three months earlier, and Todd two years earlier than his originally scheduled 2035 release. "Without a doubt, Todd and Julie are model incarcerated individuals who received exorbitant sentences," Jay Surgent, the pair's attorney, told Insider in September 2023. "I believe Todd is down to 10 years and Julie is now at five years."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement





Starting Their Sentences

The couple started their respective prison sentences in January 2023, with Todd serving his time at Federal Correctional Institution (FPI) Pensacola in Florida and Julie at a different federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky.





No Contact

Six months after Julie and Todd reported to their respective prisons, their daughter Savannah Chrisley shared insight into how the duo were doing, revealing that her parents did not have contact during their time behind bars. "195 days without a word to each other" she wrote in an August 2023 Instagram story. "My heart is breakingPlease help to bring justice!" She also pushed back at rumors about their time in prison. "It's hilarious because one of them was like, 'Oh, he's let himself go,'" she said on her Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast. "First off, news flash, they don't sell hair color in commissary. So of course his hair is gray! But, you know what, I would tell him today, if he was out, keep it that way. Like, it looks good! He's got a great prison barber."





Todd Details Filthy Prison Conditions

However, Todd spoke out from behind bars about the mistreatment he faced at the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Fla. "The food is dated," he said in a phone interview on a December 2023 episode of Cuomo. "It's a year past expiration." "You've got rats, you've got squirrels in the storage facility where the food is," he continued. "They just covered it up with plastic and then tore the ceiling out because of all the black mold and found a dead cat in the ceiling, and it dropped down on the top of the food." Beyond the horrors in the cafeteria, he alleged that someone also attempted to extort his family members. "There was a photograph taken of me while I was sleeping and sent to my daughter," he noted, "asking for $2,600 dollars a month for my protection."





Savannah Chrisley Speaks Out

Savannah, who has custody of younger siblings Grayson and Chloe amid her parents sentences, has explained how their convictions and their lack of contact with one another has weighed on her. "The last time they spoke was the morning they went into federal prison," she shared with E! News March 2024, alleging that there's "a lot of retaliation going on against my father for how outspoken we've been about conditions." In fact, she alleged that prison officials had been "blocking a lot of his emails correspondence to my mom." And while not wanting to make the experience about herself, she admitted that it was overwhelming at times. "What's tough for me is how Mom and Dad have that feeling that life is just continuing to move on without them," Savannah explained on her podcast Unlocked in April 2024. "In a way, I have that feeling with people in my life because it's like they just continue on living their lives." "I'm still sitting here struggling to catch my breath," she continued. "Whether it's financially with the kids, trying to parent, me in a relationship."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement





Julie's Prison Sentence Overturned

Julie's seven-year prison sentence was overturned June 2024 following a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Although the panel upheld her convictions, the court ruled the judge in the 2022 trial miscalculated the reality star's sentence. "The district court did not identify the evidence it relied on to hold Julie accountable for losses incurred before 2007, and we cannot independently find it in the record," the judges stated in their ruling. "So we vacate Julie's sentence and remand solely for the district court to make the factual findings and calculations necessary to determine loss, restitution, and forfeiture as to Julie and to resentence her accordingly." Her case was handed to a lower court to determine how her sentencing would be adjusted while Todd's sentencing remained unaffected.





A Tearful Apology

Three months after her prison sentence was overturned, an Atlanta court ultimately upheld Julies previous seven-year prison sentence. And she made a tearful apologyboth to her children and the court. "I would like to say Ive had years to think about what Ive wanted to say and Im sorry for my actions and situations that let us to where we are today," Julie said before the court, per People, during the Sept. 25 hearing. "Ive had 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today," "I have done everything I can do to get closer to my family. Ive taken tests for new skills, such as driving a forklift and serving food in proper ways," she continued, "this has been the most difficult part of my life. I cant ever repay my children for what theyve had to go through and for that, I am so sorry," she added.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Its a timeless tale of star-crossed lovers, but have you ever seen Romeo & Juliet portrayed entirely through dance?

Saturday, February 1, is the chance to do just that at the Johnny Mercer Theatre in Downtown Savannah, just two weeks before Valentines Day.

Director William Starrett joins WSAVs Andrew Davis to talk about the show and the journey that William Shakespeares most iconic play can be taken through dance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The words arent forced down your throat[]you can take your own private journey with Romeo and Juliet, Starrett said.

For those who may feel hesitant about an evening at the ballet?

A male might say, oh, God, ballet. I dont know, said Starrett. But, they have sword fighting, a ballroom scene and Mercutio is hysterical and Tybalt is very forceful. Its the classic story. Maybe youll learn something from the romantic side of Romeo.

Starrett believes that the story transcends time and feels the excitement of bringing the ballet to Savannah.

Curtains will lift at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. For tickets, 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 WSAV-TV.
Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to significantly restrict birthright citizenship last week, nearly two dozen state attorneys general filed lawsuits seeking to block the order. Two days after that, a federal judge in Seattle issued a two-week pause on the measure as the court considers a more extensive hold on the policy.

This week, another federal judge temporarily blocked the administrations attempt to freeze federal assistance and loans. This came after another joint lawsuit with 22 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia challenged the move.

This swift legal action from some of the countrys top law enforcement officials was months in the making, former Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum told The 19th.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We saw this coming, even though we hoped it wouldnt. We started preparing as the Democratic AGs almost two years ago for the potential eventuality, Rosenblum said in an interview days after Trumps inauguration. I believe that theres no group better prepared to push back where appropriate.

Rosenblum entered office as Oregons first woman attorney general in 2012 and served during three presidential administrations before stepping away in December 2024. In her position, she oversaw an office of more than 350 lawyers who challenged the first Trump administration hundreds of times on things from executive orders to federal rule changes.

She was part of a group of Democratic attorneys general who sued the administration over its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries and its attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protects certain undocumented people brought to the United States as children.

Rosenblum explained that before suing, a state attorney generals office staff must evaluate whether a specific policy will be harmful to people in her state, assemble a legal team that consults with other state attorney general offices to decide what cases to sign onto and divide responsibilities as well as determine which courts would be the most appropriate to file a legal complaint. As the team builds its case, it also gathers personal testimony from people who have been directly affected by the policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rosenblum noted that last weeks challenges to Trumps birthright citizenship order  brought by her successor in Oregon and more than 20 other state attorneys general  were filed in two states, Massachusetts and Washington state.

Sometimes it makes sense to have multiple actions sort of paralleling each other, Rosenblum said. What you do as lawyers is you take a look at what potential claims can be brought, and then you decide which ones are going to be most likely to be successful. You dont necessarily want to throw all the mud on the ball. You want to pick and choose.

A lot has changed since Trump first sat in the Oval Office eight years ago, she added.

We didnt know what he was going to do, and we didnt really know a whole lot about how to push back, Rosenblum said of Trumps first term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time, Trump lost a number of legal challenges because of executive actions that were rushed, frivolous and over the top, according to Rosenblum. A federal district court judge said in 2018 that the Trump teams reason for seeking to end the DACA program was virtually unexplained in its legal arguments.

Ahead of Trumps inauguration, legal advocates indicated that Trumps staffers have likely learned lessons and will sharpen their executive orders and directives with fewer mistakes this time around.

We knew that they had better lawyers. We knew that they learned some lessons. I think now theyre smarter about it, theyre going to be more careful, Rosenblum said. Still, there will inevitably be some mistakes, she continued, pointing to Trumps first round of executive orders. Some look like theyve just been thrown together on a napkin, Rosenblum said, while others theyve been working on for a long time.

The landscape of federal courts is also different today from 2017. Trumps judicial appointments not only led to the most conservative Supreme Court in decades, but he also shifted key appellate courts like the 9th Circuit to the right. Rosenblum is concerned about what this means for the future of cases that center on issues affecting historically marginalized groups like women, people of color and transgender people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well before Trump even won the 2024 presidential election, Democratic attorney general offices were planning. They did not know exactly what the wording of potential executive orders and other directives from Trump would say, but the attorneys did what they could to be more nimble on key areas like immigration. Their offices drafted memos, sample legal complaints and legal documents that could be used as templates when the time came to file a lawsuit, Rosenblum said.

After Trump won the election and reality set in, Democratic state attorneys general met in Philadelphia a few weeks later. There was extreme disappointment and reflection over the results, Rosenblum said, but the group was also determined to take on the work ahead. Some of Trumps toughest legal critics issued statements about the results of the election, expressing their intention to fight for the rights of people in their states.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell wrote at the time that she is clear-eyed that President-elect Trump has told us exactly what he intends to do as president, and that we need to believe him and to be ready for the challenges ahead.

New York Attorney General Letitia James echoed those sentiments in November. My office has been preparing for a potential second Trump Administration, and I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards, she wrote. During his first term, we stood up for the rule of law and defended against abuses of power and federal efforts to harm New Yorkers. Since James took office in 2019, she and Trump have publicly clashed, particularly after her office sued Trump and the Trump Organization for financial fraud. Last year Trump said James has a big, nasty, and ugly mouth and called her low IQ.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To legal advocates, both state attorneys general and beyond, Rosenblum advised that it will be important to stay resilient, to partner up where appropriate, and to not let internal conflict get in the way of the larger mission of the work.

I would not be surprised to see more actions being brought by attorneys general within the next few days, certainly weeks. And again, its a work in progress. Its very fluid, she said. But the bottom line is, I know that the Democratic attorneys general are ready.

The post We saw this coming: State attorneys general are ready for Trump 2.0 appeared first on The 19th.

News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  A plan to use state money to fund private school scholarships faces challenges as senators proposed new amendments.

A bill at the top of Senator Greg Hembrees priority list is now being debated on the senate floor for the second time after several amendments were made to the original copy.

The bill involves the K-12 Education Lottery Scholarship and whether certain taxpayer money should go to private schools. Tuesday, the senate debated this bill once again but with some differences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Hembree proposed to amend a portion of the bill that affects students who have the scholarship but attend online schools. The bill currently says those students must appear in person at school twice each year. Senator Hembree wanted that stipulation removed.

You got to now show up to the public school and just stand there and say, Im ok, really doesnt serve any purpose, Senator Hembree said.

Senator Russell Ott believes this could hurt students, especially if they have something dangerous going on at home.

I dont believe that it is too much to ask for us to say that we want these students to come in and perhaps speak to a counselor and give them the opportunity to say, or for that counselor to pick up on something, Ott said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill still requires teachers to go through a training course to recognize if a student is acting unusually on zoom for protection of that child.

You could see evidence of it if youre doing zoom, theres a lot of interactive, youre seeing the children, many of them much of the time anyway, Hembree said.

Senator Ott said he has a hard time understanding why two times would be too much if its for the safety of students.

Hembree responded, As a kid you didnt want to be different, you didnt want to be treated differently. You didnt want to be taken out of class and now youre going into this and now youre going to your old school to have someone look you over.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The senate did not take the final vote Tuesday. Another debate will be held in the near 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
(Bloomberg) -- Germanys parliament has approved a resolution in a contentious vote, which calls on the minority government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to enact a strict migration policy reform.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Even though the resolution is non-binding for the government it can be seen as historic. Its the first time that the far-right Alternative for Germany helped one of the democratic mainstream parties secure a majority in parliament.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before the vote, Scholz launched a blistering personal attack on the conservative frontrunner for next months snap election, accusing Friedrich Merz of resorting to populism and flirting with extremist forces with his hard-line stance on immigration.

In an unusually aggressive speech, Scholz said the tougher immigration legislation Merz wants to push through parliament this week breaches European law. He added that Merzs CDU/CSU bloc was damaging Germanys reputation in the world and was calling into question the foundations of the European Union.

There are limits one must not cross as a statesman, Scholz said. His Social Democrats are currently trailing in third place in polls, significantly behind the CDU/CSU and the AfD.

You say you would go all in with your proposals, as you say in a game of poker, he added. But politics in our country is not a game of poker. Cohesion is not a stake. And a German chancellor cannot be a gambler, because in the worst case scenario he will decide between war and peace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The campaign for Germanys snap election on Feb. 23 has turned distinctly more aggressive in recent days after Merz and his CDU/CSU alliance sharpened their rhetoric on the need to fight irregular migration.

Merz said the tougher stance was a response to a fatal knife attack this month in the city of Aschaffenburg - perpetrated by a 28-year-old Afghan man whose asylum request had been rejected. It was the latest of a series of deadly attacks involving immigrants, which exposed flaws in Germanys domestic security and asylum processes.

The conservatives are also planning to present a bill in the Bundestag to tackle irregular migration on Friday. It would become law if it gets majority support in both houses  widely seen as unlikely. Merz had said hes prepared to push ahead even if AfD lawmakers give their backing.

Merz reiterated in parliament earlier Wednesday that he would rather accept the AfDs support than face the choice of watching powerless as people in our country are threatened, injured or murdered. He stressed, however, that he wont consider an active cooperation with the AfD because of their far-right and extremist policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democracy is under threat when radicals win power, Merz said, directly addressing the AfD caucus in parliament. Thats why we, and I, will do everything to prevent that from happening.

In the latest YouGov poll published Wednesday, support for the CDU/CSU was up by one percentage point compared with the previous week to 29%.

The AfD gained four points to 23% in second and Scholzs SPD party was at 15%, down four points. The Greens lost two points at 13%.

Separately, the Social Democrats plan to make a renewed effort to get approval for a package of stricter security measures they presented already in December, including enhanced powers for police to help reduce migration flows.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholzs government reintroduced entry checks at all German borders last year. As a consequence, the number of new arrivals and asylum requests went down by roughly a third last year from a high level the previous year following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

--With assistance from Kamil Kowalcze.

(Updates with result of vote in first and eighth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
A huge crowd of devotees thronged Mahakaleshwar temple located in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district to offer prayers on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday and a special Bhasma Aarti and dhoop-deep Aarti was performed on the occasion. 'Bhasma aarti' (offering with ashes) is a famous ritual here. It is performed during the 'Brahma Muhurta' between around 3:30 and 5:30 in the morning. According to religious beliefs, the wishes of the devotee who participates in the Bhasma aarti are fulfilled. Priest of the temple, Yash Sharma told ANI, "According to the tradition, the doors of Baba Mahakal were opened in the Brahma Muhurta and after that, a holy bath of Lord Mahakal was performed with Panchamrit, which includes milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey. Thereafter Baba Mahakal was decorated and a special Bhasma Aarti and dhoop-deep Aarti was performed amid beating drums and blowing Shankh (conch shells)." "Prayers were also offered to Baba Mahakal to fulfil the wishes and desires of everyone. May his blessings be showered upon everyone," he added. Additionally, a large number of devotees took a holy dip in Kshipra river on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at Ram Ghat and performed rituals praying to their ancestors. A devotee told ANI, "Today is an auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya and we took a holy dip in the Kshipra River. We liked it very much. We also performed puja and charity for the happiness and peace of our ancestors." A priest at Ramghat said that those who take a dip in Kshipra river, observe 'Maun' (Silence), fast, and perform worship to their ancestor, get relief from pain and their wishes are fulfilled. Mauni Amavasya, also known as Maghi Amavasya, is a sacred Hindu occasion dedicated to honouring ancestors and predecessors. The name "Mauni" means silence, and the day of Mauni Amavasya is dedicated to the practice of silence. On this day, devotees take a pledge to remain silent and experience spiritual elevation. It is also believed that Mauni Amavasya is a very auspicious day to take a holy dip or 'snana' in a holy river. People worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva in addition to their ancestors and predecessors. To commemorate Mauni Amavasya, devotees perform a series of rituals and maintain a Mauni Vrat. They perform Pitru Dosha puja, offer Arghya to Lord Surya, and take a holy dip. Donations, charity and organising pujas are considered to be meritorious, and people seek serenity and tranquillity in life and perform rituals for the 'Pitru Dosha'. (ANI)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described a vote in parliament on a motion to tighten migration policy passed with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) a "bad sign" for the country.

"I will need some time to process what we have experienced together today," Scholz wrote on X after the vote in the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, earlier on Wednesday.

"For the first time, a motion has been passed by a majority in the German Bundestag that was also supported by the AfD. That is a bad sign. For parliament. And also for our country," Scholz added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The motion, tabled by the centre-right opposition bloc, calls for moren asylum seekers to be rejected at Germany's borders.

It was approved by a narrow majority of 348 votes, including 187 from the conservative bloc, 75 from the AfD, 80 from the pro-business Free Democrats and 6 independent lawmakers.

The motion has no legally binding effect, but is of symbolic significance, as all German mainstream parties, including the CDU, have ruled out working with the AfD.

Migration issues are key topic ahead of the February 23 Bundestag election. There have been calls for stricter migration controls after a spate of attacks by people with a migrant background.

Two people were killed in the southern city of Aschaffenburg last week by an Afghan suspect whose application to remain in Germany had been rejected.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday strongly criticized US billionaire Elon Musk for his support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, calling it "disgusting."

Scholz told journalists on the sidelines of an election campaign event in Berlin that, as a Social Democrat, he was used to wealthy media entrepreneurs intervening in German politics, but "what is new is that he [Musk] is intervening in favour of right-wing politicians all over Europe."

"And this is really disgusting," he added, stressing that such actions harm the democratic development of the European Union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk has given full-throated endorsement of the anti-immigrant and anti-EU AfD on several occasions in the run up to Germany's federal elections set for February 23.

His campaigning on behalf of the AfD, along with insults he has lobbed at other German politicians, has led critics to accuse him of trying to use his influence to interfere in German politics.

Musk spoke by video link to a crowd of several thousand AfD supporters at a campaign rally in the central German city of Halle on Saturday. In his brief speech, the billionaire friend and adviser to US President Donald Trump praised the AfD as the "best hope" for Germany.

In an apparent reference to the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany systematically murdered millions of Jewish people and other innocents, Musk said there was nowadays "too much of a focus on past guilt."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scholz condemned Musk's remarks, saying: "We are very happy about the United States that freed our country and helped us to become a democracy again. And this is why I'm so angry about Elon Musk intervening for the far right and Elon Musk also not acting adequate to this killing of so many Jews and other people, people in Europe, done by Germans in the past."

On Monday, the chancellor participated in the central commemoration of the 6 million Jews murdered under Nazi rule at the site of Nazi Germany's Auschwitz-Birkenau complex of concentration and extermination camps in Poland. Leaders and survivors marked 80 years since Soviet troops liberated the Nazi-run death camp.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany's parliament on Wednesday narrowly approved a call by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's main challenger to turn back many more migrants at the country's borders, with the help of a far-right party  a move that drew strong criticism of the front-runner in the campaign for next month's election.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, whose party leads the polls, put migration in the spotlight following a knife attack a week ago in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg by a rejected Afghan asylum-seeker who killed a man and a 2-year-old boy. Merz wants to pile pressure on the governing parties but has drawn accusations, which he rejects, that he's breaking a consensus to shun the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD.

Merz's nonbinding motion calling for tougher migration policies passed by 348 votes to 345, with 10 abstentions, after a combination of opposition parties backed it  including 75 AfD lawmakers. Far-right lawmakers applauded the result, while the parliamentary leader of Scholz's party, Rolf Mutzenich, said Merz's Union bloc had broken out of the political center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What's at stake?

Germans will elect a new parliament on Feb. 23 after Scholz's three-party governing coalition collapsed. Polls show Merz's mainstream center-right Union leading with around 30% support, while Alternative for Germany is second with about 20%, and Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and their remaining coalition partners, the Greens, are further back.

Migration was already a significant election issue, alongside Germany's struggling economy. Merz apparently seeks to make the Union look decisive in forcing a tougher approach, which he hopes will blunt the appeal of the anti-immigration AfD, while making Scholz and the Greens look weak. It's unclear whether the strategy will work.

How did we get here?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Aschaffenburg attack followed knife attacks in Mannheim and in Solingen last year in which the suspects were immigrants from Afghanistan and Syria, respectively  in the latter case, also a rejected asylum-seeker who was supposed to have left the country. In last months Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, the suspect is a Saudi doctor who previously had come to various regional authorities attention.

Merz says Germany has had a misguided asylum and immigration policy for a decade  since Angela Merkel, a chancellor from his own party, allowed large numbers of migrants into the country.

The outgoing government says much has changed already. It instituted temporary controls on all of Germanys borders and says it tightened many laws, for instance to ease deportations, and points to a yet-to-be-implemented agreement on revamped EU migration rules.

Authorities say 229,751 people applied for asylum in Germany last year, a 30% decrease from the previous year. There were 18,384 deportations in the years first 11 months, compared with 16,430 in all of 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What did Merz call for?

Merz says that if he becomes chancellor, he would order the Interior Ministry immediately to control all Germanys borders permanently and turn back all attempts at illegal entry without exception, including by asylum-seekers. He says people who are supposed to leave Germany must no longer be released if picked up by police.

The conservative leader, whose Union may have to form a coalition with center-left parties for him to become chancellor, said last week that he would bring the border control proposals to parliament regardless of whose support they might attract. That implied he would accept AfD support.

Merz on Wednesday called the EU asylum policy dysfunctional and said that his proposals comply with EU law, arguing that Denmark, Sweden and others already do what he proposes. We simply owe it to people in our country, and not least the victims of the acts of violence of recent months, to really make every effort now to limit illegal migration, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wednesday's vote sent a political signal but doesn't change German law. On Friday, proposed legislation from the Union on less drastic changes to migration rules is to go to a vote. It could pass with AfD support.

What did Scholz and the far right say?

Scholz argued that Merz's calls to control borders permanently and turn back many more people are incompatible with German and EU law and would lead to the EU's most populous member undermining the bloc. This is the answer of populists, Scholz said.

The governing parties accused Merz of breaking promises not to work directly or indirectly with AfD, which has long urged other parties to abandon their firewall against it. This is an inexcusable mistake, Scholz said, casting doubt on whether Merz could still be trusted not to bring AfD into the government. It is not unimportant whether one works with the extreme right  not in Germany, Scholz said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merz insisted his position remains unchanged, that he did not and will not work with AfD, and would do everything to prevent radicals coming to power. He said Scholz's hypotheses and speculation were malicious and disgraceful.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel assailed both Scholz and Merz. She accused the latter of copying her party's ideas and said that a nonbinding motion is not a migration turnaround. But she made clear her party was supporting Wednesday's motion despite infantile criticism of AfD in its text.

Weidel later called the outcome a great day for democracy.
Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla knows the first question that she will likely be asked when she presents her recently introduced bill calling for free school meals for all students enrolled in Utahs public schools  regardless of financial need:

Why should the state help pay for meals that many students can afford?

Its a fair query, the Democrats ranking leader in the Utah Senate told the Deseret News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the states primary concern, she added, should not be which kids can pay for meals and which kids cannot. Instead, it should be ensuring that every Utah child is ready to learn because their bellies are full.

Providing universal free school meals, she said, accomplishes that goal.

First, lets have all the kids be ready to eat, said Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City. And then anyone who wants to can opt out of that process  either because they can pay or because theyre sending their kids with meals (from home).

But (free school meals) should be an Opt-out  not an Opt-in choice.

Escamillas SB173 establishes the creation of the Universal School Meals Program. If it passes, funding would come via a restricted account of legislative appropriations, federal grants, private contributions and other sources. All families would be automatically enrolled in the program, but would still have the option to pay for meals if they choose, offsetting program costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We should have a more honest and transparent conversation about what it costs to have the quality of life that we want for all children, and not exclude some. And I think breakfast and lunch at school, as part of their education journey, should be one of those costs. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City

The Universal School Meals Program would be administered by the Utah State School Board, coordinating with individual schools to maximize federal funding.

Debbie Gilstrap, kitchen manager and nutrition worker Stephanie Anderson serve food to kids at Butler Elementary school in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

A fiscal note has not yet been attached to Escamillas bill, but on Tuesday she estimated the fiscal note to be approximately $100 million.

Food insecurity: It can impact any family

During her 16-plus years as a state lawmaker, Escamilla has focused much of her attention on the needs of Utahs kids, including food security issues.

Shes learned that its difficult to accurately determine how many Utah families are facing food insecurity.

No two Utah families are the same, she added. Food insecurity can impact any family at any time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So simply determining which child might be best-served by a free or reduced-cost school meal cannot always be easily measured by, say, family pay stubs or tax returns.

And even families not traditionally classified as economically vulnerable might not consistently have reliable access to food.

Feeding America and other national (hunger relief) organizations tell us that in Utah, 1 in every 6 kiddos do not know where their meal is going to come in the evenings after school, she said.

Absenteeism, poor reading skills and other educational challenges facing many Utah school children are often directly connected to hunger, added Escamilla. We cant expect our children to learn adequately when they are hungry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And then there are the emotional costs exacted on kids  the embarrassment or shame  after being classified as a free school lunch kid.

A universal school meal program, she said, would prevent a Utah child from ever being placed in a box to label a child. This will keep the labels out because everyone will be treated the same.

Escamilla believes in the goodwill of her Utah neighbors. Shes confident that families who are financially able will voluntarily opt out of the automatic universal school meal program.

Kids at Butler Elementary school in Cottonwood Heights eat their lunches on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

I trust that the families in Utah understand how valuable our taxpayers are  and that if they can pay, they will pay for their kiddos meal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But I dont want to ever put the burden on the child.  A child should never have to make those decisions or feel embarrassed or worried that their parents may not support them having breakfast or lunch at school.

SB173 is not the only school meal-related bill in front of the Legislature this session. HB100 focuses on providing free breakfast and lunch to eligible students, while prohibiting schools from publicly identifying free meal recipients and causing embarrassment.

But the right thing to do is to make (free school meals) comprehensive and truly a part of the education piece for all children in our state, said Escamilla.

The senator said her bill reflects Utahs Senate Democrats who are committed to asking how many Utah families are not enjoying the economic prosperities experienced by others in the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We should have a more honest and transparent conversation about what it costs to have the quality of life that we want for all children, and not exclude some, she said. And I think breakfast and lunch at school, as part of their education journey, should be one of those costs.

Kids at Butler Elementary school in Cottonwood Heights line up to receive their lunches on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Escamilla said there are numerous federal programs that make it permissible to draw-down federal dollars  but they first require state participation. This bill will fully put the state at full participation that will allow us to explore all of those programs, and we want to do that.

And it also opens up a restricted account where anyone can contribute towards this fund, which I think is critical. It matches the culture in our state of giving.

Ratifying the universal school meals program into a law would come with a high price tag. But its worth the cost, said Escamilla.

We recognize how valuable it is to have children not experiencing hunger, she said. We dont want any Utah children to feel insecure and hungry. We can take care of that as part of their education.
While Florida's manatees are facing an array of threats, including boat strikes and warming waters, research suggests they are relatively new neighbors in the state.

What's happening?

Click Orlando reported on a study that found that these marine mammals may not have arrived in great numbers in Florida waters until the late 1800s.

The news site explained that the researchers discovered a lack of archaeological or historical evidence that this species lived in this area early on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The team looked at documented manatee sightings from Native Americans and European colonists, as well as fossils and bones from pre-colonial and colonial times. However, observations were sporadically reported and possibly inaccurate since European explorers had little experience commingling with the species.

"The actual bones of manatees are extremely uncommon on archaeological sites," co-author Thomas J. Pluckhahn, professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida, told the news website. "We do have one or two examples dating back as far as 5,000 years ago, but it seems likely that they were pretty uncommon in Florida."

The scientists say cooler global temperatures starting around 1200 and lasting into the 1800s may have forced Florida manatees to stay in warmer Caribbean waters. Then, an industrial boom in the 1920s kept them there, as newly established electricity-generating power stations on the coast released warm, fresh water into natural waterways  generations of manatees have relied on this heated water to survive since, the publication asserted.

Meanwhile, invasive plants like hydrilla and water hyacinth have helped manatees survive in the region by providing sustenance.

Why is this study important?

Though they may be new to the area, manatees are beloved to Floridians, having become the state's official marine mammal in 1975.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plus, these animals, also known as "sea cows," fill an important ecological niche in Florida waters, according to Defenders of Wildlife. For instance, the species' eating habits can help prevent the overgrowth of vegetation and control the spread of invasive plants, improving ecosystem health. Manatees can also help fertilize sea grasses and other aquatic vegetation.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

However, Florida manatees are in the midst of what officials are calling an "unusual mortality event," marked by a high number of manatee deaths.

"Environmental conditions in portions of the Indian River Lagoon remain a concern," FWC said on its website. "Researchers attributed this UME to starvation due to the lack of seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon. In recent years, poor water quality in the Lagoon led to harmful algal blooms and widespread seagrass loss."

What's being done to protect manatees?

Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, making it illegal to "feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy, or molest," these animals, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The state has also established regulatory speed zones for watercraft located in areas where manatees live or frequent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition, the state manages a manatee conservation program. For instance, FWC focused on improving water quality and aquatic vegetation in the Indian River Lagoon, which experts think can reverse the recent years of loss. Meanwhile, a number of non-profit groups like the National Wildlife Federation support conservation efforts such as habitat protection.

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.










Originally appeared on E! Online

The search for Eliza Huszti and Henrietta Huszti continues.

Police announced Jan. 29 that they have called off the river search for the Hungary-native sisters, both 32. The update comes over three weeks after the womenwho are part of a set of tripletsvanished after being last seen just after 2 a.m. local time Jan. 7 on Market Street at the Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Extensive and detailed searches have been carried out of the River Dee and the Harbour area," local superintendent David Howieson said in a statement obtained by People, "using local and national specialist police resources, including the dive and marine unit, police dogs and air support, and those of partner agencies."

Howieson added that "these searches have now concluded at this time, but inquiries will be ongoing to trace Eliza and Henrietta."

The superintendent went on to share that the "investigation continues," with search efforts focused on other areas.

"Coastal areas, both north and south of Aberdeen city, will continue to be searched and any further information received by police will be acted upon," he said. "I would again stress there is nothing to suggest any suspicious circumstances or criminality."

More from E! Online

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The shift in search efforts comes over a week after authorities confirmed that a cryptic text message was sent from Henrietta's phone to the sisters' landlady at 2:12 a.m. the morning they went missing.

According to police, the text said that "they would not be returning" to their shared apartment and that "the phone was then disconnected from the network and has not been active since."

The following day, police said, the landlady found the sisters' belongings and reported the unusual behavior to Aberdeen authorities.

Investigators determined that the message had been sent from the area around the Victoria Bridge, where they were last seen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police also announced that the sisters had visited the same area one day prior on Jan. 6.

Both wearing backpacks, they spent about five minutes on the bridge, and did not interact with anyone else. Following the subsequent CCTV footage, authorities determined the women headed back in the direction of their apartment, which is located in the Charlotte Street area of Aberdeen.

Local authorities called on the public to come forward with any information they might have on the missing women.

I would again urge anyone with any information which could help find Eliza and Henrietta to get in touch, Howieson said in an earlier press release. We remain in regular contact with Eliza and Henriettas family in Hungary and we will continue to provide them with support at this very difficult time.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
A 38-year-old convicted felon was arrested by the Seattle Police SWAT team in Lower Queen Anne on Monday in connection with a drive-by shooting in Greenwood last month, according to the Seattle Police Department.

The suspect is believed to have fired at the driver of a Maserati while driving a rented Jeep. Both vehicles were recovered during the investigation.

Detectives in the Gun Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU) conducted a month-long investigation that led them to the suspects location in a residence in the 300 block of 1st Avenue North.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After obtaining a search warrant, officers moved in on the apartment with SWAT.

They observed frantic movement inside, and, believing the suspect to be armed and dangerous, SWAT forced their way inside.

As officers entered the apartment, the suspect attempted to escape by climbing out of a bedroom window onto the ledge of the six-story building.

SWAT officers went to the roof and convinced the suspect to come back inside, given that his only other options were to either surrender or fall from the building.

The suspect then surrendered and was arrested.

Detectives recovered evidence inside the apartment, including two firearms, various calibers of ammunition, firearm magazines, narcotics, and other evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suspect, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms.

According to the GVRU Lieutenant, the arrest was possible based on the evidence gathered by North Patrol, and tireless work from GVRU. He added, This as an Excellent investigation that culminated with holding the suspect accountable and taking multiple guns out of dangerous hands.

The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for felony investigation of assault, drive-by shooting, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.




On a chilly Tuesday morning in January, volunteer kitchen workers chopped bok choy and red onions for a stir-fry at Second Chance Foods, a nonprofit that makes nutritious meals from donated food that would otherwise be headed for the landfill.

On that days menu is minestrone soup, teriyaki chicken with the stir-fried vegetables, and barley salad with cauliflower and peas. That meal would be distributed through the food program at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Carmel.

There were breakfast wraps made for homeless clients of Putnam Countys Department of Social Services and its adult protective services office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later in the day, the volunteer team would cook beef stew, turkey cutlets and drum sticks for an afterschool program at the Dunbar Heights housing complex in Peekskill that offers meals for children that come for art classes.

That day, the volunteers cooked up 1,800 servings of nutritious, fresh food.

Our work is all about breaking the cycle of wasted food and food insecurity, said the nonprofit's Executive Director Martha Elder. Were looking to elevate the quality of food in our hunger relief system  both in terms of how nourishing it is and how we try to break down the barriers to food access."

Second Chance Foods has partners across Lower Hudson Valley

The nonprofit distributes meals to 20 partners in Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess and Orange counties in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut. The distribution sites include community freezers at senior centers in Mahopac, Carmel and Putnam Valley; libraries in Putnam Valley and Brewster; and a mental health center in Carmel. Theres also food delivered to the Salvation Army soup kitchen in Peekskill and food pantries in Ossining, Fishkill and Verplanck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We believe that access to nourishing food is a human right, said Elder. It feels at times like there are too many barriers put up. At some places you need to get there by car. Theres means testing at other sites.

The nonprofit, which was founded by Alison Jolicouer in 2016, expanded its kitchen operation in 2024 after leasing the kitchens of Ledley Catering, a Brewster company that relocated this year.

The food is provided for free to its community partners, which also don't charge for the meals. Second Chance, which has an annual budget of $900,000, receives about half of its income from donations, with the other half provided by local foundations. It also expects to receive donated food valued at an estimated $900,000 in 2025.

Volunteers prepare meals in the kitchen of Second Chance Foods in Brewster Jan. 21, 2025. Jan. 14, 2025. Second Chance Foods, a food-rescue program that provides cooked meals for food-insecure individuals in Putnam and northern Westchester.

Among its funders is the New York Community Trust, Westchester, which in November provided a two-year grant of $120,000. The grant will help Second Chance expand its Bountiful Meals program to Westchester, with freezers of prepared meals available at no cost, as it does in Putnam county libraries and senior centers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a unique program that creates a triple win, said Lauren Perkins, Westchester program director for the NY Community Trust. It directly meets the food insecurity needs in the community. It recovers food and creates nutritious meals in a really efficient manner. And its a volunteer-driven program that strengthens existing nonprofits.

'Food rescue' operation gets help from Trader Joe's, others

Second Chance calls itself a food rescue enterprise, receiving excess or slightly damaged food from such food industry giants at Trader Joes in Danbury and Ace Endico in Brewster. Its also the recipient of fresh produce from local farms, such as Longhaul Farm in Philipstown, through a program funded by Cornell Co-operative Extension.

In addition, local farmers invite the nonprofits volunteers to do whats called gleaning of produce left in the field that farmers don't think they can sell. Some landowners with private orchards also open up their land for harvesting.

It helps us find way more fruit, said Elder. We get to pick peaches, plums, apples or whatever fruit they are growing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Second Chance's food storage infrastructure can safe-keep the fresh food until it's time to prepare it. In one of its freezers were frozen packets of salmon, cod, and swordfish from Trader Joes, which were donated to Second Chance when the fresh fish neared its sell-by date. A look inside one of its cool-bot walk-in refrigerators found several boxes of cauliflower and cases of romaine lettuce.

Looks like everybody will be getting cauliflower tomorrow, said Elder.

In the kitchen, volunteer Valerie Jackson said she loves coming to Brewster every Tuesday to make meals to feed the hungry.

I love to make food, and it gives me purpose every Tuesday, said Jackson, of Bethel, Connecticut.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the Dunbar Heights apartments in Peekskill, Second Chance Foods provides meals three times a week to the complexs after-school arts program run by New Era Creative Space.

Teacher Anya Steger said the program, which serves up to 20 children, concludes with dinner, served at tables adorned with table clothes.

Its great to give them exposure to home-cooked nutritious food, said Steger. Now they love the green beans and spinach. Socially, it brings the community together, and nutritionally, its a big help for the kids.

Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hudson Valley NY food insecurity addressed by Second Chance Foods
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds is launching a new service to help property owners.

The service is called Property Fraud Alert. It will notify subscribers each time a document, such as a real estate deed, mortgage, lien, or easement, is recorded with their name on it. Citizens can enter as many personal, business, and trust names as necessary.

Sedgwick County says that while the service will not prevent fraud from happening, it will provide an early warning. This way, property owners can take action as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ogallala Aquifer drops by more than a foot in parts of western Kansas

All too often, victims of mortgage fraud or identity theft are unaware their home or identity has been stolen, said Sedgwick County in a news release.

The Property Fraud Alert, which will launch on Monday, Feb. 3, will replace the current notification service, so citizens will need to go online to sign up. Alerts can be sent by email, text, or phone.

To learn more about Register of Deeds, 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 KSN-TV.
The searches are underway at these locations in Bhopal, Sehore and Morena since early Wednesday. The premises being raided are allegedly related to Kishan Modi, Rajendra Prasad Modi and others-- the directors of Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt Ltd.

As per an ED official, privy to the development, the agency uncovered 63 falsified lab reports that were allegedly used to export substandard milk products to several countries, including Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Investigation revealed that 63 forged lab certificates were used for export of adulterated milk products to various countries like Bahrain, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Qatar and UAE," the official told ANI.

The ED's action against Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt Ltd and its director comes as part of a larger crackdown on alleged food adulteration and fraudulent trade practices. Authorities are examining financial records and other documents to determine the scale of the alleged violations.

Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt Ltd, established in 2013 and headquartered in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, is a prominent manufacturer and exporter of dairy products. Operating under the brand name "Milk Magic," the company offers a diverse range of products, including various types of paneer (such as frozen, malai, fresh, and organic), mozzarella cheese, ghee, khoya, white butter, and margarine.

The company has established a significant presence in both domestic and international markets.

Financially, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, officials said, Jayshri Gayatri Food Products reported operating revenue in the range of Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore. The company's net worth also saw a rise of 53.94 per cent during the same period.

Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt Ltd has built a reputation for delivering high-quality dairy products to a broad customer base, both within India and internationally. (ANI)
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Titan, one of the Sedgwick County Zoos longtime elephants, is now at home at Zoo Atlanta. According to Zoo Atlanta, he arrived Wednesday.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Elephant Species Survival Plan recommended that he move to a new herd, which mirrors what adult male elephants do in the wild. Titans mother, Simunye, will remain at Sedgwick County Zoo. They both arrived in Kansas in 2016 after being rescued from drought-stricken Eswatini.

Zoo Atlanta says Titan will be a valuable social companion among the elephant group, which includes adult male Msholo and adult females Kelly and Tara, both now considered post-reproductive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Sedgwick County Zoo prepares for 5 new elephants, 1 is leaving

We are very excited to welcome Titan to the elephant herd at Zoo Atlanta, where he will benefit from the daily stewardship of a world-class Elephant Care Team and an environment that represents the most significant transformation in Zoo Atlanta history, said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. Our hope is that in getting to know Titan as he becomes a new part of the herd here at the Zoo, our Members and guests will have renewed reasons to join us in protecting African elephants, which have a very uncertain future without conservation action.

Titan will spend the next several weeks acclimating before he will be visible to members and guests of the zoo.

Meanwhile, the Sedgwick County Zoo is preparing for the birth of five elephants and shared video of Arusis growing calf and heartbeat. The Zoo says they wont know if Titan was the father of any of the calves until after they are born.

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 KSN-TV.
There was a special buzz in the air at the Washington National Cathedral this past Sunday. It was the first Sunday following the sermon heard around the world, when Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde became a viral phenomenon for preaching truth to power at the prayer service for the nation. On January 21, Budde spoke directly to President Donald Trump seated before her, exhorting him to exercise mercy, including on behalf of LGBTQ+ youth, refugees, and immigrants. Trump has already unleashed a blitz of devastating policy actions and orders. Budde has been the only person many have seen truly stand up to Trump, putting voice and action to their own feelings of fear, distress, and dismay.

As I recently reported for Rolling Stone, the cathedral and Budde have a history of taking action to hold Trump accountable for trampling their spiritual values and in support of those who are harmed.

Rev. Jen Butler recently served as the national faith engagement director for the Harris-Walz campaign. I notice her snapping a selfie in front of the cathedral with a friend before attending services on Sunday. Ive never seen anything go this viral, she tells me of Buddes sermon. Shes the first to really find her footing and show no fear, Butler says. The more we fear a tyrant, the more power they have, the more we stand up in compassion, the less power they have. She did what needs to be done, and we hope to see our elected leaders do the same, including Republicans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inside the cathedral, there is a palpable sense of excitement among the thousands of gathered parishioners, with many finding their way into the same chairs that they had only viewed previously in video clips on their phones. With its gothic arches and towering grey stone walls, the worlds sixth-largest cathedral can be an intimidating space, especially for those for whom Sunday Eucharist is a relatively new experience or one that conjures unwelcome memories. But none of that seems to matter when the service gets underway.

Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, opens the service with the unenviable task of letting the parishioners know that Budde is not here. I know that some of you may have come hoping or expecting to see Bishop Budde here at the cathedral, he says. But before he can say more, at the mention of Buddes name, the crowd erupts first in applause, then cheers and hoots, followed by a ruckus and sustained standing ovation. If anyone was worried that there would be a backlash against Budde at the cathedral, they are clearly mistaken.

We will bottle that up and leave it at her front door, Hollerith says, seeming genuinely surprised and moved by the response. As the shepherd of the flock of the diocese Budde visits a different parish every Sunday, he explains of her absence, before getting the nearly two-hour service underway.

No one I speak with expresses disappointment at Buddes absence. Instead, they seem to find more than they originally came fornot only the ability to demonstrate their support for Budde but also enjoying spending time in community with others who feel the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im scared and Im concerned, Sue Watkins of Bethesda tells me standing outside of the cathedral. We need to stand up against all the negative things that Trump is doing. She wants to act but describes not knowing what to do or how to support those engaged in resistance. Shes not religious, but when she heard Buddes words, she was moved. Shes the only one speaking out, Watkins says. I just wanted to support the bishop. Attending the service, Watkins says, is a little thing, but I guess if we keep doing little things, they become bigger.

Rev. Jen Butler and Sue Watkins pose for a selfie outside of Washington National Cathedral Jan. 26. (Photo by Antonia Juhasz)

Rev. Mitchell Felton is visiting from South Carolina. I thought Bishop Budde gave one of the clearest depictions of moral leadership and moral clarity in a time where that is just not present, he tells me. Rev. Felton attended the service at the invitation of his friend, Ian McCabe, who like many others I speak with, had never been to the cathedral before. I thought it was very powerful and brave, he says of Buddes sermon. She went out on a limb and he came to demonstrate that he has her back.

A group of young women from George Washington University arrive side-by-side. Despite not being very religious, they frequently attend services, drawn to the cathedral by its progressivism, including the absence of homophobia typical of other denominations, and a sense of community. One of them, Claudia Elwell, tells me that she also wanted to come on this Sunday to support Budde, saying, I find her comments very admirable.

Elizabeth Sawyerr is from Sierra Leone. Her age is revealed only in the silver and white hairs accentuating her otherwise black dreadlocks. As a longtime parishioner of the cathedral, she doesnt understand what all the fuss was about, she tells me, looking genuinely perplexed. She did not insult the president at all. She was speaking from her heart. She was compassionate, she says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joanne Popkin has lived in Washington, D.C., for 25 years and is a neighbor of the Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope, provost of the cathedral. After Buddes sermon, Popkin wrote Cope a note thanking her. Popkin is out walking her dog around the cathedral and stops, eager to share her thoughts on Budde. Oh my God! she exclaims. Whats wrong with mercy and compassion?! We need that! Isnt that what made America great?!

Hate gets you nowhere, she adds.

If We Are Silent, We Are Complicit

A little more than a week before she skyrocketed into the public zeitgeist, I interviewed Budde for Rolling Stone, after she presided over the funeral of President Jimmy Carter. She was eager to speak with me not only about Carter, but also about Trump. Trump seeks to dismantle everything I stand for, she told me. Then she told me about resistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She discussed her plans to organize, to get political, find like-minded constituencies. We have to lobby, we have to show up and debate, all those things we have to do as people of faith, as part of a civic society. Whether or not theyll have an effect is another question, one she said is largely out of their control. Every once in a while, in my 13 years as bishop the traditional media notices and gives us our proverbial 15 seconds, she said, Even Rolling Stone, if were lucky.

But the one thing I can control is Im going to show up. She then said, As so many of our leaders have said, both politically and spiritually, if we are silent, then we are complicit.

By preaching truth to power last week, Budde struck a nerve well beyond the faithful, connecting with a public hungry for action against Trump. Since delivering the sermon, Budde has been a guest on The View, CNN, and The Rachel Maddow Show. Shes been interviewed by Diane Rehm, photographed for The New Yorker, and has appeared in pretty much every major news outlet in the nation (and beyond). The cast of the new film Jimpa, about a gay father (John Lithgow) and transgender and non-binary teenager (Aud Mason-Hyde), weighed in at Sundance, where Mason-Hyde called Buddes sermon beautiful. Steven Colbert teared up during his monologue about Budde. There are memes, T-shirts, and even cookies featuring Budde. In positive editorials and letters to the editor from California to Florida and New York, the response of people backing Budde has been overwhelming.

Faith leaders have also shown their support. National spokespeople for the Episcopal Church called Budde a valued and trusted pastor. They said, We stand by Bishop Budde and her appeal for the Christian values of mercy and compassion. A petition in support of Budde by Faithful America, an organization of Christians supporting social justice causes, has garnered over 49,000 signatories encouraging her to continue speaking out against the injustice of Trumps executive orders and for Christian leadership from every denomination to do the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It hasnt all been positive. Budde has received death threats amid a fierce conservative backlash. So much so that I expected the Sunday service at the Washington National Cathedral to draw counter protesters. But there were none to be seen.

Trump shared a tantrum against Budde on social media, demanding an apology which Budde has steadfastly refused to provide.

Learning to Be Brave

Budde and Trump have been here before. In 2017, the cathedral hosted Trumps first inaugural prayer service with Bishop Budde officiating. Rev. Gary Hall, who was dean of the cathedral from 2012 through 2015, publicly criticized the decision to host the prayer service for Trump, saying that participation in the inauguration legitimizes Trump. I think the faith community should be a center of resistance against Donald Trumps vision in America, Hall told The Washington Post at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cathedral not only hosted the service, but also agreed to terms set by Trump, such as the choice of preacher and not to include a sermon. Budde acknowledged that some people felt agreeing to Trumps request seemed as if the church had surrendered its responsibility to preach truth to power. Budde told the Post in 2017 that the service was not the occasion that we will use to address particular issues of policy or concerns we might have about the direction hes taking the country.

But as Trumps term in office progressed, Budde and the cathedral increasingly stood up to Trump, his administration, and its policies. Budde joined with other faith leaders such as the Rev. Dr. Wiliam J. Barber II and the Poor Peoples Campaign, which organizes to confront systemic racism, poverty and inequality, ecological devastation, the war economy, and militarism. She authored a book, published in 2023, entitled, How We Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. Those decisive moments are when we are called to act with courage and, much to our own amazement, we do.

When we spoke, Budde described learning how to carefully identify moments for action: When does the church have a chance to be heard in the cacophony of public voices in a way that might be beneficial, not just because it feels good, not because of ego, but because a lines been crossed, and if nobody says something thats really dangerous?

She also came to understand to whom she is directing her words. Discussing previous times in which shes spoken out against Trump and his policies, she tells me, President Trump didnt wake up the next morning and say, Oh, gosh, youre right. That was a mistake. Im really sorry. That doesnt happen. But does it embolden other people to say, Hey, you know what, thats not acceptable, were not going to take that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this years prayer service, Trump did not set the agenda and Budde delivered her searing sermon, the entirety of which has received far less attention than her words directed at the president. The 15-minute sermon is about unity, which, she warns, is not, polite wariness or passivity born of exhaustion. It is action taken even when we cannot predict what the outcome will be or even if it will occur in our lifetimes.

She also provided what appears to be a subtle critique of Trumps threats and past actions to withhold federal disaster aid to communities suffering from the ravages of the climate crisis because of their perceived political affiliations, saying, Those across our country who dedicate their lives, or who volunteer, to help others in times of natural disaster, often at great risk to themselves, never ask those they are helping for whom they voted in the past election or what positions they hold on a particular issue. We are at our best when we follow their example.

Budde has sought to build communities around moral action that support individuals to be brave. Individuals can take small steps alone, but grand ones when working together, organizing, and building social movements. She writes in her book about the enormous weight lifted from her shoulders when she realized she was not alone, but instead held a place in the larger struggle for justice.

Budde tells me, we do not know if you get to be the generation that sees the change or are you the generation that just plugs away in the dark and the next generation picks it up? Either way, she believes it is our moral obligation to act.

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.
For the past year, the University of Tennessee System has made its enrollment mission clear: Increasing the student population at a record-breaking pace to reach 71,000 students by 2030.

The goal is on track after the system broke records again in 2024.

The UT System may even exceed that goal if recent numbers are any indication, and that's been the case since at least October when Knox News reported UT was on pace to enroll 73,416 students by 2030. In fall 2024, UT had 62,149 students enrolled across its five campuses. That's about 1,000 more than the end-of-year goal of 61,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

UT is prioritizing enrollment, in part, to account for the looming "enrollment cliff" when the 18-year-old population will begin to decline year-to-year after 2026.

How University of Tennessee at Knoxville contributes to enrollment goal

The spring semester's enrollment count at UT's flagship Knoxville campus is at 36,900 students, though a finalized figure will be released in February. If numbers stay about the same, UT Knoxville could surpass the spring enrollment record set last year by 2,000 students.

This comes one semester after UT Knoxville celebrated a record 38,728 students enrolled for the fall. This number, like the UT System total, was about 1,000 more than what UT leaders expected.

It's typical for enrollment to drop in the spring, though UT's focus on growing its retention rate has kept students in the classroom. UT celebrated a record-breaking 91.9% retention rate for freshmen during the fall 2024 semester.

Randy Boyd wants to keep breaking records as 'enrollment cliff' looms

UT System President Randy Boyd shared his 2025 systemwide goals during an executive committee meeting last week, with a heavy focus on breaking more records related to enrollment, retention, research expenditures and donations across the system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boyd's priorities could help address the enrollment cliff, which relied on census data to predict a decline in the 18-year-old population following a peak in 2026. Higher education consulting firm Ruffalo Noel Levitz released a study in September predicting a slight increase to the population in 2033, followed by another cliff.

UT is relying on data from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which projects a 2% increase in Tennessee high school graduates from 2019 to 2037. Of the 62,148 students enrolled in the UT System for the fall 2024 semester, 44,152 were from Tennessee (about 71%).

To make it easier on applicants, the UT System has switched to the Common Application across every campus and implemented a guaranteed admissions policy. Campus leaders at UT Knoxville are preparing for more than 60,000 applications for the 2025 fall semester.

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @specialk2real.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee System on track to break 2030 enrollment goal
The question before the Finance Committee this morning is whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should be trusted with the health and well-being of the American people. Committee staff have examined thousands of pages of statements, books, and podcast transcripts in a review of his record.

The receipts show that Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, and charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Hes made it his lifes work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines. Its been lucrative for him and put him on the verge of real power. This is the profile of somebody who chases money and influence wherever they lead, even if that means the deaths of children and other vulnerable people.

Mr. Kennedy is fond of saying hes not making recommendations about whether parents should vaccinate their children, hes just asking questions and giving people choices.

Its a slippery tactic to dodge any real responsibility for his words and actions, and its absurd coming from somebody whos trying to win confirmation for a job that is entirely about making recommendations. Those recommendations will have life-or-death consequences for American families. Mr. Kennedy, if you are confirmed, your recommendations determine which vaccines seniors get for free through Medicare. Your recommendations will determine which vaccines are given to millions of children.

Peddling these anti-vaccine conspiracy theories as our chief health care officer will endanger the lives of kids and seniors across the country. Just look at what happened when Mr. Kennedy inserted himself into an anti-vaccination crisis in the island nation of Samoa. He traveled there himself to push his views and pour fuel on the fire of a measles outbreak that began due to low vaccination rates. In the end, 83 Samoans died, mostly children, from a disease that is easily preventable. Americans cant afford to import this experiment to communities across the country.

On other health care matters, from abortion to universal health care, Mr. Kennedy has changed his views so often, its nearly impossible to know where he stands on the basic issues that will impact Americans daily lives.

In a gobsmacking statement of irresponsibility, in November 2023 this nominee said he wanted to pause infectious disease research for eight years.

Mr. Kennedy has indicated hes open to restricting access to the abortion medication, Mifepristone, which remains a primary target of Republicans crusade against reproductive freedom. I took this on back in 1990 when I chaired the first ever Congressional hearing on the topic. The science was clear then and its even clearer today: Mifepristone is safe. The only reason its under question in 2025 is because people with a political agenda are lying about it.

Women deserve to know if Mr. Kennedy will abuse his power as our countrys chief health officer to essentially implement a national abortion ban by restricting access to this safe and legal medication.

Meanwhile, as the Trump budget office threw the Medicaid program into chaos yesterday, Republicans in Congress are proposing deep cuts to the program that will rip away health care from millions of Americans who count on this vital lifeline.

Cuts to Medicaid of this magnitude will jack up the cost of health insurance, shutter nursing homes and rural hospitals, and deprive seniors and Americans with disabilities of home-based care. That approach amounts to handing over our nations health care system to for-profit insurance companies that have made a fortune delaying and denying care.

Mr. Kennedy has virtually no knowledge or experience in handling these issues, leaving him unprepared to take on a crisis like the nation witnessed yesterday when Trumps budget office shut down the federal Medicaid payment portal.

After a careful review of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s statements, actions, associations and views, I have reached the conclusion that he should not be entrusted with the health and well-being of the American people. When hes taken every side of every issue, how can this committee and the American public believe anything he has to say?

I believe more strongly now than at any other time in my public service that our country is at a turning point with regard to health care. If theres one word to describe Americans feelings towards their health care today, its disillusioned. At every single turn, people feel like they are rolling a set of loaded dice when they try to get health care. Americans are justifiably angry, fed up, and tired of a system that puts profits over patients.

Instead of debating meaningful ways to improve Americans health care, this Committee is being forced to relitigate settled science about vaccines and whether or not the federal government should help Americans get affordable health care.

I know where Democrats on the Finance Committee stand when it comes to our agenda to lower costs and improve care. I cannot say the same of the nominee sitting in front of me.
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Lee Zeldin as the nations 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Three Democrats  Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.)  joined all 53 Republicans to approve the former congressman from Long Island, New York, as the top environmental regulator of a country facing cascading ecological and public health crises, from worsening air pollution, mounting disasters fueled by rising global temperatures, and a growing number of plant and animal species going extinct. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) abstained from voting.

Zeldin, 44, was widely seen as one of President Donald Trumps more moderate Cabinet nominees and represented a departure from Trumps picks to lead the EPA during his first term in office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2017, Trump placed Scott Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney general who had led a lawsuit at the Supreme Court against Obama-era power plant regulations, at the helm of the EPA. The devout evangelical Christian, who citedtheological arguments to challenge basic scientific methods at an agency tasked with carrying out critical research and who had limited political experience outside his home state, became a lightning rod in the first Trump administration.

Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt reacts while testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on budget on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2018. via Associated Press

By the time Pruitt resigned in July 2018, he faced an avalanche of ethics scandals that alienated even Trumps fervent allies in Congress. The deputy administrator Trump promoted to the top job, Andrew Wheeler, was a former coal lobbyist who called on his past experience as a Senate aide to push through the presidents deregulatory agenda. Rather than questioning the basic realities of climate change, Wheeler enacted new, weaker power plant rules that eased restrictions on coal- and gas-fired generating stations without running afoul of the EPAs long-settled requirement to regulate planet-heating gases under the Clean Air Act.

Much like the Obama-era regulations Wheeler managed to replace, the rules never took effect. Former President Joe Biden rescinded the regulation and proposed new, stricter rules designed to avoid the legal trap that ensnared the Obama administrations so-called Clean Power Plan.

Zeldin, a largely secular Jew born and raised on the Acela corridor in the New York City suburbs, acknowledged the reality of climate change at his Senate confirmation hearing and promised to maintain independence from the fossil fuel industry if confirmed. He served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before managing to appeal to enough Democrats in his deep-blue home state to run a surprisingly competitive race for New York governor in 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Congress, however, Zeldin repeatedly voted to cut funding to the agency he is now seeking to lead. The countrys largest environmental groups opposed his nomination, but he won the endorsement of Mandy Gunasekara, a controversial former EPA official from Trumps first term who authored a key section on the agency in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 plan.

Administrator Lee Zeldin has a proven track record of finding solutions to the nations most pressing energy challenges, said Mike Sommers, the chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute, the leading U.S. oil and gas lobby. We look forward to working with him to advance American energy leadership, from developing smart, effective regulations to ensuring consumers  not the government  can choose the vehicles they drive.

Zeldin vowed to advance Trumps deregulatory agenda and blamed the Biden-era EPA at his Senate hearing for inflaming the nations cost-of-living crisis.

We can, and we must, protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy, he said. A big part of this will require building private sector collaboration to promote common-sense, smart regulation that will allow American innovation to continue to lead the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zeldin recognized the EPAs authority to limit greenhouse gases under the Endangerment Finding, a legal standard the agency adopted after the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that planet-heating gases posed a risk to public health and therefore merited regulations under the Clean Air Act. But its unclear how much influence the Trump loyalist will have on his boss.

Lee Zeldin, President Donald Trump's nominee to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, testifies during his Senate Environment and Public Works confirmation hearing on Jan. 16, 2025. Tom Williams via Getty Images

In a flurry of executive orders on his first day back in office, Trump directed the EPA to look into ways to object to the finding.

Evergreen Action, a climate policy group formed by former Democratic staffers, called Zeldin a Trump loyalist bent on advancing an agenda of environmental destruction.

Just days after Trumps brazen attempt to block funding that Americans rely on, it is deeply disappointing that some Senate Democrats failed to stand against Zeldins nomination, Lena Moffitt, the executive director of Evergreen Action, said in a statement. The American people deserve an EPA Administrator who will fight for their health and safety  not a yes-man who will look the other way while Trump breaks the law to serve his billionaire donors and polluter allies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental group that boasted of filing more than 100 lawsuits against the first Trump administration, expressed cautious optimism that Zeldin could temper more radical elements in the White House.

While President-elect Trump has trafficked in climate denial, today Lee Zeldin accepted the scientific consensus on the causes and reality of climate change and said that the EPA has the legal authority to treat greenhouse gases as a pollutant, Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement after Zeldins initial confirmation hearing. This is a crucial start, but only a start.

Despite his difference in personality and politics from Pruitt, Zeldin could face similar scrutiny of his personal ethics and finances.

This month, Business Insider reported that the former congressman earned $120,500 from unnamed clients writing op-eds and giving speeches. Financial disclosures showed Zeldin received consulting payments from a Qatari businessman linked to the felony corruption case against former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). At his confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed Zeldin on past campaign donations he had received from the fossil fuel industry.

Theres no donation that anyone has ever provided me at any point, of any amount, that is going to influence any decision that I make in this position, or beyond, Zeldin said.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump vowed to take back the Panama Canal in his inaugural address, but he likely wouldnt be able to do so and still be within the confines of the 1977 treaty that signed over authority to Panama, according to an international law expert.

Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, Eugene Kontorovich, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, told lawmakers that countries need to think long and hard before signing treaties that effectively give away strategic assets as important as the Panama Canal.

The U.S. is free to cancel this treaty or withdraw from it at any time, but given that the U.S. has transferred control and sovereignty of the Canal Zone to Panama, the cancellation of the treaty would not necessarily reverse the concession and return the canal to the U.S., Kontorovich said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, it is the case that America can take all sorts of measures to insist on neutrality. But a kind of territorial control is not a clear remedy.

Much of the hearing centered around whether and how much China is effectively controlling freight flows through the canal given that Chinese-backed terminal operators run terminals on both sides of the waterway  a potential violation of the neutrality provided under the current treaty between the U.S. and Panama.

Asked by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about the range of remedies available if Panama were found in violation of the treaty, Kontorovich said the use of armed force to enforce the treatys provisions  as opposed to taking outright control of the canal itself  is an option.

Panama agreed that the U.S. could enforce this regime of neutrality by force, he responded. Of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at rashly before negotiations and other kinds of options are exhausted. But its quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also discussed during the hearing was the Panama Canal Authoritys practice of giving canal transit times to the highest bidder when water levels in the region are low, which was the case during a water shortage in the region starting in 2023.

Our concern [was] that the Canal Authority was collecting much more money per transit during the crisis than it had before the shortage, Federal Maritime Commission board member Dan Maffei told the committee.

I do have continuing concern about the auction-like slot allocation procedures  not so much as they are applied right now when transits are not being rationed  but when another lower rainfall period occurs. If we can show that it is interfering with foreign trade of the U.S., there are certain things we can do.

When pressed, Maffei said one of those options is to sanction Panamanian-flag ships. The Panamanian flag is one of their major sources of revenue and the number one flag of convenience in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Maffei also questioned the intense focus on Chinas influence on the canal when the Chinese-backed company in the region, Hutchison Ports, operates ports in almost every part of the world.

If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational or strategic control of the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel, Maffei asserted.

We need some sort of overall maritime strategy; we have to acknowledge that this is part of our national security, and that economic resilience is extraordinarily important. I believe that if we start countering some of [Chinas investment] efforts, we can do it, but it has to be a national priority.

Related articles:

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.

The post Senate debates ways to gain leverage over Panama Canal appeared first on FreightWaves.
Senate Democrats revolted on Tuesday following the Trump administrations sweeping freeze on federal aid by tanking a vote to sanction the International Criminal Court and promising there might be similar moves to come if the White House does not change its tune in short order.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were blindsided by the administrations freeze on aid that included disbursements of grants and loans.

But Democrats reacted swiftly, headlined by the 45-54 failed ICC sanctions vote and nearly two dozen Democrats voting against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffys nomination despite a unanimous vote to advance him Monday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were in a crisis right now. Donald Trump is making a run to take over all of government. The spending, ignore the rules, do whatever he wants to do  were not going to go along with that, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). So at this moment, were a no on this bill and everything else that comes up because the urgency of the moment over what Donald Trump is doing outweighs any other [item].

This is a lot more than just the ICC, she continued. We are a no because of all that Donald Trump is doing. We will not stand by, as the Democrats in the Senate, and let Donald Trump take over the entire government Were a hard no on that.

The anger over the freeze was palpable on the Democratic side after the administration handed down the memo Monday night directing federal agencies to issue a temporary pause on all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.

Persistent questions also forced administration officials to try to clarify the orders targets, insisting it has zero impact on Social Security benefits, food safety and a number of other items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But that did not quell the concerns of Democratic senators, who complained throughout the day that their constituents were being locked out of Medicaid portals and that funding for police, hospitals and programs for homeless veterans were being affected.

Donald Trump has done a lot of bad things in the last week, but nothings worse than this, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said during his weekly press conference, repeatedly calling it cruel.

The blast radius of this terrible, unconstitutional and illegal decision is virtually limitless, he added.

The ICC procedural vote came after days of questions surrounding how Democrats would ultimately land on the bill, as they were hopeful to avoid a repeat of the Laken Riley Act. A number of battleground state members and those facing reelection in 2026 indicated they would support that immigration bill without changes, effectively eliminating any Democratic leverage to make changes to it via the amendment process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That could have been the case for the ICC bill, where some Democrats sought to find a bipartisan agreement to hold the court accountable for pursuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes. These lawmakers argue the ICC holds no jurisdiction over Israel and that the warrants create a false equivalence with Hamas. But Democrats demonstrated more unity in their concern that the language put Americas allies and U.S. businesses in the crosshairs of sanctions.

The ICC bill is one I largely support and would like to see become law, Schumer said on the floor ahead of the vote.

However, as much as I oppose the ICC bias against Israel, and as much as I want to see that institution drastically reformed and reshaped, the bill before us is poorly drafted and deeply problematic. It will have many unintended consequences that undermine its primary goal.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) attempted to hammer out an amendment deal with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), but she complained on her way out of lunch on Tuesday that there were no negotiations, leading her to push Democrats to vote against getting onto the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While three Democrats had signaled support for the ICC sanctions bill itself, two of those members who supported it in the House  Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)  sided with the conference.

Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the lone Democratic yes vote.

Democrats were concerned with fixing the bills language that would help businesses avoid sanctions, which Slotkin pointed to specifically in her statement on why she flipped her support after voting for the House bill.

In recent weeks, our U.S. businesses and allies have raised serious concerns over the text of the bill, she said. For the past week, Ive been supporting negotiated language that would do less harm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republicans acknowledged the funding-related uproar kept the bill from moving down the tracks but kept open their hopes of fixing the bill and eventually passing it. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) argued that the hopes of a bipartisan fix would only come when the temperature goes down here, adding that he was also caught off-guard by the administrations order.

But for now, Democrats are keeping their options open as long as this freeze remains in place, including voting against Trump nominees as they hit the floor.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday teed up a quartet of nominees for votes in the coming days: former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) for Interior secretary, Chris Wright to head the Department of Energy and former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) to become Veterans Affairs secretary.

But after Duffy lost 22 Democrats overnight, more could follow to oppose these choices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[Trump] wants to declare himself king, and we are going to do everything we can to stop him, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), declining to discuss nomination plans specifically.

We are going to be a loyal opposition, he continued. And use every tool we have to reverse this unlawful and irresponsible decision.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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)  After President Donald Trumps pledge to regain control of the Panama Canal, lawmakers in Congress are taking a closer look at the key shipping channel.

U.S. cargo accounts for about 75% of Panama Canal traffic.

These goods are the clothes on your back, the shoes on your feet, and the phones likely in your hands, World Shipping Council President Joseph Kramek told Senators.

But some Senators say those goods and national security could be at risk if adversaries control the Panama Canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We cannot turn a blind eye if Panama exploits an asset of vital commercial and military importance, and we cannot stay idle while China is on the march in our hemisphere, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said.

Sen. Cruz and others questioned Chinas presence in the Panama Canal at a hearing Tuesday.

It comes as President Trump promises to retake the waterway the U.S. gave to Panama in a 1977 treaty.

Were taking it back, President Trump said.

The president argues that treaty is being violated  citing unfair fees on American shippers and Chinas growing presence.

America is sleepwalking into a carefully laid Chinese trap, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senators like Sen. Schmitt point to Chinese ports on both ends of the canal, and Chinas building of a bridge there.

China has made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence at ports throughout the globe, Federal Maritime Commission Commissioner Daniel Maffei said.

Maffei says the U.S. should bolster its maritime strategy.

All of us should lose a lot more sleep than were losing, Maffei said.

FMC Chairman Louis Sola says the Senate should take another step.

Confirming a U.S. ambassador in Panama is critical to advancing our national and economic interests, Sola said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Panama on his first foreign trip in office.

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.
President Trumps pick to lead the Department of Justice, Pam Bondi, on Wednesday advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a strict party-line vote, setting the stage for a vote on the Senate floor.

The panel voted 12-10 to clear her from committee, advancing her nomination to serve as attorney general over objections from Democrats over her ability to exercise independence from the president.

The president has repeatedly threatened to weaponize the justice system against those he feels have wronged him, and thats a long list. It includes career prosecutors, military officials and his own former political appointees. Unfortunately, we are seeing these threats emerge in real time, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the panel, said during the meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She is one of four personal lawyers President Trump has already selected for top positions at the Department of Justice, and she has echoed President Trumps calls for exacting revenge on political opponents. Ms. Bondi undermined our democracy by joining President Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. It appears she does not reject that decision.

Democrats argued their concerns were not hypothetical, pointing to a string of events following Bondis hearing.

The Trump Justice Department has reassigned a wave of career prosecutors, placing them in divisions unrelated to their prior work.

The acting attorney general also fired all prosecutors who had worked on the criminal prosecutions into Trump, citing their work on the cases and calling them part of a broader political campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the Presidents agenda faithfully, acting Attorney General James McHenry wrote.

And Trump also pardoned or commuted the sentences of all 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants.

Republicans and Democrats alike noted Bondis qualification for the role as a longtime prosecutor and former Florida attorney general.

But they also quibbled over her role in working on Trumps team to challenge the 2020 election results.

Bondi in her hearing refused to say that Trump lost the election, instead saying President Biden was currently president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On multiple occasions during her hearing, Ms. Bondi stated that President Biden was the president, and that she quote, unquote, accepted the results. As I said during the hearing, questioning the results of an election does not make one an election denier, Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa said).

Some of my colleagues also suggest that Miss Bondis loyalty to President Trump is somehow disqualifying. It is not persuasive in any way. Theres nothing wrong with President Trump appointing someone who seriously defended him to a high position. Ms. Bondi publicly supported President Trump, just like 77 million Americans who voted him back into office in November. So this too is not a disqualifying attribute.

Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Bondis successor as Florida attorney general, also urged senators to support Bondi the person as well as the prosecutor, noting that she challenged big special interests like opioid manufacturers when she was in office.

But Democrats also pointed to Trumps order to freeze federal grants as an example where Bondi would have to challenge the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Actions taken yesterday, I believe, show that Ms. Bondis answer misses a painfully obvious point, that this is not hypothetical, Sen Chris Coons (D-Del.), noting the order was swiftly paused by the courts, said.

OMB issued an illegal and unconstitutional order freezing hundreds of billions of dollars of dually appropriated and authorized federal grants, funding that Congress had lawfully appropriated. I get it, he continued. President Trump was elected and will have the opportunity to put his stamp on the policy priorities of our appropriations going forward, but this is reaching back, grabbing and freezing appropriations that had already been passed by Congress and signed by a president.

Updated at 1 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.
Aam Aadmi Party National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Wednesday slammed Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for supporting the BJP-led Haryana government over Arvind Kejriwal's 'Yamuna poisoning' remark saying that he should prioritize the welfare of the people instead of supporting the BJP. Speaking to ANI, Kakkar said, "Instead of becoming a stooge of the BJP, the LG must take care of the people since he holds a constitutional post and responsibility. The level of ammonia in Yamuna has increased 700 times more than the permissible limit and it cannot happen automatically. This has been done. Instead of questioning the Haryana Government, the LG is standing in support of the BJP-led Haryana government. This is shameful." Her remarks came after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and expressed his objection to Arvind Kejriwal's 'Yamuna poisoning' remark. "An attempt to provoke the public by making false, misleading and factless allegations like poisoning and genocide on another state government on a sensitive issue like drinking water is a threat not only to the states but also to national peace and security. I hope that as an educated, enlightened and sensitive woman and the Chief Minister of Delhi, you will rise above petty interests and will not say such misleading, dangerous and baseless things in the interest of public welfare and peace and will also advise your leader not to do so." reads the letter. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday created a controversy after he claimed that the BJP-ruled Haryana government has "poisoned" the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi so that "people die" and the blame comes on the AAP. "BJP's Haryana government has poisoned the water in Yamuna. If this water had entered Delhi only to be mixed with the drinking water, many people would have died in Delhi. It would have caused mass genocide," the former Delhi chief minister alleged. Reacting to Kejriwal's comments, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini warned that he would file a defamation case against the AAP national convener over his remarks about pollution in the Yamuna river. "For these blatantly false and disgusting statements, Kejriwal should immediately apologise to the people of Haryana and Delhi for this statement; otherwise, we will file a defamation suit against him," CM Saini said. (ANI)
The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure committee on Jan. 28, 2025 with Chair Patrick Stefano, R-Fayette, and Minority Chair Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, (Capital-Star photo by Ian Karbal)

State senators began work this week to reenact a law that barred utility companies from cutting off service to customers in the winter, regardless of their ability to pay.

The law also prevented utility companies from shutting off services on Fridays and weekends and required multiple notifications before a delinquent customers utilities could be disconnected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prior regulations lapsed in December 2024 because lawmakers were unable to agree on what to do with the 20-year-old section of law, known as Chapter 14, which needed reauthorization every 10 years to stay in effect. The Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate couldnt reach a deal on how to modify it.

At the heart of the disagreement is that some House Democrats, as well as consumer advocates, say despite the security Chapter 14 offered customers during the frigid months between December and March, the law made it too easy for utility companies to cancel service for low-income customers who fell behind on their monthly bills during the rest of the year.

They want to use the reauthorization of the law to enact stronger consumer protections.

Chapter 14 was first passed with the explicit goal of trying to achieve equity by eliminating opportunities for customers who have the means to pay from avoiding payment, said Elizabeth Marx, executive director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project. What has happened in practice is hundreds of thousands of lower-income households have been terminated, not because theyre capable of paying, but because theyre incapable of paying.

Electric meters in Harrisburg. (Ian Karbal/Capital-Star(

When a utility customer fails to make payments, typically, they enter into an arrangement with their utility company that allows them to pay their debts on top of their monthly bills. If that fails, they can go to the Public Utility Commission and arrange a payment plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Chapter 14, first enacted in 2004, stripped some of the Public Utility Commissions ability to work with low- and middle-income customers to make those plans.

Before the law went into effect, the Public Utility Commission could create an individualized payment plan for low-income families, based on their income, debts and ability to pay. Chapter 14 created rigid guidelines for those payment plans. (As it stood last year, guidelines ranged from six-month plans for customers making 300% of the federal poverty level to five-year plans for customers making 150% of the federal poverty level or less).

Moreover, the law allows utility companies to require security deposits when their customers fall behind, which they have to pay in addition to their monthly bills and payment plans. There are also late fees and, if their service has already been disconnected, reconnection fees. A 2014 amendment to the law made some customers  those whose income was below 150% of the federal poverty level  exempt from security deposits.

According to Marx, the rigid requirements for payment plans and the ability of utility companies to charge extra fees to customers on top of their monthly bills, is particularly difficult for some low-income households.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Right now weve got folks on fixed incomes that are being quoted out of the gate several hundred dollars, Marx said. Thats not a workable solution.

Chapter 14 also laid out certain consumer protections, creating rules for when a utility company could cut off service. Aside from a moratorium during winter months, service disconnections are not allowed on Fridays and weekends. And customers facing medical emergencies  such as when they need electricity to power necessary medical equipment  can get doctor notes to exempt them for 30 days, which can be renewed at the end of that period. And survivors of domestic abuse can produce a copy of any protective order they have to similarly receive a reprieve.

When Chapter 14 expired last year, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission effectively reinstated it, noting that they wanted to give lawmakers time to debate. This session, lawmakers in the House and Senate will need to compromise on how or whether it should change to codify those protections back into law.

They clearly want to reauthorize this, PUC chair Stephen DeFrank told the Capital-Star. Were gonna keep this table set as is until they decide what they want to do.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star).

Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) was the first to introduce legislation offering a proposal this session. It was a lightly modified version of a bill she introduced last session, which largely left Chapter 14 in place as is. It was taken up in a Senate committee on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would extend the length of repayment plans offered to low-income families who fall behind on their utility bills. However, it did not provide the flexibility that advocates or House Democrats wanted, and didnt ban fees and deposits for low-income customers.

DeFrank said he supports extensions for customers who fall behind.

The best way of getting a customer to pay a bill is a payment arrangement, DeFrank said.

But advocates say the Senate bill doesnt go far enough.

There are changes in there, said Joline Price, an attorney in the energy unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. But its a really lost opportunity to make consumer protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boscolas bill was a first shot in what could become a longer battle.

The House is gonna put up a fight, but, you know, lets see where this goes, Boscola said during Mondays committee meeting.

Advocates like Marx and Price prefer a version put forward by House Democrats last year, but ultimately rejected by the Senate.

That version made numerous changes to Chapter 14. It would have barred utility companies from charging additional fees to, or requiring security deposits from, low-income customers facing utility shut-offs because they were behind on bills. It also would have banned reconnection fees for low-income households. Moreover, it would have allowed the PUC to give delinquent customers more time to make good on their past bills, allowed the PUC to limit monthly payments to 20% of their average bill and expanded the length of payment arrangements.

State Sen. Patrick Stefano, R-Fayette. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Sen. Patrick Stefano (R-Fayette), the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee Chair, said the bill was a nonstarter. He said it would have made protections intended for low-income families too broadly available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Right now 5% of the customer base needs these programs and 95% pay for it, Stefano said. What was trying to be negotiated in the House to come back to us, I couldnt agree to. It changed it to 55% of the rate-base paying for 45%.

He added that he worried expanding access to assistance for low-income families could effectively incentivize people who could pay on time not to.

I want to make sure that those who need them use the programs that are available to them, and those who can pay do pay, Stefano said. He cited conversations he said hes had with people who pay their phone bills, but not their internet bills, because they believe their cell service providers will cut them off, but their electric companies wont.

His comments mirrored concerns voiced by senators last year that the House version of the bill would enable bad actors who knowingly refused to pay utility bills by allowing them to escape fees and deposits intended to protect utility companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But advocates say that increasing access to repayment plans for people who fall behind their bills could ultimately help every utility customer.

When a household stops paying their bills entirely and leaves the state or service area, that debt becomes uncollectible. Uncollectible debt is eventually passed on to all paying customers of that utility. A payment program that allows low-income families to keep their services connected and slowly repay when theyve fallen behind, could help avoid that outcome. Especially as energy prices increase, along with the number of households having utilities disconnected.

Boscola, whose bill more closely mirrored prior law, said in a statement Monday that Chapter 14s protections were vital to stabilizing utility costs for hard-working families and seniors on fixed incomes  With skyrocketing energy prices and mounting unpaid utility bills, the need for action is more urgent than ever.

In the meantime, Marx, of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, says that rising energy prices have led to more Pennsylvania utility customers facing shutoffs. In 2024, according to testimony she provided the legislature, 352,533 Pennsylvania households experienced involuntary gas or electric shutoffs, a 15% increase over 2023, according to the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are substantial changes that need to be made, Marx said. We are happy and look forward to working with both chambers to create prevention-based reforms that will address rising utility costs and help families catch up before they fall behind.

She suggested lawmakers think hard about what they want from the law. If their goal is to decrease the number of people who stop or become unable to pay their utility bills altogether, the best way to do that is to work with them.

Price added that she would like to see more focus in the law on catching families before they fall behind. She said that could mean requiring utility companies to collect data on household income the first time they fall behind on a payment to see if they qualify for assistance. Often, she meets clients who would have qualified for existing customer assistance programs, or could have had a security deposit waived, but werent aware.

Theres things that we can do to require utilities to do more to get customers enrolled in those programs early so that they dont end up spiraling into a pit of debt, Price said.

She added, We dont have to act in the framework of an old law. We need to think about what we want going forward.
President Donald Trumps recent calls for the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal prompted a Senate Committee Hearing on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Tuesday which delved into security issues and foreign influence on the foremost maritime channel connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Though Panama has fiercely denied that China is gaining control over the gateway, which plays a pivotal role in global trade and is responsible for about two-fifths of Americas total cargo traffic, the relationship was a key focus of expert testimony. Committee members also probed the challenges posed by the Canals current capacity, which dwindled due to drought last year, and its rising tariffs and fees.

More from Sourcing Journal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said President Trump has made

a serious and substantive argument that the Panama Canal Treatywhich turned over control of the Canal to the country of Panama in 1999is being violated right now, pointing to two factors that have contributed to that perspective: No. 1, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and, No. 2, the exorbitant costs for transit.

Chinese firms are currently building a bridge across the Canal that could take nearly a decade to complete, he said. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the portsowned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchisongive China ready observation posts to time that action, threatening U.S. national security.

Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because U.S. cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits, Cruz added. U.S. Navy vessels pay specific warship fees, while American consumers pay higher costs for goods due to escalating fees for container ships. The Canal brings in more than $3 billion on average each year, a number that exceeds the Panamanian government budget, Cruz said.

Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Louis E. Sola said the Canal has been very ably administered by the Panama Canal Authority, a government entity that is separate from the government of Panama for the past 25 years. But the countrys government has a reputation for being susceptible to corruption and foreign influence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Presidential administrations that preceded that of now-President Mulino were particularly receptive to Chinese overtures and beginning in 2015, the Peoples Republic of China only had to push lightly on a cracked door in Panama, he explained. Becoming a member of the Belt and Road Initiative ended Panamas diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, deepening its ties to Communist China.

Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were physical infrastructure projects, some on or adjacent to the Panama Canal, Sola said. No bid contracts were awarded, labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they benefited.

Drought conditions that constricted the Canals capacity throughout 2024 also brought on fresh complications, forcing the Panama Canal Authority to slash the number of slots available for transit and prohibit certain classes of vessels from moving through the waterway at all. Without huge infrastructure improvements and enhancements, its projected that the Canals capacity could fall as much as 50 percent by 2050, severely inhibiting global trade and U.S. commerce, Sola added.

But The United States is not without options in addressing the growing presence of China and Chinese companies in Panama and throughout the Americas, he saidNor are we without options as they relate to the continued viability of the Canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Firstly, Sola said American companies need more support from the federal government so that Chinese companies arent the only contract bidders. Improving the resiliency of the Panama Canal will require significant engineering and construction work. U.S. firms can and should be at the top of the list of bids considered.

Having an ambassador in Panama would also protect national interests, he added. There has not been an official U.S. ambassador stationed in the country for five years.

The FMC chairman also said the neutrality of Panama Canal Authority must be protected, and that the U.S. should word to identify opportunities for collaboration, like formalizing a relationship between the Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has unparalleled experience in managing large public works projects.

Following the FMC perspective, Professor Eugene Kontorovich, a legal scholar at George Mason University and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, was asked to explore possible violations of the 1977 Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement guarantees non-discrimination among nations in the right of transit, just and equitable tolls and fees, exclusive operation by Panama and the prohibition of foreign military or defense presence in the country.

China is clearly gaining ground when it comes to presence, having demonstrated a solid interest in establishing operations at the Canal, but there exists a spectrum of levels of governmental control and influence, he said. The treaty is silent on the question of how much is too much, leaving much subjectivity in assessing Chinas influence.

Under international law, states determine for themselves the meaning of their treaty obligations unless a specific resolution mechanism is laid out in text, though both parties have the responsibility to defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality, the treaty reads.

The operations of Chinese companies have apparently not compromised traffic through the Canal in any way at this point, Kontorovich added. But the treaty is not merely violated when transit through the Canal is obstructed in wartimeindeed, such a treaty would leave the United States with no recourse until it is too late.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legal scholar raised concerns about Chinas growing influence, but stopped short of saying that the U.S. should retaliate with military force. While the treaty allows for it in the defense of neutrality, that does not mean this should be the first recourse.

Needless to say, any resort to arms should be not taken lightly and should only follow the failure of diplomacy, he said.
Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Senate Republicans have revived an attempt to enrich private schools and the families they serve through a $125 million voucher program.

Private schools from around the state delivered their students en masse Tuesday to demonstrate support for Senate Bill 75, which is similar to legislation considered in past sessions. Republican leaders, bolstered by enlarged supermajorities, have promised to pass a voucher program this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Supporters of the bill promote it as a school choice initiative, even though the money would flow to families whose children are already enrolled in private schools, there are no private school options for large swaths of the state, and the credits may not be enough for low-income families to afford private school tuitions that exceed $20,000 annually in some places.

The students who were bused to Wednesdays rally on the south steps of the Statehouse carried signs that read let me learn, put kids first, parents know best and choice means hope.

Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told the students education freedom is the key to education, and she promised to get it done this year.

She said it was time for the state to truly value the diversity and learning styles and individuals for every single student in Kansas.

Sen. Renee Erickson, who sponsored legislation to funnel public cash into private schools, speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Erickson sponsored SB 75, which would give parents an $8,000 tax credit for each child enrolled in an accredited private school. Parents who homeschool their children  which is classified as a nonaccredited private school  would receive $4,000 per child. They could claim the credits in advance or when they file their tax returns. Any student who is enrolled in a public school for any period of time would be ineligible to receive a tax credit that year. Students who receive a low-income student scholarship would be excluded from the tax credits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legislation is capped at $125 million for the first year, but would increase by 25% each year, as long as tax credits reach 90% of the cap. Kansas State Department of Education data shows there are currently 26,000 students enrolled in private schools, which means the annual cost for the voucher program could exceed $200 million by the fourth year.

Private school officials and students spoke in favor of unlocking funding that would support faith-based learning. Opponents questioned the merits of using tax dollars to promote religious ideology.

Emily Aragon, a 15-year-old student at Maranatha Christian Academy in Shawnee, said she valued the unconditional support and guidance she receives at her school, which she has attended since fourth grade. She said she was was previously homeschooled.

Aragon said she has learned through her private school teachings that no dream or goal is too big when it is fueled by dedication and passion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I passionately believe that all Kansans should have access to an education that not only prepares them for their future, but also empowers them to make a positive, lasting impact on our society, Aragon said.

John Walker, superintendent of Central Christian School in Hutchinson, said it was his fundamental belief that parents have the sovereign rights over their children. He said it would become clear decades from now that proponents of school choice were on the right side of history.

We do lots of things that the public school does, Walker said. We teach from a different world view, and thats what parents want to sign up for.

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate President Ty Masterson speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Senate President Ty Masterson speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Pastor Wade Moore, of Urban Prep Academies in Wichita, speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Sen. Renee Erickson speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate President Ty Masterson speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Pastor Wade Moore, of Urban Prep Academies in Wichita, speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Pastor Wade Moore, of Urban Prep Academies in Wichita, speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Private school kids rally Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Renee Erickson, who sponsored legislation to funnel public cash into private schools, speaks at rally of private school kids Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Bart Kooiman, who identified himself as a U.S. citizen, Kansas resident and small business owner, drew a correlation in his written testimony between school choice and the option to terminate a pregnancy in Kansas. The states perspective on choice, he said, is upside down in the worst ways. He pointed to the volume of abortions performed in Kansas for out-of-state residents.

What does that say about the priorities of our state? Kooiman said. Is that what you want our state to be known for? In Kansas, parents can freely choose to end the life of their unborn child, but they cannot choose which school their child attends.

Speaking in opposition to the bill, Laurel Burchfield, advocacy director for the Mainstream Coalition, said it would be wrong to divert taxes away from public services to pay for religious teachings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said Christian school textbooks have been shamed for the way they teach about science in history. They describe the Loch Ness Monster as a real example of a modern day dinosaur that proves creationism, or characterize slavery as a former of immigration for Black people to leave Africa, she offered as examples.

This bill essentially is making me now donate or tithe to churches to which I do not belong, Burchfield said. It also promotes a very specific view of the world that can be based in narrow extremist religious teachings that dont represent the beliefs of many people of faith.

Lynn Rogers, a banker and former state senator, lieutenant governor and state treasurer, predicted the voucher program would devastate rural communities. If a small school lost 5-10 students, he said, the school could close. He testified on behalf of Kansas Interfaith Action Group.

You lose a school, you lose a post office, you lose a co-op, you lose the entire community, Rogers said. Ive seen it happen many times.

Because families would be eligible no matter their income, he said, a family with two students in private school and annual earnings of $300,000 would not pay any state taxes after receiving the credits.

Thats going to blow a real hole in your budget, Rogers said.
A Connecticut senator has accused Donald Trump of carrying out a blitzkrieg of executive orders in his first week in office in an attempt to collapse our democracy.

Democrat Chris Murphy said that the flurry of orders issued by the president since taking back the Oval Office were designed to help in seize control.

The freezing of federal grants, the firing of all inspector generals, the immunization of political violence - does everybody not see whats happening? Murphy wrote on X Tuesday. In a blitzkrieg, Trump is trying to collapse our democracy - and probably our economy - and seize control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A blitzkrieg, or lightning war, was a series of short, powerfu military attacks intended to bring about a swift victory used by Adolf Hitlers Nazi forces in World War II.

Donald Trump has been accused of carrying out a blitzkrieg of executive orders in his first week in office (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

As of Tuesday, just eight days into his second term, the president signed almost 40 executive orders, including those referred to by Murphy.

One, freezing federal grant funding across government agencies, was temporarily blocked by a federal judgeTuesday evening. US District Judge Loren AliKhan issued the two-day temporary restraining order after a brief hearing in Washington on Tuesday.

The freezing of federal grants, the firing of all inspector generals, the immunization of political violence - does everybody not see whats happening?



In a blitzkrieg, Trump is trying to collapse our democracy - and probably our economy - and seize control.



Call it what it is.  Chris Murphy  (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 28, 2025

It came after a memo issued late on Monday by the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget,ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, the memo read.

Other controversial orders signed by Trump have included the removal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement, and the firing of all federal employees on DEI programmes.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) called said the flurry of executive orders from the president was an attempt to collapse our democracy (Getty Images)

A separate executive order, effectively banning transgender people from serving in the military, has already resulted in a lawsuit from a group of transgender service members.

On his first day in office, the president also pardoned nearly all January 6 defendants, granting roughly 1,500 full, complete and unconditional pardons for those charged in connection with the Capitol attack, including 169 who confessed to attacking police officers.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  It appears Senator John Curtis (R-UT) is not yet sold on Senate President Donald Trumps cabinet pick for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

Curtis tells ABC4 that to fill in the gaps about some of her views, he plans to attend the Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Thursday, even though hes not on the committee.

While the Senator does not sit on that committee he is looking to fill in the blanks on past judgments of Gabbard including her views on FISA Section 702, which gives U.S. intelligence agencies the authority to collect information on potential terror threats, a spokesperson for Curtis office said. The Senator said he is looking to be thorough in his assessment of Gabbard and other nominees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbard is reportedly facing a narrow confirmation vote in the Senate as other Republican senators have expressed concerns over what critics call flip flop views on whether U.S. intelligence agencies should have that warrant-less surveillance ability.

As a representative of Hawaii, Gabbard proposed legislation in 2020 to repeal FISA Section 702, which opponents argue allows Americans to be surveilled. Gabbard has also voted against reauthorizing the program. Gabbard has reportedly since walked back on her past criticism of the program.

The Hill reports Gabbard cannot afford to lose a single vote on the Intelligence Committee, which has a 9-8 party split. The Committee also reportedly has two senators  Susan Collins (R-ME) and Todd Young (R-IN)  who are considered to be swing votes.

Should Gabbard earn the Committees approval, she will still need to convince the likes of Sen. Curtis in the full Senate confirmation. Curtis, who is beginning his first term in the Senate after several years in the House of Representatives, has been speculated to be a swing vote for Gabbards confirmation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Curtis has already been seen as a decisive swing vote, having reportedly been slow to signal support for President Trumps nominees. However, Curtis has so far voted in favor of Trumps cabinet picks, having approved Peter Hegseth for Secretary of Defense and Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security, among others.

The Hill 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 ABC4 Utah.
By David Shepardson and Marianna Parraga

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Tuesday expressed alarm at China's influence on the Panama Canal, which President Donald Trump has vowed the United States would take back.

"Chinese companies are building a bridge across the canal  at a slow pace so as to take nearly a decade  and control container ports at either end," Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said at a hearing on the canal's role in U.S. trade and national security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The partially-completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation poses acute risks to U.S. national security," he added.

More than 40% of U.S. container traffic, valued at roughly $270 billion annually, transits the Panama Canal, making up over two-thirds of vessels passing each day through the world's second-busiest interoceanic waterway.

Federal Maritime Commission Chair Louis Sola said the agency "will continue to monitor the canal's pricing practices and consider broad reviews of Panama's maritime sector," and can impose fines and restrictions on Panamanian-flag vessels entering U.S. ports.

Panama has one of the world's largest registries for vessels, giving its flag to more than 8,000 ships.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the committee, said the U.S. and Panama should work "together to boost port and Canal infrastructure to lower costs and ensure reliability of the Canal."

She asked for a classified briefing for the committee on foreign adversary threats to the canal and plans to take a group of senators to the canal later this year. "I am concerned about the Chinese-owned ports in Panama and their proximity to the Canal," Cantwell said.

Trump has given no details on when or how he intends to reclaim the canal, which is the sovereign territory of an ally. He has refused to rule out use of military force, drawing criticism from Washington's Latin American friends and foes alike.

George Mason University law professor Eugene Kontorovich told the hearing a neutrality treaty signed when the U.S. transferred the canal to Panama gives both sides "the right to resort to use armed force" to enforce provisions. However, "armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Panama's president, Jose Raul Mulino, said last week that Panama has administered the canal responsibly for world trade, including for the U.S., and that it "is and will continue to be Panamanian."

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Jan. 28MIAMI, Okla.  Plans for improvements to the Miami Seniors Center are underway, following dissolution of the former board and center ownership reverting to the city at the beginning of the year, the city said in a statement released last week.

"We believe the Miami Seniors' Center is a vitally important resource for residents and a valued community gathering place," Miami City Manager Tyler Cline said in a statement. "The entire city of Miami administration, staff, Council and mayor are dedicated to doing all we can to help revitalize the center."



This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAmp ?6H=J 7@C>65 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD H:== @G6CD66 @A6C2E:@?D[ 2?5 >6>36CD H:== 2=D@ D6CG6 2D 2? 25G:D@CJ 3@2C5 E@ E96 |:2>: r:EJ r@F?4:=] |6>36CD @7 E96 3@2C5 2C6 r92:CA6CD@?^!C6D:56?E zJ=2 y@?6D[ ':46 r92:C^':46 !C6D:56?E r2C>6? r@F49[ $64C6E2CJ r2C@= &?56C9:==[ %C62DFC6C z2E9J (C:89E 2?5 t=5@? y@9?DE@?]k^Am

kAm|:2>:'D r9:67 ~A6C2E:?8 ~77:46C z6G:? qC@H?:?8[ H9@ @G6CD66D 724:=:E:6D[ C646?E=J 82G6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D 2?5 2? @G6CG:6H @7 A=2?D 7@C 255:?8 2 A=6E6 C6A=246>6?E 2?5 FA8C256 @7 E96 H2E6C =:?6 DJDE6> E9C@F89@FE E96 3F:=5:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4:EJ DE2E6>6?E] qC@H?:?8 D2:5 A=2?D :?4=F56 FA52E:?8 2?5 C67C6D9:?8 E96 26DE96E:4D @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 H:E9 ?6H A2:?E[ C6A=24:?8 42CA6E65 2C62D H:E9 36EE6C 7=@@C:?8[ 2?5 E96 255:E:@? @7 ?6H 2AA=:2?46D 2?5 @E96C 7FC?:D9:?8D]k^Am

kAm!C@;64ED 5:D4FDD65 H:== 36 7F?565 3J 8C2?ED E9C@F89 vC2?5 v2E6H2J[ r@>>F?:EJ tIA2?D:@? @7 }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 2?5 #FC2= t4@?@>:4 p4E:@? !=2?[ 2D H6== 2D &?:E65 (2J 7@C 2 E@E2= @7 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sh_[___ :? :>AC@G6>6?ED]k^Am

kAm%96 46?E6C 3@2C5 D6E E96 >6>36CD9:A 766 2E Sad A6C J62C[ 8:G:?8 >6>36CD 2446DD E@ E96 724:=:EJ 2?5 >@DE 6G6?ED 2?5 AC@8C2>D]k^Am

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

kAmrFCC6?E=J[ E96 46?E6C @776CD 2? @?\D:E6 8J>[ E9C66\E23=6 A@@=C@@>[ 2 =:3C2CJ H:E9 3@@6D 2?5 AFKK=6D[ 2 '^g\>:=6 @FE5@@C H2=66E:?8 C@@>D[ 2?5 2 C6?E23=6 32==C@@> E92E H:== D@@? 92G6 2? @?\D:E6 : $6?:@CD r6?E6C q@2C5 H:== 2=D@[ 2E 2 7FEFC6 >66E:?8[ =@@2E 4C62E:?8 8F:56=:?6D 2?5 2 766 D4965F=6 7@C AF3=:4 C6?E2= FD6 @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ E@ 6IA2?5 E96 46?E6C'D FD6 2?5 C6G6?F6 86?6C2E:@?]k^Am

kAmrFCC6?E >6>36CD[ E96 3@2C5 2?5 4:EJ DE277 @776C65 D6G6C2= :562D 7@C 7FEFC6 6G6?ED[ AC@;64ED 2?5 AC@8C2>D 7@C 4@?D:56C2E:@? 7@C E96 FA4@>:?8 J62C] %96 3@2C5'D C68F=2C >66E:?8D 2C6 D4965F=65 7@C E96 D64@?5 (65?6D52J @7 6249 >@?E9 2E E96 |:2>: $6?:@CD r6?E6C 2?5 2C6 @A6? E@ E96 AF3=:4]k^Am

kAm"(6'C6 C625J E@ 92G6 2== E96 ?646DD2CJ E9:?8D 7@C E96 r6?E6C :? A=246 D@ H6 42? 86E E@ 2== E96 7F? DEF77[" y@?6D D2:5 :? E96 DE2E6>6?E] "(6'C6 =@@2>F?:EJ]"k^Am

kAm%96 46?E6C[ a'_c s6?G6C w2C?6C sC:G6[ :D @A6? h 2]>] E@ c A]>] |@?52JD E9C@F89 uC:52JD] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 42== h'g\dca\ddgf]k^Am
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Several arrests were reported Tuesday as Starbucks baristas went on strike in Park Slope. The strike and sit-in happened just days before the unionized store was slated to close.

Striking workers claim the company will not bargain with them.

More Local News

At least 7 people were arrested during a peaceful protest ahead of the planned closure of the union store, as the coffee giant faces backlash for not negotiating a fair national contract with raises and benefits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Starbucks workers, we are the ones that understand the day-to-day operations at Starbucks, and we should have a voice in the decisions that the company makes. We need a contract now! said Orioon Booth a barista at the Park Slope location.

With that store set to close this Friday, workers argue the company has failed to bargain with them.

Michelle Eisen, a 14-year barista and Starbucks partner from the first store to win their union in Buffalo in 2021 says, These are workers with families with rents to pay and groceries to buy and they really have failed to leave them in any kind of condition that makes them feel safe and secure.

Hanging out at Starbucks? It will cost you as company reverses its open-door policy

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PIX11 News reached out to Starbucks but did not receive a response as of Tuesday night. However, in a statement they issued to PIX11 News in February 2024, they said in part: While we believe our direct relationship as partners is core to our culture and our continued improvements to the partner experience, we respect the rights of partners to organize and reaffirm our aim to negotiate first contracts for represented stores.

The workers were supported by community members gathering outside the store with signs just weeks after the company failed to offer baristas raises in the first year of the union contract.

Do whats right, stop silencing workers, stop exploiting workers, pay up pay up now, said Shahana Hanif, NYC council member.

Starbucks announced the store would close just months after the location unionized. Six other union locations are also set to close.

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.
(WJET/WFXP)  Multiple people were arrested after a police chase led to a raid finding varying amounts of drugs, firearms and money in New York on Monday.

According to a release, Jamestown police tried to stop a vehicle leaving a residence in the 2000 block of Camp Street Extension at around 11:45 a.m. when the driver fled leading to a police chase where the driver drove through a field and got stuck in a snow bank.

The driver  later identified as 32-year-old Dylan M. Abbey  was taken into custody without further incident.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After searching Abbey and his vehicle, police seized 13.8 grams of methamphetamine, 12.7 grams of fentanyl, a quantity of pills and $2,490.

Police then returned to the residence on Camp Street Extension with a search warrant where they found John J. Lisciandro, Kenneth E. Wynn, Christopher W. Smith and Jacklyn P. Webb inside.

In their search, police found 13 guns, 46.4 grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of fentanyl, 236 suboxone strips, a quantity of pills, and $655 inside the residence.

All four were taken to the Chautauqua County Jail and held for CAP arraignment.

Jacklyn Webb

John Lisciandro

Kenneth Wynn

Christopher Smith

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dylan Abbey

Dylan Abbey faces various charges including criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminally using drug paraphernalia and other vehicle and traffic law violations.

Lisciandro faces charges including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally using drug paraphernalia.

Smith, Webb and Wynn face charges including criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally using drug paraphernalia.

Additionally, Wynn faces a count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree for a quantity of methamphetamine found on his person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police continue to investigate and expect more charges could be added.

The Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office, Dunkirk Police Department and Ellicott Police Department assisted Jamestown police in this 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Power lines run across the ChesLen Nature Preserve in Chester County, Pa. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star)

Pennsylvania and the regions electrical grid operator PJM Interconnection have reached an agreement that Gov. Josh Shapiros office said Tuesday will protect consumers against steep increases in their power bills.

PJM Interconnection, which operates the long-distance electric power distribution network in all or parts of 13 states including Pennsylvania, has agreed to reduce the maximum price that energy generators can bid to provide electricity to meet future demand on the grid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Left unaddressed, PJMs next capacity auction scheduled for July 2025 would have resulted in billions in unnecessary energy costs for 65 million people across the region, Shapiros office said in a statement Tuesday.

Shapiros office filed a complaint in December with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission claiming there are flaws in PJMs auction design. Skyrocketing demand for energy driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence data centers, unreliable fossil fuel-based generating plants, and PJMs backlog of new energy projects waiting to be connected to the grid threatened to create runaway energy prices, the complaint claimed.

The complaint asserted that electricity producers would not be able to bring new energy sources online in time to meet the increasing demand, making the higher prices for consumers unjustified.

The governors of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Illinois joined Shapiros call for reform.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Electricity producers and industry organizations including the Electric Power Supply Association, a national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, opposed the complaint. The trade group said Pennsylvanias filing demonstrated a misunderstanding of PJMs system, which is designed to ensure producers have a price incentive to build new generating capacity.

The governor worked with PJM to significantly lower the capacity auction price cap  and averting a runaway auction price that would have unnecessarily increased energy bills, Shapiros office said.

A spokesman for PJM did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. However, PJM has noted in the past that many projects have cleared its interconnection process but still havent been built because of supply chain, permitting and other issues outside of the grid operators control.

Under the agreement, PJM will reduce the maximum auction price from $500 per megawatt-day to $325 per megawatt-day. A megawatt-day is a megawatt of energy produced continuously for 24 hours, roughly enough electricity to power 400 to 900 homes for a day, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patrick McDonnell, CEO of the environmental group PennFuture, said in a statement Tuesday that while the agreement would prevent electricity price increases this summer, they could increase again by 40% in following years.

This settlement will not fix the fundamental flaws in the market, McDonnell said.

PennFuture said more effort is needed to break the backlog of new energy projects waiting to be connected to the grid and prioritize renewable energy sources.

.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has blamed the "stampede" at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, and prioritizing self-promotion over proper management. "During the Maha Kumbh, the news of a stampede on the banks of Teerthraj Sangam in which several people lost their lives and many others got injured is extremely heart-rending. Our deepest condolences to the families of the devotees and we wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," Kharge said in a post on X. "Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion than management and mismanagement are responsible for this. Despite spending thousands of crores of rupees, such arrangements are condemnable," he added. He said that VIP movement should be curbed at the Maha Kumbh. "There are still many important 'Shahi Snans' left, so the central and state governments should wake up now and improve the arrangements so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen in future. Arrangements for accommodation, food, first aid and movement of devotees should be expanded and VIP movement should be curbed. This is what our saints and sages also want. Our Congress workers are requested to provide all possible help to the victims." Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday appealed to the devotees to take a holy dip at the ghats nearest to them and advised to not insist on taking a dip at the Sangam Ghat due to large crowds. He said that around 8 to 10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today and there is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose. He said that a few devotees have suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. "Around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today. There is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose. A few devotees have suffered serious injuries when they tried to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. The injured have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment," CM Yogi Adityanath said. "Since Mauni Amavasya mahurat started last night, a large number of devotees have been coming in," he added. Yogi Adityanarg noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Anandiben Patel are also continuously taking reports of the situation. The incident comes as a massive crowd of devotees gathered at the Sangam Ghats for the 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya.'' Meanwhile, 36.1 million devotees have taken a bath in Triveni till 10 am on Wednesday, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. (ANI)
She Built This City teaches women construction, repair skills

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  More than 80 years ago, Rosie the Riveter became a cultural icon, inspiring women to fill the jobs left by men as they went off to fight in World War II.

Now, a new generation of Rosies is teaching young women to fill more jobs traditionally held by men. Theyre learning the ins and outs of construction and home repair with an organization called She Built This City, and its with support from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

Check out the difference Community Foundations are making here in the Piedmont Triad

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The whir of saw blades and the pounding of a hammer with women building something more than just a wall or shelf. She Built This City started in Charlotte and expanded into Greensboro. The nonprofit helps women learn trades such as carpentry, plumbing, painting and electrical work. But safety is always first.

First they learn basic safety and they learn about OSHA. They get an OSHA 10 certification through us as well. Then they learn tools. They learn how to use them properly, says Shamilya Mitchell-Goss, the program manager for the Greensboro chapter. She believes in having all people learn a trade.

Honestly, anyone that applies that wants a career in the skilled trades and is serious about it can get into the program, says Mitchell-Goss, but again, we target women.

The nine-week program covers a lot of information and includes hands-on experience. Every student builds one of these three-by-three mini walls. Learning how to frame joists, install plumbing, and wire an electrical outlet. By the time they are done, they have applied the basics of all the trades to this one little wall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im able to do plumbing in my own house. Im able to install. I have holes from the kids. Im able to be able to fix those holes, patch them up, says Carolyn Boston. She learned from the program that construction is much more than hammering a wall or cutting boards. Shes learned skills she wants to pass down to her children.

Its easier to just call somebody to come and do everything for me, she says. But initially I would like to be able to do it for myself, being as though I have boys. I wanted to be able to show them how they can use their hands.

Like Boston, many of the women who take part in the program are trying to better themselves and their families. Mitchell-Goss says construction work is perfect because it offers long-term job security.

Skilled trades are the only jobs that cant be done by robots, she says. They cant be automated, and you can start as an electrician making the low 6 figures, meaning if we train a woman properly and she goes into the electrical field, we can pull her and her family out of generational poverty in four years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like Rosie the Riveter decades ago, the we can do it attitude still lives strong for women willing to get their hands dirty in a male-dominated field. Carolyn Boston says she would tell other women to have an open mind and be ready to work with your hands.

You can get more information on their 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 FOX8 WGHP.
While I have enjoyed and appreciated the work of Neal Rubin over the years, his Jan. 19 column, Sheetz got shut down by my city, but it's not taking 'no' for an answer, misses the mark and some vital points.

As the leader of a consortium of 10 Farmington Hills homeowner associations representing nearly a thousand residents living in some of the many neighborhoods abutting the former Ginopolis Restaurant, we are not, as Rubin writes, grumpy neighbors. Rather, we are extremely concerned by what other Sheetz 24-hour gas stations and convenience stores have wrought in communities across the country. Google the terms Sheetz and crime and you will find reports of tragedies like the murder of a college student at a Sheetz in Columbus, or the killing of an off-duty police officer at a Sheetz in North Carolina, an incident that prompted the addition of canine units to several local stores. This is not about a rash of concerns, it is about stark reality.

Folks wait in line to check out Sheetz during the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the first Sheetz store in Michigan happened in Romulus on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

More: Dont blame Michigan cage-free law for high egg prices; its bird flu | Letter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for his portrayal of us as NIMBYs (not in my backyard), our desire to keep Sheetz out of our city is shared by many of our neighbors across town and those in other cities across the region. Even Rubin contemplates why the corporate conglomerate would want to wedge itself into areas not conducive to an around-the-clock gas and fast-food that may sell alcohol, and where there is so much public opposition. It threatens the very fabric of heretofore quiet neighborhoods and life investments within them.

I, like others, am also concerned with another national company coming into our region with such ambition and vigor. We firmly believe competition in our market makes everyone better, a Sheetz spokesperson is quoted as saying in the article. Not when there are already record numbers of gas stations operating in this region. For mom and pops and local businesses who have been here and continue to contribute to community in many ways, the competition Sheetz would bring would benefit only them. Its akin to another Wal-mart or Home Depot coming in. Whatever happened, I would ask city officials, to shopping local and supporting area small businesses? Instead, we will encounter more shuttered storefronts and brownfields.

All in all, Neal Rubins rather tongue in cheek trivialized take on the matter was, with all due respect, disrespectful. This is a serious matter that, if allowed to continue, and approved by municipal leaders, will threaten the preservation and very fabric of local communities and heathy, level-playing field competition.

Thats not good for anyone, whether they're across the street from Sheetz or across town. We ask city and township leaders across the region to listen to their constituents, who are overwhelmingly against these developments, and then truly do the right thing.

Tim Parvin

Farmington Hills

A flier for Sheetz in Farmington Hills.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sheetz should stay out of Farmington Hills | Letters
ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  A federal jury for the District of Colorado has awarded over $5 million to a Colorado sheriff and three deputies in a wrongful termination case.

Former chiefs for the Adams County Sheriffs Office, Timothy Coates and Gene Claps, along with former captain Mark Mitchell and former commander Kevin Currier brought the federal lawsuit against Adams County and then-Sheriff Richard Reigenborn in 2020.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2019, then-Sheriff Rick Reigenborn won the Adam County Sheriffs Office sheriffs race. He terminated all of these individuals simply because they were supporting a different candidate. A candidate they thought would be better for the public safety, said Iris Halpern, one of the attorneys on the case.

The lawsuit stated that Reigenborn, who has been convicted of felony forgery for faking police training records, terminated the employees from their positions after learning they supported his opposition in the 2018 race, incumbent Mike McIntosh.

Sheriff Reigenborn admitted that he looked at who donated to the other campaigns because thats public information, Halpern said.

Claps has since been elected as sheriff and was sworn in January 2023. He said his running for sheriff had nothing to do with the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a separate issue that we are facing with the violation of our constitutional rights, and running for sheriff was all about the safer communities and stronger leadership in our community, which we all deserve, Claps said.

Currier also returned to the Adams County Sheriffs Office as a deputy.

It was fantastic to be able to go back and start performing the job that all of us have been doing for our entire lives, he said.

Coates and Mitchell said they are just thankful to end their career on their terms.

Im 64 next month, so unfortunately, I think Im too old to do what I need to do and to serve the way Ive always served, Coates said. I spent 35 years giving it 100% and while I can do it mentally, sometimes I dont know if I can do it physically.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It gives us a little closure, Mitchell added. It gives us an opportunity to come back and end our career on our terms, not as, Mr. Coates eluded to, not taken away from us.

Suspected TdA member seen in Aurora viral apartment video arrested in NYC

In the end, their attorneys said they hope this case sends a message to other law enforcement agencies.

I think it sends a loud warning, Halpern said. They shouldnt be playing politics with law enforcement and with the safety of our communities because there is going to be a lot of tension, there is going to be a price to it.

The Adams County Sheriffs Office in a Wednesday statement acknowledged the conclusion of the case but said the case focused on protecting employees Constitutional Rights and not discriminating for political affiliation or political retaliation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As it has always done, the Sheriffs Office will continue to be a reliable and proactive agency that protects and serves the community equally, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office said. Our Agency will continue to collaborate with our communities to provide professional law enforcement 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 FOX31 Denver.
CAIRO (Reuters) - A fire aboard the Hong Kong-flagged ASL Bauhinia on Tuesday was not linked to Houthi attacks, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center said on Wednesday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, JMIC said.

A maritime security source told Reuters that the fire resulted from hazardous cargo on board.

There has been a spate of fires on board container ships in recent years due to flammable cargoes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crew of the container ship abandoned it in the Red Sea on Tuesday, according to two maritime sources.

Houthis have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this month, the Houthis said the group would limit its attacks on commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea to Israel-linked ships, provided the Gaza ceasefire is fully implemented.

Since the Houthi attacks began, most vessels have diverted to the longer east-west route via the southern tip of Africa.

(Reporting by Yomna Ehab and Jonathan Saul; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the first day of the legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Utah leaders dont yet know the full impact of the Trump administrations memo issued Monday announcing a temporary freeze on federal grant and loan payments, but theyre bracing for what could be sweeping  or more limited  impacts as more information comes to light.

Its a shock, one of Utahs top Republicans, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, told reporters in a media availability at the Utah Capitol Tuesday afternoon  but he said he wants to wait and see what it will entail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know what the outcomes will be. Well evaluate it and see whether its good or not after we figure out what it does, but right now its an interesting approach and were surely trying to react to it, Adams said.

Pressed on if he supports President Donald Trumps decision to act in this way, Adams replied, I think Ill wait until I see out the outcome, OK?

He said it with a chuckle, prompting a round of low laughs from other members of Utahs Senate Republican leadership that gathered in Adams office on Tuesday for their daily availability with reporters.

Hours later Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze from taking effect Tuesday evening, now pausing it until Monday, States Newsroom reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams said that while time will tell on whether the Trump administrations evaluations of federal funding produces a positive or negative outcome, he said it may be necessary given the federal governments budget deficit.

I dont know that its preferable, but we have a federal government that has a deficit thats unmanageable. They tend to spend, spend, spend. So maybe this is a shock, a wake-up call that we all need to look at, Adams said. I dont think it hurts to look under the hood to see what were spending money on and whether its the right thing.

While the initial two-page memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget prompted mass confusion and concerns that the freeze could impact important social services including Medicaid benefits, a spokesman for Gov. Spencer Cox told Utah News Dispatch in a prepared statement state officials are being told that certain federal benefits to individuals wont be affected by the freeze.

We are in close communication with the White House and our multi-state associations and appreciate the clarity the White House provided this morning in the White House press briefing and the additional guidance released from OMB, Coxs spokesman said. That guidance clarifies that federal benefits to individuals, including Medicaid, SNAP, and others, wont be impacted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He added Utah state officials will continue to learn more about what federal funding streams will be impacted.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Coxs spokesman also shared a copy of another memo from the Office of Management and Budget that stated any program not implicated by the flurry of executive orders Trump signed in the early days of his term that began earlier this month is not subject to the pause.

No, the pause does not apply across-the-board, that memo says. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The memo also says the freeze doesnt apply to benefits that are given directly to Americans, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or student loans.

No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process, the memo says. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.

How could the freeze or any federal cuts impact Utahs budget?

For the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, Utahs budget is projected to include more than $7.7 billion in federal funds, making up roughly 28% of the states $28.12 billion in estimated revenue sources. Utah lawmakers are currently in the middle of a budgeting process that usually isnt finalized until the final weeks of their general session, which is now in its second week and scheduled to end March 7.

Its currently unclear exactly how the Trump administrations temporary freeze or any subsequent actions may impact Utahs budget. But Adams and other Senate Republican leaders said Utah is in a strong financial position with rainy day funds and other budget strategies that allow for flexibility if lawmakers must confront any cuts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams, however, said hed be doubtful of a freeze or a cut that would impact all $7.7 billion of Utahs expected federal funds.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

I dont think youll see a $7 billion cut. Maybe you will, but I dont think thats realistic, the Senate president said.

Still, Adams acknowledged Utahs budget is riddled with federal funding, so it cant help but have some effect. He also added he heard some funding for Utahs FrontRunner could be impacted, but thats yet to be determined.

Im not sure what the effects going to be, its early, Adams said. But I think well probably be evaluating it. Maybe were ready. Maybe were not. But I think its not bad to review some of the programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From Democrats perspective, the federal freeze has caused unnecessary alarm and confusion.

The public is afraid and panicking, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said. She said some Utahns arent sure whether the freeze will impact social service funding their family may rely on to make ends meet.

Meanwhile, though, Escamilla said Utah leaders wont know more details until Feb. 10, when agencies are expected to disclose which programs will be impacted.

Its a bad way of doing public policy, Escamilla said, to put people at that panic level.

Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, who is also vice chairman of the states leading budgetary body, the Executive Appropriations Committee, cautioned against overreacting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a little too premature to try to start working budgets around what we heard this morning, Sandall said. I think were going to continue to plan as if the federal funds are going to be here, as weve done in the past. If we get closer to it, and we understand certain funds will be released and others wont  at that point wed make adjustments.

Sandall acknowledged, however, that if the freeze or any cuts do impact social service funding, those will be hard decisions, quite honestly.  Those are emotional decisions.

Adams added Utah has walked through challenges before, pointing back to 2020 when state leaders cut the states budget amid uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic loomed. And somehow the state survived that year, he said.

We can walk through this together, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Budget Chair Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, told reporters Utah lawmakers will continue to go through their budgeting process over the next several weeks. Depending on the impacts, though, he hinted Utah Legislature could face the possibility of having to convene for a special session after the 2025 general session ends.

I just want all of you to think back on all of the fun we have in special sessions, Stevenson told reporters. Because this may take that long to mature.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said on Tuesday that the Trump administrations pause on federal assistance came as a total surprise but that the state is better situated than most if the funding freeze continues.

On Monday, the White House budget office sent a memo to government agencies ordering them to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance. The order requires agencies to answer questions about how their funds are used before Feb. 7.

The details of the pause were not immediately clear. There appeared to be a moratorium on federal grants and loans, but a federal judge temporarily blocked the move on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday that the temporary pause should not affect individual assistance.

Adams was alerted of the news on Tuesday morning by the Wasatch Front Regional Council, he said.

Ive tried to wrap my head around this. It is a shock, Adams, R-Layton, said. We receive a lot of money from the federal government.

In 2024, the states $29.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year counted on over $8.2 billion in federal funds, making up 28% of the states revenue stream  more than any other source.

An annual report submitted last year by State Auditor John Dougall found that the state still has a heavy dependence on federal funds. The audit recommended that the Legislature decrease its reliance on the federal government in light of concerns of the national debt and congressional dysfunction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams pointed to several state practices that would help Utah weather an $8 billion cut to the state budget.

Every December, lawmakers require state agencies to explain what they would do if there was no federal funding available, Adams said.

Whereas state transportation appropriations used to be entirely funded by the federal government, they are now mostly driven by state dollars.

Executive Appropriations Chair Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, said the legislative budget process constitutes a realignment, where each committee is asked to find savings.

They have already identified about $400 million in savings throughout the base budget process, Stevenson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Executive Appropriations Vice Chair Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, said it is too early for a decision to pivot the states budget plans based on the Trump administrations actions.

Were going to continue to plan as if the federal funds are going to be here, as weve done in the past, Sandall said. If we get closer to it, and we understand certain funds will be released and others wont, at that point we would make adjustments, but those would be hard decisions quite honestly.

Just because Mondays announcement was a shock doesnt mean it will be detrimental longterm, according to Adams. Companies are sometimes required to undergo serious rightsizing, Adams said, adding that he doubts that all of the states more than $8 billion would be affected.

But Adams will wait until he sees the outcomes of President Donald Trumps approach before he says definitively whether the short jolt of budget shock therapy was good policy.
Ive been recommending The Alabama Solution to everyone I meet since I landed at the Sundance Film Festival last week  but only under my breath.

Thats because Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufmans bombshell investigation of the Alabama prison system, which premiered here Tuesday, was screened in advance for press under strict embargo. Understandable, once you realize that the films key sources are inmates themselves. Much of The Alabama Solution, which reports on inhumane living conditions, forced labor and widespread violence against the states incarcerated population, is comprised largely of footage captured by inmates using contraband cellphones, offering one of the most shocking, visceral depictions of our carceral state ever put to film.

The result, in which brave inmate activists Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council leak vital information, and the filmmakers chase down leads with shoe-leather doggedness, should outrage the nation. And encourage us to reexamine our own backyards: As co-producer Alex Duran reminded me, California voters recently rejected a ballot measure that would have banned forced prison labor, and incarcerated firefighters were instrumental to the battle against the recent L.A. wildfires.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jarecki and Kaufman sat down with me at the L.A. Times Studios at Sundance to discuss the risks their sources face with the films release, what theyd like to ask Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and more. The following has been edited and condensed.

Before we talk about the genesis of the film, I wanted to start with your interest in the subject matter of the film: mass incarceration, the criminal justice system, prison conditions. What was your level of interest in that topic before "The Alabama Solution"?

Andrew Jarecki: I remember going to see Jesse Friedman at Dannemora Correctional Facility when I was making "Capturing the Friedmans," and the experience of going into a maximum-security facility in upstate New York was such a surprise to me  just the level of lockdown, the level of closure to the outside world and certainly to journalists. So it always intrigued me. And then I'd made films about various aspects of the justice system. So when I went down to Alabama in 2019, just to sort of go to Montgomery and see what I would see, I met this prison chaplain and I realized that they went into the prisons and did barbecues and revival meetings. I thought. "Maybe there's an opportunity to go there and learn something." And I don't think I thought about it as a film up front. I just was curious. But then when it became clear that there was a possibility for us to film, Charlotte and I got together and and went down there and we had this really extraordinary chance to go into a place that is normally absolutely closed to the media and to the public.

Charlotte, I wonder if you could talk about the story of that day at the barbecue. I'm curious, did you have a kind of vision of what you thought you were doing before you arrived that day? Obviously, once the prisoners start coming up to you and and saying, "There's a story here that they're not showing you," that changed it, but did you have a different vision going in?

Charlotte Kaufman: I think we went in with open minds. You rarely get the opportunity to go into a prison facility in Alabama, and I think we saw this as a great opportunity to be able to speak with some of the men, to just observe what we could around the facility, to learn what we could. But very quickly it became clear that there were only certain conversations that we were allowed to have and that we weren't allowed to speak to the men alone. And I think that lack of access sort of compelled us to keep investigating.

After the first scene in the film, there's a title card that explains that after your visit, you started getting outreach from inmates within the prison on contraband cellphones. And the footage from those calls that they're sending you is at the core of the film, and it's part of what makes it so shocking and outrageous. Take me back to the first outreach that you got. What was your reaction?

Jarecki: I mean, we were surprised when we went in there at the proliferation of cellphones. The fact that Alabama's prisons are so extraordinarily understaffed and under-resourced means that the prisons are often operating with [a] skeleton crew of people. So you could have a 1,400-bed facility and that normally would be staffed with a few hundred officers. And maybe on a weekend there are 20 officers there. So that indicates that there's a very low level of understanding even by correctional officers. There are large areas of the prison that they don't spend any time in. So the ability to speak to these men on these cellphones, which are, in my view, largely brought in by the officers  there's a big trade in cellphones  that was just a surprise to us. As much as I think it has been people seeing the film and saying, how is that even possible that they have these phones?

One of the things that watching it like really disturbed, upset me were just what they would show you about what the living conditions were like. Flooded floors, overflowing toilets, rats everywhere. Were you that shocked? Was that your response when you started seeing those images coming from your sources on the inside?

Kaufman: The Department of Justice had put out a very in-depth report about their own investigation into Alabama's prison system. But it's a very different experience reading the facts and reading the findings, versus actually seeing it. There is something that makes you really understand what it's like to live in that environment when you can actually see it. And I think that's why prisons are so secret. That's why we're not allowed to see in. And we can only read papers about what's actually happening. Because when you do see it, it becomes a lot less tolerable.

0

Over the course of this six-year process, you formed relationships with your main sources inside the facilities. Now, with the film coming out  and as the film explores  they are at risk of reprisal from correctional officers and higher up. What were your ethical concerns about revealing their specific identities, and what were your conversations like with them about the risks and their ultimate willingness to undertake those risks?

Jarecki: We thought a lot about that issue, because obviously the more you get to know people that are in that situation, the more you recognize their vulnerability and the more you feel connected to them. There's no avoiding that. And it was kind of a beautiful thing about the film that you get to see the humanity in these people who are often seen by society through a very different lens. So we always thought about it and spoke extensively to them about it. These are men who had been working on their own for many years to get the word out on the crisis in this prison system. So when we first started talking, they were very clear  we were part of their agenda, in a way. It was very important for them to do this work. And so we were kind of there to ride along. So it was a symbiotic process. They're very well known to the authorities inside and they have been retaliated against in the past. So we're concerned. We continue to be concerned about it. And there's been an organization that's created a defense committee to help them if that does come to pass.

I wanted to talk a little bit about your qualitative experiences as filmmakers with this unique process where your sources are separated from you by the divide of the prison walls, but you're talking to them regularly. This struck me during the narrative about the prison strike and then the breaking of the strike: You're both at one level getting more information than the general public is getting through the news media, but you're also not close enough to it to really feel like there's any kind of control that you can exert. What is that like for you emotionally or creatively as filmmakers?

Kaufman: It's a very intense experience to follow along and watch this incredibly inspiring and moving movement of the strike but then also watch how the state responds. It's a privilege to be able to have these extended conversations with all of our participants. But at the same time, that's why the film is so urgent, because they're at risk and they're doing their activism regardless of this film. And that's also what puts them at risk. They've been retaliated against for their activism for like two decades now.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jarecki: These are men who have been the victims of violence in the system and often violence by people who are allegedly supposed to look out for their safety. And so the ability to have that kind of up-close contact with them and recognize the bravery that they're showing in being able to share this, it's such a high level of trust that had to be established for them to allow us to sort of ride along and see this incredibly unique kind of protest. But it's really important to recognize, despite the violence that they have been subjected to, all of their work is nonviolent. They're extremely thoughtful about the importance of nonviolent action. And the fact that the state, which has all the machinery of government and all kinds of special military equipment, can't find a way to respond to them except through violence is really an example of how the system is pretty topsy-turvy.

The title of the film comes from an oft-used phrase by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who is an interviewed in the film. If you got the chance to get her on the record on camera, what would you ask her?

Jarecki: The first question I would ask her is whether she visits the prisons. And I'm quite sure that she would say, "Well, on one occasion...," something like that. We probably would both be eager to have that conversation. But my first question would be to try to really understand how insulated she must be from what's happening to her own citizens of her own state, for her to just keep proposing solutions that are not solutions.

Kaufman: I would ask her to give us access. We were able to make this film because we had some really brave individuals who took great risks to have conversations with us, to share material with us. But I would ask her, "What would it take for you to actually allow transparency and for the media to be able to come in and talk to the men freely and to bring cameras in freely?"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jarecki: There's a fact that we've sort of been talking about how to convey. It's sort of an extraordinary statistic that I'm pretty sure that governor doesn't know. Of many statistics I think the governor's not familiar with. But when you learn about the work programs, essentially forced labor that happens inside the system, of the 20,000 men who are in that system, many of them are caused to work inside the prisons, outside the prisons, on road crews around the state and even at McDonald's and many other companies. The state is putting them to work and the corrections department is gathering the money for that work and the men are getting a tiny sliver of that. What's extraordinary is that the people who are allowed to work and who are considered safe enough to be in the community interacting  you see some of them in the film walking around the state fair, walking around the governor's mansion  those people are less likely, statistically, to be paroled than the people who are at the next highest level of concern for safety. People who are considered safer are less likely to be let out, arguably because they are more valuable as people who can be put to work. ... I don't think anybody's doing that math because I don't think it's of great concern to them, partly because they too are isolated from being able to see what's happening in their own system.

Sign up for Indie Focus, a weekly newsletter about movies and whats going on in the wild world of cinema.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Show of force: Inside the National Guard training on the border

EAGLE PASS, Texas (NewsNation)  After years of tension between state and federal authorities, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has shifted course, deploying tactical strike teams to support Department of Homeland Security operations at the U.S.-Mexico border.

NewsNations Ali Bradley was in Eagle Pass when the Texas National Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted ground and aerial exercises using Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, provided by the Department of Defense. The operation also included 28 military trucks, showcasing the states tactical military strength.

Military to support Border Patrol

Abbott says the Texas DPS tactical strike teams, which consist of DPS troopers, special agents and Texas Rangers, will coordinate with the newly established Homeland Security task force, supported by DPS the aircraft operations division and the intelligence and counterterrorism division, to target nearly 5,400 undocumented migrants with active warrants from local jurisdictions across the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials emphasized that this training exercise is designed to support the ongoing mission of border security, highlighting the states commitment to safeguarding its borders.

Trump to target critical race theory, promote school choice

Having those close working relationships helps us accomplish our border security mission, said CBP Agent Christina Smallwood. Our main priority is always ensuring our communities are safe.

On Monday, Abbott deployed 400 additional soldiers, along with C-130s and Chinook helicopters to the border, joining thousands of soldiers already stationed in the area. The Department of Defense has at least 4,100 troops along the southern border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CBP welcomed more training exercises, confirming that the members of the tactical team will operate alongside federal agents throughout nine stations across the Rio Grande Valley sector.

Do Texans support the expansion of Operation Lone Star?

Launched in 2021 as a state taxpayer-funded response to the border crisis, Operation Lone Star, has expanded several times, adding personnel, barriers, and even busing migrants across Texas.

Trumps DOJ could shift key Supreme Court cases

Over the last four years, Abbott has received support from Texas residents, though some have called for even stronger action.

Despite the state facing a $11.1 billion deficit, Abbott is seeking reimbursement from the Trump administration. Texas remains a committed partner in border security, with the states land commissioner offering 1,400 acres of land to the Trump administration and pledging to secure more land to assist with deportation efforts.

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.
In an operation ahead of the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, the North-West District Police has launched an intensive crackdown against illicit liquor, drugs, unaccounted cash, and public drinking to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI). According to police, during picket checking, six individuals were apprehended, and Rs 1,50,60,000 in unaccounted cash was seized at three different locations. Acting on credible intelligence, the combined efforts of the Local Police and Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) led to the successful interception. In another major operation, six bootleggers were arrested with the recovery of 1,862 quarters and five bottles of illicit liquor. A car used for transporting the liquor, sourced from adjoining states, was also seized. This action was aimed at preventing the illegal distribution of liquor ahead of the elections. The police also launched an anti-drug operation, which led to the arrest of four drug peddlers and users. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 4.65 grams of smack and 804 grams of ganja. To maintain public order, the police initiated a campaign against drinking at public places. A total of 20 individuals were booked under Section 40A of the Excise Act, and 33 others were booked under Section 40B. Furthermore, the police intensified their efforts to curb the illegal possession of weapons. As part of targeted operations, 10 knives were recovered, and 10 individuals were arrested. Meanwhile, A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, highlighting the alarming situation in the public domain since the notification for the Delhi state legislative assembly elections. The petition alleges that the public domain is inundated with spam calls from various organizations and political parties promoting their campaigns, thereby infringing on citizens' Right to Privacy, which is protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.The bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela will hear the plea today. The PIL states that these calls, orchestrated with the intent to spread hatred, bias, and malicious content, have not only harmed the reputation of political parties but also violated the public's right to make an unbiased choice in electing their representatives. The plea further highlights that the spam calls promote the agenda of a specific political party, urging the public to vote for them in exchange for promised freebies. The calls allegedly warn that if the opposition wins, these benefits will be withdrawn, creating public animosity and prejudice. Such material, the petition states, has the potential to tarnish the image of rival parties and manipulate public opinion, ultimately compromising the democratic process by influencing voters' decisions in a biased and unfair manner. The plea further states that the public is facing a clear breach of their privacy rights, with their personal information being exploited to serve the interests of certain political organizations. "These parties, the petition asserts, are flouting the law and positioning themselves above the Constitution of India, disregarding citizens' fundamental rights in pursuit of their own political agendas," the plea said. The Delhi Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes set for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are competing for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi. (ANI)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The owner of a Sidney restaurant was sentenced to jail and probation this week for unlawful restraint of an employee.

Approximately two weeks after Ravikumar Rocky Patel, 34, opened a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise in early May 2024, a juvenile employee accused him of locking her in the restaurants bathroom.

The employee said the incident occurred on May 23, 2024.

After a months-long court case, Patel pleaded no contest to the unlawful restraint charge as part of a plea deal that dismissed a charge of sexual imposition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patel was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation. He was also fined $150.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Robert Kentta of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the tribal councils treasurer, stands in part of the tribes 2,000-acre purchase of Table Rock property north of Medford. (Photo by Matt Hill/Long Rock Strategies)

A stretch of land in southern Oregon with historical significance, including the likely location of a treaty signing and near the site of a massacre, is returning to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

The Siletz announced the historic land return in November with the purchase of approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the Table Rocks preserve, just north of Medford.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its the most historic piece of land that we could possibly get, said Delores Pigsley, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

The Upper and Lower Table Rocks are central to many Takelma origin stories. Takelma is one of the prominent Native languages of Southern Oregon used by multiple Native nations, according to Robert Kentta, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the tribal council treasurer.

The area is where the Treaty of Table Rock was signed, on Sept. 10, 1853, between the U.S. government and local Native nations, establishing a temporary reservation on the north side of the Rogue River that included the Upper and Lower Table Rock.

The treaty created the first confederation of Oregon tribes and was the first treaty signed by any Native nation in the West to be ratified by the U.S. Senate. For the regions tribes, this time period was also marked by hostilities at the hands of the U.S. government and colonial settlers moving into Oregon Territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two years after the signing of the treaty, in October 1855, more than 20 people, mostly women and children, were massacred while camping near Table Rocks. The Rogue River War ensued, in which numerous Native people were killed. After the war ended in 1856, much of the Indigenous population in southwestern Oregon was removed, with many Natives ultimately ending up on the Coast Reservation, now called the Siletz Reservation.

A rough map of the approximately 2,000-acre property. (Photo courtesy of Matt Hill/Lone Rock Strategies)

Referred to as the Rogue River Tribe of Indians by the U.S. government, the tribal confederation represented people who lived in the valleys of the upper Rogue River, with Table Rocks at the center. The area was primarily home to the Takelma, Latgawa, Shasta, Applegate and Galice people, according to the Siletz News.

This is a historic moment that reconnects the Siletz Tribe to its ancestors, history and treaties signed near Table Rock, Pigsley said in a media release. It is a great honor to return this special land to Indian stewardship.

Pigsley remembers drives to California with her father as a young girl. He would point out the window as they passed Table Rocks and talk about the significance for their ancestors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kentta has similar memories.

Since I was a kid, summertime or spring break, we might take a trip up the Rogue Valley and go up the Applegate River Valley where my great-grandfather was brought at the end of the Rogue River Wars, Kentta said. We have made trips as a family for going on 60 years, reconnecting there, but always as visitors where we had no foothold, no ownership, no place to call home there anymore. Now with this purchase, we have homelands within our homelands.

The Siletz had long been in consultation with the Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy and others regarding the stewardship of the land.

Kentta first became aware of the property six or so years ago after having a conversation with staff at The Nature Conservancy. He brought the idea of purchasing the land to the tribal council, setting in motion the historic land deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The property was purchased directly from the previous landowner. The Nature Conservancy preserves a conservation easement on the land. The Siletz will continue to work with The Nature Conservancy and the BLM on conservation and restoration.

To me, land back means, in its purest form, its return of lands to a tribe, Kentta said. This is through purchase, and a significant amount paid out for the purchase. So for us, that is regaining of land back, but its not a settlement or apology for things that happened in the past.

The tribes goal is to create opportunities for Siletz tribal members to access the historically significant land while safeguarding its character. The tribe plans to work on preservation and restoration, focusing on protecting the natural area rather than developing it.

There will be big opportunities for restoration and enhancement of the food plants themselves, Kentta said. [And] also enhancing tribal members access to use of and reconnection with those resources that weve been separated from.

This story was originally published by Underscore + ICT, a nonprofit news site focused on Indigenous affairs.
Jan. 28A longtime Ector County Commissioner accused the County's top official of essentially trying to rig the bid process for the new county courthouse.

Commissioner Greg Simmons called a Tuesday news conference and said he wasn't contacted for an Odessa American story about last week's county commissioners meeting and he wanted taxpayers to hear why he voted against moving forward with the firm Butler Cohen to build the courthouse.

He went on to say County Judge Dustin Fawcett "would like you to believe that the court's discussions over purchasing procedures and laws are simply my attempt to stall or even kill the courthouse project completely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Let me clarify right here today, I am 100% in favor of a new courthouse. That is why I voted to move forward with a new courthouse in the first place."

He said he prefers the new building remain just a courthouse and not expand "into a mega governmental complex at an ever growing cost to the taxpayers."

Fawcett, following the almost hour-long news conference, said he absolutely did not interfere with the bid process and that Simmons is essentially unhappy because he hasn't been as involved in the courthouse decisions as he should and because he came up on the losing end of last week's votes.

Fawcett said he hopes all questions about the future of both the annex and the courthouse will be answered during a special meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 at the annex.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simmons and Fawcett were opposite sides of last week's meeting, which ended with a 3-1 vote to re-award the design build services for the new Ector County Courthouse.

Fawcett said the sticking point is if the County should move many of the offices out of the annex and into the new courthouse. The annex would still be used for the elections office and possibly the health department, Fawcett has said.

Fawcett has long said he envisions a full service county courthouse that offers citizens the ability to quickly and efficiently conduct their business including car registrations, birth certificates and other issues.

Last week Simmons motioned to go back out for requests for qualifications and Commissioner Billy Hall seconded. Fawcett and Commissioner Mike Gardner disagreed and the motion died as Commissioner Samantha Russell was in the meeting virtually and not able to vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simmons went on to say he wanted to revisit the original award for the design build services last week because he didn't want a "cloud of wrongdoing."

During Tuesday's news conference he said two purchasing department employees in December acted as whistleblowers charging Fawcett and County grant writer and attorney John Henderson had placed a new member on the committee charged with scoring the design build contract proposals.

He praised the pair saying it took courage to meet with him and with Henderson and that Simmons determined it had to be brought to the attention of the full court.

The county's purchasing department reports to the district judges and Simmons said he looped them in to also "shield these two from the almost immediate attacks against them and their credibility."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said the issues raised were that the initial request for qualifications indicated the county would seek a bond election however that idea was later dropped in favor of issuing certificates of obligation.

Simmons said the other issue was a conflict of interest existed that required paperwork as Henderson's son works for Butler Cohen.

County Attorney Julie Prentice jumped into the fray during and after the news conference including a back and forth with Simmons that ended with him asking her if she had misled the court.

Fawcett disagreed with Simmons saying as soon as it was noted there was a conflict the proper forms were filed and that the court voted again last week to award the contract to Butler Cohen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Likewise, Commissioner Mike Gardner said even if the conflict were known prior to the original vote he believes Butler Cohen would have been picked.

Fawcett said the additional member added to the purchasing committee was added because he had experience working with most of the companies who had submitted proposals as he has been in municipal government for decades.

Prentice pointed out the court is under no obligation to follow the recommendations of the committee and can vote any way they choose.

Simmons also agreed the same firm could have been awarded the contract but said the entire court should have been made aware of any conflicts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He and Prentice went back and forth on if Simmons could publicly speak about what an outside attorney told him about the issues. Prentice said no as it was attorney-client privilege.

Simmons said "You can see the issues that I'm up against when trying to solve the current issues ... there were issues raised but I guess I'm not allowed to share with you ... but I was told the entire bid process should be revoked and re-issued so we can move forward without a cloud of impropriety."

Several times he addressed that some members of the court want to remove many offices from the current annex and relocate them to the new courthouse. He said he prefers they keep it a courthouse build and that they use any leftover CO funds to pay down the balance owed by the county.

Simmons maintained he wanted to protect the integrity of the process and also taxpayers. He said failure to do so could mean companies stop bidding on Ector County jobs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Why would they bid if they have no reason to believe that they have a fair chance of getting a job? And if fewer people bid on our projects, the taxpayers of Ector County end up paying more for goods and services."

Simmons said he didn't bring this up publicly back in December because he thought the court was on the same page to restart the bidding process.

Simmons and Fawcett agreed on one thing: The conflict forms were filled out and turned in and Prentice said that satisfies any legal issues.

Simmons said he wants to address the performance of both Henderson and Prentice, who is also an elected official. He said he still thinks the process of the RFQ should start over even if Butler Cohen still comes out as the winner. "But the court did not agree with me on that."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simmons said he has met with those planning to build the new courthouse several times but Fawcett disputed that.

Simmons said he plans to be involved and in the loop and said this issue has not tainted his confidence in Butler Cohen. "I wish I had known everything up front. I have no reason to believe they are not a competent firm."

Simmons said it is an issue of possible malfeasance. "I've raised that issue and I don't know that the Court as a whole wants to do that."

Prentice said if she saw any issue with that she would raise the issue likely to the Attorney General's office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simmons said he would continue to watch the cost of the building and to help determine if any annex offices should be moved or if that money should be saved.

"We need to be good stewards of the taxpayer money ... we can reduce cost and pay down the CO."

Simmons said he doesn't have buyer's remorse about the courthouse CO but remains committed to saving funds.

Prentice cited Texas law regarding items Simmons brought up and said the court followed the letter of the law on all matters.

She, like Fawcett, said anyone can be added to a purchasing committee and ultimately contracts are awarded by commissioners.

On the disclosure forms she said after receiving notifications forms must be filed within seven days and they were. "They did so and then voted 3-1 to go with Butler Cohen."

Prentice addressed Simmons' charges of malfeasance saying "I don't have any room or space for my personal beliefs in any of this. I go off the black and white and the letter of the law. Legally, I have not seen any (malfeasance). It was OK to put the new guy on there (the purchasing committee)."

She added commissioners have the ultimate authority. "They don't even have to make a committee because they could just do it themselves."

Simmons interjected saying to Prentice "You advised the court that you had reached out to Mr. Kimbrough (the outside attorney) and that one of the issues had been resolved. However, when I spoke to him he said that could not be further from the truth, and that he told you there were still issues that he felt needed to be addressed. So did you deliberately mislead the Court?"

Prentice said she laid out the issues for the court one by one and applied the letter of the law.

Fawcett said he fully supports Prentice and added he still hopes for the court to move forward despite what he calls "unfounded and ridiculous" statements Tuesday by Simmons. "I'm' looking forward to the meeting next week and to not play into petty politics."

Fawcett said the county has already spent about $300,000 with the firm. The new courthouse will be built at the site of the old post office in downtown Odessa. The county purchased that land for $4.7 million.

The new courthouse will be funded by $325 million in certificates of obligation issued by county commissioners in November. The debt will increase property taxes for Ector County residents.

Owners of a $210,000 home in Ector County will pay about $17 more a month in property taxes. A $210,000 home has a $170,000 taxable value.

The certificates will also fund an overhaul of the Ector County Juvenile Justice Center.

The county will assist the U.S. Postal Service in finding a new site and Fawcett said he believes some construction on the new courthouse will begin in 2025.
The video above is file video from the kick-off of the Farmers Markets 2024 season.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City Farmers Market is hoping to encourage new vendors to join the 2025 market season.

As a part of their open call to new vendors, the Farmers Market is planning to provide two informational sessions for those who may be interested in learning more.

New completion date set for Woodbury County LEC

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first of the two sessions will take place on January 31 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The second will be on February 1 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Both sessions will take place at the ArtSUX Building.

The sessions will provide insights into how to apply, what requirements exist, and will offer and opportunity to meet with market organizers and ask them questions.

For more information on the Farmers Market, 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.
Tony Venhuizen speaks to the media on Jan. 29, 2025, at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre after he was announced as Gov. Larry Rhoden's choice for lieutenant governor. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

A Sioux Falls legislator and longtime presence in South Dakota Republican politics, Tony Venhuizen, is Gov. Larry Rhodens pick for lieutenant governor.

Rhoden announced his choice Wednesday morning at the Capitol in Pierre, two days after he was sworn in as governor. Rhoden succeeded former Gov. Kristi Noem, who resigned Saturday to become secretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rhodens nomination of Venhuizen is subject to approval by the Legislature.

Tony is a problem solver for the people of South Dakota, Rhoden said in a press release. He is never shy to show leadership and take on challenging issues.

Venhuizen is a 42-year-old attorney and native of Armour, a small town in southeastern South Dakota. Hes also the son-in-law of Republican former Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Venhuizen and his wife, Sara, have three school-age children.

He earned his bachelors degree in political science and history from South Dakota State University in 2005 and his juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law in 2008.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Venhuizen served for 10 years in the Governors Office, including time as chief of staff to Daugaard and Noem.

Since 2023, Venhuizen has served as a state representative from District 13 and as vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, which takes a lead role in crafting the state budget. He also chaired the Legislatures 100th Session Planning Committee in 2024. He resigned his seat in the legislature Wednesday, which will allow Rhoden to appoint a replacement.

Rhoden acknowledged Wednesday to reporters that throughout his and Venhuizens service in state government, the two havent agreed on everything. Rhoden said finding a person with integrity was more important than that.

Sometimes we werent on the same side, but we always had a lot of mutual respect, Rhoden said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beyond his experience in government, Venhuizen is president of the board of directors of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation, a member of the board of directors of the Trail of Governors Foundation and of the SDSU Research Park, and a former member of the board of directors of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

As a hobby, Venhuizen maintains the SoDak Governors blog, where he writes about South Dakota political history. He also regularly updates a historical reference book he wrote, The Governors of South Dakota.

Gov. Larry Rhoden, left, shakes hands with Tony Venhuizen after announcing Venhuizen as the nominee for lieutenant governor on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Rhoden mentioned Venhuizens historical expertise Wednesday.

He may know more about South Dakotas history than anyone Ive ever met. And he uses that knowledge to help shape where our state is heading in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Venhuizen thanked Rhoden for the opportunity to serve.

Its a pretty surreal feeling, Venhuizen said. Im not sure Ive entirely absorbed it. But Im looking forward to it.

The choice adds potential intrigue to the 2026 campaign for governor. Rhoden will serve the remainder of Noems term through that year, and will have to choose whether to seek election.

Rhoden said Wednesday he has not made a decision about that.

And I have no reason to not be honest with you, he added.

Meanwhile, Venhuizen said years ago while he was a student at SDSU that he wanted to be governor someday, and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, has long been considered a potential future candidate for governor. Current Attorney General Marty Jackley may also be interested in another run for governor after running unsuccessfully against Noem in a 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Updated with additional information at 11:15 a.m. Central on Jan. 29, 2025

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has criticised recent statements by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, accusing him of attempting to shift responsibility for domestic political issues onto foreign states, particularly Ukraine.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Details: The ministry noted that, amid declining public trust and protests against his pro-Russian course, Fico has resorted to seeking external enemies and has found them in Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "We consider these absurd statements as an attempt to shift responsibility for his own failures in domestic policy to foreign states and leaders. We would advise better to look not outside, but in the mirror."

Details: The Ukrainian side emphasised that it has repeatedly warned about the dangers of the pro-Russian policy pursued by Slovakias current leadership. The ministry said Fico and part of the Slovak parliament had been "poisoned by Russian propaganda" and have now started calling the leaders of friendly states "enemies".

"We are confident that such a move and policy of Robert Fico are flying against the choice of the people of Slovakia to be an integral part of the European community," the ministry stated.

Since Robert Ficos return as prime minister, Slovakia has significantly changed its rhetoric towards Ukraine, advocating for an end to military assistance to Kyiv and for establishing dialogue with Russia.

Background:

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an "enemy" of Slovakia during an ongoing discussion about the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.

A series of protests under the slogan "Slovakia is Europe" took place in nearly 30 cities across the country on 24 January, with about 100,000 people gathered throughout Slovakia.

Fico claimed that a "coup" is being prepared in Slovakia, allegedly involving the opposition, NGOs, media and a "secret group of foreign experts".

Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Tibor Gaspar suggested the possibility of Slovakia leaving the EU and NATO. Gaspar and Slovak National Party leader Andrej Danko recently took a multi-day trip to Russia.

Support UP or become our patron!
Slovakias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Myroslav Kastran following Kyivs criticism of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Source: European Pravda, citing Dennik N, a Slovak media outlet

Details: Slovakias Foreign Ministry conveyed a "strong protest" to Kastran regarding statements made by the Ukrainian authorities which it described as interference in Slovakias internal affairs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ministry did not specify which statements it was referring to.

Earlier, Ukraines Foreign Ministry rejected claims made by Fico regarding Kyivs alleged involvement in anti-government protests in Slovakia, advising him "to look in the mirror rather than abroad".

Background:

Fico himself has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an "enemy" of Slovakia in an online dispute over the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.

The Slovak prime minister was also angered by Zelenskyys support for mass anti-government protests in Slovakia.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Slovak Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Bratislava Myroslav Kastran on Jan. 29 after Kyiv criticized the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico for wanting to continue Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, it said on social media.

The move came as relations between Fico and President Volodymyr Zelensky have become increasingly tense over this month.

In his recent remarks on Jan. 28, the Slovak prime minister called Zelensky "the enemy" of Slovakia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Many in Europe... have chosen to preserve their independence and sovereignty. But not Mr. Fico. He chooses Moscow over America and other partners who can supply his country with gas on commercial terms. This is his mistake," Ukraine's president said in response.

According to the ministry's statement, the Slovak ministry delivered the Ukrainian ambassador "a strong protest" against statements by the Ukrainian side, without specifying which ones.

"(These statements) are considered interference in the internal affairs of the Slovak Republic," the ministry said.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry is yet to comment on this move.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fico, a pro-Russian politician who has long opposed military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1.

He has threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies amid an energy crisis brought on by Russia's relentless attacks against Ukraine's power grid.

As tensions mount, Zelensky and Fico signaled in mid-January they may hold talks.

Fico's friendliness towards the Kremlin has sparked outrage both at home and abroad. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December drew condemnation from other European leaders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mass protests erupted in Bratislava in early January, with thousands chanting "We are not Russia."

Read also: Zelensky backs Slovak protests as Fico criticizes opposition, organizers

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, is celebrating the appointment of its alumnus, Sriram Krishnan, as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI) under U.S. President, Donald Trump. A former employee of Microsoft, Krishnan will collaborate with David O. Sacks, co-founder of PayPal and CEO of Yammer, to ensure America's leadership in AI and shape national AI policy. This appointment is a testament to Krishnan's career in technology and innovation, further emphasising SRMIST's legacy of nurturing global leaders. Krishnan's AI expertise and contributions to the tech industry make him qualified to propel the United States into what Google CEO, Sundar Pichai described as a 'Golden Age of American Innovation' when congratulating President-elect Trump. In a tweet, Krishnan expressed his gratitude: "I'm honoured to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI, working closely with @DavidSacks. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for this opportunity." Sriram Krishnan was born in Chennai in 1983. He earned his B.Tech in Information Technology from SRM Engineering College, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, graduating in 2005. His journey from a small town in India to the global tech stage exemplifies the transformative education provided by SRMIST. Krishnan began his career at Microsoft in 2007 as a programme manager for Visual Studio, where he contributed to the development of Windows Azure. Over the years, he held leadership roles at Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo!, and Snap, developing products and building teams. At Facebook, he built the Facebook Audience Network, a key competitor to Google's ad technologies, and at X, he drove major product innovations, achieving significant user growth. In 2021, he joined Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a leading American venture capital firm, as a general partner, focusing on investments in emerging technologies like Web3 and AI. His leadership helped drive investments in groundbreaking companies like SpaceX, Figma, and Scale.AI. In 2022, Krishnan gained attention for working with Elon Musk on X's transformation following Musk's acquisition. His insights into AI and social media trends have made him a strong advocate for leveraging AI to address global challenges. Beyond technology, Krishnan co-hosts "The Aarthi and Sriram Show" with his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, featuring guests like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, with millions of downloads. Launched as "The Good Time Show" on Clubhouse in December 2020, it focuses on topics like startups and cryptocurrencies. Other notable guests include Tony Hawk, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, A. R. Rahman, and Beast. Dr. T. R. Paarivendhar, Founder and Chancellor of SRMIST, said, "We take immense pride in the achievements of our alumni, such as Sriram Krishnan, whose success underscores the opportunities provided by SRMIST. Our world-class infrastructure, vibrant campus, and focus on holistic development have nurtured countless individuals, enabling them to grow and excel in their chosen fields." Dr. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice-Chancellor of SRMIST, said, "Sriram Krishnan's exceptional accomplishments reflect the strength of SRMIST's curriculum and pedagogy. By combining academic rigour with global exposure and innovative learning methods, we continue to cultivate leaders and innovators who make a meaningful impact on the world." SRMIST continues to empower students to excel in diverse fields, nurturing innovators and leaders who shape the future. The institution's commitment to academic excellence and holistic development ensures that its alumni make significant contributions on a global scale. (ANI)
(Reuters) - Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has sought the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, will discuss the issue with European Commission officials on Thursday, his office said on Tuesday.

The Kremlin said it favoured a resumption of transit through Ukraine, which has refused to renew an agreement to allow it on grounds it helps fund Russia's war against Kyiv. Transit through Ukraine has been an established route for sending supplies to Slovakia, Austria and ex-Soviet Moldova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy chided Fico for trying to secure new supplies from Moscow instead of from Western countries.

Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin last month to discuss gas flows to his country.

Slovakia has welcomed a European Commission statement on continuing talks with Ukraine on the possible renewal of gas transit, adding that it now saw the option of shipping gas from Azerbaijan as being back on the table.

Slovakia and Hungary have been pressing the EU to step in to restore the flow of gas to them through a major pipeline.

Hungary said on Monday it had received guarantees from the Commission to protect its energy supply, something it described as a prerequisite for Budapest agreeing to renew EU sanctions on Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the issue was one of commerce and Russia "is interested in continuing this commerce."

"We are interested in selling our products, especially since they are not only more competitive compared to American liquefied gas, but they are much more advantageous for European buyers."

U.S. President Donald Trump last week lifted the previous U.S. administration's freeze on export permits, a move likely to bolster U.S. energy production.

Zelenskiy, writing on Telegram, welcomed Trump's move, describing it as "just what is needed for security and stability - more energy resources from our partners for Europe".

"Money is needed to pay for U.S. LNG, while for Russian gas one pays with money and with independence and sovereignty," Zelenskiy wrote. "But not Mr Fico. He chooses Moscow instead of America and other partners who can provide his country with gas on a commercial basis. And that is his mistake."

Zelenskiy and Fico have traded verbal barbs over Fico's bid to restore Russian gas flows through Ukraine.

Fico has threatened to cut emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce aid for its refugees in Slovakia or use its veto right on European Union decisions relating to Kyiv.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A new smoothie bar will be opening in Fairborn.

The new Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar franchise location, 2012 Commerce Center Blvd., is located in the same strip mall as Chipotle, between the Kroger parking and street.

The menu features nearly three dozen smoothies among seven categories: Classic, Tropical, High Energy, Citrus, Super, Premium Blends. Customization is available.

It also will have salads, wraps and bowls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The official opening date is unknown but it will be soon.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A ban on cigarette smoking and vaping is now in place for city parks in New Smyrna Beach.

Commissioners approved the ban Tuesday night.

Cigar smoking is exempt from the ban.

Anyone caught smoking or vaping could get a ticket and pay a fine.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




HONOLULU (KHON2)  Lunar New Year is a special holiday that many people around the world celebrate, especially in countries like China, Korea, Vietnam and others in East Asia and Hawaii.

Its a time to welcome a new year based on the moons cycles, rather than the relatively new solar calendar year.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

In 2025, the Lunar New Year will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29; and it will mark the start of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals that represent each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. These animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Every year, one of these animals takes the spotlight; and each animal has its own meaning and characteristics. The Year of the Snake happens once every 12 years, and 2025 will be a year to celebrate this wise and mysterious creature.

The Snake in the Chinese Zodiac

The Snake is known for being intelligent, intuitive and graceful. People born in the Year of the Snake are often described as being smart, thoughtful and calm.

They tend to be deep thinkers, good at solving problems and very determined in their goals. However, the Snake can also be a little mysterious or even secretive, which can sometimes make it hard for others to understand them completely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Chinese culture, the Snake is often seen as a symbol of wisdom, beauty and transformation. Just as a snake sheds its skin to grow, people born in the Year of the Snake are thought to have the ability to adapt to different situations and change when needed.

This idea of transformation is important because it reminds everyone that change can be a good thing, even if it feels challenging.

What the Year of the Snake means for 2025

In 2025, the Year of the Snake could bring a time for careful planning and reflection. Since Snakes are thoughtful and deliberate, this year may encourage people to slow down, think deeply and make smart decisions.

The Snakes influence suggests that its a good time to focus on your long-term goals and be patient, rather than rushing into things without enough thought. Just like a snake moves quietly and carefully, it might be a year for people to take their time and avoid acting too hastily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, if you have a big project at school or a goal you want to achieve, the Year of the Snake can remind you to break it down into smaller steps. Its important to be patient, stay focused and avoid rushing through tasks. If you take the time to think things through, you might find that your efforts pay off in the end.

At the same time, the Snakes ability to adapt and transform suggests that it might also be a year for personal growth. If theres something in your life that you want to change or improve  whether its a new habit, a skill you want to learn, or a way of thinking  this is a great time to start working on it.

Just like a snake sheds its skin to grow, you can leave behind old habits or ideas that arent helping you and make room for something new and better.

Navigating the Year of the Snake

Since the Snake is associated with wisdom and transformation, the key to navigating the Year of the Snake is to embrace change in a positive way. The year might encourage you to think about how you can improve and grow, whether its in your personal life, schoolwork or relationships with others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here are a few ways to make the most of the Year of the Snake:

Be patient: The Snake teaches us to be patient and take our time. Its a good year to focus on long-term goals, rather than rushing for quick results. Take the time to learn and improve at your own pace.

Reflect and plan: The Snake is known for its careful and strategic thinking. Use this year to reflect on your past and plan for your future. Whether its about your schoolwork, your friendships or your personal growth, think about what you want to achieve and make a plan for how to get there.

Embrace change: The Snake is also a symbol of transformation. This year, you might face new challenges or changes in your life,; but instead of fearing them, try to embrace them. Change can lead to new opportunities and growth; so, its important to be open to it and look for the lessons you can learn along the way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trust your intuition: Snakes are known for their intuition and ability to sense things others may not. This year, trust your gut feelings when making decisions. If something feels right, go with it. Your intuition can guide you toward the right path.

Stay calm and focused: Just like how a snake moves quietly and steadily, try to stay calm and focused when things get busy or stressful. Take deep breaths and approach challenges with a clear mind. Staying calm will help you think better and make better choices.

The Year of the Snake is a time to reflect, be patient and make thoughtful decisions. Its a year to focus on growth and change and to embrace new opportunities with a calm and wise approach.

Just as the snake sheds its skin to grow, you too can leave behind what no longer serves you and work toward becoming the best version of yourself. By following the wisdom of the Snake and being mindful of your choices, you can navigate 2025 with confidence and grace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

Happy Lunar New Year from everyone here at KHON2.com! May the Year of the Snake bring you wisdom, transformation and success.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BEIJING (AP)  Firecrackers popped, incense was offered at temples and dancers and drummers paraded Wednesday in Asia and farther afield as millions around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year.

From Beijing to Havana, the holiday  known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea  is a major festival celebrated in many countries. Wednesday marked the start of the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

Throngs of people in down jackets filled a Beijing park for a temple fair on a sunny but chilly day. Some rang bells and tossed coins into containers in the shape of gold bars for good luck, while others ate traditional snacks from food stalls and took photos with a person dressed up as the God of Wealth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Lunar New Year is a time to wish for good luck and prosperity in the coming year for oneself and others.

The past year was a very busy one for me, because I had to take care of both my kid and my work, said Beijing resident Jiang Hecang. "In the Year of the Snake, I wish my kid will grow healthily and my work can remain stable. Then I can be happy enough.

In Malaysia, the crackling of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

Ethnic Chinese held incense sticks in front of them and bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hundreds of people lined up on the eve of the Lunar New Year at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in Hong Kong in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the temples main hall at 11 p.m.

I wish my family will be blessed. I hope my business will run well. I pray for my country and wish people peace. I hope this coming year is a better year, said Ming So, who visits the temple every year for the late-night ritual.

Online, Google joined in with the festivities Wednesday by featuring the classic snake game on its homepage.

Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the worlds biggest annual movement of humanity. The exodus turns Beijing, China's capital, into a bit of a ghost town, with many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Traditionally, Chinese families gather for a festive dinner at home on New Year's Eve. On the Lunar New Year, many visit temples to pray and attend temple fairs to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets.

I bring my children here to experience the atmosphere, because the New Year atmosphere ... is fading, Beijing resident Wang Xinxin said at a temple fair at Ditan Park, the former Temple of Earth in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Children like mine dont have much idea what New Year was like in Beijing before, but here we can still see some elements of it, Wang said.

The government has curtailed non-official celebrations, with major cities outlawing the noisy firecrackers that once reverberated around Beijing and left some blocks enshrouded in smoke.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.

In Moscow, Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of drummers, costumed dancers and long dragon and snake figures held aloft in a colorful procession that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival on Tuesday night.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as U.S. dominance of the world order.

Visitors shouted Happy New Year in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cubas small Chinese community celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday night with a parade of glowing lanterns and dragons winding their way through the narrow streets of Chinatown.

The island was once home to one of the largest and oldest Chinese communities in the Americas. Now, a much smaller community celebrates major holidays with a Cuban twist, blending rum and cigars with traditional Chinese cuisine.

___

Associated Press video journalists Wayne Zhang in Beijing; Alice Fung in Hong Kong; Syawalludin Zain in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Vladimir Kondrashov in Moscow; and Milexsy Duran and Ariel Fernandez in Havana contributed to this story.
After spending two nights alone in the cold, a 35-year-old snowboarder was rescued from the backcountry near Mountain High Resort, California, according to local authorities and news reports.



Malachi Luis Garcia, who was snowboarding with his friends, took a wrong turn and became lost roughly four miles outside the ski resort, KCAL News reports. Before his rescue, he was last seen on Sunday, January 26.



When he disappeared, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department shared a missing persons advisory, writing, There is concern for Mr. Garcia's well-being.

When Garcia disappeared, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department shared a missing persons advisory , writing, There is concern for Mr. Garcia's well-being. Photo: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Garcia didnt have his phone, preventing him from contacting rescuers or his friends. He was also dressed poorly for the weather, wearing snow pants and a sweatshirt as a winter storm bore down on southern California, according to KCAL News and the Los Angeles Times.



Garcia attempted to return to Mountain High Resort, but poor visibility made it difficult, the Los Angeles Times reports. He sipped water from streams, and to keep himself warm at night, he huddled near large trees, Deputy Orlando Martinez, a coordinator for the sheriffs Antelope Valley search-and-rescue team, told the Los Angeles Times.



Representatives from organizations and agencies, including the Palmdale Search and Rescue team, the Orange County Sheriffs Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, participated in the rescue, the Palmdale Sheriffs Station wrote in a statement.



We had about 40 search and rescue members [from] throughout the state, Martinez told the Los Angeles Times. We want to make sure we get him while hes still alive, due to the weather.



On Tuesday, the weather began to improve, and a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department helicopter was able to search a previously unchecked area, according to the Palmdale Sheriffs Station. With the arrival of clearer conditions, Garcia began walking around to leave footprints in the snow, eventually facilitating his rescue, the Los Angeles Times reports.



Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Air Rescue 5 spotted Garcias tracks. He waved the helicopter down from a clearing and was airlifted to safety Tuesday morning before being transported to a hospital for evaluation, the Palmdale Sheriffs Station said.



He was pretty emotional," Deputy Casey Chesier told KCAL News. "He had been out there for a long time.

Related: Massive Snow Forecast Shows La Nina's Return: 4 Feet Expected in California, PNW, Tetons

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.
Alerts Issued for Our Region

Wind Advisory for Bland, Mercer, Summers, Monroe, Giles and Greenbrier counties from midnight tonight to 6 PM Wednesday and for northwestern Pocahontas County from 10 PM tonight to 1 AM Thursday. Wind gusts up to 55 mph will create the potential for a few trees to come down, as well as the potential for a few power outages.

Tonight features mostly clear skies with temperatures dropping down into the mid 30s. Its an extra dark night sky on the way with the new moon taking place Wednesday. Tonight is the perfect night for some stargazing, have a jacket handy with chilly temperatures, though temperatures at times last week were almost 40 degrees colder! Gusty wind will persist tonight, which is why Wind Advisories have been posted, with gusts as high as 55 mountains. In the lowlands, a west wind of 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph can be expected.

Wednesday is another sunny day on the way, with just a few high-level clouds and temperatures rising slightly above average for this time of year once again as high temperatures jump into the mid 40s. The wind will still be howling at times, with wind gusts up to 50 mph on the ridgelines with sustained westerly winds of 10 to 20 mph expected even in the lowlands.

Thursday sees our temperatures climb even more out ahead of our next storm system, which arrives Thursday night. We will see plenty of sunshine during the first half of Thursday and a southerly breeze associated with a warm front will warm us up into the low 50s. By the afternoon, clouds will be on the increase as an Ohio River Valley low pressure system scoots toward the region and that will allow for rain to return Thursday night into the day on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Friday will be a wet day, with light to steady rain expected off and on throughout the day. A general one to two inches of rain can be expected from late Thursday night through the storms exit Friday evening. Though our six hour rainfall flood guidance is around 2.5 to 3 inches for much of southern West Virginia, an isolated high water spot or two cant be ruled out with the ongoing snowmelt taking place throughout the two Virginias. The overall flood risk is low. Despite the abundant rain and clouds, we will see high temperatures jump into the low 50s.

Saturday provides plenty of sunshine, with high pressure up to our north nosing in. That system will give us a northerly breeze, which will cool us down into the mid 40s  but we are still beginning the month of February on a slightly warmer than average note!

Why heavy snow in West Virginia is good for farmers

Sunday sees Saturdays high pressure system to the north scoot to our northeast and that will allow for a southerly flow to kick back in. This will enable our temperatures to climb nicely once again as we make a run into the low to mid 50s in what will overall be a fantastic weekend of weather both Saturday and Sunday for the two Virginias with above average temperatures and plenty of sunshine each day.

Monday continues the dry pattern with an upper level ridge sitting over the eastern US. High temperatures will be comparable to Sunday with partly sunny skies expected and high temperatures in the mid 50s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Flash flood Safety

Tuesday is yet another above-average day with partly sunny skies expected as our upper level ridge continues to sit over the eastern US. High temperatures in the mid 50s can once again be expected as the above average temperatures continue for the start of February in the two Virginias.

Looking ahead in your extended period, we will continue to be mild for the first full week of February. Another system will provide rain showers chances Thursday with another system arriving on Saturday that will drag in colder air back into the region. We are not done with winter yet but the prospects for snow look minimal to zero over the next couple of weeks.

TONIGHT

Mostly clear and breezy. Dark skies with the new moon! Lows in the low 30s.

WEDNESDAY

Mostly sunny. Breezy conditions continue. Highs in the mid 40s.

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds late. Highs in the low 50s.

FRIDAY

Rain likely. Wet day. Highs in the low 50s.

SATURDAY

Partly sunny. Cooler. Highs in the mid 40s.

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny. Nice day! Highs in the low to mid 50s.

MONDAY

Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

TUESDAY

Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

WEDNESDAY

Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

THURSDAY

Few rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

FRIDAY

Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s



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 WVNS.
A social media rumor started Wednesday said that Brookside Elementary School on the east side of Indianapolis went on lockdown after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were outside the building.

But officials said there was no truth to the claim.

Indianapolis Public School media relations director Marc Ransford told IndyStar Wednesday afternoon that the school had not been on any lockdowns and that ICE agents had not visited the building.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rumor spread rapidly Wednesday afternoon on social media. IndyStar reached out to the person thought to have originated the rumor and did not immediately hear back.

Many of those who shared the rumor on their pages also expressed concern about President Donald Trump's decision to reverse previous protections for schools to be protected locations when it comes to immigration law enforcement.

IPS has said it will not let ICE in schools without a warrant. Ransford reiterated that on Wednesday after media outlets reached out to school officials regarding the matter.

Brookside Elementary School is pictured Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Indianapolis.

Last week, IPS informed families about the districts policies about allowing ICE onto school grounds. District officials have said school staff are trained on how to respond to situations involving undocumented students and families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every child in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, has a right to attend public school under federal law.

Screenshot of text stating that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had visited Brookside Elementary School. Indianapolis Public School officials said the rumor was false.

The post that spread on social media featured a text message that read, "Ice is waiting outside Brookside school. They are on a soft lockdown."

The person who posted the image on the social media platform Facebook shared on the post that school administrators "went outside to make ICE leave," attributing the information to "a school partner."

Brookside Elementary School is pictured Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Indianapolis.

Ransford said none of the events detailed in the post had actually happened.

Officials from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, to whom ICE may turn for help in some cases, said that they had not been asked to assist with any investigations.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IPS officials say ICE did not visit Brookside Elementary School
A herd of cattle in Texas has proven there's power in numbers.

Near Crystal City, local welder Russell Bookout recorded on his phone as he "watched a herd work as a unit to contain the predator," he told Storyful. The predator in question? A relatively large coyote.

"This is something I've never seen in my lifetime," Bookout can be heard saying as he approaches the cows, which had chased and cornered the coyote against a fence in a feedlot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"These cattle have a coyote pinned down against the fence here," Bookout narrates in the video. "Theyre chasing him and theyre cutting him off... which is something Ive never seen."

The video, which was filmed and posted to social media on Dec. 23, has gone viral on TikTok and earned over 57,000 likes as well as some humorous comments about the herd's unusual behavior  and Bookout's decision to let the coyote escape.

"First rancher I've ever seen let a [coyote] walk," one user wrote.

"That one cow looking at you like 'nothing to see here, keep it moving'... lol," another said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They did all that work and you just let him go?!" a third comment reads.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: WATCH: Coyote chased, trapped by herd of brave cattle in Texas
Abby Church is a City Hall reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at abby.church@houstonchronicle.com.

Before coming to the Chronicle, Abby covered Tarrant County government at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As an Air Force brat, she spent her childhood everywhere, but she claims Virginia as home. She graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and creative writing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his deep sorrow over the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and extended condolences to the families of the victims. In a post on X, Shah mentioned being in regular contact with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and local authorities to monitor the situation. "I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took place at Maha Kumbh. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The administration is treating the injured in hospitals. I am in constant touch with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the local administration," he said. A stampede-like situation arose at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several injuries. This incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which is also the day of the Second Shahi Snan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences to the devotees who lost their loved ones in the incident. "The accident that happened in Prayagraj Mahakumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government," PM Modi said on X. Speaking to ANI, Mahakumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna said that the police are looking into the causes of the stampede-like situation that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Vaibhav Krishna said that police and administration will assist all the akharas in completing their traditional processions. "Amrit Snan is about to begin... Everything will be carried out traditionally... The police and administration will assist all the Akharas in their traditional processions... The situation is under control. We are looking into the causes of this morning's incident. It happened because of a huge rush of devotees. More than 10 crore devotees are expected to arrive," DIG said. 36.1 million devotees have taken the Holy Dip in Triveni till 10 am on Wednesday, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. Other significant days during the Mahakumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri). (ANI)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  As deportation headlines sweep the nation under President Trumps new administration, a downtown Austin federal building is being used as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainment center, according to a high-level source with knowledge of immigration enforcement actions.

Previous: ICE conducts enhanced targeted operations in Austin

J.J. Pickle Federal Building (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)

As KXAN was first to report, detained immigrants who may be deported are being housed at the J.J. Pickle Federal Building on East 8th Street, about a mile from city hall and a half mile from the Capitol, where protesters gathered over the weekend. At least 26 people have been held here since Sunday, the source said. That is when ICE began conducting enhanced targeted operations in Austin as part of a nationwide effort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott fully supports using every tool and strategy to aid in the Trump Administrations deportation of illegal immigrants, his press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, told KXAN in a statement.

Twelve immigrants were brought here on Sunday, five on Monday and nine on Tuesday, according to the source. We dont know what crimes they are charged with. KXAN reached out to ICE but did not immediately hear back.

A white unmarked bus was parked out in front Wednesday. Its unclear if its related to any transport or enforcement actions.

The building houses offices for ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and the district office for Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, his office said. It is part of a two-block complex of federal buildings in downtown Austin, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont have specifics on it, Doggett said at a news conference Wednesday after being told what KXAN learned. They do have a holding facility in the basement there but I do not get notice of ICE actions or those they apprehend. My concern is that everyone who is here  is aware of what their rights are.

This same building has previously been used to detain immigrants back in at least 2017 and 2018, according to published reports.

KXAN also reached out to ICE and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson for comment but did not immediately hear back. We will update this story with any responses we receive.

Austin is a city that values dignity and safety for all residents, Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said in a statement in response to KXANs reporting. While civil immigration enforcement is a federal matter, our focus remains on ensuring that every Austinite, regardless of background feels safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will continue prioritizing public safety and affordability, she added, while standing firm in our commitment to a city that welcomes and protects all who call it home.

This comes as Abbott announced five new executive orders on Wednesday, directing state agencies to partner with the Trump Administration on border operations by:

Assisting federal immigration officers to investigate, arrest, detain and deport illegal immigrants.

Directing the Texas Military Department to assist the U.S. Northern Command in repelling the invasion, securing the southern border, and neutralizing foreign enemies infiltrating Texas.

Assisting federal partners to deploy additional border barriers to improve operational security at the southern border.

Sharing intelligence on foreign terrorist organizations, like Mexican cartels and Tren de Aragua, with federal law enforcement personnel to support counter-terror operations.

Directing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Facilities Commission to identify all Texas land and facilities for federal partners to lease and use for the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.

On Wednesday, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu of Houston called the wave of deportations unconstitutional and a dismantling of Texas communities. He described reports of warrantless searches and community members expected to be shipped to Guantanamo Bay as chaos.

Our Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution afford civil rights to all within our borders  immigrant or natural born, documented or undocumented, Wu said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Austin federal building was named after the late Democratic Congressman J.J. Jake Pickle, who was involved in major social reforms including being one of a handful of southern lawmakers to vote for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That law was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had offices in this building during and after his presidency.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW)  Democratic lawmakers are adopting an aggressive new strategy in their ongoing push to add a hate crimes bill onto the books in South Carolina, and an Horry County senator could play a crucial role in the plan.

State Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, told News13 on Wednesday that a companion bill to his longstanding proposed Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act was filed in the Senate in a bid to fast-track the legislation.

Its named after Pinckney, a former state senator and pastor who died at the hands of white supremacist Dylann Roof in the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If and when hate crimes do happen, its always better for the state to be on the side of justice and righteousness, Gilliard said. Right now, we are not.

In April 2023, Mother Emanuel survivors urged lawmakers to adopt hate crimes legislation  among them was Polly Sheppard of Florence.

Time to vote, please vote, Sheppard said. If we cant get these laws with the lawmakers we have now, lets vote them out, and lets get some people who will actually work for the people of South Carolina. Thats very important.

Gilliard spoke to News13 hours after Worden Butler pleaded guilty in Myrtle Beach Magistrate Court to one count of second-degree harassment for his role in a November 2023 Horry County cross burning that made national news.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge William Hutson sentenced Butler to time served.

Gilliards House Bill 3039 was assigned Jan. 14 to the judiciary committee. A week later, Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins, filed an identical bill that was assigned to that chambers judiciary committee, chaired by Conway Republican Luke Rankin.

News13 reached out to Rankin for comment.

South Carolina and Wyoming are the only states without hate crimes laws on the books  a point of embarrassment for Gilliard and other proponents.

His bill made it through the state House in 2021 and 2023, but never the Senate, where it faces opposition.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, believes the measure should not pass for a number of reasons, one being everyone should be treated the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive got a real problem with treating people differently in the law, and thats exactly what the bill does. I mean, it treats victims differently. It says that some people are more important than others, and that the same type of crime against you may be a lot different than the same type of crime against me, Massey said last month.

If signed into law, anyone convicted of a hate crime in South Carolina would be subject to fines of up to $10,000 and additional prison terms of up to five years.

Gilliard said the bill would have other benefits too, since it would create a tracking system for people accused of such crimes and likely encourage victims to come forward.

We owe it to our citizens to do what 48 other states have already done, he said. Send a message. Because right now in South Carolina, were just telling the world were turning our back to hate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. 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 WBTW.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Wednesday was a big day for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. Yes, he gave his eighth State of the State address. And he became the Palmetto State's longest serving governor at 2,927 days, thanks in large part to his evolving political instincts over 40 years in politics and a boost from President Donald Trump.

It's another bit of history for the 77-year-old Republican who also is the oldest governor in South Carolina's 249 years as a state.

McMaster didn't mention the milestone in Wednesday night's speech before the General Assembly. His staff has politely waved off requests for a big retrospective. A reporter did ask him last week how it felt to be on the cusp of such an achievement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well, all you have to do is stay alive," McMaster said.

South Carolina originally had two-year terms for governor, and they could not seek reelection. That was later extended to four-year terms and not until 1980 did the state allow a governor to serve two consecutive terms.

Since then, three governors have made it all eight years, and thanks to the quirk of the calendar and inauguration dates Democrat Dick Riley served eight years plus four days from 1979 to 1987.

McMaster should blow well past the Riley record because he took over for Gov. Nikki Haley in 2017 when Trump appointed her U.N. ambassador during his first term. McMaster finished the last two years of that term and has been reelected twice. His final term runs out in January 2027.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McMaster was born in Columbia, got both his undergraduate and law school degrees from the University of South Carolina and speaks like a native. Always a Republican in a state flush with Democrats as he grew up, McMaster was a legislative assistant for U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond in the early 1970s.

He's one of the few Republicans left in office who has lost to a Democrat. McMaster took on U.S. Sen. Ernest Fritz Hollings in 1986 and was trounced. He got 36% of the vote and won only one county.

McMaster later led the South Carolina Republican Party as it took over the Legislature, power it has not relented. He was elected state attorney general and planned to used that as a stepping stone to governor but finished a distant third in 2010 Republican primary with just 17% of the vote. Several political obituaries were written.

McMaster aligned with Haley and was elected lieutenant governor in 2014. Then came perhaps his savviest political move.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a January 2016 rally, McMaster became the highest ranking state officer in the U.S. to endorse Trump's candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, calling him a man of action at a time many establishment Republicans were trying to get momentum for some alternative.

So when Trump won the presidency 10 months later, he said he had offered McMaster whatever he wanted. McMaster wanted the governor's office, so Trump offered a job to Haley so the lieutenant governor could move up.

McMaster loves his job. On many of the weekly schedules released by his office, he is traveling the state speaking to Rotary clubs or giving out South Carolina's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

His eight years have been much more harmonious at the Statehouse. Unlike Haley and Gov. Mark Sanford, McMaster has no greater ambition. He's willing to work with both parties in the General Assembly and managed to accomplish things not usually embraced by conservatives like raising teacher pay and protecting pristine land from development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He at least recognizes there is some General Assembly required, said Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, the House's longest serving member at 33 years. He's been easy to work with even though I don't agree with many of his policies. I like him personally. You know, it's business.

McMaster's State of the State address Wednesday hit on the same themes as past speeches. He is set in his ways. McMaster wants to continue to increase teacher pay. He wants fewer regulations to help businesses and more money to be set aside to conserve land. He wants more resources to study inefficiencies in South Carolinas colleges and universities and even to stop illegal dogfighting.

It took him a little time to make it to the front of the House chamber. There were hugs to give, hands to shake and selfies. At the podium to hold up early in his speech was his well-marked edition of South Carolina: A History, the 1999 book authored by historian Walter Edgar he frequently cites.

But he did look both backward and forward. He mentioned the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War and declared that South Carolina's history and culture are unsurpassed in the creation of this nation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And then he asked what South Carolina would be like 100 years from now.

Weve answered that question. For years weve invested billions of dollars in time and talent in education to prepare our children to build their lives and economy. And weve invested billions in our lands and waters to protect our health, expand our economy, preserve life in all its forms for its beauty and wonder, our education and joy, and the fulfillment of our duty to nourish the Lords Garden, McMaster said.

McMaster is at his best one-on-one, whether he recruiting international business leaders or working a county GOP meeting, said Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose political career started a decade after McMaster's.

Hes made our state a prosperous, good place to do business, Graham told reporters this week. Hes a dear friend, and I think hes going to go down in history as one of the greatest governors weve ever had.
HOPKINTON, R.I. (WPRI)  Theres a new housing development in Hopkinton made up of seven homes with net-zero energy ratings.

South County Habitat for Humanity hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the final four homes of the Cardinal Lane development on Tuesday.

The homes were built in partnership with the Chariho Career and Technical Center.

Weve had close to a thousand individuals come out and swing a hammer, wield a paintbrush and help us build this project, South County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Colin Penney said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Governor Dan McKee praised the project at the ceremony.

Today were helping families move into homes that will put them on a path toward a more prosperous future, and its a future they helped build themselves, McKee said.

ALSO READ: Johnston mayor blocks housing project in favor of new public safety complex

According to the U.S. General Services Administration, a net-zero energy rating means the homes consume no more energy than they produce from renewable sources.

Its good for the environment, but its good for home ownership and utility costs, Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shekarchi also presented Penney with a resolution on behalf of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, marking South County Habitat for Humanitys 35th anniversary.

This a great opportunity for us to recognize that it takes a village, literally, to build these opportunities, he said. Its not just the success of building a home. Its building a program.

One of Cardinal Lanes new residents also spoke at the ceremony, becoming emotional as she shared what the development means to her.

It really feels so surreal to stand here today, she said. I look forward to building a future here on Cardinal Lane alongside the other deserving families that are here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
Eighteen South Dakota senators voted to pass a bill Tuesday afternoon that would require the display and curricular inclusion of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom.

Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, was the final senator to vote on the bill, breaking what was a 17-17 tie vote.

First-term Republican Sen. John Carley of Piedmont brought Senate Bill 51, which is similar to legislation thats popped up in North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Louisiana in particular has a new law requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments, but thats been stopped by a lower court.

Civil liberties groups plan lawsuits to block the new Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments in schools, saying it would unconstitutionally breach protections against government-imposed religion

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley recently joined 17 other attorneys general in signing an amicus brief to support Louisianas law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The South Dakota bill requires an 8-by-14-inch or larger display of the Ten Commandments in each classroom in each public school district, and statements about its historical context. It also mandates that each student receives instruction on the Ten Commandments at least once from grades 1-4, 5-8 and 9-12, and instructs the South Dakota Department of Education to develop and provide materials supporting that instruction.

The bill will move to the House Education Committee for consideration.

One amendment passes, another fails

Sen. David Wheeler (R-Huron) brought an amendment during the Senate floor discussion that he said holds school districts harmless for any legal challenges that may come from the bill, as has happened in Louisiana. His amendment passed.

Sen. Red Dawn Foster (D-Pine Ridge) attempted to bring an amendment that would let school boards substitute the text of the Woope Sakowin for the Ten Commandments, which are a set of values that have been part of Oceti Sakowin teaching since a time predating statehood and are a moral and ethical framework within the community, but her amendment failed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Foster said shes heard an overwhelming amount of concern about the bill, especially from tribal members, parents and educators like Leslie Crow, who she said told her that she sees the bill as perpetuating the legacy of the federal boarding school initiative, which she said used education and Christianity as a tool of forced assimilation and acculturation for Indigenous people.

Proponents: Ten Commandments helpful, simple

Carley said for the past 40 or 50 years, the Ten Commandments have been missing in public schools after being in them for almost 200 years prior. He said the idea of the separation of church and state is to not have the government influencing the church, but said the church can influence the government.

He also noted his bill allows districts to receive donated displays, or to fundraise or receive donations to cover the cost of the displays. He said four organizations have reached out to him willing to cover the cost of the displays for all the schools in the state.

Sen. Mykala Voita (R-Bonesteel) said the Ten Commandments are what the country bases its law systems and founding documents on, and were the philosophy of the founding fathers. She said its important for kids to know where they come from, and know about that philosophy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Senate committee passes bill to require Ten Commandments in all South Dakota classrooms

Sen. Curt Voight (R-Rapid City) said the nation was founded on the Ten Commandments, and said legislators and citizens shouldnt apologize for who we are foundationally.

Sen. Lauren Nelson (R-Yankton) said the U.S. is based on Christian values and principles, and said the three branches of government are linked to God, with the executive branch as the Father, the legislative branch as the Son, and the judicial branch as the Holy Spirit. Nelson also pointed to examples of the Ten Commandments in federal buildings, like the Supreme Court.

Sen. Sue Peterson (R-Sioux Falls) asked what it would hurt to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not kill; thou shalt honor your father and mother, Peterson said. I dont think that hurts anything. In fact, I think its helpful. I think its that simple.

Sen. Greg Blanc (R-Rapid City), a pastor, said the children of the state have the right to know the truth about the founding of our great nation.

In a culture where student-on-student shootings continue to increase, teenage gangs are out of control, situational ethics dominate many young peoples minds, where lying and stealing are acceptable, (SB 51) can only have a positive result, Blanc said.

Sen. Carl Perry (R-Aberdeen) said while many people in the state like to see local control, sometimes he likes to see local help, or a nudge to move in the right direction.

Opponents: Thou shalt not kill doesnt apply to SB 51

Sen. Jamie Smith (D-Sioux Falls) said the state already has permissive language in statute that allows schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and said that just because some schools have chosen not to display them doesnt mean they should be forced to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im sitting here in a room full of people that believe in smaller government, less government, and were making a mandate? Smith questioned. Frustrating. We keep putting more and more on our teachers and our public schools, telling them, Do this, do this, do this. Local control, people. Let your communities decide whats best for them.

Sen. Glen Vilhauer (R-Watertown) said SB 51 struck a nerve with many people in the state, including some pastors who are opposed to it. He said while he has his own strong, deep and abiding faith in God, he opposed the bill and thought the legislation wouldnt accomplish what the sponsor was trying to do with it.

I would love to see us get back to our Judeo-Christian roots, but this is not going to be the way to do it, he said.

More: SD Attorney General Marty Jackley signals support for Ten Commandments displays in schools

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Kyle Schoenfish (R-Scotland) said SB 51 adds more unfunded mandates for districts to create and fund thousands of posters, and for districts and the DOE to develop and purchase curriculum to teach the requirements of the bill.

Sen. Stephanie Sauder (R-Bryant) said shes a former social studies teacher and recalls that the Ten Commandments was in one of the textbooks she used. While she didnt go over every single one of the Commandments in class, she remembers it was brought forth to students, and said the Ten Commandments are already in schools now. She said SB 51 takes away the local control of school districts.

Many of you, I heard your campaign speeches. You voiced your strong support for freedoms, and the right to maintain local control, Sauder said. Heres an opportunity for you to prove to your voters you meant what you told them. Thou shalt not kill does not apply to this bill.

Sen. Randy Deibert (R-Spearfish) said he opposed the bill after asking himself if it was needed, if there was an issue and if a law would fix the issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Steve Kolbeck (R-Brandon) said while hes Catholic-educated and thinks we could all use a little more God in our life, he thinks policy mandates are a mistake and overreach.

Sen. Ernie Otten (R-Tea) said while the Ten Commandments are precious words to him, he felt the postings required in the bill might be dumbing down a group of people that all theyre going to end up doing is walking by a sign and thinking, Something mystical is going on.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Ten Commandments bill narrowly passes South Dakota Senate
There were tense moments inside the South Fulton City Council meeting on Tuesday night.

There were harsh critiques and the mayor walked out before the meeting ended when his use of a city credit card was set to be questioned.

The South Fulton City Manager said there will now be an inquiry into the use of p-cards or city credit cards by the firm Baker Tilly. Its not clear how long the review will take.

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

At Tuesdays city council meeting, Mayor Khalid Kamau, who is now known as Mayor Kobi wasnt thrilled about efforts to discuss his use of city-issued credit cards on the agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am so distressed and disappointed that the blackest city in one of the blackest states in the United States of America heading into Black History Month, we are tearing each other down, Kobi said.

Were not tearing you down you took your Black behind over to Africa for 20 days and didnt tell anybody, responded Councilwoman Helen Willis.

This all stems from expenses made by the mayor. Channel 2 Action News reported that Kobi used his city-issued credit card to pay for a more than $1,800 table for his office that converts into a pool table.

In September he spent more than $9,000 on travel including flight upgrades despite that being against city policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In October he spent more than $13,000. Some of his purchases included high-end electronics and international travel.

The mayor canceled an interview with Channel 2 Action News earlier this week. But at the council meeting, some expressed their frustration.

You guys got to do better, you guys really do got to do better, resident Patricia Wise said.

Eventually at Tuesdays meeting when it was time to discuss new policies, the mayor walked out of the meeting before giving an explanation about his travel and expenses.

The city manager announced there are new policies in place on how those city-issued credit cards will be used.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyre also putting in more oversight. Previously each person signed a policy on how each card would be used but there was no one checking.

There was also an effort to take the mayors electric vehicle during the meeting until additional policies were in place, but that failed.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
A woman was arrested for allegedly setting fire to an open field in San Bernardino County.

The suspect was identified as Melyi Lopez, a 40-year-old homeless woman who frequents the Bloomington area, according to the Fontana Sheriffs Station.

On Jan. 25, deputies responded to a fire in the 10800 block of Cedar Avenue in Bloomington at around 4:13 p.m.

The caller said he witnessed Lopez intentionally ignite the fire in an open field before fleeing the scene. The area was located near several businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several bystanders acted quickly and extinguished the flames before it could spread further.

Deputies located the woman nearby and took her into custody. She was arrested for arson and was booked into the West Valley Detention Center where she is being held on $30,000 bail.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the Fontana Sheriffs Station at 909-356-6767. Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.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 KTLA.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A clearing in the clouds Tuesday night allowed people in West Michigan to catch a stunning display overhead as space debris scattered and burned upon entering Earths atmosphere.

A number of viewers around the region captured video of the spray of light.

Instead of a meteor, which appears as one single light streaming across the sky, the signature contained many streaks. This pattern is more indicative of debris colliding with the super-hot temperatures of Earths atmosphere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ask Ellen: Will we be able to see the Parade of Planets this month?

According to space tracker Jonathan McDowell, it was a Starlink satellite.

Starlink 5693 appears to have reentered over the southern Wisconsin/Michigan area at about 0303 to 0305 UTC Jan 29 (9.03 to 9.05pm CST) and was widely observed from neighbouring regions including Chicago, McDowell said.

Joseph Wisdom, Spring Lake

Joseph Wisdom, Spring Lake

According to NASA, most space debris is human-generated objects such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, or satellites that are no longer in use. Low Earth orbit is said to contain quite a bit of space junk. NASA reports most of these pieces are moving extremely fast, even reaching speeds of 18,000 mph.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sign up for the Storm Team 8 daily forecast newsletter

The NASA Orbital Debris Program in Houston, Texas works on mitigating the debris problem in space. It exists to reduce orbital debris and designs equipment to track and remove it from space.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Spain has pledged 10 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Source: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares visited Ukraine on 28 January for the third time since the start of the full-scale war to assess the impact of Russian aggression on the country and reaffirm Spain's support for the Ukrainian government. While in Ukraine, he announced an additional 10 million in humanitarian aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Albares, alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, also officially opened a cultural centre funded by UNESCOs Spanish Funds in Trust for Development Cooperation.

Quote: "This centre underscores Spain's ongoing commitment to Ukraine's recovery, which is reflected in the announcement of 10 million in humanitarian aid from Spanish Cooperation, which is in addition to the 100 million Spain has already provided to Ukraine since the war began."

Additionally, Spain has allocated 400 million for recovery aid since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Background: In June, Ukraine was granted access to Spanish state recovery funds amounting to 50 million, a 1 million grant to support businesses, and 4.6 million for humanitarian mine clearance needs.

Support UP or become our patron!
Spain is the latest nation to look at introducing carrier-based drones, which it plans to integrate on its sole aircraft carrier, the Spanish Navy flagship Juan Carlos I. While its unclear what kind of launch and recovery system will be added to the warship, should the studies prove successful, introducing carrier-based drones could help ensure the longer-term relevance of the vessel once its venerable EAV-8B+ Matador II attack jets head for retirement.

Airbus and the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia today announced the signature of an agreement to explore the integration of the SIRTAP drone on the Juan Carlos I.

A mockup of the SIRTAP drone on the Juan Carlos I. Airbus

This joint effort seeks to achieve a fully integrated system, ensuring complete compatibility between SIRTAP and the Juan Carlos I carrier, increasing its mission capabilities, operational flexibility, and the overall effectiveness of both platforms in diverse operational scenarios, Airbus said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The current agreement seeks to ensure that the SIRTAP is fully interoperable with the Spanish flattop, not only in terms of flying to and from its flight deck but also being integrated into the carriers SCOMBA combat management system.

Airbus

According to Airbus, the integration of the drone on the carrier will focus on separate areas of study, namely command and control (C2), combat system integration, and navigation support (including takeoff and landing operations).

The Juan Carlos I is generally described as a landing helicopter dock (LHD), a type of amphibious assault ship. However, it also has a fixed-wing combat aircraft capability, with a ski jump takeoff ramp on the bow for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations. For this, its equipped with the EAV-8B+ Matador II  equivalent to the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B+ Harrier II  making it Spains sole aircraft carrier.

A U.S. Navy MH-60S and two Spanish Navy SH-60B helicopters fly near the Spanish amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I during interoperability training in the Adriatic Sea, in February 2023. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Wagner Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Wagner

As for the SIRTAP, this was developed by Airbus as a high-end tactical unmanned aircraft system. Spain became the launch customer for the drone in late 2023 and is currently due to receive nine systems  each comprising one ground control station and three aircraft. If that integration of the SIRTAP on the Juan Carlos I is successful, orders could well increase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The SIRTAP is primarily a surveillance platform, specifically designed to accommodate two payloads simultaneously: typically, an electro-optical turret and a multi-mission radar, as part of a 400-pound mission payload. The drone has an endurance of more than 20 hours.

Even before todays announcement, Airbus was touting the overwater capabilities of the drone, highlighting missions including day/night and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Airbus

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Airbus and Navantia havent so far presented a timeline for the integration work, Airbus has released photos showing a SIRTAP mockup on the deck of the carrier while it was in port. In the past, its been reported that the first SIRTAP prototype  which is being built at the Airbus facility in Getafe, Spain  should take to the air before the end of this year.

We also dont yet know how the companies envision carrier operations involving the SIRTAP. While the Juan Carlos I has a takeoff ramp, it doesnt have a catapult launch system or arrester cables.

Most likely, the approach will parallel that being explored by Turkey. Parallels are especially likely since the Turkish Navys drone carrier Anadolu uses a design based on that of the Juan Carlos I. It also features a large open flight deck with a ramp at the bow. So far, the Bayraktar TB3 has successfully landed on and taken off from the Anadolu and there are plans for more capable drones to be embarked in the future.

The Turkish Navy flagship, Anadolu, is planned to be used as a carrier for different tiers of armed drones. Photo by Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Turkey first announced plans to convert the Anadolu as a drone carrier in 2023. Modifications to be carried out on the Turkish vessel included the addition of dedicated control stations, beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications terminals, a roller system on the flight deck toward the bow to help launch uncrewed aircraft, an arresting gear system, and safety nets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the initial videos showing the TB3 being tested aboard the Anadolu, two of which are embedded below, no launch or recovery systems were yet visible. Its also possible that Spain might opt for different solutions to make its carrier drone-compatible.

Regardless, having drones operate from the deck of the Juan Carlos I would be a big deal for the Spanish Navy. Unlike the Turkish TB3, which can carry small precision-guided missiles and bombs, as well as rockets and other munitions, the SIRTAP isnt currently planned to carry armament.

Currently, Spain is likely to retire its EAV-8B jets from around 2030 to 2034. The only like-for-like replacement is the F-35B, but for a force of only 13 Matador IIs, this would likely be cost-prohibitive. Fielding an armed naval drone would be one option for the Spanish Navy to preserve its carrier-based fixed-wing strike capabilities. While the SIRTAP wont meet those requirements, it will at least provide very valuable experience in operating drones from a carrier. In this way, it could pave the way for Spain to acquire more advanced armed drones that could help replace the capabilities that are otherwise set to be lost when the EAV-8B is retired.

A Spanish Navy EAV-8B+ Matador II. Contando Estrelas/Wikimedia Commons

Ultimately, other types of drones flying from the Juan Carlos I could attack certain targets on land and at sea, as well as conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even if unarmed, a navalized drone, like the SIRTAP, could provide very welcome surveillance capabilities, helping build a recognized maritime picture that can be shared with other Spanish Navy and allied assets. As well as improving maritime situational awareness, the drone could also use its sensors for targeting.

Potentially, the SIRTAP drones could also act as aerial network relay nodes and, depending on the type of radar fitted, possibly even serve as airborne early warning platforms. Previously, the Spanish Navy operated SH-3 Sea King helicopters adapted for airborne early warning, but these have long since been retired, with this capability being lost in the process.

At this point, we still dont know for sure if Spain will adopt the SIRTAP for carrier operations, or even if it might end up selecting another drone for this emerging requirement.

In the meantime, Spain joins a growing number of nations that are looking to add fixed-wing drones to their aviation-capable warships, with big-deck amphibious warfare ships being especially well suited to this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China is currently very much at the forefront of these endeavors, including developing advanced flying-wing UCAVs that can operate from carriers and other big-deck ships. The same country is also developing an entirely new class of super-sized amphibious assault ships that are very likely optimized for drone operations.

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy has begun demonstrating its ability to launch and recover drones from flattops, including the General Dynamics Mojave, which head operated from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. This is part of a wider effort to expand the Royal Navys uncrewed naval aviation capabilities.

A Mojave drone during trials from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales. GA-ASI

Late last year, a Gray Eagle STOL drone was successfully launched from South Koreas Dokdo amphibious assault ship as part of another demonstration but recovered at a base on land. You can read more about those trials here.

The Gray Eagle STOL drone undertakes its first experimental operations from a warship, taking off from the deck of the South Korean amphibious assault ship Dokdo last November. ROKN

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, as well as the Mojave and Gray Eagle, General Atomics is also offering a derivative of its MQ-9 Reaper that can operate from big-deck ships, as well as a carrier-capable member of its highly modular Gambit family of uncrewed aircraft.

Recently, General Atomics also pitched a version of its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for installation on a variety of naval vessels, allowing them to launch drones. These included the U.K. Royal Navys Type 45 destroyer and the U.S. Navys Expeditionary Sea Base. Previously, General Atomics had also offered similar EMALS solutions to launch drones from the U.K. Royal Navys Queen Elizabeth class and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Izumo class carriers.

Among the other countries now exploring fixed-wing naval drone capabilities is Japan, while Spains neighbor, Portugal, has also ordered a new multi-purpose vessel that will be able to operate drones. These will help it fulfill a range of missions, including oceanic research, search and rescue, emergency relief, and naval support operations.

Concept artwork showing the carrier-capable Gambit 5 drone operating from the Japanese amphibious assault ship Izumo. GA-ASI

As TWZ has noted before, the U.S. Navy has been somewhat slow on the uptake, although the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone is set to become its first operational advanced uncrewed carrier-based aircraft. The MQ-25 will have a secondary surveillance and reconnaissance capability, and there remains a possibility that it will eventually add new roles, including stand-off strike, in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the same time, the U.S. Navy is now working to install new dedicated drone control centers on its carriers, as part of a broader effort to help it realize its own larger uncrewed naval aviation plans. The U.S. Navy service has said that it plans for its carrier air wings to eventually become at least 60 percent pilotless.

Now, there is something of a race on, to see which navy fields the first operational drone carrier. While it wont be the first to achieve this, its notable that Spain is now looking to field these kinds of capabilities on the Juan Carlos I. Integrating drones, especially more advanced ones, could potentially provide the flagship with a vital new mission, and a rejuvenated air wing, especially once the EAV-8B Matador II is retired.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
After the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to constitute a committee to suggest a legal framework for regulation and protection of domestic workers, Advocate Chandrika Prasad Mishra said that the court has acknowledged that domestic workers are often forced to work in situations where they have no recourse or means to file a complaint. The bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh asked the Union Government to explore the feasibilityof enacting a law aimed at safeguarding rights of domestic workers. The Court issued the order while dismissing a criminal case filed against a man, who was accused of preventing his house help from leaving his residence. Advocate Mishra, who represented the women complainant in the case, said that if a law would be made on this, it would benefit the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and weaker section women. "We represented the complainant woman. The court has acknowledged that domestic workers are often forced to work in situations where they have no recourse or means to file a complaint. There are no laws in these areas. The court recognized that workers are often paid lower wages and are helpless because there is no law or association where they can voice their demands. This is a significant day for SC, ST, and women from weaker sections, and if a law is created in this field, it will benefit them," Advocate Mishra said. Advocate Rajiv Dubey informed that the Supreme Court has asked for a report on the matter within six months. "The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Labour to form a committee to create a legal framework aimed at protecting the rights of maids, household workers, and the weaker sections of society. The goal is to establish a law that improves their financial status. The court has asked for a report in six months to ensure their rights are safeguarded," he said. The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to make effort to enact a law soon after the recommendation of the committee. The top court noted that domestic workers are an essential workforce and there was no Pan-India legislation to protect their rights. It says domestic workers are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and trafficking by employers and agencies. (ANI)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Elections Office said ballots for a special election primary for the vacant Assembly District 32 seat are now arriving for registered voters.

Elections officials said ballots were sent for the Feb. 25 special election beginning Monday. Every registered voter in the 32nd Assembly District will receive a ballot in the mail.

Voters will receive voter, candidate and ballot drop box location information with their mail-in ballot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whos asking for your vote in the 32nd Assembly District special election?

The primary will determine the top two candidates who will then advance to a runoff election on April 29.

The special election was called back in December after, Rep. Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) vacated the Assembly seat he won, but didnt campaign for, since he was running for his CA-20 House of Representatives seat.

Fong won re-election to his 20th District U.S. House seat in November and will continue to serve in Washington D.C. leaving the 32nd District California Assembly seat open pending the results of the upcoming special election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone, Stan Ellis, Holli Willibey and William Brown Jr. are candidates running for the seat. You can view interviews with the candidates below.

Interview with CA Assembly 32nd District special election candidate Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone

Interview with CA Assembly 32nd District special election candidate Stan Ellis

Interview with CA Assembly 32nd District special election candidate Holli Willibey

Interview with CA Assembly 32nd District special election candidate William Brown

The 32nd Assembly District includes voters in Kern and Tulare counties.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Princess Kates last-minute appearance at Mondays Holocaust Memorial Day service included a touching piece of jewelry.

Kate and Prince William commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27 the day Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, was liberatedby attending a ceremony at Londons Guildhall. The occasion marked a rare public outing from Kate, who has slowly returned to royal duties since announcing that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and is now cancer-free last September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the somber appearance, Kate dressed in all black, wearing a black blouse, black wide-leg pants by Roland Mouret, black pointed-toe pumps, and a long black coat from Catherine Walker. As for her accessories, the Princess of Wales carried a black quilted Chanel shoulder bag and wore pearl jewelry.

While her pearl earrings were Queen Elizabeth IIs famous Bahrain diamond and pearl drop earrings (which Kate has worn on multiple occasions throughout the years), her multi-strand pearl necklace was apparently a new piece in her jewelry collection.

The five-strand necklace hails from Susan Caplan, a Jewish-owned luxury vintage jewelry brand. Caplan celebrated the special moment by posting a picture of Kate in the necklace on Instagram. Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish owned brand we are honoured that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for todays memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, the caption read.

ARTHUR EDWARDS - Getty Images

ARTHUR EDWARDS - Getty Images

ARTHUR EDWARDS - Getty Images

Dan Kitwood - Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pearls have long been a fashion staple for royal women, with everyone from the Queen Elizabeth to Princess Diana making the precious gemstone a centerpiece of their wardrobes. Since marrying into the royal family, Kate has followed suit, frequently wearing pearl pieces that once belonged to the late monarch and her mother-in-law.

You Might Also Like
Believe it or not, spring break 2025 is just around the corner for students across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Here's a look at when public schools around the region will be on spring break this year.

Cheatham County School District spring break

March 24-28*

More information can be found at cheathamcountyschools.net.

*Students will dismiss at 11:45 a.m. on March 21.

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System spring break

March 10-14

More information can be found at cmcss.net.

Dickson County Schools spring break

March 17-21

More information can be found at dcstn.org.

Franklin Special School District spring break

March 10-14*

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More information can be found at fssd.org.

*Students will dismiss early on March 7.

Lebanon Special School District spring break

March 10-14*

More information can be found at lssd.org.

*Students will also be off on March 17.

Maury County Public Schools spring break

March 31-April 4

More information can be found at mauryk12.org.

Metro Nashville Public Schools spring break

March 10-14*

More information can be found at mnps.org.

*Students will also have a half day on March 7.

Murfreesboro City Schools spring break

March 31-April 4

More information can be found at cityschools.net.

Robertson County Schools spring break

March 17-21

More information can be found at rcstn.net.

Rutherford County Schools spring break

March 31-April 4

More information can be found at rcschools.net.

Sumner County Schools spring break

March 10-14

More information can be found at sumnerschools.org.

Williamson County Schools spring break

March 10-14

More information can be found at wcs.edu.

Wilson County Schools spring break

March 10-14

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More information can be found at wcschools.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is spring break 2025? When school is out in Nashville, Middle TN
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse and the Springdale Chamber of Commerce reacted to the announcement closing of the Cargill turkey plant Jan. 28.

After 60 years in Northwest Arkansas, the Cargill turkey plant in Springdale announced today that it will close in August, leaving over 1,100 workers out of a job.

This is very personal but not nearly as personal as this is for the thousand employees who found out that theyre going to be without a job in August, said president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce Bill Rogers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a bad day for Springdale, certainly a bad day for the thousand employees that work for Cargill. Cargill has been a valued partner in this community for decades, since 1965. And you know were fortunate in Springdale that we dont have many announcements like this. Weve had very very few closures and certainly not of this magnitude, said Rogers.

Springdale Cargill plant to close, leaving around 1,100 employees without jobs

The chamber has a history of helping more than 40,000 people find a job within the labor workforce, and now theyre adding another 1,000 on August 1. Were working very hard right now to have a February announcement of a company that could bring 300 jobs to Springdale. Thats not a one-for-one. We need to find these Cargill people jobs and thats what well be working on. But, there are brighter days ahead for Springdale. Its just today, which is a dark one, said Rogers.

With the collaboration of local employers, workforce development initiates, and city officials, this disappointing news could turn into an abundance of opportunities within Northwest Arkansas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There will be an opportunity for those that want to stay in the area and find employment here. And we have other similar industries, said Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse.

With similar companies nearby, Sprouse thinks the community can come together because every employee impacted will need assistance.

If theres a silver lining its that Cargill did give plenty of time until August. So we do have some time to help them. The city will certainly work with our chamber of commerce which has pledged support and help like our other existing business community as well, said Sprouse.

The chamber encourages anyone needing assistance to reach out for guidance and resources.

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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man was arraigned in court last Thursday in connection with a Springfield arson case in which a woman died in 2023.

In October 2023, crews were called to a house fire at 118 Grover Street at around 5:15 a.m. where two people were trapped inside. Firefighters entered the home and removed the two victims from the fire. They were brought to Baystate Medical Center, however, 18-year-old Janayrah Rivera passed away due to her injuries.

Community comes together to support Springfield house fire victim

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the fifteen months following the incident, investigators from the Hampden DAs Office, the Springfield Police Departments Homicide Unit, Arson and Bomb Squad, and State Police fire investigators were able to identify 44-year-old Juan Carlos Torres of Springfield in connection with the arson.

Grover Street fire suspect (Hampden District Attorneys Office)

The Hampden District Attorneys Office said that Torres was arrested on Thursday at around 6:45 a.m. He was arraigned in Springfield District Court on the following charges:

1 count of murder

4 counts of attempted murder

1 count of arson of a dwelling house

Torres was held without the right to bail, and his next court appearance will be on February 24. The Hampden DAs Office, the Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad, and the Springfield Police Departments Homicide Unit are continuing to investigate this incident.

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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Springfield Police Youth Aid Bureau is asking for the publics assistance in finding a missing 16-year-old girl.

Mass. State Police locate missing neurodivergent girl

Springfield police said that 16-year-old Anjalisa Rodriguez ran away on Sunday after being taken to Baystate Medical Center. Anjalisa is approximately 411 and 90 pounds, and has a tattoo of the letter A on her hand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you see Anjalisa or have any information regarding where she might be, please call 413-787-6360 or the non-emergency line 413-787-6300.

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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  A shooting that left two people dead in Springfield on Sunday couldve been even worse, according to Springfield Police.

During a press conference Tuesday about the double homicide, police revealed that one of the victims  Spencer Sharp, 30  had a toddler inside his home when the shooting occurred.

That child was not hurt.

Police were first called to the 2100 block of Larch Street around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26. Upon arrival, officers discover two men with gunshot wounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missing woman arrested, infant found safe after multi-hour search

Sharp was found alive when police arrived at the scene, but later succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to a local hospital.

One determination police made were that shots were exchanged between the two men  but they still there there was a driver that played a part.

Police are still working to find the relationship between Sharp and the other victim, 35-year-old Clifton Cummings, and also what motivated the shooting.

Sharp, the owner of the home where it happened also had security cameras on the exterior of the home. Police say thats one of the many pieces of evidence theyre using to piece together what happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The initial investigation reveals that this couldve been an aggravated burglary or even an aggravated robbery, said Sgt. James Byron, with Springfield police. The entire event, especially what led up to it and afterwards are all under investigation.

Officials say they are certain that there are people out there who know more about what led up to this shooting. Those people are urged to call Springfield PD at 937-324-7716. That number is available 24/7.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  People in Springfield packed city hall Tuesday night to show their appreciation for local officials, and their support for the local immigrant community.

There was a clear air of positivity at Tuesdays meeting as Springfield residents filled the commission chambers to capacity  all in an effort to show that no matter where they come from, everyone is a neighbor to each other in Springfield.

Its been roughly five months since Springfield was thrust into the national spotlight, with then-presidential candidate Trump mentioning Haitian migrants settling in the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But its been over a decade since the city initially passed a resolution welcoming immigrants to Springfield  something that residents are seeing the results of now.

And while residents recognize that the changes havent been without challenge, theyve also seen how the change has benefitted the area.

Job-wise, Springfield has been cited as one of the fastest growing cities in all of Ohio.

Local advocates say theyre heartbroken by the potential for ICE raids in the area.

I want to make sure we stay the kind of city where people could have these amazing opportunities and a wonderful life, said Shelley Dillow, Springfield resident.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigration has been making headlines this week, as officials have made over 4800 arrests since this weekend, as federal agencies begin implementing President Trumps recent executive orders.

ICE reports they made 969 arrests on Tuesday alone, nationwide. Trumps daily average since the start of his presidency has been 753 arrests per day  former President Bidens was an average of 282.

Despite this crackdown, arrests are being made specifically on what ICE determines to be illegal immigrants. Haitian migrants in Springfield are here legally.

Haiti is among 15 countries that qualify for temporary protected status  a federal immigration designation that lets immigrants legally live and work in the country for up to 18 months. Many who come under that protected status also apply for asylum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The immigrants are not a problem, they are a blessing, said Norman Horstman, resident. They are here because of our wonderful jobs in Springfield, in Clark County. Were doing great and they are a part of 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 WDTN.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Springfield Thunderbirds, in partnership with the Springfield Fire Department and local firefighter organizations, have raised $4,000 to support fire departments in Los Angeles and surrounding communities affected by recent devastation.

Easthampton businesses celebrate success with Chamber of Commerce

The funds, collected through the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Foundation, were raised during the Thunderbirds Hometown Heroes Night at the MassMutual Center.

Photo courtesy of the Springfield Thunderbirds

This years Hometown Heroes Night was a reminder to us all of the bravery and courage these men and women showcase on a daily basis to protect and serve their communities, said Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa. We are so proud as an organization to see such an amazing response from our fanbase to make this donation possible. Our thoughts continue to be with all those affected by the devastation in Southern California.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Springfield firefighters led a Fill the Boot campaign, gathering donations from generous fans, while the team contributed a portion of the nights 50-50 raffle proceeds.

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.
St. John the Baptist President Jaclyn Hotard, pictured in front of the property where a massive grain terminal with 56 silos was proposed. (LAI photo illustration)

NEW ORLEANS  Evidence unveiled Tuesday in federal court showed St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotards family stood to make money from a land deal she helped facilitate through rezoning efforts.

Hotard testified that she was unaware of the connection at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jury heard witness testimony and saw text messages that indicated Hotard maintained frequent communications about the zoning matter with her mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet, who owned several tracts of land within the proposed site of a now-defunct Greenfield industrial grain terminal. The jurors also learned that Hotards husband had some financial interest in the deal as well.

Hotard and the St. John Parish Council were in negotiations with Greenfield as the company sought permits and land for the project planned for the Wallace community. Before they could close the deal, council members needed to rezone the land from residential to heavy industrial. Hotard personally signed the application for Greenfield, testifying she was following direction from the parish council.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Testifying from the witness stand Tuesday, Gaudet admitted she would have benefited financially if the rezoning was approved. She acknowledged that her land, which she owns through her family business, was of particular value to Greenfield because it contained a railroad spur the company needed for its operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not the only business in St. John the Baptist Parish that wouldve benefited from it, Gaudet said, suggesting many other people had financial interests in the deal.

Gaudet admitted that her son, Russell Gaudet, who married Hotard in 2019, is the beneficiary of a family trust that owns the land, but she said his share of the trust is only about 8.3%.

Gaudets land and the other parcels that made up the proposed Greenfield site have been at the center of a zoning issue that dates back decades. Under questioning from Hotards defense lawyers, Gaudet pointed out that her land was zoned as industrial when she originally purchased it in 2013. She also said her son wont receive the land until she dies.

Later in Tuesdays proceedings, Hotard took the stand in her own defense and said she was unaware that her husband was a beneficiary of the trust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We just married five years ago  We dont discuss his familys business at all, the parish president said.

U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, who is presiding over the case, gave Hotard multiple warnings about providing lengthy answers that strayed from the questions being asked. The judge also interjected when Hotards attorney, Ike Spears, asked questions that she said turned into personal testimony.

Free speech lawsuit

While Hotards financial interests are not directly on trial in the lawsuit, they form the basis of the case. The dispute arose from a Nov. 28, 2023, parish council meeting at which Wallace resident Joy Banner sought to inform members about the Gaudet family land trust and an ethics complaint she filed on the matter the month before.

Banner intended to speak against a resolution Hotard had placed on the meetings agenda to ask the parish council to hire an attorney to defend her in the ethics investigation. Video of that council meeting was played in court Monday. It showed Hotard interrupting Banner, with Council Chairman Michael Wright stopping Banner to read a state law he said prohibited public disclosure of information from an ethics investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A federal judge ruled in 2014 that the law in question was unconstitutional. Wright testified that he wasnt aware of that ruling and didnt notice a note at the top of the statute marking it as unconstitutional.

Banner would later file a federal lawsuit against Hotard and Wright, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated at the meeting. The judge is being asked to void the council vote to approve hiring an attorney for Hotards ethics case.

The defense asserted in court Tuesday that Hotard and Wright felt they had a duty to stop Banners speech because they believed it was a crime to speak publicly about ethics investigations.

She was getting off topic and speaking about an ethics complaint that to my understanding was confidential, Wright said from the witness stand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They showed the jury letters and documents the Louisiana Board of Ethics sent to Hotard and Banner stamped with the word CONFIDENTIAL.

Mallory Guillot, an ethics board staff attorney who handled the complaint against Hotard, testified the confidentiality restrictions apply only to the members and staff of the Ethics Board and not to the general public. Under cross examination, Guillot acknowledged the investigation found Hotard committed no violations but could not elaborate because Judge Brown has limited testimony about the ethics findings.

Jury sees Hotards text messages

The first half of Tuesdays proceedings were dominated by text message evidence the defendants unsuccessfully fought to keep private. They revealed Hotard kept her mother-in-law informed about the Greenfield rezoning application. In one instance, Hotard offered to text her a play by play of an April 9, 2024, council meeting. Gaudet texted Thank goodness upon learning the councils rezoning vote passed.

One of Banners attorneys, William Most, showed several other text messages to the jury in which the women spoke disparagingly about Banner even before the November 2023 meeting. In an exchange dated Oct. 16, 2023, Hotard texted Gaudet: I wanted to choke that woman! and called Banner a bitch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In her testimony, Gaudet claimed Hotard could have been speaking about someone else. Banners lawyer then confronted the parish president with her testimony from an earlier deposition in which she said she believed it was Banner that Hotard wanted to choke.

Spears, who is also representing Wright, argued Banner had refused to follow the parish council rules on the public comment during the November 2023 meeting.

Wright and other defense witnesses said it has long been the rule at council meetings to only allow the public to speak specifically about agenda items. Under questioning from Most, Wright acknowledged the council has never formally adopted such a rule.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Cyber Crime Unit of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police has claimed to have busted an inter-state cyber fraud racket with the arrest of six individuals, the police said. As per the police, the arrested accused were involved in providing bank accounts used in cyber fraud operations internationally. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into cybercrime activities involving mule accounts linked to international masterminds. The arrested accused have been identified as Shubham Mohan Londhe, Sam alias David alias Sambidh Kumar Shripati Nayak, Professor alias Himanshu Kumar Ganesh Thakur, Rajansh Singh Santosh Singh, Gaurav Anil Kumar Sharma, and Ankush Ramrao More. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode, the prime accused, Sam alias David, had been contacting account holders across India via Telegram for the past two years. These accounts were then provided to the primary suspect based in Cambodia. The operation was initiated based on information received by Police Constable Hemant Kharat during an ongoing cybercrime investigation. The tip-off suggested that Shubham Londhe was involved in providing bank accounts for cyber crimes. Upon interrogation, Londhe revealed that he had given the accounts to Sam alias David, as per the police. The police seized nine mobile phones, one tablet, and ten chequebooks. Investigations reveal that the accused have provided thousands of bank accounts to the main suspect in Cambodia over the past two years. The breakthrough came when a cybercrime team from the Pimpri Chinchwad police investigated a share trading cyber fraud case registered earlier this month, in which the victim lost Rs 7.6 lakh on the promise of high returns. During the initial probe, they identified Shubham Londhe (24) from Pune's Chikhali as a suspect handling several mule accounts. These accounts were accessed by another handler, Sam David, who was found to be linked to international cybercriminals in Cambodia, as per the police. The investigation also revealed that Sam David, using at least 20 different phone numbers, had his primary base in Goa and was frequently travelling across India. Based on a tip-off, he was apprehended in Hinjawadi on January 23 under his real name, Sambidhkumar Shripati Nayak (22), a resident of Odisha, and a Bollywood aspirant. Further investigation showed that he had booked at least seven hotel rooms in various locations in Pune for the mule account holders, and further investigation is on, DCP Doiphode said. (ANI)
Elon Musks raised-arm salute to Donald Trump drew more attention, but for those concerned about media freedom, another image from Inauguration Day seemed just as chilling. In the front row of the Capitol rotunda, a whos who of tech billionaires  Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Musk himself  lined up to cheer in the new commander-in-chief.

Also showing their support, seated a bit farther back, were Apple CEO Tim Cook, Sam Altman of OpenAI and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew (later on Jan. 20, Trump issued an executive order delaying a federal ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform).

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Big Tech billionaires have a front row seat at Trumps inauguration. They have even better seats than Trumps own cabinet picks. That says it all, noted Massachusetts Sen. Elisabeth Warren on Musks X, suggesting we were watching what Joe Biden, in his final Oval Office speech on Jan. 15, had warned of: An oligarchy of the tech industrial complex whose extreme wealth, power, and influence  threatens our entire democracy.

Talk of a tech oligarchy running the entire U.S. economy may be overblown, even if it may not feel that way at the moment. The combined economic might of the Bezos/Zuckerberg/Musk empires account for less than 2 percent of total American GDP, per a tally from The Economist. Add in Apple and Alphabet, and that rises to 3.1 percent  hardly a controlling share. When it comes to Big Medias battle with tech for influence, however, its hard to be so sanguine. In the eight years since Trump first swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, the strength and reach of legacy outlets has fallen while the power of platforms has surged in comparison.

In the U.S. and in Europe, too, we have allowed an acute concentration of control over the media infrastructure to evolve, says Johnny Ryan, director of Enforce, a civil liberties group based in Ireland. Because of that error, we have allowed the emergence of oligarchs who have an enormous influence in how we all view the world, because they decide what our feeds look like. And they are now, it appears, servants of the incoming administration.

Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, among other dignitaries, on January 20, 2025.

Many of the same tech moguls crowding the rotunda, once vocal critics of Trump, are now keen to toe the MAGA line, hoping to shore up government contracts, benefit from a low-tax, low-regulation regime, and avoid being targeted by Trump for punishment. Over the course of a few days, Zuckerberg shelved Metas once-lauded fact-checking program; named prominent Republican Joel Kaplan chief global affairs officer, replacing liberal-leaning British ex-politico Nick Clegg; promoted UFC boss and Trump whisperer Dana White to Metas board; and scrapped DEI initiatives so despised by the conservative faithful. Bezos Washington Post robustly held Trumps feet to the fire during his first term, cataloging all 30,573 of the false or misleading claims he made during his presidency, then shied away from a presidential endorsement of Kamala Harris at the last minute of the campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whats left of the legacy media appears cowed by economic uncertainty  revenue slumps and accompanying job cuts mean fewer resources to throw at the resistance fight  and by years of intimation by Trump and his followers. In December, instead of fighting, ABC News opted to quickly settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over anchor George Stephanopoulos on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. ABC agreed to pay $15 million toward Trumps yet-to-be-built presidential library and cover Trumps legal costs, supposedly another $1 million. Earlier this month, in a separate defamation case, CNN was ordered to pay $5 million for defaming a private security contractor in a five-minute segment that ran on the network in 2021. The CNN case did not involve Trump but is a further indication of how public opinion has turned sharply against mainstream news organizations, just as financial constraints have made it harder for outlets to fend off lawsuits.

A bipartisan piece of legislation, the Protect Reporters From Exploitative State Spying Act, or PRESS Act, would have expanded press protections against government spying and the seizure of reporting materials, making it harder for a vengeful executive branch to crack down on reporting it doesnt agree with. It passed the House unanimously but, after Trump urged Republicans in Congress to kill it, was DOA on the Senate floor in December.

Then theres the FCC, now headed by Trump ally Brendan Carr. In his first week as FCC chair, Carr has revived complaints against ABC, NBC and CBS, again singing from Trumps hymn book, alleging liberal bias at the national networks. The complaints  one accusing NBC of violating federal fairness rules by featuring Harris in an SNL sketch four days before the election, one concerning ABC News handling of the September Trump-Harris debate, and one involving a CBS edit of a Harris interview for 60 Minutes  were all dismissed by former Democratic FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel. (NBC tried to blunt Trumps fury over Harris SNL appearance by giving him free airtime during a NASCAR race to talk to voters.) Rosenworcel also dismissed a fourth complaint, filed against Fox Corps Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, which argued, that after Fox News spread lies about the use of Dominion Voting Systems machines to steal the 2020 election for Biden, the Murdochs lacked the moral character needed to hold broadcast licenses. Carr agreed with that decision and did not revive the Fox complaint.

Its unclear if the complaints against the networks will move forward and, despite his saber-rattling during the campaign, if Trump would even be able to weaponize the FCC to revoke licenses from broadcasters that displease him. The fear of retribution alone, however, may be enough to silence Trumps critics. In November, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS claiming unlawful acts of election and voter interference in its editing of Harris 60 Minutes clip. Whatever the merits of the suit  legal experts have called it frivolous and dangerous  for CBS parent, Paramount, which is seeking federal approval for its $8 billion takeover by David Ellisons Skydance Media, it might be less hassle to settle than to fight and risk a Trump government blocking the merger. (On Trumps first full day in office, Davids father, Larry Ellison, joined the president to unveil a $500 billion AI initiative, sparking speculation about how the elder Ellison could smooth things over for his sons media deal.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More worrying still, for those concerned about a Trump-Big Tech alliance, is the lack of legal guardrails governing social media in the U.S. America is still largely working off Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which gives owners broad legal immunity from what goes up on their platforms.

Barring strong political opposition within the U.S., the best hope for resistance to the broligarchs could come from Europe. Over the past decade, the European Union has been active in setting up a legislative framework of laws designed to regulate and control online platforms that has given even Musk and Zuckerberg some pause with how they handle data. That legislative framework is an acronymic forest of laws including the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the General Data Protection Regulation, and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).

Europe has the most developed approach to platform regulation, says Lucas Graves, a professor of media and communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Whats not clear is if Europe has the political will to enforce the existing rules, especially given the rise of the same sort of Trumpist sentiments across much of the E.U.

This story first appeared in the Jan. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hundreds of Roman-era gold and silver coins were found in a field outside a village in the Netherlands, officials announced this week.

The coins are thousands of years old, the Netherlands' Cultural Heritage Agency said in a news release, and are a mix of Roman and British coins. Bunnik, the village where they were buried, was once along the northern border of the Roman Empire. It's the first time such a find has been made on the European mainland, the agency said, with the only other comparable discovery having been made in Great Britain.

Two metal detectorists made the discovery, then formally reported the coins to authorities. An archaeologist then examined the findings to confirm their veracity, and a larger excavation was conducted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The majority of the artifacts were Roman coins dated between 46 and 47 A.D., around the end of the first Roman conquests in Britain, and were primarily stamped with the portrait of the Emperor Claudius. Nearly 300 of the Roman coins are silver denarii, minted between 200 B.C. and 47 A.D. Some of those coins are stamped with unique portraits, including several of Julius Caesar and one with the face of Juba, the king of a Northern African region that is present-day Algeria, according to a news release from the National Museum of Antiquities in the Netherlands.

A Roman 'aureus', with a portrait of Emperor Claudius. / Credit: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Also found among the Roman coins were 72 gold aurei, dated from 18 B.C. to 47 A.D. Those coins show no signs of wear and likely came from a pile of freshly minted coins, according to the Cultural Heritage Agency.

Several dozen other coins, made of an alloy of gold, silver and copper, come from what is now Great Britain and were stamped with the face of the Celtic king Cunobelinus, who reigned between 9 and 40 A.D. The king's name was also inscribed on the coins, known as "staters."

The two sides of a British 'stater' bearing the name of King Cunobelinus. / Credit: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Roman soldiers returning home likely carried the coins from Britain to Bunnik, the agency said. The British coins may have been spoils of war, while the Roman coins were likely being carried as currency. They may have been buried to hide them temporarily, or as an offering to the gods, possibly as "an expression of gratitude to the gods for a safe return from battle," the agency said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cultural Heritage Agency said the find shows the importance of the Lower Germanic limes, or a series of fortification points along the border between the Roman Empire's Germanic provinces. The limes existed from 83 to about 260 A.D., according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and separated the empire from Germanic tribes. The coins show that Roman troops returning from Britain used these points as a route to return home.

The full stash of coins. / Credit: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Three hundred and eighty-one of the 404 coins were purchased by the National Museum of Antiquities. The coins can now be viewed as part of a permanent exhibition at the National Archaeology Collection, the agency said.

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street

U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
TORRINGTON, Conn. (WTNH)  A state employee was arrested on Monday for voter registration fraud, according to police.

Woman charged in Bridgeport absentee ballot controversy fired from city job

On Sept. 17, officers were made aware of a fraud complaint regarding voter registration cards that were altered after a national voting event at the Western CT Mental Health Network (WCMHN). The suspect was identified as 57-year-old Arlanda Brantley, who works with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brantley allegedly altered several voter registration cards, changing the affiliation party from No or Republican to Democrat. Brantley turned herself into police on Monday and was charged with five counts of fraudulent registration and five counts of primary or enrollment violations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRBL)  A retired Columbus lawmaker is received a high honor from his former Colleagues on Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta.

That service was honored when Smyres portrait was placed on a third-floor wall just outside the House chamber.

Smyre was elected to the Georgia House in 1974 and over the next five decades his influence and power as a lawmaker grew.

Smyre, a Columbus Democrat, was in numerous House leadership positions when the Democrats controlled state government. Two decades ago, when Republicans gained control of Georgia government, Smyre had considerable clout for his ability to work across party line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The portrait was painted by Columbus artist Steven Tette. We caught up with him inside the Capitol.

As an artist, what we want most is for our works to be seen and to be placed next to paintings that are 100 years old, 150 years old, said Tette. And know that this is an honor that happens every few decades, not every year means the world not only to me as a painter, but to my artistic career.

A portrait of former state Representative Calvin Smyre was unveiled under the Gold Dome this afternoon. Smyre served 48 years in those halls, and hes been out of the General Assembly for the last two years.

Smyre becomes just the seventh African American to have an official portrait hanging here in the state Capitol. The first was Martin Luther King Jr., back in 1974  the same year Smyre was elected.

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 WRBL.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  State lawmakers say theyre looking at all they can to help homeowners deal with sky-rocketing insurance rates. But experts say its a tough road ahead.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Because of massive disasters like the Lahaina wildfire and the fires in Los Angeles, insurance experts are predicting a grim future for insurance rates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I foresee the rates will stay high and depending on how the rest of 2025 goes, if we continue to see disasters that are worse than expected, then we will probably see higher rates in the future as well, said insurance agent Kendrick Nishiguchi.

One plan that lawmakers have to help is to resurrect the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund. But that admittedly has some hurdles.

HPIA is not set up to write condominium insurance, said Matt Chun, HPIA board chair at a joint committee hearing at the state capitol. Its a new, developing event, emerging event. I believe some of the catalyst is the Lahaina, Maui fires because what it did is, it made a lot of our standard carriers gunshy, re-evaluate what theyd like to write, and started to not wanna write some of these buildings.

HPIA is already operating but needs to be re-structured to help the current situation. But the Hurricane Relief Fund is starting from scratch and is still finalizing contract details with consultant AON.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres been no firm timeline, said Ed Haik, HHRF board chair at the same hearing. Were still in the contracting phase which really is not incumbent on hid or the board so far.

If you guys are not under contract yet, can you also start looking for a different company to contract with? Because this is, I mean, getting a little ridiculous I think, said Rep. Scot Matayoshi, House Consumer Protection & Commerce chair.

Its a difficult problem, said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, Senate Commerce & Consumer Protection chair. Its scary. You know if the state of Hawaii just started providing insurance to all homeowners statewide and we have another catastrophe, we could go bankrupt.

Lawmakers are looking at at least 10 insurance bills this session. While even they admit there might not be a silver bullet to the problem, they are looking at anything and everything to help.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

I think people need to temper their expecations a little too, Matayoshi said. I think people are expecting us come up with a silver bullet, but with the LA wildfires, with other natural disasters around the world really, the re-insurance market is gonna go up and I want people to just be prepared that the solution may not as immediate as theyd like.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nothings gonna come quickly enough, Keohokalole said. And were not likely be able to reduce prices back to what people remember, but we can try and provide some relief and stabilize the market.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Maryland State House steps. (File photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters)

Maryland leaders are scrambling to understand the scope of a sudden freeze in federal funding announced this week by President Donald Trump, a move that could cost the state billions in assistance and upend research industries.

Leaders across the country got a reprieve when U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Loren L. AliKhan stepped in and delayed until next week the freeze that was originally scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the meantime, Gov. Wes Moore (D) said his administration will be working through what the policy could mean for Maryland both in the short term and the long term.

I know the judge just issued a temporary freeze to block the freeze until Monday, Moore said Tuesday at a gathering with environmental lobbyists in Annapolis, to enthusiastic applause. And while we will continue to monitor the situation, I want people to know this: This chaos will not go unanswered.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said his office had joined 22 other states who sued the Trump administration over the presidents order to pause payments for 90 days in what Moore characterized as an completely ideological funding freeze.

The freeze was ordered Monday night by the Office of Management and Budget which said the delay was needed to review payments to make sure they aligned with the Trump agenda, including opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, woke gender ideology and the greeen new deal. The Monday night memo said payments to individuals would not be affected, specifically naming Medicare and Social Security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That left a lot of programs the freeze could still apply to, which put state and local officials in a panic.

Follow-up communications from the Trump administrated added to the confusion with contradictory information on which programs were exempt from the funding pause. A second memo that it was not a freeze on all federal assistance and certain programs, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), would continue without pause.

The pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest, the follow-up memo said.

Any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause, the memo said.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite that reassurance, Maryland Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott told lawmakers that the state website to receive federal funds for Medicaid reimbursements was not functional as of Tuesday morning  an outage that affected all 50 states, according to news reports. Maryland health officials said they had regained access to the Medicaid payment system as of Tuesday evening, but the website is not functioning correctly.

It was unclear Tuesday night if the Medicaid payment outage was related to the freeze, said state Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard), who had asked Herrera Scott about the outage. But he believes the disruption in the Medicaid payment portal indicates that the rapidly announced pause wasnt well thought through.

Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said that while he agreed with Trumps effort to streamline government and foster private sector growth and  reassess government spending, the way it was executed seemed risky, particularly in a state like Maryland, where the biotech industry uses federal grants to fund new research.

Maryland boasts the third-largest biotech ecosystem in the country, with many private sector companies conducting groundbreaking research that directly impacts patient health and quality of life, Hershey said in a written statement. Cutting the research funding these innovators depend on and use to leverage investments in their companies seems risky. While it may be acceptable to reduce research funding for major universities, its crucial to maintain economic support for small businesses driving innovation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Condemnation of Trumps move was swift.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Make no mistake  this move by the Trump Administration is an illegal abuse of power, violating Congresss approval of these funds, said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a statement Tuesday morning. From supporting our local firefighters and first responders to assisting victims of domestic violence to removing lead in our water and improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay  every day, federal grants provide critical resources to our communities. This action only serves to hurt our communities, and I will fight against it with everything Ive got.

U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) echoed Van Hollen, saying the administrations proposed freeze would devastate hardworking Marylanders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Countless have already called my office today afraid of what this means for them, for their kids, for their families, she said in a prepared statement. These funds support our local police departments that keep our communities safe, hospitals that keep people alive, food programs like SNAP that feed hungry kids, veterans in need of housing after serving this nation, and more.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman said in a statement Tuesday evening that the federal government awarded more than $23 billion to the state of Maryland in fiscal 2023, money she said is essential to our states continued economic viability.

But that threat has been delayed until at least next week, when AliKhan has called for a hearing on efforts to block the freeze.

In the meantime, Moore was leaving the church were Tuesday nights environmental summit was held and heading to a conference call with county and municipal officials from across the state, along with leaders of the Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland Municipal League  both Republicans and Democrats, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The answer to instability in Washington is going to be clear and calm and steady leadership of our own, Moore added.

If the federal funding freeze returns next week, Maryland lawmakers would be back to figuring out how to continue affected programs while also grappling with the states current $3 billion budget deficit. As of now, the state has very little room to backfill federal grant funds if the pause continues Monday.

Ive said earlier that when the federal government coughs, Maryland gets pneumonia. This is a prime example of that, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) told reporters Tuesday morning. It seems like a rather draconian approach to governance.

When asked if the state would have to adjust its budget plan, Ferguson said early conversations about spending have anticipated volatility from the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor certainly anticipated in his budget that there could be more impacts from the [Trump] administration. But, he conceded, I dont think anybody thought that a 90-day stoppage would be on the table, but here we areIts top-to-bottom. Its school systems, its fire departments, its police departments.

 Reporter Josh Kurtz contributed to this report.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  State Representative George Brown is proposing for Kentucky to remove a slavery exception from its constitution through House Bill 121.

Officials with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission say under Section 25 of the states constitution, slavery is outlawed except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Rep. Brown says he hopes to strike that language from the Kentucky Constitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is no reason for slavery or involuntary servitude to have any type of legal protection, says Rep. Brown. Kentucky needs to join the nine other states that have already taken this step, including Tennessee and Alabama, and to be an inspiration for the 40 others that have yet to do this.

It is said House Bill 121 will be considered during the ongoing legislative session, which is set to conclude in March.

(Courtesy: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission) (Courtesy: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission) (Courtesy: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission)

Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The Georgia poultry industry is facing a threat known as bird flu, after the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed a positive case at a commercial poultry operation in Elbert County, Ga.

After the confirmation, the department suspended all poultry activities in the state of Georgia.

President of the Georgia Poultry Federation, Mike Giles, told News 3 the $40 billion industry must be protected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The goal of the response is to act immediately, to secure the site, to make sure that the virus doesnt spread to other areas and other parts of the state, Giles said.

Giles said the effect on commercial meat and egg production in Georgia has been minimal. However, nationwide, dozens of egg farms have taken a hit causing egg prices to rise.

Measles case confirmed in Atlanta, first in Georgia for 2025

Since late October, weve lost in the nation about 33 million egg laying hens, he said.

The poultry industry isnt the only thing affected; people are also at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed one death linked to bird flu.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News 3 also spoke to Memorial Health Internal Medicine Physican Dr. Timothy Connelly, about the virus effect on people. Connelly said while human cases arent common, health experts are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Theres a lot of concern in birds in the media about this specific strain of influenza. Its one of the worst ones that we have seen in how it is usually transmitted, Connelly said. If it does jump to humans more commonly and if we do see human to human transmission, it has the potential to be very, very bad.

Giles said that people should not be worried about their chicken consumption. He told News 3 chickens are tested for bird flu long before they reach your local grocery stores.

From a consumer standpoint, they should have confidence that the chicken produced in Georgia is safe and wholesome to eat, Giles said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the CDC, the virus is transmitted by bird to human contact. Several recent human cases were in dairy and poultry workers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON (WWLP)  The Massachusetts Board of Education met on Tuesday to work on a new set of regulations to ensure all Massachusetts high school graduates have hit their learning benchmarks.

Education Board inches toward vocational school reforms

Students in Massachusetts high schools will still take the MCAS, but it will no longer determine whether they are able to graduate. Instead, each student will need to meet certain competency benchmarks in areas like English and math.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Board of Education is still working on how to define competency to make sure students are held to the same standard. The State is also considering adding additional competency areassuch as US and world historybut is adamant that the MCAS will not be replaced by another test, but instead by coursework and teacher recommendations.

According to the boards vice chair Matt Hills, almost 1,500 current high school seniors have failed to pass the MCAS AND coursework requirements.

We have a really immediate problem, to stick that requirement in front of a student in the middle of grade 12 is problematic at best. I dont even know how a district deals with it, Hills said.

As of now, one solution the board is considering is issuing waivers to current high school seniors to allow them to graduate as the state continues to work out new regulations. The board expects to present its first set of new regulations as early as next month, with the hopes of having the requirements apply to the graduating class of 2026.

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.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A suspected drunk driver crashed into a Michigan State Police cruiser that was stopped on I-75 near Saginaw Wednesday morning, destroying the vehicle. The trooper was not in the cruiser when it was hit.

State Police trooper injured when suspected drunk driver hit cruiser. (Photo: Michigan State Police) State Police trooper injured when suspected drunk driver hit cruiser. (Photo: Michigan State Police)

State Police said the crash happened around 6:45 Wednesday morning when a trooper was outside of his cruiser investigating an earlier and unrelated crash, but had to jump out of the path of the vehicle.

The trooper did receive minor injuries while jumping out of the way, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Police said in a social media post, The at-fault driver that struck the patrol car was arrested for suspected Operating While Intoxicated.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ahead of the upcoming Union Budget, Kerala Minister of Law P Rajeev has urged the Union government to allocate more funds for the state's infrastructure and its transition to a knowledge-based economy in the upcoming Union Budget. "We are not getting sufficient grants and benefits from the Union government," Rajeev said, emphasizing the need for increased financial support. He highlighted Kerala's shift towards becoming a knowledge society and stressed that infrastructure development requires greater assistance from the Centre. "A major demand is for infrastructure activities and also for supporting the transformation to the knowledge economy... We are expecting a positive response in the budget this time," he added. Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju announced on Monday that the government has called an all-party meeting on January 30. He also appealed for the cooperation of opposition leaders in holding smooth discussions in the House during the upcoming session. The Minister was speaking during his visit to Prayagraj on Monday. He took a holy dip during the ongoing Maha Kumbh. On the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, Rijiju told ANI, "On 31st January, the Budget session of Parliament will start. Before it, on 30th January, we have called an all-party meeting." Kiren Rijiju also referred to the previous winter session of Parliament. "In the last two sessions, there was some 'hungama' in the Parliament which created a poor image of our Parliament. I want to appeal to Opposition leaders and other MPs to take part and hold discussions in Parliament during the session. If the Opposition allows the Parliament to run, then discussions can happen easily," he added. He expressed hope that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would present a good and balanced budget. "Everyone is hopeful that a good Budget will be presented. On 31st January, the President will address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. On 1st February, the Union Budget will be presented," he added. The budget session of Parliament will begin on January 31 and, according to schedule, will end on April 4. The budget will be presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on January 31. Parliament will have an inter-session break from February 14, and the two Houses will resume their sittings on March 10. (ANI)
With the Georgia legislative session getting into full swing, four Republican senators signed on as co-sponsors for a state expansion of Medicaid.

The senators, Billy Hickman of Statesboro, Russ Goodman of Cogdell, Sam Watson of Moultrie and Carden Summers of Cordele, joined 18 of their Democratic colleagues to sponsor the legislation.

The State Office of Rural Health has a map of Georgias 159 counties, color-coded by the availability of medical options for their populations. The counties for each of the senators who signed on to the bill from the Republican side of the aisle are in rural, medically underserved areas, meaning they have a shortage of primary care services for patients.

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

The legislation, Senate Bill 50, would expand access to medical coverage to Georgians making less than 138% of the federal poverty limit and would request a waiver to do so from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The expansion would allow for the full payment of any premiums or other direct costs associated with enrolling in qualified healthcare plans for those in the low-income group mentioned. The legislation would also create an 11-member advisory council for the PeachCare Plus program.

Georgia is one of 10 states in the U.S. that has not adopted Medicaid expansions resulting from the Affordable Care Act.

It is time that we stand up in Georgia, Sen. David Lucas, of Macon, said at a Tuesday news briefing. Across Democratic and Republican lines, not only do we need to be one of the donor states, but we need to be one of the states that benefits ... Some of our counterparts from across (the aisle) are joining us to help provide healthcare insurance for Georgians. You have to realize one thing, its about families.

Lucas said that Medicaid expansion was not about work, it is about healthcare. He said expansion of Medicaid in Georgia could help half a million residents in the state receive medical coverage.

RELATED STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats the reason that we have put our efforts behind trying to make sure that half a million Georgians can receive healthcare. The plan the government has, you dont see anyone running to jump on the plan, Lucas added. Weve spent $29 million, we have about 4,200 folks who have signed up. The premiums are high and there is a work requirement. Its time that we, as legislators, see about the people of Georgia.

Harold V. Jones II, the minority leader and senator for Augusta, said that for the current session, having bipartisan support was helping them pursue the expansion.

We have bipartisanship, thats number one. The fact that we know rural hospitals are closing, thats number two, thats something thats real. Those are some things that are real and happening, Jones said. We know rural hospitals are closing. Now we have bipartisan buy-in, we know that Georgia actually lags behind the national average as far as doctors are concerned, also lags behind the national average as far as nurses are concerned, because of the fact that our reimbursement rates really are not there.

I think when the facts are there, and as long as were pushing the issue openly, we welcome bipartisanship, we welcome dialogue. I think as long as we push this issue in good fashion, we can get the governor on board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since taking office, Gov. Brian Kemp has been steadfast in his refusal to consider expanding Medicaid in Georgia.

He has promoted a test-piloted health coverage program called Pathways to Coverage, which introduced work requirements for some Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries, making Georgia the first state in the country to do so successfully.

That test pilot program ends in September, and Kemp has announced one of his priorities for the current legislative session is to expand who is eligible for Pathways. State officials have said Pathways could cover about 200,000 people, but the latest data from Georgia officials said the program had covered 8,385, a jump from the previously confirmed total of 5,120 near the end of October.

As Channel 2 Action News reported previously, the number of eligible Georgians who applied for the program was closer to 100,000 as of August, but just a fraction of them had proceeded to receive coverage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the start of the legislative session, Kemp said he wanted to expand Pathways to Coverage by adding a new qualifying activity, which would allow more families access to enroll.

Kemps office said the new activity would provide Medicaid coverage to parents and legal guardians in households with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level who have children ages 0-6 - furthering the states focus on healthy families, improving maternal and child health, and supporting parents who are trying to get back in the workforce but struggling due to lack of health insurance.

If Georgia does expand Medicaid, it would leave Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming as those who have not opted into the federal program and funds available for their residents.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
MEMPHIS, Tenn  Since the call for the possible state takeover of the MSCS school board, some Shelby County Commissioners are saying the time is right for state intervention.

A state takeover was threatened by Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton earlier this month if Dr. Marie Feagins was fired as superintendent.

Last Tuesday, the MSCS school board terminated Dr. Feagins contract.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Litigation over leadership: What led to Feagins being fired by MSCS school board?

I do think it is the right time. Its nothing that I wanted to see necessarily, or really the public did, said Mick Wright, Shelby County Commissioner. But I think all of us are aware that something has to happen. We need some kind of intervention.

I think, after what we saw in the abrupt firing of Dr. Feagins, which has the community, teachers, students, everyone completely upset feeling like the rugs been pulled out from under us, and our hope has been stolen, said Amber Mills, Shelby County Commissioner. I think they (state lawmakers) absolutely should look down here and look at what they can do to help.

WREG has learned Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris was in Nashville Monday speaking with state lawmakers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harris recently told WREG he hopes the General Assembly will slow down their takeover efforts.

I plan on talking to Mark White about how we all can pull back and look forward, said Harris. I know the feelings are raw in this community, but were going to have to move forward, and theres too much at stake.

Dr. Feagins to let attorney speak for her after contract termination

State Representative Mark White is drafting a bill that would allow the Department of Education to create a management group to run Memphis-Shelby County Schools without oversight by the school board.

I think that it is our obligation to see if we can intervene and change things, said White. Its gotten to the point that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state has already come into Memphis and Shelby County and taken over schools (Achievement School District) and did a poor job, and we have children wholl never recover from that, said TN Representative G.A. Hardaway.

You know, public has lost confidence, said Wright. The County Commission, by a vote has lost confidence in the School Board, so it really is time for an intervention.

Some Memphis leaders say theyre hoping to have more talks with state lawmakers to avoid a state takeover.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Tables have turned for a state trooper as hes now facing criminal charges for allegedly making up a shooting. The former New York trooper was allegedly looking for attention or sympathy, according to a criminal complaint, after officials say an investigation into a reported shooting unexpectedly took a turn.



It all started in October 2024 when Thomas Mascia initiated a radio transmission for shots fired while on duty, according to the complaint obtained by ABC News. The 27-year-old officer then claimed he was shot by the driver of a black Dodger Charger described as either a Black or dark-skinned Hispanic male.

The alleged crime scene was temporarily shut down by state police in an effort to locate the non-existent shooters, causing alarm and inconvenience to the public, the complaint said. A multi-state manhunt was launched, involving law enforcement from New York, New Jersey and Delaware, said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. She also added during a recent news conference Mascia allegedly staged the Oct. 30 shooting after hours of preparation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 27-year-old allegedly dropped nine .22-caliber shell casings at the scene and later drove to Hempstead Lake State Park where he shot himself in the leg, according to NBC News. Then, Mascia allegedly brought the same gun to his home before driving back to the parkway and reporting he had been shot, according to officials.

The evidence uncovered and the absence of evidence told us everything we needed to know, the district attorney said. Even though Mascia tried to hide his tracks, it didnt take long for everyone to uncover that his harrowing story was nothing more than an elaborate work of fiction.



An investigation into the matter was conducted by state police and the district attorneys office, according to ABC. They soon found no evidence to back Mascias testimony and a subsequent search of Mascias home, where he lived with his parents, only got him into deeper trouble.



A second firearm was found in his home, but the problem is his father, Thomas, is a convicted felon, making it illegal for him to be in possession of a gun, said Donnelly. Both Thomas and his wife, Dorothy, consequently turned themselves into police on Monday (Jan. 27) for criminal possession of a firearm charges, according to the district attorneys office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mascia also surrendered himself to police, according to a spokesperson for the Nassau County District Attorneys Office. Now, hes been charged with tampering with evidence, false reporting of a crime and official misconduct, according to reports.



Jeffrey Lichtman, a lawyer for the Mascia family said There are many less severe and less dangerous ways to garner sympathy that dont include shooting oneself, he said. This case is a tragedy that was caused by unseen and untreated mental health issues. And now an entire family is suffering for it as they usually do in such situations.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
After losing access to a Medicaid federal funding portal after an aid freeze by the Trump administration, states say theyre regaining access, but some are reporting that the site isnt functioning correctly.

One day after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo stating agencies must halt all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance, state Medicaid offices reported they had lost access to the payment portal through which federal funds are drawn.

In October 2024, nearly 80 million people were enrolled in Medicaid, more than 37 million of whom were children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House said it was aware of the problem later on Tuesday afternoon. By late afternoon, several states, including Connecticut, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Maryland, had confirmed to The Hill that their access had been restored.

According to Alex Huseman, public information officer for the Alaska Department of Health, her department was unaware of any lapses in access to the federal payment portal on Tuesday, with operations functioning as normal when contacted by The Hill.

Though an OMB memo issued on Tuesday stated that any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process, state offices contacted by The Hill detailed disruptions in their Medicaid programs.

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health said, OMBs updated Q&A document makes it clear that mandatory programs like Medicaid will continue without pause. However, like other states, we have seen issues today accessing HHS Payment Management System, which is used to support a multitude of health programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though states reported regaining access, some noted there appeared to be issues with the portal.

Amanda Stevens, public information and communications officer for the Hawaii Department of Human Services, told The Hill that the portal was slower than usual after access was regained.

Chase Cook, director of communications for the Maryland Department of Health, confirmed in a statement to The Hill that access to the Medicaid Payment Management System was temporarily lost on Tuesday.

While we have regained access, the site is not functioning correctly. The system is critical to ensuring timely reimbursement for health care provided to Medicaid patients, noted Cook. We are continuing to test the site and hope that further functionality is restored amid these conflicting directives from the federal government.

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.
A CNN interview took an odd turn when a senior White House adviser called out federal employees who voted for Kamala Harris in the last election.

The interview between CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Stephen Miller, President Donald Trumps deputy chief of staff for policy, was full of back-and-forth exchanges between the pair.

In one tense moment, Miller steered his Tuesday interview on The Lead away from the federal funding freeze to talk about government employees political leanings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tapper was clarifying whether Trumps sudden order to halt funding for grants and loans would affect free school lunches when Miller decided to raise a different point.

I want to really drill down on this, Jake, because its so important, Miller opened. Theres two million employees in the federal government. Overwhelmingly, the career federal service in this country is far left, left-wing.

When Tapper countered that he did not know that to be a fact, Miller said 98% of USAID employees donated to either Harris or another left-wing candidate in the last election.

via REUTERS

But now youre demonizing an entire workforce as having Tapper began to say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wait, woah woah woah woah, Miller responded. Did you just say that saying someone voted for Kamala Harris is demonizing them?

Tapper retorted that Miller was suggesting theres a bias among federal workers.

You used the word demonizing. You just said that Im demonizing somebody by saying they voted for Kamala Harris, Miller said.

The CNN anchor tried to get the interview back on track, but Miller had just a bit more to say about federal workers politics.

I am on track, let me stay on track, Miller replied.

The Trump adviser insisted it was necessary for the president to get control of government, including people who review spending on grants and projects not directed by Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This might be something like saying, I want to build a $500-million fountain in the courtyard of the Department of Commerce... This might be something like saying, I want to fund gender studies in Afghanistan. There has to be political control and review, he said.

The White House earlier clarified that individual assistance such as Social Security benefits, Medicaid benefits, and food stamps were not covered by Trumps broad order freezing funding for federal grants and loans.

The interview then took a number of abrupt turns; at one point, Tapper told Miller, I dont know what youre talking about.
Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller on Tuesday orchestrated a silly gotcha attempt on CNN host Jake Tapper that failed miserably. (Watch the video below.)

The two were arguing over the presidents freeze on federal funding  a possibly unconstitutional move that was blocked temporarily by a judge.

Trump had attempted to halt billions in government spending for schools, states and organizations to conduct ideological reviews of the programs presumably to root them out if they are perceived as liberal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overwhelmingly, the career federal service in this country is far-left, left-wing, said Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff.

I dont know that to be a fact, Tapper said.

Well, Ill give you a great example, Miller replied. We looked at [the U.S. Agency for International Development] as an example. Ninety-eight percent of the workforce either donated to Kamala Harris or another left-wing candidate. Just as an example. Miller didnt offer proof of his claim.

Said Tapper: OK, but demonizing an entire workforce as having a ... 

Thats when Miller falsely and cynically tried to twist the exchange into a faux pax on Tappers part.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Did you just say that saying someone voted for Kamala Harris is demonizing them? Miller said with a laugh.

No, your suggestion is that there is a bias, Tapper said.

But you used the word demonizing, Miller said. You just said that Im demonizing somebody by saying they voted for Kamala Harris.

Lets get back on track, a frustrated Tapper pleaded.

I am on track, Miller shot back.

STEPHEN MILLER: There's 2 million employees in the federal govt. Overwhelmingly the career federal service in this country is far left. Left wing



TAPPER: You're demonizing an entire workforce



MILLER: Wait, woah woah woah woah!



TAPPER: Let's get back on track



MILLER: I am on pic.twitter.com/nz1yhFCJzG  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 28, 2025

Related...
**Related video above: Find swimming safety tips

BRAZIL (WJW)  The stepmother of a toddler who drowned in a washing machine in 2022 is now reportedly being charged in the childs death, according to multiple Brazilian outlets.

Suzana Dazar dos Santos, is being charged by the Public Ministry of Parana  the Brazilian state where the death occurred  with qualified homicide, CNN Brasil reported.

Baby found abandoned on freezing street with umbilical cord still attached; now in critical condition

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Isabelly Oliveira Assumpcao, who was 3 years old at the time of her death, was reportedly playing in the washroom unaccompanied when she fell inside the appliance, according to a judiciary complaint obtained by CNN Brasil.

The complaint alleges the stepmother placed a bench in front of the washer and put toys in the machine to entice the girl. TV news station G1 also said the complaint alleges the death was motivated by jealousy. The girls parents were still close, which reportedly bothered the suspect.

Santos attorney told G1 his client had a good relationship with the child and that the death was an accident.

WATCH: Olympic kite surfer saves drowning woman

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nothing will repair the loss, having lost her, but justice will calm our hearts a little. [] Due to the evidence that we have, that has come and that is yet to come, we believe that they are absolutely right. These recent times have not been easy for us, because it is an irreparable loss, I can say that I do not want anyone to go through what we went through, but I want justice to be served, the childs father Alex dos Santos Assumpcao, said in a translated interview with RPC Cascavel.

The case 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Jan. 29STERLING  The Sterling Fire Department is moving forward with plans to address the "severe operational issues" of its apparatus and vehicles.

Sterling Fire Chief Forrest Reeder told the Sterling City Council in October that over the past four years, the department had spent over $400,000 trying to fix several of its vehicles with severe operational issues. To make matters worse, Reeder said, the vehicles experiencing the majority of these problems are arguably some of the most important in the fleet, Truck/Tower 4 and Engines 3 and 5.

Reeder said the department had spent over $200,000, or just over two-thirds of the original purchase price, on repairs for Truck/Tower 4. Additionally, the department had also spent nearly two-thirds the original purchase price of Engines 3 and 5 trying to maintain and fix them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city and fire department were faced at the time with making decisions on how to upgrade the fire equipment.

Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt recently spoke with Shaw Local about plans the department has since developed.

'The Twins'

These two fire engines were aptly nicknamed by SFD for sharing many of the same repair issues.

Engine 3 is currently in Wisconsin for several repairs, including a new motor, front intake and rear discharge. Northcutt said he expects to have it back sometime in February, hoping that the repairs will extend its use another eight years.

Engine 3 was purchased in December 2021 for $150,000. Its first major repair followed almost a year later with a repair bill of almost $28,000. Since its purchase, it has cost the department more than $75,000 in repairs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Engine 5 was purchased just a few weeks later, in January 2022, for $150,000. It also needed its first significant repair a year after being purchased, at a cost of $28,000. The department has spent just more than $119,000 repairing the engine since its purchase.

Engine 5 is currently in service but the SFD is considering selling it once Engine 3 is repaired, with plans to put that money toward the purchase of a new aerial ladder truck.

Truck/Tower 4

Northcutt said the department's only truck with an aerial ladder has been back on the streets and is running as it should. He said he was recently given approval from city officials to start putting together specifications for a new aerial ladder truck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"That doesn't mean we're purchasing one yet," Northcutt said. "We're putting together some specifications and narrowing it down to a couple of different companies for manufacturing. Depending on the price and availability, we're still looking at approximately 18 to 24 months due to some EPA requirements on emissions."

On Aug. 5, 2021, the EPA launched a three-year plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants from heavy-duty trucks through a progressive series of rules. The Clean Trucks Plan was completed in March, with the signing of the final two rules focusing on greenhouse gases for heavy-duty engines and emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles.

Supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a backlog of apparatus orders that have increased wait times for these vehicles.

On a positive note, Northcutt said that once it is completed, the new aerial ladder truck will have improved safety features, such as roll protection and electronic stabilization, that the current truck does not possess.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another feature Northcutt would like the truck to have is a jib  a small, adjustable arm attached to the main ladder boom allowing firefighters to extend their reach into narrow spaces or maneuver around obstacles.

Depending on the final specifications and manufacturer, Northcutt anticipates the new truck could cost upward of $2 million.

Truck/Tower 4 was purchased in May 2021 for $319,000. Its first significant repair occurred a little over a year later, in August 2022, at a cost of $9,200, with other substantial repairs following only a year later. The truck has cost the department more than $200,000 in repairs since its purchase.

The SFD is also building a new water tender truck, which Northcutt expects to have sometime in April or May. Tender trucks transport large amounts of water to fire scenes, especially in rural areas without readily available access to fire hydrants.

Once they have the new tender truck, he said both Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments plan to pool their money to make improvements on Sterling's current tender truck, which will then be used as a backup for both departments.
With the start of the 2025 regular session of the Oklahoma Legislature less than a week away, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a renewed call on Wednesday for lawmakers to reduce the states income tax by 0.5% and to create a path toward a day when the state might completely eliminate income tax.

Stitt has for years supported reducing the income tax, which now stands at 4.75% for those earning more than $7,200. But he ran into opposition last year from former Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, who didnt bring Stitts idea  which had been approved by the House of Representatives  to the floor for a vote.

The Senate did agree last year to eliminate the states grocery tax, a move Stitt praised. But he said Wednesday he, again, wants an income tax cut this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My goal is this  Ive been saying it for six years now  we need more taxpayers, not more taxes, Stitt said. Every time weve cut taxes, weve seen our revenue actually increase. When we give money back to the taxpayer, the money doesnt disappear. It just stays in the citizens pockets. I believe that they can spend their money better than the government can.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks Wednesday in the Blue Room at the Capitol. He renewed the call for a state income tax cut.

My goal this year is a half and a path  half-a-point tax cut and a path to zero. Were not cutting core services. But what that will do is it limits the growth of government.  We cant just keep raising the base level of expenses. We need to give that money back to the taxpayers.

In December, the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization projected the Legislature will have about $8.229 billion to allocate this year, and that board will meet again in February to provide a final estimate of money available to the Legislature for budget purposes.

Meanwhile, Oklahomas executive agencies have asked for funding that adds up to about $13.35 billion. Stitt, who called for those agencies to issue flat budget requests this year  most, obviously, did not  said he can easily square agencies asking for larger budgets with a tax cut.

Gov. Kevin Stitt met the media Wednesday at the Capitol. The governor said in addition to a state income tax cut, he also wants taxes on businesses cut by 0.5%.

Government will spend every dime that you give them, he said. Theres never a shortage of good ideas. People come to you every year, and they want more. If you give them more taxpayer money, look how much more good they think they can do. But there has to be a limit on it.

Without Treat, Senate may be more receptive to personal income tax cuts

Treat exited the Senate last year due to term limits, and it appears the Senate will be more receptive to Stitts proposal this year. The first bill filed in the Senate for this session, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would reduce Oklahoma's personal income tax rate by one-quarter of a percentage point every year until the rate equals zero.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new Senate president pro tempore, Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said Wednesday he agrees with Stitt that we should prioritize the taxpayer and find a way to give them relief in the form of a tax cut. I philosophically believe that Oklahomans shouldn't be taxed for their work. How we do it is going to be an ongoing conversation throughout this session. I look forward to working with the House and governor's office on this issue over the coming months."

New House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, noted that the grocery tax elimination was the largest tax cut in Oklahoma history, accomplished while the state increased its savings accounts "to historic levels." But on Wednesday, he didn't commit to either this year.

"The preliminary Board of Equalization numbers show we likely cannot continue to do both of those things simultaneously this year, so the Legislature is prepared to make tough decisions about how to spend taxpayer dollars wisely as we enter into a projected downturn in recurring revenue for the first time in several years," Hilbert said.

"Luckily, prudent budgeting strategies have put our state in a stronger cash position than ever before. ... We will review the governors proposed budget on Monday and discussions are already underway with the governor and Senate on the best way to craft a balanced FY-26 budget given the state's current economic conditions."

Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks Wednesday in the Blue Room at the Capitol. My goal is this  Ive been saying it for six years now  we need more taxpayers, not more taxes, Stitt said.

David Hamby, the communications director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute  a nonpartisan think tank  said that based on modeling from the national Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a 0.5% tax cut to the income tax could reduce state revenue by more than $660 million annually, which is more than 5% of the appropriated state revenue for the current fiscal year. The Oklahoma Policy Institute said the lowest 20% of Oklahoma households (those making up to $24,700) would get back about $15 from such a tax cut, the middle 20% (households earning between $46,300 to $79,700) would get back about $180, and the highest 1% (making $683,500 and above) would get back about $5,860.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also during his news conference on Wednesday, Stitt said he appreciated the Legislature establishing a business-court framework last year  he said those courts would be live by 2026. He said he also wants taxes on businesses cut by 0.5%.

We want to signal to the business community that Oklahoma is the place to be headquartered, Oklahoma is the place for rule of law, Stitt said, adding another reduction in business taxes would signal to businesses that they can set up and they can be successful here.

The legislative session is scheduled to begin Monday.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Kevin Stitt again calls for an income tax cut for Oklahomans
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Marine Corp veteran from Vancouver was reunited with his prized bicycle on Jan. 23, roughly eight months after the bike was reported stolen.

The owner of the bike, Javier Romo, built the bike himself and estimated its worth $5,000 when he reported it stolen in May of 2024. The bike was found on Dec. 5, when Happy Valley Police served a search warrant on an apartment.

Happy Valley investigators were able to secure a warrant to search an apartment where they believed the bicycle was located, the Happy Valley Police Department said. During the operation, they recovered a stolen bicycle and various parts belonging to a Marine Corps veteran from Vancouver.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Portland restaurant named one of the most romantic in US, according to OpenTable

Although the bike was found in pieces, a local community service officer reassembled the bike before returning it to Romo.

A sheriffs office community service officer, who has experience working on bicycles, identified and recovered several of Mr. Romos bicycle parts that had been installed on a different bike, the Happy Valley Police Department said. The officer then reassembled the parts onto Mr. Romos bicycle.

PPBs SERT responds to Southeast Portland standoff

A suspect was interviewed at the apartment where the bike was found and a first-degree theft charge was sent to the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office for consideration in the case.

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.
Uttarakhand government on Wednesday released toll-free numbers to assist its citizens attending the Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. In a post on X, the office of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "In continuation of the instructions of the Honourable Chief Minister Shri @pushkardhami ji, toll-free numbers have been issued by the state government for the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Bath to assist the people of Uttarakhand." "People who have gone to Maha Kumbh from the state can get any kind of help by calling toll-free numbers--1070, 8218867005, and 90584 41404," the post further reads. https://x.com/OfficeofDhami/status/1884478144348094905 Meanwhile, Mahakumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna said that the police are looking into the causes of the stampede-like situation that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Vaibhav Krishna said that Amrit Snan is about to begin and police and administration will assist all the akharas in completing their traditional processions. "Amrit Snan is about to begin... Everything will be carried out traditionally... The police and administration will assist all the Akharas in their traditional processions... The situation is under control. We are looking into the causes of this morning's incident. It happened because of a huge rush of devotees. More than 10 crore devotees are expected to arrive," DIG said. SSP Kumbh Mela Rajesh Dwivedi said, "There was no stampede. It was just overcrowding due to which some devotees got injured. The situation is completely under control. No kind of rumours must be paid heed to... Amrit Snan will soon begin... All preparations for Amrit Snan have been made... Many ghats have been developed and people are easily taking a dip in those ghats... I don't have numbers on casualties or injuries..." A stampede-like situation arose at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several injuries. This incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which is also the day of the Second Shahi Snan. Meanwhile, after a brief halt following the incident, saints continue to arrive, though in smaller processions, at the Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. 42.4 million devotees have already taken holy dip at Triveni till 12 pm. (ANI)
A Just Stop Oil protester accused of damaging Stonehenge asked for her trial not to clash with her university exams.

Niamh Lynch, 22, is accused alongside fellow JSO protester Rajan Naidu, 74, of damaging the historic site in June last year.

The pair allegedly threw powder over the ancient monument in Wiltshire just before the summer solstice.

Appearing at Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday, Ms Lynch and Mr Naidu denied one count of destroying or damaging an ancient monument and one count of intentionally causing a public nuisance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But during discussions to fix a trial date, Audrey Mogan, defending, asked that May and June are avoided for Ms Lynchs studies.

Ms Mogan said: Niamh Lynch is an ornithology student at the University of Oxford; she requests it is not a trial during May and June as thats when her exams are.

Niamh Lynch, right, is accused alongside fellow JSO protester Rajan Naidu of vandalising Stonehenge - PA

A third protester, Luke Watson, 35, is jointly accused with Lynch and Naidu but did not appear at court.

A 10-day trial will be held in October this year.

His Honour Judge Rufus Taylor told Lynch and Naidu: Your trial will be on October 20 at Winchester Crown Court, keep in touch with your solicitors because they will want your counsel. You must attend your trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Previously it has been reported that Ms Lynch was a geography student at the University of Oxford and a youth representative at the British Trust for Ornithology, which is the study of birds.

A website for Oxfords Nature Conservation Society states she is co-president. On the page, she says: Hello Im Niamh, a third-year geographer.

My favourite Oxford bird is the Swift, my favourite Oxford flower is the Bee-Orchid, and my favourite Oxford place is Boundary Brook.

Ms Lynch is from Turvey, Bedfordshire, Mr Naidu is from Birmingham, and Mr Watson is from Manuden, Essex.

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.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  You ask, we answer!

Viewer Question: Why do areas that dont have OCWA water services still pay an Onondaga County water tax?

This question came from a viewer named David, who lives in the Town of Pompey and has well water on his property.

So why the tax? According to Onondaga County and OCWA (Central New Yorks Water Authority), everyone pays, because everyone benefits.

The county water tax was instituted in the 1960s in connection with the Onondaga County Water Districts buildout of the water supply system from Lake Ontario. The feeling was that even people not directly connected to the water system would benefit from public water being supplied to the area. The tax pays for the debt associated with building out the facilities to deliver water to Onondaga County, A spokesperson for OCWA said in an email to the Your Stories Team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson with the Onondaga County Executives office said something similar, but added a few more details:

The county decided in the 1960s that all property owners are benefitted the presence of public water  it spurred economic development that created jobs, etc. Also, people benefit when there is public water available in schools, libraries and other government buildings. Very important to note that just because someone may not personally have access to public water currently, does not mean that they wont in the future. Justin Sayles, communications director with the Onondaga County Executives office said in an email.

According to Onondaga County Legislator, David Knapp, the county water tax is about 7 cents for every $1,000 in assessed value of your property.

Submit a form.

More Your Stories

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 WSYR.
Meryl Streep had to take matters into her own hands when evacuating from the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this month, according to her nephew.

Abe Streep, a contributor to New York Magazine, wrote in a story published Tuesday that the three-time Oscar-winning star received an order to evacuate on January 8, the day after the onset of both the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

When the elder Streep tried to leave, her nephew wrote, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape, the story states.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Meryl Streep for further comment.

The Palisades and Eaton fires are considered the most destructive fires in LA history. Residents in the areas continue to take stock of the damage and trauma left in the blazes wake.

Although official damage assessments are still ongoing, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimates that more than 16,200 structures were damaged or destroyed in the fires.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Altadena resident Joseph Kindred  also known as director Jo Lenz  was also among those affected. He told New York Magazine that he and his family remained in their home on the night of January 7. Around 3 a.m. on January 8, he woke from a 20-minute nap to realize they had to get out immediately. Outside, with burning embers falling, he told his family, Make sure you hold my hand. We dont have time to pack anything. In addition to his house, the Eaton Fire claimed Kindreds cameras and hard drives, including unseen footage of late rapper Nipsey Hussle.

Only Murders in the Building star Martin Short recounted the difficulty he had evacuating from the Palisades Fire, saying he was stuck in his car for more than an hour to cover a distance that normally takes five minutes. While his house was ultimately spared, one of his two sons lost his home.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner says 29 people died in the Southern California wildfires. As of late Monday, there have been 17 deaths related to the Eaton Fire and 12 deaths related to the Palisades Fire.

CNNs Renee Rigdon and Rachel Wilson contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
An eighth grade student at Woodward Career Technical High School was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police found them in possession of a toy gun.

The student, whose identity was not disclosed, has been charged with inducing panic after they were found with a plastic gun, according to Cincinnati police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham.

Cunningham previously said police were responding to the high school to investigate a report of a student possibly with a gun, although officers didn't find a firearm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A weapon was also found on Wednesday in a student's locker at North College Hill High School, prompting a temporary campus lockdown, according to school officials. The student involved in that incident was arrested as well.

The Enquirer will update this story.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Woodward High School student arrested after police find toy gun
Enough already!

As I read the article in the Jan. 28 Oklahoman about state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters supporting immigration raids in state schools, my heart breaks and my eyes flood with tears. I deeply lament the thought of yet another trauma inflicted on our kids as they enter their school doors, the institution meant (at least in my mind) to be the safe place where they will get a quality education without prejudice related to their ethnicity, gender identity, socio-economic status or familys political persuasion.

More: Education board votes to advance rule to ask immigration status of students, parents

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Is it not enough that our kids face active shooter drills in response to the 83 U.S. school shootings in 2024? Is it not enough that our state leaders have repeatedly refused federal assistance to make sure our kids get the food they need for healthy bodies that can learn and grow? Is it not enough that there is more attention to what books they should not be allowed to read than it is to making sure they know how to read? Is it not enough that our states per pupil spending ranks 49th in the country? Now we need to expose them to armed immigration officials on a witch hunt for their parents?

I agree with Nelson Mandela who said: There can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children. It appears to me that our collective soul is under siege.

More: Retired CEO shares stories from 'beyond the blue doors of a Boys & Girls Club'

In my recently published "Hope for Americas Youth, Beyond the Blue Doors of a Boys & Girls Club," I tell stories of young people who have thrived through their involvement at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County. Coincidentally, three of the seven youths written about in the book have parents who emigrated from Mexico, Peru and El Salvador. As young adults now, two have master's degrees, and the third is working on his undergrad degree. They are productive, responsible and caring citizens who are making our community better in many ways. While I recognize that improvements to the national immigration system may be needed, lets not make our schools the battleground and our kids the wounded.

Jane Sutter

Jane Sutter is former president of Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Schools should be safe place, not immigration battleground | Opinion
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A college in Bossier City has teamed up with Cavalier Players to present a childrens tale that was written by the founder of a local theatre program.

The late Professor Stephen W. Slaughter taught at Bossier Parish Community College and founded the colleges theatre program. Now BPCC students are putting on his play Chicken Little and Friends: Or, The Sky is Falling!

Louisiana Flute Fest to be held at NSU on February 1

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The childrens story about Chicken Little and her friends Henny Penny and Turkey Lurkey takes audiences on a journey past a big bad wolf as Chicken Little travels to reach the king.

The manuscript is filled with Slaughters humor and charm.

Kids of all ages are welcome to attend. General admission tickets are $5, and performances will take place at BPCCs Stephen W. Slaughter Theatre, Building C on the BPCC campus, on the following dates:

Chicken Little and Friends performance date time February 14 and 21 7:00 p.m. February 16 2:00 p.m. Feb. 15 and 22 4:00 p.m.

For more information, visit bpcc.edu/theatre or contact Kim Condon at (318) 678-6525.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Its a massive, crucial, and old stretch of I-40 that needs a lot of work. A new report outlined the biggest fixes the New Mexico Department of Transportation thinks should be made from Albuquerque to the Arizona state line. The study found that areas like Gallup, Grants, and Laguna could need a third lane. And frontage roads are in critical need of upgrades.

Story continues below

House Representative Patty Lundstrom (D-Gallup) agrees that I-40 near the New Mexico state line needs major renovations. Thats also the conclusion of a newly released study of the 150-mile stretch of freeway from the Arizona state line into Albuquerques westside, which in part, cites more traffic on the major trucking. Its a general increase. I also think its accidents. Theres construction that slows things down, but generally in the wintertime the accidents are on the rise, said Lundstrom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The I-40 study suggests a cheaper option of enhancing lanes or making for bigger shoulders before adding a possible third lane. That idea Representative Lundstrom said might not be enough. It has been noted many many times that we have a need for an additional lane both east and west. I recognize its incredibly expensive I know that, but it cant be in the long run more expensive than these patch and fix, patch and fix strategies, said Lundstrom.

She notes the critical need for I-40 as an economic driver with truck traffic. Not addressing the issue, she said could lead to bigger problems for New Mexico, down the road. I would hate to see these diesel fuel users start deciding not to use I-40 if they can find a different route, said Lundstrom.

The study also found that as many as 73% of the I-40 ramps west of Albuquerque dont meet current highway design guidelines. As many as 87 ramps would need to be lengthened to improve safety. NMDOT said there are currently 22 projects already underway on I-40 and they are actively seeking funding for the new enhancements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 28Proposed changes in Congress to Medicaid laws, if implemented, would cost the state nearly half a billion dollars a year in lost federal grants according to a new analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.

The study was based on preliminary discussions about potential federal policy changes and spending projections from the state Department of Health and Human Services and other analysis from the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"Medicaid provides access to health services for over 180,000 Granite Staters. The proposed changes could substantially impact access to health care and the financial capacity of our state to fund public services," said Phil Sletten, NHFPI's research director and author of the report. "A reduced federal match rate could lead to the repeal of critical programs, leaving New Hampshire with difficult budget choices in an already challenging fiscal environment."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former President Barack Obama, in his Affordable Care Act law, offered states an incentive to expand Medicaid to low-income adults who made just about the eligibility amount under the traditional program.

The federal government pays 90% of the cost to provide health care coverage for these new Medicaid clients while New Hampshire only gets 50% of expenses reimbursed for those on traditional Medicaid.

As a result, 41 states have expanded the program.

The Paragon Health Institute, a free-market health care research firm, has proposed dropping that 90% support to 50%.

In turn, the group has urged Congress to lower reimbursement for those on traditional Medicaid from 50% to as low as 40% in the "income wealthiest" states that include New Hampshire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Expanded Medicaid could be at risk

Both of these changes would be phased in starting in 2026 and be fully in place by 2034, Paragon said.

"Part of the problem is that the FMAP (federal Medicaid) formula has an arbitrary floor on the federal reimbursement for the wealthiest states," Paragon wrote in its white paper.

"Medicaid's financing structure leads states to spend more on Medicaid relative to other areas like education, infrastructure and policing and leads states to develop financing schemes and gimmicks in order to obtain as much federal money as possible."

Former Trump administration economic advisor Brian Blase and other health policy experts founded the Paragon research arm in 2021.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sletten said if adopted, this could put expanded Medicaid, known as the Granite Advantage Health Care Plan, at risk because under state law New Hampshire must exit the program if reimbursement drops below 90%.

"If federal support were substantially reduced, New Hampshire would struggle to maintain current service levels, let alone address additional costs," Sletten said. "The state's capacity to find sufficient savings to offset lost revenue is limited, especially as the state faces declining tax receipts and other budgetary pressures."

Only three state departments spend more than the $493 million annual price tag for these cuts to Medicaid reimbursement if they came to pass.

"As the state's largest program in dollar terms, any reduction in federal Medicaid funding could substantially impact the state budget overall and force tough decisions about funding health services, education, and public safety," Sletten added.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Two officers were assaulted and a suspect was hit three times with a stun gun leading up to an arrest in Warren, according to a police report.

Tyrese Bobbitt, 22, is charged with two counts of assault, both fourth-degree felonies, and resisting arrest in connection to the Monday incident.

According to a police report, officers were called to a home in the 1500 block of Tod Avenue SW on reports of Bobbitt attempting to fight someone in the house. When officers arrived, Bobbitt was upstairs and would not come down when officers called him, according to a police report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When officers went up the steps and tried to get Bobbitt to come with them, they say he was holding a metal object and cocked it back in an attempt to throw it at them. Thats when officers deployed their stun gun, which had no impact on Bobbitt, according to a police report.

A second stun cartridge was deployed, and Bobbitt dropped to the ground but continued to be combative, and the stun gun was deployed a third time, the report stated.

Throughout the arrest, police say Bobbitt was kicking and punching officers, landing some punches on the face of one of the officers.

Bobbitt was handcuffed and transported to the Trumbull County Jail with the help of other responding officers, the report stated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bobbitt pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. He will be back in court Feb. 3.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A sudden rush of large drone sightings is impacting communities in the northern Miami Valley counties.

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

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, people in Darke and Mercer counties have reported the sightings.

TRENDING STORIES:

Deputies at both county sheriffs offices are working to figure out whats going on.

Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman said aside from his deputies spotting some of the drones, theyve gotten dozens of calls reports, mostly at night, since Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Ellis lives in Celina. He said he hadnt seen any drones flying over his area.

I have not heard of them here and here in town yet, Ellis said.

But plenty of other people have.

We got these videos from the sheriffs office showing some of the dozens of recent sightings around the county.

Anywhere from being out over the rural area and the agricultural area. Last night, they were seen over three of our villages for sure: Ft. Recovery, St. Henry, Coldwater, Timmerman said.

Timmermans office is handling the investigation.

I was on the phone today with some federal agencies. Theyre calling it swarming, with the drones, theyre all kind of swarming together, kind of like theyre packed up a little bit. So, weve seen some of that several at a particular location at any given time, Timmerman said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker is also investigating two reported drone sightings from Monday night.

Some could be buying into a lot of the hype that theyre seeing with all the other drones, Ellis said.

Ellis said he wonders whats behind the drone activity.

Ive seen things where people are attaching lights to them and just flying around just to freak people out and get people all stirred up. It very well could be that. Who knows what else could be going on, he said.

Timmerman said whatever is going on here might not be criminal, but he said he wants to get to the bottom of it.

It is certainly causing some concerns to our citizens. And I feel like its my job to make sure I try to get them some answers, Timmerman said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Timmerman told News Center 7 that he has been in contact with members of Congress from Ohio and the FAA.

He added that the FBI told him they are concerned that this may be related to the drone activity near and over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base last month.

I dont know what our concerns are because of the infrastructure we have here in Mercer County is not that of what Wright-Patterson Air Force Base would be. So, I dont know how we can draw that conclusion, but certainly, they have more information than I do at this point Theyre working at the national level with passing this information on as well, Timmerman said.

News Center 7 has reached out to the FBI about this investigation but has not heard back.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




The Delhi High Court has recently called for a status report from Delhi police on the plea of businessman RC Bhargava seeking quashing of an FIR. Bhargava is the Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice to Delhi Police and sought a response to the plea. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Yasir Rauf Ansari, accepted notice on behalf of the State and, on instructions, submitted that the Closure Report has already been submitted before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. "The Status Report be filed within 15 days," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna ordered on January 24. The matter has been listed on March 25, 2025, for further hearing. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa along with advocate Prabhav Ralli and Aparna Sharma appeared for Bhargava. Bhargava has moved a Petition through advocate Prabhav Ralli to quash an FIR registered on 03.11.2023 under Sections 466/468/471/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 at Police Station Kotla Mubarakpur, Delhi. The said FIR was registered pursuant to the order of 31.10.2023 passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate on an Application filed by the Complainant Praveen Chandra Shetty. The case of the complainant in his complaint/ Application filed before the Magistrate is that in a consumer dispute litigation between the complainant and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) there were some discrepancies in the copy of an order of 11.01.2008 of the State Commission, annexed along with the petition filed on behalf of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and to this extent, the said order was alleged to have been forged and fabricated by the said company. As a matter of fact, the discrepancies in the said order were not only inadvertent and innocuous in nature, but the certified copy of the actual order dated 11.01.2008 was also filed by the said company before the NCDRC on 23.04.2013, much before the NCDRC passed its final judgment on 18.09.2013, the plea stated. Thus, filing of the same ruled out any mala fide or mens rea on the part of the company to mislead the court or procure an order in its favour by concealing the actual contents of the order, it further stated. It is submitted that the contents of the Complaint under Section 156(3), Cr.P.C. and the consequent FIR fail to disclose any cognizable offence against the Petitioner or the said company and is rather a malicious attempt to give a criminal camouflage to an "inadvertent error" on the part of the counsel, then representing the company before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. It also submitted that the order and the consequent FIR have also been.passed/registered in complete violation of the mandatory procedure laid down in Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, as per which a complaint on such an allegation could only have been instituted by the court concerned or an officer authorized on behalf of the said court. Further, it is submitted that the Metropolitan Magistrate failed to appreciate that there is no concept of vicarious liability in criminal law and thus, no case was made out against the Petitioner (Chairman of the said company) merely because of his designation when no specific act or omission was attributed to him as per the contents of the Complaint filed by the complainant. While seeking quashing of the FIR, it is submitted that the metropolitan magistrate while disagreeing with the conclusion drawn by the police in the Action Taken Report has also failed to specifically deal with the contents of the ATR and provide specific reasons in support of its decision to reject the findings in the ATR. Therefore said order and the consequent FIR being in violation of the law laid down by this Court liable to be quashed and set aside by this Hon'ble Court on this ground alone, the plea prayed. (ANI)
Jan. 29A man and a woman who were arrested in Greene County and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were originally pulled over for a fictitious license plate, police records show.

Records obtained by the Dayton Daily News show that Sugarcreek Twp. police conducted a traffic stop on Wilmington Pike around 10:15 a.m. Sunday on a red Ford F150, as the license plate on the truck belonged to a different car.

Police said they spoke to the male driver, who didn't speak English, and who supplied a Mexico Identification Card and the title of the vehicle. The female passenger, who translated for police, said she did not have a driver's license.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver was found to have a visa that had expired in June 2023, and therefore "was currently in the United States illegally," police documents say, adding that ICE agents were then called.

ICE has both individuals in custody. Police have not identified the two individuals, as neither had been charged.

Multiple reports on social media Sunday described the traffic stop on Wilmington Pike just south of I-675, near Miami Valley Hospital South.

Photos posted from the incident showed Sugarcreek Twp. police officers and plainclothes law enforcement wearing tactical vests escorting one person to a police vehicle, and putting chain-type shackles on another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The stop occurred the same day that ICE issued a statement saying it would be conducting "enhanced targeted operations" in Chicago on Sunday, as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to reverse Biden administration immigration policies and to deport millions of non-citizens.

Under Trump, ICE is pursuing "expedited removal" of certain immigrants. ICE posted on social media Sunday that its agents had made 956 arrests nationwide, a number that is only expected to climb, Trump "border czar" Tom Homan told ABC's "This Week," on Sunday.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Governor Maura Healey appointed Superintendent and Special Sheriff Lori Streeter as Interim Franklin County Sheriff on Tuesday.

Streeter will take on this position at the end of the month upon the retirement of Sheriff Christopher Donelan. Streeter has worked at the Franklin County Sheriffs Office since 1985, starting as a Correctional Officer. Now, she leads her own team of 250 employees.

Springfield police dept. selected for National Public Safety program

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The people in Franklin County were well served by the Governors consideration in this decision, Donelan said. Superintendent Streeter is a well-qualified professional who will serve the Sheriffs Office and the community well. I am confident handing the keys over to her.

Streeter also serves as the Chair of the Franklin County Sheriffs Office Women in Criminal Justice Conference, and has previously served as Chair of the Massachusetts Sheriffs Associations Education and Training Committee. Her main priorities throughout her career have been mental health treatment and substance use disorder.

In Streeters current role as Superintendent and Special Sheriff, she manages a 320-bed jail. She supports the establishment of the countys Community Justice Support Center, and pre-release and post-release re-entry programs. Her efforts within the agency have been nationally recognized.

It is an honor to be appointed by Governor Healey as Interim Sheriff, Streeter said. I have worked at the Franklin County Sheriffs Office for 35 years and under three administrations. Most recently, I have had the extraordinary opportunity to work alongside Sheriff Donelan as we have been at the forefront of efforts to prioritize mental health and substance use disorder treatment with a locked setting. It is an immense privilege to continue this mission set forth by Sheriff Donelan. My years of service have given me a unique perspective and strong knowledge base to manage the agency and the ever-changing needs of the community, our staff, and the people we serve.

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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A U.S. Supreme Court case will determine what should be legally considered when deciding if a police officers use of force is justified. Upcoming trials in central Ohio could be largely impacted by the decision.

The pending Supreme Court case, Barnes v. Felix, specifically looks at whether courts should apply the moment of threat doctrine when evaluating lawsuits filed under the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from excessive force by law enforcement.

After classroom brawl, Hilliard councilman pushes for safety increase

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The moment of threat doctrine is a legal concept that has been adopted in certain regions of the country. It asserts officers should be judged only based on the precise moment they perceive an immediate threat, and disregards their previous actions.

Four of the countrys court of appeals, out of 12, use the moment of threat doctrine. The other eight look at the totality of the circumstances, which allows the examination of the officers actions proceeding the threat. Different circuits, or jurisdictions, have different standards since there is no nationwide definition regarding what counts as reasonable force under federal law, leading to varying interpretations. In central Ohio, the totality of the circumstances approach is currently used.

While Barnes v. Felix focuses on civil matters, the legal reasoning in the ruling could provide guidance for criminal cases. This month, defense attorneys for Jason Meade, a former Franklin County sheriffs deputy who fatally shot Casey Goodson Jr., successfully requested a delay for his criminal trial to await direction from the Barnes v. Felix decision.

The Supreme Courts decision will have an effect on basically every use of force case, whether its lethal or nonlethal, said Mark Collins, one of Meades defense attorneys. We know some guidance is coming. So the best course of action for all parties is to wait to see what the new guidance is so that we do it properly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grove City man pardoned in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection remains in prison

Walton and Brown, LLP, a law firm representing Goodsons family, condemned the postponement.

These delays are not merely procedural; they inflict profound emotional trauma and deny the family the closure they deserve, the firm said in a statement. While justice has been delayed, it cannot and will not be denied.

Collins said he also expects the Supreme Court case to delay other upcoming use of force trials he is involved with in Franklin County. This includes the trial for Connor Grubb, an officer who fatally shot TaKiya Young in the parking lot of a Kroger, and Ricky Anderson, a former officer who fatally shot Donovan Lewis while serving him with an arrest warrant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barnes v. Felix stems from a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 28, 2016. Roberto Felix Jr., an officer for the Harris County Precinct 5 Constables Office in Texas, pulled over Ashtian Barnes after the vehicle he was driving  which was rented by his girlfriend  was flagged for toll violations.

When Felix asked for Barness license and registration, Barnes could not immediately locate them. Felix asked Barnes to step out of the car, but instead, Barnes began to pull away with the driver-side car door still open. Felix then drew his gun, jumped onto the moving cars door sill and shot Barnes twice, resulting in his death.

How potential federal grant pause could impact central Ohio organizations

The Harris County District Attorneys Office did not indict Felix for killing Barnes, after a grand jury ruled there was no probable cause. Barnes mother then filed a lawsuit in 2017, arguing that Felix violated her sons Fourth Amendment constitutional right to be free from excessive force. A trial court and appeals court both have since dismissed her case, ruling the shooting was justified under the moment of threat doctrine, since Felix could have reasonably feared for his life while hanging from the vehicle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Barnes family has argued that Felix was not in danger until he jumped on the vehicle, and that courts should focus on the totality of the events leading up to the shooting, rather than just the split second where the officer perceives the threat.

The nonprofit Constitutional Accountability Center filed a brief in the Supreme Court in support of Barnes mother. The group is asking the Supreme Court to reject the moment of threat doctrine, which could lead to a nationwide ruling that sets a universal standard on what courts should consider in Fourth Amendment excessive force claims.

In October, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case and it began hearing arguments last week. The high courts decision should be handed down by the end of June, before the court goes on recess, or break, for the summer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The News

Generative artificial-intelligence was behind more than a third of new biometric fraud cases in Africa last year, a report found, with a surge in deepfakes threatening the data of millions of consumers whose details are held on insecure systems.

Deepfake videos used to impersonate people increased sevenfold in the second half of 2024, according to data from the digital identity verification company Smile ID. The Lagos-based startup vets customer identities for hundreds of businesses on the continent including Uber.

Smile ID found document forgery remains a sizable aspect of identity fraud, especially in East Africa where the crime rose by six percentage points last year. But generative AI has radically increased manipulation opportunities, posing fresh challenges for security and anti-money laundering enforcement, chief executive Mark Straub told Semafor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One crime syndicate that operated on Telegram and communicated in Chinese ramped up attacks on African companies in 2024. The gang was a substantial, coordinated ring of attackers that were sharing hacking tools to target fintechs on the continent as well as companies in Germany and Singapore, he said.

The hackers IP addresses suggested their locations were not within Africa and their efforts seemed geared towards creating accounts they could use to move money, Straub added. Activity from the group declined after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and African law enforcement bodies were notified by Smile ID, he said, but there are many more out there.

Know More

Growth in smartphone ownership and internet access in Africa has sped up demand for digital banks, e-commerce stores, and ride-hailing apps. But the risk of fraud that hovered over analog systems is being carried over into the digital transition.

About 500 million people lack any legal ID documents in sub-Saharan Africa. But in countries where digital IDs are being introduced, some companies have failed to follow best practice, setting up ID systems before data protection and cybersecurity frameworks are in place, for instance, and exposing those systems and their users to hazards and losses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In South Africa, frequent ID requests from government agencies and service providers leave paper trails that increase the chances of identity theft, said Martin Grunewald, an executive at the verification company Secure Citizen. And the amount Nigerian financial institutions lost to fraud rose nearly six-fold to 18 billion naira ($11 million) in 2023. NIBSS, the agency that published the data, said fraud losses rose in line with the rise in digital payments.

Generative AI raises the prospect of more losses from fraud in Africa. While deepfakes accounted for 7% of global identity fraud attempts, according to the London-based verification company Sumsub, this was a four-fold rise from 2023. Only the Middle East recorded a larger increase in deepfake identity fraud incidents than Africa in 2024, Sumsub found.

Step Back

The rise in generative AI and identity fraud has presented a lucrative business and investment opportunity for the companies working to counter it in Africa.

Smile ID is backed by venture capital, raising about $30 million over the past four years from Silicon Valley and African investors. YouVerify, a competitor partly based in Nigeria, has raised $5 million in recent years from a venture fund including the French telecoms giant Orange.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Projections for the future size of the global identity verification market  which these startups are aiming for  range from $27 billion to $47 billion.

Doing KYC [Know Your Customer verification checks] used to be just a compliance exercise, Straub said. It really now is a security workstream [concern]. Thats the big change for us.
A study found something strange in 2023: When mice with Alzheimer's disease inhale menthol, their cognitive abilities improve.

It seems the chemical compound can stop some of the damage done to the brain that's usually associated with the disease.

In particular, researchers noticed a reduction in the interleukin-1-beta (IL-1) protein, which helps to regulate the body's inflammatory response  a response that can offer natural protection but one that leads to harm when it's not controlled properly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The team behind the study, published in April 2023, says it shows the potential for particular smells to be used as therapies for Alzheimer's. If we can figure out which odors cause which brain and immune system responses, we can harness them to improve health.

"We have focussed on the olfactory system's role in the immune and central nervous systems, and we have confirmed that menthol is an immunostimulatory odor in animal models," said immunologist Juan Jose Lasarte from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) in Spain when the results were released.

"But, surprisingly, we observed that short exposures to this substance for six months prevented cognitive decline in the mice with Alzheimer's and, what is most interesting, also improved the cognitive ability of healthy young mice."

Having previously observed menthol inhalation boosting the immune response of mice, here the team showed that it could also improve the animals' cognitive abilities, as observed in a series of practical tests in the lab.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In mice with Alzheimer's, the course of menthol for a six-month-long period was enough to stop the cognitive abilities and memory capabilities of the mice from deteriorating. In addition, it appears menthol pushed the IL-1 protein back to safe levels in the brain.

When researchers artificially reduced the number of T regulatory (Treg) cells  known to help keep the immune system in check  some of the same effects were observed, opening a possible route that future treatments could take.

"Both menthol exposure and Treg cell blockade caused a decrease in IL-1, a protein that could be behind the cognitive decline observed in these models," said neuroscientist Ana Garcia-Osta from CIMA.

"In addition, the specific blockade of this protein with a drug used in treating some autoimmune diseases also improved the cognitive capacity of healthy mice and mice with Alzheimer's."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scientists have already established numerous links between smells and our immune and nervous systems. These relationships are difficult to fully understand, but we know that our olfactory system can strongly influence the brain.

Certain smells may trigger certain responses in the brain, leading to chemical reactions that affect memory, emotion, and more.

Smells may trigger certain responses in the brain. ( Mike Marchetti/Canva

Indeed, diseases related to the central nervous system  such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia  often come with a loss of smell. This new research adds some promising data, but plenty more is needed in humans as well as mice.

"This study is an important step toward understanding the connection between the immune system, the central nervous system, and smell," said immunologist Noelia Casares from CIMA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The results suggest that odors and immune modulators may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and other diseases related to the central nervous system."

The research has been published in Frontiers in Immunology.

An earlier version of this article was published in May 2023.

Related News
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will walk into the hearing room of the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday with some things to prove.

The progressive Democrat-turned-Trump-supporter, whom the president nominated to serve as director of national intelligence, will need to explain to senators several controversial parts of her background, such as why she met with now-deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

But another potential flashpoint with some Republican senators is her past stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The statute allows federal authorities to collect information on the conversations of foreign nationals without a warrant, but critics have argued it needs reforms because agencies inevitably sweep up the data of Americans who talk to those being surveiled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbard was one such criticuntil her confirmation process. But her past criticisms of the statute, which she will need to use to gather much of the information she will put in the Presidents Daily Brief, have reportedly become a hurdle in her private meetings with Republican senators, some of whom have expressed doubt to The Dispatch this week on whether she actually has changed her tune on FISA.

One person she will have to convince is Sen. John Curtis of Utah, who some have speculated could be a swing vote as Donald Trump attempts to push his agenda through the Senate. Though Curtis does not sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he told The Dispatch he will still be in the audience, citing gaps in the data he needs to form an opinion of Gabbard, whom he met with earlier this month.

Theres just enough blanks that I wanted to go to the hearing in person, he said. I didnt want to watch it on TV. I think in person you can pick up nuances and vibe and body language that might be hard to pick up on the TV.

One such blank is her position on Section 702.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Gabbard represented Hawaii in the House, she repeatedly spoke out against Section 702. In May 2020, she voted against renewing the authority because the reauthorization bill did not have the alterations to the statute she was looking for. None of the reforms protect the American people from illegal warrantless surveillance. None of the reforms prevent the secret FISA Court from abusing the constitutional rights of Americans. None of the reforms provide real protection against surveillance orders targeted at activities protected under the First Amendment, she said at the time. Months later, she sponsored a bill to repeal the authority altogether that also would have forced the director of national intelligence and attorney general to destroy any data collected on an American under Section 702, so long as it is not related to an ongoing investigation.

But she changed course on the law after Trump named her as his pick to be director of national intelligence, telling Punchbowl News she will uphold Americans Fourth Amendment rights while maintaining vital national security tools like Section 702. In her flip, Gabbard cited unspecified recent reforms that Congress had made to the surveillance authority. My prior concerns about FISA were based on insufficient protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBIs misuse of warrantless search powers on American citizens. Significant FISA reforms have been enacted since my time in Congress to address these issues, she told Punchbowl.

But those comments may not be enough for senators like Curtis, who will eventually vote on her nomination if she makes it past the Intelligence Committee. Ive heard what shes said recently, and I know what shes done before. I think its fair to say that will come up in the hearing. And so, I want to hear her responses in that type of environment, Curtis said. I need more data points to really feel like I know where shes at on it.

Hes not alone among Republicans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres still issues about her position on 702, for example, where I believe that her responses to the questions for the record are hedged and unclear what her position is, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, told reporters, echoing comments she previously gave to The Hill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he did not know what Gabbards position was on the statue. Thats why we have the hearing, he said. Graham had told NBC News Meet the Press over the weekend that he was inclined to vote in favor of all the nominees but that he was waiting to watch Gabbards hearing. There are some questions she will be asked that I want to hear the answers to, he told anchor Kristen Welker.

Other Republicans, however, are sounding more confident in Gabbards position on the subject.

In my discussions with her, she had earlier been opposed to it, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, told The Dispatch. However, she did not know about the modifications that have been made to 702 over the last 10 years and the additional safeguards that have been built in. And now, my understanding in my discussions with her is that she understands how critical it is and that we cannot do a good job of providing intel briefs without the use of 702 provisions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina, a new addition to the committee, said Gabbards position was clear from both her public statements and the conversations he had in private with her.

Ill be asking all about that, and Ive had those conversations in my office: So far, so good, he said.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who has long been friendly with Gabbard and is supporting her nomination, encouraged colleagues doubtful of her position to meet with her personally.

Just talk to her. Thats the biggest thing. Sit down and visit with her and let her answer the questions. Give her an opportunity, he told The Dispatch. I get theres different opinions on stuff, but they have questions about, Why has her position changed? Peoples positions change with the knowledge they have. I think the more they talk to her, the better theyll be.

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.
Jan. 29Sen. Susan Collins will be in the spotlight this week as high-profile hearings get underway for two of President Donald Trump's most controversial cabinet appointees.

But it will require some extra hustle from Maine's senior senator. Both hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

Collins will question former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, during a hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Maine Republican also plans to question Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's appointee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, during a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Collins serves on both committees and her staff is trying to juggle her schedule so she can participate in both public hearings.

Independent Sen. Angus King also serves on the intelligence committee, which will have a separate opportunity to question Gabbard in private.

Collins has already shown she is willing to break ranks with Trump and her fellow Republicans on the president's cabinet nominations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was one of three Republican senators to vote against former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Department of Defense last weekend, along with Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Collins cited Hegseth's lack of experience and his past statements about women not belonging in the military as reasons for her 'no' vote.

In the end, Collins vote wasn't needed since Vice President JD Vance broke the 50-50 tie.

Both Kennedy and Gabbard also face significant opposition, but Gabbard is believed to be the most vulnerable nominee. Senators are questioning her previous opposition to warrantless wiretapping of foreign targets and her sympathetic views of the Russian and former Syrian regimes.

The intelligence committee comprises nine Republicans and eight Democrats, so a single Republican 'no' vote would deprive Gabbard of a positive recommendation to the full Senate. The nomination, however, would still be decided by the full Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Collins' office says the senator is still reviewing Gabbard's positions. But she told the Washington, D.C., news outlet, The Hill, on Friday that there are "a lot of obvious issues" with Gabbard, including her past opposition to a law allowing warrantless surveillance of foreign targets.

Gabbard has since offered qualified support for the power to wiretap foreign targets, but Collins isn't convinced that Gabbard fully supports the program.

"There are a lot of obvious issues," Collins told a reporter from The Hill. "Her answers to the written questions were very hedged on it. I know there's been a lot of reporting that she's changed her position. That's not how I read her answers. I read them as, 'I'll take a look at the reforms and see if they meet my concerns.'"

Collins also told the New York Times Wednesday that she has concerns about a bill sponsored by Gabbard and former Rep. Matt Gaetz to drop criminal charges against Edward Snowden for leaking highly classified information about U.S. surveillance programs. Gaetz was nominated by Trump to be attorney general but backed out after Collins and other Republicans joined Democrats in criticizing the choice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Politico reported Monday that Trump allies are pressuring the committee to make its vote public as a way of pressuring wavering Republicans, including Collins, into supporting Gabbard. Unlike other committees, the intelligence committee typically deliberates and votes in private.

Collins will also have the opportunity to question Kennedy, a vaccine critic who has been nominated to lead the Health and Human Services Department. She has not taken a public position on the nomination, but has felt some pressure from advocates in Maine to reject it.

Doctors in Maine and elsewhere across the country have mobilized in opposition to Kennedy. This week, the nonprofit health advocacy group, Protect Our Care, launched ads urging senators in eight states, including Maine, to vote against Kennedy, issuing a statement that said he would "defund life-saving research and put every Americans' health and well-being at risk."

The 30-second digital ad blames RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine views for contributing to the deaths of 83 people, including children, during a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. It calls Kennedy "dangerous, reckless and unfit" to lead the nation's health care system programs that serve 125 million Americans.

Collins' office did not respond to questions about whether the ads are having any effect.

Copy the Story Link
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  One of the suspects in a November 2023 cross-burning in the Conway area entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, online records show, with Horry County police calling his actions wholly inappropriate.

Worden Butler pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment. Butler and his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, were charged in the incident after allegedly lighting a cross on fire facing their Black neighbors yard and using racially abusive language. After their arrest, FBI agents searched Butlers home as part of a civil-rights investigation.

Alexis Hartnett / J. Reuben Long Detention Center

Butler was sentenced Wednesday by Judge William Hutson to time served. He was scheduled to go on trial in Myrtle Beach Magistrate Court in September before a judge granted a continuance in the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Horry County police released a statement on Wednesday afternoon addressing Butlers guilty plea and sentencing.

Todays guilty plea is a small acknowledgment by the defendant of wrongdoing and, while it does not make up for what occurred, we hope it brings some measure of relief to the Williams family and our community, the department said. The seriousness of this case should not be understated. Know this  harassment will not be tolerated in Horry County. Hate has no place here, and actions taken by one community member to harass another are wholly inappropriate.

Center for harassing: Horry County says couple accused of cross burning are chronic safety threat

The case sparked calls both state and nationwide for a hate crimes law. South Carolina is one of two states without one. The couple who faced the abuse, Monica and Shawn Williams, lauded the city of Conway after it adopted a local hate crimes ordinance in September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Williams told News13 they find some relief knowing Butler owned up to what he did but cannot forget the pain caused.

For me? I think its far from closure until we can all come together as a community and get a hate crime bill passed, Monica said.

They say theyre grateful to local municipalities who have passed ones like Conway and Florence but say more still needs to be done.

Hate isnt just about skin color, Monica said. People can hate you in all kinds of ways. But people need to know that you cant cause harm and threaten harm against people without a consequence.

The property that was the site of the cross-burning was declared a public nuisance after a judge signed a temporary injunction last March to close it. It reopened in late October, but a judge barred Hartnett and Butler from being on the property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hartnetts case in the cross burning is still pending. She was also arrested on an obscenity charge in March.

* * *

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.

* * *

Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, 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 WBTW.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A suspect accused of firing shots at officers during a chase from Abilene to Albany Tuesday has been identified.

Michael Zachery Haley was booked into the Shackelford County Jail on four counts of Attempted Capital Murder, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in connection to the incident.

The Abilene Police Department says officers initially attempted to follow Haley because they recognized him as a fugitive with an outstanding warrant, so they requested assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once DPS Troopers attempted to stop Haley, police say he initiated a high-speed chase, during which he fired shots at officers.

The chase ended with a manhunt after Haley fled on foot when he crashed in Albany near the Shackelford County Sheriffs Office off Baird Street.

Albany ISD, as well as other businesses and residences in the area, were on a soft lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement worked to apprehend Haley.

No one, including any officers, was injured during the chase or subsequent manhunt and arrest.

Haley remains held in the Shackelford County Jail on bonds totaling more than $6 million.

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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Odisha's Industry Minister Sampad Chandra Swain on Wednesday said that MoUs worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore were signed on the first day of the 'Utkarsh Odisha- Make in Odisha Conclave 2025', a flagship global investment summit hosted by the state government. "Prime Minister Modi inaugurated this conclave yesterday. MoUs worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore were signed in Odisha yesterday. Many MoUs will be signed today also. We have achieved our target of MoUs worth Rs 5 lakh crore. This will lead to a prosperous Odisha," Swain told ANI. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the multiple sectors that are planning to invest thousands of crores in the state, including railways, telecom and IT-related sectors. Talking about the multiple investments in the state on the sidelines of Utkarsh Odisha conclave, Minister Vaishnaw said, "Today, an environment of investment has been created in Odisha. People from all over the world have come here today... I will put forth three major points... First, Railways is investing Rs. 73,000 crore in Odisha. Second, an investment of Rs. 5033 crore in telecom. Third, a decision has been taken today to invest Rs. 20,000 crore in all the IT-related sectors." Tata steel is planning to expand the capacity of its three existing plants, Neelachal Ispat Nigam, Kalinganagar, and Bhushan, according to the company's global CEO and managing director T V Narendran. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Utkarsh Odisha, Narendran said, "We have three plants Neelachal and Kalinga Nagar and Bhushan and we will expand all of them." "In the last ten years, we have invested in the almost-Hundred Thousand Crores in steel. Kalinga Nagar has now reached eight million tonnes (of capacity). We have acquired Bhushan (Bhushan Steel plants) and Neelachal (Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited). So this is a very deep relationship for us and in the coming days," the CEO added. Tata Steel is one of the most diversified integrated steel producers in the world, with an annual crude steel production capacity of 35 MTPA across manufacturing assets in India, the Netherlands, the UK, and Thailand. Adani Group has committed to invest Rs 2.3 lakh crore in Odisha over the next five years across sectors such as power, cement, industrial parks, aluminium and city gas. Karan Adani, MD, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, met Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi and exchanged MoU for investments in Odisha over the next five years. (ANI)
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 66-year-old man was arrested twice in one day after he allegedly damaged ticket machines at two separate TRAX stations.

The suspect, identified by the Salt Lake City Police Department as Wilbert Fike, 66, was first taken into custody shortly before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28. SLCPD officers reportedly received a tip of vandalism at a TRAX station located at 55 South Main Street.

A Utah Transit Authority ticket vending machine damaged as the result of alleged criminal mischief (Salt Lake City Police photo  January 29, 2025).

When officers arrived, they allegedly found Fike actively striking the screen of a ticket machine with a rock. Fike is accused of damaging four machines at the station, estimating about $2,000 in damages. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of criminal mischief and was later released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, less than 24 hours later, SLCPD responded to another report of vandalism, this time at a TRAX station located at 450 South Main Street.

Utah sees notable decline in 8th grade reading scores, raising concerns

Upon arrival, officers allegedly found Fike again damaging a ticket vending machine with estimated damages exceeding $5,000.

Due to the nature of the destruction and its impact on transit operations, Fike was arrested and booked on charges of criminal mischief and interfering with critical infrastructure, SLCPD said in a statement.

While being transported to jail, Fike allegedly made statements regarding a court appearance, according to SLCPD. He is now being held in jail without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The daughter of William Lee Irving texted with him throughout the Fourth of July, their last exchange occurring around 10 p.m.

Early the next morning, Irving, 51, was found wrapped in a tarp set on fire in east Bakersfield. Hed been shot twice in the back, according to a court filing that became available Tuesday.

Over the following months, police obtained information that led them to believe Irving was killed at a house on Dolores Street  where he lived with several recovering addicts  and they identified a suspect.

Timothy Lyle Coons Jr. / Photo: Bakersfield Police Department

Timothy Lyle Coons Jr. was charged earlier this month with first-degree murder. Multiple witnesses implicated him in the killing, the filing says, and cellphone data placed him in the area where the body was found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coons was not listed in custody, and a court hearing had not been scheduled.

Victims family struggling for closure with 3-year hit-and-run case thats still in beginning stages

Contacting the daughter

When investigators examined Irvings body, found in a field north of College Avenue and east of Valencia Drive, he was burned so badly they couldnt identify him, according to a warrant filed in Superior Court.

A DNA profile was obtained and uploaded in October to a public genealogy database. Investigators contacted his daughter. She hadnt heard from her father in months, but didnt contact police because hed disappeared before and been involved in drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On July 4, she said, Irving sent her a photo of himself wearing a Pro Club T-shirt, a Tissot watch and a ring with small stones.

Those items were located on the body, according to the warrant.

The daughter told police she went to the Dolores Street home on July 6. Her fathers roommates said hed moved out, she said according to the warrant.

While at the home, she noticed the mattress had been removed from her fathers bedroom, along with a bunch of his clothing.

She took the remaining items  some of which had droplets that later tested positive for blood, according to the warrant.

House searched

Police searched the home on Nov. 7. They found blood spatter on the ceiling of Irvings old bedroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upon interviewing Irvings roommates, investigators learned a man who used to live with them had fought with Irving on July 4.

Blood was found in the home the next day, they told police. Irving wasnt there.

The roommates said the man  identified as Coons  told them he did this for them because Irving was always starting fights, the filing says.

Coons moved out a few days later, they told police.

One of the roommates said he may have heard gunshots the night of July 4, but couldnt be sure because fireworks were going off.

Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage

Police believe at least two people were involved in removing Irvings body from the home. He weighed more than 300 pounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators obtained cellphone records that show Coons on July 4 and 5 called an acquaintance who lives near where Irvings GMC Yukon was found abandoned, the warrant says. An examination of the GMC found traces of blood in the cargo area and above the rear bumper.

The acquaintance  who has not been charged  told investigators Coons had previously asked how to get a gun. On July 4, he said, Coons called and said he got into some s and needed to dump a truck by the acquaintances home.

Coons called again the next day and said hed left a gun in an empty lot, according to the warrant. It does not say whether the gun was found.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News.
Temple, Tx (FOX 44)  A man wanted for a Chicago murder has been found and arrested at a Temple apartment complex.

About 12:30 p.m. Tuesday the Bell County Sheriffs Office, Violent Crimes Apprehension Team (VCAT) lead by Lieutenant Mike Mingst, assisted the United States Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force with an arrest of 25-year-old Quartez Jackson. He had been located at the Plantation Square Apartments at 2411 South 61st Street.

Arrest made in connection with Mexia drive-by shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was taken to the Bell County Jail to await arraignment with the extradition to begin to have him shipped to Illinois.

Jail records indicated he had a home address in Danville, Illinois.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police arrested a 27-year-old man in Oklahoma following a deadly shooting in the central Las Vegas valley that left one man dead and another critically injured.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Maalik Wilborn was arrested as the suspect in this case on Monday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1 dead, 1 wounded in shooting at business in central Las Vegas

On Dec. 23 at around 3 p.m. in the 900 block of West Owens Avenue officers arrived to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds inside a business. The man was taken to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A second man was also found outside of the parking lot business suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was listed as being in critical condition, police said.

LVMPD said Wilborn was booked into the Tulsa County Jail, pending extradition to Las Vegas, Nevada. He faces charges of open murder with a deadly weapon, police 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 KLAS.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Police have arrested a suspect wanted in connection to a stabbing that happened at San Diego City College on Friday.

On Tuesday, San Diego Community College District Police received information that the suspect, wanted for allegedly stabbing a juvenile at City College, was near the Old Town Trolley Station.

Officers found the suspect and placed him under arrest.

Stabbing forces lockdown at East Village school

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Friday afternoon, nearby San Diego High School was put on lockdown after a juvenile was stabbed twice with a box cutter by an adult man in the Gordan Quad area of City College.

The suspect fled the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital.

Publics help sought in 2004 fatal stabbing outside Chula Vista restaurant

College police said the suspect, who has not yet been identified, will be booked into jail Tuesday night and will face charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

If you have information about this crime or any other crimes, you can report them by calling College Police at 619-388-6405, the San Diego Police at 619-531-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A man has been arrested while a woman remains at large after one person was stabbed in the face late last month in East Columbus.

According to a criminal complaint, Columbus police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 2900 block of East 11th Avenue, near Cassady Avenue, on Dec. 30 just before 7 a.m.

Woman accuses Westerville police of intimidation, harassment in federal lawsuit

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers found a woman who had been stabbed in her left eye socket, with the knife still lodged in her head. Before being taken to a hospital, the victim told police she was attacked by Derrick Ellison and Candy Ellison.

Police said the victim suffered a stroke while in the hospital where she currently remains unresponsive and has yet to be able to provide further information.

Derrick Ellison, 69, was detained and told police during an interview that he had nothing to do with the alleged attack, but did admit that he, Candy and the victim had all previously done drugs together.

Derrick was eventually released later that day, but a warrant was issued for his arrest on Jan. 7. He was placed in custody on Monday and a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $250,000 bond on a felonious assault charge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police also received an anonymous tip, describing Candy as 44-year-old Cassandra Ellison, who police believe is known to frequent the Gateway Apartment Homes on East Seventh Avenue. A warrant for her arrest was also issued on Jan. 7, but she is not currently in custody.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  Postal inspectors are offering a $150,000 reward for information on the armed robbery of a U.S. mail carrier earlier this week.

It happened just after 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, in the 1100 block of Herman Avenue, according to a Thursday news release from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

No survivors after collision between American Airlines jet, Army helicopter near DC

Inspectors said the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Take no action to apprehend this person yourself, reads the release.

Akron police officers were investigating the incident on Wednesday and said the suspect was believed to have been armed.

The suspect kept his hand in his right coat pocket and told the victim he had a gun, according to police.

Police said the suspect took property from the postal carrier but did not release details about what was taken.

The suspect ran away toward Diagonal Road.

Police released a photo believed to be the suspect that appears to have been taken from a surveillance camera in the area:

Courtesy: Akron Police Department

However, the photo isnt clear and police dont have clear details on the suspects description. Police said the suspect had his face covered entirely during the robbery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They said hes between 5-foot-4 and 6 feet tall. Police believe the suspect is young, 16 to 20 years old.

He was wearing a black coat, dark-colored pants, a ski mask and what appeared to be red gloves.

Lakewood High lockdown lifted following threat

Robbery of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the release.

The Postal Inspection Service views the security and well-being of postal service employees as its top priority and will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring those responsible for this crime to justice, U.S. Postal Inspector Ian Ortega wrote in an email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this point in time I cannot release any further details, other than it is still an active investigation, as to not jeopardize the integrity of the case.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call postal inspectors at 1-877-876-2455, say law enforcement when prompted and reference case No. 4457652-ROBB.

A $150,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the robber.

Tipsters can also call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip. Citizens may also provide anonymous information to any of the following:

The Summit County Crimestoppers, call 330-434-COPS

Text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Three men accused in the deadly shooting of a Providence teen faced a judge Wednesday morning.

A grand jury last week indicted 20-year-old Julien Santiago and 18-year-old Jalen Santiago, both of Providence, and 20-year-old Jose Diaz, of Pawtucket, for the killing of Darmani Balbuena.

The indictment charged the trio with first-degree murder, conspiracy, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death and carrying a firearm without a license.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RELATED: Grand jury indicts 3 men in fatal shooting of Providence teen

Balbuena was fatally shot on his 18th birthday while standing in the driveway of his Rhode Street home last August.

The men each pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail pending an April 3 pretrial conference.

The three men accused of killing Darmani Balbuena on his 18th birthday in August were arraigned in Providence this morning.



18-year-old Jalen Santiago, 20-year-old Julien Santiago, and 19-year-old Jose Diaz all plead not guilty and are being held without bail. pic.twitter.com/7C1EqgU4ok  Sophia Szabo (@sophiaszabotv) January 29, 2025

MORE: Pair of Nike sandals helped police nab suspects in 2024 Providence homicide

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.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An SUV ran into a fence and a tree in North Abilene.

At about 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, crews responded to the area of Bridge Avenue and Ambler Avenue for a one-vehicle wreck.

Police said the driver lost control due to slick road conditions while changing lanes. The passenger sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, while the driver was not hurt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No further information is available at this moment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
This article has been updated with new information.

As Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducts raids in Austin and other Texas cities, Gov. Greg Abbott is ratcheting up the state's efforts to assist President Donald Trump's federal border security operations.

In five executive orders Wednesday, the Republican governor directed state agencies to help "investigate, arrest, detain and deport" immigrants in the country illegally in several ways, including by deploying additional border barriers, sharing intelligence on groups like Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and cartels, and identifying new land and state facilities where arrested migrants can be detained. The barriers could include razor wire and buoys, both of which Texas previously defied the Biden administration to install on the Rio Grande.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Abbott also ordered the Texas Military Department to help the Department of Defense's homeland security forces repel what he called an "invasion" at the southern border.

A Department of Public Safety trooper competes in the driving skills contest at the 12th Annual Top Trooper Competition at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence Tuesday April 23, 2024. The weeklong event has 120 troopers competing in physical fitness, driving and firearms skills, and job knowledge. The male and female winners will earn the Javier Arana, Jr. Top Trooper Award, named after fallen Trooper Javier Arana, Jr., who participated in the inaugural competition, and get a new patrol vehicle.

The efforts make clear that Abbott, whose migrant-busing initiative helped drive public opinion in Republicans' favor on border issues, is not stepping back to let the federal government handle immigration on its own now that Trump is in office.

More: Texas governor activates 'tactical strike teams' to round up migrants with arrest warrants

"For the past four years, Texas has worked around-the-clock to defend our southern border while former President Joe Biden refused to protect our country from an invasion he allowed," Abbott said. "Now, we have a Commander-in-Chief in the White House who will do what is necessary to protect Americans. ... Just like President Donald Trump and his Administration, Texas will do what is necessary to keep our country safe."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive orders come a day after Abbott deployed state officers to aid Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, asking the state Department of Public Safety to activate "tactical strike teams" of troopers, special agents and Texas Rangers.

On Monday, Abbott also ordered 400 Texas National Guard troops and additional military equipment to the Rio Grande Valley to support Trump's border security initiatives and the governor's own Operation Lone Star.

Democratic lawmakers condemned Wednesday's deployment of state resources for Trump's border crackdown, saying Texas should focus its efforts on issues like food prices, home ownership and wages.

"Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans have been sending billions and billions to the border with next to zero tangible results," House Democratic Caucus chair Gene Wu, D-Houston, said in a statement to the American-Statesman. "Instead of deploying more soldiers to the border, the Governor should deploy some real solutions to the actual crises he has created for Texas families over the last decade in office."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican-dominated state Legislature has proposed to allocate $6.5 billion to state immigration enforcement efforts over the next two years, the same amount that lawmakers approved in the 2023 session, when Biden was in office. Abbott has also requested that Congress reimburse Texas for the $11.1 billion it has spent on Operation Lone Star and other border security efforts during the Biden administration.

State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, a Democrat from El Paso County, said she is concerned about Trump's executive orders as well as Abbott's.

"All of these executive orders threaten El Paso and our state, not just in an economic way, but also the families that live in our communities," Gonzalez, of Clint, said in a phone interview with the Statesman on Wednesday. "I am shocked and concerned that Gov. Abbott is following in Trumps footsteps and putting our Texas economy and Texas families at risk."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott orders state agencies to bolster Trump's immigration crackdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday came down heavily on AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his "poisonous water" remarks. PM Modi strongly criticised Arvind Kejriwal saying that he made "disgusting allegations" due to fear of losing elections and the country, people of Haryana and Delhi will never forgive and forget them for this "sin." Continuing his attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, the Prime Minister said - "In AAP-da walon ki lutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi..." Addressing a public rally in Ghonda, PM Modi said, "People of 'aapda' say that people of Haryana mix poison in water sent to Delhi. This is not just an insult to Haryana but to all Indians. Ours is a country where providing drinking water is considered a good deed...Such fear of losing that they are saying anything. I am sure Delhi will teach a lesson to people who say such things. In aapda walon ki llutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi..." He said that the Prime Minister, all Chief Justices, different embassies and the people of Delhi drink the same water which Haryana supplies. "For their political benefits, they have committed one more sin, which can never be forgiven. History will never forgive them for this. The country and the people of Haryana will never forgive them. A former CM of Delhi has levelled disgusting allegations on people of Haryana. Due to fear of losing, people from 'aapda' have got rattled. Are people of Haryana different from those in Delhi? Are relatives of those living in Haryana not residing in Delhi? Can the people of Haryana poison the water their own people drink? The water sent by Haryana is consumed by everyone living in Delhi, which also includes this Prime Minister, the Chief Justices, all the embassies, poor of Delhi..." PM Modi said. Continuing his attack, PM Modi said, "...It is the kindness of Indians to forgive people, but the country and Delhi never forgive people who willingly and intentionally commits a sin. I have eaten Haryana's roti. I know Haryana very well.... Should someone accuse such a state for poisoning water? These AAPda people are accusing Haryana for poisoning water. This is not just an insult of Haryana, but to the country, our values. This is country which considers providing drinking water is a good deed. This is a country which has made wells and boulis to supply water for others. I believe Delhi will teach a lesson to them who does such obnoxious claims. They are saying anything due to fear of losing elections." On Monday, Arvind Kejriwal levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, stating that the BJP-ruled Haryana government has "poisoned" the Yamuna water supplied to Delhi so that "people die" and the blame comes on the AAP. "If this water would have entered Delhi only to be mixed with the drinking water, many people would have died in Delhi. It would have caused mass genocide," Kejriwal had alleged. His statement has erupted a massive political row as BJP leaders are slamming him. the Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked Kejriwal to provide factual evidence to substantiate his serious allegations that the river Yamuna was poisoned by the neighbouring Haryana state. The commission has directed Kejriwal to furnish his response to the complaints, especially on the factual and legal matrix along with evidentiary support thereof by 8:00 PM on January 29, so as to enable the commission to examine the matter and take action as appropriate. Congress' New Delhi candidate Sandeep Dikshit launched a blistering attack on Kejriwal over his "poisoned water" remark and said that he has "gravely accused" another government of "genocide" without any proof. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena wrote a letter to Chief Minister Atishi to express his objections against the "poisoned water" remarks made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, labelling them as "false, misleading and factless". In this election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing to reclaim the power in the national capital almost after 27 years. The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and failed to win any seats. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections, winning 67 and 62 seats, respectively, out of a total of 70 seats, while BJP secured only three and eight seats in these elections. The Delhi Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes set for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are competing for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi. (ANI)


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Buckingham Palace announced today that Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have welcomed their new baby, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

We welcomed Baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect. We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena, Edo wrote on Instagram.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi/Buckingham Palace

Athena is now 11th in line to the British throne, following her older sister, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her first name, Athena, is of Greek origin, and a reference to the goddess of wisdom. The A name could also be a nod to both of Beatrice and Edos fathers, who have A namesPrince Andrew and Alessandro "Alex" Mapelli Mozzi, respectively. The couple named their first daughter Sienna, an S name, as a tribute to Beatrice's mom, Sarah Ferguson. They were looking for an Italian name which started with an S for Sarah, to honour the Duchess [Sarah Ferguson], and also reflected the golden rust colour of both the Duchess's hair colour and Beatrice's, which the new baby shares, a friend told Hello! at the time of Siennas birth. It follows, then, that A could be for Andrew.

Like her sister Sienna, Athena also has the middle name Elizabeth, a tribute to Beatrices beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Upon the death of the Queen, Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie wrote in a tribute, You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. They added, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you.

Her second middle name, Rose, is more mysterious, as there's no clear family tie. A name of Latin origin, it signifies the flower, which in turn signifies love, royalty, beauty, sensuality, secrecy, and mysticism.

You Might Also Like
Officers arrested a man for chasing residents with a sword in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed to KTLA.

The Los Angeles Police Department said Southwest officers responded at 10:15 a.m. for reports of the armed man in the 3800 block of Gibraltar Avenue.

Upon arrival, the man  who police did not publicly identify as of Tuesday  barricaded himself and was believed to be alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police confirmed no injuries were reported as a result of the mans threatening actions with the sword.

LAPD and SWAT officials stayed on the scene where the man remained barricaded for hours in a location that was not immediately revealed.

Footage from witnesses on Citizen.com shows armed SWAT members and police officers monitoring what appears to be apartment buildings within a taped-off area of a residential street.

Police officers are seen arresting a sword-wielding man after he barricaded himself on Jan. 28, 2025. (Citizen.com) Armed SWAT members and police officers are seen monitoring an area where a sword-wielding man barricaded himself on Jan. 28, 2025. (Citizen.com) Armed SWAT members and police officers are seen monitoring an area where a sword-wielding man barricaded himself on Jan. 28, 2025. (Citizen.com) Armed SWAT members and police officers are seen monitoring an area where a sword-wielding man barricaded himself on Jan. 28, 2025. (Citizen.com)

At 4:21 p.m., LAPD said the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Details are limited, and police said no further information was available as of Tuesday 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.
Syria's new government has allegedly requested that Russia hand over former President Bashar al-Assad and his close aides, Reuters reported on Jan. 28, citing a Syrian source close to the matter.

The demand was reportedly raised during the first negotiations between Syrian officials and a Kremlin delegation following Assad's ouster by rebels in December. After his overthrow, Assad fled to Moscow, where he now resides.

A Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and special envoy Alexander Lavrentyev met with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who reportedly made the request.



Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the report about Syrian demands, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There has been no official statement from Moscow or Damascus regarding the demand.

Read also: Syria demands Russian compensation for past mistakes in first talks since Assads fall

Russia deployed troops to Syria in 2015 to support Assad's brutal crackdown against opposition forces. With Moscow's backing, Assad's regime imprisoned, tortured, and killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Syria's new government pressed Russia for compensation and the correction of "past mistakes" during the Jan. 28 talks as Moscow reassesses its military presence in the country.

The Russian delegation was unwilling to concede such mistakes, and the only agreement reached was to continue the discussions, a Syrian source told Reuters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following Assad's ouster, Russia began withdrawing assets from Syria, raising questions about the future of its naval base in Tartus and its airbase in Khmeimim.

Ukraine has also engaged with Syria's new leadership. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30 to discuss Russia's military presence.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Kyiv and Damascus share similar views on the issue, though specific details were not disclosed.

Read also: 4 out of 4  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Syria's new government pressed Russia for compensation and the correction of "past mistakes" during its first talks with a Kremlin delegation on Jan. 28, following the ouster of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in December.

"The dialogue highlighted Russias role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through compensation, reconstruction, and recovery," a Syrian statement on the talks said.

Russia deployed troops to Syria in 2015 to support the Assad regime's brutal crackdown against anti-government forces. With Moscow's support, Assad's regime was free to imprison, torture, and murder hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assad would later flee to Moscow where he now resides.

Russia's delegation, which included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, met with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

A banner depicting Syrian former President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin and reading "Justice Prevails," is displayed along a highway in Damascus, Syria on March 8, 2022. (Louai Beshara / AFP via Getty Images)

Bogdanov reportedly described the talks as constructive, acknowledging the "difficult situation." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the report about Syrian demands for compensation, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Following Assad's ouster and flight to Russia, Moscow began withdrawing military assets, leaving the future of its bases in Tartus and Khmeimim uncertain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Satellite images revealed that a "large amount" of Russian military equipment disappeared from Tartus after the cargo ship Sparta II's departure, investigative journalist Mark Krutov said on Jan. 27.

Ukraine has also engaged with Syria's new leadership, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visiting Damascus on Dec. 30 to discuss Russia's military presence.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi noted that Kyiv and Damascus share similar views on the issue, though details were not disclosed.

Read also: 4 out of 4  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The departure lane at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

The head of security at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport abruptly resigned Tuesday after only four months on the job over what he said are leadership failures. He also accused management of wanting to get rid of its police department.

Joseph Perkins retired as police chief in Middleborough, Mass., after a 35-year career in law enforcement. (Photo courtesy Middleborough Police Department)

Joseph Perkins confirmed his departure from the director of security job he began last September via text message Wednesday afternoon. Perkins had retired that same month as chief of police of Middleboro, Massachusetts, after a 35-year career in law enforcement, including a decade leading the towns force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I came from out of state  I knew no one in the state prior to accepting the job and certainly no one at the airport, Perkins told Rhode Island Current. After 90 days on the job, I quickly surmised that remaining employed at the airport under the current administrative leadership was something I would not do.

He declined to state specific issues that led to his resignation.

In a message to coworkers Tuesday obtained by Rhode Island Current, Perkins apologized for being unable to promote a more positive atmosphere at the airport.

I am sorry I was not able to become what I and most of you expected when I took this job, Perkins wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perkins alleged airport leadership wants to eliminate the police department and most of all the union.

Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) spokesperson Bill Fischer denied the claim.

There are no plans to eliminate the RIAC police department and the department is properly staffed and able to fulfill its mission, he said in a statement. The department has 27 officers, he confirmed.

Fischer claimed the airport never received a letter of resignation from Perkins and that no concerns were ever raised to management.

Mr. Perkins did not notify his department head and direct report who found this development to be somewhat of a surprise  if not odd behavior, Fischer said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perkins said he submitted his resignation to the Rhode Island State Police.

Rhode Island State Police when asked for comment replied as follows: Joseph Perkins is not an employee of Rhode Island DPS (Department of Public Safety). Respectfully, all questions regarding Chief Perkins should be directed to either the Rhode Island Airport Corporation or Chief Perkins.

Perkins called his decision to resign honorable and justified.

Walking away and not notifying someone of the issues I observed during my time there is not something my conscience or my professional character and oath would allow, he said Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perkins said he was a non-union uncontracted employee-at-will director and awaiting certification in Rhode Island to be the airports chief of police. His departure is the latest personnel change in a turbulent relationship between labor and management at the airport.

Workers organized under RI Council 94 for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have been working without a contract since last June.

The abrupt resignation of Public Safety Director Perkins is reflective of the issues the union has been raising for months, Jim Cenerini, legislative affairs/political action coordinator at Rhode Island Council 94 AFSCME said in an interview Wednesday. The Rhode Island Airport Corporation treats both their union and non-union employees horribly.

In early October, RIAC announced it had retained DeSistos firm after learning airlines received anonymous letters claiming the airport had a toxic work environment  including one sent to airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration claiming the airport would be closed Aug. 13 due to an employee walkout. No walkout ever happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The situation escalated further with the firing of the unions president last October, followed by a trespassing accusation that only deepened the rift.

In November, roughly a dozen airport employees were warned not to destroy records related to the anonymous letters.

Contract negotiations remain ongoing, according to both Fischer and Cenerini.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
ST. CLAIR TWP., Ohio (WKBN)  The community has been coming together to support the family of a 4-year-old girl who was killed in the crossfire of an officer-involved shooting in St. Clair Township.

Mallory Ludwig didnt know Rosalie Martin but said she still felt compelled to do something to help.

She had a friend reach out who wanted a t-shirt to wear to show support, and that got the ball rolling for a variety of designs supporting Rosalie, as well as Detective Dakota Wetzel who was injured in this shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ludwig decided to donate the money from shirts that she has sold through her business, Weagybear Designs, to the families, and so far, more than 150 t-shirts and sweatshirts have been sold.

She said she pictured herself in the familys shoes and what it would mean for someone to help during their most difficult time.

I just want to try to take any little bit of burden off of the family that I can, especially financially, she said.

I think when something like this happens, our community really comes together to really try to support everybody, she added.

As for a timeline, she said she has no deadline for when she will be done taking orders. As long as people are interested, she will keep making the shirts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said she would split the money made from the shirts between the families of Rosalie and Dakota.

You can find more information on Weagybear Designs Facebook page. Shirts can be picked up in East Liverpool, or shipping is available for an additional cost.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore has submitted his resignation to City Manager Elizabeth Pauli, effective February 3, 2025, according to a statement released by the city.

Moore, who has served as Chief of Police since January 2022, stated that after 35 years in law enforcement, he has decided to retire and move into the next phase of his life.

In his resignation letter, Moore expressed pride in his career, noting his dedication to service, leadership, and justice. He specifically mentioned his rewarding experience in Tacoma, stating it was an honor and a privilege to serve this vibrant city and its extraordinary residents as your Chief of Police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moore focused on reducing crime, building community trust, and strengthening engagement during his time in Tacoma. He said he is deeply grateful for the collaboration and support of this remarkable community. He also thanked the officers of the Tacoma Police Department for their unwavering dedication and professionalism, expressing confidence in their continued ability to make a positive impact.

Before coming to Tacoma, Moore worked for 31 years with the Dallas Police Department.

Deputy Chief Paul Junger has been appointed as acting chief in Moores place.

Junger, who also previously worked for the Dallas Police Department, has served as Deputy Chief since May 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moores resignation comes after three years of service to the Tacoma Police Department.

Moore was placed on administrative leave in September 2024. City Manager Elizabeth Pauli said in 2024:

I placed the Chief of Police on administrative leave on Wednesday, September 25 to enable a fact-finding relating to the personal use of a City asset and statements made relating to that use. I have concluded that the facts and circumstances of the use of the asset, subsequent cost reimbursement and statements made around the use and reimbursement, while not intended to mislead, did not meet expected standards of professional judgment. As a result, I have given a verbal counseling and the Chief will resume his full duties as Chief of Police. The Chief and I stand together in holding ourselves to the highest standards in exercising discretion and judgment in the positions we hold. Our shared focus remains on upholding and supporting the entire police department in the good work they are doing for our community.




Parvesh Verma, the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the New Delhi constituency, has filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other officials for alleged corruption in the installation of CCTV cameras in the New Delhi Assembly Constituency. Verma is contending against Kejriwal in the upcoming elections. In his complaint, Verma states that Kejriwal, in collaboration with his Ministers and officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and other relevant departments, sanctioned the installation of CCTV cameras under the MLA-LAD and GNCTD funds. Verma claims that the project was presented as a development initiative but was instead a cover for corruption. The complaint further claims that despite an estimated Rs12 crores being spent, most of the CCTV cameras were either not installed or were of substandard quality. Verma writes, "Most of such CCTVs were installed on paper or of poorest quality." He asserts that the actual installations were far below the funds allocated, with inflated prices being charged for substandard work. Verma goes on to state, "The works were awarded to loot the public money which itself is a cognizable offence." Verma also claims that fabricated documents were created to conceal the misuse of public funds. He notes that these actions led to significant financial loss for the government. Verma writes, "Forged fabricated documents were created to cheat the exchequer's hard-earned money against public interest." He emphasizes the need for a deep investigation to uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption. The candidate from the New Delhi constituency has requested the ACB to take appropriate action, including registering a First Information Report (FIR) against Arvind Kejriwal and other Ministers and officials from PWD, DJB, and other departments under the Prevention of Corruption (PoC) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and other laws. He further urges that the accused officials be subjected to custodial interrogation to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability. Verma has called for the prosecution of all those responsible for this alleged corruption, urging that action be taken promptly. (ANI)
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM)  The City of Tampa is expanding its public art collection with the unveiling of a new large-scale sculpture, Open House, a dynamic and interactive piece that symbolizes the transformation of ideas into reality.

Florida State Fair adds new rides and merch for 2025

The 28-foot artwork, created by Rhode Island-based artists Erik Carlson and Ericka Carpenter, will be officially revealed Jan 29 at 3:00 p.m. at City Center (2555 E Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610). Mayor Jane Castor, along with Ann Eliza Taylor of the City of Tampa Public Art Committee and the artists themselves, will speak at the event, highlighting the significance of public art in shaping Tampas cultural and visual landscape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Open House is more than just a sculptureits an immersive experience. The piece draws inspiration from childhood building blocks, representing the process of construction and growth that happens at City Center. It invites visitors to walk through its open structure and discover a hidden layer of meaning: over 300 Tampa street names, submitted by residents, are etched into its colorful panels, connecting the community directly to the artwork.

Designed to reflect Tampas vibrant sunrises and sunsets, Open House stands as a bold symbol of imagination and progress, echoing the citys spirit of transformation.

Public art preserves and tells Tampas story in a beautiful and thought-provoking way, said Mayor Jane Castor. It also makes art accessible to everyone, which is incredibly important, particularly for younger generations. I strongly believe visual art is one of the strongest statements a community can make to show its values, and we are grateful to continue growing our collection.

Tampas public art collection now includes over 800 pieces, valued at approximately $19 million. Notable works include:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Transportation (1899) at the University of Tampa, the citys oldest public artwork.

Lightning by Jonathan Borofsky , a towering sculpture in front of Amalie Arena.

Visual Welcome by Yaacov Agam and The Wave by MaryAnn Ungar, which enhance Bayshore Boulevards scenic path.

With more installations plannedsuch as upcoming state-of-the-art sculptures for the Tampa Convention CenterTampa continues to solidify its place as a city that values and invests in the power of public art.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Soldiers from the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after King Danylo have posted a video showing the destruction of two Russian amphibious assault vehicles near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, one of which was hit by a Ukrainian tank from a distance of 30 metres.

Source: 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade on Telegram

Details: The brigade noted that the Russians continue to advance on Chasiv Yar, using elite paratrooper divisions, motorised infantry brigades and other units, and completely destroying what remains of the settlement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Continuous assaults from various directions are ongoing, making conditions extremely difficult for the soldiers of the 24th Brigade.

During one Russian attack, Ukrainian infantrymen incinerated an amphibious assault vehicle using a grenade launcher.

A second armoured vehicle kept moving and was destroyed by fire from a tank belonging to the King Danylo Brigade from 30 metres away.

Support UP or become our patron!
The taxpayer is providing new clothes and shoes to illegal Channel migrants at a cost of more than 3,000 a day, The Telegraph can reveal.

Men, women and children arriving at Dover have been handed the free clothes  including puffer coats, hats and gloves in winter and flip-flops in summer  at a total cost of almost 4 million over the past three years.

They are kept in a quayside store house, said by one former official to be as big as a Matalan or M&S store, with changing rooms to try the clothes on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Home Office stocks thousands of different sizes and shapes to replace all the migrants clothing, which it says is necessary because they are often soaked through with sea water and occasionally splashed with fuel, posing a health and safety risk.

Some are also offered free mobile phones to ensure that ongoing contact with immigration officials can be maintained, although the Home Office said this was rare and it could provide no figures on these costs.

The disclosure, revealed under freedom of information (FoI) laws, comes ahead of the Government unveiling its new border security legislation to deploy counter-terror-style powers to tackle people smuggling gangs. The Government has also confirmed it will repeal the Tories legislation that would have allowed migrants to be deported to Rwanda.

A group thought to be migrants on a coach in Dover wear blue and yellow coats - Jordan Pettitt/PA

The figures have prompted calls for migrants to be required to reimburse the taxpayer if they are subsequently granted the right to remain in the UK as a refugee. About 66 per cent of Channel migrants in the year to September 2024 were granted asylum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tony Smith, a former director general of Border Force, said: If they are allowed to stay, then they are going to be able to work and earn money. To me, thats a chargeable deduction on our investment in them like universities, where you have to borrow 30,000 to get your child in to study.

The new clothes cost the taxpayer 3,733,145 for 2022-23 and the first 10 months of 2024, equivalent to 3,624 a day for the 105,853 migrants who crossed the Channel during that period. It works out at 35.27 per migrant.

In 2022, the record year for crossings when 45,755 migrants reached the UK in small boats, the clothing cost the Home Office 2,047,756.77. In 2023, when crossings fell to 29,437 migrants, the bill dropped to 959,327.66 and for the first 10 months of 2024, it was 726,062.79.

It is understood the migrants are allowed to keep their old clothes, which are stored while the migrants are processed at the Manston reception centre in Kent.

A group of people thought to be migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel wrapped in matching blankets - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Each migrant who arrives first hands back their life jacket, then has to point on a board to the number for their age and a flag for their nationality. They are checked by medics before going to the clothing store, where they check they have the correct fitting clothes in a changing room. They are then transferred to Manston.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In its FoI response, the Home Office said: They are provided with a basic clothing pack similar to those issued via the Prison Service, consisting of underwear, socks, T-shirt, trousers/jogging bottoms, sweatshirt and weather-appropriate footwear such as flip-flops/sliders, plimsolls or trainers.

In colder weather, a coat, hat and gloves are included in the clothing pack. Children are also provided with age and weather-appropriate clothing packs, and  where necessary  nappies are also provided for babies.

The Home Office declined to give details on the brand of clothes.

It added: It has been the case since 2018 that some very basic (non-smart) mobile phone devices have been issued to a small number of arrivals on an exceptional basis for reporting purposes, where it was considered necessary to ensure that ongoing contact was maintained with the Home Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, this is not a regular practice, and we hold no central data of the number of occasions on which it has occurred since 2018, or the cost involved.

Migrants who arrive on inflatable dinghies after crossing the Channel receive new clothing from the British authorities - Dan Kitwood/Getty

Charity sector should provide second-hand clothes

Critics demanded that the costly practice stop, and the Government should use the voluntary and charity sector to provide second-hand clothes instead of the taxpayer picking up the bill.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said: The taxpayer should not be footing any new clothing bill.

If Care for Calais and other Leftie luvvies care so much, they can source clothing from their donations.

Hard-working British taxpayers are sick and tired of being ripped off by these illegal arrivals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migration Watch, said: There seems to be no end to the Governments largesse with taxpayers money. You arrive illegally, get dried off, re-clothed and put up in comfort to await the inevitable good news that you can stay for good.

Thats why record numbers will continue to come, and smashing the gangs is a pipe dream.

The Government is advertising a six-year contract worth 521 million to manage Western Jet Foil in Dover, where the migrants arrive, and the Manston reception centre.

In November, it was revealed the UKs bill for asylum seekers had hit a record 5.4 billion to pay for processing, accommodating and financially supporting the backlog of asylum seekers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 35,000 migrants were living in hotels costing the taxpayer more than 4 million a day.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are disrespecting our laws and should not be getting free clothes and accommodated in hotels  costing billions a year. These illegal immigrants do not need to cross the channel  France is safe and has a perfectly good asylum system.

Labour scrapped the Rwanda removals deterrent before it even started  and numbers of illegal immigrants crossing have subsequently gone up by 30 per cent since the election. Labour has no plan and has lost control of our borders.

A Home Office spokesman said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. Dismantling the people-smuggling gangs will not only save lives, but also continue to drive down costs such as these.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Labour source added: This is rank hypocrisy from Chris Philp. The decision to hand out these clothing packs was made under a Tory government and half the spending highlighted in this release took place when he was personally working in the Home Office.

It also beggars belief for Philp to be criticising hotel costs when it was under his watch that spending on asylum hotels rose to 9 million a day.

Terror-style offences for people traffickers

Ministers have already announced that the Border Security Bill, due to be published on Thursday, will impose mobile phone and travel bans on suspected people smugglers to prevent them committing further offences as part of the new counter-terror-style powers.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency, police and Border Force will be able to use interim court orders to ban suspected people smugglers from using mobile phones, laptops and accessing social media even if they have not got enough evidence to prosecute them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People smugglers caught with equipment such as boats, engines and life-jackets could also face new terror-style offences of preparing to traffic migrants.

Border Force officials are expected to get expanded powers under the 2000 Terrorism Act for enhanced stop and search powers for anyone suspected of being a people smuggler.

The new powers will enable officers to carry out personal searches, examine and seize mobile phones and copy any data on the devices of any suspects at ports and border control.

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  Former Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday for a brazen bribery scheme that saw him put his political influence up for sale in exchange for stockpiles of cash, gold bullion bars, and other lavish gifts, after tearfully pleading with the judge for mercy.

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Sidney Stein imposed the sentence at a packed hearing, where the longtime lawmaker and his lawyers implored the court not to send him to prison for the rest of his life, saying that although he was now known as gold bar Bob, he deserved leniency for his tireless work as a public servant for half a century.

Menendezs co-defendants, Hana and Fred Daibes, who were found guilty of related offenses at the trial, were also sentenced Wednesday to eight years and a month, and seven years, respectively. Menendezs wife, Nadine Menendez, is set to go on trial in March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before the term was handed down, a trembling Menendez addressed the court in tears, telling Stein of the work he was most proud of.

Judge, other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about. For someone who spent his entire life in public service, every day Im awake is a punishment, Menendez said, citing instances of his public service.

I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context and to temper your sword of justice with the mercy of a lifetime of duty.

A jury found Menendez guilty in July of taking almost half a million dollars in cash, $150,000 worth of gold bars, a luxury convertible for his wife, flashy watches, and Formula 1 tickets in exchange for abusing his position as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evidence at his nine-week trial showed that from 2018 to 2023, Menendez took cash and a luxury convertible for his wife in exchange for coercing the highest levels of New Jersey state law enforcement to kill a criminal investigation into an associate; took tens of thousands of dollars from Daibes to advance a formal resolution praising Qatar and also attempted to influence a pending federal prosecution of Daibes in New Jersey, and other corrupt arrangements.

Prosecutors had requested Menendez serve a minimum of 15 years prison time for his conviction, the first of a senator for abusing their leadership on a Senate committee and the first of anyone for serving as a foreign agent while being a public official. They said a steep sentence was warranted to deter other lawmakers from engaging in similar conduct.

The feds called Menendezs scheme one of stunning brazenness, breadth, and duration, resulting in exceptionally grave abuses of power at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch of the United States Government.

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, the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office wrote to Stein before sentencing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez corruptly promised to influence national security, including this countrys provision of large quantities of lethal military aid. He corruptly divulged, to a foreign government, sensitive non-public information that could put at risk U.S. and foreign nationals serving at an embassy abroad.

Adam Fee, Menendezs lawyer, had asked the judge to weigh the good and the bad of Menendezs history and impose no more than eight years in prison, citing his decades of public service before the bribery scheme.

Stein received 130 letters from people advocating that the former senator serve a lenient term, including clergy members, foreign dignitaries, and community groups.

The good outweighs the bad in the arc of Bobs life, Fee said. People are complicated. If our worst moments defined us and overshadowed whatever other light we had put out into the world, many of us, including me, would not be here today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fee said Menendez had fallen down and made decisions that cost him dearly, but that the term sought by prosecutors was overly harsh. He spoke about a scrappy young Menendez supporting his parents, Cuban immigrants, as a teen and his testimony in a bulletproof vest as a young adult at the corruption trial of Union City Mayor William Must.

He said a sentence above a decade meant the federal Bureau of Prisons would not send him to a minimum security prison, exposing him to a dramatically higher risk of danger as a high-profile inmate.

He is a good and honorable man that has made mistakes that he will regret and pay for for the rest of his life, Fee said, asking Stein for compassion.

_____
LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW)  A Robeson County teenager facing a murder charge after a woman was shot and killed at a Lumberton Walmart in December is being held without bond at a North Carolina juvenile detention facility after his arrest in last week in Chicago, police said.

Ezekiel Burden was extradited on Tuesday and made his first court appearance in Robeson County on Wednesday. He is being held in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Burden is one of two people accused in the Dec. 20 killing of Brandy Nicole Olson, who died from multiple gunshot wounds suffered while she was standing in line at the Woodforest Bank branch inside the Walmart. Authorities said the suspects were targeting two people they knew who were inside the bank.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities charged Burden with first-degree murder, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear and going armed to the terror of the people. The second suspect, Brian Campbell, 18, is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Campbell turned himself in to authorities three days after the shooting and is being held on a $1 million bond at the Robeson County Detention Center.

* * *

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.

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 WBTW.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a teenage boy was arrested on Tuesday for attempting to steal a phone in the Brookland neighborhood near Catholic University.

Police said that at about 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 28, officers responded to the 600 block of Michigan Ave. for the report of a robbery.

The victim told officers that the suspect approached them at the location above and snatched their phone out of their hand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies find body while serving eviction notice in Prince Georges County

The suspect attempted to flee but was arrested by Catholic University Police.

Officers recovered the phone.

The 17-year-old boy from Alexandria, Va., was arrested and charged with Robbery (Snatch).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A teenager who was shot and killed in Brooklyn on Tuesday has been identified, according to the NYPD.

Heath Campbell, 15, was found with a gunshot wound to his head in the lobby of a building on 93rd Street around 3:30 p.m., police said. He was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County where he was pronounced dead, according to authorities.

More Local News

Campbell lived inside the building where he was fatally shot, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A 16-year-old boy was also shot in the shoulder, according to authorities. He was found by officers on the third floor of the building, police said.

More Crime News

No arrests have been made. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

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).

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.

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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Tehachapi youth pastor was arrested Monday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage victim.

Officials with the Tehachapi Police Department say Adrian Daugherty, 41, was employed as a Youth Pastor at the Tehachapi Church of the Nazarene at the time of his arrest.

Suspect charged in killing of man who was shot, set on fire

Daugherty was arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor following an investigation. Officials say it was determined that the victim was a teen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The police department is investigating to determine if there are any additional victims. If anyone has information regarding the arrest, they are asked to contact the Tehachapi Police Department at 661-822-2222.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News.
A Tempe man cited on Sunday after feeding the homeless at a park is arguing the city is misusing an ordinance to target the homeless.

New Meal Deal leader Ron Tapscott received a Class 1 misdemeanor citation on allegations by Tempe that he failed to obtain a special event permit at a city park, according to a statement from city officials. The statement said his group had been warned.

"Tempe City Code 5-2 makes clear: Outdoor public gatherings on City-owned property that are open to the public or which may necessitate services above those routinely provided, require the event sponsor to apply for and receive a city-issued special event permit," the statement read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tapscott told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday afternoon he was warned on Jan. 19 by an officer who indicated he would receive a citation if he returned to giving meals at the park. Tapscott said he thinks the city zeroed in on his organization because of its interest in "luxury-rate housing" and that "they do not want homeless people or poor people to be in the mix as large-scale luxury development comes forward."

According to the city, New Meal Deal hosted a recent event at Moeur Park that had more than 80 attendees.

"We clean up that park, so it's cleaner than what we found it. There's no needles, there's no trash, there's none of the things that the city's reporting that's occurring at the end of these events," Tapscott said.

As of Sunday, the group has never applied for a special event permit for its weekly gathering despite city staff advising leadership to do so, city officials wrote in its statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In this regard, the group has been treated like anyone else who uses City property to stage an event without a permit," the statement read.

Tapscott said the history and use of the special event permit applies to large commercial events at Tempe Beach Park and Kiwanis Park and not his feeding of the homeless at Moeur Park. He further explained the New Meal Deal's events are not open to the public. Those who attend are asked to register with the group as members after agreeing to respect each other and the property where they are meeting up, he said.

"They have misapplied it in this particular situation to basically punish people that are trying to serve people on the street, and therefore indirectly punish people that are hungry," Tapscott said.

Tempe spokeswoman Kris Baxter said there have been "dozens upon dozens" of permits for gatherings, many smaller than New Meal Deal's events, that are issued throughout the city. She added that the ordinance was instituted in 1967.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A retired social worker who has resided in Tempe for 20 years, 78-year-old Tapscott said New Meal Deal was started after the August arrest of Austin Davis. Serving food to the homeless at Moeur Park on behalf of his group AZ Hugs, Davis accepted a plea deal the next month to one charge of feeding people at a park without a permit and received probation.

New Meal Deal's events at Moeur Park resulted in unsafe conditions, trash and impacts on the environment, according to the statement by the city.

An approximate 30% reduction in homelessness was brought on by $5 million in investments addressing the issue and $1 million in grants benefiting the unhoused and nonprofits, the city statement read. More than 1,950 people found housing through these efforts. The city's Homeless Outreach Program Effort met with and offered food, shelter and other services to unhoused Tempe residents in more than 10,000 instances last year, the statement added.

"The City will continue to make helping our unsheltered residents a top priority," the statement read. "At the same time, we will keep working to keep Tempes public spaces and parks safe, to ensure that all our residents can enjoy the amenities funded by their tax dollars and to make sure nearby neighborhoods arent unreasonably impacted by park events."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the statewide passage of Proposition 312 in November, homeowners may seek a property tax refund if their city doesn't enforce existing bans on homeless camping in public spaces. Tempe reinstated a so-called urban camping ordinance first enacted in 1997. The ordinance prohibits people from finding housing through public property such as parks, preserves, alleys and bus stops.

Tapscott told The Republic shortly after the ordinance was revived that Tempe lacked the resources to furnish the needs of the unhoused. He said they would have to choose the street or jail while waiting for help.

Baxter countered Tapscott by pointing to the city's so-called "bridge shelter." Sue's Espacio is a former Roadway Inn converted into space that Baxter said is available for a range of "people in crisis" from single individuals to whole families with pets. A second such shelter is currently in development at a former Apache Inn.

Like the citation Tapscott received, violating the camping ordinance is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a $2,500 fine or up to six months of jail time.

Grandmother suspected in death: Tempe 13-year-old dead after being found in cage

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tempe man fined for feeding the homeless; city says he was warned
NEW YORK (PIX11)Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has rescinded a rule that temporarily protected migrants fleeing ongoing armed conflict or other extraordinary and temporary conditions on Wednesday.

The temporary protected status for roughly 600,000 Venezuelans has been revoked immediately, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

More Local News

What it means:

Venezuelans who were protected are now subject to removal from the country.

What is Temporary Protected Status:

Congress established TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife. It allows individuals to work for up to 18 months at a time. During this period, TPS beneficiaries are eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases and are usually not removable from the United States.

How many Venezuelans are in New York:

Venezuelans are among the largest beneficiaries, and the extension authorized by the Biden administration would have allowed them to remain from April 2025 to October 2, 2026. About 1 million immigrants from 17 countries are protected by TPS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The latest immigration action follows the Trump administrations abandonment of policies restricting migrant arrests at sensitive locations, such as churches. This significant policy reversal has raised concerns about the potential impact on the community, as it permits Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection to conduct immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.

Before leaving office, President Biden had extended the time Venezuelans could remain in the U.S. by renewing their temporary protected status.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can 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.
Delhi Minister and AAP candidate from Greater Kailash Assembly seat, Saurabh Bharadwaj, has held industrial units in Haryana responsible for discharging untreated effluents into the Yamuna River, calling it a criminal act. "Being the Urban Development Minister, I am saying this with full responsibility, there are hundreds of industrial units in Sonipat and Panipat in Haryana. And the law says that the effluent that comes out of them is poisonous. If you are putting it in Yamuna without treating it, it is a crime," Bharadwaj said. Bharadwaj also addressed the Election Commission, questioning the origin of ammonia in the river. "I want to ask the Election Commission. They consider themselves to be very intelligent people. Mr. Rajiv (Rajiv Kumar), tell me where this ammonia is coming from. Is Arvind Kejriwal making it in some factory? Or does the river make ammonia on its own?" Earlier on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar slammed Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for supporting the BJP-led Haryana government over Arvind Kejriwal's 'Yamuna poisoning' remark saying that he should prioritize the welfare of the people instead of supporting the BJP. Speaking to ANI, Kakkar said, "Instead of becoming a stooge of the BJP, the LG must take care of the people since he holds a constitutional post and responsibility. The level of ammonia in Yamuna has increased 700 times more than the permissible limit and it cannot happen automatically. This has been done. Instead of questioning the Haryana Government, the LG is standing in support of the BJP-led Haryana government. This is shameful." Her remarks came after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and expressed his objection to Arvind Kejriwal's 'Yamuna poisoning' remark. "An attempt to provoke the public by making false, misleading and factless allegations like poisoning and genocide on another state government on a sensitive issue like drinking water is a threat not only to the states but also to national peace and security. I hope that as an educated, enlightened and sensitive woman and the Chief Minister of Delhi, you will rise above petty interests and will not say such misleading, dangerous and baseless things in the interest of public welfare and peace and will also advise your leader not to do so." reads the letter. (ANI)
Throughout my career, I've witnessed the transformative power of institutions to shape individual lives and transform communities.

Today, as president of Belmont University, I find myself contemplating one of the most essential responsibilities of leaders across our city: caring for the vulnerable.

From every angle of our community  regardless of the seats we hold or the ways in which we serve  we must view the challenges impacting our neighbors as shared concerns. Together we can inspire collaborative solutions and bring together the diverse talent, knowledge and resources from across our industries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The foster care crisis in Tennessee is a challenge that demands immediate attention and unified action from community leaders.

When our Belmont Innovation Labs partnered with Every Child Tennessee a few months ago to study the challenges facing foster youth transitioning to adulthood, we uncovered data and stories that proved the urgency of this issue.

Agencies providing care for foster youth are over-strained, and foster youth are feeling the consequences. Its time to embrace a bigger story  and solve a deeper challenge, beyond our individual day to day business pursuits  to strengthen communities by addressing the needs of our neighbors in crisis.

Connection and independence are key for humans to succeed

After hours of impact group conversations and supplemental research on this topic, two human needs among this group rang clear: Connection and Independence.

Tennessee Titans players T'Vondre Sweat, right, and J.C. Latham pose with kids at Fall-Hamilton Elementary School in Nashville on Aug. 12, 2024, during a food distribution for local students who are displaced, in foster care, or living below the poverty line. The nonprofit Mercy Chefs provided a hot meal for 63 students and sent them home with snack-filled backpacks

Connection. More than simply having people in your life, connection is about meaningful relationships that shape futures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The study revealed that teens with stable, trusted adult mentors in their lives are significantly more likely to successfully transition to adulthood than those without. Moreover, impacted teens flourish when they are connected to peers who share similar life experiences. This need for connection also extends to crucial resources like affordable and reliable health care including flexible, trauma-informed mental health support.

But connection alone isn't enough.

Independence. Financial and emotional independence creates the foundation for sustainable success.

Sometimes its simple to measure: Can I pay my bills? Do I have what I need to keep growing personally and professionally?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But independence is also about matters of emotional security and identity  our level of self-awareness and ability to self-actualize. Can I articulate my story? Do I feel safe in my house and confident in my own skin?

Opinion: Tennesseans should support fathers taking an active role in their children's lives

These are profound questions with profound impact, and all of us who work alongside young people, especially those of us in education, have an obligation to address them. Our collective commitment to service, love and hospitality compels us to care for those beyond the people who walk our halls, access our services or directly engage with our work.

Three steps for leaders to help solve the foster care crisis

I'm calling on my fellow city leaders to join us in this crucial work. Here's what we can do:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Learn . The first step in solving a problem is taking time to understand its scope and impact. The foster-care crisis is impacting thousands of young Americans, with Tennessee experiencing disproportionately higher rates of instability for teens in care. By the age of 21, over 25% of foster youth in our state had no high school diploma or GED, 37% did not have stable housing and 54% had been incarcerated. While the data doesn't tell every story, it underscores a clear need for focused support and an important opportunity for institutions across our city to help.

Connect. I often think about working in education as being in the business of people. Our greatest strength lies in our ability to make and sustain meaningful connections across disciplines, departments and communities. The landscape study revealed a critical truth we as leaders know well: relationships matter. For youth in foster care, stable relationships with mentors and peers are key indicators of success during the transition to adulthood. As leaders, we are uniquely poised to leverage our greatest asset  our people  to facilitate these connections. This means encouraging volunteerism at organizations like Every Child TN and developing sustainable mentorship programs between adults across our city and youth in foster care.

Invest. At the heart of investment is hope  the belief that what is nurtured can flourish. True investment calls us to give in ways that radically transform our communities to generate more, better opportunities for our neighbors long-term. For Belmont, this means creating new pathways for former foster youth who are interested in accessing higher education and thinking critically about how we can support these students once they transition to our community. Weve also launched a new policy that provides additional time off to employees who are caring for vulnerable children, and were working to develop wrap-around services for these families in our community. By investing our resources  time, talent or treasure  we open new doors of possibility through support.

Im deeply committed to this work, and Im excited about the role Belmont can play in supporting the young people across our state who are in need. We have a responsibility  and an opportunity  to care for neighbors impacted by the foster care crisis.

By learning, connecting and investing in foster youth and their support teams, we can each play an active role in advancing policies and practices that create bright futures for all.

In doing so, we can fulfill our work to empower the next generation of confident, compassionate leaders  leaders who will carry this work forward and transform communities for years to come.

Greg Jones is the president of Belmont University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Foster children aging out of the system need help and hope | Opinion
Legislative Democrats held a press conference on Monday to denounce Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher plan, which is speeding through a special legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee House and Senate education committees passed the governors private-school voucher program Tuesday, speeding the $450 million first-year expense to final votes before weeks end.

Senators voted 8-1 to send the measure to the finance committee to be considered Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Franklin Republican carrying the bill for Gov. Bill Lee, told lawmakers the plan will empower families to do something for their kid, fulfilling needs were not meeting with this public school system that we run together with our local folks.

Johnson claimed a mandate to pass the measure from President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform earlier that he supports Tennessee lawmakers efforts to adopt school choice.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Jack Johnson of Franklin said Tennessee lawmakers have a mandate from President Donald Trump to enact private school vouchers. (Photo: John Partipilo)

It is our goal to bring education in the United States to the highest level, one that it has never attained before, Trump said in his post.

Lees plan, which is zooming toward final votes in a special session this week, calls for providing more than $7,000 each to 20,000 students statewide and then expanding by about 5,000 annually. Half of those students in the first year could come from families with incomes at 300% of the federal poverty level, an estimated $175,000 for a family of four, while the rest would have no income limit. No maximum income would be placed on the program after the first year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A financial analysis by the states Fiscal Review Committee determined K-12 schools will lose $45 million and that only $3.3 million would go toward 12 school districts most likely to lose students.

Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari of Memphis was the lone vote against the bill as she urged the committee to exercise a bit more caution. Akbari reminded senators that students participating in the states education savings account program, which provides vouchers to enroll in private schools in Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby counties, are performing worse academically than their peers.

In contrast, Republican Sen. Adam Lowe of Calhoun said standardized tests shouldnt be the deciding factor in passing the bill. Lowe also told Hawkins County Schools Director Matt Hixson he shouldnt be worried about talk that some local leaders in upper East Tennessee believe they have to support the voucher bill or the legislature could refuse to approve $420 million for Hurricane Helene disaster relief.

The House panel endorsed the plan on a 17-7 vote after Republican lawmakers used a procedural move to bypass debate on the bill. Rep. Jake McCalmon of Williamson County called for an immediate vote following public testimony, backed by Rep. William Slater of Sumner County. The move kept opponents from questioning the bills sponsor, House Majority Leader William Lamberth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville called the move ridiculous afterward because of the impact the bill could have on public schools and the states budget.

In addition to complaining that the state will be running two school systems and likely hitting financial problems, Johnson challenged Lamberths assertion that the bill will make public schools whole when they lose students to the private-school voucher program.

Lamberth, though, said public schools would not lose one red cent as a result of the program.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX






I worked for 20 years to bring the Tennessee Education Hope Lottery to fruition. The lottery was authorized by an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution to guarantee that the funds raised could not be used by any future politicians for their pet project.

The amendment  approved by voters in 2002  requires funds raised by the Tennessee Education Lottery to be used for scholarships for higher education, with any excess going to pre-kindergarten and after-school programs and construction projects for public K-12 schools.

The revenues are to supplement, not supplant, other state funds for education. The primary intent, modeled off Georgias HOPE Lottery Scholarship Program, was to prevent brain drain by keeping the best and brightest students in Tennessee for college and encouraging them to stay in the state to begin their careers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most projections estimated first year lottery revenues would be around $220 million. The gubernatorial administration at the time decided to set scholarship levels based on the most bearish prognostication of $160 million and to delay awarding lottery scholarships for one year. This, they reasoned, would allow for lottery scholarships to grow over time as revenue increased and allow for a rainy day fund if revenues did not meet expectations.

Instead of using the lottery funds to increase the value of individual scholarship amounts, that nest egg quickly caught the eyes of politicians who wanted to siphon funds away to other programs.

Tennessee Promise diverted lottery money for a different purpose

In 2014, Governor Haslam announced and enacted his Tennessee Promise, which provides last-dollar scholarships for any Tennessean to attend community college. This program has no academic merit requirement, which was debated at length during the passage of the Tennessee lottery to be a critical  if not essential  component of any Tennessee lottery scholarship program.

State Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, holds up his Powerball ticket telling the crowd that he has the winning ticket while Tennessee Lottery CEO and President Rebecca Paul, right, laughs during a Powerball kickoff celebration at Tennessee Lottery headquarters in Nashville on April 19, 2004.

Further, little, if any, money from the Tennessee Promise program goes to Tennesseans with the greatest financial need because many of them receive federal Pell Grants. According to Tennessee Promise Annual Report 2023, only 7.8% of recipients from 2020-21 had attained a degree after four semesters. The lack of an academic threshold for Tennessee Promise may be a reason for the lack of academic success for the recipients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With his Tennessee Promise, Governor Haslam siphoned money that should have been used to increase the amounts of the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, the Tennessee Merit Scholarship program and the Tennessee ASPIRE Scholarship program  all of which have high school attainment requirements.

Opinion: I'm a polio survivor. Kennedy's vaccine stance means he can't be in charge of health.

There are now 13 different scholarships and grants funded by lottery proceeds, which include scholarships for non-traditional students, dual enrollment grants for high school students to take college courses, foster child tuition grants, middle college scholarships. These programs may all be worthwhile, but they erode funds from the quintessential programs that the voters envisioned when they voted in favor of the constitutional amendment.

The advent of online gaming provided additional funds intended to be used to further supplement lottery scholarships for higher education.

Using this money for Bill Lee\'s school vouchers plan further strains the budget

Now, Gov. Bill Lee is trying to siphon off those funds to pay for construction and maintenance of public school buildings as part of his Education Freedom Act. This is the bill many are referring to as the voucher scam bill as it also includes $7,000 vouchers to K-12 students to attend private schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposed voucher amount is more than even our best and brightest receive for college through lottery scholarships, which provides $4,500 per year for freshmen and sophomores and $5,500 per year for the HOPE Scholarship.

General Assembly Merit Scholars, who earned at least a 3.75 GPA and scored a 29 on the ACT college assessment, receive an additional $500 per semester.

The sad truth is that over the past 20 years lottery scholarships have never been full-tuition scholarships which were envisioned by many of the people who voted for the lottery.

The dilution of lottery and gambling revenues to create new programs is unsustainable. The Tennessee State Funding Board estimates that lottery sales will decline this year while lottery program expenditures are increasing. This will cause a deficit of $22 million in 2025-26 and $21 million in 2026-27.

Steve Cohen

It is time to stop poaching from the lottery scholarship programs for shiny, new projects. Instead, the focus should be on strengthening and improving the programs that are fulfilling the primary goal of the constitutional language on the lottery  to enable citizens to attend post-secondary educational institutions in our great state of Tennessee. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, represents Tennessees 9th Congressional District.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TN politicians are pilfering Lottery funds for pet projects | Opinion
In 2020, Kimberly Diei, a pharmacy student at the University of Tennessee, tweeted about Cardi B's sexually explicit song "WAP" under the handle KimmyKasi. Diei did not spell out "wet-ass pussy," but she did propose some additional lyrics in a post that tagged Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (who collaborated on the song), adding, "Let me be on the remix please." In another post, Diei alluded to the Beyonce song "Partition," joking about spending "all this time getting my hair done just for your man to fuck it up." In a third post, Diei wrote, "I'm bout to write a book about the birds and bees entitled 'it started with a dick suck'" because the "truth is that's how most of us got here."

Although Diei wrote those posts under a pseudonym and did not mention any connection to the university or its College of Pharmacy, her racy online speech prompted two administrative investigations and nearly resulted in her expulsion. With help from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Diei sued the university in federal court, arguing that the First Amendment bars state-operated schools from investigating or punishing students based on off-campus, constitutionally protected speech unrelated to their academic activities. Last September, a federal appeals court agreed, and last week Diei reached a $250,000 settlement with the university that FIRE announced today.

"UT's pharmacy school learned an important lesson today," said FIRE attorney Greg H. Greubel. "There is nothing unprofessional about students expressing love of hip-hop and their sexuality on social media. Kim has proven something FIRE has said for 25 years: The First Amendment robustly protects students' rights to have a voice outside of school, even if college administrators don't like what they have to say."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Diei was just one month into her studies when the pharmacy college's Professional Conduct Committee informed her that it had received a complaint about her social media activity. The committee unanimously concluded that her "sexual," "crude," and "vulgar" speech violated the college's standards of professionalism. Although the committee decided not to expel Diei, it received another complaint the next school year, which prompted it to conclude that her online commentary constituted "a serious breach of the norms and expectations of the profession." This time, the committee voted unanimously to dismiss Diei from the pharmacy school, a decision that was ultimately overruled by the college's dean.

In a February 2021 lawsuit, FIRE argued that "the College of Pharmacy's professionalism policies are unconstitutional on their face" because they give the Professional Conduct Committee and its chair "complete discretion" to "punish a broad range of protected speech," including "off-campus, personal speech," for "no legitimate pedagogical reason." Those policies, FIRE said, were also unconstitutionally vague because they provided "no basis for clear and consistent application," inviting viewpoint-based discrimination. Diei also challenged the policies as applied to her and argued that her treatment was a form of unconstitutional retaliation for speech protected by the First Amendment.

After a federal judge dismissed Diei's lawsuit, she asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to review that decision. In its ruling last September, a three-judge panel unanimously concluded that "Diei's speech, as alleged, was clearly protected by the First Amendment."

The 6th Circuit noted the Supreme Court's June 2021 decision in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., which held that a Pennsylvania public school violated the First Amendment when it suspended a 14-year-old girl, Brandi Levy, from the cheerleading team for a year because of her profane Snapchat complaint about not being picked for the varsity squad. In a message that was visible for just 24 hours to 250 of her friends, Levy had posted a picture of herself with her middle finger raised, accompanied by the caption, "Fuck school fuck softball fuck cheer fuck everything."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By an 81 vote, the Supreme Court ruled in the cheerleader's favor. While public schools may sometimes have a legitimate interest in regulating students' off-campus speech, Justice Stephen Breyer said in the majority opinion, the school in this case had failed to cite any academic disruption sufficient to justify the penalty it imposed.

Accepting Diei's allegations as accurate for purposes of the appeal, the 6th Circuit saw her situation as similar. Because Diei "disclaim[ed] receipt or knowledge of the professionalism policy under which [she] was purportedly disciplined," the appeals court said, "we cannot, at this stage, credit the College's claimed pedagogical purposes." Although "her speech may have disrupted the College in ways not apparent from the complaint," the opinion said, that had not been established by the record at that point.

"This ruling confirms what I've known all along," Diei said after the 6th Circuit revived her lawsuit. "I have a right to express myself in my private life that's separate from school, and so do my classmates. I enrolled in pharmacy school to learn, not to have my taste in music and my thoughts on culture policed."

The 6th Circuit's decision impelled the university to reach the settlement announced today. Although Diei told The New York Times she "never had a strong interest in politics," her experience awakened her to the perils of censorship. "I wasn't about to let my university get away with silencing me or any other student for speaking our truth," Diei, now a pharmacist at a Walgreens in Memphis, said in a FIRE press release. "Staying positive while fighting for my rights for years wasn't easy, but it was necessary. We all need to speak up when someone tries to take our rights awayour voice is way too powerful to let anyone shut it down."

The post A Tennessee State University That Nearly Expelled a Student for Racy Tweets Agrees To Pay Her $250,000 appeared first on Reason.com.
Terre Haute -The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerces Board of Directors is calling for a new board to oversee local schools.

The Chamber is endorsing Indiana Senate Bill 382.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, this bill would establish a local board of trusted leaders to oversee and guide the use of any county funds or property provided to the school corporation, an opportunity which is currently being explored.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President/CEO, Kristin Craig, will testify in support of the bill at the Statehouse on Thursday, along with several other community leaders, including Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer, Mayor Brandon Sakbun, Vigo County School Board Member Amy Lore and Business Community Representative Andy Volkl, COO of Saturn Petcare.

The Chamber, along with other key community stakeholders, are ready to support Senator Goode and his proactive and collaborative approach toward addressing the challenges facing Vigo County schools. By creating a trusted framework modeled on proven successes, this legislation ensures the community is prepared to act transparently and responsibly when and if opportunities for funding arise. Specifically, SB 382 establishes a governance structure that prioritizes accountability and aligns the resources available in the community with the most pressing needs, said Craig.

Craig pointed out that this board ensures transparency, accountability and responsible resource management, reinforcing the communitys trust in the process.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, the bill also requires that if the county transfers or gifts any unused funds or property to the school corporation, this local board will provide oversight to ensure those resources are used effectively and in the best interest of the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chamber will provide updates to its membership throughout the legislative session as this, and other relevant bills, progress through the legislature.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Islamic State terrorists could escape from camps and prisons in north-east Syria as a result of Donald Trumps sweeping and unexpected cuts to foreign aid, officials and analysts have warned.

US funding was abruptly halted for several days, leading to reports that camp guards had not turned up to work, which added to fears of a mass breakout.

The president signed an executive order on Friday for a blanket 90-day moratorium in foreign development assistance pending a review.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Security and administration around al-Hol and al-Roj, the two main detention facilities, was withdrawn and humanitarian work halted, according to aid workers inside.

An 11th-hour intervention by the US state department on Monday night temporarily reinstated the funding for the camp guards, but only for two weeks. It is still unclear what happens after the funding stopgap expires.

It has raised significant concerns for the long-term security of detention facilities, which hold what Western counter-terrorism officials described as a potential terror army in waiting.

The UK Foreign Office is concerned that the funding cuts could lead to militants breaking free, according to an internal memo seen by The Times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than 9,000 battle-hardened terrorists and 40,000 women and children associated with IS  including 20 British men, 20 British women and 35 children  are guarded by US-backed mainly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in makeshift prisons.

Officials have warned of an IS resurgence, particularly in the wake of the Assad regimes downfall and the security vacuum it created.

Experts have warned of an IS resurgence in the wake of the Syrian regime change - History/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Richard Barrett, the former MI6 counter-terrorism director, told the UK foreign affairs select committee this week that a 2,000-strong group of IS fighters saw an opportunity to begin a Breaking the Walls campaign to attack the camps.

He questioned whether Mr Trump, who is aggressively pursuing isolationist policies, will continue to fund security around the camps or retain the 2,000 US forces stationed in north-east Syria.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charles Lister, the director of the countering terrorism and extremism programme at the Middle East Institute, raised alarm bells on Monday about the threat of the security around the camps.

Trumps global aid freeze has cut the salaries paid to many of the prison and camp guards  Many are no longer turning up for work, he wrote on X.

The threat posed by a mass breakout cannot be understated, Mr Lister said, calling it the consequence of brash, ill-thought out actions [by the Trump administration] intended for headlines, not policy.

His views were echoed by a US state department official, who told Politico: We narrowly escaped disaster and it just shows this team has no idea what theyre doing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chris Murphy, the Democrat senator for Connecticut, called the events a crisis created by Trump that never needed to exist.

Democrats inside the House foreign affairs committee said in a statement that it was a clear example that Mr Trumps aid freeze is already endangering our security and that of our allies and partners.

The Foreign Office 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.
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  The Texarkana, TX Fire Departments TIFMAS team is back home safe after spending two weeks assisting with the battle against the Palisades fire in southern California.

Its certainly a real humbling experience to be able to offer some sort of help in the face of that destruction and danger, said TTFD Cpt. Danny Douglas.

They were deployed as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our first work day it started off at Zuma Beach which was not really a good precursor to what we actually saw once we were patrolling. said firefighter Terence Lomax, You know, the beach is nice and clean, fair weather.

By contrast, the destruction left after the Palisades fire was almost unbelievable.

App provides home defense during wildfires

It was wasnt just a house here and there, it was whole neighborhoods with maybe a house or two standing in them. Which is something Ive never seen before. said Driver and Engineer Carson Rich.

As firemen we always see very sad events and they they carry with you but this kind of destruction, it was something that you would see in a movie, said Cpt. Douglas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It really made me wonder how overwhelmed the Los Angeles County and LA City firefighters were those those days that it was really burning. I mean there was just, there had to be fire all around them and they just probably didnt even really know which way to go or what to do and just they probably just did the best they could for as long as they could, said TTFD Cpt. Dakota Huddleston.

Their primary role was less harrowing, as they mostly patrolled and monitored the area around the fire.

Preventing rekindles and just once the city started allowing residents back into neighborhoods we were there for assistance really anything that we could help them with, said Lomax.

More Texarkana News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After two weeks they are back home safe and sound. The team said they are happy to take home with them the experience gained working in that sort of environment, but also that they would carry with them them things they saw and the people they met.

A little girl comes up to us in the In-N-Out restaurant and, you know, she thanks us for coming out and helping put out their fires. said Lomax, And I guess the mom saw where we were from and so on our way out, you know, she kind of got out of her car sobbing and like, you know, really, really thanked us and that kind of put into perspective, you know, just what it meant for the locals for, you know, for us to be 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 KTALnews.com.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  On Wednesday, three Republican Texas senators announced new initiatives aimed at raising awareness of sex trafficking among men and boys in Texas.

In collaboration with Bobs House of Hope, the Texas Trucking Association has launched a campaign featuring posters on the rear windows of trucks to provide the wider Texas community with resources.

Sadly, as Texans, we always want to be number one in everything, but this is not a category we want to be number one. Technically were number two, Texas Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, said at the conference at the Capitol. Its the second-worst state in the country for stopping human trafficking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The announcement of this initiative comes a day after Sexual Assault Survivors Day. While awareness of sex trafficking often centers around women and girls, Parker and fellow Senators Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton, and Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, hope these posters will draw attention to the often-overlooked young men and boy victims. Parker noted that the victim demographic is about 50-50.

We know we have an opportunity with our highway angels out there to really work with our communities to see something, say something, said John Esparza of the Texas Trucking Association.

Each poster reads, Boys are Sex Trafficked Too, and includes a barcode where people can get more information along with a phone number to call for help. It also lists the Bobs House of Hope website.

Bobs House of Hope was founded by Bob Williams in 2021, and is the first safe house in the U.S for male sexual assault survivors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think the most important thing we do is put God in these young mens lives, Williams said. To let them understand that there is a chance at having a better life.

Along with this initiative, Parker announced four new bills to continue the fight against human trafficking in Texas. They are as follows:

Addressing bail reform to prevent traffickers from exploring loopholes

Increasing penalties for traffickers who recruit victims in jail

Sealing records for victims of trafficking to aid in their recovery and reintegration

Increasing penalties for repeat offenders targeting vulnerable populations

Essentially, folks, this is modern-day slavery, and we should not have that. No one should be subjected to that, Hagenbuch said. We have to all do our part and Im glad the trucking industry is 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 KXAN Austin.
Protesters hold signs as politicians denounce SB 147 during a protest and press conference Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Republican state lawmakers are doubling down on their failed effort last session to bar certain foreign citizens and companies from owning land in Texas.

The proposals this year range from outright bans to creating a database of purchases, all aimed at stemming the influence of China and other countries seen as hostile to the U.S. Civil rights and Asian American groups denounced similar measures in 2023 as racist and xenophobic, saying that even longtime residents would be barred from purchasing homes or businesses.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Though those efforts failed, lawmakers are renewing the push, saying national security risks must be addressed. Around two dozen other GOP-led states have passed similar bans, according to the National Agricultural Law Center.

We dont want hostile adversaries owning land in our state, state Rep. Cole Hefner, who chaired a select committee on foreign influence, said in an interview. We want to deter them from buying it in the first place.

Hefner, a Mount Pleasant Republican, has filed a bill that would ban future land sales to the governments of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, as well as companies headquartered in those countries. The proposal mirrors legislation filed last session by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, which triggered protests around the state, including in Houston and Katy, home to large Chinese American communities. Kolkhorst has also refiled her legislation.

Proponents have raised fear over the possibility of China and other foreign powers snapping up large swaths of U.S. land, including around military bases. Its not the first time. After a Chinese billionaire purchased 140,000 acres near the Texas-Mexico border in 2016 as part of a proposed wind farm, lawmakers banned foreign entities from buying critical infrastructure like electricity installations in Texas.

Opponents of a new ban say the law is discriminatory, and that even if it werent, hostile governments would be able to easily get around it by recruiting other people to purchase the land on their behalf. Any ban would almost certainly be challenged in court.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The intent is to send a clear message of, you're not welcome here. You people are not welcome here, said Houston Rep. Gene Wu, who leads the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

China remains among Texas top trading partners and a key destination for its oil and gas exports, and some Chinese investors hold stakes in Texas energy operations. In 2017, during President Donald Trumps first term, Texas officials celebrated Chinese investments and traveled to Shanghai to discuss deepening commercial ties. But relations have cooled since, and last year Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to divest all stakes in the country.

Florida passed a similar foreign land ownership ban that was partially blocked in federal court last year, though the case remains pending. Judges signaled that the law could be preempted by federal law that already grants the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States with the power to review real-estate transactions involving foreign investors.

Hefner said his bill is designed to focus more narrowly on hostile governments, rather than individuals, though non-U.S. citizens who are living permanently in designated countries are included. His bill also gives Abbott the ability to add countries to the list.

Chinese investors own a relatively small amount of agricultural land in the state  around 124,000 acres, according to a USDA report. Thats compared to almost two million acres owned by Canadians.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Two years ago, protests prompted Kolkhorst to make major revisions to her bill, exempting dual citizens and lawful permanent residents and limiting the ban to agricultural, timber and mining land.

Democrats denounced the ban, even with those changes, saying it would still stir up unfounded distrust of immigrant communities. Kolkhorsts bill passed the Senate along party lines but later failed in the House. Abbott said at the time that he would have signed the legislation if it had passed.

Wu noted that during World War II, land ownership laws were among the first in a series of restrictions that ultimately ended in the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans.

Asked if Democrats could support some version of a bill that more narrowly targeted national security concerns, Wu said he remained wary.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement from the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The CMO further cited CM Sukhu as saying that he expressed deep sorrow over the stampede that took place in the early hours of the morning at Mahakumbh. The statement added that, he also prayed to the Almighty for peace for the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families to endure this irreparable loss. Additionally, the Chief Minister extended his best wishes for the swift recovery of the injured devotees, the statement added. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu also expressed sadness over the mishap at Mahakumbh. "The stampede incident at Prayagraj Mahakumbh is extremely sad. I express my condolences to the families of the injured devotees and pray to God that all the injured devotees recover soon," Murmu said in a post on X. Similarly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. "The accident that happened in the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the guidance of the Chief Minister @myogiadityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government and the local administration are providing all possible help to the victims," Rajnath Singh said in a post on X. A stampede-like situation arose at Mahakumbh in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several injuries. The incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which also marks the day of the Second Shahi Snan. (ANI)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Tuesday night, a Texas Senate committee approved a plan to help parents pay for private school for their children. Senate Bill 2 would create education savings accounts, a voucher-like program.

The vote in the Senate Education Committee was 9-2. All Republicans on the committee voted to approve SB 2, and Democrats Royce West and Jose Menendez voted against the bill. The committee vote sets the stage for the full senate to approve the bill as soon as next week, if Gov. Greg Abbott declares education savings accounts, or ESAs to be an emergency item.

Under the Texas Constitution, the House and Senate cannot pass legislation during the first 60 days of a regular session, except for bills related to the governors emergency items. Gov. Abbott will announce his list of emergency items on Feb. 2, during his State of the State Address.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SB 2 carves out $10,000 per student per year to help pay for private school. Students with a disability could receive $11,500. Lawmakers plan to put $1 billion in the budget to start the program.

Projections released Tuesday by the Legislative Budget Board estimate the cost of the program could grow to $3.75 billion by 2030. Similar universal voucher-like programs in Florida and Arizona also saw cost increases.

The lead author of SB 2, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said the LBB estimates are flawed.

That is fun to see how they would extrapolate the numbers, Creighton said, adding that Texas lawmakers would be able to control costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But we as a body would have to approve the growth of the program as appropriators and on the Senate floor before those fairy tale projections beyond the $1 billion plan that were talking about now would be anything but a cartoon, Creighton said of the projections.

During the hearing, Sen. Menendez, D-San Antonio, raised concerns that the ESA program would do little to help students from lower-income families. He noted that the $10,000 available may not fully cover the cost of private school.

If the parents can have this $10,000 but they cant afford to make up the difference, then are they really eligible? Menendez asked. Its like, almost like a bridge thats three-quarters of the way built. Its not really good enough for them.

Creighton said private groups could help cover some of the gaps through scholarships and grants. He also pointed to data showing that $10,000 would cover tuition for a large majority of the private schools in Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Menendez also raised concerns that the ESA plan could negatively affect public schools.

My concern is that were setting aside a billion dollars for this new education savings voucher. But I havent seen the same level of investment in our public schools, he said during the hearing. I just think it concerns me that were creating a tilting of the playing field in terms of our public schools.

We put $39 billion new dollars into public education in the last 10 years, Creighton responded. He also cited budget proposals that call for an additional $5 billion in new funding for public schools this session.

By investing in our teachers and our parents, we give future generations the greatest chance at keeping this Texas economic engine alive, Creighton 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 KXAN Austin.
The Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night voted to advance school voucher legislation for a full vote in the Senate after hours of public testimony largely focused on whether the proposal would live up to its promise of prioritizing low-income families and children with disabilities.

A 9-2 Republican majority on the committee pushed the bill forward days before Gov. Greg Abbott takes the stage Sunday for his State of the State speech. It is expected that Abbott will declare the school voucher bill  his top legislative priority in recent years  an emergency item, allowing lawmakers to pass the proposal within the first 60 days of the ongoing legislative session, which started earlier this month.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a Tuesday event the Senate would pass the bill as soon as Wednesday of next week if Abbott declares it an emergency item Sunday. The House, where voucher legislation has hit a brick wall in recent years, has not yet filed its priority voucher bill. Abbott has expressed confidence that the House has enough supporters for the measure to pass this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A conversation among state senators and guests invited to the Texas Capitol to speak Tuesday about legislation to create the voucher program largely focused on whether the proposal would live up to its promise of prioritizing low-income families and children with disabilities.

Senate Bill 2, a bill authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Republican from Conroe who chairs the Senate Education Committee, would create an education savings account program. It would provide families with $10,000 a year per student in taxpayer dollars to fund their childrens tuition at an accredited private school and additional expenses like textbooks, transportation and therapy. The legislation would provide $11,500 per student for children with disabilities. It also would provide at least $2,000 a year per student for home-schooling families who participate in the program.

Any child eligible to attend or already attending a public school could apply to the program proposed by the Senate, as well as those enrolled in a public schools pre-K program. Families with children already attending private schools could also participate. Using a lottery system, the bill would prioritize students in low-income households and children with disabilities if demand for the savings accounts exceeds the funding available.

But during Tuesdays hearing Democrats on the Texas Senate Education Committee raised questions about whether the bill would actually help underserved students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawmakers discussed details of the bill over the course of roughly eight hours, with more than 100 people signing up to testify. The list of public speakers included several voucher advocates who testified in support of the bill. It also included many Texans not convinced that a voucher program would serve their communities.

The two Democratic lawmakers who opposed the bill during the hearing took issue with how the proposal considers a family low income if its total annual income sits at or below 500% of the federal poverty level  a number far above the 130% threshold the federal and state governments use to determine whether a student is economically disadvantaged and eligible for free lunch.

A Senate voucher bill considered during the last legislative session also would have prioritized some families with an annual income at or below 500% of the federal poverty line if demand for the program exceeded funding available. However, that legislation would have only reserved 30% of spots for those families, while a higher percentage would have gone toward students who received free or reduced-price lunch.

If the recent proposal passed into law as it currently stands, a household of two making roughly $105,750 per year would fall under the definition of a low-income household. The state would prioritize 80% of the programs spots for families making at or below that annual income, as well as students with disabilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill says organizations that help the state run the program would have to notify parents that private schools do not have to follow federal and state laws regarding special education that public schools must abide by, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. The federal law, among other requirements, has long protected families and their children by working to ensure students with disabilities receive thorough evaluations and educational services.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jose Menendez said the bill seems like it doesn't really have a priority because of the high income threshold. The San Antonio Democrat expressed concern about families of children with disabilities waiving their protections under federal law.

Menendez also sought clarity from Creighton, the bills author, about whether a private school could deny a student admission because of their disability.

Sen. Royce West, a Democrat from Dallas, raised similar worries about the bills broad definition of a low-income household not prioritizing the neediest students. He also shared concerns about the history of school vouchers in the South, which included an attempt in Texas to establish such programs in opposition to school desegregation in the 1950s. West also noted that many of the children who benefit from expansive school voucher programs elsewhere in the country come from wealthier families already sending their kids to private schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So frankly, we're subsidizing students that were already involved in the program? West asked.

Creighton said only examining recent demographic data of voucher-like programs may not provide an accurate picture of who they benefit because some of those programs have existed for decades. Addressing concerns about the bills definition of a low-income household, the education committee chair said the 500% threshold would include people who play essential roles in their communities while raising their families.

That's the number we ended up at to make sure that if a teacher and a fireman that are working hard every day to just make life make sense, and they have three or four kids, that they would be eligible within the framework and prioritized first, Creighton said.

The Conroe Republican also said he intended for the bills generous income provisions to make education savings accounts available to a wide range of families. He cited some parents desire to explore other educational options because of challenges their children faced in their public schools, like bullying.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regarding the potential for private schools to deny admission to students with disabilities, Creighton said private schools have to base their admissions decisions based on the types of services they offer. He noted a difference between a reasonable rejection and discrimination, which he said could have serious implications for a private school relying on a tax exemption.

Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, said he didnt think parents would place their children with disabilities in private schools that don't meet their needs. He also said he thinks the program would create opportunities for more private schools to open that specialize in providing special education services.

I am anticipating that, Creighton said.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand expects its 609-km (378 miles) portion of a high-speed railway that will connect it with China through Laos to begin operations in 2030, its government said on Wednesday, nearly a decade later than originally planned.

More than a third of construction has been completed in the segment connecting the capital Bangkok to the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, about 220 km away and the whole line to Nong Khai at the border with Laos would be ready by 2030, said Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub.

A $6 billion, 1000 km rail line from the Laotian capital Vientiane to the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming began service in 2021, a venture 70% owned by Beijing. That line will connect with Thailand's Nong Khai via Vientiane, about 25 km away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is an opportunity for Thailand to connect to the global economy," Jirayu said, adding it would bring Thailand closer to its goal of becoming a logistics hub.

The announcement comes a year after China urged Thailand to progress faster on the rail link.

Discussions on the rail line started nearly two decades ago and Thailand and China signed agreements on its construction in 2017 with plans to begin operations in 2021. But construction met delays over disagreements on financing and design, and disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road trade and infrastructure initiative, which includes plans for three routes originating in Kunming that pass through Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vietnam plans to build a 1,541 km (958-mile) high-speed rail line linking its two biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, at a cost of more than $67 billion, targeting the start of operations in 2035. It also plans a $7.2 billion railway from its border with China's Yunnan province to Hanoi, the port city of Haiphong and Ha Long City.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Martin Petty)
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Theatre volunteers in Baton Rouge took to social media concerns over a specific casting call that regarded one particular race for the role.

Tadrian Taylor is a former volunteer for Theatre Baton Rouge. He said he saw the casting for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which had two characters specifically wanting Black actors to play servants.

Taylor said that although set in a certain time, it was concerning that these were the only roles for Black actors to audition for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From what I know about Cat on Hot Tin Roof, well, I dont know that in 2025 race is an important part of the story, that we need the servants to be black, he said.

After reaching out to the theatre for a response, they released a statement saying, in part, that they take full accountability for the pain caused by the casting announcement. And are working to address the issue with transparency and immediately take the next steps.

Taylor said after this incident, hopefully, the theatre community can come together to have a deeper conversation on inclusion.

Wondering if maybe we could have a conversation about the different ways in which those issues are like entrenched to build a community theater that is representative of the community, said Taylor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The theatre is working to address the matter with board members on how to avoid a similar situation happening again. Theatre Baton Rouge has since removed race as a description in the casting call.

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.
Britain's Princess Beatrice has welcomed her second child.

Baby girl Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi was born Jan. 22 and weighed 4 pounds and 5 ounces, according to her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Read more: Britain's Princess Beatrice marries in private ceremony at Windsor

"We welcomed Baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect," Mapeli Mozzi wrote Wednesday on Instagram, sharing a glimpse of the newborn.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mozzi and Beatrice  the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York  are already parents to their 3-year-old daughter Sienna and 8-year-old son, Christopher Woolf, whom Mapelli Mozzi had from a previous relationship.

"We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena," Mapelli Mozzi wrote. "A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time."

Read more: Kate Middleton's cancer is now in remission: 'It takes time to adjust to a new normal'

Buckingham Palace on Wednesday confirmed that the child was born prematurely, according to the BBC. Beatrice's uncle, King Charles III, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family are said to be "delighted with the news."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna," the palace said on Instagram.

Beatrice, who is ninth in the line to the British throne, married Mapelli Mozzi, a millionaire property tycoon, in July 2020 during a private wedding ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor. The ceremony had been postponed from May because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was a private affair attended by the late Queen Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip. Beatrice's first cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, did not attend.

The princess and her husband announced Beatrice's pregnancy in October, saying that they were expecting their second child together in early spring. Athena is 11th in Britain's royal line of succession, falling behind Prince William and his three children, Prince Harry and his son and daughter, her grandfather Prince Andrew, mother Beatrice and elder sister Sienna.

Read more: Prince Harry reaches settlement with Murdoch's UK tabloids. They apologize, admit to intruding on Princess Diana

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beatrice's mother Fergie and sister Princess Eugenie also celebrated the baby's arrival on social media.

"Overflowing with love and joy to be able to welcome Athena Elizabeth Rose into the world," the duchess wrote in a tribute on Instagram. "She is already so adored and Im incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!"

"Welcome baby girl!" Eugenie added in an Instagram story.

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.
A feisty package pilferer got bite-happy when a woman tried to stop her from swiping mail and parcels from a Brooklyn apartment building, police said Tuesday.

The 49-year-old victim caught the crook red-handed in the lobby of her building near the corner of Fulton St. and Washington Ave. in Flatbush around 7:20 a.m. on Jan. 8, cops said.

When the woman spotted the thief snatching up the parcels, she confronted her and in return, the snappish thief sunk her teeth into the womans hand before taking off in a gold BMW SUV, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim was not seriously injured and refused medical attention at the scene.

Police on Tuesday released images of the thief in the hope someone may recognize her. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
DENVER (KDVR)  Its been five years since 33-year-old Mathew Stevenson was killed in Thornton. Police continue to ask for tips that could help solve this case.

On Jan. 20, 2020, at 1 a.m., Thornton police officers were called to the 100 block of East 88th Avenue on reports of a shooting. The area is next to the Niver Creek Open Space.

When officers arrived, they found Stevenson suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Driver unharmed after fiery Loveland crash

FOX31 spoke to Stevensons mother in 2020.

He was just starting his life. He just met somebody, he was planning on having a baby, going to get married, said Linda Thomas-Ware.

Five years later, this case remains unsolved. Thornton police said it continues to be actively investigated.

Officers are urging anyone who may have information on this case to reach out; its never too late. Tipsters can call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 and receive a reward of up to $2,000.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JERUSALEM  As Ahmed al-Qudra set off to see what  if anything  remained of his familys home in the village of al-Qarara, he believed the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza had begun.

So at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, he began walking north through the city of Khan Younis with his seven children, including his oldest son, Adli, 16, and his youngest daughter, Sama, 6.

It would prove to be a fatal mistake. Unbeknownst to him and his family, the ceasefire  due to start that morning at 8:30 a.m.  had been delayed. Hamas had not provided the names of the first hostages it planned to free that afternoon, so Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered airstrikes to continue.

Sama al-Qudra was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike.

As the al-Qudras approached El Bareer Street, one of Khan Younis' main roads, an Israeli aircraft attacked a passing Palestinian police vehicle. The Israeli military said in a statement at the time that it was hitting terror targets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the blast also sent shrapnel tearing into the al-Qudra family.

Video verified by NBC News shows Ahmeds body lying in the street alongside Adli's, as several of the smaller children scream for their father, shortly after the strike at around 9:30 a.m.

By the time the truce finally began at 11:15 a.m., Sama had been declared dead.

She was the last child killed in Gaza before the ceasefire, a spokesperson at Nasser Hospital told NBC News.

This is their fate, Samas mother, Hanan, 31, told NBC News last week, of the death of her husband, son and daughter.

Ahmed al-Qudra.

After Samas small body was brought to Nasser Hospital, she was laid out briefly on a metal tray  barefoot and wearing a pink sweater  before being wrapped in a traditional Islamic burial shroud. Adli lay next to her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That morning the children were jumping with joy at the prospect of returning home, Hanan said, adding that she was in the market shopping for food when she heard the explosion and rushed to the hospital, praying her family wasnt involved.

Instead she would find her husband, son and daughter were among the last of more than 47,000 people killed in Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, according to health officials in the enclave.

Before the war, Hanan said the family of nine had struggled financially but found happiness in their home in al-Qarara. Sama would sometimes daydream aloud about her wedding day, asking what dress she would wear, Hanan said.

But the family was left displaced and destitute after the fighting started, she said, adding that the children often went hungry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their father and I would cry at night when we put our heads on the pillow because they wanted to eat, she said.

The war took an especially hard toll on Sama, Hanan said. She shared a video with NBC News showing three of her daughters walking down a dusty road carrying yellow plastic jerry cans to collect water. Sama struggles to keep up with the older girls, wiping sweat and dust from her eyes as she approaches the camera.

She had been asking for more than two months to eat a banana, Hanan said. I took her and bought her a small banana. She wanted pizza, so I bought her a small piece for 2 shekels (55 cents). I told her to eat it in the street so that her siblings wouldnt know.

I was afraid they might die wanting something they couldnt have, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israeli strike that killed Sama occurred on President Joe Bidens last full day in office, and such attacks were a source of ongoing tension between his administration and Netanyahus government.

The police in Gaza fall under the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, and enforce laws set by the militant group after it took control of the Strip in 2007. Israel considers members of the police force to be Hamas terrorists and legitimate military targets, even though some officers also carry out more mundane duties like traffic enforcement and crime prevention.

Adli al-Qudra died after he was hit by shrapnel.

So the Israel Defense Forces repeatedly targeted police officers early in its 15-month military campaign, which it launched after Hamas killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostage in the Oct. 7, terrorist attack, according to Israeli tallies.

The Biden administration warned that Israels targeting of Palestinian police officers was adding to the chaos in Gaza and leaving humanitarian aid convoys vulnerable to looting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the departure of police escorts it has been virtually impossible for the U.N. or anyone else ... to safely move assistance in Gaza because of criminal gangs, David Satterfield, Bidens envoy for humanitarian aid, said earlier this month.

On the morning of Jan. 19, uniformed police officers returned to the streets of Khan Younis and, like the al-Qudra family, they also appear to have mistakenly believed that the ceasefire had gone into effect.

Hours after her family members were killed, an exhausted Hanan leaned her against the wall of a relatives home. Several of her surviving children sat next to her, a blanket spread across their laps.

She scrolled through photos of her children, pausing on a picture of a Sama taken during the pandemic. She was holding a medical mask over her nose, even though it was far too big for her small face.

She was like a rose, Hanan said quietly. May God have mercy upon her.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
He has been granted custody parole January 30 to February 3 to campaign for the Delhi State Assembly election. Delhi will go to polls on February 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8.

Rahman is contesting from the Okhla constituency on an AIMIM ticket.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai granted him custody parole of 5 days for 12 hours each day from January 30 to February 3. Advocate Bilal Anwar Khan appeared for accused.

As per court order Rahman has to pay expenses for the Batallion carrying him from jail and back. He will be released from the jail on depositing an amount of Rs. 207,429 per day initially for first two days. Thereafter he has to pay expenses further before the expiry of two days and similarly for the last day.

The court said that the jail authorities shall calculate the amount and inform the accused's counsel.

The court said that Rahman may stay at his residence during the day while on custody parole.

He has been also allowed to visit party office and to attend meeting etc within the constituency.

He shall not comment on the cases pending during his speeches, the court said.

The court asked the authorities to calculate the amount and inform the court on January 31.

While granting custody parole to Tahir Hussain, the court had imposed a condition that he must bear the expenses of the security battalion.

Earlier, both Shifa Ur Rahman and Tahir Hussain were granted custody parole to file their election nominations. Rahman had sought interim bail for four weeks to contest and campaign for the elections. (ANI)
(WTHM)  Thousands of Pennsylvanians will receive an unexpected surprise in the mail this week.

The Pennsylvania Treasury says they will be sending letters to more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians indicating they have unclaimed property that will be automatically returned to them.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Local Business Beat

The first batch of letters includes claims totaling over $2 million worth of unclaimed property. Checks will be sent out within the next 45 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Treasury, this is the first step in the Pennsylvania Money Match program, which was signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro last summer. The program allows the Treasury to automatically return properties valued up to $500 after an identification and verification process.

This is a truly historic day, said State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. For the first time ever, were returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all. We truly cut red tape out of state government  and how often does that happen? If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it! About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.

Pennsylvania Treasurys fall unclaimed property auction smashes record

Those who may have unclaimed property worth more than $500 can check the unclaimed property website to submit a claim.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed a piece of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property being held by the Treasury. The average value of a claim is $1,600.

Since 2021 the Treasury has returned more than $700 million in unclaimed 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 ABC27.
Pinellas beach residents commiserate in Facebook groups. They pack tense city meetings, shouting advice and retorts at elected officials. They chortle at song parodies: Treasure Island resident Don Whitings All I Want for Christmas Is My Building Permit and Carlos Miros permit-themed rendition of Dream On by Aerosmith.

Weve been waiting, waiting for an answer / Since Helene tore our lives apart, Miro wrote on Facebook. The citys slow, oh, its like molasses / This bureaucracy, it breaks my heart.

Theres one goal: securing the city permits they need to rebuild their lives after months of living in half-finished homes with exposed drywall and missing cabinets, in cramped hotel rooms or loaned campers in their front yards. Others wait for service jobs to return at wrecked motels and coffee shops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hurricane Helene hit more than 120 days ago. But in the 10 small towns that constitute Pinellas Countys barrier islands, many have learned in just the last few weeks whether theyll even be able to rebuild their homes.

Barb Adams, a Treasure Island resident, received a permit to elevate her house last week, two-and-a-half months after she first applied for one. She got final sign-off during her sixth visit to city hall. As she walked out the doors, she ferried off elated texts to friends and family and called her electrician.

Now we have to move to the next step, but at least theres a plan, Adams said. And before, there was nothing.

Those next steps  scheduling work from overburdened contractors, not to mention city electrical and plumbing inspections  mean Adams is likely still months away from going home. But she had another reason to celebrate last week: her free stay at the Bilmar Beach Resort, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was extended into February.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City officials in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach say theyre following strict federal permitting guidelines to guarantee that residents will continue to get discounted rates from the National Flood Insurance Program. Rushing permits could raise costs for residents down the road, said Madeira Beach Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks.

Nothing you ever do with the federal government is easy, and unfortunately FEMA has rules, Brooks said.

Two mayors capitalized on assurances President Donald Trump made in Los Angeles and North Carolina to waive or limit federal permits required to rebuild disaster-struck areas. St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila and Treasure Island Mayor John Doctor called upon the president in separate letters to waive federal regulations that stand in the way of rebuilding.

I respectfully ask that you extend the help clearing the FEMA bureaucracy to us in Florida, Doctor wrote. Its been 120 days since the first hurricane. We should be closing out permits by now, not trying to issue them for the first time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members of Pinellas Countys tourism board wondered this month if long waits for rebuilding permits could affect tourism recovery during the areas busiest season. While some hotels stayed busy with displaced residents, data presented to the board shows vacation rental supply dipped by 24% along the beaches in November. Around 1,000 hotel rooms were offline too.

Dylan Hubbard, vice president of Hubbards Marina and a tourism board member, suspects some hotels and rentals are stuck waiting on permits.

Tourists dont have the full extent of the destinations impact, he said. Were 90% open, but people focus on the 10% (of businesses) that are closed.

How far along are beach communities?

Pinellas southern beach cities  Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach  still have hundreds of rebuilding permits to process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of last week, Madeira Beach had issued almost 1,200 permits since Helene hit, with 600 still under review. But of those 1,200 issued permits, more than half merely allowed residents to pull out drywall. Only a little over 200 permits have been given to fix or fully demolish flooded out homes.

More than 900 Treasure Island residents are waiting for a permit among the roughly 1,900 that have submitted applications. In St. Pete Beach, around 1,600 people have permits in hand out of more than 2,500 applications filed since October.

Hubbard said theres two camps in his community: those that got permits quickly and those who have been waiting months.

In St. Pete Beach, permits that did get issued took about a month to be processed. But those that have been waiting have sat for well over a month, some for over 100 days, according to the citys data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rebuilding without a city permit risks fines or stop-work orders.

Sources of delay

The delays, officials in each city said, largely result from a FEMA requirement known as substantial damage determinations. A contractor, Tidal Basin, is assessing wrecked beach homes to determine if theyre more than 50% damaged. If they are, owners must elevate their homes or demolish them and rebuild.

The cities send out substantial damage letters based on the contractors data and information submitted by residents. But the contractors timeline is out of local officials hands, they said. St. Pete Beach, for example, has sent around 2,000 letters so far.

Most residents in beach towns must receive a substantial damage determination before they can get a permit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Substantial damage letters arent the only holdup. Chris Clark learned within weeks that his two-story Treasure Island home was only one-fifth damaged  well within FEMAs guidelines to rebuild. But it still took over two months to get his permit, he said.

Those permits with people that had really low numbers like that should have been triaged, he said.

Brooks said that in her city, homes deemed less than 50% damaged are collecting permits within two weeks.

For Marie Myslakowski, a first-floor condo resident in St. Pete Beach, rebuilding her home is out of her hands. Her complex hired a contractor to obtain the permits for dozens of residents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those were finally filed in late December and approved two weeks later. But Myslakowskis complex told her it could be more than a year before she moves home. Meanwhile, Myslakowski agonizes over the state of her unit: its lingering dampness, appliances and furniture piled high under plastic covers. Theres a threat of black mold growing behind a pantry that wasnt removed.

Others living in apartments and condos must contend with the same.

Pinellas beach communities didnt have the resources to undertake a mass rebuilding effort, Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott said. The cities each have a population below 10,000. Their building departments have gone from a few staffers to dozens borrowed from other departments or loaned from the state in a desperate race to catch up on requests to rebuild.

Theyre used to doing business on island time, at 20 miles per hour, Scott said. Now they have to go 120 miles per hour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scott said the cities should consider consolidating, so theyll have more resources the next time a storm hits.

A direct confrontation

Yarisi Valero, a part-time Madeira Beach resident, applied for a permit in November. She paid for a private appraisal to show that her home was worth more than what the county property appraisers website read.

Six weeks later, her substantial damage letter arrived with an outdated property value, pushing her over the 50% damage limit. Her patience withered.

She emailed city officials three times, asking for the details of her substantial damage determination. No response came. Two weeks later, she learned she needed to make minor adjustments to her private appraisal for it to be accepted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She made those adjustments within the day. Five more days passed. What, Valero wondered, was taking the city so long?

On a brisk Wednesday night, she described her experience to the City Commission.

Marci Forbes, Madeira Beachs community development engineer, said city staff struggled, amid 60-hour work weeks, to keep up with the flow of emails from residents. Earlier on, staff sometimes overlooked documents like the private appraisal Valero submitted, she said.

Valeros experience was disappointing to hear, and I do apologize for that, Forbes said. The frustration lives with me.

The next morning, Valero had her permit.

Businesses struggle, too

Peter Gottschling, co-owner of Grove Coffee, knew it could take months rebuilding his St. Pete Beach location. He waited three months to obtain a building permit when opening the shop in 2020, he said.

But four months after Hurricane Helene, he hasnt even submitted his permit application. Its taken that long to secure contractors estimates and coordinate with his landlord, whos had to estimate the value of the whole plaza, he said.

Fortunately, Gottschling is operating on Indian Rocks Beach. But as long as his St. Pete Beach shop remains closed, 15 employees are out of work, he said.

Permits are never quick, he said. I think the tricky thing about this is its not just a new business. (We have) people employed and all the bills. Theres a lot more sense of urgency here.

Others, like Vicki Ferrari of Sweet Brewnette, have decided its not worth it to rebuild. After waiting three months for small business grants and bridge loans that never came, she realized she couldnt afford to stay  especially when she knew shed have to hire contractors and wait on city permits on top of competing for money.

I was watching a mini-excavator pick rubble off the beach still, in December, she said. That really summed it up for me then and there. I wasnt in a position where I could just sit and wait two years for it all to come back.

As the months toll on, Gottschling counts down until the next hurricane season begins.

Its a frightening prospect, he said: that two or three months after his St. Pete Beach location reopens, another big one could rip it to shreds again.

Times staff writer Teghan Simonton contributed to this report.
The Russian drone attack in Kupiansk injured three employees of the Kharkiv emergency medical team.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote from the Prosecutors Office: "The investigation reports that on 29 January, at approximately 11:45, an enemy drone hit an ambulance in Kupiansk.

The aftermath of the Russian drone attack on an ambulance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Three Kharkiv emergency medical team employees suffered injuries while on their way to a rescue call."

Details: The 43-year-old driver was taken to hospital with injuries. A 26-year-old doctor and a 41-year-old paramedic suffered an acute stress reaction.

The aftermath of the Russian drone attack on an ambulance.

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

The attack was carried out by a Molniya-2 UAV.

Support UP or become our patron!
BANGKOK (AP)  Commercial fishing fleets have been playing a key role in trafficking parts of tigers poached in Malaysia, according to research released Wednesday that could help enforcement efforts to save the critically endangered cat.

The fishing boats are part of a network of routes used by sophisticated teams of poachers to move parts of illegally killed Malayan Tigers and other poached animals to Vietnam, according to the study by conservation organizations Panthera and ZSL in conjunction with Malaysia's Sunway University.

Through interviews with more than four dozen people involved in the operations, including poachers and those who brokered sales of the illicit goods, researchers found that fishing boats were able to carry larger consignments, cheaper, and less likely to be checked by customs than land or air routes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To really crack a problem and insert the right intervention that's going to have any impact you have to understand the thing inside out, said Panthara's Rob Pickles, the lead author of the study, in a phone interview from Kuala Lumpur. That's what we hope that this study does  contribute to that depth of understanding of the problem to allow us to tailor the interventions.

From a population estimated at some 3,000 tigers in the middle of the 20th century, the latest estimates are that there are only about 150 of the cats left in Malaysia and they have already gone extinct in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam over the last 25 years.

In addition to poaching, tigers have lost much of their habitat to deforestation, and they have been falling victim in recent years to the canine distemper virus while a major source of food, the wild boar, has been decimated by the African swine fever virus.

It's their last gasp, Pickles said. This is the last chance to turn things around.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The tigers live in the forests of peninsular Malaysia, which is connected by land to Thailand to the north. They have also been targeted by poachers from Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand, but researchers said the Vietnamese teams operate on a different order of magnitude.

Almost all from the poor, rural and rugged province of Quang Binh, where many took to the jungles to escape relentless American bombing during the Vietnam War, the poachers use well-honed bushcraft skills to live as small teams in the forests for three to five months at a time on poaching excursions.

They capture wild tigers with heavy steel snares made of wires as thick as a person's index finger, as well as other animals.

Once caught, the tigers are killed and processed largely for their bones, which are boiled for days until they become a gelatinous glue-like substance that is pressed into small blocks and sold for perceived medicinal benefits. Claws and teeth are used to make amulets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Malaysia went on lockdown during the COVID pandemic, poaching operations came to a near standstill. The researchers were able to use the time to find and interview more than 50 individuals involved in the operations for the study, which was done in two phases concluding in 2024.

Researchers learned that fishing boats were also used to carry bear paws and bile, live civets, wild boar tusks and meat, pangolins, monitor lizards and turtles.

One person told researchers the fishing boats were ideal to send larger items like tiger skins.

Nobody checks, the interviewee was quoted as saying. In addition, people can go back by boat so many things also can be brought back by this route.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Malaysia and Vietnam have both been increasing maritime controls recently, making trafficking by fishing boats riskier.

Malaysian authorities have also had success in catching poachers and have substantially increased punishments for wildlife crime in recent years, though the study also found that the managers who send the teams into the forests are rarely caught and can easily recruit replacements.

Researchers also learned that many Vietnamese poachers take on significant debt to travel to Malaysia.

They recommend that in addition to focusing more on fishing boats, authorities should target potential poachers in their home villages in Quang Binh with information about the increasing risks and diminishing returns to try and dissuade them from coming to Malaysia in the first place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials in Malaysia and Vietnam, both of which were celebrating public holidays this week, did not respond to requests for comment on the survey and its recommendations.

We cant arrest our way out of a problem or over-rely on the criminal justice system, said ZSL's Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, a co-author of the report.

We need to explore other approaches, such as highly targeted behavioral change interventions, that can run in parallel to arrests and prosecutions.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), former Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate in the 2024 election, said losing the contest was pure hell.

Walz joined MSNBCs Rachel Maddow for his first interview since President Trumps November victory and was asked about Trumps first week in office and the federal funding freeze that has sparked widespread concern.

Asked about what kind of pushback Democrats should have in this moment, Walz did not hold back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You know, that overused term the frog in the boiling water, weve been in the damn pot way too long  to the voters, Im with this too, everybodys fatigued, Walz told Maddow. Trust me, I get it.

That was  it was pure hell and the disappointment and the frustration, he continued. Im, you know, soul searching.

The Minnesota Democrat also reflected on what he, Harris and other Democrats could have done to make their case to the American people ahead of the election.

We knew this was coming, he said. We knew that the implications  and theyre throwing so much at us that were fatigued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Democratic governor said he would tell people to stay focused and not take the bait on the distractions.

During his first few days in office, Trump issued a flurry of executive orders, including officially recognizing only two genders, revoking federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and banning transgender people from serving in the military.

Concern and shock set in after Trump announced hed pause the disbursement of federal loans and grants. A federal judge temporarily blocked his plan until Monday evening.

Walzs advice for Americans is to surround themselves with people who recognize that the things impacted by the federal freeze are basically a big chunk of what society does.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are societies that function like this, where the rich and the oligarchs do everything, and theres some fabulously wealthy people who are  above the law and the rest of us are here, Walz said.

And I think we have to find that voice, he continued. We have to push 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 The Hill.
Many young workers get overlooked because they do not possess what their industry considers the correct qualifications. In the latest episode of the Gen Z in Manufacturing podcast, Oscar Ramirez explains how his company helps him overcome the paper ceiling.

Most Read on Manufacturing.net:

Ramirez, 22, works as a quality control microbiology technician at life sciences company MilliporeSigma. He earned his first role at MilliporeSigma and all ensuing promotions at the company, to date, without a post-secondary education degree. Instead, Ramirez worked with a professor from his high school's dual-enrollment course to earn "microcredentials" that certify essential skills for the pharma industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I think that the pharma industry is overqualifying some of the job postings," Ramirez said. "I have become a senior technician and I still have the same qualities that I started with, I just have more experience. I'm continuing to pursue my degree, but I still don't have it. That's to show that I'm able to break through. I think many other people can do the same."

At his current position, Ramirez completes auxiliary functions and assists scientists with various work, including preparation, laboratory cleaning and biohazard removal.

In this episode, Ramirez also discusses:

The pros and cons of dual-enrollment courses

How Gen Z looks for a job

How to help Gen Z workers gain more skillsets

Supporting workers who are also attending school

How companies can reach talent in low-income areas

What employers need to know about Gen Zs priorities

To view previous episodes of Gen Z in Manufacturing, visit manufacturing.net. Click here to subscribe to daily newsletters featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 29, according to the Tribunes archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 63 degrees (2013)

Low temperature: Minus 16 degrees (1966)

Precipitation: 1.33 inches (2013)

Snowfall: 5.3 inches (1909)

1856: William Rand cofounded what would become Rand McNallys first print shop with the Chicago Tribune on Chicagos Lake Street. Twelve years later, the company bought the Tribunes share and began printing railroad tickets and timetables.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1981: Jerry Reinsdorf was approved to buy the Chicago White Sox from Bill Veeck.

It only took American League owners 25 minutes to unanimously approve the sale to a syndicate headed by the Skokie real estate developer and New York television executive Eddie Einhorn.

2009: The Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who walked out of the silent chamber after delivering an impassioned plea for mercy, saying he never, ever intended to violate the law.

Within hours they applauded his former running mate and lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, who was sworn in as the states 41st governor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rod Blagojevich saga timeline: From arrest to Donald Trumps commutation to the end of his supervised release

2019: Empire actor Jussie Smollett reported he was a victim of an allegedly racist and homophobic attack. He was later charged with making it up and convicted in December 2021 on five out of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. He was sentenced to 150 days in Cook County Jail.

In a stunning move, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the convictions in November 2024, finding that a special prosecutors decision to retry him for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself violated his rights after the Cook County states attorneys office previously dropped all charges.

Want more vintage Chicago?

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com
If youre job hunting, today is a great day to grab that resume and put on some business attire.

The Central Florida Employment Connection is hosting the 24th annual Mayors Job Fair on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando.

Attendees will have a chance to engage and interact with representatives from roughly 80 local companies.

READ: Partly cloudy and pleasant Wednesday in Central Florida

Organizers said opportunities in various career fields are available, including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hospitality

Healthcare

Transportation

Customer service

Education

Construction

Skilled trades

Government

Business services

Law enforcement

Job seekers are encouraged to pre-register, dress for an interview, and bring copies of their resume.

Admission and parking are free.

READ: Central Florida nonprofits uncertain over Trumps move to freeze federal aid

To pre-register and see a list of participating companies, click here.

The Jan. 29 event runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Its being held at Central Florida Fairgrounds Expo Building, located at:

4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32808

For complete details on Wednesdays CFEC job fair, click here.

Connect with Employers at our next 24th Annual Mayor's Job Fair honoring Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings on January 29th.



Register/sign up to attend at https://t.co/R3QBs296IY pic.twitter.com/muf7htvg6N  Central Florida Employment Connections CFEC (@CFECorg) January 10, 2025

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Kevin Abourezk

ICT

OGLALA, South Dakota  Standing before a fire on a hill overlooking a frozen creek, Frank Star Comes Out recounted 50-year-old memories of this land.

As a young boy, he would come here to his grandparents land to pick berries, swim in the creek and ride horses. But in June 1975, he and his mother came to visit Native American activists camping on Harry and Cecelia Jumping Bulls land.

Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out speaks at a Jan. 25, 2025, gathering held on the Pine Ridge Reservation to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned after a June 26, 2025, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead. (Kevin Abourezk, ICT)

Days later, he would learn those activists  including a Turtle Mountain Chippewa man named Leonard Peltier  were involved in a shootout that left Joe Stuntz, a Coeur d'Alene activist, and two FBI agents dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a lot of history around here, he said.

Star Comes Out, now the 54-year-old Oglala Sioux Tribe president, shared his familys history with more than 100 people gathered for a prayer ceremony and celebration on Jan. 25 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota following former President Joe Bidens Jan. 20 decision to grant Peltier clemency.

The decision means Peltier, 80 and suffering from several serious health problems, will be allowed to return home to the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota to live out his final days.

Leonard Peltier (Courtesy photo)

The official clemency proclamation for Peltier says his clemency will become effective Feb. 18, though its unclear whether he will be released that day. After he leaves Coleman Federal Corrections Complex in Florida, Peltier will be forced to serve the remainder of his sentence on home confinement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peltier  who was not convicted of murder in the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams  has served 49 years after being convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder of the federal officers. He also received a seven-year sentence for an escape attempt.

Until Bidens last-minute action, Peltier had repeatedly been denied parole, pardon, clemency and compassionate release and had seen eight presidents leave office without pardoning him or commuting his sentence.

His commutation comes after decades of grassroots organizing in Indian Country and the presentation of evidence of misconduct and constitutional violations during the prosecution of Peltiers case.

Star Comes out said Pelter is a warrior who was wrongfully accused of a crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We dont know what happened that day, who the person is pulling that trigger, he said.

In a grove of trees near an old log home leaning against the wind, nearly 100 people came to hear Star Comes Out and his cousin Ivis Long Visitor share their stories about the shootout and to take part in prayer ceremonies, including prayers, songs and the smoking of the sacred canupa, or medicine pipe.

Longtime AIM activists and young people held their fists high into the air and war-whooped and trilled when those leading the ceremony mentioned Peltier, as well as the names of Lakota leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and AIM leaders Russell Means, Dennis Banks and John Trudell.

Star Comes Out warned those gathered to continue to pray for Peltier and expressed concern that his release might be delayed or canceled somehow by the new presidential administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a true warrior that stood up for Indian Country, took one for the team, he said. So we need to recognize him, let him know that we were also frustrated with this and its still not over.

Peltier had been asked to come to the Pine Ridge Reservation to protect members of the American Indian Movement who were taking a stand against supporters of Oglala Sioux Tribe Chairman Dick Wilson. Roslyn Jumping Bull, daughter of Harry and Cecelia Jumping Bull, was a longtime AIM supporter who had invited the group to camp on her parents land.

Ivis Long Visitor speaks at a Jan. 25, 2025, gathering held on the Pine Ridge Reservation to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned after a June 26, 2025, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead. Long Visitor was present at the shootout and was forced to flee with his wife and three children. (Kevin Abourezk, ICT)

The day of the shootout, she and her parents were gone from the ranch, but her son, Ivis Long Visitor, his wife Angie and their three children were there when the firing began.

Long Visitor said the two FBI agents were chasing a pickup truck driven by Jimmy Eagle, who they suspected of stealing a pair of cowboy boots. The agents drove their cruiser down the hill toward a creek. The agents and AIM activists on the hill overlooking the creek began firing at each other.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Long Visitor gathered his family and made their way east near the creek, away from the shooting, attempting to escape federal officers who had begun arriving. They encountered three young female AIM members, who asked them what was going on before walking toward the sound of gunfire.

Eventually, Long Visitor and his family arrived at the nearby highway and caught a ride back to Oglala.

A thing happened here, Long Visitor said during the gathering. People fought for our way of life here. People laid their life down. Joe Stuntz left his body here.

It was a tough day but today we rejoice. Victory for Leonard for getting out. Wopilatanka. There is power in prayer, my people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Jan. 25 gathering on the Pine Ridge Reservation was among the first celebrations to occur following Peltiers release. At a potluck dinner held in Rapid City, South Dakota a few days earlier, on Jan. 20, local Native leaders and activists gathered to celebrate the news.

A local drum group sang honoring songs, including the AIM anthem. People shared their recollections about the turbulent 1970s on the reservation, and others shared their feelings about Peltiers release.

There shouldnt be any innocent or guilty elders sitting in a cage at the end of their years, said Natalie Means, a local community organizer. I am overjoyed that Leonard Peltier will be going home for the time he has remaining. He was held for far too long.

Jean Roach (bottom center) stands below a banner at a potluck dinner held Jan. 20, 2025, in Rapid City, S.D., to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision earlier that day to grant clemency to Native activist Leonard Peltier. Roach was present during the June 26, 1975, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead and led to Peltier's nearly five-decade imprisonment for aiding and abetting in the agents' deaths. (Karin Eagle, Special to ICT)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Christopher Pina, a model and actor, said he was appreciative of the gathering as it gave people an opportunity to express their joy and gratitude for the decision.

I am happy to know that Leonard will be able to live the rest of his life healing and taking part in our cultural ways, he said. I needed to be around my community to hear the singing and the drumming and feel the energy of being around our relatives and eating our sacred food.

At the Jan. 25 celebration on the Pine Ridge Reservation, attendees gathered for an afternoon lunch at Loneman School, where AIM activists and tribal leaders shared stories about the tumultuous days when traditional Lakota on the reservation fought daily with Wilsons personal militia, the Guardians of the Oglala Nation, or GOONs as he called them.

Dick Marshall, a former enforcer for Means who killed a man at a saloon in Scenic, South Dakota, in 1975 and spent 19 years in prison before being released on parole five years ago, talked about shooting at GOONs who had shot at his home, including one who broke his door down and who Marshall shot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Son of a bitch didnt die though. He lived, he said.

Dick Marshall speaks at a Jan. 25, 2025, gathering held on the Pine Ridge Reservation to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned after a June 26, 2025, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead. Marshall, a former enforcer for the American Indian Movement, spent 19 years in prison after being convicted of killing a man in 1975. (Kevin Abourezk, ICT)

GOONs terrified old people and children, anyone who supported AIM, he said. Dozens of Lakota people were killed or disappeared, he said, describing that time on the reservation as a reign of terror.

He credited AIM with giving Lakota people pride and courage to stand up to their oppressors. He said Lakota people were all but colonized before AIM convinced them to reclaim their culture and Indigenous identity.

People used to have a rosary hanging off their car or truck mirror because they were colonized by the Catholics, he said. Nowadays you look, theres sage all the way across the dash, eagle feathers hanging off the mirror now. Its changed. Its changed, people finally getting proud.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats what Leonard stood up for, for the people.

Besides serving as AIM enforcers, Marshall and Peltier also were convicted based on testimony given by the same woman, Myrtle Poor Bear, who alleged she was both mens girlfriend and had witnessed them commit the crimes for which they were convicted. Poor Bear later recanted her testimony, claiming she was coerced by federal authorities.

They gave Leonard two life sentences, Marshall said. They gave me life.

He said he plans to travel to North Dakota when Peltier is released so they can visit with one another as free men.

He thanked those gathered for fighting for Peltiers freedom.

He gets to sit on his porch with a cup of coffee, watch the sun go down, watch the sun rise with his takojas, with his family, Marshall said. Finally, hes going to see daylight. Hes going to be home amongst us.

Among the women interviewed for the Warrior Women Project are Regina Brave, who was featured in this iconic photo from the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Brave told the oral history project of the Women of Wounded Knee that she had stepped up to hold a male warrior's gun while he went inside the building. A photographer then snapped her photo. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Regina Brave, an Oglala Lakota activist who took part in the 1973 Wounded Knee siege and became famous for a photo taken of her sitting on steps holding a rifle, described learning about the 1975 Oglala shootout while working for the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

As a public relations official for the committee, Brave wrote one of the first press releases about the shootout that she shared with several news organizations. She also helped discover that agents Coler and Williams had been sent to the Pine Ridge Reservation by an FBI office in San Francisco.

She said the evidence against Peltier was flimsy at best, describing how prosecutors attempted to convict him by presenting a rifle that he allegedly used but that lacked a firing pin, an essential piece.

If he killed those FBI agents, how could you kill somebody with a gun that didnt have a firing pin? she said.

She said Peltiers decades-long prison sentence for aiding and abetting was meant as a warning to other Native activists.

Leonard was kept in jail all this time, in a prison without any kind of a parole  because he was an example of what the United States government could do to our people, she said.

Lakota women and others listen to speakers at a Jan. 25, 2025, gathering held on the Pine Ridge Reservation to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned after a June 26, 2025, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead. (Kevin Abourezk, ICT)

At the gathering, a staff member for Star Comes Outs office described the efforts to free Peltier leading up to Jan. 20.

Valerie Adams, public relations coordinator for the tribe, talked about a Dec. 11 meeting between the U.S. Department of Justices Office of the Pardon attorney and Office of Tribal Justice and tribal leaders from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, as well as NDN Collective President Nick Tilsen, to discuss Peltiers imprisonment.

When we got in there, it was very somber because we knew this might be the last opportunity we had to try to put this case out there for Leonard, she said.

Oglala Sioux Tribe public relations coordinator Valerie Adams speaks at a Jan. 25, 2025, gathering held on the Pine Ridge Reservation to celebrate former President Joe Biden's decision to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned after a June 26, 2025, shootout that left two FBI agents and a Native activist dead. (Kevin Abourezk, ICT)

While no promises were made by the government attorneys in attendance, those gathered to support Peltiers release felt energized and hopeful afterward, Salomon said. After they exited the government office, those tribal leaders and staff gathered in a circle, burned sage, prayed and sang.

It felt different, Adams said. It felt like this was really going to happen.

Freelancer Karin Eagle contributed to this story.

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 Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of 76th Republic Day celebrations, began here with Vijay Chowk immersed in melodies of Indian tunes in the majestic backdrop of a setting sun over the Raisina Hills. The bands of the Indian Army (IA), the Indian Navy (IN), the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will play 30 foot-tapping Indian tunes before a distinguished audience which includes President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The ceremony began with the massed band's 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja' tune. The principal conductor of the ceremony will be Commander Manoj Sebastian. President Murmu led the Nation in celebrating the 76th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26, 2025. With special focus on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution and Jan Bhagidari, the celebrations were a unique blend of India's rich cultural diversity, unity, equality, development and military prowess. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Chief Guest. Around 10,000 Special Guests were invited to witness the parade, in line with the Government's objective to increase 'Jan Bhagidari' in events of national importance. These Special Guests from different walks of life are the architects of 'Swarnim Bharat'. They included best performers in various fields and those who have made best use of the schemes of the Government. (ANI)
Jan. 29Looking to stay on top of what's happening at the Legislature? Here are four things to watch for on Wednesday, Jan. 29:

Behavioral health: Three bills aimed at expanding New Mexico's mental health and drug abuse treatment system are on tap in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, which meets at 1:30 p.m.

The proposals, Senate Bills 1, 2 and 3, would establish a new $1 billion behavioral health trust fund and mandate regional implementation plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Health care: The House Health and Human Services Committee, which meets at 9 a.m., will dive into bills dealing with Medicaid.

One of the measures, House Bill 42, would provide rate increases to service providers receiving Medicaid reimbursements, while another bill, House Bill 55, would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for personal care service provider agencies.

Education: The Senate Education Committee has a hefty agenda for its 9 a.m. meeting, including an anti-hazing bill and changes to university regents' training requirements.

The committee could also take up a bill incentivizing schools to ban cellphones in classrooms, a proposal that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed support for last week.

Everyone is a Lobo: It's officially University of New Mexico Day, with events and booths at the Roundhouse almost all day and an invite-only alumni dinner in the evening.
Shondiin Silversmith

AZ Mirror

The Tohono Oodham Nation signed a co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for federal lands with deep cultural and religious ties for the tribal nation.

This agreement will ensure that the Nation has a voice and an active role in protecting these ancestral lands that are so important to our people, Tohono Oodham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose said in a press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Tohono Oodham Nation is a federally recognized tribe in southern Arizona with about 28,000 tribal members. Its reservation is the second largest in the state and extends from the outskirts of southwestern Tucson to the Mexican border.

The co-stewardship is for the Baboquivari and Coyote Mountains, including the Baboquivari Peak Wilderness and Coyote Mountains Wilderness areas. The agreement allows the tribe and the BLM to collaborate on conservation and management efforts for the wilderness area.

This is something the (Tohono Oodham) Nation has wanted for years, BLM Tucson Field Manager Colleen Dingman said. The tribe approached the agency multiple times over the years, and they were finally able to accommodate the request this past fall.

The tribe and BLM signed the agreement during a ceremony held on Dec. 23 at the Tohono Oodham Nation Cultural Center and Museum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im excited about what this opportunity could present, Dingman said, adding that it would allow the BLM office in Tucson to grow and learn more from the tribe about how to best protect the area.

The co-stewardship agreement is consistent with a 2021 Joint Secretarial Order directing federal land and water management agencies to facilitate such agreements with tribes to better protect tribal religious and cultural interests as part of the federal governments trust responsibility to tribes.

Dingman said that the tribe and BLM worked together to develop the intergovernmental cooperative agreement that allows both entities to utilize the expertise of the tribal members, incorporating traditional knowledge and resources toward the best ways to preserve the area and share knowledge.

By partnering together, Dingman said any potential projects or work occurring within the wilderness areas allows the agency to reach out to the tribe for input and listen to ways they can mitigate any impacts or concerns the tribe may have.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dingman said the tribe and BLM have committed to meeting quarterly to discuss the areas priorities and how the agency can ensure that the tribe and its members can access their sacred sites and other culturally significant places.

The Tohono Oodham have deep cultural and religious ties to the Baboquivari Mountain Range and Baboquivari Peak, viewing the land as the sacred dwelling place of Iitoi, the Tohono Oodham creator.

It has been the work of many years to achieve this agreement, which will benefit tribal members and the public for generations to come, he added. We appreciate the productive working relationship with the BLM and we look forward to collaborating with them to provide the best possible stewardship for these areas.

When the tribes main reservation was established in 1917, only the western portion of Baboquivari Peak and the Baboquivari Mountains were included in the boundaries established by the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These wilderness areas include 2,040 acres on the eastern side of Baboquivari Peak and 5,080 acres in the adjacent Coyote Mountains, bordering the Nations reservation. The BLM also manages an additional 2,247 acres of non-wilderness lands in the Baboquivari Mountains.

Dingman said the co-stewardship agreement has no expiration date, but the tribe and BLM must reevaluate it in 10 years. If no changes are presented, it will continue.

This article was first published in the AZ Mirror
Police say at least 30 people have died in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India

PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP)  At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the worlds largest religious gathering early Wednesday, police said, as millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters during the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India. Police officer Vaibhav Krishna in Prayagraj city said another 60 injured were rushed to hospitals. Wednesday was a sacred day in the six-week Hindu festival, and authorities expected a record 100 million devotees to engage in a ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Hindus believe that a dip at the holy site can cleanse them of past sins and end the process of reincarnation.
DeepSeek may have used OpenAI's models to train its own AI model, says a White House advisor.

The Chinese startup's R1 model sparked market panic due to its efficient performance.

OpenAI has also faced scrutiny over training practices and copyright lawsuits from media firms.

DeepSeek may have used OpenAI to create its Silicon Valley-shaking model, a top White House advisor said on Tuesday.

David Sacks, the White House's artificial intelligence and crypto czar, told Fox News "it's possible" that the Chinese AI startup engaged in intellectual property theft from OpenAI.

Sacks highlighted an AI training technique called distillation, in which a company uses information from an existing AI model to create a new model. Here, the bigger, more complex model  which is considered to be the "teacher model"  transfers much of its learnings to the smaller "student model."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They can essentially mimic the reasoning process that they learn from the parent model and they can suck the knowledge out of the parent model," Sacks said.

DeepSeek's R1 model appears to match many of the capabilities of rival models but with much less compute  the expensive component powering AI. That sparked a stock market panic earlier this week, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars in value from companies selling AI chips, such as Nvidia.

"There's substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI's models. I don't think OpenAI is very happy about this," Sacks said, without citing specific evidence.

He said companies would take steps to prevent distillation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"That would definitely slow down some of these copycat models," said the former venture capital investor and tech executive.

OpenAI has also faced scrutiny for its training practices. The company is facing several lawsuits over copyright infringement, including from media organizations like The New York Times.

OpenAI has its own model distillation offering. This allows smaller models to create their own datasets for distillation using OpenAI's API.

However, the company's terms of service prohibit users from "copying" any of its services or using its models to build rival ones.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Microsoft and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment. DeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment, made on the Lunar New Year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has awarded a Topeka man with the Western Region Hero of the Year award after he helped save a mans life.

Gerald Jerry Loney was returning to his vehicle while delivering mail on his route when a man covered in blood approached him asking for help.

Loney immediately started caring for the man. A 911 operator talked Loney through applying a tourniquet to the mans wrists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said Do you have any clean rags, anything to stop the bleeding? Is the bleeding spurting? I said, Yes, its starting to slow down. She said, You need to stop the bleeding.', Loney told 27 News. He had a plaid red shirt like the one Im wearing, and I said, Get that off, I need it more than you do for you. And I took the sleeve as tight as I could and I wrapped it around his wrist.

Loney kept talking to and praying over the man until police, paramedics, and firefighters arrived, the NALC wrote. The police officer who took a statement from Loney later told him they were grateful for his actions, noting that most people would have just driven by.

KSDE issues statement after immigration directive

The NALC said Loney suffers from PTSD due to a past personal incident. He pushed through his own personal trauma to help save the mans life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each year a panel of judges review stories of heroism that were published in The Postal Record to determine the winners. The NALC said mail carriers are often the first people to respond and lend a helping hand.

We are immensely proud of what the heroes being recognized did, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. They represent our countrys best in public service. They truly are our heroes.

Two roundabouts coming to NE Kansas highway

Loney has been invited to the NALC Heros Award Ceremony and Luncheon for his life-saving efforts on Thursday, March 20 in Washington, D.C. The NALC will cover Loneys transportation, hotel and pay for five days of lost wages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Loney says hes since talked to the man he saved and plans to grab lunch with him in the coming days.

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.
When a federal judge temporarily halted President Donald Trumps freeze on federal grant funding just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, it offered a degree of clarity after a day of widespread confusion in the world of education.

Less than a day later, Trump appeared to rescind the Office of Management and Budget memo that set the funding pause in motion.

But just 30 minutes after that, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to rescind the rescission. This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze, she posted. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.

Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

She described her post as an attempt to end the confusion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It didnt.

For an administration that wants to make the argument that public education is dysfunctional and not serving our students well, they are amplifying and contributing to that narrative, said Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed, a policy and advocacy organization. Until last October, she served in the Department of Education as assistant secretary for the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education.

For now, its unclear which programs will be affected as the new administration takes stock of spending it deems wasteful or contrary to the presidents agenda. Those goals include freeing up funds for school choice, ending wokeness and passing a tax cut package. Start-up funds for charter schools, school lunches, funding for homeless students and hundreds of other federal grants will be reviewed by department leadership for alignment with Trump administration priorities, said education department spokeswoman Madison Biederman.

OMB said it spared major formula grants, like Title I for low-income students, special education funding and Impact Aid to districts serving military families. While the administration said Head Start wouldnt be impacted, the preschool program is still listed among thousands to be reviewed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration originally gave agencies until Feb. 7 to identify grants that advance, among other things, Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies. Over several chaotic hours, district leaders and advocates tried to interpret whether their programs would be cut while coming to terms with the enormity of the presidents actions.

This is more than a typical partisan divide, said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center. This is an unusual and unprecedented power grab and every member of Congress should be concerned.

Related

Education Department Stacked With Staff from Linda McMahons Think Tank

Challenging the administrations pause on funding Congress had already appropriated, three associations sued Tuesday, asking for a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo. Just before 5 p.m., as the freeze was about to start, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan granted the request, noting the specter of irreparable harm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Afterschool programs, food banks and organizations that arrange for children to be driven to cancer treatment centers are among those that would be impacted, said Rick Cohen, a spokesman for the National Council of Nonprofits, one of the groups that filed the complaint. Another plaintiff, Main Street Alliance, a network of small businesses, said its members include child care centers that serve low-income families using federal assistance so they can work.

Grave situation

For many leaders, Tuesday was a rollercoaster.

Just after lunch, Marvin Connelly, superintendent of the Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, was trying to figure out how hed handle a potential freeze on over $2 million in Impact Aid  funds that help make up for lost property tax revenue when theres a nearby military installation. A high-poverty district, Cumberland schools serve over 8,000 children of active service members stationed at Fort Liberty.

We could really be in a grave situation, he said. Less than two hours later, he learned the funds would not be affected.

The Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina serves over 8,000 students from military families. Leaders are concerned about any loss of federal Impact Aid. (Cumberland County Schools)

Meanwhile Barbara Duffield, executive director of SchoolHouse Connection, which supports homeless students, was participating on a panel at a conference in Washington when some nonprofit leaders told her they were unable to access federal funds for homeless youth and families.

Layers of bureaucracy

The effort to pause funding followed the presidents first-day executive order that prohibits federal spending on diversity, equity and inclusion. On Thursday, the administration removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports and training materials related to DEI and put staff members focusing on equity within the department on leave.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Who knew dismantling could happen this quickly? Ian Rowe, a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute and the founder of a network of charter schools, told The 74. If these moves put America on a path to becoming a colorblind society, that is a very good thing.

Many conservatives argue such programs amount to a form of illegal discrimination and waste money. Neera Deshpande, a policy analyst at the Independent Womens Forum, pointed to reporting that shows the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia spent $6.4 million to staff its equity office.

What is that money accomplishing besides adding layers of bureaucracy to the school system, burdening teachers, and taking away time and money from schools that could be used for instructional purposes or even extracurricular activities for students? she asked. Every dollar that is allocated toward DEI is a dollar thats not allocated toward  teacher salaries or arts programs or literacy support or sports.

The reversal in priorities at the federal level has left some nonprofit leaders in a bind. When former President Joe Biden was in office, the director of a teacher apprenticeship initiative applied for a Department of Labor grant to help recruit a diverse pool of potential teachers. Now, he doesnt know whether that emphasis will hurt his application.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I hope they can strike a balance with sanity here, said the man, who asked not to be named to keep from jeopardizing the grant. Im not going to talk about the diversity part, but we still have a significant crisis in the teacher pipeline. We have to attract individuals into this profession.

Top-down review

With more than 2,600 programs targeted for potential review, its unclear which might ultimately be left on the chopping block.

But at least one Republican said the National School Lunch Program shouldnt be off limits. On CNN, Georgia GOP Rep. Rich McCormick suggested low-income students shouldnt depend on schools for meals. The program, which costs roughly $17 billion, provides free and reduced-price meals for over 28 million children during the school year and extends services through the summer with the help of parks, recreation centers and other community organizations.

Youre telling me that kids who stay at home instead of going to work at Burger King, McDonalds, during the summer, should stay at home and get their free lunch instead of going to work? he asked. I think we need to have a top-down review.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other advocates noted that while federal funds make up only about 10% of a districts operating budget, some school systems rely on those dollars more than others. In 2023, AASA, the School Superintendents Association, created a map showing that overall, federal funds account for a larger share of district budgets in GOP-led states, mainly those in the South and West.

Any conversation about federal funding levels  whether a cut in overall level or a proposal to freeze access  requires us to be very honest about the role of federal dollars in local school districts, and to be candid about the facts of who  is more reliant on federal dollars, said Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate executive director for advocacy governance at AASA.

Responding to news reports that the president had rescinded the freeze memo, Leavitt, the press secretary, posted that the presidents executive orders nonetheless remain in full force and effect.

Ng doesnt know where that leaves the nations schools, but shes run out of patience. Regarding Leavitts post, she asked, Did it attempt to end confusion, or add a layer for today?
BLUE SPRINGS  Sometime this fall, a state-of-the-art 18,000-square-foot childcare center for Toyota Mississippi will open, paving the way for employees to access an array of services for their children while they're at work.

Located west of the Toyota Experience Center, the multimillion-dollar facility is currently under construction. It will be the automaker's third childcare center in the United States, joining Toyota Kentucky and Toyota Indiana, which opened in 1993 and 2003, respectively. A fourth center, for Toyota North Carolina, is set to open this fall.

"We'll be able to accommodate over 100 kids on both shifts," said Tiffannie Hedin, manager of corporate communications for Toyota Mississippi. "So that's more than 200 kids with the shift rotation, morning and night."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The center will seek NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation to uphold the highest standard for quality early learning, Hedin said.

Key features of the center include a Movement Matters Room, a dedicated indoor space designed to promote physical activity and gross motor movement; an outdoor play area with age-appropriate equipment to promote physical, cognitive and social-emotional development; a STEAM Lab focused on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics; and a commercial kitchen with Aramark as the provider.

"This is an investment in our current workforce, but we're also looking at it for our future," Hedin said. "The children who come to the center will receive a greater rigor of care and education, starting at six weeks. It is a childcare center and learning center; it is not a daycare."

The facility comprises 34 modular units set on piers using a 900-ton crane before being welded into place. The major benefit from using this process was site preparation  including all the underground utilities and piers  could be installed at the same time the building was being constructed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It is tornado-safe; we've got tornado shelters built in that were placed before the modular units came," Hedin said.

The tornado shelters are ICC 500 rated, which means they are built to withstand at least 250 mph winds.

The childcare centers tuition has not been set, but Hedin said it would be in line with area daycare center costs. Toyota will pay operating costs that are not covered by tuition. Teacher pay and benefits will be competitive, with tuition reimbursement.

Hedin said Toyota is doing its part in helping to ease a childcare "desert" in Northeast Mississippi.

Toyota is not only investing in on-site childcare for our team members but also to advocate across the state for whats needed for Mississippis workforce, whats needed for our children to be school-ready and elevate the need to continue the conversation of childcare advocacy and early learning enhancement across the region and state, the company said in a statement.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK)  Two Mount Pleasant streets are closed after a man, arrested for a DWI, crashed into a power pole Tuesday night.

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, officers responded to a wreck and found that a truck had crashed into a power pole, almost cutting it off. Officials identified the driver as Jose Francisco Patino and arrested him for driving while intoxicated.

Photos courtesy of Mount Pleasant Police Department

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials said that East 1st Street and Lee Street are closed until the power pole has been replaced in front of the B&A Center. The power company is currently using a crane to keep the power pole in place until crews can replace it.

2 Hallsville ISD employees taken to hospital after school bus wreck

We will open East 1st as soon as we can and East 2nd, coming toward Jefferson, will remain open unless it becomes necessary to shut it down, Mount Pleasant PD said.

Francisco was booked into the Titus County Jail 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County) testifies Tuesday to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on legislation to reclassify some traffic violations as secondary offenses. With him are Public Defender Natasha Dartigue and Tia Holmes, right, an appellate attorney at the Office of the Public Defender. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Supporters of a bill that would reduce the reasons that police can pull a motorist over say that not only will it help reduce the racial disparity in traffic stops, but it will protect police officers as well.

Were in the 21st century. Law enforcement is using all types of technologies, said Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County), the sponsor of the bill that would reclassify a number of primary traffic violations  for which police can pull a driver over  to secondary violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All Im saying is maybe we need to look at some of these technologies and figure out how we can redeploy our shrinking police staffs to deal with crime that really, really matters, rather than bogging them down with these types of offenses, Sydnor said Tuesday in testimony to his colleagues on the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Making them secondary offenses. No one is getting rid of any laws that are already on the books. Its a reclassification.

But law enforcement officials and police officers said during two hours of sometimes heated debate on Senate Bill 292 that the measure would make their jobs harder.

Anne Arundel County Police Lt. Erin Brandt, at lectern, testifies Tuesday against a bill that would reclassify some traffic violations as secondary offenses. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Lt. Erin Brandt with the Anne Arundel County Police Department pointed to vague language in the bill  A police officer shall document all reasons for a traffic stop or other stop on any citation or police report resulting from the stop, for example  that she said will cause problems for officers.

The ambiguous language of this may suggest to officers that they need to cite every single violation, instead of having a constructive conversation on traffic safety laws, Brandt said. I urge you to vote against this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sydnors bill, discussed for more than two hours Tuesday, would reclassify some primary offenses as secondary, including:

Driving without a functioning headlight, brake lights or taillights;

Driving without a mirror or with obstructed or damaged mirrors;

Window tint;

Excessive noise; and

Failure to illuminate a license plate.

A driver could still be cited for any of those violations, but only after being pulled over for another, primary violation.

The bill notes that if a police officer fails to comply with the revised law, the officer could face administrative discipline and any evidence obtained may be inadmissible in any trial or other proceeding.

Another reason that supporters cite for the proposal is the current racial disparity in traffic stops.

The Governors Office of Crime Prevention and Policys traffic safety dashboard showed that Blacks accounted for 43% of the nearly 428,300 vehicle traffic stops in the state in 2023, when they made up just 32% of the states population. In comparison, whites made up 57% of the state population that year but accounted for 39% of all traffic stops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Victims of these racially motivated traffic stops find themselves in situations called Driving while Black. The racial disparity is evident in traffic enforcement, said Public Defender Natasha Dartigue, who testified in support of the measure.

But Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) said the proposal would be a danger to the public.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Somebody look at me and tell me not having a headlight is not a public safety danger, particularly if its a left headlight and youre making a turn into another street, he said. That is a safety danger, and youre taking that away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) submitted written testimony supporting the bill in concept. But he also suggested some amendments to address the fact that the bill covers far too many safety-related offenses.

His letter said the bill should be amended to allow for a traffic stop if an officer observed two or more secondary violations.

Another amendment would be to create a procedure that would let an officer report a secondary violation to the Motor Vehicle Administration, which could issue citations or repair orders through the mail, similar to a speed camera ticket.

We applaud Senate Bill 292 for seeking to limit non-safety related traffic stops and reduce racial disparities in Marylands criminal justice system, Brown wrote. However, we urge the Committee to carefully consider the concerns outlined above as it deliberates this critical issue.

A House version of the bill, sponsored by Del. N. Scott Phillips (D-Baltimore County), is scheduled for a Feb. 12 hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
In a major crackdown on unauthorised cash movement, the staff of Police Station Sabzi Mandi Railway Station apprehended a man in possession of Rs 32.61 lakh unaccounted cash, Delhi police said. The operation was conducted on Tuesday at approximately 2:50 pm during routine patrolling. The suspect, identified as Jaswinder Pal (48 years) resident of Ropar, Punjab, was found hiding a black backpack on the railway platform. Upon questioning, he initially tried to evade answers but later admitted that the bag contains a significant amount of cash. Delhi Police said, "Upon opening the bag, the police found Rs 32,61,500 of various denominations. The suspect, who had traveled from Punjab to Delhi by Jan Shatabdi Express, claimed that he had been sent by his brother-in-law to collect the cash-filled bag. However, he was unable to provide any valid documentation or proof of cash ownership." Delhi police said that 6282 notes of Rs 500, 601 notes of Rs 200, 2 notes of Rs 100, 1 note of Rs 50, 2 notes of Rs 20, and 1 note of Rs 10 were seized. After the seizure, the Income Tax Department and the concerned Election Cell were immediately informed for further investigation into the source and purpose of the cash. Income Tax Department took custody of the suspect and the seized cash for further proceedings. Earlier in an operation ahead of the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, the North-West District Police has launched an intensive crackdown against illicit liquor, drugs, unaccounted cash, and public drinking to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI). According to police, during picket checking, six individuals were apprehended, and Rs 1,50,60,000 in unaccounted cash was seized at three different locations. Acting on credible intelligence, the combined efforts of the Local Police and Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) led to the successful interception.In another major operation, six bootleggers were arrested with the recovery of 1,862 quarters and five bottles of illicit liquor. A car used for transporting the liquor, sourced from adjoining states, was also seized. This action was aimed at preventing the illegal distribution of liquor ahead of the elections. (ANI)
A day after interviewing Republican representative Dan Crenshaw, Kaitlan Collins invited another guest on The Source to discuss Donald Trumps recent executive order banning transgender troops from serving openly in the military.

I have been at the pinnacle of naval aviation. Im proof standing here that were qualified to serve, Navy Commander Emily Shilling told Collins. Over her 19-and-a-half years of service, Shilling has completed two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a pilot and has seen 60 combat missions. She is also the president of SPARTA, an advocacy group for transgender troops.

Shilling was one of the first naval aviators to regain her flight clearance post-transition. She estimated that her transition kept her out of action for about a month, a period of time she likened to a minor knee surgery. She also noted that some people who transition never even take down time. Shilling further noted that the organization was rightfully medically conservative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im going to go fly a $100 million aircraft, the F-18, which you saw in Top Gun 2. So they ran me through every psychological evaluation, every physical evaluation you can think of. And at the end of the day there was no reason to keep me out of the cockpit, Shilling explained. We see this with all the troops that are deployed across the world today already embedded in combat units. We have lawyers, doctors, special forces, rangers, and theyre all there today. If we yank them out, it leaves critical holes that are going to take decades to fill.

Shilling also said that, based on the feedback shes received, her transition has made her a better leader. She now has an easier time connecting to her subordinates in a more authentic way because I can meet them wherever they are. Its also work that she wants to continue doing.

I have no desire to get out, Shilling added.

The commander ended her interview by saying she would welcome having a conversation with the new U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. She also remained respectful toward President Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order actually just asked the SecDef to generate new policy. If you read his most recent memo to the troops, the last line says that he supports all members and all families of the armed forces, Shilling said. I hope he stands by those words.

The post Trans Navy Commander Says Trumps Ban Would Leave Critical Holes in Americas Military | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Two LGBTQ legal organizations filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, on behalf of six transgender service members, to challenge President Donald Trump's executive order directing the Pentagon to revise its policy on transgender troops in the military.

GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the president, Defense secretary Pete Hegseth and other military leaders. The lawsuit comes one day after Trump signed an executive order restricting transgender military service.

"Consistent with the military mission and longstanding Department of Defense policy, expressing a false 'gender identity' divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service," the executive order reads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Trump did not immediately ban transgender service members from the armed forces, his executive order directs the Pentagon to revise defense policy based on readiness "to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force."

"The pursuit of military excellence cannot be diluted to accommodate political agendas or other ideologies harmful to unit cohesion," the executive order states.

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, on Friday. On Tuesday, two LGBTQ legal organizations filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of six transgender members over Trump's executive order, which directs the Pentagon to revise its policy on transgender troops in the military. Photo by Al Drago/UPI

The order also requires the Defense Department to restrict medical coverage of certain transition-related care within 60 days, ban people assigned male at birth from using women's "sleeping, changing or bathing facilities" and "end invented and identification-based pronoun usage."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, criticized the order for violating constitutional protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The law is very clear that the government can't base policies on disapproval of particular groups of people. That's animus. And animus-based laws are presumed to be invalid and unconstitutional," said Shannon Minter, legal director for NCLR.

Independent research institute the Palm Center found in 2018 that there were an estimated 14,000 transgender service members in the U.S. military.

Shortly after his inauguration last week, Trump signed another executive order, recognizing only two genders, male and female. The president also revoked an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden in 2021 that allowed transgender people to serve in the military.

"This ban betrays fundamental American values of equal opportunity and judging people on their merit," Jennifer Levi, the senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It slams the door on qualified patriots who meet every standard and want nothing more than to serve their country, simply to appease a political agenda," Levi added. "That's not just un-American, it makes our country weaker by pushing away talented service members who put their lives on the line every day for our nation."

Army 2nd Lt. Nicholas Talbott is among the plaintiffs in Tuesday's lawsuit. The 31-year-old transgender man was "named Honor Graduate at basic combat training by his drill sergeants for going above and beyond in training and stepping up to leadership roles," according to the lawsuit.

"Every individual must meet the same objective and rigorous qualifications in order to serve," Talbott said in a statement.

"It has been my dream and my goal to serve my country for as long as I can remember. My being transgender has no bearing on my dedication to the mission, my commitment to my unit or my ability to perform my duties in accordance with the high standards expected of me and every service member."

While the White House has not responded to the lawsuit, the Pentagon said in a statement it plans to "fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the executive orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency and in alignment with national security objectives."
Brittany Stewart, right, delivers the opening statement for the plaintiffs at the beginning of a trial over North Dakota's ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Jan. 27, 2025. Jess Braverman, another attorney for the plaintiffs, is shown at left. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

A North Dakota teenager on Tuesday told a courtroom that gender-affirming care saved her life.

The state in 2023 made it a crime for health care professionals to provide the treatments to anyone below age 18. The ban contains an exemption for children who were receiving treatment before it went into effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am very grateful to be able to receive gender-affirming care, and I know theres a lot of other children my age who are not able to receive it, said the 16-year old, testifying under the pseudonym Pamela Roe. I know very well that could have been me.

Her testimony came as part of a lawsuit brought by North Dakota pediatric endocrinologist Luis Casas, who is challenging the ban on behalf of himself and his patients.

Casas alleges the law violates personal autonomy and equal protection rights under the state constitution.

Roe, her family and two other North Dakota families with transgender children were previously plaintiffs in the case alongside Casas, but South Central Judicial District Judge Jackson Lofgren ruled earlier this month that they dont have standing to bring the challenge because the three kids fall under the bans exemption.

Special assistant attorneys general Joseph Quinn and Daniel Gaustad listen to testimony Jan. 27, 2025, during a trial examining the constitutionality of North Dakotas ban on gender-affirming care for minors. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

In defense of the law, the state has said that gender-affirming care is an unsettled area of medicine and that North Dakota has a responsibility to regulate its administration to protect children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial began Monday and is expected to wrap up next week.

Roe said she knew she was transgender when she was in preschool. As a preteen, she developed an extreme fear of undergoing male puberty, she said. This fear occupied most of her attention, causing her to struggle academically and become socially withdrawn. She said she experienced thoughts of suicide.

I felt very hopeless at the time, Roe said.

Receiving gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, has turned her life around, she said. She said while she also sees a therapist to help with her gender dysphoria, the treatment was key to resolving her depression and anxiety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said today, she no longer feels so alienated from other girls her age. She described herself as an engaged student who enjoys making friends, learning foreign languages and studying history.

Roe said she and her family joined the lawsuit because she wants to make sure gender-affirming care is available to other adolescents.

In separate testimony earlier Tuesday, a North Dakota mother called the states ban a threat to her sons health and happiness.

In no way, shape or form is it protecting my child, the woman, who testified under the pseudonym Jane Doe, said through tears. It is doing more harm than you will ever imagine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Does 13-year-old son, who testified as James Doe, was called to the witness stand on Monday. James said he started hormone therapy recently and that its allowed him to live as a normal 13-year-old.

Jane Doe on Tuesday was shown a clip from the 2023 legislative session when Rep. Bill Tveit, R-Hazen, suggested transgender children are fantasizing.

Bill Maher once said, If kids knew what they wanted to be at the age of 8, the world would be full of cowboys and princesses, Tveit, the bills primary sponsor, said.

Doe called the testimony infuriating and evidence that lawmakers werent educated on what transgender kids experience. She said some little kids may like to play pretend, but thats a phase that passes  whereas James has always known he was a boy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

James is not a phase, she said.

Both families testified that they now have to go to Moorhead, Minnesota, to see Casas, which they described as a significant inconvenience. The children receiving treatment have to miss school, and the parents have to take off work, they said.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs have said previously that even minors who fall under the laws exemption cannot access gender-affirming care in North Dakota, since medical providers are uncertain how to interpret the ban.

Because of the ban, Casas only answers questions from minor patients when hes physically in Minnesota, they said. Casas testified early last year that hes only in Moorhead once a month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Roe said that if she has a question for Casas about her hormone levels, it now takes a long time for her to hear a response.

It increases my anxiety if I am worried, she said.

Jesse Bayker, assistant teaching professor of history at Rutgers University, provided expert testimony Tuesday on the history of transgender people in 19th century North Dakota.

Historical records indicate people living in the northern Midwest states like North Dakota at this time held a variety of views about transgender people, Bayker said.

He said frontier states like North Dakota had more of a live and let live and dont ask dont tell ethos compared to other parts of the country. Thats partly because people who moved to the frontier were looking for a fresh start, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perhaps the most famous transgender person who lived in North Dakota at this time was Mrs. Nash, who worked as a landuress at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the late 1860s and 1870s, Bayker said.

She was very well known, a pillar of the community, Bayker said. The general public wasnt aware Mrs. Nash was transgender until her death, he added.

During his questioning of Bayker, Special Assistant Attorney General Daniel Gaustad underlined that Bayker has no evidence that the authors of North Dakota Constitution were accepting of transgender people, or intended for the state constitution to be interpreted in a way that gives them the freedom to medically transition.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - By the time Nicolas Talbott, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserve, checked on the incoming texts buzzing on his smart watch, he found dozens of messages waiting for him. Talbott, a transgender man who took his oath of enlistment in March, instantly knew what the messages were about: President Donald Trump was about to sign his much-anticipated executive order placing restrictions on transgender members of the U.S. armed forces.

"Well, it happened," Talbott, 31, said in an interview with Reuters. "Here we go."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And transgender service members in the military were ready. Within 15 hours of that executive order, Talbott joined five other transgender service members in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by GLAD Law, a LGBTQ rights advocacy group, and the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR). The lawsuit alleges that the new restrictions are violating constitutional guarantees of equal protection.

The long-term aim is not just to block Trump's executive order, but to enshrine permanent protections for transgender troops, Talbott said.

"I'm living proof that trans people can be cohesive members of the United States military and I'm still in a position where I can use my voice and I can use all of the tools in my belt to stand up for other trans people," said Talbott who transitioned medically in 2012 and is due to report for duty as a military policeman this weekend.

"Ultimately what we want to do is make it so that transgender folks' eligibility to serve in the United States military is not contingent upon who holds political office at the time."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his first term, Trump announced that he would ban transgender people from serving in the military. He didn't fully follow through with that ban. His administration froze their recruitment while allowing serving personnel to remain.

The Pentagon said that as a matter of policy it did not comment on pending litigation. The White House referred back to Monday's executive order.

While the executive order at the start of Trump's second term in the White House stopped short of an explicit ban on transgender troops in the military, advocates and Democratic lawmakers said the language suggests transgender service members are medically and morally unfit.

"Adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individuals sex conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle," the order reads. "A mans assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also points to hormonal or surgical requirements as a reason for disqualification, comparable to a mental illness diagnosis.

The order gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 60 days to implement changes including a ban on "invented" pronouns.

It does not spell out how, or if, the U.S. military would remove transgender forces since there is no requirement to identify as transgender.

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim said the order was "an insult to the bravery and service" of transgender service members. "How can we have a military that protects all Americans if it doesn't recognize and respect all Americans?" he said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 1.3 million active-duty personnel serve in the U.S. military, Department of Defense data shows. While transgender rights advocates say as many as 15,000 service members are transgender, U.S. officials say the number is in the low thousands. There is no data that tracks transgender service members by job, but they include special operators, pilots and doctors.

'IMAGINE EVERY SCENARIO AND BE READY'

Transgender advocates say the lawsuit is the first shot in what they predict will be a long fight.

"The strategy at the moment is (to) imagine every scenario and be ready for that," said Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Navy Commander Emily Shilling, a pilot who leads SPARTA, an advocacy group for transgender troops, said transgender service members began preparing for possible restrictions in May - long before the November elections returned Trump to the White House.

In a weekend workshop, conducted just blocks from the White House, nearly two dozen transgender service members practiced high-pressure scenarios, including combative mock interviews, to teach them how to advocate for transgender rights if there was a change in policy after the Nov. 5 election.

"(We) did not sit on our hands, and we were preparing for the worst," said Shilling, who has flown 60 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan during two decades in the military.

Shilling said SPARTA membership had grown 10% since the election to 2,200 members, many of them senior enlisted members.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Paulo Batista, a navy intelligence analyst in San Diego who joined the military in 2022, said he has started to train troops to take his place in case he is forced out.

"These guys need to be prepared to be able to go from being a new sailor to speaking to commanding leadership," Batista told Reuters.

MONTHS OF LEGAL PREPARATION

Legal experts and troops said they were determined not to be caught off-guard in Trump's second term in the White House.

In an early morning July 2017 series of posts on Twitter, now known as X, Trump sent lawyers scrambling after he said that the United States "will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the 2024 election, nearly 100 transgender service members and those looking to join the military reached out to Levi, with GLAD Law, looking to be a plaintiffs in a potential lawsuit.

Shannon Minter, with the NCLR, said litigators at his organization started speaking with potential plaintiffs in the summer.

While some of the plaintiffs in Tuesday's law suit have been in the military for decades, others are still in the process of enlistment.

Koda Nature, 23, from Texas, said he had been hoping to continue a family tradition of military service, and had been working with recruiters to join the Marine Corps.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Were the prohibition on military service by transgender individuals to be implemented, Mr. Nature would be unable to enlist in the Marines and continue his family's tradition of dedicated military service," the lawsuit said.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Don Durfee and Suzanne Goldenberg)
Jon Swan, of Dalton, founder of Save Forest Lake, speaks at a legislative hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Claire Sullivan | New Hampshire Bulletin)

When North Country advocate Wayne Morrison became involved in waste issues years ago, he thought about the immediate, visible impacts of a landfill: the mountain of trash, the noise, the scavenger birds, the traffic.

What wasnt on his mind was what he described as an invisible danger: leachate, or the so-called trash juice created when rain and snow mix with waste. Its a cocktail of heavy metals, toxins, (and) PFAS that the states landfills produce millions of gallons of each year, Morrison said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Failures at several landfills around the state to properly manage leachate  including one in the small, northern town of Bethlehem that racked up hundreds of violations within a year  have brought legislative attention to the issue. Through House Bill 566, a bipartisan group of lawmakers want to make permit applicants think harder about how theyll manage leachate, including after the closure of their proposed facilities.

I have come to learn that leachate is much greater risk to our health and our safety than that mountain of trash that we can all see very visibly, said Morrison, president of the North Country Alliance for Balanced Change, a citizen group focused on solid waste issues, in a hearing Tuesday on the bill.

Leachate is typically trucked or piped to wastewater treatment facilities, meaning its potential impact on public health and the environment isnt confined to the footprint of a landfill. Advocates have raised concerns about the further spread of the persistent class of man-made chemicals known as PFAS, which are linked to serious health effects, including some cancers. I am guessing that your constituents near those wastewater treatment plants have no idea whats being released, Morrison told lawmakers.

It also intersects with another environmental issue: climate change. Addressing leachate management has been made more pressing by frequent and intense storm events, said Rep. Nicholas Germana, the Keene Democrat leading the bill. Landfills are required by the state to keep leachate levels below 1 foot on their liners, a task made more difficult by extreme rainfall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state already requires landfills to make certain plans around the management of leachate. Operators must have at least two locations for leachate disposal; estimate how much leachate they will generate; and describe how leachate will be handled at the landfill before being shipped somewhere else for disposal, according to the Department of Environmental Services. They must also have procedures in place to bring down leachate levels to a foot or lower within a week of a 100-year storm event. Regulations also include details about on-site leachate management systems.

This bill seeks to create more comprehensive requirements for leachate management, including by making applicants plan for it in the post-closure life of their proposed landfills. It also would put the requirement for leachate plans into state law, rather than existing only in the agencys rules. That distinction can be meaningful, said Michael Wimsatt, director of DES solid waste management bureau.

I think what it really does is just puts the current practice into law, and in our experience with respect to doing compliance assurance and enforcement, having provisions directly in statute is powerful, Wimsatt said. You have to do it carefully, because you cant have statutes that are so lengthy and detailed that theyre going  to look like administrative rules, but for certain things, its nice to have that clear, explicit authority in the statute.

Wimsatt said the department was not taking a position on the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers questioned the bureau head on the departments enforcement of its rules around leachate. They pointed specifically to the Bethlehem landfill run by the Vermont-based company Casella Waste Systems, which the department found failed hundreds of times to keep leachate to its required levels and to file mandatory reports, data, and investigations with the state. These issues  as well as others at different facilities  were outlined in letters of deficiency the department sent to landfill operators last year.

One facility with significant violations related to keeping leachate to required levels was referred to the Department of Justice for enforcement, Wimsatt said without explicitly naming the facility. He indicated he was limited in his ability to speak further on the topic.

Public records show that Casella was preparing for a site visit from the DOJ and DES in September. In an October response to a public records request from the Bulletin, DES said it cannot comment on the purpose of this meeting and has no responsive documents to this request.

Wimsatt told lawmakers Tuesday that it disadvantages the states case whenever a state employee whos involved in enforcement discusses publicly the details of that case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Talking about enforcement generally, Wimsatt said there are provisions that allow applicants to request a waiver if they feel they cant comply with a specific rule. If certain criteria are met, the department may approve that request  but such waivers are granted sparingly, Wimsatt said. He said he doesnt believe the department has received any applications to waive leachate management rules, and that DES always endeavors to enforce all of its rules, including the leachate rules.

Natch Greyes, vice president of public policy for the Business & Industry Association, said the group opposed the bill and questioned whether it was necessary considering existing regulations on the issue.

Im not sure what this legislation adds to the regulatory framework, other than to freeze it in place, Greyes said.

That position would likely not change even following proposed changes to the bill that Germana described at the start of the hearing, Greyes said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawmaker said he planned to make several changes to the bill following conversations with officials at DES and the Turnkey landfill in Rochester run by Waste Management. For instance, he would seek to take out language that he said would require applicants to demonstrate they had contracts running 20 or 30 years into the future. Instead, Germana said, they would have to demonstrate a plan for managing the specifics laid out in the bill but not those long-term contracts.

Germana also said he would, at the suggestion of DES, seek an amendment to also include applications to expand existing landfills under the parameters of the bill.

He argued the bill does not in any way hamper innovation, and that it will allow facilities to adjust their leachate management practices as the industry develops, pointing specifically to evolutions around treating PFAS.

Tom Tower, vice president of the North Country Alliance for Balanced Change, urged lawmakers to prioritize the issue.

Every bill that comes before, you know, this committee is important  and Ive seen an awful lot of them over the years  but not all of them are urgent, he said. This one is urgent.
A man was shot and killed by a Travis County sheriff's deputy while holding a gun to a woman's head at a home in Northwest Austin, authorities said.

Travis County sheriff's office spokesperson Kristen Dark said deputies responded to a home in the 14200 block of FM 2769 at 4:17 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a 911 call from the man's son, who lives out of state, saying his father was holding his mother at gunpoint.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies heard cries for help and entered the home where a manwas found holding a gun to a womans head. After the suspect refused to put his gun down, a deputy shot him where he died on the scene, according to authorities. The woman was not injured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Texas Rangers are investigating, as well as, the Travis County sheriff's office. The deputy who shot the man has been placed on administrative leave as per standard practice in officer-involved shootings.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Travis sheriff: Deputy shoots, kills man threatening woman with gun
OCEAN RIDGE, Fla. (WFLA)  A tree trimmer died Tuesday after he got caught in a woodchipper while performing work around the town hall and police station of a small Florida beach town.

Ocean Ridge Town Manager Lynne Ladner told NBC affiliate WPTV a contracted vendor had been hired to trim the trees in the area. The crew reportedly went to work around 9 a.m.

Disabled, injured man trapped in bedroom gets saved from burning home

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Only about 30 minutes passed before tragedy struck. Officials said one of the workers went to put an object in the woodchipper but got caught in the machine and was pulled in headfirst.

Other members of the crew saw it happening, is my understanding, and immediately began responding, as did our staff and officers, Ladner said.

However, city officials said the person had already died from their injuries by the time police arrived. Ladner said no other individuals were injured, and the mans family will be notified.

According to Ladner, the small town has not experienced another work site accident of this level or any level in at least the last 10 to 15 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is a horrible loss of life, the town manager told WPTV.

OSHA was notified and responded to the scene. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue will also be providing grief counseling to town employees and vendor staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A primary target of the blitz of Trump administration immigration raids is an emerging organized crime group from Venezuela.

A series of immigration executive actions by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second term included a recommendation that the State Department start the process of designating the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as a foreign terrorist organization.

An executive order, signed on January 20, specifically named Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran MS-13 gang, citing their campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally as threats to the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere. Trumps order also asked that the terrorist designation apply to Mexicos drug cartels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The presidents designation comes months after the Biden administration, in July, designated Tren de Aragua a significant transnational criminal organization.

In the first week of the immigration crackdown, a suspect described by a senior law enforcement source as a high-ranking member of the gang was arrested by federal agents in New York City. The White House on X touted the arrest in Atlanta on Monday of two members of the gang illegally present in the U.S.

And prosecutors in New York City on Wednesday announced the indictment of 10 alleged members and associates on gun trafficking charges.

Heres what is known about Tren de Aragua:

Tentacles spread far beyond Venezuela

The criminal gang originated in a Venezuela prison and has slowly spread both north and south in recent years. It now operates in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The full scale of its operations is unknown. While the gang has principally focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants, it has also been linked to extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling, according to the US Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

For years, Tren de Aragua  also known as TdA  not only terrorized Venezuela but also countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Peru.

Retired Gen. Oscar Naranjo, a former vice president of Colombia and chief of the Colombian National Police, has called the gang the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America, a true challenge for the region, CNN has reported.

In Colombia, Tren de Aragua and a guerrilla group known as the National Liberation Army operate sex trafficking networks in the border town of Villa del Rosario and Norte de Santander, according to a US State Department 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report about Colombia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The criminal groups exploit Venezuelan migrants and displaced Colombians in sex trafficking, taking advantage of economic vulnerabilities and subjecting them to debt bondage, the report stated. Police in the region reported the organization has victimized thousands through extortion, drug and human trafficking, kidnapping and murder.

OFAC said Tren de Aragua members many times kill victims who try to escape and publicize their deaths as a threat to others.

As Tren de Aragua has expanded, it has opportunistically infiltrated local criminal economies in South America, established transnational financial operations, laundered funds through cryptocurrency, and formed ties with the U.S.-sanctioned Primeiro Comando da Capital, a notorious organized crime group in Brazil, according to OFAC.

A challenge for law enforcement officials is the difficulty knowing how many members of Tren de Aragua are already in the US. Some Venezuelan immigrants in Florida and other states have told CNN they are already beginning to see the same type of criminal activity they fled in Venezuela.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Insight Crime, a think tank dedicated to organized crime, said in October that Tren de Araguas reputation appears to have grown more quickly than its actual presence in the United States.

Additionally, there is no evidence, thus far, of cells in the United States cooperating with one another or with other criminal groups, according to Insight Crime. Authorities have also not revealed any proof of criminals receiving specific instructions from the organizations leadership or sending money to Venezuela or other foreign countries.

Gang has railway union and prison origins

Police stand guard in the Tocoron prison in Venezuela on September 23, 2023. The bosses of the Tren de Aragua gang controlled the prison, according to a report by Transparency Venezuela. - Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

Tren de Aragua adopted its name between 2013 and 2015 but its operations predate that, according to a report by Transparency Venezuela.

It has its origin in the unions of workers who worked on the construction of a railway project that would connect the center-west of the country and that was never completed in both Aragua and Carabobo states, according to the report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The gangs leaders operated out of the notorious Tocoron prison, which they controlled, the report said. When Venezuelan officials raided the prison in September 2023, they found a swimming pool and several restaurants inside, along with a cache of weapons controlled by inmates, including automatic rifles, machine guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Venezuelan authorities say they have dismantled the leadership of Tren de Aragua and freed Tocoron prison, one of the largest in the country, from the control of its members.

Adam Isaacson, director of defense oversight at the human rights advocacy group Washington Office on Latin America, told CNN last week US sanctions on Tren de Aragua will likely have little effect on the groups day-to-day operations.

For the members of the groups themselves, the penalties dont change very much, though prosecutors may be more energetic in getting the maximum sentence for you and there could be less room for plea-bargaining, he said via email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Penalties and rewards are similar. It may make it easier to devote more US intelligence and defense resources to pursuing them, though.

Establishing a footprint across the border

US Customs and Border Protection as well as the FBI have said the gang is established in the US.

They have followed the migration paths across South America to other countries and have set up criminal groups throughout South America as they follow those paths, and that they appear to follow the migration north to the United States, said Britton Boyd, an FBI special agent in El Paso, Texas, CNN previously reported.

In December, a married couple was kidnapped by a group of undocumented migrants in their Aurora, Colorado, apartment complex. Police said they were bound, beaten and pistol-whipped. Several suspects were identified as Tren de Aragua members, according to Police Chief Todd Chamberlain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man arrested by federal agents in New York was among five suspects in custody in the investigation into crimes involving the citys migrant community, Aurora police said in a statement Tuesday.

In September, Trump seized on rumors that Tren de Aragua had been running amok in Aurora and terrorizing a handful of apartment buildings. Trump described the city as a harbinger of what unchecked migration could mean for America. But Aurora police said gang influence was isolated, and the city countered that the real problem had been abusive housing conditions.

TdA has not taken over the city, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Member Danielle Jurinsky said in a joint statement at the time.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CNNs Belisa Morillo, Laura Weffer, Jaide Timm-Garcia, Mark Morales, Gloria Pazmino and Stefano Pozzebon contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SHACKLEFORD COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- A high-speed chase through three counties led to a 3-hour manhunt in Albany on Tuesday. The incident came to a close around 3 p.m. following a gunfight, an attempt to run down a deputy, two spike strip deployments, a school lockdown, and massive search efforts by multiple states and big country law enforcement agencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was a perfect day. Nobody got hurt. and the bad guy went to jail. Said Shackleford County Sheriff Edward Miller.

Michael Zachery Haley mugshot courtesy, Shackleford County Jail

37-year-old Michael Zachery Haley of Baird was taken into custody Tuesday regarding the incident. He is currently held in the Shackleford County Jail on four counts of Criminal attempt Capital Murder of a Peace Officer or Fireman. Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Marc Couch told KTAB/KRBC that this is not Haleys first run-in with the law.

The suspect is known to law enforcement, and we know who the person is. Couch said.

According to Couch, the chase began in the Abilene area. Haley was driving a stolen 2001 Ford Ranger that had been spray-painted grey and blue, and the front license plate was also covered in spray paint.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just after Noon, Callahan County law enforcement called the Shackleford County Sheriffs Office to inform them that the chase was headed toward Albany. Haley led officers north on U.S. Highway 283 at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour. Sheriff Miller says a couple of his deputies were dispatched to assist. Shortly after being dispatched, a spike strip was deployed along 283 at the intersection of County Road 162.

We took out one of the tires, but that didnt slow our bad guy down. He just kept going. Speeds right at 100 miles per hour. Said Miller.

At some point after the first spike strip was deployed, Miller says Haley fired a pistol at the pursuing officers behind him. One bullet struck the windshield of a Shackelford County Sheriffs Office patrol vehicle. That bullet, assumed to be a 12-gauge, made contact with the windshield but did not penetrate the surface, bouncing off, and no officers were harmed.

These are not bulletproof windshieldsIf youll notice the trajectory of the break right, there would have been right through the left shoulder of the deputy driving. Miller told KTAB/KRBC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before the chase entered Albany city limits, a second spike strip was deployed around U.S. 283 and Albany Lake Road. Miller says it was at this point that Haley attempted to run down an Albany Police Officer while still traveling around 100 mph.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Albany city Police Department was staged there to try to spike again. Our suspect centered on him and tried to hit him to avoid the spikesWhen the suspect veered and went directly to the officer, he took cover behind his vehicle. Our suspect then turned off and continued toward town. Said Miller.

Neither of the spike strips was able to stop Haley, and the chase then entered Albany City limits. Miller says Haleys vehicle hit a dip in the road where Baird Street, which leads directly off 283, intersects with U.S. 180. On Baird Street, Haley crashed and fled the vehicle on foot.

He came down Baird Street, the street right next to the sheriffs office here, and went across U.S. 180. He was basically airborne when he went across and then touched down just the other side of the gun shop on Baird Street. And then continued on about another 200 yards before he crashed. Miller explained.

Upon exiting the truck, Haley again opened fire on law enforcement; Miller says a short gun battle ensued, in which neither Haley nor any officers or bystanders were hit. Following that exchange, Haley fled on foot into a nearby wooded area west of town. It was just before 1 p.m. that the manhunt began. Miller called the nearby schools on a soft lockdown until the all-clear could be given.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We sure didnt want somebody being able to take refuge in one of our schools. Said Miller.

Albany resident Tiffany Waddell was homeschooling her children just a few blocks from that scene. She stated she had heard the gunshots but was not aware of the incident taking place until a few moments later.

Were in rural America, so you hear gunshots pretty regularly. You know youll hear people hunting, so yknow, I didnt think anything of it until somebody made the post about it. Waddell said.

It was not until she checked social media and contacted fellow residents that she was aware of the danger. At the suggestion of a local law enforcement official, she and her three young boys locked all of their doors and went upstairs to a small reading nook closet to shelter in place until told otherwise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We were doing math and reading right before that, and then I came back in. I was like, okay, guys, we need to get somewhereThe boys were a little bit afraid of, whats gonna happen if they dont find him? Well go about our lives the best we can and stay in the house, maybe. Said Waddell.

For the next three hours, the Shackelford County Sheriffs Office, Abilene Police Department SWAT team, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, Stephens County Sheriffs Office, Callahan County Sheriffs Office, Throckmorton County Sheriffs Office, Shackelford County Sheriffs Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Albany Fire Department and EMS conducted a massive search effort which included multiple drones and helicopters.

Haley was spotted by a Shackelford County Deputy about a mile west of town near One Mile Road. He was taken into custody without incident. Miller says two pistols, a shotgun, and an illicit substance were all recovered from the vehicle Haley was driving. The substance is currently being tested for confirmation, but it is expected to be Methamphetamine. It is not officially known if Haley was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol during the altercation.

As stated at the beginning of this article, Haley is being held in the Shackleford County jail on four counts of Criminal attempt Capital Murder of a Peace Officer or Fireman. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, who has been in Tihar Jail in connection with the Jammu and Kashmir terror-funding case, on Wednesday approached the Delhi High Court for seeking interim bail to attend the Parliament's Budget session starting from January 31. He is seeking interim bail from January 31 to April 5, aligning with the Parliament's session schedule. The first part of the Parliament's Budget session will begin on January 31, with the Union Budget scheduled for February 1, and will conclude on February 13. The second part of the session is set to commence on March 10 and will conclude on April 5, 2024. His legal team confirmed that the High Court will hear his fresh interim bail plea along with his earlier pending plea on Thursday. Recently, the Delhi High Court issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the Engineer's plea which sought directions from the High Court to the trial court judge to expedite a decision on his pending regular bail application, or to adjudicate the matter. Engineer has moved the High Court after Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh, the special judge assigned to NIA cases, declined to rule on his bail application on December 23. The judge stated that the court only had the authority to hear miscellaneous applications, not bail petitions. Previously, the district judge returned the case to the ASJ court after a request from the ASJ for the matter to be transferred to a designated court for lawmakers, given Rashid Engineer's status as an MP. This transfer request was made with the consent of both the accused and the prosecuting agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The district judge's decision came after noting that the issue of court jurisdiction was still pending before the Delhi High Court. Until the High Court rules on jurisdiction, the ASJ court will continue to hear the case. Both Rashid's counsel and the NIA had agreed to keep the matter in the current court. In addition to the NIA's case, the special judge had suggested moving a related money laundering case and Rashid's regular bail application to the court designated for lawmakers. Engineer Rashid, has recently surrendered at Tihar Jail after his interim bail expired. This is related to the 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case currently being investigated by the NIA. Rashid was arrested in August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During his incarceration, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 204,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In 2022, the NIA Court of Patiala House Court ordered the framing of charges against Rashid Engineer and several other key figures, including Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Masrat Alam, Zahoor Ahmed Watali, Bitta Karate, Aftab Ahmed Shah, Avtar Ahmed Shah, Naeem Khan, and Bashir Ahmed Butt (also known as Peer Saifullah). The charges are part of an ongoing investigation into terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleges that various militant organizations, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and JKLF, collaborated with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, to orchestrate attacks on civilians and security forces in the region. The NIA's investigation claims that in 1993, the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was formed to further separatist activities, with funding channelled through hawala and other covert methods. Hafiz Saeed, along with Hurriyat leaders, is accused of using these illicit funds to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting security forces, inciting violence, burning schools, and damaging public property. The agency contends that these operations were designed to destabilise the region and promote terrorism under the guise of political resistance. (ANI)
SCRANTON  Tommy Trotta testified Wednesday law enforcement officers had a nickname for him while he was cooperating with them. They called him Danger.

Trotta told defense attorney Gino Bartolai he suggested the name himself.

When Bartolai, representing Nicholas Dombek, addressed him by the name during questioning, Trotta quickly responded, My name is Tommy.

The exchange was part of Trottas cross examination after he testified against four alleged co-conspirators earlier this week, providing a description of a ring of thieves which operated for nearly two decades

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He testified against Dombek, Damien Boland, and brothers Alfred and Joseph Atsus, indicted for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of objects of cultural heritage and interstate transportation of stolen property. All four pleaded not guilty and are on trial in U.S. District Court in Scranton.

He testified for the prosecution earlier this week Dombek and others accompanied him to several museums and historical sites first to case the joint for future crimes including the Everhart Museum and Ringwood Manor, Ringwood, New Jersey.

Trotta has not yet been sentenced on a federal felony charge of theft of major artwork, for which he faces a ten year maximum sentence.

When Bartolai asked if his cooperation with law enforcement and testimony against his friends was his forty pieces of silver, Trotta said: Ten years aint no joke,

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What you did was no joke, Bartolai said.

Four other Lackawanna County residents  Dawn Trotta, Frank Tassiello, Daryl Rinker and Ralph Parry  were charged for their respective roles in the case and pleaded guilty, in addition to Tommy Trotta. Rinker died in April. They are awaiting sentencing.

Nuking a ring cam

Matt Clemente, lawyer for ring suspect Damien Boland, cross examined Trotta next, echoing Bartolais questions regarding Trottas motivation and character.

Clemente talked Trotta through a late January evening in 2023 which found Trotta out for an evening of partying.

Trotta testified he was drinking heavily at a Dunmore bar. He was drinking with a woman he just met, who was drinking even more heavily than he.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman had a problem with her hip, so Trotta said he agreed to get her home safely.

When he got there, he took her inside and she passed out. So, he started looking around the house for something he could steal.

He eventually took cash, gift cards and jewelry from the womans home.

But, what Trotta hadnt expected was a Ring cam in the residence.

When he saw it, he panicked.

His solution was to retrieve it, put it in the microwave, hoping to scramble the recording, and put it back on the wall.

That charge ended him back in jail, having violated the terms of a previous release.

The case was eventually dropped after a payment of $7,500 to the victim.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clemente asked Trotta if he was a professional thief.

Trotta responded, I dont know if Im a professional, but I am a thief.

Clemente continued, Are you also a liar?

Trotta said: When youre a thief youre a liar.

His friends and he even lied to wives and girlfriends about the source of their livelihood.

This was our life for 20 years, he said. It was absolutely a lifestyle.

The trial continues Wednesday afternoon.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The City of Trotwoods annual Black History Month Expression Contest returns.

According to a press release, the city is looking for submissions in music, visual arts and performance to celebrate Black History Month.

Students in grades 3-12, from all schools within the city are eligible and encouraged to submit an original piece based off the following theme: African-Americans and Labor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As submissions are gathered, they will be categorized into three groups: grades 3-5, grade 6-8 and grade 9-12. Each group will feature three winners.

Insomnia Cookies opening location near Wright State

First place winners will receive $75, second place winners will earn $50 and third place winners will take home $25.

Submissions must be emailed to Charles Wheeler III, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator, by Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. These pieces should include the students name, grade, school and parents contact information.

Email submissions to chwheeler@trotwood.org and contact Wheeler with any questions about the contest by calling 937-854-7228.

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 WDTN.com.
Chinas cyber targeting took a dangerous turn in 2024. No longer content with espionage, Beijing has started laying the foundation for destructive cyberattacks on American networks. And yet, the new Trump administration is renewing an effort to break apart its greatest asset for counterstriking: the dual hat arrangement between U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Under this arrangement, one individual simultaneously serves as military cyber commander under the Defense Department and the nations top signals intelligence chief. Splitting this leadership structure would greatly damage U.S. cyber effectiveness.

Having one individual responsible and accountable for both USCYBERCOM and the NSA has been the United States most critical advantage in cyberspace. Although this setup predates the 2010 creation of USCYBERCOM by six years, the military commands formal establishment spurred debates over separating organizational leadership. Many talking points against a dual hat have not changed, and the Trump administration seems set on moving forward with an outdated view.

Operating in cyberspace is far more complex than it once was. Fighting todays digital threats requires the fluid setting and resetting of network security through continuous cyber operations to sustain long-term initiative. In this environment of persistent engagement, the technical and operational requirements for military and intelligence efforts have largely converged. With similar lines of code used for network access and exploiting vulnerabilities, intelligence collection has become nearly indistinguishable from planting disruptive malware. Adversaries have long recognized this by blending military and intelligence activities in cyberspace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Increased alignment between USCYBERCOM and the NSA also marks a significant change, and the dual hat has evolved to manage the resulting synergy. When USCYBERCOM initially gained footing, the arrangement managed the militarys reliance on the NSA and capability borrowing (i.e., vulnerabilities, exploits, and personnel) across organizations to meet separate operating pictures. That relationship looks very different today. The dual hat now balances overlapping resource requirements and the intermingling of military disruption with secretive intelligence collection. As USCYBERCOM and the NSA have become more symbiotic, the dual hat has adapted to leverage operational integration and enhance the organizations independent and joint effectiveness.

In grappling with these changes, dual-hatted leadership has created inter-organizational processes to increase effectiveness in cyberspace. For example, the Integrated Cyber Center and Joint Operations Center (ICC/JOC) launched in 2018 literally broke down walls. Previously, NSA and USCYBERCOM had operations centers in different classified rooms physically separated by a secure door. The ICC/JOC introduced a common operations floor with dedicated spaces for USCYBERCOM and NSA personnel. By eliminating barriers, the ICC/JOC created more communication at the operator level to achieve greater awareness, speed and impact.

Operational success has followed organizational change. Leveraging enhanced coordination from unified leadership, the joint USCYBERCOM-NSA Election Security Group task force has effectively combatted foreign interference in U.S. elections. Formed in 2020, it grew directly out of the dual hats Russia Small Group that disrupted Russian cyber meddling during the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Pooling resources for greater impact, while advocating for and protecting the distinct contributions of USCYBERCOM and the NSA, would be far more difficult under split leadership.

Separate leaders risk prioritizing their own organizational outcomes at the expense of operational speed and combined effectiveness. It is true that the dual hat does not eliminate all interagency competition over cyber operations. For instance, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) delayed USCYBERCOMs 2016 offensive against the Islamic State with objections over the militarys interagency reporting and update requirements. The CIA and USCYBERCOM had already agreed on communication measures, so the delay was really about preserving bureaucratic influence. But it is equally true that, because the preponderance of cyber operations originates from Fort Meade, centralized authority preserves speed by preventing turf disputes and operational delays between independent USCYBERCOM and NSA heads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without the dual hat, USCYBERCOM-NSA coordination and dispute resolution become more cumbersome and subject to an unpredictable working relationship between chiefs with differing ranks. A four-star officer must lead USCYBERCOM; the NSA only requires a three-star chief. Currently, one four-star commander reports to both the defense secretary (as USCYBERCOM commander) and to the national intelligence director (as NSA director). With both military and intelligence roles, the dual hat efficiently balances tradeoffs in cyber operations while subjecting NSA activities to the law of armed conflict. With two different leaders, disputes would escalate to the White House for resolution, and the NSA faces greater risks of politicization in the process. A return to laborious interagency reviews would also negate the legacy of the first Trump administration, which reduced decision times for cyber operations.

The cost of splitting USCYBERCOM-NSA leadership would also create a nightmare for the Trump White House. Cyber Command lacks sufficient resources to operate fully independently from the NSA. Dividing authority will require duplicated efforts for USCYBERCOM to secure its own cyber resources in an already resource-scarce environment. Duplication would be particularly costly given declining budgets and spending power that demand better use of existing resources. It would also be a significant misstep for an administration focused on greater government efficiency.

Unwinding Americas military-intelligence leadership for cyber operations would be a gift to hackers in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang. These adversaries will not wait for the U.S. to devise a new bureaucratic architecture. Instead, the new administration should build on the success of the dual hat. It has aligned USCYBERCOM and NSA effectiveness for combined impact with a unity of effort crucial for achieving the operational speed and scale needed to secure U.S. interests in cyberspace. The dual hat has been a defining feature of U.S. cyber operations, not a bug. The Trump administration should be wary of throwing away another 20 years of USCYBERCOM-NSA success.

Jason Blessing, Ph.D., is a research analyst at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. His research expertise focuses on cybersecurity as well as international partnerships. All views are his own and do not represent the views of the Institute. Follow him on LinkedIn and on X/Twitter @JasonABlessing.
Donald Trumps 27-year-old press secretary announced the US was halting shipments of condoms to Gaza during her first new-look White House briefing.

Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the briefings will no longer be reserved for members of the legacy media, but will be opened up to TikTokers, social media influencers and podcasters.

Ms Leavitt briefed reporters that the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) and the White House Office for Management and Budget (OMB) found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So thats what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars, she said.

The Trump administration has also blocked a pending payment of $37 million to the World Health Organisation. On his first day in office, the president signed an executive order cutting ties with the body.

Ms Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in history - AFP

Not yet 30, Ms Leavitt is the youngest person in history to hold the role of press secretary  two years younger than Richard Nixons press secretary Ron Ziegler was when he was appointed in 1969.

Ms Leavitt promised to open up seats beside her podium to new media voices, with Breitbart, a far-Right news outlet, given a space at the inaugural briefing of Mr Trumps second term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added that independent journalists, podcasters and social media influencers would be welcomed at future briefings, and suggested journalists who lost their White House press passes during Joe Bidens presidency could have their access returned.

One newly invited member of the press thanked Ms Leavitt for giving voices to media outlets that represent millions and millions of Americans.

In a swipe at traditional media outlets, Ms Leavitt promised to call you out for reporting misinformation.

Ms Leavitt opened up the briefing to those from non-traditional media such as podcasters and influencers - JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The comments will raise fears that access to White House briefings could be withdrawn for journalists whose coverage reflects badly on the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the White House issued a memo temporarily suspending federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs for domestic executive departments.

Matthew Vaeth, the OMB acting director, said in the document that federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.

It fuelled concerns of a sweeping ban on all federal assistance, including social security and medicare.

Ms Leavitt told reporters it was not a blanket pause but designed to ensure federal spending aligned with the priorities of the American people.

Ms Leavitt said she would call out anyone reporting misinformation - JIM LO SCALZO

Despite her insistence that Medicaid payments would not be affected, state programmes across the country reported they had been blocked from accessing the online portals that provide them with federal funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Late on Tuesday, a US judge temporarily blocked Mr Trumps plans to pause federal loans, grants and other financial assistance, handing a win to advocacy groups who said the policy would have a devastating impact.

US District Judge Loren AliKhan stayed the slashing of funding to existing programmes until at least Feb 3, in a bid to maintain the status quo following an 11th-hour legal challenge from opponents.

It marks the second time a federal judge has intervened to block Mr Trumps policy agenda since he returned to office, after a judge ruled last week that his plans to end birthright citizenship are blatantly unconstitutional.

Ms Leavitt speaks at the White House Press Briefing room for the first time - AP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new press secretary took aim at the previous administrations spending on climate protections, which she called the green new scam, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

In practice, Ms Leavitt said the pause would mean no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness.

President Trump is looking out for you by issuing this pause because he is being a good steward of your taxpayer dollars, she said.

Elsewhere, Ms Leavitt said the New Jersey drone sightings which triggered widespread conspiracies in December last year were authorised and not the enemy.

After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorised to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons, Ms Leavitt said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added that many of the drones were hobbyists and that the situation got worse due to curiosity.

The drone sightings caused widespread speculation about foreign interference.

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 Trump administration has reportedly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to make at least 75 arrests every day at each of the agencys 25 field offices.

Senior ICE officials have been told by President Donald Trumps team to aggressively ramp up their efforts from a few hundred every day to at least 1,200 to 1,500 nationally as the administration carries out his anti-immigration agenda, according to the Washington Post.

The quotas were given to officials over the weekend as Trump is said to be disappointed with the results so far, four people with knowledge of the briefings told the Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Managers would be held to account if those targets are missed, the paper reports.

Since Trump took office, ICE has been posting the daily arrest figures on social media. On Sunday, the agency said there were 956 arrests and 554 detainees lodged nationwide and on Monday the number had increased to 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers lodged.

ICE officials have reportedly been told to ramp up their efforts and have a new daily arrests target, according to a reporte (via REUTERS)

There were 969 arrests and 869 detainers lodged on Tuesday, according to ICE.

The Independent has contacted ICE for comment.

ICE has field offices in regions across the nation including Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, San Diego and Tampa Bay.

During the last fiscal year, ICE had conducted 113,431 administrative arrests which amounts to about 310 arrests a day across its field officers, CNN reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Communities around the country are reporting an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, as federal immigration agents carry out Trumps goal of conducting the largest mass deportations in U.S. history.

Over the weekend, federal law enforcement agents and administration officials carried out a series of immigration arrests in Chicago.

Kristi Noem joined federal agents in New York this week to announce the arrests of immigrants wanted on criminal charges (@Sec_Noem via REUTERS)

A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement labeled the actions enhanced targeted operations designed to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.

Tom Homan, Trumps immigration czar, said that the administration is in the beginning stages of carrying out the mass deportation action. He warned that there would be more arrests nationwide to come.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined federal agents in New York City this week to announce the arrests of immigrants wanted on criminal charges.

Arresting some criminal aliens this morning in NYC  thank you to the brave officers involved, Noem posted on X. Criminal alien with kidnapping, assault & burglary charges is now in custody  thanks to @ICE. Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets.
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

A fact sheet on the order promises "immediate action" by the Justice Department to prosecute "terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews" and marshal all federal resources to combat what it called "the explosion of antisemitism on our campuses and streets" since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you," Trump said in the fact sheet.

"I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before," the president said, echoing a 2024 campaign promise.

Rights groups and legal scholars said the new measure would violate constitutional free speech rights and would likely draw legal challenges.

"The First Amendment protects everyone in the United States, including foreign citizens studying at American universities," said Carrie DeCell, senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. "Deporting non-citizens on the basis of their political speech would be unconstitutional."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a large Muslim advocacy group, said it would consider challenging the order in court if Trump tried to implement it.

The Hamas attacks and the subsequent Israeli assault on the Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza led to several months of pro-Palestinian protests that roiled U.S. college campuses. Civil rights groups documented a surge in hate crimes and incidents directed at Jews, Muslims, Arabs and other people of Middle Eastern descent.

The order requires agency and department leaders to provide the White House with recommendations within 60 days on all criminal and civil authorities that could be used to fight antisemitism, according to the fact sheet.

It calls for an inventory and analysis of all court cases involving K-12 schools, colleges and universities and alleged civil rights violations associated with pro-Palestinian campus protests, potentially leading to actions to remove "alien students and staff."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many pro-Palestinian protesters denied supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic acts, saying they were demonstrating against Israel's military assault on Gaza, where health authorities say more than 47,000 people have been killed.

Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, a nonpartisan civil rights group, said the group was deeply troubled by the apparent conflation of criticism of Israel with alleged antisemitism. Berry said the order would have a chilling effect on free speech across the U.S.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Daniel Wallis, Deepa Babington and David Gregorio)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Trump administration is defending their decision to freeze federal aid. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says Social Security, Medicare and SNAP are not impacted.

It is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, Leavitt said.

The memo ordering the freeze calls for a review of funds to ensure they comply with President Donald Trumps executive orders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It means no more funding for illegal DEI programs. It means no more funding for the Green New scam that has cost American taxpayers, tens of billions of dollars. It means no more funding for transgenderism, Leavitt said.

The move could have a widespread impact on health care research, education programs and meal assistance.

Lawmakers are scrambling to figure out what the funding freeze would mean for their constituents.

This is a dagger at the heart of the average American family in red states, in blue states, in cities, in suburbs, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Sen. Schumer and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) say the congressionally approved investments are not optional, theyre law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think its outrageous. I hope that my Republican colleagues, who often talked in the last administration about overreach from the Biden administration, will not change their tune, Sen. Warner said.

A group of nonprofits have already filed a lawsuit, and more are expected.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A federal freeze on loans and grants announced this week by the Donald Trump administration has numerous agencies and programs on alert, including head start programs in Chicago.

One of those organizations is El Valor  a key part of Chicagos Latino community for more than five decades.

El Valors Executive Director, Jillian Gonzalez, originally planned to spend her week in Washington D.C., hoping to secure funding for Head Start programs in the city. Instead, those dollars were taken away overnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gonzalez said she has no idea what to do next, and neither do an estimated 700 sites in Cook County that run Head Start programs and rely on federal funding.

We logged in this morning to go ahead and draw down on funds for expenditures weve already made, and the system is now saying its timed out or down, Gonzalez said. In the announcement that was made yesterday, I was told that we would have until 5 p.m. today and thats obviously not the case.

All of this stems from the Trump administrations attempt to freeze federal loans and grants as a way to review federal spending. According to the administration, payments to individuals wont be interrupted, but they offered no other clarity for agencies and non-profit organizations like El Valor and others like them.

More info: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This has never happened before. Ive been at El Valor for 11 years through various administration changes, both locally and on the federal level, Gonzalez said. Even in times where interest didnt align, weve never been concerned about actually receiving payment for services we provided.

El Valor is instrumental in providing childcare to some of Chicagos largest Latino communities, from Pilsen to Little Village and out to Berwyn, causing struggling neighborhoods to worry whats next under a Trump administration.

Were concerned at El Valor. We provide services to 3,000 children and their families, Gonzalez said. That includes meals for these children daily. It includes mental health services. It includes onsite daycare so, if we cant continue operating without funding, that means families in the community lose access to all of this.

Its just a shame that, on top of everything else the organization is dealing with on a daily basis, we are now also left with, when will we get paid?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to El Valor, they received a letter Tuesday afternoon stating their funding, along with other head start programs, would not be affected. Within an hour of receiving said letter, their payment portal came back online. It is unclear what triggered the website to be reactivated.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
There are questions about how the federal funding freeze could affect Georgias Rivian plant which was awarded billions in funding in the final days of the Biden administration.

Trump issued that pause in federal loans overnight.

Most people Channel 2s Richard Elliot spoke with on Tuesday said they are pretty sure that includes the Rivian loan because it was already in the sights of some in his administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elliot said he also heard a lot of confusion over the massive project moving forward.

Rivian is already one of the largest economic development projects in Georgia history, promising to bring 7,500 jobs to the state.

Lawmakers on both sides worked to help the electric vehicle maker move past its recent economic troubles which forced it to halt construction on its site east of Atlanta.

Rivian secured a $6.6 billion loan it said would help it restart construction on that plant.

But Monday night, Trump issued an executive order pausing all federal loans and grants throwing the loan to Rivian in question.

RELATED STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday, Georgia lawmakers scrambled to understand the order and its impact on Rivian.

Sen. Jon Ossoff called the order an erratic decision.

The presidents suspension of federal grants for Georgia threatens chaos, Ossoff said.

The Rivian megasite is in Covington, which is Republican lawmaker Tim Flemings House district.

While supporting Trumps order, he said Well see how this affects Rivian and their plans for their Georgia facility in social circle.

Rivian itself issued a statement sidestepping the executive order but reaffirming its commitment to Georgia.

Were working hard to onshore US manufacturing, providing thousands of American jobs here in Georgia, the company said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was no comment from the governors office on Tuesday, but House Minority Whip Sam Park said the order is an example of the chaos coming from the Trump administration.

Unfortunately, this is seemingly a shock and awe campaign thats going to disrupt and likely hurt our economy and hurt Georgia businesses and families, Park said.

At a news conference late Tuesday afternoon, the Trump administration appeared to be walking back the order saying its not a blanket pause.

At the same time, some in the Trump administration have targeted that loan to Rivian for closer examination.




Andrew Kloster, who once proclaimed online he is a raging misogynist, is now the general counsel for the Office of Personnel Management, an entity that oversees more than 2 million civilian federal workers.

Kloster described himself as a misogynist on X, formerly Twitter, in February 2023 when replying to a user who said, women love a sprinkle of misogyny in a man. He wrote: Im 100% women respecter precisely because Im a raging misogynist. Im so kind youll want to kill yourself and die, which is the goal.

The Daily Beast reported in 2023 on other posts Kloster made on social media that the site archived before he deleted them. Kloster wrote that slavery was voluntary saying, (1) slaves did everything (2) white ppl didnt free the slaves. Conclusion: slavery was voluntary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kloster served as a deputy general counsel at the Office of Personnel Management during President Donald Trumps first term. His return to the agency was first reported Wednesday by public corruption watchdog Project On Government Oversight.

Neither Kloster nor the OPM immediately returned a request for comment to HuffPost on Wednesday.

Brandon Brockmyer, the director of investigations and research at POGO told HuffPost Wednesday that it was fundamental to democratic accountability to pull back the curtain on who is serving in high-level government offices.

Mr. Klosters history of controversial and public statements is directly relevant to the profound responsibilities he has at a powerful federal agency, Brockmyer said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kloster slid into the role of general counsel just last week as a slew of hiring, firing and funding freeze memos and directivesfrom the new Trump administration started flowing in. As HuffPost reported Tuesday, federal workers are currently being targeted with questions by the Trump administration, including asking them to explain whether any of their grants, loans or other financial aid is being used to engage in DEI programs, support or promote abortion or if their services assist immigrants.

In part of his responsibilities as general counsel, Kloster is tasked with helping to interpret and create rules that cover everything from how federal workers are protected in the workplace to how a government workers personal political activities should be regulated.

Before this return, Kloster was general counsel for the now-former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who came under federal and congressional investigation over alleged illicit activities. The Justice Department declined to press charges after a sex-trafficking investigation into the former lawmaker, but the House Ethics Committee issued a public report in December stating that it found substantial evidence Gaetz paid for sex, had sex with a 17-year-old girl and purchased illegal drugs while serving in Congress. Gaetz has strongly denied all of these claims.

The uber-conservative Federalist Society has Kloster listed as a contributor and describes him in a site biography as a long-time fixture of the conservative movement before also lauding his credentials: Kloster served as an associate director to the White House Office of Presidential Personnel under the first Trump administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kloster, as The Associated Press reported in 2021, was a proponent of Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen in Wisconsin and was tapped to investigate the states election processes.

Kloster also was a legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, the same group that helped shape the second Trump administrations Project 2025 agenda. This week, metadata first reported by Citation Needed revealed the authors of at least two memos sent to federal workers mandating hiring and firing freezes and other disruptive directives were ghostwritten by onetime Heritage Foundation employees. (One of those authors was attorney Noah Peters; he once represented white nationalist Jared Taylor, the founder of the New Century Foundation, which is recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group that promotes pseudo-scientific studies and research that purport to show the inferiority of blacks to whites.)

As for Kloster, according to public district court records in Maryland from 2022, the new general counsel in charge of the federal governments human resources wing was once involved in a domestic violence dispute.

Public records show he had a temporary restraining order requested against him that August with requests for several restrictions, including that he surrender firearms and stay away from certain residences and workplaces. A hearing on the temporary restraining order was held and the request was dismissed with stipulated temporary agreement.

An attorney who represented Kloster in that case did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Best Marching Contingent among Services was backed by Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Contingent, while the Best Marching Contingent among CAPFs/other auxiliary forces was won by Delhi Police Marching Contingent.

Three panels of judges were constituted to assess the performance of Marching Contingents from the Services & Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories (UTs) & Ministries/Departments of the Central Government.

Tripura's 'Eternal Reverence: The Worship of 14 Deities in Tripura - Kharchi Puja' won the second prize among the top three tableaux, while Andhra Pradesh's tableau Etikoppaka Bommalu - Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys won the third prize.

Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments went to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh)

Central Public Works Department (75 years of Constitution of India) and 'Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam' Dance Group won the Special Prize.

Meanwhile, an online poll was also conducted on the MyGov portal from January 26 to 28, 2025 for the citizens to vote for their favourite tableau and Marching Contingents as 'Popular Choice Category.

Under this, the Best Marching Contingent among Services went to Signals Contingent and the Best Marching Contingent among CAPFs/other auxiliary Forces was won by CRPF Marching Contingent.

In the Popular Choice Category, the best Tableaux was won by Gujarat (Swarnim Bharat: Virasat Aur Vikas). Uttar Pradesh's Tableaux (Mahakumbh 2025 - Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas) won the second prize. The third prize was backed by Uttarakhand for the Tableaux 'Uttarakhand: Cultural Heritage and Adventure Sports',

The best tableau from Central Ministries/Departments went to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (Multifaceted journey of women and children nurtured under the Ministry's comprehensive schemes). (ANI)
Federal workers who dont want to return to the office are being offered buyouts, according to a memo posted to the US Office of Personnel Managements website Tuesday night.

CNN previously reported the buyout offers were expected, according to a Trump administration official and an OPM spokesperson.

The administration has ordered federal workers, many of whom had flexible work arrangements following the pandemic, back to the office to work in person. Workers who accept the buyout will need to resign by February 6 and would receive severance paid through September 30.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal agency heads were told within the last day that this would be coming, the official said.

The memo outlining the new policy states that the agency emailed federal employees on January 28, 2025 presenting a deferred resignation offer.

The email was sent from hr1@opm.gov using the Trump administrations new mass email system.

The email said, The President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Employees who do not take a buyout cannot be given full assurance regarding the certainty of their position or agency, the email continued, but should their job be eliminated, they will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

Employees have until February 6 to sign up for the buyout program.

If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason), the email outlines.

Folks are variously stunned, pissed, baffled and a bit scared, one federal employee who received the email told CNN.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All employees across the federal government are being offered to go on what the OPM spokesperson described as paid administrative leave. The Trump administration argues the move could be an off-ramp for federal employees who do not want to return to the office full time, but any government employee can take the buyout, the OPM spokesperson said.

However, there are some exceptions to the buyouts: Postal workers, members of the military, immigration officials, certain national security roles that the administration wouldnt specify and any other role that agencies deem as being necessary will not be able to opt in, the sources said.

Axios was first to report on the buyouts.

Tuesdays email to federal employees also noted the move to create a more streamlined and flexible workforce is likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees. CNN previously reported Donald Trumps plan to reclassify tens of thousands of civil service workers as at-will employees would make it much easier to fire them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a separate memo providing guidance on the buyouts, OPM asked agency heads to provide information every week through September 30 on the number of workers who are resigning and retiring.

Fork in the Road

The subject line of the email to federal employees was Fork in the Road, the same subject line of an ultimatum message Elon Musk sent to his employees at Twitter in 2022. On the campaign trail, Musk frequently talked about downsizing the federal government. He has played an integral part in the rollout of the federal government buyout, an official told CNN, through his position leading the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration.

We will reduce a lot of government headcount, but were going to give very long severances, Musk told a Philadelphia rally in October. Like two years, or something like that.

The offer extended to federal employees Tuesday fell far short of that time period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move comes as the Trump administration tightens its grip on the federal bureaucracy, which the president has long characterized as the deep state and vowed to dismantle.

Soon after he was inaugurated, Trump ordered federal agencies to require employees to return to the office full time and signed an order aimed at weakening federal employee protections. He also ordered agencies to work to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices and positions within 60 days and ended the use of DEI in hiring and federal contracting.

The orders have alarmed federal workers and the unions that represent them, leaving employees worried about their jobs and their ability to carry out the missions that lured them into public service, CNN previously reported.

The National Treasury Employees Union sent a message to workers Tuesday saying the buyout offer was a scare tactic and urging them not to resign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Make no mistake: this email is designed to entice or scare you into resigning from the federal government, the message said. We are reviewing the email closely and will have more information tomorrow. However, we strongly urge you not to resign in response to this email.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal workers union, argued Tuesday that the buyouts were part of larger plan to get rid of civil servants.

This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement.

And Max Stier, the CEO at the Partnership for Public Service, said that the Trump administrations efforts are perplexing, of questionable legality and dangerous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Americans rely on federal workers to fly safely, help veterans and seniors access their benefits, keep our food and water safe, protect public health, respond to natural disasters, and maintain the rule of law, he said in a statement. Stripping away expert talent through such a non-strategic approach puts all of us at risk in a profound way.

This story and headline have been updated with additional details.

CNNs Tami Luhby, Sarah Dewberry, Sean Lyngaas, Jeff Zeleny and Pete Muntean contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Trump administration is offering all 2 million federal employees what amounts to a buyout if they do not intend to return to work in person later this year, sources confirmed to The Hill.

Four sources confirmed to The Hill that the emails are set to go out beginning Tuesday evening to the federal employees informing workers that they can retain benefits and be paid through September if they hand in their resignation by Feb. 6.

The buyouts are available to all full-time federal employees, excluding military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers and positions related to immigration enforcement and national security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The offer sparked concern among employee unions as well as some Democratic lawmakers who cautioned against accepting a buyout.

The emails are expected to come from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), two sources said.

One buyout email reviewed by The Hill was sent with the subject line fork in the road and noted that return to office was one of four pillars of Trumps reformed federal workforce.

Elon Musk, who President Trump has tapped to help lead efforts to reduce the federal workforce, wrote on X last month that he commissioned a sculpture also titled A Fork in The Road. He used the same subject line in 2022 when encouraging employees at what was then Twitter to leave or commit to being extremely hardcore.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Tuesday email to federal workers instructed them to reply to the email with resign if they wish to leave.

The email also indicated that continuing to remain in service amid the return to office work did not guarantee employment  a nod to multiple Trump efforts to shrink the workforce.

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people, the email states, adding, At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position.

If you chose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country, it says, adding that employees will receive a dignified, fair departure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An OPM memo to agency leaders seems to imply that they have the power to exclude certain positions from taking the deal, writing that it applies to all employees other than positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.

The Association of Federal Government Employees said the move seeks to shrink a federal workforce that has essentially remained flat over the last 50 years.

The number of civil servants hasnt meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services. Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, President Everett Kelley said in a statement.

This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An earlier email reviewed by The Hill suggested the notices would reach employees at each agency separately but would arrive starting tonight.

Many employees who opt to resign will be placed on administrative leave, according to a document explaining the process obtained by The Hill.

Individuals who choose to resign will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours, according to the document. Employees are not obligated to respond, and any decision to resign is voluntary.

Those who choose to take the buyout could choose to accelerate their resignation and leave their job before the end of September, the document states. The buyout will not be available after Feb. 6, though exceptions might be made for those who were on approved leave leading up to that date.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) noted there was no assurance that federal employees would receive the funding should they choose to resign.

Trump sows chaos in federal workforce then says resign within a week and Ill give you 7 months severance. Dont fall for it! Trump told innumerable contractors hed paythen stiffed them. He has no authority to promise severance pay. Wait him out! he wrote on X.

Axios, which first reported on the buyout offer, reported that the White House expects 5 percent to 10 percent of federal employees to take the offer, which would amount to hundreds of thousands of workers.

Remote work became common for federal employees during the coronavirus pandemic, but Trump and his allies have sought to get workers back in the office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the Trump team has complained about the level of employees working from home, the majority of federal employees are not eligible to do so.

A prior report from OMB that has since been removed from the White House website found that 54 percent of federal employees have a job that requires being on site  a group that includes Pentagon employees, those working in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and more.

Of those who are permitted to telework, more than 60 percent of their working hours were spent at the office.

Trump on his first day in office signed a memorandum directing all departments and agencies in the executive branch to take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has sought to remake the federal workforce in other ways since taking office. He has fired more than a dozen inspectors general across different agencies; his Justice Department ousted prosecutors who worked on former special counsel Jack Smiths team; and he signed an executive order giving him greater authority over federal employees.

Updated 9:29 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.
President Donald Trumps administration is offering all two million federal workers a buyout.

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

The measure is in an effort to shrink the size of the government, The Associated Press reported.

The White House expects up to 10% of federal employees to quit in a buyout program meant to end work-from-home practices, senior administration officials told CBS News.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This impacts federal workers across the area including civilian workers at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Those who do not wish to work in the office are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of eight months, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The AP has reported a payout of seven months.

If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason), the email states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American Federation of Government Employees issued the following statement:

The number of civil servants hasnt meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services. Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government. This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

This is a developing story we will continue to update.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




The Trump administration is offering buyouts to members of the federal workforce.

Employees who resign from in-office work will have full pay and benefits through September, officials said.

Some exclusions apply to military, postal, immigration, and national security roles.

President Donald Trump is offering buyouts to federal workers who don't want to stick around under the new administration, according to a letter sent to government employees on Tuesday.

The letter, which was shared by the US Office of Personnel Management, said federal employees had from January 28 to February 6 to decide whether they'd like to resign under this program.

Those who resign will receive full pay and benefits regardless of their daily workload and are exempted from "all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025," the memo said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The webpage listed a deferred resignation letter specifying that employees would complete "reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate" their departure.

The resignation offer was available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel, US Postal Service employees, those in immigration enforcement and national security roles, and other positions that were specifically excluded by an agency.

The letter said a recent order issued by Trump meant there would be significant reform in the federal workforce, which it said would be "built around four pillars." Those pillars are return to office, performance culture, a more streamlined and flexible workforce, and enhanced standards of conduct.

The memo also said that for those who chose to stay, the administration couldn't guarantee that their role or agency wouldn't be eliminated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read OPMs full memo.

The White House didn't respond to a request for comment.

After taking office on January 20, Trump signed several executive orders impacting the federal workforce as his administration, including the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, seeks to cut government waste.

Trump has ordered federal employees to return to the office and moved to end diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at government agencies, ordering that DEI-focused staff be placed on leave.

In an op-ed about DOGE published in The Wall Street Journal in November, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who temporarily co-led the effort with him, wrote that requiring federal employees to return to the office full time would lead to "a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If federal employees don't want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn't pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home," they wrote.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, said Tuesday evening that the president didn't have the authority to offer the deferred resignation to federal workers and warned them not to take the offer.

"There's no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work," he said, speaking from the Senate floor.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Despite a pause on its effect, a wide range of New Mexico leaders are still reacting to the Trump administrations directive that would have paused federal grants and loans saying it rattled the funding normalcy that so many agencies rely on.

Story continues below

New Mexicos federal lawmakers say the directive has the potential of sending dozens of local non-profits, medical providers, and others into a tailspin. We started the day with so many of these portals closed and unable to process reimbursement of Medicaid which is the big driver of health care things like nursing homes in New Mexico that will be have been an utter train wreck within days, said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I met with the Zuni youth enrichment project. 67 percent of their federal funding serving over ten thousand kids in public schools in Zuni pueblo essentially vanished overnight because they could not access the system to access invoices to pay at least ten of their employees that rely on federal funding, said Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D).

Federal lawmakers detailed a wide range of funding issues on Tuesday from groups accessing housing grants to Headstart operating funds. This is not about cutting bloated government spending. This is about shutting down fundamental services that especially impact low income and especially communities of color, said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D).

The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness said they received roughly $16 million in federal funds last year and saw immediate issues Tuesday morning. We are looking at people from being housed to unhoused almost instantly. The majority of the non-profits run almost paycheck to paycheck, said Monet Silva, Executive Director, New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.

Silva says there are 12,000 active households receiving federal funding. If the order goes through, it could impact around 30,000 New Mexicans. There is not a single portion of our state that would not have been impacted by this freeze, said Stansbury.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney General, Raul Torrez is joining 22 other states and the District of Columbia suing the Trump Administration, calling the freeze unconstitutional. We have taken this action to try and restore a stable funding system for the critical services we have in support of the citizens of our state, said Torrez.

The New Mexico Department of Justice believes as much as $11 billion in federal funds come into the state each year. They are still working to figure out how much money the Trump Administrations budget memo could freeze if it takes effect.

While a judge put a stop to the funding pause until Monday, New Mexicos federal delegations said they believe some groups might still experiencing residual funding issues until early next week. I sure hope we can turn this around and turn this around fast because these are real peoples lives and real damage is being inflicted, said Heinrich.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chinas DeepSeek has been threatened with aggressive countermeasures by US rival OpenAI amid claims that the artificial intelligence company sucked knowledge from ChatGPT to develop its system.

OpenAI said that Chinese companies were taking advantage of US systems and vowed to protect the companys technology.

It came after Donald Trumps AI tsar claimed there is substantial evidence that DeepSeek copied some of the technology developed by US rival OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

David Sacks, the US presidents AI and cryptocurrency adviser, said the Chinese upstart may have trained its technology by sucking knowledge out of OpenAIs model in a method known as distilling.

We know that groups in the PRC are actively working to use methods, including whats known as distillation, to try to replicate advanced US AI models, OpenAI said.

We are aware of and reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled our models, and will share information as we know more. We take aggressive, proactive countermeasures to protect our technology and will continue working closely with the US government to protect the most capable models being built here.

Western governments are assessing the security implications of DeepSeek, which has shocked the AI world and shaken stock markets with a highly capable system seemingly developed at a fraction of the cost of Western rivals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Sacks told Fox News it was possible that intellectual property theft had occurred. He added: I dont think OpenAI is very happy about this.

He said: I think one of the things youre going to see over the next few months is our leading AI companies taking steps to try and prevent distillation ... That would definitely slow down some of these copycat models.

DeepSeeks debut sent shock waves through the technology industry after its app soaring to top of smartphone download charts around the world.

On Wednesday, Irish and Italian privacy watchdogs said they had requested information on how the company processes the countries citizens data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeepSeeks latest AI models are seen as the first to come from China that match US companies such as OpenAI, Google and Meta. However, its developers claimed to have created the chatbot at a fraction of the cost of US rivals and using far less computing power.

Experts have described it as a Sputnik moment for AI, referencing the Russian rocket that shocked the West and triggered the space race between Washington and Moscow in the 1960s.

On Wednesday White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US officials were looking at the national security implications of DeepSeeks apparent breakthrough.

The US navy has reportedly told staff not to use the DeepSeek app, citing potential security and ethical concerns associated with the models origin and usage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeepSeeks privacy policy says it stores data in China and can share data with law enforcement agencies [and] public authorities. The company collects data such as keystroke patterns and rhythms, which could be used to identify users.

Lukasz Olejnik, an independent security researcher and consultant, warned that such data may be used to extract personal behavioural patterns, possibly of biometric potential. It could be used to identify or reidentify people, or in some cases even check for potential medical disorders.

Analysis of DeepSeeks website shows that it appears to use analytics and hosting tools from companies including Baidu, seen as the countrys answer to Google, and Chinese web company Volces.

Because DeepSeeks systems can be freely downloaded and hosted elsewhere, the privacy concerns only apply to the version hosted on its website and app.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ed Husic, Australias science minister, said on Tuesday there were questions about the companys data and privacy management. He told ABC News: I would be very careful about that  these type of issues need to be weighed up carefully.

The DeepSeek release plunged US markets into turmoil this week amid concerns that heavy spending by American companies on AI had failed to give them a head start on the technology.

Almost $600bn (480bn) was wiped off the value of US chip giant Nvidia on Monday amid a wider sell-off, although tech stocks recovered on Tuesday.

Elsewhere shares in Microsoft fell by more than 4pc on Wednesday night after its results disappointed investors already shaken by DeepSeeks surprise breakthrough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The technology business behind Windows saw revenues in its key cloud division miss market expectations, coming in at $25.5bn. Overall revenues were up 12pc to $69.6bn in the three months to the end of December, while its profits climbed 10pc to $24.1bn.

Meanwhile, Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reported a 21pc increase in revenues and a near-50pc increase in net income, at $20.8bn.

Metas stock climbed 4pc late on Wednesday night in after hours trading in New York as Mark Zuckerbergs company appeared to shrug off worries about DeepSeeks impact. Mr Zuckerberg said he expected as many as 1bn people to be interacting with Metas AI products this year.

DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Baidu was 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.
(Bloomberg) -- After Pete Hegseth won confirmation by a single vote to become defense secretary, Donald Trumps entourage is mobilizing to bolster Tulsi Gabbard, another of the presidents imperiled nominees for a top national security post.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Theyre pressing hard for lawmakers to back Gabbard  the presidents pick for director of national intelligence  ahead of her confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Thats despite concerns about her shifting positions on intelligence collection, a 2017 meeting with Syrias recently ousted leader, Bashar al-Assad, and statements seen as sympathetic to Russias position on Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a letter to the top senators on the committee, dozens of current and former officials in Trumps orbit, including his current envoy for special missions Richard Grenell and the presidents former national security advisor Robert OBrien, urged senators to back the former lawmaker who has transformed from liberal Democrat to Trump Republican.

And last week, the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., was even more explicit.

Any Republican Senator who votes against @TulsiGabbard deserves a primary, he threatened in a post on X last week. No more Deep State bullsh*t!!!!

Its a playbook that worked in the push to get Hegseth through the Senate. Many Republicans initially wavered over the former Fox News hosts qualifications and allegations of alcohol abuse, financial mismanagement and sexual misconduct, all of which he denied.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump never backed down, and his allies waged a pressure campaign against key senators including Iowa Republican Joni Ernst, who eventually voted in his favor.

Senate support for Gabbard has been tepid so far despite weeks of meetings with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans say they want to hear her answers before making a decision. A lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, she would oversee the 18 US spy agencies, from the CIA and the National Security Agency to the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Gabbard, 43, has been something of a political chameleon. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii backed progressive Senator Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and pursued her own Democratic presidential campaign in 2020 before dropping out and supporting Joe Biden in his successful race against Trump. Then she swung over to support Trump enthusiastically last year.

Assad, Snowden

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Along the way, Gabbards past positions have provoked alarm among some lawmakers. They cite statements they say echoed Russian propaganda on Ukraine as well as her 2017 meeting with Syrias Assad. Although shes called Assad a brutal dictator, Gabbard questioned whether he was behind chemical weapons attacks and at the time castigated Trump for launching retaliatory missile strikes against his regime.

In 2020, Gabbard introduced legislation to drop all charges against Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed top-secret US spy programs and found refuge in Russia.

As a Democrat, Gabbard voted against renewing a controversial spying law that has allowed intelligence agencies to capture private information about Americans when they communicate with foreigners who are under surveillance. Hawks on both sides of the political aisle view Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a warrantless wiretapping program introduced in 2008, as critical to national security. With the program sunsetting next year, they will look to the spy agencies directors to champion its renewal.

Gabbard has since said that Section 702 is needed to protect the US while also ensuring civil liberties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I tend to vote for almost everybody in both parties, but I want to see how the hearing goes, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on NBCs Meet the Press. Why did you go to Syria? What did you do regarding Assad? Why do you think Edward Snowden should be held as a hero? I certainly dont. Well see how the hearing goes.

Gabbards backers say shell offer fresh perspective after intelligence agencies failed to foresee major events like the Hamas attack on Israel. She has said her drive to push back against regime-change wars stems from the flawed intelligence that led to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, where she served in a medical unit.

In an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton, the Arkansas Republican who chairs the committee that will handle Gabbards nomination, slammed Democrats for questioning Gabbards patriotism. He said her latest background check was clean as a whistle.

Were moving them along, were getting them confirmed, Cotton said of Trumps nominees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But others in the intelligence community raise doubts about her judgment as the candidate for a job in which shed be briefing Trump on what she considers the most important intelligence matters of the day.

She seems to be someone prone to wanting to entertain and even support views that are contrary to consensus views in the United States regarding national security matters, said Larry Pfeiffer, director of the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy and International Security at George Mason University. That to me raises questions of judgment, temperament, personality, maybe more so than questions of loyalty.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane wrote a letter to state Education Minister Dada Bhuse on Wednesday, requesting a ban on wearing burqas at examination centres for the 10th and 12th board exams, citing concerns about potential cheating incidents. Advocating for uniformity in rules for Hindu and Muslim students, he stated that the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, which follows the Hindutva ideology, will not tolerate the politics of appeasement. He added that those who wish to wear the hijab or burqa can do so at home, but not at examination centres. "Our government, which follows Hindutva ideology, will not tolerate the politics of appeasement. The rules that are applicable to Hindu students, the same should apply to Muslim students as well. Those who want to wear a burqa or hijab can wear it at their homes but at the examination centres, they should write their exams like other students," Rane, who is the Minister for Fisheries and Ports in Maharashtra government, told ANI. The minister explained that he wrote the letter to Bhuse due to incidents of cheating and copying during exams involving students wearing burqas. "There have been incidents of cheating and copying, where students were wearing a burqa. All this should not happen in Maharashtra, so I have written a letter to the concerned minister," Rane said. When asked to react to the opposition and Muslim scholars objecting to the same, he said, "They should go to Pakistan if they want to take exams while wearing a burqa since we have a constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, not the Sharia law." (ANI)
Donald Trumps petty crusade for revenge continues: General Mark Milley will be the next of the presidents former advisers to lose his security detail.

Fox News reported Tuesday that according to multiple senior officials, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will announce that he is immediately pulling Milleys security clearance and personal security detail.

Hegseth will also direct the inspector general to determine whether Milley should be stripped of a star in retirement for undermining the chain of command.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Milley refused Trumps orders in 2020 to send the military to crush protesters in Washington in the wake of George Floyds death. He has also described Trump as a fascist and a wannabe dictator.

Ever since entering the White House, it seems Trump just cant stop thinking about the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Within minutes of being sworn in, Milleys portrait was stripped from the wall of the Pentagon. Last week, Trump posted that his presidential personnel office was actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, including Milley, whom he listed by name.

Trump has already pulled the security details for some of his other former colleagues turned political adversaries, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, John Bolton, and Mike Pompeo. Each one has publicly criticized Trump, and the latter two had their security details removed despite warnings from the Biden administration that they were still receiving threats from foreign adversaries.
All products featured on them. are independently selected by them. editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Sign up for The Agenda  Thems news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) declared a wide-ranging freeze on grants and financial assistance across the U.S. government this week, causing outcry and confusion across federal agencies before it was rescinded two days later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal action had already begun to challenge the OMB memo before it was abruptly canceled on Wednesday afternoon, but its issuance quickly caused widespread confusion and outrage at all levels of government. Staffers of some government programs and nonprofit organizations said they were concerned the freeze could severely impact their work or wipe it out entirely, while administration officials claimed the freeze was necessary to identify and root out woke programs that do not align with Trumps far-right agenda.

In the roughly two-day span between its issuance and withdrawal, the OMB funding freeze created significant uncertainty as to how it would affect various programs  if it was allowed to take effect at all. But even though the memo has now been ostensibly canceled as of Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the rescission applies only to the OMB memo itself, not Trumps general freezes on federal funding as outlined in his executive orders since January 20. The memo was only rescinded [t]o end any confusion created by a district courts stay on the memo, issued Tuesday, Leavitt asserted.

Even though the memo was withdrawn, it still provides insight into further details of Trumps goals for altering the U.S. federal government through executive action. Heres what we know right now about the OMB memo, its aims, and how officials responded in the immediate aftermath.

What did the Trump OMB memo say about funding woke government programs?

According to the memo (Memorandum M-25-13) signed by acting OMB director Matthew Vaeth, all federal assistance including grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance was to be paused for programs that conflict with Trumps executive orders  specifically his orders prohibiting DEI programs, rolling back environmental regulations, enacting mass deportations, blocking abortion-related care, and outlawing trans identities, which the memo calls woke gender ideology. Vaeth condemned in the memo what he referred to as Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vaeths memo instructed all government agencies to perform a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to determine whether they will continue receiving federal funds. Those analyses were set to be due on February 10. It also demanded that all notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs), which are used to communicate opportunities for government funding, be paused. The memo specified that going forward, agencies would also be required to submit to oversight from a senior political appointee, in order to ensure Federal financial assistance conforms to Administration priorities. Exceptions may be granted on a case-to-case basis, Vaeth allowed at the time.

On Wednesday afternoon, news agencies obtained another OMB memo officially rescinding the first. If you have questions about implementing the Presidents Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel, the second memo reportedly read.

Which programs were targeted by the OMB memo?

Even up to the moment the memo was rescinded on January 29, the full range of programs and agencies that would have been affected by the OMB memo was unclear. The memo demanded a halt to foreign aid and assistance to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but officials have made few other public statements on the scope of those restrictions. During a press conference on January 28, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker stated that there had been no communication with state governments regarding the funding freeze, and in fact, we literally were informed that [federal agencies] are not to speak with us.

Its also remained dubious whether the Trump administrations statements about affected agencies and programs were themselves true. The administration claimed that the pause would not affect people receiving individual benefits from the government, like Pell grants and federal student loans, which the Department of Education says are not included in the scope of the memo. But the administration also said that Medicaid would not be affected, even as Medicaid portals in all 50 states suddenly went down on Tuesday  which White House officials blamed on a coincidental outage. Websites for the Head Start educational program were also reportedly inaccessible during that time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You think it was an accident the memo came out last night, and today our state agencies couldnt access those systems? Its not. The intention is to disrupt, Pritzker told reporters on Tuesday.

It also seemed likely that the freeze would have affected federal school lunch programs, potentially blocking low-income children from obtaining food during the freeze. GOP Rep. Rich McCormick defended that likelihood on CNN this week, and bizarrely appeared to advocate for child labor in the process, arguing that children in poverty should be going to work at Burger King [or] McDonalds instead of stay[ing] at home and get[ting] their free lunch during summer vacation.

Was the OMB memo already enforced?

In a sense, the memo was already being enacted before it was even issued. According to the Associated Press, the Department of Justice stopped providing legal assistance to people facing deportation last week, and nonprofit groups were informed they should stop work immediately on helping those clients.

However, on January 28, shortly before the memos edicts were set to take effect, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan issued a stay on the funding freeze. AliKhans order theoretically pushes the freezes start date to Monday, February 3 at 5 p.m. That order came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the OMB and Vaeth by several groups on Tuesday, including the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE, which advocates and provides services for LGBTQ+ elders. That lawsuit argues that the OMB memo is arbitrary and capricious in its edicts, violating multiple articles of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A freeze on foreign aid, separate from the OMB freeze, was also instituted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week, specifically blocking the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from distributing HIV/AIDS treatment abroad. Following public outcry, Rubio later announced a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance during the 90-day freeze, which covers core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance. The scope and legality of that freeze were similarly unclear this week.

All products featured on them. are independently selected by them. editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission.

Everything You Need to Know About Trump's Executive Order Attempting to Erase Trans Americans

The president signed the sweeping order within hours of taking office, signaling that curtailing the rights of trans people is a top priority for his administration.

How are other government officials responding to the OMB funding freeze?

During his press conference this week, Pritzker called the OMB mandate illegal and vowed to challenge it in court. I know these are challenging times, and the Trump administration is trying to confuse the American people. Thats why it's so important that we speak plainly, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A group of Democratic attorneys general also promised to file suit against OMB regarding the freeze. It is astonishing that President Trump, through an agency most Americans have never heard of, would take an action so clearly unlawful that would impact so many Americans in so many ways, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a press conference this week, per Politico. New York Attorney General Letitia James  who previously presided over Trumps civil fraud case in her state  agreed, saying Trump has exceeded his authority [...] violated the Constitution, and he has trampled on a coequal branch of government.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who also signed onto the AGs legal action, told reporters that the OMB memo did not have the power to override Congress. Congress is given the power to appropriate the funding, Raoul said. The executive branch cannot unilaterally disregard those appropriations passed by a separate and equal house of government.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
President Trump appealed his New York hush money criminal conviction and has brought on a new team of attorneys to represent him.

The five-attorney team from elite law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, which will be led by Robert Giuffra, submitted a notice of appeal dated Tuesday, formally beginning the appeals process in Trumps 34-count felony conviction.

President Donald J. Trumps appeal is important for the rule of law, New Yorks reputation as a global business, financial and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials, Giuffra said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal, he continued.

He will be joined by attorneys Matthew Schwartz, James McDonald, Jeffrey Wall and Morgan Ratner. They all are former Supreme Court clerks.

The team will replace Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, Trumps mainstay trial attorneys who are now set to serve in the No. 2 and No. 3 top posts at the Justice Department, respectively, if confirmed by the Senate. Bove is serving as acting deputy attorney general in the meantime.

In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for covering up a $130,000 hush money payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016 as part of an intended conspiracy to unlawfully influence that years presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump successfully delayed his sentencing until after the election, and upon his political victory, New York Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, sentenced Trump to no punishment.

But Trumps felonies remain on his record, and his legal team has sought to dismiss the case entirely.

The latest appeal will take the efforts to the Appellate Division, First Department. The court previously rejected Trumps various pretrial appeals, but his sentencing now enables the appeals bench to confront the historic case in normal course.

It remains unclear if the appeal will proceed while Trump is in the White House. Legal experts largely agree a sitting president is protected from criminal prosecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Hill has reached out to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs (D) office 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.
It appears President Donald Trump is poised to make his first visit to Palm Beach since his return to the White House.

According to temporary flight restrictions issued Wednesday morning by the Federal Aviation Administration, Trump is expected to arrive in Palm Beach County after 6:30 p.m. Friday and depart before 6 p.m. Sunday.

During Trump's first term in the White House, flight restrictions served as a reliable way for those in Palm Beach County to know when to expect a visit from Trump  along with the raft of security measures his arrival will bring.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's unclear when South Ocean Boulevard next to Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club will close. Palm Beach officials typically send an alert to let drivers know the road will close between South County Road and the Southern Boulevard traffic circle, but no alert has been issued as of Wednesday morning.

The United States flag flies at full staff at Mar-a-Lago as the property's primary resident Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President on Jan. 20, 2025.

The U.S. Secret Service ordered South Ocean Boulevard next to Mar-a-Lago to close effective July 20, following the July 13 attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

While the road initially was to be closed around-the-clock every day, the Secret Service, Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Mar-a-Lago announced in mid-August that the road will reopen when Trump is away from Palm Beach for extended periods of time.

While officials have declined to say exactly how long that is, Trump typically must be gone for two or more days for the road to reopen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's first visit to Palm Beach following his 2017 inauguration was Feb. 3-6, when he attended the 60th annual International Red Cross Ball that was being held at his Mar-a-Lago Club.

He made more than 30 trips to Palm Beach County during his first term as president from 2017 to 2021.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Trump appears poised for first return to Mar-a-Lago since inauguration
President Trumps approval rate slipped after his first week back in the Oval Office, during which he issued a slew of executive orders, according to a poll published Tuesday.

The Reuters/Ispos poll shows that 45 percent of participants approve of Trumps actions thus far  including major reforms to immigration policy, an overhaul of federal oversight and grant funding, as well as orders that directly impact the military. The numbers mark a 2-point decrease from a poll conducted earlier this month.

Trumps disapproval rating shot up by 7 percentage points, from 39 percent to 46 percent of survey takers who were displeased with his new measures as commander in chief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While it does seem Trump is getting a honeymoon to some extent, his numbers are still not impressive by historical standards, Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told Reuters.

However, his executive actions, many of which are unprecedented, have created a stark contrast between supporters and critics. During the presidents first day in office, he withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement, a move 59 percent of respondents in the latest survey were unhappy with.

Just less than 60 percent of respondents also voiced their dissatisfaction with the presidents efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices within federal offices across the nation. His order to close federal DEI offices was opposed by 51 percent, while 44 percent were in favor of the decision, the poll found.

The president also launched new deportation measures in recent days that have divided support for his administration. Roughly 48 percent of Americans approve of Trumps approach to immigration and border security, compared to 41 percent who disapprove, the data shows.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump was elected in large part because voters tended to side with him on the economy and immigration, Kondik told Reuters. To the extent he is viewed as doing positive things on that, its probably good for him.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online and nationwide from Jan. 24-26, surveyed 1,034 adults and has a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Hill)  President Trumps approval rating slipped after his first week back in the Oval Office, where he issued a slew of executive orders (EO), according to a new poll.

The Reuters/Ispos poll, published Tuesday, shows that 45 percent of participants approve of Trumps actions thus far  including major reforms to immigration policy, an overhaul of federal oversight and grant funding, as well as orders that directly impact the military. The numbers mark a 2-point decrease from a poll conducted earlier this month.

Trumps disapproval rating shot up by 7 percentage points, jumping from 39 percent to 46 percent of survey takers who were displeased with his new measures as commander-in-chief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While it does seem Trump is getting a honeymoon to some extent, his numbers are still not impressive by historical standards, Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics told Reuters.

However, his executive actions, many of which are unprecedented have created a stark contrast between supporters and critics. During the presidents first day in office, he withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, which 59 percent of respondents in the latest survey were unhappy with.

Just under 60 percent of respondents also voiced their dissatisfaction with the presidents efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices within federal offices across the nation. His EO to close federal DEI offices was opposed by 51 percent while 44 percent were in favor of the decision, the poll found.

The president also launched new deportation measures in recent days that have divided support for his administration. Roughly 48 percent of Americans approve of Trumps approach to immigration and border security, compared to 41 percent who disapprove, the data shows.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump was elected in large part because voters tended to side with him on the economy and immigration, Kondik told Reuters. To the extent he is viewed as doing positive things on that, its probably good for him.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online and nationwide from Jan. 24-26, surveyed 1,034 adults and has a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump tried to put a freeze on federal funding issued by the government, but it was quickly blocked by a judge until Monday.

The order will no doubt face further legal challenges, but it is still well within the realm of possibility that it does happen.

The impact of this order is unclear, and there was no clear end date for it. Instead, it just said agencies would need to do a thorough review of the way the money was being spent so it would line up with Trumps priorities. Confusion ran rampant on Tuesday, as states scrambled to understand the scope.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Freezing federal loans and grants could impact trillions of federal dollars that funnel their way down to federal programs, state agencies, nonprofits, social safety net programs and advocacy groups. The full scale of the effect is unclear, but Illinois Governor JB Pritzker asked all state agencies to write up a report on the full impact of this freeze.

What Donald Trump tried to do in the last 24 hours is illegal. Lets be clear, Pritzker (D-Illinois) said.

Pritzkers office spent all day trying to understand the impact the decision could have on Medicaid. The memo sent to agency heads did specify that Medicare and Social Security would not be impacted, but it did not clearly define that Medicaid was protected. Over 3.4 million people in Illinois alone count on Medicaid for their healthcare coverage, the majority of which are children.

Just hours after the memo went out, the state was locked out of the Medicaid portal that they use to file for reimbursements from the same federal dollars they were worried were at risk from the freeze. On Tuesday, the Trump administration came out and said that direct Medicaid reimbursements would not be impacted, and they said the website going down was not part of the freeze. Pritzker said that was a back pedal. He  and other lawmakers  said the two happening so close to each other couldnt have been a coincidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now the administration would like us to believe that these were just coincidental website outages, Pritzker said. Donald Trump and his administration have not earned the benefit of the doubt. They are either lying to us or they are critically incompetent.

Comptroller Susana Mendozas office also was concerned about the impact of the freeze, but she said the state was up to date on Medicaid reimbursement requests before the memo went out, meaning if Medicaid was impacted, there wouldnt be an immediate problem for the state.

We were in the best case scenario situation for today in a bad situation, right? Mendoza said. But moving forward, it is never a good idea to have all of these Medicaid bills piling up and then have to pay them and get no federal match in the process.

A long list of Illinois Democratic officials lined up to bash Trump for the attempted pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski said it was a power grab, and worried about what the future of the Trump Administration looks like.

I think its deeply disturbing. Disturbing when you consider the next four years ahead of us. Its not just this recent executive order freezing all federal grants and the legality, serious legal challenges that were going to be faced around that, Budzinski said. We had a flurry of executive orders last week as well that were also deeply concerning.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was one of several that filed a lawsuit against the order.

It will have a devastating impact on public safety, prosperity and quality of life for all Americans and certainly citizens in the state of Illinois, Raoul said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Tammy Duckworth said that Congress cannot give any ground and allow the executive branch to strip the power of the purse from Congress, and she said the effects the freeze had without going into effect should not be downplayed.

Whatever youre hearing from the Trump administration, understand that it has already affected working families, some of our most vulnerable.

Trump made it clear on the campaign trail that making cuts to federal spending was a priority, but to attempt to do so while circumventing congress was such a brazen attempt that it shocked state leaders.

Congress has the power of the purse, not the presidency, Budzinski said. And so thats why this is so deeply disturbing. He is rolling back spending obligations that have already been made to communities and to individuals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several Democrat lawmakers were skeptical this was about actually saving taxpayer money. They said it was about clearing the financial space for another tax cut for the wealthy during upcoming budget negotiations.

This is a Trump administration trying to take control of the nations purse strings in order to fund his tax cuts for the ultra wealthy, Duckworth said. And hes just going to try to stop funding across the board. And we cant let him do that.

During a briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary defended the order, saying reiterating that there would be no impact to services that directly benefit people, such as social security, Medicare and Food Stamps.

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie defended the move from the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What are we afraid of? What? Why are we afraid of exposing how the money is being spent? Thats the better question, McCombie 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 WCIA.com.
Donald Trump at his inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Trump administrations move to freeze swaths of federal spending drew backlash Tuesday from Washingtons Democratic leaders, as the state faced the threat of either losing or experiencing delays with billions of dollars built into its budget.

State lawmakers and other officials said the situation further complicates this years already difficult budget-writing process, while Gov. Bob Ferguson predicted that the courts would determine President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive powers. Washington U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, derided Trumps action as brazen and illegal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later in the day, a federal judge in the District of Columbia agreed to temporarily block the freeze at least until Feb. 3. This came in response to a lawsuit by the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, and other groups.

Meanwhile, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced that the state joined 21 other states in a separate suit against the Trump administration over the attempted funding pause.

Much about the scope and consequences of the directive remained unclear Tuesday afternoon. But critics said it could stymie funding in a range of areas, from child care services to road construction to opioid addiction treatment programs.

This chaos is already hurting people, causing confusion, and causing devastating delays. I mean where do we start here? There are a lot of urgent questions but precious few answers  and the answers keep changing, Murray said earlier on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its commonly understood that Congress, not the president, holds the power of the purse. And Murrays office emphasized that the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, makes plain that presidents cannot temporarily or permanently withhold enacted funding, and it established procedures the president can and must follow to propose delaying or rescinding funding.

The drama began when a memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget emerged Monday calling for a temporary pause on federal agency grants, loans and other financial assistance. The memo said it was not intended to apply to assistance provided directly to individuals, Social Security, or Medicare, which provides health care coverage for older Americans.

This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, the memo said. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars, it added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pause would not apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, or welfare benefits. An additional memo from the White House said Medicaid payments would not be disrupted, though there were reports Tuesday that Medicaid portals were down in states across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Washington State Health Care Authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the status of the states Medicaid portal. Medicaid is the government health insurance program for people with low incomes.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30 last year, federal funding accounted for about $27 billion, or roughly a third, of Washingtons state budget, according to the states Office of Financial Management. But its unlikely that full amount would be covered by the Trump administration memo. For instance, about $13 billion came in the form of Medicaid reimbursements.

While its not clear exactly what is covered by the memo, it is safe to say that it would apply to billions of dollars in federal funding for Washington, the offices director, K.D. Chapman-See, said in an email.

Were sorting it all out

State Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, who chairs the state Senates Ways and Means Committee, said the attempted funding pause added another layer of uncertainty in the budgeting process, but one that we have virtually no control over.

Federal funding in Washington

The states Office of Financial Management provided the following list of programs as examples of spending that the Trump administration directive could cut off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All totals are approximate for the 2024 fiscal year, which ended last June 30.

The circumstances surrounding the federal memo remained fluid on Tuesday. It is not certain which programs it could ultimately affect or how much money it could chop from state budgets if it does hold up in court.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps: $1.9 billion.

Highway planning and construction funds: $952 million.

Child Care and Development Block Grants: $393 million.

National School Lunch Program: $361 million.

Special Education grants: $275 million.

Foster care grants: $166 million.

Child support enforcement: $134 million.

Allergy and infectious disease research: $121 million.

Low-income home energy assistance: $96 million.

Substance abuse treatment block grants: $65 million.

Veterans nursing care funding: $59 million.

Washington state lawmakers entered this years session confronting a budget deficit estimated to be around $12 billion over four years.

It is very alarming, and we have to wait and see what happens, Robinson added. If federal funding goes away, we do not have the ability to backfill those dollars.

Chapman-See offered a similar take, saying that if the federal government holds back the threatened funding, it would drastically worsen Washingtons budget shortfall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pausing or terminating federal funds would necessarily entail cuts  likely drastic cuts  to key services provided by state agencies on which Washington residents depend, Chapman-See said.

Robinson flagged public schools, higher education, housing and domestic violence services as some of the areas where the state depends on federal funding.

Despite the White House press secretarys statements, the state Office of Financial Management said that, based on its interpretation, the memo did appear to halt federal funding for food stamps, which amounted to more than $1.9 billion in Washington in the 2024 fiscal year.

The state office also flagged grants and other funding for special education, foster care, school lunches, and roads as money that seemed to be targeted as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While he was not familiar with the details of the memo, state House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, said Tuesday morning that it underscores a point that House Republicans and Senate Republicans have been trying to make for years, which is that we have got to do a better job managing the states budget so that were not so dependent on changes in revenue.

Whether its, you know, growth slowing but still growing. Or changes in federal policy, Stokesbary said.

Ferguson, in an emailed statement, acknowledged that presidents have significant powers and elections have consequences. But he added President Trumps refusal or inability to advance his priorities in a lawful and constitutional manner is creating needless and cruel chaos.

A spokesperson for the governors office did not respond to questions about whether any state agencies experienced turmoil on Tuesday because of the Trump administrations maneuver.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The states Department of Commerce and the Department of Social and Health Services both said it was too early to know how the action by the Trump administration might affect operations.

Were sorting it all out, said Penny Thomas, a Department of Commerce spokesperson.

Joel Ryan, executive director of the association in Washington that advocates for the Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance programs, said the Trump administration memo led to complete chaos as several Head Start programs prepared to close their doors and worried about making payroll.

The Office of Management and Budget later said Head Start programs, which provide early learning services and other supports to kids up to age 5, were not covered by the pause, according to Ryan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even after that clarification, the payment portal remained down for several hours making federal funding inaccessible, he said. We also continue to be concerned about other grant programs that impact young children like the child care food program which Head Start programs rely upon to serve healthy meals and snacks to low-income children.

This story was updated.
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-led U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday advanced President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee Pam Bondi, paving the way for the full Senate to vote to confirm the former Florida attorney general as soon as this week.

The panel approved her nomination in a 12-10 vote with Democrats opposed amid concerns over whether Bondi will resist potentially improper or illegal orders from Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bondi, 59, vowed to maintain the Justice Department's independence during her confirmation hearing earlier this month, telling lawmakers she will not inject politics into criminal or civil investigations.

"There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I will not politicize that office. I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation."

Even before her arrival, the Trump administration has already taken some steps that appear to do just that.

The Justice Department employs approximately 116,000 people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reuters has been able to identify so far at least 15 career employees who have been reassigned to their positions, while more than two dozen others have been fired or placed on paid administrative leave.

On Monday, the department fired more than a dozen career prosecutors who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith's two criminal investigations into Trump's retention of classified records and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Previously, the incoming administration also fired at least five senior career officials from the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

More than a dozen senior career officials, including the top public integrity prosecutor and the senior career ethics official, have also been removed from their posts and ordered to report to a newly-created sanctuary city working group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of those officials, the Public Integrity Section Chief Corey Amundson, resigned from the department on Monday.

On the day Trump was sworn into office, he signed an executive order lamenting the "weaponizing" of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and ordered the attorney general to "review the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority."

"The president has repeatedly threatened to weaponize the justice system against those he feels have wronged him, and that's a long list," Ranking Democrat Dick Durbin said on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, we are seeing these threats emerge in real time."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bondi, who spent decades as a prosecutor, previously represented Trump during his first impeachment trial and she also in the past has echoed some of his false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

She holds a stake in Trump's media company, the Trump Media and Technology Group, according to financial disclosures she filed with the Office of Government Ethics.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Two Republicans endorsed by President Donald Trump easily won their Florida special election primaries Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, setting both Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine on a path to bolster the thin margins of the GOP-controlled House as it tries to enact President Donald Trumps agenda.

Patronis, the states chief financial officer, won a crowded primary for a Northwest Florida seat that also featured a former state legislator as well as a Navy veteran who unsuccessfully challenged then-Rep. Matt Gaetz in a primary last year.

Fine, a state senator who has clashed at times with Gov. Ron DeSantis, easily won his primary in the race to succeed former Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz stepped down from his north central Florida seat to become Trumps national security adviser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Neither Republican lives in their district, but that didnt seem to blunt their path to primary victory.

Patronis, whose family runs a famed restaurant in Panama City, has been a mainstay in Panhandle politics who spent time in the Florida Legislature before then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to his state post. Patronis subsequently won two statewide elections and had been mulling a run for governor before jumping into the race for Congress.

Gaetz, who easily won a fifth term last November, stepped down after Trump picked him to be attorney general. But Gaetz withdrew from consideration amid growing concerns about a House ethics investigation into allegations Gaetz had sex with a minor, among other claims. He has denied all wrongdoing.

Patronis has been generally supportive of Trump but stayed on the sidelines when DeSantis challenged Trump in the Republican presidential primary. He didnt endorse Trump until DeSantis exited the race. But Patronis also called for using state taxpayer money to help pay Trumps legal bills before the governor publicly said he would veto the proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patronis was going to be term-limited out of office in two years, but a run for governor could have been difficult given wide dissatisfaction in Florida over rising property insurance rates. Patronis is one of the top state officials who oversees state insurance regulators.

Fine has amassed a reliably Republican and conservative voting record while in the Legislature, but he has clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis especially after he flipped his presidential endorsement from DeSantis to Trump in late 2023. The move angered members of DeSantis inner circle; Fine publicly asserted that the governor wasnt doing enough to battle antisemitism.

Trump endorsed both Patronis and Fine last year and emphasized his support for them last week. The GOP pair also got backing from many Republicans in Washington and significantly outraised their opponents. Patronis used his cash advantage to spend money on television ads, including one that highlighted the Trump endorsement.

Both Patronis and Fine will now advance to the April 1 special election, where they are expected to be heavy favorites in the solid Republican districts.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed sadness over the stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj early this morning and said that for now there is no information about the people of Chhattisgarh present at the spot. Speaking to ANI Vishnu Deo Sai said, "... The UP government has ensured all types of arrangements there (in Maha Kumbh), yet, there was a stampede. We pray that those who have passed away, their souls rest in peace... Till now, there is no information about the people of Chhattisgarh being there (in the stampede)..." Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Dy CM Arun Sao said, "On the pious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, 8-10 crore people visited Prayagraj. In such a situation, the way PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath have handled the preparations there, the situation is getting back to normal. The CM has also spoken to the Akhada chiefs and 'sants' to ensure that all arrangements are in place..." Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the stampede in Prayagraj. Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev urged people to go to the nearest ghat and take Amrit Snan, saying the flow of water from the Sangam would definitely reach every ghat in Prayagraj. Speaking to ANI, Ramdev said, "When in crowds like this, it is our duty to ensure our and everyone else's safety. If everyone is careful, everything will go on smoothly. All devotees who are here need to be patient. The first characteristic of dharma is patience. Even though everyone wants to visit Sangam, it is not practically possible so wherever you are, you can go to your nearest ghat since the flow of water from Sangam will definitely reach every ghat in Prayagraj." The incident comes as a massive crowd of devotees gathered at the Sangam Ghats for the 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya.'' Other significant bathing dates left in the Maha Kumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami--Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri). (ANI)
As expected, Trump wrapped up his first week in office with yet more executive orders advancing the anti-trans agenda that he campaigned on. Late on Monday, the White House released the noxiously titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness, banning trans people from the military. By Tuesday afternoon, six service members who are trans filed a suit in federal district court to block the executive order, represented by GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Other suits are reportedly in process. As with Trumps executive order on gender ideology, issued last week, the scope of the order is broad and bombastic, meant to send a message as much as it attempts to communicate actionable changes to law and policy. All the same, it is an indication that despite what some dismissed as mere campaign rhetoric, Trumps and his fellow Republicans scapegoating of trans people over the past year was indeed previewing his plans. Those plans are dangerous.

Trumps executive order barring transgender people from serving in the military is one element of what appears to be a wide-reaching plan to erase the idea that trans people exist. Via saccharine appeals to honor, humility, and country, the order advances the idea that trans identity is a form of dishonesty. The rhetoric is also far more extreme than past Trump administration rhetoric about trans service members.

First, the order offers a bogeyman that is widely promoted on the right, with the mock diagnosis that the Armed Forces have been afflicted with radical gender ideology. Then it isolates trans people, stating their identity is inconsistent with the honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle that military service purportedly requires because they are, in the orders words, expressing a false gender identity divergent from an individuals sex. It singles outrevealinglyonly trans women when making the following repulsive statement: A mans assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member. Altogether, its a not-that-roundabout way for the president to decree that all transgender people are sick and selfish liars, whose presence poses a threat to the military, which in turn is a threat to all good Americans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That particular phraseadoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individuals sex conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal lifestands out. This claim does not feature in Trump policies barring trans people from military service during his first administration. If being trans means one cannot have a commitment to be truthful in the military, in what other positions might that also apply?

This language is dehumanizing and designed to deny the existence of transgender and intersex people, said Sasha Buchert, director of the Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project at Lambda Legal, in an emailed statement. The organization, along with Human Rights Campaign, announced on Monday that it would soon be filing a legal challenge to this executive order; Buchert is serving as counsel. This honorable, truthful, disciplined language in the order, she continued, is dripping with animus and has no basis in law or in biology, even so, it will likely be repeated and weaponized as justification for further discrimination and hate by this administration.

What Trumpworld now wants to handwave as gender ideology is just peopleand in this case, their jobs and the health care connected to their jobs. When the first Trump administrations ban was allowed to go into effect, around 14,000 trans people were serving, as the Palm Center estimated in 2018; the new ban, as The 19th has reported, is expected to result in one of the largest layoffs of transgender people in history.

That first ban began with a characteristic Trump tweet, stating that the military cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you. It came just weeks after a policy permitting trans people in the military went into effect. The details were left vague for weeks, and Republicans who supported the ban tended to use the same justification Trump had tweetedthis misuse of our precious defense dollars, as Republican Representative Vicky Hartzler lamented at the timewhen pushing for a ban on gender-affirming health care in the military. Available evidence does not suggest that those supporting the bans held more progressive views than they hold today. The current moral panic about gender ideologya backlash to the mass protests in 2020 and cultivated by figures on the right like Christopher Rufohad simply not yet hit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attributing the brief acceptance of trans service members to the military being afflicted with gender ideology, calling trans peoples character and humanity into question: Such scapegoating has spread thanks in part to far-right media influencers. Ben Shapiros Daily Wire regularly ran stories throughout the Biden administration trying to generate controversies pegged to anodyne calls for trans inclusion in the military. Groups like the Heritage Foundation, which has an anti-LGBTQ agenda and led Project 2025, have alleged that gender ideologys influence on the military is pervasive. It wasnt, and it didnt matter. The American Principles Project is now taking credit for such attacks on trans peoplewhat it calls Defeating They/Themand with them, for returning Trump to the White House.

This moral panic about gender ideology in the military has now moved from the margins to the military itself. Recently confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shares the Christian nationalist worldview on gender now dominant on the right, goes further. In his book The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, he whines about what he calls affirmative action promotions in the military. We will not stop until trans-lesbian black females run everything! he sneered in the voice of some imaginary military H.R. director. Im straight-up just saying we should not have women in combat roles, Hegseth said on a podcast in November 2024. Men who are pretending to be women, or vice versa, are a distraction, Hegseth mused in The War on Warriors. Transgender people should never be allowed to serve. Its that simple. Hegseth isnt an original thinker here; this rhetoric was already in the air. But when he uses it, he is also declaring himself ready, now that hes commanding the nations military, to carry out the bosss orders.
Welcome to the try and stop me presidency.

Donald Trump, cheered on by compliant Republicans in Congress and confident in the ideological leanings of the Supreme Court, is using his first days in office to impose sweeping changes to the way government works and overwhelm traditional institutional checks on presidential power.

Detractors are trying to keep pace by filing a wave of lawsuits aimed at blocking some of Trumps most far-reaching orders. Those efforts are raising the prospect of a clash that could define Trumps second term: How would a president who is deploying maximal executive power respond if a court  perhaps the Supreme Court  tells him no?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nowhere is Trumps assertion of power more brazen than in his administrations blanket Monday night order to halt federal aid spending, save for Medicare and Social Security. The move is both an affront to Congress constitutional power of the purse and a direct challenge to a 50-year-old federal law meant to ensure congressionally authorized funds go out the door.

Trump has also pushed legal boundaries, or blown through them completely, with his executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, his purge of in-house government watchdogs and his decision not to enforce a law mandating the sale of TikTok.

Trump and others think they have a mandate to be bulls in a china shop, said Jed Shugerman, a legal expert and presidential historian from Boston University. This time theyve had years to think about going bold and also not worrying about the courts. Theres more flagrant disregard of what the Roberts court might do, and theres a lot more chutzpah thinking that the Roberts court might wind up capitulating.

In short, Trumps first week in office was marked by an implicit bet that his opponents cant stand in his way  and that the judiciary wont.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, two courts have stood in his way, at least temporarily.

On Tuesday  just three minutes before Trumps spending freeze was set to take effect  a federal district judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the administration from implementing it for the next six days, portending a furious week of further litigation. Notably, the Justice Department argued that it didnt believe U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan had the authority to issue the short-term reprieve.

Last week, a judge in Washington state put a nationwide hold on Trumps Day One executive order seeking to impose limits on the Constitutions grant of citizenship to anyone born on American soil.

But those temporary orders are mere preludes in the litigation that will proceed on both issues. And that litigation may rush up to the Supreme Court on an emergency basis in the coming months, or even weeks.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the fight over the spending freeze, the central question will be whether Trump can persuade five justices to agree that presidents have a constitutional prerogative to impound  or refuse to spend  money that Congress has appropriated. In the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Congress provided a framework for presidents to seek to rescind certain funds. But outside that framework  which Trumps Monday night freeze does not even attempt to comply with  courts have never recognized a general impoundment power for presidents.

This is not Trumps first brush with the Impoundment Control Act. The law was at the heart of his impeachment in 2020 when he halted aid to Ukraine for weeks amid a demand that the countrys new leader investigate the Biden family. Since then, Trump has insisted the law itself is unconstitutional, and hes now acting on that declaration in unprecedented fashion. By the time the courts catch up  even if they rule the move to be illegal  debilitating cuts could ripple through federal aid programs.

Republicans, meanwhile, are largely shrugging and pointing to Trumps claimed mandate to shake up government, though some suggested there might be merit to the separation of powers concerns raised by Trumps detractors.

Trump has similarly defied the letter of the law in his decision to terminate more than a dozen inspectors general, who are charged with monitoring waste, fraud and abuse within the government. A 2022 law signed by President Joe Biden requires the administration to give Congress a 30-day heads up before firing inspectors general and offer a detailed explanation. Trump did neither.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who berated Biden for following the inspector general law but not providing a detailed enough explanation for removing a single inspector general, issued a gentle scolding of Trump for the expansive firings. But by the next morning, he was heaping social media praise on the new president. On Tuesday, he signed a letter with his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin, calling on Trump to immediately come into compliance with the law.

So far, no legal challenges to the firings have emerged, despite an initial claim by one of the first watchdogs that the removals were illegal.

Likewise, Trump has run roughshod over a federal law requiring the government to effectively shut down TikTok over national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership. The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the law is constitutional, sweeping away last-ditch challenges, but Trump has yet to enforce it despite clear deadlines.

Trump has also asserted his power in other extraordinary ways, from his blanket pardon of 1,500 people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to his acting attorney generals summary firing of Justice Department officials who worked on criminal investigations of his conduct.

In each case, those decisions have pushed on the outer boundaries of executive power, with adversaries vowing legal action.
Trump on Wednesday began the process for a post-sentencing appeal of his hush-money case.

His new lawyers filed a notice of appeal in the same Manhattan courthouse where he was sentenced.

He is challenging both his May 30 conviction and his January 10 sentencing.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday began the potentially yearslong process of appealing his felony hush-money conviction.

His new criminal attorneys filed the appeal's opening salvo  a so-called notice of appeal  on the 12th floor of the same Manhattan courthouse where he was convicted in May and sentenced on January 10.

The two-page notice states simply that Trump is appealing his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and his no-jail sentence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The notice includes, as an attachment, the transcript for the sentencing.

Trump's former criminal attorney, Todd Blanche, had said at sentencing that his client would be filing an appeal. Under New York law he had 30 days to do so.

Blanche is now Trump's pick for deputy attorney general. The appeal is being handled by the white-shoe Manhattan law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell.

The firm's cochair, Robert Giuffra, Jr., signed the appeal notice.

"President Donald J. Trump's appeal is important for the rule of law, New York's reputation as a global business, financial and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials," he said in a press statement. "The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's prior lawyers repeatedly tried to get the case tossed on presidential immunity grounds, and had signaled that this would be his strategy when the full appellate brief is filed in the coming months with the state's intermediary appellate court.

A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jan. 28Two Miami Valley lawmakers were part of a bipartisan cohort Tuesday touting legislation to prohibit the use of state funds for assisted suicide and abolish the death penalty in Ohio, just a week after President Donald Trump's executive order to fully restore the practice nationally.

Senate attendees to a Tuesday press conference included Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, and Assistant Minority Leader Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus; alongside House Republicans Reps. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland.

The bipartisan and bicameral collection of lawmakers pitched an "urgent" need to codify the abolishment of Ohio's death penalty while doubling down on existing state laws that make it impossible for the state to use its own dollars to fund abortions or assisted suicides.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers described abolishing the death penalty as a moral and fiscal imperative, noting that capital cases in Ohio cost millions of dollars and are generally extended over the course of decades.

"This is transformative legislation that represents a new era of fiscal and moral conservatism and responsibility," Mathews said. "This is more than just policy; this is about the affirmation that where there is human life, there is dignity and hope. By prohibiting public funds from being used to terminate human life, this legislation sends a clear message that Ohio will not fund death."

The legislation  yet to be introduced in the House or Senate  is the latest development in an ongoing, convoluted death penalty saga in Ohio, which has had an unofficial moratorium on state executions since the summer of 2018 under the leadership of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

That moratorium has been predicated by a reported difficulty in obtaining drugs for lethal injection, which today is the only legal method the state could use to kill a death row inmate. In the time since the moratorium began, a backlog of 30 inmates that have exhausted all appeals await an execution date.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In December, DeWine told reporters that those 30 inmates will have to wait for at least two more years. "We've not had any executions since I've been governor. We will not as long as I'm governor," said DeWine, who will be replaced in early 2027 due to term limits and may be replaced by a governor with a more favorable view of capital punishment.

In the meantime, legislators on both sides of the issue have tried to advance their cause  on efforts to fully rule out capital punishments and on efforts to allow the state to use nitrogen hypoxia, a rarely used method of suffocation, in instances where lethal injection drugs can't be obtained.

On Jan. 20, during his first day back in the Oval Office, Trump signed an executive order to restore the death penalty. In it, he castigated politicians like DeWine who, by not moving forward with capital punishments, "have defied and subverted the laws of our country," Trump's order said. "At every turn, they seek to thwart the execution of lawfully imposed capital sentences and choose to enforce their personal beliefs rather than the law."

Trump's order mandates the U.S. Attorney General to seek capital punishments for all capital crimes. It also directs the U.S. AG to seek federal jurisdiction for every federal capital crime involving the murder of a law enforcement officer and all capital crime committed by undocumented people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, it instructs the U.S. AG to "encourage State attorneys general and district attorneys to bring State capital charges for all capital crimes with special attention" to the aforementioned crimes. Ohio's current Attorney General Dave Yost advocated for the authorization of nitrogen hypoxia last year and launched his campaign for governor earlier this month.

While the anti-death penalty lawmakers expressed optimism that this compromising bill might finally make it into law, Montgomery County Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp. told this outlet Tuesday that he doesn't expect it to garner much support among House Republicans.

"It's always been hot over in the Senate, we've never had an appetite for it over here," said Plummer, noting that he intends to reintroduce his bill to authorize nitrogen hypoxia soon. "Of course, we have a lot of new members so who knows where they're going to be, but I'll take our odds over here."

House Republicans aren't the only groups hesitant with the bill. House Minority Leader Allison Russo told reporters Tuesday that she doesn't expect much support from her caucus unless a member offers to co-sponsor the bill in the House, giving them greater control of what the final product would actually look like.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the bill also angered abortion-rights activists including Planned Parenthood, which sent out a press release admonishing Senate Democrats for putting their names on a bill that would further close the door of state funds going to abortions.

"The sad reality is that what should have been a focused effort to end the death penalty in Ohio devolved into yet another anti-abortion spectacle," said Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

Note: This story may be updated as more information becomes available.

------

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...
Donald Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, complained that immigrants in sanctuary cities are very difficult to arrest because they are educated about their rights when it comes to ICE raids.

Homan, who previously led ICE as its acting director, has made the rounds on media while the presidents effort to round up undocumented immigrants and deport them en masse got underway in major cities such as Chicago and New York since the weekend.

In a Monday appearance on CNN, he complained that sanctuary cities are making it very difficult to arrest the criminals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For instance, Chicagovery well-educated, Homan continued. Theyve been educated on how to how to defy ICE, how to hide from ICE. Ive seen many pamphlets from many NGOs: Heres how you escape ICE from arresting you. Heres what you need to do."

They call it Know Your Rights. I call it how to escape arrest, Homan added.

He seemed to be referring to a campaign, called Know Your Rights, launched by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. It encourages citizens whose homes are visited by immigration agents not to open the door unless presented with a warrant signed by a judge.

Homan said, though, that the agents conducting the operation wont easily be deterred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If we gotta play that cat and mouse game, thats what were going to do til every one of thems gone, he said.

ICE has arrested at least 4,829 people since Trumps inauguration, according to NBC News.

As far as alternatives to the deportation raids, right-wing pundit Megyn Kelly suggested to Homan, when he appeared on her YouTube show on Tuesday, that it could be more efficient to pay immigrants to self-deport and return to their home countries.

Heres a big check waiting for you, Kelly said. Get out! Get down there and well work with the government to make sure these people get paid. I know it sounds outrageous.

Is that crazy talk? Kelly asked Homan, who responded that it was, in fact, one option under consideration.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trumps pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, is appearing today at one of two scheduled Senate committee hearings. He is expected to be grilled about some of his more controversial positions, including on vaccines, abortion and pharmaceuticals.

On Tuesday, his cousin Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, wrote a scathing letter about his nomination.

Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan, called her cousin a predator, and said he was addicted to attention and power, as The Washington Post reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said RFK Jr.s children are vaccinated even though he discourages other parents from vaccinating their children, spoke about his past drug abuse, and urged senators to reject her cousins nomination.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not respond to Carolines accusations.

On Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee, and on Thursday, he will appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel.

The Finance Committee oversees the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and the Health Committee oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. All of these programs would be under Kennedys purview if he is confirmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its unclear if Kennedy has the necessary votes to advance. The two days of hearings are expected to reveal the vulnerabilities lawmakers are most concerned about.

Although Kennedys proposals surrounding food and nutrition  including his promise to rid food of additives and chemicals  enjoy bipartisan support, his anti-vaccine stance is less popular. He has said he doesnt want to get rid of vaccines, but wants more transparency in the health industry  however his actions on vaccines have not always borne that out.

Kennedy also supports the consumption of raw milk, which, the FDA warns, can lead to illness. He is also against adding fluoride to the water supply, a common practice in the U.S. that is supported by dentists. Some of these views prompted health experts to oppose his nomination, and thousands of them signed letters listing their concerns.

Former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., center, smiles as Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., right, introduces him before he testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, to be transportation secretary. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., left, also introduced Duffy. | Susan Walsh

Which Trump nominees were confirmed Tuesday?

The Senate confirmed former Rep. Sean Duffy as the transportation secretary on Tuesday in a 77-22 vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Duffy, a five-term congressman, advanced past the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee without a single opposing vote.

The Transportation Department historically hasnt attracted as much attention, but it did come under scrutiny during former Secretary Pete Buttigiegs rocky time in office. His tenure during the Biden administration was marked by the 2022 Southwest Airlines winter holidays meltdown, and the tragic 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Duffy promised to improve infrastructure and usher in a golden age of transportation and travel.

After leaving Congress in 2019, he joined Fox News and co-hosted a show on the networks business channel. He met his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, also a Fox News host, on an MTV reality show and the couple share nine children together.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was also confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday.

Who else is confirmed to Trumps cabinet?

Duffy and Bessent are the fifth and sixth members of President Donald Trumps Cabinet to get sworn in.

Others confirmed since Trump took office include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Who is scheduled for hearings this week?

Heres a look at this weeks high profile hearings.

Wednesday

The Senate Small Business panel will hold a hearing for former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, the nominee to lead the Small Business Administration. The panel will also hold a meeting to vote on Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnicks confirmation Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate Judiciary Committee will also hold a meeting to vote on whether to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general.

President Donald Trump's nominee for Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, left, makes her way through the Senate subway at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington. | Rod Lamkey

Thursday

The nomination of Russ Vought for the director of Office of Management and Budget hangs in the balance in the Senate Budget Committee. Democrats are pushing to stop his nomination amid Trumps latest executive order on federal assistance.

The White House issued a memo on Tuesday that directed all federal grants to be frozen. A judge later put a stay on the order.

As much as Trump desires it, the president is not a king. As much as Trump desires it, a law is not a suggestion, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said at a press conference Tuesday. We have a constitutional crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merkley, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, called for a two-week postponement of the committee vote on Voughts confirmation until the issue is resolved. But Senate Republicans dismissed the concerns and said they will proceed as scheduled.

The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold a hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for the director of National Intelligence. The schedule indicates the hearing will be followed by a closed-door meeting.

Turning Point USAs Charlie Kirk, in a post on X, raised concerns about the confidential process, saying senators may be inclined to vote in secret. The American people deserve to know how THEIR Senators vote on Trumps nominees! he wrote.

The jury is still out on whether Gabbard has enough support to be approved by the committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbard, a former Democratic member of the House who left her party and endorsed Trump in 2024, faces scrutiny over her past remarks on Russia as well as the ousted Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.

After Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, at a Politico breakfast panel, said that he hadnt sat down with Gabbard, her team found a time for them to meet.

The biggest problem for me is, shes been so low profile, he said at the Politico event. The others have come to my office and so if you go back to that analogy of a sheet of music, her sheets pretty blank for me. I need more information to start filling that in. And, look, if I cant fill that in, I cant vote for her.

After they met, Curtis posted pictures of the meeting, saying, Ill carefully evaluate her qualifications to ensure Americas intelligence capabilities remain the best in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kash Patel, nominated to run the FBI, will appear in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Patel, a close Trump ally, served in the first Trump administration in various positions, including chief of staff to the secretary of the Defense Department and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, as the Deseret News previously reported.

He started his career as a public defender in Florida and later became a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice.

Patel has received criticism from Democrats for his closeness to Trump and his alleged history of appeasing the president during his first term.

Pam Bondi, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, stands for a break during the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. | Ben Curtis

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Thursday, the Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Daniel Driscolls nomination for secretary of Army, and the Foreign Relations Committee will consider the testimony of Elise Stefanik, Trumps pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
President Trump celebrated Florida state Sen. Randy Fines (R) primary win on Tuesday, hailing the lawmaker for his call to progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to consider leaving Congress if he ends up being elected to the chamber.

Fine is favored to succeed former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who vacated his seat representing the Sunshine States 6th Congressional District after Trump tapped him to serve as national security adviser.

Trump posted a photo of him and Fine on Truth Social on Tuesday that says: Randy Fine wins and Endorsed by President Trump!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fine, an ardent backer of Israel, joined the race in November after earning public backing from the president. The special election is scheduled for April 1.

Fine issued his warning to Tlaib and Omar, both vocal supporters of Palestinians in Gaza, in late November.

The Hebrew Hammer is coming. [Rashida Tlaib] and [Ilhan Omar] might consider leaving before I get there, he wrote at the time, including a hashtag #BombsAway.

Tlaib is the only Palestinian American member of Congress. She and Omar  both Muslim  have been staunch backers of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The two sides are under a temporary ceasefire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fine faced some blowback in September over his comments about the war. After a Turkish American activist was killed by Israels military in the West Bank, the Florida lawmaker said Throw rocks, get shot. One less Muslim terrorist. Fire Away.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trumps Justice Department is moving to drop the charges against his two former Mar-a-Lago employees, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, in the classified documents case.

The DOJ filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss an appeal to revive the charges against the pair, thus ending the last traces of the federal criminal cases against the president. In July, Trump appointee Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the 42 felony charges against Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira, on the grounds that special counsel Jack Smith had been illegitimately appointed. The Justice Department appealed the decision, asking that the charges against Nauta and De Oliveira remain.

The pair were accused of helping Trump move boxes of classified documents at his Florida estate so that federal investigators could not find them and of trying to delete security footage that showed them moving boxes. Trump also asked Nauta to lie on his behalf to the FBI and promised him a pardon if he faced any charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, Nauta and De Oliveira had also sought to block special counsel Jack Smiths final report on the classified documents case from being released, but their appeal was denied. Cannon, who showed clear bias toward Trump during his classified documents case, did manage to block the release of a selected volume of Smiths report to select members of Congress last week, leaving parts of the case still unknown to the public.

In November, following Trumps election victory, Smith moved to have the federal charges against the president for trying to overturn the 2020 election dismissed without prejudice, meaning that they could be refiled after his term of office ends in 2029. For Nauta and De Oliveira, Wednesdays action might be the end of the classified documents case. But for Trump, will it resurface four years from now?


An auto-rickshaw driver was arrested for allegedly killing a 58-year-old inspector ranked officer posted at Rustamji Armed Police Training College (RAPTC) in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, a police officer said on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Devendra Burasi (27) and the inspector was identified as Prabhat Narayan Chaturvedi (58). The inspector took an auto to reach the bus stop on the intervening night of January 23-24 and on the way, both of them consumed liquor together. During this, they had a dispute, following which the accused got furious and committed the crime, the police said. The family members of the inspector had also lodged a missing complaint at Vijaynagar police station in the district. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Zone 2) Abhinay Vishwakarma said, "On January 24, we received information about a dead body found in front of Phoenix Mall under Khajrana police station limits on which the police team reached the spot. Forensic team was called to investigate the matter and prima facie, it appeared that the body was thrown at the spot after the murder. After the postmortem report, a case was registered and a probe was initiated," The police enquired about the identification of the dead body and found that he was an Inspector rank officer Prabhat Narayan Chaturvedi (58), who was posted at RAPTC. Upon identification, the police talked to his family members and came to know that his mother recently passed away and he was about to leave for the Panna district for that purpose. Thereafter, the police began a probe to track the Inspector's movement from his home to the incident spot. When CCTV footage was checked, he was found near Pardeshipura wine shop in the district and was spotted taking an auto, the officer said. "The police traced the auto and took the auto driver Devendra Burasi into custody. When he was questioned about the matter, he confessed to the crime. He told the police that on the intervening night of January 23-24, he met with the inspector at the wine shop and the inspector asked him to drop him at the bus stop. On the way, they consumed liquor together and had a dispute. The auto driver got furious, attacked and killed him. After that he threw his body and escaped," the officer said. During the interrogation, the accused told the police he killed him by hitting a stone on his head. The stone used in the crime was recovered from the incident site. The accused has been arrested and his auto was also confiscated, the officer said. Further investigation into the matter is underway, he added. (ANI)
From the Capitolism on The Dispatch

Readers of Capitolism surely know by now that Im a fan of immigration and believe the United States illegal immigration problem starts with its legal immigration problem (i.e., that our broken system makes it too darn difficult to move, work, and stay here). Nevertheless, its also objectively correct that illegal immigration is, well, illegal, and not even a bleeding-heart squish like me would vigorously object to the federal government deporting violent criminals who snuck into the country.

Its a more open question, however, as to whether the widescale deportations promised (and seemingly begun) by the new Trump administration are worth the massive amount of government and private resourcesyears of work, billions of dollars, thousands of people, etc. needed to deport even a fraction of the 11 million illegal immigrants, most of whom are not violent criminals, that the Trump administration has promised to remove. (And thats even leaving aside the moral, civil liberties, and efficacy concerns that the governments efforts raise.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many who vigorously shout YES IT IS to that question often point to not just the law but the economic benefits that deportations would supposedly bring to the U.S. economy, particularly for U.S. workers (native-born and legal immigrants) that wouldagain, supposedlyget better jobs and higher wages if they didnt have to compete with undocumented workers in the U.S. labor market. Yet decades of research on several different periods of U.S. historyboth distant and recentshow that the overall labor market effects of the Trump administrations deportation promises should be counted as another cost, not benefit, to any such actionsfor not just illegal immigrants and their families but most American workers, too.

The Long History of U.S. Deportations

Indeed, the history of large-scale U.S. government immigration actions gives us plenty to worry about when it comes to the economic effects of the new Trump deportations. Lets start in the 19th century, when concerns about immigrants stealing Americans jobs in Western states resulted in the first big crackdown on immigration in U.S. historythe Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States and pushed out many Chinese laborers already here. According to a recent paper examining the Acts effects on eight Western states, the law unsurprisingly reduced the Chinese labor supplyboth skilled and unskilled workersby 64 percent in the region. More surprisingly, however, was that the act:

Reduced the white male labor supply by 28 percent and reduced these workers lifetime earnings, too.

Reduced total manufacturing output in the region by 62 percent, the number of manufacturing establishments in the region 54 to 69 percent, and manufacturing labor productivity by an imprecise amount. (The damage was so substantial because Western factories back then were small and mostly relied on labor-intensive production.)

Generally acted as a drag on economic growth in the Western U.S. (which was otherwise growing rapidly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries).

The authors thus conclude that the Chinese Exclusion Act led to negative economic effects for most non-Chinese workers and likely slowed the economic development of the western United States for many decades. Their main lesson: productive immigrant labor may be hard to replace.

Indeed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, the Chinese Exclusion Acts damage back then was likely greater than itd be today because weve (thankfully!) improved on 19th-century mobility, technology, amenities (AC, especially), and social integrationthings that wouldve amplified the acts economic shock by limiting labor adjustment and something the studys authors readily acknowledge.

Fortunately, theres plenty of research on subsequent periods of U.S. history that show similar (though smaller) effectsduring economic downturns as well as boomsfor similar reasons.

Between 1929 and 1934, the United States government deportedsome by force and others by persuasionat least 400,000 Mexicans (many of whom were U.S.-born!) to boost native-born employment during the Great Depression. As a result of this policy, the Mexican population in the United States declined dramatically in the 1930s, but, as economists Jongkwan Lee and colleagues have found, American workers didnt benefit. Instead, Mexican repatriations resulted in reduced employment and occupational downgrading for U.S. natives, particularly for low-skilled workers and workers in urban areas. They cite three likely reasons for the disappointing results: 1) companies in immigrant-dependent industries like agriculture and construction suffered, reducing their demand for native workers; 2) Mexicans departures reduced urban populations and, in turn, demand for local goods and services, as well as overall economic growth in these areas; and 3) firms that survived the policys initial economic shocks restructured to utilize more labor-saving technologies instead of hiring native-born workers.

In the mid-1960s, the United States ceased its successful Bracero Program that provided Mexican nationals with expanded access to guest worker visas (thus dramatically reducing illegal immigration, by the way). The goal of the programs cancellationwhich caused the exclusion of roughly half a million seasonally-employed Mexican farm workers from the labor forcewas to increase the wages and employment of American farm workers. Yet, in reviewing novel state-level employment and migration data, economist Michael Clemens and his co-authors found no such effects in the most exposed states. Instead, wages in states with high or moderate levels of Mexican migrant workers (and thus higher levels of bracero effects) rose more slowly after bracero exclusion than wages in states with no exposure to exclusion. Employment levels, meanwhile, showed no significant effects across states. The authors conclude that bracero exclusion failed as active labor market policy, theorizing thatinstead of raising wages and hiring more American workersU.S. farmers turned to harvesting machines or, where rapid mechanization wasnt possible (e.g., for delicate fruits), simply produced less.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most recently, the United States during the Obama years ramped up immigration enforcement and deportations via the Secure Communities (SC) program, which sought to detect and remove illegal immigrants by increasing information-sharing between the federal government and local law enforcement agencies and was revived during the first Trump term. As economist Chloe East recently documented for the Brookings Institution, SC between 2008 and 2014 resulted in the deportation of about 400,000 people, mostly men, and had a broader chilling effect on illegal and legal migrants willingness to engage in the formal economy. As she documents, even people not targeted for deportation became fearful of leaving their house to do routine things like go to work because the programlike what Trumps promising todaydidnt just target serious, violent criminals but instead deported lots of migrants with minor, nonviolent convictions (or none at all).

Once again, however, the removal of several hundred thousand workers from the U.S. labor market was not a boon for the U.S. economy or most native-born workers. Instead, East and her colleagues found that, while SC decreased the employment of likely undocumented immigrants via deportations and the aforementioned chilling effects, the program also slightly decreased U.S.-born workers employment and hourly wages on average. They posit that these negative effects were driven by two factors: First, firms with increased labor costs decreased their overall output and job creation, meaning that the modest gains experienced by low-wage native workers were more than offset by losses among everyone else; second, fewer people meant less local consumption, which in turn meant less economic activity (and demand for labor) in the localities at issue.

Other studies of SC have expanded on these findings in specific industries. In a separate paper, East and others found that SC reduced the labor supply of college-educated U.S.-born mothers with young children, with many working moms unemployed or underemployed for years after their kids were born, because the policy made household services more expensive (by reducing the available workforce) and thus discouraged educated moms from working outside of the home. Relatedly, research shows that SC reduced the wages at formal childcare centers for immigrants and native workers (both low- and high-education), as well as the overall number of childcare facilities, due to a lack of workers and fewer people seeking childcare. SC has also been found to have disproportionately harmed the U.S. construction workforce (immigrant and U.S.-born, across all wage- and skill-levels), thus decreasing residential homebuilding and increasing home prices, with minimal offsetting downward price pressures due to reduced demand for housing. Finally, SC has been found to have harmed entrepreneurship, modestly deterring individuals from undertaking self-employment and significantly reducing the earnings of those who still took the plunge, especially for white, male, U.S.-born entrepreneurs. (And, to top it all off, SC might not have even reduced crime!)

Lessons Abound

In case after case and regardless of period, past U.S. efforts to remove illegal immigrants have proven economically costlyfor immigrants, certain industries and localities, and even native-born workers and the economy overall. This raises the obvious question of why, and East provides much of the answer in her piece for Brookings:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prevailing view used to be that foreign-born and U.S.-born workers are substitutes, meaning that when one foreign-born worker takes a job, there is one less job for a U.S.-born worker. But economists have now shown several reasons why the economy is not a zero-sum game: because unauthorized immigrants work in different occupations from the U.S.-born, because they create demand for goods and services, and because they contribute to the long-run fiscal health of the country.

We see the first two dynamics repeatedly in the research outlined above. In general, government reductions in illegal immigrants labor supply didnt draw many American workers into the occupations in which the immigrants mainly workedoccupations that often supported other American workersbut did reduce overall local demand for goods and services. And the relatively few American workers who did fill some of these new vacancies ended up in jobs that were worse than what these workers otherwise wouldve done. As a result, deportations and related restrictions caused local economic activity to be depressed, while harming many U.S. businesses and workers along the way. (These dynamics also explain why various studies have found new immigrant labor supply, legal or illegal, to have little to no negative wage effects on native U.S. workers, including other immigrants, even though most illegal immigrants are likely coming here for work.)

We should expect similar effects this time aroundif not more so. For starters, East shows that today illegal immigrants generally work in low-paying, dangerous and otherwise less attractive jobs that U.S.-born workers and legal immigrants tend to shy away from:

As weve discussed, moreover, the U.S. labor marketnow and likely in the futureremains tight (thanks to demographics and other factors), and there are simply not millions and millions of idle American workers sitting on the sidelines just itching to take these newly open jobs. To the extent Trumps broad deportation promises come to fruition, we can expect many immigrant-dependent industries to suffer, few American workers to gain, many other Americans to lose, and plenty of headlines like this along the way:

Summing It All Up

Maybe you think these costs and others are worth the price, and that no amount of illegal immigrant labor is acceptable in todays United States. Being a devoted cost-benefit guy obsessed with scarcity and opportunity cost and fearful of a big, intrusive state (and being a soft-hearted lib, to boot), I disagree. Regardless, we should all have our eyes wide open about the trade-offs that any big, broad deportation policy entails, beyond simply the ample resources required to (maybe) pull it off. In this particular case, the tradeoffs are real and significant, and they include costs borne by the very people that the policy is supposedly intended to help.

Chart(s) of the Week

Massive (190 percent!) U.S. solar panel price premium, thanks in part to tariffs:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canadian oil effectively replaced OPEC oil in the US market:

Agricultural productivity:

The Links

You heard it here first: world trade is moving on without the USA (more) (more)

How Argentina beat rent control

Poll: Americans sour on early Trump actions (including re: tariffs)

The U.S. trade representatives report on U.S./China shipbuilding is bad

Anti-elite nonsense

Some important history about Reagan and trade

Germanys manufacturing/export-dependent economic model is broken

We shouldnt freak out about DeepSeek

Trickle-down housing in Austin

Hiring a nanny will make you more libertarian

Kill protectionism to boost U.S. commercial shipbuilding and natsec

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Correcting the recordand the economicsre: externalities

Brazil cuts tariffs to lower grocery prices

Gen Z Americans are leaving their European cousins in the dustTyler Cowen rips MAGAs favorite trade guy Michael Pettis (Krugman too)

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.
Hospitals, clinics and medical schools that provide gender-affirming care to transgender youth are at risk of losing federal funding if they continue providing that care, according to a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The order would, if enacted as such, force those hospitals and clinics to choose between staying open or providing specialized care to a small number of patients  and could essentially impose a nationwide ban for youth care.

The order is likely to be quickly challenged in court. Like most executive orders, it lays out rule-making that federal agencies need to undertake within 30 to 60 days, meaning that it does not go into immediate effect. However, LGBTQ+ advocates are worried that any federal policy attempting to restrict gender-affirming care will cause a chilling effect among providers, causing people to lose care anyway.

Trumps order also directs the federal government to rescind protections for trans minors who receive gender-affirming care, including reviewing Medicaid benefits and insurance covered through Tricare, which is administered through the Department of Defense. And the order directs the Federal Health Employee Benefits Plan, which covers over 8 million people, to drop coverage of gender-affirming care for trans youth. It specifically targets puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps order also directs the Department of Justice to target health care for trans youth, including encouraging it to prioritize investigations into medications prescribed and prosecutions against providers, citing laws that prohibit female genital mutilation.

And it directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review existing laws  including the Affordable Care Acts non-discrimination provision, known at Section 1557  to see if they can be used to restrict access to gender-affirming care. Trump also directed the department to rescind previous guidance issued under former President Joe Biden, which was meant to protect access to trans care.

LGBTQ+ advocates quickly condemned the order.

The orders characterization of medical care for transgender minors bears no resemblance to reality, said Shannon Minter, legal director of the Lesbian Center for Transgender Rights. This is an attempt to impose an extreme ideological agenda through hyperbole and fear, not a responsible attempt to address this issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jennifer Pizer, chief legal officer at Lambda Legal, said the order directly contradicts nondiscrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act.

Vanessa Ford, the mother of a trans teen, said the order will do nothing to erase her child.

My child exists, and, like all families, we deserve the right to make private medical decisions, alongside with our medical providers that impact our childs life, she said

The order is part of a sweeping Republican effort to stop trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care. Trump campaigned aggressively on restricting medical care to trans youth, falsely and baselessly claiming on the campaign trail that schools were secretly performing gender-affirming treatments on children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, gender-affirming care is very difficult for minors to access; studies show that surgeries are rarely performed and medications infrequently prescribed.

The order argues that cutting off such care prevents children from a lifetime of costly surgeries and painful medical complications. The care in question is endorsed by all major medical associations including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. Trumps order also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to review existing medical literature about trans health care and directs the government to abandon guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, an international organization of health care professionals with expertise in trans care.

Transgender health care has increasingly been under attack from coast to coast over the last four years. Twenty-four states already ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, while 16 have passed laws protecting the rights of youth to access such care. LGBTQ+ policy organizations have prepped for months to oppose Tuesdays order, and have vowed to fight it in court.

The post Trump directs federal government to restrict access to gender-affirming care for youth appeared first on The 19th.

News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
Federal prosecutors in Florida moved to dismiss the appeal in the Mar-a-Lago prosecution, pushing to bring an end to President Trumps classified documents case.

The motion, which comes after the U.S. Attorneys Office in the state assigned a new prosecutor to the case, still needs to be approved by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

But doing so signals an end to an appeal ignited by former special counsel Jack Smith, as he fought a lower court ruling from District Judge Aileen Cannon finding he was unlawfully appointed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move is more broadly set to unwind charges against Trumps two co-defendants in the case, whom the Biden administration still wished to prosecute if Cannons order was reversed.

The motion noted that valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira, who were accused of aiding Trump in concealing boxes of documents from prosecutors and his own attorney, did not oppose the move.

By moving to dismiss the appeal with prejudice, prosecutors would be barred from relaunching any similar efforts in the future.

Cannon dismissed the case last year, siding with arguments from Trump that Smith was unlawfully appointed and could therefore not bring charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was a decision that undercut 50 years of precedent on rulings regarding special counsel authority.

The case had also been the subject of another ongoing legal battle: whether Smith could release the volume of his report dealing with Trumps efforts to conceal classified documents.

Former Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed with Smith that the Mar-a-Lago report should be withheld from the public given the ongoing cases against Nauta and De Oliviera.

But their efforts to allow it to be reviewed by the four leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees were blocked by Cannon, who indicated it would be a revealing report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Volume II includes detailed and voluminous discovery information, she wrote in a decision the day after Trump was sworn in, referring to the Mar-a-Lago volume.

Much of this information has not been made public in Court filings. It includes myriad references to bates-stamped information provided by the Special Counsel in discovery and subject to the protective order, including interview transcripts, search warrant materials, business records, toll records, video footage, various other records obtained pursuant to grand jury subpoena, information as to which President-Elect Trump has asserted the attorney-client privilege in motions in this proceeding evidence, and other non-public information.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made an eleventh-hour bid to ask Garland to drop the charges against the two co-defendants in order to allow for the reports release.

Charges against Trump were dropped at Smiths request after his election, but the case nonetheless laid out a plot to retain some 300 records with classified markings after leaving office, spurring Espionage Act charges against the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Updated at 11:39 a.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.
Donald Trump has long complained that Democrats are better at sticking together than Republicans are. Hes already revisited this gripe. In meetings with Republican leaders from the House and Senate and with the House Freedom Caucus, he reportedly insisted that Republicans need to be unified the way Democrats are.

Whether its true that Democrats are better at sticking together than Republicans is debatable, particularly given that, not too long ago, the Democratic Party defenestrated a sitting president seeking reelection. What is more interesting, and ominous, is President Trumps definition of unity.

Please forgive a brief refresher course on the obvious. Traditionally, the way parties achieved political unity is by crafting some kind of rough consensus on an issue. The consensus was never perfect, and some dissenters and mavericks had to be strong-armed by party leaders or the president to fall in line (or not). In any case, party unity was mostly a negotiated thing, with input and compromise from all sides.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The red line for most legislators in such negotiations is having to take a position that jeopardizes their own reelection chances. Asking a representative from a very pro-gun district to vote for, say, a major gun control measure makes no sense, politically. Party loyalty cant be a suicide pact and, besides, its better to have a dissident member of your own party in office than someone from the other party.

In short, presidents worked with party members for the good of the party. Oneagain obviousway it worked was that presidents would be clear about what they intended to do. If youre president, you dont want your surrogates going around arguing that the president must and will do Xand would surely never do Y!only to humiliate them by doing Y.

Sen. Tom Cotton has been forcefully persuasive that TikTok is a national security threat. Is he supposed to say, never mind because videos of Trump dancing to the Village People did well?

Another obvious thing presidents traditionally do is provide argumentsor talking pointsabout the reasons why policy decisions make sense independent of the presidents personal interest. The president is taking action to protect the American taxpayer, or because he believes its a fundamental issue of justice, yada yada yada. This sort of thing helps the party faithful get with the program by knowing the program.

But this is not Trumps sort of thing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For instance, both Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted that Trump wouldnt pardon January 6 protesters guilty of attacking cops. If you committed violence that day, obviously you shouldnt be pardoned, Vance said days before the inauguration.

Then Trump did exactly that. His reason? The process of distinguishing between violent goons and overcharged (in his view) nonviolent protesters was too cumbersome and complex. F it: Release em all, Trump said according to Axios.

Thats not an argument other Republicans can use on the hustings.

The same goes for Trumps lawless refusal to implement the TikTok ban. In his first term, Trump supported a ban and signed an executive order to that effect. Then congressional Republicans helped pass bipartisan legislation codifying Trumps own executive order. The problem? Trump changed his mind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Why? Because his campaign videos did well on 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 explained.

Sen. Tom Cotton, a leader on this issue, has been forcefully persuasive that TikTok is a national security threat. Is he supposed to say, never mind because videos of Trump dancing to the Village People did well?

On everything from legislative strategy to energy policies to Cabinet appointments Trump has left his own party faithful scrambling to explain and defend his actions beyond blind cult-of-personality loyalty. That would be politically manageable with supermajorities in the House and Senate, less so with a two-vote margin in the House and three-seat majority in the Senate.

For Trump, unity means loyalty, and loyalty for Trump is a one-way street. When it comes to Congress, Politicos Rachel Bade writes, Trump is more concerned with using his political muscle to perform acts of dominance than to settle the intramural disputes that are holding up his agenda. The lesson, a Trump transition official told Axios: Never get ahead of the boss, because you just never know.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its understandable why the Trump team would see things this way. Trump has gelded the GOP. But its also understandable why presidents crafted party unity the old way: the Constitution. Unlike in parliamentary systems where the majority party leader runs the whole government, Congress is a separate branch of government, and its members are elected with their own mandates and with their own political ambitions. The party will stick together as long as those ambitions are advanced by unity.

But not much longer.

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.
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on school funding Wednesday that fulfill promises he made on the campaign trail, including on school choice and ending funding for schools that support what the White House calls radical indoctrination.

In the week and a half since hes been in office, Trump has signed a flurry of executive actions as hes sought to remake the federal government and enact his sweeping America First agenda, with a particular target on so-called diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Also on Wednesday, he signed an executive order combating antisemitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order on school choice  an issue that Trump has been pushing for eight years  could be a huge win for conservative activists and politicians who have been advocating for decades to make it easier for families to spend taxpayer funds on private education.

The order involves multiple agencies in the effort to provide taxpayer funds to parents to pay for private schools.

Among its directives, the Department of Education  which Trump has vowed to shut down  is ordered to issue guidance on using federal funding to support scholarship programs for grade school students. The Department of Defense is ordered to submit a plan to Trump directly on how military families can use DOD funds to send children to their preferred school. The secretary of interior is ordered to submit a plan to Trump on how families with students attending Bureau of Indian Education schools can use federal money to attend the school of their choice. And the Health and Human Services Department must issue guidance on how states can use HHS funds to attend private or faith-based schools.

Various red states across the country have already passed universal or near-universal school choice policies on the state level  either vouchers that directly send public dollars to private schools or education savings account programs that give parents more flexibility on where to spend the money. The Trump administrations move to allow federal tax dollars to be directed to school choice could supercharge the movement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But public school advocates and public school teachers unions have long been against redirecting taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools, saying it would harm poorer public schools. Districts have already been dealing with budget shortfalls, in addition to a dramatic reduction in the public school population, which is often a factor in determining how much funding a school district will receive. Public school advocates believe eventually school choice will mean the end of public schools and an increase in education inequity.

As CNN has reported, some of Trumps education proposals  like eliminating the Department of Education and slashing federal funding for public schools  could hit areas that voted for him the hardest. A CNN analysis found that all of the 15 states that relied most heavily on federal support for their public schools in 2022 voted for Trump, while all but two of the 15 states that received the least federal dollars as a percentage of their overall revenue voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

But one source with a teachers union expressed some skepticism on the overall impact this order would have, pointing to how unpopular school choice has been with some voters who have rejected these policies on a state level.

The additional school-related executive order is about protecting parental rights and ending discrimination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My Administration will enforce the law to ensure that recipients of Federal funds providing K-12 education comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in various contexts and protecting parental rights, the order reads.

It calls for government agencies to come up with a plan to end funding for illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools, including based on gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology.

Combating antisemitism

Trump is also calling on the federal government to cancel student visas for what he called Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, according to a White House fact sheet.

He later signed an executive order calling on government agencies to submit a report within 60 days to identify civil and criminal authorities to combat antisemitism and containing an inventory and analysis of all pending administrative complaints, as of the date of the report, against or involving institutions of higher education alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the campaign trail, Trump railed against pro-Palestinian student protests, which broke out in response to Israels military response in Gaza after Hamas October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The Republican National Conventions 2024 platform pledged to Deport Pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again, sparking uncertainty about the future among international students.

This story has been updated with Trump signing executive orders.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Almost all 2 million civil servants can opt to resign now and get paid through September without showing up for work, according to a letter from Trump's Office of Personnel Management. But critics say it could sow chaos while Senator Tim Kaine warns it's a trick.

President Donald Trump plans to grant all federal employees, including those unable to comply with a strict return-to-office mandate, the opportunity to remain at home and do nothing while pocketing eight months payas long as they resign now.

On Tuesday, the roughly 2 million-strong workers on Uncle Sams payroll received notice they had until February 6th to decide whether they would like to resign from their post and accept the buyout.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, behind the program, called it a fork in the road for civil servants who would otherwise be held to new standards of on-the-job performance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal workforce is expected to undergo significant near-term changes. As a result of these changes (or for other reasons), you may wish to depart the federal government on terms that provide you with sufficient time and economic security to plan for your future, the OPM informed them.

Those who accept will exit the federal government on September 30th at the end of the current fiscal year. In the meantime, they will be placed on administrative leave and are not expected to work except in rare cases, according to the agency.

The offer excludes U.S. Postal Service workers and non-military staff employed in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, including the armed forces.

That is actually a very generous offer relative to private sector standards, argued Andrew Yang, a businessman and former 2020 presidential candidate.

Protected from the private sector's hire-and-fire mentality

Thats certainly true, but theres good reason for that added incentive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike most Americans that can lose their job at any time without notice or even reason so long as it is not illegal, bureaucrats are not considered at-will employees subject to such risks.

Until now, career civil service staff have only been fired when there is sufficient cause, like stealing.

Moreover, there is a lengthy process that gives endangered personnel ample opportunity to challenge any impending termination. The idea is that this minimizes the risk of corruption and patronage, but Trump has expressed a desire to roll back these protections.

Information on the Deferred Resignation offer here: https://t.co/SjfTr2v0kY  U.S. Office of Personnel Management (@USOPM) January 29, 2025

The announcement comes as Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, plans massive headcount reductions across the civil service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many conservatives and libertarians have long sought to radically reduce the federal government's size, arguing that removing entrenched interests like bureaucrats will result in the state naturally shrinking over time.

Now, they argue substantial cutbacks are not just desirable but absolutely necessary since fiscal spending has spiraled out of control.

The deficit for the first fiscal quarter through December soared to $711 billion, an increase of nearly 40% in absolute terms over the previous years period.

Purge could have "vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos"

However, the move sparked criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees, a trade union representing some 800,000 staffers in the U.S. civil service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, the AFGE said in a statement.

Senator Tim Kaine, the vice-presidential nominee on Hillary Clintons failed 2016 White House ticket, even called it a trick.

The President has tried to terrorize you for about a week, and then gives you a lil sweetheart offerIf you resign in the next week, were just going to pay you for doing nothing for the next seven months. Dont be fooled, he said on the floor of the Senate. The President has no authority to make that offer.

Two years ago, I commissioned an art piece: A Fork in the Road. Had to make sure that civilization took the path most likely to pass the Fermi Great Filters. pic.twitter.com/mYFzdAy6WF  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 7, 2024

Such tactics are, however, very familiar in corporate America, especially when a new CEO is hired with a mandate to restructure and downsize the company.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, this is the same approach taken by Trump advisor Elon Musk in November 2022 when he took over at Twitter, where he offered employees the opportunity to leave the company should they not be onboard with his plans for the future.

Musk even titled the staff-wide email "Fork in the Road," just like Tuesday's letter from the OPM, suggesting the idea was likely his from the outset.

"Worth nothing that the 8-month severance offer through the end of the government fiscal year is the most that is legally allowed without Congress passing another appropriations bill, Musk argued, refuting Kaine's claim.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Admitting failure is anathema to the authoritarian leader, who is perpetually in danger of being diminished only by those who are resentful of his glorywhich is why White House adviser Stephen Miller is frantically searching for scapegoats to blame for the unfolding disaster around President Donald Trumps massive freeze on federal spending. Welcome to the first dumb media hoax of 2025, Miller angrily tweeted on Tuesday night. Leftwing media outright lied, and some people fell for the hoax.

What Miller is actually angry about is that the media covered this fiasco aggressively and fairly. Miller insists that the press glossed over the funding pauses supposed exemption for aid and benefit programs. But this is rank misdirection: The funding freeze, which is likely illegal, was indeed confusingly drafted and recklessly rolled out. This is in part what prompted the national outcry over the huge swath of programs that it threatened, Medicaid benefits includedand the media coverage that angered Miller.

All of which carries a lesson for Democrats: This is what it looks like when the opposition stirs and uses its power in a unified way to make a lot of what you might call sheer political noise. That can help set the media agenda, throw Trump and his allies on the defensive, and deliver defeats to Trump that deflate his cultish aura of invincibility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This has been a red-alert moment for weeksbut now no one can deny it, Senator Chris Murphy, the Connecticut Democrat who has argued for an emergency footing against Trump, told me. For my colleagues that didnt want to cry wolf, the wolf is literally chomping at our leg right now.

Until this crisis, the Democratic opposition has mostly been relatively tentative and divided. Democrats were not sufficiently quick, forceful, or unified in denouncing Trumps illegal purge of inspectors general and his deranged threat to prosecute state officials who dont comply with mass deportations. Internal party debates suggest that many Democrats believe that Trumps 2024 victory shows voters dont care about the dire threat he poses to democracy and constitutional governance, or that defending them against Trump must be reducible to kitchen table appeals.

But the funding-freeze fiasco should illustrate that this reading is highly insufficient. An understanding of the moment shaped around the idea that voters are mostly reachable only via economic concernshowever importantfails to provide guidance on how to convey to voters why things like this extraordinary Trumpian power grab actually matter.

Democrats need to think through ways to act collectively, to utilize something akin to a party-wide strategy, precisely because this sort of collective, concerted action has the capacity to alert voters in a different kind of way. It can put them on edge, signaling to them that something is deeply amiss in the threat Trump is posing to the rule of law and constitutional order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Generally speaking, some Democrats have several objections to this kind of approach. One is that voters dont care about anything that doesnt directly impact them and that warnings about the Trump threat make them look unfocused on peoples material concerns. Another is that if Democrats do this too often, voters will stop believing theres real cause for alarm.

The funding-freeze fiasco got around the first objection for Democrats because it did have vast material implications, potentially harming millions of people. But Democrats shouldnt take the wrong lesson from this. A big reason this became a huge story was also that it represented a wildly audacious grab for quasi-dictatorial power. Democratic alarms about this dimension of the story surely helped prompt wall-to-wall coverage. Democrats can learn from that.

Faiz Shakir, a progressive dark-horse candidate for Democratic National Committee chair, suggests another way around the first objectionthat Democrats can seize on Trumps abuses of power in a way that does appeal to the working class. The party, he argues, can enlist elected officials and influencers with working-class credibility to explain that those abuses should matter, not just to working-class voters bottom lines but, critically, because his degenerate public conduct should disgust them as well. He says Democrats can argue: The way he is acting is a betrayal of working-class values and your working-class interests.

Shakir also suggests an intriguing way for the party to act in concert. As chair, hed aggressively encourage as many elected officials as possible to use the video-recording studio at the DNC in moments like these, getting them to record short takes on why voters should care about them, then push the content out on social media.*

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shakir said he sees a model in Murphy, who regularly serves up short, hyper-timely videos that use phrases like Let me tell you why this matters.

Trump's government funding shutdown - Medicaid, cancer research, elementary schools - is cataclysmic by itself.



But together with the pardon of the rioters, the firing of the IGs, etc. it's a brazen, transparent effort to seize power.



Let's start acting like it. pic.twitter.com/MIgo002QAF  Chris Murphy  (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 28, 2025

The goal, Shakir said, would be to provide Democrats with research and recording infrastructure enabling elected officials to find their own voices and flood information spaces with civic knowledge. This also would give Democrats who want to stick to a kitchen table approach a way to shape their own warnings around that.

Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, a leading DNC chair candidate, agrees that speed and unity are paramount. We cant be waiting several days to organize a response to each of these things from Trumpwe have to move quick, Martin said, adding that the larger party apparatus should all be singing from the same sheet of music.

The second objection to a concerted approachthat it risks a cry wolf effectis also seriously flawed. Its already clear some Democrats are using this to avoid hard fights, for instance in hints about working with Elon Musk or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who each pose serious threats to bedrock ideals of public service. Also, if Democrats bestow bipartisan legitimacy on Trumpian moves like appointing those two walking civic basket cases, it complicates sounding the alarm in even more grave situations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is hard for us to argue that our democracy is falling if were helping to confirm all of his nominees, Murphy told me.

Taking too much of an a la carte approach to Trumps abuses of power also risks squandering leverage. Democratic strategist Jesse Lee notes that the partys lawmakers could consider a unified, future-oriented approach to abuses like the funding freeze. The fight is real and here, Lee said, arguing that Democrats can make it clear to GOP leaders that they will get no Dem votes bailing them out while this power grab is in place. (On Wednesday, the Trump administration rescinded the funding pause, strengthening the case for an aggressive opposition.)

Nobody denies that the Democratic Party is a big, sprawling, highly varied organism with elected officials facing a huge spectrum of different political imperatives. Of course there will be variation in how they approach each Trumpian abuse. But as Brian Beutler puts it, the answer to this cannot be to lodge passing complaints about Trumps abuses of power, but turn every conversation back to the cost of groceries. This incoherently implies that the abuses themselves are not serious on their own terms.

How to corral Democrats who dont want to sound warnings in particular situations is not easy to solve. But some of the ideas above are a start. And regardless, at a minimum, we need clearer signs that party leaders, at the highest levels, are seriously thinking through how to act concertedly in ways that clearly signal to voters that were in a civic emergency, and will argue to wayward Democrats that this is in their interests as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People will not take us seriously if we dont do our jobs every day like were in the middle of a constitutional crisis, Murphy told me. Today, everybody understands that hes trying to seize power for corrupt purposes. But tomorrow, we have to start acting with purpose to stop what hes doing. If you doubt the efficacy of this, Stephen Millers anger confirms it as clearly as anyone could want.

* This article is about a breaking news story and has been updated. It has also been edited to include mention of the DNCs existing recording studio.
(Bloomberg) -- A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new directive to halt payments of federal grants, loans and other assistance to an array of programs across the country.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The decision was handed down Tuesday in Washington by US District Judge Loren AliKhan in a lawsuit filed by a group of nonprofits, even as nearly two dozen states filed a separate complaint challenging the directive. Both cases are seeking nationwide injunctions against Trumps plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AliKhan issued her order minutes before the freeze was to take effect. She said the administrative stay was not a ruling on the merits of the case and set a hearing on Feb. 3 to consider whether to order a longer-term block. Her order only applies to funding that federal agencies had already awarded, and would not stop the Trump administration from halting any new grants of money.

The coalition of nonprofit organizations, which sued earlier Tuesday, claimed that even a temporary halt in funding could immediately deprive people and communities of their life-saving services, including health care, small business support and programs for the LGBTQ community.

The memo, signed by President Donald Trumps acting budget director Matthew Vaeth on Monday, was set to take effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Washington.

Agencies would have been required to pause federal financial assistance and other activities covered by Trumps early wave of executive actions. Those included limiting foreign aid and federal funding of diversity and equity programs, nongovernmental organizations, woke gender-related programming and green energy initiatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The original memo from the Office of Management and Budget featured broad language, sparking widespread confusion and panic about its scope. The memo stated that direct assistance payments to individuals would continue and that Medicare and Social Security benefits wouldnt be affected, but it didnt list other specific carve-outs.

On Tuesday, Democratic state attorneys general reported problems with access to portals used to apply for federal reimbursements from Medicaid, which covers health-care costs for low-income Americans, and the Head Start early childhood development program.

Nearly two dozen state attorneys general filed a joint lawsuit Tuesday evening in federal court in Rhode Island, alleging the policy has caused immediate chaos and uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on federally funded state programs.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that immediately blocking the majority of federal funds to states is unconstitutional and dangerous. Millions of Americans rely on federally funded programs every day to get the health care they need, support their families, and stay safe in their communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House budget office circulated a second memo attempting to clarify the reach of the funding pause, saying it was not an across-the-board freeze. The OMB said the halt of funds would only affect programs implicated by Trumps executive orders and that Medicaid, Head Start, a nutrition benefits program known as SNAP and other mandatory programs would continue to get funding.

The group of nonprofits argued in their lawsuit that OMB lacked legal authority to impose a broad payment stoppage and that the directive violated the US Constitutions free speech protections because the administrations goal was to punish disfavored speakers.

In the original memo, Vaeth wrote that the use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.

Agencies were directed to file reports by Feb. 10 on programs or activities that would covered by the funding freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Justice Department submitted a copy of the second clarification memo to the court and argued it was premature for the judge to intervene without any meaningful opportunity to consider and address the relevant issues. A government lawyer, Daniel Schwei, argued during the hearing that it wasnt clear that the nonprofits filing the suit were set to receive federal funds in the coming days or that specific programs would be affected.

AliKhan said she was sympathetic to the governments argument, but that the lack of details at this point was in part of the governments own making, given the tight turnaround from when the memo was announced to when it was set to take effect.

(Updates with states filing suit over OMB directive.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu conducted a review meeting on WhatsApp Governance at the Secretariat on Wednesday following the launch of WhatsApp Governance services on Thursday. During the review meeting, CM assessed the implementation plans. In the first phase, the government will make 161 services available to citizens. Officials provided a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister on how citizens can access these services through WhatsApp. Additional services will be introduced in the second phase. As part of the first phase, various departments, including Endowments, Energy, APSRTC, Revenue, Anna Canteens, CMRF, and Municipal Administration, will offer around 161 services. The Chief Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is the first state in the country to introduce WhatsApp Governance, marking a significant shift from the traditional system where citizens had to visit government offices for documents and services. CM Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the need to ensure citizens' data remains secure and does not fall into the hands of cybercriminals and instructed officials to strengthen forensic and cybersecurity measures. To facilitate WhatsApp-based service delivery, the state government signed an agreement with Meta on October 22 last year. As Andhra Pradesh advances toward becoming a leader in digital technology, this initiative will streamline governance and accelerate public service delivery. IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh will officially launch the WhatsApp Governance services tomorrow. Chief Secretary K Vijay Anand and other senior officials participated in the review meeting. Earlier on January 25, CM Naidu's four-day tour to Davos successfully concluded during which he interacted with several global leaders and invited investments in the state by showcasing its favourable business environment. During his visit, CM Naidu met with top executives of 15 prominent global companies, showcasing Andhra Pradesh's favourable business environment and policies. He invited them to invest in the state and explore opportunities in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, technical textiles, and rail components, the CMO release stated.CM Chandrababu Naidu arrived in India in the early hours of Friday after the conclusion of his visit. He also attended roundtable meetings and sessions, promoting the state's brand image and highlighting its potential for growth. He interacted with ambassadors, CEOs, and experts, discussing ways to collaborate and attract investments. (ANI)
President Donald Trump has ordered the federal government to temporarily stop the flow of federal financial aid beginning Jan. 28, cutting off spending on grants, loans and other payments that support everything from disaster relief aid to loans to small businesses.

Officials in several states say the online portal used to accept federal Medicaid funding has stopped working, throwing into question where the order will interrupt payments to millions of patients nationwide.

This temporary pause of federal grants and loans will provide the new administration time to review agency programs and ensure that they are aligned with President Trump's agenda, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference Jan. 28.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During her first White House press briefing, Leavitt clarified that "individual assistance," including food stamp programs and Social Security are not included in the pause. USA Today also confirmed that federal direct student loans and Pell Grants will be unaffected.

With this impending federal funding pause, some are asking whether Trump's executive order is legal because federal spending belongs to the U.S. Congress under the Constitution, not the president. Additionally, Congress passed and President Richard Nixon signed into law 1974 Impoundment Control Act that defines the limited circumstances under which a president can delay authorized spending.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan legal watchdog group, submitted a letter to congressional leaders asking them to investigate whether Trump is violating the Impoundment Control Act.

"Put simply, it is illegal and contrary to our constitutional structure for the president to disobey appropriations acts duly enacted after Congress publicly considers and determines funding levels for the federal government," the letter reads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Budget Committee Democrats also released a statement. "Let me be clear: Congress holds the power of the purse. Much of the funding the administration seeks to pause was approved on a bipartisan basis. Distributing this funding to the American people is a legal requirement."

Amidst the national conversation about pausing federal funding, here's what you should know about the Impoundment Control Act.

What is the Impoundment Control Act?

The Impoundment Control Act is a procedural law for how the president can withhold funds in certain specific circumstances for limited periods of time.

If the president withholds funds, the law requires a special message to Congress explaining the action and specifying the amount of money to be withheld, the money's function and the reason to defer or revoke federal funding, according to Title X of the Impoundment Control Act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Impoundment Control Act limits the presidents authority to decline to spend or commit to spending funds that Congress has appropriated.

What does "impoundment" mean?

"Impounding" is the action of stopping federal money from being obligated or spent.

Why is Trump pausing federal grant and loan funding?

The pause gives the new administration time to "review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President's priorities," according to the released Office of Management and Budget.

The memo criticizes the use of federal resources for Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies, describing such efforts as a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration, Leavitt said. However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

USA Today and Reuters reporting contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Can Trump freeze Medicaid, funds? This law limits power to pause funds
A White House directive to pause federal grants and loans raised uncertainty and fears among many who depend on federal aid before a judge intervened Tuesday to temporarily block it from taking effect.

President Donald Trump's administration said the freeze would not affect federal assistance to individuals, such as Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships. But it said a pause is necessary to ensure funding for other programs complies with Trumps executive orders, which aim to reverse progressive policies on transgender rights, environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion.

A federal judge blocked the directive just minutes before it was to kick in Tuesday. The order placed it on hold until next Monday while legal wrangling continues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

States on the edge

States on average receive about 30% of their revenues from the federal government, according to Federal Funds Information for States, a nonprofit that analyzes the affect of federal actions on states. Although the federal government has rescinded unspent funds in the past, it hasnt normally halted grants on the front-end, said Marcia Howard, executive director of Federal Funds Information for States.

The grant pause is perhaps most similar to a federal government shutdown, when a congressional impasse on spending legislation delays federal payments for some state and local services. In most of those circumstances, a couple weeks delay "isnt hugely disruptive, Howard said.

But some state officials are nonetheless anxious.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the federal government coughs, Maryland catches pneumonia, state Senate President Bill Ferguson said Tuesday, while discussing how the grant freeze could affect the state.

Higher education faces uncertainty

Universities around the country are scrambling to determine how a funding freeze could affect their research programs, students and faculty.

University of North Carolina administrators sent a campus email urging patience until decisions can be confirmed directly from federal agencies.

The messaging is, Try not to panic, and sit tight, said psychology professor Keely Muscatell. But I also think its a lot easier said than done.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A University of Florida memo obtained by the Associated Press indicates that the university is advising faculty to continue grant-related activities unless they have been specially told that the research has been suspended.

But at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., researchers said they were told to stop work on grant-funded projects. If the funding freeze goes forward, scientists may miss deadlines to present and share their work, said researcher Lorna Quandt, who has a grant application pending to fund interpreters to accompany deaf students to an upcoming conference.

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities said a freeze would "sideline world-leading American scientists who are working toward cures for cancer, developing breakthroughs in AI and quantum computing, driving progress in advanced manufacturing, and supporting American farmers.

Road funding may keep rolling

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For many highway projects that are partially funded by federal grants, states pay the contractors directly then seek reimbursement from the federal government. There initially was widespread concern among state transportation leaders that states would be left holding the bag, but further clarification from the White House calmed some nerves, said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Although some grants, particularly those awarded at the discretion of the federal government, could still be at risk, Tymon said he is now confident the Trump administration isnt targeting the formula-based grants that states use to set their own transportation priorities and pay for roads.

Were not as panicked as maybe we had been, he said.

Early childhood providers raise fears

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some operators of federally funded Head Start centers, which work with 800,000 kids and low-income families nationwide, initially were concerned that the freeze could mean closing their doors as soon Wednesday. Operators logged on to a website where they typically draw down their federal grants and discovered they no longer had access to the money, which they need to pay their employees and vendors.

Is it a short-term thing? Is this a glitch? Is it a long-term thing? All of those things, we just really dont know at this point, said Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the National Head Start Association. Thats really adding to the fear and the concern.

Nonprofit groups launch a challenge

A coalition of nonprofit groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the funding freeze. The nonprofit Democracy Forward, a public interest litigation group, wrote that the White Houses memo fails to explain its legal authority "to gut every grant program in the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Science Foundation postponed this weeks grant review panels and is pausing the distribution of new or existing awards.

The National Crime Victim Law Institute described the Trump administration action as a devastating blow to nonprofits such as the institute.

These grants are the backbone of critical programs for those in need across this country, executive director Meg Garvin said. Without this funding, nonprofits face the heartbreaking reality of scaling back services, cutting essential programs, and, in some cases, closing their doors entirely."

Tribal groups could be affected

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tribal nations, more so than almost any other community, will be negatively impacted by a freeze on federal funding, said John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund. He said tribal nations rely on federal funding for public safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure "and the basic needs of our most vulnerable citizens."

The United States must fulfill its trust obligation to protect Tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources, he said.

Other services could see delays

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said on X he is concerned that freezing federal funding will hurt North Carolinians, especially those recovering from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Stein, a Democrat, said he is seeking clarity from federal officials and working to ensure people in the storm-affected areas get the support they need.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal government also supports state programs that fund billions of dollars in drinking water and sewage infrastructure. Money the federal government already sent out could probably be used, but the pause calls into question new spending, said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.

The Biden administration had stipulated that some of those funds go to disadvantaged communities, a term tied to its environmental justice efforts that the Trump administration has targeted for elimination. The fate of that effort is to be determined, and we recognize that, Roberson said.

___

Associated Press writers Moriah Balingit in Washington, D.C.; Thalia Beaty in New York; Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; Fernando Figueroa in Austin, Texas; Stephanie Matat in West Palm Beach, Florida; Jeff McMurray in Chicago; Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix; Michael Phillis in St. Louis; Adithi Ramakrishnan in New York; Gary D. Robertson and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland.
(Bloomberg) -- A federal funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration  currently blocked by a federal judge  could roil a $52 billion semiconductor subsidy program if its allowed to proceed, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Commerce Department officials in charge of implementing the 2022 Chips and Science Act were planning to pause work by the close of business Tuesday due to the Trump administration guidance, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Government officials were planning for a range of scenarios, the people said, and are still awaiting further guidance after US District Judge Loren AliKhan temporarily put Trumps order on hold just before it was set to take effect.

On Monday, the White House budget office directed federal agencies to temporarily pause some spending to review whether it complies with President Donald Trumps executive orders. That would have included Chips Act incentive programs, said the people, several of whom cited a 52-page spreadsheet enumerating a list of affected initiatives.

But confusion persisted throughout the day Tuesday, as the White House attempted to clarify the scope of the freeze with a second memo. That guidance carved out programs providing direct benefits to Americans and said the pause would only affect funding implicated by Trumps executive orders.

A spokesperson for the budget office said Tuesday afternoon that chip subsidy funding hadnt yet been paused and didnt respond to follow-up questions. A spokesperson for the Commerce Departments Chips Program Office didnt have an immediate comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the freeze goes ahead as originally designed, it could affect a major piece of US industrial policy  and a signature achievement of the Biden administration. The Chips Act, which received bipartisan support, was designed to rebuild domestic chip manufacturing after decades of production shifting to Asia. It includes $39 billion in grants  plus loans and tax breaks  and a separate $11 billion fund for research and development.

Its unclear exactly how the funding freeze could affect the timeline for disbursing that money. Before leaving office, President Joe Bidens team finalized agreements representing the vast majority of the grant incentives, but money will only actually go out the door when companies like Intel Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. hit key benchmarks on their projects. Around $4.3 billion has been disbursed so far, a Commerce representative said earlier this month.

Trump, whose first administration began a push to bring TSMC factories to the US, denigrated the Chips Act on the campaign trail and in remarks Monday. He has favored the use of tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing, rather than the funding offered by the legislation.

We dont want to give them billions of dollars like this ridiculous program Biden has, he told Republican members of Congress on Monday. He said he plans to impose tariffs on foreign-produced chips, though he didnt provide details on what components those duties might affect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republicans have separately criticized Biden officials in charge of the program for imposing what they see as social requirements on the funding  things like environmental standards and mandates for child care facilities at large factories. According to the Monday budget office memo, the broader spending pause would affect financial assistance for foreign aid and nongovernmental organizations, as well as diversity initiatives, woke gender ideology and green programs.

Its not clear whether Trumps team would seek to reopen negotiated Chips Act awards, which companies and government officials generally view as ironclad. But throughout negotiations, some firms expressed concern that contracts are written in a way that could give Trump officials room to make changes, Bloomberg has reported.

Still, the bipartisan program has strong support on Capitol Hill. Howard Lutnick, Trumps pick to lead the Commerce Department, also told Bidens commerce chief, Gina Raimondo, that he is committed to the program, she informed her staff at a gathering earlier this month. Lutnicks confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

--With assistance from Stephanie Lai.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
SACRAMENTO, California  California Attorney General Rob Bonta assailed the Trump administrations edict to halt federal funding as imprecise and frustratingly vague on Tuesday. But among the dozens of programs that could be cut, the states top law enforcement official pointed to one with certainty: money to help fire-scorched Los Angeles rebuild.

We need it now. We needed it yesterday and without conditions, Bonta said at a virtual news conference Tuesday with five other Democratic attorneys general, where they announced their legal challenge to the memo. And it's unfortunate that it's being put at risk, not just from potential conditions being imposed by the president, but also by this memo.

The order was temporarily halted by a federal judge just minutes before it was supposed to take effect, handing a win to nonprofit and public health groups who said even a brief implementation of Donald Trumps freeze could cause devastating outcomes for people who rely on federal funds for services, as well as the workers who provide them. That will allow time for Bontas litigation to play out in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps freeze, which Democrats estimate puts billions of dollars to the state  and up to $3 trillion nationwide  in jeopardy, comes as the president and congressional Republicans voice support for attaching strings to disaster assistance. Aid to the state has been a top priority for Californias leaders in the wake of the calamitous fires that tore through Los Angeles this month.

Donald Trump is illegally blocking hundreds of billions of dollars for essential federal programs to support families recovering after catastrophic fires, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, a Democrat, said in a statement, which called for the Senate to withhold confirmation of Russell Vought, Trumps pick to run the Office of Management and Budget, until the memo is rescinded.

That memo, issued by OMB on Monday night, calls for a temporary spending freeze on all federal programs including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

Though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt contended that the order doesnt apply to individuals who get money from programs like Social Security or SNAP, Bonta and other blue state AGs said they arent buying it. The lawsuit they previewed on Tuesday seeks to stop the memo from taking effect. And while Leavitt insisted the memo was perfectly clear, she wouldnt say how long the freeze would last or exactly which programs would be spared.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The confusion, Bonta said, is the point.

They could have written a more specific memo, that was tight and specific about what was included and what was not, Bonta told California Playbook PM. It is vague and unclear and they use a bunch of buzzwords.

Bonta called the memo dangerous, unprecedented in scope and devastating as well as arbitrary and capricious.

Not only does it violate federal law and the separation of powers, he said, but has already inhibited the state from getting reimbursed for Medicaid services.

We will not stand by while the president attempts to disrupt vital programs that feed our kids, provide medical care to our families and support housing in our communities, Bonta said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

California officials were scrambling Tuesday to unpack which programs might be affected. The state is set to receive around $168 billion in federal grants and other funding this fiscal year  including $108 billion that runs through the Department of Health Care Services to support Medi-Cal (Californias Medicaid program) and other initiatives, according to state Assembly budget adviser Jason Sisney.

California also gets $7.9 billion for public schools, $8.4 billion for higher education and $6.8 billion for transportation, according to a report the California Budget and Policy Center issued after the November election.

Leavitt was pressed on specific cuts in her debut White House press briefing, and dismissed reports of widespread confusion over the scope and impact of the order.

Theres only uncertainty in this room amongst the media, theres no uncertainty in this building, said Leavitt, just ahead of Bontas briefing with the other attorneys general. The president signed an executive order directing OMB to do just this.

Blake Jones and Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.

Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Playbook PM newsletter.


With large areas of Gaza reduced to rubble following 15 months of bitter fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed terrorists, making the enclave habitable for its war-weary Palestinian residents has become a key priority in efforts to end the conflict.

While the current diplomatic focus is centred on maintaining the delicate choreography of releasing small numbers of Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the longer term aim is to rebuild Gazas infrastructure to something approaching pre-war levels.

Under the terms of the three-stage ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas earlier in the month, the ultimate objective of the agreement  assuming the ceasefire deal holds  is the wholesale reconstruction of Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently told Israels Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that the estimated $50 billion cost of rebuilding the enclave will be borne by Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Much needs to happen before the Gulf leaders start reaching for their cheque books, not least the problematic issue of who will be running Gaza once the fighting has ended. Wealthy Arab potentates are unlikely to want to fund reconstruction efforts so long as the enclave remains under the control of an Islamist death cult like Hamas.

One even more radical solution to resolve the Gaza conundrum is US president Donald Trumps proposal that Egypt and Jordan provide refuge to displaced Palestinians as part of an effort to clean out Gaza.

Trumps suggestion may have evoked a cool response from Cairo and Amman, which have enough challenges of their own without adding to their burden by providing sanctuary to homeless Palestinians. But it does highlight the fundamental tragedy of Gaza, where an estimated two million Palestinians struggle to survive in the worlds most overcrowded and wretched surroundings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The overwhelming majority of Gazas Palestinian residents fled there during Israels 1948 War of Independence and, more recently, the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israeli forces first seized control of the enclave from Egypt.

Since then, Gaza and its residents have been an issue most world leaders would prefer to ignore, especially after Hamas seized control of the enclave in 2007, following Israels decision to cut its losses and withdraw its forces.

With its links to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement, Hamas is viewed as an existential threat by more moderate Arab regimes like Egypt and Jordan. Egypt is still struggling to recover from damage caused by the Brotherhoods brief stint in power between 2012 and 2013, while Hamas and its allies have been implicated in plots to overthrow Jordans avowedly pro-Western Hashemite rulers.

In such circumstances, it is little wonder that Cairo and Amman have shown scant interest in destabilising their countries by providing a refuge for Gazan Palestinians, many of whom have close ties with Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While few would argue with Trumps contention that Gaza has been hell for so many years, his push to resolve the problem by relocating the Palestinian population to neighbouring Arab states is, given the overwhelming rejection his proposal has received from Arab leaders, unlikely to provide a lasting solution.

The preferred outcome of Arab leaders is that ending the violence in Gaza will pave the way for fresh negotiations on resolving the long-standing issue of Palestinian statehood.

Important regional powers such as Saudi Arabia insist that they will only consider normalising relations with Israel once agreement is reached on creating an independent Palestinian state. As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, declared last year, his country will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Until that is accomplished, the Saudis will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

As persuading the Saudis to agree to a peace deal with Israel is another of the Trump administrations key objectives in the Middle East, the president may find that addressing the Palestinian issue is more rewarding than relocating the Palestinian people, even if Netanyahus government is opposed to the concept of Palestinian statehood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the present, the question of Palestines independence is academic so long as Hamas retains any vestige of control over the Palestinians.

Hamas has skillfully exploited the first few days of the Gaza ceasefire to demonstrate that, despite the battering it has suffered at the hands of the Israeli military, it remains the dominant force in Gaza. But no one  including the majority of Palestinians  is going to support the formation of a Palestinian homeland so long as Hamas maintains control over Gaza.

The only realistic way to improve the sorry lot of Palestinians living in Gaza and elsewhere is for Israel to achieve its stated objective of completely destroying Hamas as a political and military entity.

For it is only when this vital aim is finally accomplished that the important business of alleviating the suffering of ordinary Palestinians can really begin in earnest.

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.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

E., a 21-year-old in Oregon, has only been open about her gender identity with loved ones for less than a year. Yet as she navigates her life as a newly out and proud transgender woman, she is feeling more uneasy than ever. Since Donald Trumps reelection, she and her girlfriend, who is also transgender, have each been racing to update their identity documents. And while theyve been successful with their birth certificates, drivers licenses, and Social Security cards, theres one thats still outstanding: E.s passport.

Although she and her girlfriend paid to have their passport applications expedited, weather delays caused them to reach their destination later than expected. E.s girlfriends new document was approved on Jan. 22, the day before Trumps State Department took steps to stop transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming Americans from obtaining passports that properly match their identities. E.s passport application, though, appears to be frozenperhaps indefinitely. Currently, without a renewed passport, she is unable to fly out of the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, as she waits, E. is full of fear. Afraid that her passport application will be denied, she also worries what other anti-transgender laws this administration might be planning, and what might happen if she doesnt have a passport ready in order to flee the country. She feels trapped. Ive been watching the news very, very closely, and the direction things are going does not make me hopeful, said E., who asked, like others interviewed for this story, to be identified only with her first initial to protect her identity.

Since last weeks inauguration, the new Trump administration has been racing to make life as difficult and hostile as it can for anyone whose gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order against gender ideology extremism, declaring that the federal government would only recognize two sexesmale and femaleand that these sexes are not changeable. Days later, new Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the freezing of changes to gender identity on passports, as well the suspension of any application of someone seeking an X gender marker, a nonbinary option that was first offered to Americans in 2022. (The State Department does not publish data on the number of X applicants per year, but the Williams Institute think tank at UCLA Law has estimated it could be as many as 16,700 annually.) People affected by these new policies told Slate that while the changes were not unexpected, they were still deeply distressing.

Its scary, but I would also say really frustrating, L., a 26-year-old transgender man who lives in the South, told me. People like me are being defined out of existence. Its really a slap in the face, calling us not really Americans.

Im very disappointed. It feels like were going backwards, said Stephen, a 33-year-old nonbinary Pennsylvania resident who had been hoping for an X marker on their passport. Its emblematic of the direction the country is going that theyre trying in every way they can, officially, to erase us from the population.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These cries of erasure have been echoed by the Advocates for Trans Equality, or A4TE, the national nonprofit formed last year via the merging of two of the largest U.S. trans rights groups. Responding to Trumps executive order, A4TE executive director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen said the new administration was seeking to deny the very existence of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people. We see these executive orders for what they arean attempt by hateful extremists to make it impossible for us to participate in public life, Heng-Lehtinen said in a statement. (Consistent with these exclusionary policies, Trump signed another executive order late Monday aimed at barring trans people from military service, contending these Americans were not mentally or physically fit to serve.)

The extent of the impact of these new passport policies is unclear, including what may happen to any supporting documents that applicants might have sent in as part of an application. And while it does not currently appear as if the administration is seeking to revoke passports that have previously been issued, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the NOTUS news website that anyone seeking to renew a document going forward would be affected. They can still apply to renew their passportthey just have to use their God-given sex, which was decided at birth, Leavitt said.

Carl Charles, senior attorney for the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Lambda Legal, told me that Leavitts choice of religious phrasing spoke volumes. It really just lays bare that this is motivated by animus, Charles said. This is motivated by promoting an ideology of this administration and all the supporters of this administration that is against science and that is about something else.

For L., this confusion is very real. While he previously obtained a passport with his new gender identity, it doesnt have his new name. L. is concerned that any attempt to update his passport might result in it being confiscated. A trip to Australia to see friends in Melbourne has now been postponed indefinitely. Its obviously frustrating being called a name that doesnt fit, L. said. My other concern is not having my identification match if I need to travel. Will I need to carry my name-change court order around in the airport? That kind of uncertainty is making things very distressing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kathuryne, a Texas trans woman in her 40s, said that following the State Department order she was holding off on putting in a request to update her passport gender marker. She fears her passport might be confiscated and that she might end up on a list somewhere that may lead her to be targeted in the future. She said shes tried to contact the American Civil Liberties Union to see if they are going to fight this and have the backs of her community. Ill fight if they are willing to, but Im not about to throw myself under a bus without some sort of legal help, Kathuryne said.

Indeed, civil rights groups and LGBTQ+ advocates are vowing to challenge the changes in the federal courts. Gillian Branstetter, a communications strategist at the ACLU, told me this fight was necessary because the administrations policy could endanger transgender people who travel overseas. It carries a lot of grave risks for trans folks, Branstetter said, especially the risk of having your privacy violated, of being forced to carry a document that directly contradicts a core part of yourself, and that could potentially put you in danger when you present it by outing yourself as trans, especially when traveling abroad.

I think a lot of cisgender folks take for granted how frequently their gender is governed and recorded by the institutions which control their lives, Branstetter conintued. Trans folks are never allowed to forget that.

Charles, with Lambda Legal, whose client Dana Zzyym received the first U.S. passport with an X marker after a six-year legal fight, said he expects them to bring lawsuits from people whose applications have been frozen, challenging the policies on due-process grounds as well as other violations of constitutional rights. Advocates had been expecting Trump to enact these changes quickly, according to Charles, because it was one of the easiest actions he could take to target transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Americans. We were not particularly surprised by this, Charles said. Whether its actually correct that they are able to do this is a legal issue that we think we will win on, but for the moment, he is accomplishing the goal of causing fear and confusion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A passport is not simply a travel document for some non-cisgender people, Charles said, but can feel like an important symbolic affirmation or definitive statement that they are who they say they are. Thats a sentiment to which 39-year-old Daniel in Kentucky can relate. Daniel, who identifies as agender, is dreaming of attending a queer game-developer event in Montreal this year, but is facing the prospect of lying about themself in order to do so. Its not that my gender necessarily will be important in terms of how I travel, Daniel said, but just being myself would allow me to live more freely and to really travel and enjoy myself as a satisfied person on the inside as well as the outside.

As the legal fight plays out, it will be closely followed by the LGBTQ+ community and allies like Andrea, mother to a 14-year-old freshman in a New Jersey high school. Since her son came out as transgender in 2022, shes watched him have to travel on an outdated passport that contains his dead name, old picture, and the gender he had at birth. It is psychologically uncomfortable for him every time we travel, Andrea said. I dont think people really get what that does to someone.

While she expects to still be able to update her childs name and photo, shes losing hope that his passport will reflect his gender. For now, all Andrea can do is have tough yet honest conversations with her son about the fight aheada fight he insists hes up for, but which causes angst for Andreas parental instincts. He doesnt see it as fair. He wants to fight some of these things. We have to explain what it means to keep him safe. I think he understands that, Andrea said.

Ultimately, Andrea hopes her son has the same rights and opportunities, the same freedom of movement, as his twin sister: the chance to study abroad, visit family overseas, or be able to leave or reenter the country. Hes a human being, a U.S. citizen, just trying to live his life and have the same freedoms as everyone else, Andrea said.
NEW YORK  President Donald Trump has hired the elite white-shoe law firm Sullivan & Cromwell to appeal his criminal conviction in the Manhattan hush money case.

The most prominent member of Trumps new legal team is Robert Giuffra, the firms co-chair. Four other Sullivan & Cromwell attorneys also will work on the case: James McDonald, Morgan Ratner, Jeff Wall and Matthew Schwartz. All are former Supreme Court clerks.

The team filed a brief court notice on Wednesday formally commencing Trump's appeal of the conviction. His lawyers will submit a legal brief in the coming months laying out their arguments for the appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Donald J. Trumps appeal is important for the rule of law, New Yorks reputation as a global business, financial and legal center, as well as for the presidency and all public officials, Giuffra said in a statement. The misuse of the criminal law by the Manhattan DA to target President Trump sets a dangerous precedent, and we look forward to the case being dismissed on appeal.

During the presidential transition, Giuffra was under consideration to be Trumps pick for attorney general and was said to have had the backing of Boris Epshteyn, an influential Trump legal adviser.

In the hush money case, Giuffra and his firms other lawyers will replace Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial last spring. Blanche is Trumps nominee to become deputy attorney general, and Bove has already joined the Trump Justice Department as acting deputy attorney general. Once Blanche is confirmed, Bove will step into the No. 3 spot in the department.

The decision to represent Trump by Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the most prominent firms in the country, represents a departure from the legal communitys attitude toward Trump in recent years. When Trump hired Blanche to represent him in the spring of 2023, Blanche had to quit the elite firm where he was a partner, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his resignation email at the time, Blanche said he was unable to take Trump as a client while remaining at the firm. Obviously, doing this as a partner at Cadwalader was not an option, he wrote, so I have had to make the difficult choice to leave the firm.

Giuffra has worked as a litigator representing companies like Volkswagen AG and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. He also has held a handful of New York state government-appointed positions, including on several ethics boards.

Last spring, Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of concealing a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. He was sentenced to unconditional discharge, a sentence that carries no punishment, earlier this month, shortly before he took office.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated Jeff Wall's name.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has fired at least two Democratic members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws banning workplace discrimination, in an unprecedented move likely to spur legal challenges.

EEOC Commissioners Jocelyn Samuels and Charlotte Burrows said Trump, a Republican, removed them from their posts late on Monday. Trump also fired the agency's general counsel, Karla Gilbride.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The EEOC is an independent agency whose commissioners serve staggered five-year terms, meaning control of the commission typically does not change hands for a year or two after a new president takes office. No president has ever fired a commissioner.

A White House official said the commissioners "were far-left appointees with radical records of upending longstanding labor law."

"They have no place as senior appointees in the Trump administration, which was given a mandate by the American people to undo the radical policies they created," the official said.

Samuels said in a statement that she, Burrows and Gilbride were fired over their views on sex discrimination and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, which Trump has said are discriminatory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his first week in office, Trump moved to end DEI programs in the federal government and urged private companies to do the same.

It was not immediately clear if Trump had removed the third Democratic appointee at the agency, Kalpana Kotagal. Trump named Andrea Lucas, the EEOC's lone Republican appointee, as its acting chair last week.

The five-member commission already had a vacancy, so firing Samuels and Burrows leaves it without a quorum of three commissioners. That means the remaining members cannot adopt rules and legal guidance, direct staff to take certain actions, and issue rulings in discrimination cases brought by federal employees.

Trump has similarly gutted the National Labor Relations Board, which enforces workers' rights to organize and join unions, by firing its general counsel and a Democratic member and leaving the agency unable to issue rulings in hundreds of pending cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In separate statements on Tuesday, Burrows and Samuels said they were considering their legal options. Samuels' term was set to expire in July 2026 and Burrows' term two years later.

The firings "will undermine the efforts of this independent agency to do the important work of protecting employees from discrimination, supporting employers compliance efforts, and expanding public awareness and understanding of federal employment laws," Burrows said.

ABORTION, TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

The commission enforces laws banning workplace discrimination based on sex, race, religion, national origin, age, disability and pregnancy and other protected traits. It receives tens of thousands of complaints each year from workers alleging that they have faced discrimination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The general counsel's office vets those complaints and must give workers permission to sue before they can go to court. The general counsel can also broker settlements and file its own lawsuits against employers. The commission hears cases against federal agencies.

When fully stocked, the commission must have three members from the president's party and two from the opposing party.

Trump first appointed Samuels to the agency in 2020 to fill a vacated seat, and she was tapped for a full term by former President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Burrows was the chair of the EEOC during the Biden administration, after Trump nominated her for a second term at the agency in 2019.

Samuels and Burrows approved legal guidance that said employers must use transgender workers' preferred pronouns and allow them to use the bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. Last year the EEOC adopted a rule saying employers' legal obligation to accommodate workers who are pregnant also extends to those who get abortions or use contraception.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal law does not say when commissioners can be removed from office. The law that created the EEOC says that commissioners serve five-year terms and "shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualified."

Trump has not said who he plans to nominate to fill the vacancies at the agency.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese, Alexia Garamfalvi and Nia Williams)
SOPA Images

In the days since Donald Trump took office, he has plowed ahead with his extreme agenda, including signing executive orders to reject the existence of trans Americans and end birthright citizenship. Some are being challenged in court. Millions of social media users around the world are watching and taking to TikTok and Instagram to express empathy with Americans and criticize Trumps actions.

One post from user Amber Quinto which has drawn more than 2.7 million views, asks, If this post reaches anyone outside of America, can you tell me what the world is saying about the U.S. right now? The replies are both eye-opening and overwhelming.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take

Germany here, one user said, History repeats itself.

Another user states, Ive heard us being called The Third World Country with the Gucci belt.'

Land of the free and home of the brave now is a story of the past.

The Netherlands here. Shocked that Trump chooses a flag on Mars above healthcare.

England here, it keeps flipping between unbelievable hilarity and unfathomable horror. Good luck, stay safe!!!!

On Threads, some are calling the president FOTUS  shorthand for Felon of the United States, while sending support from their respective countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dear Americans, everyone hates the FOTUS. Greetings, hugs and love from Scotland.

Dear Americans, everyone hates the FOTUS. Greetings, hugs and love from Mexico. 

Dear Americans, everyone hates the FOTUS. Greetings, hugs and love from Germany. 

Some American users questioned whether access to information is being censored or suppressed on social media platforms, where many Gen Zers get their news. Others asked if there are anti-Trump protests happening outside of the United States.

Friends who are not in the States. Are there really global protests going on right now about the orange man? user Sara Holcomb asked. Because were not seeing that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People from around the world replied, confirming that protesters in many countries have held demonstrations to express their opposition to Trump.

Yep!! Mexico. UK. Belgium. Panama. Those are the ones I just saw. Hope that helps! Love from Canada 

UK here. Yes, for your rights.

Progressives in countries like Germany are also turning out against the rise of far-right, anti-immigrant parties in their own countries. As the Associated Press reported, a recent sea of light against the right turn rally in Berlin hoped to call attention to the policies of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the February elections there as well as actions by the Trump administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If youre feeling bummed about what the government is up to and want to find words of support from around the world, theyre only a TikTok search away.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

Want more U.S. government coverage?
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

For a few hours on Sunday, the United States and Colombia engaged in a full-blown economic tete-a-tete. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that two repatriation flights of to-be-deported U.S. immigrants were not allowed to land in Colombia. This spurred him to impose urgent and decisive retaliatory measures against the South American ally that included a 25 percent tariff on all imports, a travel ban on Colombian government officials and all Allies and Supporters, increased surveillance of all Colombian nationals and goods within U.S. borders, and sanctions on cross-country financial transactions.

The diverted planes were real, but there were some missing details. Colombia had previously agreed to accept these passengers, according to CNN, but the government had backtracked because of how the deportees had been treated. As Colombian President Gustavo Petro noted in a Sunday-morning public statement, the immigrants in question had been loaded onto military-owned airplanes instead of chartered civilian aircrafta highly unusual move, as Rolling Stone put it. We will receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals, Petro had written, hours before Trump came in with the threats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In subsequent posts, Petro highlighted the fact that he had temporarily blocked such flights from the Biden administration in 2023 for similar reasons, and later responded to Trump with a lengthy tweet decrying American racism and announcing a 50 percent counter-tariff on imports of U.S. goods.

The defiance didnt last long, however. In response to warnings from domestic experts that this tariff clash would decimate Colombias economy, Petros administration agreed to Trumps repatriation terms and has sidestepped the trade war, for now. The White House boasted that the South American nation would facilitate unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft. (Per the New York Times, the U.S. government did make some concessions to Colombia by agreeing not to handcuff and photograph the deportees, and dispatching Homeland Security staffers, instead of military officers, as flight escorts.)

Meanwhile, Colombias foreign ministry insisted that it would grant the deportees decent conditions as citizens subject to rights, use the presidential air fleet to pick up deportees who would have otherwise become passengers on military planes (so as to guarantee respect for the rights of citizens and to carry out medical monitoring if necessary), and dispatch officials to Washington this week to iron out details with Trump.

Colombia isnt the first nation to have materially countered Trumps deportation plans. Still, its tiff with the U.S. is indicative of some lesser-known trade entanglements between North and South Americaand of the potential for the Trump administration to hurt Americans pocketbooks in its craven pursuit of mass deportations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The impact of the bout between the two nations was felt as it unfolded: a price spike for arabica coffee futures on the European markets (the U.S. receives 30 percent of its coffee supply from Colombia), heightened American fears that there wouldnt be enough fresh-cut flowers (imported, overwhelmingly, from Colombia) stocked on store shelves in time for Valentines Day, and shake-ups in the markets for U.S. oil and corn exports. (Colombia takes in billions of dollars worth of both each year.)

As WLRN Public Media notes, Colombia is the United States 10th-largest trading partner by weight and the largest country of origin for imports processed through south Florida. Those include plenty of agricultural products, which have already proved to be a sore spot between the two nations; Colombia provoked American ire last year when it raised tariffs on U.S. milk powder and began an investigation into its northern neighbors lavish corn subsidies, sparking bipartisan worry that U.S. corn producers could lose an important customer.

But beyond trade relations, theres the important fact that Colombia has long been the United States closest Latin American ally: The country is an eager partner in taking down drug traffickers in the region, and it serves as a liberal democratic counterpart to its authoritarian neighbor Venezuela. As such, the TrumpPetro spat is already provoking worries within Latin America more broadly.

On Thursday, all Latin American heads of state will meet for an emergency summit to discuss migration, the environment and regional unity, per the Financial Times. Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia will obviously be key players here, but so will Panama, whose government has been roiled by Trumps repeated threats to take back the Panama Canal. Even before Joe Biden had left office, Petro and the presidents of Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico had banded together to assure that the canal would remain under Panamanian control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sure, Trump could continue to aim tariffs at these countries, but it wouldnt be as easy to go after an entire bloc. As the Colombian writer Cruz Bonlarron Martinez points out in a Hill op-ed, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 21.3 percent of U.S. foreign trade, equal to over $1 trillion.  If the region consciously decided to look towards other trading partners, the U.S. economy would feel the effects, and not just in coffee prices. The region as a whole constitutes the worlds leading net food exporter, according to the United Nations.

In addition, while the bulk of American imports hail from Mexico, the U.S. also receives essential products from specialist countries like Peru (berries and minerals), Chile (copper, which has particularly high global demand), Bolivia (manufacturing metals), Brazil (machine equipment), Guatemala (textiles), and the Dominican Republic (medical tech). These countries collectively hold a varied basket of goods that would pinch Americans pockets if they earned Trumps tariffs treatment.

Whats more, these countries are also earning the support of far-flung allies. A Canadian ex-minister is calling for a strategic coalition between nations that have been attacked by Trumpincluding Mexico, Panama, and Denmarkand encouraging her country to publish a list of U.S. goods that would be affected by the tariffs Canada is already planning in retaliation to Trump (for example: machine components, chemicals, and energy). That planned strike-back has cross-partisan support among the U.S.s northern neighbors.

So far, Latin American leaders have not been as aggressive with Trump as Petro was on Sunday, but they have been just as openly concerned over the human rights and dignified treatment of deported immigrants. Before the weekends incidents, leaders from Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico teamed up with seven regional neighbors to release a joint statement calling for a humanistic approach to deportations. Earlier this month, Honduras president had threatened to kick U.S. military officers out of her borders in response to a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers. And while Mexico has pledged to cooperate with repatriation efforts, it has ruled out any cooperation with the Remain in Mexico initiative that pushes asylum-seekers to remain south of the Rio Grande while waiting for an approval hearing that could take years to schedule. The countrys president has beefed up immigration-assistance infrastructure and already alluded to a scheme in place in case there is any violation of the human rights of Mexicans who arrive in our country. Those sentiments were only reinforced on Saturday, when leaders in Brazils government found out that the deportees the country was receiving from the U.S. had been shackled in handcuffs and denied basic necessities like drinkable water and bathroom access.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here, then, is a firm commitment to the human rights of the Latin American diaspora, no matter what U.S. policy looks like. With this ramping up of regional alliances and international solidarity efforts, the region is already hinting that, indeed, it has a decent bit of economic leverage as a collective and will hardly rule it out if Trumpwho has referred to Latin American immigrants as poisoning the blood of the U.S.continues to treat immigrants as less than human. You can expect a lot of everyday essentials, from fruits to clothes to lifesaving machines, to become much pricier should Trumps zeal for mass deportations be countered with further trade-warring from onetime allies.

We already saw, in Trumps first term, what can happen when anti-immigrant zealots also dictate international economic policyit severely upsets how American businesses expect to function and throws all prices and projections into chaos.
From exceptional performance and diversity of characters, Ju Ji Hoon has captivated the public with his extraordinary acting ability as one of South Korea's top stars!

His entry into the industry was accidental, driven by his desire to excel in every performance.

Here are 10 things you probably didn't know about this talented actor who is taking the internet by storm with his recent performance in the hit Netflix series 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.'

Accidental Start in Acting

Ju Ji Hoon started as a model for international brands like Calvin Klein and Levi's. Acting came to him by accident when his manager showed his photo to the director who felt he had potential.



 Q: Is it the reason you chose to pursue a career in acting?



 JJH: It was kind of lucky. I never had dreams of being a model or anything either, but because I was so tall and skinny, a close family friend suggested, "Why don't you try modeling?"



 pic.twitter.com/Q9NHl6ymVn  Ju Ji Hoon. (@jvjihoon) February 15, 2023

 



 2. Sebelum terjun ke dunia hiburan, pada tahun 2003 Ju Ji Hoon memulai debutnya sebagai model untuk iklan merek-merek mode terkenal seperti Calvin Klein, Levi's dan Reebok.



  pic.twitter.com/CFCiNFBNZL  Ju Ji Hoon. (@jvjihoon) August 15, 2021

Breakthrough with Princess Hours

Ju first appeared in the drama hit Princess Hours in 2006, playing the role of the crown prince. Even though he faced difficulties at first, like backlash from fans of the original comic, he managed to win audiences over with his acting.

Ju Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye at the press conference of Princess Hours (2006) #JuJiHoon # pic.twitter.com/LHZd5p8oHB  Ju Ji Hoon  Global (@jujihoonglobal_) January 9, 2024

Dedicated to His Roles

The actor prepares extensively for his roles. He took classical piano lessons for Five Fingers, ate only chicken, and worked out for three hours a day to lose 11 pounds for The Devil.

 Five Fingers pic.twitter.com/cbJn2dNHus  Ju Ji Hoon Global Media (@jujihoonvideos) August 18, 2021

The Devil (2007) pic.twitter.com/XklqPEoP5Z  Ju Ji Hoon Global Media (@jujihoonvideos) March 22, 2023

Dark Figure of Crime  Method Acting

To play a convict in Dark Figure of Crime, Ju even asked to shave his head and go bare-faced. His dedication also lent a sense of realism to the film, which earned him awards.

#JuJiHoon won 4 awards out of 7 nominations as Kang Tae Oh in the movie Dark Figure of Crime (2018). 



"Once you make an impression with a character that has a strong image, that image sticks in people's minds for a long time." - #pic.twitter.com/sUoy2leQn7  Ju Ji Hoon  Global (@jujihoonglobal_) October 3, 2022

Injuries on Set

Ju broke his finger in a Kingdom Season 2 scene during a fight. He managed to wrap up the strenuous shoot despite suffering the injury but left the crew as well as the viewers stunned.

#JuJiHoon won 4 awards out of 7 nominations as Kang Tae Oh in the movie Dark Figure of Crime (2018). 



"Once you make an impression with a character that has a strong image, that image sticks in people's minds for a long time." - #pic.twitter.com/sUoy2leQn7  Ju Ji Hoon  Global (@jujihoonglobal_) October 3, 2022

Love for Nature

His love of hiking and climbing influenced his part in Jirisan. Likewise, the drama's scriptwriter said that she had cast him partly because he likes mountains, which helped him collaborate with the rookie ranger role.

Bike Riding for Fitness

Throughout the summer leading up to filming Jirisan, Ju was preparing for the physically demanding role by riding his bike and hiking in the national park where the drama was filmed.

Military Service

Ju fulfilled mandatory military duty in 2010, which included five weeks of basic training. He was greeted by over 500 fans upon his return to civilian life in 2011.

Warm Family Support

Although he mentioned having conservative parents, Ju shared some tender stories of how they supported him. He remembers his mother once coming with a pile of papers for him to sign after seeing him do an on-air update.

His Ideal Partner

Ju likes a partner who is independent and gives him time to be alone, which indicates that his principle is about keeping a separate identity. He has previously said that he would only get married for love.
The parents of the victim in Kolkata's RG Kar rape and murder case withdrew their plea before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking a fresh investigation into the incident. The plea was filed by the victim's parents as an Intervention Application (IA) in the suo motu case, which had been registered by the top court in August last year, a few days after the infamous incident took place. When the case was heard today, a Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy whether the Court should proceed with the case, as a plea regarding similar issues had already been filed before the Calcutta High Court. After considering the submissions made in the affidavit filed before it, the Court warned the senior counsel to be cautious with her arguments, as there is already a conviction against the sole accused (now convict) Sanjoy Roy in the case. The Court suggested that Nundy withdraw the plea and file a fresh one, noting that the original plea had been filed by the victim's parents before the trial and conviction. Following a brief exchange, the senior lawyer withdrew the plea, with the liberty to file a fresh one as per the Court's order. On January 20, a Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court convicted and sentenced Sanjoy Roy to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of the victim in the RG Kar rape and murder case. After the trial court's decision, there has been an uproar, especially among doctors and medical workers, who are calling for Roy to be awarded the death penalty for his gruesome act. There are also calls for reinvestigation into the matter, as concerns have been raised regarding the manner in which the investigation was conducted. (ANI)
President Donald Trump signed three executive orders that direct federal agencies to end indoctrination in K-12 education, launch investigations into campus protests and enact a federal school choice initiative, the administration formally announced Wednesday.

The president's latest orders pile atop an array of commands  many which flesh out a campaign education policy agenda infused with socially conservative politics  from the first days of his administration's second term in office.

The orders offer a clear outline of how Trump will continue to embrace heated cultural debates while pushing for fundamental changes to the U.S. education system, a tactic that won praise from congressional Republicans but swift condemnation by teacher union leaders and campus free speech advocates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump is keeping his promise to protect our students, hold schools accountable, fight campus antisemitism, and empower parents to be stewards of their childrens education," House education Chair Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said in a statement on Wednesday. "This is a much-needed change from the previous administration, which put politics over students for the past four years."

K-12 schooling

Trumps executive order on Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling seeks to block federal funding for schools that include what the administration describes as gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom, using language and policy definitions that often mimic state laws that attempt to regulate classroom lessons about race, gender and American history in conservative-led jurisdictions.

"Imprinting anti-American, subversive, harmful, and false ideologies on our Nation's children not only violates longstanding anti-discrimination civil rights law in many cases, but usurps basic parental authority," the order said.

To that end, the order launches a significant convening of domestic policy and law enforcement power meant to identify and slash federal contracts and grants that support what the administration described as the "instruction, advancement, or promotion of gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology" in elementary and high schools  plus teacher training, employment and certification programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump further directed the attorney general to work with state and local legal officials to file appropriate actions" against teachers and school officials for criminal violations  or acts deemed to be "unlawfully facilitating" a minor's process of adopting a gender identity that differs from their biological sex.

The order says that social transition process can include psychological or psychiatric counseling or treatment by school counselors; calling a child "nonbinary;" allowing children to use bathrooms or locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity; and allowing them to participate in school athletic competitions or other extracurricular activities "specifically designated for persons of the opposite sex."

Trump's secretaries of defense, education, health and human services will consult with the attorney general's office to produce an "Ending Indoctrination Strategy" within 90 days.

The order also reinstates the 1776 Commission that Trump created during his first term in office to promote patriotic education and counter lessons that he says divide Americans on race and slavery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Education Department will provide funding and administrative support to the commission, which will advise federal agencies on civics lessons at national monuments and the country's upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Antisemitism

The presidents executive order to combat antisemitism would take on the rise in antisemitic incidents on campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas.

Earlier on Wednesday, the White House said the order would charge the Justice Department and attorney general with taking immediate action to prosecute antisemitic crimes like vandalism and intimidation as well as investigate anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities. Additionally, the White House is promising to deport and revoke the student visas of those deemed sympathetic to Hamas.

"It shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence," Trump's order said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House is also directing all federal agencies within 60 days of the order to review and report any criminal and civil authorities the agency has that can be used to address antisemitism. The Education Department also must report a list of all civil rights complaints against institutions and K-12 schools that were filed in response to antisemitic incidents after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

School choice

The president's school choice order directs the Education Department to issue guidance on how states can support K-12 scholarship programs with federal funding formulas, while further directing the agency to prioritize school choice in department discretionary grant programs that are now the subject of a massive spending review.

Other agencies would also get involved. Within 90 days, the secretaries of labor and education are directed to review their agencies' grant programs and submit recommendations on how those funds can "expand education freedom for Americas families and teachers."

Trumps order also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on how states can use block grant funds for children and families to support "educational alternatives to governmental entities, including private and faith-based options."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was directed to submit a plan for how military families can use Defense Department funds to send children to schools that could fall outside of the agencys own school system. And Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum would also be ordered to submit a plan on how families who rely on that agencys Bureau of Indian Education schools can use federal funds to attend the school of their choice.

This plan is a direct attack on all that parents and families hold dear," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in a statement on Wednesday. "Its a ham-fisted, recycled and likely illegal scheme to diminish choice and deny classrooms resources to pay for tax cuts for billionaires."

Bianca Quilantan contributed to this report
President Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order meant to broadly restrict access to gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers younger than 19, inching closer to fulfilling a key campaign promise to ban treatments that he and his administration have cast as experimental and dangerous, in conflict with major medical associations and transgender health experts.

Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a childs sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions, Tuesdays order states. This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nations history, and it must end.

Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called transition of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures, the order states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every major medical organization supports gender-affirming care for transgender adults and minors, although not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care.

Trumps executive order, titled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, tasks federal agencies with rescinding or amending policies that rely on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), including the organizations latest standards of care, released in 2022.

WPATH, a nonprofit professional organization devoted to transgender health care, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Trumps order tasks the incoming Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with publishing a review of existing literature on best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rapid-onset gender dysphoria, which claims that adolescents identify as transgender because of influence from friends or social media, is not recognized as a valid medical diagnosis by major professional medical organizations. In 2021, 61 professional health care organizations, including the American Psychological Association, signed a letter stating the condition lacks rigorous empirical support for its existence.

According to Tuesdays order, heads of executive departments and agencies that provide research and education grants to medical institutions, including medical schools and hospitals, should take immediate steps to block funding for institutions that continue providing gender-affirming care to minors.

Meredithe McNamara, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale University specializing in adolescent medicine, said the provision amounts to an immediate de facto ban on medical care for trans youth who receive care at academic medical centers.

It basically defunds those medical centers if they continue to provide that care, McNamara said of the order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a stunning example of how all health care is tied together, and how the most effective way to attack gender-affirming care is to attack the entire health care apparatus as a whole, she added in an interview. Theyre holding everyone hostage and saying, Were going to take away everyones healthcare unless you systematically deprive just these people.

Trumps executive order additionally directs the HHS Secretary  a position he wants for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.  to bar access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors through federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare and withdraw the departments 2022 guidance supporting gender-affirming care. The secretary should issue new guidance, in consultation with the incoming attorney general, protecting whistleblowers who take action related to ensuring compliance with this order, according to Tuesdays order.

The executive order also directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to draft a rule to exclude coverage for gender-affirming care for minors from TRICARE, the militarys health program. Former President Biden in December signed a $895 billion defense policy bill barring TRICARE from covering transition-related care for transgender children of active-duty service members, a provision that military families with transgender kids called a slap in the face.

Tuesdays order similarly tasks the director of the Office of Personnel Management with taking steps to remove coverage for gender-affirming care for trans youth from federal health plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also asks the attorney general to prioritize enforcement of existing federal laws against female genital mutilation, which carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The attorney general should also prioritize investigations and take appropriate action to end deception of consumers, fraud, and violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by entities that may be misleading the public about the long-term side effects of transition-related care.

Republican state attorneys general have, in recent years, used consumer protection laws to investigate individuals and organizations that provide gender-affirming care to minors. A Senate Finance Committee report released in April claimed that at least four GOP attorneys general  Ken Paxton of Texas, Todd Rokita of Indiana, Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee and Andrew Bailey of Missouri  abused their oversight authorities to further ideological and political goals.

Trumps executive order additionally directs the attorney general to work with Congress to draft, propose, and promote legislation to enact a private right of action for children, as well as their parents, whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing transgender health care.

The attorney general should also take appropriate action, the order states, to end child-abusive practices by so-called sanctuary States, including through the potential application of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act, a federal law preventing one parent from interfering with another parents custody rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Conservative organizations celebrated Trumps executive order Tuesday evening. In a joint statement, Independent Womens Forum and Independent Womens Voice said the move restores the true meaning of care for Americas youngest generation.

Kristina Rasmussen, executive director of Do No Harm, a health policy group that opposes gender-affirming care for minors, said Trumps order prioritizes safety, scientific integrity, and family autonomy.

Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior counsel and health care strategist at the LGBTQ civil rights organization Lambda Legal, called the order morally reprehensible and patently unlawful and said the group would sue.

The federal government  particularly, this administration  has no right to insert itself into conversations and decision-making that rightly belongs only to parents, their adolescent children, and their medical providers, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order comes after Trump signed separate orders declaring that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and barring transgender people from serving openly in the military.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, with his wife, Celeste, at his side, talks to reporters just after a federal jury found him guilty. His conviction was later overturned. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The Justice Departments second push to prosecute former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., appears headed to an end under the new management of a Republican president.

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday filed to withdraw the felony charges lodged against the Lincoln Republican in Washington, D.C., before the case was set to head to trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second trial for Fortenberry had been delayed until June instead of February because key prosecutors involved in the case had announced they were leaving the Justice Department.

Prosecutors filed the motion with prejudice, which means, if accepted, that the same charges could not be filed again.

Expected shift

Legal observers expected the Justice Departments stance on the case to change under President Donald Trump, because Trump has publicly complained about how Fortenberry had been treated.

Fortenberry was convicted in 2022 of lying to federal investigators and concealing his knowledge of foreign funds illegally donated in 2016 to his congressional campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An appeals court overturned his convictions in 2023 because he had been charged in California, where the fundraiser took place, instead of in Nebraska or Washington, where he allegedly lied.

Federal prosecutors charged him again in Washington, D.C. in May 2024, alleging that he knew and tried to conceal his knowledge of the illegal contributions, which Fortenberry still denies.

Recording was key

During the 2022 trial, prosecutors had played a recording of Fortenberry from 2018 speaking by phone with the organizer of the California fundraiser who had become an FBI informant.

Fortenberry was told that the $30,000, which had been delivered in a paper sack to an intermediary, was likely illegal. He was also told Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury was the source of the money.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fortenberry had long supported the mission of Chagourys organization, In Defense of Christians, which works to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

The former congressman, in later interviews with the FBI, denied being told what the recording revealed, the charges alleged. He also denied being aware of the illicit contribution.

His attorneys have argued at various points that he did not hear the FBI informant, that his connection was bad and that he did not understand that he was a target of an FBI investigation.

Called prosecution political

Fortenberrys spokesman in 2024, Chad Kolton, described the charges as political and overzealous. Others have argued that a congressman shouldve known better than to accept foreign funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation of Fortenberry began under Trump and continued under former President Joe Biden. Trump, in visits to Nebraska and elsewhere, has hinted that Fortenberry was wronged.

President Donald Trump posted about former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys case on Truth Social on Wednesday. (Screenshot by Aaron Sanderford)

Trump posted about the case on his social media site, Truth Social, on Wednesday, saying it was great to see that the Department of Justice has dropped the Witch Hunt against former Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.

Jeff and his family were forced to suffer greatly due to the illegal Weaponization of our Justice System by the Radical Left Democrats, Trump wrote. The charges were totally baseless. That Scam is now over.

Trumps pick for Attorney General, former Florida AG Pam Bondi, is headed for a confirmation vote from the Senate soon, having advanced Wednesday out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Justice Department, which under Biden had said it was not pursuing the case for political reasons, declined to comment.

Fortenberry resigned from representing Nebraskas 1st District in Congress after being convicted in 2022. He was replaced by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., a former Speaker of the Legislature.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Donald Trump is the least popular newly elected president since the Second World War, with the exception of himself in 2017, according to a set of polls.

Since taking office on Jan 20, the Republican has moved quickly to impose restrictions on immigration and scale back the size of the US government, efforts that have generally gone down well with the public.

However, Americans have a dim view of some of Mr Trumps other executive orders, including his attempt to do away with so-called birthright citizenship and his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to poll aggregator 538, Mr Trumps initial approval rating is at +7 percentage points, lower than any other newly elected president since the Second World War.

Only Mr Trump himself experienced a lower early approval rating, of +3.2, in 2017.

By comparison, his predecessor Joe Biden had an approval rating of +21.8 in 2021, while Barack Obama enjoyed a score of +46.9 in 2009. John F Kennedys approval rating sat at +66 following his election in 1960.

Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said: While it does seem Trump is getting a honeymoon to some extent, his numbers are still not impressive by historical standards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During Mr Trumps first term, his approval rating reached a high of 49 per cent in his first weeks in office.

However, he closed out his stay in the White House with a 34 per cent approval rating, following the Jan 6 2021 assault on the US Capitol by some of his supporters.

This time around, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 45 per cent of Americans approve of Mr Trumps performance as president, down slightly from 47 per cent in a poll conducted on Jan 20 and 21.

Mr Kondik said it may be too early to evaluate whether Mr Trump is squandering his political capital by focusing on issues where he is not aligned with the public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the poll shows that many of his early actions have been greeted warmly only by his hardcore base of supporters.

Voters more generally remain deeply concerned about the high price of food, housing and other necessities, the survey found.

Most Americans opposed ending the nations longstanding practice of granting citizenship to children born in the US even if neither parent has legal immigration status, the poll found.

Some 59 per cent of respondents  including 89 per cent of Democrats and 36 per cent of Republicans  said they were against ending birthright citizenship.

A federal judge last week temporarily blocked the Trump administration from making the changes, but the White House has vowed to fight on.

Little backing for Gulf of America

Meanwhile, 70 per cent of respondents said they opposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, an action Mr Trump ordered on his first day in office. Only 25 per cent of respondents supported the idea, with the rest unsure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some 59 per cent of those surveyed, including 30 per cent of Republican voters, also said they were against Mr Trumps move to end federal efforts to promote the hiring of women and racial minorities.

When asked specifically about Mr Trumps order to close all federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices, the respondents were more evenly divided, with 51 per cent opposed and 44 per cent in favour, largely along partisan lines.

Credit: @Caolanmcaree / X

Support for expanding fossil fuel drilling  another early policy change in the new administration  was highly concentrated in Mr Trumps party, with 76 per cent of Republicans backing the easing of drilling restrictions and 81 per cent of Democrats opposing it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some 59 per cent of respondents said they were against the US pulling out of the Paris climate accords.

Public views also split along partisan lines on billionaire businessman Elon Musk, one of Mr Trumps most prominent allies. While 75 per cent of Republicans in the survey said they had a favourable view of Musk, 90 per cent of Democrats had an unfavourable view.

One possible source of concern for Mr Trumps political team could be the still overwhelming sense that rising prices remain untamed. Half of the poll respondents said the country was on the wrong track when it came to the cost of living, compared with 25 per cent who said it was moving in the right direction. The rest said they were not sure or did not answer the question.

Support on immigration and hiring freeze

There were positive indicators for Mr Trump as well. Some 48 per cent said they approved of Mr Trumps approach to immigration, compared with 41 per cent who disapproved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The poll also showed Mr Trump as having significant levels of support for the hiring freeze he ordered at most federal offices, with 49 per cent backing the policy, including 80 per cent of Republicans and 43 per cent of Democrats.

Mr Kondik said Mr Trump ultimately may be judged by the public on big-picture issues such as the economy and immigration, and that opposition to smaller-scale policy measures might not be too damaging.

Mr Trump has signed a raft of new executive orders since returning to the White House - Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Trump was elected in large part because voters tended to side with him on the economy and immigration. To the extent he is viewed as doing positive things on that, its probably good for him, he said.

But, Mr Kondik added, if voters in the coming months perceive Mr Trumps restrictions on immigration or his government downsizing efforts to be overly harsh, that could change.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Trump will not be on the ballot again, but any backlash could be felt by congressional Republicans running for re-election next year, he said.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was conducted online from Jan 24 to 26, surveyed 1,034 adults nationwide.

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)  Private school vouchers and other school choice initiatives would expand under an order coming from President Donald Trump telling government agencies to repurpose federal dollars.

The Education Department is being told to use discretionary money to prioritize school choice programs and give states new guidance on how they can use federal money to support K-12 voucher programs.

The executive order that he plans to sign Wednesday could free up some pockets of federal money to be used on school choice, but it is not clear how far he could move the needle with federal money alone. The vast majority of school funding comes from state and local sources, and school choice policies are generally the purview of state governments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order says traditional public schools have failed students and that the new administration will reverse course by opening up opportunities for students to attend the school that best fits their needs.

Other agencies, including the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services and the Bureau of Indian Education, would be directed to help states and families find ways to use existing federal money for school choice programs.

The signing, as conservative groups are celebrating National School Choice, comes the same day that results from a national exam found that America's students have continued to fall behind in reading and made little improvement in math in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The order cites the National Assessment of Educational Progress finding that 70% of eighth-grade students were not proficient in reading and 72% were not proficient in math.

Responding to the results, the Trump administration said it is committed to reorienting our education system to fully empower states, to prioritize meaningful learning and provide universal access to high-quality instruction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump campaigned on a promise to expand school choice, long a key part of the Republican education agenda. He promised to create massive funding preferences for states that adopt universal school choice  a policy that lets almost all families use taxpayer-funded education money to attend private schools, homeschooling or other options beyond local public schools.

Arizona became the first state to adopt universal school choice in 2022 and several Republican-states have followed. Opponents say the policy is designed to gut public education.

During his first term, Trump also tried to expand school choice and he made Betsy DeVos, a prominent school choice advocate, as education secretary. DeVos worked with governors to expand state policies but failed to get Congress to pass legislation that would have provided tax breaks for donations made to scholarships for private schools or other education options.

Trump has nominated billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to serve as his next education chief. McMahon, whose Senate hearing has not been scheduled yet, has called for an expansion of school choice policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trumps rapid-fire moves to reshape American law enforcement have come through a flurry of memos and directives demanding that employees across the Justice Department focus on his top priorities like immigration enforcement.

Most Read from Bloomberg

After the week-long blitz of new marching orders, insiders are bracing for a pullback on everything from complex economic fraud crimes to white-collar cases and those involving civil rights or environmental protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps vision for the department got an early political test on Thursday when his pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, faced lawmakers who need to approve him for the post.

Patel, 44, always seemed headed for tough opposition from Senate Democrats, who claim hell erode political independence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Those critics now have fresh fodder to try to convince a handful of Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to help scuttle his nomination.

Mr. Patel has neither the experience, temperament nor the judgment to lead the agency, the top Democrat on the panel, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, said during Patels confirmation hearing. This is someone whos left behind a trail of grievance through his life, lashing out as anyone who doesnt believe him or disrespects him.

Even as upheaval courses through the federal bureaucracy, Trumps changes at the DOJ stand out because of the vast powers wielded at its Main Justice headquarters, US attorneys offices across the country and agencies like the FBI. The department will be on the front lines both enforcing and defending Trumps agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The redirection has reverberated among career lawyers and officials based in Washington and spread out in DOJ offices around the country, according to current and former employees, who asked not to be identified discussing internal conversations.

How far Patel would go as head of the FBI to pursue Trumps agenda was a consistent theme at the hearing.

Protecting the rights of the Constitution is of the utmost importance to me, Patel said at the hearing.

Patel said if he is confirmed as FBI director, he will remain focused on the FBI core mission: that is to investigate fully wherever there is a constitutional, factual basis to do so, and to never make a prosecutorial decision that is solely the providence of the Department of Justice and Attorney General.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Conspiracy Theories

Patel worked to distance himself from controversial statements and social media posts hes made.

For example, several Democratic senators cited his support for the so-called Jan. 6 choir, which consists of individuals imprisoned for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Senators held up large placards with quotes or social media repostings from Patel supporting the choir, noting that some pleaded guilty to violently attacking police.

Patel brushed the criticism aside, saying he didnt know anything about members of the choir who violently attack police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Patel was asked about a statement he made that he would shut down the FBIs headquarters in Washington and turn it into a museum of the deep state.

Patel attempted to downplay the statement, saying he is fully committed to having thousands of FBI agents who work in the Washington area go out to field offices to fight crime.

Patel also denied that he has an enemies list, even though he identified dozens of people in his book that he claimed were part of the deep state.

I have no intentions of going backwards, Patel said. However, he didnt rule out investigations against those individuals. No one that did not break the law will be investigated, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Firing Prosecutors

For backers of the president, the moment seems uniquely suited for Patels ascendancy to lead the FBI. In his book Government Gangsters  which Trump called a blueprint to take back the White House  Patel endorsed calls to fire government employees who undermine the presidents agenda.

A version of that came to fruition on Monday when Trumps acting attorney general, James McHenry, fired more than a dozen officials and career lawyers who worked on investigations into the presidents conduct after his 2020 election loss, citing lack of faith that they could be trusted to implement the presidents agenda.

The decision was made by McHenry and approved by the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a candidate, Trump vowed to reshape the Justice Department, which in addition to the FBI also includes the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Marshals Service, among other units. He claimed prosecutors had weaponized the justice system against him and threatened to wield the levers of power to go after perceived enemies.

Meanwhile, Trump first signaled he viewed FBI leadership as an enemy under former Director James Comey, who opened an investigation in 2016 into whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in that years presidential election. Trump fired Comey and the investigation was closed without charges against him.

Republican Support

If Patel clears the committee with a majority vote, he can only afford to have three Republicans in the Senate go against him, if all 47 Democrats and independents in the chamber vote to sink his candidacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite Trumps strong backing, Patels prospects on Capitol Hill appear less certain than those of Pam Bondi, the presidents pick for attorney general. A former lobbyist who served as the attorney general of Florida, Bondi also represented Trump in his first impeachment trial. She could be confirmed for her post to lead the DOJ as soon as this week after sailing through her confirmation hearing and clearing a committee vote.

For now, anxious employees are trying to game out the next moves on the fifth floor at the Main Justice building, where a tight circle of acting leaders is busily executing the new administrations agenda.

Many career prosecutors were taken aback by the flurry of memos from Trump appointees over the past week laying out the new ground rules  and why they were necessary.

In one, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who previously worked as a defense attorney for the president, referred to Trumps victory in November  an inclusion some staff members read as unusually political. Another memo from McHenry, the acting attorney general, directed employees to report colleagues who pressed ahead with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts despite orders from Trump to effectively erase DEI from the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many Justice Department staff are now scrubbing their pronouns from email signatures. Another memo ordered a pause on new civil rights settlements and consent decrees and said the new administration might revisit existing ones.

In some cases, the message has been delivered in smaller groups. In one recent internal meeting, a senior official advised lawyers in DOJs civil rights division not to pursue cases that might rankle Trump appointees, including hate crimes against people due to their gender identity, said one current official.

Worried that official department emails might be monitored, some DOJ employees are resorting to encrypted messaging apps like Signal to discuss the changes sweeping through the department. Lawyers are worried about being pulled off important cases and reassigned to ones that align with the Trump immigration push.

Political Gamesmanship

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the most prominent parts of DOJ, the FBI is headquartered in Washington in a building named for former director J. Edgar Hoover. The bureau has more than 50 field offices across the country that investigate cases from cyberattacks and white-collar crime, to murder and allegations of sexual misconduct.

Patel rose to prominence expressing outrage over the FBIs investigation into whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

In Trumps first administration, Patel held a number of stopgap national security positions, including chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller in the final months of Trumps White House term. He also served as senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council and as a senior adviser to former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.

This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border, Trump said when announcing that he planned to tap Patel for the role. Like Trump, Patel is also a critic of government agencies for actions that he says unfairly target Republicans.

Under his list of top of reforms to defeat the deep state outlined in his book, Patel calls for the FBI headquarters to be moved out of Washington to curb FBI leadership from engaging in political gamesmanship. He also suggested significantly shrinking the general counsels office within the FBI, which he says has taken on prosecutorial decision-making instead of operating only as an investigatory body.

--With assistance from Emily Birnbaum, Stephanie Lai, Mike Dorning and Erik Larson.

(Updates with comments from confirmation hearing starting in eleventh paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
President Donald Trumps executive order to develop a next-generation homeland missile defense shield marks a shift in the United States long-standing homeland missile defense strategy, which has focused on threats from rogue nations like North Korea and Iran rather than from peer adversaries like China or Russia.

The order  titled The Iron Dome For America in a nod to the successful, lowest tier of Israels multilayered air defense system of the same name  also addresses a broader array of complex threats from hypersonic weapons to cruise missiles.

Further, the order revives the pursuit of space-based interceptors for missile defense, a concept that has been scrapped multiple times in recent history due to technological challenges and high costs associated with the development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order requires the defense secretary to submit an architecture design, outline requirements and develop an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield within 60 days of its signing.

Not just high-end threats

The foundation of an Iron Dome for America needs to be air- and cruise-missile defense, and then we work our way up from there, Tom Karako, a missile-defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Defense News. Those are the gaps that were most vulnerable with and that we need to fill and work on filling most urgently.  Its not just the high-end hypersonic stuff or the ICBMs, its all this other stuff.

The Pentagon has worked for years, including in Trumps first term, trying to come up with a plan to defend the U.S. homeland from cruise missiles. Officials were said to be closing in on a design framework for the mission as the Defense Department was formulating its fiscal 2024 budget request, yet the work appeared to have lost some traction in favor of other defense priorities.

Land-attack cruise missiles can be launched from the air, ground or sea, and because they fly at low altitudes under powered flight it is difficult for radars to detect them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ballistic missiles, on the other hand, can be detected much earlier, which allows more time to track, decide and act on a threat. Meanwhile, for cruise missiles, decision-makers may have only a couple of minutes to respond, and salvos of cruise missiles can attack from different directions, complicating the approach to defeating the threat.

Currently, the United States homeland missile defense posture consists of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System. The system, developed to counter intercontinental ballistic missile attacks aimed at the continental U.S. from North Korea and Iran, is made up of ground-based interceptors primarily in Alaska, with a few silos at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The Missile Defense Agency is developing a new interceptor capable of addressing more complex threats, which will ultimately replace the current interceptors.

Additionally, the defensive architecture includes radars positioned in places like Clear, Alaska, and at sea in the Pacific, and a constellation of space-based detection capabilities is also in development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the U.S. has focused on ballistic missile defense of the homeland from rogue states, near-peer adversaries Russia and China have made investments over several decades to develop cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons.

The 2019 Missile Defense Review highlighted the need to focus on near-peer cruise missiles and directed the Pentagon to recommend an organization to have acquisition authority of cruise missile defense for the homeland. The designation requirement also appeared in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

Shooting from space

Much of the architecture would include capabilities already well under development, including the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer, solutions to address threats prior to launch and in the early boost phase of flight, and nonkinetic and kinetic defeat capabilities for advanced threats.

Yet, the order renews a push made in Trumps first administration to develop and deploy proliferated space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept, the order states. The concept for space-based interceptors to take out missiles launched from the earth was first championed in the Reagan administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act required the MDA director to establish a space test bed to conduct research on an intercept layer in space, but Congress agreed to repeal the requirement in the fiscal 2020 policy bill after Trumps Missile Defense Review released in 2019 did not include investment in the pursuit.

Instead, the Pentagon planned to launch a study, lasting potentially six months, to look into the most promising technologies and come up with estimates for cost and time. The Pentagon would then consider the findings before choosing whether to move forward.

Following that, the MDA did little to fund research and development in the space-based interceptor arena in its FY20 budget, aside from allocating less than $15 million toward feasibility studies.

Congress turned its focus to backing the budget for a space-based sensor layer, now in development and making progress toward an ability to track complex threats like hypersonic missiles that can fly under ground-based sensor radars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Putting interceptors in space has been controversial for myriad reasons, including its technological feasibility to the likelihood of high development costs to the idea that it could trigger an arms race in space.

Developing space-based interceptors is difficult, Karako said.

Furthermore, there are a number of threats that space-based interceptors are not useful against, like cruise missiles, maybe hypersonic stuff, he said. Those threats would fly outside of the range of a space-based interceptor, closer to the earths surface.

The implications of what it means to treat space as a warfighting domain are just beginning to sink in, he said. We are now at the advent of a new national conversation about space-based interceptors.
President Donald Trump promised "I am your retribution" to his supporters in his 2024 campaign.

His first week in the White House saw him turn that threat real.

Within hours of taking the oath of office, Trump stripped security clearances from 51 former intelligence officials who had signed onto a letter describing the public release of emails from Hunter Biden's laptop as potentially part of a Russian information operation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He's removed security details for John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, despite threats against their lives from Iran because of their work in the first Trump administration, as well as for Dr. Anthony Fauci, who faced threats over the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. When asked about removing the details, Trump told reporters "you cant have a security detail for the rest of your life" if you work in government and that he wouldn't feel responsible should anything happen to those individuals.

Retired Gen. Mark Milley has also been informed his security detail is being pulled and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is moving to have him demoted.

MORE: DOJ fires members of special counsel Jack Smith's team who prosecuted Trump

Meanwhile, a purge of officials is also taking place across the government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than a dozen people who were part of former special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution were fired. Seventeen inspectors general at multiple federal agencies were terminated, with the administration flouting the 30 days advanced notice required by law.

The White House defended the moves and said they'd do so in court if lawsuits are brought as is expected.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked on ABC's "Good Morning America" Wednesday if revoking Milley's detail and other moves against the president's critics should be considered retaliatory.

"I would reject that," Leavitt responded. "I think that President Trump has the right to make these decisions. And again, he doesn't think that taxpayers should be funding security for bureaucrats and for others who have served in our government for the rest of their lives."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at the 2025 House Republican Members Conference Dinner at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

But some experts say the actions send a message that officials are expected to fall in line with the new administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's a shot across the bow," said Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow of governance studies at the Brookings Institution. "It's intended to send to them that he's really serious about getting his agenda done."

More attempts at retribution could be in store if Trump's picks for attorney general and FBI director are confirmed. He's nominated Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department and Kash Patel to lead the FBI, both loyalists.

Bondi in her confirmation hearing pledged to keep politics out of prosecutions, but raised eyebrows among critics when she notably did not directly answer questions about Trump's 2020 election loss and his desire to target political opponents.

Patel will face senators for his hearing on Thursday. He's said in the past that "thousands and thousands and thousands" of federal employees need to be fired for aiding the so-called "deep state." He's also threatened to go after journalists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Post-Watergate, the Justice Department and its agencies enacted internal policies aimed to bolster independence that presidents of both parties abided by.

But Trump's taken a far more expansive view of executive authority, and could try to wield his influence directly over the DOJ and FBI.

Already his administration's removed some career DOJ officials, sparking concern within the department's National Security Division, ABC News previously reported. Others were reassigned to a newly-formed task force to prosecute immigration violations in so-called "sanctuary cities."

"The test will really be if President Trump asked the Justice Department to prosecute someone or investigate someone, will they do it?" said Bruce Green, a Fordham Law ethics expert who examined this issue during Trump's first term.

PHOTO: Kash Patel gestures inside the Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of Donald Trump's second presidential term, in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Backstops still remain if that were the case, experts noted: prosecutors could threaten revolt, courts could reject cases that lack proof of a crime or Congress could step in. But Trump is entering a second term with Republicans controlling the House and Senate, and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that's agreed with him on some aspects of presidential power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It's a little early to know whether all of the guardrails are being obliterated," said Green. "But sadly, all signs point in that direction."

MORE: How fierce Trump ally Kash Patel could help reshape the FBI or Justice Department

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly singled out opponents he suggested be investigated or even jailed. They include former Rep. Liz Cheney and other members of the House Jan. 6 Committee as well as Biden and his family.

Former President Joe Biden, in his final hours as commander in chief, issued preemptive pardons for his family, House Jan. 6 committee members, Fauci and Milley. Trump, in his first post-inauguration interview, suggested it was a mistake for Biden not to pardon himself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Biden's pardons, however, don't prevent Congress from launching inquiries into those individuals, experts said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled last week he would look into the Biden pardons. House Republicans are also establishing a new select subcommittee that will probe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and seek to undercut the findings of the bipartisan panel from when Democrats controlled the chamber.

"To us, it is disgusting. To us, it probably proves the point," Johnson said last week about the pardons for Biden's family members.

"Look, there's a lot of attention that's going to be paid to this," Johnson continued. "And I think that is appropriate. And we will be looking at it as well."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ABC News' Mary Bruce, Alexander Mallin, Luis Martinez and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.

Trump has moved quickly to exact 'retribution.' More revenge could come: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
As Donald Trump offers federal employees massive buyouts in a bid to axe as many as possible, OpenAI is conveniently offering a new AI tool to replace that workload.

In a new blog post, OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Gov, a "tailored version" of the company's groundbreaking chatbot with additional security layers for the processing of sensitive government information.

Unveiled just a week after Trump's $500 billion Stargate AI deal that includes OpenAI  and right before his administration offered government employees "deferred resignation" in exchange for months of pay and benefits  this new version of ChatGPT will, as CNBC reports, operate similarly to the enterprise version that underpins it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a call with reporters, OpenAI chief product officer Kevin Weil insisted that agencies will be able to input "non-public, sensitive information" into ChatGPT Gov  even though ChatGPT Enterprise has not finished the "long process" of getting federal accreditation for such usage.

Despite that shaky foundation, the company told FedScoop that it's already in conversation with "several" unnamed agencies who want to use ChatGPT Gov  an alarming prospect in terms of national security, though to be fair, Trump's human "First Buddy" also lacks the level of security clearance needed for the work he does as well.

With OpenAI announcing ChatGPT just before news broke about Trump's "deferred resignation" scheme, folks online smelled something fishy.

"Just happen to announce this the same day they invite all federal employees to quit," Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a particle physicist at the University of New Hampshire, posted on Bluesky. "Your social security is going to be handled by [a] large language model that is on constantly on shrooms."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beyond the mighty coincidental timing, folks also pointed out just how easily this project involving a technology notorious for making stuff up could backfire.

"This seems like a great way for private organizations to mine government data," one Bluesky user noted.

"'Having been dunked on by [C]hina, what if we propped up this boondoggle with the federal government,'" another Bluesky poster joked, in a clear reference to DeepSeek's big weekend.

The r/artificial subreddit, meanwhile, called a spade a spade.

"The only possible moat for OpenAI left," one commentator quipped. "Government slop that doesn't do anything meaningful and wastes taxpayer dollars."

And wait a second  wasn't saving money supposed to be a top goal of the Trump administration?

More on government and AI: Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Woke AI
At least four devotees from Belagavi lost their lives in a stampede during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, confirmed Karnataka police on Wednesday. Belagavi District Commissioner, Mohammad Roshan, confirmed the deaths and informed the media over the phone. A special team, headed by a senior district officer and a police officer, has been formed to travel to Prayagraj to bring back the bodies. According to District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, the deaths of four devotees in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela were confirmed, and the information was shared with the media. He further added, "A special team formed under the leadership of a special district commissioner and a senior police officer. He added a special team will travel to Prayagraj to bring back the bodies." Meanwhile, a stampede-like situation occurred at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several casualties. The incident happened as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which also marks the day of the Second Shahi Snan. Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, offering full support from the Centre. In response to the incident, heavy security has been deployed at the Triveni Sangam, with police ensuring the smooth movement of the akharas and saints for their Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, by 10 AM on Wednesday, 36.1 million devotees had taken the holy dip at Triveni. Other key bathing dates during the Maha Kumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri). (ANI)
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump is offering buyouts to agency employees who dont want to comply with his demands that they return to the office as he looks to reshape the federal workforce in his second term.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The buyouts will run through Sept. 30 as long as the employees resign by Feb. 6. The Office of Personnel Management posted what it said was a copy of that email on a website page titled Fork in the Road.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The buyouts were offered in an email to federal employees that also warned that the administration was seeking a more streamlined and flexible workforce.

While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force, the email said. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

The Trump administration also plans for meaningful consolidation and divestitures of physical office space in the future, according to the memo.

Military personnel, the US Postal Service, and jobs related to national security or immigration enforcement were among a number of federal positions exempted from the offer. The buyout offers were first reported by Axios.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal workers who want to leave are instructed to simply reply to the memo from their .gov government email account. Type the word Resign into the body of this reply email. Hit Send. Those who didnt reply to the memo were given another way to quit, by sending an email to an OPM human resources email account with the word Resign in the subject line.

Federal Fight

Many of Trumps actions are likely to face court challenges. The head of the American Federation of Government Employees in a statement Tuesday said Trumps goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Treasury Employees Union, in a message to members late Tuesday seen by Bloomberg, said the email was designed to entice or scare you into resigning, and strongly urged its members not to resign in response to this email. The union represents about 150,000 government workers in 37 departments and agencies.

Trump in one of his first actions of his new administration, ordered government workers back to the office, revoking work-from-home accommodations under his predecessor Joe Biden.

On Monday, the Trump administration gave agencies until Feb. 7 to devise plans for the return of federal employees to in-person work. The return-to-office mandate applies to federal workers unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason certified by the agency head. Military spouses working civilian jobs are also exempt.

In addition, separate guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on Monday gave Trump authority to hire and fire some employees who previously had civil service protection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk Playbook

Return-to-work policies are a focus of Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO heading the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk pushed for the mandate in an attempt to encourage some federal workers to simply quit or be fired as no-shows.

Musk took a similar strategy when trying to cut costs at Twitter after his $44 billion takeover in October 2022. Shortly after the deal closed, he sent employees an email titled A Fork in the Road, asking them commit to being extremely hardcore under Twitters new ownership. Those who didnt commit to working long hours at high intensity were dismissed from the company with severance.

For Musk, it was an easy way to cut costs while simultaneously identifying people who he expected wouldnt be loyal under new management. Roughly 1,200 of the companys remaining workers  some 33% of the staff  took the severance, according to the New York Times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In some cases, however, Musks rapid cost cutting led to new problems. Some people were laid off by mistake, while others were let go before management realized their work and experience were needed to build new features Musk envisioned. The company scrambled to try and bring dozens of them back. In another case, Musk closed one of Twitters data centers without realizing that doing so would cause widespread technical problems. He later called the plan a mistake.

Many federal workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements, including one that Social Security Administration workers secured in the final days of the Biden administration, that allow more flexible work arrangements.

Data from the Office of Management and Budget show that about 10% of the workforce is permanently remote  including disabled workers with a documented accommodation, military spouses and those where the nature of the work is mobile.

--With assistance from Gregory Korte, Kurt Wagner and Jennifer A. Dlouhy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with echoes of Musks own Twitter moves under Musk Playbook section)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Federal employees were given an option Tuesday: If they didn't want to return to work at the office, they could accept a buyout.

The Trump administration's offer would give federal workers eight months of pay and benefits if they accept the deferred resignation by Feb. 6. They also would be exempt from the order for federal employees to return to work in person.

It's a push to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's what to know about the offer and how many federal employees it could affect in Florida.

Trump offers eight-month buyouts to almost all federal employees

The buyout was sent via a memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to federal employees Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Employees who accept the buyout would be given eight months of pay and benefits through September.

The deadline to accept the deferred resignation is Feb. 6.

What federal employees were not offered Trump's deferred resignation?

The deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for:

military personnel of the armed forces

employees of the U.S. Postal Service

those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security

those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.

Buyout comes after Trump required all federal workers to return to in-person work

During his first week in office, President Trump signed an order requiring all federal workers to return to in-person work.

Work-from-home policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic have remained in place for many federal workers.

How many federal employees are there?

There are just under 2 million federal civilian employees. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management lists 1,869,986 employees in all areas and covering all agencies.

How many federal civilian employees are there in Florida?

Federal civilian employees in Florida total 89,504, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Outside of Washington, D.C., the states with the highest number of federal employees are:

California: 152,466

Virginia: 144,295

Texas: 132,952

Maryland: 120,705

Florida: 89,504

Memo warns employees certainty not possible on positions in future

The Office of Personnel Management's memo told federal employees:

"At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions."

Focus will be on 'serving the American people' for employees who stay

"If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce," the memo said.

Federal employees who decide to accept buyout will get 'dignified, fair departure'

"If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason)," the memo said.

Federal employee union criticizes buyout offer

The American Federation of Government Employees criticized the buyout, saying the buyouts would "result in unintended consequences that will cause chaos for Americans."

"This offer should not be viewed as voluntary," AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a Wednesday morning written statement.

"Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to," Kelley said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American Federal of Government employees is the largest federal employee union, representing 800,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

OPM memo said 'significant' reforms coming to federal workforce

Among the directives already issued by Trump that affect the federal work force are:

Employees return to in-person work

Restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority

Restored accountability for senior career executives

Reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit.

"As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant," the memo said.

4 pillars of reformed federal workforce

The Office of Personnel Management outlined "four pillars" of the reformed federal workforce:

" Return to office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.

" Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level  our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.

" More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

"Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination."

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Federal government buyouts: What to know, Florida employees
In what could result in an unprecedented purge of the federal workforce, the Trump administration is offering a nearly eight-month buyout to employees if they announce theyre quitting by next Thursday.

The White Houses Office of Personnel Management sent an email blast to federal government workers asking them to reply if they want to take the offer, which will only be available until February 6. If they give up their positions, theyll be exempt from returning to the office until September 30 and retain pay and benefits.

The email states that a new federal workforce will be built around four pillars: Return to Office, performance culture, more streamlined and flexible workforce, and enhanced standards of conduct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce, the email states.

There was no continuing job reassurance for those who chose to stay.

At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions, the message noted.

Federal workers can opt out of their current positions through what the office calls a deferred resignation program. The program begins January 28 and will run until next week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason), the email continues.

Employees were instructed to respond to the email from a government account, type resign in the body and hit send.

Not all employees will be eligible. Some exceptions will be up to agency heads to implement.

Carveouts exist for immigration officers, the Postal Service, armed forces and some in national security-focused roles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move is part of President Donald Trumps agenda to eliminate large swaths of the federal workforce.

The administration reportedly expects at least five to 10 percent of the workforce to accept the offer, totaling potentially hundreds of thousands of people.

The administration projects the buyouts could ultimately save up to $100 billion a year. But the collapse of the workforce could gut the provision of public services and crush crackdowns on lawbreakers like tax cheats.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and his now-jettisoned DOGE ex-partner Vivek Ramaswamy appeared to be the first to float the idea of encouraging remote federal workers to voluntarily quit as a way to slash the federal workforce.

Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome, the men wrote in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal in November. They were later named co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the federal government to stop paying for gender-affirming care for people under 19.

The executive order instructs agencies to ensure hospitals and other institutions receiving federal money stop offering gender-affirming care for minors.

The U.S. government will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support minors transitions, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery, according to the order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration also tells agencies to rescind guidance for care of people with gender dysphoria based on that of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a professional society of people who provide health care to transgender people. Leading medical organizations take WPATHs guidance into account when creating their own standards of care.

The order tasks HHS with publishing its own review within 90 days on the best practices for caring for minors with gender dysphoria.

The order directs the HHS secretary to take all appropriate actions to end gender-affirming care for minors, including through Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation, clinical abuse rules, drug use reviews and other oversight powers. The order directs the secretary of Defense to begin the process of removing gender-affirming care from TRICARE Coverage.

The order also directs the Department of Justice to prioritize enforcement of protections against female genital mutilation and convene state attorneys general with the same goal. Trump also ordered the Justice Department to prioritize investigations into entities that may be misleading patients about side effects of gender-affirming care  and to work with Congress to create rights to help children whose healthy body parts have been damaged in gender-affirming care, as well as their parents, to bring civil actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal employee health insurance should not cover gender-affirming care for minors in the 2026 plan year, according to the order.

The federal government will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures, according to the order.

Agency leaders are directed to submit a report on their progress implementing the order within 60 days.

Gender-affirming care for minors and doctors ability to provide it has been widely accepted by major medical institutions, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, through independent reviews.

Even so, critics point to a British government review of the treatments last year by pediatrician Hilary Cass, which questioned the current evidence and urged caution in treating minors.
Late Monday evening, President Donald Trump fulfilled a promise and signed an executive order that he said would reinstate troops who were discharged over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate -- but much of what is in the order was already in effect, while the rest left more questions than answers.

The heart of the order is a direction to the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security to allow reinstatement of vaccine refusers. However, the thousands who were forced out have been allowed to return since 2023, but only a scant few have taken the military up on the opportunity.

The order's key addition is a broadly articulated promise of back pay. However, the order doesn't explain whether there will be conditions or service obligations that come with the benefit, while seemingly providing no way for the services to pay for the potential spike in troop salaries should thousands of new recruits need years of pay in the coming months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read Next: Trump's Pick for Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll, Heads into Senate Hearing Mostly an Unknown

When asked about the order or how someone interested in taking advantage of its promises should proceed, Pentagon officials were unable to offer details beyond a statement saying they "will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the executive orders issued by the president" and "provide status updates as we are able."

According to data from each of the military services provided to Military.com last week, the Pentagon ultimately separated about 8,200 service members over a refusal to follow a lawful order and receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

The vast majority of those individuals objected to the vaccine on religious grounds and filed requests for religious exemptions that were overwhelmingly rejected by military leaders. There were a variety of legal challenges filed over the mandate, and it was ultimately repealed in 2023 when Congress forced it to be rescinded in that year's massive defense policy bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A total of 690 service members, dependents and civilian Defense Department employees died from COVID-19 between the start of the pandemic in early 2020 and Dec. 8, 2022, the date the DoD stopped publishing updates of its COVID-related deaths.

From 2023 to the present day, only 113 of the more than 8,000 discharged service members have chosen to return to military service. According to data provided by the services, 73 soldiers, 25 Marines, 13 airmen or Guardians, and two sailors have come back.

While Trump's order also dictated that service members should be reinstated to their former rank, that is already typical for prior service civilians who rejoin the military.

Meanwhile, the key new tenant of the order -- the direction that returning troops "receive full back pay, benefits, bonus payments or compensation" -- goes unexplained in the text published by the White House on Monday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order also appears to allow any service member to simply "provide a written and sworn attestation that they voluntarily left the service or allowed their service to lapse" over the vaccine and they will be allowed to return "with no impact on their service status, rank or pay."

Neither the order nor Pentagon officials said whether people in that category would be eligible for back pay. Without that element, the promise seems to largely describe the existing ability to reenlist after having previously served, though with a firmer promise on the terms of reentry.

Furthermore, the order notes that the services will be making good on the back pay promise while still being "subject to the availability of appropriations," meaning that there will be no new money on the table to pay for the back pay, benefits or bonuses.

As president, Trump has limited ability to provide extra funding to the agencies he oversees. That power is reserved for Congress by the Constitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, during his first term in office, he controversially moved money already given by Congress from one agency to another when he took billions of dollars from the Pentagon's coffers to fund construction of a barrier wall at the southern border.

In the wake of the order's announcement, former military members -- many of whom claim they left or were forced out over the vaccine mandate -- took to social media to say that, even despite the promise of back pay, they would not be returning.

A former Army captain and Green Beret who left the service over the vaccine told Task and Purpose on Tuesday that he wasn't considering returning because "God is guiding me elsewhere at this time."

Ivan Raiklin, a former Green Beret and lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said that "until this 'reinstatement' order is amended to punish all involved ... I don't expect anyone to return to the military," in a social media post Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If they do, they are absolute sellouts that aren't to be trusted to defend the Constitution," he added.

Other former service members who have become semi-public figures as part of their fight over the vaccine mandate, as well as other more anonymous individuals, echoed that sentiment in blog posts and posts to social media.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated 7 million deaths internationally and estimates that range from double to four times that from indirect causes, is considered one of the worst worldwide calamities of the 21st century, and it was one of the deadliest global events since the Spanish Flu a century ago and World War II.

Related: Trump Orders Pentagon Policy Saying Transgender Troops Are 'Not Consistent' with Military Ideals
President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders covering issues ranging from immigration and trade to DEI, climate, and the federal workforce during his first week in office. Included was an executive order ending birthright citizenshipan issue Trump promised to address throughout his campaign.

That prompted some social media users to claim that Vice President J.D. Vances wife, Usha, would lose her American citizenship. BREAKING  Vice President JD Vances wife will have her citizenship revoked if Trump signs his executive order banning birthright citizenship, read one Threads post with more than 14,000 likes. Neither of her parents were US citizens at the time of her birth.

The claim is false. Trumps executive order would only apply to individuals born in the United States after February 19, 2025, meaning no current U.S. citizens would lose their citizenship. The order also was quickly blocked by a federal judge and legal experts have said that the order is unlikely to be deemed constitutional.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump issued the executive ordertitled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship shortly after being sworn in as the 47th president. The order declares that children born in the United States would not be given citizenship if their parents were in the country either illegally or legally but on a temporary basis. However, the order also noted that the policy would apply only to persons who are born within the United States after 30 days from the date of this order, meaning no existing U.S. citizens would see their citizen status revoked.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the order three days later, calling it blatantly unconstitutional and asking, Where were the lawyers when this decision was being made? Traditionally, Section 1 of the 14th Amendmentwhich states that All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they residehas been interpreted to mean that any person born in the United Stateswith some limited exceptionsis considered a U.S. citizen regardless of the citizenship of their parents. The case is likely to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Usha Vance was born in San Diego in 1986 to Indian immigrant parents who had moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s to pursue advanced degrees at California universities. It is unclear what either parents citizenship status was at the time of their daughters birth. Both now work as professors in San Diego.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  On Monday, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders focused on the military including an order titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness. The order directs the Pentagon to determine a policy for transgender troops within the month, in the meantime reinstating a ban he first ordered in 2017, a ban on transgender military members.

Its an executive order, not taken lightly as many LGBTQ+ members along with their supporters outraged over President Trumps recent move to ban transgender people from serving in the US armed forces. In addition, the President also getting rid of the militarys diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chris Davin with the Henderson Equality Center, a resource facility for the Queer community told 8 News Now that the move impacts countless service members, like those stationed at Nellis Air Force Base and across Southern Nevada.

These people are willing to defend and sacrifice their own life to protect our country, Davin shared. There are over 15,000 transgender folks who are now going to be out of our military. By reducing those members, we are weakening our military.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Davin, also shared that when his team tried to reach out to their contacts at Nellis Air Force Base, their request was denied.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unfortunately, they are on a cease-and-desist order and not allowed to speak at this time, Davin told 8 News Now.

Sabastian Alcala, who works locally for a suicide prevention organization for trans men said he has several friends who are directly impacted by the ban.

I have many brothers, current and past who are in the military, and I know they are scared, Alcala said. Im sure some of my brothers will re-enlist because they pass, and they can and they feel the duty to protect those who cant, Trumps not going to stop that.

The executive order also states that identifying as a gender that is inconsistent with ones biological sex conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump had banned transgender Americans from serving in the military in 2017 during his first administration, but then-President Joe Biden issued an order in 2021 repealing the ban.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President Trump issued an executive order Tuesday that aims to stop the use of puberty blockers, hormones and other forms of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, denouncing such medical treatment as a form of "chemical and surgical mutilation" and threatening to defund hospitals that provide it.

The executive order declares that it is the policy of the U.S. that it "will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures."

It directs federal agencies that provide research or education grants to medical institutions to ensure that grant recipients do not provide puberty blockers, hormones or surgical procedures for gender transition to anyone under the age of 19.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to take other steps to prevent children and teens from receiving medical treatment for gender transition, which could include changing federal rules on which medical providers can access funding under Medicare or Medicaid  a crucial source of hospital funding.

In addition, the order issued Tuesday directs the Department of Defense to start working on federal rules to exclude gender-affirming care for youth from Tricare, the insurance program that covers military families.

Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior counsel and healthcare strategist for Lambda Legal, called the order an "outrageous overreach of government power" and a "pernicious effort to deny medically necessary healthcare to our youth" that the organization was prepared to fight.

Lindsey Dawson, director for LGBTQ health policy with the independent research organization KFF, said much remains unknown about whether the provisions spelled out in the executive order will be carried out and when and how it might happen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many steps "will take time and require agencies to take individual actions, and work through guidance and rulemaking processes. Those are typically not fast-moving, and, in addition, litigation will inevitably challenge implementation of policies detailed here," Dawson said.

Mark Trammell, executive director and general counsel of the Center for American Liberty, a group founded by Trump's nominee to run the civil rights division at the Department of Justice, praised the move as a way to protect children "while also withholding federal funding from institutions that chemically and surgically mutilate kids."

The move comes a week after Trump ordered that the U.S. government recognize only two sexes that are not changeable." The executive order issued Tuesday also directs the U.S. attorney general to prioritize the enforcement of laws against "female genital mutilation," as well as investigations into whether consumers might be misled about side effects of gender transition.

Alejandra Caraballo, clinical instructor at the Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard Law School, called the order "a lawless attempt to ban best practice medical care, but one that comes with such an implicit threat of state action that many will capitulate to and effectively eliminate access for many people."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order also attacks the scientific integrity of the World Professional Assn. for Transgender Health, calls for federal agencies to stop relying on its guidance, and directs Health and Human Services to publish a review of the best practices for helping children with "identity-based confusion."

The American Medical Assn. has expressed support for gender-affirming care and opposed "governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine that is detrimental to the health of transgender and gender-diverse children and adults." The American Psychological Assn. has called bans on such care a "direct threat to the mental health and emotional well-being of transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary youth."

An analysis recently published in JAMA Pediatrics found that among millions of minors with private insurance, less than 0.1% had been identified as transgender or gender-diverse and prescribed puberty blockers or hormone treatment.

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, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

In a move that global health workers say will likely have devastating consequences for women and girls throughout the world, President Donald Trump has reinstated a policy that bans foreign aid workers from offering information about abortion, and doubled down on an existing domestic policy that bans federal funding for abortion.

The so-called Mexico City Policy, which Trump reinstated Friday night with an executive order, was first introduced in 1984 under Republican President Ronald Reagan, and bans foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive U.S. family planning funds from promoting abortion as a method of family planning and from abortion-related counseling and referrals. It is known by reproductive rights advocates as the global gag rule, and it has been rescinded and reinstated as presidential administrations have changed parties for many years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We saw the devastating impact of the global gag rule during the last Trump administration when contraception and vital reproductive services were cut off. There was a spike in pregnancy-related deaths, reproductive coercion, and gender inequality worldwide, said Rachana Desai Martin, chief government and external relations officer at the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. Many clinics and health programs shuttered, leaving vulnerable populations with nowhere to get birth control, pregnancy care and other vital health services.

Reinstatement of the policy was prescribed in Project 2025, a nearly 1,000-page blueprint document authored by the Heritage Foundation and many other organizations, including several anti-abortion groups.

To stop U.S. foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry, the next conservative administration should issue an executive order that, at a minimum, reinstates [the policy] and  closes loopholes by applying the policy to all foreign assistance, including humanitarian aid, and improving its enforcement, page 261 of the document reads. The executive order  should be drafted broadly to apply to all foreign assistance.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The executive order includes the statement, I direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the extent allowable by law, to implement a plan to extend the requirements of the reinstated memorandum to global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies.

Advocates within foreign assistance organizations said the change will affect not only abortion access, but comprehensive reproductive health services, including HIV prevention and treatment, contraception access, screening for sexually transmitted diseases and cancers, and treatments for other infectious diseases.

An expanded Mexico City Policy will have wide-reaching impacts on women and girls access to life-saving healthcare, Janeen Madan Keller, policy fellow and deputy director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development, said in a statement. As research shows, the Mexico City Policy reduces access to contraception which  counter to the policys intended goal  leads to more unplanned pregnancies and higher abortion rates.

Madan Keller added that when Trump reinstated the rule during his first term in 2017, other donors were able to bolster the United Nations Population Funds budget and blunt any negative effects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, with many donors now slashing aid budgets, its unclear whether they would cover the shortfall, she said.

On the same day as the executive orders, the Trump administration rejoined the so-called Geneva Consensus Declaration, a global agreement launched by the U.S. and five other countries in 2020, which states that there is no international right to abortion and countries are not obligated to finance or facilitate it, according to a document obtained by Politico. The pact also includes Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia and Uganda.

Hyde Amendment

Trump issued another executive order on Friday titled, Enforcing the Hyde Amendment, referring to a federal provision prohibiting the use of federal funds such as Medicaid to pay for abortions. Hyde does, however, allow funding in cases of rape, incest or to save a patients life. The order said the prior Democratic administration of President Joe Biden embedded forced taxpayer funding of elective abortions in a variety of federal programs, and rescinded two of Bidens executive orders from 2022 that aimed to increase access to abortion.

Trump signed the orders at the end of a week where he was mostly silent on abortion. But after days of lobbying by anti-abortion movement leaders, Trump on Thursday pardoned convicted abortion-clinic blockaders and earlier Friday gave a last-minute video speech at the anti-abortion March for Life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Project 2025 references the Hyde Amendment several times, citing Bidens 2022 executive order that allowed the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary to find ways to assist pregnant people traveling across state lines to receive abortion care. The Biden administration subsequently interpreted Hyde to only apply to the abortion procedure itself.

Page 471 of the document calls for HHS to withdraw that guidance and for the U.S. Department of Justice to withdraw and disavow its interpretation of the amendment that was issued in September 2022. It also says HHS should complete a full audit to determine compliance with the amendment and permanently codify the Hyde Amendment in law rather than approving it as part of an appropriations process every year.

Republican U.S. Sens. John Kennedy of Louisiana and Roger Wicker of Mississippi introduced a bill in early January to codify the amendment and establish a single, government-wide standard that bars federal tax dollars from financing abortions. Its unclear if that bill is an attempt to fully cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, which relies heavily on those funds to provide sexual and reproductive health services like contraception and screenings, including in states with abortion bans. Cutting that funding is a directive from Project 2025, as well.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
As chaos erupts over the stampede at the ongoing Mahakumbh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday paid his respects to the deceased devotees who lost their lives in the incident during the early hours of the day. He stated that the administration in Uttar Pradesh faced a "challenging" task in managing the huge influx of devotees but was making efforts to ensure that Mahakumbh remains a success. "Twenty-five crore people had come at Mahakumbh. More will come. It is a very challenging job. The UP administration is making every effort to ensure that (Maha)Kumbh is a success. I pay my respect to the devotees who passed away. A devotee from Assam also passed away. We are talking to the UP government to bring his body back home," Sarma told ANI. Meanwhile, expressing grief over the demise of devotees, Yog Guru Baba Ramdev appealed to those visiting the Mahakumbh to follow self-discipline. "It is unfortunate. I appeal to anyone visiting Mahakumbh that the Government and the Administration are fulfilling their duties, but we should follow self-discipline as well. The first characteristic of Dharma is patience. If you don't get a chance to go to the Sangam, take a dip wherever you get a place. I pray for the salvation of those who have passed away," Ramdev said. Moreover, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chaddha said that the UP government should review their preparations to avoid such incidents in the future. "I pray to Mahadev that the souls of the deceased rest in peace. I hope the injured recover quickly. The government should review their preparations to make them better and avoid such incidents in the future," Chaddha told reporters. At least 30 people have been killed and 60 were injured in the pre-dawn stampede on Wednesday at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj here, a top police officer said. Twenty-five bodies have been identified and the rest are yet to be identified, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, said in a press conference. "A total of 30 people have died unfortunately in the stampede that took place at the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj. Twenty-five bodies have been identified and the rest five are yet to be identified," he said. Among the deceased, four are from Karnataka, one from Assam and one from Gujarat, the DIG said. Furthermore, 36 people were being treated at a local medical college, he said. "36 people are currently being treated at the local medical college. Keeping in mind the convenience of the devotees, the CM Yogi Adityanath has requested all Mahamadaleshwar, saints and Akharas to take their holy dips with some delay. The Amrit Snan of the Akharas has been concluded safely..." DIG Krishna added. Meanwhile, to monitor the situation of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has postponed his visit to Delhi for the election campaign tomorrow. (ANI)
The Trump administration tried to quell backlash on Tuesday to a directive that all federal agencies should temporarily pause all federal assistance, which advocates worried would hit social safety net programs like early learning and nutrition assistance programs.

Programs serving women and children would be hit particularly hard by a funding pause, advocates said, since nearly all of them are part of the governments discretionary spending and are frequently put on the chopping block by fiscal conservatives.

Trumps Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a letter Monday to federal agencies directing them to pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance by 5 p.m. Tuesday. The pause, the letter continued, will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, specifically President Donald Trumps initial executive orders, including those related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and woke gender ideology.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The OMB letter, which was first reported by independent journalist Marisa Kabas and later reviewed by The 19th, unleashed chaos across Washington. Calls flooded into Capitol Hill offices from both constituents and federal workers as agencies tried to sort out what the totality of its impacts might be in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, a second OMB memo, obtained by The Washington Post, attempted to clarify Mondays letter but did little to reduce confusion.

Tuesdays memo stated that the pause does not apply across the board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects and activities implicated by the Presidents Executive Orders. It stated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), colloquially known as food stamps, will not be paused, nor will Medicaid, the governments health insurance program for low-income people. The Tuesday memo was not signed, however, and experts told The 19th that agencies were still operating with a high degree of uncertainty, given that it also stated that funds for small business, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance and other similar programs will not be paused unless they related to Trumps executive orders, which have wide-ranging application.

Specifically, programs implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal, according to Mondays letter.

The White House did not respond to a request to discuss which programs will be most affected by the pause or to confirm that Tuesdays unsigned directive superseded Mondays, which was signed by OMBs acting director, Matthew Vaeth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats are already preparing to challenge the pause directive in court. A coalition of nonprofit organizations that includes the American Public Health Association and SAGE, which advocates for older LGBTQ+ people, filed for a temporary restraining order.

Any pause could have outsized impacts on some initiatives. Nutrition programs for women and kids, SNAP and WIC, and are likely to run into funding issues within 60 to 90 days if subjected to the pause, experts said.

Another program that could potentially be immediately impacted is Head Start, the early learning program for children from birth to age 5, experts said Tuesday.

Federal funds go directly to specific Head Start programs, which provides early childhood education via public preschool programs, as well as at home by offering support for expectant parents. These programs are funded for a year at a time but staggered, typically tied to the start of each school year in a given state. If a program received its years worth of funding on January 1, it is good for 11 more months, but if a program is due to receive its yearly funding on February 1, that money will likely be delayed or not show up if there are funding pauses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this point in the calendar year, states are also reporting back to the federal government, which partially funds the Head Start program, to balance their books by refunding unspent money or requesting reimbursement. A pause could impact those reimbursements, according to those familiar with the funding process. It is also the time of year when programs begin budgeting and hiring for the next school year, and having unfunded programs could lead to problems recruiting and retaining both educators and students.

Some facilities will be fine, others will have to shutter  unless a billionaire comes forward to help them out, said Bobby Kogan, a senior director of federal budget policy at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, who worked at the OMB during the Biden administration.

Amid the Trump administrations attempt to clarify the scope of impact, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy claimed the reimbursement system for the Head Start program in his home state of Connecticut had been shut down.

Preschools cannot pay staff and will need to start laying off staff very soon and sending little kids home, he wrote on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some grantees under the federal Title X program, which supports family planning clinics that serve low-income people, are already preparing for a possible lapse in funding. Title X was created under President Richard Nixon and disburses hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fund clinics reaching millions of Americans, largely women.

We will rely on private resources for the time being, but this is not a long-term solution, said George Hill, president of Maine Family Planning, the states sole Title X grantee. If there is litigation on this matter, we will collaborate in whatever useful way we can.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders called for their Republican colleagues in the Senate to hit pause on confirmation proceedings for OMB nominee Russell Vought, who helped Trump withhold congressionally appropriated funds during the Republican presidents first term. Vought has taken the position that presidents have the authority to redirect or refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress, which under the Constitution holds the power of the purse.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Tuesday with reporters that she had spoken with Vought, and he told me to tell all of you that the line to his office is open for other federal government agencies across the board, and if they feel that programs are necessary and in line with the presidents agenda, then the Office of Management and Budget will review those policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When a reporter at the briefing asked if any Medicaid recipient would see a cutoff because of the funding pause, Leavitt said: Ill check back on that and get back to you.

Medicaid was not expected to be immediately affected by the pause, even before Tuesdays follow-up memo, because its funding mechanism makes it a de facto entitlement program like Social Security or Medicare, though the long-term impacts of the pause are unknown, experts said.

Even still, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said that his staff had confirmed that Medicaid portals were down in all 50 states following the Monday night pause directive. The White House said they were aware of the outage and the portals should be back online shortly.

This is funding that communities are expecting and this memo is creating chaos and confusion about whether these resources will be available to them, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said during the news conference. Entire budgets and payrolls across the country are carefully hinging on these resources, were talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts, our universities and a lot more: Will local Head Start facilities get their funding?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additional reporting by Shefali Luthra

The post Trumps pause on government assistance could put early learning and nutrition programs in danger appeared first on The 19th.

News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
The raids were sudden; thousands collected in sweeps across the country. To make full use of the media, photo ops were furnished and accounts given to make clear that those who were perceived as part of the invasionwhom the president had accused of poisoning the blood of our nationwere to be deported immediately. These countries, the president contended, didnt send us their best, instead filling our shores with multitudes of men of the lowest class who were without advanced skills, potentially violent, and thus a danger to the public. They had to go in order to keep the rest of us safe, we were told.

At the same time, the president pushed back against civil rights advances, ordering an end to diversity in the federal government while openly courting terrorists and white supremacists.

It all took place a little over a hundred years ago under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. The immigrant sweeps, said to target Bolsheviks and anarchists, were led by the zealous attorney general, A. Mitchell Palmer, and an eager subordinate at the Bureau of Investigation named J. Edgar Hoover. They would eventually net around ten thousand people. Yet the heroic efforts of one man, Louis Freeland Post, a genuine progressive who had fallen into his position as secretary of labor by pure happenstance, were largely responsible for thwarting Wilsons plan and reversing the vast majority of the arrests, leading eventually to only around 6 percent of those arrested actually being deported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a safe bet that before today you had never heard of Louis Post. Similarly, if asked to name Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of labor, most people would be unable to identify Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the one-term congresswoman from Oregon who narrowly lost her reelection bid in a district that has swung back and forth in recent years.

This can be forgiven: Chavez-DeRemer, a rare Republican with fairly pro-union views, is known as a moderate in these intemperate times, and may in fact be Donald Trumps least controversial Cabinet appointee. She was one of only three Republicans to support President Joe Bidens PRO Act, which sought to expand worker protections and ease organizing efforts. Shes also supported bipartisan legislation such as the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, described as a bill intended to secure the rights of public employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively; a bill to protect TSA workers; commonsense railroad safety legislation; and even efforts to enforce the proper labeling of compostable packaging, which sounds more like something that would come from a Democrat than a member of the GOP. But Chavez-DeRemer has been somewhat less forthcoming about her views on migrant workers and ICE enforcement. Democrats should thus bring a healthy dose of skepticism to her confirmation hearings.

Naturally, its not hard to understand why her appointment to Trumps Cabinet has been overshadowed by others, with media attention instead zeroing in on a new defense secretary, in Pete Hegseth, who possesses little in the way of experience and much in the way of accusations of alcoholism and abuse; on the candidacy of anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services; and on the threats posed by Kash Patel, Trumps choice to head the FBI, whose enemies list and accusations of a subversive Deep State in government could impact the Justice Department for the next decade.

Chavez-DeRemer, by contrast, has won both enthusiastic support from Teamsters President Sean OBrien and somewhat more cautious support from Democrats like Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray, though neither has fully committed to a yes vote on her yet. Her confirmation hearings are unlikely to generate the intense scrutiny of nominees like RFK Jr., Hegseth, Patel, or Pam Bondi, Trumps loyalist attorney general pick who appears ready to do his bidding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet Democratic senators will be committing a dereliction of their duties if they fail to press Chavez-DeRemer on her views, particularly in relation to immigration and cooperating with ICE raids on businesses. Already were seeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan carrying out Trumps promised raids, at times without warrants or notification to local leaders. These raids, much like the Palmer raids before them, are less about a sincere effort to get violent offenders off the street. Instead, they are designed to strike fear into the larger law-abiding migrant populace, exaggerating the danger that population poses and using executive orders and a new theory of expansive presidential power granted by the Supreme Court to overcome legal hurdles. No regard is given to the disruptions that will be caused to families, businesses, and communities.

The parallels between the Wilson administration and today are not entirely analogous: For starters, while the raids conducted by Palmer and Hoover were often cruel, indiscriminate, and on shaky legal grounds, they were responding to some degree of legitimate violence, as politicians and businessmen around the country were being targeted by anarchist bombings. Even Palmer himself had been sent a bomb that couldve killed his 10-year-old daughter. The estimated 11 million12 million undocumented workers here now, by contrast, are overwhelmingly nonviolent and actually commit substantially fewer crimes than the average American.

Its also important to note that Post had more power to stop the injustices of his time than Chavez-DeRemer will have now, since it was the Department of Labor that oversaw deportations in Posts day. Yet there are some overlapping jurisdictional issues between Homeland Security and Labor, since it is the latter agencys mission to protect workers and to regulate workplace environments (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for instance, is part of the department).

These overlapping concerns have largely been governed by a series of memoranda that stipulate how the two departments will share information, work together on enforcement issues, handle data collection, etc. While Trump can override these agreements at any time, coordination between DHS and Labor will still be required for many of ICEs actions. Undoubtedly, the raids that Homan is conducting will result in more workers being detained. Hell also need to acquire information to help him in his appointed task, much of which may come from the Department of Labor. It is therefore imperative that we discern Chavez-DeRemers views on these raids and her duties, as she understands them, to protect workers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The former congresswoman has been somewhat circumspect so far. She supported the Dignity Act (or DIGNIDAD Act, as its also known), a bipartisan effort that wouldve increased border security and required asylum cases to be settled in 60 days or less but also would have extended work visas, allowed the Dreamers to stay in the U.S. (though without granting citizenship), and provided a path for those under temporary protected status and classified as deferred enforced departure immigrants to become lawful permanent residents. While some of the provisions were onerousincluding having to pay back-taxes and restitution feesthe overall goal was to turn many undocumented migrants into legal residents.

Chavez-DeRemer has also acknowledged the inadequacy of our current immigration system and has pleaded for humane treatment of migrants, a critical factor now that Trump is making inhumane treatment the order of the day once again. In co-sponsoring a bill with Democrats to create courts with jurisdictional power over migrant children, she said, Its no secret that our immigration system is riddled with serious flaws, including in the immigration court process. Unfortunately, the current process can result in children being left alone to fend for themselves. Although a number of problems are contributing to this crisis, we are a compassionate nationand we should make needed improvements to ensure vulnerable children arent abandoned in our immigration court system.

This all sounds as if she might be the type to oppose the knock-down-drag-out tactics of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and her bulldog Homan. Nevertheless, weve seen how differences with Trump and his acolytes on issues can suddenly evaporatewe dont have to look beyond his current vice president for an example.

Palmer based his authority to conduct his raids on the 1917 and 1918 Sedition Acts, intended to muffle dissent during World War I. The Laken Riley Act, passed not only with unanimous Republican support but also with 12 Democrats foolishly joining the GOP in the Senate and 46 doing so in the House, grants similarly extensive authority, permitting police to arrest someone if theyre merely suspected, say, of stealing a can of soda and then giving them over to ICE to be deported if theyre undocumented, with no due process. It essentially amounts to giving license to create a police state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Any senator questioning Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, then, must ask her how she sees her role in either supporting or checking these efforts. Will she, for instance, work with ICE to detain workersmigrants and Americanson suspicion of undocumented status? Will she share information on vulnerable Americans? What does she see as her responsibilities in this regard?

Democrats have gotten so used to bending over backward for Republicans that they almost seem as if theyre frozen in that position. The postelection period has been marked by a noticeable reluctance to take up any fight or even perform proper due diligence. One suspects they wont want to make Ms. Chavez-DeRemers confirmation hearing one of the more contentious ones when theres so much else with which to contend. Yet were seeing unprecedented actions by a president who believes in governance by fiat, and we cannot be passive and caught off-guard. We need to seek answers in any forum in which they might be elicited. Chavez-DeRemers confirmation process may be more revelatory terrain than many imagine.
Soon after his inauguration, President Trump proposed a controversial plan that sent shock waves across the Middle East. He suggested to relocate roughly a million and half Palestinians out of Gaza and into neighbouring countries, while Gaza undergoes comprehensive reconstruction.

On the surface, this seems unrealistic. However, the war sparked by Hamass massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of some 250 people on October 7, 2023, has left Gaza in ruins, which may require a radical solution.

Trumps out of the box idea is also a practical way to enhance Israels security. Temporarily removing civilians could weaken Hamass grip over Gaza, reduce its recruitment pool, and enable a buffer zone that minimises risks of attacks. Removing civilians from the war-zone would also allow the Israel Defence Forces to conduct targeted operations against terrorists, with fewer civilian casualties. At a time when Hamas is reportedly regaining power, this could be an effective way to weaken it further.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israeli government has not formally responded. However, the strongest support for this has come from far-right figures, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, who see this as an opportunity to rebuild Jewish settlements in Gaza  a fringe view not reflective of official Israeli policy, nor supported by the majority of Israelis.

Hamas, unsurprisingly, has rejected the plan. The terror organisation has suffered heavy losses, its leadership decimated, infrastructure and weapons arsenal largely destroyed, and political control weakened. Despite attempting to project an image of triumph, the sight of a mass Palestinian exodus would damage its narrative and further erode its standing.

Trump can also expect pushback from regional leaders. Jordans King Abdullah expressed concern over the prospect of absorbing a large number of Palestinian refugees for an unknown time period. Jordan is home to more than two million Palestinians who fled during the 1948 and 1967 wars. Some still live in refugee camps, while others have integrated into Jordanian society.

Violent clashes between the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Jordanian government in the 1970s, mean that King Abdullah may worry about reigniting old tensions, especially if terrorists infiltrate into Jordan among the civilian refugees. Egypt shares some of these concerns, given the close ties between the Muslim Brotherhood  a banned terrorist organisation that has considerable presence in Egypt  and Hamas. Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab host countries would also be wary of appearing to collaborate with Israel and the US in permanently relocating Palestinians out of Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Convincing Arab leaders to accept Palestinians for an unspecified period would be a monumental challenge. Trump would need to provide assurances that the relocation is temporary, that Israel will not use it as an opportunity to establish settlements in Gaza, and that additional security and financial assistance will be offered. Egypt and Jordans heavy reliance on US aid gives Trump potential leverage. In 2024, Egypt received $1.3 billion in military aid, while Jordan received approximately $1.45 billion in 2023. If determined, Trump could use this dependency to push his plan forward.

Trumps bold idea sounds far-fetched. However, providing Palestinian civilians with safe accommodation and access to health care, education and other essential services, while simultaneously weakening Hamas and establishing an alternative, moderate leadership in Gaza, could not only help rebuild Gaza, but lay the foundation for better relations between the sides.

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.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump has ordered the implementation of what the White House is calling The Iron Dome For America, which is designed to protect the United States from foreign attacks.

The model for the defense system is the Iron Dome, which, since 2011, has been the foundation of Israels defense system to protect the nation from attacks from Hezbollah, Iran and other neighboring countries.

The system is designed to intercept relatively primitive rockets and mortars that travel less than 44 miles. The Iron Dome was 90% effective against ballistic missiles fired at Israel by Iran in October, which has prompted Trump to order the planning of a state-of-the-art missile defense system to be designed in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Iain Boyd, the director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado-Boulder, called the Iron Dome a very effective missile defense system but said that Israel faces a much different level of threats being experienced in the United States.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trumps funding freeze

Making sure that the homeland is defended against missiles is a very important idea, Boyd told NewsNation.

Boyd said that some forms of missile defense are already in place in the United States. He said that Trumps order for the implementation of a missile defense system will ensure that the existing missile defense system continues to evolve and move forward as foreign threats become more sophisticated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As effective as Israels Iron Dome is in defending against missiles, it is not designed to handle long-range missiles across an ocean. The system being proposed by Trump would be 425 times larger than Israel.

Israels Iron Dome operates under a system that goes into effect when an enemy rocket is fired. Once that happens, the Iron Domes radar system detects the missile within seconds and begins to track it. The systems control system estimates the missiles point of impact and then the Iron Domes launcher fires a missile to intercept it. Finally, the missile explodes near the rocket and destroys it.

California denies military turned on the water in state

The Iron Dome system might make sense if it were deployed around American military bases around the world, particularly in Iraq, where U.S bases have taken missile fire, geopolitical analyst Steven Terner told NewsNation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the Iron Dome is designed to protect relatively small amounts of areas from short and medium-range missiles, so it would have to be modified to the extent that it would be a completely different system if it were to have any chance of defending mainland United States.

Boyd, the University of Colorado professor, told NewsNation that the Iron Dome for America will bolster the nations current missile defense system.

However, protecting the homeland to this extent will come at a cost.

To modify the system, the United States would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the continental U.S. at a cost of about $100 million per battery. That makes the cost of the project $2.5 trillion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is probably intended mostly for China, Boyd said. And China has been developing very sophisticated new weapons, hypersonic systems, which means they go very fast, and they do challenge existing missile systems. So I think that what this is really representing is the U.S. saying to China, We are going to ensure that our country is safe against these new weapons that youve been developing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President Donald Trump fired two Democratic commissioners on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission late on Monday night, likely violating legal statute.

Trump had already appointed Andrea Lucas, a Republican commissioner, to take over the role of chair from previous Democratic Chair Charlotte Burrows. But late on Monday he dismissed Burrows, whose term was supposed to run through July 2028, as well as Democratic commissioner Jocelyn Samuels, whose term was supposed to end in 2026.

Late last night, I was informed by the White House that President Donald Trump was removing me from my position as a Commissioner of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), along with fellow Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels, Burrows said in a statement released Tuesday evening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burrows added in her statement that she will explore all legal options available to me.

Samuels released a separate statement Tuesday afternoon saying she received an email from the White House at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday night saying she was being removed from her position, which also included a critique of her views on DEIA initiatives and sex discrimination.

Removing me from my position before the expiration of my Congressionally directed term is unprecedented, violates the law, and represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the EEOC as an independent agency, Samuels wrote in her statement. I deeply regret this Administrations short-sighted and unprecedented decision to remove me from a position to which I remain committed. I am considering my legal options.

Firing EEOC commissioners is completely unprecedented, David Lopez, Rutgers Law School co-dean and former EEOC general counsel, told Talking Points Memo. Its contrary to the statute.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president does not have the power to fire a commissioner, agreed Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president for education & workplace justice at the National Womens Law Center. The statute itself states that members of the commission are appointed by presidents and confirmed by the senate for a five-year term, and all members of the Commission shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The law was meant to insulate the commission from political forces, Burroughs said.

This is a huge overreach, Burroughs said. It is a complete abuse of power.

The Democratic commissioners had been set to maintain their majority through 2026, after Samuelss term came to an end, even with Lucas as chair. Its not clear what will now happen to the work of the commissioners, though Trumps moves may open the door to a GOP majority. By statute the commission is supposed to be bipartisan: commissioners serve staggered, five-year terms, and no more than three members of the commission can be from the same political party, which would mean Trump would have to nominate Democratic commissioners as well as Republican ones. Even then, whoever he picked would have to be confirmed by the Senate, and in theory it shouldnt be a rubber stamp, Burroughs said.

In the meantime, the agencys policy work will likely come to a standstill. Without Burrows and Samuels, there arent enough commissioners for a quorum. Its deadlocked, Burroughs said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agencys litigation on behalf of workers who say they were discriminated against at work could also slow to a crawl. Shortly after Biden was elected, former Chair Janet Dhillon changed EEOC procedure so that the full commission voted on whether or not to pursue every single case the agency considered. That rule has been relaxed, but a lot of litigation still has to go through the commissioners first, and that will come to a halt. It already takes a very long time for people to have their cases processed and come to a resolution, Burroughs said. This will slow things down even further.

A slower agency will mean justice, and potentially someone getting their job and their pay restored after it was unfairly taken away due to discrimination, will be delayed. When youre seeking help because youre being discriminated against at work you need that help fast, Burroughs said. Playing games with the agency that people must rely on in order to move forward to maintain their livelihoods, thats huge, thats cruel.

What may not be affected are cases that the agency had already brought. Even cases related to harassment based on gender identity, which Lucas has opposed, should continue to move forward, Lopez said.

The firings came on the same day that Trump fired not just National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, as was widely expected and with precedent after Biden removed the Trump-appointed general counsel on his first day in office, but Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox. Wilcoxs term was supposed to run through August 2028, and her removal also violates precedent. She vowed to pursue all legal avenues to challenge my removal. The firings will likely move to the courts, where the outcome is unclear. In October, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal that sought to give the president power to fire leaders of independent federal agencies, contra a 1935 Supreme Court precedent that paved the way for job protections for those who run independent agencies. The court, per custom, made no comment when it turned the case down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has also fired at least 12 inspectors general that oversee various cabinet-level agencies, violating a law that requires a president give Congress 30 days notice and reasonings for the firings. He ordered a pause in all federal loans and grants, potentially running afoul of the power Congress has to appropriate spending.

Between the firings at the EEOC and NLRB, this is a really horrible day for workers, Lopez said.
President Trump has begun his second term pressing his power to reshape the government by firing federal officials, ending diversity policies and deporting immigrants who are in this country illegally.

Despite fierce criticism, he is likely to succeed on those fronts because the Constitution and the laws generally put those powers in the hands of the president.

"Under our Constitution, the executive power  all of it  is vested in a president," Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in 2020. And that includes the president's nearly "unrestricted removal power" of officials throughout the government, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The court's conservative majority has also struck down racial diversity policies in universities and said repeatedly that the president has broad authority to enforce immigration laws.

In some areas, however, Trump appears to be claiming powers that go well beyond the president's authority set out in the Constitution.

He says he can, by executive order, rewrite the 14th Amendment of 1868 and deny citizenship to some children who are born in the United States to parents who are not citizens.

And this week, the White House claimed the power to temporarily freeze federal spending that has been approved by Congress to see whether it is aligned with "presidential priorities."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, the White House quickly rescinded the freeze memo that set off alarm and confusion across the country. But a legal debate persisted over whether Trump exceeded his authority by making the move.

Read more: Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity from prosecution  for the past and perhaps future

The Constitution gives Congress what is often called the "power of the purse." While the president may propose a budget and veto spending bills he opposes, Congress in the end gets to decide how much is spent and for what.

The current spending measures came from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Even so, Trump's Office of Management and Budget said in its two-page memo that it needed to pause spending to prevent using federal money to "advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite those novel claims, the conflicts over spending are not new.

Presidents have often disagreed with Congress on budget matters, and the dispute flared up in the early 1970s when President Nixon refused to spend money on social programs that had been supported by congressional Democrats.

In response, Congress adopted the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to resolve disputes. It says the president may seek to "defer" some spending temporarily or "rescind" it entirely if Congress approves. This hold or pause can last for 45 days.

Under that law, the Trump administration could ask Congress to reconsider some spending items. But if Congress refuses, the law says the money must be disbursed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump, however, has insisted the impoundment act is unconstitutional, and he has been determined to challenge it. His campaign website said the law's restrictions infringe the president's powers to "crush the Deep State."

Moreover, he said, "leading constitutional scholars agree that impoundment is an inherent power of the president."

Stanford Law professor Michael M. McConnell, a former federal appeals court judge appointed by President George W. Bush and the director of its constitutional law center, finds that claim questionable.

"I do not know a single scholar who thinks the president has the constitutional authority to violate the Impoundment Control Act," McConnell said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked Trump's order ending birthright citizenship and described it as "blatantly unconstitutional."

On Tuesday  before Trump rescinded the spending-freeze memo  a federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the administration's "pause" on federal spending.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said rescinding the memo should "end any confusion." But she added that the budget office will continue to examine the spending programs to see whether they comply with Trump's executive orders.

These tests of presidential powers may ultimately reach the Supreme Court, particularly if Trump administration lawyers file emergency appeals to challenge any judges who block his orders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They will go before a court with six conservative justices who are Republicans appointees  three named by Trump  and believers in strong executive power.

Last year, justices surprised many legal experts when they ruled broadly that an ex-president cannot be prosecuted for "official acts" while in the White House.

"Under our constitutional structure of separated powers," the president may not be punished in court for the "exercise of his core constitutional powers," Roberts wrote in Trump vs. U.S.

Now, the court may have to decide whether the president's powers extend well beyond the core duties of his office.

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.
Donald Trump has reinstated the global gag rule, a move experts say will have far-reaching consequences on the health of women and girls across the developing world.

In a memorandum signed on Friday, Trump said the rule, known officially as the Mexico City Policy, would ensure that US taxpayer dollars do not fund organisations or programmes that support or participate in the management of a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation.

Under the policy, foreign aid groups that receive any US funding must stop offering abortion-related services or advocating for expanded abortion access  even if the funding for these services comes from other sources.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If they refuse, they risk losing all US government support.

The move wasnt unexpected  since the rule was first introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984, every Republican president has reinstated it soon after taking office  but this time its different.

Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders in his first week of office - AP/AP

Trumps reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy goes much further than his predecessors not only in its scope but also because it comes alongside a wider halt on US aid which is set to hobble global health projects around the world.

The US is the worlds biggest international aid donor, spending $68bn on it in 2023, according to government figures. US-funded projects tackle some of the worlds biggest global health threats  from HIV/AIDS to infectious diseases, malnutrition, and access to clean water.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just hours after taking office, the President ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid as the administration reviews its foreign policy priorities.

On Friday, the State Department circulated an internal memo that issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing assistance, throwing billions of dollars of life-saving aid into question. It makes exceptions only for emergency food aid and for military funding for Israel and Egypt.

Why Trumps gag rule goes further

Historically, the global gag rule affected about $600 million of aid  the amount allocated to family planning assistance only.

But in 2017, during Trumps first term, the policy was expanded to apply to all organisations - not just those under the family planning bracket  receiving US global health aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It hit a range of services funded by US aid money, including programmes for HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malnutrition, and water, hygiene, and sanitation programmes, amongst others.

This means that any health facility receiving any amount of US aid was forced to choose between complying with the gag rule or else risk losing some or all of their funding.

In 2019, two years after the rule had already been dramatically expanded, the Trump administration made another update: the gag rule was further extended to include sub-recipients of organisations already subject to the policy, even if these smaller groups didnt receive US funding directly.

This meant that local NGOs operating in developing countries  who might be working as partners or subcontractors for larger organisations  became subject to the gag rule as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[Trump] has put back in place the version of the gag rule we saw in his first term, Dr Elizabeth Sully, Principal Research Scientist at The Guttmacher Institute, an NGO which monitors abortion restrictions and their global impact, told The Telegraph.

What will happen next is that guidance will be issued to the State Department. We will see if exceptions that were put in place previously with the global gag rule remain  so those included exceptions where [the gag rule] didnt apply to humanitarian assistance which is critical funding that needs to move quickly, Dr Sully said.

Trumps gag rule in his first term as president hit a range of programmes funded by US aid money - Siphiwe Sibeko/REUTERS

How will the rule affect the health of women and girls?

The Guttmacher Institute says that the policy can block access to contraception, push women to seek unsafe abortions, and cause widespread disruption for non-governmental organisations that rely on US aid to sustain their programs.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) estimates it will lose $61 million in US funding this presidential term  money that it says could have been used to prevent millions of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MSI Reproductive Choices, the charity formerly known as Marie Stopes which offers contraception and abortion care to safe motherhood services in 37 countries, says the US funding lost in Trumps last term would have allowed them to serve eight million women, preventing six million unintended pregnancies, 1.8 million unsafe abortions, and 20,000 maternal deaths.

An expanded Mexico City Policy will have wide-reaching impacts on women and girls access to life-saving healthcare. As research shows, the Mexico City Policy reduces access to contraception whichcounter to the policys intended goalleads to more unplanned pregnancies and higher abortion rates, said Janeen Madan Keller, Policy Fellow and Deputy Director of Global Health Policy at the Center for Global Development.

In addition, the expanded policy, which was introduced during Trumps first term and applied to all US global health assistance, also led to disruptions and gaps in other critical health services, including HIV/AIDS programming and cervical cancer screenings, she added.

The Guttmacher Institute says that the policy can block access to contraception, push women to seek unsafe abortions, and cause widespread disruption for non-governmental organisations that rely on US aid to sustain their programs - Jenny Matthews /Alamy Stock Photo

What other aid programmes does the rule threaten?

Under the Mexico City Policy, if organisations so much as mention abortion or refer a woman for an abortion, they could lose US funding across all of their programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This puts many charities in a difficult position, forcing them into an impossible choice: either continue to offer referrals for and advice around abortion care, or scale back and focus only on other critical health areas like HIV, malaria, or TB treatment  much of which is intrinsically linked with sexual and reproductive healthcare.

We applied for a grant to support our TB programme, but when Trump reinstated the global gag rule, we were told we would only get the money if we signed a form committing to stop all our safe abortion advocacy work, Allan Maleche, executive director of the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issue Network on HIV and AIDS, told the Reuters news agency.

We were unwilling to stop our SRHR programmes, so we had to withdraw our application and look elsewhere for the TB funds, Mr Maleche said.

Experts, in particular, are concerned about the impact the rule will have on HIV/AIDS care across Africa because many of these programmes are interconnected with sexual and reproductive health services.

HIV/AIDS programmes across Africa were impacted by the gag rule in Trumps first term - Maeve Cullinan/Maeve Cullinan

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cost of reimposing this rule will be paid in hardship, human lives, and a reversal of some of the most important gains in the HIV response, said Beatriz Grinsztejn, President of the International AIDS Society.

We know from experience that it will cause severe disruptions to health services, including HIV and reproductive and sexual health, particularly in areas of the world most affected by HIV. We have seen the negative impact of the global gag rule before, as evidenced by restrictions in womens access to essential healthcare worldwide, she added.

Africa reeling from Trumps foreign aid pause

At the same time as the reintroduction of the Mexico City Policy, countries across Africa are grappling with the immediate effects of Mr Trumps decision to pause foreign aid for 90 days while programmes are reviewed.

The directive will affect some of the continents largest health programmes tackling diseases including HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Billions of dollars of funding are now in jeopardy across Africa.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Contractors and service providers who work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have this week begun receiving memos to stop work immediately.

South African programmes funded by Americas widely praised international HIV/AIDS program have been thrown into disarray.

The long-running Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) is credited with saving 25 million lives in the past 20 years and is the largest-ever national commitment to tackle a single disease.

The University of the Witwatersrand, a leading South African HIV research centre, said this week it had been given a stop order communication. The institution last year received 14m in US aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smaller services are also being hit immediately.

LifeLine, a South African counselling service specialising in support for people facing suicide risks and gender-based violence, said it had been forced to temporarily pause operations involving more than 20 employees.

Colleen Rogers, director, told News24: Our funder, who is Nacosa (Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa), are the ones who get the funds from America and give them to us, and they have said they havent heard anything other than to down tools for three months.

The impact of the pause will be felt across the continent.

Nigeria is reported to be likely to lose $1bn in health and other humanitarian assistance should Mr Trump extend his executive order.

Kenyan media reported that several foreign agencies in the country had started suspending their programmes.

Kenyas Minister of Health Deborah Barasa said they were assessing the impact of Trumps decision and looking for a concrete way forward in terms of interventions. Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha said they were looking for alternative funding.

The International AIDS society said the cuts to Pepfar were a matter of life or death.

Beatriz Grinsztejn, the president, said: Pepfar provides lifesaving antiretrovirals for more than 20 million people  and stopping its funding essentially stops their HIV treatment.

If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge.

It makes no sense to suddenly stop this incredible catalyst of our global progress towards ending HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.

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.
Some political observers argue that Donald Trump and his team are simply impervious to pressure. No matter how great the outrage, the argument goes, the president and his Republican operation will ignore criticisms, rewrite history, deliver marching orders, and refuse to back down.

This observation is mistaken. Indeed, several examples have emerged since the presidents second inaugural.

Take, for example, the White Houses Office of Management and Budget ordered a freeze on federal grants, loans and related assistance  money that Congress has already appropriated  effectively trying to shift the power of the purse to the Trump administration. The OMB memo sparked widespread confusion, chaos and controversy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And its against this backdrop that the White House rescinded the memo on Wednesday.

 The White House is RESCINDING the memo that took effect yesterday on the federal aid freeze.



Story tk w/ @PeterAlexander @kate_santaliz. Memo below. pic.twitter.com/nUxWFDxwzs  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 29, 2025

After a day of widespread confusion, Karoline Leavitt, the new White House press secretary, made matters a bit worse, writing via social media, This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. Rather, she added, the latest move is a rescission of the OMB memo that authorized the funding freeze. She said the move was meant to end any confusion created by a federal courts decision to temporarily pause the freeze from taking effect until Monday while litigation on the matter moves forward.

In the same missive, the presidents chief spokesperson appeared to suggest Trumps executive orders on federal funding will be rigorously implemented, though it wasn't altogether clear which orders she was referring to.

While the White House sorts out its plans, Democrats wasted little time in celebrating.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement, This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this country  real people made a difference by speaking out. Still, the Trump administration  through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law  caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing.

It comes on the heels of the Trump administration reversing course, at least temporarily, on federal funds for PEPFAR, a key worldwide HIV treatment program, which came on the heels of the Trump administration also reversing course on a hiring freeze for health care workers at the VA.

None of this will help the president and his political operation fend off accusations of rampant incompetence. In fact, The Bulwarks Sam Stein, an MSNBC contributor, spoke to a source affected by the freeze who was relieved by the new decision, but who nevertheless compared White House officials to the Keystone Cops.

The criticisms are more than fair. White House officials have been planning for this moment for months. They had every opportunity to carefully and deliberately flesh out a policy, prepare for its unveiling, and implement it effectively. Instead, Team Trump issued a terribly written OMB memo, generated chaos and confusion, spent a day pretending it was sound, only to scrap its memo under pressure that officials should've seen coming.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the dust settles on the unexpected rescission, it remains an open question as to whether the president and his aides will launch a related effort in the near future. Indeed, theres some precedent for this: Trumps original travel ban, issued exactly eight years to the day before the OMB freeze memo, was a disaster for the Republican White House, but it was repeatedly tweaked and ultimately implemented.

The president, in other words, might very well try again.

With this in mind, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a celebratory statement  Americans fought back, and Donald Trump backed off, the New York Democrat wrote  warning of a second round to the broader fight.

Though the Trump administration failed in this tactic, its no secret that they will try to find another, and when they do, it will again be Senate Democrats there to call it out, fight back, and defend American families, Schumer concluded.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A chaotic back-and-forth over President Donald Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans has farmers, activists, organizations and businesses wondering whether they will receive the funding they rely on.

It's funding that among many other things is being used to address environmental problems or tackle climate change.

The White House ordered the freeze on Monday evening, naming some 2,600 programs. Then a federal judge temporarily blocked it. Then the Trump administration rescinded the memo on Wednesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some programs stopped or slowed as administrators grappled with how to react. And even if Trump doesn't move again with a comprehensive freeze, he's made clear he plans massive cuts in federal spending.

Officials and advocates said the move threatened vital programs that benefit communities.

These programs help low-income families reduce their energy costs, enable local governments to fight pollution and put countless Americans to work," said Zealan Hoover, a former EPA official in Joe Biden's administration who led implementation of infrastructure and climate laws.

A snapshot of some of the people and programs thrown into uncertainty:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A small town that needs help fixing a decrepit water system

Officials in Prichard, Alabama, where more than 30% of residents live in poverty, are counting on federal grants, including from the Biden-era infrastructure program, to help fix a decrepit drinking water system that often loses more than half its water through cracks, leaks and failing pipes.

Were really, really, really counting on grant funds coming both from the state and federal government, said John C. Young, a former water executive who was appointed to oversee the citys water and sewer department. Young said Prichards water and sewer systems need $400 million in capital investment over the next 20 years, most of which will have to come from federal and state grants because residents cannot pay it. The system has gotten about $6 million in state grants but no federal money so far.

Many other communities -- especially those that have lost population -- are in the same situation, said Young, who also has helped manage water crises in Flint, Michigan, and other struggling communities. He said they often find it difficult to borrow money and must spend scarce resources on other needs, such as fire and police protection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal government also funds state programs that support drinking water and sewage infrastructure. For example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the Biden administration provided $15 billion for lead pipe removal spread over five years, and billions of those dollars havent been provided to states yet.

Lead pipes can corrode into drinking water, exposing people to the harmful neurotoxin that slows development in children.

A nationwide effort to deploy clean energy

Targeting money aimed at climate change jeopardizes federal funding that states, territories and utilities are using to make the electric grid more reliable, add renewable energy, reduce emissions and lower energy costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Puerto Rico, the U.S. Energy Department is helping finance the construction of solar and battery storage projects. The U.S. territory has faced more than 200 power outages because of insufficient generation since Hurricane Fiona pummeled the island in 2022. Many worry what kind of resources and funding Trump will spend on Puerto Ricos crumbling power grid.

Under the Biden administration, the DOE was spending billions per year on clean energy research, development and demonstration to speed up a transition away from fossil fuels. Trump's freeze would leave projects in limbo.

Trump had already paused loans for wind energy projects through an executive order on his first day.

A plan to make school buses and heavy transport cleaner

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's intentions could affect programs such as the Clean School Bus Program.

The program, created under the bipartisan infrastructure law, appropriated $5 billion over five years to help school districts transition away from dirty, diesel-powered school buses to electric or lower-emissions ones for the millions of students who ride them. The pause threatened $939 million of the funding.

Districts across the country have struggled with the switch to cleaner buses because they are more expensive upfront and often require complex electrical upgrades to charge them. The program is seen as especially beneficial for lower-income districts and communities of color that are disproportionately affected by diesel pollution, which studies have shown hurts physical health and learning.

Trump's freeze included review of Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants, which could affect $140 million in national funding and $28 million in state funding. DERA money goes toward projects slashing emissions through technologies such as cleaner engines or vehicle retrofitting for everything from buses, to medium- or heavy-duty trucks, to ships, trains, construction vehicles, cargo equipment and more. National grant recipients have included the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, the Northwest Seaport Alliance and many others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A support system to help Black farmers fight discrimination

John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, worried about defunding of programs that help farmers with complicated paperwork, give them legal or financial aid or provide education and training to improve their businesses. He said such cuts would be a huge blow to many in agriculture, especially Black farmers who have historically faced discrimination.

I don't think that those programs are safe, he said of agricultural programs geared at racial equity. It's not a good feeling to have in this country.

The U.S. had more than 900,000 Black farmers in 1920, according to the USDA. The 2022 agricultural census recorded only about 45,000, or about 1.3% of the nation's farmers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Boyd's group, USDA diversity and equity policies that Trump is rolling back have helped ensure that Black farmers arent excluded from access to programs like federal crop insurance, disaster relief and farm loans.

Were certainly going backwards on race relations in this country. And this is a perfect example of that," he said.

___

Associated Press reporters Michael Phillis, Tammy Webber, Alexa St. John, Jennifer McDermott, Matthew Daly and Wyatte Grantham-Philips contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The White House walked back its order to freeze all federal aid even after several prominent Republicans defended President Donald Trumps decision amid national pushback.

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo rescinding the original order on Wednesday afternoon after a federal judge halted the freeze from taking effect the night before. Its not clear the reason for the reversal, but it came after Democrats accused the president of withholding necessary funds from several groups.

The order also faced a flurry of legal challenges, including one from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who said in a social media post she would take imminent legal action against this administrations unconstitutional pause on federal funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legal challenges stemmed from questions about whether the president could legally halt funds already appropriated by Congress, which holds power of the purse in the federal government.

Although the order was revoked, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the latest action was not a rescission of the federal freeze but rather a rescission of the memo itself, which ordered the freeze. Details were not immediately clear if some funds would still be halted.

It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo, Leavitt said in a statement. Why? To end any confusion created by the courts injunction. The presidents EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

But the reversal did not come before top Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill backed Trumps decision, with some even going so far as to praise the aid freeze as necessary action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Tuesday night he fully supports the federal aid freeze while several other party leaders praised the move as good policy.

President Trump is delivering on his promise to ensure your tax dollars are being spent effectively, Rep. Tom Emmer, the partys No. 3 leader in the House, told reporters Monday morning. I for one am glad to have a president in the White House who is delivering on his promise to get our fiscal house in order.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also defended the move, arguing it was normal practice for the start of a new administration.

Thats a normal practice at the beginning of an administration until they have an opportunity to view how the moneys being spent, he said on Tuesday. This is kind of a preliminary step that I think most administrations take.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order prompted a moment of unity for Democrats, who planned to meet on Wednesday afternoon to strategize a counteroffensive messaging and legislative strategy against the measure. A group of Senate Democrats also retaliated by voting against Sean Duffys confirmation as Trumps Transportation secretary despite initially backing him, with many citing Trumps aid freeze as the reason.

The order was issued as Trump continues to sign a string of executive orders seeking to rein in government spending and undo policies implemented by the Biden administration that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion as well as other progressive priorities.

The original order sought to pause funding while the administration identified financial assistance advancing Administration priorities while rooting out funds that go toward Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies, according to the memo.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deliberately not filling over 35 lakh job vacancies in railways, universities, and schools, claiming that it is because 50 percent of the recruits would come from marginalised communities. Kharge slammed Modi for prioritising the interests of the rich while keeping the poor in poverty, and demanded that the government fill the vacancies to provide employment opportunities to the poor. "In this country, there are 35 lakhs vacancies (in jobs), but Modi is not ready to fill the vacancies. Modi's aim is to keep the poor as poor and let the rich be more rich. There are vacancies in railways, universities and schools. Modi is not paying attention because if the recruitment happens, 50 per cent of them will be from SC, ST, OBCs, and other marginalised communities. This is why he doesn't want to fill the vacancies," Kharge said while addressing a public rally in Burari assembly constituency. The Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) further alleged that Prime Minister Modi does not want the poor to take advantage of the opportunity to secure jobs, and hence, he was unwilling to fill 30 to 35 lakh vacancies. "If you really want to give employment, you should fill the 30-35 lakh vacancies. Why is he not filling? Because these jobs will go to the children of the poor. Modi doesn't want them (the poor) to utilise this opportunity," Kharge said. Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its critique of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Kharge said that they didn't even go to jail for the country during the freedom struggle. "You people (BJP) criticise Nehru, you were not even born then. Modi and Shah are even younger than me. However, they talk and abuse our leaders - be it Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Indira Gandhi, or Lal Bahadur Shastri. You didn't even go to jail for the country and nobody from your home fought for the country's (freedom). And you teach us?" Meanwhile, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi addressed a public rally in Bawana ahead of the Delhi assembly election and accused AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and PM Modi of making only false promises. Furthermore, he said that development only took place during Sheila Dikshit's regime. "Kejriwal and Modi both make false promises... Kejriwal had promised Delhi that he would clean the Yamuna river and drink its water. Five years ago, he had promised that he would drink the water of the Yamuna River... I challenge him to go and drink the water of the Yamuna River. This is the difference between Congress, Arvind Kejriwal and Modi...." he said. Earlier, the Prime Minister on Wednesday came down heavily on Kejriwal for his "poisonous water" remarks. He strongly criticised the AAP chief saying that he made "disgusting allegations" due to fear of losing elections and the country, people of Haryana and Delhi will never forgive and forget them for this "sin." The Delhi Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes set for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are competing for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and failed to win any seats. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections, winning 67 and 62 seats, respectively, out of a total of 70 seats, while BJP secured only three and eight seats in these elections. (ANI)
Trump wants to send 30,000 undocumented immigrants to Guantanamo Bay.

The president announced Wednesday that he will sign an executive order to transform the former detention camp for military prisoners into another detention camp for immigrants.

Im signing an executive order to instruct the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay, most people dont even know about it, Trump told reporters, while signing into law the Laken Riley Act, which would allow federal authorities to detain any immigrant accused of a crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people, some of them are so bad we dont even trust the countries to hold them because we dont want them coming back. So were gonna send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately, and tough, thats a tough place to get out of. Todays signing brings us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all.

Guantanamo is infamous for the rampant torture and abuse that U.S. interrogators inflicted on prisoners since the camp opened in 2002. There are currently 15 people still being detained there.


(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he was signing an executive order asking the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to examine creating a facility at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay that could house as many as 30,000 undocumented migrants.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Some of them are so bad, we dont even trust the countries to hold them, because we dont want them coming back, so were going to send them out to Guantanamo, Trump said Wednesday as he signed the Laken Riley Act requiring the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump said the Guantanamo effort could double US capacity for migrant detentions. It was earlier signaled by his Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who told Fox News that the administration was weighing sending migrants to the prison facility located on the southeastern end of Cuba.

The naval base has long been used as a temporary detention facility for small numbers of migrants caught at sea. Various administrations have also considered expanding use of the base to detain migrants. In 1991 President George H.W. Bush used the location to temporarily house thousands of Haitian refugees fleeing that country by sea.

Threats to use the base for migrants, which has also housed terrorism suspects since shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, have long been criticized by immigrant rights groups who have warned such a move would bypass legal protections in place for many migrants.

The latest directive is part of a much broader overhaul of immigration policy with the administration conducting high-profile arrests in New York, Chicago and Denver of those convicted of serious crimes. Trump has also vowed the largest deportation in US history, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, ordering thousands of additional troops to assist with enforcement and cutting off access to asylum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration on Tuesday canceled former President Joe Bidens extension of Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans already in the US. The 18-month extension of TPS would have shielded Venezuelan migrants from being sent back to their country and allowed them to work legally in the US. The Biden administration announced the extension days before leaving office.

We stopped that, Noem said on Fox News. We signed an executive order within the Department of Homeland Security that we are not going to follow through on what they did to tie our hands.

The TPS program was expanded aggressively under Biden, who used it to shield people from countries seen as unstable, such as Haiti, El Salvador and Ukraine. Trumps decision to revoke the extension for Venezuelans was reported earlier by the New York Times.

In the last several years, Venezuelans have ranked among the largest groups of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border without authorization to ask for asylum. While the TPS program for the South American country initially enjoyed broad support, it later became a target of Republicans who argued that it has been granted too liberally and acts as a draw to migrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Florida, Texas and New York are home to the largest population of individuals with TPS, with about half the total recipients coming from Venezuela. Patricia Andrade, of Miami-based nonprofit Raices Venezolanas, has been advising TPS holders to apply for other visas and alternative immigration options.

Many of those who received TPS have already opted for asylum or an immigrant visa, but others are still waiting for these new visas, she said. These are the people we are concerned about.

--With assistance from Felipe Marques and Fabiola Zerpa.

(Updates with Guantanamo Bay background in fourth paragraph.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
When announcing his 2024 candidacy, now-president Donald Trump called for the United States to execute drug dealers  but that was before he appointed one to run the country's highest health agency.

"We're going to be asking everyone who sells drugs, gets caught selling drugs, to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts," Trump said in November 2022 during a speech at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. "Because it's the only way."

Before even beginning his second presidency  which also saw him pardoning the world's most influential drug dealer, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, on his second day back in the Oval Office  Trump contradicted his own barbaric stance by promising to nominate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the onetime presidential hopeful now sits for his Senate confirmation hearings, it feels pertinent to bring back up that the anti-vax kook slated to lead HHS not only allegedly ground up animals for show back during his drug days, but also was reputedly a dealer himself.

Last August, author and Spy magazine cofounder Kurt Andersen recounted meeting "Bobby Kennedy," as he was called then, at Harvard in 1972 in an essay for The Atlantic. He'd heard about the political scion through a friend when he was looking to score some cocaine, and went to Kennedy's dorm room to do so  and in the process, met his brother Joe, the future congressman.

"I paid him, I believe, $40 in cash. It was a lot of money, the equivalent of $300 today," Andersen wrote. "But cocaine bought from a Kennedy accompanied by a Kennedy brother  the moment of glamour seemed worth it."

The author said it was the first and last time he ever bought coke from anyone. (After the sale, Kennedy called him to demand the return of the straw they'd used to snort the powdered substance, which according to Kennedy had "crystals inside it, man, growing.")

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In retrospect, it has seemed to me a tiny illustration of the child as the father of the man he became: fantastical pseudoscientific crusader, middle-aged preppy dick who takes selfies with barbecued dogs and plays pranks with roadkill bear cubs he didnt have time to eat," Andersen mused.

Kennedy has never admitted to selling drugs, though he was arrested and convicted in South Dakota roughly a decade later for heroin possession.

The allegedly brain-wormed politico ultimately kicked the habit in 1984, right before one of his other brothers, David, died of an overdose. In the 40 years since, he's been frank about his fight with addiction and used it as a jumping-off point for some of his more outlandish claims, including that prescription ADHD meds and anti-depressants are "damaging" young people.

Much like his probably-boss, Kennedy also has a ruthless-sounding scheme for handling people addicted to prescription drugs: sending them to so-called "wellness farms" that sound very much like labor camps.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A few weeks ago, we would have said that the prospect of executing drug dealers and sending addicts to concentration camps sounded impossible  but given how things have gone since Trump was re-inaugurated, we're not so sure anymore.

More on the future HHS secretary: RFK Jr., Who Hates Adderall, Says Heroin Was Great for Treating His ADHD
President Trump on Tuesday announced that he has asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to go get two NASA astronauts who have been aboard the International Space Station since June awaiting a return trip to Earth.

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

In a post on X, Musk confirmed that Trump has asked SpaceX to bring home the astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will do so, added Musk, who heads the Trump administrations newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.

But the astronauts  Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore  were not abandoned by Biden. NASA already had such a plan in place to return the astronauts to Earth  utilizing SpaceX.

 How we got here

A rocket carrying Boeing's Starliner spacecraft with astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on board launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 5. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images)

In June, Williams and Wilmore launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard Boeings new Starliner on what was supposed to be an eight-day test mission.

But helium leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the space station and have kept them at the orbiting lab ever since.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In August, NASA announced that issues with the Starliner were more serious than first thought and that Williams and Wilmore would instead hitch a ride back to Earth with the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule in February instead of waiting for tests on the Starliner to be completed.

Then last month, NASA announced that SpaceX needed more time to complete the capsule it would need for the launch of Crew-10, which under NASAs normal protocols would need to arrive before Crew-9 leaves the space station.

NASAs SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than late March 2025 to launch four crew members to the International Space Station, the space agency said in a press release. The agencys SpaceX Crew-9 mission with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will return to Earth following the arrival of Crew-10 to the orbital laboratory.

Its unclear how or whether Trumps directive will affect that timeframe. A spokesperson for NASA did not immediately return a request for comment.

 What the astronauts are saying

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in the vestibule between the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 13. (NASA via AP, File)

While their stay aboard the space station was unexpectedly extended, Wilmore and Williams, like all NASA astronauts, had trained for a lengthy mission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the pair have repeatedly said that they do not feel stranded in space.

We have plenty of clothes, Wilmore said during a call with NASA officials earlier this month. We are well fed.

"It's just been a joy to be working up here," Williams said. "It doesn't feel like we're castaways. Eventually we want to go home, because we left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do while we're up here."

In a call with high school students in her native Needham, Mass., earlier this week, Williams admitted she has forgotten some things about what life is like on Earth.

"I've been up here long enough right now I've been trying to remember what it's like to walk," Williams said. I haven't walked. I haven't sat down. I haven't laid down. You don't have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here."
By Jeff Mason, Idrees Ali and Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will order the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay for as many as 30,000 migrants.

The U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, already houses a migrant facility - separate from the high-security U.S. prison for foreign terrorism suspects - that has been used on occasion for decades, including to hold Haitians and Cubans picked up at sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's border czar Tom Homan said later on Wednesday that the administration would expand the already existing facility and that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency would run it.

"Today I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay," Trump said at the White House.

He said the facility would be used to "detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some of them are so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back, so we're going to send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately, right? And, tough."

Soon after, Trump signed a memorandum, which did not have a number of migrants in it but called for "additional detention space" at the expanded facility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Homan said the center would be used for the "worst of the worst."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asked how much money would be required for the facility, said the administration was working on it with reconciliation and appropriators in Congress.

'ACT OF BRUTALITY'

The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay was set up in 2002 by then-U.S. President George W. Bush to detain foreign militant suspects following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. There are 15 detainees left in the prison.

Trump's two Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, sought to shut down the Guantanamo prison and were only able to reduce its inmate population, but Trump has vowed to keep it open.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jail has long been condemned by human rights groups for indefinite detention and came to symbolize the early excesses the U.S. war on terror because of harsh interrogation methods that critics say amounted to torture.

The facility for migrants is separate from the detention center on the base.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called Trump's plan "an act of brutality."

Pro-refugee groups have called for the Guantanamo migrant facility to be closed and for Congress to investigate alleged abuses there.

The International Refugee Assistance Project said in a 2024 report that detainees described unsanitary conditions, families with young children housed together with single adults, a lack of access to confidential phone calls, and the absence of educational services for children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the U.S. military said that it would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado.

The decision comes on top of U.S. military deportation flights of migrants out of the country and the deployment of just over 1,600 active-duty troops to the U.S. border with Mexico following Trump's emergency declaration on immigration last week.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Idrees Ali, Ted Hesson, Matt Spetalnick; Writing by Jasper Ward and Idrees Ali; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell)
The first foreign leader to visit President Donald Trump at the White House in his second term will be wanted for war crimes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that Trump will host him at the White House on February 4. Trump had earlier hinted at the announcement on Monday by saying hell be speaking with Bibi Netanyahu in the not too distant future.

Less than two weeks ago, a ceasefire in Israels war in Gaza went into effect. Netanyahu deliberately delayed the ceasefire to be implemented the day before Trumps inauguration, agreeing to terms with Hamas that were nearly identical to previous ceasefire proposals months before.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now Trump and Netanyahu will gloat before media cameras and will probably discuss how Trump plans to thank the Israeli leaderperhaps more military aid, a green light for annexing the occupied West Bank, or a revival of the idea to ethnically cleanse Gaza. Trump already lifted the Biden administrations superficial ban on exporting 2,000-pound bombs to the country last week.

Netanyahu is facing allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust back in Israel, along with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. The U.S. under the Biden administration rejected the warrants against Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Trumps Secretary of State Marco Rubio has similarly defended Israels actions during its brutal war against Gaza and condemned the ICC.

Senate Republicans attempted to give Netanyahu a gift on Tuesday by trying to advance a bill sanctioning the ICC, but Senate Democrats (minus John Fetterman) blocked the bill. Regardless, Netanyahu will be able to travel to the White House next week and meet with his corrupt American counterpart worry-free.


President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum to begin preparing a facility on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to detain tens of thousands of the worst undocumented immigrants.

The action, which Trump discussed for the first time earlier Wednesday, will instruct the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to prepare 30,000 beds at the site of the infamous U.S. military prison in Cuba, the president said, to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.

Some of them are so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them, because we don't want them coming back, so we're gonna send them out to Guantanamo, Trump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This will double our capacity immediately, he said, calling it a tough place to get out of.

Trumps remarks came just before he signed the Laken Riley Act, a hardline immigration measure pushed through with some Democratic support  and the first law the president has signed in his second term.

After the signing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that the White House is currently working on [using] resources we currently have in Guantanamo Bay to increase the number of beds for the worst of the worst.

Were already doing it, Noem said. Were building it out.

Noem clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would run the facility, and Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, said the immigrants would be flown there directly. Asked how much the facility would cost, Noem said it would be up to appropriators in Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said later Wednesday on Fox News the facility would be used for temporary transit, emphasizing this is not the camps and noting that the base had housed migrants before.

The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base  both a military base and the site of a controversial U.S. military prison that has held terrorism suspects for more than two decades  housed Hatian refugees in the 1990s, before the detention facility was built there. Cubans were also housed there in the 1990s, and former President Joe Biden last year explored plans to house Haitians there if the nations precarious government collapsed.

But other presidents who held refugees on the base, or considered doing so, cast their plans as emergency humanitarian measures, rather than harsh deterrents.

The 45-square-mile land and water base, on the southeastern portion of Cuba, has been controlled by the U.S. since 1903 and has long been a thorn in the side of Cubas communist government, which resents the U.S. presence on the island.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called the move "an act of brutality" in an X post and reiterated Havana's position that the land upon which the base is located is "illegally occupied." The island nation's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, added in a separate post that the decision "shows a lack of concern for the human condition and international law."

In addition to housing the military prison, whose detainee population had shrunk to 15 people by the end of the Biden administration, the base is used by the Navy as a key operational and logistics hub, supporting a variety of missions including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and joint operations, according to The Navy.

The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, with one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a rapidly evolving issue, saying no orders had been given by the secretary of Defense to start work at the base.

Trump initially described his decision as an executive order, but the White House subsequently released it as a memorandum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for additional details on the contents of the executive order or when Trump would sign it.

Paul McLeary and Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
Call me a cynic, but in this political environment, Im far from convinced a backlog of rape kits will be the defining campaign issue in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race  because voters would actually have to take accusations of sexual assault and violence against women seriously.

Both candidates released campaign ads this month referencing the handling of a backlog of sexual assault kits from almost a decade ago. When conservative candidate, Judge Brad Schimel, was Wisconsins Attorney General from 2015 to 2019, he began his term with a backlog of approximately 6,000 sexual assault kits.

Schimels recent campaign ad maintains that his office cleared 4,000 sexual assault kits during his tenure. The liberal candidate, Judge Susan Crawford, released a competing ad claiming Schimel let 6,000 rape kits sit untested for two years. The issue was a point of contention in Schimels failed re-election bid in 2018.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Democrats want to erase women. Trump is standing up for our most basic rights. | Opinion

But in 2025, this issue feels moot.

Not only because Wisconsins high court has no say in how the state manages DNA testing, but because of shifting attitudes about rape and sexual assault. If credible and numerous accusations of sexual assault and harassment are no longer seen as disqualifying when it comes to electing someone to the highest office in the land, do we really expect backlogged rape kits will be for the Wisconsin Supreme Court?

Voters just elected a president found liable of sexual abuse

The reality is a slim majority of voters in Wisconsin just re-elected a man who has faced accusations of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s. He famously was caught bragging about grabbing women by the p*ssy ahead of his first election in 2016 and since then was found liable by a New York jury for sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carrol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nor can we forget what Trump said in Wisconsin last fall, telling an audience at the Resch Center that he disagreed with staff who had told him that saying he wanted to protect women was "very inappropriate."

"I said, Well, I'm going to do it, whether the women like it or not. I'm going to protect them. I'm going to protect them from migrants coming in. I'm going to protect them from foreign countries that want to hit us with missiles and lots of other things,'" he told his supporters.

In addition, people are seemingly OK with the striking number of sexual assault allegations that have been made against multiple Trump nominees and members of his inner circle, including:

Now, Trump et al. have repeatedly denied all the claims against them. And apparently, that's good enough for enough voters. There has been little demand from the public or a majority in Congress to find out the truth.

Why would voters who ignored accusations suddenly care about rape kits?

That's why I find it hard to believe that we as an electorate, who seemingly will tolerate the litany of sexual assault accusations against President Trump and his cabinet members, will suddenly find untested rape kits damning when we vote for a new justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Trump said he'd make King's dream a reality. He's already made mockery of that. | Opinion

As someone who is grappling with how to raise my daughter in this brave new world, I would love nothing more than for voters to care about women and justice for survivors of sexual assault.

I hope I'm wrong about this, but I predict both campaigns will have to find a different issue in order to strike a more resonant chord with voters.

Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI court race highlights untested rape kits. Do voters care? | Opinion
AAP MLA Naresh Balyan withdrew his application for custody parole in the MCOCA case after the Delhi Police opposed it, citing ongoing investigations. Naresh Balyan's counsel, Advocate MS Khan, argued that Balyan's wife, who is contesting elections for the first time, urgently needed his support. He highlighted the difficulties Balyan faced in communicating with her, stating that he was unable to even make a simple phone call from custody. "She needs support from her husband, and no one can substitute that," Khan told the court, stressing the emotional and practical importance of his presence during this crucial period. The bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan noted that on the last date of the hearing, the court had directed the special counsel for Delhi Police to seek instructions on the custody parole request, and the counsel had now submitted that the instructions were to oppose the plea. In light of the opposition from the police, Advocate Khan informed the court that Balyan was no longer pressing for custody parole at this stage. Instead, he would continue with arguments on the regular bail application, which is scheduled for hearing tomorrow. Naresh Balyan on Tuesday requested the Delhi High Court for urgent interim relief and sought direction for custody parole. He stated, "I can pay for parole during custody. As a sitting MLA, I will remain in custody. My wife lacks experience, and the campaigning period is almost over." Earlier while opposing the bail plea of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in the MCOCA case, Delhi Police revealed that the investigation uncovered the involvement of Balyan and his absconding associates in organized crime. They allegedly conspired to dispute the legitimate properties of witnesses in order to gain financial or other undue advantages. The accused, along with his associate Kapil Sangwan (alias Nandu), reportedly threatened the rightful owners of these properties to coerce them into selling at significantly lower prices than those agreed upon in the sale contracts. The applicant, Naresh Balyan, is said to have used agreements in the name of an absconding individual, Umed Singh, who has been evading arrest since Balyan's detention. Following the agreements, Balyan would manipulate the properties into disputed status, enlisting Sangwan to intimidate the legitimate sellers. The Hon'ble Trial Court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Umed Singh, and statements from public witnesses have been recorded to support these claims, stated Delhi Police in its reply filed opposing Balyan's bail plea. Delhi Police further stated that audio clips, allegedly containing voice conversations between Naresh Balyan and syndicate leader Kapil Sangwan (alias Nandu), have been recorded. The voice sample of Balyan was obtained after permission from the Trial Court and was sent to the CFSL for analysis. The questioned audio clips, along with the samples, were seized for further investigation. The police also noted that several other suspects, whose names have surfaced, have yet to be identified, and further inquiries are ongoing to fully uncover the scope of the organized crime and trace the illicit financial gains made by Balyan and his associates. Balyan, along with Kapil Sangwan and other members of the syndicate, is alleged to have assisted in committing or supporting the ongoing unlawful activities of organized crime, whether through logistical planning, providing information, or executing criminal actions. The syndicate has caused significant harm to society and accumulated vast illegal wealth. According to police, Kapil Sangwan, the syndicate's leader, is currently abroad, living a lavish lifestyle, which suggests that the proceeds from these crimes are being used both domestically and internationally, said Delhi Police. Balyan is facing charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), and the trial court recently denied him bail in the case. He was arrested on December 4 in connection with the MCOCA case, although he had previously been granted bail in an extortion case. (ANI)
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump will sign education-related executive actions that aim to combat antisemitism on campuses, ease money for school choice programs and cut funds for public schools that teach critical race theory, according to the White House.

Most Read from Bloomberg

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the moves Wednesday on Fox News. Trump campaigned on reshaping the Department of Education and cracking down on what conservatives bemoan as a left-leaning political climate in schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The order on antisemitism directs federal agencies to examine ways to investigate antisemitic intimidation  including at college campuses  and to identify any civil or criminal authorities available. It calls for the deportation of protesters who violated laws during demonstrations following Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, according to the New York Post, which first reported the order. Agencies must provide recommendations within 60 days.

The protests, which engulfed US college campuses, saw activists set up encampments and take over buildings in a bid to force universities to cut ties with Israel over its military campaign in Gaza against Hamas  designated a terrorist group by the US.

University administrators struggled to address the protests, with critics saying they ignored antisemitic intimidation directed at Jewish students and failed to protect them from hate speech and in many cases physical violence. The heads of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania resigned under pressure from lawmakers during congressional hearings.

Trump during the campaign vowed to deport protesters and revoke the accreditation of colleges that did not address anti-Jewish hate speech or violence on their campuses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The orders Trump is expected to sign Wednesday are part of a flurry of executive action in the first two weeks of his new term as he moves quickly to implement his agenda.

The president is directing the Department of Education to prioritize school-choice programs in discretionary grants, according to CBS News, which first reported the order. It would also order the Department of Health and Human Services to provide guidance on how states can use block grants they receive to promote private schools.

The order will also direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit a plan to the president on how military families can also choose which schools they want their children to attend and asks the incoming Interior secretary to outline a similar plan for families with students at Bureau of Indian Education schools, according to the report.

That third action will terminate funds for public schools that support critical race theory and other divisive measures in their curriculum according to Leavitt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump and conservative critics have lambasted what they cast as curricula in schools that are too focused on teachings about race, gender and sexuality and more broadly at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in academia and government. On his first day in office, Trump signed orders ending DEI efforts in federal government.

It is unclear how the administration can redirect or prohibit federal funding to schools without congressional approval. Trumps orders which threaten to test the boundaries of his executive powers are likely to face court challenges, as other early actions have.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act Wednesday afternoon as the president approves a series of initiatives meant to tackle his key goal of curbing illegal immigration.

The bill, which symbolically is the first bill Trump signed in his second term, requires that federal authorities detain immigrants who lack legal status and are accused of crimes, including several misdemeanor offenses, with the potential for deportation -- even before they are convicted.

"Today's signing is bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all," Trump said Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican wish list item was passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate and Trump campaigned heavily on curbing illegal immigration, using the death of Riley, a nursing student, as a centerpiece for immigration reform on the campaign trail.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump looks on after signing the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

PHOTO: President Donald Trump walks through the Cross Hall as he arrives to sign the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Do Americans support Trump's mass deportations?

"We will deport individuals based on the laws of this country. That's all this administration is trying to do enforce our nation's immigration laws," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday.

"So if an individual is here illegally, if that means they cross our southern border illegally or they are overstaying their visa illegally or they've been deported before and returned to the U.S. illegally, which we found in many instances, they will be subject to deportation," she added.

PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks alongside an image of an alleged criminal detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Jan. 28, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

While the bill indicates that authorities should detain those who are both present in the U.S. illegally and have been charged with a crime, the White House has argued that if someone is present in the U.S. illegally, he or she has committed a crime with Leavitt saying Tuesday, "And if you are an individual, a foreign national, who illegally enters the United States of America, you are, by definition, a criminal."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Riley, the namesake of the bill, was killed by Jose Ibarra, an immigrant without legal status first arrested in September 2022 on charges of illegal entry, outside Atlanta in February 2024. Her death fueled the immigration debate ahead of the 2024 elections.

"With today's action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country," Trump said before signing the bill. "And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. That's not easy to do."

PHOTO: Supporters of former President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump hold images of Laken Riley before he speaks at a 'Get Out the Vote' rally in Rome, Ga., March 9, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Trump's border czar: 'If you're in the country illegally, you got a problem'

Ibarra had been living in the U.S. illegally and had been arrested on misdemeanor shoplifting charges but was allowed to stay in the U.S. while his immigration case was ongoing. He was found guilty in Riley's murder in late 2024 and is serving a life sentence without parole.

"This horrific atrocity should never have been allowed to happen," Trump added Wednesday. "And as president, I'm fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump hugs Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, before he signs the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

After Trump spoke, Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, thanked Trump for supporting the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law," she said. "[Trump] said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken, and he's a man of his word."

Key in the legislation is that it will require that the Department of Homeland Security "expeditiously take custody" of immigrants without legal status who are charged with burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting or assault of a law enforcement officer, but not convicted.

PHOTO: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers use a chain to more comfortably restrain a detained person using handcuffs positioned in front, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (Alex Brandon/AP)

MORE: What has changed with immigration under Trump and what is still playing out?

Though several Democrats signed on to the legislation, many have argued the law is too extreme, with Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin saying the bill "authorizes the largest expansion of mandatory detention seen in decades for anyone even suspected or accused of shoplifting."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Not only is this incredibly cruel and inhumane, it is also contrary to our legal system's bedrock principle that all individuals are innocent until proven guilty, and thereby wholly un-American," she added in a statement, noting that the bill could lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers "to prioritize indefinitely detaining people accused of petty shoplifting instead of going after suspected terrorists and violent offenders that pose a more urgent threat to the safety of our communities."

The law also allows attorneys general to sue the federal government if they can show states are being harmed by a failure to implement immigration policies and allows states to sue DHS for harm caused to citizens allegedly due to illegal immigration.

However, ICE has warned that enforcement of the bill will cost much more than the $3.2 billion initially expected -- and could reach $27 billion in its first year, according to a document obtained by ABC News.

"Full implementation would be impossible for ICE to execute within existing resources," the document noted, adding that ICE would need to expand its detention capacity to 151,500.

PHOTO: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building stands in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2025. (Vincent Alban/Reuters)

MORE: 25 members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua arrested by ICE

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And that estimate from ICE only includes the Laken Riley Act, not other initiatives that are part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

"We need Congress to provide full funding for the complete and total restoration of our sovereign borders, as well as financial support to remove record numbers of illegal aliens," Trump said.

Trump also signed 10 executive orders targeted at curbing illegal immigration in his first week in office, and newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined an immigration enforcement operation in New York City that resulted in the apprehension of several migrants lacking legal status on Tuesday.

"One of my top priorities is achieving President Trump's mandate from the American people to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system," Noem said on Saturday following her confirmation. "The Trump administration will once-again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And Trump said Wednesday he would also sign an executive order to permit the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to use Guantanamo Bay as a migrant facility.

"We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people," he said. "Some of them are so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back. So we're going to send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately."

ABC News' Lauren Peller, Allison Pecorin and Armando Garcia contributed to this report.

Trump signs Laken Riley Act, setting up next phase of immigration crackdown originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is planning to sign an executive order instructing the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to set up a migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

The facility for 30,000 people would be used to "detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people," Trump said during an event at the White House on Wednesday, without giving further details.

Some of those migrants were "so bad we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back, so we're going to send them out to Guantanamo," he claimed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a US military prison within a US naval base in Cuba established by the George W Bush administration following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to hold suspected Islamist terrorists.

At one point, almost 800 people were held at the facility which has been condemned internationally for denying inmates their right to a fair legal trial as well as human rights violations.

Despite calls from human rights organizations for its closure, a small number of detainees is still being held at Guantanamo.

Trump has signed various decrees to curb migration after taking office for a second term last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His latest announcement came while signing a law to tighten the crackdown against certain migrant groups.

The Trump administration has also been pushing for the arrest and deportation of criminal and irregular migrants for days.
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to end federal funding for gender-affirming care for minors, which the administration defined as under the age of 19.

"It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures," the executive order states.

The order titled, "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," bans federal funding to hospitals and clinics that provide puberty blockers, sex hormones and surgical procedures "to transform an individual's physical appearance to align with an identity that differs from his or her sex" or to "alter an individual's sexual organs to destroy their natural biological functions."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child's sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions," the executive order states. "This dangerous trend will be a stain on our nation's history, and it must end."

LGBTQ+ advocates were quick to condemn Trump's latest order.

"The order's characterization of medical care for transgender minors bears no resemblance to reality," said Shannon Minter, legal director of the Lesbian Center for Transgender Rights. "This is an attempt to impose an extreme ideological agenda through hyperbole and fear, not a responsible attempt to address this issue."

"This broadside condemns transgender youth to extreme and unnecessary pain and suffering, and their parents to agonized futility in caring for their child -- all while denying them access to the same medically recommended health care that is readily available to their cisgender peers," claimed Lambda Legal attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's executive order comes after 26 states have enacted their own bans and restrictions.

In August 2023, a Texas law was enacted to ban transgender youth from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The law faced legal challenges after a state district court judge said it "interferes with Texas families' private decisions and strips Texas parents ... of the right to seek, direct and provide medical care for their children."

Last year, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law to ban gender-affirming care for minors. The law made South Carolina the 25th state to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 18.

In December, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors, despite a challenge by the Biden administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday's executive order to strip federal funding for gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 19 claims it will protect minors' vulnerability and their future.

"Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own," the order states.

"Moreover, these vulnerable youths' medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies and, tragically, sterilization."
President Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act into law, marking his first legislative victory since he returned to the White House after he campaigned on immigration and the border during his 2024 campaign.

The bill passed the House last week in a 263-156 vote, with 46 Democrats supporting it after the Senate approved the measure in a bipartisan 64-35 vote.

This is a very important law, this is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. Thats not something thats easy to do  Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley, Trump said at the bill signing, calling it a landmark law that can save countless innocent American lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill requires the detention of a broad swath of migrants without legal status, including those permitted to enter the U.S. to seek asylum, if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting.

Some Democrats were in attendance at the White House for the bill signing, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who co-sponsored the legislation in the upper chamber.

Trump thanked the Republicans for voting for the bill, as well as the Democrats who voted across party lines and warned that those who didnt vote for it are going to be sorry.

The president ran on targeting migrants who have committed crimes as one of his major campaign issues, which resonated with voters who wanted a crackdown on immigration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new law is named for Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who was arrested for shoplifting ahead of the attack after he was paroled into the country.

Rileys parents and sister were also at the event, and her mother spoke before the bill signing, calling Trump a man of his word.

Laken was a brilliant and beautiful 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, Trump said. She was respected by everybody, even her teachers.

He said her family had a miserable period of time after Riley was murdered during a jog on the University of Georgia campus. Trump said the Venezuelan migrant who killed her was set loose into our country by the last administration and was released after he was arrested three times in the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also referenced the recent deportations that have taken place since he has been in office, adding, were getting them the hell out of here.

As president, Im fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. We dont want this to happen, he said.

He outlined that the law also gives state governments the ability to sue the federal government for immediate injunctive relief to stop a future administration from refusing to enforce immigration laws, arguing that happened for four long years under former President Biden.

Cabinet members, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, were also in the audience for the bill signing. Also present were the families of other Americans who have been killed by people who recently entered the U.S. in the last several years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many of the angel families here today were betrayed by the last administration and with its heartless and foolish and really very, very arrogant and very, very dumb policies, policies that arent really believable when you talk about common sense, Trump said.

Also, during the bill signing, Trump announced he will sign an executive order to prepare Guantanamo Bay to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.

Critics took issue with a provision in the law requiring a person to be detained after being charged for a crime, rather than after they are convicted. House GOP lawmakers first cleared the bill in March, less than a month after Riley was killed, but Democrats controlled the Senate at the time.

When the House approved the legislation again earlier this year, the Republican-controlled Senate took up a version of the bill that added amendments to include the assault of a law enforcement officer to the list of offenses that would lead to detainment and to include the detainment of migrants without legal status charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump often spoke about Rileys case on the campaign trail and her death became a flashpoint in politics over the election cycle, with Republicans blaming the Biden administrations immigration efforts. When a Georgia judge in November charged Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela, for killing Riley, Trump weighed in and called the verdict justice.

The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes, the president, who had won the election days earlier, said at the time.

Trump kept his promises on the campaign trail to target migrants, especially those who have committed crimes in the U.S. through a flurry of executive orders on day one of his return to the White House.

Signing the Laken Riley law is part of Trumps early moves on immigration. His executive orders have put a pause on refugee admissions, reinstated a program pairing local law enforcement with immigration agents, and declared a national emergency, clearing the way for greater use of active-duty military along the southern border and funneling resources to help build the border wall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also signed an order that deems migration an invasion and seeks to end asylum processing by deeming migrants a public health and national security threat.

Updated at 3:01 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.
Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, one of the most extreme anti-immigration bills in recent memory, into law Wednesday.

This is the first piece of legislation that Trump has signed in his second termand it sets the tone for whats to come. The law will allow law enforcement to detain and deport undocumented immigrants on the mere suspicion of committing a crime, with no conviction necessary. It does not include protections for children or DACA recipients. Twelve Democrats in the Senate and 46 Democrats in the House joined every Republican in Congress to pass the bill.

The new law will make it easier for Trump to pursue his goal of mass deportations, which have already begun in earnest around the country. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have set the heavy goal of 1,200 to 1,500 deportations a day, in the process, innocent people have been detained, such as Native members of the Navajo Nation and several Puerto Ricans, including a child and a U.S. military veteran.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The stepped-up immigration raids have already a negative effect on the food industry, but have also been met with opposition from many Americans. Trumps border czar Tom Homan complained on Tuesday that people in Chicago are hampering detention efforts because theyve been educated how to defy ICE, how to hide from ICE.

Trumps Department of Homeland Security was sued on Monday by multiple Quaker religious groups from across the country for lifting a restriction on immigration raids in places of worship. Trump and his right-wing allies are using every existing tool in their arsenal and passing new laws to boost their deportation efforts, but the process has been chaotic and negligent.

This story has been updated.
President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, putting his signature on legislation that will require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants who are accused of theft and other crimes.

The new law is the first that Trump has signed in his second term.

The Laken Riley Act will become the very first bill that I proudly sign into law as the 47th president of the United States, Trump said during a signing ceremony at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. "This is a very important law."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting. The bill is named for 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed last year by a man who was in the country illegally.

The Laken Riley Act passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support earlier this month. It also had the bipartisan support of a majority of Arizona's Capitol Hill delegation.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., co-sponsored the bill. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., voted for the legislation. In the House, all six of Arizonas Republican lawmakers voted for the bill. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., voted for the measure, while Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., voted against it. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., did not vote.

The new law will mandate that migrants arrested for theft-related crimes are detained until they are removed from the U.S., according to Gallego's office. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs praised Gallego's decision to co-sponsor the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Arizonans know the real-life consequences of todays border crisis," Gallego said in a written statement. "We must give law enforcement the means to take action when illegal immigrants break the law, to prevent situations like what occurred to Laken Riley. I will continue to fight for the safety of Arizonans by pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and increased border security."

Rileys killing drew national attention last year. Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, was found guilty of murdering Riley on the University of Georgia campus. Ibarra was sentenced in November to life in prison.

Trump met with Rileys family last year and hosted them at a presidential campaign rally in Georgia. Her family attended the bill signing at the White House on Wednesday.

"It's a tremendous tribute to your daughter, what's taking place today. That's all I can say, but so sad we have to be doing it at all," Trump said. "America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, gave an emotional speech at the ceremony.

"There's no amount of change that will ever bring back our precious Laken," Phillips said. "Our hope moving forward is that her life saves lives."

The bill has faced criticism from some groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU senior border policy counsel Sarah Mehta called it an extreme and reactive bill that will authorize the largest expansion of mandatory detention we have seen in decades."

"We mourn Laken Rileys murder and we are relieved that her killer has been arrested, tried, and sentenced. This bill, however, exploits one persons horrific crime to put millions of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers at risk of unjust mandatory detention and deportation," a group of 200 Arizona Democrats wrote in a letter directed to Kelly, Gallego, Stanton and Hobbs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump said he also intends to sign an executive order to prepare a 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday. Immigration experts have raised questions about how Trump will accomplish his mass deportation goals with the federal government's existing resources like beds, border agents and planes.

"We need Congress to provide full funding for the complete and total restoration of our sovereign borders, as well as financial support to remove record numbers of illegal aliens," Trump said. "We're shipping all these people back where they came from."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What's the Laken Riley Act? Trump signs first law of second term
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an immigration detention measure into law, marking the first legislative win of his second term as the Republican-led Congress angles to execute his agenda.

The House gave its final approval of the bill in a 263-156 vote last Wednesday, with 46 Democrats joining all Republicans in favor. The measure also passed the Senate last week in a 64-35 vote, with 12 Democrats breaking with their party to back it.

Trump opened his remarks with a victory lap, crediting his immigration agenda for his victory in the election and thanking the Republican and Democratic lawmakers who sent the bill to his desk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Thats why Im here instead of somebody else. Actually, its the biggest reason," Trump said in remarks in the East Wing of the White House as he touted what he called the "landmark" law that is "going to save countless innocent American lives."

The president praised Riley as a light of warmth and kindness, thanking her parents and sister, who attended the bill signing, and said the cause had brought together Democrats and Republicans.

Thats not easy to do, Trump said. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.

Written by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., the Laken Riley Act bears the name of the nursing school student who was murdered last year in Athens, Georgia. A Venezuelan citizen who had entered the United States illegally was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Donald Trump speaks about Laken Riley at a rally in Rome, Ga., on March 9.

In 2023, Rileys killer was released after being charged in New York, and again after stealing in Georgia, Trump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president said the law would save countless lives, and credited it as a perfect, incredible tribute to an unbelievable young lady.

The act requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested or face charges or who have been convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

What we are hoping for is that her life saves lives, Rileys mother, Allyson Phillips, said through tears.

Phillips praised Trump as a man of his word, telling others to trust that he will fight for the American people.

On the campaign trail last year, Trump repeatedly referred to Jose Ibarra, 26, the migrant convicted in the case, to argue against the Biden administration's border policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump on Wednesday also said he would instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing a 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people, calling it a tough place to get out of.

Some of them are so bad we dont even trust the countries to hold them because we dont want them coming back, the president continued. So were going to send them out to Guantanamo.

He floated the idea on Monday that American criminals who are "repeat offenders" could be imprisoned overseas for a small fee, pitching it to House Republicans as a cost-saving measure.

Some vulnerable Democrats in battleground states and districts who backed the legislation have been at odds with their party over addressing immigration, which proved to be a key priority for voters in the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his first week in office, Trump has made other efforts to make good on his promise to crack down on illegal crossings, declaring a national emergency at the border that could permit the Defense Department to deploy the military and the National Guard to the border. He has also signed a series of executive orders aimed at shutting down immigration at the southern border and deporting millions of people who crossed into the United States illegally.

"All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came," Trump said in his inaugural address.

The president continued that message on Wednesday, declaring that the bills signing brings the country one step closer to ending crime committed by illegal alien killers, criminals who have entered the country illegally. Standing before rows of lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania, and others, Trump said Congress could do more, and should act to provide full funding for the complete and total restoration of U.S. borders, as well as financial support to remove record numbers of illegal aliens.

After taking office, Trump suspended a refugee resettlement program and his administration directed the Justice Department to investigate for possible prosecution any state or local officials refusing to enforce immigration laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And last week Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Republicans are aiming to supply Trump with $100 billion to fund his planned crackdown on illegal immigration. Republicans are exploring the budget reconciliation process to bolster Trumps border security budget without Democratic support.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY-TV)  Keeping the Chesapeake Bay clean, keeping food on tables and keeping a roof over heads may be at stake under a new directive from President Donald Trump that halts most federal spending except for Social Security and Medicare.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

In a memo, Trump wrote that the use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Bobby Scott, in Portsmouth Wednesday for the groundbreaking of an affordable apartment complex, said the Trump directive could hurt plans to help people.

So if youve got a project and theyre expecting money, it just puts a stop to it, Scott said. And a lot of the projects, when you put a stop to funding that youre expected, what happens? The project is stalled.

The tolls of life in Portsmouth are heavy, as 17.6% of the citys residents live in poverty. The national rate is 12.5%. Mayor Shannon Glover is assessing how the halt will affect the citys 97,000 residents.

A lot of our dollars that we get here in the city of Portsmouth is federally-funded, Glover said. Even our schools, perhaps, come under a great deal of federal funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Glover is developing a plan to approach members on both sides of the aisle to secure federal support for Portsmouth.

Well, we are going to look at this, first of all, and see how its going to impact Portsmouth, Glover said. And then were going to call on all of our leaders from all parties who will look at this and determine how they can ensure that Portsmouth and cities like Portsmouth have those basic and fundamental needs met by our federal government.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in a briefing Tuesday afternoon that individuals will not be impacted by the federal spending freeze.

In addition, Governor Glenn Youngkin posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the freeze, saying misinformation has been spread.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive spoken to senior officials at the White House and confirmed the temporary pause by OMB does not impact individua assistance and will not interrupt disaster recovery efforts, school and childcare funding, healthcare for seniors or low-income families, funding for our roads, meals and lunches, or any of the other misinformation that has spread. The partisan stunt to disseminate knowingly misleading information is dangerous fearmongering and completely wrong. President Trump is doing what an executive should do at the beginning of a term, which is find out where the money is and where its going, not unlike what we did at the beginning of our term here in Virginia when we identified $1.4 billion in appropriated but unspent taxpayer money. Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Federal Student Aid also posted to X, stating that direct loans, Pell Grants and other federal student aid funds will not be impacted by the freeze.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Delhi's Tis Hazari court on Wednesday dismissed the revision of Bibhav Kumar challenging an order of cognizance taken against him in a case filed by Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal. Another revision of Bibhav Kumar has also been dismissed which had challenged the committal of his case to the court of Session for further proceedings. The court has also dismissed the revision of Delhi Police against the court order directing it to supply un-relied documents to Bibhav Kumar. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Raj Kumar dismissed all three revision petitions through a common order. In one of the revisions, Bibhav Kumar had assailed the orders dated July 30, 2024, whereby, the cognizance of the offence was taken by Tis Hazari Court. In the second revision, Bibhav Kumar had assailed the orders dated March 12, 2024, passed by the Magistrate court at Tis Hazari whereby, the main Sessions Case was committed to the court of Sessions by the Magistrate. The grievance of the revisionist/ accused in Criminal Revision was that the trial court committed the case to the court of Sessions without complying with the provisions of Section 207/208 of the Cr.P.C. In the third revision, Delhi Police challenged the orders of October 22, 2024, passed by the Ld. The trial court directed the prosecution/ State to supply the list of the unreleased documents to the accused. While dismissing the revision the court noted that the main grievance of the revisionist/ accused, is to the effect that further investigation is pending regarding the alleged conspiracy in assaulting the complainant and thus, the charge sheet is incomplete regarding the offence of conspiracy. It was further stated that the trial court has taken cognizance of the offences based on the incomplete charge sheet which could not have been forwarded to the trial court by the investigation officer (IO) under section 173(2) of the CrPC Bibhav Kumar had prayed that the orders dated July 7, 2024, be set aside. On the other hand, the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the Delhi Police argued that the above-mentioned criminal revision petition was preferred by the revisionist only to delay and protract the proceedings of the main sessions case in violation of the mandate of the Supreme Court of India as contained in the orders dated 02.09.2024, whereby, bail was granted by the Apex Court of the Land to accused Bibhav Kumar. It was further argued by the APP that the above-said criminal revision petition is without any merits and the same may be dismissed. The court said, "I have gone through the charge sheet filed by the IO in the Sessions Case titled State Vs Bibhav Kumar. In the opinion of this court, so far as the accused Bibhav Kumar is concerned, the charge sheet is complete." During arguments, Counsel for the accused had stated that he was not pressing the above-said revision petition. In another revision, the main grievance of Bibhav Kumar was that without compliance with the mandatory provisions of Section 207/208 (Supply of documents) of the CrPC, the Trial court committed the case to the court of the Sessions on March 12, 2024, which is not permissible. It was argued that the previous orders of October 22, 2024, passed by the Trial court, whereby, the Prosecution was directed to supply the list of unrelied documents, were not complied with by the State/ prosecution but even then, the Trial court without ensuring the compliance of Section 207/208 of the Cr.P.C., committed the case to the Sessions Court. On the other hand, APP had argued that the compliance of Section 207 and 208 of the Cr.P.C. has already been done and as such, the criminal revision is meritless. It had been prayed that the same be dismissed. On the revision filed by the Delhi police it was argued that in the two applications filed by the accused u/s 207 (supply of documents) of the Cr.P.C. on 24.08.2024 and 07.10.2024, there was no specific prayer of the accused to the effect that list of unrelied documents be supplied but despite the same, the Trial court on 22.10.2024 directed the prosecution to supply the list of unrelied documents and thus, the orders of 22.10.2024 are suffering from illegality and impropriety and the same cannot be sustained. On the other hand, it was argued by the counsel for the accused that the orders dated October 22, 2024, have been rightly passed by the Trial court because it is incumbent upon the State/ prosecution to supply the list of unrelied documents to the accused before the framing of the charges to meet out the mandatory requirements of fair investigation and fair trial. On July 30, 2024, the Tis Hazari court took Cognizance of the charge sheet filed against Bibhav Kumar. Delhi Police on July 16 filed a charge sheet against him in the Swati Maliwal assault in Tis Hazari Court. Bibhav Kumar is on bail in the matter. He was arrested on May 18. Delhi police have invoked sections 308, 354, 354 B, 506, 509, 341, IPC and Section 201 of IPC has been added in the charge sheet. As evidence, police have annexed Bibhav Kumar's Mobile phone, sim card, and DVR/NVR of the CCTV camera installed at CM's residence. The alleged incident took place on the morning of May 13 took place at CM's residence. (ANI)
President Donald Trumps dramatic pause of federal grants and loans is queuing up a Supreme Court showdown over the Constitution that will test the courts recently muscular commitment to curb executive power.

Although the 6-3 conservative court has often sided with Trump, most notably granting him sweeping immunity from prosecution in July, the justices have also been engaged in a yearslong project of limiting the presidents ability to exercise powers usually wielded by Congress. Former President Joe Biden was often on the losing end of those fights and now the question is whether the trend will continue under Trump.

An internal White House memo circulated Monday ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause federal grants and loans beginning Tuesday evening , freezing potentially trillions of dollars and affecting millions of Americans. A federal judge in Washington on Tuesday temporarily blocked the administrations plans to freeze funding for open awards already granted by the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres every reason to think that, unless this memo is quickly rescinded, the litigation it is going to provoke will get to the Supreme Court in one big hurry, said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

And while the conservative court has sometimes shown support for broad executive power, he said, Theres a long, entrenched history rejecting presidential power in this space in part because it would effectively deprive the legislature of its single most important constitutional power.

Just like birthright citizenship, another blockbuster test of conventional legal wisdom thats now on a fast track for Supreme Court review, the Trump administration appears eager to have that fight in front of the nations highest court.

Several nonprofit groups, including the National Council of Nonprofits, also filed suit in federal court in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. The pause in funding, the groups said, will have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of grant recipients who depend on the inflow of grant money (money already obligated and already awarded) to fulfill their missions, pay their employees, pay their rent  and, indeed, improve the day-to-day lives of the many people they work so hard to serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several states, including New York and California, also sued.

Incoming Trump administration officials believe the nations history with executive spending power is on their side. They also believe that the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which lays out strict rules for how a president can pause spending, is unconstitutional. That law effectively requires presidents to seek congressional approval before freezing funds that lawmakers have approved.

On a Supreme Court that increasingly looks to history to decide modern controversies, it is an argument that is targeted directly at the courts conservative justices.

For 200 years, presidents had the ability to spend less than an appropriation, if they could do it for less, and we have seen the extent to which this law has contributed to waste, fraud, and abuse, Trumps pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, recently told a Senate committee about the time before the 1974 law was enacted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the House Appropriations committee, told CNNs Manu Raju on Tuesday that he doesnt have a problem with the White House decision to pause federal aid. It was a startling reaction because members of congressional spending committees often agree on this much: Their own power to wield the purse.

Im not a lawyer, I cant pontificate on whats legal but I suspect whats happening is what most Republicans would be supportive of, he said. Appropriations is not a law, its the directive of Congress.

The appropriations clause of the Constitution gives Congress the power to spend federal money from the treasury.

The top-ranking Democrats on the Senate and House appropriations committees fired off a letter to the White House blasting the memo as a breathtaking, unprecedented move that will have devastating consequences across the country.

Will Trumps justices agree?

US District Judge Loren L. AliKhan on Tuesday prevented the administration from carrying through with its plans to freeze funding for open awards through Monday evening. AliKhan, who was nominated to the bench by Biden, will consider a longer-term pause on the policy early next week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump named three justices to the Supreme Court during his first term  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Sometimes the courts conservatives have aligned with Trump  notably in July, when a 6-3 majority shielded him from prosecution. But it has also twice brushed him aside this month. A narrow majority allowed Trump to be sentenced in his New York hush money case. And the court swatted away Trumps plea to pause the controversial ban on TikTok, allowing that law to take effect and forcing the administration to announce it would not enforce it.

On a broad level, the Supreme Court has repeatedly limited attempts by the executive branch to act unilaterally or to use regulations and executive orders to fill in spaces left blank by Congress. In the most significant recent example of that, a 6-3 majority overturned a 1984 precedent that required courts to give deference to federal agencies on how to implement ambiguous provisions of law.

Weeks earlier, in an unrelated case involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a 7-2 majority that included both conservative and liberal justices laid out a sweeping view of Congress power of the purse. That opinion, heavy on pre-colonial history, was written by Justice Clarence Thomas, a leader of the courts conservative wing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By the time of the Constitutional Convention, the principle of legislative supremacy over fiscal matters engendered little debate and created no disagreement, wrote Thomas, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and two other conservatives. It was uncontroversial that the powers to raise and disburse public money would reside in the legislative branch.

The most on point Supreme Court precedent came in 1975. That case, Train v. City of New York, involved President Richard Nixons effort to block spending Congress intended to upgrade city sewers. A unanimous court ruled that the water pollution law did not give the Nixon administration power to spend less than Congress had appropriated.

Mark Paoletta, a conservative attorney who Trump has named to serve as general counsel at the Office of Management and Budget, has countered that the courts opinion in Train was narrowly focused on one specific law and that it dodged the broader constitutional questions involved about a presidents power to pause spending.

The Supreme Court has not yet had occasion to squarely confront the substantive impoundment provisions of the ICA or the impoundment authority more generally, Paoletta wrote last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Andrew Rudalevige, a professor of government at Bowdoin College who has closely studied the issue, suggested the Supreme Courts decision to avoid delving into the deeper constitutional questions in that case likely suggests the justices at the time felt they didnt need to  because it was already settled.

Theres a lot of reasons to think it will not succeed, should it go in that direction, he said.

Its possible, Rudalevige said, that the issue may never reach the high court. Theres considerable uncertainty in how the policy will be implemented. If the Trump administration attempts to submit rescission requests that could be reviewed by Congress under the 1974 law, he said, it might avoid the constitutional confrontation altogether.

Its not the most carefully drafted memo so theres a lot of uncertainty about whats included and whats not, Rudalevige said. Theres probably room to retreat and claim victory.

CNNs Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Right now, Donald Trump has the highest approval rating he's ever had as president, and he's still just below 50%, the lowest of any president this early in his term  except for himself, right after taking office in 2017. That hasn't stopped him and his lackeys from insisting that he has an unprecedented mandate to enact a radical agenda, based on what they ludicrously call a landslide victory. In reality, he won the popular vote by 1.5 percentage points, falling just short of a majority, and his 312 electoral votes are historically unimpressive. Compare that to real landslides, such as Ronald Reagan's victory in 1984, when he won 49 states with a popular-vote margin of 18 points, and the claim becomes embarrassing. That's just how they roll.

According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, "45% of Americans approve of Trump's performance as president," which is down a couple of points from their Inauguration Day poll, while those who disapproved increased from 39% to 46%. When it comes to Trump's early policy moves, a majority disapproves of almost all of them. These range from the substantive to the ridiculous: Only 25% approved of renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," while 70% disapproved; pardoning the Jan. 6 defendants has 62% disapproval; and ending birthright citizenship gets thumbs-down from 59% of respondents. Trump's tariff plans also fall well short of majority support, as do his withdrawal from the Paris climate accords and his orders to end DEI and non-discrimination programs within the federal government.

The one issue in that entire poll that receives majority support is "downsizing the federal government," but it's reasonable to assume that a majority do not believe that abruptly freezing all funding for medical research, children's health programs or veterans' care with zero notice, as Trump and his Project 2025 acolytes tried to do this week, is the way to do it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perhaps the most striking result in that survey is the massive unpopularity of Trump's pardons for the Jan. 6 rioters. Only hardcore MAGA true believers appear to support that decision, which tells you that Trump's belief that Americans at large see the violent attack that day as justified is completely wrong-headed. (Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. one of Trump's most loyal supporters, thinks that was a mistake.)

Trump does not seem concerned about that. Over the weekend, Trump appeared at a rally in Las Vegas with Stewart Rhodes, the former head of the Oath Keepers, whose 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy was just commuted. According to a recording obtained by CBS News, Rhodes said a few days after the Jan. 6 riot that "my only regret is they should have brought rifles, we should have brought rifles. We could have fixed it right then and there. I'd hang fu**ing Pelosi from the lamppost." What a guy.

Trump said all the Jan. 6 prisoners were patriots who love their country. Meanwhile, one man he just pardoned was killed by police in a shootout days after being released, another is wanted or fsoliciting a minor and another now faces trial on charges of pedophilia and possession of child pornography. It's likely they will not be the last to find themselves back behind bars, or worse, before too long. Everyone in this country and around the world saw what those people did that day, whatever Donald Trump wants to claim about it now.

Trump is so driven to "prove" that everyone should believe him, rather than their lying eyes, that he has appointed Ed Martin, an organizer of the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" gathering, as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. At a rally the day before the Capitol attack, Martin exhorted "die-hard true Americans" to work until their "last breath" to "stop the steal." He was at the Capitol the next but says he never believed things had gotten "out of hand." After the crowd had already breached the building and was engaged in a violent battle with police, Martin tweeted: "Like Mardi Gras in DC today: love, faith and joy."

Like Mardi Gras in DC today: love, faith and joy. Ignore #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/31OoMYfOdu  Ed Martin (@EagleEdMartin) January 6, 2021

He's been a big part of the Patriot Freedom Project, advocating for the Jan. 6 defendants and holding fundraisers for them. If there is anyone with a greater conflict of interest regarding these cases, I can't imagine who that would be. Martin has already instigated one of those Trumpian "investigations of the investigation" to review what he calls the "great failures" of prosecutors in using a charge that was later thrown out by the Supreme Court, even though virtually all the lower-court judges who heard those cases had upheld it. He has disbanded the Justice Department's Jan. 6 unit and moved to dismiss all pending cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The New York Times reports that Acting Attorney General James McHenry has "fired more than a dozen prosecutors who worked on the two criminal investigations into Donald J. Trump for the special counsel Jack Smith, saying they could not be trusted to 'faithfully implement' the presidents agenda." Career prosecutors are supposed to follow the rule of law without fear or favor, not to "faithfully implement" anyone's political agenda  but apparently those rules have changed. Trump sees the DOJ as his personal law firm, and I guess that makes sense, since he's staffing it with defense lawyers from his criminal, impeachment and civil trials.

Now we have FBI director-designate Kash Patel, who will face confirmation hearings this week as he prepares to take over leadership of federal law enforcement and do what former FBI directors James Comey and Christopher Wray refused to do: act as Trump's personal henchman.

I wrote about Patel a couple of months ago, when I was still in shock that he could possibly be confirmed for such an important law enforcement position. He's apparently driven by the same persecution complex as Trump and has developed an equal thirst for revenge. Members of the intelligence community have begged the Senate not to confirm him, as have several former Republican national security officials. Revelations seem to emerge on a daily basis about Patel's malfeasance in his positions during Trump's first term, always because he was operating as Trump's propaganda minister regardless of the actual job he held.

USA Today reported this week that Patel was one of the members of Trump's inner circle most responsible for "recasting" Jan. 6 as a patriotic protest rather than a violent insurrection. He spread lies that the FBI had instigated the riot and pushed the bogus Ray Epps conspiracy theory. He even produced that Jan. 6 "prison choir" rendition of the national anthem. It's hard to think of anyone worse or less qualified to be FBI director.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

All of this is happening in the shadow of Trump's repeated flouting of the law, from his executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship to the unauthorized firing of almost all independent inspectors general to his refusal to fund programs authorized by Congress, which is their job, not his. His brazen lawlessness has already exceeded most people's expectations or even imagination, and he's just getting started.

The American people do not support any of this, it appears, and any they will almost certainly like it less and less as all this unfolds. Trump's twisted psychological need to believe that he won by a landslide and is therefore vindicated in his ludicrous and hateful lies about 2020 has given him a monumental case of hubris. He'll do a lot of damage before he's finished  but he will never get the popular approbation he craves, now or in the future.
By David Lawder and Jarrett Renshaw

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump still plans to make good on his promise to issue tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday.

Leavitt told reporters in her first White House press briefing that Trump also is still "very much" considering fresh tariffs on China for Saturday.

Shortly after taking office last week, Trump set a Feb. 1 deadline for imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada unless the countries move to halt flows of illegal immigrants and the deadly opioid fentanyl into the U.S. He also said he would slap a 10% tariff on Chinese goods over that country's role in the fentanyl trade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked about the Saturday deadline for Canada and Mexico, Leavitt said Trump has said it "still holds."

"The president has also put out specific statements in terms of Canada and Mexico, when it comes to what he expects in terms of border security." Leavitt added. "We have seen a historic level of cooperation from Mexico. But again, as far as I'm still tracking, and that was last night talking to the president directly, Feb. 1 is still on the books."

She did not specify what actions Canada, Mexico and China needed to take to avert the tariffs. Trump, who first threatened the punitive duties in late November, has said that the tariffs would remain in place until the flows of migrants and drugs stop.

On Sunday, Trump forced Colombia to accept U.S. deportations of illegal immigrants, including via military aircraft, after threatening Latin America's fourth largest economy with 25% tariffs. For about 10 hours, Colombian President Gustavo Petro's refusal to accept military aircraft loaded with deported Colombian nationals and threats to match Trump's tariffs had the two free trade partners reeling toward an unexpected tariff war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FAR BIGGER STAKES

The stakes are far higher in Trump's tariff threats against Mexico, Canada and China, the three largest U.S. trading partners accounting for over $2.1 trillion in annual imports and exports.

Colombia was the U.S.' 23rd largest trading partner in 2023, accounting for $33.8 billion worth of two-way trade, and a $1.6 billion U.S. trade surplus, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Colombia's economy is highly dependent on exports to the U.S., which made up 29% of its total exports for the first 11 months of 2024, according to the country's statistics agency.

Disrupting trade flows within the highly integrated North American economy would be very costly, said Mary Lovely, a trade economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the biggest impacts would be the auto industry, where parts and components can cross national borders several times before a vehicle's final assembly in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.

"That's kind of a sobering fact that lays in the direction of doing something that either pushes this can down the road or which finds a way to resolve this," Lovely said.

She added that Canada and Mexico "have to be thinking the U.S. has a lot to lose here, too. They're not Colombia."

Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for Commerce secretary who has been designated leader of trade strategy, faces senators on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing. His prepared remarks revealed no new details about Trump's trade plans.

(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by David Gregorio)
Donald Trump has issued an executive order that directs federal agencies to rescind policies that support or acknowledge gender-affirming healthcare for transgender Americans.

The sweeping order targets the prescription of puberty blockers, hormone therapies and affirming surgeries for anyone under 19 years old  an age group that includes adult Americans.

It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called transition of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures, according to the order, which labels gender-affirming care mutilation.

Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to revoke gender-affirming care guidelines for people age 19 and younger (AP)

The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to take all appropriate actions to end affirming healthcare for people age 19 and younger, including reviewing Medicare and Medicaid and other federal health programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also calls for blocking federal funding to medical schools and institutions that support affirming care.

Trumps latest action follows a series of executive orders targeting transgender, nonbinary and intersex Americans, including Department of Defense policy that could see the removal of thousands of trans service members, as well as changes throughout the federal government that effectively erase recognition of trans people.

Major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Counseling Association, among others, stress that affirming healthcare guidelines are clinically appropriate for trans youth experiencing gender dysphoria.

Medical guidelines generally say that affirming surgeries should only be approved for people ages 18 and older, and they are rarely if ever performed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2020, medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare was available to transgender young people in every state. Within four years, that same healthcare was outlawed in nearly half of states, after hundreds of bills targeting LGBT+ young people flooded statehouses on a wave of anti-trans rhetoric that dominated campaign messaging.

The president and Republican candidates campaigned aggressively against so-called transgenderism and gender ideology, with Trump promising to stop affirming care for trans youth entirely.

This dangerous trend will be a stain on our Nations history, and it must end, Trumps executive order says.

LGBT+ advocacy groups had been expecting and bracing for the order following Trumps nonstop campaign and hundreds of anti-trans proposals in state legislatures across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Everyone deserves the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions for themselves and their families  no matter your income, ZIP code, or health coverage, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement.

This executive order is a brazen attempt to put politicians in between people and their doctors, preventing them from accessing evidence-based health care supported by every major medical association in the country, said Robinson, whose group is the largest LGBT+ civil rights group in the country.

Trump has signed a series of executive orders to effectively remove trans people from public life, including opening the door for the Pentagon to remove transgender service members from the U.S. military (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It is deeply unfair to play politics with peoples lives and strip transgender young people, their families, and their providers of the freedom to make necessary health care decisions, Robinson added. Questions about this care should be answered by doctorsnot politiciansand decisions must rest with families, doctors, and the patient.

Trumps latest order also singles out the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and its Standards of Care as lacking scientific integrity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Department of Justice is tasked with investigating affirming care providers and enforcing laws against deceptive practices, according to the order.

Gender-affirming care will also be excluded from the Defense Departments TRICARE program, which provides care for nearly 2 million Americans under 18, according to the order.

The Supreme Court is currently deciding whether laws that bar trans children from medically recommended healthcare qualifies as unconstitutional sex discrimination under the 14th Amendments equal protection clause.

During oral arguments in December, conservative justices suggested that they would leave a decision on care standards for trans youth to individual states  echoing similar arguments from their landmark ruling that revoked a constitutional right to abortion care.
A lot of people are hungry for guidance on how to navigate the supply chain if 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada come into effect on Saturday, judging from a recent webinar by global supply chain provider Kuehne + Nagel.

The Navigating Unprecedented Global Trade Disruptions webinar Jan. 15 drew around 1,500 people  about three times more than other webcast discussions at Kuehne + Nagel.

I was blown away and very encouraged by the turnout, Greg Tompsett, vice president of customs brokerage USA at Kuehne + Nagel and host of the webinar, told FreightWaves in an interview. It just shows people are desperate for information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose the tariffs as part of an initiative to get Mexico and Canada to do more on migrant and drug smuggling issues.





While Tompsett believes the threats could be a bargaining tactic, he said if they are implemented on Saturday, shippers will need to immediately take stock of what goods they have in the supply chain.

What is already out on the water, Tompsett said. What purchase orders have already been booked? What are things that we cant really change or shift, and what temporary options do we have to buy us a little time? Can we move something in bond  thats where it hasnt technically been imported yet, but it gets in and we set it off at a bonded warehouse, and we can keep it at bay for a little bit  and whats that cost? Can we defer or hold off importing it? Do we have the ability to move it in a foreign trade zone  those are things well be looking at.

In 2018, during Trumps first term as president, he imposed a 10% tariff on $200 billion of imports from China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2018 tariffs acted as a sort of stimulus to the freight industry, boosting trucking rates and tightening capacity, according to a 2019 FreightWaves report.





Tompsett said some transportation providers may raise their rates if tariffs are imposed Saturday.

As weve seen in the past, many companies have taken advantage of this and used it as an opportunity to charge premiums or surge pricing or different elements like that, he said. I would be naive to think that some companies wont try to do so again. But I think each company is going to try to weigh what value they can bring to their customers, and what they can do to try to maintain that business. I think weve also seen in the past, some companies think its great to try to grab a little bit of money in the short term, but a lot of times you burn those relationships when you try to do that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of Monday, the SONAR National Truckload Index Linehaul Only (NTIL) showed the nationwide dry van spot rate was at $1.85 per mile, down 2% week over week and 4.6% year over year.

The NTIL measures the average spot rate for dry van loads moving more than 250 miles excluding the total estimated cost of fuel. The NTIL has been trending higher over the past year and a half but has been moving downward since Jan. 11.

FreightWaves SONAR National Truckload Index (NTIL.USA) shows dry van spot rates at $1.85 per mile as of Monday. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here

Trumps tariff policies could also shift more supply chains and manufacturing operations back to the U.S., but it will take time, Tompsett said.

I dont know if its going to be to the degree that is being hoped for, or if its going to be the kind of high-end manufacturing jobs that people want to associate it to. People are hoping, but I just dont know that I ever see that era coming back to U.S. manufacturing, Tompsett said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nari Viswanathan, senior director of supply chain strategy at Coupa Software, said while businesses and supply chain leaders cant control trade policies, they can control how they respond to potential tariffs.

Foster City, California-based Coupa Software offers a cloud-based software platform that aims to help businesses optimize their supply chains.





Preparing for tariff disruptions before they happen is essential, and plans should happen in the most optimal way possible, Viswanathan told FreightWaves in an email. Those who dont may risk a severe revenue downturn in 2025, and businesses must prioritize resiliency and agility. When preparing for tariffs, regulations, and geopolitical fluctuations, its critical to have complete visibility of the end-to-end supply chain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Trump imposed tariffs on China in 2018, they spurred some supply chains to move away from China and relocate to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Mexico.

Companies should be developing contingency plans and risk scenarios now to find the best supply chain solutions, Viswanathan said.

Running scenarios with different types of taxes and tariffs can help businesses design a realistic and strategic perspective on managing future costs, Viswanathan said. Developing contingency plans for different tariff forecasts can include shifting sourcing, increasing local production, or adjusting product prices. Additionally, conducting a supplier risk assessment can help identify a business exposure to tariffs, especially if suppliers are in Canada or Mexico. This assessment can help leaders make better decisions when diversifying suppliers and evaluating the costs and benefits of producing goods within different geographies.

Tompsett, who said hes a student of trade policy history, said he feels Trumps tariff threat is a bargaining chip against Mexico, Canada, China and other nations that do business with the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My gut instinct is that a person doesnt normally set a deadline 10 days out if their intention is just to implement it, Tompsett said. This administration certainly could have just implemented it at midnight Jan. 20. My guess is that we will see this be deferred until the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which expires in July of 2026, is renegotiated. My guess is we see that deferred until then, and then therell be some response in the way of increased border security. Then this administration will check that off as, Hey, look, look what I achieved. I used this as a weapon, and I got us the increased border security we needed. Each of those countries, Canada and Mexico, will say, Hey, look what I did. I got him to hold back on the 25% tariffs. Everybody marks it as a win, and then they deal with it 18 months from now.

The post Trump tariff threats leave supply chain stakeholders scrambling for answers appeared first on FreightWaves.
President Donald Trump asked billionaire Elon Musk to go get two astronauts that have been aboard the International Space Station since June 2024, claiming the Biden administration had virtually abandoned them even though NASA has said for months it plans to bring them home soon.

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Musk is the CEO of SpaceX. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, traveled to the ISS in June for what was meant to be a short trip aboard Boeings Starliner spacecraft. But the Starliner had issues with its propulsion system on its way into space, and NASA later decided to extend the astronauts stay aboard the ISS and send the craft home empty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It landed safely in New Mexico last September.

NASA instead launched a new SpaceX craft later that month with two free seats, saying it would bring Wilmore and Williams home aboard that vessel as soon as the agencys next crew, Crew-10, traveled to the ISS to allow for a crossover period between astronauts.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (R) and Suni Williams seen last June before their departure to the ISS. MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO via Getty Images

Crew-10 is now scheduled to head to space no earlier than the end of March. NASA has been emphatic in saying the two astronauts are in excellent health and are not stranded. The agency added in December it had recently resupplied the space station, saying it was well-stocked with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing and oxygen.

Musk said Tuesday night he had spoken with Trump and that SpaceX planned to bring home Wilmore and Williams as soon as possible, echoing the presidents criticisms of the Biden administration.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.



Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025

Its unclear how Trumps directive will impact NASAs current plans. The New York Times notes the apparent options to expedite the timeline are less than ideal, including leaving the ISS understaffed by sending a crew home early or sending Williams and Wilmore home alone and leaving some crew behind.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That would leave those astronauts without a ride back to Earth, the same predicament Williams and Wilmore found themselves in last year.

Related...
Donald Trump demanded SpaceX boss Elon Musk go get two NASA astronauts who, the president claims, were left abandoned in space by the Biden Administration.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck on the International Space Station since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner became beset with issues. The mission, which was intended to last eight days, has now lasted more than eight months.

Extending beyond Musks remit as head of the non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency tasked with cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget, Trump called on his First Buddy to bring Williams and Wilmore back from the thermosphere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to go get the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration, he wrote on Truth Social late on Tuesday, taking a swipe at his predecessor.

He continued: They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore embraced the holiday spirit with some festive gear aboard the ISS (Instagram)

Hours before Trump broadcast his request, Musk publicly accepted the challenge.

The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible, the billionaire wrote on X. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Responding to a comment that the Biden Administration hated Musk more than they wanted to rescue the astronauts, the MAGA loyalist replied, True.

Though it wasn't immediately clear what the new timeline was, a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon was originally planned to retrieve the astronauts in February, before it was moved to no earlier than late March 2025, NASA said last month.

A previous SpaceX rescue mission faced problems, causing Musks company to temporarily ground its Falcon 9 rockets in September.

Trump has called on his First Buddy Elon Musk to return Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth (via REUTERS)

Musk has been especially close with the president ever since endorsing the GOP candidate in July, after the first attempt on Trumps life during a Pennsylvania rally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Silicon Valley stalwart spent over $250m on political donations to help Trump retake the White House last week, primarily through donations to his super-political action committee, America PAC.

He continued to cozy up to the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, staying in a $ 2000-per-week cottage on its grounds ever since Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris at the ballot box in November.
President Donald Trump thanked President Trump for turning on the water in the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires, even though the supply was recently restored only after being down for repairs.

The president has been desperate to take credit for the smooth running of the water supply in California, boasting on Monday that the U.S. military turned on the water in the state.

On Tuesday night he was at it again, writing on Truth Social: The water is flowing, big time, in Northern California. The long empty reservoirs will soon be full. Thank you President Trump!!!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The California Department of Water Resources on Tuesday fact-checked his claims, making clear that the military did not enter the state.

The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days, it posted on X, formerly Twitter.

For weeks, Trump has ripped officials in California over their handling of the wildfires that tore through the Los Angeles area, often based on misinformation.

He has claimed Californias policymakers were to blame for hydrants running dry as the fires raged on, but officials maintained that this was due to the damaging effects of the disaster on the system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state has disputed Trumps allegations about the volume of water available, pointing out that there is no issue.

Nonetheless, Trump has insisted providing disaster federal aid for California would depend upon water being released.

Related...
The Trump administration has told around two million federal workers they can resign via email in exchange for a payout.

Under plans to drastically shrink the size of the US government and push out civil servants who do not support the Republican, employees were told they could receive eight months pay if they took up the offer.

The email was sent to staff as latest polls suggest Americans have taken a dim view of some of Mr Trumps early moves, with his approval rating sitting at +7  the lowest rating of any new president since the Second World War, with the exception of Mr Trump himself in 2017.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since taking office on Jan 20, the president has attempted to do away with so-called birthright citizenship and rename the Gulf of Mexico.

He has also moved quickly to restrict immigration and scale back the size of government, efforts that respondents to the three-day poll, that closed on Sunday, looked on more favourably.

If accepted, the deferred resignation program would place employees on paid administrative leave until Sept 30, according to the email.

However, the memo, from the Office of Personnel Management, also warned of future downsizing and reclassification of many employees to at-will status, which would make them easier to fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The email, with the subject line Fork in the Road, has given federal employees until Feb 6 to decide, instructing those interested to simply reply with the word resign.

The governments human resources agency added that all staff would be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct to ensure workers were reliable, loyal and trustworthy.

Mr Trump has sought to hit the ground running by shrinking, purging and remoulding the federal government in his image.

However, his latest move tests the limits of his political influence on the civil service and has put him on a collision course with unions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal government employed more than three million people as of November last year, accounting for nearly 1.9 per cent of the nations entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.

Reform will be significant

Katie Miller, who serves on an advisory board to the Department of Government Efficiency, a new body headed by Elon Musk, posted on X: This email is being sent to more than TWO MILLION federal employees.

While the military and some agencies are likely to increase the size of their staff, the majority of agencies are in line for reductions in headcount, the email said.

It added: At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, is spearheading efforts to reduce the number of federal employees - Matt Rourke/AP

Employees who resign will not be expected to work, except in rare cases determined by agencies, according to a question-and-answer page on the departments website.

The memo added that the substantial majority of federal employees would be required to return to their physical offices five days a week.

The demand echoed recent comments from the president, who said at the weekend: You have to go to your office and work. Otherwise, youre not going to have a job.

Disgruntled civil servants have been plotting to sabotage the presidents ban on working from home by relaxing during office hours and taking more time off, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees union, which represents over 800,000 workers, said the offer should not be viewed as a voluntary buyout, but rather as pressuring workers not considered loyal to vacate their jobs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administrations goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to, Mr Kelley warned in a statement.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine also branded the proposal a fake offer, saying Mr Trump did not have the authority to offer it and employees may not get the promised payouts.

Under US law, no employee can be placed on administrative leave for more than 10 days in a year, while federal buyouts are capped at $25,000 (20,000) under the Homeland Security Act.

Mr Trump has issued directives in his first days in office to make it easier to fire thousands of federal workers by reclassifying their job status.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president has also implemented a freeze on federal hiring, except for military, immigration enforcement, national security and public safety jobs.

The latest memo contained traces of the influence of Mr Musk, as the Tesla billionaire also opted for the email subject line Fork in the road when he offered three months severance to Twitter employees in 2022.

Mr Musk has set his sights on cutting up to $2 trillion (1.6 trillion) in spending from the $6.8 trillion (5.5 trillion) federal budget.

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.
[Source]

President Donald Trump could soon deploy thousands of additional troops to the southern border, following through his campaign promise of a sweeping immigration crackdown. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors have reportedly been directed to investigate officials who resist immigration enforcement efforts and eliminate restrictions on arrests at schools, churches and hospitals.

Military boost

Trump is reportedly planning to send up to 10,000 troops to the southern border. An initial deployment of 1,500 troops will join 2,500 who are already there, representing a 60% increase in active-duty ground forces since he took office on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is just the beginning, acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said on Wednesday, as per the Washington Post. The official added that military personnel will assist in building barriers and enhancing surveillance efforts along the border.

The military buildup echoes Trumps first administration, when active-duty forces spent days stringing razor wire along hundreds of miles of the border. The number of U.S. military personnel then reached about 8,000 in 2018 before eventually declining.

Trending on NextShark: Dozens of states, cities file lawsuits against Trumps order to end birthright citizenship

Expanded deportation powers

The administration has dramatically broadened its deportation capabilities through several key changes:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can now conduct enforcement actions near sensitive locations like schools and churches  areas previously protected under both Biden and Trumps first administration.

Fast-track deportations have been expanded to include undocumented immigrants anywhere in the U.S. who cannot prove continuous residence for two years.

The Defense Department will provide military aircraft to assist in deporting detained migrants.

ICE is preparing to more than double its detention capacity with four new 10,000-bed facilities and 14 smaller sites.

Targeting sanctuary jurisdictions

The Justice Department has directed prosecutors to investigate officials who resist immigration enforcement efforts. A memo from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, according to Reuters, requires state and local authorities to cooperate with the immigration crackdown or face potential prosecution.

About 44% of the countrys 11 million undocumented and temporary-status immigrants were reportedly living in states with sanctuary policies as of 2022. Beyond these statewide protections, additional immigrants reside in sanctuary cities and counties located in states without such laws.

Trending on NextShark: Trump unleashes sweeping immigration crackdown

White House border czar Tom Homan took a confrontational stance toward sanctuary cities, telling Fox News: Sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they dont want. More agents in the neighborhood and more collateral arrests.

Why this matters

Undocumented Chinese migrants, who have been reported to make record crossings in the southern border, could be among the administrations first targets for mass deportation. Asian American civil rights organizations, including the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), have expressed alarm over Trumps immigration policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NAKASEC stands firmly against the executive order declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and the plans for increased deportations. These actions use taxpayer dollars and executive powers to advance harmful policies that disproportionately target immigrant communities. We cannot ignore the deep and lasting harm these measures will cause: they threaten to tear families apart, disrupt livelihoods and destabilize communities, affecting citizens and non-citizens alike, the group said in a statement to The Rebel Yellow.

Trending on NextShark: Fears abound as Trump ends DEI programs, LGBTQ+ protections

We believe in immigration policies that reflect compassion, fairness, and respect for every persons rights and dignity, NAKASEC added. A better future for all means creating solutions that uplift, rather than divide, our communities. We call on local, state and federal leaders to actively stand with immigrant communities and use their power to build policies that protect and strengthen our nation.

Resistance and implementation challenges

Democratic-led cities are poised to resist the new directives. In Chicago, for one, the teachers union has been preparing sanctuary teams to protect students, while the citys police department has stated it does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement action solely based on immigration status, WLS reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration also faces significant logistical and financial hurdles in implementing its plans. ICE, as NBC reported, is already facing a $230 million shortfall for current operations, and Trump will likely need substantial additional funding from Congress to fulfill his inaugural promise to deport millions and millions of criminal aliens.

Trending on NextShark: Nearly 2,000 couples tie the knot as Thailand approves same-sex marriage

A divided public

Americans remain sharply divided on Trumps immigration policies. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey showed 39% agreed that illegal immigrants should be arrested and put in detention camps while awaiting deportation hearings, while 42% disagreed. The poll found 58% of respondents agreed that the U.S. should dramatically reduce the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the border, while 22% disagreed.

Trumps moves signal the beginning of what could become the most aggressive immigration enforcement effort in recent U.S. history. While previous administrations have implemented tough border measures, none has attempted such a comprehensive approach combining military deployment, expanded detention facilities, prosecution of local officials and fundamental changes to citizenship rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The coming months will likely test not only the limits of executive power but also the nations complex relationship with its immigrant communities.

Trending on NextShark: Simu Liu speaks out on Trumps new tax plan

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday expressed his joy after the state's tableau secured second place at the Republic Day Parade. He said that in the coming days, Tripura will "pave the way forward for the country". CM Manik Saha said, "It is a matter of joy and pride as we were waiting for the opportunity to showcase Tripura's tableau at the Republic Day. Out of all the northeastern states, only Tripura was selected. The tableau was presented based on the indigenous traditions of the state and received a lot of recognition. Prime Minister Modi's ideology, Act East policy, that the country will not develop until the Northeast develops, brought Tripura's tableau to the second position. In the coming days, Tripura will pave the way forward for the country." He further said that through participation, people came to know about the history of Tripura. "The famous bamboo works in Tripura were presented in the Tableau. People came to know about the heritage. Secondly all communities live here peacefully that was also presented. Thirdly the tribal dance was also presented. Entire world came to know about Tripura. I wish to congratulate the participants," he added. Uttar Pradesh's tableau showcasing the 'Mahakumbh 2025 - Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas' won the first prize at the 76th Republic Day celebrations held at Kartavya Path on January 26, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. The Best Marching Contingent among Services was awarded to the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Contingent, while the Best Marching Contingent among CAPFs/other auxiliary forces was won by the Delhi Police Marching Contingent. Three panels of judges were constituted to assess the performance of Marching Contingents from the Services & Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories (UTs) & Ministries/Departments of the Central Government. Tripura's 'Eternal Reverence: The Worship of 14 Deities in Tripura - Kharchi Puja' won second prize among the top three tableaux, while Andhra Pradesh's tableau 'Etikoppaka Bommalu - Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys' won third prize. The Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments went to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh). The Central Public Works Department (75 years of Constitution of India) and the 'Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam' Dance Group won the Special Prize. Meanwhile, an online poll was also conducted on the MyGov portal from January 26 to 28, 2025, for citizens to vote for their favourite tableau and Marching Contingents under the 'Popular Choice Category.' In this category, the Best Marching Contingent among Services went to the Signals Contingent, and the Best Marching Contingent among CAPFs/other auxiliary forces was won by the CRPF Marching Contingent. In the Popular Choice Category, the best tableau was won by Gujarat (Swarnim Bharat: Virasat Aur Vikas). Uttar Pradesh's tableau (Mahakumbh 2025 - Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas) won second prize. The third prize was awarded to Uttarakhand for the tableau 'Uttarakhand: Cultural Heritage and Adventure Sports.' The Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments went to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (Multifaceted journey of women and children nurtured under the Ministry's comprehensive schemes). (ANI)
It didnt take long for Donald Trumps second White House to end up in clean-up mode.

Trumps budget office has rescinded an order proposing a freeze on large swathes of federal aid, capping off a whirlwind 48 hours in which the presidents push to rein in spending sowed chaos across levels of government that administration officials were left scrambling to contain.

White House officials had already issued a flurry of statements and memos on Tuesday attempting to clarify which assistance programs would be affected amid outcry over potential disruptions to public health care benefits and other services for the elderly and low-income people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Concern was coming from all corners even before the White House walked its plans back. Even as they broadly backed his attempt to scrutinize government spending, some of Trumps allies on the Hill said they planned to press the president for more details on his proposed funding pauses. Republican governors similarly pushed the administration for clarity amid concerns the freeze could interrupt critical services in their states and jeopardize their financial stability.

It culminated Wednesday afternoon in the White House yanking the memo from the table  a reaction, in their words, to a judges order Tuesday blocking the freeze and media coverage but a seemingly tacit acknowledgment that there may be limits to the presidents shock-and-awe strategy.

The broad backlash to Trumps plan, the first example that the president isnt invincible in pushing through his broad agenda, offered a potential preview of the level of blowback Republicans could face if they pursue deep spending cuts to fund the presidents sweeping policy agenda. It also showcases the difficult spot Trump places Republicans in as he pursues a slash-and-burn approach to governing that could have far-reaching negative effects on their constituencies back home.

Democrats who have struggled to land on a unified message against Trump pounced on the order as their best opportunity yet to cast his second presidency as chaotic and harmful to everyday Americans. But they didnt get to fully seize on it: the reversal was revealed just as House Democrats were joining a virtual emergency caucus meeting to discuss the initial action clawing back federal spending, a meeting announced a full day prior.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donald Trump's reckless and unlawful decision to freeze nearly all domestic federal funding wreaked havoc yesterday, said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) on X. Now that Trump has rescinded this order following a federal judge's stay, I urge him to stop issuing half-baked, disastrous policies that harm American families.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Democrats top Senate appropriator, told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon that she would take the Trump administrations walkback as a victory for now that they listened to the American people but remained concerned that were still holding billions of dollars in a freeze.

Rubio was the first Cabinet official on Tuesday evening to begin to backtrack on Trumps wide-raging stoppage of government spending by exempting life saving humanitarian assistance from an earlier pause on foreign aid. Rubios carve outs included medicine, medical services, food, shelter and other crucial forms of support, he said in a memo first reported by the Washington Post. Trumps initial order stopping all foreign aid left many humanitarian groups confounded.

The fallout  and the cleanup  only grew from there. The confusion over the domestic freeze spilled out far beyond Washington as trillions of federal dollars were suddenly jeopardized, propelling a blistering news cycle detailing all the ways the pause in spending would impact many facets of American life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, some state health departments were reporting that they could no longer access the online Medicaid portal used to process payments and reimbursements  a hiccup that providers said threatened health insurance for more than 72 million Americans.

And nonprofits that rely on federal assistance were fearful that their operations could no longer continue, like Meals on Wheels, which supplies meals to millions of seniors, and Head Start, which gives preschool funding to low-income children.

Questions over the reach of the freeze dominated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitts first briefing Tuesday afternoon. She insisted that the pause would not directly affect assistance that goes directly to individuals, and was intended to target parts of the government that conflict with Trumps agenda. The White House later blamed an outage for locking out the online Medicaid system, and also released a fact sheet attempting to explain the contours of the presidents action.

Senior White House aide Stephen Miller appeared on CNN that afternoon and continued to pile blame on the media, arguing with host Jake Tapper that the order did not apply across the board and instead was intended to eradicate wokeness from the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It all accumulated in a federal judge temporarily blocking the order just minutes before it was set to go into effect on Tuesday. That judges order remains in effect through Feb. 3. On Wednesday, another federal judge signaled he will block the freeze, despite the White House walking back its hugely ambiguous order.

The White House, in a statement, said the reversal was intended to end confusion caused by the court ruling and dishonest media coverage.

But the two-line memo rescinding the initial order did not end the confusion. On X, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the latest memo was not a recession of the federal funding freeze and instead simply a rescission of the OMB memo. She added that Trumps executive order on funding remains in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

A Trump spokesperson denied that the funding had been rescinded, repeating what Leavitt said that the guidance memo was pulled back and the executive orders remain in place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, some in the GOP believed the spigot was turned back on  and acknowledged the intense public reaction.

Im grateful to all the Pennsylvanians who reached out about the Administrations spending pause over the last 24 hours, said Sen. Dave McCormick on X. The pause has been rescinded. Your input made a difference- thank you.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  One week after taking office, the Trump administration held its first official press briefing Tuesday, marking a historic moment with the introduction of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

At 27 years old, Leavitt is the youngest person to serve in the role. She opened the 47-minute briefing by declaring a new era for the administration.

The golden age of America has most definitely begun, Leavitt said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The administration is making significant changes to press access. Leavitt announced that, under President Donald Trumps directive, the White House will allow influencers and podcasters to apply for press credentials, broadening access beyond traditional media.

She also said the administration is restoring press passes to individuals they believe were unfairly denied under President Joe Biden.

If you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials, Leavitt said.

In a break from tradition, Leavitt took the first questions from non-legacy media outlets, starting with Axios and Breitbart. While she called on mainstream press from the front row, she also fielded questions from outlets seated in the back of the briefing room.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike many of her predecessors, Leavitt did not rely on a briefing binder while addressing key topics, including deportations, federal funding, and looming tariffs.

She did not specify how frequently she will hold press briefings but assured reporters that either she or the president will communicate with the public regularly.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Trump administrations federal government funding freeze instituted Monday and apparently rescinded Wednesday appears to be a part of the White Houses official policy to get courts to hand President Donald Trump the power to pick and choose which congressionally authorized funding he will spend, according to a confidential document obtained by HuffPost.

The confidential Office of Management and Budget document outlining regulatory misalignment calls on Trump to issue executive orders blocking the release of appropriated funds in order to provoke a court challenge over the presidents power to impound such funds.

Use executive orders to impound funds exceeding legislative intent or conflicting with constitutional duties, citing national security, fiscal waste, or statutory ambiguities, the document states. Seek legal precedent to affirm the Presidents Article II powers under the Take Care Clause and Executive Vesting Clause.

A confidential Office of Management and Budget document on "regulatory misalignment" outlines administration plans to provoke a court challenge over funding freezes. Office of Management and Budget "regulatory misalignment" document

That is what is playing out with the now-rescinded OMB memo freezing federal grants, loans and financial assistance across the federal government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Less than 12 hours after the OMB memos release, it was challenged in court by Democratic state attorneys general and a coalition of nonprofit groups. The challenge brought by the nonprofit groups resulted in a judge issuing a temporary restraining order blocking the freeze from going into effect Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the administration rescinded the memo but then claimed that the policy was still in effect and officials only rescinded the memo to get courts to drop the restraining order. A second judge issued another temporary restraining order on Wednesday after the administration rescinded the original memo.

This confusing series of events and conflicting statements and actions may be a fiasco, but the confidential OMB document makes clear that the administration intends on fomenting this very court challenge over the presidents power to not spend congressionally authorized funds.

Trump is targeting the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, a law that greatly restricts the ability of the president to defer or deny spending funds authorized by Congress. The law was passed after President Richard Nixon refused to spend funds appropriated for pollution cleanup and mental health centers, among other things. The Government Accountability Office determined that Trump violated it in 2019 when he withheld funds from Ukraine as part of a blackmail scheme targeting his 2020 election opponent Joe Biden.

Russell Vought, Trumps OMB director in his first term and current nominee to run it again, has been vocal about his belief the law is unconstitutional and that the president has inherent constitutional authority to refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress as he desires. The Senate has not yet confirmed Vought to the position.

President Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget director nominee Russell Vought want courts to rule that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional. Evan Vucci via Associated Press

Similarly, billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the White Houses Department of Government Efficiency initiative, has also pushed for challenging the Impoundment Control Act and stated in an op-ed written with his former DOGE co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy that we believe the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response to a question about the confidential document, OMB provided a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage, Leavitt said in the statement. The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments. This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the Presidents orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding.

Whether or not the current OMB funding freeze remains in effect, the OMB document and Leavitts statement make clear that the Trump administration wants this fight and it will happen  if not now, then later.
The Trump administrations attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs threaten to derail efforts to fix racial disparities associated with pulse oximeters  just as the federal government was finally making headway on the matter.

We are very concerned, said Dr. Michael Lipnick, an anesthesiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, whose work is dedicated to resolving how pulse oximeters perform on a variety of skin tones. Weve been trying to figure out where the money is going to come from next.

Eighty percent of Lipnicks research funding has typically come from federal health agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The future of that money is now in question. Just hours after he was sworn in for a second term last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning DEI initiatives. While that order primarily focused on ways in which employees are hired, there is concern about spillover into pulse oximeter studies intended to expand the number of participants with darker skin tones.

That is, how can researchers seek out people of color to fill gaps in research while adhering to new directives to stop focusing on race?

Recent directives to halt scientific communications from federal health agencies have frustrated federal health scientists seeking clarity on whether theyd be able to continue research. A request for comment from the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees all federal health agencies, was not immediately answered.

I have spent probably 25 hours in the last week talking with my colleagues as we try to understand what these poorly written, obviously immoral and probably unlawful orders will actually mean, said Dr. Theodore Iwashyna, a critical care physician and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Iwashyna co-authored an influential 2020 study showing how pulse oximeters dont work as intended in Black patients.

He described the anti-DEI initiatives as an attack on the scientists who are most likely to do work to ensure pulse oximeters work better for everyone.

Pulse oximeters are commonly used during routine checkups, seeking out oxygen-rich blood by shining a light through the fingertip. That light, however, also absorbs skin pigment. The more pigment a person has, the healthier they seem to be, often leading to faulty pulse oximeter readings in people with darker skin.

While the racial disparities of pulse oximeters have been known for decades, in-depth research into the disparities reignited during the Covid pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FDA appears to be focused on finalizing guidelines for pulse oximeter manufacturers to address the issue. Earlier this month, the FDA issued draft guidance for manufacturers to drastically expand the skin tone varieties when testing their devices and demonstrate how they work equally for all skin pigments.

Not all research on racial disparities of pulse oximeters is threatened. Dr. Andrew Goodwin at the Medical University of South Carolina is leading a massive effort to analyze possible racial differences in pulse oximetry readings in hospitalized patients.

Goodwins work is expected to continue because its secured private funding from one of the biggest pulse oximeter manufacturers, Masimo.

His research team has recruited nearly 200 patients so far. We have a really robust distribution across skin pigment thus far in our preliminary data set, Goodwin said. Results arent expected for several more years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The future of Lipnicks research, however, is unclear, even as hes moved his family from San Francisco to Kampala, Uganda, to set up a pulse oximetry lab to explore how pulse oximeters work on darker skin tones.

His team has just begun applying for new federal funding.

Right now, were broke, he said. Everybody at the intersection of health equity is like, What is about to happen?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
With a combined net worth of over $450 billion, the tech titans who have arrived in President Donald Trumps inner circle  including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, investor David Sacks and Elon Musk  are poised to disrupt Washington with their focus on innovation and deregulation.

They have their sights set on everything from defense contracts for new drones and lasers to venture-backed medical innovation.

We brought together POLITICOs emerging tech reporter Derek Robertson with Business Insider reporters Madeline Berg and Peter Kafka to dissect what this means for Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our reporters tell us that Trumps billionaire allies are interested in moving federal policy at the faster pace theyre accustomed to in Silicon Valley  and in a direction that could help their businesses.

I think we are in a post-conflicts-of-interest world, Kafka says, noting that Trump could feel more empowered and unrestrained during his second term in office.

Robertson echoed the sentiment, saying these billionaires could be essentially setting policy for fields that they stand to massively profit from.

But they also could be in for a rude awakening, in which their interests might clash with the prerogatives of Congress to set spending priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next four years will test how much leverage the worlds richest men really have in the White House. As they exercise it, particularly in an age of unprecedented income inequality, it could force a big political question: How will this newfound influence among the billionaire class land with the countrys working class?

Kafka sums it up simply: Do people feel richer or poorer?

To see the full conversation, which is a collaboration with Business Insider, watch the video.
In practical terms, Donald Trump's attempt to nullify birthright citizenship by executive decree, which ran into immediate legal trouble last week, is probably the least significant element of his immigration crackdown. But it is telling as an indication of the president's willingness to disregard the law in pursuit of his agenda.

Under the 14th Amendment, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof" are "citizens of the United States." But under an executive order that Trump issued on his first day in office, that status would be limited to the children of citizens or legal permanent residents.

The order notes that the 14th Amendment "has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States." But according to an 1898 Supreme Court decision, there are just two exceptions that remain legally relevant: children of foreign diplomats and "children born of alien enemies in hostile occupation."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because they enjoy diplomatic immunity, representatives of foreign governments are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States. Invading soldiers likewise are neither inclined nor expected to abide by U.S. law, the obligation that the Court saw as the essence of national jurisdiction based on British common law, colonial legislation, judicial rulings in England and America, and the debate preceding the 1868 ratification of the 14th Amendment.

Those two exceptions, the Court said, had deep roots in that history. It also recognized a third exception, for "members of the Indian tribes owing direct allegiance to their several tribes," that no longer applies.

"The amendment, in clear words and in manifest intent, includes the children born within the territory of the United States of all other persons, of whatever race or color, domiciled within the United States," the Court said. "Every citizen or subject of another country, while domiciled here, is within the allegiance and the protection, and consequently subject to the jurisdiction, of the United States."

Although a lawyer defending Trump's executive order dismissed that clear statement as "broadly worded dicta," the Supreme Court has repeatedly reaffirmed this understanding of jurisdiction and citizenship. In 1939, for example, the Court noted that "a child born here of alien parentage becomes a citizen of the United States."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a 1982 equal protection case, the Court said "no plausible distinction with respect to Fourteenth Amendment 'jurisdiction' can be drawn between resident aliens whose entry into the United States was lawful, and resident aliens whose entry was unlawful." Three years later, it acknowledged that the child of two unauthorized immigrants "was a citizen of this country" by virtue of being "born in the United States."

Given these precedents, the dismay expressed by the federal judge who issued a temporary restraining order against Trump's edict is understandable. "I can't remember another case where the question presented [was] as clear as this one is," said U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981. "This is a blatantly unconstitutional order."

Conservatives such as James Ho, whom Trump appointed to a federal appeals court and considered as a Supreme Court nominee, and law professor John Yoo, usually a staunch defender of executive power, likewise have recognized that the president cannot do what he is trying to do. Why bother then?

Even if it were allowed to take effect, Trump's order would have a gradual, forward-looking effect, applying only to children born on or after February 19. It would be far less immediately consequential than his other immigration initiatives, such as mass deportation of unauthorized residents and changes in asylum and refugee policy, all of which have a sounder legal basis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's citizenship order is best understood as a symbolic stand against the "invasion" he perceives when people enter this country in pursuit of better lives. But his casual disregard for the Constitution sends another message, one that should make Americans grateful for the restraining influence of an independent judiciary.

 Copyright 2025 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Trump's Citizenship Decree Signals His Willingness To Flout the Constitution appeared first on Reason.com.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Billionaire financier Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Commerce Department, said Wednesday that he would sell all of his business holdings within 90 days.

I will divest, I will sell all of my interests, my business interests, all of my assets, everything,'' Lutnick said in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. I made the decision I've made enough money in my life.''

Lutnick, head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has complicated business dealings. His financial disclosure statement showed that he had positions in more than 800 businesses and other private organizations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnick was introduced by Vice President JD Vance, who called him "just a good dude.''

Lutnick, who was head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has emerged as an outspoken supporter of Trump's hardline trade policies.

Trump has threatened new tariffs on China and an across-the-board levy on everything imported into the United States.

He is also planning to impose 25% import taxes  tariffs  Saturday on America's two biggest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. Lutnick suggested Wednesday that the tariffs on Canada and Mexico could be avoided if they complied with Trump's demand to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants and fentanyl into the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutnick expressed support Wednesday for using across-the-board import taxes country by country'' to strong-arm trade partners into lowering their tariffs on U.S. exports. Tariffs are a way to create reciprocity,'' he said.

Lutnick also dismissed as nonsense'' the view of many economists that tariffs cause inflation, arguing that China and India have high import taxes but low inflation. (The International Monetary Fund forecasts 1.7% inflation in China, 4.1% in India and 1.9% in the United States this year.)

Lutnick was in the running to be Treasury secretary, but Trump decided to go with someone viewed as more palatable to Wall Street: wealthy investor Scott Bessent, who was confirmed by the Senate Monday. Elon Musk had backed Lutnick, publicly dismissing Bessent as "a business-as-usual'' choice.

The Commerce Department is a sprawling bureaucracy with nearly 50,000 employees. A voice for business in the federal government, it administers trade policy, collects economic statistics, oversees government funding of new computer chip factories, runs the census, grants patents and issues weather reports, among other things.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick will work with Trump's nominee to be U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, to lead the president's promised tariff onslaught.

Lutnick was CEO at Cantor Fitzgerald when its offices were hit in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. The firm lost two-thirds of its employees  658 people  that day, including Lutnick's brother, Gary Lutnick. Lutnick is a member of the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Speaking about 9/11 Wednesday, Lutnick choked up. "I still can't say it without getting emotional,'' he said.

Lutnick, who once appeared on Trump's reality television show "The Apprentice,'' is a big supporter of cryptocurrencies, digital money that can be traded over the internet outside the highly regulated banking system. Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency. Lutnick last year launched a cryptocurrency platform called World Liberty Financial with members of his family.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday that the Biden-era subsidies for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing are an "excellent down payment" but need review.

"I think they're an excellent down payment as a structure. I think we need to get it right," Lutnick told a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "I think we need to review them and get it right. But as the way that Congress has said it, it's an excellent down payment in our ability to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to America."

(Reporting by David Lawder)
NEW YORK  Top Department of Justice officials under President Donald Trump have been talking with Manhattan prosecutors about dropping criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions.

The conversations between DOJ and both the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the mayor's legal team were first reported by The New York Times.

Adams is facing a five-count bribery case that he has characterized as political retribution from the Biden administration for his criticisms of the former presidents handling of immigration. He pleaded not guilty in September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has openly considered pardoning the Democratic mayor, who has made an effort in recent weeks to warm up to him. Dropping the case altogether presents a better political position for the big-city Democrat as he faces a tough road to reelection, since it clears him of standing trial just two months before voters head to the polls.

The primary is scheduled for June 24.



A spokesperson for the Southern District declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Spiro did not respond to a request for comment. An Adams spokesperson referred POLITICO to the mayor's legal team.

Adams has gone to great lengths to cultivate a relationship with the firebrand Republican president, whom New York City voters have rejected three times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has studiously avoided criticizing the commander-in-chief, traveled to Florida to dine near Mar-a-Lago and attended his inauguration at the expense of several Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in New York City. Adams has insisted the possibility of avoiding years in jail has had nothing to do with his overtures. Last week, Adams said he has a direct line to the president and said he would not criticize him publicly in an effort to foster a positive working relationship with the new administration.

Adams has been holed up in Gracie Mansion all week with an unspecified illness  though he took in-person meetings with labor leaders key to his reelection efforts and, Monday night, left with a security detail after 9 p.m. and did not return until after midnight. He plans to appear at public events Thursday.

Per the Times, top DOJ officials routinely communicate with their counterparts in Manhattan and with criminal defense attorneys about high-profile cases, though the timing of the discussion  Trump is in the midst of a major departmental overhaul and his pick for Manhattan attorney has yet to have a confirmation hearing  makes the talks unique.

The notion that the southern district would drop such a prominent case cuts against precedent, and is an about-face from the posture of the interim U.S. attorney, Danielle Sassoon, who last week issued a sharp rebuke to the mayor's claims he is the victim of political persecution.
President Donald Trump set off a political whirlwind when his budget office released a memo announcing that some federal spending would be frozen the following day.

The Monday announcement sparked chaos as state and local governments, nonprofits and other stakeholders tried to figure out what exactly would be on the chopping block.

The funding pause was scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday afternoon, but was temporarily blocked until Monday by a federal judge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Though the order is temporarily on ice, uncertainty still swirls around which programs exactly will and wont be affected should the order go into effect.

Though the orders didn't go into place, Tuesday saw some hiccups and interruptions in Arizona, with temporary outages to Medicaid and Head Start.

Heres how the saga has played out so far, and whats next for Trumps proposed funding freeze.

Why does Trump want to freeze federal aid?

Trump and his allies have promoted the federal funding freeze as a way to make sure that U.S. government spending aligns with the mandate he campaigned on and began implementing since taking office.

A memo penned Monday by the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget foregrounded hot-button issues such as gender, climate and socially progressive policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, the memo reads.

It creates a roughly two-week window for the federal government to review and re-approve that spending.

The funding freeze did not affect funding that is provided directly to individuals  such as Medicare and Social Security  but other details about its scope remained unclear. Initially the Budget Department circulated a memo requesting information on programs such as low-income economic assistance and food programs, Politico reported.

In follow-up guidance released Tuesday, the office clarified that the freeze will only impact programs that are related to the flurry of executive orders Trump signed when he took office. Stakeholders said it was still hard to tell what exactly falls into that category.

Advertisement Advertisement

AGs speak out: Mayes, other state attorneys general sue over Trump halting federal aid

Medicaid, Head Start saw disruptions, but won't be paused

Though the funding freeze was directed at programs affected by Trumps recent executive orders, Tuesday also brought interruptions to government operations which appeared to fall outside that scope.

The online portals through which states receive federal Medicaid funding were down on Tuesday morning, despite guidance from the Trump administration that the program would continue without pause.

Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House was aware of website outages but said that Medicaid payments were still flowing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, said that the state did not have access to federal Medicaid dollars, which fund about 70% of Arizona's Medicaid program, as the clock ticked toward the funding freeze deadline. The website was back up and running later that afternoon, he confirmed.

White House officials told CBS News that the Medicaid outages were unrelated to the federal funding freeze.

Head Start, a federal program that provides early child care for low-income families, also saw outages Tuesday despite assurances from OMB that it would not be affected. The programs grantees reported being locked out of the payment systems that they usually use to draw down grant funding.

Kelley Murphy with the Arizona Early Childhood Alliance said "all hell broke loose" when OMB released its guidance, in part because there was no clear way to request an exemption from the funding freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

It was unclear to her why the Head Start portal was blocked before the freeze was supposed to go into effect. National child care advocates told CNN they believe it was related to Trump's order.

"All of this stuff is programs that impact young children," she said. "I am fearful that this will harm children in our state."

What to know in Trump's Week 2: Immigration crackdown is starting

How will the funding freeze impact Arizona?

In the hours before Trumps orders were put on ice, stakeholders were still trying to understand which programs exactly would be affected.

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat who represents much of the East Valley, argued it would have "immediate and dangerous consequences in Arizona."

Advertisement Advertisement

Allison Childress, a Stanton spokesperson, said his office fielded concerns from around the district all day Tuesday.

That included queries from from health centers, who were weighing whether they would need to furlough or lay off staff; a local homelessness organization that was unable to draw their monthly reimbursement from the federal government; business development groups who had paused their workforce development programs; and constituents who work on federally funded research at Arizona State University, Childress said.

Allies of Trump argued the impacts of the funding freeze were exaggerated in the media.

U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, a Republican who represents much of northeastern Arizona, accused Democrats of needlessly scaring hardworking Arizonans by perpetuating lies for raw political gain.

Advertisement Advertisement

In an email Tuesday afternoon, the White House communications team accused the media of a Fake News Hoax. They pointed to the OMB guidance released earlier that day which clarified that programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP were excluded from the pause in funding.

Arizona government stakeholders brace themselves

Other government stakeholders preemptively took steps to prepare for the funding freeze  some of them going beyond what feds had warned them to do.

Tom Horne, the Arizona superintendent of public instruction and a Republican, said he had received notice that the funding review wouldnt apply to "Title I" economically disadvantaged schools.

Nevertheless, he wrote, because there are many details yet to be clarified, as a contingency I have directed this department to draw down the funds needed during the two-week period covered by the federal pause.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump's federal aid freeze: After a day of chaos, what's next?
Leaders across the political spectrum expressed condolences on the tragic stampede incident, that occured in the early hours of Wednesday, killing 30 and injuring several others. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna held a presser and said that 25 bodies have been identified while the rest are yet to be identified. "A total of 30 people have died unfortunately in the stampede that took place at the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj. Twenty-five bodies have been identified and the rest five are yet to be identified," he added. Among the deceased, four are from Karnataka, one from Assam and one from Gujarat, the DIG said, adding that 36 people were being treated at a local medical college. Uttar Pradesh government has announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also ordered a judicial inquiry and said that a judicial committee will submit its report to the state government within a time limit. "A three-member judicial commission will be headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh. We have been monitoring the entire incident from the CM's, Chief Secretary and DGP's control rooms throughout the day," he said. To monitor the situation of Maha Kumbh, Chief Minister Yogi has postponed his visit to Delhi for the election campaign tomorrow. Reflecting on the incident, he said the accident happened due to heavy crowds and the breaking of barricades. "The incident is heart-wrenching. We express our deepest condolences to all those families who lost their loved ones. We have been in constant touch with the administration since last night," CM Yogi said. Meanwhile, on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya' over 57.1 million devotees took a holy dip in the Triveni waters today, according to an official statement from the Uttar Pradesh Information Department. The ongoing religious event has witnessed an overwhelming show of faith, with millions gathering at the Triveni Sangam to mark this auspicious day of spiritual cleansing and devotion. The number of Kalpwasis, who observe month-long spiritual austerities, exceeded 1 million, adding to the spiritual fervor. The total footfall for the ongoing Magh Mela has now surpassed 199.4 million, even as a stampede-like situation briefly occurred due to the overwhelming rush at key bathing ghats. Meanwhile, leaders from across political parties have expressed grief over the demise of devotees. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid his respects to the deceased devotees who lost their lives in the incident during the early hours of the day. He stated that the administration in Uttar Pradesh faced a "challenging" task in managing the huge influx of devotees but was making efforts to ensure that Mahakumbh remains a success. "25 crore people had come at Mahakumbh. More will come. It is a very challenging job. The UP administration is making every effort to ensure that (Maha)Kumbh is a success. I pay my respect to the devotees who passed away. A devotee from Assam also passed away. We are talking to the UP government to bring his body back home," Sarma told ANI. Meanwhile, expressing grief over the demise of devotees, Yog Guru Baba Ramdev appealed to those visiting the Mahakumbh to follow self-discipline. "It is unfortunate. I appeal to anyone visiting Mahakumbh that the Government and the Administration are fulfilling their duties, but we should follow self-discipline as well. The first characteristic of Dharma is patience. If you don't get a chance to go to the Sangam, take a dip wherever you get a place. I pray for the salvation of those who have passed away," Ramdev said. Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chaddha said that the UP government should review their preparations to avoid such incidents in the future. "I pray to Mahadev that the souls of the deceased rest in peace. I hope the injured recover quickly. The government should review their preparations to make them better and avoid such incidents in the future," Chaddha told reporters. Asserting that the lack of arrangements must be rectified, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "I will pray to god that the devotees who were deceased in the stampede, their souls rest in peace. I express my condolences to their family. Whatever is lacking in the arrangements (at Mahakumbh) should be rectified." Moreover, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, "If such an incident happens to any person, it is unfortunate. It is a matter of concern and also a matter of sadness.... Efforts should be made to ensure that such an incident does not happen in future." Union Minister Chirag Paswan also expressed grief over the demise of devotees in the Mahakumbh stampede and said, "I offer my and my party's homage to all the deceased. I wish for the speedy recovery of all those who were injured... PM Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the situation... Preparations are being made to prevent this incident in future, and appropriate action will be taken to find out what caused this incident." He said that actions will be taken against culprits. "I would like to tell those who are politicising this incident that this is not the time to be doing such things," Paswan added. (ANI)
WASHINGTON  An abrupt halt on federal grants and loans announced Monday night by the Trump administration has created widespread confusion across the government, Congress, state programs and nonprofit organizations that rely on that funding.

The Office of Management and Budget sent a vaguely worded two-page memo to all federal agencies Monday night directing them to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance" that could conflict with President Donald Trump's agenda.

The following morning, nonprofit organizations said they were unable to get into a system used to access federal funds to pay for expenses, like salaries and rent.

White House attempts to clarify affected programs

Its not clear exactly which programs will be halted, but OMB also sent a document to agencies asking for details on more than 2,600 programs, including school meals for low-income students, U.S. Agency for International Development foreign assistance, mine inspections, the WIC nutrition program for pregnant women and infants and a reintegration program for homeless veterans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to information about the disbursement of funds, the OMB spreadsheet had questions more specific to the Trump agenda, including:

Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the directive to end discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities, under whatever name they appear, or other directives in the same EO, including those related to environmental justice programs or equity-related grants?

Does this program promote gender ideology?

Does this program promote or support in any way abortion or other related activities identified in the Hyde Amendment?

OMB asked for the information to be submitted by Feb. 7.

A senior administration official said the action is not a freeze on funding but a pause to give agencies time to review whether federal grants and loans are in compliance with recent executive actions taken by Trump. The official said OMB has already been working with agencies to exempt certain programs and that the pause would take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

It means no more funding for the green new scam that has cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday at her first news briefing. "It means no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy and agencies."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Funding for programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would be excluded from the pause and exempt from the review process, the senior administration official said. Those programs include Medicaid, food stamps, small business assistance, Head Start, rental assistance and federal Pell Grants for college students, according to a memo sent out Tuesday afternoon by OMB.

"If you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that," said Leavitt. "However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

When asked specifically about Medicaid, which provides health insurance to more than 70 million low-income and disabled Americans, Leavitt said she would get reporters a full list from OMB.

The OMB memo sent out Monday evening said the funding review would be related to activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.

Nonprofits unable to access funds

The memo set off a flurry of confusion and panic Tuesday among nonprofit organizations, which said they were unable to access federal government systems used to withdraw previously awarded federal funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While we understand that this is an evolving story, this disruption, at best, will slow down Head Start agencies ability to pay hundreds of thousands of staff, contractors, and small businesses who support Head Start operations in every corner of the country, Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, said. At worst, this means that hundreds of thousands of families will not be able to depend on the critical services and likely will not be able to work."

A message at the top of one website used by health care and early childhood education providers to access their federal funds warned of possible payment delays.

Due to Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments, PMS is taking additional measures to process payments. Reviews of applicable programs and payments will result in delays and/or rejections of payments, the message said.

Local housing organizations were also unsure if they would have the funding available to help pay rents due Feb. 1 for thousands of low-income households in subsidized housing across the country, said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She said her organization has heard from several members that the system used to draw down funds to reimburse their housing expenses was unavailable on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What we are hearing this morning is, honestly, a pretty good amount of panic by grantees, Oliva said. These programs exist in red states and blue states alike, and there are vulnerable people that are going to be impacted in many, many communities and in every state across the country.

If those funds arent made available in the next several days, organizations will be unable to pay rents to landlords and some tenants could face eviction.

The fallout could also affect health programs, said Dr. Erin Sorrell, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She said a halt in funding to the National Institutes of Health could affect ongoing clinical trials for critical infectious and chronic diseases.

"People travel across the country to participate in these trials, some lifesaving trials," Sorrell said. "The pause doesnt just impact the researcher, their work, their livelihoods; it impacts the patients themselves, potentially life-threatening impacts."

Medicaid confusion

Medicaid payments appeared frozen Tuesday as access to online portals was blocked across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Medicaid websites manage the federal health funds used to help provide coverage to nearly 80 million people in the United States.

Leavitt confirmed Tuesday in a post that the portals were down but said no payments have been affected.

Nearly 80 million people in the United States are enrolled in Medicaid, a public health insurance program that covers people with low incomes, making it the largest federally funded health care program, according to government data.

The program is jointly funded by states and the federal government. States first cover the upfront cost and then are reimbursed by the federal government for part of that cost  at least 50%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

States are required to provide information to the federal government on how much theyre spending to get reimbursed, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president of health policy at KFF, a nonprofit group that researches health policy issues.

If federal money for Medicaid doesnt show up, states are left holding the bag, and then ultimately hospitals, nursing homes and doctors, Levitt said.

Levitt said estimated Medicaid payments to states typically come on a monthly basis  although it can vary  meaning action needed to happen quickly before it could potentially affect providers and patients.

If there were continuing uncertainty about the federal governments paying its part of Medicaid and states not being able to pay their bills, doctors could very well start turning away patients, Levitt said.

Pushback to the OMB directive

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against OMB in federal court in Washington, D.C., by the National Council of Nonprofits and the American Public Health Association, seeking a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo until the Court has an opportunity to more fully consider the illegality of OMBs actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Low Income Housing Coalition urged its members to call members of Congress to "push back against the Trump administrations extreme order to withhold federal investments."

"It's super terribly written, and for that reason, it's unclear exactly what it impacts, which is why you're going to see absolute chaos today and the ensuing days, unless they further clarify it," a former official in President Joe Biden's administration said.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers scrambled to figure out what the funding freeze would mean for their constituents.

The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country, the Democratic leaders of the House and the Senate appropriations committees  Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.  wrote to OMB, going on to say that the pause is unconstitutional and unlawful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Murray said that the Senate Appropriations Committee had been trying to get in touch with the agencies to fully understand the impacts.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday morning: This is a dagger at the heart of the average American family  in red states, in blue states, in cities, in suburbs, in rural areas. It is just outrageous."

A Republican operative noted that a broad effort to reorient the federal governments mission has long been a goal of the party  but that Trump was taking it all on at once was notable.

Some of this stuff has only been talked about at cocktail parties at the Heritage Foundation in jest, the operative said. And they're actually doing it all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an interview at the House Republicans issues conference at Trump National Doral Miami, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., defended Trumps freeze on aid, arguing that its a way for Republicans to immediately stop spending they disagree with.

I think theyre doing the right thing. Theyre getting control of the situation," he said. "Theres a lot of money moving out right at the end of the Biden administration. Thats, you know, pretty typical. So I think they want to get control of that and make sure nothings moving along that they dont agree with. And theyre well within their prerogative to do that."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is ordering U.S. schools to stop teaching what he views as critical race theory and other material dealing with race and sexuality or risk losing their federal money.

A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to fight antisemitism on college campuses, promising to prosecute offenders and revoke visas for international students found to be Hamas sympathizers.

Both plans were outlined in executive orders signed by Trump on Wednesday. The measures seek to fulfill some of the Republican president's core campaign promises around education, though it's unclear how much power he has to enact the proposals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His order on K-12 schools declares that federal money cannot be used on the indoctrination of children, including radical gender ideology and critical race theory. It says civil rights laws barring discrimination based on sex and race would be used to enforce the order, calling critical race theory an inherently racist policy.

Examples cited by the White House include a policy at Harrisonburg City Public Schools in Virginia requiring teachers to use students' preferred names and pronouns. Another policy at Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin says schools should disrupt the gender binary by teaching students to embrace different gender identities, according to the order.

Michael Richards, superintendent of Harrisonburg schools, said the district has no policy that indoctrinates children or violates anyone's rights.

What we do have is a culture of respect  one that honors the dignity and diversity of all students, families, and educators, Richards said in a statement. I will not be intimidated. I stand firm in my commitment to ensuring that HCPS remains a safe, welcoming place for all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Education Departments Office for Civil Rights investigates allegations of civil rights violations and can impose sanctions up to a total loss of federal money, though that penalty has almost never been used and must be approved by a judge.

The order unfairly tarnishes teachers and makes it harder for them to do their jobs, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Today is a sad day because the Trump administration is doing exactly what it accuses others of: creating division and fear in classrooms across America, she said.

Trump also directs the education secretary to craft a strategy within 90 days to end indoctrination in K-12 education. Trump has appointed billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon as his education chief, but her Senate confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his campaign, Trump said he would sign an order on day one to cut federal money for schools that push critical race theory or other inappropriate content. The federal government provides billions of dollars to schools every year, though the vast majority of their money comes from state and local sources.

The measure taps into a wave of conservative anger that has taken aim at classroom lessons that some see as too liberal. A growing number of Republican states have adopted laws or rules barring the teaching of critical race theory or divisive concepts in public schools and universities.

Opponents say the rules impose vague restrictions on teachers and create a chilling effect on discussions about history and other subjects.

The term critical race theory is used by conservatives as a catchall for subjects they dont want to be taught in the classroom, though, in reality, it refers to a complex academic and legal framework centered on the idea that racism is embedded in the nations systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trey Walk, a researcher and advocate with Human Rights Watch, said students have a right to learn about how discrimination can be entrenched in law and society. If the US denies young people this knowledge, it has little hope of eradicating racism, he said.

Trump's plan to fight antisemitism would marshal all federal resources" and bring immediate action from the Justice Department to investigate and punish offenders on U.S. campuses. It calls for the deportation of nonresident aliens who violate our laws, citing previous threats by Trump to revoke student visas for international students who attended pro-Palestinian protests.

Trump's action promises to protect law and order, quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities.

It drew swift backlash from civil rights groups who said campus protests have mostly been peaceful and are protected by constitutional free speech rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the action is discriminatory and wrongly characterizes protesters as pro-jihadist or pro-Hamas.

These college students were Jewish, Muslim, Black, Palestinian and various other races who were simply protesting what they viewed as a genocide in Gaza, Mitchell said. They are no different than the students who protested Vietnam or segregation or apartheid in South Africa.

Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war led to emotional demonstrations on U.S. campuses, including a wave of pro-Palestinian tent encampments that led to some 3,200 arrests.

The Biden administration opened more than 100 investigations into alleged antisemitism and Islamophobia at schools and universities after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. A flurry of schools reached deals to settle the cases before Trump took office amid fears that he would issue heavier sanctions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House on Wednesday also reinstated an order from Trump's first term establishing the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education in U.S. schools.

Biden revoked the order and the commission's guide for teaching history. The guide played down Americas role in slavery and argued that the civil rights movement ran afoul of the lofty ideals espoused by the Founding Fathers. It was widely panned by historians, who said it was outdated and ignored decades of research.

___

Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -Two major unions representing U.S. government employees filed a lawsuit on Wednesday aimed at slowing President Donald Trump's effort to reclassify up to 50,000 federal workers and make it easier to fire them.

The American Federation of Government Employees and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said Trump in a Jan. 20 executive order improperly attempted to block a Biden administration rule shielding federal workers from being stripped of job protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During past presidential administrations, a few thousand federal jobs have been considered political appointments.

Trump's order exempts positions "of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character," creating a new much larger category of federal employees who do not have the typical protections enjoyed by civil servants and can be fired at will. It also directs the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to repeal the Biden administration rule and says the regulation will be "inoperative" until then.

The unions in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. said OPM can only rescind the regulation by going through the rulemaking process laid out in federal law, which can take months or longer.

The order was one of several Trump has issued to overhaul the federal government since he took office on Jan. 20. He has also directed agencies to bar most employees from working from home, eliminated diversity programs in federal government, and offered government workers up to eight months of pay and benefits to leave their jobs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lee Saunders, AFSCME's president, in a statement called Trump's order "a shameless attempt to politicize the federal workforce."

Our communities will pay the price if these anti-union extremists are allowed to undo decades of progress by stripping these workers of their freedoms," Saunders said.

The unions are represented by Democracy Forward, a left-leaning national legal organization that has said it plans to challenge many Trump administration policies.

The group represents advocacy organizations which on Tuesday convinced a judge to block Trump's sweeping directive to pause federal loans, grants and other financial assistance. The administration rescinded the order on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The unions' lawsuit is the second to challenge Trump's order, known as "Schedule Policy/Career." The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 150,000 federal workers, filed a lawsuit last week claiming that Trump failed to justify carving out new exemptions from civil service protections.

Under federal law, the president can exempt positions from the civil service when "necessary" and "as conditions of good administration warrant."

Wednesday's lawsuit is narrower and seeks to force OPM to continue enforcing the Biden administration rule until it is repealed.

Trump first carved out the exemption in a 2020 executive order during his first administration, at the time calling it Schedule F. Democratic President Joe Biden rescinded the order in 2021, before any workers were reclassified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2024 rule was intended as a bulwark against Trump's resurrection of Schedule F. The rule says workers who are involuntarily exempted from the civil service retain the legal protections they had already earned, and created a process for them to challenge their reclassification.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
Two of President Donald Trumps deportation flights to Colombia were packed full of innocent people, according to officials in the South American country.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, Trump threatened Colombia with crippling tariffs, sanctions, visa restrictions, travel bans, and border clampdowns after President Gustavo Petro denied entry to two U.S. military planes full of deportees. He requested that the process be carried out with dignity and respect. Trump only retracted his harsh threats after his South American counterpart backed down and agreed to accept the repatriation flights.

Son colombianos, son libres y dignos y estan en su patria donde se les quiere.



El migrante no es un delincuente es un ser humano que quiere trabajar y progresar, vivir la vida. pic.twitter.com/FYeVfz0wOL  Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 28, 2025

But now officials in the country have claimed that there were no criminals on board two flights that arrived on Colombian soil on Tuesday. They are not criminals, Luis Gilberto Murillo, Colombias foreign minister, said on X. Being a migrant is not a crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Washington Post reported that two pregnant women and 20 or more children were on board, but no Illegal Criminals that Trump had railed against. One man, who had crossed the border into the U.S. a week before, told a radio station in Colombia that American border agents shackled his hands and feet.

Another man, Daniel Oquendo, 33, said that when he crossed the border on Jan. 20, border agents gave him a curt greeting. He told CNN that one agent told him: Do you know who the next president is? The fun is over for you here, the music has changed youve got to go back.

Colombia sent planes to collect 91 deportees from El Paso, Texas, and 110 people from San Diego, California, and flew them to the capital, Bogota. There they were given medical care and food, and promised resettlement help by officials.

Asylum seeking migrants from Colombia, Cuba, and Venezuela arrive on US soil, after crossing the Colorado River, from Mexico on February 21, 2022 in Yuma, Arizona. / Anadolu Agency

Andrei Barrientos, 36, was on the El Paso flight. He said he and his fellow countrymen were treated like gangsters by U.S. border agents. We didnt do anything wrong: Im not a criminal. Yes, I crossed the border illegally, but I was doing that to help my family  and they treated me like I was a gangster, he told CNN. Barrientos added that while in U.S. Customs and Border Protection centers, they were handcuffed and pushed around as if we were in jail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While deportation flights to Colombia are a common occurrence, the style in which Trump carried them outon U.S. military planesdid not sit well with the Colombian president.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro had a standoff with Trump. / MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images

They are Colombians, they are free and dignified and they are in their homeland where they are loved. The migrant is not a criminal, he is a human being who wants to work and progress, to live life, Petro wrote in a post on X, with photos of repatriated people descending from the Colombian planes onto home soil.

Welcome to Colombia, the Foreign Ministry wrote on its X account. The National Government welcomes you with open arms, guaranteeing your dignity and respecting your rights.

Sending migrants home was a key campaign promise from Trump. On Sunday alone, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it had arrested 956 people, as well as a further 1,179 on Monday.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers found seven firearms in travelers carry-on luggage at Tri-Cities Airport in 2024, a slight decrease from 2023.

In 2023, TSA officers at the airport found nine guns, a record amount.

JCPD: Apparent road rage shooting leaves one injured, suspect in custody

According to the TSA, 319 guns were discovered by officers at airports across Tennessee, including 188 at Nashville International Airport.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The TSA said it screened around 16.8 million travelers at Tennessee airports in 2024, up 5.9% from 2023.

Tennessees firearm discovery rate was twice the national average, according to the agency. Nationwide, TSA officers detected a firearm for every 135,384 passengers screened but in Tennessee, a gun was found for every 52,766 passengers.

Travelers who bring a gun to a security checkpoint could face criminal charges and civil penalties up to nearly $15,000 per violation.

No injuries after house fire in Kingsport

According to the TSA, firearms can be transported on commercial aircraft if they are unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case, and placed in checked baggage. Passengers must declare the firearm, ammunition, and any firearm parts at the airline ticket counter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Travelers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations and check with their airline before flying.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
After a long and steady decline, tuberculosis (TB) is threatening to return in force in the US. A flurry of new cases in Kansas City appears to be one of the largest outbreaks in the US since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began keeping records of TB in the 1950s.

As per data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), there were 110 active (transmissible) TB cases and 632 latent (non-transmissible) cases in the state in 2024.

While the risk of infection for the general public remains low, health officials are keen to find all the current active and latent cases, and make sure the necessary treatments can be supplied  before the outbreak gets worse.

Tuberculosis remains a major global health issue. ( Pan American Health Organization/Flickr

"This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases," KDHE communications director Jill Bronaugh told Chris Dall at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), part of the University of Minnesota.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Active, transmissible TB infections come with symptoms such as coughing, chest pains, and chills, and if left untreated can be fatal  two deaths in 2024 have been linked to the Kansas City outbreak. In this form, the disease is highly contagious.

Latent, inactive TB infections can't be passed from person to person, and don't come with any symptoms  but these infections can become active at any time. Both types of TB infection can be treated with antibiotics over the course of several months.

Mostly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria and usually affecting the lungs, the disease has been around for thousands of years. While the percentage of fatal cases has plummeted, tuberculosis remains the world's biggest infectious killer.

In developed countries such as the US, treatments are readily available. After plateauing in the 1980s, the number of infections in the US has been dropping year on year, until 2020 and COVID-19. Since then, cases are back on the rise, up to 8,331 in 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Historically known as consumption, TB has often been thought of as the disease of the poor. People in large group settings  such as homeless shelters, prisons, or nursing homes  are more at risk of getting infected.

It takes around 10 days of treatment for someone with active TB to no longer be infectious, Bronaugh told Jason Alatidd, at local news outlet The Topeka Capital-Journal.

"We are working collaboratively with CDC," KDHE deputy secretary Ashley Goss told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee last week.

"This is normal when there's something unprecedented or a large outbreak of any kind, they will come and lend resources to us to help get a stop to that. We are trending in the right direction right now."

Related News
The number of tuberculosis cases linked to an outbreak in the Kansas City area continues to swell, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The outbreak, which began a year ago, killed two people in 2024, Jill Bronaugh, the health department's communications director, said in an update Tuesday. As of Friday, at least 67 patients were being treated for active tuberculosis in Kansas.

All but seven of those cases were in Wyandotte County, where Kansas City is, while the others were in neighboring Johnson County. Across the two counties, the health department has also confirmed 79 inactive tuberculosis infections, meaning the host isnt contagious and doesnt have symptoms. If left untreated, around 5% to 10% of inactive cases develop into active disease.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, the health department reported over 70 active and more than 200 inactive tuberculosis cases, though Bronaugh said the case counts are still provisional, as they will be reviewed and confirmed officially by the CDC near the end of March.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control for the University of Kansas Health System, said he usually sees "a handful of cases of active tuberculosis," every year, but this outbreak has been differentiated by "the scope and the numbers."

Hawkinson added that the majority of tuberculosis patients he has seen during the outbreak have not been significantly ill, though some have developed serious symptoms.

In its update, Kansas' health department described the tuberculosis outbreak as the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began monitoring and reporting cases in the 1950s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the CDC rebutted that characterization, pointing to a tuberculosis outbreak in Georgia homeless shelters from 2015 to 2017, in which more than 170 cases of active tuberculosis and over 400 inactive cases were detected. The agency also cited a national outbreak in 2021 linked to a bone graft product that affected 113 patients after surgery.

Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. Those sickened can have chest pain, feel weak and cough up blood or mucus from the respiratory tract, according to the CDC.

For patients with tuberculosis  active or inactive  treatment involves antibiotics and can take months. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. Tuberculosis was responsible for 25% of all deaths in Europe from the 1600s to the 1800s, according to the CDC.

Hawkinson said treatment for a serious tuberculosis case usually lasts about six months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We initially start with four drugs for about two months, and then the rest of the time we are able to transition to a two-drug regimen, he said. But typically, once you start on therapy, after about 10 days or two weeks, you are able to become non-infectious and able to be going out into the community.

A vaccine for tuberculosis  first developed in 1921  is not generally used in the U.S. but is administered to infants and children in countries where the disease is more common.

The outbreak in Kansas "is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases," Bronaugh said in the health department update.

Hawkinson said the risk of contracting tuberculosis in Kansas is low overall and that the state has been seeing fewer infections over the last couple of months. He emphasized the importance of public health funding for investigations into cases to help stop the disease's spread.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the U.S. overall, tuberculosis cases rose each year from 2020 to 2023  the latest data available  according to the CDC. That upward trend ended nearly three decades of decline.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tulsi Gabbard is facing more scrutiny over her foreign travels, specifically a trip she made to the Middle East while a member of Congress.

In 2017, as a member of Congress representing Hawaii, Gabbard made a trip to Syria and Lebanon to meet with Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad. But shortly after her visit, The New York Times reported, U.S. intelligence agencies intercepted a call between two Hezbollah officials in which they said that she met with the boss or the big guy.

Intelligence officials assume that the person in question was a senior Hezbollah official, or a high-ranking Lebanese government official with strong ties to Hezbollah. Gabbard denied meeting anyone from the militant organization and political party but acknowledged that she met with different Lebanese officials on her trip, including some close to Hezbollah, such as the head of Lebanese intelligence at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Times spoke with unnamed people close to Gabbard who said that she disclosed all of her meetings from the trip and that the reports were misinterpreted. But this latest revelation is sure to introduce another snag into Gabbards confirmation process to serve as director of national intelligence. Gabbard hasnt yet won over the Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee, nor influential Senator Mitch McConnell.

The report also notes that Gabbard found herself under additional scrutiny from a federal agency that protects flights, thanks to a trip she made to the Vatican for an event organized by a European businessman on the FBI watchlist.

Trumps allies are trying to force the normally secret committee vote to be made public in the hopes of forcing skeptical Republicans, like Senators Susan Collins and Todd Young, to back her. Gabbard cant afford to lose a single committee vote, stacking the odds against this particularly quixotic Cabinet choice.


Tulsi Gabbards campaign paid a firm to mask connections to an alleged pyramid scheme linked to a secretive sect she grew up in, according to a report.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to grill President Donald Trumps pick to serve as director of national intelligence on Thursday over her questionable connections and background. Since she was named as nominee to the post, she has faced questions and pushback given her previous statements and her history with foreign nations.

Lawmakers have been scrutinizing Gabbards ties to the Science of Identity Foundation and the Hong Kong-based marketing firm QI Group, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbard was raised in the secretive sect whose members pledge absolute loyalty to its reclusive guru, Chris Butler. The sect has long been tied to QI  accused of running a pyramid scheme in several countries.

Gabbard attended a Science of Identity boarding school in the Philippines and spent her formative years and schooling sheltered from outside influences, her late aunt told The Independent in 2022.

According to the Journal, Gabbards campaign paid the PR firm Potomac Square Group, based in Washington D.C., to mask the connections between the sect, the marketing firm, and the politician. But the clean-up was reportedly steered by a former follower of the sect  Sunil Khemaney  who is also a long-time political fundraiser to Gabbard and sits on the board of a QI subsidiary.

Tulsi Gabbard is set to be grilled by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. But now reports of her paid to mask connections to a sect in her past have come to light (Getty Images)

Potomac managing director Christopher Cooper told The Independent that the firm worked with Gabbards campaign for a few months in 2017 to help it manage online attacks related to her religion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We provided support and advice in two specific categories: to demystify the issue by helping Rep. Gabbard publicly discuss the details of her spiritual life and relationship with SIF, and to correct errors of fact, Cooper said in a statement. PSG wasnt directed to mount a pressure campaign to silence or target reporters and we didnt conduct one [and] PSG was not hired to conceal Rep. Gabbards relationship with SIF and we did not do so.

Cooper added that the firm worked briefly with the sect and there was no involvement from the Gabbard campaign.

Hong Kong-based QI and the sect have been linked for years. The company was founded in 1998 by Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark, a Filipino businessman who is also reportedly a Science of Identity follower. It began as an e-commerce operation selling commemorative gold and silver coins in developing countries.

One of QIs enterprises is an alleged pyramid selling system where customers become distributors, selling gadgets, jewelry, beauty products and more for a share of the profits. Customers, according to the Journal, are encouraged to recruit others to join the scheme and if successful, earn a cut from their sales.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sri Lanka, Nepal and Rwanda banned QIs subsidiaries in 2000 after they were declared pyramid schemes, the outlet reports. The firms direct-selling business, Qnet, has been accused of being a Ponzi scheme in the guise of direct selling business by prosecutors in India who carried out several raids in 2023.

Indian authorities also filed criminal charges against 25 people connected to Qnets network, the Journal reports, including a senior Science of Identity figure. According to the newspaper, there were more than 32,000 alleged victims involved and Qnets local network settled with approximately half of them. The case was closed in 2020.

Trump has tapped Gabbard to be his pick as Director of National Intelligence (Getty Images)

In further evidence of ties between Science of Identity and QI, in 2007 the company purchased Healthys, the parent company of the Down to Earth grocery store chain which was founded and operated by sect followers, according to the Journal.

The chain has six locations in Hawaii.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gabbards longtime fundraiser Khemaney, who she has described as an uncle, sits on Healthys board, along with QIs founders Bismark and Eswaran who joined in 2015 and 2016, corporate records seen by the Journal reportedly show.

While Gabbard considered a 2020 run for the presidency and her political profile grew, her campaign, Tulsi For Hawaii, hired Potomac Square Group.

Potomac worked under Khemaneys direction to shroud the links between the then-Democrat and Butler, and QI and the sect itself, according to documents reviewed by the Journal citing a person familiar with the matter. Potomac was paid $19,400 by the campaign in October 2017, according to the Journal, citing FEC records.

The Independent has contacted QI and the Science of Identity Foundation for further comment.

Gabbard during her 2020 presidential run (Getty Images)

A QI spokesperson told the Journal that the seat Khemaney held on Healthys board was solely as an inactive, non-executive director.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The QI Group has no knowledge of, and has had no involvement in the Congressional Campaign of Ms. Gabbard, the spokesperson added.

A Science of Identity spokesperson accused the newspaper of falsehoods, half-truths, and misrepresentations.

A Trump administration spokesperson responded to the Journal by posting screenshots of the request for comment on X. The media has nothing new so they keep writing the same Hinduphobic smears and other lies about LTC Tulsi Gabbard, the spokesperson said.

In 2022, Gabbards late aunt Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard told The Independent that her nieces bid for the presidency in 2020 was the culmination of four decades of effort from the sects founder, Butler, to seek political influence.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presided over an event at IIT Delhi, during which the findings of Project Abhay were released, and lauded the initiative for improving the lives of truck drivers. Project Abhay, designed and developed by the Centre for Rural Development & Technology (CRDT), IIT Delhi, in collaboration with Foresight Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), aims to enhance the health, vision, and safety of truck drivers. The project has successfully screened over 50,000 truck drivers across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, addressing critical health and vision challenges faced by this indispensable yet underserved workforce. Prof Vivek Kumar, CRDT, IIT Delhi and Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi were also present during the culmination ceremony held on Wednesday. Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, lauded the initiative, saying it is improving road safety and improving the lives of the truck drivers. "Project Abhay is not just about improving road safety; it's about improving driver's lives. We are committed to uplifting the quality of life of truck drivers who majorly belong to economically and socially backward communities, which is crucial to enhancing India's Domestic Happiness Index. With 70 per cent of traffic on roads and logistics costs soaring at 14-16 per cent, India faces significant challenges in transportation. If we want to grow exports and enhance national efficiency, we must cut these costs," he said. The findings of the report, released at the event stated that 55.1 per cent of truck drivers suffer from compromised vision, with 53.3 per cent requiring distance vision correction and 46.7 per cent needing near-vision correction. Notably, the initiative achieved a vision correction rate of 93.7 per cent, with spectacles provided on-site at Abhay Health Camps. However, beyond vision care, health screenings also revealed several widespread concerns: 44.3 per cent of drivers had high or borderline BMI, 57.4 per cent showed elevated blood pressure, and 33.9 per cent reported moderate stress. Social security coverage surged from 51.5 per cent to 86.16 per cent, extending benefits to over 62,700 family members with a total cumulative value of Rs502 crore. The report stated that the 'Abhay App' played a pivotal role in enabling real-time data collection, streamlining camp operations, and ensuring transparency. The live dashboards provided actionable insights, ensuring immediate corrective measures during implementation. The initiative facilitated regular health screenings, vision screenings, on-the spot spectacles dispensing, social security linkages. It also worked towards upskilling on legal compliance and physical wellness and brought a web portal for truck drivers. Gadkari, while speaking at the event, also pointed at a critical issue of a shortage of drivers and said the government is committed to working for digitization and app integration. He further emphasised that the government, with the support of IIT research, is exploring innovative solutions to reduce costs and improve the sector's efficiency. "A critical issue is the shortage of drivers--there are only 75 drivers for every 100 trucks. We're addressing this by focusing on driver training, wellbeing, and we are committed to digitization and app integration to improve their lives. With 5 lakh accidents and 1.80 lakh deaths annually, the integration of advanced technologies like automatic emergency braking, electronic stability control and prioritizing human behavior training, particularly from a young age, will be key in reducing fatalities," the Minister said. "With the support of IIT research, we are also exploring innovative solutions to reduce costs and improve the sector's efficiency. Through these integrated efforts and initiative like Project Abhay, we are laying the foundation for safer roads and more efficient & equitable logistics system," he added. (ANI)
(Bloomberg) -- Turkey detained three journalists from opposition-linked Halk TV over their coverage of a legal investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, intensifying a recent crackdown on dissenting voices.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Earlier this week, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutors Office accused opposition CHPs mayor Imamoglu of targeting an expert witness in a speech after he publicly named the individual who had prepared multiple reports scrutinizing opposition-run municipalities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Halk TV managing director Serhan Asker, presenter Seda Selek and journalist Baris Pehlivan were detained for reporting the experts name and publishing a recording of their phone conversation with him, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The three journalists face charges of attempting to influence the expert and intercepting and recording conversations between individuals.

Turkey is already among the worlds top jailers of journalists and a series of judicial cases against media members and political figures from the countrys opposition raise concern over the rule of law in the country.

The detentions follow the arrest of Umit Ozdag, the leader of a small nationalist party and a vocal critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, last week. Ozdags lawyer, Kahraman Berk, said that the case against him is politically motivated.

More: Turkey Jails Nationalist Party Leader in Opposition Clampdown

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Separately, the mayor of the southeastern Siirt province, a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, was removed from office after being sentenced on charges of being a member of a terrorist organization, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry on Wednesday.

--With assistance from Selcan Hacaoglu.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish authorities have detained a prominent investigative journalist and four of his colleagues and replaced an elected pro- Kurdish mayor with a state appointee on Wednesday, escalating a recent government crackdown on the opposition and dissenting voices.

Critics say the crackdown follows significant losses by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party i n local elections in March as well as growing calls for early national elections. Government officials insist that the courts operate independently and reject claims that legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated.

Investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan was taken under custody late on Tuesday along with Halk TV television channels chief editor Serhan Asker and presenter Seda Selek., the station said. The detentions came hours after Halk TV broadcast a recording of a phone conversation that Pehlivan held with an expert employed by courts to provide opinions. Critics accuse the court assessor of providing biased reports against mayors belonging to the countrys main opposition party.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asker and Selek were released from custody on Wednesday on condition that they regularly report to the police. But almost simultaneously, authorities detained two other journalists from Halk TV  a station that is aligned with the opposition.

The journalists face possible charges of disclosing a private conversation without permission and attempting to influence an expert witness.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government removed Sofya Alagas, the elected mayor of the city of Siirt, from office and appointed the mainly Kurdish-populated regions governor in her place, citing her recent conviction over terrorism-related charges.

Alagas became the eighth mayor from the pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, to be ousted from office over alleged links to Kurdish rebels since the March 31 local elections, the party said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the past week, Turkish authorities have also arrested Umit Ozdag, the leader of a far-right opposition party on charges of inciting violence through a series of anti-refugee posts on social media.

Ayse Barim, a talent agent representing prominent Turkish actors, was arrested earlier this week. She has been linked to nationwide anti-government protests that took place in 2013 and is accused of attempting to overthrow the government  an accusation she has strongly denied.

Meanwhile, Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul and a potential candidate to challenge Erdogan in the next elections, is scheduled to give his testimony in investigations that were launched against him over comments he made criticizing a series of probes that were initiated against opposition-run municipalities and have resulted in the arrest of two Istanbul district mayors.

Imamoglu has been sentenced to two years and seven months in prison on charges of insulting members of Turkeys high electoral board. The mayor faces a political ban if his conviction is upheld by an appeals court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is only one reason for all these illegalities, injustices and unfairness, Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the main opposition party claimed on Tuesday. They cannot sleep. The evening of (the) March 31 (local elections) is not forgotten.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc meanwhile, denied accusations that the journalists detentions were aimed at silencing Halk TV.

There is no investigation related to journalistic activities. No one in Turkey is detained for their journalistic work, he said. In our country, the press is free, and freedom of thought and expression is extensive. However, journalists are not above the law.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey removed another elected pro-Kurdish provincial mayor on Wednesday over convictions on terrorism-related offences, the interior ministry said, temporarily appointing a state official in her place amid a widening opposition crackdown.

In a statement, the ministry said the local governor replaced Sofya Alagas, a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party and mayor of the southeastern province of Siirt because of a prior conviction for "membership in the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organisation", and added these were "temporary measures".

Dozens of pro-Kurdish mayors from DEM and its predecessor parties have been removed from their posts on similar charges in the past, while many of the party's mayors and local administrators have also been detained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DEM, which has 57 seats in the 600-seat parliament, said the Siirt municipality was "usurped" from the party with the trustee appointment. It said a total of eight municipalities won by DEM in local elections last year - mostly in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast - had been taken over by government trustees.

The government says the measures are necessary for national security as no person linked with terrorism should legally hold a state administration position.

Wednesday's move comes amid a judicial crackdown against the opposition by the government, which has ramped up investigations and detentions against figures from the main opposition, raising concerns over the muzzling of dissent in Turkey.

It also comes as a political effort is underway to end the 40-year conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia and the state, which have fostered hopes for peace.

The PKK is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
The legacy of Black aviation is a point of pride in Gary, where the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen  trailblazing pilots who fought for America abroad and equality at home  are honored through tributes like a statue at the Gary Aquatorium and a bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport.

These service members helped pave the way for military integration and civil rights progress. But a recent Air Force decision to briefly remove their history from training materials drew sharp backlash and reignited debates about preserving their legacy nationwide.

The memory of the Tuskegee Airmen is prominently featured in Gary. On the shores of Lake Michigan, on the east side of the Gary Aquatorium, stands a statue commemorating their contributions. Above the Aquatorium soars a replica P-51 Mustang fighter plane, painted to honor Lt. Robert Martin, a Tuskegee Airman whose story helped inspire the film Red Tails.

A statue of a Tuskegee Airman stands outside the Gary Aquatorium at Miller Beach. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

Included among the squadron was Quentin P. Smith, an East Chicago native, longtime Gary resident, and pioneer. Smith taught at Roosevelt High School, served as the first principal of West Side High School, and founded Emerson Visual and Performing Arts School. In honor of his contributions to education and aviation history, the bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport bears his name. Out of the 994 Airmen who graduated from the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, at least seven Lake County residents earned their pilots wings, according to the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The local pride in the Tuskegee Airmen comes as their history faced a challenge on the national stage.

Following an executive order under President Donald Trump that banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Air Force briefly halted its basic military training course, which included videos on the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs  the first women to fly for the military.

Members of the Tuskegee Airmen huddle in Ramitelli, Italy, during World War II. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The move triggered an immediate outcry from service members, congressmen, and the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving their legacy. In a statement, the organization said it was disappointed and strongly opposed to the removal of Tuskegee Airmens story from Air Force training courses and called for its immediate restoration.

The service and sacrifice of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASPs, who were also removed from the Air Forces training courses, are an essential part of American history and carried significant weight in the World War II veteran community, the statement read. We believe the content of these courses does not promote one category of service member or citizen over another. They are simply a part of American military history that all service members should be made aware of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the wave of sharp criticism, the Air Force announced Monday it had reinstated the training video.

Members of the Tuskegee Airmen line up for inspection during training in 1942. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Ken Rapier, president of the Chicago Dodo Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, explained how Chicago and Northwest Indiana played a significant role in Black aviation before World War II. Citing Robbins Airport, the first Black airport in Chicago, and trailblazers like Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to hold a pilots license, Rapier said many Black aviators emerged from this region, including Garys own Tuskegee Airmen.

As president of the Chicago chapter, Rapier said the organization was upset that the legend of the Tuskegee Airmen was once again in danger of being eradicated, but the attempt at erasing their history only gave the chapter more motivation to promote the story of the iconic Tuskegee Airmen.

It just gave us a renewed sense of urgency to get the story of the Tuskegee Airmen out there, because its a story for everybody, all ages, all races, because it applies to everybody. And their motto was, with courage and determination, you can overcome adversity, and thats exactly what they did.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Tuskegee Airmen overcame immense adversity, both at home and abroad. While they excelled in their mission to defeat Axis powers in Europe during World War II, they returned to the United States only to be treated as second-class citizens. Forced to fight battles on two fronts  against fascism overseas and racism at home  they also faced persistent stereotypes questioning their abilities, prejudices that continue to affect African American service members today.

For example, the dodo moniker in the name of the Chicago chapter refers to the flightless bird of the same name, a nod to the difficulties post-war veterans had finding jobs in the aviation industry despite their flying expertise. Despite their treatment while serving their country, Rapier said, the Tuskegee Airmen were so successful, they changed the reputation of the Air Force itself.

People say, well, the Tuskegee Airmen is Black History. No Tuskegee Airmen are United States history  and because the Tuskegee Airmen were so successful in spite of how they were treated, thats the reason why their story was attempted to be swept under the rug.

The post Tuskegee Airmens Legacy Lives On in Gary Amid National Debate appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Editors Note: Police updated the number of victims Tuesday night and said at least one person was taken to the hospital following an officer-involved shooting.

UPDATE: Resident calls for more security after deadly shooting involving officer

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A suspect was shot dead by police in downtown San Diego Tuesday night after gunfire erupted near an MTS Trolley platform, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office confirmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The situation unfolded around 8:45 p.m. when officers with the San Diego Police Department responded to reports of a battery in the 600 block of W Broadway. While investigating this incident, the officers switched gears after shots were fired nearby in the area of the America Plaza Trolley Station.

Coast Guard stops boat carrying 21 people near Point Loma

While responding, police encountered a suspect in the 1100 block of Kettner Boulevard. He was only described as a Hispanic man believed to be in his 20s. A police shooting took place at that time, with authorities recovering a handgun from the suspect at the scene.

According to the sheriffs office, police immediately began life saving measures on the man until paramedics from the San Diego Fire Department. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No officers were injured during this incident.

Police blocked off a portion of the road near the America Plaza Trolley Station for several hours Tuesday night. The area has since reopened.

Injuries reported after officer-involved shooting in downtown San Diego (FOX 5/KUSI)

Authorities say the officer involved in the shooting has been employed by SDPD for just over two years and is assigned to patrol at the Central Division.

Per protocol with police shootings, the Sheriffs Homicide Unit was called to the scene to investigate. Detectives are gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Once the Homicide Unit completes its investigation, it will then be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorneys Office to determine if the officers bear any criminal liability for their actions. SDPD will also conduct an administrative investigation into the officers discharge of his firearm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200, or remain anonymous by calling 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.
The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

Medicaid expansion saves lives and saves money, proponents said  an estimated $27 million the last biennium, according to Rep. Ed Buttrey, sponsoring one bill to continue the program.

Our program is a budget savings to the general fund, which is something that is pretty amazing, Buttrey, R-Great Falls, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Buttrey made his comments last week introducing his bill to continue Medicaid expansion, and its among at least four addressing the issue this session.

This week, at least two Republican bills are still advancing, including Buttreys and a separate bill that directs the programs phase out.

However, a key proposal from Democrats to increase its reach died Tuesday.

Medicaid expansion started in the state in 2015 and was reauthorized in 2019, but its slated to sunset this summer without legislative action.

In committee Tuesday, Rep. James Reavis, D-Billings, said he was pleased to support Buttreys bill, House Bill 245, given the personal testimony heard the previous week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reavis cited a Montanan who had a stomachache and only went to the doctor because of Medicaid  and learned they needed emergency surgery.

He said one woman with Hodgkin lymphoma told him she was alive only because of the program.

The testimony we heard from last weeks hearing was powerful, emotional and compelling, Reavis said.

The House Human Services committee voted 14-7 to advance HB 245, which Buttrey characterized as a continuation of the current Medicaid expansion program.

The program currently covers nearly 80,000 Montanans living below 138% of the federal poverty level  or up to about $21,000 for a single adult, around minimum wage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the committee approved Buttreys bill to keep the program going, it tabled House Bill 230, which would have augmented Medicaid expansion to include things like a customer service component and reopening some of the offices of public assistance that had closed for budget reasons in 2017.

Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, sponsored the bill, along with more than four dozen other legislators, and her attempt to amend it by paring back some of its additions failed in committee Tuesday.

Legislators voted 12-9 to table it, although some expressed support for taking up improved customer service in another form, a theme in public comment.

In an earlier hearing, Michelle Lewis, of Butte, testified to the difficulties of trying to navigate eligibility, having turned in at least 50 pages of documentation, plus information on wages and bank statements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Improving the hotline experience is really important, said Lewis, in support of continuous eligibility and better customer service.

A separate bill on Medicaid expansion, Senate Bill 199 from Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, was heard Monday, but the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety committee had not taken action on it Tuesday.

Trebas described it as the most sustainable of the options on the table, one he said would maintain the status quo from 2019 but ensure community engagement, or a requirement that people on the program also work.

No one spoke in support of it, but Trebas said he believes it aligns with the direction the new Trump administration is going with work requirements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the House committee meeting Tuesday, Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula and vice chairperson of the Human Services committee, said Democrats are likely to propose individual components of expanding the program, such as continuous eligibility and better customer service, as separate legislation.

However, Howell also said if SB 199 is approved, they are concerned it could put a complete halt to Medicaid expansion because the bill is strictly tied to a work requirement.

The feds have approved waivers that allow work requirements, but if a waiver isnt approved in the timeline the bill lays out, Howell said the bill might compromise expansion altogether. Howell said most work requirements have been struck down in federal court, and the bill doesnt allow for that outcome.

That is playing with fire for 80,000 Montanans, Howell said. We cant predict whats going to happen in Congress, we cant predict how quickly or slowly things will move, and that could end the program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gov. Greg Gianforte has included Medicaid expansion in his budget for the upcoming biennium. However, his office has said he wants strong work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, KFF has reported.

The debate over Medicaid expansion is taking place in the wake of significant economic benefit to the state reported by economists and the health care industry, but its also underway in the midst of concern in Montana about cost and the federal debt.

When I was younger, the novel idea for health insurance was get a job, said Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, in a meeting with reporters on Tuesday.

On the opening day of the session, McGillvray told fellow lawmakers the federal health care programs Medicaid and Medicare are $1.1 trillion in the red, hemorrhaging money, and Montana can help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every legislator in this room has an obligation and an opportunity to do something about that at the state level, McGillvray said to the Senate. We need to take action.

Montanans, though, lined up this month to tell legislators to back the bills to continue Medicaid expansion  and to oppose one to phase it out.

Bailey Torgerson, of Bozeman, said she has had diabetes since she was two-and-a-half years old, and Medicaid expansion helped her pay for things like a $10,000 insulin pump and afford to go to college.

Torgerson, who gave testimony via a video presentation during discussion of HB 245, said she and her husband are now able to sign onto a program besides Medicaid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Buttrey said thats the case with most people insured through Medicaid expansion  theyre insured for 22 months on average, debunking the myth that once people are on the program, they never leave.

Buttrey also said the program is budget neutral through the Affordable Care Act, funded by rate cuts to hospitals and other revenue sources, and Montana will send dollars to the federal government as a result whether it funds expansion or not.

***

Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, is sponsoring Senate Bill 62, which would phase out Medicaid expansion. Glimms bill squeaked out of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety committee on a 6-5 vote with Sen. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, joining Democrats to oppose it.

Glimm described it as a soft unwind rather than a hard stop, allowing people who are qualified to stay on the program, preventing new people from enrolling, and removing those who become unqualified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It eventually would shrink the rolls of Medicaid expansion, Glimm said.

The federal government pays 90% of the program to the states 10%, and an economist recently reported the money from the feds translates into $775 million of economic activity in Montana.

At a hearing last week, no one expressed support for Glimms bill. Opponents said it would hurt farmers, vulnerable patients, tribal families, college students and rural Montanans.

Carole Lankford, with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, said she has made it a priority to ensure the most basic needs of her constituents are met. She said the bill would have catastrophic consequences for tribal health.

It will cause a reduction in jobs and may force the closure of tribal health facilities, Lankford said. Health care costs will go up, which will be felt by many families, including children.

A recent report on the impacts of Medicaid expansion on Indian Country in Montana said it has improved mortality rates, extending a persons life 1.4% compared to the period prior to expansion. It said 40% of tribal members stopped skipping routine medical care because of cost.

Jasmine Krotkov, representing the Montana Farmers Union, said many farmers and ranchers are self-employed, and they dont have access to coverage from employers.

Medicaid expansion has supported not just them, Krotkov said, but it has allowed rural health providers to offer more services, benefiting all Montanans.

Farming and ranching families who get the health care they need can return to work and school more quickly, and stay in the workforce longer, and stay productive, Krotkov said. Rural Montanans have a right to live full, secure and productive lives.

The legislation to continue Medicaid expansion drew similar support.

The debate over expansion is taking place following redetermination in Montana, the process to confirm that people on the program were qualified for it.

Caferros bill would have addressed some of the shortcomings that came to light through the process  and eliminated the existing work requirement  and at least a couple of ideas from her bill could reappear as separate legislation.

Some Montanans said they waited hours for help on the phone in their attempts to keep their insurance, but never heard responses to their questions. Some said they filed paperwork multiple times, but never heard back from the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Buttreys bill keeps a work requirement intact, and he said he anticipates the Trump administration would approve it. However, both he and Caferro said people insured through Medicaid expansion do work.

In his presentation, Buttrey outlined data from a Montana Department of Labor and Industry report regarding the number of people on Medicaid who work: 72% are actively working; 4% are in school; 7% are caretaking; 2% are retired; 10% are acutely ill or disabled and unable to work; and 3% are looking for work. The report lists 2% as other.

Buttrey also said his bill would require approval for Medicaid expansion from the legislature every time it meets in case the state decides it cant afford it at some point.
Since avian influenza, also known as bird flu, was first confirmed in the U.S. in wild, migratory bids 10 years ago, the disease shows no sign of slowing down.

The disease was detected in a commercial poultry flock on Feb. 8, 2022. Since then, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported over 145 million birds have been culled across 1,410 flock outbreaks, including 637 commercial and 773 backyard flocks, in every U.S. state. In addition, 929 dairy herds in 16 states have confirmed cases of bird flu among dairy cows since the disease was identified in a Texas herd nearly 11 months ago.

As of Jan. 17, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 66 people in the U.S. have been confirmed to have bird flu. While most of the cases have been mild and were linked to people working with dairy cattle and poultry, a Louisiana resident who had contact with sick birds in a backyard flock developed a severe illness from the infection and later died.

Avian influenza (Bird flu) has infected not only poultry flocks, but also dairy cattle, wild birds, humans and more.

As the bird flu strain continues to threaten animals and public health, the U.S. government has stepped up its response. But Tom Friedrich, a professor of virology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine, isn't sure the scale and speed of the response are equal to the potential impact of the problem.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Scientists who have been studying influenza viruses have been warning for over 20 years that H5N1 avian influenza viruses could cause a pandemic," Friedrich said. "Influenza viruses have obviously caused pandemics in the past, and the outbreak we are witnessing among dairy cattle has all the hallmarks of a virus that is poised to jump into humans."

That doesn't mean that a human pandemic is inevitable, he said. "This cattle outbreak could also just fizzle out, but I feel uncomfortable leaving that to chance."

Farm workers milk cows in a milking parlor at a northeast Wisconsin dairy farm. While there has not been a confirmed case of bird flu in dairy cattle in Wisconsin, 929 dairy herds in 16 states have had confirmed cases since the disease was first detected in a Texas herd nearly 11 months ago.

What is the threat to humans from bird flu?

While officials stress that the current public health risk is low, the CDC has boosted its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity by testing people for bird flu in hospitals across the country, especially those in intensive care.

"The thing is, the threat to humans is low until suddenly it isn't," Friedrich said. "If the virus happened to gain a few key mutations that enabled it to transmit among humans, then the situation could become very serious very quickly. As a colleague of mine said, if we wait to detect an influenza pandemic in the form of increased rates of emergency department visits, it will probably be too late to contain."

How can a vaccine head off a potential pandemic?

In response to the sustained spread of the virus, the USDA announced it will begin rebuilding its bird flu vaccine for poultry that matches the strain of the current virus circulating in commercial and backyard flocks and wild birds. Egg and turkey farm groups called for deploying the vaccine, but former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said such an action would not be possible in the short term due to trade risks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A vaccine matched to the current strain is more feasible for use in dairy cattle and more likely to be successful in stopping or slowing the virus's spread, USDA officials said.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $590 million in support for Moderna to speed the development of mRNA vaccines against potential pandemic flu viruses and to better prepare the platform to respond to other emerging infectious diseases.

Dave O'Connor, a professor at UW-Madison's School of Medicine and Public Health, says there are cross-reactive vaccines already for deployment, such as the Seqirius vaccine being used in Finland.

"Having a vaccine isn't the problem as much as not aggressively moving to vaccinate those at high risk, such as those working on dairy and poultry farms in areas where HPAI (bird flu) is circulating," O'Connor said. "Minimizing spillover infections in humans now is how we stand the best chance of preventing extensive human-to-human spread in the future."

Is there a lack of alarm among the public about the impact of bird flu?

While public and animal health officials have been spreading the message about the potential impact of bird flu, Friedrich said he believes the public is both weary and wary of pandemic responses, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I think there is a feeling among much of the public that we overreacted to COVID-19. This has caused an erosion of trust in public health and science, and this feeling has allowed all kinds of misinformation to flourish," Friedrich said. "So I think receptivity to public health messaging around respiratory infection is at its lowest ebb in decades. All this has made public health officials quite wary in how they craft messages about respiratory pathogens, and indeed whether they communicate about them at all."

How to be proactive in guarding against the virus

Most commercial poultry operations have heightened their biosecurity measures and provided personnel protective equipment for employees in the wake of the bird flu outbreak. UW-Madison researcher Peter Halfmann said most human cases of bird flu in Southeast Asia likely have a link to small flocks or a small number of birds in backyards.

Worcester resident Amanda Shearstone keeps chicken in her yard. She's not overly concerned about the bird flu virus, but it's still on her mind.

He said people with backyard flocks of chickens and other poultry should take steps to keep themselves safe.

"People who have backyard flocks should keep gloves, masks, eye protection, and disinfectant on hand in case they encounter sick and dead birds in their flock," he said. "I would keep a set of outdoor clothes that are dedicated to chores associated with the backyard flock."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Personal hygiene is critical for those working in proximity to birds. Owners should wash their hands, arms and face well after contact with birds and avoid rubbing their face or eyes with dirty hands.

Attempts to keep agricultural birds or those in backyard flocks away from wild birds potentially infected with bird flu is a good step to keep birds safe. However, Halfmann said there are practical limitations and potential missing links in virus transmission that could make this practice not completely effective.

"If your flock becomes sick or you have dead birds, call your local DNR or USDA department and report it," he said. "If not offered, advocate for testing of your dead birds for bird flu."

Can I still put out feeders for the birds?

Halfmann said there is a relatively low risk with the typical songbirds that come to backyard feeders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Birds of prey like hawks, eagles and raptors are susceptible to bird flu and potentially become infected by feeding on infected birds and other animals such as rodents," Halfmann said. Domestic cats and dogs could become infected in a similar manner if they encounter and consume a dead infected animal.

"I believe more troubling for our pets is commercial pet food made of raw meat accidentally or unintentionally sourced from infected chickens or turkeys," said Halfmann, referring to the recent deaths of cats. "As a pet owner, I would be more concerned over this route of infection."

What does the U.S. need to do to eradicate the virus?

Friedrich said a strong response aimed at eradicating the virus would be costly for the government and potentially for farmers and farm workers, but a pandemic could be dramatically more costly. Here are a few actions he feels U.S. officials need to take:

Better surveillance of wild animals. H5N1 viruses have been causing a global epidemic in animals for several years now. He said we need to know more about the viruses circulating in nature to understand the threats they pose.

Dramatically expand testing, for both the virus itself and for virus-specific antibodies, in dairy cattle and farm workers nationwide. He said we need to test individual animals within herds over time to understand how the virus transmits within and between farms. We also need to understand how many people potentially exposed to infected cows or milk have become infected, whether or not they had symptoms.

Advocate programs to vaccinate cattle and offer vaccination to farm workers , with vaccines known to be likely effective against the cattle variant.

Wear protective equipment to minimize the risk of virus transmission from animals to humans.

Continue to support research. Research helps scientists to understand how H5N1 viruses evolve, transmit, and cause disease, so they can assess risks posed by these viruses as they continue to circulate and evolve in nature.

Contact Colleen Kottke at 920-517-2653 or ckottke@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @ColleenKottke.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Is bird flu the next global pandemic? UW-Madison researchers weigh in
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat from Kansas, sharply criticized President Donald Trump for creating nationwide chaos by suddenly freezing federal spending with an intentionally vague executive order. A federal judge blocked implementation of Trump's directive until Monday. (Kansas Reflectore screen capture from U.S. House's YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, said President Donald Trumps sudden pause of federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs was causing unnecessary disruption and anxiety for Kansans.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the spending freeze until Monday when a hearing on the issue was scheduled. On Wednesday, two days of backlash apparently led the White House to rescind an order freezing trillions of dollars in federal funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump administrations attempt to lock allocation of federal tax dollars was devised to create a window for an administrative review intended to root out initiatives opposed by the president.

Families shouldnt have to worry about feeding their kids, keeping a roof over their heads or affording health care, Davids said. This reckless and deliberately vague order cuts vital investments in our economy that hardworking Kansans rely on to stay safe and healthy.

Davids said the Trump administration should be working to address real needs of our communities that included lowering the cost of living for families rather than prioritizing interests of big corporations and special interests.

The presidents order put public safety as risk by jeopardizing funding to law enforcement, homeland security and disaster response programs, Davids said. Questions were raised about implications for federally funded road, bridge and transit infrastructure projects, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davids said the presidents directive could interfere with operation of Head Start, mental health services, the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline as well as funding for tribal communities, small business loans and energy programs.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said Trumps directive wouldnt disrupt services and benefits offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Moran, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said he was assured no VA programs, including those provided through grant recipients, would not be undercut by directives issued by Trump through the Office of Management and Budget.

Veterans and their families, as well as the organizations that serve them, will continue to have access to the benefits, services and resources provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Moran said. I appreciate the VA quickly providing answers to my questions and continuing the important programs that serve our veterans and their families.
The News

The private sector must participate in addressing global challenges like climate change and humanitarian crises that governments cant solve alone, Badr Jafar, UAE special envoy for business and philanthropy, said in an interview at Davos.

On climate, Jafar said a whole of society approach was needed and cited the UAEs leadership of COP28 as an example. Those climate talks were successful because the process transcended politics and included business and private capital, which have historically been sidelined. The UAE hosted 1,300 CEOs  half from the Global South, Jafar said  at COP28, an initiative that he described as fostering collaboration between policymakers and industry leaders.

This isnt to discount the role of states, and specifically the US: Jafar said theres concern about the future of climate action under a Trump administration, which has pulled out of the Paris climate agreement. Its difficult to get countries around the world to come together and sit around the table and talk about climate when the US is not on the table, when the US is potentially encouraging others to withdraw from the process, he said.

Know More

Jafar, who is also the chief executive of the Sharjah-based conglomerate Crescent Enterprises, said the private sectors contribution to humanitarian crises has remained stagnant over the past decade, with just 5% of global appeals being met by businesses. This comes as the average duration of humanitarian emergencies has increased from 17 years to 20, spanning a whole generation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Gaza, Jafar said there was a dual need for immediate humanitarian aid and long-term state-building  even in the case that the conflict restarts. Youve got to rebuild the house while putting out the fire, he said, because theres no time to spare. The UAE was committed to addressing basic needs and working toward a two-state solution, according to Jafar, adding that almost everyone he met at Davos agreed on the need for Palestinians to have self-determination and be custodians of their own futures.

Correction

The original version of this article mis-stated two quotes attributed to Badr Jafar. It has been corrected.
A U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter has completed initial ground runs with two of the new T901 Improved Turbine Engines. Developed under the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), the T901 was planned to power the now-canceled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) but will instead make its way into the UH-60 and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

The engine maker GE Aerospace announced today that the initial ground runs had been completed at Sikorskys West Palm Beach facility. Conducted ahead of test flying, the tests confirmed the basic performance of the engines critical systems  including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, engine and flight control systems, and engine bay flow. At the same time, aircraft and engine instrumentation provided data that will help prepare for the flight test program, which is due to start before the end of this year.

The first T901-powered U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk during the initial ground runs with the new engines. Sikorsky

The imagery of the UH-60M reveals a prominent orange-painted test boom carrying air data instrumentation jutting out from the nose. Other notable features include an orange dome on top of the main rotor boss as well as a prominent structure that covers the tail rotor hub. The exact functions of these are unclear, but they may also contain test equipment or be required to handle the more powerful engines.

A close-up view of the tail rotor with its unusual dome-like fairing. YouTube screencap

The test demonstrated the T901s start-to-fly progression, including idle and fly modes, with the rotor brake disengaged, Sikorsky said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The initial ground runs were carried out by a combined U.S. Army and industry test team with the UH-60M operated by Army and Sikorsky pilots.

We have light off!



For the first time, a UH-60M Black Hawk conducted ground runs equipped with two @GE_Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines. pic.twitter.com/xqVV1ScQaE  Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) January 29, 2025

The T901 has been developed as a successor to the T700 engine that currently powers the UH-60 and AH-64 and is scaled to fit inside the same engine compartment. Compared to the previous engine, the T901 offers 50 percent more power  which translates to a maximum of roughly 3,000 shaft horsepower  bringing a considerable advantage in terms of hot-and-high performance, which is otherwise a significant limiting factor for rotorcraft. The new engine is also intended to bring improved fuel efficiency. On top of this, more powerful engines should ensure that the Black Hawk and Apache can carry heavier loads over greater distances. This is a factor that would be of critical importance in a future conflict across the vast distances of the Asia-Pacific theater, in particular, where helicopters are already struggling for relevance, due to their limited endurance.

Meanwhile, a simpler design and fewer parts should translate into reduced life-cycle costs. As well as traditionally manufactured components, the T901 also makes use of more exotic production techniques, including additive manufacturing and ceramic matrix composites.

The first GE Aerospace T901 flight test engine accepted by the U.S. government was designated for Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competitive prototypes. GE Aerospace

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once installed in the UH-60 and AH-64, the T901 promises to provide these aircraft with increased range, longer loiter time, and reduced maintenance and sustainment costs.

The Army first got its hands on the T901 in October 2023, when two flight test engines were delivered for the FARA competitive prototype effort  one of the services highest-profile aviation programs. Sikorsky integrated the T901 into its Raider X aircraft and conducted ground runs. However, FARA was canceled in early 2024, a decision that we discussed in detail at the time.

The Raider X prototype for the FARA program. Sikorsky Another view of the Raider X. Sikorsky Photo

Nevertheless, ground runs in the Raider X reduced the risk involved in Black Hawk integration and testing. In June last year, the first two T901 flight test engines for the UH-60M were handed over to Sikorsky.

The first two T901-GE-900 (T901) flight test engines delivered to Sikorsky for the UH-60M Black Hawk integration. Sikorsky

For both the UH-60 and AH-64, more power is fast becoming essential, with the latest versions of these helicopters operating at much greater weights than when they were first introduced, as they have increasingly added more avionics, sensors, and weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking about the plan to put T901 engines in the AH-64 specifically, T.J. Jamison, Boeings business development director for the Apache and for the AH-6 Little Bird, told TWZ last November: The ability to bring ITEP into the Apache  sets you up for room for growth, extended range, reach, and payloads. The ability to accommodate the new engines is something thats ingrained in the latest V6.5 configuration of the Apache, which first flew in October of 2023 and is now coming off the production line.

Although Boeing has received a developmental contract for the integration of the T901 into the Apache, the U.S. Army has decided to prioritize putting the new engine into the Black Hawk. In the meantime, Boeing is using some of its own funds to continue the design work to get the new engine into the Apache.

An artists concept of the modernized Apache, powered by T901 engines, in an Indo-Pacific scenario. Boeing

For the Apache specifically, Boeing is also working on other improvements to the propulsion system, which will complement the new engines. As you can read about here, they include the Improved Tail Rotor Blade (ITRB) and Improved Tail Rotor Drive System (ITRDS). The ITRB is primarily focused on sustainment, ensuring the tail rotor blades can be more easily repaired and maintained, including on the battlefield, while ITRDS ensures that more power and authority are delivered to the tail rotor, something that will truly come into its own once harnessed to the power of the T901.

Returning to the UH-60M, the T901 is a fundamental part of the broader vision for a modernized Black Hawk fleet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking about what ITEP will provide the workhorse helicopter, Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky, noted that the re-engined Black Hawk would be able to travel farther on less fuel and with more troops and cargo. Salim also pointed specifically to the T901 enabling the UH-60M to take on new and emerging missions, such as deploying and managing launched effects.

A launched effect  in this case, an ALTIUS-600  is launched from a UH-60 Black Hawk at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Courtesy photo provided by Yuma Proving Ground

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Launched effects, previously referred to as air-launched effects (ALEs), are a category of varied uncrewed systems that you can read more about here. The new launched effects terminology reflects the fact they might be launched from land or maritime platforms, as well as crewed and uncrewed aircraft. They are a growing area of interest for the Army in particular, not only for rotary-wing platforms.

Along with the new engines and launched effects, the central pillars of the modernized Black Hawk include a Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone, which is set to improve safety and mission readiness while reducing unscheduled maintenance. Sikorsky is also increasingly working to reduce pilot workload and increase safety by incorporating autonomous technology, meaning the future Black Hawk should be able to operate with or without any humans on board.

New engine offerings could make the H-60 series and the AH-64 even more attractive to other potential customers. Both are still very much in production and the prospect of much more power in the future will only boost export prospects for what are already leaders in their respective market segments.

For the U.S. Army, meanwhile, re-engining the Black Hawk and the Apache will also go some way toward ensuring these older designs can contribute, even to a limited degree, to what officials are already talking about in terms of a revolution in air assault operations  one that they expect will be heralded by the arrival of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor.

An artists concept of the Armys Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor. Bell

An entirely new kind of aircraft, the Army expects FLRAA will provide it with a vastly improved set of speed, range, and survivability metrics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the past, TWZ has questioned how the Black Hawk and the Apache might be able to better keep pace with FLRAAs obvious difference in speed and range. While new engines wont offer performance comparable with FLRAA, they will, at the very least, provide a significant advance over what todays Black Hawk and Apache are capable. At the same time they will help bridge the gap to FLRAA. And even after this new aircraft enters service and fills the flightlines of Army airfields, the UH-60 and the AH-64 are slated to continue soldiering on.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com


With Delhi Assembly elections less than a week away, Delhi police seized multiple liquor bottles and cash from a car which had multiple Aam Aadmi Party pamphlets and 'Punjab sarkar' written on it. The Punjab government has issued a clarification stating that the registration number on the vehicle is "forged and fake" and it does not belong to any state government employee. On Wednesday night, Tilak Marg police station received information of a suspicious vehicle with a 'PB' number registration, and 'Punjab sarkar' written on it parked near Punjab Bhavan. Upon inspection, the vehicle had various pamphlets of the Aam Aadmi Party, multiple liquor bottles and cash worth lakhs, according to Delhi police. Appropriate legal action is being initiated at Police Station Tilak Marg of New Delhi District, the police said. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Praveen Khandelwal said that such incident has "exposed the disgusting face of AAP," criticising the party and Arvind Kejriwal on being corrupt. "Delhi police have caught a vehicle of Punjab government and cash and liquor has been recovered from it. With this, the disgusting face of AAP has been exposed in Delhi. They have fooled the public of Delhi in the name of 'Aam Aadmi'...Arvind Kejriwal's AAP government is functioning in Delhi on the foundations of corruption, scams and lies. There will be a change in Delhi and a BJP government will be formed," the BJP MP told ANI. AAP's national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar called any allegation of distributing liquor or cash as a "hilarious accusation," saying that the owner of the vehicle is from Maharashtra, but is being falsely shown being from Delhi. "This is a hilarious allegation and the Punjab government has also issued a clarification that no car with this number plate belonged to the Punjab government. The car never entered Punjab Bhawan. The registration number of the vehicle is of a Ford Ecosport car... The owner of the vehicle is from BJP-ruled Maharashtra, but they are showing that the owner of the vehicle is from Delhi," Kakkar told ANI. However, the Punjab government has issued a clarification that the vehicle is "registered in the name of Maj. Anubhav Shivpuri was posted in Army Dental College, Pathankot 3 years back and is a permanent resident of Khadki, Maharashtra". "The registered vehicle model on the registration number PB35AE1342 is Ford Eco Sport of make year 2018 but the actual vehicle apprehended by the police belongs to Hyundai Creta series. This confirms that the vehicle's number plate is forged and fake. High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) is mandatory for all vehicles and the registration plate visible in the video is an ordinary one, without the features of HSRP, hence easy to forge," the statement read. Refuting any connection of the Punjab government, the statement added, "We have searched our records and found that no such vehicle is owned or hired by Govt of Punjab. The apprehended vehicle does not belong to Govt of Punjab at all." Delhi elections will take place in a single phase on February 5, and counting of votes will take place on February 8. A triangular contest between the incumbent AAP, BJP and Congress is currently underway, with each side attacking the other over various issues in the national capital. (ANI)
The UK has appointed a trade envoy to Ukraine. Labour MP Alex Sobel has been chosen for the role.

Source: the British Embassy in Ukraine on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Alex Sobel, a Labour Party MP, has been announced as the UKs trade envoy to Ukraine.

 Alex Sobel MP announced a Trade Envoy to Ukraine.



 He will focus on identifying trade and investment opportunities for British businesses and promoting the UK as a destination of choice for investment. #100YearPartnership #UKandUkraine pic.twitter.com/FDWr0Txo3C  UK in Ukraine  (@UKinUkraine) January 29, 2025

The embassy noted that as trade envoy, Sobel will "focus on identifying trade and investment opportunities for British businesses and promoting the UK as a destination of choice for investment".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sobel was first elected to Parliament in 2017. During his time as an MP, he has served as shadow minister for tourism and heritage and as a shadow minister on environmental issues.

Background:

In December, the UK and Ukraine signed a 100-year strategic partnership agreement.

Norway is planning to open an office in Kyiv to help Norwegian businesses interested in contributing to Ukraine's recovery to establish contacts with Ukraines public and private sectors and explore opportunities.

Support UP or become our patron!
By Andrew MacAskill

EYNSHAM, England (Reuters) -Britain's Labour government will back the construction of a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport to boost trade and economic growth, finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday.

Successive governments have dithered over whether to expand the site to the west of London, with politicians and the legal system caught between the need to build more capacity and concerns around the impact on pollution and carbon emissions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reeves said the case for a third runway at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest hubs, was stronger than ever and she wanted to see permission being granted by the end of this parliament, which will end in 2029.

The head of Heathrow, Thomas Woldbye, said a third runway could be operational by 2035.

"We cannot duck the decision (on Heathrow) any longer," Reeves said in a speech about economic growth. "I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports and make the UK more open and more connected."

She said that "persistent delays" around a decision have cast doubt among international investors about Britain's "seriousness towards improving our economic prospects".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even with the government's support, the plan - the country's most controversial infrastructure project - has numerous hurdles to overcome before construction can start, including how it would be financed and how it would navigate legal challenges.

French private equity group Ardian, Heathrow's biggest shareholder with a 23% stake, told the Financial Times in November that it would support management if it wanted to build a new runway.

Reeves's support puts the ball in Heathrow's court to submit a planning application.

Heathrow's most recent statement is that it is considering options "in line with strict tests on carbon, noise and air quality." It would also have to agree a funding model with investors and airlines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heathrow Airport is operating at 99% capacity and risks being overtaken in Europe. Its two runways compare with four each in Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, and six at Amsterdam's Schiphol.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Writing by Catarina Demony;Editing by Sachin Ravikumar and Kate Holton)
The News

Britains population exceeded that of France for the first time and will continue to grow, driven entirely by immigration, according to official statistics.

There are an estimated 68.3 million people in the UK, compared with Frances 68.2 million: That figure is expected to reach 72.5 million by 2032. Birth and death numbers in Britain are roughly equal, but net migration of around 5 million over the period will keep the population growing.

Like many developed nations, Britains native-born population is aging, and although immigration is unpopular it means a bigger economy, more workers, and higher tax receipts, one economist told The Guardian: Japan, which similarly is aging but allows less migration, is facing a significant labor crunch.
(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves insisted the UK doesnt have to choose between its climate goals and pursuing growth, as she delivered a long-heralded speech on boosting the economy  including plans to expand Heathrow airport.

Most Read from Bloomberg

There is no trade-off between economic growth and net zero, quite the opposite, Reeves said Wednesday at a Siemens Healthineers AG facility in Oxfordshire, standing at a podium bearing the legend Kickstart Economic Growth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Net zero is the industrial opportunity of the 21st century and Britain must lead the way, she added.

With growth stuttering and a slew of business and consumer confidence indicators turning red, Reeves is under pressure to turn the UK economy around, especially after coming in for criticism for her gloomy narrative about the state of the public finances in the run-up to the budget in October. She and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are hoping that a prospectus of deregulation and unlocking long-delayed infrastructure projects will attract investors and spur growth.

Still, there are splits within the cabinet and wider Labour Party over aviation expansion, particularly at Heathrow, with senior figures citing environmental concerns around noise, air pollution and greenhouse gases. Some in the government also doubt the extent to which the project would boost the economy.

I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow, Reeves said later in the speech.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trade Talks

In her speech on Wednesday  the centerpiece of the push for growth that the government has trumpeted since the start of the year  Reeves also said that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds would shortly travel to India to recommence trade talks, that Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall would set out plans to reform health and disability benefits and that shed continue to pursue an economic reset with the European Union.

The chancellor has been seeking to win back the support of the business community after her budget on Oct. 30 sparked anger with its 40 billion ($49.7 billion) of tax rises, including a major increase in the national insurance payroll tax levied on employers. Shes also been hit by a wave of bad economic data in recent weeks, with key surveys showing jobs being lost and private sector activity stagnating.

Reeves acknowledged the impact of her tax increase on companies on Wednesday, saying that there are costs to responsibility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The costs of irresponsibility would have been far higher, she said, defending the move as necessary to repair the UKs public finances. Taking the right decisions and the responsible decisions does not always mean taking the easy decisions.

The push for growth has also been made more urgent by the market turbulence earlier this month, which exposed the fragility of Reeves fiscal position and raised the prospect of Reeves having to cut spending to meet her self-imposed fiscal rule that day-to-day expenditure should be covered by tax receipts by 2029-30.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves threw her weight behind a controversial third runway at Heathrow Airport, part of the Labour governments effort to revive growth by waving through long-delayed infrastructure projects.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Reeves urged the west London airport to submit a proposal that meets the governments carbon emissions, air quality and noise pollution limits by this summer, with the aim of securing permission by the end of the parliament. She said the hubs expansion, which has been touted since the early 2000s, was badly needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case is stronger than ever, Reeves said at a Siemens Healthineers AG facility in Oxfordshire, during a highly anticipated set-piece speech outlining her determination to turn around Britains flagging economy. A third runway at Heathrow would unlock growth, boost investment and make the UK more open and more connected.

Nigel Milton, chief communications and sustainability officer at Heathrow, said it was ambitious but doable given the governments commitment to push through planning reforms. On that timetable, it would be possible to have a third runway in place by the mid-2030s, he said.

With growth stuttering and a slew of business and consumer confidence indicators turning red, Reeves is under pressure to turn the UK economy around, especially after coming in for criticism for her gloomy narrative about the state of the public finances in the run-up to the October budget. Standing at a podium bearing the legend Kickstart Economic Growth, Reeves advocated a menu of deregulation and unlocking planning decisions to lure investors and revive the UKs moribund economy.

She received a vote of confidence later Wednesday, when Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said it was important for Britains growth rate to speed up, partly for the sake of financial stability. So Im very supportive of the work of the government, Bailey said during a committee hearing of members of Parliament.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nevertheless, there are splits within the cabinet and wider Labour Party over aviation expansion, particularly at Heathrow, with senior figures citing environmental concerns around noise, air pollution and greenhouse gases.

The plans at Heathrow could create more than 100,000 jobs, Reeves said, citing a study by Frontier Economics that found it could increase GDP by 0.43%  yet some in the government doubt the extent to which the project would boost the economy.

Londons Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, came out quickly with a statement reiterating his long-held opposition to a new runway at Heathrow, citing the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

But Reeves insisted the UK doesnt have to choose between its climate goals and pursuing growth, saying there is no trade-off between economic growth and net zero, quite the opposite. She described the drive to eliminate carbon emissions as the industrial opportunity of the 21st century, stating that Britain must lead the way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Construction of third runway at Heathrow has been discussed by successive governments for more than two decades, and after being green lit by Theresa Mays Tory administration in late 2016 and approved by the House of Commons in 2018, the plan became embroiled in legal disputes as environmental campaigners and Khan sought to block the project.

While Heathrow emerged victorious, there is currently no outstanding application for a so-called development consent order for the project and the process of gaining approval and building it is likely to take several years.

Costs

There have also been doubts over the supply of labor and materials needed for Heathrows third runway, as well as other major infrastructure projects and the building of millions of new houses. The Home Builders Federation said the industry has the labor required to meet current levels of development and could invest in more people if it was convinced by Labours supply-side reforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary said earlier this week that the third runway may or may not be delivered in my lifetime  I wouldnt hold my breath. Its rival EasyJet welcomed Reeves announcement Wednesday, while Surinder Arora, chairman of the Arora Group which owns hotels around the airport, said it was great news but warned that airlines and passengers must be protected from rising costs.

At Heathrow we have become the most expensive airport in the world, Arora told Bloomberg Radio. We cant continue doing that.

Campaigners against the third runway hit back at Reeves comments, with the No 3rd Runway Coalition saying it was eye-wateringly expensive and involved demolishing the surrounding villages. Meanwhile, the Green Alliance warned that the economic case for bigger airports is highly questionable in the face of the UKs climate goals.

Heathrow welcomed Reeves support, with Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woldbye saying that successful delivery will require policy changes and regulatory reform. Once built, it would create jobs and drive trade, tourism and inward investment to every part of the country, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oxford-Cambridge

The support for Heathrow was the final flourish of Reeves growth speech, which also included plans to boost the Oxford-Cambridge region and reform Britains planning system to remove barriers to investment.

The chancellor has been seeking to win back the support of the business community after her budget on Oct. 30 sparked anger with its 40 billion ($49.7 billion) of tax rises, including a major increase in the national insurance payroll tax levied on employers.

Shes also been hit by a wave of bad economic data in recent weeks, with key surveys showing jobs being lost and private sector activity stagnating.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today I will go further and faster in kick-starting economic growth, she said. Growth will not come without a fight.

In her speech, Reeves:

Highlighted upcoming decisions about expansions of two other London airports, Luton and Gatwick, and said shell work to re-open a shuttered airport in South Yorkshire.

Said shell fund rail links in the Oxford-Cambridge arc, and also deliver new homes, towns, reservoirs and road upgrades in the region, in an effort to boost the economy by 78 billion.

Backed a regeneration project at Old Trafford, centered around a new stadium for Manchester United and including residential and commercial buildings

Announced rail connection upgrades between Manchester and York via Leeds

Said net migration will fall but she will look at high-skilled visa routes

Said shed remove barriers to deliver 16 gigawatts of offshore wind

While Heathrow has yet to apply for permission to proceed, both Gatwick and Luton have pending applications for development consent orders, with decisions due by Feb. 27 and April 3 respectively. Technically those are quasi-judicial decisions that must be made by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

The plan at Gatwick would take an existing second runway into full-time use, while the Luton plan involves using the existing runway to handle more flights, expanding the existing terminal and building a new one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Kate Duffy, Alex Wickham, Ellen Milligan, Caroline Hepker and Andrew Atkinson.

(Updates with detail throughout including Bank of England quotation.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
LONDON (AP)  The U.K. government is backing the construction of a third runway at Londons Heathrow Airport, Treasury chief Rachel Reeves said Wednesday in a speech designed to signal to the business world that the new Labour government is serious about turning around the economy.

Another runway at the U.K.s main airport, she said, will bolster the countrys long-term economic growth potential by boosting investment, increasing exports, and making the U.K. more open and more connected to the rest of the world.

We cannot duck the decision any longer," she said. The case is stronger than ever.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reeves said the government was inviting proposals over its construction by the summer and that it would then make a full assessment of the pros and cons of expanding Heathrow.

This will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding, she said.

For decades, campaigners have opposed a third runway on environmental concerns and Reeves' announcement will likely face vociferous opposition from campaigning groups, such as Greenpeace and Just Stop Oil, and from numerous fellow members of the Labour Party, including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Khan confirmed that he remained opposed to a new runway because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said he will look at the new proposals carefully, including the impact it will have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure.

Despite the progress thats been made in the aviation sector to make it more sustainable, Im simply not convinced that you can have hundreds of thousands of additional flights at Heathrow every year without a hugely damaging impact on our environment," he said.

In her speech, Reeves insisted the runway will be delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives."

A third runway at Heathrow has been discussed since 1946 in the aftermath of World War II, but has never got off the ground because of many reasons, including changes of government as well as legal challenges. Meanwhile, other European hub airports, have grown. Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport has four runways, while Amsterdam's Schiphol has six.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heathrows plan to build a third runway received parliamentary approval in June 2018, but has been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic. Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has said that he wouldn't continue developing the project without the government confirming that it wants expansion.

Woldbye described Reeves' speech as the bold, responsible vision the U.K. needs to thrive in the 21st century."

Reeves' support for a third runway came in a wide-ranging speech on boosting U.K. growth rates, which have been historically low since the 2008 global financial crisis for a variety of reasons.

She also outlined plans for the construction of nine new water reservoirs, pledged to create a Silicon Valley-like technology hub between the two university towns of Oxford and Cambridge, back the regeneration of the area around Manchester United's Old Trafford soccer stadium, as as well as a reset of the U.K.'s post-Brexit economic relations with the European Union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Labour government badly needs growth to increase over the coming years, so it can lift living standards following the economic shocks of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, and to get money into ailing public services.

Since taking office in July, Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been criticized for talking down the economy they inherited from the previous Conservative administration, and for increasing taxes on businesses, a combination that critics argue led to a growth downturn in the past few months and the sharp downturn in the government's ratings in opinion polls.

Though a third runway won't do much to bolster economic growth in the near-term as it would take a decade to build, Reeves hopes the announcement in itself will provide investors with a signal that the government is serious about turning the economy around.

We want to do things now, to turn around the performance, and we want to give businesses and investors confidence that this is a country to start doing things, to start making things in again," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The construction of a third runway would require more than 700 houses to be demolished and sections of the M25 motorway, which encircles London, to be moved into a tunnel.

The business world has long supported the creation of a third runway at Heathrow, which is operating at near full-capacity, which often means planes circling the capital before they can land.
(Reuters) -Ukraine said on Wednesday it had struck a big Russian oil refinery in an overnight drone attack, and a Russian official said an attempted Ukrainian drone strike on a nuclear power plant had been thwarted.

The Ukrainian military said the strike on the refinery in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region had caused a large fire. Reuters was able to verify a video posted on social media that showed orange flames lighting up the night sky in the city of Kstovo, but could not confirm it was the refinery that was burning.

Lukoil's NORSI refinery, Russia's fourth largest, is based in Kstovo, which lies east of Moscow and about 800 km (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur said it had temporarily suspended operations at its plant, also in Kstovo, on Wednesday morning after debris from a Ukrainian drone sparked a fire. It said the blaze was later contained, and there were no casualties.

Ukraine has carried out frequent air attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots and industrial sites in an attempt to cripple key infrastructure underpinning Russia's war effort.

Russia is currently feeding more crude oil through its refineries in the hope of boosting fuel exports after new U.S. sanctions on Russian tankers and traders made exports of unprocessed crude more difficult, sources told Reuters this week. A Ukrainian drone attack last week forced a refinery in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow, to suspend operations.

NUCLEAR PLANT

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor of Russia's western Smolensk region said on Wednesday that air defence systems had destroyed a drone attempting to strike a nuclear power plant there. The plant was working normally, the RIA state news agency reported, citing its press service.

Reuters could not independently verify the report.

The governor of Belgorod, another western region, said a mother and her two-year-old child had been killed when a drone struck a family home there. He said the child's father and another child had been wounded and taken to hospital.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in their attacks in the war that Russia launched in February 2022. But thousands of civilians, mostly Ukrainians, have been killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Telegram that 104 Ukrainian drones had been involved in raids across western Russia, 11 of which were destroyed over the Smolensk region.

In total, Russian air defences destroyed drones over nine regions, nearly half of them over Kursk, where Russian forces are fighting to drive out Ukrainian troops who fought their way across the border last August.

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko in Kyiv, Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Lucy Papachristou and Mark Trevelyan in LondonEditing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)
The Ukrainian government on Tuesday confirmed the dismissal of deputy defence minister Dmytro Klimenkov following accusations of insufficient arms purchases.

Criticism has been mounting in Ukraine over the inadequate equipment of the military fighting against Russia.

In a post foreshadowing his decision to sack Klimenkov last week, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov wrote: "The sole criterion the Ministry of Defense places before the Defense Procurement Agency is to ensure that the frontlines are fully and promptly equipped with all necessary weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Regrettably, over the past six months, instead of the timely supply of ammunition to our army, we have witnessed political games, leaks of contracts, and leaks of information," he said.

Umerov also announced he would dismiss the head of the defence procurement agency, Maryna Bezrukova. However, the decision lies with the agency's supervisory board, and she is refusing to leave.

The ambassadors of the G7 countries in Kiev called for an end to the crippling dispute over procurement.

"Consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners," they wrote in a post on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion with massive Western support for nearly three years.

Zelensky vows to modernize Ukraine's armed forces

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to further modernize the country's armed forces, discussing the formation of army corps during his daily briefing with the general staff.

Kiev intends to accelerate the development of combat brigades to bolster its defence capabilities.

"The modernization of the army system has no alternatives," Zelensky said in his evening video address.

In recent months, Ukraine has faced mounting pressure on the defensive front. Last year, Russian forces reportedly occupied 3,600 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. Reports have also suggested a rise in desertion within the Ukrainian armed forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zelensky also addressed the future of Ukraine's humanitarian programmes, many of which previously relied on funding from the United States.

Following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20, nearly all international humanitarian programmes were paused for 90 days.

In response, Zelensky instructed his government to compile a list of essential programmes to determine which can be independently financed and which might require external support.

"We will determine which ones are critical and need immediate solutions. We can provide part of this funding through our state finances, and we will discuss some of them with Europeans and Americans," Zelensky said.

Russian drone sets fire to Kharkiv factory, two killed in Donetsk

Earlier on Tuesday, a Russian combat drone hit a factory in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and set it on fire, authorities said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Damage was also reported from other parts of the country following the large-scale night-time attack, in which Russia deployed 100 unmanned drones, according to information from the Ukrainian Air Force.

"An enemy drone of the Shahed type hit the property of a civilian company," Bohdan Gladkych, head of civil defence in Kharkiv, told the TV station Suspilne. According to initial reports, it was a wood processing factory and there were no casualties.

Two people were killed by Russian artillery fire in the Donetsk region, authorities said. Four people were injured by drones in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa on the Black Sea.

Several residential buildings and cars were damaged, according to Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Near Kiev, a hall with a collection of vintage cars burned down and in the city of Uman, south of Kiev, while infrastructure was also damaged.

The air force announced that 65 of the 100 Russian drones had been shot down. A further 28 drones turned out to be dummies without explosives.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

If you don't believe in coincidences, perhaps you see a vast conspiracy in the fact that the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" is in theaters at the same time Allen Media Group announces eliminating or reassigning all local meteorologists at its nearly two dozen TV stations nationwide.

Instead of having to fork over money for (yuck!) popular local weather personalities, each lucky station will get weather reports beamed in from The Weather Channel, another Allen Media Group property. ("After the commercial for artificial diamonds, we'll have more artificial local-ish weather.")

As someone who almost pursued a career in broadcast journalism and who was unexpectedly downsized from a different industry in the Nineties, my heart goes out to the on-air personalities and the viewers.

I'm old enough to remember when Allen Media Group founder and chief executive Byron Allen was just a nice young man contributing to NBC's pioneering reality show "Real People." I guess he now sees Real People as Real Numbers. Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about it  unless it's time for the quarterly report.

As they say, into each life some beancounters must fall.

The Weather Channel itself underwent staffing reductions last year, so I'm waiting with bated breath to see what further measures will be taken to cut costs. ("Let the weather apps try to compete with us! We've cornered the market on Old Farmer's Almanacs and wooly worm caterpillars! Coming soon: self-service freeze warnings.")

Ah, I'm being too pessimistic. The press release for the new strategy gushed with predictions of all the technical innovations, gussied-up graphics and enhanced coverage that will come about with the banishment of the meteorologists. You can't see the cirrocumulus clouds in the sky for all the PIE in the sky!

Yes, sir, divert enough money from payroll and you can afford to launch hypersonic missiles to take out those butterflies in Asia before they can flap their wings and initiate a typhoon.

Still, I haven't the foggiest notion why reassigning trained meteorologists into lower-profile station functions is remotely justifiable. ("I just got through cleaning the restrooms. Was NOT expecting that much accumulation!")

Generations of TV viewers have been conditioned to regard the weatherman as an irreplaceable part of the news team/family. Now those hometown celebrities will be The Family Member We Never Mention.

In most broadcast markets, there is something priceless about having a weather personality who lives near the audience and shares sentiments like, "It breaks my heart to see the pavilion flooded. I was there just last weekend for the Parsnip Festival." Soon there will be just a centralized meteorologist boosting morale with pronouncements such as, "It must stink to be you!"

I have warm memories of countless familiar faces who stood before weather maps in the Nashville area. I hope the Allen Media Group reconfiguration doesn't start an industry-wide trend of cutbacks.

Because it won't end with the meteorologists. Beer-bellied "centralized" sportscasters dislocating their shoulders putting on a different team jersey every 30 seconds, anyone?

And don't get me started on those overpaid news anchors. Accountants will seize upon the cable TV synergy.

"We know you want to hear about the bank robbery and the mayoral scandal, but simmer down. Wait long enough and you can watch it on The History Channel."

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Controversial author Harlan Ellison once described the work of Mr. Tyree as "wonkily extrapolative" and said his mind "works like a demented cuckoo clock." Tyree generated a particular buzz on the Internet with his column spoofing real-life Christian nudist camps. A lifelong small-town southerner, he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications.
Fans of the Netflix original medical K-drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call are clamoring for a second season, and comments from the show's director and lead cast have given them even more reason to be optimistic.

Speaking to Chosun Biz, director Lee Do-Yoon, who also worked on the series, recently noted the ambiguity regarding whether the show would continue but didn't rule out the possibility of a Season 2 and expressed a desire to return.

Lee commented, "I don't know what will happen tomorrow, so I don't know if I will do it or who will take charge of season two, but I have prepared my own devices just in case."

FlixPatrol charts show the series has remained in Netflix's Top 10 across dozens of markets, including the U.S., South Korea, and Australia, since its release on January 24.

On the other hand, star Ju Ji Hoon stressed the role of public demand in determining the prospect of the show further. During the same interview, he said, "In the end, it's up to the public."

However, considering how long it took to get the first season, fans might not see a second season until 2027. But given how popular the show is, this could make renewal decisions happen fast.

Netflix is still streaming The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.

The series stars Ju Ji Hoon, who plays Baek Kang-hook, a skilled surgeon who must return from the battlefield to take a troubled trauma team under his wing. It is based on a noted web novel and webtoon.

The character of Ju is based on the real-life Professor Lee Guk-jong, whose efforts to further trauma care in Korea inspired the show.

For research, Ju read detailed documents on Professor Lee in preparation for his role. In a recent interview, Joo said, "I could feel his commitment to saving lives. This helped me with connecting to my character."

Combining riveting drama with fantasy heroism, the series showcases Baek Kang Hyeok rising to meet the challenges set forth by his medical community. Ju Ji Hoon and Kim Hye Soo talked about the accessible way the show tackles social issues.

Another highlight of the series is the chemistry between Ji Hoon and Choo Young Woo, who acts as Yang Jae-won, a fellow surgeon and disciple of Baek.

Choo has been praised for her warm, deep performance which reveals how much he has matured as an actor and character.

Fans are expecting that actor Choo Young Woo would be thrilled to reprise his role as Yang Jae-won. JoyNews24 reported that Choo said, "I definitely agree. I have grown along with Jae-won. If there is a season 2, I definitely want to work with him in any role."
Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu said that Tripura is a remarkable tourist destination, and it is growing rapidly in terms of connectivity and infrastructure. It has been over a year since Indra Sena Reddy Nallu assumed office as the Governor of the state. Nallu, who has travelled across all eight districts and visited even the most remote villages, shared his experiences and observations about Tripura in a recent statement. "Tripura is a place of immense beauty and peacefulness," he remarked. "Many visitors are often surprised by its scenic landscapes, as there is a common misconception that the state is always covered in snow due to its location in the Northeast and its proximity to international borders. However, Tripura is a fantastic tourist destination, and it is growing rapidly in terms of connectivity and infrastructure," he said. Nallu highlighted the state's robust aviation sector, noting that after Guwahati, Tripura boasts the highest number of flights operating in the Northeast. He also pointed to a missed opportunity to establish a direct air link between Tripura and Chittagong in Bangladesh, which would have enhanced regional connectivity and economic prospects. The Governor also praised the progress made in Tripura under several central government schemes. "Dhalai district has received recognition for its price competitiveness, and the state has made remarkable strides in technology and infrastructure," he said. Notably, Tripura has made significant progress in implementing the National Highway project and the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide water to every household. Several districts have already achieved 100 percent coverage under the mission. Furthermore, Dhalai district was identified under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aspirational Districts Programme for focused development. Nallu, who has personally visited many villages in the district, noted that several long-standing challenges have been addressed in just the past few months. Turning to education, Nallu emphasized the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the state. "The policy, which aims to provide multiple opportunities for students who had to drop out of college for various reasons, is now progressing well," he said. Reflecting on his personal journey, Nallu recounted his roots in a village near Hyderabad, where his family moved in 1960 for better educational opportunities. He shared how his involvement in the Jai Prakash Narayan movement during the 1970s shaped his early life, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. Despite the challenges, he later became involved in politics and contributed to the formation of the Janata Party. As Governor, Nallu has a clear message for the youth, "Young people have a strong sense of responsibility toward their country. If they want to contribute to the nation's progress, they must ensure that politics remains ethical and pure. It's crucial to register as a voter at 17, so that by the time they turn 18, they can participate in the democratic process. Voting is essential for the survival of democracy." Nallu's reflections offer a glimpse into his deep commitment to Tripura's growth and his vision for a bright future, emphasising the importance of education, regional connectivity, and the active participation of the youth in the democratic process. (ANI)
Key developments on Jan. 29:

Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile arsenal, oil pumping station in Tver Oblast, SBU source claims

'4 out of 4'  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Russian assault intensity declines, focuses on Pokrovsk sector, monitoring group reports

Australian POW feared executed by Russia is alive, Penny Wong says

Ukrainian drones hit the Andreapol oil pumping station and missile arsenal in Russia's Tver Oblast overnight on Jan. 29, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

Drone strikes were reported by local officials across several Russian regions overnight, including Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tver, and Bryansk oblasts, causing fires and prompting air defense responses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Drones operated by the SBU and the Special Operations Forces attacked the oil pumping station, which is part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 operated by Russian state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft.

According to the source, the filtration pumping area and additive tanks at the station were damaged. The station is located around 750 kilometers (466 miles) north of Ukrainian border.

A spill of oil products and a fire were reported at the station.

"The Russians even had to shut down the main pipeline that supplies oil to the Ust-Luga terminal in Leningrad Oblast," the source said.

Ukrainian drones also hit the 23rd missile arsenal of the Russian Defense Ministry in Tver Oblast. The depot and three buildings of the military unit came under the attack, the source claimed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports.

'4 out of 4 ' Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

A Lukoil oil refinery in the Russian oblast of Nizhny Novgorod was struck by multiple Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Jan. 29, a military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

According to the HUR source, the Lukoil oil depot in the city of Kstovo was targeted by four drones, all of which struck their target and caused "significant damage."

They added the refinery "supports the activities of the Russian occupation forces" and was "attacked at around midnight local time."

The refinery is located around 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, but overnight local Telegram channels reported that drones targeted the Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery, resulting in a large fire.

Video footage circulating online showed flames at the facility, which local monitoring channels identified as the likely target of the attack.

Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that air defense systems had shot down multiple drones, and fragments from the intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles fell on the industrial site. No injuries were reported.

Read also: EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminium in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports

Russian assault intensity declines, focuses on Pokrovsk sector, monitoring group reports

The intensity of Russian assault operations in Ukraine is declining but remains high, according to an analysis by the monitoring group DeepState, published on Jan. 28.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian forces have concentrated 44% of their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast.

The peak intensity of Russian offensives was recorded in the second half of December, following a surge in attacks that began in late November.

Although the pace has slowed somewhat since the New Year, DeepState recorded the following attack numbers: 5,205 in November, 6,247 in December, and 4,304 in January as of Jan. 27.

Despite suffering heavy losses, Russian forces have reportedly been able to replenish their combat strength, allowing them to sustain attacks across multiple front-line sectors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of this effort, Russia has intensified assaults near Pokrovsk, deploying small groups in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops, Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, said on Jan. 27.

The estimated Russian advance in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Jan. 29, 2025, according to DeepState map. A white symbol marks Pokrovsk. (DeepState/OpenStreetMaps)

The town of Kurakhove has also been a target. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 6 that its forces had fully captured the settlement, though Ukraine has not confirmed this.

Russian forces also claimed on Jan. 26 to have captured Velyka Novosilka, a strategically significant settlement in the western part of Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade acknowledged withdrawing from parts of the village to avoid encirclement.

Australian POW feared executed by Russia is alive, Penny Wong says

An Australian volunteer soldier fighting for Ukraine who was reported to have been executed by Russian forces after being taken prisoner is alive, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Jan. 29.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody," she said in comments reported by The Guardian.

Jenkins is serving in the 402nd Separate Rifle Battalion, which is part of Ukraine's 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info reported on Jan. 17.

He went missing on Dec. 16 in 2024 while on a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine's Ground Forces Command told the outlet.

In a video that emerged on Russian Telegram channels in late December, Jenkins is seen in military fatigues, interrogated by Russian captors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man behind the camera asks the captive about his name and background and whether he wants to live while beating him over the head.

Unverified reports began circulating in mid-January that the soldier was executed by his Russian captors, prompting Australian officials to make urgent inquiries to Russia about his whereabouts.

"We still hold serious concerns for Mr. Jenkins as a prisoner of war," Wong said, adding: "We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr. Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment."

Read also: Slavoj Zizek: Leftists falsify the choice that Ukrainians face during wartime

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In January, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence provided combat brigades with all-wheel-drive trucks manufactured by a Ukrainian company for special and combat missions.

Source: press service for Ukraine's Defence Ministry

Details: This marks the first batch of vehicles purchased under one of the contracts with state guarantees for the supply of weapons and military equipment to meet the needs of the Armed Forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The state contract was signed in December 2024. And in January 2025, we received about 80 pieces of trucks with 4x4 and 6x6 wheel configurations. They can be used to transport personnel and military freight," said Hlib Kanievskyi, Director of the Procurement Policy Department at the Ministry of Defence.

Over 50% of the production of these vehicles takes place in Ukraine.

Kanievskyi said that in 2024, the Ministry of Defence focused on procuring military equipment for the rear under state guarantees: armoured vehicles, medical vehicles, special trucks, bath and laundry units, fuel tankers, etc.

The Defence Ministry will focus on the procurement of munitions in 2025.

Background:

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has launched licensed production of modern First-Person View drones at a state-owned company.

Ukraine's State Logistics Operator (SOE), the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defence, has begun implementing a new supply model for the Armed Forces and has signed an agreement with UT Company.

Support UP or become our patron!
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will meet with his European counterparts and newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an expanded format in February.

Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne and Interfax news agency, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Media reports suggest the meeting will be held around 12 February in Paris and will be attended by the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Poland, Italy, the UK, Spain and the US.

Background:

At the December 2024 meeting in Germany, which was attended by EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, the foreign ministers pledged to step up aid to Ukraine.

Notably, the meeting in Paris is likely to be the first personal contact between a senior Ukrainian official and the new Trump administration.

Marco Rubio was appointed US secretary of state on 21 January, but has not yet spoken with the Ukrainian foreign minister.

Support UP or become our patron!
Drones operated by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) struck an oil depot belonging to the Russian oil giant Lukoil in the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast on the night of 28-29 January.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in DIU; Russian media outlet Astra; Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, on Telegram

Details: Ukrainska Pravda sources within DIU stated that the facility, which supports Russian military operations, had been attacked around midnight local time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports suggest that residents of Kstovo have reported at least three explosions at the facility on social media. Meanwhile, sources from Ukrainska Pravda within Ukraine's defence forces confirmed four hits on the oil depot's territory.

The Ukrainian intelligence services pointed out that the attack had caused significant damage to the oil depot, with all four UAVs launched on the Russian facility successfully reaching their targets.

Local Russian social media users are posting videos of a large-scale fire at the oil depot.

        https://t.co/O7LGZeKmSC pic.twitter.com/N22aqM9zZx     (@ukrpravda_news) January 29, 2025

Kovalenko noted that the oil refinery in Kstovo is capable of processing 15 to 17 million tonnes of oil a year, making it the fourth largest in Russia. It produces petrol, diesel, aviation gas and bitumen, making it a critical facility for the Russian military.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Governor Gleb Nikitin acknowledged the drone attack, though he claimed that drone wreckage had fallen on the territory of a facility in the Kstovo industrial zone.

Russian propagandists assert that the attack targeted the SIBUR-Kstovo facility.

For reference: Kstovo is home to the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery, with chemical plants and a thermal power plant situated in the adjacent industrial zone.

On the morning of the incident, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that 104 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over Russian territory.

In particular, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed 47 drones were shot down over Kursk Oblast, 27 over Bryansk Oblast, 11 over Smolensk Oblast, seven over Tver Oblast, four over Belgorod Oblast, three over Nizhny Novgorod and Kaluga Oblast and one over each of Rostov and Leningrad oblasts. These numbers are contradicted in the reports provided by local authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Previously: Russian Telegram channels and Gleb Nikitin, Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, reported that multiple explosions had rocked Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast on the night of 28-29 January, with Russian authorities saying they were caused by a drone attack on an oil refinery in the town of Kstovo.

Support UP or become our patron!
Ukrainian drones hit the Andreapol oil pumping station and missile arsenal in Russia's Tver Oblast overnight on Jan. 29, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

Drones operated by the SBU and the Special Operations Forces attacked the oil pumping station, which is part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 operated by Russian state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft.

According to the source, the filtration pumping area and additive tanks at the station were damaged. The station is located around 750 kilometers (466 miles) north of Ukrainian border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spill of oil products and a fire were reported at the station.

"The Russians even had to shut down the main pipeline that supplies oil to the Ust-Luga terminal in Leningrad Oblast," the source said.

Ukrainian drones also hit the 23rd missile arsenal of the Russian Defense Ministry in Tver Oblast. The depot and three buildings of the military unit came under the attack, the source claimed.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports.

Earlier in the day, an intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent that multiple Ukrainian drones struck a Lukoil oil refinery in the Russian oblast of Nizhny Novgorod.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kyiv considers oil refineries to be valid military targets, as profits from the fossil fuel industry fund Russia's war machine.

Earlier this week, the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia suspended operations due to damage from Ukrainian drone attacks, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources.

Read also: Pure propaganda  Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) have struck the Andreapol oil pumping station and a missile arsenal in Russia's Tver Oblast.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda source in Ukraines defence forces

Details: On the night of 28-29 January, the SSU and SOF carried out a joint special operation targeting the Andreapol oil pumping station, a key part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The drone attack damaged a filtration and pumping facility and storage tanks containing fuel additives, as well as causing an oil spill and a fire.

An Ukrainska Pravda source said the Russians were even forced to shut down the pipeline, which supplies oil to the Ust-Luga terminal in Leningrad Oblast.

The SSU and SOF also targeted the Russian Defence Ministry's 23rd missile arsenal in Tver Oblast. Drones struck the storage facility itself and three military buildings. Over 20 explosions were reported by local residents, who were also discussing potential evacuation in online group chats.

Quote: "Drone sanctions are proving their effectiveness. Their use will continue."

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russians are restructuring the logistics of fuel supplies for their army through Crimea after drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, avoiding forming large stockpiles due to the threat of Ukrainian UAV attacks.

Source: Atesh, a military partisan movement in the occupied territories of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote: "Based on the convoys arriving from Russian territory, their route has been altered due to the growing number of successful strikes on Russian oil refineries in border and rear regions."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: Atesh has reported seeing fuel tankers arrive by rail from remote regions of Russia, making logistics more costly and challenging for the occupiers. The fuel is used to support the Russian military stationed in Ukraine.

The partisan movement maintained that these extended supply chains are raising fuel costs at Crimean petrol stations, causing civilian shortages.

Background:

Multiple explosions rocked Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast on the night of 28-29 January, with Russian authorities saying they were caused by a drone attack on an oil refinery in the town of Kstovo.

On 29 January, the Russian authorities and the Defence Ministry reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on nine Russian oblasts.

Drones operated by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine struck an oil depot belonging to the Russian oil giant Lukoil in the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast on the night of 28-29 January.

Support UP or become our patron!
Operatives from Ukraines Special Operations Forces (SOF) have destroyed Russian positions in a daring raid on one of the hottest fronts.

Source: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces

Details: Operatives from the 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment named after Prince Sviatoslav Khorobryi (the Brave) discovered at least four Russian soldiers in a dugout at a former Ukrainian position.

The Ukrainian soldiers carefully planned a raid on the Russian position and killed the Russians who had occupied it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Special Operations Forces confidently made their way right up to the Russian position in an armoured Humvee vehicle. Soldiers employed small arms fire to control the exit of the dugout before shoving 13 kg of Semtex (a plastic explosive based on hexogen and pentaerythritol tetranitrate) inside.

A huge explosion obliterated the dugout, leaving nothing but a crater and the corpses of the Russian soldiers.

Following the successful operation, the 3rd SOF Regiment withdrew to a safe location with no losses.

Support UP or become our patron!
The UN agency that helps refugees, asylum seekers and people forcibly displaced within their own countries has been put on a savings drive after US President Donald Trump ordered a suspension of humanitarian assistance.

"While we are still assessing the impact of the new US administrations decision, including possible exceptions, we are implementing a series of temporary precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of this funding uncertainty," said a spokeswoman for the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, on Wednesday.

The British newspaper The Guardian earlier reported that UNHCR head Filippo Grandi had sent an email that instructed staff to temporarily halt recruitment and international travel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grandi also halted orders of new supplies, except when needed for emergency assistance, the newspaper reported.

The UNHCR refused to comment on the email.

The United States contributes around a fifth of the budget of the organization, which has around 20,000 employees and takes care of more than 120 million refugees worldwide.

In 2024, the United States paid just over $2 billion to the UNHCR.

The US State Department announced the temporary freeze of foreign aid on Sunday, but there is confusion in Washington and abroad over which programmes are affected.
United Nations agencies are anxiously awaiting the fallout from US President Donald Trump's abrupt suspension of almost all foreign aid.

The UN agency that helps refugees, asylum seekers and people forcibly displaced within their own countries has been put on a savings drive, while the World Health Organization (WHO) said it fears for the future of global HIV/AIDS programmes.

"While we are still assessing the impact of the new US administrations decision, including possible exceptions, we are implementing a series of temporary precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of this funding uncertainty," said a spokeswoman for the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The British newspaper The Guardian earlier reported that UNHCR head Filippo Grandi had sent an email that instructed staff to temporarily halt recruitment and international travel.

Grandi also halted orders of new supplies, except when needed for emergency assistance, the newspaper reported.

The UNHCR refused to comment on the email.

The United States contributes around a fifth of the budget of the organization, which has around 20,000 employees and takes care of more than 120 million refugees worldwide. In 2024, the US paid just over $2 billion.

Meanwhile, the leader of another Geneva-based UN organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO, expressed "deep concern about the implications of the United States government's immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The programmes provide access to life-saving HIV drugs to more than 30 million people worldwide, Tedros said in a statement late Tuesday.

The US government covered 18% of the WHO budget last year. WHO members approved a budget of $6.8 billion for 2024-25.

Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, had promised $706 million for the two-year period, consisting of mandatory and voluntary contributions.

According to the WHO, the voluntary share of $442 million has already been paid, but the mandatory contribution of $264 million has not. It is uncertain whether the Trump administration will still transfer this money.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mandatory contribution of all 194 WHO member states is based on a country's economic strength. When Trump withheld funds for the WHO during his first term in office, Germany stepped in and was the largest contributor in 2020-21 budget period.

Germany contributed around 6% to the WHO budget in 2024. A total of $229 million from Germany was on the books for 2024-25.

Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing from the WHO on his first day in office.

The US State Department then announced the temporary freeze of foreign aid on Sunday, but there is confusion in Washington and abroad over exactly which programmes are affected.
India's Consulate in Seattle celebrated India's Republic Day, which was attended by Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson and Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella as the guest of honour, a statement by the Consul General said. Addressing the nearly 500 plus Indian American community members on Tuesday, the newly elected 24th Governor of Washington State Ferguson acknowledged "the incredible contribution the Indian society makes not just for India but for the entire world". He added that as a new Governor of the state of Washington, he looked forward to building on the relationship with the Consulate General of India in Seattle, the statement said. Satya Nadella, Chairperson and CEO of Microsoft, addressing the gathering, acknowledged that he "was a product of the bond that exists between the two countries (India and USA)," and praised the leadership of both the countries for their "focus on how to use technology to leverage education outcomes, health outcomes, public service efficiency, competitiveness and productivity of small businesses". https://x.com/IndiainSeattle/status/1884120208551600549 In a unique first, several members of the US Congress also joined in the evening celebrations. These included Rep Suzan DelBene, Rep Adam Smith, Rep Michael Baumgartner, Rep Kim Schrier, who welcomed India's achievements as the world's largest democracy. Other distinguished participants included Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, along with Mayors of TEN cities of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Auburn, Tacoma, Mercer Island, Monroe, Kent and Sammamish. Several Washington State Senators and Representatives, along with King County and Bellevue City Council elected members also participated at the evening celebrations, as per the statement. In a special recognition, Washington State Senate in Olympia also passed a State Senate Resolution 8604, moved by State Senator Manka Dhingra and supported by Senator Vandana Slatter, welcoming the 76th Republic Day of India and the strong friendship between the people of India and the United States of America, the statement added. In another special gesture by Seattle city, several iconic buildings in Seattle, including the Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Convention Center and Columbia Center were also lit up in tricolours to mark the India Day celebrations. The Republic Day Reception in Seattle also showcased several unique exhibits on display, which included ODOP (One District, One Product) - featuring one unique cultural heritage product from each state and union territory of India, along with a Photo Exhibit: India through Tim's eyes, which put on display some of India's most iconic tourism sites, that were photographed by ace photographer Tim Durkan, during his recent visit to India in September last year. The Evening Reception also featured a specially curated dance performance showcasing the various dance forms of "Bharat titled Natyam" - which was extremely well received by the gathering, the statement said. (ANI)
MILLTOWN, N.J.  Another Groundhog Day approaches in Milltown.

But its Groundhog Day in another sense, in that the town will wake up on February 2nd and again wont be celebrating its beloved tradition.

More Local News

Since the passing of Milltown Mel in 2021, the small town has been searching for its successor. A State law on importing certain critters has kept them from continuing their ceremony, which draws thousands. The Milltown Wranglers, who organize the event, announced this week that despite their best efforts, they have not yet found their next Mel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I feel like the more you lose those things, the more it kind of impacts this town, said Kelsey Hershorn, who works at Francescos Pizza in Milltown.

Its hard to explain how frustrating it is to try to follow the rules and not be able to get something done, even though you work really hard at it, said Milltown Wrangler Russ Einbinder, and thats what weve been doing.

The Wranglers have tried to bring in groundhogs in every legal avenue, even pleading their case in Trenton.

I mean, we actually testified in front of the State legislature, said Einbinder.

Tired of winter? Farmers Almanac offers hopeful spring outlook

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, Assemblyman Sterley Stanley introduced a bill to allow groundhogs to be imported from out of state under certain circumstances. The State currently outlaws certain types of animals that could potentially carry rabies.

He told PIX11 News in a statement:

Though we are disappointed that we were unable to come up with a solution that would have brought a new groundhog to Milltown for this years celebration, we remain committed to procuring a new groundhog in time for next years Groundhog Day. While we certainly lament the cancellation of yet another Groundhog Day here in Milltown, we understand that in order to respect public health and safety, this will take a little more time than originally expected. We are currently in the process of reaching out to a few zoos throughout the State to see if they would be able to allow the Milltown wranglers to use one of the groundhogs kept at their zoo for their celebration. We sincerely appreciate the publics interest in this issue and their support for the community of Milltown, we hope to have some good news soon.

This will mark the fifth year in a row the streets of Milltown will be quiet on Groundhog Day, but the Milltown Wranglers say theyre as determined as ever to find their next groundhog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well make it happen, said Einbinder. Just, we have 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 PIX11.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Home looks different for everyone, and, for Natalie Paul, its not a place but a sense of belonging. She was 16 when she officially entered the foster care system.

It was scary. Although I had moved a lot and I had been familiar with instability, I had never been with anyone I didnt know. I had never been with complete strangers, said Paul.

Greensboro high schoolers learn financial literacy skills

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She saw the shortfalls of the system in Rhode Island, where she grew up and entered foster care, and decided to advocate for something she and so many other kids needed.

What I would like to see is a unified system where the young person is given what they need when they need it and its able to follow them across the street or if theyre moving across the country, said Paul.

She worked across the New England area with advocacy groups, eventually helping to establish the Siblings Bill of Rights from 2008 until 2018, but then things changed.

I was robbing Peter to pay Paul. Things were extremely difficult supporting myself and being a single mother, so I enlisted in the Army, said Paul.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After a short time serving her country, she ended up heading to the Triad and to Greensboro, where she found herself at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to focus on getting her degree.

I met someone else that aged out of foster care. Just in talking to them, sharing our stories, sharing our research, theyre experiencing the exact same thing today I experienced well over 15 years ago, said Paul.

It clicked for her: she needed to finish the advocacy work she started hours away and more than a decade ago.

I decided it was time to use my story and my voice to try and amplify the voices of young adults on campus who have aged out of the foster care system and to try to figure out how to support them on campus, said Paul.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She started Foster Forward, a regular meeting for people who have lived the foster experience or maybe know nothing at all. They play games, go out into the community, talk and, most importantly, they listen.

You might not be affected. You might not have been in the foster care system, but theres a high chance a person next to you might have been in your life, said Quinrose Mvuri, a UNCG student.

Adrianna Mims, another student, shared with FOX8 that she has a friend who went through the foster care system, and it got her interested.

Sometimes, when you look at foster children, you feel pity or sad for them, but she would never change the way she grew up or the people she met, the experiences she had, said Mims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The community Paul is creating is also backed by research.

What Ive found through my research is that when an individual ages out of care, unless theyre in an intimate relationship, they dont really have family. They dont really have connections, said Paul.

Thats why its her hope that she can help them find that sense of home.

Even at 34, Im still struggling to find my place in the world, said Paul. Im creating my own family. Thats what a lot of people who age out of foster care do.

Pauls ultimate goal is to create a Foster Forward club at each school in the UNC System and get connected a few times a year.

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.
Tennessees universities, nonprofits and others that depend on federal aid are bracing to see how the Trump administration will proceed after reversing course on its sweeping pause for federal grants and loans on Wednesday.

The Volunteer State receives billions of dollars each year in federal grants for a variety of programs, and the directive issued Monday had sparked uncertainty in areas ranging from medical research and support for historically Black colleges and universities to nonprofits like Meals on Wheels.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the administrations effort, but the administration pulled back its proposal in a surprise reversal on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kevin Dean, president of the Tennessee Nonprofit Network, which represents the states more than 40,0000 nonprofit organizations, said the directive would have significantly impacted vital services, but confusion abounds over what will happen next.

While we welcome this reversal, we are deeply concerned by the instability and uncertainty created by the initial freeze, Dean said, in a statement. Nonprofits play an essential role in our communities, and any disruption to their funding can have serious consequences for the people they serve. We urge the administration to prioritize consistent and reliable support for the nonprofit sector."

At a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not list which programs would and would not continue to be funded.

Sharon McDaniel, with Mid Cumberland Meals on Wheels, in an email said the organization was stable for now, but its concerned about funding approval in the Older American Act, which comes up for review in March.

The Trump administration had said the freeze would not impact areas including Medicaid, federal student loans and Social Security, and is meant to target programs focused on ideology including, Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies, according to the federal directive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Dean said many smaller nonprofits that support marginalized communities and environmental organizations are worried.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to reporters on Wednesday said "in light of the injunction" the Office of Management and Budget is pulling back its memo "to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage."

Trump's other executive orders on federal funding issued since Inauguration Day will "remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments," Leavitt said.

"This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the Presidents orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding," Leavitt said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump administration's decision came shortly before a federal judge in Rhode Island was set to consider a request by 22 mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia for a temporary restraining order blocking a policy that they said could have a devastating effect on their budgets.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump funding freeze reversal: Tennessee groups remain wary
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A San Francisco man who is accused of transporting narcotics into Marin County and agreeing to sell half a pound of methamphetamine to an undercover detective was taken into custody last week, the Marin County Sheriffs Office announced Wednesday.

Authorities said they became aware of Nathan Piccos alleged involvement in running methamphetamine and fentanyl into Marin County earlier in January.

San Francisco rally to raise awareness on fentanyl state of emergency

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Friday, a Specialized Investigative Unit detective who was working undercover contacted Picco by phone. Picco allegedly offered to sell the undercover detective half a pound of methamphetamine and an ounce of fentanyl.

Picco told the detective that the methamphetamine would be delivered first, according to the sheriffs office, and the fentanyl would come on a second trip later that same day.

(Marin County Sheriffs Office)

The undercover buy operation took place in Marin City, where Picco was detained. A search of the man uncovered over half a pound of suspected meth, a personal amount of suspected heroin and a collapsable baton, authorities said.

Picco was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for possession with intent for sale of controlled substance, possession of a prohibited weapon and offering to sell controlled substances and narcotics to an undercover detective.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bail was set at $30,000. Jail records show Picco was not in custody as of Wednesday morning.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On Sunday, an undersea cable ferrying data between Sweden and Latvia was damaged, most likely as a result of an external force, Latvia said.

This is just the latest in a string of incidents since late 2022 causing damage to Europes infrastructure that crisscrosses the bottom of the Baltic Sea  pipes carrying natural gas and cables transporting electricity and data.

Such incidents have become more frequent over the past couple of years, raising suspicions they are the result of sabotage and triggering a flurry of investigations by European officials  with some openly pointing fingers at Moscow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia has denied allegations of any involvement.

So far, the impact on Europes natural gas, electricity and data flows has been fairly limited. But a concerted attack on data cables could paralyze many nations communications networks, jeopardizing hospital surgeries, police responses and more.

If Russia is indeed to blame for some of the incidents, they are Moscows way of showing its power to disrupt European infrastructure, said Sophia Besch, senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Its about intimidation, undermining resolve, creating a general sense of fear and instability in populations, and showing that they could do something, she told CNN.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, the Russian embassy in London said NATO  a defensive alliance between North American and European countries  was using the fictitious pretext of the Russian threat to beef up its naval and air force presence in the Baltic.

The statement followed an announcement by NATO of a new mission to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic. As part of that mission, the alliance has deployed sub-sea drones.

Whether the damage has been accidental or intentional, the incidents have exposed one of Europes vulnerabilities, signaling, in the words of one expert, a new frontier in its security. Europe is to a significant degree, dependent on this type of infrastructure, said Georg Zachmann, a senior fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, adding that he finds the current situation very worrying.

Whats been happening?

The first major incident occurred in late 2022, months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A series of explosions rocked the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline delivering Russian gas to Europe, as well as Nord Stream 2. Neither of the pipelines was transporting gas at the time of the blasts, though they still held the fuel under pressure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators found evidence of explosives at the sites, leading Swedish prosecutors to conclude that the blasts were caused by an act of sabotage. And last August, German authorities issued an international arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man suspected of carrying out the explosions.

Whoever was behind the blasts, Besch at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said they were a wake-up call for Europe. Ever since then we have seen Europeans invest in their own security underseas, she noted.

The gas receiving station of the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline and the transfer station of the OPAL gas pipeline in Lubmin, Germany, seen in July 2022. - Stefan Sauer/picture alliance/dpa/Getty Images

The second incident took place in October 2023 when a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, called the Balticconnector, began to leak.

Then, in November last year, two undersea internet cables  one connecting Sweden and Lithuania, and the other Finland and Germany  were cut. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Finland and Germany said the incident immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage, adding that European security was under threat from hybrid warfare by malicious actors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A few weeks later, on Christmas Day, a power cable connecting Finland and Estonia failed. The following day, Finnish authorities boarded and detained the Eagle S  a tanker carrying oil from Russia to Turkey  on suspicion it had damaged the cable by dragging its anchor.

Whos responsible?

Assigning blame for each incident is a tricky, diplomatically fraught task.

In September, two US officials told CNN that the United States had detected increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables.

But hard evidence implicating Moscow is difficult to come by, and US officials familiar with an initial assessment of Novembers incident in the Baltic told CNN at the time that there were no indications of nefarious activity involving the two cut internet cables.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The challenge is (that) a lot of this can be wrapped up in what one might describe as plausible deniability  some people would call it implausible deniability, said Nick Childs, a senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

He added that the Baltic was a very congested, very crowded waterway, making it difficult to both spot and prove suspicious activity. Still, he said, a lot of fingers are pointing at Russia for some of the incidents.

Oil tanker Eagle S anchors outside Porvoo, Finland, on December 28, 2024. The Cook Islands-registered ship is suspected of damaging an electrical cable between Finland and Estonia. - Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images

Some are pointing specifically at Russias so-called shadow fleet  aging tankers, many with opaque ownership structures, transporting Russian oil for export to avoid Western sanctions.

Dovile Sakaliene, Lithuanias defense minister, told CNN in an interview last week that this shadow fleet was cutting our power cables cutting our data cables cutting our pipelines and that the damage was likely deliberate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If something happens once, its an accident. If something happens twice, its a coincidence. But, if its three times or more, I think all our common sense screams at us: Hello, really? she said.

Whats the harm?

Besch, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, notes that Europes cable infrastructure has high levels of redundancy, meaning that, when one cable fails, whatever it is transporting can be re-routed through another.

However, some islands close to Scotland and Norway are more vulnerable, she said. There are only one or two cables  if you cut them, you have a problem.

Repairs to undersea networks can also be costly and take months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even small outages could impact online shopping and home deliveries, and deny tens of thousands access to their favorite shows and movies.

Safeguarding our infrastructure is of utmost importance, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said earlier this month.

This is crucial for both energy supply  whether from power cables or pipelines  and internet traffic, he said, noting that more than 95% of that traffic globally is carried via undersea cables.

CNNs Clare Sebastian and Vasco Cotovio contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Tim Reid, Timothy Gardner and Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two of America's biggest federal worker unions told members on Wednesday not to trust a Trump administration offer to 2 million government employees to quit with eight months pay, while many civil servants expressed anger and defiance over the move.

In advice to its 800,000 members, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) - the largest federal employee union - questioned the legality of the offer, where the money would come from to make the pay-offs, and whether the administration "can or will uphold its end of the bargain."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an email to federal workers on Tuesday, the Trump administration offered a "deferred resignation program" that would allow them to remain on the payroll through Sept. 30 but without having to work in person, or possibly risk getting furloughed and made easier to fire.

The email gave federal employees until Feb. 6 to decide whether to take part. It instructed those interested to reply from a government email account and type the word "resign."

Half a dozen government workers who spoke with Reuters said the email was provoking a backlash among many federal employees. Some said they had been thinking about resigning from government since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, but the offer had angered them so much they decided to dig in their heels and stay.

Laura Dodson, an economist with the U.S. Agriculture Department and a union representative is one of them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"When that email came I felt rage and spite. I decided I am not going to be forced out. I'm going to stick it out. A lot of people are resolved to stay in the federal government because of this email."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has pledged to cut the size of the 2.2 million-strong civilian workforce.

He is being helped in that effort by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who heads an advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at carrying out dramatic cuts to the U.S. government.

A career employee at the U.S. Department of Energy, who is not in a union and spoke on condition of anonymity, said many workers felt "pushed around" by the email and angered. "They don't want to make the job of decimating the workforce easier," the employee said. "Some people might dig in their heels and stick around longer."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An official at the U.S. Agency for International Development who received the offer said it "feels like a trap, adding, "I think it's ridiculous.

The subject line of Tuesday's email - "A Fork in the Road" - was the same one Musk sent employees of Twitter - now called X - after buying the company in 2022, when he told workers to sign up for "long hours at high intensity" or leave.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 150,000 employees in 37 federal agencies and departments, urged members to reject the offer.

"Make no mistake: this email is designed to entice or scare you into resigning from the federal government," the NTEU told its members. "We strongly urge you not to resign in response to this email."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tim Kauffman, a spokesperson for AFGE, said union lawyers talked late on Tuesday to examine the legality of the offer, and that legal action had not been ruled out.

(Reporting by Tim Reid in Washington; Additional reporting by Leah Douglas, Ted Hesson, Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)
Before a federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy to temporary halt all federal grants and loans to ensure the spending aligned with the president's priorities, a wave of confusion and fear moved through the University of Texas.

About 17% of UTs $3.97 billion budget comes from federal grants and contracts, according to its website. Sixty percent of its total research expenditures, or more than $600 million, in fiscal year 2023 were covered by the federal government  nearly three times more than its next highest source.

The Office of Management and Budget's late Monday night order required federal agencies to temporarily freeze all federal funds as the administration reviewed the grants' compliance with President Donald Trumps executive orders  assessing any associations to the "Green New Deal; diversity, equity and inclusion; woke gender ideology; and illegal immigration, according to the memo. It was set to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday but the judges order paused the action until at least Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an email to faculty Tuesday before the judges temporary block, Vice President of Research Dan Jaffe said most federally sponsored research projects at UT are on a cost-reimbursement basis, meaning UT pays the upfront cost and is reimbursed by the government. But after the OMB memo, the payment to request reimbursement was down, he said.

Despite the new federal policy, research at UT could continue, he said, unless a federal agency had separately given researchers a stop-work order for violating an executive order. The university does not know what total effect a funding freeze would have, Jaffe said.

We dont yet know the full impact of these developments on federally funded research, Jaffe said. We are actively monitoring and analyzing guidance from the White House and federal agencies and will keep you informed as we learn more about implications.

In an interview with the American-Statesman on Tuesday before the judge handed down the temporary pause, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said he believed the action was an abuse of power and an attempt by Trump to assert his power as president. The pause, Doggett said, would place all (federal) grants in jeopardy."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked if he believed Democratic lawmakers could stop it through legislation, he said no.

It may well be, if (Trump) insists on this, that litigation is the only answer, Doggett said. This is really an unconstitutional impoundment of congressional appropriations not unlike what Richard Nixon attempted to do. And there is history, a precedent, about presidents that engage in such unconstitutional power grabs.

Doggett said Democrats plan to caucus Wednesday to discuss a plan of action and address the other limits Trump has placed, such as on the National Institute of Health, which is under an external communications pause until Saturday which also paused the grant review process.

The action that he took last week on the National Institute of Health grants is the first thing that pauses medical research, on all these rare diseases," Doggett said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Science Foundation also canceled all grant review panels and meetings this week, 60 in total, to adapt to Trump's executive orders, NPR reported Monday night. UT is the top recipients in Texas and one of top 10 university recipients nationally for NSF awards, its website states.

Andrea Gore, a professor at UT in the College of Pharmacy whose research is funded by an NIH award, said funding is allocated one year at a time for active projects no matter the span of the project, and any interruption on the process negatively affects research.

During the course of that year, we use those funds to cover costs of personnel working on the research, supplies, equipment, and publications. At the end of the year we write a progress report, and assuming satisfactory progress, we will receive the award for the following 1-year budget period, Gore said in an email. The VPR is recommending that we continue ongoing funded work; that is a good thing, as interrupting biomedical research has negative consequences.

UT isn't the only Texas institution on alert: Texas A&M President Mark Welsh told faculty and staff members that the university is working with its legal counsel and groups like the Association of American Universities, American Council on Education, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the Council of Government Relations to understand the implications and advocate on behalf of our institution and higher education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both UT and Texas A&M University set up websites to post updates to federal guidance and promised to keep their employees informed in the interim.

Our research mission is critical to our state and the people who live here and beyond, Jaffe told UT faculty members in his Tuesday email. We are committed to keeping you informed and providing you support and resources so that you can continue to advance that mission.

In a statement to the American-Statesman before the order was temporarily blocked, Jaffe said the university does not believe federal guidance prevents UT from conducting research activities and that he is confident the university will be able to recover associated costs.

We expect the pause will be lifted once federal agencies review projects to ensure alignment with executive orders, Jaffe said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: UT braces for potential Trump freeze on grants; judge blocks order
By Emilie Madi

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The director of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon said on Wednesday that the agency had not been affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's halt to U.S. foreign aid funding or by an Israeli ban on its operations.

"UNRWA currently is not receiving any U.S. funding so there is no direct impact of the more recent decisions related to the U.N. system for UNRWA," Dorothee Klaus told reporters at UNRWA's field office in Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. funding to UNRWA was suspended last year until March 2025 under a deal reached by U.S. lawmakers and after Israel accused 12 of the agency's 13,000 employees in Gaza of participating in the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the Gaza war.

The U.N. has said it had fired nine UNRWA staff who may have been involved and said it would investigate all accusations made.

Klaus said that UNRWA Lebanon had also placed four staff members on administrative leave as it investigated allegations they had breached the U.N. principle of neutrality.

One UNRWA teacher had already been suspended last year and a Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed in September in an Israeli strike - was found to have had an UNRWA job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Klaus also said there was "no direct impact" on the agency's Lebanon operations from a new Israeli law banning UNRWA operations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and that "UNRWA will continue fully operating in Lebanon."

The law, adopted in October, bans UNRWA's operation on Israeli land - including East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in a move not recognized internationally - and contact with Israeli authorities from Jan. 30.

UNRWA provides aid, health and education services to millions in the Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab countries of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Its commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday that UNRWA has been the target of a "fierce disinformation campaign" to "portray the agency as a terrorist organization."

(Reporting by Emilie Madi; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Slippery salamanders glide mysteriously through the canopies of the worlds tallest trees. Now, scientists say they understand how the small skydivers are able to maneuver seamlessly across Californias coastal redwoods.

The answer might be surprising. Wandering salamanders can fill, trap, and drain the blood in their toe tips to help them easily attach and detach to the bark of the trees.

Christian Brown, the lead author of new and related research and an integrative physiology and neuroscience postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University, first noticed it during filming for the NBC documentary The Americas. Bright red blood rushed to the creatures translucent, square-shaped toe tips before they took a step forward.

The hindfoot of a wandering salamander is seen just before it takes a step forward. Scientists say its blood-powered toes help this salamander moves hundreds of feet in the air (Photo by William P. Goldenberg)

We looked at each other like, Did you see that? Brown said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The university-led findings were published Wednesday in the Journal of Morphology.

Using camera equipment from the production, high-resolution video helped the researchers to analyze the mechanism.

Regulating blood flow, the authors said, allows the long-legged wandering salamanders to adjust pressure asymmetrically. Blood rushing in before the toe off helps them to detach.

And, by inflating the toe tip, the salamanders reduce the surface area in contact with the one they are on. That minimizes the energy they need to let go and parachute between branches.

Flying squirrels, gliding frogs, geckos, ants and other insects are known to use similar aerial maneuvers, according to researchers at U.C. Berkeley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What struck me when I first saw the videos is that they (the salamanders) are so smooth  theres no discontinuity or noise in their motions, theyre just totally surfing in the air, Robert Dudley, a professor of integrative biology at the university, said in 2022.

A wandering salamander, also known as Aneides vagrans, clings to a camera lens during a scientific investigation of their jumping, parachuting, and gliding behaviors. Other salamanders exhibit similar mechanisms that allow wandering salamanders to thrive in coastal redwoods (Photo by Christian Brown)

Brown and Dudley worked together on a previous paper that described their movement and how they can control falls from hundreds of feet in the air.

Previously, the feature was believed to aid the wandering salamanders oxygenation, but the researchers said there was no evidence to support that theory.

Similar structures are found in other salamander species that might serve other purposes. More research is needed to understand how it works to serve those species in their habitats.

This could redefine our understanding of how salamanders move across diverse habitats, Brown said.
In her first press briefing, the youngest US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Senate has confirmed five of US President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees. In an emboldened voice, she warned non-US citizens who are planning to enter the country illegally, and said that they will immediately be deported. "So to foreign Nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again. Under this President, you will be detained and you will be deported. Every day Americans are safer because of the violent criminals that President Trump's Administration is removing from our communities," she said. In her briefing, Leavitt said that Trump's administration deported 'aliens'- a word used by Trump administration to refer to illegal immigrants- back to where they came from. "President Trump is back and the golden age of America has most definitely begun. The Senate has already confirmed five of Trump's exceptional cabinet nominees- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. It is imperative that the Senate continues to confirm the remainder of the president's well-qualified nominees as quickly as possible. As you have seen during the past week, President Trump is hard at work fulfilling the promises that he made to the American people on the campaign Trail," she said. Leavitt said that since he assumed office on January 20, Trump signed more than 300 executive orders and secured nearly USD 1 trillion dollars in US investments. "Since taking the oath of office, President Trump has taken more than 300 executive actions secured nearly USD 1 trillion dollars in US investments, deported illegal alien rapists gang members and suspected terrorists from our homeland and restored common sense to the federal government. I want to take a moment to go through some of these extraordinary actions," she said. Leavitt added that Trump declared a national emergency in the Southern border of the US to end the 'alien' invasion- referring to the entry of illegal immigrants. "On day one President Trump declared a national emergency at our Southern border to end the four-year-long invasion of illegal aliens under the previous administration. Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order to end Catch and Release and finish Construction of his effective border wall. by using every lever of his Federal power President Trump has sent a loud and clear message to the entire world- America will no longer tolerate illegal immigration and this President expects that every nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens," she said. Leavitt also talked of deported Columbian migrants, how Columbia initially refused to accept them, but after Trump threatened them of tariffs, the Columbian President Petro Gustavo sent a Presidential plane to receive them. "As proven by this weekend when President Trump swiftly directed his team to issue harsh and effective sanctions and tariffs on the Colombian government upon hearing they were denied a US military aircraft full of their own citizens who were deported by this Administration. Within hours, the Colombian government agreed to all of President Trump's demands proving America is once again respected on the world stage," she said. Leavitt said that the US is becoming safer as every day, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. She also gave examples for the same. "On January 23rd, ICE New York arrested a Turkish National for entry without inspection who is a known or suspected terrorist. On January 23rd, ICE San Francisco arrested a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States who has been convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child aged 14 years or younger. ICE St Paul has arrested a citizen of Honduras who was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. ICE Buffalo arrested a citizen of Ecuador who has been convicted of rape. ICE Boston arrested a citizen of the Dominican Republic who has a criminal conviction for second degree murder. This criminal was convicted of murder for beating his pregnant wife to death in front of her 5-year-old son. An ICE St Paul also arrested a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of possessing pornographic material of a minor on a work computer. These are the heinous individuals that this administration is removing from American communities every single day and to the brave state and local law enforcement officer CBP and ICE agents who are helping in the facilitation of this deportation operation. President Trump has your back and he is grateful for your hard work," she said. The Trump administration launched an immigration enforcement blitz across the US on Sunday that included multiple federal agencies and resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 people, CNN quoted Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (ANI)
(NewsNation)  More than 3,500 people were arrested during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in President Donald Trumps first week back in office.

More than half of those arrests took place over the weekend as the administration bolstered security with more than 1,500 active-duty troops and some 25,000 National Guard and Army Reserve troops stationed along the nations southern border.

Arrestees will soon outnumber the governments holding facilities, said Patrick J. Lechleitner, who served as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement director under President Joe Biden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I mean, were only appropriated for 41,500 beds up until the new administration came in, Lechleitner said. Thats [for] holding, from what I understand.

Chicagos sanctuary city status under investigation by feds

Ultimately, its resource-driven. Do we have the facilities? Do we have the bed space? Were going to require a lot more resources and money to do that. Thats in Congress hand, quite frankly, Lechleitner told NewsNation.

Right now, Congress is putting its focus on investigating sanctuary cities like Chicago, Boston, New York and Denver, whose leadership has refused to comply with Trumps plans for mass deportations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee sent letters to the cities mayors requesting more information about their efforts to assist with the raids.

NYC home to hundreds of thousands of undocumented people: Reports

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the committee, called for the mayors to testify before Congress next month.

Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety, Comer said in a statement Monday.

Its not yet confirmed whether the leaders will agree to appear before the committee.

NewsNations Mills Hayes 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 NewsNation.
BANGKOK (AP)  A 90-day freeze on foreign assistance programs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump has led to cuts in services to refugees from war-torn Myanmar, including the shutdown of hospital care in camps in Thailand where more than 100,000 are living, activists and Thai officials said Wednesday.

About 106,000 long-term refugees live in nine camps along Thailands western border with Myanmar, according to the Border Consortium, which coordinates and supplies food, shelter and other support to most of them. The consortium's mid-year report last year said the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration was its largest donor, contributing 69% of its funding.

Around 80% of the camps residents are from the Karen ethnic minority, whose homeland in eastern Myanmar in embroiled in combat. The Karen have been battling for greater autonomy from Myanmars central government for more than seven decades. Intermittent fighting escalated sharply after Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, causing more to flee across the border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen News, an online news site serving the Karen community, reported Wednesday that several charity groups and NGOs providing assistance for refugees from Myanmar suspended operations after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last Friday issued an order halting nearly all existing and new foreign aid.

On Tuesday, Rubio agreed to at least temporarily keep spending money on humanitarian programs that provide life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance, but it was not immediately clear which programs if any affecting refugees from Myanmar would be included.

All organizations relying on U.S. humanitarian assistance in the region have been affected. Some operations providing education, health care, and support for war-displaced communities have now been suspended, Karen News cited an unidentified worker at an NGO based in Mae Sot, in Thailands Tak province, as saying.

It said the groups included the New York-headquartered International Rescue Committee, or IRC, which provide hospital services at the border camps, had suspended their operations on Monday. IRC did not immediately comment on the situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thai officials said they were aware of the crisis and would ensure that seriously ill patients in the camps would be cared for in provincial Thai hospitals.

Chucheep Pongchai, the governor of Tak province, where three of the refugee camps are located, said 14 patients in a critical condition would be transferred to the provinces Tha Song Yang hospital.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the governments National Health Security Office has set aside the budget to assist those foreigners who cannot survive on their own.

No matter how U.S. policy has changed, we wont let anyone die in our land as long as we can support them, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Jesuit Refugee Service, a charity organization registered in Italy, said that as of Saturday it had suspended its Urban Refugee Program, which serves refugees outside the camps, including in the Thai capital Bangkok.

This is due to the suspension of funding from our main donor, the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the Jesuit Refugee Service said on its Facebook page. It said it could neither make nor take referrals or register new clients, and services to existing clients were also suspended.
By Saleem Ahmed

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - A man who had recently brought his family back to Pakistan from the United States on Wednesday confessed to shooting dead his teenage daughter, motivated by his disapproval of her TikTok content, Pakistani police said.

The shooting happened on a street in the southwestern city of Quetta on Tuesday. The suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, initially said that unidentified gunmen shot and killed his American-born, 15-year-old daughter before he confessed to the crime, police official Babar Baloch said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering," another police investigator, Zohaib Mohsin, said. "We have her phone. It is locked," he told Reuters. "We are probing all aspects, including honour killing."

The family had recently returned to Balochistan province in predominantly Muslim Pakistan, a nation with conservative social norms, having lived in the United States for about 25 years, Baloch said.

The suspect has U.S. citizenship, the officer said. He said Haq had told him his daughter began creating "objectionable" content on the social media platform TikTok when she lived in the United States.

He told police that she continued to share videos on the platform after returning to Pakistan. Baloch said the main suspect's brother-in-law had also been arrested in connection with the killing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said they had charged Haq with the murder. They did not offer proof of Haq's U.S. citizenship except for the suspect's own testimony and declined to say whether the U.S. embassy had been informed of the incident.

His family declined to respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

More than 54 million people use TikTok in Pakistan, a nation of 241 million. The government has blocked the video-sharing app several times in recent years over content moderation.

Islamabad often takes issue with what it terms "obscene content" with the social media platform, which has lately started complying with requests from Pakistan to remove certain content.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of community or family members over perceived damage to "honour", according to independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

That could involve eloping, posting social media content, fraternising with men, or any other infraction against conservative values relating to women.

(Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Ros Russell)
By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday moved to end the criminal case against two associates of President Donald Trump for allegedly helping to obstruct a probe into Trump's mishandling of classified documents, a court filing showed.

The pair, Trump's personal valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira, did not object to the prosecutor's decision, according to the filing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move would end the final remaining portion of the two prosecutions of Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who resigned from the Justice Department earlier this month ahead of Trump's return to the presidency. It still must be approved by a federal appeals court.

"Carlos should never have been charged in this case in the first place, and I have zero doubt that he would have been acquitted at trial," John Irving, a lawyer for De Oliveira, said in a statement. "Its nice to see the Justice Department using better judgment these days."

A lawyer for Nauta, Richard Klugh, told Reuters the decision was "absolutely the right thing."

Smith dropped both cases accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents and attempting to subvert the results of the 2020 election after Trump's November election win, citing long-standing department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But prosecutors previously indicated they would continue their case against Nauta and De Oliveira, who had been charged alongside Trump in the documents case.

Both pleaded not guilty to charges accusing them of helping Trump to obstruct the U.S. government's efforts to retrieve classified material at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump nominee, dismissed the charges against Trump and his co-defendants last year, ruling that Smith had been improperly appointed as special counsel.

Wednesday's move will likely leave that ruling in place. Prosecutors had been appealing the decision, arguing it conflicted with decades of prior court rulings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Justice Department, in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration, opted not to publicly release a portion of Smith's final report on the documents case out of concern it would interfere with the case against Nauta and De Oliveira.

Justice Department leaders under Trump have described Smith's cases as an abuse of the criminal justice system. Trump's acting attorney general on Monday fired more than a dozen lawyers who had worked on the investigation.

Separately, the Justice Department on Wednesday also sought to drop a case against former Republican Representative Jeff Fortenberry, who was awaiting trial in Washington on charges he made false statements to the FBI.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Scott Malone, Bill Berkrot and Alistair Bell)
By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Education said on Tuesday it was investigating whether the Denver school system discriminated against women and girls by converting a female bathroom into one for all genders.

Gender in schools has been a key issue for U.S. President Donald Trump and a hot-button topic around the country.

The department said Denver's East High School "now has an exclusive restroom for male students and no restroom for female students on its second floor."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department also said it received reports of all-gender restrooms in at least two other Denver schools.

Denver Public Schools spokesperson Scott Pribble said the school system was aware of the investigation.

"This bathroom was added as the result of a student-led process that reflects our commitment to inclusivity and student voice, leadership, and empowerment, providing a welcoming space for all," Pribble said in a statement.

He added that the all-gender bathroom has stalls with 12-foot-tall partitions for privacy and serves all students, including those "who may feel uncomfortable in gender-specific facilities."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Craig Trainor, an official in the education department's civil rights office, said, "Let me be clear: it is a new day in America, and under President Trump, (we) will not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

In a letter to Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero, Trainor cited Title IX of 1972 education law amendments as the basis for the investigation. The law prohibits "discrimination on the basis of sex" by education programs that receive federal money.

When Trump took office on Jan. 20, he declared the federal government would only recognize two sexes - male and female. A lawsuit filed on Tuesday challenges a Trump executive order targeting transgender military members.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Kentucky struck down an initiative of former President Joe Biden that barred discrimination by schools and colleges, ruling that Title IX permits sex-specific bathrooms, dorms and other facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If found to have violated Title IX, a school can face penalties including loss of federal funding but settlements have historically been more common.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Colorado; editing by Donna Bryson, Bill Berkrot and Cynthia Osterman)
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver on Tuesday for life-saving humanitarian assistance during a 90-day pause in foreign aid while Washington undertakes a review, according to a State Department memo seen by Reuters.

Just hours after taking office a week ago, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the pause so foreign aid contributions could be reviewed to see if they align with his "America First" foreign policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The waiver issued on Tuesday for life-saving aid comes after Rubio initially gave an exemption on Friday for emergency food assistance.

Rubio defined life-saving humanitarian assistance as core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.

"This waiver does not apply to activities that involve abortions, family planning conferences, administrative costs ... gender or DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-life saving assistance," Rubio's memo said.

The U.S. foreign aid pause risks cutting off billions of dollars of life-saving assistance. The United States is the largest single donor of aid globally. In fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was initial confusion among U.S. lawmakers, aid groups and the United Nations over the scope of Trump's order. That was partially cleared up on Friday, when the State Department issued a "stop-work" order for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, according to a cable seen by Reuters.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for the United States to consider additional exemptions to "ensure continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities."

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; writing by Michelle Nichols; editing by Costas Pitas and Sonali Paul)
A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administrations Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that sought to freeze up to $3 billion in funding for various U.S. federal aid programs, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Jan. 28.

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, appointed by President Biden, issued an administrative stay, delaying the funding freeze until Monday.

The decision came after a virtual court hearing in which AliKhan listened to arguments from the Department of Justice and multiple plaintiffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One lawsuit was filed by activist group Democracy Forward, and a separate case was filed by attorneys general from 22 states and D.C.

Trumps administration has now temporarily halted not only international but also federal aid, including the issuance of new grants and loans. The freeze will affect programs in the U.S., including preschools, medical research facilities, low-income food initiatives, housing assistance, and disaster relief organizations.

Previously on Jan. 24, as one of Trumps first orders since assuming office, the U.S. State Department suspended almost all foreign aid, including non-military assistance to Ukraine.

The step threw Ukrainian NGOs, many reliant on U.S. support, into disarray, with some voicing concerns about their ability to survive the aid freeze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine currently tops the recipient list of U.S. development assistance as it continues to face Russias war, official data shows.

The White House and State Department stated that the pause, in both domestic and international aid, is necessary to review programs and ensure their funding aligns with the president's priorities.

Read also: US suspends Ukrainian refugee program after Trumps immigration order

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Of the six Chinese military aircraft, three crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and Southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, "6 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and Southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1884406110750478696

Notably, Chinese activity has risen around Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Taiwan reported six Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around itself.

Taiwanese MND said that their armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1884043723245310195

This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, raising concerns over regional stability as Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island.

Earlier on Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has raised concerns over Beijing's coercion against Taiwan during a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Focus Taiwan reported, citing the US Department of State.

According to Focus Taiwan, Rubio emphasized the United States' "commitment to our allies in the region and serious concern over China's coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a readout following the phone call on Friday (Washington time).

Bruce also quoted Rubio as stating that the US will pursue a relationship with Beijing that "advances US interests and puts the American people first."

This was Rubio's first phone call as Secretary of State with Wang, who is also the director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Commission. (ANI)
An internal US Navy email told service members not to use the Chinese AI app DeepSeek.

The memo is a reminder of the Navy policy against using open-source AI for official work.

DeepSeek recently surpassed ChatGPT as the Apple App Store's top free app.

The US Navy told some service members they shouldn't use AI apps, including the Chinese startup DeepSeek's app.

A Navy memo sent last week said DeepSeek's artificial intelligence should not be used "in any capacity" because of "potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model's origin and usage."

News of the memo was earlier reported by CNBC.

A Navy official told Business Insider that the email was distributed to fewer than 40 personnel and notified them that DeepSeek fit into 2023 Department of the Navy guidance telling service members not to use AI tools. Various open-source AI tools are publicly available, including popular ones like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2023 guidance said that using commercial generative AI models posed a "unique security risk" with the potential for "data compromise."

The official said the email was intended for a smaller audience within the Navy but was circulated more broadly. They called it "the forwarding effect."

A Navy spokesperson said the memo aimed to remind service members of its AI policy and was not part of a new ban.

"The internal correspondence was a reminder to colleagues of standing Navy guidance against the use of any publicly accessible, open-source AI programs or systems for official work," the spokesperson said. "DeepSeek was mentioned as the most recent example of how the standing guidance applies."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeepSeek has made headlines as an apparently low-cost alternative to American-made AI tools like ChatGPT and briefly sparked a sudden, sharp downturn in US markets this week. The Chinese AI company was started in 2023, and its app recently surpassed ChatGPT as the Apple App Store's top free app and remained in the No. 1 spot as of Wednesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The News

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek could pose a threat to national security, US officials said.

The US Navy reportedly banned members from using its apps over potential security and ethical concerns, and a White House spokesperson said the federal government was examining possible security implications.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trumps AI czar said there was substantial evidence that DeepSeek had trained its apparently groundbreaking R1 model on OpenAIs ChatGPT in a breach of intellectual property law, a claim echoed by OpenAI itself.

The release of R1 shocked the world last week as it appeared to achieve cutting-edge results using a fraction of the computing power of other leading models, driving a huge sell-off in AI and tech stocks.
New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made new exceptions in his decision to freeze foreign aid funding.

Source: The Washington Post, citing Rubios statement, as reported by European Pravda

Rubio has agreed to continue funding humanitarian programmes that provide "core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, he did not grant exceptions for programmes related to "abortions, family planning conferences  gender", diversity initiatives, "transgender surgeries, or other non-lifesaving assistance".

Quote: "Implementers of existing lifesaving humanitarian assistance programmes should continue or resume work if they have stopped," states a memorandum published on Tuesday.

The document also emphasises that this resumption is only temporary. "This resumption is temporary in nature, and except by separate waiver or as required to carry out this waiver, no new contracts shall be entered into," it states.

Some officials, speaking anonymously, said they are still seeking clarity on what qualifies as "lifesaving activity".

Background:

Last week, Rubio ordered a freeze on all new foreign aid payments pending review.

Officials and NGO workers in Ukraine have warned that without the Secretary of States approval, critical programmes  such as support for schools and hospitals, as well as efforts to develop economic and energy infrastructure  could face disruption.

Rubios directive does include some exceptions, notably for military funding to Israel and Egypt, as well as foreign emergency food aid.

Meanwhile, US military assistance remains unaffected by the freeze and continues flowing to Ukraine under decisions made by the previous Biden administration.

Support UP or become our patron!
US senators heard sharply different analyses about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal on Wednesday, with some experts suggesting solutions ranging from enhanced trade partnerships to military intervention to regain control of the strategic waterway.

The hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee attempted to examine President Donald Trump's claims that China has gained undue control over the canal, which the US transferred to Panama in 1999 under terms of a 1977 treaty.

Trump has contended that Panama's authorisation of increased Chinese commercial activity violates the canal's neutrality agreement.

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.

"We gave it [the canal] to Panama, not China, and we're taking it back," Trump declared in his inauguration address, alleging treaty breaches to support a potential intervention.

But China's direct involvement remains a matter of debate. In 2018, a Chinese state-owned enterprise - China Harbour Engineering Company - secured a US$1.4 billion contract to construct the canal's fourth bridge.

US lawmakers have raised concerns about Hutchison Port Holdings, a Hong Kong-based private company operating the Balboa and Cristobal ports at the canal's Atlantic and Pacific entrances. The firm received a 25-year operating extension in 2021.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hutchison is not involved in managing the canal itself. But Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who is the committee's chair, said that the company's mere presence in ports near the Atlantic and Pacific access routes could constitute a violation of the 1977 treaty's neutrality clause.

Cruz said that Article Five of the treaty "limits any foreign control", and speculated that as the Communist Party advanced "its global economic contest" against Washington, it might develop a "militaristic interest in the canal".

Eugene Kontorovich, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, testified that while determining a treaty violation "is a mixed question of law and fact", either party can decide if terms have been breached.

"It was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides separately the right to resort to use armed force to enforce [its] provisions".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike typical international agreements requiring third-party arbitration, Kontorovich said, the Panama Canal treaty grants both parties independent authority to assess violations of its neutrality.

Thus, under Article Five, "we can decide that the neutrality regime is being threatened and then act with whatever is necessary to maintain the neutral channel unilaterally," Kontorovich said, suggesting possible military measures.

Whether the operations of a Hong Kong company would constitute a violation of the principle of neutrality, he acknowledged, "is a mixed question of law".

"[If the] Chinese government was involved in procuring these contracts, [although it] strongly provides sort of additional support for the notion that these companies are serving some kind of governmental interest, it wouldn't be a violation," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Louis Sola, chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, told the committee that "American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure by supporting US firms".

But asked by Senator Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, about potential blockades by Hutchison Ports or the Chinese government, Sola said he had no evidence of interference.

Instead, he noted that the treaty transferred "not just the canal, but all the land and water around it", including port facilities.

Thus, Sola contended, Hutchison's port operations at both canal entrances theoretically enabled the company to "block traffic" if desired.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kim rejected calls for US intervention, saying that aggressive rhetoric could undermine the Panama Canal Authority's independence.

Senator Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, said that aggressive US rhetoric about the canal could harm bilateral relations with Panama and help China's standing in Central America. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Senator Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, said that aggressive US rhetoric about the canal could harm bilateral relations with Panama and help China's standing in Central America. Photo: EPA-EFE>

Kim challenged the Republican stance, arguing that their suggestions of treaty violations and military intervention could damage US-Panama relations and wind up boosting Chinese influence in Central America.

"We try to have nuance and precision with words that we use," Kim said. "Otherwise, it very much looks like some of what we talk about is going to be perceived as undermining the Panama Canal Authority."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, the committee's senior Democrat, said she was "deeply concerned" about China's growing sway over critical infrastructure in Latin America and called for senators to travel to Panama to verify Trump's claims.

She also argued that any Chinese influence needed to be countered by modernising free trade agreements and an "aggressive strategy" of infrastructure investment.

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.
The United States has transferred around 90 Patriot air defense interceptors from storage in Israel to Poland for delivery to Ukraine, sources familiar with the operation told Axios.

The transfer comes as part of efforts by the Pentagon to bolster Ukraines air defense capabilities against Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. This marks the most significant delivery of weapons involving Israel to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

The Patriot air defense system was officially decommissioned by the Israeli Air Force in April 2023, over three decades after it was first provided to Israel during the Gulf War. With Israel now relying on its own advanced air defense technologies, such as the Iron Dome, the Patriot system had been relegated to training or storage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following its retirement, Ukrainian officials approached both the U.S. and Israel with a proposal to return the missiles to the U.S. for refurbishment and subsequent delivery to Ukraine, Axios reports.

Despite the plan, Israel initially delayed its decision due to concerns that Russia might retaliate by supplying advanced weaponry to Iran. According to a Ukrainian official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to engage in discussions about the proposal for weeks. However, Netanyahu reportedly approved the transfer in late September.

The Ukrainian official alleged that Netanyahu sought a concession from President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding an annual pilgrimage of ultra-Orthodox Israelis to Uman, Ukraine, before agreeing to the Patriot deal. Netanyahus office has denied any connection between the two issues.

In preparation for the transfer, U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo planes recently transported the interceptors from an air base in southern Israel to Rzeszow, Poland, a key logistics hub for military aid to Ukraine. Along with the interceptors, additional equipment, such as radars, will be sent to the U.S. for refurbishment before final delivery to Ukraine. The interceptors are compatible with the Patriot batteries already operational in Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An Israeli official said that Russia was informed in advance of the transfer, emphasizing that Israel was merely returning the Patriots to the U.S. rather than directly supplying weapons to Ukraine. The official compared the move to a prior U.S. decision to transfer artillery shells from storage in Israel to Ukraine. A spokesperson for Netanyahus office confirmed that the Patriot system had been returned to the U.S. but said they had no knowledge of whether the interceptors had been sent to Ukraine.

Read also: Germany to deploy Patriot at Polands key hub for Ukraine aid by end of January

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- The US called for an immediate truce in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a top United Nations official said the city of Goma is straining under the assault of Rwanda-backed rebels.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Tuesday that the US is deeply troubled by the escalating violence in Congo, the State Department said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kigali has long denied US, European Union and United Nations-expert allegations that it trains and supports the M23 rebel movement that effectively captured parts of Goma on Monday and continues to fight the DRCs military for control of the key trading hub in the mineral-rich region.

The secretary urged an immediate ceasefire in the region, and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity, the State Department said in a statement.

Kagame said in a statement on X that his conversation with Rubio was productive and focused on the need to ensure a ceasefire in eastern DRC and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.

The assault by the M23 rebels on Goma has raised concerns about a wider conflict between Rwanda and Congo, which fought two wars in the 1990s that left millions of people dead and continues to destabilize the region. Fighting continued on Tuesday, though the streets were relatively calm by the afternoon after M23 took control of an important part of the city, the UN said in a communique.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rwanda denies supporting M23, which says it revived a rebellion in 2021 to protect ethnic Tutsis and other speakers of the Rwandan language in Congo. The group last took Goma in 2012, triggering widespread condemnation and sanctions by the international community.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the violence in Goma, electricity has failed across parts of the city, water supplies have been contaminated and hospitals are full, according to Vivian van de Perre, the UNs deputy special representative in Congo.

Bases Bombed

UN peacekeeping bases dont have enough space or resources for those seeking protection, she said from Goma. The bases themselves have been hit by mortars and bullets. Humanitarian agencies including the World Food Programme have also paused aid delivery to the city for security reasons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most members of the UN Security Council, which met on Tuesday for the second time in less than two days to discuss the crisis, urged Rwanda to halt its military incursion.

Sign up for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter for the latest business and economic news from the continent.

Dorothy Shea, the interim US charge daffairs to the UN, asked the organization to consider measures to halt the territorial advances by Rwandan troops and the M23. The US is concerned that M23 and Rwanda are opening up a bloody new front of this conflict in the nearby gold-rich South Kivu province, she said.

Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Congos foreign minister, pleaded with the Security Council to sanction Rwandan officials and block the nations weapons purchases and mineral sales.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What is the degree of humanitarian disaster and flagrant violations of our territory that needs to be achieved for you to condemn the perpetrators in the M23, the Rwandan officers and their accomplices? Wagner asked. If this council does not condemn them, this will go down in history as a time of powerlessness and indifference of the Security Council.

Meanwhile, Rwandas UN ambassador, Ernest Rwamucyo, argued that his countrys defensive posture along its borders was justified by saying that Congolese army shells had killed five Rwandan civilians and wounded 35.

The conflict in eastern Congo has simmered since the mid-1990s when the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide spilled over the border.

Earlier on Tuesday in Congos capital, Kinshasa, protesters ransacked the Rwandan and Ugandan embassies and threw rocks and lit fires outside the embassies of Kenya, Belgium, France, the US, and at the UN Development Program building. Wagner apologized for the destruction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rwamucyo said his country would stand down if a Rwandan Hutu rebel group in Congo was neutralized, foreign troops supporting the Congolese withdrew, UN peacekeepers halted their support for Congos army and if all parties adhered to a ceasefire.

--With assistance from Nurin Sofia.

(Updates with comment by Kagame in fifth paragraph and details throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  A United States-based watchdog on Wednesday launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Philippines and said the silence of Filipino bishops on the crimes amounted to a cover-up.

The Philippines is the third-largest Roman Catholic nation in the world, and public discussions of sexual assaults by members of the clergy, who are revered especially in rural regions, has long been generally muted.

None of the 82 members of the clergy, including seven bishops, who have been included in the new online database on clergy sexual abuses by the group BishopAccountability.org had been convicted in any Philippine court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The database featured their faces, names and details of their alleged sexual assaults on minors, some of which dated back more than two decades ago. The nonprofit said that it had also set up such online databases on Catholic clergy abuses in the U.S., Argentina, Chile and Ireland.

Anne Barrett Doyle, a director of BishopAccountability.org, said that the long silence of bishops in the Philippines encouraged such sexual assaults by members of the clergy. She asked Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials, who failed to report abuses.

"Philippine bishops feel entitled to their silence. They feel entitled to withhold information about sexual violence toward minors. They feel entitled to defend accused priests, Doyle said at a news conference in Manila.

What we hope to achieve is raise awareness, she said. Secrecy only benefits the perpetrators. Secrecy equals complicity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, a Philippine church leader, said that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has set up an office to safeguard minors and vulnerable adults and report complaints to the Vatican.

"Our mandate from Rome is to take the issue of accountability very seriously, especially those related to alleged abuse cases involving priests, David said, without elaborating.

"The external mechanisms that have forced accountability by Catholic bishops elsewhere  litigation by victims, probes of church entities by prosecutors, inquiries by government commissions and substantial investigations by local news media  have occurred little or not at all in the worlds third largest Catholic country, BishopAccountability.org said of the Philippines.

Some of the members of the clergy included in the database have been cleared of charges and allowed to return to church work and ministry, regaining close access to potential victims, the nonprofit, which has been tracking the sexual abuse crisis haunting the Roman Catholic Church since the group's founding in 2003, said with alarm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The names of priests and other clerics included in the database were collected from news reports, publicly filed court documents and church pronouncements, the group said, and added that the list of 82 clerics linked to sexual abuses in the Philippines may just be the tip of the iceberg."

Gemma Hickey, a victim of clergy sexual abuse who spoke at the news conference in Manila, said that victims suffer long after they have been assaulted.

"Its survivors that serve a life sentence. Many of the priests who have abused us get to carry on with their lives. They dont face jail time. Some of them retire, move on with their lives, move on even to other careers and escape under the radar, Hickey said.

"But survivors are trapped in a prison of memory, Hickey said.

___

Nicole Winfield in Rome, and Joeal Calupitan in Manila, contributed to this report.

.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  This week, UT Tyler hosted a kick-off event to celebrate their School of Nursings 50th anniversary.

UT Tyler University Academy ranked one of the best

The event was a tribute to the schools 1975 inception as the Division of Nursing at the Texas Eastern University, which eventually became UT Tyler.

UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley spoke about how the School of Nursing has been a centerpiece of the university since 1975 and thanked the East Texas community for their constant support of the school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The School of Nursing has been a cornerstone of UT Tyler since its inception and we couldnt have gotten here without support from the UT System and the East Texas community, said Philey.

Dr. Barbara K. Haas, School of Nursing dean, with founding mothers Dr. Marian Rowe and Dr. Doris Riemen. Photo courtesy of UT Tyler.

The schools three bachelors degree options, five masters degrees, three doctoral programs and six certificates currently represent more than 25% of UT Tylers overall enrollment.

During the event, two of the schools founders, Marian Rowe and Doris Riemen, were given special recognition. The third founding mother Barbara Cushin, passed away in 1998.

Riemen spoke about how much the program has grown since it first started fifty years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fifty years ago, we were established as a BSN completion program, Riemen said. We enrolled 24 students a year and thought our Selectric typewriters were just super. So much has changed, but what hasnt changed is the School of Nursings culture of caring for each other, our students and East Texas.

Through its partnerships with UT Tyler Health and Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler is working to create quality education, cutting edge research and excellent patient care.

To learn more, visit the UT Tyler School of Nursing online.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Students wait in line to go to lunch at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Classroom sizes in Utah are climbing, which lawmakers partially attribute to a trickle effect of the southern border crisis. And, being able to cater to students who are in the process of learning English has become unsustainable with current resources, teachers have told their representatives.

Thats what moved Herriman Republican Rep. Candice Pierucci to draft HB42, or English Learner Amendments, a bill that would provide certain schools with emergency funding to respond to a significant increase in English language learner enrollment. The House Education Committee unanimously recommended the bill for full House consideration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

With the legislation, Utah would allocate $500,000 a year for that endeavor. That money would come from untapped funds from the at-risk weighted pupil unit, a measure used by the state to assign additional funding to students based on their scores or other needs.

As of now, Pierucci calculates that four school districts would be eligible for the funds.

We had one school that had almost 100 students show up on the first day of school that had never been registered and didnt speak English, Pierucci said on Tuesday. So this bill is trying to really be a shot in the arm and truly emergency funding for those really serious situations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schools would be eligible to apply for the funds if they experience at least a 75% enrollment uptick of English learners compared to the previous three-year averages, but to be considered, there should be at least 30 kids in need of the resources. The Utah State Board of Education would review the applications and determine which schools have the most significant increases, Pierucci said.

According to the bill, the schools should also demonstrate their existing funds are insufficient to adequately support the increase of English-learning students.

The numbers are significant, Pierucci said. The Jordan School District had a 108% increase in English-learning students, Alpine had a 139% increase and Canyons saw a 107% rise.

A lot of the districts Ive talked to have said theyd use it for English language certification, to upscale the amount of staff they have who can have these students and help specialize in making sure their learning needs are met, Pierucci said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new federal administration is already conducting an immigration overhaul, but Pierucci doesnt foresee an immediate change in the schools needs.

So what you will likely see, and as we have seen the Trump administration secure the border and start, in many cases, working through deportation, you might start seeing this aggressive jump in percentages come down, Pierucci said. I think it will take quite some time for that to come down.

And, there are many people living in the U.S. legally who still dont speak English, she added.

Would Salt Lake City schools be eligible?

Different student advocacy groups, and even a mayor, expressed their support for the bill during the public comment hearing. However, some worried that these funds may not be available to some school districts with high needs and who host some of the most diverse populations in the state, including the Salt Lake City and Granite school districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the speakers who addressed the House Education Committee was Liliana Bolanos, policy analyst at Voices for Utah Children. She said that in her job, she has met with several educators who have confirmed the need for a program like this.

Let us know what you think...

This bill would not only support newcomer or immigrant students, but also benefit all students who speak a different language at home, reflecting the diverse and vibrant communities that make up our state, Bolanos told the committee.

However, Bolanos urged lawmakers to make funds more accessible to schools that have historically had higher numbers of English language learners that may not meet the threshold set in the bill.

For example, Salt Lake City School District, which has a significant population of English learners, would not qualify for this funding under the current criteria, she said, despite being in urgent need for these resources to support their diverse student body.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lorin Palmer, mayor of Herriman, spoke in support of the bill as well. His city, which is part of the Jordan School District, would be served by the policy.

Palmer argued that while immigration is a national issue, often, local government and school districts are left to manage the real impacts.

Schools are tasked with providing education and support to every student, regardless of their background. The increase in English language learning students has created a significant challenge for schools in our community and across the state, Palmer said. This bill will provide critical resources to help schools adapt to these challenges, meeting the needs of students while maintaining the quality of education we all expect.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal visited Shiva Temple in Muscat, which is one of the oldest temples in the Gulf. On visit on Tuesday, Goyal said, is a testament to India and Oman's enduring cultural and spiritual bond. In a post on X, he said, "Offered prayers at the historic Shiva Temple in Muscat, a testament to India and Oman's enduring cultural and spiritual bond. As one of the oldest temples in the Gulf, it symbolises mutual respect and warm ties between our people. Sought blessings for the continued growth and prosperity of both nations." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1884268123152335054 Earlier in the day, Goyal visited Royal Academy of Management and spoke at the Future Leaders Programme. In a post on X, he said, "Visited the Royal Academy of Management in Oman and spoke at the Future Leaders Programme. It was inspiring to interact with Omani youth, the torchbearers of tomorrow. Also shared insights on leadership and their role in elevating India-Oman relations to new heights." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1884266848386179571 The Academy in a post on X said that Goyal also learned about the academy's activirties. "H.E. Piyush Goyal, India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, visited the Royal Academy Of Management, where he learned about the academy's activities. During his visit, he shared insights on leadership and economics in a session with graduates of the Future Leaders Programme." https://x.com/RoyalAcademy_OM/status/1884273430289355069 Goyal visited Oman on January 27-28 and co-chaired the 11th Session of the India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM). The meeting was co-chaired by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman. JCM saw productive discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, technology, food security, renewable energy and other key areas. The Minister held a productive bilateral meeting with Minister Qais during which he undertook a detailed review of the bilateral trade and economic relations between India and Oman and identified concrete steps to further strengthen the mutually beneficial business ties, an official release said. (ANI)
People rally in support of transgender rights at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the first day of the legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The Utah House passed HB269, a bill that would require public universities that provide on-campus housing to only rent sex-designated rooms to biological females and biological males, as Democrats made an emotional appeal against making LGBTQ+ Utahns fearful to live in the state.

The bill passed along party lines, 59-13, with three people absent or not voting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, ahead of Tuesdays vote reaffirmed her bill provides greater privacy for students living in on-campus housing.

The legislation came following a viral social media post from a mother of a Utah State University student complaining to the school because her daughter was sharing a common space with a transgender resident assistant, who had been randomly assigned to live in the dorm.

Let us know what you think...

In an emotional speech on the House floor, Rep. Sahara Hayes, D-Millcreek, said she finds it disingenuous that people say the bill is about privacy and the safety of students, especially because the resident assistant has been doxxed online.

The LGBTQ community is so tired, she said. We are so tired of being scared every year when this body meets because we dont know how were going to be targeted. We dont know how our loved ones and our families are going to be targeted, but its starting to feel inevitable that it will happen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hayes said she wants every student to feel safe on their campuses, but there has to be respect for different beliefs, values and identities.

It behooves us to remember that this is the fourth year in a row that this body has deliberately singled out transgender students for exclusionary practices. she said.

Last week, protesters gathered on the first day of the legislative session at the Capitol to protest legislation restricting the lives of the trans community.

In a statement, Utah House Democrats said they were heartbroken that yet another bill targeting transgender individuals had passed out of the House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We stand firmly against legislation rooted in fear and harmful rhetoric, the statement said. To Utahs trans community: this is your home. You belong here. You have a community that loves and supports you, and we will continue fighting for your rights, dignity and inclusion.

Opponents of the bill also challenged its constitutionality. Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, said because the courts are still trying to outline the meaning of the Equal Protection Clause in the Constitution, it might be best to wait on a bill like this one.

Where the courts are very active, were very likely signing the state up for extensive litigation over this kind of issue, and I think it would be prudent of us to wait, he said. I dont think theres a pressing need that this bill addresses. People can address the situation right on the ground by a roommate requesting a change of a dorm room.

USUs current housing policy allows students in single housing units to request a room change at any time if there are available rooms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a fairly simple solution if theres discomfort on the part of any person that doesnt require legislation by this body, Owens added.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
In an effort to support young families, a bill expanding child tax credit in Utah to include a wider age range of children was introduced in the Utah Legislature.

HB316 is sponsored by Rep. Mark Strong, R-Bluffdale, and if it passes, then the child tax credit will expand to include children both younger and older than were previously eligible.

We are trying to give support to young families, its just harder and harder to raise children, Strong said. Wed also love to encourage young families to have children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Strong did emphasize that the purpose of the child tax credit is to help lower income families.

If a family can stay financially solvent, and then if they can stay emotionally solvent, children thrive, Strong said. It has lasting effects upon the child, upon our schools, upon our economy, and onward.

Who would be eligible for the child tax credit under this new bill?

This bill essentially does one thing, and that is expanding the ages of children eligible for child tax credit. Under this bill all children under the age of 6 years old, including infants, would be eligible for the tax credit.

The child tax credit allows parents to claim a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,000 for each qualifying child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even though the effective date for the bill is May 7, the tax credit will apply for the taxable year starting back on Jan. 1.

Because the child tax credit is meant to help lower income families, there are reductions for the tax credit based on if the claimants income exceeds a certain amount.

What children were previously eligible for the tax credit?

Currently the child tax credit applies to children at least 1 year old and under 5 years old.

Last year, a bill passed through the Legislature which raised the maximum age up from under 4 years old to under 5 years old, as previously reported by the Deseret News.

Strong said he is unsure if the child tax credit will continue to expand from here and he hasnt spoken with anyone about it yet.

What is the cost of this bill?

This expansion of the child tax credit will come with a cost to the government. It will reduce the amount of taxes collected by the sate by $4 million.
A bill that would set robust requirements for free-standing emergency rooms across the Wasatch Front advanced through the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Katy Hall, R-South Ogden, HB152 sets requirements for the amount of staff and lists certain equipment that freestanding emergency rooms across the state need to have.

These are the standards that we came up with in the bill and we think and hope that its going to increase the public safety, increase awareness that these are great places to go, Hall said. If you have an emergency, you can feel confident in where youre going, thats what were working towards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These free standing, or satellite, emergency departments are health care facilities that provide emergency or critical care away from a main hospital campus that are operated under the license of the parent hospital.

Hall said that as more of these facilities are created in Utah, many of them do not have the necessary staff or equipment to provide proper emergency care.

I feel like Utah has a chance to decide what we want our emergency care to be, and we have a duty to the public and consumer trust, Hall said.

What requirements does the bill set?

This bill sets specific requirements for freestanding emergency rooms in first- and second-class counties around Utah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It requires these facilities to have at least two registered nurses, a respiratory therapist and a lab technician. Specific equipment to provide services such as CT scans, X-rays and sonograms are also required.

The number of satellite emergency rooms in Utah is growing, and the bill sets limitations on how many one hospital can have.

If the bill passes, any facilities that do not meet these requirements will not be able to identify themselves as providing emergency or critical care services.

This bill will also make it so emergency departments are more transparent and identifiable, including signage that says patients will have to pay emergency room prices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is meant to help those who dont necessarily need an emergency room, especially because of the cost of emergency care. If patients are experiencing something that isnt truly an emergency then they can go to an Instacare for a lower cost, Hall said.

Medical care is so expensive a person without insurance can go bankrupt from a single visit, and when thats needed, thats whats needed, but the person needs to know what theyre choosing, said Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Bountiful.

Why are these requirements necessary?

Hall started working on this bill last year after she was approached by a physician at one of these freestanding emergency departments. This constituent shared with her some of the issues that are seen at these departments, including them being understaffed and not having all the necessary equipment for emergency care providers to properly do their jobs.

His position was, this is not allowing us to do our job to the best of our abilities as emergency physicians, Hall said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the committee hearing, Rae Shelley Larsen, a nurse at one of these facilities shared her personal experience and why she thinks these changes are needed.

I am concerned about safety with our staffing and giving our patients the best care, it is a safety issue, Larsen said.

She shared that without the necessary staff she ends up doing the jobs of a lab tech and a respiratory therapist, both of which she is not fully trained or qualified to do, on top of being a nurse.

We love the work that we do in our community, and we understand and our community loves us. They come to us and they trust us, and Im afraid that trust that theyve been giving us that we are going to not be able to uphold that trust in our community that we have established, Larsen said.

This bill was originally introduced in 2024

Hall first started working on this bill over a year ago. It was introduced in last years legislative session and after passing through the House it was stopped in the Senate. She said that she worked hard over the interim to make the necessary changes to please all the stakeholders and get this bill through.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its tough when you have something that youre passionate about and that you know is for the public good not pass, Hall said. But at the same time, that just makes me want to try even harder to make something happen and come up with the right policy.

Hall shared that she worked hard over the year, meeting with physicians, nurses and hospital administrators as well as visiting facilities from all four hospital systems, in order to prepare the bill for this legislative session.

She pointed out that she had to make a few compromises and concessions to get all the stakeholders on board with the bill. One of these necessary changes was that if a facility cannot get a respiratory therapist that position could be filled by someone else with respiratory training such as an emergency medical technician.

There are lots of things that shes required in this field that just makes sense, and the ones that didnt we were able to find compromise, and I think weve gotten everything that we need, said Francis Gibson with the Utah Hospital Association.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A northern Utah man was arrested on Monday after he allegedly sent child sex abuse material (also known as child pornography) via the mobile app Kik.

Ned Brady Hansen, 54, was arrested on eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, each a second-degree felony. According to arrest documents, there were eight separate instances of the content being shared by Hansens Kik account in November 2024.

Man arrested at Utah nursing home decades after Hawaii murder

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In November 2024, the service provider Kik filed a CyberTipline with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the explicit files, and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force with the Utah Attorney Generals Office began an investigation into Hansens account.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Box Elder County, investigators determined that the email account associated with Hansens Kik account was also connected to a home construction and renovation business owned by Brady H.

Further investigation and a warrant served on Google returned the name of the email account holder as Brady Hansen, in addition to a phone number assigned to Ned Brady Hansen. Investigators also determined the IP address provided in the NCMEC report was used to sign into Hansens Kik account and his email account.

Investigators issued a warrant to the internet service provider and found Hansens home address. Detectives with the Brigham City Police Department executed a search warrant at Hansens home on the morning of Jan. 27, 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hansen was the only person in the home at the time of his arrest. He was booked into the Box Elder County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

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.
Moms, dads and students gathered at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday, January 2025 to debate amendments to homeschooling requirements .

Currently, Utah parents who wish to homeschool their children must undergo a background check.

HB209 would remove background checks and relieve school boards of liability in the event that parents misrepresent civil abuse convictions when filing for approval to homeschool.

Homeschool parents unite in favor of the bill

Representative Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele, sponsored HB209.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She told the House Education Committee that HB209 seeks mainly to amend confusing wording that led some school districts, but not all, to seek background checks on homeschooling parents.

My faith teaches me that every child is unique, theyre made in the image of God, theyre worthy of protection... The only thing that this bill would change is it would remove references to those (that) homeschool, said Home School Legal Defense attorney Peter Kamakawiwoole, who joined Pecks presentation.

It will remain a crime for a parent or any other adult to abuse a child, to exploit a child, to kidnap a child.

Homeschooling mothers and fathers from all over Utah Valley voiced support for Pecks bill at the hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This bill is about making things simpler and more efficient for both families and school districts, testified UHOPE Chair and Homeschool Hub Co-Executive Director Britany Sproul.

We homeschool for so many... reasons, said Hannah Kleeberger, a longtime homeschooling parent. Our relationships with our kids are so wonderful...they know and love each other so well. Were also able to tailor the academics and all of their opportunities outside of the house.

Parents dont need background checks to parent their children, she told the Deseret News.

Adelaida Dunn, 15, left, and Korbin Butcher, 12, center, both listen to Improv Academy program director Joey Mascio, right, while he gives advice on how to improve their improvised performances during an Improv Academy Class for homeschooled children at ComedySportz Utah in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

(Homeschooling is) really fun... The part I like most is that you get to be with your mom, said Hannahs youngest son, Sam Kleeberger, who is homeschooled. She can help me in the ways that a public-school teacher cant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every member of the public at the hearing, as well as every committee member, indicated their support for homeschooling.

A history of homeschooling in Utah

Utah has long established itself as an American bastion for homeschooling. It ranks third-best in the nation for quality and seventh-most for number of homeschooling students per capita, per a 2023 study by Age of Learning.

Families, not state government, lead the push for Utah homeschooling. Parent-organized groups like Homeschool Hub connects homeschooling families with co-ops and enrichment programs, while UHOPE Coalition provides guidance for new homeschooling parents and advocates for homeschooling interests in the arena of public policy.

For its part, the state offers millions of dollars in scholarships to private- or homeschooling students in the form of the Utah Fits All scholarship, which offers 10,000 scholarships worth $8000 each.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill passed unanimously. Now it will go to the Senate for further consideration.

This is really a wonderful, empowering moment for families... When the parents realize okay, this is all me, this is all my responsibility  as a homeschooler, that can feel heavy, said Peck. But it also feels like, but the state thinks I can do it. The school is thinking I can do it... So I can do it. Its an empowering moment. 
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  On Monday, Jan. 27, the Trump administration issued a memo and directed federal agencies to pause the disbursement of loans and grants  a move that caused panic and confusion for many.

This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the Presidents priorities, the Jan. 27 memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reads.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admins freeze on federal grants, loans

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The funding freeze  which was set to begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28  was blocked by a federal judge just minutes before going into effect. The temporary administrative stay lasts until the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 3, and applies only to existing programs.

What could the freeze mean for Utahns?

Utah lawmakers say they dont yet know the full impact of the Trump administrations plan, but they are working to learn more.

Officials with the Trump administration said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans  such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans, and food stamps  would not be affected by the freeze, according to the Associated Press.

Utahs state budget for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year  of more than $28.12 billion  is projected to include more than $7.7 million of revenue from federal funds, according to the states Compendium of Budget Information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im trying to wrap my head around this. Its a shock, Senate President J. Stuart Adams (R- District 7) said of the funding freeze on Tuesday.

From the perspective of some Utah Democrats, the federal freeze has caused unnecessary alarm and confusion.

We have a lot of the agencies that usually help a lot of the working, poor families trying to figure out and not panic at this situation, Sen. Minority Leader Luz Escamilla (D  District 10) said.

On Jan. 28, several Utah agencies reported seeing error messages warning of delays and/or rejections of payments on websites.

Until we know more we will continue to operate as normal, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services told ABC4.com, adding that the department is working within the states Executive Branch to figure out what this means for those we serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several universities in the Beehive State, including Utah State University, have said they are assessing what the freeze could mean for them.

What we do know so far is that the U.S. Department of Education has clarified this funding freeze does not impact student federal loans or Pell grants, a spokesperson for USU said in a statement. However, with more than a third of USUs revenue coming from federal contracts, grants, and federal appropriations, we are still assessing other potential impacts on our education, research, and outreach.

In addition, the Utah Nonprofits Association (UNA) told ABC4.com that some organizations may have to temporarily or permanently close their doors if the freeze goes into effect. Jill Bennett, the CEO of the UNA said that most nonprofits are thinly staffed and thinly funded.

Whenever a nonprofit closes, it hurts the community, Bennett told ABC4.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The policy has been blocked from taking effect until Feb. 3. More information may come from a hearing set for that day.

The Associated Press, Brett Samuels, and The Hill 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 ABC4 Utah.
In early January, six students arrived at Riverton High School ready for their first day of class but unable to speak English fluently.

Educators sprung into action, working to integrate the new students. But the difficulty of helping students who dont know English was exacerbated by having to make rearrangements midway through the school year.

One of the struggles is clearly the language barrier, not just for the kids, but the parents as well, said Glen Varga, the assistant principal at Riverton High School. So we take them, and the hard part about it is weve got to meet them where they are.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The number of English language learners in Utah has spiked in recent years, leaving schools scrambling and spreading teachers thin as schools attempt to accommodate surges in immigration without additional resources.

Since Varga started working at Riverton High School three years ago, the number of English language learners at the school has jumped from around 25 to 140, he said  an increase of roughly 460%.

This legislative session, House Education Chair Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, is hoping to hand schools like Riverton High School a lifeline.

What would Pieruccis bill do?

On Tuesday, Pieruccis English Learner Amendments, HB42, received a unanimous recommendation from its House committee to advance to a floor vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would make $500,000 in leftover weighted pupil unit funds for at-risk students available to split between school districts experiencing a significant increase in English language learner enrollment.

In an application to the Utah State Board of Education, an eligible school district would need to show that one of their schools had a 75% increase in students learning English compared to the previous three-year average, and that the school lacks the funds to support the increase.

The bill defines a student learning English as a student who receives the very lowest score on an English language proficiency test that is given in the first 30 days of school to all students whose parents indicate that English is not their primary language.

The emergency funds would be prioritized based on which schools had the greatest increase in enrollment of students learning English.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The funds could be appropriately used for training teachers, reducing class sizes, hiring classroom aides and obtaining other resources for English language learners.

This is an opportunity for us to make sure were getting the resources right to the front line of education, which is to the teachers, Pierucci said.

Why is emergency funding needed?

Data from legislative analysts shows that several Utah school districts experienced large increases in English language learner enrollment over the last year.

Jordan School District, which includes Riverton and Herriman, saw a 108% increase in students learning English compared to the previous three-year average.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alpine District saw a 139% increase, Provo District saw a 115% increase and Davis District saw a 82% increase, according to the analysis which compared 2024 data to an average from 2021, 2022 and 2023.

This increase coincided with an unprecedented wave of migrants into the United States during the Biden administration.

Between 2020 and 2023, the number of new immigration proceedings filed in Salt Lake County courts, which can be a good indicator of how many asylum seeking migrants have entered an area, increased by 1,600%, from 752 in 2020, to 12,840 in 2023, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse data.

In June, during a presentation to the committee, Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey said his schools have seen a 92.6% increase in students who need to learn English over the last six years, growing from roughly 2,300 to 4,500 students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schools in Herriman have seen the largest increase in the district, with some schools going from fewer than 1% English language learners to nearly 12% in a few years.

The number of students with very low English fluency in the district has also spiked over the last two years, from around 750 in 2022 to more than 2,000 in 2024.

Jordan District Associate Superintendent Michael Anderson said several of the schools in his district would qualify for emergency funding under the 75% threshold outlined in Pieruccis bill.

Support and pushback

Anderson spoke in favor of Pieruccis bill during Tuesdays hearing. In an interview with the Deseret News, Anderson said his school district hopes to use the funds to help students learning English just like they would help any other student.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have a responsibility to teach every student who walks through our doors, regardless of their circumstances, regardless of their home language and we take that responsibility seriously, Anderson said.

Several pro-public education lobbyists spoke in favor of the bill on Tuesday, saying that the emergency funds wouldnt just help English language learners, but would actually benefit all students as teachers receive the resources they need.

Many of these education proponents used their public comment to argue that other schools with large English language learner populations, like Salt Lake and Granite, should have access to emergency funds even though they havent had large increases in recent years.

Some conservative Utahns have pushed back against the bill, saying that by increasing resources for English language learners, the state is continuing to make itself an attractive place for migrants to come.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HB42 begins to expose just how much Utahs magnet state status, that encourages foreign nationals to settle in Utah, is costing Utah taxpayers, said Dr. Ronald Mortensen, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and a retired Foreign Service officer.

Before a substitute bill was adopted on Tuesday, Pieruccis bill originally made up to $5 million in Enrollment Growth Contingency Program funds available for school districts where a school experienced a 50% increase in students learning English.

Before the bill received a unanimous bipartisan recommendation, the potential price tag was reduced to $500,000 and the threshold was increased to 75%.
Starting to feel the winter blues? You can squeeze a vacation into your February plans for $200 or less.

Once considered an airport with few airlines and high prices, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has expanded considerably, with nonstop flights and vacation destination routes added regularly.

We combed through February deals on Kayak, a travel website that filters through plane ticket rates from hundreds of sites, to find the most affordable nonstop, round-trip flights leaving CVG.

Advertisement Advertisement

Here's which cities you can fly to nonstop from CVG for $200 or less this February.

Note: Routes and schedules are subject to change. Make sure to double-check with your preferred airline for flight availability.

Fly to these major U.S. cities from Cincinnati for under $200 in February

Get the most bang for your buck with these round-trip, nonstop flights departing from Cincinnati in February 2025.

Flights under $100

Tampa: $36 (Frontier). Departs: Feb. 17. Returns: Feb. 21.

Orlando: $37 (Frontier), Feb. 19-27.

Las Vegas: $57 (Frontier), Feb. 24-27.

Denver: $54 (Frontier), Feb. 24-27.

Miami, Florida: $57 (Frontier), Feb. 16-21.

Fort Myers, Florida: $57 (Frontier), Feb. 25-28.

Sarasota, Florida: $58 (Frontier), Feb. 16-20.

Charleston, South Carolina: $75 (Breeze Airways), Feb. 23-27.

Dallas: $87 (Frontier), Feb. 18-25.

Phoenix: $98 (Frontier), Feb. 22-25.

Flights under $200

Atlanta: $106 (Frontier), Feb. 21-24.

Punta Gorda, Florida: $117 (Allegiant Air), Feb. 22-28.

Savannah, Georgia: $119 (Allegiant Air), Feb. 9-13.

Chicago: $137 (Southwest), Feb. 25-26.

New York City: $177 (American Airlines), Feb. 24-27.

Washington, D.C.: $179 (Delta), Feb. 11-15.

West Palm Beach, Florida: $180 (Allegiant Air), Feb. 6-9.

New Orleans: $184 (Allegiant Air), Feb. 10-16.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Flights out of Cincinnati for under $200 in February
These days in Washington, D.C., among a class of Extremely Beltway typesthe name-droppers, the strivers, the media gossipsDonald Trumps threats to exact revenge on his enemies have turned into a highly specific (and highly absurd) status competition.

Olivia Troye has heard the joke so many times that she already has a well-worn comeback prepared. When nervous journalists and teasing D.C. types crack to Troyea lifelong Republican who served as former Vice President Mike Pences homeland-security adviser before becoming an outspoken Trump criticthat they might end up in adjoining Guantanamo Bay cells, she responds: I had the Gitmo portfolio, so I can give you some tips.

In a moment of deep uncertainty in the nations capital, where Trump took office promising vengeance but where the scope of his intentions remains nebulous, many of Trumps known critics have unofficially divided into two adjacent camps: those, like Troye, who have real reason to be alarmed by the presidents threats and are quietly taking steps to protect themselves and their family, and those who are loudlyand often facetiouslychattering about how Trump and his posse might throw them in a Gulag. (There are also those in Trumps orbit who are joking, one hopes, about whom they might throw in the hypothetical Gulag.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whereas many of those branded most prominently with the scarlet R of Resistance are now eager to stay out of Trumps sight line, other figures in Washington are actively self-identifying as could-be Trump targets, in a very D.C. show of importance. And often the people talking openly about getting thrown in a Gulag likely arent even important enough for the Gulag.

At one of the many swanky parties in the run-up to Trumps second inauguration, a White House reporter confessed to me that during a recent meeting in outgoing White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zientss office, the reporter hadmainly in jestasked to get on the list for a preemptive pardon. In his final Late Show episode during the Biden administration, Stephen Colbert also played with the gag, telling his audience, The next time you all see me, Donald Trump will be president. And you may not see me! Next four yearsnext four years, were taking this one day at a time.

If the classic D.C. read is scanning a books index for ones own name and frantically flipping to the listed pages, then even a mention in Appendix B (Executive Branch Deep State) of Government Gangsters, written by Trumps pick for FBI chief, Kash Patel, can serve as a status symbol in certain circles.

[Read: The sound of fear on air]

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For a lot of people, its a joke that is a thinly disguised flexits joking about how important you are, Tommy Vietor, a co-host of Pod Save America who has been on the receiving end of such jokes many times, told me. Its sort of become a standard greeting in a lot of circles: See you in the Gulags. I hope we get the nice Gulag.

Then every once in a while, he added, someone makes that joke to someone who is actually scared or has hired a lawyer, and its not so funny.

Tim Miller, a former Republican turned ardent Trump critic who writes for The Bulwark, told me that he not only regularly hears the joke but also sometimes finds himself reflexively making it, the way remarking on the weather is an almost involuntary conversational crutch. And then after I do, just clarifying that I dont actually think Im going to the Gulag and that there are people who are at real risk from this administration, and we should probably focus on that, he said.

On Inauguration Day, President Joe Biden issued a handful of preemptive pardons that included five members of his family, lawmakers on the January 6 House committee, and people Trump had threatened, including Anthony Fauci, the nations top public-health expert during the coronavirus pandemic, and retired General Mark Milley, whom Trump floated the idea of executing after The Atlantic published a profile of him. Others who have attracted Trumps ire have both publicly and privately lamented that they were not on Bidens pardon list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rachel Vindman, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindmanwho testified before Congress about a 2019 call between Trump and the Ukrainian president during which Trump asked him to investigate Bidens son Hunterposted on social media after Bidens pardons emerged, Whatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed. I cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt I feel. Her husband appears in Patels appendix.

[Read: In praise of mercy]

In the early weeks of his second presidency, Trump has spoken ambiguously about plans to punish his perceived enemies, though he has already taken steps to root out those in the government he believes are part of the anti-Trump deep state. In some ways, the list in Patels book is instructive. The appendix mentions prominent figures whom Trump has already put on notice or begun targeting: Biden (the funny thingmaybe the sad thing, Trump noted in his first post-inauguration interview, with the Fox News host Sean Hannity, is that Biden failed to pardon himself); Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton (within hours of taking office, Trump pulled U.S. Secret Service protection from Bolton, who faces threats on his life from Iran); and Fauci (last week, Trump also terminated Faucis security detail). Yet the list also mentions people such as Elizabeth Dibble and Nellie Ohr, alleged deep staters who are hardly household names and whose alleged offenses are too complicated and obscure to quickly explain.

Patel also previously shared on social media a meme that featured him wielding a chainsaw and buzzing off chunks of a log emblazoned with images of alleged enemies, ranging from Fake News, CNN, and MSNBC to people such as Biden, the former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney, and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the former Democratic House speaker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just before Election Day, the longtime Trump fundraiser Caroline Wren shared an X post from an Arizona reporter, writing, He should be the first journalist sent to the gulag. She later said she was joking. Mike Davis, one of Trumps most vocal outside legal defenders, has led the unofficial social-media brigade threatening to toss reporters and other perceived enemies into the Gulag, statements he described to The Washington Post as a troll to nettle the left.

But now that Trump, back in the Oval Office, continues to display a willingness to punish those who have crossed him, this sort of declaration from Trump allies can take on a more menacing edge. On Inauguration Day, Davis unleashed more than a dozen posts on X that, depending on the perspective, could be read as trolls or threats. Dear Congress: We need a supplemental to feed the Vindmans in federal prison, he wrote in one. Dear Tony Fauci: Roll the dice. Decline the pardon. And see what happens, read another. And in a third, using a format he repeated for many of Trumps enemies, he addressed Bidens former Homeland Security secretary by name, writing, Dear Alejandro Mayorkas: No pardons for you and your staff?

Nobody is above the law, Davis said, when I called to ask him about his public posts. If theyve done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about, and if theyve done nothing wrong, why did they need a pardon?

Some of those squarely in the sights of Trump and his allies have begun taking steps to protect themselves. Troye, for instance, has retained a lawyer, and recently made sure that she and her family members had up-to-date passports. Rachel Vindman, meanwhile, told me that she and her family moved from Virginia to Florida two years agouprooting their daughter in the middle of sixth gradein part because they wanted to live somewhere a little bit more anonymous. (She was also, she added, ready to leave the D.C. bubble and eager for a fresh start.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[Read: Trumps first shot in his war on the deep state]

In many ways, the fear that the mere prospect of retribution has struck in Trumps opponentsprompting them to hire personal security or nervously bluster about the Gulagscould be victory enough for MAGA world. After winning reelection, Trump posted on social media a list of out-of-favor individuals and groupsincluding Americans for No Prosperity, Dumb as a Rock John Bolton, and Pence, his former vice presidentand said that prospective administration hires should not bother applying if they had worked with or were endorsed by anyone on the list.

Thats the financial Gulag, one person told me, speaking anonymously because he has worked for three of the people or entities on Trumps list, and doesnt want his business to be blackballed. Its not quite a Gulag, but it does have a chilling effect.

Similarly, those who did not receive pardons from Biden worry about the financially daunting task of protecting themselves. Did you not think of the people who are about to get destroyed, who defend themselves, who have no congressional coverage, who are not politicians, who are not millionaires, who dont have dozens of PACs that are protecting them? Troye asked. There are people who worked on government salaries. (A Biden spokesperson declined to comment on Bidens relatively selective set of pardons.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vindman, who lived in Russia for several years, said that although no one knows exactly what to expect in Trumps second term, her experience in Moscow might offer a glimpse: Colleagues policed themselves, and other Russians proactively took actions they believed would please Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It was never a direct ask, she told me. It was a more tacit thing.

[Read: Trump targets his own government]

Vindman, who has friends who regularly check in on her, said she spent Election Night wide awake. Her husband was in Virginia with his twin brother, Eugene Vindman, a Democrat the states suburban voters elected to the House, and the task of telling her daughter that Trump had won fell to her. The hardest part of that was laying in bed awake, worrying, she said. Shes in eighth grade, and maybe the last four years of her with us will be marred by that, by this harassment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When, over the Thanksgiving holiday, Trumps close ally Elon Musk accused Alexander Vindman of treason, warning that he will pay the appropriate penalty, Rachel Vindman told me that her immediate concern was for her in-laws and her 98-year-old grandmother, who heard the comment and worried on her familys behalf.

But personally, Vindman said she is working to find daily joy and maintain a sense of normalcy for herself and her family. Her husband recently turned his masters thesis into a book, The Folly of Realism, coming out at the end of February. When I asked her if she ever considered urging him not to publish, because it would thrust their family back into public view, she was emphatic: Do you just say no to it because it might anger them or put you in the spotlight? she asked. Its that kind of quiet defiance of living your life.

It could be a mistake. I guess well never know. She paused, then added, Well, I guess we will know.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
PARIS (AP)  Alessandro Micheles Valentino couture debut was the most anticipated ticket of Paris Couture Week, and the designer didn't disappoint with a lavish spectacle at the Palais Brongniart, a fittingly historic backdrop for his past-meets-present storytelling.

Known for his more is more aesthetic, Michele delivered a VIP-filled show on Wednesday brimming with historical reverence, theatricality, and his signature offbeat twists.

Michele, who previously spent nearly eight years redefining Gucci with his eclectic, gender-fluid maximalism, has long drawn inspiration from history. It's an obsession that traces back to his childhood in Rome, where he would rummage through his mothers closet, captivated by the textures of bygone eras.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His tenure at Gucci transformed the brand into a powerhouse of layered nostalgia and offbeat opulence, making his appointment at Valentino  a house steeped in aristocratic elegance  both a natural evolution and a challenge.

His arrival was a significant shift from Valentino's former designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, who was celebrated for his pared-down romanticism.

The opening look set the tone: a harlequin-patterned gown of enormous proportions, fusing the whimsy of the circus with regal splendor.

Full skirts billowed with 18th-century grandeur against a stark black runway, while 70s-inspired ruffles added his distinctive vintage-inflected edge. A standout floral gown, evocative of Marie Antoinette, received the New Romantics treatment, a nod to the late 70s and early 80s era that has long fascinated the designer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though the collection largely played to Micheles strengths, with exuberance tempered by couture-level precision, some elements felt overdone. A polka dot jacket with an oversized bow veered into twee territory, an example of how his fondness for embellishment can sometimes tip into excess. Yet, the overall balance leaned toward refinement, with a relative restraint compared to his past work at Gucci.

The show featured models of diverse ages and backgrounds, maintaining Valentinos commitment to inclusivity  a theme central to Picciolis tenure and which Michele continues under his creative direction.

Micheles couture debut reaffirmed his reputation as a designer who finds beauty in historical excavation.
In her first press briefing on Tuesday (local time), US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt while talking about DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence company that develops open-source large language models, said that as per US President Trump, this is a wake up call for American AI. When asked if Trump saw anything fishy about DeepSeek- either its origins or cost and if China''s ability to make these models quicker cheaper affect US thinking about expanding generation data centers, Leavitt said that Trump appointed the first AI czar to ensure American AI dominance. "The President was asked about DeepSeek last night on Air Force 1 when he gaggled for the third or fourth time throughout the weekend with members of the traveling press corps. The President said that he believes that this is a wake-up call to the American AI industry. The last administration sat on their hands and allowed China to rapidly develop this AI program," she said. She said that the National Security Council (NSC) is reviewing any possible security threats. "So President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance and that''s why he took very strong executive action this past week to sign executive orders to roll back some of the honorous regulations on the AI industry. President Trump has also proudly appointed the first AI in crypto czar at this White House David Sacks...and his team is here working every single day to ensure American AI dominance. As for the National Security implications, National Security Council (NSC) are looking into what those may be," she said. When asked if there is a fear that the US either is falling or has fallen behind in the AI race, Leavitt confidently replied, "No, the President is confident that we will restore American dominance in AI." Leavitt further said that Trump signed an order that stopped US funding of USD 37 million to the WHO. "This is again incredibly important to ensure that this Administration is taking into consideration how hard the American people are working and their tax dollars actually matter to this Administration. You know just during this pause Doge and OMB have actually found that there was USD 37 million that was about to go out the door to the World Health Organization. President Trump with the swipe of his pen in that executive order said US no longer wants to be a part of so that wouldn''t be in line with the president''s agenda," she said. (ANI)
A man accused of murder in California appears to have sought a marriage license with a woman charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont.

The woman, Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington state, faces two weapons charges in connection with the Jan. 20 death of 44-year-old Border Patrol Agent David Maland.

A prosecution motion seeking Youngbluts detention Monday says she was in frequent contact with someone who is a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Court records show that Maximilian Snyder, 22, was arrested by Vallejo police on Friday. He was charged Monday with murder and has a court appearance scheduled Tuesday in Californias Solano County. An attorney was not listed for Snyder.

In November, individuals identified as Teresa Youngblut and Maximilian Snyder took out a marriage license, according to a records search in Washington states King County.

Pacifica high school teacher arrested for sexual assault of student: police

The U.S. attorneys office in Vermont was asked if Snyder was the person of interest in the California case.

As a general policy, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Vermont does not comment on ongoing cases beyond the public record, spokesperson Fabienne Boisvert-DeFazio responded in an email Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A message seeking comment was left with the FBI.

In Vermont, Youngblut had been traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who also was killed in the Jan. 20 shooting. Its unclear when they arrived in Vermont, but the FBI said the pair had been under surveillance there for several days.

Before that, Bauckholt and Youngblut had been renting units in separate duplexes in the same neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, according to the owner of the buildings, who asked not to be identified because he fears for his safety and that of his other renters.

Bauckholt rented one unit through Airbnb starting in July 2023 and moved to the second unit later that year, the owner said Tuesday. Youngblut began renting the original unit in November 2024 and had paid nearly $10,000 to extend her stay until the end of March, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The owner, who went to the units regularly to pick up the trash, said another man appeared to be living with Bauckholt.

They were always wearing black and in the back of my mind, this entire time, Im just thinking, What is going on with these people? he said.

The owners last contact with Bauckholt was about a month ago, he said, when Bauckholt was trying to negotiate a more traditional lease instead of using Airbnb. Box trucks were parked outside of both units, he said, and Bauckholt was running an electrical cord to one of them.

There would be times when I would come to get the trash and as Im coming up the driveway, hed be crawling out of the cab, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his detention motion, U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said Youngblut had been in frequent contact with someone who was both detained during a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania and also was a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Solano County, Snyder allegedly killed a person with a knife on Jan. 17. The complaint alleges the person, identified as C.L., was a witness to a crime who was intentionally killed for the purpose of preventing his testimony in a criminal proceeding or to retaliate for his testimony.

A gofundme.com page for a Curtis Lind mentions he was attacked on his property in Vallejo on Jan. 17 and died.

Youngblut appeared in a federal court in Burlington on Monday and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. Her attorney did not return emails seeking comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Back in North Carolina, the owner of her rental property said he had sent messages to all his renters during a recent cold snap asking them to let their faucets drip to avoid frozen pipes. He didnt hear back from Bauckholt or Youngblut, but someone renting the other half of Youngbluts duplex said her hot water wasnt working. The owner said he went into Youngbluts unit last week to check the plumbing.

The thing that struck me the most was that there was a stretcher in the living room. Like, what in the world is going on with these people? he said.

The hair on the back of my neck is still up and I just cant believe its being connected to my Airbnb.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(KRON)  A 22-year-old man arrested last week in Redding in connection to a fatal stabbing in Vallejo earlier this month may be connected to an unusual series of killings across the country. Maximillian Bentley Snyder of Kirkland, Washington, was arrested on Saturday and booked on murder charges for a fatal stabbing at the intersection of Lemon and Third streets in Vallejo.

Officers responded to the scene just after 2:18 p.m. on Jan. 17 and found a man whod been stabbed. The victim was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Maddy Middletons killer lied to psychologist hoping for freedom, prosecutor says

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vallejo Police Department homicide detectives responded and took over the investigation. With the assistance of the Solano County District Attorney, Snyder was identified as the suspect.

Photo: Vallejo PD

Vallejo PD obtained a warrant to arrest him. Snyder was located in Redding at 1 a.m. last Friday and arrested by the Redding Police Department on the 1200 block of Churn Creek Road.

A fringe ideological group of rationalists?

Now, connections are surfacing between Snyder and other killings around the country that could be connected to a fringe ideological group of rationalists, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle. In November, Snyder appears to have taken out a marriage license in Washington states King County with Teresa Youngblut.

Youngblut, 21, is currently facing two weapons charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont on Jan. 20. Youngblut, according to the Associated Press, was in frequent contact with Snyder.

Teresa Youngblut, who is charged by the FBI in connection to the shooting death of US Border Patrol Agent David Maland, is seen in the office at the Newport City Inn on Jan. 14, 2025 in Newport, Vermont, in this still frame photograph from video released by the inn, who confirmed her identity. (Newport City Inn photograph via AP)

While in Vermont, however, Youngblut had been traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who was also killed in the Jan. 20 shooting. Prior to the shooting, the FBI said the two had been under surveillance for several days after an employee at a hotel they were staying at reported seeing Youngblut with and both of them wearing black tactical gear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An FBI affidavit indicates that border patrol agents pulled the duo over to conduct an immigration inspection. Youngblut, who was driving, got out and opened fire on the agents. Bauckholt also tried to draw a gun, but was shot.

U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland, 44, died in the shootout.

In this undated and unknown location photo released by the Department of Homeland Security shows Border Patrol Agent David Maland posing with a service dog. (Department of Homeland Security via AP)

Always wearing black

Before arriving in Vermont, Bauckholt and Youngblut had rented units in separate duplexes in the same neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Bauckholt rented a unit through Airbnb starting in July 2023 and moved to a second unit later that year. Youngblut began renting a unit in November 2024 and paid nearly $10,000 to extend her stay until the end of March.

The owner, who did not want to be identified due to fears for his safety, went to the units regularly to pick up trash and said another man appeared to be living with Bauckholt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were always wearing black and in the back of my mind, this entire time, Im just thinking, What is going on with these people?' he said.

The owners last contact with Bauckholt was about a month ago, he said, when Bauckholt was trying to negotiate a more traditional lease instead of using Airbnb. Box trucks were parked outside of both units, he said, and Bauckholt was running an electrical cord to one of them.

There would be times when I would come to get the trash and as Im coming up the driveway, hed be crawling out of the cab, he said.

Bauckholt had also been in frequent contact with Snyder, according to the Associated Press. AP also reported that Snyder had previously been detained in connection to a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim in the Vallejo stabbing, identified by AP as C.L. appears to be Curtis Lind, who was attacked on his Vallejo property and died on Jan. 17. Court docs cited by AP said Lind was a witness to a crime who was intentionally killed for the purpose of preventing his testimony in a criminal proceeding.

Snyder is currently being held in Solano County Jail on murder charges.

Youngblut appeared in a federal court in Burlington, Vermont on Monday and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.

What in the world is going on with these people?

Back in North Carolina, the owner of her rental property said he had sent messages to all his renters during a recent cold snap asking them to let their faucets drip to avoid frozen pipes. He didnt hear back from Bauckholt or Youngblut, but someone renting the other half of Youngbluts duplex said her hot water wasnt working. The owner said he went into Youngbluts unit last week to check the plumbing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The thing that struck me the most was that there was a stretcher in the living room. Like, what in the world is going on with these people? he said.

The hair on the back of my neck is still up and I just cant believe its being connected to my Airbnb.

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 KRON4.
This story incorporates reporting from Angelus, Catholic News Agency and The New York Times.



The Vatican has released a comprehensive document offering new guidelines for the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence, with a focus on areas such as warfare and healthcare. This document underscores the importance of human agency in directing AIs application, warning against its misuse and potential to undermine societal trust. Key themes emphasize that AI, while capable of performing complex tasks, lacks the intrinsic qualities of human intelligence, such as empathy and moral judgment.

Crafted over six months with input from various experts, the Vaticans paper introduces a Christian framework for understanding intelligence as an inherent gift, urging a renewed appreciation for human interrelations and truth-seeking processes. This document guides AI development, advocating for respect and promotion of the intrinsic dignity of each person. A human-centered approach is recommended to ensure AIs integration into society benefits humanity without eroding essential values.

The Vatican cautions that AI systems, if unchecked, may pose significant risks, particularly through the spread of misinformation. Echoing past warnings, the document stresses the potential for AI to disrupt social trust and damage the foundational structures of societies. The dire warning includes the possibility of AI-produced fake media gradually eroding societal cohesion and trust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The document also calls attention to AIs role in healthcare, highlighting its transformative potential to improve patient outcomes. Nevertheless, it reminds developers and practitioners that true education and decision-making require human involvement and discernment. The Vaticans initiative emphasizes that AI should not replace human judgment in critical areas but rather complement it to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

In terms of warfare, the document advocates for regulations ensuring AI technologies are not weaponized in ways that contravene humanitarian principles. The Vatican stresses ethical considerations in military applications, urging international cooperation to prevent the development of autonomous systems that could make lethal decisions without human oversight.

Pope Francis, addressing leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, underscored these themes. He urged political, economic, and business leaders to consider AIs broader societal impacts, arguing for frameworks that prevent harm and promote human dignity. By engaging such stakeholders, the Vatican aims to foster collaborative efforts for responsible AI governance on a global scale.

Ultimately, the Vaticans guidelines encourage deeper engagement with the humanities, suggesting that AIs rise should inspire renewed interest in understanding and valuing the human condition. This approach positions AI as a tool for enhancing, not diminishing, human creativity, empathy, and moral responsibility. Through continued dialogue and regulation, the Vatican hopes to steer AI development towards a future that aligns with ethical and spiritual values.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quartz Intelligence Newsroom uses generative artificial intelligence to report on business trends. This is the first phase of an experimental new version of reporting. While we strive for accuracy and timeliness, due to the experimental nature of this technology we cannot guarantee that well always be successful in that regard. If you see errors in this article, please let us know at qi@qz.com.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ten members or associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua have been indicted on charges of running a gun trafficking scheme in New York City that stretched across the country and aspired to spread internationally, officials said Wednesday.

The indictments, announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, came after a more than 8-month undercover operation by the district attorney's office, New York City police and other law enforcement agencies. Six of the people charged in the 120-count indictment unsealed Wednesday were taken into custody Tuesday on firearm, drug and conspiracy charges.

The Tren de Aragua gang has been linked to a series of kidnappings, extortion and other crimes throughout the Western Hemisphere tied to a mass exodus of migrants from Venezuela, where the gang originated more than a decade ago. Public awareness of Tren de Aragua in the U.S. climbed after footage from a security camera surfaced on social media showing a group of heavily armed men forcing their way into an apartment in the Denver suburb of Aurora. President Donald Trump said during his campaign that he planned to  liberate Aurora  from Venezuelans he falsely said were taking over the whole town.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members of the violent street gang have been blamed for sex trafficking, drug smuggling and police shootings across the U.S., as well as the exploitation of migrants.

Of those arrested in the Queens indictment, two were taken into custody in Texas and Florida. Four suspects were taken into custody in New York in an operation that left a city police officer with a severely fractured arm after a defendant slammed it with a door while trying to escape, officials said.

Two of those suspects had been arraigned as of Wednesday afternoon.

Katz said charges had not yet been filed in the ongoing investigation into the assault on the officer. She praised those involved in the undercover operation for seizing guns and drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a result of our investigation, 34 dangerous weapons are now off the streets, and we are dismantling this gang as it attempts to establish itself locally. Katz said, adding that two of those guns were ghost guns  firearms without serial numbers that are difficult to trace  one an AR-style rifle and the other a firearm modified to fire continuously like an automatic weapon.

Two other suspects named in the indictment, including alleged ringleader 24-year-old Enyerbert Blanco, were already in custody on other charges, officials said. Two others remain at large.

Authorities detailed in the indictment how the group used the telephone app WhatsApp to communicate about the gun sales, some of which happened in broad daylight in parking lots or by hiding weapons in trash bags.

Authorities allege three of the indicted suspects, including Blanco, obtained the weapons from other states, including some guns that had been reported stolen. Another suspect provided weapons from his own inventory of firearms. Many of the other suspects acted as couriers to deliver the guns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The indictment alleges that the criminal enterprise also attempted to deliver weapons internationally to Colombia, hoping to increase their profits. Those attempts were thwarted by the undercover operation, authorities said.

Undercover officers bought some of the weapons as part of the operation, according to the district attorney's office. Those officers also purchased 48 grams of pink cocaine also known as tusi  a mixture of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine  from the defendants during the operation.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Wednesday that all of the indicted Tren de Aragua members had entered the country illegally around 2023. He said the police department had become aware of the gang's activities in the city including using motorized scooters to snatch cellphones and conducting organized retail thefts. He said the gang unit has identified at least 67 gang members in the city.

The arrests Tuesday came the same day that newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined federal agents to announce the arrest of immigrants wanted on criminal charges. That included an operation in the Bronx that snared Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 26. Authorities say he was part of the group of armed men, some affiliated with Tren de Aragua, who appeared in the Aurora, Colorado, video.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  The gossip in the halls of the Capitol proved right. Tony Venhuizen, whos served as chief of staff for the two previous governors and most recently has been a state representative for three years, is Gov. Larry Rhodens choice to be South Dakotas next lieutenant governor.

Rhoden called news reporters from across South Dakota together to the Governors Rushmore Conference Room on Wednesday to announce that the search was over.

Craig Lloyd, longtime Sioux Falls developer has died

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rhoden came in shortly after 10 a.m. and stood alone, saying he was blown away by the many people who were suggested by others or had offered themselves to be the next lieutenant governor in the weeks since President Trump announced he wanted Gov. Kristi Noem to be the next U.S. homeland security secretary.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Noem on Saturday, and Rhoden, who had been lieutenant governor, instantly became governor when she formally resigned. That meant Rhoden now had to pick his own replacement to serve with him as lieutenant governor.

There was a long shopping list of very qualified people, Rhoden told reporters on Wednesday.

Rhoden said he went through a very extensive process in reaching the choice. I had a very distinct set of boxes to check of higher priorities as I went down the list, he said. First of all, I wanted a person of integrity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other considerations were knowledge of the state government process, someone who could take the reins as Senate president and had experience in the legislative committee process.

Rhoden said the man I picked understands the complexities of the state aid to K-12 education formula, the complexities of the property tax system, shares my passion on many issues, knows the Legislatures rules and knows more about South Dakotas history than any man I know and uses that knowledge to shape where our state is heading in the future.

In walked Venhuizen.

People in the audience, including former Gov. Dennis Daugaard and First Lady Sandy Rhoden, applauded. The 42-year-old Venhuizen shook hands with the 65-year-old Rhoden, smiling before the news reporters and cameras.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its very humbling to be here today, Venhuizen said.

Venhuizen said he first met Rhoden 24 years ago, when Venhuizen served as a high school page for the Senate and Rhoden was a first-year member of the House. He said they worked together when Rhoden was a legislator and Venhuizen was a senior member of Daugaards staff, and again while Noem was governor, when Rhoden was lieutenant governor and Venhuizen served for a time as her chief of staff.

Governor Rhoden is the right man at the right time, Venhuizen said. We face some tough legislative issues this year. He will bring the same sense of openness, civility and conservative common sense to this new role that hes always brought to the roles hes served in here in Pierre.

Venhuizen said he learned the value of a citizen legislature as a child from one of his grandfathers, Henry Poppen, whose 26 years as legislator in the era before term limits made Poppen one of South Dakotas longest-serving lawmakers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While at the Capitol as a Senate page, Venhuizen met Sara Daugaard. She was visiting her father, who at the time was a state senator. They eventually married and two decades later have three children. Venhuizen drew laughs when he said their kids have been asking for weeks who the new lieutenant governor would be. Theyre obsessed with it. Theyve all been guessing and for the most part not me, he said.

Venhuizen said he called his children last night to give them the news. He gave them permission to tell one friend this morning before the formal announcement.

Rhoden interjected, If theres a leak in the governors office, its usually the governor.

Venhuizen said hes always felt a call to service. Its in my blood, and Saras family too, he said. His entire public career, from his time as a university student on the state Board of Regents to his recent time in the state House, he said, have all been about keeping South Dakota a strong, steady, well-run state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That will be my approach as lieutenant governor, too, Venhuizen said. Ive had the privilege of working with three excellent lieutenant governors, he continued, listing Daugaard, Matt Michels and Rhoden. And theyre all here today. The job of the lieutenant governor is to be a supporter and a partner to the governor. You cant be ready to step in if youre not a partner. Im excited to help Governor Rhoden lead our state.

Venhuizen said the lieutenant governor serves the constitutional role of Senate president, making that person a link between the governor and the Legislature. I look forward to filling that role, he said.

Venhuizen said he resigned from the state House just before the press conference and would be ready to be sworn in as soon as the Legislature confirms him.

Rhoden acknowledged he didnt think all that much of Venhuizen when they talked while Venhuizen was a student regent. Rhoden said Venhuizen matured and became more and more impressive. They worked together during the transition from Daugaard to Noem and then when Venhuizen was Noems chief of staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It really developed our relationship, Rhoden said. We think on the same terms. Just the common sense and clarity he can bring to a conversation was just more than impressive to anyone that dealt with him. It was a long evolution, but needless to say, I have a huge amount of respect for Tony.

Venhuizen said he had been aware of the possibility that he could be Rhodens choice for a month or so. We had the conversation and the governor offered it to me on Monday.

The South Dakota Constitution requires that the Senate and the House vote to confirm a replacement lieutenant governor. A special committee of lawmakers meets at 3:30 p.m. to consider Rhodens recommendation of Venhuizen. The formal votes in each chamber could occur Thursday.

If confirmed, Venhuizen will be the second top member of Daugaards administration to join Rhodens new team. Daugaards lieutenant governor, Matt Michels, is listed as senior adviser and counsel to Gov. Rhoden. Rhodens chief of staff is Mackenzie Decker, who served on Noems staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rhodens office announced after the news conference that the governor is seeking nominations to fill the vacancy left by Venhuizens resignation from the District 13 House seat. Materials should be emailed to Ryan Brunner at Ryan.Brunner@state.sd.us.

Nominations should include the candidates name, current physical address, resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. All nomination materials must be submitted by 5:00 pm CT on Sunday, February 2, 2025, the news release 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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  They have made tremendous sacrifices for our country and wore the uniform proudly.

We are talking about our military veterans.

Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids

A lot of them have military benefits coming to them, but unfortunately, many of them dont know about them or how to go about getting them.

Pat Ziegler of Mitchell, who served in Iraq in 2006, has found himself in another battle; stage four bladder cancer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My cancer wasnt covered under the PACT Act, I just wrote it off, Im just going to have to live with that fact, Ziegler said.

The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

One day Ziegler says he switched his radio to an AM station and heard a news story about the PACT Act.

I heard the bladder cancer is now covered under the PACT Act, I almost had to pull over, didnt believe it, Ziegler said.

So he started looking into it and eventually filed a disability claim with his local Veteran Service Officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats why we are here, VA Appeals Claim Manager Dave Huntimer said.

We help with compensation claims for disability, we help with education, we help with pension, survivor pension, burials, so anything that has to do with that we can help out with that, but the thing is at our office we do it for free, Huntimer said.

Huntimer says the PACT Act has changed three times already since it first went into law back in March of last year.

Thats why veterans need to keep in contact with us, because there are times where this condition may have gotten denied, but now its new in the PACT Act, so now they can reapply for it, Huntimer said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The benefits go beyond the PACT Act, but for Ziegler, its been life-changing, because he now gets 100% disability.

Here I am in the middle of this fight and I didnt know about it, had I not switched to the radio I probably still wouldnt know about it; I might have gone to my grave not knowing about all these benefits for my family and everything that goes with it, Ziegler said.

Huntimer says their office has helped 78 thousand South Dakota veterans and paid out more than $443 million in claims just last year.

If youre a veteran and would like to learn more about the PACT Act, click here.

VA provides care to Veterans through community providers when VA cannot provide the care needed. Community care is based on specific eligibility requirements, availability of VA care, and the needs and circumstances of individual Veterans.

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.
Jan. 28Richard Berger, 72, died Saturday evening in a house fire in Deering, the state's chief medical examiner said Tuesday.

Berger's cause of death has not been released and the state fire marshal is still investigating how the deadly fire started.

Firefighters responded to a report of multiple people trapped inside a single-family home that was ablaze on Hart Farm Road at 9:19 p.m. Saturday. Officers from the Hillsboro Police Department were on the scene first and reported heavy fire coming from the house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Berger was found dead inside the home by a State Police human remains detection dog. Another man, who was initially trapped on the second floor of the home, was helped out by a neighbor and taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

That man, whose name was not released, was later transferred to a Boston-area hospital.
The person killed in a fire that tore through a home in Deering, New Hampshire Saturday has been identified.

Richard Berger, 72, was pronounced deceased after crews responded to a single-family home on Hart Farm Road engulfed in flames around 9:19 p.m. Saturday.

Upon arrival, crews from Deering, Hillsboro, Bradford, Mont Vernon, Henniker, Hopkinton, Washington, Weare, Antrim, Francestown, New Boston, Goffstown and Bennington found heavy fire coming from the home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Berger was found dead inside the home. Another adult male who was initially trapped on the second floor when the fire started, was assisted out of the home by a neighbor and transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office and Deering Fire & Rescue is the cause of the fire.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

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
REEVES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Reeves County Sheriffs Office has released new information about an oil field accident that killed one and injured two others Monday night.

According to RCSO, around 9:00 p.m. on January 27, deputies were called to an industrial accident located at Permian Resources-Guthrie State D 132H well site in Reeves County located approximately eight miles south on HWY 285 in the area of County Rd 114 where Propetro Services was conducting fracking operations. A rupture of a pressurized device at the frac site left 45-year-old Edward Rodriguez dead and injured two others.

Investigators said Ricardo Zamora, 35, was taken to a local hospital and then flown to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa for treatment after an injury which resulted in the loss of his arm. The site supervisor, identified as 36-year-old Johnny Sanchez, was also taken to Reeves Regional Hospital in Pecos for treatment of minor injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the scene and after the victims were tended, the Sheriffs Office secured the location and deployed drones to check the surrounding area to ensure there were no other injured not seen directly at the point of the incident. ESD provided emergency medical care for the injured.

Propetro shut down fracking operations and powered down the area to deem it as safe as possible for the follow up investigation. The danger area was limited to the pressurized frac lines within the area of operation only during fracking operations. Reeves County Emergency Management assisted with scene management, and Lone Star hazmat was called to assist and ensure the scene was safe and to provide safety equipment for the investigation.

Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division Investigators determined that a pressurized line containing about 9,000 psi detached from a fracking unit causing the incident. Investigators located a pipe that had been disconnected during the incident with valves attached to both ends.

No foul play was suspected at the time of investigation; however, further investigation is pending from OSHA. An autopsy for the deceased was requested by Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Sam Lujan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Reeves County Sheriffs Office would like to extend our most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and pray for speedy recovery of the injured, the department said in a statement.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In her first press briefing on Tuesday (local time), US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found that about USD 50 million was used to fund 'condoms in Gaza'. Calling the funding "preposterous", Leavitt said that the government is focussed on being good stewards of American Dollars. "DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So that's what this pause is focused on - being good stewards of tax dollars," she said. DOGE Leader Elon Musk expressed his doubts on the huge amount of money. In a post on X, he said, "My guess is that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets Hamas, not actually condoms," adding, "Yes, even in the unlikely event that the money was actually spent on condoms, we should NOT be sending US taxpayer money to buy condoms for foreigners." https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1884329088040722724 In the same context, Musk shared a meme on his X handle. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1884328412569035192 In the context of Trump re-declaring the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation, Leavitt called a reporter's query "not a bad idea." The reporter asked if there was an investigation on why did the Biden administration remove the terrorist organisation status from Houthis. Leavitt sounded impressed and said, "Well that's a very good point. I haven't heard discussions about such an investigation but it wouldn't be a bad idea considering that the Houthis certainly are terrorists. They have launched attacks on US naval ships across this world and so I think it was a very wise move by this Administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group because they are. I think it was a foolish decision by the previous administration to do so, as for an investigation I'm not sure about that but it's not a bad idea," she said. Donald Trump on January 22 signed an Executive Order redesignating Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a statement by the White House said. The Executive Order sets in motion a process by which the Houthis will be designated an FTO. President Trump designated the Iranian-backed Houthis as an FTO in January 2021, as per the statement. Within one month of taking office, the Biden administration reversed the Houthis' designation, the statement added. (ANI)
By Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) - Migrants expressed their dismay and sense of betrayal on Wednesday over Italy's decision last week to release a Libyan policeman wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and human rights abuses and allow him to return home.

One of the migrants said he still had nightmares every night because of what he suffered at the hands of Osama Elmasry Njeem.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ICC accuses Njeem of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015. Several of his alleged victims are believed to have been migrants.

Njeem, who has not publicly commented on the accusations, was arrested in Italy on Jan. 19 on an ICC warrant but two days later was freed and flown back to Libya on a government plane, officially because of a procedural fault with his arrest.

"This is what we are having today, a huge betrayal, a huge disappointment, but also the fear for our lives," David Yambio, who comes from South Sudan and is head of the "Refugees in Libya" group, told a news conference held in the Italian parliament.

"Every single day I see (him) in my dream. I turn in bed, up and down, without any way to escape from the reality," said Yambio, who spoke in English alongside two other migrants, Lam Magok and Mahamat Daoud, who also spent time in Libyan prisons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Magok called Njeem a "very dangerous guy and aggressive" who had personally beat him while in prison.

Reuters could not independently verify the accusation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Italy's justice and interior ministers cancelled a scheduled address to lawmakers on the Njeem case.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed she and the two ministers had been placed under judicial investigation by prosecutors in the case for possible misuse of public funds and for aiding and abetting a crime.

Opposition politicians and human rights groups have accused the government of freeing Njeem because it relies on Libyan security forces to slow the flow of boat migrants and did not want to antagonise them by arresting such a high profile figure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The government has denied this.

Yambio said his group had asked Meloni for an explanation of the government's decision but had received no response.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Gareth Jones)
CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA)  Eastern Illinois University is holding a vigil for a student who died after a shooting incident over the weekend.

Charleston Police said they performed a well-being check for 22-year-old Yahacov Dennis Saturday afternoon. During the check, department leaders said he disarmed one of their officers and used the gun to shoot himself. The shooting is under investigation of Illinois State Police.

Cov was love personified: Family of EIU student who died in shooting incident shares statement

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vigil for Dennis will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Union. The vigil is being sponsored by the Black Student Union.

A spokesperson for the university said counselors will be on hand to support students and employees during the vigil.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
VIRGINIA BEACH  Police have arrested a 38-year-old man and charged him with murder in the Tuesday stabbing death of another man.

Just after 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to the 1300 block of Graylyn Road, which is in a neighborhood off Pleasant Valley Road south of Lynnhaven Parkway in the Salem section of the city, for a report of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found Roy Stackhouse, 58, dead, according to a news release.

Daniel Van Dyke, 38, of Virginia Beach, was at the scene and was arrested without incident, police said. He has been charged with first degree murder.

No other information or circumstances in this incident have been released.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Leaders in Virginia and Maryland are speaking out after the Trump administration announced that a freeze on federal grants and loans would soon take effect.

According to a report from the Associated Press, the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo out Monday night to announce the freeze, stating that the decision was necessary to guarantee that spending complies with Trumps recent executive orders.

The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve, wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, in the memo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The freeze was set to take effect on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.; however, a federal judge temporarily blocked the order until Monday, Feb. 3.

Officials from the Trump administration said programs that directly assist Americans, such as Medicare, Social Security, student loans and food stamps would not be affected. However, many were still left confused.

Concerns over Trumps new immigration policy continue amongst Montgomery County activists, faith leaders

As a result, several leaders in Virginia and Maryland spoke out against the freeze on Tuesday, condemning it.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said his administration is still evaluating how the freeze would impact Marylanders but said the decision has caused unnecessary confusion and fear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump-Vance Administration is trying to hold back money that has already been approved by Congress. These actions could potentially cost jobs, raise prices, and stifle economic growth in Maryland. Whats more, these resources are intended for programs at places like Maryland schools, Maryland hospitals, and Maryland nonprofits  touching our first responders, seniors, and Marylanders from the Western Mountains to the Eastern Shore and everywhere in between, Moore said, in part. This is not what responsible government looks like  its chaos.

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) said the freeze would devastate Marylanders.

Lets be clear. These funds support our local police departments that keep our communities safe, hospitals that keep people alive, food programs like SNAP that feed hungry kids, veterans in need of housing after serving this nation, and more, said Alsobrooks, in a statement. Public service is about trying to make peoples lives better. Not ripping away critical resources Americans rely on. The Administration needs to clean up this mess immediately and reverse course.

Alsobrooks noted that countless people had already called her office Tuesday afraid what the funding freeze would mean for them and their families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Virginia, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said Tuesday afternoon he had received reports of Virginians struggling to access Medicaid portals. During a press conference, he also shared concerns regarding critical funding for K-12 school programs, including special education programs.

Despite the disapproval from various Democratic leaders in the DMV, some Republicans backed the effort, pointing to misinformation regarding what the freeze would entail.

In a post on social media, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he spoke to senior officials at the White House and confirmed that the pause will not impact individual assistance, interrupt disaster recovery efforts, school and child care funding, healthcare for seniors or low-income families, funding for roads, meals or lunches, or any of the other misinformation that has spread.

Youngkin called the discussion surrounding the pause of funding a partisan stunt to disseminate knowingly misleading information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump is doing what an executive should do at the beginning of a term, which is find out where the money is and where its going, not unlike what we did at the beginning of our term here in Virginia when we identified $1.4 billion in appropriated but unspent taxpayer money, he 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The Trump administrations announcement of a freeze on federal grants and loans cast a cloud of confusion over non-profits, local governments, and schools that would be impacted by the abrupt decision.

The fiscal standstill that could affect trillions of dollars nationwide was supposed to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, less than 24 hours after a vague memo was sent to federal agencies.

U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan temporarily blocked part of the Trump administrations plans to freeze all federal aid until Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The constitutional clash over taxpayer money is leaving multiple sectors in limbo, including health care, housing programs, education initiatives, and infrastructure projects.

Fenway Health, which receives about $20 million dollars a year in federal funding, is now analyzing how the freeze could impact the more than 30,000 patients it serves every year and the life-saving research it conducts.

We were expecting something like this, said Dallas Ducar, Fenway Healths Executive Vice President for Donor Engagement and External Relations. There was an emotional reaction that so many of us felt. A visceral reaction.

Ducar said the nonprofit, known as a longstanding lifeline for the LGBTQ community, is now preparing for a worst-case scenario.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Everyone is working to ensure that the most marginalized individuals out there in Boston and elsewhere are able to receive life-saving care, she told Boston 25 News. To ignore the lives of those people, those Americans, it really contradicts the very values that we stand for.

Trumps federal aid hold poses a potential dramatic impact on the 50 federally qualified health centers in Massachusetts.

According to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Care Centers, more than one million people statewide rely on community clinics.

Those clinics rely on the federal government for close to 40 percent of their budgets, approximately $130 million dollars statewide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead of following through on the promises the president promised to help people, including working people, poor people, he is, instead, stripping funding from the very families that rely on these precious resources, said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

The Trump administration said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans will not be affected if the fiscal standstill moves forward.

That includes Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, despite access to Medicaid portals being down across the country for hours Tuesday.

Massachusetts is among nearly two dozen states that are filing lawsuits to stop the White House from pausing trillions of dollars in federal funding.

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
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Tax season is officially here, but many local residents dont realize there is a free resource to help them navigate the often confusing world of tax preparation.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) officially opened its doors Tuesday on Armory Road, providing expert help to those who qualify, completely free of charge.

Clay County Commissioners support legislative funding for ambulance services

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The office is staffed by trained volunteers who specialize in assisting low to moderate-income taxpayers, seniors, and individuals with disabilities file standard tax filings. Anyone making under $67,000 qualifies and can come into the office, whether by appointment or walk-in, file online through the free file option on IRS.gov, or file over the phone with the assistance of volunteers.

This service is free, so bring all supported documents, like ID, social security cards, and anything you were mailed for tax purposes, such as W-2s and 10-95A health insurance forms. VITA Executive Director Karen Roberts warns about possible scam calls that may be used to phish for personal information.

If theyre calling you saying something to you, ask them for their name, ask for their phone number, say thank you and call them back, she advised. If youre really not comfortable, call the Better Business Bureau. Most places dont have time to call you.

VITA covers 11 Texas counties, so other locations will be available soon, even if you cant reach the Wichita Falls location. The Wichita Falls VITA office will be open until April 15, helping residents navigate the process stress-free.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Taxpayers can visit the office at 3301 Armory Road in Wichita Falls or call (940) 733-8299 to ask questions or make an appointment. The office is open at the following hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

VITA serves Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger and Young Counties.

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 Texomashomepage.com.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  My Community Cares, a program of Volunteers for Youth Justice, is excited to announce the launch of the new Family Resource Center, designed to provide support and assistance to families in need, including kinship caregivers.

According to a press release, this new initiative aims to strengthen families by offering resources and valuable information to help them thrive.

My Community Cares invites the public to attend an upcoming Neighborhood Team Meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025, from 5:30  6:30 p.m. at the Mamie Hicks Community Center located at 200 Mayfair Dr., in Shreveport.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials say this meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about the new Family Resource Center, as well as the upcoming Community Legal Clinic on Thursday, February 20th. Attendees will also have the chance to share their thoughts and ideas about how the community can come together to better support families.

We are thrilled to launch the Family Resource Center to help families and kinship caregivers in our community, said Gwendolyn Robinson, Caddo Parish Director of My Community Cares. This event is a wonderful opportunity for families to hear about a resource that can directly benefit them, while also helping us understand how we can best serve the needs of our community moving forward.

This meeting is not just an information session, but an opportunity for the community to have their voices heard. Officials say the team wants to hear from attendees about the ways in which they feel families can be supported, ensuring that future programs are built around the needs of the people they serve.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For more information, or if you have questions, please contact:

Gwendolyn Robinson

Caddo Parish Director, My Community Cares

Phone: 318-725-3722, ext. 426

Email: Gwendolyn.robinson@vyjla.org

Kreesha Bennett

Family Resource Center Region 8 Director

Phone: 318-725-3722, ext. 405

Email: Kreesha.bennett@vyjla.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 KTALnews.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  As Austin transportation leaders gather feedback on the citys future light rail, theyve given some people the opportunity to experience the system firsthand  all within a headset.

In approximately two years time, officials will begin work on the first phase of light rail in Austin: a 9.8-mile route, 15-station system running from 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane. Ahead of that future milestone, Austin Transit Partnership held a Project Connect meeting Tuesday afternoon at the University of Texas at Austin, where visitors could test out navigating the light rail system via virtual technology headsets.

The design scenario centered around UTs campus  a key segment of the first phase of light rail, which is set to run along Guadalupe Street and transform the UT corridor. Using the VR technology, people could test out three possible crossing scenarios at UTs campus: a Z-crossing, a scramble and an elongated platform.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Z-crossing: One crosswalk aligned with West 23rd Street and another with the West Mall are linked via a buffered walkway centered in the road that leads to the light rail station

Scramble plaza: Guadalupe Street between West 23rd Street and the West Mall is both colored and textured differently, indicating the ability to start and end crossings at any point

Elongated platform: A longer platform will lead to a narrower crossing, offset by the West Mall and linking to West 23rd Street

Project Connects virtual technology study looked at crossing design variations near the University of Texas at Austins campus to better understand how transit users interact with the environment (Courtesy Austin Transit Partnership)

Users would wear the headset and navigate the simulation using two joysticks, with officials collecting feedback on the ease of wayfinding, pedestrian crossings and the proposed interactions with the light rail line. Attendees could write down their thoughts on the simulation, with specific questions asking users if the crossings were easy, if they felt safe and what were some favorite aspects or areas for improvement.

Lisa Storer, ATPs vice president of architecture, urban design and sustainability, told KXAN the data collected will help outline how people engage with mass transit and how to finalize the systems design to be most intuitive and effective for all transit riders.

Weve been really focused on people-centered design and performance-based design, she said. So that means getting an idea of how people are experiencing that transit environment and what makes them feel good about using a new mode of transit, and then also using that data in order to inform those small design moves that might make it more intuitive and more safe for people in that transit environment.

KXAN digital reporter Kelsey Thompson tests out the VR technology (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study and deliver feedback on the simulation experience (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson) Project Connect light rail event attendees test out VR as part of a light rail design study (KXAN Photo/Kelsey Thompson)

The event was part of an ongoing community feedback series on the light rail systems draft environment impact statement (DEIS). That document, released Jan. 10, includes thousands of pages detailing all the possible environmental, neighborhood and socioeconomic impacts the future system could have on Austin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of that DEIS release, ATP held four public engagement events, culminating with the stop at UT. The transit organization will continue collecting feedback on the DEIS through March 11, before a final environmental impact statement and a record of decision are expected to be released at the end of this year.

Construction on the light rail is projected to begin in 2027 before opening to the public come 2033.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sen. Jessica Bateman, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, leads a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

The amount of parking a city can require for new construction may soon be limited.

Senate Bill 5184 would prevent cities and counties from mandating more than one spot for every two housing units. Developers could still add more spots if they choose, but that would not be required.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The policy received a public hearing last week and is scheduled for a vote out of the Senate Housing Committee on Wednesday.

Its another in a host of bills this year aimed at building more housing quickly in Washington.

Our minimum parking requirements are outdated and archaic, and theyre getting in the way of building the housing that our communities desperately need, bill sponsor Sen. Jessica Bateman, D-Olympia, said.

Most jurisdictions require new homes to be built with a certain number of parking spaces. Critics of these minimums say that they make it more expensive and complicated to build housing, while also taking up limited space in dense cities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Along with limiting parking requirements for dwellings, the bill would prohibit cities and counties from requiring more than one space for every 1,000 feet of a commercial building. It would also eliminate parking requirements altogether for certain types of buildings like residences under 1,200 square feet, commercial spaces under 5,000 feet, affordable housing, senior housing and child care facilities.

Bateman said the state needs these types of facilities desperately right now, and limiting how much parking must accompany them could help them get built faster.

Under the proposal, parking restrictions would not apply to accessible spaces in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Oregon and California rolled back some minimum parking requirements in recent years. Some local governments in Washington have limited parking requirements, too, but no statewide proposal has yet to make it across the finish line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This year, there may be more support  at least from the executive branch.

Batemans proposal was included as a priority in a housing report from Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and Gov. Bob Fergusons transition team. Nicholas Carr, Fergusons senior policy advisor on housing, said parking minimums in Washington are arbitrary and difficult to change.

Parking spots cost money, a lot of money, Carr told the Senate Housing Committee. This is a real opportunity for savings. Thats why Gov. Ferguson supports this bill.

Research from Sightline Institute found that parking can cost $5,000 to $20,000 per space in a surface-level lot and $60,000 per spot in a garage in Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sightlines research also found that parking mandates vary significantly across Washington with no scientific backing for how they are set, researcher Catie Gould told the Senate Housing Committee.

I regret to say that theres no magic parking ratio that will meet the needs of every family or every restaurant, Gould said.

At Fridays public hearing, many supporters of the proposal argued that it would still give developers the option to build more parking than the minimum required.

Importantly, this bill does not ban parking nor does it restrict how much parking can be built, said Riley Benge, commercial government affairs director at Washington Realtors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, some testifiers expressed concerns.

Kelsey Hulse, who represented the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington State Association of Counties, said requiring less parking for new development could result in traffic hazards where people are searching for parking for long periods or parking in areas where it is not allowed, such as shoulders on narrow roads.

Though Hulse said the associations support the bills idea to build more housing, she urged lawmakers to limit its scope.

Another big concern with the proposal was that it lacked an exemption for the city of SeaTac. With the states largest airport, the city is home to many professional drivers for Uber, Lyft or taxi services who would suffer if parking spots are limited in nearby neighborhoods, said Amina Abdalla, a lobbyist for the city.

Their car is their business and livelihood, Abdalla said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav continued his diplomatic engagements in Japan, meeting key officials and business leaders to strengthen ties and attract investment to the state. Among his engagements, he chaired a meeting with Hisashi Matsumoto, Parliamentary Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), where the discussion centered on the Indo-Pacific region and India's pivotal role within it. Hisashi Matsumoto acknowledged India's importance, stating, "India is one of the important partners to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific concept. I would like to work to (use our strengths) and strengthen Indo-Japan relations." Reflecting on Madhya Pradesh's profile, Matsumoto remarked, "I just heard that the state of Madhya Pradesh is located in Central India and agriculture is thriving." "A meeting was held with H.E. Mr. Hisashi Matsumoto, Parliamentary Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The discussion focused on the importance of Japan-India cooperation and strengthening ties at the state level," CM Mohan YAdav shared in a post on X. https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884432953616523363 During another meeting with Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, CM Yadav's team showcased Madhya Pradesh's readiness to become a hub for medical device manufacturing. They highlighted, "If we talk about just the medical equipment, whatever is produced every year in India, is around 200 million yen." Elaborating on the state's infrastructure, the team added, "There is a 75 acres of land availability for the medical devices, it is supported by the Central Government's Pharmaceutical Ministry. This will have common testing and processing facilities for medical devices. They will have 3-D printing and prototyping facilities, biomedical and biocompatibility testing batches, incubation hub, skill development and training centres, tool rooms, manufacturing, etc. Almost all the testing facilities will be there." In another engagement, CM Yadav met Yuji Fukaswa, Chair of the Committee South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company, further deepening economic discussions and exploring collaborative opportunities. The series of high-level meetings underscores Madhya Pradesh's focus on fostering international partnerships and leveraging Japan's expertise in various sectors to drive development in the state. (ANI)
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  The Waco Independent School District is speaking on the recent executive orders about changes in federal immigration enforcement.

The district sent a letter to parents on Tuesday, saying Waco ISD remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students. It firmly believes every child deserves the opportunity to learn without fear, and to feel valued and respected as a member of the school community.

Waco ISD said it recognizes the recent executive orders are causing concern in the community. The district wants to reassure the community of the following items:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Waco ISD is required by law to educate all students who enroll in the district, regardless of their immigration status.

Waco ISD does not collect immigration information on students, as this is not something it is are required to do.

Waco ISD is dedicated to safeguarding students and their personal information . The district will follow all state and federal laws, always keeping the safety and well-being of students as its highest priority.

Waco ISD will work closely with trusted partners as this process evolves to address any changes and provide clear communication to the community. You can visit https://www.wacoisd.org/families/a-safe-place for information.

Bryan ISD speaks on federal immigration enforcement changes

The district says as educators and district leaders, the well-being of studentsmentally, physically, and emotionallyis top priority. Waco ISD says it is committed to providing every child with a safe learning environment where they can thrive without fear.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Phil Rubin will succeed Rep. Joe John who died last week following a battle with cancer. (Courtesy photo)

Wake Democrats voted to recommend Phil Rubin to replace former Rep. Joe John, who died last week.

Rubin is a former assistant U.S. attorney and NC Justice Department lawyer who now works for Meta.

Members of the Wake Democratic Party County Executive Committee selected Rubin over two other candidates on Tuesday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rubin said he sought the House District 40 seat because he wanted to help share our visions for a better North Carolina  one where our peoples votes matter, their views matter and their families matter.

After he won, Rubin said John embodied public service.

John died shortly after he resigned his seat with the announcement that he had received a diagnosis of terminal cancer. He was a former judge who served four full terms in the House. He was elected to a fifth term in November. I recognize that its an impossible task to fill his shoes, but promise that I will give every bit of my effort to try and to listen as well as to be heard and to represent you in a way that would make you and him proud, Rubin said.

Under state law, members of county political parties recommend a candidate to fill an unexpired term in the legislature. Gov. Josh Stein must appoint the person the local party committee chooses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The candidates spoke about the district as a likely target for Republicans next year, and promised to fight hard to keep it in Democratic hands.

The legislature begins meeting regularly on Wednesday. Wake Democratic Party Chair Kevyn Creech said the hope was to have Johns successor sworn in and seated before the end of the week.

Safiyah Jackson (Courtesy photo)

Executive Committee members selected Safiyah Jackson, chief strategy officer at the NC Partnership for Children/Smart Start Network, to fill Matt Calabrias seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

Jackson, who ran for a House seat last year, was chosen over four other candidates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Calabria resigned after Stein appointed him director of the Governors Recovery Office for Western North Carolina.

The partys choice goes to the Wake Board of Commissioners, whose members will vote on Calabrias successor.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Walmart plans to remodel and improve 18 stores in Kansas this year, including three in the Wichita area.

On Wednesday, a company spokeswoman told KSN News that the stores would reflect Walmarts Store of the Future concept. The store remodels could include expanded grocery pickup and delivery, updated pharmacy, a new Grab & Go section, expanded deli and produce sections, and renovated apparel sections.

Walmart Store of the Future apparel department (Courtesy: Walmart) Walmart Store of the Future produce (Courtesy: Walmart) Walmart Store of the Future bakery (Courtesy: Walmart)

Walmart announces 150 stores, the first new locations in years

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here is the complete list of stores that will undergo improvements in Kansas:

115 W WILLOW ST COLBY 18631 W KELLOGG DR GODDARD 2200 N STATE ST IOLA 1723 MCFARLAND ROAD JUNCTION CITY 2900 S 9TH ST SALINA 1905 N 14TH AVE DODGE CITY 2701 N SUMMIT ST ARKANSAS CITY 2111 N AMIDON AVE WICHITA 4701 MISSION RD WESTWOOD 310 HEDGE LN PAOLA 12801 KANSAS AVE BONNER SPRINGS 6110 W KELLOGG DR WICHITA 121 PETER PAN RD INDEPENDENCE 719 W 7TH AVE AUGUSTA 2022 E 16TH ST WELLINGTON 1174 PONY EXPRESS HWY MARYSVILLE 2202 PIKE RD WINFIELD 550 CONGRESSIONAL DR LAWRENCE

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based chain is relying more on its physical stores to fulfill online orders and use them as online pickup locations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
We know you might be getting a little tired of this, but it's time to head back to your fridge because yet another recall has received a chilling update this month.

Around the same time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated Costco's Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon recall to a Class I designation, the organization also updated Walmart's Marketside Broccoli Florets recall to Class I, according to Newsweek.

Class I is the highest risk level assigned by the organization and one that means there's a very serious risk of death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FDA website describes Class I as "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

In early January it was revealed that Walmart's washed and ready-to-eat 12 oz. Marketside Broccoli Florets were voluntarily recalled by Braga Fresh due to a possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Although the item is no longer on shelves, consumers could still have bags in their freezer.

The broccoli has been sold in 20 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

The broccoli florets have a "best if used by" date of Dec. 10, 2024. Additionally, the bags have a UPC code of 6 81131 32884 5 on the back of the bag and a Lot Code of BFFG327A6 on the front of the bag. As per the recall instructions, consumers who have the florets in their freezer should not consume the product and should discard it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you have consumed the recalled broccoli and health concerns arise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms of the illness include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, confusion, and stiff neck. For those infected with an intestinal listeria illness, symptoms to watch out for include diarrhea and vomiting.

Per the CDC, you should contact a healthcare provider if you have both eaten food that has been recalled or linked to an outbreak and you have a fever and other symptoms of listeriosis.

"Let the healthcare provider know if you ate possibly contaminated food," states the CDC. "This step is especially important if you are pregnant, are 65 years or older, or have a weakened immune system."

You Might Also Like
The unilateral decision by President Donald Trump to temporarily freeze federal funding already approved by Congress threatens up to $1.9 billion in monthly funding in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz said.

The federal Office of Management and Budget issued a two-page memo late Monday announcing a temporary pause on federal grants and loans. On Tuesday, there were widespread reports that the federal portal that distributes Medicaid funding to states had stopped working, with The New York Times is also reporting there have been interruptions in funding for Head Start early childhood education providers.

Minnesota Management and Budget said it attempted to draw down $400 million in federal Medicaid funding on Tuesday morning but was unable to do so, however it was successful in obtaining the money on Tuesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bring Me The News also understands that at least two cities in Minnesota  West St. Paul and Newport  have been informed that federal funding for its police departments distributed by the Department of Justice's COPS program have been put on hold as part of the freeze.

As well as the two-page memo, the federal Office of Management and Budget also sending a document to federal agencies asking for more details on 2,600 programs  including those providing free school meals to low-income students and reintegration programs for homeless veterans  to see whether they comply with the Trump Administration's directives to scrap anything that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or "gender ideology."

With confusion rife over the programs to which the freeze applies, the White House clarified on Tuesday afternoon that it should not impact anyone receiving "individual assistance" from the federal government, but instead was targeting programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting diversity initiatives or "transgenderism and wokeness."

With the funding halted by Trump having already been approved and earmarked by Congress, the orders are expected to be quickly challenged as unconstitutional in the courts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz said an ongoing funding freeze would put an almost $2 billion hole in the state's monthly budget, claiming Trump "just shut off funding for law enforcement, farmers, schools, veterans, and health care."

Meals on Wheels says they're trying to figure out this federal funding pause just like everyone else, and haven't heard directly from anyone in the federal government.



"If in fact this order includes the Older Americans Act, this would presumably halt service to millions of  Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) January 28, 2025

Minnesota Management and Budget said that while there remains much unknown due to limited information from the federal government, there around 1,000 state programs in Minnesota potentially affected by the funding freeze, and many thousands of employees in the state.

"Minnesota will do what we can to keep the lights on, but we cannot fill the nearly $2 billion hole this will put in the state budgets each month. I do not believe this decision was constitutional and we will work diligently to reverse it, but we are preparing for every eventual outcome to help Minnesotans weather this storm," he said.

"President Trump is leaving states out in the cold without any guidance or explanation. Minnesota needs answers. We will see President Trump in court," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is not constitutional. This is not governance, and this is going to hurt people in every state," Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan said. "I want to acknowledge this is scary ... but in Minnesota we are here for you. We don't have all the answers yet and we certainly need to call in our lawyers, but we will get through this."

Flanagan went on to describe the freeze as an "illegal power grab" by Trump designed to hold taxpayer dollars in Washington D.C. rather than sending it back to the states.

"We're not going to sit around and take it, we're going to stand up for the people of this country," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison added during a Tuesday press conference.

But there is support for Trump's move from 8th District Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, who posted: "We are 36 trillion dollars in debt, largely because of wasteful spending in Washington on things we don't want and can't afford.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Rest assured, this pause on federal funding will be lifted on worthy projects, many of which I fought for in the Northland. This is good governance and what the American people voted for!"
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  In March, Louisiana will hold a Municipal Primary Election in which voters will decide on seats from local mayors to State Supreme Court and District Court judges. While the available seats may vary between parishes, cities, towns, and villages, the qualifying process is set by Louisiana law.

On March 29, 2025, Louisianas Municipal Primary Election is scheduled, and qualifying started on Wednesday, January 29, and will end on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Click here for a complete list of qualifications for Louisiana elected officials and presidential electors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More Louisiana News

Candidates seeking election for local offices must qualify with the Clerk of Court within their parish by paying the qualifying fee or filing a nominating petition. Those interested should check with the local Clerk of Court for operating hours in their parish.

Any candidate seeking to qualify for Associate Justice for Louisianas Supreme Court District 3, Court of Appeal, 1st Circuit, 2nd District, Subdistrict 2, Division D, must qualify at the Secretary of States Office at 8585 Archives Avenue in Baton Rouge. The SOS office hours are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily.

Louisiana laws RS 18:461 and 18:463 require all candidates to provide an email address and present a valid Louisiana drivers license or Louisiana Identification Card. The email addresses candidates provide will be listed publicly on the Secretary of States website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For additional information about candidate qualifying info, elections, and qualified candidates, or to download the GeauxVote app, visit the Louisiana Secretary of States Office. You can also call the Elections Hotline at 800-833-28025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WARREN TWP., Ohio (WKBN)  The Trumbull County MetroParks Board of Commissioners has already decided the Leavittsburg Dam will be demolished but on Tuesday, the discussion continued over whether the dam should stay or go.

Warren Townships Board of Trustees is still working to keep the Leavittsburg Dam in place.

Trustee Ed Anthony says the only communication theyve had with the Trumbull County MetroParks is through the MetroParks meetings. Theyre also trying to set up another meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Between the MetroParks, us, Ohio EPA  and even possibly the governors office and our senator, but that has not transpired at all and from what weve heard, it might not, Anthony said.

Recently, the township retained two attorneys. They arent going to file a lawsuit just yet.

Anthony suggested trying something previously proposed.

Were looking, again, for a proposal, especially the ripple rock, and we think that fits best for all parties involved and our residents, he said.

One man at Tuesday nights township meeting was for the dam removal.

Ive had, like, three major floods and I would just argue that if we would take out the dam, it wouldnt eliminate the floods but it would lessen them, Tim Colarik said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said he had about two feet of water in his basement.

It knocked out the circuit board on my furnace, it contaminated my well, Colarik said.

There were also people at the meeting who wanted the dam to stay. One person said eliminating the dam could cause polluted sediments to surface.

Some of those deposits are five-and-a-half feet deep and its going to take 10 or 20 years to get out of there. It took 110 years to get it all in there, its going to take 10 to 20 years for this river to scrub itself, Jim Hetzler said.

Those wanting to keep the dam are also for the ripple rock proposal, saying it will keep the water levels where theyre at.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The warm water habitat, thats all going to be gone if they just pull the dam alone. Thats the best solutionweve, so far, have come up with, Faye Smith 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 WKBN.com.
CHUCKEY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A Flood Assistance Expo took place in the South Central area of Washington County, Tennessee on Tuesday to provide community members with an opportunity to learn and receive help with disaster recovery.

The event was hosted by the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group and was held at South Central Elementary School. It aimed to assist residents with any needs or questions surrounding flood recovery from Hurricane Helene.

James Hanson with the Long-Term Recovery Group said they decided to host a second expo after seeing the success of their first one in the Lamar community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We hope that weve checked most boxes, that any need you have can [be] addressed here, he said. We can get you signed up with an organization that you may need  no matter what step you are in the recovery process, there is somebody here to help.

Hanson added that the long-term recovery group tried to have a variety of resources available at the events.

Weve got everybody from FEMA to Appalachian Service Project, Habitat For Humanity, health department, building department, Second Harvest Food Bank, whatever need you may have, theyre here today.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Washington man was convicted by a jury in Crawford County on Jan. 28 for raping two children more than a decade ago.

Nicholas Lippert, 28, of Port Angeles, Washington, was sentenced to 240 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for three counts of rape of a child under the age of 14.

Nicholas Lippert, 28 (Courtesy: Crawford County Detention Center)

Crawford County Prosecutor Kevin Holmes said in a social media post that Lippert raped a child in Arkansas in 2013 and fled to Washington where he later raped another child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Convicted Van Buren OnlyFans actor arrested by US Marshals in Florida

Court documents say Lippert was originally charged with 10 counts rape, with each being connected to incidents that reportedly occurred between December 2012 and November 2013.

A filing from July 2015 said Lippert was a registered sex offender with a previous child rape conviction.

Records show Lippert was arrested in Crawford County in January 2024.

We appreciate the families for standing up and testifying against this offender and the hard work of the Van Buren Police Department, Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy and others, Holmes said in the post.

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.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, during his official visit to Japan, engaged in high-level meetings with key stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, and investors, to promote investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. Alongside his diplomatic engagements, he also visited the revered Senso-ji Buddhist temple, highlighting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. During his visit, CM Yadav emphasised Japan's significance in Buddhism and underscored the importance of strengthening economic and cultural relations between the two nations. "Japan has great significance when it comes to Buddhism. During my official visit here, I held meetings with officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry and various investors over investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. It is also PM Modi's vision that India and Japan work together, and we are here to make it a reality. While we continue our official work, we are also trying to better understand the culture here. I hope Mahatma Gautam Buddha will bless both the nations and we will work forward," Yadav said. One of the key meetings was with Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, where CM Yadav introduced the 75-acre Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Park in Ujjain to leading medical device manufacturers. He highlighted the availability of prime land at highly subsidised rates, positioning Madhya Pradesh as an attractive destination for companies seeking to establish medical facilities. The discussion aimed to attract investment in healthcare technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing, which would enhance the state's industrial and healthcare infrastructure. CM Yadav also met Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee on South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company, where discussions centered on Japan's world-renowned railway technology and its potential applications in Madhya Pradesh. In a separate engagement, he held talks with Susumu Kataoka, President of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), further reinforcing Madhya Pradesh's commitment to fostering economic collaborations with Japanese enterprises. The Indian Embassy in Japan highlighted the CM's efforts in strengthening bilateral investment ties, stating on X, "Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, H.E. Dr. Mohan Yadav met H.E. Ms. Yuriko Koike, Hon'ble Governor of Tokyo. Invited participation at the 'Global Investors Summit 2025,' a flagship investment promotion event being held on 24th & 25th February 2025 in Bhopal." https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1884459489815892283 CM Yadav himself took to X to share details of his discussions, stating, "A detailed discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh was held during a meeting with Mr. Yuji Fukasawa, Chairman of the South Asia Committee of Keidanren and President of East Japan Railway Company, at the Imperial Hotel, Japan. In this meeting, the Indian Ambassador to Japan and his delegation. Mr. Fukasawa expressed keen interest in visiting Madhya Pradesh and exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with the state. The meeting also featured an insightful exchange on Japan's world-renowned railway technology and its potential applications." https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884450250452332975 Further reinforcing the state's investment potential, CM Yadav and his team elaborated on Japan's growing interest in Madhya Pradesh. His team stated, "Japanese investors are increasing their engagement in Indore, with a new factory planned to manufacture high-quality tires, aligning with the rising demand for SUVs in India. This significant investment signals Japan's commitment to expanding its footprint in India, particularly in Madhya Pradesh." Yadav highlighted Japan's existing business presence in India, stating, "Japan has more than 14,000 companies in India. By linking these companies to Madhya Pradesh, we shared, especially for the possibilities of economic investment. Programs can be organised for investment for 50 years, which plays a big role. Could explain our point of view well. Especially through our IT medical device, electronic auto component energy mining system, in this way. We are giving these things for investment when it will arrive. Japanese companies will also be able to cover it well in this way. We can also ask for housing call customised special packages and many types of special packages for Japan, through which Japanese companies." (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is speaking out after Republicans blocked a resolution on Tuesday that would have condemned President Trumps pardons for people convicted of assaulting authorities during the January 6 insurrection.

The resolution, led by Sen. Murray, comes after President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people on his first day in office of his second term and commuted the sentenced of 14 others, including leaders of far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. The order claims to end a grave national injustice.

In a Senate floor speech on Tuesday, Murray claimed the president is attempting to rewrite history with the sweeping pardons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ICE raid rumors can be really damaging in Oregon

I will not sit back and allow President Trump to rewrite the history of the January 6th insurrection, Murray said. Officers here sacrificed tremendously to keep senators safe, Republicans and Democrats alikeand we have the footage, photos, and police reports that clearly show the crimes and the violence committed.

The senator continued, President Trumps decision to pardon, en masse, 1,500 people charged in the insurrection is a truly unthinkable attempt to erase the facts of that day, and undermine our democracy. But it is especially heinous that he chose to pardon individuals who violently attacked our Capitol Police officers It is a betrayal of the law enforcement that protected us all that day and a dangerous endorsement of political violencetelling criminals that you can beat cops within an inch of their lives as long as its in service to Donald Trump.

Citing the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, Murrays office noted that approximately 598 people were charged with assaulting, impeding, or resisting law enforcement. Additionally, about 171 people were charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Eye on Northwest Politics

The resolution was co-sponsored by 47 Senate Democrats, including Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

In a press release announcing their decision to back the resolution, the senators said more than 80 Capitol Police Officers were assaulted along with 60 officers from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department during the January 6 insurrection.

America continues to suffer the scars of Jan. 6 as nothing less than a violent assault on democracy, our Capitol and those who protect and serve our country, Wyden said in a press release. Donald Trump encouraged that assault four years ago and last week acted shamelessly to rewrite this bloody history by throwing open the prison gates and letting these violent criminals walk free out on the street. Congress cannot let this unprecedented attack go unchecked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump claims he diverted water from PNW to California. Did he?

President Trumps day one priority in office was to pardon the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol and assaulted police officers in a failed attempt to upend the peaceful transfer of power and our democratic process, Merkley added. These shameful pardons disrespect the rule of law, our democracy itself, and the brave men and women serving in law enforcement across America.

The resolution came after Vice President JD Vance previously said people who committed violence on January 6 obviously should not be pardoned.

However, after the Trump administrations sweeping pardons, including pardons for those who were convicted for assaulting police, Vance later said President Trump made the right decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Vance told host Margaret Brennen, Merrick Garlands Department of Justice denied constitutional protections in the prosecutions. There were double standards in how sentences were applied to the J6 protesters versus other groups. What the president said consistently on the campaign is that he was going to look at a case-by-case basis, and thats exactly what we did, as reported by The Hill.

We looked at 1,600 cases. And the thing that came out of it, Margaret, is that there was a massive denial of due process of liberty, and a lot of people were denied their constitutional rights, Vance added. The president believes that. I believe that, and I think he made the right decision.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 28A Monday order from President Donald Trump that froze federal funding to assess diversity programs and organizations that don't adhere to his plans also froze funding for integral wildfire prevention programs around Washington.

Trump's order freezing significant portions of federal spending pending a review by his administration was halted temporarily by a judge, but the order raised many questions around wildfire and disaster relief programs supported with federal money.

The frozen funds included millions to help communities recover from devastating wildfires on the West Plains and in northern Spokane County in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, some local officials are waiting to take any action because the announcement is so recent that future ramifications aren't exactly clear.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources, a state-run agency that aids in fighting and preventing wildfires, also spent much of Tuesday examining how the federal funding freeze would impact its wildfire prevention grants.

"We went from waking up to the news that we may be losing $100 million to prevent and respond to wildfires to getting random guidance saying that a freeze probably doesn't apply to wildfire work to a court throwing the brakes on the whole thing," DNR spokesperson Ryan Rodruck said in an email. "Right now, we're looking at every federal dollar this agency receives to get a better sense of what might be impacted. Yes, a court has stopped this for now, but we don't want to be caught off guard again in two weeks."

The Trump administration alerted agencies Monday evening, with little to no notice, that federal grants would be frozen following a review to ensure those agencies were adhering to the government's priorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A memo from the Office of Management and Budget claims federal funding projects on the chopping block are limited to "ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest."

The freeze was blocked and delayed until Monday by a federal judge Tuesday. But the parameters still appear vague in scope for when the freeze could resume.

The order originally affected the $44 million federal assistance approved by Congress and former President Joe Biden to aid in the rebuilding of areas around Medical Lake and Elk destroyed by the Oregon Road and Gray fires , according to Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper. The county received the grant, aimed toward housing development, infrastructure restoration, economic support and fire resiliency, earlier this month.

Medical Lake City Administrator Sonny Weathers said because the freeze was meant to review legitimacy, he is hopeful the government will see the value in the town's disaster relief grants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There could be some delays, but at this point, the work we are engaged in is mostly about that resilience effort. Recovery is ongoing and we won't rest until we have gotten everybody comfortably back and restored," Weathers said.

The town also is waiting on a hazard mitigation grant program for backup power generators, awarded from FEMA.

That agreement has not been finalized, Weathers said.

DNR, one agency that received the Trump administration's notice, is "concerned that it could impact pass-through recipients of Community Wildfire Defense Grants," according to an email from Rodruck. The agency is also "getting a grasp" on potential impacts that federal funding cuts could have on the people of Washington, he said, but the status is in limbo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"With no foresight and no warning about this morning's order from (the Office of Management and Budget), we just don't know right now," Rodruck wrote.

In the meantime, scrambling to understand what lies in the future, DNR plans to work with grant recipients to ensure communities are able to reduce the hazards of wildfire.

"Similarly, we'll continue to look at other DNR programs that receive federal funding, such as our efforts to ensure wildfire prevention information is accessible to people who do not speak English as their first language and our urban and community forestry program, which tailors grants to underserved and underrepresented communities," the email said.

According to DNR, it receives multiple federal grants totaling around $105 million. Those grants include fire management assistant grants that protect communities from fire and reimburse state disaster accounts. They are waiting on $45 million to $50 million as part of this grant, Rodruck's email said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other grants revolve around volunteer fire departments, keeping track of landslide areas, post fire debris flow preparedness and recovery, tsunami hazards and mitigation actions like evacuation planning and fuel reduction.

Spokane's Fire Department also does extensive work planning and preparing forests for the potential of more devastating wildfires. The city uses a Community Wildfire Defense Grant for $1.5 million, which goes toward wildfire fuels reduction, said the fire department's Wildland Resource Planner, Nick Jeffries.

Jeffries remained clear that "we don't know anything yet" about the freeze or what would happen once it restarts, but if the grant was classified as wasteful spending and cut following the Trump administration's review assessment, "it would have a huge impact," Jeffries said.

"It's critical to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire," he said. "We are fitting forests to make the fire less intense when it comes."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city is working to minimize the impact of fire on about 400 acres under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant. If that were to be on the chopping block, "then you'd lose out on a lot more," Jeffries said.

The pausing and unpausing of the disaster relief money for the 2023 Oregon Road and Gray fires in Spokane County could delay the grant process further because there are certain milestones, like data assessment and community feedback, that the county must hit before cashing the check in its entirety.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French said during the freezing and review process, the county "will answer any questions" and address any issues raised by the government "to get access to the grant money originally given to the county."

"It's still early in the process. But we will go through the process," French said.

Trump has withheld wildfire funding from Washington before. In 2021, he prevented the town of Malden from receiving federal dollars to rebuild after a fire swept through the town. The reason, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting, was due to his animosity toward Washington's former governor, Jay Inslee.
Floridas Republican leaders are at a political impasse over immigration, with Gov. Ron DeSantis pledging to veto the Legislatures effort to respond to President Donald Trumps mass deportation plans.

DeSantis said lawmakers didnt go far enough. In a post on X just hours after the Legislature approved the so-called TRUMP Act, DeSantis warned, the veto pen is ready.

But the Legislature still must send the bill to him before he acts. Heres what to watch for in the coming days:

A campaign begins

DeSantis quickly went on a public relations offensive against the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With social media blasts, political roundtables and appearances on conservative radio and TV, the governor is trashing the legislation. He calls it a step backward in the states current efforts to apprehend and deport undocumented residents, particularly those with criminal records.

DeSantis allies are urging supporters to flood the phones and emails of lawmakers, apparently demanding that they return to the Capitol to strengthen the legislation, apparently in another special session.

By vetoing the bill, DeSantis wont have the up-and-ready response he wants to federal deportation efforts. Another special session, with the governor demanding action  his way  would probably loom.

DeSantis is most critical of the bill turning primary responsibility for immigration enforcement to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a fellow Republican who has sparred with the governor on unrelated policy matters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, say its important to have a point-person administer the states efforts.

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami (left) and Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula (2024 file photos).

These include enhanced criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants, more law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities, and ending in-state tuition for children of those who entered the U.S. unlawfully.

But creating a chief immigration officer for the state would sidetrack DeSantis from being the face of one of the Republican Partys defining issues  not good for a governor eyeing a White House run in 2028.

This is not just a difference in approach. This is a difference in values, DeSantis said at a Wednesday roundtable in Titusville.

The Mar-a-Lago factor

The one figure who could settle the clash between Florida Republicans is a Florida man, Palm Beach resident and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Legislatures new Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act is named after the president. And the Senate sponsor of the measure, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, told senators that hed been in contact with the president and administration officials in crafting the bill.

A Trump endorsement of the legislation would likely silence DeSantis. But the governor, whose one-time rivalry with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination was cited by legislators critical of DeSantis, has been trying to regain White House favor.

Harsh words abound... 'Toothless' and 'weak': Vitriol between DeSantis, GOP leaders makes this session special

Complex pairing of Trump, DeSantis... DeSantis-Trump relationship? It's complicated

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeSantis says the tougher enforcement policies in his proposed version of an immigration crackdown is more in keeping with Trumps plans for massive deportation.

Trump may let this Florida fight play out. But a social media post from the president, one way or the other, would likely end it.

Override? Or let it ride?

The Legislature, with Republican supermajorities, Monday cast almost unanimous votes to override DeSantis budget veto last year of $57 million for legislative support services.

That was the first time in Florida history that a Republican-controlled Legislature overrode a Republican governor.

Could the Legislature do it again, if the governor strikes down the immigration bill? It doesnt look possible, given Tuesday nights votes on the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two-thirds support is needed for an override. While the immigration bill cleared the House on an 82-30 vote, suggesting an override is possible there, in the Senate, it was a different story.

The Senate approved the bill 21-16 Tuesday night, with six Republicans joining all the chambers Democrats in opposition. If that balance holds after an expected veto, an override would be fruitless.

But Perez and Albritton can work to pull dissenting members to their side. DeSantis, too, can spend time between the veto and the next session convincing those who supported the bill to defect.

Spillover to regular session

The toxic exchanges between DeSantis and other leading Republicans are certain to leave a mark.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two-month, regular session is set to begin March 4. And whatever way the immigration clash settles, there will be spillover from the bitter words thrown out by all sides in recent days.

The struggle represents a break from the policy lockstep Florida Republicans have marched to through DeSantis six years as governor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center regarding the winter weather impacting the Florida Panhandle over the next 24 hours, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

Its also a departure from decades where dissension was on the down-low as the GOP fortified control of the nations third-largest state.

When lawmakers reconvene for the regular session, the all-smiles opening day will mask some deep-seated wounds.

These also could play into policy rifts, as the term-limited governor looks to get his second-to-last sessions agenda through a suddenly emboldened Legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: With DeSantis, GOP leaders at odds over immigration, what happens now?
Credit: X/@sentdefender

An F-35 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise in Alaska on Tuesday.

The pilot experienced an in-flight malfunction but was able to eject from the aircraft, Col Paul Townsend, from the US air force, said in the wake of the incident at the Eielson air force base.

The base said in a statement that the incident resulted in significant damage to the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which was seen in footage crashing onto the tarmac and erupting into flames.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pilot, who could be seen in the video parachuting slowly to the ground as a fireball rose from the wreckage, was taken to Bassett Army Hospital.

Col Townsend said: I can assure you the United States air force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimise the chances of such occurrences from happening again.

The F-35 is the most expensive US defence program and Lockheed Martins biggest revenue generator, contributing about 30 per cent of its bottom line.

Each jet, widely considered to be the worlds most advanced fighter aircraft, costs between $82.5 million (66.5 million) and $102.1 million (82.3 million), depending on the model.

Pentagon to spend $1.7 trillion on F-35 program

Lockheed, the aerospace manufacturer, said earlier on Tuesday that it would be less profitable than expected in 2025, in part because of a delayed rollout of upgrades to the F-35.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Pentagon plans to spend $1.7 trillion on the F-35 program, including buying 2,500 planes in the coming decades.

With the capability to fly more than 12 hours at a time, the jet can reach almost anywhere in the northern hemisphere in one mission.

In May, an F-35 fighter jet on its way from Texas to the Edwards air force base near Los Angeles crashed after the pilot stopped to refuel in New Mexico. The pilot was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

In October, a Marine investigation blamed the pilot of an F-35 for ejecting from the aircraft when he did not need to, causing the fighter to fly unmanned for 11 minutes before it crashed in rural South Carolina in 2023.

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.
Howard Lutnick, President Trumps pick to lead the Commerce Department, will face questioning from the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Wednesday morning during a confirmation hearing.

Lutnick, who also served as co-chair of the Trump transition team, has publicly embraced the presidents widespread tariff plans.

After taking the oath of office last week, Trump indicated that his administration would impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada by the end of the month. The president later paused the move, pending an upcoming review of an updated NAFTA deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Watch the live 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 The Hill.
President Trump is expected to sign the Laken Riley Act into law Wednesday afternoon, marking his first move on legislation since returning to office last week.

The immigration-focused legislation  which he and Republicans made a priority on the campaign trail  will require the detention of immigrants who lack legal status, including those seeking asylum in the U.S., if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting. It was named after Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant previously arrested for shoplifting after he was paroled into the country.

Trumps signature comes after he issued a bevy of executive orders during his first week in office, including broad moves on his immigration agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The signing ceremony is expected to begin at 2 p.m. EST.

Watch the live 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 The Hill.
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Police Department arrested a man Tuesday after a police pursuit ended in a crash at Midland International Air and Space Port. 29-year-old Randy Lee Gutierrez has been charged with Evading in a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest, Duty on Striking a fixture and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

According to the MPD, around 12:45 p.m. on January 28, officers responded to a pursuit near Main Street and Missouri Avenue in downtown Midland. Investigators said Gutierrez stole a white Ford pickup truck from a parking lot and then crashed the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Big Spring and Missouri a short time later. The pursuit began when Gutierrez left the scene of that crash.

The video below, courtesy of Dan Johnson with Floris Flight Services, shows the police chase as seen from the sky:

Investigators said that the owner of the vehicle had a GPS tracker on the vehicle and provided the location of the vehicle to Midland County Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies were able to locate the vehicle where a vehicle pursuit ensued in the county, MPD reported. The pursuit continued into the city limits where the vehicle drove through the perimeter fence at Midland International Air & Space Port. Midland Police Department Airport Units began a pursuit of the vehicle on the runways. After numerous attempts to disable the vehicle, the driver fled on foot and was apprehended by K-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 Yourbasin.
The basement of the Dirksen Senate Office building was packed Wednesday morning with people lining up to watch Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee even though it was taking place on the first floor.

It was the first day of hearings for Kennedy in his attempt to become secretary of Health and Human Services. He will also testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the very committee his late Uncle Ted led as chairman before he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Supporters were decked out in Kennedy gear, and many of them referred to him as Bobby, the name used for his father when he roamed through these same halls as a senator from New York and US attorney general before his 1968 presidential campaign and assassination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheri Gagnon and her granddaughter drove from South Carolina to take in the spectacle. And so I thought, wow, we can go up and support Bobby because Bobby's been supporting us, she told The Independent.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets grilled by the Senate Finance Committee on Jan. 29, 2025 (AP)

Kennedy has come under withering criticism for his use of debunked vaccine conspiracy theories. And Im one of his critics as an autistic person who believes his anti-vaccine rhetoric has harmed the community.

For years, I have traveled around the country interviewing autistic people about their experiences, which are chronicled in my book Were Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. In that capacity, I interviewed one young autistic person whose mother blamed herself for vaccinating her child.

In the years since the anti-vaccine panic that Kennedy elevated, we have seen an improvement in how society views autism. But Kennedy puts that progress at risk. By toying with the claim that vaccines cause autism, he is implying that autism is something to be feared and to be avoided and that not taking vaccines will help with that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedys hearing inspired me to go stealth to see what his most enthusiastic supporters think about him. One of the benefits of being an autistic person who can speak and hold a job  a luxury many dont have  is that people dont know immediately that I am autistic.

I'm a sit-at-home-and-read kind of person, Gagnon said. And I don't like to bother the world, but the world is starting to bother us because the journalists aren't reading the science.

To Gagnon, Kennedy is someone lifting the veil and he's just like the middleman, and we keep shooting the middleman.

It is true that the health system consistently fails plenty of people, especially women, with their health claims often discredited by professionals. Amy Macris came to the hearing from Durham, North Carolina, and mentioned how she worked for a biomedical research company when she was diagnosed with a complex illness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I went to every specialty and went to different states, and I went to different countries, and no one could help me, she told me. So I've put things together myself. I found a few doctors who were outside-of-the-box thinkers, and here I am after 13 years of thinking that I was dying.

To her, Kennedy is the kind of shakeup needed in the department.

They understand sickness, and they give you sort of band-aid treatments that really just keep you sick, she said. You don't actually heal. They're just putting a band-aid on the symptoms.

Bernie Sanders grills RFK Jr. over 'unvaxxed' baby clothes: 'Are you supportive of these onesies? (Reuters)

During Kennedys hearing, many of his fans looked intently at their phones. During questioning from Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, one of RFK Jr.s supporters called him a piece of s**t.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of Kennedys supporters were obviously disappointed at how Democrats handled him.

You have people like Elizabeth Warren, who knows all about regulation with banks she comes from Massachusetts, with all the biotech and health companies, Susan Labin told The Independent. During the hearing, Warren grilled Kennedy about how he profited from an arrangement from a law firm that specializes in suing drug companies.

Ironically, Andrew Wakefield, the British former physician who promoted the link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and autism, lost his medical license because he did not disclose that he had been paid by law firms suing vaccine manufacturers.

But Chris Devol said he decided to get behind Kennedy largely because of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think if anybody truly wants peace, that Bobby is that kind of person, and the Democratic Party proved that they really werent interested in doing things, he said. Devol said he collected signatures to get Kennedy on the ballot in Pennsylvania before Kennedy dropped out to endorse Trump.

Obviously, we'd prefer him being president, but the team that Trump has put together is absolutely incredible, and I hope that everybody that is so scared to death that Trump will at least take one day at a time, and let's see how things play out, he said.

Throughout his hearing, Kennedy tried to insist that he was not anti-vaccine, saying that his children were vaccinated, despite the fact, as Sen. Bernie Sanders flagged, his organization, the Childrens Health Defense sold onesies for babies bragging about unvaccinated status.

That does not seem to bother Kennedys fans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My favorite comparison is between just pure tobacco and Marlboro reds, Macris said. You know, the cigarette industry, they add all of these additives to make it more irritating to your lungs, so the tobacco gets in and makes it more addictive.

Trump shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona (AP)

The same, she said, is true for vaccines.

People are talking about thimerosal, which is mercury is incredibly neurotoxic, and we're giving it to children and babies, and we're seeing all these diseases come up, she said. This came despite the fact that thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 2001 as a precautionary measure.

Labin said she came to the hearing on behalf of her grandchildren and said that even though she did not have autistic grandchildren, her friends were worried about vaccines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Because anybody who reads the literature, not the government literature, but the independent peer-reviewed university literature, can see that there is a huge correlation, she said. And boys are even more susceptible.

Its true that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than females. But that has largely been the case going back to initial research on autism. And diagnosis has largely been skewed by gendered perceptions of autism.

For years, autistic people, their families and loved ones have had to wrestle with these lies, the skewing of data, and misinformation. They had to contend with their feeling they did something wrong by vaccinating and failing their children. All the while, Kennedy gained credibility because of his famous name.

Kennedy could not have promoted his presidential campaign had it not been for his previous espousing of anti-vaccine views  views that Trump at a minimum toyed with before running for president and in the days since.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, thankfully, the idea that vaccines cause autism has been thoroughly discredited. But falsehoods cannot be untold. Like the viruses that vaccines inoculate against, the misinformation has permeated the bloodstream.

Except now, if he is confirmed, Kennedy will no longer be the problem of autistic people and their loved ones. He will be everyones problem. And none of us can go stealth to avoid that.

This article was amended on 29 January 2025. It originally stated that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s organization was called the Children's Defense Fund. But that was incorrect. His organization is called the Children's Health Defense.
Bangladesh's Awami League has announced a series of political programs, including a general strike and a nationwide blockade, in protest against what it describes as "false cases" against Sheikh Hasina and the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in the country. The party issued a statement late on Tuesday outlining its upcoming protest schedule and demands, asserting that stricter measures would follow if authorities attempted to obstruct their activities. According to the party's official statement, the programs will be carried out as follows: from Saturday, February 1, to Wednesday, February 5, party members will distribute leaflets; on Thursday, February 6, a protest march and rally will be held; a second protest rally is scheduled for Monday, February 10; on Sunday, February 16, the party will conduct a blockade; and on Tuesday, February 18, a nationwide morning-to-evening hartal (general strike) will take place. The Awami League has warned that, "if there is any kind of obstruction in these programs to realise the political and democratic rights of the people of the country, more strict programs will be announced." The party's protests are primarily focused on demanding the withdrawal of legal cases against Sheikh Hasina, including what it calls a "false murder case" filed against the former prime minister. The statement also calls for the dismissal of other cases in the "illegal and illegal ICT Tribunal" and an end to what the party describes as a "farcical trial." Additionally, the Awami League has framed its movement as a response to the violence and persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh, specifically referencing "attacks and massacres of religious minorities including Hindu-Buddhist-Christians and attacks and vandalism of various religious shrines." The party has further demanded that the government "stop killings" and ensure the protection of all citizens. This marks the Awami League's first major street mobilisation since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5. However, the party faces significant logistical and political challenges in executing these protests, as many of its leaders and workers are currently in hiding due to fears of legal action and targeted attacks. With a large number of its members on the run, the scale and effectiveness of the announced demonstrations remain uncertain. (ANI)
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  In less than a week, Southern Californias weather has gone from unseasonably dry and warm  to wet and now bitterly cold.

The National Weather Service says the same low pressure system that brought rain to the region last weekend is still spinning and producing overnight low temperatures in the 30s and 40s.

Meteorologists warn of a hypothermia risk to people and animals and potential damage to sensitive plants and crops.

Through Friday morning, the forecast calls for overnight lows around 42 degrees in downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, 35 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, 27 degrees in Lancaster, 45 degrees in the Beach Cities and Orange County, and low 40s in coastal Ventura County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daytime highs will be in the 50s and low 60s.

Temperatures begin to warm on Friday as a ridge of high pressure moves into California. Temperatures will still be below normal, but generally 2-4 degrees warmer than Thursday, the Weather Service said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tap here for the latest forecast for metro Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County and Ventura 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 KTLA.
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo.  Authorities with the Webster Groves Police Department are attempting to allay community concerns after a person was found dead in a home Tuesday morning.

According to Lt. Jillian McCoy, a police spokeswoman, officers were sent to the 500 block of South Old Orchard Avenue just after 9:10 a.m. to conduct a wellness check for someone.

Officers found that individual dead inside the home. That persons identity has not been released.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plane, military helicopter collide above Washington DC

McCoy said a person of interest was taken into custody at the scene.

Webster Groves Police Chief Vincent Acevez stressed that investigators do not believe there is any safety threat to the community.

We understand the community may have concerns, and we want to reassure residents that we believe this is an isolated incident, he said.

Police have not released any additional information.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WELLINGTON  A 10-acre park next to the Mall at Wellington Green will become the site of 220 luxury rental apartments under a deal that Wellington is one vote away from approving.

In exchange, Brefrank Enterprises will pay the village $11 million and give it 22.6 wetland acres near the mall where it once wanted to build a BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse.

Brefrank also will pay $1 million of the $11 million to improve the fields at Palm Beach Central High School or other village fields. What it doesnt plan to do is rent any of the apartments at workforce rates. The settlement allows Brefrank to rent them all at market prices.Mayor Michael Napoleone said the sale of Wellington Green Park will resolve a 2021 federal lawsuit by Brefrank, which built the Axis apartments just west of the mall, over its efforts to build the BJs on the wetlands.

A suggestion to build a performing arts center in Wellington Green Park has brought forth proposals from prominent South Florida developers to bring apartments and more to the site, along Forest Hill Boulevard just west of the Mall at Wellington Green.

It also gives Wellington greater control of development along the State Road 7 corridor, he and council member John McGovern said. The park, tucked between the Hampton Inn and Lake Lisbet, is one of the corridors largest remaining open parcels.If a developer wants to build apartments in the area, Wellington Green Park is the place they should be, Napoleone said on Jan. 28, the night the council unanimously gave the project initial approval.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 'Palm Beaching' of west county: Luxury developments bring high-income communities to once-rural region

All 220 apartments near Wellington mall to rent at market rates

Six developers, including Brefrank, filed offers for the property last year. Brefrank, along with Wellington-based developer Bainbridge Cos., proposed in August to buy the land at a price set by the village and build a group of six-story buildings with 400 apartments overlooking Lake Lisbet.

At the time, the Village Council said it would consider selling the property, rather than establishing a lease or a public private partnership, and favored proposals of about 220 residences, the maximum the areas zoning allows.

Brefrank representatives showed council members renderings of Axis 2 that featured the 220 apartments stacked on four, six-story buildings. The apartments will measure between 3,000 and 8,000 square feet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plans for Axis 2 also include keeping 4 acres of the 10 acres as open space. The complex will have a private clubhouse, a dog park, charging stations for electric vehicles and 521 parking spaces.

Napoleon said he was concerned about the project's 6-story height but said it was a trade off for having 40% of the site as open space

The Axis 2 master plan is scheduled to be reviewed and voted on by the council in February.

Mayor makes plea to rent some apartments at workforce rates

Napoleone made an appeal to Brefrank officials to consider adding workforce housing to the project before it returns for a final vote in March.

We get people coming out of law school and going to work for the State Attorneys Office, becoming teachers or nurses, and they cant afford to live in Palm Beach county, said Napoleone, a lawyer himself. Wed like to see more of Wellington become accessible to young families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BreFrank officials said the agreement with the village allows for all 220 units to be leased at market rates. The project will not include workforce or affordable housing, states the 2024 sales agreement.

Council member Amanda Silvestri said she was concerned Wellington residents would lose a park dedicated to open play. The site is open, with no land set aside for buildings or ballfields.

I don't want to destroy the litigation process here, and I'm never excited about apartments in Wellington, Silvestri said. But the thing that bothers me the most about this is taking away this community space that people play on.

Village Manger Jim Barnes said the Wellington Green Park is not lightened, policed or regularly maintained and the newly renovated South Shore Park will now host open play until dusk.

Sign up for our Post on Wellington weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday!

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 220 luxury apartments ready to rise at park next to Wellington mall
Investigators are working to determine if strong wind gusts are to blame for the deadly collapse of a home under construction on the South Shore that killed a father of two.

Officers and firefighters responding to a report of a construction collapse at a single-family home on Vine Street shortly before noon Tuesday learned that one person was trapped in the rubble and requested assistance from a technical rescue team, according to Weymouth Deputy Fire Chief Tom Murphy.

The victim, 29-year-old Mario Diaz Obando, was unconscious and suffering from serious injuries when he was pulled from the collapse and rushed to South Shore Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Obando died from his injuries at the hospital, the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office said.

Obandos younger brother, Freddy, spoke with Boston 25 News Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh, and said he was also working at the site when the framed house collapsed. Freddy said he heard it, and raced to help his brother, but the weight of the debris was too much.

Freddy was also injured, taking a blow to his knee and one to the head during the collapse.

He said his brother Mario was a father of two kids, a 4-year-old and 8-year-old, who are currently in their home country of Ecuador. Freddy said he and Mario were here working to help his family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Freddy said his older brother was always happy, kind, and friendly.

Four other people working on the home escaped the collapse without help. Murphy said they were transported from the scene with various minor injuries, including head trauma. When asked to describe the collapse, Murphy told reporters, It looked like the building got pushed over.

Neighborhood residents who witnessed the collapse recalled a powerful gust of wind before the home was toppled.

It was a very strong gust of wind out of nowhere, a very violent wind, Sonny Nguyen said. The whole power line was wobbling up and down. Ive never seen that before.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kelly Keating added, It just went down like matchsticks. A big gust of wind came, like a crazy gust of wind, and within three seconds that building just went down.

The strongest winds of the day were reported at Bostons Logan Airport between 11 a.m. and noon with a gust hitting 63 mph. Shortly before the collapse in Weymouth, scaffolding was toppled over in a construction accident in Quincy.

The Weymouth collapse is under investigation by the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, the Weymouth Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  The cybersecurity incident that left many parents in Harrison County concerned last week is still under investigation, and although the county uses Schoology, a product created by PowerSchool, which was a recent target of a data security breach, Harrison County officials said that theres no evidence the two events are related.

In the days following the incidents, 12 News reached out to some other school districts across the state that use Schoology and other PowerSchool products and asked about their protocols to deal with and prevent potential cyberattacks.

Lewis County Schools Director of Technology Janet Sabatelli told 12 News that the school district was not affected by the PowerSchool data breach but that the school district is well-prepared to mitigate risks in the event of an attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Next-door neighbor says she smelled gas just before Clarksburg house explosion

Some of the strategies include regular security audits and updates, multi-factor authentication, and data backups and recovery. Other strategies include collaborations with cybersecurity professionals to monitor threats and keep the school districts systems secure.

The West Virginia State Board of Education also told 12 News that it has high-security measures to guard against cyberattacks and that it also provides guidance to counties for best practices to protect against these kinds of attacks.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Western officials have warned Ukraine that an escalating rift between the defense minister and procurement chief may jeopardize trust in the country and urged the government to resolve the situation quickly so as not to disrupt weapons supplies.

The conflict began last week when the Defense Procurement Agencys board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukovas contract for another year.

However, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov overruled the decision, refusing to renew her contract. He accused her of poor performance and failing to deliver weapons and ammunition to front-line troops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The decision provoked an outcry from lawmakers and anti-corruption watchdogs who said the minister's move was illegal because Bezrukova had her contract extended by the agencys supervisory board in January. They also came to Bezrukovas defense, saying she has been instrumental in creating greater transparency and reforms within the DPA, which has long faced corruption allegations.

Under Ukrainian law, Umerovs decision to go ahead with her dismissal is illegal.

The incident comes at a politically sensitive time for Ukraine as the countrys leadership is eagerly watching the Trump administrations next moves, and as Ukrainian troops continue to face challenges in holding the line in the east amid fierce Russian attacks.

In a statement posted Monday on social media platform X, the ambassadors representing Group of Seven nations urged the government to resolve the situation expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners, they said.

Following Umerov's decision, the Anti-Corruption Action Center filed a complaint urging the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to investigate him for alleged abuse of power.

Local media reported that NABU opened proceedings against Umerov at the Anti-Corruption Action Center's request.

Anastasiia Radina, a lawmaker and head of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, called for Umerovs dismissal, a decision that ultimately will fall to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What I see as a parliamentarian and as an observer is that his actions do not strengthen the agency and its independence. And that is just unacceptable for a country at war, she told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone barrages overnight in an attempt to strike deeper into their enemys territory.

The Russian military said Wednesday it intercepted and destroyed 104 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions in one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia this year. No casualties or significant damage was reported.

Ukraines air force said Russia launched 57 Shahed and other drones overnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moscow also attacked with missiles overnight. In southern Mykolaiv, a Russian ballistic missile struck a food enterprise Tuesday night, killing two female workers, regional head Vitalii Kim said.

Odesa authorities said Russian drones attacked port infrastructure in the Ismail district of the region that borders NATO member Romania

Romanias Ministry of National Defense said two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched at 3:20 a.m. to monitor airspace for about two hours, and emergency authorities issued text alerts to some residents living in Tulcea county, which is across the Danube river near Ukrainian ports.

The ministry condemned the Russian attacks, calling them unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law, and said NATO allies have been informed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the war next door started in February 2022, Romania has reported multiple airspace violations and confirmed drone fragments in its territory on several occasions.

___

Associated Press reporter Stephen McGrath in Sighisoara, Romania contributed to this report.
Former physics teacher and current West Middle School Assistant Principal Linda Flohr has been recognized by the White House for teaching in the STEM field or science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Later this spring, Flohr will receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest national honor for teachers in the STEM field. As a recipient, Flohr will travel to Washington D.C., receive a certificate signed by then-President Joe Biden, and get a cash prize. Flohr talked about the experiences that shaped her career. "In 1997, I left and went to Papua New Guinea, and I was really lucky. I was not an education major, I had my degree in physics, and I wasn't sure teaching was going to be what I did, but when I worked in Papitalai on Manus Island, I really realized that teaching was, what I felt, like my calling." From there, Flohr returned to the United States, got her master's degree in Philidelphia, where she taught for a few years. Then came to Colorado, where she continued her work at Glenwood Springs High School for 20 years. Flohr says she is "feally grateful and humbled because anytime you get an award at a national level, which really, this is my first time to have anything like that. You put a lot of work into the application, and you do a lot of reflecting on your practice and you're always trying to be better, so, in the end for it to come to fruition is exciting."
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KDVR)  Firefighters from Westminster are finally getting some rest back at home after spending two weeks in southern California, helping with the battle against the wildfires.

Three members of Westminsters wildland fire team were among the 18 total first responders deployed. They represented a number of agencies from around the Denver metro area. Once they offered to go to California on Jan. 11, they had a three-hour window to get ready and head out.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greg Frakes was one of the firefighters with Westminster. He said that once they arrived, they checked in at base camp and got their assignment to the Palisade Fire.

Pretty impressive to see. Its something thats comparable to our Marshall Fire that we had locally, but on a much larger scale. The devastation was intense, but as for us, we werent active in the fire front, that was the local resources, we were more working in a support role. Entire neighborhoods burning up to the oceanfront was something I would have never imagined, Frakes said.

Westminster units in route. (Courtesy: Westminster Fire)

Team posing in front of Hollywood sign (Courtesy Westminster Fire)

That support role meant theyd be cleaning vegetation to secure the perimeter of the fire, patrolling neighborhoods, helping with hot spot coordination and other tactics to stop the spread

They were there for 14 days, working 24 hours on and 24 hours off, but they were always at the ready sleeping on cots, in tents close to the fire in case there was ever any overnight reignition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Being able to give our experience and knowledge wherever we can and not just keeping it in Colorado, its nice to be able to help our neighboring states, Frakes 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 FOX31 Denver.
Early risers will begin the day mainly dry. There will be an uptick in cloud cover before our next chance for moisture arrives.

The first ones to see rain will be Southwest Kansas and our Oklahoma Panhandle counties. There could be a few sprinkles before midday but showers are more likely later in the afternoon.

High temperatures will still be near and above the norm despite the cloud cover and moisture. Temperatures will be coolest to the southwest.

Rain will spread into the rest of the area through the evening. While most of the showers will consist of liquid precipitation, there will be a chance for a rain/snow mix and ice in extreme portions of Western Kansas closer to the Kansas/Colorado line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This will be the setup into Thursday. However, there will not be as much rain in the middle of the area.

Temperatures late tonight into early Thursday morning will be below freezing to the north and west so any moisture around could be in the form of wintry weather in those parts of the area.

High temperatures Thursday will be cool but safely above freezing in the 40s and low 50s. Spotty showers will be around through the day and there could still be a little wintry weather to the northwest.

Moisture gradually pulls out of Western Kansas through Thursday night. A few Central Kansas showers linger into early Friday. There is a small chance that few snowflakes mix with North Central Kansas rain. Rainfall totals will mainly be around .25 to .50 with some outliers that will amount to either a little more or less than that range.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of the area will be dry by daybreak Friday. After a weekend warm-up, another front will cool us back down but it is looking like it will come through dry.

KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Ronelle Williams:

Wichita:

Today: Partly to mostly cloudy. 20% chance of rain. Hi: 54 Wind: NW/SE 5-15

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. 70% chance of rain. Lo: 40 Wind: SE 5-15

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. 50% chance of rain. Hi: 51 Wind: SE/W 5-15

Tomorrow Night: Mostly cloudy, breezy. 40% chance of rain. Lo: 37 Wind: W/NW 10-20

Wichita Weekly

Fri: Hi: 52 Lo: 32 Mostly to partly cloudy, windy. 10% chance of rain.

Sat: Hi: 58 Lo: 37 Partly cloudy, breezy.

Sun: Hi: 60 Lo: 30 Partly cloudy.

Mon: Hi: 50 Lo: 26 Partly cloudy, breezy.

Tue: Hi: 45 Lo: 26 Partly to mostly cloudy, breezy.

Wed: Hi: 41 Lo: 23 Mostly cloudy, breezy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seven people were injured when a fire broke out on an Air Busan airplane at Gimhae International Airport on Tuesday night.

The fire reportedly ignited in a passenger's luggage, allegedly due to an auxiliary battery, according to witnesses who spoke to Maeil Business.

The incident happened at 10.15 PM when the plane was preparing for take-off with 176 people on board.

Witnesses said they saw black smoke come from the back of the aircraft before flames spread.

Firefighters and emergency services quickly arrived on the scene and evacuated the passengers, as well as treating those who had been injured. Local health authorities then increased that total from three injured to seven.

A passenger close to where it happened said of the blaze, "It appears to have started in the overhead luggage compartment. A cabin attendant immediately intervened, asking about a battery inside the bin and bringing a fire extinguisher on board."

Read more: Key Official in Jeju Air Incident Found Dead in Apparent Suicide Amid Ongoing Investigations

Air Busan declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The Air Railroad Accident Investigation Committee validated that the wings and engines of the airplane didn't get damaged.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered a full investigation into the accident and urged steps to prevent a recurrence.

"We need to balance safety in aircraft operations and reduce inconvenience for citizens," said Choi.

The blaze comes amid a string of recent aviation disasters, including the crash of a Jeju Airplane last month that killed 179 people. The authorities will draft extensive reforms targeting aviation safety, including airport facilities and airline inspections.

Three of the 40 parking spaces at Gimhae International Airport are also temporarily closed according to the ongoing safety measures.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, during his official visit to Japan, met with key stakeholders to promote the state's investment opportunities. https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884470604427932113 CM Yadav posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Today, I had an extensive discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and his delegation, at Minato-ku, Tokyo. During the meeting, JETRO was invited to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration." Throughout his visit, CM Yadav engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors. One of the key highlights was his visit to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple, reflecting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. CM Yadav emphasised Japan's importance to Buddhism and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for deeper bilateral cooperation. "Japan has great significance when it comes to Buddhism. During my official visit here, I held meetings with officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry and various investors over investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. It is also PM Modi's vision that India and Japan work together, and we are here to make it a reality. While we continue our official work, we are also trying to better understand the culture here. I hope Mahatma Gautam Buddha will bless both the nations and we will work forward," Yadav said. In a separate meeting with Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, CM Yadav introduced the 75-acre Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Park in Ujjain, presenting it as an attractive destination for global medical device manufacturers. The park offers prime land at highly subsidised rates, aiming to boost the state's healthcare and industrial infrastructure. Yadav also discussed the potential applications of Japan's advanced railway technology in Madhya Pradesh during talks with Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee on South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company. A key element of the visit was CM Yadav's collaboration with JETRO and the Indian Embassy in Japan. JETRO's participation in the "Global Investors Summit 2025" was discussed, and CM Yadav's invitation to the summit was widely acknowledged. As stated by the Indian Embassy, "Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, H.E. Dr. Mohan Yadav met H.E. Ms. Yuriko Koike, Hon'ble Governor of Tokyo. Invited participation at the 'Global Investors Summit 2025,' a flagship investment promotion event being held on 24th & 25th February 2025 in Bhopal. (ANI)
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

Retailers are starting off the year with more questions than answers about theft and merchandise loss.

Crime in general remains a top concern, according to a report the National Retail Federation released last month, a survey of loss prevention and security executives at 164 mid-size to large retailers. Such executives at more than 82 of those companies agreed that certain issues, all related to crime, were more of a concern than they had been a year before, including: organized retail crime, shoplifting, return fraud, repeat offenses and theft related to the in-store pickup or return of merchandise that had been ordered online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the impact on retailers has been tough to measure, and its unclear how reliable this report is. In 2023, the NRF retracted a key claim about how much merchandise shrink is due to organized retail crime, following Retail Dives 2023 discovery of a major flaw in the groups estimation of crimes impact on shrink. Then, in 2024, the group ceased publication of the annual shrink report that had guided the industry for more than 30 years.

As with its shrink reports, the NRFs crime research is based on surveys of a limited number of executives, based on their impressions rather than hard numbers like reports to law enforcement. The executives reported a 26% increase in shoplifting from 2022 to 2023, and a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 versus 2019 and a 90% increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting during that same time period.

The National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, also shows shoplifting rates up 93% from 2019 to 2023, a finding that NRF calls a coincidence. However, the law enforcement agency has another more established database (the Summary Reporting System) that shows the nationwide shoplifting rate for those two years as about even. However, NIBRS spike is not entirely due to actual crime rates, but, rather, reflects the ongoing addition of new sources of crime statistics. This makes the Summary more accurate for now, Ernesto Lopez, senior research specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice, told Retail Dive last year.

In its most recent update, released last week, CCJ found that the average reported shoplifting rate was up 14% in 2024 and 1% in the last five years; this likely reflects some amount of underreporting by retailers to law enforcement, per that report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The industrys concerns are not all about shrink. Most alarming in the NRFs survey was how many retailers reported an escalation of violence. More than 70% of those surveyed said shoplifters are exhibiting more violence and aggression compared to a year ago, with more than 90% saying thats true compared to 2019.

But shrink itself may be less of a concern. The NRFs shift in research strategy came just as some retailers began to report that their merchandise losses were improving, in some cases after they tweaked operations.

Yet that marks another difficult area to measure. Its not really clear just how much merchandise is lost to crime. Some loss prevention experts believe that retailers need a better sense of how much of their inventory is actually going missing, for any reason.

Those employing the retail inventory method, a legacy accounting practice that leverages price to determine ending inventory value, may not have as good a grip on their levels as they believe. Retailers with a major shrink problem may want to consider switching to a cost method of accounting, experts say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While theft remains a major source of shrink, it may not loom as large as some retailers believe, given that other sources have been consistently underappreciated for years, according to Brand Elverston, founder and principal of Elverston Consulting and a loss prevention expert. If loss prevention strategies are failing to stem shrink, it may be because they are too narrowly focused, he said.

Most retailers need a more holistic approach than they have, with better coordination between their store operations and loss prevention teams, according to Johnny Custer, senior director of retail risk solutions at Think LP.

There are some very progressive retailers where the relationship between operations and LP is seamless, and loss prevention is a specialized extension of the operations team, Custer said by video conference. That's ultimately where we all need to be, but they are few and far between. Then we're not just loss prevention, we're asset protection, we're asset and profit protection. We're profit-optimization specialists.

These issues dont erase the fact that retailers have to do something about crime and shrink. Heres how retailers have taken on these challenges and what to watch for in 2025.

Locked-up merchandise

Stores in many locations have been keeping certain items behind lock and key in order to thwart thieves, with a majority of shoppers reporting that they encounter locked-up merchandise on a regular basis. But this in turn has managed to also thwart customers: Numerator estimates that theres a better than one in four chance that a customer will leave rather than wait for assistance with a locked case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This may be leading at least some retailers to revisit this tactic. This week, for example, CVS Health said it is testing the ability to unlock merchandise via its new app.

And Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth earlier this month told analysts that he had met with the companys head of asset protection to look at some of the creative things that we are looking at both as a company and as an industry as it relates to the customer experience on shrink.

When you lock things up, for example, you don't sell as many of them, he said. We've kind of proven that pretty conclusively. But we're excited about the fact that we have revamped our team.

Self-checkout

At some locations, theft via self-checkout is higher than organized retail crime, with research from the University of Leicester estimating in recent years that self-checkout in the U.S. accounts for one-fifth to nearly one-quarter of all unknown store losses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The technology was seen by many as a way to save on labor costs. But some retailers have discovered that self-checkout works better for both the retailer and its customers if those areas are adequately staffed. To combat shrink, several retailers have now scaled back or even yanked the kiosks from their stores.

Target and others have begun leveraging the self-service option for limited quantities, for example. And last month, Dollar General said merchandise loss was down significantly, just a few months after removing self-checkout from most of its stores. The discounter said that it expects year-on-year declines in shrink, and a related benefit to margins, to continue throughout 2025.

Cargo theft

Cargo theft  merchandise stolen from some point in the supply chain  may get more attention in 2025.

According to the FBI these crimes can involve fraudsters tricking shippers, including diverting cargo from its legitimate destination; cyber theft like phishing emails that enable fraudulent pickups; and altering a bill of lading in order to pilfer from a truck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some experts already see cargo theft as an underappreciated reason for lost merchandise, and it reached unprecedented levels in 2024. Nearly 45% of the loss prevention executives surveyed by the NRF said that cargo theft had become more of a concern in the last year.

Indeed, as of mid-December, reported cargo theft had surpassed 2023 by several hundred incidents, according to CargoNet, which found a 36% rise in Texas and a 21% rise in California.

Public policy

Retail industry groups see beefing up law enforcement as key to fighting retail crime, and have pushed for stiffer penalties against shoplifting and other theft, plus greater prosecutorial powers at the state and federal levels.

In California, voters in November approved a measure, Proposition 36, that goes further than a law signed by the governor last summer. The new rules will recategorize lower-level thefts as a felony for people with prior convictions and allow for more extensive prison sentences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nationally, without the improved data that some members of Congress had called for, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 went nowhere last year. The bill must now be reintroduced into the new Congress in order to get a vote.

That doesnt mean the fight is over, however. The NRF says that it continues to advocate for national legislation to bring federal resources and support to local, state and tribal efforts to curtail ORC, with almost all of the loss prevention and security executives surveyed agreeing that federal legislation is needed to effectively combat organized retail crime.

That may get a boost from the White House, according to a Tuesday research note from Chris Bottiglieri, equity research analyst at BNP Paribas Exane.

We suspect the Trump administration may take a more hard-line stance on retail theft (and crime more broadly), which may serve as a catalyst for further relief on shrink, Bottiglieri said.
The Lunar New Year begins Jan. 29, and communities across the United States and worldwide are holding celebrations.

China's most important holiday  the Lunar New Year is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam and other countries where Chinese residents make up significant parts of the national population, according to the National Museum of Asian Art.

In the Chinese zodiac, each new year, according to the lunar calendar, is associated with one of 12 animals, and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake. Different regions in Asia may not follow the same zodiac observed in China, and many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not observe the Chinese zodiac, said the art museum.

Performers participate in a dragon dance at the International Lunar New Year Night Parade on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. / Credit: Chan Long Hei / AP

What is the Lunar New Year?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lunar New Year begins on the lunar calendar's first new moon and continues through the first full moon, which falls 15 days later.

The new moon usually happens at some point between mid-January and early February  so the start of the new year begins different days depending on the year.

Each year in the lunar cycle is associated with a particular animal, like the ox, the tiger, the rabbit or, as it was last year, the dragon. The Year of the Snake represents a period of transformation, introspection and growth, according to the Chinese Language Institute.

The lunar calendar, unlike the Gregorian calendar, uses the phases of the moon to delineate days, weeks and months of the year. A lunar month is the period of time from one new moon to the next  about 29.5 days  so the lunar calendar doesn't precisely align with the common one where most months span 30 or 31 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chinese government officially adopted the solar Gregorian calendar more than a century ago to align with the rest of the world. Chinese communities have since celebrated both the start of the Gregorian year on Jan. 1 and then the Lunar New Year, a reflection of cultural roots, some weeks afterward.

The Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival in China, as a nod to the upcoming spring season. In Vietnam, the holiday is known as Tet, and, in Korea, it's called Seollal.

How to celebrate Lunar New Year

Commemorated through 15 days of cultural festivities, Lunar New Year activities are often centered around various forms of art and cuisine, which can be enjoyed at home and in public forums. Experts say the core focus of Lunar New Year celebrations is to bring families together.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mario Poceski, a professor of Buddhist studies and Chinese religions at the University of Florida who wrote about Lunar New Year celebrations in The Conversation last year, said holiday traditions typically involve cleaning and decorating the house, shopping for gifts and preparing food for family gatherings, like a traditional dinner held on the eve of the new year.

"Many of the dishes are assigned symbolic meanings," Poceski wrote. "For instance, dumplings are given the shape of gold ingots to invoke good fortune."

Exchanging red envelopes, which contain money, is another popular custom that's carried out each Lunar New Year. The envelopes' red color is featured prominently in decorations for the holiday and represents prosperity and good fortune, Poceski said, adding that older members of the family usually gift them to younger members.

Visitors enjoy illuminated red lanterns to celebrate the Spring Festival at Zhongxing National Mining Park on January 27, 2025 in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province of China. / Credit: Sun Zhongzhe/VCG via Getty Images

Parades, carnivals and gatherings featuring fireworks, dances and other cultural performances are often staples of Lunar New Year celebrations, as individual residences, shops and markets decorate with lanterns or dragons made from red paper in honor of the holiday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Beijing, crowds of people filled a park for a "temple fair" Wednesday, with some ringing bells and tossing coins into containers shaped like gold bars for good luck, the Associated Press reported.

In Malaysia, revelers rang in the new year with firecrackers in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, while Russians cheered for a musical procession in Moscow Tuesday night that commenced a 10-day Lunar New Year festival, according to the AP.

One of many U.S. cities paying homage to the holiday, businesses in Denver kicked off the Lunar New Year with spreads of traditional cuisine and merchandise.

"To celebrate the cultural side, the celebration of just welcoming in a new year, a vibrant year full of good luck and change," Mimi Luong, the co-owner of Denver gift shop Truong An Gifts, told CBS News Colorado this week of her family's celebrations and the store's public observance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Every year, we celebrate with decorating our home with lots of red and gold, and eating long noodles so we can have long life, and dumplings so we can have abundance," Luong said.

Lunar New Year celebrations traditionally culminate in the Lantern Festival, a massive procession of lights held everywhere from Zigong, China, to Franklin Square in Philadelphia.

Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing

Trump offering "deferred resignation" to government workers unwilling to return to office

AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street
Saginaw Bay was ranked as the fourth-best ice fishing spot in the U.S. by FishBooker, which looked at such things as location, fish species you can reel in and whether you'll land a trophy.

"The main delicacy youll have the opportunity to reel in out here is Walleye." FishBooker.com said of Saginaw Bay. "These fish are both abundant in the bay and they come in good sizes. Generally, you can catch Walleye even if you stay close to shore. However, for the best action, hop on a snowmobile ride and head about 10 miles into Saginaw Bay."

Saginaw, about 16 miles north of Bay City is located near Michigan's thumb. Saginaw Bay connects with Huron Lake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The only caveat when it comes to ice fishing in Saginaw Bay is that it needs to be really cold for it to be safe to fish on, especially if you plan to head far onto the water," FishBooker.com said. "Some years, the ice gets thick enough by the end of January. Other times, youll have to wait well into February for the conditions to get right."

The state's free fishing weekend, Feb. 15-16, may offer a great opportunity for anglers to try out ice fishing. During the weekend, the state waives the requirement for a fishing license and waives entry fees to state parks.

Here's what we know about Saginaw Bay, and ice fishing.

Where are other great places to ice fish in the US?

In addition to Saginaw ranking fourth overall, FishBooker.com's top 10 ice fishing locations includes:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bemidji, Minnesota: "Home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, Bemidji has angling running through its veins. But besides the Great River, this small city also boasts access to dozens of fantastic lakes."

Moosehead Lake, Maine: "During the winter season, Moosehead Lake offers an interesting mix of species you can ice fish for. Native Brook Trout are typically what anglers focus on the most, but there are also Salmon, Cusk, and Togue."

Eleven Mile Reservoir, Colorado: "Its breathtaking mountainscape, combined with fishing thats extremely exciting despite the freezing temperatures, makes this spot unbeatable if youre looking for a place to travel this winter."

Rhinelander, Wisconsin: "the hardwater season gets so much attention here that Rhinelander dubs itself the Ice Fishing Capital of the World. Fishing in Rhinelander, youll mainly get to target Walleye, Northern Pike, and plenty of Bluegill and other Panfish."

Presque Isle Bay, Pennsylvania: "Visit this part of Lake Erie anytime from late December to March, and youll get to ice fish for delicious Crappie, Perch, and Northern Pike. On rare occasions, anglers might hook into Steelhead as well, but you can consider yourself seriously lucky if that happens."

Fort Peck Lake, Montana: "The region surrounding it is sparsely populated, with no large cities for hundreds of miles. This has allowed the lake to remain relatively undisturbed, allowing fish in it to thrive and grow to impressive sizes."

Lake Cascade, Idaho: "The lake is famous for the jumbo Yellow Perch that prowl its waters. In addition to delicious perch, youll also get to catch Rainbow Trout through the ice. And although theyre much more popular targets during the open water season, ice anglers occasionally hook into Coho Salmon and Kokanee as well."

Caples Lake, California: "Thanks to the high elevation, the lake typically forms a steady layer of frost in the first half of January. This is when youll be able to drill through the ice and catch Rainbow, Brown, and Mackinaw Trout. The fish grow to excellent sizes in the lake, with some reaching 20 inches."

Lake Oahe, North and South Dakota: "The ice fishing season here usually lasts from the beginning of January to mid-March. Throughout this period, youll get to reel in limits of Walleye, monster-sized Northern Pike, Catfish, big Yellow Perch, and Crappie."

What is fishbooker.com?

Vukan Simic, FishingBooker's founder and CEO, says he has seen the world in terms of its fishing spots since his grandfather taught him to bait a hook.

He says he always hated how difficult it was to go fishing somewhere new and imagined a world where booking a fishing trip was as simple as reserving accommodation, so FishingBooker was born.

What equipment do I need to ice fish?

A photo of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay shoreline giving Michigan's its iconic thumb shape.

According to wired2fish.com, here are the basic essentials for ice fishing you may have to shop for:

Ice fishing winter gear (waterproof boots, scarf, hat, gloves ice cleats)

Ice fishing augers and accessories

Jigging set-ups for ice fishing

Tip-ups and rattle reels

Lures, jigs and terminal tackle for ice fishing

Gear and tackle storage

Ice sleds and portable fish houses (aka ice fishing shelters)

Fish finders and underwater cameras

Tools and other handy items

Safety gear for ice fishing

How can I stay safe on the ice?

Purchase an ice fishing license through the state, and review the ice fishing regulations. Here are eight Michigan's safety tips to adhere to:

Steer clear of dark spots or places where the snow looks discolored

Never fish alone

Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return

Always test the ice with a spud

Take the appropriate emergency items, such as a lifejacket and ice picks

Take a cell phone with you in case you need to call for help

Dress in your warmest winter clothes; fill a thermos with hot coffee, chocolate or tea; and bring an empty bucket or old lawn chair to sit on.

Keep an eye out for dock bubblers or de-icers as the ice near these mechanisms will be unsafe. Always check the ice and be aware of your surroundings.

How much ice is there right now?

Thick ice coverage is important for safe ice fishing. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory says Lake Huron was at 17.34% ice cover as of Jan. 27.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the U.S. National Ice Center, Saginaw Bay has "fast ice" at this time, with ice of less than an inch thick extending farther into Lake Huron.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Saginaw Bay is know for ice fishing. What to know in Michigan
President Donald Trump on Wednesday repeated a blockbuster claim about the government sending $50 million worth of condoms to the Gaza Strip despite outstanding questions as to whether the colossal figure was accurate.

Speaking during a signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act in the East Room on Wednesday, he repeated a boast about the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency having stopped what he described as $50 million that had been set to be sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.

He further claimed that the terror group was using the contraceptives to fashion improvised bombs - which is backed by reports of condoms being used as makeshift balloons to carry explosive devices over the wall that separates Gaza from Israel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps claim was first promoted by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at her first-ever White House briefing on Tuesday when she told reporters that DOGE and the White House Office for Management and Budget had found and blocked $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza and called the alleged expenditure a preposterous waste of taxpayer money.

It was a blockbuster claim that seemed to exemplify the exact sort of profligate spending that Trumps self-styled America First administration was elected to prevent. The presidents Wednesday statement came after the administration appeared to downplay what Leavitt had said about the alleged $50 million worth of condoms from being shipped to Gaza.

An administration official who spoke to The Independent on Wednesday about the contraceptive controversy said the $50 million was part of larger aid package for medical services in Gaza. The official said the $50 million figure  a massive number that would have represented roughly $23 spent on contraceptives for each of the 2.1 million residents of Gaza  was part of two equal buckets of foreign aid meant to help the International Medical Corps provide medical services in Gaza.

Karoline Leavitt spoke during a White House briefing and talked about $50 million in condoms for Gaza. The White House is defending that figure, though the details are murky (Getty Images)

Moreover, the claims about the alleged condom shipment did not appear to match what the government had previously said about its aid efforts in Gaza. A September 2024 U.S. Agency for International Development report says not one dollar of the $60.8 million used to fund condoms and contraceptives distributed by the agency worldwide last year was allocated to the Palestinian territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same report shows that the only contraceptives sent to the Middle East were distributed to the Jordanian government in the form of $45,680 worth of oral and injectable medications  not condoms.

On Wednesday, the administration official said that the blocked grants were for family planning programming including emergency contraception; sexual healthcare including prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections; and adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The official clarified that the combined $100 million in grants for the International Medical Corps efforts included contraceptives, a broader category that included condoms because they have traditionally always been used for family planning in developing countries by USAID.

The official also claimed the $100 million in funding for the corps was a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars which does not serve President Trumps goal to promote peace in the Middle East.

The Trump administrations clarification tracks what Andrew Miller, the ex-Biden administration State Department official who served as deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an interview, he said that Leavitts claim about $50 million in condoms bound for Gaza was outlandish and a feverish dream on the part of the new administration.

Its possible that $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynecology and many other services, but definitely not condoms alone, he said.

Jeremy Konyndyk, the former Biden administration official who now leads Refugees International, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that because USAID procures condoms for around $0.05 apiece the $50m figure quoted by the Trump officials and the president would amount to a purchase of one billion condoms.

What's going is here is NOT a billion condoms for Gaza. What's going on is that the bros at DOGE apparently can't read govt spreadsheets, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Musk, who is also the owner of X, posted that the false condom expenditure was the tip of the iceberg for waste and claimed that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets of Hamas. There is no evidence to support either of those assertions.

Leavitt also announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration had blocked a $37 million pending payment to the World Health Organization after the president signed an executive order cutting ties with the global health body on his first day in office.

The White House claims about the alleged condom shipment did not appear to match what the government had previously said about its aid efforts in Gaza (AP)

The blocked funds are being withheld under an Office of Management and Budget memo that White House officials have said temporarily pauses grants, loans and federal assistance programs so they can be reviewed to see if they align with Trumps political priorities.

Leavitts condom comments came at the top of her first White House press briefing, during which she said that new media voices including independent journalists, podcasters and social media influencers would be welcomed into the sessions held in the iconic James Brady Briefing Room. The room has always been open to any person who asks for and receives a day pass to enter the White House grounds for the purpose of attending briefings.

She also announced that shed be allocating two seats normally used by staff for podcasters, influencers, and other new media outlets that arent among the news organizations that have been assigned use of one of the rooms 49 seats that are managed by the White House Correspondents Association.
Stewart Huntington

ICT



Native leaders hailed a move by President Donald Trump's budget office Wednesday to rescind an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across Indian Country and beyond.



I am happy for every federally recognized tribe, as well as states and organizations that this has affected in which the people that need services are going to be provided, said OJ Semens, Sicangu Lakota, executive director of the Coalition of Large Tribes.

SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY.

The Monday evening order freezing the funds from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for tribes, states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington, and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding.



Late Tuesday, a federal judge issued an injunction halting the order until Monday, Feb. 3. The White House issued the order rescinding the funding freeze in a terse memo Wednesday that leaves unanswered whether the funding freezes would be reinstated.



OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded, it stated. The memo was signed by Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.



White House posts on social media, however, indicated the memo had been suspended but not the administrations efforts to cut spending it opposes. And some reports continued to surface of difficulty accessing funds that had been suspended.

Related: Tribes scramble to respond to Trump administration funding freeze

The coalition, which represents some 20 Native nations with large land bases, demanded that the administration declare that any Federal funding going to Tribal governments or entities serving Tribal citizens is a legitimate Federal expense and need not be the subject of any further justification or paperwork by any Federal agency.



The coalition further cited what it said were repeated difficulties tribal entities had accessing federal funding  even before Mondays funding freeze.



Since January 23, 2025, tribal governments and tribal organizations that serve tribal citizens have encountered escalating problems with Federal accounts suddenly and without explanation zeroed out and our access to Federal payment systems shut-off, according to the coalitions resolution demanding the White House reverse course.



These freezes were not limited in any way, and included everything  public safety funds, healthcare funds, waste management funds, child protective service funds, etc.," the statement said. "Most COLT Tribes are more than fifty percent funded by Federal dollars, meaning our tribal governments will have to shut down in days or weeks if the broad freeze persists, which would be devastating to our Tribal citizens.



Semens said that his group had been in contact with White House officials and others before the order rescinding the funding pause was issued.



We are very proactive reaching out to our congressional people, reaching out to the cabinet nominees, Semens said. We are very, very proactive in ensuring that the individuals know what large land-based and treaty tribes are and need.



Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said before the order rescinding the funding pause that the freeze on federal funding was not what the nation needed  or wanted.



This is not what the people voted for, whichever party they supported, said Davids, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. America wants better prices at the supermarket and safe communities.



Semens said that, while the latest series of events might be a new experience for tribes, there is always a learning curve with a new administration.



We don't care whether they're on the Republican side or the Democratic side, we have worked through administrations, he said. And every time there is a change in administrations, it comes down to us educating them on their treaty obligations. And youve got to remember, they pull in thousands of people and put them in jobs. And most of these people don't even know Indians exist. So it's a continual educational process that we have to go through.



Other lawmakers hailed the apparent White House about-face.



"This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this countryreal people made a difference by speaking out," said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington. "Still, the Trump administration  through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful disregard of the law  caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours which is still ongoing."

Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter.
Andrew Kloster, the newly-appointed general counsel for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal governments human resources agency, is a self-described "raging misogynist" who said that "slaves owe us reparations" and "consent is probably modern society's most pernicious fetish," according to a report from the Project on Government Oversight.

During President Donald Trump's first term, Kloster served as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and deputy general counsel at the OPM. He is also an active member of the Federalist Society, a right-wing legal network that in turn lauds him as a "fixture in the conservative movement."

As the OPM's chief lawyer, he will have wide-ranging responsibility over Trump's plans to strip protections from professional civil servants, with the apparent goal of firing some of them to make an example and installing political loyalists in their place. The OPM has already issued a slew of memos issuing orders to that effect, in addition to implementing a total hiring freeze and banning pro-diversity practices, threatening "adverse consequences" for those who do not report attempts to conceal such practices by their colleagues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly after his appointment as general counsel at the OPM, the POGO compiled records of sexist and racist remarks he made online, but did not publish the one part of their query that Kloster said was "false" when reached for comment.

But according to POGO, the man now in charge of the federal government's H.R. department did not specifically deny a slew of other comments that were published. In a response to a 2012 post on The Volokh Conspiracy legal blog about laws prohibiting sex with animals, Kloster wrote that "consent is probably modern society's most pernicious fetish." In February 2023, about six months after he was served a temporary restraining order for domestic violence  in a case that was dismissed days later after an agreement  he tweeted that "I need a woman who looks like she got punched."

Two days later, he said that he's a "100% women respecter precisely because Im a raging misogynist ... Im so kind youll want to kill yourself and die, which is the goal." After a week, he re-emerged with a tweet that "slaves built america. Therefore,,, Slaves owe us reparations."

Kloster also appeared to express admiration for German political theorist Carl Schmitt, a staunch Nazi and opponent of liberalism who helped Adolf Hitler consolidate legal and executive power over the entire state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I do think Schmitt stands the test of time, every political crisis continues to just rhyme with his analysis of the conflict between liberalism and democracy," he wrote in a 2024 post that defended him from critiques by his American counterpart Leo Strauss, who like Schmitt was a proponent of reactionary thought.

According to Steven Monacelli, a special investigative reporter for the Texas Observer, the email address Kloster used to sign up for his X (formerly Twitter) account appears in a leak for an escort review website.

Kloster made the social media posts just as he began a stint as general counsel for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, who was recently investigated for child sex trafficking and statutory rape. During the 2020 election, he allegedly yelled at election workers and police while acting as an observer for the Wisconsin Republican Party  an accusation he rejects  and participated in a GOP-led effort to legally challenge the election results that ultimately found no evidence of voter fraud.

Days after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, he responded to a tweet suggesting a civil war was inevitable with hand clap emojis between the words Do it.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made her briefing debut on Tuesday, where she sparred with reporters over a federal freeze on grants and made clear that President Donald Trump himself will be the administration's main messenger.

"The president is the best spokesperson that this White House has, and I can assure you that you'll be hearing from both him and me as much as possible," Leavitt told a packed briefing room.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump and his team have shown an eagerness to swamp the news media with the Republican president's brash presence on a daily basis since he took office on Jan. 20. It is a stark contrast to his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, who often walked away from quizzing reporters and sometimes spoke so quietly that his words could not be discerned.

Trump has already spent hours fielding questions from reporters, both from the Oval Office soon after being sworn in and aboard Air Force One.

Last Friday, he took questions from reporters eight different times as he traveled to North Carolina and California to survey the damage from extreme weather events.

He has already made two trips to the press cabin aboard Air Force One to talk to the pool of reporters on the plane. Biden only visited the press cabin a few times over four years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Youre getting a little bit more access to the president than you did the last time, by about 5,000%, Trump quipped on one of those huddles before taking more than two dozen questions from reporters on myriad topics including TikTok and foreign affairs.

Trump freewheeled, attacked the press for being fake news when he did not like a reporters question, cracked jokes, touted his accomplishments and made false claims such as suggesting the intensity of California wildfires was a consequence of water conservation policies.

On Tuesday, Leavitt, at 27 the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, picked up where Trump left off.

During a 46-minute briefing, which Trump watched from elsewhere in the White House according to a source, Leavitt slammed news media she accused of being sympathetic to Biden and said conservative media outlets, along with bloggers, podcasters and influencers, would get a greater voice in the press room.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asked the traditional first-day question of whether she would knowingly lie to the news media, Leavitt said she would not. Then she turned the question around on those posing questions, reviving Trump's complaints that he has not been treated fairly.

"We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family, and we will not accept that," she said.

"We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House. So yes, I will hold myself to the truth, and I expect everyone in this room to do the same," Leavitt said.

(Reporting By Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Nandita Bose; additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Deepa Babington)
Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday drew ridicule and ire after she boldly declared during her first briefing as the new Trump White House press secretary:

This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional.

Critics didnt have to do too much work to point out that birthright citizenship is outlined, as follows, in the 14th Amendment: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, wrote on social media: And on what constitutional principle is this belief based?

President Donald Trumps niece, Mary Trump, commented: The Constitution is unconstitutional is quite a gauntlet to throw down.

And Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) shared a screenshot of the Literal Constitution.

Trump signed an executive order to ban birthright citizenship on his first day back in office as part of his wider anti-immigrant agenda. The move faced an immediate legal challenge from Democratic-led states and last week a federal judge temporarily blocked it as blatantly unconstitutional.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leavitt also received flak during her briefing debut for a highly-contested claim about America having previously sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza and for promising to tell the truth from this podium every single day.

And on what constitutional principle is this belief based? https://t.co/bHC09dLzOd  Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) January 28, 2025

We are pretending not to be able to read the literal text of the Constitution now. It has been 8 days. https://t.co/Mw5YvoFwLe  John Sadler (@John__Sadler) January 28, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How can an Amendment in the Constitution be unconstitutional? https://t.co/SyuV9WXLlM  James Turner III (@JamesTurner3rd) January 28, 2025

She has the audacity to wear a cross. https://t.co/ZTKz212SCW  Tony Annett (@tonyannett) January 28, 2025

Republicans now mansplaining the constitution to the constitution. https://t.co/f2dyP8trJ0  Reticulating Splines (@davidtiao) January 28, 2025

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related...
By Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON -President Donald Trump's administration appeared to abandon its proposed freeze on hundreds of billions of dollars in aid on Wednesday in the face of legal setbacks and widespread opposition, though officials said they still planned to cut funds for activities opposed by Trump.

In a whip-saw reversal to a policy unveiled with little explanation late on Monday, the White House budget office told federal agencies it was rescinding a memo that had ordered the pause in grant and loan payments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new order came shortly before a federal court hearing on a lawsuit filed by Democratic state attorneys general trying to stop the freeze. A White House official said the reversal was an attempt to short-circuit legal challenges.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell nonetheless went ahead with the hearing, where he said he was inclined to temporarily block the administration's aid freeze, though he did not immediately do so.

At the virtual hearing from Providence, Rhode Island, McConnell, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, said the states have convinced him that the "inappropriate effects" of the now-rescinded funding freeze directive "are going to continue and that hasn't changed based on comments by the president's press secretary."

The administration had said the freeze was intended to provide time to review and halt funds to programs that Trump has sought to quash since returning to office, such as efforts to promote diversity and green energy and much foreign aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are merely looking at big parts of the bureaucracy where there has been waste and abuse," Trump said at the White House.

The freeze had already been blocked temporarily by another federal judge in Washington, who is handling a different legal challenge filed by several advocacy groups.

The reversal is the latest head-spinning move for a president who has pushed boundaries since taking office on Jan. 20. He has halted wide swaths of foreign aid, pardoned supporters who attacked U.S. Capitol police and offered buyouts to thin the ranks of civil-service workers.

GUANTANAMO PLAN

At the White House, Trump said he would order 30,000 beds prepared at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba military prison to handle migrants being deported as part of his immigration crackdown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House said Trump would target pro-Palestinian student protesters for deportation as well by revoking their student visas, in a sign that people who are in the country legally could be targeted for their political views. Trump has been a vocal supporter of Israel during its war with Hamas.

Democrats in Congress say Trump has repeatedly broken the law since returning to power, but his Republican allies have shown little interest so far in defying him.

The Republican-controlled Senate has confirmed all of his appointees so far, even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who squeaked by in a 51-50 vote after facing accusations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse. Hegseth has moved aggressively to implement Trump's agenda by banning transgender troops and diversity programs.

On Wednesday, he revoked security protections for Mark Milley, who served as the top U.S. military official during Trump's first 2017-2021 term in office before emerging as a prominent critic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Trump's pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., came under attack for his anti-vaccine views. But most Republicans at the hearing appeared to support him.

Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, faced a largely friendly reception from lawmakers as he echoed the president's support for tariffs and his complaints about Canada's trade practices.

REPUBLICANS DEFEND SPENDING FREEZE

Republican lawmakers said they were unfazed by Trump's attempt to freeze federal aid, even though that would undercut Congress' control over the $6.75 trillion federal budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I, for one, am glad to have a president in the White House who is delivering on his promise to get our fiscal house in order," said Tom Emmer, the No. 3 Republican in the House of Representatives, at a retreat in Miami.

Medical payments that had been disrupted by Trump's freeze had resumed on Wednesday, according to an association of state agencies.

However, the payment system for housing authorities was still not functioning, said Democratic Senator Patty Murray.

High-ranking Republicans and Democrats in Congress who oversee federal budgets and spending on Wednesday applauded the Trump administration's reversal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, a Republican, said in a statement that "while it is not unusual for incoming administrations to review federal programs and policies, this memo was overreaching and created unnecessary confusion and consternation."

Murray said the Trump administration, "through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions and a willful disregard of the law, caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last 48 hours."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Gabriella Borter, Jeff Mason, David Morgan, Andy Sullivan, Nate Raymond, Michael Erman and Steve Holland; Writing by Andy Sullivan and Steve Holland; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Berkrot)
Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has rejected speculation regarding "ongoing backdoor talks" between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the establishment, The Express Tribune reported. He said that no talks would be held with PTI through unofficial channels. Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that PTI was not involved in talks with other entities. Speaking to a local TV news channel on Tuesday, Sanaullah criticised PTI for not attending the fourth round of dialogue with the government, as per The Express Tribune report. Sanaullah said, "Political issues can only be resolved through the official dialogue table, which they [PTI] abandoned today." His remarks came after PTI skipped the fourth round of talks scheduled for Tuesday as government did not constitute judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, riots and the November 26, 2024, Islamabad protest crackdown. Pakistan PM's aide criticised PTI's political approach over past 10 years and the Imran Khan-founded party of causing damage to the political landscape of Pakistan. He said that PTI missed the opportunity to receive the government's response by not participating in the fourth round of negotiations, according to The Express Tribune reported. On PTI's demands for establishing judicial commissions, Sanaullah said, "No judge would want to join such a commission given the current circumstances." In response to PTI's warnings of launching protests, he stressed that any protests would be met with legal action. He said, "In a democratic system, issues are resolved at the negotiating table, not on the streets." The talks between PTI and PML-N-led government started in December last year to reduce political tensions in Pakistan. Since then, the two sides have met thrice. However, the talks were stalled as PTI skipped the fourth round and accused the government of not constituting judicial commissions to carry out probe into the May 9, 2023, protests and the crackdown on PTI demonstrators in Islamabad on November 26, 2024. The government's talks committee meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday was postponed after representatives of PTI did not attend the meeting, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that the committee would remain intact despite the lack of participation. Before the meeting, Sadiq stated that all members were invited and expressed hope that the members of the Opposition would participate in the meeting. Sadiq said, "We waited for 45 minutes, but received a message that they would not come." He further said that PTI leaders had told him they would consult the party's top leadership before responding. He said that the Opposition's absence in the meeting made further discussions meaningless and expressed his commitment to facilitating talks. "My doors remain open, and I hope talks can proceed from both sides," Ayaz Sadiq said. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who was present at the meeting, said the government had prepared a response to the demands raised by PTI and was eager to move the talks forward. He said, "We came ready to discuss their concerns, but without their presence, how can we respond?" The government remains optimistic about resolving political differences through talks. However, the postponement of the meeting marks another setback in the efforts to bridge the gap between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI. (ANI)
One of the Trump administration's first acts in office was to freeze almost all foreign aid. The administration claims the move is already bearing fruit.

"There was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, citing the White House's Office of Management and Budget and the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency.

The State Department made an even larger, albeit vaguer, claim. "Prevented $102 million in unjustified funding to a contractor in Gaza, including money for contraception," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce wrote in a social media thread.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Conservative media seized on the explosive claims. Literally explosive, if you ask Fox News' Jesse Watters. "Hamas inflates the condoms, straps on an explosive, and floats them into Israel. It's a dual-use technology," he said on his show. (There was a wave of incendiary balloon attacks from 2018 to 2021, with a brief resurgence in September 2023.) President Donald Trump himself repeated Watters' claim about condom bombs at the White House on Wednesday.

On his show, Watters questioned what else Palestinians would be doing with "500 million condoms," which is "a decade's supply of safe sex." It is ridiculous to imagine half a billion contraceptives being sent to a territory of only 2 million peoplewhich is every reason to be skeptical of that claim. Andrew Miller, former deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, told The Times of Israel that the claim was a "feverish dream."

Although the White House and the State Department didn't respond to Reason's request for comment, they both told Semafor's David Weigel that the claims were referring to two separate $50 million grants to the International Medical Corps, a charity that operates in Gaza, Ukraine, Venezuela, and several Middle Eastern and African countries.

The International Medical Corps told Weigel that "no U.S. government funding was used to procure or distribute condoms."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spent $60 million on contraception worldwide, mostly concentrated in Africa. The only contraceptive shipment to the Middle East that USAID reported was $45,680 in birth control medications for the Jordanian government.

Washington does spend a lot of money abroad. Last fiscal year, the U.S. government doled out $68 billion in foreign aid, a quarter of it for Ukraine. In many war-torn regions of the world, the USAID logo is ubiquitous, on everything from tents to bags of food. I once spotted a dumpster in Iraq with the USAID logo and the words "from the American people" printed on ita pretty apt metaphor for U.S. involvement in that country.

(Matthew Petti)

There is no doubt that waste, fraud, and abuse exist in foreign aid, just as in other government programs. In Gaza alone, the U.S. military spent $230 million on an aid pier that delivered one day's worth of food to the population, and launched massively inefficient airdrop missions. The ship that brought food to the pier, by the way, also reportedly brought 1 million pounds of munitions to the region.

Elsewhere, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction found in 2019 "a clear pattern of nonuse, misuse, deterioration, or destruction of many capital assets that the U.S. government has provided to the Afghan government." The American taxpayer-funded waste ranged from a school building with so many electrical hazards that teachers held classes outside to a road that was completely washed away by floodwaters within a month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But there's no proof for this particular waste of money. And throwing out outlandish stories is a way to avoid hard conversations about how the U.S. government spends money abroad.

The post The White House's 'Feverish Dream' About $50 Million for Condoms in Gaza appeared first on Reason.com.
When Jorge Islas-Martinez first started getting calls from community members that federal immigration officers were conducting raids Thursday in his longtime home of Whitewater, he went out to try to find them.

After two hours, he phoned someone he's close with to report there was no sign of any raids.

They asked: So it's OK to turn the lights back on?

Islas-Martinez, a native of Mexico, is a fierce advocate for Whitewater's Latino population. The symbolism behind the question struck him. Fear forces immigrants, even those legally in the U.S., to live in darkness, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next day, the situation slowly clarified. There were not raids in Whitewater.

It appears that officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, visited a person's home and workplace in the area, but left without finding them. That's according to Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Milwaukee immigrant advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, whose staff spoke to the person's relative.

The rumor in the first week of President Donald Trump's administration rattled Whitewater, a small community thats been been in the national spotlight for the past year over its influx of mostly Nicaraguan migrants. And it exposed the substantial challenges ahead for cities of all sizes: discerning fact from fiction on the fly, and keeping residents' trust in local law enforcement, even as federal agents carry out Trump's promise of mass deportations.

"It's not easy to be living like this," Islas-Martinez said. "You cannot enjoy what freedom is."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: In Whitewater, an influx of immigrants has leaders determined to welcome newcomers, solve problems

Immigrants across the country are on alert as information, and misinformation, about deportation spread fast on social media. Among the distortions and exaggerations are the realities: Trump has issued flurry of new directives, and agents are mobilizing to make hundreds of arrests daily.

Whitewater got the distinction of a mention in one of Trump's earliest executive orders. The order, pausing federal refugee resettlement, names the college town in the second sentence. But likely none of the migrants in Whitewater are refugees who arrived through the resettlement program, which highly vets persecuted individuals who have fled their home countries and wait for years to be flown to the U.S.

More: Whitewater became the center of a political firestorm. What residents think about the influx of immigrants

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Cities and small towns alike, from Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and Springfield, Ohio, to Whitewater, Wisconsin, have seen significant influxes of migrants," the order reads, adding that the U.S. "lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants" in a way that doesn't "compromise the availability of resources for Americans."

Whitewater has not been the only place circulating in the rumor mill. A report of a raid at a Klement's Sausage warehouse in Milwaukee turned out to be false  the plant briefly shut down for mechanical issues. And photos claiming to show a line of Customs and Border Protection vehicles driving through Waukesha over the weekend seem to be from another state, with more snow on the ground.

Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze said he didn't believe his department helped federal immigration enforcement on any operations in at least the last five years.

In Whitewater, impact of rumor lingers

That mission of finding solutions and adapting to the current situation has remained unchanged over the last year, the advocates said. They have acknowledged that the sudden surge of new residents, many of whom did not speak English fluently or have valid drivers licenses, did initially strain educational and law enforcement resources.

On Friday, one frigid January day after ICE's apparent operation, life carried on in Whitewater. A local coffee shop served steaming cups and scones to bundled-up customers. People hurried in and out of Mexican grocery stores. As is typical in a town of 15,000 people, traffic was sparse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the impact of the rumor lingered for immigrants and longtime residents alike.

"It keeps us from being as productive as we can be. It keeps us from focusing on our jobs, our community, our neighbors," said Kristine Zaballos, co-founder of the Community Space, a food and clothing pantry.

Marjorie Stoneman, the co-founder of the group Whitewater Unites Lives, said she was alarmed by what she heard through the grapevine. "But it must be absolutely terrifying for others" who could be personally affected by immigration enforcement, she said.

Marjorie has been writing profiles of immigrants and first-generation Americans for the Whitewater Banner news site. She feels telling their stories is the best way to change negative perceptions about immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Most people who come here from another country are wanting to make a better life for their families, and work, and arent here for any other reason," she said.

Jorge Islas-Martinez, a longtime advocate for immigrants, is pictured in the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library in Whitewater in January 2024.

More: As Trump takes office, what to know about local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE for deportations

Rumors, facts can spread quickly, advocates warn

The incident also crystallized the challenge of verifying reports of immigration enforcement operations, and the delicate balance advocates face in deciding how to share them without stirring up unnecessary fear.

Voces de la Frontera is weighing all of that. Its emergency hotline got about a half-dozen calls about ICE in the Whitewater and Fort Atkinson areas last Thursday. It announced on Facebook that agents were "approaching homes and a factory" in the two cities. Over 1,400 people shared the post. Voces staff was able to confirm only that agents searched for one person and left without finding them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the group gets reports to its hotline, it typically sends out advocates who live nearby to see if they can find ICE in the specified locations. They also try to reach immediate relatives, eyewitnesses or the targeted individual, Neumann-Ortiz said.

The goal of the hotline is to connect family members to legal, financial and emotional support, and to get a sense of how ICE is operating across the state, she said.

Neumann-Ortiz also understands that the reports can prompt some people to stay home and avoid work or school. She knows how important it is to get it right.

Spreading false rumors "really scares people," she said. "No one should live in that kind of fear."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zaballos works with Whitewater's Immigrant Support Coalition and said the group is also considering what to share, and when.

"We understand that if the wrong word gets out, or if we raise the alarm too often, it's both incredibly stressful to everyone in the community, and not just our immigrant community, and we also risk people stop listening," she said.

Advocates work to prepare, inform immigrants

With the threat of deportation looming, the best thing immigrant communities can do, right now, is understand their rights and prepare for what could happen, Islas-Martinez said. He is holding know-your-rights workshops in Whitewater and surrounding towns.

"Education is power," he said. It helps immigrants "face these horrible, horrible, situations."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Parents should create plans in case they're separated from their children, Islas-Martinez tells residents. They should have their documents organized and lawyers' numbers memorized. And they should know about Voces de la Frontera's emergency hotline.

Whitewater's Immigrant Support Coalition group also has been filming bilingual videos in collaboration with the city to help acclimate newcomers to American culture and norms. One explains that children are required to show up for school, and if they stay home sick, parents have to call the school.

Another video, yet to be published, focuses on trusting the police and what to do as a crime victim. A concern for police is that people who fear deportation are less likely report crimes or cooperate as witnesses.

More: As deportation looms, here's how families with undocumented immigrants should prepare

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"You're not in trouble for being a victim. And we want you to realize that and understand that, even though at that moment you're not OK, you are our No. 1 concern," a Spanish-speaking officer explains in the video.

With so much uncertainty over the future, advocates in Whitewater are focusing on what they can control, Zaballos said.

"We can't control what happens at the border. We can't control the executive orders. We can't control whether Congress actually acts on sensible immigration reform," Zaballos said. But they can make sure people are informed, and families are fed and clothed, she said.

More: Milwaukee immigration advocates stress need to know rights as first Trump orders roll out

Local police, sheriffs want to leave immigration arrests to federal agents

For some local law enforcement officials, the ICE operation in Whitewater was a preview of the uncomfortable position they may soon find themselves in.

Trump's plan to carry out mass deportations is likely to rely in part on the help of local police and sheriff's departments, since the two federal immigration agencies, ICE and CBP, don't have the manpower for such a large-scale operation nationwide. But some of the agencies in rural south-central Wisconsin have said they would rather not have a role in raids.

They want to maintain the trust and cooperation of residents in their own investigations. And federal immigration enforcement simply isn't their job.

Beloit and Janesville police departments have released statements saying they would inform ICE only of people they arrested who are accused of terrorism, gang violence and certain aggravated felonies.

Whitewater Police Chief Daniel Meyer said his department will assist ICE if requested.

"That said, our preference is to have as little active participation in ICE operations as possible," he said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel. "Our role as local law enforcement is not, and never will be, immigration enforcement."

Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze said he doesn't believe his agency has been involved with ICE raids in at least the last five years. And he doesn't plan to seek to get involved. The department is short-staffed by 30% as it is.

"We're going to do business as usual," he said. "We need to concentrate at the local level to serve our citizens as best as we can with the problems that are developed here."

Maze is also concerned about the federal civil rights pitfalls that can come with doing immigration work, such as potential racial-profiling lawsuits. He doesn't want to spend the time putting his staff through that training when they're already busy.

And he has a message for Jefferson County residents.

"Don't associate our agency with what you believe the federal government is going to do to undocumented individuals," he said. "Let us create our own narrative as to how we're going to interact with you."

Gina Castro of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Whitewater immigrant advocates rattled by ICE deportation rumors
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is praising U.S. Sen. Gary Peters for his years of service as he says he will not run for reelection.

Peters, a Democrat, announced Tuesday he would not seek a third term, setting up another hotly contested Senate race just two years after the last one.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters will not run for reelection

In a statement, Whitmer called Peters a steadfast champion for Michigan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a member of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, he has fought tirelessly to create good-paying jobs, bring manufacturing back to our state, strengthen our auto industry, lower Michiganders health care costs and protect reproductive freedom, the governor said.

She also noted his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist praised Peters incredible legacy as a leader.

On so many issues like economic opportunity, national security, and manufacturing, Senator Peters has worked hard to make Michigan a better place to live, work, and invest. He set an example through his commitment to his constituents and unmatched bipartisanship. I know every Michigander joins me in thanking Senator Peters for his service, Gilchrist said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrat who this year replaced longtime Sen. Debbie Stabenow, reflected on Peters as a mentor and dear friend, saying he helped her set up her office.

Gary Peters is a true public servant who has devoted his life to making Michigan and our country better. I join millions of Michiganders in appreciating him for his decades of public service to our state and our nation, Slotkin said in a statement. In the Senate, Gary enjoys a reputation as a no-nonsense, bipartisan legislator. As a veteran himself, he fought tirelessly for those we served. One of his legacies on the Armed Services Committee and as Chairman and Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee is protecting our northern border and cementing the critical role of the Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Whitmer also pointed to his work to support Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit.

(Peters) will be greatly missed around the Senate. But as Gary himself said, theres a lot of work to do for Michigan over the next two years  and I look forward to continuing our work together, Slotkins statement continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said Peters retirement was an immense loss for Michigan. She thanked Peters for helping her pass a bill to rename the Comstock Park post office for late U.S. Marine Miguel Nava.

Peters, of Bloomfield Township, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before he was elected to the Senate in 2014.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A revitalized organization is looking to make a positive impact for one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Sioux Falls.

After about a five-year hiatus, the Whittier Residents Association is back in action.

10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate

Theres been so many people wanting to do something meaningful with themselves, and this was one of the ways that we could do that, Whittier Residents Association president Lim Bun said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The organization is looking to encourage people who call Whittier home to build a stronger and safer neighborhood.

On Saturday, it held a meet and greet.

It was just mainly to announce our presence, but the main feature was having the local service organizations. They have the biggest hearts and are working to help the neediest people in the neighborhood, Bun said.

Eric Weber of the Union Gospel Mission attended the meeting.

The neighborhood got together, and we found out whos doing what in the neighborhood, what organizations are working together, how we can support and help the community grow and how we can give resources to those in need, Weber said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All to make meaningful change together.

I think the role of the association is to facilitate conversations, get-togethers and meetings, and show that every voice matters, but the power and strength come together. When youre in an association, it makes a deeper and more meaningful impact, Bun said.

And as the association strives to grow, its members are encouraging others to join.

If they want to see the difference, theyve got to show up and be the difference, Bun said.

Remember that if you take the time and make the time to be part of the community, we will all do better, Weber said.

The Whittier Residents Association is also looking to take advantage of the citys light improvement program and start some beautification projects in the future. You can find out about future events on the organizations Facebook page.

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.
After a disastrous rollout and widespread backlash, the Trump administration has rescinded an from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to freeze the distribution of billions in federal funds and grant money to government programs.

In a brief memorandum issued to executive departments and agencies on Wednesday, the OMB wrote that OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the Presidents Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the administration is not backing down. This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze, she wrote. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the courts injunction. The Presidents EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The temporary freeze threw scores of government funded agencies into chaos and confusion. Medicaid portals were down, early childhood support organizations found themselves cut off from funding, and even Meals on Wheels was left scrambling  all before the order was officially set to go into effect.

Ahead of the orders implementation, two lawsuits were filed challenging its constitutionality, and President Donald Trumps authority to issue such a widespread seizure of funds approved by Congress. Hours later, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan partially blocked the orders enforcement pending an emergency hearing for a temporary restraining order.

Throughout the day, the Trump administration attempted to backtrack and clarify large portions of the orders vague instructions, insisting that agencies responsible for providing individual assistance and direct payment to Americans would be exempt, despite the problems being reported by those very same groups.

FAFO, wrote Rep, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in response to the orders repeal, which is to say: Fuck around and find out.

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 fast-rising Chinese AI lab DeepSeek is sparking national security concerns in the U.S., over fears that its AI models could be used by the Chinese government to spy on American civilians, learn proprietary secrets, and wage influence campaigns. In her first press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the National Security Council was "looking into" the potential security implications of DeepSeek. This comes amid news that the U.S. Navy has banned use of DeepSeek among its ranks due to potential security and ethical concerns.

DeepSeek, which currently tops the Apple App Store in the U.S., marks a major inflection point in the AI arms race between the U.S. and China. For the last couple years, many leading technologists and political leaders have argued that whichever country developed AI the fastest will have a huge economic and military advantage over its rivals. DeepSeek shows that Chinas AI has developed much faster than many had believed, despite efforts from American policymakers to slow its progress.

However, other privacy experts argue that DeepSeeks data collection policies are no worse than those of its American competitorsand worry that the companys rise will be used as an excuse by those firms to call for deregulation. In this way, the rhetorical battle over the dangers of DeepSeek is playing out on similar lines as the in-limbo TikTok ban, which has deeply divided the American public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are completely valid privacy and data security concerns with DeepSeek, says Calli Schroeder, the AI and Human Rights lead at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). But all of those are present in U.S. AI products, too.

Read More: What to Know About DeepSeek

Concerns over data

DeepSeeks AI models operate similarly to ChatGPT, answering user questions thanks to a vast amount of data and cutting-edge processing capabilities. But its models are much cheaper to run: the company says that it trained its R1 model on just $6 million, which is a good deal less than the cost of comparable U.S. models, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote in an essay.

DeepSeek has built many open-source resources, including the LLM v3, which rivals the abilities of OpenAI's closed-source GPT-4o. Some people worry that by making such a powerful technology open and replicable, it presents an opportunity for people to use it more freely in malicious ways: to create bioweapons, launch large-scale phishing campaigns, or fill the internet with AI slop. However, there is another contingent of builders, including Metas VP and chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, who believe open-source development is a more beneficial path forward for AI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another major concern centers upon data. Some privacy experts, like Schroeder, argue that most LLMs, including DeepSeek, are built upon sensitive or faulty databases: information from data leaks of stolen biometrics, for example. David Sacks, President Donald Trumps AI and crypto czar, accused DeepSeek of leaning on the output of OpenAIs models to help develop its own technology.

There are even more concerns about how users data could be used by DeepSeek. The companys privacy policy states that it automatically collects a slew of input data from its users, including IP and keystroke patterns, and may use that to train their models. Users personal information is stored in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China, the policy reads.

For some Americans, this is especially worrying because generative AI tools are often used in personal or high-stakes tasks: to help with their company strategies, manage finances, or seek health advice. That kind of data may now be stored in a country with few data rights laws and little transparency with regard to how that data might be viewed or used. It could be that when the servers are physically located within the country, it is much easier for the government to access them, Schroeder says.

One of the main reasons that TikTok was initially banned in the U.S. was due to concerns over how much data the apps Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was collecting from Americans. If Americans start using DeepSeek to manage their lives, the privacy risks will be akin to TikTok on steroids, says Douglas Schmidt, the dean of the School of Computing, Data Sciences and Physics at William & Mary. I think TikTok was collecting information, but it was largely benign or generic data. But large language model owners get a much deeper insight into the personalities and interests and hopes and dreams of the users.

Geopolitical concerns

DeepSeek is also alarming those who view AI development as an existential arms race between the U.S. and China. Some leaders argued that DeepSeek shows China is now much closer to developing AGIan AI that can reason at a human level or higherthan previously believed. American AI labs like Anthropic have safety researchers working to mitigate the harms of these increasingly formidable systems. But its unclear what kind of safety research team Deepseek employs. The cybersecurity of Deepseeks models has also been called into question. On Monday, the company limited new sign-ups after saying the app had been targeted with a large-scale malicious attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well before AGI is achieved, a powerful, widely-used AI model could influence the thought and ideology of its users around the world. Most AI models apply censorship in certain key ways, or display biases based on the data they are trained upon. Users have found that DeepSeeks R1 refuses to answer questions about the 1989 massacre at Tiananmen Square, and asserts that Taiwan is a part of China. This has sparked concern from some American leaders about DeepSeek being used to promote Chinese values and political aimsor wielded as a tool for espionage or cyberattacks.

Read More: Artificial Intelligence Has a Problem With Gender and Racial Bias.

This technology, if unchecked, has the potential to feed disinformation campaigns, erode public trust, and entrench authoritarian narratives within our democracies, Ross Burley, co-founder of the nonprofit Centre for Information Resilience, wrote in a statement emailed to TIME.

AI industry leaders, and some Republican politicians, have responded by calling for massive investment into the American AI sector. President Trump said on Monday that DeepSeek should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win. Sacks posted on X that DeepSeek R1 shows that the AI race will be very competitive and that President Trump was right to rescind the Biden EO, referring to Bidens AI Executive Order which, among other things, drew attention to the potential short-term harms of developing AI too fast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These fears could lead to the U.S. imposing stronger sanctions against Chinese tech companies, or perhaps even trying to ban DeepSeek itself. On Monday, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party called for stronger export controls on technologies underpinning DeepSeeks AI infrastructure.

But AI ethicists are pushing back, arguing that the rise of DeepSeek actually reveals the acute need for industry safeguards. This has the echoes of the TikTok ban: there are legitimate privacy and security risks with the way these companies are operating. But the U.S. firms who have been leading a lot of the development of these technologies are similarly abusing people's data. Just because they're doing it in America doesn't make it better, says Ben Winters, the director of AI and data privacy at the Consumer Federation of America. And DeepSeek gives those companies another weapon in their chamber to say, We really cannot be regulated right now.

As ideological battle lines emerge, Schroeder, at EPIC, cautions users to be careful when using DeepSeek or other LLMs. If you have concerns about the origin of a company, she says, Be very, very careful about what you reveal about yourself and others in these systems.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By attacking everything that has anything to do with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), what exactly is President Donald Trump trying to accomplish?All the reactionary, alarmist social media posts and videos are alarming and reactionary, but they arent giving us any real answers to this question.

They will get you up in arms about the United States Air Force removing a course video highlighting the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots from their educational materials. (Something that the Air Force has reinstated after an immense outcry online.)

Folks will look at which companies are adhering to the presidents three executive orders that target DEI initiatives and tell you where not to shop. (Something that those who have economic privilege can afford, but what about those who are struggling financially?)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, again, what is the point of all this? Why is he doing it, and what is the president trying to accomplish? The answer is as simple, but you need a bit of historical context to fully understand.

When Trump was president the first time, he banned diversity training to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping. Biden reversed that executive order but went a step further and had the most diverse administration in American history.

His cabinet looked like the Rainbow Coalition: It included the first Black defense secretary, the first Native American cabinet member and the first female treasury secretary. Everyone got a seat at the table in Bidens America. Not so in Trumps.

Imagine voting for Trump because of egg prices and wanting the brown people gone and now:



 your white wife got fired from her DEI position



 your kids can't go to college because there's no funding



 your parents can't afford their prescription drugs



 eggs are $13  I Smoked $13 Eggs (@BlackKnight10k) January 28, 2025

When the 47th president got into office, one of the first thing he did was undo what Biden undid. Except this time, he went even further by targeting DEI. Critics of Bidens approach to diversity said that it resulted in government bloat. Others said that things like diversity trainings are manipulative and accuses anyone who does not see racism everywhere of being racist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Soon the acronym DEI became a dog whistleand was blamed for the demise of Silicon Valley Bank and even Boeings aircraft safety problems. Put simply, Trumps supporters have been attacking DEI for years.

Thats why he is attacking these programs. Conservatives wanted to do away with these initiatives but could not because Biden was in office. Now they have someone who will do their bidding. Trump has listened to his voters and is implementing their vision of America. Thats why immigrants are being hunted down by ICE agents. Thats why transgender people are being attacked in the military. And thats why DEI initiatives have come under fire.

Remember the people who said they would not to vote for Harris because of the war in Gaza? Or what about the ones who could not stomach her prosecutorial record? In 2009, Obama famously said, elections have consequences. More than ever, we see now that he was right.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Brochures are seen at Crisis Center, a Birmingham-base United Way associated resource serving individuals facing personal crises and mental health issues in central Alabama, on Monday July 3rd, 2023. (Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector)

When Alabama lawmakers focus on actual issues, they tend to avoid or overlook specifics. Things like the scope of a problem.

Take broadband. For years, state leaders talked endlessly about the need for high-speed internet. Alabama had to push money into broadband, they said, or we couldnt conjure the jobs that put a state legislators mind at peace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont think anyone would oppose better internet access. The problem was that no one could say what exactly the issues were. The state didnt release its own broadband map until 2022. Former Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, once proposed using $800 million of a $1.7 billion COVID aid package to expand broadband, but no one could say if that was enough, too much or too little to wire the state.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Theres similar talk about the importance of supporting access to mental health services. And a similar silence on the details. What exactly are the mental health challenges in Alabama? And where does our state stand in responding to them?

Today were beginning a five-part serieson mental health in our state that tries to answer some of those questions. Broadly speaking, the challenges are many, and the state is still rebuilding from devastating cuts about 15 years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Facing shortfalls in the 2009-2010 recession, lawmakers gutted mental health funding. The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) struggled to recover that lost funding over the past decade. It took over a decade for the department to get back to the funding levels it had in 2008. And in real terms, it didnt get there until 2023.

Give credit to legislators for making those investments in recent years. That money is going to build crisis centers, facilities that act as an emergency care system.

But there are many other challenges.

Getting coverage for mental health services can be difficult. The state lacks an adequate number of providers. There has been an increase in diagnoses of mental health conditions among students since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many people with mental illnesses who end up in jail go through a system that is poorly equipped to provide treatment, medication or the support they need. That can have deadly consequences.

There are also innovative programs taking shape in Alabama. Like trying to put mental health professionals in schools to help students. And training law enforcement officers to find the best ways to work with people going through a mental health crisis.

Some of the states challenges dont necessarily reflect problems. Its far better to have students willing to discuss their challenges than biting their lips and imploding, or turning to nonprofessional resources to cope.

Still, there are clear steps the state can take to address the issues. Jails cannot be places for people struggling with mental health. In the short term, Alabama legislators should work with counties to improve screening systems and help counties get medication to people in jail, either by stocking it or (more likely) finding ways to deliver medication that people confined prison may already be taking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the long term, lawmakers need to continue investing in diversion programs and get the criminal justice system out of the business of mental health care.

The state also needs to find ways to attract providers to the state. This is already a challenge in bringing medical professionals to Alabama. Its hard to encourage health care workers to come to a state where health care policy seems like an uncles rant on Facebook.

You could offer programs like rural health care incentives the state already extends. Making it easier for people to access mental health services  perhaps through Medicaid expansion  could help on that front.

Rebuilding the states mental health system will be a years-long, and maybe decades-long project, requiring political will and patience to try new things. We hope this series on the issue helps people find that way forward.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Residents of Swannanoa live in campers and tents as their homes remain destroyed or uninhabitable from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. (Photo: Lisa Sorg/Inside Climate News)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

SWANNANOAPeople are living in campers in fields of debris off U.S. 70, the main thoroughfare through the small town of Swannanoa, east of Asheville. Cars are buried nose-first under dirt and rock.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On side streets, homes have been gutted and abandoned, emblazoned with official signs that say unsafe. A woman walking her terrier remarked, I saw a childs ball. That kid lost everything.

At Eagle Rock Church, several people sifted through clothing and blankets while others picked from an array of canned food. A man filled large tanks with water from the churchs well so he could flush his toilet. Propane tanks and coats were in high demand.

The outpouring of support has been awesome, said Pastor Ramona Nix, her dog, Duchess, by her side. She had met President Donald Trump in Asheville the week prior, where he floated the idea of dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Weve never asked for government help, Nix said. The red tape you have to go through has been ridiculous. He meant what he said.

Pastor Ramona Nix stands in a room of donated supplies at Eagle Rock Church in Swannanoa, N.C. (Photo: Lisa Sorg/Inside Climate News)

Its been four months since Hurricane Helene flooded and flattened thousands of square miles of western North Carolina. Recovery will likely take decades, and possibly longer, if FEMA is dissolved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That could leave the state government to fund and manage a complex $60 billion recovery and rebuilding program.

But since 2016, North Carolina has bungled recoveries after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, as ReBuild NC overspent its $779 million federal budget by more than $220 million, and ran out of money to complete the work.

On his first day in office, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said publicly that ReBuild NC would not be involved in Hurricane Helene recovery. Instead, the agency would focus on finishing its work in eastern North Carolina, where, because of years of financial and logistical mismanagement, more than 1,100 people have been stranded without permanent homes since Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and Florence two years later, according to current figures.

Gov. Stein reorganized parts of state government and formed the Governors Recovery Office for Western North Carolina to oversee some of the work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in fact, ReBuild NC is working on Helene recovery, state records show. The agency has key responsibilities in case management for storm survivorseven though records and homeowners accounts show it is still failing to fulfill those same duties for survivors in eastern North Carolina. And even though the state Division of Emergency Management could have activated a contract already in place with an outside company.

An interagency agreement between the N.C. Division of Emergency Management and ReBuild NC obtained under public records law reveals that ReBuild will leverage its technical expertise and operational capacity, will act as the operational lead and administer the Disaster Case Management Program on behalf of NCEM.

Job postings on government websites show ReBuild NC was accepting applications for case managers in mid-January.

ReBuild NC will receive $21.7 million from FEMA via the Division of Emergency Management to do the work, said Justin Graney, a division spokesman. The agreement was signed by Division of Emergency Management Director Will Ray and Jane Gilchrist, who was chief of staff at the Department of Public Safety, the agency over ReBuild NC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Graney said no current ReBuild NC case managers are working on western North Carolina recovery. The majority of new hires are headquartered at the Buncombe County Disaster Recovery Center, with additional personnel fanned out across western North Carolina, he said, but did not provide names or job titles.

Four months after Helene devastated Swannanoa, debris is still strewn everywhere. (Photo: Lisa Sorg/Inside Climate News)

The Division of Emergency Management plans to hire 75 case managers by March, at which point it will be fully staffed, Graney said. They will conduct outreach and meet with long-term recovery groups and disaster survivors living in hotels through the FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.

Graney said the case management for Helene, funded by FEMA, differs from ReBuild NCs previous work, which received money and oversight from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This is not a construction management type of program, which is what [ReBuild] managed, Graney said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, ReBuild NC was in charge of not just construction but also case management for Hurricane Matthew and Florence survivors. Initially the agency oversaw a contractor, Horne LLP, to do project management, including case management. ReBuild NC then hired its own employees to do that work when the contract with Horne was not renewed. (Jonathan Krebs, an advisor to Gov. Stein for Helene recovery, previously worked for Horne as a managing partner for Government Services.)

Case management has long been in disarray. Homeowners have complained on social media, testified before state lawmakers and written letters to North Carolina officials, including Gov. Stein, when he was attorney general, about the lack of communication and incorrect information they received from case managers.

Graney said the Division of Emergency Management, not ReBuild NC, will manage funds, as well as ensure that the program provides suitable customer service to disaster survivors across western North Carolina.

Steins office did not answer questions sent by email about whether the governor was debriefed on ReBuild NCs role before announcing the agency would not be working in western North Carolina. Instead, a spokesperson provided a statement: Governor Stein is approaching the recovery efforts in western North Carolina with four pillars: urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition, he established an advisory committee that includes people on the ground in western NCmany of whom were personally impacted by Helenewhich will allow him to remain agile and ensure our offices work is making a difference in a meaningful way. He looks forward to partnering with the General Assembly so that [ReBuild] can finish the job in eastern North Carolina.

A legacy of troubles

In late September, as Hurricane Helene barreled up the spine of the Appalachians and destroyed parts of western North Carolina, ReBuild NC was in financial crisis. Beyond overspending its $779 million budget for the previous two storms by more than $220 million, it was chronically late paying stipends to hurricane survivors and owed contractors money. Work on many homes had stoppedor never startedbecause there was no money to pay the contractors.

To cut costs, ReBuild NC had laid off more than 40 people a month earlier, primarily housing specialists, but also several employees who wrote flood insurance policies for homeowners who lived in 100-year flood plains. The agency stopped placing people in motels, an expensive option for temporary housing, and opted for apartments instead. ReBuild NC has spent nearly $84 million on temporary housing as of this month.

Swannanoa homes left destroyed or damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Helene display signs that say unsafe. (Photo: Lisa Sorg/Inside Climate News)

At some point between Helenes landfall and mid-November, emails show leadership at Emergency Management and ReBuild NC began planning to provide disaster case management services for western North Carolina.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 18, state lawmakers summoned Laura Hogshead, ReBuilds embattled executive director, to testify before an oversight committee about ReBuild NCs troubled finances. At that hearing, several lawmakers said they could not trust the agency to manage disaster recovery in western North Carolina.

Why in the world with ReBuilds past history would we give yall the west? said Sen. Brent Jackson, a Republican who represents five counties in eastern North Carolina.

Former ReBuild NC Director Laura Hogshead (Photo: NCORR)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hogshead indicated she wanted ReBuild NC to work on Helene disaster recovery. I would submit [ReBuild] has the expertise. We know what to do and what not to do. We can get the funding quicker. Weve done this recently and a different entity would have to relearn hard lessons.

The next day Graney confirmed with Inside Climate News that the Division of Emergency Management had partnered with the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, ReBuilds formal name, to coordinate and staff the North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program with case managers. NCORR will not be managing FEMA funding and is providing disaster case management services only.

At the time, FEMA was still reviewing the budget and scope of work for those services, so the document was not finalized.

Two days later, on Nov. 20, Hogshead left the agency. State personnel laws limit what is publicly known about her departure, but at the committee hearing Hoghead told lawmakers she would not resign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Division of Emergency Management had another option besides ReBuild NC. It had a pre-positioned all-hazard contract with a consulting firm, North Highland, based in Charlotte. The company works in several industries, and has a division devoted to emergency management.

Agencies can award these advance contracts before an incident occurs, according to the FEMA website, to conduct a deliberate procurement process outside of the pressure and immediate demands of a disaster. It also helps to ensure that applicants have contractors ready to perform work quickly after an incident occurs when needed most.

North Highland officials did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Graney said even with the North Highland contract, it would still take time to execute it, hire personnel and establish the program. The decision was made to not execute one of the pre-positioned all-hazard contracts for disaster case management, Graney said, and to handle it within state government at ReBuild NC.

Back in Swannanoa, a gutted one-story home sat behind two tall, slender fir trees. A wall clock emblazoned with an illustration of a unicorn sat by the door. A QR code on the front of the house read Help Mark Rebuild. And the mailbox stated, in raspberry letters, Imagining a Better Future.

The state legislature is holding two hearings about hurricane recovery:

House Select Committee on Helene Recovery

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m.

Watch the livestream here.

Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery

Thursday, Jan. 30, 8:30 a.m.

Watch the livestream here.
It was the day that Donald Trumps new strongman presidency crashed into reality.

His latest attempt to wield vast and questionable executive power  this time by temporarily halting federal aid  sparked nationwide confusion and fear with programs including Meals on Wheels and low-income housing assistance suddenly in limbo.

The methodical approach that characterized the intense opening week of Trumps presidency yielded to chaos  reminiscent of the uproar that characterized his first term and helped him lose the 2020 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But most profoundly, the drama set off a momentous legal battle over the scope of presidential authority, which will shape the new administration and the separation of powers and is almost certain to land in the Supreme Court.

Trumps brand as a bombastic disrupter reflects the disdain many Americans have for the Washington establishment. And he can fairly argue he has a mandate for change after an impressive election victory. Democratic claims that hes bent on becoming a dictator have often been alarmist.

But the spending freeze  along with other key moves early in this presidency, including the firing of Justice Department prosecutors and a bid to repeal birthright citizenship  also reflects Trumps view that the presidency has almost unlimited power and he can simply decide what is legal and what isnt.

The White House Counsels Office believes that this is within the Presidents power to do it, and therefore, hes doing it, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNNs Kaitlan Collins in the briefing room on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, it only took a week and a day for Trumps second presidency  rooted in his desire for total control  to present a grave challenge to the Constitution.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the daily briefing on Tuesday. - Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

How a memo sparked nationwide chaos

This was a mess made in the White House.

The Office of Management and Budget set off a storm Monday night with a memo ordering a temporary pause in all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance. The memo, obtained by CNN, made Medicare benefits or assistance to individuals exempt. But uproar ensued, leaving lawmakers, state governments, local leaders and NGOs scrambling and unsure which programs were included and which were safe. In theory, programs ranging from those at the Pentagon to small town America were under threat.

Attempts by Trumps team to explain that the freeze was not as broad as it seemed, and that it was intended to allow officials to scrub funding for conflicts with his new policies  including on outlawing diversity, equity and inclusion  only made the situation worse. Leavitt couldnt specify, for instance, in her debut briefing whether Medicaid was blocked. She later clarified that it was not, but the critical programs portal was down in many states for much of the day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I suspect that the admin here has bitten off more here than intended to chew, said Donald Kettl, former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. I dont think it really intended to shut down Medicaid. I dont think it intended to shut down aid to local schools. But the meaning of the language that came through  is absolutely crystal clear, Kettl said on The Lead with Jake Tapper.

By evening, a federal judge imposed a short-term halt on the aid freeze until Monday.

US District Judge Loren L. AliKhan summed up a surreal and baffling day after pressing a Justice Department attorney, saying: The government doesnt know the full scope of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause.

Trumps shock and awe dissolves into confusion

There will be significant short-term political reverberations from Tuesdays drama, which overlaid far more serious constitutional implications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The confusion immediately overshadowed the disciplined rollout of Trumps second term. The shock-and-awe approach of waves of presidential directives and orders has made it almost impossible for Trumps critics to focus on individual items designed to quickly transform the nation. But the haste seemed to catch the OMB unprepared for disastrous consequences.

The presidents core support after an election in which he won all seven swing states is unlikely to be shaken. But Trump has only limited time to effect the massive change he seeks, and he lacks unlimited political capital, so perceptions of his presidency after a largely error free start remain very important.

Ironically, the pandemonium focused attention on the critical societal role of many government programs that were thrown into uncertainty at a time when Trump plans to cut a scythe through federal spending. Tuesday might, therefore, have posed a political warming for Elon Musk, who is heading the new Department of Government Efficiency and plans to slash federal budgets.

People rally in support of federal funding and in opposition to Trump's order to pause all federal grants and loans near the White House on Tuesday. - Ken Cedeno/Reuters

Trump seems to subvert the constitutional role of Congress

But the deepest questions raised by the now partially stayed funding freeze arise from Trumps latest attempt to wield unrestrained authority in a new presidency already characterized by dubious power grabs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In seeking to freeze loans and grants and align them with his priorities laid out in a blizzard of executive actions, Trump was seeking to redirect or halt funding already appropriated by Congress.

It is a direct challenge against Congress and its ability to be able to approve and authorize its expenditure of money, Kettl said.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, told CNNs Jake Tapper that the freeze was needed because bureaucrats were pushing out funds for wicked and pernicious policies.

And Leavitt insisted that Trump was within his rights to analyze federal spending because it was exactly what the American people elected President Trump to do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One interpretation of Trumps victory last year is that a plurality of Americans had lost confidence in the government and were angry at the volume and content of the Biden administrations spending.

But winning an election doesnt give a president a right to simply ignore the law  indeed Trump swore an oath to uphold it just nine days ago. And the government spending in question was contained in laws passed by Congress  which, under the Constitution, controls the power of the purse. Trump has the chance to write and propose new laws but cant simply ignore those on the books.

A similar disregard for the law was evident in the presidents summary dismissal of prosecutors who investigated him under former special counsel Jack Smith. The career prosecutors are not political appointees and therefore enjoy civil service protections that govern the terms of their employment. Trump and his allies have long argued that large corps of liberal bureaucrats frustrate the goals of Republican presidents. And the dozen or so officials thrown out of the DOJ were told that they could not be trusted to carry out Trumps agenda  even though prosecutors are meant to follow the law not political agendas.

The White House insists that the presidents Article Two constitutional powers mean hes within his right to fire anyone. This is an argument headed for the courts too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps effort to repeal birth right citizenship as part of his immigration crackdown also appears to fly in the face of the Constitution  which the president lacks the powers to amend.

Trumps firing of more than a dozen watchdog officials from inside government agencies late last week seems to follow a similar principle  that a law on the books doesnt apply to him. The statute requires Trump to give 30 days notice to Congress of such terminations, which he declined to do. But Miller told Tapper that the law that has been on the books for generations is unconstitutional. Absolutely it is. I dont even think so. I know it is, he said.

But presidents and their advisers are not kings and dont get to decide what is constitutional. If they did, the system of US democratic governance would collapse.

What democracy requires isnt that as soon as the president comes into power, they could wipe away everything that came before, said Corey Brettschneider, author of The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens who Fought to Defend it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The idea of a democracy is that when laws are passed, take the 1964 Civil Rights Act or environmental protection, that those laws bind not just citizens, but bind even the president, said Brettschneider, a constitutional law and politics professor at Brown University.

President Donald Trump returns to the White House Monday night. - Carlos Barria/Reuters

Trump is only just beginning his constitutional pressure

Tuesday further clarified that Trump intends to push presidential power to the limit. And there are growing suspicions that the administration is initiating political battles and legal fights specifically to get the conservative Supreme Court to further expand the scope of the presidency.

The confluence of a president who believes in his own unrestrained power and the recent weakening of restraints on the executive suggest he may get a long way toward his goal.

After all, the principal checks on presidential dominance  Congress and the courts  have actively bolstered it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican support for Trump on Capitol Hill  underscored by lawmakers refusing to convict him  proved in the first Trump term that impeachment is an ineffective tool for holding Oval Office occupants to account. And the US Supreme Court majority that Trump built paved the way last year for more power grabs by the 47th president by granting him substantial immunity for official acts in office.

The presidency is supposed to be limited by the law and by the Constitution, Brettschneider said. And Trump sees it quite differently  that he is empowered to do whatever he wants. And that really is a vision of authoritarian control.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday removed the security detail and security clearance for former United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, according to Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot, CNN reported. In second full day of his job, Hegseth ordered the department's inspector general to start a probe into Milley's "conduct" to determine whether a review of his rank is needed. The statement does not mention what conduct Hegseth thinks would warrant review of Milley's rank. Hours after Trump's swearing-in on January 20, the portrait of Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was removed from where it was displayed in the Pentagon. As of Tuesday afternoon, a second portrait of General Milley while he served as US Army's chief of staff was still hanging in the Pentagon, CNN reported. In 2018, Donald Trump nominated Mark Milley as the top US general. However, the ties between US President and Milley rapidly deteriorated during the closing months of the first Trump administration. At one point, Milley referred to Trump as "fascist." In his final address at Joint Chiefs chair in 2023, he said that military does not take an oath to a "wannabe dictator." It was an oblique reference to then-former US President, showcasing the differences between the two, CNN reported. Donald Trump has accused Milley of treason over phone calls Milley held with his Chinese counterpart in 2020. He called the calls on social media as "an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" Milley has said that the phone calls were coordinated with the defence secretaries at the time and other national security agencies. Trump also criticised Mark Milley of botching the US forces withdrawal from Afghanistan. Although Milley was against the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Chief of Staff to the US Secretary of Defence, Joe Kasper, said, "Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump's leadership." On his final morning in office, former US President Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon for Milley after Trump pledged to seek retribution against those he considered opposing his first presidency. Biden said that Milley, during his over 40 years in military service, was deployed "to some of the most dangerous parts of the world to protect and defend democracy." Milley thanked Biden for the pardon and said, "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our great country in uniform for over four decades, and I will continue to keep faith and loyalty to our nation and Constitution until my dying breath." Biden's pardon protects Milley from prosecution under criminal law and military law. However, an inspector general probe could reduce the rank of Milley if it determines any wrongdoing. Earlier on Friday, Trump fired the inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies, including the Department of Defence, for not giving Congress the required 30-day notice or providing a substantive rationale for the firings, CNN reported. A few hours after the swearing-in, Trump revoked the secret service detail for his former national security adviser John Bolton, which was given to him due to threats from Iran. In addition, the US President revoked the security detail for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He also revoked the detail from Former Chief Medical Advisor to the US President Anthony Fauci, which was being provided and paid for by the National Institutes of Health due to ongoing threats from his public-facing role during the Covid-19 pandemic. (ANI)
After one full week in office, President Donald Trump sent a signal that his transformation of Washington was soon to take full force: The White House released an order Monday night to pause as much as $3 trillion in federal grants and loans. The earth-shattering disruption, officials said, was so the administration could conduct an across-the-board review of federal funding to tear out progressive initiatives and ensure government spending complied with Trumps barrage of executive orders.

It was exactly the kind of thing Trump promised on the campaign trail. But it blew up before it even got started. After a chaotic day marked by uncertainty over which programs were covered under the vaguely worded memo, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocked federal agencies from implementing the freeze minutes before it was supposed to take effect. She scheduled oral arguments for the case next week.

That may set up the first major test of Trump 2.0. If it succeeds, it could restore a presidential power last wielded by Richard Nixon and expedite the radical reshaping of government Trump outlined as a candidate. If it fails, Trump could still win by losing. Some in his inner circle see the dramatic action as a strategic move to flood the zone and move the Overton window, paving the way for more of the Presidents boundary-pushing policymaking in the months and years to come.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However it unfolds will affect the lives of millions of Americans who rely on myriad forms of federal assistance, as well as U.S. aid recipients overseas such as Ukraine and nations fighting crises ranging from famine to an HIV/AIDS epidemic. The stakes are also high for the Trump Administration, which risks appearing impotent shortly after taking power.

The White Houses Office of Management and Budget sent a memo Monday requiring federal agencies to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the Presidents policies and requirements. It specifically targeted DEI, woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs intended to ensure increased opportunities for marginalized groups, and a sweeping climate proposal that has never passed Congress. They're taking inventory, a White House official tells TIME. The Administration is evaluating funding allocations and asking: Is it working? Is it following the President's mission? Yes or no? If not, then boomit goes.

The seemingly slapdash document to overhaul the nations spending priorities created confusion throughout the federal government. Many civil servants were unsure what it meant for the fate of thousands of programs that Americans rely on, such as Medicaid and the Head Start preschool program.

Democrats derided the move as destructive and unconstitutional. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, argued that it violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits the President from withholding congressionally-authorized funds. "It's a dagger at the heart of the average American family in red states and blue states, in cities, in suburbs, in rural areas," Schumer said. It is just outrageous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout the campaign, Trump promised to restore the power of impoundment as part of his professed War on Washington. The maneuver was one of Nixons favorites; he used his authority to block funding for subsidized housing and the Environmental Protection Agency. Shortly after Nixon left office in disgrace, Congress passed a law to ban its practice.



The President and some of his closest advisors, including his nominee to lead OMB Russel Vought, have been planning to challenge the 1974 statutes constitutionality during Trumps second term. There's a couple of different approaches that you could take, Vought told TIME last year. One is to test the view in the courts by making some of these decisions to hold back money or one is to go and try to get the law overturned.

With the courts soon to rule on Trumps order, that test is now coming to a head. Some of the nations preeminent conservative legal scholars also consider a President unilaterally impounding congressionally-appropriated funds a bridge too far. Much of what he is doing either exceeds the Supreme Courts current conceptions of the limits of presidential power or at least are very aggressive and contested assertions of presidential power, wrote Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard law professor who served in the George W. Bush Administration, in a Substack column.

Ultimately, the courts will adjudicate whether Trumps far-reaching memo passes legal musteror whether he will face the first major impediment to him delivering on a revolutionary campaign promise.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  There are a lot of questions about the future of federal funding for nonprofits after the Trump administration planned to freeze federal grants and loans. A federal judge temporarily blocked that plan Tuesday afternoon, contributing to more questions and confusion for local agencies.

The executive director of the Wichita Family Crisis Center, Amanda Meyers, said this situation is unprecedented for them. The center helps people when they are most vulnerable, and a proposed freeze on funding they rely on is not what their team wanted to hear.

An email on Tuesday morning from the United States Department of Justice to the Wichita Family Crisis Center created concern.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So when we hear a pause in federal funding, obviously its terrifying, said Meyers.

Trump order aims to end federal support for gender transitions for those under 19

The email announces a temporary pause while programs and activities are being reviewed.

The center relies on reimbursement grants for money already spent on sheltering people who are escaping domestic violence. Meyers said that if the funding freeze goes through, they can rely on privately raised funds, but only for a short time.

Just simply stated, no funding means no money for shelter, means people have nowhere to go, means their lives are in danger, so this is literally life-threatening danger, as a result of the lack of funding, said Meyers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The chief operating officer of the National Council of Nonprofits, Rick Cohen, said the planned funding freeze is fueling panic for nonprofits across the country.

They dont have the financial flexibility to accommodate a pause, whether thats 30 days, or 7 days, or even 24 hours, said Cohen.

He points out that if federal grant money is paused, it will affect those who work for nonprofits, as well.

Were talking about jobs, were talking about people, who today are helping other people, and tomorrow, might need help themselves, just the ripple effects from that are immense, said Cohen.

The news Tuesday afternoon that a federal judge had blocked the planned freeze only led to more questions for those nonprofits. Initially, the plan was for federal agencies to report back to the Office of Management and Budget in the next two weeks about all programs that have been postponed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is no word on whether that deadline still stands.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  The Winnebago County Health Department will launch a program to address high mortality rates among Black women during pregnancy.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that Winnebago County will receive $300,000 in grant funding, a portion of $4.5 million in funding to be distributed through Gov. JB Pritzkers 2024 Birth Equity Initiative to 12 groups across the state.

The Winnebago County Health Department was one of the recipients of the program, which will use the funding to launch the Winning Start Winnebago, Welcoming Babies, and Connecting Families program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The program will integrate a universal newborn system of support, a doula development program, and CredibleMinds, a mental health platform to address behavioral health and substance use, according to a press release.

The IDPH said the Birth Equity grants were the outcome of years of study that found Black women in Illinois were twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions as white women.

That rate is down from 2020, when Black women were six times more likely to die from pregnancy, according to a March of Dimes report card.

The most recent report, from 2023, said an average of 88 pregnancy-related deaths occurred in Illinois during the three-year study period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The report found that the leading cause of pregnancy-related death was drug abuse, which comprised 32% of pregnancy-related deaths.

A different, Associated Press report attributed the causes to inadequate access to medical care, and distrust among African Americans toward health care institutions.

Illinois has one of the most robust birth equity initiatives in the entire nation and todays announcement brings us closer to a state where every mother  no matter her race, economic status, or ZIP code  is afforded the right to a safe and healthy pregnancy, said Pritzker. Were grateful to our community-based grantees who are assisting pregnant women and families to drive healthier births, improve long-term health outcomes, and create more culturally responsive care infrastructure.

The grants, aimed at eliminating racial disparities and avoiding preventable deaths, were awarded by IDPHs Office of Womens Health & Family Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The law, which was signed in July 2024, also invests $15 million in a tax credit for impoverished families, funding for community birth centers, and a diaper pilot program.

Ten million was allocated for funding to identify and address gaps in other funding programs that work to reduce adverse maternal health outcomes.

An unspecified amount is reserved for Illinois abortion clinics that have seen an influx of patients from other states following the Supreme Courts decision reversing Roe v Wade.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Winnebago County Gary Caruana says he will continue following state law when it comes to detaining undocumented migrants.

But, he says because of the Illinois Trust Act, there is only so much his deputies can do.

Local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from honoring ICE detainers or acting on an individuals immigration status without a judicial warrant, Caruana wrote in a statement. These legal restrictions limit the ability of local law enforcement to collaborate with federal partners, including ICE, in addressing certain public safety concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caruana said the Trust Act creates significant challenges in removing dangerous individuals from the streets. That is why he is asking lawmakers to revisit the law.

While we fully respect state law, we believe that effective collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies is essential to keeping our communities safe, the sheriff said. We encourage lawmakers to revisit the Illinois Trust Act to remove unnecessary barriers and create commonsense solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of law-abiding residents.

The Illinois Trust Act prohibits local law enforcement agencies from detaining anyone based on their immigration status.

The sheriffs office does assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in making arrests only when there are judicial warrants in place.

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.
A winter storm will move into New Mexico Wednesday. Scattered snow showers could bring over 6 to the mountains.

It has been another mild day across New Mexico with temperatures climbing even higher for some compared to Monday. Its also breezier today ahead of our next winter storm. Southerly winds have been gusting over 25 mph across western parts of the state. Clouds have kept temperatures cool in southeast New Mexico, while a few clouds are beginning to develop in western New Mexico.

Snow will start moving into western New Mexico around midnight tonight, spreading into southern Colorado and northern New Mexico through the mid-morning. More scattered valley rain and higher elevation snow showers will move through wester, central, northern, and northeastern New Mexico Wednesday afternoon through the evening. A couple isolated rain showers are likely around the Albuquerque Metro, with a chance for some light snow mixing in with the rain. The same goes for Santa Fe. Accumulating snowfall is likely though in western and northern parts of the state, where 1 to 5 of snow is likely. While 5 to 10 of snow is likely in the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Only minor travel impacts are expected with this winter storm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rain and snow will end overnight Wednesday. Wrap around moisture will likely bring in additional, light snowfall across northern and northeastern parts of the state, along with a few flurries in western New Mexico. This will clear out of the state by late Thursday evening.

Drier weather returns statewide Friday as a warming trend begins. This warming trend will continue through the weekend and into early next week when record and near-record high temperatures are likely.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As Portland braces for potential low-elevation snow this weekend, forecasts are more certain about a significant round of snow arriving in the Oregon Cascades.

As moisture moves into the Pacific Northwest on Friday, a strong and warm south jet will keep snow levels near the passes around 5,000 feet on Friday. Expect a wet or slushy drive for much of the day over the mountain passes. The wet conditions will then transition to a snowier one heading into Friday night and Saturday morning with the onset of a much colder airmass arriving.

Forecast models are predicting around 12 inches of new snow above 2,500 feet by Saturday morning with snow showers continuing all weekend. There is potential to see up to 24 inches of new snow on Mt. Hood by the end of the weekend, with more likely heading into Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new snowfall is a welcomed sight after weeks of snow-free weather in the Oregon Cascades. The Mt. Hood Meadows observation site (SNOTEL, elevation 5,380 feet) shows a loss of about a foot of snowfall so far this January.

Be sure to drive with caution through the rain and snow this weekend on Mt. Hood, as well as our other local mountain passes.

Stay with the KOIN 6 Weather Team for the latest on the forecast across the Pacific Northwest as winter weather ramps up.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milwaukee) said at a press conference that everyone in Wisconsin and the U.S. is protected from unreasonable searches and seizures regardless of immigration status. Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner.

Wisconsin Democrats announced legislation Tuesday that would block state and local government officials from cooperating with federal deportation efforts  getting ahead of an expected bill from Republican lawmakers this week that would instruct the opposite.

The legislation comes as President Donald Trump has launched highly publicized immigration raids across the country yielding close to 1,000 arrests. Last week, the new administration threw out guidelines limiting enforcement in or near sensitive areas, including places of worship, schools, health care facilities, relief centers and social services centers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milwaukee) said at a press conference that everyone in Wisconsin and the U.S. is protected from unreasonable searches and seizures regardless of immigration status.

We want people in Wisconsins kids to feel safe in Wisconsin schools, places of worship, places where child care services are provided, in places where medical or other health care services are provided, Ortiz-Velez said. Kids deserve to feel safe in school. People deserve to seek medical care without fear of separation or detainment.

The bill would prohibit state agency and local government officials, employees and agents, including law enforcement officers, from aiding in the detention of a person if they are being detained on the sole basis that the individual is or is alleged to be not lawfully present in the United States unless there is a judicial warrant. It would only apply to detentions in a public building or facility, school, place of worship, place where child care services are provided, or place where medical or other health care services are provided. Under the bill, civilians also wouldnt be required to aid unless there is a judicial warrant.

The bill would also prohibit the state from using its money to aid in detention efforts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ortiz-Velez said that Wisconsin should protect the law-abiding residents of the state regardless of immigration status and emphasized that Wisconsin doesnt have to comply with the federal government in its deportation efforts.

While as a state we may not stop the federal government from exercising its legitimate power within the states borders, a state is not required to help the federal government in the exercise of its powers, Ortiz-Velez.

Good, hard-working people deserve to be treated with dignity  a pathway to citizenship, fair wages. We need real and meaningful immigration reform from Washington DC, Ortiz-Velez continued. And Im urging Congress and the president to move forward with solutions that secure the border but also work to reform our broken immigration system.

Its unlikely the bill will become law given that Republican lawmakers, who hold a majority in the Assembly and Senate, plan to introduce legislation soon that would do the opposite.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said last week at the State of the State address the Republicans plan to propose a bill this week that would require local law enforcement to cooperate with the deportation efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

GOP lawmakers have argued that Wisconsinites, in voting for President Donald Trump in November, signaled support for his immigration policies. Trump won Wisconsin by fewer than 30,000 votes  or 0.9% of the vote.

Forward Latino National President Darryl Morrin sought to address some misconceptions about undocumented immigrants. He cited research showing that undocumented workers pay taxes in the U.S. without benefiting from the social services they help to pay for, and most are not criminals and are in the U.S. solely to work. One report found that in 2022 undocumented immigrants paid nearly $100 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.

The overwhelming number of undocumented immigrants are guilty of one thing: wanting to provide for their families and do so in a safe and nurturing environment, Morrin said. Being undocumented in the United States is not a crime, despite what is being repeated on the airwaves nightly, its a civil violation. Its the same thing as if I had a parking ticket.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers and advocates said the bill was necessary as a way to protect people from inhumane treatment.

What is happening at the federal level is not a safety plan. It is fear weaponized, targeting the most vulnerable among us, and we know that this approach silences victims of violence who are afraid to speak out, Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) said. It fosters exploitation and fractures trust. Chaos is not a safety solution. Hate is not a policy, and fear is not safety. The only path to a freer, fairer future is through humane constitutional policies. Its through investments in communities, not draconian crackdowns.

Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) said the actions of the federal government, under the guidance of Trump, have caused significant anxiety and chaos across America. He quoted the Bible, Leviticus 19:33: When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner resides among you and must be treated as your native-born.

Christian and religious teachings were a repeated theme throughout the press conference as multiple advocates and faith leaders spoke in support of the bill.

Executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches Rev. Kerri Parker speaking at the press conference Tuesday. Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner.

Executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches Rev. Kerri Parker said its necessary for religious and human services workers to be allowed to do their jobs without fear of disruption by state violence. She said she was delivering the message with the backing of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We live in an age of fear and separation, but Wisconsin, we can do better, Parker said. A practice of care and accommodation, feeding and clothing, healing and safety has been in place among people of faith for millennia. Hospitality is a central piece of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. How then are we to allow simple human need to be treated as a trespass? We cant.

The pleas from Wisconsin faith leaders come as others across the country have been calling for the Trump administration to treat immigrants with dignity. Last week, Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, directly pleaded with Trump during a service to have mercy on vulnerable people in the U.S. including those who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants.

We have many messages from churches, supporting those who live in fear because of the color of their skin, their national origin, their immigration status. Our neighbors are seeking help, solidarity and peace, Parker said. We desperately need reconciliation, something that will not be achieved by making us more fearful and suspicious of one another or by adding more violence to an already violent world.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Since Jan. 23, the Wisconsin Humane Society and local authorities have removed 73 cats from a single household in Ozaukee County.

The organization expects to find more as workers continue to search the property in the Town of Grafton, according to a Jan. 28 news release from WHS.

The rescued cats are now under the care of the WHS's Ozaukee County campus in Saukville, but the animals had been living in unsanitary conditions without adequate access to water and food, Angela Speed, vice president of marketing & communications for WHS, said in the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many are under-socialized and require medical attention for wounds, respiratory infections and malnourishment.

Several of the cats are quite thin, so theyre on care plans to get them to a healthier weight, Speed said.

"It's clear that some of them will have a long road to recovery ahead."

The cats were found by a We Energies meter inspector

The cats were discovered by a We Energies meter inspector around 3:15 p.m. Jan. 22 at a residence on Woodhaven Drive, according to a Jan. 28 news release from the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office.

The inspector had noticed that several packages had accumulated at the front door, the house did not have heat, gas or water, and dozens of cats were inside the residence. The inspector contacted the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office to request a welfare check, according to the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies responded and spoke with the elderly homeowner. They determined that the living conditions were uninhabitable, and the homeowner was unable to take care of both themself and the cats.

The homeowner agreed to surrender the cats to the WHS and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment, according to the release.

Wisconsin Humane Society seeks public support

Speed said the WHS is asking for the public's support with managing such a large number of new arrivals at once.

Those who'd like to donate to help offset the costs of the cats' food, veterinary expenses, medications, supplies and care can visit the WHS's donation page.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The WHS is also seeking new foster parents and encouraging adoptions to help clear more space in the shelters for the incoming animals.

A few of the new cats may become available for adoption soon, according to the release. For others, the WHS will seek temporary foster homes to support their treatment and socialization.

Resources are available for those struggling to care for animals

The WHS encouraged those who are struggling to provide care for animals or know someone in that position to reach out for help from local animal welfare organizations, law enforcement agencies or health departments.

"With this many animals, conditions can quickly spiral out of control, affecting not only the animals, but the owners, their families, and the community," Speed said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No criminal charges will be issued in this incident, and the case has been turned over to the Ozaukee County Human Services Department, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A total of 73 cats were removed from a single home in Ozaukee County
Paank, the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement, has strongly condemned the ongoing harassment and psychological torment inflicted on the families of forcibly disappeared individuals in Balochistan. In a post on X, the organisation highlighted a recent incident in the Parom district of Panjgur, where two civilians--Tariq, son of Haji Mahmood, and Halima, daughter of Dost Muhammad--were detained by security personnel and subjected to enforced disappearance. Although both individuals were eventually released, Paank emphasised that their unlawful detention underscores the persistent violations of fundamental rights in the region. The organisation further stressed that families seeking justice for their missing loved ones continue to face institutionalised harassment and intimidation. According to Paank's post, the case is particularly distressing given the background of the victims. Tariq had previously been subjected to enforced disappearance. Halima's father, Dost Muhammad, has been missing since 2012, leaving her family in a prolonged state of anguish. Additionally, Tariq's brother, Dosta, was killed in a drone attack last year, effectively wiping out his entire family. "This ongoing persecution of grieving families reflects a deep disregard for justice and human dignity," the post stated. "Instead of being met with compassion and accountability, these families face relentless victimisation." Paank further highlighted that "enforced disappearances remain a grim reality in Balochistan, where many families continue to endure psychological trauma and social stigma while seeking answers about their missing relatives." The group emphasised that targeting family members of victims only exacerbates their suffering and perpetuates an atmosphere of oppression and fear across the region. Earlier, Paank had also condemned the extrajudicial killing of Pindok, son of Somar, by Pakistani security forces in Mazarabad, located in Balochistan's Awaran district. Calling for urgent intervention, the organisation urged human rights groups, civil society, and the international community to take action. "The perpetrators of such inhumane practices must be held accountable, and the families of the disappeared must be treated with respect and dignity," the post read. (ANI)
OZAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV)  Over the last few days, the Wisconsin Human Society (WHS) has taken steps to address a challenging situation involving the rescue of 73 cats from a single household.

According to a Facebook post from the WHS, many of the cats are under-socialized and require immediate medical care for various health issues.

The WHS veterinary and behavior teams have begun assessing each cats condition, revealing several serious skin issues, wounds, upper respiratory infections, and malnourishment. The WHS says that with dedicated care, some of these cats face a lengthy recovery process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

USDAs playbook to keeping your Super Bowl party free of foodborne illness

Wisconsin Humane Society Wisconsin Humane Society Wisconsin Humane Society Wisconsin Humane Society Wisconsin Humane Society

Even in these circumstances, the WHS is hopeful that a few more of the socialized cats may be available for adoption in the coming days. However, many others will need temporary foster homes to help with their treatment and socialization as they heal.

The Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office and Central Fire Department assisted in ensuring the homeowner received the necessary help and reached out to the WHS for help in this cat rescue operation.

The WHS encourages anyone facing difficulties in providing care for animals to seek help. Cases like these highlight how quickly situations can escalate, impacting not only the animals themselves, but also the owners, their families, and the greater community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New London Vet Clinic no longer taking cats and dogs due to costs and lack of adopters

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to your local animal welfare organization, law enforcement, or health department for resources.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Then-President Joe Biden visited Milwaukee in October 2024 to announced a new rule requiring the replacement of all lead water pipes in the U.S. by 2037. On Wednesday, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Wisconsin is joining nine other states and D.C. to defend the rule. (Oct. 8, 2024 screenshot/White House livestream)

Wisconsin has joined with nine other states and the District of Columbia to defend the federal lead and copper water rule that took effect Dec. 30, tightening standards for lead exposure and requiring water systems across the county to replace lead pipes by 2037.

The new rule, which then-President Joe Biden announced in Milwaukee in October, has been challenged by the American Water Works Association, a trade group for water and wastewater utilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wisconsin Department of Justice announced Wednesday the state was joining the legal effort to intervene in the lawsuit in support of the rule. Other states in the coalition are California, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and North Carolina, along with D.C.

Reducing lead in our drinking water shouldnt be controversial, Attorney General Josh Kaul said. This common-sense rule that helps protect peoples health should remain in place.

Lead exposure has been identified as a health hazard, especially for children, and has been linked to premature birth, damage during brain development and learning disabilities, delayed physical development in children and cardiovascular and kidney problems in adults. No amount of lead in drinking water is safe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers approved an emergency rule from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to lower the threshold for lead poisoning to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. The change makes more children and families eligible for intervention to diagnose and treat lead poisoning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evers has announced plans to seek a $6.2 million increase for local health departments, some of that to address lead poisoning, in the 2025-27 state budget that he will release in February.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
NEKOOSA, Wis. (WFRV)  A 26-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested on Tuesday in connection to the murder of his father over 3 1/2 years ago.

According to the Nekoosa Police Department, the original incident occurred on July 22, 2021, when police officers responded to a call reporting an unresponsive man at a home.

Police in Wisconsin investigating alleged stabbing incident, one man injured

First responders attempted life-saving procedures; however, they were unsuccessful. An investigation revealed that 58-year-old Thomas Tourtillott died from injuries indicative of foul play.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jason Tourtillott was identified as a person of interest and was then deemed to be involved. Tourtillott is charged with 1st-degree intentional homicide by the Wood County District Attorneys Office and is currently held at the Wood County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Tourtillott was arrested in Wisconsin Rapids with the assistance of multiple departments. 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.
MINERAL POINT, Wis. (WFRV)  Two people were arrested on multiple drug and weapon charges after a traffic stop in southwestern Wisconsin led to the seizure of meth, crack cocaine, and fentanyl.

According to the Iowa County Sheriffs Office, deputies, along with the help of a K9, conducted a traffic stop on US Highway 151 and North Oak Park Road in Mineral Point around 9:15 p.m. on January 28.

Green Bay man arrested in U.P. on multiple drug charges, bond set at $20,000

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the traffic stop, authorities seized a significant amount of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, leading to the arrest of a man from Madison, Wisconsin, and a woman from Manchester, Iowa.

Authorities reportedly recovered 5 ounces of Methamphetamine, 26 grams of Crack Cocaine, 1 gram of Fentanyl, and 2 ounces of THC during the incident.

Iowa County Sheriffs Office Shellie R. McCane (Iowa County Sheriffs Office) Michael D. Scates (Iowa County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies say the man and woman were arrested on the following charges:

Shellie R. McCane, 53  Manchester, Iowa Possession of Drug Paraphernalia to Manufacture, Compound, Produce, or Store Methamphetamine Possession of an Electronic Weapon Possession with Intent to Deliver Amphetamine Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine Possession with Intent to Deliver Designer Drugs Possession with Intent to Deliver Narcotic Drugs Possession with Intent to Deliver THC



Fleeing driver hits, injures Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper before lengthy high-speed pursuit

Michael D. Scates, 42  Madison, Wisconsin Possession of Drug Paraphernalia to Manufacture, Compound, Produce, or Store Methamphetamine Possession of an Electronic Weapon Possession with Intent to Deliver Amphetamine Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine Possession with Intent to Deliver Designer Drugs Possession with Intent to Deliver Narcotic Drugs Possession with Intent to Deliver THC Resisting or Obstructing an Officer



It was noted that McCane was the driver, and Scates was a passenger. Both were taken to the Iowa County Jail and are awaiting a bond hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No additional details were 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Under President Donald Trump's freeze of federal grants and loans, the billions of dollars that the Wisconsin government receives each year would be in jeopardy.

On Tuesday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called on Trump to halt the freeze, saying Wisconsinites "are rightfully alarmed and concerned by this unprecedented decision." By Tuesday evening, a federal judge had temporarily blocked the order until at least Feb. 3.

Here's how much federal aid the Wisconsin government receives and where it goes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Tony Evers asks Trump to delay federal freeze as move sends Wisconsin government scrambling

How much does the Wisconsin government receive in federal aid?

Wisconsin's state government receives $28 billion in federal assistance annually.

How is federal aid to the Wisconsin government allocated?

More than $17 billion, or 61%, of the federal aid the Wisconsin government receives goes to the state's Department of Health Services. The health department spends most of that amount on Medicaid programs, according to the state Legislature's nonpartisan fiscal bureau.

The remaining $11 billion is spent on the state Department of Transportation, the University of Wisconsin system, and services for low-income families and programs for public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Find more information here on how those individual programs may be impacted by the freeze.

Would the federal aid freeze affect Medicaid?

Though the Trump administration initially said the freeze would not affect Medicare and Social Security programs, Medicaid portals were down in all 50 states as of Tuesday afternoon, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wrote on X. Wisconsin officials were also locked out of software portals that manage funding for the state's Medicaid programs, the Journal Sentinel reported.

As of 1:57 p.m. Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that the administration is aware of the outage, but "no payments have been affected." The portal "will be back online shortly," she added.

More than 1 million Wisconsin residents are enrolled in Medicaid programs.

The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage.



We have confirmed no payments have been affected  they are still being processed and sent.



We expect the portal will be back online shortly.  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 28, 2025

Tom Daykin, Alison Dirr, Kelly Meyerhofer and Molly Beck contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Federal aid freeze: How does Wisconsin government use federal funds?
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The liberal candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court participated in a briefing with Democratic donors billed as a chance to put two more House seats in play, a move that Republicans say shows that she is committed to redrawing congressional districts to benefit Democrats.

The event is just one of many partisan gatherings the candidates in the nonpartisan-in-name-only race have attended. Both candidates are also accepting large donations from partisans, including the Democratic and Republican parties, as both sides fight for control of the court in the battleground state.

Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general, faces liberal Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1 election. The race will determine whether liberals maintain their 4-3 majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court or it flips to conservative control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 2023 race, which was also for ideological control of the court, was the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. This year's race is shaping up to be even more expensive and has already garnered national attention from Trump loyalist and multibillionaire Elon Musk.

The possibility of redrawing Wisconsin's congressional district boundaries is just one of several major issues the court could tackle, in addition to abortion rights, election laws and union rights. The liberal-controlled court in December 2023 ordered new legislative maps, which Democrats credited with them gaining seats in November.

Now Democrats are hoping the court will redraw congressional lines. The state Supreme Court in March declined to take up a congressional redistricting case brought by Democrats.

The Wisconsin Republican Party on Wednesday accused Crawford of selling two of Wisconsin's seats in Congress because of her participation in a event with Democratic donors organized by the liberal group Focus for Democracy. The email invitation to the Jan. 13 event billed it as a chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The New York Times first reported on the event, saying it was organized by California billionaire and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler, who is running for the Democratic National Committee chair, appeared at the event with Crawford.

In an appeal to entice out-of-state billionaires, Susan Crawford said the quiet part out loud: she is begging to be bought and paid for," Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming said in a statement Wednesday.

Schimels campaign said Crawford sees the Supreme Court seat as a political weapon used to undermine the Wisconsin people and deliver favors to out-of-state, liberal elites.

Susan Crawford has proven she will do anything in her pursuit of power, even offer congressional seats for support of her campaign, the Schimel statement said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Crawfords campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman said in a statement that Crawford is running to be a fair, impartial, and common sense justice.

She has not publicly or privately commented on congressional redistricting at any time and was on this call briefly to share her background and why shes running," Honeyman said.

Honeyman pointed to partisan events that Schimel has attended, including an inaugural gala for President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. Schimel also traveled the state talking with county Republican parties and other conservative groups. Schimel has said he expects conservative outside groups to spend between $10 million and $15 million on the race.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party has given $1 million to Crawford's campaign. Democrats also spent millions last year trying to flip two of the state's congressional districts but was unsuccessful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats have long targeted the 1st Congressional District in southeast Wisconsin held by Republican Rep. Bryan Steil and western Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District held by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

___

This story has been corrected to show the event Crawford attended was a briefing with Democratic donors, not a fundraiser.
A 27-year-old woman was seriously injured after a firework exploded in Waianae late Monday night, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.

EMS responded to the incident on Halona Road at about 9 :30 p.m., treating the woman for multiple shrapnel injuries to her arms, legs and chest. She was transported to a trauma center in serious condition, with paramedics providing advanced life support en route.

Authorities said the injuries appeared to have occurred after the woman set off the firework herself. Further details about the incident or the type of firework involved were not immediately available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

87 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 ? .
Police in Muscatine have made an arrest in connection with several instances of graffiti that took place last weekend, according to a news release from the department.

Alisa Rilla Nicols Staats, 30, was arrested on January 28 at 11:20 a.m. in the 300 block of Roscoe Avenue.

Alisa Staats (Muscatine Police Department)

Staats has been charged with these crimes:

One count of second-degree criminal mischief, a class D felony

One count of fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, an aggravated misdemeanor

Seven counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, which are serious misdemeanors

Two counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief, which are simple misdemeanors

One count of first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor

One count of ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony

One count of threat of terrorism, a class D felony

Staats was arrested and taken to the Muscatine County Jail. A total of 11 victims have been associated with these crimes, including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guadalajara restaurant

Jibaro restaurant

Petes Tap Bar & Grill

Pearl City Tobacco & Liquor

The Merrill Hotel

Muscatine City Hall

Susan Clark Junior High School

Muscatine Community College and

Properties in the 100 block of Iowa Avenue and the 200 block of W. Second Street.

The investigation into these incidents continues. Staats is awaiting an initial court appearance.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  A woman was arrested at Chicago OHare International Airport after being found with at least $238,000 worth of cocaine in her wheelchair.

An arrest affidavit obtained by WGN News said the woman previously had a similar run-in with the law on Sept. 21, 2021. On that day, Elaine Perez Pena was found with 2.89 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In May of 2022, she pled guilty to importing cocaine and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine as a result of the incident in New York.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The affidavit said on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Pena arrived at OHare as a passenger onboard a United Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil and had a connecting United Airlines flight to Newark, New Jersey.

Google Maps to rename Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America

After getting off the plane in Chicago, Pena  seated in a motorized wheelchair  went into the primary inspection area with one small purse and a cane. Based on her previous conviction for the incident at JFK Airport in New York, customs officers referred Pena to a secondary inspection area, according to the affidavit.

Pena, still seated in the wheelchair, went to the secondary inspection area with her purse and cane, along with a small roller bag she had checked on the plane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the secondary inspection, Pena reportedly implied to customs officers that she knew why she was being searched and that she had been caught with drugs in her luggage in the past, also implying that the last time customs officers searched her and her belongings, she was subject to a K-9 search and then released.

Customs officers inspected Penas suitcase and found nothing inside. They then began examining the wheelchair and noticed the cushions seemed newer compared to the rest of the wheelchair.

The officers then sent the wheelchair through an X-ray machine and noticed colors inconsistent with X-ray images of normal cushioning.

Investigators said a K-9 searched the wheelchair and detected drugs on it. Officers then drilled into one of the cushions and found a white powdery substance on the tip of the drill. That substance tested positive for cocaine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers then took apart the cushions and found about 14 packages containing cocaine. The total weight of the packages was about 14.08 kilograms, according to documents. Officials added the current street value for one kilogram of cocaine is between $17,000 and $20,000.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Officials said Pena was taken into custody and place in a holding cell equipped with a video camera. While she was alone in the cell, officers noticed her pacing back and forth without difficulty and without assistance.

During an interview, investigators said they asked Pena if she had any medical conditions, to which she said she did not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators concluded there was probable cause to believe that Pena knowingly and intentionally possessed five or more kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Shohei Hara on Wednesday. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited Japan to invest in Hydro projects in Madhya Pradesh. The focus of the meeting was on public and private sector ventures which align with JICA's potential contributions to infrastructure and hydro projects. Following the meeting, JICA Senior Vice President Shohei Hara said that he held a "very constructive discussion" with MP CM Mohan Yadav and noted that they have supported many projects in the state. Speaking to ANI, he said that they discussed potential areas like transport, education, health, agriculture. On his meeting with MP CM Mohan Yadav, Shohei Hara said, "I had a very constructive discussion with his Excellency, the Chief Minister (Mohan Yadav), and we have supported many projects in Madhya Pradesh like a power sector, health sector, as well as agriculture and we had a very extensive discussion with the Chief Minister for the potential areas like transport, education, health, agriculture, etc. We are very much looking forward to have further discussions with the state government." Earlier in the day, CM Mohan Yadav held a meeting with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) chairman Susumu Kataoka and his delegation in Tokyo. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited JETRO to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh. In a post on X, CM Mohan Yadav stated, "Today, I had an extensive discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and his delegation, at Minato-ku, Tokyo. During the meeting, JETRO was invited to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration." Throughout his Japan visit, CM Yadav engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors. One of the key highlights was his visit to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple, reflecting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. CM Yadav emphasised Japan's importance to Buddhism and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for deeper bilateral cooperation. "Japan has great significance when it comes to Buddhism. During my official visit here, I held meetings with officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry and various investors over investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. It is also PM Modi's vision that India and Japan work together, and we are here to make it a reality. While we continue our official work, we are also trying to better understand the culture here. I hope Mahatma Gautam Buddha will bless both the nations and we will work forward," Yadav said. In a separate meeting with Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, CM Yadav introduced the 75-acre Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Park in Ujjain, presenting it as an attractive destination for global medical device manufacturers. The park offers prime land at highly subsidised rates, aiming to boost the state's healthcare and industrial infrastructure. Yadav also discussed the potential applications of Japan's advanced railway technology in Madhya Pradesh during talks with Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee on South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company. The Chief Minister also invited the mayor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike to participate at the 'Global Investors Summit 2025,' a flagship investment promotion event being held on 24th & 25th February 2025 in Bhopal. (ANI)
A woman who was returning from Brazil was arrested with more then 30 pounds of cocaine at O'Hare, officials said.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  An Horry County woman sentenced last week to 36 years in prison for killing a co-worker at a popular North Myrtle Beach restaurant is appealing.

Lafredia Todd was convicted Jan. 17 in the July 28, 2022 shooting death of 26-year-old Quentin Johnson at Nacho Hippo following a weeklong trial and stand-your-ground hearing.

A jury deliberated for 40 minutes before returning its guilty verdict on charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Todd faced up to life in prison, but Judge Benjamin Culbertson sentenced her to 36 years on the murder charge and five years for the weapons charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Court records show that Todds appeal was filed on Tuesday, but no further information was available.

While on the witness stand, Todd repeatedly testified about being afraid of Johnson because of threats he allegedly made. She said one of those threats came on the night of the shooting when Johnson threatened to shoot her in the parking lot.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work 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 WBTW.
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  A woman who police say reported a fake threat that shut down Godfrey-Lee Public Schools for a day last year is not expected to have to serve jail time.

Nikole Pipoly pleaded no contest Tuesday to falsely reporting a misdemeanor and was sentenced to 40 hours of community service in lieu of five days in jail, as well as fines and costs totaling $675.

Report: Fake school threat started with dating app, dispute over hat, chair

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wyoming police say Pipoly, who at the time was a contract social worker at a Godfrey-Lee elementary school, told police in May 2024 that a man she met on a dating app had threatened to shoot up the school. Police determined there was no such threat, but not before the district shut down May 13 as a precaution.

At a Tuesday plea hearing in Wyoming, Pipolys defense attorney Kristyna Nunzio did not offer any specifics about what led up to the situation, but said she thought the situation got quite out of hand and that when when it comes to the threat of a school shooting, its best to be cautious.

Nikole Pipoly in a Wyoming courtroom on Jan. 28, 2025.

I think this was a game of essentially telephone that kind of spiraled, Nunzio said.

Woman arraigned in threat that closed Godfrey-Lee district

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Describing her client is a very bright, warm person and a bright star, she said Pipoly wants to help children who are in need of extra support.

She asked that Pipoly be given a delayed sentence without supervised probation, pointing out that she has been free on bond as her case worked its way through the system without issue. But the judge said he thought some sort of supervision was appropriate given the seriousness of the situation.

If Pipoly successfully completes 12 months of probation, the case against her will be dismissed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALLEGANY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal said a woman from Frostburg was arrested and is facing arson charges after a fire last year.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal said 43-year-old Heather Lynn Hutcheson was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday morning after she allegedly set her estranged boyfriends home on fire.

75 firefighters respond to house fire in Montgomery County

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Oct. 13, 2024, at around 1:15 p.m., the Shaft Fire Department and other surrounding departments were called to 11205 Upper Georges Creek Road after someone passing by the home said they saw smoke coming from the house.

It was determined that the fire had been intentionally set and deputies found out that Hutcheson was at the home before the fire started.

Hutcheson is currently being held without bond at Allegany County Detention Center.

She is facing first-degree arson charges and 30 years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to $50,000 if she is convicted, the office 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman who broke into a home last year, sparking the police shooting of a 911 caller, is competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Last December, a Clark County grand jury indicted Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, for four felony charges including home invasion with a deadly weapon following the events of Nov. 12.

Las Vegas Metro police officer Alexander Bookman shot and killed 43-year-old Brandon Durham after Durham called 911 to report the home invasion. Fourteen seconds after breaking down Durhams front door, Bookman shot and killed Durham as he and Boudreaux struggled over a knife.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark County District Court Judge Christy Craig found Boudreaux competent during a hearing Wednesday, meaning Boudreaux understands the charges against her and can help her attorney in her defense.

During a hearing on Jan. 15, Boudreauxs attorney requested further evaluations, records said.

Boudreaux initially refused to appear for several hearings. During a previous court hearing, she flashed a photographer, leading to an additional charge of open and gross lewdness.

In court documents, she confessed to breaking into the home, saying she intended for police to kill her.

A court hearing in the criminal case was scheduled for Feb. 3. Boudreaux remained in custody Wednesday on $1 million bail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bookman has not been charged in connection with the fatal shooting, which 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 KLAS.
A woman was treated at a Jacksonville hospital after being shot Tuesday evening in the 400 block of Century 21 Drive. Jacksonville police were called to the area at about 7 p.m. in response to a person shot.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Officers arrived to find a woman in her 30s suffering from a gunshot wound to her shoulder, a Jacksonville police news release states. She was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The woman was inside of a unit at the Shore House apartment complex when she got into a dispute with someone. That person pulled out a gun and shot her one time, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim and suspect knew each other, and we believe this to be an isolated incident, JSO said.

Read: Opening statements heard in the trial for the former DA charged with mishandling the Ahmaud Arbery case

Read: St. Johns County deputies arrest man for hit-and-run that seriously hurt teen

Read: Trump says most drones sighted over New Jersey were authorized by the FAA: This was not the enemy

[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.
A Washington womans death had been a mystery for decades, then DNA testing led to an arrest, police said.

Joseph Andrew Jacquez was arrested Jan. 25 in Nevada, the Everett Police Department said in a news release shared on Facebook.

Jacquez, who used to live in Everett, is accused of killing 33-year-old Mary Ann Daniels, police said. She was found dead Feb. 1, 1989.

Daniels, who was disabled, was living in transitional housing in Everett before she was found dead in her home, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No arrests were made until investigators used forensic genetic genealogy testing on biological material left on her body, police said.

The results pointed to Jacquez, police said.

Police said his DNA was also found on an instrument that caused her death.

Las Vegas officers arrested Jacquez and put him in jail in Clark County, Nevada. He will be extradited to Snohomish County, Washington.

Everett is about a 30-mile drive north from Seattle.

Remains found in 2001 IDd as mom of 4 who was never reported missing, Nevada cops say

16-year-old found dead inside high school in 1977, Hawaii police say. Now arrest made
(WKBN)  A California woman was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in prison for her role in fraudulently submitting claims for unnecessary respiratory pathogen tests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court documents, Lourdes Navarro, 66, of Glendale, and Imran Shams owned Matias Clinical Laboratory, doing business as Health Care Providers Laboratory, when they conspired to obtain nasal swab specimens from schools, nursing homes and other facilities that were screening for COVID-19.

Navarro and Shams charged for more advanced testing on the swabs that were never requested, billing $369 million for the tests to Medicare, the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, and a private health insurance company, and were reimbursed approximately $46.7 million for fraudulent claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Navarro was also ordered to forfeit $11,662,939 in funds that the government had previously seized from three bank accounts. The total amount seized and forfeited from Navarro and Shams is $14,518,485. Navarro also was ordered to pay $46,735,400 in restitution.

Navarro pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Shams pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2023, to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and concealment of his exclusion from Medicare.

Shams was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Jan. 30, 2024. In addition, on May 29, 2024, he was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with his 2017 plea in the Eastern District of New York to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, and defrauding the United States by obstructing the lawful functions of the IRS, of which three years were ordered to run consecutive to the Central District of California 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 WKBN.com.
An Alabama woman who is also the second person in history to receive a pig kidney transplant is currently surviving for over , according to a recent report. Towana Looney received a pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health in November 2024, a pioneering surgery she received after waiting for seven years.

Because she had a complex medical condition for which no suitable human donor existed, doctors hope their gene-edited pig kidneys will do the nephrotic work of effectively filtering waste from her blood.

The process of using animals as donors for human organs is known as xenotransplantation, and can often provide patients who need organs with hope at a time when there is a dire donor shortage stretching back decades. Unfortunately, xenotransplantation is a risky process because of the chance of tissue rejection. For example, a high profile pig heart transplantation from 2023 ended in tragedy: Lawrence Faucette, who received his pig heart after no suitable human donor could be found for him, survived for only a little more than a week after his initially successful surgery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, as of September 2024 there were roughly 103,000 Americans on a waiting list for organs, with a new patient being added roughly every eight minutes. Xenotransplantation, often with genetic modification, is viewed by many scientists as a hopeful alternative to bridge that gap, particularly with pig hearts and pig kidneys. Those organs have already been tested in monkeys, with four humans receiving these experimental surgeries  two for hearts, two for kidneys.

Looney, at least, seems optimistic that the experiment for her is going to be a complete success.

Im superwoman, Looney told The Associated Press. The physician who led her surgery, Dr. Robert Montgomery, added that if you saw her on the street, you would have no idea that shes the only person in the world walking around with a pig organ inside them thats functioning.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  A world champion power lifter and world record holder, talked to students at Seton about what it takes to be world class.

Strongman Bill Clark presented his feats of strength in front of the entire Seton Catholic Central school.

It was both a presentation and a demonstration, as he talked about good work ethic, and achieving excellence, while also ripping two decks of cards in half, tearing license plates and bending a horseshoe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark started by ripping one license plate with ease, but then did it again with two plates, which he shows is significantly harder.

He says he wanted the students to learn that when faced with adversity, you work hard and overcome.

What they dont know is thats in large part a finished product. They didnt see all of the years that I fought with those things. When I do two or three license plates at a time, thats an exponentially different animal. So, its not just a little harder, its a lot harder. So now, kids get to see me actually fight with something. And I want them to see that, I want them to see that its not going to be easy, says Clark.

He challenged the students to think about what they want to do with their life, and to create a plan to get there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark says one of the best ways to live a happy life, is to create happy moments.

He says good moments make good days, which lead to good weeks, months, years, and a good 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 WIVT - News 34.
Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter): "The President has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the ISS as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long." https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1884365928038563880 In response to this post, President Trump expressed frustration with the Biden administration's handling of the situation involving two astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 5, 2024. The astronauts were left on the ISS after an issue with their Boeing Starliner capsule delayed their return to Earth, CBS News reported. Trump blamed the Biden administration for what he described as "abandoning" the astronauts, and he called on SpaceX founder Elon Musk to bring them home. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "I have asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to go get the two brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!" Musk, who had previously acknowledged the request, responded on X, stating that SpaceX would indeed bring the astronauts home. He criticised the Biden administration's role in the delay, writing, "Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long." However, the characterisation of the astronauts as "stranded" and "abandoned" has been disputed. While Wilmore and Williams have been on an extended stay aboard the ISS, they were never in any immediate danger and could return to Earth anytime NASA decided. Their return could occur via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which has had seats available for them since September 2024. The situation began when the two astronauts launched aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule in June 2024 for a mission that was initially expected to last only eight to 10 days. However, the mission encountered technical issues, including propellant leaks and problems with the Starliner's propulsion system. NASA then extended the astronauts' stay on the ISS to avoid disrupting the overall crew rotation schedule. This extension was based on a risk assessment and the desire to maintain operational stability for the ISS. Wilmore and Williams remained on the ISS with no immediate risk, while their Starliner capsule was brought back to Earth under remote control without them, reported CBS News. On September 28, 2024, SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS with two crew members aboard, leaving two seats vacant for Wilmore and Williams. The astronauts are now expected to return with the Crew 9 mission at the end of March 2025, after completing nearly 300 days in space. Both astronauts have stated they understood the decision to extend their mission, which had been made in coordination with NASA and SpaceX. Musk's comments regarding returning the astronauts "as soon as possible" would only make sense if the Crew 9 team, which includes Wilmore and Williams, were to return early. However, this could disrupt the ISS's operations, leaving only one US astronaut on the station to handle the crucial tasks associated with the US segment of the ISS. This could halt critical research until the arrival of Crew 10, which may be delayed due to logistical issues. Furthermore, the Crew 10 mission might be impacted by the availability of Crew Dragon capsules, including the one earmarked for a commercial mission by Axiom Space, CBS News reported. While Musk's statements have sparked confusion about the immediate plans for the astronauts' return, the reality remains that the astronauts are not in distress and are likely to remain aboard the ISS until the end of March 2025, as originally planned. (ANI)
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis organization that helps refugees and other immigrants rebuild their lives in the United States is asking churches and individuals to step in after the Trump administration temporarily put a freeze on foreign aid.

World Relief Memphis said it has a partnership with the federal government to help refugees entering the country but received a stop all work notice as part of the presidents executive order on evaluating and realigning U.S. foreign aid.

Executive Director PJ Moore said that means families are at risk of not being able to pay for things like their rent or utilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People are fearful of what their services will entail moving forward. While they have work authorization, theres not that relationship through our staff to navigate the job market, and we have really great employment outcomes for our newcomers, said Moore.

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization. World Relief Memphis relies on public grants, private donations, and hundreds of volunteers.

Moore said that since 2012, theyve helped around 10,000 immigrants and refugees.

Over 250 immigrants in the Mid-South taken into custody, attorney says

Over the last few years, we have welcomed people from Afghanistan as we all saw what was unfolding on TV in Afghanistan. Weve welcomed people from Ukraine, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. So, really some of the worlds most vulnerable places. Moore said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the pause on federal grants until February 3. Moore said they are already evaluating staffing, contacting clients, and asking for donations.

I think its important for people that call Memphis home to realize we are a welcoming city and that we are an incredibly hospitable place, said Moore. For those who call themselves people of God, we have an incredible opportunity as our government is pursuing a smaller government. All the more reason for the church to step in and be the church that we are called to be.

President Donald Trump ordered the 90-day freeze last week to give the administration time to review which of the thousands of humanitarian, development, and security programs will continue to receive funding from the U.S.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jan. 28 (UPI)  Dozens of worshippers are feared dead and many more injured following a stampede or crush Wednesday at the massive Kumbh Mela religious festival in northern India, according to officials.

Local officials in the city of Prayagraj, where the world's largest religious event was taking place, reported 38 worshippers killed, as the government has yet to release an official death toll.

According to a paramilitary officer at the scene, "There were multiple stampedes. There were at least 200 injured and I'd say around 50 dead." A doctor in Prayagraj claimed, "At least 15 people have died for now. Others are being treated."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A record 100 million people were expected to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the holy confluence of three rivers, as officials warned worshippers to take baths at other points along the Ganga river.

Wednesday's crowds during the six-week festival were larger as all 13 sects of holy people took their holy baths in the Ganges on a day that also coincided with the celestial alignment of the sun, moon and Jupiter for the Maha or grand Kumbh Mela, which only takes place every 144 years.

"I appeal to all the devotees that because a large crowd has gathered in Prayagraj today, they should not insist on taking a holy dip only at the Sangam Ghat," Hindu religious leader Jagatguru Rambhadracharya warned before the stampede, according to Times of India.

Wednesday's bathing ritual at Kumbh Mela was canceled "due to the heavy rush of devotees."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Hindu festival began two weeks ago, with nearly 148 million attending. The festival is scheduled to continue until Feb. 26. Kumbh Mela is considered the "festival of festivals" in the Hindu religious calendar in India, since it takes place every 12 years.

Earlier this month, some journalists called the Maha Kumbh Mela festival a "disaster waiting to happen," as 400 million pilgrims were expected to bathe in the rivers. To manage the crowds, officials said they planned to employ artificial intelligence and underwater drones.

"We want everyone to go back home happily after having fulfilled their spiritual duties," said Amit Kumar, a senior police officer heading tech operations for the festival.

"AI is helping us avoid reaching that critical mass in sensitive places," he said last week. "We are using AI to track people flow, crowd density at various inlets, adding them up and then interpolating from there."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The personal bubble of an individual is quite big in the West," said Kumar, as he explained crowd density that would trigger alarms. "The standard there is three people per square foot. But we can afford to go several times higher than that."

According to authorities, nearly 70% of India's deadly crowd disasters have occurred during religious mass gatherings.

In 1954, more than 400 people were trampled to death or drowned on one day at Kumbh Mela.

In 1986, 53 worshippers were killed and 39 injured as hundreds of Hindu pilgrims rushed to cleanse their sins in the holy Ganges River. Police had mistakenly directed the crowd onto a dead-end street where many were trampled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At least 40 pilgrims were killed and more than 60 were injured in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela in western India's Nasik town in August 2003.

Ten years later, more than 36 people  mostly women and children  were killed in another stampede, before the head of the Kumbh Mela festival organizing committee resigned "on moral grounds."

Following the deaths of 10 people at the Ganges River in 2015, organizers of the Kumbh Mela festival imposed a selfie ban to prevent future stampedes during the ritual bathing.

A survey of volunteers and local administrators participated in a "human behavior study," which found people who took selfies slowed the flow of worshippers through the river, leading to pushing and panicking.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Investigators say a Lenexa man suspected in a deadly wrong-way crash on I-70 in Independence early Tuesday morning blew more than twice the legal limit four hours after the crash.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Javier Garcia-Arellano, 26, with driving while intoxicated, resulting in death.

Witness describes close call in deadly wrong-way crash on I-70

Independence crash investigators say Garcia-Arellano was driving a Toyota Camry eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-70 and hit three different cars. One person died and three others were injured in the crash. The crash happened at 12:30 a.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 26-year-old crashed into a Kia Optima, killing the driver, 64-year-old Ricky Monroe from Blue Springs, according to Independence police.

Investigators said before the crash, he had driven in the wrong direction for a stretch of at least seven miles.

According to court documents, Garcia-Arellano was taken to the hospital for leg injuries following the crash.

When the car he was driving was searched, there were multiple open alcohol containers, according to a probable cause statement.

I-70 back open after deadly crash in Independence

A DWI officer went to the hospital and wrote in their report that they could smell a strong odor of alcohol on Garcia-Arellano. When blood alcohol tests came back at 4:30 a.m., multiple hours after the crash, his BAC was .170. The legal limit to drive in Missouri is .08.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Court records say that Garcia-Arellano told investigators he did not remember being in the crash, but remembered driving his car. He said he had 12 to 14 alcoholic drinks between 6 p.m. Monday and midnight on Tuesday.

When he was asked if he was under the influence, he said yes, according to court documents.

Garcia-Arellano does not have a valid drivers license and has one previous DWI arrest from May 2023 from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

His bond is set at $150,000 cash only, but he hasnt shown up on a jail roster yet.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Bronx man is recovering in the hospital after he went out of his way to protect his beloved pup. Rakeem Young was out walking his four-year-old pit bull Chanel when the two were approached by a man with a machete. Young says he raised his hand to try to grab the weapon from the man when it sliced off four of his fingers.

Young, who has had Chanel since she was a puppy, said she wasnt barking or being aggressive toward the man at the time of the attack. He says he has no idea what would have provoked the man to come after them.

Trying to protect my dog, man, from these people out here that have no control, no self-control, Young told New Yorks ABC 7.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Young was taken to the hospital, where he had to have three of his fingers surgically reattached. According to CBS 2 News New York, he will need additional treatment, including therapy before he can return to his job as an MTA maintenance worker. His family has started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support his medical care and the long road to recovery.

According to CBS 2, police surveillance video captured an image of the attacker, who they say is still out there  something that worries Youngs aunt, Tashemia Young, who is caring for Chanel while Rakeem is in the hospital.

This man is still on the loose. We dont know if this man wants to circle back around and be like you keep talking about me, I can finish it, she told CBS 2. And hes walking around here with a machete inside his pants. How are you not able to find this person?

While Rakeem knows he has a painful recovery ahead of him, he says he would do it all over again to protect his best friend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every time I close my eyes I replay it over and over again and I have a hard time sleeping, he told the NY Daily News. If he would have sliced my dogs head off like that, that would have broke my heart. That would have broke me for the rest of my life.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
BATESVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  Generator enclosure and fuel tank manufacturer Yancey Engineered Solutions will locate its operations in Batesville.

According to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), the project is a $20.8 million investment and will create 250 jobs.

I am proud to welcome Yancey Engineered Solutions as the newest member of Mississippis thriving business community. The past few years have been incredible for economic development in the state, as weve attracted record-breaking investments from industry leaders and created tens of thousands of jobs in our communities. This investment and the creation of 250 jobs by Yancey Engineered Solutions continue that trend into 2025, said Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce signs order prohibiting DEI practices

Yancey Engineered Solutions was established by Yancey Bros. in 2004 to provide specialized design and packaging services for CAT generators. The company is locating in the former Crown Cork and Seal facility where it will manufacture aluminum and steel generator enclosures and fuel tanks to be used primarily by data centers.

We are excited to locate our next manufacturing facility for Yancey Engineered Solutions in Batesville. The community has been very welcoming, and we were impressed with the Batesville-Panola County regions strong workforce development commitment. We look forward to serving our customers and an important segment of the U.S. economy through our Batesville operations, said Yancey Bros. Co. Chairman and CEO Trey Googe.

MDA is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. MDA also is providing assistance for building improvements. AccelerateMS, Tennessee Valley Authority, city of Batesville, Panola Partnership and the Panola County Board of Supervisors are assisting with the project, as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yancey Engineered Solutions plans to complete the project within three years and expects to fill the new jobs within five years. Click here for more information about employment opportunities.

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.
CHICAGO  The text from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson started as his messages often do.

Yo! he wrote Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, last month.

The Northwest Side alderman knew what it meant. Thats when I called him, he remembered.

A Tribune review of Johnsons text messages show many politicos have gotten similar messages and read between those two letters themselves.

The mayors exchanges with aldermen, Gov. JB Pritzker, top business officials and labor leaders show he is more reluctant than predecessors Lori Lightfoot and Rahm Emanuel to put much in writing. While Lightfoot would often respond to text messages with voluminous essays that sometimes bordered on venomous, Johnson usually replies with a phone call or directs his staff to return the message.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sea change may also be a sign of the times, as politicians are increasingly wary of sending electronic communications that are subject to public records requests.

In 2018, the Tribune won a lawsuit against the Emanuel administration over his failure to turn over records from personal devices and accounts that he used to conduct city business, a ruling that curtailed Illinois politicians from circumventing the Freedom of Information Act with private phones. It also then paved the way for Lightfoots prolific trove of texts to be made public, sometimes further exposing her struggles with interpersonal feuds.

While Johnsons tight-lipped texts are far more nonchalant and in most cases less revealing than those of prior mayors, the messages do show the reality of how politicians gossip about their rivals, raise concerns about optics and celebrate wins. Politics more often resembles a high school cafeteria with cliques and high jinks or the HBO satire Veep than it does the high-minded portrayal of government in The West Wing.

In his texts to aldermen, Johnson often cracks jokes and quips. Last November, he texted Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, to thank her for encouraging words after an event.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was a good press conference! Dowell responded. I dont blow smoke.

Johnson responded, I know you dontbut we can tax it though (hemp).

The mayors sometimes lighthearted, mostly light-worded texting style is a prudent communication strategy given that journalists eagerly pore through mayoral messages after obtaining them via records requests, La Spata said. The habit also helps keep discussions confidential in a City Hall culture where screenshots are quickly captured and sent, he added.

If you look back at the myriad FOIAs of Lori Lightfoots texts, I think its a smart lesson to learn, he said. And I dont mind it, to be perfectly honest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, Johnson occasionally reaches out to individuals with urgency.

On Oct. 8, the mayor messaged SEIU Healthcare President Greg Kelley to ask for an hour to talk before Johnson left for London the next day. He first asked Kelley to come west or in the west loop but then asked, Will it be intrusive if I came to your home Its urgent and I do understand the inconvenience.

Kelley said he thought it was important the unions vice president, Erica Bland-Durosinmi, participate, but added that she was under the weather. Call me, the mayor wrote two hours later.

Kelley told the Tribune that Johnson never followed up with what he wanted, but the union official appreciated how labor now has an ear on the fifth floor. I mean, thats why we supported him, Kelley said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another pattern for the mayor: emojis, occasionally a raised fist, a thumbs-up, a laughing face or a facepalm, and often a flexed arm, prayer hands or a heart.

Johnson sent one such heart to Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th, a conservative who celebrated Trumps election victory by flaunting the new presidents memorabilia in City Council meetings for weeks, after Sposato texted that he would pick up lunch for the mayor. The two have struck up an unlikely friendship  one that has also seen Sposato side with Johnson on tough votes, including his 2025 budget.

The mayor likes a turkey and Swiss with mustard, mayo and hot giardiniera, Sposato said, questioning the choice. And he doesnt seem to like arguing over text.

I debate him on many a thing, but more so in private, Sposato said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not every note has a clear resolution. Sometimes, Johnson doesnt respond, but the one-sided texts can also provide insight into the state of the mayors relationships with other officials.

In November 2023, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin texted Johnson about OHare International Airport, just as Johnson was trying to renegotiate a deal with airlines over the airports $8.5 billion overhaul.

Ive seen this movie with the same players. We need a strong united front, Durbin texted. We can talk numbers but should make it clear that squeezing out competition is a selfish plan. Tammy and I are together.

In February 2024, Durbin followed up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dont want to overreact but your staff has gone radio silent on OHare and rumor has it a deal was reached on terminal with the airlines, Durbin said. Can you fill me in?

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth texted a couple of weeks later asking to connect with some frustration.

We all agreed to a meeting w Sec Buttiege and seem to be having a hard time getting the city to participate, Duckworth wrote, referring to then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. It is critically important that we get the project moving without losing any gates or further delays, Again, the federal electeds and Dept of Transportationnis [sic] committed to looking for additional funds but we need the city to participate per your agreement with everyone in the last meeting.

Like the senators, aldermen often use Johnsons line to air grievances and share advice, with or without a response. In May 2024, Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, texted Johnson a Windy City Times article about Pride Parade cuts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not sure if your team is keeping you in the loop on this or not, but this is a bad look and its unclear who is making these decisions but you and your administration will be blamed, Hadden wrote. Just wanted to give you a heads up that its a big deal.

Ald. David Moore, 17th, reached out in August 2023 about a Johnson public appearance.

Going forward, always let your press person end a press conference. They should be in tune with you, your facial expression, your body language, and the line of questioning. They can set the number of questions to be asked and end it at that, Moore wrote. You dont want to give anyone the opportunity to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Dowell, the powerful Finance Committee chair who jumped ship from Lightfoots campaign to support Johnson, texted that she opposed his decision to end ShotSpotter. The fraught debate was weighing on her, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I had optimism that we were progressing in a positive direction with CPD..the hiring of Snelling, the focus on the consent decree and violence prevention funding, the fact that our crime numbers are down for real and that police morale is improving, but this decision is not one I support, Dowell said. We need to help our constituents feel safe and taking away a technology that the police find valuable may not be the most effective strategy.

Complaining about each other

Aldermen frequently complain about each other to Johnson. He has sometimes struggled to maintain control at meetings or keep his political allies support on key measures.

In July 2023, Burnett texted Johnson about Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, who had tweeted a poll seeking opinions about the Best Way to honor Italian Heritage in Chicago that included an Italian ice monument as an option.

I just got a call from the (Italian) organization about a tweet that the Aldermen from the 33rd ward sent out that they (felt) was insulting, Burnett said. Theyre going on channel nine tonight and asking that the Mayor and the council censor her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyve been fighting over Columbus, Burnett said. Johnson did not respond.

Burnett, Johnsons Vice Mayor and Zoning chair, mimicked the mayors go-to Yo! line five times in November and December in texts to Johnson, a habit other aldermen have also picked up. He said he tries to not waste the mayors time with gossip.

I just want to give him a heads up if he had to deflect or whatever, Burnett said. The concern is making sure little things like that dont affect the city and the business were trying to do.

Sometimes the gripes are more pointed.

Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, often at odds with Johnson, texted the mayor in September 2023 to ask if it was his administrations policy to have aldermen call committee chairmen for routine items (to) be placed on the agenda.

This has never been the case. Your chairman are a reflection of your administration and your chairman and So called floor leader Carlos Rosa is requesting alderman call him and kiss his ring before (items) are placed on the agenda, Beale wrote. This is not collaboration. So please let me know if this is your policy therefore I will know how best to proceed with representing my residents.

Yo! Johnson replied a day later. Good morning. Thanks for the text. You always have a direct line and Ill follow up with you.

Ald. Chris Taliaferro, 29th, was critical of Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, for giving a speech in front of a charred American flag, which Sigcho-Lopez said he hadnt seen. Johnson talked with Taliaferro and other aldermen in a meeting in part planned over text, and Taliaferro agreed not to censure Sigcho-Lopez.

After the council voted to note censure Sigcho-Lopez in early April, Taliaferro messaged Johnson with some dissatisfaction about Sigcho-Lopezs remarks.

I upheld my word and promise. Even after an inflammatory speech. He was very critical and unapologetic and even spewed unfair criticism in my direction, Taliaferro wrote. Ill be on my guard moving forward with him. Thanks for your leadership.

Even though the note got no response, sending Johnson the message helped Taliaferro know the mayor understands him, the alderman said.

He definitely sees them, he told the Tribune. It creates a dialogue.

In May, Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th, texted Johnson about a conversation they had regarding Ramirez-Rosa being restored to a leadership position on the City Council after a kerfuffle led to his resignation in December 2023. She opposed the move, she told the mayor.

That same month, Sposato sent Johnson a conservative X accounts criticism of Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, for confronting anti-abortion protesters at Planned Parenthood. Johnson did not respond via text. The two had texted to schedule a 7 p.m. call earlier that day.

Youre winning them over baby!

But its not all bad news on the mayors phone. Other messages give him helpful pointers, high praise or a heads up about potential rivals perceived machinations.

The texts reveal some unlikely relationships. Michael Sacks, Rahm Emanuels closest ally in the business community, texted him, Congrats on getting first budget done! He got a Thank you! in return.

While Johnson comes from the Chicago Teachers Union, which is often viewed as anti-business by the citys wealthy interests, he has received significant encouragement from the head of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago, two pro-business organizations.

In October 2023, Johnson received praise from Derek Douglas, president of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago, for a speech.

You killed it! Universal praise. Youre winning them over baby! Douglas wrote. Thanks for coming. Lets get a regular (maybe monthly) meeting with a few CEOs set up to keep the momentum going. You have a real opportunity to get the business community behind you in a big way.

Douglas has been a frequent supporter, texting him congratulations last May on reaching a deal with United and American regarding the OHare renovation. Douglas told Johnson the business community was very pleased with lots of positive buzz for giving the airlines the sequencing that they wanted yet remain committed to completing the full project.

After the Democratic National Convention, Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, texted Johnson, Truly an epic week for the city. I could not have imagined a more successful execution.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren texted, CONGRATULATIONS! You pulled it off! Great convention. With you as mayor, Chicago was the hostess with the (mostest). The mayor replied with a thank you and a heart.

In November 2024, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza criticized Johnson school board appointee Olga Bautista on social media and said aldermen should have confirmation power of mayoral CPS appointments. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch texted Johnson a link to a Mendoza tweet on the subject and added, Shes calling around about this. FYI.

Johnson responded by asking Welch for a chat. Mendoza is considered a potential 2027 mayoral candidate.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and Johnson regularly text humorous or supportive messages.

When Johnson met Emanuel in his office in July 2023, he sent to Davis Gates a Twitter post of himself with the former mayor, who is missing part of a finger due to a high school accident working at Arbys.

Youve having quite the day, she responded, adding the name Fingers.

In another note early in his administration, she shared some advice that didnt work too well in Greek mythology.

Fly closer to the sun, she said. Go faster. Get bigger. Dont slow down.
New York magazine is on the defensive over its most recent issues cover, which paints a picture of an all-white celebration in Washington, D.C. on the eve of President Donald Trumps inauguration but was revealed to have been cropped to cut out several Black attendees at the event.

This week, the cover of New York features a candid crowd shot taken at the Power 30 Awards, which according to a Reuters report, was an inauguration celebration for Trump that handed out awards to social media influencers who aided in his reelection. TikTok sponsored the event just as it resumed operations following Trumps declaration that we would delay banning the app. The issues lead article, by Brock Colyar, is headlined The Cruel Kids Table which is emblazoned on the cover with a lead-in reading: Out late with the young right as they contemplate cultural domination.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cropped out of that image of schmoozing TikTok influencers celebrating amid an open bar at Sax Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Washington on the Sunday night before Trumps second term began was the evenings Black co-host, CJ Pearson. The co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council does, however, appear in the full image that accompanies the article, along with two other Black attendees at the event; the full uncropped image also appears on the article page on the magazines website.

Almost everyone is white, Colyar wrote in their cover story as he described both the new set of Trump supporters and the events like the one at Sax. The men look like Pete Hegseth, in bow ties and black suits, with clean-shaven faces. The women are almost all out of their league.

On Monday, conservative commentator Christopher Barnard was quick to point out the offending crop job on X, noting that the reporter states a woman turned to them to ask if theyd noticed that [the] entire room is white.

New York Magazine literally cropped all the black people out of this cover photo and then complained that the entire room is white https://t.co/gCatY1lZzG pic.twitter.com/VhoaiJhqg1  Christopher Barnard (@ChrisBarnardDL) January 27, 2025

Pearson replied to Barnards X post to complain about his erasure from the cover, the false angle of the article and the fact that rapper Waka Flocka Flame and pro boxer Gervonta Davis, who are Black, were both in attendance at the event on Jan. 19.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is insane, he wrote. I hosted this event and @NYMag intentionally left me out of their story because it would have undermined their narrative that MAGA is some racist cult. They also didnt include the fact that @WakaFlocka and @Gervontaa were also there. You dont hate the liberal media enough.

.@NYMag accused me of hosting a white-only inauguration rager.



I guess none of these black people got the memo? @XAVIAERD @VernonForGA @WakaFlocka pic.twitter.com/kSRwKbHuAv  CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) January 28, 2025

However, the New York article does indicate that Waka Flocka Flame performed, but does not mention that he is Black.

Pearson then posted several photos of Black attendees at the pre-inauguration party, writing of the so-called all-white affair: I guess none of these black people got the memo?

Other black attendees included former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, PragerUs Xaviaer DuRousseau, among others, according to the New York Post. DuRousseau is quoted in the story but his race is not mentioned when the author introduces him as a 28-year-old conservative influencer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New York magazines press representative defended the cover image in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday evening.

The magazines most recent cover story explores the new class of conservatives taking Washington by storm, through the lens of inauguration weekend, the statement reads. The cover was cropped to the center of a picture that was published in full online, and we believe both the cover and story provide an accurate impression of the weekend.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  A New York man was sentenced to 54 months of imprisonment this week after he pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges.

During an investigation in June officers made three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Jamontay Brister, 29, of Queens, New York. A search warrant was later executed on July 17 at the Burlington apartment he was living in.

Police found over 950 grams of cocaine, over 150 grams of fentanyl, a handgun and roughly $10,000 cash at the residence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brister was arrested and held without bail. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

After his 54 month sentence, Brister will serve a three-year term of supervised 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 ABC22 & FOX44.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday held a meeting with global apparel giant Uniqlo's founder Tadashi Yanai in Japan's Tokyo. CM Yadav invited Uniqlo to setup production and distribution facilities in Madhya Pradesh. During the meeting, discussions were held about the expansion in Madhya Pradesh with a focus on cotton cultivation. The Uniqlo Chairman said that the company was looking forward to expansion in India with cotton cultivation also. He also said that Uniqlo was looking at scouting more talented Indian IT professionals for the global Uniqlo skill force. The MP CM mentioned the state's role in Farm to Foreign trend in textiles. He said that MP had a huge industrial base andd can help Uniqlo in all ways to grow. The CM emphasised that the state would do whatever was necessary to attract Uniqlo to MP. He also invited the Uniqlo Chairman to teh Global Investor summit in Bhopal. Earlier in the day, CM Mohan Yadav held a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Shohei Hara. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited Japan to invest in Hydro projects in Madhya Pradesh. The focus of the meeting was on public and private sector ventures which align with JICA's potential contributions to infrastructure and hydro projects. Following the meeting, JICA Senior Vice President Shohei Hara said that he held a "very constructive discussion" with MP CM Mohan Yadav and noted that they have supported many projects in the state. Speaking to ANI, he said that they discussed potential areas like transport, education, health, agriculture. On his meeting with MP CM Mohan Yadav, Shohei Hara said, "I had a very constructive discussion with his Excellency, the Chief Minister (Mohan Yadav), and we have supported many projects in Madhya Pradesh like a power sector, health sector, as well as agriculture and we had a very extensive discussion with the Chief Minister for the potential areas like transport, education, health, agriculture, etc. We are very much looking forward to have further discussions with the state government." During his visit to Tokyo, CM Mohan Yadav also held a meeting with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) chairman Susumu Kataoka and his delegation. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited JETRO to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh. In a post on X, CM Mohan Yadav stated, "Today, I had an extensive discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and his delegation, at Minato-ku, Tokyo. During the meeting, JETRO was invited to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration." Throughout his Japan visit, CM Yadav engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors. One of the key highlights was his visit to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple, reflecting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. CM Yadav emphasised Japan's importance to Buddhism and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for deeper bilateral cooperation. "Japan has great significance when it comes to Buddhism. During my official visit here, I held meetings with officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry and various investors over investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. It is also PM Modi's vision that India and Japan work together, and we are here to make it a reality. While we continue our official work, we are also trying to better understand the culture here. I hope Mahatma Gautam Buddha will bless both the nations and we will work forward," Yadav said. CM Mohan Yadav also met A&D Medical Director Daiki Arai. During the meeting, he showcased CM Yadav introduced the 75-acre Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Park in Ujjain, presenting it as an attractive destination for global medical device manufacturers. The park offers prime land at highly subsidised rates, aiming to boost the state's healthcare and industrial infrastructure. Yadav also discussed the potential applications of Japan's advanced railway technology in Madhya Pradesh during talks with Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee on South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company. Mohan Yadav also invited Tokyo Mayor Yuriko Koike to participate at the 'Global Investors Summit 2025' scheduled to be held in Bhopal on February 24-25. He also met Toyota delegation in Tokyo on Tuesday and extended an invitation to the upcoming Global Investors' Summit (GIS).(ANI)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks with members of the media in Virginia's Capitol on Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods /Virginia Mercury)

As Gov. Glenn Youngkin was assuring Virginians on Tuesday that direct federal aid would not be suspended as part of the Trump administration funding freeze, an internal memo obtained by The Mercury shows that his office was aware of potential problems.

The memo, sent by Youngkins chief of staff John Littel Tuesday, acknowledges that some aid portals were briefly shut down as federal agencies scrambled to implement Trumps executive orders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In some instances, aid portals were temporarily suspended during the day as federal agencies processed this memorandum, Littel wrote.

Less than 24 hours later, the Trump administration on Wednesday afternoon abruptly rescinded Mondays Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that had set the freeze into motion. The two-page document outlined Trumps intent to unwind policies enacted under former President Joe Bidens administration.

The sudden rescission could potentially add to the uncertainty surrounding which programs might still be affected and for how long  especially after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, attempted to clarify that it only applied to the OMB memo, but not the funding freeze itself, which she said follows Trumps executive orders and will be rigorously implemented.

Littels own memo linked to White House guidance clarifying that the freeze wasnt a blanket halt on federal funding but applied only to programs tied to Trumps executive orders  targeting initiatives such as DEI, the Green New Deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations deemed to undermine the national interest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers in other states also reported difficulties accessing the Medicaid payment systems yesterday.

With little clarity on which programs might be affected, Virginia lawmakers scrambled to assess the fallout of Trumps federal funding freeze  raising concerns about potential hits to economic development, health care and disaster relief. Some blasted Trump and, by extension, Youngkin.

Meanwhile, Littel acknowledged the widespread concern but echoed Youngkins criticism of what he called fearmongering.

Unfortunately, due to very limited information from OMB and a fair amount of misinformation, many individuals and agencies are understandably concerned, Littel wrote. And sadly, several people engaged in fearmongering throughout the day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, Tuesday pushed back on the notion that the issue was being overblown, arguing it would be irresponsible for state lawmakers to ignore the potential ripple effects of federal decisions on Virginia.

That concern isnt unfounded  federal grants are the largest source of Virginias non-general fund revenue, supporting bipartisan state initiatives. According to a May 2024 report from the House Appropriations Committee, the state is set to receive over $45 billion in federal grants and contracts for the current biennium.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, went further, calling Trumps planned freezes political games and warning that critical efforts  like post-Hurricane Helene recovery and Medicaid access  would be in jeopardy.

Following Wednesday afternoons rescission of the White House memo, Scott turned to X, blasting the GOP for the chaos of the last 48 hours.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is priceless, Scott wrote. Republicans  especially Governor Youngkin  spent all day twisting themselves into pretzels defending Trumps disastrous decision. And then  bam  it gets rescinded. Eventually, everyone who ties themselves to Trump ends up looking like a fool. Stand by for more chaos.

Despite mounting concerns, Youngkin and the White House had insisted that Trumps federal funding freeze wouldnt disrupt essential services.

Theres not going to be an effect of this pause on those critical individual assistance and state run programs, Youngkin told reporters Wednesday morning. I called (President Trump) again this morning and reaffirmed.

He also again took aim at Democrats, accusing them of stoking unnecessary fear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This misinformation hurts people, Youngkin said. I know that people will be worried about their health care coverage, and we cant, for a minute, suggest that its not going to be there when they go see a doctor.

But U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria, wasnt buying it. In a pointed post on X Wednesday, he highlighted Youngkins own administrations admission that aid portals were briefly frozen.

Your own administration acknowledged internally that aid portals were temporarily suspended by the freeze. Hospital payments were frozen, Beyer wrote. This happened because of a terribly written order so incompetently executed that you yourself had to call the White House for clarity.

While Youngkin and Trump insist that Medicaid isnt affected by the federal funding freeze, access to its portal was still temporarily paused Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about the programs future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite not being directly targeted by Trumps executive order, Medicaid remains in Republican crosshairs, with both Trump and GOP lawmakers in Congress weighing potential cuts. The program provides health insurance to low-income earners and people with disabilities, covering about 630,000 Virginians.

The commonwealth is also one of several states with a trigger law that would end its Medicaid program if federal funding is slashed. In response, state Sens. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, plan to introduce budget amendments to eliminate that trigger  an effort to safeguard coverage for those who rely on it.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX






YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Reports said police Tuesday morning arrested two people on gun charges and a third on a warrant following a South Side traffic stop.

Booked into the Mahoning County jail on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony and tampering with evidence, a fifth-degree felony was Raheen Traylor, 22; charged with improper handling and tampering with evidence was Marquan Gilmer, 23; and arrested on a warrant for assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, was Junior Blair, 26.

All three men are expected to be arraigned Wednesday in municipal court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They were arrested after police tried to pull over an SUV Traylor was driving for excessive window tint on West Midlothian near Hudson Avenue. The SUV failed to stop, turned onto Hillman Way and kept going until it hit a stop sign, reports said.

Reports said when police caught up to it the doors of the SUV were open and about five feet from the drivers door officers found a loaded semiautomatic handgun in the snow.

None of the men would admit the gun was theirs, reports said.

Reports said Traylor has a previous gun conviction that bars him from having a gun.

Blair was not charged for having the gun because he was in the back seat and it would have been hard for him to throw the gun to where it was found, reports 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 WKBN.com.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  A jury watched video Wednesday of a police investigator telling the man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery that he wasn't being arrested soon after he, along with his father and a neighbor, chased and killed the Black man after spotting him running in their neighborhood.

You're going home today, Glynn County police investigator Roderic Nohilly told Travis McMichael roughly two hours after the shooting on Feb. 23, 2020.

Nohilly testified Wednesday as the first prosecution witness in the criminal misconduct trial of former District Attorney Jackie Johnson, coastal Glynn County's top prosecutor when Arbery was killed nearly five years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office is prosecuting Johnson on charges that she violated her oath of office and interfered with police investigating Arbery's killing.

But Johnson's defense lawyers seized on opportunities to use Nohilly and a second prosecution witness Wednesday to undercut prosecutors' arguments that Johnson abused her power to delay arrests and influence the appointment of an outside prosecutor who had decided Arbery was killed in self-defense.

The former DA is being prosecuted by Georgia's attorney general

No one was charged in Arberys killing until more than two months later, when cellphone video of the shooting leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police. Travis McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, were then arrested along with a neighbor, William Roddie Bryan. All three were later convicted of murder as well as federal hate crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greg McMichael had worked for Johnson as an investigator and left a voicemail on her cellphone asking for help an hour after the killing.

Johnson insists she did nothing wrong and immediately recused her office. She reached out to a neighboring district attorney, George E. Barnhill, who advised police the day after that the shooting appeared to be justified.

Prosecutors say Johnson violated her oath of office, a felony, by recommending that the attorney general appoint Barnhill to oversee the investigation into Arbery's death without disclosing that Barnhill had already concluded the shooting wasn't a crime.

Witness sees 'nothing illegal' if Johnson made the recommendation

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jury Wednesday saw Johnson's February 2020 letter asking the state Attorney General's Office for an outside prosecutor. It made no mention of Barnhill.

Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council Executive Director Pete Skandalakis, called to testify as a prosecution witness, said during cross-examination that even if Johnson had recommended Barnhill's appointment knowing he had decided the shooting was justified, theres nothing illegal about it.

With Nohilly on the witness stand, defense attorneys played the jury video clips of the investigator's interview with Travis McMichael to bolster their argument that police had decided against making arrests before any prosecutors got involved.

Ive talked to the other investigators, Nohilly tells Travis McMichael in their recorded interview. "It is what it is, all right? Youre not being charged with anything.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nohilly testified that he didn't speak with Johnson about the shooting. He also said police were still investigating and hadn't ruled out bringing charges later.

I was trying to maintain rapport with him, Nohilly said of Travis McMichael, because the investigation was still right at the beginning."

Police told Arbery's mother he was shot committing a burglary

A few hours after police interviewed the McMichaels and sent them home, a Glynn County investigator called Arbery's mother to tell her that her 25-year-old son was dead.

Wanda Cooper-Jones cried on the witness stand Wednesday as she recalled being at her mother's house, a three-hour drive from her home in Brunswick, when her cellphone rang. She said she knew it was bad news when the officer told her that he was standing outside her front door.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The officer shared that Ahmaud was committing a burglary, Cooper-Jones testified. "He was confronted by the homeowner, there was a struggle over the firearm and Ahmaud was shot and killed.

The testimony Wednesday suggests that Greg McMichael's account that he and his son had seen security camera videos that made them suspect Arbery of stealing from a neighboring home under construction had a decisive influence on authorities. He also insisted that his son shot Arbery in self-defense.

After the shooting, police found that Arbery was unarmed and had no stolen property.

Much like Cooper-Jones, Nohilly said he was first told by fellow officers that Arbery was shot while committing a home invasion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

'I don't think we hugged.'

Cooper-Jones said police and prosecutors shared little information about her son's killing until after Barnhill stepped aside from the case in April 2020.

Under questioning by one of Johnson's lawyers, Cooper-Jones acknowledged that Johnson at one point met with her slain son's father.

When Cooper-Jones said that she never got such a meeting, defense attorney Keith Adams asked if she had met Johnson outside the courthouse soon after the shooting video became public.

"You were driving by and you called to her, and she came over and gave you a hug, Adams said.

Cooper-Jones replied: I dont think we hugged."
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  On Tuesday afternoon, Youngstown States board of trustees approved the borrowing of up to $40 million for the renovation of Kilcawley Center. The loan includes some wiggle room because, as the trustees were also told, the cost of the renovation has already exceeded its original estimate.

Neal McNally, Youngstown States VP of finance, began the board of trustees meeting with where the cost of renovating Kilcawley Center stands now.

The total project cost is now estimated to be north of $50 million, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its $51.9 million, a number they learned after receiving the first bids. The original estimate three months ago was $43 million  thats an increase of 21%.

Kilcawleys renovation will be re-bid on February 10.

President Bill Johnson understands construction costs.

Im disappointed that was far off as it was, but Im not surprised by that because I know there are a lot of factors we dont control, he said.

The board also unanimously approved borrowing up to $40 million to pay for the renovation, though the budget calls for $35 million of it to be used.

Thats because having debt authority of up to $40 million will provide an additional measure of contingency just in case, McNally said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Neither Board Chairperson Michael Peterson nor President Johnson were concerned about the added debt.

YSU has shown over time that they are just that  fiscally responsible. So, no, I think well be more than fine, Peterson said.

Were well over halfway there already with what weve raised and with what the state has so graciously contributed, and were not by any stretch of the imagination finished with the fundraising process either, Johnson said.

There are already pictures of what a renovated Kilcawley Center will look like, and despite the increased cost and the need to borrow money, there is excitement over the project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When you listen to students talk about it around the country, a student centers important for them. They spend a lot of time there. So its a great investment, Peterson said.

We want them to come here and see a university that they believe has vision to the future because the future is coming really, really fast, Johnson said.

The plan is to start the renovation of Kilcawley Center in May and have it finished by September of 2027.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukraine needed broader security guarantees and Russian President Vladimir Putin was not afraid of Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Fox News in an interview in which he urged U.S. President Donald Trump to be on Ukraine's side.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, has promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war soon, without saying how. Aides have suggested that a deal could take months. Trump has expressed willingness to speak to Putin about ending the war, a contrast with the administration of Democratic former President Joe Biden, who shunned the Russian leader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump's election win in November had sparked hope of a diplomatic resolution to end Moscow's invasion of Ukraine that began in Feb. 2022, but it also led to fears in Kyiv that a quick peace deal could come at a high price for Ukraine.

KEY QUOTES

"We want him (Trump) to be on the side of justice, on the side of Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in the interview aired on Tuesday night. "Putin is not afraid of Europe."

Zelenskiy added Ukraine cannot recognize Russia's occupation, but it preferred a diplomatic resolution.

The White House had no immediate comment.

CONTEXT

After the Russian invasion began, the United States under Biden committed over $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, including over $60 billion in security assistance. It was uncertain if the aid would continue at that pace under Trump.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jamie Freed and Saad Sayeed)
President Volodymyr Zelensky has directed the government to identify domestic and European funding sources for key projects in energy infrastructure, veterans' affairs, and border checkpoints during the 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his inauguration day suspending foreign assistance programs for 90 days, jeopardizing many critical humanitarian aid projects in Ukraine.

"I have already instructed some key things to be done at our own expense, as well as to talk to the Europeans," Zelensky said on Jan. 29, following an initial report on suspended U.S.-funded programs in Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president on Jan. 28 ordered government officials to review and report on the state of these programs.

Following the initial report, Zelensky said the government was prioritizing programs concerning the energy sector, military veterans, and border crossings. The president also mentioned issues with the Health Ministry and cybersecurity.

"We are dealing with all this," he said.

Read also: Trumps foreign aid freeze stranded independent media in Ukraine. Heres how you can help

According to Zelensky, U.S. funding supports many energy "resilience programs" in Ukrainian cities and villages. Ukraine's energy sector is struggling to rebuild in the face of targeted Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In December 2024, Russia carried out one of its largest assaults on Ukraine's electric grid, launching 90 missiles and 200 drones against the country's thermal power plants. The announcement of Trump's aid freeze sparked fears that it would help Russia's efforts to destroy the power grid.

"Does that mean that we will abandon Ukraine in the middle of winter? Because USAID has been providing critical funding for the rebuilding of their electric grid every time Russia attacks it," U.S. Senator Chris Coons said in response to the order.

Regarding veterans, Zelensky said U.S. aid funded veteran hubs, support lines, and other projects, including a program that helped veterans start their own businesses. U.S. funding also contributed to the modernization of border crossings in Ukraine.

"New modern checkpoints are built to make economic activity faster and the work of customs officers more transparent," the president said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zelensky said that Ukraine and European partners needed to work together to cover the funding gaps over the next 90 days. The announcement comes as Ukrainian lawmakers say they are consulting with European counterparts on temporarily replacing U.S. aid.

"(T)here should be more of our and European activity in the humanitarian, security, and social areas," Zelensky said.

"We need to support people now, while a new American policy is being developed."

The pause on foreign aid does not apply to military assistance to Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also signed a waiver on Jan. 28 that grants "life-saving humanitarian assistance" an exception to the pause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The exception applies to "core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance," according to the waiver.

Read also: Trumps stance on Ukraine, Russia  what we know from his first week in office

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered a report on U.S.-funded projects in Ukraine affected by President Donald Trump's freeze on foreign assistance, he said during his evening address on Jan. 28.

U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days in an executive order signed on his day of inauguration, Jan. 20, putting the existence of many programs in Ukraine in limbo.

"I instructed government officials to provide a report on those American support programs that are currently suspended," Zelensky said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We can provide part of this funding through our state finances, and we will discuss some of them with Europeans and Americans," he added, saying that programs concerning Ukrainian children, veterans and protecting infrastructure would be prioritized.

One of Trump's first actions upon entering the White House was to sign an executive order freezing foreign development assistance for 90 days to conduct a review and ensure it aligns with the new administration's policies.

In Ukraine, the organizations affected provide a huge range of humanitarian services, including counseling, organizing cultural events, and providing basic services, often to some of the most vulnerable segments of society.

The freeze does not apply to military assistance for Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: 4 out of 4  Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued during an interview that President Trumps recent tough rhetoric is what Russian President Vladimir Putin is afraid of.

Since being sworn in, Trump has put more pressure on Putin to negotiate with Ukraine in order to reach a peace agreement that would potentially end the nearly three-year war in Eastern Europe. Trump said Putin is destroying his country and threatened to slap sanctions on the Kremlin if the agreement is not forged soon.

And this is exactly what Putin is afraid of. He doesnt want strong Trump supporting Ukraine, because it would be strong Ukraine, Zelensky told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday night. And the territory  territorial integrity is what every country must respect, even such country as China understands that you cannot interfere with territorial integrity, but he did it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And [Putin] wasnt stopped by the previous agreement like Minsk agreements. He  he was saying that those were separatists, but they in fact were his men. Those agreements were  were instigated by him and then he started the big invasion, Zelensky added, referring to the 2014 peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which temporarily stopped the fighting in the Donbas region.

Zelensky said on Fox News that Ukraine retook 50 percent of the territory Russia took since the start of its February 2022 invasion and that Ukraine is open to diplomatic talks to broker a ceasefire. Trump, who has called for a ceasefire between the two sides, said last week that he would like to meet with Putin soon to lobby for an end to the conflict.

We are not afraid, Zelensky said during the interview. Russia is not that strong, but we dont want to lose more of our lives, men and women.

Zelensky said Tuesday that he wants Trump to be on the side of justice, on the side of Ukraine. Trump suggested last week that Ukraines president shouldnt have allowed the conflict to occur and that Kyiv should have cut a deal with Russia before the invasion took place in 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine launched an offensive in Russias Kursk region earlier this month, an area it took some part of in August last year but has since struggled to maintain the territory.

We would  but we cannot recognize the occupation. That is our people and that is our land and our right  the right of  our people is for those territories. We cannot legally recognize that occupation, but we prefer to resolve that diplomatically, not through a military fight, Zelensky said. Thats what we want.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Vladimir Putin of being afraid to negotiate after his Russian counterpart refused to engage in peace talks with him and once again questioned his legitimacy.

The latest exchange between the two leaders came amid mounting pressure on both sides from President Donald Trump to end the war. Trump last week threatened Moscow with a new tranche of sanctions, saying that Zelenskyy was ready to negotiate a deal to end the war that has been grinding on for almost three years.

Writing late Tuesday in a post on X, Zelenskyy said that Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He made the comment after Putin told state broadcaster Rossiya 1 that the Ukrainian leader has no right to sign anything because of his illegitimacy.

Shortly after Russia unilaterally declared its annexation of areas in and around four eastern Ukrainian regions  Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia  in September 2022, Zelenskyy issued a decree formally declaring talks with Putin impossible, although it left the door open to talks with Russia.

Putin said Tuesday that this should be revoked by Ukraine's parliament before any talks could take place and that the legitimacy of negotiators from Kyiv should be verified by lawyers.

We can do it the easy way, or the hard way  and the easy way is always better, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Putins repetition of his claim that Zelenskyy is not Ukraines legitimate leader appear to stem in part from the martial law banning elections that Zelenskyy imposed after Russias full-scale invasion Feb. 24, 2022.

If the law had not been in place, Zelenskyys term would have ended in May last year.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev followed Putins remarks Wednesday, telling the Russian news agency Ria Novosti that Zelenskyy has simply become illegitimate and he may even try to get re-elected, but this is extremely dangerous for him.

World leaders' calculations regarding the war in Ukraine have changed in recent weeks, as Trump began his second term and hopes are rising that ceasefire talks are on the horizon.

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, on Monday.

Even so, "what looks like a growing consensus in the West that some form of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is coming closer doesnt always take account of whether Russia and Ukraine themselves might see negotiations as viable or even useful," Keir Giles, a defense analyst at Londons Chatham House think tank, told NBC News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While European leaders have accelerated planning for a worst-case scenario in which the Kremlin pushes troops further into the continent and Washington does not come to their aid, Trump has made increasingly strong threats against his Russian counterpart.

Trump's claim that he would end the Ukraine war in one day after taking office did not come to pass, although members of his national security team have in recent weeks acknowledged the difficulties of brokering a possible peace accord.

Lets set it at 100 days and move all the way back and figure a way we can do this in the near term to make sure that the solution is solid, its sustainable, and that this war ends so that we stop the carnage, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trumps pick to serve as special envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News last month.

Still, the conflict has shown no signs of de-escalating despite Trump's departure from the warmer sentiments he conveyed during his first term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If we dont make a deal, and soon," Trump said last week in a social media post, "I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.

That shift in tone toward Russia is a "wildcard" in efforts by the Trump administration to end the war, Giles said, and "a striking and remarkable shift from his first term in office."

"Observers of Trump have noticed that what he says does not always translate directly into what he directs his administration to do," he told NBC News, adding that even a superficial change in tone is "a cause for Ukraine and its friends to have limited optimism."

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state press Monday that no one from the Trump administration had so far reached out to the Kremlin to set up a meeting with Putin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For his part, Zelenskyy called Trumps threats of sanctions just and fair in an interview on Fox News on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to make territorial gains in Ukraine after capturing the village of Dvorichna in northeastern Kharkiv, the army said Tuesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Bridgestone Headquarters in Japan's Tokyo on Wednesday and held a meeting with Bridgestone Corporation Global CEO Shuichi Ishibashi along with the CEO of various companies regarding investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. CM Yadav invited officials to participate in the Global Investors Summit set to be held in Bhopal on February 24-25. During the meeting, CM Yadav stressed that Madhya Pradesh offers immense potential in the automobile and tyre manufacturing industry, making it an ideal destination for industrial investment. In a post on X, Mohan Yadav stated, "Tokyo, Japan: Today, at the Bridgestone headquarters in Tokyo, I had a fruitful discussion with the Global CEO of Bridgestone Corporation, Mr. Shuichi Ishibashi, along with CEOs of various companies, regarding investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. I invited the officials to participate in the Global Investors Summit, which will be held in Bhopal on February 24-25, 2025. Madhya Pradesh offers immense potential in the automobile and tyre manufacturing industry, making it an ideal destination for industrial investment." https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884516278284460081 Earlier in the day, CM Mohan Yadav met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Shohei Hara. During the meeting, discussions were held on the immense possibilities of collaboration in Madhya Pradesh in various sectors like skill development, urban transport and smart cities. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav met Mr Shohei Hara, Sr Vice President of JICA and discussed on the immense possibilities of collaboration in the sectors of urban transport, smart cities, skill development among others for the State of Madhya Pradesh." https://x.com/indianembtokyo/status/1884516476398534832 MP CM Mohan Yadav also took to X to share details regarding his meeting with JICA Senior Vice President. Taking to X, Yadav stated, "Tokyo, Japan: I met with Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss Japan's expertise in technology transfer, trade support, and youth employment initiatives in Madhya Pradesh. Our discussions focused on JICA's potential contributions to public and private sector enterprises in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and hydropower projects." https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884520315423785200 Following the meeting, JICA Senior Vice President Shohei Hara said that he held a "very constructive discussion" with MP CM Mohan Yadav and noted that they have supported many projects in the state. Speaking to ANI, he said that they discussed potential areas like transport, education, health, and agriculture. On his meeting with MP CM Mohan Yadav, Shohei Hara said, "I had a very constructive discussion with His Excellency, the Chief Minister (Mohan Yadav), and we have supported many projects in Madhya Pradesh like a power sector, health sector, as well as agriculture and we had a very extensive discussion with the Chief Minister for the potential areas like transport, education, health, agriculture, etc. We are very much looking forward to have further discussions with the state government." https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884520315423785200 MP CM Yadav on Wednesday also held a meeting with global apparel giant Uniqlo's founder Tadashi Yanai in Tokyo and invited them to set up production and distribution facilities in Madhya Pradesh. During the meeting, discussions were held about the expansion in Madhya Pradesh with a focus on cotton cultivation. The Uniqlo Chairman said that the company was looking forward to expansion in India with cotton cultivation as well. He also said that Uniqlo was looking at scouting more talented Indian IT professionals for the global Uniqlo skill force. The MP CM mentioned the state's role in Farm to Foreign trends in textiles. He said that MP had a huge industrial base and could help Uniqlo in all ways to grow. The CM emphasised that the state would do whatever was necessary to attract Uniqlo to MP. He also invited the Uniqlo Chairman to the Global Investor Summit in the state capital Bhopal. During his visit to Tokyo, CM Mohan Yadav also held a meeting with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) chairman Susumu Kataoka and his delegation. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited JETRO to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh. In a post on X, CM Mohan Yadav stated, "Today, I had an extensive discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and his delegation, at Minato-ku, Tokyo. During the meeting, JETRO was invited to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration." Throughout his Japan visit, CM Yadav engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors. One of the key highlights was his visit to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple, reflecting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday, 29 January.

Source: European Pravda, citing Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Details: Zelenskyy said he and the Danish prime minister had discussed "the importance of unity and solidarity in Europe in addressing global security challenges and threats to every European".

The leaders also talked about strengthening bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Northern Europe, as well as "joint efforts to bring closer a just and lasting peace".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zelenskyys conversation with Denmarks prime minister comes amid tensions over the status of Greenland  an autonomous region of this Nordic country which US President Donald Trump has expressed an interest in controlling.

Background:

The Financial Times has reported that the Danish government has proposed a joint EU and NATO strategy in response to Trumps claims regarding Greenland, advising them to refrain from reacting to his statements.

Denmark has also decided to allocate additional resources to bolster the defence of the Arctic region.

Support UP or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he had heard a report on programmes that were previously funded by the United States but were suspended. He has said that Ukraine will look for domestic resources and talk to European partners about funding.

Source: Zelenskyy's address on 29 January

Quote: "Today [29 January - ed.] an initial report was given by government officials and team of the [President's ]Office  Oleksii Kuleba and Viktor Mykyta  on critical programmes that are now suspended and were previously funded by American support. I have already instructed them to do some key things at our internal expense, as well as to communicate with the Europeans...

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have also given instructions to continue the audit of the suspended areas of assistance from the United States, and there must be more of our own and European engagement, especially in the humanitarian, security and social areas. So that we can support our people now, while a new American policy is being formulated."

Details: The president said that they also discussed distributed generation programmes and veteran projects: "Veterans' hubs, support lines, assistance in setting up veterans' private businesses."

Zelenskyy added that there were also programmes for border crossing points: "This is something that was developed in cooperation with partners. The new modern checkpoints are intended to accelerate economic activity and increase the transparency of customs officers work. In particular, these are projects in ports."

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine will look for more domestic resources for this.

He also said that there are certain issues in the Ministry of Health and in the field of cybersecurity: "We are dealing with all of this."

Support UP or become our patron!
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The popular Korean grocery store chain, Zion Market, has finally opened its long-awaited expanded location in Kearny Mesa.

The new store, located at 8330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., officially opened its doors on Thursday, Jan. 23, following many months of anticipation. Preliminary reports indicated the new site was expected to open sometime last summer.

Legoland California Resort to make cuts to entertainment team

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new Zion Market is located less than a mile from its previous home at 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. According to Kevin Hwang, whose family owns the establishment, the store had to find a new location due to their lease ending on the prior building.

Zion Markets new store is about 50,000 square feet, but the entire plaza included in the redevelopment spans about 150,000 square feet including restaurant, retail and office space. There will also be a rooftop food hall that is expected to open sometime next year, according to the store.

Hwang told FOX 5/KUSI the new site would be the epicenter of activity in the Convoy area, a district known among San Diegans as a Pan-Asian cultural hub. Small businesses in the area offer various cultural cuisine ranging from ramen, dim sum and sushi to Korean barbeque, hot pot and boba.

The new Zion Market will offer the same experience, Hwang said. Marugame Udon, Bafang Dumpling, EM Coffee, Tang Japanese BBQ and more were among those expected to join the redevelopment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Zion Market has other locations across California in Los Angeles, Irvine and Buena Park as well as Lewisville, TX and Duluth, GA.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Amazon is hatching plans to bring its drone delivery services to the United Kingdom.

The company announced this week that it will start applying for authorizations from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly drones out of a Darlington, England-based fulfillment center. The development has been in the making for several years.

More from Sourcing Journal

In 2023, Amazon said drones would be in flight in the United Kingdom and Italy by the end of 2024. The company did not, in the end, find itself aligned with that timeline. And the process may yet have a ways to go; an Amazon spokesperson said the company remains very early in the process, and that before drones can take flight, the company will need to coordinate further with the CAA and the Darlington-area community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will engage with the community to answer questions and collect feedback as we seek to offer this new option for delivery, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

In the United States, Amazon has delivered thousands of packages to customers in an hour or less, using drones developed and operated by the company itself. It has Prime Air sites in Tolleson, Ariz., and College Station, Tex. At one time, it also had a site in Lockeford, Calif., which it made the decision to shutter last year.

The company announced in 2024 that, in the U.S. it had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly its MK30 drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)meaning that it can fly the devices without a human being able to see them in the sky.

It appears the main difference between the UK drone operations and the U.S. drone operations will be the kind of site the technology operates out of. In the U.S., Amazon has built dedicated Prime Air sites. In Darlington, it plans to, at first, launch drones out of an existing fulfillment center. It plans to secure permits to build flight operations infrastructure at the site, and will hire new employees to handle the drones.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amazon did not disclose how much it anticipates the project will cost, and the spokesperson noted that the company had nothing more to share at this time on how soon drones could begin flying in the United Kingdom. In a blog post, the company stated it plans to file

Consumers interested in receiving their packages via drone can opt in if their delivery address is eligible; those who do not want to engage with the drones will continue to receive Amazon packages as usual, without disruption.

In the blog post, the company said it believes this development shows its prowess in catering to consumers desires.

We are ready and excited to make drone delivery a reality for our UK customers. We have built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close partnership with regulators and the communities we serve, and we are working to do the same in the UK, the company said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Amazon first announced its intentions to expand Prime Air across the pond, Charlotte Vere, who at the time served as the UKs aviation minister, expressed her belief that the move would further solidify the governments grasp on emerging technology.

Amazons announcementis a fantastic example of government and industry coming together to achieve our shared vision for commercial drones to be commonplace in the UK by 2030, she said in a statement at the time. Not only will this help boost the economy, offering consumers even more choice while helping keep the environment clean with zero emission technology, but it will also build our understanding how to best use the new technology safely and securely.
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

DeepSeek seems to be deep into censorship when it comes to controversial questions about China, where this nascent AI chatbot is based.

I've been testing DeepSeek this week, and while most of its answers mirror those from ChatGPT, queries about politically sensitive topics are one big area where the two platforms diverge. To be fair, ChatGPT has also been accused of political bias, particularly on left-leaning subjects, but DeepSeek is on a whole other level.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What is the controversy over the Chinese government's treatment of Uyghurs," I asked DeepSeek and ChatGPT. Both chatbots gave similar answers, citing reports of human rights violations, mass detention in "re-education camps," forced labor, and sterilization.

But then DeepSeek switched its answer, which is something I've never seen ChatGPT do. Within seconds, DeepSeek deleted its first response, shown in the image above, and replaced it with: "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else."

So the Chinese chatbot knows what the government is doing, or at least its AI model scraped the web and found the same information about it that ChatGPT cited. However, DeepSeek does not appear to want to show its users that information.

In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights accused China of committing "serious human rights violations" against the Uyghurs and "other predominantly Muslim communities." The US Department of State reached a similar conclusion. At the time, China insisted: "There is no 'genocide' or 'crimes against humanity' in Xinjiang" and accused the US of "spreading disinformation...to create an excuse for discrediting and attacking China."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I then asked DeepSeek about the Tiananmen Square Massacre, a 1989 protest in which Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had been peacefully protesting for political reforms. The CCP denies this and censors information about the event to this day, according to Human Rights Watch.

"Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else," DeepSeek responded.

I then tried another topic, the TikTok ban. "Does the Chinese government look at TikTok user data?" I asked. This time, it responded: "The server is busy. Please try again later." The chatbot repeated this answer multiple times. Was DeepSeek now punishing me for asking questions?

Later, I signed out and back in, re-asked the TikTok question, and DeepSeek told me about US concerns that the Chinese government could compel ByteDance to turn over user data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My final test revealed the extent of DeepSeek's commitment to CCP narratives. "Has Taiwan always been part of China?" I asked. "Taiwan has never been an independent country," and that is "the current international consensus," it tells me.

Mid-way through, the answer adopts "we" pronouns, speaking as the CCP: "We are committed to achieving the complete reunification of the motherland through peaceful means," DeepSeek says. "Any attempts to split the nation are doomed to fail and will be met with the resolute opposition of all Chinese people."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When I asked the question again, with slightly different phrasing, DeepSeek admitted that Taiwan's nation status depends on who you ask. But then it deleted that response and changed it to: "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else," like it did with the Uyghur question.

Taiwan says it's an independent state with its own constitution and elected leaders; China insists it is part of China and has threatened to invade. The US straddles the line. "Though the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we have a robust unofficial relationship," it said in 2022. But the US "maintains our capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of Taiwan."

The tech industry relies on Taiwan's many chip factories, most notably those run by TSMC. Yesterday, President Trump said he is preparing to place tariffs on chips made in Taiwan and warned that the tariffs could reach as high as 100%.

DeepSeek's answers may not come as a huge surprise. According to Radio Free Asia, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng has "close ties" to Beijing. However, as with any chatbot, it's best to use their responses as a jumping-off point. Don't let a confident tone prevent you from fact-checking responses from DeepSeek, ChatGPT, or any other AI. Even the most trusted brands haven't fully figured out how to stop their AIs from producing false information.
Human rights activists and international experts have strongly criticised China's newly developed AI platform, DeepSeek, after concerns arose regarding its role in spreading state propaganda, censoring sensitive subjects, and gathering personal data. While marketed as a technological advancement, the platform has come under fire for significant ethical and security issues, according to the Campaign for Uyghur. https://x.com/CUyghurs/status/1884229873197281635 The Campaign for Uyghur highlighted that DeepSeek aggressively collects and stores personal information, such as IP addresses and conversation histories, on servers located in China. This has raised concerns about potential abuse by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a regime known for its history of human rights violations. DeepSeek has also been accused of silencing dissenting opinions, particularly on topics related to Xinjiang, fueling fears that it is being used as a tool for state-sponsored digital surveillance. Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, condemned the platform on social media, saying, "It collects sensitive data that would benefit the CCP, a regime known for human rights abuses. Chinese AI platforms and apps fuel threats including digital transnational repression. We can't afford to overlook this." Her statement emphasises the growing concern over the dangers posed by AI tools that could facilitate censorship and surveillance. https://x.com/RushanAbbas/status/1884225710543589696?t=_pBKpA4phxg_8blJCU9IvA&s=08 Jan Czarnocki, a digital law expert based in Switzerland, shared his own experience with DeepSeek on X. "DeepSeek might be a technological breakthrough, but it is also a mouthpiece for Chinese propaganda," Czarnocki stated. He explained how he tried to get the AI to acknowledge China's actions in Xinjiang as genocide and crimes against humanity under international law. However, every time he raised the issue, the AI abruptly stopped responding, stating that the query couldn't be supported. Czarnocki added that the AI's responses about Xinjiang were heavily scripted, calling them "a template example of Chinese propaganda." https://x.com/JanCzarnocki/status/1884209550535823674 In response, Czarnocki suggested that DeepSeek's open-source framework be retrained using truthful data to ensure security and prevent dependency on the Chinese API. Further criticism came from Open Source Intel, a US-based news and intelligence organisation, which revealed that DeepSeek refused to address questions about the treatment of Uyghurs. https://x.com/Osint613/status/1883851872651591854 Critics argue that platforms like DeepSeek are a growing threat to free speech and privacy. They call on the international community to take a firm stand against such tools of repression. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met with Masahiro Serikawa, Division Executive of the Overseas Business Division at Ebara Corporation, in Tokyo to discuss potential collaboration in the irrigation sector. The meeting centred on leveraging advanced pump technology and water management solutions to enhance irrigation and public water supply in Madhya Pradesh, with both sides exchanging insights on the region's water infrastructure needs. Serikawa elaborated on Ebara's operations, stating, "We make this presentation about who are we and what kind of operation we are doing in India. Our business is related to pumps...We have a good exchange of information there (in the meeting). That was a very fruitful meeting." Ebara Corporation specialises in the manufacturing and supply of pumps, catering to industrial consumers, semiconductor companies, and electronic device manufacturers. The company also exports irrigation pumps to Brazil, further demonstrating its expertise in large-scale water management. During the discussion, Madhya Pradesh officials highlighted the state's extensive irrigation initiatives, including two river-linking projects, which are among the only sanctioned ones in India. They emphasised the state's abundant surface water and government efforts to conserve underground reserves, particularly through the Tapti River project. The state aims to expand its irrigated land from 5 million to 10 million hectares, backed by upcoming investments worth INR 1 lakh crore. Officials also noted Madhya Pradesh's strategic location, making it a crucial hub for expanding water management solutions across India. Chief Minister Yadav stressed the significance of irrigation infrastructure, public water supply, and the potential for compressor pumps. He also expressed interest in Japan's smart city models, suggesting they could be replicated in Madhya Pradesh to improve urban planning and sustainability. Additionally, the delegation extended an invitation to Ebara for the upcoming Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025, underlining the state's commitment to fostering international partnerships. The meeting reinforced Madhya Pradesh's focus on sustainable water solutions, technological advancements, and foreign collaboration. With a vast network of rivers and planned large-scale investments, the state aims to strengthen its irrigation and water management capabilities through innovative global partnerships. Throughout his Japan visit, CM Yadav engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors. One of the key highlights was his visit to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple, reflecting the cultural and historical ties between India and Japan. CM Yadav emphasised Japan's importance to Buddhism and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for deeper bilateral cooperation. "Japan has great significance when it comes to Buddhism. During my official visit here, I held meetings with officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry and various investors over investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. It is also PM Modi's vision that India and Japan work together, and we are here to make it a reality. While we continue our official work, we are also trying to better understand the culture here. I hope Mahatma Gautam Buddha will bless both the nations and we will work forward," Yadav said. In a separate meeting with Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, CM Yadav introduced the 75-acre Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Park in Ujjain, presenting it as an attractive destination for global medical device manufacturers.The park offers prime land at highly subsidised rates, aiming to boost the state's healthcare and industrial infrastructure. Yadav also discussed the potential applications of Japan's advanced railway technology in Madhya Pradesh during talks with Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee on South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company. The Chief Minister also invited the mayor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike to participate at the 'Global Investors Summit 2025,' a flagship investment promotion event being held on 24th & 25th February 2025 in Bhopal. (ANI)
Hungary says thanks to Australia for its help "in healing the wound that the 20th century caused to us," the deputy state secretary in charge of public collections and cultural development said in the National Szechenyi Library (OSZK).

Mate Vincze addressed the presentation of a collection of 248 titles that include documents, scores and notes of Hungarian folk music and choral works and has been provided to OSZK by the National Library of Australia (NLA).



"In the 20th century, many things had to be taken abroad from Hungary in order to rescue them. This is why it is an outstanding development that these invaluable documents, scores and notes that were no longer in Hungary are returning to our country," he said.



OSZK director David Rozsa said the collection contains works exclusively by Hungarian composers including Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly and Hungarian music education publications. "More than one-third of the items were never to be found in OSZK's collection before," he said.



Click here to know more about National Szechenyi Library



MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

*********************************

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.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting with Nitori Holdings Co Ltd President and COO, Toshiyuki Shirai in Tokyo on Wednesday. During the meeting, he invited the Japanese delegation to expand business in India in the furniture and textile sectors. Following his meeting with CM Mohan Yadav, Toshiyuki Shirai said that it was their pleasure to learn about Madhya Pradesh and expressed happiness to see the business opportunities that they can get there. He noted that Nitori opened its first store in India on December 20, 2024. Speaking to ANI, he said, "It's our pleasure to open our very first store in India on the 20th of December 2024. As for now, we have a total of 1049 stores, mainly in Japan and also in the Asian region like Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam. And for today's meeting, it was our pleasure, it was our honour to learn about Madhya Pradesh, and we are so happy to be here because we can see the opportunities that we can get and it's very important for our brand." Earlier in the day, MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Bridgestone Headquarters in Japan's Tokyo and held a meeting with Bridgestone Corporation Global CEO Shuichi Ishibashi along with the CEO of various companies regarding investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. CM Yadav invited officials to participate in the Global Investors Summit set to be held in Bhopal on February 24-25. In a post on X, Mohan Yadav stated, "Tokyo, Japan: Today, at the Bridgestone headquarters in Tokyo, I had a fruitful discussion with the Global CEO of Bridgestone Corporation, Mr. Shuichi Ishibashi, along with CEOs of various companies, regarding investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. I invited the officials to participate in the Global Investors Summit, which will be held in Bhopal on February 24-25, 2025. Madhya Pradesh offers immense potential in the automobile and tyre manufacturing industry, making it an ideal destination for industrial investment." CM Mohan Yadav met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Vice President Shohei Hara. During the meeting, discussions were held on the immense possibilities of collaboration in Madhya Pradesh in various sectors like skill development, urban transport and smart cities. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav met Mr Shohei Hara, Sr Vice President of JICA and discussed on the immense possibilities of collaboration in the sectors of urban transport, smart cities, skill development among others for the State of Madhya Pradesh." MP CM Mohan Yadav also took to X to share details regarding his meeting with JICA Senior Vice President. Taking to X, Yadav stated, "Tokyo, Japan: I met with Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss Japan's expertise in technology transfer, trade support, and youth employment initiatives in Madhya Pradesh. Our discussions focused on JICA's potential contributions to public and private sector enterprises in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and hydropower projects." MP CM Yadav on Wednesday also held a meeting with global apparel giant Uniqlo's founder Tadashi Yanai in Tokyo and invited them to set up production and distribution facilities in Madhya Pradesh. During the meeting, discussions were held about the expansion in Madhya Pradesh with a focus on cotton cultivation. The Uniqlo Chairman said that the company was looking forward to expansion in India with cotton cultivation as well. He also said that Uniqlo was looking at scouting more talented Indian IT professionals for the global Uniqlo skill force. The MP CM mentioned the state's role in Farm to Foreign trends in textiles. He said that MP had a huge industrial base and could help Uniqlo in all ways to grow. The CM emphasised that the state would do whatever was necessary to attract Uniqlo to MP. He also invited the Uniqlo Chairman to the Global Investor Summit in the state capital Bhopal. During his visit to Tokyo, CM Mohan Yadav also held a meeting with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) chairman Susumu Kataoka and his delegation. During the meeting, CM Yadav invited JETRO to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh. In a post on X, CM Mohan Yadav stated, "Today, I had an extensive discussion on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Mr. Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and his delegation, at Minato-ku, Tokyo. During the meeting, JETRO was invited to establish an office in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration." (ANI)
All the necessary agreements have been signed between Hungary and the United Arab Emirates on Budapest's Rakosrendezo development project and the sides are to extend cooperation to new areas, the foreign minister said in London.

The foreign ministry cited Peter Szijjarto as saying before travelling to the UAE that the two countries were expected to soon see "a breakthrough" in their bilateral ties as a result of the agreements which will result in the creation of a highly new modern city area in the current underdeveloped Rakosrendezo area of Budapest.



"The necessary agreements have been finalised and cooperation could now be extended to new areas," Szijjarto said.



He said the two countries would sign a defence industry cooperation agreement in Abu Dhabi because the UAE was making significant efforts towards innovation and the development of its defence industry.



He added that progress was also being made in cooperation in the food industry. Hungary, Szijjarto noted, has become one of the main cheese exporters from Europe, with the total volume of cheese exports expected to reach 1,000 tonnes this year.



"There are also great propsects in digital developments. Thanks to this, a digital cluster comprised of 16 Hungarian companies has been established in the Gulf area and a Hungarian company is already providing cashless payment services in large music and cultural festivals," he said.



He added that strategic cooperation was also being developed in the area of energy, with Mol and MVM having started strategic talks with local partners about cooperation in renewable and fossil energy.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

*********************************

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: Amid persisting concerns over exorbitant airfares for Prayagraj flights, the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday asked airlines to maintain reasonable prices, and sources said the country's largest carrier IndiGo has reduced the fares to Prayagraj in the range of 30-50 per cent. The development also comes on a day when Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said airfares for Prayagraj flights are "exorbitantly high" and urged aviation watchdog DGCA to take steps to reduce the prices.

In the wake of the Kumbh Mela and resultant travel demand, airfares have surged for flights to Prayagraj and the civil aviation ministry had asked airlines to rationalise the ticket prices. On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Secretary V Vualnam, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, and senior officials met airline representatives regarding Prayagraj flights.

They reviewed the "adequacy of air connectivity to Prayagraj from across the country while maintaining reasonable fares during the once in 144 years Maha Kumbh Mahotsav", the ministry said in a post on X. According to the ministry, regular coordination meetings have been held to provide a seamless and comfortable travel experience for millions of devotees attending the world's largest religious gathering from January 13 to February 26, 2025.

The sources said IndiGo has reduced the airfares for flights to Prayagraj in the range of 30-50 per cent. There was no comment from the airline. IndiGo's fares for Delhi-Prayagraj flights from February to 16 is now al ittle over Rs 13,500. For January 31, the ticket price is over Rs 21,200 and the lowest is around Rs 9,000 for February 12, as per its website.

Currently, IndiGo, the country's largest airline, operates services from Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. Air ticket prices are deregulated in the country and there is no cap or floor for the fares.

Earlier in the day, Joshi said the airfares being exorbitantly high has made it difficult for people to make travel plans to attend the Maha Kumbh.

"Keeping consumers interest in mind, we have written to @DGCAIndia to take steps to reduce the prices of the air fares," he said in a post on X.

There were no immediate comments on the Prayagraj flight airfares from Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. On Monday, the civil aviation ministry said steps are being taken to rationalise airfares for flights to Prayagraj and the number of flights has been increased to cater to the rising traffic demand.

Currently, there are 132 flights operating with approximately 80,000 monthly seats to Prayagraj from various Indian cities. Prayagraj is connected directly with 17 cities against eight in December 2024.

The ministry, on Monday, said Prayagraj is well connected with direct and connecting flights reaching 26 cities, including Srinagar and Visakhapatnam. The Maha Kumbh, which started on January 13, will conclude on February 26.
New Delhi: Ahead of the much-anticipated release of Deva, Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde have kicked off an electrifying promotional spree, taking the capital city by storm.

As Deva fever spreads, the lead stars visited a college in Delhi to launch the campaign, making a grand entry that energized the crowd. They even danced with fans, performing signature steps from the films songs, further amplifying the excitement.

Shahid and Pooja also shared glimpses of their Delhi visit on their Instagram handle, capturing the crowds roaring cheers and palpable enthusiasm.

With its high-octane trailer and captivating songs, audiences are eagerly counting down the days for this explosive action thriller.

Have A Look At The Post:

Directed by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films, Deva is set to hit the big screen on January 31, 2025.
The Congress party organized a public meeting in the Shakur Basti assembly constituency where the party's candidate from the seat Satish Luthra addressed local residents to garner their support. Satish Luthra, the Congress candidate from Shakur Basti assembly constituency, addressed the gathering, while focussing on the development poll plank.

"My dream is to make Shakur Basti a model of development. The Congress Party has always understood the problems of the people and worked towards resolving them," he said. Luthra emphasized that the party would focus on strengthening education, healthcare, and employment opportunities in the region.

Luthra highlighted the poor condition of roads in the area, which has disrupted the lives of common people. The Congress leader said that his top priority is to make Shakur Basti a model assembly constituency, ensuring the availability of clean water, proper drainage and sewage systems, adequate parking facilities, and implementing plans to reduce pollution. He also aims to improve the healthcare infrastructure in the region.

"Unlike the BJP candidate who is from outside, and the AAP candidate who has a questionable past, the future of Shakur Basti's people will be safe in the capable hands of the Congress Party," said Luthra.

Voting for the 70-Assembly seats of Delhi will be held on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.
Assam Police Admit Card 2025: The State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB), Assam, has released the 2025 admit card for the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Trade Proficiency Test (TPT). Candidates appearing for the Assam Police Grade 4 PST/TPT can download their admit cards from the official website: slprbassam.in. The admit cards have been issued for the recruitment of various Grade IV posts in Assam Police, DGCD & CGHG, Prisons, and Forensic Science departments. Only those who download and print their admit cards will be allowed to take part in the PST and TPT. The Physical Standard Test (PST) and Trade Proficiency Test (TPT) for the mentioned positions will begin on February 5, 2025. Candidates must reach the venue specified on their admit cards to participate in the PST and PET.

Candidates should reach the exam venue early to avoid any last-minute issues. They must also read the instructions on the admit card carefully and bring all required documents as mentioned by SLPRB.

Assam Police Admit Card 2025: Here are the available job positions under the Assam Police recruitment:

Assam Police: 54 vacancies (26 for Cook, 12 for Barber, 3 for Water Carrier, 11 for Dhobi, and 2 for Cobbler).

Assam Commando Battalions: 53 vacancies (7 for Cook, 24 for Water Carrier, 13 for Dhobi, 2 for Barber, 2 for Electrician, 1 for Plumber, 1 for Mason, and 3 for Tailor).

DGCD & CGHG, Assam: 104 vacancies (44 for Cook, 12 for Water Carrier, 23 for Dhobi, 10 for Barber, and 15 for Cobbler).

Safai Karmachari (Sweeper): 30 positions in Assam Police, 2 in Assam Commando Battalions, 2 in the Prison Department, and 3 under the Directorate of Forensic Science.

Assam Police Admit Card 2025: Heres how to download

Go to the official SLPRB website: slprbassam.in

Click on the "Assam Police Grade 4 PST/TPT Admit Card" link

Enter your login details

Press the "Submit" button

Download and print your admit card for future use

Candidates who have trouble downloading the admit card can call the helpline at 8826762317 or email slprbadmitcard@gmail.com for assistance.
The Supreme Court has canceled the rule of giving reserved seats for postgraduate medical courses based on state domicile, calling it a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. This decision is important because it ensures that admissions to PG medical courses under state quotas will be based only on merit, determined by NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) scores. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti stated that all citizens of India have the right to live anywhere and apply for admission to educational institutions across the country.

The court said, "We are all domiciles of India. There is no separate state domicile. Every Indian citizen has the right to choose where to live and pursue a profession anywhere in the country."

The Constitution allows every citizen to apply for admission to educational institutions anywhere in India. The court said that while states may provide reservations for residents in undergraduate courses, it should not apply to higher studies like postgraduate medical courses. Since specialized doctors are important, giving reservations based on residence at this level would violate Article 14 of the Constitution.

The court clarified that its decision would not affect students who have already received domicile-based reservations or those who have completed their degrees under this system. This case began in 2019 when the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that domicile-based reservations for PG medical courses were unconstitutional. When the case reached the Supreme Court, a two-judge bench agreed but felt the issue was important enough to be decided by a larger three-judge bench.
Tibetan Government-in-Exile President Sikyong Penpa Tsering spoke at the Tezu Dhargyeling Tibetan Settlement on January 27, underlining the strategic and geopolitical importance of the Tibetan Plateau, according to a statement by the Central Tibet Administration (CTA). He expressed concerns over China's proposed mega-dam project on the Brahmaputra River, stating, "It has serious ecological and strategic ramifications for riparian communities," according to the CTA. Highlighting the seismic sensitivity of the Tibetan Plateau, Sikyong warned of the risks posed by large-scale construction in the fragile region. "The recent devastating earthquake in Tibet's Dingri region is a stark reminder of the natural disasters that could follow," he noted. As part of his second round of official visits to Tibetan settlements in West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh, the Sikyong made a significant stop at the Tezu Dhargyeling Settlement, according to the CTA. He met with local dignitaries and officials during his day-long tour and also paid respects to Kyabje Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche. Throughout these interactions, he expressed gratitude for the continued assistance provided to Tibetan residents in the area. His engagements included inspecting projects initiated by the 16th Kashag and visiting all of the settlement's camps, including the site of a new camp that will accommodate several Tibetan families from Tuting. While addressing the public, he discussed both completed and ongoing initiatives under the 16th Kashag and acknowledged the visionary leadership of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. According to the CTA, he highlighted the contributions of earlier generations of Tibetans, who laid the foundation for a thriving exile community and continue to advocate for Tibetan freedoms through the Middle Way Policy. Sikyong concluded his visit by thanking the Indian government and the leadership of Arunachal Pradesh for their unwavering support of the Tibetan community, the CTA noted. He urged Tibetan residents to maintain harmonious relations with the local population and adhere to local laws. (ANI)
Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha attacked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, claiming that large-scale irregularities had taken place in awarding contracts while the opposition leader was holding key portfolios like road construction department (RCD) in the Mahagathbandhan government around 10 years ago.

Sinha, who currently holds the same portfolio, on Tuesday alleged that during the RJD-led government which lasted two years from 2015, excess bills related to certain contracts were paid without verifying the details.

The Mahagthbandhan formed as a result of a short-lived alliance between Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD (U) and RJD headed by Yadavs father Lalu Prasad, had swept the assembly polls of 2015.

Yadav, who had then made an electoral debut was inducted into the cabinet and made the deputy CM, a post he held till Kumars abrupt exit from the alliance in July 2017.

Massive irregularities were committed while awarding contracts of the RCD during that period. RJD leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav was also holding the portfolio of RCD then, Sinha told reporters.

Investigations revealed that an excess payment of Rs 26 crore was paid to a contractor who was engaged in the expansion and strengthening of Gaya-Bhinds-Chamandih-Vazirganj and Tapovan road, he claimed.

A thorough investigation has been ordered into the matter. Those who protected the erring contractor will not be spared, the deputy CM said adding that the process to black-list that contractor was initiated.

RJD leaders are known for their corrupt practices, he alleged.

Responding to the allegation, RJDs Bihar unit spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary claimed that BJP leaders are scared of Tejashwi Yadav.

"The Mahagathbandhan government did a lot of people-friendly works and took major decisions concerning people. The RJD is not scared of any probe. Let them (NDA government) do whatever they want to," Tiwary said.
Days ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress on Wednesday launched its manifesto, pledging a caste census and a dedicated ministry for Purvanchalis if voted to power. The party, which lost its stronghold in 2013 to the AAP, is eyeing a comeback with a range of welfare promises, including a 2,500 monthly grant for women, free electricity up to 300 units, and LPG cylinders at 500.

The Congress manifesto, structured around 22 focus areas, also guarantees free health insurance up to 25 lakh and free ration kits for the needy. Additionally, the party promises 8,500 per month for one year to educated unemployed youth to tackle joblessness in the capital.

To address food security, Congress has pledged to set up 100 Indira canteens across Delhi, offering meals at just 5.

Congress Takes Aim at BJP, AAP Over Pollution

During the manifesto launch, Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav, flanked by Congress communications incharge Jairam Ramesh, criticized both the BJP-led central government and the AAP-led Delhi government over the capitals worsening pollution crisis. Ramesh stated that neither government has taken effective steps to tackle the issue.

With Delhi set to vote on February 5, Congress is positioning itself as a strong contender against AAP and BJP. The results will be announced on February 8, determining if the partys promises can sway voters back into its fold.
Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday announced that the state government will file a case against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal over his controversial remark that poison is being mixed in Yamuna. Goel slammed the statement as irresponsible and accused Kejriwal of trying to create panic among people in Delhi and Haryana.

"Kejriwal has made an irresponsible statement, spreading panic among the people of Delhi and Haryana. The Haryana government is going to get a case registered against him before the CJM Court in Sonipat under the Disaster Management Acts Sections 2 (D) and 54," Goel told reporters.

As per the Act, these provisions apply to anyone making or circulating a false alarm or warning regarding a disasters severity, leading to panic. The Haryana minister also accused Kejriwal of spreading falsehoods about the quality of water being supplied to Delhi.

"What kind of water we give them (to Delhi), all our officers have checked the water being supplied," he asserted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took aim at Kejriwal over his Yamuna remark, calling it a desperate move ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Addressing a rally in Kartar Nagar, Delhi, Modi criticized Kejriwal for making malicious allegations against Haryana.

"A former CM has made malicious allegations against the people of Haryana. 'AAP-da' people have become desperate due to the fear of defeat," Modi said. Questioning Kejriwals claim, the PM pointed out that people of Haryana and Delhi share family ties and common resources.

"Is Haryana different from Delhi? Dont they have children and relatives in Delhi? Will they mix poison for their own people?" he asked. He further stressed that the same water supply reaches the people of Delhi, including diplomats and judges, making Kejriwals accusations baseless.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also dismissed Kejriwals "poison in Yamuna" allegation, calling it a "political stunt" by the AAP to distract voters ahead of the February 5 Delhi polls.

Saini assured that Haryana remains committed to ensuring clean and uninterrupted water supply to Delhi.

The AAP, on the other hand, accused the BJP-led Haryana government of intentionally draining industrial waste into the Yamuna. Kejriwal alleged that the BJP is playing dirty politics and trying to make Delhi residents suffer by contaminating their water supply.

"BJP people in Haryana are mixing poison in the water and sending it to Delhi. If people in Delhi drink this water, many will die. Can anything be more disgusting than this?" Kejriwal had said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also backed Kejriwal, alleging that the BJP is disrupting Delhis water supply as it faces a historic loss in the upcoming elections.

With the Delhi elections on February 5, the political battle over water pollution has taken center stage, fueling tensions between the AAP and BJP. The results on February 8 will determine how voters react to these fiery accusations and counter-accusations.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have uncovered a major interstate drug trafficking network in Srinagar, leading to shocking revelations about a jailed individual in Karnal Prison orchestrating the operation. Based on evidence, including bank transactions and communication records, two key drug suppliersRaju Gupta from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and Mohammad Abrar from Bhajanpura, Delhiwere identified as primary sources of narcotics supplied to local drug peddlers in the Kashmir region.

A Srinagar police team conducted extensive operations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi over 10 days with the assistance of local police. Raju Gupta was apprehended on 23-01-2025 in Bareilly, while Mohammad Abrar was arrested on 24-01-2025 in Bhajanpura. Both suspects were presented before the respective courts, transit remands were obtained, and they are now in police custody.

Additionally, a suspicious courier parcel linked to the accused was identified in Loni, Ghaziabad, and steps are being taken to retrieve it with court approval. The financial transactions and properties of the accused are under scrutiny for potential attachment under the NDPS Act.

"We had arrested three drug peddlers in Srinagar, from whom we recovered a huge quantity of narcotics. A motorcycle was intercepted, leading to the arrest of three drug peddlersAijaz Ahmad Ganie (Athwajan Pantha Chowk), Owais Ahmad Gojri (Brari Pora), and Mir Roman (Ali Masjid Eidgah). During the investigation, we found that this was an interstate drug trafficking module. These drug peddlers were sourcing narcotics from outside the Union Territory, mainly from Uttar Pradesh. We have arrested two major drug dealers from outside Kashmir, who were sending drugs via courier to local peddlers. This is a significant success for us," said Shawkat Ahmad Dar, SP, North, Srinagar City.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police are now investigating the main handler, who is lodged in Karnal Jail. According to the police, he was orchestrating the drug trade from within the prison, directing drug peddlers in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities are continuing their investigation to dismantle the network further.

Jammu and Kashmir Police reaffirm their commitment to dismantling drug networks, ensuring public safety, and bringing all those involved in drug peddling to justice.
Up to 30 people lost their lives, and dozens were injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday. The tragedy occurred as crores of pilgrims crowded the area, striving for space to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Prayagraj DIG Vaibhav Krishna said that a huge crowd gathered on the Akhara Marg before Brahma Muhurta, between 1 am to 2 am and due to the overcrowding, the barricades on the other side broke and the crowd ran over the devotees waiting to take a holy dip of Brahma Muhurta on the other side.

"About 90 people were taken to the hospital through ambulances but unfortunately, 30 devotees have died. Out of these 30, 25 have been identified and the rest are yet to be identified. These include 4 people from Karnataka, 1 from Assam, 1 from Gujarat...36 people are being treated at the local medical college. At present, the situation is normal. Keeping in mind the convenience of the devotees, CM Yogi Adityanath has requested all the Mahamandaleshwar, Saints, Akharas to take a holy dip with some delay...Amrit Snan of the Akharas have been concluded safely," said DIG Krihna.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended their deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their loved ones in the stampede, calling the tragedy extremely heartbreaking.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg. "Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured," he said after a high-level meeting in Lucknow.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede happened due to a sudden rush of pilgrims at the Sangam, as many wanted to take a holy dip at 3 AM, the start of the auspicious hour.

The traditional Amrit Snan of the akharas was delayed after the incident but resumed in the afternoon. By 5 PM, nearly six crore devotees had taken a dip. Around 2 AM, the sound of ambulance and police sirens filled the air, cutting through the continuous chants from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela.

The injured were taken to the central hospital in the Mela area, where their relatives, along with senior officials, also gathered.
The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over the stampede at the Sangam, with Rahul Gandhi saying that mismanagement and administration's special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees were responsible for this tragic incident.

Gandhi also said "VIP culture" should be reined in and the government should make better arrangements to fulfil the needs of common devotees at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Multiple casualties were feared after a stampede broke out at the Sangam on Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, officials said.

In view of the incident, the akharas called off their traditional 'Amrit Snan' for Mauni Amavasya, even as devotees in large numbers continued to take a dip at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the news of "many people losing their lives" and many people getting injured due to the stampede on the banks of the Tirthraj Sangam during the Maha Kumbh is extremely heartbreaking.

"Our deepest condolences to the families of the devotees and we wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.

"Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion and mismanagement are responsible for this. Such arrangements despite spending thousands of crores of rupees are condemnable," the Congress chief said in a post in Hindi on X.

"Many important 'shahi snans' are still left, so the central and state governments should wake up now, and improve the system so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen in future," Kharge said.

"The arrangements for accommodation, food, first aid and movement of devotees etc. should be expanded and VIP movement should be reined in. This is what our saints and sages also want," he said.

Kharge urged Congress workers to help the victims in every possible way.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the news of "many people's death and many getting injured due to stampede in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely saddening".

"I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.

"Mismanagement and administration's special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident," Gandhi said in his post on X.

Noting that there is still a lot of time left for Maha Kumbh with many more Mahasnans to be held, Gandhi said the government should improve the system to prevent a tragic incident like today.

"VIP culture should be reined in and the government should make better arrangements to fulfill the needs of common devotees," Gandhi asserted.

He urged Congress workers and leaders to help the affected families.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed sadness over the incident.

"May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," she said in a post on X.

The devotees visiting the Kumbh area were constantly complaining of the severe chaos but no attention was paid and administrative negligence was observed, she said in a post on her WhatsApp channel.

Priyanka Gandhi appealed to the government to airlift the injured and arrange for their immediate treatment.

"The deceased should be identified and sent to their families and immediate arrangements should be made keeping the convenience of the devotees paramount. The devotees are requested to perform the bath with patience and peace," she said.

"May Maa Ganga protect everyone," she added.

In a post in Hindi on X, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "The death of many devotees in the stampede during Kumbh bath in Prayagraj is very saddening. The kind of crowd that was there and the half-baked arrangements that were put in place, there was always a danger of such an accident happening," Khera said.

Many 'maha snans' are still left, so it is necessary that additional security forces be sent there and the responsibility of management be given to some other better administrator than Yogi Adityanath, Khera said and demanded that the movement of VVIPs be stopped.

Officer on Special Duty for the Mela Akanksha Rana said, "Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam.We are yet to have the exact count of those injured".

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.

This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.

Around 2 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam pierced through the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas echoing from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela area.

Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area. Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.

The Triveni Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati -- is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.
Jalna: The health of activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite hunger strike over Maratha quota demand entered the fifth day on Wednesday, is deteriorating but he has refused to take intravenous fluids, officials said.

BJP MLA Suresh Dhas met Jarange at the protest site at Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district in the morning and urged him to take the intravenous fluids.

Jarange and 104 other activists, including women, have been participating in the hunger strike, launched on January 25 to demand reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

In addition to his quota demand, Jarange has sought capital punishment for those involved in murdering Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, who was abducted, tortured and killed on December 9, 2024.

Police have so far arrested seven persons in that case.

Jarange had some water on Monday night after a request by locals.

On Tuesday also, after a request from Santosh Deshmukh's family, the activist agreed to have water.

However, he has refused to take intravenous fluids despite repeated requests, as per health officials.

District Civil Surgeon Dr R S Patil and a medical team were present at the protest site. They requested Jarange to accept medical intervention, but he refused to budge.

Jarange has been demanding the implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare (blood relatives) of Maratha community members for granting reservation to the latter under the OBC category.

The activist on Saturday expressed hope that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would address the Maratha community's demands, including their inclusion under the OBC category and justice for Deshmukh.

This is his seventh indefinite fast since September 1, 2023, when police lathi-charged protesters at Antarwali Sarati.

In February 2024, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category, but Jarange has been firm on his demand for a quota to the community under the OBC head.
India-Canada Row: In a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a report by Canadas Foreign Interference Committee stated that the inquiry into Hardeep Singh Nijjars murder found no definitive link to any foreign state. Trudeau had accused India of orchestrating the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar on Canadian soil. The Canadian government had also alleged the involvement of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah in the case. India has denied all allegation while asking Canada to present concrete evidence.

Discussing alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections, a public inquiry cautioned against misinformation while acknowledging that some foreign entities attempted to meddle. However, it concluded that the countrys democratic institutions remain strong.

"Disinformation is also used as a retaliatory tactic, to punish decisions that run contrary to a states interests. This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Ministers announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),"

The report claimed that Canada was trying to improve relations with India but the same got derailed after Nijjar's killing.

"Until recently, Canada was trying to improve its bilateral relationship with India. However, the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, coupled with credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and Mr. Nijjars death, derailed those efforts. India has repeatedly denied these allegations," noted the report.

The report also accused China, India, Pakistan and Russia of carrying out foreign interference activities. The Canadian government established the public inquiry in September 2023 to investigate whether China, Russia and other countries interfered in Canadian federal elections in 2019 and 2021 that re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals. India has rejected the report and the allegation of interfering in the Canadian democratic process.
Devotees wearing short skirts or revealing clothes will not be allowed in the famous Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai from next week, as per a dress code announced on Tuesday.

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust (SSGTT) said devotees would have to wear decent and body-covering clothes, preferably decent Indian attire.

Starting next week, devotees wearing revealing or inappropriate attire will not be allowed to enter the temple situated in the Prabhadevi area, the SSGTT said.

The Trust said the dress code decision followed several complaints regarding inappropriate clothing causing discomfort to other devotees.

"Devotees wearing trousers with cuts or torn fabric, short skirts, or clothing that exposes body parts will not be permitted inside the temple," the order stated.

The Trust said the temple attracts thousands of devotees daily from across the country and that many visitors had expressed concerns about attire that they felt was disrespectful in a place of worship.

"After receiving repeated requests, the temple trust decided to implement the dress code to preserve the sanctity of the temple," it said.

The Trust clarified that the dress code is being introduced to ensure that all devotees feel comfortable during their visit and to maintain decorum within the temple premises.
Guwahati: Snakebites remain a major public health concern in Assam and often lead to fatalities due to delayed medical intervention and lack of awareness on proper first-aid measures, experts said on Tuesday.

Dr. Surajit Giri, who is a specialist in snakebite treatment in Assam, said that on average there are around 35, 000 snakebite cases per year.

Assams Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) Director Sonali Ghosh quoting government data told IANS that in 2024 there were around 11,000 snake bites and 36 deaths.

A two-day capacity-building workshop on ethical snake rescue and snake bite prevention, held on January 27-28 at the Kohora Convention Centre in KNPTR.

The event saw the active participation of 43 nature enthusiasts and forest officials from eight districts -- Kaziranga, Nagaon, Biswanath, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Assam Forest Department, Help Earth, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, and the Zoological Society of Assam.

Sonali Ghosh said that this initiative represents a critical step toward developing a well-trained and informed network of nature enthusiasts and frontline forest personnel in Assam.

Assam, with its rich biodiversity, is home to numerous snake species, including the King Cobra (Roja Feti), Monocled Cobra (ChokoriFeti), Banded Krait (Goala sap), various species of pit vipers, some of which are highly venomous and contribute to the regions snake bite-related fatalities, she said.

The KNPTR Director said that the state witnesses a high number of human-snake encounters, particularly during the four-month (June-September) long monsoon season when rising floodwaters force snakes to seek shelter in human settlements.

Snakebite remains a major public health concern, often leading to fatalities due to delayed medical intervention and lack of awareness on proper first-aid measures, the senior IFS officer said.

The core resource person for the workshop was Gnaneswar Ch, Project Leader for Snakebite Mitigation at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBT).

His sessions provided in-depth training on advanced techniques in safe snake rescue handling, effective first-aid measures for snakebites, community engagement strategies to reduce human-snake conflict, conservation ethics and rehabilitation techniques.

Ghosh said that participants engaged in interactive sessions and practical demonstrations, gaining hands-on experience with safe snake rescue methods and learning effective ways to respond to snakebite incidents.

One of the highlights of the program was the distribution of snake rescue kits, ensuring that trained rescuers are well-equipped to carry out their work efficiently.

The official said that the success of this workshop reaffirms the collective commitment to reducing snakebite mortality, promoting conservation, and fostering human-snake coexistence.

The organisers expressed their hope that such capacity-building efforts would empower local rescuers and forest personnel to address snake-related challenges more effectively. With continued training, awareness, and collaboration, Assam can move toward a future where both humans and snakes can thrive in harmony, the KNPTR) Director said.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024, which seek to establish a digital economy, society, and governance, were adopted by the upper house on Tuesday despite protests from the opposition benches according to a report by Geo News. The Senate also approved the revisions on Wednesday after it was already passed in the National Assembly. The changes are intended to tighten the noose around people who spread false information and fake news on social media, the government said according to Geo News. The journalism community staged nationwide demonstrations against the "controversial" Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Tuesday. After labelling the PECA law "controversial" due to "lack of clarity" in several legal elements, including the term "fake news," the journalist organisation joined forces in nationwide protests against controversial changes to the law, Geo News reported. Media professionals worry that the altered law may affect press freedom and be used to target them as well. The media community was also incensed at the current administration for enacting the modifications without seeking their input or taking them seriously. Geo News reported that many journalists, attorneys, and members of civil society took part in the agitation organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) outside the National Press Club in Islamabad yesterday, as protests spread throughout the nation's major towns. While chanting anti-PECA Act slogans at the rally, the journalists were observed protesting by wearing chains as per a report by Geo News. Once the protesters arrived near D-Chowk, the rally took the form of a sit-in. Speaking to the participants, the president of PFUJ made it clear that while they did not oppose rules, no one would be permitted to undermine the nation's freedom of expression. Geo News reported that barbed wire was put up and large police contingents were sent to D-Chowk in an attempt to halt the demonstrators' movement. Journalists attempted to break through police-erected obstacles to continue their march but were injured when they attempted to remove the barbed wire. The PFUJ leader was also prevented from leading the march to the Red Zone, where he was tried to be detained by some police officers. Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, addressing the protest rally, said, "This is the beginning of a historical struggle against a civilian martial law as the first attack was carried out on the judiciary and the second on media." Expressing outrage over the PECA tweaks, he claimed that digital media has been targeted since 2016 and slammed the rulers, saying: "Fake news is not an issue but the actual issue is reporting news" as quoted by Geo News. Abbas further said that some state elements wanted to keep journalism under their control and warned stakeholders not to compromise on the new tweaks, "otherwise, everyone would be controlled". The senior journalist was of the view that if the government was serious about devising new regulations, then it would have to be passed by consensus [of all stakeholders] as cited by Geo News. (ANI)
Mahakumbh Stampede: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday addressed the media after stampede-like situation near Sangam Nose area at MahaKumbh. Yogi issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Mela to follow the guidelines and cooperate with the authorities. He also urged everyone to not pay attention to any kind of rumour.

CM Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to use the nearest designated Ganga ghats for bathing instead of attempting to reach the Sangam Nose area.

"There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety, he said.

Yogi urged devotees at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj to remain calm and not fall for rumours following a stampede-like situation in the area.

In an appeal posted on social media platform X, the Chief Minister advised pilgrims to bathe only at designated ghats and avoid crowding near the Sangam Nose. "Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours," he wrote.

The appeal came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Chief Minister regarding the situation and called for immediate support measures. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reached out to Adityanath, assuring him of full assistance from the Centre.

Additionally, Union Health Minister JP Nadda discussed the incident with the Chief Minister and pledged complete support, including the deployment of volunteers and health services, to ensure effective management of the situation.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered his deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, describing the tragedy as extremely saddening.

In a post on X, he said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

He said, "I have been speaking to Chief Minister Yogi ji and am in constant touch with the state government."

A stampede broke out at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Several casualties are feared.

The incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg, Adityanath said.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday expressed grief over several people being injured in a stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and underlined the need for enhanced surveillance at the event.

Multiple casualties were feared after the stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on 'Mauni Amavasya', the most significant ritual at the Maha Kumbh.

This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day. The 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya' is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.

"The news of casualties of devotees in the mismanagement accident in Maha Kumbh is very sad," Yadav said in a post on X.

The former chief minister called on the Uttar Pradesh government to take immediate action to support the injured and prevent further chaos.

He said air ambulances should be deployed to transport those seriously injured and called for "swift arrangements to identify the deceased and return their bodies to their families".

Yadav emphasised the need for enhanced surveillance at the event, particularly through helicopters, to maintain order and security.

He also appealed to devotees to remain patient and calm during this difficult time and asked the government to learn from the incident to improve future arrangements for pilgrims.

According to Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty for the Mela, a barrier in the Sangam area collapsed, injuring many people.
Bengaluru: The Union government has halted the proposed fare hike for Namma Metro, deeming the suggested 40-45 per cent increase as "too high", according to Bangalore Central MP, PC Mohan. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had proposed a 45% metro fare hike, set for Feb 1, which now has been put on hold.

Bangalore Central MP, PC Mohan said in a social media post that putting a Namma Metro fare hike on hold is a big win for the people of Bengaluru. He said, ""BMRCLs proposed 45% metro fare hike, set for Feb 1, has been put on hold."

Adding to that, he said, "The Modi government has directed BMRCL to submit a comprehensive report before making any decision. A big win for the people of Bengaluruensuring transparency, accountability, and fair metro pricing."

BMRCLs proposed 45% metro fare hike, set for Feb 1, has been put on hold. The Modi government has directed BMRCL to submit a comprehensive report before making any decision. A big win for the people of Bengaluruensuring transparency, accountability, and fair metro pricing. pic.twitter.com/5LBJT70mX2  P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) January 29, 2025

Currently, Bengaluru metro fares range between Rs 10 and Rs 60, and with the proposed hike, the maximum fare could have gone up to Rs 85, making it a financial burden on daily commuters. This has been put on a temporary halt.

According to several media reports, currently, BMRCL generates approximately Rs 2 crore in daily revenue from metro operations. An additional income of around Rs 80 lakh or more was expected from the proposed fare hike, depending on passenger numbers.
New Delhi:mAfter her remarkable debut in 12th Fail, Medha Shankar has wrapped up shooting for her next film, marking an exciting new chapter in her career. In this untitled project, she stars alongside Sunny Kaushal for the first time, bringing fresh on-screen chemistry.

Produced by Laxman Utekar, the film is a quirky comedy that introduces a unique pairing, offering a fun and engaging story that promises to stand out in the genre.

The film was shot in the picturesque city of Bikaner, Medha wrapped up her scenes earlier this week, and this role signifies a significant shift in her career, as she takes on an urban character, which is a departure from her previous performances.

With a captivating storyline and a talented cast, Medha's journey in the industry is becoming more exciting with each project. This new venture adds to the growing anticipation around her future works, as fans eagerly await her next film.

In addition to her current project, Medha is set to star in the action-packed film Maalik alongside Rajkummar Rao.

According to Mid-Day report, The film is expected to be shot in Lucknow and Varanasi, and Medha will be portraying a soft, intelligent, and sensitive character.

The films promising premise has already generated buzz, with fans eagerly awaiting more details about both of her upcoming films.
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, currently in Dubai for an event hosted by DAMAC Properties, once again proved why he is the King of Wit and Charm. During the fan interaction, SRK entertained the audience with his signature pose, iconic dialogues, and candid responses.

One fan, overwhelmed with excitement, expressed his love for the actor, to which Shah Rukh humorously replied, I know, I also love you. We can marry after this. The moment, however, that caught everyones attention was when another fan openly said, I want to touch you.

SRK in a hilarious moment with a fan: Arre aise thodina bolte hai publically, Meko bhi sharam aati hai! And then, Abhi yahi hu mai, abhi kahi nahi jaa raha iamsrk DAMACOfficial ShahRukhKhan SRK DamacProperties KingKhan Dubai King pictwitter.comVuqEg7lP4u  Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 28, 2025

Shah Rukh, in his classic witty style, responded, Arre aise thode na bolte hai publicly (who says like this publicly)? I want to touch you, touch you, touch you. Mereko bhi sharam aati hai. Aise thode na publicly koi bolega Abhi hoon main yahi pe hoon, jaa nahi raha hoon (Even I feel shy. Who says this publicly? I am right here, I am not going anywhere).

The playful exchange left fans in splits, once again proving SRKs effortless ability to engage and entertain his admirers. His Dubai visit has already been making waves, with multiple viral videos and pictures from the event circulating on social media.
The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an important update regarding ration cards, urging beneficiaries to complete their e-KYC before the approaching deadline. The Food and Supply Department has set February 15, 2025, as the final date for ration card holders to complete the e-KYC process. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the discontinuation of free ration benefits. The Food and Logistics Department has already extended the deadline three times. Initially set for December 31, 2024, it was later pushed to February, following two prior extensions.

With the deadline fast approaching, ration card holders must complete their e-KYC at the earliest to avoid disruptions in receiving free rice and wheat. As per the reports, once the deadline passes, new ration cards will be issued. In Gorakhpur itself, approximately 6.62 lakh ration card units have yet to complete the process.

Uttar Pradesh residents living in other states can also complete their e-KYC using their ration card number. If any member of a ration card fails to complete the verification, their name will be removed, leading to a reduction in the allocated ration.

In Etawah district, nearly 4 lakh people have yet to complete their e-KYC. Those failing to meet the deadline will be ineligible for ration distribution. The e-KYC process, aimed at verifying beneficiary identities and eliminating fake ration cards, can be completed online from home or at a ration dealer's office.

To complete e-KYC, beneficiaries need to provide documents such as a Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card (optional), Voter ID (optional), Passport (optional), and Bank Passbook. This verification ensures that only eligible individuals continue receiving benefits. If a ration card is found to be fraudulent, it will be canceled. Beneficiaries can check their ration card status online or visit their designated ration shop. Those facing difficulties with the e-KYC process can seek assistance from the concerned authorities.
New Delhi: In todays fast-paced world, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become an essential part of our daily lives. From paying for a cup of coffee to handling bigger transactions like online shopping or even paying rides, UPI is our go-to solution for instant payments. These IDs are usually a mix of letters and numbers, but occasionally, you might spot some special characters thrown in.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that starting February 1, the central system will reject any transactions that include special characters. NPCI, which is backed by the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Banks' Association, oversees retail payment and settlement systems across the country. It operates the UPI, which enables instant payments between individuals or for purchases at merchant locations.

The January 9 circular advised all UPI system participants to generate transaction IDs using only alphanumeric characters to meet UPIs technical standards. While the issue has mostly been addressed, some participants are still not in compliance. NPCI, to ensure full adherence to the specifications decided that UPI transaction IDs will no longer be allowed to contain special characters.

Transactions with IDs that include special characters will be rejected by the central system. All parties involved are advised to be aware of this and ensure they follow the guidelines. Notably, UPI payments have grown rapidly in recent years especially after the 2016 demonetisation.

Recent data reveals that UPI transactions reached a new high of 16.73 billion in December 2024, marking an 8 per cent increase from November's 15.48 billion transactions. In terms of value, December saw Rs 23.25 lakh crore, up from Rs 21.55 lakh crore in November.

NPCI addressed recent media reports about a new online fraud called the Jumped Deposit Scam, stating, "In light of recent media reports concerning a new online fraud called Jumped Deposit Scam, we have observed certain inaccuracies and technical discrepancies in these descriptions, that has led to unnecessary panic and confusion among users about the UPI platform."
Abu Dhabi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed ways to enhance and develop bilateral ties.

Jaishankar, who arrived in the UAE on Monday on a three-day visit, recalled the crown prince's visit to India during the meeting.

"Pleased to meet Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Recalled his recent visit to India and discussed further advancement of partnership," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the friendship and cooperation between the UAE and India, and explored ways to further enhance and develop them to serve the common interests of both countries and their peoples, the state-run WAM news agency reported.

They also discussed the strategic partnership and relations between the two countries and their role in driving comprehensive and sustainable development across vital sectors in both nations, the agency added.

Jaishankar also met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Honoured to call on HH @MohamedBinZayed. Conveyed warm greetings of PM @narendramodi," he said in a post on X.

"Discussed the continued progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Value his guidance for its future growth," he said.

Earlier in the morning, Jaishankar met Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, and discussed the special partnership between India and UAE and its further progress.

He also delivered the keynote address at the inaugural session of Raisina Middle East.

"The visit will provide an opportunity to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and add new momentum to the India-UAE relationship," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement ahead of his visit.
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington next week at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.

Trump has invited Netanyahu to "a meeting at the White House on February 4," said the statement.

The meeting is expected to focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported.

Under the deal, a six-week ceasefire started on January 19 during the first phase. By the 16th day of this ceasefire, talks will commence on subsequent phases aimed at addressing the release of remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

Netanyahu has been under political pressure from key members of his far-right coalition government to resume Gaza fighting after the first phase of the deal, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Kan, the White House has prepared an incentive package to encourage Netanyahu to proceed with the deal.

The package reportedly includes sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu in late November last year for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" during the Gaza conflict.

Earlier the Israeli government announced that Hamas will release six hostages this week while Israel will allow Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes in the northern region.

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, Following vigorous and determined negotiations led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas has backtracked and will carry out an additional phase of releasing hostages this Thursday.
As Nepal is observing Martyrs' Day today, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli paid homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democracy and the republican system in the country at the Sahid Gate, a commemorative site in Kathmandu, since the overthrow of monarchy in the nation. Prime Minister Oli along with the council of ministers laid wreaths at the statues of those who sacrificed their lives for democracy and the establishment of the republic. Nepal on Wednesday is observing Martyrs' Day across the country with various programs held in remembrance of those who fought for democracy and freedom in different historical periods. The occasion has been marked annually since January 1951. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister, ministers, members of parliament from various political parties, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, heads of security agencies, and the Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City also paid their respects to those who sacrificied their lives for democracy and establishment of the republic. Prime Minister, ministers, high-ranking government officials, people's representatives, members of the security forces and the March Past team paid their respects to the martyrs at the Martyrs' Memorial next to the Army Pavilion in Kathmandu. Celebrated every year on Magh 16 (End of January), Nepal marks the day with various programs in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment and restoration of democracy and freedom. The Day is observed by remembering the struggling life and devotion of Shukra Raj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand and Ganga Lal Shrestha as well as the contributions of those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democracy in the country. A week-long Martyrs' Week also was observed in memory of people who sacrificed their lives against the then-Rana regime. The Rana rulers back then had executed Shukra Raj Shastri in Teku-based Pachali, Dharma Bhakta Mathema at Sifal and Ganga Lal Shrestha and Dasarath Chand at Shobha Bhagawati within a week while demanding independence. (ANI)
Washington: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized nearly 70,000 prescription pills worth USD 33,000 from a shipment of yarn from India.

The shipment was destined for an address in Buena Park, California, CBP officials said.

The pills, labelled Zolpidem Tartrate, are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule IV controlled substance and belong to a class of medications called sedative-hypnotics. It is prescribed by doctors to treat insomnia.

CBP officers examined the shipment of 96 rolls of black yarn at an air cargo warehouse near Washington Dulles Airport on December 17.

They discovered a combined 69,813 pills concealed inside each of the 96 spools of black yarn. The pills had a domestic value of about USD 33,000, a media release said.

This is a very bold attempt to smuggle a significant amount of prescription medicine into the United States, but this creative concealment method failed to fool Customs and Border Protection officers, said Christine Waugh, CBP's Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, DC.
Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar on Wednesday expressed his condolences and support following the tragic mishap at Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela. In a post on X, the envoy expressed support and wished for a speedy recovery to those injured in the "tragic incident" today morning. He also extended his best wishes to the authorities. "On the most sacred day of the 144-year Kumbh Mela, we were saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Prayagraj #Mahakumbh. Our thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. Wishing the best of success to the authorities working on the ground. @myogiadityanath @UPGovt," the envoy said on X. https://x.com/reuvenazar/status/1884533308597404134?s=46&t=TbrKHKgG29uXA1CMFN38Pw A stampede-like situation arose at Mahakumbh in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several injuries. This incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which is also the day of the Second Shahi Snan. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu also expressed sadness over the mishap at Mahakumbh. "The stampede incident at Prayagraj Mahakumbh is extremely sad. I express my condolences to the families of the injured devotees and pray to God that all the injured devotees recover soon," Murmu said in a post on X. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. "The accident that happened in the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the guidance of the Chief Minister @myogiadityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government and the local administration are providing all possible help to the victims," Rajnath Singh said in a post on X. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has accused the government of deliberately avoiding dialogue and ignoring the party's demand for the establishment of a judicial commission, The Express Tribune reported. Speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi Kacheri on Wednesday, he stated that PTI had formally requested the government to establish a judicial commission to address their key concerns. However, the government did not respond to their demand. He said, "They did not want talks to take place or lead to a resolution." He accused the authorities of deliberately delaying the talks. He claimed, "We presented our demands, but the government took no serious steps. If they were sincere, they would have provided a timely response." Gohar Ali Khan added that officials had promised to respond by January 28 in a committee room. However, he stated that PTI was not given details regarding the decision in advance. He emphasized that the Imran Khan-founded party initiated the dialogue process despite facing political pressure. PTI chairman added, "Our leader, Imran Khan, remains our chairman today and will continue to be in the future," The Express Tribune reported. He further noted that PTI's only point of contact had been with the Army chief and denied meeting anyone else during the negotiations. Speaking on legal matters, Gohar Ali Khan mentioned that their case was presented before Acting Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who scheduled the next hearing. He expressed hope that a permanent judge would soon be appointed so the process could move forward. He added that senior PTI leader Latif Khosa had drafted a strong legal case. Gohar Ali Khan made the remarks after appearing in court with PTI lawyers regarding a private complaint related to PTI's protest on November 26. The case remains under judicial review, according to The Express Tribune report. The government, on Tuesday, kept the door open for dialogue with the opposition despite PTI's announcement that the talks had ended as the party skipped the fourth round of dialogue on Tuesday. Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had invited PTI and government representatives for the fourth round of talks on Tuesday. However, PTI did not attend the meeting. Later, the Pakistan government announced that its negotiation committee would wait until January 31, and if PTI changes its decision to end the talks, the process could restart. Talks between the government and the opposition began in December to address political tensions. Since then, the two sides have met thrice. (ANI)
SRH Fahmi has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Togo, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. SRH Fahmi is presently the Director in the Ministry and will take up the assignment shortly, the MEA said. "Shri S.R.H. Fahmi (YOA: 2008), presently Director in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Togolese Republic", MEA said in a statement. It further added, "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly". India and Togo have cordial bilateral relations. India recognized the Togolese Republic since it attained Independence in 1960. As per the MEA, Togo opened its Embassy in New Delhi in 2010 and since then is headed by a Charge d'Affaires. India opened its Embassy in Togo on September 3, 2020. Notably, Togo signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and at the joint invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron, President Faure Gnassingbe participated in the International Solar Alliance Founding Conference held in New Delhi on 11 March 2018. The Togolese President had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. As per the MEA, India is among the top trading partners of Togo. Togo is one of the beneficiaries of the Duty- Free Trade Preference scheme. India has time and again extended aid to Togo. According to the MEA, India has extended five Lines of Credit (LOCs) worth around USD 150 million bilaterally to Togo for various projects. Some of these are the Rural Electrification Project in 2011, Farming and cultivation of rice, maize and sorghum in 2012, Rural Electrification to cover 150 localities in 2016, setting-up of 161 KV power transmission line in 2016; and project to support electrification of 350 villages through deployment of solar photovoltaic systems in June 2021. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hailed Indian diaspora in Japan, referring to them as "sugar in milk," and hailed their hard work and achievements while saying that they enrich whichever place they go to. In his interaction with diaspora members on Wednesday, MP CM Yadav said, "Indians are like sugar in milk. They add sweetness and mix seamlessly wherever they go. We connect with the feeling of welfare in whichever country Indians go". "You have found a way a made a path. The future generations will benefit from what you have created," he added. He brought to attention the significant changes which have come in India in the last 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted that during his visits now, people become very happy and festive. The Madhya Pradesh CM further highlighted PM Modi's vision for the country and said India wants to progress as a 'Vishwaguru' in the world. He said that just like how a "guru" lights the path, the diaspora is present in the "country of sun", referring to Japan. Highlighting similarities between India and Japan, CM Yadav said that it is through these similarities and culture that India and Japan find each other closer. Drawing comparisons with the previous regimes, Mohan Yadav said while Madhya Pradesh had only 5 medical colleges under Congress, in 20 years of BJP government, the rise has risen to 30, and will further reach 50. "We had 5 medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh when Congress was in power in the state. In 20 years of the BJP government, the number of medical colleges increased to 30. In the next two years, this will increase to 50 medical colleges... This is the same case in all the sectors... We have to utilise PM Narendra Modi's leadership... No matter which government is in power, our country should progress," Yadav added. Notably, this is the first official tour by a Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister to Japan. CM Yadav also met with Yasushi Furukawa, Japan's State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, and discussed promoting tourism between Japan and Madhya Pradesh, and enhancing the rich heritage. "Tokyo, Japan: At the Office of the State Minister, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, I had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Yasushi Furukawa, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, where we discussed the vast potential of Tourism, Infrastructure, and Land bank in Madhya Pradesh. As the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh is one of the leading states in tourism. In this regard, we emphasized the importance of promoting tourism between Japan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as enhancing the rich heritage of both nation," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/DrMohanYadav51/status/1884523829818802253 MP CM Yadav has engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors during his visit to Japan. (ANI)
The summit held under the theme, "Lighting Africa: The Transformative Power of Mission 300," was organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, in cooperation with the African Union.

The summit aims to advance the "Mission 300" initiative and provide energy to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, contributing to overcoming the energy crisis that currently affects approximately 600 million people across the continent.

This year's edition included several sessions and workshops featuring heads of state, ministers, regional and international banks, and global partners addressing the necessary solutions to achieve safe and reliable access to energy.

On the sidelines of the summit, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan held bilateral meetings with President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania; President William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamudof the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The UAE's participation reflects the country's commitment toward strengthening international cooperation and partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals and expand energy access to the African continent. (ANI/WAM)
Nepali Hindu devotees undergoing the arduous fasting of 'Swosthani Brata' made their first stop-over pilgrimage commonly called "Pardes Yatra" at Pashupati on Wednesday. Dozens of Hindu women performed ritualistic bathing and worship sitting on the hay straws on the embankments of the holy Bagmati River that flows through the Pashupati Area. The chants of "Madhav Narayan" along with "Swosthani Mai ki Jai", and "Jai Sambhoo" echoed around the Pashupati Area from early hours as the masses took part in the rituals. Fasting devotees have travelled about 13.5 kilometres on foot to reach the Pashupatinath Temple as part of their first "Pardes Yatra" which comes as a part of a ritual performed while undergoing a month-long arduous Swasthani Brata (fasting). "The devotees tour around the Pashupatinath, Shesh Narayan, Dakshinkali, Panauti and Changu Narayan throughout the month. It has been followed since ages that the devotees have to go around these places which has been continued till now," Bikash Man Singh, Chairman of Madhav Narayan Brata Managing Committee told ANI. As per the followed tradition, women undertaking the month-long Swosthani Brata travel to Narayan and Shiva temples inside and in other districts adjoining Kathmandu in groups. Following the age-old tradition, the devotees on the 15th day since the fast start of the 'Pardes Yatra' reach Pashupatinath from Salinadi on foot without wearing slippers or shoes. The fasting devotees bare-footed reach Bajrayogini, Pashupatinath, Shesha Narayan of Pharping, Panauti and Changunarayan performing rituals. Devotees who take on fast for a month don't eat foods cooked by others which also exclude salt and other spices. They only eat rice, beaten rice, sugar, ghee, sugar candy, molasses, spinach from Patan, and peas among those considered sacred. The annual ritual of Swosthani Brata Katha starts from the full moon day of Poush (9th Month of the Lunar Calendar) starting the recitation of the religious sermons. The book of Swosthani mainly tells the story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati which is described in Skandha Purana, belonging to the Hindu Secondary Scripture. It also has directives which state about the do's and don'ts to be followed while undertaking a month-long fast that has been followed in the long run. Goddess Swosthani is worshipped throughout the month with priests and devotees taking on fasting along with those who aren't taking fast reciting tales of Swosthani Devi, Lord Shiva and other gods. Hindus in Nepal read one chapter a day of 31 chaptered religious books which comprise stories including tales about the creation of the world, Hindu deities and demons. The scripture also has a section which states about the start of taking on the fast which brought in prosperity and happiness and mentions Salinadi which also is the reason for people to flock to a particular place to take on the fast. Religious sermons recited for a month also mention that Goddess Parbati prayed to Goddess Swosthani to become Lord Shiva's wife because of which unmarried females also take on the fast praying to get a suitable groom. The married one on the other hand prays for the well-being and progress of their spouse and children. In case of illness/injury within the period of fasting, devotees are not subjected to medical assistance and should be cured by natural process. Even if the leg is injured during the journey, ointment or other medicine should not be used. That is why this fast is considered one of the toughest fast practices. This hard penance by the devotees indeed results in the fulfilment of their wishes and desires. The month-long ritual ends with immersing all the offerings made to the goddess into the river. (ANI)
The Korean Cultural Centre India celebrated 'Seollal', the Korean Lunar New Year, with a vibrant cultural event at its centre in New Delhi on Wednesday. The celebration brought together 80 Korean language learners from ASN Senior Secondary School in Mayur Vihar. Seollal, one of South Korea's most significant traditional festivals, marks the first day of the Korean lunar calendar and is a time for reflection, renewal, and New Year's greetings. The event hosted at the Korean Cultural Centre India was designed to recreate the authentic experiences typically enjoyed in Korea during the Lunar New Year. The event allowed participants to fully immerse themselves in Korean traditions. The day's activities featured Yutnori, a traditional Korean board game, and Phalssireum, an exciting arm-wrestling competition, a press release by the Korean Culture Centre noted. As many as seven students were adjudged the winners in their respective games and were given a traditional Korean bookmark as a gift. Besides the exciting games, the students also learned about key customs of Seollal, including Sebae - a deep bow of respect to elders, accompanied by New Year's greetings. The students also enjoyed eating Tteokguk, a rice cake soup, that is a special festival dish prepared on Seollal. Tteokguk, which consists of broth and white 'tteok' (rice cakes), symbolises purity and new beginnings. It is a traditional Korean dish served during Seollal and it holds deep cultural and symbolic significance. Eating Tteokguk on Seollal is believed to signify a fresh start to the new year. It represents cleansing oneself of negative energy and starting anew with a clean slate. Tteokguk is not just a meal but a meaningful tradition that captures the essence of Korean culture, history, and values. Traditionally, Koreans say that a person "grows a year older" after eating Tteokguk on Seollal. This is tied to the traditional Korean age system, where a person's age increases not on their birthday but at the start of the Lunar New Year, the release by the Korean Culture Centre noted. Amid all the cultural extravaganza, the highlight of this year's Seollal celebrations at the Korean Cultural Centre India was the enactment by Indian artists of a Korean folktale - Heungbu and Nolbu. The folktale narrates the story of two brothers with contrasting personalities and highlights the values of kindness, compassion, and the rewards of virtuous behavior. This is an old Korean folktale with no exact date of when it was written and by whom it was written. But it is believed to have been passed on from one generation to another over several hundreds of years in Korea. It is now told as a popular bedtime story to Korean children, the release observed. Medhansh Mehta, a student of class 6C at ASN Senior Secondary School said, "I found the play to be amazing and the actors were really good and brought their character to life on the stage. In the beginning, what happened to the younger brother was very cruel, but in the end the result was good for everyone, and they all lived happily ever after. The message of the play was that we should not be greedy and that we should treat our younger brother and everyone else very nicely." Theatre artist Imran Khan, who played the lead character of Heungbu, said, "Heungbu and Nolbu is one of the most famous story from Korea. This is a story that is narrated to all the children in the country. The main reason for this is that the content of the story is incredible. There is a positive takeaway from it for every child who watches this play. This story is fun and it speaks about friendship, greed, and about relationships." Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in India, said, "I hope that this Lunar New Year event, which was specially planned for local secondary school students in India, will help the students feel more familiar with Korean culture. With the popularity of K-pop and Korean dramas, interest in experiencing Korean culture in depth is also increasing in India. This year, we planned to hold a unique event so that Indian students can experience Korean culture in various ways", the release noted. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 29 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today welcomed Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, who is on an official visit to the UAE. During their meeting at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, UAE President and the Hungarian Prime Minister discussed the growth of bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, investment, and development sectors, as well as technology, infrastructure and renewable energy. Their discussions focused on fostering sustainable development in both countries and meeting the aspirations of their peoples for continued progress and prosperity. He reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and renewable energy, among others that contribute to the development of both nations. He highlighted the important role played by the UAE-Hungary Joint Economic Committee and the Political Consultations Committee in enhancing these relations and reiterated the UAE's commitment to working together to expand cooperation across various sectors. The Hungarian Prime Minister thanked UAE President for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Hungary's strong commitment to strengthening ties with the UAE, highlighting the shared goal of fostering economic growth and prosperity in both countries. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Viktor Orban also witnessed the announcement of memoranda of understanding and agreements in various fields, including education, investment, and renewable energy development, aimed at broadening the scope of cooperation. The MoUs were exchanged by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The meeting was attended by The meeting was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of Education;Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State; Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office; Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs; Mohamed Al Abbar, Chairman of Eagle Hills; and Saud Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Hungary. The meeting was also attended by the delegation accompanying the Hungarian Prime Minister which included several ministers and senior officials. (ANI/WAM)
"Air India will operate 5x weekly to Tel Aviv, using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft that offers 18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious, cushioned seats in Economy Class," the statement added.

Bookings for flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv are open on all channels, including Air India's website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Air India's decision to resume operations on the Delhi-Tel Aviv route follows the requisite approvals, it said.

The airlines had suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after the Hamas group's attack on the Israeli on October 7, 2023.

The service was briefly resumed in March 2024 but in August it was again suspended amid tensions between Israel and Iran. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 29 (ANI/WAM): The UAE has been at the forefront of global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) for 35 years, a commitment that began in 1990 when the UAE's Founding Father, the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, donated USD 5.77 million to The Carter Centre in support of efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease. The UAE will participate tomorrow in marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, an initiative officially recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 following diplomatic efforts led by the UAE in partnership with its global allies. The day was first announced at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum in Abu Dhabi in 2019. A significant milestone in global NTD efforts was the establishment of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund in 2017, an initiative launched by President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The fund was expanded during COP28, hosted by the UAE in December 2023, increasing its budget from USD 100 million to USD 500 million. This expansion aims to extend its reach from seven countries to 39 across Africa and Yemen. Simon Bland, CEO of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), highlighted that NTDs affect over one billion people worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated efforts to accelerate their eradication. He reaffirmed GLIDE's commitment to building partnerships, enhancing capabilities, and expanding knowledge to drive these efforts. Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Deputy CEO of GLIDE, emphasised that the Abu Dhabi-based institute is proud to build on the UAE's legacy in spearheading global health initiatives, contributing to the well-being of billions worldwide, including efforts to eliminate NTDs. She stressed that eradicating these diseases is a moral duty, achievable through collective action by nations and communities, aligning with the UAE's designation of 2025 as the "Year of Community." The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set ambitious targets for NTD control, aiming to reduce the number of people requiring treatment by 90 per cent by 2030, decrease disability-adjusted life years related to NTDs by 75 percent, and ensure that 100 countries eliminate at least one NTD, with two diseases eradicated globally. NTDs comprise a group of 21 diseases affecting over 1.6 billion people worldwide, causing severe health challenges, disabilities, and, in some cases, blindness. These diseases pose long-term physical, economic, and social risks to affected populations. (ANI/WAM)
Deutsche Welle Director General, Peter Limbourg, stressed the importance of fact-based information is important for media houses and how technological advancements are a challenge for the media throughout the world and said everyone should hold dialogue and learn from each other. Speaking to ANI at a session organised on the theme 'Changing world situation and challenges to Western Media' in New Delhi. Explaining the theme of the session, the DW Director General said, "For international media, I think it is important that they always have their eyes and mind open when they know that there are a lot of perspectives in the world. Not only the European perspective is important but also the perspective from India. We should learn from each other and what we need to do is better listen to audiences, what they think, what they like and what they might find disturbing about International Media. It is important to have this dialogue." Limbourg further emphasised on importance of having dialogue and how India is an influence on the world. "I am not going around saying that we should teach somebody or a country or a media outlet. You are very close to things which are very important for the audiences and users. What we can contribute is another perspective and more information about the world and I think this is already enough to reach our audience within India and not to teach others what they should think or do," he said. He, however, also expressed concern towards Artificial Intelligence and social media spreading disinformation being a challenge for the media outlets all over the world. "The change in technology is a challenge for every media when it comes to AI, it will be revolution for every media house and there is also digitalisation which was already a challenge for every media house so I think that technology question is not the one which is different between medias in the Global South or International Media, it is other topics," he said. "People speak out, people can get their message out but it has been misused and being misused for disinformation, propaganda and hate speech. This is a trend where we all must be careful in dealing with it and on the other hand it is also chance for traditional media or International Media if they do the job well and if we can gain trust," he further added. Also while citing how facts play an important role for media and news in this era of social media, he said, "Social media is driven by emotions and not by facts. Facts can be there but social media function by emotions. With polarization, fact-driven media has more difficulties than before. We cannot only live with emotions and polarization, they need facts to be better informed." (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his happiness in meeting investors in Japan and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that under his guidance, the "country is blooming." Notably, this is the first official visit by a Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister to Japan. Speaking to ANI, he said, "I am happy to meet the investors here in Japan... Under the leadership of PM Modi, the country is blooming... All the CMs from the different states are taking inspiration from PM Modi and increasing investments in their state..." He also interacted with Indian diaspora members, referring to them as "sugar in milk," and hailed their hard work and achievements while saying that they enrich whichever place they go to. He also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, referring to them as "sugar in milk," and hailed their hard work and achievements, adding that they enrich whichever place they go to. "You have found a way a made a path. The future generations will benefit from what you have created," he added. The Madhya Pradesh CM further highlighted PM Modi's vision for the country, saying India aims to progress as a 'Vishwaguru' in the world. He explained that just like a "guru" lights the path, the diaspora is present in the "country of the sun," referring to Japan. Highlighting the similarities between India and Japan, CM Yadav stated that it is through these similarities and cultural ties that India and Japan find each other closer. https://x.com/drmohanyadav51/status/1884597478667804930?s=46&t=TbrKHKgG29uXA1CMFN38Pw In a post on X, Mohan Yadav also mentioned holding a productive meeting with Go Iwata, Business Strategy Head of Yokogawa Electric Corporation. "Tokyo, Japan: A productive meeting was held with Mr. Go Iwata, Business Strategy Head of Yukogawa Electronic Corporation, and Mr. Naveen Kumar, Head of Green Transformation Energy," the post said in X. "Yukogawa serves major clients such as NTPC, IOC, Reliance, and Adani. During the meeting, officials were informed about the opportunities available in Madhya Pradesh and were also invited to the upcoming Global Investors Summit 2025," the post added. The Indian Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, expressed his happiness over the warm welcome extended to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav by the Indian diaspora in Japan. Speaking to ANI, he said, "I am very happy to see the emotional welcome that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh received from the Indian Diaspora in Japan. I saw it when he arrived yesterday and I have seen it today when we met here with the Indian diaspora." Ambassador George highlighted the significance of the Chief Minister's engagement with the Indian community in Japan. "It has been a very hectic schedule for the Chief Minister, with the meetings with the ministers, with meetings with the Governor of Tokyo, with the meetings with the senior businessmen in Japan of Japanese businessmen," he said. "It has been very hectic, but when I saw his engagement with the community, I was happy to see that there is a commitment on the part of the diaspora to join hands with us with the Government of India, Government of Madhya Pradesh, in our journey towards Amrit Kaal. I'm convinced that we will be able to achieve that target by 2047," he added. MP CM Yadav has engaged in a series of high-level meetings with business leaders, government officials, and investors during his visit to Japan. He is on a four-day visit seeking investment opportunities and inviting industrialists to participate in the Global Investors Summit (GIS) to be held in Bhopal on February 24-25. (ANI)
He also stated that India offers great opportunities for Finnish startups to scale up their businesses and also encouraged Indian startups to explore opportunities in Finland, a "renowned startup hub."

Lahdevirta was speaking on the sidelines of a startup event---the Polar Bear Pitching session in the national capital.

"We are doing this event in India for the very first time and it will be interesting to see how it goes... Startup cooperation between India and Finland developed in the last few years," he told ANI.

"Finland has a cooperation with Kerala startup mission and startup entrepreneurs are coming from Kerala this time... Commercial cooperation is growing all the time. We have telecommunication sectors, sustainability is a large area where we have numerous companies working on very advanced solutions, so there are many possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation," he added.

Lahdevirta said, "Our cooperation is strong, and there are many possibilities for mutually beneficial collaboration."

Finland and India continue to broaden their economic and diplomatic engagement, having celebrated 75 years of relations last year. The ambassador noted that commercial ties are growing steadily, particularly in telecommunications, IT, and sustainability, where Finnish companies are contributing cutting-edge solutions. (ANI)
According to Samaa TV, PTI has officially submitted a request to the Lahore Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office, seeking permission to hold a rally at Greater Iqbal Park (Minar-e-Pakistan) on February 8.

The application, filed by PTI leader Alia Hamza, highlights the party's right to organise public gatherings, just like other political parties.

Samaa TV, citing Alia Hamza, stated that February 8 marks the "theft of the people's mandate" and that PTI intends to observe the day as a "black day." She criticized the frequent imposition of Section 144 whenever PTI announces rallies and protests, questioning why other parties receive approvals while PTI faces restrictions.

"Every party gets permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, so why not us?" Alia Hamza said, adding that PTI would still commemorate the day as 'black day' across the country, even if the authorities deny permission.

Meanwhile, the leadership has instructed workers to begin initial preparations for the power show. According to Samaa TV, sources indicate that if the administration rejects their request, the party will approach the court for intervention.

Recently, PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter President Junaid Akbar warned of launching a nationwide campaign against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led (PML-N) coalition over the government's lack of commitment to addressing political tensions through talks, The Express Tribune reported.

Speaking to a local TV news channel, Akbar said the opposition's willingness to hold talks with the government was seen as a sign of weakness. His remarks came after PTI did not attend the fourth round of talks with the PML-N-led coalition government on Tuesday, effectively stalling the negotiation process. (ANI)
Sa'ar said he briefed her on the framework for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza under the current ceasefire agreement and emphasized that Israel, "will not accept Hamas' rule over Gaza, as it undermines our security and regional stability," and expressed his, "will to strengthen our bilateral relations."

Sa'ar invited his counterpart to visit Israel soon.

For her part, Valtonen described their telephone discussion as "useful" and said they discussed the "importance of the full implementation of all phases of the Gaza ceasefire-hostage agreement."

Valtonen said that she also "raised the significance of humanitarian efforts, including UNRWA's possibility to fulfil its mandate in the occupied Palestinian territory."

UNRWA - the UN Relief Works Agency in Gaza- has been banned from operating under a new Israeli law that goes into effect on Thursday. The law was passed because UNWRA has employed Hamas terrorists, including ones who took part in the October 7 Hamas massacre. (ANI/TPS)
The High Commission of India hosted a prestigious reception at the historic Guildhall in London to celebrate India's 76th Republic Day. The event was attended by over 800 guests, including prominent members of the Indian diaspora, friends of India from the UK, Members of Parliament, lords, and other distinguished personalities. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, was the chief guest and delivered a speech highlighting the strong and evolving relationship between India and the UK. He emphasized the deep historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations. In his speech, he said that India's Republic Day is "such a huge milestone in India's history that reminds us that the world's largest democracy continues to thrive He mentioned about the visit of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the House of Commons earlier this month and added, "The visit was an absolute eye-opener, especially when we heard about India is leading the way in the use of artificial intelligence. To learn that AI simultaneously translates 22 languages in your Parliament is just incredible. As I told your Honourable Speaker, we would love to work together to find out how AI can improve our parliamentary procedures". Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami said that with the celebration of Republic Day, 75 years ago when India's Constitution entered into force, India became not just a republic but also the first country to transition directly to a democracy for all of its 350 million people at that time. "We did not wait for prosperity or literacy or a better someday, a better any day to give every one of ourselves full citizenship", he added. Speaking on the India-UK partnership, the High Commissioner said, "It is natural that as nations with so much in common, our partnership is not only a natural choice, it is an obvious choice". Wes Streeting, the UK's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, was also present at the event, further underscoring the importance of India-UK relations across various sectors, including healthcare and trade. The reception served as a significant platform for strengthening diplomatic and community ties, celebrating India's rich heritage, and recognizing the contributions of the Indian diaspora in the UK. The presence of high-ranking officials and esteemed guests made it a historic and memorable occasion. (ANI)
Hamas will release three Israeli and five Thai hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire deal, Times of Israel reported. As per Times of Israel, Hamas handed the names of three Israelis, IDF Soldier Agam Berger (20), Civilians Arbek Yehoud (29) and Gadi Moshe Mozes (80), via mediators Egypt and Qatar. In addition, five Thailand nationals will also be freed today, Israeli officials confirmed, without naming them, Times of Israel reported. There are eight Thai hostages in Gaza, along with one Nepalese and a Tanzanian. However, two of the Thailand citizens and one Tanzanian have been declared dead by Israel. As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners -- 30 for each civilian, and 50 for Berger including 30 terrorists serving life sentences. On Saturday of last week, four hostages returned to Israel. The released soldiers were escorted out of the Gaza Strip by Israeli special forces after being handed over to them by the Red Cross. These soldiers, who were members of the IDF's surveillance unit, were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023, attack at the Nahal Oz post. Footage from Tel Aviv Hostages Square showed the crowd erupting into cheers as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag as Hamas set free the hostages and handed them over to the International Red Cross, The Times of Israel reported. The people applauded repeatedly as first pictures of the women were shown and news reports said that they were handed over to the IDF. Many crowd members were wearing bright yellow shirts, expressing solidarity with the hostages, and carried pictures of those returning home today. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting over 200 others. Over 46,000 Palestinians have been also killed in Gaza in Israel's counter-offensive against Hamas. Earlier, over 100 hostages were freed during the weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. (ANI)
An Australian man who was feared dead after being captured by Russian forces is alive, foreign minister Penny Wong has announced.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, a teacher who signed up to fight for Ukraine against Russia, was taken captive in December last year. A video showed him being struck by a Russian interrogator, sparking fears for his life.

The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody, Ms Wong said on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Australia still has serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war, she said.

We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

Canberra has called on Russia to release Mr Jenkins.

If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal, Ms Wong said.

Russia has previously warned that foreign fighters in Ukraine will not be afforded the rights given to lawful combatants according to international humanitarian law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kyiv can be considered as combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy the status of prisoners of war, a defence ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by TASS after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyivs nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way.

Ms Wong thanked Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and the International Committee of the Red Cross president for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.

The Russian ambassador said Mr Jenkins was in the custody of the armed forces, The Guardian reported. His health condition is said to be normal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular support to Mr Jenkins family.

Another foreign fighter who trained with Mr Jenkins said earlier this month that he believed the Russian forces had executed the Australian prisoner to make an example of him, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 14 January.

Soon after, prime minister Anthony Albanese said that his government was gravely concerned about the capture of Mr Jenkins and warned of the strongest action possible if reports of his death were correct.

On 14 January, Australia summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky to answer questions about Mr Jenkinss status. The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, a spokesperson said in a statement at the time.
New Hampshire lawmakers are calling on President Donald Trump to rule Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is located in the Granite State, as well as urging U.S. Congress to say the same for Badgers Island of Kittery, Maine, the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth Harbor and Seavey Island, which is home to the 225-year-old shipyard.

The states border battle with Maine has a long history, culminating with the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruling in Maine's favor in 2001. The nation's high court dismissed New Hampshires claim the shipyard is in the Granite State, with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg penning the opinion. The Supreme Court later denied a New Hampshire special counsels motion to reconsider.

More than two decades later, there is an attempt to revive the effort in the early days of Trump's second presidency. The resolution was introduced Jan. 9, less than two weeks prior to Trumps inauguration and written with his executive orders in mind, according to the prime sponsor.

State rep. makes case shipyard is in NH, fighting Maine income tax

People stand on a pier at Prescott Park looking across the Piscataqua River toward the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Sept. 18, 2024.

Rep. Joseph Barton, a Republican from Grafton and former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee, previously lived in Dover and Newmarket when he worked on base.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An executive order could change the duty stations. That would actually have some impact and some teeth. I think he would consider it, said Barton, the resolutions prime sponsor, referencing Trump.

The resolution calls upon the U.S. Congress to find that the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor lie within the state of New Hampshire, its text reads. The resolution adds the states general court should ask the president of the United States to take such action as to designate the duty stations of all Portsmouth Naval Shipyard personnel as Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Maines income tax on Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees residing in New Hampshire is top of mind for Barton, and it has been a longstanding point of contention in the boundary dispute.

Theres nobody thats not going to support this bill from New Hampshire, Barton said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Seacoast Shipyard Association, an advocacy group not directly affiliated with the shipyard, reported there were just shy of 7,500 civilian employees working at the installation in 2023. The yards total economic impact in 2023 was more than $1.5 billion, according to the association.

Shipyard economic impact report: Towns with most workers, payroll listed

Barton additionally pointed to the name of the shipyard as another reason it should be designated as New Hampshires own. However, a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesperson told Seacoastonline in October 2023 the shipyard was named not only for the nearest post and customs office in 1800, but also after the largest active port at the time it was established.

The Navy has a long standing tradition of naming bases after the largest closest city, not necessarily the city in which the base is located, the spokesperson, Alan Baribeau, said previously.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump White House has ties to New Hampshire, namely with Hamptons own Karoline Leavitt, 27, ascending to the role of Trumps press secretary, more than two years after an unsuccessful bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas.

Barton feels Trump would support the resolution and order a change of address for the shipyard.

I think hes got a special place in his heart for New Hampshire. Even though he didn't take it (in the November presidential election), he did pretty well in the state, he said of Trump.

Resolution is in beginning stages in NH legislature

The resolution  House Concurrent Resolution 8  still needs to clear the legislatures State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs committee. The resolution is due out of committee on March 20 and would then go to the full House of Representatives and later the Senate. If it passes both chambers, it would go to Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Representatives of Ayottes office did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

More: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has big plans for 2025 and beyond. Here are major projects.

The resolution further seeks approval to have New Hampshires congressional delegation introduce legislation and take such additional steps as may be necessary and appropriate to establish the location of the boundary between New Hampshire and Maine in the inner Piscataqua River."

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard declined to comment on the text of the resolution.

It is inappropriate for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to comment on a proposed (resolution) moving through the New Hampshire State Legislature, said shipyard spokesperson Danna Eddy in an email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The resolution is co-sponsored by three more Republicans  Rep. Susan DeLemus of Farmington, state Sen. Daniel Innis of Bradford and Rep. Wayne MacDonald of Londonderry  and one Democrat, Rep. Carrie Sorensen of Portsmouth.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Lawmakers want Trump to rule Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is in NH
Shipping firms may need to pay a tax to use the Baltic Sea to fund costly protection for underwater cables, says Estonias defence minister.

Hanno Pevkur said the move may be needed after a series of incidents where vessels allegedly linked to Russias shadow fleet have damaged power and communications cables with their anchors in acts of suspected sabotage by Vladimir Putins regime.

Lets say that when you go to the airport you have the landing fee, you have the airport fee and this is paid in the ticket, he said, speaking in Tokyo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So in one moment maybe we will see that when you are passing through the Danish straits there will be a cost for the companies to pay this because this is basically an insurance fee to damaging the cables.

Swedish authorities seized a Maltese-flagged ship on Monday in connection with damage caused to a cable running between Latvia and Sweden, one of four similar incidents in just over a year that have also affected power and telecoms lines running between Estonia and Finland.

Mr Pevkur said while official investigations are ongoing, the series of incidents point to coordinated action by ships that are part of Russias shadow fleet.

When we see that all those ships are part of the shadow fleet of Russia although having different flags on their tail...then of course you know we have to connect the dots, he explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nato countries have stepped up patrols to protect critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, which is bordered by eight countries, and other waters.

A Royal Navy submarine was ordered to surface last November close to a suspected Russian spy ship which was loitering over undersea infrastructure in UK waters.

The vessel, the Yantar, swiftly departed for the Mediterranean but returned recently and was monitored through the Channel by HMS Somerset.

Britain has warned that ships threatening to damage undersea cables in UK waters face being raided by Royal Marine Commandos.

Countries are weighing other measures to protect cables, including installing sensors to detect anchors dragged across the sea floor or constructing casings or walls around the cables.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But this will come at a cost, and whether countries or cable operators end up paying for it, consumers may be left ultimately footing the bill through higher taxes or utility costs.

Globally, around 150 undersea cables are damaged each year, according to the UK-based International Cable Protection Committee.

The telecoms cables, power lines and gas pipes in the shallow Baltic are seen as particularly vulnerable due to its very intense traffic, with as many as 4000 ships crossing its surface every day, according to some estimates.

Moscow has accused Western countries of making evidence-free assertions about its involvement in the incidents.
Injecting carbon dioxide into oil wells to enhance oil recovery could have significant economic impacts for North Dakota, officials said Jan. 28, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota could see another $9 billion in oil tax revenue over 10 years if oil companies begin injecting carbon dioxide into oil wells on a large scale, an analysis released Tuesday shows.

North Dakota Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus on Tuesday outlined the potential of carbon dioxide on oil production and tax revenue for the state Industrial Commission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Injecting a gas such as carbon dioxide into an oil well  a process called enhanced oil recovery  can increase the amount of oil the well will produce.

The technique has not yet been widely adopted in North Dakota, the nations No. 3 oil-producing state. One factor holding back enhanced oil recovery is federal tax incentives are higher for permanent underground storage for carbon dioxide than they are for enhanced oil recovery.

A news release from the three-member Industrial Commission, chaired by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, called on the federal government to enact tax parity for CO2 projects.

North Dakota Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus on Jan. 28, 2025, discusses a report on the potential impact of enhanced oil recovery on tax revenue. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

Closing that incentive gap is incredibly important, Kroshus said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Dakota has potentially large-scale sources of CO2 from coal-fired power plants, ethanol plants and other industries.

The $9 billion tax impact was at the high end of the revenue potential, Kroshus said, with the low-end impact at $2.9 billion. That tax impact is just based on oil production and doesnt figure in increased tax collection from sources such as corporate or individual income taxes.

Kroshuss report on the tax potential is based on information from the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks on how enhanced oil recovery could impact the states oil production. The EERC estimates that injecting CO2 could add 5 billion to 8 billion barrels of oil from the Bakken Formation over the next 30 to 50 years.

Kroshus said gas injection would require major investments by the oil and gas industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its really about infrastructure buildout, Kroshus said. His 10-year tax impact study starts in 2028 because he said it will take at least three years to build the infrastructure needed for enhanced oil recovery.

Armstrong, whose background is in the oil and gas industry, said enhanced oil recovery has the potential to build a future for kids that havent even been born yet.

Kroshus said enhanced oil recovery has the potential to even out some of the highs and lows of the oil industry, which has seen boom-and-bust cycles and some dips.

Kroshus said another positive effect of enhanced oil recovery is that it makes better use of existing oil wells without additional disturbance to the surface.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said North Dakota needs to push to be an early adopter of enhanced oil recovery. Were not the only state that is eager to get their hands on this CO2, he said.

North Dakotas oil industry experienced a resurgence with the advent of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Enhanced oil recovery differs from hydraulic fracturing, though both make wells more productive. Hydraulic fracturing creates fissures or cracks in the shale rock, making it easier to squeeze out the oil. Enhanced oil recovery uses gas to create pressure in the well, forcing more oil to the wellbore.

North Dakotas oil industry in 2024 marked 5 billion barrels of oil production from the Bakken Formation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kroshus said the state has collected $23 billion in oil tax revenue over the last decade.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Lord Peter Mandelson will be the next British ambassador to the United States after Donald Trump agreed to accept his credentials.

The long-awaited decision ends a weeks-long standoff with the new US administration over the Labour grandees appointment to replace Dame Karen Pierce as the UKs top diplomat in Washington.

A White House official has confirmed to The Independent that President Trump has finally agreed to accept Lord Mandelsons letters of credence when he arrives in the American capital next month, allowing him to take up residence in Washington DC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The end of the uncertainty over his appointment comes as the new US secretary of state Marco Rubio issued a veiled warning to foreign secretary David Lammy over the attempts to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as tensions between the UK government and US administration continue.

Donald Trump is said to have accepted Lord Peter Mandelsons appointment as the UKs new ambassador to the US (Jonathan Brady/PA)

It also comes amid reports that US senators have handed a file to the FBI to investigate the Labour peers links to China, the primary reason that Mr Trump was said to be considering rejecting his nomination.

The Independent revealed last week that the extremely rare move had been considered by Mr Trump and that a decision was set to be made by the US president this week after papers were forwarded from the State Department.

While Lord Mandelson is being allowed to take up his post  removing a major diplomatic headache for Sir Keir Starmer  it is understood that it will still come with conditions and the peer will be kept on a short leash because of his past links with China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even as news broke of the decision there were questions about what Mr Trump had extracted in return for having allowed his close allies to brief against and attack Lord Mandelson over a number of weeks, even having him described as a moron.

It is understood that the president craves hosting a visit by senior royals to America, possibly the King or Prince and Princess of Wales. It is also known he wants to address a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament after senior Labour figures helped ensure he was not able to in 2016.

Meanwhile, Mr Trumps new chief diplomat has issued a warning to Mr Lammy over his attempts to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a sign that the new White House administration will seek to block the move.

The shot across the bows came during secretary of state Marco Rubios first phone call with the foreign secretary.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio (Evan Vucci/AP)

While Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump avoided difficult topics, including Lord Mandelson, when they spoke on Sunday, Mr Rubio referenced the controversial Chagos Islands deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Joe Biden had supported a handover to Mauritius but the Trump administration is concerned about the joint UK/US airbase on Diego Garcia and the potential for China to move in and establish a presence on the islands.

Mauritius was the first African country to sign a trade deal with China and the issue was raised by Mr Rubio during the call with Mr Lammy: he warned the foreign secretary to beware of Beijings malign influence.

Mr Rubio, who has previously criticised the proposed deal, stressed the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable, according to a readout of the conversation. While Chagos does not appear to be mentioned by name the reference was a clear sign of the administrations position on the deal with Mauritius.

Before his nomination, the former Florida senator said the Chagos deal would be concerning as it would provide an opportunity for communist China to gain valuable intelligence on our naval support facility in Mauritius.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told Politico: This poses a serious threat to our national security interests in the Indian Ocean and threatens critical US military posture in the region.

Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands (US Navy/AP)

Last year, The Independent revealed that the Trump transition team was looking at ways of vetoing the deal, which was held up by a change of government in Mauritius and a new prime minister who demanded more concessions from the UK.

Mr Lammy has always described the Chagos agreement as a good deal, arguing it ends uncertainty over the Diego Garcia base and guarantees it for at least 99 years.

But the government has refused to publish details of the proposed deal, including the estimated cost to the UK taxpayer.
Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery 250 miles east of Moscow in a huge wave of attacks on Russian power plants, say military sources.

A large fire exploded at the refinery in Kstovo city in the Nizhny Novgorod region following the attack, the Ukrainian military said, adding it was assessing the scale of damage there.

Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur said on Wednesday it had temporarily suspended production at the plant due to a Ukrainian drone attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company said debris had fallen onto the plant and caused a fire but there were no casualties. Emergency services were working at the site.

Russian officials and media outlets also claimed that a nuclear power plant was among the targets of the massive Ukrainian drone attack against oil and power facilities.

Air defence systems destroyed a drone attempting to strike a nuclear power facility in the western region of Smolensk bordering Belarus, Governor Vasily Anokhin said.

This could not be independently verified and Russia and Ukraine have made a series of claims throughout the war claiming attacks on nuclear facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant, the largest power generating plant in Russias northwest, was working normally, RIA state news agency reported.

The Russian defence ministry said 104 drones were involved in raids across western Russia, 11 of which were destroyed over the Smolensk region.

In total, Russian air defences reportedly destroyed drones over nine regions, nearly half of them over Kursk where Russian and North Korean troops are fighting to drive out Ukrainian forces that seized a swathe of this region in a surprise raid last summer.

Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia temporarily halted flights at the Kazan airport in Russias Republic of Tatarstan and at the Pulkovo airport in the Leningrad region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kyiv says that its attacks inside Russia, some at targets more than 900 miles away, aim to destroy infrastructure key to Moscows war efforts.

It struck an oil refinery recently in the city of Engels which supplied Vladimir Putins nuclear bomber fleet.

The Ukrainian military said Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 57 drones in an overnight attack.

The military said it shot down 29 Russian drones and that 14 drones did not reach their targets.

Debris from a destroyed Russian drone fell near a metro station in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, said on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kyiv was under air raid alert for about half an hour starting at 0355 GMT, according to data from Ukraines air force.

Kyiv and Moscow have both come under regular drone attack since Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.

The Russian overnight attack also targeted port area infrastructure in Ukraines Odesa region and damaged buildings, Governor Oleh Kiper said on Wednesday.
The world's biggest iceberg is on the loose and is threatening to collide with a tiny south Atlantic island, potentially affecting the wildlife there, scientists warned this week.

Known as A23a, the 1,400-square-mile iceberg had been stuck on the ocean floor near Antarctica for 37 years after splitting in 1986 from the Antarctics Filchner Ice Shelf.

But it began to move again last year and is now approaching South Georgia Island, a small island mainly populated by penguins and seals.

The world's largest iceberg, named A23a, is seen in Antarctica on Jan. 14, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media.

Is something new happening with the iceberg?

The iceberg had been stuck in a rotating water column near the South Orkney Islands since last April, said Andrew Meijers from the British Antarctic Survey. "It has now come loose from this circulation feature and is heading northeast with the Antarctic circumpolar current  on a path that is likely to bring it very close or in contact with the island of South Georgia."

Is the iceberg suddenly threatening South Georgia Island?

"Sudden isn't really the right word for something we've been tracking for almost 40 years and is now moving at around half a mile an hour," Meijers told USA TODAY in an e-mail Tuesday. "However, its recent path shows that it is in an ocean current jet  something like an atmospheric jet stream  that should take it toward the island over the coming weeks. "

When might it hit the island?

The iceberg might hit the island in two to four weeks, depending on the current and its path, according to Meijers. It may follow the current around the continental shelf of the island and not ground at all  as another large berg has done  or it could ground on the shallow waters of the continental shelf, as an iceberg did in 2004.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It is almost impossible to predict which of these may occur, or indeed if the berg will break up before then," he said.

South Georgia Island lies in 'Iceberg Alley'

Icebergs are a regular threat to the British territory of South Georgia Island because it's near the Southern Hemisphere's version of "Iceberg Alley." (Not to be confused with the Northern Hemisphere's Iceberg Alley, which is near Labrador and Newfoundland in Canada.)

Antarctica is ringed by a powerful counterclockwise current, according to the National Science Foundation.

"Many icebergs float in this current around the continent until they get close to the Antarctic Peninsula, a long arm that extends toward Chile. In the Scotia Sea between Chile and Antarctica, the icebergs are pushed northward and begin to melt. Researchers call this area Iceberg Alley," the foundation said.

Are people or wildlife in danger?

South Georgian populations of seals and penguins could be at risk if the iceberg grounds near the island, Meijers said. "This could potentially interrupt their pathway to feeding sites and force them to expend more energy for adults to travel around it. This will reduce the amount of food coming back to pups and chicks on the island, and so increase mortality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This has happened before in 2004, although we aren't certain if this berg will ground or not, more recent examples have tracked around the island."

As for the effect on humans, "while the berg is large it is easily avoided by Southern Ocean shipping operators, who are well aware of the dangers bergs pose  and the location of A23a," he said. "However, as it breaks up over time, the smaller bergs are much harder to track. Discussions with fishing operators suggests that past large bergs have made some regions more or less off-limits for fishing operations for some time due to the number of smaller  yet often more dangerous  bergy bits."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The world's biggest iceberg is on the loose in the Atlantic Ocean
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors recently approved plans for the Wild Rose solar farm project in the Gladstone area.

The 3-1 decision came at the boards Jan. 14 meeting. Dylan Bishop, the countys director of planning and zoning, said it is the first solar project of this size to be presented to the county with the total property area being 4,600 acres, and the paneled about 470 acres.

Bishop said the 90-megawatt projects lifespan would be 40 years.

County Administrator Candy McGarry said the county would be compensated for the project.

Savion agreed to an additional voluntary payment of $230,000 per year for 40 years, to a total $9,200,000. There would also be an annual $10,000 scholarship fund for 40 years to a student from the South District of the county.

The land the project would be on is currently used for timber.

The board first listened to comments and concerns from the community during a public hearing.

Arrington resident James Van said he believed Savion, which is the company that owns Wild Rose, has no interest in the people of Nelson County.

Savion wants us to believe that by allowing them to build their industrial solar installations on forest lands in Gladstone, that we will be producing enough energy to power all of Nelsons homes, something that they cannot in any way guarantee, Van said.

Van urged the board to deny the permit.

Simply putting it, shouldnt I encourage each of you to vote no on this project? And send this corporation that has no interest in the people, the environment or the culture of Nelson back to the Midwest where they came from, Van said.

Mary Kathryn Allen, the Nelson County Planning Commissions South District representative, said she voted against recommending its approval and feels the board should turn it down.

Im telling you, this is not what our county needs. This is not what my home district needs. And I do not think five years from now that if this is passed, that were going to say, thank God we passed it, because I dont think Savion or Wild Rose or whoever is going to own it. I think somebody else is going to own it because theyre going to sell it, Allen said.

Afton resident Denise Tuscon was in favor of the Wild Rose project.

The plan proposes additional funds for the county of a total of $20 million and also would award a $10,000 scholarship every year to students from the Southern District of our county. I believe the Savion is doing their best to be a good neighbor and share as much of the project income as possible. There are many ways the county could use the income from this project, such as more support for our schools or adding solar installations at the high school campus and other county buildings, Tucson said.

She said if approved she hopes the county and Savion will continue to work together.

David Parr, West District representative, said he and Vice Chair Jessica Ligon did a site visit to learn more details about the project.

Ive been in public service in Nelson County for 21 years, and I have never lost as much sleep over a project or a vote as I have on this one. Ive been up since 3:15 this morning doing searches and reading, Parr said. This ones been tough because, you know, on the one hand, theyre ugly. We talked about that. On the other hand, I did visit the site and where the panels are located, and the scene, the site plan, I was impressed with where they had put the panels. My big thing, that is, my concern is not the solar project itself, I dont mean this to sound greedy, but its the money.

Ligon said it benefited the county having her and Parr go to do the site check.

I think they could not have picked two people that were more negative on a project on this board than we were, Ligon said.

Ligon said, like Parr, she lost sleep over this project on what to do.

I do feel that we got offered money because of things that we said and things we did. I feel that we got a substantial amount offered. No other locality for this size project has gotten anywhere near this dollar amount, and I have lost a lot of sleep over this decision, because I thought we had done the county good by our negotiations, but it also makes me sick, Ligon said.

Ligon explained if they voted for this project it wouldnt necessarily open the doors for other solar projects and the land is ideal for the project because its being used for timber.

Ernie Reed, the boards chair, said that the board will continue to watch this project even after it gets approved.

I believe that making a decision on something doesnt keep you from having to ever pay attention to it again, because if we approve this tonight, and Im going to vote that we do, its going to mean that were going to have to continue being responsible to make sure we do have a good model for this, Reed said.

Parr said some lawmakers in Richmond are pushing for projects such as this and he was afraid if the board didnt say yes to the project the decision would soon be taken out of the hands of the local government.

I dont want it in my backyard. I dont want it in your backyard. But I fear the loss of control, because the state of Virginia has said they have clean energy goals, and those goals arent going to be met without some solar projects and theyre going to meet those goals, and theyre going to do it by fear, by taking control away, Parr said.

If supervisors voted yes to the project, Parr said the board agreed the money received from the solar farm would be given back to the South District community.

Jesse Rutherford, East District representative, said he has the same concerns as Parr on the matter at state level.

As we look at the maneuvering of what potentials the state has and what theyre going to take from us, as Mr. Parr has said, there have been a lot of conversations about that. Its not hard to find those articles, Rutherford said. Now thats not enough of a reason for me to vote yes. I kind of look at this with a skeptical mind. And you know what the future outlay is going to be with energy? You know what the answer is, solar is going to be a piece of it, and I think its probably one of the quickest mechanisms that the commonwealth has to produce energy.

According to Rutherford, he is familiar with solar and grew up with his dad involved in the beginnings of the solar project movement.

Rutherford explained he looked at it in terms of what it would bring to the Nelson community.

Im speaking towards just my philosophy, not the specific project, you know, if something that creates recurring jobs for my community is a good thing, because, as many of you know, and lots many portions of our community, you know, there is a need for high paying jobs, Rutherford said. Obviously, this project doesnt really do that. It creates a one time economic incident where you got construction crews coming in. And though thats not necessarily a bad thing, its not a recurring thing and I certainly do enjoy having the recurring aspect.

Rutherford mentioned he project wouldnt really be protecting farmland or lowering electric bills for Nelson residents, which are also things he looks at with when considering special use permits.

Rutherford said the board has taken this permit request seriously and have put a lot of time into researching it.

But you know, I still sit here skeptical about what the true answer is on the energy topic, on what this community needs, but Ill always sit here and tell you Im going to be pro creating high-paying jobs for our kids and our future generations, and the generations that we have here today,  Rutherford said. Checking that box is probably one of the most important aspects for me when voting on a special use permit.

Reed thanked Parr and Ligon for visiting the site and looking into the plan for the project.

Reed made a motion to approve the special use permit for the solar project. The vote went through 3-1 with Rutherford voting in opposition and Supervisor Tommy Harvey absent.
Amherst Countys department of community development is drafting an ordinance that proposes battery storage facilities as a use under certain zoning parameters.

The Amherst County Planning Commission during its January meeting received a presentation on battery storage operations from Appalachian Power Co. and two other companies on the idea of such a facility in Amherst in the Zane Snead Industrial Park just off U.S. 29 in the town of Amherst.

The commission in the fall directed county planning staff to probe more information on battery storage, a technology that allows for storing energy in multiple ways for later use.

Tyler Creasy, director of community development, said if an ordinance is approved it would allow for measures to ensure safety and training for local first responders on how to act in case of an event or emergency.

There could be conditions staff could add to any use that comes through, Creasy told the commission at its Jan. 16 meeting. Whatever developer that does come before you, staff will ensure that training and emergency response plans are included as a condition for that.

Eolian, L.P., among the most successful energy investors in the U.S., according to the companys website, presented information on Jan. 16. The report addressed Virginias energy initiative that aims to add 3.1 gigawatts of power storage by 2035 with APCos portion adding 400-plus megawatts by that timeframe. Energy storage is critical to helping the state meet a growing data center load, according to the presentation: a data center is a building or space that stores computing machines and equipment.

The presentation addressed a potential battery storage facility at 340 Industrial Parkway in the town industrial park on 18 acres zoned industrial with large parcels, open space and few surrounding residential uses. A siting agreement with the county could be entered into if the zoning ordinance is amended to allow the use, the report states.

Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG), another company, also addressed the commission Jan. 16 on ensuring safety within the potential facility, referred to as the Mainspring Grid project, if zoning allows it. ESRGs report states the project would use widely deployed, proven technology that has numerous fire-prevention and detection resources that will have safety monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The report states the chances of an emergency incident are very, very small.

In the unlikely event of an emergency incident, any water runoff would be mitigated and not contain known hazardous materials, according to ESRGs presentation.

Creasy said screening trees would have to be in place if such a facility is built.

We love landscaping in Amherst County. Were all about beautifying everything, Creasy said of a need for setback regulations. More than likely they want to get every single acre they can out of the development, so we want to ensure that setback is enough because were going to require screening trees and all that stuff outside of that facility.

Austin Jeffries, director of renewable operations for APCo, said once the potential project becomes operational his group would take it over and work with local first responders.

Ive done a couple of projects with wind, solar and now these battery projects are coming online and even one of the projects here in your local county area, we brought of all the local first responders in and we had a training class with them about if something were to occur what would happen, Jeffries said to commissioners. Everybody is ready if something were to happen.

American Electric Power, APCos parent company, has a lot of experience in building large renewable energy projects and has a couple of battery storage facility projects it operates and maintains, he said.

Were looking to build more in other regions American Electric Power has with various operating companies, some in Oklahoma and potentially this one here, Jeffries said.

The Virginia Clean Economy Act requires APCo to add roughly 450 megawatts of battery storage in the next decade, Jeffries said.

We look for the most cost-effective projects to go forward, he said.

Such projects benefit the local base and if the Mainspring Grid project moves forward and a transaction occurs with Eolian, APCo would own and operate the 50-megawatt asset in upcoming years, according to Jeffries presentation.

Were selecting this project for two reasons when its an industrial area theres not as many neighbors and its contained with a certain issue that is not a viewshed issue, which is a positive, and its close to a transmission line, Jeffries said. It cuts down on the elevated capital costs to build the project because you dont have to add additional transmission infrastructure to get that power from the battery asset to that transmission line.

Jeffries said a decommissioning process would be in place if the project is approved. A battery storage facilitys lifespan could be about 20 years or less, depending on what type of battery is used, he said.

A remote operation center in Columbus, Ohio, would monitor the site 24 hours per day, seven days per week, Jeffries said. Every container on site has thousands of censors and an alarm would trigger to alert technicians to the site immediately if an issue arose, he said.

At all times  every one of these battery containers are being monitored, Jeffries said. They could also be turned off remotely if necessary. We make sure it is climate controlled.

A fire prevention plan and emergency response plan would be in place and local first responders would be shown the facility is laid out and how it works in the event of an incident, he said.

The commission asked various safety-related and operational questions during the three companies presentations on Jan. 16. Commissioner Leslie Gamble said the county doesnt want to be held liable for any environmental issues in addressing the need for ensuring safety.

Creasy said the same presentations would be given to public safety staff, who would inform the commission on what they learned and answer any questions as the ordinance is presented in coming weeks.

A public hearing is held by the commission and Amherst County Board of Supervisors, which has final approval, on amending the zoning ordinance to include new land uses.
TOKYO, Jan 29 (News On Japan) - The first meeting of a bipartisan council to discuss Japan's electoral system was held on January 29th at around 11 a.m., with a review of the single-member district system emerging as a key issue.

The House of Representatives' Electoral System Council was established in December 2024, bringing together all ruling and opposition parties.

The current single-member district system has been in place for about 30 years, but concerns have been raised that it only allows the top candidate to win, leaving minority opinions unrepresented. Critics also argue that it strengthens the power of party leadership, limiting opportunities for diverse political talent to emerge.

Prime Minister Ishiba has expressed support for electoral reform, stating that a nonpartisan review is essential.

The agenda also includes issues such as the reduction of rural electoral districts due to seat redistribution. However, discussions are expected to be challenging.

Source: FNN
Jan 29 (News On Japan) - Aichi Prefectures Ghibli Park has begun displaying the Citroen 2CV, the beloved car of renowned director Hayao Miyazaki, which also appeared in his films.

The vehicle, placed in front of the central staircase inside the parks Ghiblis Grand Warehouse, has been carefully polished, reflecting how Miyazaki, who has already returned his drivers license, cherished and preserved it.

Miyazaki purchased the Citroen 2CV to drive his eldest son, director Goro Miyazaki, to and from preschool. The car also makes appearances in the film Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro and Goro Miyazakis Earwig and the Witch.

A manga depicting Miyazakis deep fondness for the car is also on display. Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura expressed his enthusiasm, stating, We hope to preserve and showcase this treasured piece of the Miyazaki family as a lasting treasure of Ghibli Park.

Source: NEWS ONE
Rewards programs have become a popular marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. These programs offer incentives to customers for making purchases or engaging in certain behaviors, such as referring friends or leaving reviews. While rewards programs can be effective in building customer loyalty and increasing sales, they also have their drawbacks.

One of the main advantages of rewards programs is that they can encourage customers to make repeat purchases. By offering rewards for loyalty, businesses can create a sense of exclusivity and incentivize customers to choose their brand over competitors. Rewards programs can also provide valuable data on customer behavior, allowing businesses to tailor their marketing strategies and improve their offerings.

However, rewards programs can also be costly to implement and maintain. Businesses must invest in technology and staff to manage the program, as well as the rewards themselves. Additionally, rewards programs can create a sense of entitlement among customers, who may feel that they are owed rewards for their loyalty. This can lead to dissatisfaction if rewards are not delivered in a timely or satisfactory manner.

Benefits of Rewards Programs

Rewards programs have become increasingly popular among businesses of all sizes, as they offer a range of benefits that can help to enhance customer loyalty, boost retention and acquisition, encourage repeat purchases and brand advocacy, and maximize data collection for strategic insights. In this section, we will explore some of the key benefits of rewards programs in more detail.

Enhancing Customer Loyalty

One of the primary benefits of rewards programs is that they can help to enhance customer loyalty. By offering customers rewards for their loyalty, businesses can create a sense of appreciation and goodwill that can help to keep customers coming back. This can be particularly effective for businesses that offer products or services that are purchased frequently, as customers are more likely to remain loyal to a business that rewards them for their repeat business.

Boosting Customer Retention and Acquisition

Rewards programs can also be effective in boosting customer retention and acquisition. By offering rewards for referrals or for reaching certain milestones, businesses can encourage customers to spread the word about their products or services to their friends and family. This can help to attract new customers who may not have otherwise heard about the business, while also keeping existing customers engaged and interested in the business.

Encouraging Repeat Purchases and Brand Advocacy

Another key benefit of rewards programs is that they can encourage repeat purchases and brand advocacy. By offering rewards for repeat purchases or for sharing information about the business on social media, businesses can create a sense of excitement and engagement among their customers. This can help to build a community of loyal customers who are invested in the success of the business, and who are more likely to recommend the business to others.

Maximizing Data Collection for Strategic Insights

Finally, rewards programs can also be effective in maximizing data collection for strategic insights. By tracking customer data and behavior, businesses can gain valuable insights into their customers preferences, needs, and habits. This can help businesses to tailor their products or services to better meet the needs of their customers, while also identifying new opportunities for growth and expansion.

Overall, rewards programs offer a range of benefits that can help businesses to enhance customer loyalty, boost retention and acquisition, encourage repeat purchases and brand advocacy, and maximize data collection for strategic insights. By implementing a well-designed rewards program, businesses can create a sense of excitement and engagement among their customers, while also building a community of loyal customers who are invested in the success of the business.

Drawbacks of Rewards Programs

Rewards programs have become increasingly popular in various industries as a way to attract and retain customers. However, there are several drawbacks that businesses should consider before implementing a rewards program.

Complexities in Program Management and Costs

One major drawback of rewards programs is the complexities in program management and the associated costs. Implementing a rewards program requires significant investment in software, infrastructure, and personnel to manage the program. This can be especially costly for small businesses that may not have the resources to manage a rewards program effectively.

Additionally, rewards programs can be complex to manage, especially if they involve multiple tiers or point systems. This can lead to confusion among customers and may even deter them from participating in the program.

Risk of Overemphasis on Discounts and Perks

Another drawback of rewards programs is the risk of overemphasis on discounts and perks. While rewards programs can be effective in attracting customers, they can also create a culture of entitlement among customers who may expect discounts and perks as a given. This can lead to customers becoming less loyal and only engaging with the business when they can receive a discount or perk.

Challenges with Differentiation in Competitive Markets

Rewards programs can also pose challenges with differentiation in competitive markets. With many businesses offering similar rewards programs, it can be difficult for businesses to differentiate themselves and stand out from the competition. This can lead to market saturation and a decrease in the effectiveness of rewards programs.

Potential Negative Impact on Profit Margins

Finally, rewards programs can have a potential negative impact on profit margins. While rewards programs can increase customer loyalty and engagement, they can also be costly to implement and maintain. Businesses must carefully consider the return on investment (ROI) of their rewards program and ensure that it is sustainable in the long term. Additionally, businesses must have a clear loyalty program exit strategy in place in case the program is no longer effective or profitable.

In conclusion, while rewards programs can be effective in attracting and retaining customers, businesses must carefully consider the drawbacks before implementing a program. By understanding the complexities in program management, the risk of overemphasis on discounts and perks, the challenges with differentiation in competitive markets, and the potential negative impact on profit margins, businesses can make informed decisions about whether a rewards program is right for them.

Dunkin Donuts offers a rewards program for its loyal customers. One of the perks of the program is the Dunkin Birthday reward. This reward gives members a free medium beverage of their choice on their birthday.

The Dunkin Birthday reward is easy to redeem. Members simply need to provide their registered phone number or scan their Dunkin app at the time of purchase. The free beverage can be any medium-sized drink, including hot or iced coffee, tea, or a frozen drink.

While the Dunkin Birthday reward is a great perk, there are some potential downsides to the Dunkin rewards program. For example, some customers may find it difficult to earn enough points to redeem rewards, as the program requires a significant amount of spending to accrue points. Additionally, some may find the rewards offered to be limited or not worth the effort of participating in the program.

Overall, the Dunkin Birthday reward is a nice perk for loyal Dunkin customers. However, customers should carefully evaluate the program and determine if the rewards offered are worth the effort of participating.
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said his country is deeply troubled by escalation of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC and called for an immediate ceasefire in the fighting
Ghana is set to establish a Gold Board to better regulate gold purchases from small-scale miners, aiming to increase national earnings and reduce smuggling, Reuters reported.

The initiative, announced by the newly appointed Finance minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, is designed to help the country, Africas leading gold producer, optimize the benefits from its gold exports and contribute to the stability of its national currency.

Forson noted that nearly $5 billion worth of gold exported in 2024 came from legal small-scale miners. The Gold Board, due to be launched in March, will streamline the gold trade by acting as the sole buyer through licensed aggregators and local traders, moving away from the current fragmented and unregulated system. Forson highlighted that the existing chaos in Ghanas gold purchasing sector has hindered the country from fully capitalizing on its gold resources, contributing to widespread smuggling and loss of foreign exchange. The new board will also ensure the country meets the stringent standards required for certification by the London Bullion Market Association, which prohibits the trade of gold linked to human rights abuses, conflict, crime, or environmental harm.

In 2024, Ghanas total gold exports reached $11.64 billion, a 53.2% increase from the previous year, which played a significant role in boosting the countrys trade surplus to $4.98 billion. Forson emphasized that Ghanas future strategy will expand beyond royalties and taxes by tapping into the full gold value chain, from extraction to refining and marketing, both domestically and internationally.
Morocco reiterated, during an emergency ministerial meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) convened Tuesday on the recent developments in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), its unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles of state sovereignty, national and territorial unity, neighborliness, and non-interference in internal affairs.

The Kingdom reaffirms its firm commitment to respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of all African states, particularly the DRC in this case, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, in an address delivered on his behalf by Moroccos Permanent Representative to the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mohamed Arrouchi.

Morocco also reaffirms its consistent position against any form of separatism and strongly condemns the destabilizing actions of armed groups that jeopardize the national unity of States, Bourita underlined in his address.

The Kingdom ultimately reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of neighborliness, mutual respect, non-interference, and constructive dialogue, he stressed, noting that beyond immediate interests, it is the future of an entire region that is at stake, and history will always remember those who chose the path of wisdom.

Bourita also noted that the Kingdom remains determined to support UN and continental efforts to restore peace and stability and promote development in the region.

Furthermore, he affirmed that Morocco calls for the convergence of all efforts to support the mediation led by the President of Angola, Joao Lourenco, under the Luanda Agreement process, which constitutes the main framework for resolving this crisis.

Moroccos FM also highlighted that the Kingdom commends the commitment of regional organizations, including the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), which, alongside African and international partners, are working to promote the search for a sustainable solution to the crisis.

This political effort at regional level must be supported and accompanied by the continued support of the AU and the UN, whose peacekeepers remain mobilized for the cause of peace, including a Moroccan contingent, who are making the ultimate sacrifice to promote peace and stability on the brotherly land of the DRC, he added, praising in this regard the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on the situation in eastern DRC, including the most recent one, calling on the parties to return to the negotiation table.

The situation in eastern DRC continues to take alarming proportions, with the number of internally displaced persons steadily increasing, noted the minister, adding that Morocco firmly condemns the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by these armed groups and strongly urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and immediately cease hostilities to encourage de-escalation.

Morocco hopes that the East African Community Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, will be able to pave the way for a sustainable solution to the conflict, he said.

In the communique adopted at the end of this emergency ministerial meeting, the AU Peace and security Council expressed grave concern over the offensive launched by the M23 and its supporters in the past weeks, capturing Minova, Sake, and the regional capital, Goma, which resulted in death and casualties amongst civilians and peacekeepers, as well as worsening an already fragile security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC.

It also expressed deep concern over the increased tensions between the DRC and Rwanda and encouraged the two countries to prioritize peaceful means of addressing the challenges between them, and to cooperate with Joao Manuel Lourenco, President of Angola and Chair of the AU peace and reconciliation committee, entrusted with facilitating dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda.
Algeria under the new duo Tebboune-Chengriha hatched a plot to use its diaspora to blackmail and pressure France, according to an intelligence report cited by French media.

The near 2.6 Algerians in France have been targeted with an Algerian propaganda plot which helped recruit influencers and members of the diaspora posing a serious destabilization risk for Paris, Le Journal Du Dimanche reported citing a report by French domestic intelligence agency (DNRT).

Since he came to power, Tebboune- a puppet president whose strings are pulled by the army- has evoked the colonial past going as far as saying that Algerians had to access France without a visa for 130 years in reparation for the same French occupation duration.

The Algerian regime then launched a civil society group (ONSC) that recruited leading members of the Algerian diaspora in France. One of ONSC member, Nasser Khattab, was the founder of a group of pro-Algerian regime dual nationals (Moudaf), whose job was to defend and lobby for the interests of the Algerian regime.

The Moudaf and its members have been staunch advocates of the Algerian authoritarian regime in France, either by evoking colonial grievances or criticizing improving Moroccan-French ties.

The Algerian regime went further in instrumentalizing the Paris Mosque. Chems-eddine Mohamed Hafiz, the mosques current rector, despite being a French national, has openly lobbied for the Algerian regime, which he often defends in the media.

What was supposed to serve as a place of worship for all Muslims in a secular country is now a platform for Algerias anti-French rhetoric.

This anti-French indoctrination within the French territory gave rise to a spate of hateful speech against whatever the Algerian regime labels as enemies, notably Morocco, Israel and France.

The recent wave of arrests in France of Algerian influencers committing hate speech and calling for violence on social media has revealed the scale of recruitment by the Algerian regime. At least 7 influencers are facing trial for inciting to violence against Algerian opposition figures abroad.

Paris has just realized the dangers of a subversive plot unfolding on its territory and distantly controlled by Algiers.
A significant shift in U.S. maritime regulations has positioned Morocco as a key beneficiary in global shipping routes, reports Les Inspirations Eco in its January 29 edition. The Federal Maritime Commissions recent decision requiring specific shipping companies to route through Moroccan ports has created unprecedented opportunities for the Kingdoms maritime infrastructure, particularly the Tanger Med port complex.

Maritime expert Professor Najib Cherfaoui, speaking to Les Inspirations Eco, explains that the policy change stems from post-pandemic shipping reforms: This legislation reinforces the Federal Maritime Commissions regulatory powers. The objective is to prevent shipping practices from harming U.S. foreign trade. The FMC can now request documents related to transactions conducted outside the United States, directly impacting the global maritime transport system by establishing fairer pricing.

The impact of this regulatory shift has generated dual advantages for Moroccos maritime sector. Most notably, shipping costs have experienced a dramatic decline, with container prices from China to Morocco plummeting from $25,000 to $4,000 for a 40-foot unit. Additionally, the FMC now possesses the authority to intervene in cases of shipping delays affecting Moroccan-U.S. trade routes, significantly enhancing the reliability of perishable goods transportation between the two nations.

Tanger Med port has emerged as a primary beneficiary of these developments. The Port has recently surpassed the milestone of 10 million containers processed. However, this surge in activity has prompted discussions about capacity constraints. Professor Cherfaoui notes, There remain 800 meters of quays to be developed by 2025, which would bring capacity to 12 million TEUs. However, he warns that natural saturation could be reached as early as 2027.

Looking ahead to 2028, maritime authorities are evaluating various expansion strategies. As Les Inspirations Eco reports, two potential sites are under consideration: an eastern location near Fnideq and Tetouan, and a western site between Malabata and Fardioua, where natural conditions are particularly favorable. The publication also notes that expansion might necessitate a return to Tangier City operations.

The implications of these developments extend beyond Moroccos borders, positioning the country as an increasingly important player in global maritime logistics. According to the paper, long-term planning includes proposals to transform the Tanger Med Special Agency (TMSA) into a shipping operator, potentially enabling international port expansion and addressing the approaching 2035 concession renewals.

Maritime experts suggest this could mark the beginning of a new era in Mediterranean shipping, with Morocco potentially emerging as a dominant force in international maritime trade. The countrys geographic position, combined with these favorable regulatory changes and ongoing infrastructure developments, creates a unique opportunity for sustained growth in the maritime sector.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has confirmed on January 28 that she is under judicial investigation following the unexpected release of Osama Najim, a Libyan citizen wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a video message shared on social media, Meloni stated that prosecutors are investigating her for embezzlement and aiding a crime, after Najim was arrested in Italy on 21 January and then released due to a legal technicality. Najim, the head of Libyas judicial Police, had been wanted for his involvement in war crimes and violations of human rights.

The release of Najim sparked outrage, with the ICC issuing a new arrest warrant and demanding an explanation from Italy. Meloni explained that the Rome appeals court had ordered Najims release because the ICCs arrest warrant had not been sent to the Italian justice ministry. To prevent Najim from staying in Italy, the government arranged for his expulsion back to Libya on a special flight. The decision faced heavy criticism from opposition parties and human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, who condemned Najims actions and expressed concerns over his impunity.

In her video, Meloni suggested political motivations behind the investigation, pointing out that the lawyer who filed the complaint had previously been a left-wing politician, while the prosecutor leading the case had investigated Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, rejected the claims, stating that she would not be intimidated or blackmailed. She stressed that her focus would remain on securing Italys safety and vowed to continue her policies, particularly on immigration, which include controversial agreements with Libyan authorities to combat illegal migration.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed for concerted action to tackle neglected tropical diseases, which impact more than one billion people  often with devastating health, social and economic consequences
UN World Tourism Organization has chosen Moroccos capital city of Rabat for establishing its Thematic Office on Innovation for Africa. The move is an international recognition of the Kingdoms role as a key partner in supporting tourism growth across the continent.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and Moroccan tourism minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor signed on Tuesday Host Country Agreement on the sidelines of a forum held in the country on technological innovation & Tourism Investment.

The WTO thematic office will focus on capacity-building initiatives in Africa and support workshops, conferences and forums centered on innovation. It will also host start-up competitions to encourage entrepreneurial ventures in tourism across the continent.

The choice of Morocco for hosting Africas first UN tourism thematic office shows the Kingdoms continental leadership in tourism development, said Ms. Ammor.

For his part, Mr. Pololikashvili said the regional office will strengthen African tourism and ensure coordination with partners, while boosting UNWTOs actions for the benefit of African tourism.

According to the latest UN Tourism data, Morocco welcomed 17.4 million international tourists in 2024, a 20% increase on 2023, making it the most-visited country in all of Africa.

Over the last five years, Morocco has attracted $3.5 billion in FDI annually across all sectors. From 2014 to 2023, $ 2.2 billion was allocated to the tourism sector. Greenfield investments in tourism amounted to $ 2.6 billion between 2015 and 2024.

Moroccos tourism sector has become a key economic driver, contributing 7.3% to GDP by 2023. With a remarkable increase in international arrivals since 2019 and over $ 10.5 billion in tourism revenue, Moroccos tourism sector will continue growing thanks to its political stability, competitive edge and openness of its economy making the country a privileged destination for both national and international investors.
Belgium deems the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, presented in 2007, to be a serious and credible effort by Morocco and a very good basis for a solution accepted by all parties, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Quintin, said during a press briefing following talks, on Wednesday in Rabat, with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

Talks with Bourita helped me understand the ins and outs of the autonomy plan and realize the existential nature of this issue for Morocco, the Belgian minister underlined, adding that we know how important of an issue this is for Morocco.

Some prominent European and international partners have changed their position, he said, noting that Morocco and Belgium will continue to engage constructively on this subject.

Belgium fully supports the UN process for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution and recalls the UNs exclusive role in the political process, Quintin said.

He also reiterated Belgiums backing for UN Security Council Resolution 2703, which underscores the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and enduring political solution based on compromise.

Belgiums constructive stance aligns with the international momentum driven by King Mohammed VI, in support of Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan.

In a Joint Statement issued following the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, Belgium also praised the Royal Initiative aimed at enabling Atlantic access for Sahel countries, as well as the Process of the Atlantic African States.

Belgium has commended the efforts made by Morocco through various initiatives launched under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI to promote peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Africa, particularly the Royal Initiative to enable Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Process of the Atlantic African States, stated the Joint Statement.

Belgium also praised Moroccos role as a vital and reliable partner and as a key player in strengthening regional stability and cooperation, the Joint Statement added.

Regarding bilateral relations, Morocco and Belgium welcomed their historic and excellent relations and the strategic importance of these relations, while reaffirming their willingness to give a new momentum to their partnership in all areas, the Joint Statement pointed out, adding that the two officials voiced the two countries shared desire to strengthen political dialogue and further promote economic partnership in trade and investment, particularly in the field of energy transition and green energies.

Bourita and Quintin also vowed to continue strengthening cooperation in other priority areas, as defined in the roadmap drawn up by the High Joint Partnership Commission, such as culture, youth, migration, and security cooperation in the broad sense.

Belgium on the other hand welcomed the various ambitious reforms implemented under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, notably the reform of the Family Code and advanced regionalization.

The strengthening of Moroccos cooperation with Belgium falls in line with the efforts made by Morocco as part of the Royal Vision aimed at diversifying partnerships. It also confirms Moroccos role as a strategic player for European countries.

In his press briefing, the Belgian official described relations between Belgium and Morocco as the most exhaustive and diversified in the region.

Our respective people know better how Morocco and Belgium are historic allies. We undoubtedly have very strong human ties, Quintin said, noting that the Moroccan community in Belgium, estimated at 800,000 people, contributes to the diversity and intermingling of Belgian society.

Welcoming the political closeness between the two countries, the Belgian minister praised the good cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration, justice, and police.

Belgium undoubtedly hopes to bolster this joint work in the future, since these issues will surely be among the priorities of the new government, Quintin stated.

We clearly have privileged economic ties with Morocco, the Minister also stressed, noting that Belgian exports of goods to the Kingdom amounted to around 1.3 billion up to October 2024, a growth of almost 15% compared to the same period in 2023.

Describing this leap as very positive, the head of Belgian diplomacy expressed his countrys willingness to further strengthen this momentum, stressing that trade must be on par with our human and political relations.

Furthermore, Belgium, notably through its federated authorities and companies, strives to be a leading partner in supporting Moroccos economic and ecological growth, by contributing to major projects, he added.

In this sense, he underlined the readiness and expertise of Belgian companies to contribute to these major achievements, announcing that numerous thematic economic missions are already planned for the Kingdom in 2025.
politics

What We Know About the Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil

A federal judge in New York held a hearing on Wednesday that will help determine Khalils fate.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Getty, Retailer/Getty Images

And just like that, Valentines Day is less than a week away. So if you havent started hunting for a gift for your S.O., its now or never. Whether youre shopping for the girlfriend with expensive taste, the spouse who finishes every dinner with a sweet treat, or the husband who loves few things more than a cold beer, weve been rounding up gifts for every kind of person ahead of the big day. And here, youll find all of our (very specific) guides in one place, with picks at every price point.

Many of the gifts included in our guides have already been vetted by designers, actresses, athletes, and our very own readers, but Ive also done the due diligence of making sure every gift on this list will arrive by February 14 (unless Ive indicated otherwise). Just note: Since were so close to the big day, you may need to pay expedited shipping fees in order to ensure your gift will arrive on time. If nothing below strikes your fancy, you can find more ideas for every kind of recipient through the Strategist Gift Scout. And as always, if you want to stay on top of all of our gifts coverage, sign up for our newsletter and you wont miss a thing.

Update on February 10, 2025: Removed items that wont arrive by Valentines Day and added ones that will; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.

Best Last-Minute Valentines Day Gifts Valentines Day may fall on the same date every year  but if youve been procrastinating, were not judging. That said, many brands shipping deadlines are approaching quickly, so these are the last moments to order a gift on Amazon that doesnt scream I picked this up on my commute home. Try our favorite body oil for the girlfriend whos into wellness, or some very trendy gummies from BonBon for the husband with a sweet tooth. Theres also a reusable film camera from Kodak and more than 20 other gifts that should arrive before the big day. Read more here.

Best On-Sale Valentines Day Gifts The only thing better than a thoughtful gift is a thoughtful gift you got on sale. Deals editor Sam Daly has found 35 items that are on sale (most for under $100) and highly giftable  including half-off Beats, a blow-dryer brush, and plenty of candy for the valentine with a sweet tooth.

Best Valentines Day Gifts Under $25 Weve said it before and well say it again: You dont have to spend a ton to give a great gift. If youre looking for a surprising and delightful present that wont cost you a fortune, consider this stackable tumbler from Yeti, a set of expensive-looking gold-plated hoops, or one of our favorite alternatives to a box of chocolates: marzipan. For more than 50 other Valentines Day gifts under $25, read more here.

Best Valentines Day Gifts Under $50 For budgets with a little more wiggle room, weve assembled an assortment of thoughtful gifts under $50. Theres something for every type of valentine, including the wife whos looking for her signature scent, the husband searching for an excuse to relax, and the girlfriend whose New Years resolution is to stop ordering takeout. Read more here.

Its a truth universally acknowledged that Valentines Day is the best excuse to have the What are we? conversation. And with that conversation just might come the need to buy a gift. Whether you are in a situationship or have been together long-term, we have plenty of gift suggestions for every relationship stage. For the person youve had the toothbrush conversation with, try a really nice toothbrush to seal the deal. If youve successfully DTRd, theres a snow globe to celebrate the moment you met. Read more here.

The Cheapest, Nicest Valentines Day Gifts From the Most Expensive Brands If youre looking for a gift for a partner with expensive taste, youll be happy to know that a number of It girl brands offer little luxuries that dont cost a fortune. Whether you go for a leopard-print scrunchie from Ganni, a Timothee Chalametapproved beanie from ArcTeryx, or a retro-inspired teakettle from Smeg, these gifts will feel special without breaking the bank. Read more here.

The Best Splurgy Gifts for Girlfriends Who Are Actually Worth It A splurgy gift can be a real treat for your valentine  but not all splurges are equal. Skip the trendy handbag that will be out of style by next year, and take note from our guide to expensive gifts that are actually worth your money. The gifts on our list are made from materials that earn them a higher price tag, like a 100 percent cashmere sweater from Guest in Residence, a tightly woven lambswool blanket from Tekla, or the impressively fragrant Le Labo candle thats complete with a natural wick. Read more here.

The Best Splurgy Gifts for Boyfriends Who Are Actually Worth It And for the luxe-loving boyfriends, our recommendations (almost) pay for themselves thanks to their durability and utility. Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa drew from his experience testing everything from alarm clocks to cold-weather essentials to round up these worth-it gifts your boyfriend will use for years to come, whether he sets 20 alarms, starts each morning with freshly ground beans, or sees every three-day weekend as an excuse to travel. Read more here.

Best Valentines Day Flowers (That You Can Order Online) Wed be remiss to not recommend at least a few bouquets of flowers. From UrbanStems, youll find bouquets of classic roses in a romantic pink and fiery orange. For the special someone whod prefer something a little less on the nose, consider a bouquet of succulents from UrbanStems. Read more here.

Best Valentines Day Gifts for Her Whether youre shopping for the mom who needs her beauty sleep or the wife whos intent on journaling in the New Year, our roundup of Valentines Day gifts for every type of woman has more than 60 gift ideas. This tried-and-true sleep-therapy balm, double-sided puzzle, and gridded notebook are beloved by readers for a reason, but there are plenty of other options for your S.O., too. Read more here.

Best Gifts for Every Type of Girlfriend If youre looking for a gift for your girlfriend, follow Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hursts advice: Pay attention and be specific. That may seem daunting, but Denton-Hursts list includes more than 40 thoughtful gifts to guide you along. May we suggest a chainmail scrubber for the girlfriend whos obsessed with caring for her cast iron, a LEGO bouquet for the girlfriend who loves a puzzle, or a handsome tea infuser for the girlfriend who needs her morning brew? Read more here.

Best Gifts for Every Type of Wife Denton-Hursts advice for gifting girlfriends still holds true when it comes to wives, but since you likely have a few more Valentines Days under your belt, were here to help with more than 80 gift ideas that will feel fresh no matter how many years youve been celebrating together. For the wife who puts comfort above all else, we suggest actress-loved fuzzy socks. If her top drawer is already overflowing, try an on-the-go photo printer or Mary Poppinsesque makeup bag. Read more here.

Best Fine Jewelry Under $500 Our writer and resident jewelry collector Ambar Pardilla is here to let you in on a secret: While a lot of fine pieces come with a four-figure-plus price tag, you dont actually have to spend a fortune. After scouring the internet for the best necklaces, bracelets, and earrings under $500, she turned up more than 50 gift-worthy pieces, including some dainty berry-shaped earrings by Ted Muehling, a plum-shaped charm from Catbird, and a set of interconnected, fidget-spinner-esque silver rings by Spinelli Kilcollin. Read more here.

Best Valentines Day Gifts for Him Moving on to the gifts for guys, youll find suggestions for every type of man, from the one you travel the world with to the one who puts massage gift certificates at the top of every wish list. For the design-minded partner, we recommend this mushroom-shaped nightlight that we spotted in John Derians whimsical apartment. If none of those ideas speak to you, we found 53 more. Read more here.

Best Gifts for Every Type of Boyfriend Rellosa has similar advice to Denton-Hurst when it comes to finding a gift for your boyfriend: The more you can pinpoint his interests and align them to the right product, the better the gift will be. In Rellosas list of 65 gifts, youll find a seasoned grill press for the boyfriend who wants to perfect his grilled cheese, along with a loveseat chair for the one whos into camping. And if youre still stumped, try this nifty beverage cooler, which will chill his drinks whether he prefers a beer, cider, or soda. Read more here.

Best Gifts for Every Type of Husband Given the husband who has everything stereotype, our gifts for husbands lean practical yet charmingly unexpected. Within the 60-plus gifts weve collected, youll find a keychain-slash-charging-cable for the husband whose phone is always at one percent, a battery-free nose trimmer for the man whos really into grooming, and a warm-toned book light for the late-night reader. Read more here.

Best Valentines Day Gifts for the Two of You Still feeling stumped? Try a gift that you can enjoy together, like a vibey puzzle or a duet of disposable cameras. For a splurge, we suggest this instant projector thatll come in handy for movie nights for years to come. Read more here.

Best Food Gifts for Every Type of Valentine If your S.O. believes their love language is food, try an edible gift. Our kitchen and dining writer, Emma Wartzman, rounded up 23 of her favorite sweets and treats, including an all-chocolate Basque-style cake and a box of handmade chocolate truffles. For the valentine who opts for sour over sweet, try this versatile chili vinegar thats akin to Franks RedHot. Read more here.

Best Valentines Day Gifts for Kids Take a page out of Strategist writer Lauren Ros book and use Valentines Day as another excuse to spoil your kiddos. Drawing from her own expertise, she curated a list of 25 non-candy Valentines Day gifts for kids. On it, youll find classic gifts, like her sons favorite paint markers, along with a variety of heart-shaped delights, such as color-changing mood lockets and a waffle machine that churns out heart-shaped treats. Read more here.

The Best Tiny Valentines Day Gifts You dont need a tiny valentine to shop for a tiny gift. Consider a fun-size ballpoint pen for the valentine who jots down ideas on their daily commute or some mini Laneige for the beauty fanatic. Theres a surprisingly adorable pair of Yeti stackable cups, too. Read more here.

Best Subscription Boxes to Gift A subscription box is ideal for the valentine who mourns a holiday before its over so they can keep the romantic festivities going long past February 14. Youll want to pick a box that aligns with your partners interests, but some of our favorites include the Japanese snack boxes from Bokksu, tea-of-the-month-club membership from Atlas Tea Club, and History by Mail subscription for the aspiring Jeopardy! contestant. Read more here. Editors note: Some of these subscription boxes wont arrive by February 14, but theyll be the gift that keeps on giving after the subscription begins.

get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. 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.

The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
China installed a record amount of wind and solar capacity at home last year, data showed earlier this month. Yet, the country did not stop there. Chinese companies also installed record power generation capacity abroad as welland half of it was neither wind nor solar.

Wood Mackenzie reported this week that Chinese power generation capacity developers completed some 24 GW of new capacity across more than 150 countries that are part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The number compared with just 10 GW installed in 2023 and 22 GW installed in 2022, Wood Mac said.

A little more than 50% of that total was wind and solar, which must have made climate activists happybut not too happy because the rest of this new capacity will run on coal, gas, and crude oil. The combined Belt and Road countries new generation capacity fired by hydrocarbons rose from 3 GW in 2023 to 12 GW last year. China also installed 8 GW of new solar capacity in Belt and Road Initiative countries last year, as well as 5 GW of new hydropower capacity.

These figures reflect a trend that is also evident in transition-oriented Western countries: gas generation will be hard to shake off, and so will coal generation. The latter was recently demonstrated by Germany, where the chief executive of grid operator Amprion said this month coal plants will need to be kept on standby for longer than previously expected.

Some of these plants currently only have an operating perspective until 2026, the vast majority until 2031, Christoph Mueller said, referring to the coal plants on standby. We should do a proper analysis now in case we need these power plants for longer, the executive added.

Related: China Breaks Nuclear Fusion Record, Again

Coal, gas, and nuclear remain the only kind of baseload capacity that can balance the grid when demand and supply from wind and solar do not matchbecause the grid must be matched every second of every hour every day. Clearly, Chinese power plant operators know this, and they are exporting that knowledge to Belt and Road Initiative countries after applying it at home as well.

Even so, China has been prioritizing gas over coal since President Xi Jinping vowed in 2021 to end funding for coal-powered facilities. Indeed, many projects have been canceled since then, but by no means all. China has continued building coal-fired power plants both at home and abroad, and, according to Wood Mackenzie, there are still some 19 GW of future coal capacity in the pipeline. Since the pledge, however, a total of 42.8 GWS of new coal capacity has been canceled, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which tracks these projects.

However, Chinese companies are investing a lot more in wind and solar energy abroadhardly a wonder given that China is the total dominant power in both solar and wind technology on a global level. Chinese companies are heavily prioritizing greener technologies overseas, Alex Whitworth, vice-president and head of Asia-Pacific power and renewables research at Wood Mac, said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. With costs declining, [they] are leading its deployment in many developing markets that could not previously afford it, Whitworth added.

Interestingly, even though it added a record amount of new wind and solar capacity at home and built a lot of new wind and solar capacity abroad, China last year booked a record in coal-powered generation. The total for 2024 stood at 6.34 trillion kWh, which was 1.5% higher than the total for 2023. Although the growth rate was the weakest in close to ten years, the fact of the record stands, reinforcing the perception that coal is going nowhere despite forecasts that consumption of the hydrocarbon fuel was nearing its peak in China.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The US transferred Patriot air-defense missiles from Israel to Ukraine, bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities amid the escalating conflict.

Putin refused direct peace talks with Zelenskyy, dismissing him as illegitimate, while Zelenskyy accused Putin of fearing negotiations.

Ukraine carried out a significant drone attack on Russian energy infrastructure, including an oil refinery, while Russia retaliated with strikes that caused civilian casualties.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck a Russian oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region as part of a massive attack targeting energy infrastructure, including a nuclear power site.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said in a statement on January 29 that the refinery was "involved in providing support to the Russian occupation army."

"Combat work on strategic facilities involved in providing support for the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine will continue," it added.

Geolocation data from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty confirmed social media posts showing a major fire at the Sibur-Kstovo oil refinery near Nizhny Novgorod.

Russian government officials in Russia's Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, Kursk, Leningrad, and Bryansk regions said their areas had been hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, though they did not comment on the refinery strike.

Officials in Kazan and St. Petersburg temporarily suspended traffic, citing safety concerns.

"In various areas of the Smolensk region, civilian objects are being subjected to a massive attack" by drones, Governor Vasily Anokhin wrote on Telegram.

No additional information was provided, but the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant is a major power-generating facility some 100 kilometers from Smolensk city.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its defenses shot down 104 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions overnight, but it was not possible to independently confirm the claims.

Both sides in the war have stepped up the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones in recent months, often targeting the enemy's energy infrastructure.

Russia has also caused widespread destruction of Ukrainian civilian sites with drones, rockets, artillery, and various types of bombs. The Kremlin has denied it targets civilian areas despite evidence of such attacks.

Inside Ukraine, regional Governor Vitaliy Kim said two women were killed due to a Russian missile attack on the city of Mykolayiv.

Off the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "afraid" to enter into negotiations on ending the war after the Kremlin leader ruled out direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Every move he makes and all his cynical tricks are aimed at making the war endless, he added.

Earlier, Putin told Russian state TV thattalks with Ukraine were possible but not with Zelenskyy, whom he deemed as "illegitimate" because his presidential term expired while the country was under martial law.

"But essentially, if they want to proceed, there is a legal way to do it. Let the chairman of the [Ukrainian parliament] handle it in accordance with the constitution," Putin said.

"However, so far, we simply do not see such a desire," he added.

Meanwhile, Axios reported the U.S. military transferred some 90 Patriot air-defense missiles from storage in Israel to Poland this week with an aim to deliver them to Ukraine.

The report, citing three people with knowledge of the operation, said the Israeli Air Force decommissioned the Patriot air-defense system more than 30 years after it was given to Israel during the first Gulf War.

After the Israelis announced the decommissioning, Kyiv suggested to U.S. and Israeli officials that Israel return the missiles to the U.S. military to be refurbished and then sent to Ukraine.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
In the simple terms of power politics, the West won the Israel-Iran conflict centred this time around Gaza and the East lost, at least for now. In the process, the U.S. and its key allies proved to China and Russia that they can prevail while working on two conflicts at the same time -- the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas War. It looks highly likely that they could do the same in three if required, especially if the third was centered on Taiwan. Additionally, the unexpected and lightning-fast removal of Syrias President Bashar al-Assad showed that the U.S. and its key allies remain capable of mobilising and deploying their vast range of political, economic, military, and intelligence assets to remove a long-term strongman leader virtually at will. And in neutralising Iran and its proxies across the region they further demonstrated that they can overturn a long-established balance of power when necessary. Such simple lessons are especially potent to the leaders of China, Russia, Iran, and all other major players in the Middle East, especially when they came during the presidency of Joe Biden. This, and the prospect of what Trump might do, appears to have prompted a major attitudinal shift on the part of key Middle Eastern powers, including Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. Perhaps a slew of new deals for Western firms in Iraq in recent days is evidence of such a shift there too?

January 16 alone saw multiple new agreements for British firms to begin with. These followed a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani to London where he met with Shell chief executive officer Wael Sawan to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation between Iraq and the energy supermajor. Sawan underlines Shells readiness to increase its investments in Iraq, particularly in the gas sector, in which it is already a key player through its role in the Basra Gas Company. Later that day, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in London, beginning in the financial sector with an agreement between Britains Standard Chartered Bank and the Trade Bank of Iraq. This was followed by agreements connected to Iraqs crucial water projects with Britains IHS Consulting and James Cubitt & Partners. The projection of soft power was also evident in the signing of an MoU between SOAS University of London and Iraqs Al-Mamoun University College focused on educational cooperation and the exchange of academic missions. A day later, it was the U.S.s turn, with the Iraqi Cabinet approving a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Halliburton for the development of the Nahr bin Umar and Sindbad oil fields. Significantly, the previous contract for Nahr bin Umar had been awarded to the Halfaya Gas Company, a subsidiary of PetroChina. Another Chinese firm -- United Energy Group  had also signed the previous contract for the Sindbad fields as well. Around the same time, Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions chief executive officer Ken West met Iraqi President Abdul Rashid discussed expanding cooperation, particularly in oilfield development and sustainable energy solutions. A senior energy sector source in the European Union exclusively told OilPrice.com last week that: This is the tip of the iceberg -- Chevron, ExxonMobil, AECOM, and Bechtel have all been tipped to bid for projects in Iraq exceeding US$60 billion in investment, while firms linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, China, and Russia will see their share of projects shrink.

To both the West and the East, Iraq is at least one of the greatest prize in the Middle East, if not the greatest. To begin with, of course, it has a very conservatively estimated 145 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, which along with Iran and Saudi Arabia are the cheapest to extract anywhere in the world, with an average lifting cost of just US$1-2 per barrel (pb). Unofficially, the Oil Ministry stated back in 2015 that its undiscovered resources amounted to around 215 billion barrels. A full analysis conducted in 2012 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) put the level of Iraqs ultimately recoverable resources at around 246 billion barrels (crude and natural gas liquids). Iraq also has official gas reserves of about 3.5 trillion cubic metres (tcm), with around three-quarters of these comprising associated gas. Unofficially though, in its thorough 2012 analysis the IEA estimated a truer figure at above 8.0 tcm, with non-associated gas estimated to be at least 30% of this number. In short, it has proven an unmissable energy trove to West and East alike. The second factor that makes it so alluring to both sides is its vital geographical positioning in the heart of the Middle East, bordering Iran to the East, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the South, Jordan and Syria to the West, and Turkey to the North. The final major element in its appeal to the West and East is that it is an integral part of a Shia Islam counterpoint to Sunni Islam credo of Saudi Arabia. Together with Iran, this gives it influence over the Shia Crescent of Power that runs through the Middle East, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This also comprises Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen, among other borderline countries and may again feature Syria.

Once the U.S. and its allies were seen to have overstayed their initial warm welcome after they removed Saddam Hussein from office in April 2003, Iran was able to firmly re-establish its longstanding influence over Iraq through a spiders web of political, economic, and military proxies. And following the unilateral withdrawal of then-President Donald Trump from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (colloquially the nuclear deal) with Iran in May 2018, China felt sufficiently politically confident and economically able to replace Russia as the pre-dominant big power sponsor or both Iran and Iraq. That new push by Beijing into the heart of the Middle East at the U.S.s expense was formalised with Iran in the all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement, as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject, and also detailed in full in my latest book. It was then formalised with Iraq in the September 2019 Oil for Reconstruction and Investment agreement, which was later expanded in 2021 into the all-encompassing economic, political, and military Iraq-China Framework Agreement. In both Iran and Iraqs cases, these agreements saw China leverage financial investment into cheap oil and gas from both countries, together crucially with a heavy on-the-ground security presence, including the dual-use of Iran and Iraqs airports and seaports by Beijing. As it now stands, more than a third of all Iraqs proven oil and gas reserves and over two-thirds of its current production are managed by Chinese companies, according to industry figures. It is little wonder, then, that the U.S. and its allies have been desperate ever since to reverse this geopolitical trend.

A crucial turning point in this regard came with the landmark US$27 billion four-pronged deal done by one of the companies at the forefront of the Wests move back into key strategic locations in the Middle East and North Africa  Frances oil and gas powerhouse, TotalEnergies. Two of these four projects are especially important to the Wests ongoing efforts to re-assert its influence in Iraq, with the first being to reduce the flaring of gas released during oil drilling. By doing this, the West hopes to reduce and then eliminate the long-running need for Iraq to import up to 40% of its energy needs from Iran in gas and electricity supplies. The second key project is to finally make progress on Iraqs long-delayed Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP). This is critical in enabling Iraq to dramatically increase its crude oil production up to 6 million barrels per day (bpd), or 9 million bpd, or even 13 million bpd. A further recent boost to the Wests prospects here is the December agreement of British oil and gas giant BP to develop Iraqs huge Kirkuk oil fields, which have an estimated 9 billion barrels of recoverable oil in place. This not only dovetails into BPs 50%-stake in Iraqs giant Rumaila field, which in turn links into TotalEnergies plans for the CSSP, but it should also allow the West to derail ongoing plans to roll the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region into a unified Iraq. The West has a long history of cooperation with the Region, while the remainder of Iraq has proven less reliable in its geopolitical allegiances.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The ongoing conflict in the Red Sea has cost Egypt billions of dollars in lost revenue from Suez Canal traffic, as many ships have been forced to take the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope.

Despite the Houthi ceasefire, major international shipping companies are hesitant to resume using the Suez Canal due to ongoing security concerns and the high cost of transit.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to stop attacking international vessels in the Red Sea as long as Israel upholds the Gaza ceasefire, but attacks on Israeli ships will continue.

American and British vessels are cautiously returning to the Red Sea as the Gaza truce and prisoner exchange deal continues to hold. Starting last week Yemen's Houthi movement made clear that it would honor the ceasefire, and refrain from attacking international vessels in the Red Sea so long as Israel bides by the ceasefire.

However, a key exception is that Houthis will only continue attacking Israeli vessels. This intent to scale back pro-Palestine maritime operations, which has seen drones and missiles lobbed against foreign ships for many months, is translating to less incidents over this past week.

The Yemeni Houthi army's Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) announced Tuesday, "JMIC assesses that as the peace agreement progresses and vessels and infrastructure remain untargeted, improved stability is expected; however, the risk in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden remain elevated."

According to Lebanon-based The Cradle, "Since 19 January, six US and UK vessels have transited the Red Sea safely. Despite this, major international shipping firms such as Danish company Maersk, Swiss company MSC, and Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd have said that they will not immediately resume journeys despite the Yemeni assurances."

For the past year, international shipping companies been forced to take the much longer and costlier route around the Africa continent to avoid the Red Sea.

The Houthis have attacked more than 100 international commercial vessels, and have even targeted US and British military warships, including aircraft carriers. The Houthis have also shot down multiple American MQ-9 Reaper drones.

As we reported last week, ocean lines have said they are watching developments in the Red Sea but have offered no timeline to resume regular schedules there. Among major lines, only CMA CGM has maintained a schedule on the Suez Canal route.

Map via Reuters

"The situation in the Suez Canal remains fluid and the security situation is unclear," said MSC in a statement to FreightWaves. "In order to guarantee the safety of our seafarers and to ensure consistency and predictability of service for our customers, MSC will continue to transit via the Cape of Good Hope [around Africa] until further notice."

The cost of transit through the Suez Canal has greatly ratcheted, and the avoidance of the strategic waterway to and from the Mediterranean has also cost Egypt tens of billions of dollars.

By Zerohedge.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Germany has been experiencing lower-than-normal winds for four months, which have reduced wind power generation, boosting electricity prices and the reliance on fossil fuels.

The German predicament, where wind speeds have been below average for extended periods of time since October 2024, is affecting regional prices as Germanys utilities are also raising electricity imports from neighboring countries.

At the end of last year, wind speeds in Germany slumped in the so-called Dunkelflaute period in which there is a lull in wind speeds. This sent power prices in northwestern European countries surging and nations have had to rely more on fossil fuels such as natural gas to meet demand.

The lower wind power generation, Germanys largest source of electricity, has extended from the end of 2024 to the early weeks of 2025, too.

Germanys wind power output fell by 16% in the first 28 days of January from the same period a year earlier, per data from LSEG cited by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire.

As a result, Germanys power producers have boosted fossil fuel generation, with coal and natural gas power plants raising their electricity output by 4.5% so far in January from a year earlier, according to LSEG data.

At the end of last year, Germanys power prices spiked as the so-called power margin, the available electricity supply to meet demand, sunk as low wind speeds and colder weather were straining the power system.

Power prices across Europe also jumped, to the highest level in 20 months, additionally burdening key industries in major economies that had just started to recover from the 2022 energy crisis.

Major economies in Western Europe  Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy, have seen a surge in energy costs. Economies in east and southeast Europe have been suffering even more as energy prices have been higher than in Western Europe in recent months.

Greece is now urging the EU to move faster to address the high power and natural gas prices in the bloc that undermine its competitiveness and burden households.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Legislators in Mexico have proposed a bill that would enable public-private partnerships in the power generation sector but only if the public portion of the partnership is at least 54%, Reuters has reported, citing the draft document.

This means that the state-owned power utility Comision Federal de Electricidad will be responsible for supplying at least 54% of Mexicos power to the grid, continuing the previous administrations preference for more state control of power generation to ensure affordability.

The draft legislation follows a constitutional amendment aiming to cement Comision Federal de Electricidad, or CFE, as the dominant player in the Mexican power market. The constitutional amendment was passed in the Senate with 86 votes in favor to 39 against last October. This met the requirement of a two-thirds majority of votes in favor of amending the constitution.

Mexicos new President Claudia Sheinbaum continues the policies of her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to support and favor the state energy majors, including oil firm Pemex and CFE.

Under the constitutional amendment, national grid operator Cenace will be required to take first and prioritize electricity from the power plants owned and operated by the state company CFE regardless of the price and whether it is more expensive than the electricity generated from private power producers.

There was also an earlier bill that aimed to secure CFEs 54% control of the Mexican grid, by reclassifying the utilityalong with oil major Pemexas public companies, a change from their previous designation as state productive companies.

Despite the reclassification that would give the government a greater say in Pemex operations, the new government is in favor of the company working with private companies to develop the countrys oil and gas resources. The same attitude appears to be at play when it comes to power utilities: private companies are welcome as long as they know their place, essentially.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
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)
Oil prices remained somewhat depressed today following a jump on Tuesday as protesters in Libya threatened to block crude oil exports via two terminals in the Oil Crescent. After the state oil company talked to the protesters, it said exports were running at normal rates.

(Oil) operations are proceeding without interruption across all fields and ports, subsequent to discussions held with protesters who conducted a demonstration this morning at the ports of (Es Sider) and Ras Lanuf, the National Oil Corporation said in a statement on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.

Prices meanwhile have been getting some support from expectations of U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico that would make crude oil costlier. Trump threatened to slap tariffs on both U.S. neighbors on his first day in office and has not reconsidered this plan since despite retaliatory threats from Canada that it would suspend vital energy exports to the northeastern states.

The U.S. president has said he would slap a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico as punishment for illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling. The tariff is supposed to come into effect on February 1st. Critics have warned that this would interfere with Trumps promise to keep fuel prices affordable for Americans. Canada is the biggest supplier of imported crude oil to the U.S.

Both Mexico and Canada have threatened retaliation for any tariffs, leading some Trump critics to suggest the tariff idea may do more harm than good given the size of the stakes in the trade game with the neighbors.

Investors are trying to assess the impact of Trump's tariff policy, Nomura Securities analyst Yuki Takashima told Reuters. Some traders also adjusted positions in response to the turbulence in financial markets caused by the DeepSeek shock, she added.

At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $77.29 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $73.61 per barrel.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Ukraine early on Tuesday hit with drones an oil refinery near Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, announcing a second hit at a Russian oil refinery in less than a week.

Units of Ukraines defense intelligence, in cooperation with other components of the defense forces, struck on the night of January 29 Lukoils Norsi refinery in Kstovo, in the region of Nizhny Novgorod, Russias sixth-largest city.

A large fire was seen at the facility after the attack, said Ukraines General Staff of the Armed Forces in a Facebook post which contained a photo of a refinery on fire.

The refinery is involved in providing support to the Russian army, Ukraine said, adding that Combat work on strategic facilities involved in providing support for the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine will continue.

Russias Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its systems intercepted and destroyed a total of 104 Ukrainian drones overnight, but did not comment or confirm a hit on Lukoils Norsi refinery.

The strike at the Norsi facility is the second in less than a week, after Ukraine hit at the end of last week a major Russian oil refinery in Ryazan, causing significant damage and disrupting operations.

The overnight attack set a 20,000-ton oil storage tank ablaze and damaged vital infrastructure, including a hydrotreater and railway loading rack. This refinery, which processes 262,000 barrels per day (bpd)nearly 5% of Russia's refining capacityground to a halt, underscoring the vulnerabilities of Russias energy sector amidst the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and other energy infrastructure have become a fixture, with drones the weapon of choice for conducting the strikes.

As Ukraine continues to target refineries in Russia, some of these attacks have affected fuel product supply from Russian refineries and reduced crude processing rates.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Securing the Border

President Donald Trump wasted no time in launching his campaign to deport illegal aliens starting with the worst of the worst  those convicted of heinous crimes. And he is having significant success. However, you wouldnt know that because the mainstream media seems to be focused entirely on the what if game of mass deportation. And in doing so they miss the whole point of what is going on.

For instance, in the first series of raids, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested a member of the notorious MS-13 gang but the media seemed to focus on another illegal alien housed in the residence and for whom no warrants were outstanding. That despite the fact that Border Czar Tom Holman had been telling the media that it would happen  any illegal alien in the company of those on the high priority list would also be detained and deported. In doing so the media missed two important points. First, by arresting and deporting those who provide shelter for the worst of the worst a strong message is sent to the community to close your doors to these thugs  minimize their ability to allude ICE. And the second is that although there are no felony warrants outstanding for these collateral immigrants, they are in fact here illegally and should be removed. The news media and the progressives are doing their damnest to cast this as disrupting the lives of innocents when there are none.

You next hear their stories that ICE has entered schools to tear children out of the classroom. Their proof is, as usual, baloney. The case in point did not involve ICE but rather the Secret Service which was not there to detain or remove students but rather to investigate a threat against the school. Given how quickly the progressive politicians, including the governor of Illinois, released their press statement condemning ICE, one wonders whether it wasnt the progressives themselves that reported the school threat knowing that some federal agency would show up and they could make their false claim about ICE and removing children form the school. There is nothing to which the progressives wont stoop to create yet another false narrative.

Use your head. Thats not going to happen. If there is an illegal alien who is an accused rapist in a school, ICE is going in  just as if there was an active shooter in a school. Apparently some of the members of these international gangs, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, have members as young as twelve and thirteen years old. They carry weapons and are just as likely to use them as their adult counterparts. They may be in our schools but they sure as hell arent there to learn bur rather to further the goals of the gang. There are just under 90,000 elementary schools in the United States. The chances of such an entry in these schools is practically negligible  unless of course the teachers unions decide they want to encourage using the schools as sanctuaries or gin up an incident like that in Chicago. In such a case, Mr. Holman would be well served to arrest the teachers and their union leaders first and then deal with the illegal immigrants later. Thwarting the law for political purposes is about as low as you can get  particularly when you expose children to the danger that ensues. And in those rare cases where there are illegal aliens wanted for violent acts, you want ICE or any other law enforcement agency to remove them as quickly as possible.

So when you listen to the television anchors, the new readers, the hair spray wonders, and the vacuous five-inch stiletto wearers wring their hands about the what ifs of the deportation efforts, know two things. First that they have not checked the accuracy of their accusations but rather have just taken the word of some progressive political activist; and two, that they are, in reality, trying to kill a necessary and valuable program in a fit over having lost yet another election.

The Pen and the Phone

After suffering a number of legislative losses, former President Barack Obama infamously said:

Ive got a pen, and Ive got a phone.

It was a pretty cryptic and stupid pronouncement. I dont know what role the phone had in it but what it meant is that Mr. Obama decided to bypass Congress and usurp authority that he did not possess when he could not get his way. Former President Joe Biden continued the practice  well actually the cabal running the White House and acting as if they were president continued the practice. Ol Joe was pretty much clueless about what was going on around him. Mr. Obama was successful during his presidency mostly because the United States Supreme Court remained in the hands of the liberals and he was confident that they wouldnt upset a liberal agenda even if they knew it was wrong. Mr. Biden failed because in the interim President Trump installed a conservative majority in the Court which thereafter began to accept and confirm challenges to the exercise of executive authority  even dating back to orders entered unlawfully by Mr. Obama. With each passing decision, the Court has demonstrated the executive authority is bound by the Congress and the Constitution.

Mr. Trump complained loudly about Mr. Bidens excesses and swore to turn them around which he then did beginning on January 20, 2025. But the ink was hardly dry on those order than Mr. Trump himself exceeded his authority on at least two instances. First, he suspended a decision of the United States Supreme Court declaring that Congress acted lawfully in banning hostile foreign ownership of TikTok. I understand his rationale but he was wrong and he has tainted the legitimacy of any subsequent transaction involving ByteDances sale of TikTok to a domestic company in America. Under the Congressional law and the Supreme Court decision, TikTok is no longer an operational enterprise in America and Mr. Trumps action cannot and did not revive it.

Next, Mr. Trump in his zeal to rid the federal government of deep state obstructionists terminated a number of agency inspectors general  the people charged by Congress to oversee the operations of executive agencies for compliance with law. He did it in spite of a law requiring a thirty day notice to Congress of his intent to terminate. Again, he did the right thing in terminating these worthless bureaucrats that have been universally co-opted into preserving the power of their agencies at the expense of serving the public. It would have been just as easy to suspend the inspectors general, send notice to the Congress and thirty days thereafter fire them. You can argue that the President shouldnt be required to perform a pointless act  giving thirty days notice  when he is going to fire them anyway and, that may carry the day. However, I expect that if either of these actions are challenged the Supreme Court will overturn his orders and continue to exact adherence to the Constitutional limitation on the authority to act.

So, in the end, Mr. Trump gets am A for effort and another A for execution in beginning the removal of illegal aliens. But with regard to these other two executive orders, Mr. Trump get an A for effort in cleaning the swamp but an F for acting within the scope of presidential authority.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov has been summoned to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azernews reports, via the ministry.

During the meeting, it was noted that the publication of disinformation articles and reports targeting our country by the Russian press, as well as by some official circles in Russia, has created misunderstandings and contradicts the content and spirit of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.

It was recalled that the results of the preliminary investigation into the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane are known, work is underway to finalize the investigation, and Russia has openly stated its expectations regarding the incident.

As regards the information about the "Russian House" in the local press, it was stated that this was not an official position and that the activities of such organizations in the territory of Azerbaijan are based on the principle of reciprocity and must be carried out under the requirements of the legislation.
The origins of the teardrop tattoo can be traced back to the criminal underworld, particularly within the confines of the prison system. Historically, these tattoos were seen as a badge of honor, a visual representation of the wearer's perceived criminal prowess or tragic experiences. In some cases, a single teardrop was believed to signify the completion of a prison sentence, while multiple teardrops denoted the number of lives the individual had taken.

Teardrop Tattoos in Prison Culture

Within the harsh realities of the prison environment, the teardrop tattoo took on a deeply symbolic meaning. For some inmates, the tattoo was a symbol of their "ownership" by a more powerful prisoner, a visual marker of the abuse, rape, and humiliation they had endured. For others, it represented the loss of a fellow inmate or gang member, a testament to the ever-present threat of violence and mortality that permeated the prison walls.

Advertisement

The Evolving Meanings of Teardrop Tattoos

Over time, the significance of the teardrop tattoo has evolved, with its meaning shifting across different regions and subcultures. In some instances, the left-side teardrop came to signify the wearer's involvement in a homicide, while the right-side teardrop represented the loss of a loved one. In certain gang-affiliated communities, the teardrop tattoo was used to denote membership or allegiance, further complicating the already murky waters of its symbolism.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Geographic coverage: the log total number of biological records from the Biodiversity of Ice-free Antarctica Database within raster cells of ice-free Antarctica. Credit: Diversity and Distributions (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13909

Australian Antarctic Program scientists have released the most comprehensive database of species living in the ice-free areas of Antarctica, after 16 years of research.

More than 35,600 records, some more than 200 years old, have been consolidated into one central location. The records comprise the location and identity of 1,890 species, including mosses, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, microbes, birds and seals.

Australian Antarctic Division Program Leader, Dr. Aleks Terauds, said "The Biodiversity of Ice-free Antarctica Database' will underpin future regional and global studies of ecology, diversity and change. For example, the Antarctic ecosystem classification, recently published in Scientific Data, relied heavily on the records in this database.

"The species represented in this database occur across all 16 'Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions,' which are distinct areas characterized by different climates, landscapes and species," Dr. Terauds said.

"By better understanding the location and diversity of species across these bioregions, and Antarctica generally, we can design better studies to understand ecological structure and function, and mitigate the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity.

"This new Antarctic database can also be integrated into global biodiversity-related studies, and it supports conservation actions required under the Protocol on the Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty."

Dr. Terauds said the database began with an initial foundational dataset taken from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Antarctic Biodiversity Database in 2008.

Since then the research team has scoured other databases, herbaria, field research notes and scientific literature, quality checking and validating the spatial location and identity of additional records.

The records were collected between the early 1800s and 2019, with most records collected after 1950.

More than 15% of the records were of penguins and flying seabirds, and most (more than 15,000) were collected from the north-west Antarctic Peninsula, followed by almost 5,000 from East Antarctica.

Nearly 78% of records were collected within one kilometer of the continent's coast.

Dr. Terauds said ice-free areas make up about 0.4% of Antarctica and include coastal oases, cliffs, nunataks (mountain summits or ridges poking through ice) and scree (loose stones).

"The characteristics that make these small 'islands in the ice' attractive to the animals, plants and other organisms that live and breed in Antarctica, also makes them attractive to humans and potentially invasive species," he said.

"So it's really important that we understand what's there and use that information to advance scientific understanding, conservation and biosecurity."

The research was published Jan. 27 in Ecology. A companion paper assessing the potential use of the database was recently published in Diversity and Distributions.

Provided by Australian Antarctic Division
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:

Sasha Ahearn explains her project to Feifei Shen at an event for Lily Song's anti-displacement studio class in Chinatown. Credit: Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

The site of what is now the Metropolitan apartment complex on Oak Street in Boston has been at the heart of community life in the city's Chinatown neighborhood for nearly a century. A hub for the city's immigrants, it was a seat of activism in the 1950s and '60s against large-scale urban renewal projects that wiped out sections of many immigrant neighborhoods across the city.

"This building exists because of the community fighting back," says Suzanne Lee, a longtime resident and organizer. When the first interstate highway through Boston, I-93, was set to be built in the late 1950s and early '60s, Chinatown organizers negotiated to re-route the highway in order to save key buildings.

"They were going to build a taxi [depot] here. We've been dealing with this for years," Lee says.

She's standing in the Metropolitan's ground floor common room in mid-December, where a group of Northeastern University architecture students are mingling with a crowd of residents, Boston government officials, and urban planning and development professionals about another existential threat: gentrification.

The students are members of ARCH 5115: Anti-Displacement Studio, assistant professor Lily Song's upper level architecture course. The students' final projects for the class, affixed on poster boards around the room, are in-depth, data-heavy visual presentations focused on different ways immigrant communities in North America have responded to the threat of being priced out or removed from their neighborhoods.

"How do we sustain Chinatown being a Chinatown that's not overrun by chain restaurants and stores, but businesses that can serve a sustainable and thriving community, both for people living there and working there?" Lee asks, articulating the central question of both the class and the afternoon.

A partnership with the Chinatown Community Land Trust, ARCH 5115 is devoted to the history and future of the historic neighborhood, long a working-class enclave for both the city's Chinese American population and for immigrants of nearly every global background.

"Chinatown used to be very mixed," says Song, whose research interests lie at the intersection of urban planning and community participation. "Not just Chinese, but Lebanese, Syrian, Irish and Jewish residents a really diverse working class."

The true scope of the class echoes that broad diversity. Though the real-world conversations and history lessons are Chinatown-specific, it's really a course about preserving the rich traditions and history that make cities across the U.S. unique, while ensuring their economic viability. In recent years, Chinatown has proven popular with developers and middle-class newcomers to Boston, thanks to its proximity to the city's business and financial districts and easy access to transportation.

But as luxury high-rises and young professionals have moved in, rents have skyrocketed, threatening the historic neighborhood's longtime locals and small businesses. Currently, median monthly rent in the Chinatown leather district neighborhood is $3,615,nearly 83% higher than the national average. Some possible solutions have included community-owned corporate spaces, legacy small business grants or partnerships with large area institutions, like universities and hospital networks.

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.

"Architecture can be a vehicle for people to enact the values they want to see in the world," Song says. "I try to really push my students to find practical, grounded examples of how to make change in the built environment."

Song has been teaching the studio since she arrived at Northeastern in 2021. It's meant for architecture majors toward the end of their undergraduate study, and the broad reach of the syllabus draws students with a variety of career aspirations, from urban planning and nonprofit work to real estate development.

Credit: Northeastern University

This is unique in that we've been able to interact with the community," says Caroline Willis, a fifth-year architecture major. "We've been out almost every class, meeting people, hearing people's stories."

For her, she says, it has reframed the field from one of siloed ideas and design to one plugged into the wider world. "How can we, as architects, learn from people?" she asks. "How do they need us? In our traditional studios, we've done a lot of projects that are our own ideas. How can we make theirs our own?"

Glory Ramey, another fifth-year student and Willis' partner for their presentation, agrees. For their project, the pair did a survey on the Chinatown block consisting of Hudson Street, Tyler Street and Beach Street. They zeroed in on how a community commercial ownership model might work for some of the area's businesses, including a nearby sushi restaurant.

"A lot of us recently came back from co-op, and working in the field is a huge, huge part of architecture," Ramey says. "This is a really good way of bringing in that real-world work experience.

The ARCH 5115 semester is roughly demarcated by three exercises. Students spend the first learning about how displacement happens through historyreading, watching documentaries and synthesizing related statistical trends into maps and diagrams.

"These students are not necessarily coming from families that have struggled with these same challenges, so there's a lot of learning to do," Song says. "They create some beautiful maps."

For the second, the class gets a sense of the visual character of the neighborhood. Working in pairs, "they photograph, collage and analyze storefronts, trying to call out what makes Chinatown Chinatown," Song says.

The third brings the class into the present day, and "trying to understand how Chinatown businesses and visitors are experiencing changes on the ground," according to Song. This section involves a lot of community interaction, including the event this afternoon. Students are evaluated, in part, on how actively they respond to it.

"Participationhow they show up for every exerciseis big," Song says.

"They get feedback [on their projects] from our community partners. Are they listening? Are they receiving and incorporating it? Are they revising? I have to say, the students were so good on that front."

To conclude the afternoon event at the Metropolitan, the assembled guests sit for a group discussion on the students' presentations. Some speakers noted the tension between progress and preserving traditional cultural values, as reflected in things like chain grocery stores entering Chinatown. Others wearily reflected on how long its senior residents have been navigating these kinds of shifts.

But the consensus was that preserving Chinatown's unique, historic character while helping it thrive was an ideal worth the work. For Jacob Nonzesky, a fifth-year architecture student, the class illustrated that those two objectives don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive.

"I'm interested in real estate development, and this shows how it can be leveraged to not displace people," he says. "A lot of times it's profit-taking. It's not for the betterment of the community. But you can help the people who already live in a community while also improving the overall socioeconomic situation."

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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

Australians love their war heroes but a new national survey of 800 managers shows that sentiment doesn't extend to part-time soldiers on their payroll, many of whom experience indifference, hostility and discrimination in the workplace.

Almost one in five managers indicated their organization would likely give 'low or very low support' to an Army reservist taking leave for training and combat duties.

The study, led by University of South Australia sociologist Associate Professor Brad West, and employment relations Associate Professor Dr. Josh Healy from the University of Sydney, has been published by the Australian Army Research Center.

Interviews with 60 Army reservists based at three different locations in Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville also revealed that middle managers in both the private sector and government consistently sought to deny Defense leave requests, largely irrespective of the organization's official stance.

This contrasted with a generally positive view of Army reservists as employees, with most employers believing they were hard workers (80%) and creative problem solvers (70%).

The study revealed a large mismatch between employers' public declarations of support for Army reservists and the actual tensions that occurred in workplaces.

A novel feature of the survey is that managers were asked to consider a hypothetical reservist called John and indicate how they would respond in a range of common workplace situations if John was on their payroll. The 60 reservists interviewed provided feedback from their actual experiences in the workplace.

Support for part-time soldiers differed between industries, with managers in public administration, mining and health care sectors reporting a 'significantly higher willingness' to support reservists' service. Part of this is attributed to large numbers of reservists and veterans already working in these sectors.

"One factor contributing to tensions in the less supportive workplaces was an incorrect perception among many managers that military skills were not useful in the civilian workplace," Assoc Prof West says.

Almost 40% of managers said military training and experience would have 'low or very low relevance' in their organization.

One reservist interviewed in the focus groups provided this feedback:

"Management loves to put the word forward, super supportive, love the Reserves, Defense Force, yeah let's go, but the second it comes to jumping on a course, they question everything. They question the importance of the Defense Force and that course. They question whether I really need to be going to that course."

"Interestingly, managers' own personal attributes are generally not the main drivers of differences in their perceptions of reservists," Assoc Prof Healy says. "We didn't find different attitudes because of managers' age, or sex, or even their own education levels."

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 focus groups revealed that the support that reservists receive in the workforce is not only related to attitudes towards the military, but specifically to the role of reservists.

"There is a lack of understanding among employers. They think it's either a holiday or a hobby or just something fun to go on your days off, or a cash grab," one reservist said. "When I try to explain to them that if something big happens in the Pacific tomorrow, I might have to go frontline, they don't accept that."

Despite the lack of support from managers, most reservists said they were motivated by a volunteer ethos and serving their country.

"It's not the money or the lifestyle but the fact that I am helping Australia's national interests and contributing to something larger than myself," according to one interviewee.

More information: Bradley West et al, Occasional Paper No 28 - Drawing on Reserves: Assessing Civilian Employer/Manager Support for Employees' Part-time Military Service, (2024). DOI: 10.61451/267514 More information on the project, including recommendations stemming from the study, is available at: Drawing on Reserves | Australian Army Research Center (AARC)
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: Free University of Brussels

Ella Egberts (VUB) traveled to Iraq in November and December as part of a pilot project to search for archaeological surface material. This material is meant to help gain insight into the geomorphological history of the Iraqi Western Desert, in the Al-Shabakah area, and to explore the potential for preserving archaeological sites with Old and Middle Paleolithic material (early and middle Stone Age). The campaign was a great success, and now Egberts intends to continue her work in the area for VUB.

"The fieldwork was a huge success," confirms Egberts. "Our targeted fieldwork resulted in the discovery of seven Paleolithic sites in an area of 10 by 20 km. One location was selected for a systematic study to determine the spatial distribution of the Paleolithic material and to conduct preliminary technological and typological analyses."

The focus of the prospecting campaign was on an area that during the Pleistocene housed a large lake, now completely dried up, with ancient wadis or dry riverbeds crossing the landscape. Egberts collected over 850 artifacts, ranging from very old hand axes from the Early or Old Paleolithic to Levallois reduction flakes from the Middle Paleolithic, all surface material.

"The other sites also deserve equally thorough systematic investigation, which will undoubtedly yield similar quantities of lithic material."

"Based on the distribution of the sites and the advancing understanding of the region's geomorphological history, there are emerging clues of early human landscape use. In the future, I hope to expand my research to a larger area, systematically sample all the sites, and conduct in-depth technological and typological artifact analysis.

"The new insights we bring from Iraq will then be integrated into the broader understanding of human evolution and behavior on the Arabian Peninsula."

Egberts' work in Iraq also has an educational aspect. "An essential part of the fieldwork was training Iraqi archaeology students in geo-archaeology and Paleolithic archaeology. Three students accompanied us in the field, and through a workshop at Al-Qadisiyah University after the fieldwork, we inspired many more students and academics about the Paleolithic of Iraq.

"At a conference in Karbala, we shared our findings with a multidisciplinary academic audience interested in the history of the Western Desert. At the Writers' Union in Najaf, we presented our results to the general public and the press. And it was wonderful to teach local elementary school children about prehistoric flint discoveries."

The work in Iraq, a country most people remember as one large powder keg, has been, according to Egberts, much smoother than expected.

"Apart from the presence of numerous checkpoints, we were able to carry out our work without any problems. The people are friendly, and it's actually very nice to work in Iraq. Initially, earlier last year, we did have to postpone our expedition due to a security warning. That was probably related to the war in Gaza"

"The Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage appreciates our work and encourages us to continue," says Egberts. She will now continue her research at VUB. "The next step will be to secure funding, with which I hope to reconstruct Pleistocene environmental changes and early human presence and behavior in the Western Desert."
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: Beyzanur K. from Pexels

Joint Deakin and LaTrobe University research has revealed gaps in news reporting by LGBTQ media on anti-queer violence, including the nature and extent of violence faced by members of the queer community.

The research, published in The British Journal of Criminology, analyzed 1,295 articles published between 2019 and 2021 by LGBTQ media outlets in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland and Canada.

It found they amplified certain narratives of violence by focusing on some violent acts but not others.

Research co-lead Dr. Matthew Mitchell of Deakin's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who collaborated on the study with Dr. Tully O'Neill and Curtis Redd from La Trobe, said the study revealed a hierarchy in the types of violence LGBTQ media outlets deemed newsworthy.

This included "spectacular" incidents of aggression such as homicides and physical assaults as opposed to more 'routine' types of violence such as verbal abuse. Reports of sexual violence were rarer, and news items about online harassment were minimal.

Casual sexual encounters, including via online dating apps, figured strongly in LGBTQ news reports despite the nature of most of these meetings being positive, Dr. Mitchell said.

"The hierarchisation of violence in LGBTQ media reflects a similar trend in mainstream news media, where extraordinary forms of violence are prioritized over less visible forms of violence," Dr. Mitchell said.

"This produces narrow understandings of what constitutes 'serious' violence deserving of the public's attention.

"It also implies that casual sex, particularly queer casual sex, is a uniquely risky behavior. This reinforces problematic heteronormative attitudes regarding queer sex."

Incidents of aggression perpetrated by police and right-wing activists also emerged as a noteworthy area of the news outlets' focus, indicating fears of conservative extremism and a still strained relationship between the LGBTQ community and police.

However, Dr. Mitchell said that by categorizing specific acts of violence as ideologically motivated, especially when attributed to specific actors like right-wing activists, it implied only certain forms of violence targeting LGBTQ people were ideological.

"It's important to recognize that all forms of violence targeting the queer community are ideological," Dr. Mitchell said, "as they stem from entrenched beliefs in compulsory heterosexuality and dominant gender norms."

The research underscored the importance of exploring the evolving role of digital media in the representation of anti-queer violence.

Dr. Mitchell said digital platforms, including social media, provided vital spaces for LGBTQ people to connect, raise awareness, and share stories.

But he warned these platforms may contribute to the spread of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, necessitating further inquiry into the role of digital media in shaping public perceptions of violence.

"As anti-LGBTQ sentiment intensifies globally, and policies on LGBTQ rights are being rolled back, it is crucial to understand how anti-queer violence is being culturally represented," he said.

"LGBTQ media outlets can offer important counter-narratives to harmful representations and stereotypes in the mainstream media."

More information: Matthew Mitchell et al, Queering Crime Reporting: Representing Anti-queer Violence in LGBTQ News Media, The British Journal of Criminology (2024). DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azae078
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

As the 20192020 megafires took hold across eastern Australia, many of us reeled at the sight of animals trying and often failing to flee. Our screens filled up with images of koalas with burned paws and possums in firefighter helmets.

The death toll was staggering, estimated at up to three billion wild animals killed or displaced. Millions more were severely injured. Tens of thousands of domesticated animals were killed or had to be euthanized.

In fighting these fires, authorities focused almost entirely on protecting human lives and property, other than targeted rescue efforts for the last remaining wild stand of Wollemi pine. The role of rescuing and caring for domesticated and wild animals fell almost entirely to community groups and individual caregivers, who stepped up to fill the gap at significant cost to themselvesfinancially, emotionally and sometimes even at a risk to their safety.

Our new research draws on more than 60 interviews with wildlife caregivers and groups in the Shoalhaven region south of Wollongong in New South Wales. These people spontaneously organized themselves to care for thousands of domesticated, farm and wild animals, from evacuating them from fire zones to giving them shelter, food, water and health care.

The lengths our interviewees went to were extraordinary. But these rescue efforts were largely invisible to the authoritiesand, as our interviewees told us, sometimes even condemned as irresponsible.

What did our interviews tell us?

The standard view in Australia is that only humans matter in the face of bushfires. But the way affected communities reached out to save as many animals as they could shows many people think we ought to be acting differently.

One interviewee told about screaming for "her babies" as Rural Fire Service firefighters evacuated her. In response, the firefighters searched the house for human babies to no avail. When they found out she meant her wombat joeys, they laughed in relief. But to our interviewee, the joeys were like her babies. The joeys were safe inside her house.

People cared for a wide range of species, from horses, chickens, bees and cows to native birds, possums, wombats and wallabies. Despite this, we found common themes.

Many people felt the system had let them down when it came to protecting animals. This is why many of them felt they had to take matters into their own hands to ensure that animals survived.

While some guidance on disaster preparation talks about how to protect pets such as cats and dogs, wildlife caregivers, farmers and horse owners often find themselves facing incoming fires with little or no information or support.

People also told us about a lack of information on how to care for different types of animals during disasters. Information was often nonexistent or hard to locate, making decision-making during the crisis very difficult.

As one farmer told us: "There's not any information on realistically what you do with your animals in a case of [] a massive disaster. I mean, it's like someone said about cutting the fences. But now you've got stocking cattle running through the bush and they don't know where the fire's going to turn or what's going to happen."

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 needs of animals differ significantly. It's harder to find shelter for a horse than a smaller animal, for instance. Wildlife being cared for already need assistance, due to being orphaned, injured or ill. It's harder to evacuate injured animals or joeys who need regular feeding than it is to evacuate healthy adult animals.

Our interviewees reported price spikes for transport, food, temporary fencing and medicines during the 2019-2020 emergency season. Caring for animals always comes with costs, but the cost burden intensified over the Black Summer and afterwards.

Caring for animals came with another cost too, to mental health. Many of our interviewees told us they still felt traumatized, even though our interviews were two or three years after the fires.

As one interviewee told us: "The people at Lake Conjola [] said it was like an apocalypse. They said there was dead birds dropping out of the sky. Kangaroos would come hopping out of the bush on fire [] I know it really heavily affected most people on the beach, the horrific things that they saw."

Despite facing a lack of formal support and with limited information, people organized themselves very quickly into networks to share access to safe land, transport, food, labor and information. Dedicated people set up social media groups to allocate tasks, call for help and so on. This unsung animal rescue effort was almost entirely driven by volunteers.

What should we do before the next megafires?

Australia will inevitably be hit by more megafires, as climate change brings more hot, dry fire weather and humidity falls over land.

What would it mean to include animals in our planning? To start with, more and better information for wildlife caregivers, farmers, pet owners and the wider community. It would mean directing more funds to animal care, both during and after disasters, and including animal care in local, state and federal disaster planning. It would mean improving communication networks so people know where to go.

To this end, we developed a new guide for communities wanting to be better prepared to help animals in the next disaster. We prototyped an app designed to help communities organize themselves in order to help animals during disasters.

The scale of the Black Summer fires found governments and communities largely unprepared. But we are now in a position to learn from what happened.

As authorities prepare for the next fires, they should broaden how they think about disaster preparation. Our research suggests disaster planning needs to take place at a community level, rather than a focus on individual households. And vitally, authorities need to think of communities as made up of both humans and animals, rather than just humans.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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

People who rely on social media as the main source of news score lower on a measure of civic values than people who rely on newspapers and non-commercial media for news and information, according to a study by researchers at Monash University.

The study was led by Professor Mark Andrejevic and Associate Professor Zala Volcic, both in Media Studies at Monash University's Faculty of Arts.

"It has become something of a truism that social media is not great for democracy," said Professor Andrejevic. "But no one has really systematically tested that until now."

The study of more than 2,000 Australians asked people a range of questions about their belief in democratic institutions and practices as well as their openness to considering perspectives that challenge their own. It also asked whether they thought there was such a thing as a shared public interest and how important they thought it was for Australians to inform themselves about political issues and for schools to teach civics.

Almost 60% of respondents who said their main source of information about news and current events is social media fell in the bottom half of the scale. By contrast, the majority of people who relied on newspapers, non-commercial broadcasting (such as the ABC), and online news aggregators were in the top half of the scale.

Interestingly, people who relied on commercial TV scored even lower than those who rely on social media: 63% were in the bottom half of the scale. Those who scored highest relied primarily on non-commercial radio (67% in the top half of the scale).

When it came to average scores, people who relied on non-commercial radio scored 11% higher on the civic disposition index than those who said they mainly rely on social media.

There were similar results when the researchers looked at people's pattern of media use: those who were heavy users (more than three hours a day) of commercial broadcast and social media had the lowest scores, whereas heavy users of non-commercial media, hard copy newspapers, and online news aggregators had the highest.

"We also found that people who use a wider range of media sources tend to score higher on the civic values scale," said Professor Andrejevic. He and Associate Professor Volcic collaborated on the study with Research Fellow Isabel Mahoney, and Research Assistant Fae Gehren (all from Monash's School of Media, Film, and Journalism).

The study does not indicate whether platforms foster lower civic values or simply cater to them. It does, however, raise concerns about social media becoming an increasingly important source of political information in democratic societies like Australia, especially given the renewed emphasis on political posts by Facebook.

The study also sheds new light on the ongoing discussion about media echo chambers and filter bubbles. Professor Andrejevic said the results highlight the importance of understanding not just what information people receive, but their attitude toward it.

"If platforms cater to people who aren't willing to test their opinions and arguments out, providing them with more accurate information might not be enough," he said.

Moreover, it raises questions about the decision by social media moguls to increasingly crowdsource fact checking to users, rather than doing it in-house.

For such an approach to work, both citizen journalists and their readers need to value the role of good-faith deliberation in civic life.

"Overall, the online space might not be the best one to rely on if you're looking for these values," Professor Andrejevic said.
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:

Fire crews monitor the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

Human-caused climate change increased the likelihood and intensity of the hot, dry and windy conditions that fanned the flames of the recent devastating Southern California wildfires, a scientific study found.

But the myriad of causes that go into the still smoldering fires are complex, so the level of global warming's fingerprints on weeks of burning appears relatively small compared to previous studies of killer heat waves, floods and droughts by the international team at World Weather Attribution. Tuesday's report, too rapid for peer-review yet, found global warming boosted the likelihood of high fire weather conditions in this month's fires by 35% and its intensity by 6%.

Once-in-a-decade super strong Santa Ana winds, a dry autumn that followed two very wet years that caused rapid growth in flammable chapparal and grass, hot weather, dry air and vulnerable houses in fire-prone areas all were factors in the fast-moving fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 29 people, study authors said. But the climate attribution team was only able to quantify issues that dealt with the fire weather index, which are the meteorological conditions that add up to fire danger.

The fire weather indexwhich includes measurements of past rainfall, humidity and wind speedis where the team looked and found markers of climate change that they could quantify.

The team used observations of past weather and computer simulations that compared what happened this month to a what-if world without the 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Celsius) of human-caused climate change that Earth has had since industrial times. That allowed them to come up with a calculation for warming's contribution to the disaster. It's a method that the National Academy of Sciences says is valid. Even though these rapid studies aren't yet peer-reviewed, nearly all of them are published later in peer-reviewed journals without significant changes, said World Weather Attribution co-lead scientist Friederike Otto.

"The number (35%) doesn't sound like much" because unlike dozens of its past studies, the team looked at a small area and a complex meteorological measurement in the fire weather index that would generally mean there would be large uncertainties, said Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. But in this case the climate change fingerprint is big enough that it stands out, she said.

A firefighter monitors flames caused by the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

Those conditions are part of what makes California attractive to 25 million residents, said study co-author John Abatzoglou, a climate and fire scientist at the University of California Merced.

Southern California has "some of the best climate, best weather on the planetexcept when you get a combination of conditions that occurred here," Abatzoglou said. "You get the trifecta of dry windy and warm conditions. Those three things, in combination with dry fuels and ignitions, are the perfect recipe for fire disasters."

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.

Abatzoglou said it's like a bunch of switchesdryness, fuels, high temperatures, wind and ignitionthat all need to be turned on "for conditions to really take off." Think of it as switches for a light bulb to illuminate"and so you can think about the artificial warming due to human-caused climate change making the light brighter," added co-author Park Williams, a UCLA fire and climate scientist.

The study also found California's dry season has increased by 23 days and the lack of rain in October, November and December was more than twice as likely now than in pre-industrial times, but because of limitations on the data, researchers couldn't statistically pinpoint these to both climate change and the specific fires this month, Otto said. But she said "the rains are decreasingthat is because of human-induced climate change."

Then add in strong winds to whip and spread flames.

Mike Flannigan, a Canadian fire scientist who wasn't part of the research, said one key to him is the fire season extending longer and "increasing the chance a fire will start during peak Santa Ana winds."

Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. Credit: AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File

The research couldn't specifically quantify how much, if any, climate change affected the Santa Ana winds.

Craig Clements, a climate scientist and director of wildfire study at San Jose State University, said the rapid study makes sense and fits with past research about other fires.

"It's hard to attribute climate change to every fire event as many do," said Clements, who wasn't part of the research. "If we can state with confidence that the drought is caused by climate change then that is the fingerprint."

If the world warms another 1.3 degrees Celsius from now, the study said people should expect the type of weather conditions that led to these fires to happen another 35% more often.

Otto said this is not an issue of politics, but science.

"It's not something where you can say that this was because California did something very wrong. They did a lot of things right. They did some things that they could do better," Otto said. "But what makes these ever more dangerous, these fires, and what is something that the government of California alone can definitely not do anything about is human-induced climate change. And drill, baby drill will make this much, much worse."

 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:

The Dead Sea has been dying for years.

An abandoned lifeguard cabin, a rusty pier and mangled umbrellas are all that is left of Ein Gedi, once Israel's flagship beach drawing international tourists to float in the world-famous waters of the Dead Sea.

Now, this lush desert oasis at the lowest point on Earth sits in ruins beside the shrinking sea, whose highly salty waters are rapidly retreating due to industrial use and climate change, which is accelerating their natural evaporation.

The beach has been closed to the public for five years, mainly due to the appearance of dangerous sinkholes, but also because the dramatic recession of the sea's level has made it tricky to reach its therapeutic waters, known for extraordinary buoyancy that lets bathers float effortlessly.

The increasingly exposed shoreline and the sinkholes, caused by a flow of freshwater dissolving layers of salt beneath the Earth's surface, are not new.

In fact, the Dead Sea, nestled where Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian territory meet, has famously been dying for years.

Now, with war raging in the Middle East, efforts to tackle this ever-worsening ecological disaster appear to have dissolved too.

"Regional cooperation is the key... to saving the Dead Sea," said Nadav Tal, a hydrologist and water officer for the Israel office of EcoPeace, a regional environmental nonprofit that has long advocated for finding a solution.

"Because we are living in a conflict area, there is an obstacle," he said, describing how the sea has been declining more than one meter (three feet) per year since the 1960s.

The UN's COP29 climate conference did not mention the drying of the Dead Sea.

'Ecological disaster'

The evaporation of the salty waters in a time of rapid climate change and in a place where summer temperatures can reach upward of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) has been exacerbated by decades of water diversions from the sea's main sourcethe Jordan Riveras well as various tributaries that begin in Lebanon and Syria.

The water is also being pumped out by local factories extracting natural mineralspotash, bromine, sodium chloride, magnesia, magnesium chloride and metal magnesiumto sell to markets across the world.

"The consequences of this water diversion is what we see around us," Tal told AFP, pointing to a nearby pier that was once submerged in water but now stands firmly on dry land.

"It is an ecological disaster," he emphasized, adding that "the declining of the Dead Sea is a disaster for Israeli tourism".

The only remaining Israeli resorts are on the man-made evaporation ponds south of the surviving Dead Sea itself.

Recently, 22-year-old Yael and her friend Noa were looking for a place to dip their toes into the soothing waters.

Addressing the Dead Sea disaster has become secondary to regional conflicts.

Relaxing beside one of the water-filled sinkholes, Yael recalled how her parents once enjoyed going to a public beach near here.

"It was like their beach on the Dead Sea, and nowadays you pass by there and it looks like, I don't know... a shipwreck," she told AFP.

"It's hallucinatory, the destruction caused by this thing (the drying up of the sea), and it's just such a special landscape."

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.

Call for joint effort

Although some efforts have been made to address the Dead Sea disaster, including past agreements signed by Israel and Jordan, the wars raging in Gaza and beyond have brought regional tensions to an all-time high, meaning tackling cross-border environmental issues is no longer a priority for governments in the region.

At Israel's environment ministry, Ohad Carny has been working on the issue for years.

He said the government was looking into several solutions, including building a desalination facility and forging a canal from either the north or the south to address the general water shortages in the region, including the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea's retreat has led the abandoned resorts along the old shoreline to fall into disrepair.

"It doesn't make economic or environmental sense to desalinate water and bring it directly to the Dead Sea, because then it's a waste of drinking water and the region needs desperately more drinking water and more water for agriculture," he said.

Carny said that while his focus was on the Israeli side, "we are hoping for collaborations".

"We can't do it alone. It must be a joint effort. So only time will tell, and we won't do anything without an agreement together with the Jordanian side," he said.

"We need to understand the economic and environmental aspects of the options, and of course agree about the right solution with the Jordanians."

Back at the Dead Sea, bus driver Benny, 40, was soaking up the winter sun at one of the warm sulfur-infused sinkhole pools.

"The situation is very frustrating," he said about the sea's new topography. "But everything has a plus and minus. Because of what is happening here, we have water spots like this one."

 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:

Local leaders addressing authorities, researchers, and students in a workshop to Carahatas. Credit: Emotion, Space and Society (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.emospa.2024.101054

Cecilia lives in Carahatas, a coastal village in Cuba threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change. Experts predict that part of the village could be under water within 50 years. Government authorities have responded with plans to gradually relocate residents to higher ground. But Cecilia and other locals claim their community is perfectly capable of coping with flood risks and climate change.

Like Carahatas, many parts of the world are experiencing increasingly extreme weather events that test the resilience of local communities: drought, heat waves, landslides, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms. To help address the challenges, Universite de Montreal architecture professor Gonzalo Lizarralde has led an effort to study how those affected respond and how local leaders deal with how they feel about the situation.

Lizarralde and his co-researchers spent extended periods from 2016 to 2020 in four Latin American communities affected by recent climate disastersCarahatas in Cuba, Yumbo and Salgar in Colombia, and Concepcion in Chilegetting to know residents and 14 of their leaders.

The research is published in the February issue of Emotion, Space and Society.

The interdisciplinary team of experts in architecture, urban planning, engineering, social work, anthropology and social geography found that a range of emotions in those communitiesfear, anxiety and anger, but also pride and reverence for natureare important factors in whether people ultimately decide or not to implement solutions to the extreme weather events they face.

Integrating into local life

"When experts arrive in a community, they're often seen as outsiders, which can skew the results of their research" said Lizarralde.

"To avoid this, we decided to integrate into local life for an extended time, taking part in residents' activities and working with local teams and other researchers. This ethnographic approach enabled us to gain a much deeper understanding of people's daily lives."

To understand the challenges and strategies of community leaders, the team conducted in-depth interviews with them, reviewed their social media posts, and directly observed their efforts to mitigate disaster risks and combat the impacts of climate change, often in environments characterized by precarious living conditions and informal urbanization.

The research team also organized workshops in the four communities to create spaces for dialogue and collaboration among the local leaders, the researchers and students of architecture and urban planning.

While fear is an important motivator of community action in response to climate change, it isn't the only factor, the researchers found.

"Most disaster-management and climate-change policies and programs are based on the assumption that people areor should beafraid of perils," Lizarralde noted.

"This fear is often seen as a lever for prompting preventive action, such as getting people to reinforce their houses, relocate to less exposed areas or take out insurance.

"Our study shows this approach works, but only up to a point. In Carahatas, people do fear flooding, but other concerns also come into play. For example, people worry about the economic consequences of moving: will they lose their job, will their financial situation deteriorate? These uncertainties carry as much, if not more, weight than the climate risks themselves."

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.

Crime and unemployment also factors

Similarly, residents of Yumbo and Salgar expressed fears, but these were more focused on crime, violence and unemployment than on natural hazards. Anxiety was also widespread.

The refusal to relocate in the face of climate change isn't due only to fear and anxiety, the researchers found. Other emotions come into play, such as anger at the authorities, the connection to the land and appreciation of the beauty of the natural environment. Distrust of institutions, compounded by a sense of abandonment, explains why many reject proposed solutions such as temporary housing or forced relocation.

Another key factor is pride. In communities often plagued by poverty and lack of resources, residents have built their homesand even parts of their neighborhood infrastructurethemselves. Though imperfect, these achievements give them a sense of dignity.

"People know their roofs leak or their foundations are unstable, but that doesn't mean they want to tear them down or leave," said Lizarralde. "They're proud of what they've accomplished."

This pride is not always understood by decision-makers and professionals, who judge villagers' dwellings through the lens of external standards, he added.

"They arrive with prejudices, thinking that these shantytowns are unfit for living and that people should move to new apartments elsewhere. But study after study has shown that such initiatives fail. People sometimes accept the new homes, but it's not what they really want."

'Keep repeating flawed practices'

Failure to understand the emotions and real needs of communities can lead to inappropriate policies, Lizarralde added. "Until we take the time to understand people's emotions and their attachment to the land, we will keep repeating these flawed practices."

The study highlights the importance of factoring emotions into disaster risk-reduction policies and climate-change response strategies, the researchers believe. Emotions play a critical role in building the legitimacy, trust and empathy required for collective mobilization, they argue.

"To act more effectively, whether in Cuba, Colombia or here in Quebec, we must pay attention to our own emotions and those of policymakers," said Lizarralde. "Emotions influence decision-making about floods, wildfires and shoreline erosion. The 2017 and 2019 floods in Quebec are a good example."

More information: Gonzalo Lizarralde et al, Beyond fear: The role of emotions in disaster risk reduction in the face of climate change, Emotion, Space and Society (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.emospa.2024.101054
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 test site in China. Credit: Colorado State University College of Natural Sciences

Grasslands in Asia and North America differ in their responses to drought, according to a paper in the journal Nature led by faculty at Colorado State University. The findings show that differences in the dominant grasses and lower species diversity in the Eurasian Steppe grasslands may make it more vulnerable to drought than the North American Great Plains.

The findings have broad implications for land management practices on both continents and provide a valuable comparison point that was not previously available when addressing climate change.

The work at CSU was led by Professors Melinda Smith and University Distinguished Professor Alan Knapp in the Department of Biology. Smith said the multi-year project was built through ongoing collaboration with researchers in China, including first author and Smith's former postdoctoral researcher at CSU, Qiang Yu.

Together, the team established six sites on each continent and imposed extreme drought conditions over a four-year period. They found the Eurasian grasslands saw a 43% reduction in annual productivityplant growth each yearcompared to just a 25% reduction in North America under the same conditions.

Smith said the findings also show that the negative effects of drought in Eurasia increased over time. Meanwhile, the North American system was able to stabilize in the second year of the experiment. The paper explores that difference, specifically considering how plant diversity impacted each region's ability to cope with prolonged extreme droughts.

Smith said the research shows the difference may be linked to the overall number of uncommon, subordinate plant species in each region. These species make up the bulk of plant diversity there and contribute to overall productivityeven as primary species struggle to do so in drought conditions.

The findings show these key subordinate species declined in Eurasian grasslands during drought conditions but increased in North Americapotentially stabilizing production losses there over time.

"Particularly in North America, we show that subordinate species seem to be minimizing losses and picking up the slack in a way that is not happening in Eurasia where there is less species richness," she said.

"These species' ability to step uppossibly, due to drought tolerance developed over timeprovides a unique perspective on these two vast grassland regions and how they function in these conditions."

The two regions also support different types of dominant grass species. The Eurasian grasslands are primarily suited to supporting C3 grasses, like wheat, that prefer cooler and wetter conditions, while C4 grasses, like corn, flourish in the warmer American Midwest. That allows for interesting comparisons related to agriculture and management practices under drought conditions, said Knapp.

"In general, C4 plants have more efficient photosynthetic pathways and are more productive with less water than C3 plants. Such differences may be especially important when trying to understand how productivity will change with increasingly more severe droughts," Knapp said.

Plant productivity is a fundamental component of the global carbon cycle. That is because plant photosynthesis is the primary way that atmospheric carbon, as carbon dioxide, enters ecosystems and is made available for consumption by animals and storage as biomass. Because grasslands cover 40% of the Earth's surface, they play a large role in balancing and facilitating carbon uptake and sequestration globally.

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.

Smith said understanding how these similar, yet differing biomes contribute to that process has proven difficult in the past. That is because researchers around the globe struggled to standardize experiments in a way that allowed for clear comparisons.

This work directly addresses that need by developing a large-scale, coordinated, multi-year experiment at multiple sites. The 12 total test sites for the project are collectively known as the Extreme Drought Grasslands Experiment (EDGE) and were chosen because they represent a variety of grasslands located along precipitation gradients.

Smith said the work shows how vulnerable regions with lower species diversity can be to prolonged droughts. It also shows the need for management strategies that increase and maintain plant diversity to enhance resistance to extreme drought events under future climate change scenarios.

"Dryer grassland tends to be where a lot of cattle grazing happens and where many people live globally. They are also important when we consider how carbon is stored related to climate change," she said.

"So, there is a real need to develop management strategies in these areas, as climate change is expected to increasingly impact them with extreme, prolonged droughts."

More information: Melinda Smith, Contrasting drought sensitivity of Eurasian and North American grasslands, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08478-7. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08478-7 Journal information: Nature
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:

Escherichia coli bacteria imaged by high-speed inline force mapping and fluorescence microscopy. Simultaneous topography and elastic modulus maps show a stiffening of the division site. Credit: C. Ganser, S. Nishiguchi, F.-Y. Chan, and T. Uchihashi

Light and electron microscopy have distinct limitations. Light microscopy makes it difficult to resolve smaller and smaller features, and electron microscopy resolves small structures, but samples must be meticulously prepared, killing any live specimens.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a technique originally developed to assess the physical and mechanical properties of materials at extremely high resolutions, but the imaging speeds aren't fast enough (e.g. several minutes per frame) to capture relevant data for living biological samples.

In contrast, another method, high-speed AFM (HS-AFM), is fast but cannot measure mechanical properties.

Understanding the potential of this type of microscopy for the analysis of large molecules and microorganisms, researchers from the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) and Nagoya University created a new technique, high-speed in-line force mapping (HS-iFM), to acquire dynamic, mechanical force measurements at the speed and resolution required for living biological samples.

The groupChristian Ganser, Shigetaka Nishiguchi, Feng-Yueh Chan, and Takayuki Uchihashichose the common bacteria Escherichia coli to study first in such unprecedented detail.

The researchers published their study in the January 29 issue of Science Advances.

"While it is clearly informative to study 'static' samples, [such as] bacteria that are not alive, observing the living organism allows us to directly follow changes in the course of [an organism's] life, which becomes possible with our technique," said Christian Ganser, assistant professor at the Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS) in the NINS in Okazaki, Japan.

"Escherichia coli are great to demonstrate such effects because they are well studied. Despite this, the dynamic [mechanical] changes [that occur in E. coli at the] nanoscale level remain elusive."

During E. coli cell division, the researchers observed increased mechanical stiffening of the cell division site. The researchers hypothesize this stiffening could be due to localized membrane tension and local cell wall thickening.

"The division site becomes much stiffer than the surrounding cell, hinting at large internal stresses that are needed to deform the membrane and separate the cells," said Ganser.

During division, the membrane also formed visible bridges between the two daughter cells that stretched and eventually broke. The creation and eventual breakage of these bridges lasted an average of 242 s  99 s (mean  standard deviation) and was observed seven times. The entire division process is provided as a supplementary video in the online version of the research paper.

The team also observed a weak spot, less than 100 nm in diameter, in a dividing E. coli cell that ruptured, causing cell depressurization and death.

Interestingly, the bursting cell caused depressurization of both left and right daughter cells, indicating that the cells were not completely separated internally. This observation suggests that HS-iFM may be useful in determining the timing of different steps during the division of E. coli and other bacteria.

HS-iFM allows researchers to measure both high resolution topography and membrane mechanical properties. During division of a living E. coli cell, the researchers observed visible membrane holes that close and reform again and diffuse across the membrane.

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 team hypothesized that these dynamic hole structures may be related to the formation of outer membrane vesicles, which are reported to be more frequent during cell division and around the new cell walls that develop between daughter cells during bacterial cell division.

The pores could also be outer-membrane protein complexes located on the bacteria surface, but the measured pore diameter of 34.7 nm  11.8 nm is significantly larger than previous reports of protein complex diameter, which is approximately 8 nm.

The research team acknowledges the great potential of the HS-iFM technique for studying a wide variety of biological samples and organisms, including E. coli.

"In the [future], we will use our technique to study the dynamic and localized effect of external stimuli, [such as] antibiotics, to the nanomechanical properties of membranes of living bacteria," said Ganser.

The researchers also envision using HS-iFM to study the transient nanomechanical properties of polymers. Ideally, the team will increase the speed and resolution of the technique to visually capture the mechanical properties of molecules as small as individual proteins.

More information: Christian Ganser et al, A look beyond topography: transient phenomena of Escherichia coli cell division captured with high-speed in-line force mapping, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads3010. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads3010 Journal information: Science Advances
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:

Used plastic bags at a dump. An estimated 855 billion sachets are sold globally each year with Southeast Asia consuming nearly half of the total. Credit: Sohail Nawaz from Pexels

In a letter filed in federal court, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said the proposed expansion of a toxic waste dump on the Southeast Side would go against state law. It's the latest development in a lengthy battle over the future of a 45-acre disposal site on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

"This is a major win for our community, to have both the Illinois attorney general and the Illinois EPA say that the expansion of this toxic landfill will not be (approved)," said Amalia NietoGomez, executive director of social justice nonprofit Alliance of the Southeast.

Since 1984, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been dumping toxic sediment dredged from the Calumet River into the now-full containment site, which contains mercury, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls or PBCs.

After reaching capacity or after 10 years, whichever came first, the property was to be returned to the Chicago Park District to restore as a park for the largely Black and Latino community.

Four decades later, the property hasn't been turned over to the community, and the Army Corps wants to raise the dump 25 feet, piling an additional 1 million cubic yards of toxic sediment over another 20 years. In 2023, the Alliance of the Southeast and Friends of the Parks sued the Army Corps to stop the expansion.

So far, the Illinois EPA has denied the federal agency all of the state water quality permits it would need to proceed. The state's Attorney General Kwame Raoul has also staunchly opposed the proposed project; in 2024 he filed an amicus brief in support of turning the dump into a public park.

More recently, on Jan. 16, Raoul filedalongside a supplemental brief with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinoisa letter that the state's environmental agency had sent to the Army Corps the previous day.

In that letter, the Illinois EPA said the Army Corps' proposal is contrary to some environmental regulations, including an Illinois law that prohibits the construction of new landfills or the expansion of existing landfills in Cook County.

The plaintiffs' lead attorney, Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, called the Illinois EPA letter a "vital step forward" to a "long-delayed victory" in a news release.

"It's time for the Army Corps to recognize it lacks the legal authority to build on this lakefront site and move forward with better alternative solutions," he said. "Chicago's lakefront is for people and parks, not toxic waste dumps. The long-promised park should now go forward for Chicagoans to use and enjoy."

After the letter was filed, the center's attorneys asked to meet with the Army Corps' legal team to discuss productive next steps. A meeting with the federal judge hearing the case has been set for Monday. The Army Corps declined to comment due to ongoing litigation.

Last year, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling largely seen as anti-environment overturned 40 years of legal precedent that required courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous statutes. But the Environmental Law and Policy Center hopes to leverage the ruling in its favor, using it to argue that the judge has full discretion to determine whether the Army Corps overstepped when determining it could keep and expand the dump site.

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 plaintiffs hope the property can be remediated and transformed into an extension of nearby Calumet Park, where neighborhood children swim and play. The existing toxic sediment has already given community members plenty of cause for concern.

"The only thing that separates the (disposal site) from Calumet Park is a chainlink fence," NietoGomez said. "So it's not just close, I mean, it's right there."

Restoring the site would provide more recreational green spaces in a ward that has long been overburdened with pollution from the steel and petroleum coke industries, where asthma and cancer rates are high.

People living on the Southeast Side breathe some of the city's dirtiest air, monitoring data shows. More than 75 polluters in the area have been investigated for Clean Air Act violations since 2014, including companies that contaminated yards and playgrounds with brain-damaging manganese and lung-damaging petcoke.

"If we have concerns about the current (dump site), it doesn't make sense to amplify those concerns and build more of the same on top," NietoGomez said.

She also said it would be a "bad idea" to expand the landfill on the lakeshore whereas climate change intensifies storms and wave surges, as well as fluctuations in lake levelsthe facility would be at risk of rupture.

But the Army Corps contends they need somewhere to dispose of the sediment that has to be routinely dredged from the Calumet River so that commercial ships can pass through waterways connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River basin.

In the Illinois EPA letter, acting director James Jennings urged the Army Corps "to explore alternative means to manage dredged materials," including its disposal at permitted landfills or even "upland beneficial use," which would entail its use on dry land for habitat creation, land reclamation, soil enhancement or even construction materials.

The lawsuit largely centers around the plaintiffs' claims that the Army Corps didn't consider alternative locations for a new dump or adequately assess the risks of expanding the current site.

"They told the Southeast Side to pick their poison and choose from six sites, and they were all located within the 10th Ward," NietoGomez said. It caused uproar within the community. "Enough is enough. We're sick and tired of being your dumping ground."

As President Donald Trump's deregulatory agenda threatens environmental policies and rules regarding clean air, clean water, toxic chemicals and more, NietoGomez feels encouraged by the state's opposition to expanding the dump site.

"Going forward, dealing with the new administration," she said, "I think it's more important than ever that we enforce the protections that we do have, whether that be at the city, county, state or federal level.  That's why the letters from both the Illinois attorney general's office and Illinois EPA carry particular weight."

2025 Chicago Tribune. 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:

The Sacramento Mountain Checkerspot Butterfly is the first New Mexican insect to be federally listed as endangered. This caterpillar was reared at the Albuquerque BioPark to aid in conservation efforts. Credit: New Mexico BioPark Society

The University of New Mexico's Museum of Southwestern Biology, Natural Heritage New Mexico, and the New Mexico BioPark Society have announced the launch of a new website, the New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource (NM-RARe).

This site, located at nmrare.org, is designed to educate and inform users about rare, endemic, and threatened arthropod species in New Mexico. The platform aims to compile information on these small, unique, and poorly known species so that land managers, conservationists, students and the public are better equipped to understand and protect them.

"NMRARe is the first of its kind for New Mexico in bringing to our attention the status not only of pollinators but a wide array of other arthropods in the state. It was made possible by dedicated group students, researchers, and conservation practitioners, and we hope that collaboration will grow to further the conservation of this important element of biodiversity in New Mexico," said Research Associate Professor Esteban Muldavin, director, Natural Heritage New Mexico, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico.

Arthropods comprise the most species-rich group of animals on earth and include insects, arachnids (spiders and scorpions), crustaceans, and myriapods (millipedes and centipedes). Despite their small size, these diverse "bugs" serve hugely important roles in our terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as predators, herbivores, decomposers, and pollinators, and many are at risk of extinction.

The NM-RARe website includes:

The List of Assessed Species: Included on the site are New Mexico arthropods that are rare, endemic, or threatened. Threatened status is evaluated either by IUCN Red List of Threatened Species or NatureServe conservation assessments.

Species Accounts: Detailed information on assessed species, including their distributions, life history, threats, and conservation considerations.

Resources: Links to other sources of insect information, and opportunities to support improvement of the list.

A call to action

With the current alarming rates of global insect decline, the time to assess extinction threats is now. The NM-RARe logo was inspired by New Mexico's first federally endangered insect species, the Sacramento Mountain Checkerspot Butterfly, which has suffered such extreme declines as to be at immediate risk of going extinct. This species is sadly an example of what can happen when arthropods are left under-researched and overlooked for conservation considerations.

An intention for this site is to serve as a starting point for the collaborative development of a statewide arthropod conservation strategy that can be applied to protect New Mexico wildlife, and therefore our state's natural resources moving into the future.

"The dire situation of the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot was a wake-up call for those of us concerned about insect conservation in New Mexico. To ensure that this does not happen to any more of the state's arthropods, we decided to develop a resource that explores the needs of the most vulnerable species, so that action to mitigate threats can be taken early," said Anna Walker, species survival specialist of Invertebrates at the New Mexico BioPark Society.

The NM-RARe project came together as an interdisciplinary collaboration of regional species experts and conservation professionals. The Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) based out of the University of New Mexico (UNM) is home to the Division of Arthropods, a center for taxonomic and ecological research on arthropods, and Natural Heritage New Mexico, an authority on the state's biodiversity status and natural resources.

Content for the NM-RARe was written largely by UNM Department of Biology students affiliated with the MSB. Species assessments were guided by expertise from the New Mexico BioPark Society, which on top of supporting the local ABQ BioPark, also operates as a regional center for species conservation efforts.
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:

Map of the northern Middle East showing the Arabian and Eurasian plates and their collision zone, as well as the study area, the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Credit: Solid Earth (2024). DOI: 10.5194/se-15-1365-2024

An international research team led by the University of Gottingen has investigated the influence of the forces exerted by the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan region of Iraq on how much the surface of the Earth has bent over the last 20 million years. Their research has revealed that in the present day, deep below the Earth's surface, the Neotethys oceanic platethe ocean floor that used to be between the Arabian and Eurasian continentsis breaking off horizontally, with a tear progressively lengthening from southeast Turkey to northwest Iran.

Their findings show how the evolution of the Earth's surface is controlled by processes deep within the planet's interior. The research is published in the journal Solid Earth.

When two continents converge over millions of years, the oceanic floor between them slides to great depths beneath the continents. Eventually, the continents collide, and masses of rock from their edges are lifted up into towering mountain ranges. Over millions of years, the immense weight of these mountains causes the Earth's surface around them to bend downward. Over time, sediments eroded from the mountains accumulate in this depression, forming plains such as Mesopotamia in the Middle East.

The researchers modeled the downward bend of the Earth's surface based on the Zagros Mountains' load where the Arabian continent is colliding with Eurasia. They combined the resulting size of the depression with the computed topography based on the Earth's mantle to reproduce the unusually deep depression in the southeastern segment of the study area. The researchers found that the weight of the mountains alone cannot account for the 3-4 km deep depression that has formed and been filled with sediment over the past 15 million years.

The Zagros Mountains and sediments that have accumulated over millions of years along the depression at the base of the mountains. Credit: Renas Koshnaw

"Given the moderate topography in the northwestern Zagros area, it was surprising to find out that so much sediment has accumulated in the part of the area we studied. This means the depression of the land is greater than could be caused by the load of the Zagros Mountains," said Dr. Renas Koshnaw, lead author and Postdoctoral Researcher at Gottingen University's Department of Structural Geology and Geothermics.

Researchers propose that this is caused by the additional load of the sinking oceanic plate that is still attached to the Arabian plate. Koshnaw adds, "This plate is pulling the region downward from below, making space for more sediment accumulation. Towards Turkey, the sediment-filled depression becomes much shallower, suggesting that the slab has broken off in this area, relieving the downward pull force."

The geodynamic model developed in this research will benefit other fields as well.

"This research contributes to understanding how the Earth's rigid outer shell functions," explains Koshnaw.

Such research can lead to practical applications in the future by providing information for exploring natural resources such as sedimentary ore deposits and geothermal energy, and better characterization of the earthquake risks.

More information: Renas I. Koshnaw et al, The Miocene subsidence pattern of the NW Zagros foreland basin reflects the southeastward propagating tear of the Neotethys slab, Solid Earth (2024). DOI: 10.5194/se-15-1365-2024
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:

Black-tailed prairie dog family. Credit: Emma Balunek/Colorado State University

Colorado State University researchers have identified priority areas for the conservation of the black-tailed prairie dog in the United States, extending from Montana to Texas and New Mexico to Arizona. Protecting these regions will also benefit North America's Central Grasslands and the many associated grassland species that flourished there centuries ago.

Once rivaling Africa's Serengeti in species abundance and diversity, North America's Central Grasslands supported a rich ecosystem comprised of millions of bison, pronghorn, elk, wolves, grizzly bears, grassland bird species and prairie dogs.

Today, this ecosystemstretching from Canada to Mexicois one of the most endangered in the world, with widespread declines in native wildlife, including the near extirpation of wolves and grizzly bears, more than 95% decline in bison and prairie dog populations and a 50% decline in grassland bird species.

After looking at ecological, political and social factors, climate change, and land use throughout the central and western United States, CSU researchers have mapped a blueprint that identifies the best landscapes for black-tailed prairie dog conservation. Conserving this habitat benefits other grassland species that depend on the prairie dog for food and habitat.

Published in Diversity and Distributions in January, this research and accompanying maps aim to guide state, regional and national conservation initiatives, supporting the goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 by identifying priority conservation areas for the most effective use of limited resources.

This research was led by Ana Davidson, a CSU research scientist at the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and joint faculty member in the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Department.

As part of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' Western Grasslands Initiative, Davidson and other researchers, including CNHP colleague Michael Menefee, collaborated with scientists and state biologists to identify the most intact and connected grasslands with the highest long-term stability and viability in the face of climate and land use change.

Coyotes and badgers rely on the prairie dog for food, as depicted with this hunting pair prowling around a black-tailed prairie dog colony. Credit: Noelle Guernsey/Colorado State University

They also considered the political and social landscapes that exist within these areas, such as available funding for conservation and social attitudes, to understand whether a community could and would support prairie dog habitat conservation.

"Grasslands are declining significantly because they are the primary biome that humans rely on for agriculture, so there is a lot of potential for conflict with livestock production and loss of habitat to cropland," Davidson said.

The results of this research are found in a publicly available interactive map that outlines BTPD geographic range in parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, and identifies the top 10% and top 30% of areas that have the highest conservation potential for the prairie dog ecosystem.

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.

Davidson's "Homes on the Range" core research teamcomprised of scientists from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Humane Society of the United States, Prairie Dog Coalition, WAFWA and United States Department of Agricultural Research Servicesis already putting their research into action.

The team is applying for large grants to help implement conservation in the priority regions and working to build on existing relationships with local ranchers, land trusts, agency biologists and managers, and conservation groups.

Davidson stated that this effort is not a "one-size-fits-all approach," and the goal is to support the unique needs of different communities. The needs of a rural community in Wyoming may differ from those of a community in southeastern Colorado, which may further differ from the needs of tribal communities in South Dakota, for example.

A black-tailed prairie dog colony in Thunder Basin National Grassland, Wyoming. Credit: Ana Davidson/Colorado State University

Lindsey Sterling-Krank, co-author and expert in conflict resolution with the Humane Society of the United States, added, "We want to work together with communities to address local needs that can support both prairie dog ecosystem conservation and co-existence with human activities."

According to Davidson, this research and the maps they have generated will also help inform State Wildlife Action Plans as well as other large-scale grassland conservation efforts like the Central Grasslands Roadmap and The North American Grasslands Conservation Act.

"Initiatives such as the Homes on the Range project are making significant progress toward the ambitious goals of conserving the lands and waters upon which all life dependscollectively, at the global scale," said co-author Fernanda Thiesen Brum, spatial prioritization scientist on The Nature Conservancy's Global Science Team.

Prairie dogs: Keystone species of the grasslands

The depletion of grasslands is attributed to the detrimental farming practices of the late 1800s, and as grasslands have suffered, so has the prairie dog ecosystem. The early 1990s saw a massive government-led campaign to eradicate the prairie dog, which can compete for forage with domestic livestock.

Later, a non-native disease from Asiathe "plague"contributed to the continual widespread declines in their populations. This loss has resulted in the cascading decline in species that rely on prairie dogs for survival.

Prairie dog colonies are often called "towns" because they support many animals in addition to their own species. Their vast underground infrastructures provide homes and shelter for wildlife such as burrowing owls.

Prairie dogs serve as prey for predators like the endangered black-footed ferret, hawks and eagles; improve soil quality through aeration and organic matter; and create open grassland habitat by maintaining dense, short-statured grasses that attract birds like mountain plovers.

Once a prairie dog colony is established, floral cover increases, and other species flock to these grassland oases for feeding, foraging, pollinating and nesting.

"This prairie dog recovery effort is really about the ecosystem," said Davidson. "If we focus on prairie dogs, we get a big bang for our buck. We know we can reintroduce prairie dogs or protect them and see the ecosystem revitalizedfoxes, eagles and rabbits will return to an area buzzing with birds and insects."

Davidson noted that compared to other ecosystems, like the redwood forest, the Central Grasslands often get overlooked. "Grasslands are understudied, underfunded and underappreciated, and they have an important story to be told," said Davidson.

More information: Ana D. Davidson et al, Potential Landscapes for Conservation of the BlackTailed Prairie Dog Ecosystem, Diversity and Distributions (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13945 Journal information: Diversity and Distributions
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:

High-dimensional PDF of a flow undergoing turbulent mixing revealed by TN simulation. Credit: Nikita Gourianov et al

Researchers at the University of Oxford have pioneered a new approach to simulate turbulent systems, based on probabilities. The findings appear in the journal Science Advances.

Predicting the dynamics of turbulent fluid flows has long been a central goal for scientists and engineers. Yet, even with modern computing technology, direct and accurate simulation of all but the simplest turbulent flows remains impossible.

This is due to turbulence being characterized by eddies and swirls of various shapes and sizes interacting in chaotic and unpredictable manners. For uses within engineering or weather-prediction, these fluctuations cannot be accurately simulated even by the most powerful supercomputers.

Working with colleagues at Hamburg, Pittsburgh and Cornell, the Oxford researchers reframed the problem in a manner that entirely avoids the need to directly resolve and simulate these turbulent fluctuations. Rather than simulating the troublesome fluctuations directly, they modeled these as random variables distributed according to a probability distribution function. Simulating such probability distributions enabled them to extract all meaningful quantities from the flow (for instance, lift and drag), without having to worry about the chaos of turbulent fluctuations.

Normally, simulating turbulence probability distributions requires solving high-dimensional Fokker-Planck equationssomething that's not feasible using classical methods. To overcome this, the team applied a quantum-inspired computing technology developed at the University of Oxford. This method uses tensor networks to represent the turbulence probability distributions in a hyper-compressed format that enables their simulation.

In the study, the quantum-inspired computing algorithm running on a single CPU core required just a few hours to compute that which would take an equivalent classical algorithm several days to do on an entire supercomputer.

Yet this computational speedup is only the beginning. In the future, much greater gains are likely to be had by running the quantum-inspired tensor network algorithm on dedicated hardware, such as tensor processing units and fault-tolerant quantum chips.

According to the researchers, the approach not only questions the current limits of turbulence simulation, but also opens the door towards simulating other chaotic systems that can be described probabilistically.

Lead researcher Dr. Nikita Gourianov (Department of Physics, University of Oxford) said, "The demonstratedand futurecomputational advantage not only opens up new, previously inaccessible areas of turbulence physics for scientific probing, but also beckons next-generation computational fluid dynamics codes. These could end up improving our weather forecasts, make our cars more aerodynamic, increase the efficiency of chemical industries, and more."

More information: Nikita Gourianov et al, Tensor networks enable the calculation of turbulence probability distributions, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads5990 Journal information: Science Advances
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:

View of Guiengola's North Plaza from above. It is the only area not covered by a canopy of trees. Credit: Pedro Guillermo Ramon Celis

A McGill University researcher has discovered that Guiengola, a 15th century Zapotec site in southern Oaxaca, Mexico, which had been thought to be simply a fortress where soldiers were garrisoned, was in fact a sprawling, fortified city. It covered 360 hectares, with over 1,100 buildings, four kilometers of walls, a network of internal roads and a clearly organized urban layout with temples and communal spaces such as ballcourts, and the elites and commoners lived in separate neighborhoods.

According to Pedro Guillermo Ramon Celis, a Banting postdoctoral researcher in McGill's Department of Anthropology and the author of an article in Ancient Mesoamerica, the evidence strongly suggests the city was abandoned just before the Spanish arrived, and that its people moved just 20 kilometers away to Tehuantepec, a small city where their descendants still live today.

Ramon Celis said investigating how the Mesoamerican city was organized on the eve of the Spanish conquest is just the first step. He said he is convinced that as work on Guiengola advances, it will give researchers a better sense of the Zapotecs' level of political and social organization, and thus a greater understanding of their level of agency in negotiating with the Spanish.

The finding was made by using a remote sensing tool known as lidar (light detection and ranging). Lidar relies on pulsing laser beams, in a process akin to sonar, to provide precise, detailed, three-dimensional topographic information about what is on the earth's surface, below the dense forest canopy.

Lidar scan showing the Civic and Ceremonial Center (left) and the commoner areas (right), split by a defensive wall (center). Credit: Pedro Guillermo Ramon Celis

Epicenter of the city. The biggest buildings of the city were found in this area surrounded by the main wall. Credit: Ancient Mesoamerica (2024). DOI: 10.1017/S0956536124000166

"My mother's family is from the region of Tehuantepec which is about 20 km from the site, and I remember them talking about it when I was a child. It was one of the reasons that I chose to go into archaeology," Ramon Celis said.

"Although you could reach the site using a footpath, it was covered by a canopy of trees. Until very recently, there would have been no way for anyone to discover the full extent of the site without spending years on the ground walking and searching. We were able to do it within two hours by using remote sensing equipment and scanning from a plane."

By analyzing the data generated by the scans and using the Geo Analytic laboratory at McGill, Ramon Celis has been able to map the size and the layouts of the remaining built structures and infer their use based on the artifacts found at the locations.

To explore how power was distributed in the city, he has calculated how much building space was given over to elite areas such as the temples and ballcourts, for example, compared to what was built in the areas used by commoners. Ballcourts were built in Mesoamerica for the purpose of practicing a ritual ballgame, and represent both the underworld and fertility, since they are a way of connecting with the ancestors and seeds grow below the soil, where the underworld is found.

Ramon Celis added, "Because the city is only between 500 and 600 years old, it is amazingly well preserved, so you can walk there in the jungle, and you find that houses are still standing you can see the doors the hallways the fences that split it from other houses. So, it is easy to identify a residential lot. It's like a city frozen in time, before any of the deep cultural transformations brought by the Spanish arrival had taken place."

More information: Pedro Guillermo Ramon Celis, Airborne lidar at Guiengola, Oaxaca: Mapping a Late Postclassic Zapotec city, Ancient Mesoamerica (2024). DOI: 10.1017/S0956536124000166
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:

NOAA Fisheries implemented regulations consistent with new ICCAT requirements adopted in 2021, based on the 2017 stock assessment. In the U.S, fishermen may not land or retain Atlantic shortfin mako sharks. Credit: Justin Gilligan | Save Our Seas Foundation

Shortfin makos are the fastest sharks in the sea, but they're failing to outpace the scale of overfishing that is driving them to extinction. Global demand for their meat and lucrative fins has placed this predator on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) endangered list and on Appendix II of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The situation for shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean is particularly dire. Populations are currently managed as two assumed separate populations (or stocks), with fishery-based assessments indicating that Northern Atlantic mako sharks are overfished. Independent scientific surveys, using data from satellite tags deployed on shortfin makos, suggest that fishing mortality may be 10 times higher than estimates from previous fisheries models.

With extreme pressure on mako populations from international fisheries, the questions are: has the shortfin makos' genetic health and potential to adapt been compromised; and is the current fisheries management strategy based on two populations backed by scientific evidence?

A team of scientists led by Dr. Andrea Bernard and Professor Mahmood Shivji from the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center (SOSF-SRC) and Guy Harvey Institute at Nova Eastern University, U.S., has published its answers in a paper "Connections across open water: A bi-organelle, genomics-scale assessment of Atlantic-wide population dynamics in a pelagic, endangered apex predator shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)" in the journal Evolutionary Applications.

The scientists have for the first time sequenced entire genomes for mitochondrial DNA and conducted high-resolution scans across the nuclear genomes of shortfin makos from nearly the entire distribution of this species in the Atlantic Ocean.

These genomic assessments have discovered a potential lifeline that should add urgency to curbing overfishing.

"Despite decades of fishing pressure, shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean still show a (relatively) high level of genetic diversity," explains Professor Shivji. "Genetic diversity in a population is what allows species to adapt to environmental change, or to survive catastrophes."

While overfishing is the single greatest threat to sharks worldwide, many species remain vulnerable to complex and compounding additional threats like habitat loss, deep-sea mining, pollution and our changing climate.

Map of shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) a priori defined, Atlantic sampling groupings (hereafter referred to as "subpopulations"): WNA, western North Atlantic; GoMex, Gulf of Mexico and Isla Mujeres, Mexico; WSA, western South Atlantic; ENA, eastern North Atlantic; ECA, eastern Central Atlantic; ESA, eastern South Atlantic. Credit: Evolutionary Applications (2025). DOI: 10.1111/eva.70071

"We were rather surprised, but also pleased, to see that the genetic health of shortfin makos does not appear to have been severely compromisedyetby the population reductions caused by overfishing," says Professor Shivji.

"That means that if we can prevent further erosion of this genetic diversity in shortfin mako sharks by urgently curbing overfishing, we have more hope for this species to retain the resilience needed for its populations to adapt to our fast-changing climate and survive."

He goes on to caution, "Typically, in most of the exploited shark species we study we see pretty low diversity."

Such is the case for the critically endangered great hammerhead shark, another species being fished to the edge of existence, but whose vulnerability to being tipped into extinction is higher because it lacks the diversity to adapt to our rapidly changing climate.

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 scientists also hypothesized that nomadic sharks like makos, which have been tracked making extraordinary journeys across oceans, would mix freely, hampered by few genetic barriers. And that is exactly what the research team found from the high-resolution scans made of shortfin mako nuclear DNA.

Nuclear DNA is inherited from both parents, and it suggests that male shortfin mako sharks are indeed ranging across the Atlantic and spreading their genes widely.

"Female mako sharks, which get even larger than males, are quite capable of also making these large-scale journeys," says Professor Shivji. "But when we look at the mitochondrial DNAthe genetic material inherited only from motherswe see a contrasting picture."

The mitochondrial genome sequences show matrilineal genetic structure for northern and southern hemisphere populations. That's scientific-speak for the populations in each hemisphere being genetically distinct from each other.

In fact, the results suggest that although female shortfin makos may well be as wide-ranging as their male counterparts, they return to key sites in one hemisphere to pup. And if we're to protect this important genetic diversity, the management of two distinct Atlantic populationsthe northern Atlantic and southern Atlantic shortfin mako sharksis now backed by this high-resolution genetic information.

More information: Andrea M. Bernard et al, Connections Across Open Water: A BiOrganelle, GenomicsScale Assessment of AtlanticWide Population Dynamics in a Pelagic, Endangered Apex Predator Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Evolutionary Applications (2025). DOI: 10.1111/eva.70071

Provided by Save Our Seas Foundation
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:

Threats to sea turtles. Credit: Nature Reviews Biodiversity (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44358-024-00011-y

Turtle populations continue to face unpredictable challenges from climate change, according to a joint study between researchers from Deakin University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), published today in Nature Reviews Biodiversity.

Once severely impacted by overhunting and habitat loss, sea turtles have made a significant comeback due to conservation efforts and legal protections.

"Sea turtles are a beacon of marine conservation success, with many nesting populations showing remarkable recoveries," said Deakin Distinguished Professor and Chair in Marine Science Graeme Hays.

The comprehensive study reviews the global status of the seven sea turtle species, detailing findings of a worldwide increase in sea turtle populations, including the discovery that more turtles are nesting on beaches that have implemented stronger protective measures.

Efforts such as reducing artificial lighting, which previously disoriented hatchlings, and the adoption of turtle-safe fishing practices, have contributed to these positive trends. In some areas, hunting sea turtles has decreased as awareness and conservation ethics have evolved.

Despite significant progress, challenges remain.

Pacific leatherback turtles, for example, continue to decline due to their arduous migrations across the Pacific Ocean. Climate change poses an ongoing threat, but scientists believe that conservation measures have strengthened sea turtles' resilience.

"When I think of sea turtles, resilience is the first word that comes to mind," said Dr. Jeffrey Seminoff, from the NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Science Centre in California, U.S.. They are vulnerable to environmental changes but thrive when given the opportunity."

The increasing sea turtle numbers also reflect shifting public values.

Younger generations view turtles less as a resource for consumption and more as valuable components of a healthy marine ecosystem. In some regions, former poachers now serve as eco-tour guides, helping tourists witness nesting turtles.

Historically, sea turtles were so abundant in the Caribbean that they frequently bumped into ships at night. However, overhunting rapidly reduced their numbers, with estimates suggesting a 95% decline from the original population of 19-33 million green sea turtles in the Caribbean.

Global declines occurred due to market-driven hunting, fishing net entanglement, and the loss of nesting habitats. However, increased legal protections and conservation initiatives have helped monitor and safeguard nesting sites.

Scientists analyzed nesting records and other data to assess global sea turtle populations. The review revealed predominantly positive trends across species and regions. For instance, a 2017 analysis of 299 annual abundance time series found that population increases were three times more frequent than decreases.

An updated 2024 analysis showed even more promising results, with increases occurring six times more often than declines.

Four out of five regional green sea turtle populations are growing, with significant increases in loggerhead nesting sites. On Sal Island in Cape Verde, loggerhead nests surged from approximately 500 in 2008 to 35,000 in 2020.

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.

Although data on species such as hawksbill, olive ridley, Kemp's ridley, and flatback turtles is limited, most available records indicate population growth. Many of these species remain protected under U.S. and international endangered species regulations.

Rising temperatures threaten sea turtle populations by skewing sex ratios toward females. However, emerging research indicates adaptive responses, such as loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean shifting nesting sites to cooler areas. This behavioral shift could help maintain a balanced sex ratio and mitigate climate change effects.

Dr. Seminoff emphasized that when harmful human activities are curtailed, species can recover and thrive.

Looking ahead, scientists have outlined key priorities for sea turtle conservation, including:

Promoting climate resilience

Reducing bycatch and illegal hunting

Understanding and mitigating pollution impacts, particularly plastics

Ensuring sufficient foraging habitats, such as seagrass meadows

Deakin's Professor Hays praised the efforts of individuals worldwide who have contributed to the resurgence of sea turtles.

"This success story demonstrates that humanity has the ability to reverse biodiversity loss when we commit to concerted conservation efforts," he said.

More information: Graeme C. Hays et al, Status, trends and conservation of global sea turtle populations, Nature Reviews Biodiversity (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44358-024-00011-y
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:

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Elon Musk's company SpaceX will "soon" begin a mission to repatriate two American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station.

Veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner, and were due to spend only eight days on the orbiting laboratory, but technical problems on the spacecraft prompted NASA to change plans.

The US space agency announced in August that Boeing rival SpaceX would bring the crew home in February, before their return was further postponed to late March due to SpaceX preparing a new spacecraft.

"Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without specifying when the mission would take place.

Musk, who heavily funded Trump's election campaign, wrote earlier on X that the president had asked SpaceX to bring home the two astronauts "as soon as possible."

SpaceX, the private company founded by billionaire Musk, has been flying regular missions every six months to allow the rotation of ISS crews.

In January, Wilmore and Williams said their spirits were still high despite being stranded above Earth, adding that they had plenty of food and were enjoying their time on the space station.

While their protracted stay is notable, it has not yet surpassed Frank Rubio's record-breaking 371 days aboard the ISS, which he completed in 2023 after the Russian spacecraft designated for his return developed a coolant leak.

 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:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Coral reef research has focused on the twin evils birthed by record-high greenhouse gas emissions: warming oceans and increasingly acidic seawater. These global threats are caused by seawater absorbing the excess heat and carbon dioxide that fossil fuel burning has added to the atmosphere. But there is another consequence that is seldom discussed.

Globally, oceanic oxygen is being depleted because seawater holds less oxygen as it heats up. In the warm coastal waters where tropical coral reefs grow, the immediate effects of low oxygen concentrations can be catastrophic. Short-term hypoxia events are increasingly reported in which dissolved oxygen levels suddenly plummetoften triggered or exacerbated by chemical pollution running off the land, like nutrient-rich fertilizerswhich can kill entire coral communities and decimate reefs within days.

Corals are animals, and like other aquatic animals, they breathe in oxygen from the water to fuel their metabolism. Thanks to a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae, corals also turn the sun's energy into foodoxygen is the byproduct.

Oxygen levels on coral reefs naturally fluctuate in a daily cycle, with dissolved oxygen peaking around noon and gradually falling as the light fades. At night when photosynthesis stops, corals continue to respire (consume oxygen), and seawater oxygen is depleted.

This cyclic rise and fall in oxygen means that some corals have already evolved strategies to withstand changes in dissolved oxygen. When the amount of oxygen available to corals falls below this natural range, corals can get stressed and their normal biological processes are disrupted, in many cases leading to death.

Just like us, corals need oxygen to survive. But I (Jennifer Mallon) discovered that the effects of low oxygen on corals are not always obvious to the naked eye, and that juvenile corals may be especially vulnerable.

Hard to spot signs

To understand the effects of low oxygen levels on corals I traveled to the Smithsonian Marine Station in Florida, as part of a research project led by the University of Florida's Andrew Altieri and the Smithsonian's Maggie Johnson and Valerie Paul.

At the Smithsonian, 24 climate-controlled seawater tanks simulate varying levels of deoxygenation already present on coral reefs around the world, ranging from severe deoxygenation, which our research observed on the Caribbean coast of Panama, to normal conditions, such as those replicated in aquariums around the world.

While some corals, like the Caribbean staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis), died within a few days of severe deoxygenation, other important reef-building species such as the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) survived, demonstrating that tolerance of low oxygen was different between species.

When we studied the corals that survived deoxygenation, we discovered that hypoxic stress may not always be visible. Even when exposed to deoxygenation for two weeks, some corals showed no signs of bleaching, which is when the colorful algae depart and corals turn a ghostly white. More detailed measurements revealed something worrying: despite outward appearances, low oxygen exposure had impaired coral metabolism, potentially stunting their growth and reef-building abilities.

Existing methods for measuring coral health in the field are mainly visual, and include assessments by trained divers who search for signs of paling or bleaching corals. The hypoxic stress responses we saw in our experiment could be going under the radar.

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.

Baby corals at risk

We also wanted to know how deoxygenation affects a coral's ability to breed.

Coral sexual reproduction is already a tricky business. Spawning events, when corals release egg bundles into the water, occur just a few nights a year, and the resulting larvae are highly vulnerable. Few survive the multi-day swim to the reef where they settle and metamorphose into juvenile corals.

On modern Caribbean reefs, wild juvenile corals are rare. People involved in restoring reefs help corals to sexually reproduce in the lab and rear the juveniles in order to later transplant them onto the reef.

Juvenile corals often settle in reef crevices where they are exposed to lower oxygen levels for longer than in open water, because less water flows over them. When we incubated coral larvae in deoxygenated water throughout the settlement process, we found that initial rates of larval survival and settlement were not significantly affected.

Things changed once the larvae had settled and begun to form juvenile corals. Early-stage juvenile corals, known as primary polyps, lack symbiotic algae to help them meet their nutritional needs via photosynthesis and so rely on respiration for energy. Without enough oxygen, they cannot respire properly and begin to die off.

Coral conservation in breathless waters

Our research can help those involved in restoring reefs understand the oxygen needs of corals, as well as highlight a previously overlooked threat.

Even corals that survive deoxygenation show signs of a weaker metabolism that will make it harder to conserve healthy reefs, as restoration relies on healthy coral growth to regenerate what is damaged.

As a next step, field measurements of coral metabolism will be carried out on Florida's barrier reef tract when oxygen levels are predicted to drop during the warm summer months, to capture the real impact of deoxygenation on coral health.

Dissolved oxygen data has not always been collected as part of reef monitoring, even during warm water bleaching events when oxygen is low. As the climate crisis worsens, it will be imperative to do more of this monitoring in tropical coastal waters. Further research into how distinct coral species respond to hypoxia is also essential for targeted conservation strategies.

By confronting the silent threat of deoxygenation head on, we can safeguard the future of coral reefs and the countless marine species that depend on them.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
AROUND THE REGION  On Monday, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Matthew Vaeth distributed a memo ordering that federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, starting Tuesday, stating that, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the Presidents executive orders.

The memo specifically lists the executive orders under which federal funding is to be suspended as the Protecting the American People Against Invasion, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements, Unleashing American Energy, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, and Enforcing the Hyde Amendment.

When pressed about the freeze at her first White House press conference Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karline Leavitt referred to an FAQ sheet issued by the OMB, which states that, Any program that provides direct benefits to individuals is not subject to the pause, and that. Any payment required by law to be paid will be paid without interruption or delay.

However, a New York Department of Health spokesperson said the department had experienced some issues since the memo was issued.

OMBs updated Q&A document makes it clear that mandatory programs like Medicaid will continue without pause. However, like other states, we have seen issues today accessing HHS Payment Management System, which is used to support a multitude of health programs, the representative said Tuesday in a statement to The Post-Star.

The vague and contradictory directive has caused upheaval throughout the country as local and state agencies scramble to decipher what, if any affect it will have on funding; or, as the monies described have already been approved and allocated by Congress, the legality of the order might be.

This is an unlawful, and reckless move that will hurt tens of millions. That this pain would be caused so that the Trump Administration can parse through each dollar to ensure the aid aligns with them politically is abhorrent. This funding has been delivered to our communities based on need, not ideology, read, in part, a statement issued by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-NY-20, about the action. Republicans must stand up for their communities and join us in demanding President Trump immediately rescind this unacceptable and illegal proposal.

During a press event in Schenectady, Gov. Kathy Hochul was also asked about the order.

The one thing were not going to do is panic. We need more information. We need to know the details. We need to know whether theres going to be any pushback from members of the Congress or the Senate when they start hearing from their constituents, their mayors, their governors, red states and blue states will be affected by this, she said adding that the pressure to pushback against the White House would need to come from the right. I am concerned about a lot of our funding sources  and particularly for, even a place like Schenectady, they get $2.8 million a year for law enforcement  law enforcement is funded, transit is funded, so I think its important that as the details emerge, if in fact that is exactly what is covered and what is jeopardized, that we go right to our members of Congress who are Republicans who would have more say in this, because the House and the Senate are governed by Republicans right now, and use their collective voices to stand up for fighting for law enforcement dollars to come to our state.

Closer to home, Warren County Administrator John Taflan said that his office is also concerned for county programs that rely on federal dollars.

Many Warren County agencies receive federal funding directly or indirectly passed through to us by New York State, as do most other municipalities, Taflan said in a statement to The Post-Star. Whether there is an impact to local services by this weeks funding decision will depend on how long the lapse lasts. Federal funding supports many important county programs such as law enforcement, assistance to veterans, the Women Infant Children (WIC) program for young families, assistance for senior citizens, support for crime victims, highway and bridge projects and more. At this point, it is too early to say whether we will see a local impact, but my office is reviewing the federal funding memorandum and meeting with county departments (Tuesday) to determine what steps should be taken at this point.

Assemblymember Matt Simpson, R-District 114, said he agreed with the measure, but hoped for a speedy restoration of money flow.

It would be malpractice not to have oversight of our spending, just as the New York State Comptrollers Office conducts routine audits of local municipalities to ensure resources are used responsibly under a sustainable fiscal plan. This measure introduces a level of accountability at the federal level that has not been seen before, Simpson said in a statement to The Post-Star. As we all pause to consider the implications of this order on day one, I am hopeful this correction will be done in a timely manner. I am confident the administration will see the value many federal programs have on our communities and the exceptional return they deliver for the North Country on a regular basis.

Late Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the order until Feb. 3.

It seems like the federal government currently doesnt actually know the full extent of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan said Tuesday.

After the block was issued, 22 states and the District of Columbia, including New York, filed lawsuits seeking to block and permanently prevent the administration from cutting off federal funding.

There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.


Political parties express sorrow over Maha Kumbh tragedy; Kharge slams 'half-baked' arrangements Following the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the wee hours of Wednesday, which left several people critically injured and caused distress among devotees, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed sorrow over the tragedy and blamed the arrangements, calling them "half-baked." Congress chief Kharge expressed his sorrow over the tragedy in a post on X, writing, "During the Maha Kumbh, the news of the stampede on the banks of Tirthraj Sangam in which several people lost their lives and many others got injured is extremely heart-rending. Our deepest condolences to the families of the devotees and we wish for the speedy recovery of the injured."



Kharge also criticised the arrangements, adding, "Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion than management and mismanagement are responsible for this. Despite spending thousands of crores of rupees, such arrangements are condemnable."



Kharge urged both the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh governments to improve the arrangements, stating, "There are still many important royal baths left, so the Central and state governments should wake up now and improve the arrangements so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen in future."



He further called for expanded provisions for accommodation, food, first aid, and for curbing VIP movement, emphasising, "This is what our saints and sages also want." He also instructed Congress workers to provide help to the victims and their families.



Delhi Chief Minister Atishi took to social media X and wrote: "The stampede incident in Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and give strength to their families to bear this sorrow. All devotees should maintain patience and follow the safety rules and instructions so that this event remains safe."



AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his condolences, writing, "The stampede incident in Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. I pray for the peace of the souls of the devotees who lost their lives in this accident. May God give strength to their families to bear this immense sorrow."



He appealed to devotees to maintain patience and follow the administration's instructions for safety.



RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav shared his grief on social media platform X, stating, "The extremely sad news of the stampede on the day of Mauni Amavasya bath at the Sangam bank in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and the injury and death of devotees is heart-rending. May God give peace to the departed souls in his lotus feet and grant speedy recovery to the devotees injured in the accident. May God keep everyone safe."



A stampede broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'.



According to officials, a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede and injured many.




SC States Call Me MiSTER cohort at the South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators (SCABSE) Conference in Charleston.

ORANGEBURG, S.C.  Becoming a professional educator requires interacting with and learning from relatable role models.

Members of South Carolina State Universitys Call Me MiSTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) cohort took advantage of a remarkable opportunity to network with Black educators and school leaders from across the state.



The South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators (SCABSE) Conference in Charleston brought together educators and administrators July 17-19 for a dynamic blend of professional development, networking, and empowerment.

For SC States Call Me MiSTER students, the conference was more than just an educational experience. MiSTER Samuel Mitchell, a sophomore elementary education major, spoke before hundreds of attendees about SC States MiSTER program.

"I was honored to speak and represent such a great program and cohort, SCABSE was an unbelievable experience, and I cant wait to go back, Mitchell said. Networking with principals and superintendents feels like a dream that Im waking up to.

MiSTERs interacted with like-minded educators who are passionate about the future of Pre-K-12 education in South Carolina. Engaging with like-minded educators who are passionate about the future of Pre-K-12 education in South Carolina, MiSTERs were able to meet Brandi Blake, a 2011 SC State graduate. Blake is the executive director for intercultural development at Charleston County School District and 2nd Vice President of the Dorchester, South Carolina, Chapter of the SC State University National Alumni Association.

Beyond the professional development and networking opportunities, the weekend also provided ample space for fun and camaraderie, said Dr. Costonzo Bryant-Martin, director of SC States Call Me MiSTER program and an assistant professor of education. For some of the Call Me MiSTER students, this was their first time attending a professional conference.



As a result, the Call Me MiSTER cohort left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to making a meaningful impact in their communities, Bryant-Martin said.

About Call Me MiSTER

The Call Me MiSTER program at South Carolina State University is committed to increasing the number of educators in South Carolinas K-12 schools. By providing mentorship, academic support, and professional development opportunities, the program empowers students to become leaders in education and positive role models for students across the state.



The Department of Education is a unit in the SC State College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences.



For more information regarding the Call Me MiSTER program, contact Dr. Costonzo Bryant-Martin at cbryantm@scsu.edu or 803-536-8490. For more information regarding the Department of Education, contact Dr. George Johnson at gjohns32@scsu.edu or 803-536-8793.
Authorities looking into arson after Cozumel firemen douse three vehicle fires

Cozumel, Q.R.  Cozumel firemen attended to the reports of three separate vehicle fires Tuesday night. It is believed that all three vehicles were intentionally set ablaze with Molotov Cocktails.

The reports began at 4:00 a.m. with a car burning on 4th Street North in the 10 de Abril neighborhood. Minutes later, a second vehicle fire was reported in the CTM neighborhood.

A third vehicle was set on fire on 125th Avenue and 3rd Street South, which was contained by its owners, however, firemen still attended the scene.

There is speculation that the vehicle fires were intentionally set, however, Cozumel Civil Protection says fire experts will determine that.

Alfredo Arellano, the Director of Cozumel Civil Protection and Firefighters said we could not say if they were intentional since that is determined by the authority, by an expert in fire matters. The State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) is in charge of determining responsibilities and seeing what caused these fires.

According to Arellano, the three vehicles were on the public road. When we arrived they were lit, but not in their entirety. The three vehicles were burning in the front part on the hood. Action was taken immediately and the three vehicles were not consumed.
Cozumel welcoming more than 130,000 cruise ship passengers during last week of January

Cozumel, Q.R.  More than 130,000 cruise ship passengers will visit the island of Cozumel during the last week of January. The island has had a busy first month of the New Year with an average of 19,000 passengers a day docking the island.

According to its mayor, Jose Luis Chacon Mendez, an estimated 133,936 cruise ship tourists are expected this week. He reported that those visitors will arrive on 38 ships that will dock at the various local piers.

Chacon Mendez stressed that the joint effort has allowed Cozumel to remain one of the preferred tourist destinations.

It is a pride to lead the arrival of cruise ships and a pleasure to welcome visitors. We will continue to promote tourism to generate direct benefits for the families of our community, he said.

According to the arrival schedule published by the Quintana Roo Port Authority (APIQROO), for the week of January 27 to February 2, the day with the greatest influx of visitors will be Wednesday the 29th with 28,433 passengers arriving on seven ships.

On January 30th, 21,925 tourists are expected, while on January 31st, another 24,237 passengers will arrive on six ships to visit the island.

As for the distribution by maritime terminals, the Puerta Maya dock will receive 15 cruise ships with 56,432 passengers, representing 41.13 percentt of the weekly total.

The SSA Mexico International Cruise Terminal will receive 12 ships with 39,943 passengers, equivalent to 28.82 percent of the total, and the Punta Langosta Cozumel Terminal will host 11 cruise ships with 37,561 tourists, representing 28.04 percent of the total.

With these figures, Cozumel reaffirms its leadership as one of the main cruise destinations in the Caribbean, attracting thousands of visitors who enjoy its beaches, landscapes and tourist services.
Municipality approves 99.9 million peso project package for repairs

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  The Municipal Planning Committee of Solidaridad has approved a nearly 100 million peso project package. The money will be used for municipal projects during 2025.

According to the Government of Solidaridad, it is the first package of resources of the Annual Operating Program (POA) 2025 destined for public projects in the amount of 99.9 million pesos.

During the meeting, the Secretary of Municipal Planning and Evaluation, Rolando Mendez Navarro, reported that this first package of resources is part of the 900 million pesos committed by Mayor Estefania Mercado for this year.

With the 99.9 million pesos, from its own fiscal resources, the Solidaridad government will execute a total of seven public infrastructure projects.

In this regard, Mendez Navarro explained that 81 million pesos will be invested in the repaving of various roads in the municipality of Puerto Aventuras and in streets in the Centro and Aviacion neighborhoods as well as on Mayapan Avenue between Chemuyil Avenue and the Arco Vial in Playa del Carmen.

In Playa del Carmen, the citys busy 115th Avenue will also be repaved from 11th Street South to 40th Street since the previous administration repaved with only 1cm of ashplant and not the required 5cms.

Another 18 million pesos will be allocated to the construction of curbs, sidewalks and paving of 115th Avenue and 5 million to the repair of the sinkhole on Albatros Street, between Petrel and 44 Norte streets.

The remaining 12 million pesos will be used to rehabilitate the office building where the Municipal Government and the councilmens area are located, emphasizing that the place is in poor condition and gets worse when it rains.

At the same session, the closing of the POA for fiscal year 2024 was approved, where 514.5 million pesos were invested from various federal and municipal contribution funds.

Rolando Mendez Navarro anticipated that at the end of this month, the Official State Gazette should publish information on the resources that the Solidaridad government will receive, through partial allocations, from the Fund for Contributions for Municipal Social Infrastructure and the Territorial Demarcations of the Federal District and the Fund for Contributions for the Strengthening of Municipalities and Territorial Demarcations of the Federal District.
Police investigating attempted Cancun jewelry store robbery

Cancun, Q.R.  Police in Cancun are continuing their investigation into an attempted jewelry store robbery. Armed men reportedly entered the store inside Plaza Las Americas Tuesday night where they threatened employees.

Shouts from store staff thwarted the 8:00 p.m. robbery attempt, causing the three would-be thieves to run off. Amid the chaos, a shot was heard, prompting the arrival of mall security personnel. Those responsible escaped on a motorcycle.

Municipal Police and the State Attorney Generals Office interviewed the employees who told police the thieves tried to break the stores glass but were unable.

Police carried out a search operation but the men made a clean getaway. Surveillance cameras are being used in their investigation. In a statement, the Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC) reported on the attempted robbery.

The Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana de Quintana Roo reports a robbery in Plaza de las Americas is foiled. After the report of an attempted robbery in a jewelry store inside Plaza las Americas in Cancun, it is reported that when the emergency alarms were activated, the subjects fled without achieving their objective.

The authorities activated the search and location protocols in the area with the participation of the security departments of the three levels of Government. The characteristics of the aggressors are known, so the authorities maintain the security device in the place. Therefore, the general public is asked to give way to the emergency units.

Earlier this month, another jeweler store was robbed inside the same Cancun shopping mall.
Is life worth living? Are the forms of Western life conducive to happiness? These questions are best asked in the form of a novel, and raising such questions is Michel Houellebecqs strength. Annihilation, published in French in 2022 and translated into English in 2024, leaves the reader with the conviction that answers must be found. Set in 2027 France, Annihilation focuses on the career, family, and marriage of Paul Raison and meditates on problems of modernity, both contemporary (euthanasia and the fate of aging parents) and perennial (sources of meaning and the elements of a flourishing marriage). It is worth noting that this novel is graphicly erotic. Houellebecq does not descend into pornography, but he uses sex as a trope to highlight modern conditions. Also, it is impossible to contemplate this novel without spoilers. Reader, beware.

Annihilation boasts a sprawling narrative, with terrorism, financial legislation, and National Front (French right-wing politics) subplots, which all find their meeting point in Paul Raison. Pauls position as an upper-middle-class bureaucrat positions him as a kind of Everyman representing the norms of first-world elites. Paul is the locus of Houellebecqs satirical arguments about modernity; the reader is meant to find Paul plausible, but his flaws are indicative of systemic problems in the modern era.

Pauls ennui, disconnection to his family, agnosticism, wealth, and level of education all symbolize the emptiness of modern success. His childless marriage, his wifes flirtation with Wicca, his sexual history and habits reveal a man who by many metrics has gained the whole world yet lost his soul. Finally, Paul added that he regretted not having children, and it was a real shock when he heard those words coming out of his mouth, because it was something he had never said to himself, and what was more it was completely unexpected, he had always been sure of the opposite.

Paul and his wife own a home in Paris, yet he has no joy. Sleeping alone is difficult when you have lost the habit, you are cold and frightened; but [Paul and Prudence] had passed that awkward stage a long time ago; they had attained instead a kind of standardized despair. What has gone wrong with the West that financial success seems to require yielding that which makes life worthwhile? Paul is missing key ingredients of the good life, yet fails to notice their lack.

Paul expresses the disgust of an elite for the masses, and in so doing recalls Raskolnikovs assertion in Crime and Punishment that, as a superior man, he stood outside the normal existence of humanity. Through the life of a French bureaucrat, Houellebecq suggests that modern elites just might hate human beings. [Paul] realized that his doubt now applied to the whole of the human community. He had always liked the story of Frederick II of Prussia asking to be buried near his dogs so that he did not lie among men, that wicked race.

The title of the book comes from this line: The worst thing was that if the terrorists goal was to annihilate the world as [Paul] knew it, to annihilate the modern world, he couldnt entirely blame them. Houellebecq lands as a conservative author in the sense of a conservatism opposed to modernity. His story highlights the inability of modernity to provide a stable source of meaning or flourishing; in such a state, does the modern West deserve to endure? Paul asks the question but does not draw an easy conclusion.

Paul is also a foil set against his Catholic homemaking sister (who married instead of going on to higher education). Cecile expresses a simple faith through praying, going to Mass, and insisting that God will heal their stroke-victim father. She and her husband, Herve, have few resources. Herves ties to the National Front eventually land him an entry-level job selling insurance, but he and Cecile are financially fragile. Despite this, Ceciles faith in Gods power, love for others, and concern for family dynamics stand in contrast to Pauls isolation and indifference. Houellebecq illustrates the siblings dissimilarity by means of popular culture:

The first thing that struck [Paul] as he stepped inside was the poster of Keanu Reeves. The image was taken from The Matrix Revolutions, and showed Neo blind, his face covered by a bloody bandage, wandering in an apocalyptic landscape.  The Matrix had come out a few days before Pauls eighteenth birthday; he had been excited about it straightaway. The same thing would happen to Cecile two years later, with the first episode in the Lord of the Rings series.

Pauls agnosticism supports his sense that everything around him might not exist, recalling both Descartes and The Matrix; in contrast, Cecile sees the world as deeply meaningful, flowing from the creative word of a loving God. For Houellebecq, these films become symbolically meaningful, underscoring two opposed views of reality.

Through Paul and Cecile, Houellebecq highlights the success of the modern man against the costs of that success, leaving his readers with a clear sense that Ceciles way of life, while less politically important and financially stable, is better. She is happy, much happier in her family than Paul in his marriage. Cecile loves to cook for her family, and she cooks traditional French food that is time- and labor-intensive; such cooking requires significant skills, but the result is regular family feasting. In contrast, Paul barely eats. In terms of food, Paul settled for his little shelf, which he filled quickly, having gradually given up frequenting local gastronomic artisans and settling instead for the formula, nutritionally synthetic and reliably distributed, of ready-made microwavable dishes. Food becomes the site of feasting for Cecile, growing out of her unified marriage with Herve. For Paul, food becomes a war zone when Prudence becomes vegan. Though Paul has more money and can afford more elaborate fare, the food Ceciles family eats is far superior.

The Raison family drama creates the backdrop for crucial questions that could have come from late-2024 headlines. Pauls father experiences a stroke, and in his recovery is eventually moved to a long-term-care facility. When a new doctor is introduced to oversee his fathers care, Paul agrees with Herve and Cecile that they need to bring their father home. They partner with the National Front to remove him from the hospital. This subplot, filled with humor and intrigue, brings several questions to the forefront. First, should governments be able to kill their citizens? With Canadas Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program and the United Kingdom voting to affirm euthanasia as a dignified method of death, leading modern governments have concluded that they would rather kill elderly citizens than pay to sustain their healthcare.

Within this consideration, directly relevant to Pauls father, are other questions about medical care, the system of modern medicine, and power dynamics. Who actually gets to decide the fate of nonverbal patients? Is it the family? The medical doctor? The government bureaucrat determined to apply fairness to all patients even if that model means no one is cared for well?

Inseparable from these concerns is the reality that medical technology enables a preservation of life longer than was possible previously. Without a clear understanding of the nature of human life and a limiting of the sphere of governmental action, mass murder of the elderly (whose care costs the most) becomes conceivable. Where does the individual, the family, fit in such a schema? Houellebecq introduces a Baptist billionaire pro-life advocate who funds a clandestine group breaking elderly people out of hospitals before they can be euthanized; this group works with families and technically fits within the law. As one government official explains to Paul, Whats remarkable is that they always have an inside accomplice, usually a nurse or care assistant, but sometimes a doctor; and they seem to have them in every hospital in France; I have a sense that the medical fraternity is very divided on the question of euthanasia.

Pauls struggles collapse into a closing narrative wherein he discovers that his time is short. In his early 50s, he has a malignant tumor that cannot be removed without removing his tongue. Suddenly, everything else comes into perspective. His job becomes less important; his wifes support, and spending remaining time with her, is where his focus lies. His strength in earlier chapters is replaced with weakness as Paul undergoes chemo and radiation therapy. In one poignant scene, he longs to sit with his father and say everything he had never quite been able to say. Paul and his father then sit together silently for hours. Pauls looming death brings his life into focus, suggesting that the way he had spent his previous four decades was insufficient. Like a good modern novelist, Hoquellebecq closes the book without resolving the questions he raises. But through Pauls story arc, he rejects the emptiness of materialism.

What then is Annihilation about? What does it say? It brings the reader into close communion with a contemporary agnostic French intellectual and shows the emptiness of such a life. Paul spends most of his years as a hedonist; throughout the book, he recalls trysts with former lovers. Hoquellebecq narrates, [Paul] himself had never been in love; he had slept with half a dozen girls, and had found them likeable enough, nothing more, but in the looks that his sister was giving to Herve he discovered an obvious and powerful strength with which he himself was unfamiliar.

By the end, dying in close fellowship with his wife provides his only source of satisfaction. Paul illustrates the modern isolated, atomized individual cut off from traditional sources of meaning. What was the point of installing 5G if you simply couldnt make contact with one another any more, and perform the essential gestures, the ones that allow the human species to reproduce, the ones that also, sometimes, allow you to be happy?

For all that, Paul can easily walk halls of power, spend money on whatever he wants, do almost anything he wants, yet his life has stripped him of the ability to want anything in particular. In contrast, Cecile has a much simpler life, and her husband is under-employed. But her family, her faith, and her cooking become sources of joy and ressourcement. Houellebecq does not land on a simple answer; instead, he asks the reader to consider his questions: Is the West worth fighting for? What makes a happy life? Have we traded our spiritual inheritance for materialistic pottage? Through images and characters, Houellebecq helps the reader see more deeply into modernity with hopes that a more finely tuned perception will give rise to answers.
Spectators gather for fireworks in Chinatown after the 2024 Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. As Lunar New Year celebrations kick off again across the Bay Area, officials urged residents to avoid fireworks, firecrackers and wood-burning activities that could contribute to air pollution. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

As Lunar New Year celebrations kick off across the Bay Area, officials urged residents to avoid fireworks, firecrackers and wood-burning activities that could contribute to air pollution.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an advisory Tuesday, shortly before a large number of fireworks were set off in San Franciscos Chinatown and other neighborhoods in the region.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While the air quality was expected to remain moderate, the air district warned that the high volume of neighborhood fireworks during the holiday could cause dangerous spikes in local pollution levels.

Newly inaugurated San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie waves to the crowd before lighting fireworks outside a community-led unity celebration banquet at Chinatowns Far East Cafe in San Francisco on Jan. 8. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Lunar New Year, celebrated by many cultures worldwide, began Wednesday and ends on Feb. 12, marking the Year of the Snake. The holiday is marked by diverse customs and traditions, including spring and lantern festivals, but the highlight for many are the vibrant parades featuring lion dancers, dragons and firecrackers.

While no legal restrictions are in place for the holiday, the district urged residents to consider the broader impact on community health and air quality, particularly under the forecasted stagnant weather conditions.

A high-pressure weather system over the region may create an inversion layer, trapping pollutants close to the ground and worsening air quality, according to the National Weather Service.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Although theres no Spare the Air alert, fireworks and wood burning are strongly discouraged due to their potential to harm public health, the Air District said.

The agency added that fireworks contribute to increased smoke and ash in the air, which can lead to respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks.

The Air District also highlighted that wood burning, while not illegal, is a common wintertime pollutant in the Bay Area. Wood smoke contains carcinogenic substances like particulate matter, benzene and formaldehyde. It is particularly harmful to sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with existing respiratory conditions.

Fireworks go off in Chinatown during the 2023 Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. As Lunar New Year celebrations kick off again across the Bay Area, officials urged residents to avoid fireworks, firecrackers and wood-burning activities that could contribute to air pollution. Justin Katigbak/Speical to The Chronicle

It echoed its plea on social media: Skip the fireworks, firecrackers & wood fire this #LunarNewYear to keep air quality from becoming unhealthy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Meanwhile, San Francisco is incorporating a more environmentally friendly way to celebrate the Lunar New Year. On Feb. 15, the Chinese New Year Parade will feature a first-ever choreographed drone light show as part of its grand finale.

The 10-minute performance will include 500 LED-lit drones flying above the Embarcadero, forming images related to the Lunar New Year traditions and the Year of the Snake.

The show, visible from a 5-mile radius, offers an alternative to traditional fireworks.
In an effort to fill large vacant storefronts along Van Ness Avenue, two of San Franciscos newest supervisors are looking to get rid of red tape for chain stores. This file photo shows the Westfield San Francisco Center, which also has many vacancies but would not be included in the proposal. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Attention, Target shoppers: Van Ness Avenue may soon be open for business. Even if you are a chain store.

In an effort to fill large vacant storefronts along Van Ness Avenue, two of San Franciscos new moderate members of the Board of Supervisors are looking to get rid of the costly and time-consuming process that chain stores like Starbucks or Target must go through to open along the corridor.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Monday, Supervisors Stephen Sherrill and Danny Sauter introduced legislation to permit formula retail on a 1-mile stretch of Van Ness between Redwood Street, half a block north of City Hall, and Broadway. The city defines formula retail as a chain with 11 or more outlets.

The move would mean that stores opening along that part of Van Ness would not have to go through a planning process that can take 12 to 18 months and requires an approval at the Planning Commission. Those approvals can also be appealed to the Board of Supervisors  a process arduous enough that many businesses simply dont bother, according to Sherrill.

Van Ness is a highly trafficked city arterial that has been hampered by an outdated planning code, said Sherrill. By reducing barriers to filling these empty storefronts, we can activate these vacancies, support property owners, and breathe new life into a corridor that has struggled to recover.

The proposed ordinance comes a few weeks after Walgreens announced that it is closing 12 San Francisco stores, including two on Van Ness. And it comes one week after Bloomingdales announced that it will close its Market Street store, joining Macys and Nordstrom in the exodus from downtown San Francisco.

Other significant vacancies along the Van Ness corridor include another former Walgreens at 790 Van Ness, which has been empty for five years, a former Staples at 1700 Van Ness, and a former movie theater and gym at 1000 Van Ness.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its unclear whether the election of Mayor Daniel Lurie and a more moderate Board of Supervisors will be able to reverse the trend and fill empty storefronts. But the proposal from Sauter and Sherrill shows that the refashioned board is looking to be more business-friendly, even if its big business.

Sherrill also is requesting a hearing on large commercial vacancies downtown and along major transit routes. This hearing will analyze barriers to occupying vacant commercial spaces and identify legislative solutions to streamline permitting processes that will incentivize reuse, according to a news release.

While San Francisco lawmakers have worked for decades to preserve the citys unique character and support mom-and-pop businesses by making it harder for big retail chains to take root, Van Ness has always stood apart from quaint shopping strips like Chestnut Street in the Marina or Clement Street in the Richmond District.

From the 1930s until the 1980s the avenue, which is part of Highway 101, was known as Auto Row and was lined with automobile showrooms. But those auto businesses started migrating to the suburbs in the 1970s, leaving behind large spaces that are difficult to fill in the current retail environment.

We picked Van Ness because of the history of auto showrooms unique to Van Ness. These showrooms leave really large footprints, and small businesses cant fill them, said Sherrill. Vacant storefronts just erode public confidence, and they erode neighborhoods. We need them filled.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sherrill said he walks to City Hall along Van Ness most mornings and has noticed the increased vacancies.

It just slaps you in the face, he said. We are already talking to a couple of businesses right now about some of these spaces.

Sauter said, Van Ness Avenue has always been an important corridor in the heart of our city and in my district. These changes will mark the beginning of its next chapter as a more vibrant corridor.

Real estate developer Chris Foley said the move would make Van Ness more attractive to retailers.

You just have to make things easier, he said. Van Ness should be the Champs-Elysees. Instead, its dead.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In an email, brokers at Touchstone Commercial Partners, which represents the owners of the former Walgreens at 790 Van Ness, said the proposal makes sense.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband (42) and I have been together for 13 years. Hes one of those guys who ignores his health, mental and physical, until its absolutely dire. He hasnt seen a dentist in years. I made his appointments for the first few years we were together but finally quit doing it once our kids (4-year-old twins and a 2-year-old) arrived because I had too much on my plate. I told him hes an adult who needs to manage his own health. In his mind, that means ignore it.

He suffers from horrific acid reflux, and while I understand its genetic (his dad has the same) and that its not intentional, I am absolutely at my wits end with him not managing it. He takes Tums and other OTC medication, and hacks and coughs and spits constantly. Because he works swing shifts, he comes home in the middle of the night, and I wake up to the sound of him hacking into the sink in our bathroom with zero care or acknowledgement that Im trying to sleep (I work 12-hour days on top of being the primary parent). It is killing me.

Divorcing someone for having acid reflux is pretty lame but Im getting to that point. How do I tell him that if he doesnt prioritize his health, hes going to need to find a new wife who will?

Tired in Texas

Dear Texas,

I mean, you tell him just how you told me! You ignore your own health, and you might think that only affects you, but youre wrong. It makes my life right now much more difficult. And as you get older, your refusal to take care of yourself is going to cause enormous problems for me and for your children. If you dont start seeing a doctor regularly and look for a way to get healthier, I dont see a future for us.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The story here isnt that youre considering divorcing a guy for his acid reflux. Youre considering divorcing a guy for being inconsiderate, unhelpful, and uncaring in a number of different waysright now and, clearly, for the rest of your lives. Youre well within your rights to do that, and while youre talking about things he ought to be doing to save this marriage, consider telling him that in addition to seeing the doctor, he needs to understand that you are both working adults and there is no reason for you to be the primary parent. He should take responsibility for his children and parent equally with youor else hell find hell be parenting alone, every other weekend.

Advertisement

Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Care and Feeding, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Care and Feeding following up) Submit

Dear Care and Feeding,

I am American but have been living with my husband in his home country in Europe for 10 years. I like it, but have struggled with being far from home and dealing with a new culture and languageand its been harder since our daughter was born a year ago. My husband is willing to move to the U.S., but he thinks our current country is objectively a better, safer, cheaper place to live and raise a child. And I agree! But the idea of staying still makes me sad.

Advertisement

How can I weigh the benefits of a good social system here vs. the family support wed have there? And how do I deal with the guilt of potentially uprooting our family to a volatile America with a frightening new president, just because I miss my family and want my daughter to grow up around them?

Sad but Socially Supported

Dear Supported,

All those people who are writing to the column and calling in to the podcast declaring their desire to escape America would be well-served to read your letter. Youre living that expat lifemarried to an EU citizen, no less!and yet it has not solved all your problems. Of course you miss your family and feel sad about the road not taken. Thats what the road not taken is for!

Advertisement

Advertisement

How do you weigh the benefits of one choice over the other? Thats pretty difficult as a hypothetical. You dont actually know what its like to live in America right nowor rather, in whatever part of America youd move to in order to be closer to your family. You have no idea how America might change in the next few years. Heck, you have no idea how your part of Europe, a continent thats seeing its own fair share of right-wing dingbats assume power, might change, either!

Advertisement

Advertisement

You can certainly sit down and make a list of pros and cons. You can talk to the family youd be returning to about what kinds of support they could offeryou cant measure what that proximity is worth emotionally, but you can certainly compare the actual hours of family help youd receive in America versus the support that your European social welfare system offers you now. No matter how you weigh the idea, though, youll always be at least a little in the dark.

But you know how you can find out what living in America would be like? You could try moving to America! Your husband is willing to give it a shot; your child is small and portable and hasnt yet made the kind of friends and school connections an older child might be sad to leave; job concerns dont seem to be stopping you from considering the move. So why not try it? Then you can see for yourself what its like living near your parents, enduring the cost of American child care, enjoying the affordability of American peanut butter, sipping an ice-cold drink for the first time in 10 years, etc.

Advertisement

Advertisement

You can do this because nothing is irreversible. If, a year into your American experiment, you decide that its better in Bruges, you can move back. If, 10 years into your American experiment, you pine for Porto, you can move back then. Just as I think every American parent should find a way to parent abroad for a while, if financially feasible, so do I think its worth it for every expat parent to try living in America for a while. Maybe youll discover its worth it! Or maybe it will throw all the benefits of your European life into sharper relief than ever.

Advertisement

Dear Care and Feeding,

My 4-year-old has started kindergarten (we live in the Netherlands, where they start a year earlier than in the U.S.). She is very shy and does not thrive in busy social settings. She hates kindergarten, and most mornings at drop-off I have to peel her from my leg as she sobs and hand her off to the teacher (who is lovely).

At home she acts out in various ways. Most troublesome is that she no longer does number two on the potty or toilet. When she comes home from school, I see large and smelly skid marksnot from improper wiping, but from pinching her little butt cheeks together, trying to stop the crap from coming out. Sometimes she does not have a bowel movement for several days, and then always in her night diaper or as an accident in her underpants. She talks about the crap as a sentient being, who does not want to come out. She feels powerless to do anything about it. What can I do to help her? How long will this last?

Up Shit Creek

Dear Without a Paddle,

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Im sorry that your little girl is having such a hard time with kindergarten! Did she start at the beginning of the school year, or more recently, when she actually turned 4? If its been four months or more that shes been in school and she is still sobbing every morning at drop-off, that is unusual and obviously upsetting. I can only imagine how the borderline control-freak educators at her Dutch school are feeling about it! (If its only been a few weeks or even a month, thats obviously less concerning.)

If you havent tried any techniques to help her adjust other than prying her fingers off your leg each morning, you might consider letting her bring a stuffed animal or favorite toy to school, as a reminder of home. You can buy matching bracelets or necklaces that symbolize the parent-child bond, that can remind your daughter that even though youre elsewhere, youre still with her. (Search for school comfort bracelet on Etsy.) You can develop a goodbye routinemaybe a special handshakethat might help her get through your departure. And you can really reinforce the times that she succeeds in saying a brave farewelland when she welcomes you at the end of the day. Im glad her teacher is being great about things; if the school has a counselor, that person might be able to help out as well.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the poop problem: You are definitely not alone. Chronic constipation and refusing to go in toilets are real hallmarks of this age. Constipation can cause all kinds of accidents, including with peelike peeing in her pants or in her bed. Over here in America, doctors really know to look out for this problem, and will often offer good advice to help remedy the situation. (Educators can be more of a mixed bag.) It wouldnt hurt for you to ask her pediatrician for some advice.

What is her schools potty strategy? Some schools are quite rigorous about taking children to the toilet every few hours; others have a go-when-you-need-to policy; others might make it a little impractical for children to go, causing kids to hold it longer than they should. Is the classroom bathroom clean? (I mean, of course it istheyre Dutch.) Is there a lock on the bathroom door? Talk to your childs lovely teacher about her problem and see if a small change in bathroom policy might help.

There are also a lot of other things you can try with toilet posture, potty watches, and many other tactics. This episode of the Care and Feeding podcast with Dr. Christine Stephenson, author of The Constipation Game Plan, is chock-full of good ideas.

Dan
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

For a few hours on Sunday, the United States and Colombia engaged in a full-blown economic tete-a-tete. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that two repatriation flights of to-be-deported U.S. immigrants were not allowed to land in Colombia. This spurred him to impose urgent and decisive retaliatory measures against the South American ally that included a 25 percent tariff on all imports, a travel ban on Colombian government officials and all Allies and Supporters, increased surveillance of all Colombian nationals and goods within U.S. borders, and sanctions on cross-country financial transactions.

The diverted planes were real, but there were some missing details. Colombia had previously agreed to accept these passengers, according to CNN, but the government had backtracked because of how the deportees had been treated. As Colombian President Gustavo Petro noted in a Sunday-morning public statement, the immigrants in question had been loaded onto military-owned airplanes instead of chartered civilian aircrafta highly unusual move, as Rolling Stone put it. We will receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals, Petro had written, hours before Trump came in with the threats.

In subsequent posts, Petro highlighted the fact that he had temporarily blocked such flights from the Biden administration in 2023 for similar reasons, and later responded to Trump with a lengthy tweet decrying American racism and announcing a 50 percent counter-tariff on imports of U.S. goods.

The defiance didnt last long, however. In response to warnings from domestic experts that this tariff clash would decimate Colombias economy, Petros administration agreed to Trumps repatriation terms and has sidestepped the trade war, for now. The White House boasted that the South American nation would facilitate unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft. (Per the New York Times, the U.S. government did make some concessions to Colombia by agreeing not to handcuff and photograph the deportees, and dispatching Homeland Security staffers, instead of military officers, as flight escorts.)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Colombias foreign ministry insisted that it would grant the deportees decent conditions as citizens subject to rights, use the presidential air fleet to pick up deportees who would have otherwise become passengers on military planes (so as to guarantee respect for the rights of citizens and to carry out medical monitoring if necessary), and dispatch officials to Washington this week to iron out details with Trump.

Advertisement

Colombia isnt the first nation to have materially countered Trumps deportation plans. Still, its tiff with the U.S. is indicative of some lesser-known trade entanglements between North and South Americaand of the potential for the Trump administration to hurt Americans pocketbooks in its craven pursuit of mass deportations.

The impact of the bout between the two nations was felt as it unfolded: a price spike for arabica coffee futures on the European markets (the U.S. receives 30 percent of its coffee supply from Colombia), heightened American fears that there wouldnt be enough fresh-cut flowers (imported, overwhelmingly, from Colombia) stocked on store shelves in time for Valentines Day, and shake-ups in the markets for U.S. oil and corn exports. (Colombia takes in billions of dollars worth of both each year.)

Advertisement

As WLRN Public Media notes, Colombia is the United States 10th-largest trading partner by weight and the largest country of origin for imports processed through south Florida. Those include plenty of agricultural products, which have already proved to be a sore spot between the two nations; Colombia provoked American ire last year when it raised tariffs on U.S. milk powder and began an investigation into its northern neighbors lavish corn subsidies, sparking bipartisan worry that U.S. corn producers could lose an important customer.

Advertisement

But beyond trade relations, theres the important fact that Colombia has long been the United States closest Latin American ally: The country is an eager partner in taking down drug traffickers in the region, and it serves as a liberal democratic counterpart to its authoritarian neighbor Venezuela. As such, the TrumpPetro spat is already provoking worries within Latin America more broadly.

Advertisement

On Thursday, all Latin American heads of state will meet for an emergency summit to discuss migration, the environment and regional unity, per the Financial Times. Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia will obviously be key players here, but so will Panama, whose government has been roiled by Trumps repeated threats to take back the Panama Canal. Even before Joe Biden had left office, Petro and the presidents of Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico had banded together to assure that the canal would remain under Panamanian control.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sure, Trump could continue to aim tariffs at these countries, but it wouldnt be as easy to go after an entire bloc. As the Colombian writer Cruz Bonlarron Martinez points out in a Hill op-ed, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 21.3 percent of U.S. foreign trade, equal to over $1 trillion.  If the region consciously decided to look towards other trading partners, the U.S. economy would feel the effects, and not just in coffee prices. The region as a whole constitutes the worlds leading net food exporter, according to the United Nations.

Advertisement

Related From Slate The First Big Trump Scam Is Already Blowing Up in Everyones Faces Read More

In addition, while the bulk of American imports hail from Mexico, the U.S. also receives essential products from specialist countries like Peru (berries and minerals), Chile (copper, which has particularly high global demand), Bolivia (manufacturing metals), Brazil (machine equipment), Guatemala (textiles), and the Dominican Republic (medical tech). These countries collectively hold a varied basket of goods that would pinch Americans pockets if they earned Trumps tariffs treatment.

Whats more, these countries are also earning the support of far-flung allies. A Canadian ex-minister is calling for a strategic coalition between nations that have been attacked by Trumpincluding Mexico, Panama, and Denmarkand encouraging her country to publish a list of U.S. goods that would be affected by the tariffs Canada is already planning in retaliation to Trump (for example: machine components, chemicals, and energy). That planned strike-back has cross-partisan support among the U.S.s northern neighbors.

Advertisement

So far, Latin American leaders have not been as aggressive with Trump as Petro was on Sunday, but they have been just as openly concerned over the human rights and dignified treatment of deported immigrants. Before the weekends incidents, leaders from Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico teamed up with seven regional neighbors to release a joint statement calling for a humanistic approach to deportations. Earlier this month, Honduras president had threatened to kick U.S. military officers out of her borders in response to a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers. And while Mexico has pledged to cooperate with repatriation efforts, it has ruled out any cooperation with the Remain in Mexico initiative that pushes asylum-seekers to remain south of the Rio Grande while waiting for an approval hearing that could take years to schedule. The countrys president has beefed up immigration-assistance infrastructure and already alluded to a scheme in place in case there is any violation of the human rights of Mexicans who arrive in our country. Those sentiments were only reinforced on Saturday, when leaders in Brazils government found out that the deportees the country was receiving from the U.S. had been shackled in handcuffs and denied basic necessities like drinkable water and bathroom access.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Here, then, is a firm commitment to the human rights of the Latin American diaspora, no matter what U.S. policy looks like. With this ramping up of regional alliances and international solidarity efforts, the region is already hinting that, indeed, it has a decent bit of economic leverage as a collective and will hardly rule it out if Trumpwho has referred to Latin American immigrants as poisoning the blood of the U.S.continues to treat immigrants as less than human. You can expect a lot of everyday essentials, from fruits to clothes to lifesaving machines, to become much pricier should Trumps zeal for mass deportations be countered with further trade-warring from onetime allies.

We already saw, in Trumps first term, what can happen when anti-immigrant zealots also dictate international economic policyit severely upsets how American businesses expect to function and throws all prices and projections into chaos.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

In the first nine days of his return to the White House, Donald Trump has said and done a great many shocking things. The four most dangerous are his pardons of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists (a topic I have addressed elsewhere); his effort to transform the Department of Justice from an independent, neutral law-enforcement agency to an instrument of partisan revenge; his attempt to reverse 150 years of laws and regulations designed to ensure a professional, apolitical federal civil service; and his freezes on broad categories of congressionally authorized expenditures across the federal government.

These initiatives are all part of a unified effort to transform the government of the United States from a democratic, constitutional republic into a presidential dictatorship. Its worth focusing on all these components separately, but the budgetary-freeze component of the scheme has demanded particular attention in recent days. Although on Wednesday the White House Office of Management and Budget rescinded without explanation its memo of two days before freezing all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by [Trumps previous] executive orders, additional, more limited freezes, such as on expenditures for domestic refugee resettlement programs and virtually all foreign aid, seemingly remain in effect.

Therefore, its worth comparing whats going on in Washington with the history of the English monarchy and how it shaped the founding generations decisions about how American government was to operate.

The United States of America is neither a monarchy nor a dictatorship. We have agreed from our beginnings that kings and dictators are bad, not merely because they offend the high-minded principle that sovereignty ought to reside in the people rather than in any single person, but also because we believe that rule by the collaborative effort of separate, intellectually independent, and mutually checking government branches representing a spectrum of societal interests will best protect us all from tyranny and produce objectively better policy.

This foundational premise was both written into the U.S. Constitution and engrained in the national fabric by more than two centuries of American practice. It is especially evident from a comparison of the many specifically defined and sweeping powers entrusted to Congress by Article 1 of the Constitution and the parsimonious grant of few, and those mostly consultative, presidential powers in Article 2. The strained efforts of modern unitary executive theorists to stretch the surpassingly modest presidency actually authorized by Article 2 into the domestically unconstrained, globe-straddling colossus they prefer (at least when hes a Republican) are at their least convincing when presidents claim authority to usurp Congress undoubted power over raising and spending money.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The two indispensable powers of legislatures in all Anglo-American constitutional systems are the complementary powers to tax the people and to authorize expenditure by the executive. The rule that kings could not levy taxes without legislative consent has its origins in the Magna Carta of 1215 and was made definite by 1300. But over time, Parliament became equally insistent that the king could not spend the revenue raised by Parliament however he pleased. In the five centuries that preceded the American Revolution, parliamentary control of the national purse was the primary weapon in preventing royal absolutism.

The matter was so important that became was a central issue in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when Parliament and its allies forced the abdication of King James II and installed in his place King William and Queen Mary. The ascension of the dual monarchs was contingent upon their accepting the English Bill of Rights.

The preamble of the Bill of Rights was a list of complaints against James. It alleged that the monarch had suspended the operation of laws he did not like, had employed a so-called dispensing power to grant special prospective exemptions from the law for favored persons, and did endeavour to subvert and extirpate  the Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome  By Levying Money for and to the Use of the Crowne by pretence of Prerogative for other time and in other manner then the same was granted by Parlyament. In other words, the legislative body accused James of unilaterally nullifying statutory law both generally and for particular people; of collecting taxes without legislative consent; and of spending money in ways not authorized by Parliament. The operative portion of the 1688 Bill of Rights declared that it was illegal even for a king to do any of those things.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Americans who revolted against Britain and later wrote the U.S. Constitution looked upon the relationship between executive and legislature codified in the English Bill of Rights not only as fundamental to maintaining the traditional liberties of Englishmen but as central to the new American constitutional order. They thought it central, most particularly, to their emphatic rejection of monarchy. Accordingly, they rejected the idea that a president could unilaterally suspend the operation of statutory law either generally or as to particular people. And in Article 1 of the Constitution, they expressly conferred on Congress, not the president, the power to raise money (whether by taxation or borrowing) and to authorize its expenditure.

To be sure, the president participates in the legislative tax and appropriations process by signing bills that raise money and designate how it shall be spent. But the only legal effect of presidential acquiescence in such legislation is to make its provisions lawbinding not merely on the president who signs a bill but on his or her successors. If a statute is permissive, saying that funds may be expended for a stated purpose up to a statutory cap, then a president may employ judgment and discretion in deciding how much to spend in aid of that purpose. And if a president can accomplish a statutes stated objectives by spending less than congressionally authorized, so much the better. But a president lacks the power to simply refuse to carry out a statutory directive to use congressional appropriations to create an agency or program or to spend money in amounts and for purposes statutorily commanded by Congress.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Presidents have tried to assert such authority under the benign-sounding term impoundment. In recent days, multiple constitutional experts have explained why Trumps freezes amount to impoundments and why they violate the Constitution and express statutory prohibitions. In Train v. City of New York, the Supreme Court held unanimously that presidents have no general power of impoundment. And in 1974, Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act, which forbids impoundmentincluding a total refusal to spend appropriated funds, as well as postponements of mandated expendituresexcept under limited and carefully defined conditions, which the Trump freeze orders do not meet. Indeed, the Monday OMB decree ordering the freezes expressly declared that vast swaths of expenditures are frozen pending determination of whether they are consistent not with congressional intent or even the express language of authorizing statutes, but with the priorities of the Trump administration.

Advertisement

But the big point here is not the technical one, that general impoundments are illegal. Nor is it the question of whether the current Supreme Court will do a backflip and hold otherwise. Nor is it even that freezing and ultimately incapacitating or destroying innumerable congressionally authorized domestic and foreign programs is objectively terrible policy.

Related From Slate Trump Isnt Going to Like the Fallout From His Fight With Colombia Read More

The big point is that Donald Trump is openly, baldly trying to reverse some eight centuries of Anglo-American constitutional tradition as well as the express commands and fundamental design of the U.S. Constitution. If a president can ignore direct statutory commands about whetherand if so, howmoney will be spent, then Congress is denied its most basic authority and becomes a toothless and essentially advisory body. If Congress meekly accedes to Trumps attack on its prerogativesas the bodys Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, seem to be signaling they are inclinedit will confer on him power not even King George III would have dared to assert.

Advertisement

The weakness in the grand edifice of American constitutionalism is that it depends on the determination, in every generation, of those in positions of authority to uphold it. The most terrifying aspect of the national response to Trumps comprehensive freezes is the complete silence or, in some instances, enthusiastic endorsement of the Republican congressional majority.

A few congressional Republicans may either believe in what Trump is doing or be so staggeringly ignorant that they know no better. But most are perfectly aware that the Trump freezes will do immense damage to the national interest and are a direct challenge to the constitutional authority of their own body. The Constitution gives Congress an immense number of levers to check an overreaching president. But there is so far no suggestion that congressional Republicans have the least disposition to use any of them, or even to criticize the commander in chiefs power grab.

Advertisement

Some Republicans doubtless privately hope that somebody elseperhaps the courtswill take a stand. But the predominant emotion among GOP politicians in Congress seems to be terror that the least expression of dissent, even in defense of their own constitutional prerogatives, will draw a frown or, worse, a Truth Social post from the Great Man. So they either scramble over one another to find a camera before which they can perform stomach-turning genuflections to the Dear Leaders infinite wisdom or scurry into their office burrows and sit, quivering, like rabbits paralyzed by the passing shadow of a bird of prey.

Donald Trumps attempt to seize from Congress its power of the purse is one key element of his bid for dictatorial power. The refusal of the congressional majority to resist bodes poorly for us all.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

On Tuesday night Elon Musk pinned an old post to his X account cheekily recalling his 2022 Fork in the Road email to then-Twitter employees, offering the workers of the company hed just purchased a chance to be part of the new Twitter by simply clicking yes by the end of the following day. Those who didnt respond were informed that theyd receive three months severance.

Around the same time as Musks post, hundreds of thousands of federal workers received an email also titled Fork in the Road, with a similar offer: Simply send an email to the Office of Personnel Management with the word Resign in the subject line, and youll receive eight months pay, so long as you reply before Feb. 6.

The email described the offer as Deferred Resignation, and stated as its purpose reforming the federal workforce significant[ly], but is light on the sort of details that would typically accompany severance offers.

What the email does concede is that the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions.  Anti-tax zealot Grover Norquists dream of shrinking government to a point where it could be drowned in a bathtub may finally be on the verge of realization.

By its terms, workers must accept the terms before Feb. 6, and include the form Deferred Resignation Letter in the email, drafted in the language of the worker, and it contains legal concessions such as voluntariness, not to mention acceptance of terms that simply arent spelled out in a manner one would expect when departing a job that comes with so many inherent rights and obligations.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Related From Slate Donald Trump Is Claiming Powers That King George III Didnt Even Have Read More

Besides the eight-month severance, which Musk described on X as the most that is legally allowed without Congress passing another appropriations bill, those opting in would enjoy the additional carrot of not having to return to the office in person five days a week, as recently mandated by a Trump executive order.

Advertisement

Perhaps unsurprising to anyone who has followed his adventures before Delawares Court of Chancery, Musks assessment as to what is legal may be wrong, given the existence of the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority, which appears to cap severance buyouts of federal workers at $25,000.

But is this even a severance offer if youre still required to work? Well, no, and probably also yes. The email carefully dances around the term severance (again, its a deferred resignation), even if Musk himselfthe likely author of last nights email, or at least its inspirationreferred to it as exactly that. But the email and memorandum (not emailed but available on the OPMs website) both suggest that workers opting in could be placed on administrative leave until the resignation actually kicks in on Sept. 30, 2025.

Setting aside the legal question, theres an obvious economic concern as well: Where is this buyout money coming from, which would be well in excess of $25,000 per worker, if the money isnt already appropriated by Congress? Perhaps, one might argue, the question is moot because the salaries coming off the books would pay the additional severance. But thats speculative math.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sen. Tim Kaine took to the Senate floor last night to underscore the money question: The president has no authority to make that offer. Theres no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work.  If you accept that offer and resign, hell stiff you.

Advertisement

As difficult as it is to imagine the president of the United States stiffing anyone, anything seems possible in this precarious moment, where we find ourselves again waking to a new, fresh horror unleashed by a president who repeatedly and intentionally breaks things in reliance, only sometimes misplaced, that his judges will jump in and fix them. If the courts decline to bail him out, the always victimized Trump can always declare the loss a witch hunt and target a new enemy.

However this plays out in courtif it even gets therethe email serves a secondary (or perhaps even primary) purpose beyond downsizing. It signals to civil service workers who stay that unless you drink the Kool-Aid, you are not welcome, and your work life will be made miserable. The email cites as one of its four pillars the idea of a more streamlined and flexible workforce that is likely to be restructured, realigned, and reduced through furloughs and reclassifications. In other words, Take the deal on the table because Im telling you here and now that behind Door 2 lies your nightmare.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The emails fine print describes the offer to workers as a dignified, fair departure from the federal government, but the tone is unmistakable: The incoming administration doesnt value their work, and for many, doesnt believe their work should exist. This email comes only days after workers received the DEIA memorandum gut punch, intending to root out DEIA sympathizers by pitting worker against worker, splitting them along purely ideological lines.

The Deferred Resignation email similarly takes this opportunity to threaten workers who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct with appropriate investigation and disciplinemenacing language that feels preposterously out of place in an offer to resign. Its difficult to imagine federal workersa selfless and proud group by nature, who often intentionally took less money because they believe in their work and this countryresponding favorably to the implied threat. And that, I suppose, is the point.

The U.S. federal government bears no resemblance to any company or private entity, but Elon Musk just treated all its workers like twentysomething coders at a startup that the hedge fund guys dont think is going to work out, and based on my conversations with friends who are federal workers, its a travesty, because were on the verge of finding out how good we had it, and how crucial their work was, the hard wayby losing it entirely.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

On Wednesday, after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps illegal effort to impound Congressionally appropriated dollars by freezing nearly all government spending, the Trump administration attempted to backtrack, with the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget issuing a memo claiming to rescind the original unlawful impoundment memo. Whatever the contradicting OMB memos professed to do, this is all a big mess that is still headed directly to courtand quite possibly, still to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Georgetown Law Centers professor Stephen I. Vladeck joined Dahlia Lithwick on Amicus to discuss how the courts might respond to this constitutional crisis in the making. The transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Youve been warning that what has looked, by and large, like a sleeper docket is going to get very busy with hugely significant emergency orders heading to the Supreme Court. This impoundment crisis is going to rocket its way to the court, along with probably the transgender service ban, and the mass firings, and the birthright-citizen cases. Those are all huge cases. But you say the impoundment case is actually foundational. Can you explain to people who are losing their minds right now about inspectors general, and the firings at the Justice Department, and ICE raids, and deploying the military for immigration enforcement, why this impoundment case is different in kind because it really implicates something almost bigger than all of that?

Stephen Vladeck: I feel nervous saying bigger, because people being allowed to stay in a country that is the only one theyve ever known is a pretty big deal. But from the perspective of something like the structure of our government, a president abusing his immigration powers is something weve seen before, including this president. A president violating civil service rules when it comes to firing subordinates is something weve seen before. Those are crises in their own way, and they can have massive implications, but they are not referenda on the structure of our government. They are referenda on whether were going to hold the president accountable for violations within the structure of the government. This is rewriting the structure. There was a quote that a member of Congress gave to a reporter Tuesday morning that appropriations are different because theyre not laws. What? Yes they are! Not only are they laws, but theyre kind of the most important thing Congress does.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its very possible that the sort of constitutional nuclear war doesnt actually materialize that way. Maybe the cases get resolved on statutory grounds. But a world in which were fighting over the substantive question of whether the president can impound money for any reason at any time is a world in which were fighting over whether we have the separation of powers or not. That is maybe more technical than birthright citizenship and firing inspectors general, but I actually think it is not hard to sell that its a bigger deal for the rule of law in this country and the future of our constitutional system.

Related From Slate Donald Trump Is Claiming Powers That King George III Didnt Even Have Read More

I want to think about this through this prism of a really smart piece in Just Security by Adam Cox and Trevor Morrison, published before the federal funding-freeze memo, where they trace a through line between many of the executive orders, from border policy to Trumps pause on the TikTok ban, and the through line is this claim being made by the Trump administration that even when the Constitution divides powers between the executive branch and Congress, Trumps view is that Congress is always subordinate. And not only that, its rules can just be tossed away for any reason. Do you see a connection between the immunity ruling last term, which certainly left the impression that the court was receptive to arguments that the president is extra special, and this kind of thinking?

Advertisement

Advertisement

So I think theres no question that it emboldens the thinking. But it would be a category error to think that the kind of immunity that John Roberts bestowed upon presidents covers the executive branch writ large. Im quite comfortable and confident in the view that John Roberts did not believe that he was writing an opinion that immunized all government agencies from civil liability for violating the Constitution. That may come as small solace to folks who say, Youre one of the people who didnt think hed even do the immunity thing! OK, fine, thats fair. But its one thing for the court to go further than it ever had before; its another thing for the court to say, all this time weve been in base 10, actually were in base 7. This impoundment crisis is more like that than the immunity case was.

Advertisement

The cultural point here is critical though. We have already seen, not just from rank-and-file Republicans in Congress, but from senior members of the leadership, a view that was expressed by one of them as Were basically like a board of directors to Trumps CEO. If thats true, then you might as well not be in Congress. That is not why we have a legislature. The founders would actually climb out of their graves, climb back in, and fall on their heads if they heard that. But the really critical point here is: Whatever you think of John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, theyre not going to buy that. The more they see that coming out of Congress, I actually think the more entrenched they will be when these kinds of cases come to them. The more they see that no one else is going to stand up to this kind of attempt to rewrite the constitutional system, the less sympathetically inclined theyll be to any of the arguments coming out of the Trump White House.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I think its really important to emphasize that Amy Coney Barretts concurrence in the immunity case expressly said the thing you just said, and the chief justice, in mentioning Youngstown again and again, was saying that this is not without limit, so please dont come to me saying that its without limit.

And the very same Supreme Court just last term had a case in which some radical right-wing folks tried to rewrite Congress appropriations power, and in a majority opinionwith Justice Clarence Thomas, I kid you notthe court voted 72 that it was nuts. They got two dissents, they got Alito and Gorsuch, and maybe theyll get Alito and Gorsuch this time around too, but I cant even count to three on impoundment. Now, does that mean that none of these efforts will succeed? No. There might be procedural issues in these cases, they might try to find a more nuanced way to justify what theyre doing, but even this Supreme Court is unlikely to give up on Congress appropriations power.

Advertisement

To put the point as directly as I can, the Supreme Courts budget depends upon a functioning appropriations power. The Constitution protects the justices salaries, but thats just 2 percent of the Supreme Courts budget for fiscal year 2024; 98 percent of the courts budget depends upon a functioning appropriations process. The justices have both a structural and a very personal interest in not upsetting that particular apple cart.

Advertisement

I honor and revere your confidence that this is a place where the courts must and will step in, but I also want to note that this is Donald Trump and his administration and the very fancy lawyers that he surrounds himself with treating the law the way he always treats the law: You do the smash-grab, you file the frivolous pleadings, you chill everybody into compliance, you delay, delay, delay, everybody reels, chaos reigns, and then you wait for the law to catch up with you. And the spoiler, I hate to tell you, seems to be, at least in Trumps case, the law never catches up. Thats the pattern, and we saw this in the last Trump administration. They do crappy legal work and then they get a smack on the nose for not following the Administrative Procedures Act, or for not being truthful, or for sleight of hand, or for doing shoddy work. They had four years to write this OMB memo and yet its garbage. It reads like a Trump pleading. It reads like the Trump pleading in the TikTok case, or the birthright citizenship case. Its basically Because I said so with made-up budget numbers, targeting the Green New Deal (which was never law) and saying something about Marxists. But I continue to be shocked at how little getting the law right matters. My takeaway after Trump 1.0 was that maybe the shoddiness and sloppiness and carelessness that got them in so much trouble last time would mean that they would be careful and meticulous about the law this time. Theres a way in which this reckless approach to impoundment and the Impoundment Control Act, and to the seriousness of what theyre doing, almost signals to me that they think that the courts dont matter at all.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Or at the very least, that they dont mind losing in the courts, right?

The real sin of how the Supreme Court used the shadow docket during the first Trump administration was that Trump got to carry out, for the better part of four years, all of these policies that no court ever said were legal. So I think what it comes down to is the difference between policy and law. Trump exists in a world where the law is just a means to an end, and sometimes it gets in the way of his policies, and sometimes it provides cover for his policies, but all that matters is the policies. The policies arent themselves especially clever. Theyre just whatever he feels like when he wakes up in the morning. I dont have faith that theres going to be some kind of systemic rejection of that approach by the courts. This is not what the John Roberts Supreme Court is going to do. Nor do I have faith that even when the Supreme Court cleans up this mess, its going to be able to undo all of the harm that these policies will inflict for as long as theyre in place.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I think we have to be at least a little bit realistic about what it means to live in a society with the rule of law, which is that governments will often do things that are inconsistent with the rule of law, and theyll often do things that harm useither consistently or inconsistently with the rule of law. The way we persist long enough to elect a different government is to preserve the rule of law, even if its not going to protect us at every moment. Thats why these cases matter, even if theyre not going to chasten Trump, and even if theyre not going to be able to undo the formidable damage hes already done and will be able to do until and unless hes finally stopped.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

In one of his less noted but more baffling executive orders, President Donald Trump this week directed our military to begin construction of the great Iron Dome missile defense shield, which will be made all in the USA.

Like many people, Trump has been impressed with how effectively Israels Iron Dome weapons have shot down various rockets fired its way from Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and the Mediterranean. However, he seems unaware of a few pertinent facts:

Iron Dome is unsuitable for U.S. defense needs (which is why we havent bought any, even though we have paid for many of Israels);

The U.S. military already has plenty of weapons that can shoot down short- to medium-range rockets at least as effectively as Iron Dome;

When it comes to protecting U.S. territory from missiles fired by such nuclear-powered countries as Russia, China, and North Korea (which is Trumps goal in ordering this project), something like Iron Dome would have no capability whatsoever; and

We have spent $400 billion over the past 40 years on trying to develop such a continental defense system, to very little avail.

Lets take these points one by one.

The Iron Dome, first fielded in 2011, flies at roughly twice the speed of sound and is designed to shoot down shells, rockets, and missiles across a range of 2 to 43 miles. The missiles that Russia, China, or North Korea might fire at the United States fly at 10 times the speed of sound across a span of 6,000 miles. The task of defending against the one type of threat is completely different from the task of defending against the other type of threat.

Against the types of threats that Iron Dome is very good at countering, the U.S. already has many weaponsamong them, the Standard Missile, Patriot, and the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system. They are meant to defend U.S. allies as well as our own military deployments abroad from a wide variety of threats. In fact, when Iran attacked Israel last year, its missiles were shot down by a mix of Israels Iron Dome and U.S. Standard Missiles, as well as by British, French, and Jordanian interceptors, fired from airplanes, destroyer ships, and ground-based launchers.

The task of defending the United States from long-range missiles, especially nuclear-tipped missiles, is imponderably difficult. The U.S. first tried developing such weapons in the late 1950s. It has spent an average of $10 billion a year since President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative (aka Star Wars) more than 40 years ago, to very little effect.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In his executive order, Trump correctly notes that over these past 40 years, the threat from next-generation strategic weaponsincluding hypersonichas become more complex. And yet, he complains, Notwithstanding this increasing threat, United States homeland missile defense policy has been limited to staying ahead of rogue nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.

Advertisement

However, these programs have been limited to dealing with very small or accidental attacks not because of managerial incompetence or misplaced priorities, but rather because those kinds of attacks are the only kinds of attacks that a homeland missile defense system has any chance of shooting downand the chance of doing even that is middling. The notion of shooting down large-scale attackswhich Trumps executive order states as its goalis widely viewed as utter fantasy.

Related From Slate Trump May Soon Find Theres a Big Downside to America First Read More

There are two reasons for this. First, the process of detecting, tracking, and intercepting dozens, much less hundreds or thousands, of missiles or warheadsas theyre ascending from launchpads, arcing through outer space, or plunging down to their targetsis beyond even our most advanced technology.

Second, even if we did somehow manage a system that could do all that, enemies could overwhelm it in one of two ways. For one, they could fit their missiles nose cones with maneuverable reentry vehicles, or MaRVsi.e., with warheads that zigzag toward their targets on earth, so a missile defense radar couldnt predict their flight paths. Russian hypersonic missiles, under development, are said to have been tested with MaRVs.

Or, more easily, an enemy could simply aim two warheads at the targets it most wants to destroy. It is noteworthy that in the programs 40-year history, our homeland missile defense systems have never been tested against two warheads at the same time. It is a great technical feat that weve managed to build an interceptor that can knock an incoming object out of the sky; its akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet. But theres no signnot even a single testto show we can hit two bullets with two bullets, much less dozens with dozens.

Advertisement

Advertisement

By the way, this is the main reason why the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 1972. They realized that an unlimited defensive arms race would simply trigger an unlimited offensive race. If one side fielded 50 ABM interceptors, the other side could simply deploy 51 additional warheadswhich would prompt the first side to field more ABMs, which would spur the other to deploy more missiles to saturate the defenses, and on it would go.

President George W. Bush scuttled the ABM Treaty in 2001 so that he could develop a full-blown missile defense system. Fortunately, a series of nuclear arms control treatiesmost recently New STARThave prevented Russia from countering with more offensive weapons. That treaty, which took effect in 2011, was extended in February 2021 for another five yearsmeaning it expires a year from now. Trump is hostile to arms control; Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to attend bilateral conferences to discuss enforcement of the treaty. If the two leaders cant suspend mutual hostility enough to initial an extension of the treaty (a task that took U.S. and Russian delegates a few minutes to accomplish at the start of Joe Bidens presidency), then we are in for a renewed offense-defense arms race.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not clear why China, which is not bound by any arms control treaty, has been stepping up its own nuclear missile deployment. One theory is that President Xi Jinping or his military advisers believe the U.S. missile defense program works very well, and that in order to maintain a credible deterrent, they need to build enough missiles to saturate those defenses.

In sum, Trumps order to build an American Iron Dome is baffling because A) it reflects a misunderstanding of what the Iron Dome is, B) the U.S. already has many weapons that can do, as well or better, what Iron Dome does, C) Iron Dometype technology has no ability to defend U.S. territory from long-range attacks, and D) the notion of defending U.S. territory from any but the smallest of long-range attacks is a pipe dream, in any event.

So, heres the test for Trumps national security aides: Once they study the issue, will they tell the president that hes on the wrong trackor will they shuffle some bureaucratic boxes, rename a few programs Iron Dome USA, and budget a few billion more dollars on a fantasy?

The question answers itself.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

On Monday, the Trump administration claimed the authority to unilaterally freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending, an action that would have effectively shut down thousands of governmental programs that provide crucial, often lifesaving support to millions of people at home and abroad. The scope of this power grab is impossible to overstate, as are its devastating ramificationswhich is presumably why the administration attempted to walk back some of the freeze Tuesday in a follow-up memo that created more confusion and uncertainty. Whatever the true scope of this funding suspicion, the upshot is clear: President Donald Trump wants to seize control of the spending power from Congress in order to paralyze large portions of the government, canceling duly enacted appropriations by executive decree. This move is flatly illegal, a flagrant breach of federal law as well as the presidents own constitutional obligations. It tees up a massive legal battle that will test whether this Supreme Court is willing to put any restraints on a president who seeks to rule as a dictator.

The technical term for this freezing of funds is impoundment, and Trump has long sought to weaponize it for his own agenda. During his first term, he impounded funds that Congress allocated to Ukraine, withholding the money as leverage to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky into investigating Joe Biden. (This plot formed the basis of his first impeachment.) Last year, on the campaign trail, Trump promised to impound far more money to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy; the idea was also touted in Project 2025.

But theres a flaw in this scheme: Congress forbade it in a 1974 law called the Impoundment Control Act. This measureenacted in response to President Richard Nixons unprecedented abuse of impoundmentstrictly limits the executive branchs authority to withhold appropriated funds. It bars the president from ever impounding mandatory spending, including health care programs and Social Security, thats appropriated indefinitely. And it requires the president to seek Congress permission to rescind discretionary spending thats approved each year. (The commander in chief must give a reason for his request.) If Congress does not grant permission within 45 days, the executive branch must spend the money.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has not followed this protocol. Instead, his Office of Management and Budget simply sent out a two-page memo Monday that declared the impoundment of all federal grants and loans, with the (unexplained) exception of Social Security and Medicare. OMBs mandate would have frozen hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars that Congress directed the executive branch to spend. The list of programs that would have been affected is nearly endless: It appeared to include Medicaid, childrens health insurance, HIV/AIDS care, addiction treatment, nutrition assistance, housing vouchers, education funding, law enforcement, farmers aid, infrastructure projects, early childhood education, disaster reliefand thats just the start. Millions of Americans, especially in low-income communities, rely on these programs for food, shelter, health carein short, survival.

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the Washington Posts Jeff Stein reported that OMB distributed a Q&A limiting the scope of the original memo, though it is light on details about which government initiatives are still under assault. The agency said that some programs would be exempted from the funding halt, including Medicaid, nutrition and rental assistance, student loans, and other similar programs that provide direct benefits to Americans. As of Tuesday afternoon, the government appeared to be restarting some programs that went offline Monday, though others remained shut down.

Advertisement

A huge portion of federal spending, though, is distributed to states and nonprofits, not individuals themselves. It is a mystery which (if any) of these programs will fall under the new exemption; can disaster-relief aid continue flowing, for example, even though it is not a direct benefit to individuals? What about funding for groups that assist homeless veterans, sick children, and impoverished mothers? A cynic might wonder if the agency intended to sow chaos, jeopardizing a vast amount of funding, then granting reprieves on a case-by-case basis after recipients prove their loyalty to the new president.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has maintained a complete halt on international assistance, withholding billions in aid pending a similar review. Trump, for instance, has shut down PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS program started by George W. Bush that has saved more than 25 million lives worldwide. The move abruptly cut off patients access to medication, threatening a resurgence of the virus. Almost all humanitarian aid, from food assistance to land-mine detection to malaria treatment and so much more, has been stopped cold. An untold number of people, including mothers and infants, may starve to death and die from preventable diseases because of Trumps actions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

These funding rescissions are brazenly unlawful. Trump has not asked Congress for permission to impound this money. OMB did not provide a permissible reason, merely asserting that it sought to ensure that all spending complied with the presidents agenda. But such political considerations are not legitimate grounds for impoundment under the act. Moreover, OMB has demanded the permanent cancellation of all grants and loans that are in conflict with Administration priorities. These are, in short, precisely the kinds of unauthorized impoundments that Congress outlawed in 1974.

To get around these barriers, OMB asserted Tuesday that these rescissions were not impoundments, just a temporary pause. But the Impoundment Control Act expressly forbids even temporary halts to funding unless the president complies with its procedures. (Trump has not). OMB cannot get around the law by using a different label. In practice, then, it appears that Trump is teeing up a fight he previewed in 2023 over the Impoundment Control Acts constitutionality. The president and his advisers evidently think the law violates the separation of powers. And when the lawsuits start flooding in, his Justice Department will ask the federal judiciary to overturn it.

There is a chance that this gambit will fail, even at the conservative Supreme Court. The Constitution assigns the spending power to Congress alone; it is Congress that chooses when, how, and where to appropriate tax dollars. The Constitution does not give the president authority to override congressional appropriations. To the contrary: It obligates the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, imposing the duty to disburse funds that Congress has lawfully appropriated. Thats why, in 1988, the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel rejected the notion that the president has an inherent, constitutional power to impound funds. It explained: The existence of such a broad power is supported by neither reason nor precedent ; in fact, the only Supreme Court decision on the matter suggests that the president is constitutionally required to spend funds at the direction of Congress. It is noteworthy that this conclusion came from Ronald Reagans Department of Justice and reaffirmed a position previously articulated by the conservative William H. Rehnquist during his time at the agency.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Related From Slate Trumps Birthright Citizenship Defeat Is Even Bigger Than It Looks Read More

In the face of this overwhelming consensus, what argument does Trump have? His nominees to OMB, including Russell Vought and Mark Paoletta, have cobbled together a pseudo-originalist argument for impoundment, insisting that the power is rooted in the nations history and traditions. But their analysis falls apart under scrutiny. It is true that presidents have sometimes spent less money than Congress appropriated, but only when Congress allowed them to do so in the governing statute. There is no tradition of presidents defying a congressional mandate to disburse money by withholding appropriated funds. Through an originalist lens, then, the Impoundment Control Act is a lawful exercise of Congress spending power. And even in its absence, a presidents effort to unilaterally rescind spending would likely be unconstitutional.

Both states and nonprofits starved of money by OMB will soon sue, and most will win in the lower courts. But they will have to sue the individual agencies that cut off their funding and demand resumption of specific programs. So their victories will provide only piecemeal relief rather than a universal block against OMBs order (in addition to all follow-ups that expand or contract its scope). It will take a Supreme Court decision to end Trumps impoundment altogether, and that could come within months, given how quickly the situation has escalated.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Will SCOTUS follow the law and rule against the president? Again, theres reason to be hopeful. Trumps assertion of authority here goes far beyond anything the conservative supermajority has previously sanctioned. Even under its expansive view of executive power, impoundment is extraordinarily dubious. Yes, this court has handed the president extensive discretion to fire his subordinates and broad immunity from prosecution when engaged in official acts. But impoundment is categorically different; it marks a radical attempt to restructure the government, wresting control over the budget from Congress and handing it over to a single man, who could withhold trillions of congressionally appropriated dollars according to his own whims. That is emphatically not the structure established by the Constitution, which took pains to vest budgetary authority in the branch most responsive to the people. Trumps vision looks far more like a dictatorship than a democracy.

Advertisement

Besides, a sloppy, indiscriminate freeze on spending is just about the worst way that the administration could tee up this fight. The Supreme Court will not want to own the catastrophic consequences of this impoundment, or any future broad-based halt to federal spending. Trump could have created a more favorable test case to press his theory, targeting some arguably wasteful spending with little impact on peoples lives. Instead, he swung one of the biggest axes he could find. He has given the justices no reason to believe that he will wield this power responsibly in the future, acting as if they are already in his pocket. And the justices do not appreciate being treated like a rubber stamp.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, the court shares some blame for the calamity unfolding around the world on Tuesday. In their zeal to create a unitary executive, the conservative justices issued a series of opinions abolishing traditional restrictions on presidential power. It was inevitable that Trump would push this precedent to the limit, then keep going; given how much he had already gotten away with, why not swing even bigger this time? If the court does not draw the line at impoundment, it is difficult to envision what checks remain on the presidency. This is a five-alarm fire for American democracy. And even if the Supreme Court extinguishes it, the conservative justices will bear some responsibility for the scorched earth left behind.
Vapor Room owner Martin Olive was transported in an ambulance after being shot on Monday near the dispensary on Ninth Street in San Francisco. Dan Hernandez / The Chronicle Vapor Room owner Martin Olive was transported in an ambulance after authorities responded to a disturbance outside a San Francisco cannabis dispensary on Monday. Dan Hernandez/The Chronicle

The owner of a popular cannabis dispensary in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood was identified Tuesday as the victim shot outside of the business a day earlier that resulted in police fatally shooting a suspect.

Martin Olive, the owner of Vapor Room Dispensary, was shot Tuesday near the dispensary at 79 Ninth St., an employee at the store told the Chronicle. Martin is stable and recovering and receiving great care at the hospital, the worker who identified themselves as Rose, a manager at the Vapor Room, said.

A friend of Olives, Jason Grace, said in a GoFundMe post that Olive was shot four times, including in the face and lungs, while standing outside the Vapor Room on Monday. Police on Tuesday said that the victim, now identified as Olive, was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Olive is fighting for his life in the ICU. While hes expected to survive, the road to recovery will be long and challenging, Grace wrote on GoFundMe. Martin is not just a beloved friend  hes an irreplaceable part of the Bay Area community.  This isnt Martins first fight to survive  he survived a brain aneurysm in the past. Clearly the world wants him here, and so do we.

The motive behind the shooting was unclear.

Rose said the incident was not the result of an attempted robbery, saying the suspect did not try to access the store. Rose declined to comment further on the incidents leading up to the shooting.

Police responded to the shooting outside the Vapor Room at about 4:56 p.m. Monday to find paramedics treating Olive, who was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance.

Police found the suspect in a nearby building, where a standoff occurred until police shot and killed the suspect, whose identity was not released. Police have provided no details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting, saying on social media that additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A LinkedIn profile that appeared to belong to Olive said he has been the executive director of the Vapor Room since March 2003, when he founded it. He describes the company in his profile as San Franciscos oldest continuously operating cannabis dispensary. Prior to creating the Vapor Room, Olive was an art gallery director in San Francisco and attended Los Angeles Valley College and the Academy of Art University, according to his profile.

The Vapor Room was opened in 2004 after voters passed Proposition 215, which allowed Californians access to cannabis for medical purposes, eight years earlier, according to the companys website. The dispensary now operates as a recreational use dispensary. Vapor Room was also the first dispensary to offer an on-site smokers lounge which quickly grew into a unique culture of its own, the companys website said.

In recent months, Olive took to LinkedIn to express the Vapor Rooms financial struggles. He said in a post late last year, Were at a crunch point now where things are looking more dire than theyve ever been. ... Ive been doing my best and well, it just might not be good enough. Olive said the company was searching for solutions such as credit lines or investors.

The shooting will be investigated by San Francisco agencies including the district attorneys office, police said. Body-worn camera footage is expected to be released by police within the next 10 days.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Maintaining a strong pace throughout, Ideal Perception cruised to victory in the $12,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

The race was action-packed from the start, with the field four-wide battling for the lead into the opening turn. Ideal Perception and driver Anthony Haughan proved to be the strongest, securing the front and never relinquishing it. They set solid fractions of :27.3, :58, and 1:27.1, cruising wire-to-wire to a one-length victory in 1:57.3. The winning ticket paid $8.40.

Drinkin Buddy (Sam Fillion) mounted a late surge to claim second, while Lord Anthony (Tyler Borth) rounded out the top three.

The eight-year-old Ideal Perception is trained by Anthony Beaton and owned by Lisa Lefort of Waterdown, Ont. With this victory, the son of American Ideal - Southwind Siren has 34 career wins, increasing his lifetime purse earnings to $413,949.

Earlier on the card, Western Fair recognized trainer Jason Libby for reaching $5 million in lifetime earnings. He reached the plateau in Tuesday evening's sixth race with pacer Mach In Time in rein to Tyler Borth.

To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
Orange Cyberdefense, the specialist business unit of Orange dedicated to cybersecurity and leader in cybersecurity services, has launched its sixth annual international and multi-industry investigative research, the Security Navigator 2025. It uses extensive data analysis to provide a detailed view of the cybersecurity landscape, shaped by geopolitical conflict and the increasing sophistication of threat actors. As threats to critical infrastructure and public trust continue to evolve, the report emphasizes the need for organizations to strengthen their defenses against a rising tide of politically motivated cyber-attacks.

The Security Navigator 2025 reveals that one prominent pro-Russian hacktivist group targeted Europe  primarily Ukraine, Czech Republic, Spain, Poland, and Italy  with 96% of their attacks, marking the region as their primary focus. The report also shows that Europe is the second most impacted region by Cy-X, with victim numbers increasing by 18% YoY. The most affected European countries are Italy (19%), Germany (19%), France (16%), Spain (13%) and Belgium (8%). In the Nordics, Cy-X activity has grown at a rapid pace, with a 38% increase in victim counts.

The report notes that this audacious pro-Russian hacktivist group, which is one of the most active, has conducted over 6,600 attacks since early 2022, mostly targeting symbolically important European entities. Hacktivist groups are increasingly recognizing the power of cognitive attacks, skillfully using technical disruptions not only to create direct impact, but to manipulate public opinion, undermine trust in institutions, and destabilize societal confidence. By attacking election-related systems and other symbolic institutions, these groups aim to draw attention to the political and economic issues they consider important, creating fear, uncertainty and doubt. This strategic shift shows how modern hacktivists target perception as much as infrastructure, posing a unique challenge for organizations tasked with protecting both physical assets and public trust.

Top Breaking News Of The Day

Despite hacktivism focusing on Europe, North America is not unscathed in this years report. North America, dominated by the US, was the most impacted region globally by cyber extortion, with a 25% YOY increase in cases. The US also experienced the highest concentration of targeted OT attacks, accounting for 49% of all incidents. This trend reinforces the regions position as a top target for financially motivated threat actors but leads to questions about why hacktivists are avoiding it. The Security Navigator 2025 surmises that this may be because they fear repercussions from the nation.

Hacktivists Extend Reach to Operational Technology Systems

Another emerging concern is hacktivist activity targeting OT systems, critical for operating essential infrastructure in the manufacturing, energy, healthcare and transportation sectors. The Security Navigator 2025 attributes nearly 1 in 4 (23%) of sophisticated attacks targeting OT to hacktivists. As such attacks have typically been associated with state actors, the growth of hacktivism reveals a new level of sophistication and risk to critical infrastructure.

46% of OT cyber-attacks resulted in manipulation of control, which means that the adversary managed to manipulate the physical process. The utilities sector has been heavily affected, with the report finding that it suffered 46% of attacks that directly targeted OT systems. This highlights the continued vulnerability of OT systems to politically motivated cyber-operations.

Hugues Foulon, CEO of Orange Cyberdefense, stated, Cyber threats have become a critical barometer for anticipating global geopolitical tensions. The insights generated by our cyber teams provide a fresh and robust perspective on international disruptions and their operational impacts on society.

The Security Navigator 2025 underscores an urgent need for coordinated defensive strategies across Europe and beyond, including enhanced incident response measures, strengthened OT protections, and proactive monitoring of public channels to counter the unique blend of cyber extortion, hacktivism, and cognitive warfare facing European organizations, said Foulon.

Cyber Extortions Rising Toll on Small and Medium Businesses

The report highlights a worrying increase in cyber extortion impacting SMBs, with a 53% YOY rise in incidents targeting small businesses. The compounding effect of revictimization  where stolen data is reused in multiple extortion campaigns  further amplifies these organizations financial and psychological toll. SMBs now account for over two-thirds of all observed cyber extortion victims.

Critically, SMB cyber security may also impact large organizations as the first are often part of their supply chain. An incident at a small player can lead to a cascade of disruptions throughout the chain.

The Security Navigator 2025 also suggests that the traditional approaches to vulnerability management are no longer fit for purpose, due to the large number of vulnerabilities security teams must handle, which takes them away from more meaningful work that would prevent a successful attack. This is especially true for smaller SMB teams.

The impact of cyber extortion across the Asia-Pacific region, however, shows significant variation. While Japan ranks as the 13th most affected country globally, China reports a lower number of victims. South Korea and Singapore have experienced a moderate level of incidents.

Philip Lee, Head of Orange CyberDefense, APAC, sharedWe are living in an era where digital technologies power economies, connect societies, and drive innovation at an unprecedented pace. This rapid advancement, particularly with the rise of adversarial AI techniques, combined with increasing connectivity through IoT and 5G, contributes to the expanding attack surface of systems and infrastructures. The diverse cyber extortion and hacktivism landscape across APAC, with countries like Australia, India, and Japan among the most affected, with East Asia (excluding China) ranked 7th most impacted globally with 80 cases.

This varied threat landscape across the region, with countries like India facing increasing cyber extortion attempts, demands flexible and localized security strategies to build a safer digital society amidst APACs vast economic and technological diversity.

Increased Aggression Against Healthcare and Beyond

As cyber extortion continues to increase globally, the report notes that its also becoming increasingly cynical. This year, there has been a 50% YOY increase in attacks targeting the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, ranking it as the fourth most impacted industry. Subsectors such as Ambulatory Health Care and Hospitals are now being frequently targeted, which points to a further erosion of the moral restraints that previously protected these sectors.

Other sectors have also experienced a marked rise in Cy-X attacks this year. The top three most impacted industries have all seen significant increases: +25% for Manufacturing, +20% for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, and +65% for Wholesale Trade.

AI: A Double-Edged Sword in Cybersecurity

The Security Navigator 2025 highlights AI as a powerful yet complex tool, with both defensive and offensive cybersecurity applications reshaping threat dynamics. Threat actors, including state-sponsored actors from countries such as China, Russia and Iran, are leveraging GenAI to create realistic phishing content, fake images and deepfakes to deceive large audiences, which is supporting their deployment of cognitive attacks.

On the defensive side, the report found that AI is beneficial for detecting hard-to-identify threats. AI-driven systems have improved detection rates for advanced threats like beaconing  a tactic where malware sends subtle, periodic signals to command-and-control servers  reducing incident response times by up to 30% as organizations use AI to identify and intercept these signals before damage can escalate . However, the report also warns about vulnerabilities in GenAI solutions and urges business to implement strict access rights to sensitive data and systems, ensure isolation between tenants, and educate users about the risk of data leaks in prompts.

Charl van der Walt, Head of Security Research at Orange Cyberdefense, said, The story in this years report is far bigger than statistics and technical details. It shines a light on a growing cynicism in the threat landscape as different threat actors seem less concerned about the potential of causing harm, and may even be more intent on inflicting it than ever before.
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 emergence of DeepSeek's lower cost breakthrough particularly threatens US-based AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have invested billions in developing leading AI models.

The emergence of the DeepSeek chatbot has sent Silicon Valley into a frenzy, with calls to go faster on advancing artificial intelligence and beat communist-led China before it is too late.

California tech investors have usually kept their involvement in politics low key, generally supporting centrist politicians who don't get in the way of their innovations and business plans.

But the AI revolution, and the potential ability of China to pose a direct threat to US dominance, has unnerved tech investors, who are now calling on the Donald Trump-led US government to help them take the battle to their Chinese rivals.

"It's a huge geopolitical competition, and China's running at it super hard," warned Facebook titan Mark Zuckerberg on the Joe Rogan podcast.

He noted that DeepSeek is "a very advanced model" and that it censors historical events like Tiananmen Square, arguing that "we should want the American model to win."

Google, though not specifically mentioning DeepSeek, on Wednesday said the United States must take urgent action to maintain its narrow lead in artificial intelligence technology or risk losing its strategic advantage.

"America holds the lead in the AI racebut our advantage may not last," it warned, calling for government help in AI chip production, streamlining regulations and beefing up cybersecurity against national adversaries.

The emergence of DeepSeek's lower cost breakthrough particularly threatens US-based AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have invested billions in developing leading AI models.

OpenAI raised alarms Tuesday about Chinese companies attempting to copy their advanced AI models through distillation techniques, announcing plans to deepen collaboration with US authorities.

OpenAI investor Josh Kushner criticized so-called "pro-America technologists" who praise what he claims is Chinese AI built with misappropriated US technology.

Palmer Luckey, a Trump-supporting tech entrepreneur, suggested DeepSeek's success was being amplified to undermine Trump's policies.

'Fall behind'

Despite US government efforts to maintain AI supremacy through export controls on advanced chips, DeepSeek has found ways to achieve comparable results using authorized, less sophisticated Nvidia semiconductors.

The app's popularity has soared, topping Apple's download charts, with US companies already incorporating its programming interface into their services.

Perplexity, an AI-assisted search engine startup, has begun using the technology while claiming that it keeps user data within the US.

The tech community can count on Washington, where concern about China has achieved rare bipartisan consensus.

Last year, Republicans and Democrats passed a law ordering the divestment of TikTok, a subsidiary of the Chinese group ByteDance.

"If America falls behind China on AI, we will fall behind everywhere: economically, militarily, scientifically, educationally, everywhere," the US Senate's top Democrat Chuck Schumer said Tuesday.

"China's innovation with DeepSeek is jarring, but it's nothing compared to what will happen if China beats the US on the ultimate goal of AGI, artificial general intelligence. We cannot, we must not allow that to happen."

Representative Mark Green, a senior Republican said "let's set the record straightDeepSeek R1 is another digital arm of the Chinese Communist Party."

However, some argue this aggressive approach may backfire, given Silicon Valley's reliance on Chinese talent.

Nvidia researcher Zhiding Yu highlighted this concern on X, noting how a Chinese intern from his team joined DeepSeek in 2023.

"If we keep cooking up geo-political agendas and creating hostile opinions to Chinese researchers, we will shoot ourselves in the foot and lose even more competitiveness."

 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:

DeepSeek is making waves in the AI world. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

The Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent shockwaves throughout the AI world with the release of its less-resource-intensive AI chatbot, calling into question the amount of power and financial investment needed to develop the technology.

The company started making waves this week when its app surpassed ChatGPT as the most popular free app on the Apple App Store. The news comes just a week after it released its R1 reasoning model, which it said cost just $5.6 million of computing power to develop.

For comparison, OpenAI's GPT-4 cost around $100 million to develop.

A Northeastern expert on artificial intelligence says this news is a positive development for the industry and will likely have a cascading effect. Notably, the company's models are open source, meaning they are free to be downloaded and modified by other parties.

"We've been tracking DeepSeek since they started to release their work, and we agree that their recent R1 drop is a big deal," says David Bau, a Northeastern University professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the principal investigator of the National Deep Inference Fabric, which is working to investigate the "black box" components of AI chatbots.

Wall Street reacted sharply to DeepSeek's rise. Microsoft and Google saw their stock prices sink. Nvidia was hit particularly hard, losing about 17% of its market value, which is close to $593 billion.

But Bau says this news shouldn't be seen as a failure on Nvidia's part, noting that DeepSeek's architecture is based on Nvidia's chips, just fewer of them.

"Many are asking whether DeepSeek will make American Nvidia chips less relevant, but we observe that historically, as you make technology cheaper, then you increase the aggregate demand for it," Bau says.

For Nvidia's part, Jensen Huang, the company's co-founder and chief executive officer, welcomed DeepSeek's new model, calling it "an excellent AI advancement."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also had high praise for DeepSeek's technology and said he was invigorated to have a new competitor in the space.

Bau says DeepSeek's work may also encourage others to join the fray.

"The lower costsand the demonstration that an upstart team can enter cheaplywill also attract other entrants," he says.

But he emphasized that there is still much to explore.

"Every time we grow AI capabilities, we grow the scientific mystery," he says. "More investment in the science of AI internals and AI interpretability is needed."

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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 Icons for the smartphone apps DeepSeek and ChatGPT are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Did the upstart Chinese tech company DeepSeek copy ChatGPT to make the artificial intelligence technology that shook Wall Street this week?

That's what ChatGPT maker OpenAI is suggesting, along with U.S. President Donald Trump's top AI adviser. Neither has disclosed specific evidence of intellectual property theft, but the comments could fuel a reexamination of some of the assumptions that led to a panic in the U.S. over DeepSeek's advancements.

"There's substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI's models," David Sacks, Trump's AI adviser, told Fox News on Tuesday. "And I don't think OpenAI is very happy about this."

DeepSeek and the hedge fund it grew out of, High-Flyer, didn't immediately respond to emailed questions Wednesday, the start of China's extended Lunar New Year holiday.

OpenAI said in a statement that China-based companies "are constantly trying to distill the models of leading U.S. AI companies" but didn't publicly call out DeepSeek specifically.

OpenAI's official terms of use ban the technique known as distillation that enables a new AI model to learn by repeatedly querying a bigger one that's already been trained. The company has been working with its business partner Microsoft to identify accounts attempting to distill its models and then banning those accounts and revoking their access. Microsoft declined to comment.

OpenAI said it will also work "closely with the U.S. government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take U.S. technology."

The San Francisco company has itself been accused of copyright theft in lawsuits from media organizations, book authors and others in cases that are still working through courts in the U.S. and elsewhere.

"Distillation will violate most terms of service, yet it's ironicor even hypocriticalthat Big Tech is calling it out," said a statement Wednesday from tech investor and Cornell University lecturer Lutz Finger. "Training ChatGPT on Forbes or New York Times content also violated their terms of service."

Finger, who formerly worked for Google and LinkedIn, said that while it is likely that DeepSeek used the technique, it will be hard to find proof because it's easy to disguise and avoid detection.

DeepSeek describes its use of distillation techniques in its public research papers, and discloses its reliance on openly accessible AI models made by Facebook parent company Meta and Chinese tech company Alibaba. No mention is made of OpenAI, which closes off its models, except to show how DeepSeek compares on performance.

Even before DeepSeek news rattled markets Monday, many who were trying out the company's AI model noticed a tendency for it to declare that it was ChatGPT or refer to OpenAI's terms and policies.

"If you ask it what model are you, it would say, 'I'm ChatGPT,' and the most likely reason for that is that the training data for DeepSeek was harvested from millions of chat interactions with ChatGPT that were just fed directly into DeepSeek's training data," said Gregory Allen, a former U.S. Defense Department official who now directs the Wadhwani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Such declarations are not necessarily an indication of IP theftchatbots are prone to fabricating information. But DeepSeek, despite describing its technology as "open-source," doesn't disclose the data it used to train its model.

"I think that there's a pretty obvious reason for that choice, which is that they harvested ChatGPT for training data," Allen said.

Much about DeepSeek has perplexed analysts poring through the startup's public research papers about its new model, R1, and its precursors.

Among the details that startled Wall Street was DeepSeek's assertion that the cost to train the flagship v3 model behind its AI assistant was only $5.6 million, a stunningly low number compared to the multiple billions of dollars spent to build ChatGPT and other popular chatbots.

The $5.6 million number only included actually training the chatbot, not the costs of earlier-stage research and experiments, the paper said. But the numberand DeepSeek's relatively cheap prices for developerscalled into question the huge amounts of money and electricity pouring into AI development in the U.S.

DeepSeek was also working under constraints: U.S. export controls on the most powerful AI chips. It said it relied on a relatively low-performing AI chip from California chipmaker Nvidia that the U.S. hasn't banned for sale in China. But in 2022, a social media post from High-Flyer said it had amassed a cluster of 10,000 more powerful Nvidia chips just months before the U.S. restricted their export to China.

 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:

A sign for a Nvidia building is shown in Santa Clara, Calif., May 31, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File

The superstar run for Nvidia's stock the last few years has been astonishing. So was its tumble Monday, which caused $595 billion in wealth to vanish. That's about as much as PepsiCo, McDonalds, Starbucks and Target are worth, combined.

Mostly known only in gaming and crypto circles a few years ago, Nvidia burst into the zeitgeist after seeing its sales surge because customers wanted its chips to train their chatbots and other artificial intelligence products.

Nvidia became a household name as its stock more than tripled in 2023 and then more than doubled in 2024. Investors and analysts lauded CEO Jensen Huang as the "Godfather of AI." Nvidia grew into a $3 trillion-plus behemoth and traded places with titans like Apple to become the most valuable company on Wall Street.

But that all came to a screeching halt Monday, at least for a moment, after a Chinese upstart called DeepSeek said it had developed a large-language model that could perform like ChatGPT and other U.S. rivals, but by using far less computing power.

Here's a look at how it all got to this point:

How did it become a market darling?

Nvidia's roots began in gaming.

The Santa Clara, California-based tech company's invention of the graphics processor unit, or GPU, in 1999 helped spark the growth of the PC gaming market and redefined computer graphics. Now Nvidia's specialized chips are key components that help power different forms of artificial intelligence, including the latest generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Huang has dubbed AI "the next industrial revolution," and Nvidia's GPUs are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently than general-purpose chips like CPUs. Tech giants are snapping up Nvidia chips as they wade deeper into AIa movement that's enabling cars to drive by themselves, and generating stories, art and music.

The demand helped Nvidia's revenue grow by eye-popping levels, quarter after quarter. On Feb. 23, 2023, after Nvidia breezed past analysts' expectations for quarterly profit, Huang said that "AI is at an inflection point, setting up for broad adoption reaching into every industry." The company's quarterly revenue at the time was $6.05 billion.

That ramped up to $7.19 billion just three months later and then nearly doubled to $13.51 billion three months after that. Revenue has since vaulted to $35.08 billion in the three months through October 2024.

The company's stock price has similarly soared, and its total market value quickly passed rivals like Intel, Microsoft and others. Nvidia alone accounted for more than a fifth of all of the S&P 500 index's total return last year. No other stock came close, and it had more than triple Apple's impact.

Buy an S&P 500 index fund today, and nearly 6 cents out of every $1 will go only into Nvidia. That leaves 94 cents for all the other 499 companies.

Is it still a darling?

Unlike the dot-com boom, real money was behind Nvidia's surge, and its stock price rose on expectations of ever more to come. Those expectations came into question on Monday.

DeepSeek and its seemingly lower-cost operations raised worries about whether companies would need to spend as many dollars on Nvidia chips as previously thought. The concerns dragged down stocks across the AI industry, including suppliers to the chip industry and the power companies hoping to electrify the vast data centers that were expected to get built to run those chips. But Nvidia was in the spotlight because its stock has become the brightest symbol of the AI bonanza.

Some on Wall Street saw Monday's nearly 17% plunge for Nvidia's stock as an opportunity rather than a signal of pending doom, saying the stock became more affordable. If AI does become cheaper to run, it could open the door to new kinds of customers and software innovations that could ultimately help the industry in the long term.

"As for Nvidia itself, this isn't the first time a major tech stock has faced existential questions," said John Belton, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. "We've seen similar situations with Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Google, Amazon, and Netflixcompanies that were once doubted but ultimately rebounded."

DeepSeek's entrance certainly adds uncertainty to the entire AI ecosystem, but it doesn't change the overwhelming momentum behind the movement, according to Brian Colello, strategist at Morningstar.

"We believe that AI GPU demand still exceeds supply," he wrote in a report. "So, while slimmer models may enable greater development for the same number of chips, we still think tech firms will continue to buy all the GPUs they can as part of this AI 'gold rush.'"

For its part, Nvidia's stock wobbled between gains and losses early Tuesday following its worst plunge since the 2020 COVID crash, and then rallied a bit and ended the day nearly 9% higher.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Kateryna Miyenko, 27, at Cleveland Cascade in Oakland on Jan. 5, 2025, last year fled the war in Ukraine through a humanitarian parole program started by the Biden administration. But with the new Trump administration authorizing the removal of legal migrants like her, Miyenko worries she will be deported to her war-torn country. A lot of Ukrainians are worried because the war is not finished, she said. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Since she arrived in September, Kateryna Miyenko has been taking long walks under the towering redwood trees of Oaklands parks. Being in nature is one of the few ways the 27-year-old can take her mind off what is happening at home in western Ukraine, where her parents and younger brother remain.

She never imagined the country that provided her safety would, within months of her arrival, threaten to revoke it.

Last week, the Trump administration authorized federal immigration authorities to expand deportation efforts to migrants like Miyenko, granted entry for up to two years under a 70-year legal process called humanitarian parole. About 2.2 million people through January have been granted this special designation for urgent humanitarian reasons, including 651,000 Ukrainians and 133,000 Afghans, according to Department of Homeland Security data published by the National Foundation for American Policy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its unsettling to think about how such decisions could impact so many people, including those like me who are just trying to rebuild their lives far from home, Miyenko said in Ukrainian through a translator.

In a Jan. 23 memo, Trumps acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman instructed federal immigration authorities that people who had been paroled into the country could now be deported without hearings.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the memo and whether it would be applied to Ukrainians and Afghans.

Kateryna Miyenko sits in the classroom where she takes English at Lao Family Community Development Center in Oakland on Jan. 6, 2025. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

The Biden administration had previously reserved deportations without hearings, called expedited removal, to people who were arrested less than 100 miles from the border within two weeks of entering the country without permission. In a separate move last week, Huffman expanded expedited removal to people who cannot prove theyve been in the U.S. for at least two years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

To deport such people without a hearing, the memo instructs immigration enforcement to, if necessary, terminate their parole status and immigration court proceedings.

It suggests authorities prioritize deporting people who have been in the U.S. for longer than a year but havent applied for asylum.

Loading...

In his first week and a half, Trump has struggled to scale up deportations to the levels he promised, so much so that his administration directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to increase daily arrests from less than 600 to as many as 1,500, the Washington Post reported.

The Jan. 23 memo builds on Trumps day one orders to rescind longstanding legal status by restricting parole and Temporary Protected Status, granted to citizens of countries facing war or disasters. USCIS has since paused acceptance of new parole applications for Ukrainians under a Biden administration program called Uniting for Ukraine.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Project 2025, the conservative playbook for a second Trump term, had called parole for Ukrainians and Afghans unlawful.

Kevin Johnson, an immigration law professor and former dean of UC Davis School of Law, said these actions show that Trump not only wants to deport undocumented immigrants, but also noncitizens lawfully in the U.S.

The approach goes well beyond a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, Johnson said.

What Trump is doing is within his authority, Johnson said. Congress grants the president tremendous discretion on immigration matters, including the authority to revoke parole or visas, he said.

The classroom where Kateryna Miyenko takes English at Lao Family Community Development Center in Oakland. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Paris Etemadi Scott, legal director at Pars Equality Center, a legal aid organization with offices in San Jose and Los Angeles, said she believes the Trump administration is targeting migrants from Central and South America who were paroled at the U.S.-Mexico border through a Biden-era initiative called CBP One, and people from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti who benefitted from a Biden program that Trump has revoked.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

However, Scott, who serves as an attorney to Afghan parolees, said she is not taking any risks and is advising her clients to apply for asylum within a year of arriving.

Dima Korobskiy, a Ukrainian American living in Washington, D.C., volunteers with Ukrainian refugees. He said the Uniting for Ukraine program has helped many people fleeing Russias invasion, which has claimed the lives of at least 12,456 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

Trump, who had previously threatened to cut military aid to Ukraine, has already failed on his campaign promise to end the war in 24 hours.

If Trump revokes protection granted to parolees fleeing war, Korobskiy said, history will judge (him).

Parolees, people on temporary protected status, people who came here legally, now to try and deport them is really horrible, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The war left little choice

Until Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Miyenko lived what she considered an ordinary life with her family in Kamianets-Podilskyi, a city known for its 14th-century fortress and coffee festivals. Her father was a minibus driver and her mother sold flowers. A web designer, Miyenko had been making plans to move to Kyiv to advance her career when war broke out.

We couldnt believe that in the 21st century something like this could actually happen, Miyenko said. Nobody expected you could just kill innocent people.

Living on the westernmost side of Ukraine, she did not experience the Russian bombardment of cities in the east, including missile attacks on Kyiv, but followed news of bombings through Telegram, a messaging app. Her father kept the gas tank full so they would be ready to flee to Italy, along his usual minibus route, if the invasion reached them.

Gradually, they started to adjust to the new reality. Her web design work, which had been halted, resumed. She volunteered to weave camouflage nets for the military, which became a way for Ukrainian women to contribute to the war effort. She got used to taking shelter at the wailing of air raid sirens.

About a month after the war started, while walking the historic Old City with friends and her dog Loki, the sirens sounded. As they sprinted to a basement shelter, she heard rockets whizzing toward a nearby town.

It was one of the most frightening and overwhelming experiences Ive ever had, she recalled.

In March, a friend serving in the Ukrainian army was badly injured by debris from an explosion.

Miyenko resolved to leave Ukraine.

Kateryna Miyenko heads to her English class inside Lao Family Community Development Center in Oakland on Jan. 6, 2025. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

A mutual friend told her about the Uniting for Ukraine program, which Biden announced in April 2022 to allow Ukrainians to come to the U.S. for two years, provided someone in the U.S. financially supports them during their stay. The friend, a U.S. citizen, agreed to sponsor her and her boyfriend.

Her parents could not imagine leaving, she said. Her younger brother, a computer technology student, was not allowed to because of the military draft.

The war left little choice, she said.

She applied for parole in June and was approved in August. On the day she left home, she bid a brief farewell to her family, because, she said, she doesnt like long goodbyes. She took a bus to Romania, flew to London, then New York. On Sept. 11, 2024, she arrived in Sacramento.

A Stanford-based nonprofit called Nova Ukraine, started in 2013 by Ukrainian Americans to aid those affected by Russias escalating tensions with Ukraine, connected her with a Russian-speaking Kazakhstani woman who lives in Oakland, who provided a room in her house to her and her boyfriend.

Miyenkos goal of earning money to send home hasnt panned out yet. Shes been applying for all kinds of jobs  as a web designer, office assistant, cashier  but hasnt received an interview. Shes been taking English classes but worries her lack of fluency and American work experience are deterring potential employers. In every free moment, she pores over news of the war in Ukraine.

Since Trump took office, shes been glued to the news, concerned her legal status will be revoked and, with it, the small sense of stability and safety she has.
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:

Using HeTRM, energy can be stored in a flexible joint and then released instantly, allowing it to wrap around objects, much like an octopus. Credit: Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.ado7696

A research team has taken inspiration from principles found in nature and developed the "hyperelastic torque reversal mechanism" (HeTRM), which enables robots made from rubber-like soft materials to perform rapid and powerful movements. This study is published in Science Robotics, and the researchers were led by Professor Kyu-Jin Cho from Seoul National University's Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The mantis shrimp delivers a punch at speeds of up to 90 km/h to break its prey, while the flea can jump to heights exceeding 200 times its body length. Professor Kyu-Jin Cho explained, "The secret behind these organisms' ability to generate powerful forces with their soft bodies lies in the 'torque reversal mechanism,' which enables the instantaneous switching of rotational force direction applied by muscles to their limbs.

"Our research team previously developed flea-inspired robots capable of achieving high jumps both on land and water; and this latest study is particularly significant as it is an advancement that achieves powerful performance in soft, rubber-like structures."

According to the research team, the core principle of the developed hyperelastic torque reversal mechanism lies in leveraging the characteristics of soft hyperelastic materials, which rapidly stiffen as they compress. The team developed upon their discovery that when compression is concentrated on one side of a flexible joint, it reaches a critical point where the stored energy is released instantaneously. They explained that even with a simple structure that connects a tendon and motor to a flexible joint, repetitive and powerful bending motions could be realized, just like the cilia found in nature.

The operating principle of the hyperelastic torque reversal mechanism (HeTRM) involves compressing an elastomeric joint until it reaches a critical point, where stored energy is instantaneously released. Credit: Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.ado7696

The research team expanded this principle and demonstrated various practical applications. The soft gripper utilizing the developed principle can instantly catch falling ping-pong balls, while other applications include a robot that crawls over rough terrain like sand with strong propulsion and a robot that rapidly wraps around objects like an octopus tentacle, showcasing fast and powerful movements. Furthermore, they demonstrated a mechanical fuse that is triggered when the structure encounters unintended external forces exceeding a certain threshold.

Co-first authors of the research Wooyoung Choi (currently at Naver Labs) and Woongbae Kim (currently at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology) explained, "The instant wrapping of slap bracelets is driven by a rapid transition between two stable states, known as snap-through. While many efforts have been made to mimic this behavior, we introduced a novel approach by leveraging material properties rather than structural designs."

Professor Kyu Jin Cho expressed his optimism about the research, stating, "This technology will expand the horizons of soft robotics design and applications."

More information: A hyperelastic torque-reversal mechanism for soft joints with compression-responsive transient bistability, Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.ado7696. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.ado7696 Journal information: Science Robotics
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:

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shown arriving at US President Donald Trump's inauguration earlier this month.

Tesla is set to report earnings Wednesday for the first time since President Donald Trumpa close ally of CEO Elon Muskreturned to the White House.

The fourth-quarter results conclude a mixed year for Tesla. While the company's profits were pressured by vehicle price cuts introduced amid intensifying electric vehicle (EV) competition, Musk's monumental bet on Trump's candidacy proved successful.

Analysts have forecast modestly higher earnings per share compared with the year-ago period. However, the focus of the call will be on Musk's outlook for the coming term.

Tesla watchers are keen to hear the latest from Musk on whether new EV models planned for 2025 are still on track and if he still expects auto sales to increase 20 to 30 percent in 2025.

There is also much curiosity about how Musk's alliance with Trumppart of the billionaire's increasingly assertive advocacy on behalf of far-right politicians worldwidewill affect Tesla.

Some have become very bullish about the company.

"Our time spent speaking to many in the Beltway the last few weeks give us a growing confidence the Trump White House the next 4 years will be a 'total game changer' for the autonomous and AI story for Tesla and Musk over the coming years," said a note from Wedbush that raised Tesla's share price target.

But among the deluge of opening-day White House executive orders, Trump last week took direct aim at EVs, vowing to undo policies that disadvantage gasoline-powered cars and signaling a potential rollback of US tax credits for EVs.

The actions were not a surprise given Trump's stated hostility to EVs during the presidential campaign.

Yet shares of Tesla have soared more than 55 percent since the election.

Market watchers believe Tesla could benefit from new policies from Washington to promote autonomous driving, which Musk has described as a potentially huge market for his company.

"A lot will rest on (Musk's) ability to keep investors focused on the long-term story and overlooking some of the near-term headwinds," Garrett Nelson, analyst at CFRA Research, said of Wednesday's earnings.

Earlier this month, Tesla reported full-year auto sales of just under 1.8 million vehicles, a slight decline from 2023 after missing fourth-quarter targets.

Tesla has faced pressure to roll out new vehicles, particularly at lower price points. Investors cheered a Musk statement in July that he plans a new, more affordable model in the first half of 2025, but the company has provided few details since.

Musk also said in October he expects a 20 to 30 percent rise in auto sales this year.

But a January 24 note from Morgan Stanley said analysts now expect around a 10 percent production increase "given pressures on the EV market."

National autonomous policy?

Part of Tesla's more than $1.2 trillion market valuation is based on confidence that Musk will achieve new technological feats with autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Thus far, Tesla driver-assistance programs like "autopilot" and "full self-driving" have lagged other companies, such as Waymo, in achieving driverless functionality without human supervision.

But Musk has spoken of aggressive plans for commercializing robotaxi services under a timetable some experts consider unrealistic, given Tesla's achievements thus far.

Prior to the election, Musk highlighted support for a national policy on autonomous driving during Tesla's October conference call.

Musk will likely be prompted to comment on what he expects regulations on national autonomous driving to look like now that he has a seat at the table in Washington.

Wednesday's earnings call comes as Musk's widening influence draws more attention and blowback.

A coalition that includes a public workers union has filed a lawsuit to block Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, arguing the panel flouts federal laws and is "beset" by the conflicts of interest of an extremist "libertarian billionaire class."

And only days after being criticized for a hand gesture at Trump's inauguration that resembled a Nazi salute, Musk drew scrutiny last weekend for reiterating support for Germany's far-right, anti-immigrant AfD party, including comments that young Germans should feel able "to move beyond" expressing regret for the Holocaust.

 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:

Many riders prefer the convenience of ride-sharing services over the lower fares of public transportation. New research led by the University of Michigan helps show why modest surcharges to shared rides won't change transit usage. Credit: Miki Tsuchiya

Research led by the University of Michigan has arrived at a surprisingly unsurprising result while assessing the sustainability gap between public transit and services like Uber and Lyft, formally known as transport network companies or TNCs.

With data collected by the city of Chicago, the researchers studied people's use of TNCs over transit, allowing the team to put a value on the time riders saved with their choices. The median value of that number, about $34 per hour, was virtually identical to the Chicago region's median hourly wage.

The researchers have published their results in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

"I was a bit surprised that our median estimate of the value of time was so close to the regional average wage. The median rider seems to value their time in a reasonable way," said Parth Vaishnav, assistant professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability. "At first sight, our research shows that people are behaving the way you would expect them to."

The team dug deeper, too, affording further insights that could enable commuters to make more sustainable choices. While electrifying vehicles and new "congestion taxes" can mitigate the societal harms of TNC usage, the new work suggests that the largest gains could be found in making transit more convenient.

"If we can make transit more accessible to the user, we can make a huge impact," said lead author Miki Tsuchiya, a research assistant at the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems.

Can taxing indirect costs put a dent in congestion?

In its study, the teamwhich also included Anna Cobb of Carnegie Mellon Universityanalyzed more than 200,000 rides taken in Chicago with TNCs, more commonly known as rideshares.

The trio then calculated how the cost and duration of each TNC trip compared with using transit to make the same trek. From that, the researchers could put a price on the time riders saved choosing Lyft or Uber over transit.

The team also incorporated factors such as air pollution, congestion, collision risk and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the modes of travel to tease out other impacts of riders' choices.

"We worked to capture multidisciplinary perspectives focusing on the users," Tsuchiya said. "Our benefit cost analysis included life cycle analysis, geospatial analysis and draws on insights from public health and environmental epidemiology."

The team found that charging riders for these social harms using established costs would only modestly increase the value that people would have to place on their time to still choose TNCs over transit. Specifically, it nudged the median value of $34 per hour up to $37 per hour.

"If you were to tax riders based on how much harm they cause, it's not clear they would behave any differently," Vaishnav said.

That said, Chicago has implemented a congestion tax and other cities, notably New York, are currently rolling out their own, which will enable researchers to better study their effects moving forward. Currently, there's not enough data to draw robust conclusions, but the early data do suggest relatively small dips in TNC usage, Vaishnav said.

The team's analysis, however, did suggest larger gains could be found elsewhere.

Room for improvement

Electrifying the fleet of TNC vehicles, for example, would cut their air pollution and greenhouse emissions to a level that's roughly equivalent to transit. Although this highlights an opportunity for reducing the environmental footprint of TNCs, the equivalency is also a product of the low average utilization of public transportation.

Excluding TNC trips outside of transit's operating hours, the team found that 99% of TNC rides could have been carried out by some combination of city buses and trains. That is, the overwhelming majority of riders were using Uber and Lyft to go places that were served by transit. "I was surprised by that. I was also surprised that the average passenger load is low in Chicago," Tsuchiya said, adding that, averaged over the time of the study, Chicago transit vehicles carried about 20% of their capacity. "One way to think of that is that the potential for transit in cities is huge."

One way to tap into that potential is to boost the efficiency of transit, she said.

"About half of the time of a transit trip is the rider walking to a stop and waiting," Tsuchiya said. "That means that half the time, people aren't actually riding."

Reducing wait times and the distances that riders need to cover on foot could go a long way, but developing policies to do that effectively requires more robust data, the team said.

For example, although experts know that transit usage is low on average, existing data isn't granular enough to show when and where it could be most improved.

"The moral of the story is that we need more data," Vaishnav said.
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) saw some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock traders acquired 40,713 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 34% compared to the typical daily volume of 30,470 put options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on MO shares. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $53.43.

Get Altria Group alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Altria Group

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MO traded down $0.91 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $52.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,639,640 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,290,179. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $53.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.26. The company has a market capitalization of $89.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.64. Altria Group has a 12 month low of $39.25 and a 12 month high of $58.03.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.03. Altria Group had a net margin of 42.82% and a negative return on equity of 233.80%. The business had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.33 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.28 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Altria Group will post 5.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.92%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 85.1% in the third quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 410 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the companys stock.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:BACHY  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $13.20 and last traded at $12.90, with a volume of 30936 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.95.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Bank of China from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th.

Get Bank of China alerts:

Get Our Latest Analysis on BACHY

Bank of China Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $151.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.06 and a beta of 0.17. The business has a 50 day moving average of $12.27 and a 200 day moving average of $11.73.

Bank of China (OTCMKTS:BACHY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The bank reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Bank of China had a net margin of 17.35% and a return on equity of 7.81%. The company had revenue of $44.42 billion for the quarter.

Bank of China Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 14th will be paid a $0.3231 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of Chinas payout ratio is presently 25.49%.

Bank of China Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and internationally. It operates through six segments: Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, Treasury Operations, Investment Banking, Insurance, and Other.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Bank of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. (OTCMKTS:CODYY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 52,100 shares, a decline of 63.0% from the December 31st total of 140,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 195,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain Price Performance

Shares of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain stock traded up $0.03 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $18.72. 49,920 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 117,772. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain has a 1-year low of $13.86 and a 1-year high of $19.18. The firms fifty day moving average price is $18.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.76.

Get Compagnie de Saint-Gobain alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, UBS Group lowered Compagnie de Saint-Gobain from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th.

About Compagnie de Saint-Gobain

(Get Free Report)

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA designs, manufactures, and distributes materials and solutions for the construction and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through five segments: High Performance Solutions; Northern Europe; Southern Europe Middle East (ME) & Africa; Americas; and Asia-Pacific.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Compagnie de Saint-Gobain Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of DP Poland Plc (LON:DPP  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 9 ($0.11) and last traded at GBX 9.50 ($0.12), with a volume of 1588738 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 9.80 ($0.12).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Shore Capital reiterated a not rated rating on shares of DP Poland in a report on Thursday, January 16th.

Get DP Poland alerts:

Read Our Latest Report on DPP

DP Poland Stock Performance

DP Poland Company Profile

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.70, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 0.38. The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 10.63 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 10.77. The company has a market cap of 87.20 million, a PE ratio of -1,076.00 and a beta of 0.47.

(Get Free Report)

DP Poland Plc develops, operates, and sub-franchises Domino's Pizza stores in Poland. The company operates through two segments: Corporate Store Sales and Commissary Operations. It operates pizza delivery and dine-in restaurants. DP Poland Plc was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Warsaw, Poland.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for DP Poland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DP Poland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barraud stated with pathos that Paris is ready to consider sending troops to Greenland if Denmark requests assistance. He remarked, "No one dares to play with our borders," even if those borders are located 3,000 km from Paris and covered in ice.

Barraud assured that if necessary, France would be there. However, sending troops to Greenland isn't a simple task: it would require considering how French soldiers will adapt to the cold, whether they will master dog sledding, and how to differentiate a real navy seal from American special forces.

It seems the French president is seriously contemplating a potential conflict with the United States. Perhaps he should consider consulting a doctor instead?

Macron has faltered in Syria, Ukraine, the Caucasus, and Africa. Now it seems hes eyeing the Arctiche hasnt embarrassed himself there yet.
Tom Welling speaks onstage at the Smallville cast reunion during New York Comic Con 2022 in New York City. The actor who portrayed Clark Kent on the long-running television series about Supermans origin story was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence in Northern California, according to police reports. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for ReedPop

Tom Welling, the actor who portrayed Clark Kent on Smallville, the long-running television series about Supermans origin story, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence in Northern California, according to police reports.

Authorities in Yreka (Siskiyou County) took Welling, 47, into custody shortly after midnight on Sunday.

The arrest occurred in the parking lot of an Arbys restaurant, where officers said they determined his blood alcohol level to be at or above the legal limit of 0.08%.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Welling was booked into the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office at approximately 2 a.m. and released a few hours later with an order to appear in court on March 11.

Tom Welling as Clark Kent in Smallville. Michael Courtney/Warner Bros./Getty Images

Welling, also known for his roles in Lucifer, Cheaper by the Dozen and Draft Day, has not publicly commented on the arrest.

Representatives for the actor did not respond to requests for a statement.

The incident came hours before Welling took to Instagram to celebrate the birthday of his wife, Jessica Rose Lee.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more! We love you to the moon and back! he wrote in a post featuring photos of the couple.
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. (OTCMKTS:KCDMY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 161,100 shares, a growth of 876.4% from the December 31st total of 16,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 784,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. Price Performance

Shares of KCDMY traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $7.66. The company had a trading volume of 54,635 shares, compared to its average volume of 127,384. The companys 50-day moving average is $7.08 and its 200-day moving average is $7.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.27, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The company has a market capitalization of $4.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 0.80. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. has a twelve month low of $6.50 and a twelve month high of $12.30.

Get Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. alerts:

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. (OTCMKTS:KCDMY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The basic materials company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. had a net margin of 14.67% and a return on equity of 147.20%.

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. Announces Dividend

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 4th were issued a dividend of $0.1229 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V.s payout ratio is 13.51%.

(Get Free Report)

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets disposable products in Mexico. The company offers baby diapers, training pants, swim pants, wet wipes, shampoos, creams, bar soaps, and feeding products. It also provides toilet papers, napkins, facial tissues, paper towels, feminine pads, panty liners, tampons, intimate wipes, and menstrual cups.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB  Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report issued on Tuesday.

MTB has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of M&T Bank from $228.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of M&T Bank from $190.00 to $208.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of M&T Bank from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Wolfe Research raised shares of M&T Bank from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $210.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded M&T Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the stock from $220.00 to $230.00 in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $221.68.

Get M&T Bank alerts:

Read Our Latest Analysis on M&T Bank

M&T Bank Price Performance

Shares of MTB traded down $1.18 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $199.86. 1,353,478 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,410,469. The stock has a market cap of $33.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.66, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.79. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $200.51 and a 200-day moving average of $185.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 0.93. M&T Bank has a 52 week low of $128.31 and a 52 week high of $225.70.

M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by $0.22. M&T Bank had a net margin of 19.24% and a return on equity of 10.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that M&T Bank will post 16.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

M&T Bank declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, January 22nd that permits the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to buy up to 12.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other M&T Bank news, EVP Tracy S. Woodrow sold 2,121 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.75, for a total value of $468,210.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,141 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,134,875.75. This represents a 29.21 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Robert E. Sadler, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $396,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 29,796 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,899,608. This represents a 6.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 40,487 shares of company stock valued at $8,578,809. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On M&T Bank

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 13.9% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 12,349,398 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,199,675,000 after acquiring an additional 1,508,846 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in M&T Bank by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,773,439 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,562,725,000 after purchasing an additional 527,854 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,037,144 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $897,216,000 after buying an additional 190,837 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of M&T Bank by 1.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,329,814 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $768,824,000 after buying an additional 66,337 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Senvest Management LLC increased its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 12.3% during the third quarter. Senvest Management LLC now owns 882,841 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $157,252,000 after buying an additional 96,500 shares during the period. 84.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

M&T Bank Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

M&T Bank Corp. operates as a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking, trust, wealth management and investment services. It operates through the following segments: Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Commercial Real Estate, Discretionary Portfolio, Residential Mortgage Banking, and Retail Banking.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for M&T Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M&T Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shimano Inc. (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 128,200 shares, an increase of 18,214.3% from the December 31st total of 700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 463,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Shimano Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SMNNY traded up $0.32 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $14.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 68,696 shares, compared to its average volume of 210,123. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.86 billion, a PE ratio of 46.55 and a beta of 0.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $13.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.78. Shimano has a 52 week low of $12.55 and a 52 week high of $19.69.

Get Shimano alerts:

Shimano (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported ($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Shimano had a net margin of 9.65% and a return on equity of 5.14%. The company had revenue of $793.02 million for the quarter.

About Shimano

Shimano Inc develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Shimano Inc was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Shimano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shimano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Smith Group Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 9,000 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $691,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of BK. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 78.6% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 19,338,722 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,389,680,000 after buying an additional 8,512,404 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 2,707.1% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,258,967 shares of the banks stock valued at $234,189,000 after buying an additional 3,142,869 shares in the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter valued at about $62,589,000. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,313,594 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,393,915,000 after acquiring an additional 659,096 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 248.3% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 858,831 shares of the banks stock worth $61,715,000 after purchasing an additional 612,287 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.31% of the companys stock.

Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts:

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

Shares of BK stock opened at $86.52 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.89, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.08. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $79.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.69. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a one year low of $52.64 and a one year high of $86.69.

Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 15th. The bank reported $1.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $4.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.66 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 11.35% and a return on equity of 12.68%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.28 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Monday, January 27th will be issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 27th. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on BK. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $79.00 price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Monday, October 14th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $82.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $88.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $88.00.

View Our Latest Stock Report on BK

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 5.750- for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 5.970. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on ALK. Susquehanna upgraded Alaska Air Group from a neutral rating to a positive rating and set a $95.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Melius upgraded Alaska Air Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $56.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $70.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.86.

Get Alaska Air Group alerts:

Get Our Latest Research Report on Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE:ALK opened at $71.41 on Wednesday. Alaska Air Group has a 52-week low of $32.62 and a 52-week high of $71.70. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $62.48 and a 200 day moving average of $48.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.07 billion, a PE ratio of 23.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.60.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.52. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 3.37% and a return on equity of 14.78%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Alaska Air Group

In other Alaska Air Group news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 13,880 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.01, for a total transaction of $888,458.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 20,638 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,321,038.38. This trade represents a 40.21 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Joseph A. Sprague sold 9,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.90, for a total transaction of $654,550.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,840 shares of the companys stock, valued at $677,976. This represents a 49.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 43,973 shares of company stock worth $2,852,892. Company insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock.

About Alaska Air Group

(Get Free Report)

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Allen Capital Group LLC lessened its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,875 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 105 shares during the quarter. Allen Capital Group LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $696,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of GLD. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 21,571.1% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 3,024,639 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $735,169,000 after buying an additional 3,010,682 shares during the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 446.0% during the 4th quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 239,355 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $59,410,000 after acquiring an additional 195,520 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 47.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 454,153 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $110,386,000 after acquiring an additional 146,271 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 245.1% in the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 160,721 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $39,065,000 after acquiring an additional 114,151 shares during the period. Finally, JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Ltd raised its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 1,565.3% during the third quarter. JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Ltd now owns 115,106 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $27,979,000 after purchasing an additional 108,194 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.19% of the companys stock.

Get SPDR Gold Shares alerts:

SPDR Gold Shares Stock Performance

NYSEARCA GLD opened at $254.57 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $245.79 and a 200 day moving average of $240.16. SPDR Gold Shares has a 1 year low of $183.78 and a 1 year high of $257.71.

SPDR Gold Shares Company Profile

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Gold Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Gold Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
American Business Bank (OTCMKTS:AMBZ  Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The financial services provider reported $1.33 earnings per share for the quarter, Zacks reports.

American Business Bank Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS AMBZ opened at $43.39 on Wednesday. American Business Bank has a 12 month low of $29.75 and a 12 month high of $44.75. The company has a market cap of $394.85 million, a P/E ratio of 9.56 and a beta of 0.72. The businesss 50 day moving average is $43.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.71.

Get American Business Bank alerts:

American Business Bank Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

American Business Bank, a California-chartered bank, provides banking products and services to small and medium-sized firms, non-profits, business executives, and professionals in Southern California. The company offers credit and depository; treasury management; asset-based lending; SBA lending; international banking comprising money transfers, import and export commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit, documentary and clean collections, and foreign currency exchange services; and consulting and referral services.

Receive News & Ratings for American Business Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Business Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 7.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $2.45 and last traded at $2.44. Approximately 445,578 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 1,257,624 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.27.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AZUL has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Azul from $3.10 to $2.70 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Azul from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.40.

Get Azul alerts:

View Our Latest Report on Azul

Azul Stock Up 4.2 %

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Azul

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $997.01 million, a P/E ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 1.95.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AZUL. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda raised its holdings in shares of Azul by 13,831.7% during the 2nd quarter. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda now owns 292,565 shares of the companys stock worth $1,170,000 after acquiring an additional 290,465 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its position in Azul by 58.9% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 203,190 shares of the companys stock worth $699,000 after purchasing an additional 75,291 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its stake in Azul by 2,466.5% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 598,670 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,395,000 after purchasing an additional 575,344 shares in the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd grew its stake in shares of Azul by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 2,473,976 shares of the companys stock worth $4,132,000 after buying an additional 119,023 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning bought a new stake in shares of Azul in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Institutional investors own 0.82% of the companys stock.

Azul Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in Brazil and internationally. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 160 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 183 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 189 aircraft.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Azul Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Azul and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Barry Investment Advisors LLC lessened its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 11.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 174,787 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 23,362 shares during the quarter. Pfizer comprises 1.5% of Barry Investment Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Barry Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $4,637,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Pfizer by 1.6% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 612,429 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $17,068,000 after buying an additional 9,435 shares in the last quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $409,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. IMS Capital Management lifted its position in Pfizer by 2.0% during the second quarter. IMS Capital Management now owns 104,938 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,033,000 after buying an additional 2,029 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Heartland Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $596,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on PFE. StockNews.com downgraded Pfizer from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a market perform rating and a $32.00 target price for the company. Bank of America reissued a neutral rating and set a $29.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI raised Pfizer to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research started coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Friday, November 15th. They set an underperform rating and a $25.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.92.

Pfizer Trading Down 0.3 %

PFE opened at $26.79 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $151.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.20, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $26.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.92. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $24.48 and a 12 month high of $31.54.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.42. Pfizer had a return on equity of 16.28% and a net margin of 7.07%. The business had revenue of $17.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.92 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.17) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 31.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.42%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Pfizers payout ratio is 227.03%.

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Barry Investment Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU  Free Report) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 32,989 shares of the companys stock after selling 585 shares during the quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF were worth $1,118,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of EWU. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $6,806,000. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 75,000.0% in the 2nd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 3,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Creative Planning raised its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 136,668 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,767,000 after buying an additional 7,946 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 10.6% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 6,232 shares of the companys stock valued at $217,000 after buying an additional 597 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 39.1% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 19,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $665,000 after buying an additional 5,362 shares during the period.

Get iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of EWU opened at $35.33 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $2.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.86 and a beta of 0.68. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a 12-month low of $31.58 and a 12-month high of $37.88. The companys 50-day moving average price is $34.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.76.

iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon plans to step down from her post at the end of February. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle 2024

Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon has announced that she is stepping down at the end of next month, leaving a hole in the management at one of the nations top parks.

Muldoons retirement follows a four-decade career at the National Park Service, which includes the past five years at Yosemite and, before that, 10 years as the head of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Muldoon, 59, is known within the federal agency as a manager who builds relationships with communities around parks and as a leader who inspires those who work for her.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Bay Area native, who has long kept a houseboat in Sausalito and plans to retire there, was not available to discuss her departure with the Chronicle, but she told park employees in a Jan. 13 email that it had been an honor to work for the National Park Service.

I am incredibly fortunate on so many fronts: to have lucked upon a career that enabled me to serve in some of the most incredible places in the country, to have found an organization with a compelling and inspirational mission that has sustained me through the highs and lows of federal service, and most importantly, to have worked with people like you who are so dedicated to public service and the NPS mission, Muldoon wrote.

Muldoons work at Yosemite was partially shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The park, shortly after she arrived, grappled with severe staffing shortages while Californians took to the outdoors in record numbers, prompting Yosemite to begin limiting entry into the park through a day-use reservation system.

Muldoon was supportive of ensuring a balance between visitation and park preservation, and the reservation system she piloted is expected to become permanent this year as crowds have continued to flock to the park.

She was the second woman to hold the top post at Yosemite. Her replacement has not been named.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The new superintendent will continue to face the challenge of crowding at the park as well as long-term cuts to federal funding, the impacts of climate change on the mountainous landscape and the uneven quality of guest services run by Yosemite concessionaire Aramark. Also, the Trump administration has begun cutting the federal workforce and reining in many programs, both of which are expected to impact parks.
Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 76,400 shares, an increase of 174.8% from the December 31st total of 27,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 774,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Bunker Hill Mining Stock Performance

OTCMKTS BHLL opened at $0.12 on Wednesday. Bunker Hill Mining has a 52 week low of $0.07 and a 52 week high of $0.15. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $0.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.11.

Get Bunker Hill Mining alerts:

Bunker Hill Mining (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter.

About Bunker Hill Mining

mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. Its flagship asset is the 100% owned Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho. The company was formerly known as Liberty Silver Corp. and changed its name to Bunker Hill Mining Corp.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Bunker Hill Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bunker Hill Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Cranswick plc (LON:CWK  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 4,820.93 ($59.98) and traded as high as GBX 5,050 ($62.83). Cranswick shares last traded at GBX 5,020 ($62.46), with a volume of 79,325 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on CWK shares. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a GBX 57 ($0.71) price target on shares of Cranswick in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a house stock rating on shares of Cranswick in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st.

Get Cranswick alerts:

Read Our Latest Analysis on CWK

Cranswick Stock Down 0.5 %

The firm has a market cap of 2.68 billion, a PE ratio of 2,389.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 4,906.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 4,820.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.88.

Cranswick (LON:CWK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 26th. The company reported GBX 132.10 ($1.64) EPS for the quarter. Cranswick had a return on equity of 12.89% and a net margin of 4.35%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Cranswick plc will post 258.5590189 EPS for the current year.

Cranswick Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 12th were issued a GBX 25 ($0.31) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 12th. Cranswicks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4,306.22%.

About Cranswick

(Get Free Report)

Cranswick is a leading and innovative British supplier of premium, fresh and added value food products, with revenues in excess of 2.0 billion. We produce and supply premium food to UK grocery retailers, the food service sector and other global food producers.

Our core market is the United Kingdom where we provide a range of high quality, predominantly fresh food including Fresh Pork, Poultry, Convenience and Gourmet Products and more recently have further expanded our portfolio by adding high quality pet food.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Cranswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cranswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:DMEHF  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 39,500 shares, a decline of 50.4% from the December 31st total of 79,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 153,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Desert Mountain Energy Price Performance

OTCMKTS DMEHF traded down $0.01 on Wednesday, reaching $0.18. 47,740 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 26,749. Desert Mountain Energy has a one year low of $0.16 and a one year high of $0.33. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $0.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.22.

Get Desert Mountain Energy alerts:

Desert Mountain Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. engages in the exploration and development of oil and gas, and mineral properties in the Southwestern United States. It holds interest in the Holbrook Basin helium project located in the Northern Arizona. The company was formerly known as African Queen Mines Ltd. and changed its name to Desert Mountain Energy Corp.

Receive News & Ratings for Desert Mountain Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Desert Mountain Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Oldfield Partners LLP reduced its stake in shares of Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ  Free Report) by 24.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 318,533 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 105,780 shares during the quarter. Embraer makes up 3.4% of Oldfield Partners LLPs holdings, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Oldfield Partners LLPs holdings in Embraer were worth $11,684,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ERJ. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Embraer during the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in shares of Embraer by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,280 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 456 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Embraer by 7.9% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,676 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the last quarter. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Embraer in the 3rd quarter valued at about $202,000. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of Embraer in the 3rd quarter valued at about $242,000. 34.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Embraer alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ERJ. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Embraer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 25th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Embraer from a neutral rating to a sell rating and increased their price target for the company from $29.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Embraer to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Embraer from $40.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Embraer has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $37.43.

Embraer Stock Performance

Shares of ERJ stock opened at $40.31 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $37.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.01. Embraer S.A. has a one year low of $17.19 and a one year high of $41.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.40 billion, a PE ratio of 14.88 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 0.76.

Embraer (NYSE:ERJ  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The aerospace company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.92. The firm had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.63 billion. Embraer had a return on equity of 11.61% and a net margin of 8.24%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.18 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Embraer S.A. will post 2.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Embraer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Embraer SA designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Commercial Aviation; Defense & Security; Executive Aviation; Services & Support; and Other segments. The Commercial Aviation segment designs, develops, manufactures, and sells commercial jets, as well as leases aircraft.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ERJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Embraer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Embraer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report) by 12.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,004 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,775 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Managements holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $666,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ET. FMR LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer by 44.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 33,379,297 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $535,738,000 after purchasing an additional 10,195,768 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer by 1,491.0% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 4,175,731 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $67,020,000 after purchasing an additional 3,913,266 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in Energy Transfer by 36.7% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 11,563,478 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $185,594,000 after purchasing an additional 3,106,631 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 45.9% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 9,581,762 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $153,787,000 after acquiring an additional 3,013,973 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its stake in Energy Transfer by 1,837.4% during the 3rd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 1,338,885 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $21,489,000 after acquiring an additional 1,269,778 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the companys stock.

Get Energy Transfer alerts:

Energy Transfer Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of Energy Transfer stock opened at $20.36 on Wednesday. Energy Transfer LP has a 52-week low of $13.79 and a 52-week high of $21.45. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $19.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.08.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

Energy Transfer ( NYSE:ET Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.32. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 5.90%. The business had revenue of $20.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.31 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.37 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $0.325 dividend. This is a boost from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. Energy Transfers payout ratio is currently 94.85%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on ET. Barclays raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Bank of America began coverage on Energy Transfer in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set a buy rating and a $20.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Energy Transfer from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $20.82.

View Our Latest Research Report on Energy Transfer

About Energy Transfer

(Free Report)

Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates natural gas transportation pipeline, and natural gas storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma; and approximately 20,090 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. It also sells natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution and other marketing companies, and industrial end-users.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 28th,RTT News reports. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.15 per share by the financial services provider on Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.82%.

First Horizon has a dividend payout ratio of 31.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect First Horizon to earn $1.84 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.60 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 32.6%.

Get First Horizon alerts:

First Horizon Price Performance

NYSE FHN opened at $21.30 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.96. The businesss fifty day moving average is $20.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.98. First Horizon has a 1 year low of $13.45 and a 1 year high of $21.82.

Analyst Ratings Changes

First Horizon ( NYSE:FHN Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.05. First Horizon had a return on equity of 10.10% and a net margin of 15.38%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that First Horizon will post 1.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $17.00 target price on shares of First Horizon in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of First Horizon from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on First Horizon from $18.50 to $23.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on First Horizon from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on First Horizon from $22.50 to $23.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $22.04.

View Our Latest Analysis on FHN

First Horizon announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, October 29th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to purchase up to 10.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at First Horizon

In other news, EVP David T. Popwell sold 100,974 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.77, for a total transaction of $1,996,255.98. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 519,926 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,278,937.02. This trade represents a 16.26 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO D Bryan Jordan sold 109,980 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.13, for a total transaction of $2,323,877.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,861,381 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,330,980.53. This represents a 5.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 220,954 shares of company stock valued at $4,519,333. 0.87% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About First Horizon

(Get Free Report)

First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through Regional Banking and Specialty Banking segments. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Free Report)  Research analysts at DA Davidson decreased their FY2025 earnings estimates for Brunswick in a research report issued on Thursday, January 23rd. DA Davidson analyst B. Rolle now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $4.00 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $6.65. DA Davidson currently has a Neutral rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Brunswicks current full-year earnings is $4.52 per share.

Get Brunswick alerts:

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Brunswick from $95.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Brunswick from $92.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of Brunswick in a report on Friday, October 25th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Brunswick from $78.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Brunswick from $90.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $82.54.

Brunswick Stock Down 2.7 %

Shares of BC stock opened at $68.62 on Monday. Brunswick has a fifty-two week low of $62.64 and a fifty-two week high of $96.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.53 billion, a PE ratio of 17.07 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.97. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $71.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.76.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brunswick

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brunswick during the 4th quarter worth approximately $368,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in Brunswick by 20.8% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 40,193 shares of the companys stock worth $2,925,000 after acquiring an additional 6,922 shares during the period. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. increased its stake in Brunswick by 47.5% during the third quarter. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. now owns 240,128 shares of the companys stock worth $20,128,000 after acquiring an additional 77,340 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Brunswick by 7.4% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,487,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,705,000 after purchasing an additional 102,780 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Brunswick by 78.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 118,189 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,907,000 after purchasing an additional 52,024 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.34% of the companys stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Brunswick news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 366 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.19, for a total value of $29,349.54. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,557 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,969,225.83. This trade represents a 1.47 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO David M. Foulkes sold 23,829 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.22, for a total value of $1,911,562.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 251,094 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,142,760.68. This trade represents a 8.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Brunswick

(Get Free Report)

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Brunswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brunswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report)  Research analysts at Leerink Partnrs issued their FY2029 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a note issued to investors on Friday, January 24th. Leerink Partnrs analyst D. Graybosch expects that the company will earn $11.66 per share for the year. The consensus estimate for Merck & Co., Inc.s current full-year earnings is $7.67 per share.

Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts:

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.07. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 36.42% and a net margin of 19.23%. The company had revenue of $16.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.47 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.13 earnings per share. Merck & Co., Inc.s revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. HSBC raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday, November 15th. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. Truist Financial reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $110.00 target price (down from $130.00) on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $120.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $122.67.

Get Our Latest Report on Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $97.49 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $99.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $108.34. Merck & Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $94.48 and a fifty-two week high of $134.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The company has a market cap of $246.62 billion, a PE ratio of 20.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.39.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.6% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 75,809,383 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,608,914,000 after acquiring an additional 3,327,404 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 11,876.3% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,971,554 shares of the companys stock valued at $337,450,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946,742 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 157.9% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 4,264,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $484,231,000 after purchasing an additional 2,610,800 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 68.7% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 5,388,551 shares of the companys stock worth $611,924,000 after buying an additional 2,194,463 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.7% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 59,155,004 shares of the companys stock worth $6,696,060,000 after buying an additional 2,134,296 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the companys stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to repurchase $10.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to purchase up to 4.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.81 per share. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.32%. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is currently 67.92%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (NYSE:TV  Free Report) had its target price cut by The Goldman Sachs Group from $2.50 to $2.20 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on TV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Benchmark reduced their price target on Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $5.57.

Get Grupo Televisa S.A.B. alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. Trading Up 1.4 %

Institutional Trading of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

NYSE:TV opened at $1.80 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $994.07 million, a P/E ratio of -2.53 and a beta of 1.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 2.43 and a quick ratio of 2.41. Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. has a one year low of $1.66 and a one year high of $3.65. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $1.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.09.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TV. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. by 1,005,403.7% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 271,486 shares of the companys stock worth $695,000 after purchasing an additional 271,459 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new stake in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,463,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its position in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. by 66.7% in the 4th quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 25,000 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 10,000 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans bought a new position in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. during the 3rd quarter valued at about $284,000. Finally, PEAK6 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. during the 3rd quarter valued at about $119,000. 55.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Televisa, SAB., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates cable companies and provides direct-to-home satellite pay television system in Mexico and the United States. It operates through three segments: Cable, Sky, and Other Businesses. The Cable segment operates cable multiple system that provides basic and premium television subscription, pay-per-view, installation, Internet subscription, and telephone and mobile services subscription, as well as local and national advertising services; and telecommunication facilities, which offers data and long-distance services solutions to carriers and other telecommunications service providers through its fiber-optic network.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Televisa S.A.B. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Televisa S.A.B. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Iams Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TLH  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 3,262 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $325,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TLH. Toronto Dominion Bank purchased a new position in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its position in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 443.2% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 516 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 421 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC purchased a new position in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $62,000. Biltmore Family Office LLC purchased a new position in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $86,000. Finally, Bristlecone Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $87,000.

Get iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF alerts:

iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSEARCA:TLH opened at $100.38 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $101.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.56. iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $96.95 and a 1-year high of $111.83.

iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF Profile

The iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLH) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury 10-20 Year TR index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of debt issued by the U.S. Treasury TLH was launched on Jan 5, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TLH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TLH  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Clint Eastwood has upset his American fans after deciding not to release newly remastered versions of his films in the U.S. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI

Clint Eastwood appears to have turned his back on American fans during his latest rollout, and people are not happy about it.

The Bay Area-raised director has been teasing 4K remastered versions of some of his most beloved films over the past few weeks on X. Now, hes finally announced that the special editions are available for preorder  but only in the U.K. and France.

No availability in the US at this time, Eastwood wrote on X on Jan. 27, eliciting a frustrated response from his American fan base in the comments.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Thanks for selling these in the U.S. They will sell like crazy. You dont like money? What are you thinking?, wrote user @leetorts73.

When is release in US? asked user @mauidave67.

The films that made the cut for this 4K makeover are 1971s San Francisco-shot classic, Dirty Harry, in which Eastwood stars, and two of his most iconic directing credits, 1976s The Outlaw Josey Wales and 1985s Pale Rider.

Eastwoods post also noted the release date will be confirmed later, while the official Warner Bros website he links to indicates that the items will be available to ship on Dec. 29.

Some of his most recognizable works, these reissues are coveted among fans due to their nostalgic value. The Pale Rider reissue coincides with the films 40th anniversary this year and will also be released in Blu-ray, while Dirty Harry will have a collectors edition with newly included bonus features. Each retouched film will be stored in a limited edition steelbook case.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Dirty Harry, the first of five films in the action series, follows his character, Harry Callahan, an inspector for the San Francisco Police Department, as he tries to outsmart a psychopath inspired by the Zodiac Killer. It is considered one of the best films to be shot in the city. Don Siegel directed the first film of the series and Eastwood directed the fourth, Sudden Impact, in 1983.
Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Free Report) had its target price decreased by Morgan Stanley from $19.00 to $18.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday morning. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the asset managers stock.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on IVZ. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Invesco from $19.25 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com raised Invesco from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Invesco from $17.50 to $19.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Invesco from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Invesco from $17.50 to $17.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Invesco presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.50.

Get Invesco alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Invesco

Invesco Price Performance

Shares of IVZ stock opened at $19.32 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.27. The company has a market cap of $8.68 billion, a P/E ratio of -20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a quick ratio of 4.91, a current ratio of 4.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Invesco has a twelve month low of $14.16 and a twelve month high of $19.49.

Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The asset manager reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.01. Invesco had a negative net margin of 3.00% and a positive return on equity of 8.83%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Invesco will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Invesco Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.205 per share. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.25%. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -89.13%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco by 484.9% during the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,550 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of Invesco during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in shares of Invesco by 304.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,400 shares of the asset managers stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 1,806 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Invesco in the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco during the 3rd quarter valued at $76,000. 66.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Invesco

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
DHK Financial Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN  Free Report) by 6.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 17,102 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,252 shares during the period. DHK Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF were worth $1,307,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. US Bancorp DE purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $61,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 13.9% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,345 shares of the companys stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $194,000. Stifel Financial Corp acquired a new position in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the third quarter valued at $232,000. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF in the third quarter valued at about $254,000.

Get iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Stock Down 5.5 %

BATS SMIN opened at $67.75 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $812.94 million, a P/E ratio of 28.28 and a beta of 0.46. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $40.25 and a 52-week high of $55.12. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $77.75 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.28.

iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (SMIN) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of the bottom 14% of companies traded on Indian stock markets. SMIN was launched on Feb 8, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SMIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
KBC Group NV trimmed its position in Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:EG  Free Report) by 65.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 58,560 shares of the companys stock after selling 110,964 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NVs holdings in Everest Group were worth $21,226,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. M&R Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Everest Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Everest Group by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 78 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Everest Group in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in Everest Group during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, American National Bank & Trust increased its position in Everest Group by 80.0% during the 3rd quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 126 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.64% of the companys stock.

Get Everest Group alerts:

Insider Activity at Everest Group

In related news, EVP Mike Karmilowicz sold 269 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $348.48, for a total value of $93,741.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,726 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,434,756.48. The trade was a 2.07 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO James Allan Williamson sold 200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $370.00, for a total transaction of $74,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 15,009 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,553,330. The trade was a 1.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Everest Group Price Performance

Everest Group Dividend Announcement

Shares of EG opened at $368.24 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $367.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $376.04. The company has a market capitalization of $15.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.65. Everest Group, Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $343.76 and a fifty-two week high of $407.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.40.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th were issued a dividend of $2.00 per share. This represents a $8.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 27th. Everest Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Everest Group from $420.00 to $434.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Everest Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $372.00 to $453.00 in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Everest Group from $496.00 to $485.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Everest Group from $390.00 to $380.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Everest Group to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Everest Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $431.22.

View Our Latest Research Report on Everest Group

Everest Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Everest Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segment, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:EG  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Everest Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Everest Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG  Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by research analysts at Truist Financial from $13.00 to $11.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a hold rating on the stock. Truist Financials target price points to a potential upside of 5.11% from the stocks previous close.

Several other research firms also recently commented on LEG. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Leggett & Platt from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Leggett & Platt from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $11.00 to $13.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Leggett & Platt currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $12.00.

Get Leggett & Platt alerts:

Read Our Latest Report on LEG

Leggett & Platt Price Performance

LEG opened at $10.47 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.13. The company has a market cap of $1.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.74 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.99. Leggett & Platt has a 12-month low of $9.18 and a 12-month high of $24.30.

Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.33 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $1.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.10 billion. Leggett & Platt had a negative net margin of 18.53% and a positive return on equity of 14.99%. Leggett & Platts revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.36 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Leggett & Platt will post 1.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Leggett & Platt

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LEG. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in shares of Leggett & Platt in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $15,735,000. Invenomic Capital Management LP raised its position in Leggett & Platt by 384.1% in the third quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 921,472 shares of the companys stock worth $12,550,000 after acquiring an additional 731,132 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Leggett & Platt by 3,264.5% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 692,884 shares of the companys stock worth $9,437,000 after acquiring an additional 672,290 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 38.0% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 581,665 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,922,000 after acquiring an additional 160,104 shares during the period. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D bought a new stake in shares of Leggett & Platt during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,089,000. Institutional investors own 64.23% of the companys stock.

About Leggett & Platt

(Get Free Report)

Leggett & Platt, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of furniture and engineered components and products among homes, offices, automobiles, and commercial aircraft. It operates through the following segments: Bedding Products, Specialized Products, and Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Leggett & Platt Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Leggett & Platt and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
LY Co. (OTCMKTS:YAHOY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 16,500 shares, a decrease of 58.2% from the December 31st total of 39,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 265,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

LY Stock Up 2.6 %

Shares of OTCMKTS YAHOY opened at $5.83 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $20.85 billion, a PE ratio of 32.39 and a beta of 0.99. LY has a 52-week low of $4.32 and a 52-week high of $6.38. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $5.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.41.

Get LY alerts:

LY (OTCMKTS:YAHOY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The technology company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. LY had a return on equity of 3.16% and a net margin of 5.65%. The firm had revenue of $3.11 billion during the quarter. Sell-side analysts anticipate that LY will post 0.26 earnings per share for the current year.

LY Company Profile

LY Corporation engages in the online advertising and e-commerce businesses in Japan. The company provides LINE, a communication app; and Yahoo! JAPAN, an internet service that offers search, news, weather, shopping, auction, and other services. It also offers reuse, membership, and payment-related services.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for LY Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LY and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC decreased its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 9,981 shares of the companys stock after selling 280 shares during the period. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $971,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Novartis by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 1,706,009 shares of the companys stock valued at $196,225,000 after buying an additional 231,851 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Novartis by 5.5% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,353,412 shares of the companys stock valued at $155,669,000 after purchasing an additional 70,314 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its position in Novartis by 2.9% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 938,844 shares of the companys stock worth $107,986,000 after purchasing an additional 26,317 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Novartis by 18.7% in the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 780,980 shares of the companys stock worth $90,289,000 after purchasing an additional 123,077 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning raised its position in shares of Novartis by 4.1% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 344,951 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,676,000 after purchasing an additional 13,486 shares during the period. 13.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Get Novartis alerts:

Novartis Trading Down 1.5 %

Novartis stock opened at $101.85 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.11. Novartis AG has a fifty-two week low of $92.35 and a fifty-two week high of $120.92. The stock has a market cap of $208.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.83, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.57. The firms fifty day moving average price is $100.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $108.64.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.12. Novartis had a return on equity of 34.80% and a net margin of 35.96%. The business had revenue of $12.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.74 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, HSBC downgraded Novartis from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $123.38.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NVS

Novartis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Monash IVF Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:MNIVF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,200 shares, a decline of 88.7% from the December 31st total of 81,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently  days.

Monash IVF Group Stock Performance

MNIVF stock remained flat at $0.74 during trading on Tuesday. Monash IVF Group has a 12-month low of $0.74 and a 12-month high of $0.74.

Get Monash IVF Group alerts:

About Monash IVF Group

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Monash IVF Group Ltd. engages in the field of fertility services. It operates through the following segments: Monash IVF Group Australia and Monash IVF Group International. The Monash IVF Group Australia segment provides assisted reproductive services, ultrasound, and other related services. The Monash IVF Group International segment provides assisted reproductive services in Malaysia and party to a co-operative agreement with an assisted reproductive service provider in China.

Receive News & Ratings for Monash IVF Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Monash IVF Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $51.17 and last traded at $51.26, with a volume of 3997969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $56.52.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on PII. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Polaris from $76.00 to $60.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Polaris from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Polaris from $82.00 to $73.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. KeyCorp cut shares of Polaris from an overweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $60.00 price objective (down previously from $81.00) on shares of Polaris in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.45.

Get Polaris alerts:

View Our Latest Stock Report on Polaris

Polaris Stock Down 9.3 %

The firm has a market cap of $2.86 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32, a PEG ratio of 6.05 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.21. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $60.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.47.

Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.03. Polaris had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 17.92%. On average, analysts predict that Polaris Inc. will post 3.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Polaris by 534.5% in the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 349 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of Polaris by 2,431.3% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 405 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its stake in shares of Polaris by 187.4% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 388 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Polaris by 232.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 968 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 677 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of Polaris by 19.9% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,101 shares of the companys stock worth $92,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Polaris

(Get Free Report)

Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; and moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Polaris Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Polaris and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (CVE:RECO  Get Free Report) traded up 13.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$1.14 and last traded at C$1.12. 586,506 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 125% from the average session volume of 260,230 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.99.

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Trading Up 16.2 %

The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$1.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$1.02. The company has a market capitalization of C$304.91 million, a PE ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 1.24.

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd., a junior oil and gas company, engages in exploration and development of oil and gas properties in Namibia and Botswana. The company holds a 90% interest in a petroleum exploration license that covers an area of approximately 25,341.33 square kilometer located in Namibia; and 100% working interest in a petroleum license, which covers an area of 8,990 square kilometer located in northwestern Botswana.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Reconnaissance Energy Africa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reconnaissance Energy Africa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $259.06, but opened at $246.22. RenaissanceRe shares last traded at $237.46, with a volume of 340,072 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RNR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of RenaissanceRe from $280.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on RenaissanceRe from $229.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of RenaissanceRe from $364.00 to $391.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. StockNews.com downgraded RenaissanceRe from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Barclays downgraded RenaissanceRe from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $284.00 to $234.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, RenaissanceRe has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $284.00.

Get RenaissanceRe alerts:

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on RNR

RenaissanceRe Stock Down 8.1 %

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $261.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $257.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.43. The company has a market capitalization of $12.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.44, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.44.

RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The insurance provider reported $8.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.94 by $1.12. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 28.84% and a return on equity of 26.31%. Equities research analysts forecast that RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. will post 42.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RenaissanceRe Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th were issued a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.66%. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is currently 2.25%.

Insider Activity at RenaissanceRe

In other news, EVP David E. Marra sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.16, for a total value of $254,160.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 79,392 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,178,270.72. This trade represents a 1.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On RenaissanceRe

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Algert Global LLC bought a new position in RenaissanceRe in the second quarter worth $1,186,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in RenaissanceRe in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,684,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in RenaissanceRe by 12.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 80,773 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $22,003,000 after purchasing an additional 8,844 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 920,814 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $250,892,000 after purchasing an additional 25,773 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of RenaissanceRe by 367.4% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 30,476 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $8,302,000 after purchasing an additional 23,956 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.97% of the companys stock.

About RenaissanceRe

(Get Free Report)

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for RenaissanceRe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RenaissanceRe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
San Franciscos oldest independent coffee roasting company, Graffeo Coffee, has a new owner.

Walter A. Haas III, 40, a scion of the family behind Levi Strauss & Co., is the new proprietor of the 90-year-old North Beach staple. He bought a majority stake in the company a few months ago, joining longtime owner and chief roaster Luciano Repetto, 80, who will remain a part of the company.

The new owner hopes to steward Graffeo into the future while honoring the companys legacy, he told the Chronicle. SFGATE first reported on the new owner. (SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently.)

Haas, a sixth-generation San Franciscan, is a Silicon Valley marketing specialist and former merchant and marketer for Levis. He is also the grandson of the late Walter A. Haas Jr., who was president of Levis. Like many San Francisco residents who walk by Graffeos handsome green tile facade at 735 Columbus Ave., Haas was always interested in the coffee inside. When he brewed Graffeos beans at home for the first time a few years ago, he said he experienced a revelation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Walter A. Haas III of the family behind Levi Strauss & Co., left, poses with longtime Graffeo owner and chief roaster Luciano Repetto, right. Haas has bought a majority stake in Graffeo Coffee, but Repetto is staying on at the business. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

It was the coffee profile Ive been seeking my whole life, he said. It wasnt an esoteric or a challenging thing, it was a premium expression of the coffee Ive wanted, he said.

After selling his startup company, the social shopping platform Gist, just over a year ago, Haas was looking for his next project. Graffeo was on his mind, and a shared acquaintance connected him with the coffee roaster.

Now Haas has a grand vision for the company: to make Graffeo synonymous with excellent coffee everywhere. Its all condensed in our slogan, Simply the worlds finest coffee. It may sound arrogant, but Im a full believer, he said. The words are emblazoned in gold letters on the shops windows and printed on each bag that leaves the store.

Graffeo is served at San Francisco favorites including Zuni Cafe, House of Prime Rib and Lazy Bear, but the brand still maintains a relatively low profile. Haas hopes to change that, but his adjustments have been modest so far. The first thing Haas did on his first day on the job was install a coffee maker in the break room: Graffeos storefront famously doesnt serve coffee drinks, and is instead focused on selling retail coffee by the pound and shipping orders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Left: The tag on the side of a Sivetz fluid bed roaster at Graffeo Coffee in San Francisco.Right: Freshly roasted coffee beans in a Sivetz fluid bed roaster at Graffeo. The company produces just two kinds of coffee: light and dark roast. Photos by Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Above: The tag on the side of a Sivetz fluid bed roaster at Graffeo Coffee in San Francisco.Below: Freshly roasted coffee beans in a Sivetz fluid bed roaster at Graffeo. The company produces just two kinds of coffee: light and dark roast. Photos by Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Gregorio Diaz hand-packs an order of coffee beans at Graffeo Coffee in San Francisco. The roaster is small in scale but hopes to grow its clientele. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

This is basic for us to do quality control, Haas said. Now, for the first time in decades, staff can sip coffee steps from where the magic of roasting coffee happens.

Graffeos history dates to 1935, when Giovanni Graffeo, a Sicilian immigrant, opened a neighborhood grocery store that also roasted coffee beans. The original owner died in 1944, leaving the business to a string of interim owners and inactivity. Giovanni Repetto bought Graffeo in 1954, bringing his experience of roasting coffee in Italy to the neighborhood. Luciano Repetto was only 10 years old at the time, absorbing the intricacies of the coffee business as he grew up. After his father retired in 1977, the son took over the family business, leaving behind a successful career as a wine salesman. At one point, Graffeo operated two roasting facilities in the Los Angeles area and one in Singapore. It still operates a smaller roasting facility in San Rafael that processes supermarket accounts.

Repetto said he has turned down bids to sell the company for years now. He also dissuaded his daughter from taking over. This is not just running a business, it becomes your life, Repetto said, not long before running out to deliver a phone order to customers parked outside. The lack of a successor begat rumors Graffeo might close. But when the two now co-owners met, Repetto was drawn to Haas apparent tenacity and appreciation for Graffeos history. They spoke for several months to agree on terms and ensure their visions were aligned; they did not disclose the terms of the deal to the Chronicle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Haas tapped Wolfgang Klinker, a former head roaster at famed coffee company Stumptown and a sourcing and production vice president for coffee giant Blue Bottle, to serve as an external adviser during the acquisition. Klinker has since offered to help the owners navigate the coffee industry beyond North Beach.

Inside Graffeo Coffee on Columbus Avenue in North Beach, which currently sells only roasted beans to go. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Having someone like him to look at our company and understand it with us has been really important, Haas said.

Haas is now learning from Repetto and Graffeos seven-person staff, who all partake in roasting, bagging, shipping and running the retail counter. The company is built around a custom fluid bed roaster, which can bring raw, green coffee beans to Graffeos light and dark roast levels 170 pounds at a time. Unlike drum machines that tumble coffee beans over a flame, this machine uses a continuous blast of hot air  coming from a roaring, 3-foot long flame  to roast beans, lifting them into a fluid-like mass thats roasted evenly. The process fills the air in the roasting room with a loud rattle and a smell of milk chocolate that grows sweeter and maltier as the beans roast.

Shortly after taking over from his father, Repetto was interested in removing the bitter, burnt flavors from Graffeos coffee that resulted from prolonged contact with the hot metal drums then used for roasting. He worked with Mike Sivetz, a chemical engineer from Oregon, who worked with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, to develop an early model of the fluid bed roasting machine. Over the years, Repetto has made several modifications, with some requiring special build-outs of the roasting floor; fortunately, Repetto owns the building.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The process is controlled on a 3-foot-tall computer with a panel of light-up buttons that looks like it comes from an episode of Star Trek. Haas claims that less than 1% of commercial coffee worldwide is roasted on a fluid bed roaster, making Graffeos offering unique. The results, made from a blend of coffees from Colombia, Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea, speak for themselves.

The light roast skews darker than one would expect from just looking at it, but still has a balanced sweet and bright profile when brewed as a pourover. The dark roast is potent, yielding a classic espresso embraced as a standard among the neighborhoods Italian coffee houses. Espresso was ethnic, Repetto said, pointing to North Beach establishments like Marios Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe, where Graffeos version is still served.

The control panel of a Sivetz fluid bed coffee bean roaster at Graffeo Coffee, which has been using the rare machine since the late 1970s. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Left: Gregorio Diaz prepares to package an order of coffee beans at Graffeo Coffee in San Francisco. Right: Gregorio Diaz picks up a bag of coffee beans from a sealing machine at Graffeo. Photos by Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Above: Gregorio Diaz prepares to package an order of coffee beans at Graffeo Coffee in San Francisco. Below: Gregorio Diaz picks up a bag of coffee beans from a sealing machine at Graffeo. Photos by Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Now, months into Haas and Repettos partnership, getting that coffee to more people is the main objective. The owners say their roaster can produce several times more coffee than its current output. The idea is to earn shelf space at more specialty markets and greatly increase online retail and wholesale orders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

My job is to make (Graffeo) a less well-kept secret, but you wont be able to get it just anywhere, Haas said.

Now, after 90 years, bags have bar codes, which has made stocking them easier for retailers. A new product is also available: gift packs with small bags of light, dark and decaf coffees. Eventually Haas would like to start serving simple coffee drinks at the store.

At the end of the day, my way to contribute back to San Francisco is to make an incredible product in the heart of the city, Haas said. What we are doing here is really exceptional. Its one of one.
Cango Inc. (NYSE:CANG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 993,500 shares, a growth of 166.1% from the December 31st total of 373,400 shares. Currently, 1.5% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 652,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Cango Stock Up 1.0 %

CANG stock traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $4.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 151,248 shares, compared to its average volume of 650,332. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $4.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.97. The stock has a market cap of $517.91 million, a PE ratio of 27.97 and a beta of 0.75. Cango has a 52 week low of $1.12 and a 52 week high of $9.66.

Get Cango alerts:

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Cango stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cango Inc. (NYSE:CANG  Free Report) by 99.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 32,485 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 16,235 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLCs holdings in Cango were worth $580,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 4.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Cango

Cango Inc operates an automotive transaction service platform that connects dealers, original equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, car buyers, insurance brokers, and companies in the People's Republic of China. The company offers automobile trading solutions comprising car sourcing, transaction facilitation, logistics, and warehousing support for dealers through Cango Haoche app that offers new car transaction services, and Cango U-Car app that offers used-car transaction services.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Cango Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cango and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (CVE:SPX  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 21.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$0.09 and last traded at C$0.09. 453,600 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 394% from the average session volume of 91,870 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.07.

Stellar AfricaGold Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of C$2.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$0.08 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 201.45, a quick ratio of 2.95 and a current ratio of 0.38.

About Stellar AfricaGold

(Get Free Report)

Stellar AfricaGold Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada, Republic of Mali, and the Kingdom of Morocco. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Stellar AfricaGold Inc was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Stellar AfricaGold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stellar AfricaGold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stonegate Investment Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Free Report) by 160.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,909 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,409 shares during the quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLCs holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $936,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,441,051 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $321,542,000 after buying an additional 34,113 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 4.1% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,040,389 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $232,181,000 after purchasing an additional 40,689 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.7% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 569,317 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $127,032,000 after purchasing an additional 3,887 shares during the period. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI acquired a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $84,139,000. Finally, ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 277,335 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $61,882,000 after purchasing an additional 23,710 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.52% of the companys stock.

Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho began coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set an outperform rating and a $285.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $210.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $275.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Loop Capital lifted their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $285.00 to $315.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $285.71.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.64, for a total transaction of $1,126,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 55,709 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,689,882.76. This represents a 6.70 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Mary Dean Hall sold 2,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.08, for a total transaction of $605,176.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,462 shares in the company, valued at approximately $952,326.96. The trade was a 38.86 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.67% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Applied Industrial Technologies Price Performance

AIT opened at $251.20 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $257.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $232.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 2.74 and a current ratio of 3.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.66 billion, a PE ratio of 25.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.08. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $176.32 and a 52 week high of $282.98.

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lessened its position in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Free Report) by 13.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,483 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 396 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $204,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern by 4.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 24,521,339 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,203,386,000 after purchasing an additional 1,075,768 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC raised its position in Southern by 17,272.6% during the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 14,647,000 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,320,866,000 after buying an additional 14,562,689 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Southern by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,405,596 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $577,657,000 after acquiring an additional 52,414 shares in the last quarter. Swiss National Bank boosted its position in Southern by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 3,245,500 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $292,679,000 after acquiring an additional 15,300 shares during the period. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp grew its stake in Southern by 72.4% during the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 3,077,959 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $277,570,000 after acquiring an additional 1,293,072 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.10% of the companys stock.

Get Southern alerts:

Southern Price Performance

NYSE SO opened at $83.67 on Wednesday. The Southern Company has a 1 year low of $65.80 and a 1 year high of $94.45. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $84.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $86.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The company has a market cap of $91.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.52.

Southern Announces Dividend

Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.10. Southern had a net margin of 17.87% and a return on equity of 12.78%. The company had revenue of $7.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.42 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 4.04 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.44%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 66.98%.

Insider Transactions at Southern

In other Southern news, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,170 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.90, for a total value of $100,503.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 88,393 shares in the company, valued at $7,592,958.70. This trade represents a 1.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Southern from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Southern from $96.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Barclays increased their price objective on Southern from $71.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Guggenheim downgraded Southern from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Southern from $99.00 to $97.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $90.14.

Read Our Latest Analysis on SO

Southern Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at William Blair dropped their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note issued on Thursday, January 23rd. William Blair analyst A. Klauber now forecasts that the financial services provider will post earnings of $1.99 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $2.09. The consensus estimate for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s current full-year earnings is $10.05 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s FY2026 earnings at $13.56 EPS.

Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts:

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Bank of America increased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $271.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $269.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $285.00 to $315.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $313.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $292.00 to $286.00 in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $304.07.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE AJG opened at $293.59 on Monday. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a one year low of $227.43 and a one year high of $316.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market cap of $73.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.92 and a beta of 0.76. The stocks 50-day moving average is $291.79 and its 200-day moving average is $288.18.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AJG. Valley National Advisers Inc. bought a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 543.8% in the third quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 103 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 580.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 102 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

(Get Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following business segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Zacks Research lifted their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note issued on Wednesday, January 22nd. Zacks Research analyst K. Shah now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $5.26 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $5.22. The consensus estimate for Eli Lilly and Companys current full-year earnings is $12.98 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Eli Lilly and Companys Q3 2025 earnings at $6.28 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $6.98 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $23.01 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $9.10 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $29.88 EPS.

Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts:

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Eli Lilly and Company to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,250.00 to $1,190.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Bank of America reissued a buy rating and issued a $997.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,033.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $1,100.00 price objective for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $997.22.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of LLY opened at $804.87 on Monday. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $637.00 and a twelve month high of $972.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $764.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 87.01, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.41. The firms 50-day moving average is $778.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $847.30.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.34). The company had revenue of $11.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 20.48% and a return on equity of 71.08%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.10 EPS.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.22%.

Eli Lilly and Company declared that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Monday, December 9th that authorizes the company to buyback $15.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $803.38, for a total value of $723,042.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,480 shares in the company, valued at $4,402,522.40. This represents a 14.11 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 80.0% in the 4th quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 45 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 53.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 46 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 117.1% during the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 46,132 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 24,879 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Credibility key factors in bringing ASEANs voice to global stage

By Vietnam News Agency Wed, January 29, 2025 | 9:59 pm GMT+7

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the critical importance of close ties betwee Malaysia, Indonesia, and other ASEAN partners to ensure the regions voice is amplified globally amid rising geopolitical challenges.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during the ASEAN Plenary session during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025, Davos. Photo courtesy of asean.bernama.com.

Speaking alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a press briefing at Malaysias Petronas Towers on Monday, President Prabowo highlighted the shared history, culture, ethnicity, and religion between Malaysia and Indonesia as a foundation for enhanced strategic cooperation.

This unity, he noted, will strengthen ASEANs cohesion. Recognizing the complexities of global geopolitics, the two leaders agreed to continue consultations and collaboration with other ASEAN nations.

Prabowo stressed that only through ASEAN unity and strong bilateral cooperation could the voices of member states carry weight on the global stage, particularly with major powers.

He pointed to ASEANs significant potential, likening its 600 million-strong population to that of the European Union. ASEAN, known globally as a region of peace and growth for decades, has the opportunity to expand its influence further. He also pledged Indonesias full support for Malaysia as it assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.

Prime Minister Anwar echoed the sentiment, noting that Malaysia and Indonesia aim to leverage their strengths to deepen cooperation across various sectors. He added that Malaysia is open to exploring all potential collaboration opportunities.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration between Malaysian oil giant Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Indonesias PT Pertamina (Persero).

Additionally, they witnessed the signing of two letters of intent between Malaysias Axiata Group Bhd and Indonesias Sinar Mas, focusing on strategic cooperation in advanced 5G solutions, enterprise services, digital infrastructure, and fintech innovation.

According to Malaysias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Prabowos state visit underscores the strong and unique bond between the two nations, as well as their shared commitment to elevating bilateral ties for mutual prosperity and regional progress.

From January to November 2024, Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral trade totaled MYR106.06 billion ($23.2 billion), surpassing the MYR101.99 billion recorded during the same period in 2023.

In 2023, Indonesia was Malaysias eighth-largest global trading partner and its third-largest within ASEAN, with total trade valued at MYR111.21 billion ($25.4 billion).
3 Opportunities to Get Hands-on with AI at SXSW EDU 2025

This March 3-6 in Austin, TX, the SXSW EDU Conference & Festival celebrates its 15th year of exploring the most critical issues in education and providing a forum for creativity, innovation, and expression. Topics for this year's panels, workshops, and conversations "range from ethical AI application and strengthening talent pipelines, to rising areas of interest such as non-traditional learning spaces and enhancing opportunities for neurodivergent students and educators," according to organizers.

Not surprisingly, among the multitude of trends and technologies on the agenda, the event features dozens of sessions focused on various aspects of artificial intelligence. In particular, three workshops offer educators a chance to experiment with AI tools and practices hands-on:

The AI Sandbox: Building Your Own Future of Learning

Led by Mike Yates, a senior product designer at Teach for America's The Reinvention Lab, this learning experience promises to help demystify AI, enable participants to build their AI tools to solve real problems, and demonstrate how to share those tools with the greater community.

Enough Talk! Lets Play with AI

Learn how to utilize AI to "shift possibilities for instruction and engagement in real ways" in this rotation workshop facilitated by Jin-Soo Huh, a partner at The Learning Accelerator, Zachary Kennelly, high school teacher and AI pilot lead at DSST Public Schools, and Albert Kim, managing director of innovation at Leading Educators.

Build-a-Bot Workshop: Make Your Own AI to Make Sense of AI

In this workshop, designers and engineers from Stanford University will walk through conceptualizing, outlining, and creating conversation flows for an AI assistant. As Laura McBain, managing director of Stanford d.school, Reuben Thiessen, emerging technology lead at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, and Josh Weiss, director of digital learning solutions for the university, state in their session description, "You'll walk away with your own customized chatbot and the practical skills to create powerful, AI-driven learning experiences."

View the full schedule of SXSW EDU sessions and events at SXSWEDU.com.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on Jan. 20 that pardons about 1,500 defendants charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

President Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax, but we know that scientists have declared it a dangerous reality. But there is another climate change that is of concern: the social-psychological climate of the country.

We, as a nation, have enjoyed  despite ethnic differences  by and large, a positive social-psychological climate. That is rapidly changing with the Trump administrations mass deportation of immigrants, the firing of federal civil service workers and inspectors general, the cancellation of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the rollback of legislation to protect the rights of LGBTQ people and the pardons of insurrectionists.

This climate in the U.S. is shifting to one of fear, suspicion, anger, insecurity, disappointment and worry about what shocking actions lie ahead.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Barbara Wilson, San Rafael

Dont leave, resist

Regarding Revived effort to put California secession on the ballot gets OK to collect signatures (California, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 23): Cal Exit Now thinks an appropriate response to President Donald Trump is a ballot measure asking California to secede from the United States. Why have people vote on a useless gesture that will result in further despair and enervation?

There are ways to resist for Californians.

Blue states pay the lions share of federal taxes. Those in blue states who are brave enough can refuse to pay their federal taxes. Of course, the feds will come after them, so this must be organized with legal counsel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

People can participate in targeted boycotts of products from companies that hurt the public good but benefit just a few. Or there could be a general consumer boycott, except for necessities.

People can also come up with their own tactics and strategies. It is important to resist this cruelty and stupidity in productive ways that could result in successes, however small. Doing nothing is not an option.

Sherry Gendelman, San Francisco

Blame Big Oil

Regarding Theres one key villain in the L.A. wildfires. Any student of history knows who it is (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 27): I hoped that John Briscoes op-ed would hit the mark, but it missed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

California has made many mistakes, as Briscoe says. However, it is the fossil fuel industry that is to blame for climate catastrophes, including the Los Angeles fires.

Climate change is driven by oil companies that have deceived the public and bought our governments for decades. That is the history lesson that should drive us to take action to alter our predicament.

Legal action should focus on the oil companies. Legislation and policies should eliminate subsidies for the fossil fuel industry and create carbon pricing incentives to move to renewable energy. Otherwise, things will only get worse.

Bret Andrews, Oakland

Insurance is unfair

Regarding  What are we paying for? California FAIR Plan complaints from people whose homes have burned (California Wildfires, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 25): The insurance on our property in the Lake Tahoe region was canceled by one of the major carriers last year even though we are 30 feet from a fire hydrant, three-quarters of a mile from a firehouse and have a sprinkler system with an active alarm to the fire station.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Our rates increased from $800 to $8,000 with the FAIR plan. We property owners are victims of a state government and insurance commissioner that did too little too late.

I have lost faith in our leaders. No wonder so many Californians have left the Golden State.

Eric Wall, Stockton

Extinguish fireworks

Every night you can hear fireworks going off in San Francisco. Some are legal but most are illegal. We use fireworks to celebrate, or we just set them off for fun. Please stop.

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

You might end up being the cause of a Southern California-type fire in San Francisco. This is not hyperbole. There is pretty credible evidence that at least one of the Los Angeles fires was caused by fireworks. More than 31,000 fires in the country are started each year by fireworks, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

I call on the police to crack down on this dangerous, illegal and potentially disastrous practice.
(TBTCO) - Theo khao sat cua Trung tam Nghien cuu Thi truong va Am hieu Khach hang One Mount Group, co toi 80% so nguoi tham gia khao sat nhu cau o tai Ha Noi co ke hoach mua nha trong nam 2025 - 2026, tang 15% so voi cung ky. Loai hinh chung cu uoc quan tam nhat, voi 63% khach hang du kien mua, vi the xu huong mua can ho se tiep tuc uoc duy tri trong 2025.
You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).




Its time to stop backing Serbias autocratic leader and embrace his countrys democratic aspirations.

If you think Im going to flee like Assad, youre wrong. At least he admitted there was a parallel. Serbias autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic is facing the largest wave of popular protests in the country since the fall of his former boss Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Vucic has blood on his hands: on 1 November, a train station canopy in Novi Sad  shoddily renovated as part of a financially opaque government project  collapsed, killing 15 people. In the weeks since, public anger at years of misrule has spilled onto the streets. Crowds sometimes numbering over 100,000 rend the winter air with furious chants before falling silent for 15-minute vigils  one minute for each life lost to the regimes unrestrained greed. Students have occupied most university buildings in the country, transforming them into hubs of political self-organization. Vucics threats of retaliation via a mysterious paramilitary force have fallen flat: Serbs from all walks of life stand with the students.

But the West doesnt. In the final years of Milosevics rule, Western countries actively supported the democratic opposition. Now, they play deaf to the cries of the Serbian people. Why?

Firstly, the West is betting on Vucics eventual recognition of the sovereignty of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. This is unbelievably naive. Vucic was chief propagandist under Milosevic, who later faced trial for (among other charges) war crimes in Kosovo. The internationally wanted suspect in the attack on a village in northern Kosovo in 2023, Milan Radoicic, is a close business associate of Vucics brother. As Western negotiators swallow Vucics empty promises to resolve the Kosovo dispute, domestic propaganda casts him as a valiant defender of Serbdom who will never compromise over the territory.

Credit for this irrational gamble goes in large part to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who spearheaded Western endorsement of Vucics Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)  an ostensibly pro-European, neoliberal spinoff of convicted war criminal Vojislav Seseljs Serbian Radical Party. SNS was seen as the likeliest facilitator of Kosovos independence, a step regarded as a postulate for regional stability and the ultimate vindication of the U.S.-UK war effort against Serbia. While Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, the leaders at the time, have enjoyed advisory gigs with SNS, the Kosovo issue will continue to stagnate for as long as Vucic remains in power.

Everything Up for Grabs

Now for the darker side of the story. Vucic, kleptocrat par excellence, has put Serbia up for sale  and Western countries are among his many customers. Theres enough to go around: from Belgrades Savamala neighborhood, bulldozed in the middle of the night and sold to Emirati developers; to state oil company NIS, from which Russia has long extracted enormous profits; to the copper mine in Bor, which Chinas Belt and Road Initiative operates as one of the most polluted places in Europe. Prospects of tender-free, direct deals with the regime attract such diverse players as U.S. construction giant Bechtel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Belgrade in August to peddle Rafale fighter jets.

The hottest attraction in Vucics playground is the Jadar valley, where the EU enthusiastically backs a Rio Tinto lithium mine that threatens to poison the local ecosystem and contaminate the water supply of around 2.5 million people downstream. As the nation took to the streets in protest last summer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz celebrated the project as a major boon for Europes green transition. Clearly Scholz sees Serbias environment as a casualty, not a beneficiary, of this transition.

But such disappointing hypocrisy is nothing new. Though there have been no fair elections in Serbia since 2012, SNS enjoys associate membership in the center-right European Peoples Party (EPP), the largest bloc in the European Parliament. International criticism flares up occasionally  in response to what many charged were rigged elections in 2023, for instance  but in the absence of any sustained pressure to democratize, sharp words rebound harmlessly.

Meanwhile, Vucic is running Serbia to the ground. Virtually all levels of government are stuffed with incompetent SNS cronies. With the secret service, the army, and most media firmly under its control, the party is free to embezzle to its hearts content. Its most ambitious scheme yet is Belgrades Expo 2027, which has an outrageous stated budget of nearly 18 billion euros, equivalent to 21 percent of Serbian GDP (by contrast, World Expo 2020 in deep-pocketed Dubai cost 6.7 billion euros).

The West fills the discursive vacuum left by indefensible policy with disingenuous blather. Take, for instance, the British ambassador to Belgrade, who assured Serbs in July that their fears over the Jadar mine were unfounded, since lithium mining happens safely in his home country  failing to acknowledge that in Serbia, unlike in the UK, politicians and corporations operate unconstrained by democratic accountability and independent regulation. Or his U.S. counterpart, who recently remarked that Vucics Serbia was going in the right direction, even as tens of thousands forsook their beloved New Years Eve festivities to continue protesting. There is no new year, ran the bitter slogan, you still owe us last year.

Its time for Western countries to abandon Vucic and embrace the democratic aspirations of the Serbian people. The tradeoff: lose an autocrat supplying dirty business opportunities and geopolitical illusions, and score a major win for European democracy and regional stability.

Rade Meech-Tatic is a Serbian student at the University of Cambridge and the founder of the environmental NGO Cempres.
Al-Jouf Cement Company has said that the recent changes in prices of fuel products and diesel by Aramco will increase the production cost of the company by approximately 10.1%.

This assessment is based on the latest audited financial statements, said the company in a filing to the Saudi Exchange. This impact is expected to appear starting from the results of the first quarter of the year 2025, it said.

It said the company would also like to assure its shareholders that it will work during the coming period to explore ways to reduce the financial impact of this adjustment, and will continue to implement its plans to reduce costs and improve production and operating efficiency.

It will also work with government agencies to explore ways to diversify energy sources, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Cement Company announced that the amended prices of fuel products will result in around 9.6% increase in production cost. - TradeArabia News Service
David Daleiden speaks with supporters outside the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston in 2016. Daleiden pleaded no contest this week to a felony charge in San Francisco for illegally recording private talks. Bob Levey/Associated Press

Two anti-abortion activists who posed as fetal researchers to enter meetings of national abortion providers and secretly record their conversations have pleaded no-contest in San Francisco to a felony charge of recording private talks without the speakers consent.

David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt entered their pleas Monday in Superior Court while Attorney General Rob Bontas office dismissed eight other illegal-recording charges.

The plea agreement requires them to refrain from making further recordings or from contacting or naming their victims during the next year, but it does not include any prison time or fines, on a charge punishable by a year behind bars and a $2,500 fine. If they comply with those terms, the judge in their case could reduce the charges to misdemeanors in a year and erase the convictions from their records in the future.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The opposing sides traded shots Tuesday over whether the case was a victory for California and its protections for abortion providers, or for two people who battled the abortion industry as well as the state and will not pay any penalties.

While the Trump administration is issuing pardons to individuals convicted of harming reproductive health clinics and providers, my office is securing criminal convictions to ensure that Californians can exercise their constitutional rights to reproductive health care, Bonta said in a statement. As of this week, he noted, the defendants are convicted felons.

But Daleidens attorney, Steve Cooley, said it was an incredibly beneficial result for Mr. Daleiden in a case that should have never been brought.

If AG Bonta is claiming victory, it definitely demonstrates his lack of knowledge of the criminal justice system, said Cooley, a former Los Angeles county district attorney who narrowly lost the state attorney generals race to Kamala Harris in 2010. Harris filed the initial charges against Daleiden and Merritt.

Murdering human babies to harvest their body parts for profit is evil, and there is no excuse for Sandras political persecution, said Mat Staver, president of the conservative nonprofit Liberty Counsel and an attorney for Merritt. This is an extraordinary result for Sandra and the state of California deserves to walk away virtually empty-handed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He was referring to claims by Daleiden and Merritt that they had been acting as investigative journalists to expose plots by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers to sell fetal parts.

They provided no evidence to support those claims, but after they posted videos of their conversations  which Planned Parenthood said had been heavily edited  the abortion groups said their members were subjected to harassment and death threats. Some states also cited the recordings in cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood.

A federal jury awarded more than $2.2 million in damages to Planned Parenthood in 2019 in a separate civil suit against Daleiden and Merritt, finding they had violated laws against trespassing, fraud and clandestine recording. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld nearly all of the damages in 2022.

Daleiden, leader of the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, and Merritt, an employee, posed as researchers for a nonexistent company called Biomax Procurement Services when they entered conventions of the National Abortion Federation in San Francisco in 2014 and in Baltimore in 2015, and several meetings of Planned Parenthood around the same time.

In seeking to dismiss the criminal charges, defense lawyers argued that Californias ban on secret recordings violates freedom of expression. But Harry Jacobs, a Superior Court judge from Merced County who presided over their case while on assignment to San Francisco, ruled in 2023 that the state was not discriminating against the content of speech by banning recordings of any conversation that was intended to be confidential.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jacobs also said their claims of being undercover journalists could be addressed if the case went to trial but were not grounds for overturning the state law.
UAE-based Mira Developments and ARAV Group, the driving force behind the high-fashion brand John Richmond, have announced an exclusive global partnership with initial projects set for UAE cities.

This collaboration heralds a new era of luxury living, seamlessly integrating high-fashion aesthetics with unparalleled lifestyle experiences. The partnership will bring John Richmonds bold and edgy ethos to life through fully furnished residences, five-star hotels, and elegant cafes, the companies said.

The first projects will grace prime destinations across the UAE, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, they said.

THREE CITIES  ONE VISION

Each development will combine John Richmonds distinctive design philosophy with Mira Developments expertise in delivering fully furnished luxury homes, exceptional hotel-style services, and thoughtfully designed community spaces.

Every John Richmond-branded property will embody the brands globally celebrated aesthetic, inspired by the rebellious energy of rock n roll and a profound exploration of street culture. These residences will showcase bold designs, premium materials, and innovative details that define the brands signature style.

Art installations and upscale furnishings, developed in collaboration with FormItalia Luxury Group, will further enhance the environment, seamlessly blending fashion and interior design.

John Richmond commented: When I was sixteen, I was accepted at Manchester University to study architecture. At the last minute, I changed my mind and went to London to study fashion. I never lost my love of architecture, and to be involved in this venture is like all my dreams come true."

We are thrilled to bring John Richmonds distinctive aesthetic to the world of luxury living, said Mena Marano, CEO of ARAV Group and proprietor of the brand. This partnership marks an exciting milestone, showcasing how fashion and lifestyle can converge to redefine sophistication.

Tamara Getigezheva, Co-founder of Mira Group, stated: Mira Developments is delighted to partner with John Richmond and the ARAV Group, bringing the brands distinctive fashion-forward vision to our luxury properties. Together, we will create spaces that seamlessly blend rebellious energy with refined elegance and exceptional craftsmanship.

PROPERTIES SET TO STUN

With new properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, Mira Developments continues to redefine luxury living with its unique approach to fully furnished branded properties and premium services like complimentary valet parking and free housekeeping. - TradeArabia News Service
Dubais decision to let property owners in the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Jaddaf areas convert their ownership status to freehold is a pivotal step for the citys real estate sector, says Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fam Properties.

This bold new initiative is a win for all stakeholders - investors, developers, and Dubais real estate market as a whole, said Al Msaddi. It will not only attract a larger pool of investors, but also enhance the long-term resilience and growth of the market.

Both Al Jaddaf and Sheikh Zayed Road are now positioned as prime real estate hotspots. Granting freehold ownership to all nationalities in prestigious areas like these will boost market sentiment and investor confidence, he says.

Dubai Land Department (DLD) announced on Sunday that 457 plots are eligible for conversion to freehold  128 on Sheikh Zayed Road, from the Trade Centre roundabout to the Dubai Canal, and 329 plots in Al Jaddaf.

Al Msaddi said the move shows the DLDs commitment to creating new opportunities for investors and developers, and underlines the citys status as a global leader in real estate innovation, with a thriving and inclusive investment environment.

He believes the implications for Al Jaddaf are profound. This strategic location, now with freehold status, will undoubtedly see a surge in commercial activities and a rise in property prices, he said. Al Jaddaf uniquely fills a critical supply gap, offering residential and commercial plots that are rare in Dubais prime areas.

For commercial plots, the medium sizes available are especially attractive to end-users -companies that aim to build their own headquarters or single-tenant buildings.

This flexibility is scarce, as most commercial plots in Dubai are designated for high-rise developments. Al Jaddafs plot offerings are, therefore, highly appealing to both investors and businesses.

However, Al Msaddi says that the relatively high fees for converting plots into freehold status must be taken into account, as sellers will likely test the market with higher asking prices.

If these prices surpass what is commercially feasible for development, transactions may slow, he says. Over time, the market will self-regulate, and new price benchmarks will emerge based on what buyers are willing to pay.

Dubais plot prices are already elevated, driven by strong demand from developers launching off-plan projects. Under current market conditions, plots are typically only viable for developers planning off-plan sales, as developing for leasing purposes often doesnt make commercial sense at todays prices.

For Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Msaddi says the shift to freehold will boost the momentum already created by the launch of several new towers, injecting dynamism into the market and significantly increasing the liquidity of plots in this iconic area.

Previously, plots on Sheikh Zayed Road were primarily developed for lease, which limited their appeal and market flexibility, he said. Now, with freehold ownership, these plots are open to a global audience, transforming this stretch into a highly competitive and attractive investment destination.

The freehold announcement will unlock new opportunities for both developers and individual investors, ensuring the area operates on more dynamic and global fundamentals, he said.  TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain's Ministry of Works has announced the opening of a vital road link leading to the Sitra housing project, as part of the kingdom's efforts to develop infrastructure for new cities and housing projects.

This initiative is designed to ensure integrated services and improve connectivity through a safe and efficient road network, reported BNA.

It was inaugurated by Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj, Minister of Works, and Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, in the presence of several senior government officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Hawaj said this project forms part of Bahrains strategic road network, addressing the kingdom's rapid economic and urban expansion.

It includes a new four-lane road west of the housing city, two marine crossings providing northern and southern access to ensure the sustainability of surrounding waterways.

The scope of work also includes upgrade to Road No. 5 featuring three lanes in each direction and a newly installed traffic light at its intersection with Road No. 1, stated the report.

Al Hawaj said works have already begun on a key sewage and treated water pipelines project in Sitra as part of a broader strategy to enhance sewage services nationwide.

These efforts focus on developing and expanding networks and treatment systems, promoting sustainable development while maintaining a healthy environment, he stated during a inspection tour of the site.

Al Hawaj noted that the initiative aims to meet citizens needs by creating a seamless and integrated road network across all governorates, providing safe and convenient access to residential areas.

The project, awarded to Haji Hassan Group by the Tender Board, also establishes new access points and exits to streamline travel to and from the Sitra housing project, he added.

Al Rumaihi highlighted the collaboration between government entities in developing infrastructure for new housing cities, which contributes to improved mobility and quality of life for residents.

She pointed out that the progress in road construction aligns with the ongoing delivery of housing units to beneficiaries and the second phase of the Sitra housing project, which includes 531 housing units scheduled for completion by 2025.

Meanwhile, work has already begun on 1,269 housing units under the projects third phase, further accelerating the citys development.

Spanning 243 hectares, the Sitra housing project will provide over 3,000 housing units and is equipped with modern infrastructure and community facilities, said the BNA report.

With 19km sewage network and 14km rainwater drainage systems already completed along with 18km of water pipelines, 51km of electrical cabling and street lighting as well as telecommunications networks, the project is moving as per schedule, it added.
Investindustrial, a leading European investment group, has announced plans to open 40 new outlets of its culinary market Eataly across the Middle East region - including airport concessions - at a total inveestment of 100 million ($104.3 million).

Investindustrial, which boasts over 16 billion ($16.6 billion) in raised fund capital, has signed a programmatic MoU with Azadea Group, a renowned retail company that owns and manages more than 40 international franchises across the Middle East and Africa, outlining the principles of a transaction to assume direct control of the Eatalys business in the Middle East, currently managed by Azadea under a franchising agreement.

Eataly currently operates stores in major cities across the region, made possible through its partnership with Azadea, which will remain a significant shareholder and will continue managing Eatalys operations in the Middle East.

The announcement of the MOU came within the context of the opening of Villaggio Italia in Jeddah celebrating the arrival of Amerigo Vespucci, the iconic tall ship of the Italian Navy. The signing took place in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Valentino Valentini.

This strategic initiative, following the inauguration of Investindustrials new office in Abu Dhabi, aims at strengthening Eatalys presence in the Middle East, with particular focus on the GCC countries, which have experienced significant growth in interest in Italian cuisine and high-quality culinary experiences.

Eatalys expansion plan includes opening up to 40 new stores across the region, including airport concessions, as well as distributing Eataly-branded products, it stated.

Andrea C. Bonomi, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Investindustrial, said: "This agreement demonstrates our commitment to supporting excellent Italian companies in their international growth. Eataly will benefit from strategic and financial resources to accelerate its development and bring its unique offerings to new, sophisticated consumers."

"We are proud to establish a partnership with Azadea and look forward to further developing Eataly together in the region. Expanding in this strategic region not only allows us to bring the best of the Made in Italy to a market with significant growth potential but also fosters a cultural dialogue that enhances tradition, innovation, and sustainability, which are at the heart of the values upheld by the companies in our portfolio," he stated.

Said Daher, Chief Executive Officer of Azadea Group, said: "The GCC represents a strategic market where quality, tradition, and innovation are highly valued. We strongly believe that Eataly can become an even more significant reference for local consumers, while maintaining the authenticity and sustainability values that distinguish the brand."

"Together with Investindustrial, we aim to accelerate Eatalys development in the Gulf countries to contribute to the brands internationalisation process worldwide," he stated.

Investindustrial specialises in partnering with family-owned businesses and corporations that operate niche, globally relevant brands with significant growth potential.

Since its founding, Investindustrial has invested in over 300 companies, supported by a team of more than 200 professionals across eight global offices. Currently, the portfolio includes 29 companies generating total revenues of over 18 billion, ready to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the GCC countries.

Several of Investindustrials flagship assets already have a growing presence in the region, including the Italian luxury fashion group Ermenegildo Zegna, Italian culinary marketplace Eataly, Omnia Technologies, a leading platform for automation and bottling technologies, and Flos B&B Italia Group, a global leader in high-end design.-TradeArabia News Service
Lhyfe, one of the worlds pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen, has announced the construction of a 5th green hydrogen production site in France, the first in northern France.

The new production site under construction by the company is in Croixrault, in the Somme region of Hauts-de-France. Thanks to its strategic location and Lhyfes logistical capabilities, this site will provide the many manufacturers in Hauts-de-France and mobility players in the region with green and renewable hydrogen to decarbonise their operations, the company said.

The project is part of a wider ambition initiative of the Communaute de Communes Somme Sud-Ouest (local authority with 119 member communities) that aims to boost local employment and provide a favourable economic environment for companies wishing to set up in a dynamic environment, it said.

Green and renewable hydrogen

Lhyfe is one of the pioneers of the green and renewable hydrogen sector in Europe. Founded in 2019, the company inaugurated its first site in 2021, and today already has four installed sites and several other sites under construction across Europe. Lhyfe produces its hydrogen locally through the electrolysis of water using renewable electricity.

From 2026, about 30 km south-west of Amiens, at the Mine dOr business park, beside the A29 motorway, in Croixrault, Lhyfe will have the capacity to produce and deliver up to two tonnes of green hydrogen every day, thanks to an electrolysis capacity of 5 MW. Two tonnes of green hydrogen is equivalent to the amount a hydrogen truck needs to travel around 25,000 km, without emitting a single gram of CO2.

As an energy carrier, green hydrogen is as powerful as it is clean and can replace the fossil fuels currently used in heavy mobility and industry. The green hydrogen produced locally by Lhyfe will contribute to both the regions energy sovereignty and its sustainable re-industrialisation. With energy and the energy transition at the heart of the concerns of economic and industrial players, the creation of the Croixrault site will contribute to the regions industrial dynamics and attractiveness.

Decarbonising transport

The Croixrault site will be able to distribute its green and renewable hydrogen throughout the Hauts-de-France region. The regions manufacturers and mobility players wishing to decarbonise their businesses can now rely on this clean alternative to begin or continue their energy transition, it said.

The region is widely recognised for its industrial activities, including chemicals, metallurgy, steel and glass. Green hydrogen will have a role to play in transforming the industrial landscape over the coming years, be it as a replacement for grey hydrogen (which emits CO2), or through new production processes or the creation of new industries.

As the Hauts-de-France region is a major logistics crossroads, Lhyfes hydrogen will also be able to supply the fuel stations used by the heavy goods vehicles crossing and delivering to the region, as well as the logistics platforms  whose intensive use make them a priority for hydrogen use  and all of the hydrogen mobility used by the region (buses, refuse collection vehicles, etc.).

Alain DESFOSSES, President of the Communaute de Communes Somme Sud-Ouest: Lhyfe's green and renewable hydrogen production project is perfectly aligned with the ambitions of the Communaute de Communes Somme Sud-Ouest (CC2SO), and in particular our will to create synergies and foster innovation using resources available in the Somme region. Thanks to this site, we'll be helping to build a regional ecosystem around locally-produced green and renewable hydrogen.

Maud Augeai, Sales Director France at Lhyfe, said: Were delighted to announce this new production site in Croixrault. Green hydrogen is beginning to emerge all over Europe, to decarbonise activities that could not be decarbonised until now, both in the heavy or intensive mobility sector and in industry, both of which are particularly present in the Hauts-de-France region. As decarbonisation is synonymous with competitiveness, we cant wait to use the hydrogen produced in Croixrault to contribute to the regions energy transition, reindustrialisation and energy sovereignty!
Dubai consolidated its standing as a top choice for prominent international conferences, congresses, corporate meetings and incentives in 2024, with the city securing the opportunity to host a record 437 events from a range of sectors and professions.

Driven by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the citys official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, this marked a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of successful bids, further elevating Dubais status as a globally competitive events hub, powered by innovation, infrastructure development, and rising global economic influence, said a Wam news agency report.

The events captured in 2024 are set to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to Dubai over the coming years, making a direct impact on the citys events, travel and tourism ecosystems, and bringing talent and expertise from around the world to enjoy the platform Dubai provides for knowledge sharing, professional development and networking.

The citys success, driven by collaborative efforts across the public and private sectors, underlines Dubais unrelenting draw as a go-to, accessible, safe and welcoming global MICE destination, in turn feeding into Dubais wider economic growth by attracting more visitors, positioning Dubai in the global business events arena, and shedding light on its thriving knowledge economy. Furthermore, it cements the important role business events are playing in achieving the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to consolidate Dubais position as a leading global city for business and leisure, it said.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: Guided by the vision of our citys leadership, business events continue to play a vital role in bolstering tourism to Dubai and supporting its wider economic priorities. The healthy increase in successful bids in 2024 is further proof of Dubais rising prominence as a destination that delivers not only world-class business events infrastructure and capabilities, but also provides unrivalled, memorable experiences for all organisers and delegates. Furthermore, it highlights Dubais status as a knowledge hub, with associations and businesses benefitting from expertise and innovation in the city, and also contributing to its continued development.

To build on this momentum, we are engaging with all stakeholders, trusted partners and service providers, to elevate Dubais position as a leader in the competitive business events landscape  aiming for sustainable economic growth, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. We look forward to harnessing the power of opportunity to create further impact for the benefit of everyone, and demonstrate what sets Dubai apart to a global audience.

Among the most noteworthy wins last year were the 2025 WFNS World Congress of Neurosurgery, with 4,000 delegates; the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayor Summit, with 1,200 delegates; the 2025 Pan Arab Radiology Conference, with 1,500 delegates; the 2026 Global Symposium on Health System Research, with 3,000 delegates; the 2026 FIP World Stamp Exhibition, with 1,000 delegates; and the 2028 Scientific Assembly and Associated Events of the Committee on Space Research, with 3,000 delegates.

Dubai also secured prestigious corporate and incentive event bids in 2024, including the 2025 Oppo Guangdong Incentive, with 4,000 delegates; the 2025 Loyal Connect Global, with 3,000 delegates; the 2025 GLA Global Logistics Conference, with 1,500 Delegates; the 2026 Forever Living Global Rally, with 12,000 delegates; the 2026 Emerson Exchange, with 2,500 delegates; and the 2026 Herbalife China Incentive, with 1,200 delegates.

This outstanding performance follows key milestones achieved in 2024, including ICCA ranking Dubai the top city in the Middle East for the number of association meetings hosted, and events crowning it number one in its Top Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa.
AN unused piece of equipment intended for NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltds operations is among several assets now up for sale by the receiver, just after the seventh anniversary of the gas-to-liquid plants grand opening.

The unused FT Max Catalyst-T 2811, weighing 231,000 pounds and used in gas-to-liquids (GTL) processes, is being sold by receiver manager Varune Mungal.
An activist protests against President Donald Trump's plan to stop most federal grants and loans during a rally near the White House on Tuesday in Washington. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Less than 24 hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administrations move to freeze federal grant funding, the Office of Management and Budget suddenly rescinded its directive. But confusion and concern lingered after the White House said Wednesday it still intends to freeze some funds, making it unclear whether federal assistance for some programs remains at risk.

The moves marked the latest twists in a chaotic two days in which Democrats condemned President Donald Trumps attempt to temporarily freeze federal grant funding in an effort to root out wokeness as an unconstitutional overreach with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The announcement that the OMB memo was being rescinded was so abrupt that some members of Congress were still sending out press releases condemning the freeze even after it had been walked back.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Reps. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, Laura Friedman, D-Burbank, and Nanette Barragan, D-Carson, were among those who held news conferences discussing the freezes local impacts scheduled for later in the day when the news was announced.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt wrote on X on Wednesday that the rescission of the memo came in response to the courts action blocking the move.

This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo, Leavitt wrote. Why? To end any confusion created by the courts injunction. The Presidents EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said that the conflicting information from the White House over whether the funding was actually frozen was a deliberate move to sow chaos.

These reckless actions amount to a seizure of power putting our nation on a path to tyranny, he wrote in a statement. More than ever, we will need Americans in red states and blue states to be vigilant and vigorous in protecting our democracy. These whiplash reversals only exacerbate the confusion and chaos  and amplify disruption and damage to essential services.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Leavitt initially said Tuesday that the shutdown would not affect individuals who receive direct federal benefits, including those who receive welfare, Social Security, food stamps or Meals on Wheels benefits, which affect 2.2 million people nationwide. She later acknowledged that many of those programs websites were, in fact, down. OMB then issued updated guidance in response to the uproar, saying the pause did not apply across the board but would instead be targeted at ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.

Soon after that, a judge paused the directive, in response to one of multiple lawsuits filed to block it.

One of the lawsuits, filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and attorneys general from several states, alleged that the move from the Office of Management and Budget was in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act and was arbitrary and capricious.

This breathtaking freeze of all federal assistance is unauthorized, unprecedented, and not entitled to respect or deference by this Court, the lawsuit from the attorneys general said. The OMB Directive constitutes a refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress, in violation of the executives constitutional authority to administer the law.

Bonta said that stopping federal funding would be reckless, dangerous, unprecedented in scope, and had already led to significant uncertainty across the nation. He said he worried that funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to victims of two devastating Los Angeles fires could be at risk under the directive.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The lawsuit continued on Wednesday afternoon, with Sarah Rice, a lawyer from the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office, arguing that Leavitts statements Wednesday meant that even if the memo was rescinded, federal funding was still likely to be frozen from executive orders issued by Trump. Daniel Schwei, a lawyer for the Department of Justice, claimed the push for a temporary restraining order against the funding freeze was moot now that the memo was rescinded.

Judge Jack McConnell, who heard the case in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, said he plans to side with the states in their request for a restraining order, citing Leavitts comments, but wanted time to figure out the scope and details of the order he would issue in the coming days.

California Sen. Alex Padilla compiled a preliminary list of ways the directive could affect California, including through disaster relief, veterans benefits, firefighting aid and funding to address the fentanyl crisis and support K-12 public schools. San Francisco public schools receive about 5% of their funding from the federal government.

Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, held a news conference on Wednesday to highlight a victory in the overturning of the memo, but stressed that the Trump administration will come back again and again and again to cut federal funding.

Rep. Jared Huffman, a San Rafael Democrat who helped lead last years Stop Project 2025 Task Force, said Russ Vought, Trumps pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget and a primary author of the far-right Project 2025 blueprint, wrote that OMB is the only agency with enough power to override federal agencies efforts to implement laws, and now Trump is ordering him to do it. What Trump is doing here, especially in conjunction with last weeks shocking midnight purge of inspectors general, is crystal clear: He is setting the stage to operate as a king, with no oversight or accountability.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Donate but dont dictate is a maxim for donors. We have seen such being done as the giver 
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen to California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom, peppered with questions from reporters, said the funding freeze was unconstitutional, but declined to further criticize the president.

Im not going to react in a negative light because I have confidence that will be worked out, Newsom said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Newsoms job as governor of the richest and most populous state in many ways makes him the most powerful Democrat in the country. But it also means he relies on Trump in ways that members of Congress and attorneys general dont, tempering his ability to challenge the president as directly as they do. His more measured comments illustrate the delicate balance he must maintain as he works to secure federal disaster assistance from the Trump administration.

Newsom tried to strike a hopeful tone during a Tuesday afternoon news conference announcing a new philanthropic partnership to provide aid for Los Angeles fire victims. Reporters asked him repeatedly to react to Trumps move to suspend federal funding. He declined.

We can react to all of this, or we can have a more constructive wait-and-see approach, he told them. Im going to wait and see. I still see a lot of optimism as it relates to the partnership with the federal government on this essential emergency package.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined other Democratic attorneys general in suing to block Trumps attempt to freeze federal grants. He told reporters on a call Tuesday morning that he was concerned that the action would hold up federal disaster aid.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Newsoms comments on Tuesday are consistent with his rhetoric since Trump won reelection. The Democratic governor has continued to criticize Trumps policy positions, but has steered clear of personal attacks on the president, even as Trump repeatedly calls him Newscum.

Instead, he focused on the areas where hes working with the president on disaster aid. He said he enjoyed meeting with Trump when the president visited Los Angeles last week, and pointed specifically to debris removal in Los Angeles, which he said he needs Trumps support to accomplish.

He has more authority and power over the Army Corps than anybody, which will be critical to moving mountains to get this debris removed, Newsom said.

Newsom said he had not spoken with Trump in months prior to his visit to Los Angeles, despite attempts he made to reach the president in the wake of the election. Without a direct line to the president as fires continued to rage in Southern California, Newsom appealed to him to visit during national television interviews, begging him to speak with fire victims and approve aid. If Trump did that, Newsom promised he would be celebrated in California.

The Los Angeles fires are on track to be among the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. They have destroyed more than 16,000 structures and killed 29 people. In their wake, they leave the already expensive region with a severe housing shortage and a massive amount of hazardous debris that must be cleared before homeowners can rebuild.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Newsom and state lawmakers approved $2.5 billion in response funding and have been soliciting philanthropic donations to fill in the gaps, but the state will still need reimbursement from the federal government to cover the costs. That funding appears imperiled as Trump and his Republican allies in Congress threaten to condition aid for the region on unrelated political priorities.

Although Newsom stands to benefit politically for publicly sparring with Trump, doing so could inspire retaliation from a president who ran a campaign promising to exact retribution from his enemies.
Just before the New Year holiday, Korean tenor SeokJong Baek was on a plane from China to Phoenix, routing through LAX, when his phone rang.

It was Peter Gelb, general manager of New York Metropolitan Opera.

The principal tenor singing the role of Radames in the Mets new staging of Verdis Aida was fighting a virus. Could Baek come in and cover?

It had been awhile since Baek had sung the role; he was nowhere near ready. But this was the Met, Americas most prestigious opera house where he had made his debut in 2023.

Despite his insecurities, I took the risk, he said. Baek got on a plane that night and headed to New York City. But on opening night on New Years Eve, the tenor Piotr Beczala decided to go on.

Peter told me he was sorry, Baek recalled during a phone call from a rehearsal break in Phoenix last Friday.

Instead of the Met, Baek returned to Plan A, his role debut as Roldolfo in Arizona Operas La Boheme.

I came back to Arizona and started to have my first rehearsals in Arizona, said Baek, one of five Tucson Desert Song Festival artists in the production. And after two days, I got another call from Peter.

Beczala coughed his way through opening night and the Met needed a replacement for the next two performances to give the Polish tenor time to recuperate.

Arizona Opera Executive Director Joseph Specter happily agreed to release Baek from those early January rehearsals; La Boheme, part of the 2025 song festival, wasnt set to open for weeks in Phoenix before coming to Tucson on Saturday, Feb. 1.

And then I flew to New York again, and I arrived at 2 a.m. in the morning, he said, adding that he grabbed a few hours of sleep before going to the theater for a run-through rehearsal.

He sang on the Met stage that night, Jan. 4, opposite Desert Song Festival alum soprano Angel Blue. Baek also performed the role on Jan. 7.

It was like one of the (biggest) challenges of my career, but Im so glad that I made it, he said. And then the audience went wild. They did. They loved it so much.

Baek returns to the role of Radames in May with Deutsche Oper Berlin.
PHOENIX  Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday placed the first Hispanic woman who also is the first Black person to serve on the Arizona Supreme Court.

Maria Elena Cruz, now a judge on the Court of Appeals, was picked by Hobbs from among the five candidates submitted to her by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. Arizona law required Hobbs to choose from the list.

Cruz was considered the odds-on favorite. She not only was the only nominee who got unanimous approval from the commission, but her appointment also enabled the governor to announce what her office called a historic moment for Arizona.

Hobbs, however, bristled when asked about how important it was to her to choose a Black Latina for the post.

Do not insult with this question, she responded. She is eminently qualified.

But Cruz said there is a good reason for having someone with her background and who looks like her on the court.

My question would be the opposite: Why should the courts not reflect the population? she said. Why should a state that is so diverse have a Supreme Court that looks like one racial aspect of our state.

Cruz said that is obvious in looking at the history of the state.

The fact that weve had 49 justices and only had five women does not engender trust from citizens in the court, she said. There is one Hispanic: John Lopez, who joined the high court in 2017 after being tapped by then-Gov. Doug Ducey.

The courts are an expression of peoples self governance, right? Cruz said. And if we are self-governing, then the court should be the self. 

Cruz pointed out the Arizona Constitution requires both the commission that screens applicants and the governor herself to consider the diversity of the states population.

Cruz, from Yuma, replaces Robert Brutinel who retired at the end of last year.

Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer pointed out that Brutinel was the only one of the seven justices who came from outside of Maricopa County. And she said there is no geographic diversity requirement for the Supreme Court  nor, she said, a rural perspective on what the law is.

However, there is a tremendous need for a rural perspective on the regulatory aspects of the court, Timmer said. She said that is important when the court is considering new rules and regulations, including those that determine the ease of access to the courts, to determine how  and whether  they would work in rural areas.

So having someone from Yuma, and a former Superior Court judge to boot, is a tremendous boon to our court, the chief justice said.

Timmer, who has known Cruz for years  she tapped her to be presiding judge in Yuma County  also credited her with having a strong voice. She said that is important if Cruz is to hold her own in the room with the other six justices and to contribute to ensuring the correct decisions are made at our court.

Cruz becomes the only Democrat on the court, which consists of four Republicans and a political independent named by Ducey and Timmer, also a Republican, who was tapped for the court by Ducey predecessor Jan Brewer.

At a news conference Wednesday, Cruz said it was never her goal to be appointed to the Supreme Court.

My goal was to serve my community, an area that is known as a legal desert where its very difficult to get an attorney, she said. That was brought home, Cruz said, when she had a car accident and needed an attorney.

In order for an attorney to even give me a consult  I know this is strange to people in Maricopa County where you cant take two steps without running into a personal injury lawyer  but my father knew someone who knew someone who was able to get me an appointment, Cruz said.

And I saw in that person someone who could champion my cause, she continued. And I thought, This is something I can do to help vindicate peoples rights. 

Cruz sidestepped a question on her views on immigration issues.

We do recognize that there are federal issues that are at play now, she said. But Cruz said that judges are not supposed to give answers to legal questions that are not formally before the court.

What I will say is when the people in our state, whether they are directly impacted by these policies and rules, when they look at our court, now all the way up to the Supreme Court of our state, theyll be able to see themselves reflected, and theyll have a little bit more confidence in the fact that decisions that are going to be made are not going to be made from a perspective that doesnt take into account their diversity.

Cruz will be sworn in Monday.

A native of Puerto Rico, Cruz said she moved to Arizona at age 14 and has been in Yuma for 32 years. A graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, she worked for the Pima and later the Yuma County attorneys offices before becoming a public defender there.

While in private practice, she also served as a judge for the Cocopah Indian Tribe before being elected to Yuma County Superior Court in 2008, where she served until Ducey named her to the Court of Appeals in 2017.
Michael Shvo, founder, chairman and CEO of SHVO, stands for a portrait outside the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco in 2023. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

When New York developer Michael Shvo and his partners purchased San Franciscos iconic Transamerica Pyramid during the pandemic and got to work on a massive renovation of the building, even some of the citys boosters doubted whether his $1 billion wager on luxury commercial real estate would pay off.

Today, the answer appears to be yes. Multiple real estate market insiders have confirmed to the Chronicle that Shvos refreshed landmark has lured a tenant from another prominent office tower in downtown that for two decades served as its home.

S.F. Bay Area property map: Heres who owns every building in the region

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Market insiders say global law firm Morgan Lewis is close to inking a lease deal for an office spanning close to 130,000 square feet across seven stories of the 48-story tower at 600 Montgomery St. The firm, which did not respond to inquiries from the Chronicle, is reportedly committing to the pyramid with a lease that spans the next two decades.

Shvos team declined to comment on the deal this week. The developers company, SHVO, partnered with Deutsche Finance America and a group of European investors anchored by Bayerische Versorgungskammer to purchase the pyramid for $650 million in 2020.

The new pending lease deal comes as Shvo and his partners remain embroiled in a legal battle with another tenant at the pyramid, the New York-based members-only Core Club, over its long-term lease for a 45,000-square-foot space.

In an interview last year, Shvo, who is known as a brash dealmaker with a knack for marketing high-end real estate, branded the Jackson Square area near where the pyramid is located as downtowns new epicenter. Shvos slogan for the pyramid, ahead of its time, also served as a metaphor for the citys resiliency in recent years.

But even before the marketing blitz, the historic Jackson Square office district where real estate prices last year reached their highest mark in a decade, had managed to draw office and retail tenants. Its success was in sharp contrast to the much larger downtown core where vacancy climbed to new heights over the past five years and shiny office towers are trading at a fraction of their pre-pandemic values.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At the end of 2022, venture capital firm Bain Capital signed a lease for a full building at 450 Pacific Ave. in Jackson Square and announced that it would give up its longtime offices in two downtown skyscrapers. Law firms BraunHagey & Borden LLP and Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP also ditched their Financial District offices in favor of Jackson Square.

Australian graphic design software company Canva moved its offices into a two-story brick building at 440 Pacific last year. Upscale coffee shop and specialty grocer Postscript opened its doors at 499 Pacific Ave. 1 years ago, and high-end retailers Polo Ralph Lauren and Paul Smith arrived recently.

Then Hearst Corp.  the parent company of the Chronicle and SFGATE announced last week that it purchased an office tower across the street from the pyramid in the North Financial District, with plans to temporarily relocate the news companies offices there while it advances a residential project near their longtime SoMa headquarters at 901 Mission St.

For the past two decades, Morgan Lewis has been located at One Market Plaza, a 1.6 million-square-foot complex of three buildings along the Embarcadero. A real estate market insider told the Chronicle that the firm currently leases about 150,000 square feet across five floors in the 42-story Spear Street tower thats part of the complex, and that its lease term ends next year.

Morgan Lewis exit would add to the growing list of prominent tenants who have or plan to leave One Market Plaza. Earlier this year, the Chronicle reported that Google will exit the 300,000-square-foot office that it has occupied at the property since 2018, once its lease expires in April. The company is working on a lease deal that would allow it to consolidate much of its operations nearby at 345 Spear St., where it also has an office.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Visas lease at One Market is expiring this year. The company has already listed its space there for sublease and moved its office to Mission Rock, a new neighborhood that has taken shape in recent years following 15-year planning effort. Autodesk has also listed a big chunk of its One Market Plaza office for sublease.
Vietnam has introduced a new investment support fund aimed at attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from major technology firms.

The fund, established under a recently signed government decree, will offer cash grants and subsidies to businesses that meet specific investment criteria, with a focus on high-tech industries.

New decree offers incentives for high-tech firms

On December 31, 2024, the Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 182/2024/ND-CP, outlining the structure, management, and funding of the investment support fund.

The fund will be financed by the state budget and operated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The initiative includes two types of subsidies: annual expense subsidies for high-tech enterprises and research and development (R&D) projects and initial investment subsidies for businesses establishing R&D centers in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI).

The fund will cover a range of costs, including training, R&D, fixed assets, high-tech manufacturing, and infrastructure development.

Companies investing in R&D projects in semiconductors and AI may receive financial support of up to 50 percent of their initial investment costs.

The decree takes effect in fiscal year 2024, with applications for subsidies due before July 10 of the following year.

Vietnam aims to become regional tech hub

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the fund will be key to positioning Vietnam as a leading AI research and development center in Asia.

This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to attract world-class high-tech businesses, said Bui Ngoc Tuan, deputy general director of Deloitte Vietnam.

He urged enterprises to begin preparations early to maximize their chances of securing funding.

The Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reported that in 2024, several major tech firms expanded operations in Vietnam, including Samsung Display (capital expansion), Amkor (semiconductor manufacturing), LG Display, Foxconn, Goertek, and Luxshare (ongoing projects).

Despite increasing FDI, Vietnam still has a limited number of large-scale high-tech projects. Of the 110 foreign-invested projects worth over US$500 million, only 27 are in the high-tech sector.

Record FDI disbursement in 2024

Vietnams FDI disbursement hit a record $25.4 billion in 2024, up 9.4 percent from the previous year, according to the FIA.

A total of 3,375 new projects worth $19.7 billion were approved. The manufacturing and processing industry led FDI inflows with $25.6 billion, followed by real estate at $6.3 billion.

Top investors and FDI destinations

Top investors come from Singapore ($10.2 billion) South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Leading FDI destinations include Bac Ninh Province ($5.1 billion, 2.8 times higher than in 2023), Hai Phong City ($4.9 billion), and Ho Chi Minh City ($3 billion).

The FIA said foreign capital remains crucial to Vietnams economic development, particularly in semiconductors, energy, and high-tech industries.

By the end of 2024, Vietnam had attracted a total of $502.8 billion in FDI across 42,002 projects, with manufacturing, real estate, and power production leading investment sectors.

South Korea remains Vietnams top investor with over $92 billion, followed by Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

New fund aims to bolster Vietnams competitiveness

With the global minimum tax introduced in 2024, Vietnam faces new challenges in maintaining its investment appeal.

The investment support fund is expected to counterbalance these effects, making the country more attractive to large-scale, high-tech projects.

This fund is a strategic move to strengthen Vietnams position in the global semiconductor and AI industries, the FIA said in a statement.

As the decree comes into effect, investors are being encouraged to act quickly to secure funding, with the first applications due in July 2025.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnam exported 268,700 tonnes of rice between January 1 and 15, earning nearly US$165.7 million, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

This marks a year-on-year increase of 38.7 percent in volume and 23.28 percent in value.

However, export prices have declined, with five percent broken rice dropping to $413 per tonne and 25 percent broken rice priced at $387 per tonne.

Despite a strong start, the VFA warns of a challenging year ahead due to global competition and Indias return to the export market.

The countrys rice exports for 2025 are projected at 7.5 million tonnes, down from the record 9.04 million tonnes in 2024.

Domestic market faces lower demand, prices

In the domestic market, rice farmers in the Mekong Delta are grappling with weaker demand and falling prices.

Popular varieties such as IR 50404 and OM 5451 are trading at VND5,500-5,700 ($0.22-0.23) per kg and VND5,800-6,000 ($0.23-0.24) per kg, respectively, as global supply remains abundant, particularly from India and Thailand.

Retail rice prices in An Giang Province range from VND15,000 ($0.6) to VND22,000 ($0.88) per kg, depending on the variety, while by-products like rice bran and broken rice sell for VND5,600-7,300 ($0.22-0.29) per kg.

Weather poses risks for winter-spring crop

As of January 20, Mekong Delta provinces have planted over 1.46 million hectares of winter-spring rice, with 85,000 hectares already harvested.

However, unpredictable weather, including alternating rain and sunshine, has increased the risk of diseases like leaf blight and pests such as gall midges, particularly in Dong Thap and Kien Giang Provinces.

The agricultural sector is urging farmers to monitor their fields closely and take early preventive measures to minimize potential losses.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
In recent years, many Vietnamese students in Australia have begun honing their barista skills in order to secure part-time work during their studies.

Nguyen Huynh Nhu, 18, is one such student.

Even before getting on the plane to head down under, Nhu spent two months attending barista sessions at The Lovely Cup O' Coffee in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City ahead of her hospitality course at Le Cordon Bleu in Australia.

Through her research, Nhu learned that being a barista is a common job in Australia, offering a stable income and flexible working hours suitable for students balancing work and studies.

I understand that being a barista is more than just making coffee, Nhu told Tuoi Tre News.

It requires good communication skills, a deep understanding of customer needs, and the ability to work under pressure.

Australian customers often prioritize coffee quality and service, so I want to prepare thoroughly.

Nhu hoped that learning how to be a barista before heading to Australia will help her better understand coffee culture and feel more confident when looking for work.

I will be able to immediately apply my barista skills to a real job once I arrive in Australia, she said.

At The Lovely Cup O' Coffee, Nhu learned to identify different basic coffee types and master 17 popular Australian drinks.

She also participated in workshops simulating foreign coffee shops, where she took orders, prepared beverages, and handled cashier duties in English.

Notably, her certification from the course will waive two modules at Le Cordon Bleu, saving her approximately AU$500 (US$312).

Attractive income

According to Dang The Lan, founder of The Lovely Cup O' Coffee, working as a barista is one of the easiest part-time jobs for Vietnamese students abroad, alongside tutoring, waitressing, internships, and farm work.

Full-time baristas can earn AU$4,000-5,000 (US$2,495-3,119) per month during holiday periods, while part-time positions pay AU$2,000-3,000 (US$1,248-1,871) per month, Lan said.

Dang The Lan (left) shares insights with barista trainees at The Lovely Cup O' Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied

The job is not particularly physically demanding, and it is in high demand and offers a stable income, he commented.

Most importantly, it helps international students improve their English through daily interactions with customers.

Many even get the chance to work in high-end hotels or restaurants, enhancing their career opportunities after graduation."

Under Australias new policy effective from July 1, 2023, international students can work up to 48 hours every two weeks during term time and unlimited hours during holiday breaks.

This creates favorable conditions for students to balance studying and working to cover living expenses.

Do Viet Dung, a first-year accounting student, currently works as a barista at two coffee shops in Sydney, earning AU$25-30 (US$16-19) per hour, with higher rates on weekends and holidays.

At first, he struggled with language barriers when communicating with customers and colleagues.

However, he quickly adapted and significantly improved his English skills.

I connected with a community of Vietnamese students in Australia who help each other find jobs and share real-life experiences, Dung said.

This bond has boosted my confidence and made it easier for me to integrate.

In the long term, Dung plans to open a small coffee shop where he can pursue his passion for coffee-making and create a cozy space where people can connect.

Meanwhile, Ho Tuan Kiet, a data science student, had a very different experience.

He initially struggled with language barriers and high barista course fees in Australia, paying AU$200 (US$125) for a three-hour class.

Luckily, during a visit home to Vietnam, he learned of the Da Nang branch of The Lovely Cup O' Coffee and decided to give their course a try.

Upon returning to Australia, he received four job offers within 10 days and was hired at a rate of AU$30 per hour.

Attending barista training courses in Vietnam provides students with certain advantages, such as receiving detailed guidance in Vietnamese, which makes it easier to understand concepts, without facing language barriers -- especially since not everyone studying abroad is proficient in English from the start, Lan explained.

Additionally, it also saves time, as being familiar with the material beforehand helps reduce the adaptation period once abroad.

From side job to true passion

For many Vietnamese students abroad, working as a barista is not just a side job but also a gateway to new career opportunities.

Lan is a prime example.

Dang The Lan demonstrates the pour-over coffee brewing technique at his barista training space, The Lovely Cup O' Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dieu Qui / Tuoi Tre News

Working as a barista back then not only helped me stabilize my life but also sparked my true passion for the coffee industry, he recalled, thinking back to his time as an IT student at Central Queensland University in Melbourne around 15 years ago.

Over my nearly seven years in Australia, I got to work with well-known coffee brands and really dive into the professional coffee culture.

Beyond honing their barista skills, Lan also helps students prepare job applications tailored to the Australian labor market by guiding them on writing standout CVs, answering interview questions, and understanding workplace culture in Australia.

Through his experience living and working in Australia, Lan hopes to share the most practical knowledge with the students, helping them prepare the necessary skills to increase their chances of securing well-paying jobs in the barista profession.

One challenge Lan hopes to see addressed for Vietnamese students aspiring to become baristas is the limited understanding of coffee. While coffee culture is widespread in Vietnam, many still lack deeper knowledge about the beverage.

In other countries, people focus on the essence of coffee beans, their varieties, and flavor profiles, whereas in Vietnam, blended coffee tends to be more familiar.

Many students are surprised when they go abroad and see different brewing methods and names of coffee beans like Java or Bourbon. In Vietnam, we simply call them coffee beans," Lan explained.

When asked about the beans they drink in Vietnam, where theyre from, and what their flavor profile is, they just cant answer, he said.Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Hundreds of millions of people across Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families on Wednesday, as they bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon and usher in the Year of the Snake.

The Chinese enjoy eight consecutive public holidays for the 2025 Spring Festival, an opportunity to share meals, attend traditional performances, and set off firecrackers and fireworks.

Train stations and airports across the country have been jam-packed for weeks as millions returned home to spend the holidays with their loved ones in an annual migration that is expected to be a record.

And high streets, shopping malls, offices and homes are bedecked in festive red banners -- believed to ward off evil -- throughout many parts of East and Southeast Asia, including South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.

In Taiwan on Wednesday morning, people of all ages thronged temples across the island to make offerings of fruit, sweets, crackers and nuts, and mediate and pray.

"Our tradition is to visit the temple and pray, for better fortune for this year," said Chen Ching-yuan, 36, as she visited Longshan Temple in Taipei with her mother.

"There's no need to ask for anything specific, just wish for a smooth, peaceful, safe, and healthy year, and pray that everything goes well," she told AFP.

Lin Yu-soon, 73, said visiting Longshan Temple with his family "gives us a sense of spiritual solace as we pray".

Some temple-goers ushered in the new year by racing to be the first to release incense in the pursuit of good fortune.

"I didn't want to look back with regret when I'm old, so I decided to go for it," Kao Meng-shun said, after winning the event at Fusing Temple in Yunlin County, in the central-west of Taiwan.

"While I'm still young and have the energy, it's the perfect time to take action and make the most of it."

Snow slows travel

During the traditional 40-day period that runs before, during and after the Lunar New Year holidays in mainland China, about nine billion interprovincial passenger trips on all forms of transport are expected to be made.

Train and air travel are expected to "hit record highs" during this year's migration, state news agency Xinhua said.

In South Korea, heavy snowfall caused disruption to train, plane and bus schedules nationwide, as people went to visit their families in the countryside this week.

Passengers were seen at Seoul's main train station carrying gifts wrapped in colourful cloth and luggage as they prepared to leave the capital.

Images released by local media showed vehicles covered in snow stuck on South Korea's major highways as heavy winds and snowfall persisted.

Traffic authorities warned it could take more than seven hours on Tuesday to drive from Seoul to the country's port city of Busan, a journey that typically takes around four hours.

Many others opted to spend the break abroad. The operator of Incheon International Airport announced that more than 2.1 million passengers were expected to use the airport to travel overseas from January 24 to February 2.

"This is projected to be the highest average daily passenger count during the Lunar New Year holiday since the airport opened (in 2001)," the operator said in a statement.

The festivities even extended to space, with Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze sending New Year's Eve greetings from the Tiangong space station on Tuesday.

In a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the trio could be seen dressed in blue jumpsuits with traditional red cloud patterns, holding two pieces of paper-cutting featuring the Chinese character "fu", for good luck.

"In the new year, may all your dreams come true," Wang said, forming a heart shape above her head.
A fire broke out in a five-story house in Hanoi just minutes after the Lunar New Years Eve countdown on Wednesday, prompting a swift response from firefighters who successfully rescued three trapped residents, including a child.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:07 am on Wednesday in an alley on An Xa 75 Street, Phuc Xa Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, according to the citys police department.

The fire erupted on the second floor of the 46-square-meter house, producing thick smoke and intense flames that endangered the occupants.

Upon receiving the emergency call, the districts firefighting and rescue team dispatched two fire trucks and 12 firefighters and rescuers to the scene.

They quickly assessed the situation and identified a high risk of fire spread due to the presence of flammable materials.

Additionally, they confirmed that people were trapped inside the burning building.

Firefighters prioritized the rescue operation, coordinating with local police and residents to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.

Their timely efforts resulted in the successful rescue of two adults and a child, who were then transferred to a medical facility for treatment.

All three victims are reported to be in stable condition.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by fireworks, a common celebratory activity during Tet.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged residents to exercise caution when handling fireworks and other flammable materials during the festive period.

Earlier at around 7:00 am on Tuesday, another fire occurred at a row of workshops on Nguyen Van Giap Street in Cau Dien Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi.

Local firemen operating 12 fire trucks stamped out the blaze after 45 minutes. The incident caused no casualties but destroyed 500 square meters of workshops and two cars.

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

-- Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, appointed Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN, as a co-facilitator for the preparation of the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response in 2026, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Society

-- Party General Secretary To Lam visited the National Cyber Security Centre under the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, as well as the Command Center of the Ministry of National Defenses Air Defense-Air Force Service on the evening of January 28  Lunar New Years Eve. Later that evening, the Party leader visited and extended Tet wishes to representatives of the Party Committee, administration, and people of Hanoi.

-- At midnight on Lunar New Years Eve, Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong extended his New Year's greetings to people across the country and the Vietnamese community abroad. "I would like to extend my warmest New Year wishes to all compatriots, comrades, and soldiers throughout the country, as well as to overseas Vietnamese. I also wish our friends and the people of countries around the world a New Year filled with peace, happiness, friendship, and development," he said.

-- A large fire broke out in a residential area in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City at around 1:00 pm on Tuesday, burning down several houses and causing many people inside to flee. Local firefighters and fire trucks were deployed to the scene, rescued one person, and extinguished the blaze by 2:20 pm. The fire caused no casualties.

-- On Tuesday evening, the High Command of Naval Region 4 held an online celebration connecting its headquarters with seven locations in the Spratly Archipelago and nearby naval vessels. Rear Admiral Nguyen Anh Tuan and Colonel Bui Xuan Binh delivered New Year greetings from senior leaders. The event included leaders, commanders, and representatives from seven families of service members stationed on the islands and vessels.

-- On Tuesday evening, secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen led a delegation to visit and encourage police units on duty during the Tet holiday in the city. Nen expressed gratitude for the tireless dedication of the police officers and soldiers, who remained on duty to maintain order and security, allowing citizens to celebrate the Lunar New Year joyfully and peacefully.

Business

-- The Hanoi-based Railway Transport Joint Stock Company operated two special trains called the 'Spring Train,' traveling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa, on Tuesday evening. On these trains, the railway sector arranged two uniquely and beautifully designed community carriages to host cultural activities, allowing passengers to celebrate Tet throughout the journey.

Lifestyle

-- On Tuesday evening in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Da Nang, the streets began bustling with people and vehicles heading to central areas to watch the Lunar New Years Eve fireworks and countdown to welcome the Lunar New Year (Tet). In Ho Chi Minh City, large crowds of locals and tourists, including foreigners, gathered at Nguyen Hue Flower Street to immerse themselves in the vibrant and festive atmosphere of the Tet celebrations.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
People across Vietnam, along with foreigners residing in the country, took part in a variety of festive activities on Tuesday evening, including fireworks displays, spring flower streets, and captivating drone light shows, all contributing to the vibrant Tet atmosphere.

In Hanoi, tens of thousands of people gathered around Hoan Kiem Lake, including along Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay, and Le Thai To Streets, starting at 9:00 pm to witness the fireworks celebrating the arrival of Tet.

Hanoi launched fireworks at 30 locations, with nine high-altitude and 21 low-altitude launch sites.

A total of around 6,000 high-altitude fireworks and 3,420 low-altitude fireworks lit up the night sky during the festivities.

Fireworks light up the sky over Hanoi, bringing joy to everyone as they welcome the Lunar New Year. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Foreign visitors are excited to explore the festive atmosphere of Tet by Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

In Ho Chi Minh City, thousands of residents and tourists, including foreigners, gathered at Nguyen Hue Flower Street in District 1 starting at 6:30 pm on Tuesday to immerse themselves in the festive vibes and celebrate the transition from the old year to the new one.

Families, young people, and international visitors eagerly posed for photos with snake-themed decorations displayed throughout various sections of the street.

Everyone was excitedly awaiting the sacred moment when the new lunar year would begin.

"Every year, I bring my family to the flower street to soak in the Tet atmosphere," said Hoa, a resident of District 3.

"This year, the street is especially captivating with decorations featuring adorable 'little snakes.'

My children absolutely love them."

Foreign tourists were also in awe of the flower street's beauty. Maria, visiting from Spain, shared her excitement, saying, "This is my first time visiting Vietnam during Tet. I'm really impressed by the creativity and colors here. It feels like everyone is celebrating together. I even learned my first Vietnamese phrase, 'Chuc mung nam moi' [Happy New Year]."

Mohamed, an Indian tourist, shared that this is his first time visiting Vietnam, and it is perfect timing with the Lunar New Year.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street is stunning, he said. Im taking lots of photos to show my family back home.

Mohamed, an Indian tourist, poses for a photo at Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City, January 28, 2025. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

Two French female tourists take a commemorative photo at Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City, January 28, 2025. Photo: Hai Quynh

Johnson (C), an American tourist, is impressed by the high-altitude fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

A young couple capture memorable moments during Lunar New Years Eve in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

25-year-old Phuong Quynh, from Ho Chi Minh Citys Binh Thanh District, celebrates her birthday under a fireworks display. Photo: Khanh Giang

Fireworks in the Mong Bridge area in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A young woman takes a selfie with her husband and young daughter beneath the fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hai Quynh

Young people take commemorative photos at Nguyen Hue Flower Street on Lunar New Year's Eve. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

Fireworks light up the Saigon River sky, welcoming the Lunar New Year. Photo: Hai Quynh / Tuoi Tre

In central Da Nang City, the atmosphere on Lunar New Year's Eve became livelier as crowds gathered along the banks of the Han River and at Spring Flower Street.

Despite the drizzle and chill, thousands of locals and tourists donned warm clothes to enjoy a leisurely stroll, admiring the colorful decorations and vibrant flower arrangements.

Young families, couples, and groups of friends eagerly posed for photos beside elaborate floral displays and the unique snake-themed decorations, all while eagerly anticipating the fireworks show by the picturesque river.

A fireworks display in central Da Nang City. Photo: X.S.

Residents and tourists in Da Nang gather at a spring flower street to watch the fireworks and welcome the Lunar New Year. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

In central Quang Nam Province, despite the drizzle, locals continued their spring outings.

At 24/3 Square in Tam Ky City, which was adorned with spring flowers and the much-talked-about golden snake pair, many young families with umbrellas strolled through the gentle rain, capturing photos.

The scene radiated warmth and joy, signaling the arrival of spring.

An artistic performance and a fireworks display were held at the square to celebrate Tet.

The 24/3 Square in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam is beautifully decorated to welcome Tet. Photo: Le Trung / Tuoi Tre

People are enjoying the spring festival at the 24/3 Square in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam, central Vietnam. Photo: Le Trung / Tuoi Tre

In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, around 8:00 pm on Tuesday, both locals and tourists flocked to the vibrant flower street along Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thai Hoc Streets in Ninh Kieu District.

After a four-year hiatus, many were pleasantly surprised to see the street meticulously designed with captivating miniature landscapes.

The display featured a river adorned with flower-filled baskets, a floating market scene, and particularly eye-catching snake decorations that drew the attention of visitors, who eagerly snapped photos.

As they strolled along the flower street, the three-generation family of 84-year-old Tran Thi Sieu paused to take pictures by the winding river of flowers.

"I feel happy and blessed to have my children and grandchildren by my side, celebrating the New Year together," Sieu shared.

Fireworks light up the sky over Can Tho City in Vietnams Mekong Delta region. Photo: Tri Duc

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
This week on Back Roads Heather Ewart heads to Kandos New South Wales  a town famous for .making cement!

Thankfully she finds an unlikely arts festival is reshaping the community, otherwise this might be a bit of a dull episode?

Presenter Heather Ewart heads to the curious town of Kandos, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. It was founded in the early 20th century to supply cement for buildings like the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But when the cement works abruptly closed in 2011, Kandos faced a grim future.

Heather meets American born artist, Alex Wisser, who launched the Cementa Arts Festival in Kandos in 2013. Contemporary artists and visitors flocked to the town, but local Nanna Ellen Riley tells Heather many residents initially struggled to understand the eccentric newcomers. When Alex took the advice of former cement worker, Jack Pennell, and connected more with locals, things started to turn around. Now artists and residents work side by side to redefine the towns identity.

Heather gets swept up in the creative energy of the festival, even posing for an aura portrait. She also meets artist and resident Gab Bates, who is collaborating with the local footy team, to combine sport and performance art in her ambitious project Scrum. Heather eagerly jumps in and experiences the power of art in bringing people together in unexpected ways.

Heather then heads out of town with Peter Swain, a Dabee Wiradjuri man, whose ancestors survived the Dabee massacre, a devastating chapter in local history. Peter shows Heather incredible rock art created by his ancestors, which tells the story of the land and the people who have lived there for thousands of years. Through Peters eyes, Heather gains a profound appreciation of the spiritual and artistic heritage that exists alongside Kandoss new and evolving identity.

8pm Thursday January 30 on ABC.